LEONARD WHEATCROFT, OF ASHOVER. 63 



"(7) There's ' Rockwood ' and ' Ringwood,' there's 'Famous' and 

 ' Spring,' 

 With ' Gamester ' and ' Bellman ' make all the woods ring : 

 And these are the doggs that will make a fox swing : 

 The pastime of Hunting would pleasure a king. 

 They follow'd ould Renald w' such a loud cry 

 He was forced for to earth — 'Tis no bit of a Lie. 



" (8) From's Kennel at Eastwood* they ran him apace 

 That he had ne'er time to look them i' th' face, 

 But took up his hould at Robin-Hood's Stone 

 Where ' Touser ' the Terrier laid fast hold for one : 

 The rest of the Beagles stickt very close by 

 Where they took him by th' chops — 'Tis no bit of a lie. 



" (9) They trail'd him to Asher with whoop and with Hallow, 

 And bravely those Beagles did after him follow 

 Vnto an ale house, where merrily wee 

 Did drinke of our glasses and sung cheerilee 

 To Earls and to Lords, and gentlemen nigh. 

 Wishing all of them health — I'm sure 'tis no Lie. 



" (10) Then on the next day we went oute againe. 

 And there at Stanwig, we found a new traine 

 Of an ould Renald, as false as the other ; 

 And for ought I know they were sister and brother. 

 Then ' Bellman ' and ' Dido ' did after him fly 

 And catcht him at White-edge, I'm sure 'tis no Lie. 



" (11) And when we had caught him, our horns we did wind : 

 To whoop and to Hallow we all were inclin'd. 

 To the Rattell-grange there we marched along. 

 Where we did sing a merry new song : 

 We drunk merry healths to all Huntsmen nigh 

 In full glasses, all swingers, I tell you no lie. 



(12) " And so to conclude this merry new song 



I hope it will please you for we've done no wrong 

 In killing three foxes in so short a time : 

 The like was ne'er known or put into rh)mie. 

 Then drink off your glasses, and let none pass by : 

 The parish will pay allf — I hope it's no lie. 



" Zeo. WhecUcrofl.'" 



* In Ashover. 



t The churchwardens and overseers of most parishes at that time paid a 

 certain sum per head for every fox killed. 



