290 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1866 



saw was from Gooseham, near Brackley. The Squire sent 

 me on ; he said he knew there was a good fox there, and 

 he would be gone. I just got to the covert in time to see 

 him come out. He was a beauty. Hounds got away close 

 to him. They did run straight ; they ran to Huntsbury 

 Hill,* three miles from NorthamjDton. Only seven got to 

 the end. I got regularly pumped, and did not see the 

 finish. The hounds came home by rail from Blisworth. 

 This run will be talked of as long as there are hounds in 

 Oxfordshire. This was in Goddard's time. Let me see ; 

 where was I ? I have got a bit off the line. Well, in 

 18G3, 1S()4, and ISO 5, Squire Drake hunted the hounds, 

 himself. One morning in February, 1865, I got a letter 

 from Mr. Spencer Lucy, offering me the place as hunts- 

 man to the Warwickshire. Mr. Villebois wanted me,, 

 too, and another gentleman as well, but Mr. Drake 

 never told me who that was, I wanted to get back to 

 Warwickshire, as I knew the country and the people. 

 Squire Drake told Mr. Lucy that no man ever left a 

 situation with such a character as mine. I was huntsman 

 to the AYarwickshire in 1866, 1867, and 1868, and I only 

 left on account of Mr. Lucy taking to hunt the hounds two 

 days a week himself. I was a young man, and full of 

 running, and I could not give up like that. Mr. Bolton 

 King told me that they had never had such sport since 

 Stevens left. Mr. Lucy asked me to sleep over it, and 

 said he was sure I should not leave. It was the last day 

 of hunting at Wolford, and we killed two foxes I remember. 

 I think Mr. Lucy might have let me know before, but I 

 suppose he could not till it was settled at the meeting. I 

 might have had Mr. Lane Fox's place. I think I should 

 have suited him ; he likes a sticker-at-home, and I was 

 always that. The following Saturday the Pytchley met at 

 Badby Wood ; I w^as out. Mr. Anstruther Thompson 

 heard I was leaving, hoped it was not true, told me that 

 such a place as I had got was not to be had every day. If 



*Tlie distance from Gooseholm Gorse, the covert in which they found, to Huntsbury 

 Hni is fifteen miles as the crow flies. 



