216 THE WAEWICKSHIRE HUNT. [I89i 



Nim's Bushes, but back to the railway arch, and then the Watergall again, in a 

 wider and more hazardous jolace. Lord Willoughby fiew over, closely 

 followed by " Jem," Mr. Follett, and Sir Charles Mordaunt ; one or two 

 others got over, but two gallant sportsmen disappeared out of sight, which 

 brought back all the old feelings of funk, so Shuffler's Bottom was the order 

 of the day. Those who got over the brook first had a merry little hunt over 

 a perfect country to the old covert on Burton Hill, where all traces were lost. 

 "Wo drew again, of course, being so near Bawcutts, into which a fox had 

 gone in the morning. A poor fox from here went up wind to Knightcote, 

 where he disap^ieared, probably into some drain, as an ineffectual search into 

 a faggot pile yielded no results. A very fair day's sport in a very nice 

 country. 



Lord Willoughby gave a dinner to some hunting friends in the evening at 

 Kiuetou, when the old toast of " Foxliuntiug and the Warwickshire Hounds " 

 was drunk with much enthusiasm, and a merry evening passed only too 

 quickly away. 



The young man will brag at the evening board, 



But the old man will draw at the dawning his sword. 



Which, being literally translated, means that our master was a little more 

 pmictual than ever, if that be possible, the next morning at Lower Pillerton, 

 while a good many were just a little too late ; and, though there was no 

 " Balmawhapple " (what a name for a horse) " to go home with his boots full 

 of bluid," many a noble sportsman rode home with his back well plastered 

 with Warwickshire mud ; for a good fox went away directly from Mr. Mill's 

 new covert on the hill, and pointed as if for Edge Hills, but swinging to the 

 right over the Stratford Road, they forced him at top speed past Oxhill 

 Tillage on the right, through Idlicote to Honington. Alas ! how the field 

 were spreadeagled, only a gallant few being able to keep with hounds ; the 

 few including the master, of course, Mr. Follett, Mr. Basil Hanbury, Mr. 

 Godman, and some others. From Honington they ran on to Brailes Hill, 

 where my information ceases ; but I believe they found again, though the 

 second run did not equal the first in time, pace, or distance. Forty minutes, 

 my boys, in the Red Horse Vale, not the semblance of a check, and never 

 went into a ploughed field. 



From Lord Willoughby de Broke's diary : 



November Srd, Lower Pillerton. — Found at Pillerton New Covert, ran at 

 a cajiital pace just to the right of Pillerton Old Covert and nearly to Oxhill 

 Village, tiimed to the left, and crossed the road near Oxhill Villa, and pointed 

 for the hills ; but kept swinging right-handed, and went by Kirby Farm, 

 through Hell Brake, and down to the gardens at Honing-ton. A very good 

 forty minutes without a check. A long check here, but hit it off at last, and 

 hunted slowly by Shiiiston to Brailes Hill, and lost. 



November 5th, Lower ShucTihurcjli. — Found at the Hill, and ran at a great 

 pace towards Fleeknoe ; left that to the right, crossed the canal, and ijointed 

 for Bragborough, crossed the Learn near where the canal crosses it, and 

 turned very short to the left, and ran on by Willoughby Village, and straight 

 to Bunker's Hill, through it, and on to Bilton Grange, where the first check 

 occurred, after a splendid forty-five minutes over the grass. Hit it off on 

 towards Rugby, but turned liack for Cook's Gorsc, where there were several 



