CHAPTER XIV. 



Hare-Hunting in Epping Forest. 



After the last chase of a wild stag, deer-hunting in 

 Epping Forest survived only in the cockney carnival of 

 the Easter Hunt. For true sport, there was in future 

 nothing on the Forest to compare with the hunting of the 

 hare. 



In early days the Epping- Forest hares were hunted 

 under great difficulties. According to a writer in The 

 Field (January 19th, 1895), a humble sportsman named 

 John Osbaldeston (no relation to the squire of that name) 

 kennelled a few couple of miserable harriers in Clare 

 Market, and went down by road to hunt in Essex for 

 several years. He earned a living as a clerk, and in the 

 evening made up the books of the butchers of Clare 

 Market, and they, in return for his services, rewarded him 

 with a small money payment and enough offal to feed his 

 hounds. One horse was stabled in a shed close at hand ; 

 and, on such days as he could command, he and his pack 



