LEICESTER SHEEP. 285 



non-attendance. There were twelve members, and the rales 

 were made and kept with Draconic strictness. No member 

 might sell ewes and lambs to breed from, unless he sold his 

 whole flock or dealt with members only. Only forty ewes could 

 be taken in to keep, and those must be the property of one 

 person ; not more than two dozen rams could be shown to any 

 l^erson or company at one time ; and even members could only 

 show their rams to each other between the 1st and 8th of June, 

 when the general show commenced. On July 8 they were 

 bound to rigidly seal their pens for the space of two 

 months. Certain flockmasters were not to pay less than 100 

 guineas in their first contract, and after that 30 guineas for 

 wether- getters. Not more than thirty rams might be let by one 

 member in one year ; and it was further enacted that there were 

 to be no dealings with flockmasters who showed rams in the 

 market, and that the much-dreaded members of the Lincolnshire 

 Society should not have a ram unless four joined and paid 200 

 guineas for him." 



However absurd such rules may appear now, it is probable 

 that they were of use in maintaining the purity of the breed. 

 The Lincoln breeders, who were great rivals, had a somewhat 

 similar code. The Dishley flock were distributed — after being 

 in the hands of Mr. Smith of that place and Mr. Honeybourne 

 — amongst Messrs. Stubbins, of Stone Barford ; Paget, of 

 Eleman ; and Philip Skip worth the elder. The latter' s purchase 

 of ewes laid the foundation of the Aylesby flock, which, up to 

 the death of Mr. Wm. Torr, ranked as one of the most valuable 

 in the country ; from Mr. Stubbins's purchase descended the once 

 celebrated Holmepierrepoint sheep. In 1798, Mr. Nathaniel 

 Stubbins realised 2176/. 18s. for the letting of thirty-one rams, 

 and prices continued to rise until in 1805 the letting price was 

 nominally nearly 100 guineas ; the flock was in 1814 divided 

 between his nephews, Josei)h and Eobert Burgess. Mr. Sanday, 

 sen., succeeded the former at Holmepierrepoint in 1834. He was 

 very successful in the showyard, having between 1847 (when he 

 first won at Northampton with ewes) and 1863 (when he showed 

 at Worcester for the last time) won fifteen firsts, seventeen 

 seconds, and ten third prizes for rams ; eleven first and ten 

 seconds for shearling ewes, besides numerous commendations. 



