28 England's oldest hunt. 



time not knowing His Grace was lying dead. There be those whose 

 word has been handed down to us, who swear to having seen these two 

 a hunting of a spirit fox, with a spirit pack of hounds of a moonlight 

 night. I know one who hath in memory a song of these two, but it 

 be so despert blasfemous that for very fear of injuring the chance of 

 my own soul's salvation, I do forbear to give it. 



I have come across some old verses in " Yorkshire Songs 

 and Ballads " which may have reference to this legend, 

 though it cannot be said that in quoting them I shall endanger 

 my soul's welfare, for in them at any rate there appears to 

 be nothing " blasfemous." One or two verses run : — 



Listen Yorkshire gentlemen 

 Unto the tale I tell, 

 'Tis of a strange adventure 

 That once a lord befel. 



Who took his way with horse and hound, 

 With huntsman and with horn 

 To chase the wily fox I ween, 

 One Autumn's merry morn. 



" Or if he (the devil) would but come to-day, 



We'd give him such a run 

 As he ne'er had in all his life 



O ! 'twould be noble fun." 



So spake the lord and huntsman, 



When to their great surprise, 

 A noble fox unkenneled 



Before their wondering eyes. 



As black as any raven, 



As glossy and as bright 

 Save that his brush — no hunter's prize, 



Is tipped with shinning white. 



They had a wonderful run — so fast and so long that hounds, 

 horses, and riders were dead beat, yet this fox, jumping 

 into a river : — 



He swam into the middle, 



Then turned him round about, 

 And by the twain upon the bank 



Was heard to laugh and shout. 



