PREFACE. XI. 



in his possession had he been but " tapped." Each year 

 makes it more difficult to rescue the history of the past. 

 Most packs have a story of their own, more or less interesting, 

 and one cannot but regret to see it gradually disappearing 

 unhonoured and unrecorded. Four or five hunts claim theirs 

 to be the oldest-established pack in England. I have en- 

 deavoured to prove the Sinnington, the Bilsdale and Farndale 

 in their original combination to be such. I think I have 

 succeeded, but the point is immaterial. Each of the packs 

 has connected with it such a plethora of characters, of 

 lore and legend, of incident and anecdote, to justify, nay, 

 to demand, its story being recorded in permanent form. 

 The age of my fox certainly gives an added spice of interest, 

 and I unhesitatingly use the title, " England's Oldest Hunt," 

 as my " contents bill." It has been impossible, and would, 

 I think, have been unwise to separate from the history the 

 folk-lore which occasionally finds its way into the pages of 

 this volume. The old type of Yorkshire dalesman was, 

 and to a certain extent is yet, a man of quaint superstitions, 

 beliefs and customs. They were his peculiar idiosyncracy, 

 and he carried them with him into his sport. The twain, 

 indeed, are inseparable. I mention this for fear it should 

 be imagined I occasionally require a rating for skirting or 

 babbling. 



In conclusion, I would say my volume is a labour of love. 

 Its compilation has made many sporting friendships, has 

 necessitated endless journeys, amid the lovely Yorkshire 

 hills and dales, all pregnant with hunting associations. 

 Many have been the pleasant days I have had with the three 

 packs herein dealt with, and firmly have I been convinced 

 that moorland hunting — old-fashioned though it may be — 

 is the most enjoyable and educative form of " the sport of 

 all sport." I am not so modest as some authors, who leave 

 it to their readers to judge whether or not their pages were 



