68 England's oldest hunt. 



being twisted together in a similar manner to a pig-ring. This caused 

 the hounds to go on three legs through the close season, and served to 

 prevent them from running hares. (The Cleveland hounds also adopted 

 this plan, but a prosecution against the Bilsdale by the R.S.P.C.A. put 

 an end to what was, no doubt, a useful but somewhat cruel practice — 

 J. F. B.) Then a change came to pass for the worse, they were stopped 

 hunting the hare, this caused less interest to be taken in the hunt, 

 which has never had so many followers since. I can well remember 

 it being said that Lord Feversham was surprised there were not so many 

 hares after they were not hunted, and one day, meeting the ever plain- 

 spoken Bobbie Dawson, he expressed surprise. " Oh ! " said Bobbie, 

 " Ah can tell ya hoo it is. T'farmers weean't keep hares noo 'at they've 

 been stopped him tin' 'em." 



Regarding this period of the history of the Hunt, stories, 

 were rife a few years ago, though one does not hear so much 

 of them now. Pregnant with superstition and lore, they 

 were told bona-fide, and one had to keep one's countenance 

 very straight else there would not have been a word said 

 regarding the troublesome witch " Peg Humphrey," who 

 gave the Bilsdale hounds and sportsmen so much trouble. 

 It seems Peg Humphrey was an " awd weean," as the 

 old dale sportsmen described her, who lived at East Moors. 

 Learned as she was in the black arts, it was her wont 

 to transform herself into a hare, and give the hounds 

 many a bootless run. They always seemed to come across 

 her form just when scent was at its best, and not till the run — 

 always a remarkable one — had been in progress for some 

 time did it transpire that it was no natural puss which they 

 were running, but this old woman, whose power it was, 

 with the aid of incantation, of mysterious boilings and 

 simmerings over her turf fire, to curse or cast spells upon 

 those against whom she was for some reason spiteful, or 

 whom her clientele in their malice wished punishing. So it 

 is little wonder that on certain days sport was spoiled, and 

 a fear cast over those who were participating in it. 

 With bated breath they consulted. Should hounds be called 

 off ? Was it Peg or was it really a big Jack hare — one of those 

 which give a run like a fox at certain times in the year ? 

 One day they decided, Peg or no Peg, witch or no witch, 

 they would not call off the eager hounds, but would follow 



