72 England's oldest hunt. 



Along fold tonpike (1), here and there, 



That witch hare along did flee. 

 No closer did we ever get, 



No greater lead it ever took 

 Ten yards in front of Billy Bitch — 



From t'first it seemed a narrow squeak. 

 At last 'mang heather, bracken, whin 



'Lang Stanghow Brow (2), with horses blown, 

 And Billy Bitch, with tongue lolled out, 



Fair beaten, it was fain to own. 

 Just when, with one great jump t'bitch thought 



To grasp t'hare's haunch, t'poor spent old bitch 

 Found nowt to snap at — t'hare had gone, 



An' then we kenned we'd hunted t'witch. 



Marske-by-the-Sea had a witch named Peggy Flanders, 

 who was wont to take the form both of hare and fox. 

 On one occasion her son happened to be out with some other 

 local hunting men, and though oft had she told him never 

 to slip their black bitch at a hare without she was with him, 

 he unleashed her after a hare which had been coursed once or 

 twice, but which had doubled with such dexterity that no 

 hound was a match for her. Away went the black bitch, 

 and the very first time Peg — for it was she — turned, it had 

 her. Marks were afterwards found on her body in the 

 corresponding place. 



There is a remarkable analogy in all these stories, and it 

 may be that they are corruptions of one old-time legend or 

 some superstition common over a considerable area amongst 

 sportsmen. Of one thing I am certain, those who related the 

 stories to me did so in all good faith, and firmly believed in 

 them. 



On this subject, which is of more than ordinary interest 

 I contributed the following note to " The Yorkshire Weekly- 

 Post," of September 30, 1905 :— 



With reference to the article of mine you quoted concerning racing 

 on the Hambletons, and particularly at Black Hambleton, the following 

 may be of interest : — 



The witch Abigail Craister lived in a cave near Black Hambleton. 



(1) The ton pike is the turnpike or high road. 



(2) Stanghow is near Loftus. 



