1871-72] Frank Beers' Diaries. 123 



go on. i8i couples bitches. I rode Stepaway and 

 Brocklesby. 



Dec. I St. — Plumpton. Found, went away to Canons 

 Ashby, turned to Maidford Village, and killed the fox 

 there. I rode Cheerful and Ensign. 18 couples bitches 

 out. Frost until Dec. 14th. 



Dec. 14th. — Castle Thorpe. Found at Pike's Gorse, 

 and killed at Haversham Found again at Gayhurst, and 

 ran over the river to Tvringham ; back again to Linford 

 Wood, and gave it up. 



" Dec. 15th. — Whittield. Killed our fox in the covert. 

 Found in Brackley Gorse, went through Steane Park to 

 Cockley, on to Marston, where the fox turned short 

 back, leaving Newbottle on the right, and ran through 

 Cold Ready to Hinton, and ran into him in front of the 

 Brackley Workhouse, after 57 minutes, with hardly a 

 check ; lots of croppers. We found a third fox in a 

 little spinney in Helmdon Field ; close at him to Falcote, 

 Helmdon,and Allithorn, away pointing for WestonVillage^ 

 to the right along the brook side, between Weedon 

 W^ood and Green's Park, to the left into Plumpton. 

 Four or hve foxes on foot, so we went home. 35 minutes. 

 A charming line, almost too stiff. A large field out^ 

 but the hounds ran away from them. Only Mr. Lambton 

 and myself, Mr. Gosling, Mr. Hibberd, and my second 

 whip really saw the whole of it. I rode Cheerful and 

 Ensign." 



Dec. i6th. — Wakeheld. A very useful day in the 

 forest, and killed a fox. 



Dec. 19th. — Stowe-Nine-Churches. Found and 

 went away to Weedon X'illage ; a fox was headed and 

 ran to the right of Stowe, down to Lichboro' to ground. 

 Found again at Mantel's Heath. The fox left Badby 

 Wood on the left, past Daventry on the left, to Dodford 



