254 Th^ Pytchley, and Charles Payn. 



The Pytchley, and Charles Payn. 



In the days when this history commences good 

 sport with the Pytchley was a matter of tradition 

 only. Three changes took place without mending 

 matters. Mr. Smith was said to be a good 

 workman but he was handicapped by having 

 bad horses and indifferent hounds. Sir Harry 

 Goodrich held the Mastership for two years with 

 matters getting worse. 



Mr. George Payn had a great reputation and 

 I once hacked twenty- four miles to a meet at 

 Stamford Hall where a capital mount awaited me. 



I could only come to the conclusion that the 

 Squire, in assuming the role of huntsman, had 

 greatly mistaken his vocation. We were on fine 

 grass all day yet with no good result. The only 

 person In the establishment who shewed skill was 

 Ned Johnson as whipper-in. He soon afterwards 

 came to Lord Southampton to whom he gave 

 great satisfaction. Ned was offered the horn 

 many times, but he always refused it, saying : 

 ^' I know nothing of hunting and will never 

 undertake it." 



At this time people from the Pytchley hunted 

 regularly with the Grafton, and they did not 

 return to their own hunt until Charles Payn 



