6 THE HISTOEY OF THE ROYAL BUCKHOUNDS. 



enough for the venatic requirements of this great and mighty- 

 monarch. 



Almost contemporaneous and co-existent with the institution 

 of the Order of the Garter, the Mastership of the Royal Buck- 

 hounds partook of, and participated in, the splendour and 

 magnificence of the age. The first Master was a grand sports- 

 man, a distinguished statesman, and an intimate and trusted 

 friend of the king. Apart from his official connection with 

 the pack, he was in receipt of a grant of 50/. a year for good 

 service rendered to the Crown. He was also Master of the 

 Horse, a post of great distinction and profit ; and as a soldier 

 he was pre-eminent among the many valiant and brave men 

 who flourished under the all-conquering sway of the trium- 

 phant Edward. Now let us picture to ourselves the brilliant 

 scene presented at a meet of the Royal Buckhounds in those 

 days. In our mind's eye we see King Edward in his pride of 

 place, accompanied by the Black Prince and his wife, — who has 

 achieved such celebrity as " The Fair Maid of Kent," through 

 whom the Order of the Garter is said to have originated, — 

 " time-honoured Lancaster," Lineol of Clarence, and a brilliant 

 troop of lords and ladies, knights galore, and doubtless many a 

 squire of low degree, who had but recently won his spurs on 

 numerous hard-fought fields — all well mounted and eager for 

 the chase. Besides the natives, let us glance at the foreigners 

 of distinction who are present at the meet. The French king, 

 a prisoner of war on parole, the Duke of Orleans, with their 

 suites, the flower of the nobility of conquered France, are there, 

 trying to forget their misfortune in the pleasures of the chase. 

 How the heart of the peasant who came to see the meet must 

 throb with national pride as he looked upon the royalty of 

 humbled France ! What pleasure he must feel as he tells his 

 sweetheart by his side that yonder sorrel carries Ralph Earl of 

 Eu and Guisnes, High Constable of France, and on either side 

 she sees Charles Lord of Blois, and the Earl of Tancarville. 

 David King of Scotland and his queen are likewise present, 

 and likewise prisoners of war. There are other great person- 

 ages at the meet among King Edward's guests upon whom 



