20 THE HISTORY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS. 



revenues of Surrey and Sussex, by the hands of the Sheriff, 

 in equal proportions at Easter and Michaelmas. Besides 

 the foregoing, and not included, was the wages of a " berner," 

 for the keep of 15 running dogs during the 40 days of 

 Lent. 



From the year 1401, this William Brocas, the third Here- 

 ditary Master of the Royal Buckhounds, received 50^. and 16cZ. 

 out of the issues of the county Sussex towards the expenses 

 of his office. From the year 1400 to the year 1405 John 

 Napper was the huntsman, and John Backhous and John Hunte 

 were the two other hunt-servants of the pack. But in the last 

 regnal year of Henry V.'s reign (a.d. 1422) the huntsman 

 was Roger Kent. The stipend to the Master and his hunt- 

 servants, 50^. and 8d., was paid to them by the Sheriff of the 

 county Sussex for the time being. 



During the reign of Henry V. (March 21, 1413 — August 31, 

 1422) there was no material change in the Master, hunt 

 servants, or the cost of the pack, which was supported, as 

 heretofore, out of the issues of the county Sussex. 



From the 1st to the 17th year of the reign of Henry VI. 

 (September 1, 1422 — August 31, 1439) the same state of affairs 

 prevailed, except that we find the names of the hunt servants 

 recited with the Masters in the acquittances given to the 

 Sheriff of Sussex when the payments were made. This 

 Hereditar}?- Master of the Buckhounds obtained a patent of the 

 office of Master of the King's dogs, called Buckhounds, from 

 Henry VI., in 1449, which is the earliest document of the sort 

 we have met with, in which the Mastership of the pack is 

 conferred in express words. By virtue of this document the 

 Master was entitled to 50^. per annum from the Sheriffs of 

 Surrey and Sussex, towards the expenses of the pack (Pat. 27, 

 Henry VI., Part ii., m. 28). He died in 1456, for which year 

 he received 49Z. I7s. 4cZ. out of the issues of the county of 

 Sussex for his salary, including the usual allowances of the 

 huntsman, Thomas Childe, and the two hunt-servants, Richard 

 and Peter Hunte. 



This William Brocas, Esq., third Hereditary Master of the 



