144 THE HISTORY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS. 



Apart from the Master and the hunt-servants, it would 

 appear that the " Equerries of the hunting stable," affiliated 

 with the Royal Hunt, were a corps of gentlemen in the enjoy- 

 ment of good appetites. By a writ of Privy Seal, dated 

 February 10, 1626-7, the Treasurers of the Exchequer were 

 ordered to pay the Cofferers of the Household " the sum of 

 five hundred, three score, and nineteen pounds, for a diet of 

 six dishes of meat every meal with bouche of Court and all 

 other allowances incident to the same diet, for one whole year 

 from henceforward to be fully complete, which we [Charles I.] 

 are graciously pleased to allow to the equerries of our hunting 

 stable." The grant was to remain in force, and the money 

 to pay for their rations to continue until " such time as our 

 pleasure shall be signified to the contrary." 



From these circumstances there can be no doubt -that every 

 element conducive to give good sport with the Royal pack 

 was in a thoroughly efficient state. It would also appear the 

 pace was a cracker, and "grief" by no means infrequent. 

 Accidents among the followers of the Royal Buckhounds in 

 those, as in subsequent times, must have been a common 

 occurrence in the hunting field, otherwise the services of 

 Richard Vincent and Edward Kingsley, the " bonesetters " 

 in ordinary to the pack, would not be required. These 

 gentlemen probably filled a position similar to Dr. Frazer, 

 " the hunting chirurgeon " to James II. And in those times 

 there were casualties in the hunting field which are impos- 

 sible in our day. For instance : on Friday, September 16, 

 1686, when the Royal Buckhounds were hunting in Windsor 

 Forest, Mr. Henry Percy — ^younger brother to Algernon, Earl 

 of Northumberland, created afterwards by Charles I. Baron 



monies by him disbursed for tlie taking of them in Toyles and for, the carriage 

 of those deer to H.M. new park at Richmond, which service continued from 

 November then past to Michaelmas following [i.e., 1640], 212Z. 16«. id." [The 

 salary of the Master of the Toyles was 66Z. I3s. M., that of the two yeomen 

 1«. a day wages, and 40.'.-. each per annum for livery.] 



