AFFAIRS OF THE PACK DUKING THE REIGN OF CHARLES II. 161 



reappointment to that office as this Master of the Royal 

 Buckhounds was "lately dead " on or about October 19, 1685. 

 (Luttrers Diary, sub dato.) 



In the meantime, there is one circumstance connected with 

 the Mastership of this portion of the Royal Buckhounds to 

 which we must briefly allude. In June 1675 Thomas Elliot, 

 Esq., and John Neville, Esq., obtained the reversion of the 

 office : " To hold and enjoy the same office successively after 

 the determination of the estate and interest of John Gary, Esq., 

 therein (who now enjoys the same) together with the usual 

 fees and privileges to the same office belonging for and during 

 the terms of their respective lives, and the life of the longest 

 liver of them." But as neither of those gentlemen attained the 

 post, it is sufficient to mention that Mr. Elliot was the chief 

 manager of the racing establishment of Charles II. at New- 

 market, and one of the Grooms of the Privy Chamber. Mr. 

 Nevill was a " natural son of Richard Nevill, of Billinber, 

 CO. Berks, Esq." {vide Patent). 



Before concluding this memoir we must mention the folio wins; 

 singular event. In August 1679 Messrs. Powney and Gary, 

 " of the Royal Buckhounds," were put forward as candidates 

 to contest the Parliamentary representation of the borough 

 of Windsor, in support of the Court party, in opposition to 

 Messrs. Winwood and Starkey, the late members. The Court 

 candidates were returned by a considerable majority through 

 the votes of the retainers and servants of the Castle. On a 

 petition to the House of Commons the royal huntsmen were 

 unseated, and the old members reinstated, because their 

 opponents were illegally returned " by the voice of the King's 

 servants, who have no pretence of voting there but as such." * 

 Another version (probably more accurate) is given by Messrs. 

 Tighe and Davis in the A7inals of Windsor, vol. ii., p. 381 — 

 viz., " Parliament was dissolved by a proclamation dated at 

 Windsor, the 12th of July, 1679, and in August 1679 Mr. 

 Starkey and Mr. Winwood were again returned by the inhabit- 

 ants paying scot and lot, and John Carey and John Powney, 



* Diari/ of the Hon, Henry Sidneij, vol, i., p. 89. 



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