lib THE HISTOKY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS. 



brother, the Duke of York, at that time was passionately 

 devoted to the chase — probably the most ardent huntsman in 

 the kingdom. His correspondence invariably contains allusions 

 to hunting, but as H.R.H. had a separate pack of Buckhounds, 

 it is impossible to determine when he was referring to the 

 King's pack or to his own. And lack of money must have 

 been an obstacle of difficult negotiation with the officials of the 

 Royal Buckhounds in those days, for sport hath its proverbial 

 " sinews," as well as war. As an example of the characteristic 

 good nature so frequently manifested by the Merry Monarch, 

 we may instance his appeal to " all the nobility and gentry " 

 and "all other loving subjects of what degree and quality 

 whatsoever," on behalf of E-ichard Blome's ponderous folio 

 volume on field sports, entitled The Gentleiman's Recreation, 

 which H.M. enjoined such persons, by their subscriptions, to 

 encourage the author, " to perfect and finish the said work." 

 This royal advertisement is dated Whitehall, February 14, 

 1682-3. Blome boiled down all the old writers on the "Art 

 and Mistery of Venery," and effectually murdered them in the 

 process. It is a wretched compilation, nevertheless a perfect 

 copy is now worth 100/. It was published in 1686. 



