WILLIAM III. AS A SPOETSMAN. 199 



Royal Hunting Establisliment was maintained in a thorough 

 state of efficiency towards the end of the reign of William III. 

 If we may draw any deduction from such an insignificant 

 matter as the cover for the Hound-van, we find an order for a 

 new one issued almost every year. These covers were made 

 of red cloth and embroidered with the King's arms at the four 

 corners with silk. In these unsettled times, it is probable the 

 Royal Buckhounds only met when opportunity permitted ; 

 very little transpires as to the nature of the sport, as may 

 be gathered from the subjoined contemporary reports : — 



The King took the Divertisment of Hunting on Friday about 

 Hounslow, and returned at Night to Kensington. — April ^^. 



His Majesty went on Tuesday last to Richmond, and by the way 

 he took the Divertisment of Hunting, and at night returned to his 

 Palace at Kensington. — Oct. t-?. 



The King was at Richmond on Saturday last to take his Diver- 

 tisment of shooting. — Nov. ^4, No, 239. 



1697. On Saturday last the King took the Divertisment of 

 Hunting about Branstead Downs. — 7/^^. 



o March '2 



Mr. Stepney to Lord Lexington, London, November 21. — "The 

 King got cold as he was hunting last Saturday. He had shivers last 

 night as if he would have an ague, but to-day he is better." — Lexing- 

 ton Papers, p. 15. 



1698. I hear His Majesty designs to go on Saturday to Windsor, 



they were not employed. But in case any of them should be otherwise provided 

 for, or in case of their death, their pensions were to cease and determine, viz. : 

 Wm. Carpenter, Thos. Calcot, Christ. Sarnpson, Thos. Taylor. Geo. Burden and 

 Rob. Franklin.— ^a;-?. 3LS. 5010, fo. 17-36, 



In this series we find the subjoined computation " of the charge and expence 

 of the Horse Liveries, according to the following rates," viz. : Hay £4 per load, 

 straw 30.S'. per load, oats 24.9. per quarter, beans 6s. per bushel, shoeing and 

 medicining 2.<f. per day ; more for each hunting horse 205. per annum. Each 

 horse was allowed 1 bottle of hay, I^ peck of oats and ^ peck of beans per day, 

 and 8 trusses of straw per month. Four " hunting horses " and 36 " hunters 

 coursers and pads " was the established yearly allowance in the royal stables. 

 The total cost of keeping each horse is set down at £52 10s. 3f rf, a year. 

 Yearly charge for diet, etc, commencing April 1, 1689. Yeomen of the field 

 to the King and Queen on hunting days were entitled to receive from the royal 

 larder 2 manchets of bread ; 2 bottles of Lambeth ale ; 1 bottle of champagne, 

 1 bottle of Rhenish, and 1 bottle of Spanish wines. — Harl. MSS. 5010. 



