224 HISTORY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS AND ASCOT EACES. 



staff, the hounds, and the horses. The equine element is the 

 most difficult one to tackle in dealing with this subject. Accord- 

 ing to the establishment of June 24, 1709, the Master had 

 to find the horses for himself, the huntsman, and the yeomen 

 prickers, and, in fact, to defray all the ordinary expenses in- 

 cidental to the pack out of the annual allowance granted for 

 the support of his office. The same arrangement prevailed 

 under the increased scale granted to the Earl of Cardigan. 

 But there were likewise occasional supplementaiy payments 

 under this head, as we learn from the accounts of the Masters 

 of the Horse.* 



According to the ancient laws of venery the Buck-hunting 

 season (proper) commenced on Holyrood Day and ended on 

 Michaelmas Day. But there is incidental evidence frequently 

 to be met with in the annals of the chase, proving the legiti- 

 mate " season " was not rigorously adhered to, as " the hunting 

 of the buck " was pursued, indirectly and at intervals, from 

 Midsummer to Easter. For instance, Roger Palmer, in a familiar 

 letter to Ralph Verney, dated April 6, 1706, says: "When 



* 1711.— Samuel Masham for a grey gelding bought for the Master of the 

 Harthounds, bought the 17th of September 1711— 26Z. 17s. 6(7. 



William Lowen, for a chestnut horse and a bay gelding for the Master of the 

 Harthounds the 26th of the same month— 11/. 



Kowland Bright for a bay gelding for the use of the said Master bought the 

 same day — 251. 



Henry Pigot for a black gelding bought the 27th of the same month 28?. ; 

 more for a bay gelding for one of the huntsmen bought the 28th of the same 

 month 26Z. ; more for a black gelding for her Majesty's chase bought the same 

 time 251. ; more for a bay stone horse for the Master of the Staghounds bought 

 the same day 32Z. os. In all 11 IZ. 5^. 



1712-15. — To the Right Hon. the Earl of Cardigan, for three horses for the 

 huntsmen of the Buckhounds, 7ol. Cristopher Seymour for the hunting horses, 

 1277. 10.s\ 6d. ; Eobert Blount for a horse for the hunting stable, -137. ; Thomas 

 Thompson for a bay horse for the hunting stable, -437. 



•' Lately come to Town, a strong well-bred Mare, 7 Years old this Grass, 

 about 14 Hands 3 Inches high, fit for either Hunting or the Course, to be seen 

 at the Black-Horse at Hyde-Park Corner. Note, She has two Years keeping and 

 is in good Order for Buck-hunting, or any present Business."— Daili/ Courant, 

 Monday, June 30, 1712. 



" At the sign of the 3 Cups in High Holborn, There is to be sold a very hand- 

 some strong Gelding, fed to Hunting, and fit to carry any Gentleman of 18 stone 

 weight." — Ihid., Monday, November 30, 1713. 



