ladies' costume in the hunting field. 227 



letters she incidentally bears witness to the popularity of 

 hunting in Notts ; and mentions how a bishop married a fair 

 Diana (a daughter of Lord Lexington) " whom he fell in love 

 with for falling backward from her horse leaping a ditch, where 

 she displayed all her charms, which he found irritible."* 



Now as to the four Masters of the Royal Buckhounds of 

 Queen Anne's reign, it is difficult to define the status of the 

 first two, as they were not offi^cially recognised as such, although 

 they de facto filled the office, and probably performed their 

 duties with zeal and ability for the time being. The interreg- 

 num (if we may use the term) from March 8, 1702, to June 

 13, 1709, during which the Royal Hunt was directly connected 

 with the establishment of Prince George of Denmark, the 

 Queen's Consort, it received no official cognisance in connection 

 with the Royal Household Departments. Hence we do not 

 find the slightest reference to the Royal Buckhounds or their 

 masters or the servants of the pack within that period. But 

 from informal sources we are told that on or about June 8, 

 1703, "Sir Charles Shuckburgh and Sir G wester Peyton are 

 made Masters of the Stag and Buckhounds to the Queen." f 



Sir Charles Shuckburgh, Bart., only son and heir of 

 John Shuckburgh, Esq., of Shuckburgh, county Warwick (who 

 was created a Baronet by Charles II. on June 26, 1660 1), and 



* John Hughes, in the Spectator of June 29, 1711, describes "the Amozonian 

 hunting habits " worn by ladies on horseback at this time as consisting of a 

 coat and waistcoat of blue camlet trimmed and embroidered with silver, with 

 a " petticoat " of the same materials. ' The hair was curled and powdered, 

 hanging to a considerable length on the shoulders and " wantonly tied " with a 

 scarlet riband. A little beaver hat edged with silver, made sprightly by a 

 feather, was worn on the head " in a small cock." 



f Luttrell's Diary, sul? dato. 



% About the time Sir Charles Shuckbm-gh came of age it was found that 

 there was a claim of 1,095?. on his estates, alleged to be due to the Crown since 

 the occasion of his father's creation to the dignity of a Baronet in 1660. Sir 

 Charles, in a petition to the King, pointed out that the fees incidental to that 

 creation had been remitted by Royal grace and favour, whereupon the King 

 gave orders, on November 29, 1679, to the Lords of the Treasiu-y not to press 

 the claim, notwithstanding a recent order to enforce the collection of 20,000?., 

 which was due and payable for the use of the Great Wardrobe by the creation 

 of Baronets, 



