CHAPTER XIT. 



Fox-Hunting and Stag-Hunting — A fine Run with "the Baron" — • 

 Lord Lonsdale's Harriers and the Cumberland Bagmen — The 

 Ballad of" The Captive Fox " — Jack Hannan v. Johnny Broome 

 — Men of Peace and War — An Innocent Child, and a Clever 

 Clearance. 



In all the sports of the field that I have indulged in, 

 nothing has given me greater pleasure than being 

 mounted on a good horse, following a gallant pack of 

 hounds over a grass country. More than sixty years 

 of my life having been passed in the midst of the 

 glorious V^ale of Aylesbury, 1 have had opportunities 

 of enjoying this '* sport of kings" to the best advantage. 

 I have no intention of writing a homily on hunting, but 

 I cannot resist jotting down a few impressions as they 

 have often struck me. 



It has been the custom for many years, and in many 

 counties, to look with contempt on stag-hunting, and 

 every absurd epithet has been used to prejudice sports- 

 men against its pursuit. " Calf-hunting " has been the 

 most popular of the cries against it ; but why " calf" } 

 There are many and good reasons for the popularity of 

 stag:-huntincr in certain favoured districts. I am an old 

 fox-hunter, and an ardent admirer of the pursuit of 



