194 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



defence, and they found that they lacked sufficient know- 

 ledge to conduct their cases satisfactorily. Anyhow, 

 on business or pleasure bent, there they were, lawyers, 

 lords, and sharpers. I found I had under my charge 

 the elite of " The Fancy " — noble lords. Members of 

 Parliament, and men of most of the learned profes- 

 sions, It was even whispered that "the cloth" was 

 represented. 



Early in the morning the town of Aylesbury was 

 astir, and every horse I could obtain in the place was 

 requisitioned, while the town was ransacked to supply 

 the visitors with breakfast. The crowd assembled to 

 witness the fight was immense ; the Aylesbury contingent 

 hailed from London, but others came in vast numbers 

 from Birmingham, vid Banbury and Bicester, and these 

 exceeded in numbers the Southerners. The fight was a 

 gallant one, and the scene was devoid of all the disgusting 

 brutality that has usually been attributed to these battles. 

 After nearly eighty rounds had been fought out, one of 

 the combatants came forward and shook hands with his 

 opponent, and confessed he had had enough, and was 

 fairly beaten, and not a single hitch occurred to mar 

 the exhibition of a splendid display of science, pluck, 

 and endurance. 



Some amusing episodes occurred during the day. 

 One friend of mine, a leading farmer in the neighbour- 

 hood of Bicester, attended the fight on horseback, and 

 some men, who were pressed upon by his horse, earnestly 

 entreated him to take charge of a poor little boy, about 

 twelve years old, who, they said, was being nearly 

 crushed to death. My friend kindly permitted them to 



