THE BELVOIR HUNT, 9 



paternity to Mr Noel's Victor. That 

 gentleman was master of the pack then 

 hunting the Cottesmore country. It would 

 be very interesting to determine at what 

 period, and by whom, the first pack of 

 hounds was used exclusively for the pur- 

 pose of hunting foxes ; but that point, I 

 fear, cannot now be determined. It is re- 

 corded in history that James I., on his 

 journey from Scotland, beguiled his time 

 with hunting, and that from Newark he 

 passed on to Belvoir Castle. Live hares 

 were liberated ; and, if history be correct, 

 hounds in those early days were encouraged 

 to hunt drag scents ; but no mention is 

 then made of the legitimate chase of the 

 fox. Sir John Harrington's hounds are 

 mentioned as having been in requisition on 

 the occasion, and that the king took " great 

 leisure and pleasure in the same." The 

 contrast is amusing to contemplate when 

 we consider the style of riding which the 



