4 THE BADMINTON HUNT. 



toned bellowings, which I can testify on 

 more than one occasion. Nor is the en- 

 croachment altogether free from risk, so 

 jealous are the stags. 



It is understood by those who are most 

 conversant with the antecedents, that fox- 

 hunting was patronised by the noble house 

 of Somerset at a very early date ; but all 

 records relating thereto were destroyed 

 when Ragland Castle fell into the posses- 

 sion of the Parliamentary forces. 



Searching the peerage, it appears that 

 Henry, fifth Earl of Somerset, created 

 Marquis of Worcester in 1642, was the 

 owner of the estates at that time ; when, 

 surrendering his castle after four years' 

 defence of it, in 1646, he died before the 

 expiration of the year, and was succeeded 

 by his son Edward, second Marquis and 

 sixth Earl, who was also a distinguished 

 defender of the royal cause. It will be 

 gleaned from this, that Monmouthshire 



