SPORTING PARSONS — THEIR PHILOSOPHY OF THE CHASE. 59 



SPORTING PARSONS of the OLD SCHOOL. 



Although there is no mention in Old Testament history 

 of the horse or dog being used in hunting by the Jews, 

 Josephus records that Herod was a great sportsman ; and 

 the addiction of the Franks in later centuries to the chase 

 is evidenced by the frequency with which not only the laity, 

 but also the clergy, were mentioned by the Provincial 

 Councils as participating in hunting with " hounds, hawks 

 and falcons " ; and there are similar proofs of the habits of 

 other Teutonic nations subsequent to the introduction of 

 Christianity. In Roman history allusion is made to the 

 pleasures of the chase (wild ass, boar, hare and fallow deer), 

 but "not as the occupation of gentlemen, chiefly being left 

 to inferiors and professionals." 



Without attempting a treatise upon the history of 

 hunting, it may be noted that the early inhabitants of 

 Britain kept hunting dogs, Alfred the great being at an 

 early age an expert in the " noble art " of hunting. The 

 Anglo-Saxon Kings distinguished between the " higher " 

 and the "lower" chase, the former being "expressly for 

 the King," or " those upon whom he had bestowed the 

 pleasure of sharing it," the latter only allowed to proprietors 

 of land. In temp. Henry VIII. buckhounds were kenneled 

 at Swinley, and in the reign of Charles II. (1684) ^ ^^^^ 

 went away to Lord Petre's seat in Essex, " only five of the 

 followers got to the end of this 70-mile run, one being the 

 King's brother, the Duke of York." 



In 35 Elizabeth (1593), Newland Manor, Batcombe, 

 Dorset, was held at his death by John Minterne, Gentleman 

 of the Queen, as of her honour of Gloucester, by Knight's 

 Service. 



In 37 Elizabeth, William Minterne and John Minterne 

 junr., Gentlemen, were appointed to the office of "Wood- 

 ward and Custos of all the woods in Dorset." 



