70 SPORTING PARSONS OF THE OLD SCHOOL : 



keep their own horses, and the stone steps from which they 

 mounted still remain in the college courtyard. 



These were the days of the "Town and Gown" rows, 

 in which Mr. Costobadie's height — about 6 feet 4 inches — 

 and immense strength, made him a formidable antagonist. 

 A co-temporary of his used to say that with two good sticks 

 " Costo," by which abbreviation he was known, and 

 another *' son of Anak," named Wyld, could defend or 

 clear a street. The latter was such an adept with his fists 

 that a wag once wrote upon a card " A thrashing machine 

 to let," and stuck it on the door of Wyld's rooms. 



The circumstance that two of Mr. Costobadie's sisters 

 had married and settled in the Midlands, no doubt 

 determined him to locate himself amidst the wide pastures 

 of Leicestershire. At -Hallaton he kept about half-a-dozen 

 brood mares, always aiming at producing something with 

 blood and yet bone enough to carry his weight, and 

 succeeded in breeding several colts that could go the pace, 

 jump, and stay. He used, however, to say that so 

 fascinating is the pursuit, that the surest way to ruin a man 

 fond of horses is to make him a present of a brood mare ! 

 Amongst the many traditions relating to his Hallaton days 

 is one that, upon a certain Sunday, he took four 

 services, rode forty miles, jumping four gates rather than 

 open them, shot a couple of wild ducks and brought them 

 home fastened to his saddle. 



Mr. Tailby recently acquainted the writer with one of 

 his early recollections. Mr. Costobadie was driving tandem 

 between Hallaton and Bowden, but instead of keeping to 

 the main road, attempted the bridle path. However, upon 

 arrival at the bridge over the brook he found it too narrow 

 by a few inches to admit of the dog-cart passing over ; 

 determined not to turn back, he out with the horses and off 

 with one wheel, which just allowed the axle a clear passage. 

 Squire Osbaldeston used to be styled the " Moonlight 

 Hunter," equally appropriately might the object of this 



