go SPORTING PARSONS OF THE OLD SCHOOL '. 



The Rev. Henry Palliser Costobadie, M.A., Jesus 

 College, Cambridge ; born 1801, became Rector of Hus- 

 bands Bosworth, Leicestershire, in 1839. The glebe lands 

 attached to this benefice extend to upwards of 600 acres, 

 and upon them is situate the famous covert known as 

 Bosworth Gorse. Mr. Costobadie always hunted in 

 scarlet and rode well to hounds, and not only at the 

 University, but in the hunting field, was acknowledged to 

 be one of the handsomest men of his day ; and to his well- 

 favoured person was united a charm of manner and kind, 

 generous nature, which caused him to be generally beloved. 

 In writing to me a few days ago the present Rector of 

 Husbands Bosworth, the Rev. Maurice Lamb, observes : 

 " I remember some years ago a late parishioner talking to 

 me about your uncle, and telling me a little story about 

 him. The counsel which he gave his congregation from 

 the pulpit was * Never mind what I do, but do as I tell 

 you.' He believed, and held strongly to his opinion, that if 

 husband and wife found it impossible to live happily together 

 they were manifestly much better apart ; and used to say, 

 ' If we parsons could untie the knot as easily as we can tie 

 it, instead of being engaged for one day in the week we 

 should be hard at work all seven ! ' I have heard it said, 

 although I cannot remember by whom, that the Rector 

 was in the habit of giving out the hunting appointments, 

 with other parochial notices, in the church ; and that he 

 would order the bell-ringers to herald the hounds with a peal 

 when they met in the village ; but although such instances 

 have been known, without further authority I cannot vouch 

 as to this." 



The Rector died abroad in 1856, leaving two sons and 

 two daughters : Clermont Hugh, Captain 3rd Dragoon Guards 

 who died unmarried ; Henry Holmes, Colonel R.H.A., of 

 The Hermitage, Stamford, who married his cousin Ger- 

 trude, daughter of George Vere Lucas-Braithwaite, Esq., 

 of Edith Weston Hall, Rutland : Caroline, who married 



