THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1802 



Squire Boothby, of Ashbourne, rode over the plain, 

 Expecting each minute bold Reynard was slain. 

 He rode with great courage all the day through, 

 And well he was mounted upon his True Blue. 



Now Waller did hollo, " Now sentence is past, 

 There is Trowler and Snowball puts up at the last. 

 Come, gentlemen, ride, for the game is our own. 

 Now the old hounds are up I find Reynard is blown." 



The sportsmen all rode at a desperate rate, 

 As if they had rode for a thousand pound plate ; 

 No hedges could turn them, no walls could them set, 

 For the choicest of sportsmen in England were met. 



The hounds they did rally and quickly pursue, 



" Do you hear little Careless, she runs him in view." 



Fifty miles in four hours it was a great ride, 



But in Wooton Old Park, there bold Reynard he died. 



Now as for Jack Woolley we'll not him neglect, 

 He rode with great fury, ne'er fearing his neck. 

 Nor hedges nor walls could they turn him again. 

 He came in the same minute that Reynard was slain. 



The sportsmen came in every one at the last. 



The hounds they ran briskly, not one of them cast ; 



So let's ring Reynard's fall with a horn that sounds clear 



We've not heard such a holloaing many a year. 



'Tis hunting alone can all pastime command. 

 There's the otter by water, the deer by dry land. 

 Hare hunting is pleasant, the stag's a fine chase, 

 But to hunting the fox all the rest should give place. 



Come, gentlemen sportsmen, wherever you be, 

 All you that love hunting, draw near unto me. 

 The Chase is now ended, you've heard Reynard's fall, 

 So let's drink to Squire Vernon of Sudbury Hall. 



The early annals of what is now known as the Meynell 

 country seem to deal principally with anarchy and con- 

 fusion. At the end of the eighteenth century there were 

 several chieftains clamouring, each one, for their rights, and 

 chaos reigned, until, as in the case of the Saxon heptarchy, 

 the separate kingdoms or chieftainships were all merged 



