24 The Bedale Hounds, 1832-1908 



grandfather, who was '' a miraculous youth," 

 had hunted with a pack of hounds called the 

 ''Bedale/' They were trencher fed and 

 kept in the neighbourhood of Well. This 

 ' ' miraculous youth ' ' must have been 

 whipper-in or something of the kind, as on 

 hunting days he collected hounds by puUing 

 the ears of the few which he kept. This made 

 them howl, and so attracted the others, 

 which were kept in neighbouring farms and 

 houses, to the place of meeting. 



Mr. Milbank had in his younger days kept 

 a pack of harriers, to which probably the 

 following poem refers : — 



BEDALE, 20th DECEMBER, 1809. 



'Twas at nine in the morn, and the weather was fair 

 When we set out from Bedale, in search of a hare. 

 There was Charley the Huntsman, and young Mr. 



Mark,* 

 Dick Peirse and John Monson, not forgetting George 



Clark ; 

 A large field of farmers all eager to ride, 

 Each swearing to each as they rode side by side. 

 How the other would dash over mountains and dales 

 Leaving numbers behind them * ' hung ' * f at hedges 



and rails. 

 That the thing of all others they most wished to see 

 Jump up 'mid the hounds an old Reynard would be. 

 That hunting the hare was but moderate fun. 

 And they very much wished for a capital run. 

 Their wish was soon granted, for 'ere it was late, 

 The hounds went away at a terrible rate. 



* Who took the Bedale in 1832. At this date, 14 years old. 

 t What we now call " hung up " i.e. " pounded." 



