CHAPTER II 



THE DATES OF THE PRINCIPAL 

 HUNTS 



A 



S has been explained, it can be of little real 

 consequence which of several hunts is the 

 oldest, because even if the matter was finally 

 decided no special object would be gained. The real 

 originators of foxhunting were the old family packs 

 which became established during the latter part of the 

 eighteenth century. Such packs, gradually turning their 

 attention from the pursuit of hare or buck to fox alone, 

 made the last-mentioned style of sport so generally 

 popular that "countries" began to be formed where 

 there was no family pack in possession, and thus at the 

 end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nine- 

 teenth centuries a whole host of hunts came into 

 existence which are at the present day most flourishing 

 affairs. 



Of the great family packs the Belvoir, the Brocklesby, 

 and the Badminton (the Duke of Beaufort's) claim 

 precedence. Of these the Brocklesby has the longest 

 history, for it claims to date from 1700 or a little earlier, 

 while the Hound Lists go back to 1746. It is also 

 understood that the country, as at present constituted, 

 has existed since 17 14, when Messrs. Vyner, Tyrwhitt, 

 and Pelham hunted it conjointly. After a while the 

 two first-named masters retired, and since that time the 

 hounds and country have been entirely in the hands 



