FOX-HUNTING 129 



they be beasts of chase. It was never 

 accounted either cruelty or foul play to 

 knock foxes and wolves on the head as 

 they can be found, because these be beasts 

 of prey." Mr. R. B. Turton, the editor of 

 The North Riding Qiiarter Sessions Records 

 (from whom I quote), truly remarks that, 

 however shocking to our feelings, fox-hunting 

 seems to have occupied somewhat the same 

 position in this period that rat-catching does 

 now. The statute of Elizabeth just referred 

 to remained on the Statute- Book till 1863, 

 and was actually in operation in Cleveland 

 at least as late as 1847. There are in the 

 Register and Churchwarden accounts for 



O 



Lythe many entries of the rewards paid by 

 the parish for "werment," from 1705 to 



1847. A few extracts will suffice for my 

 9 



