94 COURSING THE FOX. 



the Victor ; if any disputes arose, they were referred to the Articles of the Course 

 and determined by the Judges. 



In the days of Elizabeth, when she was not herself disposed to hunt, she was so 

 stationed as to see the coursing- of Deer with Greyhounds. At Coivdrey in Sussex, 

 the seat of Lord Montacute, A.D. 1591, one day after dinner, the Queen saw from 

 a Turret!, " sixteen Bucks all having fayre lawe, pulled down with Greyhounds 

 in a Laund or Laun." On an occasion like this, whatever we may think of the 

 magnanimity and high spirit of the Sovereign, we cannot say much in favour of 

 the feminine softness and humanity of the Virgin Queen. Sixteen harmless, 

 panting, and trembling animals, torn down by beasts of prey, to give delight to a 

 female heart ! 



The laws of Coursing were arranged and established by the Duke of Norfolk, in 

 this Queen's Reign. They have formed the basis and precedent of all subsequent 

 laws on the same subject. 



In coursing the Fox, no other art was necessary but to get the wind, and stand 

 close on the outside of the wood, whence he was expected to come, and to give him 

 law enough, or he instantly returned back to the Cover ; the slowest Greyhounds 

 were speedy enough to overtake him, and all the hazard was the Fox spoiling' the 

 Dog, which frequently happened ; for the most part, the Greyhounds used for this 

 course were hard-biting* Dogs that would seize any tiling. 



