2 FOX-HUNTING FROM SHIRE TO SHIRE 



" And after the hunting was over there came 

 A time when Ranter was covered with fame ; 

 For the Peterborough verdict was ' special and cup ' 

 For the hound that we reared at the farm as a pup." 



• — Rhymes in Red. 

 By W. Phillpotts Williams^ M.F.H. 



" But of all the best sportsmen who rode in the van 

 There was none like the Master, and few like the man ; 

 They came out from Milton a glorious clan, 

 And went like the deuce in the morning. 

 With his toe in the stirrup its hopeless to try 

 To overtake ' one George,' for he seemeth to fly 

 The ' other,' though heavy, will give the go-by 

 To many good men in the morning." 



— Old Fitzunlliam Hunting Song. 



" The King's health, God save the Kmg ! " the 

 first toast at the annual Peterborough Foxhound 

 Show, is the signal for an assembly of sportsmen, 

 representative of the United Kingdom, to rise as 

 one man to drink the health and long life of "the 

 Patron of fox-hunting," King George V , who suc- 

 ceeds King Edward VII. 



The noble pile of Peterborough Cathedral inspires 

 lofty sentiments when modern-day pilgrims, the 

 elite of every hunting country in England, wend 

 their way annually to take part in the premier 

 event of the foxhounds of Great Britain. It is 

 a solemn assembly of expert opinion which fore- 

 gathers in the Cathedral city, around the judging 

 ring of the foxhound show, to decide the merits 

 of the pick of the kennels of England, and set the 

 type and standard for the modern weapons of the 

 chase. That sport and agriculture, year by year, 

 hold high festival under the shadow of the Cathedral, 

 is in keeping with the best traditions, doubtless 

 bringing many virtues in its train. From time 

 immemorial, Church and the Chase have been the 

 two great humanising influences in the existence of 



