HUNTING WITH THE COTTESMORE 203 



most of the coverts are strong woodland with wide 

 areas of country between. But few gorse coverts 

 exist, and no artificial earths, so that every variety 

 of hunting, whether on the grass, plough, or in the 

 woodland districts, is an opportunity to enjoy the 

 chase under the most perfect conditions. A good 

 scenting country, and sparsely populated, the pack 

 are seen to great advantage in the open, and once 

 clear of the woodland strongholds it is a congratula- 

 tion to have a good horse under you ! But a hunts- 

 man and his hounds must be quick, if they hope 

 to handle a Cottesmore fox, and in Arthur Thatcher 

 they had their match. 



The Cottesmore country is one of county families, 

 who give a reflected glory to the hunt which has 

 flourished under their fostering care for the best 

 part of two centuries. The past history of the 

 pack is inseparably linked with the Noels, Lowthers, 

 Trollopes, and Heathcotes, extensive land-owners 

 in the hunt, who collectively have held master- 

 ships extending over nearly a hundred and fifty 

 years. 



Amongst owners of large estates, both in the 

 Cottesmore and Belvoir countries, is the Earl of 

 Ancaster, son of the late Sir Gilbert Heathcote, who 

 held the Cottesmore mastership early in the last 

 century, and had a fine stud of hunters under the 

 care of the famous Dick Christian. It is interest- 

 ing to note that when Sir Gilbert Heathcote's 

 hunters were sold by Messrs. Tattersall in the 

 summer of 1807, one horse made 360 gns., three 

 realised 310 gns. each, and two went at 300 gns., 

 the remainder of the stud making high prices. 



At this time the hounds were kennelled at Nor- 

 manton Park and Stocken Hall, and later, when 

 the Lowther family came into possession, they were 



