30 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



Mr. Loder answered that he left the question of 

 wages in Lord Abingdon's hands, and adds ** I 

 return you innumerable thanks for yr kind enquiries 

 after my Health, and for an abundance of and com- 

 fortable presents. I am much better but cannot lay 

 on bruised side, neither is the other quite easy ; Time 

 I trust before ye Sporting Season will render me 

 tolerably sound again ; Shall be fearful of mounting 

 a horse again during this very dry harsh weather, 

 Tho' excellent for haymaking." 



Mr. Loder was now huntino- a orreat extent 

 of country. It extended from beyond Fair- 

 ford in Gloucestershire to Thame and Stoken- 

 church in Oxfordshire. He was, as was usual 

 in those days, in the habit of taking the 

 hounds with him to hunt the more distant 

 parts of the country, and of remaining some 

 days in the neighbourhood. He frequently 

 stayed at Fairford, and for the eastern portion 

 of his hunt, Rycot, and Wytham, were often 

 his headquarters, as the following letters will 

 show : — 



Dear Sir, — You know not only my House, 

 Stables, and Kennel, but my Foxes, my Ox, and my 

 Ass, and whatever you find upon the premises at 

 Rycot are at your service. I was in great hopes of 

 being at Hobdays myself this week in company with 

 Sir Willoughby Aston who pines to crack a bottle 



with you 



. . . After which I expect to be at leisure and 

 shall snatch the earliest opportunity of joining you 



