iJeiiiSuifiki^sii. 





CHAPTER II. 



The Early History of the Hunt. 



'There is only one thing better than tradition, and that is the original 

 and eternal life out of which all tradition takes its rise.' — Lowell. 



The early history of all hunts, or of nearly all, is enveloped 

 in a great deal of obscurity. Even in the case of hunts of 

 comparatively recent formation, such as the York and Ainsty, 

 this is the case. There has been some sort of hunting 

 community out of which the more modern establishment has 

 been evolved and the records of which, if thev have ever 

 existed, have long been lost. The York and Ainsty dates 

 from the year 1816, but long before that date the whole of 

 the country which is now hunted by that pack was thoroughly 

 well hunted by one or other of the historic packs which still 

 exist, or by some which have long been given up, and the 

 very memory of which is almost forgotten. Previous to that 

 date, the Bramham Moor hunted up to the walls of York 

 on the south side, whilst Sir Tatton Sykes, who at that time 

 managed his brother's hounds which were kennelled at 

 Eddlethorpe, hunted up to the walls on the east side. Then 

 the horn and holloa of Lord Darlington, and the merry cry 

 of the famous Raby pack, roused the echoes of Brafferton 

 Spring, though Sir Mark Masterman Sykes hunted Sessay 



