The Sinnington, 317 



form of a dinner and a ball. Conviviality was ever a 

 feature in its existence ; and at one time contributed 

 in a large degree towards the object for which the 

 Hunt Club was called into being. Thus, in years gone 

 by, the death of a fox was always held an occasion to 

 be celebrated by the adjournment of all hands to the 

 nearest hostelry, with a view to dinner and song. 

 Fines were rigidly exacted, and devoted to the 

 expenses of the Hunt. Thus any member not up at 

 the kill was mulcted in the sum of five shillings ; and 

 every member not dining had to forfeit half a crown. 

 The annual subscription to the club was sixteen 

 shillings ; and the funds were further augmented by 

 the receipt of five shillings from the hands of the 

 churchwarden of the parish wherein each fox was 

 killed. In like way the keepers of the period received 

 a shilling from the same official for the body of each 

 foumart. The foumart or fummard is now quite 

 extinct in Yorkshire, as the fox no doubt would also 

 have been by now, but for the loyal co-operation of the 

 good yeomen who worked so hard, and feasted so 

 freely, to gain the parish bounty. The *' Sinnington 

 New Hunting Song'^ of fifty years ago illustrates 

 this, their very laudable habit and custom : 



At Wrelton's hospitable hoard 



Tlie Hunters at tlieir leisure 

 Drink to the foxliounds that afford 



This noble English pleasure, 

 Then homeward go, each his own way, 



With spirits gay and hearty ; 

 And wlicn they're such another day 



May we he of the party. 



What to do with horses and hounds on such occasions 



