128 FOX-HUNTING 



while the people would claim it for their 

 own. It is the privilege of no class ; its 

 constitution is republican, founded and living 

 on liberty, equality, and fraternity. Fox- 

 hunting has grown out of ill-repute during 

 the last two centuries, and has long been 

 placed first in popular affection. Good 

 Queen Bess,^ by a statute (8 Eliz. cap. 15) 

 "for killino- of vermino- as foxes and such 

 like," gave expression to her people's wishes, 

 and provided a machinery of rewards for the 

 head of every "fox" or "gray" (badger); 

 whilst St. John, in his speech on the trial of 

 Strafford, makes the blood of the modern 

 sportsman run cold as he cries out : " It is 

 true we eive law to hares and deer because 



1 Vide Turton's "The Honor and Forest of Pickering," 

 North Ridinc Records. 



