FOX-HUNTING 129 



they be beasts of chase. It was never 



accounted either cruelty or foul play to 



knock foxes and wolves on the head as 



they can be found, because these be beasts 



of prey." Mr. R. B, Turton, the editor of 



The North Riding Qttarter Sessions Records 



(from whom I quote), truly remarks that, 



however shocking to our feelings, fox-hunting 



seems to have occupied somewhat the same 



position in this period that rat-catching does 



now. The statute of Elizabeth just referred 



to remained on the Statute-Book till 1863. 



and was actually in operation in Cleveland 



at least as late as 1S47. There are in the 



Register and Churchwarden accounts for 



Lythe many entries of the rewards paid by 



the parish for "werment," from 1705 to 



1847. A few extracts will suffice for my 

 9 



