THE WILD-GOOSE CHASE. 31 S 



name from the manner of the flight which is made 

 by wild-geese, which is generally one after another, 

 so that two horses, after the running of twelve 

 score yards, had liberty, which horse (qy. rider ?) 

 soever could get the leading, to ride what ground 

 he pleased, the hindmost horse being bound to fol- 

 low him within a certain distance, agreed on by 

 articles, or else to be whipt up by the tryers or 

 judges which rode by, and whichever horse could 

 distance the other won. the match. But this chase 

 was found by experience so inhumane, and so de- 

 structive to horses, especially when two good horses 

 were matched, for neither being able to distance the 

 other, till ready both to sink under their riders 

 through weakness ; oftentimes the match was fair 

 to be drawn, and left undecided, though both horses 

 were quite spoiled. This brought them to run train 

 scents, which was afterwards changed to three 

 heats, and a straight course." Our readers will 

 acknowledge the resemblance between the modern 

 steeple and the ancient wild-goose chase ; and we 

 trust that, ere long, the example of our ancestors 

 will be followed, and the man who is capable of 

 exhibiting his horsemanship as the winner of a 

 modern steeple-chase, will reserve his prowess for a 

 better if not a nobler cause. 



2d 



