BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



and been put up again as often, came still nearer to the place 

 where she was at first started. The dogs pursued her, and 

 these were followed by the jolly knight, who rode upon a white 

 gelding, encompassed by his tenants and servants, and cheer- 

 ing his hounds with all the gaiety of five and twenty, 



' One of the sportsmen rode up to me, and told me, 

 that he was sure the chase was almost at an end, because the 

 old dogs, which had hitherto lain behind, now headed the pack. 

 The fellow was in the right. Our hare took a large field just 

 under us, followed by the full cry In View. I must confess 

 the brightness of the weather, the cheerfulness of everything 

 around me, the chiding of the hounds, which was returned 

 upon us in a double echo from two neighbouring hills, with the 

 hallooing of the sportsmen, and the sounding of the horn, 

 lifted my spirits into a most lively pleasure, which I freely 

 indulged because I was sure it was innocent. If I was under 

 any concern, it was on the account of the poor hare, that was 

 now quite spent, and almost within the reach of her enemies ; 

 when the huntsman getting forward threw down his pole 

 before the dogs. They were now within eight yards of that 

 game which they had been pursuing for almost as many hours ; 

 yet on the signal before-mentioned they all made a sudden 

 stand, and though they continued opening as much as before, 

 durst not once attempt to pass beyond the pole. At the same 

 time Sir Roger rode forward, and alighting took up the hare in 

 his arms ; which he soon after delivered up to one of his 

 servants with an order, if she could be kept alive, to let her 

 go in his great orchard ; where it seems he has several of these 

 prisoners of war, who live together in a very comfortable 

 captivity. I was highly pleased to see the discipline of the 

 pack, and the good-nature of the knight, who could not find 

 in his heart to murder a creature that had given him so much 

 diversion.' 



The ' beagles ' of which Sir Roger had disposed would be 

 the hounds known then and later as ' Northern Beagles,' 

 whose original home appears to have been Lancashire. They 



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