HEROES OF THE LEASH 215 



an old body-coachman, aided by assistant snobbers in full 

 costume." 



Miss Richards's only rival sportswoman, Miss Diana 

 Draper, the daughter of Squire Draper of Berwick Hall, in 

 the East Riding, acted as whipper-in to her father, and 

 cheered on the hounds as lustily as any male whip. Like 

 Miss Richards, she lived and died in single blessedness, 

 having a healthy scorn for the tender passion. Few cared 

 to follow her across country, for she was a straight and fear- 

 less rider, and it was a marvel that she should have escaped 

 the dangers of the hunting-field and died with whole 

 bones in her bed. 



Coursing, as I have said, is a sport of great antiquity. 

 Xenophon loved it, and Arrian, five centuries later, wrote a 

 " Badminton " masterpiece on greyhounds. King John 

 patronised it, and was always ready to take greyhounds in 

 lieu of money for the renewal of royal grants, fines, and 

 forfeitures. Edward III. coursed both hares and deer, 

 and kept a big kennel of greyhounds at the Isle of Dogs. 

 The Duke of Norfolk, in Elizabeth's reign, organised the 

 sport, and drew up a code of laws to regulate it, to which 

 all the coursers of the kingdom gave their assent. 



But it was not till the latter part of the eighteenth century 

 that coursing became really popular in England, and that 

 clubs for its encouragement were formed all over the 

 country. The first of these was founded, as I have already 

 mentioned, at Swaffham by the Earl of Orford in 1776. 



The number of members was confined to twenty-six, the 

 number of letters in the alphabet. Each member's grey- 

 hounds were named, the name beginning with the initial 

 letter that he bore in the club. When a member died, or 

 wished to retire, his place was filled by ballot. The 

 Marchioness of Townsend was the lady patroness, and the 

 Countess Cholmondeley and Mrs Coke of Holkham vice- 

 patronesses. The Earl of Monteath was the honorary 

 president, and was entitled to use any letter that he liked. 



As time went on, other clubs were formed. That at 

 Ashdown was instituted in 181 1, and the Countess of Sefton 

 was amongst the patronesses. Clubs were formed at Altcar, 

 East Ilsley, Newbury, and Louth. The former very soon 



