xu PREFACE 



To the many who have so kindly helped me in my task my 

 grateful acknowledgments are rendered. First, to the Duke 

 and Duchess of Rutland — to the former for free access to the 

 records of the hunt, and for many helpful suggestions made 

 to me during my search through the Castle records, and to 

 the latter for kindly sympathy with my work, and for the loan 

 of some valuable books and papers. To the Lady Victoria 

 Manners, who has made the art treasures of the Castle her 

 study, for help in the choice of the pictures to be reproduced, 

 and to Lord Robert Manners, who, not unmindful of some 

 pleasant days we passed together at Gharial, took so much 

 trouble to arrange matters that it might be possible for me 

 to carry out the work. It is not too much to say that 

 without him the book would never have been written. To 

 the Rev. F, V, Knox, the Chaplain of Belvoir, I owe very 

 much, for it was he who, at the expenditure of much time and 

 trouble, took many of the very excellent photographs which 

 are here reproduced. Among others who have assisted me 

 are Mr. John Welby, of Allington Hall, whose long connec- 

 tion with the hunt, and whose literary ability, have made his 

 suggestions peculiarly valuable. Mr. Welby has read the 

 proofs of much of the book, and has liberally granted me the 

 use of his pictures for reproduction, and permitted me to re- 

 print some of the inimitable Lays of Belvoir. To him, there- 

 fore, the book owes a very large part of its interest. Another 

 old member of the hunt, whose counsel and help have been of 

 the greatest service, is Major Longstaffe, of Little Ponton 

 Hall, who has also read parts of the book in proof, and has 

 earned the gratitude of the reader by lending for publication 

 the charming letters of Will Goodall. Another friend who 



