THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



4. 

 The huntsman came on his grey, 



And rolled his eye round like a hawk ; 

 Not a second in that place would he stay, 



As your sport he never will baulk. 

 He then made a cast with his hounds, 



When the fox jumped quickly in view. 

 And like pigeons they skirted the grounds, 



And left Craven,^ Vanneck,^ and a few. 



5- 

 Away to the posts and the rails. 



And enclosures that fence Bottesford town ; 

 Distress was soon marked in their tails, 



E'en some of no common renown. 

 Sir Cecil ^ made at such a brook. 



On Bernardo, who ne'er baulked a place ; 

 Little Wing,* who scorns ever to look. 



Followed after and fell on his face. 



6. 

 For Normanton covert he went. 



Where he left many Taylors behind ; 

 Fine land and a rare burning scent 



Were the cause of his changing his mind. 

 They skirted Long Bennington town. 



And by the North Road, up to Gotham, 

 Where Cholmondeley's nag * laid himself down. 



Having tried, proved, and found out his bottom. 



7. 

 Old Reynard now turned short about. 



For his country he wished to regain ; 

 A rare lift for many, no doubt. 



Since Craven came in here again. 

 Up-wind, sir, he now steered apace. 



Not fearing a hound in the nation ; 



' The Hon. Berkeley Craven, second son of first Earl of Craven, one 

 of the dandies of the Brummell set. 



^ The Hon. Joshua Vanneck, afterwards Lord Huntingfield, a steady, 

 good horseman, and noted for his ability and staying power in a good 

 run. He was, however, beaten off in Mr. Meynell's Billesdon Coplow 

 run. ^ First Lord Forester. 



* Noted farmer ; one of the hardest riders of his day. 



^ Lord Delamere. 



92 



