THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



were taken off to draw another covert. I may as well 

 mention that on inquiry afterwards it was discovered that 

 this man was not tenant of the field in which he shot the fox, 

 but was a near relation to the actual tenant, and no doubt he 

 placed himself in the field with the idea of heading or shoot- 

 ing any fox that might wish to pass over it, probably out of 

 spite to the hunt. Now, if he had let the fox alone, hardly 

 a soul would have ridden over the small field the event 

 occurred in, as it was within one field of the usual riding 

 way to and from Coston covert, and the majority of the hunt- 

 ing field would certainly have gone that way and through the 

 usual line of gates ; but as it was, of course, the whole hunting 

 field rode up to see what was taking place, and, in conse- 

 quence, the field must have been well ridden over and 

 trampled by the numerous horsemen. 



. Some time after this event, an address, which was signed 

 by nearly every farmer in the Belvoir Hunt, expressing their 

 regret and indignation at such unsportsmanlike conduct in 

 shooting a fox which was being pursued by the Duke of 

 Rutland's hounds, was presented to the Duke at a meet at 

 Croxton Park, which was largely attended ; Mr. Bland, of 

 Flawborough, a sporting heavy-weight farmer, being selected 

 to make the presentation. After a few words of thanks from 

 the Duke, Mr. Bland called for three cheers for the Duke of 

 Rutland and fox-hunting. Immediately a scene of wild con- 

 fusion took place, as many of the horses being over fresh, 

 and also unaccustomed to cheering, and waving of hats, 

 kicked, jumped, and bounded about all over the place, and 

 several of their riders were deposited upon their backs on the 

 grass, causing much amusement to the spectators. There 

 were many good runs in those days, but I cannot attempt to 

 record them all. 



I remember a particularly good hunting run from Norman- 

 ton Great Thorns to Grantham, the fox being hunted by the 

 hounds through the market-place, and after that all trace of 

 him was lost, and they had to give him up, but the next day 

 he was found by one of the inhabitants of Grantham quite 

 dead in an outbuilding not far from the spot where he was 



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