SOME WELL-KNOWN SUPPORTERS. 24 1 



The writer of the poem is certainly somewhat severe on 

 many good sportsmen, but his satire is good humoured 

 enougli, and there is no sting in it. 



The following quotations from the Badsworth Hunt 

 song, written by the Hon. Martin Hawke, and a verse of 

 which has been previously quoted, may fitly conclude the 

 chapter, especially as Mr. Hawke has had the knack of 

 hitting-off his hunting contemporaries in a few happy words : 



' Never heeding a tumble, a scratch, or a fall, 

 Lying close on his quarters comes Scott, of Woodhall ; 

 And mark how he cheers them with ' Hark to the cry ! ' 

 Whilst on him the peer keeps a pretty close eye ; 

 And close on his heels see Bob Lascelles advance, 

 Dressed as gay for the field as if leading the dance ; 

 Resolved to ride hard, nor be counted the last, 

 Pretty sure of the speed of his favourite, Outcast.' 



Mr. Lascelles, of Sowerby Hall, near Thirsk, is the 

 gentleman alluded to in this verse. He was a very hard 

 man, and was one of the half-dozen who saw the end of a 

 long and hard run with Sir Mark Masterman Sykes's hounds 

 in 1806; the others being Lord Hawke, Mr. Treacher, of 

 the Life Guards, Sir F. Boynton, Mr. Best, Mr. Batty, and 

 Will Carter, the huntsman. 



' Then Bland and Tom Gascoigne I spy in the van, 

 Riding hard as two devils at catch as catch can ; 

 But racing along to try who can get first, 

 Already I see both their horses are burst.' 



Mr. Thomas Davison Bland, of Kippax Hall, is the 

 gentleman alluded to. According to Mr. Hawke's estimate 

 of him — and it must be remembered Mr. Hawke was a 

 good judge in these matters — he was a very hard man. 



The last verse I shall quote refers to two gentlemen 

 from a distance who apparently took up their quarters in 



