CHAPTER I. 



Introductory Observations. — Ancient British Sportsmen^ 

 the Saxons, the Danes, the Normans. — Ancient Method 

 of Hunting. — Sportsmen of the Old and Modern 

 Schools. 



In order to give a clear and somewhat comprehensive 

 view of tlie present subject, it is my intention not to 

 confine myself to the modern practice of Hunting, or 

 the way in which it is now followed, but to give a retro- 

 spective sketch of, or rapidly trace, its progress from 

 the earliest periods to the present time ; and hence we 

 shall perceive that the improvement which the chase, 

 like all other sciences, has experienced, was the necessary 

 consequence of circumstances ; that it resulted indeed 

 from the different aspects which the country has, at 

 various times, presented ; that hunting has, in fact, only 

 kept pace with the progress of civilization, and the in- 

 creased cultivation of the soil ; and that, therefore, the 

 mode which at one period characterised it was by no 

 means applicable to another. In saying that I shall trace 

 its progress from the earliest periods, I do not mean to 

 be understood as purposing to extend my observations 

 to the most remote ages of the world, but merely to what 

 may be called the earliest authenticated records of this 

 country. 



Hunting is so deeply interesting to the human heart, 

 that it is ardently followed by the savage as well as by the 



