Lord spencer s Mastership. 201 



Purser's Hills, when, in spite of a pace that was not 

 well adapted to a welter weight, H.R.H. occupied am 

 excellent place until choked off by the hill leadiug" from 

 Blueberries up to Mr. Pell's house at Hazelbeach Hill, 

 when he was fain to dismount, and like any ordinary 

 mortal led his horse to the summit of the ascent. The 

 hounds at this point being out of sight, H.R.FL seemed 

 to think that next to being present at the kill, a " drop o' 

 good beer '^ was the most desirable object at that moment, 

 so pulling up at Mr. PelFs house, he quickly slaked a 

 " hill-born^' thirst in a flagon of Burton ale. A cigar 

 about the size of a sausage-roll was quickly transferred 

 to his lips, and the late formidable ascent soon formed 

 the downward path on his road back to Althorp. 



Few there present will forget the scene that offered 

 itself when the Meet on the occasion of his Poyal 

 Highnesses appearance for the first time with the 

 Pytchley hounds was held at Holdenby House. The 

 cortege of ladies and horsemen, headed by the Prince with 

 Lady Spencer, was seen to issue from the lodge-gates at 

 Althorp, and cross the pastures leading to this, one of the 

 most interesting spots in English history. It seemed 

 as though thousands had assembled to welcome the heir 

 to the throne, the descendant of that king who had laid 

 down his life on the scaffold, a victim to the unbridled 

 hatred of his enemies. 



On the following day, his Royal Highness being mounted 

 on a clever dun-coloured horse — somewhat slow — from the 

 Althorp stables, " Pale Ale " by name, a fox from Sandars 

 Cover crossed the Spratton Brook, not far from '' M^rry 

 Tom." Riding at the water " like a man," the Prince met 

 with the sad experience that royalty does not always have 



