240 The Pytchley Hunt, Past and Present, 



" Thou shalt believe in Milton, Dry den, Pope, 

 Thou shalt not set up Coleridge, Wordsworth, Southey." 



In his political belief our grand old sportsman will 

 teach us that 



" Thou shalt believe in Dizzy, Cecil, Eandy, 

 Thou shalt not set up Gladstone, Parnell, Morley ;" 



and long may he live to cling to his fine old-crusted 

 opinions^ and retain his love for the chase, and preserve 

 foxes for the Hunt, his support of which for many a year 

 past has been fully appreciated by every member of it. 

 To him the words of Whyte Melville will some day be no 

 less applicable than they are to the imaginary hero of 

 his song: — 



" The labourer at work and the lord in his hall 



Would smile when they spoke of his passion for sport ; 

 In ale or in claret he's toasted by all. 



For they never expect to see more of the sort. 

 And long may it be e'er he's forced to retire, 

 For we breed very few like this worthy old Squire." 



ME. GEOEGE ASHBY ASHBY. 



Haek ! a holloa, away ! Whose are the ringing tones 

 proclaiming to all whom it may concern that the fox has 

 quitted ^^ the Woollies/' and is making the best of his 

 way for ^' Long Hold '^ or Naseby Cover ? The voice is 

 that of George Ashby Ashby, eke a captain in her 

 Majesty's Eleventh Hussars, and now part proprietor of 

 the well-known Lordship over whose surface swarmed, 

 more than 240 years ago, the serried hosts of Eoyalist 

 and Eoundhead. Where Eupert vainly strove against 

 forces still more determined than his own, and CromwelFs 

 military geaius made itself assured, is now to be found 



