40 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

Mickleton, and through an extent of as fine a country as
a Field e\ er rode over for near ten miles, to the village of
Welford, where he was lost ; the run was a very quick one,
only two hours. 1

Nov. 13. — On putting the hounds into Wolford Wood,
we very soon found a brace of foxes ; one of them instantly
left the cover, and went over the country for Barton Grove,
near to the cover, but did not go into it ; then went forward
pointing for Chapel House ; when the hounds got close
up to their fox, he earthed in a stone quarry. 2 — We after-
wards drew Barton Grove and Wichford Wood, and to our
great disappointment, did not find.

Nov. 14. — Hampton Wood was the place of meeting,
this morning, but we did not find till we came to Snitterfield
Bushes. Our fox took away for Austey Wood, where we
had three foxes afoot. For some time we ran rings, in and
out of cover ; at last we got away after one to Snitterfield,
and killed in that cover, after running him for more than
two hours.

Nov. 16. — At the meet, Weston Park, we found three
brace of foxes, which we constantly changed. As we drove
some of them out of cover, the hounds divided ; one part of
the pack turned up their fox in the open country, a short
distance from the cover ; the other part earthed their fox



1 Mr. Boycot went away with the hounds ; had Mr. Corbet been
there the fox certainly would have been killed. Mr. Boycot was much
delighted at having- all the sport to himself.

2 The hounds ran at their quickest pace for 25 minutes ; so fast
that but few of the Field could keep up with them ; 1 had that pleasure.
Mr. Morant was first up in the run.



MR. J. CORBET— 1801. 41

at Broadway. — We came back again to the same cover and
found, and after running him for an hour killed our fox. —
Then drew on for Mickleton and found, but this fox was
soon lost.

Nov. '^O. — Met at Black Marton. Found a brace of
foxes in Eatington Grove, and the hounds followed one of
them near to Alscot House, 1 not far from which place he
was lost. After this we drew a small cover near to Walton,
and discovered that the fox had gone away ; we hunted him
through Walton Wood, Lord Willoughby's plantations,
and over the country to the town of Kineton ; he then
pointed for Itchington Heath, and went over an extent of
country for Lighthorne Rough, at which place it was nearly
certain we changed foxes. Then we were led forward for
Frizhill, and through the Terrace at Walton ; after taking
rings in that country, and constantly changing, a fox led us
near to Wellesbourne Wood, and on to Wellesbourne town.
After running three hovirs we stopped the hounds, it being
nearly dark. 2

Nov, 23. — Hunted at Wichford Wood, found, and ran
an hour and a half, mostly in cover, when they killed an
old dog fox. Drew on to Sutton Norris, and found a brace
of foxes ; got away after one and killed him, although there
was a bad scent during the greater part of the run. The
last fox ran for nearly an hour. This was a good day
for the hounds.



1 Mr. Boycot here liad a very severe fall, which caused every
attention to be paid to him.

2 This was a great day's sport. Many horses were done over ;
Mr, Morant's, and two other Gentlemen's hunters, died before the next
morning.



42 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

Nov. 25. — Met at Wellesbourne Wood, and drew that
cover, Walton Wood, Frizhill, and Lighthorne, all blank.
At Itchington Heath we found a brace of foxes ; one of
them soon broke away, pointing for Ladbroke, but leaving
that place on the right, he kept forward over the finest part
of Warwickshire, for Bodington Hill ; and after very good
hunting for above two hours and a half, the scent became
very bad, and we lost our fox. 1

Friday, December 5. 2 — Met at Preston Bushes, and
drew that cover, Spernal Ash, and several small places at
Alscot, without finding. Found a fox in the gorse near to
Eatington, and killed him in cover. Another fox was found
afterwards at Eatington Grove ; he was headed two or
three times, and then went away for Major Pigot's house,
and back for the Grove ; we lost him near Mr. Shirley's.
After that we went to Alveston Pastures, and drew that
cover, blank. We then took the hounds home, after a
fair day's sport.

Dec. 8. — Hunted at Farnborough, and found in the
gorse. After hanging some time in cover, a fox made away
over the country, and took an extensive ring for an hour,
when we ran him into a drain in the middle of a large field.
We after that found a second fox in a gorse, and had a
good run over an extent of country for two hours, with a
very indifferent scent, and we lost him near Mr. Miller's,
at Radway.



1 After this long and severe day we had full 20 miles to ride home
at night.

2 The frost and snow had prevented the hounds from hunting for
s©me davs.



MR. J. CORBET— 1801. 43

Dec. 10. — The meet was at Lord Northampton's,
and we found a fox in the small covers near to the house ;
after running rings for an hour he earthed in a rabbit spout.
He was got out and killed. We afterwards found a second
fox in the gorse by the side of Epwell White House, that
went away over the rabbit warren, and took a circle round
Lord Northampton's into Tysoe Field, and then returned
almost to the place where he was found ; made away for
Shutford Hill, pointing afterwards to Mrs. Childe's, of
Upton ; passed it on the right hand, and went forward for
Tadmarton ; from thence over the large open fields to Lord
Guildford's, and right on to Banbury town, where he lay
down in a garden and was viewed by most of the Sportsmen
present. Being started again, the hounds went close away
with him over a very fine district to Bourton-on-the- Water,
and from that place over a great extent of country ; the
hounds were running hard at a quarter after five, and as it
was getting dark, they were stopped by the huntsman, on a
hack. This chase lasted four hours and a quarter, being a
distance, at least, of 35 miles. I

t)ec. 21. 2 — Redhill was the place of meeting to day,
and we drew that cover, Withycombe Wood, and Aston
Grove, blank. A brace of foxes was afterwards found at
Austey Wood, and after running two or three short rings in
cover, one made away over the country for Aston Grove ;



1 This run is a memorable one in tlie sporting records of ' The
Wanvickshire,' both for its length and severity ; and tlie result was
also singular and remarkable. Most of the horses were tired soon after
they left Banbuiy ; and no horse went near so well as Mr. Morant's.
' I, (says a Veteran Foxhunter,) rode a hack horse. Many of the
Sportsmen did not get home that night, and not a horse got to the
stable he came from in the morning.'

2 We could not hunt tlie three last days for the frost.



44 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.



through that cover and Withycombe Wood, and over the
enclosures to the river Avon ; the water was much out, and
the fox, as may be supposed, being afraid to cross the water,
ran up the stream for some time ; turned from the river
opposite to Welford, and then went on for Luddington ; the
scent now died away, and he was lost. This run lasted two
hours and W minutes, good hunting over the country, until
the latter part of the day. 1

Dec. 23. — Met at Idlieote, and drew that cover and all
those near it, without finding. At two o'clock we found a
fox in Eatington Grove, and killed him in half an hour.
Found again in the gorse near Eatington, and after running
rings for an hour, we killed our fox. — A good day for the
hounds.

Dec. 25. — Threw oiF at Thickthorn, but did not find
until we got to Berricot Wood, near Stoneleigh ; after
running our fox for half an hour, the hounds ran into him.
Found again in Ryton Wood, and had a good run for an
hour and a half, when we lost our fox near General Scott's,
at Wolston, two miles from Combe ; he certainly entered
one of the drains, or concealed himself somewhere in the
buildings. 2

Dec. 27. — Threw oiF at Ufton, and found a fox in a
very small cover near that place ; he ran rings for an hour
and a half, very good hunting, when the hounds turned him
up. Drew two very small covers, blank. In passing on



1 Mr. Gould's servant broke his leg during this run.

2 We did not get home till half past six ; long after it was quite
dark.



MR. J. CORBET.— 1802. 45



to some others, a Sportsman put out a fox as he was going
over a hedge ; every hound viewed him, and after a quick
run for two miles, he went into a small rabbit hole. He
was soon got out, and turned up again, when he gave us
another quick run for half an hour ; he was killed near to
Mr. Miller's, at Radway.

Dec. 29. — Met at Oakley Wood ; the cover had been
disturbed, and a good fox had gone away before the hounds
had got to it ; we hunted him, but he had been gone too
long, and we were obliged to give him up. In trying
Chesterton Wood we found another fox, which immediately
made away for Lighthorne, and then on for Chadshunt ;
over the vale pointing for Farnborough, and forward for
Mr. Miller's, of Radway, when a storm of snow caused
us to lose our fox. 1 We then drew Kineton Gorse, but
did not find until we came to Walton Wood ; the day was
now so bad, that it was impossible for the hounds to follow
their fox.

Wednesday, January 20. 2 — The hounds hunted this
day at Snitterfield, and drew that cover, but did not find
until they got to Austey Wood. In that cover we found
two or three foxes ; hunted one away pointing for Green's
Grove ; he then took a turn in the Claverdon covers, and
went forward for Bushwood. After a good hunting run of
two hours, across a heavy country, we lost our fox near
Haywood.



1 This run lasted for two hours and ten minutes, and we killed our
fox ten miles from the place where he was found.

2 The frost, which continued for some time, kept us out of tlie fiehl
until it broke up.



46 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

Jan. 22. — This morning we met at Farnborough, where
we fomid three foxes in the gorse ; we hunted one over the
vale for Edge Hill, and lost him after a rmi of an hour and
a half, near Upton. Found again in a small gorse near to
Farnborough, a fox that led us a quick run, pointing for
Bodington Hill, where we marked him into a drain ; he was
got out and killed. Drew again, and found a brace of foxes
in Mr. Holbech's gorse ; we ran one of them for an hour,
when he returned to the gorse where he was found. Here
we had a brace of foxes up at the same time, and after
doing all we could to kill one in cover, he broke away ; we
ran him at a good pace for several miles, and did not stop
the hounds until dark. 1 The numerous Field of good
Sportsmen out this day, expressed themselves very highly
delighted.

Jan. 23. — Met at Thickthorn, but the frost prevented
us from hunting. We then went to Kenilworth, and after
trying for some time, found a fox in Long Meadow Wood,
and had a very good hunting run for two hours and a half.
The fox first went for Berkeswell, near Meriden, through
part of Tile Hill cover, pointed for Ansley, and forward for
Coventry, going so near to the town that he would have ran
into the New Barracks, if he had not been headed. So
many persons had now collected, that in the confusion the
fox was lost.



1 AVe did not reach home until eight o'clock at night.

The Evening Uniform of the Stratford Hunt Club, was a scarlet
coat with a black velvet collar, and a handsome gilt button with the
letters S. H. upon it ; black Avaistcoat, breeches, and stockings ; the
tout ensemble of which, when the room was lighted up, was very

good. — NIMROD.



MR. J. CORBET— 1802. 47



A WOLFORU FOX.




BY A VETERAN FOXHUNTER.

Jan. 25. — We hunted this morning at Wolford Wood,
where, as soon as the hounds had been thrown into the
cover, they found two brace of foxes. Three of them very
quickly got away, while the hounds kept with the fox that
remained in the wood. He did not stop long, but he was
frequently headed, and that prevented him from breaking
away sooner. He ran first for Barton Grove, forward for
Weston and Sutton North, near Lord Northampton's,
Epwell, and on for the village of Sibbard, full 15 miles from
the cover he was found at. He then bore away for Brailes,
and on for Halford Bridge j then ran for Idlicote, and over
a very fine country for Sutton, and on to Wichford Wood.
Here the hounds would have killed him in the wood, if they
had not been halloo'd away by a footman to a fresh fox.
The hounds, on catching the scent, hunted him over the
country to Wolford.



48 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

After running this day for six ho\irs, the hounds were
stopped by Jack Barrow going into the cover, who rode the
only horse at the end of the day that left the cover in the
morning. Mr. Fisher, on a fresh horse that he got when
the hounds ran near to his house, assisted Jack in stopping
the hounds. I



THE SAME, BY AN OLD FOXHUNTER.

' Haj)py tlu'j- who now stand l)y them,

While the nags knock up so fast ;
Such a day as tliis will try tlieni.

None but g-ood ones long can last ! '

We met at Wolford Wood, then a capital cover for a
good day's sport. When we found a fox, he immediately
broke cover in a style that shewed he was not afraid of his
resolute pursuers. He went through Barton Grove, and
within two miles of Chipping Norton, when he turned back
and led vis away by Long Compton to Weston, by Brailes
village, Epwell White House, and over Wigginton Heath to
Sibbard. Here he took a turn to the left, and came back by
Lord Northampton's, straight to Idlicote Heath. From
that place he pursued his course down to Black Marton,
within one mile of Eatington. Then he turned back over
Idlicote Heath, straight to Brailes Hill, and to Weston
again, and on to the top of Long Compton Hill ; he then



1 Mr. Corbet's old horse, Trojan, stopped at Wichford Wood, for
the first time ; he had seen many a hard day, but such a one as this
was not remembered by the oldest man living. Every horse was
completely done up. The extent of country ran over was full 50 miles,
the greatest distance I ever knew these hounds to have run. There
was one hundred horses at cover, at least, M'hen Ave threiv off in the
morning.



MR. J. CORBET— 1802. 49

ran down to Wolford Wood again, and took shelter in the
gorse. The hounds were soon up to the gorse, but they
were so completely beaten they could not kill their fox,
which had led them away over a hilly country for five hours
and forty minutes. The fox was viewed by Bill Barrow as
he was going over Wigginton Heath.

I do not remember ever seeing so severe a thing with
any pack of hounds before. There was an unusually large
Field in the morning, as the meet was in great repute, and
the whole were mounted in the very first style, anticipating
there would be some necessity for riding their best nags,
but never expecting such a tremendous tickler as they all
received. The huntsman, Bill Barrow, tired two horses ;
Mr. MoRANT also knocked two of his best hunters up, and
so did Mr. Fisher, of Idlicote. The only man that rode
the same horse from the beginning to the end of the run,
was Jack Barrow, the whipper-in, but he was never good
for any thing afterwards. No circumstance would prove
the severity of this day's sport so satisfactorily, as the fact,
that Mr. Corbet's famous old horse, Trojan, which was
never known to stop before, was obliged to halt under
Brailes Hill. Mr. Corbet endeavoured to lead him, but
he could neither go nor stand. Mr. John Venour, 1 on



1 Mr. John Venour was one of the best men over Warwickshire,
in the early part, of Mr. Corbet's hunting it. He particularly distin-
guished himself on a little horse called Hero, which I sold him when
in my teens. He was by Hero, a son of Herod, out of a Welch pony,
but so restive that no man would venture on him, at ^13, when four
years old. Putting little value on neck or limb, in those days, I
became his owner, and after much trouble, his master ; but throwing
himself down, one day, in his ill humours, and blemishing himself, I
sold him to Mr. A^enour for .£28. He was well remembered in War-
wickshire for many years. — nimrod.



50 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

a capital animal of the right sort, stopped in the same field ;
and Mr. William Barke, on a young horse, went to
Brailes Hill, and there quitted the run.

I never saw a Field so completely beaten before. You
had only to cast your eye from the top of Brailes Hill, and
you would see groups of Sportsmen leading and driving
their best nags home before the run was half over. I once
stood on Long Compton Hill, and retraced the line of
country this gallant fox had led us ; and I found we had
reached, at different periods of the chase, within five miles
of Banbury, two of Chipping Norton, and six of the town
of Stratford-on-Avon.

BY A VETERAN FOXHUNTER.
Jan. 29. — Met at Ufton Wood, and found a brace of
foxes ; hunted one with a bad scent for an hour, and ran
him, at the close, into a drain, three miles from the
cover. We found another fox, afterwards, at Lighthorne,
and ran him for Chesterton ; through that cover, and we
lost him while pointing for Oakley Wood. 1

Jan. 30. — Threw off at Lord Dormer's, and found near
Claverdon. Our fox pointed for Bushwood, and was many
times headed in making for that cover. After running two
hours we killed him near Haywood.

Friday, February 5, — Met at Itchington Heath, and
found a brace of foxes. One of them went away, at a very
fast pace, for Ufton ; we then drove him, at a rapid rate.



1 Lord Cravpn, Mr. B. Craven, and a larg-e Field, limited with us
to-day.



MR. J. CORBET— 1802. 51

through that cover, when he was unexpectedly lost within
two fields of it ; it was supposed he got into a drain ; this
was a run of half an hour. Afterwards, we found three
foxes in Lord Willoughby's gorse ; and ran one of them
very quick for Chadshunt, and over Itchington Heath on
for Ladbroke ; over the Watergall fields on to Bodington ;
and after a fine run of two hours, over a most beautiful
country, we killed our fox near Bodington Hill, much to
the satisfaction of every Sportsman who had the good luck
to witness the run. 1

Feb. 10. — Found this morning at Farnborough, soon
after we put the hounds into the gorse at that place. The
fox shortly broke away, and after hunting him an hour he
returned to the cover where he was found, and there killed.
A second fox was found near to Mr. Miller's, at Radway,
that led us over the country for Lord Guildford's, at
Wroxton, and then pointed forward over the grounds from
that place ; and, after a quick run for above an hour, we
earthed him at Long Shutford Hill.

Feb. 9,2. — Met at Alveston Pastures, and drew that
cover, Alscot new cover, Eatington and the other gorses.
Lord Willoughby's new cover, and we found, at last, at
Itchington Heath. We had then a capital run over a very
fine country for one hour and 40 minutes, and after hunting
him to Upton, the hounds killed him at Mr. Miller's, at
Radway. 2



1 The sport could not be better, and the distance of the run was
18 miles from the cover where the fox was found.

2 This was a fine day's sport ; the best horses had quite enough of
it, and many of them were quite done up.

d2



52 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

Feb. 24. — Found in a very small cover at Farnborough ;
most of the hounds viewed the fox away, and we killed him
in Mr. Holbech's gorse, after a run of 20 minutes. We
then drew all the covers near that place, Upton, and the
covers near Epwell, and Lord Northampton's, blank.

On the 1st of March, the hounds left Stratford for
Meriden.

Monday, March 1. — Met this morning at Thickthorn,
and drew that and the other covers near Stoneleigh without
finding. In trying Cubbiugton, we found a brace of foxes.
This occurrence divided the hounds ; one part, 14 couple,
followed a fox to Ryton Wood, and forward pointing to
Frankton ; through Brandon woods, and near to Combe,
where every hound viewed him to ground, after a run of an
hour and 40 minutes. The other part of the pack, near 20
couple, followed their fox from Cubbington, straight over
Stoneleigh Field for Baginton ; he tried the earths in the
Grove, and then crossed the Avon, pointing directly for
Wainbody Wood, and in the Warwick turnpike road, close
to this wood, the hounds came to the first check ; but this
was only for three or four minutes, as the hounds then hit
the scent across the road for Canley, through Jeacock's
Wood, and on to Westwood Heath, Park Wood, and to Tile
Hill, and straight through that cover towards Allesley;
then bearing to the left, he crossed the Birmingham road
near the Rainbow, and ran for Meriden Shafts. He did
not stop here a minute, but went on through the Out- woods
to the Decoy in Packington Park, where our fox, unluckily,
found an earth open and went to ground. I



1 This was a good hunting run over the best part of the Meriden
country, and though we were running more than two hours and a half
it was by no means a bad scent, and, as far as Tile Hill, very fast.



MR. J. CORBET— 1802. 53

March 4. — We found a brace of foxes, this morning, in
Haywood ; one of them went quickly away for Honiley,
Bodington Wood, and Long Meadow Wood ; then forward
for Weston Heath, pointing for Berkeswell ; here our fox
was headed, and he went back to Long Meadow, and then
for the covers near Kenilworth, and we killed him in a field
near that town, after a very pretty run of one hour and 40
minutes.

March 6. — Hvmted at Chelmsley Wood, and found a
fox in Mr. York's cover, which we soon killed. Drew the
Decoy, and found another fox ; he ran off through York's
Wood to the end of Castle Bromwich, and then through all
the Park Hall covers, and for Coleshill Park ; he next went
for Smith's Wood, and we killed him near to Water Orton,
after a run of an hour and a half.

March 16. — This morning we met atMillesant's Wood,
and found in a cover near Tile Hill. It was a very bad day,
the hounds hunted their fox, as well as the weather would
permit, for an hour, when he was lost. 1

March 18. — Met at Maxtoke Castle, and found a brace
of foxes in the covers near Lord Aylesford's. After a
good run of one hour and 40 minutes, we killed one near to
Sir R. Newdigate's.

March 24. — To-day we met at Hockley House, and
drew most of the covers near to that place, Hockley Wood,
and Oldborough, blank. We afterwards found two brace
of foxes in Spernal Park ; drove one over the country near



1 Lord Sefton, Lord Craven, and several other Leicestershire
Sportsmen, hunted to-day.
D 3



54 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

to Austey Wood, where he was headed and went back to
Spernal Park ; and we killed him after a run of one hour
and 20 minutes. During the time the hounds were eating
him, another fox was viewed away ; we hunted him until
he got to Austey Wood, when the hounds were stopped, as
the meet was to be at that cover on the morning of the
following Monday.

The hounds went from Meriden to Stratford this day,
after hunting.

Thursday, April 1. — ^We met at May's Wood, but did
not find until we came to Spernal Park ; we ran a fox for
near an hour, when we found it to be a vixen in cub, and
the hounds were stopped. Afterwards fo\md a brace of
foxes in some covers near to Red Hill, and killed a dog fox
when we had ran him an hour. 1

April 8. — ^To-day we hunted at the covers on the other
side of Alcester, and killed a dog fox and two martens. A
good day for the hounds.

April 10. — Hunted at Lench Close ; found a fox and
ran him for an hour and a half, when he earthed near to
Spernal Park.

This day ended the season ; and the hounds left the
Warwickshire country on Monday the 12th of April, and
got to Sundorne the next day.

The hounds continued to hunt in Shropshire until the
1 8th of the month.



1 The meet at Alcester and Cubbington, on the two preceding
hunting days, from the bad state of the weather, afforded us but little
sport.



MR. J. CORBET— 1803. 55



FROM ANONYMOUS— BY VENATOR.

' When April show'rs, delightful scene !
Where all around is gay — men, horses, hounds,
And in each countenance appears
Fresh blooming health, and universal joy I'

MEET LYNALL WOODS.

Easter Monday — the jocund horn

Salutes the solemn festive morn ;

While guileless maids, half willing, fell.

To roll with swain down daisy'd hill.

Our fox, a crafty knave, so good.

Few better broke from copse or wood ;

At such a rate the rogue did scour.

He reach'd Lord Hertford's in an hour.

Close press'd to the Great Water's side.

He cross'd the fluid deep and wide. 1