Now terra firma gain'd, and hark !

The hounds press on him thro' the Park ;

The wary fox, in his career.

Ran thro' a herd of timid deer ;

But art, nor trick, nor strength, nor speed.

Could aught avail in desp'rate need.

The noble pack held him in view.

He jump'd the dairy- window through, 2

Where ruddy maids prepar'd, with ease.

The curd to make the primest cheese ;

Whence butter of delicious taste

Was on my Lady's table plac'd.



1 At the same instant that reynard took the water, three colts
dashed in, and swam to shore, as soon as the fox, on the opposite side.

2 Lady Hertford's beautiful ornamental dairy, erected close to
the house.



h6 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

The hounds, too, thro' the window sprung,
Ratthng the churns and pails among j
From broken pans the milk ran out.
The cream from steens was dash'd about ;
The maids tuck'd close their spatter'd clothes^
And scamper'd off like frighted roes ;
The pack, heedless of damsels' scream.
First ate the fox — then drank the cream ! 1
Stratford, April 12th, 1803.

BY A VETERAN FOXHUNTER.

1804.
The hounds began hunting this season, in Shropshire,
on Monday, September 13th, at the Roomers, at six o'clock
in the morning ; they hunted vintil the 6th of October,
having killed eight brace and a half of foxes within the
month.

The hounds came to Meriden on Saturday the 13th
.of October.

Tuesday, October 16. — Drew Chelmsley Wood, and
there fovmd a brace of foxes. One of them went away for
Mr. York's, through the cover, and forward for Park Hall
woods, but not into them j he ran very near to the Church,
at Castle Bromwich, and at last got into a drain, at Lady
Lawley's. The run up to this time was very quick for an
hour. We soon bolted him, and then ran him by Mr.
York's, through Chelmsley Wood, pointing for Hampton
Coppice, where he went to ground. We got up to another



1 The ^vriter adds, that the fox was killed to the great satisfaction
of a numerous field of Sportsmen, and the whole scene was beautiful
beyond description.



MR. J. CORBET— 1804.



fox at a little cover near the common, ran him over Coleshill
Heath, and after running him for 20 minutes, he got into a
little rabbit spout ; he was bolted, and soon after killed. —
The hounds ran near three hours and a half.

Oct. 17. — Met at the Quarry Wood, and immediately
found a fox that led us through Birchmore Stumps Wood,
Cooper's Grove, Butlers Wood, and the Shawburys ; he
then held on towards Arley, where the hounds turned with
a fresh fox that ran back through the same coverts, very
hard over the brook to Close Wood, where the pack
came to a slight check near an ozier bed. A fresh fox now
went away back to Close Wood 5 and the old hunted fox
was ran, by a single hound, through the Decoy, and on to
Banerby. The rain came on very fast, yet the hounds
continued to run the fox to Birchley Hays, and had him
amongst them several times ; but the scent at last became
so bad they could only run him in view, and at three o'clock
he was given up. 1

Oct. 18. — We met at Tile Hill, and drew all the covei'ts
thereabout, blank. In Long Meadow Wood we found a
litter of foxes, and killed one in cover. While the hounds
were eating him, another fox went away ; we hunted him,
with a bad scent, over the grounds to the Danvats, where
the hounds met with a check. They soon afterwards got
upon terms with their fox, and dressed him round the cover
until he went to ground in the main earth. Then drew on
towards Coventry and killed a very large badger. The day
became so bad that we were obliged to take the hounds
home.



1 The hounds ran the fox for four hours, and part of the time very
hard.



58 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

Oct. 19. — Hunted at Hampton Coppice, and in a very
short time found three or four foxes. We went off after
one for the Sohhull covers, where we got up to him ; he
took a turn in the distant covers, and then went back again
to Hampton Coppice ; the hounds rattled him through that
cover, and ran into him at Mr. Spooner's house, after a
run of full three hours,

Oct. 20. — Drew, first, Cawley Wood, but did not find
before we got to Birchley Hays. The fox went away the
moment the hounds spoke, and took right for the Meriden
Out-woods, and on to Meriden Shafts ; in this cover he
hung some time, and after being frequently headed he went
off to Lord Aylesford's Decoy, over the Park for Daniel's
Wood, and then back to the Park, where he was killed, after
running two hours and 20 minutes.

Oct. 23. — The Field met, this morning, at Wennel
Wood ; the hounds found in Brandon Wood, and killed
their fox after a sharp burst of 20 minutes. We found a
second fox almost immediately in Brandon woods, and after
driving him about in the Combe woods for an hour and five
minutes, he went to ground in a rabbit-hole, where he was
killed. We then drew High Wood, and directly found a
brace of foxes ; one of them, after taking a circle in the
cover, broke away for Brinklow, then towards Rugby, and
back to AUoaks cover ; then over a fine country to Mr.
Grimes's, of Coton, where the scent died entirely away. —
A good day's sport, the hounds running very hard between
four and five hours.

Oct. 24. — The hounds hit upon a fox as soon as they
•were thrown into Hampton Coppice. After taking a turn
round the cover, he went away to Mr. Spooner's. At this



MR. J. CORBET.— 1 804. 59

place the pack divided, and the body of the hounds returned
to Hampton Coppice. The other part was stopped when
running hard for Shirley Street, and brought back to the
others at the coppice. That cover being very much stained,
we drew Barber's Coppice, where we directly found three
foxes ; the hounds ran one, in circles, to Hampton Coppice,
Barber's Coppice, and Aspery's Rough, but did not kill him.
We then found a fox in drawing Aucot Hall Rough ; the
hounds drove him round the cover, with a most melodious
cry, for a quarter of an hour ; he then broke away, and
went through Chelmsley Wood, over Coleshill Heath, by
Thornelow's, pointing for Mr. York's, where they lost him.
— A very hard day's work for the hounds.

Oct. 25. — Drew Long Meadow Wood, found, and the
fox went immediately away to Bushwood ; being headed
back from Rough Close, he took over Weston Heath short
of Park Wood, and ran to ground in Long Meadow Wood ;
bolted him and ran him round the wood, where it was
supposed, he earthed again. Went on to the Kenilworth
Chase Woods, and found a fox that took us away to Balsall
Heath, Burton Green, to Long Meadow Wood, and on to
the Danvats ; being headed back again, he took a turn in
Long Meadow, and then away to the Warren House, on
Weston Heath, over the heath to Park Wood, and on to
Tile Hill ; here the hounds ran into their fox in good style,
after a chase of two hours and ten minutes. — A hard day
for the hounds.

Oct. 26. — Met at Meriden Shafts, and then drew the
Packington Out- woods, where we found a brace of foxes,
and killed one. Ran the other, in rings, in the adjacent
covers for an hour, and earthed him. Found a third fox in
Birchmoor Stumps j he ran for the Shawburys, and over



60 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.



Packington Park, through the Decoy for the Out-woods,
pointing for the Danvats, and after running him for an
hour and a half, he was lost from the bad scent.

The hounds killed four brace of foxes within the last
fortnight.

The hounds came to Stratford on the 30th October,
and hunted some days with but little sport, from the bad
state of the weather.

Wkdnesday, November 7- — We hunted this morning
at Oakley Wood. The fox hung some time in cover, and
then went away for Warwick Park, and over the Avon to
the Castle. There were so many Sportsmen out, that we
stopped the hounds, to avoid cutting up the beautiful gravel
walks in the pleasure grounds near to that noble edifice.
Drew Chesterton Wood, and found a brace and a half of
foxes, which we ran near an hour in cover. At length one
of them got away, but he was headed back to the cover by
some coursers ; the cover was now so much stained, that
the hounds were not again permitted to go into it. We then
drew Lord Willoughby's gorse without finding. Found
at Lighthorne Rough, and run our fox for two hours over
the grass country ; the hunting was as good as it could
possibly be, and the hounds killed him after a fine day's
sport, at five o'clock ; the latter part of the run was very
qiiick.

Nov. 12. — Met at Ufton Wood, and very soon found a
brace of foxes ; after running them for some time in cover,
one of them made away for Chesterton Wood, and he was
lost in that cover, after running him for two hours. Drew
Moreton Wood, blank. Found a fox at Frizhill ; the run



MR. J. CORBET— 1804. 61

lasted for half an hour, and the hounds turned him up at
Walton ; all the time the hounds were very near to their
fox. 1

Nov. 14. — We hunted^ this morning, at Farnborough,
and found an old dog fox in the new cover there, which we
soon killed. Drew all the covers near Farnborough, but
did not find until we came to a gorse near to the Banbury
road ; and after a very quick run for half an hour he was
killed. We then drew all the covers near Upton, blank.

Nov. 16. — Found a fox this morning at Itchington ; he
soon went away, but from being very frequently headed he
was lost. Drew Lord Willoughby's gorse, where we
killed a large badger. We then went back to Itchington,
where we found another fox, which soon led us away for
Chadshunt ; from being frequently headed, he turned back
to Itchington, and we killed him after a run of two hours.
A good day for the hounds.

Nov. 23. — We met at Alveston Pastures, and drew that
cover and Eatington Grove, blank. We afterwards found
a fox at Black Marton, and killed him in cover. Found
again near unto Frizhill, when our fox ran through Walton
Terrace, and over the country for Kineton ; and although
he was among the hounds in the town, he got away ; first
pointed for Chadshunt, and then ran very near to Compton ;
through Walton Wood, pointing for Wellesbourne, and
over the road forward for Moreton, when he left that place
on the right ; it being very near dark the hounds were now
stopped.



1 Mr. Corbet's brother, from Nortliamptonsliire, joined the hunt
this day.



62 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

Nov. 28. — Hunted at Wichford Wood, and found at
Rollright Gorse ; the fox broke away for Wichford, through
that cover, and over the open country until he got into a
drain near Rollright Heath ; bolted him, and ran him for
near an hour, the first part very quick, and we killed him on
the hill half way between Long Compton turnpike and
Barton Grove,

Monday, December 3. — The appointment, to-day, was
at Ufton Wood, where we soon found a brace of foxes.
One of them went almost directly away, taking over an
extent of country within a short distance of Shuckburgh ;
here he was so much pressed that he turned off to Sir T.
Wheeler's, and from that place forward until he got near
to Sir T. Biddulph's, and then he ran through Frankton
Wood. The hounds got well up to their fox at Princethorpe
Wood, and ran him, very quick, to Ryton Wood, when he
pointed for the Combe covers, until he was headed on the
great road within three miles of Coventry. He then went
for Baginton, over the earths, and near to Stoneleigh Park ;
then for the road leading from Kenilworth to Coventry, and
crossed it about half way from each place ; then he ran
through the Danvats cover, and away to Weston Heath,
but the hounds did not mark their fox. 1

Dec. 7. — ^We found a fox at Wellesbourne Pastures ;
he broke cover in view, and after crossing Wellesbourne
Wood, made for Walton, and then passed by Compton,
pointing for Edge Hill ; when about half a mile to the right
of Kineton, he turned by Oxhill to Pillerton, and after
passing near Black Marton and over Eatington Park, crossed



1 This was a fine day's sport, as the hounds ran for more than
40 miles.



MR. J. CORBET— 1804. 63

the Stour, at Newbold, into Worcestershire. Then ran by
Armscott and Whimpstone Leys, and entered into the
county of Gloucester. Leaving Preston Bushes and Quinton
just to the right, he ran over Meon Hill, and stretched
across part of the Vale of Evesham, through the fine old
pastures of Mickleton, Norton, and Aston. Here the fox
vi^as very severely pressed by the hounds, and he was at
length Tallyho'd and ran into at the village of Weston,
about a mile from Broadway. I



THE SAME, FROM ANONYMOUS— BY VENATOR.

' Tho' high his brush he bear — tho' tipt with white

It gaily shine — yet ere the sun declin'd
Recal the shades of night, tlie pampei-'d rogue

Shall rue his fate revers'd.'

MEET WELLESBOURNE PASTURES.

An excellent pack, primely season'd and steady.
In kennel well manag'd, in field ever ready ;
Affording to amateur Sportsmen, elate
At the prospect of fun, a delectable treat.
Confin'd in its limits the district, but yet
A fine Field of Horsemen this morning we met ;
With pride many Sportsmen this run will remember.
On a dull cloudy day i' th' month of December.

From Wellesbourne, a fixture well known as a throw oiF,
Our fox broke away — a sure item to go off.
Who shys at a fence, or tails off as he goes.
May talk of the burst, but will ne'er see the close !



1 The best day's sport I ever saw. The place where the fox was
found was 16 miles from Weston, and above 20 from the farthest place
he ran during the chase.



64 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

Old pug, a game fellow, broke covert in view,
The fam'd Wellesboiirne Wood, without halting, dash'd thro'
For Walton — and thence, not to Compton, tho' near it.
No rider now stops at a fence who can clear it !
Edge Hill makes his point, if right we can reckon,
From whence on clear days can be seen the proud Beacon. 1

When opposite Kington, from fear or in spite,
By a little finessing, pug turn'd to the right
By Oxhill, and then unto Pillerton Hersey,
A run more delightful you ne'er saw, I dare say.
Away thro' Black Marton, and Eatington Park,
The seat of a Sportsman who flies like a lark. 2
Cross'd at Newbold the Stour, t' th' county o' Worster,
Passing Armscott o'er Whimpstone's fam'd leys into Gloster,
Preston Bushes and Quinton we left by the way.
Where the horses stopp'd short who'd enough of the day.

At a split some called racing right over Meon Hill,
Where many who'd pinn'd up the basket, stood still ;
Then sulkily gaz'd at the leapers and goers,
And grumbling went home — after resting their blowers !

The rich vale of Evesham now stretching across.
The huntsman well up — not a hound at a loss.
Oer Mickleton Pastures, the old and the fine.
Thro' Norton and Aston, direct in a line.
Our fox, though a game one, both crafty and stout.
Was now press'd so closely he scarce could hold out ;



1 The u'ell-knoun Beacon, at Great Barr, in Stafforclslure, near
to the seat of Sir E. D. Scott, Bart. It is reputed to be tlie highest
5:round between Edge Hills, and Wellington Wreldn, in Shropshire.

2 The residence of Pi, J. Shirley, Esq.



MR. J. CORBET.— 1804. 65

Near the village of Weston at length Tallyho'd,
From Broadway a mile, as a bird takes his road —
Was ran into and kill'd — how delightful the style ;
The Sportsman's reward for his danger and toil ! 1

BY A VETERAN FOXHUNTER.

Dec. 1^. — Hmited at Sutton North, where we found a
fox and killed him. Found again at Mr. Fisher's cover;
the fox went near to his house, over the large fields pointing
for Sutton North ; crossed into the open country near to
Mr. Townsend's, ran for some miles over the open fields,
and went into Mr. Shirley's Park, near Halford Bridge ;
then over the park and through Eatington Grove ; forward
near to the village of Eatington, and then turned to the
gorse covers ; he ran through them very near to Houndshill
House, forward for Wellesbourne Wood, ran very near it,
and close up to the village of Wellesbourne ; pointed for
Moreton Wood, on to Frizhill, and went into that cover on
the Lighthorne side. After hanging some time in the cover
he was driven away, and we killed him very near to Lord
Willoughby's, highly delighted with the conduct of the
hounds. 2



1 This severe and extraordinary run was of three hours' duration,
witli only one checl<, wliicli did not continue more tlian five minutes.
The place where the fox ^A'as killed, was about 15 miles from where he
was found, and more than 20 from the farthest point he had run in the
chase. Of nearly one hundred horsemen who were present at the
throwing- off, only 15 were up, or in view, at the death. These hounds
had as great a succession of excellent runs within these three weeks,
as ever was remembered by the oldest and most experienced Foxhunter
in any part of Warwickshire.

2 We ran two hours and 20 minutes, most of the time very quick.
A very fine day's sport.



66 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

Dec. 14. — Met at Itehington. As soon as the hounds
were put into the cover, a fox took away over the country
for Ladbroke • leaving that place to the right, he pointed
for Shuckburgh, and then turned for Ufton Wood ; here
the hounds got up to their fox, and drove him very quick
on his point for Farnborough. He then went circling round
Itehington, and some miles back for Ufton ; but the day
was so bad, that the hounds, after hunting him very well
for above three hours, lost him. 1

Dec. 15. — Found a fox at Hampton Wood, and ran him
very fast to ground at Scam Bank. Found another fox at
Snitterfield, which, after taking a turn in the cover, went
away pointing for Wolversley Wood ; but being headed in
the great road, he went off close by Clopton House, over
Mr. Lloyd's ground, and for Scam Bank, over the Avon
very near Charlecote ; and he was killed in a field next to
Oakley Wood.

Dec. 17. — Found a fox at Cubbington, that ran direct
for Stoneleigh Park ; over it, and through Berricot cover ;
he then took an extensive ring, and we got up to him in a
little cover near Cubbington. He went away at a very fast
pace for OfFchurch 5 leaving Ufton Wood a mile on the left
hand, he made over the country for Oakley Wood. In the
next field to that cover, he made a turn and pointed for
Chesterton, crossed the road half way between that cover
and Oakley, near to Harwood's House, and close to the
village of Lighthorne ; then turned from that place and ran
close by Chesterton Wood, and pointed for Itehington ; he



1 Mr. Corbet's horse, Beeton, got from liim near to Southani, and
hurt himself so much that he was left at tliat place. He then took
Jack Barrow's horse, and was up at the end of the run.



MR. J. CORBET— 1805. 67

ran forward and passed very near to Lord Willoughby's
gorse ; over Chadshiint Heath, through the copses near to
that place, and then over the grass fields to within one mile
of Kineton ; when the hounds were stopped, it being then
so dark it was not possible to ride after them. 1

Friday, January 18. — Threw off at Long Meadow
Wood, and found a fox ; after hunting him an hour and a
half he was ran to ground at Baginton. Found again in a
cover near Tile Hill, and had a very good run for two hours
and 20 minutes, when we killed him on the other side of
Cawley Wood, pointing for Sir R. Newdigate's.

Jan. 21 . — Threw off" at High Wood, near Cpmbe, where
we found a fox, and had a very good rim for one hour and a
half, when we killed him near Lutterworth. 2

Wednesday, February 13. — Hunted and found a brace
of foxes at Alveston Pastures ; one of them went off quick
for Walton, and we constantly changed foxes ; we killed
one after running rings for full four hours. A very hard
day for the hounds.

Feb. 1.5. — Immediately the hounds were put into cover
at Itchington, we found a fox that broke away very quick
for Lighthorne village, near to Chadshunt, and back close
to Itchington ; he then went forward to Ufton Wood, where



1 The hounds ran the fox six hours, all but 20 minutes ; the
distance was very great. The horses stopped in all parts of the
country, and only six were up at the end of the run.

In consequence of the severe frost, the hounds did not hunt again
until the 7th of January, when they commenced in Shropshire.

2 The frost and snow prevented hunting for many days.
E 2



68 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

the hounds got up to him. He ran very quick in that cover
for some time, and then went off again, taking through
Walton and Wellesbourne, and we killed him near Moreton
Wood. 1

Feb. 23. — Met this morning at Thickthorn ; we found
a fox at Wainbody Wood, and ran him to Baginton, where
he was lost. Found a second fox at Cubbington cover,
which ran for Frankton Wood, and over the country for
Dunchurch ; leaving that town to the right, he went forward
for Barby Wood, in Northamptonshire ; we hunted up to
him near that place, and ran him very quick for near an
hour^ when we were obliged to stop the hounds, as it was
20 minutes past six o'clock, and getting very dark, 2

Friday, March 8. — Drew, first. Edge Hill, and found
a brace of foxes in a cover near to Lord Villers's. Had a
very good hunting run over the vale to Itchington, of two
hours ; and after running half an hour in cover, we killed.

March 9. — Met this morning at Snitterfield, and found
in the gorse near Clopton ; he ran in Snitterfield for an
hour, and then went to earth. Found again in Claverdon



1 This was a very fine day's sport, for the most part as good
hunting as possible, and at other times veiy quick.

Lord Villers, Sir J. Shelley, and a large Field of Sportsmen himted
with us to-day.

2 Mr, Corbet did not get to Clopton until ten o'clock ; the hounds
did not reach home until a much later hour. The run was at least four
hours. A fine day's sport.

Mr. Corbet went in a chaise twelve miles to cover, and was on his
horse above twelve hours ; he did not go into any house from the time
he left home until he returned.



MR. J. CORBET— 1805. 69

Wood, and ran our fox some time before he reached Austey
Wood. He hung so much to that cover, that we returned
to hunt the fox that had earthed at Snitterfield, which had
now been dug out ; and we hunted him to Wootton, where
we killed him a little before six o'clock.

March 1 1 . — Found a fox at Weston Park, that led us
gallantly over the country until he got within eight miles of
Cheltenham, where he got to ground. Drew again, and
found another fox in a gorse, but we lost him by one of the
Field taking the hounds away to a fresh fox.

March 13. — We found a fox at Ufton Wood, and had a
good hunting run for two hours and 40 minutes, when the
hounds turned him up at Baginton.

March 16. — Met, to-day, at Lord Dormer's, where
we found a fox that led us away at a quick pace for half an
hour, and we killed him near Claverdon. Found again in
a small cover near to that place ; ran him for Austey Wood,
through that cover to Aston Grove, and we lost this fox
a distance from Clopton, after running him, at a good pace,
for three hours.

On Wednesday, March ^Oth, the hounds left Stratford,
for Meriden.

March 1^. — At our first meet in this country, Broan
Wood, we immediately found when the hounds were put
into the cover ; we ran one, constantly changing, for four
hours, and killed near Combe Wood.

March 26. — The hounds challenged as soon as they
entered Daniel's Wood, and a fox went away, very quick,
E 3



70 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.

for half an hour over Lord Aylesford's Park, when it was
discovered we were running a vixen, and the hounds were
instantly stopped. We very soon found another, and after
hvinting up to him, had a capital run over a great extent of
country for four hours, and killed him, at length, in Close
Wood. 1

March 29- — Met at Newnham, and then drew all the
covers near that place, and Alloaks, without finding. We
afterwards found a brace of foxes in Highwood ; ran one
and killed him in Lord Craven's Park. Found two or
three other foxes in the rides, but as the day was now so
very bad, and we were repeatedly changing, the hounds
were stopped. 2

March 30. — Hunted at Bodington Wood ; found at
Wroxall, and soon killed our fox. Drew Haywood without
a find ; but we had better luck at Frogmore Wood, where
we hit on a fox that led us away, at a very quick pace, for
Haywood, forward for Bushwood, over the great road near
Henley ; he then left Barrells to the right, and we killed
him in a stone-pit near Spernall Park, after a run of more
than 20 miles.

Monday, April 1. — Hunted, to-day, at Princethorpe
Wood, and drew that cover, blank. We found immediately
in the Bull and Butcher Wood, ran our fox for an hour, and