The King King Hunting Diaries

Dec. 3rd.  The Belvoir at Croxton Park.  Hounds had hunted Monday & Tuesday in spite of snow & some frost.  Found in Newman’s Gorse, ran thro’ Stonesby Ashes nearly to Stonesby, ------- back to the right a ring leaving Newman’s Gorse on the right, Waltham on the right, by Chadwell to Goadby Gorse, thro’ it, up to Croxton Park & lost in Lawn Hollow.  They killed a fox afterwards in Stonesby Gorse, wch. I can’t think was the hunted one, but I had to leave as the mare was ------ badly.

Rode   Silvergilt
             Sultana

Dec. 5th.  The Quorn at Queniboro’.  Queniboro’ Spinney blank.  Found in Barkby Holt Gorse, came away by the old gorse, over the brook, Queniborough Spinney ½ mile to the right, returned to the right up to Gaddesby Spinney, away from it, a right handed ring to the Spinney again, then left handed up to Mr. Cheney’s long spinney and killed there. Found again in Baggrave covert, went away by the Hall, turned to the right, Quenby and Foxholes on the left, hearly to Keyham, back to the right by Hungarton & killed in Baggrave covert.  Left them going to Barkby Thorpe Spinney.  Cold N.E. wind.

Rode   Sanctity
            Scholar

Dec. 6th.  The Belvoir at Plungar.  Drew Granby Gap, Harby covert, Smite Hill Gorse, Elton ---- & in fact the whole of the Vale blank.  Found at 3pm in the Rectory, cd.n’t get him away, & left him.  I left them going to Normanton Thorns.  Very cold N. E. wind all day.  Hounds very riotous.

Rode     Sutley
              Siren

Dec. 8th.  The Quorn at Thrussington.  A half hearted frost of two nights.  Plough unrideable, snow threatening.  Went off to Shoby Scholes, blank, do. Aylesford’s Gorse.  Found in Grimston Gorse, ran to Dalby Wood, ------ it back to within a field of Aylesford’s Gorse & stopped the hounds.  No scent & country nearly unrideable even on the grass.

Rode   Silvergilt
            Sultana
            didn’t get on her

Dec, 11th.  Mr. Fernie at Ashlands.  Norton Gorse blank.  Found in Thurnby Spinney, ran by Thurnby, leaving it on the right, over the road & railway, to the right up to Scraptoft Spinney, nearly to Hungarton Foxholes, & back over the railway again.  There the hounds skipped the field.  I found them at last by Barkby Thorpe Spinney.  Only 2 men (one Mr. Wade) with them.  Hunted slowly about Beeby till the huntsman arrived, then on to Barkby Holt.  Changed there, or rather were holloaed off our fox & hunted in difficulty back nearly to Quenby, ----- to the field above Cast Bridge where I left the fox being to all intents lost.

Rode   Scholar
            Siren

Dec. 12th. The Quorn at Gt. Dalby.  Another morning frost.  Thought it might be better.  Ashby Pasture ----.  Found there, ran by Cream Gorse to Rotherby & lost believed the Holt.  Fresh found our fox in Brooksby Spinney, ran him ---

In view sharp back to Cream Gorse, wh. he ---- ------.  Worked him in covert for nearly an hour, & left him there.  Bad going.  Ploughs very hard.

Rode    Sultans
             Sulley
             sent her home