Chapter XXIII · HORSE-RACING, HUNTING, SHOOTING, &C.
Reading edition
The Queen's love of racing — Visit to Newmarket — Queen's plates — Value of matches — Race meetings — Tregonwell Frampton — His horse Dragon — The Queen's love of hunting — Sir Roger de Coverley — Fox-hunting — Stag-hunting — Hare-hunting — Coursing — Packs of hounds — Fishing — Hawking — Netting — The Game Act — Shooting, sitting and flying — Match shooting — Archery.
She paid a visit to Newmarket in April 1705, going to Cambridge once or twice during her stay. Luttrell says: 'Aprill 26, 1705. The queen has ordered her house at Newmarket to be rebuilt, and gave 1000l. towards paving the town; and bought a running horse of Mr. Holloway, which cost a 1000 guineas, and gave it to the prince.' Prince George shared his august consort's love of horse-racing, and in the Gazette, June 18/21, 1705, we find: 'These are to give notice, That his Royal Highness the Prince is pleased to give a Gold Plate, value One Hundred Guineas to be run for at Black Hambleton in Yorkshire, over the four Miles old Beacon course, the last Thursday in July, by any Horse five years old last Foaling time: No Horse to be admitted to run but such as bring a Certificate from the Breeder of his Horses Age; and likewise to be judged and approved to be no older than aforesaid, by the Gentlemen whose Horses run for the said Plate; each horse to carry ten Stone weight, and start at the usual hours.
'And his Royal Highness is also pleased to give another Gold Plate, Value One Hundred Guineas, to be run for the Second Thursday in October next, one Heat, over the Heat's Course at Newmarket, ten Stone, by Horses five years old, whose Age must be certified as aforesaid, and likewise allowed by Gentlemen whose Horses run. This year no Mare will be admitted to run for either of those Plates: Although for the future his Royal Highness designs to give a Plate of the like Value, to be run for at each of the aforesaid Courses by Mares only, of the said Age.'
Her gold plates, as far as can be made out from newspaper advertisements, were, in 1703, 100l., at Stapleton Leys, Yorkshire, September 2; one at Newmarket on April 12, 1705; at Langton Wold, near Malton, Yorkshire, July 24, 1707; in 1709 at Black Hambleton, Yorkshire, July 26; one of 50l. at Datchet, August 24; one of 100l. at Newmarket, October 6; while the Prince's Cup of 100l. for mares four years old was run for on October 8 the same year; in 1711, at Clifton and Rawcliffe Ings; in 1712 at Black Hambleton, on July 26; and at Clifton Ings, on July 28; in 1713 at Hambleton, August 1; Clifton, August 3; and in the same year one was run for at Ascot Heath on August 12—the first mention that I can find of racing there; in 1714, Clifton Ings, on July 28.
A few racing mems of this time will illustrate to what an extent this passion for the turf was carried. 1702: 'They write from Newmarket, That the Lord Godolphin's and Mr. Harvy's Horses ran for 3,000l. His Lordship won; As also the Earl of Argile, and the Duke of Devonshire's; the latter's Horse won, by which Mr. Pheasant got a considerable sum.' 1703: 'The great horse race at Newmarket, run for 1000 guineas between the lord Treasurer and the Duke of Argyle, was won by the latter.' Perhaps the earliest sporting paper is 'News from New Market: or An Account of the Horses Match'd to Run there in March, April, and May 1704, The Weight, Miles, Wages and Forfeits. Printed for John Nutt near Stationer's Hall. Price 2d.' 1707: 'Last Monday was a horse race at Newmarket, between the lord Granby's Grantham and Mr. Young's Blundel, for 3000l.—the latter won.' On April 10, 1708, at Newmarket, the Duke of Bedford's bay horse (9 stone) had a match with Mr. Minchall's bay colt (8-1/2 stone) for 1,000 guineas; but there is no record of which won. These were the highest stakes recorded during the reign: they were generally for 200 or 300 guineas.
Luttrell records a somewhat singular match against time: '14 April 1709. Some days since, a baker at Clerkenwell Green, laid with a Vintner there, a wager of 400 guineas against 16 Guineas, that his horse could not run from Shoreditch Church to Ware and back again (being 40 miles) in 2 hours and 36 minutes, which race was last Tuesday, and performed in 2 hours and 28 minutes, but the horse since dead.'
The first mention, in this reign, of Epsom Races, as far as I can find, is in the London Gazette April and May 26/3, 1703, when three small plates were to be run for, of 30l., 10l., and 5l. value. On May 25, 1704, there was only one to be competed for, and that of 20l. They had very early 'Epsom Spring Meetings'; for, in the Daily Courant, February 15, 1709, it says: 'On Epsom Downes in Surrey, on the first Monday after the Frost, a Plate of 20l. will be run for,' etc.
Races for stakes of little value were common all over the country, and were deemed of sufficient importance to be advertised in the London papers. Take a few haphazard: Nottingham, Kerfall, Boston, Winchester, Croydon, Coventry, Quainton, Horsham, Woodstock, Mansfield; nay, there was even a 'Jockey Field betwixt Bedford Row and Gray's Inn, having a full Prospect of Hampstead and Highgate.'
What a vast difference there was between those old racecourses and ours! No grand stands, no howling ring, no carriages, no ladies; not even a special dress for the jockeys. According to a nearly contemporary print, there were very few spectators even—and but a sorry booth, or so, for the sale of liquor.
Thus we see he owned many horses, but the most famous of all was one named Dragon, to whom it is alleged Frampton behaved with cruel barbarity. On Oct. 30, 1712, Dragon ran against Lord Dorchester's Wanton for three hundred guineas, and on April 22, 1713, encountered the redoubtable Wyndham for the same stakes. His alleged mutilation and death are told by Dr. John Hawkesworth in No. 37 of The Adventurer. There is no record of his death, but in an old song, called 'Newmarket Horse Race,' belonging to the early part of George the First's reign, it says—
For I'll have the brown Bay, if the blew bonnet ride, And hold a thousand Pounds of his side, Sir; Dragon would scow'r it, but Dragon Grows old; He cannot endure it, he cannot, he wonnot now run it, As lately he could: Age, age, does hinder the Speed, Sir,
which would infer that Dragon was old and worthless as a racer before his death, and the other story falls to the ground.
From the engravings referred to, we find that the stag was first found, or harboured, with a bloodhound—the staghounds were coupled, and let loose when wanted by the huntsmen, who were on foot. Its death was duly celebrated by a 'Mort,' or blowing of horns, when a hunting-knife was presented to the principal man present, to cut off its head, after everyone had passed his opinion as to its age, weight, etc.: the deer was then carted home. Guns were carried wherewith to shoot the stag, if necessary, when at bay.
Budgell, in Spectator No. 117, well describes a run after a hare, and the discipline of the hounds who were close upon the hare, when the huntsman threw his pole between them—this the well-tutored dogs would not pass, and the hare was rescued. Gay, too, tells the story of a run well:—
Or what better description could we have of coursing a hare than the following:—
The Greyhound now pursues the tim'rous Hare, And shoots along the Plain with swift Career; While the sly Game escapes beneath his Paws, He snaps deceitful Air with empty Jaws; Enrag'd, upon his Foe he quickly gains, And with wide Stretches measures o'er the Plains; Again the Cunning Creature winds around, While the fleet Dog o'ershoots, and loses Ground; Now Speed he doubles to regain the Way, And crushes in his Jaws the Screaming Prey.
Many packs of hounds were advertised for sale during Anne's reign—not such large packs as we now have, but small packs, with which a man could then show sport, and yet the keeping of which need not be costly. Two or three are given for example's sake: 'Any Gentleman that hath a mind to purchase a good pack of cloddy strong Hounds, fit for any Country, from 15 couple to 10, may be accommodated,' etc. 'There are to be dispos'd of 18 Couple of Hare Hounds, well siz'd and well mark'd, at reasonable rates.' 'There are 9 Couple of good Fox Hounds (with a Tarrier) (4 Couple being stanch finders) to be sold at a very reasonable Price. These Hounds are as proper for Deer as Fox.' 'Lost the 16th Instant from the Earl of Litchfield's Foxhounds in some Woods near Crawford in Kent, a small White Beagle, with Red Spots on her Ears, and a short Tail, (being a Tarrier),' etc.
There were cockney hunts, with deer, both at Hampstead and Muswell Hill, and live deer were bought and sold commonly; indeed there is one advertisement which has a touch of old Leadenhall Market about it. 'Any person who has Beagles, Foxes or Hares to dispose of, may hear of a Purchaser by giving Notice to the Porter at Sion Chappel near Hamsted.'
One sport then in vogue must not be omitted from the list—otter-hunting.
If you'd preserve a num'rous Finny Race, Let your fierce Dogs the Rav'nous Otter chase; Th' amphibious Creature ranges all the Shores, Shoots through the Waves, and ev'ry haunt explores: Or let the Gin his roving Steps betray, And save from hostile Jaws the Scaly Prey.
Angling was extensively practised, with almost the same appliances and tackle as now, even down to the wicker creel at the side. Will Wimble 'makes a May fly to a Miracle; and furnishes the whole country with angle rods.' Isaac Walton had not long been dead (Dec. 15, 1683), and his disciples in the 'Contemplative Man's Recreation' were many and experienced. Hear what Gay says about making a fly to suit the water:—
Oft' have I seen a skillful Angler try The various Colours of the treach'rous Fly; When he with fruitless Pain hath skim'd the Brook, And the coy Fish rejects the skipping Hook, He shakes the Boughs that on the Margin grow, Which o'er the Streams a waving Forrest throw; When if an Insect falls (his certain Guide) He gently takes him from the whirling Tide; Examines well his Form with Curious Eyes, His gaudy Colours, Wings, his Horns and Size. Then round his Hook a proper Fur he winds, And on the Back a speckled Feather binds. So just the Properties in ev'ry part, That even Nature's Hand revives in Art.
Hawking, too, was a sport not then extinct, the land not being so parcelled into fields, and fenced in, as now; so that the flight of the birds could be easily followed. The birds were startled by five or six spaniels trained to the work. Here is a description of one lost by the Earl of Abingdon: 'a small black and white Hawking Spaniel, his Hair not very long, more black than white, long Back, with a thick Head.' In brook-hawking, men used to beat the rushes with poles, and they also hawked partridges and pheasants. The latter are depicted in the engraving as being poked off their roosts with poles.
They went bat-fowling with the same nets as are now used, and they also netted partridges at night, with the aid of a lanthorn. In wild-fowl shooting they also used a horse for stalking. There were decoys for ducks, and we get an insight as to how they were managed. 'These are to give Notice, that if any Person that understands the management of a Decoy, wants a place, he may have one about 40 Miles from London provided he brings a Certificate from the last Master he served as to his ability ... he shall have as good Wages as is usually given, or a third Bird, as he shall agree when he seeth the Decoy.'
Shooting flying was not an ordinary accomplishment: it was but just coming in, and most people took 'pot shots,' and would not risk shooting at a bird on the wing.
The dreadful Sound the springing Pheasant hears Leaves his Close Haunt, and to some Tree repairs; The Dog, aloft the painted Fowl surveys, Observes his Motions, and at distance Bays. His noisie Foe the stooping Pheasant eyes, Fear binds his Feet, and useless Pinions ties, Till the sure Fowler, with a sudden Aim, From the tall Bough, precipitates the Game.
Partridges, because they flew well, and strongly, were then not shot, but snared, by means of a trained dog.
Now the warm Scent assumes the Covey near, He treads with Caution, and he points with Fear. Then lest some Sentry Fowl his Fraud descry, And bid his Fellows from the Danger fly, Close to the Ground in Expectation lies, Till in the Snare the flutt'ring Covey rise.
'But if I miss Sitting, I commonly hit 'em Flying,' says Bellair in Mrs. Centlivre's 'Love at a Venture,' which shows that it was only when the former failed, that he tried the latter plan. And, in an advertisement for a gamekeeper, it is noticed: 'Any one that is a very good Coach man, and can Shoot flying, perfectly well, may hear of a good Place.' If being a good coachman was useful to a gamekeeper, what can we say to this: 'Any Gentleman that wants a Man for Shooting, Hunting, Setting, or any Manner of Game, may hear of one well qualified. He is a good Scholar, and shaves well.'
Luttrell notes, Mar. 15, 1707: 'Yesterday the lords past the bill for the preservation of the game, in which is a clause, that if any poulterer, after the 1st of May next, sells hare, pheasant, partridge &c. shall forfeit 5l. for every offence, unless he has a certificate from the lord of the mannor that they were not taken by poachers.' The killing of game must have been earlier then than now, for, appended to Spectator No. 156, Aug. 29, 1711, is the following: 'Advertisement—Mr. Spectator gives his most humble service to Mr. R. M. of Chippenham in Wilts, and hath received the Partridges.'
There were rifle matches in those days. One was shot at the artillery ground, Finsbury, on July 16, 1703, for a cup value twenty-five guineas: 'No gun to exceed 4 foot and a half in the Barrel, the distance to be 200 yards, and but one Shot a piece, the nearest the Centre to win.' On July 7, 1709, was a match for four pieces of plate: 'to stand 100 yards distance from the Target.' A deer, value 50s., was to be shot for more than once—and the prize once sank as low as 'a pair of breeches.' There was one very singular prize: 'A very fine brass Gun, in the form of a Walking Cane, to be us'd as a Gun or Pistol, and in it a fine Prospect Glass, and a Perpetual Almanack engrav'd about the Head, and a Sun Dial in the Head, and several other ingenious Utensils.'