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TALES OF MYSTERY, THE MACABRE AND THE UNEXPECTED
THE BADSWORTH CHRONICLES
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE 1 - AUGUST 2006
PAGE 2 OF 3
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THE BADSWORTH HUNT.
Ye huntsmen, give ear to my song,
Who to Sussex steep hills do resort;
I sing of a fox-chase so long
That you must allow it good sport.
It was in the time of the year
When foxes could fly and were stout;
In Badsworth's gay hall did appear,
Of hunters a jovial rout.
Said, the master,(1) o'ernight, "It is ten;"
Call Slinger,(2) for I will to bed.
At five I will see you again;
Pray, Tom, (3) now remember your head."
At five, then, the Master arose;
The rest, half asleep, left their beds,
And hastily donn'd on their clothes
Though some of 'em felt heavy heads.
To cover they walk a foot's pace
Where the company all does appear
But Harvey,(4) who lost all the Chace
By taking twice leave of his dear.
It was just at the rise of the sun
To Barnsdale's great whin bed they came
So famous for many a run
So crowded for foxhunter's game.
"Hoix, Truelove," said Jarvise, "my hound"
"Hey, Tumbler," Jack (5) quickly replied.
"Egad," said Ben Taylor, he is found;
Hark, Duchess, who never yet lied."
Hallo! then away the pack goes,
"Master Wilson, come on," says Tom Sayle; (6)
Kit answers, "I'll gather these sloes,
And comb my nag's mane and tail."
Over Smeaton's wide fallows he made
To Brokendale Earth, full of wind;
His besom he toss'd but ne'er stay'd,
As tho' he said, " Kiss me behind."
Over Stapleton Lees to Wake Wood
Down to Balne, still up wind he doth fly;
But soon found, in spite of his blood,
He must back again, else he must die.
From Grove Wood and Sheer to Went Hill,
Where a huntress came up to the cry;
Her voice was so sweet and so shrill,
It must be Diana (7) or Di.
From hence hied to Darrington Moor,
Over Went and by Badsworth he goes;
Oh ! Reynard, thy fate I deplore,
For there lives the worst of thy foes.
Then up to the Hollins he ran,
Where a ploughman he met in the face;
This lucky hit let in each man,
Or few had been seen in at the Chase.
The Master came up in his chair,
Saw Danger hit off the default
And said, "Had Ralph Elmsall (8) been there,
Hey, Danger, he'd quite split his throat."
"Now, Rockwood," "Now, Delver," some cried;
"Now, Rival," "Now, Sempstress," again
Then Hall (9) his dog Rebel espied
And swore he led over the plain.
"Zounds!" says Kitchingman. "Hall is foreswore,
But he'll swear any man of his nag:
See Tipster and six couple more
He cannot blow wind in their bag."
Squire Thomas came up to the head,
And swore they were everyone blind;
"For see! my dog Juggler does lead,
And Tippler is not far behind."
He then made for Hampole high wood
But found it too hot for his stay ;
Smith (10) saw him, as watching he stood
And bid him make best of his way.
To Brodsworth he cunningly stole,
And then sheered away to the Marr,
At the Warren at Melton to hole ;
But Dawson (11) had put up a bar.
Over (12) Don then he hastens away
On Conisbrough Cliff he relies.
O! Renny, in vain is thy play;
For mountains put up, and thou dies.
The boatman was luckily by;
The horsemen with heart and good-will,
Got over and presently spy
The hounds dancing over the hill.
Here Molly the lead she does take;
O! Roper, she does so behave -
Tippler's blood thy dead corpse should awake
And make thee jump out of thy grave!
For Edlington Wood then he flew:
Ere Edlington Wood he could reach,
They ran out of scent into view
And Diamond got hold of his breech.
"Whoo whoop!" then Dick Sunderland cries;
Tom Atkinson (13) stood in amaze;
The company own'd, in surprise,
Such a chase they ne'er saw in their days.
Now pray, my good people, attend:
The chase it was thoroughly run;
Tom Bright was at Hampole Wood End
When the bounds they were crossing the Don."
And why need you marvel at that,"
Said the Captain of Shelbroke Hall.(14)
Perhaps he is watching a cat
A coney - or nothing at all."
Hence, Warmsworth, shall thy haughty spire
Our fame to posterity bear,
Mile Childers and Newby admire
And Draper (15) gives way to despair.
Now to Badworth's roast beef let us hie,
Where we'll finish the day with delight;
We'll drink to foxhunters and Di,
And fuddle our noses all night.