S. Z. Z. S.
Head-dress.—The enormous head-dresses worn in the time of Charles I. gave rise to the following lines:
"Hoc magis est instar tecti quam tegminis; hoc non
Ornare est; hoc est ædificare caput."
Clericus (D.)
Minor Queries.
Fox-hunting.—Can any of your correspondents inform me, when the great national sport of fox-hunting first came into vogue?
Gervase Markham, whose work on sports, called Country Contentments, or the Husbandman's Recreations, was published in 1654, gives due honour to stag-hunting, which he describes as "the most princely and royall chase of all chases." Speaking of hare-hunting, he says, "It is every honest man's and good man's chase, and which is indeed the freest, readiest, and most enduring pastime;" but he classes the hunting of the fox and the badger together, and he describes them as "Chases of a great deal lesse use or cunning than any of the former, because they are of a much hotter scent, and as being intituled stinking scents, and not sweet scents."
Although he does admit that this chase may be profitable and pleasant for the time, insomuch as there are not so many defaults, but a continuing sport; he concludes, "I will not stand much upon them, because they are not so much desired as the rest."