Coursing was formerly extended to the DEER, the FOX, and the HARE; and much ceremony was observed in park and paddock coursing with the former, even in the Royal presence. It is, however, now principally confined to the hare, (except in the season for fawn killing;) is not only universal in most counties, but particularly patronized and promoted in others. Clubs are composed of the most opulent and respectable members for the enjoyment of the sport, who have mostly two (some three) meetings in each season; the first established and principal of which is the "Swaffham Coursing Society," instituted in Norfolk by the late Earl of Orford in the year 1776, which is supported with true personal spirit and sporting energy; the Bradwell and Tillingham meetings, in Essex; the Flixton Wolds, in Yorkshire; and the Ashdown Park meeting, at Lambourn, in Berkshire.
The meetings at Swaffham are held on the second Monday in November, and the first Monday in February, unless prevented by frost or snow, in which case they are then held the first open Monday in or after November, and the first open Monday in February; and not later. The Ashdown Park meeting to be held at the Red Lion at Lambourn, annually, the second Monday in November.
The LAWS of COURSING were arranged in the reign of Queen Elizabeth by the Duke of Norfolk, and were sanctioned by the acquiescence of the nobility, gentry, and sporting world, who then followed the diversion; and have since been considered the fixed criterion for the decision of all bets, by which they are regulated and determined to the present day. The person appointed to let loose the greyhounds, was to receive into his slips (or thongs) those matched to run against each other so soon as he came into the field; and then to follow next the hare-finder, or him who was to start the hare, until he came to the form; and no horse or foot men were to go before, or on either side, but directly behind, for the space of about forty yards.
Rules.
—A hare never to be coursed by more than A BRACE of greyhounds.
The hare-finder to give the hare three soho's! before he put her from her form; to give notice to the dogs, that they may attend to starting.
The hare to have twelve score yards law before the dogs were loosed, unless the small distance from cover would not admit it without danger of immediately losing her.
The dog who gave the first turn, if there was neither cote, slip, nor wrench, during the course, WON.
A cote is when a greyhound goes endways by his fellow, and gives the hare a turn.
A cote serves for two turns, and two trippings or jerkins for a cote: if the hare did not turn quite about, she only wrenched, and two wrenches stand for a turn.