Then forgive me, my friends, if you think me severe, 'Tis but meant as a joke, not intended to sneer; Come I'll give you a toast, in a bumper of wine, Here's success to this club, and to sport so divine. And the hounds of old Raby for me.[245] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 214: Howell Wood is situated about ten miles westward from Doncaster. Amongst the possessions of the priory of St. Oswald at Nostel that passed to Dr. Leigh, the original grantee from the crown, on the 22nd March, 31 H. viii., 1540, were a capital messuage called Holewell or Hovel hall, in the parish of Thurnscoe, with a _wood_ of 160 acres. This wood is now the property of William Aldam, esq., of Frickley.] [Footnote 215: The district called Barnsdale begins at a short distance northwards of Robin Hood's well. It is situated about midway between Doncaster and Ferrybridge, or Doncaster and Pontefract, and is celebrated for having been one of the favourite haunts of the "bold Robin Hood." See p. 35, _ante_.] [Footnote 216: Skelbrook, about seven miles from Doncaster, a handsome gentleman's residence, was then the property of H. Perryn Brown, esq., and occupied by Dawson Humble, esq. It passed to the family of John Pate Nevile, esq., formerly of Badsworth, in which it remains, and is now the seat of Mrs. Nevile. Situated in the vicinity of Barnsdale, and close to the well of Robin Hood, there seemed to be kept up a lingering remnant of ancient forestry in the maintenance here, for many years, of a small park of deer, but which has been lately discontinued. Dr. Miller, in his "Hist. of Doncaster," p. 343, states that this park was famous for the fine venison it produced.] [Footnote 217: Stapleton, in the parish of Darrington, is about five or six miles from Skelbrook, northwards, on the right-hand side of the Great North Road. The owner at that time was Ellis Hodgson, esq. (mentioned afterwards). It was afterwards the property of the Hon. Ed. R. Petre, and is now that of J. H. Barton, esq.] [Footnote 218: The members of the Raby Hunt wear black velvet collars with a gold fox thereon, _courant_, to their scarlet coats.] [Footnote 219: William Henry Vane, 3rd earl of Darlington, afterwards 1st marquess, and duke of Cleveland, K. G. &c. &c., of Raby Castle, co. Durham, born 27 July, 1766. His grace, when earl of Darlington, for several years occupied Bilham house, near Doncaster, as a sporting seat, and hunted that part of the country. He died 5 Feb. 1842.] [Footnote 220: Joseph Scott, esq., for many years resident at Badsworth hall.] [Footnote 221: The Hon. Martin Bladen Edward Hawke, 2nd son of Martin Bladen, 2nd lord Hawke; born 1 April, 1777.] [Footnote 222: Henry Francis Mellish, esq., of Blythe hall, Notts; died 24 July, 1817.] [Footnote 223: Leonard Walbanke Childers, esq., of Doncaster, died 24 Jany. 1826, aged 57.] [Footnote 224: Samuel Clowes, esq., lived at Warmsworth, and Sprotbrough hall.]