Beagles go back to the ancient Greeks.  The French brought this breed to England in 1066.  The breed was small back then so it was carried in saddle-bags or large pockets.  Also, back then a mini-variety, the pocket-beagle was developed but it no longer exists.  Beagles are one of the breeds of royalty, they have been owned by:  Elizabeth I, William III and George IV.  The Beagle club was established in the UK in 1895.  A few years after the beagle club was established the breed was brought to the UK.