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TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
3 9090 014 535 690
Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine Cummings School of Veterinapy Medicine at Tufts UriivGrsiiy 200 Westboro Road North Grafton, MA 01536
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Tudor £^ Stuart Library
Turhervile^s Booke of Hunting IS76
Henry Frowde, M.A.
Publisher to the University of Oxford
London, Edinburgh, New York
Toronto and Melbourne
Turberviles BooJ^ of Hunting
IS76
ox
z^t the Clarendon Tress M CM VIII
^^\lt^^5
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NOTE
The present edition of George Turbervile's Noble ^ne of f^enerie or Hunting is reprinted page for page and line for line from the Bodleian copy of the black-letter edition of 1J76. A very few obvious misprints have been corrected.
THE NOBLE ARTE OF
VENERIE OR HVNTING
Wherein is handled and fet out the Vertues, Nature, and Pro- perties of fiueteiie fundrie Chaces togither, with the order and maner how to Hunte and kill euery one of them
Tranflated and colleded for the pleafure of all Noblemen and Gen- tlemen, out of the beft approued Authors, which haue written any thing concerning the fame : ^nd reduced into fuch order and prober termes as are vfed here, in this noble Realme of England
The Contentes whereof fliall more playnely appeare in the Page next followyng
TVR8. VEN.
The contentes of this Booke
FIrfte the Antiquitie of houndes togither with the fundry fortes of houndes, and theyr feuerall na- tures and properties.
The beft order how to breede, enter, and make perfect euery one of the fame.
The vertues, nature, and properties of an Harte, togi- ther with the perfect order how to hunte him in his feafon.
The nature and hunting of the Bucke.
The nature and hunting of the Raynedeare.
The nature and hunting of the Rowe.
The nature and hunting of the wilde Goate.
The nature and hunting of the wilde Bore.
The nature and hunting of the Hare.
The nature and hunting of Conies.
The nature and hunting of the Foxe.
The nature and hunting of the Badgerd.
The nature and hunting of the Marterne and wildcat.
The nature and hunting of the Otter.
The nature and hunting of the Wolfe.
The nature and hunting of the Beare.
The cures and medicines for all difeafes in Houndes.
The proper termes of Venerie.
A treatifc of courfmg with Greyhoundes.
The meafures of Blowing.
To the righte noble Sir
Henry Clinton Knight Lord
Clinton and Saye, Maifter of the
Hart Houndes to the Queenes
moft excellent Maieftie, long life,
with encreafe of honor to the
pleafure of the Al-
mightie
Ight Noble^ myne efpe- ciall truft k that your ho- nor will pardon my hold- neffe in dedicating thk Booh to your honorable name. For when I had with fome charge caufed the fame to be college d and tran- flated out of fun dry good authorities^ and thought that it could not but generally de- light all Noblemen and Gentlemen of this Realm^ I made alfo diligent fearc he to knowe what particular ferfonage were meetefl to be prefented with the fame: and being enformed by my friend C^he Tran-
B a /later J
Dedicatory
flatorj that the office of the Hart Hounds ■perteyned vnto youre LordJ/np^ I thought it my due tie ^ and was glad that I [houlde thereby haue iufi occafion to dedicate fo noble an Arte vnto your honorable name^ mo§l humbly befeeching your honor to ac- cept it in good part^ and to be affured that whatfoeuer I coulde procure to be written of this excellent Arte of Venerie or Hunt- ings either out of jlraunge Authors^ or by conference of our countrey Huntfmen^ is here in this Booke diligently and fenfibly declared, I can no more but prefent it with humble intente^ and befeeche the fa- ther of Heauen euermore to bleffeyour good Lordjhip with the fpirite of his grace. Amen,
Your honors mod humble. C. B.
5 THE TRANSLATOR
to the Reader
Might well haue taken occafion Cgentle Reader J to commend vnto thee^ both mine own paines in tranflating and gathering this worke-, the Printers charge and diligence in procuring and publijhing the fame^ and the perfection of the thing it f elf ^according to the fubie£i and theaw^e wherevpon it treateth. But 06 touching mine own trauaile^ I wil no- thing fpeake : fit hence I did vndertake the fame at requefi of my friend Cthe Printer J who hath fo throughly deferued my paynes^ as Iftandfully contented: his diligence^ and charge^ I thinke not meete to be ouerpaffed withfilence: who to his great cofts hath fought out afmuche as is written and extant in any language^ concerning the noble Artes of Ve- nerie and Falconrie: and to gratifie the No- bilitie and Gentlemen of this land^ hath dif-
burfed
burfed great fummes for the Copies^ tranfla- t'lons^ piSiures^ and imprefsions of the fame, Iwil not fay that he hath f pared neither En- glijh^ Frenche^ Latine^ Italian^ nor Dutche Author tofearch f^ it were in the bowels of the fame J an exquifite tradition and methode of thofe two Artes, But to conclude mine opi- nion in few wordes^ he hath Jhewed himfelfe more d'lfirom fa rare example J to pleasure others ^than to profit himfelfby thk enterprife, Andtherwithal in hk behalf ^I mufi alledge^ that 06 thefiudies ofDiuinitie^and graue dif- courfes are f without all comparifonj mofl commendable ^euen fo yet could he haue tra- uayledin no one Arte orSciencefthem excepted J which might haue bene more commendable or necejfary for al Noblemen and Gentlemen : not only for the delightfulnes therof but alfo bicaufe it k both profitable and godly. For ifC^s ?>2ilomonfayethj all earthly things be vanities^ then are thofe mofie to be efleemed which may continew the life of Man in mofi
comfort
comfort and godly quiet ofmynd^ with hontfl recreation, A nd if it be true fas it is doutleffej that fride C^hich 16 roote ofalvices^J doth increafe bjiidlenes^ then is thatexercife high- ly to he commended^ which doth maintaine the bodyin helth^themynd in honeji meditations^ and yet the sub fiance not greatly decaied. For thefe caufes I haue always allowed and con- firmed their opinions^ which do more efieeme Huntinzthan Hawhxnoi, Sit hens we do plain- i^e f^u. lyperceiue^ that Hunting ps mainteinea with much lejfer charge. And to return to myfirfl begon furfofe^ I commend to thycurteou^ con- fideration Cg^ritlereaderjboth mytrauel^and the Printers charge : ajfuring thee^ that as much 05 could conueniently be found out either in authorities or conference^ is here eyfreffed^ for thy better knowledge in Venerie. Take it in gree^ and be as thankeful vnto the Printer for his good wil and honeji mening^as he hath bin vnto me for my Jiudy and trauell herein. And so farewell :
From my chamber this .xvi. of lune. If/J.
George Gafcoigne^ in the commen-
dation of the noble Arte
of Venerie
AS God himfelfe declares, the life of man was lent, (fpent. jfXBicaufe it fhould (with feare of him) in gladfome wife be
And Salomon doth fay, that all the reft is vaine, Vnlefle that myrth and merie cheere, may follow toile and paine.
If that be fo in deede, what booteth then to buylde High towers and halles of ftately port, to leaue an vnknown child ?
Or wherefore hoord we heapes of coyne and worldly wealth. Whiles therwithall that caytif care, comes creeping in by ftelth ?
The needle neighbors grudge to fee the rychman thryue. Such malice worldly mucke doth breede in euery man alyue.
Contention commes by coyne, and care doth contecke few. And fodeine death by care is caught, all this you know is true.
Since death is then the end, which all men fceke to flye, And yet are all men well aware, that Man Is borne to dye^
Why leade not men fuch Hues, in quiet comely wife. As might with honeft fport and game, their worldly minds fuffife ?
Amongft the reft, that game, which in this booke is taught. Doth feeme to yeld as much content, as may on earth be fought.
And but my fimple Muze, both myrth and meane miftake. It is a meane of as much mirth, as any fport can make.
It occupies the mynde, which elfe might chaunce to mufe On mifchiefe, malice, filth, and fraudes, that mortall men do vfe.
And as for exercife, it feemes to beare the bell, Since by the fame, mens bodies be, in health mainteyned well.
It exercyfeth ftrength, it exercyfeth wit. And all the poars and fprites of Man, are exercifde by it.
It fhaketh off" all flouth, it prefleth downe all pryde. It cheres the hart, it glads the eye, and through the ears doth glyde.
1 might at large exprefle how earely huntfmen ryfe. And leaue the fluggifti fleepe for fuch as leachers luft deuyfe.
How true they tread their fteps, in exercifes traine, (ftaine. Which frisking flings and lightbraind leaps, may feeme always to
Howe
Howe appetite is bred (with health) in homely cates, While Surfet fits in vaine excefle, and Banquet breeds debates.
How cries of well mouthd hounds, do counteruaile the coft. Which many a man (beyond his reach) on inftruments hath loft.
How fetting of Relayes, may reprefent the skyll, Which fouldiours vfe in Embuflies, their furious foes to kyll.
How Foxe and Badgerd both, make patterns (in their denne) Of Plotformes^ L.oopes^ and Cafamats^ deuifde by warlike men.
How fighting out at Bay, of Hart, Bucke, Goate, or Bore, Declares the valiant Romains death^ when might may do no more.
How fight of fuch delights, doth fcorne all common fhowes. Of Enterludes, of Tumblers tricks, of antikes, mocks, and mowes,
And how the nimble Hare, by turning in hir courfe. Doth plainly proue that FoUicie^ fometime furpaflfeth force.
The Venfon not forgot, moft meete for Princes dyfhe : All thefe with more could I rehearfe, as much as wit could wyflie.
But let thefe few fuflfice, it is a Noble j^ort^ To recreate the mindes of Men^ In good and godly fort.
A f^ort for Noble peeres^ a fbort for gentle bloods^ The paine I leaue for feruants fuch, as beate the budiie woods.
To make their mafters fport. Then let the Lords reioyce^ Let gentlemen beholde the glee^ and take thereof the choyce.
For my part (being one) I muft needes fay my minde. That Hunting ivas ordeyned firfij for Men of Noble kinde.
And vnto them therefore, I recommend the fame. As exercife that beft becommes, their worthy noble name.
Tarn Marti c^uam Mercurio.
T.M.
T, M, Q^ in pay ft of this booke
WHo lift to learne, the properties of hounds, To breede them firft, and then to make them good. To teach them know, both voice and home, by founds. To cure them eke, from all that hurts their blood : Let him but buye this booke : So (hall he finde. As much as may, (for hounds) content his minde.
Who lift to viewe, what vertues do remaine. In euery beaft, which Man doth hunt and chafe. What cures they beare, for many an ache and paine. What feafons ferue, to finde them beft in cafe : Within this booke he may the fame finde out. And fo be well refolvde of euerie doubt.
And to be fhort, as much as Lat'tne^ Greeke^ . Jtalyans^ French^ High Dutch, or Engl'tjh skill. Can teach, to Hunt, to Herbor, lodge, orfeeke. To force, to take, to conquer, or to kill. All games of chafe : So much this booke defcries. In proper termes, as wit can (well) deuife.
Wherefore my Mufe, muft recommend the fame. As worthy prayfe, and better worth the price, A pleafant booke, for peeres of noble name, An honeft booke to recreate the wife : A Booke well bought, God graunt it fo be folde. For fure fuch Bookes, are better worth than golde.
Latet, quod non patet.
Of the race and Antiquitie of
Hownds, and who firft brought
them into Frauncc
Chapt. I
IHaue thought good diligently to looke (afwell in the workes of antiquitie, as alfo in thofe of our tyme) from whence the Hrlle Race of hownds did come into Fraunce, and I neuer found Chronicle nor Hiftorie that feemeth to fpeake of greater con- tinuaunce, than one whiche 1 fawe in Bryttaine, wrytten by one whofe name was John of Monmouth an englifh man, the which doth treate, how after y® piteous and dreadefull deftru6tion of Troy, Aeneas arriued in Italie with his fonne Afcanius^ (which was afterwards king of the Latines) and begatte a Tonne named SHuius^ of whome Brutus defcended, whiche loued hunting ex- ceedingly.
Nowe it came to pafTe, that Sllulus and Brutus beyng one daye in a Forreft hunting a Harte, they were ouertaken with night, and feeing the Harte pafle before them almofle fpente by the Howndes, they went towardes him to kill him. But fortune was fuche to Brutus^ (as God would e) that whileffc he meant to kill the Harte, by glauncing of his arrowe he killed his father Siluius. Whiche thing caufed the people to bee moued, and to mutine agaynft him, thinking that he had done it of malice and defire to reygne, and to haue the gouernement of the Realme. In fuche forte, that to auoyde their great furie and indignation, Brutus was conftrayned to go out of the countrie, and vndertooke a voyage into Greece, to delyuer certayne Troyans, his companions and allyes, whiche were yet there deteyned in captiuitie fmce the deftru<5tion of Troye. Whiche voyage he accomplifhed by force of armes, and when he had deliuered them, hce aflembled a greate number of the fame Troyans, whome he caufed to take an othe, that afwell
for
2 The hoohe of Hunting
for the diflionor whiche they had receyued, as alfo for the irre- cuparable lofTe and damage of their goods, and for the lamen- tations and dole which they had caufe to make for their kinf- folkes and friendes, whiche had bin flaine in the cruell warres of Troye, they fliould neuer returne into their country. Then did hee caufe to be rygged and trimmed a greate number of fhippes, wherein he embarked himfelfe and all his men, and tooke with him a great number of Houndes and Greyhoundes. Afterwards he fayled fo long till he paflTed y* ftrcyghts of Git- raltarCj entring into the Ocean Seas, and defcended in the Ifles of Armorie^ whiche at this prefent is called Breta'igne in Fraunce, by reafon of his name whiche was Brutus. Whiche llandes he conquered without refiftaunce, and was therein, peafably by the fpace of foure yeares, and afterwardes tooke fhip again, and landed at Totneys^ in y* weft of this noble realmc, whervpon after his conquefts made here ouer certaine giantes, one of his captaines called Corineus^ did buy Id the chiefe town of Cornwall. But to returne vnto his deedes in Armory^ when they were fetled, and had inhabited the fayd country, Brutus and his fonne Turnus, (which had as before fayde brought greate ftore of houndes with them) went dayly on hunting in the greate Forreft, whiche contayned then in length from Tyjfauge vnto Fojtiers, wherevpon one parte of the country is called to this present Gajiine. Now at that fame time there reygned in Foy- Bou and Aquitaine^ a king named Grojfarius PiSius, who made his continuall refidence in PoySfiers, and was one day aduer- tifed that the Troyans did greatly exercife themfelues in hun- ting, and that they hunted in his Forreftes with fuche a kinde of dogges, as after they had once founde a Harte, they neuer lefte him tyll they brought him to death. Wherevpon King GrofariuSy hauing hearde fuche newes, was moued and ex- ceeding angrie, in fuche forte, that hec determined to make warres with them, and aftembled all his forces. The Troyans being aduertifed of fuche an aftembly, marched all along the ryuer of Loyre with all their puylTaunce, and mette their e-
nimies
The boohe of Hunting $
nimies at a place where the citie of Tours is prefently fituate, and there they gaue battaile, in the whiche Turmis Cofine to Brutus^ or as feme Chronicles faye, Turnus the eldeft fonne of Brutus was flayne, and in remembraunce of him the fayde Citie was buylte, and by the name of Turnus was called Tours.
I haue thought good to recoumpte this hiftorie, that men may thereby vnderftande, that it is long fince houndes haue bin v(ed in Bretaigne^ and I thinlce certainly, that thefe Troi- ans were the firft which brought the race of houndes into this countrie. For I finde no hiftorie whiche maketh mention of longer continuaunce than that doth, and it is a thing mofte certaine, that the greateft parte of the races of houndes whiche are in Fraunce, and other cuntries adioyning, did come from the countrie of Bretaigne^ excepting the race of white hounds, the whiche I thinke to be come from Barbary. For being fome- tymes at Rochell^ I haue enquired of manye Pylottes and mariners, and amongeft others I enquired of an olde man named Alfonce^ who had oftentymes bene in the Courte of a Barbarian King called the Doncherib^ whiche vfed muche hunting, and principallie in hunting the Raynedeare at force : and this olde man tolde mee, that all the houndes of his kennell were whyte, and that all the dogges of that coun- trie were fuch alfo. And furely I thinke in deede that y® white dogges are comme out of the whotte countries, forafmuche as they gyue not ouer their chace howe hotte fo euer it bee, whereas other dogges doe not holde out fo in heate. Vkoebus doeth alfo agree with this opinion, faying, that hee hath bene in Maurltanye^ otherwife called Barbarle^ where- as hee hathe feene the Raynedeare kylled at force with dogges which they call Baux^ which gyue not ouer their chace for any heate that is. Wherevpon myne opinion is, that the Race of whyte dogges is come of thofe dogges called Baux of Barbaric^ of the whiche Fkwbus doeth fpeake. I wyll fette downe none other thing of the Antiquitie of
houndes.
. The hooke of Hunting
houndes, but I will write heereafter of the nature and com- plexions, as well of white houndes, as of Fallowe, dunne, and blacke, whiche fortes are mofte commodious for Princes and Gentlemen.
Of the nature and complexions of whyte
dogges, called Baux, and furnamed
Greffiers. Chap. 2
The hoohe of Hunting s
THe white Howndes haue bene brought in eftimation in Fraunce, by the Lord great Senefchal of Normandie that was, and before him they were in fmall eftimation, princi- pally amongft Gentlemen, for afmuche as they ferue not gene- rally for all chaces, but onely for the Harte. The firft of the race was called Souyllard^ the which was giuen by a pore Gentleman to the King Lewes deceaffed, who made no great accoumpt of him, bycaufe he loued the Dunne houndes aboue all other, of the whiche all his kennell was, and he made none accoumpt of others, vnlefiTe it were to make Bloodhoundes. The Senefchall GaHon beyng prefent with the Gentleman, whiche oflFred this Dogge, knowing well that the King loued not the hounde, did begge him of the King to make a prefent vnto the wifeft La- die of his Realme, and the Kyng afked him who that was, that is (quod he) Anne of Bourdon your daughter, I agree not with you (quoth the King) in that you haue named hyr the wyfeft, but you may fay lefle fooHfli than others, whereas there is fewe wife women in the world. Then the King gaue the Dogge vnto the Senefchall Gafton^ who ledde him not farre before he was begged of him, for the Lord great Senefchall of Norman- die did fo importunate'y craue him, that he was conftrayned to graunt him, afterwards the Lord great Senefchall gaue the Hounde in keeping to a hunter called lames of Brese^ and from that time forwards they beganne to haue bitches lined by that dogge, and fo to haue a race of them : the next yeare fol- lowing, the Ladie Anne of Bourbon which loued hunting ex- ceedingly, vnderftanding of the beautie and goodnefle of this dogge, fent a bitche to be lyned by him two or three times, whervppon they engendred fiftene or fixtene dogges, and amongft the reft fixe that were excellent, called Clerault^ louhard^ Mi- raud^ Meigretty Marteau^ and Hoyfe the good bitche. Sithens the race did dayly encreafe, as it is at this prefent, although at the beginning the dogges of that race were not fo ftrong as they be at this prefent time. For the mightie King Frances did renforce them by a fallow dogge called Myrauld^ the whiche Monfieur Anybauld the Admyrall did giue him, and afterwardes
the
6 The booke of Hunting
the Queene of Scottes gaue the King a white dogge called Barraude^ from the which Marconnay Lieutenant of the Chace, did get his race of dogges, whiche are excellent, and much ftronger than the reft were, and to fpeake truly, fuch dogges are moft propre for Princes, and with fuch they ought to be ferued, for afmuch as they are fayre, gallant hunters, luftie rangers, and good of fent, whiche giue not ouer their chace for any heate that is, and are not eafily ouerlaide or broken with throng of the riders, nor with the noyfe and crie of many men whiche dayly attende Princes on Hunting, and keepe their chace better without chaunge than any other kinde of Dogges, and are better to truft vnto, neuertheleiTe they mufte be accompanied with the horfemen, and do feare the water a little, efpecially in the winter when it is colde. 1 will not forget to fet downe what dogges of that race are befte, for afmuch as in euery litter that one halfe dothe not pioue good, vnderftand then that thofe whiche are all of one colour, (as all white) are the befte houndes, in lyke maner thofe whiche are fpotted with redde, the others whiche are marked or Ipotted with blacke or dunne, or a colour like vnto fryfe, are of fmall vallour, of the whiche fomeof them are fubied: to haue their feete great, fatte and tendre : fometimes nature dothe fo worke that it maketh fome to come out all blacke, the whiche happeneth not often, but when it doth hap- pen they are commonly feene to be good : and you muft note that the Dogges of that forte, are not in their chiefe good- nelle vntiil they be three yeares olde or thereabouts, and they are much en- clined to runne at tame beaftes.
Of
The hooke of Hunting
Of Fallow houndes and their nature. Chap. 3
IHaue redde none other thing of the antiquitie of Fallow houndeSj but onely that I haue feene in an olde written Booke made by an Hunter, the which maketh mention of a Lorde of Brytayne called H'tiett of Nantes^ and the Authour of that booke did much efteeme hunting, the which amongft other things gaue this blafon to the houndes of that Lords kennell. Huet^ thy Fallovj houvdes in forreftes hunte apace ^ And kill at force ^ hart^ hind^ buck^ doe^foxe^ S^^J-) '^"^ tuery chace^
TURB. VEK. C ■"^
-g The hooke of Hunting
As thou thy f elf e haB eke, aboue all others prayfe.
To hallow ivell in hollow woodes, njnto thy houndes aliuayes.
Alfo I haue feene in a Chronicle in the towne of Lambale, a chapter which maketh mention that a Lord of the fayde place with a kennel of fallow and redde howndes, did rowfe a ftagge in a forrest of the countie of Potuiiieur, and did hunte and pur- fue him by the fpace of foure dayes, in fuch forte that the fourth day he tooke him neare to the citie of Paris. And it is to be prefumed that the fallow howndes are the auncient howndes of the Dukes and Lordes of Brytaine, of the which the lord Admirall d'Anybauld and his predeceflburs haue alwayes kepte and main- teyned the race, the whiche came firR to be common in the time of the great King Frances father of Hunters. Thefe fallow houndes be hardie and of good fent, keeping very wel their chace without chaunge, and are almoft of the fame complexion that the white houndes are, fauing that they endure not heat fo well, nor yet the preafe or throng of the prickers and galloppers, but they are fwifter, more vniuerfall for all chaces, and hotter in hunting: and if it chance that a beaft do ftray out in the cham- paigne or the field es, they yet do neuer lightly forfake the chace, their complexion is itrong, for they feare neyther the colde nor the waters, and they runne furely, and are very hardie, they are fayre hunters, louing commonly the Harte better than any other kind of chace, and they are more opinionate and harder to be tauf^ht than the whyte howndes, and fo are they able to endure greater payne and trauayle. The befte that you fliall finde of the race of thefe Fallow houndes, are thofe whiche haue their heare moft liuely redde, and fuche as haue a white fpotte in theyr forehead or a ring aboute their necke, and likewife thofe whiche are all altogither fallow : but thofe that be lighter yellow, beyng marked or fpotted with blacke or dunne, are not greatly to be efteemed : thofe whiche are well ioynted and dewclawed are belt to make bloudhoundes, and there are fome whiche hauetheir tayles flia^^ged like eares of Come, and those are commonly good and fwift : and since Princes at thefe dayes haue mingled the races of Fallow howndes one w* an other, therfore they are become muchftronger
and
The hoohe of Hunting p
and better for the hart, the which is the right chace to yeeld plea- sure vnto Kyngs and Princes. But fuch houndes are not meete for meane Gentlemen, bycaufe they are commonly but for one chace : and they pafiTe not greatly for the Hare and other fmall chaces : and agayne, they are muche enclyned to runne at tame beaftes.
Of the complexion and nature ofdunne Houndes. Chap. 4
C 1
Our
1 o The booke of Hunting
OVr dunne houndes are fuche as aunciently our Kynges of Fraunce, and Dukes of Alencon did moft efteeme. Tney be common, bicaufe they arefittefor moftchaces, and therefore they are fittefl- for Gentlemen, for their nature and complexion is fuche, that they hunt all kynde of chaces which you would haue them to hunt. The belt of the race are fuch as be dunne on the backe, hauing their foure quarters redde or tanned, and the legs of the fame coloure, as it were the coloure of a Hares legs. Sometimes you fliall fee fome that haue their hayre on the top of their backes, dunne or almoll: blacke, and their legges ftreaked and flecked with redde and blacke, the which doe commonly proue excellent, and although there are not many badde dunne houndes to be feene, yet neuerthelefife, the light dunne, hauing their legges fallowe after a whytiflie coloure, are feldome fo Itrong nor fo fwifte as the other are, and Princes can not fo much delight in them for fundrye caufes. One caufe is, for that they doe muchefeare the throng of the huntefmen on horfcbacke, and they are troubled with their noyfe, for as muche as they are hote and of a great courage, and put them felues quickly out of breath hearing the Crye and noyfe of the hunters. Another caufe is, that they feare heate, and doe not greatly efteeme a chace whiche doubleth or turneth before them, but if the chace holde endlong, you fliall hardely finde better or fwyfter hounds, although they be verie opinionate harde to beleeue their huntef- man, and verie eafily inclyned to chaunge, bycaufe of theyr heate and follye, and bycaufe of the great compares which they cafte when they are at defaulte. And aboue all thinges, they fticke muche vpon knowledge of their maifter, and efpecially his voyce and his home, and will do for him more than for any other huntefman. They haue fuche emulation amongeft them felues, that they knowe the voyce of their fellowes, and whether they be fure or not, for if they be babblers and lyers, they will not lightly followe them. They are houndes of great traucll, fearing neither colde nor water, and if they feele a chace to fynke once before them, and that it bcginne to be fpent once, then will they neuer forfake it vntill they haue kylled it. They
which
The hoohe of Hunting 1 1
which will take pleafure in them, mufte vfe them in this forte. At the fyrft vncoupling of them, they muff followe and encou- rage them as temperately as maye be, and with verie little noyfe, for that they are hote, and doe quickly ouerflioote the tracke or path of the chace which they vndertake, and therefore the huntcf- men on horfebacke ought not ouer hallily to followe them vntill they vndertake it endlong : nor like- wife ought they not to come ouer haftily vnto them at a defaulte, and they mufb likewife beware that they crofTe them not, for feare Icaft they make them turne backe vpon them, and fo in this maner they may take pleafure in them.
Of
12 The hoohe of Hunting
Of blacke hounds aunciently come from Saind: Huberts abbay in Ar- dene. Chap, y
THe houndes which we call Saindt Huberts houndes, are commonly all blacke, yet neuerthelefle, their race is fo mingled at thefe dayes, that we finde them of all colours. Thefe are the hounds which the Abbots of Saind: Hubert haue alwayes kept fome of their race or kynde, in honour and remembrance of the Saindt which was a hunter with Saind Eullace. Wherevpon
we
The boo he of Hunting I j
we may coniedure that (by the grace of God) all good huntf- men fliall follow them into Paradife. To returne vnto my former purpofe, this kind of Dogges hath bin disperfed tho- rough the Countries of Hennault^ Lorayne^ Flanders^ and Bur- gonye^ they are mighty of body, neuerthelelTe, their legges are lowe and fliort, likewiie they are not fwift, although they be very good of fent, hunting chaces whiche are farre ftraggled, fearing neyther water nor colde, and do more couet the cha- ces that fmell, as Foxes, Bore, and fuche like, than other, by- caufe they finde themfelues neyther of fwiftnefTe nor courage to hunte and kill the chaces that are lighter and fwifter. The Bloudhoundes of this colour prooue good, efpecially thofe that are cole blacke, but I make no greate accompte to breede on them, or to keepe the kinde, and yet I founde once a Booke whiche a Hunter did dedicate to a Prince of Lorayne^ whiche feemed to ]oue Hunting much, wherein was a bJafone which the fame Hunter gaue to his Bloudhound called Soygllard^ which was white.
My name came firjl from holy Huberts Race Soygllard my Sire^ a hound of jingtlar grace.
Wherevpon we may prefume that fome of the kind proue white fometimes, but they are not of the kind of the Grejfyers or Bauxes which we haue at thefe dayes.
The
1 4 The hooTze of Hunting
The tokens whereby a man may knowe
a good and fayre Hounde
Chapt. 6
A Hound whiche fliould be good and fayre ought to haue thefe markes following. Firft I wil begin at the head, tiie whiche ought to be of a mcane proportion, and is more to bee efteemed when it is long, than when it is fliort fnowted, the noftrelles ought to be greate and wide opened, the eares large, fide, and of a meane thicknelle, the chine of the backe compaflTe bowed like a Roch, the fillettes
great,
The hoohe of Hunting is
great, alfo the haunches great and large, the thigh well truf- fed, and the hamme ftreight and well compafTed, the tayle bigge ncare the reynes, and the reft {lender vnto the very end, the heare vnderncath the belly hard, the legge bigge, the foale of the foote drie and formed like a Foxes foote, the clawes grcate : and you fliall note, that feldome fliall you fee fuche dogges as are fliort truflfed, (hauing their hinder parts higher than their foreparts) to proue fwift. Now to declare vnto you the fignification of thefe marks, you fliall v derftand y* the open noftrells do betoken a dogge of perfedl fent, the ridge or chine of the backe rochbent, and the hamme ftreight, betoken fwiftneflc, the tayle great neare the reynes and long and loofe towardes the ende, bctokeneth good and greate force in the reynes, and that the dogge is long breathed, the hard heare vnderneath the belly doeth fignirte that he is paynefull, and feareth neyther water nor colde, the bigge legge, the Foxes foote and the great clawes, do betoken that the foote of fuch an hound is not fatte, and that he is ftrong in all his mem- bers, and able to en- dure long without furbaiting of himfelfe.
How
1 5 The booke of Hunting
Howe a man maye choofe a faire Bitche to beare
whelpes : and the meane to make hir goe proude :
alfo the fignes vnder the which flie may belt
be lined to bring foorth dogge whelps
which Ihall not be fubiedl vnto
difeafes. Chap. 7
IF you would haue faire hounds, you muft firft haue a fayre Bitch, which is of a good kind, ftrong and well proportio- ned in all parts, hauing hir ribbes and hir flancks great and
large.
The hooke of Hunting 1 7
large, the whiche you may make to goe proude in this wyfe. Take two heads of Garlike, half Y ftone of a beaft which is called Castor^ with the iuyce of CrcfTeys, and a dozen of the flies called Cantharides^ boyle all thefe together (in a potte holding a pynte) with Mutton, and giue the pottage two or three tymes vnlo the bytche to drynke, and flie will not fayle to go proude. And in like manner Ihall you make your dogges defirous of the bytche, Sec.
Afterwardes, when you fee that your bytche goeth proude, attende the full of the Moone vntyll it be palled, and then caufe hir to be lyned (if it may be, vnder the Sygnes of Germini and Aquarius) for the dogges whiche fliall be engendered vnder those fignes, fliall not be fubiect vnto madnelTe, and iliall com- monly be more dogges than bytches.
Alfo fome fay that there is a Starre named ArBure^ and that fuche dogges as are whelped or engendered vnder that Starre, fliall be muche iubiedle vnto madnefTe. In lyke maner you muft vnderftand dyuers fecretes, wherof the firft is : that of what dogge fo euer a bytche fliall be lyned, the firfte time that (he goeth proude, and at hir firfl: litter, whether it be by Maftifte, Greyhounde, or Hounde, in all hir other lytters whiche flie fliall haue afterwardes, flie wyll alwayes haue one whelpe whiche fliall refemble the dogge that firft lyned hir. And for that caufe you ought to haue good regarde that the firft time flie goeth proude, you caufe hir to be lyned with fome fayre dogge of a goode kynde, for in all the lytters which flie fliall haue after- wardes, there will be fome one which will refemble the firfte. And although now adayes men make fmall account of the firft litter, feyng they are of opinion, that the firft lytter is much giuen to become madde, and are commonly weake and fmall, yet muft you not faile to lyne your bitche at the firft with a fayre hounde, and of a good kynde, for if flie fliould be lyned with a Maftiife or a curre, the other litters wil hold the lame race, and yet if you fliould luffer hir to flyp without lyning, she wil pyne away, and with great payne fliall you recouer hir or make hir fatte againe.
An other fecrete is, that if yee will haue lyght and bote
houndes
1 8 The hoohe of Hunting
hounds, then lyne your bytch with a yong dogge : for if (he be li- ned with an olde dogge, the whelpes will become more heauie, and lefTe gallant. And herewithall vnderftand that it is not good to coole a bytch when fhe is proude in the water, for the water doth congeale the bloude within the veynes and Arteries, which may caufe hir to become maungie, or elfe that flie fliall haue wormes, tormentes, and grypes in hir bellye, and infinite other difeafes which followe therevpon. When the bytches are Jyned, and that they beginne to be fydebellyed, you muft not leade them on hunting for diuers caufes. One is, bycaufe the for- ces which they fliall vfe in hunting, do marre and keepe from prof- pering the little whelpes v/hich are in their bellycs. Also that in leaping ouer the hedges, and running through the woodes, euery lead rufli or knocke may make them call their whelpes, where- vppon might cnfue diuers other euill happes which flioulde be long to recyte. Then the beft is to let them onely pade vp and downe the houfe or court, and neuer locke them vp in their kennell, bycaufe they be importunate and longing, and therefore you muft make them pottage once a day at the leaft. Furthermore, if you would fpaye a bitch, it must be done before flie haue euer had litter of whelpes: and in fpaying of hir, it flial not be good to take away all the rootes or ftrings of the veynes, for it is hard to take them away without hurting of the reynes, and fo fliall you hyndcr hir fwyftnelTe euer after : but when fome rootes of thofe veynes remayne, the bytche fliall be much the ftronger, and more hardie, and fliall the better endure payne and trauell. Alfo you muft take good heede that ye fpay hir not when flie is proud, for then fliall you *
put hir in great daunger of death, but fyf- tcne dayes after flie hath lefte goyng proude. And when the little whelpes beginne to take fliape within hir bel- lye, then is beft fpaying of a bytche.
Of
The hooke of Hunting
Of the feafons in which it is beft to haue
yong whelpes, and howe you
may beft gouerne them
Chap. 8
ip
T
Here are certayne feafons in the which little whelps are hard to efcape, or to be brought vppe, efpecially if they be whel- ped
10 The booke of Hunting
ped in the ende of Odlober, bycaufe of the Wynter and coJdes whiche then beginne to reygne, and for that mylke and other nouritures which are moft meete for them, doe then beginne to fayle, and therefore it is then verie harde (if they be whelped in fuch feafon) that they flioulde efcape death, for as muche as the Winter hath ouertaken them before they haue force to endure the colde, and though they doe efcape, yet will they be fmall and weake. Another vnmeete feafon for wheipes is in luly and Au- guft, bycaufe of the vehement heates, and the flyes, fleas, and other vermyne which then will torment them. But the beft fea- fon to haue wheipes is in March, Apryll, and Maye, when the time is temperate and the heate not ouer greate. Alfo it is the right time which nature hath appoynted for the breeding ot all lyuing creatures, as Kyne, Goates, Sheepe, and fuche lyke, for that is the feafon moft fytte for their nouriture. And feeyng that wheipes maye be bredde in all feafons, and that many de- lyght to breede their kynde, and to nouriflie them in what feafon fo euer they come, I haue therfore thought good according to my fantafie, to gyue vnderftanding of meanes howe to preferue them.
Fyrft if they be whelped in Wynter, you fhall take a Bar- rell or. a Pype well dryed, and knocke out the heade at the one ende thereof, afterwardes put ftrawe therein, and fet it by a place where there is ordinarily a good fyre, then turne the open ende towardes the fyre, to the ende the wheipes may haue the ayre thereof, and you fliall feede the damme with good pottage or broth made with Beefe or Mutton.
Then when the wheipes begynne to lappe, you fliall accu- ftome them alfo vnto pottage, but fuch as haue no falte therein, bycaufe falte doth make them drye, and caufeth them to become maungie, vnto the which difeafe they are fubie^t when they are whelped in winter.
Alfo you fliall put in their pottage much Sage and other hote hearbes : And if peraduenture you fee that their haire do fall, you fliall then annoynt them with oyle of Walnuts and honny mingled together, and kepe them in their tun or pype as cleane as you can,
and
The hooke of Hunting 21
and chaunge their ftrawe euery day : and when you perceiue that they beginne to goe, you fliall haue a net made of strong thread, laced with a thong, and fallned about the Tun or Pypc, euen as they couer a Swyflers drummej fo that you may kepe them from going out, and that other dogs do not byte them, or that they be troden vpon or marred with mens feete. And you muft make this pype or tunne in fuch forte that it may be opened when you wilJ. And as touching other whelpes which are bred in Som- mer, they muft be put in fome freflie place whether other dogges come not ordinarily, and you fliould lay vnder them fome hai- dJe or watlyng with ftrawe therevpon, leaft the colde or moyft- nelTc of the earth doe annoy them : and that ftrawe muft alfo be often changed. They ought alfo to be in fome darke place, by- caufe the Flyes fliall fo leaft annoy them, and therewithall it fliall be alio good to annoynte them twyce a weeke with oyle of Nuttes myngled and beaten with Saffron bruzed to pou- der, for that oyntment doth kyll all fortes of wormes, and re- comfortes the fkynne and the fynewes of dogges, and keepeth them from byting of Flyes and Punayfes. And fometyme you muft alfo annoynte the Bytch in like manner, and put there to the iuyce of Berne or wylde Crefleys, for feare leaft flie fyll hir whelpes full of Fleas : and forget not to nouriflie hir with pottage as is before rehearfed. When the whelpes fliall be fyfteene dayes olde, you mufte worme them, and eyght daycs after you may cut ofF one ioynte of theyr tayles, in fuche fourme and manner as 1 will prefcribe hereafter in the treatie of Receiptes. Afterwardes when they fliall begynne to fee and to eate, you mufte gyue them good mylke alwayes hote, whe- ther it be Cowes mylke, Gotes mylke, or Ewes mylke : and note, that it fliall not be good to wayne them, and put them to keeping abroade, vntyll they be two monethes olde, and that for dyuers caufes. One : bycaufe the longer they tafte of theyr dammes teate, the more they fliall take of hir complexion and nature, the which we may fee by experience. For when a Bytch hath whelpes, let a maftyf^e bytch gyue fucke to that one halfe, and you fliall fynde that they will neuer be fo good as thofe
which
12 The hooke of Hunting
which the damme dyd bring vppe. Another caufe is : that if you feparate them one from another before they be two monethes olde at the leaft, they will be chyll and tender, and it will be ftraunge vnto them by want of their damme which was wont to keepe them warme.
The iignes and tokens which a man
ought to regarde, in iudging
whether the wheipes will
be good or not
Chap. 9
The hooke of Hunting 2j
THE auncient Authours would fay, that a man maye knowe the bell whelpes by the dammes teates, and that fuch as commonly fucked the teates which are nearer the heart of the damme, are the beft and the ftrongeft, bycaufe the bloude about that place is moll: lyuely and delicate. Others haue fayde, that they might be knowne by a token which they haue vnder the throate, whereas there are certayne haires lyke vnto Hogges bryftles, and that if there be odde haires, it is a token of goodnefle, and that if there be euen, it is an euill token. Some other haue taken marke by the hynder legges, by the dewclawes, for if there be none (faye they) it is a good token, and if there be but one, it is alfo good, but if there be two, it is an euill likelyhoode.
Some agayne wyll looke within the mouth of the whelpe, thinking that fuche as haue the roofe of their mouthe blacke fliould be good, and fuche as are redde there, (liould not be muche worth. And if they haue theyr noftrelles wyde and open, it is a fygne that they fliall be of perfedt fent. As to the conlideration of other partes of the bodye, there is no great iudgement, vn- tyll they be three or foure monethes olde. NeuerthelcfTe, I take them whiche haue long, large, and thicke eares, and the hayre vnder their belly hard and great, to be the beft, and thofe markes I haue proued and founde true. Nowe bycaufe 1 haue thereot fpoken a little before, I will fpeake none other thing therevpon at this prefent.
That it is beft bringing vp of whelpes in
villages in the countrey, and not
in fliambles. Chap. lo
WHen your whelpes be brought vp two monethes vnder the damme, and that you fee they can feede well, then fliall it be good to feede them abroad into the Vyllages to keepe in fome fayre place whiche is neare vnto fome water, and farrc from any Warren of Coneys, for as much as if they haue TURB. YEN. D fcarcitie
24 T^^^^ hoohe of Hunting
fcarcetie of water, and when they come to be offeree, they maye chaunce to be fubiedle vnto madnefTe, bycaufe theyr bloude wyll become hote and drye, whereas the water woulde haue made it colder and moyfber, and yet would alfo nouriflie them better : alfo if they fliould be neare vnto warennes, they might breake out and be drawnc to hunting amyfle after Coneys.
Therefore it iliall be bcfte to bryng them vppe abroade wyth mylke, breade, and all fortes of pottages, and you fliall vnder- ftande that to bring them vppe in Villages of the countrey, is muche better than to bryng them vppe in a Butcherie, for as muche as they are not clofed vppe, and that they maye goe out when they will to feede, and to learne the tracke of a chace. Alfo bycaufe they are accuftomed vnto the colde, the rayne, and all euill weather, and are not fo foone fubiedte to runnyng after tame beaftes, when they are ordinarily bred amongeft them, on that otherfide, if they be bred in butcheries or fliambles, the fleihe and bloude they fliould eate, would heate their bodyes in fuch forte, that when they Ihould become greate, and that they fliould runne in chace two or three raynye dayes, they woulde marfounder them felues, and would not tayle to become maun- gie, and to be fubiedre vnto madnefTe, and to runne after tame beaftes, bycaufe in the Shambles they feede ordinarily on bloud, and neyther learne to queft nor to hunte any thing at all. To conclude, I neuer fawe dogge come to good perfection (efpeci- ally to become a good haryer) which was fed and brought vp in the Shambles.
In what time men ought to withdrawe
their Whelpes from their Nurfle,
and what kynd of bread and
flelh is belt to giue vnto
them. Chap, ii
It
The hoohe of Hunting ijj'
IT flialbe good to withdraw the whelpe from his nource when he is tenne moneths olde, and to keepe them all together in kennell, to the eade they may vnderftand and know one an other. There is great difference to fee a kenncU of houndes nouriflied togither, and all of one age : and another of houndes gathered here and there : bicaufe thofe whiche are brought vp togither, do better vnderftand eche other, and keepe clofer togither in Crie, than thofe whiche are gathered from fundrie places. When you haue brought your whelpes to kennell, you muft hang clogges or billets of woodde aboute theyr neckes, to teache them to go coupled, the bread which fliould be giuen them, fliould be a third parte of wheat, a thirde of Barley or Otes, and a thirde of Rie, bicaufe beyng fo mixed, it keepeth them frefli and fatte, and hea- leth or preferueth them from fundrie difeafes, whereas if it were all Rie it might make them fkoure too much, and if it were all wheate, it would binde them too much, the whiche would caufe many difeafes, and therefore it is beft fo to mixe one with an other. Men muft giue fleflie to their houndes in winter, efpeci- ally thofe whiche are leane, and hunte the Harte : but you fhould not feede haryers with flcdie for diuers confiderations : for if you do, they will become fleflily, and gyuen to hunte great beaftes of chace, and will make none accompt of the Hare : and the Hare alfo doth often conueye hyr felfe amongft the heardes of tame beafts, to be thereby ridde of the dogges, and by that meanes the houndes might chaunce to leaue theyr chace, and to runne after the tamer beafts. But Buckhoundes and fuch as hunt the Harte will not fo eafily do it, bicaufe the Eucke or Harte is of greater fent than the Hare, in fuch forte that his fleflie is vnto them more delicate and more greedely defired than any other. The beft flefli that you can giue Houndes, and that will befte fet vp a weake hounde, are horfeflelh, afTe and mules fleflie, as for beefe (eyther oxe or cowes fleflie) and fuche like, the fleflie is vnto tliem of a more foure fubftance. You fliould neuer fuffer your houndes to feede vpon any flefli vntill it be fleyed, to the ende they may haue no knowledge neither of the beaft, nor of his heare. 1 allow and prayfe pottage made of Mutton, Goates fleflie, and the heades
D X of
2(5 The hoohe of Hunting
of beeues, for fuch leane houndes as are hariers. And it fliall not be amifle fometime to mingle therewith fome brimftone, the whiche may warme them. Hereof I will more amply deuife in the treatie of receyptes.
How a Kennell ought to be lituate and trimmed for Houndes. Chap. 12
A Kennell ought to be placed in Ibme oriental! parte of a houfe, where there may be a large courte wel playned, being fourefcore paces fquare, according to the commoditie and abili- tie of the Lorde whiche oweth it, but the greater and larger that
it
The hoohe of Hunting ttj
it is, the better it will be for the Houndes, bicaufe they fliall haue the greater pleafure to play themfelues, and to f kommer, through the middeft of it, were meete and good to haue a little chanell of good fountayne water, neare vnto the whiche you fliall lay a great trough of ftone to receyue the courfe of the fayde water, the whiche trough flialbe a foote and a halfe high, to the end the houndes may drinke thereat the more eafily, and that trough mufte be pearced at the one ende, to let out the water, and to make it cleane when you would. In the higheft place of the Courte it flialbe good to buylde the kennell or lodging for the Houndes, in the whiche you mull: haue two chambers, whereof the one (lialbe larger than the other, and in the fame fliould be a chimney, great and large, to make a fire when neede fliall require. The gates and windowes of the chamber, muft be fet and fituate agaynft the rifmg of the Sunne and the South : the chamber fliould be rayfed three foote higher than the leuell of the ground, and in the floore you flioulde make two gutters and holes to the ende the filthinelle and vryne of the Houndes may thereby auoyde, the walles ought to be well whited, and the plankes well mortifed and ioyned, and fo fliall fpyders, fleas, punayfes and fuch like, the lefTe breede and remaine therein. You mufl al- wayes leaue them fome little dore or wicket to go out into the courte when they would fkommer or eafe themfelues, then mull: you haue in the cham.ber little bedfteades which flialbe rayfed a good foote from the ground, and therwithal let euery bedfteade haue vnder it a roller to remoue it where you will when you would make the place cleane : and againe that when they come from the chace, and that it were needefuU to warme them, you may rolle them as neare y® fire as you wil : alfo thofe bedfteads muft be coue- red w* hurdels or plankes pearced, to the end y* when the hounds do pifFe, the vrine may drayne to the ground. You muft alfo haue anotherchamberwherintheHunte may withdraw himfelf and keepe his homes, cowples, and other things neceflarie. 1 thought not needefull to fpeake of fumptuous chambres y® which Princes caufe tobemadefor their hounds, wherin there beclofets,ftoues,andother magnificences, for afmuch as y' hath feemed vnto me, to be more
anoyance
28 The hooke of Hunting
anoyance than profitable for the houndes, for when they are ac- cuftomed to fuch heatcs, beyng fo tenderly and delicately hand- led, and after flialbe brought to fome place where they llialbe euill lodged, or if they hunte in the raynie weather, then Hiould they be readieto marfounder themfelues, and fo to become maun- gie : wherefore I haue alwayes bene of opinion, that when thev come from the fielde, and that they be moyled, it is fufficient if they be well chaffed and layed drie, without accuftoming them to fuche magnificence. And bicaufe fometimes men haue not commoditie to haue fountaynes or brookes in euery place, it is re- quifite to make little tubbes of woodde or fome troughes to put their water in. You muft take heede that you giue them no drinke in a veffell of copper or braffe, for thofe two kindes of mettals are venomous of their nature, and caufe the water whiche commeth in them to turne and to ftinke, whiche woulde greatly anoy the houndes. You mufte alfo haue prety little binges or bafkettcs of woodde to put theyr breade in, the whiche mufte be broken and cut by fmall gobbets in the fame, by- caufe fome Dogges are fometimes ficke and of euill appetite. Alfo there are cer- tayne howres and times that houndes will not feede, and therefore the bafkets fhould not be emptie at any time, as we haue fet in portrayture before. (v)
Of
The booke of Hunting 2p
Of the Hunte, and how he ought to dreile, gouerne, and attend his dogges Chap. 13
A Good keeper of Houndes fliould be gratious, curteous, and gentle, louing his dogges of a naturall difpofition, and he ought to be both well footed and well winded, afwell to fill his home as his bottell : the firft thing whiche he ought to do when he rifeth, is to go fee his Houndes, to make their lodging cleane, and to drefTethem as the cafefliall require: after he hath foclen- fed them, he ought to take his home and sounde three or foure
times
3 o The hooke of Hunting
tymes the call, to the ende he may comforte them and call them to him : and when he fliall fee them a^I aboute hym, then fliall he couple them, and in couplyng them he mufte take good heede that he couple not the Dogges together, fur feare leaft they fight one with another, and if there be any yong houndes, it flialbe good to couple them with the olde bitches, to teache them to fol- lowe : when they are all well coupled, the keeper mufte fill two great bagges or pockets with fmall bones, and other good mor- fels, as fiflie, or horfe feete fried, fatte rofte meates, and fuch like, then he fliall breake all into fmall gobbets into his bagges, and hang one bagge about his owne necke, and giue another vnto one of his companions, that done, he muft take two wifpes ot cicane ftraw and put them vnder his gyrdell, with a little brufh or dufter to rubbe and dufte his houndes when they fliall come into the fielde : the other Huntefmen or varlettes whiche flialbe with him ought to do afmuch. Afterwards euery man flial take a fayre wande in his hande, and let one go before to call the houndes vnto him, another fliall come behind which fliall ierke them forwardes, and if there be two others, they fliall go on eche fide, and fo all foure togither fliall go leade the houndes through the greene Corne fieldes and through the medowes, afwell to feede them, as for to teach them to knowe thcyr voyce, making them to pafTe through the heardes of flieepe and other fuche like beaftes, to accuftome them, and to make them to know them : and if there be any dogge that is fo il taught as he would runne at a flieepe or any fuch tame beaft, you muft couple him with a ramme or a ftoute Shcepe, and with your wande you mufte all to pay him and beate him a good while, crying and threatening to the ende that another time he may know the rate of suche as vfe it. So mufte you alfo vfe to leade your houndes through the wa- re ns, and if they couet to runne after the Conies, you mufte threaten and chaftice them, bycaufe yong houndes do naturally loue them. When you haue thus walked them in the morning, and that the Sunne beginneth now to be high, the Hunte muft go into fome fayre medow, and call all his dogges about him, and then mufte they take their wifpes and bruflies, to bruflie and
dufte
The hooke of Hunting 3 1
dufte their houndes as foftely as may be : for fomctimes the houndes whiche hunte in the woodes and forrefts do pricke them- felues, and catche thornes or haue fome fcabbes or blifters, {o that the keepers of Houndes hauing a heauy hande in rubbing and trimming them, might galde of the fkinne, and rather do hurte than good. And furdermore it were very euill for the hounde to leefe his haire or his lockes, for afmuche as he is vnceflantly tra- uayJed in Woodes and Forreftes, whereas the ryndes, the water droppes, and other coldnefTe doth fall vpon him continually, and therefore it may fuflfize to rubbe and courrie the hounde three times in a weeke, but Greyhoundes ought to be rubbed ones euery day. After all thefe things done, their keepers and Huntf- men muft teach them to know the Halloiue afwell by the home, as by the mouth, in this wife.
First one of the Huntefmen mufte take one of the budgettes full of delicates as beforefayde, and go a crof bow flioote or fur- der, according as the houndes are yong or wel entred : for if they be yong, and haue yet neuer bene entred, then the Halloive mufte be made the nearer, and they mufte not be vncoupled bicaufe the old houndes mayleade them to the Ha/Ioiv^ but if they haue bene begonne to be entred, then may they go further ofF and vncou- ple them, and then when the Hunte flialbe two good Crofbow fliotte from his Houndes (the whiche his compaignions muft in meane whyle holde together) he fliall beginne to Hallowe, and to founde his Home, and he fliall otherwhyles crie : Hoiu. HoTVy HoiVy thats he^ thats he^ HoiVj to a Deare. And Ho-w, HoiOj that thaty or there^ there^ to an Hare, and he fliall neuer ceafe to crye, to hallowe, and to blowe, vntill his houndes be come vnto him : when his compaignions fliall hearehim beginne to hallowe, they fliall vncouple their houndes, and crie ^ly ft halloiv^ hyke halloiv^ lyffy lyft^ lyft^ then when they are come to the hallow, the Hunte mufte take his bagge of vidtualles, and cafte vnto them all the delicates, crying and comforting them as the Arte requyreth : then when he fliall fee that they haue almofte done eatyng of their rewarde, hee fliall gyue figne or token to his com- panions that they beginne to hallowe, the whiche (hauing not
ftyrred
32 The hooke of Hunting
ftirred from the place where they vncoupJed theyr dogges, and hauing another budget or pocket full of delicates and dogges deynties) fliall beginne to hallow on their fide, and to blow their homes to make the dogges come vnto them : then he which made the firft hallow fliall threaten them, and a little beate them with a wande crying agayne, lyB halloiv^ hyhe halloiv, lyH-^ lyH^ lyff. And when the houndes llialbe come vnto them, they mufle re- warde them with theyr delicates as the other did, and then after let them couple them vp agayne fayre and gently : for if one do roughly handle a young hound at the firfte couplyng, he will not eafily come agayne to the couplyng another time. When they are coupled vp agayne, they muft leade them to their Ken- nell, and glue them meate, leaning alwayes fome bread in their bafketteSj for fuche as flialbe of faynt appetite, their ftrawe muft be chaunged three or four times in a weeke at the leaft, and the Hunte muft wreath wifpes upon little ftickes, and pricke them in the grounde to make them piUe. It is a thing certayne, that if Tomaksa, you rubbe ouer a wifpe or fuche like thing with Galbanum^ all ''"""'' ^"^'T^ your houndes will not fayle to come and piiTe agaynft it: and place. '' if perchance there be no fountayne nor brooke within the courte of your Kennell, then muft you put their water in troughes of ftonc or of woodde as 1 haue rehcarfcd before, the whiche mufte be changed and refrtflied eucry day twyce. Also in extreeme heate, Houndes are oftentimes combred with lice, fleas, and other vermine and filthie things, and for remedie thereof you muft waflie them once a weeke in a bath made with hearbes, as follow eth.
Firft you muft haue a great kettle holding tenne great pots or fmall buckettes full of water, then take tenne good stalkes of an hearbe called Veruyne^ and wilde Crejfeyes^ and afmuch of the leaues of Sorell^ Marioram^ ^^S^t Rofemarie^ and Reisje^ and lette them boyle well altogcthers, cafting amongft them twoo hand- full of Salte : then when all is well boyled togithers, and that the hearbes be well confumed therein, you fliall take them from the fire, and let them coole vntill the water be no more than luke warme, and therewith waflie and bathe your dogges one after
another
The hooke of Hunting 3 3
another rubbyng them foftely with your wifpes. And all thefe things are belt to be done in great heates, thryfe in a weeke at the leaft : alfo fometimes when whelpes are lately brought from their nources out of the villages, they will dreade the waters and dare not aduenture to pafTe through ryuers, pooles^ &c. To helpe this the Hunte mufte choofe out warme and bote dayes, in the whiche aboute noone, he fliall couple vp all his houndes, and leade them to the fide of feme riuer or poole, and put of all his clothes : then shall he take them one after another, and carie them a good way into the riuer to learne them to fwimme and abyde the water : when he hath done this two or three times, he lliall fee that his houndes will not feare the water, nor will make any difficuitie to pafTe or fwimme through the riuers and pondcs. And in this manner good Huntes fliall vfe their houndes, for it they obferue all thefe things aboue rehearfed, it is not poffible but that theyr houndes flialbe wel entred and ordred. And often- times it happentth that houndes do hunte and chafe in the rayne and frost and other greuous weather, or els do enforce themselues to palTe and fwimme through riuers and pooles, when they do fo, the Hunt ought to make them a good fire, and to rubbe and drie them, and when they be drie he fliould frotte and rubbe their bel- lies, to take of the dyrte and claye whiche may hang therevpon, for if they go to kenell wttte and moyled with dyrt, they fliould be in daunger to marfounder and to become mangie : oftentimes alfo in running through the hard champayne, or flonie grounde, they furbate and beblifter their feete, and to helpe that, the Hunt mull firfl: waflie theyr feete with water and Salte, then take the yolkes of egges and beatethem wel with vinegre and the iuyceof an hearbe growyng vpon the rockes, and called Moufeare, then take pitch brufed to powder and mingle it with twife afmuche foote, and after put your fayde powder amongfl: the egges and iuyce of hearbs aforefayd, making them all hote togither and al- wayes ftyrring them, and you mull take good heede that you ouerheate it not, bicaufe the moyfture might fo beconfumed and the subftance of the egges woulde waxe harde, which woulde marre all, but it flialbe fufficient to heate it vntill it be fome-
whatl
34 The hoohe of Hunting
what more than luke war me, and herewithall fliall you rubbe cuery night the feete and foldes betweene the clawes of your houndes with a linen cloute. I will ftand no longer vpon this poynt, hoping to fpeake thereof more amply in the treatie ot receiptes.
How a man fliould enter his yong houndes
to hunte the Harte, and of the quaries
and rewardes that he fliall giue
them. Chap. 14
When
The hoohe of Hunting 35-
WHen the Hunte hath taught his houndes to know and beleeue the hallow, and the found of his home, then the galloppers, prickers, and huntfmen on horfebacke feyng their houndes ftrong enough and aboute feuentene or eightene moneths olde, fliall then beginne to enter and to teach them, and they ilvall haue them a fielde but once a weeke at the mofte, for fearc leait they ihould marre them, for houndes are neuer fuffi- ciently knit in their ioyntes and members vntili they be two yearcs old at the leaft ; and aboue all things whofoeuer would hunte the Harte at force, muft vnderftand three secretes. The firil is that he neuer accuftome his houndes to runne a Hinde, nor giue them any quarrie or rewarde thereof, bycaufe there is differ- ence betwene the fent of a Harte and a Hynde, as you may fee by experience that houndes do oftentimes fingle that one fiom that other : and yet houndes are of fuch nature that the firfb beaft which a man doth enter them at, and that they firft take pleafure in, and haue bene therewith rewarded, they do alwaies remember it moft, and thereby you may be fure that if you giue them rewardes or bring them to the quarrie of a Hynde, they would defire it more than the Harte. The fecond fecrete is, that it is not good to enter yong houndes within a toile, for there a Harte doth nothing but turne and cait aboute, fince he cannot runne endlong, when the houndes are in manner alwayes in fight of him, and if afterwards you fliould runne a Harte (with doggcs fo entred) at force, and out of a toyle, and that the Harte tooke endlong, eloygning him felf from the houndes, they woulde quickly giue him ouer : and yet there is another thing whiche dothe more hurte vnto fuche houndes as are entred into a toyle, for if a Harte do turne two or three times before them, they take afwell the countrie, as the right tracke, breakyng their courfe, and putting themfelues out of breath, and neither learne to hunte nor to queft, nor to do any other thing but rayfe vp their heads ftill to fee y^ Harte. The third fecrete is that you enter not your houndes, nor beginne to teach them in the mornyng if you can chufe, for if a man do firlfe accuftome them to the freflie of the mornyng, if afterwardes they chaunce to Hunte in the heate of the day, they will quickly
giue
3 5 The hoohe of Hunting
giueouer, but you may enter them and rewarde them in this manner. Firfte you ought to haue regarde that the Harte be in pryme of greace, bycaufe then he cannot fo eafily conuey himfelf nor eJoygne himfelf before the houndes, as he would do in May or in Aprillj bicaufe they are heauier then, and cannot ftand upfo long, then may you choofe out a Forefb wherein the Relaies be of equal! proportion, and for your purpofe, after place al your yong houndes togither with foure or fiue old houndes to enter them. And then leade them to the furdefl: and liHRelayej and caufethe Harte to be hunted vnto them, with fome good kenell of hounds whiche may keepe hym from refting or ftaying by the way, to the ende that when he flialbe ariued and come vnto them, and waxeth now wearie and almofte fpent, you may then vncouple your olde Houndes firfte, and when they haue well beaten and founde the tracke or fent of the Harte, beyng well entred in crie, you may alfo vncouple your yong houndes, and hallow them in to the olde houndes, and you mulle haue three good prickers, or Huntefmen on horfebacke at the leaft, to the ende that if there be any yong hounde whiche woulde carie or hang behind, beyng opinionate or mufing and ploddyng by himfelfe, the Horfemen may beate him well and make him come in to the reft: and you fliall vnderftand that in what place foeuer you kyll the Harte, you ought to flea his necke, and to rewarde your houndes ther- with vpon the grafle all hote as it is, for fo it flialbe muche bet- ter and more delicate and profitable for your houndes, than when it is colde : you may alfo rewarde them in another manner. Take a Harte in nettes or ftalles, and cleane or fplit one of his forefeete from the twifte of the cleas, vnto the ioynte of the foote, or els cut off one of his feete or cleas altogither, afterwards vntang'e him out of the net or ftall and let him go, a quarter of an hour after, you may biyng all your yong hounds and aflemble them togither, then take your Bloudhoundes and with them finde out the view or Slotte of the Harte or Bucke, and followe them with your yong Houndes, and when you haue followed them a Croftebowe flioote, you maye then hal- lowe and blowe for your yong Houndes : that done you
may
The boohe of Hunting 37
may vncouple your yong hound es from the old, that the olde houndes may firft leade them : and you mufte haue good prickers and huntefmen on horfebacke in the tayle of them to make them holde in and c!ofe. Yet another way to bryng your houndes to quarrie and to rewarde them, you mail haue foure or fixe hunti- men that be good and fwifte of foote, for els they may rather hinder than furder the houndes, and to euery one of thele you may giue two couple of houndes to leade in liames, and when the houndes haue vnlodged the Harte, they may go fayre and foftely, and not weary theyr yong houndes before the crie : then when they fliall perceyue that the Harte hath runne twoo good houres, and that he beginneth to finke before the houndes, they may cafte of theyr yong houndes, but they ought to haue good regard that they cafte them not of when he is at Baye : efpecial- ly when his head is full fommed, for in that furie he woulde en- danger them or kill them. Mine opinion is that the beft entryng of houndes is at the Hare, for that is their very beft beginning, for almuch as thereby they fliall learne all doubles, and turnes, as lyke- wifc to knowe and to come to the hallowe, and alfo they become very tendre nofed and perfedte of fent by accuftoming the beaten wayes and champaygne Countries, and afterwards when a man woulde enter or teache them to the Harte, they will quickely forget and abandone the Hare. Here mufte be noted that all houndes ought to be well acquaynted with their prickers or Huntefmen on Horfebacke which fliall follow them, and there- fore it is requifite that when the Huntefmen fliall giue them rewarde, and that they make the Quarrie, the prickers and Huntefmen on horfebacke be there prefent to make much of them, and to fpeake to them, to the end ttiat they may the bet- ter vnderftand and know them.
The
38
The hooke of Hunting
The Preface pronounced by the Hart
I Am the Harte^ by GxGtkts furnamed fo^ B'lcaufe my heade^ doth with their tearmes agree. For Jlately JJjape^ fevje fuch on earth do go. So that by right ^ they haue fo termed mee. For Kings delight, it Jeemes I -was ordeyned Whofe Huntfmen yet^ purfue me day by day. In Forefl, chace, and Parke, I am conjtrayned Before their Houndes, to wander many a way.
Wherefore
The hoohe of Hunting 3P
Wherefore loho lyft^ to learne the perfeSi trade ^ Of Venerie : and t her eixi'it hall "would knoiue^ IVhat properties^ and vertues nature made^ In me [poore Hart^ oh harmeleffe Hart^j to groiue. Let hbn giue eare^ to skilfull Tryftrams lore^ To Phabus, Fowylloux and many more.
Of the vertue and properties of the Harte. Chap. ly
THere is a bone founde in the heart of an Harte, the which is very medecinable againft the trembling of the heart, and efpecially for women great with childe.
1 Againe take the pifTell of an Harte and temper it in vinay- gre the Ipace of foure and twentie houres, and afterwards drie it, then beate it into pouder, and drinke the weight of a Frenche crowne thereof in Plantine water, and it fliall heale eyther man or woman of the bloudie fluxe.
5 Likewife take a Hartes head when it is halfe fhotte out, and is yet bloudie, and cut it in fmall morfelles, and put it in a great violl or glalTe, then take the iuyce of an hearbe called Tutfome^ and the iuyce of another hearbe called Spanyflie peper or other- wife Cajfis^ after wardes you fliall put the iuyce of all thefe hearbes to the gobbets of the Hartes head, and lute and fboppe very clofe your violl or glafle, fuffring all thefe drugges to ftand togither the fpace of two dayes : that done, you fliall diftill them in a Lymbecke of glafle, and the water that commeth therof wilbe excellent agaynft all venimes or poyfons, afwell of the bitings of Serpents as others.
4. Alfo the Hartes home burnte and beaten into powder will kyll wormes bothe within the bodie and without, and wil dryue Serpentes out of their holes and dennes: the gather- bagge, or mugwet of a yong Harte when it is in the Hyndes bellie, is very medicinable alfo agaynft the byting of Ser- pentes.
E 5" The
TURB. VEN.
AQ The hooke of Hunting
5" The marowe or greace of an Harte is very good for the Goute proceeding of a colde caufe, melting it and rubbyng the place (where the payne is) therewith. Alfo the Hart firfte taught vs to finde the herbe called DyBamuSj for when he is ftricken with an arrow or darte, he feeketh out that hearbe and eateth thereof, the which maketh the darte or arrowe to fall out, and healeth him immediately.
Of the Nature and Subtilties of Hartes. Chap. 16
Ijidore
The hooke of Hunting 41
ISodore fayeth that the Harte is right contrarie to the Serpent, and that when he is olde, decrepyte, and ficke, that hee goeth to the dennes and caues of Serpentes, and with his noftrels he puffeth and fbrceth his breath into their holes, in fuche fort, that by vertue and force therof he conftreyneth the Serpents to come forth, and being come forth, he kyJIeth them with his fbote, and afterwards eatcth and deuoureth them. Afterwarde he goeth to drinke, and fo the venyme fpreadeth through all the veynes of his body, and when he feeleth the venyme worke, he runneth to chafe and beate him felfe, immediately he beginneth to voyde and purge himfelfe, in fuch fort that nothing remayneth in his belly, comming forth by all the conduites and pores that nature hath made in him. And by this mean he renueth his force, and healeth him felfe, cafting his haire.
When the Hartes pafTe the great ryuers or fome arme of the Sea, to go to Rut in fome He or Foreft, they aflemble them felues in great heardes, and knowing which of them is flrongeffc and beft fwimmer, they make him go formoft : and then he which commeth next him, ftayeth vp his head vpon the backe of the firft, and the thirde vpon the backe of the feconde, andconfe- quently al the reft do in like maner, euen vntothe laft, to the end that the one may relieue the other, and when the firit is wearie, another taketh his place.
Flynie fayeth, that they can endure to fwymme thirtie myles endwayes, and that he hath feene experience thereof in the He of Cypres, from whence they go commonly vnto the He of Cylice, the which is thirtie myles diftant. Yea and he fayeth, that they haue the vent and lent of the Rut from the one He to the other. To fpeake a truth, I haue feene fome hunted in Foreftes adioyning to the Sea, which haue bene fo fore hunted, that they launched into the Sea, and haue bene kylled by fyfhermen tenne myles from the fliore.
The Hart doth maruell and is aftonyed when he heareth one call or whiftle in his fift. And for proofe, when you fee an Hart runne before you in the day time, and that he be in the playne, call after him faying, ware ware, or, take heede, and you lliall
E z fee
^2 The hooke of Hunting
fee him turne backe for doubt of the voyce which he heard. He loueth to heare Inftrumentes, and aflureth him felfe when hee heareth a Flute or any other fweete noyfe. He heareth verie per- fedlly when his heade and his eares are fet vpright, but when he holdeth them downe, he heareth not fo well. When he is on foote and is not afrayde, he maruelleth at all things which he feeth, and taketh pleafure to gaze at them, as a Carter and his Carte, or any beaft loden with any thing. Flynie fayth, that an Hartes age is knowne by his teeth, by his feete, and by his heade, as I will declare hereafter in the treatife of Judgement of the Hart. Fur- thermore he fayth, that the Antlier and croches of a Harte doe multiply from the fyrft heade that he beareth, vntill he be feauen yeares olde, and that afterwardes they multiply not but only in greatneffe, and that alfo according to the reft and good feeding, or the ftyiring that they fliallhaue. They beare fometimes more and fometimes fewer croches, and that is the reafon that menne haue iudged a Hart of tenne, as fomtimes haue bene feene. Fur- thermore he fayth that the firft heade which an Hart beareth, is dedicated and giuen to Nature, and that the foure Elements do euerie of them take therein a portion. Ifodore is of an other opi- nion faying, that the Hart doth burie and hyde his firft heade in the earth, in fuche fort that a man fhall hardly iinde it. And to fpeake a truth, I could neuer finde any that were mewed or caft by their owne accorde, neuerthelelTe I haue feene one that fayde he had feene them, but therein I report me to that which may be thought. The Hart hath a propertie, that if he goe to feede in a yong fpring or Coppes, he goeth firft to feeke the winde, that he may finde if there be any perfon in the Coppes which may inter- rupt him. And if any man take a little bough, branch, or leafe, and pyfie or fpitte vpon it, if he leaue it in the fpring or Coppes where the Harte fliould feede, he will not fayle to finde it out, and then he will feede no more in that place. Flynie fayth, that when the Hart is forced with houndes, his laft reflige is to come about houfes vnto a man, vnto whome he had rather yeelde him felfe than vnto the hounds, hauing knowledge and vnderftanding what things be mofte contrarie and hatefuU vnto him, the
which
The hooke of Hunting 45
which I haue feene by experience, that an Hynd being readie to
calue, hath rather auoyded and efchued the way and place where
dogs did refort, than whereas men were accuftomcd to be, as alfo
when file would conceyue, flie attendeth vntill the Starre called
ArEiure be rayfed, and caryeth hir calfe eight or nine monethes,
the which are calued in May commonly, although I haue feene
fome fall later, according to the nouriture and age of the Hind.
There are fome Hyndes which haue two Calues at once, and
before flie calueth, Ihe purgeth hir with the hearbe called Tra-
gonce, and after that flie hath calued, flie eateth vp the fkynne
wherein the Calfe did lye. Flynie fayth moreouer, that if a man
take the Hynde immediately after flie haue calued, he flioulde
finde a fl:one in hir body the which flie hath eaten or fwallowed
to make hir calue with more eafe, the which flione flioulde be verie
requifite and profitable for women that are with chylde. When the
Hyndes calfe is great,flie teacheth it to runne, and to leape, and the
coaft that it mufl: keepe to defende it felfe from the houndes. The
Hartes and Hyndes may Hue an hundreth yeres, according
to Tkcebus faying. And wee finde in auncient hyfl:orio-
graphers, that an Harte was taken, hauing a col-
ler about his necke full three hundreth yeares
after the death of Cefar, in which coller
Cafars armes were engraued, and
a mot written, faying, Cafarus
me fecit. Wherevpon the
Latin Prouerb came,
which faith, Cer-
uinos annos
viuere.
Of
^ The hooke of Hunting
Of the Rut and vault of Hartes. Chap. 17
HArts do commonly beginne to Vault about the middeft of September, and their Rut doth continue about two monethes, and the older that they be, the hotter they are, and the better beloued of the Hyndes. The olde Harts go fooner to Vault than the yong, and they are fo fierce and fo proude, that vntil they haue accomply filed their luft, the yong Harts dare not come neare them, for if they do, they beate them and dryue them away. The yong Deere haue a maruellous craft and malice,
for
The hooke of Hunting 45*
for when they perceiue that theolde Harts are wearie of the Rut and weakened in force, they runne vppon them, and eyther hurt or kyll them, caufing them to abandon the Rut, and then they remayne maillers in their places. Hartes doe muche fo- ner kyll each other when there is fcarcitie of Hyndes, for if there be Hyndes plentie, then they feparate them felues one from another, and hyde them felues in one place or other. It is a pleafure, to beholde them when they goe to Rutte and make their vaute. For when they fmell the Hynde, they rayfe their nofe vp into the ayre, and looke aloft, as though they gaue thankes to nature which gaue them fo great delight. And if it be a great Hart, he will turne his heade, and will looke if there be none other neare to anoy or interrupt him. Then the yong deare being not able to abyde them, and feing them make fuch counte- nances, will withdraw them felues from them and runne away. But if there be any of equall bygnefle, they beginne then both of them to vault, and to fcrape the grounde with their feete, fhoc- king and butting one againft another, in fuch fort, that you fhal heare their blowes of their heades a good halfe myle of, fo long, til he which is mafter do chace away the other. The Hind behol- ding this paftime, doth neuer remoue from hir place, then he which hath the maffrie, will begin to vault, and to bellow, cafting him felfe with a full leape vpon the Hynde to couer hir, and that quickly. They are very eafie to be kylled at fuch times, for they follow the pathes and ways where the Hyndes haue gone, putting their nofe to the grounde to followe by the fent, and neuer looke nor vent whether any man be there aboutes which may annoye them or not. During the time of their Rut they lyue with fmall fuftenance, for they feede onely of fuche things as they fee before them, and rather regard the tracke of the Hindes. Their chief meate is the red Mufhrome or Todeftoole which helpeth well to make them pyfle their greace, they are then in fo vehement heate, that euerie where as they pafTe and finde waters, they tumble and lye therein, and fometimes for difpight, they thruft their heades into the earth, a man may eafily know the olde Hart from the yong, by hearing him when he belloweth. For the elder they be, the
greater
^6 The hooke of Hunting
greater and more roaring their voyce is. Alfo thereby you may know if they haue bene chafed and hunted or not, for if they haue bene hunted or be afrayde of any thing, they put their mouth againfl: the ground and bellow foftly, and yet with a great voice, the which the Hartes which are at reft neuer do. For they rayfe vp their heads bellowing and braying aloude and without dreade.
In what feafon the Hartes me we and take them to the thickets. Chap. i8
IN Februarie and Marche, the Hart meweth and cafteth his head, and commonly the olde Hart much foner than the yong. But if there be any which haue bene hurt at Rut or by any other meane, then nature is not fo ftrong in him to helpe him. For all his fubstance and nouriture can not fuffife to heale him, and to driue out his head, by reafon of the hurt which he hath. So are there fome which leefmg their ftones or pyfTels at Rut or other- wife, do neuer mewe. For you muft underftand that if you geld an Hart before he haue an heade, he will neuer beare heade. And on that other fide, if you geld him when he hath his head or ant- her, he will neuer caft or mewe it : In lyke maner, if you gelde him when he hath a veluet head, for it will remayne fo alwayes, and neyther fraye nor burniflie. This giueth vs to vnderftand, that there is great vertue in the ftones, for through their occafion oftentimes many men which beare heades of a goodly beame, do yet neuer mew nor caft them. When the Harts haue mewed or caft their heades, they beginne then to withdrawe themfelues, and to betake them to the tliicket, hyding them felues in fome faire place where there is fome good feede and water, vpon the border of fome fielde, to the ende they may goe to fome peece of wheate, peafe, or fuche like luftie feede. And you fliall note, that yong Harts doe neuer betake them felues vnto the thickets, vn- till they haue borne their thirde heade, which is in their fourth yeare, and then they may be iudged Hartes of tenne, but verie yongly. As alfo the Bores do neuer forfake their routes, vntill
their
The hoie of Hunting 47
their thirde yeare, bycaufe they haue not the courage, nor their tudies and armes are not yet fufficient to defend them.
After the Hartes haue mewed, they beginne in the monethes of Marche and Apryll to thruft out their buttones, and as the Sunne doth ryfe in his circle or courfe, and that their fcede doth increafe and waxe harde, their heades in like manner and their venyfone do growe and augment, and by the middeft of lune, their heades will be fomed of as much as they will beare all that yeare, at leaft if they be in a good corne countrey or where good feede is, and haue nohinderance nor difquiet, and accordingly as the feafon of the yeare doth increafe the croppe of the earth, euen fo will their heades increafe in all refpeites.
What is the caufe that Hartes do hyde
themfelues when they haue
mewed. Chap. 19
HArtes doe hyde them felues when they haue mewed for diuers reafons. Firft bycaufe they are leane and weake, by reafon of the wynter paft, hauing no force to defende them felues. And alfo bicaufe they beginne then to finde feeding, and then they take their eafe to reftore their flefli and force. Another reafon is, that they haue loft their weapons of defence, the which be their heades, and dare not fliewe them felues as well for feare of other beafts, as alfo for fliame that they haue, to haue loft their ftrength and beautie. And alfo you flial fee by experience, y* if (in a corne fielde or pafture where an Hart feedeth after he haue mewed) there be any Pyes or layes, or fuche byrdes which chatter at them and difcouer them, they will ftreight way returne vnto their thicket, to hyde themfelues for the fliame and feare that they haue. And you fliall vnderfland they will not leaue their thicket (vnlefTe men do ftyrre and remoue them) vntill the ende of Au- guft, when they begin to wax hote, and to hunt after the Hynds. When the Harts that are in couert, do perceiue that their heades do begin to dry, (which is about the .xxii. of luly) then they dif- couer themfelues, going vnto the trees to fray their heads, and to rub of the veluet. And
48
The hoohe of Hunting
And when they haue frayed their heades, they then do burnifh their heads, fome againft cole heapes, some other againftmettall places, fome in clay and other commodious things and places to do it in. Some beare red heads, fome blacke, and fome whyte, all which colourings proceede of nature and of none other thing : for it fliould be verie hard for the dull: or pouder of coles, or any fuch like thing to giue them coloure. The red heades are com- monly greater and fayrer than the reft, for they are commonly fuller of marrowe and lighter: the blacke heades are heauier, and haue not fo much marowe in them : the white are the very worft and the worft nouriflied. All this I haue knowne by experience
of
The hooke of Hunting 4P
ofCroffebowe makers and makers of Harquebuflies, which put it often in their worke, who haue tolde me that the leaft blacke heades which come from the Scottes or wylde Iriflie (whereof men bring great number to Rochell to fell) are muche heauier than thofe which we haue here in Fraunce, for they haue not fo much marowe in them, although there is a Foreffc in PoiSiou cal- led the Forest of Mereuant^ in which the Harts beare fmal black heades, which haue but little marowe in them, and are almoft like to them of Irelande. There is another Foreft about foure leagues from thence called Chyjfay^ in the which the Harts beare heades cleane contrarie, for ttiey are great, red, and ful of marow, and are verie light when they are drye. All thefe things I haue thought good here to alledge, to let you knowe that Harts beare their heades according to the pafture and l^tdiQ of the countiey where they are bred, for the Foreft of i^^rf^/^7/? is altogether in Mountaynes, vales and Caues, whereas theyr feede is drie, leane, and of fmall fubftance. On that other fide, the Foreft of Chyjfay^ is in a playne countrey, enuyroned with all good paflure and corne groundes, as wheat, peafon, and fuche, where- vpon they take good nouriture : which is the caufe that their heades become fo fay re and well fpreade.
Of
^•o The hooke of Hunting
Of the coates and coloure of Harts. Chap.
20
HArtes are of three fundrye fortes of cotes, that is to faye, browne, fallowe, and red. And of euerie of thele coates there proceede two fortes of Hartes. The one are great, and the other little. Firft of the browne Hartes there be fome great, long, and fide haired, which beare a verie high heade, redde of coloure, fayre, and well beamed, which ftand vp long before houndes. For all long fliaped Harts haue longer breath, and are fwyfter of bodye, than the fliort proportioned are. The other
kinde
The hooke of Hunting j-i
kinde of browne Hartes are little, thicke fct, and fliort. Whiche beare commonly a blacke maync, and become fatter venifon and more delicate than the others, bycaufe they doe more com- monly keepe in yong fprings and Coppifes,than in the high woods. Theie kyndes of Hartes are craftie, hyding them felues, bycaufe when they are in greace, they doubt to be founde. For as muche as their bodie wil not indure to ftande long before the hounds : So make they their feede verie fhort, and beare their heades low and wyde in funder. And if they be old and feed in good ground, then are their heades blacke, fayre, and well braunched, and com- monly paumed at the toppe. The other Hartes which are of a fallowe coate, do beare their heades high, and whyte of coloure : Whereof the beamcs are verie fmall, and the Antliers long, {lender, and yll growne, principally of that fort of fallow which drawe vpon the whytifh dunne haire. So alfo haue they neither heart, courage, nor force. But thofe which are of a liuely redde fallowe, which haue lightly a little blacke or browne lifte vpon the rydge of their backe, and their legges of the fame coloure, being long, and fide, thofe be verie Ifrong, bearing fayre and high heades, well furniflied and beamed, hauing all the other markes or tokens which I will hereafter declare. Then the Harts which are of a liuely redde haire, are commonly yong Hartes. That fort of coated Hartes, fliould not greatly reioyce the huntf- men on horfebacke, by- caufe they ftande vp long, and are of verie good breath.
Of
j-2 The hoohe of Hunting
O^ the heades and braunches of Harts, and of their diueriities. Chap. 2 1
HArts beare their heads in diuers forts and maners, fome well growne, fome other yll growne and worfle fpred, fome other againe counterfet, and al this according to the age,countrey,feede and reft that they haue, and you muft note, that they beare not their firft head which we call broches (in a fallowe Deare pricks) vntil they enter the fecond yere of their age. In the third yereot their age, they ought to beare foure, fixe, or eight fmall braunches, at their fourth yeare they beare eight or tenne, at fiue, tenne or
twelue.
:
The hooke of Hunting s I
twelue, at fixe, twelue, fourtene, or fixtene: and at their fcuenth yeare, they beare their heades beamed, branched, and fomed with as muche as euer they will beare, and do neuer multiplye therein but onely in greatneflfe, and according to the feede and rell that they fhall haue. After they haue once accompliflied their feuenth yeare, they will beare markes on their heades, fometimes more, and fometimes lefle, although men fliall alwayes knowe the olde Hartes by thefe tokens which follow.
1 Firft when the compafTe of the Burre is large and greate, well pearled, and neare vnto the moyfture of the head.
2 Secondly, when the beame is great, burniflied, and well pearled, being ftreight and not made crooked by the Antlyers.
5 Thirdly, when the gutters therein are great and deepe.
4 Alfo if the firlle Antlier (which Fkcehus calleth and termeth Ant oilier) is great, long, and neare to the Burre, the Surant- lier neare vnto the Antlier the which ought a little to enlarge it felfe fome what more from the beame than the firfte, and yet it fliould not be to long, and they ought to be both well pearled, all thefe thinges betoken an olde Harte.
5" Alfo the reft of the branches or homes which are higher, be- ing well ordered and fet, and wel growne according to the big- nelle and proportion of the head, and the croches, palme, or crown being great and large according to the bygnelTe of the beame, are tokens of an olde Hart : and if the croches which are fomed aloft, do double together in the crowne or palme, it is a figne of a great olde Hart.
6 Alfo when Harts haue their heads large and open, it figni- fieth that they are olde, rather than when they are crooked and clofe bowed. And bycaufe many men can not vnderftande the names and diuerfities of heades according to the termes of hun- ting, I haue thought good heere to caufe them to be portrayed and fet forth with little explycations, to fpecifie the name of euerie branch or part, as here vnder is declared.
The thing that beareth the Antliers, Royals, and toppes, ought to be called the beame, and the little clyffes or ftreakes therein are called gutters.
That
^^4 T^^ hooke of Hunting
That which is about the cruft of the beame is termed pearles, and that which is about the burre it felfe in fourme of litle pear- les, is called pearles bigger than the reft.
A. This is called the Burre, and that which is about the Burre, is called pearles.
B. This fyrft is called Antlier.
C. The fccond Surantlier.
D. All the reft which growe afterwardes, vntill you come to the crowne, palme, or croche, are called Royals and Surroyals.
JS. Thefe litle buddes or broches which are about the toppe, are called croches.
This
The hooke of Hunting
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This heade fhould be called a Crowned toppe, bycaufe the croches which are placed and growne about the heigth thereof, are ranged in forme of a Crowne, although there are but fewe fuche feene nowe adayes, vnlefle it be in high Almaine, or in Mofcouie.
TURB. VEN.
This
S6
The hooke of Hunting
^■m...N||f^!.M.— ^-M««L».«,^
This heade fliould be called a palmed toppe, bycaul'e the cro- ches which growe in the toppe, are formed like vnto a mans hande, and therefore it is to be called a palme toppe.
All
The hooie of Hunting
Tl
ALl heades which beare not aboue three or foure, the croches XTL.t>eyng placed alofte all of one heyght in forme of a clufter of peares or of nuttes, are to be called heades of fo many croches.
F a
All
/*
The booke of Hunting
ALl heades whiche beare twoo in the toppe, or hauing their XjLcroches doublyng in maner as thefe are here portrayed, are to be called forked heades, bycaufe the croches are planted on the toppe of the beames lyke vnto forkes.
AH
The boohe of Hunting
n
ALI heades whiche haue double Burres, or the Antlyers, _/^ Royals, and croches turned downewardes contrarie to the f afhion of other heades, as you may fee by this prefent portra- ture, or fuche lyke other fafhions, are to be called heads onely.
The
Co The hooke of Hunting
The Blazon pronounced by the Huntfman
I Am the Hunte^ luhiche rathe and earely ryfe, {^My bottelljilde^ "with luine in afiy toije) Tivoo draughts I drinke^ to flay my Jieppes luithally For eche foote one^ bicaufe 1 ivould not fall. Then take my Hoiunde, in Ham me behinde^ The fiat ely Harte^ in fryth or fell to finde^ And ivhiles I feeke his Jlotte luhere he hath fedde^ The fiueete byrdes Jing^ to c he are my droixifie kedde.
And
The booke of Hunting 61
And luhen my Hounde^ doth firey7te vpon good vent.
I muB confejfej the fame dot he me content.
But ivhen I haue^ my couerts ivalkt aboute^
And harbred faFt^ the H arte for commyng out :
Then I returne^ to make a graue reporte^
Whereas Ifinde^ th' ajfembly doth reforte.
And loixie I crouche, before the Lordingi aU^
Out of my Horne^ the feiumets lette I fall ^
And other Jignes^ and tokens do I tell^
To make them hope, the Harte may like them -well.
Then they commaunde^ that I the wine Jhould tafie^
So biddes mine Arte : and fo my throte I bafle^
The dinner done^ I go freightivayes agayne^
Vnto my markes^ andfhewe my Mafler playne.
Then put my Hounde^ ipon the vieiu to dravje^
And roijufe the Harte^ out of his I ay re by laive.
O gamBers all^ a little by your leaue^
Can you fuche ioyes in triflyng games conceaue?
0£ the knowledge and iudgement which
the Huntefman may take, to know
an old Harte
The iudgement of the Slot. n The iudgement by y^fewmets.
The iudgement of the portes S The iudgement by his gate
and entryes. h and walkes.
The iudgement of the Aba- K The iudgement by an Harts
tures and fbylles. S frayingftocks.
The whiche I will declare in Chapiters fol- lowyng, beginning firft with the iudge- ment of the Slot or view
The
6z The hooke of Hunting
The iudgement and knowledge by the Slot of an Harte. Chap. 22
OLd Hartes leaue commonly the blemiflies and tokens which follow. Firft you muft looke vpon the treading of his foote which muft be great and long, and marke that if you find to- gether the footing of two ftagges, of the whiche that one hath a long Slot, and that other a round, and that they be both in iudge- ment of one bignefle, yet the long Slot fliaibe iudged for the greater Harte than the rounde, for without all doubte his bodie will flicwe it {e\{ bigger than the other : then muft you looke to
the
The boohe of Hunting 6^
the heele whiche muft be great and large, and the little clifFe or flit which is in the midft therof and feparateth the two clawes, muft be large and wide open, the Icgge great, the bones fliort, thicke, and not fliarpe, the toes round and great : commonly the great olde Hartes be low ioynted, and do neuer treade double or falfly, bicaufe the Sinewes whiche hold the ioyntes of their feete and clawes, are well ren forced, and do better holde tacke with the weyght of their bodie, than the yong Hartes do, for their fmewes and ioyntes are weake, and are not yet come to their force : and therefore they are not able to fuftayne the weight of their bodies, in fuche forte that fometimes the fbote and the clawes are forced to tread awry and to double, and thereby you may iudge them yong Hartes. Furthermore the old Hartes when they walke, do neuer ouerreache the fbrefoote with the hinderfbote, but treade ftiorte of it by foure fingers breadth at the leaft, the whiche the yong Hartes do not, for in their gate the hinder foote ouerreacheth the forefoote, lyke vnto a Mule or Hackney whiche ambleth : hollow footed Hartes (if other fignes be not contra- rie) may be iudged olde Hartes : they whiche haue an highe and fofte pace, in places where there are not many ftones, are iudged thereby to bee ftrong, and that they haue not bene much runne nor chafed. And here you mufte vnderftand, that there is greate difference betweene the iudgementes of an hartes Slot, and of an Hynde : Neuerthelefle when the Hyndes be with Calfe, a yong hunter might foone be beguyled, bycaufe they open their clawes wide lyke vnto an Harte, by reafon of the weightinefle of their bodies, and yet the differences are apparant. For if you marke the heele of an Hynde you fliall perceyue that there is no Harte of the fecond heade fo yong, which leaueth not a greater and wyder flotte than flie doeth, and therewithal! the bones will appeare greater alfo: herewithall, Hyndes haue commonly theyr foote long, ftreyght, and hollowe, with little fliarpe cuttyng bones, otherwyfe alfo you may iudge the Hynde by hyr feede, bycaufe fliee crop- peth the fprings rounde lyke an Oxe and feedeth greedily : and contrarily the Harte of tenne dothe take it delicately, breaking
it of
64 The hooke of Hunting
it of endwayes to haue the liquor as fweetely and tenderly as he may. And here let the Hunter marke one fecrete poynt, which is : when he is in the woode and fliall iinde the Slotte of an Harte, let him firfte marke what manner of Slotte or footing it is, whether it be a worne footing or a lliarpe cuttyng foote, then let him marke the Countrie and Foreft, wherein he is, for he may iudge in himfelfe whether it be by occafion of the Coun- trie or not, for afmuche as commonly the Hartes bredde in the mountaynes and ftonie places, haue their toes and edges or fides of their feete muche worne : the reafon is, bycaufe in clyming of the Mountaynes, they ftay onely vpon their toes and edges or fides of theyr feete, and not vpon the heele, the whiche toes the Rockes and ftones do weare continually : and fo peraduenture the Slotte might make it feeme an older Harte than it is. Now in fandie countries it is contrarie, for there the Hartes do ftay more vpon their heele than vpon the toes, the reafon is, that leaning or flaying their feete vppon the fande, it flieth and flip- peth away from vnder the toes bycaufe of the weight : for the clawe whiche is harde, maketh it flide, and then the Harte is conftrayned to ftaye himfelfe vpon his heele, whiche maketh it fometimes to grow the broder and greater. All thefe tokens are the true fignifications and markes whereby the Huntfman may know and perceyue the age of the Harte. I woulde alfo haue declared willingly to fuche as are but learners, what the heele, the toe, the bone, and other things do meane. But I fee now adayes fo many which vnderlland all thofe things, that I holde my peace for breuitie.
Of
I
The boohe of Hunting
Of the iudgement and knowledge by the few-
mifhing of a deare, and of the tenne in the
top, and of old harts. Cap. 23
^S
IN the moneths of May and Aprill, men may begin to iudge an olde harte by the fumifliing, the which they make in brode croteys : and if they be great, large, and thicke, it is a figne that they are hartes of tenne.
In
66 The hoohe of Hunting
In the moneth of lune, and luly they will commonly make their fumifhyng in great croteys very fofte, and yet neuerthelefTe there are feme will make them brode vntill it be midde lune.
And from midde luIy vntill the ende of Augufb they make theyr fewmifliing altogither formie, great, long, knottie, well knodde, anoynted, and gilded, letting fall but fewe of them, the which they fliould let fall fcattered without cleauyng one to another, and without little prickes at the one ende, and you mufte marke whether they be very fatte and whether the Harte haue bene in the corne or not.
And thefe be the markes or tokens by the fewmifhing of an Harte of tenne, and of old Hartes, although men may be deceyued oftentimes: for if the Hartes haue had any difturbaunce, or haue bene hurte, then they make theyr fewmet oftentimes drie, bur- ned and fharpe at that one ende, efpecially at fuch time as they fray theyr heades ; but after they haue frayed and burniflied, their fewmet will lightly returne to the naturall cpurfe : in fuche cafe the Huntefman ought well to marke bycaufe the markes to iudge by are doubtfull. In September and October there is no longer iudgement to be had bycaufe of the Rut, and you mufte vnderftand that there is difference betweene the fewmet of the morning and that of the euenyng, bicaufe the fewmifhings which an Harte maketh when he goeth to relief at night, are better difgefted and moyfter, than thofe which he maketh in the morn- ing, bycaufe the Harte hath taken his reft all the day, and hath had time and eafe to make perfed: difgeftion and fewmet, whereas contrarily it is feene in the fewmifhyng whiche is made in the morning, bycaufe of the exercife without reft whiche he made in the night to go feeke his feede.
Of the iudgement of the breache or bea- ring downe of the Spring or Boughes. Chap. 24
He Huntefman may take knowledge and iudge of the head of the Harte by the breach or bearyng downe of the boughes
and
T
The hooke of Hunting 6"]
and branches, all the yeare long, excepting foure moneths, which are Marche, Aprill, May, and lune, in whiche time they mewe their heades, and beare their veluet and bloudy heades: and therfore in that feafon there is no greate iudgement to be had : but when their heads beginne to harden, you may iudge by the bearing downe or breaking of the braunches and boughes, vntill they haue mewed agayne, for afmuche as when they enter into the thickets, they lift vp their heades and feare not to breake and beare downe the braunches, and thereby the huntefman may take knowledge : but when the Hartes haue fofte heades or in bloud, you can take fmall iudgement bycaufe they couche their heades lowe and flat vpon their backe for feare leaft they fliould knocke them agaynft the boughes, and fo hurte them. When the Huntef- man fliall fee that the Harte hath his heade harde and foomed, and that iudgement may be giuen by the entries where they go into the thickets, let him then looke well therevnto, and efpecially in great fprings, whiche haue not bene felled in eight or ten yeares before, and he fliall fee therein by the pathes whiche the Hartes do make, that the braunches and boughes are bowed and broken or borne downe on bothe fides, and by marking the bredth of the fayd entrie, he may iudge whether it were a broade open head or not : and if there be any place of thicke where the Harte hath rayfed his head vpright altogether, or that he fl:ayed to bar- ken (for lightly when they harken, they rayfe theyr heades and fet vp theyr eares) then may the Huntefman finde percafe fome bro- ken branches, or fome brufed boughes, wherby he may iudge the length and height of the beame, and the height of the Hartes head.
Of the iudgement of the gate and goyng of an Harte. Chap. 25-
BY the gate and goyng of an Harte the Huntefman may know if he be great and long and whether he will fl:ande Jong vp before his houndes or not : for all Hartes which haue a long flrep or pace, wifl longer fl:and vp than they which haue a fliorte flreppe, and alfo they are fwifter, lighter, and better breathed: alsoy® Hart which
Jeaueth
68 The hoohe of Hunting
leaueth a great Slotte of his forefoote, dothe neuer ftande long vp when he is chafed. By thefe tokens the Huntefman may knowe the force of the Harte, and take the aduantage for his houndes : and agayne a Harte whiche hath a long foote hath a greater bodie than they whiche are round footed.
Of the iudgement of the Abatures and bea- ting downe of the lowe twigges and the foyles. Chap. 26
IF you will know whether an Harte be high or not, and like- wife the greatnefle and thicknelle of his bodie, you mufb looke where he entreth into a thicket amongeft the fearnes and fmall twigges the whiche he hath ouerftridden, and marke thereby the heigth of his belly from the ground, whiche you fliall perceyue by the heigth of the brakes or twigges whiche he hath borne downe. His greatnelTe is knowen by the fides of the brakes or twigges where his bodie hath paffed for it is harde if you finde not fome drie broken ftickes or fuche like whereby you may meafure his great- nefle.
The
The hooke of Hunting 6f)
The iudgement to be taken by the places where he frayeth. Cap. 27
Commonly the old Harts do fray their heads vpon the yong trees which men leaue growing infprings : and the elder that an Hart is, the fooner he goeth to fray, and the greater tree he feeketh to fray vpon, and fuche as he may not bende with his head : and when the Huntfman hath founde his frayingftocke, he muft marke the heyght where the ende of his croches or paulme hath reached, and where the braunches fliall be broken or brufed : and
therby
•70 The booke of Hunting
thereby he fhall know and iudge the height of the Hartes heade, and if he do perceyue that at the higheft of his fraying there be foure markes brufed at ones and of one height, it is likely that the fame Harte beareth a crowned toppe, or croched at the leaft. In like maner if you fee that three anthers haue touched three braunches of one heigth, and two other that haue left their markes fomewhat lower, it is a token that he beareth a paulmed head. Although thefe tokens be very obfcure and a man muft haue a good eye that will take iudgement by the little fmall twigges and leaues, neuer- thelefle you fhall fee fometimes that the olde Hartes do fray vpon fmall trees, as blacke Sallowe and fuch like, afwel as theyong Hartes, but yong Hartes do neuer fraye vpon great trees, vnlefTe they be Hartes of tenne. I wil Hand no longer hereupon bycaufe there be other more certaine to- kens and iudgements herevnder men- cioned.
How
The hoohe of Hunting '7 1
How the Huntefman ought to feeke the Harte
in his feeding places according to the
monethes and feafons. Chap. 28
H£re will I giue precepts to all Huntefmen leadyng their bloudhoundes with them in the Forrefts, how they flial go- uerne themfelues according to the moneths and feafons, for Hartes do chaunge theyr manner of feeding euery moneth, and as the Sunne rifeth in altitude, and that thereby good pafturage and feede encreafeth, fo make they change of their feede. I will firft begin at the end of their Rutte which is in the end of Odlober, follow- ing orderly from moneth to moneth vntill 1 returne about y^ moneth of September. And
TURB. VEN.
'72 The hoohe of Hunting
And therfore in the moneth of Nouember you flial feke the hart in heaths and broomie places, wherof they then delight to crop the flowers and toppes bycaufe thofe are hotte and of greate fubftance, the which dothe reftore theyr nature and recomfort their members, which are fore ouerwearyed with Rutte, and fometimes alfo they remayne and lye in fuche heathe and brome, efpecially when the funne is hote.
In december they heard together and withdrawe themlelues to the Itrengthe of the forrclls to haue harboure from the colde windes, fnowes, and froftes, and do feede on the Holme tres. Elder trees, brambles, and bryers, and fuch other things as they can then tyndc grecne : and if it inow, they ftede on the tops of
the
The hoohe of Hunting 73
the mofle, and pill the trees euen as a Goate will doe.
In lanuariethcy leaue hearding with rafcal, and accompany them- felues three or foure hartes togither, withdrawing themfelues in- to the corners of the forefts, and go to the good winter pafture and fogge, or to the corn then Iproong, as wheat, rie, and fuch other like.
In Februarie and Marche they go to the plumpes and tuftes of Coleworts, or of HafiU nuts or grene corne, and in medows to pigwort, woodbynd, birche, and fuch like, wherof they croppe the toppes. And in thofe two moneths they mewe and caft their heades, beginning to marke what coaft may be moft commodi- ous for them to take holde, and to harbour in, vntill their heads be growen againe, and then they parte eche from other.
In Aprill and May they reft in their thickets and holds, in the whiche they remayn all that feafon, and llirre not much vntil the beginning of rutte, vnlelTe they be llirred againft their wills, ta- king their harbour neare vnto fome pretie fprings and couerts, wherin there is muche yong fiytes, and theiin they will feede, as lykewife alio in peafe, beanes, tares, thetches, lyntelles, and fuche other Sommer corne as they can fy nde neare hande : for they will not ftraye farre if they fynde anye feede nere to theyr lay re. Some Hartes there be whiche will venture farre to iuch feede, and will goe out therefore but once in two dayes. And note you well, that fome Harts be fo craftie, that they haue two layres wherein they harboure : and when they haue bene three dayes on that one fyde of the forreft, they will take an other har- borough as long on that other fyde of the forreft. And thefe be olde hartes which haue bene fore ftirred and put from their feed, whiche chaunge their laire, as the wynd chaungeth to haue per- fed: vent as they come out of their thickets what faulte may per- happes be in their feede.
And you lliall alfo note, that in thefe Moneths of April and Maye, they goe not to the foyle, by reafon of the moyftureof the fpring, and of the deaw which giueth liquor fufficient.
In lune, luly, and Auguft they go to the fprings and coppi- fes, as before, and vnto corn, as wheat, otes, rie, barley, and I'uche like as they may find (but feldom to rye or barly) and then are they in their pride of greace. And let men fay what they wil, they go to
G a the
'74- The hooke of Hunting
the water, and I haue feene them drinke, but that is more com- monly at this time than at any other time of the yeare, bycaufe of their difpofition, and alfo by reafon of the great vehement heates which take the dewe from the fpryngs, when they nowe beginne alfo to growe harde. In September and Odober they Jeaue their thickets and goe to Rut, and at that time they haue neyther certaine feede, nor layre, as I haue before declared in the chapter of Rut.
Howe the huntefman fliould go drawing with his hound in the Springs. Chap. 29
immedi-
1
The hoohe of Hunting 75"
IMmediately after Supper the Huntfman fhould go to his ma- ilers chamber, and if he ferue a king, then let him go to the mai- fter of the games chamber, to knowe his pleafure in what quar- ter he determineth to hunt the day following, that he may know his owne quarter : that done, he may go to bedde, to the ende he may rife the earlyer in the morning, according to the tyme and feafon, and according to the place where he muft hunt : then when he is vp and readie, let him drinke a good draughte, and fetche his hound to make him breake his fall a little : And let him not for- get to fill his bottel with good wine, that done, let him take a lit- tle vineyger in the palme of his hand, and put it in the noftrills of his hounde, for to make him fnuffe, to the ende his lent may be the perfeder, then let him go to the wood. And if he chaunce by the way to finde any hare, partriche, or any other beaft or bird that is fearefull, liuing vpon feedes or pafturage, it is an euill fygne or prefage that he fliall hauc but euill paltime that day. But if he fynde any beafte of rauine, liuing vpon praye, as Wolfe, Foxe, Rauen, and fuche lyke, that is a token of good lucke. He mufte take good heede that he come not too earely into the Iprings and hewtes where he thinketh that the Harte doth feede and is at re- liefe. For Harts do go to their layre commonly in the Springs, yea, and though they were drawne into fome ftrong holde or thicket, yet if they be olde craftie Deare, they will returne fome- times to the bordure of the Coppes, to hearken or fpye if there be any thing to annoy them. And if they chaunce once to vent the huntefman or his hounde, they will Ifraight way diflodge from thence and goe fome other where, efpecially in the heate of the yeare. But when the huntefman perceyueth that it is time to be- ginne to beate, let him put his hounde before him, and beate the out fides of the Springs or thickets : and if he finde of an Harte or Deare that like him, let him marke well whether it be freflie or not, and he may knowe as well by the maner of his houndes drawyng, as alfo by the eye. For if he marke the pathes and trackes where the Harte hathe gone, hee fliall fee oftentimes the deawe beaten of, or the foyle freflie, or elfe the grounde
fome-
q6 The booke of Hunting
fomewhat broken or printed a freflie, and fuche other tokens, as he may iudge that the Harte hath gone that way lately, and lette hym neuer marke the fayings of a meany of dreamers, whyche fay, that when a man fyndeth copwebbes within the printe of the Slotte, it is a figne that the Harte is gone long before. Suche people fliall foone be deceyued ; for many tymes the cob- webbt'S fall fi'om the fkye, and are not fuche as Spyders make, but a kind of kell, which as Ihaue feene of experience of an Hart palling by me within one hundreth paces, and I haue gone to fee the flotte ilreight wayes, and before 1 coulde come at it the cop- webbes or kclles were fallen vppon it. So is there alio another kynde of men whiche marke when the flotte is full of cleere wa- ter in foft groundes, where an Harte hath palled, and faye that he is gone long before : but they neuer mark whether the ground be fubiedt vnto moyfture or not, and yet they may well knowe, that being fubied; vnto moyfture, then the little fources whyche palTe by chanels vnfeene in the earth will foone fyll the Slotte with cleare water ; whiche may caufe a Huntefman to be decei- ued, and therfore let him looke well to it : and alfo let hym not altogither truil vnto his hounde. For fome houndes will alfo beguyle their maifter, and elpecially thofe hounds that are quic- keil of fente : whiche are not bell for the mornings, bicaufe of the ryndcs and dewes, and then they draw but llowly, making fmal accompt on theyr queft, as though the game were gone farre be- fore them : but when the Sunne is well vp, and that the deaw is cleared, and the fent of the earth is perfed:, then haue they good fent, and doe their dutie well. Then to returne to our purpofe, if the Huntefman fynde of an Harte which liketh him, that hath pafied that way lately, and if his hound iHcke well vpon it, then let him holde his hound fliort, for feare leaft he lapyfe : and again, in a morning, a hounde fliall drawe better beeing helde fliorte, than if he were lette at length of the Lyam : And yet fome Hun- ters will giue them all the Lyam, but they doe not wel. When he hath well confidered what maner of Hart it may be, and hath marked eucry thing to iudge by, then let him draw tyll he come to the couert where he is gone to : and lette him harboure him
if he
The hooke of Hunting 77
if he can, ftill marking all his tokens as well by the Slot, as by the entries, foyelles, and fuch like. That done let him plaflie or brufe downe fmall twigges, feme alofte, and fome bylowe as the arte requireth, and therewithal! whileft his hounde is hote, let him beate the outfides, and make his ryngwalkes twyce or thrice about the woode, one whyle by the great and open wayes, that he may helpe him Telf by his eye : another whyle through the thicke and couert, for feare leaft his hounde fliould ouerllioote it, for he fliall haue better lent alwayes in the couert, than abroad in the high wayes. And if he finde that the Hart be not gone out of the ryngwalke, or do doubt that he haue drawne amyfTe, then let him goe to his markes which he plaflied or flired, and drawe counter till he maye take vp the fewmet, as well made in the euenings reliefe as in the morning : and let him marke the place where he hath fed, and whereon alfo to marke his fubtleties and craftes, for thereby the huntefmen fliall knowe what he will doe when he is before the houndes. For if in the morning he haue made any doublings towardes the water, or elfe in his waye, then when he beginneth to be fpent before the houndes, all the faultes, doublings, or fubtleties that he will vfe, fliall be in the fame places, and like vnto thole which he hath vfed in the mor- ning, and thereby the huntefman may take aduauntage both for his houndes, and for the huntefmen on horfebacke.
And if it chaunce that the huntefmen finde two or three pla- ces where the Deare hath entred, and as many where he hath comen out, then mult he marke well which entrie feemeth to be frefliell, and whether the places where he came forth agayne, were not beaten the fame night. For an Harte doth oftentimes goe in and out of his harbrough in the night, efpecially if it be a craftie olde Deare, he will vfe great fubtleties, beating one place diuers times to and fro. Then if the huntefman can not finde all his goyngs out, and commings in, nor can well tell which of them he were beft to truft vnto, he mufte then take his compafTe and ryngwalke the greater about the couert, fo as he may therein en- clofe all his fubtleties, entries, and commings out. And when he leeth that all is compafled within his ryngwalke, excepting
onely
"iS The hoohe of Hunting
onely one comming in, whereby he might be come from the fprings or feedes, then muft he let his houndes draw hardly, and if it be pollible, let him drawe euen to the Hartes layre or har- bour, for he maye well thinke that thofe pathes or trackes will brin? him to it. And in this manner huntefmen fliould harbour their Deare, but not as many huntefmen do now adayes. For if they can not quickly come to the harbour of an Harte, they then will foyle the gappes, fo to make him harbour, which is often- times a caufe that they finde nothing in their circuites or walks. And fome againe do trull altogether in their hound. And when they finde the Slotte of an Hart, they will onely plaflie or brufe fome bough at entrie of the thicket, and then go vnder the wind, and if their houndes do winde any thing, then they neuer call about, but truft fo vnto their houndes winding of it. Such men trull more in their hounde, than to their owne eyes. And me thinkes a good huntefman fliould neuer greatly elleeme a hounde which hangeth altogether vpon winding aloft : for he neuer putteth his nofe to the grounde, and therefore doth oftentimes begile his maifler.
How
The booke of Hunting "7^
How the huntfman (liould feeke in the fprings, or feede, to finde an hart by the eye. Chap. 30
THe Huntelman ought to looke ouer night in what coafte the Deare go to feede : and if it be in a fpring, then let him mark which way he may beft come in the morning vpon aclearewind. And alfo let him chofe fome ftanding in fome tree on the border of the fpring, from the which he may behold eafily all things that feed therin. In the morning let him rife two houres before day, and go to the couert, and when he is come neare to the Deares harbroughes, he ihould leaue his hound in fome houfe, or if he
haue
8o The hooke of Hunting
haue a boye with him, he may leaue his hounde with the boye,
and place him fomewhere that he may quickly finde him againe
if he haue neede of him : then let him go to his tree whiche he
marked ouer night, and let him get vp into it, lookyng into the
fpring, and if he efpie an Harte whiche like him, then lette him
marke what head he beareth, and let him not fturre from thence
untill he lee him go to herbrough. Afterwardes when he feeth
that he is in the thicke, he muft marke the place whereaboutes he
entred, by Ibme little pretie tree or fuche like thing, that beyng
done he fhall come downe and go fetche his hounde : but here he
Ihall marke one fecrete : that he go not aboute to herbor an
Harte an houreat Icaft after he fee him go to layre, bycaufe fom-
times an Harte goeth to layre, at the bordure of the thicket, or
els will come backe thither to harken or fee if any thing there be
whiche might anoy them, as I haue fayde before : and therefore
the Huntefman fliould not go fo foone. And furdermore if
in cafting aboute the couert, he heare eyther Pies, layes, or
fuch birds wondering, then let him withdraw him and ftand
clofe, for that is a token that the Harte is yet on foote, and
then let him ftay halfe an houre longer before he make his
ringwalke. And when he hath wel and furely herbored
him, he may go backe to the afiTcmbly and make
reporte thereof^ and defcyfer the Hartes head
which he hath feene, with all other good
markes and tokens. And if he haue
taken vp any of the fewmct,
he flioulde put them in
his home and bryng
them alfo to the
aflembly.
(•■•)
How
The hoohe of Hunting 8i
How the Huntfman fliould go to feeke an Harte
in fmall groues or hewts, beyng primly en-
clofed within the greater fprings in the
Forells and ftrong couerts. Cha. 3 1
OFtentimes the craflie Deare whiche haue bene in times paft runne and chafed with houndes, do keepe long time clofe and come not out of the ftrong holdes and thickettes,and feede in fmall priuie groues and hewts, whiche haue bene lately felled within the greater couerts : and thus they do moft commonly in May and
lune.
Si The hoohe of Hunting
lune rather than in any other feafon of the yeare : for afmuchas in thofe monethes they go not much to the water, but content themfelues withthemoyftureof the dewe and the earth, the which fuffizeth them : but in luly and Auguft when the wood harden- eth, and the heate is vehement, then they mufte needes difcouer themfelues and come out of their holdes to go vnto the water. Neuerthelefie, in what feafon foeuer it be, they cannot hide them- felues aboue foure dayes, but that they mufte come out of the thickets, and that for fundrie caufes : whereof one is, that they will go to fee where other Deare do lie, by whom they hope to finde fafegarde : for if they lliould be hunted they woulde flee among them for change, that fo the houndes might be deceyued : or els fometimes they come foorth to go to their feede. NeuertheleiTe when they do fo, they retire into their holdes two or three houres before day. To preuent fuch craftie and fubtile Deare, the Huntf- man muft vfe this manner : Firft when he is in a fayre thickeor couert at the ende of a Forreft, and chanceth to finde the flotte of an Harte, beyng old trodden, as a day or two before, and that the grounde is much broken with fuch old trackes, then he muft caft and beate all the outfides : and if perchaunce he neither finde him to haue gone out nor in, either lately, or of old, then may he well thinke that he goeth not out, and that he hideth and concealeth himfelf within the thickes: then let him get him vnder y« wind, and let him go into the thickes, holding his hounde lliorte, creep- ing as fecretely as he can : and if he perceyue that his hounde haue any thing in winde, and that by his countenance and gerture it fliould be like that he is not farre from the Harte, then let him withdrawe and retyre himfelf for feare leaft he rowze him, and let him go in at fome other fide of the woodde where it is not fo thicke : then if he chance to finde any little hewtes or fpringes priuily copfed within the thicke, where the Harte may feede by night, he may fearch it fayre and well, and take vpthe fewmifli- yngs which he findeth. But here mufte you note one thing, that is, that he may not go into fuche places, vntill it be nine of the clocke in the mornyng, bicaufe fuch Hartcs do fometimes take herbrough or layre within thofe little CopiiTes, to enioy the com-
forte
The hooke of Hunting 83
forte of the Sunne, and about nine of the clocke they withdraw themfelues to the fliadowe for two principall reafons, whereof that one is for feare of the Flies and Horieflies, whiche woulde torment him, if he were abrode : the other, for to auoyde the vehe- ment heate of the Sunne whiche would be at none dayes. And the Huntefman mult take good heede that he enter not ouer faft into the tliicke, for that fuch Hartes do ibmetimes take layre very neare thofe priuie coppyfes, bicaufe they are neyther feared nor ftyrred. Butit fuffifethforthem ifthey be only incouert. Andalfo in iuch fprings, they come out to feede immediately after fixe of the clocke in the euening : and therefore let the Huntefman be content to haue feene the Slotte freflie and to haue taken vp the fewmifliing : and afterwards let him retyre himfelf as fecretely as he can, and neuer tarie to fee or marke the entries, butcarrie his hounde in his armes with him. And when he isfarre inough from thence, lette him counterfayte the Shepherd, or whiftle in fome pipe, leaft the Harte haue gotten him in the winde and fo rowze, for if he fmg or whiftle, he fliall enbolden him againe. Afterwards he may reft half an houre or more in fome place by, to the ende that the Harte may be the better afTured, and then let him cafte about and make his ring. And if perchance he cannot finde any fewmifliing, and that the place be fo thicke of gralle that he cannot well fee the Slotte, then let him kneele downe, hau- ing his hounde behinde him, lookyng vppon the foyles and trackes in the leaues and gralTe, and if they be well ftreyned lette him clappe his hande vpon the Slotte, and if he finde that it be foure fingers broade, then may he iudge him an Harte of tenne by the foyles : but if it be but three fingers broade, he fliall iudge it a yong Harte.
How
84 The hooke of Hunting
How the Huntefman fliould feeke an Harte in his feedes. Chap. 3 2
HEre you muft vnderftand that there is difference betweene fprings or coppifes, and other feeding places, for we call all pailures, fieldes, or gardens wherein all fortes of corne and pot- hearbes do grow, feedings: and when an Harte doth go to feede in fuch, we fay that he hath bene at his feede : then the Huntef- man muft be ftyrring earely to go feeke the Harte in fuche places, for afmuch as the good people of the villages whiche are aboute fuche places do rile by the breake of day, to turne their
cattell
The hoohe of Hunting 85-
cattell on field. And therfore the Harts withdraw themfelucs be- times into theyr thickes : and alfo the Kine, Gotes, Sheepe, and fuche beafts will breake the flotte or view where the Harte fliall haue paflTed : the which would be an occafion that the Huntefman could not perceiue it, neyther yet his hounde could haue fent therof : and therefore let him in fuch place be ftirryng very earely.
How a huntefman fliall go to find out an Harte againe, when he hath bene hunted and loft the night before. Chap. 3 3
It
85 The hooke of Hunting
IT happeneth very often that men fayle of killyng the Harte at force diuers kindes of wayes: fometimes by occafion of y® great heate, or that they be ouertaken with night, and many other kindes of wayes which fliould be tedious to rehearfe : when fuch chance happeneth, you fliall thus do. Firfl they which follow the houndes fliall cafte a marke at the lafl: pathe or way where they fliall fortune to leaue the chafe : that they may thither returne to feeke him on the morrow by the breake of the day with the bloud- hounde and the houndes of the kenell behind them : for when there is occafion to feeke an Harte agayne, you muile not tarie for re- porte nor afTemblie: bycaufe it is vncertayne if the chace will long continue, nor into what coaft he fliould be gone : and there- withall that Hartes which haue bene hunted, do moft commonly runne endwayes as farre as they haue force : and then if they finde any water or foyle, they do ftay long time therein : and do fo ftiffen theyr ioyntes therewith that at theyr commyng out, they cannot go farre nor ftande vp long, and then alfo they are con- ftrayned to take harbour in any place that they may finde, fo as they may be in couert, and feede as they lie, of fuch things as they may finde about them. When the Huntefmen flial be come vnto the place where they lefte markes ouer night, they flioulde parte in funder : and he whiche hath the beft hounde and mofte tender nofed, fliould vndertake to drawe with him endwayes in the trackes and wayes where he feeth mofbe lykelyhoode, holding his hounde fliorte, and yet neuer fearyng to make him lappife or call on: the other Huntefmen ought to take them to the outfides of the couertes alongft: by the molle commodious places for them to marke, and for theyr houndes to vent in : and if any of them chance to finde where he hath lept or gone, he fliall put his hounde to it whoupyng twyce, or blowyng two motts with his home, to call in his fellowes and to caufe the refbe of the kenell to ap- prochc. The reft hauyng heard him, fliall freight wayes go to him, and lookealtogither whether it be the Hart which they feeke: and if it be, then fliall they put therevnto the hounde whiche befl:e defireth to drawe or to ftickethere, and the relte fliall parte euery man a fundrie waye to the outfides and fkirtes of the couert :
. and
The hooke of Hunting 87
and if they finde where he hath gone in to fome likely coucrt or
groue, then fliall they drawe theyr houndes neare vnto them, and
beate crofle through it: And if there they renew their Slotte or
view, let them firft well confider it whether it be the right or not :
but if he which draweth do perceyue that it is right, let him blow
twoo motes to call his companions, and to aduertile the horfemen
that they take heede, bycaufe his hounde dothe make it out better
and better : and if he chaunce to rowze him, or that he find Hue or
fixe layrts togither one after another, ]et him not thinke it ftrange :
for Hartes whiche haue bene runne and fpent, do oftentimes
make many layres togither : bycaufe they cannot well
ftand on foote to feede, but feede lying : and many
yong Hunters whiche vnderftand not the caufe
are oftentimes beguyled : for when they
finde fo many layres, they thinke
it lliould be fome hearde of
deare, that haue lyen there:
and therefore they
ought to Jooke
well aboute
them.
How
88 The hoohe of Hunting
How a Huntefman may feeke in the highe woods. Chap. 34
WHen a Huntefman fhall feeke for a Harte in an highe woode, let him firft haue refpedt to two things, that is, the i'eafon and the thickes or other couerts of the Forreft. For if it be in the heateof the yeare, thefehorfeflies, gnattes, andfuche lyke, will driue the Deare out of the high woode : and then they difperfe themfclues into little thickets or groucs which are neare vnto good feede. There are Forreftes of fundrie fortes : fome be
ftrong
The hooke of Hunting 8p
ftrong of holts of Holme trees. Some other haue thicke tuftcs of white thorne. And fome are enuyroned with fprings and cop- pyfes. Wherefore the huntefman muft be gouerned according to the couerts which he findeth. For fomewhiles Hartes doe lye in the tuftes of white Thorne, vnder fome litle tree in maner wide open. Sometimes vnder the great trees in the high woodes. And fome- times in the borders or fkyrtes of the Forrelt, in fome little groues or Coppyfes. And therfore in fuch great couertes or highe woodes, a huntelman muft make his ringwalke great or little, according to the holdes. For if a man driue an Harte into the high wood, it will be harde to harbor him or to come neare him. And therefore if the huntefman do well, he fliall neuer make report of a Stagge or Hart harbored in fuch places. But I will fpeake no more of high woodes, for me thinks men take fuch order for high woodes nowe adayes, that before many yeres pafle, a huntef- man fliall not be com- bered with feekins; or harborins: an Hart in highe woodes.
HZ Of
90
The hooke of Hunting
Oi the place where and howe an aflembly fliould
be made, in the prefence of a Prince, or fome
honorable perfon
The hoohe of Hunting pi
WHo lift (by me) to learne, Aflembly for to make, For Keyfar, Kyng, or comely Q£eene,for Lord or Ladies fake:
Or where, and in what fort it fliould prepared be, Marke well my wordes, and thanke me then, for thankes I craue in fee.
The place fliould firft be pight, on plcafant gladfome greene. Yet vnder fliade of ftately trees, where little funne is feene :
And neare fome fountaine Tpring, whofe chryftall running ftreames. May helpe to coole the parching heate, ycaught by Fhoehus beames.
The place appoynted thus, it neyther fliall be clad. With Arras nor with Tapyftry, fuch paltrie were too bad :
Ne yet thofe hote perfumes, whereof proude Courtes do fmell. May once prefume in fuch a place, or Paradife to dwell.
Away with fayned frefli, as broken boughes or leaues, Away, away, with forced flowers, ygathred from their greaues :
This place muft of it felfe, aflfbrde fuch fweete delight. And eke fuch fliewe, as better may content the greedie fight :
Where fundry forts of hewes, which growe vpon the ground. May feeme (indeede) fuch Tapyftry, as we (by arte) haue found.
Where frefli and fragrant flowers, may fkorne the courtiers coft. Which daubes himfelfe with Syuet, Mufke, and many an oyntment loft-.
Where fweeteft finging byrdes, may make fuch melodye, As PaJZj nor yet ApoUos arte, can founde fuch harmonye.
Where breath of wefterne windes, may calmely yeld content, Where cafements neede not opened be, where ayre is neuer pent.
Where fliade may ferue for fliryne, and yet the Sunne at hande. Where beautie neede not quake for colde, ne yet with Sunne be tande.
In fine and to conclude, where pleafure dwels at large. Which Princes feeke in Pallaces, with payne and coftly charge.
Then fuch a place once founde, the Butler firfl: appeares. He fliall be formoft dodror there, and ftande before his peares :
And with him fliall he bring, (if company be great) Some wagons, cartes, fome Mules or iades yladen till they fwcate.
With many a medcine made for common queynt difeales, Asthirftie throates, and typpling tongs, whome B^rf^»xpype appeafes.
Thefe little pinching pots, which Pothecaries vfe. Are afl too fine, fye fye on fuch, they make men but to mufe.
My
5)2 The hooke of Hunting
My Dodor brings his drugs, to counterpaife all quarrels, In Kilderkins and Fyrkins full, in Bottles and in Barrels.
And yet therein he brings, (I would you wift it well,) No rotten drammes, but noble wine, which makes mens hearts to fwell.
And downe he doth difmount, his things for to addrefle. His flagons in the fountaine faire, are placed more and lefTe.
Or if fuch fountaines fayle, my Doctor hath the fkyll. With fande and Campher for to coole, his potions at his will.
That doone : he fpreades his cloth, vpon the graffye banke. And fets to iliewe his deintie drinkes, to winne his Princes thanke.
Then commes the captaine Cooke, with many a warlike wight. Which armor bring and weapons both, with hunger for to fight.
Yea fome alfo fet forth, vpon a manly mynde. To make fome meanes, a quarrell with, my Dodor for to fynde.
For whiles colde loynes of Vcale, colde Capon, Beefe and Goofe, With Pygeon pycs, and Mutton colde, are fet on hunger loofe,
And make the forlorne hope, in doubt to fcape full hard. Then come to giue a charge in flanke (elfe all the marte were marde,)
Firft Neates tongs poudred well, and Gambones of the Hogge, Then Saulfages and fauery knackes, to fet mens myndes on gogge.
And whiles they fkyrmilli thus, with fierce and furious fight. My Dodtor clearkly turnes the Tappe, and goeth beyond them quite.
For when they be lb trapt, enclofed round about, No boote preuayles, but drinke like men, for that muft helpe them out.
Then King or comely Queene, then Lorde and Lady looke. To fee which fide will beare the bell, the Butler or the Cooke.
At laft the Cooke takes flight, but Butlers ftill abyde. And found their Drummes and make retreate, with bottles by their fydc.
Herewith to fbint all ftryfe, the huntfmen come in haft. They lycence craue of King or Queene, to fee their battel plaft.
Which grauntcd and obtaynde, they ftt on fuch as lyue. And fiercely fight, till both be forft, all armour vp to giue.
And home they go difpoylde, like fimple fakelefle men. No remedie but trudge apace, they haue no weapons then.
The field thus fought and done, the huntfmen come agayne, Of whome fome one vpon his knee, Ihall tell the Prince lull playne.
This
The hoohe of Hunting pg
This little leflbn here, which followeth next in place, Forgiue me (Queene) which am to bold, to fpeak vnto yo' grace,
MY Liege forgiue the boldnefle of your man. Which comes to fpeake before your grace him call : My fkyll is fmall, yet muft I as I can, Prefume to preach, before thefe Barons ail. And tell a tale, which may fuch mynds appall As pafle their dayes in flouthfull idlenefTe, The fyrlt foule nourfe to worldly wickednelTe.
Since golden time, (my liege) doth neuer ftay. But fleeth ftill about with reftlefle wyngs. Why doth your grace, let time then fleale away. Which is more worth, than all your worldly things ? Beleeue me (liege) beleeue me Queenes and Kyngs, One only houre (once loft) yeldes more anoy, Than twentie dayes can cure with myrth and ioy.
And fmce your grace determinde by decree. To hunt this day, and recreate your mynde. Why fyt you thus and lofe the game and glee Which you might heare ? why ringeth not the winde. With homes and houndes, according to their kynde ? Why fit you thus (my liege) and neuer call. Our houndes nor vs, to make you fport withall?
Perchance the fight, which fodenly you faw, Erewhyles betweene, thefe ouerbragging bluddes, Amafde your mynde, and for a whyle did draw Your noble eyes, to fettle on fuch fuddes. But peerelefle Prince, the moyfture of fuch muddes. Is much too grofTe and homely for your grace. Behold them not, their pleafures be but bafe.
Behold vs here, your true and truftie men,
Your
^4 1'k^ hooke of Hunting
Your huntes, your hyndes, your fwaynes at all aflfayes. Which ouerthrow them, (being three to tenne) And now are preft, with bloudhounds and relayes. With houndes of crye, and houndes well worthy prayfe, To rowze, to runne, to hunt and hale to death. As great a Hart as euer yet bare breath.
This may be feene, (a Princes fport in deede) And this your grace fliall fee when pleafeth you : So that voutfafe, (O noble Queene) with fpeede. To mount on horfe, that others may enfue, Vntill this Hart be rowzde and brought to view. Then if you finde, that I haue fpoke amyfle, Corre<5t me Queene: (till then) forgiue me this.
Afterwardes when all the huntfmen be come together, they fliall make their fundry reports, and prefent their fewmyfliings vnto the Prince or mafter of the game in field, one after another, euery man rehearfmg what he hath feene. And when the Prince or other chiefe hath hard them and feene their fewmifliings, he or file may then chofe which of the Hartes he will hunt, and which he or file thinkes moft likely to make him or hir beft fport. And telling his or hir minde to him that harbored the Hart, the fame huntfman fliall go backe to his blemiflies immediately. But for the better declaration and liuely exprefling of all thefe things, I haue here fet in portrayture as well an alTembly, as alfo the pre- fenting of a report made by a huntfman to a Prince vpon fight of Slot, view, entrie, portes, abatures, fewmifliings, and fuch other tokens. For the better encouraging of fuche huntefmen as painefully do rife earely and late, to make their Lorde and Mafter paftime, I haue fet it downe in fuche termes as I can, defiring all Mafters of Venerie and olde huntefmen, to beare with my boldneffe in vttering of my fimple knowledge.
The
The hole of Hunting
9S
The report of a Huntefman vpon the fight of an Hart, in pride of greace. Chap. 3 6
p5 The hooke of Hunting
BEfore the Queeiie, I come report to make Then huflit and peace, for noble Try^rams fake, trom out my home, my fewmets fyrft I drawe, And them prefent, on leaues, by hunters lawe : And thus 1 fay : my liege, behold and fee An Hart of tenne, I hope he harbord bee. For if you marke his fewmets euery poynt, You fliall them finde, long, round, and well annoynt, Knottie and great, withouten prickes or cares. The moyftnefle fhewes, what venyfone he beares.
Then if my Prince, demaund what head he beare,
I anfwere thus, with fober words and cheare :
My liege I went, this morning on my queft.
My hound did fticke, and feemde to vent fome beaft.
I held him fliort, and drawing after him,
I might behold, the Hart was feeding trym.
His head was high, and large in each degree,
Well palmed eke, and feemd full found to be.
Of colour broune, he beareth eight and tenne,
Of ftately heigth, and long he feemed then.
His beame feemd great, in good proportion led. Well burrde and round, well pearled, neare his head. He feemed fayre, tweene blacke and berrie brounde He feemes well fed, by all the fignes I found. For when I had, well marked him with eye, I ftept afide, to watch where he would lye. And when I fo had wayted full an houre, That he might be, at layre and in his boure, I caft about, to harbour him full fure. My hound (by fent) did me thereof affure. Entring the thicke, thefe fewmets did I spy. Which I tooke vp, and layd my markes thereby. In priuie pathes I walkt, and (creeping throw) 1 found the Slot, of other Harts ynow.
Both
The hoohe of Hunting P7
Both yong and olde, I founde of euery fyfe. But as for him, I hope that ftill he ]yes : So that your grace (by likelyhoode) may him finde. He harbord is, according to my mynde.
Then if flie afke, what Slot or view I found,
1 fay, the Slot, or view, was long on ground,
The toes were great, the ioyntbones round and fliort.
The fliinne bones large, the dewclawes clofe in port :
Short ioynted was he, hollow footed eke,
An Hart to hunt, as any man can feeke.
Oi the words and termes of hunting, which
the huntfman ought to vnderftand when he
fliall make his reportes, and when he
flial fpeake before good mailers
of Venerie. Chap. 3 7
IHaue thought good heere to declare the termes and words of Venerie, and how a yong huntfman flioulde fpeake before the mafters of the game. Firft it is conuenient that an huntefman be wel flayed and temperate in his fpeech : for all hunters whiche haue regarde to the pleafure of their Venerie, ought to be fober and modeft in talke. But at thefe dayes they take more delight in emptying of the bottles, than they haue regarde to their tongs. But if a yong huntfman chaunce to light in company with elder mafters, and that they afke him howe he calleth the ordure of an Harte, Rayndeare, Gote, or fallow Deare, he fliall anfwere that they are to be called the fcwmet or fewmyfliings, and that all beaftes which Hue of browfe, flial haue the fame terme in that refped. But in beafls of rauyne or pray, as the Bore, the Beare, and fuch like, they fliall be called the Lcfles. And of Hares and Coneys, they are called Croteys. Of other vermyne or ftinking chafes, as Foxes, Bad- gers,
p8 The hoohe of Hunting
gers and fuch like, they are called the feance, of the Otter they are called the Sprayntes. Afterwardes if one afke him howe he will terme the feeding of an Hart or fuch like, in termes of Ve- nerie, he fliall fay that it is called thefeedeofaDeare. As to fay : Lo heere you may fee 'where a Deare hath taken his f cede. Of Bores and fuch like, you fliall fay the feeding, as to fay, lo, heere he hath fed, Sec. So is there great diflference betwene the feete of praying beafts, and the feet of a Deare. For in beafts of pray and rauine, as Beare, and Bore, &c. they are called traces. But the footing or tracke of a Deare, as Harte, Bucke, Rayndeare, and Goate,they are called the viewe, and the Slot. Also there is difference be- tweene the Fryth and the Fell. The Felles are vnderftoode the Mountaines, Valleys, and paftures with corne, and fuch like. The Frythes betoken the Springs and Coppyfes. And if a Deare do feede abroade out of the woodes, you fliall fay that he fed in the Felles, otherwife in the Frythes. A yong hunter hath alfo to confider the difference betwene thefe words Wayes and Trenches. For by the first is ment the high and beaten ways on the outfide of a wood or foreft, and fuch alfo as lye through fuch woods being commonly beaten and trauelled. And by this word Trench, is vnderftoode euery fmall way, not fo commonly vfed. And therfore if the huntfmen do fay, the Hart is gone downe the way, it is to be vnderftoode that he ment the high beaten waye : But when he hath taken fome other by path or waye into the wood or Foreft, then a Huntfman will fay he is gone downe that trench, &c. So is there alfo difference betweene a Trench and a path. For trenches as I fay, be wayes and walkes in a woode or Foreft. But pathes are any place where a Deare hath gone and left viewe or Slot either long before or frefli and newe. As tou- ching blemiflies, they are the markes which are left to knowe where a Deare hath gone in or out. And they are little bowes plaflied or broken, fo that they hang downward. For any thing that is hung vp, is called a Sewel. And thofe are vfed moll com- monly to amaze a Deare, and to make him refufe to pafTe when they are hanged vp. When a huntfman goeth to rowze a deare, as to vnharbor a Hart or fo, he flial fay to his hound when he ca- fteth him off, There boy there^ to him^ to h'lm^ to him. But if it were
to
The hoohe of Hunting pp
to a Bore or fuch like, he Ihal fpeake in the plural number and fay, To them^ to them^ &c. When a Hart hath fed in the Fels, he is com- monly wet with dew, and wil not go to his layre, vntill he be dried in the Sunne or otherwifc, and then commonly he lyeth downe vpon his belly infome open place, and rowzeth him when heryfeth. That place hath with vs no proper name, but only to fay : here y® Hart hath dried and rowzed himielf. The places where an Hart or any other Deare lyeth by day, are called layres. But the lying places of Bores and fuch like, are called dennes, and of a Fox the kennell. Afterwardes, when a huntefman commeth to make his report, he flial fay altogether what he hath feene and found. And if he found nothing but view or flot, and be demaunded what ma- ner of view or flot it was, he fliall by rehearfall tell and defcribe what maner of Slot or view it was, as to fay, a fliort or a long foote, with fuch and fuch markes. The like report fliall he make of his ports and entries : but if his hap were to haue feene the Harte or Deare, and had leyfure to marke him, then if he be demaunded what maner of Deare it was, and what head he beareth, he may anfwere firft : He was of fuch, or fuch a coate, as fallow, browne, blacke, or dunne, and confequently of fuch and fuch a body, bea- ring a high or lowe head, according as he hath feene. And if the Deare be falfe marked, as bearing fixe Antliers or croches on the one fide, and feuen on the other, then fliall the huntfman faye : he , beareth fourtene falfe marked, for the more doth always include the lefle. And if he perceiu that the Deare beare a fayre high head big beamed, the Antliers neare and clofe to his head, and well fpred according to the heigth, then may he fay, that he beareth a fayre head, well fpred, and well marked in all points, and palmed, crown- ed, or croched according as he fawe it. And likewife he may name how many it was in the top, as an Hart often, fourtene, fixtene, or fo forth. And if any demaund him if he iudged by the heade whether the Hart were an old Hart or not, and howe he know- eth, he maye anfwere, that he iudgeth by the burre which was great and well pearled, fet clofe to the head of the Deare. And alfo by the Antliers which were great, long, and neare to the burre, and accordingly by the tokens heretofore rehearfed.
The
100 The hoohe of Hunting
The ckwes which hang behinde of a Deare or of a Goatc, and fuch like, are called dew clawes. As to fay when you finde the flot or view deepe, fo as the print of them may be feen, behold here he hath left viewe of his dewclawes. Of a Bore they are called the gardes. If a huntfman find view or Slot whereby he iudgeth not y* it is a great or an old deare, he may fay it is likely to be of an Hart often or an Hart of y^ firft head. But if he find Slot that feem of a great Deare, he may fay, a Hart of ten, with out any addition of words. And if he iudgehimto be a very old deare, he may then fay an Hart of ten, and fo he was long fmce. And the greateft prayfe that he can giue a Deare, fliall be to fay, A great old Hart or Deare.
And of a Bore, when he forfaketh the Sounder and feedeth alone, he flialbe called a Sanglier going into the third yere. The next yere he fliall be called a Sanglier of three yeres olde. The next yere after that, he is called a Sanglier chafeable ; the grea- teft prayfe that can be giuen him, is to fay, A great Bore not to be refufed. Of fallow beafts the company is called an heard, and of blacke beafts it is called a rout, or a Sounder.
A Hart belloweth, a Bucke groneth, and a Robucke belleth when they go to Rut. A Hart goeth to the fteepe at noone in the heate of the day to keepe him from the flye. An Harte breaketh where he leaueth Slot or view. When he leapeth into the water and commeth out againe the fame way, then he proftereth. If he pafle through the water, he taketh foyle, and where he commeth out, you flial fay that he breaketh water. And after that you may call him an Hart defoiulant the water.
An Hart or a Bucke is flayed, a Hare ftrypped, and a Fox or fuch like vermyne are rayfed. An Hart and a Bucke likewife reared, rowzed, and vnharbored. An Hare ftarted, and a Fox vnkennelled.
R
How to fet Relayes. Chap. 38
Elayes muft be fet according to the feafons and growth of fprings. For in winter when the Hartes heade is harde, they
keepe
The hoohe of Hunting loi
keepe the ftrong couerts and thickets. And in fpring time when their heades are tender, they keepe in yong frythes and coppifes, and in the weakeil couerts that they can finde, for feare leaft they fliould knocke and hurt their heades againfl the boughes. And therefore it is requifite to fet men abroad which are brought vp in hunting, and vnderftande well their aduauntages, and with them a good pricker or huntfman on horfebacke, mounted vpon a good curtail, which fliould be lightly clad, hauing good bootes and high, with an home about his necke. Vhccbus layth, that they ought to be clad in greene when they hunt the Hart or Bucke, and in ruflet when they hunt the Bore, but that is of no great importance, for I remitte the coloures to the fantafics of men. Thele horfemen fliould go ouer night to their maflrers chamber, or if they ferue a Prince, to the maiters of the games or his Lie- uetenantes, to knowe which of them fliall foUowe the kennell, and which fliall be for the Relayes, and in which Relayes and where they fliall befl:owe them felues, and what houndes they fliall leade with them, what helpes and varlets fliall goe with them. And thofe of the relayes fliall do well tohaue euerie man a little byllet to remember the names of their Relayes : and then let them go to their lodging, and get them a guide which may condud: them in the morning. Afterwardes they muft looke that their horfles be well fliod and in good plight, giuing them otes fufEcient : That done, they fliall go to bed, that they may rife in the morning two houres before day. If it be in Sommer, they mufl: water their horfTes, but not in Winter, and then they fliall bayte them well vntill the varlets fliall bring the houndes for their relayes. Their guide being come, they fliall breake their fafls altogether. And in fteede of Pyftolets, they fliall haue each of them a bottle full of good wyne at the pomell of their faddles. And when daye fliall beginne to peepe, then mufl: they gette on horfebacke, hauing with them their guide, their relayes, and all their equipage. If they would fende a curtail to another of the relayes, then fliall they fay to one of their varlets, that he goe with one of their companions to fuch a Relay. When they are come to the place appoynted for their Relaye, they fliall place
their
102 The hooke of Hunting
their houndes in fome faire place at the foote of fome tree, forbid- ding the varlet that he vncouple them not without their know- ledge and commaundement, and that he ftir not from thence nor make any noyfe. Then flial they go three or foure hundreth paces from thence, on that fide that the hunting is ordeined, and fliall hearken if they heare any thing, or can difcouer the Hart, for feing him a farre of, they flial better iudge whether he be fpent or not, then if they marke him when he is hallowed or cryed at. For an Hart when he is fpent, doth beare his head low if he fee no man, fliewing thereby howe wearie he is. But when he feeth a man, he rayfeth vp his heade, and maketh great boundes, as though he would haue men thinke that he is ftrong and flout. As alfo the horfeman flial withdraw him felfe afide for another reafon. And that is, bicaufe the pages and they which holde the horfes do com- monly make fuch a noyfe, that he can not heare the crye. And alfo when the Hart doth heare noyfe, or hath the dogs in the winde, they will either turne backe againe, or wheele afide from the relaye : for which caufe the horfman flial hold himfelf afide to chofe and marke the Hart at leyfure. And if he pafle by his relaye, he fliall marke diligently whether he iinke or be fpent, and alio whether he heare the hounds in chace comming after him or not. And me thinkes that in hunting an Hart at force, it were not befl: to caft off your relayes, vntill you fee the houndes of the kennell which beganne the crye. So fliould you fee who hunteth beft, and alfo the fwiftneffe of your houndes. But nowe adayes I fee fewe hunt the Harte as he ought to be hunted : for men giue not their hounds leyfure to hunt, neither is there palling two or three that can hunt : for there are fo many hunters on horfebacke which can neither blow, hallow, nor prick perfectly, which mingle themfelues amongft the hounds, crolTing them, and breaking their courfe, in fuch fort, that it is not poffiblethey fliould hunt truly : and therefore I fay, that it is the horfes which hunt, and not the hounds. I wil now therefore teach the Varlet how to forflow the Relaye when the Hart is pail; by. Firft he mult lead his hounds coupled or tyed vnto the tracke, and let them folow fo three or foure paces right, then let him caft of one^ and if he take it right, then may he vn- couple
Ths boohe of Hunting 103
couple the reft, and blowe to them. For if he fliould caft off his Relay a farre oft, the hounds might hunt counter, which would be a great fault. And alfo if the Hart be accompanyed with any other Deare, then the pricker on horlebacke muft ryde full in the face of him, to trie if he can part them or not, and if he can parte them, then may he vncouple the houndes vpon the viewe. And if a pricker on horfebacke chaunce to be at relaye on the fide of a poole or water, and fee the Harte make towardes it, he flioulde fuffer him to goe to foyle therein his fill, and neuer blowe nor make noyfe : then when he commeth out, he may let the Varlet goe with the houndes vnto the place where he came out, and vn- couple the houndes vpon the viewe as before faide. And he muft neuer abandon them, blowing after them to call in ayde, and brufyng the grounde or making markes al the waye as hee goeth, bicaufe if the houndes flioulde hunte chaunge, or fcatter and ftray from the right wayes, then may they returne to the laft marke, and fo feeke againe the firft chace.
Phoebus fayeth, that you muft rate the houndes which come farre behynde when the Harte is paft the Relaye. But for my parte, I am of a contrarie mynde. For as muche as the houndes of the Crye which haue alredie hunted long time, do better kepe their true tracke and do not fo foone chaunge, as the frefti hounds which are newly caft off" at the Relayes. True it is, that if there be any olde houndes which come behynde plodding after the Crye, then the prickers on horfebacke, or the Varlets which tarie behinde, maye call them after them, and leade them before the crye againe. Or elfe if you haue neede of more Relayes, and that you perceiue the Hart bendeth towardes a coaft where there is not muche chaunge, and that he fliould be forced to turn backe againe the fame way : and alfo that there be good houndes ynow before to mainteine the chafe, then may you take vp the hinder- moft houndes and keepe them frefli for his returne : and if perad- uenture it happen that the pricker on horfebacke being at his re- laye, fliould fee an Hart of tenne pafle by him, and yet heare not the other huntfmen, nor their homes, then let him lookewel whe- ther the Hart be emboft or not, and what houndes they were that
TVRB. vEK. I came
1 04 The hoohe of Hunting
came with him. And if he perceiue that they were choyfe hounds and fuche as will not hunt chaunge, then ought he to blowe as loude as he can for other hounds, and to call in helpe. And if one come in, then let him fbllowe the houndes which mainteined the chace, and vncouple his houndes of relay, blowing and hallow- ing all the way as he goeth, and blemifliing againft or ouer the Slot or viewe of the Deare.
A huntefman on horfebacke fhoulde be circumfpede in thefe
things, for fometimes fome freflie Deare may rowze before the
houndes vpon a fodeine, by reafon of the noyfe of the houndes
and huntfmen, the which may be a great hurt : and peraduenture
fliall feeme to be emboft aifo, efpecialiy when Deare are in pride
of greace : But if he perceiue that the fure houndes of the kennell
hunt it not, and that he heare not them come after in ful cry,
then ought he not to cafb of his relayes, but only to marke
which way he fleeth, and to blemifh at the laft thicket where
he fawe him enter, or at the laft place where he had him in
viewe, to the endethat if he heare the houndes at default, he
may go and tell them that the Hart which pafTed by his
relay, was fallowe, browne, or according as he fawe
him, and that he bare fuch and fuch a heade,
&:c. And thereby they may iudge and
gefle, whether it were the cafFt Deare
or not, and may goe to feeke
him againe, beginning
then at the blemiflies
which he made
vpon his laft
viewe.
The hoohe of Hunting
I OS
Howe a huntefman fliould rowze an Harte, and call off his hounds to him. Chap. 3 9
WHen the Prince or Lord which hunteth fhaJl haue heard all reportes, and that the relayes are well fet and placed, and that the huntfmen and houndes haue broken their fall or re- freflied them felues, then he which feemed to haue harbored the greateft and oldeft Deare, and him which lyeth in the fayreft couert, vpon whofe report the Prince or Lorde would goe to
I & hunt
io5 The hooke of Hunting
hunte, fliall take his bloudhounde and go before to the blemifli- ings with his companions, and with all the prickers or hun- ters on Horfebacke whiche hunte with the kennell, who flioulde haue euery one of them a good cudgell in his hand, which is called a Hunting coodgell or a Troncheon to turne the boughes and beare them from his face as he followeth the houndes in the woodes or thickes : and this coodgell flioulde not be bea- ched or pilled vntill fuche feafon as the Harte haue frayed his head : but when the Harte hath frayed, then may a Huntef- man beare a coodgell beached or pilled lawfully : beyng come to the blemiflies, lette them alight to behold the Slot and fuche other markes as may be taken by the view or foote of a Deare, to the end they may the better know whether their houndes hunte change or not. Then when the Prince or Mailer of the game is come, and the houndes for the crie, all the horfemen mufb quickly call abrode about the couert, to difcouer y® Harte when he rowzeth and goeth out of his hold, y* they may the better know him after- wards bythecote,and by his head. And when the huntefman which harbored him, flial fee all the reft of his companions about him with the houndes for the crie, he fliall then go before them and rowze the Deare, for the honour is due to him : and then the reft fliall caft of their houndes, he and al they crying, To hlm^ Tohim^ thats he^ thats he, and fuch other words of encouragement. And here I will teach you two fecretes: the one is that the huntefmen fliould not be to haftie with their houndes at the fii-ft rowzing or vnharboring ot the deare, for afmuch as theyr heate may perchaunce make them ouerflioote and hunt amifle : the other is, that the houndes of the crie fliould alwayes come behinde the huntefman which hath harbo- red, and behinde his hounde by threefcore paces at the leaft, vntill he haue vnharbored, for feare leaft the Harte haue crofted and dou- bled within the thicket, and they might foyle or breake the Slot, fo that the bloudhound fliould not be able to drawe and hunte fo truely as els he would : for oftentimes old beaten Deare, when they go to layre, do vfe all pollicies and fubtilities in eroding, doublingand fuch like. Andtherforeifthehoundesofthecriecome ouer neare after y® bloudhound, theyflial breake the Slot and view,
fo
The boohe of Hunting 107
fo that he which harbored dial fcarce make his hounde to hunte it : and if the bloudhounde as he drawcth do chaunce to ouerflioote and draw wrong or counter, then mufte the huntefman drawe him backe and iay, Backe^ backe^fofte^fofte^ vntill he haue fet him right againe. And if he perceyue that the hounde do amend his fault and hunte right againe, let him kneele down vpon one knee to marke y^ Slot or the portes well and aduifedly; and if he perceiue that his hounde draw right, let him clappe him on the fide and cherifli him, faying, Thats my boy^ thats he^ thats he^ To him knaue^ and let him blemifli there afwell for them that come after him, as alfo to fliew them that come with the kennellthat the Harte pafled there, and if the kennell be to farre from him, he fliould crie, Co?T2e neare^ come neare ivith tke houndes^ or els let him blowe two motes, leauing blemiflies both alofte and by lowe, all the way as he goeth, that if his hounde ouerflioote or drawe amilTe, he may yet come back to his laffc blemish. Then if he perceyue y* his hounde do renew his drawing, and that he drawe flifFe, fo that it feemeth he be neare the Harte, he muit hold him then fliorter and fliorter, leaft if the Harte fliould rowze for feare a farre of, his hounde (hunting vpon the winde) might carie him amiflfe, fo that he fliould not finde the layre. Whereby (and by the foyles about it) he might haue certaine iudgement: and if he rowze or vnharbor the Deare and finde the layre, let him not blow ouer hafl:ely for y® houndes, but only crie, Looke ware J looke luare^ ivare^ ivare^ and let him drawe on with his hounde vntil y® Deare bedefcried, and rightly marked before he hal- low. And if he finde any fewmets as he draweth, let him marke well whether they be lyke to thofe which he found before or not, I meane thofe which he brought to the aflembly : and yet fometimes he might fo be deceyued, but that is not often, but only when the deare hath chaunged his feede. True it is y* the fewmifliing which a Deare maketh ouer night, be not like thofe which he maketh in the morning, when he draweth into y® thicket to go to his layre : for thofe which he maketh at his feede in y« night or euening,be flatter, fofter, and better difgefl:ed, than thofe which he maketh in a morn- ing : and y® reafon is bicaufe he hath flept and refl:ed al day, which maketh perfed digefl:ion: and contrarily thofe which he maketh in
the
io8 The hoohe of Hunting
the running, are neither fo well difgefted nor fo foft. For as much as al y^ night a Deare goeth and trauelleth to feeke his feede, and hath neither had reft nor leyfure todifgeft his feede fo well. And yet they will be like of forme and proportion, vnlefle the chaunge of feeding be the caufe of it. Or if the huntefman finde the layreof the Deare, he fliall lay his cheeke or his backe of his hande vpon it, to feele if it be warme or not. Or he may know by his hound, for he will ftreyne and lappyfe, or whymper, or fometime call on plainely. All thefe tokens giue a huntefman to vnderftande, that the Harte is rowzed and on foote. Some Harts be fo fubtile and craftie, that when they rowze and go from their layre, they coaft round about, to feke fome other Deare wherby the hounds which followe them, might finde change to hunt. Or elfe per- chance they haue fome yong Brocket with them in company al- wayes, whereby the huntefman may be beguyled. And therefore he fliall not blowe to caft off more houndes when he rowzeth him, but only crye, ware, ware, ware, come neare with the houn- des. And let him drawe after him ftill that way that he went fyftie or threefcore paces: And when he flial perceiue that the Hart prepareth to flee, if he feeme to be fure thereof, let him blowe for the houndes, and crye to them, thats he^ thats he^ to hlm^ to him. And let him drawe ftill vpon the Slot or viewe, blowing and hallowing, vntill the houndes be come in and beginne to take it right, and therewithal! he muft goe amongft them, with his hounde in the lyam to encourage them, and to make them take it the more hotely. Afterwardes when he feeth that they are in full crye, and take it right, he may go out of the thicke, and giue his hounde to his boy or feruant, and get vp on horfebacke, kee- ping ftill vnder the winde, and coafting to crofTe the houndes which are in chace, to helpe them at default if necde require. But if it Ihoulde happen that the Harte turning counter vppon the houndes in the thicket, had come amongeft chaunge, then let all the huntefmen menace and rate their houndes, and couple them vp againe, vntill they haue gone backe eyther to the layre, or to laft blemilli made vpon any Slotte or viewe, and fo hunt on a- gainc vntill they may finde the Harte. For ibme beaten Deare
will
The hooke of Hunting i op
will fall flat vpon his belly, and neuer moue vntill the houndes be euen vpon him.
Certaine obferuations and futtleties to be
vfed by Huntefinen in hunting an
Harte at force. Chap. 40
NOw that I haue treated of fuche iudgements and markes as the huntefmen may take of an Harte, and how they fhould behaue themfelues in harboring of a Deare, I thinke meete like- wife to inftrud (according to my fimple fkill) the huntefmen on
horfebacke
no The hohe of Hunting
horfebacke how to chafe and huntc an Harte at force : and that afwel by audthoritie of good and auncient hunters, as alfo by ex- perience of mine owne hunting. And bycaufe at thefe dayes there are many men which beare homes and bewgles, and yet cannot tell how to vfe them, neyther how to encourage and heipe theyr houndes therwith, but rather do hinder than furder them, hauing neyther fkill nor delight to vfe true mcafure in blowyng : and therewithal feyng that Princes and Noble men take no delight in huntyng, hauing their eyes muffled with the Scarfe of world- ly wealth, and thinking thereby to make theyr names immor- tall, which in deede doth often leadethemto deftruction bothe of bodie and foule, and oftener is caufe of the fliortening of theyr lyfe (which is their principall treafure here on earth) fmce a man fliall hardly fee any of them reygne or Hue fo long as they did in thofe dayes that euery Foreft rong with houndes and homes, and when plentie of flagon bottels were caried in euery quarter to refreihe them temperately. Therefore I flioulde thinke it labour lofl to fet downe thefe things in any perfe(Ct order, were it not that I haue good hope to fee the nobilitie and youth of En- gland exercife themfelues afwell in that as alfo in fundrie other noble paftimes of recreation, accordyng to the fteppes of theyr Honorable Aunceftors and Progenitours. And therefore I ad- uenture this trauayle, to fet downe in articles and particularities, the fecretes and preceptes of Venerie as you fee.
Firft then the prickers and Huntefmen on horfebacke, mufte vnderftand, that there is diuerfitie betweene the termes and wordes whiche they fliall vfe to Buckhoundes, and the termes and wordes which they fliall vfe in hunting of the Bore. For an Harte flieth and eloyneth himfelfe when he is fore hunted, truft- ing to nothing els but vnto his hecles, nor neuer ffandeth in his defence vnlefle he be forced : and therefore you fliall com- forte fuch hounds with lowde and courageous cries and noyfcs, afwel of your voyce as of your home alfo. But when you hunte a wilde Boare or any fuch beaft, you fliall do the contrarie, by- caufe they are beaflrs which are slower, and cannot flee nor eloyne themfelues from the houndes: but truft in their tufkesand defence:
and
The hoohe of Hunting 1 1 1
and therforc in fuch chafes, you fliall comfort your houndes with furious terrible foundes and noyfe, afvvell of the voyce as alfo of your home, to the ende you may make the chafe flee endwayes. And you fliould alwayes be neare at hande, and holde in with your houndes, and make great noyfe leaft the Bore fliould hurte or kill them. As touching the Harte and fuch other light chafes or beafl:s of Venerie, the huntefmen on horfebacke may followe theyr houndes alwayes by y® fame wayes that they faw him pafle ouer, and neuer flial neede to croflTe nor coaft fomuch for feare leait they fliould rowze fome change: and likewife bicaufe in hunting fo, they flial alwayes be befl: able to helpe at defaultes : and let them neuer come nearer the houndesin crie,than fiftic orthreefcore paces, efpecially at y« firfl: vncoupling, or at caflring of their relayes. For if an Harte do make doublings, or wheele aboute, orcroffe before your houndes, if then you come in to haftily, you fliall foyle and marre the Slot or view, in fuch forte as the houndes fliould not be able to fentit fowefl, but fliould ouerflioote the chafe, and that would marre the fporte : but if the prickers and huntefmen on horfebacke perceiue that an Harte (beyngrunne anhoure or more) make out endwayes before the houndes in chafe, and therewithal! perceyue that the houndes follow in ful crie taking it right, then they may come in nearer towardes the houndes, and blowe a Re- chate to their houndesto comforte them. You flial vnderltand here- with that when a Harte feeles that y® houndes hold in after him, he fleeth and feeketh to beguyle them : with chaunge in fundry fortes, for he wil feeke other Hartes and Deare at layre,and rowzeth them before the houndes to make them hunte chaunge : therewithall he wil lie flat downe vpon his belJie in fome of their layres, and folet the houndes ouerflioote him : and bicaufe they fliould haue no fent of him, nor vent him, he wil truiTe al his .iiii. feete vnder his belly andwil blow andbreath vpon y^groundein fome moy it pi ace: infuch forte y* I haue feene the houndes pafle by fuch an Harte within a yeardofhim and neuer venthim: andthisfubtiltie doth nature endow him with, y* heknoweth his breath and his feete to giue greater fent vnto y® houndes than al the refl of his bodie. And therfore at fuch a time hewil abide y^horfementoride ful vpon him,beforehe wilbe
reared.
112 The hooke of Hunting
reared, and this is one efpeciall reafon wherefore the horfemen and huntfmen lliould blemifli at fuche places as they fee the Harte entreinto a thicket or couert to the ende that if the houndes fall to change, they may returne to thofe blemiflies, and put their houndes to the right flot and view, vntill they haue rowzed or founde him againe with their bloudhounde, or with fome other ftanche old hounde of the kenell, in the which they may affie them- felues. For old ftaunche houndes which will not hunte change, when they fee an Harte rowzed and before them, they neuer call on nor once open : but if they be yong raflie houndes they wil runne with full crie and fo take change. Wherfore in fuch refpedies the huntefmenonhorfebackemufthauegreatconfideration^andletthem neuer affie themfelues in yong houndes, vnlesse they fee fome old ftanche houndes amongft them: and if there be two prickers or huntefmen on horfebacke together, that one flial run to the hounds and rate them, that other flial hallow, and call them into the place where they made the default, and there letthem beate well with their houndes, comforting them vntil they may finde the Harte againe. And if he hcare any old fure hounde bay or open, let him make in to him and looke on the (lot whether he hunt right or not : and if he find that it be right let him blow with his home, and afterwards halow vnto that hounde naming him, as to fay, Hyke a Talbot^ or Hyke a Bewmont Hyke Hyke^ to him^ to h'lm^ C^c. Then the other huntefmen fhall beate in theyr houndes to him, and by that meanes they fliall renewe the chafe and finde him agayne. Againe a Hart bringeth the houndes to change in an other manner : for as foone as he perceyueth that the houndes runne him, and that he cannot efchew them, he will breake into one thicket after another to finde other Deare, and rowfeth them, and heardeth himfelfe with them. So that he holdeth herd with them fomtimes an houre or more before he will parte from them or breake heard : then if he feele himfelfe fpent, he will breake heard, and fall a doubling and croffing in fome harde high way that is much beaten, or els in fome riuer or brooke the which he wil keepe as long as his breath will fuflFer liim : and when he perceyueth that he is farre before the houndes, he will vfe like fubtilties as before to beguyle them, : lying
The hoohe of Hunting 113
lying flat vpon his belly in fome harde way or drie place, and crofling all his foure feete vndemeath him, breathing and blow- ing againft the grounde as before faide, or againft the water if he haue taken the foyle in fuch fort, that of all his body you fhal fee nothing but his nofe : and I haue feene diuers lye fo, vntyll the houndes haue bene vpon them before they would ryfe. Ixi thefe cafes the huntefmen mufb haue efpeciall regarde to their olde fure houndes, when they perceyue a Deare to feeke the hearde fo, for the olde fure houndes will hunt leyfurely and fearefully, when the raflie young houndes will ouerflioote it. And therefore neuer regarde the yong houndes but the olde ftanche houndes ; and trufb in the olde houndes gyuing them leyfure, and being neare them to helpe and comfort them, euer- more blemyfhing as you perceyue and fynde any Slot or view of the Deare that is hunted.
And if fo chance that the houndes be at default, or that they difleuer and hunt in two or three fundry companies, then may they gelTe thereby that the Hart hath broken heard from the frefli deare, and that the fayd frefli Deare do feparate them felues alfo. And they muft not then truft to a yong hounde (as before fayde) how good fo euer he make it, but they muft regarde which way the old ftanch hounds make it, and make in to them loking vpon the Slot, view, or foyle. And when they haue found the right, and per- ceiuethat theHarthathbrokenheardfromthe other Deare,letthem blemifli there, and blow, and cry. There he goeth^ thats he^ thats he^ to him^ to him^ naming the hound that goth away with the vaut- chace, and hallowing the reft vnto him. You fliall alfo haue re- gard that hounds can not fo well make it good in the hard high wayes, as in other places, bicaufe they can not there haue fo per- fect fent, and that for diuers caufes. For in thofe high ways there are the tracke and footing of diuers fundry forts of cattell which beate them continually, and breake the ground to duft with their feete in fuche fort, that when the houndes put their nofes to the ground to fent, the pouder and duft fnufteth vp into their nofes, and marres their fent. And againe, the vehement heate of the Sun doth dry vp the moifture of the earth, fo that the duft couereth the
Slot
114 The hoohe of Hunting
flot or view of the Deare as he runneth, and that is the fent wher- by the houndes hunte principally, whereas vpon the grcene ground the Harte leaueth fent vpon tlie grafle or boughes where he paf- feth or toucheth with his bodie. Many other reafons there are to proue that in y® high wayes a hounde cannot haue fo good fent as in other places, the whiche I pafle ouer for breuitie. And in fuch place an Harte wil fubtilly make crofTes and doublings, or hold the fame long together to make the houndes giue it ouer : fuch is the benefite of nature to giue the dumbe beaft vnderftanding which way to help himfelf, as it giucth alfo vnderftanding to al lining creatures to efchew and auoyde their contrarie, and their aduer- farie, and to faue it felfe by all meanes poflible. But when the huntefmen flial finde their houndes at default vpon fuch an high way, then let them looke narowly whether the Harte haue dou- bled, or croflTed : and if they finde that he haue, as to runne right endwayes, and come backe againe counter vpon the fame, then let them crie to their houndes to encourage them. To htm boyes^ coun- ter^ To him^ to him. And let them treade out the counter flottes in fight of their houndes, helping and comforting them alwayes,vntill they haue brought them where he entred into fome thicket or co- uert, and there let them ftay theyr houndes vntill they make it good vpon the fides of the high wayes, or thickets, and not within the couerts : for when they are once entred into the couerts, they (liall haue much better fent, and flial not fo foone ouerflioote it, as they fliould haue done in the high wayes. For there the grafle, and the leaues and fuch other things do keepe the fent freflier, and alfo the ground being moyfter, an Harte cannot fo foone touch it with his feete or bodie, but he fliall leaue fent for the houndes : and let the huntefmen make blemiflies all the way as they pafle, and beate the places wel with their houndes, comforting and helping them y® beft that they can : and if any one hounde cal on alone, the huntef- men muft make in to him, and looke by y® flot or other tokens what it fliould be that he hunteth : and if they finde that he huntcth the chaflFed Deare, they shall rechatein for the reft of the houndes, and name that hounde to them, as to fay Talbot, a Talbot, a Talbot, as beforefayd. Ithapncthoftentimesalfo y*an Harte palTcth by fome
coleharthes
The hoohe of Hunting liy
coleharthes or place where things haue bene buried : and then the houndes cannot haue fo good fent, bicaufe the bote lent of the fire fmoothreththehoundes,andmakesthemforgetthefentoftheHaite. In fuch cafe the huntfmen may marke which way the Harte held head, and coaffc by the coleharthes with their houndes quickly, vn- til they come on the farfide thereof: there let them beate well vntill theyr houndes make it good againe by the flot or other tokens, or by the fent which they muft needes finde in the frefli ayre paiTmg thus by and flaying not. But if an Harte breake out before the houndes into the champaigne countrie, and that it be in theheate oftheday,betweenenooneandthreeoftheclocke: thenifthehuntef- men perceiue that theyr houndes be out of breath, they mufl: not force them much,but comfort them the beft y*they can, andthough they heare not theyr beft houndes cal on vpon the Slot or view, yet if they wagge theyr tayles it is inough : for peraduenture the houndes are fo fpent with the vehement heate, that it is painefull to them to call on, or that they be out of breath : and therefore in fuch cafe the huntefmen flial do well to follow afarre off without ouerlaying or ouerriding of them as I haue before fayd. And if y^ houndes giue ouer and be tyred, then let the huntefmen blemiflie vpon the laft Slot or view, and go with their houndes into the next village, where they fliall giue them bread and water, and keepe them about them vnder fome tree or fliade vntill the heate of y® day be ouer, and let them fometimes blowe to call in theyr boyes or feruants which follow on foote, and their other companions, about three of the clocke, they may go backe to their laft blemiflie, and put their houndes to the Slot or view : and if any of theyr var- lettes or Boyes had a bloudhounde there, let him put his bloud- hounde to the Slot or view, and drawe before the houndes with him, cherifliyng and comforting him, and neuer fearyng to make him open in the ftring : for the other houndes hearing him open, will come in and take it right, leauyng their defaultes. Thus flioulde the Huntefmen holde on beating and following vntill they haue reared and found the Harte againe. You fliall vnderftand that when a Harte is fpent and fore runne, his laft re- fuge is to the water whiche hunters call the foyle, and he will
commonly
ji6 The hoohe of Hunting
commonly therefore rather defccnd downe the ftreame, than fwim againft it, efpecially if the hounds run him well. And itfeemeth he hath naturally this vnderftanding, that he knowethif he fliould fvvimme againft the ftreame when he goeth to the foyle, the houndes would haue greater fent of him, than when he defcen- ded downe the ftreame. For the wynde would alwayes beare the fent vpon them, and alfo it were more painefuU and greater trauell to him felfe, to fwymme againft the ftreame, than to fwymme downe the ftreame. Vnderftande then that if a Harte be fore runne, and come to a Ryuer or water, he will common- ly take it, and fwymme in the verie middeft thereof, for he will take as good heede as he can, to touch no boughes or twygges that grow vpon the fides of the Ryuer, for feare leaft the hounds fhoulde thereby take fent of him. And he will fwymme along the ryuer long time before he come out, vnlefTe he light vpon fome blocke or other fuche thing which ftop him in the ftreame, and then he is forced to come out. In fuch places the huntefmen must haue good regard to blemifli at the place where he firft toke foyle : and let them marke there wel which way he maketh head, the which they may perceiue either by their houndes, or by mar- king which way he fled when he came thether. Let them make their houndes take the water and fwymme therein : for they may finde fent vpon the bulruflies or weedes which growe in the ry- uer. Or otherwife, the huntefmen them felues may feeke to finde where the Harte hath forfaken the foyle (which huntefmen call breaking of the water) and there they fliall finde by the graffe or hearbes which he hath borne downe before him, which waye he maketh heade. When they finde afturedly which way he maketh heade, then let them call their houndes out of the water, for feare leaft they founder them with too much colde after their heate. And if there be three huntefmen of them together, let two of them get one of the one fide of the riuer, and another on that other fide, and let the thirde get him before that waye that the Harte hath made heade, to fee if he can efpyehim fwymming or lying in the water: the two huntfmen which flialbe on each fide of the ryuer, flial beate with their hounds each of them vpon his fide, and far inough
from
The hooke of Hunting 117
from the bankes. For they flial haue better fent .xx. or .xxx. paces off, than they fliould haue at the verie fide or banke of the ryuer. And the reafon is, that when the Hart commeth out of the water he is al wet and moyled with water, which poureth downe his legs in fuch abundance, that it drownes the Slot or view. But commonly heroufeth and fliakeththe water off him at his comming out therof, fo that by that time he haue gone .xx. or .xxx. paces, the Slot is better, and the hounds fliall fent him much better. Ne- uerthelefTe the huntfmen them felues fliould kepe alwayes neare to the riuer : for fomtimes the Hart will lye vnder the water all but his very nofe, as I haue before rehearfed : Or may percafe lye in fome bed of bulruflies, or in fome tuft of fallowes, fo that they might leaue him behind them : and then aflbne as they were paft, he might goe counter backe againe the fame way that he came. For commonly a Harte hath that craftie poUicie to fuffer the hounds to ouerflioot him, and the huntfmen to pafle by him. And aflone as they be past,hewill ftealeback and go counter right back- wards in y« fame track or path y* he came. This hapneth not often, vnlefle the riuer be full of fallows or fuch buflies, and neare vnto fome foreft. But let fome one of y® Huntefmen haue alwayes an eye to the Riuer, and let the reft beate with theyr houndes .xx. paces from the bankes, and fo let them keepe on altogether vntill they finde where he brake water : and if they finde any blocke or beame, or fuch thing that lieth croile ouerthwarte the ftreame, let them looke there whether he haue broken water or not, for vnlefle it be at fuch a place, or at fuche a let, a Harte will keepe the wa- ter long, efpecially when he breaketh from the houndes ouer a champaigne countrie : for at fuch times they will holde the wa- ter as long as they can, and alfo at fuch times they truft no lon- ger neyther in their thickets, nor in their fwiftnefle, but are con- ftrayned to feeke the foyle as their laffc refuge. And here I thinke it not amifle to aduertife you, that an Harte dreadeth the North erne windes, and the Southerne windes much more than he doth the Eafterly or Wefterly windes, in fuch forte that if at his breakyng out of a couert, when he feeketh to breake from the houndes endwaies ouer the champaigne, he feele either a North-
winde
1 1 8 The hoohe of Hunting
winde or a Southwinde blow, he will neuer runne into it, but turnes his backe and takes it in his tayle, and this he dothe for diuers respeds. The firft is bycaufe the North winde is colde and fliarpe, and drieth exceedingly, and the Southwinde is bote and corrupt, bycaufe it commeth vnder the circle of the Sunne, the whiche ouercommeth him and fettes him vp quickly by the vehement fweltrie heate thereof. And if he fliould runne into any of thole two windes, it would quickly enter his throte when he is emboli and beginneth to be fpent, and would drie his throte and his tongue fore, and would alter and chafe him much with the vehement heate thereof. Alfo thofe windes are commonly great and tempeftuous, and if he fliould runne againft them, his head and homes woulde be as a fayle to holde him backe, the which might much let him in his runnyng. Agayne, he know- eth that if he runne into the winde, the houndes flial haue the better fent of him, and neede not fo much to lay theyr nofes to the ground but may hunte vpon the winde. Alfo he himfelf doth couet alwayes both to fee and heare the houndes whiche follow him. And although Vkoebus fayeth that all Hartes do commonly runne downe the winde how fo euer it fitte,yet haue I found it otherwife by experience : and efpecially when it bloweth from the Seawardes, which is a moyft winde, and then a Harte will couet to runne agaynft the winde : but doubtlelTe a Harte doth feare the Northerlywinde and the Southwinde, as I haue fayde before : and fo do all other beafts, as Spaniels or houndes, the which wil not hunte fo wel in thofe windes, as they do at other times. Alfo you flial vnderftand, that a Harte doth foreloyne andbreake out before the houndes for diuers reafons, efpecially in Aprill or May, when his head is bloudie and fofte, for then if he be hunted he dareth not holde in the thickets or couerts for hurtyng of his head : but is conftreyned to come forth of the ftiong holdes, and then he breaketh ouer the champaigne Countries, and feeketh to forloyne or to breake from the houndes, and then he doubleth, crolTeth, &c. Or it may be that a harte forfaketh the couert for an other reafon : bicaufe in the thickets he trauayleth more, and beateth himfelf forer in bearing downe the boughes before him: and cannot
make
The hoohe of Hunting up
make way fo wel before the houndes : for they beyng much lefTer then he, do runne with greater eafe in the hollow of the woodes below, and in like maner he cannot crofle nor double fo well in the couert as he may do in the playne champaigne. And for thefe caufes he is conftreyned (as it were) to go out either into the hol- low woodes, or into the champaigne. And there let the Huntef- men haue good regarde, for a hounde may much fooner be at de- fault in the hollow woodes than in the ftrong couerts, hauing more fcope to call about and to range furder out when they are bote and madbrayned, and fo they may ouerfhoote the flotte, if the Huntef- men be any thing haftie with them, and ouerley them, or ouer ryde them and hunte change : the which they cannot fo lightly do in y^ ftrong couerts, for there they runne directly vpon the foote of the Deare : and cannot caft out neither one way nor other lb redily, for they feare euermore to leefe the right tracke where the Harte went. And therfore a Huntfman fiial take greater heede to change in the hollow high woodes, than in yonger fprings : for a hounde will fooner ouerllioote and hunte out in the hollowes, than in the ftrong holdes. Alfo in hollow high woodes a Harte dothe fore- loyne more and break eth furder from the houndes, and hath more leyfure to crofte and double, and to feeke the change amongft other Deare than he hath in ftronger couerts: alfoan Hart doth fori oyne or breake out from the houndes for an other caufe : that is when he feeleth himfelf fore layed tobythehoundes,and feeth y* no fubtiltie helpeth him, then becommeth he amafed and loofeth his courage, and knoweth not whiche way to take, but pafleth at al aduen- ture ouer the lieldes, and through the villages and fuch other places. Then fhould the Huntefmen drawe neare to their houndes, and if they perceiue them at any default, they fliall neuer go backe to any Slot or viewe, but go on ftill, and hunte forwardes, for a Deare that is fpent or fore hunted, and that feeketh to foreloyne or breake from the houndes, will neuer tarie to croflTe or double, but holdeth head onwardes ftill as long as breath ferueth him, vnlefle he haue fome foyle in the winde, then he may chaunce go afide to take the Soyle, but els not. True it is that if he breake out into the champaigne for any caufe before mentioned, and be not TURB. vEN. K lore
I20 The hoohe of Hunting
fore fpent, nor beginne to finke before the houndes, then he maye chance to double, croffcjand vfe other fubtleties : but if he be fpent, he will fildome vfe any fubtletie, but onely to lye flat vpon his belly awhyle, and that not long neither. Furthermore you fliall nowe vnderftande that there is great difference in finding out the fubtleties of a Deare in the Foreiles or ftrong holdes, and thofe which he vfcth in the play in champaigne. For in the iirong couerts you muft call: about neare vnto the laft Slot that you find, and you muft hold in as neare as you can. For if the huntefmen caft wide out in beating for it, they maye chaunce to light vpon change, which will carie out your hounds to your great difad- uantage. But in the champaigne you maye caft about at large without dread of chaunge : and that in the frefhefl and moft com- modious places, where they might foonefb finde viewe, and fo make it out, and whereas alfo the houndes maye haue beft lent. For in the fandhils and drye places, a hounde can not make it out fo well, by reafon of the dult and fande which will ftrike vp into his nofe, and by reafon that the Sunne doth fooner drye vp the moyfture from the ground in thofe places. Again, bicaufe in fuch heathy places, and barreyne grounds, there is neyther graffe nor any thing whereon the Deare may leaue fent fo well : and that is the caufe that Huntefmen may cafte aboute in the mofte conuenient moylt places, and in the freflie vnder fome buflie or fhade where the earth is not fo much dried and parched with the Sunne : and if they cannot make it out at the firfte cafting a- boute, they may then cafte about the fecond time a larger com- pafie : and if by that meanes they make it not out, then may they prefume that he is within that compafle and precindte which they haue fo cafte about, or elfe that the Harte hath made fome crollyng or fome doublyng, or vfed fome fubtiltie : then let them leade backe theyr houndes to the place where they firft fell at de- fault, and put their houndes to it vpon the Slotte, or where the earth is broken as they went before, and lette them beate it well with their houndes, fpeaking to them and cherifliyng them all that they can deuife, afwell with their voyce as with their homes : and let them looke well to the grouude to helpe their houndes.
And
The hoohe of Hunting 121
And it flial not be polTible (thus doyng) but that you flial rowze the Deare againe within the circuite and compafTe that you had earft caft about : and at the leaft if you do not, you fliall yet finde where he is gone on, and fo make it out, vnlefle the extremitie of the heate do altogether marre your houndes Hunting. Further- more you fliall remember, that when an Harte breaketh out from the houndes, by the two firile places where you flay vpon any croflyng or doublyng that he hath made, you fliall perceyue all the fubtilties and pollicies which he will vfe all that day after. For if his twoo firft doublings or other fubtilties be in an high waye, or in a water, then all the reft that he will vfe all the day after will be in the fame manner. And then let the Huntefmen marke well on whiche hand he turneth when he parteth : for on whiche hand foeuer he turne the two firfte times, on the fame hand he will turne (at his parting) all the day after, whether it be on the right hand or on the left hand : And therefore remem- ber euer when you come at any default to beate firft on that hand which he tooke at the two firft defaults. Alfo an Harte doth of- tentimes vfe greate pollicies in the pathes within the greate woodes and ftrong couerts, or els will follow fuch a pathe vn- till he come to the outfide of the woode, as though he woulde come out into the playne, and will immediately fall to double and crofTe, returnyng flat counter, fometimes two bowefliot togethers : then the Huntefmen to make it out at fuch a default mufte take good heede that theyr houndes take not the counter, bycaufe the Harte is fledde backwardes therewith fo farre: and alfo they fliall finde the Slotte or view, (or at leaft the foyles of the view) freflier in the couert, than theyfliould doabroadeinthe fielde, the which may carrie them farre backe vpon the counter. Wherefore at fuch defaults the Huntefmen fliall not be to haftie with their houndes, but rather giue them leyfure, and let them hunte in dread and doubt vntill they haue made it out perfectly. Alfo there be fome Hartes, whiche when they rife out of their lay res will halte, or fall downe vpon their bellie before the Huntefmen, and feeme to reele and royle before the houndes, as if they were fpent and fore hunted not long before : by fuch fub-
K z tleties
122 The look e of Hunting
tilties you may iudge eafily that they are olde beaten Deare, and wel breathed, and wil ftand long vp before your hounds, truft- ing much in their force and fwiftneffe : for a huntefman may eafily know when a Harte is fpent in deede, and when he beginneth to fmke and will not long holde vp, by diuers tokens. Firft if he neyther regard, heare nor fee any man or any thing before him when the houndes runne him : or if he beare his head lowe, put- ting his nofe downe to the grounde, and reele or folter with his legges, fliewyng how feeble he is in deede, or if he efpie a man before him, he rayfeth vp his head, and maketh great boundes and leapes on heigth as though he were luftie and freflie (as I haue fayde heretofore) but fuch frifkes will not laft long : for when he is a little paft by, he will ftretche out his necke agayne and hold downe his head and will reele and wallow as before fayde. Or els likewife you may know when a Deare is fpent, if his mouth and throte be blacke and drie without any froth or fome vpon it, and his tongue hangyng out : likewife by his Slot or view where you finde it, for oftentimes he will clofe his clawes to- gethers as if he went at leyfure, and ftreight way agayne will open them and ftray them wyde, making great glydings, and hitting his dewclawes vpon the grounde, or his flianke bones fometimes, and will commonly followe the beaten pathes and wayes, and neuer double nor crofle but verie little. And if he come to a hedge or a dytch, he will goe all alongft to feeke fome brack or beaten leape, bicaufe he hath not force to leape it round- ly of him felfe. By all thefe tokens you may know when a deare is fpent and readie to fall. Thus will I ende this chapter, pray- ing all expert huntfmen and mailers of Venerie to hold me ex- cufed, if I haue ouerflcipped, or left out any thing meete to be fet downe, for as much as it is hard for any man to fet down fo wel in writing, as he might put it in execution. But always re- member that the Arte it felfe rcquireth great fkyll,wit, and pol- licie, in a huntfman : and that he gouerne him felfe according to the varietie of occafions, and according to the prcfumptions that he fliall Ice in the Deares wyles and fubtleties, therewithall that he haue refped; to the goodnefle or imperfection of the houndes,
and
The hoohe of Hunting 125
and to the crofTings and doublings of the Deare together with the places where the fame are made. And therevpon he maye make his ring, and caft about litle or much, according to the com- moditie of the place, time, and feafon. For hounds wil more ouer- flioot in the heate, and in the time that there is moft fent vpon the herbes, flowres, and grade, than at any other feafon of the yeare. And therefore at fuch times and places, you fliall do well to caft about a greater compaffe or circuite, and oftner alfo, feek- ing moyft and frefli places for the better fent and aduauntage of the houndes. Thus doing, you haue verie euill lucke if you lofe a Hart by default : fo that you will take paynes and giue not ouer for a little difcomfort. Yea v/hen you are ouertaken with the night, or that your houndes are furbayted and wearie, yet a good huntefman fliould not thereat be abaflied, nor difcomfited, but blemiflie vpon the lafl Slot or viewe, and to him agayne in the morn- ing;.
How
12^ The hoohe of Hunting
Howe to kill an Hart when he is at bay,
and what is then to be doone
Chap. 41
T
WHen a Hart is at Baye, it is dangerous to go in to him, and efpecially in rutting time. For at that time their heads are venomous and moflperilIous,andtherevpon came this prouerbe. Jf thou be hurt nv'ith Hart^ it brings thee to thy Beare^ But Barbers hand iu// Bores hurt he ale ^ therof thou needji not feare. The which hath not bin fayd for nothing, as hath bin proued by many examples. For we read of an Emperor named Bafill
which
The hoohe of Hunting 1 25-
which had ouercome his enimies in many battels, and had done great deeds of Chiualrie in his Countrie, and was yet neuerthe- leffe flayne with an Harte in breaking of a Bay. Behold gentle Reader the vnconftancie of variable fortune. A Prince whiche had done fo many deedes of prowefTe amongft men : which had both comforted his friendes, and difcomforted his enimies : which had peaceably defended his people, and courageoufly aflaulted fuche as fought to fubiiert his dominion, was at the laft in the pryde of his pleafure, in the purfute of his paftime, and in the vnexpeded day of his deftenie, vanquiflied, flayne, and gored with the homes of a brute Beaft : yea (that more is) by a fearefull beaft, and fuch an one as durft not many dayes nor houres before haue beheld the countenance of the weakeft man in hiskingdome : A Beaft that fledde from him, and a beaft whom he conflreyned (in his owne defence) to do this deteftable murder. This ex- ample may ferue as a mirrour to al Princes and Poteftates, yea and generally to all eftates, that they brydle their mindes from proferyng of vndeferued iniuries, and do not conltrayne the fimple fakelefle man to ftand in his owne defence, nor to do (like the worme) turne agayne when it is troden on. I woulde not haue my wordes wrefted to this conftrudtion, that it were vn- lawfull to kill a Deare or fuch beafts of venerie : for fo fliould I both fpeake agaynft the purpofe which I haue taken in hande, and agayne I fliould feeme to argue againft Gods ordinances, fince it feemeth that fuche beaftes haue bene created to the vfe of man and for his recreation : but as by all Fables fome good mo- ralitie may be gathered, fo by all Hiftories and examples, fome good allegoric and comparifon may be made. And to returne to the matter, I might recite many other ftories and examples, but this may fuflEice to admonifli all Huntefmen that they go wifely and warily to a Harte when he is at Baye : as hereafter I will more largely declare. You fliall vnderftand then, that there are Bayes in the water and Bayes on the lande, and if an Harte be in a deepe water, where the Huntefman cannot come at him, the beft thing that he can do, flialbe to couple vp his houndes, and that for many caufes : for if they flioulde long continue in
the
125 The hoohe of Hunting
the water, it would put them in great daunger to founder and marre them, or if the water be broad and deepe, they might chaunce (through eagernefTe of their game) to drown. For a Hart which is fpent, will not willingly leaue a great water, when he feeth the hounds and the huntfmen come in to him, but will fwimme vp and downe in the middeft of the ftreame, and neuer come neare the bankes. And therefore I fay the huntefman fliall doe wel to take vp his hounds, and to ftand clofe vpon a cleare wind vntill the Harte may come out of his owne free will, the whiche peraduenture he wil quickly do, when he heareth no longer noife after him. And if the huntefman ftande clofe and vpon a cleare winde, he may chance to haue a blowe at him with his fworde as he commeth out. But if he fayle thereof, and that the Hart be once paft him, let him fuffer him to pafle farre inough before he vncouple his hounds, for if a Hart heare any fodeine noyfe com- ming after him, he may chance to returne vnto the foyle. But if he perceiue that the Harte will not come out of the water, then let him get a boate, or if he can fwymme, let him put off his clothes, and fwymme to him with a Dagger readie drawne to kyll him, and yet let him well beware howe he aflayle him, vn- lefle the water be verie deepe. For if it be fo Hiallowe that an Hart may ftande vpon the bottome, he may chaunce to giue the huntefman a flirewde blowe, if he take not heede at the firft en- counter : marie where it is deepe he hath leaft force. It hath beene my happe oftentimes to kyll in this forte verie great Hartes, and that in fight and prefence of diuers witnefles, and afterwardes I haue guided their deade bodyes to the banke fwymming. As touching the baye on the lande, if the Harte be frayed and burnifhed, then the huntfman ought well to regarde and confider the place. For if it be in a playne and open place, where there is no wood nor couert, it is daungerous and harde to come in to him : but if it be by an hedge fide, or in a ftrong thicke or queache, then whylcsthe Harte doth ftare and looke vp- on the houndes, the huntefman may come couertly amongft the buflies behynde him, and fo maye eafily kyll him : and if the Harte turne heade vpon him, let him runne behynde ibme tree,
or
The hoohe of Hunting 1 1"!
or couer him felfe in the thycke quickly, or Ihake fome boughe rudely and boyfteroufly before him. Or elfe when you fee an Hart at Baye, take vp the houndes, and when the Harte turneth heade to flee, galloppe roundely in, and before he haue leyfure to turne vpon you, it is a thing eafie ynough to kyll him with your fworde.
Howe to breake vp an Harte after the
French manner, and to rewarde
the houndes. Chap. 42
WHen the Harte is kylled, then all the huntefmen whiche be at fall of him, fliall blowe a note, and whoupe alfo a deade note, to the ende that the reft of the companies with all the houndes may come in. Being affembled, and the Prince or chiefe hunter come alfo, they fliall bryng the houndes to the Deare, and let them all to byte and teare him about the necke, then couple them vp vntyll their rewarde be prepared. Then the chiefe hunte fliall take his knyfe, and cut off the Deares ryght foote before, and prefent it to the Kyng as you fee it here por- trayed. And before they proceede any further, they muft cut down good ftore of greene branches and boughes, and itrewe them vp- on the grounde. Then fliall they lay the Hart therevpon, laying him vpon his backe, with his foure feete vpwardes, and his head under his two ftioulders, as you maye likewife fee here por- trayed.
That being doone, make a little forke with one tyne longer than any other (as you may fee alfo) vpon the which forke you maye hang all the dayntie morfelles whiche appertayne to the Prince or chief perfonage on field. And before that you go about to take off his fkynne, the fyril thing that mufl: be taken from him, are his Ifones which hunters call his doulcettes, and hang them on the forke by a little of their fkynne : then let them begin to take of his fkinne in this maner.
Firfl: you muft beginne to flyt it at the throate, and fo all along his bellye, vnto the place where you tooke awaye his
doulcets.
ii8 The boohe of Hunting
doulcets, then take him by the right foote before, and cut the fkin rounde aboute vnderneath the ioynt of the dewclawes, and then flit it from thence vnto the toppe of his breit, and do afmuch to the other forelegge : then flit and cut the ikinne in like maner of the hinder legges vnto the toppe of the hanche, leauing at the place where you tooke away the doulcets : then beginne at euery legge, one after another to take of the fkinne : and when you come at his fides you mufl: let cleaue to the fkinne, a thinne kinde of redde fleflie which hunters caU the apparel of an Hart, the which groweth aboue the venifon and betweene it and the ITdnne on both fides of his bodie. Thus when the fkinne is cleane taken of fauing only at the head,eares, fkut, and the Tewell (at all which places the fkin mufl: flrill haue hold,) before you go about to do any more, the chiefe Huntefman muft call for a botle of wine, and drinke a good harty draught : for if he ftiouldebreake vp the Deare before he drinke, the Venifon would ftinke and putrifie. You fliall alfo prefent before the Prince or chiefe perfonage in field, fome fine fauce made with wine and fpices in a fayre diflie vpon a chafyngdiflie and coles, to the end that as he or ftie doth behold the huntefman breaking vp of the Deare, they may take theyr pleafure of the fweete deintie morfels, and drefle fome of them on the coles, makyng them Carbonadies, and eating them with their fauce, reioycing and recreating their noble mindes with reherfall whiche hounde hunted beft, and which huntefman hunted mofte like a woodman : callyng theyr befl: fauoured houndes and huntefmen before them, and rewarding them fa- uorably, as hath bene the cuftome of all noble perlbnages to do. Then fliall the huntefman take his knife in hande agayne and breake vp the Deare in this forte : fpreadyng the fkinne on both fides vpon the greene leaues ftrewed for that purpofe. Firile he fliall take out the tongue, and put it vpon the Forke, for it ap- pertayneth to the Prince or to the chiefe perfonage : likewife two knottcs or nuttes whiche are to be taken betwene the necke and the flioulders, and twoo others whiche are in the flankes of the Deare, and are called flankardcs, and hang them vpon the Forke : this beyng done, he fliall firfl: take out the right flioulder with
his
The hooke of Hunting i ip
his fhoulder knyfe, the which perteineth to the huntfman which harbored him. Then next that other Ihoulder pertayneth to the reft of the huntefmen. Then muft he take the Bryfket bone and the flappes which hang with it vnto the necke, and that pertay- neth alfo to him that harbored and rowzed him. Then fliall he make his arbour and take out the panch, and cut oi^' the Deares PyfTelJ, which is medicinable. Afterwardes he fliall take the fweete pudding (which is the fat gut that goeth to the Deares tewell) and the vppermoft gut next the flromacke, and turne and clenze them both whiles they be hote, and put them on the forke, for they appertayne to the beft perfonage.
All thefe being doone, you fliall take the Harts heart, and flyt it in funder, taking out a bone which is therein, and rayfe the Noombles from his fillets, and betweene his hanches, and fo vp to the mydryfte betweene the bJoudboulke and the fides, leauing the rauens morfell (which is the gryflell at the fpoone of the brif- ket) and giue two gaflies on cache fide of the bryfket, to fliew the goodnefTe of the fleflie. And you fliall take from the Noombles three knots or nuts, which are betweene them and the fides, and are called cynq and quatre. Thofe pertayne to the chiefe huntefman, the Noombles, hanches and tender- lings (which are the foft toppes of his homes when they are in bloud) doe pertayne to the Prince or chiefe perfonage. The necke and the chyne being taken from the fides, referue the fides for the Prince, the necke for the Varlet of the kennell, and the chyne for the Varlet that keepes the bloude hounde.
How
1 3 o The hoohe of Hunting
Howe to rewarde the houndes, and fyrfi: the blond hound. Chap. 43
THc houndes fliall be rewarded in this maner. Firll let the bloude houndes be prefent when you breake vp the Deare, that they may fee him broken vp, and let them be tyed or made faft to ibme tree or bough, fo farre one from another that they fight not. Then the huntfman which harbored the Harte, fliall take the cabaging of the heade, and the heart of the Deare to reward his bloud hound firft, for that honor pertaineth
to
The hoohe of Hunting 151
to him : when he hath done, he fliall deliuer it to the reft, that they may likewife rewarde theirs : that done they flul fyt downe and drinke, whiles the Varlets of the kennell prepare the rewarde for their houndes, and that maye be made in two fortes. Firfte fome vie immediately afTone as the Hart is deade, (the huntfmcn hauing blowne to aflemble the reft vnto his fall) to alight from their horfes, and take off the Deare iTcinne from his necke whilft it is hote, and when they haue well fkotched it with their wood- kniues, that the houndes may the more eafily tcare oft" the flefhe, they rewarde the houndes with that and the braynes all hote and bleeding : and furely thofe rewardes are much better than others which are giuen afterwardes colde when they come home, and will much better flefli and encourage the hounds. But the re- wardes which are made at home (which are called cold rewards) are thus giuen. The varlets of the kennell take bread, and cut it into gobbets into a pan, cutting cheefe likewife in gobbets with it: then take they the bludofy^deare, and fprinkle it vpon the bread and cheefe, vntill the breade and cheefe be all bloudy : and then they take a great boUe of mylke warme, and mingle it altogether. Afterwardes they fliall fpread the fkynne vpon the ground in fome faire place, and put out this reward vpon it. Remember that you let it not abyde long in the pan, for then the milke will turne and be ibwre. When it is thus prepared, put the caba- ging of the heade in the midft amongft it, and haue a payle or tub of frefli water in a readinefte neare to the reward, to let your houndes lappe in when they are rewarded. Then you fliall fet the head vpon a ftaffe (which muft be fmothe and cleane for hur- ting of the houndes) and let one of the Varlets carie it an hun- dreth paces from you. Then the Prince or chiefe fliall begin to blow and to hallow for the hounds, bicaufe that honor with all others appertaine vnto y® Prince or chief perfonage. And if he or file cannot or wil not do it themfelues, let them appoint who flial do it as for their honor. Afterwards all the huntfmen fliall take their homes and blowe, and hallowe to the houndes to reioyce them. In this meane while the Varlet of the kennell fliall ftande at the rewarde with twoo wandes (in cache hande one)
to
1 5 2. The Ijoolze of Hunting
to keepe the houndes backe vntill they be all come about him. And when they are all baying and calling on about him, let him ftand from the rewarde, and fuffer the houndes to eate it. And when they haue almofl eaten it vp, let him whiche holdeth the Deares heade, hallowe and crye, Heere aga'ine boyes^ heere a- ga'me^ haiv^ haiv^ (^c. Then the Varlets of the kennel which ftand about the reward, muft rate away the houndes, and make them go to him that halloweth. Then he fliall fliewe them the heade of the Deare, lifting it vp and downe before them to make them baye it: and when he hath drawne them al about him baying, he fliall caft downe the heade amongft them that they maye take their pleafure thereon. Then fliall he leade them backe agayne to the fkynne, and turne the fkynne vpon them (being colde) and then kennell them vp. Confider that it Qiall be beft to kcnnell them immediately, for elfe if they fliould runne about and tra- uell, it would make them caft vp their rewarde againe. The re- warde being thus giuen and fyniflied, the Varlet and the reft may go to drinke.
An aduertifement by the Tranflatour, of the Engliflie manner, in breaking vp of the Deare
IN defcribing this order howe to breake vp a Deare, I haue obferued the duetie of a faythfull tranilatour, nothing at all chaunging the wordes of myne Authoure, but fuflPering him to proceede in the Frenche maner. But bycaufe I find it differente from our order in fome poyntes, therefore I haue thought good here to fet downe fuch obferuations of difference as I haue no- ted therein, leaft the reader mighte be drawne in opinion, that the errour proceeded only in my default.
Firft where he appoynteth the Deares foote to be cutte off, and to bee prefented to the Prince or chiefe, oure order is,
that
The hoohe of Hunting
153
that the Prince or chiefe (if fo pleafe them) doe alight and take aiTaye of the Deare with a fharpe knyfe, the whiche is done
in
134 ^'^'^ hoohe of Hunting
in this maner. The deare being layd vpon his backe, the Prince, chiefe, or fuch as they (liall appoint, commes to it : And the chiefe huntfman (kneeling, if it be to a Prince) doth holde the Deare by the forefoote, whiles the Prince or chief, cut a flyt drawn alongft the bryfket of the deare, fomewhat lower thian the bryfket to- wards the belly. This is done to fee the goodnefle of the flefh, and howe thicke it is.
This being done, we vfe to cut off the Deares heades. And that is commonly done alfo by the chiefe perfonage. For they take delight to cut oiF his heade with their woodknyues, fkaynes, or fwordes, to trye their edge, and the goodnefle or ftrength of their arme. If it be cut off to rewarde the houndes withall, then the whole necke (or very neare) is cut oft with it : otherwise it is cut off neare to the head. And then the heade is cabaged (which is to fay) it is cut clofe by the homes through the braine pan, vntill you come vnderneath the eyes, and ther it is cut off The piece which is cut from the homes (together with the braines) are to rewarde the houndes. That other piece is to nayle up the homes by, for a memoriall, if he were a great Deare of heade.
As for the deintie morfels which mine Author fpeaketh off for Princes our vfe (as farre as euer I could fee) is to take the caule, the tong, the eares, the doulcets, the tenderlings (if his heade be tender) and the fweete gut, which fome call the Inchpinne, in a faire handkercher altogether, for the Prince or chiefe.
It muft be remembered (which he leaueth out) that the feete be all foure left on. The hynder feete muft be to faften (or hardle as fome hunters call it) the hanches to the fydes, and the two fore- feete are left to hang vp the flioulders by.
We vfe fome ceremonie in taking out the llioulder. For firft he which taketh it out, cuts the thinne fkinof the flefli(when the Deares fkinne is taken off) round about the legge, a little aboue the elbowe ioynt. And there he rayfeth out the fynew or mufkle with his knife, and putteth his forefinger of his left hand, through vnder the fayd mufkle to hold the legge by. If afterwardes he touch the flioulder or any part of the legge, with any other thing than his knyfe, vntill he haue taken it out, it is a forfayture, and
he is
The hooke of Hunting i^s
he is thought to be no handfome woodman. Then with his fhoulder knyfe he cuts an hole betweene the Jegge and the bryf- ket, and there puts in his knife, and loofeneth the flioulder from the fyde, going about with his knyfe, neare to the outfide of the f kynne, vntill he haue quyte taken out the flioulder, and yet lefte the fkynne of the fyde fayre and whole. And if he doe it not at three boutes, it is alfo a fbrfeyture.
We vfe not to take away the bryfket bone, as farre as euer I coulde fee, but clyue the fydes one from another, dire6tly from the place of affay, vnto the throate. There is a litle griftle which is vpon the ipoone of the bryfket, which we cal the Rauens bone, bycaufe it is caft vp to the Crowes or Rauens whiche attende hunters. And I haue feene in fome places, a Rauen fo wont and accuftomed to it, that flie would neuer fayle to croake and crye for it, all the while you were in breaking vp of the Deare, and would not depart vntill flie had it. Furthermore, we vfe not to take the heart from the noombles, but account it a principall part thereof. And about the winding vp of the noombles, there is alfo fome arte to be fliewed : But by all likelyhoode, they vfe it not in Fraunce as we do.
Alfo I can not perceiue by myne Authors wordes that they
make any Arboure, which if they doe not, they may chaunce
to breake vp their Deare but homely fomtimes. But if
they cut away the brifket bone, then it is the lefle
requifite, bicaufe they may come at the weafond,
and conuey it away ealily. We vfe to re-
warde our houndes with the paunche,
being emptied firft. Thefe things
of my felfe I haue thought
good to adde, defiring
the reader to take
them in good
parte.
The
1^5 The hoohe of Hunting
The wofuU wordes of the Hart to the Hunter
Since I in deepeft dread, do yelde my felte to Man, And ftand full ftill betwene his legs, which earfh full wildly ran : Since 1 to him appeale, when hounds purfue me fore, As who fliould fay (iVoiy faue me man^ for elfe I may no more.)
Why doft thou then (o Man) (o Hunter) me purfue, With cry of hounds, with blaft of home, with hallow, and with hue ?
Or why doft thou deuife, fuch nets and inftruments. Such toyles and toyes, as hunters vfe, to bring me to their bents ?
Since
The hooke of Hunting 137
Since I (as earft was fayde) do fo with humble chcare, [olde downe my head (as who fliould fay, lo Ma7t 1 yeelde me here.)
Why arte thou not content, (6 murdryng cruell minde) hy felfe alone to hunte me fo, which arte my foe by kynde,
But that thou mull: enftrud, with wordes in fkilfull writte,
11 other men to hunte me eke ? O wicked wylie witte.
Thou here haft fet to fliew, within this bufie booke,
looking Glafic of leflbns lewde, wherein all Huntes may looke :
And fo whyles world doth laft, they may be taught to bryng, he harmelefle Hart vnto his bane, with many a wilye thing.
Is it bycaufe thy minde, doth feeke thereby fome gaynes? anft thou in death take fuche delight ? breedes pleafure fo in paynes ?
Oh cruell, be content, to take in worth my teares, /hiche growe to gumme, and fall from me : content thee with my heares,
Content thee with my homes, which euery yeare I mew, nee all thefe three make medicines, fome fickneffe to efchew.
My teares congeald to gumme, by peeces from me fall, nd thee preferue from Peftilence, in Pomander or Ball.
Such wholefome teares fliedde I, when thou purfeweft me fo, hou (not content) doeft feeke my death, and then thou getft no moe.
My heare is medicine burnt, all venemous wormes to kill, 'he Snake hirfelfe will yeeld thereto, fuch was my makers will.
My homes (whiche aye renew) as many medicines make
s there be Troches on their Toppes, and all [Man) for thy fake.
As firft they heale the head, from turning of the brayne,
dramme thereof in powder drunke, doth quickly eafe the payne :
They fkinne a kybed heele, they fret an angnayle off, o thus I l"kippe from toppe to toe, yet neyther fcorne nor fkofFe.
They comfort Fteuers faynte, and lingryng long difeafe, iftilld when they be tender buddes, they fundry greeues appeafe:
They mayfter and corredt, both humours, hote and colde, I'hich ftriue to conquere bloud : and breede, difeafes manyfold.
They bryng downe womens termes, and ftoppe them to, for neede,
hey keepe the meane tweene both extreemes, and ferue bothe turnes in deede:
They cleare the dimmie fight, they kill both webbe and pinne, hey foone reftore the milt or fpleene, which putrifies within.
L 1 They
138 The hooke of Hunting
They eafe an akyng Tooth, they breake the mmblyng winde, Which grypes the wombe with colliques panges, fuch is their noble kindt
They quenche the fkaldyng fire, which ilcorched with his heate, And fkinne the fkalt full cleane agayne, and heale it trimme and neate.
They poyfon do expell, from Keyfar, ^^"Sy or ^eene^ When it by chaunce or deepe deceypt, is fwallowed vp vnfeene.
But wherefore fpend I time, in vayne at large to prayfe. The vertues of my harmelefle homes, which heape my harme alwayes?
And yet fuch homes, fuch heare, fuch teares as I haue tolde, I mew and caft for mans auayle, more worth to him than golde.
But he to quyte the fame, [0 Murdrlng Man thereuihyles) Perfewes me iHll and trappes me ofte, with fundrie fnares and guyles.
Alas lo now I feele colde feare within my bones, Whiche hangs hyr winges vpon my heeles, to haften for the nones
My fwifteft ftarting fteppes, me thinkes flie biddes me byde, In thickeft Tuftes of couerts clofe, and fo my felfe to hyde.
Ah rewfull remedie, fo fliall I (as it were) Euen teare my lyfe out of the teeth of houndes whiche make me feare.
And from thofe cruell curres, and brayneficke hauling Tikes, Which vowe foote bote to foUowe me, bothe ouer hedge and dykes.
Me thinkes 1 heare the Home, whiche rendes the reftlelTe ayre, With fhrylleft founde of bloudie blaft, and makes me to defpayre.
Me thinkes I fee the Toyle, the tanglings and the ftall, Which are prepared and fet full fure, to compafle me withall :
Me thinkes the Fofter ftandes full clofe in buflie or Tree, And takes his leuell ftreyght and true, me thinkes he fliootes at me.
And hittes the harmelefle Harte, of me vnhappie Harte, Which muft needes pleafe him by my death, I may it not aftarte.
Ahlas and well away, me thinkes I fee the hunte, Which takes the meafure of my Slottes, where I to treade was wont :
Bycaufe I fliall not mifle, at laft to pleafe his minde, Ahlas I fee him where he feekes my latefl: layre to finde.
He takes my fewmets vp, and puts them in his home, Alas me thinkes he leapes for ioye, and laugheth me to fcorne.
Harke, harke, alas giue eare. This geare goeth well (fayeth he) This Harte beares deyntie venifon^ in Princes diJJoe to be.
The hooke of Hunting 1 3P
Lo now he blowes his hornc, euen at the kennell dore,
las, alas, he blowes a feeke, alas yet blowes he more:
He ieopardcs and rechates, ahlas he blowes the Fall,
nd foundcs that deadly dolefull Mote, whiche I mufte die withall.
What lliould the cruell meane ? perhappes he hopes to finde,
s many medicines me within to fatiffie his minde.
(May be) he feekes to haue my Sewet for himfelfe, i^hiche fooner heales a merrygald, then Pothecaries pelfe.
(May be) his ioyntes be numme, as Synewes (lironke with colde, nd that he knowes my Sewet wyll, the fame full foone vnfolde.
(May be) his wife doth feare to come before hyr time,
nd in my mawe he hopes to finde, (amongft the flutte and flime)
A Stone to help his wife, that flie may bryng to light,
bloudie babe lyke bloudie Syre, to put poore Hartes to flight :
Perchance with fickneflfe he hath troubled bene of late, nd with my marow thinketh to reftore his former ftate.
(May be) his hart doth quake, and therefore feekes the bone, i^hiche Huntefmen finde within my heart, when I (poore Hart) am gone.
(It may be) that he meanes my fleflie for to prefent, nto his Prince for delicates, fuch may be his entent.
Yea more than this (may be), he thinkes fuch nouriture, /ill ftill prolong mens dayes on earth, fmce mine fo long endure.
But oh mifchieuous man, although I thee outline, y due degrees of age vnfeene, whiche Nature doth me giue :
Muft thou therefore procure my death ? for to prolong 'hy lingryng life in lulfie wife ? alas thou doeft me wrong.
Muft I with mine owne fleflie, his hatefuU fleflie fo ^^^Ao:^ /"hiche me difdaynes one bitte of graflTe, or corne in tyme of neede ?
Alas {Man) do not fo, fome other beaftes go kill, /hiche worke thy harme by fundrie meanes : and fo content thy wiU.
Which yeelde thee no fuch gaynes, (in lyfe) as I renew, /hen from my head my ftately homes, (to thy behoofe) I mew.
But fince thou arte vnkinde, vngracious and vniuft, ^o here I craue of mightie Gods, whiche are bothc good and iuft :
That Mars may reygne with Man^ that ftryfe and cruell warre, lay fet mans murdryng minde on worke, with many a bloudy larre.
That
140 The booke of Hunting
That drummes with deadly dub, may counteruayle the blafl, Which they with homes haue blowen ful lowde, to make my minde agaft.
That fliot as thicke as Hayle, may fiande for Croflebowe fliootes, That Ctiyjfes, Greues^ and fuche may ferue, in ffceade of Hunters bootes.
That gyrte with fiege full fure, they may theyr toyles repent, That Embuskadoes ftand for nettes, which they agaynft me bent.
That when they fee a fpie, which watcheth them to trappe. They may remember ringwalkes made, in herbor me to happe.
That when theyr bufie braynes, are exercifed fo, Hartes may lie fafe within tlieyr layre, and neuer feare theyr foe.
But if fo chaunce there be, fome dall:ard dreadfull mome, Whome Trumpettes cannot well entyfe, nor call him once from home :
And yet will play the man, in killyng harmeleUe Deare, I craue of God that fuch a ghofte, and fuch a fearefull pheare.
May fee Dyana nakt : and flie (to venge hir flcornes) May foone tranfforme his harmefull head, into my harmelefle homes :
Vntill his houndes may teare, that hart of his in twayne. Which thus torments vs harmelefle Harts, and puttes our hartes to payne.
THus haue you an end of fo much as 1 find meete to be tran- flated out of mine Author for the Hunting of an Harte : Wherein 1 haue dealt faithfully for fo much as I tranflated, neyther takyng any thing from him, nor adding any thing but that whiche I haue plainely expreffed, together with the reafons that moued me therevnto. And that which I haue left out is no- thing elfe but certayne vnfeemely verfes, which bycaufe they are more apt for lafciuious mindes, than to be enterlaced amongft the noble termes of Venerie, I thought meete to leaue them at large, for fuch as will reade them in French,
vfw ende of the Huntyng and Termes nuhlch are vfed in hunting the Harte,
Of
The hoohe of Hunting i^i
Oi the hunting of the Bucke. Chap. 44
ALthough mine Audhor were a Frenchman, and in Fraunce XTLthe hunting of the Bucke is nothing fo common as the hunting of the Harte is, yet fomewhat he hath written thereof, the which (together with fome experience of mine owne) I haue thought good here to place next vnto the hunting of the Harte.
It is needelefle to write what difference of heare, head, and other proportions, there are betwcene the Harte and the Bucke, fince bothe kindes of Venerie are common inough in this our noble Countrie. The Bucke is fawned in the end of May, and hath all properties common with an Harte, but that the Harte goeth fooner to the Rut, and is fooner in greace : for when a Hart hath bene .xiiii. dayes at Rut, then the Bucke doth but fcarcely beginne : there is not fo muche fkill to be vfed in lodgyng of a Bucke, as in harboring of a Harte, nor needeth to vfe fomuch drawing after him : but onely to iudge by the view and marke what groue or couert he goeth into, for he will not wander nor royle fo farre aboute as a Harte, nor change layre fo often : and yet we vfe here in England to lodge the Bucke as wee vfe to harbor the Harte, for the Bucke is much commoner with vs than the Harte. He maketh his fewmifhing in fundrie maners and formes as the Harte dothe, according to the feazon of the feede that he findeth, but moft commonly they are round : when they are hunted they flie into fuch ftrong couertes as they haue bene moft accuftomcd vnto, and neuer flee fo farre before the houndes, nor double, crofte, nor vfe fuche and fo many fubtile policies as an Harte doth. For he turneth backe vpon the houndes oftentimes, and efcheweth the high wayes as muche as he may, efpecially in the open playnes : he is fometimes killed at Soyle as an Harte doth, and will beate a Brooke or Riuer, but not fo craftely nor can fo long endure therein, nor dare take fuche great riuers and waters as the Harte will, he leapeth lightlier at the Rut than an Harte, and groyneth as an Harte belloweth, but with a bafer voyce ratlyng in the throte : the Harte and he loue not one another,
but
1 42 The boohe of Hunting
but do one of them efchewe anothers layre : they are fweeter of Sent vnto the houndes than the Harte or the Rowdeare, and yet fome thinke that the Rowe is the fweeteft chafe that is, but at leaft theyr flefli is more delicate : and therefore if a hounde haue once fedde thereon, he will loue it aboue all other chafes. The venyfon of a Bucke is very dayntie, good meate, and is to be dref- fed (in manner) lyke to the venyfon of an Harte : but the Hartes fleflie wilbe longer preferued : the Bucke will hearde more than the Harte, and lieth in the dryeft places : but if he be at large out of a Parke, he will heard but little from the moneth of May, vntill the end of Auguft, or very neare, bycaufe the flie troubleth him : they loue the hilly places well, but they mufte haue dales and bottomes to feede in : wee hunte the Bucke euen as wee hunte the Harte : fauyng that it is not needefull to lay fo many relayes, nor to lay out fo farre. Bycaufe he fleeth not fo farre out, but wheelcth and keepeth the couert as is before declared. The grcateft fubtiltie that a huntefman hath neede to beware of in huntyng the Bucke, is to keepe his houndes from huntyng counter or chaunge, bycaufe we haue plentie of Fallow deare, and they come oftener diredtly backe vpon the houndes than a redde deare doth : the breakyng vp and rewarde are all one with the breakyng vp and reward of an Harte.
Of the hunting of a Rowe. Chap. 45-
THe Rowe is a beaft well knowen and eafie to hunte, and yet fewe huntefmen know his nature : he goeth to Rut in Odiober : and remayneth therein fiftene dayes, he neuer com- panieth but with one make, and they neuer part vntil the Row- doe haue fawned. Then the Doe parteth from the Buck and faw- neth as farre from him as Ihe can, for if he findc it, he will kill the fawne : but when the fawne is great that he can runne and feede, then the Doe return eth to the bucke and accompanieth with him againe louingly. Yea and they will make afmuch hafte to returne togethers as may be, the caufe whereof is y* a Row doe doth moft commonly fawne two at once : and they be commonly alfo bucke and Doe, fo that being accuftomed togethers in youth, they
do
The boohe of Hunting 145
do loue to keepe company euer after. Some Row doe hath bin killed with fiue fawnes in hyr bodie at once, which is a ftrange thing in fo imal a bcaft. And here I thought good to note vnto you that a fawne of a Rowe, is called the firil yeare a Kidde : the fecond a Gyrle : the third yeare an Hemufe : the fourth a Rowe bucke of the firft head : and the fifth yeare a Rowebucke and no more. Aflbone as a Rowebucke commeth from Rut he cafteth his homes, and few of them after they be pafte two yeares olde, do fayle to mew at Alhollantide : their heades grow out againe ve- ry quickly for they fray them commonly in March : you may hunt him at all times alike, for his venyfon is neuer fat, nor neuer out of feafon : they hide their heads in mofTe, when they haue caft and mewed them : all the fauour that flioulde be fliewed vnto the Rowe deare, is vnto the Does when they are with fawne, and vntil their fawnes be able to liue without them. They make mar- uelous good chafe and ftand vp long, and flee farre endwaycs, and their fltflie is good meate : you Ihall hardly know them ey- ther by their foote or fewmettes : they fee not very perfectly, nor beare any great venifon : that is to fay, they be not very fat, vn- lelTe it be inwards : their kidneyes will fomctimes be hidde with fat, and then are they in great pryde of greace. When they are hunted they turne much and come often directly backe vpon the dogges, and when they may no more endure, they flee to the wa- ter, and beate the water like an Harte, wherein they will hang by fome bough all vnder the water but their very fnowte, and wil neuer ftirre vntill a man or a hounde come euen vpon them : he keepeth in the ftrong thickets, and commonly in the highefl: groundes : fometimes alfo in the playnes but that very feldome. The Rut of a Rowe deare is properly (amongft hunters) cal- led his turne, as to fay the Rowe goeth in his Toume. His crof- fmgs and doublings before the houndes are called Trafo- n'lngs. He is not called a greate Rowebucke, but a fayre Row- bucke : the heard of them is called a Beauie : if he haue Beauie greace vpon his tayle when you breake him vp, then is he veni- fon : otherwife he is meeter for to be giuen whole to the houndes than to be drefled for your diflie : the hounds mufte be rewarded
with
144 The boohe of Hunting
with the bowels, the bloud, and the feete flit in funder and boy- led altogether, it is not called a rewarde but a dole : of all other things neceffarie to be vnderftoode for the huntyng of a Row- deare, I haue fufficiently fpoken in the hunting of an Harte, and the hunting of a Bucke.
Of the Raynedeare. Chap. ^6
THe Raynedeare is a beaft like vnto an Harte, but great di- uerfitie in their heades, for a Raynedearcs head, is fiiller of antlyers and much bigger and wyder in compafTe : he beareth foure and twentie braunches or more, according to his age : he hath a great pawme on the Toppe like a Harte : and his antliers before are pawmed alfo : he flieth endwayes when he is hunted by reafon of the great weight of his head : but when he h ath ftoode vp a great whyle and hath eroded, doubled, and vfed all his pol- licies, then he fettes his backe and haunches agaynft fome Tree that no thing may afTayle him but onely before, and holdes his head lowe to the grounde : and then fewe dare come neare him, and his head couereth all his bodie. If any man come in to helpe the houndes behinde him, then whereas a Harte will ftrike with his antlyer, he ftriketh with his feete, but not fo great a blowc, yet he wilbe fure neuer to turne his head, for that is hischiefe de- fence : He is terrible to fee bothe for hounde and greyhounde by reafon of his great huge head, he is not much higher than a bucke, but he is greater and thicker : when he rayfeth vp his head, it is much wider and broder than his bodie is : he feedcth lyke a Hart, and maketh his fewmets, fometimcs round and fometimcs flat, he liutth very long, and is killed with houndes, bowcs, nettcs, and other fuch engines : he beareth fatter venifon when he is in pryde of greace than any other Dcare doth: he goeth to Rut af- ter the Harte like a fallow Dcare, and fawncth like as other deare fawne : he is feldome hunted at force, nor with houndes, but onely drawen after with a bloudhound and forcftalled with nettcs and engines, and that in the thicke and greateft holdes if you can, for lb fliall you foonefb ouercome him by reafon of his
great
The hooke of Hunting 145-
great head whiche combreth him. I will treate no more of him, bicaufe I do not remember that I euer heard of any in this our Rcalme of England : it may be that there be fome in Ireland : And therefore I thought not amilTe thus to place him amongft the beaftes of Venerie, although he be not here in vfe.
The hunting of the wild Goate. Chap. 47
THere are two fortes of wilde Goates, the one are called euen fo, wild Goates : and that ether forte is called Tfarus or Sa- ris. And although I haue not heard or redde that there be any of them in England, or at leatl any that be hunted, yet bycaufe it may be well ynough that there are fome in Wales or in other Mountaynes, 1 haue thought good to fet downe the nature of him, and the manner of hunting of him, as I founde it in mine Audhor, placing him amongft the beafts of Venerie, fmce it ap- peareth by the holy Scriptures that his fleflie is Venifon. The wilde Goate is as bigge as an Harte, but he is not fo long, nor fo long legged, but they haue as much fleflie as the Harte hath, they haue wreathes and wrinkles on their homes whereby their age is knowen : for fo many yeares old as he is, fo many wreaths you fliall iinde about his home : and as a Harte meweth and ca- fteth his head, fo doth the wilde Goate mew his wreathes and re- new them, but he meweth not the beame, the whiche is as bigge as a mans legge if he be an old Goate. They haue a great long beard, and are brownifli grey of colour like vnto a Wolf, and very lliaggie, hauing a blacke lift all alongft the chyne of their backe, and downe to theyr bellie is fallow, their legges blacke, and their tayle fallowe : their feete are like the feete of a tame Goate : the print and tracke wherof is great broade and rounde, rather bigger than the Slot of an Harte : theyr bones be accordyng to the big- nefte of a tame Goate, but fomwhat greater : they are fawned in May, and fawne as a Hinde or Doe, but they haue but one fawne at once, the which they fuckle and bryng vp as the tame Goate bringeth vp hir kidde. Their fcede is of corne and graflTe as other Deare feede : but they will eate luie, molle and fuche like feede
that
1^6 The hoohe of Hunting
that is harde, better than any other Deare. In fpring they make their fewmets rounde, but afterwardes they make them broder and flatte, as a Harte doth when he comes to good feede. There is iudgement to be taken by their fewmets, either round or flatte, euen as there is of an Harte : they go to Rut about Alhalr lantide, and abide therin a moneth : when their Rut is paft they put themfelues in heards and comedownefrom the mountaynes and rockes, where they abide al the Sommer : and that afwel to efchew the Snow, as alfo bicaufe they find no foode on the mountaynes any longer ; and yet they come not very lowe into the playnes, but keepe about the foote of the mountaynes, and there feeke foode vntil it be towards Eailer : then they returne to the mountaines, and euery one of them takes liim to his holde or ftrongefb couert vpon the rockes and cragges, euen as the Hartes keepe the thickes. Then the he Goates part from the female (which are called Geats, and the buckes Goates) and the Geats drawe neare to fome little brooke or water to fawne, and to abide there al the fommer. When the Goates be fo parted from the Geats, attending vntill the time of their Rut returne, they runne vpon cither man or beafts whiche pafTe by them, and fight one with another as Hartes do, but not altogether a like : for thefe make an vnpleafant noyfe, and they hurt fore with their blowes, not with the endes of their homes, but with the middeft and Butte of their head : in fuch forte that they do oftentimes breake a mans legge or his arme at a blowe : and though he woundeth not with his blowe, yet if he beare a man agaynft a tree or a banke, he will furely kill him : and fuche force hath he alfo in the chyne of his backc, that though a man (how flrong fo- euer he be) fliould ftrike him with a barre of yron ouerthwarte the reynes, he will go on and neuer flirinke at it. When he go- eth to Rut, his throte and necke is maruelous great : he hath fuch a propertie that although he fall tenne poles length downe from an high, he will take no hurtc thereby : and he goeth as furely vpon the toppe of a rocke, as a Horfe will go in an high way. They clime marueloufly for theyr feede, and fometimes they fal, then can they not hold with their feete, but thruft out their heads againfl the rockes and hang by their horncs vntill they haue re-
couered
The boo he of Hunting 147
couered themfelues vp againe. That kinde of them which is called Tfarus or Saris^ is of like proportion to this which I haue already defcribed, and is not much bigger than the tame Goate. His na- ture and properties are (in maner) all one with the wilde Goate. Sometimes he would fkrat his thyghes with his foote, and thru- fteth his hoofes in fo farre,that he cannot draw them backe againe, but falleth and breaketh his necke, for his hoofes of his feete are crooked, and he thrufteth them farre into the fkinne, and then they will not come out agayne. When they come from their feede,they go to the rockes and lie vpon the hardeft places that they can finde. The Gawle both of this forte and that other, is very good for fi- newes that be flirunke vp, when they are great and old, they are but too too fat venyfon, efpecially within the bodie. The Geates haue homes like the Goates in all refpedtes, but not fo great : bothe fortes of them haue their feason and greace time, like vnto the Hart goyng to Rut at Alhallantide : then you may hunte them vntill theyr Rutting time come, for in winter they are very leane, fee- ding vpon nothing but Pynes and Fyrretrees, or fuch other woodes as are alwayes greene, howe little nouriture foeuer they yeelde. Their leather is warme when it is curried in feafon, for neyther cold nor rayne will pearce it, if the hearie fide be outwards : their fleflie is not very holefome, but breedeth the feuer through the a- bundant heate that is in it : neuerthelelle when they are in feafon, the venifon of them is reafonable delicate to eate.
How to hunte the wilde Goates. Chap. 48
THe beft time to hunt the wilde Goate, is at Alhallontide, and the huntefman mufte lie by night in the high mountaynesin fome fliepeheardes cabane, or fuch cottage : and it were good that helay fo feuen or eight dayes before he meane to hunte, to fee the ad- uantages of the coaftes,the Rockes, and places where the goates do lie, and allfuch other circumltances rand let him fetnettes and toyles, or foreftallings, towards the riuers and bottomes, euen as he would do for an Harte : for he may not looke y* his houndes will folow y® Goate downe euery place of y^ mountaines, if he haue not hewers
nor
1^8 The hooke of Hunting
nor Huntefmen ynow to fet rounde aboute : then let him place his companions on the toppes of the Rockes, that they may throw downe ftones, and flioote with CrofTcbowes at the Goates : a Huntefman lliall feeke them and draw after them with his bloud- hounde, euen as he doth after an Harte, and then caft off foure or fine couple of houndes to maynteyne the crie, and fliall make three or foure relayes to refrefli thole houndes which are firft caft off": for when his Iioundes haue once or twice climed vp the Moun- taynes and cHffes, they wil be so bote and fo fore fpent, that they can hunte no longer ; then the Goate gocth downe to the fmall brookes or waters in the bottomes, and therfore at fuch places it fhalbe beft fetting of relayes, and let the relayes neuer tarie vn- till the houndes come in, whiche were firlf caft off, for it wilbe long fometimes before they come in : and yet there are fome lu- ftie yong houndes which will ncucr giue ouer a Goate nor fuf- fer him to take Soyle. This chafe requireth no great Arte nor following, neyther can a man follow on foote nor on horfebacke. The beft help is in the Relayes which flialbe fet in the bottoms, and for the reward, it may be done at pleafure and deuife of the Huntefman, alwayes prouided that he rewarde not the houndes with the bell morfelles.
Oi^ the wilde Bore, his properties, and
the maner of hunting at
him. Chap. 49
" Auing defcribed the hunting of an Harte, and al other deare
.according to my fimple fkill, I haue thought good to fet
downe here a little treatyfe of the huntyng at the wilde Bore,
Tet our Try- and of his properties, although he ought not to be coumpted a-
flramreci^- niongft the Btalfs of Venerie which are chafable with houndes,
ferine of Hie ^^T hc is the propcr pray of a Maftif and fuch like dogges, for af-
foure 6eafis of much as he is a heauie btaft, and of greate force, trufting and afty-
Vcnene, jj^g himfclf in his Tufkes and his Ifrength, and therefore will not
fo lightly flee nor make chafe before houndes, fo that you cannot
(by hunting of the Bore) know y® goodnefTe or fwiftneffe of them,
and
H;
The hoohe of Hunting i^p
and therewithal! to confefle a truth, I thinkc it greate pitie to hunte (with a good kencU of houndes) at fuch chafes : and that for fuch reafons and confiderations as foUowe.
Firft he is the only beall: which can difpatch a hounde at one blow, for though other beaftes do bite, fnatch, teare, or rende your houndes, yet there is hope of remedie if they be well attended : but if a Bore do once Itrike your hounde and light betweene the foure quarters of him, you Ihall hardly fee him efcape : and therewithal! this fubtiltie he hath, that if he be runne with a good kenell of houndes, which lie perceyueth holde in rounde and fol- lowe him harde, he will flee into the ftrongeft thicket that he can finde, to the ende he may kill them at leyfure one after an- other, the whiche I haue feene by experience oftentimes. And a- mongft others I fawe once a Bore chafed and hunted with fif- tie good houndes at the leaft, and when he fawe that they were all in full crie, and helde in rounde togethers, he turned heade vpon them, and thruffc amiddefb the thickeft of them. In fuche forte that he flewe fometimes fixe or feuen (in manner) with twinklyng of an eye : and of the fiftie houndes there went not twelue founde and aliue to their Mafters houfes. Agayne if a kennell of houndes be once vfed to hunte a Bore, they will be- come lyther, and will neuer willingly hunte fleing chafes a- gayne. For afmuche as they are (by him) accuftomed to hunte with more eafe, and to find great Sent. For a Bore is a beafl of a very hote Sent, and that is contrarie to light fleing chafes, which are hunted with more payne to the hounde, and yet there- with do not leaue fo greate Sent. And for thefe caufes who fo euer meaneth to haue good houndes for an Harte, Hare, or Row- deare, let him not vfe them to hunte the Bore : but fince men are of fundrie opinions, and loue to hunte fuche chafes as lie mofle commodioufly aboute their dwelling places, I will here de- fcribe the propertie of the Bore, and howe they may hunte him. And the manner of killing him either with the fworde or Bore- fpeare, as you fliall alfo fee it fet out in portrayture hereafter in his place.
Of
ij-o The booke of Hunting
Of the nature and fubtiltie of the Bore. Chap. jo.
THe Bore is of this nature, that when his Dame dothe pigge him, he hath as many teeth, as euer he will haue whyles he liueth, neyther will their teeth any way multiplie or encreafe but onely in greatnefle and length. Amongil the refte they haue foure, whiche (with the Frenchmen) are called Defences : and we call them 1 ufkes or Tufches, whereof the two higheft do not hurte when he ftriketh, but ferue onely to whet the other two Joweft : but with thofe lower Tufkes, they ftryke mar- ueloufly and kill oftentymes : if a Bore happen to haue his eyes blemiilied, or to hurte them daungeroufly, he will heale agayne very foone. A Bore may liue fiue and twentie, or thirtie yeares: it is eafier to bryng them into a Soyle in Aprill or in Maye, than in any other feafon : and that is bycaufe they fleepe found- Iyer in thofe two moneths than at any other tyme of the yeare : for afmuch as they feede then vppon ftrong hearbes and buddes of trees, which do fo moiften their braynes that they become very fleepy. Againe the fpring time rcneweth their bloud, which ma- keth them fleepe the more foundly. They go to Rut aboute the moneth of December, and their great heate endureth neare about three weekes. And although their Sowes become colde agayne and couet not the Bore, yet do not the Bores parte from them vntill it be lanuarie, then they withdraw themfelues vnto their holdes, wherein they keepe clofe fometimes three or foure dayes together and neuer come out, efpecially when they haue founde the Fearne, and do finde fweetenefle in the roote of the Fearne. Sometimes a Bore will wander farre out of the Forreftes or thicke couerts to feeke feeding : efpecially in time of the vintage in fuche Countries as wine is made : and wherefoeuer they be- come when day appcareth, there will they abyde without refped: of the place. It fuffifeth if they finde but fome tuflte of thornes or brambles, and there will they lie vntill it be night agayne :
they
The hooke of Hunting i ;• i
they harken earneftly and will heare a man very farre off, efpe- cially when they be vnder the winde, but if they be vp the winde, heare not greatly. They lyue and feede vpon all kinde of Corne and Frutes, as Apples, Peares, Plummes, Akehorncs, Cheft- nuttes, Beechmafle, and fuche lyke, and of all fortes of rootes al- fo, unlelTe it be Rapes and Nauie rootes. Alfo in A pry 11 and May they feede on the buddes of Plumtrees, and Cheilnut trees, and all other fweete buddes that they can finde, efpecially vpon the buddes of broome and luniper, they will feede on no carion vnlefle it be of a deade Horfe : they neuer become fowle or me- fled (as wee terme it) lyke vnto our tame Swyne. When they are in the mariflies, they fo-Qdc and lyue vppon water Crefleys, wilde Garlyke, and fuche hearbes as they can finde. Beyng neare to the Sea coafte, they will feede vppon all kinde of Ihel- fiflies, as Cockles, Mufkles, Oyfters, and fuche lyke. Their fea- fon beginneth in the middefl of September, and endeth aboute the beginnyng of December when they go to the Rutte : com- monly a Bore wyll abyde the baye before he go out of his denne, and they lie mofte commonly in the flrongeft ho!des of Thornes, and thicke Buflies : and when they are hunted they llricke alfo in the ftrongeft couertes, and will feldome leaue them vntill it be darke night. And if it chaunce that there be a Sownder of them together, then if any one break e Sownder, the refte will followe the fame way. The Bore dothe fooner forfake the hollow Forreftes to feeke ftrong couerts, than the Harte dothe : therevpon it hath bene fpoken in Prouerbe, that a Bore is but a geft : and if a Bore be in a thicke or iTrrong couert, beyng come thyther from a hollow woode or Forreft, then if you hunte him, he will not fayle to go backe by the fame way that he came thether : and when focuer they are once reared, they flee continually and neuer ll:ay vntill they come to the place where they were farrowed and brought vp, for there they thinke themfelues in fafegarde. This haue 1 scene by experience by a Bore, whiche hath come from his accuftomed denne to feeke feede, and beyng hunted he went immediately and diredtly backe TURB. VEN. M againe
1^2 The hoohe of Hunting
agayne the fame way that he came vnto a Foreft which was fe-
uen Frenche leagues from the place where he was reared : and
all the way I might finde the olde tracke of his feete whiche he
made as he came thether. True it is, that if he chaunce to bee
hunted in a Foreft or holde where he was bredde, then he will
hardly parte out of it for any force. Sometimes he will fceme to
take head as though he would go out, and will drawe to the
outfides of the woode : but there he will ftande and harken on
euery fide : and if he heare the houndes folow him or any noyfe,
then will he quickly turne backe, and for any force that the
houndes or Huntefmen can make, he will not be driuen that
way agayne vntill it be night : but beyng once broken out of a
Forelf, and hauing taken head once endwayes, he will not be
put out of his waye neyther with Dogge, iVIan, voyce, blow-
yng, nor any thing. A Bore will not crie when you kill him :
efpecially a great Bore : but the Sowes and yong Swine will
crie fometimes : in fleyng before the houndes, he neyther dou-
bleth nor croffeth, nor vfeth fuche fubtilties nor pollicies, as o-
ther chafes do, for he is heauie and flowe, and therefore the
houndes are ftill in with him. I finde written in an auncient
Au(5thor, that a man may knowe the age of a Bore by his legge,
on the whiche there be many little pleytes or wrincles : and fo
many of thofe wryncles as he hath, fo many yeares olde he is.
But for mine owne opinion I iudge by the head, by the tufkes,
and by the foote. The wilde Swine farrowe but one litter in a
yeare : a Bore is mofte fierce and hardie, and will fooneft runne
vppon a man to ftryke at him, when he feedeth vppon Fearne,
and Bechemafte, muche fooner than when they feede
vpon Acornes or fome other mafte. A yong Bore
when he is but three yeares olde, llioulde not
be Hunted at force, for he is light and
will Itand vp longer before your
houndes, than a yong Deare
woulde do when he is
firfte an Harte
of tenne.
(...) Of
The hooke of Hunting 15-3
O^ the termes and wordes which are to be vsed in hunting of the Bore. Chap, ji
ALthough in rehearfall of the hunting of an Harte, I haue JTjL^onievvhat touched and rehearfed alfo the termes of Venerie, which are to be vfed in hunting of the Bore : yet haue I thought good heere to write them more at large, for the better vnderftan- ding of all fuch as loue hunting.
Firft if a man fliould be demaunded by an olde huntefman, what he would call a young Bore when he commeth into the thirde yeare of his age, he fliall fay that he is a yong Bore which hath lately left the Sounder : for a Bore will neuer Jeaue the Sounder, vntill he be three yeares at the leaft. The nexte yeare he fliall call him a Bore. The next yere after a Sanglier, which we (by corruption) haue called a Synguler in Tryflrams precepts. And fo forewardes, euen as you fay an Harte of tenne chafeable or to be runne : you maye likewife fay a Bore of foure yeares olde without refufe. If you would name a great olde fwyne, you may call him a Bore, or a Sanglier, which lefte the Sounder foure or fiue yeares fmce : or a fwyne Royall. In ma- king of a report, if you be demaunded where the Bore hath bene to feede the night before, you may anfwere he fed in the fieldes or in the meades, or in the corne. But if youperceiue that he haue bin in any medow, or corne clofe, then fliall you fay that he hath bene rowting or worming in fuche a field e or medowe. And if peraduenture he haue bene by night in fome Parke, or in fome tuft of Fearne, then fliall you fay, he hath rowted the Fearne, or he hathe broken into the Parke ; for you mufl: vnderliande, that what fo euer he feede on (but fearne and rootes) is called feeding: but when he feedeth on fearne or rootes, then is it called rowting or fearning, or (as fome call it) worming : bycaufe when he doth but a little turne vp the grounde with his nofe, he feeketh for wormes. So may you fay that he hath bene mowfing, when he hath broken into any Barne, or Grayner of a Farme to feeke corne, or Akomes, Peafe, or fuch like. And when he feedeth in a
M 2 clofe
i_f^ The hooke of Hunting
clofe and rowteth not, then fliall you fay he grafeth : thefe termes you maye vfe in making report of a Bore.
The iudgement whereby you may know a great Bore, and fir ft by the foote. Chap. 72
COmmonly a man maye knowe an olde Bore or a great fwyne, by the foote where he hath gone, whereof the print or forme ought to be great and large, the toes rounde and thicke, the edge of his hoofe worne and blunt, without cutting or paring the grounde, fo much as a younger fwyne doth : the heele great, the gardes (which are his hinder clawes or dewclawes) fliould be great and open one from another, vpon the which he beareth and ftayeth him all the waye when he goeth vpon harde ground : his footing behynde fliould be troden fidewardes, and more outwardes than his forefeete, to fliewe the thicknesse be- tweene his thyghes. The pleytes or wrincles which are be- tweene his heele and dewclawes, (hould leaue print or forme on the ground, fliewing the ftifnelTe and thicknefle of his haire : his fteppes great and long, the treading of his foote fliould be deepe and great, to fliewe the weightinefTe of his body.
The iudgement by his rowtings. Chap. 5-3
WHen a Bore rowteth in a hedge, for a roote (which fome cal the Parke) then may you perceiue the greatnefle and length of his head, by the depthe and largenelle of his rowting. So may you alfo knowe in foft places where he wormeth, or in fuch other places.
The iudgement by the foyle. Chap. 5-4
WHen he foyleth and walloweth him in the myre, then is it eafie to know his gretncfle, by the length and largeneile of the foyle. Or elfe at his departure from the foyl, you may per- ceiue it where he hath gone into fome thicke, by the leaues and braunches which he fliall touch : for he goeth out of the foyle all
myerie
The hoohe of Hunting iss
myerie and dyrtie, the which will leaue markes vpon the leaues and branches, of his heigth,thickneire, &c. Sometimes when he commeth out of the foyle, he will rub him againft a tree, by the which you may fee his heigth : and alfo he will commonly giue two or three blowes with his tufkes vpon the tree, as it were the ftabs of a dagger, whereby the huntefman may take iudgement and knowledge as well of his heigth, as alfo of the greatneflfe of his tufkes. You may knowe and iudge alfo by his denne : for a great Bore when he is at pryme of his greace, wil make his den deepe : and at his going out thereof, will make his lefTes (which is his ordure) and by the greatncfTe and length thereof you maye iudge the Bore. Thefe lefles flial neuer be brought to an afTem- bly, but let the huntfman content himfelfe with the fight of them in places where he findeth them.
The difference betwene wilde Swyne, and our hogges. Chap, yf
THe difference betwene wylde fwyne and our hogs is great, and that in fundry reipeds. Firft they are commonly blacke, or grilled and llreaked with blacke : whereas oures are whyte, fanded, and of all coloures. Therewithall the wylde fwyne in their gate, doe alwayes fet the hinderfoote within the forefoote, or very neare, and Ifay them felues more vpon the toe than vpon the hcele, fliutting their clawes before clofe : and commonly they ftrike their gardes (which are their dewclawes) vpon the grounde, the which fway outwards : and the fides of their hoofs do cut and pare the ground, the which our fwyne do not, for they Ipreade and open their foreclawes, leauing ground betwene them : and they be com- monly round and worne, leaning and ftaying more vpon the heele than vpon the toe. Againe, they fet not their hinderfoote within their forefoote, and their gards fall ftraight vpon the ground and neuer flioyle or leane outwards ; and they do beate down and foyle y Aground, and cut it not. Alfo the foale of their feete is flefliy, and maketh no plaine print vpon the ground as the wilde fwine do. There is likewife great difference in their rowtings : for a wild fwine doth rowt deeper, bicaufe his fnowt is longer : and when
they
T^6 The booke of Hunting
they come into corne fieldes they follow a furrow, rowting and worming all alongft by fome baike, vntill they come to the end. But tame fwyne rowte heere and there all about the fielde, and neuer followe their rowting as the wylde fwyne do. Likewife you may know them by the difference of their feedings in corne growne : for the wilde fwyne beare downe the corne rounde about them in one certaine place, and tame fwyne feede fcatte- ring here and there.
The difference betweene the male, and the female. Chap, yd
ALthough fome hunters holde opinion, that there is small j^^iudgement to be taken of the difference betweene male and female, being yong fwyne that yet do keepe the founder : Yet haue I obferued diuers differences in my time, whereby you may knowe the male from the female, yea were they but pigges of a yeare olde following the dammes, whereof I will fhewe myne opinion in this fort. The male pigges following the damme, doe commonly fcatter further abroade than the fe- males doe, and will nouzle and turne vp the grounde tenne or twelue paces further of from their dammes than the females do, and that (thinke I) is bycaufe they are hardier than the females are, for they followe the damme as clofe as they can, and dare not fcatter abroade as the males do. You may iudge them alfo by their gate, for euerie male pigge or hogge, goeth broder with his hinder legges than the female do: and commonly they fet the tracke or print of the hinder foote, vpon the outer fide of the print of the forefoote, by reafon of the thicknelle that he beares betwene the thyghes more than the female, for the female is leaner be- twene the legges, and goeth clofer in hir gate. You may alfo knowe them by their gardes, for the male hath them commonly greater, and nearer to his heele than the female, whiche beareth them high, lliort, and loofe, one being neare vnto an other, and therefore llie ftriketh not hir gardes on the grounde fo often as the male doth, yea though flie doe, the print of them is but fmall
and
The booh of Hunting ^Sl
and Heiffht, and fpoyleth not outwards Hke the male. Alfo com- monly the female hath not fo great an heele as the male, and hath hir clawes longer and fliarper before, and openyng wyder than the male. Alfo the foales of hir hinder feete, are leller and ilraighter than the males be.
Howe to hunt the Bore with houndes at force. Chap. S7
YOu (liall not by your wil hunt a yong Bore of three yeares at force For he will ftand vp as long or longer than a light von- Deare 'which beareth but three in the toppe. But when he is in his fourth yeare, then maye you hunt him at force, euen as well as an Hart of tenne : and yet he will ftande vp ratner longer. Wherfore if a huntfman do goe to reare a Bore of foure yeares olde, he fliall do well to marke well whether he went timely to his den or not. For commonly thefe Bores which tarie ti 1 it be day light before they go into their couches or dennes, following their lathes or ways long time, efpecially where they find ixrne or bechemaft, whervpon they feede, are great murtherers of dogs, and verie hardy. The huntfman fliall not neede to be afrayde to come ouer neaJe vnto fuch a Bore for rearing of him, for he will not likely be reared for him. But it he fand of a Bore which loy- leth oftentimes, and which routeth now here and now there neuer flaying long vpon one place, then is it a token that he hath bene fcarred and withdraweth himfelf to fome relhng place at al ad- uentures. And fuch bores mofl commonly come to Uieir dens, couches, or holds, two or three houres before day. Then let the huntfman beware for comming ouer neare to them, for if they once finde him in the winde, or haue the wynde of his hounde, they will be o-one, and he fliall hardely come neare them agayne, nor finde th?m. If a Bore meane to tarie and abyde in his denne, couche, or fort, then maketh he fome doubling, or crolTing at the entrie thereof vppon fome highe way or beaten pathe, and then goeth into his holde, to lay him downe in his couche or denne : and by fuch meanes a huntfman being earely in the woods, may iud-e the fubtletie or craft of the Bore, and according to that
1 5 8 The hoohe of Hunting
which he fliall perceiue, he maye prepare to hunt with houndes which are hote or temperate. For if it be a great Bore, and one that hath lyne long at reft, he fliall do well to hunte him with houndes that will ilicke to him : and let the huntfmen on horle- backe be euer amongeft them, charging the Bore, and forcing him as muche as they maye to difcourage him : for if you hunte I'uche a Bore with foure or fyue couple of houndes, he will make fmall account of them, and when they haue a little chafed nim, he will take courage, and keepe them ftyll at Bayes, run- ning vpon any thing that he feeth before him : but if he perceiue him felfe charged and hard layd vnto with houndes and huntef- men, then he will become aftonyed, and lofe courage, and then he is enfo''ced to flee and to feeke the cuntrey abroad. You muft fet Relayes alfo, but that mufte be of the ftauncheft and beft olde houndes of the kennell : for if you flioulde make your Relayes with young houndes, and fuche as are fwyfte and raflie, then when a Bore is any thing before the reft of the houndes in chace, he might eafily kyll them in their furie, at their firif comming in to him. But if he be a Bore whiche is accuftomed to flee end- wayes before the houndes, and to take the champayne countrey, then you fliall caft of but foure or fyue couple of houndes at the firft, and fet all the reft at Relayes, about the entrie of the fieldes where you thinke likely that he will flee. For fuche a Bore will fildome keepe houndes at a Baye, vn'efTe he be forced : and if he do ftande at Baye, the huntefmen muif ryde in vnto him as fecretely as they can without muche noyfc, and when they be neare him, let them caft rounde about the place where he Ifan- deth, and runne vpon him all at once, and it fliall be harde if they giue him not one fkotch with a fworde, or fome wounde with a Borefpeare : and let them not ftryke lowe, for then they fliall commonly hit him on the fnoute, bycaufc he watchethto take all blowes vpon his Tufkes or there aboutes. But let them lift vp their handes hygh, and ftryke right downe : and let them beware that they ftryke not towardes their horfes, but that other waye : For on that fide that a Bore fecleth him felfe hurte, he turneth heade flrrayght waycs, whereby he might the fooner hurt or kyll
their
i
The loohe of Hunting is 9
their horfes, if they ftroke towardes them. And if they be in the playne, then Jet caft a cloak e about their horfes, and they maye the better ryde about the Bore, and ftryke at hym as they pafle : but ftaye not long in a place. It is a certayne thing experi- mented and founde true, that if you hang belles vpon collers about your houndes neckes, a Bore will not fo foone rtryke at them, but flee endwayes before them, and lildome ftand at Bay.
All end of the Hunting of tke Bore.
Of the hunting of an Hare
1 am an Hare, a beaft of little ilrength. Yet making fport, of loue and gentle geftes.
For
1 60 The hoohe of Hunting
For running fwift, and holding out at length, I beare the bell, aboue all other beaftes.
Of the properties of the Hare, and howe
to knowe the male, from the
female. Chap. 5-8
IWil begin with the vertues and properties of an Hare, the which be verie great and many, hauing confideration to the greatnefTe and littleneffe of hir. Firll the bloud of an Hare, is a fore dryer, and if you do annoynt therewith any ytching place, or a ring- worme, it will drie it vp and heale it. The Hare hath a litle bone in a ioynt of hir hinder legge called the ftyfling bone, whiche is verie good for the Collike and the Crampe. Hir fkynne burnt to pouder, is a foueraine medicine to ftenche bloud. The Hare firft taught vs the vfe of the hearbe called wilde Succorye, which is verie excellent for thofe whiche are difpofed to be melancholike : flie hir felfe is one of the mofte melancholike beaftes that is : and to heale hir own infirmities, ilie goeth commonly to fit vn- der that hearbe : wherevpon it hath bene called in times paft Va- latius leporiSj that is to fay, Hares pallayfe. The Hare doth natu- rally know the change of weather from .xxiiii. houres, to .xxiiii. houres. When flie goeth to hir forme, flie will not let the dewe or wet touch hir as neare as fliee can, but followeth the hyghe wayes and beaten pathes, and breaketh the highe ftalkes as Ihe goeth with hir teeth. And bycaufe fome Hares by haunting the lowe watrie places, do become foule and mefled, fuch Hares doe neuer follow y« hard ways, nor make fuch pathes to their formes, but vfe all their fubtleties and pollecies by the fides of the Ryuers, brookes, and other waters. And you fliall vnderftand, that the fe- males are not fo commonly foule or mefled, as the males are, and thcrfore a huntcfman may iudge by the reliefe and feede of the Hare what flie is, and which way flie formeth. They goe to Bucke commonly in lanuarie, Februarie, and Marche. Some- times they feke the Bucke feucn or eight mylcs diftant from the place where they vfe to fyt, following the beaten high wayes, as
Ihall
The hoohe of Hunting i5i
be hereafter declared. A Bucke Hare wil abyde the hounds nea- rer him when he fitteth, than the female will, bicaufe he feeleth him felfe quicker, and his body better difpofcd and hardier. If when a Hare ryfeth out of the forme, llie fet vp hir eares, and run not verie faft at the firfte, and caft vp hir Skut vpon hir backe, it is a token that it is an olde and craftie Hare. Although fome lay that there is no iudgement of difference betweene the male and the female Hares, yet haue 1 founde the contrarie. For the male Hare or bucke maketh his croteys always fmaller and dryer, and more Iharpned towards the end. The female maketh them greater and rounder, and not fo dry. And the caufe is, that the fe- male reheueth not lo farre out a nights, and is greater of bodye, which caufeth hir to make the greater Croteys alfo. You flull knowe a bucke as you hunt him to the forme : for you flial find y* he hath more beaten the hard high wayes, and feedeth further out into the playnes, and maketh his doublings and croffings much wyder, and of greater compafle than the Rmale doth. For file will keepe clofe by fome couerts fide, turning and winding in the buflies like a Coney. And if flie goe to relicfe in the corne fields, file wil not lightly croiTe ouer the furrowes, but foloweth them al along, and ftayeth much vpon the thickeft tufts of corne to feede : Neither is flie fatiffied by feeding hir bcllye full, but flireds the corne, and fcattreth it as flie goeth. Likewife you may knowe a Bucke at rifing out of the forme, for he hath his hinder parts much more whitely, as if he were grey or downy : Or you Hiall knowe him if you marke his flioulders well before he ryfe, for they are redder than a female Hares be, and will haue fome lofe long h aires growing on them. Againe, you may know him by his heade, the which is fliorter and better truffed than the fe- males is. The hairs about his lips and cheeks, are longer, and com- monly his eares fliorter, greater, and more whitely. The female hath a long and leane head, hir eares long, the haire vpon y« chine of hir backe, blackifli greye. And commonly when hounds hunt a female Hare, flie will vfe more crofl^mg, doubling, and turning before them, paflTingfeuen or eight times one way,andneuer maketh out endwayes before the hounds. The male doth contrary : for if
the
I () 2 The boohe of Hunting
the houndes runne him, and that he haue once made a turne or two aboute his forme, then farewell houndes : for he will leade them fometimes three or foure myles endwayes before he turne the head, and that lightly into fome coaft where he hath bene in times paft, and from whence he hath bene chafed and hunted. For an Hare wil goe feuen or eight myles endwayes at once and you may know when a Hare is fo come from farre by this meanes.
When you fee y* your hounds find where an Hare hath paft at re- lief, vpony^highwayes fides, and hath much doubled and croiled vpon drie places, and ntuer much broken out nor relieutd in the come, it is a token that fhe is but lately come into thofe quarters : and then iscommonly flie wil ftay vpon fome high place, to looke about hir, and to choofe out a place to forme in, and alfo y® better to faue hirfelf, if flie perceiue either hounds or any thing els that followes or meetes hir. Or you may alfo know, bycaufe commonly Hares ■which ftray fo, doe make their forme clofe, bycaufe they are in dout and dread. And when the hounds finde them and put them vp, they breake and double, turning backe towardes their forme : bicaufe it grieueth them to part from it, knowing not the coun- trey. But when they perceiue that the hounds holde in to them, then they returne by the fame wayes that they came. By thefe tokens you may knowe an Hare that is a paflenger, which may chance to leade your houndes a luftie daunce after hir.
Of the fubtilties of an Hare, when flie is runne and hunted. Chap. ^9
I Might well mainteine that of all chafes, the Hare maketh greateft paftime and pleafure, and flieweth moft cunning lu hunting, and is meeteft for gentlemen of all other hun- tings, for that they may find them at all times, and hunt them at moll: feafons of the yeare, and that with fmall charges. And a- gaine, bicaufe their paftime fliall be alwayes in fight, whereby they may iudgc the goodneffe of their houndes, without great paines or trauell. Alfo it is great pleafure to beholde the fubtil- tie of the little poore beafte, and what fliift flie can make for hir felfe. Wherefore the huntfmen muft be wary and wife to marke
hir
The hoohe of Hunting 16 1
hir fubtilties, the which I haue pradifcd much, and therefore I am the bolder to fet downe in wryting fuche experiences as I haue feene, knowne, and made. Firft the huntefman which fliall be nexte the houndes, fliall looke and marke many thinges when the Hare rifeth out of his forme. As firft what weather it is. For if it be raynie weather, then the Hare will holde the high wayes more than at any other time. And if fhe come to the fide of any yong fpring or groue, flie will not lightly goe in, but will con- uey hir felfe, and fquat vnder the fide thereof, vntill the houndes haue ouerfliot hir : and then flie will returne the felfe fame waye that file came, vnto the place where flie was Itart or put vppe, for file will not willingly goe into any couert, bycaufe of the dewe and wet that hangeth vpon the lowe twigges. In fuche a cafe, the huntefman fliall doe well, to tarie and flaye an hun- dreth paces before he come to the woodes fide, and then he fliall fee hir if fhe come right backe as before fayde. Then may he hallowe in his houndes and call them backe : for elfe it woulde be harde to make it out. When a Hare doth fo as before fayd, by- caufe an hound will fcarcely beleeue that the Hare were gone diredtly backwardes, therefore the Huntefman fliall doe well to hallowe them in before they go any further : for elfe they will rather iudge it to be the counter as fhe came firft.
Nexte to this, a huntefman muft marke in what place the Hare fitteth, and vpon what wynde flie made hir forme. For if file forme eyther vpon the North wynde, or vpon the South winde, fhe will not willingly runne into the winde, but will runne vpon a fyde wynde, or elfe downe the wynde. Alfo if an Hare doe forme in the water, it is a token that fhe is foule and mefled. In hunting of fuche an Hare, lette the huntefmen take good heede all the daye vnto the Brookes fides, for fuche an Hare will make all hir croffings, doublings, &c. vppon Brookes fides and plaflies. Agayne, a huntefman mufte marke whe- ther it be a bucke Hare or a female, and whether flie be wonted to the place where flie fat, or a pafTenger : The which he maye knowe by fuche obferuations as I haue before rehearfed : for doubtlefiTe, a Hare whiche is bred and wonted to a certaine place,
and
1 64 The boohe of Hunting
and efpecially a female Hare, (if a huntefman doe marke the firft waye that flie bendeth, or the lirfbe compafTe that flie bendeth when file parteth firft from the forme) will all the daye long holde the fame wayes, and caft about the same coaftes, and pafle through the same mufes vntill hir death or efcape : vnlefle it be as I fayde, fome Bucke which be come from some other place, or that the houndes runne him fo harde, that he be enforced to make out endwayes before the houndes, and fo to goe out of his haunt, the wliich they will all do commonly, by that time that they be well runne two houres without default. But at the fyrft they will doe (in manner) nothing elfe but turne, croflTe, and double, paffing fyue or fixe tymes one waye, and in one felfe fame path. And you muft vnderftande, that if you leese an Hare at any time, let the huntefmen yet remember and marke whiche pathes file bette, and what way flie coafted : for another time if you finde the fame Hare, flie will doubtlefle keepe the fame pla- ces, and make the like doublings, croffings, &c. And by that meanes you fliall preuent hir fubtletie, and much help the hounds in knowing which way flie will bend.
I haue feene a Hare fo craftie, that as foone as flie heard the founde of an home, flie woulde ryfe out of hir forme, yea, had flie beene formed a quarter of a myle dyftant from the huntef- man that blewe, and woulde ftreyght wayes goe fwymme in fome poole, and abyde in the middeft thereof vpon fome ruflibed, before the houndes came at hir, or hunted hir at all. But at the laft I difcouered hir fubtleties, for I went clofe alongeft by the poole, to fee what might become of hir, and vncoupled my houn- des there aboutes where I fufpeded flie fliould be : and as foone as euer flie hearde the home, flie ftarte, and leapt before my face into the poole, and fwomme to another bed in the midft thereof, and neyther with ftone nor clodde that I coulde throwe at hir, woulde flie ryfe nor ftyrre, vntyll I was fayne to ftryppe off my clothes, and fwymme to hir : yea, and flie taryed me almofte, vntyll I layde my hande vppon hir, before fliee woulde ftyrre. But at the laft, flie fwomme out and came by the houndes, and ftoode vppe afterwardes three houres
before
The hoohe of Hunting 1 6^
before we coulde kill hir, fwymming and vfmg all hir croffing and fubtleties in the water. 1 haue alfo feene an Hare runne and ftande vp two houres before a kennell of houndes, and then flie hath rtarted and rayfed an other freflie Hare out of hir forme, and fet hir felfe downe therein. 1 haue feene other agayne, fwymme ouer two or three waters, the least whereof hath beene fourefcore Taylers yardes ouer. I haue feene fome agayne, whiche being runne well by the fpace of two houres or more, hath crepte vnder the dore of a Sheepecote, and hyd hir felfe a- mongft the sheepe. And I haue leene Hares oftentimes runne into a flocke of flieepe in the fielde when they were hunted, and woulde neuer leaue the flocke, vntill 1 was forced to couple vp my houndes, and folde vp the flieepe, or fometimes driue them to the Cote : and then the Hare would forfake them, and I vn- coupled my houndes at hir agayne and kylled hir.
I haue feene that woulde take the grounde like a Coney, (whiche is called goyng to the vault) when they haue beene hun- ted. I haue feene a Hare goe vp by one fide of an hedge, and come downe by that other fide, in fuche fort, that there was no more but the thicknefTe of the hedge betweene them. I haue feene an Hare being fore runne, get vp vppon an olde wall fixe foote heigth from the grounde, and fquat or hyde hir felfe in the hole that was made for a • ScafFolde. I haue feene fome fwymme ouer a brooke eyght yardes broade, more than twentie times within the length of an hundreth paces, and that in my fighte. For thefe caufes the huntefman muft be warye and cir- cumfpe6l in hunting of the Hare. For a hounde whiche is a per- fedt good Haryer, may be bolde to hunte any chace : for the Hare is the verie proper beaste to enter houndes well, and to make them tender nofed. But afterwardes when you woulde make your houndes to the Harte, they will quickly forfake the Hare, bycaufe the venyfon of an Harte is muche more delicate and deyntie than the Hares is : and houndes do muche more de- sire it, bycaufe the Harte is also of greater fent than the Hare. An Hare lyueth not aboue feuen yeares at the mofte, efpecially the Bucke. They are of this propertie, that if there be a Bucke
and
1 66 The hooke of Hunting
and a female which keepe one quarter commonly together, they will neuer fuffer any ftrange Hare to fyt by them, nor to abyde neare them, vnlefTe it be their owne yong ones. And therefore hath it beene an olde saying, that the more you hunt, the more Hares you fhall haue, bycaufe when an Hare is killed, there will foone come other from ibme other quarter.
Howe to enter yong hounds to the Hare. Chap, do
FIrft in hunting of the Hare, I woulde not haue you to haue aboue two or three huntefmen at the mofte, where- of one fliall take charge to rate and beate on fuch hounds as bide plodding behinde : and the other fliall make them feeke and call about. For if there be many huntefmen, they ftiall foyle the tra- ces and footing of the Hare, or at the least will amaze the hounds (with the varietie of their voyces) when they are at default. For an Hare maketh fometimes {o many doubles, erodings, &c. that an hounde can not well tell where he is, nor which way to make it out, nor will doe any thing elfe (in maner) but holde vp their heades, and looke to the huntefmen for helpe and comfort. Then let the huntefmen caft about a compaffe, where they came firfte at defaulte, and encourage them, the whiche he can not fo well doe, if the other huntfmen haue beaten and foyled the trace with their feete, orthefeeteoftheirhorfes. Andhewhichehunteth for- moft fliould carie with him a good bigge wallet of lynnen cloth full of deyntie morfels, to giue his houndes, to the ende that they may knowe him. For aboue all things it is meete, that an hound fliould knowe his maifter and huntefman, his voyce, and his home : and then when it commeth to the hallowe, they will foo- ner come in to his voyce, than to an other mans, and will leaue all others to come vnto him : therefore he flioulde ncuer hallowe them amyfle, nor without good cause. And if he would haue his houndes come in to him, to make them goe into fomc groue or couert, let him hallowe thus, crying, Heere haw^ heere, haw^ haw^
And
The hooke of Hunting 1 6')
And when the houndes are come in to him, let him feeke fome fayre muse or gappe to pafle in at, and there let him caft a ci u(Ve ot breade, or fomewhat to make them go in the more willingly, crying, Couert^ couert^ kyke in hyke^ (2c.
Here I will diicouer vnto you two fecretes. Whereof that one is, that he which hath a kennell of yong houndes to enter, he muft marke well the countrcy where he will make them their fyrlle quarrey, and whereof he will make it. For according to the places where they fliall be entered at the beginning, and ac- cording to the quarrey which you fliall giue them, they will al- ways afterwards proue. And therfore if at y^ firft when you enter yong hounds, you accuftome them to be vncoupled in the plaine champayne, and that they hunt there an Hare to the forme, and ftarte hir, they will remember it all their life after. And then when fo euer you vncouple them in a couert, they will make no great hast to hunte there, but will feeke to hunte out into the playnes, and fuche places as they haue beene accuftomed to in hunting of the Hare. Euen fo will they beft loue the couertes, if they be firfte entered there, and haue founde game therein. And therefore it is requifite to enter your houndes in the coun- trey, where you meane to abyde and to hunt molt commonly : for houndes once accuftomed to a place or kynde of chace, will not willingly hunt otherwife. Another fecrete is, that you ne- uer enter nor acculf ome your houndes at firfte to hunte in the mornings, bycaufe of the dewe and moyfture of the earth. For if you once enter and accuftome them to hunt in the freflie mor- nings, if afterwardes you bryng them on fielde in the heate of the day, and that they once feele the heate of the Sun, or fome dry wynd which hath drawne vp the moyft dewe from the ground, they will neyther hunte, nor call on willingly, but will runne to feeke the fliadowe, and there to reft them and fleepe. Therefore I holde it beft to accuftome your hounds to be entred and hun- ted withall, in the heighte and heate of the day, rather than in the mornyng. And the beft feafon to begynne to enter your yong hounds, is in Odober and Nouember, for then the time is tem- perate, and the heates are not vehement : and then also young TUBB. vEN. N Hares
iC)S The hoohe of Hunting
Hares which haue not bene hunted, are foolifli, and are neither of force nor capacitie to vfe fuch fubtleties and pollicies, but hold on endways before the houndes moft commonly : and do fquat and ftart againe oftentimes, the whiche doth muche encourage the hounds, and doth much better enter them, than if they should flee into another quarter far before them. True it is and a thing often proued, that an Hare hath greater fent, and is more eagerly hun- ted by the houndes, when flie feedeth and relieueth vpon greene corne, than at any other time of the yere. And yet alio you haue fome Hares, which naturally giue fome of them greater fent than Ibme others, and are much more eagerly hunted and chafed by y® hounds. As thefe great wood Hares, and fuch as are fouleand mef- led and keepe neare to the waters. But the litle red Hare, which is (in maner) like a Coney of bignefle, is neither of fo Itrong a fent nor yet are fo eagerly hunted by the houndes as other Hares be. Such as feede vpon the fmall branches of wilde time, or fuch like herbes, are commonly very fwift, and wil ftand long vp before the hounds. So haue you fome Hares more fubtle and crafty, than fome others are, efpecially the females, for they double and turne fliorter than the Bucks do, and that pleafeth the hounds but a litle. For it is grieuous to hounds which are luftie and eager, to turn fo often bicaule they like better a chafewhich fleeth before them endways, y* they may run with al their force. And for fuch Hares as double and erode fo often, it is requisite at default to caft the greater compafle about, when you beate to make it out. For fo Aval you find al hir fubtleties, and yet need to fticke vpon none of them, but only where file went onwardes : for fo doing, you flial abate the Hares force, and conftrein hir to leaue doubling and eroding. Some Hares will holde the high beaten wayes onely, where the houndes can haue no fente, bycaufe there is neyther boughe, leafe, nor any moyfte place wherwith y« Hare might leaue fent of hir body. The which flic muft needs leaue if it were in woodes, corne, high graflfe, or fuch other moyft and coole places. And therefore when a huntfman fliall find fuch an Hare, and flial fee his hounds at default vpon an high way, let him hunt on with his houndes ftill all alongft the way, vntni he finde where the Hare hath broken from the way,
or
The hoohe of Hunting 1 6^
or vntill he finde fomc fmall dale, or freflie place by the waye where the houndes may finde fent. And he himfelfe alio multe Jooke narowly vpon the grounde, as he goeth, if he can finde the footing of the Hare (which we call pricking) the whiche he fliall eafily know : for the fafliion of an Hares foote is fharpe, and made like a kniues poynt, and hyr little nayles do alwayes faften vpon the grounde, io that he fliall fee the prickes of them in any moyft place, or where the grounde is fofte : for an Hare when flie fleeth before the houndes, doth neuer open hyr foote nor nayles in fun- der, as ftinkyng chafes and vermme do, but keepeth hir foote al- wayes clofe lyke the poynt of a knife. So is there alfo certaine places and feafons, in the whiche an hounde can haue no fent of an Hare, as in the winter feafon, in the playne champaigne coun- tries, where the ground is fatte and rotten : and the Hare (ha- uing an hearie foote) when flie fleeth, the vppermoft of the earth and grounde fticketh vpon the fole of hir foote, fo that flie carieth it away with hyr, and that couereth and taketh away all the fent from the houndes : and agayne in fuche playnes there are com- monly no braunches nor twigges which flie might touche with hyr body and fo leaue fent thereby. Agayne there are certayne moneths in the which a hounde fliall haue no fent (or very little) of an Hare : as in the Spring time by reafon of the vehement fmell of the fweete flowers and hearbes, which doth exceede the fent of an Hare. Likewife you mull:e take heede that you hunte not in a harde frofte, for fo your houndes fliall furbayte theyr feete and loofe their clawes, and yet at that feafon an Hare run- neth better than at any other, bicaufe y« foale of hyr feete is hea- rie. You fliall vfe in maner the fame termes and wordes to en- courage your hariers, that you vfe to encourage your Bucke- houndes, and fuche as you hunte any Deare withall : Sauing onely at the hallowe to an Hare you fay, Haixi^ Haiv, Haiv, here^ Hwd), here^ ^c. Wheras in hallowing of a Deare you fay when the hounds come in, T^ats he^ Thats he^ To hlmj to h'lm^ to h'lm^c. Againe remember that when foeuer you entre your yong houndes, you neuer helpe them to kifl the Hare with your Greyhoundes, for if you accuftome to courfe the Hare with your Greyhoundes
N X before
I '-jo The hooke of Hunting
before the houndes, then when foeuer you fliould hallowe, the houndes would do nothing but lifte vp their heades, and looke alwayes to fee the Hare before the Greyhoundes, and will neuer put nofe to the grounde, nor beate for it, nor hunte. But your beit entryng of yong houndes, is by the helpe of old fteynche houndes, whiche may bell learne to call for it at a doublyng or default.
At what time of the yeare it is beft hunting of
the Hare, and how to feeke hir, ftarte
hir, and chace hir. Chap. 6 1
THe beft feafon to hunte the Hare with houndes, is to beginne in the middeft of September, and to leaue at midde Apryll : and that, bycaufe of the flowers and vehement heates whiche beginne after Apryll, and take away the fente of the Hare from the houndes. Then in September the Huntefman fliall beginne to gyue rewards vnto his Haryers, and to renew their huntyng of that chace. For (as I haue fayde) at that tyme. Hares be yong and feeble, and as the feafon pafleth, fo theyr force encreafeth : euen fo your houndes the more that they hunte, and the more quareys that they haue, the better, ftronger, and perfeder they become. And agayne when the winter approch- eth, the moyftnefle and coolenefle of the earth encreafeth, the which houndes do delight in rather than in great heate. When your houndes are twoo yeares olde and vpwardes, you may hunte with them thryce in a weeke, and they will be the better. When a Lorde or Gentleman will go on huntyng, the huntef- man mufte regarde the tyme and place where he fliall be, to the ende he may go feeke the Hare where mofte lykely huntyng is : as in the Failures, Meades, or Greene fieldes, and fuche lyke : and there he fliall vncouple his houndes : and if there be any hounde whiche light vppon the trayle of an Hare, where fliee hath relieued that night, lette the Huntefman flaye and be not ouer haftie, vntfll the houndes make it out of themfelues, and when he perceyueth that they beginne to drawe in together and
to
The hoohe of Hunting 171
to call on freflily, then lette him comforte them with woordes, and name that hounde whiche huntcth befte, as to fay : Hyke a Fyvdall^ Hyke^ &c. It is mofte certayne that houndes will haue better fente of an Hare when fliee goeth towardes the reliefe, than when fliee goeth towardes hyr Forme, yea although fliee go fooner to the one than to that other : and the reafon is, that when a Hare is in the fielde and relieueth, fliee coucheth lowe vppon the grounde with hyr bodie, and passeth oftentymes ouer one plotte of grounde to feeke good feede, whereby flice lea- ueth greate Sente of hyr vppon the grafle or blades, and cro- teyeth alfo fometimes : and therefore the houndes haue greater fente of hir, than they haue when flie goeth out of the field (or out of the corne or high graffe at lead) to go to hir Forme : For when file goeth to hir Forme, flie doth commonly beate the high wayes (as beforefaid) doubling, croffing, and leaping, as lightly as flie can. Therfore when a huntfman feeth his hounds croflTe where a Hare hath relieued, and that they begin alfo to make it on vnto hir going out towardes hir Forme, let him fuffer his houndes to hunt fayre and foftly, and haflen them not ouermuch for ouerfliooting of it : and if his houndes fall at default, then is it a token that the Hare hath made fome double or fome crofTe, or that flie hath gone and come backe agayne by one felfe fame way : then fhall he crie, Haiv agayjiCj agayne kere^ Haw, and fliall not ftyrre any furder forwardes, for if he come too neare the houndes, it woulde rather make them to ouerfhoote it : but let him fo ftay them and make them beate for it, comforting and chearyng them with wordes and with his voyce, and beholding how theyhunte and beate for it. But if they cannot make it out vpon the high ways, then let him cafl rounde about in the freflieft and greeneft places, and fuch as are moft commodious for the houndes to take fente vpon, for by that meanes at laft he fliall make it out whiche way the Hare is gone into fome groue or fpryng : and then his houndes may alfo beate the groues, and he himself muft likewise beate the tuffts and buflics with his hunting fticke, to heipe the houndes to flarte hyr. And if he chaunce to finde an olde Forme, he mufte take fome rewarde out of his wallet and calle it in the fayde olde
forme,
I '7 2 The hake of Hunting
forme, and call in the houndes into it, crying : Here^ HaiVj here Jhefat^ here JJoe [at^ To hyr agay?ie. The Huntefman fliall do well also to haue a peece of the fatte of Bacon or fuch like thing in his wallet, wherewith he may anoynt the end of his hunting ftafFe, and then when foeuer he woulde poynt his houndes to a Mufe, or to any place, he fliall neede to do no more but ftryke on the grounde with the ende of his ffcafte, and his houndes will go through the mufe, or come into any place where he fliall poynt them, and hunt it much the better. But if the huntefman when he hath caft aboute, do not finde that the Hare is gone out be- yonde the compafle that he cafteth, then lette him call backe his houndes to the place where they firfl: came at default, and let him confider which way it feemeth that the Hare bent hyr head when flie came into that way or place, and if flie helde on head, then let him beate with his houndes ftill onwardes on bothe fides of the way : for oftentimes the Hare followeth the high wayes very farre, to double, erode and vfe pollicies, and will neuer fteppe from the way in a myle together. And in fuch places the houndes can haue no fent, by reafon of the dufte and other fuche things as I haue before alledged, and yet they will fquatte vpon the out- fides of the wayes or very neare to them : and therefore let the huntefman beate the fides of the high wayes well. But if al these pollicies cannot helpe the houndes to make it out, then may the Huntefman well iudge that the Hare hath turned backewardes vpon the houndes : and then let him take his compafle greater and beate backe with his houndes, and it fliall hardly be poflible but at the laft he mufl: make it out. And yet fomc Hares there be that will fit vntill you treade vpon them before they will ryfe, and fome wilbe taken in the Forme. Now although I haue fo much fpoken in prayfe of trayling of an Hare from the relief to the Forme, yet me thinks it is more payne than necdeth, and lefle plcafure than might be defircd : bycaufc the houndes while they trayle, do call on but coldly one after another : and that it fliould be much fliorter and better paftime to fceke and finde hyr as fol- loweth.
When three good huntefmen are met, and perceyue that theyr
houndes
The hooke of Hunting 173
hounds do find where an Hare hath releued in fome fayre corne- fielde or pafture. Then muft they confider the feafon of the yeare and what weather it is : for if it be in the Springtime or in the Sommer, then a Hare will not fit in the buflies, bycaufe thefe PiflTemyers, Tikes, and fometimes Snakes and Adders will driue them out : then they are conftreyned to fit in the cornefieldes, or fallow fieldes and open places. In winter they loue to fit neare the townes fides in fome tuflR;e of brambles or thornes : efpecially when the winde is eyther Southerly or Northerly, for they feare both thofe windes alfo exceedingly. Then accor- ding to the feafon and place where the Hare flrall wont to fitte, they fliall beate with their houndes to ftarte hir at the firft : and vfing that meanes, they Ihall finde more Hares, and haue flior- ter Iporte than in trayling after them as before fayde : and they may fo enter their hounds and accuftome them, that aflbone as they beginne to beate the bufflies with theyr hunting ftickes, the houndes will in and ftriue who may firll gette in, like Spani- els at retrife of a Partriche. And when the Hare is ftarte and on foote, then let the huntefman go where he fawe hyr pafiTe, and hallowe in all the houndes vntill they haue al vndertaken it, and go on with it in full crie : Then let him rechate to them with his home, and comforte them euery way that he can beft deuife : and when he perceyueth that they are in full crie, let him follow fayre and eafily, not making ouer much halfe at firfte, nor ma- king to much noyfe eyther with home or voyce : for at the firfie the houndes will eafily ouerflioote a chafe through too much heate : and therefore if the huntefman ouerlay them, he fliould but chaffe them more, which might caufe them both to ouerflioote it and to leefe it. But when they haue run the fpace of an houre, and that they are well in with it, and fticke well vppon it, then may the huntefman come in nearer to his houndes, bicaufe by that time their heate will be wel cooled and they wil hunte foberly. Aboue all things let him marke the firft doublyng that the Hare ma- keth as 1 haue before fayde, and thereby he may gouerne himfclf all the day : for all the reft that flie will make will be lyke vnto it : and according to the pollicies that he fliall fee hir vfe, and the
place
I '74 The hoohe of Hunting
place where he huntcth, he mufte make his compaflc'S greate or little, long or lliorte, to helpe the defaults, alwayes feeking the moylleft and molle commodious places for the houndes to fente in. There are twoo manner of huntings at the Hare, for fome follov/ and neuer hollowe before an Hare, nor after hyr, nor ne- uer helpe houndes at defaulte : and me thinkesthat this is a no- ble kyndeof huntyng, and doth belle fliewe and proue thegoodnelle of the houndes : other againe do marke which way an Hare ben- deth at the firft, and coaft before hir to mecte hyr, and there hallow amayne, and helpe the houndes also at defaults afmuche as they can. When hounds are hunted with in this forte, they become fo light of beliefe that many tymes they leaue the right tracke to go in to the hallowe, and by that meanes the Hares can ftande vp but a whyle before them. And furely he that woulde hunte to kill many Hares, flioulde do befte to hunte this kynde of way : but to trie the good hunting of houndes, 1 do more prayfe that other way, whiche hunteth onely vpon the foote and fente : but this latter way is fpeedie, and befte counteruayleth the sub- tiities of an Hare. I coulde haue ftoode longer in defcrybing the meanes howe to breathe and enter haryers. But bycaufe I haue both fpoken fufficicntly in the hunting of an Harte, and al- fo in thefe chapters before, whiche treate of the pollicics and fub- tilties that Hares vfe, whereby a huntefman may finde precepts fufficient to gouerne himfelfe, therefore I will nowe fay no more of that poynt.
Howe you fliall rewarde your houndes when they haue killed an Hare, which the Frenchman calleth the reward, and fometimes the quarey, but our old Triftram cal- leth it the hallow. Chap. 6z
WHen your houndes haue killed the Hare, let the varlet of your kenncll, cut downe fome pretie bending wandes of an Hafell or fome fuch tree, and then let him take the Hare and lay hir in fome fayre place vpon the gralTe : then let the huntefman
alight
The boohe of Hunting i^s
alight from his horfe, and blowe the death to call in all the houndes : that done, the varlet ofthekcnnclHhalkeepeoffy°houndes with thofe little v/andes, and let them all baye aboute him. The huntefman fliall blowe ftill a good while, and aftervvardes fliall clappe and ftroke his beft houndes on the fides, and fliewe them the Hare, faying: Dead boyes^ dead: Then lette him hulke hir (which is to open hir and take out hyr garbage) and afterwards llryp off hir fkinne before the houndes, takyng away the Gall, the lightes, and the fkinne, the whiche he fliall hang up in fome tree, where the houndes may not eate them, for they will make them ficke. When the Hare is thus hulked and ftripte out of hyr fkinne, lette the Huntefman take out of his wallet fome bread, cheese, and other fmall morfels, and put them into the bulke of the Hare, to wet and moyften them with hir bloud : then fliall he cutte off the forepart of the Hare, head and all : and yet if he haue any yong hounde whiche is fearefull, let him giue him the Hares heade by himfelfe for to encourage him the better. Then mufte the varlet of the kennell tye a corde to the forequarters of the Hare in fiue or fixe places, that one dogge may not teare a- way all at a mouthfull, and fo beguyle all his fellowes. After- wardes let him hide it, and take his fbaffe and go an hundreth paces from the reft : in meane whyle the huntefman fliall powre out the rewarde of bread and cheefe vpon the cleaneft place of grafle that he can finde, and fliall yet keepe off the houndes with his hunting wande. This beyng done, he flial blow that all the houndes may come in together, and flial fuffer them to eate this re- warde, clapping them vppon the fides, comforting of them, and blowing with his home. In meane while when they haue almoft done, he flial make figne to the varlet of the kennell whiche fliall hallow and blow for the houndes : then the huntefman fliall rate them and beate them to him, faying : L.yfi Hallow^HikeHaUoiu^hike. Then the varlet fliall fliew them the Hare holding it as high as hecan,andholdinghiscordealwayesfaft byy® end : andwhenallthe houndes be about liim, he flial caft it amongft them, and fuffer them to teare it by peecemeale out of the corde : and then carie them to the water before he couple them vp agayne : or rather lette him
carie
i'-j6 The hooke of Hunting
carie them home vncoupled, that they may fkoure at large and fkommer : for a hounde will be enclined to be fickly when he hath eaten of a Hares fleflie. And therefore let him giue them bread after they haue eaten the rewarde, to clofe vp theyr itomacks withall, and leaft they fliould call it vp againe.
The Hare, to the Hunter
A^
Re mindes of men, become fo voyde of fenfe, That they can ioye to hurte a harmelelle thing ?
A lillie beaft, whiche cannot make defence ? A wrctche ? a worme that can not bite, nor fting ? If that be fo, I thanke my Maker than. For makyng me, a Beaft and not a Man.
The
The hooke of Hunting 177
The Lyon lickes the fores of wounded Sheepe, He fpares to pray, whiche yeeldes and craueth grace : The dead mans corps hath made fome Serpentes weepe, Such rewth may ryfe in beafts of bloudie race : And yet can man, (whiche bragges aboue the reft) Vfe wracke for rewth ? can murder like him beft ?
This fong I fing, in moane and mourneful notes, (Which fayne would blafe, the bloudie minde of Man) Who not content with Hartes, Hindes, Buckes, Rowes, Gotes, Bores, Beares, and all, that hunting conquere can, Muft yet feeke out, me filly harmelelle Hare, To hunte with houndes, and courfe fometimes with care.
The Harte doth hurte (I muft a trueth confefle) He fpoyleth Corne, and beares the hedge adowne : So doth the Bucke, and though the Rowe feeme lefie. Yet doth he harme in many a field and Towne : The clyming Gote doth pill both plant and vine. The pleafant meades are rowted vp with Swine.
But I poore Beaft, whofe feeding is not feene. Who breake no hedge, who pill no pleafant plant : Who ftroye no fruite, who can turne vp no greene. Who fpoyle no corne, to make the Plowman want : Am yet pursewed with hounde, horse, might and mayne By murdring men, vntill they haue me flayne.
Sa how fayeth one, as foone as he me fpies. Another cries Now^ Now^ that fees me ft arte. The houndes call on, with hydeous noyfe and cryes. The fpurgalde lade muft gallop out his parte : The home is blowen, and many a voyce full fliryll. Do whoup and crie, me wretched Beaft to kyll.
What
178 The hooke of Hunting
What meaneft thou man, me fo for to purfew ? For firll my fkinne is fcarcdy worth a placke, JVIy fleflie is drie, and harde for to endew. My greace (God knoweth) not great vpon my backe, My felfe, and all, that is within me founde. Is neyther, good, great, ritche, fatte, fweete, nor founde.
So that thou flieweft thy vauntcs to be but vayne, That bragft of witte, aboue all other beafts, And yet by me, thou neyther getteft gayne Nor iindell foode, to ferue thy gluttons feafts : Some fporte perhaps : yet Greuous is the glee Wkkh e7tdes in Bloud^ that lefTon learne of me.
Oi the nature and propertie of the Conie. Chap. 61
THe Conie is a common beaft and well knowen vnto all men. The Conie beareth hyr Rabettes .xxx. dayes, and then kindc- leth, and then flie muft be bucked againe, for els (lie will eate vp hir Rabets. She wil haue fiue, fixe, and feuen at a litter. He that would haue a warrayne well repleniflied with Conies, flioulde hunt them and beate them in twice or thrice in a weeke with fome Spanell or curre for the purpofe : for otherwife they will ftray and feede out into the woodes and corneficldcs neare adioyning, and you fliall neuer make them come in to their burrowes or clappers againe. Some hold opinion that they will follow a Hare to knot andengendrewith hir : but for the reafon before alledged, beate them in twice or thrice in a weeke. When a Bucke Conie will go to the Doe, he will beate vpon the ground with his forefoote mar- uelously, and by that meanes he heateth himfelfe : when he hath buckt, then falleth he backwards and lieth in a traunce as he were half dead : and then may a man eafily take him. The fltflie of a Conie is much better than the flcflie of an Hare, for the Hares flefh is much drier and more melancholike : fo is the fkinne of a Conie (if it be blackc) a very good furre, where as the Hares f kin is little or nothing worth. How
The hoohe of Hunting iqg
How to hunte and take Conies. Chap. 64.
HE that would take Conies muste hunte with two or three Spanels or curres made for the purpole, amongft the hedges and bulhes where he knoweth that the Conies do lie : he may alio haue Imal Greyhoundes for the purpofe to courfe at them : but in their default, the Spanels or curres will driue them into theyr Burrowes : then fet purfenettes vpon al the holes, or as many of them as you can linde, and put in a Ferret clofe muffeled, and file will make the Conies bolte out againe into your purfenets, and fo you fhal take them. Remember that your Ferret be clofe mulled, for els fhe will kill the Conie in the ground, and perad- uenture will not come out againe of three or foure dayes after. For default of a Ferret, you may make Conies come out of their Burrowes with the pouder of Orpyne and Brimftone, and make a fmother with them, and it will make the Conies bolte out of the earth, and fo you fhall take them in your purfenets. Mine Audthor telleth furthermore of making fmal low hedgerowes al alongft downe by y^ fide of fome hedge which is wel replenifhed with Conies : and that the fayde lowe hedges fliould be made o- uerthwart contrarie to the ftanding of the quicke hedge : and that fundrie holes fliould be made in them, at the whiche he would fet purfenets or other nettes, and fo take the Conies, hunting them vp and downe with a Spaniel! or curre. But he feemeth not to haue feene our Englifli Warreyns, nor our maner of taking of our Conies. For (thanked be God) there are fundry Lordes and Gentlemen in England, which haue their groundes fo well re- plenifhed, as they would cunne a man but fmall thanks whiche fliuld fo fmother theyr burrowes with Brimftone or Orpin : for in deede that will marre a Burrow, and driue the Conies cleane from it. But wee take them principally with heyes : next with pursenets and Ferrets : thirdly with a drawing Ferret when they be yong : and againe we haue a kind of dogges called tumblers, which will kill Conies abundantly, and after a maruelous fafliion. Of all thefe fortes of taking Conies, together with the order to keepe a Warreyn from vermin, 1 wil hold no longer difcourfe : for in deede it is fome what belides my purpofe, fmce I
accoumpt
i8o The hooke of Hunting
accoumpte ferrettyng one of the coldeft and vnpleafanteft chaces that can be followed. Yet thus muche I haue thought meete to write of it, following mine Audthor : and bicause in deede it fee- meth to be a kinde of Venerie, at the leaft he that hath a good warreyne of Conies, a good Douehoufe, and good fifhepondes, fliall neede the lefTe to go into the Foreil or Chafe for Beefe or Bacon, for thefe three are good neighbours.
Of the huntinsf of the Foxe and
Badgerd.
Chap. 6^
NOw to fpeake of Fox houndes and Terryers, and how you fhould enter them to take the Foxe, the Badgerd, and fuche like vermine : you mufte vnderftand that there are fundrie fortes of Terriers, whereof wee hold opinion that one forte came out of Flaunders or the low Countries, as Artoys and thereabouts, and they haue crooked legges, and are fliorte beared mofte com- monly. Another forte there is which are fliagged and ftreight legged : thofe with the crooked legges will take earth better than the other, and are better for the Badgerd, bycaufe they will lye longer at a vermine : but the others with ftreyght legges do ferue for twoo purpofes, for they wyll Hunte a- boue the grounde afwell as other houndes, and enter the earthe with more furie than the others : but they will not
abide
The hoohe of Hunting i8i
abide fo long, bycaufe they are too too eagre in fight, and there- fore are conllreyned to come out to take the ayre : there are both good and badde of bothe fortes. And bycaufe it is good paftime, and braue fight, without great payne or trauayle to the huntcf- man, therefore I haue thought good to fet downe here fome pre- ceptes for the entryng of Terriers, and for the better flefhyng and encouragyng of them.
You fliall beginne to enter them aflbone as they be eyght or tenne Moneths old : For if you enter not a Terrier before he be a yeare old, you fliall hardly euer make him take the earth. And you muft take good heede that you encourage them, and rebuke them not at the firfte : nor that the Foxe or Badgerd do hurte them within the earth, for then they will neuer loue the earth a- gayne. And therefore neuer enter a yong Terryer in an earth where there is an olde Foxe or Badgerd : But firfte lette them be well entred, and be a yeare olde full or more. You fhall do well alfo to put in an olde Terryer before them whiche may a- bide and endure the furie of the Fox or Badgerd. You may en- ter them and fleflie them fundrie wayes. Firft when Foxes and Badgerds haue yong cubbes, take all your olde Terryers and put them into the grounde : and when they beginne to baye, (whiche in the earth is called Yearnyng) you mufte holde your yong Terryers euery one of them at a lundrie hole of fome an- gle or mouth of the earth, that they may herken and heare theyr fellowes yearne. And when you haue taken the old Foxes or Badgerdes, and that there is nothing left in the earth but the yong Cubbes, take out then all your old Terryers, and couple them vp : then put in your yong Terryers and encourage them, crying. To hinij To hlm^ To him : and if they take any yong Cubbe, lette them take theyr pleafure of him, and kill him within the grounde : and beware that the earth fall not downe vpon them and fmoo- ther them. That done, take all the reft of the Cubbes and Bad- gerds pigges home with you, and frie theyr liuers and theyr bloud with cheefe, and some of theyr owne greace, and thereof make your Terryers a rewarde, fhewyng them alwayes the heads and fkinnes to encourage them. When they haue bene re- warded
1 82 The hooke of Hunting
warded or rather before, waflie them with Sope and warme water to get out the day whiche fliall be clodded in theyr heare : for els they will foone become mangie : and that would be harde to be cured. You may enter them alfo thus : you must take old Foxes and Badgerdes aliue with your olde Terryers and the helpe of fuch clampes and holdfaltes as you fliall fee here por- trayed : Take them and cut away their nether lawe wherein there wang teeth be fet, and neuer touche the vpper lawe, but let it flrande to fliev/e the furie of the Beaft, although it can do no hurte therwith : then make an earth in fome of your clofes, and make it large inough, bycaufe that the Terryers may fight and turne therein the better, and that they may go in twoo to- gether : then couer the borowe or earth with hordes and turnes, and put the Foxe or Badgerd therein : then put in al your Ter- ryers both yong and old, and encourage them with wordes, as hath bene before declared, and as the Arte requyreth : and when they haue yearned iufficiently, then beginne to digge with fpades and mattockes to encorage them agaynft fuch tyme as you muft vfe to digge ouer them : then take out the Foxe or Badgerde with the clampes or pinchers, killyng it before them, or lette a Greyhounde kill it ;n their fight, and make them reward thereof. It fliall be well to caft them fome bread or cheefe vpon the vermin afllbone as it is dead, for the better boldnyng and encouraging of them. If you will not cut the lawe of the Foxe or Badgerd, then breake out al his teeth that he bite not the Terryers, and it fliall fuffyze as well.
Of
■'The hooke of Hunting
Of the nature and properties of a Foxe and a Badgerd. Chap. 66
185
AS you haue two kyndes or more of euery other chace by di- jf\.uer{itie of names : fo of thefe vermyne there are Foxes and theyr Cubbes, and Badgerdes and theyr Pigges : the female of a Foxe is called a Bitche, and he himfelfe a Doggefoxe : the Female of a Badgerde is called a Sowe, and the male a Badgerde or a Borepygge of a Badgerde. Yet fome will not alio we this difference : but I can prooue it by good rea- fon and by the diuerfities of colour, nature, and proportion. TURB. VEN. o •*• ne
1 84 The hooke of Hunting
The Badgerd pigges at comming out of the earth do common- ly make and calt their fyaunts : and they neuer do it vntill they haue made a hole in the earth with theyr fnowte or with their foote : and then they fyaunt within it and hide it : this the Foxe cubbes do not. Alfo the Badgerd maketh his hole commonly in fande or light earth whiche is eafie to digge, and in open pla- ces, to haue the comfort of the Sunne : for they fleepe vncefTant- ]y, and are muche fatter than Foxcubbes be. As touchyng their hcare, they haue a grey coate, and are fomewhat whyter than the olde, waryng greyer and greyer the elder that they bee : fome fay that there is twoo fortes of thefe yong Badgerdes (and I beleeue it) whereof that other forte goeth furder out for their pray than thefe do : and that they cafte their fyants longer fomewhat lyke a Foxe, and keepe commonly in ftrong holdes or in rockes, and make their earth or their Burrowe deeper than thefe doo. But yet there be not fo many chambers nor angles in their Burrowes as there are in thefe : for it were vnpoffible for them to worke fo well in Rockes or in harde earth, as thofe others do in Sande. Thefe two fundry fortes do not keepe one another companie : neyther fliall you lightly finde one of them where that other is. Terryers do feare the one more than the other, bycaufe they are muche curlier, and a- gayne they ftinke muche worfe. For the better vnderftandyng of the diuerfitie, let vs coyne a worde, and call the one Badgerd- piggcs, and the other Badgerdwhelpes, and fay that the Bad- gerdwhelpes haue theyr nofe, their throte, and their eares yel- lowyflie, lyke vnto a Marternes throte, and are muche blacker than the pigges, and higher legged : Bothe fortes Hue vpon all fleflie, and will hunte after carrion : they do greate hurte in Warreynes and Connigrees, efpecially when they be full of little rabbets, for they make a hole right aboue the neaft, We thiuke and go ftreyght to them : Whereas the Foxe followcth the that the Foxe holcs mouthc vntill he come at the neaft. I haue feene a Zluets^wel' Badgcrde take a fuckyng Pigge in my prefence, and ca- as a Badgerd Tycd him clcanc away vnto his earth. It is sure that they defire Hogges flellie more than any other: For if you trayne
a
The hooke of Hunting 1 8^
a peece of Porke or Hogges fleflie vppon their burrowe, they will fure come out vnto it. They pray alfo vppon all Pullen, as Geefe, Duckes, Hennes, and fuche like. I can fpeake by experience, for I haue brought vp fome tame, vntill they were foure yeares olde, and being fo brought vp, they a-re verie gen- tle, and will playe with yong whelpes, and neuer hurt them, and the reft of the day that they neither feede nor playe, they be- ftow in fleeping. Thofe which I haue brought vp, would come to me at a call, and followe me like whelpes of houndes. They are verie chyll of colde, and if you lette them lye in a chamber where there is any fire, they will creepe fo neare it, that they will burne their coates and their feete alfo many times, and then are they verie harde to be healed. They will be fed with any thing, breade, cheefe, fruites, byrdes, or any thing that you will giue them. When it fnoweth or is harde weather, then they come not out of their holes fometimes in twoo or three dayes toge- thers, the which I haue obferued at their holes mouth, when it hath fnowed and lyen there fo thicke, that they coulde not haue ftyrred out, but that I might haue perceiued them : As I haue feene that after three dayes they haue come out for pure hunger, and gone to praye for meate. It is a pleafure to beholde them when they gather ftuffe for their neft or for their couch, as ftraw, leaues, mofle, and fuch other things : and with their forefeete and their heade, they will wrappe vp as muche together, as a man would carie vnder one arme, and will make fliifte to get it into their holes and couches. This fubtletie they haue, that when they perceiue the Terryers beginne to yearne them, and to lye at them, they will ftoppe the hole betweene the Terryers and them, leaft the Terryers fliould followe them any further : and then if the Terryers baye ftill, they will remoue their baggage with them, and go into another chamber or angle of their Burrowe. They liue long, and when they ware old, then fome of them fall blind, and can not come forth of their holes. Then if they be the Bad- gers, the Sowes feede them, and if it be the Sowe, the Badger feedeth hir likewife. They dye alfo of certayne wormes, and maunges, which they haue all ouer their f kynne : euen as you fee
o z that
1 85 The hoohe of Hunting
that houndes haue the maunge and cankerwormes fometimes. And therefore it is that I councelled to waflie your Tcrryers, as foone as they came out of the earth. All thefe thinges I haue feene by experience : they are long liued, and harde to kyll. For I haue feene a well byting Greyhounde, take a Badger and teare his guttes out of his bellye, and yet the Badgerd hathe fought ftill, and would not yeelde to death. True it is that they are verye tender vpon the fnowt, and you can not giue them fo little a blowe vpon the fnowte with a IHcke, but that they wil dye immediately.
As touching Foxes, I account fmall pafhime in hunting of them, efpecially within the grounde. For as foone as they per- ceyue the Terryers, if they yearne harde, and lye neare vnto them, they will bolte and come out ftreight wayes, vnlefTe it be when the bytche hath young Cubbes : then they will not for- sake their young ones to dye for it. They make their earthes and Burrowes as neare as they can, in grounde that is harde to dygge, as in galte, clay, and ftonye grounde, or amongeft the rootes of trees : and their earthes haue commonly but one hole, the whiche is verie ftraight, and goeth verie farre in, before it come at their couche. But fometimes they take a Badgers old Burrowe, whiche hath moe chambers, holes, and angles. When a good Terryer doth once reache a Foxe, they defende themfelues llirewdly, but yet nothing like the Badgerd, neyther is their by- ting fo daungerous. If you take a bytche Foxe in the time that Ihe goeth on clycketing, and cut out hir gutte whiche holdeth hir fpreame or nature, together with the kydneys whiche Gelders take awaye from a bytche whiche when they fpaye hir, and then cut all into fmall gobbets, and put them into a potte bote as they be, then take Goome of Mafticke and mingle it therewith, and couer the potte clofe, it will keepe all the yeare, and will ferue to make a trayne for a Foxe, when you would, on this wife : Take a fkynne of Bacon, and lay it on a Gryd- yron, and when it is well broyled and hote, then dippe it and puddle it in this fawce that is within the pot, and make a trayn therewith, and you fliall fee that if there be a Foxe neare to any
place
The hoohe of Hunting
187
place where the trayne is drawne, he will followe it. But he which maketh the trayne, mull rubbe the foales of his flioes with Cowes dung, leaft the Foxe vent his footing. And thus you may trayne a Foxe to a Handing, and kyll him in an euening with a CrofTebowe.
It is alfo a thing experimented, that if you rubbe a Tcr- ryer with Brymftone, or with the oyle of Cade^ and then put the Terryer into an earth where Foxes be, or Badgerdes, they will leaue that earth, and come no more at it in two or three months at leaft.
Of the nature and properties of a Foxe, out of another Author. Chap. (^7
IT flialbe needlelle to fpeake of his fliape or proportion, fince he is fo common a beaft. His conditions are in many respedts like vnto y® Wolf. For firft y« bitch Fox bringeth forth as many cubs at a lytter, as the flie Wolf doth, fomtimes more, and fomtimes lefle, as the flie Wolf doth alfo. But indeed flie doth lytter them deepe vnder the ground, and fo the Wolf doth not. She venometh with hir byting when flie is fault, as the Wolfe doth. The life of a Foxe and of a Wolf continue both like time. You llial hardly
take
1 88 TJoe hooke of Hunting
take a bytchfoxe when fhe is bragged and with cubbe, for then flie lyeth clofe about hir burrowe, and if flie heare neuer fo little noyfe, (lie whippeth in quickely before the houndes or any thing can come neare hir : flie is a falfe and craftie beafte like vnto the Wolfe. The hunting of the Foxe is pleafant, for he maketh an excellent crye, bycaufe his fent is verie hote, and he neuer fleeth farre before the houndes, but holdeth the ftrongeft couerts, and fleeth from the fielde, as a beaft which trufteth not in his legges, nor yet in his ftrength. And if the Foxe ftande in his defence, it is by force, and yet alwayes he will as neare as he can keepe the couert : yea though he iinde none other couert but a buflie, yet he will flee to it. And when he perceiueth that he maye no longer endure nor ftande vp before the houndes, then will he take the earth, and will truft to his Caftles there, which he knoweth per- fectly : yet there is he taken alfo, but then muft it be digged, and that in a fofte or light grounde. If Greyhoundes courfe hym, then his laft remedie (if he be in the playne) is to bepyfle or to be- fliyte the Greyhounds, that they may giue him ouer for the ftinke and filthinefle thereof, yea, and Greyhoundes are more afrayde of a Foxe, than of a greater beaft. For I haue feene Greyhounds which would runne hardly at an Hart, yea, would not refufe the wilde Bore, nor the Wolfe, and yet they would ftreyne curtefie at a Foxe. When a bytche Foxe goeth on clycqueting, and feketh a dogge, flie cryeth with a hollowe voyce, like vnto the howling of a madde dogge : and likewife if flie myfle any of hir cubbes, flie maketh y* felf fame noyfe : but when they are killed, they will ne- uer crye, but defend themfelues till the laft gafpe. A Foxe wil pray vpon any thing y* he can ouercome, yea, were it a verminc, and will feede vpon all fortes of caryon : but the meate which they mofte delight in, is poultrie, as Hennes, Capons, Getk^ Duckes, fmall birdes, or any thing that they finde. And in default thereof, gen- tle mafter Raynard will be content with butter, cheefe, creame, flaunes, and cuftardes. They do much hurt in Warrens and co- ney burrowes. And they kill Hares alfo by fraude, but not by force of running. Some Foxes do praye abroade in the woodes and fields, like vnto Wolues. And fome there be which praye no
where
The booke of Hunting 1 8p
where but in the Villages and countrey Townes: and therein they are fo fubtile and craftie, that neyther dog nor man can de- fende them. They lye lurking al day in ditches neare vnto hou- fes, to fee howe dame Pertlot the hufbandmans henne doth, and to fee hir chickens vertuoufly brought vp. The fkynne of the Foxe is a very good furre and a warme, but it is not verie faire, and it llinketh alwayes, vnlefTe it be verie excedingly well drell. The greace and marrowe of a Foxe are verie good to rub fynewes that are flironke. Of the reft of his fubtleties and pro- perties I will fpeake more at large in the hunting of him. He is taken with Houndes, Greyhoundes, Terryers, Nettes and ginnes. But if the Nettes and ginnes be not ftrong, he will foone difpatch them like a Wolfe.
Of the nature of a Badger, out of the fame Author. Chap. 6%
THe Badgerd (fayth he) maketh but flow fpeede before the hounds, and cannot long ftand vp. So that commonly flie fighteth it out at the Baye, or elfe taketh the earth, and there is killed with Terryers. For if you finde a Badgerde a- broad, it fliall not be from hir burrow lightly. A Badger pray- eth vpon any vermine or other thing, and will feede vpon any caryon or fruit like vnto the Foxe. The Badgerd battles much with flepe, and is a verie fat beaft. Once in a yeare they engender as the Fox, and they litter them in their holes, euen as the fox doth. Their biting is venemous, as the Foxes is, but they make better defence for themfelues, and fight more ftoutly, and are much ftron- ger. The bloud and greace of a Badgerd, is medicinable as the Foxes bloud is alfo. Some hold a blinde opinion, that if a yong childe fliould weare his firfte flioes of a Badgerdes leather, he fliould euer afterwards heale a horfe of the Farcine, if he did but once get vp vpon him. The flefti of a Badger is as much worth as that of a Foxe, which is to rewarde the hounds withall, and yet that but of y« greace, and certaine parts of him neither. For few hounds will eate of a Foxes fleflie, but a Badgerdes is wallo-
wifli
ipo The hooke of Hunting
wifh fweet and rammifli. I my felfe haue eaten of it, and difgefted it well, and without any maner of annoyance. The fkynne of a Badgerd, is not fo good as the Foxes, for it ferueth for no vfe, vnlelle it be to make myttens, or to drefle horfcollers withall.
The hunting of the Badgerd, out of the fame Author. Chap, dp
HE that would hunte a Badgerde, muft feeke the earthes and burrowes where they lie, and in a fayre moonefliine night, let him go vnto them vpon a cleare winde, and ftoppe all the holes but one or two, and in thofe let him fet facks or pokes faflned with
fome
The hoohe of Hunting ipi
fome drawing ftring which may fliut him in as fone as he ftrei- neth the bag. Some vfe no more but to fet an Hoope in y® mouth of the facke or poke, and fo put it into the hole : and aflbone as the Badgerd is in the poke and ftreyneth it, the poke flippeth off the hoope and foUoweth him into the earth, and fo he Jieth tumbling therein vntill he be taken, and thefe men are of opinion, that af- foone as y^ Badgerds head is once within the Sacke or hole, hee will lie ftill and wil not turne backe againe for any thing. The bagges or Sacks being thus fet, let your Huntfman cafl off hys Houndes, and beate all the groues, hedges, and tufts, within a mile or halfe a mile about, whiche are moft likely : and when the Badgerd heareth any hunting, hee will llraightwayes home to his earth, and there is taken as beforefayd. Euer remember that he which ftandeth to watch the pokes, do ftand clofe and vpon a cleare wind, for elfe the Badgerd will foone find him and then wil forfake that earth to feeke fome other, or elfe to efcape fome other way: but ify® hounds chance to encounter him, or to vndertakey- chace before he be gotten into his earth, or recouered neare vnto it, then wil he ftand at bay like a Bore, and make you good paftime,
O? the hunting of a Foxe aboue the ground out of the fame Author. Chap. 70
HE that would hunt a Foxe aboue the ground, fliall do well to beate with his houndes in the thickeft queaches, and tufts or groues neare vnto Villages, and in thicke hedgerowes and fuch other places. For commonly a Foxe will lurke in fuch, to pray or efpie his aduantage vpon dame Pertelot, and fuch other damfels that kepe in thofe Courts, and to fee yong pigges well ringled when they are yong, for feare least they fliould learne to turne vp Gentlemens paftures, and to marre their meadowes w* rowting, for furely M. Raynerd is a very well difpofed man, and would be loth to fee youth fal into fuch follie in any common wealth where he may ftrike a ftroke. Alfo in y** countries where wine is made, he will lie much in the Vineyards, and (as fome hold opinion) will eate of y^ Grapes. Ones he lieth always in couert and obfcure pla- ces, like an honeft plainmening creature, which careth not gretly for to come at y® Court. Wei, the Huntfman which would haue
good
If) 2 The hoohe of Hunting
good pallime at this vermine, fliall do well to flop vp his earthes if he can finde them : and let him ftoppe them vp the night be- fore he meaneth to hunte. About midnight when he may be fure that the Foxe is gone abroade to feeke his praye, let the earthes then be flopped with boughes and earth well and ftrongly ram- med, that mafter Raynard get not in again ouer haftely. Some vfe to fet vp bleinchers, or lewels (which are white papers) or to lay two white ftickes a erode before the hole, and holde opinion, that when a Foxe efpyeth thofe ftickes or fewels, he will mi- ftruft that it is fome engin to take him, and will turne backe againe : but I thinke not that fo fure as to ftoppe the earthes. If the huntfman know not where the earthes be, let him feeke them out two or three days before he meaneth to hunt, and ftop them. But bicaufe fomtimes a huntfman can not find al the blinde earthes y* are in couerts and greate woods : then if a Foxe finde out fome of them, and fo beguile the huntefman, he maye yet get him out eyther quicke or deade, without Terryers, in this manner. If there be any more holes than one in the earth, let him fet purfe- nets or bagges in one of the holes vnder the winde, euen as he would fet for a Badgerd, and let him ftop vp all the holes befides, but one, and let that one be aboue the wynde as neare as he can. Then let him take a piece of parchment or leather, and laye it in the hole, laying fyre vpon it, and putting brymftone, Myrre, and fuch fmothering greace vpon the fire : there withall let him ftoppe vp the hole, and fufter the fmother to go into the earth. This done, the Foxe will not long abide in the earth, but will either ftarte into the purfnet or bagge, or elfe will found dead the next day at fome other of the holes mouthes which were ftopped. The beft hunting of the Foxe aboue the ground is in lanuarie, Februarie, and March. Yet you may hunt him from Alhollantide, vntil Eafter. When y* leaues are fahie, you fliail beft fee your houndes hunting, and beft finde his earths. And alfo aty*timetheFoxes fkyn (which is the beft part of him) is beft in feafon. Againe, the houn- des do beft hunt a Foxe in the coldeft weather, bicaufe he leaueth a verie ftrong fent after him. Alwayes fet your Greyhounds on the outfides of the couertes vnderneath the winde, and let them
ftande
The booke of Hunting IP5
ftand clofe, caft of at the firft but the thirde part of your kennell to finde him : The reft you fliall caufe to be led vp and downe the couerts, in pathcs and high wayes, to caft off" vnto their fel- lowes when he is found. It is not good to caft off" too many hounds at once, bicaufe woods and couerts are full of fundry chafes, and fo you fliould haue your kennell vndertake fundry beaftes, and lofe your paftime. Let thofe which you caft off" firfte, be olde, ftanch, and fure houndes. And if you heare fuche a hounde call on merily, you may caft off" fome other to him, and when they run it with ful cry, caft off" the reft, and you fliall heare good paftime. For a Foxe will not willingly depart out of the couerte, where he hath bin accuftomed to ly, but wil wheele about in the thicks, and thereby make you much the better paftime. The wordes of comforting y« hounds, the hallowing, and all fuch like ceremonies, are euen the fame which you vfe in hunting of other chafes and vermine. When he is dead, you fliall hang him vp on the end ot a ftrong pyked ftafFe, and hallow in al your hounds to bay him, then make them reward with fuch things as you can get, for the flefli of a Fox is not to reward them w*al], for they wil not eate it.
Howe to digge for a Foxe or a Badgerde,
and what inftrumentes are meete
for the fame. Chap. 71
THey which will heare good paftime at a Foxe, or a Bad- gerd within the grounde, muft be furniflied with fuche tooles and appertinances as followe, and as are heere before this prefent chapter portrayed. Firft let there be in the com- They are but pany, fiue or fixe ftrong fellowes which can well endure to dyg ^P^^'^ ^'"^ and delue. Next you muft haue as many good and arrant Ter- „,„y, ^^ „,t riers, garnifhed with collers full of belles, to make the Foxe or fo ncedfuiito Badgerd ft art the foner, and alfo their collers wil be fome defence '^^/""■^'"'•J'*^- to faue them from hurting. But when your Terriers are out of breath, or that the Belles are ftopped and glutted vp with earth, or that you perceiue the vermine is angled (whiche is to fay, gone to the furdeft parte of his chamber to ftand at defence) then you may take off" the collers : but at the firft they ferue to greate
purpofe.
ip4 '^^^ hoohe of Hunting
purpofe, to make the vermine eyther ftart or angle. Then to retoLirne vnto my matter, a Lord or Gentleman whiche will fol- low this paftime, fliould haue halfe a dozen Mattes to lie vppon the ground on, as they hearken to the Terriers : fome vfe to car- rie a windbed whiche is made of leather ftrongly fowed on all the foure fides, and hauing a Pype at one of the corners to blow it as you woulde blowe a Baggepype, and when it is blowen full of wind, to ftoppe it vp and lie vpon it on the grounde : but this were too great curiofitie : and yet a Lord or Gentleman can- not take too great heede of the colde and moyfture of the earthe, for he may thereby take fundrie difeafes and infirmities. The in- ftruments to digge withal muft be thefe, fliarpe poynted Spades, round hollowed Spades, and flatte broade Spades, Howes, or Mattocks, and Pickaxes, a Colerake and a payre of Clampes or Holdfafts, Shouells both fliodde and bare, an Axe and a fliarpe paring Spade, the fliarp pointed Spade ferueth to begin y« trench firft, where the ground is hardeft and broader tooles would not fo wel enter : the round hollowed Spade ferueth to digge amongft Rootes, and may be fo made with fuch fliarpe edges, that it will cut the rootes alfo : the flat broade Spade, to digge withall when the trenche is better opened and the grounde fofter : the Howes, Mattocks, and Pickaxes to digge with in harder grounde where a Spade will make no riddance of the worke : the Colerake to clenfe the hole and to keepe it from {topping vp : the clampes or holdfafts to take a Foxe or Bagerd out aliue, wherewith you may make paftime afterwards, or to help the terriers when they are aferd to bite a vermine : y« Shouels both fliod and bare, ferue to caft out y" earth which the Spades or Mattocks haue digged, according to y® hardnefle or foftnefle of y® grounde wherein you digge : the paring Spade to keepe the trenche in fafliion : and the Axe to cut the rootes or any other thing withall. You fliall alfo haue a Payle to fet water vnto your Terriers at fuche times as they come out to take breath. All thefe inftruments I haue caufed to be portrayed y* you may the better perceyue them. And w* thefe inftruments and fuch like necefifary implements a Lord or Gentle- man may fill a prettie little Cart or Wagon made fory® purpofe, y« which he may caufe to be caried on field with him, alwais pro-
uided
The hooke of Hunting i^j;
uided that when the fayd cariage is loded, he forget not to caufe his Cooke and Butler to hang good ftore of bags and bottels about the raues and pinnes thereof, for it will be both comely and comfortable. In this order of battell, a noble man or gentleman may march to befiege the Foxe and Badgerd, in their ftrongeft holes and caftles. And may breake their Cafmats, Platformcs, Parapets, and worke to them with Mynes, and countermines, vntill they get their fkynnes, to make furres and myttens.
Howe to enter your Terriers according to the ground, and how to trench and dig. Cha. 72
BEfore you put your Terriers into the ground, you muft haue confideration what kynd of mould it is, and marke well the lituation thereof, and as neare as you can, iudge where aboutes the chiefe angles or chambers fliould be, for elfe you may worke cleane contrarie, and rather hinder the Terriers than further them. As if the earth or burrowe, be hanging on a fide of a banke, you fliall do belle to put in your Terriers bylowe, towardes the vale, to the end that you may make the vermine chamber on the top of the banke, where the earth is not deepe, and where you may digge to him with moft eafe. Againe, if the earth be on the top of a banke, and the banke ftandeth in a playne plot of grounde, then you fhall doe beft to put in your Terriers, in thofe holes which are higheft on the toppe of the banke : and ilrike with a ftaffe vpon the banke, to make the vermine flee downe into the loweft parts, and there to chamber or angle themfelues. It fliall not be amifle, to put in a Terrier or twaine at the firft without any noife, to make the vermindiireuer,andtochamber themfelues. Foxes and Badgerds which haue bin beaten, haue this fubtletie, to drawe vnto the largeft part of the burrow, where three or foure angles meete togethers, and there to ftande at bay with the Terriers, to the ende they may afterwardes fliift, and goe to which chamber they lifl:. In fuch a cafe ftrike harde vpon the ground right ouer them : and if you fee that they will not remoue fo, then take your round hollowed fpade, and digge in to them right vpon them. But when they are chambred, then you flial not digge right vpon them, but right vpon the Terrier. For if you dig right vpon the
ver-
T()6 The hoohe of Hunting
vermyne, it might make them to bolt into fome other angle, and to enforce the Terryer to giue them place. Therfore you flial dig right ouer the Terryers with a round hollowed fpade, the which will conuey the earth with it, and is made principally for fuche a purpofe. And when you haue digged fo long that you be come to the angle, then thrull your fpade betweene the vermine and the Terryer, fo that the vermine can not by any meanes come out vpon your Terrier. For in fome chamber you may chance' to find fiue or fixe vermin together, which might hurt your poore terrier, and difcourage him. When you haue ftopped them in thus, then work with your broad fpades and other tooles, and make a large trench if you will haue good fport, and put in your Terryers to the vermine, and you fliall fee bold fight of all fafliions. You mufb take heede to the fubtleties of the vermine, efpecially of Badgerds. For fometimes they will ftop vp the trench betwene them and the Terriers, and worke themfelues further in, fo that your Terriers fliall not be able to find them, nor to know what is become of them. Somtimes when you haue found their Caf~ mat and chiefe ftrength, you may take them out aliue with your holdfafts or clampes, and therein vfe this policie and forefight. Take them with your tongs or clampes by the lower chappe, the one clampe in the mouth, and the other vnder the throate, and fo draw them out. For if you fliould take them out by the body or necke, they fliould haue libcrtie to byte and fnatch at the Ter- ryers, which wil be doing with them as you take them out. Being thus taken, put them into a facke or poke, to hunt with your Terryers in your gardens or clofe courtes, at your pleafure. He that will be prefent at fuch paftimes, may do well to be booted : For I haue lent a Foxe or a Badgerd ere nowe, a piece of my hofe, and the fkyn and fleflie for companie, which he neuer reflrored agayne. Let thefe fewe precepts fuffife for the hunting of Foxes and Badgerds. Of
The hoohe of Hunting O^ the Foxe
isn
RAyncrd the Foxe am I, a craftie childe well knowne, ^ Yea better known than credited, w* more than is mine own : A baltard kynd of curre, mine eares declare the fame, And yet my wit and pollicie haue purchaft me great fame.
The Foxe to the Huntefman
IF dogs had tong at will to talke in their defence. If brutifli beaft might be fo bold, to plead at barre for pence. If poore Tom troth might fpeake, of all that is amyfTe, Then might would beare no right a down : then men would pardon this. Which 1 muft here declare. Then quickly would be known, That he which deales with ftrangers faults, fliould firft amend his owne. Thus much my felfe may fay, thus much my felfe can proue. Yet whiles I preache beware the Geefe, for fo it fliall behoue. I figh (yet fmyle) to fee, that man (yea mafter man) Can play his part in pollicie, as well as Raynard can. And yet forfoth the Foxe is he that beares the blame. But two leggd Foxes eate the ducks, when foure legs beare the name. A wonder is to fee, how people flioute and crye, With hallowes, whoupes, and fpitefuU words, when I poore Fox go by.
Lay
ip8 The boohe of Hunting
Lay on him cryes the wife, downe with him fayes the childe, Some ftrike, fom chide, fome throw a ftone, fom fal and be defilde : As Maidens, when they fpurne, with both their feete attones. Fie on the Fox y* forft them fo, fuch falles might brufe their bones. But Raynard doth fuch deeds, and therfore Itrike him down. His cafe will ferue to fur the cape of mailer huntfmans gowne. His Lungs full holfome be, in poulder beaten fine. For fuch as cough and draw their wind, withpaine and mickle pine. His pyffell ferues to fkoure, the grauell of the ftone. His greace is good for fynews flironk, or ache y* grieues the bone. His tong will draw a thorne, his teeth will burnifli golde. And by his death a huntfman may, haue profits manyfolde. The Henne fliall rouft at reft, which he was wont to rowze, The duck and geefe may bring good broods, y* pigs may fucke their And al the Farmers welth, may thriue and come to good, (fowes. Which craftie Raynard fteales fometimes, to kepe his brats in Yea foft, but who fayes thus ? who did y^ Lion paint ? (blood. Forfoth a man : but if a Fox might tell his tale as queint. Then would he fay againe, that men as craftie be, As euer Raynard was for theft : euen men which fliefe a fee. From euerie widowes flocke : a capon or a chicke, A pyg, a goofe, a dunghill ducke, or ought that fait will lick^ : Vntill the widowe fterue, and can no longer giue, This was y« Fox, fie down with him, why fliuld fuch foxes Hue ? Some Foxes lie in waite, and marke the Farmers croppe, What loads of haye, what grafle for bief, what ftore of wood for What quantitie of graine he raifeth on his rent, (loppe,
And take a new leafe ore his hed, before the olde be fpent. Fye on thefe Foxes fye, what Farmer can do well, Where fuch vile vermin lie in wait, their priuy gaines to fmell ? Yea fome can play their part, in flandring neighbors name, To fay y^ wolf did kil the Lamb, when Raynerds cate y^ fame. Thefe faults with many moe, can wicked men commit. And yet they fay that Foxes pafle, for fubtletie and wit. But fhall 1 fay my minde ? I neuer yet faw day, (P^^y*
But cucry town had two or three, which Rainards parts could
So
The booke of Hunting ipp
So that men vaunt in vaine, which fay they hunt the Foxe,
To kcpe their neighbors poultry free, and to defende their flockes.
When they them felues can fpoyle, more profit in an houre,
Than Raynard rifles in a yere, when he doth moft deuoure.
No, no, the minds of men, which IHII be vainely bent,
Muft haue their change of Venerie, as firft the Hare in Lent,
The Hart in Sommers heate, and me poore Foxe in cold :
But wherto ferue thefe fundry fports, thefe chafes manyfold ?
Forfoth to feede their thoughts, with drags of vaine delight,
Whereon moft men do mufe by day, wheron they dream by night.
They muft haue coftly clothes, they muft haue deintie fare.
They muft haue couches ftuft with doune, they muft haue all in fquare.
They muft haue newfound games, to make them laugh their fill.
They muft haue foules, they muft haue beafts, to bayt, to hunt, to kyll.
And all (when all is done) is nothing elfe but vayne.
So Salomon the wifeman fayd, and fo fayes Ray nerd playne.
An aduertifment of the Tranflator
IFinde in myne Author nothing written either of the wild Cat or of the Marterne, and yet both thofe are vermine whiche we vie here in England commonly to hunt, and in my iudgement as necelTarie to be hunted as any vermine can be. For the queftion may be doubtfull, whether eyther Foxe or Badgerd doe more hurt than the wild Cat doth : Since there are few gentlemen in England but haue commoditie by Conies, either great or fmal : and I am fure that there is no vermine which doth more hurt in a Warren of Conies, than a wild Cat doth. And therewithal I haue heard fome hunters fay, that flie leaueth as great fent, andma- keth as good a cry for the time, as any vermin that is hunted, ef- pecially the Marterne pafleth all other vermine for fweetnefte of fent, and hir cafe is a noble furre. The wild Cats cafe is nothing fo good furre, but it is verie warme, and medicinable for fundry aches and paines in the bones and ioynts. Alfo hir greace is very good for finewes that be flironke. Thefe two chafes are not to be fought of purpofe, vnlefte the huntfman doe fee them where they TURB. vEN. p prajTj
2.00 The hoohe of Hunting
pray, and can go readily to him. But if a hound chance to croflTe them, he wil hunt it aflbne as any chafe, and they make a noble cry e, for the time that they ftand vp. At laft when they may no more, they wil take a tree, and therein feeke to begile the hounds. But if the hounds hold in to them, and will notfogiueitouer, then they will leape from one tree to another, and make great fliifte for their Hues, with no lefle paftime to the huntfmen. When they are kil- led, you muft hold them vp vpon a pyked llafFe, and hallowe in all your hounds, and then reward them with fome meate. For the flefh of thefe vermin is not good for a hound. Thus much I haue thou- ght good of my felf, to write according to my country hunting.
Of the hunting of the Otter. Chap. 7^
THe Otter is a beaft well knowne. Shee feedeth on fifhe, and lyeth neare vnto Ryuers, Brookes, Pooles, and fifhe- pondes, or Meares : hir lying commonly is vnder the rootes of trees, and fometimes I haue feene them lying in an hollowe tree, foure or fiue foote aboue the grounde : euen as a Foxe, Polcat, wildecat, or Badgerd will deftroye a Warren, fo will the Otter deftroy all the fiflie in your pondes, if flie once haue founde the waye to them. She dyueth and hunteth vnder the water, after a wonderfiill manner, fo that no fiflie can efcape hir, vnlefle they be verie great and fwift. A litter of Ot- ters, will deftroy you all the fiflie in a ryuer (or at leaft, the grea- teft ftore of them) in two myles length. They goe fault at fuche times as Arrets go fault, which time euery man may eafly know. And they kindle and bring forth their yong Otters, euen as firrets do, fomtimes more, and fomtimes leflle. To fpeakatruth,they feem to be a kind of water firrets. There is great cunning in the hunt- ing of them, as flial be faide in the next chapter, and alfo it is poflible totakethemvnderthewater,and bythe ryuers fide, both in traps and in fnares, as you may take a Hare with Harepypes, or fuch like gynnes. They byte fore and venomoufly, and defende them felues ftoutly. And if they be taken in fnares, if they abyde long, they will fone flieare themfelues out with their teeth. I will not fpeake much more of their nature, but onely that they are footed
lyke
The hoohe of Hunting 201
like a Goofe : I meane they haue a webbe betweene theyr clawes, and haue no heele but onely a rounde ball vnder their foale of their foote : and their tracke is called the marke of an Otter, as we fay, the flot of an Hart : and their fewmets are called fpraynts, as hath bene fayde before. An Otter abideth not much nor long in one place, but if flie be frayed or finde any fault (as they are very perfecflly of fmellyng and hearing) they will forfake their couche and fliifte a mile or two vp or downe a riuer : the like wil (lie do if file haue once deftroyed the ftore of fifhe, and finde no plentie of feeding. From a pondgarden or good ftore of fiflipondes (he wil not lightly be remoued, as long as there is ftore of fifli in them : for therein fiflies are taken with more eafe, than in the Riuers or greater waters : but inough of their natures.
How to hunte and take an Otter. Chap. 74
WHen a huntefman would hunte the Otter, he fliould firft fend foure feruants or varlets with bloudhounds or fuch houndes as will drawe in the lyame, and let him fende them, twoo vp the Riuer, and two downe the riuer, the one couple of them on that one fide, and the other on that other fide of the water. And fo you flial be fure to finde if there be an Otter in y* quarter : for an Otter cannot long abide in y^ water, but muft come forth in the night to make his fpraynts, and fometimes to feede on gralTe and hearbes by the waters fide. If any of theyr lyamhounds finde of an Otter, let y* huntefman looke in the fofte groundes and moyft places to fee which way he bent the head, vp or downe the riuer : or if he cannot perceyue it by the markes, he may partly perceyue it by y® fprayntes and then he may follow his hounde, and lodge it euen as you would do a Deare, or a Bore. And if he finde not the Otter quickly, he may then iudge that he is gone to couche fomewhere further off from the water : for an Otter will fome- times feeke his feede a myle (or little lefTe) from his couche and place of refte: and commonly he will rather go vp the Riuer than downe : for goyng vp the ftreame, the ftreame bringeth him fent of the fifhes that are aboue him : and bearing his nofe into the winde, he fhall the fooner finde any faulte that is aboue him.
p a alfo
102 The hooke of Hunting
alfo you fhould make an afTembly tor the Otter as you do for y« Harte, and it is a note to be obferued that all fuch chaces as you draw after before you finde them, lodge them, or herbor them, you (lioulde make a folempne afTembly to heare all reportes before you vndertake to hunte them, and then he which hath found of an Otter, or fo drawen toward his couche that he can vndertake to bryng you vnto him, fliall caufe his houndes to be vncoupled a bowfliotte or twayne before he come at the place where he thin- keth that the Otter lieth : bycaufe they may fkommer and cafte about a while vntill they haue cooled their bawling and brayne- iicke toyes, whiche all houndes do lightly vfe at the firft vncou- plyng : then the varlets of the kennell fliall feeke by the riuers fide, and beate the bankes with theyr houndes vntill ibme one of them chaunce vpon the Otter : remember alwayes to fet out fome vpwards and fome downe the ftreames, and euery man his Ot- ter fpeare or forked ftaffe in his hande, to watche his ventes, for that is the chiefe aduantage : and if they perceyue where the Ot- ter commeth vnder the water (as they may perceyue if they marke it well) then fliall they watche to fee if they can get to ftand be- fore him at fome place where he would vent, and ftryke him with theyr fpeare or flafFe : and if they mifTe, then fliall they runne vp or downe the ftrcame as they fee the Otter bend, vntil they may at laft giue him a Blowe : for if the houndes be good Otter houndes and perfed:ly entred, they will come chaunting and trayling alongft by the riuers fide, and will beate euery tree roote, euery holme, euery Ofier bedde, and tufJt of bulruflies : yea fom- times alfo they will take the ryuer and beate it like a water fpa- niell : fo that it fliall not be pofljble for the Otter to efcape, but that eyther the houndes fliall light vpon him, or els fome of the huntefmcn fliall ftrike him, and thus may you haue excellent fporte and paftime in hunting of the Otter, if the houndes be good, and that the Riuers be not ouer great : where the Riuers be grcate, fome vfe to haue a lyne throwen ouerthwart the Ri- uer, the whiche twoo of the huntefmen fliall holde by eche ende, one on the one fide of the Riuer, and the other on that other : and let them holde the line fo flacke that it may alwayes be vnder-
neath
The hooke of Hunting 205
neath the water, and fo go on w*it: and if y® Otter come diuing vnder y® water, he fliall of neceffitie touche their line, and fo they flial feele and know which way he is paflTed, the which flial make him be taken the fooner. An Otters fkinne is very good furre, and his greafe wil make a medicine to make fiflies turn vp their bellies as if they were deade. A good Otter hounde may proue an excellent good buckhound, if he be not old before he be entred. Thus haue you now afmuch as I can prefently fet down for y® hunting of fuch chaces as I thinke likely or poflible to be hun- ted in this our cuntry : yea fome alfo percafe which you wil fay are not in vfe w* vs at thefe daies. But bicaufe I haue fuffici- ently declared mine intent in myne Epiftle in the beginning of this book, therfore I wil fpende no more time in excufmg of my felf : but wil pafle ouer vnto y® Woulfe, and the Beare, which are as flrange and ftranger than any other that I hitherto named.
The Otters oration
WHy ftande we beaftes abaflit, or fpare to fpeake ? Why make we not a vertue of our neede? We know by proofe, in witte we are too weake. And weaker muche, bicaufe all Adams (eedt, (Whiche beare away the weyght of witte in deede)
Do
204- The booke of Hunting
Do day]y feeke our names for to diftayne,
With llandrous blotte, for whiche we Beaftes be flayne.
Firfte of my felfe, before the reft to treate, Mofte men crye out, that fiflie I do deuoure, Yea fome will fay, that Lambes (with mee) be meate : I graunte to bothe, and he that hath the powre. To feede on fiflie that fweeter were than fowre. And had yong fleflie to banquet at his fill. Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes, or fwyll.
But mafter Man, which findeth all this fault. And ftreynes deuife for many a dayntie diflie, Whiche fufFreth not that hunger him aflault, But feedes his fill on euery fleflie and fiflie, Whiche mufte haue all, as muche as witte can wiflie, Vs feely Beaftes, deuouring Beaftes do call. And he himfelfe, mofte bloudie beafte of all.
Well yet mee thinkes, I heare him preache this Texte, Hoiue all that is^ luas made for vfe of man: So was it fure, but therewith followes next. This heauie place, expounde it who fo can : The very Scourge and Plague of God his Ban^ Will lyght on fuche as queyntly can deuife To eate more meate, than may their mouthes fuffife.
Nowe mafter Man, ftande foorth and here declare. Who euer yet coulde fee an Otter eate More meate at once, than ferued for his fliare ? Who fees vs beaftes fitte bybbing in our feate. With fundry wynes, and fundry kindes of meate? Whiche breede difeafe, yfoftred in fuche feaftes. If men do fo, be they not woorfe than beaftes ?
The beaftly man, mufte fitte all day and quafte. The Beafte indeede, doth drincke but twice a day. The beaftly man, mufte ftufte his monftrous mafTe With fecrete caufe of furfetting alwaye : Where beafts be glad to feede when they get pray,
And
The hooke of Hunting loj-
And neuer eate more than may do them good, Where men be ficke, and furfet thorough foode
Who fees a Beaft, for faurie Sawces long ? Who fees a Beaft, or chicke or Capon cramme ? Who fees a Beaft, once luld on fleepe with fong ? Who fees a Beaft make venfone of a Ramme ? Who fees a Beaft deftroy both whelpe and damme ? Who fees a Beaft vfe beaftly Gluttonie ? Which man doth vfe, for great Ciuilitie.
I know not I, if dyuing be my fault. Me thinks moft men can diue as well as I : Some men can diue in Seller and in vault, In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and Buttery, To fmell the rofte, whereof the fume doth flee : And as for gaines, men diue in euery ftreame. All frawdes be fiflie, their ftomacks neuer fqueame.
So to conclude, when men their faults can mend. And fliunne the fliame, wherewith they beafts do blot. When men their time and treafure not mifpende. But follow grace, which is with paines ygot. When men can vice rebuke and vfe it not : Then fhall they fhine, like men of worthy fame, And elfe they be but Beajis well worthy blame.
Oi the hunting of the Wolfe : and firft of their nature and properties. Chap. 75"
THe Wolfe is a beaft fufficiently knowen in Fraunce and other Countries where he is bred : but here in England they be not to be found in any place. In Ireland (as I haue heard) there are great ftore of them : and bycaufe many Noble men and Gentlemen, haue a defire to bring that Countrie to be in- habited and ciuilly gouerned (and would God ther were moe of the fame mind) therefore I haue thought good to fet downe the nature and maner of hunting at the Wolfe according to mine Author. The Wolfe (fayeth he) goeth on clicketing in February, in fuch fort as a Dogge lineth a bitch when flie goeth
faulte.
io5 The hoohe of Hunting
faulte, wherein they abide ten or twelue dayes : many Wolues (where ftore be) do follow one flie Wolfe, euen as Dogges fol- low a Bitche : but flie will neuer be lined but onely with one. She will fuffer many to follow hir, and will carrie them after hir fometimes eight or tenne dayes without meatc, drinke, or reft : and when they are ouerwcaried, then fhe fuffreth them all to take their eafe, vntill they route and be faft on fleepe : and then will file awake y* Wolfe which feemeth moft to haue folowed hir, and that oftentimes is the fouleft and worft fauourd, bycaufe he is ouerwearied and lankeft: him will flie awake and tyce him away with hir farre from the reft, and fufter him to line hir. There is a common Prouerbe, which faith that : Neuer Wolfe yetfawekis Syre : for indeede it hapneth moft commonlythat when all the reft of the Wolues do awake and mifle the female, they follow them by the fent, and finding them oftentimes togy- ther, they fall vpon that Wolfe and kill him for defpite. But if there bee no greater ftore than one Dogge Wolfe and one bitche in a place, then this Prouerbe fayleth : yea or fometimes alfo the reft of the Wolues are fo long ere they do awake and follow, that they cannot fo quickly difpatch or kill him accor- ding to their defire, and then alfo it faileth. Their whelps are able to engender within twelue months : and when their whelps be a yere old, then they part from their Syre and from their Dam : yea fometimes fooner, but not before their teeth be caft and lliot out againe, for they caft teeth firft when they are halfe yere old, and when they are come vp again, they neuer caft more al their life time. Then theydepart from their dam when thofe teeth are come out again and grown hard, and theyfeketheiraduenture,and prayfor them felf: and if they chance to meete their fyre or dam at anytime after, they wil fawne vpon them, and licke them, and feme in their kindgreatly to reioyce. Agood examplefor fundryeuildifpofed chil- dren, which become vngrateful to their parents, which bring them vp carefully: Since the brute beaft can teach them their dutie, only by y*inftin<5t and motions of nature. Alfowhena dog and a bitch of them do company once togithers, they will not lightly part in fun- der : for thogh they pray in diuers places, yet at night they wil
meete
The hoohe of Hunting 207
meete againe, or at the leaft once in two dayes if it be pofTible : and they beare meate vnto their whelpes togethers : but the dog will firft eate his fill, and then carie the reil vnto his whelpes : But the bytche beareth the pray vnto hir whelpes before flie eate any thereof hir felf, and if the dogge like it, and haue not fatiffied his hunger before, he will take it both from hir and the whelpes, and feede his fill thereon firft. After he will leaue the reft for them to hede on, if there be any, and if there be not, let them fterue for him if they will, fo that he maketh not account of any thing, vn- till his belly be full, but the bytch doth oftentimes beguile him. She leaueth the pray farre from their denne, and if flie perceyue that the dogge be gone, then bringeth flie it to hir whelpes : but if the dogge be there and perceyue that flie hath brought nothing, he fmelleth tohirmouthand hir lippes: if flie haue nothing indeede then he beateth hyr: but if he fmell by hir that flie had prayed, he conftreyneth hyr to fliew it vnto him, or els hunteth backe him- felfe by the counter of hir footing, and fo findeth it out. Some hold opinion that the bytche waflieth hir felfe all ouer, bycaufe the dogge flioulde not fmell whether flie haue prayed or not : but y* 1 dare not fweare on a booke. Some heauy Wolues wil neuer helpe their bitches to htde^ theyr whelpes, but if it be in a place where there are no ftjire of Wolues, as no more but he and his make, then he knoweth by the fmell that the whelpes are his, and helpeth the Bitch to pray for them, and to feede them, but vncurtuoufly as I fayde before. Y^ males are fatteft when they haue fmall whelpes : for they feede not only vpon their owne prouifion, but alfo vpon that whiche their makes and their whelpes fliould eate alfo : they go nine weekes with whelpe, and fome- times three or foure dayes longer, and go fault but once in a yere. Some hold opinion that a Bitche will not haue yong whelpes nor engender as long as hir owne Dame is aliue. They haue whelpes in all refpedts like vnto our dogges, fometimes more and fometime lefTe : for doubtleflfe both the Foxe and the Wolfe are but a kind of wild Maftyfes and wild curres : they be of great force efpecially in their foreparts : they bite fore and dangeroufly, for fometimes they will kill a Cowe or a Bullocke : and they will
roundly
20 8 The booke of Hunting
roundely carie a flieepe, a Gote, or a good porkine in their mouth and neuer touch the ground with it, and wil runne fo faft away with it, that vnlefle horfemen or Maftife dogs do flay them, they will hardly be ouertaken, eyther by the heardman or by an other crea- ture. They pray vpon al kinde of things, and wil feede vpon any carion or any vermine : they liue not long nor aboue .xii. or .xiiii. yeares at moft. When he hath fedde vpon any vermine or ferpent (as he doth often) then runneth he wonderfully faft. In fuch forte that I haue feene a Wolfe (being emptie) out runne four or fiue brace of the beft Greyhoundes that might be founde : for there is no beaft whiche runneth fafter than he, and he holdeth marue- loufly alfo : when he is hunted with houndes, he flieth not farre before them : and vnlefle he be courfed with Greyhounds or Ma- ftiues, he keepeth the couert like a Bore or a Beare, and efpecially the beaten waies therein: moft commonly he prayeth by night, but fometimes alfo by day when he is hungry. Some Wolues will praye vpon Deare, Gotes, and fwyne, and fent as freflily and as tenderly as an hounde : fome alfo wil eate a dogge if they catch him : and fome of them kill children and men fometimes : and then they neuer feede nor pray vpon any other thing afterwards when they haue once bene fleflied and noufled therein, but die fometimes for hunger. Such Wolues are called Warwolues^ bicaufe a man had neede to beware of them, they be fo craftie that when they af- fayle a man, they flee vpon him and lay hold on him before he per- ceyue them : but if he perceyue them firft, then they affayle him fo fubtillie y* he flial hardly efcape their teeth, and can marueloufly defend themfelues from any weapon that a man hath for his de- fence. There are two caufes which make them fet vpon mankind : one is, that when they be old and feeble, and that their teeth begin to fayle them, then can they not carrie their pray as they were wont: fo that they learne with more eafe to pray firfte vpon children which they meete or efpie, which pray can neyther make refiftance, noris needefulltocarieitfarre: andtherwithall the fkinneand fleflie is much more tender and delicate than the fkinne and fleflie of any other pray. Another reafon is, that in countries where warre is made,and wherebattayles andfkirmiflies are giuen, there they feede
vpon
The hooke of Hunting 2op
vpon the dead carkafles of men whiche lie flayne in the fielde, as also in other places vpon fuche as hang on the gibbets and trees being executed by luftice. And the flefli of man is fo delicate and toothfome, y* when they haue once tafted of it, they care for none other meate. I haue feene a Wolfe forfake the fold, and kill the heardefman. They are more craftie (if more may be) than the Fox or any other beaft : when they are hunted they will take al their aduantages, at other times they will neuer runne ouer haftely, but keepe themfelues in breath and force alwayes : they haue al- wayes neede thereof, for there paffe few dayes but that they are courfed or cried at by as many as fee them, in the countries where they haunt. A Wolfe wil ftand vp a whole day before a good ken- nell of houndes vnlefTe y'' Greyhoundes cource him : moft com- monly he is taken in fome village or hammelet : he will feldome ftand at Baye, vnlelTe it be when he cannot longer endure : and then he becomes mad : the bityng of a Wolfe wil hardly be hea- led as 1 haue before fayde, for their biting is venemous and ranc- leth fore. And againe, bicaufethey are oftentimes madde, and then there is no curefortheir biting: when they haueouerfed themfelues or are ficke in their body, they eate grafle as a dogge doth: they can wel abide hunger at fome times, for a Wolfe may bide without meate fixe or feuen dayes : but then wo be to y° pray that he next meeteth. The bitche wolfe will neuer lightly parte farre from hir whelpes when they be yong, for feare leaft fhe fhould leefe them. When a wolfe findeth a litter of pigges, or a flocke of flieepe, he will (by his wil) kill them all before he feede vpon any of them. They are hunted at force, taken w* greyhounds or maftyfes, and hanged in ginnes and fnares. But it had neede to be a ftrong fnare y* fliould holde them vnlefTe helpe come in the fooner : they are alfo killed in ditches where they pafTe, w* needels, venemous pouders, and diuerfe fuch other things which men lay in baytes for them. When y« heardes and flieepe come downe from the Mountaines tografe and feede in y® valleys,then they defcend alfo to feeke their pray. They follow a campe commonly, to feede on y' carion ofhorfes and fuch other beaftes as men leaue behind them. They barke and howle like vnto dogs, and if there be two of them togither they make fuch
a ter-
2 1 o The boohe of Hunting
a terrible noyfe that you woulde thinke there were .xx. of them : this do they moft commonly when it is fayre weather, or when they are yong and not paft a yeare old, or that they be trayned to any place for to hunte afterwardes : and furely when they be fo trayned, they will hardly abide where they feede, and efpecially old Wolues, if it be at y® firft time that they haue bene trayned : but if they once haue bene accuftomed to it, then they will abide the better. Some of them be fo craftie, that when they pray by night, they will flie a myle or two from thence before day, efpe- cially if it be in a place where they haue bene hunted or ftirred, or that they finde fome trayne of fleflie made for them. They crie not at all when they are killed, as our dogges do, but in diuerfe other properties they refemble a dogge. It is harde or almofte vnpoflible to keepe or bryng vp a Wolfe fo yong, or fo faft tied in fubiedtion, or fo corrected and kept in awe, but that it will do fome mifchiefe at any time that it get libertie and finde meane to do fo : and the tameft that euer was yet, woulde (if it were ledde abrode) looke this way and that way, to efpie fomewhat that it might be doyng withall. For both a Wolfe is doubtfull that men meane harme vnto him : and agayne he knoweth well in his owne confcience that he dothe many flirewde turnes, and that therefore men hunte and purfue him : but for all that he wil neuer leaue his malicious nature : it is written that the right forefoote of a Wolfe is medecinable for the fwelling in the throate, and for the inflamacion of the liuer : their fkinnes are ex- cellent furre and durable.
How to hunte them. Chap. 76
WHen a huntefman woulde hunte the Wolfe, he mufte trayne them by thefe meanes. Firfte lette him looke out fome fayre place a myle or more from the greate woodes where there be fome clofe ftanding to place a brace of good Greyhounds in, if neede be, the whiche fhoulde be clofe enuironed, and fome ponde or water by it : there fliall he kill a horfe or fome other great beaft, and take the foure legges thereof and carie them
into
The booke of Hunting 1 1 1
into the woods and Forefts adioyning. Then let foure goodfel- lowes take euery man a legge of the beaft, and drawe it at his horfe tayle all alongil the pathes and wayes in the woodes vntill they come backe agayne vnto the place where the dead beaft li- eth : there lette them lay downe their traynes. And when the Wolues go out in the night to pray and to feede, they wil croiTe vpon the trayne and follow it, vntill they come at the dead ca- rion : there they will feede theyr fill. And then let the huntefman aboute the breake of day go thether, and leaue his horfe a good way of vnderneath the winde, and come fay re and foftely to the place to efpie if there be any Wolues feedyng. If there be, he may retire and ftyrre them not, and neuer looke how much or how little they haue fedde : for it is fuflBcient if the huntefman fee them, fince they are fo craftie and fubtile as I haue beforefayd. Then let him clime into fome tree there by, and looke which way the Wolfe goeth, and where it is likely that he will lie. For as I haue fayd, they will not lightly tarie whereas they feede, but rather will be gone very earely in the grey mornyng : for whether they came late or earely, or whether they would lie in the Sunne rather than in the couert, or that they would voyde and emptic their bellies, or whether it be fo that they haue bene lately ftyrred and hun- ted, I councell the huntefman to be gone betymes, and fo fliall he be fure to fee certainely : and if he cannot fee them, then lette him looke vpon the carion whether they haue bene at it or not : and how many he gelTeth haue bene at it, accordyng to the pla- ces that he fliall fee gnawen or fedde vpon : and then lette him returne to his Lorde or Mafter, and make reporte accordingly. And let him marke and looke in the wayes which are about the nexte couert or the couert whiche they are gone into, whether they be there entred or pafte on furder. And if his hounde will fticke willingly vpon the tracke of a Wolfe, and will challenge it, then he may cafte aboute the couert and come not within any parte thereof, and fo fliall he be beft afllired whether they be there ftayed or not : for his hounde will vent it out ftyll as he goeth. And therewithall let him marke and iudge whether they do all keepe companie ftill togither or not, for many times fome
one
212 The boohe of Hunting
one will be gone, and all the reft will abide, or els fome one wil abide, and all the reft will be gone : but thofe whiche be full, do moft willingly tarie alwayes : and when they fedde not theyr fill the day before, then they tarie longer than fuche as fedde their iill ouer night, or yong Wolues, or fuche other : for an olde Wolfe is fo doubtfull and fo full of miftruft, that he will fel- dome abide where he feedeth. And therefore it were no badde pollicie, to leaue but little meate at the place wherevnto you trayne, and to leaue harde by the place, fome weake beaft tyed, fo that it can neyther ftray away nor make defence. And when the Wolues come and finde but little carion at the place, then to fatiffie their hunger, they will fall vppon that beafte and de- uoure it : Whiche if they do not the firfte night, they will fure- ly do it the nexte night if you obferue that order : and by that meanes they will feede theyr fill, and the rather abyde and tarie by it or neare vnto it : for they are gluttons, and defirous to keepe the remnant of their praye, when they haue killed a beaft and leaue any of it. And when the Huntefman fliall by thefe meanes haue bene afTured of theyr fcedyng twoo nightes togi- ther, then may he make preparacion to hunte them on the thirde day : or if they fayle to come vnto the trayne the firfte or fe- conde daye, then lette him fende out Varlettes to trayne from aboute all the couerts adioyning vnto the fame place : and fo doyng, he cannot mifle but drawe Wolues thither once within twoo or three nightes, vnlelTe it be in Februarie. In that mo- neth they make fmall accoumpt of any trayne, by reafon of their heate in followyng the Saulte bitches. And fometimes alfo a Wolfe will followe the trayne euen vntill they come at the ca- rion, and yet when they come there will go their wayes and not feede vppon it. In fuche a cafe the Huntefman fhall change his trayne and carion, as if it were of Horfeflefhe, or beefe, lette him make it of Sheepes or Goates fleflie, or the fleflie of an AfTe (whiche Wolues do loue exceedingly,) or of Hogges flefh : for otherwyfe he flioulde not be able to knowe whether there be any Wolues neare vnto the place where he trayned or not :
and
The hoohe of Hunting 213
and if he doubte thereof, then fliall he fayne a voyce, and call or barke, and howle lyke a Wolfe : and if there be any Wolues in the whole couert within the hearyng they will anfwere him. Agayne, if they come to the carion, and feede not in two or three nightes one after another, or that they feede and go their wayes and tarie not in any couert neare adioyning, then lette him ouernight hang vp the carion in fome trees, fo highe that they cannot come by it : and yet leaue fome bones vpon the ground, to the ende they may gnawe vpon them. And lette him tarie in the woode vntill it be as it were an houre before day : and lette him leaue by the caryon the garments of fome Shepherde or Heardefman, that the Wolues may haue no miftruft of hym where he ftandeth : then when it is not paflyng halfe an houre or little more before daye, lette hym put downe the caryon and go his wayes, and then the Wolues commyng too it, and ha- uing not fedde all the night before, will feede hungerly, and through their gluttonie will forgette themfelues and abyde vn- till it be farre foorth dayes, and fo go to kennell in the couerts adioyning : for they will be fo hungry to feede, and they fliall haue fo fmall tyme to fatiffie their hunger, that they will be con- ftrayned to abyde. But bicaufe commonly Lordes and No- blemen do not ryfe fo earely as to fee thefe paftymes and polli- citSy therefore I thinke meete that when he hath beaten downe the fleflie as beforefayde, he caufe fome good fellowes to go and to make fires betweene them and the lafte couerts that the Wolues fledde vnto : and lette the fires be not paflfyng a bow- fliotte or not fo much one from another : and at euery fire lette fome one or two of the company ftand talking and laughing one with another : when the Wolues fliall heare that, they fliall be conftreyned (by reafon that the day light is now come vpon them) to abyde there in the couert harde by the carion. In meane whyle, the Lord or Gentleman fliall be come and may hunte them at hys pleafure : and that fliall he order thus. Firfte lette him regard which way wil be the fayreft courfe for Greyhounds, and place them accordingly : and as neare as he can lette him foreflall with his Greyhoundes the fame way y* the Wolues did
file
214 The hooke of Hunting
flie the nightes before, if the grounde feme to courfe in, vnlefle the winde be contrarie, for then it were but follie to fet them that waye: otherwayes the Wolfe will rather come that way than any other way. If the winde ferue not that waye, then lette him fet his Greyhoundes in the fayreft place to courfe in vppon a good wynde : and lette hym fet his Greyhoundes in rankes as neare one to another as the number of his Greyhoundes will permitte: alwayes regardyng the wynde, and caufmg them whiche holde the Greyhoundes to ftande clofe. That be- yng fo appoynted, lette him fet hewers all rounde aboute the Couert where the Wolues doo lye, to hewe and make noyfe on euery fide but onely that where the Greyhoundes doo ftande. If his owne feruauntes and companie be not fufficient, he may do well to afTemble the neighbours whiche dwell neare by : who will be gladde to helpe hym bycaufe the Wolues doo them fuche greate harmes and domages. And lette all thofe people ftande as thicke as they can all aboute the couert, but onely on that fide where the Greyhoundes arc fet, talkyng and walkyng one to another, and makyng all the noyfe that they can deuife to force them vnto the Greyhoundes. Then lette the Huntef- man go with his Lyamehounde and drawe from the carion vnto the thickes fides where the Wolues haue gone in : and there the Huntes fliall cafte off the thyrde parte of their befte houndes, for a Wolfe will fometimes holde a couert long tyme before he come out. The Huntefmen mufte holde neare in to theyr houndes, blowyng harde and encouragyng them with the voyce : for many houndes will ftreyne curtefie at this chace, although they bee luftie and arrant at all other chaces. When the Wolfe commeth to the Greyhoundes, they whiche holde them fliall do well to fuffer the Wolfe to pafte by the firft ranke, vntill he be come vnto the feconde ranke or furder : and let the laft ranke let (lippe their Greyhoundes full in the face of the Wolfe : and at the fame inftant let al the other rankes let flippe alfo. So that the firfte ranke ftaying him neuer fo little, he may be aftayled on all fides at once : and by that meanes they fliall the more eafily take hym. It is befte entryng of Houndes
at
The hooke of Hunting 21^
at yong Wolues whiche are not yet paflyng halfe a yeare or a yeare olde, for a hounde will hunte fuche more willingly and with lefTe dread than they will hunte an olde Wolfe. And likewife the yong Wolues can neyther make fo good defence, nor yet vfe fuche policies and fubtilties as the olde Wolfe will : or it fliall be good to take Wolues alyue in engines, and then breake theyr teeth and enter your houndes at them : when the Wolfe is deade, you fliall make the rewarde thus. Firfte lette the houndes and Greyhoundes, but efpecially the houndes runne in and all to byte and mufle the dead Wolfe : then let the hunte open his belly all alongft and take out all his bowels : then lette him take a Sheepe or a Porkine and kill it, and ftrype of the fkinne quickly and cut it all to gobbets putting it into the bo- dy of the Wolfe, and theere lette the houndes and Greyhoundes eate it out. For defaulte of a flieepe or fuche hotemeate, let him take breade cheefe and fuche lyke fcrappes and broken morfelles and put them into the Wolfe for the houndes rewarde as before fayde. Note that bothe houndes and Greyhoundes will re- quyre greater flefliyng and encouragement to a Wolfe than to any other chace, and therefore all the cheare that you can vfe vnto them, will be little enough : And if a Wolfe chaunce to breake vppon the hewers, and fo efcape the courfe, yet bee not thereat difcouraged but beate the fame couert on the next day. For a Wolfe hath this propertie, that when he hath once fo efca- ped, he bethinketh him thereof, and returneth thither on the next day to fee what y® matter was which ftyrred him fo, or to fee what is become of his companions if he had any, or to fee if there be any carrion. And agayne he is fo craftie that he thinketh furely men will not hunte in the fayde place agayne fo quickely : but if he finde faulte and perceyue that any of his companions be killed, then will he be gone from thence the nexte night and come no- more there of a greate whyle : yea though you trayne him he may chaunce to come vnto the trayne, but furely he will not ta- rie in any couert neare vnto that place. A man may knowe a doggewolfe from a bitche by the trackes of theyr feete : for the
Q dogge
TUEB. VEN.
2- 1 (5 The hooke of Hunting
dogge hath a greater heele, a greater toe, greater nayles, and a rounder foote : and the Bitche cafteth hyr fiants commonly in the middeft of an high way, whereas the dogge cafteth them on the one or other fide of the pathe. And now let thefe fewe things fuffife for the hunting of the Wolfe.
Of the Hunting of the Beare, and firft
of hir nature and properties
Chap. 77
THere be Beares of two forts, that one much greater than that other naturally : although they be of equall age, or how long foeuer they Hue, but their properties and conditions are all one, fauing that the greater be much ftronger, the which I accoumpt no difference of nature. They are naturally very cruell and harme- fuU vnto all tame beaftes, and are very ftrong in all partes of their bodies but onely the head. A fmall blow on the head killeth them : they go to make in December, fome fooner and fome later, according to their reft and good feeding : their heate endureth fifteene dayes and not pafte. When the Shebeare doth feele hir yong within hir, then doth fhe withdrawe hir felfe into fome caue or rocke, and their abideth vntil flie bring forth hir whelps : therefore you ftiall feldome heare of a Beare taken when fhe is with whelpe. Somtimes a Beare, efpecially a Male, will keepe clofe in his denne fortie dayes and nightes without eyther meate or drinke, hauing none other nourifliment but onely fleepe and fucking on his Toes : at fortie dayes ende they will come out, and though it be a fayre day, yet will they enclofe themfelues agayne for fourtie dayes longer, alwayes doubting that the winter will yet continue : and lightly as long as any harde wea- ther lafteth, they will not come out of their dennes. They are whelped moft commonly in Marche : the moft parte of them are dead one whole day after they be whelped : but the Damme doth fo licke them, warme them, and cherifhe them, that fhe reuiueth them at laft. Their heare at firft is more whitifh than like black :
they
The hoohe of Hunting 217
they giue them fucke a moneth and not much more, and that is bicaufe their whelpes are curll: and haue cruell pawes and fliarpe nayles, and byte flirewdely: if they finde not their fill of milke in the Dammes teates, or that flie remoue when they fucke, then they will byte the teate, and teare their Damme with their pawes, whereupon many of them kill their whelpes, and byte them fore fomtimes. At leaft aflbone as the Damme perceiueth that they beginne to waxe ftrong, fliee giueth them fucke no longer, but goeth abrode, and prayeth or fedeth vpon any thing that flie can finde, and then caftes it vp agayne before hir whelpes, by that meanes fhe feedeth them vntill they can praye for themfelues. When they ingender, they lye face to face. They feede vppon Hearbes, Frutes, Honie, Fleflie, Milke, Mafte, Beanes, Peafe, and of all manner of carion and vermine. They will clyme a tree for y® frute : and fomtimes in the winter or hard weather, when all thefe things faile them, they kill Kyne and other cat- tell to feede on : and yet fewe of them do fo, vnleflTe it be fheepe, Gotes, or fuche little beaftes. If they be in good plyghte (and efpecially the greater fort) they continew in their ftrength and force tenne or twelue yeares. They Hue fometimes .xx. yeares, but they doe oftentymes become blinde, and then they cannot pray. They go very far for their prayes, confidering the great- nefle and weight of their bodies, and that is bycaufe they would not be founde : but yet looke where they praye, they remaine and continue harde by their praye. If they be hunted, they followe a man, and yet neuer runne vpon him vnlefiTe they be hurt : but if they be hurte, then they runne vppon any thing that ftandes before them. They are maruelous ftrong in their pawes, wher- with they coll in a Man or a Dogge, in fuche forte, that many times they kill and fmoother them, or breake their bulckes with the force. Their nayles haue great force, but not fuch as would kill a beaft : but with their whole pawe they pull a dogge vnto their mouth, and then they teare him marueloufly, for they byte fore, infomuch that if they get holde of a mans heade, they will byte him into y^ braines : and as for an arme or a leg, they would
Q^i crufhe
2 1 8 The boohe of Hunting
cruflie it in peeces like glafTe. If you ftrike at them w* a fword, they wil breake and beare off a great blow with their pawes : they are fo heauie, that when they be hunted they can make no fpeede, but are alwayes within fight of the Dogges : they ftand not at a Baye like to the Bore, but flee Ityll wallowing as they can vntill helpe of men come in : and then if the houndes fticke in and fight with them, they fight very valiantly in their own de- fence. Sometimes they ftand vpon their hinder feete as vpright as a man : but that is a token of dread and cowardlynefTe, but being vpon all foure they fight bothe the more ftrongly and the more ftoutely : for then they declare that they will be reuenged, and flee no longer : they haue very perfedt fent, and fmel furder off than any other beaft, vnlefTe it be the Bore. For in a whole For- reft they will fmel out a tree loden with maft : when they be o- uerweried, they flee to fome brooke or water, and ther they be ouer- throwen : they may be hunted with Maftyfes, Greyhoundes, or houndes, and they are killed and chaced w'bowe,borefpeare,dartes, and fwords ; fo are theyalfo taken in fnares,caues and pits, and in other engines. If twomenonfoote hauingborefpeares or Iauelins,or fliort pitchforkes, would fticke wel one to an others defence and reuenge, they may kil a great beare : for y® Beare is of this nature, that at euery blowe fhe will be reuenged on whatfoeuer come next to hands. So that when y" one hath ftriken the Beare, file will runne vpon him : and then if the other ftrike quickly, fhe will returne to him againe. So that the one may alwaies help and fuccour the other : they do naturally abide in the great Moun- taines, but when it fnoweth or is very hard weather, then they defcendtofeekefoode iny^ valleies and Forefts,theycaft their lefTes fomtimes in round Croteys, and fomtimes flat like a Bullocke, according to the feede that they finde : they are able to engender when they be but one yeare old, and then they departe from their dammes, they go fomtimes a galloppe, and fomtimes an amble : but when they wallow then they go at mofte eafe. When they are chafed they flee into the couerts and Forrefles, their feafon begynneth in Maye, and endureth vntyll fuche tyme as they go to ingendcr agaync : but at all icafons they bee very fatte
both
The hoohe of Hunting 2ip
both within and without. And by that meanes their feafon la- fteth longer than any other beafts. When a Beare is hurt fore, and efcapeth the huntfmen, flie will open and ftretch hir wound, yea, fometimes flie will drawe out hir owne guts and bowels to fearch them whether they be pierced or not : and by that mea- nes many of them dye, when they might well efcape. When they come from their feeding, they beate commonly the highways and beaten pathes : and where fo euer they goe out of the hyghe way, there you may be fure they are gone to their denne, for they vfe no doublings nor fubtleties. They tumble and wallowe in water and myre like vnto fwyne, and they ^ctdc like a dogge. Their flefh is delicate to fome mens tooth : but in mine opinion, it is rammiflie and vnfauerie, at leaftwife it can not be holfome. Their greace is good for the gowt and flirinking of the fmews, and the better, if it be mingled with other oyntments. Their feete are the beft morfell of them, for they be delicate meate. Their fkynne is a furre, but very courfe : meeter to laye vpon a bed, than to weare otherwife. I haue termed their fatte greace, and fo is it to be called of all beaftcs which praye : and of all Deare and other fallow beafls, it is to be called Sewet. As alfo their htde is called feeding, and a Deares is called feede, as I haue before declared.
The manner of hunting the Beare Chap. 78
THe beft finding of the Beare is with a lyamhounde, and yet he which hath no lyamhounde, maye trayle after the Beare, as they doe after a Rowe, or a Bucke: but you may drawe after the Beare in the vineyards, in the hollow maftie woods, and fuch like places, according to the feafon : and fo you may lodge them, and runne and hunte them, as you do a Bore. For the more fpeedy execution, you fliall do well to mingle ma- fbifes amongft your houndes : for they will pinch the Beare, and make hir angrie, vntill at laft they bring them to the bay, or elfe they driue them cleane out of the playne, into the couert, and ne- uer let them be in quiet, vntill they come to fight for defence : and
by
220 The boohe of Hunting
by that meanes they are the fooner kylled. For though the Beares byte a dogge fore, yet they kyll them not fo foone as a Bore doth. The rewarde may be made after the death of the Beare, as it is made at the death of a Wolfe.
Thus haue I nowe (what out of myne Authour, and what by myne owne experience and conie6ture) fet downe the natures and hunting of as many chafes as I thinke chafeable : yea, and thefe two laft rehearfed, viz. the Wolfe and the Beare, to- gether with the Rayndeare alfo, I haue not thought good to leaue out, although they be not in vfe heere with vs in Englande : fmce they feeme by the defcrip- tion, to be noble chafes, and much efteem- ed in other countreys. Nowe let me fet downe the Cures and Medi- cines for dogs, when they fliall eyther be hurt, or fall into any fur- feite, ficknefle, or infyrm- ities.
Receipts
The hoohe of Hunting lit
Receipts, to heale fundrie difeafes and
infirmities in houndes and
dogges. Chap. 79
HOunds, and generally all kynd of dogs, are fubie(5t to many difeafes and infirmities. But aboue all other difeafes, they are molt cumbred with madnefle, wherof there are feuen fundry forts. The firft kynd is called y® burning hote madnefle, or the defperat madnefle. And this kinde of madnes can not be healed, but is fo harmfull and contrarie vnto a dogs nature, that immediately after y® venome therof hath once crept into y^ bloud of a dog, it burnes
and
2 12 The hoohe of Hunting
and infedes him fodaincly. And as fone as the brayne feekthit felfe vexed with the fume thereof, the dog tormenteth him felfe continually, and becommeth defperate, as hath often bene feene by experience, the dogges which haue this madnefle, are knowne fundry wayes. Firfte when they runne, they rayfe their tayles right vp, the which other dogges doe not, that be fickc of other kyndes of madnefTe. Agayne, they runne vpon any thing that ftandeth before them : as well beaftes, as other thinges, and haue no refpedt, v/here nor which way they run, whether it be through Ryuers, pondes, or waters. Alfo their mouth will be very black, and will haue no fome nor froth in it. They endure not in this kynde of madnefie, aboue three or foure dayes at the moft, by reafon of the vntoUerable payne and trauell thereof. When they maye no longer endure, they howle a kynde of howling in the throate, and hoarcely, but not like the howling of a dogge that were founde. All beaftes which they fhall byte, as well dogges as other, if they drawe bloude on them, will doubtlefTe runne madde alfo.
The fecond kinde of madnede, is called running madnefTe, and is likewife vncureable. But the byting thereof is not fo ve- ncmous, nor fo dangerous for other beaftes, as the firft is, for it vexeth not continually without intermiflion. And when a dog is madde of this kynde of madnefTe, the firft dogge which he by- teth in the forenoone, dothe beare with him all his venome, and will be in great daunger to runne madde: but as many as he byteth afterwardes, may efcape from running madde thereof. When dogges haue this madnefTe, they runne not vpon beaftes, nor vpon men, but onely vppon dogges, and barken as they goe to beare the barking of other dogges, to the ende they may go fliake them and byte them. They runne in the high wayes, and caft their tayles betwene their legges, trotting like a Foxe, and may continue thus nyne monethes, but not paft. Thefe two kyndes of madnefTe are more daungerous than all the reft, and when a dogge will become madde, of any of thefe two fortes of mad- nefTe, you may knowe by thefe tokens.
Firfl they eate verie little, they will fmcll vpon other dogs^
and
The hoolze of Hunting 111
and when they haue fmelt on them, will fliake and byte them, yet wagging their tayles, and feeming to cherifli them. They figh fore, and fnuffe with their nofes, and looke fydewayes or ouer- thwarts. They are fad and heauie, yet running after butterflyes and other flyes. There are many other apparant tokens which I leaue for breuities fake. When you perceiue them by fuch tokens, fliift them out of the company of other dogs, and fliut them vp, for their breath is infectiue, and may make other dogges madde: for fuch difeafes are taken amongft dogs, as the pellilence is a- mongft men. The other fiue forts of madnefle, are nothing like fo dangerous : for dogs which are ficke of them, do neither runne nor byte. So that I efteeme them rather ficknefTes, than mad- nefTes, although fundrye huntfmen haue hold opinion, that al the feuen fortes of madnefle were vncurable. But I my felfe haue healed fundry dogs, which haue bin ficke of thefe other fiue kinds of madnefle hereafter mentioned, with the Receiptes which I meane (God willing) to fet down here in wryting. And the faid fiue fundry forts of madnefle are thus named.
The firlt is called the dumme madnefle, the which lieth within the bloud, and is to be known by this note or figne : The dogges which are mad therof, wil not feed, but hold their mouth wide open, putting their feet into their mouth, as if they had fome boneintheir throat, and hide themfelues commonly in moifl and freflieft places.
The feconde is called the falling madnefife, for the dogs which haue it, fal as they go, as iftheyhadthe falling euill, or the Saint Johns fycknefle. And the difeafe lyeth in their heades.
The thirde kynde of madnefle, is called the Lanke madnefle. For the difeafe is within their bodies, and maketh them f kummer fo much, that they become fo lanke, leane, and thynne, that a man may thrufl them through with his finger.
The fourth is called the fleeping madnefle. The which com- meth with a kinde of little wormes, that lye in the mouth of a dogges ftomacke, being there engendered through corruption of humours, the vapors and fumes whereof, doe mount vp into the braynes of a dog, and make him fleepe vnceiTantly, fo that commonly they die fleeping.
The
224 The boohe of Hunting
The fifth and laft kynde of madnefTe, is called the Rewma- tike or flauering madnefle. For when a dogge hath it, his heade fwelleth, and his eyes become yellowe as a Kyghts foote, and he driueleth and flauereth at the mouth commonly.
When a dogge hath any of thefe kyndes of madnefle, he will haue no luft to eate, but lyueth eight or nyne dayes in this forte, doing no hurte to any thing, and in the ende dyeth for hunger : wherewithall you muft vnderftande, that dogs are of this pro- pertie generally ; Whenfoeuer they feele any difeafe within their bodies (without any occafion of hurtes, or fuch accidentes) they wil neuer feede lightly, vntill they be healed therof. For proofe, when a dogge is ficke, he will not eate the deyntyeft morfell that you can proffer him, vntill he haue eaten grafTe, and caft vp all that was within him, and then he will eate. Some are of opini- on, y* the worme vnder a dogs tong, is the caufe of madnelTe : but 1 thinke not fo. Although it maye be, that fuche as haue beene wormed, doe not fo commonly fall madde : yet fometimes they do, as may dayly be feene.
Thefe difeafes are taken amongft dogs, by breathing and com- panying one with another. And therfore it flial be beft to fliut vp luch as haue them, from al the reft of your hounds, as is before fayd.
The receipt to heale the dumme madnefle
TAke the weight of foure Frenche crownes, of the iuyce of an herbe called Spathula putrida^ which hath a leafe muche like vnto the herbe called Ireos^ or Flower de luce (but it is a litle blac- ker) and put this iuyce into a litle pewter pot. Then take afmuch of the iuyce of an herb, called Helleborus niger^ in Englifli Bear- wort, and as much of the iuyce of Rewe. And if it be in fuch feafon that thefe herbes haue no iuyce in them, you muft make a decoc- tion of them. And when you haue all thefe iuyces together, take as much white wine as there was iuyce of Rewe. Then ftreine them all through a fayre lynnen cloth, and fet them in a glafle. Then take Scamony two drammes, and let the Scamony be vn- preparate, the which you fliall mingle amongft all thefe iuyces. Then take the dog, and put a table napkin rowled in his mouth for
byting.
The hooke of Hunting 12.S
byting, and put downe this medicine into his throate, with fome home or tunnell, holding vp his heade alofte, leaft he caft it vp a- gaine. When you haue giuen him this receipt, you fliall let him bleed with a knife in the mouth, as you pricke a horfe, in y^ gums of the vpper iaw, and the roofe of his mouth, and cut him two or three vaines in his gums, that he may bleede the better. Then kennell him with fayre frefli ftraw, and he will amend. Note here that the herbe commonly called Harts home, or Dogs tooth, is excel- lent good to cure any kynde of madnefle, being dronke eight drammes of the iuyce thereof, with a little fait.
A receipt for the falling or reeling madnefle, which proceedeth from the braine
TAke the weight of foure french crownes, of the iuyce or feede of an herbe called Vyonye^ (that forte of Fyonye which beareth feede), and the weight of foure Frenche crownes, of the iuyce of an herbes roote called Bryonie^or Vttts alha^ which groweth in the hedges, and hath a roote as byg as a mans legge. Then take as much of y® iuyce of an herbe called Cruciata^ otherwife TutfomCj and foure drams of Stauefaker, well brayed and beaten to pou- der. Mingle them all well together, and glue it your hounde or dogge, as afore fayde. Then flyt his eares to make him bleede, or elfe let him bloude on the two vaines which come downe his flioulders, (which in an horfe are called the Arches, or the Arch- vaines) and if it help him not at the firft, giue it him once again, or twice if neede require.
A receipt for the fleeping madnefle, pro- ceeding of wormes
TAke the weight of fix crownes, of y* iuyce of the Wormwood called Abfynthium Sautonuum^ or French Wormwood e, and the weight of two crowns of the pouder of Harts home burned, and two drammes of Agarick. Mingle them all together, and if they be too thicke or too dry, then put white wine vnto them, the weight of foure or fixe crownes, and giue it your dog to drinke downe as before fayde.
A
22(5 The hooke of Hunting
A receipt for the Rewmatique or flauering mad- nefle, comming like the laundyfe
TAke the weight of fixe crownes, of the iuyce or decodion of the rootes of Fenell, the weight of fiue frenche crownes of the iuyce or decodtion of an herbe, called (by the Frenchmen) Guy^ whiche groweth in the white thornes (I take it to be that which we call Myjfeldine^ or Mijfeltoe) the weight of foure crownes, of the iuyce or decodlion of ground luy, the weight of .iiii. crounes of the pouder or dregs of the roote of Velypody^ which groweth on an Oke or Cheftnut tree : put them al together in a pottenger or fkillet, and let them boyle together in white wine. And when it is cooled a little, put it downe your dogs throate as before fayde, euen as hote as he may fuffer it.
A receipt, for the lanke madnefle
^S touching the Lanke madnefie, which keepeth within the XJLbowels, and diuers other difeafes, as Gouts, Coldes, Stop- pings, and all other proceeding of colde caufes, they are to be healed with Bathes and Stoones, as enfucth.
Take two great kettles, that wil hold each of them fixe pailes full, wherein you dial put (in each of them) ten handfuls of thefe herbs hereafter named. That is to fay : of an herbe called Arte- in'tfia or Mugwoort, of Rofemarie, of red Sage, of the rootes or leaues of an herbe called Guymauue^ or French Mallowe (or in Engliflie, Marfli Mallowes,) of the rootes or leaues of Wal- woort or Danewoort, of the rootes or ftalkes of Fenell, of the lea- ues or ftalkes of Bawme, of Rewe, of Evula campana^ (thereof both rootes and leaues) ofSorel, of Buglofle, and of Mellilot, and put them al into the faide kettles. Then fill them with wine and water, two parts water, and the third wine, and let them boyle together, vntil the third part or quantitie be confumed. And when they be fo fodden, take the kettles and poure out all thefe herbes into a Tunne or pype, wherein you flial put foure payles full of good and ftrong lyes of wine. Thentake thekettles,and hang them on the fire againe, filling them two parts with water, and the third with wine, as before fayd. Then take a newe facke, and go feeke
out
The hoohe of Hunting ii'~i
out fome Molehill, or anthil, and take the greateft red Ants with their egges and all, and let them boyle in the faide kettles, with three or foure pyntes or great handfuls of fait, vntill they be con- fumed. And when it is boyled vnto the third part, and that the wa- ter is very thicke, poure them out into the Tun or Pype vnto the reft, and fo let them ftand altogethers, vntill they be little better than luke warme. Then put your ficke dogge into it, and bathe him therein a long houre before you let him come out, hauing good regard how you hold him, for fear of drowning, or fmothe- ring him in y® tun. Afterwards, put him in fome warme place or couch, where he may take no ay re, for feare of foundring or mar- ring. This order of bathing you maye vfe with the fame water, foure or Hue dayes together, warming it alwayes againe : and it will ferue for many dogs, one after another. But before you do thus bathe your dogs that are ficke, purge them in this order.
Take an ounce and a halfe of CaJJta fjlularis wel clenfed, two drams and a half of Stauefaker in poudcr, two drams and a halfe of Scamony preparat in white vineger, and foure ounces of oile O- Jyfe, temper them all together, and warme them a little ouer the fire, and giueityourdogtowardes night, and let him eatenomeate after it. The next day put him into the bathe failing.
A Bath to bathe dogs, when they haue bene
bitten with others, to preuent that
they runne not madde
IF your dog be bytten or fliaken with a mad dog, immediatly fill a barrell or tun with water, and take a bufliell, or a budiell and a halfe of Salte, and caft it therein : Mingle and ftyrre the Salte well about with a ftafFe to make it melt. And then take your dog and plunge him therein ouer head and eares, eight or nyne times. When he is well waflied fo, then let him goe, and it will helpe and preuent the difeafe.
A charine of wordes, to preferue dogs from madneffe
A Gentleman of Brittaine taught the Author (for the Tran- (latour wil learne no fuche deuifes) to make two little rolles
where-
i28 The boohe of Hunting
wherein were written but two lynes, and thofe he put in an eg- fhell, and fo put them downe a dogges throate, whiche was bit- ten with a madde dogge. And the wryting contayned but this : T Ran ^lui Ran^ cafram cafratrem cafratrofque. This he fayde wouJd preferue a dogge from being madde : beleeue it he that lift, for I do not.
Of the Maunge, Tettarres, Ringwormes, and fcabbes in a dogge
THere are foure kindes of Mange, viz, the red Mange, which maketh a dogges legges to fwell. The fkaly Mange, which groweth in patches, as broad as the palme of a mans hande, and taketh off the fkinne where it goeth. The common Mange, and the blacke Mange, which lyeth vnder the fkinne, and maketh the haire to filed. Of thefe manges the red Mange is the worft, and moft dangerous to heale. For it engendreth and breedeth after a foundring or ouerheating of a dog, which he taketh in the win- ter, pafling ouer brooks or pooles, when he is hote and chafed. Or with lying in colde and moyft places, before he be well dryed or rubbed. Or it may come by being brought vp in the (hambles, or butcheries, with the bloud of Oxen or fuche like, which ouer- heateth the bloud in a dog. And thofe kindes of Mange are thus to be healed. Firft purge your dogge with the receipt which I haue before prefcribed to be miniftred before bathing, and on the morrow let him bloud two ounces or more, vpon a vaine which is betwene the hough ftring, and the bone of his leg And within two dayes next following, you fliall annoynt him with this oyntment which followeth.
Take three pound weight of the oyle of Nuttes (I thinke he meaneth Walnuts) a pounde and halfe of the oyle of Cade^ two pound of the oyle of Wormes, three pound of Honny, and a pound and a half of Vyneger, boyle them al together, vntill they be halfe wafted. Then put to it Rofen and Pytch, or Tar, of each two pounds and a half, and half a pound of new waxe vnwrought, melt them altogether,andftirthem with a reede ora palme wand. When they are well melted and mingled, put therein ('from off the fire) a
pound
The hooke of Hunting up
pound and a half of Brymftone, two pound of Copporas well tri- ed, xii. ounces of Verdegreace, andftyr them into it vntil it be cold. This oyntmcnt will kill and heale all maner of manges and itches, how ftrong or vehement focuerthey be. And before you anoynt your dogs therewith, wafli them and rub them all ouer with wa- ter and fait to clenfe their fkins. Afterwardes leade them to a good fire, and tyethem there faft,vntiltheymayfweateagoodhoureanda half, giuing them water to drinke and lap their belly full. When they are thus drefled and warmed, feede them with good brothes made with Mutton, boyled with a litle brimflone to warme them w*in, and with good holfome hearbes, continuing that dyet eight dayes.
Another medicine for the Tettar
THe Tettar commeth vnto many dogs naturally, or by kind, or by age, and it may be thus healed :
Take away the haire in the places where the Tettarres are, and then rub the dog with lye, fait, and vineger, vntil the ringwor- mes do bleed. And afterwards anoynt them with this oyntment.
Take a pound of an oyntment called Vnguentum enuUtum^ half a pound of another ointment called 'PamphHlgos^ two pounds of the oyle of Nuts, Tar a pounde, a pound of the oyle of Cade^ half a pound of Brimflone, half a pound of Soote, half a pound of VytrioU or CopperofTe, foure ounces of the lytarge of Golde, foure ounces of white leade, foure ounces of Verdigreace, and fixe ounces of Roch Alume. Beate them all to pouder, and boyle and incorporate them together, with half a pound of vineger. This oyntment is mofl excellent for the Tettar, vfmg it as before fayd.
For the common Mange
THe common Mange commeth oftentimes by reafon that the dogs lacke frefli water to drinke, when they defire it. Orelfe by toule and filthy lodging and kennelling. Asin fwinefties, orvpon the flraw wherevpon other mangie dogs haue line. And it may alfo come by foundring and melting of their greace. This mange may be eafily healed, without the drugs and drams before re- hearfed, but only with decodtion of thefe herbes following.
Take
23 o The boohe of Hunting
Take two handfull of wild Creflyes, otherwife called Berne^ two handfull of Enula campana^ of the leaues or rootes of wylde Sorrcll, and the roote of Roerb as much, and the weight of two pounds of rootes of Frodyls^ make them al boyie wel in lye and vi- neger. When they are all well boyled, you muft ftreine the de- cod:ion,andtake the iuice therof, mingling it w* two pounds of grey Sope, and when the Sope is well melted and mingled in it, then rub your dogs with it foure or fiue days together, and it wil heale them. This receipt and al y^ reft 1 haue proued and found medicinable.
A Receipt to heale the dileafe called the Wolfe, which is a kernell or round bunch of flefh, which groweth and increafeth, vn- till it kill the dogge
THis difeafe or botch hapneth often vnto dogs. And to heale it you muft haue good regard in what place it is. For if it be in any part of the bodie, where many vaynes be, or Arteryes, then will it be verie harde to take it awaye. But this is the meane to take a Wolfe away in places where you maye conuenyently. There are two maners of curing of it. The one is by Incifion, and that other by Receipt. He that wil make incyfion, muft firft looke howe many vaynes and arteries doe come from any parte of the bodye, vnto the place where the Wolfe is. Then muft he haue a fliarpe fourfquare needle, that muft be a little bended or crooked. That being threeded with a good ftrong threed, let him thruft his needle vnderneath the vayne, and drawe it through, and fo let him with both ends of the threed, tye the vayne as hard and clofe as he can, and cut oft'the ends. Thus dial he do with al the vaines which haue recourfe into the difeafe, forbleeding and for marring his incifion. Then let him take a razor, and cut rounde about the botch (within the knots that are tyed about the vaines) and fo take away and cut out the botch or lumpe. Then fliall he immediately take a hote Iron, and fearethe little endes and pypes of the vaynes and arteries. Afterwardes he fliall firft apply vn- to it a playfter made of Sa»guis ciraco?iis^ yolkes of cgs, poudcr of
burnt
The hooke of Hunting 231
burnt lynnen, and good vyneger, brufed and tempred together. And he mufte mulTell vp his dogge, for feare leaft he byte the threads, which tye the ends of the vaines and arteries, and drefle him euery day, with Larde melted in warme water, and min- gled and brayed together with Fompiligos. Aboue al things take heede, that the vaynes bleede not at any time, till the dogge be hole. I take this Wolfe to be that which we call a Wenne.
Another approued receipt for the fame
TAke three great blacke thorns, when they be grene and frefh gathered, lay them .xxiiii. houres in fteepe in a womans termes: being wet and moyled therwith, pricke them into y« wolfe or Wen, as far as they will go. And if the Wolfe or Wen be fo hard that they will not enter, then make holes before with fome bodkin or great pinne, and thruft the thornes faft in : and neuer take them out, vntill they fall out of themfelues. This done, the Wolf wil die, and fall away by little and little. Remember that the dog be faft mufled, for plucking out the thornes.
A receipt to kil Fleas, Lice, Tykes, and other ver- min on dogs, and to keepe them cleane
TAke two handfull of the leaues of Berne or wilde Creflyes, as much of wilde Sorrell, as much of Mynts, and boyle them in lye made with vine leaues, and put amongft them, two oun- ces of Stauefaker. When it is well boyled, ftreyne them cleane, and take the decoction, and mingle therein two ounces of Sope, and one ounce of Saffron, with a handfull of Salte. Mingle all this together, and waflie your dogs therewith.
A receipt to kill wormcs and cankers in a dogges cares, or vpon any part of his bodie
TAke the hufkes of Walnuts, and brufe them well, then put them in a pot with a quart of Vyneger, and let them ftande fo two houres. That being done, let them boyle two or three TURB. VEN. R whalmes
X^x The hoohe of Hunting
whalmes vpon the fire. Then ftrein them in a faire lynnen cloth, and put vnto the deco6tion thefe pouders, one ounce of Aloe cupa- tkque^ called with vs Aloes cabellma^ one ounce of a Hartes home burned, an ounce of Rofyne. Bruze all thefe into pouder, and put them vnto the decodtion infome pot. When they haue ftoode fo together an houre or two, droppe a little of it vpon the place where the worms and cankers are, and it will kill them immediatly.
Another for the fame
TAke an Oxe gall, Rofine in pouder. Aloes in pouder, vn- fleakt Lyme in pouder, and Brimftone in pouder, mingle them altogether with the Oxe gall, and it will kyll the wormes, and make them fall away. Some haue vfed in times paft, to put a dogges haires odde into an Afli or Ceruifetree, but y* is but a mockerie.
A receipt for dogges that are bytten with Vypers or Serpents
TAke a handfull of Tutfome, a handfull of Rewe, a handfull of the leaues of a tree called Cafiis or Spaniflie Pepper, a handful of the herb called Boyllon or Bloude, a handfull of Ju- niper, a handfull of Mynts, and brufe and ftampe them al together, vntil they be wel beaten and ftamped. Then put a glafle full of white wine to them, and let them boyle therein, a whalme or a wallop in a pewter pot. Then take y® decodtion with the weight of a crown of Tryacle, and giue your dog a glafleful of it warm, and wafli the bitten place therewith, tying a leafe oi Boyllon with a pyll of a Juniper branch vpon it, and it will heale.
A receipt to heale dogges bitten or ftricken with a Bore, Beare, Wolfe, or fuch like
According to the place where a dog is hurte, you muft apply jf\.and dired: your medicines and playfters. If he be hurt in the btllye, fo that his guts fall out, and yet the guts not broken nor
pearced
The hooke of Hunting ajg
pearced, let the varlets of the kennell take the dogge quickly, and put vp his guts foftly into his bellie with the ends of his fingers, in fuch fort as a gelder doth when he fpayeth a bytch. Then let him cut a flyce or thin piece of Lard, and put it within the belly, right againft the hole that is made. And he muft haue a lyngell in readinefTe to fow vp the f kin, and at euery flitch that he taketh, let him knit his threed or lyngell. For elfe as fone as the threed fhould rot or breake in one place, all the refl would flippe, and fo the wounde would open againe, before it be throughly healed. And in all places that a dog is hurt, if it be needfull to flitch him vp, put alwayes a piece of Larde in the wounde or againfte it, and alwayes annoynt the wound with frefli butter, for that wil make a dog be alwayes lycking of it. And his owne tong is a good Chyrurgion where he may reach the wound. The needle wherewith a dog fliould be fowed, fhoulde be fourfquare at the poynt. And the varlet of the kennell fliould neuer go on field to hunt eyther Bore, Beare, or Wolfe, without fuch a needle, lyn- gelJes, and Lard, in a readinefTe.
A receipt to heale dogs which be brufed, or haue any thing broken within them
IT hapneth oftentimes, that a Bore brufeth a dogge with the force of his heade, and yet draweth no bloude on him, eyther vpon the fides of the dogges bulke, or vpon his thighes, or fuche finewye places. Then if any thing be broken or put out of ioynt, it muft firfl be put vp again. But if it be no more but brufed, thea make a playfter of the roote of the herbe called Symphlton (with vs in Engliflie Comfrey) the playfler of Mellylot, Pytche or Tarre, and oyle of Rofes, as muche of the one as of the other. The whiche you fliall mingle altogether, and make thereof a great playfter vpon a cloth, and cut it as bygge as maye ferue to couer the brufed place, and laye it therevnto as hote as the dogge may fufFer it, and it will heale him.
R z A re-
2 34 "-^^^ boohe of Hunting
A receipt to kill wormes within a dogge, and to make him voyde them
TAke the iuyce of Woormewoode two drammes, as muche of AUoes CabeUina^ as much of Stauefakcr, and a dramme of a Harts home burnt, with a dram of Brymftone : Brufe and beate altogether, and incorporate them with the Oile of Walnuts, and make (as it were) halfe a glafle full of it. And put it down your dogs throate, and it will heale him.
A playfter to heale a dogge, when he is furbayted on his feete
TAke twelue yolkes of egges, and beate them with foure oun- ces of the iuyce or decoction of an herb, that groweth vpon the rockes, and is called Yylo Zelle (in Englifli, Moufeare) or with the iuyce of Pomegranats, boyled with vyneger. And for default of the herbes before named, take vyneger only, and when the yolks of the egges are well beaten therin, then put Sut thervnto fmall brayed to pouder, and mingle them all togither, rubbing the foa- les of your dogs feete therewith, and bynding it vpon a lynnen cloth vnto the dogges foote. Then giuc the dog rell in his ken- nell, a night and a day, or more, and it will heale him.
A receipt to kill the Canker in a dogs eares
TAke Sope, Oyle of Tartre^ Sal armonlacke^ Brymftone and Verdigreace, of each the weight of a crowne, and incor- porate them altogether with white vineger, and Aqua Fortis^ and rubbe the Canker herewith nyne mornings.
A receipt to kepe Bytches from going proud
BEfore a Bytche haue had whelpes, giue hir euery morning nyne dayes together, nyne graynes of Pepper in hir meate, and fhe fliall not become proude. Put them in to hir, in fome cheefe, or breade, or hard meate.
A re-
The hoohe of Hunting iis
A receipt for dogges that cannot pifle
TAke a handfull of French Mallowes (or Marflimallowes) afmuch of the leaues or feedes of Archangel], which groweth commonly by vines, the rootes of FcnilJ, the rootes of blackeber- ries or brambles, afmuch of the one as of the other, and let them boyle togither with white wine vntill the thirde parte be wa- fted : put this downe your dogges throate to drinke, and it will make him pifTe.
A receypt for a forenefle within the eares of a Dogge
TAke veriuyce, and put it in a ladell or a pottenger and warme it : then put to it the water of the leafe and floure ofanhearbe or little buflie called Vryuet or Frymprynt^ or of the water of the floures of Woodbindes, and afmuch Honie as the end of a mans finger, the which you fliall mingle with them : and put them all together into the dogges eare, and moue his head one way and another to make it fmke in : then let him holde downe his head that it may droppe out agayne. Then take the oyle of Bayes and warme it, and droppe it into his eare, stopping it vp with fome cotton or woll dipped in the fame oyle : and continuyng this fiue or fixe dayes it wil heale him : but beware that he f krat not out the wooll or Cotton.
An approued medicine to kill all Tettars, Cankers, and Ringwormes
TAke a dramme of Mercurye fubllmate in powder, and beate it well in a ftone Morter, with the iuyce and inwarde fub- ftance of a Cythron without the barke : put it then in a little wa- ter and Vinegre mingled togither : and take the weight of a crowne of Alum, and afmuch Sope, the whiche you flvall braye and mingle with the things before named, and let them boyle al together in a little pot vntill the thirde parte be confumed : then
lay
236 The hooke of Hunting
lay the decodlion thereof vpon the Tetters or Cankers. But if the Canker be in a dogges piflell, or in the quicke fleflie, then boyle your Sublimate^ and caft water firft vpon the place, that it be not ouer fliarpe and corofiue for the dogge to abide : after- wards do as beforefayde.
A receipt for to heale woundes on a dogge
THe iuyce of a redde Coleworte is a souerayne medecine for woundes on a Dogge, for it will of it felf heale any wound and confollidate the muf kels, bicaufe the flefli of a dogge is hote and drie, and the Coleworte is naturally hote and moyfte. I could haue prefcribed many other receypts and medecines, but I truft that thefe (being principall and well approued) fliall fuflBfe.
Of the Termes of Venerie
I Haue thought meete to write a briefe note or abftrade of fuch termes and proper woordes as I haue obferued in Venerie, either by reading or by experience : afwell bycaufe mine Audthor hath done the like, as alfo bicaufe I finde it very pertinent to the purpofe. But bicaufe I find that his termes in the Frenche are in many places much different from ours (and yet many holde opinion that we borowed all our termes of Hunting, Hawking, and fuch like out of the Frenche) therfore I haue thought my parte to fet downe fuch as I my felfe haue eyther herd pro- nounced by olde Huntefmen, or founde approued in olde Tryfframs booke. And if the Reader do finde that in any parte of the difcourfes in this booke, I haue termed any of them otherwife, then let him also confider that in handling of an Arte, or in fetting downe rules and precepts of any thing, a man muft vfe fuche woordes as may be moft eafie, perfpicuous and in- telligible. But here (as neare as I can) I will fet them downe in fuche termes as wee ought by lawe of Venerie to name them : as followeth.
The
The boohe of Hunting 237
The proper termes for the companies of all beafts, when they are more than one togither
TO beginne with the termes that are proper for the compa- Compamet nies of beafts : you fliall vnderftand that Huntefmen vfe to "f ^e*^'- faye, An Heard of Harts and Hindes^ Bucket and Does : and A Trippe of Gates and Geates. A Beaute of Roives. A Sounder of Sijuine. And a Rowte ofWolues. I haue not readde any thing of the Raynedeare in this refpe6t, and I could not heare any thyng bycaufe in deede they are not in this Realme as farre as euer I coulde learne. But in my iudgement it fhoulde alfo be called An Heard of Raynedeare. Tryftram addeth, A Richejfe of Mar- ternes^ and a Sloivth of Beares. As for Hares ^ if they be two togi- thers, we fay, a brafe of Hares ^ and a Leafe when there are three : as alio a brafe of Harts or Hindes, Buckes or Does, is very pro- perly fpoken : but more than two or three Hares, you flial feldom fee togither at once. Twoo Conies are called a couple, and three are called a couple and a halfe of Conies. If they be many feeding out togethers, we fay it is a fayre game of Conies. As for Fox, Badgerd and other fuche vermine, you fliall feldome fee more than one of them at once, vnlefle it be when they engendre : and then their encreafe is called A lytter. This is afmuche as I thinke requifite to fay of the termes for the companies of Beaftes : Sa- uing that .xx. is the leaft number which maketh an Hearde of a- ny Deare fauing the Rowe: but fixe Rowes make an hearde. And of Swyne twelue is the leaft number, which may be called a Sounder : as alfo the fame number ferueth for a route ofWolues.
The termes of the Ages of all beafts of Venerie and Chace : and firft of the Harte
AN Hart is called the firfte yeare a Calfe, the feconde a ^gt. jTXBrocket, the thirde a Spayde, the fourth a Staggerd, the fifth a Stagge, and (as TryBrams booke teacheth) the lixth yeare he fliuld be called an Hart. But I am rather of opinion y* he
is
238 The hooke of Hunting
is not to be called a Harte vnlefTe he be hunted or killed by a Prince. A Bucke is called the firft yeare a Fawne, the fecond a Pricket, the third a Sorell, the fourth a Sore, the fifth a Bucke of the first head, and the fixth a Bucke. Of the Raynedeare 1 haue neyther heard nor redde any termes. The Gote hath no difference (that euer I heard) after he paffe the firfte yeare, and then is called a Kidde. The Hare and the Conie, are called in their firft yeare, LeueretSj and Rabets^ and afterwards they haue no difference, but to fay, A great Hare^ and an old Conie. Alfo you dial fay by any Deare^ A great Deare^ and not A fayre Deare^ vnleffe it be a Roave. The which is called the first yeare a Kidde^ the fecond a Gyrle^ the third an Hemufe^ the fourth a Roiuktcke of the firft heade, and the fifth yeare a fayre Roiuehucke. A Bore is the firft yeare a 'Bigge^ the fecond an Hogge^ the third a Hogfieare^ the fourth a Bore^ and the fifth yeare a Singiiler^ or (as 1 would thinke more properly fpoken) a Sa7iglier^ according to the French worde. Foxes are called the firft yeare Cubbes, and afterwards (Foxes) without any other difference than an olde Foxe^ or fuche like. Alfo the Badgerd is the firft yeare a ivhelpe or a P'gge (for I haue herd Huntefmen vfe both thofe termes) and euer after a Badgerd great or old, &c. As for Wolfe, Beare, and fuche like we haue them not here. The Otter is called the firfte yeare a nukelpe^ and euer afterwards an Otter, &c.
The termes of a Deares head, and fuch like beaftes of Venerie
THe rounde roll of pyrled home that is next to the head of an Harte is called the Burre^ the mayne home is called the Beame^ the loweft Antliere is called The Brow AntHere^ or Beas antlter^ the next Royally the nexte aboue that Surry all ^ and then the Toppe. In a Bucke we fay, Burre^ Beame^ Branche^ Aduauncers^ Paivhne^ and Spelers. A Gotes homes are not termed by any dif- ference, fauing that there are certaine wreathes and wrinkles a- bout them, whereby his age is knowen, as hath bene fayde be- fore. The Bores teeth are to be called his Tui"kes or his gardes
and
The booke of Hunting 239
and that is all the proper woordes or termes that euer I heard or reddc thereof. Note that when you fpeake of a Harts homes, you muft terme them the Head and not the Homes of a Harte. And lykewife of a Bucke : but a Roives hornes^ and a Gotes Homes are tollerable termes in Venerie.
The termes of the treading or footing of all beaftes of chace and Venerie
THe footyng or printe of an Hartes foote is called the Slot. Footing. Of a Bucke and all other Fallow Deare.^ it is to be called the Vieiv. Of a Go/e, the Breaking (and that is alfo a good terme for an Hartes footing). Of a Bore^ the Tracke^ or the Treading. Of an Hare diuerfly, for when a Hare is in playne fieldes, flie Soreth : when file cafteth aboute to deceyue the houndes, then file Dou- bleth : and when flie beateth a harde highe waye, where you may yet finde and perceyue hir footing, there Ihe Pricketh : alfo in time of Snowe we fay the Trace of an Hare. Of a Foxe and al fuch vermine I neuer heard any other woord but onely the Footing or tkefoote^ (^c. Of an Otter it is to be called the Markes, or the Marches. And we cal it the foyling of a Deare if it be on grafie where the print of the foote cannot well be feene.
The termes proper for the ordure and na- turall excrements of chaces
IT is a thing highly obferued and not here to be omitted, that Ordu,e & the ordure of euery beafte of chace and Venerie hath his proper E,xcremmts. terme. The reafon is, bycaufe theyr ordure and excrements are one principall marke whereby we know the place of their feede, and their eftate. So that a Huntefman in talke or makyng of his reportcs fliall be often conftreyned to rehearfe the fame. Of an Harte therfore, and of all Deare the ordure is called Fewmets or Feiumijfjing : Of a Gote, and of an Hare the Crotifing or Crot- tels : Of a Bore the Lejfes : Of a Foxe, and all other vermine, The "Fyaunts : Of an Otter the Spraynts. And I haue neyther readde
nor
240 The hoohe of Hunting
nor heard what it is termed of a Wolfe or a Beare : neyther is it greatly material].
The termes of the time that thefe chaces feeke eche other to engender
"^ttc. TTTHen a Harte or Bucke feeketh to engender with Hynde
VV or Doe, we fay they go to the Rut: as alfo the Gote doth. A Rowe Deare is fayde to go in his Tourne. A Bore goeth to the Brime : An Hare and Conie to the Bucke : a Foxe goeth on clicketing : a Badgerd as the Bore : A Wolfe feeketh his Make or Matche : And an Otter hunteth for his Kinde.
The voyces and noyfes that euery of them maketh at fuch times
Voyce or AN Harte belloweth : a Bucke groyneth : a Rowe belleth : a
Sovunde. J;\GotQ ratteleth : a Bore freameth : a Hare and aconiebeatethor
tappeth : a Fox barketh : a Badgerd fliriketh : an Otter whineth :
and a Wolfe howleth, when they feeke or hunte after their makes.
The feafons of all Chaces
Seafo>i. 'TpHe Harte and Bucke (with the Gote) is in feafon from Midfo- X nier vntill Holyroode day : The Rowe is in feafon betwene Eafter and Mighelmas. The Bore from Chriflmas till flirouetide : The Hare from Mighelmas till Midfomer: The Fox and the Wolfe from Holy roode day till the Annunciation: and the Otter from Shrouetide vntill Midfomer. Conies are al wayes in fea- fon, either yong or old : but their fkinnes are in beft feafon from Alhallontide vnto Shrouetide. The Hynde, Doe, Rovjdoe^ Geate^ and Swine, beginneth when the Male of euery one of them cealTeth, and lafteth as long as they be fatte or in good plight.
The Fatte of euery one of thefe beafts
Fatte. ' I ^He Fatte of all kinde of Deare is called Sewet : and it may
I be alfo very wel fayd, T/^is Deare nuas an high Deare of Greace^
or (o forth. But the Fatte (of it felfe) is called Sevjet^ vt fupra.
The
The hooke of Hunting 241
The fatte of a Bore, Foxe, and Badgerd, is called properly Greace. An Hare (by old Try^rams opinion) beareth both Greace and Talloiuej and the Roiue deares fat (onely of all Deare) is ter- med Beauie greace.
The flaying, ftriping, and cafing of all maner Chaces
THe Harte and all manner of Deare are flayne : and yet F%'"jr. Huntefmen vfe more commonly to fay, take off that Deares •^'^'"^' fkinne. The Hare is ftryped, and (as Tryhram fayeth) the Bore alfo : the Foxe, Badgerd and all other vermine are cafed, that is to fay, you muft beginne at the fnowte or nofe of the beaft, and fo turne his fkinne ouer his eares all alongft the bodie, vntill you come at the tayle : and that hangeth out to (hew what beaft it was, this is called cafing : and yet a Badgerds fkinne is to be ftretched with foure ftickes on crofTe, to make it drye the bet- ter, bycaufe it is great and fatte.
Termes vfed when you bring any Chace to his refting place, or rayfe him from it
WE Herbor and Vnherbor a Harte, and he lieth in his layre : R^ing we lodge and rowfe a Bucke, and he lieth alfo in his layre : ^^'*^^- we feeke and finde the Rowe and he beddeth : we forme and ftarte a Hare : we burrowe and bolt a Conie, and both the Hare and Conie do fit and fquat. We couch and reare a Bore : we ken- nell and vnkenell a Fox : we earth and digge a Badgerd : we tree and baye both Martern and wild catte : we watch and vent an Otter. And we trayne and rayfe the Wolfe, when we bring them to their reftyng place and put them from the fame to be hunted. Of the Raynedeare, Gote, or Beare, I haue neither read nor herd the termes in this refped:.
The fundrie noyfes of hound es, and the termes proper for the fame
AS you heare hounds make fundry different noyfes, fo do we Terrms of XJLterme them by fundry termes : For hounds do cal on, bawle, (^^"j^^^
bable.
Noyfes. 'J
24-2- The hooke of Hunting
bable, crie, yearne, lapyfe, plodde, baye, and fuch lyke other noy- fes. Firft when hounds are firfte calt off and linde of fome game or chace, we fay, They call on. If they be to bufie before they finde the Sent good, we fay They Baw/e. If they be to bufie after they finde good Sent, we say They Bahle. If they run it endwayes or- derly and make it good, then when they holde in togethers me- rily, we lay They are in crie. When they are earneft eyther in the chace or in the earth, we fay They yearne. When they open in the ftring (or a Greyhounde in his courfe) we fay They lapyfe. When they hang behinde and beate too muche on one Sent or place, we fay They plodde. And when they haue eyther earthed a vermine, or brought a Deare, Bore, or fuche lyke, to turne head agaynit them, then we fay They Baye.
The difference betweene houndes and Greyhoundes for termes
Difference. "\T 7'^ finde fome difference of termes betwene houndes, and W Greyhoundes. As of Greyhoundes two make a Brafe, and of houndes a Couple. Of Greyhoundes three make a Leafe^ and of houndes a Couple and a halfe. We let flippe a Greyhound and we cafte off' a Hounde. The ftring wherewith wee leade a Greyhounde is called a Leafe, and for a Hounde a Lyame. The Greyhounde hath his Coller, and the Hounde hath his Couples. Many other differences there be, but thefe are moft vfuall.
The different names of chaces, when they
be yong in the neaft, or fucking
the Damme
ToH^. A Yong red Deare is called a Calfe : a yong fallow Deare, a
XTL^awne: a yong Rowe or Gote, a Kidde : a yong Bore, a Pigge: a yong Hare a Leueret : a yong Conie, a Rabet : a yong Foxe is called a Cubbe : a yong Badgerd as the Bores yong : a yong Catte, a Kittling ; a yong Martern, a Marterne- cubbe : a yong Otter, a whelpe. And likewife of Beare and
Wolfe
The hoohe of Hunting 245
Wolfe as farre as euer I read.
The termes for the tayles of all chafes
THe tayle of Harte, Bucke, Rowe, or any other Deare, is to be called the Syngle. The Tayle of a Goate, is plain- ly called his Tayle. The tayle of a Bore, is to be termed his 'wreath. The tayle of an Hare and Conney, is called their Shut, The tayle of a Foxe is called his Bujh^ or (as fome vfe to fay) his hoUywater jpr'mkle. The tayle of a Wolfe is to be called his Steame, Of the reft I haue not read.
Termes to be vfed, when any chace goeth to the water by force
WHen an Hart or any Deare is forced to the water, we fay he goeth to the Soyle. But yet therein alfo there is difference. For when a Hart firft taketh the water, we faye he Proffereth. When he goeth quite through a ryuer or water, we fay he breaketh Soyle. And the Slot or viewe which is founde of fuch a Deare, on that other fide of the water, is to be termed, as of a Deare defoulant the Soyle. The Hart, Bucke, Gote, and Bore, do alfo take foyle oftentimes without enforcing. All other beaftes are none otherwife termed, but playnely to take the water, fauing onely the Otter, and he is fayde to beate the Streame.
Other generall termes of the Hart and his properties
N Hart when he is paft his fixth yeare, is generally to be called an Hart of tenne^ and afterwardes according to the increafe of his Heade^ whether it be Crocked^ Palmed or Cro-wned. When he breaketh hearde and draweth to the thic- kets, he is fayde to take his holde. When a huntefman draweth after him with his hounde, if he goe into any groue or wood, he
Covreth
R
244 '^^^ hooke of Hunting
Covrethy and if he come out againe, he Difcovreth him felfe. When he feedeth in fieldes, clofes, or corne, he feedeth : otherwife he Broivfeth. In the heate of the daye he withdraweth him felfe for the flyes, and then we fay, he goeth to the Steppe. His heade when it commeth firft out, hath a rufTet pyll vpon it, the whiche is called Veluet^ and his heade is called then a veluet heade^ the toppes thereof (as long as they are in bloude) are good meate, and are called Tenderlings. When his heade is growne out to the full bygneffe, then he rubbeth of that pyll, and that is called fraying of his heade. And afterwardes he BumiJJjeth the fame, and then his heade is fayde to be full fommed. His ftones are called his doulcets, and the caule about his paunche is called his Kell. When he ftayeth to looke at any thing, then h^ftandeth at gaze. When he bounceth by vpon all foure, then he tryppeth, and when he runneth verie faft, then h&fireyneth. When he fmelleth or venteth anye thing, then we faye he hath {this or that'j in the luinde. When he is hunted and doth firft leaue the hearde, we fay that he is Syngled or emprymed. When he is foamy at the mouth, we faye that he is emhoB. And when he holdeth out his necke, we fay he is ^ent or done. And when he is deade, we faye that he is doivne. The rewarde to the houndes, is called a Rewarde or quarrey.
Termes generall of the huntefman, in hunting of any chafe
WHen huntefmen doe beate any Couerte with kennell houndes for any chafe, it is called drawing of the Couert. When they caft about a groue or wood with their Liamhound, then they make a ryng. When they iinde where a Deare hath pafled, and breake or plaflie any boughe downewardes for a marke, then we faye, they blemijhe^ or make blemijhes. When they hang vppe any paper, clout, or other marke, then it is to be called SeiueUing or fetting of Sewe/s. When they fet houndes in a readynefle whereas they thinke a chafe will padc, and caft them oft" before the reft of the kennell come in, it is called a vaunt laye.
When
The boohe of Hunting 24^
When they tarrie till the reft of the kennell come in, and then caft oif, it is called an Allay. But when they hold vntill the ken- nell be paft them, then it is called a Relay. When a hounde meeteth a chafe, and goeth away with it farre before the reft, then we lay he foreloyneth. When a hounde hunteth back- wardes the fame way that the chafe is come, then we fay he hunteth Counter. And if he hunt any other chafe than that which he firft vndertooke, we fay he hunteth change. When eyther Hare or Deare, or any other chafe vfeth fubtleties to deceyue the houndes, we faye they crojfe or double. The rewarde at death of anybeaft of Venerie, is called the quarry or rewarde. But of all other chafes, it is to be called the halloiue. And this is as much as I can prefently call to remembraunce, eyther by reading or experience, touch- ing the termes of Venerie. Wherein 1 defire all fuch as are f kilfull, to beare with my boldnefTe : pro- mifing that if any thing be amyfTe, it fliall (God willing) be amend- ed at the nexte impreftion, if 1 lyue fo long.
FINIS.
2^6 The booke of Hunting
A short obferuation fet downe by the
Tranflatour, concerning courfing
with Greyhoundes
BYcaufe I finde nothing in myne Author particularly written of courfmg with Greyhounds, it feemeth unto me, that they haue not that kynd of Venerie fo much in eftimation in France, as we do hold it here in England. But that they vfe their Grey- hounds only to fet backfets, or receytes for Deare, Wolfe, Foxe, or fuch like. Wheras we here in England do make great account of fuch paftime as is to be fecn in courfmg with Greyhoundes at Deare, Hare, Foxe, or fuche like, euen of them felues, when there are neyther houndes hunting, nor other meane to help them. So that I haue thought it correfpondent vnto this myne enterpryfe, to fet downe fome briefe rules which I my felfe haue feene obferued in courfmg with Greyhounds. You fhall vnderftand then, that we vfe three maner of courfes with Greyhounds here in England, that is at the Deare, at the Hare, and at Foxe or other vermine. First for the courfe at the Deare (efpecially if it be a red Deare) you may deuide your Greyhounds into three fundry parts, viz. Teafers, Sidelayes, and Backfets, or Receytes. By this worde Teafers is ment, the firft Greyhounde, or brafe, or leafe of Greyhoundes, which is let flip either at the whole hearde, to bring a Deare An- gle to y® courfe, or els at a lowe deare, to make him ftreine before he come at the fidelayes and backfets. For a deare is of this nature, that when he once hath fet his head forewarde any way, he will holde on the fame waye, and neuer turneth and wrencheth as a Hare will do before the Greyhounds. Therefore a Greyhounde or a brafe being let flip to teafe as before fayd, will make a deare ftreyne in his courfe before he come at the fidelayes or backfets, and then they (being frefli) flial the better be able to take him. It is commonly vfed also in courfing of deare (fpccially red deare, vtfu.) to lay a brafe of greyhounds or more by the midway, and thofe are called fidelaySj bicaufe they are to be let flip at y® midfide of a
Deare.
The books 9f Hunting 247
Deare. Andy'laftfort of greyhounds towards y« latter end of y« cource is called receit or backfet : Thefe lall Greyhounds are commonly let flip full in the face of the Deare, to the end they may the more amafe him : And fo they with the help of the other tcafers and fidelayes may the bet- ter take holde on him all at once and pull him downe, whereas the fidelayes are to be let flippe at y* fide of a Deare or after him, for feare leafl they make him fwarue from the backfettes: A redde Deare wil beare fometimes foure or fiue brafe of Greyhoundes before they can pull him downe: fuch wonderfull force he is of, and can fo eafilyfliake ofFa Greyhounde when he pincheth him. The beft obferuation that is to be taken in making the courfe at a Deare, is that the Teafers do Hand clofe and vpon a cleare winde : For a Deare will quickly finde them els : but beyng pail the Teafers how foeuer the reft lie, he will not lightly turne heade. In courfing at a Deare if one Greyhounde go endwayes by another, it is accoumpted a Cote, fo that he whiche doth fo go by his fellow do reach the Deare and pinche: and in cour- iingof a redde Deare that Greyhounde whiche doth firft pinche, fliall winne the wager : but in courfing of a Fallow deare, your Grey- hounde muft pinche and holde, or els he winneth not the wager. Jt is alfo to be obferued that when you lay to courfe a Deare, you marke the place and Countrie where you be. For in a padocke (whichis a clofe courfe in a parke paled or rayled in) it is eafie to fee whiche way the cource is to be made: fmce theDeare is held in with pales or rayles and cannot fwarue: but in a plaine heath or countrie,youmuftmarkewhich way it is moft likely that he will bend, and there lay your Greyhounds behind fome buflie or tree : that the Deare finde not faulte at them and fobreakebacke. ThisinefFed:isafmuchasitisneedefulltobeconfidered in the courfe at a Deare. But neuer let flippe a yong Greyhound at a Deare without the companie of fome olde fleflit dog: for euery dog wil not byte a Deare at the firfte courfe. And furely he that hath a good Haregreyhounde, flial do very euill to courfe a Deare with him, for it will both brufe him and make him lyther : and the courfe at the Hare is muchy^ nobler paftime. To courfe y« Hare you muft fend either Hare- finders before you to find fome Hare fitting, or els your felf with your companie may range and beateouer the fields vntil you either find a Hare fittyng,or ftarte hyr. I haue marked the harefinders in theyr feeking of TURB. VEN. s ^ Hare
2,48 The hooks 9f Hunting
a Hare in Northampton fhyre, and they will neuer beate but one end of a furlong: and that fhall be the ende which is downe the winde or from the winde : for they hold opinion, that a Hare will not (by hir wil) fit with hyr head into the winde. He that will feeke a Hare mufte go ouerthwart the landes. And euery lande that he pafTeth ouer, let hym beginne with his eye at his foote, and fo looke downe the lande to the furlongs end, Firftontheonefideandthenontheother: andfohefhall find y« Hare fitting in hyr forme: as foone as he efpieth hyr he muft crie Sa How. Then they whiche leade the Greyhoundes may come neare : and you may appoynt which Greyhoundes fhal courfe. Then let him which founde the Hare go towardes hyr and fay, vppujje vp^ vntill Ihe ryfe out of hyr forme. Some Hare will not ryfe out of hyr forme vn- till flie be touched : and fome will abyde to be lifted out by the eares, the whiche is a token of a Hare that will holde out and make a fayre courfe. If the Hare fit neare vnto any clofe or couert, and haue hyr head towardes the fame with a fayre fielde behinde hir, you may ryde with afmuch companie as you haue betwene hyr and the couert before fhe be put vp, and then peraduenture when fhe ryfeth, Ihe will take towards the champayne: but lightly a Hare will make hyr courfe the fame way that hyr head ftandes when fhe fitteth in hyr forme. When a Hare is put vp, you mufte giue hyr grounde (whiche is called lawe) xij. fcore yeardes or more, according to thegroundeandcountriewhere fhe fitteth: and then let flippe your Greyhoundes. It is a gallant fport to fee how the Hare will turne and winde to faue hyr felfe out of the dogges mouth. So that fometimes euen when you thinke that your Greyhounde doth (as it were) gape to take hyr, fhe will turne and caft them a good way behind hyr : and fofaueth hir felf by turny ng,wrenching, and winding, vntilfhereachfomecouertandfofauehyrlife. Incourfing at the Hare it is not material which dogge killeth hyr (which hunters call bearyng of an Hare) but he that giueth moft Cotes, or moft tur- nes, winneth the wager. A Cote is when a Greyhounde goeth endways by his fellow and giueth the Hare a turne (whichiscalled fetting a Hare aboute) but if he coaft and fo come by his fellowe, that is no Cote, Likewife if one Greyhounde do go by another, and then be not able to reache the Hare himfelfe and turne hyr, this is but ftrippyng and no Cote. If there be no Cotes gyuen betwene a brafe of Greyhounds,
but
The hooh^ of Hunting 24P
but the one of them ferueth the other at turnyng, then he whiche gy- ueth the Hare moft turnes fliall winne the wager: and if the one do gyue as many turnes as the other, then he whiche beareth the Hare fliall winne the wager. A Cote ferueth for two turnes, and twoo ftrippyngs or lerkinnes (as fome call them) ftande for a Cote : alfo many times a Hare doth but wrenche and not turne: for it is not cal- led a turne vnlefle the Hare be fet aboute, and do turne (as it were) rounde aboute: two fuch wrenches ftande for a turne. Alfo fometimes a Hare that is commonly courfed wil know the countrie : and bycaufe fhe coueteth the hard beaten wayes, Ihe will(of hyr felf) fwarue at fuch a way, and that is neyther to be accompted a turne nor a wrench: but if neyther of your Greyhoundes be able to turne the Hare vntill the ende of the courfe, then he which went foremoft throughout thecourfe muft winne the wager. And for the better decidyng of all thefe que- ftions, if it be at a folempne afTembly, they vfe to appoynt ludges whiche are expert in courfmg, and fliall ftande on the hilles fides whe- ther they perceyue the Hare will bende, to marke whiche dogge doeth beft,and to giue iudgement thereof accordingly: fome vfe when theyr Greyhoundes be both of a colour to binde a handkerchef aboute one of theyr neckes for a difference. But if he were my Dogge he flioulde not weare the handkerchief, for I could neuer yet fee any dogge win the courfe whiche ware the handkerchief. And it flandeth togoodrea- fon, that he which weareth the handkerchef fhoulde be combred there- with, both bycaufe it gathereth winde, and alfo bycaufe it doth parte- ly floppe a Dogges breath : if the Greyhoundes be but yong or flowe, you may courfe with a leafe at one Hare, but that is feldome feene, and a brafe of Dogges is ynow for fuche a poore beaft. When you go to courfe eyther Hare or Deare, or to Hunte any chace, it is a forfayture (amongfb vs here in Englande) to name eyther Beare, Ape,Monkie, or Hedgehogge: and he whiche nameth any of thefe fhoulde be payde with a fiippe vppon the buttockes in the fielde before he go any furder. To courfe at a Foxe requyreth none other Arte than to ftande clofe and vppon a cleare winde, on the outfide of the couert by fome bottome or place where it is likely that he will come out: and to gyue hym head inough, for elfe he will turne backe agayne, and
s 1 there
25-0 The hooke of Hunting
there is no daunger in giuing of him head where there is plain ground, for the floweft dogge y* euer ranne wil ouertake a Fox if he haue field roome. Some vfe to watch a Fox when he goeth out to his feede, and to ftand in y® moft likely places in a moone fhine night and fo to courfe him: but that is but vncertayne vnlefTe it be in clicketting time, when they go prowde: then you Ihall heare them barke and howle one after another. But otherwise the fureft courfmg is when you hunte with houndes, to fet your greyhounds vnderneath the winde very clofe in fome bottom or little playne, and there to courfe the Fox when hecom- meth out. This courfe is fhort, but it is dangerous, for oftentimes a good Greyhound is marred with a Fox: and therfore few men will courfe a Fox vnlefTe it be with old Greyhounds which arc brufed dogs, andwhichthey make fmall accoumpt of: and you fhal fee an old bitten dogge when he ouertaketh a Fox, thruft his forelegges backwardes and fall vpon him with his cheft : and fo faue his legges from bytyng when he takeththe Fox : and agayne as fooiie as euer he layeth hold on him, he wil fliake him about his eares continually, vntill he haue broken his backe or killed him : for by that meanes he giueth the Fox no leaue nor tyme to byte hym. There is another kinde of courfmg whiche 1 haue morevfedthan anyofthefe: and that is at a Deare in the night: wherin there is more arte to be vfed than in any courfe els. But bicaufe I haue promifed my betters to be a friend to al Parkes, Forrefts, and Chaces, therfore I will not here exprefle the experience which hath bene dearer vnto me, particularly, than it is meete to be publiflied generally. But thus much I haue thought meete of my felf to adde concernyng courfmg w* Greyhoundes, the which is doubt! efTe a noble paftime, and as meete for Nobilitie and Gentlemen, as any of the other kyndes of Venerie before declared : Efpecially the courfe at the Hare whiche is a fporte continually in fight, and made without any great trauayle : fo that recreation is therein to be founde without vnmeafurable toyle and payne : Whereas in huntyng with houndes, although the paftyme be great, yet many tymes the toyle and payne is alfo exceedyng great : And then it may well be called, eyther a paynefull paftyme, or a pleafant payne.
FINIS
The mealures ofblowliig fet downe in tlie notes
for the more eafc and ready help of fiichas aredefi^ rous CO learne the faimeiand they are fet downe
according to the order which isoblcruedatthefc ^yes in ihisRcalme of Englande asfolloweth.
The Call for the Companie in the morning.
AU to be blowen with one winic.
i
^ i»»i M»i ~ii ii v» i ii ^
•?I(jc&traSe to t^t^iilntMo bebictom Wtii ttoo) \olmtg>
m
'■J^n
•^ijcbneoupHng of tbe Couerfe CDe.'3D) beblotoen Wt^ t\)m tolnOf?.
mmmt'ifnrntm MiTii mimd^^
tl^t &ceS£,2ai(et) fttoD toinoeg.
m^itt
The mealures of blowing. W^tn (\tt'^tmra)t$ do tiante a <^8mt o) C^aCe bnknoloen.
All with one winde.
jint Tiri.ir'iriririrjr'fnr'iriT'rr
TT
^e ^ftakins from Count to Couert. Ulit^ Wa \Dinntg,
Tul il ilTI u Til] 1 U I iTi Ui lUU ilTI 'ini U i
C2S!)Qtttie C^ame ootti t'^ea&e Couett. Wit^ foiire Voinot?.
uif-mt'infmimriTiTiiTrin
jnif'mT'mrm iMMniTiri
^^t (£artt)in3 of a ^on.tf i)t te coocrable.diQlin) t^n voinDed.
I
^iMii4iilTrji'iiiii rni'inr 'inf 'irnirisB^
The mcafures ofblowing# tSl^m t\ft Jfoje is not couerable, to can a\oap.
mmr
*^t oearti of a JPojre.eptber in ficloc o; coturt.dOIit^ttJtee "oainnti*
M uiriiTTin imimi'niimrmt'Uitm^
And the Rechate vpon it.
'mi'iTiiiru'iniinii'mriiirnj'jTiiiiJj
♦ *♦"
<^i)e Dtatti of a Dcare toitti So\De,0} ^rc^oumud*
I
iilMUi iiil iUi il i i*
€iie Deafti of a Sndte tDit^ IioanDe^.aaiitti mo toiiuie^.
ffiT'nii'mTTTii'inTinr'mi'iri
ttf*
^e
The meafures of blowing* •Pe p?pfe of an l^atf e KopaU.adlif^ t^tz tointietf.
This to be blowen thrice with three feuerall wmdes.
t
ffljmTmTiritiuiflfffiftmRMgM:
f
and the Rechate vpon it
3 &ftake of npnt, to Djatot tiome tlje companit. aaiut) ftoo tointjc^.
1
t^blotoe tsnt^t ^errjcrss at an cartlr.aaJUtj taa tolnoc?.
Oxford : Princed by Horace Hart, M.A., at the Clarendon Press
Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine Cunnrnings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
ooroRoad iratton,MA01536
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