The noble arte of venerie or hunting VVherein is handled and set out the vertues, nature, and properties of fiutene sundrie chaces togither, with the order and maner how to hunte and kill euery one of them. Translated and collected for the pleasure of all noblemen and gentlemen, out of the best approued authors, which haue written any thing concerning the same: and reduced into such order and proper termes as are vsed here, in this noble realme of England. The contentes vvhereof shall more playnely appeare in the page next followyng.

The Foxe to the Huntesman.

IF dogs had tong at will to talke in their defence, If brutish beast might be so bold, to plead at barre for pence, If poore Tom tooth might speake, of all that is amysse, Then might would beare no right a down: then mē would pardon this, Which I must here declare. Then quickly would be known, That he which deales with strangers faults, should first amend his owne. Thus much my selfe may say, thus much my selfe can proue, Yet whiles I preache beware the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for so it shall behoue. I sigh (yet smyle) to see, that man (yea master man) Can play his part in pollicie, as well as Raynard can. And yet forsoth the Foxe is he that bea•…•…es the blame, But two leggd Foxes eate the ducks, when foure legs beare the name. A wonder is to see, how people shoute and crye, With hallowes, whoupes, and spitefull words, when I poore Fox go by.

Lay on him cryes the wife, downe with him sayes the childe, Some strike, som chide, some throw a stone, som fal & be defilde: As Maidens, when they spurne, with both their feete attones, Fie on the Fox y^t forst thē so, such falles might bruse their bones. But Raynard doth such deeds, and therfore strike him down, His case will serue to fur the cape of master huntsmans gowne. His Lungs full holsome be, in poulder beaten fine, For such as cough & draw their wind, with paine & mickle pine. His pyssell serues to skoure, the grauell of the stone, His greace is good for synews shronk, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 y^t grieues the bone. His tong will draw a thorne, his teeth will burnish golde, And by his death a huntsman may, haue profits manyfolde. The Henne shall roust at rest, which he was wont to rowze, The duck & geese may bring good broods, y^t pigs may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their And al the Farmers welth, may thriue & come to good, Which craftie Raynard steales sometimes, to kepe his brats in sowes. Yea soft, but who sayes thus? who did y^t Lion paint? Forsoth a man: but if a Fox might tell his tale as queint, blood. Then would he say againe, that men as craftie be, As euer Raynard was for theft: euen men which fliese a fee, From euerie widowes flocke: a capon or a chicke, A pyg, a goose, a dunghill ducke, or ought that salt will licke: Untill the widowe sterue, and can no longer giue, This was y^t Fox, fie down with him, why shuld such foxes liue? Some Foxes lie in waite, and marke the Farmers croppe, What loads of haye, what grasse for bief, what store of wood for lopp•…•…, What quantitie of graine he raiseth on his rent, And fake a new lease ore his hed, before the olde be spent. Fye on these Foxes fye, what Farmer can do welt, Where such vite vermin lie in wait, their priuy gaines to smell? Yea some can play their part, in slandring neighbors name, To say y^• wolf did kil the Lamb, when Raynerds eate y^t same. These faults with many moe, can wicked men commit, And yet they say that Foxes passe, for subtletie and wit. But shall I say my minde? I neuer yet saw day, But euery town had two or three, which Rainards parts 〈◊〉〈◊〉 play.

So that men vaunt in vaine, which say they hunt the Foxe, To kepe their neighbors poultry free, & to defende their flockes, When they them selues can spoyle, more profit in an houre, Than Raynard rifles in a yere, when he doth most deuoure. No, no, the minds of men, which still be vainely bent, Must haue their change of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as first the Hare in Lent, The Hart in Sommers heate, and me poore Foxe in cold: But wherto serue these sundry sports, these chases manyfold? Forsoth to ferde their thoughts, with drags of vaine delight, Whereon most men do muse by day, wheron they dream by night. They must haue costly clothes, they must haue deintie fare, They must haue coudxs stuft with doune, they must haue all in square. They must haue newfound games, to make thē laugh their •…•…iill, The must haue foules, they must haue beasts, to bayt; to hunt, to kyll. And all (when all is done) is nothing else but vayne, So Salomon the wiseman sayd, and so sayes Raynerd playne.