Maison rustique, or The countrey farme· Compyled in the French tongue by Charles Steuens, and Iohn Liebault, Doctors of Physicke. And translated into English by Richard Surflet, practitioner in physicke. Now newly reuiewed, corrected, and augmented, with diuers large additions, out of the works of Serres his Agriculture, Vinet his Maison champestre, French. Albyterio in Spanish, Grilli in Italian; and other authors. And the husbandrie of France, Italie, and Spaine, reconciled and made to agree with ours here in England: by Geruase Markham. The whole contents are in the page following

Of hunting or chasing of the Stag.

CHAP. XXII.

What dogs are best for the course or hunting.

THe hunting of foure footed beastes, as the stag, wild bore, the roe bucke, and the hare, is performed principally with dogs, horses, and strength of bodie, sometimes with ropes and nets, and sometimes with toiles: but these two sorts of taking of beasts are more fit for holiday men, milke sops, and cowards, than for men of valour, which delight more in the taking of such beastes, in respect of the exercise of their bodie and pleasure, than for the filling of the bellie.

Those dogges which are sit for the chace or for hunting, are most generally but of two kinds, yet particularly of diuers. The two generall sorts of dogges, are those which are called Grey-hounds, or Hounds: Grey-hounds are those which belong to the leash, and are onely for the coursing of all sorts of wilde beastes by maine swiftnesse of foot, or by running: they doe not any thing more than their eies gouerne them vnto, being led by a naturall instinct or hatred which they beare to all sorts of wild beasts, Hounds are those which by vertue of their scents, smells, or noses do find out all manner of wild beastes, following their footsteps by a lea∣surely and moderate speede, not suffering the beast to rest till they haue tired him, and made themselues Lords of the the pray: all that they doe, is as it were blind∣fold, their eies seldome or neuer seeing the game till they come to deuoure it: and as the Grey-hound through his extreame swiftnesse and running, sheweth the greedie delight which hee taketh in the sport, without once opening his mouth or making the least signe of any noise, but being as it were dumbe and mute; so the hound taking a greater leasure, sheweth the delight and pleasure which hee taketh in the game, by his continual clamours or opening, spending his mouth in such libe∣rall sort, that he makes the woods, valleys, and hills resound the eccho or doublings of his voice; and it is amongst hunts-men taken for a most excellent musicke: yet this crie of hounds or opening of their mouthes, is in no sort allowed to the liam hound, so long as he draweth in the string, all which time hee must be exceeding si∣lent, and mute like vnto the grey-hound, as well for the discouerie of the game, or footsteps whatsoeuer hee draweth after, as to hinder all preuentions that the aduer∣sarie may seeke when hee hath a warning giuen him by such clamours, for this drawing in the string, is the most sweetest discouerie of all other, and must bee done with the greatest diligence and priuacie. Now to speake of grey-hounds▪ first they are of all dogs whatsoeuer the most noble and princely, strong, nimble, swift, and valient, and though of slender and verie fine proportions, yet so well knit and

coupled together, and so seconded with spirit and mettall, that they are master of all other dogs whatsoeuer: nay, it is most certain, that the perfect and true Grey-hound will euen face to face and tooth to tooth conquer the strongest and fiercest mastiue whatsoeuer: they are of all dogs the sorest bitten and least amased with any crueltie in their enemie, whence it comes that men esteeme them and prefer them before all other dogs for the encountring of the woolfe, and other beastes of his equall cruelty. Now of these Grey-hounds, their bee two kinds, the long shag-haired, and great boned Grey-hound▪ and the smooth, slender and sine shapt Grey-hound. Now some will adde a third sort which is indifferently mixt betweene both: but in as much as he is a mungrell and bast••••dly bred betweene the two former, we will allow him no other place than as contained in the first: of these two sorts of Grey-hounds, the first which is the ••hag-haired dog, is held most proper for vermine or wild beasts which are rauenous, as the Tyger, the Leopard, Woolfe, Foxe, and such like: the other which is smooth and more delicately proportioned, are best for wild beastes of plea∣sure, as the Stag, the Bucke, the Roe▪ the Hare, and such like. These Grey-hounds are of diuers colours, as some white, some blacke, some fallow, some dun, some bren∣ded and some p••ed, as hauing white mixt with any of the former colours: and these colours haue (as touching any particular goodnesse) no preheminence one aboue another, but are all equall, Many good a••d famous dogs hauing beene of all these se∣uerall colours, onely the white is esteemed the most beautifull and best for the cie, the blacke and fallow hardest to ••ndure labour, and the dunne and brended best for potchers and night-men, who deligh to haue all their pleasures performed in darke∣nesse. Now for the choice of a good Grey-hound, there are but two principall things to be obserued, that is to s••y, breed and shape, Breed, which is euer as touching his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and generation: for if a dog be not wel descended, that is to say, begot by an ex ellent dog, or an exc••llent bitch, there can be little hope of his goodnesse. Now in the breeding of Grey-hounds, there are diuersities of opinions, for some gentle∣ment of the leash d••sire a ••ost principall bitch, though the dog be but indifferent, and suppose that so they shall haue the best whelps, supposing (according to an old coniecture) that a bitch is swifter than a dogge; but it is an erronious fancie, for the good dogge will euer beate the good bitch, and the good bitch will euer beate the bad dogge: againe it is most certaine, that the dogge hauing aduantage both of length, strength, and courage, hee must consequently haue the aduantage of speed also. I doe not denie but that the bitch being much lesse than the dogge, (as na∣turally all are) may haue some aduantage of nimblenesse, and so in turnes, slips, and wries, may get much ground which the dogge commonly looseth: but yet not∣withstanding, when the full account is cast, the good dogge will equall all those aduantages, and wheresoeuer the course shall stand forth long will beat out the good bitch and make her giue ouer.

There be other gentlemen of the leash, which desire a good dog, and respect not though the bitch be but indifferent, and this is the better choice, yet both defectiue; for where there is any imperfection at all, there nature can neuer be fully compleate. To breed then a good whelpe indeed, you must be sure to haue both a perfect good dogge and a perfect good bitch, and as neere as you can make choice of that bitch which is most large and deepest chested, for from thence springeth both strength and wind. For the true shape of a good grey-hound, because it is the very face and charracter of goodnesse, you shall esteeme that dog which hath a fine, long, leane snakes head, with a cleere bright eie, and wide nostrells, a round bending necke like a mollard, with a loose thropple, and a full falling at the setting on of the shoulders, he must haue a long, broad, and a square beame backe, with high round ••illets, and a broad space, hee must bee deepe swine sided, with hollow bended ribs, and a full brest, he mast haue rush growne limbes before, and ••ickell houghes behind, a fine, round, full cats foot, with strong cleyes and tough soles, and an euen growne long rats taile, round turning at the lower end from the leash ward, and hee must bee full set on betweene the buttockes, and lastly hee must haue a very long, slender

close hid pizell, and a round big paire of stones. The food which is best for grey-hounds, as touching their diet, is chippings or houshold bread scalded in beefe broth or other broth that is not too salt, and after made white with milke, or else the bones of veale which are verie soft and tender, or the bones of lambe, rabits, or other scraps comming from the Farmers table. In the time of coursing, or at other times, if your grey-hound be leane or out of heart, the best mea••e to raise him is sheepes heads boiled wooll and all in water together with oatemeale and synage, succorie, langdebeefe, and violet leaues chopt verie small together, and so boiled to pottage, vntill the flesh fall from the bones. The best food when a dog is in diet for a course, is to make him bread of wheate-meale and oate-meale mixt together, and finely bolted and knodden with a little water, whites of egges, barme, licoras, and any∣seeds, and so bakt in good houshold loaues, and giuen morning and night with new milke or pottage which are warme. If the dogge at any time grow costiue, you shall giue him tostes which are made of the same bread, or of manchets, and steept in sallet oile. Grey-hounds when they are for the course, must bee walkt forth and ayred both morning and euening exceeding earely, as before day in the morning, and ver••e late, as about seuen or eight of the clocke at night: and when you bring your grey-hound home at night, you shall bring him to a faire ••ire, and there let him beake and stretch himselfe, and doe you ticke him at the least an houre or more before you put him into his kennell. You must haue a very great and dili∣gent care that when you course him hee bee exceeding emptie, as at least of twelue houres fasting more than for some small sop or bit or two onely to cherish or streng∣then Nature. A brace of grey-hounds are enough at one time to course either Hare or Bucke withall, and two brace are sufficient to course the Stagge or Hind. Much more might bee said of the natures of grey-hounds, and the manner of ordering and dietting them for the course, but this small taste is sufficient both for the far∣mers vnderstanding, and to auoid tediousnesse. Now for the hounds whose natures I haue alreadie in patt discribed, and which hunt in great numbers, or as it were ••lockes together, you shall vnderstand that they are of foure sorts, and dis••••in∣guished by foure seuerall colours belonging to the foure seuerall sorts of hounds, that is to say, the white hound, the fallow or taund hound, the grey-hound, and the blacke hound.

The white are the best, for they are of quicke scent, swift, hot, and such as neuer giue ouer for any continuance of heate, or breaking off, because of the fe••ting of the horsemen, or the cries and noises of men, keeping the turnes and crossing better than any other sorts of dogs, & are more to be trusted: notwithstanding they loue to be at∣tended with horsemen, and they do feare the water somewhat, especially in Winter when the weather is cold. Those which are altogether white are the best, and likewise those which are red spotted. The other which are blacke and dirtie, gray spotted, drawing neere vnto a changeable colour, are but of small value, and whereof there are some subiect to haue fat and tender feet.

The baie coloured ones haue the second place for goodnesse, and are of great cou∣rage, ventring far, and of a quicke scent, ••inding out verie well the turnes and win∣dings, almost of the nature of the white ones, saue onely that they doe not indure the heate so well, neither yet the treadings of the horsemen, and yet notwithstanding they bee more swift and hot, and feare neither cold nor water: they runne surely, and with great boldnesse, commonly louing the Stagge more than any other beast, but they make no account of hares. It is true, that they be more head-strong and hard to reclaime than the white, and put men to more paine and trauell about the same. The best of the fallow sort of dogges, are those which are of a brighter haire, drawing neere vnto the colour of red, and hauing therewithall a white spot in the forehead, or in the necke, in like manner those which are all fallow: but such as in∣cline to a light yellow colour, being graie or blacke spotted, are nothing worth: such as are trus••ed vp and haue dewclawes, are good to make bloud-hounds. The white and baie dogs are not sit for any but Kings, Princes, and great Lords, and then not

for gentelmen, because they course only the hart, and not all sorts of game.

The graie dogs do run well at all sorts of game, that a man would haue them to hunt, but they are not so swift nor lustie as the others, especially such as haue their legs of a bay or fallow colour, drawing somewhat vnto a white: and yet notwithstan∣ding they are hot and stout, not learing water of cold, running with great cou∣rage, and neuer giuing ouer the game till they haue killed: but indeed they auoid and shun heat, the footing of horses, and the noise of men, neither do they delight in the hunting of any beastes that are giuen to wiles and crosse windings: but in recom∣pence hereof, it is possible that you may see them to ouer run the most swift and best dogs, especially after beastes that vse to run out right.

The blacke dogs are strong bodied, but they haue low and short legs, in like manner they bee nothing swift, howsoeuer they may bee of a quicke s••ent, fearing neither cold nor waters, and they doe delight most in coursing the rammish and strong scented beastes, as wild Bores, Foxes, and such like, because they neither haue mind, nor yet swiftnesse to course and take the beastes that bee swift in run∣ning. But whereas it is commonly giuen out and reported, that their are good dogs of euerie shape, it may bee so brought to passe, as that the hare may not make much for the arguing of the goodnesse of the dogge, and that there are found of all colours good and faire dogges: for this cause it is both meere and requisite that a dogge (of what haire or colour soeuer hee be) to the end hee may be faire and good, haue these notes and markes following: his head must be reasonably thicke, rather long than flat nosed, his nostrells very wide and great, his eares large, and of a meane thickenesse, his backe crooked in compasse wise, his loynes great and thicke, his lippes thicke and large, his thigh round and trussed, his houghs straight and well set together, his taile thicke neere vnto his backe, and the rest of it small and leane euen to the end, the haire vnder his bellie stiffe, his legs great, the sole of his foot drie, and shaped like vnto the foot of a Fox, his nailes thicke, his hin∣der parts as high as his sore parts. The male kind must be short and crooked: but the bitch or female long.

The signification and meaning of these signes is such: his wide nostrels do argue his quicke scent: his vaulted backe and straight hams do argue his swiftnes: his taile thicke aboue, and slender downe to the end, both signifie that he hath a strong back, and wind at will: the stiffenesse of his haire vnderneath his bellie doth shew that he is willing & painfull, fearing neither water nor cold: his thick leg, fox foot, and thick nailes, doth signifie that he hath no sat or gouty foot, and that he hath strong limbs, to run long without griefe or annoiance.

But for as much as it is hard to get such hunting dogs when one would, as are both good hunters and faire withall, it will be requisite to prouide a faire bitch of a good race, strong, and of wel proportioned limbs, hauing great and large sides and flanks: and to procure her to be limed with a faire dog, hauing the markes that we haue spo∣ken of before, and that at such time onely (if it be possible) as when the Moone is in the signes of Gemini and Aquariys, for the dogs that are gotten at such times are not so subiect to run mad, and besides, there will be of them moe dogs than bitches. When the bitch is with whelpe, and beginneth to haue a bagging bellie, she may not be set to course, least her young ones should bee kept from euer thriuing: her walke then must not be past the court or house, neuer shutting her vp in any kennell, be∣cause she is wearisome, and giuen to loath all meat. When she hath whelped (the fit∣test time for which is in March, Aprill, and May, rather than either in Winter, or in the time of great heat) and that the whelpes begin to see, they must bee ••ed with cowes milke, sheepes milke, or goates milke, vnmixt and made warme, neither must they be taken from sucking the bitch, till they be two moneths old, and then feeding them with milke meats, bread, and all sorts of pottage, till they be ten moneths old, and all this while thus to keepe them in the kennell.

Hounds would bee fed all together in one kennell, meete and conuenient for them▪ to the end they may know and heare one another: because that those which are fed

together, they become the better acquainted, and agree better in hunting than those that are of diuers kennels and places.

Their meat shall be bread made of a third part of wheate, a third part of barley, and a third part of rie, because that being so mixt it keepeth them faire and fat, and cureth them of many maladies: for and if it should be made of rie onely, it would make them scoure too much: if of pure wheat, it would bind too much in their bel∣lies, and therefore the one mixt with the other. There must bee giuen them some flesh meate in Winter, but especially vnto those that are leane, and hunt the stag: but to those that hunt the hare you must neuer giue any, least they sleshing them∣selues vpon the greater game, they make light account of hares, which thrust them∣selues commonly into the middest of tame cattel••▪ to shift off the dogges by that meanes, who vpon such occasion might leaue off the hare, and fall to course the tame cattell: but the dogs which hunt the hart would neuer do it, because the stag is of a more full and strong scent than the hare, as also because their flesh is more dain∣tie and delicate than any other. The best flesh meat that can bee giuen them, and which doth strengthen them most, is horse-flesh, asse-flesh, and mules-flesh: but as for oxen, kine, and other such like, their flesh is to them of too eager and sharpe a substance. Their flesh meate must first haue their hide pluckt off, that so they may not haue any knowledge of the beast, nor of his haire. Good huntsmen make great ac∣count of pottage made of mutton, goates flesh, and oxe heads for their leane dogs, which hunt the hare: and you must mingle sometimes amongst these pottage a little brimstone to heat them withall.

As for your raw flesh meate (which amongst huntsmen it called ket) if you do not eate it all at a meale, you shall preserue it in some cleare running streame by suffering it to lie hid in the water till your next occasion to vse it. Oates ground hulls and all, and so scalded in hot water, is a very good mange or meate for hounds, and so is al∣so your mill-dust scalded in the same manner. But if your hounds happen to fall weake, or sicke, or bee ouer hunted, then you shall take the bagges and intrailes of sheepe, hauing turned the filth and excraments forth, and washt the bagges well, and also the sheepes pluckes and boyle them in faire water with a good quanti∣of ••atemeale, till the pottage bee thicke, and so giue it reasonably warme to the hounds: this is a soueraigne good meate, and it is very comfortable for weake and sicke dogs, of what kind soeuer they bee, and bring them into lust and strength so∣denly.

Their kennell must be made in some place standing vpon the East, through the midst whereof dot••••un some little riuer or spring. The place wherein the dogs shall lie, shall be builded with very white wals, and floores of boords close ioined, for ••eare that spiders, fleas, wal-lice, and such like should breed there. He that shall be appoin∣ted to keepe them must be gentle, mild, and courteous, louing dogs of his naturall in∣stinct, and such a one as will make them cleane, and dresse them carefully with wisps of straw and little brushes: being readie to giue them some prettie dainties to ••ate, and to draw them alongst the greene corne and meadowes, as wel to giue them appe∣tite to their meat, as also to learne them to run, and to cause them to passe through the the flockes of sheepe and other tame cattell, that so they may bee accustomed vnto them, and be made to know them.

I•• the dogs be sicke, you must vse the remedies following: for lice, ••leas, and other vermine▪ wherewith dogs are loden oftentimes, especially in the times of great heat, you must bath them, or at the least wash them and rub them with a wispe, with a de∣coction made of large quantitie, with ten good handfulls of wild cresses, wild marie∣rome, sage, rosemarie, rue▪ patience, and fix handfulls of ••alt, all being well boiled together to the consumption of the herbs.

To driue out wormes, you must soke perrosin made into pouder, aloes po••dred, vnquencht lime, and liue brimstone made likewise into pouder, euen all these in one oxegall, and with this liquor rub the place infected with wormes.

If dogs be bitten of serpents, you must cause them to take downe the iuice of the

leaues of ash tree incontinently: or else a glasse full of the decoction of rue, white mullein, mints and broome, whereunto must be added the weight of a French crown of treacle, applying treacle in like manner vnto the bitten place.

When the dogs are bitten of mad dogs, they must forthwith be cast into a vessell of sea water nine times one after another: or for lacke of sea water, into common wa∣ter wherein hath bin dissolued foure bushels of salt; & this will preserue them from going mad. And if it happen that you haue not prouided this remedie timely in∣ough, but that now the dog is fallen mad, to the end that you may keepe the other from the same mischiefe, you shall be carefull, that the mad dog run not abroad, and therefore you shall kill him by and by, for it is but all in vaine and altogether im∣possible to goe about to cure such madnesse: the signes of such madnesse are the drawing vp of of his taile at the vpper end, hanging the rest straight downe, a very blacke mouth without any froth, a heauie looke and that aside in ou••••thwart and crosse manner.

Against the scabs, tetters, itch, and gauls of dogs, you must take three pounds of the oile of nuts, one pound and a halfe of the oile of oile of lees, two pounds of old swines grease, three pounds of common honie, a pound and a halfe of vineger, and make them all boile together, to the consumption of the halfe of the vineger, putting thereto afterward of perrosin and common pitch, of each two pounds and a halfe, of new waxe halfe a pound, melt altogether, casting in thereto afterward the pouders that follow, a pound and a halfe of brimstone, two pounds of reboiled coperas, and twelue ounces of verdegrease, making them all vp together in an oint∣ment: but they must be washed with water and salt, before they be annointed with this ointment.

For the wormes in dogs, you must make a drinke of the decoction wherein haue beene boiled wormewood, southrenwood, and the shauings of harts-horne: or else cause them to swallow downe pils made of harts-horne, brimstone, aloes, and the iuice of wormewood.

When the dogs are tired, rub their feet with this restrictiue, made of the yelkes of egs, the iuice of pomegranets and soot finely poudred, all of it being wel mingled to∣gether, and left to settle one whole day.

Dogs are often hurt of wild bores in many parts of their bodies, and then accor∣ding to the places where they are hurt, they must bee ordered and looked to with dressing of their wounds. If the wound be in his bellie, and that the guts comeforth vnhurt, you must first put them in againe, and then afterward put into the bellie in the place where the hole is, a slice of lard, and so sow vp the skin aboue: but the thred must be knit of a knot and made fast at euerie stitch of the needle, and withall cutoff the thred at euery stitch so fastened: as much is to bee performed in the wounds that shall be made in other places, alwaies obseruing to put some lard into them.

For wounds which dogs shall receiue, the iuice of the leaues of red coleworts is a very souerainge balme (being applied presently vnto the wound) healing them vp very speedily: or else take the iuice of Nicotiana, whereof we haue spoken in the second booke.

Against the canker breeding in the eares of dogs, taking a dramme of Sope, of oile of Tartar, Salarmoniacke, Brimstone, and Verdegrease, incorporated all to∣gether with white vineger and strong water, and rub the cankered eares therewith nine mornings.

If the dogs after they haue run in frost after raine, and such other bad weather, or swum the riuers & lakes, after the game, come to take cold, presently as soone as they come to their kennell they must be chafed and dried at a great fire, and after that their bellies rubbed and wiped with wispes, thereby to wipe away the dirt sticking vnto them.

Oftentimes in coursing ouer the fields & rocks dogs come to haue the skin striken off of their feet: for the remedying whereof, it will bee good first to wash their feet with water and salt, and after to make a cataplasme of the yelkes of egs beaten with

strong vineger, and the iuice of the herbe called Pilosella.

I•• in coursing they shall haue taken any thrushes vpon any part of their bodies, with the the tip of the harts horne, or with the bores tuske, you must applie to the place a plaister of the root of great comfrey, an emplaister of melisote and oile of ro∣ses, as much of the one as of the other: but before you applie the plaister, you must cut the haire away from the place where the griefe is.

To cause dogs to pisse, make them drinke the decoction of mallowes, hollihocks, the roots of ••ennell and brambles made with white wine.

If dogs haue gotten any disease in their eares, drop therein veriuice mingled with the water of cheruile, continuing to do so three or foure mornings.

You shall find a larger discourse of the nature, conditions, differences and diseases of dogs in the first Booke, in the chapter of the kennell.

Yet because there is one other sort of hunting dogs, which although they are for birds and not for wild beasts, yet in their kinds they are as noble and as generous as any other dogs whatsoeuer, and as much in vse amongst great persons, and these dogs are called field or land spannels, of which sith before no Auther hath fully intreated: I will here giue you a little touch or tast of the nature, disposition, and manner of go∣••ening them. To speake then of the land spannell, you shall vnderstand, that he is be nature very gentle, courteous, and louing to the man more than any other sort of dogs whatsoeuer: they also naturally loue to hunt the wing of any bird whatsoeuer, especially partridge, pheasant, quaile, raile, poots, and such like: when you make choice of any spannell, you shall chuse him by his shape, beautie, mettall, and cun∣ning hunting, his shape is descerned in the good composition of his bodie, as when he hath a round thicke head, a short nose, a long, well compast and hairie eare, broad and sydelips, a cleere red eie, a thicke neck, broad breast, short and well knit ioints, round feete, strong cleys, high dewcleyd, good round ribs, a gaunt bellie, a short broad backe, a thicke bushie and long haired taile, and all his bodie generally long and well haired: his beautie is discerned in his colour, of which the motleys or pide are the best, whether they bee blacke and white, red and white, or liuer hued and white; for to be all of one entire colour, as all white, or all bladke, or all red, or all liuer hued without any other spot, is not so comely in the field, although the dogs not∣withstanding may be of excellent cunning: his mettall is discerned in his free and vntired laboursome raunging, beating a field ouer and ouer, and not leauing a fur∣row vntrodden or vnsearcht where any haunt is likely to bee hidden, and when hee doth it most coragiously and swiftly, with a wanton playing taile, and a busie labou∣ring nose, neither desisting or shewing lesse delight in his labour at night than he did in the morning; and his cunning hunting is discerned by his casting about heedfully, and running into the wind of the pray he seeketh, by his stilnesse and quietnesse in hunting without babling or barking, but when hee is vpon an assured and certaine haunt, by the manner of his raunging, as when hee compasseth a whole field about at the first, and after lesneth and lesneth that circumference till he haue trodden euery path, and brought the whole circuit to one point; and by his more temperate and leasurely hunting, when he comes to the first scent of the game, sticking vpon it, and pricking it out by degrees, not opening or questing by any meanes, but whim∣pring and whining to giue his master a warning of what he scenteth, and to prepare himselfe and his hauke for the pleasure hee seeketh, and when he is assured of his game, then to quest out loudly and freely. Now it is to be vnderstood, that it is hard to haue one spannell to be absolute cunning in all the qualities of hunting, as to be an excellent raunger, an excellent finder, and an excellent retainer, because one qualitie is almost in nature cleere contrarie to another; for he that is a good and free raunger can neuer be confined or bound into one particular small compasse, but will out of his owne mettall breake forth into much larger compasse, and so both lose time in hunting, and also giue the game more leasure to get breath, or fleit away priuatly from the place where it was markt, and so deceiue the hauke of her expectation, and in like sort a good retainer which will sticke vpon the place whereto he is oppointed

and will beat it ouer and ouer many times, euen as it were by inchmeale, neuer leauing till he haue sprung the game he seeketh, can neuer bee esteemed for a good raunger, because the leasure he taketh will not giue him leaue to rid much ground, and so like∣wise of all other seuerall qualities: therefore euery man must esteeme his spannyel for the one good qualitie he holdeth, and cannot for diuers, and so mixing his kennell of good raungers, good noses, and retainers, he shall bee sure to attaine to the vtter∣most height of his pleasure he wisheth. There bee some spannels which delight in the plaine and open field, and those are the best for the partridge, quaile, or raile: there be othe others which delight in woods, hedges, bushes, and couerts, and those are best for the pheasant and moore poo••, and these are commonly the best retainers, and the former the best raungers.

There is also another sort of land spannyels, which are called Setters, and they dif∣for nothing from the former, but in instruction or obedience; for these must neither hunt, raunge, nor retaine more or lesse than as the master appointeth, taking the whole limits of whatsoeuer they doe from the eie or hand of their instructer: they must neuer at any time quest what occasion soeuer shall happen, but as being dogs without voices, so they must hunt close and mute, and when they come vpon the haunt of that they hunt: they shall sodainly stop and fall downe vpon their bellies, and so leasurely creepe by degrees to the game, till they come within two or three yards thereof, or so neere that they cannot presse neerer without daunger of retriu∣ing, then shall your Setter ••••icke, and by no persuasion go further, till your selfe come in and vse your pleasure. Now the dogs which are to be made for this pleasure, should be the most principall best and lustiest spannyell you can get, both of good scent and good courage, yet young, and as little as may bee made acquanted with much hun∣ting: the way to traine him to his knowledge, is by all louing meanes, or else awfull where loue taketh not effect, as by fasting, threatnings, and some stripes to make him both feare and loue you far aboue all other persons, and to that end you shall suffer him to receiue no good thing from any man but your selfe onely: when you haue made him thus enamoured of you, you shall (as men teach hounds to couch with bits and blowes) teach him to couch downe close vpon his bellie when you please, by saying Lie close, or such like word: for you are to vnderstand, that in this excer∣cise, the principall thing which is to be respected, is constancie of words, that is by no meanes to vse many words, or change of words, for that breeds a confusion in the dogs braines, and makes them that they cannot vnderstand you, and where vnder∣standing is taken away, there neuer looke to haue your will performed: therefore you shall neuer vse but one word for incouragement or cherrishing, as hay good dog, or such like, but one word for aduice or threatning, as Be wise, or such like, one word for performance of duetie, as Lie close, and one word for the bettering of his duetie, as Goe neere, and such like, and so forth for the performance of any other thing what∣soeuer. Yet I do not bind you to these words only & none other, but to inuent words, so they intend to this sence, as you please, and hauing made choice of your words, not by any meanes to alter or change them, but to vse your dog constantly to them that he may truely vnderstand when he is cherisht, when chid, when taught, when forewarned or aduised: for the whole art of making these setting dogs, consisteth in these words onely, for if one word being vsed, that word knowne, any man may hunt with the dog as well as his master, and so euery knaue greedie to steale him: but hauing libertie to make choice of your owne words, except you teach them, a man shall be neuer the better for hauing of the dog. To proceed then to our purpose, assoone as you haue taught your dog to lie close vpon his bell••e, you shall then make him creepe vnto you vpon his bellie, by leasurable and slow degrees, saying vnto him go neere go neere or such like, and euer obseruing in that as in all things else, to cherrish and reward him when he doth well, and to threaten or correct him when he doth amisse: and in this matter of correction, you must also be certaine, as in your words, and not vse diuers corrections, but one, as either to bite him or nip him by the care root, or other sencible part, where you may paine him, but not hurt or lame him.

When your dogge will couch and creepe vpon his bellie, to make him the better delight in doing it, you shall lay a piece of bread three or foure yards before him, and then make him couch downe and creepe close vpon his bellie vnto it, and be∣ing come with his nose iust ouer it, not to take it till you giue him leaue: vvhich o∣bedience when he hath shewed, you may then giue him leaue to eat it, and cherish him. When the dogge is verie perfect in this lesson, which is but only to bring him to obedience, and to the true manner of carriage and concealement of his bodie, you shall then take him abroad into the field, and giue him leaue to raunge, yet in such manner, that he got not an ynch further than you giue him leaue, but with the least hemme or threatening of your voice to be readie to come euen to your foot, al∣though he be neuer so earnest vpon his game: the contrarie vvhereof, vvhen at any time hee sheweth, you shall not forget, but in the verie selfe-same instant beat and correct him verie soundly. Now when you haue brought him vnto that obedi∣ence, that he will raunge according to your pleasure either in large or little com∣passe, you shall then take care, that not at any time, or vpon any occasion whatsoe∣uer, that he dare to quest or open his mouth, but that he hunt so silent and mute as is possible: and if at any time hee offer to quest, though neuer so little, presently you must not forbeare, but correct him, till he come to an vnderstanding of your vvill therein: and when he vnderstandeth your vvill, yet notwithstanding doth quest, you shall not onely beat him, but lead him home, and tie him vp from meat till the next day, not ceasing to hunger-starue him, till hee doe performe your pleasure: vvhich done, then reward him liberally both with good meat and with plentie: vvhich the dogge once finding, hee will both for feare, loue, and the reliefe of his owne bellie, labour his vtmost to please you. Now as soone as you find your dogge is brought both vnto obedience and mute hunting, you shall then, as soone as you find him busie vpon any haunt, which you shall note by the businesse of his taile, and sticking long in one place, with a kind of secret whining, to shew that he is neere to that which he desireth: forthwith you shall draw neere vnto him, and giue him words both of encouragement and aduice, saying, Hay good dog, goe neere, or such like: and if you find him too busie or hastie, you shall threaten and bid him be wise, and such like, till you see him lie close vpon his bellie, and that he dare not goe any further: then you shall fetch a large compasse round about the place where the dog lieth, and cast your eie diligently into the couert to see whether you can find out the game, which as soone as you haue done, if you find that the dog hath set too far off, that is twentie or thirtie yards short, as timerousnesse and fearefulnesse will make a young dogge many times doe: then you shall incourage him and make him goe somewhat neerer, but if hee set within the compasse of three or foure yards, then you shall make him lie still, vntill such time as either your hauke bee at her pitch, or your nets bee spread, and then your selfe shall goe or ride into the couert and spring them, and the game being taken, you shall not forget to reward your dogge. Now if during this maine action of setting, which is after the dog hath first stucke and giuen you warning of the game, if hee shall vpon any occasion whatsoeuer, either by haste, negligence, or the frenzie of his owne desire, or otherwise by a too open carriage of his bodie doe spring the game before you bee readie for it, you shall in∣stantly correct him foundly, and also tie him vp that night without any meate, keeping him so fearefully in awe of the game, that if at any time he shall, either by too hastie raunging, or anie other vnexpected chaunce, happen vpon the game vnawares, yet shall his feare so gouerne him, that hee shall vpon the ve∣rie instant sight of his error not onely stoppe suddainely, but also cast himselfe toppe ouer tayle backward, rather than by pressing forward an ynch endanger the springing of the game. Which vvhen at any time you perce••ue him to doe, you shall then immediately cherish him, notwithstanding the losse of your game at that instant, in as much as therein hee shewed a vvillingnesse to haue done the contrarie vpon any occasion, if mischance had not beene his hinderance.

Now for the food vvhich is best for spanyels, it is that vvhich is before prescribed for greyhounds, as chippings, bones, and broken crusts of bread, scalded in vvater and milke, or the heads, plucks, and entrailes of sheepe, boyled with oatmeale: yet the setting spanyell vvould for the most part be fedde from the trencher vvith scraps of meat, bones, bread, and such like: for by reason that he must be kept much fa∣sting, since he cannot hunt but vvhen he is exceeding emptie, it is verie fit that he be kept vvith as good as nourishing meat as can be gotten. Now to conclude this discourse of hunting dogges, you shall vnderstand, that there is one other sort of spanyels, and they be called vvater-spanyels, because they delight onely naturally in the vvater, and are imployed for the hunting of Duckes, Mallards, and all sorts of vvater-fowle: they are much larger and bigger bodied than the land-spanyels are, and a great deale more strong and Lyon-like made: their haire is also verie long, rough, and thicke curled, vvhich sheweth their hard constitution and abilitie to endure the vvater, albeit the vveather be neuer so fiercely and bitterly cold. They receiue all their vertues from nature, and not from instruction: and therefore to make any large discourse of them, vvere fri••olous: onely, for as much as they are verie necessarie to attend the fowler, for the fetching of his fowle out of the vvater, vvhen they are either lymed or strucken vvith the piece, it is meet that they be brought to great obedience, that is to say, to fetch, carrie, runne, couch, and creepe, vvhensoeuer a man pleaseth, least otherwise, out of the franticknesse of their owne natures, they scarre away the game vvhilest the fowler is the most busily imployed. These dogges are lesse tender than any of the other, and therefore any meat vvill serue them: neither would they be vsed to any nicenesse, because their most imploy∣ment is in the Winter season. And thus much touching hunting dogges and their gouernments.

CHAP. XXIII.

How young hounds are to be trained vp and made fit for the game.

IT is not y••o••gh to haue a number of good and faire dogges, vvell mar∣ked vvith markes, declaring both the said qualities, for they must ouer and aboue be taught and trained vp for the game. Wherefore the hunts∣man must first bring them to vnderstand the sound of the horne, to swim and haunt the vvater, that so they may be the more readie and forward to pursue the beast, if so be that he should seeke to saue himselfe by any running riuer or stan∣ding lake. Hee must lead them also once a weeke into the fields, but not before the age of sixteene or eighteene moneths, for before such age they are not throughly growne and well knit in all their members. But especially hee must well aduise to what kind of game he is purposed to vse them, as vvhether to course the Hart, or the Hinde, the wild Bore, or the Hare: for looke vvhat beasts you first runne them at, those will they best remember alwaies, especially if there be care had to looke any thing well vnto them.

You must not course with them in the morning, if possibly you can auoid it: for hauing beene accustomed to the coolenesse of the morning, and comming afterward to the height of the day, and feeling therein the heat of the Sunne, they will not runne any more.

You must not put on young dogges the first time within a toile, because the beast running altogether round, and therefore alwaies in the sight of the dogges, so when afterwards they should be brought to runne out of the toile, and by that meanes be∣come

cast any great distance behind the beast, it would be the cause of their giuing ouer and forsaking of the game.

It shall be for the better (to the end they may be the better trained and fitted) to put all the young ones together with foure or fiue old ones, at such time as you pur∣pose to hunt with them. Neither shall you compell your young hounds to make more hast than their owne natures leads them vnto, but encouraging them to trust to their owne noses, let them take what leysure they please, and picke out the sent of themselues, that comming truely to vnderstand what they hunt, they may be mo••e perfect and readie in the same: vvhereas on the contrarie part, being compelled to hunt vp close with the older and swifter hounds, they hunt (as it were) by rote, catching the sent here and there, and goe away with it both vncertainely and igno∣rantly, and so seldome or neuer prooue sta••••che or good hounds. It is also verie meete to enter all young hounds at the Hare first, because it is the sweetest and coo∣lest of all sents vvhatsoeuer, and the hound which will hunt it, must necessarily hunt any other hoter sent vvith much more violence: for it is a rule, That vvhosoeuer can doe the hardest things, must forcibly doe things easier with lesse difficultie. Therefore first enter your hound (as before is said) at the Hare, least finding a sweetnesse and easinesse of hunting in the hoter sents, hee neuer after lay his nose to the cooler.

CHAP. XXIIII.

How that the Hart and the place where he haunteth and vseth to lie, would be knowne before yee course or hunt him.

KIngs, Princes, and great Lords (to whom, and no others, belongeth the coursing of the Hart) haue not vsed to course the Hart, before they haue learned of their hunts-man vvhat manner of Hart he is, young or old, and whether he be a faire and great one, and such a one as deserueth to be coursed, and then afterward where his haunt and lodging is.

The hunts-man shall know the age and fairenesse of the Hart in respect of others, by iudgement of the forme of his foot, the largenesse of his tines, his dung, gate, bea∣tings, breakings, and rubbings.

The sole of the foot being great and large, the heele also being thicke and large, the little cleft which is in the middest of the foot, being large and open, a large legge, a thick bone, being also short, but nothing sharpe, and the tippes of his clawes round and thicke, are signes of an old Hart. The elder Harts in their gate doe neuer ouer-reach the former foot with the hinder, for they tread short of it at the least foure ••ingers: but it is not so in young Harts, for they in their gate doe ouer-reach and set the hinder foot more forward than the fore-foot, after the manner of the ambling Mule. The Hinde hath commonly a long foot, narrow, and hollow, with small cut∣ting bones.

The excrement and dung of Harts is not alike at all times: for some is printed, othersome vvrythen round, and othersome flat and broad: and if it be large, grosse, and thicke, it is a signe that they are Harts of tenne tynes, that is to say, such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue shot tenne small hornes out of the stocke. In Iune and Iuly they make their dung in thicke vvreaths that are verie soft: and yet there are some of them that make it flat and broad, vntill mid Iune: And from mid Iuly vnto the end of Au∣gust, their dung is printed, grosse, long, and knottie, vvell hammered, annoyn∣ted, or gilded: and these are the markes to know Harts of tenne tynes from the old ones.

The cariages of a Hart are said to be, when a Hart passing through a thicke and twiggie vvood, hitteth with his head against the boughes of trees: for so it commeth to passe, that if the Hart be tall and large, the cariages will also be somewhat large. Now the iudgement vvhich the hunts-man can gather of the carriages, cannot be but from after Iuly vntill March: for the other foure moneths, that is to say, March, A∣prill, May, and Iune, the Harts cast their heads, that is to say, their hornes. True it is, that they begin to put forth new hornes by the moneth of Aprill, and as the Sunne mounteth higher, and grasse groweth higher also, and harder, so their homes grow and wax greater: so that by the middest of Iune their heads will be fully see and gar∣nished with all that which they are to beare all the yeare long, prouided that they be in a good thriuing countrey, and come not by any hurt or annoyance. You may like∣wise iudge of their age by the tynes of their hornes: for as for the first yeare, they haue no hornes: the second yeare they haue their first hornes, which are called daggers: the third yeare, foure, sixe, or eight tynes: the fourth yeare, eight or tenne tynes: the fifth yeare, tenne or twelue: the sixth, twelue, foureteene, or sixteene: and in the se∣uenth, their hornes put forth the greatest number of tynes that euer they will beare, for after it they put forth no moe, but those grow greater which are put forth. Yet notwithstanding, the old Harts will alwaies be knowne, by hauing the whole root of their hornes large and grosse, the bodie or stock very bright, and set with pearles, and strait and large heads, rather open than turned compasse-wise.

By the going of the Hart, the hunts-man shal be able to iudge whether the Hart be great and long, and so likewise, if he will stand long in course before the dogges: for the Harts which haue long paces, hold out longer in coursing, than those which haue short paces, and they are also quicker, swifter, and longer breathed.

It is knowne if the Hart be tall and long-legged, and likewise of what bulke or bignesse his bodie is, by marking where he entreth into the thicke amongst brakes and small wood, which he shall haue let passe betwixt his legges: for looke at what height he hath beaten them downe with his belly, so high must you iudge him to be on his legges. The grossenesse of his bodie is perceiued by the two sides of the way which he hath touched with his bodie: for he will haue broken off the drie boughes and branches on both sides; so that thereby you may gather the grossenesse and great∣nesse of his bodie.

As concerning the rubbings of the Hart, by how much the elder they are, by so much the rather are they giuen to rub, and that vpon great trees: vvherefore, vvhen the huntsman shall perceiue the branches of the tree to be broken downe, then hee shall be able to gather the height and largenesse of the Harts head: howbeit, this is but a darke and obscure marke.

Thus and by these meanes it may come to passe, that the hunts-man may collect and gather the age and largenesse of the Hart, and yet notwithstanding remaine as ignorant as euer he was of the place where he lyeth, and from where he may find him in his secret haunt and priuie by-walkes. And therefore to be assured throughly, it behooueth him to haue some one or other verie good bloud-hound, hauing a verie quicke and exquisite sent, that so he may the more easily find out and follow the foot of the Hart: besides which meanes, it must be prouided, that the hunts-man be not ignorant of the places in generall, which the Hart is accustomed to resort vnto, al∣though they be diuers, according to the moneths of the yeare; for Harts doe change their vvalkes and feeding euerie moneth, according as the Sunne mounteth and as∣cendeth: for which cause, in Nouember you must looke to find the Harts amongst furze, briers, or heath, the crops and flowers whereof they loue to brouze and feede vpon, thereby to restore nature after they haue beene at rut. In December they haunt the ••nner parts and hart of the forrest, to purchase thereby the shield of the vvood a∣gainst cold vvinds, snow, and the noysomenesse of frosts following raine. In Ianua∣rie they draw neere the corners of the forrests, and seeke reliefe amongst the greene corne-fields, vpon Rye, and such like. In Februarie and March, because they then cast their hornes, they hide themselues amongst the bushes, and so they continue like∣wise

for all Aprill and May. In Iune and Iuly, they applie the cut-woods and corne, at which time they are in their prime, and fullest fatted: then also they seeke after wa∣ter, because of the great heat which doth alter and change them, and drinke vp the dew and moistnesse of the wood, which then beginneth to wax hard. In September and October, they forsake the bushes and go to rut, and then they keeps no certaine place, nor manner of feeding, because they range after the Hindes, and follow their waies and steps, carrying their noses close by the ground to take the scent of them, nothing regarding or carefull to find out by the wind, if there bee any secretly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to do them harme: as thus also they passe and spend both day and night, being so enraged and feruently caried away with the rut, as that they thinke that there is not any thing that can hurt them: then also they liue with a very small, as namely of that which is within themselues (alwaies following the steps and footings of the Hind) and next principally the great red mushrums, which helpeth to bring them to the pissing of their tallow, for which causes; they are very easily killed at such times, if the venison were good.

Thus the hunts-man may haue a generall notion of the haunt of the Hart, and so he shall not seeke in any other places, then where hee ordinarily maketh his abode. And now when by the meanes aforesaid, he is sure of the place, it remaineth onely that he learne his den or the place of his particular resort: and forthe diligent finding out of the same, he must go earely to the place, which he knoweth to be the generall haunt of Harts for the present time and houre, as is before declared: and he shall lead with him his bloud-hound that is not giuen to open, to foot him withall, hauing first wet his nostrels with good vineger, that so he may haue the better scent. He may also gather some perceiuerance by the other markes before specified, that is to say, by the prints of his feete vpon the grasse, by the carriages of his head, his dung, gate bea∣tings, and rubbings which hee may make vpon such things as hee meeteth withall in his way: howbeit the hunts-man in this case must bee ruled according to the va∣riablenesse of the place where hee maketh search, for it is one craft and s••eight to find the lodging of the Hart amongst the vnderwood, another amongst the corne fields, and a third kind of skill to find him out amongst the high woods, and they are better learned by practise in hunting and experience, than by instructions deli∣uered in writing: and to the end I may not be too tedious, I will say no more of this matter.

CHAP. XXV.

How the Hart must be hunted.

THe hunts-man after deligent search, hauing gotten as well the fairenesse and largenesse of the Hart, as also the lodging, shall come and make re∣port vnto the King, or vnto his Lord (for we haue said before that the hunting of the Hart belongeth vnto Kings, Princes, and great states) of his indeauour, representing vnto him the dung of the Hart which he shall haue marked, making rehearsall withall of the markes and notes of the Hart which hee hath seene: and then his Lord may make choice of and appoint the day and houre, for the hunting of the hart in the place which hath bin foretold by the hunts-man.

The day appointed, the horsemen must bee readie to bee gone earely in the mor∣ning, hauing with their guid and dogs (as well their bloud-hounds and coursers, as those which are to be put on in a set and certaine place for the easing of those which had him in chace before) as also whatsoeuer other their necessarie furniture. And when they are come to the place, they shall make diligent search to find out where the Hart is lodged, and that both by their bloud-hound that will not open, as al∣so by other meanes that they may deuise and inuent before they make choice of any

standing for their dogges, either coursers, or of easement. When they haue cast about the couert, and found the layre of the Deere, they shall take vp the Lya•• hound, and first place the Hewed round about that side of the vvood, out of which they would by no meanes haue the Deere to breake through or passe. This Hewed is a cer∣taine companie of men coasting that side of the couert about, and making continu∣all noyses and clamors, whereby they may affright the Deere from daring to attempt to come neere that coast. Then on that side through which they would haue the Deere to passe, and where the course shall be made, there they shall in senet stands, made in the trees, twentie paces vvithin the vvood, place the Bowes, vvhich, as the Deere shall passe by, may shoot according to their skils and fortunes. And this coast shall be kept with all the secretnesse and priuacie that may be: and great regard shall be had of taking the vvind, least the Deere find offence as he is hunted. When the Bowes are placed, then on the next champion ground, and as neere the couert as you can conueniently, you shall place your Teasers, that is, the first brace of grey∣hounds for the course, vvhich should be the lightest, nimblest, and swiftest dogges you haue, that putting the Stagge to the vtmost of his speed at first, he may be the lesse able to endure his course foorth. Then a quarter of a myle before them, or more, according to the quantitie of ground, you shall place your Reset, vvhich vvould be a brace of greyhounds somewhat stronger than the former, vvhich comming in more fresh, may pinch sorer, and make the Deere in more despaire of safetie. Lastly, a quarter of a myle before them, you shall place your Backset, vvhich vvould be two of the strongest and forest biting greyhounds you can get, vvho taking aduantage of the Stagges wearinesse, and comming to pinch, may there hold him, vvithout suffe∣ring him to tunne further. When you haue thus placed your course, you shall then take your hunting hounds, and vncoupling them, cast them off into the couert, en∣couraging them both with hornes and voices, till they haue the Deere on foot, and so hunt him, till you haue brought him to take his end at the Bowes, or in the course. But if you make no vse either of Bowes or Greyhounds, but onely intend to hunt the Stagge at force with hounds onely, then as soone as you haue cast off your hounds, and got the Stagge on foot, you shall by all the diligent meanes you can, get sight of him so soone as is possible, and vpon his view take such speciall and true knowledge of him, that vvhensoeuer you shall crosse him, you may know him from anie other Deere vvhatsoeuer: And then you shall giue good heede vnto his manner of hunting, and vnto the sleights vvhich hee vseth in the chase; of all vvhich vvee shall speake seuerally hereafter. And in case your hounds may be ouer-haled and vvearied by the long standing of the Stagge, it shall not bee amisse to haue hounds of easement in some conuenient place, vvhich you may cast off in the middest of the day to relieue the former, and make the chase or royle much shorter.

The Hart being once perceiued by the horsemen, or winded by the bloud▪ hound, they must place their dogges of easement at three or foure seuerall stands, and cer∣taine places, to the end that they may ease the other dogges which are wearie with running, or haue lost the footing of the Hart, and so by them giue new chase vnto the beast: and such dogges of easement shall bee so set in companies, that if the first faile and giue ouer the chase, yet the later may be the more strong, able, and fierce kind of dogge, following the chase, not coldly, a farre off, and behind, as the others, but leading the way before all the rest, and that with great stoutnesse and courage.

The dogges of easement being placed in standings most conuenient, the coursing dogges must be vncoupled for to runne; regard being had according to the place where the Hart was seene.

The horsemen tending vpon the companie of dogges, shall second the coursing dogges, and wind their horne, the more to encourage them, casting 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the way of the Hart, thereby to hinder his swiftnes in running, if so be the 〈…〉〈…〉 not alreadie cast some therein, in his watch, at such time as he made search to find out

the lodging of the Hart, or else the horsemen themselues, before the vncoupling and letting loose of the coursing dogges. In the meane time, if it fall out, that the Hart in his course doe happen to passe neere vnto the dogges of easement, the horseman which keepeth the same, must marke whether the Hart be pursued with anie of the companie of the coursing dogges, and then presently to vncouple the companie of his dogges of easement, hallowing and whupping the dogges continually, and casting of boughs of trees in the way where the Hart should passe: but if he pe••ceiue that there be not any of the companie of the coursing dogges, neither yet heare any noise of the men that are hunting, hee must not vncouple any of his dogges, but onely marke the way that the Hart runneth, to make report thereof to the companie, to the end hee may know whether the same be the Hart in chase, or no: because that sometimes Harts are driuen through feare out of the places where they vse to lye, hearing the noise of the companie of the dogges and horsemen.

In the meane time, the horsemen appointed to wait vpon the companie, must al∣waies second and keepe by the sides of the dogges, to cause them the better to keepe and agree together, and to helpe them at a default, if at any time they happen to be out of the trace, and not to follow the right way.

They must also haue a care of the vviles and sleights of the Hart, vvho vvhen hee seeth himselfe neere pursued by the dogges, indeuoureth and bestirreth himselfe how to acquire and rid himselfe of them, making many windings and turnes, and that in diners manners.

For sometimes hee busieth himselfe about the finding out of the dennes of other beasts, hiding himselfe therein, and letting the dogges by that means to ouerslip him, as not being able to find the sent of him, hauing couched his foure feet vnder his bel∣ly, and drawing his breath from the coolenesse and moisture of the earth. Againe, he hath this subtletie and craft by nature, as to know, that the dogges doe gather more sent from his breathing and feet, than from any of the rest of the parts of his bodie. But to preuent this his craftie wilinesse, you must haue cast many boughes in the en∣trances of such thickets as the Hart is to passe by, to the end they may the better find the last feeting and breathes, which will yeeld some neere guesse of the place wherein he shall be hid.

Othersome times, vvhen the Hart seeth the dogges chasing him, and that he can∣not auoid himselfe from them, hee goeth from one thicket to another, seeking the haunts of Hindes, and other lesser Harts, and thrusteth himselfe into their companie: and moreouer, sometimes draweth them away, and causeth them to runne with him the space of a whole houre or more vpon his way, afterward casting them off, and ma∣king way for himselfe out of and farre from any way. And if it happen that his wiles be found out by the exquisite sent of the dogges, and wisedome of the hunters, then he casteth about into his first way, to breake off by that meanes his ••ormer traces, and thereby to mocke the dogges: then after that, hee entreth into some large and wide way, which he followeth so long as his strength will endure. To auoid these sleights, the horsemen must haue an eie when the Hart shall fall into companie of other beasts, and runne away with them, to the end they may stirre vp the old dogges of the com∣panie to pursue the Hart with greater carefulnesse, keeping neere about them to helpe and aid them: and if the Hart haue taken the broad way, to the end he may take away all sent from the dogges (for this is a most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thing, that all sorts of beasts doe passe through the broad waies, whose earth turneth into powder) in such sort, as that the way of the Hart, and the places which the horne of his foot did tread vpon, be∣come quickly filled vp againe and couered by the falling together of the dust, the horsemen must looke very carefully, and view the ground very well, to see if they can perceiue any traces of the Hart, and then they shall cast the boughes out of their way lustily, and encourage their dogges, calling vnto them in cheerefull and cherishing manner.

Againe, it sometime falleth out, that Harts doe run ouerthwart the burned grounds where the dogges can haue no sent, because the smell of the fire is greater than the sent

of the Hart: yea, and sometimes the dogges doe giue ouer coursing, hauing drawne into their nosthrils this euill smell: vvhereupon the horsemen must goe aside a little out of their way with the dogges, vntill such time as they be got past the same, and then bringing their dogges into order againe, let them encourage and cheere them forward to follow the game.

Sometime the Hart runneth a contrarie course to that by which he is winded, to the end that his breath may be scattered and dispersed, and that it may not come to the sent of the dogges, as also that he may heare the noise of the dogges vvhich chase him, and then the charge lieth vpon the horsemen to marke his steps and traces.

Againe, there be some Harts, which in going from the rest doe make breaches, ca∣sting themselues vpon their bellies before the horsemen, and shew themselues to be put forth by the dogges, as if they were wearie, and had beene long chased: these wiles doe shew them to be verie subtle and long winded, able to stand a long time be∣fore the dogges, trusting in their strength: and this the horsemen must beware of, to the end they may be able to iudge of the deceitfulnesse of the Harts: for sometimes they faine themselues ouer-chased, when indeed they are not.

The signes and tokens shewing that the Hart hath beene long chased, are these: if in running before the dogges he neither heare nor see any man: if he hang downe his head, holding his nose vnto the ground: if he stumble and stagger, reeling with his legges: afterward, if he see a man vpon the suddaine, he lifteth vp his head, and giueth a great leape, as who would say he were yet strong and lustie: furthermore, if he haue his mouth black and drie, without any froth, and his tongue drawne vp into the ••ame: if in his gate he shut his hoofe, as though he went steadie, and yet afterward on the suddaine straineth himselfe, and openeth it, making great sl••dings, suffering his bones to kisse the ground verie often, following commonly the trodden path and broad waies: likewise, if he meet with a hedge, he holdeth along by the side of it, to see if he can find any out-gate, seeing his strength faileth him to leape ouer.

Now after his long running and manifold shifts, when he becommeth wearie and spent, and that he cannot longer stand out, being past all hope of himselfe, he leaueth the low vvoods and forrests, and flieth to the champion fields, or vnto the corn-fields and villages bordering next thereto, or else he betaketh himselfe to some riuer or lake, whereby it falleth out oftentimes, that he auoideth and freeth himselfe of the coursing dogges: for in champion places and void fields the sent of the footing of the Hart is verie small: and as for riuers and lakes, he hath the craft rather to take downeward with the streame, than to swimme vpward against the streame, to bereaue the dogges by that meanes of comming by the sent of him.

The horsemen shall see to such his escapes: and therefore if he haue taken his way into any champion ground, they shall find out his traces by the sight of the eye, and with the blast of the horne they shall cheere vp and encourage their dogges to a new course. If the Hart haue taken the water, whether it be for the cooling of himselfe, or as the vttermost refuge he hath for the sauing of his life, the hunter shall looke at what place the Hart shall haue taken the same, and there cast in good store of boughes, at∣tending his passage: and if they see that he commeth not out of the water, they shall cause their dogges to take the water: or else (if they be afraid of causing them to take cold) they shall send to seeke a boat: or else if they can swimme, they shall put off all their clothes, and with a dagger in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and swimme vnto him to kill him: and yet they must looke, that they see not vpon him, but in some deepe place, because that if the Hart find ground for his feet, he would be able to hurt one of them with his horns, whereas in a deepe place he hath no strength.

Furthermore, there must great wisedome be vsed in the hunting of the Hart, when he can no longer hold out, but being out of all hope of his life, standeth still, and suf∣fereth the dogges to barke at him, for then he groweth dangerous, as being giuen to strike with his hornes the first of the hunters that he can mee•• withall: And this is the cause why it is growne to a prouerbe, A Beere for a Hart, and a Barber for a vvilde Bore. Wherefore it standeth euerie man vpon to looke vvell to himselfe

in comming neere vnto the Hart when he endureth the bay, and not to aduenture too farre, and hazard himselfe too boldly.

When the Hart is taken, he that shall haue giuen the blow, shall ••orthwith there∣upon sound the retrait, to the end hee may call together his fellow hunters and the dogges: and after he hath presented the right foot of the Hart vnto the King, or vnto his Lord, then to cut him vp as he shall know it meet to be done In the meane time he must not forget to take care of the dogges, and to giue them some reliefe & sustenance of the prey they haue gotten in hunting: vnto the bloud-bound, that is, vnto the dog which by his sent hath led the way to the Hart his lodging, he shall cast the head and the heart, as his right and due: vnto the rest he shall giue the necke and braine of the Hart, or which is better, he shall take bread and cut it into little lunches into to a panne with cheese, and temper the same both together with the bloud of the Hart in his greatest hea••, and afterward put all this prouision forthwith vpon the skin, stretched forth vpon the grasse, and in the meane space euery man shall put his horne vnto his mouth, and therewithall comfort and cheere vp the dogges.

Some men vse now and then (and yet after this first prouision) to make a second with the entrailes of the Hart all whole, which the master hunts-man doth cast vnto the dogges after they haue ended their feast, holding them vp on high: and whiles the dogges are eating these entrails, they must be cheered vp with the noise of the hornes, shoutings, and hallowings.

CHAP. XXVI.

Of the profit that may be reaped by the killing of the Hart.

NOtwithstanding, that the hunting as vvell of the Hart, as of other vvilde beasts, be vndertaken and performed by great States rather for the ex∣ercise of the body and recreation of the spirits, than for any other desire and hope; yet the killing of the Hart is not without great profit, and that in two respects: the first being for the making of meat thereof: and the second, for the medicinable helps which may be made of his parts and members.

As concerning the meat made of the Hart: his flesh is not very pleasant, if it be not of that part of him which is commonly called the pizzle: for to speake general∣ly according to the truth, Harts flesh is verie hard, of an euill iuice, melancholicke, hard to digest in the stomacke, and verie apt and easie to procure many great diseases. It is true, that many great Ladies (hauing an opinion, that the flesh of Harts being eaten often, doth free and deliuer men from all danger of Agues, because the beast himselfe is not subiect at all thereunto) at their rising euerie morning haue ac∣customed to taste of Harts flesh: notwithstanding, vvho so is carefull of his health, should not touch anie such flesh, except it be of some tender Fawne, or young Hiude, vvhich are made seruices for the most part at the Tables of Princes and great Lords.

The medicinable helpes vvhich may be prepared and made of the Hart, are infinite.

Some find a bone in the heart of the Hart (howsoeuer there be some that thinke it to be false) which is singular good against faintnes, or swowning, trembling, and bea∣ting of the heart, and other effects of the same, as also against the venimes, poysons, and dangers of the plague, and likewise against the hard ••rauell of vvomen.

The bloud of the Hart fried in a frying-panne, and put in clysters, doth heale the bloudie flux, and stayeth the flux of the belly: being drunke with vvine, it is a soue∣raigne remedie against poysons.

The priuie member of the Hart washed diligently in water, and the water wherein it hath beene so washed, drunken, appeaseth forthwith the paine of the collicke, and

retention of the vrine: if it be steept in vineger the space of foure and twentie houres, and afterward dried and made in pouder, the weight of a French crowne of this pou∣der being drunke with water of plantine, stayeth the fl••xe of bloud, and all manner of fluxe of the bellie. Likewise dried and poudred, it may be mingled with remedies which haue power to prouoke carnall copulation. It may also bee made seruiceable and of good vse in the ple••risie, and against the bitings of Serpents, if it be taken ei∣ther alone or mingled with things which are good for such diseases.

The horne of the hart burned, made in pouder and drunke with honie, killeth the wormes, which is a signe that the harts horne hath great vertue against venome, and that not much lesse than the horne of the vnicorne.

The tender hornes of a young hart 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in small gobbets, and put in an earthen pot wel leaded, and close stopped with clay, and afterward put in a hot furnace vntil such time as they be dried (they may also be beaten to pouder, putting thereto pepper and myrrhe) do yeeld a pouder which is singular good against the cholicke taken in ex∣cellent wine.

The marrow and sewet of the hart are good to make liniments and cataplasmes for cold gou••s, and tumours that are hard, and not easily softned.

Notes

• Grey-hounds and Hounds.
• Two sorts of Grey-hounds.
• 〈…〉〈…〉
• To breed a good w••••lpe.
• The bay•••• ••al∣••ow 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dogs.
• The gray dogs.
• Blacke dogs.
• The mar••e•• of a good hunting dog.
• The reason of these markes of a good hunting dog.
• The kennell for hunting dogs.
• The feeding and keeping of hunting dogs.
• Flesh-meate.
• P••••••age.
• The diseases of hunting dogs. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and verm••••e.
• Wormes.
• The ••i••ing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Serpents.
• 〈…〉〈…〉
• Signes of mad∣nesse.
• 〈…〉〈…〉
• Wormes.
• Hurts giuen by wild bores.
• Wounds.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of cold.
• 〈…〉〈…〉
• Knocks of thrushes.
• Against the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of making water.
• The disease of the eares.
• How to teach a Spaniell to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 well.
• Hunting is for great states.
• The marks of distinction be∣twixt Hart and Hart, as also of their ago.
• The Hinde.
• The cariages or largenesse of his tines.
• The time when Harts cast their 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• To iudge of the age of the Hart by his hornes.
• The hornes of an old Hart.
• The gate or go∣ing of the Hart.
• The beatings and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Hart.
• The rubbing of the Hart.
• The knowledge of the Hart his priuie haunt and place of retra••••••.
• The Hart hath a seueral haunt euerie moneth.
• The rut of the Hart.
• The meanes of finding out the particular place and lodging of the Hart.
• The report of the hunts-man vnto the king.
• Three sorts of dogs, as bloud-hounds, cour∣sers, and for easements.
• The m••••e dog is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which ope∣neth, not but followeth the trace of the Hart.
• How to place the greyhounds for Te••sers, Re∣set, & Bac••••••t.
• Directions how to hunt the Deere with hounds onely.
• Dogges of ease∣ment are such as are rested to runne when others are wearie.
• The placing of the dogges of easement.
• The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Hart.
• The molicious∣nes of the Hart.
• The signe•• and tokens of a Hart ouer-chased.
• The Hart long chased,
• To become to stand to the ••ay.
• The Beere for the Hart, and the Barber for the Bore.
• The fl••sh of the Hart.
• The bone in the Harts heart.
• The bl••ud of the ••art.
• The priuie parts of the Hart.
• ••••ux of bloud.
• 〈…〉〈…〉
• 〈…〉〈…〉
• 〈…〉〈…〉