the earth more boldly then the other, but they tarrie not so long, because they vexe
themselues in fighting with the foxes and brockes, whereby they are forced to come
forth to take the aire.
Now if it fall out that the hunts-man haue not earth dogs readie taught, hee may
traine them in this manner. The time to begin to take them in hand, must bee when
they are betwixt the age of eight and ten moneths: for if he will not be brought to
take the earth at a yeare old, he will scarce euer be able to bee made to take it; againe,
they must not be roughly dealt withall in the time of their training, neither so hand∣led,
as that they may take any hurt of the brockes in the earth, because that if they
should be beaten or hardly handled, they would neuer ••ak the earth more. And for
that cause it must bee carefully looked vnto, that such young trained dogs bee neuer
made take the earth, where there are any old foxe•• or brocks, but to let them first stay
out their yere, and be throughly nurtured, and furthermore there must some old earth
dogs be put in alwaies before them, to indure and beare off the furie of the brocke.
The most conuenient and readiest way to traine them, is thus: as such times as foxes
and brocks haue young ones, you must take all your old earth dogs, and let them take
the earth, afterward when they shal begin to stand at an abbaie, then must the young
ones be brought vnto the mouth of the hole one by one (for feare they should beate
themselues) and there cause them to heare the abbaie▪ When the old brockes or foxes
shall be taken, and none remaining but their cubs, then you must take vp and couple
vp all the old earth dogs, and after let loose the young ones, incouraging them to take
the earth, and crying vnto them, Creepe into them basset, creep into them, Hou take them,
take them: and when they haue hold of any young, brocke or foxe, they must bee let
alone, till they haue strangled him in the burrow or hole, taking heed that the earth
fall not in vpon them, least it might hurt them: afterward you must carie all the yong
brocks and foxes vnto your lodgings, and cause their liuers and the bloud also to bee
fried with cheese and fat, making them meate thereof, and shewing them the head of
their wild flesh.
They may also be trained and taught after another manner: as namely, you must
cause the old brocks and foxes to be taken aliue by the old earth dogs, and with pin∣cers
fit for the purpose, take and breake all the teeth of the neather iaw, wherein the
great gripers stand, not touching the vppermost at all, to the end that by it may con∣tinually
appeare and be seene the rage and furiousnesse of the beastes, although they
be not able to do any harme therewith at all: afterward you shall cast earthes in some
meadow plot of sufficient largenesse, for the dogs to turne themselues, and go in by
couples on a brest, couering the burrowes afterward with boords and greene turfes:
this done, the brocke must be put in, and all the dogs both young and old let slip and
incouraged as hath alreadie beene said. And when they haue baited him sufficiently,
you must strike seuen or eight great blowes vpon the side of the hole with a spade, to
harden and acquaint them therewith, against the time when you shall stand in neede
to vse deluing: then you must take vp the plankes ouer the place where the brocke
is, taking hold vpon him with pincers, killing him before them, or else causing him
to be stifled by some grey-hound, that so there may meat bee made of him for them.
And you must haue cheese which you must cause to be cast them presently after their
wild flesh, when it shall be dead: and if peraduenture you would not breake all the
teeth of the neather iaw of the brocke, yet you must cut off all the greater and ma∣ster
teeth, that so he may be kept from biting and doing of mischiefe.