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.

Of blacke hounds aunciently come from Sainct Huberts abbay in Ar∣dene. Chap. 5. (Book 5)

[illustration]

THe houndes which we call Sainct Huberts houndes, are cō∣monly all blacke, yet neuerthelesse, their race is so mingled at these dayes, that we finde them of all colours. These are the hounds which the Abbots of Sainct Hubert haue alwayes kept some of their race or kynde, in honour and remembrance of the Sainct which was a hunter with Sainct Eustace. Wherevpon

we may coniecture that (by the grace of God) all good hunts∣men shall follow them into Paradise. To returne vnto my former purpose, this kind of Dogges hath bin dispersed tho∣rough the Countries of Hennault, Lorayne, Flanders, and Bur∣gonye, they are mighty of body, neuerthelesse, their legges are lowe and short, likewise they are not swift, although they be very good of sent, hunting chaces whiche are farre straggled, fearing neyther water nor colde, and do more couet the cha∣ces that smell, as Foxes, Bore, and suche like, than other, by∣cause they •…•…ince themselues neyther of swiftnesse nor courage to hunte and kill the chaces that are lighter and swifter. The Bloudhoundes of this colour prooue good, especially those 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 seemed to loue Hunting much, wherein was a blasone which the same Hunter gaue to his Bloudhound called Soygllard, which was white.

My name came first from holy Huberts Race, Soygllard my Sire, a hound of singilar grace.

Wherevpon we may presume that some of the kind proue white sometimes, but they are not of the kind of the Greffyers or Bauxes which we haue at these dayes.