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.

In vvhat time men ought to vvithdravve their VVhelpes from their Nursse, and vvhat kynd of bread and flesh is best to giue vnto them. Chap. 11. (Book 11)

IT shalbe good to withdraw the whelpe from his nource when he is tenne moneths olde, and to keepe them all together in kennell, to thende they may vnderstand and know one an other. There is great difference to see a kennell of houndes nourished togither, and all of one age: and another of houndes gathered here and there: bicause those whiche are brought vp togither, do better vnderstand eche other, and keepe closer togither in Crie, than those whiche are gathered from sundrie places. When you haue brought your whelpes to kennell, you must hang clogges or billets of woodde aboute theyr neckes, to teache them to go coupled, the bread which should be giuen them, should be a third parte of wheat, a thirde of Barley or Otes, and a thirde of Rie, bicause beyng so mixed, it keepeth them fresh and fatte, and hea∣leth or preserueth them from sundrie diseases, whereas if it were all Rie it might make them skoure too much, and if it were all wheate, it would binde them too much, the whiche would cause many diseases, and therefore it is best so to mire one with an other. Men must giue fleshe to their houndes in winter, especi∣ally those whiche are leane, and hunte the Harte: but you should not feede haryers with fleshe for diuers considerations: for if you do, they will become fleshly, and gyuen to hunte great beastes of chace, and will make none accompt of the Hare and the Hare also doth often conueye hyr selfe amongst the heardes of tame beasts, 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 beasts. But Buckhoundes and such as hunt the Harte will not so easily do it, bicause the Bucke or Harte is of greater sent than the Hare, in such sorte that his fleshe is vnto them more delicate and more greedely desired thā any other. The best flesh that you can giue Houndes, and that will beste set vp a weake hounde, are horseflesh, asse and mules fleshe, as for beefe (eyther oxe or cowes fleshe) and suche like, the fleshe is vnto them of a more soure substance. You should neuer suffer your houndes to feede vpon any flesh vntill it be fleyed, to the ende they may haue no knowledge neither of the beast, nor of his heare. I allow and prayse pottage made of Mutton, Goates fleshe, and the heades

of beeues, for such leane houndes as are variers. And it shall not be amisse sometime to mingle therewith some brimstone, the whiche may warme them. Hereof I will more amply deuise in the treatie of receyntes.