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 the Rut and vault of Hartes. Chap. 17. (Book 17)

[illustration]

HArts do commonly beginne to Uault about the middest of September, and their Rut doth continue about two monethes, and the older that they be, the hotter they are, and the better beloued of the Hyndes. The olde Harts go sooner to Uault than the yong, and they are so fierce and so proude, that vntil they haue accomplyshed their lust, the yong Harts dare not come neare them, for if they do, they beate them and dryue them away. The yong Deere haue a maruellous craft and malice,

for when they perceiue that the olde Harts are wearie of the Rut and weakened in force, they runne vppon them, and eyther hurt or kyll them, causing them to abandon the Rut, and then they remayne maisters in their places. Hartes doe muche so∣ner kyll each other when there is scarcitie of Hyndes, for if there be Hyndes plentie, then they separate them selues one from an∣other, and hyde them selues in one place or other. It is a pleasure, to beholde them when they goe to Rutte and make their vaute. For when they smell the Hynde, they rayse their nose vp into the ayre, and looke aloft, as though they gaue thankes to nature which gaue them so great delight. And if it be a great Hart, he will turne his heade, and will looke if there be none other neare to anoy or interrupt him. Then the yong deare being not able to abyde them, and seing them make such counte∣nances, will withdraw themselues from them and runne away. But if there be any of equall bygnesse, they beginne then both of them to vault, and to scrape the grounde with their fecte, shoc∣king and butting one against another, in such sort, that you shal heare their blowes of their heades a good halfe myle of, so long, til he which is master do chace away the other. The Hind behol∣ding this pastime, doth neuer remoue frō hir place, then he which hath the mastrie, will begin to vault, and to bellow, casting him selfe with a full leape vpon the Hynde to couer hir, and that quickly. They are very easie to be kylled at such times, for they follow the pathes & ways where the Hyndes haue gone, putting their nose to the grounde to followe by the sent, and neuer looke nor vent whether any man be there aboutes which may annoye them or not. During the time of their Rut they lyue with small sustenance, for they feede onely of suche things as they see before them, & rather regard the tracke of the Hindes. Their chief meate is the red Mushrome or Todestoole which helpeth well to make them pysse their greace, they are then in so vehement heate, that euerie where as they passe and finde waters, they tumble and lye therein, and sometimes for dispight, they thrust their heades into the earth, a man may easily know the olde Hart from the yong, by hearing him when he belloweth. For the elder they be, the

greater and more roaring their voyce is. Also thereby you may know if they haue bene chased and hunted or not, for if they haue bene hunted or be afrayde of any thing, they put their mouth a∣gainst the ground and bellow softly, and yet with a great voice, the which the Hartes which are at rest neu•…•…r do. For they rayse vp their heads bellowing and braying aloude & without dreade.