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.

What is the cause that Hartes do hyde themselues when they haue mewed. Chap. 19. (Book 19)

HArtes doe hyde them selues when they haue mewed for diuers reasons. First bycause they are leane and wcake, by reason of the wynter past, hauing no force to defende them selues. And also bicause they beginne then to finde feeding, & thē they take their ease to restore their flesh and force. Another reason is, that they haue lost their weapons of defence, the which be their heades, and dare not shewe them selues as well for feare of other beasts, as also for shame that they haue, to haue lost their strength and beautie. And also you shal see by experience, y^t if (in a corne fielde or pasture where an Hart feedeth after he haue me∣wed) there be any Pyes or Iayes, or suche byrdes which chatter at them and discouer them, they will streight way returne vnto their thicket, to hyde themselues for the shaine and feare that they haue. And you shall vnderstand they will not leaue their thicket (vnlesse men do styrre and remoue them) vntill the ende of Au∣gust, when they begin to wax hote, and to hunt after the Hynds. When the Harts that are in couert, do perceiue that their heades do begin to dry, (which is about the. xxii. of Iuly) then they dis∣couer themselues, going vnto the trees to fray their heads, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the velnet.

[illustration]

And when they haue frayed their heades, they then do burnish their heads, some against cole heapes, some other against mettall places, some in clay and other commodious things and places to do it in. Some beare red heads, some blacke, and some whyte, all which colourings proceede of nature and of none other thing: for it should be verie hard for the dust or pouder of coles, or any such like thing to giue them coloure. The red heades are com∣monly greater and fayrer than the rest, for they are commonly fuller of marrowe and lighter: the blacke heades are heauier, and haue not so much marowe in them: the white are the very worst and the worst nourished. All this I haue knowne by experience

of Crossebowe makers and makers of Harquebushes, which put it often in their worke, who haue tolde me that the least blacke heades which come from the Scottes or wylde Irishe (whereof men bring great number to Rochell to sell) are muche heauier than those which we haue here in Fraunce, for they haue not so much marowe in them, although there is a Forest in Poictou cal∣led the Forest of Mereuant, in which the Harts beare smal black heades, which haue but little marowe in them, and are almost like to them of Irelande. There is another Forest about foure leagues from thence called Chyssay, in the which the Harts beare heades cleane contrarie, for they are great, red, and ful of marow, and are verie light when they are drye. All these things I haue thought good here to alledge, to let you knowe that Harts beare their heades according to the pasture and feede of the countrey where they are bred, for the Forest of Mereuant is altogether in Mountaynes, vales and Caues, whereas theyr feede is drie, leane, and of small substance. On that other side, the Forest of Chyssay, is in a playne countrey, enuyroned with all good pasture and corne groundes, as wheat, peason, and suche, wherevpon they take good nouriture: which is the cause that their heades become so fayre and well spreade.