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 heades and braunches of Harts, and of their diuersities. Chap. 21. (Book 21)

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HArts beare their heads in diuers sorts and maners, some well growne, some other yll growne and worsse spred, some other againe counterfet, and al this according to the age, coūtrey, feede and rest that they haue, and you must note, that they beare not their first head which we call broches (in a fallow Deare pricks) vntil they enter the second yere of their age. In the third yere of their age, they ought to beare foure, sixe, or eight small braūches, at their fourth yeare they beare eight or tenne, at fiue, tenne or

twelue, at sixe, twelue, fourtene, or sixtene: and at their seuenth yeare, they beare their heades beamed, branched, and somed with as muche as euer they will beare, and do neuer multiplye therein but onely in greatnesse, and according to the feede and rest that they shall haue. After they haue once accomplished their seuenth yeare, they will beare markes on their heades, sometimes more, and sometimes lesse, although men shall alwayes knowe the olde Hartes by these tokens which follow.

• 1 First when the compasse of the Burre is large and greate, well pearled, and neare vnto the moysture of the head.
• 2 Secondly, when the beame is great, burnished, and well pearled, being streight and not made crooked by the Antlyers.
• 3 Thirdly, when the gutters therein are great and deepe.
• 4 Also if the firste Antlier (which Phoebus calleth and termeth Antoiller) is great, long, and neare to the Burre, the Surant∣lier neare vnto the Antlier the which ought a little to enlarge it selfe some what more from the beame than the firste, and yet it should not be to long, and they ought to be both well pearled, all these thinges betoken an olde Harte.
• 5 Also the rest of the branches or hornes which are higher, be∣ing well ordered and set, and wel growne according to the big∣nesse and proportion of the head, and the croches, palme, or crown being great and large according to the bygnesse of the beame, are tokens of an olde Hart: and if the croches which are somed aloft, do double together in the crowne or palme, it is a signe of a great olde Hart.
• 6 Also when Harts haue their heads large and open, it signi∣fieth that they are olde, rather than when they are crooked and close bowed. And bycause many men can not vnderstande the names and diuersities of heades according to the termes of hun∣ting, I haue thought good heere to cause them to be portrayed and set forth with little explycations, to specifie the name of eue∣rie branch or part, as here vnder is declared.

The thing that beareth the Antliers, Royals, and toppes, ought to be called the beame, and the little clyffes or streakes therein are called gutters.

That which is about the crust of the beame is termed pearles, and that which is about the burre it selfe in fourme of litle pear∣les, is called pearles bigger than the rest.

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A. This is called the Burre, and that which is about the Burre, is called pearles. B. This fyrst is called Antlier. C. The second Surantlier. D. All the rest which growe afterwardes, vntill you come to the crowne, palme, or croche, are called Royals & Surroyals. E. These litle buddes or broches which are about the toppe, are called croches.

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This heade should be called a Crowned toppe, bycause the croches which are placed and growne about the heigth thereof, are ranged in forme of a Crowne, although there are but fewe suche seene nowe adayes, vnlesse it be in high Almaine, or in Moscouie.

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This heade should be called a palmed toppe, bycause the cro∣ches which growe in the toppe, are formed like vnto a mans hande, and therefore it is to be called a palme toppe.

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ALl heades which beare not aboue three or foure, the croches beyng placed alofte all of one heyght in forme of a cluster of peares or of nuttes, are to be called heades of so many croches.

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ALl heades whiche beare 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the toppe, or hauing their croches doublyng in maner as these are here portrayed, are to be called forked heades, bycause the croches are planted on the toppe of the beames lyke vnto forkes.

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ALl heades whiche haue double Burres, or the Antlyers, Royals, and croches tumed downewardes contrarie to the fashion of other heades, as you may see by this present portra∣ture, or suche lyke other fashions, are to be called heads onely.