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 iudgement and knowledge by the few∣mishing of a deare, and of the tenne in the top, and of old harts. Cap. 23. (Book 23)

[illustration]

IN the moneths of May and Aprill, men may begin to iudge an olde harte by the fumishing, the which they make in brode croteys: and if they be great, large, and thicke, it is a signe that they are hartes of tenne.

In the moneth of June, & July they will cōmonly make their fumishyng in great croteys very softe, & yet neuerthelesse there are some will make them brode vntill it be midde June.

And from midde July vntill the ende of August they make theyr fewmishing altogither formie, great, long, knottie, well knodde, anoynted, aud gilded, letting fall but fewe of them, the which they should let fall scattered without cleauyng one to an∣other, and without little prickes at the one ende, and you muste marke whether they be very fatte and whether the Harte haue bene in the corne or not.

And these be the markes or tokens by the fewmishing of an Harte of tenne, & of old Hartes, although men may be deceyued oftentimes: for if the Hartes haue had any disturbaunce, or hau•…•… bene hurte, then they make theyr fewmet oftentimes drie, bur∣ned aud sharpe at that one ende, especially at such time as they fray theyr heades: but after they haue frayed and burnished, their fewmet will lightly returne to the naturall course: in suche case the Huntesman ought well to marke bycause the markes to sudge by are doubtfull. In September and October there is no longer iudgement to be had bycause of the Rut, and you muste vnderstand that there is difference betweene the fewmet of the morning & that of the euenyng, bicause the fewmishings which an Harte maketh when he goeth to relief at night, are better dis∣gested and moyster, than those which he maketh in the morning, bycause the Harte hath taken his rest all the day, and hath had time and ease to make perfect disgestion and fewmet, whereas contrarily it is seene in the fewmishyng whiche is made in the morning, bycause of the exercise without rest whiche he made in the night to go seeke his feede.