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.

The iudgement to be taken by the places where he frayeth. Cap. 27. (Book 27)

[illustration]

Commonly the old Harts do fray their heads vpon the yong trees which mē leaue growing in springs: and the elder that an Hart is, the sooner he goeth to fray, and the greater tree he see∣keth to fray vpon, and suche as he may not bende with his head: and when the Huntsman hath fonnde his frayingstocke, he must marke the heyght where the ende of his croches or paulme hath reached, and where the braunches shall be broken or brused: and

thereby he shall know and iudge the height of the Hartes heade, and if he do perceyue that at the highest of his fraying there be foure markes brused at ones and of one height, it is likely that the same Harte beareth a crowned toppe, or croched at the least. In like maner if you see that three antliers haue touched three braunches of one heigth, and two other that haue left their markes somewhat lower, it is a token that he beareth a paul∣med head. Although these tokens be very obscure and a mā must haue a good eye that will take iudgement by the little small twigges and leaues, neuerthelesse you shall see sometimes that the olde Hartes do fray vpon small trees, as blacke Sallowe and such like, aswel as the yong Hartes, but yong Hartes do neuer fraye vpon great trees, vnlesse they be Hartes of tenne. I wil stand no longer here∣vpon bycause there be other more certaine tokens and iudgements herevn∣der mencioned.