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 Raynedeare. Chap. 46. (Book 46)

THe Raynedeare is a beast like vnto an Harte, but great di∣uersitie in their heades: for a Raynedeares head, is fuller of antlyers and much bigger and wyder in co•…•…passe: he beareth foure and twentie braunches or more, according to his age: he hath a great pawme on the Toppe like a Harte: and his antliers before are paw•…•…ed also: he flieth endwayes when he is hunted by reason of the great weight of his head: but whē he hath stoode vp a great whyle and hath crossed, doubled, and vsed all his pol∣licies, then he settes his backe and haunches agaynst some Tree that nothing may assayle him but onely before, and holdes his head lowe to the grounde: and then fewe dare come neare him, and his head couereth all his bodie. If any man come in to helpe the houndes behinde him, then whereas a Harte will strike with his antlyer, he striketh with his feete, but not so great a blowe, yet he wilbe sure neuer to turne his head, for that is his chiefe de∣fence: He is terrible to see bothe for hounde and greyhounde by reason of his great huge head, he is not much higher thā a bucke, but he is greater and thicker: when he rayseth vp his head, it is much wider and broder then his bodie is: he feedeth lyke a Hart, and maketh his fewmets, sometimes round and sometimes flat, he liueth very long, and is killed with houndes, bowes, nettes, and other such engines: he beareth fatter venison when he is in pryde of greace then any other Deare doth: he goeth to Rut af∣ter the Harte lyke a fallow Deare, and fawneth like as other deare fawne: he is seldome hunted at force, nor with houndes, but onely drawen after with a bloudhound and forestalled with nettes and engines, and that in the thicke and greatest holdes if you can, for so shall you soonest ouercome him by reason of his

great head whiche combreth him. I will treate no more of him, bicause I do not remember that I euer heard of any in this ou•…•… Realme of England: it may be that there be some in Ireland: And therefore I thought not a•…•…isse thus to place him amongst the beastes of Uenerie, although he be not here in vse.