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.

How to hunte the wilde Goates. Chap. 48. (Book 48)

THe best time to hunt the wilde Goate, is at Alhallontide, and the huntesman muste tic by night in the high mountaynes in some shepeheardes •…•…abane, or such cottage: and it were good that he lay so seu•…•…n or eight dayes before he meane to hunte, to see the aduantages of the coastes, the Rockes, & places where the goates do lie, & all such other circūstances: & let him sct nettes & toylcs, or forestallings, towards the riuers & bottomes, euen as he would do for an Harte: for he may not looke y^e his hou•…•…s will folow y^e Goate downe euery place of y^e moūtaines. if he haue not hewers

nor Huntesmen ynow to set rounde aboute: then let him place his copanions on the toppes of the Rockes, that they may throw downe stones, and shoote with Crossebowes at the Goates: a Huntesman shall seeke thē and draw after them with his bloud∣hounde, euen as he doth after an Harte, and then cast off foure or siue couple of houndes to maynteyne the crie, & shall make three or foure relayes to refresh those houndes which are first cast off: for when his houndes haue once or twice climed vp the Moun∣taynes & cliffes, they wil be so hote and so sore spēt, that they can hunte no longer: then the Goate goeth downe to the small brookes or waters in the bottomes, and therfore at such places it shalbe best setting of relayes, and let the relayes neuer tarie vn∣till the houndes come in, whiche were first cast off, for it wilbe long sometimes before they come in: and yet there are some lu∣stie yong houndes which will neuer giue ouer a Goate nor suf∣fer him to take Soyle. This chase requireth no great Arte nor following, neyther can a mā follow on foote nor on horsebacke. The best help is in the Relayes which shalbe set in the bottoms, and for the reward, it may be done at pleasure and deuise of the Huntesman, alwayes prouided that he rewarde not the houndes with the best morselles.