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.

Howe to hunt the Bore with houndes at force. Chap. 57. (Book 57)

YOu shall not by your wil hunt a yong Bore of three yeares at force. For he will stand vp as long or longer than a light yong Deare, which beareth but three in the toppe. But when he is in his fourth yeare, then maye you hunt him at force, euen as well as an Hart of tenne: and yet he wil stande vp rather loger. Wherfore if a hunts•…•…an do goe to reare a Bore of foure yeares olde, he shall do well to marke well whether he went timely to his den or not. For commonly these Bores which tarie till it be day light before they go into their co•…•…ches or dennes, following their pathes or ways long time, especially where they find ferne or beche, whervpon they feede, are great murtherers of dogs, and verie hardy. The hunt•…•…man shall not neede to be afrayde to come ouer neare vnto such a Bore for rearing of him, for he will not likely be reared for him. But if he find of a Bore which soy∣leth oftentimes, and which routeth now here, & now there, neuer staying long vpon one place, then is it a token that he hath bene s•…•…arred, and withdraweth himself to some resting place at al ad∣uentures. And such bores most cōmonly come to their dens, cou∣•…•…hes, or holds, two or three houres before day. Then let the hunts∣man beware for comming ouer neare to them, for if they once finde him in the winde, or haue the wynde of his hounde, they will be gone, and he shall hardely come neare them agayne, nor finde them. If a Bore meane to tarie and abyde in his denne, couche, or fort, then maketh he some doubling, or crossing at the entrie thereof vppon some highe way or beaten pathe, and then goeth into his holde, to lay him downe in his couche or denne: and by such meanes a huntsman being earely in the woods, may iudge the subtlet•…•…e or craft of the Bore, and according to that

which he shall perceiue, he maye prepare to hunt with houndes which are hote or temperate. For if it be a great Bore, and one that hath lyne long at rest, he shall do well to hunte him with houndes that will sticke to him: and let the huntsmen on horse∣backe be euer amongest them, charging the Bore, and forcing him as muche as they maye to discourage him: for if you hunte suche a Bore with foure or fyue couple of houndes, he will make small account of them, and when they haue a little chafed him, he will take courage, and keepe them styll at Bayes, run∣ning vpon any thing that he seeth before him: but if he perceiue him selfe charged and hard layd vnto with houndes and huntes∣men, then he will become astonyed, and lose courage, and then he is enforced to flee and to seeke the cuntrey abroad. You must set Relayes also, but that muste be of the staunchest and best olde houndes of the kennell: for if you shoulde make your Relayes with young houndes, and suche as are swyfte and rashe, then when a Bore is any thing before the rest of the houndes in chace, he might easily kyll them in their furic, at their first comming in to him. But if he be a Bore whiche is accustomed to flee end∣wayes before the houndes, and to take the champayne countrey, then you shall cast of but foure or fyue couple of houndes at the •…•…irst, and set all the rest at Relayes, about the entrie of the fieldes where you thinke likely that he will flee. For suche a Bore will •…•…ldome keepe houndes at a Baye, vnlesse he be forced: and if he do stande at Baye, the huntesmen must ryde in vnto him as secretely as they can without muche noyse, and when they be neare him, let them cast rounde about the place where he stan∣deth, and runne vpon him all at once, and it shall be harde if they giue him not one skotch with a sworde, or some wounde with a Borespeare: and let them not stryke lowe, for then they shall commonly hit him on the snoute, bycause he watcheth to take all blowes vpon his Tuskes or there aboutes. But let them lift vp their handes hygh, and stryke right downe: and let them beware that they stryke not towardes their horses, but that other waye: For on that side that a Bore feeleth him selfe hurte, he turneth heade strayght wayes, whereby he might the sooner hurt or kyll

their horses, if they stroke towardes them. And if they be in the playne, then let •…•…ast a cloake about their horses, and they maye the better ryde about the Bore, and stryke at hym as they passe: but staye not long in a place. It is a certayne thing experi∣mented and founde true, that if you hang belles vpon collers about your houndes neckes, a Bore will not so soone stryke at them, but flee endwayes before them, and sildome stand at Bay.

An end of the Hunting of the Bore.