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 Termes of Venerie.

I Haue thought meete to write a briefe note or abstracte of such termes & proper woordes as I haue obserued in Uenerie, either by reading or by experience: aswell bycause mine Aucthor hath done the like, as also bicause I finde it very pertinent to the purpose. But bicause I find that his termes in the Frenche are in many places much different frō ours (& yet many holde opinion that we borowed all our termes of Hunting, Hawking, and such like out of the Frenche) therfore I haue thought my parte to set downe suche as I my selfe haue •…•…yther herd pronounced by olde Huntesmen, or founde approued in olde Trystrams booke. And if the Reader do finde that in any parte of the discourses in this booke, I haue termed any of them otherwise, then let him also consider that in handling of an Arte, or in setting downe rules and precepts of any thing, a man must vse suche woordes as may be most easie, perspicuous and in∣telligible. But here (as neare as I can) I will set them downe in suche termes as wee ought by lawe of Uenerie to name them: as followeth.

The proper termes for the companies of all beasts, when they are more than one togither.

TO beginne with the termes that are proper for the compa∣nies* 1.1 of beasts: you shall vnderstand that Huntesmen vse to saye, An Heard of Harts and Hindes, Buckes and Does: and A Trippe of Gotes and Geates. A Beauie of Rowes. A Sounder of Swine. And a Rowte of VVolues. I haue not readde any thing of the Raynedeare in this respect, and I could not heare any thyng bycause in deede they are not in this Realme as farre as euer I coulde learne. But in my iudgement it shoulde also be called An Heard of Raynedeare. Trystrā addeth, A Richesse of Mar∣ternes, and a Slowth of Beares. As for Hares, if they be two togi∣thers, we say, a brase of Hares, and a Lease when there are three: as also a brase of Harts or Hindes, Buckes or Does, is very pro∣perly spoken: but more than two or three Hares, you shal seldom see togither at once. Twoo Conies are called a couple, and three are called a couple & a halfe of Conies. If they be many feeding out togethers, we say it is a fayre game of Conies. As for Fox, Badgerd & other suche vermine, you shall seldome see more than one of them at once, vnlesse it be when they engendre: and then their encrease is called A lytter. This is asmuche as I thinke requisite to say of the termes for the companies of Beastes: Sa∣uing that. xx. is the least number which maketh an Hearde of a∣ny Deare sauing the Rowe: but sixe Rowes make an hearde. And of Swyne twelue is the least nūber, which may be called a Sounder: as also the same nūber serueth for a route of Wolues.

The termes of the Ages of all beasts of Venerie and Chace: and first of the Harte.

AN Hart is called the firste yeare a Calfe, the seconde a Brocket, the thirde a Spayde, the fourth a Staggerd, the* 1.2 fifth a Stagge, and (as Trystrams booke teacheth) the sixth yeare he shuld be called an Hart. But I am rather of opiniō y^t he

is not to be called a Harte vnlesse he be hunted or killed by a Prince. A Bucke is called the first yeare a Fawne, the second a Pricket, the third a Sorell, the fourth a Sore, the fifth a Bucke of the first head, and the sixth a Bucke. Of the Raynedeare I haue neyther heard nor redde any termes. The Gote hath no difference (that euer I heard) after he passe the firste yeare, and then is called a Kidde. The Hare and the Conie, are called in their first yeare, Leuerets, and Rabets, and afterwards they haue no difference, but to say, A great Hare, and an old Conie. Also you shal say by any Deare, A great Deare, & not A fayre Deare, vnlesse it be a Rowe. The which is called the first yeare a Kidde, the second a Gyrle, the third an Hemuse, the fourth a Rowbucke of the first heade, and the fifth yeare a fayre Rowebucke. A Bore is the first yeare a Pigge, the second an Hogge, the third a Hogsteare, the fourth a Bore, and the fifth yeare a Singuler, or (as I would thinke more properly spoken) a Sanglier, according to the French worde. Foxes are called the first yeare Cubbes, and afterwards (Foxes) without any other difference than an olde Foxe, or suche like. Also the Badgerd is the first yeare a whelpe or a Pigge (for I haue herd Huntesmen vse both those termes) and euer after a Badgerd great or old, &c. As for Wolfe, Beare, and suche like we haue them not here. The Otter is called the firste yeare a whelpe, and euer afterwardes an Otter, &c.

The termes of a Deares head, and such like beastes of Venerie.

THe rounde roll of •…•…led horne that is next to the head of* 1.3 an Harte is called the Burre, the mayne horne is called the Beame, the lowest Antliere is called The Brow Antliere, or Beas antlier, the next Royall, the nexte aboue that Surryall, and then the Toppe. In a Bucke we say, Burre, Beame, Branche, Aduauncers, Pawlme, and Spelers. A Gotes hornes are not termed by any dif∣ference, sauing that there are certaine wreathes and wrinkles a∣bout them, whereby his age is knowen, as hath bene sayde be∣fore. The Bores teeth are to be called his Tuskes or his gar•…•…s

and that is all the proper woordes or termes that euer I heard or redde thereof. Note that when you speake of a Harts hornes, you must terme them the Head and not the Hornes of a Harte. And lykewise of a Bucke: but a Rowes Hornes, and a Gotes Hòrnes are tollerable termes in Uenerie.

The termes of the treading or footing of all beastes of chace and Venerie.

THe footyng or printe of an Hartes foote is called the Slot.* 1.4 Of a Bucke and all other Fallow Deare, it is to be called the View. Of a Gote, the Breaking (and that is also a good terme for an Hartes footing). Of a Bore, the Tracke, or the Treading. Of an Hare diuersly, for when a Hare is in playne fieldes, she Soreth: when she casteth aboute to deceyue the houndes, then she Dou∣bleth: and when she beateth a harde highe way, where you may yet finde & perceyue hir footing, there she Pricketh: also in time of Snowe we say the Trace of an Hare. Of a Foxe and al such vermine I neuer heard any other woord but onely the Footing or the foote, &c. Of an Otter it is to be called the Markes, or the Marches. And we cal it the foyling of a Deare if it be on grasse where the print of the foote cannot well be seene.

The termes proper for the ordure and na∣turall excrements of chaces.

IT is a thing highly obserued and not here to be omitted, that* 1.5 the ordure of euery beaste of chace & Uenerie hath his proper terme. The reason is, by cause theyr ordure and excrements are one principall marke whereby we know the place of their feede, and their estate. So that a Huntesman in talke or makyng of his reportes shall be often constreyned to rehearse the same. Of an Harte therfore, and of all Deare the ordure is called Fewmets or Fewmishing: Of a Gote, and of an Hare the Crotising or Crot∣tels: Of a Bore the Lesses: Of a Foxe, and all other vermine, The Fyaunts: Of an Otter the Spraynts. And I haue neyther readde

nor heard what it is termed of a Wolfe or a Beare: neyther is it greatly materiall.

The termes of the time that these chaces seeke eche other to engender.

VVHen a Harte or Bucke seeketh to engender with Hynde* 1.6 or Doe, we say they go to the Rut: as also the Bote doth. A Rowe Deare is sayde to go in his Tourne. A Bore goeth to the Brime: An Hare and Conie to the Bucke: a Foxe goeth on clicketing: a Badgerd as the Bore: A Wolfe seeketh his Make or Matche: And an Otter hunteth for his Kinde.

The voyces and noyses that euery of them maketh at such times.

AN Harte belloweth: a Bucke groyneth: a Rowe belleth: a* 1.7 Bote ratteleth: a Bore freameth: a Hare & a conie beateth or tappeth: a Fox barketh: a Badgerd shriketh: an Otter whineth: & a Wolfe howleth, when they seeke or hunte after their makes.

The seasons of all Chaces.

THe Harte & Bucke (with the Bote) is in season from Midso∣mer* 1.8 vntill Holyroode day: The Rowe is in season betwene Easter & Mighelmas. The Bore frō Christmas till shrouetide: The Hare from Mighèlmas till Midsomer: The Fox and the Wolfe from Holy roode day till the Annunciation: & the Otter from Shrouetide vntill Midsomer. Conies are al wayes in sea∣son, either yong or old: but their skinnes are in best season from Alhallontide vnto Shrouetide. The Hynde, Doe, Rowdoe, Geate, & Swine, beginneth when the Male of euery one of thē ceasseth, and lasteth as long as they be fatte or in good plight.

The Fatte of euery one of these beasts.

THe Fatte of all kinde of Deare is called Sewet: and it may* 1.9 be also very wel sayd, This Deare was an high Deare of Greace, or so forth. But the Fatte (of it selfe) is called Sewet, vt supra.

The fatte of a Bore, Foxe, and Badgerd, is called properly Greace. An Hare (by old Trystrams opinion) beareth both Greace and Tallowe, and the Rowe deares fat (onely of all Deare) is ter∣med Beauie greace.

The flaying, striping, and casing of all maner Chaces.

THe Harte and all manner of Deare are flayne: and yet* 1.10 Huntesmen vse more commonly to say, take off that Deares skinne. The Hare is stryped, and (as Trystram sayeth) the Bore also: the Foxe, Badgerd and all other vermine are cased, that is to say, you must beginne at the snowte or nose of the beast, and so turne his skinne ouer his eares all alongst the bodie, vntill you come at the tayle: and that hangeth out to shew what beast it was, this is called casing: and yet a Badgerds skinne is to be stretched with foure stickes on crosse, to make it drye the bet∣ter, bycause it is great and fatte.

Termes vsed when you bring any Chace to his resting place, or rayse him from it.

VVE Herbor and Unherbor a Harte, & he lieth in his layre:* 1.11 we lodge & rowse a Bucke, & he lieth also in his layre: we seeke and finde the Rowe and he beddeth: we forme and starte a Hare: we burrowe and bolt a Conie, and both the Hare and Conie do sit and squat. We couch & reare a Bore: we ken∣nell and vnkenell a Fox: we earth and digge a Badgerd: we tree and baye both Martern and wild catte: we watch and vent an Otter. And we trayne and rayse the Wolfe, when we bring them to their restyng place and put them from the same to be hunted. Of the Raynedeare, Bote, or Beare, I haue neither read nor herd the termes in this respect.

The sundrie noyses of houndes, and the termes proper for the same.

AS you heare hounds make sundry different noyses, so do we* 1.12 terme them by sundry termes: For hounds do cal on, bawle,

bable, crie, yearne, lapyse, plodde, baye, and such lyke other noy∣ses, First when hounds are firste cast off and finde of some game or chace, we say, They call on. If they be to busie before they finde the Sent good, we say They Bawle. If they be to busie after they finde good Sent, we say They Bable. If they run it endwayes or∣derly and make it good, then when they holde in togethers me∣rily, we say They are in crie. When they are earnest eyther in the chace or in the earth, we say They yearne. When they open in the string (or a Greyhounde in his course) we say They lapyse. When they hang behinde and beate too muche on one Sent or place, we say They plodde. And when they haue eyther earthed a vermine, or brought a Deare, Bore, or suche lyke, to turne head agaynst them, then we say They Baye.

The difference betvvene houndes and Greyhoundes for termes.

VVE finde some difference of termes betwene houndes, and* 1.13 Greyhoundes. As of Greyhoundes two make a Brase, and of houndes a Couple. Of Greyhoundes three make a Lease, and of houndes a Couple and a halfe. We let slippe a Greyhoūd, and we caste off a Hounde. The string wherewith wee leade a Greyhounde is called a Lease, and for a Hounde a Lyame. The Greyhounde hath his Col•…•…er, and the Hounde hath his Couples. Many other differences there be, but these are most vsuall.

The different names of chaces, vvhen they be yong in the neast, or sucking the Damme.

A Yong red Deare is called a Calfe: a yong fallow Deare, a* 1.14 Fawne: a yong Rowe or Gote, a Kidde: a yong Bore, a Pigge: a yong Hare a Leueret: a yong Conie, a Rabet: a yong Foxe is called a Cubbe: a yong Badgerd as the Bores yong: a yong Catte, a Kittling: a yong Martern, a Marteme∣cubbe: a yong Otter, a whelpe. And likewise of Beare and

Wolfe as farre as euer I read.

The termes for the tayles of all chases.

THe tayle of Harte, Bucke, Rowe, or any other Deare, is to be called the Syngle. The Tayle of a Goate, is plain∣ly called his Tayle. The tayle of a Bore, is to be termed his wreath. The tayle of an Hare and Conney, is called their Skut. The tayle of a Foxe is called his Bush, or (as some vse to say) his hollywater sprinkle. The tayle of a Wolfe is to be called his Stearne. Of the rest I haue not read.

Termes to be vsed, when any chace goeth to the water by force.

VVHen an Hart or any Deare is forced to the water, we say he goeth to the Soyle. But yet therein also there is difference. For when a Hart first taketh the water, we saye he Proffereth. When he goeth quite through a ryuer or water, we say he breaketh Soyle. And the Slot or viewe which is founde of such a Deare, on that other side of the water, is to be termed, as of a Deare defoulant the Soyle. The Hart, Bucke, Gote, and Bore, do also take soyle oftentimes without enforcing. All other beastes are none otherwise termed, but playnely to take the water, sauing onely the Otter, and he is sayde to beate the Streame.

Other generall termes of the Hart and his properties.

AN Hart when he is past his sixth yeare, is generally to be called an Hart of tenne, and afterwardes according to the increase of his Heade, whether it be Croched, Palmed or Crowned. When he breaketh hearde and draweth to the thic∣kets, he is sayde to take his holde. When a huntesman draweth after him with his hounde, if he goe into any groue or wood, he

Covreth, and if he come out againe, he Discovreth him selfe. When he feedeth in fieldes, closes, or corne, he feedeth: otherwise he Browseth. In the heate of the daye he withdraweth him selfe for the flyes, and then we say, he goeth to the Steppe. His heade when it commeth first out, hath a russet pyll vpon it, the whiche is called Veluet, and his heade is called then a veluet heade, the toppes thereof (as long as they are in bloude) are good meate, and are called Tenderlings. When his heade is growne out to the full bygnesse, then he rubbeth of that pyll, and that is called fraying of his heade. And afterwardes he Burnisheth the same, and then his heade is sayde to be full sommed. His stones are called his doulcets, and the caule about his paunche is called his Kell. When he stayeth to looke at any thing, then he standeth a•…•… gaze. When he bounceth by vpon all foure, then he tryppeth, and when he runneth verie fast, then he streyneth. When he smelleth or venteth anye thing, then we saye he hath (this or that) in the winde. When he is hunted and doth first leaue the hearde, we say that he is syngled or emprymed. When he is foamy at the mouth, we saye that he is embost. And when he holdeth out his necke, we say he is spent or done. And when he is deade, we saye that he is downe. The rewarde to the houndes, is called a Rewarde or quarrey.

Termes generall of the huntesman, in hunting of any chase.

VVHen huntesmen doe beate any Couerte with kennell houndes for any chase, it is called drawing of the Couert. When they cast about a groue or wood with their Liamhound, then they make a ryng. When they finde where a Deare hath passed, and breake or plashe any boughe downewardes for a marke, then we saye, they blemishe, or make blemishes. When they hang vppe any paper, clout, or other marke, then it is to be called Sewelling or setting of Sewels. When they set houndes in a readynesse whereas they thinke a chase will passe, and cast them off before the rest of the kennell come in, it is called a vaunt laye

When they tarrie till the rest of the kennell come in, and then cast off, it is called an Allay. But when they hold vntill the ken∣nell be past them, then it is called a Relay. When a hounde mee∣teth a chase, and goeth away with it farre before the rest, then we say he forel•…•…yneth. When a hounde hunteth backwardes the same way that the chase is come, then we say he hunteth Counter. And if he hunt any other chase than that which he first vndertooke, we say he hunteth change. When eyther Hare or Deare, or any o∣ther chase vseth subtleties to deceyue the houndes, we saye they crosse or double. The rewarde at death of any beast of Uenerie, is called the quarry or rewarde. But of all other chases, it is to be called the hallowe. And this is as much as I can presently call to remembraunce, eyther by reading or experience, touching the termes of Uenerie. Wherein I desire all such as are skilfull, to beare with my boldnesse: promising that if any thing be amysse, it shall (God willing) be amended at the nexte impression, if I lyue so long.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Companies of Beasts.
• * 1.2

  Age.
• * 1.3

  Hed.
• * 1.4

  Footing.
• * 1.5

  Ordure & Excremēts.
• * 1.6

  Rutte.
• * 1.7

  Voyce or Sownde.
• * 1.8

  Season.
• * 1.9

  Fatte.
• * 1.10

  Flaying, striping, &c.
• * 1.11

  Resting place.
• * 1.12

  Termes of Cryes and Noyses.
• * 1.13

  Difference.
• * 1.14

  Yong.