The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

CHAP. X.

Hunting the FOX.

AMongst the Divertisements used by the Gentry of this Kingdom, Fox-hunting is of no small esteem: What has been Wrote on this Subject, and what has likewise gone by Tra∣dition, was that which was practised when the Land was much more Woody, and when they abounded so much to be a general Nusance, as Wolves were (especially in the Mountainous parts) before they were destroyed; and Wales was freed from them by an Imposition of Skins, to be paid to the Crown of England, which at large is taken notice of in our British History: But Foxes, the Subject of this Discourse, being then less considerable for the mischief they did, were the less taken notice of; but the Country People receiving great Damages by their destruction of Poultry, Rabbets, Lambs, &c. on which they preyed, were not wanting in their endeavours to destroy them: And the ways by them then used (by what I can understand) was by a great Company of People, with Dogs of all kinds, assembled together, to go to such Woods and Coverts where they thought they were, and so to beset the place, whilst others went in to beat and force them out with some of the Dogs, and to be either Coursed by the rest of the Dogs, or taken in Nets or Hays, set on the out-sides for that purpose. But of late years (by Experience; the Mother of Invention) the knowledge of this (as indeed all other Chases) is arrived to far greater perfection, being now become a very healthful Recreation to such that delight therein; so that I shall in a brief and clear Method give you a Modern Account of Fox-hunting, as it is at this day used by the most Expert in this Chase.

Although this Chase affords great Recreation, yet it is not so full of diversity as that of the Hare, for it leaves a hotter Scent, so that there are but few Dogs but will hunt the Fox with all imaginable eagerness; but as his Scent is hottest at hand, so it dies soonest.

The Fox doth not much trust to his Strength of Body, or swiftness of Legs, but endeavours to preserve himself by policy in Coverts and Thick∣ets; and being hard run when he can stand up no [ 10] longer before the Hounds, will draw toward those places where he useth to Earth, and then he makes his Caves his places of Defence; nor can he be got out, unless the Ground be soft; but generally his Kennel is betwixt the Clifts of Rocks, in Stony or Craggy places, or amongst the Roots of strong Trees, very deep, and of a difficult ac∣cess, having commonly but one Hole for entrance, which goeth very deep before it comes to his Kennel. But he seldom takes the pains to make [ 20] any, it being the work of the Badger, his busi∣ness being but to find it out, and take up his Quarters therein, which he soon hath to himself; for his Stink is so offensive to the Badger, that he quits it, and makes another.

As to the Nature of the Fox, he is a Beast of great Subtilty, as well in his Preying, and pla∣ces of Sanctuary, as in his Chase; to give you a particular account thereof, would be too tedi∣ous for this Discourse, nor are they unknown to [ 30] most that use the Chase.

In many respects he is of the Nature of the Wolf. When a Bitch-Fox is Bragged, and with Cub, she is hardly to be taken; for then she lieth near the Earth, and upon hearing the least Noise, she betakes her self to her place of Sanctuary. When a Bitch-Fox goeth a Clicketing, seeking for a Dog-Fox, she crieth with a hollow Voice, not much unlike the howling of a Mad-Dog; And in the same manner she cries when she misses any of [ 40] her Cubs; but when they are killed she crieth not, defending her self to the last Gasp. When she is Salt, her biting is Venemous. A Fox being pin∣ched with Hunger, will prey on Vermine or Ca∣rion, for want of other Food; But his usual Food is Poultery, Rabets, and the like, being found a great Enemy to Warrens and Henhouses; and there be some that are so Crafty, as to lye lurking all day in Ditches, and under Hedges near Houses, to espy Poultrey for their prey at Night. [ 50]

The Fat of a Fox is termed Grease, which is e∣steemed good for Shrunk Sinews, being Bathed therewith. The Print of his Claws on the Ground is called his Footing. That which for a Hart is termed Harbouring, for a Fox is termed Kennel∣ling.

The Fox though esteemed by all the craftiest Beast that is, yet is taken several ways, as by Hounds, Greyhounds, Nets, and Gins: For the ta∣king him with the two last, I shall Treat else∣where, [ 60] and with Greyhounds the Case is not often; so that my business will be only for the Hounds and Terriers, their Assistants, when he takes Earth, of which more anon.

The best Season to hunt the Fox, is in the Months of November, December, January, Februa∣ry and March; for before 'tis disadvantageous to the Scent, and the two first Months are the best, the Leaves then being rotten upon the Ground, which before obstruct the Scent; also the Hounds are best seen to Hunt, and the Earthings are sooner found; again in cold weather the Hounds hunt best, the Fox then having the strongest Scent, but it sooner dyeth than in a hotter Season. But Frosty and Snowy Weather are altogether un∣fit.

For the Hunting the Fox, the Hounds or Beagles, generally made use of, are such that have good Mettle, are stout and well Quartered. But they should differ according to the Countrey where they are hunted (as indeed in all other Chases); for those proper for the open Champain Countries, are the Northern Hounds, which are Fleet of Foot, and being thin Skinned, are not so proper for Thick Coverts and Bushy Enclosures, as the Southern Hounds which are Thick Skinn'd, and slow Footed, are not good for long Chases that the Champain Countries afford. Also the Northern Hound, and the Southern Beagle, makes a good strain for this Sport.

As to the Method now observed in hunting the Fox: Having found a Foxes Earth, about Mid∣night before you design to Hunt, the next Morn∣ing for preventing his Earthing, cause all his Holes to be stopt that you can find, except the main Hole or Eye, that is most beaten, which stop not until about Day-break, for fear of stop∣ing him in; which done, let the Huntsman have all the Dogs in Couples, and being come to the Wood that you first design to try, first throw off your sure Finders, or Staunch Hounds, being such that will undertake no other Scent, but that of the Fox (for Woods and Coverts are full of change) and when one or more of them opens, 'tis a sure sign that he is upon the Scent, that is, where the Fox hath passed that Night; which is called a Drag, or Trail. If you find the rest of the Hounds that were cast off, to improve up∣on it, and that the Cry mends, 'tis most proba∣ble they are right; and as the Drag mends, cast off more that you can confide in. But if the Scent fails, then 'tis supposed they run it Counter, and in such Case they must be taken off; and try them the other way.

Upon the Hounds improving the Scent, whether the one way or the other; the Huntsman on Foot (that hath the charge of the coupled Hounds, and before that must have Hardled them, that is, with a Slip, for the purpose ready secured three or four Couple together, that they may not break in from him, to run into the Cry of the Finders) is called upon to throw in two or three Couple more of his Staunchest Hounds; during this while they are encouraged by the Huntsman, until they make it out to the place where the Fox is, which is called Kennelled, and is soon discovered by the Hunsters from the encrease of their Cry; then the most opportune time is watched, to throw off the major part of the Coupled Hounds.

The Fox when finding himself so hotly pur∣sued, that he can't secure himself in those Coverts and Places he is acquainted with; and that when one great Slight faileth him, which is to hunt the Hounds just as they do him, whereby they are

[illustration]

Earthing the Fox.

To the R^t Worshipfull S^r Thomas Barnardiston of Kediton in Suffolk Baronet▪

This Plate is humbly dedicated by R Blome.

[illustration]

Death of the Fox

To the Worshipfull Alan Bellingham of Leaven in the County of Westmore land Esq:

This plate is humbly Dedicated by Ric: Blome

many times at a loss, or great fault (which is chiefly prevented by their quartering of the Hounds) then is unwillingly forced to forsake them, and trust wholly to his Feet, leading them from Wood to Wood, a Ring of four, six, or ten Miles and sometimes endways about twenty miles, trying all the Earths he knows, which as near as possible should be stopt the Night before the Hunting, as aforesaid.

The Huntsman on Foot must cross (with what [ 10] Hounds he hath in reserve) from Wood to Wood, to be as much as possible in the way, to throw them off when called upon, as an encouragement to the rest (they being Fresh) and at the same time must endeavour as much as he can, to encourage the Finders or Staunch Hounds, that begin to run lag, that as occasion may offer to have them ready for a dead Scent, or as is thought fit for the latter end of the Day.

Many times they kill the Fox upon the Turf; [ 20] but if he gets to an Earth, and enters it, they cry Ho-up, as at the Death, supposing the Chase ended; and blow a Horn to call in the Company.

Earthing the FOX.

HAving Earthed the Fox, the next business is to get Countrymen with Shovels, Spades, Mattocks, Pickaxes, &c. to dig him out, if they [ 30] think the Earth not too great; and for their faci∣litating the same, the Huntsman must be provi∣ded with one or two good Terriers, to put into the Earth after him, to lay him up; that is to fix him into an Angle, (which may be sooner done, according to the Opinion of some, by putting a Coller of Bells on the Terriers Neck) for the Earth oft times consists of divers Angles; and the use of the Terrier is to know where the Fox lyeth, for as soon as he finds him, he con∣tinues [ 40] Baying or Barking, so that which way the Noise is heard, that way dig unto him; and when he is dug up, sometimes he is thrown a∣mongst the Hounds to Blood and encourage them; and this will make them lye at an Earth, when they come to a strange Wood, and to an unknown Earth; and sometimes he is reserved alive, and hunted another Day, which is called a Bag-Fox. [ 50]

The Death of the FOX.

FOr Rewarding your Dogs, when the Fox is killed, hollow in all the Pack to Bay him, but do not Reward them therewith, as being not good for them; but follow the former Directions for the Rewarding them.

If the Earth proves so Deep and Rocky, that there is no possibility of diging him out, usually [ 60] Steel 〈…〉〈…〉 the Mouth of the Earth, or else a Hay is pitched round it; and so watch to take him at his going off, which will be in the Night following, and oft times sooner; for his heat, and the coolness of the Earth, will not suffer him to stay in long: So that when he ap∣prehends all things are quiet above, he comes out.

Of Terriers.

AS concerning Terriers, every one that is a Fox-Hunter is of Opinion, that he hath a good Breed; and some will say, that the Ter∣rier is of a peculiar Species of it self; I shall not say any thing as to the Affirmative, or Ne∣gative part; only give me leave to say that such Terriers that are Bred out of a Beagle and a Mungril Mastiff generally prove good; and indeed any small thick Skinn'd Dog that hath Courage, and that will run into the Holes, and lye Baying at the Fox, is one for the purpose, which this sort will do, for he hath Courage, and a thick Skin, as participating of the Cur, and is Mou∣thed from the Beagle, as before taken notice of.

The Season for Entring these Terriers is at ten or twelve Months Old, for if you Enter them not within the year, you will hardly bring them to take Earth; neither must they be bafled or over-mastered at first making, for then they will hardly return to it any more; Therefore be careful not to enter them upon old Foxes, or Badgers, but take such a time when they have their young, and are gone abroad to seek Prey. You must also encourage them, by putting in an old Staunch Terrier to lead the way, that if it happen that an old Fox should be there, he might be worried by him for their further Encourage∣ment.

When Foxes have young Cubs, take an old Terrier, and put them into their Earth; and when they begin to Bay (which is called Yearning) hold the young Terrier at the Mouth of the Earth, to the end they may hear the old one Yearn.

If you take any young Cub with young Terri∣ers, let them kill it; and take their pleasure thereon.