THe Huntsmen must disperse themselves about the sides of the Wood, according to the best advantage, to espy, if it be a Deer, according to the Harbengers description, and when he breaks Covert, to give notice thereof to the Company by blowing a Recheat; and if the Hounds run Riot (that is, Chase some [ 30] rascally Deer) then they must be rated; that is, stop them by words of correction, or the like.
But your Hounds should not all be uncoupled until the Hart is unharboured by the Har∣bourer, and cast off the Staunch Hounds first, which having undertaken the Chase, cast off the rest; and the Hounds being in full cry, the Horsmen should second and encourage them with Voice and▪ Horn as aforesaid, to the end [ 40] the whole Field may know how, and where the Game goeth. But now adays few hunt the Hart as they ought, for they give not their Hounds leasure to hunt, so that it is more properly to be said the Horses hunt than the Hounds; and there is so many on Hors∣back that can neither blow, hollow, or do any thing belonging to Hunting as they ought, and which mingle themselves amongst the Hounds; crossing them, and breaking their Course, that [ 50] 'tis impossible for Hounds to hunt true.
As soon as you can get sight of the Deer, to see if it was the same that was Vnharboured, or a fresh one, (for by his subtilties; if possi∣ble, he will put such a Sham upon the Hounds;) if it be a fresh one, then rate them back, and bring them to the Default.
The Horsmen ought all along to second and encourage the Hounds, and to keep them to Hunt Close, assisting them at every Default, if [ 60] they have either lost the Slot or follow not the right. They must also be careful to watch his Windings and Doublings; for when he finds himself closely pursued, he will use many shifts and endeavours to give them the change, to pre∣serve himself; And being put to his last extremity, it is almost incredible to believe what strange contrivances he will use to shun the fury of his pursuing Enemies; for somtimes he will hide himself close to the Earth, permit∣ting the Dogs to come up to him, whilst in the mean time he puts his Feet close under his Belly, and draws his Breath close by the fresh Earth; Nature having taught him to know that the Scent of his Feet and his Breath are the chief discoverers of his doublings and changes. Somtimes when he is close hunted, he will run from Covert to Covert, to find out some others, and put himself in their company. If he find himself not safe, he will directly re∣turn by his first Path to break his Traces, and then shoot out into some great Road or High∣way, the light Dust keeping neither Scent nor Impression; and in such case the Huntsmen both horse and foot, must be diligent to look about to encourage the Hounds, and to search for his Slot, and to bring up the Dogs in fresh cry, some times the Stag being close hun∣ted, will run with the Wind, thereby to leave no Scent of his Breath, and but little of his Feet behind him: Some Harts, when they are hunted, will on a suddain make themselves as if quite tired, and cast themselves on the Ground until the Hounds are within Twelve-score of them, and then they will start up, and run more nimble than before, trusting in their force. Somtimes he will take Soil, that is, the Water, covering himself all under it, ex∣cept his Nose; somtimes swim down the Stream, and somtimes cross the River; In such case the Huntsmen must have a special regard to the old staunch Hounds, who will hunt leasurely and carefully, whereas the young ones will over-shoot their Game. In all these Accidents, the Horsmen and Huntsmen must be diligent to look out, and cherish the Hounds, blowing them a Recheat.
The Stag may better be discovered at a distance, when he is Spent, than when he is nigh and hollowed at; for when he seeth no man, he beareth down his Head, which de∣noteth his weariness; whereas when he seeth any one, he raiseth up his Head that they should think him strong, stout, and not tired.
When he is towards his fall, the Hounds will hold in close together, and come on strongly, by reason that when he is almost Embossed, he casts out of his mouth a white Froth or Flaver, which is very sweet and delightful to the Hounds: Besides, the Swet of his Body run∣ing down his Legs, leaves a strong Scent on the Ground, which is a sure sign to the Dogs that he is sinking: And hence it is that they are always so lusty and jocund towards the end of the Chase.
If the Hart takes into any dry Champain Ground, and that 'tis very hot, and little or no Wind stirring, so that there is no Scent to be had, and that the Hounds are almost spent for want of breath, and through extremity of labour give out; in such case the Huntsman must blemish in the last Slot, and cast off the Dogs to some convenient place to refresh them with bread and water until the heat be past, and then return back