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A Martern is about the bigness of a Cat, having a longer body, but shorter legs, with head and tail like a Fox; its skin is commonly brown, white on the throat, and somewhat yellowish on the back.
Their teeth are exceeding white, and unequal, being above measure sharp; the canine teeth both above and below hang out very long.
This and the wild-Cat are a sort of Virmine which we use here in England commonly to Hunt, and as
necessary to be hunted as any Virmin can be: For the question may be doubtful, whether either Fox or Bad∣ger do more hurt than the wild-Cat doth, since there are so many Warrens every where throughout the Kingdom of England which are very much infested by the wild-Cat.
It is the opinion of long-experienced Huntsmen, that she leaveth as great scent, and maketh as good a cry for the time as any Vermin that is Hunted, espe∣cially the Martern passeth all other Vermin for sweet∣ness of scent, and her Case is a noble Fur. The wild-Cat's Case is not so good, but it is very warm, and me∣dicinable for several Aches and Pains in the bones and joynts: also her Grease is very good for Sinews that are shrunk.
These two Chases are not to be sought purposely, un∣less the Huntsman do see them where they prey, and can go readily to them; but if a Hound chance to cross them, he will hunt it as soon as any Chase, and they make a noble cry as long as they stand up; when they can do it no longer, they will take a tree, and so deceive the Hounds; but if the Hounds hold in to them, and will not give it over so, then they will leap from one tree to another, and make great shift for their lives, with much pastime to the Huntsmen.
When they are killed you must hold them up upon a piked staff, and hallow in all your Hounds, and then reward them with some meat; for the flesh of these Ver∣min is naught for Hounds.