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I Never could read or hear that there was ever any such Chase in England as the Hunting of the wild-Goat: But since there may be such sport in Wales, as there hath been elsewhere, it will not be much amiss to give some short account thereof.
The Wild-Goat is as big as a Hart, but not so long, or so long Leg'd, but is as fleshy. They have Wreaths
and wrinkles on their horns, which declare what their age is: for according to the quantity of the wreaths, such is the number of their years; which wreaths he meweth, but not his beam, the which may be, if he be an old Goat, as big as a mans leg.
They have a great long beard, and are of a brownish gray colour very shaggy, having a long black list down the ridge of the back, and the track is bigger than the slot of a Hart.
They fawn as a Hinde or Doe in May, and have but one fawn, which they suckle and bring up as the tame Goat doth her kid.
They feed like Deer, onely they will eat besides ivy, moss, and such-like. In spring they make their fumets round, and afterwards broad and flat, as the Hart when he comes to feed well.
They go to rut about Alhallontide, and continue therein a month or five weeks; that season being over, they descend from the mountains and rocks, their abode for the summer-season, and herd themselves, not onely to avoid the snow, but because they can find no food any longer; and yet they come not very low, but keep at the foot of the mountains, feeding there till Easter: then they return again, every one chusing some strong hold in the rocks, as the Harts in the thic∣kets.
About fawning-time the females separate from the males, attending till rutting-time: in this interval they will run at man or beast, and fight as Harts doe one a∣mongst the other.
When he goeth to rut, his throat and neck is much bigger than usual: he is very strong backt; and (which is wonderful) though he should fall from on high ten poles length, he will receive no harm; and will walk as securely on the sharp tops of rocks, as a horse in the high-way.
Alhallontide is the chiefest season for hunting these wild Goats, observing very well before you hunt, the advantages of the coasts, the rocks and places where the Goats do lie.
Having thus done, set nets and toils toward the ri∣vers and bottoms; for you cannot expect your hounds should follow a Goat down every place of the moun∣tains.
Also it will be needful that some stand on the top of the rocks, and throw down stones as they see occasion. Where the Goat goeth down to the small brooks or wa∣ters in the bottom, there place your relays, and let the relays never tarry till the hounds come in which were cast off: and this is your best help; for a man can nei∣ther follow on foot nor horse-back.