The gentleman's recreation in four parts, viz. hunting, hawking, fowling, fishing : wherein these generous exercises are largely treated of, and the terms of art for hunting and hawking more amply enlarged than heretofore : whereto is prefixt a large sculpture, giving easie directions for blowing the horn, and other sculptures inserted proper to each recreation : with an abstract at the end of each subject of such laws as relate to the same.

THE GENTLEMAN'S Recreation: OR, A TREATISE Giving the best Directions for HUNTING, AND KILLING all manner of CHASES used in ENGLAND. With the Terms of Art belonging thereunto. ALSO, A short Account of some peculiar Beasts not usually Hunted in ENGLAND. First Collected from Antient and Modern Authors; and now very much Corrected and Enlarged by many Wor∣thy and Experienced Artists of this Recreation. With an Abstract of such Statute-Laws as relate to FORESTS and HUNTING.

The First Part.

London: Printed by J. C. and F. C. for N. C.

OF HUNTING. The Introduction.

HUNTING is a Game and Recreation commen∣dable not onely for Kings, Princes, and the Nobility, but likewise for private Gentle∣men: And as it is a Noble and Healthy Pastime, so it is a thing which hath been highly prized in all Ages.

Besides, Hunting trains up Youth to the use of man∣ly Exercises in their riper Age, being encouraged there∣to by the pleasure they take in hunting the Stately Stag, the Generous Buck, the Wilde Boar, the Cunning Otter, the Crafty Fox, and the Fearful Hare; also the catching of Vermin by Engines, as the Fitchet, the Fulimart, the Ferret, the Polecate, the Moldwarp, and the like. Exercise herein preserveth Health, and increaseth Strength and Activity. Others inflame the hot Spi∣rits of young men with roving Ambition, love of War, and seeds of Anger: But the Exercise of Hun∣ting neither remits the Minde to Sloth nor Softness,

nor (if it be used with moderation) hardens it to inhumanity; but rather inclines men to good Ac∣quaintance, and generous Society. It is no small advantage to be enured to bear Hunger, Thirst, and Weariness from ones Childhood; to take up a time∣ly habit of quitting ones Bed early, and loving to sit well and safe upon an Horse. What innocent and natural delights are they, when he seeth the day brea∣king fortl. those Blushes and Roses which Poets and Writers of Romances onely paint, but the Hunts∣man truely courts? When he heareth the chirping of small Birds pearching upon their dewy Boughs? when he draws in the fragrancy and coolness of the Air? How jolly is his Spirit, when he suffers it to be impor∣ted with the noise of Bugle-Horns, and the baying of Hounds, which leap up and play round about him.

Nothing doth more recreate the Minde, strengthen the Limbs, whet the Stomach, and clear up the Spi∣rit, when it is heavy, dull, and over-cast with gloomy Cares: from whence it comes, that these delights have mcrited to be in esteem in all Ages, and even amongst barbaroas Nations, by the Lords, Princes, and highest Potentates.

Then it is admirable to observe the natural instinct of Enmity and Cunning, whereby one Beast being as it were confederate with man, by whom he is main∣tained, serves him in, his designes upon others. How perfect is the Scent or Smell of an Hound, who ne∣ver leaves it, but follows it through innumerable chan∣ges and varieties of other Scents, even over and in the Water, and into the Earth? Again, how soon will a Hound fix his Eye on the best and fattest Buck of the Herd, single him out, and follow him, and him one∣ly, without changing, through a whole Herd of rascal Game, and leave him not till he kills him? More∣over,

is it not delightful and pleasant to observe the Docibleness of Dogs, which is as admirable as their Understanding? For as a right Huntsman knows the Language of his Hounds, so they know his, and the meaning of their own kinde, as perfectly as we can di∣stinguish the voices of our friends and acquaintance from such as are strangers.

Again, how satisfied is a curious Minde, nay ex∣ceedingly delighted, to see the Game fly before him! and after that it hath withdrawn itself from his sight, to see the whole Line where it hath passed over, with all the doublings and cross works which the amazed and afrighted Beast hath made, recovered again; and all that Maze wrought out by the intelligence which he holds with Dogs! this is most pleasant, and as it were a Master-piece of natural Magick. Afterwards, what Triumph there is to return with Victory and Spoils, having a good Title both to his Appetite and Repose! Neither must it be omitted, that herein there is an especial need to hold a strict Rein over our af∣fections, that this Pleasure, which is allowable in its season, may not intrench upon other Domestical af∣fairs. There is great danger lest we be transported with this Pastime, and so our felves grow Wild, haun∣ting the Woods till we resemble the Beasts which are Citizens of them; and by continual conversation with Dogs, become altogether addicted to Slaughter and Carnage, which is wholly dishonourable, being a ser∣vile employment. For as it is the priviledge of Man, who is endued with Reason, and Authorized in the Law of his Creation, to subdue the Beasts of the Field; so to tyrannize over them too much, is brutish in plain English.

Mistake me not, I intend this Reflection not for the Nobility and Gentry of this Nation, whose expence of time in this noble and delightful Exercise can no

ways prejudice their large Possessions, since it is so far from being very chargeable, that it is exceeding pro∣fitable to the bodily health of such who can dispence with their staying at home without any injury to their Families.

I might much enlarge my self in the commendation of Hunting, but that I am loath to detain you too long from the knowledge of what will make a right and per∣fect Huntsman. I shall therefore thus conclude: No Musick can be more ravishingly delightful than a Pack of Hounds in full Cry, to such a man whose Heart and Ears are so happy to be set to the tune of such charming Instruments.

HUNTERS TERMS.

BEfore we shall treat of the Method that is to be used in the obtaining pleasure in the prosecution of this Royal Game, it will be very requisite, as an Introduction to this Work, first to understand those Terms of Art Huntsmen, Foresters, and Wood-men use, when they are discoursing of their commendable and highly recreative Profession. And first, let us con∣sider

Which are Beasts of Forest, or Venery, or Venary, Chase, and Warren.

Old Foresters and Wood-men, with others well acquainted with Hunting, do reckon that there are five Beasts of Venery, (that are also called Beasts of Forest) which are these: the Hart, the Hinde, the Hare, the Boar, and Wolf: this is the Opinion of Bu∣daeus

likewise, in his Treatise of Philologie, speaking of the former Beasts, Semper Forestae & Veneris habentur Be∣stiae: These (saith he) are always accounted Beasts of Venery and Forest.

Some may here object and say, Why should the Heart and Hinde, being both of one kinde, be accounted two several Beasts? To this I answer, That though they are Beasts of one kind, yet they are of several seasons: for the Hart hath his season in Summer, and the season of the Hinde begins when the Hart's is over.

Here note, that with the Heart is included the Stag, and all other Red Deer of Antlier.

There are also five wild Beasts that are called Beasts of Chase; the Buck the Doe, the Fox, the Martron, and the Roe.

The Beasts and Fowls of Warren, are the Hare, the Coney, the Pheasant, and the Partridge; and none other, saith Mr. Manwood, are accounted Beasts nor Fowls of Warren.

My Lord Cook is of another Opinion, in his Com∣mentary on Littleton 233. There be both Beasts and Fowls of the Warren, saith he: Beasts, as Hares, Co∣neys, and Roes: Fowls of two sorts, Terrestres, (and they of two sorts) Silvestres, & Campestres. The first, Pheasant, Wood-cock, &c. The second, Partridge, Quail, Rail, &c. Then Aquatiles, as Mallard, Hern, &c.

There is great difference between Beasts of Forest, and Chase; the first are Silvestres tantum, the latter Campestres tantum. The beasts of the Forest make their abode all the day-time in the great Coverts and secret places in the Woods; and in the night-season they repair into the Lawns, Meadows, Pastures, and plea∣sant feeding places; and therefore they are called Silvestres, Beasts of the Wood. The Beasts of Chase do reside all the day-time in the Fields, and

upon the Hills or high Mountains, where they may see round about them afar off, to prevent danger; but up∣on nights approach they feed as the rest in Meadows, &c. and therefore these are called Campestres, Beasts of the Field.

Let us in the next place discover their Names, Sea∣sons, Degrees, and Ages of Forest or Venery, Chase and Warren: and because the Hart is the most noble, worthy, and stately Beast, I shall place him first; and must call a Hart

The first year, a Hinde-calf, or Calf.

The second year, a Knobber.

The third year, a Brocke.

The fourth year, a Staggard.

The fifth year, a Stag.

The sixth year, a Hart.

If hunted by the King, a Hart Royal. If he es∣cape, and Proclamation be made for his safe return without let or detriment, he is then called a Hart Royal Proclaimed.

It is a vulgar errour, according to the Opinion of Mr. Guillim, to think that a Stag, of what age soever he be, shall not be called a Hart till he be hunted by the King or Queen, and thence he shall derive his Title. Mr. George Turbervile saith positively, he shall not obtain that Name till he be hunted or killed by a Prince. But late Huntsmen do agree, he may be called a Hart at and after the age of six years old.

Now if the King or Queen shall happen to hunt or chase him, and he escape with life, he shall ever after be called a Hart Royal: But if he fly so far from the Forest or Chase, that it is unlikely he will ever return of his own accord to the place aforesaid,

and that Proclamation be made in all Towns and Vil∣lages thereabouts, that none shall kill or offend him, but that he may safely return if he list; he is then called a Hart Royal Proclaimed.

The second Beast of Venery is called a Hinde.

And she is called the first year, a Calf.

The second year, a Hearse; and sometimes we say Broc∣kets Sister, &c.

The third year, a Hinde.

The next and third, which by old Foresters is called the King of all Beasts of Venery, is the Hare.

And is called the first year, a Leveret.

The second year, a Hare.

The third year, a Great Hare.

The fourth Beast of Venery is called the Wilde-Boar.

The first year, he is a Pig of the Sounder.

The second year, he is a Hog.

The third year, he is a Hogs Steer.

The fourth year, he is a Boar; at which age, if not be∣fore, he leaveth the Sounder, and then he is called a Singler or Sanglier.

The fifth and last Beast of Venery is the Wolf.

The names of the Beasts of Chase according to their Ages.

The first is the Buck.

It is called the first year, a Fawn.

The second year, a Pricket.

The third year, a Sorel.

The fourth year, a Sore.

The fifth year, a Buck of the first Head.

The sixth year, a Great Buck.

The second Beast of Chase is the Doe or Doo.

She is called the first year, a Fawn.

The second year, a Tegg.

The third year, a Doe.

The third Beast of Chase is the Fox.

And is called the first year, a Cub.

The secound year, a Fox, and afterwards an old Fox.

The fourth Beast of Chase is the Martern.

The first year, it is called a Cub.

The second year, a Martern.

The fifth and last Beast of Chase is called the Roe.

The first year, it is called a Kid.

The second year, a Gyrle

The third year, a Hemuse.

The fourth year, a Roe-Buck of the first Head.

The fifth year, a Fair Roe-Buck.

As for the Beasts of the Warren, the Hare hath been spoken of already. The Coney is called the first year a Rabbet, and afterwards an old Coney.

The Seasons of Beasts.

A Hart or Buck beginneth at the end of Fencer Month, which is 15 days after Midsummer-day, and lasteth till Holy-rood-day. The Fox at Christmas, and lasteth till the Annuntiation of the Blessed Virgin. The Hinde or Doe beginneth at Holy-rood-day, and lasteth till Candlemas. The Roe-Buck beginneth at Easter, and lasteth till Michaelmas. The Roe beginneth at Michael∣mas, and lasteth till Candlemas. The Hare beginneth at Michaelmas, and lasteth till the end of February. The season of the Wolf is said to be from Christmas till the Annuntiation of the Virgin Mary. Lastly, The Boar be∣gins at Christmas, and continues to the Purification of our Lady.

Terms to be used for Beasts of Venery and Chase, as they are in Company one with the other.

A Herd of Harts.

A Herd of all manner of Deer.

A Bevy of Roes.

A Sounder of Swine.

A Rout of Wolves.

A Richess of Marterns.

A Brace or Lease of Bucks.

A Brace or Lease of Foxes.

A Brace or Lease of Hares.

A Couple of Rabbets.

A Couple of Coneys.

Terms for their Lodging.

A Hart Harboureth.

A Buck Lodgeth.

A Roe Beddeth.

A Hare Seateth, or Formeth.

A Coney Sitteth.

A Fox Kennelleth.

A Martern Treeth.

An Otter Watcheth.

A Badger Eartheth.

A Boar Coucheth.

Terms for their Dislodging.

Unharbour the Hart.

Rouze the Buck.

Start the Hare.

Bolt the Coney.

Unkennel the Fox.

Tree the Martern.

Vent the Otter.

Dig the Badger.

Rear the Boar.

Terms for their Noise at Rutting time.

A Hart Belleth.

A Buck Growneth or Troateth.

A Roe Belloweth.

A Hare Beateth or Tappeth.

An Otter Whineth.

A Boar Freameth.

A Fox Barketh.

A Badger Shricketh.

A Wolf Howleth.

A Goat Ratleth.

Terms for Copulation.

A Hart or Buck goeth to Rut.

A Roe goeth to Tourn.

A Boar goeth to Brim.

A Hare and Coney goeth to Buck.

A Fox goeth to Clickitting.

A Wolf goeth to Match or to Make.

An Otter hunteth for his Kinde.

Terms for the Footing and Treading of all Beasts of Venery and Chase.

Of a Hart, the Slot.

Of a Buck and all Fallow Deer, the View.

Of all Deer, if on the Grass, and scarce visible, then it is called Foiling.

Of a Fox, the Print; and other such Vermin, the Foot∣ing.

Of an Otter, the Marks.

Of a Boar, the Tract.

Of a Hare, diversly; for when she is in open Field,

she Soreth: When she winds about to deceive the Hounds, then she Doubleth: When she beateth on the hard High-way, and her Footing can be perceived, then she Pricketh; and in the Snow, it is called the Trace of the Hare.

Terms of the Tail.

Of a Hart, Buck, or other Deer, the Single.

Of a Boar, the Wreath.

Of a Fox, the Brush or Drag; and the Tip at the end is called the Chape.

Of a Wolf, the Stern.

Of a Hare and Coney, the Scut.

Terms for their Ordure.

Of a Hart, and all Deer, their Excrement is called Fewmets or Fewishing.

Of a Hare, Crotiles or Crotising.

Of a Boar, Lesses.

Of a Fox, the Billiting; and all other such Vermin, the Fuants.

Of an Otter, the Spraints.

Terms for the Attire of Deer.

Of a Stag, if perfect, the Bur, the Pearls (the little Knobs on it) the Beam, the Gutters, the Antlier, the Sur-Antlier, Royal, Sur-Royal, and all at top the Croches.

Of a Buck, the Bur, the Beam, the Brow-Antlier, the Back-Antlier, the Advancer, Palm, and Spellers.

If the Croches grow in form of a mans Hand, it is then called a Palmed Head. Heads bearing not a∣bove three or four, the Crotches being plac'd aloft all

of one height, are called Crown'd Heads. Heads ha∣ving doubling Croches, are called Forked Heads, be∣case the Croches are planted on the top of the Beam like Forks.

If you are asked what a Stag bears, you are onely to reckon Croches he bears, and never to express an odde number: As, if he hath four Croches on his near Horn, and five on his far, you must say, he beareth ten, a false Right on his near Horn (for all that the Beam bears are called Rights.) If but four on the near Horn, and fix on the far Horn, you must say he bears twelve, a double false Right on the near Horn; for you must not onely make the number even, but also the Horns e∣ven with that distinction.

When a Hart breaketh Herd, and draweth to the Thickets or Coverts, we usually say he taketh his Hold, or he goeth to Harbour.

All kind of Deers fat is called Sewit; and yet you may say, This Deer was a high Deer of Grease. The fat of a Boar is called Grease. The fat of a Roe onely is called Beavy Grease.

We say the Deer is broken up. The Fox and Hare is cased

It is

• A Litter of Cubs.
• A Nest of Rabbets.
• A Squirrels Dray.

Venison, or Venaison, is so called, from the means whereby the Beasts are taken, quoniam ex Venatione capi∣untur; and being hunted, are most wholsome.

Beasts of Venary (not Venery, as some call it) are so termed, because they are gotten by Hunting.

No Beast of the Forest that is Solivagam & nocivum is Venison, as the Fox, the Wolf, the Martin, because they are no meat. The Bear is no Venison, because not onely that he is Animal nocivum & Solivagam;

but because he is no beast of the Forest, and whatso∣ever is Venison must be a beast of the Forest; sed non è converso. On the other side, Animalia gregalia non sunt nociva, as the Wilde Boar; for naturally the first three years he is Animal gregale; and after trusting to his own strength, and for the pleasure of man, becom∣eth Solivagum. He is then called Sanglier, because he is Singularis: but he is Venison, and to be eaten. The Hare is Venison too, which Martial preferreth before all others.

Inter Quadrupedes gloria prima Lepus.

So are the Red-Deer and Fallow-Deer Venison: vide Cook Inst. 4. pag. 316. Give me leave to insert here out of the same Author two Conclusions in the Law of the Forest, which follow from hence. First, Whatso∣ever Beast of the Forest is for the food of man, that is Venison: and therewith agreeth Virgil, describing of a Feast,

Implentur Veteris Bacchi pinguisque ferinae.

They had their belly full of Old Wine and Fat Veni∣son. So Venison was the principal Dish of the Feast. Secondly, Whatsoever Beast is not for the food of man, is not Venison. Therefore Capriolus, or the Roe, being no Beast of the Forest, is by the Law of the Forest no Venison unless Hunted. Nature hath en∣dewed the Beasts of the Forest with two qualities, Swift∣ness, and Fear; and their Fear increaseth their Swift∣ness.

— Pedibus timor addidit alas.

Vert is any thing that beareth green Leaf, but espe∣cially of great and thick Coverts, and is derived à Viri∣ditate.

Vert is of divers kinds; some that beareth Fruit that may serve for food both for man and beasts, as Service-trees, Nut-trees, Crab-trees, &c. and for the shelter and defence of the Game. Some called Haut∣boys, serving for Food and browse of and for the Game, and for the defence of them; as Oaks, Beeches, &c. Some Hautboys for Browse, Shelter, and Defence onely; as Ashes, Poplars, &c. Of Sub-boys, some for Browse and Food of the Game, and for Shelter and Defence; as Maples, &c. Some for Browse and Defence; as Birch, Sallow, Willow, &c. Some for Shelter and De∣fence onely; as Elder, Alder, &c. Of Bushes and other Vegetables, some for Food and Shelter, as the Hiw-thorn, Black-thorn, &c. Some for hiding and shelter, as Brakes, Gorse, Heath, &c. Vert, as I said, comes à Viridi; thence Viridarii, because their Office is to look after the preser∣vation of the Vert, which in truth is the preservation of Venison.

Terms for Flaying, Stripping, and Casing of all manner of CHASES.

The Hart and all manner of Deer are slain: Hunts∣men commonly say, Take off that Deer's Skin. The Hare is Stripped or Cased; and so is the Boar too, ac∣cording to the opinion of the Antients. The Fox, the Badger, and all manner of Vermin are cased, beginning at the Snout or Nose of the Beast, and so turn his Skin over his Ears down to the Body till you come to the Tail.

Proper Terms for the Noises of Hounds.

When Hounds are first cast off, and find some Game or Chase, we say. They Challenge. If they are too busie before they find the scent good, we say, They Bawl. If

they be too busie after they find good scent, we say, They Babble. If they run it end-ways orderly, making it good, and then hold in together merrily, we say, They are in full Cry. When Spaniels open in the string, (or a Grey-hound in his course) we say, They Lapse. When Hounds hang behinde, and beat too much upon the scent or place, we say, Thy Plod. And when they have either Earthed a Virmin, or brought a Deer, Boar, or such-like to turn head against them, then we say, They Bay.

Different Terms for Hounds and Grey-hounds.

Of Grey-hounds, two make a Brace; of Hounds, a Couple. Of Grey-hounds, three make a Leace; and of Hounds, a Couple and half.

We let slip a Grey-hound, and cast off a Hound. The string where with we lead a Grey-hound, is called a Leace; and for a Hound, a Lyome. The Grey-hound hath his Collar, and the Hound hath his Couples. We say, a Kennel of Hounds, and a Pack of Beagles. Some other differences there are, but these are the most usual.

Where we find Deer have lately passed into Thickets, &c. by which we guess their greatness, and then put the Hounds or Beagles thereto for the View, we account such places Entries.

The Impression where any Deer hath reposed or har∣boured, we call a Layr.

When the Hounds or Beagles hit the scent of their Chase contrary, as to hit it up the wind when they should it down, we then say, they Draw amiss.

When the Hounds or Beagles take fresh scent, hunt∣ing another Chase, until they stick and hit it again, we say, they Hunt Change.

When the Hounds or Beagles hunt it by the Heel, we say, they Hunt Counter.

When the Chase goes off, and comes on again tra∣versing the same ground, to deceive the Hounds or Beagles, we say, they Hunt the Foil.

When we set Hounds in readiness where we expect the Deer will come by, and then cast them off when the other Hounds are pass'd by, we account that a Relay.

When Hounds or Beagles have finish'd their Chase by the death of what they pursued, and then in requital are fed by the hands of the Huntsman or others, we call that their Reward.

Huntsmen when they go drawing in their Springs at Hart-Hunting, usually make Dew-rounds, which we call Ringwalks.

When any Deer is hard hunted, and then betakes himself to swimming in any River, &c. then we say, he takes Soyl.

When Deer cast their Horns, we say, they Mew.

The first head of a Fallow-Deer is called Prick.

When Huntsmen endeavour to find a Hart by the Slot, &c. and then minde his step to know whether he is great and long, they then say, they know him by his Gate.

When Deer rub and push their heads against Trees to cause the Pills of their new Horns come off, we say, they Fray.

When Deer, after being hard run, turn head against the Hounds, we say, they Bay.

When Hounds or Beagles run long without opening or making any cry, we say, they run Mute.

When Hounds or Beagles at first finding the scent of their Game presently open and cry, we then say, they Challenge.

When Hounds run at a whole Herd of Deer, we say, they Run Riot.

When the Hounds touch the scent, and draw on till they rouze or put up the Chase, we say, they Draw on the Slot.

When a Roe crosses and doubles, it is called Trajoning.

When a Hare, as sometimes (though seldom) takes the ground like a Coney, we then say, she Goes to the Vault.

When we beat the Bushes, &c. after the Fox, we call it Drawing.

When a Hare runs on rotten ground, or in a Frost sometimes, and then it sticks to her Feet, we say, she Carryeth.

When the Fox hath young ones in her, we say, she is with Cub.

When Beagles bark and cry at their Prey, we say, they Yearn.

A Red Male Heart of an year old, is called a Spitter.

A Rayn-Deer, is a beast like an Heart, but hath his Head fuller of Antliers.

A Pricker, is a Huntsman on Horse-back.

Engines that we take Deer withal, are called Wiles.

When we set Hounds or Beagles in readiness, expe∣cting the Chase to come by, and then cast them off be∣fore the rest come in, we call it a Vauntlay.

When Hounds or Beagles find where the Chase hath been, and made a proffer to enter, but returned, we say, there is a Blemish.

We say How to a Deer.

When we start a Hare, we say, That, that, or There, there.

The Call, a Lesson blowed on the Horn to comfort the Hounds.

A Recheat, a Lesson likewise blown on the Horn. The Mort or Death, is blown at the death of any Deer. There are several other Lessons, which you may find in the Sculpture of Notes for blowing on the Horn.

There are several Hounds and Beagles which we have different Titles for; as Gaze-hound, Blood-hound, Staunch-hound, Harrier, and Terrier, &c. But we ge∣nerally

in all our Kennels and Packs rank them under these heads: Enterers, Drivers, Flyers, Tyers, &c.

And now to conclude our discourse of general Terms at this place, give us leave to insert, for such young Gentlemen as in time may keep a Kennel, some usual Names of Hounds and Beagles.

A CATALOGUE of some general Names OF HOUNDS and BEAGLES.

• BAnger
• Beauty
• Blue-man
• Blue-cap
• Boman
• Bonny
• Bouncer.
• Captain
• Capper
• Chanter
• Countess
• Cryer
• Caesar.
• Dido
• Driver
• Drunkard
• Drummer
• Damosel
• Darling
• Dutchess
• Dancer
• Daphne.
• Fancy
• Fidler
• Flippant
• Flurry
• Fuddle.
• Gallant
• Gawdy.
• Hector.
• Juggler
• Jewel
• Jocky
• Jenny
• Joler
• Jollyboy
• Jupiter
• Juno.
• Keeper
• Kilbuck.
• Lively
• Lovely
• Lady
• Lilly
• Lillups.
• Madam
• Maulkin
• Merryboy
• Mopsie
• Motley
• Musick.
• Nancy
• Nacter.
• Plunder
• Pleasant
• Pluto.
• Rockwood
• Ringwood
• Rover
• Ranter
• Ratler
• Ruler
• Ranger

• Royal
• Rapper
• Rusfler.
• Spanker
• Singwel
• Sweetlips
• Soundwel
• Stately.
• Troler
• Thunder
• Thisbe
• Truman
• Truelove
• Tickler
• Tattler
• Tulip
• Truelips
• Touchstone
• Traveller
• Tracer
• Touler
• Tunewel
• Tidings
• Trouncer
• Trusty
• Truescent
• Tryer.
• Venus
• Vulcan
• Violet.
• Wanton
• Wonder
• Winder
• Whipster.
• Yerker
• Younker.

Some other Terms and Descriptions relating more particularly to Forest and Forest-Laws.

A Forest, is a place priviledged by Royal Authority and differs from Park, Warren, and Chase, and is on purpose allotted for the peaceable abiding and nourishment of the Beasts and Fowls thereto belonging. For which there are certain peculiar Laws, Officers, and Orders; part of which appear in the Great Charter of the Forest.

A Forester, is an Officer of the Forest, sworn to pre∣serve the Vert and Venison therein, and to attend the wild beasts within his Bailiwick, and to watch, and endeavour to keep them safe by day and night. He is likewise to apprehend all Offenders in Vert and Veni∣son, and to present them to the Courts of the Forest to the end they may be punished according to their of∣fences.

A Purlieu, is all that ground adjoyning to Forests, which being made Forest by Henry the second, Richard the first, or King John, were by perambulations gran∣ted by Henry the third, and severed again from the same.

A Purlieu-man, is he that hath ground within the Purlieu, and hath 40 s. a year Free-hold; and such a one with some caution may hunt within his own Pur∣lieu.

A Regarder, is an Officer of the Kings Forest, that is sworn to take care of the Vert and Venison, and to view and enquire of all the offences committed within the Forest, and of all the Concealments of them; and whether all other Officers do execute their Office or not.

Woodgeld, is the gathering or cutting of Wood in the Forest, or the money paid for it to the use of the Foresters; or an Immunity for this by the King's Grant.

A Raunger, In some Forests there are twelve Raun∣gers, whose Offices are to look after the Purlieu, and drive back the wild Beasts into the Forest again; and to see, hear, and enquire of offenders there, and to present their offences.

A Verderor, is an Officer of the King's Forest, and chosen by the Free-holders of the County where the Forest is, by the Kings Writ directed to the Sheriff for that purpose. Their Office is chiefly to look after the Wood and Grass in the Forest.

An Agistor, is an Officer of the Forest that takes in to feed the Cattle of Strangers, and receives for the Kings use all such tack-Money as becomes due from those Strangers.

A Chase, is a place used for the receipt of Deer and Beasts of the Forest: It differs from a Forest and Park. It may be in the hands of a Subject, which a

Forest in its proper nature cannot be. Neither is it in∣closed as a Park always is; and it hath a larger compass, more store of Game, and more Keepers and Over∣seers.

Expeditate, is (saith Mr. Crompton) the cutting out the ball of the Foot of great Dogs in the Forest; but (saith Mr. Manwood) it is the cutting off the three fore-Claws by the Skin; and that the owner of every such Dog, unexpeditated in the Forest, shall forfeit 3s. 4d.

Fence Month, hath 31 days, begins 15 days before Midsummer, and ends 15 days after: In which time it is unlawful for any to hunt in the Forest, or to go a∣mongst the Deer to disquiet them; because it is the time of Fawning.

Frank Chase, is a liberty of free Chase in a Circuit annexed to a Forest, whereby all men that have ground within the circuit are forbidden to cut down Wood, or discover, &c. within the view of the Forester, though it be his own Demesne.

Green-hue, or Vert, they both signifie one thing, it being every thing that doth drow and bear green Leaf within the Forest, that may cover and hide the Deer.

Over Vert, is all manner of high Wood.

Nether Vert, is all sorts of under-wood. Brushwood is called Cablish.

Horngeld, is a Tax within the Forest for all manner of horned beasts.

Footgeld, is an Amercement on such as live within the Forest, for not expeditating their Dogs. And to be quit of Footgeld, is a priviledge to keep Dogs there Unlawed without Punishment or Controle∣ment.

Pawnage, is Money taken by the Agistors for the feed of Hogs with the Mast of the Kings's Forest;

but (Mr. Crompton saith) it is most properly the Mast, Woods, Lands, or hedg'd Rows, or Money due to the owners of the same for it.

A Scotale, is where any Officer of the Forest doth keep an Ale-house in the Forest by colour of his Office, causing men to come to his House, and to spend their money there for fear of having displeasure; but this is forbid∣den by Charta Forest.

Perambulation, is the admeasurement and setting down of Bounds and Limits to the Forest.

Drift of the Forest, is an exact view and examination taken at certain times, as occasion shall serve, to know what beasts are there; that none Common there but such as have right; and that the Forest be not over∣charged with the beasts of Forreigners.

An Assart, is a great offence committed in the Fo∣rest, by grubbing up the Woods, Coverts, and Thic∣kets, and making them plain as Arable Land, or the like.

Minoverie, is a Trespass or Offence committed by some Engine set up in the Forest to catch Deer, or the like.

Tritis, is a freedom that one hath from holding a Grey-hound in ones hand when the Lord of the Forest is hunting there, or to be amerced for his default.

Protoforestarius, was a great Officer heretofore in Windsor Forest.

Stablestand, is when one is found standing in the Forest with his Bow ready bent to shoot at any Deer or, with his Grey-hound in a Lease ready to slip.

Swainmote, or Swannimote, is a Court appointed to be held thrice in a year within a Forest; the first, 15 days before Michaelmas; the second, about Mar∣tinmas; and the third, 15 days before St. John Bap∣tist.

Chiminage, is taken by Foresters in fee throughout

their Bailiwick for Bushes, Timber, &c. and signifies the same with Toll.

Afforest, is to turn Land into Forest.

Disafforest, is to turn Land from being Forest to o∣ther uses.

Let what hath been said be sufficient for an Introdu∣ction, and let us conclude it with a perswasion to all generous Souls not to slight this noble and worthy Ex∣ercise, (wherein is contained so much health and plea∣sure) for the besotting Sensualities, and wicked De∣baucheries of a City, in which the course of Nature seems to be inverted, Day turn'd into Night, and Night into Day; where there is little other Recreation but what Women, Wine, and a Bawdy Play can afford them; whereby, for want of Labour and Exercise, Mens Bo∣dies contain as many Diseases as are in a sickly Hospi∣tal.

Of DOGS in general.

AS there is no Country in the World wherein there is not plenty of Dogs, so no Animal can boast of greater variety both in shape and kind.

Some Dogs are very great, as the Wolf-dog, which is shaped like a Grey-hound, but by much taller, lon∣ger, and thicker; some are for the Buck, others for the Boar, Bear, and Bull; some for the Hare, Coney, and Hedge-hog; some are both for Water and Land, and they are called Spaniels; other are called Lur∣chers, Tumblers, Brachers, Beagles, &c. As for Shep∣herds Dogs, foisting Curs, and such whom some fond Ladies make their daily, nay nightly Companions

too, I shall pass over, being neither worthy to be in∣serted in this Subject, nor agreeable thereunto: where∣fore I shall onely treat of such whose natures do in∣cline them to Game, for mans Pastime and Recreati∣on.

In the first place, let us consider the Nature of Dogs in general, wherein they agree, and their common properties of Nature, such as are not destroyed in the distinction of kinds, but remain like infallible Truths, and invariable in every kind and Country through the Universe. Dogs (as it is to be observed) are gene∣rally rough; and their Hair indifferently long (which in Winter they lose every year) is a signe of a good constitution; but if it grow over-long, the Mange will follow. The outward proportion of the Head altereth as the kind altereth, having no commissure or seam in the Skull, being a continued bone without separati∣on.

The best Dogs (in Pliny's Opinion) have flat Nostrils, yet round, solid, and blunt: Their Teeth are like Saws, which they change in the fourth month of their age: and by them is their age discerned; for while they are white and sharp, it discovers the youth of a Dog; but when they grow blackish or dusky, broken and torn, they de∣monstrate the elder age.

The Breast of a Dog is narrow, so is his Ventricle: for which cause he is always in pain in the discharging his Excrements.

After they have run a Course, they relieve themselves by tumbling and rowling to and fro. When they lie down, they turn round in a circle two or three times to∣gether; which they do for no other cause, but that they may the more commodiously lie round, and from the Wind.

In their sleep they often dream, as may appear by their barking. Here observe, that they who love to

keep Dogs, must have a special care that they let them not sleep too much, especially after their Meat, when they are young: for as they are very hot, so in their sleep doth their heat draw much pain into their Sto∣mack and Ventricle. The time of their Copulation is for the most part at a year old; yet the Females will lust after it sooner; but they should be restrained from it, because it debilitates their Body, and dulls their Generofity. After the expiration of a year, they may be permitted to copulate; it matters not whether in Winter or Summer, but it is best in the beginning of the Spring: but with this caution, that Whelps of a Litter, or of one and the same Bitch, be never suffered to couple; for Nature delights in varie∣ty.

In antient time, for the more ennobling of their race of Dogs, they would not permit them to ingender till the Male was four year old, and the Female three; for by that means the Whelps would prove more strong and lively. By Hunting, Labour, and Travel, the Males are made more fit for Generation, and they prove best which have their Siers of equal age. When they grow proud, give them Leaven mingled with Milk and Salt, and they will not stray and ramble a∣broad.

It is not good to preserve the first or second Litter, but the third: and after they have littered, it is good to give the Bitch Whey and Barley-bread; for that will comfort her, and increase her Milk: or take the Bones of broken Meat, and seeth them in Goats-Milk: which nutriment will strengthen very much both Dam and Whelps.

There is no great regard to be had as to the Food of a Dog, for he will eat any thing but the Flesh of his own kinde; for that cannot be so dressed by the art of Man, but they find it out by their Nose, and

avoid it. It is good to let the Whelps suck two Months before they be weaned, and that of their own Dam.

Put Cummin now and then in their bread, it will cure or prevent Wind in their bellies; and if Oyl be mingled with that Water they lap, they will prove more able and swift to run. If he refuse and loath his Meat, give him a little hot Bread, or dip brown Bread in Vinegar, and sqeeze the liquor thereof into his Nose, and it will ease him.

There is some difficulty to chuse a Whelp under the Dam that will prove the best of the Litter. Some observe that which seeth last, and take that for the best: others remove the Whelps from the Kennel, and lay them several and apart one from the other; then watch they which of them the Bitch first taketh and carrieth into her Kennel again, and that they take for the best; or else that which vomiteth last of all. Some again give for a certain rule to know the best, that the same which weigheth least while it suck∣eth will prove the best, according to the Verses of Ne∣mesian:

Pondere nam Catuli poteris perpendere viris, Corporibusque leves gravibus pernoscere cursu.

But this is certain, that the lighter Whelp will prove the swifter, and the heavier will be the stronger.

As soon as as the Bitch hath littered, it is requisite to chuse them you intend to preserve, and throw away the rest: keep the black, brown, or of one colour, for the spotted are not much to be accounted of; but of Hounds, spotted are to be valued.

There is not any Creature irrational, more loving to his Master, nor more serviceable than a Dog, en∣during blows from his hands, and using no other means

to pacifie his displeasure, than Humiliation and prostra∣tion; and after beating, turneth a Revenge into a more fervent Love. Irrational, did I say,? I may mistake, if what AElianus reports be true, who thought Dogs have Reason, and use Logick in their Hunting; for they will cast about for the Game, as a Disputant doth for the truth; as if they should say, the Hare is gone either on the left hand, the right, or straight forward; but not on the left or right, Therefore straight forward. Where∣upon he runneth forthright after the true and infallible footsteps of the Hare.

Of Dogs for Hunting. Of the Hound Rache and SLUTH-HOUND, so called in Scotland, and by the Germans SCHLATHUND.

THere are to England and Scotland two kindes of Hunting-Dogs, and no where else in all the World: The first kind is called Ane Rache, and this is a Foot-scenting creature both of wild Beasts, Birds, and Fishes also, which lie hid among the Rocks: The Female hereof in England is called a Brache. A Brach, is a mannerly name for all Hound-Bitches. The se∣cond in Scotland is called a Sluth-hound, being a lit∣tle greater than the Hunting-Hound, and in colour for the most part brown or sandy spotted. The sense of Smelling is so quick in these, that they can follow the Foot-steps of Thieves, and pursue them with violence until they overtake them: nay, should the Thief take the Water, so eager they are in their pursuit, that they will swim after them; and are restless till they find the thing they seek after: For this is common in the Borders

of England and Scotland, where the people were wont to live much upon Theft: and if the Dog brought his Lea∣der to any house where they may not be suffered to en∣ter, they take it for granted that there is both the stolen Goods, and the Thief also.

Of the BLOOD-HOUND.

THe Blood-hound differeth nothing in quality from the Scotish Sluth-hound, saving that they are more largely sized, and not always of one and the same co∣lour: for they are sometimes Red, Sanded, Black, White, Spotted, and of all colours with other Hounds, but most commonly either brown or red.

The Germans call this beast Langhund, because their Ears are long, thin, and hanging down; and they dif∣fer not from vulgar Dogs in any other outward propor∣tion, than onely in their Cry and Barking. Their na∣ture is, being set on by the voice and words of their Lea∣der, to cast about for the sitting of the present Game; and having found it, will never cease pursuing it with full cry, till it is tired, without changing for any other. They seldome bark, except in their Chase, and are very obedient and attentive to the Voice of the Lea∣der.

They which are white, are said to be the quickest scented, and surest Nos'd, and therefore best for the Hare: The black ones for the Boar; and the red for the Hart and Roe. This is the Opinion of some, but none of mine; because their colour (especially the latter) are too like the Game they Hunt: although there can be nothing certain collected of their colour, yet is the black Hound hardier, and better able to endure cold than the other which is white. They

must be tied up till they hunt, yet so as they be let loose now and then a little to ease their Bellies; for it is necessary that their Kennel be kept sweet and dry. It is questionable how to discern a Hound of excel∣lent sense: yet some are of the Opinion that the square and flat Nose is the best signe thereof; likewise a small Head, having all his Legs of equal length; his Breast not deeper than his Belly, and his Back plain to his Tail; his Eyes quick, his Ears hanging long; his Tail nimble, and the beak of his Nose always to the Earth; and especially such as are most silent, and bark least.

Consider now the divers and variable dispositions of Hounds in their finding out the Beast. Some are of that nature, that when they have found the Game, they will stand still till the Huntsman come up, to whom in silence, by their Face, Eye, and Tail, they shew the Game: others, when they have found the foot-steps, go forward without any voice or other shew of Ear or Tail: Another sort when, when they have found the footings of the Beast, prick up their Ears a little, and either bark or wag their Tails; and others will wag their Tails, and not move their Ears.

There are some again that do none of these, but wander up and down barking about the surest marks, and confounding their own foot-steps with the Beasts they hunt; or else forsake the way, and so run back again to the first head; but when they see the Hare, are affraid, not daring to come near her, except she start first. These, with the other which hinder the cun∣ning labours of their Colleagues, trusting to their Feet, and running before their betters, deface the best mark, or else hunt counter, and take up any false scent for the truth; or, which is more reprehensible, never for∣sake the High-ways, and yet have not learned to be

silent: Unto these you may also adde those which can∣not discern the Footing or Pricking of a Hare, yet will they run speedy when they see her, pursuing her hot∣ly in the beginning, and afterwards tire, or hunt lazi∣ly. All these are not to be admitted into a Kennel of good Hounds.

On the contrary, those Hounds which are good when they have found the Hare, make shew thereof to the Huntsman, by running more speedily, and with gesture of Head, Eyes, Ears, and Tail, winding to the Fourm or Hares Muse, never give over prosecution with a gallant noise: they have good and hard Feet, and stately Stomacks.

Now whereas the nature of the Hare is sometimes to leap and make headings, sometimes to tread softly with but a very small impression in the Earth, or sometimes to lie down, and ever to leap or jump out and into her own Form, the poor Hound is so much the more busied and troubled to retain the small scent of her pricking which she leaveth behinde her; for this cause it is requisite that you help the Hound, not onely with Voice, Eye, and Hand, but with a seasonable Time also: for in frosty weather the scent freezeth with the Earth, so that there is no certainty of hunting till it thaw, or that the Sun arise. Likewise if very much Rain fall between the starting of the Hare and time of hunting, it is not convenient to hunt till the Water be dried up; for the drops disperse the scent of the Hare, and dry weather collecteth it again. The Summer-time also is not for hunting, because the heat of the weather consurneth the scent; and the night being then but short, the Hare travelleth not far, feeding onely in the morning and evening: besides, the fragran∣cy of Flowers and Herbs then growing, obliterates the scent the Hounds are guided by.

The best time for hunting with these Hounds is in Au∣tumn, because then the former Odours are weakned, and the Earth barer than at other time.

These Hounds do not onely chase their Game while it liveth, but being dead also by any manner of ca∣sualty, make recourse to the place where it lieth, ha∣ving in this point an assured and infallible Guide, namely, the Scent and Savour of the Blood sprinkled here and there upon the ground: for whether the Beast being wounded doth notwithstanding enjoy life, and escapeth the hands of the Huntsman; or whe∣ther the said Beast, being slain, is conveyed cleanly out of the Park, (so that there be some marks of bloodshed) these Dogs, with no less facility and easiness, than avidity and greediness, disclose and bewray the same by Smelling, applying to their pursuit agility and nimbleness, without tediousness; for which con∣sideration, of a singular speciality they deserved to be called Sanguinarii, Blood-Hounds: And although a piece of flesh be subtilly stolen, and cunningly con∣veyed away, with such proviso's and precaveats, as thereby all appearances of Bloud is thereby prevented or concealed; yet these kind of Dogs, by certain direction of an inward assured notice and private mark, pursue these desperate Deer-stealers through craggy Ways, and crooked Meanders, till they have found them out: yea, so effectual is their foresight, that they can discover, separate, and pick them out from an infinite multitude; creep they never so far in∣to the thickest throng, they will find them out notwith∣standing.

Of the GAZE-HOUND.

THis Dog is little beholding in Hunting to his Nose or Smelling, but to sharpness of Sight altogether, by the vertue whereof it makes excellent sport with the Fox and Hare.

This Dog will chuse and separate from amongst a great Flock or Herd, and such a one will it take by election, as is not lank or lean, but full, fat, and round.

If a Beast be wounded and go astray, this Dog will seek after it by the sreadfastness of the Eye; if it hap∣pen to return, and be mingled with the residue of the Herd, this Dog will soon spy it out, leaving the rest untouched: and after he hath set sure sight upon it, he separateth it from the company; and having so done, never ceaseth till he hath wearied it to death.

This Dog is called in Latine Agasaeus, because the beams of the Sight are so stedfastly setled, and un∣moveably fastned. These Dogs are much used in the Northern parts of England, much more than in the Southern; and on Champion ground rather than in bushy and woody places: Horsemen use them more than Footmen.

If it happen so at any time that this Dog take a wrong way, the Master making some usual signe, and familiar token, he returneth forthwith, and taketh the right and ready course, beginning his Ghase afresh, and with a clear Voice, and a swift Foot, followeth the Game with as much courage and nimbleness as he did at the first.

Of the GREY-HOUND.

AMong the divers kinds of Hunting-dogs, the Grey-hound, by reason of his Swiftness, Strength, and Sagacity to follow and pursue his Game, deserveth the first place; for such are the conditions of this Dog as a Philosopher observeth, that he is reasonably scented to find out, speedy and quick of foot to follow, and fierce and strong to take and overcome; and yet silent, com∣ing upon his Prey at unawares, according to the obser∣vation of Gratius:

Sic Canis illa suos taciturna supervenit hostes.

The best Grey-hound hath a long Body, strong, and rea∣sonable great, not so big as the Wolf-dog in Ireland; a neat sharp Head, and splendant Eyes; a long Mouth, and sharp Teeth; little Ears, and thin Gristles in them; a straight Neck, and a broad and strong Breast; his fore Legs straight and short, his hinder Legs long and straight; broad Shoulders, round Ribs, fleshy Buttocks, but not fat; a long Tail, strong, and full of Sinews. Thus Ne∣mesian eloquently describes the best of Grey-hounds:

— Sit cruribus altis, Costarum sub fine decenter prona carinam: Renibus ampla satis validis deducta{que} coras Sit rigid is, multam{que} gerat sub pectore lato, Quae sensim rursus ficca se collig at alvo: Cui{que} nimis molles fluitent in cursibus Aures. Elige tunc cursu facilem, facilem{que} recursu, Dum superant vires, dum laeto flore juventus.

Of this kind, that is always the best to be chosen among the Whelps, which weigheth lightest; for it will be soon∣est at the Game, and so hang upon it, hindering its swiftness, till the stronger and heavier Dogs come to help and offer their assistance; and therefore besides the marks or necessary good parts of a Grey-hound al∣ready spoken of, it is requisite that he have large sides, and a broad midriff, that so he may take his breath in and out more easily: his Belly must be small; if other∣wise, it will hinder the swiftness of his course: likewise he must have long Legs, thin and soft Hairs. And these must the Huntsman lead on his left hand, if he be afoot; and on the right, if on Horse-back.

The best time to try them and train them to their Game, is at twelve Months old; yet some begin sooner with them, that is, at ten Months if they are Males, and at eight if Females: yet it is surest not to strain them, or permit them to run a long Course, till they be twenty Moneths old. Keep them also in the Slip while they are abroad, until they can see their Course; and loosen not a young Dog, until the Game have been on foot for a good season, lest be∣ing over-greedy of the Prey, he strain his limbs too much.

The Grey-hounds which are most in request among the Germans, are called Windspil, alluding to compare their swiftness with the Wind; but the French make most ac∣count of those that are bred in the Mountains of Dalma∣tia, or in any other Mountains, especially of Turkie; for such have hard Feet, long Ears, and bristle Tails.

The Grey-hound (called by the Latins Leporarius) hath his name from the word Gre, which word soundeth Gra∣dus in Latine, in English Degree; because among all Dogs, these are the most principal, having the chiefest place, and being simply and absolutely the best of the gentle kind of Hounds.

Of the HARRIER and TERRIER.

THe Harrier in Latine is called Leverarius, or Sagax; by the Greeks, Ichneuten, of tracing or chasing by the Foot.

Nature hath endewed this Creature with an admi∣rable gift of Smelling, and is bold and courageous in the pursuit of his Game. There are several sorts of them, and all differ in their Services: some are for the Hare, the Fox, the Wolf, the Hart, the Buck, the Badger, the Otter, the Polecat, the Weasle, the Coney, &c. some for one thing, some for another.

As for the Coney, we use not to hunt, but take it sometimes with a Net, sometimes with a Ferret, and sometimes with a Lurcher or Tumbler. Among the se∣veral sorts of Harriers, there are some which are apt to hunt two divers Beasts, as the Fox sometimes, and other∣whiles the Hare; but they hunt not with that good success and towardness, who stick not to one sort of Game.

The Terrier hunteth the Fox and the Badger or Grey onely: And they are called Terriers, because they (after the manner and cusiom of Ferrets in searching. for Coneys) creep into the ground, and by that means affright, nip, and bite the Fox and the Badger, in such sort, that either they tear them in pieces with their Teeth, (being in the bosome of the Earth) or else hale and pull them by force out of their lurking Angles, dark Dungeons, and close Caves; or at the least, through conceived fear, drive them out of their hollow Harbours, insomuch, if they are not taken by Net or otherwise, they are compelled to prepare for

flight; and being desirous of the next, though not the safest refuge, they are oft-times entrapped with Snares and Nets laid over Holes for the same pur∣pose.

Of LEVINER or LYEMMER.

THe Leviner is singular in Smelling, and in Swift∣ness incomparable. This is as it where a middle kinde between the Harrier and the Grey-Hound, as well for his kinde, as the frame and shape of his Body. It is called in Latine Levinarius, à Levitate, of lightness, and therefore may well be called a Light-Hound. This Dog, for the excellency of his Conditions, namely, Smelling, and swift Running, doth follow the Game with more eagerness, and taketh the Prey with a jolly quickness.

Of the TUMBLER.

THe word Tumbler undoubtedly had its derivation from the French word Tumbier, which signifies to Tumble; to which the Latine name agrees, Vertagus, from Vertere to turn, and so they do: for in Hunting they turn and tumble, winding their Bodies about cir∣cularly, and then fiercely and violently venturing on the Beast, do suddenly gripe it at the very entrance or mouth of their Holes or Receptacles, before they can make any recovery of self-security.

This Dog useth another craft and subtilty, namely,

when he runneth into a Warren, or fetcheth a course about a Coney-borough, he hunts not after them, he no ways affrights them, he shews no spight against them; but dissembling friendship, and pretending fa∣vour, passeth by with silence and quietness, marking their Holes diligently, wherein he seldom is deceived. When he cometh to a place where there is a certainty of Coneys, he coucheth down close with his Belly to the ground, provided always by his Skill and Policy that the Wind be against him in that Enterprize, and that the Coneys, discover him not where he lurketh; by which means he gets the benefit of the scent of the Coneys, which is carried to him by the Wind and Air, either going to their Holes, or coming out, either passing this way, or running that way; and so order∣eth the business by his circumspection, that the silly Coney is debarred quite from his Hole, (which is the Haven of their hope, and the Harbour of their safety) and fraudulently circumvented and taken before they can get the advantage of their Holes. Thus having caught his Prey, he carrieth it speedily to his Master, waiting his Dogs return in some convenient lurking corner.

These Dogs are somewhat lesser than the Hounds be∣ing lanker, leaner, and somewhat prick-ear'd. By the form and fashion of their Bodies they may be justly cal∣led Mungrel-Grey-hounds, if they were somewhat big∣ger. But notwithstanding they countervail not the Grey-hound in greatness, yet will he take in one days space as many Coneys as shall arise to as big a burthen, and as heavy a load as a Horse can cary: For Craft and Subtilty are the Instruments whereby he maketh this spoil, which pernicious properties supply the places of more commendable qualities.

Let this suffice for a taste: now, after such Dogs as serve Hunting, will follow such as serve for Hawking

and Fowling; among which, the principal and chiefest is the Spaniel, called in Latine Hispaniolus, borrowing his name from Hispania; wherein we English-men, not pro∣nouncing the Aspiration H, nor the Vowel I, for quick∣ness and readiness of speech, say, Spaniel.

Of the SPANIEL.

THere are two sorts of Dogs which necessarily serve for Fowling. The first findeth Game on the Land, the other on the Water. Such as delight on the Land, play their parts either by swiftness of foot, or by often questing to search out and to spring the Bird for further hope of reward, or else by some secret signe and privy token, discover the place where they fall. The first kinde of such serve the Hawk; the second, the Net or Train. The first kinde have no peculiar names assigned them, except they are named after the Bird which by natural appointment he is allotted to take; for which consideration, some are called Dogs for the Falcon, the Pheasant, the Par∣tridge, and such-like: they are commonly called by one name, viz. Spaniels, as if they originally came from Spain.

The Spaniel, whose service is required in Fowling on the Water, partly through natural inclination, and partly by diligently teaching, is properly called Aqua∣ticus, as Water-Spaniel, because he hath usual recourse to the Water, where all his Game lieth, namely, Water-fowl, which are taken by their help in their kind.

His size is somewhat big, and of a measurable great∣ness, having long, rough, and curled Hair, which

must be clipt in due season: for by lessening that su∣perfluity of Hair, they become more light and swist, and are less hindred in swimming. Ducks and Drakes are his principal Game; whereupon he is likewise named a Dog for a Duck, because in that quality he is excellent.

Of the WHITE-HOUND.

THose Hounds which are all of one colour, as all white, are the best Hounds; in like manner those which are spotted with red: but those which are spot∣ted with a dun colour, are of little value, being faint∣hearted, and cannot endure much labour. But should they happen to be whelpt coal-black, which is but sel∣dom, they commonly prove incomparable Hounds. But if white Hounds are spotted with black, experience tells us, they are never the best Hare-hunters. White, and black and white, and grey streak'd white, are also the most beautiful.

Of FALLOW-HOUNDS.

THey are hardy, and of good scent, keeping well their Chase without change; but not so swift as the white. They are of a strong constitution, and do not fear the Water; running surely, and are very hardy, commonly loving the Hart beyond any other Chase.

The best complexion for these Fallow-Hounds, is the

lively red, and such as have a white spot in their Fore∣head, or have a Ring about their Neck: but those which are yellowish, and spotted with black or dun, are of lit∣tle estimation. Those which are well joynted, having good Claws, are fit to make Blood-hounds: and those which have shagged Tails, are generally swift runners. These Hounds are fitter for Princes than private Gentle∣men, because they seldom run more than one Chace; neither have they any great stomack to the Hare or o∣ther small Chases: and, which is worst of all, they are apt to run at tame Beasts.

Of the DUN-HOUND.

THese are good for all Chases, and therefore of general use. The best coloured are such as are dun on the Back, having their four quarters tann'd, or of the complexion of a Hare's Legs: But if the Hair on the Back be black, and their Legs freckled with red and black, they then usually prove excellent Hounds: and indeed there are few dun-coloured to be found bad; the worst of them are such whose Legs are of a whitish colour. It is wonderful, in these creatures, to observe how much they stick upon the knowledge of their Ma∣ster, especially his Voice, and Horn, and none's else. Nay, farther, they know the distinct Voices of their Fellows, and do know who are Babblers and Liars, and who not; and will follow the one, and not the o∣ther.

Now for Hounds, the West-country, Cheshire, and Lancashire, with other Wood-land and Mountainous Countries, breed our Slow-hound; which is a large great Dog, tall and heavy. Worcester-shire, Bedford-shire,

and many well-mixt soils, where the Champaign and Covert are of equal largeness, produce a middle-sized Dog, of a more nimble composure than the former. Lastly, the North-parts, as York-shire, Cumberland, Nor∣thumberland, and many other plain Champaign Coun∣tries, breed the Light, Nimble, Swift, Slender, Fleet Hound. After all these, the little Beagle is attributed to our Country; this is that Hound, which in Latine is called Canis Agasaeus, or the Gaze-hound. Besides our Mastiff, which seems to be an Indigena, or Native of England, we train up most excellent Grey-hounds (which seem to have been brought hither by the Galls) in our open Champaigns. All these Dogs have deser∣ved to be famous in adjacent and remote Countries, whither they are sent for great rarities, and ambitiously sought for by their Lords and Princes; although one∣ly the fighting Dogs seem to have been known to the antient Authors; and perhaps in that Age Hunting was not so much cultivated by our own Countrey∣men.

The marks of a good and fair Hound.

His Head ought to be of a middle proportion, rather long than round; his Nostrils wide; his Ears large; his Back bowed; the Fillets great; the Haunches large; the Thighs well trussed; the Ham straight; the Tail big near the Reins, and the rest slender to the end; the Leg big; the Soal of the Foot dry, and formed like a Fox's, with the Claws great.

Of the Election of a Dog and Bitch for good Whelps.

Your Bitch must come of a good kind, being strong, and well proportioned in all parts, having her Ribs and Flanks great and large. Let the Dog that lines her be of a good fair breed; and let him be young, if you intend to have light and hot Hounds: for if the Dog be old, the Whelps will participate of his Dull and heavy nature.

If your Bitch grow not naturally Proud so soon as you would have, you may make her so, by taking two heads of Garlick, half a Gastor's Stone, the juice of Cresses, and about twelve Spanish Flies, or Cantha∣rides: boil these together in a Pipkin which holds a pint, with some Mutton, and make Broth thereof; and of this give to the Bitch twice or thrice, and she will in∣fallibly grow proud. The same Pottage given to the Dog, will make him desirous of copulation.

When your Bitch is lined, and with Puppy, you must not let her hunt, for that will be the way to make her cast her Whelps; but let her unconfined walk up and down in the House and Court, and never lock her up in her Kennel; for she is then impatient of food; and therefore you must make her some hot Broth once a day.

If you would spay your Bitch, it must be done be∣fore she ever had Litter of Whelps: And in spaying her, take not away all the Roots or Strings of the Veins; for if you do, it will much prejudice her Reins, and hinder her swiftness ever after: but by leaving some behinde, it will make her much the stronger and more hardy. Whatever you do, spay her not when she is proud; for that will endanger her life: but you may do

it fifteen days after. But the best time of all is, when the Whelps are shaped within her.

How to enter young Hounds to Hunt the Hart; and what Quarries and Re∣wards you shall give them.

Having first taught your Hounds to know your Hal∣low, and the sound of your Horn, then, about eighteen months old, you must lead them once a Week into the fields, and not oftner.

The best manner to teach your Hounds, is to take a live Hare, and trail her after you upon the Earth now one way, now another; and so, having drawn i•• a convenient space, hide it in the Earth: afterward se•• forth your Hound near the Trail, who taking Wind runneth to and fro near the Woods, Fields, PAstures, Path-ways, and Hedges, until he find which way th•• Hare is gone; but with a soft and gentle pace, until at length coming near the lodged Hare, he mendeth his pace, and bestirreth himself more speedily, leaping o•• his Prey, and killing it, loadeth himself with his con∣quest and bringing it to his Master with Triumph, h•• must receive both Dog and it with all tokens of love i•• to his Bosom.

When you hunt, let your Hart be in prime of grea•••• for then he is heavier than in April or May, and cann•••• stand up so long.

Then chuse your Forest wherein the Relays are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 equal proportion: then place all your young Houn•••• with five or fix old to enter them; and then lead the•• to the farthest and last Relay, and cause the Hart to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hunted unto them. Being come up, uncouple your o•••• Hounds; and having found the Track of the Hart, bein•• well entred in cry, uncouple likewise your young Hound••

and if you find any of them lag behinde, you must beat or whip them forward.

In what place soever you kill the Hart, immediately flay his Neck, and reward your Hounds: for it is best whilst it is hot so to do.

There are several ways of entring Hounds. As first, by taking a Hart in Nets, and after you have cut off one of his Feet, let him go: a quarter of an hour af∣ter, assemble your young Hounds; and having found out the View or Slot of the Hart or Buck by your Blood∣hounds, uncouple your young Hounds, and let them hunt. Secondly, you may bring them to quarry, by taking half a dozen Huntsmen, swift of foot, each whereof shall have two couple to lead in Liams; and having unlodg'd the Hart, pursue him fair and softly, so that you tire not too much your young Hounds. After the Hart hath ran two or three hours, and that you find he begins to sink, you may then cast off your young Hounds: but beware it be not when he is at Bay, and his Head full summed; for so you may en∣danger the lives of your Hounds.

But the best way of entring Hounds is at the Hare; for thereby they will learn all Doubles and Turns, better know the Hallow, will be more tender-nosed, and bet∣ter scented, by using the beaten ways and Champion grounds.

Here note, that with whatsoever you first enter your Hounds, and therewith reward them, they will ever af∣ter love that most. Wherefore, if you intend them for the Hart, enter them not first with the Hinde. And for the better hunting the Hart, enter not your young Hounds within a Toil; for there a Hart doth nothing but turn and cast about, since he cannot run end-long, and so they are always in sight of him. If then afterwards you should run him at force out of a Toil, and at length, and out of sight, you will find the Hounds to give him over quick∣ly.

Lastly, enter not your Hounds nor teach them in the Morning; for if so, you will find them apt to give o∣ver in the heat of the day.

Of COURSING with Grey-Hounds.

I Need not declare the Excellencies which are con∣tained in the noble and worthy Exercise of Cour∣sing with Grey-hounds, since it is so well known to all Gentlemen who take delight in this pleasant and healthy Pastime: I shall therefore onely insist upon the breed of Grey-hounds, their Shape, their Diet, and the Laws belonging to the same, according as they were commanded, allowed, and subscribed by the Duke of Norfolk, in the Reign of Queen Eliza∣beth.

First, for the Breeding of Grey-Hounds, in this you must have respect to the Country, which should be Champain, Plain, or high Downs. The best Valleys are those of Belvoir, White-horse, and Evesholm, or any other where there are no Coverts, so that a Hare may stand forth and endure a Course of two or three miles: as for high Downs or Heaths, the best are about Marl∣borough, Salisbury, Cirencester, and Lincoln.

Though these places are very commodious for the breeding and training up of Grey-Hounds; yet, in my opinion, the middle, or most part arable grounds are the best: and yet those Gentlemen who dwell on Downs or plain grounds, to keep up the reputation of their own Dogs, affirm, that they are more nim∣ble and cunning in turning than the Vale-Dogs are and Mr. Markham confesseth that he hath seen a Vale-Dog so much deceived, that upon a turn he hath

lost more ground than hath been recoverable in the whole Course after: however, with a little care, in a short time this errour may be rectified; and then you will experimentally find The good Dogs upon the Deeps will ever beat the good Dogs upon the Plains.

It is a received opinion, that the Grey-hound-Bitch will beat the Grey-hound-Dog, by reason the excelleth him in nimbleness: but if you consider that the Dog is longer and stronger, you must look upon that opinion no more than as a vulgar errour.

Here note, as to the breeding of your Grey-hounds, that the best Dog upon an indifferent Bitch, will not get so good a Whelp as an indifferent Dog upon the best Bitch.

Observe this in general as to breeding, let your Dogs and Bitches, as near as you can, be of an equal age, not exceeding four years old: however, to breed with a young Dog and an old Bitch, may be the means of pro∣ducing excellent Whelps, the goodness whereof you shall know by their Shapes in this manner.

If they are raw-bon'd, lean, loose-made, sickle or crooked-hough'd, and generally unknit in every Mem∣ber; these are the proper marks of excellent shape and goodness: but if after three or four months they appear round and close-trust, fat, straight, and as it were full summed and knit in every Member, they never prove good, swift, nor comely.

The goodness of shape in a Grey-hound after a year and a half old, is this: his Head must be lean and long, with a sharp Nose, rush-grown from the Eye down∣ward; a full clear Eye, with long Eye-lids; a sharp Ear, short and close falling; a long Neck a little bend∣ing, with a loose hanging Weasand; a broad Breast, straight Fore-legs, hollow Side, straight Ribs; a square slat Back, short and strong Fillets, a broad space between the Hips, a strong Stern or Tail, a round Foot, and good large Clefts.

The Dieting of Grey-Hounds consists in these four things: Food, Exercise, Airing, and Kennelling.

Food of a Grey-hound is two fold: general, that is, the maintaining of a Dog in good bodily condition; and particular, when the Dog is dieted for a Wager, or it may be for some Distemper he is afflicted with.

A Grey-hound's general Food ought to be Chippings, Crusts of Bread, soft Bones and Gristles. Your Chip∣pings ought to be scalded in Beef, Mutton, Veal or Venison-Broth; and when it is indifferent cool, then make your Bread onely float with good Milk, and give it your Grey-hounds Morning and Evening; and this will keep them in good state of body.

But if your Dog be poor, sickly, and weak, then take Sheeps-heads, Wool and all, clean wash'd, and ha∣ving broken them to pieces, put them into a Pot; and when it boils, scum the Pot, and put therein good store of Oatmeal, and such Herbs as Pottage is usually made of; boil these till the Flesh be very tender: then with the Meat and Broth feed your Dogs Morning and E∣vening, and it will recover them.

If you designe your Grey-Hound for a Wager, then give him this Diet-bread: Take half a peck of the finest and driest Oat-meal, and a peck of good Wheat, having ground them together, boult the Meal, and scattering an indifferent quantity of Liquorish and Anniseeds well beaten together; knead it up with the Whites of Eggs, new Ale and Barm mix'd to∣gether, and bake it in small Loaves indifferent hard; then take it and soak it in Beef or any of the afore∣said Broths; and half an hour after Sun-rising, and half an hour before its setting, having first walke and air'd your Grey-hound, give it him to eat. This will not onely increase his strength, but enlarge his Wind.

Having thus spoken of a Grey-Hound's Feeding,

either generally or particularly, either for keeping him in health, or restoring it when it is lost, I shall in the next place proceed to his Exercise; and this likewise consists in two things, that is, Coursing, and Airing.

As to the first, he ought to be Coursed thrice a week, in such manner that you usually reward him with Blood, which will animate and encourage him to prosecute his Game: but be not unmindful to give the Hare all just and lawful advantage, so that she may stand long before the Grey-hound, that thereby he may shew his ut∣most strength and skill before he reap the benefit of his labour.

If he kill, suffer him not to break the Hare, but take her from him; and having cleans'd his Chaps from the Wool of the Hare, then give him the Liver, Lights, and Heart, and so take him up in your Leash; and having led him home, wash his Feet with some Butter and Beer, and then put him into the Kennel, and feed him half an hour afterwards.

Upon your Grey-hounds Coursing-days, give him in the Morning before you air him, a Toast and Butter or Oyl, and nothing else; then Kennel him till he go to his Course.

The reason of Kennelling your Grey-hounds is this, because it breeds in Dogs Lust, Spirit, and Nimbleness; besides, it prevents several dangerous Casualties, and keeps the Pores from spending till time of necessity: and therefore do not permit your Dog to stir out of the Ken∣nel but in the hours of Feeding, Walking, Coursing, or other necessary business.

The Laws of the Leash or Coursing.

Though the Laws of Coursing may alter accor∣ding to some mens swaying Fancies; yet these, sub∣scribed

by the chief of the Gentry, were ever held au∣thentical. Take them thus in order, according to my collection out of Mr. Markham.

First, it was ordered, that he who was chosen Few∣terer, or Letter-loose of the Grey-hounds, should receive the Grey-hounds Match to run together into his Leash as soon as he came into the Field, and follow next to the Hare-finder till he came unto the Form: and no Horse-man or Foot-man, on pain of disgrace, to go be∣fore them, or on any side, but directly behinde, the space of forty yards or thereabouts.

2. That not above one Brace of Grey-hounds do course a Hare at one instant.

3. That the Hare-finder should give the Hare three Sohoe's before he put her from her Lear, to make the Grey-hounds gaze and attend her rising.

4. That the Fewterer shall give twelve-score Law ere he loose the Grey-hounds, except it be in danger of losing sight.

5. That Dog that giveth the first Turn, if after the Turn be given there be neither Coat, Slip, nor Wrench extraordinary; I say, he which gave the first Turn shall be held to win the Wager.

6. If one Dog give the first Turn, and the other bear the Hare, then he which bare the Hare shall win.

7. If one give both the first and last Turn, and no other advantage be between them, the odde Turn shall win the Wager.

8. That a Coat shall be more than two Turns, and a Go-by, or the Bearing of the Hare equal with two Turns.

9. If neither Dog turn the Hare, then he which leadeth last at the Covert shall be held to win the Wager.

10. If one Dog turn the Hare, serve himself, and

turn her again, those two Turns shall be as much as a Coat.

11. If all the Course be equal, then he which bears the Hare shall win onely; and if she be not born, the Course must be adjudged dead.

12. If he which comes first in to the death of the Hare takes her up, and saves her from breaking, che∣risheth the Dogs, and cleanseth their Mouths from the Wool, or other filth of the Hare, for such courtesie done he shall in right challenge the Hare: but not do∣ing it, he shall have no Right, Priviledge, or Title there∣in.

13. If any Dog shall take a fall in the Course, and yet perform his part, he shall challenge the advantage of a Turn more than he giveth.

14. If one Dog turn the Hare, serve himself, and give divers Coats, yet in the end stand still in the field, the other Dog, without Turn giving, running home to the Covert; that Dog which stood still in the field shall be adjudged to lose the Wager.

15. If any man shall ride over a Dog, and over∣throw him in his Course, (though the Dog were the worse Dog in opinion, yet) the party for the offence shall either receive the disgrace of the Field, or pay the Wager; for between the Parties it shall be adjudged no Course.

16. Lastly, those which are chosen Judges of the Leash shall give their judgments presently before they depart from the Field, or else he in whose default it lieth shall pay the Wager by a general Voice and Sen∣tence.

Here note, that it lieth in the power of him that hath the Office of the Leash conferred on him, to make Laws according to the Customs of Countries, and the Rule of Reason.

Of the Stiles of Hunting different from the English both Antique and Forrein.

THe Hunting used by the Antients was much like that way which is at present taken with the Rain-Deer, which is seldom hunted at force or with Hounds, but onely drawn after with a Blood-hound, and forestall'd with Nets and Engines. So did they with all Beasts, and therefore a Dog is never commen∣ded by them for opening before he hath by signes disco∣vered where the Beast lieth in his Layre, as by their drawing stiff our Harbourers are brought to give right judgement. Therefore I do not finde that they were curious in the Musick of their Hounds, or in a com∣position of their Kennel or Pack, either for deepness, or loudness, or sweetness of cry like to ours. Their Huntsmen were accustomed to shout and make a great noise, as Virgil observes in the third of his Geor∣gicks:

Ingentem clamore premes ad retia Cervum.

So that it was onely with that confusion to bring the Deer to the Nets laid for him.

But we comfort our Hounds with loud and coura∣geous Cries and Noises, both of Voice and Horn, that they may follow over the same way that they saw the Hart pass, without crossing or coasting.

The Sicilian way of Hunting was this: when the Nobles or Gentry were informed which way a Herd of Deer passed, giving notice to one another, they appointed a meeting, and every one brought with

him a Cross-bow, or a Long bow, and a bundle of Staves. These Staves had an Iron-spike at the bot∣tom, and their Head is bored, with a Cord drawn through all of them; their length is about four foot: Being thus provided, they come to the Herd, and there casting themselves about into a large Ring, they sur∣round the Deer; and then every one of them receives a peculiar stand, and there, unbinding his Faggot, ties the end of his Cord to the other who is set in the next station; then to support it, sticks into the ground each Staff, about the distance of ten foot one from the other. Then they take out Feathers, which they bring with them, dyed in Crimson for this very purpose, and fa∣stned upon a Thred which is tied to the Cord, so that with the least breath of wind they are whirled round a∣bout. Those which keep the several Stands, withdraw and hide themselves in the next Covert. After this, the chief Ranger enters within the Line, taking with him onely such Hounds which draw after the Herd; and coming near with their cry, rouze them: Upon which the Deer fly till they come towards the Line, where they turn off towards the left, and still gazing upon the shaking and shining Feathers, wander about them as if they were kept in with a Wall or Pale. The chief Ranger pursues, and calling to every one by name, as he passeth by their Stand, cries to them, that they shoot the first, third, or sixth, as he shall please; and if any of them miss, and single out any other than that which was assigned by the Ranger, it is counted a disgrace to him: by which means, as they pass by the several Stations, the whole Herd is killed by several hands. This Relation is of undoubted truth, as you may finde it in Pierius his Hieroglyphicks, Lib. 7. Chap. 6.

Boar-hunting is very usual in France, and they call it Sangtier. In this sort of Hunting the way is to

use furious terrible Sounds and Noises, as well of Voice as Horn, to make the Chase turn and fly; because they are slow, and trust to their Tusks and defence: which is Agere Aprum, to bait the Boar. Yet this must be done after his Den or Hold is discovered, and the Nets be pitched.

The Huntsmen give judgement of the Wild-Boar by the print of his Foot, by his Rooting. A wild Swine roots deeper than our ordinary Hogs, because their Snouts are longer; and when he comes into a Corn∣field, (as the Caledonian-Boar in Ovid) turns up one continued Furrow, not as our Hogs, routing here and there; and then by his soil he soils and wallows him in the myre: these are his Volutabra Silvestria, where his greatness is measured out; then coming forth, he rubs against some Tree, which marks his height; as also when he sticks his Tusk into it, that shews the great∣ness thereof. They observe the bigness of his Lesses, and the depth of his Den; where note, that they call his Dung by the name of Lesses.

Whensoever the Boar is hunted and stands at Bay, the Huntsmen ride in, and with Swords and Spears striking on that side which is from their Horses, wound or kill him. This is in the French Hunting: but the antient Romans standing on foot, or setting their Knees to the ground, and charging directly with their Spear, did Opponere ferrum, and Excipere Aprum: for such is the nature of a Boar, that he spits himself with fury, run∣ning upon the Weapon to come at his Adversary; and so, seeking his revenge, he meets with his own destru∣ction.

Though these Wild-Boars are frequent in France, we have none in England; yet it may be supposed that here∣tofore we had, and did not think it convenient to pre∣serve that Game: For our old Authors of Hunting reckon them amongst the beasts of Venery; and we

have the proper terms belonging to them, as you may find them at the beginning of the Book. Of Boar-hunting you will read more hereafter.

There are no Roe-Deer in England; but there are plenty of them in Scotland, as Sir James Lindsay an old Scottish Writer testifies.

Yet it may be thought that they have been more common in England, because our antient Huntsmen acknowledge the proper terms for this Chase; and in the first place we have distinct Ages for these Dorces, which you shall find in the Terms aforesaid. They make good Chase, stand long, and fly end-way. Com∣pellere Dorcas, is to force the Bevy; and to drive them into the Toyls.

Although we have no Wolves in England at this present, yet it is certain that heretofore we had Routs of them, as they have to this very day in Ireland; and in that Country are bred a race of Grey-hounds, (which are commonly called Wolf-Dogs) which are strong, fleet, and bear a natural enmity to the Wolf. Now in these the Grey-hounds of that Nation there is an incredible force and boldness, so that they are in great estimation, and much sought after in forrein parts, so that the King of Poland makes use of them in his hunting of great Beasts by force. Wherefore it may well be intended of the great fierceness which these Dogs have in assaulting, that when the Romans saw them play, they thought them so wonderful violent, as that they must needs have been Ferreis caveis advecti, brought up in Iron Dens.

In Poland when the King hunts, his servants are wont to surround a Wood, though a Mile in compass, with Toyls which are pitched on firm Stakes. This being done, the whole Town, all Sexes and Ages promiscuously rush into the Inclosure, and with their ••oud shouts rear all the Beasts within that Wood; which

making forth, are intercepted in the Nets. Their small and great Beasts are entangled together, after the same manner as when amongst us we draw a Net over a Pond, and after beating it all over with Poles, we bring out not onely Pike and Carp, but lesser Fry; so they inclose at once Deer, Boar, Roe-buck, and Hare: For so they order their Nets, that the space of those Meshes which are twisted with greater Cords, for the entangling of greater Beasts, that space, I say, is made up with smaller Whip-cord, for the catching smaller Prey.

He hath a great race of English Mastiffs, which in that Country retain their generosity, and are brought up to play upon greater beasts. It is not counted a∣mong them disagreeable to the Laws of the Chase, to use Guns. I shall now proceed to the manner of English-Hunting both antient and modern, according to the best information I could gather either out of Books, experienced Huntsmen, and my own pra∣ctice.

Of Hart-Hunting.

A Hart can naturally swim a great way; insomuch that I have heard of some so sore hunted in Forests near the Sea, that they have plung'd into it, and have been killed by Fisher-men a dozen miles from land.

It is reported of them when they go to Rut, and must for that purpose cross some great River or Arm of the Sea, they assemble in great Herds, the stron∣gest goes in first, and the next of strength follows him, and so one after the other, relieving themselves

by staying their Heads on the Buttocks of each o∣ther.

The Hinde commonly carries her Calf eight or nine moneths, which usually falls in May, although some la∣ter: some of them have two at once, eating the Skin up wherein the Calf did lie.

As the Calf grows up, she teacheth it to run, leap, and the way it must keep to defend it self from the Hounds.

Harts and Hindes are very long-liv'd, living common∣ly an hundred years and upwards.

The nature of a Hart.

The Hart is strangely amazed when he hears any one call, or whistle in his Fist; For trial of which, some see∣ing a Hart in the Plain in motion, have called after him, saying, Ware, Ware, or Take heed; and thereupon have seen him instantly turn back, making some little stand. He heareth very perfectly when his Head and Ears are erected; but heareth imperfectly when he holdeth them down. When he is on foot, and not afraid, he won∣ders at every thing he seeth, and taketh pleasure to gaze at them.

They bear sometimes few, and sometimes more Croches; and that is the reason that many men have erred in their judgments as to their age.

Harts are bred in most Countries; but the Antients do prefer those of Britain before all others, where they are of divers colours.

These do excel all others in the beauty of Horns; which are very high, yet do not grow to their Bones or Scalps, but to their Skin, branching forth into ma∣ny Speers, being solid throughout, and as hard as Stones, and fall off once a year: but if they remain abroad in the Air, and that thereby they are sometimes

wet and dry, they grow as light as any vanishing or other substance, as I have proved by experience, find∣ing some which have been lost by them in the Woods; wherefore I gather, that they are of an earthly sub∣stance, concrete, and hardned with a strong heat, made like unto Bones. They lose these Horns every year in the Spring. At one year old they have nothing but Bunches, that are small significators of Horns to come: at two years they appear more perfectly, but straight and simple: at three years they grow into two Spears: at four, into three; and so increase every year in their Branches till they be six; and above that time their age is not certainly to be discerned by their Head.

Having lost their Horns in the day-time, they hide themselves, inhabiting the shades, to avoid the annoyance of Flies, and feed, during that time onely, in the night. Their new Horns come out at first like Bunches, and afterwards (as I said before) by the increase of the Sun's heat they grow more hard, covered with a rough Skin, which is called a Velvet∣head; and as that Skin drieth, they daily try the strength of their new Heads upon Trees; which not onely scrapeth off the roughness, but by the pain they feel thus rubbing them, they are taught how long to forbear the company of their fellows: for at last, when in their chafing and fretting of their new Horn against the Tree they can feel no longer pain and smart in them, they take it for high time to forsake their solitary dwellings, and return again to their former conditi∣on.

The reason why Harts and Deers do lose their Horns yearly, are these: First, because of the matter whereof they consist; for it is dry and earthy, like the substance of green Leaves which have an yearly fall, likewise, wanting glewing or holding moisture

to continue them; wherefore the Horn of a Hart can∣not be bent. Secondly, from the place they grow up∣on; for they are not rooted upon the Skull, but onely within the Skin. Thirdly, from the efficient cause; for they are hardned both with the heat of Summer, and cold of Winter; by means whereof the Pores to re∣ceive their nourishing Liquor are utterly shut up and stopped, so as of necessity their native heat dieth; which falleth not out in other Beasts, whose Horns are for the most part hollow, and fitted for longer conti∣nuance; but these are of lesser, and the new Bunches swelling up towards the Spring, do thrust off the old Horns, having the assistance of Boughs of Trees, weight of the Horns, or by the willing excussion of the Beast that beareth them.

It is observed, that when a Hart pricketh up his Ears, he windeth sharp, very far, and sure, and disco∣vereth all treachery against him; but if they hang down and wag, he perceiveth no danger. By their Teeth is their Age discerned, and they have four on both sides wherewith they grinde their meat, besides two other, much greater in the Male than in the Fe∣male. All these Beasts have Worms in their Head underneath their Tongue, in a hollow place where the Neck-bone is joyned to the Head, which are no big∣ger than Flie-blows. His Blood is not like other Beasts, for it hath no Fibres in it, and therefore it is hardly congealed. His Heart is very great, and so are all those of fearful Beasts, having in it a Bone like a Cross. He hath no Gall, and that is one of the causes of the length of his life; and therefore are his Bowels so bitter, that the Dogs will not touch them unless they be very fat. The Genital part is all nervy; the Tail small; and the Hinde hath Udders betwixt her Thighs, with four Speans like a Gow. These are above all other four-footed Beasts, both

ingenious and fearful, who although they have large Horns, yet their defence against other four-footed Beasts is to run away.

And now if you will credit Gesner as a Huntsman, pray here observe what account he gives of Hunting the Hart: This wild deceitful and subtile Beást (says he) by windings and turnings does often deceive its Hunter, as the Harts of Meandros flying from the ter∣rible cry of Diana's Hounds. Wherefore the prudent Hunter must frame his Dogs as Pythagoras did his Scholars, with words of Art to set them on, and take them off again at his pleasure; wherefore he must first of all compass in the Beast (en son giste) in her own Layr, and so unharbour her in the view of the Dogs, that so they may never lose her Slot or Footing: nei∣ther must he set upon every one, either of the Herd or those that wander solitary alone, or a little one but partly by sight, and partly by their Footing and Fumets, judge of their Game; also he must observe the largeness of his Layr. Being thus informed, then Discouples les chiens, take off your Dog-Couplings; and some on Horse-back, others on foot, follow the Cry with greatest art, observation and speed, remem∣bring and preventing (cer fruze) the subtile turnings and headings of the Hart; straining with all dexterity to leap Hedge, Pale, Ditch, nay Rocks; neither fearing Thorns, down Hills, nor Woods, but providing fresh Horse if the first tire, follow the largest Head of the whole Herd, which you must endeavour to single out for the Chase; which the Dogs perceiving must follow, taking for a prohibition to follow any o∣ther.

The Dogs are animated by the winding of Horns and voices of the Huntsmen, like Souldiers to the battle, by the noise of Trumpets and other Warlike Instruments. But sometimes the crafty great beast seo∣deth

forth his little Squire to be sacrificed to the Dogs and Huntsmen, instead of himself; lying close in the mean time: Then must a Retreat be sounded, and (rom∣pre le chiens) the Dogs be broken off, and taken in (le Limier) that is, Leame again, until they be brought to the fairer Game; who ariseth in fear, yet still striveth by flight, until he be wearied and breathless.

The Nobles call this beast (Cerf sage) a wise Hart, who, to avoid all his Enemies, runneth into the greatest Herds, and so bringeth a Cloud of errour on the Dogs, to keep them from further prosecution; sometimes also beating some of the Herd into his Footings, that so he may the more easily escape, and procure a Labyrinth to the Dogs; after which he be∣taketh himself to his Heels again, running still with the Wind, not onely for refrigeration, but because he may the more easily hear the voice of his pursuers, whether they be far or near. At last, being for all this found out again by the observance of the Hunters, and skilful Scent of the Dogs, he flieth into the Herds of Cat∣tle, as Cows, Sheep, &c. leaping on an Ox or Cow, laying the foreparts of his body thereon, that so touch∣ing the Earth onely with his hinder Feet, to leave a ve∣ry small or no scent at all behinde for the Hounds to descern.

The chief Huntsman to Lewis the twelfth, called (le Grand Venieur) affirmeth, that on a time, they having a Hart in chase, suddenly the Hounds were at a fault, so as the Game was out of sight, and not a Dog would once stir his foot, whereat the Hunters were all amazed; at last, by casting about, (as it is usual in such cases) they found the fraud of the crafty beast, which is worth the memory.

There was a great White-thorn, which grew in a hadowy place as high as a Tree, and was environed with other small shrubs about it; into the which the said

Hart leaped, and there stood aloft the Boughs sprea∣ding from one another, and there remained till he was thrust through by a Huntsman, rather than he would yield to the angry and greedy Hounds. Yet their manner is when they see themselves every where intercepted, to make force at him with their Horns who first comes unto him, except prevented by Sword or Spear; which being done, the Hunter with his Horn windeth the fall of the Beast, and then every one approacheth, luring with triumph for such a con∣quest, of whom the skilfullest openeth the Beast, re∣warding the Hounds with what properly belongeth unto them for their future encouragement; and for that purpose the Huntsmen dip Bread in the Skin and Blood of the Beast, to give unto the Hounds their full satisfaction.

Veloces Spartae catulos, acrem{que} Mollossum Pasce fero pingui, &c.

Much more might be said of this present subject, which is not proper in this place; wherefore I shall refer you to what followeth, and your own experi∣ence.

Of the Rut of Harts.

The time of their Rutting is about the midst of September, and continues two months: the older they are, the hotter, and the better beloved by the Hindes; and therefore they go to Rut before the young ones; and, being very fiery, will not suffer any of them to come near the Hindes till they have satisfied their Venery. But the young ones are even with the old for when they perceive the old are grown weak by excess of Rutting, the young will frequently attaqu••

them, and make them quit the place, that they may be masters of the sport.

They are easily kill'd in Rutting-time: for they fol∣low the scent of the Hindes with such greediness, lay∣ing their Noses to the ground, that they mind that sole∣ly, and nothing else.

They are such great lovers of the sport, it is very dangerous for any man to come near them at this sea∣son, for then they will make at any living creature of different kind.

In some places, in October their Lust ariseth, and also in May; and then, whereas at other times the Males live apart from the Females, they go about like lascivious Lovers, seeking the company of their Females, as it were at the Market of Venus.

The Males in their raging desired Lust have a peculi∣ar noise, which the French call Reere. One Male will cover a many Females, continuing in this carnal appe∣tite a month or two. The Females are chaste, and unwil∣ling to admit of Copulation, by reason of the rigour of the Male's Genital; and therefore they sink down on their buttocks when they begin to feel his Seed, as it hath been often observed in tame Harts; and if they can, the Females run away, the Males striving to hold them back within their fore-Feet. It cannot be well said, that they are covered standing, lying, or going, but rather running; for so are they filled with greatest severity. When one month or six weeks is over of their Rutting, they grow tamer by much, and laying aside all fierceness, they return to their solitary places, digging every one by himself a se∣veral Hole or Ditch, wherein they lie, to asswage the strong savour of their Lust; for they stink like Goats, and their Face beginneth to look blacker than at other times: and in those places they live till some Showers distil from the Clouds; after which, they return to their Pasture a∣gain, living in Flocks as before.

The Female, thus filled, never keepeth company a∣gain with the Male until she is delivered of her bur∣then, which is eight months; and but one at a time, seldom two, which she lodgeth cunningly in some Covert: If she perceive them stubborn and wilde, she will beat them with her Feet till they lie close and quiet.

Oftentimes she leadeth forth her young, teaching it to run and leap over bushes, stones, and small shrubs; and so continueth all the Summer long, while their own strength is most considerable.

It is very pleasant to observe them when they go to Rut, and make their Vaut. For when they smell the Hinde, they raise their Nose up into the Air, looking aloft, as though they gave thanks to the God of Na∣ture, who gave them so great delight and pleasure. And if it be a great Hart, he will turn his Head and look about to see whether there be none near to inter∣rupt or spoil his sport. Hereat the young fly away for fear: but if there be any of equal bigness, they then strive which shall Vaut first; and in the opposing each o∣ther, they scrape the ground with their Feet, shocking and butting each other so furiously, that you shall hear the noise they make with their Horns a good half mile, so long, till one of them is Victor. The Hinde behold∣ing this Pastime, never stirs from her station, expecting, as it were, the Vauting of him who hath the Mastery; and having got it, he bellows, and then instantly covers her.

During the time of their Rut, they eat but very lit∣tle; for they feed onely on what they see before them, minding more the track of the Hindes. Their chief meat is the red Mushrome, which helps them to evacuate their Grease: they are then extraordinary hot, inso∣much, that every where as they pass and find waters, they tumble and lie therein.

The time of Harts Mewing, or Casting the Head.

The old Hart casteth his Head sooner than the young: and the time is about the months of February and March.

Here note, that if you geld an Hart before he hath an Head, he will never bear any; and if you geld him when he hath it, he will never after Mew or cast it: and so, if you geld him when he hath a Velvet∣head, it will ever be so, without fraying or burnish∣ing.

Having cast their Heads, they instantly withdraw unto the Thickets, hiding themselves in such convenient places where they may have good Water, and strong Feeding, near some ground where Wheat or Pease is sown: But young Harts do never betake themselves to the Thickets till they have born their third Head, which is in the fourth year.

After they have Mewed, they will begin to Button in March and April; and as the Sun grows strong, and the season of the year puts forward the Crop of the Earth, so will their Heads increase in all respects: so that in the midst of June their Heads will be summed as much as they will bear all the year.

Of the Coats and Colour of Harts.

The Coats of Harts are of three sundry sorts, Brown, Red, and Fallow; and of every of these Coats there proceeds two sorts of Harts, the one are great, the o∣ther little.

Of brown Harts, there are some great, long, and hairy, bearing a high Head, red of colour, and well

beam'd, who will stand before Hounds very long, being longer of breath, and swifter of foot than those of a shorter stature.

There are another sort of brown Harts, which are little, short, and well-set, bearing commonly a black Main, and are fatter and better Venison than the for∣mer, by reason of their better feeding in young Cop∣ses.

They are very crafty, especially when in grease; and will be hardly found, because they known they are then most enquired after: besides, they are very sensible they cannot then stand long before the Hounds. If they be old, and feed in good ground, then are their Heads black, fair, and well branched, and commonly palmed at the top.

The Fallow-Harts bear their Heads high, and of a whitish colour, their Beams small, their Antliers long, slender, and ill-grown, having neither Heart, Courage, nor Force. But those which are of a lively Red-fal∣low, having a black or brown List down the Ridge of the Back, are strong, bearing fair and high Heads, well furnished and beam'd.

Of the Heads and Branches of Hearts, and their diversities.

As there are several sorts of Harts, so have they their Heads in a divers sort and manner, according to their Age, Country, Rest, and Feeding. Here note, that they bear not their first Head, which we call Bro∣ches, and in a Fallow-Deer Pricks, until they enter the second year of their Age. In the third year they bear four, six, or eight small Branches: At the fourth, they bear eight or ten: at the fifth, ten or twelve: at six, four∣teen or sixteen: and at the seventh year they bear their Heads Beam'd, Branched, and Summed with as much as ever they will bear, and do never multiply but in great∣ness onely.

How to know an old Hart by the Slot, Entries, Abatures and Foils, Fewmets, Gate and Walks, Fraying-Stocks, Head and Branches.

I shall proceed in order, and first of the Slot. You must carefully look on the Treadings of the Hart's Foot: If you find the Treadings of two, the one long, the other round, yet both of one bigness; yet shall the long Slot declare the Hart to be much larger than the round.

Moreover, the old Hart's hind-foot doth never over∣reach the fore-foot; the young one's doth.

But above all, take this Observation: When you are in the Wood, and have found the Slot of a Hart, mark what manner of Footing it is, whether worn, or sharp; and accordingly observe the Country, and thereby judge whether either may be occasioned thereby. For Harts bred in mountainous and stony Countries, have their Toes and sides of their Feet Worn, by reason of their continual climbing and resting themselves there∣on, and not on the Heel: whereas in other places they stay themselves more on the Heel than Toes: For in soft or sandy ground they slip upon the Heel, by reason of their weight; and thus by frequent staying them∣selves thereon, it makes the Heel grow broader and grea∣ter. And thus you may know the age of a Hart by his Slot or Treading.

The next thing to be considered, is the Fewmishing; and this is to be judged of in April or May. If the Fewmets be great, large, and thick, they signifie the Hart to be old.

In the midst of June and July, they make their Fewmets or Fewmishing in great Croteys, very soft; and from that time to the end of August, they make them great, long, knotty, anointed and gilded, let∣ting

them fall but few and scattered. In September and October there is no longer judging, by reason of the Rut.

Thirdly, If you would know the height and thick∣ness of the Hart, observe his Entries and Galleries into the Thickets, and what Boughs he hath over-stridden, and mark from thence the height of his Belly from the ground.

By the height of the Entries, we judge the age of a Hart: for a young Deer is such as creeps usually; but the old is stiff and stately.

His greatness is known by the height of his creeping as he passes to his Harbour; the young Deer creeping low, which the old will not stoop to.

Fourthly, Take notice of his Gate, by which you may know whether the Hart be great and long, and whether he will stand long before the Hounds or not. For all Harts which have a long step will stand up ve∣ry long, being swift, light, and well breath'd; but if he leave a great Slot, which is the signe of an old Deer, he will never stand long when he is chased.

Lastly, Take notice of his Fraying-post: Where note, the elder the Hart is, the sooner he goeth to Fray, and the greater is the Tree he seeketh to Fray upon, and such as he cannot bend with his Head.

All Stags as they are burnish'd, beat their Heads dry against some Tree or other, which is called their Fray∣ing-post: The younger Deer against weaker and lesser Trees, and lower; the elder against bigger and stronger, and Fray higher; so that accordingly we confidently judge of their age, and of the nearness of their Harbour; for that is the last Ceremony they use before they enter it.

As to the Head and Branches, the Hart is old, First, when the compass of the Bur is large, great, and well pearl'd.

Secondly, when the Beam is great, burnished, and well pearl'd, being straight, and not made crooked by the Antliers.

Thirdly, when the Gutters therein are great and deep.

Fourthly, when the first Antlier, called Antoiller, is great, long, and near to the Bur; the Surantlier near unto the Antlier: and they ought to be both well pearl'd.

Fifthly, The rest of the Branches which are higher, being well ordered and set, and well grown, according to the bigness and proportion of the Head; and the Cro∣ches, Palm or Crown being great and large according to the bigness of the Beam, are the signes of an old Hart.

Now since many men cannot understand the names and diversities of Heads according to the Terms of Hunting, I shall in the following Chapter give you a brief account thereof.

The Names and diversities of Heads, according to Hunting-Terms.

The thing that beareth the Antliers, Royals, and Tops, is called the Beam; and the little streaks therein are called Gutters.

That which is about the Crust of the Beam, is termed Pearls: and that which is about the Bur it self, form∣ed like little Pearls, is called Pearls bigger than the rest.

The Bur is next the Head; and that which is about the Bur, is called Pearls. The first is called Antlier; the second, Surantlier: All the rest which grow after∣wards, until you come to the Crown, Palm, or Croche, are called Rovals, and Sur-royals: The little Buds or Broches about the Top, are called Croches.

Their Heads go by several Names: The first Head is called a Crowned Top, because the Croches are ranged in form of a Crown.

The second is called a Palmed Top, because the Cro∣ches are formed like a mans Hand.

Thirdly, all Heads which bear not above three or four, the Croches being placed aloft, all of one height, in form of a cluster of Nuts, are to be called Heads of so many Croches.

Fourthly, all Heads which bear two in the Top, or having their Croches doubling, are to be called Forked Heads.

Fifthly, all Heads which have double Burs, or the Antliers, Royals, and Croches turned downwards, con∣trary to other Heads, are onely called Heads.

How to seek a Hart in his Haunts or Feeding-places according to the seasons of the year.

All Harts do change their manner of Feeding every month; and therefore I shall treat orderly of every one till I have concluded the year; beginning with that month which is the conclusion of their Rutting-time, and that is November, in which month they feed in Heaths and Broomy places.

In December they Herd together, and withdraw themselves into the strength of the Forests, to shelter themselves from the cold Winds, Snows, and Frosts, and do feed on the Holm-trees, Elder-trees, Brambles, with whatsoever other green thing they can find; and if it snow, they will skin the Trees like a Goat.

In January, February, and March, they leave Herd∣ding, but will keep four or five in company, and in the corners of the Forest will feed on the Winter-pa∣sture; sometimes making their incursions into the neighbouring Corn-Fields, if they can perceive the

blades of Wheat, Rie, or such-like, appear above ground.

In April and May they rest in their Thickets, and other bushy and shady places, during that season, and stir very little till Rutting-time, unless they are di∣sturb'd.

There are some Hearts are so cunning, that they will have two several Layrs to harbour in, a good distance one from the other; and will frequently change (for their greater security) from the one to the other, taking still the benefit of the Wind.

In these months they go not to the Soil, by reason of the moisture of the Spring, and the Dew that continual∣ly overspreadeth the Grass.

In June, July, and August, they are in their pride of grease, and do resort to Spring-Copses, and Corn∣fields; onely they seldom go where Rye or Barley grow.

In September and October they leave their Thickets and go to Rut; during which season they have no cer∣tain place either for food or harbour.

In what manner the Huntsman shall go drawing in the Springs.

Let him not come too early into the Springs or Hewts where he thinketh the Hart feedeth, and is at relief. For they usually go to their Layrs in the Springs; and if they be old crafty Deer, they will re∣turn to the border of the Copse, and there listen whether they can hear any approaching danger: and if they chance once to vent the Huntsman or the Hound, they will instantly dislodge.

Now is the Huntsman's proper time. Let him beat the outsides of the Springs or Thickets: if he find the Track of an Hart or Deer, let him observe

whether it be new; which he may know thus; the Dew will be beaten off, the Foil fresh, or the ground broken or printed, with other tokens: so he may judge his Game lately went that way.

Having found this Slot or Treading, and the Hound sticking well upon it, let him hold him short, for he shall better draw being so held, than if he were let at length of the Lyam: and thus let him draw till he is come to the Covert, if possible, taking notice by the way of the Slot, Foils, Entries, and the like, till he hath harboured him. That done, let him plash down small Twigs, some above, and some below, as he shall think fit: and then, whilst the Hound is hot, let him beat the outsides, and make his Ring-walks twice or thrice about the Wood, one while by the great and open ways, that he may help himself by the Eye; another while through the thick and Covert, for fear lest his Hound should over∣shoot it, having still better Scent in the Coverts than High-ways.

If he doubt the Hart is gone out of the Ring-walks, or fears he hath drawn amiss; then let him go to the marks which he plashed, and draw counter, till he may take up the Fewmet.

The directions for Harbouring a Stag are these:

The Harbourer having taught his Hound to draw mute always round the outside of the Covert, as soon as his Hound challenges, which he knows by his ea∣ger flourishing, and straining his Lyam, he then is to seek for his Slot: If he findes the Heel thick, and the Toe spreading broad, it argues an old Deer, espe∣cially if it is fringed, (that is, broken on the sides.) However, if the ground be too hard to make any judgment from the Slot, he is to draw into the Covert, as he passes observing the size of the Entries; the larger

and higher, the elder the Deer; as also his Croppings of the Tenders as he passes: (the younger the Deer, the lower; the elder the Deer, the higher he branches.) Also observe his Fewmishings as you pass, whose large∣ness bespeak the largeness of the Deer; also be curious in observing his Fraying-post, which usually is the last opportunity you have to judge by, the eldest Deer Fray∣ing highest against the biggest Trees; and that found, you may conclude his Harbour not far off; therefore draw with more circumspection, checking your Draught-hound to secure him from spending when he comes so near as to have the Deer in the Wind: and then by his eagerness you having discovered that, ought to draw him; and having retired some distance back, you are with your Hound to round the place first at a conside∣rable distance; and then, if you find him not disturbed, a little within that make your second round; which will not onely secure you that he is in his Harbour, but will also secure his continuance there; for he will not (unforc'd) pass that Taint your Hound hath left in the rounding of him. So that having broken a bough for his direction, he may at any time unharbour that Hart.

How to find a Hart lost the night before.

A Huntsman may fail of killing a Hart divers ways; sometimes by reason of great heat, or overtaken with the night, and the like. If any such thing should happen, then thus you must do. First, they which follow the Hounds, must mark the place where they left the Chase, and at break of day bring your Blood-hound to it with your Kennel after him. If any hound vents, whom he knows to be no Lier or Babler, he shall put his Hound to it, whooping twice, or blow∣ing two Notes with his Horn, to call all his fellows

about him: and if he find where the Hart is gone in∣to some likely Govert or Grove, then must he draw his Hounds about it, and beat cross through it. And if there he renews his Slot or View, let him first consider whether it be the right or not: if it be the right, let him blow his Horn. Now if he find five or six Layrs, let it not seem strange; for Harts hunted and spent, do frequently make many Layrs together, because they cannot stand, but lie and feed.

Harts which are hunted, most commonly run up the Wind, and straight forwards as far as they are able, and finding any Water or Soil, do stay a long time therein; by which means their Joynts are so benummed and stiffned, that coming out they cannot go far, nor stand up long; and therefore are compelled to take any Har∣bour they can finde, which may be a present Covert to them.

How to find a Hart in high Woods.

In the seeking of a Hart in high Woods, regard must be had to two things; that is, the Thickets of the Fo∣rest, and the Season.

If it be in very hot weather, Gnats, Horse-flies, and such-like, drive the Deer out of the high Wood, and they disperse themselves into small Groves and Thic∣kets near places of good feeding. According to the Coverts which are in the Forest, so accordingly the Huntsman must make his enquiry. For sometimes the Harts lie in the Tufts of White-thorn; sometimes un∣der little Trees; otherwhiles under great Trees in the high Woods; and sometimes in the Skirts of the Forest under the shelter of little Groves and Copses. And therefore the Huntsman must make his Ring-walk great or small, according to the largeness of those Har∣bours or Goverts.

How to Unharbour a Hart, and cast off the Hounds.

When the Relays are well set and placed, let the Huntsman with his Pole walk before the Kennel of Hounds: Being come to the Blemishes, let him take notice of the Slot, and such other marks as may be observed from the View of the Deer, to the intent he may know whether the Hounds run Riot or not. Then let the Huntsmen cast abroad about the Covert, to discover the Hart when he is unharboured, the bet∣ter to distinguish him by his Head or otherwise. The Huntsman having unharboured him, all the Hounds shall be cast off, they crying one and all, To him, to him; That's he, that's he, with such words of encourage∣ment.

If the Blood-hound as he draweth chance to over∣shoot, and draw wrong or counter, then must the Huntsman draw him back, and say, Back, back, Soft, soft, until he hath set him right again: and if he perceive that the Hound hath mended his fault, by his kneeling down, and observing the Slot or Ports, he must then che∣rish him, by clapping him on the Back, and giving him some encouraging words. Thus let him draw on with his Hound till the Deer be descried.

Now some are so cunning and crafty, that when they are unharboured from their Layr, they will coast round about to finde some other Deer, whereby the Hounds may be confounded in the change of hunts.

If the Huntsman have the Hart in view, let him still draw upon the Slot, blowing and hollowing until the Hounds are come in. When he seeth they are in full cry, and take it right, he may then mount, keeping under the Wind, and coast to cross the Hounds that are in chase, to help them at default, if need require.

What subtilties are used in Hunting a Hart at force.

Let the Huntsman never come nearer the Hounds in cry, than fifty or threescore paces, especially at the first uncoupling, or at casting off their Relays. For if a Hart make Doublings, or wheel about, or cross before the Hounds, as he seldom doth; if then you come in too hastily, you will spoil the Slot or View; and so the Hounds, for want of Scent, will be apt to overshoot the Chase: but if after hunting an hour, the Huntsman perceive that the Hart makes out end-ways before the Hounds, and that they follow in full cry, taking it right, then he may come in nearer, and blow a Recheat to the Hounds to encourage them. Hereupon the Hart will frequently seek other Deer at Layr, and rouze them, on purpose to make the Hounds hunt change, and will lie down flat in some of their Layrs upon his Belly, and so let the Hounds over-shoot him: and because they shall neither scent or vent him, he will gather up all his four Feet under his Belly, and will blow and breath on some moist place of the ground, in such sort, that I have seen the Hounds pass by such a Hart within a yard, and ne∣ver vent him.

For which cause Huntsmen should blemish at such places they see the Hart enter into a Thicket, to this end, that if the Hounds should fall to change, they may return to those Blemishes, and put their Hounds to the right Slot and View, until they have rouzed or found him again.

The Hart hath another way to bring the Hounds to change; and that is, when he seeth himself closely pursued, and that he cannot shun them, he will break into one Thicket after another to finde Deer, rouzing and herding with them, continuing so to do some∣times above an hour before he will part from them, or

break Herd. Finding himself spent, he will break herd, and fall a doubling and crossing in some hard High-way that is much beaten, or else in some River or Brook, in which he will keep as long as his breath will permit him: and if he be far before the Hounds, it may be then he will use his former device, in gathering his Legs up under his belly as he lies flat along upon some hard and dry place. Sometimes he will take soil, and so cover himself under the water, that you shall perceive nothing but his Nose.

In this case the Huntsman must have a special regard to his old Hounds, who will hunt leisurely and fear∣fully; whereas the young Hounds will over-shoot their Game.

If it so chance that the Hounds are at a default, and hunt in several companies, then it may be guessed that the Hart hath broken herd from the fresh Deer, and that the fresh Deer have separated themselves also: then regard how the old Staunch-hounds make it, and observe the Slot; and where you see any of the old Hounds challenge, cherish and encourage him, hastening the rest in to him, by crying Hark to such a Hound, calling him by his Name.

Here is to be noted, that they cannot make it so good in the hard High-ways as in other places, because they cannot have there so perfect a scent, either by reason of the Tracks or Footing of divers sorts of beasts, or by reason of the Sun drying up the moisture, so that the dust covereth the Slot: now in such places (such is the natural subtilty of that beast for self-preservation) the Hart will make many Corsses and Doublings, holding them long together, to make the Hounds give over the Chase.

In this case, the first care of the Huntsman is, to make good the Head, and then draw round apace, first down the Wind, though usually Deer go up the Wind:

and if the way is too hard to Slot, be sure to try far e∣nough back. This expert Hounds will frequently do of themselves.

But if a Hart break out into the Champion-country, and that it be in the heat of the day, between Noon and three of the clock; then if the Huntsman perceive his Hounds out of breath, he must not force them much, but comfort them; and though they do not call upon the Slot or View, yet it is sufficient if they but wag their Tails; for, being almost spent, it is painful for them to call.

The last Refuge of a Hart sorely hunted is the Water, (which, according to Art, is termed the Soil) swim∣ming oftnest down the Stream, keeping the middle, fearing lest by touching any bough by the Water-side he may give scent unto the Hounds.

Always when you come to a Soil, (according to the old Rule: He that will his Chase finde, let him first try up the River, and down the Wind) be sure if your Hounds challenge but a yard above his going in, that he is gone up the River: for though he should keep the very middle of the Stream, yet will that, with the help of the Wind, lodge part of the Stream, and Imbosh that comes from him on the Banks, it may be a quarter of a mile lower, which hath deceived many. Therefore first try up the Stream: and where a Den first breasts soil, both Man and Hound will best perceive it.

Now the ways to know when a Hart is spent, are these: First, He will run stiff, high, and lompering. Secondly, If his Mouth be black and dry without any Foam upon it, and his Tongue hanging out; but they will often close their Mouths, to deceive the Specta∣tors. Thirdly, By his Slot: for oftentimes he will close his Claws together, as if he went at leisure; and straightway again open them wide, making great

glidings, and hitting his Dew-claws upon the ground, following the beaten Paths without Doublings; and sometimes going all along by a Ditch-side, seeking some Gap, having not strength to leap it otherways: yet it hath been often seen, that Dead-run Deer have taken very great leaps.

Thus must a Huntsman govern himself according to the subtlety and Craft of the Deer, observing their Doublings and Crossings, and the places where they are made; making his Rings little or great, according to the nature of the place, time, and season: For Hounds are subject to shoot where Herbs and Flowers have their most lively scent and odoriferous smell. Neither must you be unmindful of the perfection and imperfection of your Hounds. Thus doing, it will be very hard luck if you loose a Hart by default.

How to kill a Hart at Bay.

It is very dangerous to go in to a Hart at Bay, and especially at Rutting-time; for then they are most fierce.

There are two sorts of Bays; one on the Land, the other on the Water. If now the Hart be in a deep Wa∣ter, where you cannot well come to him, then couple up your Dogs; for should they long continue in the Water, it would endanger surbating or foundering. Get then a Boat, or swim to him with a Dagger; or else with a Rope that hath a Noose, and throw it over his Horns: for if the Water be so deep that the Hart swims, there is no danger in approaching him; otherwise you must have a care.

As to the Land-bay, if the Hart be burnished, then must you consider the place: For if it be in a plain and open place, where there is no Wood nor Covert, it is dangerous and hard to come in to him; but if

it be in a Hedge-side or thicket, then, whilst the Hart is staring on the Hounds, you may come covertly among the bushes behinde him, and cut his Throat. If you miss your aim, and the Hart turn head upon you, then make some Tree your refuge; or when the Hart is at Bay, couple up your Hounds; and when you see the Hart turn head to fly, gallop in roundly to him, and kill him with your Sword.

Directions at the Death of Buck or Hart.

The first Ceremony when the Huntsmen come in to the Death of a Deer, is to cry Ware Haunch, that the Hounds may not break into the Deer; which ha∣ving secured, the next is cutting his Throat, and there blooding the youngest Hounds, that they may the bet∣ter love a Deer, and learn to leap at his Throat; then, having blown the Mort, and all the company come in, the best person, that hath not taken Say before, is to take up the Knife that the Keeper or Huntsman is to lay cross the Belly of the Deer, standing close to the left Shoulder of the Deer, some holding by the Fore-legs, and the Keeper or Huntsman drawing down the Pizle, the person that takes Say, is to draw the edge of the Knife leisurely along the very middle of the Belly, beginning near the Brisket; and drawing a little upon it, enough in the length and depth to disco∣ver how fat the Deer is, then he that is to break up the Deer first slits the Skin from the cutting of the Throat downward, making the Arber, that so the Ordure may not break forth; and then he is to pounch him, rewarding the Hounds therewith. Next, he is to present the same person that took the Say with a drawn Hanger, to cut off the Head; which done, and the Hounds rewarded therewith, the concluding Ceremony is, if a Buck a double, if a Stag a treble

Mort blown by one, and then a whole Recheat in Con∣sort by all that have Horns; and that finished, immedi∣ately a general Whoo whoop.

It was formerly termed, Winde a Horn, because (as I suppose) all Horns were then compassed; but since straight Horns are come into fashion, we say, Blow a Horn, and sometimes, Sound a Horn.

In many cases heretofore, Leasing was observed; that is, one must be held, either cross a Saddle, or on a mans back, and with a pair of Dog-couples receive ten pound and a Purse; that is, ten stripes, (according to the nature of the Crime, more or less severe) and an eleventh, that used to be as bad as the other ten, called a Purse.

There are many Faults, as coming to late into the Field, mistaking any term of Art; these are of the les∣ser size: of the greater magnitude, hallowing a wrong Deer, or leaving the Field before the death of the Deer, &c.

Buck-Hunting.

THis Beast is common in most Countries, being as corpulent as a Hart; but in quantity resembleth more a Roe, except in colour.

The Males have Horns, which they lose yearly; but the Females none at all. Their colours are divers, but most commonly branded or sandy on the back, having a black list all down along on the back; their bellies and sides spotted with white, which they lose by their old age: and the Does do especially vary in colour, being sometimes all white, and therefore like unto Goats, ex∣cept in their hair, which is shorter.

In their Horns they differ not much from a Hart,

except in quantity, and that they grow out of their Heads like Fingers out of the Hand; such is this Fallow-Deer, being therefore called Cervus Palmatas. As for their other parts, they much resemble a Roe-buck. Their flesh is excellent for nourishment, but their blood ingen∣ders too much Melancholy.

Now know, the Buck is Fawn'd about the latter end of May, and its nature and properties differ little from the Hart.

There is not so much art and skill in Lodging a Buck, as in the Harbouring a Hart; neither is there required so much drawing after, but onely you are to judge by the View, and mark what Grove or Covert he entreth; for he will not wander and rove up and down so often as a Hart, nor so frequently change his Layr.

He maketh his Fewmishings in divers manners and forms, as the Hart doth, according to the diversity of Food, and time of the day, Morning and Evening; but most commonly they are round.

The Hart and Buck differ thus in parallel. When the Buck is hunted, he oft-times betakes himself to such strong Holds and Coverts as he is most acquainted with, not flying far before the Hounds, not crossing nor doubling, using no such subtleties as the Hart is accu∣stomed to.

The Buck will beat a Brook, (but seldom a great Ri∣ver, as the Hart) but it must not be so deep; nor can he stay so long at Soil as the Hart will do: onely he leapeth lightlier at Rut than the Hart; and groaneth or troateth, as a Hart belleth, but with a lower Voice, ratling in the Throat. And here is to be noted, they love not one another, nor will they come near each o∣ther's Layr.

Buck Venison is incomparable food, and is dressed like Hart-Venison; onely this last will be preserved lon∣ger than the former.

The Buck herds more than the Hart, and lieth in the driest places: but if he be at large, unconfined within the limitary Precincts of a Park, he will herd but lit∣tle from May to August, because the flies trouble him. He takes great delight in hilly places; but the Dales are his joy to feed in.

Bucks have seldom or never any other Relays than the old Hounds.

The greatest subtlety a Huntsman need use in the Hunting of the Buck, is to beware of Hunting Coun∣ter or Change, because of the plenty of Fallow-Deer, which use to come more directly upon the Hounds than the Red-Deer doth. Now upon the breaking up of a Buck the Hounds Reward is the same with that of the Hart.

Roe-Hunting.

THe Roe-Buck is called by the Greeks and Latines by one name, viz. Dorcas. These beasts are very plentiful in Africa, Germany, and Helvetian Alps.

Their swiftness doth not onely appear upon the Earth, but also in the Waters, cutting them when they swim as with Oars; and therefore they love the Lakes and strong Streams, breaking the Floods to come at fresh Pasture, feeding deliciously on sweet Rushes, and Bull-rushes. Horns onely grow upon the Male, and are set with six or seven branches, not palmed, but branchy, yet shorter than Follow Deer: They differ not much from common Deer, but in their Horn: and whereas the Horns of other Beasts are hollow towards the root, whereinto entereth a certain long substance; the Horns of these, as also of the vulgar Buck and Elk,

are solid whithout any such emptiness, onely they are full of Pores.

It is supposed by the Learned, that a Roe was called in Greek Dorcas, by reason of the quickness of her sight; and that she can see as perfectly in the night as in the day. Physitians have observed a certain viscous humour about her bowels, which by anointing Eyes that are dark, heavy, and near blinde, quickens the sight most wonderfully.

It is reported of them, that they never wink no not when they sleep; for which conceit their blood is pre∣scribed for them who are dim-sighted or pur-blinde. The tail of this beast is lesser and shorter than a Fallow-Deer's; insomuch that it is doubtful whether it be a tail or not.

They keep for the most part in the Mountains a∣mong the Rocks, being very swift; and when they are hunted (Martial saith) they hang upon the Rocks with their Horns, to delude the Dogs, after a strange manner, ready to fall and kill themselves, and yet receive no harm, where the Dogs dare not approach, as ap∣peareth in his Epigram.

Pendentem fumma Capream, de rupe videbis, Casuram speres, decipit illa Canes.

This might be more properly meant of the Wild-Goat.

They are most easily taken in the Woods. When they are chased, they desire to run against the wind, because the coldness of the Air refresheth them in their course; and therefore they who hunt them place their Dogs with the Wind. They are often taken by the counterfeiting of their Voice, which the skilful Huntsman doth by the assistance of a Lease in his Mouth.

This Beast is very easie to hunt, and goeth to Rut (or Tourn most properly) in October, the extent whereof consists of fifteen days, and never parteth with the Doe till Fawning-time.

The Doe, finding her self near her time, secretly departs from the Buck, and sawneth as far from him and his knowledge as she can; for could he finde the Fawn, he would kill it. Now when the Fawn grows big, and can run and feed, she then returns to the Buck again very lovingly, with all expedition: the cause whereof, is the Roes fawning Twins, which are commonly Buck and Doe; so that being accustomed together in youth, they do love to keep company ever after.

As soon as the Roe-Buck cometh from Rut, he casts his Horns; and there are few after two years old which Mew not at Alhallontide, but their Heads grow quickly out again.

The Venison of a Roe is never out of season, being never fat, and therefore they are to be hunted at any time: onely this, some favour ought to be shewn the Doe whilst she is big with Fawn, and afterwards till her Fawn is able to shift for himself: besides, some Roe-Does have been killed with five Fawns in their belly.

They usually when hunted, take a large first Ring, and afterwards hunt the Hounds.

When they are hunted, they turn much and often, and come back upon the Dogs directly: When they can no longer endure, they then take Soil, as the Hart doth, and will hang by a bough in such manner, that nothing shall appear of them above Water but their Snout, and will suffer the Dogs to come just upon them before they will stir.

He is not called by the skilful in the Art of Hunting a Great Roe-Buck, but a Fair Roe-Buck. The Herd of them is called a Beavy: And if he hath not Beavy∣grease

on his Tail when he is broken up, he is more fit to be Dogs-meat than Mans-meat.

The Hounds must be Rewarded with the Bowels, the Blood, and Feet slit asunder, and boiled all toge∣ther. This is more properly called a Dose than a Re∣ward. For what might be said farther concerning Roe-Hunting, I shall refer you to the Chapters of Hart and Buck-Hunting.

Rain-Deer-Hunting.

THe Rain-Deer is not unlike a Hart, onely his Head is fuller of Antliers, being bigger and wider in compass; for he bears four and twenty branches and more according to his age, having a great Palm on the top, as a Hart, and his Fore-Antliers are Palmed also.

He flieth end-ways when he is Hunted, by reason of the great weight of his Head. When he hath stood up a great while, doubled, crossed, and used other crafty tricks to shun the Hounds, he makes a Tree his last refuge; so planting himself, that nothing can as∣sault him but just before, placing his buttock and Haunches against the Tree, and hanging down his Head low to the ground, whereby all his Body is co∣vered.

As the Hart strikes with his Head, the Rain-Deer strikes with his Feet against any one that comes in to him to help the Dogs, not in the least turning his Head, that being his chiefest defence, and seems very terrible to the Hounds.

He feedeth like the Hart, and maketh his Fewmets sometimes long, and sometimes flat, and beareth fatter

Venison, when he is in pride of Grease, than any other Deer doth, and is very long liv'd. He is more com∣monly drawn after with a Blood-hound, than hunted, and intrapped with Nets and Engines, and that in the thick and greatest Holds, if it may be; which is the best and speediest way, by reason of his great and spreading Head. Since there are but few of them in England, I shall desist from discoursing farther concer∣ning him.

Of the Nature and Properties of a Hare.

AN Hare is called in Hebrew Arnebet in the Femi∣nine gender, which word possessed a great many that all Hares were Females: He is called Lagws by the Greeks, for his immoderate Lust; and by the same Nation Ptoox, for his Fear; and by the Latines Lepus, quasi Levi-pes, signifying Swiftness of feet (alias) Light∣foot.

There are four sorts of Hares; some live in the Mountains, some in the Fields, some in the Marshes, some every where, without any certain place of abode. They of the Mountains, are most swift; they of the Fields, less nimble; they of the Marshes, most slow; and the wandering Hares are most dangerous to follow; for they are so cunning in the ways and muses of the Fields, running up the Hills and Rocks, because by cu∣stom they know the nearer way, with other tricks, to the confusion of the Dogs, and dis-encouragement of the Hunters.

In the next place, a description of the parts of an Hare will not be unnecessary, since it is admirable to behold how every Limb and Member of this Beast is

composed for celerity. In the first place, the Head is round, nimble, short, yet of convenient longitude, prone to turn every way. The Ears long, and lofty, like an Asses: for Nature hath so provided, that every fearful and unarmed creature should have long and large Ears, that by hearing it might prevent its Enemies, and save it self by flight. The Lips continually move sleeping and waking; and from the slit they have in the middle of their Nose, cometh the term of Harre-lips which are so divided in men.

The Neck of an Hare is long, small, round, soft, and flexible: The Shoulder-bone straight and broad, for her more easie turning: her Legs before soft, and stand broader behinde than before, and the hinder Legs longer than the former: a Breast not narrow, but fitted to take more breath than any Beast of that bigness: a nimble Back, and fleshy Belly, tender Loins, hollow Sides, fat Buttocks, filled up, strong and nervous Lines. Their Eyes are brown, and they are subtile, but not bold; seldom looking forward, be∣cause going by jumps. Their Eye-lids coming from the Brows are too short to cover their Eyes, and therefore this Sense is very weak in them: when they watch they shut their Eyes, and when they sleep they open them.

They have certain little Bladders in their Belly fil∣led with matter, out of which both the one and the other Sex suck a certain humour, and anoint their Bodies all over therewith, and so are defended against Rain.

Though their sight be dim, yet they have visum inde∣fessum, an indefatigable sence of Seeing; so that the continuance in a mean degree, countervaileth in them the want of excellency.

They feed abroad, because they would conceal their forms; and never drink, but content themselves with

the Dew, and for that cause they often fall rotten. As it is before, every Limb of a Hare is composed for ce∣lerity, and therefore she never travelleth, but jumpeth: her Ears lead her the way in her Chase; for with one of them she harkneth to the cry of the Dogs, and the other she stretcheth forth like a Sail, to hasten her course; always stretching her hinder beyond her former, and yet not hindering them at all; and in Paths and High-ways she runs more speedily.

The Hares of the Mountains do often exercise them∣selves in the Valleys and Plains, and through practice grow acquainted with the nearest ways to their Forms or places of constant abode. So that when at any time they are hunted in the Fields, such is their subtile dodg∣ing, that they will dally with the Huntsmen till they seem to be almost taken, and then on a sudden take the near∣est way to the Mountains, and so take Sanctuary in the inaccessible places, whither Dogs nor Horse dare as∣cend.

Hares which frequent Bushes and Brakes, are not able to endure labour, and not very swift, by reason of the pain in their Feet, growing fat through idleness and discontinuance of running. The Campestrial or Field-Hare, being leaner of Body, and oftner chased, is taken with more difficulty, by reason of her singular agility; she therefore when she beginneth her course, leapeth up from the ground as if the flew, afterwards passeth through Brambles, and over thick Bushes and Hedges with all expedition; and if at any time she come into deep Grass or Corn, she easily delivereth her self, and slideth through it, always holding up one Ear, and bending it at her pleasure to be the Modera∣tor of her Chase. Neither is she so unprovident and prodigal of her strength, as to spend it all in one Course, but observeth the force of her Prosecuror, who if he be slow and sluggish, she is not profuse of

her celerity, but onely walketh gently before the Dogs, and yet safely from their Clutches, reserving her grea∣test strength to her greatest necessity: for the knoweth she can out-run the Dogs at her pleasure, and therefore will not trouble her self more than she is urged. But if there be a Dog following her more swiftly than the residue, then she setteth forward with all the force she can; and when she hath left both Hun∣ters and Dogs a great way behinde her, she getteth to some little Hill or rising of the Earth, where she raiseth her self upon her hinder-Legs, that thereby she may observe how far or near her Pursuers are distant from her.

The younger Hares, by reason of their weak Mem∣bers, tread heavier on the Earth than the elder; and therefore leave the greater Scent behinde them. At a year old they run very swift, and their Scent is stronger in the Woods than in the plain Fields; and if they lie down upon the Earth (as they love to do) in red Fallow-grounds, they are easily de∣scried.

Their foot-steps in the Winter-time are more appa∣rent than in the Summer, because, as the Nights are longer, so they travel farther: neither do they scent in the Winter-mornings so soon as it is day, until the Frost be somewhat thawed; but especially their foot∣steps are uncertain at the Full of the Moon, for then they leap and play together, scattering and putting out their scent or savour; and in the Spring-time also, when they do ingender, they confound one anothers footsteps by multitudes.

Hare-Hunting.

IT is the judgement of all, that a Hare doth natu∣rally know the change of Weather from twenty four hours to twenty four hours. When she goeth to her Form, she will suffer the Dew to touch her as lit∣tle as she can, but followeth the High-ways and beaten Paths.

They go to Buck commonly in January, February, and March, and sometimes all the warm Months; sometimes seeking the Buck seven or eight miles distant from the place where they usually sit, following the High-ways, &c.

If when a Hare riseth out of her Form, she couches her Ears and Scut, and runs not very fast at first, it is an infallible sign that she is old and crafty.

You may know a Buck-Hare as you hunt him to his Form by his beating the hard High-ways. He feedeth farther out into the Plains, and maketh his doublings and crossings much wider, and of greater compass than the Female doth: for she will keep close by some Covert-side, turning and winding in the bushes like a Coney; and if she go to relief in the Corn-fields, she seldom crosseth over the Furrows, but followeth them along, staying upon the thickest tufts of Corn to feed.

Likewise you may know a Buck at the rising out of his Form by his Hinder-parts, which are more whitely; or if you observe his Shoulders before he rise, which will be redder than the Does, having some loose long Hairs growing on them. Again, his Head is shorter, and better trussed; his Hairs about his Lips

longer; and his Ears shorter and more gray. The Hairs upon the Female's Chine will be of a blackish gray.

Besides, when Hounds hunt a Female-Hare, she will use more crossing and doubling, seldom making out end-ways before the Hounds: whereas the Male acts contrary; for having once made a Turn or two about his Form, then farewal Hounds; for he will frequently lead them five or six miles before ever he will turn his head.

When you see that your Hounds have found where an Hare hath pass'd to Relief upon the High-way-side, and hath much doubled and crossed upon dry places, and never much broken out nor relieved in the Corn, it is a sign she is but lately come thither; and then com∣monly she will stay upon some high place to look about her, and to chuse out a place to form in, which she will be loth to part with.

Of the Craft and Subtlety of an Hare.

As of all Chases the Hare makes the greatest pastime and pleasure; so it is a great delight and satisfaction to see the craft of this little poor Beast in her own self-preservation.

And that you may understand what these Subtleties are, you must first take notice what Weather it is. If it be rainy, then the Hare will hold the High-ways more than at any other time: and if she come to the side of any young Grove or Spring, she will scarcely enter, but squat down by the side thereof until the Hounds have over-shot her; and then she will return the self-same way she came to the place from whence she was started, and will not by the way go into any Covert, for fear of the wet and Dew that hang upon the Boughs.

In this case, let the Huntsman stay a hundred paces before he comes to the Wood-side, by which means he shall perceive whether she return as aforesaid; which if she do, let him hallow in his Hounds, and call them back, and that presently, that the Hounds may not think it the Counter she came first.

The next thing to be observed, is the place where the Hare sitteth, and upon what wind she makes her Form: for if she form either upon the North or South∣wind, she will not willingly run into the Wind, but run upon a side or down the Wind. But if she form in the Water, it is a sign she is foul and measled. If you hunt such a one, have a special regard all the day to the Brook-sides, for there and near Plashes she will make all her crossings, doublings, &c.

I have seen a Hare so crafty, that as soon as she heard the sound of a Horn, she would instantly start out of her Form, thought it was a quarter of a mile distant, and go swim in some Pool, and there rest her self upon some Rush-bed in the midst thereof, from whence she would not stir till she heareth the Horn again; and then I have seen her start out again swimming to Land, and she hath stood up before the Hounds four hours before we could kill her, swimming, and using all her Subtle∣ties and crossings in the Water.

Such is the Natural craft and subtlety of a Hare, that sometimes, after she hath been hunted three hours, she will start a fresh Hare, and squat in the same Form. Others, having been hunted a considerable time, will creep under the Door of a Sheep-coat, and there hide themselves among the Sheep; or when they are hard hunted, will run in among a flock of sheep, and cannot be gotten out from among them by any means, till the Hounds are coupled up, and the Sheep driven into their Pens. Some (and that is something strange) will take the ground like a Coney, and that is called

going to the Vaut. Some Hares will go up one side of the Hedge, and come down the other, the thickness of the Hedge being the onely distance between the courses.

I have seen a Hare, that being sorely hunted, got up∣on a Quick-set-hedge, and ran a good way upon the top thereof, and then lept off upon the ground. And they will frequently betake themselves to Furz-bushes, and will leap from one to the other, whereby the Hounds are frequently in default. Nay, which is more, I have heard of a Hare, that being hunted two hours or more, at length, to save her self, got upon an old Wall six foot high from the ground, and hid her self in the hole that was made for a Scaffold: and that several have swam over Trent and Severn.

A Hare liveth not above seven years at most, espe∣cially the Buck; and if he and the Doe shall keep one quarter together, they will never suffer any strange Hare to sit by them; and therefore it is proverbially said, The more you hunt, the more Hares you shall have; because when you have killed one Hare, another will come and possess his Form.

An Hare hath greater Scent, and is more eagerly hunted by the Hounds, when she feeds and relieveth upon green Corn, than at any other time in the year: and yet there are some Hares which naturally give a greater Scent than others; as the great Wood-Hares; and such as are foul and measled, and keep near to the Waters: But the little red Hare, which is not much bigger than a Coney, is neither of so strong a Scent, nor so eagerly hunted. Such as feed upon the small branches of wild Time, or such-like Herbs, are com∣monly very swist, and will stand long up before the Hounds. In like manner you have some Hares more subtile and cunning than others. Young Hares which have not been hunted are foolish, and are neither of

force nor capacity to use such subtleties and crafts, but hold on end-ways before the Hounds most commonly, and do squat and start again oftentimes, which doth much encourage the Hounds, and enters them better than if the Hare flies and-ways, as sometimes they will five or six mile an end.

The Females are more crafty and politick than the Bucks; for they double and turn shorter than they, which is displeasant to the Hounds; for it is trouble∣some for them to turn often, delighting more in an end-way-chase, running with all their force: for such Hares as double and cross so often, it is requisite at de∣fault to cast the greater compass about, when you beat to make it out, for so you will find all her subtilties, and yet need to stick upon none of them, but onely where she went on forwards: By this means you will abate her force, and compel her to leave doubling and crossing.

How to Enter Hounds to the Hare.

Let the Huntsinan be sure in the first place to make his Hounds very well acquainted with him and his Voice, and let them understand the Horn; and to this end let him never blow his Horn or hallow but when there is good cause for so doing, and let him be sure that his Hounds want no encouragement.

Here by the way observe two remarkable things. The first is, if you intend to enter a young Kennel of Hounds, you must take notice of the Country where you will make your first Quarry, and whereof you make it. For according to the places wherein they are first entred, and the nature of the Quarry given them, they will prove accordingly for the future. Thus if they are first entred in the Plains and Champain-coun∣tries, they will ever after more delight to hunt there

than in any other place: and so it is the same with the Coverts.

But, say some of our Huntsmen, all strange Countries that differ from that to which Hounds are accustomed, causes them at first to be at seek: But good Hounds will soon be master of any Country; and therefore he that would have the best Hounds, must use them to all kinds of Hunting: And it is easie to bring Hounds to enjoy a Scent from a bleak Down to a fresh Pasture. And therefore many of us love to enter in the worst Countries.

Do not accustom your Hounds to hunt in the Mor∣ning, because of the Dew and moisture of the Earth: and besides, you will find by experience, that if after∣wards you hunt them in the heat of the day, they will soon give over the chase; neither will they call on willingly or chearfully, but seek out the shades to sleep in. Yet many of us agree, that to hunt both early and late in the morning by Trayling, advantageth the Hounds to use their Noses; and by keeping them some∣times in the heat of the day, or till night, moves them to stoutness.

The best season to enter your young Hounds is in September and October; for then the weather is tem∣perate, neither too hot nor too cold; and then is the time to find young Hares which have never been hun∣ted, which are foolish, and ignorant of the politick crossings, doublings, &c. of their Sires, running com∣monly end-ways, frequently squatting, and as often starting, by which encouragement the Hounds are the better entered.

A Hare hath greater Scent, and is more eagerly hunted by the Hounds, when she feedeth and relie∣veth on green Corn, than at any other time of the year.

Moreover, some Hares have naturally a greater scent than others, as the great Wood-Hares, and such as are foul and measled, having their greatest resort near the Water and Plashes.

The little small red Hare, not much bigger than a Coney, is very feeble, and not much covered by the Hounds, having a bad scent: but such as feed on the small branches of wilde Time are commonly very swift, and will stand up a long time before the Hounds.

The Does are much craftier than the Bucks, doub∣ling and turning oftner and shorter, which is very vexatious and troublesome to the Hounds. Now for such Hares as double and cross so often, it is requisite at a default to cast the greater compass about when you draw to make it out; so shall you find all their subtil∣ties; though it is needless to stick upon any, but where they went onwards: by so doing you will abate the force of a Hare, and force her from crossing and doub∣ling.

Some Hares hold the high beaten ways onely, where the Hounds can have no scent: wherefore when the Huntsman finds his Hounds at a default in the High∣way, let him hunt on until he find where the Hare hath broken from the High-way, or hath found some Dale or fresh place where the Hounds may recover scent, looking narrowly on the ground as he goeth, if he can find the Footing or Pricking of the Hare.

There are other places wherein a Hound can finde no scent; and that is in fat and rotten ground, and it sticketh to the Foot of the Hare, which is called Car∣rying, and so consequently she leaves no scent behinde her. So likewise there are certain Months wherein a Hound can find no scent, and that is in the Spring∣time, by reason of the fragrant smell of Flowers, and the like.

Shun, as much as you can, hunting in hard frosty wea∣ther,

for so you will surbate or founder your Hounds, and make them lose their Claws: besides, at that time a Hare runneth better than at any other time, the Soals of her feet being hairy.

To conclude, the best way of entring your young Hounds, is by the help of old Staunch-Hounds; so will they the better learn to cast for it at a doubling or de∣fault.

What time of the year is best for Hare-Hunting: How to find her, start her, and chase her.

The best time to begin Hare-Hunting, is about the middle of September, ending towards the latter end of February, lest you destroy the early brood of Leve∣rets. Moreover, upon the approach of Winter the moistness and coolness of the Earth increaseth, which is agreable to the nature of the Hounds, and very ac∣ceptable, they ever hating extream heats and hot wea∣ther.

Your Hounds being two years old and upwards, you may exercise them thrice a Week, and they will be the better for so often hunting, provided you feed well; and keep out your Hounds the greatest part of the day, both to try their stoutness, and to make them stout.

If there be any Hound which hath found the Trail of a Hare where she hath relieved that night, let the Huntsman then forbear being over-hasty, but let the Hounds make it of themselves: and when he shall per∣ceive that they begin to draw in together, and to call on freshly, then let him encourage them, especially that Hound which hunteth best, frequently calling him by his name.

Here note, that a Hare leaveth better scent when

she goeth to relief, than when she goeth towards her Form: for when she relieveth in the Field, she couch∣eth her body low upon the ground, passing often o∣ver one piece of ground, to find where lieth the best food; and thus leaveth the better Scent, crotying also sometimes.

Besides, when she goes to her Form, she commonly takes the High-ways, doubling, crossing, and leaping as lightly as she can; in which places the Hounds can have no scent, (as is said before) by reason of the dust, &c. And yet they will squat by the sides of the High-ways; and therefore let the Huntsman beat very well the sides of those High-ways.

Now having found where a Hare hath relieved in some Pasture or Corn-field, then must you consider the season of the year, and what Weather it is: for if it be in the Spring-time, or Summer, a Hare will not then sit in the Bushes, because they are frequently offended with Pismires, Snakes and Adders, but will sit in Corn∣fields and open places.

In winter they love to sit near Towns and Villages in Tufts of Thorns and Brambles, especially when the Wind is Northerly or Southerly.

According to the season and nature of the place where the Hare is accustomed to sit, there beat with your Hounds and start her; which is much better sport than Trailing of her from her Relief to her Form.

When the Hare is started and on foot, then step in where you saw her pass, and hallow in your Hounds until they have all undertaken it and go on with it in full cry: then Recheat to them with your Horn, following fair and softly at first, making neither too much haste nor noise with Horn or Voice: for at the first Hounds are apt to over-shoot the chase through too much heat. But having ran the space of an hour,

and that you see the Hounds are well in with it, stick∣ing well upon it, then you may come in nearer with the Hounds, because by that time their heat will be cooled, and they will hunt more soberly. But above all things mark the first doubling, which must be your direction for the whole day; for all the doublings that she afterwards shall make will be like the former: and according to the policies that you shall see her use, and the place where you hunt, you must make your compas∣ses great or little, long or short, to help the defaults, al∣ways seeking the moistest and most commodious places for the Hounds to scent in.

To conclude, those who delight in the commendable Exercise of Hunting the Hare, must rise early, lest they be deprived of the scent of her foot-steps, by which means the Dogs will be incapacitated to follow their Game; for the nature of the scent is such, that it will not remain long, but suddainly, in a manner every hour, vanisheth away.

Of Parks and Warrens.

HAving thus discoursed of the Nature and Pro∣perties of the Hare, together with the manner of hunting them; in the next place I hold it not im∣proper in short to speak something of Parks and en∣closed Warrens, wherein Hares, Coneys, Deer, &c. may always be ready as it were out of a Store-house or Se∣minary to serve the use and pleasure of their Ma∣sters.

The first Roman that ever enclosed wild Beasts, was Fulvius Herpinus; and Varro had the first Warren of Hares. The largest Hare-Parks that ever I heard

of, and the best furnished with those fearful, yet sub∣tile Creatures, are in Ireland; the one belongs to the Lord-Lieutenant of that Kingdom, near Dublin; and the other in the North, and belongs to the Lord of Mazareen. It will be a tedious task for me to give you an account of the variety of Parks and Warrens within the three Kingdoms; I shall therefore onely tell you in what manner they are erected, and that very briefly.

The Walls or Pales must be high, or close joynted, so as neither Badger nor Cat can creep through, nor Wolf, nor Fox can leap over; wherein ought also to be Bushes and broad Trees to cover the Beasts against heat and cold, and other secret places to satisfie their natures, and to defend the lesser beasts, as Hares, Conveys, &c. from Hawks, Kites, and other ravening Fowls: in which three or four couple of Hares will quickly multi∣ply into a great Warren.

It is very good to sow Gourds, Misceline, Corn, Barley, Pease, and such-like, wherein Hares delight, and will thereby quickly grow fat.

Warreners have a very crafty device to fatten Hares, which by experience is found effectual, and that is by putting Wax into their Ears, and so make them deaf; then turn them into the place where they should seed, where being freed from the fear of Sounds (for want of hearing) they grow fat before other of their kind.

Here note, that when you have pitched your Hays for Coneys, sound a Trumpet in some of the Burroughs, and scarce a Coney in the whole Warren but will start a∣broad.

I shall end this Chapter with Martial's praise of a Hare and a Thrush.

Inter Aves Turdus si quis in Judice certet, Inter Quadrupedes gloria prima Lepus.

Amongst all Birds none with the Thrush compare, And no Beast hath more glory than the Hare.

Of Coney-Catching.

BEfore we speak of the Hunting of the Coney, it will not be amiss to take notice of her nature and pro∣perties, which are these: the carrieth her young in her Belly thirty days; as soon as she hath kindued she goes to Buck. They begin to breed in England at a year old (but sooner in other places) and so coutinue, bearing at least seven times in a year if they Litter in March; this is the reason that a small stock will serve to increase a large Warren. The Does cannot suckle their young till they have been with the Buck, which must be done pre∣sently, or she will not be inclined fourteen days after.

When the Buck goes to Doe, he will beat very strongly with his fore-Foot upon the ground, and by that means he heateth himself. When he hath buckt, he is accustomed to fall backwards, and lie as if he were in a Trance or half dead, at which time he is easily taken.

The Latines call a Coney, Cuniculus, because it maketh holes in the Earth; and Cuniculus was a Latine word for a Hole or Cave in the Earth, before it was taken for a Coney.

The Bucks will kill the young if they can come at them, like to your Bore-cats; and therefore the Doe prevents that mischief, by covering her Stop or Nest

with Earth or Gravel, that so they may not easily be discovered.

Those who keep Coneys tame for profit, may give them to eat Vine-leaves, Fruits, Herbs, Grass, Bran, Oat∣meal, Mallows, Milk-thistles, Apple-parings, Cabbage, Lettise, or Carret-tops. In Winter they will eat Hay, Oats, and Chaff, being given to them thrice a day: but when they eat green things, they must not drink at all, because of the Dropsie which will follow: At all o∣ther times a little drink must serve their turn, and that must be always fresh. Here note, give them not too much green juicy meat, unless you entermix there∣with what is dry, as Oats, Chaff, &c. otherwise they will be Cathed, or tun-bellied.

Now the way of taking them is either by small Curs or Spaniels bred up for that sport; and their places for hunting are among Bushes and Hedges; or else by coursing them with small Grey-hounds. In their de∣fault they are commonly driven into their Burrows; and therefore it will be very requisite to set Purse-nets on the Holes, then put in a Ferret close muzzled, and she will make the Coneys, bolt out again into the Purse-nets, and so you may take them. Some say the Drone of a Bag-pipe, put into a Coney-borrow, and blown on a sud∣den, will make Coneys bolt.

For want of a Ferret; you may take the powder of Or∣pine and some Brimstone, and therewith make a smother in the Burrows, and so they will bolt out. But this way is not to be approved of; for by that means the Coneys will forsake those Burrows, and so in a little time a Warren will be destroy'd, should this course be used fre∣quently.

But above Nets and Ferrets, Hays are to be preferred for the taking of Coneys; neither is the drawing Ferret to be despised when they are young. Likewise there is excellent sport to be made with our Tumblers, who will kill Coneys abundantly.

Let this suffice, since any farther discourse hereof is neither proper, nor pertinent to my present pur∣pose.

Of the Ferret.

THe Ferret is a little creature that is not bred in Spain, Italy, France, nor Germany; but in England they breed naturally, and are tamed for the benefit of such who keep Warrens, and others.

It is a bold and audacious Beast, Enemy to all others but his own kind, drinking and sucking in the blood of the beast it biteth, but eateth not the flesh.

When the Warrener hath an occasion to use his Fer∣ret, he first makes a noise in the Warren to frighten what Coneys are abroad into their Burrows, and then he pitch∣eth his Nets; after that, he puts his Ferret into the Earth, having a long Strick, with Bells about her Neck, whose Mouth must be muzzled, so that he may not seize, but frighten the Coneys out of their Burrows, and after∣wards driven by Dogs into the Nets or Hays so planted for them.

The Body is longer for the proportion than the quantity may afford. Their colour is variable, some∣times black and white on the Belly, but most common∣ly of a yellowish sandy colour, like Wool died in Urine. The Head is little, like a Mouse's; and there∣fore into whatsoever Hole she can put it in, all her body will easily follow after. The Eyes are small, but fiery like red-hot Iron, and therefore she seeth most clearly in the dark. Her Voice is a whining cry with∣out changing it: She hath onely two Teeth in her neither Chap, standing out, and not joyned and grow∣ing

together. The Genital of the Male is of a bony substance, and therefore it always standeth stiff, and is not lesser at one time than another. The pleasure of the sence in Copulation is not in the Genital-part, but in the Muscles, Tunicles, and Nerves wherein the said Genital runneth. When they are in Copulation the Female lieth down, or bendeth her Knees, and conti∣nually crieth like a Cat, either because the Male claweth her with his nails, or by reason of the roughness of his Genital.

She usually brings forth seven or eight at a time, car∣rying them forty days in her little belly: The young ones newly littered are blind thirty days together; and within forty days after they can see, they may be used as their dam for profit and recreation.

When tamed, they are nourished with Milk or with Barley-bread, and they can fast a very long time. When they go, they contract their long back, and make it stand upright in the middle round like a Bowl: when they are touched, they smell like a Martel; and they sleep very much. Thus much of the Ferret, which I thought good to place after the Chapter of Coney-catch∣ing, because this little Animal is such a necessary Instru∣ment for that purpose.

Of Fox-Hunting.

HIs Shape and Proportion is so well known, being a beast so common, that it will be needless to describe him.

His nature in many respects is like that of a Wolf, for they bring as many Cubs at a Litter one as the o∣ther: but thus they differ; the Fox Litters deep under the ground, so doth not the Wolf,

A Bitch-Fox is hardly to be taken when she is brag∣ged and with Cub; for then she will lie near her Bur∣row, into which she runs upon the hearing of the least noise. And indeed at any time it is somewhat diffi∣cult; for the Fox (and so the Wolf) is a very subtile crafty creature.

Fox-hunting is very pleasant; for by reason of his strong hot scent he maketh an excellent Cry: And as his scent is hottest at hand, so it dies soonest. Besides, he never flies far before the Hounds, trusting not on his Legs, Strength, or Champion ground, but strongest Coverts. When he can no longer stand up before the Hounds, he then taketh Earth, and then must he be dig∣ged out.

If Grey-hounds course him on a Plain, his last refuge is to piss on his Tail, and flap it in their Faces as they come near him; sometimes squirting his thicker Excre∣ment upon them, to make them give over the Course a pursuit.

When a Bitch-Fox goes a clicketing and seeketh sot a Dog, she cryeth with a hollow Voice, not unlike the howling of a mad Dog; and in the same manner she cries when she misseth any of her Cubs: but never makes any cry at all when she is killing, but defend her self to the last gasp.

A Fox will prey upon any thing he can overcome, and feeds upon all sorts of Carrion; but their dainties and the food which they most delight in, is Poultry. They are very destructive and injurious to Coney-War∣rens, and will sometimes kill Hares by deceit and subtil∣ty, and not by swift running.

The Fox is taken with Hounds, Grey-hounds, Ter∣riers, Nets, and Gins.

Of Terriers there are two sorts, The one is crooked∣leg'd, and commonly short-hair'd: and these will take

Earth well, and will lie very long at Fox or Badger. The other sort is shagged and straight Legg'd: and these will not onely hunt above-ground as other Hounds, but also enter the Earth with much more fury than the former; but cannot stay in so long, by reason of their great eagerness.

The time of entring these Terriers, is when they are near a twelve-month old; for if you enter him not in within this time, you will hardly after bring him to take the Earth. And to encourage the young Terrier the more, put in an old one before him, that can better en∣dure the fury of the Fox or Badger: and be careful that neither of them be old when you engage your young Terrier with him.

The entring and fleshing them may be done several ways. In the first place thus: When Foxes and Bad∣gers have young Cubs, then take your old Terriers and enter them in the ground; and when they begin to bay, you must then hold every one of your Terriers at a sundry Hole or Mouth of the Earth, that they may listen and hear the old ones Bay. Having taken the old Fox or Badger, and that nothing remains within but the young Cubs, then couple up all your old Terri∣ers, and put in the young in their stead, encoura∣ging them by crying, To him, to him, to him. And if they take any young Cub within the ground, let them alone to do what they please with him; and forget not to give the old Terriers their reward, which is the Blood and Livers, fryed with Cheese and some of their own Grease, shewing them the Heads and Skins to encourage them. Before you reward them, wash them with Soap and warm Water, to clear their Skins from Earth and Clay that is clodded to the Hair, otherwise they are apt to be mangie. You may also enter them in this manner: Take an old Fox, or Badger, and cut away the neither Jaw, but meddle not with the other,

leaving the upper to shew the fury of the Beast, al∣though it can do no harm therewith. Then dig an Earth in some convenient place in your own grounds, and be careful to make it wide enough, to the intent the Terriers may turn therein the better, and that there may be room enough for two to enter together: then cover the Hole with boards and Turf, putting the Fox or Badger first therein, and afterwards put in your Terri∣ers both young and old, encouraging them with words that are the usual terms of Art. When they have bay'd sufficiently, then begin to dig with Spades and Mat∣tocks, to encourage them against such time as you are to dig over them: then take out the Fox or Badger with the Clamps or Pinchers, killing it before them, or let a Grey-hound kill it in their sight, and make them reward thereof. Here note, that instead of cutting away the Jaw, it will be every whit as well to break out all his Teeth, to prevent him from biting the Ter∣riers.

Now to say the truth, there is not much pastime or pleasure in Hunting of a Fox under ground; for as soon as that subtle creature perceiveth the Terriers, if they bay hard, and lie near unto them, they will bolt out immediately, unless it be when the Bitch hath young Cubs, then they will sooner die than stir.

They make their Earths as near as they can in ground that is hard to dig, as in Clay, Stoney-ground, or amongst the Roots of Trees; and their Earths have commonly but one Hole, and that is straight a long way in before it come at their Couch. Sometimes craftily they possess themselves of a Badger's old Bur∣row, which hath variety of Chambers, Holes, and Angles.

When a good Terrier doth once binde the Fox, he then yearns, and defends himself very notably, but not so strenuously as the Badger, nor is his biting half so

dangerous. Here note, if you take a Bitch-Fox when she goeth a Clicketing, and cut out that Gut which containeth her Sperm, together with the Kidneys which Gelders deprive Bitches of when they spay them, and cut them into small gobbets, mingling there∣with the Gum of Mastick, and put them hot as they are into a Pot, and cover the same close, it will serve for an excellent Train for a Fox, and will keep the whole year round. Take the Skin of Bacon, and broil it well on a Gridiron, then dip it in the ingredients of the Pot aforesaid, and make a train thereof, you will expe∣rimentally find, that if there be any Fox near to any place where the train is drawn, he will follow it; but let him who makes the train rub the soals of his Feet with Cow-dung, lest the Fox vent his footing: and thus you may train a Fox to a standing, and kill him in an Evening with Gun or Cross-bow. It is likewise found by experience, that if a Terrier be rubbed with Brimstone, or with Oil of Cade, and then put him into an Earth where either a Fox or Badger is, they will leave that Earth, and come not to it again a good while after.

I shall conclude this discourse with what I have ob∣served in Gesner's History of Beasts tending to the same purpose: saith he,

As he frequently cheats the Badger of his Habitation by laying his Excrements at the mouth of his Earth or Burrow; so, for as much as the Wolf is an Enemy to the Fox, he layeth in the mouth of his Earth an Herb called a Sea-onion, which a Wolf naturally hates, and is so averse thereunto, that he will never come near the place where it either lies or grows.

Of Fox-Hunting above ground.

To this purpose you must draw with your Hounds about Groves, Thickets, and Bushes near Villages: for

a Fox will lurk in such places, to prey on young Pigs and Pullein.

But it will be necessary to stop up his Earths, if you can find them, the night before you intend to hunt; and the best time will be about midnight, for then the Fox goeth out to seek his Prey. You may stop his Holes by laying two white sticks a cross before them, which will make him imagine it is some Gin or Trap laid for him: or else you may stop them up close with black-Thorns and Earth together.

The best hunting a Fox above-ground, is in January, February, and March, for then you shall best see your Hounds hunting, and best find his Earthing; besides, at those times the Fox's Skin is best in season.

Again, the Hounds best hunt the Fox in the coldest weather, because he leaveth a very strong scent behind him; yet in cold weather it chills fastest.

At first onely cast off your sure Finders, and as the Drag mends, so adde more as you dare trust them.

Shun casting off too many Hounds at once, because Woods and Coverts are full of sundry Chases, and so you may engage them in too many at one time.

Let such as you cast off at first be old Staunch-Hounds, which are sure; and if you hear such a Hound call on merrily, you may cast off some other to him; and when they run it on the full cry, cast off the rest: and thus you shall compleat your pastime.

The words of comfort are the same which are used in the other chases, attended with the same Hallowings and other ceremonies.

Let the Hounds kill the Fox themselves, and worry and hare him as much as they please: many Hounds will eat him with eagerness.

When he is dead, hang him at the end of a Pike-staff, and hallow in all your Hounds to bay him: but reward them not with any thing belonging to the Fox; for it is not good, neither will they eat it.

Of Badger-Hunting.

A Badger is called by several names, viz. a Gray, Brock, Boreson or Bauson, and in France Tausson. The Male is called a Badger or Boar-pig; and the Fe∣male is called a Sow.

These Beasts are plentiful in Naples, Sicily, Lucane, and in the Alpine and Helvetian Coasts; so are they also here in England.

There are two kinds of this beast, (saith Gesner) one resembling a Dog in his feet, and the other a Hog in his cloven hoof: they differ too in their snout and colour; for the one resembles the snout of a Dog, the o∣ther of a Swine: the one hath a greyer coat, or whiter coat than the other, and goeth farther out in seeking of its prey. They differ also in their meat, the one eating Flesh and Carrion like a Dog, the other Roots and Fruits like a Hog: both these kinds have been found in Normandy, France, and Sicily.

Mr. Turbervil makes mention of two sorts of Bad∣gers likewise, but in a different manner.

For the one (saith he) casteth his Fiaunts long like a Fox, and have their residence in Rocks, making their Burrows very deep. The other sort make their Burrows in light ground, and have more variety of Cells and Chambers than the for∣mer.

The one of these is called the Badger-pig, and the other the Badger-whelp; or call one Canine, and the other Swinish. The first hath his Nose, Throat, and Ears yellowish like a Martern's Throat; and are much blacker, and higher Leg'd than the Badger-whelp. Both sorts live upon all Flesh, hunting greedi∣ly after Carrion. They are very mischievous and hurt∣ful

to Warrens, especially when they are big with young.

Badgers when they Earth, after by digging they have entred a good depth, for the clearing of the Earth out, one of them falleth on the back, and the other layeth Earth on the belly, and so taking his hinder feet in his mouth, draweth the Belly-laden-Badger out of the Hole or Cave; and having disburdened her self, re-enters, and doth the like till all be finished.

These Badgers are very sleepy, especially in the day∣time, and seldom stir abroad but in the night; for which cause they are called Lucifugae, avoiders of the Light.

It is very pleasant to behold them when they ga∣ther materials for their Couch, as straw, leaves, moss, and such-like; for with their Feet and their Head they will wrap as much together as a man can well carry un∣der his arm, and will make shift to get it into their Cells and Couches.

He hath very sharp Teeth, and therefore is accoun∣ted a deep biting beast: his back is broad, and his legs are longer on the right side than the left, and therefore he runneth best when he gets on the side of an Hill, or a Cart-road-way. His fore-Legs have very sharp Nails, bare, and apt to dig withal, being five both before and behinde, but the hinder very much shorter, and covered with hair. His savour is strong, and much troubled with Lice about the secrets. Both Male and Female have under their Hole another Hole outwardly, but not inwardly in the Male. If she be hunted abroad with Hounds, she biteth them most grie∣vously where-ever she lays hold on them. For the pre∣vention thereof, the careful Huntsmen put great broad Collars made of Grays Skins about their Dogs Necks Her manner is to fight on her back, using thereby both her Teeth and her Nails; and by blowing up her Skin

after a strange and wonderful manner, she defendeth her self against any blow and teeth of Dogs; onely a small stroke on her Nose will dispatch her presently; you may thrash your heart weary on her back, which she values as a matter of nothing.

In Italy they eat the flesh of Badgers, and so they do in Germany, boiling it with Pears: some have eaten it here in England, but like it not, being of a sweet rankish taste.

The flesh is best in September if it be fat; and of the two kinds, the Swinish Badger is better flesh than the o∣ther.

They love Hogs-flesh above any other; for take but a piece of Pork and train it over a Badger's Burrow, if he be within, you shall quickly see him appear without.

Their nature is very cold; and therefore when it snoweth they will not come out of their holes for three or four days together.

They live long, and by mere age will grow blinde; then will they not stir out of their Holes, but are fed by those who have their sight.

This subtilty they have, that when they perceive the Terriers begin to yearn them, they will stop the hole be∣tween the Terriers and them: if the Terriers continue baying, they will remove their baggage with them, and go into another apartment or chamber of the Burrow, (for know that some of their Houses have half a dozen rooms at least;) and so will remove from one to the o∣ther, till they can go no further, barricadoing the way as they go.

The Hunting of a Badger must be after this manner: You must first seek the Earths and Burrows where he lieth, and in a clear Moon-shine night go and stop all the holes but one or two, and therein place some Sacks fastned with some drawing Strings, which may shut him in as soon as he straineth the Bag.

The Sacks or Bags being thus set, cast of your Hounds, and beat all the Groves, Hedges, and Tufts within a mile or two about. What Badgers are abroad, being alarm'd by the Dogs, will straight repair to their Earths or Burrows, and so be taken.

Let him that standeth to watch the Sacks, stand close, and upon a clear Wind, for else the Badger will soon find him, and fly some other way for safety. But if the Hounds either encounter him, or undertake the chase before he can get into his Earth, he will then stand at bay like a Boar, and make most incomparable sport.

What Instruments are to be used in digging, and how to dig for Badger or Fox.

In the first place, you must have such as are able to dig: next, you must have so many Terriers garnished with Bells hung in Collars, to make the Fox or Badga bolt the sooner; besides, the Collars will be some smal defense unto the Terriers.

The Instruments to dig withal are these: a sharp pointed Spade, which serveth to begin the Trench when the ground is hardest, and broader Tools will not so wel enter; the round hollowed Spade, which is useful to dig amongst Roots, having very sharp edges; the flat broad Spade, to dig withal when the Trench is better opened and the ground softer; Mattocks and Pick-axes, to dig in hard ground where a Spade will do but little service the Coal-rake, to cleanse the Hole, and to keep it from stopping up; the Clamps, whereby you may take a Fox or Badger out alive to make sport therewith afterwards. And it would not be amiss to have a Pail of Water, to refresh your Terriers after they are come out of the Earth to take breath.

In this order you may besiege a Fox or Badger in

their strongest Holes or Castles, and may break their Casmats, Platforms, Parapets, and work to them with Mines and Counter-mines, until you have obtained your satisfaction. But there is a shorter method than this, which by reason of its commonness I shall for∣bear to mention.

Of the Otter.

IT is supposed by some that the Otter is of the kind of Beavers, being it is an amphibious creature living both in the Water and on the Land; besides, the out∣ward form of the parts beareth a similitude of that beast. Some say, were his tail off, he were in all parts like a Bea∣ver, differing in nothing but habitation: For the Beaver frequenteth both the Salt-water and the Fresh; but the Otter never goeth to the Salt.

Though the Otter live in the Water, yet it doth not breath like Fishes through the benefit of the Water, it doth breath like other four-footed beasts, yet it will re∣main a long time underneath the Water without respi∣ration.

If he want prey in the Waters, then will he quit them for the Land; and if by painful hunting ashore he cannot fill his belly, he will feed on Herbs, Snails, or Frogs: neither will he take less pains in the water to satisfie hunger; for he will swim two miles together against the stream, that so, when his belly is full, the current of the stream may carry him down again to his designed Lodging, which is near the water, very artifi∣cially built with boughs, sprigs, and sticks couching to∣gether in excellent order, wherein he sitteth to keep him from the wet.

In the hunting of Fish he often pops his Nose above water to take breath: It is a creature of wonderful swistness and nimbleness in taking his prey, and for greediness takes more than he knows what to do with.

It is a very subtile and crafty beast, and indowed with a wonderful sagacity and sense of smelling, inso∣much that he can directly wind the Fishes in the waters a mile or two off.

The flesh of this beast is both cold and filthy, because it feedeth on stinking Fish, and therefore not fit to be ea∣ten; yet it is eaten in Germany; and the Carthusian Fry∣ers, who are forbidden to eat all manner of flesh of other four-footed beasts, yet they are not prohibited the ea∣ting of Otters. There are those in England, who late∣ly have highly valued an Otter-pie, much good may it do them with it.

These Otters must be hunted by special Dogs, such as are called Otter hounds, and also with special Instru∣ments called Otter-spears. When they find themselves wounded with a spear, they then come to Land, where they fight with the Dogs furiously; and except they be first wounded, they forsake not the Water: for they are not ignorant how safe a refuge the Waters are un to them, and how unequal a combat they shall sustain with Men and Dogs upon the Land: yet, because the cold Water annoyeth their green wounds, therefore they spin out their lives to the length of the thread, chusing rather to die in torments among Dogs, than to die in the Waters.

The Food of an Otter (as I said) is Fish; and her abode is commonly under the Root of some Tree near Rivers, Brooks, Pools, Meers, or Fish-ponds; and sometimes she will lie in a hollow Tree four or five foot above ground: and no Vermin can be more de∣structive to a Warren, than the Otter is to a Fish-pond;

for she diveth and hunteth under water after that most wonderful manner, that few fish escape her, unless they are very swift and great.

An Otter and Ferret grow salt much about the same time, and bring forth their young much after the same manner, neither having their constant number.

There is much craft and cunning in the hunting them; yet with pains-taking you may ensnare them under the water, and by River-sides, as you may a Hare with Hare-pipes and such-like Gins. They bite sore and venomously, and when occasion serves they will de∣send themselves stoutly. If after their ensnaring they chance to abide there long, they will soon enlarge them∣selves with their teeth.

These creatures are footed like your water-Fowl, ha∣ving a web between their claws, and have no heel, but a round ball under the soal of their Feet: and their Track is called their Mark, as the Slot of a Hart; and their Excrements are called Spraints.

An Otter will not abide long in a place; for he is apt to be afraid and take distasle, (having an excellent Ear and Nose, for hearing and smelling;) and then he will forsake his Couch, and shift a mile or two up or down the River: and this he will do according as he findes scarcity of fishing.

In hunting of the Otter observe this, to send some to one side of the River whilst you are on the other, and so beat on the banks with your Dogs, and so you will soon find if there be an Otter in that quarter: for an Otter cannot endure long in the water, but must come forth to make his Spraints, and in the night some∣times to feed on Grass and such Herbs as the fields af∣ford.

If any of the Hounds find out an Otter, then look in the soft grounds and moist places to see which way he bent his head: if the marks make no discovery,

you may partly perceive it by the spraints, and so fol∣low the Hounds, and lodge him as a Hart or Deer. If you find not the Otter quickly, you may then ima∣gine he is gone to couch somewhere farther off from the River: for sometimes he will seek his food a mile from the place of his rest, chusing rather to go up the River than down, because upwards he meets with bet∣ter scent of Fish; and bearing his nose into the wind, he shall the sooner finde any fault that is above him.

Remember, in the Hunting of the Otter, that you and your friends carry your Otter-spears to watch his Vents, for that is the chief advantage: and if you per∣ceive where the Otter swims under water, then strive to get to a stand before him where he would vent, and there endeavour to strike him with your spear; but if you miss, pursue him with the Hounds, which if they be good Otter-hounds, and perfectly entred, will come chaunting and trailing along by the River-side, and will beat every Tree-root, every Osier-bed and tuft of Bull∣rushes; nay, sometimes they will take the Water, and beat it like a Spaniel. And by these means the Otter can hardly escape you.

Of the Squirrel.

THe first Author that ever wrote of this little Ani∣mal was Oppianus who liv'd in the days of Anto∣nius Caesar, and wrote a Book also of Hunting.

A Squirrel is greater in compass than a Weasle, but the latter is longer than the other; the back-parts and all the body is reddish except the belly, which is white. In Helvetia they are black and branded, and

they are hunted at the fall of the Leaf, when the Trees grow naked: for they run and leap from bough to bough in a most admirable and agile manner; and when the Leaves are on, they cannot be so well dis∣cerned. They are of three colours, in the first age black, in the second of a rusty Iron-colour, and lastly, when old, they are full of white hoar Hairs. Their Teeth are like the Teeth of Mice, having the two un∣der-Teeth very long and sharp. Their Tail is always as big as their Body, and it lieth continually on their back when they sleep or sit still, and it seemeth to be given them for a covering.

In the Summer-time they build them Nests (which by some are called Drays) in the Tops of the Trees very artificially with Sticks and Moss, with other things the Woods afford, and then they fill it with Nuts for Winter-provision, and do sleep like the Alpine Mouse most part thereof very soundly, in such sort, that the beating of the outside of their Drays will not wake them.

When they leap from Tree to Tree, they use their Tail instead of VVings, leaping a great distance, and are supported without sinking to any one's appearance; nay, they will frequently leap from a very high Tree down to the ground, and receive no harm.

Many must go together to hunt them, and must carry Dogs with them: and the fittest place for the exercise of this sport, is in little and small slender Woods, such as may be shaken by the hand. Bows are requisite to remove them when they rest in the twists of Trees; for they will not be much terrified with all the hallowing, except they be struck now and then by one means or other. VVell do they know what harbour a high Oak is unto them, and how secure they can lodge therein from Men and Dogs; where∣fore since it is too troublesome to climb every Tree,

that labour must be supplied with Bows and Bolts, that when the Squirrel resteth, presently he may be thumpt by the blow of an Arrow: the Archer need not fear to do her much harm, except he hit her on the head, for by reason of a strong back-bone, and fleshy parts, she will abide as great a stroak as a Dog.

If they be driven to the ground from the trees, and they creep into Hedges, it is a sign of their weariness: for such is the lofty mind of this little beast, that while her strength lasteth she saveth her self in the tops of high trees; but being wearied, she descendeth, and falls into the mouths of the yelping curs that attend her.

The admirable wit of the Squirrel appeareth (if it be true) in her swimming, or passing over a River; for when hunger constraineth her so to do, she seeks out some rind, or small bark of a tree, which she setteth upon the water, and then goeth into it, and holding up her Tail like a Sail, letteth the wind drive her to the other side; and carry meat in their mouths, to prevent fa∣mine whatsoever should befal them.

Of the Martern and Wild-Cat.

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.

A short Account of some particular Beasts that are not Hunted in Eng∣land, but in Forrain Countries.

The Nature and Properties of a Wolf, and the manner of its Hunting.

HEretofore I read that there were many Wolves in England, but now there are none; however they are still in Ireland, but their number is very much de∣creased within these thirty years; and that they may more and more decrease, being so pernicious to all sorts of Cattle, I thought good to publish the nature and man∣ner of their Hunting.

First, as to their Nature; they go a Clicketing in February, and continue in that manner ten or twelve days. Where many Wolves are, many will follow one Bitch, as Dogs will follow a Bitch that is salt, but she will be onely lined with one.

A notable story I have heard when I was in Ireland, and attested for a truth by the Inhabitants: That a Bitch-Wolf proud, will suffer a great many of the Male to follow her, and will carry them after her sometimes eight or ten days without Meat, Drink, or Rest; and when they are so tired that they cannot travel farther, she will first lie down, then will the rest follow her ex∣ample: when she perceives that they are all asleep, and through weariness snore, then will she arise and awake that Wolf which she observed to follow her most, and having so done, entice him with her far from the rest, and suffer him to line her: the rest awaking and find∣ing her missing, pursue her by the scent, and finding

how she hath cunningly deluded them, they fall instant∣ly on her Companion who hath been before-hand with them, and revenge themselves on him by depriving him of his life; which verifies the proverb: Never Wolf yet ever saw his Sire.

Their Whelps are able to ingender at twelve months end, at which age they part with their Dam, that is, when those Teeth are grown which they cast the first half year, and being grown, they never shed them a∣gain: and here see their gratitude, (though bloody cruel creatures) after they have preyed for themselves, if they chance to meet their Dam or Sire (for Turber∣vile doth not believe the aforesaid story) they will fawn upon them and lick them, rejoycing at the sight of them.

The Dog will never bring any of his Prey to his whelps till he hath filled his own belly; whereas the Bitch will not eat a bit till she hath served them first: they go nine weeks with whelp, and sometimes a little longer, and grow salt but once a year. As to number of whelps, they have more or less as Dogs have; for doubtless both the Wolf and the Fox are but a kind of wild Mastiffs and wild Curs.

They prey upon all kind of things, and will feed on Carrion, Vermin, &c. They will kill a Cow or a Bullock; and as for a Sheep, Goat, or good Porket, they will roundly carry him off in their Mouths, not touching ground with it, and will run so fast away, notwithstanding the load, that they are hardly to be stopped but by Mastiffs or Horse-men. There is no Beast which runneth faster than the Wolf, and holdeth wonderfully also. When he is hunted with Hounds, he flieth not far before them; and unless he be coursed with Grey-hounds or Mastiffs, he keepeth the Covert like the Bear, or Boar, and especially the bearen ways therein. Night is the usual time of his preying,

though hunger will force him to prey by day. They are more subtile and crafty (if more can be) than the Fox or any other beast: When they are hunted, they will take all their advantages; at other times they will never run over-hastily, but keep themselves in breath and force always.

A Wolf will stand up a whole day before a good Kennel of Hounds, unless that Grey-hounds or Wolf-dogs course him. If he stand at bay, have a care of be∣ing bitten by him; for being then mad, the wound is desperate, and hard to be cured.

When a Wolf falls into a flock of Sheep, with his good will he would kill them all before he feed upon any of them, and therefore all means should be used to destroy them, as by hunting at force, or with Grey∣hounds or Mastiffs, or caught in Gins and Snares; but they had need be strong. For encouragement to the meaner sort in Ireland, whosoever took a sucking-Whelp, or preying Cub, a Dog or a Bitch Wolf, and brought but the heads of either to the next Justice of Peace, for reward for the first, he received twenty shillings; for the second, forty; for the third, five pound; and for the last, six pounds: which late en∣couragement hath in a manner cleared that Kindom of them.

They bark and howl like unto Dogs; and if there be but two of them together, they make such a terrible hideous noise, that you would think there could be no less than twenty of them in a body.

When any one would hunt the Wolf, he must train him by these means: First let him look out some fair place, a mile or more from the great woods, where there is some close standing to place a brace of good Grey-hounds in, if need be, the which should be closely environed, and some pond of water by it: there he must kill a Horse that is worth little, and

take the four legs thereof and carry them into the Woods and Forests adjoyning; then let four men take every man a leg of the beast and draw it at his Horse∣tail all along the paths and ways in the Woods, until they come back again to the place where the Carcass of the said Beast lieth; there let them lay down their trains. Now when the Wolves go out in the night to prey, they will follow the scent of the train till they come to the carcass where it lieth. Then let those who love the sport, with their Huntsmen come early and privately near the place; and if they are discernable as they are seeding, in the first place let them consider which way will be the fairest course for the Grey∣hounds, and place them accordingly, and as near as they can let them forestal with their Grey-hounds the same way that the Wolves did or are flying either then or the night before; but if the Wolves be in the coverts near the carrien that was laid for them to feed upon, then let there be hewers set round the coverts to make a noise on every side, but onely that where the Grey∣hounds do stand; and let them stand thick together, making what noise they can to force them to the Grey∣hounds: Then let the Huntseman go with his Leam∣hound, and draw from the carrion to the thickets-sides where the Wolves have gone in, and there the Hunts∣man shall cast off the third part of their best Hounds; for a Wolf will sometimes hold a covert a long time be∣fore he will come out.

The Huntsmen must hold near in to the Hounds blowing hard, and encouraging them with their voice: for many Hounds will strain courtesie at this chase, although they are strong and fit for all other chases.

When the Wolf cometh to the Grey-hounds, they who hold them will do well to suffer the Wolf to pass by the first rank until he come further, and let the last

Rank let slip their Grey-hounds full in the face of the Wolf, and at the same instant let all the other Ranks let slip also: so that the first Rank staying him but ever so little, he may be assaulted on all sides at once, and by that means they shall the more easily take him.

It is best entring of Hounds at young Wolves which are not yet past half a year or a year old; for a Hound will hunt such more willing, and with less fear than an old Wolf; or you may take Wolves alive in En∣gines, and breaking their Teeth, enter your Hounds at them.

A man may know a Dog-Wolf from a Bitch by the tracks of his Feet; for the Dog hath a greater Heel, a greater Toe, greater Nails, and a rounder Foot. Besides, the Bitch casteth her Fiaunts commonly in the midst of an High-way, whereas the Dog casteth them either on the one side or the other of the Path.

The Reward of the Dogs is thus: when they have bit and shaked the dead Wolf, let the Huntsman then open his Belly straight along, and taking out his bow∣els, let him throw in Bread, Cheese, and other Scraps, and so let the Dogs feed therein.

Wild-Goat-Hunting.

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.

Hunting of the Wild-Boar.

THe Boar is ever pigg'd with as many teeth at first as he shall have ever after, which will onely increase in bigness, not number. Amongst the rest, they have four which are called tushes, or tusks, whereof the two biggest do not hurt when he strikes, but serve onely to whet the other two lowest, with which they frequently kill.

They feed upon all kind of corn and fruits which they can come at; also roots. In April and May they feed on the buds of plumb-trees, and ches-nut-trees, and all other sweet buds they can find, especially on the buds of broom and juniper, and are never measled, as our tame swine. Being near the sea-coast, they will feed on all manner of shell fish.

Their season beginneth in the midst of September,

and endeth about the beginning of December, at which time they go a brimming. A Boar will commonly abide the bay before he goes out of his den; and he lies most commonly in the strongest holds of thorns and thick bushes.

If it so chance that there is a sounder of them toge∣ther, then if any break sounder, the rest will run that way: and if you hunt a Boar from a thick and strong covert, he will not fail to go back by the same way he came thither: and when he is rear'd he never stays, but flies continually till he comes to the place where he was farrow'd and brought up. This Mr. Turbervile obser∣ved himself when he was in France; attesting he saw a Boar hunted from a thicket, which returned the same way he came to the place of his farrowing, which was distant seven French leagues. And this was performed by the track of his feet.

If he be hunted in a forest or hold where he was bred, he will hardly be forced out of it. Sometimes he will take head, and seem to go out, and will draw to the outsides of the wood; but it is onely to hearken on every side: and if he hear the noise of the hounds, then will he return, and will not be compell'd to go that way till night. But having broken out of a forest and taken head end-ways, he will not be put out of his way either by man, dog, voice, blowing, or any thing.

A Boar, especially a great one, will not cry when you kill him: The sows and young swine will some∣times.

Terms to be used in Boar-Hunting.

If it should be demanded what you will call a Boar of three years old; you may answer, He is a young Boar which hath lately left the sounder. An old Boar

you must call a Singular, or Sanglier, that hath left the sounder four or five years since. In making of a report, if you are asked where the Boar fed the night before, you may say, he fed in the corn; but if in the fields or mea∣dows, you must then say, he hath been routing and wor∣ming in such a place, or such a fern-field. Where note, that whatsoever he feeds on, excepting roots, is called feeding; the other is called routing, worming, or fearning: but when he feedeth and routeth not, you must then call that grasing.

Boar-Hunting with Hounds at Force.

Be advised not to hunt a young Boar of three years old at force; for he will stand up as long, if not longer than any light young Deer which beareth but three in the top: but in the fourth year you may hunt him at force, as you do a Hart at ten.

In the rearing of your Boar, you need not be afraid to come near him, for he values you not, and will lie still, and will not be rear'd by you alone.

Here note, that if a Boar intends to abide in his den, couch, or fort, then will he make some crossing or doubling at the entry thereof upon some high-way or beaten path; by such means a huntsman, being early in the woods, may judge of the subtilty of the Boar, and accordingly may make preparations for his game.

If he be a great Boar, and one that hath lain long to rest, let him hunt him with good store of hounds, and such as will stick close to him; and let him on horse-back be ever amongst them, charging the Boar, to discourage him: for if you hunt such a Boar with half a dozen couple of dogs, he will not value them; and they having chased him, he will take courage and keep them still at bays, running upon any thing he

seeth before him. But if he be charged home, and hard laid unto with the hounds, he will turn head and fly.

If you strike at him with your sword or Boar-spear, strike not low, for then you will hit him on the snout, which he little values; for he watcheth to take blows upon his tusks or thereabouts: but lifting up your hand, strike right down, and have a special care of your horse; for if you strike and hurt him, so will he you if he can.

It behoveth the hunters of Boars to be very wary; for he will run fiercely without fear upon his pursuers: in which encounter, if he receive not his deaths wound, he overthroweth his adversary, except he fall flat on the ground, and then he need not fear much harm; for his teeth cannot cut upward but downward: but it is o∣therwise with a female; for she will bite and tear any way.

It is good to raise this beast early in the morning be∣fore he hath made water, for the burning of his bladder doth quickly make him weary.

When the Boar is first raised out of the wood, he snuffeth in the wind, lifting up his nose to smell what is with him, and what against him; and rarely strikes a man till he be first wounded himself.

The hunting-spear must be very sharp and broad, branching forth into certain forks, so that the Boar may not break through them upon the huntsman: The best places to wound him in therewith, are the middle of his forehead betwixt his eye-lids, or else upon the shoulder; either of these wounds is mor∣tal.

If the Boar make head against the hunter, he must not fly for it, but must meet him with his spear, hol∣ding one hand on the middle of it, and the other at the end, standing one foot before another, having

an especial eye to the head of the beast which way soe∣ver he windeth or turneth the same: for such is the na∣ture of the Boar, that-sometimes he snatcheth the spear out of their hands, or else recoileth the force back again upon the hunter, by both which means he is in great danger of life: whensoever this hapneth there is but one remedy, which is; another of his companions must come and charge the Boar with his spear, and then pre∣tend to wound him with his dart, but not casting it for fear of hurting the hunter. The Boar seeing this, forsaketh the first man, and rusheth upon the second, who must look to defend himself with all dexterity, composing his body, and ordering his weapons accor∣ding to artificial Boar-hunting: in the mean time he that was overthrown must rise again, taking fresh hold on his spear, and with all courage assault his adversary, and assist his friend who was the cause of the saving of his life.

When he feeleth himself so wounded that he cannot live, were it not for the forks of the Boar-spear, he would press it on his vanquisher, and so revenge his death: For such is the fury of this beast, that he will endeavour to wound and kill, although he feel upon him the pangs of death; and what place soever he bi∣teth, whether man or dog, the heat of his teeth causeth the wound to be inflam'd: and for this cause, if he but touch the hair of a dog, he burneth it off: nay, hunts∣men have tried the heat of his teeth, by laying hairs on them as soon as he was dead, and they have shrivel'd up as with a hot-iron.

To conclude; the same devises, diligence, labour, prosecution, and observations are to be used in the hunting of the Boar, which are prescribed for the hun∣ting of the Hart. Not but that there are several poli∣cies and stratagems which have been invented, and are still used in several countries, whereby to take

them without the pursuit of dogs; to the knowledge whereof I shall refer the reader to Blondus, Oppianus, Gesner, Turbervile, and many others both antient and modern writers, who have largely treated on this sub∣ject.

Of the Nature and Properties of a Bear, and after what manner Hunted.

THere are two sorts of Bears, a greater and lesser; the last is more apt to climb trees than the o∣ther.

Bears are bred in many countries; in the Helvetian Alpine region they are so strong and courageous, that they can tear in pieces both oxen and horses; for which cause the inhabitants are studiously laborious in the ta∣king them.

A Bear is of a most venereous and lustful disposition; for night and day the females with most ardent in∣flam'd desires do provoke the males to copulation; and for this cause at that time they are most fierce and angry. The time of their copulation is in the begin∣ning of winter, and the manner of it is like to a man's; the male moving himself upon the belly of the female, which lieth flat on her back, and they embrace each o∣ther with their fore-feet: they remain a very long time in that act; in so much (as some have observed, how true I cannot say) that if they were very fat at their first entrance, they dis-joyn not themselves again till they be lean.

There is a strange report in history, (if it be true) That in the mountains of Savoy a Bear carried a young maid into his den by violence, where in a venereal

manner he had the carnal use of her body; and while he kept her in his den, he daily went forth and brought her the best fruits he could get, presenting them to her as food, as courtly as he could do it; but al∣ways when he went to forrage, he rowled a very great stone to the mouth of his den, that the virgin should not make her escape from him: at length her parents, with long search, found their daughter in the Bear's den, who delivered her from that beastial captivi∣ty.

They are naturally very cruel and mischievous unto all tame beasts, and are very strong in all parts of their body but their head, whereon a small blow will kill them.

They go to mate in the beginning of the winter, some sooner, some later, according to their rest and feeding; and their heat lasteth not passing fifteen days.

When the she-Bear perceiveth her self with whelp, she withdraws her self into some cave, or hollow rock, and there remains till she brings forth her whelps, where without meat they grow very fat, especially the males, onely by sucking their fore-feet. When they enter in∣to their den, they convey themselves backward, that so they may put out their foot-steps from the sight of the hunters.

The nature of all of them is to avoid cold, and therefore in the winter-time they hide themselves, chusing rather to suffer famine than cold; lying for the most part three or four months together and ne∣ver see the light, whereby in a manner their guts are clung together: coming forth, they are so dazled by long darkness, being in the light again, that they stag∣ger and reel to and fro; and then by a secret instinct they remedy the straightness of their guts by eating an herb called Arum, in English Wake-robbin or Calves∣foot,

by the acidity whereof their guts are enlarged; and being recovered, they remain more fierce and cruel than at other times, during the time their young are with them: and this is the herb, some say, which they eat to make them sleep so long in winter without sense of cold or hunger.

They are whelped most commonly in March, some∣times two, and not above five in number; the most part of them are dead one whole day after they are whelped; but the Bear doth so lick them and warm them with her breath, and hug them in her bosom, that she quickly re∣vives them again.

It is commonly received as a truth, (though it be a palpable vulgar errour) That the whelps of Bears at their first littering are without all form and fashion, and no∣thing but a little congealed blood like a lump of flesh, which afterwards the old one frameth with her tongue by licking them to her own likeness. This opinion may be easily disproved; for they are onely littered blind without hair, and the hinder-legs not perfect, the fore∣feet folded up like a fist, and other members deform∣ed, by reason of the immoderate humour or moist∣ness in them; which also is one cause why she cannot retain in her womb the seed to the perfection of the young ones, whereof Joachimus Rheticus is an eye-wit∣ness.

As soon as the dam perceiveth her cubs to grow strong, she suckleth them no longer, by reason of their curstness; for they will sorely bite her if they cannot get suck enough. After this she preyeth abroad upon any thing she can meet with, which she eates, and casts up again to her young ones, and so feeds them till they can prey for themselves: They will climb a tree for the fruit.

If they be hunted, they will follow a man, but not run upon him unless they are wounded. They are

very strong in their paws, in such sort, that they will so hug a man or dog till they have broke his back, or squeez'd his guts out of his belly: with a single paw they will pull a lusty dog to their tearing and devouring mouth. They bite very severely; for they will bite a man's head to the very brains; and for an arm or leg, they will crash it as a dog may do a slender bone of mut∣ton.

When they are hunted, they are so heavy that they make no speed, and so are always in sight of the dogs. They stand not at bay as a Boar, but fly wallowing; but if the hounds stick in, they will fight valiantly in their own defence; sometimes they stand up straight on their hinder-feet, and then take that as a sign of fear and cowardize; they fight stoutest and strongest on all four.

They have an excellent scent, and smell further off than any other beast except the Boar; for in a whole forest they will smell out a tree laden with mast.

They may be hunted with hounds, mastiffs, or grey-hounds; and they are chased and kill'd with bows, Boar-spears, darts, and swords; so are they also taken in snares, caves, and pits, with other engines.

They do naturally abide in great mountains; but when it snoweth, or in hard weather, then they descend into valleys and forests for provision. They cast their lesses sometimes in round croteys, and sometimes flat like a bullock, according to their feeding.

They go sometimes a gallop, and at other times an amble; but they go most at case when they wal∣low.

When they come from their feeding they beat com∣monly the high-ways and beaten paths: and whereso∣ever they go out of the high-ways, there you may be sure they are gone to their dens; for they use no doub∣lings nor subtilties.

They tumble and wallow in water and mire as swine, and they feed like a dog. Some say their flesh is very good food, let who will eat it for me, who are not so nicely palated as my self.

The best finding of a Bear is with a leam-hound; and yet he who is without one may trail after a Bear as we do after a Buck or Roe, and you may lodge and hunt them as you do a Buck. For the more speedy executi∣on, mingle mastiffs among your hounds; for they will pinch the Bear, and so provoke her to anger, until at last they bring her to the bay; or else drive her out of the plain into the covert, not letting her be at rest till she fight in her own defence.

Of the Beaver.

A Beaver differeth but a little from an Otter but in his tail: his colour is somewhat yellow and white aspersed with ash-colour, which stand out be∣yond the shorter hairs, double their length; and are neat and soft like an Otters.

There is plenty of them in the river Pontus, whence the Beaver by some is called Canis Ponticus: They are also bred in Spain, some few in France, Germany, Polonia, Sclavonia, Russia, Prussia, Lithuania; and abundance of them in New-England.

These beasts are amphibious, living both on land and water both fresh and salt, keeping the last in the day∣time, and the first in the night: Without water they cannot live; for they participate much of the nature of fish, which may be gathered from their tails and hinder-legs.

They are about the bigness of a country cur;

their head short; their ears small and round; their teeth very long, the under-teeth standing out beyond their lips three fingers breadth, and the upper about half a finger, being very broad, crooked, strong, and sharp, standing very deep in their mouth, wherewith they defend themselves against beasts, take fishes as it were upon hooks, and will gnaw in sunder trees as big as a man's thigh.

Their fore-feet are like dogs, and their hinder like geese, made as it were on purpose to go on the land, and swim in the water; but the tail of this beast is most strange of all, being without hair, and covered o∣ver with a skin like the scales of a fish, it being like a Soal, and for the most part six fingers broad, and half a foot long. They are accounted a very delicate dish, and eat like Barbels: the manner of their dressing is by roasting them first, and boiling or stewing them after∣wards; they must be food that is very sweet, since this proverb proceeded from them: Sweet is that fish which is no fish at all.

As for the wonderful manner of their building, I shall let that alone, since it is at large described by Gesner in his History of Beasts, page 36.

There is nothing so valuable in this beast as his stones; for they are in great esteem, and a precious com∣modity.

It hath been the opinion of some, that when a Bea∣ver is hunted, and is in danger to be taken, he biteth off his own stones, knowing that for them onely is he thus pursued: but this is found to be a meer fiction; for their stones being small, and placed like a Boar's, it is im∣possible for them to come at them.

They are taken for their skins, tails, and cods, and that many ways. First, when their caves are found: (in which are several chambers built one over ano∣ther by the water-side, to ascend or descend according

as the water riseth or falleth) I say, their abode being found, they make a breach therein, wherein is put a lit∣tle dog, which the Beaver perceiving, flies instantly to the end of her cave, and there defendeth her self with her teeth, till all her building be raised, and she laid open to her enemies, who kill her with instruments for that purpose. These dogs for the Beaver are the same which hunt Otters.

They cannot dive long time under water, but must put up their heads for breath; which being seen by those who are hunting them, they kill them with gun∣shot or Otter-spears: His nature is, if he hear any noise, to put up his head above water, whereby he is disco∣vered, and so loseth life. Those skins are best which are blackest.

Of the Elk.

THis beast is twice as big as a Hart, whose upper∣lip is so great, and hangeth over the nether so far, that he cannot eat going forward; but as he eat∣eth he goeth backward, and so gathereth up his suste∣nance.

His mane is divers both on the top of his neck, and underneath his throat, which buncheth like a beard, or curled lock of hair; his neck is very short, dispro∣portionable to his body.

He hath two very large horns bending towards the back in a plain edge, and the spires stand forward to the face: both males and females have them; they are solid at the root and round, but afterwards bran∣ched; they are broader than a Hart's, and are very heavy, being not above two foot long; and these

horns they mew every year: He is colour'd for the most part like a Heart, and hath cloven feet, but without joynts (like an Elephant) in his fore-legs, and therefore sleepeth leaning to posts or trees; and fighteth not with his horns, but fore-feet.

It is a most timorous creature, not desiring to stir much, unless provok'd thereunto by hunting. There is no danger in hunting this beast, except a man come right before him: for if this beast fasten his fore-feet on him, he cannot escape alive; but if it receive any small wound, it instantly dies.

They are taken by nets and toils, or as Elephants are taken: for when they have found the trees where-unto they lean, they so cut and saw them, that when the Elk cometh, he overthroweth the tree and falleth with it; and being not able to rise, is so taken alive. When they are chased eagerly, and can find no place to rest themselves in and lie secret, they run to the wa∣ters, and therein stand, taking up waters into their mouths; and in a little time do so heat it, that squir∣ting it out upon the dogs, the heat thereof so scaldeth them, that they dare not come nigh or approach them any more.

Many more exotick beasts I might here insert, de∣scribing their natures, and the manner of their Forrain hunting; but, since they are not to be found in Eng∣land, let these suffice which I have already described.

Dogs Diseases Remedied, and their Hurts Healed, according to the best Prescriptions of Ancient and Modern Huntsmen.

Of a Five-fold Madness in a Dog: the Symp∣toms of the Maladies, and their CVRE.

THe ancients have derived Rabies, Madness, from Ravies, hoarseness of voice, for mad dogs have no perfect voice: but it is more probable, that Rabies com∣eth à Rapiendo; because when a dog beginneth to go mad; he biteth, runneth, snatcheth, and roves to and fro, to his own perdition. A mad dog is most dange∣rous in the Dog-days; for at that time the very foam or spittle falling on a man breeds danger.

There are properly seven sorts of Madnesses which afflict a dog, whereof two of them are incurable, and therefore I shall speak little of them; onely so much as may give you warning to shift them from your other dogs, because their disease is infectious; and that you may beware of them your self, lest they injure you; for their biting is dangerous.

The first of these incurable Madnesses is called the Hot burning Madness, and is known by these symp∣toms. First, when they run, they raise their tails bolt-upright, and run upon any thing that stands before them, having no respect where nor which way they run: also their mouths will be very black, having no foam in nor about them. They will not continue thus above three or four days, after which time they die, their pain being so intolerable. Where note, that

all those dogs they have bitten and drew blood from, will be mad in like manner.

The second is called the running Madness, and is less dangerous, however incurable. The dogs that are troubled with this madness run not on men, but dogs, and on no other beasts. The symptoms are, they will smell on other dogs, and having smelt them, will shake and bite them, yet shaking their tails, and seeming to offer no harm: with other tokens I omit for brevity sake.

Of the Dumb Madness.

The five Madnesses (or rather Sicknesses) which are curable, are these:

The first is called the Dumb madness, and is thus known: the dog that is troubled therewith will not feed, but holds his mouth wide open continually, put∣ting his feet to his mouth frequently, as if he had a bone in his throat.

The cure is thus: Take four ounces of the juice of Spathula putrida, and put it into a pot; then take the like quantity of the juice of black Hellebore, and as much of the juice of Rue: having strained them all well through a fine cloath, put them into a glass: then take two drams of Scammony unprepared, and having min∣gled it with the former juices, put it into a horn or fun∣nel, and convey it down his throat, keeping his head up straight, lest he cast it up again: then bleed him in the mouth, cutting three or four veins in his gums that he may bleed the better; and in a short time you will find amendment. Or you may onely take eight drams of the juice of an herb called Harts-horn, or Dogs-tooth, and you will find it a most excellent receipt against any madness whatsoever.

Of the Falling Madness.

The second is called the Falling Madness: the disease lieth in their heads, which maketh them reel as they go, and fall.

The cure is thus: Take four ounces of the juice of Piony, with the like quantity of the juice of Briony, the like of the juice of Cruciata, and four drams of Staves∣acre pulverized: mingle these together, and give it your hound or dog as aforesaid: then let him blood in the cars or the two veins which come down the shoulders; and if he is not cured at first, give it him a second or third time.

Of the Lank Madness.

The third kind of madness is called the Lank Mad∣ness, by reason of the leanness of their bodies occasioned by skummering.

The cure is thus: First, purge your dog with this portion: Take an ounce and a half of Cassia fistularis well cleansed, two drams and a half of Stavesacre pul∣verized, and the like quantity of Scammony prepared in White-wine-vinegar, and four ounces of Oyl-olive; temper these and warm them over the Fire, and give it your dog. In the morning put him into this bath fasting as followeth: Put into six pails full of water ten handfuls of Mugwort, of Rosemary, of red-Sage, of the roots or leaves of Marsh-mallows, of the roots or leaves of Wall-wort, of the roots or stalks of Fennel, of the leaves or stalks of Elecampane, Baulm and Rue, Sorrel, Bugloss and Mellilot; let these boil together in two thirds of water and the o∣ther Wine, until one third be consumed: the bath be∣ing no hotter than your dog can endure it, bathe him

therein for the space of an hour; then taking him out, put him in some warm place for sear of catching cold. Do this four or five times in the same bath, and it will cure.

Of the Sleeping Madness.

The fourth Madness is called the Sleeping Madness, and is caused by some little Worms breeding in the mouth of the Stomack from corrupt Humours, the vapours and sumes whereof ascending into the head, make the dog sleep continually, and frequently he dieth sleeping.

For the cure, you must take five ounces of the juice of Wormwood, with two ounces of the powder of Harts-horn burned, and two drams of Agarick: mingle these together; and if they be too thick, thin them with White-wine, and give it your dog to drink.

Of the Rhcumatick or Slavering Madness.

This Madness is called so, because, when a dog hath got it, his head swelleth, his eyes are as yellow as a Kite's-foot, and he commonly slavereth at the mouth.

The Cure is thus: Take six ounces of the juice of Fennel-roots, and the like quantity of the juice of Mis∣seltoe, four ounces of the juice of lvy, four ounces of the powder of the roots of Polypodie; boil these in White-wine, and give it your dog to drink as hot as he can suffer it.

Here note, that when a dog hath any of these kinds of Madnesses he will have no desire to eat, fasting fre∣quently eight or nine days, and so starving to death. Nay, if they are troubled with any distemper they will refuse their meat, nay, the daintiest bit you can give them, until they have eaten grass, and have cleared

their stomack of what did offend it, and then they will eat.

Concerning the Madness of Dogs, and their Venomous Bitings.

I think no reasonable man ought to question why the teeth of a mad dog should do more harm than those of a sound one; because in rage and anger the teeth of every beast and creature receive venome and poison from the head, whereby when they bite at that time they do much more harm.

Against the simple biting of a dog, take the urine of a dog, which is sufficient, since there is but little ve∣nome in those wounds. To lay the hair of the same dog thereon, (though so much talkt on) I look upon as a meer foppery. Or being bit by a dog, take vine∣gar, and with your hand rub the wound very well; then pour into it vinegar mixed with water or Nitre; then wet a spunge in the same liquids, and so let it re∣main bound up three days; then take Pellitory of the wall, mingled and beaten with Salt, or any other plai∣ster for green wounds.

Divers are the cures and remedies for biting of mad dogs; which I omit in this place, as belonging not to my subject, but to Physick.

A Remedy against the common Mange.

This distemper befalls a dog frequently for want of fresh water to drink when he desires it, and sometimes by foul kennelling, and sometimes by foundering and melting his greace.

You may cure it in this manner: Take two hand∣fuls of wild Cresses, two handfuls of Elecampane, and as much of the leaves and roots of Roerb and

Sorrel, and two pound of the roots of Frodels; make them all boil well in lye and vinegar: having strai∣ned the decoction, put therein two pound of gray soap; and when it is melted therein, then rub your degs with it four or five days together, and it will cure them.

A brief Discourse of the Cure of Maladies belonging to Spaniels, with other accidents happening.

HOw necessary a thing a Spaniel is to Faulconry, and for those that delight in that noble recreation, keeping Hawks for their pastime and pleasure, I think no body need question, as well to spring and retrive a fowl being flown to the mark, as also divers other ways to help and assist Faulcons and Goshawks.

Now since they are subject to many diseases and casu∣alties, I shall endeavour to propound a suitable cure for them; and first, I shall begin with the Mange, as the capital enemy to the quiet and beauty of a brave Spaniel, wherewith poor creatures they are often grievously tor∣mented, and as frequently infect others.

For the cure of this distemper, take a pound of Bar∣row-flick, common Oil three ounces, Brimstone well pul∣verized foar ounces, Salt well beaten to powder, Ashes well sifted and searced, of each two ounces; boil all these in a kettle or earthen-pot, and when they are all well incorporated together, anoint your Spaniel with this thrice every other day, either against the Sun or Fire: having so done, wash him all over with good strong Lye, and this will kill the Mange. Remember you shift his kennel and litter often.

If the Spaniel lose its Hair, as it often happens, then bathe your Spaniel in the water of Lupines or Hops, and anoint him with stale Barrows-flick.

This ointment, besides the cure, maketh his skin look slick and beautiful, and kills the fleas, the dogs disquie∣ters, and enemies to his ease.

If this be not strong enough to destroy this malady, then take two quarts of strong vinegar, common oil six ounces, brimstone three ounces, soot six ounces, brayd salt and searced two handfuls: boil all these together in the vineger, and anoint your dog as aforesaid. This receipt must not be administred in cold weather, for it may hazard his life in so doing.

If a Spaniel be not much troubled with the Mange, then it is easie to cure him thus:

Make bread with wheaten-bran, with the roots, leaves, and fruit of Agrimony, beating them well in a mortar, and, making it into a paste or dough, bake it in an oven, and so made, give thereof to your Spaniel, giving him no other bread for some time, letting him eat as long as he will.

Cure of the Formica.

In the summer-time there is a scurvy malady which very much afflicts a Spaniel's ears, and is accasioned by flies and their own scratching with their feet: We term it a Mange, the Italians, Formica, and the French, Four∣mier.

For the cure, take Gum-dragaganth four ounces in∣fused in the strongest Vinegar may be gotten, for the space of eight days, and afterwards bruised on a mar∣ble-stone, as painters do their colours, adding unto it Roch-allum and Galls beaten to powder, of either two ounces; mingle all these well together, and lay it on the place afflicted.

For Swelling in the Throat.

By reason of a humour distilling from the brain, the throat of a Spaniel will often swell unreasonably. For cure whereof, anoint the grieved place with oil of Camomile; then wash it with vinegar not over-strong mix∣ed with salt. Probatum est.

Of Worms breeding in the Hurts and Mangy parts of a Spaniel.

These worms do hinder the cure of the mange or wounds, causing them to continue at one stay, or to grow worse and worse. To remove this hindrance, take the gum of Ivy and convey it into the wound, and let it there remain a day or two, washing the wound with Wine; and after that anoint it with Bacon-grease, oil of Earth-worms, and Rue.

The powder of wild Cucumbers is excellent good to kill these worms, and will prove a good corrosive, also eating away the dead flesh, and increasing the good.

If the worms be within the body, you must destroy them in this manner: Cause your Spaniel, by fair means or foul, when fasting, to eat the yolk of an egg with two scruples of Saffron pulverized and confected with the same egg, keeping him after it fasting till night.

When a Spaniel is hurt, as long as he can come to lick the wound with his tongue he needs no other remedy; his tongue is his best Chirurgeon: but when he cannot do that, then such wounds as are not venomous you may cure with the powder of Matresilva dried in an oven, or in the Sun. If it be a bite of a Fox, anoint it with oil wherein Earth-worms and Rue have been boiled toge∣ther. If by a mad dog, let him lap twice or thrice of the

broth of Germander, and eat the Germander too boil∣ed.

Others bore the skin of his neck through with a hot-Iron just betwixt his ears, so as the fire may touch both sides of the hole made: after that, plucking up the skin of the dog's shoulders and flanks backwards, thrust it through with a hot-Iron in like manner: by giving the venom this vent, it is a ready way to cure him.

To help a Spaniel that hath lost his sense of Smelling.

Spaniels, sometimes, by reason of too much rest and grease, or some other accident, do lose their sense of smelling, so as they cannot spring or retrive a fowl after their usual manner: To recover it again, take Agarick two drams, Sal Gemma one scruple; beat these into powder, and incorporate them with Oxy∣mel, making a pill as big as a nut, cover it with but∣ter, and give it the dog by fair means or foul. This will bring him into a quick scent, as I have oftentimes pro∣ved it.

The benefit of cutting off the tip of a Spaniel's Tail or Stern.

It is necessary for several reasons to cut off the tip of a Spaniel's stern when it is a whelp. First, by so doing worms are prevented from breeding there; in the next place, if it be not cut, he will be the less for∣ward in pressing hastily into the covert after his game; besides this benefit, the dog appears more beauti∣ful.

An Abstract of such Penal LAWS As relate to HUNTERS and HUNTING.

STat. 13 R. 2. cap. 13. No man who hath not lands of 40 s. per ann. nor Clerk who hath not 10 l. revenue per an. shall have or keep any Grey-hound, Hound, Dog, Ferret, Net, or Engine to destroy Deer, Hares, Coneys, or any other Gentlemans Game, in pain of one whole years imprisoment, which Iustices of Peace have power to inflict.

Stat. 1 H. 7. cap. 7. If any shall hunt within Forests, Parks, or Warrens in the night-time, or disguised, one of the Kings Coun∣cil, or a Iustice of Peace to whom informa∣tion shall be made, shall by his Warrant cause the Offender to be brought before him∣self, or some other Councellor or Iustice of Peace to be examined; where if he conceal the Fact, such hunting shall be deemed Felo∣ny; but being confessed, the Offence is one∣ly Finable at the next general Sessions. And here a Rescous of the Execution of a∣ny such Warrant shall be also deemed Felo∣ny.

Stat. 19 H. 7. cap. 11. None shall keep any Deer-hays, or Buck-stalls (save in his own Forest or Park) in pain to forfeit for every

Month they are so kept 40 s. Neither shall any stalk with any Bush or Beast to any Deer, except in his own Forest or Park, on pain of 10 l.

Stat. 14, 15 H. 8. cap. 10. None shall trace, destroy, or kill any Hare in the Snow, in pain of 6 s. 8 d. for every such Offence: which penalty assessed in Sessions shall go to the King; but in a Leet, to the Lord thereof.

Stat. 3 Jacob. cap. 13. None shall (without the Owners License) kill or chase any Deer or Coneys in any Parks, or inclosed Grounds, in pain to suffer three months im∣prisonment, to pay treble damages to the party grieved, and to be bound with two good Sureties to the good behaviour for se∣ven years: But the party grieved, having satisfaction, hath liberty to release the Be∣haviour.

II. By the same Statute it appears, that if any person not having 40 l. per annum in Lands, or 200 l. in Goods, or some inclosed Ground used for Deer or Coneys worth 40 s. per ann. at least, shall use any Gun, Bow, or Cross-bow to kill any Deer or Coneys, or shall keep any Buck-stall, Ferret, Dog, Net, or other Engine, it shall be lawful for any person (having Lands worth 100 l. per ann.) to take such Gun, &c. from any such person, and to convert it to his own use.

Stat. 13 Car. 2. cap. 20. None shall unlawful∣ly Course, Kill, Hunt, or carry away any Deer in any Forest, Chase, Purliew, Wood, Park, or other Ground where Deer have been usually kept, within England and Wales, without the consent of the Owners or Par∣ty

chiefly trusted with the custody thereof, or he aiding or assisting therein, upon pain, be∣ing convicted by confession, or one Witness, before any Istice of the Peace within sit months after the Offence, of 201. to be levied by distress by Warrant of the said Iustices: one moity to the Informer, the other to the Owner of the Deer: And for want of distress, to be committed to the House of Correction, or common Goal, for one year, and not dis∣charged till sufficient Sureties be given for the good behaviour.

II. It is nevertheless provided, that upon punishment of this Statute the penalty of no other Law be incurred.

Stat. 22 & 23 Car. 2. cap. 25. It is Enacted, That all Lords of Mannours or other Roy∣alties, not under the degree of an Esquire, may by Writing under their Hands and Seals, authorize one or more Game-keepers within their respective Mannours or Roy∣alties; who being thereunto so authorized, may take and seize all such Guns, Bows, Grey-hounds, Setting-dogs, Lurchers, or other Dogs to kill Hares or Coneys, Fer∣rets, Crammels, Low-bells, Hayes, or o∣ther Dets, Hare-pipes, Snares, or other Engines for the taking and killing of Co∣neys, Hares, Pheasants, Partridges, or other Game, as within the Precincts of such respective Mannours shall be used by any person or persons who by this Act are prohi∣bited to keep or use the same. And if any person or persons by this Act prohibited to keep or use any Guns, Dogs, &c. as afore∣said, be upon good ground suspected to have

or keep in his or their custody, any Guns, Bows, or any sort of Dogs, &c. to destroy Hares, Coneys, &c. Then may the said Game-keeper or Game-keepers, or other person (being thereunto Authorized by Warrant under the Hand and Seal of any Iustice of the Peace of the same County, Division, or Place) in the day∣time, search the Houses, Dut-houses, or o∣ther places of such persons so suspected: and if any Gun, Grey-hound, Bows, Setting-dogs, &c. be there found, the same he shall seize, detain, and keep, to and for the use of the Lord of the Mannour or Royalty where the same shall be so found or taken; or other∣wise to cut in pieces or destroy, as things by this Act prohibited to be kept by their de∣gree.

II. None having Lands or Cenements, or some other Estate of Inheritance in his own or his Wifes right, of the clear value of 1001. per ann. or for term of life, or ha∣ving Lease or Leases of 99 years at least of the clear value of 1501. Nor the Son and heir apparent of an Esquire, or other per∣son of higher degree, who are hereby decla∣red to be the persons declared by the Laws of this Realm not allowed to have or keep any Guns, Bows, Grey-hounds, Setting-dogs, ferrets, Coney-dogs, Lurchers, Hays, Dets, Low-bells, Hare-pipes, Snares, or other Engines aforesaid: But shall be, and are hereby prohibited to have, keep, or use the same. All Owners and Keepers of Fo∣rests, Parks, Warrens, or Chases, being stockt with Deer or Coneys for their neces∣sary

use, in respect of the said Forests, Parks, Warrens, or Chases are allowed to keep, &c.

III. None may enter wrongfully into any Warren or ground lawfully used or kept for the breeding or keeping of Coneys; (al∣though the same be not enclosed) nor take, kill, or chase any Coneys there without the consent of the Owner thereof, not having any lawful Title or Authority so to do, on pain to yield to the party grieved treble da∣mages and cost; besides shall suffer three months Imprisonment, and after till they find Sureties for their good abearing: the person offending being convict by one Wit∣ness upon Dath, or his own confession is sufficient.

IV. No person or persons shall take in the night-time any Coneys upon the borders of any Warren, or other grounds, lawfully used for the breeding or keeping of any Co∣neys, except such as shall be owners of the Soil, or lawful occupier or possessor of the ground, or any persons employed by him, her, or them, whereon such Coneys shall be so killed or taken; upon pain that every Offender, lawfully convict as aforesaid, shall give the party or parties injured such recom∣pence or satisfaction for his or their damages, and within such time as shall be appointed by the Justice before whom such Offender shall be convicted; and over and above pay down presently to the Overseers for the use of the Poor of the Parish where such Offence shall be committed, such sum of mony, not excee∣ding 10 s. as the said Justice shall think meet. And if such Offender or Offenders do not

make recompence or satisfaction to the said party or parties injured, and also pay the said sum to the Poor as aforesaid; then the said Justice shall commit the said Offender or Offendors to the House of Correction, for such time as the said Justice shall think fit, not exceeding one month.

V. Provided that what is mentioned in this Act of 22 & 23 Car. 2. extend not to a∣bridge any Royalty or Prerogative of his Majesty; nor to abridge, change, or alter a∣ny Forest-Laws, but the same to be of force, and remain as if this Act had not been made.

A further Abstract of some Penal LAWS as concern FORESTS, CHASES, &c.

I. There shall be three Swainmotes in the Year, viz. one 15 days before Michael∣mass; another about Martinmass; and the third 15 days before Midsummer. At the first two of which none shall appear by distress, but the Fosters, Uerdors, and Gest-takers; and at the other onely the Fosters and Uerdors: howbeit the Fosters and Uerdors shall meet every forty days, to see the Attachment of the Forests, as well for Green-hue, as Hun∣ting: And the Swainmotes shall not be kept, but in the Counties where they have used to be kept.

II. Lawing of Dogs shall be made in Fo∣rests, from 3 years to 3 years by the view and testimony of lawful men, and not otherwise: Howheit such Lawing of Dogs shall not be

but where it hath been used from the Coro∣nation of Hen. 2d.

III. No Foster or Beadie shall make Sco∣tal, or gather Garhe, Oats, Lamb, or Pig, but by the sight of the 12 Rangers when they shall make their Range: And there shall be so many Rangers assigned for the keeping of Forests, as shall seem reasonably suffi∣cient for the same.

IV. Any person having a Wood in the Fo∣rest may agest it, and take his pawnage there at his pleasure; he may also drive his Dogs through the Kings Woods, or elsewhere for that purpose; and if they ly all night in the Forest, he shall not be questioned for it.

V. None shall lose Life or Member for kil∣ling of Deer, but shall be fined for it if he have any thing; if not, he shall be imprisoned a year and a day: and (if he can find good Sureties) shall then be delivered; but if not, he shall absure the Realm.

VI. A Peer of the Realm, being sent for by the King, in coming and returning may kill a Deer or two in the Forest through which he passeth: howbeit, it must not be done privily, but by the view of the Foster, if present; but if absent, by causing one ta blow a Norn for him, lest he seem to steal the Deer.

VII. No Chimage or Coll shall be taken in Forests, but by a Forester in fee, that farms his Bailiwick, and onely of such as buy their Bushes, Cimber, Bark, or Coals, to sell it again, viz. 2 d. for a Cart, and 1 d. for an Dorse, to be taken half-yearly; and it shall onely he taken where it hath used to

be taken, and not elsewhere: Neither shall any Chimage be taken of such as carry bur∣thens of Bushes, Bark or Coal, albeit they sell it, unless they take them out of the Kings Demesne Woods. Thus far Charta Foresta.

A Forester, Parker, or Warrener shall not be questioned for killing a Crespasser, who (after the peace cryed to him) will not yield himself, so it be not done out of some o∣ther former malice. Stat. 21 Ed. 1.

No Minister of the Forest shall be put up∣on any Assize, Iury, or Inquest to be taken without the Forest. Ordin. Forestae.

Stat. 1 Ed. 3. cap. 8. None shall be taken or Imprisoned for Uert or Uenison, unless he be taken with the manner, or else indicted ac∣cording to the form of the Stat. 34. Ed. 1. And then the Warden of the Forest shall take him to Mainprise, until the Eyre of the Fo∣rest, without taking any thing for his deli∣berance. And if the Warden will not so do, he shall have a Writ out of the Chancery of Old ordained for persons indicted to be bai∣led till the Eyre.

Stat. 1 Ed. 3. cap. 2. Any man having Wood within the Forest, may take Horse-boot and Hay-boot in his said Wood, without being Attached for the same by the Ministers of the Forest, so that it be done by the view of the Foresters.

Stat. 7. R. 2. cap. 4. No Officer of the Fo∣rest shall take or imprison any without due Indictment, or per main ouvre (with his hand at the work) that is, being taken with the manner, or trespassing in the Forest; nor shall constrain any to make Obligation or

Ransome against his will, and the Assise of the Forest, in pain to pay the party grieved double damages, and to be ransomed at the King's will.

16 & 17 Car. cap. 16. An Act for the certainty of Forests, and of the Meers, limits and bounds thereof: See the Statute at large.

17 Car. cap. 16. No place within England or Wales, where no Justice Seat, Swainmote, Court, or Attachment hath been made, or Uindosers chosen, or Regard made within 20 years, shall be accounted Forest.

II. Tenants and Owners of all excluded Land, shall enjoy their common and other profits.

Stat. 20. Car. 2. cap. 3. Ten Thousand Acres of waste Lands in the Forest of Dean shall be enclosed, and kept in severalty, for the growth and preservation of Timber; and be under the regard and Government of Forest Law.

FINIS.