diff options
Diffstat (limited to '43452-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 43452-0.txt | 11190 |
1 files changed, 11190 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/43452-0.txt b/43452-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1e3c680 --- /dev/null +++ b/43452-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11190 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43452 *** + +[Transcribers' notes: + +Spelling, hyphenation, punctuation, capitalization, and accentuation +vary throughout the text. They are retained as published; we have not +standardized them. + +The oe ligature is rendered: [oe]. + +Letters with a macron are preceded by an equals sign, both inside of +square brackets, e.g. [=a]. + +Italics are rendered between underscores, e.g. _italics_. + +Underlined text is rendered between equal signs, e.g. =underlined +text=. + +Smallcap text is rendered in all caps, e.g. SMALLCAP TEXT. + +Superscripts are preceded by the carat character, e.g. ov^r. + +Horn notes are rendered: + [**white] denoting a long note, [**black] a short note, + [**white][**white] a note of two long syllables, etc.] + + + + +THE MASTER OF GAME + +[Illustration: Fox hunting "above ground" with raches or running +hounds. (From MS. f. fr. 616 in the Bibliothéque Nationale, Paris.)] + + THE MASTER OF GAME + BY EDWARD, SECOND DUKE OF + YORK: THE OLDEST ENGLISH + BOOK ON HUNTING: EDITED BY + WM. A. AND F. BAILLIE-GROHMAN + WITH A FOREWORD BY THEODORE + ROOSEVELT + +[Illustration] + +LONDON +CHATTO & WINDUS +MCMIX + + +_All rights reserved_ + + + + +CONTENTS + + + + + CHAP. PAGE + + INTRODUCTION xi + + FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION xix + + I. THE PROLOGUE 1 + + II. OF THE HARE AND OF HER NATURE 14 + + III. OF THE HART AND HIS NATURE 23 + + IV. OF THE BUCK AND OF HIS NATURE 38 + + V. OF THE ROE AND OF HIS NATURE 41 + + VI. OF THE WILD BOAR AND OF HIS NATURE 46 + + VII. OF THE WOLF AND OF HIS NATURE 54 + + VIII. OF THE FOX AND OF HIS NATURE 64 + + IX. OF THE GREY (BADGER) AND OF HIS NATURE 68 + + X. OF THE (WILD) CAT AND ITS NATURE 70 + + XI. THE OTTER AND HIS NATURE 72 + + XII. OF THE MANNER AND HABITS AND CONDITIONS OF HOUNDS 75 + + XIII. OF SICKNESSES OF HOUNDS AND OF THEIR CORRUPTIONS 85 + + XIV. OF RUNNING HOUNDS AND OF THEIR NATURE 105 + + XV. OF GREYHOUNDS AND OF THEIR NATURE 113 + + XVI. OF ALAUNTES AND OF THEIR NATURE 116 + + XVII. OF SPANIELS AND OF THEIR NATURE 119 + + XVIII. OF THE MASTIFF AND OF HIS NATURE 122 + + XIX. WHAT MANNER AND CONDITION A GOOD HUNTER SHOULD HAVE 123 + + XX. HOW THE KENNEL FOR THE HOUNDS AND THE COUPLES FOR THE RACHES AND + THE ROPES FOR THE LYMER SHOULD BE MADE 125 + + XXI. HOW THE HOUNDS SHOULD BE LED OUT TO SCOMBRE 127 + + XXII. HOW A HUNTER'S HORN SHOULD BE DRIVEN 128 + + XXIII. HOW A MAN SHOULD LEAD HIS GROOM IN QUEST FOR TO KNOW A HART BY + HIS TRACE 130 + + XXIV. HOW A MAN SHOULD KNOW A GREAT HART BY THE FUMES 133 + + XXV. HOW A MAN SHOULD KNOW A GREAT HART BY THE PLACE WHERE HE HATH + FRAYED HIS HEAD 135 + + XXVI. HOW THE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE HART HUNTING BY + STRENGTH AND HOW THE HART SHOULD BE HARBOURED 148 + + XXVII. HOW A HUNTER SHOULD GO IN QUEST BY THE SIGHT 152 + + XXVIII. HOW AN HUNTER SHOULD GO IN QUEST BETWEEN THE PLAINS AND THE + WOOD 154 + + XXIX. HOW A HUNTER SHOULD GO IN QUEST IN THE COPPICE AND THE YOUNG + WOOD 155 + + XXX. HOW AN HUNTER SHOULD GO IN QUEST IN GREAT COVERTS AND STRENGTHS + 156 + + XXXI. HOW A HUNTER SHOULD QUEST IN CLEAR SPIRES AND HIGH WOOD 157 + + XXXII. HOW A GOOD HUNTER SHALL GO IN QUEST TO HEAR THE HARTS BELLOW + 161 + + XXXIII. HOW THE ASSEMBLY THAT MEN CALL GATHERING SHOULD BE MADE BOTH + WINTER AND SUMMER AFTER THE GUISE OF BEYOND THE SEA 163 + + XXXIV. HOW THE HART SHOULD BE MOVED WITH THE LYMER AND RUN TO AND + SLAIN WITH STRENGTH 165 + + XXXV. HOW AN HUNTER SHOULD SEEK AND FIND THE HARE WITH RUNNING HOUNDS + AND SLAY HER WITH STRENGTH 181 + + XXXVI. OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE MANNER OF HUNTING WHEN THE KING WILL + HUNT IN FORESTS OR IN PARKS FOR THE HART WITH BOWS AND GREYHOUNDS AND + STABLE 188 + + APPENDIX 201 + + LIST OF SOME BOOKS CONSULTED AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN TEXT 268 + + GLOSSARY 282 + + INDEX 299 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + FOX HUNTING "ABOVE GROUND" _Frontispiece_ + + GASTON PH[OE]BUS SURROUNDED BY HUNTSMEN AND HOUNDS _To face page_ 1 + + THE HARE AND HER LEVERETS " 14 + + HOW TO QUEST FOR THE HART IN WOODS " 22 + + BUCK-HUNTING WITH RUNNING HOUNDS " 38 + + ROEBUCK-HUNTING WITH GREYHOUNDS AND RUNNING HOUNDS " 44 + + BADGER-DRAWING " 68 + + OTTER-HUNTING " 72 + + HOW THE HOUNDS WERE LED OUT " 86 + + RACHES OR RUNNING HOUNDS IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY " 106 + + THE SMOOTH AND THE ROUGH-COATED GREYHOUNDS " 114 + + THE FIVE BREEDS OF HOUNDS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT " 122 + + THE KENNEL AND KENNELMEN " 126 + + THE MASTER TEACHING HIS HUNTSMAN HOW TO QUEST FOR + THE HART WITH THE LIMER OR TRACKHOUND _To face page_ 130 + + HOW A GREAT HART IS TO BE KNOWN BY HIS "FUMES" + (EXCREMENTS) " 134 + + HOW THE HUNTER SHOULD VIEW THE HART " 152 + + HOW TO QUEST FOR THE HART IN COVERTS " 164 + + HARE-HUNTING WITH GREYHOUNDS AND RUNNING HOUNDS " 182 + + HARE-DRIVING WITH LOW BELLS " 184 + + NETTING HARES IN THEIR "MUSES" " 186 + + THE "UNDOING" OR GRALLOCHING OF THE HART: THE + MASTER INSTRUCTING HIS HUNTERS HOW IT IS DONE " 192 + + HART-HUNTING WITH GREYHOUNDS AND RACHES " 196 + + THE "CURÉE" OR REWARDING OF THE HOUNDS" " 198 + + SHOOTING HARES WITH BLUNT BOLTS " 220 + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The "Master of Game" is the oldest as well as the most important work +on the chase in the English language that has come down to us from the +Middle Ages. + +Written between the years 1406 and 1413 by Edward III.'s grandson +Edward, second Duke of York, our author will be known to every reader +of Shakespeare's "Richard II.," for he is no other than the arch +traitor Duke of Aumarle, previously Earl of Rutland, who, according to +some historians, after having been an accomplice in the murder of his +uncle Gloucester, carried in his own hand on a pole the head of his +brother-in-law. The student of history, on the other hand, cannot +forget that this turbulent Plantagenet was the gallant leader of +England's vanguard at Agincourt, where he was one of the great nobles +who purchased with their lives what was probably the most glorious +victory ever vouchsafed to English arms. + +He tells us in his Prologue, in which he dedicates his "litel symple +book" to Henry, eldest son of his cousin Henry IV., "Kyng of Jngelond +and of Fraunce," that he is the Master of Game at the latter's court. + +Let it at once be said that the greater part of the book before us is +not the original work of Edward of York, but a careful and almost +literal translation from what is indisputably the most famous hunting +book of all times, _i.e._ Count Gaston de Foix's _Livre de Chasse_, +or, as author and book are often called, _Gaston Ph[oe]bus_, so named +because the author, who was a kinsman of the Plantagenets, and who +reigned over two principalities in southern France and northern Spain, +was renowned for his manly beauty and golden hair. It is he of whom +Froissart has to tell us so much that is quaint and interesting in his +inimitable chronicle. _La Chasse_, as Gaston de Foix tells us in his +preface, was commenced on May 1, 1387, and as he came to his end on a +bear hunt not much more than four years later, it is very likely that +his youthful Plantagenet kinsman, our author, often met him during his +prolonged residence in Aquitaine, of which, later on, he became the +Governor. + +Fortunately for us, the enforced leisure which the Duke of York +enjoyed while imprisoned in Pevensey Castle for his traitorous +connection with the plots of his sister to assassinate the King and to +carry off their two young kinsmen, the Mortimers, the elder of whom +was the heir presumptive to the throne, was of sufficient length to +permit him not only to translate _La Chasse_ but to add five original +chapters dealing with English hunting. + +These chapters, as well as the numerous interpolations made by the +translator, are all of the first importance to the student of venery, +for they emphasise the changes--as yet but very trifling ones--that +had been introduced into Britain in the three hundred and two score +years that had intervened since the Conquest, when the French language +and French hunting customs became established on English soil. To +enable the reader to see at a glance which parts of the "Master of +Game" are original, these are printed in italics. + +The text, of which a modern rendering is here given, is taken from the +best of the existing nineteen MSS. of the "Master of Game," viz. the +Cottonian MS. Vespasian B. XII., in the British Museum, dating from +about 1420. The quaint English of Chaucer's day, with its archaic +contractions, puzzling orthography, and long, obsolete technical terms +in this MS. are not always as easy to read as those who only wish to +get a general insight into the contents of the "Master of Game" might +wish. It was a difficult question to decide to what extent this text +should be modernised. If translated completely into twentieth century +English a great part of the charm and interest of the original would +be lost. For this reason many of the old terms of venery and the +construction of sentences have been retained where possible, so that +the general reader will be able to appreciate the "feeling" of the old +work without being unduly puzzled. In a few cases where, through the +omission of words, the sense was left undetermined, it has been made +clear after carefully consulting other English MSS. and the French +parent work. + +It seemed very desirable to elucidate the textual description of +hunting by the reproduction of good contemporary illuminations, but +unfortunately English art had not at that period reached the high +state of perfection which French art had attained. As a matter of +fact, only two of the nineteen English MSS. contain these pictorial +aids, and they are of very inferior artistic merit. The French MSS. of +_La Chasse_, on the other hand, are in several cases exquisitely +illuminated, and MS. f. fr. 616, which is the copy from which our +reproductions--much reduced in size, alas!--are made, is not only the +best of them, but is one of the most precious treasures of the +_Bibliothèque Nationale_ in Paris. These superb miniatures are +unquestionably some of the finest handiwork of French miniaturists at +a period when they occupied the first rank in the world of art. + +The editors have added a short Appendix, elucidating ancient hunting +customs and terms of the chase. Ancient terms of venery often baffle +every attempt of the student who is not intimately acquainted with the +French and German literature of hunting. On one occasion I appealed in +vain to Professor Max Müller and to the learned Editor of the Oxford +Dictionary. "I regret to say that I know nothing about these words," +wrote Dr. Murray; "terms of the chase are among the most difficult of +words, and their investigation demands a great deal of philological +and antiquarian research." There is little doubt that but for this +difficulty the "Master of Game" would long ago have emerged from its +seclusion of almost five hundred years. It is hoped that our notes +will assist the reader to enjoy this hitherto neglected classic of +English sport. Singularly enough, as one is almost ashamed to have to +acknowledge, foreign students, particularly Germans, have paid far +more attention to the "Master of Game" than English students have, and +there are few manuscripts of any importance about which English +writers have made so many mistakes. This is all the more curious +considering the precise information to the contrary so easily +accessible on the shelves of the British Museum. All English writers +with a single exception (Thomas Wright) who have dealt with our book +have attributed it persistently to a wrong man and a wrong period. +This has been going on for more than a century; for it was the +learned, but by no means always accurate, Joseph Strutt who first +thrust upon the world, in his often quoted "Sports and Pastimes of the +English People," certain misleading blunders concerning our work and +its author. Blaine, coming next, adding thereto, was followed little +more than a decade later by "Cecil," author of an equally much quoted +book, "Records of the Chase." In it, when speaking of the "Master of +Game," he says that he has "no doubt that it is the production of +Edmund de Langley," thus ascribing it to the father instead of to the +son. Following "Cecil's" untrustworthy lead, Jesse, Lord Wilton, Vero +Shaw, Dalziel, Wynn, the author of the chapter on old hunting in the +Badminton Library volume on Hunting, and many other writers copied +blindly these mistakes. + +Five years ago the present editors published in a large folio volume +the first edition of the "Master of Game" in a limited and expensive +form. It contained side by side with the ancient text a modernised +version, extended biographical accounts of Edward of York and of +Gaston de Foix (both personalities of singular historical and human +interest), a detailed bibliography of the existing mediæval hunting +literature up to the end of the sixteenth century, a glossary, and a +very much longer appendix than it was possible to insert in the +present volume, which, in order to make it conform to the series of +which it forms part, had to be cut down to about one-sixth of the +first edition. A similar fate had to befall the illustrations, which +had to be reduced materially both in number and size. We would +therefore invite the reader whose interest in the subject may possibly +be aroused by the present pages, to glance at the perhaps +formidable-looking pages of the first edition, with its facsimile +photogravure reproductions of the best French and English +illuminations to be found in fifteenth century hunting literature. + +In conclusion, I desire to repeat also in this place the expression of +my thanks to the authorities of the British Museum--to Dr. G. F. +Warner and Mr. I. H. Jeayes in particular--to the heads of the +Bodleian Library, the _Bibliothèque Nationale_, the Mazarin and the +Arsenal Libraries in Paris, the Duc d'Aumale's Library at Chantilly, +the _Bibliothèque Royale_ at Brussels, the _Königliche Bibliotheken_ +in Munich and Dresden, the _Kaiserliche und Königliche Haus, Hof and +Staats Archiv_, and the _K. and K. Hof Bibliothek_ in Vienna, to Dr. +F. J. Furnivall, Mr. J. E. Harting, Mr. T. Fitzroy Fenwick of +Cheltenham, and to express my indebtedness to the late Sir Henry +Dryden, Bt., of Canons Ashby, for his kind assistance in my research +work. + +To one person more than to any other my grateful acknowledgment is +due, namely to Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, +who, notwithstanding the press of official duties, has found time to +write the interesting _Foreword_. A conscientious historian of his own +great country, as well as one of its keenest sportsmen, President +Roosevelt's qualifications for this kindly office may be described as +those of a modern Master of Game. No more competent writer could have +been selected to introduce to his countrymen a work that illustrates +the spirit which animated our common forbears five centuries ago, +their characteristic devotion to the chase, no less than their +intimate acquaintance with the habits and "nature" of the wild game +they pursued: all attributes worthy of some study by the reading +sportsmen of the twentieth century, who, as I show, have hitherto +neglected the study of English Venery. It was at first intended to +print this _Foreword_ only in the American Edition, but it soon became +evident that this would give to it an advantage which readers in this +country would have some reason to complain of, so it was inserted also +in the English Edition, and from it taken over into the present one. + +[Illustration: Signature William A. Baillie-Grohman] + +LONDON, _March 3, 1909_. + + + + +FOREWORD + +TO THE FIRST EDITION + + +During the century that has just closed Englishmen have stood foremost +in all branches of sport, at least so far as the chase has been +carried on by those who have not followed it as a profession. Here and +there in the world whole populations have remained hunters, to whom +the chase was part of their regular work--delightful and adventurous, +but still work. Such were the American backwoodsmen and their +successors of the great plains and the Rocky Mountains; such were the +South African Boers; and the mountaineers of Tyrol, if not coming +exactly within this class, yet treated the chase both as a sport and a +profession. But disregarding these wild and virile populations, and +considering only the hunter who hunts for the sake of the hunting, it +must be said of the Englishman that he stood pre-eminent throughout +the nineteenth century as a sportsman for sport's sake. Not only was +fox-hunting a national pastime, but in every quarter of the globe +Englishmen predominated among the adventurous spirits who combined the +chase of big game with bold exploration of the unknown. The icy polar +seas, the steaming equatorial forests, the waterless tropical deserts, +the vast plains of wind-rippled grass, the wooded northern wilderness, +the stupendous mountain masses of the Andes and the Himalayas--in +short, all regions, however frowning and desolate, were penetrated by +the restless English in their eager quest for big game. Not content +with the sport afforded by the rifle, whether ahorse or afoot, the +English in India developed the use of the spear and in Ceylon the use +of the knife as the legitimate weapons with which to assail the +dangerous quarry of the jungle and the plain. There were hunters of +other nationalities, of course--Americans, Germans, Frenchmen; but the +English were the most numerous of those whose exploits were best worth +recounting, and there was among them a larger proportion of men gifted +with the power of narration. Naturally under such circumstances a +library of nineteenth century hunting must be mainly one of English +authors. + +All this was widely different in the preceding centuries. From the +Middle Ages to the period of the French Revolution hunting was carried +on with keener zest in continental Europe than in England; and the +literature of the chase was far richer in the French, and even in the +German, tongues than in the English. + +The Romans, unlike the Greeks, and still more unlike those mighty +hunters of old, the Assyrians, cared little for the chase; but the +white-skinned, fair-haired, blue-eyed barbarians, who, out of the +wreck of the Roman Empire, carved the States from which sprang modern +Europe, were passionately devoted to hunting. Game of many kinds then +swarmed in the cold, wet forests which covered so large a portion of +Europe. The kings and nobles, and the freemen generally, of the +regions which now make France and Germany, followed not only the wolf, +boar, and stag--the last named the favourite quarry of the hunter of +the Middle Ages--but the bear, the bison--which still lingers in the +Caucasus and in one Lithuanian preserve of the Czar--and the aurochs, +the huge wild ox--the _Urus_ of Cæsar--which has now vanished from the +world. In the Nibelungen Lied, when Siegfried's feats of hunting are +described, it is specified that he slew both the bear and the elk, the +bison and the aurochs. One of the early Burgundian kings was killed +while hunting the bison; and Charlemagne was not only passionately +devoted to the chase of these huge wild cattle, but it is said prized +the prowess shown therein by one of his stalwart daughters. + +By the fourteenth century, when the Count of Foix wrote, the aurochs +was practically or entirely extinct, and the bison had retreated +eastwards, where for more than three centuries it held its own in the +gloomy morasses of the plain south-east of the Baltic. In western +Europe the game was then the same in kind that it is now, although all +the larger species were very much more plentiful, the roebuck being +perhaps the only one of the wild animals that has since increased in +numbers. With a few exceptions, such as the Emperor Maximilian, the +kings and great lords of the Middle Ages were not particularly fond of +chamois and ibex hunting; it was reserved for Victor Emmanuel to be +the first sovereign with whom shooting the now almost vanished ibex +was a favourite pastime. + +Eager though the early Norman and Plantagenet kings and nobles of +England were in the chase, especially of the red deer, in France and +Germany the passion for the sport was still greater. In the end, on +the Continent the chase became for the upper classes less a pleasure +than an obsession, and it was carried to a fantastic degree. Many of +them followed it with brutal indifference to the rights of the +peasantry and to the utter neglect of all the serious affairs of life. +During the disastrous period of the Thirty Years War, the Elector of +Saxony spent most of his time in slaughtering unheard-of numbers of +red deer; if he had devoted his days and his treasure to the urgent +contemporary problems of statecraft and warcraft he would have ranked +more nearly with Gustavus Adolphus and Wallenstein, and would have +stood better at the bar of history. Louis XVI. was also devoted to the +chase in its tamer forms, and was shooting at driven game when the +Paris mob swarmed out to take possession of his person. The great +lords, with whom love of hunting had become a disease, not merely made +of game-preserving a grievous burden for the people, but also followed +the chase in ways which made scant demands upon the hardier qualities +either of mind or of body. Such debased sport was contemptible then; +and it is contemptible now. Luxurious and effeminate artificiality, +and the absence of all demands for the hardy virtues, rob any pastime +of all title to regard. Shooting at driven game on occasions when the +day's sport includes elaborate feasts in tents on a store of good +things brought in waggons or on the backs of sumpter mules, while the +sport itself makes no demand upon the prowess of the so-called +sportsman, is but a dismal parody upon the stern hunting life in which +the man trusts to his own keen eye, stout thews, and heart of steel +for success and safety in the wild warfare waged against wild nature. + +Neither of the two authors now under consideration comes in this +undesirable class. Both were mighty men with their hands, terrible in +battle, of imposing presence and turbulent spirit. Both were the +patrons of art and letters, and both were cultivated in the learning +of the day. For each of them the chase stood as a hardy and vigorous +pastime of the kind which makes a people great. The one was Count +Gaston de Foix, author of the most famous of mediæval hunting-books, a +mighty lord and mighty hunter, as well as statesman and warrior. The +other was Edward, second Duke of York, who at Agincourt "died +victorious." He translated into English a large portion of Gaston de +Foix's _La Chasse_, adding to it five original chapters. He called his +book "The Master of Game." + +Gaston's book is better known as _Gaston Ph[oe]bus_, the nickname of +the author which Froissart has handed down. He treats not only of the +animals of France, but of the ibex, the chamois, and the reindeer, +which he hunted in foreign lands. "The Master of Game" is the oldest +book on hunting in the English language. The original chapters are +particularly interesting because of the light they throw upon English +hunting customs in the time of the Plantagenets. The book has never +hitherto been published. Nineteen ancient manuscript copies are known; +of the three best extant two are on the shelves of the Bloomsbury +treasure house, the other in the Bodleian Library. Like others of the +famous old authors on venery, both the Count of Foix and the Duke of +York show an astonishing familiarity with the habits, nature, and +chase of their quarry. Both men, like others of their kind among their +contemporaries, made of the chase not only an absorbing sport but +almost the sole occupation of their leisure hours. They passed their +days in the forest and were masters of woodcraft. Game abounded, and +not only the chase but the killing of the quarry was a matter of +intense excitement and an exacting test of personal prowess, for the +boar, or the bear, or hart at bay was slain at close quarters with the +spear or long knife. + +"The Master of Game" is not only of interest to the sportsman, but +also to the naturalist, because of its quaint accounts of the "nature" +of the various animals; to the philologist because of the old English +hunting terms and the excellent translations of the chapters taken +from the French; and to the lover of art because of the beautiful +illustrations, with all their detail of costume, of hunting +accoutrements, and of ceremonies of "la grande venerie"--which are +here reproduced in facsimile from one of the best extant French +manuscripts of the early fifteenth century. The translator has left +out the chapters on trapping and snaring of wild beasts which were +contained in the original, the hunting with running hounds being the +typical and most esteemed form of the sport. Gaston Ph[oe]bus's _La +Chasse_ was written just over a century before the discovery of +America; "The Master of Game" some fifteen or twenty years later. The +former has been reprinted many times. Mr. Baillie-Grohman in +reproducing (for the first time) the latter in such beautiful form has +rendered a real service to all lovers of sport, of nature, and of +books--and no one can get the highest enjoyment out of sport unless he +can live over again in the library the keen pleasure he experienced in +the wilderness. + + * * * * * + +In modern life big-game hunting has assumed many widely varied forms. +There are still remote regions of the earth in which the traveller +must depend upon his prowess as a hunter for his subsistence, and here +and there the foremost settlers of new country still war against the +game as it has been warred against by their like since time primeval. +But over most of the earth such conditions have passed away for ever. +Even in Africa game preserving on a gigantic scale has begun. Such +game preserving may be of two kinds. In one the individual landed +proprietor, or a group of such individuals, erect and maintain a +private game preserve, the game being their property just as much as +domestic animals. Such preserves often fill a useful purpose, and if +managed intelligently and with a sense of public spirit and due +regard for the interests and feelings of others, may do much good, +even in the most democratic community. But wherever the population is +sufficiently advanced in intelligence and character, a far preferable +and more democratic way of preserving the game is by a system of +public preserves, of protected nurseries and breeding-grounds, while +the laws define the conditions under which all alike may shoot the +game and the restrictions under which all alike must enjoy the +privilege. It is in this way that the wild creatures of the forest and +the mountain can best and most permanently be preserved. Even in the +United States the enactment and observance of such laws has brought +about a marked increase in the game of certain localities, as, for +instance, New England, during the past thirty years; while in the +Yellowstone Park the elk, deer, antelope, and mountain sheep, and, +strangest of all, the bear, are not merely preserved in all their wild +freedom, but, by living unmolested, have grown to show a confidence in +man and a tameness in his presence such as elsewhere can be found only +in regions where he has been hitherto unknown. + +The chase is the best of all national pastimes, and this none the less +because, like every other pastime, it is a mere source of weakness if +carried on in an unhealthy manner, or to an excessive degree, or under +over-artificial conditions. Every vigorous game, from football to +polo, if allowed to become more than a game, and if serious work is +sacrificed to its enjoyment, is of course noxious. From the days when +Trajan in his letters to Pliny spoke with such hearty contempt of the +Greek over-devotion to athletics, every keen thinker has realised that +vigorous sports are only good in their proper place. But in their +proper place they are very good indeed. The conditions of modern life +are highly artificial, and too often tend to a softening of fibre, +physical and moral. It is a good thing for a man to be forced to show +self-reliance, resourcefulness in emergency, willingness to endure +fatigue and hunger, and at need to face risk. Hunting is praiseworthy +very much in proportion as it tends to develop these qualities. Mr. +Baillie-Grohman, to whom most English-speaking lovers of sport owe +their chief knowledge of the feats in bygone time of the great hunters +of continental Europe, has himself followed in its most manly forms +this, the manliest of sports. He has hunted the bear, the wapiti, and +the mountain ram in the wildest regions of the Rockies, and, also by +fair stalking, the chamois and the red deer in the Alps. Whoever +habitually follows mountain game in such fashion must necessarily +develop qualities which it is a good thing for any nation to see +brought out in its sons. Such sport is as far removed as possible from +that in which the main object is to make huge bags at small cost of +effort, and with the maximum of ease, no good quality save +marksmanship being required. Laying stress upon the mere quantity of +game killed, and the publication of the record of slaughter, are sure +signs of unhealthy decadence in sportsmanship. As far as possible the +true hunter, the true lover of big game and of life in the wilderness, +must be ever ready to show his own power to shift for himself. The +greater his dependence upon others for his sport the less he deserves +to take high rank in the brotherhood of rifle, horse, and hound. There +was a very attractive side to the hunting of the great mediæval lords, +carried on with an elaborate equipment and stately ceremonial, +especially as there was an element of danger in coming to close +quarters with the quarry at bay; but after all, no form of hunting has +ever surpassed in attractiveness the life of the wilderness wanderer +of our own time--the man who with simple equipment, and trusting to +his own qualities of head, heart, and hand, has penetrated to the +uttermost regions of the earth, and single-handed slain alike the +wariest and the grimmest of the creatures of the waste. + + THEODORE ROOSEVELT. + + THE WHITE HOUSE, + _February 15, 1904_. + +[Illustration: _GASTON PH[OE]BUS_ SURROUNDED BY HUNTSMEN AND HOUNDS +(From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + + + + +THE MASTER OF GAME + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE PROLOGUE + + +_To the honour and reverence of you my right worshipful and dread Lord +Henry by the grace of God eldest son and heir unto the high excellent +and Christian Prince Henry IV. by the aforesaid grace King of England +and of France, Prince of Wales, Duke of Guienne of Lancaster and of +Cornwall, and Earl of Chester._ + +_I your own in every humble wise have me ventured to make this little +simple book which I recommend and submit to your noble and wise +correction, which book if it pleaseth your aforesaid Lordship shall be +named and called MASTER OF GAME. And for this cause: for the matter +that this book treateth of what in every season of the year is most +durable, and to my thinking to every gentle heart most disportful of +all games, that is to say hunting. For though it be that hawking with +gentle hounds and hawks for the heron and the river be noble and +commendable, it lasteth seldom at the most more than half a year. For +though men find from May unto Lammas_ (August 1st) _game enough to +hawk at, no one will find hawks to hawk with.[1] But as of hunting +there is no season of all the year, that game may not be found in +every good country, also hounds ready to chase it. And since this book +shall be all of hunting, which is so noble a game, and lasting through +all the year of divers beasts that grow according to the season for +the gladdening of man, I think I may well call it MASTER OF GAME._ + +_And though it be so my dear Lord, that many could better have meddled +with this matter and also more ably than I, yet there be two things +that have principally emboldened and caused me to take this work in +hand. The first is trust of your noble correction, to which as before +is said, I submit this little and simple book. The second is that +though I be unworthy, I am Master of this Game with that noble prince +your Father our all dear sovereign and liege Lord aforesaid. And as I +would not that his hunters nor yours that now be or that should come +hereafter did not know the perfection of this art, I shall leave for +these this simple memorial, for as Chaucer saith in his prologue of +"The 25[2] Good Women": "By writing have men mind of things passed, +for writing is the key of all good remembrance."_ + +[1] As the hawks would be mewing and unfit to fly. + +[2] The Shirley MS. in the British Museum has "XV." + +And first I will begin by describing the nature of the hare,[3] +secondly of the nature of the hart, thirdly of the buck and of his +nature, fourthly of the roe and of his nature, fifthly of the wild +boar and of his nature, sixthly of the wolf and of his nature, +seventhly of the fox and of his nature, eighthly of the badger and of +his nature, ninthly of the cat and of his nature, tenthly of the +marten and his nature, eleventhly of the otter and of his nature. Now +have I rehearsed how I will in this little book describe the nature of +these aforesaid beasts of venery and of chace, and therefore will I +name the hounds the which I will describe hereafter, both of their +nature and conditions. And first I will begin with raches (running +hounds)[4] and their nature, and then greyhounds and their nature, and +then alaunts and their nature, and then spaniels and their nature, and +then mastiffs that men call curs and their nature, and then of small +curs that come to be terriers and their nature, and then I shall +devise and tell the sicknesses of hounds and their diseases. And +furthermore I will describe what qualities and manners a good hunter +should have, and of what parts he should be, and after that I will +describe the manner and shape of the kennel, and how it should be +environed and arrayed. Also I will describe of what fashion a hunter's +horn should be driven, and how the couplings should be made for the +raches and of what length. Furthermore I will prove by sundry reasons +in this little prologue, that the life of no man that useth gentle +game and disport be less displeasable unto God than the life of a +perfect and skilful hunter, or from which more good cometh. The first +reason is that hunting causeth a man to eschew the seven deadly sins. +Secondly men are better when riding, more just and more understanding, +and more alert and more at ease and more undertaking, and better +knowing of all countries and all passages; in short and long all good +customs and manners cometh thereof, and the health of man and of his +soul. For he that fleeth the seven deadly sins as we believe, he shall +be saved, therefore a good hunter shall be saved, and in this world +have joy enough and of gladness and of solace, so that he keep himself +from two things. One is that he leave not the knowledge nor the +service of God, from whom all good cometh, for his hunting. The second +that he lose not the service of his master for his hunting, nor his +own duties which might profit him most. Now shall I prove how a hunter +may not fall into any of the seven deadly sins. When a man is idle and +reckless without work, and be not occupied in doing some thing, he +abides in his bed or in his chamber, a thing which draweth men to +imaginations of fleshly lust and pleasure. For such men have no wish +but always to abide in one place, and think in pride, or in avarice, +or in wrath, or in sloth, or in gluttony, or in lechery, or in envy. +For the imagination of men rather turns to evil than to good, for the +three enemies which mankind hath, are the devil, the world and the +flesh, and this is proved enough. + +[3] Gaston de Foix has a different sequence, putting the hart first +and the hare sixth, and having four animals more, namely, the +reindeer, the chamois (including ibex), the bear and the rabbit, while +the "Master of Game" has one animal, the Marten, of which Gaston de +Foix does not speak. + +[4] Gaston de Foix follows a different sequence, commencing with +alaunts, then greyhounds, raches, spaniels, and says "fifthly I will +speak of all kinds of mongrel dogs, such as come from mastiffs and +alaunts, from greyhounds and running hounds, and other such." + +Nevertheless there be many other reasons which are too long to tell, +and also every man that hath good reason knoweth well that idleness is +the foundation of all evil imaginations. Now shall I prove how +imagination is lord and master of all works, good or evil, that man's +body or his limbs do. You know well, good or evil works small or great +never were done but that beforehand they were imagined or thought of. +Now shall you prove how imagination is the mistress of all deeds, for +imagination biddeth a man do good or evil works, whichever it be, as +before is said. And if a man notwithstanding that he were wise should +imagine always that he were a fool, or that he hath other sickness, it +would be so, for since he would think steadfastly that he were a fool, +he would do foolish deeds as his imagination would command, and he +would believe it steadfastly. Wherefore methinks I have proved enough +of imagination, notwithstanding that there be many other reasons the +which I leave to avoid long writing. Every man that hath good sense +knoweth well that this is the truth. + +Now I will prove how a good hunter may not be idle, and in dreaming +may not have any evil imaginations nor afterwards any evil works. For +the day before he goes out to his office, the night before he shall +lay him down in his bed, and shall not think but for to sleep, and do +his office well and busily, as a good hunter should. And he shall have +nothing to do, but think about all that which he has been ordered to +do. And he is not idle, for he has enough to do to think about rising +early and to do his office without thinking of sins or of evil deeds. +And early in the dawning of the day he must be up for to go unto his +quest, _that in English is called searching_, well and busily, for as +I shall say more explicitly hereafter, when I shall speak of how men +shall quest and search to harbour the hart. And in so doing he shall +not be idle, for he is always busy. And when he shall come again to +the assembly or meet, then he hath most to do, for he must order his +finders and relays for to move the hart, and uncouple his hounds. With +that he cannot be idle, for he need think of nothing but to do his +office, and when he hath uncoupled, yet is he less idle, and he should +think less of any sins, for he hath enough to do to ride _or to foot +it well_ with his hounds and to be always near them and to hue or rout +well, and blow well, and to look whereafter he hunteth, and which +hounds are _vanchasers and parfiters_,[5] and redress and bring his +hounds on the right line again when they are at fault[6] or hunting +rascal.[7] And when the hart is dead or what other chase he was +hunting, then is he less idle, for he hath enough to do to think how +to undo the hart in his manner and to raise that which appertaineth[8] +to him, and well to do his curée.[9] And he should look how many of +his hounds are missing of those that he brought to the wood in the +morning, and he should search for them, and couple them up. And when +he has come home, should he less think to do evil, for he hath enough +to do to think of his supper, and to ease himself and his horse, and +to sleep, and to take his rest, for he is weary, and to dry himself of +the dew or peradventure of the rain. And therefore I say that all the +time of the hunter is without idleness and without evil thoughts, and +without evil works of sin, for as I have said idleness is the +foundation of all vices and sins. And the hunter may not be idle if he +would fill his office aright, and also he can have no other thoughts, +for he has enough to do to think and imagine of his office, the which +is no little charge, for whoso will do it well and busily, especially +if they love hounds and their office. + +[5] The hounds that came in the first relay (van) and those in the +subsequent relays. See Appendix: Relays. + +[6] Diverted or off the line. + +[7] Chasing small or lean deer. See Appendix: Hart. + +[8] To take those parts of the deer which fell to him by custom. + +[9] Curée: The ceremony of giving the hounds their reward on the skin +of the animal they have chased. See Appendix: Curée. + +Wherefore I say that such an hunter is not idle, he can have no evil +thoughts, nor can he do evil works, wherefore he must go into +paradise.[10] For by many other reasons which are too long to write +can I prove these things, but it sufficeth that every man that hath +good sense knoweth well that I speak the real truth. + +[10] Gaston de Foix in the French parent work puts it even more +forcefully; he says: "tout droit en paradis." See Lavallée's ed. 1854. + +Now shall I prove how hunters live in this world more joyfully than +any other men. For when the hunter riseth in the morning, and he sees +a sweet and fair morn and clear weather and bright, and he heareth +the song of the small birds, the which sing so sweetly with great +melody and full of love, each in it's own language in the best wise +that it can according that it learneth of it's own kind. And when the +sun is arisen, he shall see fresh dew upon the small twigs and +grasses, and the sun by his virtue shall make them shine. And that is +great joy and liking to the hunter's heart. After when he shall go to +his quest or searching, he shall see or meet anon with the hart +without great seeking, and shall harbour[11] him well and readily +within a little compass. It is great joy and liking to the hunter. And +after when he shall come to the assembly or gathering, and he shall +report before the Lord and his company that which he hath seen with +his eyes, or by scantilon (measure) of the trace (slot) which he ought +always of right to take, or by the fumes[12] (excrements) that he +shall put in his horn or in his lap. And every man shall say: Lo, here +is a great hart and a deer of high meating or pasturing; go we and +move him; the which things I shall declare hereafter, then can one say +that the hunter has great joy. When he beginneth to hunt and he hath +hunted but a little and he shall hear or see the hart start before him +and shall well know that it is the right one, and his hounds that +shall this day be finders, shall come to the lair (bed), or to the +fues (track), and shall there be uncoupled without any be left +coupled, and they shall all run well and hunt, then hath the hunter +great joy and great pleasure. Afterwards he leapeth on horseback, _if +he be of that estate, and else on foot_ with great haste to follow his +hounds. And in case peradventure the hounds shall have gone far from +where he uncoupled, he seeketh some advantage to get in front of his +hounds. And then shall he see the hart pass before him, and shall +holloa and rout mightily, and he shall see which hound come in the +van-chase, and in the middle, and which are parfitours,[13] according +to the order in which they shall come. And when all the hounds have +passed before him then shall he ride after them and shall rout and +blow as loud as he may with great joy and great pleasure, and I assure +you he thinketh of no other sin or of no other evil. And when the hart +be overcome and shall be at bay he shall have pleasure. And after, +when the hart is spayed[14] and dead, he undoeth him and maketh his +curée and enquireth or rewardeth his hounds, and so he shall have +great pleasure, and when he cometh home he cometh joyfully, for his +lord hath given him to drink of his good wine at the curée, and when +he has come home he shall doff his clothes and his shoes and his hose, +and he shall wash his thighs and his legs, and peradventure all his +body. And in the meanwhile he shall order well his supper, with +_wortes_ (roots) _and of the neck_ of the hart and of other good +meats, and good wine _or ale_. And when he hath well eaten and drunk +he shall be glad and well, and well at his ease. And then shall he +take the air in the evening of the night, for the great heat that he +hath had. And then he shall go and drink and lie in his bed in fair +fresh clothes, and shall sleep well and steadfastly all the night +without any evil thoughts of any sins, wherefore I say that hunters go +into Paradise when they die, and live in this world more joyfully than +any other men. Yet I will prove to you how hunters live longer than +any other men, for as Hippocras the doctor telleth: "full repletion of +meat slayeth more men than any sword or knife." They eat and drink +less than any other men of this world, for in the morning at the +assembly they eat a little, and if they eat well at supper, they will +by the morning have corrected their nature, for then they have eaten +but little, and their nature will not be prevented from doing her +digestion, whereby no wicked humours or superfluities may be +engendered. And always, when a man is sick, men diet him and give him +to drink water made of sugar and tysane and of such things for two or +three days to put down evil humours and his superfluities, and also +make him void (purge). But for a hunter one need not do so, for he may +have no repletion on account of the little meat, and by the travail +that he hath. And, supposing that which can not be, and that he were +full of wicked humours, yet men know well that the best way to +terminate sickness that can be is to sweat. And when the hunters do +their office on horseback or on foot they sweat often, then if they +have any evil in them, it must (come) away in the sweating; so that he +keep from cold after the heat. Therefore it seemeth to me I have +proved enough. Leeches ordain for a sick man little meat and sweating +for the terminating and healing of all things. And since hunters eat +little and sweat always, they should live long and in health. Men +desire in this world to live long in health and in joy, and after +death the health of the soul. And hunters have all these things. +Therefore be ye all hunters and ye shall do as wise men. Wherefore I +counsel to all manner of folk of what estate or condition that they +be, that they love hounds and hunting and the pleasure of hunting +beasts of one kind or another, or hawking. For to be idle and to have +no pleasure in either hounds or hawks is no good token. _For as saith +in his book Ph[oe]bus the Earl of Foix that noble hunter_, he saw +never a good man that had not pleasure in some of these things, were +he ever so great and rich. For if he had need to go to war he would +not know what war is, for he would not be accustomed to travail, and +so another man would have to do that which he should. For men say in +old saws: "The lord is worth what his lands are worth."[15] _And also +he saith in the aforesaid book_, that he never saw a man that loved +the work and pleasure of hounds and hawks, that had not many good +qualities in him; for that comes to him of great nobleness and +gentleness of heart of whatever estate the man may be, whether he be a +great lord, or a little one, or a poor man or a rich one. + +[11] Trace the deer to its lair. + +[12] See Appendix: Excrements. + +[13] See Appendix: Relays. + +[14] Despatched with a sword or knife. See Appendix: Spay. + +[15] Gaston de Foix says: "Tant vaut seigneur tant vaut sa gent et sa +terre," p. 9. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +OF THE HARE AND OF HER NATURE + + +The hare is a common beast enough, and therefore I need not tell of +her making, for there be few men that have not seen some of them. They +live on corn, and on weeds growing on waste land, on leaves, on herbs, +on the bark of trees, on grapes and on many other fruits. The hare is +a good little beast, and much good sport and liking is the hunting of +her, more than that of any other beast that _any man knoweth_, if +he[16] were not so little. And that for five reasons: the one is, for +her hunting lasteth all the year as with running hounds without any +sparing, and this is not with all the other beasts. And also men may +hunt at her both in the morning and in the evening. In the eventide, +when they be relieved,[17] and in the morning, when they sit in form. +And of all other beasts it is not so, for if it rain in the morning +your journey is lost, and of the hare it is not so. That other +[reason] is to seek the hare; it is a well fair thing, especially who +so hunteth her rightfully, for hounds must need find her by mastery +and quest point by point, and undo all that she hath done all the +night of her walking, and of her pasture unto the time that they start +her. And it is a fair thing when the hounds are good and can well find +her. And the hare shall go sometimes from her sitting to her pasture +half a mile or more, specially in open country. And when she is +started it is a fair thing. And then it is a fair thing to slay her +with strength of hounds, for she runneth long and gynnously +(cunningly). A hare shall last well four miles or more or less, if she +be an old male hare. And therefore the hunting of the hare is good, +for it lasteth all the year, as I have said. And the seeking is a well +fair thing, and the chasing of the hare is a well fair thing, and the +slaying of him with strength (of hounds) is a fair thing, for it +requireth great mastery on account of her cunning. When a hare ariseth +out of her form to go to her pasture or return again to her seat, she +commonly goes by one way, and as she goes she will not suffer any twig +or grass to touch her, for she will sooner break it with her teeth and +make her way. Sometime she sitteth a mile or more from her pasturing, +and sometimes near her pasture. But when she sitteth near it, yet she +may have been the amount of half a mile or more from there where she +hath pastured, and then she ruseth again from her pasture. And whether +she go to sit near or far from her pasture she goes so gynnously +(cunningly) and wilily that there is no man in this world that would +say that any hound could unravel that which she has done, or that +could find her. For she will go a bow shot or more by one way, and +ruse again by another, and then she shall take her way by another +side, and the same she shall do ten, twelve, or twenty times, from +thence she will come into some hedge or strength (thicket), and shall +make semblance to abide there, and then will make cross roads ten or +twelve times, and will make her ruses, and thence she will take some +false path, and shall go thence a great way, and such semblance she +will make many times before she goeth to her seat. + +[16] The hare was frequently spoken of in two genders in the same +sentence, for it was an old belief that the hare was at one time male, +and at another female. See Appendix: Hare. + +[17] Means here: when the hare has arisen from her form to go to her +feeding. Fr. _relever_. G. de F. explains, p. 42: _un lievre se +reliève pour aler à son vianders_. Relief, which denoted the act of +arising and going to feed, became afterwards the term for the feeding +itself. "A hare hath greater scent and is more eagerly hunted when she +relieves on green corn" (_Comp. Sportsman_, p. 86). It possibly was +used later to denote the excrements of a hare; thus Blome (1686) p. +92, says: "A huntsman may judge by the relief and feed of the hare +what she is." + +[Illustration: THE HARE AND HER LEVERETS (From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. +Nat._, Paris)] + +The hare cannot be judged, either by the foot or by her fumes +(excrements), for she always crotieth[18] in one manner, except when +she goeth in her love that hunters call ryding time, for then she +crotieth her fumes more burnt (drier) and smaller, especially the +male. The hare liveth no long time, for with great pain may she pass +the second[19] year, though she be not hunted or slain. She hath bad +sight[20] and great fear to run[21] on account of the great dryness of +her sinews. She windeth far men when they seek her. When hounds grede +of her (seek) and quest her she flieth away for the fear that she hath +of the hounds. Sometimes men find her sitting in her form, and +sometimes she is bitten (taken) by hounds in her form before she +starts. They that abide in the form till they be found are commonly +stout hares, and well running. The hare that runneth with right +standing ears is but little afraid, and is strong, and yet when she +holdeth one ear upright and the other laid low on her ryge (back), she +feareth but little the hounds. An hare that crumps her tail upon her +rump when she starteth out of her form as a coney (does) it is a token +that she is strong and well running. The hare runneth in many diverse +manners, for some run all they are able a whole two miles or three, +and after run and ruse again and then stop still when they can no +more, and let themselves be bitten (by the hounds), although she may +not have been seen all the day. And sometimes she letteth herself be +bitten the first time that she starteth, for she has no more might +(strength). And some run a little while and then abide and squat, and +that they do oft. And then they take their flight as long as they can +run ere they are dead. And some be that abide till they are bitten in +their form, especially when they be young that have not passed half a +year. Men know by the outer side of the hare's leg if she has not +passed a year.[22] And so men should know of a hound, of a fox, and of +a wolf, by a little bone that they have in a bone which is next the +sinews, where there is a little pit (cavity). + +[18] Casting her excrements. + +[19] A mistake of the old scribes which occurs also in other MSS.; it +should, of course, read "seventh" year. G. de F. has the correct +version. + +[20] G. de F. says: "She hears well but has bad sight," p. 43. + +[21] "Fear to run" is a mistake occasioned by the similarity of the +two old French words "pouair," power, and "paour" or fear. In those of +the original French MS. of G. de F. examined by us it is certainly +"power" and not "fear." Lavallée in his introduction says the same +thing. See Appendix: Hare. + +[22] See Appendix: Hare. + +Sometimes when they are hunted with hounds they run into a hole as a +coney, or into hollow trees, or else they pass a great river. Hounds +do not follow some hares as well as others, for four reasons. Those +hares who be begotten of the kind of a coney, as some be in warrens, +the hounds lust not, nor scenteth them not so well. The other (is) +that the fues (footing) of some hares carry hotter scent than some, +and therefore the hounds scenteth of one more than of the other, as of +roses, some smell better than others, and yet they be all roses. The +other reason is that they steal away ere they be found, and the hounds +follow always forth right. The others run going about and then +abide,[23] wherefore the hounds be often on stynt (at fault). The +other (reason) is according to the country they run in, for if they +run in covert, hounds will scent them better than if they run in plain +(open) country, or in the ways (paths), for in the covert their bodies +touch against the twigs and leaves, because it is a strong (thick) +country. And when they run in plain country or in the fields they +touch nothing, but with the foot, and therefore the hound can not so +well scent the fues of them. And also I say that some country is more +sweet and more loving (to scent) than another. The hare abideth +commonly in one country, and if she hath the fellowship of another or +of her kyndels or leverettes, they be five or six, for no strange hare +will they suffer to dwell in their marches (district), though they be +of their nature (kind),[24] and therefore men say in old saws: "Who so +hunteth the most hares shall find the most." _For Phebus the Earl of +Foix, that good hunter, saith that_ when there be few hares in a +country they should be hunted and slain, so that the hares of other +countries about should come into that march. + +[23] G. de F. has: "vonts riotans tournions et demourant," _i.e._ run +rioting, turning and stopping, p. 44. + +[24] Both the Vespasian and the Shirley MS. in the British Museum have +the same, but G. de F., p. 45, has, "except those of their nature" +(_fors que celle de leur nature_). + +Of hares, some go faster and be stronger than others, as it is of men +and other beasts. Also the pasture and the country where they abide +helpeth much thereto. For when the hare abideth and formeth in a plain +country where there are no bushes, such hares are commonly strongest +and well running. Also when they pasture on two herbs--that one is +called Soepol (wild thyme) and that other be Pulegium (pennyroyal) +they are strong and fast running. + +The hares have no season of their love for, as I said, it is called +ryding time, for in every month of the year that it shall not be that +some be not with kindles (young). Nevertheless, commonly their love is +most in the month of January, and in that month they run most fast of +any time of the year, both male and female. And from May unto +September they be most slow, for then they be full of herbs and of +fruits, or they be great and full of kindles, and commonly in that +time they have their kindles. Hares remain in sundry (parts of the) +country, according to the season of the year; sometimes they sit in +the fern, sometimes in the heath, sometimes in the corn, and in +growing weeds, and sometimes in the woods. In April and in May when +the corn is so long that they can hide themselves therein, gladly will +they sit therein. And when men begin to reap the corn they will sit in +the vines and in other strong (thick) heaths, in bushes and in hedges, +and commonly in cover under the wind and in cover from the rain, and +if there be any sun shining they will gladly sit against the beams of +the sun. For a hare of its own kind knoweth the night before what +weather it will be on the next morrow, and therefore she keepeth +herself the best way she may from the evil weather. The hare beareth +her kindles two months,[25] and when they are kindled she licketh her +kindles as a bitch doeth her whelps. Then she runneth a great way +thence, and goeth to seek the male, for if she should abide with her +kindles she would gladly eat them. And if she findeth not the male, +she cometh again to her kindles a great while after and giveth them to +suck, and nourisheth them for the maintainance of 20 days or +thereabouts. A hare beareth commonly 2 kindles, but I have seen some +which have kindled at once sometime 6, sometime 5 or 4 or 2;[26] and +but she find the male within three days from the time she hath +kindled, she will eat her kindles. And when they be in their love they +go together as hounds, save they hold not together as hounds. They +kindle often in small bushes or in little hedges, or they hide in +heath or in briars or in corn or in vines. If you find a hare which +has kindled the same day, and the hounds hunt after her, and if you +come thither the next morrow ye shall find how she has removed her +kindles, and has borne them elsewhere with her teeth, as a bitch doth +her whelps. Men slay hares with greyhounds, and with running hounds by +strength, _as in England, but elsewhere they slay them also_ with +small pockets, and with purse nets, and with small nets, _with hare +pipes_, and with long nets, and with small cords that men cast where +they make their breaking of the small twigs when they go to their +pastures, as I have before said.[27] But, _truly, I trow no good +hunter would slay them so for any good_. When they be in their heat of +love and pass any place where conies be, the most part of them will +follow after her as the hounds follow after a bitch or a brache. + +[25] This is incorrect: the hare carries her young thirty days (Brehm, +vol. ii. p. 626; Harting, _Ency. of Sport_, vol. i. p. 504). + +[26] Should read "three" (G. de F., p. 47). + +[27] See Appendix: Snares. + +[Illustration: HOW TO QUEST FOR THE HART IN WOODS (From MS. f. fr. +616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +OF THE HART AND HIS NATURE + + +The hart is a common beast enough and therefore me needeth not to tell +of his making, for there be few folk that have not seen some. The +harts be the lightest (swiftest) beasts and strongest, and of +marvellous great cunning. They are in their love, which men call rut, +about the time of the Holy Rood[28] in September and remain in their +hot love a whole month and ere they be fully out thereof they abide +(in rut) nigh two months. And then they are bold, and run upon men as +a wild boar would do if he were hunted. And they be wonderfully +perilous beasts, for with great pain shall a man recover that is hurt +by a hart, and therefore men say in old saws: "after the boar the +leech and after the hart the bier." For he smiteth as the stroke of +the springole,[29] for he has great strength in the head and the body. +They slay, fight and hurt each other, when they be in rut, that is to +say in their love, and they sing in their language _that in England +hunters call bellowing_ as man that loveth paramour.[30] They slay +hounds and horses and men at that time and turn to the abbay (be at +bay) as a boar does especially when they be weary. And yet have men +seen at the parting of their ligging (as they start from the lair)[31] +that he hath hurt him that followeth after, and also the +greyhounds[32] and furthermore a courser. And yet when they are in +rut, which is to say their love, in a forest where there be few hinds +and many harts or male deer, they slay, hurt and fight with each +other, for each would be master of the hinds. And commonly the +greatest hart and the most strong holdeth the rut and is master +thereof. And when he is well pured and hath been long at rut all the +other harts that he hath chased and flemed away (put to flight) from +the rut then run upon him and slay him, and that is sooth. And in +parks this may be proved, for there is never a season but the greatest +hart will be slain by the others not while he is at the rut, but when +he has withdrawn and is poor of love. In the woods they do not so +often slay each other as they do in the plain country. And also there +are divers ruts in the forest, but in the parks there are none but +that are within the park.[33] After that they be withdrawn from the +hinds they go in herds and in soppes (troops) with the rascal (young +lean deer) and abide in (waste) lands and in heathes more than they do +in woods, for to enjoy the heat of the sun, they be poor and lean for +the travail they have had with the hinds, and for the winter, and the +little meat that they find. After that they leave the rascal and +gather together with two or three or four harts in soppes till the +month of March when they mew (shed) their horns, and commonly some +sooner than others, if they be old deer, and some later if they be +young deer, or that they have had a hard winter, or that they have +been hunted, or that they have been sick, for then they mew their +heads and later come to good points. And when they have mewed their +heads they take to the strong (thick) bushes as privily as they may, +till their heads be grown again, and they come into grease; after that +they seek good country for meating (feeding) of corn, of apples, of +vines, of tender growing trees, of peas, of beans, and other fruits +and grasses whereby they live. And sometimes a great hart hath another +fellow that is called his squire, for he is with him and doth as he +will. And so they will abide all that season if they be not hindered +until the last end of August. And then they begin to look, and to +think and to bolne and to bellow and to stir from the haunt in which +they have (been) all the season, for to go seek the hinds. They +recover their horns and are summed of their tines as many as they +shall have all the year between March when they mewed them to the +middle of June; and then be they recovered of their new hair that _men +call polished_ and their horns be recovered with a soft hair _that +hunters call velvet_ at the beginning, and under that skin and that +hair the horn waxes hard and sharp, and about Mary Magdalene day (July +22) they fray their horns against the trees, and have (rubbed) away +that skin from their horns and then wax they hard and strong, and then +they go to burnish and make them sharp in the colliers places +(charcoal pits) that men make sometimes in the great groves. And if +they can find none they go against the corners of rocks _or to crabbe +tree or to hawthorn or other trees_.[34] + +[28] September 14. See Appendix: Hart, Seasons. + +[29] An engine of war used for throwing stones. + +[30] G. de F., p. 12. "Ainsi que fet un homme bien amoureus" ("As does +a man much in love)." + +[31] This word ligging is still in use in Yorkshire, meaning lair, or +bed, or resting-place. In Devonshire it is spelt "layer." Fortescue, +p. 132. + +[32] G. de F., p. 12, has "limer" instead of "greyhound." + +[33] This passage is confused. In G. de F., p. 12, we find that the +passage runs: "Et aussi il y a ruyt en divers lieux de la forest et on +paix ne peut estre en nul lieu, fors que dedans le part." Lavallée +translates these last five words, "C'est à dire qu'il n'y a de paix +que lorsque les biches sont pleines." In the exceedingly faulty first +edition by Verard, the word "part" is printed "_parc_," as it is in +our MS. + +[34] G. de F., p. 14, says the harts go to gravel-pits and bogs to +fray. + +They be half in grease or thereabouts by the middle of June when their +head is summed, and they be highest in grease during all August. +Commonly they be calved in May, and the hind beareth her calf nine +months or thereabout as a sow,[35] and sometimes she has three[36] +calves at a calving time. And I say not that they do not calve +sometime sooner and sometime later, much according to causes and +reasons. The calves are calved with hair red and white, which lasteth +them that colour into the end of August, and then they turn red of +hair, as the hart and the hind. And at that time they run so fast that +a hare[37] should have enough to do to overtake him within the shot of +an haronblast (cross-bow). Many men judge the deer of many colours of +hair and especially of three colours. Some be called brown, some dun +and some yellow haired. And also their heads be of divers manners, the +one is called a head well-grown, and the other is called well +affeted,[38] and well affeted is when the head has waxed by ordinance +according to the neck and shape, when the tines be well grown in the +beam by good measure, one near the other, then it is called well +affeted. Well grown is when the head is of great beam and is well +affeted and thick tined, well high and well opened (spread). That +other head is called counterfeit (abnormal) when it is different and +is otherwise turned behind or wayward in other manner than other +common deer be accustomed to bear. That other high head is open, evil +affeted with long tines and few. That other is low and great and well +affeted with small tines. And the first tine that is next the head is +called antler, and the second Royal and the third above, the +Sur-royal, and the tines[39] which be called fourth if they be two, +and if they be three or four or more be called troching. And when +their heads be burnished at the colliers' pits commonly they be always +black, and also commonly when they be burnished at the colliers' pits +they be black on account of the earth which is black of its kind. And +when they are burnished against _rock_ they abide all white, but some +have their heads naturally white and some black. And when they be +about to burnish they smite the ground with their feet and welter like +a horse. And then they burnish their heads, and when they be burnished +which they do all the month of July they abide in that manner till the +feast of the Holy (Cross) in September 14th and then they go to rut as +I have said. + +[35] The MS. transcriber's mistake. It should be "cow." + +[36] G. de F. has "2 calves" as it should be. + +[37] G. de F. has "greyhound," as it should be (p. 15): "Et dès lors +vont ils jà si tost que un levrier a assés à fere de l'ateindre, ainsi +comme un trait d'arcbaleste" ("And from that time they go so quickly +that a greyhound has as much to do to catch him as he would the bolt +from a crossbow)." + +[38] Well proportioned. See Appendix: Antler. + +[39] Shirley MS. has the addition here: "Which be on top." + +_And the first year that they be calved they be called a Calf, the +second year a bullock; and that year they go forth to rut; the third +year a brocket; the fourth year a staggard; the fifth a stag; the +sixth year a hart of ten[40] and then first is he chaseable, for +always before shall he be called but rascal or folly._ Then it is fair +to hunt the hart, for it is a fair thing to seek well a hart, and a +fair thing well to harbour him, and a fair thing to move him, and a +fair thing to hunt him, and a fair thing to retrieve him, and a fair +thing to be at the abbay, whether it be on water or on land. A fair +thing is the curée,[41] and a fair thing to undo him well, and for to +raise the rights. And a well fair thing and good is the devision[42] +and it be a good deer. In so much that considering all things I hold +that it is the fairest hunting, that any man may hunt after. They +crotey their fumes (cast their excrements) in divers manners according +to the time and season and according to the pasture that they find, +now black or dry either in flat forms or engleymed (glutinous) or +pressed, and in many other divers manners the which I shall more +plainly devise when I shall declare how the hunter shall judge, for +sometimes they misjudge by the fumes and so they do by the foot. When +they crotey their fumes flat and not thick, it is in April or in May, +into the middle of June, when they have fed on tender corn, for yet +their fumes be not formed, and also they have not recovered their +grease. But yet have men seen sometimes a great deer and an old and +high in grease, which about mid-season crotey their fumes black and +dry. And therefore by this and many other things many men may be +beguiled by deer, for some goeth better and are better running and fly +better than some, as other beasts do, and some be more cunning and +more wily than others, as it is with men, for some be wiser than +others. And it cometh to them of the good kind of their father and +mother, and of good getting (breeding) and of good nurture and from +being born in good constellations, and in good signs of heaven, and +that (is the case) with men and all other beasts. Men take them with +hounds, with greyhounds and with nets and with cords, and with other +harness,[43] with pits and with shot[44] and with other gins (traps) +and with strength, as I shall say hereafter. _But in England they are +not slain except with hounds or with shot or with strength of running +hounds._ + +[40] In modern sporting terms, a warrantable deer. + +[41] See Appendix: Curée. + +[42] Should be: venison. + +[43] Harness, appurtenances. See Appendix: Harness. + +[44] Means from a cross-bow or long-bow. + +An old deer is wonder wise and felle (cunning) for to save his life, +and to keep his advantage when he is hunted and is uncoupled to, as +the lymer moveth him or other hounds findeth him without lymers, and +if he have a deer (with him) that be his fellow he leaveth him to the +hounds, so that he may warrant (save) himself, and let the hounds +enchase after that other deer. And he will abide still, and if he be +alone and the hounds find him, he shall go about his haunt wilily and +wisely and seek the change of other deer, for to make the hounds +envoise,[45] and to look where he may abide. And if he cannot abide he +taketh leave of his haunt and beginneth to fly there where he wots of +other change and then when he has come thither he herdeth among them +and sometimes he goeth away with them. And then he maketh a ruse on +some side, and there he stalleth or squatteth until the hounds be +forth after the other (deer) the which be fresh, and thus he changeth +so that he may abide. And if there be any wise hounds, the which can +bodily enchase him from the change, and he seeth that all can not +avail, then he beginneth to show his wiles and ruseth to and fro. And +all this he doth so that the hounds should not find his fues (tracks) +in intent that he may be freed from them and that he may save himself. + +[45] Go off the scent. + +Sometimes he fleeth forth with the wind and that for three causes, +for when he fleeth against the wind it runneth into his mouth and +dryeth him and doth him great harm. Therefore he fleeth oft forth with +the wind so that he may always hear the hounds come after him. And +also that the hounds should not scent nor find him, for his tail is in +the wind and not his nose.[46] Also, that when the hounds be nigh him +he may wind them and hye him well from them. _But nevertheless his +nature is for the most part to flee ever on the wind till he be nigh +overcome, or at the last sideways to the wind so that it be aye_ +(ever) _in his nostrils._ And when he shall hear that they be far from +him, he hieth him not too fast. And when he is weary, and hot, then he +goeth to yield, and soileth to some great river. And some time he +foils down in the water half a mile or more ere he comes to land on +any side. And that he doeth for two reasons, the one is to make +himself cold, and for to refresh himself of the great heat that he +hath, the other is that the hounds and the hunter may not come after +him nor see his fues in the water, as they do on the land. And if in +the country (there) is no great river he goeth then to the little +(one) and shall beat up the water or foil down the water as he liketh +best for the maintenance (extent) of a mile or more ere he come to +land, and he shall keep himself from touching any of the brinks or +branches but always (keep) in the middle of the water, so that the +hounds should not scent of him. And all that doth he for two reasons +before said. + +[46] This should read as G. de F. has it (p. 20): "Et aussi affin que +les chiens ne puissent bien assentir de luy, quar ilz auront la Cueue +au vent et non pas le nez" ("And also that the hounds shall not be +able to wind him, as they will have their tails in the wind and not +their noses"). + +And when he can find no rivers then he draweth to great stanks[47] and +meres or to great marshes. And he fleeth then mightily and far from +the hounds, that is to say that he hath gone a great way from +them,[48] then he will go into the stank, and will soil therein once +or twice in all the stank and then he will come out again by the same +way that he went in, and then he shall ruse again the same way that he +came (the length of) a bow shot or more, and then he shall ruse out of +the way, for to stall or squatt to rest him, and that he doeth for he +knoweth well that the hounds shall come by the fues into the stank +where he was. And when they should find that he has gone no further +they will seek him no further, for they will well know that they have +been there at other times. + +[47] Ponds, pools. See Appendix: Stankes. + +[48] G. de F., p. 21: "Et s'il fuit de fort longe aux chiens, c'est à +dire que il les ait bien esloinhés." See Appendix: "Forlonge." + +An hart liveth longest of any beast for he may well live an hundred +years[49] and the older he is the fairer he is of body and of head, +and more lecherous, but he is not so swift, nor so light, nor so +mighty. And many men say, but I make no affirmation upon that, when he +is right old he beateth a serpent with his foot till she be wrath, and +then he eateth her and then goeth to drink, and then runneth hither +and thither to the water till the venom be mingled together and make +him cast all his evil humours that he had in his body, and maketh his +flesh come all new.[50] The head of the hart beareth medicine against +the hardness of the sinews and is good to take away all aches, +especially when these come from cold: and so is the marrow. They have +a bone within the heart which hath great medicine, for it comforteth +the heart, _and helpeth for the cardiac_, and many other things which +were too long to write, the which bear medicine and be profitable in +many diverse manners. The hart is more wise in two things than is any +man or other beast, the one is in tasting of herbs, for he hath better +taste and better savour and smelleth the good herbs and leaves and +other pastures and meating the which be profitable to him, better than +any man or beast. The other is that he hath more wit and malice +(cunning) to save himself than any other beast or man, for there is +not such a good hunter in the world that can think of the great malice +and gynnes (tricks or ruses) that a hart can do, and there is no such +good hunter nor such good hounds, but that many times fail to slay the +hart, and that is by his wit and his malice and by his gins. + +[49] Most old writers on the natural history of deer repeat this +fable. See Appendix: Hart. + +[50] See Appendix: Hart. + +As of the hinds some be barren and some bear calves, of those that be +barren their season beginneth when the season of the hart faileth and +lasteth till Lent. And they which bear calves, in the morning when she +shall go to her lair she will not remain with her calf, but she will +hold (keep) him and leave him a great way from her, and smiteth him +with the foot and maketh him to lie down, and there the calf shall +remain always while the hind goeth to feed. And then she shall call +her calf in her language and he shall come to her. And that she doeth +so that if she were hunted her calf might be saved and that he should +not be found near her. The harts have more power to run well from the +entry of May into St. John's tide[51] than any other time, for then +they have put on new flesh and new hair and new heads, for the new +herbs and the new coming out (shoots) of trees and of fruits and be +not too heavy, for as yet they have not recovered their grease,[52] +neither within nor without, nor their heads, wherefore they be much +lighter and swifter. But from St. John's into the month of August they +wax always more heavy. Their skin is right good for to do many things +with when it is well tawed and taken in good season. Harts that be in +great hills, when it cometh to rut, sometimes they come down into the +great forests and heaths and to the launds (uncultivated country) and +there they abide all the winter until the entering of April, and then +they take to their haunts for to let their heads wax, near the towns +and villages in the plains there where they find good feeding in the +new growing lands. And when the grass is high and well waxen they +withdraw into the greatest hills that they can find for the fair +pastures and feeding and fair herbs that be thereupon. And also +because there be no flies nor any other vermin, as there be in the +plain country. And also so doth the cattle which come down from the +hills in winter time, and in the summer time draw to the hills. And +all the time from rutting time into Whitsunday great deer and old will +be found in the plains, but from Whitsunday[53] to rutting time men +shall find but few great deer save upon the hills, if there are any +(hills) near or within four or five miles, and this is truth unless it +be some young deer calved in the plains, but of those that come from +the hills there will be none. _And every day in the heat of the day, +and he be not hindered, from May to September, he goes to soil though +he be not hunted._ + +[51] Nativity of St. John the Baptist, June 24. + +[52] See Appendix: Grease. + +[53] This sentence reads somewhat confusedly in our MS., so I have +taken this rendering straight from G. de F., p. 23. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +OF THE BUCK AND OF HIS NATURE + + +A buck is a diverse beast, he hath not his hair as a hart, for he is +more white, and also he hath not such a head. He is less than a hart +and is larger than a roe. A buck's head is palmed with a long palming, +and he beareth more tines than doth a hart. His head cannot be well +described without painting. They have a longer tail than the hart, and +more grease on their haunches than a hart. They are fawned in the +month of June and shortly to say they have the nature of the hart, +save only that the hart goeth sooner to rut and is sooner in his +season again, also in all things of their kind the hart goeth before +the buck. For when the hart hath been fifteen days at rut the buck +scarcely beginneth to be in heat and bellow. + +And also men go not to sue him with a lymer, nor do men go to harbour +him as men do to the hart. Nor are his fumes put in judgment as those +of the hart, but men judge him by the foot other head as I shall say +more plainly hereafter. + +[Illustration: BUCK-HUNTING WITH RUNNING HOUNDS (From MS. f. fr. 616, +_Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + +They crotey their fumes in diverse manners according to the time and +pasture, as doth the hart, but oftener black and dry than otherwise. +When they are hunted they bound again into their coverts and fly not +so long as doth the hart, for sometimes they run upon the hounds.[54] +And they run long and fly ever if they can by the high ways and always +with the change. They let themselves be taken at the water and beat +the brooks as a hart, but not with such great malice as the hart, nor +so gynnously (cunningly) and also they go not to such great rivers as +the hart. They run faster at the beginning than doth the hart. They +bolk (bellow) about when they go to rut, not as a hart doth, but much +lower than the hart, and rattling in the throat. Their nature and that +of the hart do not love (to be) together, for gladly would they not +dwell there where many harts be, nor the harts there where the bucks +be namely together in herds. The buck's flesh is more savoury[55] than +is that of the hart or of the roebuck. The venison of them is right +good if kept and salted as that of the hart. They abide oft in a dry +country and always commonly in herd with other bucks. Their season +lasteth from the month of May into the middle of September. And +commonly they dwell in a high country where there be valleys and small +hills. He is undone as the hart. + +[54] They do not make such a long flight as the red deer but by +ringing return to the hounds. + +[55] G. de F., p. 29, completes the sense of this sentence by saying +that "the flesh of the buck is more savoury to all hounds than that of +the stag or of the roe, and for this reason it is a bad change to hunt +the stag with hounds which at some other time have eaten buck." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +OF THE ROE AND OF HIS NATURE + + +The roebuck is a common beast enough, and therefore I need not to tell +of his making, for there be few men that have not seen some of them. +It is a good little beast and goodly for to hunt to whoso can do it as +I shall devise hereafter, for there be few hunters that can well +devise his nature. They go in their love that is called bokeyng in +October[56], and the bucking of them lasteth but fifteen days or there +about. At the bucking of the roebuck he hath to do but with one female +for all the season, and a male and a female abide together as the +hinds[57] till the time that the female shall have her kids; and then +the female parteth from the male and goeth to kid her kids far from +thence, for the male would slay the young if he could find them. And +when they be big that they can eat by themselves of the herbs and of +the leaves and can run away, then the female cometh again to the male, +and they shall ever be together unless they be slain, and if one hunt +them and part them asunder one from another, they will come together +again as soon as they can and will seek each other until the time that +one of them have found the other. And the cause why the male and the +female be evermore together as no other beast in this world, is that +commonly the female hath two kids at once, one male and the other +female, and because they are kidded together they hold evermore +together. And yet if they were not kidded together of one female, yet +is the nature of them such that they will always hold together as I +have said before. When they withdraw from the bucking, they mew their +heads, for men will find but few roebucks that have passed two years +that have not mewed their heads by All Hallowtide. And after the heads +come again rough as a hart's head, and commonly they burnish their +horns in March. The roebuck hath no season to be hunted, for they bear +no venison[58] but men should leave them the females for their kids +that would be lost unto the time that they have kidded, and that the +kids can feed themselves and live by themselves without their dame. It +is good hunting for it lasteth all the year and they run well, and +longer than does a great hart in high season time. Roebucks cannot be +judged by their fumes, and but little by their track as one can of +harts, for a man cannot know the male from the female by her feet or +by her fumes. + +[56] This is wrong; they rut in the beginning of August. See Appendix: +Roe. + +[57] A clerical error. G. de F. (p. 36) says, "as do birds," which +makes good sense. + +[58] See Appendix: Grease. + +They have not a great tail and do not gather venison as I have said, +the greatest grease that they may have within is when the kidneys be +covered all white. When the hounds hunt after the roebuck they turn +again into their haunts and sometimes turn again to the hounds[59]. +When they see that they cannot dure[60] (last) they leave the country +and run right long ere they be dead. And they run in and out a long +time and beat the brooks in the same way a hart doth. And if the +roebuck were as fair a beast as the hart, I hold that it were a fairer +hunting than that of the hart, for it lasteth all the year and is good +hunting and requires great mastery, for they run right long and +gynnously (cunningly). Although they mew their heads they do not +reburnish them, nor repair their hair till new grass time. It is a +diverse (peculiar) beast, for it doth nothing after the nature of any +other beast, and he followeth men into their houses, for when he is +hunted and overcome he knoweth never where he goeth. The flesh of the +roebuck is the most wholesome to eat of any other wild beast's flesh, +they live on good herbs and other woods and vines and on briars and +hawthorns[61] with leaves and on all growth of young trees. When the +female has her kids she does all in the manner as I have said of a +hind. When they be in bucking they sing a right foul song, for it +seemeth as if they were bitten by hounds. When they run at their ease +they run ever with leaps, but when they be weary or followed by hounds +they run naturally and sometimes they trot or go apace, and sometimes +they hasten and do not leap, and then men say that the roebuck hath +lost his leaps, and they say amiss, for he ever leaves off leaping +when he is well hasted and also when he is weary. + +[59] "They ring about in their own country, and often bound back to +the hounds" would be a better translation. + +[60] From the French _durer_, to last. + +[61] G. de F. says "acorns." + +When he runneth at the beginning, as I have said, he runneth with +leaps and with rugged standing hair and the eres[62] (target) and the +tail cropping up all white. + +[62] Middle English _ars_, hinder parts called target of roebuck. + +And when he hath run long his hair lyeth sleek down, not standing nor +rugged and his eres (target) does not show so white. + +And when he can run no longer he cometh and yieldeth himself to some +small brook, and when he hath long beaten the brook upward or downward +he remaineth in the water under some roots so that there is nothing +out of water save his head. + +[Illustration: ROEBUCK-HUNTING WITH GREYHOUNDS AND RUNNING HOUNDS +(From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + +And sometimes the hounds and the hunters shall pass above him and +beside him and he will not stir. For although he be a foolish beast he +has many ruses and treasons to help himself. He runneth wondrous fast, +for when he starts from his lair he will go faster than a brace of +good greyhounds. They haunt thick coverts of wood, or thick heathes, +and sometimes in carres (marshes) and commonly in high countries or in +hills and valleys and sometimes in the plains. + +The kids are kidded with pomeled[63] (spotted) hair as are the hind +calves. And as a hind's calf of the first year beginneth to put out +his head, in the same wise does he put out his small brokes[64] +(spikes) ere he be a twelvemonth old. He is hardeled[65] but not +undone as a hart, for he has no venison that men should lay in salt. +And sometimes he is given all to the hounds, and sometimes only a +part. They go to their feeding as other beasts do, in the morning and +in the evening, and then they go to their lair. The roebuck remains +commonly in the same country both winter and summer if he be not +grieved or hunted out thereof. + +[63] From the old French _pomelé_. + +[64] See Appendix: Roe. + +[65] See Appendix: Hardel. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OF THE WILD BOAR AND OF HIS NATURE + + +A wild boar is a common beast enough and therefore it needeth not to +tell of his making, for there be few gentlemen that have not seen some +of them. It is the beast of this world that is strongest armed, and +can sooner slay a man than any other. Neither is there any beast that +he could not slay if they were alone sooner than that other beast +could slay him,[66] be they lion or leopard, unless they should leap +upon his back, so that he could not turn on them with his teeth. And +there is neither lion nor leopard that slayeth a man at one stroke as +a boar doth, for they mostly kill with the raising of their claws and +through biting, but the wild boar slayeth a man with one stroke as +with a knife, and therefore he can slay any other beast sooner than +they could slay him. It is a proud[67] beast and fierce and perilous, +for many times have men seen much harm that he hath done. For some men +have seen him slit a man from knee up to the breast and slay him all +stark dead at one stroke so that he never spake thereafter. + +[66] In spite of the boar being such a dangerous animal a wound from +his tusk was not considered so fatal as one from the antlers of a +stag. An old fourteenth-century saying was: "Pour le sanglier faut le +mire, mais pour le cerf convient la bière." + +[67] Proud. G. de F., p. 56, _orguilleuse_. G. de F., p. 57, says +after this that he has often himself been thrown to the ground, he +with his courser, by a wild boar and the courser killed ("et moy +meismes a il porté moult de fois à terre moy et mon coursier, et mort +le coursier"). + +They go in their love to the brimming[68] as sows do about the feast +of St. Andrew[69], and are in their brimming love three weeks, and +when the sows are cool the boar does not leave them[70]. + +[68] Brimming. From Middle English _brime_, burning heat. It was also +used in the sense of valiant-spirited (Stratmann). + +[69] November 30. + +[70] G. de F., p. 57, adds: "comme fait l'ours." + +He stays with them till the twelfth day after Christmas, and then the +boar leaves the sows and goeth to take his covert, and to seek his +livelihood alone, and thus he stays until the next year when he goeth +again to the sows. They abide not in one place one night as they do in +another, but they find their pasture for (till) all pastures fail them +as hawthorns[71] and other things. Sometimes a great boar has another +with him but this happens but seldom. They farrow[72] in March, and +once in the year they go in their love. And there are few wild sows +that farrow more than once in the year, nevertheless men have seen +them farrow twice in the year. + +[71] A badly worded phrase, the meaning of which is not quite clear. +G. de F. has "acorns and beachmast" instead of hawthorns. + +[72] Farrow. See Appendix: Wild Boar. + +Sometimes they go far to their feeding between night and day, and +return to their covert and den ere it be day. But if the day overtakes +them on the way ere they can get to their covert they will abide in +some little thicket all that day until it be night. They wind a +man[73] as far as any other beast or farther. They live on herbs and +flowers especially in May, which maketh them renew[74] their hair and +their flesh. And some good hunters _of beyond the sea_ say that in +that time they bear medicine on account of the good herbs and the good +flowers that they eat, but thereupon I make no affirmation. They eat +all manner of fruits and all manner of corn, and when these fail them +they root[75] in the ground with the rowel of their snouts which is +right hard; they root deep in the ground till they find the roots of +the ferns and of the spurge and other roots of which they have the +savour (scent) in the earth. And therefore have I said they wind +wonderfully far and marvellously well. And also they eat all the +vermin and carrion and other foul things. They have a hard skin and +strong flesh, especially upon their shoulders which is called the +shield. Their season begins from the Holy Cross day in September[76] +to the feast of St. Andrew[77] for then they go to the brimming of the +sows. For they are in grease when they be withdrawn from the sows. The +sows are in season from the brimming time _which is to say the twelfth +day after Christmas_ till the time when they have farrowed. The boars +turn commonly to bay on leaving their dens for the pride that is in +them, and they run upon some hounds and at men also. But when the boar +is heated, or wrathful, or hurt, then he runneth upon all things that +he sees before him. He dwelleth in the strong wood and the thickest +that he can find and generally runneth in the most covered and +thickest way so that he may not be seen as he trusteth not much in his +running, but only in his defence and in his desperate deeds.[78] He +often stops and turns to bay, and _especially when he is at the +brimming_ and hath a little advantage before the hounds of the first +running, and these will never overtake him unless other new hounds be +uncoupled to him. + +[73] G. de F., p. 58, says they wind acorns as well or better than a +bear, but nothing about winding a man. See Appendix: Wild Boar. + +[74] From F. _renouveler_. + +[75] See Appendix: Wild Boar. + +[76] September 14. + +[77] November 30. + +[78] Despiteful or furious deeds. G. de F., p. 60, says that he only +trusts in his defences and his weapons ("en sa défense et en ses +armes"). + +He will well run and fly from the sun rising to the going down of the +sun, if he be a young boar of three years old. In the third March +counting that in which he was farrowed, he parteth from his mother and +may well engender at the year's end.[79] + +[79] As this is somewhat confused we have followed G. de F.'s text in +the modern rendering. + +They have four tusks, two in the jaw above and two in the nether jaw; +of small teeth speak not I, the which are like other boar's teeth. The +two tusks above serve for nothing except to sharpen his two nether +tusks and make them cut well _and men beyond the sea call_ the nether +tusks of the boar his arms or his files, with these they do great +harm, and also they call the tusks above gres[80] (grinders) for they +only serve to make the others sharp as I have said, and when they are +at bay they keep smiting their tusks together to make them sharp and +cut better. When men hunt the boar they commonly go to soil and soil +in the dirt and if they be hurt the soil is their medicine. The boar +that is in his third year or a little more is more perilous and more +swift and doth more harm than an old boar, as a young man more than an +old man. An old boar will be sooner dead than a young one for he is +proud and heavier and deigneth not to fly, and sooner he will run upon +a man than fly, and smiteth great strokes but not so perilously as a +young boar. + +[80] From the French _grès_, grinding-stone or grinders. + +A boar heareth wonderfully well and clearly, and when he is hunted and +cometh out of the forest or bush or when he is so hunted that he is +compelled to leave the country, he sorely dreads to take to the open +country and to leave the forest,[81] and therefore he puts his head +out of the wood before he puts out his body, then he abideth there and +harkeneth and looketh about and taketh the wind on every side. And if +that time he seeth anything that he thinks might hinder him in the way +he would go, then he turneth again into the wood. Then will he never +more come out though all the horns and all the holloaing of the world +were there. But when he has undertaken the way to go out he will spare +for nothing but will hold his way throughout. When he fleeth he maketh +but few turnings, but when he turneth to bay, and then he runneth upon +the hounds and upon the man. And for no stroke or wound that men do +him will he complain or cry, but when he runneth upon the men he +menaceth, strongly groaning. But while he can defend himself he +defendeth himself without complaint, and when he can no longer defend +himself there be few boars that will not complain or cry out when they +are overcome to the death.[82] + +[81] G. de F., p. 60, has "fortress" instead of "forest." + +[82] After the word "death" a full stop should occur, for in this MS. +and, singularly enough, also in the Shirley MS. the following words +have been omitted: "They drop their lesses," continuing "as other +swine do." + +They drop their lesses (excrements) as other swine do, according to +their pasture being hard or soft. + +But men do not take them to the curée nor are they judged as of the +hart or other beasts of venery. + +A boar can with great pain live twenty years; he never casts his teeth +nor his tusks nor loses them unless by a stroke.[83] The boar's grease +is good as that of other tame swine, and their flesh also. Some men +say that by the foreleg of a boar one can know how old he is, for he +will have as many small pits in the forelegs as he has years, but of +this I make no affirmation. The sows lead about their pigs with them +till they have farrowed twice and no longer, and then they chase their +first pigs away from them for by that time they be two years old and +three Marches counting the March in which they were farrowed.[84] In +short they are like tame sows, excepting that they farrow but once in +a year and the tame sows farrow twice. When they be wroth they run at +both men and hounds and other beasts as (does) the wild boar and if +they cast down a man they abide longer upon him than doeth a boar, but +she cannot slay a man as soon as a boar for she has not such tusks as +the boar, but sometimes they do much harm by biting. Boars and sows go +to soil gladly when they go to their pasture, all day and when they +return they sharpen their tusks and cut against trees when they rub +themselves on coming from the soil. _What men call a trip of tame +swine is called of wild swine a sounder, that is to say if there be +passed a five or six together._ + +[83] At this point G. de F., p. 61, adds: "One says of all biting +beasts the trace, and of red beasts foot or view, and one can call +both one or the other the paths or the fues." + +[84] See Appendix: Wild Boar. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OF THE WOLF AND OF HIS NATURE + + +A wolf is a common beast enough and therefore I need not tell of his +make, for there are few men _beyond the sea_, that have not seen some +of them. They are in their love in February with the females and then +be jolly and do in the manner as hounds do, and be in their great heat +of love ten or twelve days, and when the bitch is in greatest heat +then if there are any wolves in the country they all go after her as +hounds do after a bitch when she is jolly. But she will not be lined +by any of the wolves save by one. She doth in such a wise that she +will lead the wolves for about six or eight days without meat or drink +and without sleep for they have so great courage towards her, that +they have no wish to eat nor to drink, and when they be full weary she +lets them rest until the time that they sleep, and then she claweth +him with her foot and waketh him that seemeth to have loved her most, +and who hath most laboured for her love, and then they go a great way +thence and there he lines her. And therefore men say _beyond the seas +in some countries_ when any woman doth amiss, that she is like to the +wolf bitch for she taketh to her the worst and the foulest and the +most wretched and it is truth that the bitch of the wolf taketh to her +the foulest and most wretched, for he hath most laboured and +fasted[85] for her and is most poor, most lean and most wretched. And +this is the cause why men say that the wolf saw never his father and +it is truth sometimes but not always, for it happeneth that when she +has brought the wolf that she loveth most as I have said, and when the +other wolves awaken they follow anon in her track, and if they can +find the wolf and the bitch holding together then will all the other +wolves run upon him and slay him, and all this is truth in this case. +But when in all the country there is but one wolf and one bitch of his +kind then this rule cannot be truth. + +[85] G. de F., p. 63, has: "Pource qu'il a plus travaillé et plus +jeuné que n'ont les autres." + +And sometimes peradventure the other wolves may be awake so late that +if the wolf is not fast with the bitch or peradventure he hath left +her then he fleeth away from the other wolves, so they slay him not so +in this case the first opinion is not true. + +They may get young whelps at the year's end, and then they leave their +father and their mother. And sometimes before they are twelve months +old if so be that their teeth are fully grown after their other small +teeth which they had first, for they teethe twice in the year when +they are whelps. The first teeth they cast when they are half a year +old _and also their hooks_. Then other teeth come to them which they +bear all their life-time and never cast. When these are full grown +again then they leave their father and mother and go on their +adventures, but notwithstanding that they go far they do not bide long +away from each other and if it happens that they meet with their +father and with their mother the which hath nourished them they will +make them joy and great reverence alway. And also I would have you +know that when a bitch and a wolf of her kind hath fellowship together +they generally stay evermore together, and though they sometimes go to +seek their feeding the one far from the other they will be together at +night if they can or at the farthest at the end of three days. And +such wolves in fellowship together get meat for their whelps the +father as well as the mother, save only that the wolf eateth first his +fill and then bears the remnant to his whelps. The bitch does not do +so for she beareth all her meat to her whelps and eateth with them. +And if the wolf is with the whelps when the mother cometh and she +bringeth anything and the wolf has not enough he taketh the feeding +from her and her whelps, and eateth his fill first, and then he +leaveth them the remnant, if there be any, and if there be not any +left they die of hunger, if they will, for he recketh but little so +that his belly be full. And when the mother seeth that, and has been +far to seek her meat she leaveth her meat a great way thence for her +whelps, and then she cometh to see if the wolf is with them, and if he +be there she stayeth till he be gone and then she bringeth them her +meat. But also the wolf is so malicious that when he seeth her come +without food he goeth and windeth her muzzle and if he windeth she +hath brought anything he taketh her by the teeth and biteth her so +that she must show him where she hath left her food. And when the +bitch perceiveth that the wolf doth this when she returneth to her +whelps she keepeth in the covert and doth not show herself if she +perceiveth that the wolf is with them, and if he be there she hideth +herself until the time he hath gone to his prey on account of his +great hunger, and when he is gone she brings her whelps her food for +to eat. And this is truth. + +Some men say that she bathes her body and her head so that the wolf +should wind nothing of her feeding when she cometh to them, but of +this I make no affirmation. + +There be other heavy wolves of this nature, the which be not so in +fellowship, they do not help the bitch to nourish the whelps but when +a wolf and a bitch are in fellowship and there are no wolves in that +country by very natural smelling he knoweth well that the whelps are +his and therefore he helpeth to nourish them but not well. At the time +that she hath whelps the wolf is fattest in all the year, for he +eateth and taketh all that the bitch and whelps should eat. The bitch +beareth her whelps nine weeks and sometimes three or four days more. +Once in the year they are in their love and are jolly. Some men say +that the bitches bear no whelps while their mother liveth, but thereof +I make no affirmation. The bitches of them have their whelps as other +tame bitches, sometimes more, sometimes less. They have great strength +especially before (fore-quarters), and evil[86] they be and strong, +for sometimes a wolf will slay a cow or a mare and he hath great +strength in his mouth. Sometime he will bear in his mouth a goat or a +sheep or a young hog and not touch the ground (with it), and shall run +so fast with it that unless mastiffs or men on horseback happen to run +before him neither the shepherds nor no other man on foot will ever +overtake him. They live on all manner of flesh and on all carrion and +all kinds of vermin. And they live not long for they live not more +than thirteen or fourteen years. Their biting is evil and venomous on +account of the toads and other vermin that they eat. They go so fast +when they be void (are empty) that men have let run four leashes of +greyhounds, one after the other and they could not overtake him, for +he runs as fast as any beast in the world, and he lasts long running, +for he has a long breath. When he is long hunted with running hounds +he fleeth but little from them, but if the greyhounds or other hounds +press him, he fleeth all the covert[87] as a boar does and commonly he +runs by the high ways. And commonly he goeth to get his livelihood by +night, but sometimes by day, when he is sore ahungered. And there be +some (wolves) that hunt at the hart, at the wild boar and at the +roebuck, and windeth as far as a mastiff, and taketh hounds when they +can. There are some that eat children and men and eat no other flesh +from the time that they be acherned[88] (blooded) by men's flesh, for +they would rather be dead. They are called wer-wolves, for men should +beware of them, and they be so cautious that when they assail a man +they have a holding upon him before the man can see them, and yet if +men see them they will come upon them so gynnously (cunningly) that +with great difficulty a man will escape being taken and slain, for +they can wonder well keep from any harness (arms) that a man beareth. +There are two principal causes why they attack men; one is when they +are old and lose their teeth and their strength, and cannot carry +their prey as they were wont to do, then they mostly go for children, +which are not difficult to take for they need not carry them about but +only eat them. And the child's flesh is more tender than is the skin +or flesh of a beast. The other reason is that when they have been +acharned (blooded) in a country of war, where battles have been, they +eat dead men. Or if men have been hanged or have been hanged so low +that they may reach thereto, or when they fall from the gallows. And +man's flesh is so savoury and so pleasant that when they have taken to +man's flesh they will never eat the flesh of other beasts, though they +should die of hunger. For many men have seen them leave the sheep they +have taken and eat the shepherd. It is a wonderfully wily and gynnous +(cunning) beast, and more false than any other beast to take all +advantage, for he will never fly but a little save when he has need, +for he will always abide in his strength (stronghold), and he hath +good breath, for every day it is needful to him, for every man that +seeth him chaseth him away and crieth after him. When he is hunted he +will fly all day unless he is overset by greyhounds. He will gladly go +to some village or in a brook, he will be little at bay except when he +can go no further. Sometimes wolves go mad and when they bite a man he +will scarcely get well, for their biting is wonderfully venomous on +account of the toads they have eaten as I have said before, and also +on account of their madness. And when they are full or sick they feed +on grasses as a hound does in order to purge themselves. They stay +long without meat for a wolf can well remain without meat six days or +more. And when the wolf's bitch has her whelps commonly she will do no +harm near where she has them, for fear she hath to lose them. And if a +wolf come to a fold of sheep if he may abide any while he will slay +them all before he begins to eat any of them. Men take them _beyond +the sea_ with hounds and greyhounds with nets and with cords, but when +he is taken in nets or cords he cutteth them wonderfully fast with his +teeth unless men get quickly to him to slay him. Also men take them +within pits and with needles[89] and with haussepieds[90] or with +venomous powders that men give them in flesh, and in many other +manners. When the cattle come down from the hills the wolves come down +also to get their livelihood. They follow commonly after men of arms +for the carrion of the beasts or dead horses or other things. They +howl like hounds and if there be but two they will make such a noise +as if there were a route of seven or eight if it is by night, when the +weather is clear and bright, or when there are young wolves that have +not yet passed their first year. When men lay trains to acharne (with +flesh) so as to take them, they will rarely come again to the place +where men have put the flesh, especially old wolves, leastways not the +first time that they should eat. But if they have eaten two or three +times, and they are assured that no one will do them harm, then +sometimes they will abide. But some wolves be so malicious that they +will eat in the night and in the day they will go a great way thence, +two miles or more, especially if they have been aggrieved in that +place, or if they feel that men have made any train with flesh for to +hunt at them. They do not complain (cry out) when men slay them as +hounds do, otherwise they be most like them. When men let run +greyhounds at a wolf he turns to look at them, and when he seeth them +he knoweth which will take him, and then he hasteneth to go while he +can, and if they be greyhounds which dare not take him, the wolf knows +at once, and then he will not hasten at his first going. And if men +let run at him from the side, or before more greyhounds which will +seize him, when the wolf seeth them, and he be full, he voideth both +before and behind all in his running so as to be more light and more +swift. Men cannot nurture a wolf, though he be taken ever so young and +chastised and beaten and held under discipline, for he will always do +harm, if he hath time and place for to do it, he will never be so +tame, but that when men leave him out he will look hither and thither +to see if he may do any harm, or he looks to see if any man will do +him any harm. For he knoweth well and woteth well that he doth evil, +and therefore men ascrieth (cry at) and hunteth and slayeth him. And +yet for all that he may not leave his evil nature. + +[86] G. de F., p. 66, has "evil biting." + +[87] He keeps to the coverts. + +[88] Acherned, from O. Fr. _acharné_, to blood, from _chair_, flesh. + +[89] Needles. See Appendix: Snares. + +[90] _Aucepis_ (Shirley MS.). G. de F., p. 69: _haussepiez_, a snare +by which they were jerked from the ground by a noose. + +Men say that the right fore foot of the wolf is good for medicine for +the evil of the breast and for the botches (sores) which come to swine +under the shoulder.[91] And also the liver of the wolf dried is good +for a man's liver, but thereof I make no affirmation, for I would put +in my book nothing but very truth. The wolf's skin is warm to make +cuffs or pilches (pelisses), but the fur thereof is not fair, and also +it stinketh ever unless it be well tawed.[92] + +[91] This should be "jaw." G. de F., p. 70, has _maisselles, i.e._ +Mâchoires. + +[92] Prepared. Tawing is a process of making hides into +leather--somewhat different from tanning. There were tawers and +tanners. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OF THE FOX AND OF HIS NATURE + + +The fox is a common beast and therefore I need not tell of his making +and there be but few gentlemen that have not seen some. He hath many +such conditions as the wolf, for the vixen of the fox bears as long as +the bitch of the wolf bears her whelps, sometimes more sometimes less, +save that the vixen fox whelpeth under the earth deeper than doth the +bitch of the wolf. The vixen of the fox is a saute[93] (in heat) once +in the year. She has a venomous biting like a wolf and their life is +no longer than a wolf's life. With great trouble men can take a fox, +especially the vixen when she is with whelps, for when she is with +whelps and is heavy, she always keeps near her hole, _for sometimes +she whelpeth in a false hole and sometimes in great burrows and +sometimes in hollow trees, and therefore she draweth always near her +burrow_, and if she hears anything anon she goeth therein before the +hounds can get to her. She is a false beast and as malicious as a +wolf. + +[93] The term used by Turbervile (p. 188) is "goeth a clicqueting." + +The hunting for a fox is fair for the _good cry of_ the hounds[94] +that follow him so nigh and with so good a will. Always they scent of +him, for he flies through the thick wood and also he stinketh +evermore. And he will scarcely leave a covert when he is therein, he +taketh not to the plain (open) country for he trusteth not in his +running neither in his defence, for he is too feeble, and if he does, +it is because he is (forced to) by the strength of men and hounds. And +he will always hold to covert, and if he can only find a briar to +cover himself with, he will cover himself with that. When he sees that +he cannot last, then he goeth to earth the nearest he can find which +he knoweth well and then men may dig him out and take him, if it is +easy digging, but not among the rocks.[95] If greyhounds _give him +many touches and overset him_, his last remedy, if he is in an open +country, will be that he vishiteth gladly (the act of voiding +excrements) so that the greyhounds should leave him for the stink of +the dirt, and also for the fear that he hath. + +[94] G. de F., p. 72, says, "because the hounds hunt him closely." + +[95] Our MS. only gives this one chapter on the fox, while Gaston +Ph[oe]bus has another: _Comment on doit chassier et prendre le +renard._ In this he gives directions as to earth-stopping, and taking +him in pursenets, and smoking him out with "orpiment and sulphur and +nitre or saltpetre." He says January, February, and March are the best +months for hunting, as the leaf is off the trees and the coverts are +clearer, so that the hounds have more chance of seeing the fox and +hunt him closer. He says that one-third of the hounds should be put in +to draw the covert, and the others in relays should guard the +boundaries and paths, to be slipped as required. Although this is a +Frenchman's account of fox-hunting, we have no reason to believe that +the fox was treated at that period better by English sportsmen, for +until comparatively recent times the fox was accounted vermin, and any +means by which his death could be encompassed were considered +legitimate, his extermination being the chief object in hunting him, +and not the sport. Even as late as the seventeenth century we find +that such treatment was considered justifiable towards a fox, for, as +Macaulay tells us, Oliver St. John told the Long Parliament that +Strafford was to be regarded, not as a stag or a hare, to whom some +law was to be given, but as a fox, who was to be snared by any means, +and knocked on the head without pity (vol. i. p. 149). + +A little greyhound is very hardy when (if) he takes a fox by himself, +for men have seen great greyhounds which might well take a hart and a +wild boar and a wolf and would let the fox go. And when the vixen is +assaute, and goeth in her love to seek the dog fox she crieth with a +hoarse voice as a mad hound doth, and also when she calleth her whelps +when she misses any of them, she calleth in the same way. The fox does +not complain (cry) when men slay him, but he defendeth himself with +all his power while he is alive. He liveth on all vermin and all +carrion and on foul worms. His best meat that he most loveth are hens, +capons, duck and young geese and other wild fowls when he can get +them, also butterflies and grasshoppers, milk and butter. They do +great harm in warrens of coneys and of hares which they eat, and take +them so gynnously (cunningly) and with great malice and not by +running. There be some that hunt as a wolf[96] and some that go +nowhere but to villages to seek the prey for their feeding. As I have +said they are so cunning and subtle that neither men nor hounds can +find a remedy to keep themselves from their false turns. Also foxes +commonly dwell in great hedges or in great coverts or in burrows near +some towns or villages for to evermore harm hens and other things as I +have said. The foxes' skins be wonderfully warm to make cuffs and +furs, but they stink evermore if they are not well tawed. The grease +of the fox and the marrow are good for the hardening of sinews. Of the +other manners of the fox and of his cunning I will speak more openly +hereafter. Men take them with hounds, with greyhounds, with hayes and +with purse-nets, but he cutteth them with his teeth, as the male of +the wolf doth but not so soon (quickly). + +[96] According to G. de F., p. 74, it should not read that some are +hunted like wolves, but that they themselves hunt like wolves. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +OF THE GREY (BADGER) AND OF HIS NATURE + + +The grey (badger) is a common beast enough and therefore I need not +tell you of his making, for there be few men that have not seen some +of them, and also I shall take no heed to speak much of him, for it is +not a beast that needeth any great mastery to devise of how to hunt +him, or to hunt him with strength, for a grey can fly but a little way +before he is overcome with hounds, or else he goes to bay and then he +is slain anon. His usual dwelling is in the earth in great burrows and +if he comes out he will not walk far thence. He liveth on all vermin +and carrion and all fruits and on all things such as the fox. But he +dare not venture so far by day as the fox, for he cannot flee. He +liveth more by sleeping than by any other thing. Once in the year they +farrow as the fox.[97] When they be hunted they defend themselves long +and mightily and have evil biting and venomous as the fox, and yet +they defend themselves better than the fox. It is the beast of the +world that gathereth most grease within and that is because of the +long sleeping that he sleepeth. And his grease bears medicine as does +that of the fox, _and yet more_, and men say that if a child that hath +never worn shoes is first shod with those made of the skin of the grey +that child will heal a horse of farcy if he should ride upon him, but +thereof I make no affirmation. His flesh is not to eat, neither is +that of the fox nor of the wolf. + +[97] G. de F., p. 76, adds: "And they farrow their pigs in their +burrows as does the fox." + +[Illustration: BADGER-DRAWING (From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. Nat._, +Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER X + +OF THE (WILD) CAT AND ITS NATURE + + +The cat is a common beast enough therefore I need not tell of his +making, for there be few men that have not seen some of them. +Nevertheless there be many and diverse kind of cats, after some +masters' opinions, and namely of wild (cats). Especially there be some +cats as big as leopards and some men call them _Guyenne_ loup +cerviers[98] and other cat-wolves, and this is evil said for they are +neither wolves nor cerviers nor cat-wolves. Men might (better) call +them cat-leopards than otherwise, for they draw more to a leopard kind +than to any other beast. They live on such meat as other cats do, save +that they take hens in hedges[99] and goats and sheep, if they find +them alone, for they be as big as a wolf, and almost formed and made +as a leopard, but their tail is not so long. A greyhound alone could +not take one of them to make him abide, for a greyhound could sooner +take and hold fast and more steadfastly a wolf than he could one of +them. For he claws as a leopard and furthermore bites right (hard). +Men hunt them but seldom, but if the hounds find peradventure such a +cat, he would not be long hunted for soon he putteth him to his +defence or he runneth up a tree. And because he flieth not long +therefore shall I speak but little of his hunting, for in hunting him +there is no need of great mastery. They bear their kittens and are in +their love as other cats, save that they have but two kittens at once. +They dwell in hollow trees and there they make their ligging[100] and +their beds of ferns and of grass. The cat helpeth as badly to nourish +his kittens as the wolf doth his whelps. _Of common wild cats I need +not to speak much, for every hunter in England knoweth them, and their +falseness and malice are well known. But one thing I dare well say +that if any beast hath the devil's spirit in him, without doubt it is +the cat, both the wild and the tame._ + +[98] According to the Shirley MS. this passage runs, "Men calleth him +in Guyene loupeceruyers." See Appendix: Wild Cat. + +[99] Shirley MS. has "and egges," instead of "in hedges," which is the +rendering G. de F. gives. + +[100] Bed or resting-place. See Appendix. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE OTTER AND HIS NATURE + + +An otter is a common beast enough and therefore I need not tell of his +making. She liveth with (on?) fish and dwelleth by rivers and by ponds +and _stanks_ (pools). And sometimes she feedeth on grass of the +meadows and bideth gladly under the roots of trees near the rivers, +and goeth to her feeding as doth other beasts to grass, but only in +the new grass time, and to fish as I have said. They swimmeth in +waters and rivers and sometimes diveth under the water when they will, +and therefore no fish can escape them unless it be too great a one. +They doth great harm specially in ponds and in stanks, for a couple of +otters without more shall well destroy the fish of a great pond or +great stank, and therefore men hunt them. They go in their love at the +time that ferrets do, so they that hold (keep) ferrets in their houses +may well know the time thereof. They bear their whelps as long as the +ferrets and sometimes more and sometimes less. They whelp in holes +under the trees near the rivers. Men hunt at them with hounds by +great mastery, as I say hereafter.[101] And also men take them at +other times in rivers with small cords as men do the fox with nets and +with other gins. She hath an evil biting and venomous and with her +strength defendeth herself mightily from the hounds. And when she is +taken with nets unless men get to her at once she rendeth them with +her teeth and delivereth herself out of them. Longer will I not make +mention of her, nor of her nature, for the hunting at her is the best +that men may see of her, save only that she has the foot of a goose, +for she hath a little skin from one claw to another, and she hath no +heel save that she hath a little lump under the foot, and men speak of +the steps or the marches of the otter as men speak of the trace of the +hart, and his fumes (excrements) tredeles or spraints. The otter +dwelleth but little in one place, for where she goeth the fish be sore +afraid. Sometimes she will swim upwards and downwards seeking the fish +a mile or two unless it be in a stank. + +[101] The author of "Master of Game" does not say anything more about +the otter. + +[Illustration: OTTER-HUNTING (From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. Nat._, +Paris)] + + +_Of the remnant of his nature I refer to Milbourne[102] the king's +otter hunter. As of all other vermin I speak not, that is to say of +martens and pole cats, for no good hunter goeth to the wood with his +hounds intending to hunt for them, nor for the wild cat either. +Nevertheless when men seek in covert for the fox and can find none, +and the hounds happen to find them and then the hunter rejoiceth his +hounds for the exploit of his hounds, and also because it is vermin +that they run to. Of conies I do not speak, for no man hunteth them +unless it be bishhunters_ (fur hunters), _and they hunt them with +ferrets and with long small hayes. Those raches that run to a coney at +any time ought to be rated saying to them loud, "Ware riot, ware," for +no other wild beast in England is called riot save the coney only._ + +[102] In Priv. Seal 674/6456, Feb. 18, 1410, William Melbourne is +valet of our otterhounds. See Appendix: Otter. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +OF THE MANNER AND HABITS AND CONDITIONS OF HOUNDS + + +After that I have spoken of the nature of beasts of venery and of +chase which men should hunt, now I will tell you of the nature of the +hounds which hunt and take them. And first of their noble conditions +that be so great and marvellous in some hounds that there is no man +can believe it, unless he were a good skilful hunter, and well +knowing, and that he haunted them long, for a hound is a most +reasonable beast, and best knowing of any beast that ever God made. +And yet in some case I neither except man nor other thing, for men +find it in so many stories and (see) so much nobleness in hounds, +always from day to day, that as I have said there is no man that +liveth, but must think it. Nevertheless natures of men and all beasts +go ever more descending and decreasing both of life and of goodness +and of strength and of all other things so wonderfully, _as the Earl +of Foix Phebus sayeth in his book_, that when he seeth the hounds that +be now hunting and thinketh of the hounds that he hath seen in the +time that is passed, and also of the goodness and the truth, which was +sometimes in the lords of this world, and other common men, and seeth +what now is in them at this time, truly he saith that there is no +comparison, and this knoweth well every man that hath any good reason. +But now let God ordain thereof whatever His good will is. But to draw +again to my matter, and tell the nobleness of the hounds, the which +have been, some good tales I shall tell you the which I find in true +writings. First of King Claudoneus[103] of France, the which sent once +after his great court whereof were other kings which held of him land, +among the which was the King Appollo of Lyonnys that brought with him +to the court his wife and a greyhound that he had, that was both good +and fair. The King Claudoneus of France had a seemly young man for his +son, of twenty years of age, and as soon as he saw the Queen of +Lyonnys he loved her and prayed her of (for her) love. The Queen was a +good lady and loved well her lord, forsook him and would him not, and +said (to) him that if he spake to her any more thereof that she would +tell it to the King of France, and to her Lord. And after that the +feast was passed, King Appollo of Lyonnys turned again, he and his +wife to their country. And when they were so turned again, he and his +wife, the King Claudoneus son of France was before him with a great +fellowship of men of arms for to ravish his wife from him. The King +Appollo of Lyonnys that was a wonderful good knight of his hounds +(hands?) notwithstanding that he was unarmed, defended himself and his +wife in the best wise that he could unto the time that he was wounded +to the death, then he withdrew himself and his wife into a tower. And +the King Claudoneus son, the which would not leave the lady, went in +and took the lady, and would have defiled her, and then she said to +him "Ye have slain my lord, and (now) ye would dishonour me, certes I +would sooner be dead," then she drew herself to (from) a window and +leapt into the river of Loire that ran under the tower and anon she +was drowned. And after that within a little while, the King Appollo of +Lyonnys died of his wounds that he had received, and on the same day +he was cast into the river. The greyhound that I have spoke of, the +which was always with the king his master, when his lord was cast in +the river leapt after him into the river, insomuch that with his teeth +he drew his lord out of the river, and made a great pit with his claws +in the best wise that he could, and with his muzzle. And so the +greyhound always kept his lord about half a year in the pit, and kept +his lord from all manner of beasts and fowls. And if any man ask +whereof he lived I say that he lived on carrion and of other feeding +such as he might come to. So it befell that the King Claudoneus of +France rode to see the estate of his realm, and (it) befell that the +king passed there where the greyhound was that kept his lord and +master, and the greyhound arose against him, and began to yelp at him. +The King Claudoneus of France the which was a good man and of good +perception, anon when he saw the greyhound, knew that it was the +greyhound that King Appollo of Lyonnys had brought to his court, +whereof he had great wonder, and he went himself there where the +greyhound was and saw the pit, and then he made some of his men alight +from their horses for to look what was therein, and therein they found +the King Appollo's body all whole. And anon as the King Claudoneus of +France saw him, he knew it was the King Appollo of Lyonnys, whereof he +was right sorry and sore aggrieved, and ordained a cry throughout all +his realm, that whoso would tell him the truth of the deed he would +give him whatsoever that he would ask. Then came a damsel that was in +the tower when the King Appollo of Lyonnys was dead, and thus she said +to the King Claudoneus of France, "Sir," quoth she, "if you will grant +me a boon that I shall ask and assure me to have it, before all your +men, I shall show you him that hath done the deed," and the King swore +to her before his men, and it so befell that the King Claudoneus son +of France was beside his father. "Sir," she said, "here is your son +the which hath done this deed. Now require I you as ye have sworn to +me that ye give him to me, I will no other gift of you." The King +Claudoneus of France turned him then towards his son and said thus: +"Thou cursed harlot, thou hast shamed and shent (disgraced) me and +truly I shall shend (disgrace) you. And though I have no more children +yet shall I not spare." Then he commanded to his men to make a great +fire, and cast his son therein, and he turned him toward the damsel +when the fire was great alight, and thus to her he said: "Damsel, now +take ye him for I deliver him to you, as I promised and assured you." +The damsel durst not come nigh, for by that time he was all burnt. +This ensample have I brought forth for the nobleness of hounds and +also of lords that have been in olden times. But I trow that few lords +be now that would do so even and so open justice. A hound is true to +his lord and his master, and of good love and true. + +[103] In G. de F. "Clodoveus," p. 82. + +A hound is of great understanding and of great knowledge, a hound hath +great strength and great goodness, a hound is a wise beast and a kind +(one). A hound has a great memory and great smelling,[104] a hound has +great diligence and great might, a hound is of great worthiness and of +great subtlety, a hound is of great lightness and of great +perseverance (?), a hound is of good obedience, for he will learn as a +man all that a man will teach him. A hound is full of good sport; +hounds are so good that there is scarcely a man that would not have of +them, some for one craft, and some for another. Hounds are hardy, for +a hound dare well keep his master's house, and his beasts, and also he +will keep all his master's goods, and he would sooner die than +anything be lost in his keeping. And yet to affirm the nobleness of +hounds, I shall tell you a tale of a greyhound that was Auberie's of +Moundydier, of which men may see the painting in the realm of France +in many places. Aubery was a squire of the king's house of France, and +upon a day that he was going from the court to his own house, and as +he passed by the woods of Bondis, the which is nigh Paris, and led +with him a well good and a fair greyhound that he had brought up. A +man that hated him for great envy without any other reason, who was +called Makarie, ran upon him within the wood and slew him without +warning, for Auberie was not aware of him. And when the greyhound +sought his master and found him he covered him with earth and with +leaves with his claws and his muzzle in the best way that he could. +And when he had been there three days and could no longer abide for +hunger, he turned again to the king's court. There he found Makarie, +who was a great gentleman, who had slain his master, and as soon as +the greyhound perceived Makarie, he ran upon him, and would have +maimed him, unless men had hindered him. The King of France, who was +wise and a man of perception, asked what it was, and men told him the +truth. The greyhound took from the boards what he could, and brought +to his master and put meat in his mouth, and the same wise the +greyhound did three days or four. And then the King made men follow +the greyhound, for to see where he bare the meat that he took in the +court. And then they found Auberie dead and buried. And then the King, +as I have said, made come many of the men of his court, and made them +stroke the greyhound's side, and cherish him and made his men lead him +by the collar towards the house, but he never stirred. And then the +King commanded Makarie to take a small piece of flesh and give it to +the greyhound. And as soon as the greyhound saw Makarie, he left the +flesh, and would have run upon him. And when the King saw that, he had +great suspicions about Makarie, and said (to) him that he must needs +fight against the greyhound. And Makarie began to laugh, but anon the +King made him do the deed, and one of the kinsmen of Auberie saw the +great marvel of the greyhound and said that he would swear upon the +sacrament as is the custom in such a case for the greyhound, and +Makarie swore on the other side, and then they were led into our +Lady's Isle at Paris and there fought the greyhound and Makarie. For +which Makarie had a great two-handed staff, and they fought so that +Makarie was discomfitted, and then the king commanded that the +greyhound the which had Makarie under him should be taken up, and then +the King made enquiry of the truth of Makarie, the which acknowledged +he had slain Aubrey in treason, and therefore he was hanged and drawn. + +[104] G. de F., p. 84, says "_sentement_," good sense, feeling, or +sympathy. + +The bitches be jolly in their love commonly twice in a year, but they +have no term of their heat, for every time of the year some be jolly. +When they be a twelvemonth old, they become jolly, and be jolly while +they await the hounds without any defence, twelve days or less,[105] +and sometimes fifteen days, according as to whether they be of hot +nature or of cold, the one more than another, or whether some be in +better condition than others. And also men may well help them thereto, +for if they give them much meat they abide longer in their heat than +if they had but little. And also if they were cast in a river twice in +a day they should be sooner out of their jollity. They bear their +whelps nine weeks or more; the whelps be blind when they be whelped +till they be nine days old and then they may well see and lap well +when they be a month old, but they have great need of their dam to the +time that they be two months old, and then they should be well fed +with goat's milk or with cow's milk and crumbs of bread made small and +put therein, especially in the morn and at night. Because that the +night is more cold than the day. And also men should give them crumbs +in flesh-broth, and in this wise men may nourish them till they be +half a year old, and by that time they shall have cast their hooks, +and when they have cast their hooks, they should teach them to eat dry +bread and lap water little by little, for a hound that is nourished +with grease and fat broth when he casts his hooks, and if he hath +always sops or tit-bits, he is a chis[106] (dainty) hound and of evil +ward. And also they be not so well breathed than if they have eaten +always bread and water. When the bitches be lined they lose their +time, and also while they be great with whelps, and also while their +whelps suck. If they are not lined, soon they will lose their time, +for their teats remain great and grow full of wind until the time that +they should have had their whelps. And so that they should not lose +their time men spaye them, save these that men will keep open to bear +whelps. And also a spayed bitch lasteth longer in her goodness than +other two that be not spayed.[107] And if a bitch be with whelps the +which be not of ward let the bitch fast all the whole day, and give +her then with a little grease the juice of a herb men calleth titimal, +the which the apothecaries knoweth well, and she shall cast her +whelps. Nevertheless it is a great peril namely if the whelps be great +and formed within the bitch. The greatest fault of hounds is that they +live not long enough, most commonly they live but twelve years. And +also men should let run no hounds of what condition that they be nor +hunt them until the time that they were a twelve month old and past. +And also they can hunt but nine years at the most. + +[105] G. de F., p. 85, "Au moins," at least. + +[106] "Chis," or "cheese," hound, probably dainty hound, a chooser, +from "cheosan," Mid. Eng. "choose," to distinguish: also written +"ches," "chees." (Stratmann.) + +[107] Lasts longer good, _i.e._ lasts as long as two hounds that have +not been spayed. G. de F. (p. 86) adds: "or at least one and a half." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +OF SICKNESSES OF HOUNDS AND OF THEIR CORRUPTIONS + + +The hounds have many divers sicknesses and their greatest sickness is +the rage whereof there be nine manners, of the which I shall tell you +a part. The first is called furious madness. The hounds that be mad of +that madness cry and howl with a loud voice, and not in the way that +they were wont to when they were in health. When they escape they go +everywhere biting both men and women and all that they find before +them. And they have a wonderful perilous biting, for if they bite +anything, with great pain it shall escape thereof if they draw blood, +that it shall go mad whatever thing it be. A token for to know at the +beginning, is this, that they eat not so well as they were wont to, +and they bite the other hounds, making them cheer with the tail[108] +first, smelleth[109] upon them and licketh[110] them and then he +bloweth a great blast with his nose, and then he looketh fiercely, and +beholdeth his own sides and maketh semblant that he had flies about +him, and then he crieth. And when men know such tokens men should take +him from the others until the fourth day, for then men may see the +sickness all clearly, or else that he is not mad for some time. Many +men be beguiled in that way. And if any hound be mad of any of the +nine madnesses he shall never be whole. And their madness cannot last +but nine days[111] but they shall never be whole but dead. That other +manner of madness is known by these signs: In the beginning he doth as +I said before, save that they neither bite man nor beast save only the +hounds, as perilous is his biting as the first, and ever more they go +up and down without any abiding. And this madness is called running +madness. And these two madnesses beforesaid taketh the other hounds +that they be with, though they bite them not. That other madness is +called ragemuet (dumb madness) for they neither bite nor run not, eke +they will not eat for their mouth is somewhat gaping as if they were +enosed[112] in their throat, and so they die, within the term +beforesaid without doing any harm. Some men say that it cometh to them +from a worm[113] that they have under the tongue, and ye should find +but few hounds that hath not a worm under the tongue. And many men say +that if that worm was taken from them they would never go mad, but +thereof I make no affirmation. Nevertheless it is good to take it from +them, and men should take it away in this manner. Men should take the +hound when he is past half a year old and hold fast his fore-feet, and +put a staff athwart his mouth so that he should not bite. And after +take the tongue and ye should find the worm under the tongue, then ye +should slit the tongue underneath and put a needle with a thread +betwixt the worm and tongue and cut and draw the worm out with the +thread _or else with a small pin of wood_. And notwithstanding that +men call it a worm it is but a great vein that hounds have under their +tongue. This madness diseaseth not other hounds, neither man nor other +beast. That other madness is called falling, for when they want to +walk straight they fall now on one side and now on the other side, and +so die within the aforesaid term. This madness stretcheth to no other +hound nor man or beast. That other madness is called flank +madness[114], for they be so sore and tucked up by the middle of the +flanks as though they never ate meat, and pant in their flanks with +much pain, and will not eat, but stoop low with the head and always +look downwards, and when they go they take up their feet high and go +rolling _as a drunken man_. This madness stretcheth to no other hound +nor to any other things, and they die as it is said before. The other +madness is called sleeping madness, for they lie always and make +semblant as if they were asleep, and so they die without meat. This +sickness stretcheth to no other thing. That other madness is called +madness of head. Nevertheless all madnesses are of foolishness of the +head and of the heat of the heart, for their head becometh great and +swelleth fast. They eat no meat and so they die in that madness. This +madness stretcheth to no other thing. And certainly I never saw a +hound that had any of all these madnesses that ever might be healed. +Nevertheless many men think sometime that a hound be mad when it is +not so, and therefore the best proof that any man may do, is to draw +him from the other hounds and assaye him three whole days each one +after the other following, if he will eat flesh or any other thing. +And if he will not eat within three days slay him as a mad hound. The +remedies for men or for beasts that be bitten by mad hounds must need +be done a short time after the biting, for if it were past a whole day +it were hard to undertake to heal him of the two first madnesses +whereof I spake at the beginning, for all the others can do no harm, +and the remedy may be of divers manners. Some goeth to the sea, and +that is but a little help, and maketh nine waves of the sea pass over +him that is so bitten. Some take an old cock and pull all the feathers +from above his vent and hangeth him by the legs and by the wings, and +setteth the cock's vent upon the hole of the biting, and stroketh +along the cock by the neck and by the shoulders because that the +cock's vent should suck all the venom of the biting. And so men do +long upon each of the wounds, and if the wounds be too little they +must be made wider with a barber's lancet. And many men say, but +thereof I make no affirmation, that if the hound were mad, that the +cock shall swell and die, and he that was bitten by the hound shall be +healed. If the cock does not die it is a token that the hound is not +mad. There is another help, for men may make sauce of salt, vinegar +and strong garlic pulled and stamped, and nettles together and as hot +as it may be suffered to lay upon the bite. And this is a good +medicine and a true, for it hath been proved, and every day should it +be laid upon the biting twice, as hot as it can be suffered, until the +time when it be whole, or else by nine days. And yet there is another +medicine better than all the other. Take leeks and strong garlic and +chives and rue and nettles and hack them small with a knife, and then +mingle them with olive oil and vinegar, and boil them together, and +then take all the herbs, also as hot as they may be suffered, and lay +them on the wound every day twice, till the wound be healed, or at +least for nine days. But at the beginning that the wound be closed or +garsed[115] (cupped) for to draw out the venom out of the wound +because that it goeth not to the heart. And if a hound is bit by +another mad hound it is a good thing for to hollow it all about the +biting with a hot iron. The hounds have also another sickness that is +called the mange, that cometh to them because that they be melancholy. +There are four manners of mange, that one is called the quick mange +the which pulleth[116] the hounds and breaketh their skins in many +places, and the skin waxeth great and thick, and this is wonderfully +evil to heal, for though the hounds may be whole it cometh to them +again. Commonly to this mange, this is the best ointment that men may +make thereto. Nevertheless many men would put many others thereto, +first take ye six pounds of honey and a quart of verdigris, and that +the honey be first melted and stirred in the bottom with a ladle, and +then let it cool, and let it boil often with as much of oil of nuts as +of the honey and of water, wherein an herb has been boiled that men +call in Latin Cleoborum, and in other language Valerian, the which +make men sneeze, and put all these things together and mingle them +upon the fire, stir them well and let it be cold, and anoint the hound +by the fire or in the sun. And look that he lick not himself, for it +should do him harm. And unless he be whole at the first time anoint +him from eight days (to eight days)[117] until the time that he be +whole, for certainly he shall be whole. And if he will make any more +of that ointment, take of the things aforesaid in the same wise or +more or less as seemeth to you that need is. That other manner (of) +mange is called flying mange[118], for it is not in all the body but +it cometh more commonly about the hounds' ears, and in their legs than +in any other place of the body[119], as the farcy, and this is the +worst to heal, and the best ointment that any man can make for this +manner of mange is this: take quicksilver for as much as ye will make +ointment, as ye have need, and put it in a dish with spittle of three +or four fasting men, and stir it altogether against the bottom of the +dish with a pot-stick, until the time that the quicksilver be quenched +with the water, and then take ye as much verdigris as of the +quicksilver and mingle it with spittle, always stirring with a +pot-stick, as I have said before, until the time that they can be all +mingled together. And after take old swine's grease without salt, a +great piece, and take away the skin above, and put it in the dish that +I spake of, with the things before said, and mingle and stamp it +altogether a long while, then keep it to anoint the hound there where +he hath the mange and in no other place, and certainly he shall be +whole. This ointment is marvellous and good and true not only for this +thing, but also against the canker and fistula and farcy and other +quick evils, the which have been hard to heal in other beasts. That +other is a common mange when the hounds claw themselves with their +feet and snap with their teeth, and it is on all the body of the +hound. And all manners of mange come to hounds from great travel and +from long hunting, as when they be hot they drink of foul water and +unclean, which corrupteth their bodys, and also when they hunt in evil +places of pricklings of thorns, of briers, or peradventure it raineth +upon them, and they be not well tended afterwards. Then cometh the +scab, and also the scab cometh upon them when they abide in their +kennel too long[120] and goeth not hunting. Or else their litter and +couch is uncleanly kept, or else the straw is not removed and their +water not freshened, and shortly the hounds unclean, I hold, and evil +kept _or long waterless_, have commonly this mange. For the cure of +which take ye the root of an herb that groweth upon houses and walls, +the which is called in Latin iroos[121] (iris) and chop it small and +boil it well in water, and then put thereto as much of oil made of +nuts as of water, and when it is well boiled cast out the herb, and +then take of black pitch and of rosin as much of the one as of the +other, well stamped, and cast it in the water and the oil before said, +and stir it well about on the fire with a pot-stick: and then let it +well grow cold, and anoint the hound as before is said. Sometime +cometh to the hounds sickness in their eyes, for there cometh a web +upon them, and growing flesh which cometh into that one side of the +eye, and is called a nail[122], and so they grow blind unless a man +take care thereof. Some men put about their necks a collar of an elm +tree both of leaves and of bark, and seeth that when that shall be dry +the nail shall fall away, but that is but a little help. But the true +help that may be thereto is this, take ye the juice of a herb that men +call Selidoyn (Celandine)[123] powder of ginger and of pepper, and put +all together thrice in the day within the eye, and let him not claw +nor rub it a long while, and that customarily by nine days until the +time that the hound's eyes be whole, and also it is good to put +therein of the Sousse[124] of the which men find enough at the +apothecary's for the same sickness, and if the nail were so hard grown +and so strong that he might not be healed therewith, take a needle and +bow it in the middle that it be crooked, and take well and subtly the +flesh that is upon the eye with the needle and draw it up on high, and +then cut it with a razor, but take good care that the needle touch not +the eye. These things the smiths can do well[125], for as the nail is +drawn out of a horse's eye, right so it must be drawn out of the +hound's eye, _and without fault he shall be whole_. And also another +sickness cometh into the hound's ears the which cometh out of the +rewme (cold) of the head of the hound, for they claw themselves so +much with the hinder feet that they make much foul things come out +thereof, and so out of her ears cometh much foul things, and some time +thereof they become deaf. Therefore they should take wine luke-warm +and with a cloth wash it well, and clean three or four times in the +day, and when it is washed ye should cast therein oil and camomile +milk, warm, three drops, and suffer him not to claw it nor rub it a +great while, and do so continually until the time that he be whole. +Also hounds have another sickness that cometh to them of the rewme, +that is to say, they have the malemort (glanders) in their nostrils as +horses have, wherefore they can smell nothing nor wind, and at the +last some die thereof, and they take it most when they hunt in snow. +For this sickness boil mastic and incense in small powder in fair +water, and of a thing that men call Ostoraces calamynt[126], +brygella[127] of rue[128] and mint and of sage, and hold the hound's +nose upon the pot's mouth wherein these things should boil so that he +may retain within his nostrils the smoke that cometh thereof out of +the pot. And in this wise serve him a long while, three or four times +every day, until the time that he be whole, and this is good also for +a horse when he hath the glanders strongly coming out of the nose. +Also there is another sickness of hounds, the which cometh to them in +their throats and sometime cometh so to men in such wise that they may +not keep down their meat, and so they must cast it out again. In some +time the sickness is so strong on them, that they can keep nothing +down in their bodies and so die. The best medicine is to let them go +wherever they will, and let them eat all that ever they will. For +sometime the contrary things turneth them to good. And give them to +eat flesh right small cut, and put in broth or in goat's milk a +little, and a little because that they may swallow it down without +labour, and give him not too much at once, that they may digest +better. And also buttered eggs doeth them much good. And sometimes the +hounds hurt themselves in their feet, and in their legs, and in their +breast. And when it is in the joints of their feet that be run out of +their places, the best help that there is is to bring them again into +joint, by such men as can well do it, and then lay upon that place +flax wetted in white of egg, and let them rest until the time that +they be whole. And if there be any broken bones men should knit it +again in the best wise, the one bone against that other and bind it +with flax above as I have said, and with four splints well bound +thereto that one against that other, because that the bone should not +unjoin, and men should remove the bands from four days to four days +all whole. And give them to drink the juice of herbs that are called +consolida major[129] and minor[130], and mix it in broth or in her +meat, and that shall make the bones join together. Also many hounds be +lost by the feet, and if some time they be heated take vinegar and +soot that is within the chimney, and wash his feet therewith until the +time that they be whole, and if the soles of the feet be bruised +because, peradventure, they have run in hard country or among stones, +take water, and small salt therein, and therewith wash their feet, the +same day that they have hunted, and if they have hunted in evil +country among thorns and briars that they be hurt in their legs or in +their feet, wash their legs in sheep's tallow well boiled in wine when +it is cold, and rub them well upward against the hair. The best that +men may do to hounds that they lose not their claws is that they +sojourn not too long, for in long sojourning they lose their claws, +and their feet, and therefore they should be led three times in the +week a-hunting, and at the least twice. If they have sojourned too +much, cut ye a little off the end of their claws with pincers ere they +go hunting, so that they may not break their claws in running. Also +when they be at sojourn, men should lead them out every day a mile or +two upon gravel or upon a right hard path by a river side, so that +their feet may be hard. Hounds also sometimes be chilled as horses +when they have run too long, and come hot in some water, or else when +they come to rest in some cold place, then they go all forenoon and +cannot eat, nor cannot walk well, then should men let blood on the +four legs. From the forelegs in the joints within the leg, from the +hinder legs men should let blood in the veins that goeth overthwart +above the hocks on the other side, and in the hinder legs men may well +see clearly the veins that I speak of, and also in the forelegs, thus +he shall be whole. And give him one day sops or some other thing +comfortable till the morrow or other day. The hounds also have a +sickness in the yerde that men calleth the canker, and many be lost +thereby. Men should take such a hound and hold him fast and upright +and bind his mouth and his four legs also, and then men should take +his yerde backward by the ballocks and put him upward, and another man +shall draw the skin well in manner that the yerde may all come out, +and then a man may take away the canker with his fingers, for if it +were taken away with a knife men might cut him. And then men should +wash it with wine, milk warm, and then put therein honey and salt, so +that the sickness shall not come again, and then put again the yerde +within the skin as it was before, and look every week that the +sickness come not again, and take it always out if aught come thereto +until the time that it be whole. And in the same wise a man should do +to a bitch, if such a sickness were taken in her nature. In this +sickness many hounds and bitches die for default of these cures, +whereof all hunters have not full knowledge. Sometimes the hounds have +a great sickness that they may not piss, and be lost thereby and also +when they may not scombre (dung). Then take ye the root of a cabbage +and put it in olive oil, and put it in his fundament so that ye leave +some of the end without, so much that it may be drawn out when it is +needful. And if he may not be whole thereby make him a clyster as men +do to a man, of mallows, of beets, and of mercury, a handful of each, +and of rue and of incense, and that all these things be boiled in +water and put bran within, and let pass all that water through a +strainer, and thereto put two drachms of agarite[131] and of honey and +of olive oil, and all this together put into his anus and he shall +scombre. + +[108] Cherish, "wagging their tayles and seeming to cherish them," +Turbervile, p. 223. See Appendix: Madness. + +[109] It should read "smelleth," as it is in Shirley MS. and in G. de +F., p. 87. + +[110] The friendly licking of other dogs has often been noticed as an +early symptom of rabies in a pack of hounds. + +[111] Du Fouilloux in his _La Venerie_ (published 1561) copied much +from Gaston de Foix's book, but either he or his editors made the +ridiculous mistake of saying nine _months_ instead of _days_. +Turbervile, who translated, or rather cribbed, Du Fouilloux's book, +has copied this absurd mistake, and says a hound may continue thus +nine months, but not past (p. 222). + +[112] Means "a bone in their throat." G. de F. (p. 88): "comme si ils +avoient un os en la gueule." In the Shirley MS. "enosed," _i.e._ "_un +os._" See Appendix: Madness. + +[113] See Appendix: Worming. + +[114] "Lank madness" in Turbervile, p. 223. Tucked up. G. de F. (p. +88): "cousus parmi les flans" ("the flanks drawn in"). + +[115] In Shirley MS. "ventoused upon or gersed." G. de F.: "ventouses, +que on appelle coupes," hence "cupped and lanced" would be the proper +meaning. + +[116] Makes them lose their hair. G. de F. (p. 90), "et si _poile_ le +chien." + +[117] "To viii. days" has been omitted. + +[118] Some confusion, which is still common, between eczema from +various causes, and true parasitic mange or scabies. + +[119] G. de F. (p. 91) adds: "et est vermeille et saute d'un lieu en +autre." + +[120] In the Shirley MS. the words are added: "to(o) hye plyte," +_i.e._ too high condition. G. de F. (p. 91) adds "gresse." + +[121] _Ireos_, Eng. Iris. This word is also constantly recurring in +old household books. Aniseed and orris powder were placed among linen +to preserve it from insects. In Edward IV.'s Wardrobe Accounts we read +of bags of fustian stuffed with anneys and ireos. + +[122] _Pterygium_, name for the "sickness" in the eyes of hounds which +our MS. describes as a "web coming upon them." It is called +_pterygium_ from its resemblance to an insect's wing; is an +hypertrophy of the conjunctiva or lining membrane of the eye, due to +irritation; it extends from the inner angle to the cornea, which it +may cover: the treatment is excision. The cure for "the nail" +mentioned in our MS. of hanging a collar of elm leaves round the dog +is taken by G. de F. (p. 92) from Roy Modus xliv., where it is given +without the saving clause "Mès cela est bien petit remède." + +[123] _Celandine_, _Chalidonium Majus_, from [Greek: chelidôn], a +swallow. The name was derived from the tradition that swallows used it +to open the eyes of their young or to restore their sight. Has a +yellow flower and an acrid, bitter, orange juice. Internally an +irritant poison. Infusions in wine used by Galen and Bioscorides for +jaundice, probably from the colour of the juice and flowers. +Externally the juice was much used for wounds, ulcers, ophthalmic +cases, and for the removal of warts. The Old French name for this +plant was _herbe d'arondelles_ (_hirondelles_). + +[124] Shirley MS. has "foussye," G. de F. (p. 92) "de la poudre de la +tutie," oxide of zinc. + +[125] Shirley MS. adds: "that be marshals for horses." + +[126] _Estoracis calamita_, G. de F., p. 93. Lavallée appends the +note: "_Storax et Styrax calamita._" Storax, a resin resembling +benzoin, was in high esteem from the time of Pliny to the eighteenth +century. It was obtained from the stem of _Styrax_ _officinalis_, a +native of Greece and the Levant. In our MS. four other ingredients +mentioned by G. de F. have been left out, but the Shirley MS. gives +them: "and oyle of Kamamyle and of Mallyor of aushes and of calamynt," +_i.e._ oil of camomile, melilot (Meliters), rosemary, thymus calamita, +a species of balm. Possibly this is a mint called _Calaminta nepeta_, +a plant formerly much used in medicine as a gentle stimulant and +tonic. Melilot, a genus of clover-like plants of the natural order of +_Leguminose_. + +[127] Mildew. G. de F. (p. 93), Nigella, Nielle. + +[128] _Rewe_, Mod. Eng. _rue_, Lat. _ruta_. This herb was in great +repute among the ancients, and is still employed in medicine as a +powerful stimulant. + +[129] _Consolida major._ Lavallée in his note (p. 94) translates this +_consoude_, which in English is comfrey, Latin _Symphytum_. + +[130] _Consolida minor_ (Lavallée: note, _petit consoude_), Mod. Fr. +_Brunelle_. G. de F. p. 94. Eng. Selfheal. Lat. _Prunella vulgaris_. +It was at one time in repute as a febrifuge. + +[131] _Agarys_. G. de F. _d'agret_, probably _agrimony_, Lat. +agrimonia. It is bitter and styptic, and was much valued in domestic +medicine; a decoction of it being used as a gargle and the dried +leaves as a kind of tea, and the root as a vermifuge. + +[Illustration: HOW THE HOUNDS WERE LED OUT] (From MS. f. fr. 616, +_Bib. Nat._, Paris) + +And then take five corns of spurge[132] and stamp them and temper them +with goat's milk or with broth, and put it in the hound's throat to +the amount of a glassful. And if he may not piss take the leaves of +leeks and of a herb that is called marrubium album[133] and of +modirwort[134] and of peritorie[135] and morsus galline[136] and of +nettles and parsley leaves as much of the one as of the other, and +stamp them with swine's grease therewith, and make a plaster thereof, +and make it a little hot, and lay it upon the hound's yerde and along +his belly, and that which is hard to understand ye shall find at the +apothecary's, the which know well all these things. Also to the hounds +cometh sores, that cometh to them under the throat or in other parts +of the body. Then take ye of the mallows and of the onions and of +white lilies,[137] and cut them small with a knife, and put them in a +ladle of iron and mingle these herbs whereof I speak, and lay them +upon the sores, and that shall make them rise, and when they be risen, +slit them with a sharp knife. And when they be so broken, lay upon +them some good drawing salve, and he be whole. Sometimes the hounds +fight and bite each other, and then they shall take sheep's wool +unwashed, and a little olive oil, and wet the wool in the oil, and lay +it upon the hound's wound, and bind it thereupon, and do so three +days, and then after twice each day anoint it with olive oil, and lay +nothing upon it. And he shall lick it with his tongue and heal +himself.[138] If peradventure in the wound come worms as I have seen +some time, every day ye shall pick them out with a stick, and ye shall +put in the wound the juice of leaves of a peach tree mingled with +quicklime until the time that they be whole. Also it happeneth to many +hounds that they smite the forelegs against the hinder wherefore their +thighs dry[139] and be lost thereby, and then if ye see that it last +them longer than three days that they set not their foot to the earth, +then slit ye the thigh along and athwart within the thigh, crosswise +upon the bone, that is upon the turn bone of the knee behind, and then +put thereupon wool wet in olive oil as before is said, for three whole +days. And then after anoint the wound with oil without binding as I +have said, and he shall heal himself with his tongue. Sometimes a +hound is evil astyfled,[140] so that he shall sometime abide half a +year or more ere he be well, _and if he be not so tended he will never +recover_. Then it needeth that ye let him long sojourn until the time +that he be whole, until he is no longer halting, that is that one +thigh be no greater than the other. And if he may not be all whole, do +to him as men do to a horse that is spauled in the shoulder in front, +draw throughout a cord of horsehair[141] and he shall be whole. +Sometimes an evil befalls in the ballock purse,[142] sometimes from +too long hunting or from long journeys, or from rupture,[143] or +sometimes when bitches be jolly, and they may not come to them at +their ease as they would, and that the humours runneth into the +ballocks, and sometimes when they be smitten upon in hunting or in +other places. To this sickness and to all others in that manner, the +best help is for to make a purse of cloth three or four times double, +and take linseed and put it within, and put it in a pot, and let it +mingle with wien, and let them well boil together, and mix it always +with a stick, and when it is well boiled put it within the purse that +I spoke of, as hot as the hound may suffer it, and put his ballocks in +that purse, and bind it with a band betwixt the thighs above the back, +make well fast the ballocks upwards, and leave a hole in the cloth for +to put out the tail and his anus, and another hole before for the +yerde so that he may scombre and piss and renew that thing once or +twice until the time that he be whole. Also it is a well good thing +for a man or for a horse that hath this sickness.[144] + +[132] _Euphorbia resinifera_, common spurge, exudes a very acrid milky +juice which dries into a gum resin. Still used for some plasters. + +[133] _Marrubium vulgare._ G. de F. _marrabre blanc_, Eng. white +horehound. It enjoyed a great reputation as a stimulating expectorant +employed in asthma, consumption, and other pulmonary affections. + +[134] _Leonurus cardiaca._ G. de F. _Artemise_, Eng. Motherwort, Mod. +Fr. _armoise_. A plant allied to the horehound as a vascular stimulant +and diuretic and a general tonic, employed in dropsy, gout, +rheumatism, and uterine disorders. + +[135] _Parietaria._ Eng. Wall pellitory. An old domestic remedy. It +was supposed to be astringent and cooling, and used locally for +inflammation, burns, erysipelas, and internally as a diuretic. It +grows on old walls and heaps of rubbish. + +[136] _Morsus gallinus._ + +[137] _Lilies._ The white lilies here mentioned are probably _Lilium +connalium_ (lilies of the valley). In an old book of recipes I find +them mentioned as an antidote to poison. (_Haus und Land Bib._ 1700.) +They have medicinal qualities, purgative and diuretic in effect. Dried +and powdered they become a sternutatory. + +[138] In the Shirley MS. there is added: "the hound tongue beareth +medicine and especially to himself." G. de F. has the same (p. 97). + +[139] Wither or dry up. + +[140] Inflammation of the stifle joint. + +[141] _Seton._ G. de F. (p. 98) says: "une ortie et un sedel de +corde." His word _sedel_ came from the Spanish _sedal_. The English +"seton" comes from _seta_, a hair, because hair was originally +employed as the inserted material. + +[142] Testicles. + +[143] The following words, which are in Shirley MS. and in G. de F., +are left out: "some tyme for they more foundeth as an hors." + +[144] The Shirley MS. has the following ending to this chapter: "And +God forbid that for (a) little labour or cost of this medicine, man +should see his good kind hound perish, that before hath made him so +many comfortable disports at divers times in hunting," which is not +taken from G. de F. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OF RUNNING HOUNDS AND OF THEIR NATURE + + +A running hound is a kind of hound there be few men that have not seen +some of them. Nevertheless I shall devise how a running hound shall be +held for good and fair, and also shall I devise of their manners. Of +all hues of running hounds, there are some which be good, and some +which be bad or evil as of greyhounds. But the best hue of running +hounds and most common for to be good, is called brown tan. Also the +goodness of running hounds, and of all other kinds of good hounds, +cometh of true courage and of the good nature of their good father and +of their good mother. And also as touching greyhounds, men may well +help to make them good by teaching as by leading them to the wood and +to fields, and to be always near them, in making of many good curées +when they have done well, and of rating at and beating them when they +have done amiss, for they are beasts, and therefore have they need to +learn that which men will they should do. A running hound should be +well born, and well grown of body, and should have great nostrils and +open, and a long snout, but not small, and great lips and well hanging +down, and great eyes red or black, and a great forehead and great +head, and large ears, well long and well hanging down, broad and near +the head, a great neck, and a great breast and great shoulders, and +great legs and strong, and not too long, and great feet, round and +great claws, and the foot a little low, small flanks and long sides, a +little pintel not long, small hanging ballocks and well trussed +together, a good chine bone and great back, good thighs, and great +hind legs and the hocks straight and not bowed, the tail great and +high, and not cromping up on the back, but straight and a little +cromping upward. Nevertheless I have seen some running hounds with +great hairy tails the which were very good. Running hounds hunt in +divers manners, for some followeth the hart fast at the first, for +they go lightly and fast and when they have run so awhile, they have +hied them so fast that they be relaxed and all breathless, and stop +still and leave the hart when they should chase him. This kind of +running hounds men should find usually in the land of Basco and Spain. +They are right good for the wild boar, but are not good for the hart, +for they be not good to enchase at a long flight, but only for to +press him, for they seek not well, and they run not well nor they hunt +not (well) from a distance, for they be accustomed to hunt close. + +[Illustration: RACHES OR RUNNING HOUNDS IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY (From +MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. Nat_., Paris)] + +And at the beginning they have shown their best. Other manners of +running hounds there are which hunt a good deal more slowly and +heavily, but as they begin, so they hold on all the day. These hounds +force not so soon a hart as the other, but they bring him best by +mastery and strength to his end, for they retrieve and scent the line +better and farther, because they are somewhat slow. They must hunt the +hart from farther off, and therefore they scent the fues better than +the other that goes so hastily without stopping until the time that +they be weary. A bold hound should never complain or howl, unless if +he were out of the rights. And also he should again seek the rights, +for a hart flieth and ruseth. Commonly a bold hound hunteth with the +wind when he seeth his time. He dreads his master and understands him +and does as he bids him. A bold hound should not leave the hart +neither for rain, nor for heat, nor for cold, nor for any evil +weather, but at this time there be few such, and also should he hunt +the hart well by himself without help of man, as if the man were +always with him. _But alas! I know not now any such hounds._ Hounds +there are which be bold and brave; and be called bold for they are +bold and good for the hart, for when the hart comes in danger[145] +they will chase him, but they will not open[146] nor quest while he is +among the change, for dread to envoyse[147] and do amiss, but when +they have dissevered[148] him, then they will open and hunt him and +should overcome the hart well, and perfectly and masterfully +throughout all the change. These hounds be not so good nor so perfect +as be the bold hounds before said _to most men_ for two reasons[149], +that one reason is for they hunt not at men's best pleasure for they +hunt nought but the hart, and the first bold hound hunts all manner of +beasts that his master will uncouple him to. He opens always through +all the changes, and a bold hound for the hart opens not for the hart, +as I have said when the hart is amid the changes. He dreadeth where he +goeth that men see him lest he do amiss or envoise, but men cannot +always see him[150]. Of this kind of hound have I seen many a one. +There be other kinds of hounds which men _beyond the sea call_ hart +hounds, good and restrained hart hounds.[151] They hunt no other beast +but the hart, and therefore they are called hart hounds and bold +hounds, for they be bold and good and wise for the hart; they be +called restrained, because if the hart fall among the change they +should abide still[152] until the hunter come, and when they see their +master they make him welcome, and wag their tails upon him, and will +by-piss the way and the bushes, _but in England men make them not so_. +These be good hounds _of our land_, but not so good as the bold hounds +aforesaid. They be well wise, for they know well that they should not +hunt the change, and they are not so wise as to dissever the hart from +the change, for they abide still and restive. These hounds I hold full +good, for the hunter that knows them may well help them to slay the +hart. None of all these three kinds of hounds hunt at the hart in +rutting time, unless it be the good bold hound,[153] which is the best +of all other hounds. The best sport that men can have is running with +hounds, for if he hunt at hare or at the roe or at buck or at the +hart, or at any other beast without greyhound[154] it is a fair thing, +and pleasant to him that loveth them; the seeking and the finding is +also a fair thing, and a great liking to slay them with strength, and +for to see the wit and the knowledge that God hath given to good +hounds, and for to see good recovering and retrieving, and the mastery +and the subtleties that be in good hounds. For with greyhounds and +with other kinds of hounds whatever they be, the sport lasteth not, +for anon a good greyhound or a good alaunte taketh or faileth a beast, +and so do all manner of hounds save running hounds, the which must +hunt all the day questeying and making great melody in their language +and saying great villainy and chiding the beasts that they chase. And +therefore I prefer them to all other kinds of hounds, for they have +more virtue it seems to me than any other beast. Other kind of hounds +there be the which open and jangle when they are uncoupled, as well +when they be not in her fues (on their line), and when they be in her +fues they questey[155] too much in seeking their chase whatever it be, +and if they learn the habit when they are young and are not chastised +thereof, they will evermore be noisy and wild, and namely when they +seek their chase, for when the chase is found, the hounds cannot +questey too much so that they be in the fues[156]. And to rente and +make hounds there are many remedies. _There be also many kinds of +running hounds, some small and some big, and the small be called +kenets, and these hounds run well to all manner of game, and they +(that) serve for all game men call them harriers.[157] And every hound +that hath that courage will come to be a harrier by nature with little +making. But they need great nature and making in youth, and great +labour to make a hound run boldly to a chase where there is great +change, or other chases._ Hounds which are not perfectly wise take the +change commonly from May until St. John's tide (June 24th), for then +they find the change of hinds. The hinds will not fly far before the +hounds, but they turn about and the hound sees them very often, and +therefore they run to them with a better will, because they keep near +their calves the which cannot fly, therefore they hunt them gladly; +and commonly when the harts go to rut, hounds hunt the change, for the +harts and the hinds be commonly standing in herds together, and so +they find them and run to them sooner than at any other time of the +year. Also the hounds scent worse from May until St. John's time than +in any other time of all the year, for as I shall say the burnt heath +and the burning of fields taketh away the scent from the hounds of the +beasts that they hunt. Also in that time the herbs be best and flowers +in their smelling, each one in their kind, and when the hounds hope to +scent the beast that they hunt, the sweet-smelling of the herbs takes +the scent of the beast from them. + +[145] Danger of his being lost to the hounds. + +[146] Challenge--_i.e._ the noise the hounds make on finding the scent +of an animal. + +[147] Get off the line. + +[148] Separated him from the other deer. + +[149] From here to the middle of the 13th line on the next page the +text is copied from the Shirley MS., the scribe who wrote the +Vespasian B. XII. MS. having made a mistake in his transcript, copying +on folio 65 the folio 64, which therefore appears twice over, to the +exclusion of the matter here copied from the Shirley MS. + +[150] This sentence is difficult to understand without consulting G. +de F. (p. 110), who says: "as the hound does not challenge when the +stag is with change, one does not know where he is going unless one +sees him, and one cannot always see him." + +[151] G. de F.: "cerfs baus restifz" is the name which he gives these +hounds. + +[152] G. de F. adds: "and remain quite quiet." + +[153] "Le chien baud," G. de F., p. 111. See Appendix: Running +Hounds. + +[154] The text of the MS. differs from G. de F., who says if one hunts +stags "ou autres bestes en traillant sans limier" (drawing from them +without having first harboured them with a lymer), and does not say +"without greyhounds"; p. 111. + +[155] G. de F. has here: "Ils crient trop en quérant leur beste quelle +que soit," p. 111. + +[156] "The hounds cannot challenge too loudly when they are on the +line." G. de F.: "Chien ne peut trop crier," p. 112. + +[157] From Mid. Eng. _harien_, _harren_, to harry or worry game. See +Appendix: Harrier. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +OF GREYHOUNDS AND OF THEIR NATURE + + +The greyhound is a kind of hound there be few which have not seen +some. Nevertheless for to devise how a greyhound should be held for +good and fair, I shall devise their manner. Of all manner of +greyhounds there be both good and bad, nevertheless the best hue is +red fallow with a black muzzle. The goodness of greyhounds comes of +right courage, and of the good nature of their father and their +mother. And also men may well help to make them good in the +encharning[158] of them with other good greyhounds, and feed them well +with the best that he taketh. The good greyhound should be of middle +size, neither too big nor too little, and then he is good for all +beasts. If he were too big he is nought for small beasts, and if he +were too little he were nought for the great beasts. Nevertheless +whoso can maintain both, it is good that he have both of the great and +of the small, and of the middle size. A greyhound should have a long +head and somewhat large made, resembling the making of a bace[159] +(pike). A good large mouth and good seizers the one against the other, +so that the nether jaw pass not the upper, nor that the upper pass not +the nether. Their eyes are red or black as those of a sparrow hawk, +the ears small and high in the manner of a serpent, the neck great and +long bowed like a swan's neck, his chest great and open, the hair +under his chyn hanging down in the manner of a lion.[160] His +shoulders as a roebuck, the forelegs straight and great enough and not +too high in the legs, the feet straight and round as a cat, great +claws, long head as a cow[161] hanging down. + +[158] Encharning, feed with the flesh of game, to blood. + +[159] Should be "luce," and G. de F. has "luz," from Lat. _lucius_, +pike, p. 103. + +[160] G. de F., p. 104, says: "La harpe bien avalée en guise de lion," +_harpe_ meaning in this instance "flanks." + +[161] "Long head as a cow" is evidently a mistake of translator or +scribe. G. de F. has: "le costé lonc comme une biche et bien avalé" +("the sides long as a hind, and hanging down well"). + +The bones and the joints of the chine great and hard like the chine of +a hart. And if his chine be a little high it is better than if it were +flat. A little pintel and little ballocks, and well trussed near the +ars, small womb,[162] the hocks straight and not bent as of an ox, a +cat's tail making a ring at the end and not too high, the two bones of +the chine behind broad of a large palm's breadth or more. Also there +are many good greyhounds with long tails right swift. A good greyhound +should go so fast that if he be well slipped he should overtake any +beast, and there where he overtakes it he should seize it where he can +get at it the soonest, _nevertheless he shall last longer if he bite +in front or by the side_.[163] He should be courteous and not too +fierce, following well his master and doing whatever he command him. +He shall be good and kindly _and clean_, glad and joyful and playful, +well willing and goodly to all manner of folks save to the wild beasts +to whom he should be fierce, spiteful and eager. + +[162] The following words should be added here, a line having been +omitted by the scribe: "and straight near the back as a lamprey, the +thighs great and straight as a hare." They are in Shirley MS. and G. +de F., p. 104. + +[163] In lieu of this original passage G. de F., p. 105, has: "sans +abayer, et sans marchander" ("without baying or bargaining"). + +[Illustration: THE SMOOTH AND THE ROUGH-COATED GREYHOUNDS (From MS. f. +fr. 616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OF ALAUNTES AND OF THEIR NATURE + + +An alaunte is of the manner and nature of hounds. And the good +alauntes be those which men call alauntes gentle. Others there be that +men call alauntes veutreres, others be alauntes of the butcheries. +They that be gentle should be made and shaped as a greyhound, even of +all things save of the head, the which should be great and short. And +though there be alauntes of all hues, the true hue of a good alaunte, +and that which is most common should be white with black spots about +the ears, small eyes and white standing ears and sharp above. Men +should teach alauntes better, and to be of better custom than any +other beasts, for he is better shaped and stronger for to do harm than +any other beast. And also commonly alauntes are stordy[164] (giddy) of +their own nature and have not such good sense as many other hounds +have, for if a man prick[165] a horse the alauntes will run gladly and +bite the horse. Also they run at oxen and sheep, and swine, and at all +other beasts, or at men or at other hounds. For men have seen alauntes +slay their masters. In all manner of ways alauntes are treacherous and +evil understanding, and more foolish and more harebrained than any +other kind of hound. And no one ever saw three well conditioned and +good. For the good alaunte should run as fast as a greyhound, and any +beast that he can catch he should hold with his seizers and not leave +it. For an alaunte of his nature holds faster of his biting than can +three greyhounds the best any man can find. And therefore it is the +best hound to hold and to nyme (seize) all manner of beasts and hold +them fast. And when he is well conditioned and perfect, men hold that +he is good among all other hounds. But men find few that be perfect. A +good alaunte should love his master and follow him, and help him in +all cases, and do what his master commands him. A good alaunte should +go fast and be hardy to take all kinds of beasts without turning, and +hold fast and not leave it, and be well conditioned, and well at his +master's command, and when he is such, men hold, as I have said, that +he is the best hound that can be to take all manner of beasts. That +other kind of alaunte is called veutreres. They are almost shaped as a +greyhound of full shape, they have a great head, great lips and great +ears, and with such men help themselves at _the baiting of the bull_ +and at hunting of a wild boar, for it is their nature to hold fast, +but they be (heavy) and foul (ugly) that if they be slain by the wild +boar or by the bull, it is not very great loss. And when they can +overtake a beast they bite it and hold it still, but by themselves +they could never take a beast unless greyhounds were with them to make +the beast tarry. That other kind of alauntes of the butcheries is such +as you may always see in good towns, _that are called great butchers' +hounds_, the which the butchers keep to help them to bring their +beasts that they buy in the country, for if an ox escape from the +butchers that lead him, his hounds would go and take him and hold him +until his master has come, and should help him to bring him again to +the town. They cost little to keep as they eat the foul things in the +butcher's row. Also they keep their master's house, they be good _for +bull baiting_ and for hunting wild boar, whether it be with greyhounds +at the tryst or with running hounds at bay within the covert. For when +a wild boar is within a strong hatte of wood (thicket), perhaps all +day the running hounds will not make him come out. And when men let +such mastiffs run at the boar they take him in the thick spires (wood) +so that any man can slay him, or they make him come out of his +strength, so that he shall not remain long at bay. + +[164] G. de F. has "estourdiz," which the "Master of Game" translates +as "stordy" or sturdy, but the modern sense would be hairbrained, +giddy, not sturdy. + +[165] Means _chase_ a horse. G. de F. says: "Se on court un cheval, +ils le prennent voulentiers," p. 100. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +OF SPANIELS AND OF THEIR NATURE + + +Another kind of hound there is that be called hounds for the hawk and +spaniels, for their kind cometh from Spain, notwithstanding that there +are many in other countries. And such hounds have many good customs +and evil. Also a fair hound for the hawk should have a great head, a +great body and be of fair hue, white or tawny, for they be the +fairest, and of such hue they be commonly best. A good spaniel should +not be too rough, but his tail should be rough. The good qualities +that such hounds have are these: they love well their masters and +follow them without losing, although they be in a great crowd of men, +and commonly they go before their master, running and wagging their +tail, and raise or start fowl and wild beasts. But their right craft +is of the partridge and of the quail. It is a good thing to a man that +hath a noble goshawk or a tiercel or a sparrow hawk for partridge, to +have such hounds. And also when they be taught to be couchers,[166] +they be good to take partridges and quail with a net. And also they be +good when they are taught to swim and to be good for the river, and +for fowls when they have dived, but on the other hand they have many +bad qualities like the country that they come from. For a country +draweth to two natures of men, of beasts, and of fowls, and as men +call greyhounds _of Scotland_ and of Britain,[167] so the alauntes and +the hounds for the hawk come out of Spain, and they take after the +nature of the generation of which they come. Hounds for the hawk are +fighters and great barkers if you lead them a hunting among running +hounds, whatever beasts they hunt to they will make them lose the +line, for they will go before now hither now thither, as much when +they are at fault as when they go right, and lead the hounds about and +make them overshoot and fail. Also if you lead greyhounds with you, +and there be a hound for the hawk, that is to say a spaniel, if he see +geese or kine, or horses, or hens, or oxen or other beasts, he will +run anon and begin to bark at them, and because of him all the +greyhounds will run to take the beast through his egging on, for he +will make all the riot and all the harm. The hounds for the hawk have +so many other evil habits that unless I had a goshawk or falcon or +hawks for the river, or sparrow hawk, or the net, I would never have +any, _especially there where I would hunt_. + +[166] Setters, from _coucher_, to lie down. G. de F.: "chien couchant" +(p. 113). + +[167] Brittany. In Shirley MS. "England" precedes "Scotland." G. de F. +says nothing about Scotland. He says "Bretainhe," meaning Brittany (p. +113). + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +OF THE MASTIFF AND OF HIS NATURE + + +A mastiff is a manner of hound. The mastiff's nature and his office is +to keep his master's beasts and his master's house, and it is a good +kind of hound, for they keep and defend with all their power all their +master's goods. They be of a churlish nature and ugly shape. +Nevertheless there are some _that come to be berslettis,[168] and also +to bring well and fast and wanlace_ (range) _about_.[169] Sometimes +there be many good, especially for men who hunt for profit of the +household to get flesh. Also of mastiffs and alaunts there be (bred) +many good for the wild boar. Also from mastiffs and hounds for the +hawk (there be bred) hounds that men should not make much mention of, +therefore I will no more speak of them, for there is no great mastery +nor great readiness in the hunting that they do, _for their nature is +not to be tenderly nosed_. + +[168] Bercellettis or bercelettes, hounds, most likely shooting dogs, +from _berser_, to shoot, _bercel_, an archer's butt. + +[169] _Wanlasour_, one who drives game. Appendix: Wanlace. + +[Illustration: THE FIVE BREEDS OF HOUNDS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT (From +MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. Nat_., Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WHAT MANNER AND CONDITION A GOOD HUNTER SHOULD HAVE. + + +Thou, Sir, whatever you be, great or little, that would teach a man to +be a good hunter, first he must be a child past seven or eight years +of age or little older, and if any man would say that I take a child +in too tender age for to put him to work, I answer that all nature +shortens and descends. For every man knoweth well that a child of +seven years of age is more capable in these times of such things that +he liketh to learn than was a child of twelve years of age (in times +that I have seen). And therefore I put him so young thereto, for a +craft requires all a man's life ere he be perfect thereof. And also +men say that which a man learns in youth he will hold best in his age. +And furthermore from this child many things are required, first that +he love his master, and that his heart and his business be with the +hounds, and he must take[170] him, and beat him when he will not do +what his master commands him, until the time that the child dreads to +fail. And first I shall take and teach him for to take in writing all +the names of the hounds and of the hues of the hounds, until the time +that the child knoweth them both by the hue and by the name. After I +will teach him to make clean every day in the morning the hounds' +kennel of all foul things. After I will learn him to put before them +twice a day fresh water and clean, from a well, in a vessel there +where the hound drinks, or fair running water, in the morning and the +evening. After I will teach him that once in the day he empty the +kennel and make all clean, and renew their straw, and put again fresh +new straw a great deal and right thick. And there where he layeth it +the hounds should lie, and the place where they should lie should be +made of trees a foot high from the earth, and then straw should be +laid thereupon, because the moisture of the earth should not make them +morfounder nor engender other sicknesses by the which they might be +worse for hunting. Also that he be both _at field and at wood +delivered_ (active) _and well eyed and well advised of his speech and +of his terms, and ever glad to learn and that he be no boaster nor +jangler_. + +[170] "Take" is probably the scribe's mistake for "tache," teach. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +HOW THE KENNEL FOR THE HOUNDS AND THE COUPLES FOR THE RACHES AND THE +ROPES FOR THE LYMER SHOULD BE MADE + + +The hounds' kennel should be ten fathoms in length and five in +breadth, if there be many hounds. And there should be one door in +front and one behind, and a fair green, where the sun shineth all day +from morning till eve, and that green should be closed about with a +paling or with a wall of earth or of stone of the same length and +breadth as the hounds' kennel is. And the hinder door of the kennel +should always be open so that the hounds may go out to play when they +like, for it is a great liking to the hounds when they may go in and +out at their pleasure, for the mange comes to them later.[171] In the +kennel should be pitched small stones wrapped about with straw of the +hounds' litter, unto the number of six stones, that the hounds might +piss against them. Also a kennel should have a gutter or two whereby +all the piss of the hounds and all the other water may run out that +none remains in the kennel. The kennel should also be in a low house, +and not in a solere (an upper chamber), but there should be a loft +above, so that it might be warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and +always by night and by day I would that some child lie or be in the +kennel with the hounds to keep them from fighting. Also in the kennel +should be a chimney to warm the hounds when they are cold or when they +are wet with rain or from passing and swimming over rivers. And also +he should be taught to spin horse hair to make couples for the hounds, +which should be made of a horse tail or a mare's tail, for they are +best and last longer than if they were of hemp or of wool. And the +length of the hounds' couples between the hounds should be a foot, and +the rope of a limer three fathoms and a half, be he ever so wise a +limer it sufficeth. _The which rope should be made of leather of a +horse skin well tawed._ + +[171] They are not likely to get the mange so soon. + +[Illustration: THE KENNEL AND KENNELMEN (From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. +Nat_., Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HOW THE HOUNDS SHOULD BE LED OUT TO SCOMBRE + + +Also I will teach[172] the child to lead out the hounds to scombre +twice in the day in the morning and in the evening, so that the sun be +up, especially in winter. Then should he let them run and play long in +a fair meadow in the sun, and then comb every hound after the other, +and wipe them with a great wisp of straw, and thus he shall do every +morning. And then shall he lead them into some fair place there where +tender grass grows as corn and other things, that therewith they may +feed them (selves) as it is medicine for them, for sometimes hounds +are sick and with the grass that they eat they void and heal +themselves. + +[172] The first four words are omitted in our MS., but they are in the +Shirley MS. and in others, and in G. de F. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +HOW A HUNTER'S HORN SHOULD BE DRIVEN + + +_There are divers kinds of horns, that is to say bugles, great +Abbot's, hunter's horns, Ruets_ (trumpets), _small Forester's horns +and meaner horns of two kinds. That one kind is waxed with green wax +and greater of sound, and they be best for good hunters, therefore +will I devise how and in what fashion they should be driven. First a +good hunter's horn should be driven of two spans in length, and not +much more nor much less, and not too crooked neither too straight, but +that the flue be three or four fingers uppermore than the head, that +unlearned_[173] _hunters call the great end of the horn. And also that +it be as great and hollow driven as it can for the length, and that it +be shorter on the side of the baldric[174] than at the nether end. And +that the head be as wide as it can be, and always driven smaller and +smaller to the flue, and that it be well waxed thicker or thinner +according as the hunter thinks that it will sound best. And that it be +the length of the horn from the flue to the binding, and also that it +be not too small driven from the binding to the flue, for if it be the +horn will be too mean of sound. As for horns for fewterers[175] and +woodmen, I speak not for every small horn and other mean horn unwaxed +be good enough for them._ + +[173] Shirley MS.: "lewed," _i.e._ laewed or unlearned (Stratmann). + +[174] Baldric, the belt on which the horn was carried. +[175] Fewterer, the man who held the greyhounds in slips or couples. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +HOW A MAN SHOULD LEAD HIS GROOM IN QUEST FOR TO KNOW A HART BY HIS +TRACE + + +Then should his groom lead his lymer (tracking hound) in quest after +him in the morning, and teach him to know what difference is between a +hart's trace and a hind's. As _I have said before, this word quest is +a term of hart hunters beyond the sea, and is as much for to say as +when the hunter goeth to find of a hart and to harbour him_. For to +know a great hart's trace from a young, and to know the trace of a +young deer of antler from a hind's, and how many judgments and what +knowledge there be, and for to make more certain thereof, he should +have an old hart's foot and a young hart's and a hind's foot also, and +should put it in hard earth and in soft, and once put it fast in the +earth as though the hart were hunted and another time soft, as if the +hart went a pase (slowly), thereby he may advise him to know the +differences of a hart's feet, and he shall find that there is no deer +so young if he be from a brocket upwards, that his talon (heel) is not +larger and better and hath greater ergots (dew claws) than hath a +hind, and commonly longer traces. Nevertheless there are some hounds +well traced, which have the sole of the foot as a staggard or a small +stag, but the talon and the ergots are not so great nor so large. Also +a great hart and an old one has a better sole to his foot, and a +better talon and better bones and greater and larger than has a young +deer or hind. And so in putting in the earth the hart's foot and the +hind's foot as I have said, he shall know the difference and better +than I can devise. And also the hinds commonly have their traces more +hollow than a staggard or a stag, and more open the cleeves (toes) in +front than a hart of ten, for of the others reck I never. The judgment +is in the talon (when it is great and large; and in the sole of the +foot)[176] when it is great and broad, and the point of the foot +broad. And men have seen a great hart and an old one, the which had +hollow traces, and that cannot matter so that he hath the other signs +before said. For a hollow trace and sharp cleeves betoken no other +thing than that the country the hart hath haunted is a soft country or +hard, and where there be but few stones, or that he has been hunted +but little. And also if a man find such a hart, and men ask him what +hart it is, he may answer that it is a hart chaceable of ten, that +should not be refused. And if he sees an hart's foot that hath these +signs aforesaid the which are great and broad, he may say that it is +an hart that some time had borne ten tines, and if he see that the +aforesaid signs are greater and broader he may say that it is a great +hart and an old (one), and this is all he may say of the hart. Also he +should call the foot of the hart the trace, and of the wild boar also. +_Also the hunters of beyond the sea_ call of an hart and of a boar the +routes and the pace (path) and both is one. Nevertheless pace, they +call their goings where a beast goes in the routes, there where he has +passed, _nevertheless I would not set this in my book, but for as much +as I would English hunters should know some of the terms that hunters +use beyond the sea, but not with intent to call them so in England_. + +[176] The words in brackets have been omitted in our MS. but are in +the Shirley MS. and G. de F. p. 129; they have been thus inserted to +complete the sense. + +[Illustration: THE MASTER TEACHING HIS HUNTSMAN HOW TO QUEST FOR THE +HART WITH THE LIMER OR TRACKHOUND (From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. Nat_., +Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +HOW A MAN SHOULD KNOW A GREAT HART BY THE FUMES[177] + + +[177] See Appendix: Excrements. + +After I shall teach you to know a great hart by the fumes of the hart, +for sometimes they crotey in wreaths, and sometimes flat and sometimes +formed, and sometimes sharp at both ends, and sometimes pressed +together, and sometime in many other manners as I have said before. +When they crotey flat and it be in April or in May or in June if the +croteyes be great and thick it is a token that it is a hart chaceable, +and if he find the fumes wreathed, and it be from the middle of June +to the middle of August in great forms and in great wreaths and well +soft, it is a token that it is a hart chaceable, and if he find the +fumes that are formed and not holding together as it is from the +beginning of July into the end of August, if they are great and black +and long and are not sharp at the ends, and are heavy and dry without +slime, it is a token that it is a hart chaceable. And if the fumes are +faint and light and full of slime, or sharp at both ends, or at one +end, these are the tokens that he is no deer chaceable. But if it be +when they burnish that they crotey their fumes more burnt and more +sharp at the one end, but anon when they have burnished, they crotey +their fumes as before, and for that the fumes be good and great; if +they be slimy it is a token that he has suffered some disease. From +the end of August forward, the fumes are of no judgment for they undo +themselves for the rut. + +[Illustration: HOW A GREAT HART IS TO BE KNOWN BY HIS "FUMES" +(EXCREMENTS) (From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +HOW A MAN SHOULD KNOW A GREAT HART BY THE PLACE WHERE HE HATH FRAYED +HIS HEAD + + +Furthermore ye should know a great hart by the fraying (for if ye find +where the hart hath frayed),[178] and see that the wood is great where +he hath frayed, and he hath not bent it, and the tree is frayed well +high, and he hath frayed the bark away, and broken the branches and +wreathed them a good height, and if the branches are of a good size, +it is a sign that he is a great hart and that he should bear a high +head and well troched, for by the troching[179] he breaketh such high +the boughs that he cannot fold them under him. For if the fraying were +bare and he had frayed the boughs under him, it is no token that it be +a great hart, and especially if the trees where he had frayed were +small. Nevertheless men have seen some great deer fray sometimes to a +little tree, but not commonly, but a young deer shall ever more[180] +fray to a great tree, and therefore should ye look at several +frayings. And if ye see the aforesaid tokens oftener upon the great +trees than upon the small ye may deem him a great hart. And if the +frayings be continually in small trees and low, he is not chaceable +and should be refused. Also ye may know a great hart by his lairs. +When a great hart shall come in the morning from his pasture, he shall +go to his lair and then a great while after he shall rise and go +elsewhere there where he would abide all the day. Then when ye shall +rise and come to the lair there where the hart hath lain and rested, +if ye see it great and broad and well trodden and the grass well +pressed down, and at the rising when he passeth out of his lair, if ye +see that the foot and the knees have well thrust down the earth and +pressed the grass down it is a token that it is a great deer and a +heavy (one). And if at the rising he make no such tokens, because that +he hath been there but a little while, so that his lair be long and +broad ye may deem him a hart chaceable. Also ye may know a great hart +by the bearing of the wood, for when a great hart hath a high head and +a large (one) and goeth through a thick wood, he findeth the young +wood and tender boughs, his head is harder than the wood, then he +breaketh the wood aside and mingleth the boughs one upon the other, +for he beareth them and putteth them otherwise than they were wont to +be by their own kind. And when the glades of the woods are high and +broad then he may deem him a great hart, for if he had not a high head +and wide he could not make his ways high and large. If it happen so +that ye find such glades and have no lymer with you, if ye will know +at what time this glade was made, ye must set your visage in the +middle of this glade, and keep your breath, in the best wise that ye +may, and if ye find that the spider hath made her web in the middle of +them, it is a token that it is of no good time[181] or at the least it +is of the middle (of the noon) of the day before. Nevertheless ye +should fetch your lymer for so ye should know better. Also ye may know +a great hart by the steps _that in England is called trace_. And that +is called stepping,[182] when he steppeth in a place where the grass +is well thick, so that the man may not see therein the form of the +foot, or when he steppeth in other places, where no grass is but dust +or sand and hard country, where fallen leaves or other things hinder +to see the form of the foot. And when the hart steppeth upon the grass +and ye cannot see the stepping with your eyes, then ye shall put your +hand in the form of the foot that hunters call the trace, and if ye +see that the form of the foot be of four fingers of breadth, ye may +judge that it is a great hart by the trace. And if the sole of the +foot be of three fingers' breadth ye may judge him a hart of ten, and +if ye see that he hath well broken the earth and trodden well the +grass, it is a token that it is a great hart and a heavy deer. And if +ye cannot well see it for the hardness of the earth, or for the dust, +then ye must stoop down for to take away the dust and blow it away +from the form of the foot until the time that ye may clearly see the +form that is called the trace. And if ye cannot see it in one place, +ye should follow the trace until the time that ye can well see it at +your ease. And if ye can see none in any place, ye should put your +hand in the form of the foot, for then ye shall find how the earth is +broke with the cleeves of the foot on either side, and then ye can +judge it for a great hart or a hart chaceable, as I have said before +by the treading of the grass; and if leaves or other things be within +the form that ye may not see at your ease, ye should take away the +leaves all softly or the other things with your hands, so that ye undo +not the form of the foot and blow within and do the other things as I +have before said.[183] (After I will tell you how a man shall speak +among good hunters of the office of venery.) First he shall speak but +a little, and boast little, and well (work[184]) and subtlely, and he +must be wise and do his craft busily, for a hunter should not be a +herald of his craft. And if it happen that he be among good hunters +that speaketh of hunting he should speak in this manner. First if men +ask him of pastures he may answer as of harts and for all other deer, +sweet pastures, and of all biting beasts as of wild boar, wolves, and +other biting beasts he may answer, they feed, as I have said before. +And if men speak of the fumes ye shall call fumes of a hart, +_croteying_ of a buck, and of a roebuck in the same wise of a wild +boar and of black beasts and of wolves ye shall call it lesses, and of +hare and of conies ye shall say they crotey, of the fox _wagging_, of +the grey the _wardrobe_, and of other stinking beasts they shall call +it drit, and that of the otter he shall call sprainting as before is +said. And if men asketh of the beasts' feet, of the harts ye shall say +the trace of a hart _and also of a buck_, and that of the wild boar +and of the wolf also they call traces _beyond the sea_. And that of +the stinking beasts that men call vermin, he shall call them steps as +I have said. And if he hath seen a hart with his eyes, there are three +kinds of hues of them, that one is called brown, the other yellow, and +the third dun, and so he may call them as he thinketh that they +beareth all their hues. And if men ask what head beareth the hart he +hath seen, he shall always answer by even and not by odd, _for if he +be forked on the right side, and lack not of his rights[185] beneath, +and on the right[186] side antler and royal and surroyal and not +forked but only the beam, he shall say it is a hart of ten at +default_,[187] for it is always called even of the greater number. And +every buck's tines should be reckoned as soon as a man can hang a +baldric or a leash[188] thereupon and not otherwise. And when a hart +beareth as many tines on the one side as on the other, _he may say if +he be but forked that he is a hart of ten, and if he be troched of +three he is a hart of twelve, if he be troched of four he is a hart of +sixteen, always if it be seen that he hath his rights beneath as +before is said. And if he lack any of his rights beneath he must_ +_abate so many on the top, for a hart's head should begin to be +described from the mule[189] upwards, and if he hath more by two on +the one side than on the other, you must take from the one and count +up that other withal, as I shall more clearly speak in a chapter +hereafter in describing a hart's head._ And if it be so that the +hart's trace have other tokens than I have said and he thinks him a +hart chaceable, and men ask what hart it is he may say it is a hart of +ten and no more. And if it seem to him a great hart and men ask what +hart it is, he shall say it is a hart that the last year was of ten +and should not be refused. And if he happen to have well seen him with +his eye or the before said tokens, so that he knoweth fully that it is +as great a hart as a hart may be, if men ask him what hart it is, he +may say it is a great hart and an old deer. And that is the greatest +word that he may say as I have said before. And if men ask him whereby +he knoweth it, he may say for, he hath good bones[190] and a good +talon and a good sole of foot, _for these four[191] things makes the +trace great_, or by fair lairs or the grass or the earth well pressed +or by the high head,[192] or by the fumes or else other tokens as I +have said before. And if he see a hart that hath a well affeted +(fashioned) head after the height and the shape and the tines well +ranged by good measure, the one from the other, and men ask him what +he beareth he may answer that he beareth a great head and fair of +beam, and of all his rights, and well opened; and if a man ask him +what head he beareth, he shall answer that he beareth a fair head by +all tokens and well grown. And if he see a hart that hath a low head +or a high, or a great, or a small, and it be thick set, high and low +and men ask him what head he beareth he may answer he bears a thick +set head after his making, or that he hath low or small or other +manner whatever it be. And if he see a hart that hath a diverse head, +or that antlers grow back or that the head hath double beams or other +diversities than other harts commonly be wont to bear, and men ask +what head he bears, he may answer a diverse head or a counterfeit +(abnormal), for it is counterfeited. And if he see a hart that beareth +a high head that is wide and thin tined with long beams, if men ask +what head he beareth, he shall answer a fair head and wide, and long +beams, but it is not thick set neither well affeted. And if he see a +hart that hath a low and a great and a thick set (head) and men ask +what head he beareth, he may say he beareth a fair head and well +affeted. And if men ask him by the head whereby he knoweth that it is +a great hart and an old, he may answer, that the tokens of the great +hart are by the head, and so the first knowledge is when he hath great +beams all about as if they were set as it were with small stones, and +the mules nigh the head and the antlers, the which are the first +tines, be great and long and close to the mule and well apperyng +(pearled) and the royals which are the second tines, be nigh the +antlers, and of such form, save that they should not be so great; and +all the other tines great and long and well set, and well ranged and +the troching as I have said before, high and great, and all the beams +all along both great and stony, as if they were full of gravel, and +that all along the beams there be small vales that men call gutters, +then he may say that he knows it is a great hart by the head. + +[178] The words in brackets are omitted in our MS. but are in the +Shirley MS. and in G. de F. p. 132. + +[179] The tines at top. See Appendix: Antler. + +[180] Ever more is here a mistake; it should be never more. G. de F. +says: "Mes jeune cerf ne froyera jà en gros arbre" (p. 132). Also in +the Shirley MS. + +[181] Not of "good time" means in the old sporting vocabulary an old +track, not a recent one. + +[182] G. de F. calls the track of deer on grass "_foulées_," from +which the modern "foil," "stepping on grass," is derived. + +[183] A whole line is missing here in our MS. The words in brackets +are taken from the Shirley MS. It runs: "Affter I wal telle yowe a man +howe he shal speke amonge good hunters of y offyce of venerye." + +[184] The word "work" has been omitted. "Et bien _ouvrer_ subtilement" +(G. de F. p. 134). + +[185] Brow, bay, and tray tines. See Appendix: Antler. + +[186] In Shirley MS. it is "left." + +[187] Instead of this original passage G. de F. says: "For if he had +on one side ten points and on the other only one, it should be called +summed of twenty" (p. 135). + +[188] G. de F. has "spur" instead. + +[189] Burr, mule, from the Fr. _meule_. + +[190] Dew claws. + +[191] According to Shirley MS. and the sense, the "iiii" should be +omitted. + +[192] G. de F. (p. 136) says: "Ou belles portées"--portées being the +branches, and twigs broken or bent asunder by the head of the deer, +termed "entry" or "rack" in mod. Eng.--Stuart, vol. ii. 551. + +After I will tell you how ye should know a great wild boar, and for to +know how to speak of it among hunters of beyond the sea. And if a man +see a wild boar the which seemeth to him great enough, as men say of +the hart chaceable of ten, he shall say a wild boar of the third year +that is without refusal, and whenever they be not of three years men +call them swine of the sounder, and if he see the great tokens that I +shall rehearse hereafter he may say that he is a great boar. Of the +season and nature of boar and of other beasts, I have spoken here +before. And if men ask him of a boar's feeding, it is properly called +of acorns of oak's bearing, and of beechmast, the other feeding is +called worming and rooting of the roots out of the earth that feed +him. The other kind of feeding is of corn and of other things that +come up out of the land, and of flowers and of other herbs; the other +kind of feeding is when they make great pits, and go to seek the root +of ferns and of spurge within the earth. And if men ask whereby he +knoweth a great boar, he shall answer that he knoweth him by the +traces and by his den, and by the soil (wallowing pool). And if men +ask whereby he knoweth a great boar from a young, and the boar from +the sow, he shall answer that a great boar should have long traces and +the clees round in front, and broad soles of the feet and a good +talon, and long bones, and when he steppeth it goeth into the earth +deep and maketh great holes and large, and long the one from the +other, for commonly a man shall not see the traces of a boar without +seeing also the traces of the bones, and so shall he not of the hart, +for a man shall see many times by the foot, that which he will not see +by the ergots, but so shall he not see of the boar. What I call the +bones of the boar, of the hart I call the ergots, and the cause that a +man shall not know as well by the ergots of the hart as by bones of +the boar is this, for the bones of the boar are nearer the talon than +those of a hart are, and also they are longer, and greater and sharper +in front. And therefore as soon as the form of the traces of his foot +is in the earth, the form of the bones is there also, and commonly a +great boar maketh a longer trace with one of his claws than with the +other in front or behind, and sometimes both. And when a man seeth the +tokens beforesaid greater, he may deem him greater, and the smaller +the trace, the smaller the boar. The sow from the boar ye may know +well, for the sow maketh not so good a talon as a right young boar +doth. And also a sow's claws are longer and sharper in front than a +young boar's. And also her traces are more open in front and +straighter behind, and the sole of the foot is not so large as of a +young boar, and her bones are not so large nor so long, nor so far the +one from the other as those of a young boar, nor go not so deep in the +earth, for they be small, and sharp and short, and nearer the one to +the other, than a young boar's. And these are the tokens by the which +men know a young boar so that he be two year old from all sows, by the +trace, for that say I not of the young boars of sounder. And if men +ask him how he shall know a great boar by his den, he may answer that +if the den of the boar be long and deep and broad, it is a token that +it is a great boar so that the den be newly made and that he hath lain +therein but once. And if the boar's den is deep without litter, and if +the boar lie near the earth it is a token that it is no[193] fat boar. +And if men ask him how he knoweth a great boar by the soil, then may +he answer that commonly when a boar goeth to soil in the coming in or +in the going out, men may know by the trace, and so it may be deemed +as I have said by his wallowing in the soil. Nevertheless some time he +turneth himself from the one side upon the other, and up and down, but +a man shall evermore know the form of his body. Also sometimes when +the boar parteth from the soil, he rubbeth against a tree, and there a +man may know his greatness and his height. And some time he rubs his +snout and his head higher than he is, but a man may well perceive +which is of the chine and which is of the head. For by his lesses, +that is to say what goes from him behind, nor by other judgment a man +cannot know a great boar unless he see him, save that he maketh great +lesses, and that is a token that he hath a great bowel, and that he be +a great boar, and also by the tusks when he is dead, for when the +tusks of a boar be great as of half a cubit or more and be both great +and large of two fingers or more and there be small gutters along both +above and beneath, these be the tokens that he is a great boar and +old, and of a smaller boar the judgment is less. And also when the +tusks be low and worn, by the nether tusks it is a token of a great +boar. + +[193] G. de F. (p. 139) says if "le senglier gise près de la terre, +c'est signe qu'il ait bonne venoison," so our MS. is evidently wrong +when it says "it is a token that it is _no_ fat boar." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +HOW THE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE HART HUNTING BY STRENGTH AND +HOW THE HART SHOULD BE HARBOURED + + +_When the king or my lord the Prince or any of their blood will hunt +for the hart by strength, the Master of the Game must forewarn on the +previous evening the sergeant of the office, and the yeomen berners at +horse, and also the lymerer.[194] And then he must ordain which of +them three shall go for to harbour the hart, and with them the lymerer +for the morrow, and charge the foresters, or if it be in a park, the +parkers to attend to him busily. And all the four must accord where +the meeting shall be on the morrow, and he must charge the sergeant +and one of the two yeomen, if the sergeant be not there, to warn all +the yeomen and grooms of the office to be at the meeting at sunrise. +And that the yeomen berners on foot and the grooms that are called +Chacechiens bring with them the hart hounds and this done ask for the +wine, and let them go after. And he that is charged to harbour the +hart must_ _accord with the forester of the bailie in which they seek +him where they should meet in the grey dawning. Nevertheless it were +good readiness to look if they might see any deer at its meating_ +(feeding) _the previous evening to know the more readily where to seek +and harbour him on the morrow. And on the morrow when they meet the +forester that well ought to know of his great deer's haunts, he shall +lead the hunter and the lymerer thither, where he best hopes to see +him or find of him without noise. And if they can see him and they be +in the wind they ought to withdraw from him in the softest manner they +can, for dread of frightening him out of his haunt, and then go +privily till they be under the wind. And as he stereth_ (stalks) _and +paceth forth feeding, they are to draw nigh him as readily and warily +as they can so that the deer find them not. And when he has entered +his covert, and to his ligging, they ought to tarry till they know +that he be entered two skilful bowshots from thence. And then ought +the lymerer by bidding of the hunter to cast round with his lymer the +quarter that the deer is in, if it be in a huge covert, and if it be +in a little covert that the deer is in, set[195] all the covert to +know whether he is gone away or abides there still. And if he abides,_ +_then shall the lymerer go there where the hart went in, and take the +scantilon_ (measure) _of the trace for which he should cut off the end +of his rod, and lay it in the talon of the trace, there where he went +in hardest ground, in the bottom thereof, so that the scantilon will +scarcely touch at either end. And that done he should break a bough of +green leaves and lay it there where the hart went in, and cut another +scantilon thereafter to take to the hunter that he may take it to the +lord or to the Master of the Game at the meeting which some men call +Assembly. But on the other side, if it be so that they cannot see him +as before is said, the forester ought to bring him where most defoil +is_ (tracks) _of great male deer within his bailiewick, and there +where the best haunt is, and most likely for a hart. And when the +harbourer and the lymerer be there, the lymer if he crosses the fues +of a deer he will anon challenge it, and then shall the lymerer take +heed to his feet to know by the trace what deer it is that the lymer +findeth, and if he finds thereby that it is no hart he shall take up +his hound and say to him softly, not loud,_ "WARE RASCAL, WARE!" _And +if it be of a hart that the lymer findeth, and that it be new he ought +to sue_ (hunt up) _with as little noise as he can contreongle_ +(hunting heel) _to undo all his moving[196] till he find his fumes_ +(excrements), _which he ought to put in the great end of his horn, and +stop it with grass to prevent them falling out and reward his hound a +little. And that done come again there where he began to sue and sue +forth the right line till he comes to the entering of the quarter +where he thinks that the hart is in. And always with little noise and +cast round the quarters, if it be in a great covert as I said before. +And also if it be in a little covert, to do of the scantilon and of +all other things right as I have said before. And if he be voided_ +(gone) _to another quarter or wood, and there be any other covert near +always to sue forth and cast round quarter by quarter, and wood by +wood till he be readily harboured. And when he is harboured of the +scantilon and of all other things do as before is said, and then draw +fast to the meeting that men call assembly. And it is to be known that +oftentimes a deer is harboured by sight of man's eye, but who should +do it well it behoves him to be a skilful and wise hunter. +Nevertheless to teach hunters the more readily to seek and harbour a +hart according to the country that he is in, I have devised it in +certain chapters as ye may hereafter hear._ + +[194] The man who leads the hound in leash when harbouring the hart. + +[195] To set the covert was for the huntsman or limerer with his hound +on a leash to go round the covert that he had seen the deer enter, and +to look carefully whether he could find any signs of the stag having +left the place. This in more modern parlance is called making his ring +walks. + +[196] Moving, moves. See Appendix: Move. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +HOW A HUNTER SHOULD GO IN QUEST BY THE SIGHT + + +Afterwards I shall show you how a man should go in quest for the hart +with his lymer or by himself. _This word quest for the hart is a term +of hunters beyond the sea, and means when a man goeth to find a deer +and to harbour him, and it is a fair term and shorter said than our +term of England to my seeming._ And then shall the groom quest in the +country that shall be devised to him the night before, and he shall +rise in the dawning, and then he must go to the meating (pasturing) of +the deer to look if he may see anything to his liking, and leave his +lymer in a certain place where he may not alarm them. And thence he +should go to the newly hewn wood of the forest or other places where +he hopes best to see a hart, and keep always from coming into the wind +of the hart, he should also climb upon a tree so that the hart shall +wind nothing of him, and that he can see him further. And if he sees a +hart standing stably he must look well in what country he shall go to +his lair, and privily repair to some place where he can best see +him and there break a bough for a mark. But he must remain a great +while after, for some time a hart will stall and look about a great +while before he will go to his lair, and specially when a great dew is +falling, or else sometimes he cometh out again to look about, and to +listen and to dry himself, and therefore he should stay long, so as +not to frighten him. Then he should fetch his lymer and cast round _as +it is before said in the chapter of the harbouring of a hart_, and +take care that neither he nor his hounds make but little noise for +dread lest he void. + +[Illustration: HOW THE HUNTER SHOULD VIEW THE HART (From MS. f. fr. +616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +HOW AN HUNTER SHOULD GO IN QUEST BETWEEN THE PLAINS AND THE WOOD + + +Also a man may go in quest in the fields in corn, in vines, in +gardens, and in other places, where the harts go to their pasture in +the fields out of the wood, and he must go forth right early so that +he may look at the ground and judge well, and if he sees anything that +pleases him he can break boughs and lay his mark and cast round as +before is said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +HOW A HUNTER SHOULD GO IN QUEST IN THE COPPICE AND THE YOUNG WOOD + + +Also a man may go in quest among young wood, and although he has been +in the morning and (seen) nought, nevertheless he should not neglect +to quest with his lymer when it is high day when all the deer have +gone to their lairs, for peradventure the hart will sometimes have +gone into the wood before the hunter and lymer came to quest for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +HOW AN HUNTER SHOULD GO IN QUEST IN GREAT COVERTS AND STRENGTHS + + +Also a hunter may go in quest and put himself and his lymer in the +great thickets by high time of day, as I have said, for it befalleth +sometimes that harts are so malicious, that they pasture within +themselves, that is to say within their covert, and go not out to the +fields nor to the coppices nor to the young wood, especially when they +have heard the hounds run before in the forest once or twice. He must +have affeeted (trained) his lymer in such a manner that he neither +opens nor quests[197] when he hunts in the morning, for he would make +the hart void, and that must be by high noon, as I have said, when all +beasts are in their lairs. And if his lymer find anything he should +hold him short and lead him behind him, and look what deer it is, and +if it be anything that pleases him, then he shall sue with his lymer +till the time that he has brought it into some thicket, and then he +shall break his boughs _and take the scantilon and cast round as is +before said, and then return home again to the assembly that in +England is called a meeting or gathering_. + +[197] Should not give tongue. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +HOW A HUNTER SHOULD QUEST IN CLEAR SPIRES AND HIGH WOOD[198] + + +[198] In the text of our MS. (the Vespasian) no break occurs here, but +in the table of chapters at the beginning of the MS. the chapter as +here given is enumerated, and this corresponds also with the Shirley +and other MSS. + +Also I will tell you how a hunter should go in quest among clear +spires, and among high trees, and specially when it has rained the +night before and in the morning. Eke in the time when the heads of the +harts be tender, commonly they abide among clear spires and in high +woods, for a thick country peradventure would do harm to their heads +which be tender. If he meets rain as I before have said, or when their +heads (are tender, and he meeteth[199]) anything that pleaseth him, he +should not follow it with his lymer, for they remain in such a country +as I have said in that time, that is to say in rain and when their +heads are tender, for he might make the deer void into some other +place of the quests as it is before said. And whoso meets him in the +wood in sight of his eyes, then he must set his lymer in his fues. And +if it be a deer that enter-changeth,[200] that is to say if a deer +puts his hind feet in the trace of the fore-feet without passing on, +it is no good token, but if he sets his hinder feet far from the fore +feet it is a good token, for when a hart entre-marcheth it is a token +that he is a light deer and well running and of great flight, for if +he had a side belly and great flanks he could not entre-marche, but +the contrary would he do.[201] And sometimes when the hart makes a +long stride with the hind foot, commonly they cannot fly well, and +have been little hunted. And if he has of the fumes, he should put +them in his horn with grass, or in his lap[202] with grass, for a man +should not bear them in his hand, for they would all break. And when +he should meet in the fields anything that pleaseth him, he should +draw towards his covert, for to make him draw the sooner to his +stronghold, and when he findeth where he goeth in, then he should +break a bough towards the place where the hart is gone, and take the +scantilon, and follow him no further in the wood. Then he should make +a long turn and cast round about by some ways or by-paths, and if he +sees that he hath not passed out of his turn, he may return again to +the gathering, and make them his report, and if it be so that he pass +there where he would umbicast (cast round) and make his turn, and his +lymer before him, then he should look if it is the same hart he had +umbicast (cast round), and if he cannot well see at his ease, then he +should reconnoitre the country till he can see easily and plainly, but +have a care that his lymer open not, _and if his lymer be +dislave[203]_ (be wild), _let him investigate it with his eye_. And if +he seeth that it is his first hart he should not follow him, but then +he should take another turn and umbicast. He must look that he go not +along the ways, for it is the worst sueing that is: for the lymer +commonly overshoots. But he should go a little way off the paths on +one side or the other, until he (the hart) be within his turn, for +then he is most securely harboured and the search shall be shorter. +But if he see that it be too late to run him with strength, and if he +see that the hart goes but softly pacing towards his stronghold he +need not do all these things. And I pray him where he hath met with +the hart, or harboured him in his stronghold or in coppices or in +other thickets, that he take all his blenches (tricks) and his ruses +before said, to be more secure, and to make a shorter search, if he +hath time to do as I have said. Thus I have rehearsed the readiness +that belongs to the harbouring of the hart. _And now will I devise +where men will best find them in bellowing time. It is known that they +begin to bellow fifteen days before grease time[204] ends, especially +old deer, and also if the end of August and the beginning of September +be wet and rainy._ + +[199] The scribe who copied the Vespasian MS. omitted the bracketed +words. + +[200] See Appendix: Hart. + +[201] The explanation of this sentence is that a stag which +entre-marched or sur-marched, or in other words placed the hind foot +on the track or beyond the track made by the front foot, was a thin or +light deer, and therefore not a fat stag, which latter was what the +hunter would be looking for. + +[202] Lappet of his coat. + +[203] Shirley MS. _Dislavee_--obsolete word meaning going beyond +bounds, immoderate. + +[204] _After_ grease time. See Appendix: Grease Time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +HOW A GOOD HUNTER SHALL GO IN QUEST TO HEAR THE HARTS BELLOW + + +Also a good hunter should go before daybreak to hear the harts bellow +which peradventure bellow in the forest in divers parts, and to look +by the bellowing of the harts which seemeth to him the greatest. And +always hearkening nearer and nearer under the wind, in such wise that +when he will begin to sue, that he need nothing but to bring the lymer +to the fues. And anon when he seeth that it is a hart that he findeth, +uncouple the finders, but not too many, and this, for fear of falling +in danger (of losing the right deer), should be done right early as +soon as men can see day-light, for in that time the harts chase the +hinds, and go hither and thither and abide no while in one place as +they do in the right season. And because a man cannot come nigh him +with a lymer, it is good to uncouple the hounds, for the hounds will +get nigh them quicker and the bolder hounds will soon dissever +(separate) the harts from the hinds. The harts bellow in divers +manners, according as they be old or young, and according whether +they be in a country where they have not heard the hounds, or where +they have heard them. Some of them bellow with a full open mouth and +often cast up their heads. And these be those that have heard the +hounds only a little in the season, and that are well heated and +swelled. And sometimes about high noon they bellow as before is said. +The others bellow low and great and stooping with the head, and the +muzzle towards the earth, and that is a token of a great hart, and an +old and a malicious, or that he hath heard the hounds, and therefore +dare not bellow or only a few times in the day, unless if it be in the +dawning. And the other belloweth with his muzzle straight out before +him, bolking and rattling in the throat, and also that is a token of a +great and old hart that is assured and firm in his rut. In short all +the harts that bellow greatest and mightiest by reason should be +greatest and oldest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +HOW THE ASSEMBLY THAT MEN CALL GATHERING SHOULD BE MADE BOTH WINTER +AND SUMMER AFTER THE GUISE OF BEYOND THE SEA + + +The assembly _that men call gathering_ should be made in this manner: +the night before that the Lord or the Master of the Game will go to +the wood, he must cause to come before him all the hunters and the +helps, the grooms and the pages, and shall assign to each one of them +their quests in a certain place, and separate the one from the other, +and the one should not come into the quest of the other, nor do him +annoyance or hinder him. And every one should quest in his best wise, +in the manner that I have said; and should assign them the place where +the gathering shall be made, at most ease for them all, and the +nearest to their quests. And the place where the gathering shall be +made should be in a fair mead well green, where fair trees grow all +about, the one far from the other, and a clear well or beside some +running brook. And it is called gathering because all the men and the +hounds for hunting gather thither, for all they that go to the quest +should all come again in a certain place that I have spoken of. And +also they that come from home, and all the officers that come from +home should bring thither all that they need, every one in his office, +well and plenteously, and should lay the towels and board clothes all +about upon the green grass, and set divers meats upon a great +platter[205] after the lord's power. And some should eat sitting, and +some standing, and some leaning upon their elbows, some should drink, +some laugh, some jangle, some joke and some play--in short do all +manner of disports of gladness, and when men be set at tables ere they +eat then should come the lymerers and their grooms with their lymers +the which have been questing, and every one shall say his report to +the lord of what they have done and found and lay the fumes before the +lord he that hath any found, and then the Lord or the Master of the +hunting by the counsel of them all shall choose which they will move +and run to and which shall be the greatest hart and the highest deer. +And when they shall have eaten, the lord shall devise where the relays +shall go and other things which I shall say more plainly, and then +shall every man speed him to his place, and all haste them to go to +the finding. + +[205] G. de F. (p. 151) says "in great plenty," not "upon a great +platter." + +[Illustration: HOW TO QUEST FOR THE HART IN COVERTS (From MS. f. fr. +616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +HOW THE HART SHOULD BE MOVED WITH THE LYMER AND RUN TO AND SLAIN WITH +STRENGTH + + +_When the hart is harboured as before is said and they before named +come to the meeting that some men call the assembly, and also the +scantilon,[206] and the fumes well liked by the Lord and Master of the +Game, then shall the Master of the Game choose of the sergeants or of +the yeoman at horse, which of them shall be at the finding, or all, or +some. Nevertheless, if the deer be likely to fall among danger it were +good to assign some of the horsemen among the relays to help more +readily the hounds, if they fall upon the stint,[207] and when the +hunters on horseback be assigned then he must assign which of the +yeomen berners on foot shall be finders, and which hounds he shall +have with him to the finding, and the lymerer and the pages to go with +him. And after that to assign the relays by advice of them that know +the country and the flight of the deer._ + +[206] Measure of the deer's footprint. In old English, a measure +(Stratmann). + +[207] Wrong scent, or check. + +_And there where most danger is, there set the readiest hunters and +the best footers with the boldest hounds with them. And at every relay +sufficeth two couple of hounds or three at the most. And see that amid +the relays, somewhat toward the hinder-most relay, especially if it be +in danger, that one of the lymerer's pages be there with one of the +lymers. And the more danger_ (there is) _the older and the readier, +and the most tender nosed hound. And when all is ordained then shall +the Lord and the Master of the Game, if he liketh better to be at the +finding than with a relay, shall go thither where the deer is +harboured, and set ready waits about the quarter of the wood that the +deer is in, to see what cometh out, or to see if the deer that is +harboured would start and steal away ere the lymer moved him. And this +done, then should the Lord and Master of the Game bid the lymerer +bring them there where he marked that the hart went in, and when they +be there the lymerer should take away the boughs he laid over the +trace at the harbouring, and set his lymer in the fues, and then shall +the Lord if he can blow, blow three motes, and after him the Master of +the Game, and after the hunters, as they be greatest in office, that +be at the finding, and then the lymerer. And after that if the lymer +sue boldly and lustily the lymerer shall say to him loud; "Ho moy, ho +moy, hole hole hole." And ever take good heed to his feet, and look +well about him. And as oft as he findeth the fues, or if it be in +thick spires,[208] boughs or branches broken, where the deer hath +walked, he should say aloud--"Cy va--cy va--cy va," and rally with his +horn, and always should the yeoman berner the which is ordained to be +finder, follow the lymer and be as nigh him as he might with the +raches that he leadeth for the finding, and if the lymer as he sueth, +overshoot and be out of the fues, the lymerer should always, till his +hounds be fallen in again, speak to him, calling his name, be it +Loyer, or Beaumont, or Latimer or Bemond according to what the hound +is named, and anon as he falls in again and finds the fues or branches +as before is said he shall say loud, "Cy va" as before and rally and +so forth at every time that he findeth thereof, until that the lymer +move him. Nevertheless I have seen when a lymer sueth long and could +not so soon move him as men would, that they have taken up the lymer +and uncoupled one or two hounds, to have him sooner found, but this +truly no skilful hunter ought to do, unless the lymer cannot put it +forth, nor bring it any further, or that the deer be stirring in the +quarter, and hath not waited for the moving of the lymer. Or else that +it be so far advanced in the day, that the sun hath dried up the fues, +and that they have little day enough to run him and hunt him with +strength. But now to come again to the lymer, it is to wit that when +the lymer_ _hath moved him, if the lymerer can see him he shall blow a +mote,[209] and rechace_ (recheat),[210] _and if the deer be soule_ +(alone) _the Berners shall uncouple all the finders, and if he be not +alone two hounds sufficeth till he be separated, and if the lymerer +saw him _(not) _at the moving he should go to his lair and look +thereby whether it be a hart or not, and if he see by the lair or by +the fues that it is the same deer, that he hath sued_ (hunted) _and +alone he should rechase without a long mote, for the mote should never +be blown before the rechasing,[211] unless a man seeth that which he +hunteth for. And then the Berner should do as I have said before, and +if he be not alone the Berner should do as above is said, for it is to +wit that the mote before rechasing_ (recheating) _shall never be blown +but when a man seeth what he hunteth for, as I have said. Now +furthermore, when the hart is moved and the finders cast off, then +should the lymerer take up his hounds and follow after, and foot it in +the best wise that he can. And the Berner also and every horseman go +that can go, so that they come not into the fues_ (across the line) +_nor in front of the hounds, and shape_ (their course) _as often as +they can to meet him. And as often as any man see him or meet him, he +should go to the fues and blow a mote and rechace and then holloa to +the hounds to come forth withall, and this done, speed him fast in the +manner that I have said to meet with him again. And the relay that he_ +(the hart) _cometh to first should take good heed that he +vauntlay[212] not, if other relays be behind for dread of bending out +from the relay. But he should let the deer pass and go to the fues, +and there blow a mote, and rechace and rally upon the fues. And the +hunter ought to be advised that his hounds catch it _(the scent) _well +in couple, ere he relay, that they run not counter.[213] For that +might make the hounds that come therewith and the hunters to be on a +stynt _(at fault), _and peradventure not recover it all the day after. +And if it so be that the hunter that hath relayed, see that the deer +be likely to fall into danger, that is to say among other deer, and +else it needeth not, he should when he hath relayed stand still in the +fues, and holloa the hounds that come forth therewith and take up the +hindermost, and if it be in a park go stand again with them at his +place, and if it be out of park in a forest or other wood follow after +as well as he is able. And in this wise ought every relay to do till +he come among the back relays. For if they at the back see by the +spreading of the clees_ (claws) _by setting fast and deep his ergots_ +(dew claws) _in the earth, and if they see him also cast his +chaule,[214] then they ought to vauntlay for advantage of the hounds, +for so shall they sooner have him at bay, and from then he is but dead +if the hunters serve aright the hounds. Nevertheless men have seen at +the first finding or soon after, deer turn the head_ (to bay), _and +oftenest in rutting time, but I mean not of deer that turneth so to +bay, but I mean of hunted deer when men have seen of them the tokens +said before that he stand at bay. And if it be so that the hounds have +envoised[215] or have overshot, or that they be on a stynt by any +other ways, those hunters on horseback or on foot to whom belongs the +right, first should blow the stynt as I shall devise in a chapter that +shall be of all blowing.[216] And after that he should fall before the +hounds as soon as he can and take them up, and if so be that they have +envoysed two deer of antler[217] they should not be rated badly, but +get in front off them and take them off in the fairest way that men +can. And if they run ought else they should be got in front of and +rated and well lashed. And what hounds they may get up, bring them to +the next rights_ (right line) _if they know where, or else there where +he_ (the hart) _was last seen. And if it be great danger they ought to +blow a mote for the lymer and let him sue till he hath retrieved him +or else till he hath brought him out of danger. And as oft as he +findeth or seeth that he is in the rights the lymerer should say loud, +"Cy va" twice or thrice--and recheat, and so should the hunters as oft +as they lust to blow. And if the lymer overshoot or cannot put it +forth, every hunter that is there ought to go some deal abroad for to +see if he may find the rights by vesteying_ (searching) _thereof. And +whoso may find it before the lymer be fallen in again, he should +recheat in the rights, and blow after that a mote for the lymer and +sue forth as is said before. And if the lymer gave it up, and cannot +and will not do his devoire_ (duty), _then should they blow two motes +for the raches and cast them off there where they were last in the +rights. And if the hunters hear that the hounds run well and put it +lustily forth they should rout and jopey[218] to them lustily and +often and recheat also. And if there be but one hound that undertaketh +it lustily they shall hue and jopey to him, and also recheat. As oft +as they be on a stynt they should blow the stynt and do as before is +said. And if any of the aforesaid hounds retrieve him so that men may +know and hear it by the doubling of their menee,[219] but if they hear +any hunter above them that hath met_ (the deer) _that bloweth the +rights and holloaeth else_ (where) _they should haste them thither +where they thought the hounds retrieved it; or else to meet with the +hounds for to see the fues whether it be the hunted deer or not. And +if it is not he, they should do as above is said when they be on a +stynt, and if it be he every man shall speed him that speed may, and +every relay do as before is said. And if any of the hunters happen +while they be on a stynt to see a hart that he thinketh to be the +hunted deer he ought to blow a mote and recheat and after that blow +two motes for the hounds and stand still before the fues till the +Berner with the hounds do come. And if they suppose that they may not +hear him he should draw to them till they have heard him. And when any +of the Berners or the lymerer hear a man blow for them, they should +answer blowing in this wise in their horn: "trut trut trut," but he +should know readily by the fues after the tokens that have been said +before, whether it be the hunted deer or not. And in the same wise +shall a hunter do that findeth an hart quat_ (couched), _and he +thinketh it to be the hunted deer, and he sees that his fellows and +the hounds be on a stynt, he should well beware that he blow not too +nigh him, lest he start, and go away, before the hounds come. +Nevertheless for to wit whether it be the hunted deer or no, the +tokens have been rehearsed before--and when he hath been so well run +to and enchased and retrieved, and so oft relayed and vauntelayed to, +and that he seeth that_ (neither) _by beating up the rivers nor brooks +nor foiling him down, nor going to soil, nor rusing to and fro upon +himself, which is to say in his own fues, can help him, then turns he +his head and standeth at bay. And then as far as it may be heard every +man draweth thither, and the knowing thereof is that the hunter that +cometh first, and the hunters_ (one) _after the other they holloa all +together, and blow a mote and rechace all at once. And that they never +do but when he is at bay or when bay is made for the hounds, after he +is dead, when they should be rewarded or enquerreyde.[220] And when +the hunters that held the relays be there, or that they be nigh the +bay, they should pull off the couples from the hounds' necks and let +them draw thither. And the hunters should break the bay as often as +they can for two causes; the one lest he _(the stag) _hurt the hounds, +if he stand and rest long in one place; another is that the relays +that stand far can come up with their hounds the while he is alive, +and be at the death. And it is to be known that if any of the hunters +have been at any time while the deer hath been run to out of hearing +of hound and horn, he should have blown the forloyne,[221] unless he +were in a park, for there it should never be blown. And whoso first +heard him so blow should blow again to him the "perfect,"[222] if it +so be that he were in his rights, and else not. For by that shall he +be brought to readiness and comfort who before did not know where the +game or any of his fellows were. And when it so is, that they have +thought that the bay has lasted long enough, then should he whoso be +the most master bid some of the hunters go spay[223] him behind the +shoulder forward to the heart. But the lymerer should let slip the +rope while he_ (the deer) _stood on his feet, and let the lymer go to_ +(him), _for by right the lymer should never_ (go) _out of the rope, +though he_ (be let) _slip from ever so far. And when the deer is dead, +and lieth on one side then first it is time to blow the death, for it +should never be blown at hart hunting till the deer be on its side. +And then should the hounds be coupled up and as fast as a man can. One +of the Berners should encorne him, that is to say turn his horns +earthwards and the throat upwards, and slit the skin of the throat all +along the neck, and cut labelles_ (small flaps) _on either side of the +skin, the which shall hang still upon the head, for this belongeth to +an hart slain with strength, and else not. And then should the hunter +flay down the skin as far as he can, and then with a sharp trencher +cut as thick as he can the flesh down to the neck bone, and this done +every man stand abroad and blow the death, and make short bay for to +reward the hounds. And every man_ (shall) _have a small rod in his +hand to hold the hounds that they should the better bay and every man +blow the death that can blow. And as oft as any hunter beginneth to +blow every man shall blow for the death to make the better noise, and +make the hounds better know the horns and the bay, and when they have +bayed a while let the hounds come to eat the flesh, to the hard bone +from in front of the shoulders right to the head, for that is their +reward of right. And then take them off fair and couple them up again. +And then bring to the lymers and serve each by himself, and then +should the Lord if he list or else the Master of the Game, or if he be +absent whoso is greatest of the hunters, blow the prise at coupling +up, and that should be blown only of the aforesaid, and by no others. +Nevertheless it is to wit that if the Lord be not come soon enough to +the bay, while the deer is alive they ought to hold the bay as long as +they can, without rebuking the hounds, to await the Lord, and if the +Lord remains away too long, when the deer is spayed and laid on one +side, before they do ought else, the Master of the Game, or which of +the horsemen that be there at the death, should mount their horses and +every man draw his way blowing the death till one of them hath met +with him, or heard of him, and brought him thither. And if they cannot +meet with him, and that they have word that he is gone home, they +ought to come again, and do, whoso is greatest master, as the Lord +should do, if he were there, and right so should they do to the Master +of the Game in the Lord's absence. Also if the Lord be there all +things should be done of the bay and rewarding as before is said, and +then he should charge whom he list to undo the deer, if the hounds +shall not be enquyrid thereon, for if they should, there needeth no +more but to caboche[224] his head, all the upper jaw still thereon, +and the labelles aforesaid; and then hold him and lay the skin open, +and lay the head at the skin's end right in front of the shoulders. +And when the hounds are thus inquirreide the lymers should have both +the shoulders for their rights, and else they should not have but the +ears and the brain whereof they should be served, the hart's head +lying under their feet. But on the other hand if the lord will have +the deer undone, he that he biddeth as before is said, should undo him +most woodmanly and cleanly that he can and wonder ye not that I say +woodmanly, for it is a point that belongeth to woodmanscraft, though +it be well suiting to an hunter to be able to do it. Nevertheless it +belongeth more to woodmanscraft than to hunters, and therefore as of +the manner he should be undone I pass over lightly, for there is no +woodman nor good hunter in England that cannot do it well enough, and +well better than I can tell them. Nevertheless when so is that the +paunch is taken out clean and whole and the small guts, one of the +groom chacechiens should take the paunch and go to the next water +withal, and slit it, and cast out the filth and wash it clean, that no +filth abide therein. And then bring it again and cut it in small +gobetts in the blood that should be kept in the skin and the lungs +withal, if they be hot and else not, and all the small guts withal, +and bread broken therein according whether the hounds be few or many, +and all this turned and meddled together among the blood till it be +well brewed in the blood, and then look for a small green, and thither +bear all this upon the skin with as much blood as can be saved, and +there lay it, and spread the skin thereupon, the hair side upward, and +lay the head, the visage, forward at the neck end of the skin. And +then the lord shall go take a fair small rod in his hand, the which +one of the yeomen or of the grooms should cut for him, and the Master +of the Game and other, and the sergeants, and each of the yeomen on +horse, and others, and then the Lord should take up the hart's head by +the right side between the surroyal and the fork or troche whichever +it be that he bear, and the Master of the Game, the left side in the +same wise, and hold the head upright that the nose touch the earth. +And then every man that is there, save the berners on foot and the +chacechiens and the lymerers which should be with their hounds and +wait upon them in a fair green where there is a cool shadow, should +stand in front on either side of the head, with rods, that no hound +come about, nor on the sides, but that all stand in front. And when it +is ready the Master of the Game or the sergeant should bid the berners +bring forth their hounds and stand still in front of them a small +quoit's cast from thence, as the bay is ordained. And when they be +there the Master of the Game or sergeant should cry skilfully loud: +"Devour" and then holloa every wight, and every hunter blow the death. +And when the hounds be come and bay the head, the Berners should pull +off the couples as fast as they can. And when the Lord thinketh the +bay hath lasted long enough, the Master of the Game should pull away +the head and anon others should be ready to pull away the skin and let +the hounds come to the reward, and then should the Lord and Master of +the Game, and all the hunters stand around all about the reward, and +blow the death. As oft as any of them begin every man bear him +fellowship till the hounds be well rewarded, and that they have nought +left. And right thus should be done when the hounds should be +enquyrreied of the whole deer. And when there is nought left then +should the Lord, if he wishes, or else the Master of the Game or in +his absence whoso is greatest next him, stroke_ (blow) _in this wise, +that is to say blow four motes and stynt_ (stop) _not_ (for the time +of) _half an Ave Maria and then blow other four motes a little longer +than the first four motes. And thus should no wight stroke, but when +the hart is slain with strength, and when one of the aforesaid hath +thus blown then should the grooms couple up the hounds and draw +homewards fair and soft. And all the rest of the hunters should stroke +in this wise: "Trut, trut, tro-ro-row, tro-ro-row," and four motes all +of one length not too long and not too short. And otherwise should no +hart hunter stroke from thenceforth till they go to bed. And thus +should the Berners on foot and the grooms lead home the hounds and +send in front that the kennel be clean and the trough filled with +clean water, and their couch renewed with fresh straw. And the Master +of the Game and the sergeant and the yeoman at horse should come home +and blow the menee at the hall door or at the cellar door as I shall +devise. First the master, or whoso is greatest next him, shall begin +and blow three motes[225] alone, and at the first mote[226] the +remnant of the aforesaid should blow with him, and beware that none +blow longer than another, and after the three motes even forthwith +they should blow the recoupling as thus: "Trut, trut, trororo rout," +and that they be advised that from the time they fall in to blow +together, that none of them begin before_ (the) _other nor end after_ +(the) _other. And if it be the first hart slain with strength in the +season, or the last, the sergeant and the yeoman shall go on their +office's behalf and ask their fees of the which I report me to the old +statutes and customs of the King's house. And this done the Master of +the Game ought to speak to the officers that all the hunters' suppers +be well ordained, and that they drink not ale, and nothing but wine +that night for the good and great labour they have had for the Lord's +game and disport, and for the exploit and making of the hounds. And +also that they may the more merrily and gladly tell what each of them +hath done all the day and which hounds have best run and boldest._ + +[208] Shoots, fresh-growing young wood. + +[209] A long note. + +[210] Recheat, a hunting signal on the horn. + +[211] Recheating. See Appendix: Hunting-Music. + +[212] Vauntlay, to cast off the relay before the hounds already +hunting have passed. See Appendix: Relays. + +[213] Do not hunt heel: _contre_, counter. + +[214] Drop his jaw. (?) + +[215] Gone off the right line. + +[216] This chapter does not exist. + +[217] If the hounds have gone away after two stags. + +[218] Call to the hounds encouragingly. + +[219] Shirley MS.: "doubling of their mouths," from the Fr. _menee_. +See Appendix: Menee. + +[220] See Appendix: Curée. + +[221] A horn signal denoting that the chase is being followed at a +distance by those who blow. From the Fr. _fortloin_, written forlonge. +See Appendix: Forlonge. + +[222] A note sounded only by those who are on the right line. + +[223] To kill with a sword or hunting knife. See Appendix: Spay. + +[224] Cut off the head close behind the antlers. Shirley MS.: +"Cabache." + +[225] Shirley MS. says four notes. + +[226] Should read: "at the last moot." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +HOW AN HUNTER SHOULD SEEK AND FIND THE HARE WITH RUNNING HOUNDS AND +SLAY HER WITH STRENGTH + + +_Ere I speak how the hare should be hunted, it is to be known that the +hare is king of all venery, for all blowing and the fair terms of +hunting cometh of the seeking and the finding of the hare. For certain +it is the most marvellous beast that is, for ever she fumeth or +croteth and roungeth and beareth tallow and grease. And though men say +that she fumeth inasmuch as she beareth tallow, yet that which cometh +from her is not called fumes but croteys. And she hath teeth above in +the same wise as beneath. It is also to be known that the hare is at +one time male and another time female. When she is female sometimes +she kindles in three degrees, two rough, two smooth and two knots that +afterwards should be kindles, but this happeneth but seldom. Now for +to speak of the hare how he shall be sought and found and chased with +hounds. It is to be known what the first word_ (should be) _that the +hunter should speak to his hounds when he lets them out of the kennel. +When the door is opened he shall say loud: "Ho ho arere,"[227] +because that his hounds will come out too hastily. And when he +uncoupleth his hounds, he shall say to them when he comes into the +field: "Sto mon amy sto atrete," but when he is come forth into the +field he shall blow three motes and uncouple the hounds, then he shall +speak twice to his hounds in this wise, "Hors de couple, avaunt cy +avaunt"[228] and then he shall say thrice "So how" and no more; +afterward he shall say loud "Sa say cy avaunt" and then "Sa cy avaunt, +sa cy avaunt so how," and if he see the hounds draw fast from him and +would fain run, he shall say thus to them here: "How amy--how amy," +and then shall he say "Swe mon famy swef"[229] for to make them go +softly, and between always blow three motes. And if any of his hounds +find and own to the hare where he hath been, he shall say to them in +this wise: "Oyez a Beaumont le vaillant," or what the hound is called. +And if he seeth that the hare hath been at pasture in green corn or in +any other place and his hounds find of her and that they fall well in +enquest[230]_ (hunt) _and chase it well, then he shall say "La Douce, +la il a este"[231] and therewith "So howe" with a high voice, and if +his hounds chase not well at his pleasure and they grede_ (hunt) +_there where he has not pastured, then shall he say "Illeoqs +illeoqs"[232] in the same place while they seek her. And then he +should cast and look about the field, to see where she hath been and +whether she hath pastured or not, or whether she be in her form, for +she does not like to remain where she hath pastured except in time of +relief. If any hounds scent her, and she hath gone from thence to +another place, he shall say thus to his hounds as loud as he can: "Ha +cy douce cy et venuz arere, so howe."[233] And if he see that she be +gone to the plain or the field or to arable land or into the wood, if +his hounds get well on her scent, then he shall say: "La douce amy, il +ad est illeoqs"[234] and therewith he shall say: "so-how illeoqs, sy +douce cy vayllant"[235] and twice "so-howe," and when he is come there +where he supposeth the hare dwells then shall he say thus: "La douce +la est il venuz" and therewith thrice "so-howe" and no more. And if he +thinks he is sure to find her in any place then he shall say: "La +douce how-here, how-here, how-here, how-here, douce how-here +how-here," and when she is found and started he shall blow a mote and +rechase[236] and holloa as often as he wishes and then say loud: +"Oyez! a Beaumond" or what the hound is named, "le vailaunt oyez, +oyez, oyez, who-bo-lowe," and then "Avaunte assemble, avaunte." And +then should the horsemen keep well to one side and some way to the +front with long rods in their hands to meet with her, and so blowe a +mote and rechace and holloa and set the hounds in the rights if they +see her, and also for to prevent any hound following sheep, or other +beasts, and if they do to ascrie_ (rate) _them sorely and dismount and +take them up and lash them well, saying loud "Ware ware ha ha ware" +and lash them back to their fellows, and if it happens that the hare +be seated in her form in front of the hounds, and that they cannot +find her as soon as they would, then shall he say: "How-sa amy sa sa +acouplere, sa arere, so-how," but not_ (blow) _the stynt too soon. And +if he seeth that his hounds cannot put her up as soon as he would, +then shall he blow the stynt, and say loud: "ho ho ore swef a la +douce, a lui, a lui, so how assamy, assamy, la arere so-howe, venez +acouplere," and thus as oft as the aforesaid case happeneth. And as +oft as any hound catcheth it_ (the scent) _he should hue to him by his +name, and rout him to his fellows as before is said, but not rechace +till the hare be found, or that some man meet it and blow the rights +and holloa, or else that he findeth her pointing or pricking whichever +it be, for both mean the same, but some call it the one and some the +other. And if he find that he can well blow the rights and holloa and +jopey three or four times and cry loud "le voy, le voy," till the +hounds come thither and have well caught it. And_ (when) _she is +retrieved blow and holloa and rout to the hounds as it is said you +should do at the finding, and follow after and foot it who can foot +it. And if it happen when men hunt her and hounds chase her that she +squat anywhere before the hounds, and that any hunter find her +squatting, if the hounds be nigh about, he should blow a mote and +rechace and start her, and then halloa and rout to them as above is +said. And if he find her squat, and the hounds be far from him, then +should he blow as I last said before, and after two motes for the +hounds, and the berners that hear him should answer him thus "trut, +trut, trut" and draw all towards him with the hounds as fast as they +can, saying to their hounds: "so-how, mon amy, so-howe." And when they +be there and the hounds have all come up, they should check them with +one of their rods, and when she is started, blow, holloa and rout as +before is said, and according to what the case requireth, do as before +is said and devised. And when she hath been well chased and well +retrieved, notwithstanding her rusing and squatting and reseating, so +that by strength at last she is bitten by the hounds, whoso is nearest +should start to take her whole from them, and hold her in his one hand +over his head high, and blow the death that men may gather thither, +and when they be come, then should she be stripped, all save the head, +and the gall and the paunch cast away, and the remnant should be laid +on a great staff or on a board, whoso hath it, or on the earth, and +then it should be chopped as small as it can be, so that it hang +together; and when it is so done then should one of the berners take +it up with the head and hold it as high as he is able in his hands, +and then whoso is most master, blow the death, and anon as he +beginneth every man help and holloa. And when the hounds have bayed, +as long as is wished by the aforesaid most master, then should the +berner pull as high as he can every piece from the other and cast to +every hound his reward. And then should the most master blow a mote +and stroke, if so be that he thinks that the hounds have done enough, +and else he should rest awhile, if the hounds be hot, till they be +cooled, and then led to the water to lap. And then if he wish blow +three motes and uncouple and speak and so do as before is said. And if +they will seek a covert for the hare and set greyhounds without, they +should blow and seek and speak in the manner as before is said, save +that if the hounds find anything what so ever it be, he shall rally +and jopey till he has seen it, or that he knows what it is (and if it +be an hare do as above is said),[237] and if it be ought else he shall +blow drawing with his horn and cry loud "So-how mon amy, so-how, sto +arere, so-how, so-howe," and seek forthwith again with three long +motes till the hare be found. Yet nevertheless if they be hart-hunters +that seek a covert for the hare, and their hounds find a fox, whoso +meeteth with him should blow out upon him to warn the fewterers[238] +that there is a thief in the wood. And if they run at the hare and the +hare happen to come out to the greyhounds in front of the raches and +be killed, the fewterer that let run should blow the death and keep it +as whole as he may till the hunters be come, and then should they +reward the hounds as before is said._ + +[227] "Back there!" from the Fr. _arrière_. + +[228] "Out of couples, forward there, forward!" (Precisely the same +instructions are given by the later Twety and Gyfford.) + +[229] "Gently, my friend, gently!" + +[230] Quest, hunt, seek, also challenge. + +[231] "Softly, there he has been!" + +[232] "In this place," or "here, here." This passage, which reads +somewhat confusedly in our MS., is clearer in Twety and Gyfford +(_Reliquiæ Antiquæ_, vol. i. p. 149). It reads as follows: "And then +ye shall blowe iij notes, yf yowr hund ne chace not well hym, there +one ther another, as he hath pasturyd hym, ye shall say _'Illeosque, +illeosque, illeosque_,'" meaning that 3 motes should be blown where +the hare has pastured to bring your hounds to the place, _illeosque_ +meaning here, in this place. + +[233] "Softly there, here she has been, back there." Following this +the Shirley MS. and Twety and Gyfford contain a passage which our MS. +has not got: "And thenne _sa cy, a este sohow_, and afterwards _sa cy +avaunt_." + +[234] "Softly, my friend, she has been here." + +[235] "Here gently, here valiantly." + +[236] To call back the hounds from a wrong scent, the same as +"recheat." + +[237] The words in brackets are in the Shirley MS. + +[238] Huntsman holding hounds in leash. + +[Illustration: HARE-HUNTING WITH GREYHOUNDS AND RUNNING HOUNDS (From +MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + +[Illustration: HARE-DRIVING WITH LOW BELLS (From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. +Nat._, Paris)] + +[Illustration: NETTING HARES IN THEIR "MUSES" (From MS. f. fr. 616, +_Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE MANNER OF HUNTING WHEN THE KING WILL HUNT IN +FORESTS OR IN PARKS FOR THE HART WITH BOWS AND GREYHOUNDS AND STABLE + + +_The Master of the Game should be in accordance with the master +forester or parker where it should be that the King should hunt such a +day, and if the tract be wide, the aforesaid forester or parker should +warn the sheriff of the shire where the hunting shall be, for to order +sufficient stable,[239] and carts, also to bring the deer that should +be slain to the place where the curées at huntings have been usually +held. And thence he should warn the hunters and fewterers whither they +should come, and the forester should have men ready there to meet +them, that they go no farther, nor straggle about for fear of +frightening the game, before the King comes. And if the hunting shall +be in a park all men should remain at the park gate, save the stable +that ought to be set ere the King comes, and they should be set by the +foresters or parkers. And early in the morning the Master of the Game +should be at the wood to see that all be ready, and he or his +lieutenant or such hunters that he wishes, ought to set the greyhounds +and who so be teasers[240] to the King or to the Queen, or to their +attendants. As often as any hart cometh out he should when he passes +blow a mote and recheat, and let slip to tease it forth, and if it be +a stag, he should let him pass as I said and rally to warn the +fewterers what is coming out. And to lesser deer should no wight let +run, and if he hath seen the stag, not unless he were commanded.[241] +And then the master forester or parker ought to show him the King's +standing if the King would stand with his bow, and where all the +remnant of the bows would stand. And the yeoman for the King's bows +ought to be there to keep and make the King's standing, and remain +there without noise, till the King comes. And the grooms that keep the +king's dogs and broken greyhounds should be there with him, for they +belong to the yeomen's office, and also the Master of the Game should +be informed by the forester or parker what game the king should find +within the set,[242] and when all this is done, then should the Master +of the Game worthe_ (mount) _upon_ (his) _horse and meet the King and +bring him to his standing and tell him what game is within the set, +and how the greyhounds be set, and also the stable, and also tell him +where it is best for him to stand with his bow or with his greyhounds, +for it is to be known that the attendants of his chamber and of the +queen's should be best placed, and the two fewterers ought to make +fair lodges of green boughs at the tryste to keep the King and Queen +and ladies, and gentlewomen and also the greyhounds from the sun and +bad weather. And when the King is at his standing or at his tryste, +whichever he prefers, and the Master of the Game or his lieutenant +have set the bows and assigned who shall lead the Queen to her tryste, +then he should blow the three long motes for the uncoupling. And the +hart hounds and the harriers that before have been led by some +forester or parker thither where they should uncouple, and all the +hounds that belong to both the mutes_ (packs) _waiting for the Master +of the Game's blowing. Then should the sergeant of the mute of the +hart-hounds, if there be much rascal within the set, make all them of +office, save the yeomen of the horse, hardel[243] their hounds, and in +every hardel two or three couple of hounds at the most suffice. And +then to stand abroad in the woods for relays, and then blow three +motes to the uncoupling. And then should the harrier uncouple his +hounds and blow three motes and seek forth saying loud and long, "hoo +sto ho sto, mon amy, ho sto" and if they draw far from him in any +unruly manner he should speak to them in that case as when he seeketh +for the hare. And as oft as he passes within the set from one quarter +to another, he should blow drawing, and when he is passed the boundary +of the quarter, and entered into a new quarter, he should blow three +motes and seek forth, but if so be, that his hounds enchace anything +as he wishes, and if any hound happen to find of the King's_ (game), +_he should hue to him by his name and say loud: "Oyez a Bemond, +oyez-oyez, assemble, assemble," or what the hound is named, "assemble, +assemble" and jopey and rally. And if it be an hart and any of the +hart hounds meet with it they should blow a mote and rechace and +relay, and go forth therewith all rechacing among. And if it come to +the bows or to greyhounds and be dead, he should blow the death when +he is come thither, and reward his hounds a little, and couple them up +and go again to his place. And if the hart has escaped he should no +longer rechace, but blow drawing and draw in again, and in the best +way that he can, take up his hounds and get in front of them. And +after that the harriers have well run and well made the rascal +void,[244] then should the sergeant and the berners of the hart hounds +blow three motes, the one after the other and uncouple there where +they suppose the best ligging_ (lair) _is for a hart, and seek as +before is said; unless it be the season when the hart's head is +tender, then he shall use some of the aforesaid words of seeking to +the hounds: "Le doulez, mon amy, le doulez, le doules," and if his +hounds find anything do as before is said, and if it be a hart, do as +above is said, as he may know by his fues or by men that meet with +him. And if it be ought else, the berner ought to blow drawing, and +who meeteth with him_ (the hart) _call to them, and the berner should +say "Sto arere so how, so how." And if the lymerer meet withal, or see +by the fues that it is an hart, he should sue thereto till he be dead. +If it go to the greyhounds and if it go to the bows, and be smitten +anon, as he findeth blood he should take up his hounds and lead them +thence and reward them a little, and then if he escape out of the set, +he should reward his hounds, and take them up and go again to the wood +and look if he may meet with anything. And as often as he meeteth and +findeth, or his hounds run on a fresh scent, do as before is said. And +one thing is to be known, that the hart-hounds should never be +uncoupled before any other, unless a hart be readily harboured, and +that he may be sued to and moved with the lymer, or else that they be +uncoupled to a herd of great male deer at the view, namely within a +set in a forest or in a park, there where there is a great change of +rascal. And that is the cause why the other hounds shall be first +uncoupled to make the rascal void, for small deer will sooner leave +their covert than will a great hart, unless it be a hind that hath her +calf in the wood, and hath lately calved. And when the rascal is thus +voided then the hart hounds are uncoupled and they find the great old +wily deer that will not lightly void, and they enchace him well and +lustily and make him void both to bows and to greyhounds, so that they +fully do their duty. And all the while that the hunting lasteth should +the carts go about from place to place for to bring the deer to the +curée. And there should the server[245] of the hall be to arrange the +curées, and to lay the game in a row, all the heads one way--and every +deer's feet to the other's back. The harts should be laid in two or +three rows_ (by themselves) _according to whether there be many or +few, and the rascal in the same way by themselves, and they should +take care that no man come within the curées till the King come, save +the Master of the Game. And when the covert is well hunted and +cleared, then should the Master of the Game come to the King to know +if he would hunt any more. And if the King say yea, then shall the +Master of the Game if the greyhounds or bows or stable need not to be +removed, blow two long motes for the hounds, and forthwith blow +drawing with three long motes that men should stand still, and the +hunters may know that they should come to a new seeking with their +hounds. And when the hounds be come there where they should uncouple +blow three long motes and do and seek and blow, as is before said. And +if the bows and greyhounds and stable should be removed, then should +he blow a mote and stroke, without the mote in the middle, for to draw +men together, and thereby may men know that the king will hunt more +ere he go home. And when men come together, then should the Master of +the Game see to the placing of the King and of the Queen and of the +bows and of the greyhounds and of the stable, as I have said here +before, and the hunters to their seeking, and of all other things do +in the same manner as I have said. And if the king will hunt no more, +then should the Master of his Game, if the King will not blow, blow a +mote and stroke with a mote in the middle and the sergeant or whoso +bloweth next him, and no man else, should blow the first mote but only +the middle, and so every man as oft as he likes to stroke, if they +have obtained that which they hunted for. And the middle mote should +not be blown save by him that bloweth next the master. And thereby may +men know as they hear men stroke homeward whether they have well sped +or not. And this way of stroking should serve in the manner I have +rehearsed for all hunting save when the hart is slain with strength. +And when the mote is blown and stroked, then should the Master of the +Game lead the King to the curée, and show it him, and no man as I have +said above should come within it, but every man_ (keep) _without it. +And then the King shall tell the Master of the Game what deer he would +were_ (given away) _and to whom, and_ (after this) _if the King wishes +to stay he may. Nevertheless he usually goes home when he hath done +this. And then should the Master of the Game begin at one row and so +forth, and tythe all the deer right as they lie, rascal and others, +and deliver it to the proctors of the church that ought to have it. +And then_ (separate) _the deer that the king commandeth him to +deliver, and if any of them that should have part of the deer be not +there he should charge the master forester to send it home, and then +he should deliver a certain_ (part) _of the remnant to the afore said +sewers and to the sergeant of the larder and the remnants should be +given by the Master of the Game, some to the gentlemen of the country +by the information of the forester or parker, as they have been +friendly to the bailie, and the remnant to the officers and hunters as +he liketh best. And it is to be known that every man bow and fewterer +that hath slain anything should mark it that he might challenge his +fee, and have it at the curée, but let him beware that he marks no +lord's mark nor_ (other) _fewterers nor hunters, or he will lose his +fee. And also it is to be known that the fees of all follies belong to +the master of the harriers, if so be that he or his deputy be at the +hunting, and blow three motes and else not, in which case the Master +of the Game can give it to whom he wishes save what the King slayeth +with his bow or the Queen or my lord the prince, or that which they +bid with their own mouth to let run to. And all shall be judged folly +of red deer which is beneath the hart, and of fallow deer which is +beneath the buck, nevertheless if the harrier would challenge the deer +for folly, and it is not folly, if there be a strife with him who +asketh the fee, the Master of the Game shall judge it, and right so +shall he do of all these strifes for fees between bow and bow, and +fewterer and fewterer, and of all other strifes and discords that +belong to hunting. And when all the deer be delivered, and the hunters +and the fewterers of the kennel be assigned to undo the deer that be +delivered for the king's larder, then should the grooms chacechiens of +the hart-hounds gather the paunches and small guts together and do +with them as is advised in the chapter of the hart hunting with +strength, and get them a skin to lie thereover, and do as in the same +chapter described with the greatest and best head_ (antlers) _that +they can find in all the curée. Save the blowing of the prise and the +stroking and the menee, the bay should wait till the curées be done, +and the flesh taken away, and there should the Master of the Game be, +and the sergeant and all the yeomen and grooms of the office. And if +the greyhounds[246] shall be rewarded it should be done right as is +devised in the aforesaid chapter, except that the blowings above +described shall be left out. And also whosoever slew the deer the +yeomen of the office should have the skin that lyeth upon the deer +when the hounds are rewarded. And also it is to know that the harriers +when they have run shall be rewarded with the paunches and guts, but +there is no need to make a long bay with the hart's head to them, for +they are made to run and chase all game that one wishes, and that is +the cause why the master of them has the fees of all deer save the +hart and the buck, unless it be in the certain case before mentioned. +And when the curée is done, and the bay made, then is the time for +every man to draw homeward to his supper and to make himself as merry +as he can. And when the yeomen berners and grooms have led home the +hounds and set them well up and supplied them with water and straw +according to what they need, then should they go to their supper and +drink well and make merry. And of the fees it is to be known that the +man whoever he be, who has smitten a deer while posted at his tree +with a death-stroke so that the deer be got before the sun goes down, +he shall have the skin. And if he be not posted or has gone from his +tree, or has done otherwise than is said, he shall have none. And as +of the fewterers, if they be posted, the first teaser and +receiver[247] that draweth the deer down shall divide the skin.[248] +Nevertheless in other lord's hunting whoso pincheth first and goeth +therewith to the death he shall have the skin. And all the deer's +necks are the hunters, and one shoulder and the chine is his that +undoeth the deer, and the other shoulder is the forester's or the +parker's fee that keepeth the bailie that is hunted. And all the skins +of harts slain with strength of the hart-hounds, belong to the master +of the hart-hounds as his fee, that is to say he that hath the wages +of twelve pence a day for the office. It is to be known that when the +king hunteth in the park or in the forest with bows and greyhounds, +and it happens that any hart be slain with strength of hart-hounds, +all the hart hunters after the King or the Master of his Game have +blown a mote and stroked, all day they should stroke the assise that +belongeth to the hart slain with strength, but not with eight long +motes, but with four short and four long motes, as is in the aforesaid +chapter plainly devised. And all the other hunters should stroke the +common stroking as is above described and said._ + +[239] Men and hounds stationed at different places, usually on the +boundaries of the district in which the game was to be roused and +hunted, or at convenient passes from whence the hounds could be +slipped at the game. + +[240] Teasers, a small hound to tease forth or put up the game. + +[241] A difficult sentence to unravel. In the Shirley MS. it runs: +"and yif hit have eseyne nought to ye stagge, but yif he were +avaunced." + +[242] "Within the set" means within that quarter of the forest or park +around which are set or stationed the men and hounds, called the +stable. + +[243] To tie the couples of hounds together. + +[244] Made the smaller deer clear out of the forest. + +[245] The beginning of this sentence relating to the "server of the +hall" is not in our MS. but in the Shirley MS. + +[246] Shirley MS., "harthounds." + +[247] Shirley MS. has "resteynour." + +[248] This means that the men in whose charge the teasers and +receivers were placed were given the skin or fee. + +[Illustration: THE "UNDOING" OR GRALLOCHING OF THE HART THE MASTER +INSTRUCTING HIS HUNTERS HOW IT IS DONE (From MS. f. fr. 616, _Bib. +Nat._, Paris)] + +[Illustration: HART-HUNTING WITH GREYHOUNDS AND RACHES (From MS. f. +fr. 616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + +[Illustration: THE "CUREE" OR REWARDING OF THE HOUNDS (From MS. f. fr. +616, _Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + + END OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM MS. + VESPASIAN B. XII. + +THE FOLLOWING IS THE CONCLUDING PASSAGE OF THE SHIRLEY MANUSCRIPT +(Add. MS. 16, 165) IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM:-- + + +_Now I pray unto every creature that hath heard or read this little +treatise of whatever estate or condition he be that there where there +is too little of good language that of their benignity and grace they +will add more, and there where there is too much superfluity that they +will also abridge it as may seem best by their good and wise +discretion. Not presuming that I had over much knowledge and ability +to put into writing this royal disportful and noble game of hunting so +effectually that it might not be submitted to the correction of all +gentle hunters. And in my simple manner as best I could and as might +be learned of old and many diverse gentle hunters, I did my business +in this rude manner to put the craft and the terms and the exercise of +this said game more in remembrance and openly to the knowledge of all +lords, ladies, gentlemen and women, according to the customs and +manners used in the high noble court of this Realm of England._ + +FINIS + + + + +APPENDIX + + +ACQUILLEZ, Fr., to take, to hold at bay, to gather. "Et s'il voit que +les chiens heussent acueili le change" (G. de F., p. 156)--"if he sees +that the hounds have taken the change." It also denotes: "owning to +the scent" (Senechal, p. 8; Roy Modus, xxix. v). + +Twici says: "Les chevereaus ne sunt mie enchacez ne aquyllees," which +Dryden translates, "the roebuck is not chased nor hunted up," from +_enquiller_ or _aquiller_, O. Fr. a form of _accuellir_, to push, put +in motion, excite. "The word in English which is nearest to it is 'to +imprime,' which was afterwards used for the unharbouring of the hart" +(Twici, p. 26). + +In the old English translation of Twici (Vesp. B. XII.) _aquylees_ is +construed "gadered," which is certainly one sense, but not the one +here required (Twici, p. 53). + +The "Master of Game" translates _ils accueillent_ in G. de. F., p. +112, by "they run to them" (p. 111. _See also_ Godefroy). + + +AFFETED, Mid. Eng., _affaiten_; O. Fr. _affaitier_, to trim, to +fashion. A well-affaited or affeted head, a well-fashioned or +good-shaped head. In speaking of stags' antlers, means regularly tined +and well grown. + +_Affeted_ also meant trained or tamed, reclaimed, made gentle, +thoroughly manned. _Affaiter_ is still in use in M. Fr., as a term of +falconry. + +We find this word employed in this sense in the Vision of Piers +Plowman (1362): "And go affayte the Fawcons, wilde fowles to kill." +And in O. Fr. sporting literature one constantly reads of "Chiens +bien, affaities" (well-broken dogs); "oiseaux bien affaities" +(well-trained hawks). Roy Modus, lxxix.; Bormans, p. 52; _La Chace dou +Cerf_, Jub. 157; T.M. vol. ii. p. 933. + + +ALAUNTES, _Allaunts_, _Canis Alanus_; Fr. _alans_. Also spelt +_alande_, _alaunt_, _allaundes_, _Aloundys_ (MS. Brit. Mus., Egerton, +1995). _See also_ Twici, p. 56. + +A strong, ferocious dog, supposed to have been brought to Western +Europe by a Caucasian tribe called Alains or Alani. This tribe invaded +Gaul in the fourth century, settling there awhile, and then continued +their wanderings and overran Spain. It is from this country that the +best _alans_ were obtained during the Middle Ages, and dogs that are +used for bull-or bear-baiting there are still called _Alanos_. Gaston +de Foix, living on the borders of this country, was in the best +position to obtain such dogs, and to know all about them. His +description, which we have here, tallies exactly with that written in +a Spanish book, _Libro de la Monteria_, on hunting of the fourteenth +century, written by Alphonso XI. + +Alauntes were used as war dogs, and it was said that when once they +seized their prey they would not loose their hold. + +Cotgrave (Sherwood's App.) says that the mastiff resembles an Alan, +and also Wynn in his book on the "British Mastiff" (p. 45) says that +he is inclined to think that the Alan is the ancient name for mastiff, +and thinks it possible that the Ph[oe]nicians brought this breed to +the British Isles. He cannot have known the description given us of +the Alan by the "Master of Game," nor can he have been acquainted with +the work of Gaston Ph[oe]bus, for he says that the Alan is not +mentioned among any of the earlier dogs of France and Germany. There +is ample evidence that they existed in France from very early days. +Probably they were relics left there by the Alani in their wanderings +through Gaul. About the same period as our MS. we find Alans mentioned +by Chaucer, who in the "Knight's Tale" describes Lycurgus seated on +his throne, around which stand white _Alaunts_ as big as bulls wearing +muzzles and golden collars. + +The ancient Gallo-Latin name of _veltrahus_, or _veltris_, which in +the first instance denoted a large greyhound used for the chase of the +bear and wild boar, passed later to a different kind of dog used for +the same purpose. These _veltres_, _viautres_, or _vautres_ were also +known under the name of Alan, and resembled the Great Dane or the +German Boarhound (De Noir., vol. ii. p. 295-7). + + +ANTLER, O. Fr. _auntilor_, _antoiller_, or _andoiller_, derived from a +Teutonic root; Anglo-Saxon _andwlit_; Frank. _antlutt_ or _antluzze_; +Goth. _andawleiz_; O. Ger. _antliz_; face. Gaston Ph[oe]bus and Roy +Modus and other old French authors almost invariably use _teste_, or +head, when referring to a hart's antlers, but English writers did not +observe time-hallowed terms of venery so rigorously, and our author +frequently uses the jarring and, from every point of view, incorrect +term "horns" when speaking of the hart's attire or head. The substance +of deers' antlers is true bone, the proportion of their constituents +differing but very slightly from ordinary bones. The latter, when in a +healthy condition, consist of about one-third of animal matter or +gelatine, and two-thirds of earthy matter, about six-sevenths of which +is phosphate of lime and one-seventh carbonate of lime, with an +appreciable trace of magnesia. The antlers of deer consist of about +thirty-nine parts of animal matter and sixty-one parts of earthy +matter of the same kind and proportion as is found in common bone. +Later on, a more sportsmanlike regard for terms of venery is +observable, and Turbervile in one of his few original passages +impresses upon his fellow-sportsmen: "Note that when you speake of a +harts hornes, you must terme them the Head and not the Hornes of a +hart. And likewise of a bucke; but a Rowes hornes and a Gotes hornes +are tollerable termes in Venery" (1611, p. 239). + +Up to the end of the seventeenth century it was customary when +speaking of a stag's head to refer only to the tines "on top," or the +"croches" or "troches," leaving unconsidered the brow, bez and trez +tines, which were called the stag's "rights," and which every +warrantable hart was supposed as a matter of course to possess. When +referring to the number of tines a head bore, it was invariably the +rule to use only even numbers, and to double the number of tines borne +by the antler which had most. Thus, a stag with three on each top was +a head of "twelve of the less" (or "lasse"); "twelve of the greater" +when he had three and four on top, or, counting the rights, six and +seven tines, or, as a modern Scotch stalker would call it, a +thirteen-pointer. The extreme number of tines a hart was supposed to +bear was thirty-two. + + +BERCELET, barcelette, bercelette, is a corruption of the O. Fr. +_berseret_, a hunting dog, dim. of _bersier_, a huntsman; in Latin, +_bersarius_, French, _berser_, _bercer_, to hunt especially with the +bow. _Bercel_, _biercel_, meant a butt or target. Italian, +_bersaglio_, an archer's butt, whence _bersagliere_, archer or +sharpshooter (Oxford, and Godefroy Dict.). + +Given the above derivation, it may be fairly accepted that _bercelet_ +was a dog fitted to accompany a hunter who was going to shoot his +game--a shooting dog. The "Master of Game's" allusion also points to +this. He says some mastiffs (_see_ Mastiff) become "_berslettis_, and +also to bring well and fast a wanlace about." We might translate this +sentence: "There are nevertheless some (mastiffs) that become shooting +dogs, and retrieve well and put up the game quickly" (_see_ Appendix: +Wanlace). + +Jesse conceives _bracelettas_ and _bercelettus_ to come from +_brache_, but that can scarcely be so, as we see the two words used +together, as the following quotations will show: + + "Parler m'orez d'un buen brachet. + Qens ne rois n'ont tel berseret." + + T. M. i. 14404. + +When the fair Ysolt is parting from her lover Tristan she asks him to +leave her this same brachet, and says that no huntsman's shooting dog +will be kept with more honour: + + "Husdent me lesse, ton brachet. + Ainz berseret à vénéor + N'ert gardeé à tel honor + Comme cist sera." + + _Ibid._ i. 2660. + +Jesse quotes Blount's "Antient Tenures": "In the 6th of John, Joan, +late wife of John King, held a serjeantry in Stanhow, in the county of +Norfolk, by the service of keeping 'Bracelettum deymerettum of our +Lord the King,'" and Jesse thinks these might have been a bitch pack +of deerhounds, overlooking the fact that it was only in later days +that the words _brache_ and _rache_ were used for bitch hounds. As +_deymerettum_ meant fallow deer, the _bracelettum_ or _bercelettum +deymerettum_ may be taken, I think, to mean those hounds that were +used for buck-shooting (Jesse, ii. 21). + + +BERNER, bernar; O. Fr. _bernier_, _brenier_, a man who has the charge +of hounds, a huntsman, or, perhaps, would be more accurately described +as a kennelman. The word seems to have been derived from the French +_brenier_ or _bernier_, one who paid his dues to his feudal lord in +bran of which bread was made for the lord's hounds. _Brenage_, +_brennage_, or _bernage_ was the tenure on which land was held by the +payment of bran, and the refuse of all grains, for the feeding of +hounds. Berner in its first sense meant finder of bran, then feeder +of hounds. This word seems to have remained in use in England long +after it had disappeared from the language of French venery. Gaston no +longer uses the word _berner_, but has _valet de chiens_. + + +BISSHUNTERS, furhunters. Our MS. (p. 74) declares that no one would +hunt conies unless they were bisshunters, that is to say rabbits would +not be hunted for the sake of sport, but only for the sake of their +skins. Bisse, bys, byse was a fur much in vogue at the period of our +MS., as its frequent mention in contemporaneous records testifies. + + +BLENCHES, trick, deceit; O. N. _blekkja_ (Strat.). Blanch, or blench, +to head back the deer in its flight. Blancher or blencher, a person or +thing placed to turn the deer in a particular direction. + + +BOCE, from the French _bosse_, O. Fr. _boce_, boss, hump or swelling. +Cotgrave says: "Boss, the first putting out of a Deere's head, +formerly cast, which our woodmen call, if it bee a red Deere's, the +burle, or seale, and, if a fallow Deeres, the button." + + +BOUGHS, bowes (_brisées_). When the huntsman went to harbour the deer +he broke little branches or twigs to mark the place where he noticed +any signs of a stag. Also, at times during the chase he was instructed +to do the same, placing the twigs pointing towards the direction the +stag had gone, so that if the hounds lost the scent he could bring +them back to his last markings, and put them on the line again. In +harbouring the stag a twig was broken off and placed in front of the +slot with the end pointing in the direction in which the stag was +going; each time the harbourer turned in another direction a twig was +to be broken and placed so as to show which way he took; sometimes the +twig was merely bent and left hanging on the tree, sometimes broken +off and put into the ground (in French this was called making _brisées +hautes_ or _brisées basses_). When making his ring-walks round the +covert the harbourer was told to put a mark to every slot he came +across; the slot of a stag was to be marked by scraping a line behind +the heel, of a hind by making a line in front of the toe. If it was a +fresh footing a branch or twig should be placed as well as the +marking, for a hind one twig, for a stag two. If it be a stale trace +no twig must be placed. Thus, if he returned later, the hunter would +know if any beast had broken from or taken to covert since he +harboured his stag in the morning. When the harbourer went to "move" +the stag with his limer he was to make marks with boughs and branches +so that the berners with their hounds should know which way to go +should they be some distance from the limer (Roy Modus, x. v; xii. r; +xiii. r; Du Fouilloux, 32 r). Blemish is the word used by Turbervile +for _brisées_ (Turbervile, 1611, p. 95, 104, 114). + + +CHANGE. The change, in the language of stag hunting, was the +substitution of one deer for another in the chase. After the hounds +have started chasing a stag, the hunted animal will often find another +stag or a hind, and pushing it up with its horns or feet will oblige +it to get up and take his place, lying down himself in the spot where +he found the other, and keeping quiet, with his antlers close over his +back, so that the hounds will, if care is not taken, go off in chase +of the substitute. Sometimes a stag will go into a herd of deer and +try to keep with them, trying to shake off his pursuers, and thus give +them the change. + +A hound that sticks to the first stag hunted, and refuses to be +satisfied with the scent of another deer, is called a staunch hound, +one who will not take the change, which was considered one of the most +desirable qualities in a staghound. G. de F., in speaking of the +different kinds of running hounds, says that there were some that, +when they came to the change, they would leave off speaking to the +scent, and would run silently until they found the scent of their stag +again (G. de F., p. 109). + + +CURÉE, Kyrre, Quyrreye, or Quarry. The ceremony of giving the hounds +their reward was thus called because it was originally given to the +hounds on the hide or _cuir_ of the stag. + +Twici, the huntsman of Edward II., says that after the stag is taken +the hounds should be rewarded with the neck and bowels and the liver. +("Et il se serra mange sur le quir. E pur ceo est il apelee +quyrreye.") When the hounds receive their reward after a hare-hunt he +calls it the hallow. In the "Boke of St. Albans" we find the quarry +given on the skin, and it is only in the "Master of Game" that it is +expressly stated that a nice piece of grass was to be found on which +the hounds' mess was to be put, and the hide placed over it, hair-side +upwards, the head being left on it and held up by the antlers, and +thus drawn away as the hounds rush up to get their share. According to +Turbervile, in his day the reward was placed _on_ the hide; at least +he does not in his original chapter on the breaking up of the deer +notice any such difference between the French and English customs. In +France, it is as well to expressly state, the _curée_ was always given +on the hide until the seventeenth century, but after that it seems the +hide was placed over it just as described in our text (De Noirmont, +vol. ii., p. 458). Preceding the quarry came the ceremonial breaking +up of the deer. The stag was laid on its back with feet in the air, +slit open, and skinned by one of the chief huntsmen, who took a pride +in doing it according to laws of woodmanscraft. They took a pride in +not turning up their sleeves and performing everything so daintily +that their garments should show no bloodstains; nobles, and princes +themselves, made it a point of honour to be well versed in this art. +After the skinning was done, it was customary to give the huntsman who +was "undoing" the deer a drink of wine; "and he must drinke a good +harty draught: for if he should break up the dear before he drinke the +Venison would stink and putrifie" (Turb., 1611, p. 128). + +In the "Master of Game" the limers were rewarded after the other +hounds, but they were never allowed to take their share with the pack. + +The bowels or guts were often reserved, and put on a large wooden +fork, and the hounds were allowed to have this as a sort of dessert +after they had finished their portion. They were halloaed to by the +huntsman whilst he held the fork high in the air with cries of _Tally +ho!_ or _Tiel haut!_ or _Lau, lau!_ This tit-bit was then thrown to +them. This was called giving them the _forhu_, from the word +_forthuer_, to whoop or holloa loudly. Probably our term of giving the +hounds the holloa was derived from this. It was done to accustom the +hounds to rally round the huntsman when excited by a similar halloaing +when they were hunting, and had lost the line of the hunted beast. + +In some instances the daintiest morsels were reserved for the King or +chief personage, and for this purpose placed on a large wooden fork as +they were taken from the deer. The vein of the heart and the small +fillets attached to the loins (Turbervile says also the haunches, part +of the nombles and sides) should also be kept for the lord, but these +were generally recognised as the perquisites of the huntsmen, +kennelmen, foresters, or parkers. + + +EXCREMENTS, fumes, fewmets, obs. term for the droppings of deer. From +the Fr. _fumées_. G. de F. says that the droppings of all deer, +including fallow and roe deer, are to be called _fumées_. The "Master +of Game," no doubt following the custom then prevalent in England, +says the droppings of the hart only are to be called fumes, and of +the buck and the roebuck croties. The following names are given to +droppings by-- + + GASTON DE FOIX AND MASTER OF GAME + + Of the hart } Of the hart--Fumes. + " buck } Fumées " buck } + " roebuck } " roebuck } Croteys. + " bear } " wild boar } + " wild boar } Laisses. " black beasts } Lesses. + " wolf } " wolves } + " hare and conies--Crotes. " hare and Conies--Croties. + " fox, badger, and } " fox--The wagging. + stinking beasts } Fiantes. " grey or badger--The Wardrobe. + " otter--Spraintes. " stinking beasts--The Drit. + " otter--Spraintes. + +Other forms of this term are: fewmets, fewmishing, crotels, +crotisings, freyn, fuants, billetings, and spraits. + + +FENCE MONTH. The month so called began, according to Manwood, fifteen +days before and ended fifteen days after midsummer. During this time +great care was taken that no men or stray dogs should be allowed to +wander in the forest, and no swine or cattle were allowed to feed +within the precincts, so that the deer should be absolutely +undisturbed during three or four weeks after the fawning season. He +tells us that because in this month there must be watch and ward kept +with men and weapons for the fence and defence of wild beasts, for +that reason the same is called fence or defence month (Man., p. 76, +ed. 1598). + + +FEWTE, fuite, fute (M. E.), O. Fr. fuite (_voie de cerf qui fuit_), +track, trace, foot. Gawaine: feute. Will of Palerne (90): foute. Some +beasts were called of the sweet _fute_, and some of the stinking +_fute_. The lists of the beasts which should come under either heading +vary somewhat; some that are placed by the "Boke of St. Albans" under +"Swete fewte" coming under the other category in the MS. Harl., 2340. + + IN "BOKE OF ST. ALBANS." IN HARL. MS. 2340, FOL. 50B. + + _Beasts of "Swete fewte."_ + + The Buck, the Doo, the Beere, the The Buke, the Doo, the Ber, + Reynd, the Elke, the Spycard, the the Reyne der, the Elke, + Otre, and the Martwn. the Spycard. + + _Beasts of the "Stinking fewte."_ + + The Roobucke, the Roo, the The Fulmard, the Fechewe, + Fulmard, the Fyches, the Bauw, the Catt, the Gray, the + the Gray, the Fox, the Squirrel, Fox, the Wesyll, the + the Whitecat, the Otyr, the Stot, Marteron, the Squirrel, the + the Pulcatt. Whyterache, the Otyr, the + Stote, the Polcatte. + +In Roy Modus the beasts are also divided into _bestes doulces_ and +_bestes puans_. The reasons for doing so are also given (fol. lxii.): +"_Les bestes doulces sont: le cerf, la biche, le dain, le chevreul et +le lièvre. Et sont appelées doulces pour trois causes: La première si +est que d'elles ne vient nulle mauvais senteur; la seconde, elles ont +poil de couleur aimable, lequel est blond ou fauve; la tierce cause, +ce ne sont mie bestes mordans comme les autres cincq, car elles n'ont +nulz dens dessus; et pour ces raisons puent bien estre nommées bestes +doulces._" Under the _bestes puans_ are classed the wild boar, the +wild sow, the wolf, the fox, and the otter. + + +FEWTERER, the man that lets loose the greyhounds (Blome, p. 27); from +_veltraria_, a dog leader or courser; originally one who led the dogs +called _veltres_, _viautres_ (_see_ Veltres). In Gallo-Latin, +Veltrahus. It has been asserted that the word fewterer is a +corruption of _vautre_ or _viautre_, a boarhound, but although both +evidently owe their origin to the same parent-word, fewterer can +scarcely be derived from _vautre_, a boarhound. It was only in the +Middle Ages in France that the word _vautre_, from originally meaning +a powerful greyhound, was applied to a large boarhound. Fewterers in +England appear invariably as attendants on greyhounds, not boarhounds. +Another derivation has been also given from fewte, foot or track, a +fewterer being, according to this, a huntsman who followed the track +of the beast. But _venator_ was the contemporary designation for a +huntsman, and as far as we can ascertain the fewterer was always +merely a dog-leader. + + +FORLONGE, forloyng, forlogne, from the Fr. _fort loin_. G. de F. says, +"flies far from the hounds," _i.e._ having well distanced them ("_Fuit +de fort longe aux chiens, c'est a dire que il les ait bien +esloinhes_"). Hounds are said to be hunting the forlonge when the deer +is some way in front of them, or when some of the hounds have got away +with the deer and have outpaced the rest. As our MS. (p. 173) says, +the forlogne should be blown if the stag has run out of hearing of +hound and horn, but it should not be blown in a park. In old French +hunting literature it is an expression one constantly comes across. + +Twici, writing almost a hundred years earlier than the Duke of York, +says: "The hart is moved and I do not know where the hart is gone, nor +the gentlefolk, and for this I blow in that manner. What chase do we +call this? We call that chase The chase of the forloyng." + +Forloyneth: "When a hound meeteth a chase and goeth away with it far +before the rest then we say he forloyneth" (Turber., ed 1611, p. 245). + + +FOX. According to the laws of Canute the fox was neither reckoned as a +beast of venery nor of the forest. In Manwood's Forest Laws he is +classed as the third beast of chase (p. 161), as he is also in Twety +and Gyfford, and the "Boke of St. Albans." + +Although early records show that the English Kings kept their +foxhounds, we hear nothing of their having participated in this sport, +but they seem to have sent their hounds and huntsmen about the country +to kill foxes, probably as much for the value of the pelt as for +relieving the inhabitants of a thievish neighbour. + +In Edward's I.'s Wardrobe Accounts, 1299-1300, appear some interesting +items of payments made to the huntsman for his wages and the keep of +the hounds and his _one horse_ for carrying the nets. These allusions +to nets throw an interesting light on the fox-hunting of those days. +William de Blatherwyke, or, as he is also called, _William de +Foxhunte_, and _William Fox-dog-keeper_, had besides their wages an +allowance made to them for clothes and winter and summer shoes (_see_ +Appendix: Hunt Officials). As only one horse was provided, and that to +carry the nets, the huntsman, we must presume, had to hunt on foot, +not such an arduous undertaking when we remember that the country was +so much more thickly wooded than at present, and that every possible +precaution was taken to prevent Reynard's breaking covert. + +We see by our text (p. 65) that it was usual to course foxes with +greyhounds, and although the passages referring to this are translated +from G. de F. we know from many old records that this fox-coursing was +as usual in England at this time as in France. + +In the earlier days hounds used for the chase of the fox one day, +probably hunted hare, or even buck or stag, on another--such as the +harriers, which, if we can believe Dr. Caius, were entered to any +animal from stag to stoat (_see_ Appendix: Harriers). The first real +pack of foxhounds is said to be the one established by Thomas Fownes, +Esq., of Stepleton, in Dorsetshire (1730). They were purchased at an +immense price by Mr. Bowes, of Yorkshire. A very amusing description +is given in "Cranbourne Chase" of the first day's hunting with them +in their new country. There must have been several packs entered to +fox only about the end of the eighteenth century, for an erstwhile +Master of the Cheshire Foxhounds had in his possession a horn with the +following inscription: "Thomas Boothby Esqre. Tooley Park Leicester. +With this horn he hunted the first pack of foxhounds then in England 5 +years: born in 1677 died 1752." This pack, which was purchased by "the +great Mr. Meynell" in 1782, had been hunted both in Hampshire and in +Wiltshire previously by the ancestors of Lord Arundel (Bad. Lib., +"Hunting," p. 29). + + +FRAYING-POST, the tree a stag has rubbed his antlers or frayed +against. + +By the fraying-post the huntsman used to be able to judge if the stag +he wished to harbour was a warrantable stag or not. The greater the +_fraying-post_ the larger the deer (Stuart, vol. ii. p. 551). + + +FUES, "not find his fues," not to find his line of flight, his scent; +Gaston says: "Ne puissent deffaire ses esteurses": literally, "cannot +unravel his turnings." + +_Fues_, flight, fuite, track. Gaston calls these sometimes _voyes_. +_Voyes_ was written later _Foyes_ (Fouilloux). + + +FUE. "Se mettre a la fue" (var. _fuie_), (to take flight) (Borman, p. +89). + + +GLADNESS, glade. The original sense is a smooth, bare place, or +perhaps a bright, clear place in a wood. + + +GREASE. One of the important technical terms of venery, related to the +fat of game; for in the Middle Ages, when game was hunted to replenish +the larder as much as for sport, it entered largely into the economy +of even the highest households. The fat of the red deer and fallow +deer was called _suet_, occasionally _tallow_. That of the roebuck was +bevy-grease. Between that of the hare, boar, wolf, fox, marten, +otter, badger, and coney no difference was made--it was called grease; +and in one sense this general term was also used for deer: "a deer of +high grease," or "a hart in the pride of grease," were phrases used +for the season of the year when the stag and the buck were fattest +(_see_ Appendix: Seasons of Hunting). + + +GREASE TIME, not _Grace Time_ or _Grass Time_, as Strutt and others +have it. It did not include the whole season when the hart or buck +could be killed, but meant to indicate the time when they were fat and +fittest for killing. As pointed out already by Dryden (p. 25), the +_Excerpta Historica_ (Lond. 1831) contains an interesting example of +the use of this word. This is a letter written (p. 356) about 1480 by +Thomas Stonor, Steward of the Manor of Thame. He was in Fleet Prison +at the time he writes to his brother in the country concerning some +property of his own in his brother's neighbourhood. "No more to you^e +at thys tyme but ... more ov^r I entende to kepe my gresse tyme in yat +countre, where fore I woll^e yat no man^e huntte tyll^e I have bene +ther." + +In the privy-purse expenses of Henry VIII. (1532) is an entry of a +payment for attendance on the king during the last _grece-time_. +Cavendish in his Life of Wolsey says: "My lord continued at Southwell +until the latter end of _grease time_." Both these passages refer to +the month of June. In the laws of Howel the Good, King of Wales, a +fine of 12 kine was imposed on whoever kills a hart in grease time +(_kylleic_) of the kings. + +Confusion arose occasionally owing to the similarity of the words as +formerly spelt, grass being sometimes spelt "grysse" (Dryden, p. 25). +Manwood, also, misinterprets Grease time. In the agreement between the +Earl of Winchester and the Baron of Dudley of 1247, in which their +respective rights of hunting in Charnwood Forest and Bradgate Park, +Leicestershire, were defined, and which agreement Shirley has given +(in a translation) in his "English Deer Parks," the time of the fallow +buck season (_tempus pinguedinis_) or grease time or the fat season, +is fixed between the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula (August 1) and the +Exaltation of Holy Cross (September 6, 14), while the time of the doe +season (_tempus firmationis_) was fixed between the Feast of St. +Martin (November 11) and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin +(February 2). + + +GREYHOUND, Fr. _levrier_, Lat. _leporarius_. Under this name a whole +group of dogs were included, that were used for the chase of big and +small game. They were swift hounds, hunting chiefly and in most cases +by sight only. For in the Middle Ages the name greyhound, or +_levrier_, denoted such seemingly different dogs as the immense Irish +wolfhound, the Scotch deerhound, and the smaller, smooth-coated, +elegant Italian greyhound. The powerful greyhound used for the chase +of stag, wolf, and wild boar were known in France as _levrier +d'attache_, and the smaller, nervous harehound as _petit levrier pour +lievre_. In our illustrations we can see what are intended to be +portraits of both the larger and the smaller kinds, some being +smooth- and some rough-coated. The bigger hounds were considered +capable of defending their masters against their armed enemies, as is +shown by numerous legends of the Middle Ages, which, although they may +not be strictly historical facts, showed the reputation these dogs +enjoyed in those days (Jesse, p. 19). + +Greyhounds were the constant companions of their masters during +journeys and wars, and at home. In the houses they were allowed the +greatest liberty, and seem to have ranged at will in both living- and +bed-rooms; one sees them at the board when their owners are at meals, +at the fireside, and they even accompanied their masters as good +Christians to mass. + +No hound seems to belong so peculiarly to the epoch of chivalry as the +greyhound, and indeed one can scarcely picture a knight without one. A +Welsh proverb declared that a gentleman might be known "by his hawk, +his horse, and his greyhound." By a law of Canute, a greyhound was +not to be kept by any person inferior to a gentleman ("Greyhounds," by +a Sportsman, p. 28; and Dalziel, vol. i. p. 25). + +_Canis Gallicus_ was the name used by the Gauls for their coursing +dogs, which were most probably greyhounds, and Arian says they were +called _Vertragia_, from a Celtic word denoting swiftness. In +Gallo-Latin the name for a large greyhound was _Veltrahus_ or +_veltris_ (De Noir., ii. 295). They were also called _Veltres +leporarii_ (Blane, p. 46). There is some difference of opinion as to +the derivation of our word greyhound. In the early Anglo-Norman days +they retained their French name of _levrier_, or Latin _leporarius_. +When our MS. was penned the English word _grei_, _gre_, or _grewhound_ +was in general use; it is thought by some to be derived from Grew +hound or Greek hound, as they were supposed to have been originally +brought from Greece. Others, again, consider that the name was simply +taken from the prevalent colour of the common greyhound. Jesse gives +the most likely origin of the name. "Originally it was most likely +_grehund_, and meant the noble, great, choice, or prize hound" (Jesse, +ii. 71; and Dalziel, i. 23). Probably the Celtic denomination for a +dog, _grech_ or _greg_, stands in close connection with our word +greyhound (Cupples, p. 230). White seems to have been the favourite +colour, and to say one had _i levrier plus blanc que flors de lis_ +(_Heruis de Mes_, 107a, 44; Bangert, p. 172) would be the greatest +tribute to the beauty of one's hound. _Co si sunt deus leveres nurit +en ma meisun, cume cisne sunt blauns_ (Horn, 613 f.). + +When Froissart went home from Scotland he is depicted as riding a grey +horse and leading _un blanc levrier_, perhaps one of the four he took +from these isles and presented to the Comte de Foix at Orthéz, whose +names have been preserved to us as Tristan, Hector, Brun, and Rolland +(La Curne de la Palaye). + +Greyhounds were used, as has already been mentioned, for all kind of +hunting and every kind of game, in conjunction with limers who +started the game for them. They were let slip as relays to a pack of +running or scenting hounds, and they were used by themselves for +coursing game in an open country, or were placed at the passes where +game was likely to run and were slipped to turn the game back to the +archer or to chase and pull down the wounded deer (_see_ Appendix: +Stables). In our illustrations we see them in the pictures of stag-, +hare-, roe- and boar-hunting, to say nothing of badger-hunting, for +which one would have thought any other dog more suitable. + +They seem always to have been held in couples except when following +their master and he not bent upon the chase. The collars to which +these couplings were attached were often wonderful gems of the +goldsmith's and silversmith's art. Such an item appears in the Q. R. +Wardrobe Acc. for 1400 (Wylie, iv. p. 196): "2 collars for greyhounds +(_leverer_) le tissue white and green with letters and silver +turrets." Another one of "soy chekerey vert et noir avec le tret (? +turret) letters and bells of silver gilt." + +The ancient doggerel in the Book of St. Albans, "Heded like a snake, +and necked like a drake. Foted like a cat. Tayled like a Rat, Syded +lyke a Teme. Chyned like a Beme" ("Boke of St. Albans," f. iv.), was +preceded by a very similar one written some time previously by Gace de +la Buigne. Of these verses G. de F. gives, twenty-eight years later, a +prose version, which our Master of Game has rendered into English. + + +HARDEL, hardeyl, to tie couples of hounds together. From the French +word _harder_, which has the same meaning: _Harder les chiens_, and +_harde_, the rope with which they are tied. It is derived from _hart_, +_hard_, _art_, a binder of willow or other pliable wood used for +fastening fagots together (Lit. and God.). The primitive way of tying +hounds together was by passing such a small flexible branch through +the couplings which bent back on itself, both ends being held. "_Les +chiens ... seront enhardez par les couples à genoivres ou à autre +josne bois tors_" (Roy Modus, f. xlvii. recto). In France there used +to be two hardes to each relay and not more than eight hounds in every +harde (D'Yauville). In England there used to be about the same number. +The term was still used in Blome's time (1686), for he writes in his +"Gentleman's Recreation": "The huntsman on foot that hath the charge +of the coupled hounds, and before that must have _hardled_ them, that +is, with a slip, for the purpose ready secured three or four couple +together, that they may not break in from him, to run into the cry of +the Finders" (p. 88). + +_Harling_ was a word used in Devonshire, and as it meant tying the +hound together by means of a rope passed through the rings of the +couples, it is undoubtedly a corruption of the word _hardeling_. +"Until comparatively recent times the hounds in Devonshire were taken +to the meet and held in this manner until the time came to lay the +pack on" (Collyns). + +_Hardel_, the technical O. E. term for binding together the four legs +of the roebuck, the head having been placed between the two forelegs, +in order to carry him whole into the kitchen. + + +HARE. Pliny records the fable that hares "are of many and various +sexes." Topsell remarks that "the Hebrews call the hare 'arnebet,' in +the feminine gender," which word gave occasion to an opinion that all +hares were females (pp. 264, 266). + +"In the Gwentian code of Welch laws supposed to be of the eleventh +century, the hare is said not to be capable of any legal valuation, +being in one month male and in another female" (Twici, p. 22). + +Certainly in many of the older writings on hares the pronouns "her" +and "him" are used indiscriminately in the same sentence. Sir Thomas +Browne in his treatise on vulgar errors asserts from his own +observation that the sex of the hare is changeable, and that the buck +hare will sometimes give birth to young. Up to the end of the +eighteenth century there was a widespread and firm belief in this +fable (Brehm, ii. p. 626). Buffon describes it as one of the animal's +peculiar properties, and from the structure of their parts of +generation he argues that the notion has arisen of hermaphrodite +hares, that the males sometimes bring forth young, and that some are +alternately males and females and perform the functions of either sex. + +"Master of Game" (copying G. de F.) states that the hare carries her +young for a period of two months, but in reality the period of +gestation is only thirty days. Harting says that the adult hare will +breed twice or thrice in the year, but Brehm declares they breed as +many as four times, and but seldom five times (Encyclop. of Sport, +vol. ii. p. 504; Brehm, vol. ii. p. 626; G. de F. p. 47). + +G. de F. (p. 43) says of a hare, "_Elle oït bien, mais elle voit +mal._" "Master of Game" translates this simply as _She hath evil +sight_; but does not say she hears well. The sense of hearing is most +highly developed in the hare, and every lightly breaking twig or +falling leaf will disturb her. It is said that of old when warreners +wished to prepare hares for the market they filled their ears with +wax, so that, not being continually disturbed by noises, they did not +move about much, and grew sleek and fat (Blome, p. 95). G. de F.'s +assertion that the hare "has evil sight" is also confirmed by Brehm, +who, however, says that they are endowed with a keen sense of smell, +whereas G. de F. says _elle sent pou_. + +Attention has already been called to the Duke of York's statement that +"the hare hath great fear to run." This arose probably from the +similarity of the words _peur_ and _pouvoir_ in the MSS., for it +should read "hath great power to run," the principal MSS. which we +have examined showing _pouvoir_. Verard in his first edition of G. de +F. also has the same rendering as the Duke of York, to which Lavallée +draws attention as being one of the many ludicrous mistakes in this +edition (G. de F., xli.). + +[Illustration: SHOOTING HARES WITH BLUNT BOLTS (From MS. f. fr. 616, +_Bib. Nat._, Paris)] + +Our text calls the hare the most marvellous beast (p. 181), the +reasons given being because she "fumeth or croteth and rowngeth and +beareth tallow and grease." By "rowngeth" (Fr. _ronger_) it was meant +that the hare chewed the cud, as by the ancients it was generally +supposed that the hare was a ruminant. Although this is not the case, +and the hare has not a compound stomach, nevertheless this belief +showed a close observation of nature, for when a hare is seated she +can bring up parts of her food and give it a second mastication. + +The hare and rabbit have little or no fat, but what they do possess is +called grease. Twici says: _Il porte gresce_ (pp. 1 and 21). + +"She has teeth above in the same wise as beneath" (p. 181) is another +of the peculiarities noticed in our text, which shows that the +difference in dentition that distinguishes the hare from all other +rodents had been remarked. Instead of two incisors in the upper jaw, +the hare has four, having two small rudimentary incisor teeth behind +the two large front ones, and five or six molars in the upper jaw, +with two incisors and five molars in the lower jaw (Brehm, ii. p. 627; +Cornish, "Shooting," ii. p. 153). + +It is difficult to know why the hare was considered a "melancholy" +beast, and how this curious reputation was kept up during the whole of +the Middle Ages. It was thought that eating the flesh of the hare +rendered one also subject to melancholy. G. de F. does not mention +this, and altogether his book is comparatively free of such +superstitions, but he says the flesh of the hare should not be given +to the hounds after a day's hunting, as it is indigestible: _quar elle +est fastieuse viande et les fet vomir_ (p. 210). Therefore, when +rewarding the hounds, they should only have the tongue and the +kidneys, with some bread soaked in the blood of the hare. + +In our MS., at the end of the chapter on the nature of the hare (p. +22), the Duke of York says that he "trows no good hunter would slee +them so," alluding to pockets, pursenets, and other poaching devices; +and although G. de F. gives six ways of taking the hare, he does not +approve of such methods for the true sportsman, but enters an amusing +protest: "I would that they who take hares thus should have them [the +cords] round their own necks" (p. 171). Snaring hares was never +considered legitimate sport. In hare-hunting proper, the hounds were +taken into the fields to find the hare, as at present; or hare-finders +were sent out early in the morning, and the tufts of grass or plants +where the hare was likely to be seated were beaten, and the hounds +uncoupled only when the hare was started. One of the chief differences +in the sport between then and now was that often, when the hare was +once on foot, greyhounds were also uncoupled, and our Plate, p. 182, +shows greyhounds and running-hounds hunting seemingly happily +together. It must have been rather discouraging for the old-fashioned, +slow scenting-hound to have the hare he has been diligently hunting +suddenly "bitten" in front of him by the swifter greyhound. +Trencher-fed packs also existed as early as the fourteenth century, +and we read in Gace de la Buigne that the small farmers would assemble +together, bringing all told some forty hounds of different breeds and +sizes, immensely enjoying their sport, and accounting for many hares. + + +HARNESS means in our text "paraphernalia where-with animals can be +caught or taken." It is frequently used in this sense by +Gaston--_Hayes et autres Harnoys_ (p. 126). In Julien's note to this +same sentence occurring in _Le bon Varlet_, he says, _autres harnois, +autres engins, instruments, procédés_. + + +HARRIER, spelt in early documents with many variations--_eirere_, +_heyreres_, _heyrer_, _hayrers_. A hound which is described in modern +dictionaries as "resembling a foxhound but smaller, used for +hare-hunting" (Murray). This explanation would not have been a correct +one for our harriers of the fourteenth century, for as far as we can +gather they were used to hunt all kinds of game and by no means only +the hare. They were evidently a smaller kind of running hound, for as +our MS. says, there are some small and some large running hounds, "and +the small are called Kenettis (or small dogs--_see_ Kenet), and these +hounds run well to all manner of game and they that serve for all game +men call them heirers" (p. III). And in chapter 36 we see that +_heyrers_ were used to hunt up the deer in the forest, the herthounds +and greyhounds meanwhile being held in leash till a warrantable deer +was on foot, or till "the heyrer have well run and well made the +rascal void" (made the smaller deer clear out of that part of the +forest) (p. 191). Then the herthounds were to be uncoupled where the +most likely "ligging is for an hert, and seek." The herthounds then +put up the wary old stag and hunted him till he came to the tryst +where the King would be with his long bow or cross-bow, or till the +hert was pulled down by them or the greyhounds which had been slipped +at him. + +In the chapter on hare-hunting in our MS. the word harrier does not +occur; only hounds, greyhounds, and raches are mentioned. So when +Henry IV. paid for "_La garde de nos chiens appelez hayrers_" (Privy +Seal, 20 Aug. 9th Henry, 1408, No. 5874), or Henry V. for the +"_Custodiam Canum nostrum vocatorum hayreres_" (Rot. Pat. I Henry V. +1413), it was not because they were especially addicted to +hare-hunting, but because they kept these useful hounds to "harry" +game. + +In 1407 we find one Hugh Malgrave "_servienti venatori' vocat' hayters +p' c'vo (cervo)_," which we may accept as another proof that their +office was to hunt the stag. The Duke of York also repeatedly says +that "_heirers_" run at all game (see pp. III, 196, 197). In 1423 Hugh +Malgrave still held the "office of the hayrers" by grant from Henry +IV. In the curious legal Latin of the thirteenth century, we find the +word _canes heirettes_, and _heyrettor_ (Wardrobe Accounts, 34 Ed. +I.). + +There are a great number of early records which show us that these +hounds were used then for hunting red and fallow deer, sometimes in +conjunction with greyhounds and sometimes without their aid. + +Harriers were sometimes taken with buckhounds on hunting expeditions +as well as with greyhounds. In some of the documents harriers are +simply alluded to as _canes currentes_. As they were not a distinct +breed, but were included under the designation "raches," or running +hounds, a separate chapter is not given to them in our text, and +neither Twici nor the Dame of St. Albans mentions these hounds. +Gradually we find the spelling, although presenting still countless +variations, bringing the _a_ more constantly than the _e_; the +"_heirers_" become _hayrers_, _hareres_, _hariers_, and after the +sixteenth century harriers. It is also probable that the word was +originally derived from the Anglo-Saxon _Hergian_, _herian_, to harry, +to disturb, to worry; O. Fr. _harrier_, _herrier_, _herier_, to harry; +F. _hare_ and _harer_, to set a dog on to attack. The harrier, in +fact, was a dog to "hare" the game. Although now obsolete, we find +this word used late in the seventeenth century. + +"Let the hounds kill the fox themselves and worry and _hare_ him as +much as they please" (Cox, "Gent. Rec.," p. 110). It is also in the +sixteenth century that one comes across the first allusions to their +use in hunting the hare. + + +HART. It is not necessary to dwell here at length upon the great +esteem in which the hart was held by all devotees to sport in Europe +during the Middle Ages. It was royal game, and belonged to the Prince +or ruler of the country, and the chase was their prerogative. Few +unconnected with the court were ever able to enjoy the chase of the +stag unless in attendance on or by special licence granted by the +sovereign. Those who had extensive property of their own and had +permission to erect a fence could, of course, keep deer on it, but +this did not enable them to enjoy the sport of real wild deer hunting, +or _La chasse Royale_ as the French called it. + +The stag was one of the five beasts of venery, and was, according to +the ancient French regulations, a beast of the sweet foot, although in +the list of beasts of sweet and stinking foot given in the "Boke of +St. Albans" the hart is included in neither category (_see_ Appendix: +Fewte). + +One of the first essentials for a huntsman in the Middle Ages was to +learn to know the different _signs_ of a stag (according to German +venery there were seventy-two signs), so as to be able to "judge +well." These signs were those of the _slot_, the _gait_, the +_fraying-post_, the _rack_ or _entry_ (_i.e._ the place where the stag +entered covert), and the _fumes_. By recognising differences in these +signs made by a young stag, a hind, and a warrantable stag, he was +enabled to find out where the latter was harbouring, and by the slot +and gait he could recognise when the chased stag was approaching his +end. + +There were many things that the huntsman of old had to learn regarding +the stag before he could be considered as more than an apprentice--for +instance, how to speak of a hart in terms of venery. The terms used +were considered of the greatest importance, even to the manner in +which the colour of the stag was spoken of, brown, yellow, or dun +being the only permissible terms to distinguish the shade of colour. +Special terms are given for every kind of head, or antlers, a stag +might bear. + +The huntsman spoke of the stag's _blenches_ and _ruses_ when alluding +to the tricks of a deer when trying to rid himself of the hounds, of +his _doubling_ and _rusing to and fro upon himself_ when he retraced +his steps, of his _beating up the river_ when he swam up-stream, and +of _foiling down_, when he went down-stream, or of _going to soil_ +when he stood in water. When the deer lay down he was _quat_, when he +stood still in covert he was _stalling_. When he was tired he "_cast +his chaule" i.e._ drooped his head, a well-known sign when the deer is +done, as was his closed mouth when dead beat. + +The hart was _meved_ or moved, when he was started from his +resting-place; he was _quested_ or hunted for, and _sued_ or chased; +his resting-place was called his _ligging_ or _lair_, his scent of +line of flight, his _fues_. He was spoken of as _soule_ or _soile_ (F. +_seule_) if unaccompanied by other deer, and in "_herd with rascal and +folly_" if keeping company with lesser deer. + +Besides many other quaint terms of venery the following were the +designations given to the hart according to his age by:-- + + Twici, "Boke of St. Blome; Cox's + "Master of Game." Albans," Manwood, "Gentleman's + Turbervile. Recreations." + + 1st yr. A calf. A calf. A hinde-calf or calf. + 2nd " A bullock. A brocket. A knobler or knobber. + 3rd " A brocket. A spayer, spayard, or A brocket or brocke. + spayd. + 4th " A staggart. A staggart or stag. A staggard. + 5th " A hart of ten. A hart. A hart. + +Until he was a hart of ten our text tells us he was not considered a +chaseable or warrantable deer. By the above one will see that the +"Master of Game" is exceptional in calling a deer of the second year a +bullock, brocket being the usual term. + +In old French literature we occasionally find the word _broches_ used +for the tines of a deer's antlers; brochet would be the diminutive, +_i.e._ a small tine, and hence perhaps brocket, a young stag bearing +small tines. Any stag of ten or over if hunted by the king became a +Hart Royal, and if hunted and not taken, but driven out of the forest, +a proclamation was made to warn every one that no person should chase +or kill the said hart, and he was then a "Hart Royal proclaimed" +(Man., p. 180). + +All stags not chaseable, such as young or lean stags and hinds, were +classed as folly or rascal. + +A young stag accompanying an old one was called his squire (F. +_escuyer_). + +Hinds also were called by different names from the first to the third +year, but the "Master of Game" does not give these, nor do any of the +earliest works. Manwood, Blome, and Cox give the following terms: +first year, a calf; second year, a Hearse or brocket's sister; third +year and ever after, a hind. A somewhat similar term was employed in +France to denote a young stag between six months and a year old. +_Haire_, also spelt _her_ (G. de Champgrand Baudrillard), and +_Harpaille_, was the term for a herd of young stags and hinds. + +_Hart's Age._--The fable that a stag can live a hundred years which +the "Master of Game" repeats (p. 34) after G. de F. was not of the +latter's invention, but one that had been current for many centuries +before their day. + + +HORNS.--When the "Master of Game" was written hunting horns were the +curved primitive shape of those made from the horns of animals, and +most of them probably were still made of the horns of cattle, while +those used by the richer gentry and nobles were fashioned from some +rarer animals' trophy, such as the ibex, or carved of ivory, and some +were made of precious metal. But whether of simple horn, ivory, or of +wood, they were decorated with gold or silver ferrules, rings, and +mouthpieces, and some being provided with a stopper, could be +converted into drinking horns. Unfortunately the "Master of Game" does +not tell us the material of which horns should be made. He simply says +how they should "be dryve." They were to be two spans long (1 ft. 6 +in.), slightly curved so that both ends were raised from three to four +fingers' breadth above the centre; the larger end or the bell was to +be as wide as possible, and the mouthpiece not too small. It was waxed +thickly or thinly, whichever the huntsman thought produced the best +sound. What effect the wax had can scarcely be judged, but it was +evidently considered an improvement, as it is stated that for +foresters "mene hornes and unwexid" are good enough for them. Besides +the hunter's horn five different kinds of horns are mentioned in our +MS.--the bugle, great abbots, ruets, small foresters, and mean horns. +The bugle was not the trumpet we now understand by that name, but a +simple curved horn, most probably deriving its name from the bugle, as +the wild ox was called; although Dryden says from the German word +_bugel_, a curve or bend. Ruets may have been the name for a much +curved or almost circular horn, from French _rouette_, small wheel. +The mean horns were probably the medium-sized, shrill-sounding horns +made out of wood or bark, known as _ménuels_, _menuiaux_, _moienel_, +_menuier_, &c. (Perc. 27,166 and 27,140). + +A good length for a horn is mentioned as being "_une paume et demie_" +(Perceval, 31,750). It is uncertain whether this length and that given +by the "Master of Game" were measured round the inside of the bend or +in a straight line between the two extremities. The famous Borstall +horn, also known as Nigel's horn, is 2 feet 4 inches long on the +convex and 23 inches on the concave bend; the inside measure of the +bell end being 3 inches in diameter. The size of another noted horn, +_i.e._ the Pusey horn, is 2 feet 1/2 inch long, the circumference at +the widest end being 12 inches. The general length of these horns +seems to have been somewhere between 18 inches and 2 feet. The +above-mentioned specimens were horns of tenure, the first being a +hunting-, the second a drinking-horn. The Borstall horn is said to +have been given by Edward the Confessor to one Nigel, in reward for +his killing an immense wild boar, and by this horn he and his +successors for generations held lands of the crown. + +The curved horn remained in fashion in England till about the latter +half of the seventeenth century, then a straight one came into use +about 1 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft. long, such as we see depicted in Blome. Of +this shape, but a few inches shorter, is the hunting-horn still in +use in England. The French hunting-horn was used in England in the +eighteenth century, but did not remain long in fashion. + + +HUNTING CRIES. We can see that the hunting cries and the language used +in speaking to the hounds when hunting in the days of the "Master of +Game" were still those brought into Britain by the Normans, and in +most instances the words can actually still be recognised as French. +There are only a few examples given by him as to the manner a huntsman +should speak to his hounds in the stag-hunting chapters, such as:-- + +_Ho moy, ho moy, hole, hole, hole_: To encourage the limer when +drawing for a stag (p. 166). + +_Cy va, cy va, cy va_: To call the hounds when any signs of the stag +were seen (p. 167). + +_Le douce mon amy, le douce_: "Softly, my friend, softly." To the +hounds when they were uncoupled near to where the stag was supposed to +be lying. + +_Sto arere, so howe, so howe_: "Hark back," if the hounds were on a +wrong scent. + +_Hoo sto, ho sto, mon amy, ho sto_: To harriers drawing for a stag. + +_Oyez, à Beaumont, oyez, assemble à Beaumont_: "Hark to Beaumont, +hark, get to him." To the hound of that name who picks up the right +line, and to bring the other hounds to him. + +It is in the hare-hunting chapter that we have more of the "fayre +wordis of venery," and here, if the "Master of Game" does not +slavishly copy Twici, yet he employs the same cries, with a slight +difference only in orthography. The "Boke of St. Albans" has also most +of the following:-- + +_Hoo arere_: "Back there." When the hounds come too hastily out of the +kennel. + +_So moun amy atreyt_: Until they come into the field; these two are +not given by Twici, but the following are identical in both books:-- + +_Hors de couple, avaunt sy avaunt_, and thrice _so howe_: When the +hounds are uncoupled. + +_Sa sa cy avaunt, cy sa avaunt, sa cy avaunt (avaunt, sire, avaunt_, +in Twici): Forward, sir, forward. + +_Here how, amy, how amy, and Swef, mon amy, swef_: "Gently, my friend, +gently" (_swef_, from Latin _swavis_), when the hounds draw too fast +from the huntsman. + +_Oyez, à Beaumont_ (in Twici: _Oyez, a Beaumont le vaillaunt que il +quide trover le coward od la courte cowe_): "Hark to Beaumont the +valiant, who thinks to find the coward with the short tail." + +_La douce, la il ad este sohowe_: "Softly, there--here he has been," +if the place where the hare has pastured is seen. + +_Illoeques, illoeques_: "Here, here," if the hounds hunt well on the +line (_see_ Appendix: Illoeques). + +_Ha sy toutz, cy est il venuz arere, so howe. Sa cy a este so howe. Sa +cy avaunt_: "Here, he has gone back. Here he has been. Forward there." +When the hare has doubled. + +_La douce amy, il est venuz illoeques, sohowe_: "Softly, friend, he is +here." When the hounds hunt well in fields or arable land. + +_La douce, amy, la est il venuz (pur lue segere sohow)_: "Softly, +friend, here he has come to seat himself" (Mid. Eng., _sege_--a seat. +Latin, _sedere_). + +_La douce, amy, la il est venuz (pur meyndir)_: "Here he has been to +feed" (_meyndir_, from Latin _manducare_, _mandere_). + +The bracketed part of the last two cries are given in the MS. of Twety +and Gyff., and the following are only in the "Master of Game":-- + +_Le valliant oyez, oyez who bo bowe_, and then, _Avaunt, assemble, +assemble, war war, a ha war_, for running riot. _How assamy assamy so +arere so howe bloues acoupler._ + +On seeing the pricking or footing of the hare: _Le voye, le voye_ +("The view, the view"). + +In France, _Tallyho_, or a very similar sounding word, was employed in +the early days when the huntsman was sure that the right stag had gone +away, whether he only knew it by his slot, &c., or whether he had +viewed him. + +It was also a call to bring up the hounds when the stag had gone away, +and at the end of the _curée_, when the huntsman held part of the +entrails of the deer on a large wooden fork, and the hounds bayed it +(which was called the _forhu_), the huntsman called out _Tallyho_. + +We only find _Tallyho_ in comparatively recent English hunting +literature and songs--never, so far as I am aware, before the late +seventeenth century, and it does not occur at all constantly until the +eighteenth century. Neither Turbervile nor Blome nor Cox, in their +books on the various chases, mention such a word, though we find +instruction to the huntsman to say "Hark to him," "Hark forward," +"Hark back," and "To him, to him"; besides the inevitable "So how +sohow." Neither in Twici, "Master of Game," "Boke of St. Albans," +Chaucer, or Shakespeare can we find an invigorating _Tallyho_. It +would almost appear as if it were a seventeenth century importation +from across the Channel, which is quite possible, for Henry IV. of +France sent in that century three of his best huntsmen, Desprez, de +Beaumont, and de Saint-Ravy, to the Court of King James I. to teach +the royal huntsmen how to hunt the stag in the French way, English +Court hunting having degenerated into coursing of stags within the +park palings. + +_Taïaut_ in France was used solely in the chase of red, fallow, or roe +deer. + + +HUNTING MUSIC. In the "Master of Game," as in all the earliest hunting +literature, much importance is placed on the huntsman's sounding his +horn in the proper manner in order, as Twici says, that "Each man who +is around you, who understands Hunting, can know in which point you +are in your sport by your blowing." The author of "Master of Game" (p. +170) says he will give us "a chapter which is all of blowing," but he +omitted to fulfil this promise, so that we have only such information +as we can gather in his chapters on stag and hare-hunting. The +differences in the signals were occasioned by the length of the sound +or note, and the intervals between each. Twici expresses these notes +in syllables, such as _trout_, _trout_, _trourourout_. The first of +these would be single notes, with an interval between them, blown +probably with a separate breath or wind for each; the latter would be +three notes blown without interval and with a single breath or wind. +The principal sounds on the hunting horn were named as follows:-- + +A _Moot_ or _Mote_, a single note, which might be sounded long or +short. + +A _Recheat_. To recheat, Twici says, "blow in this manner, +_trourourourout, trourourourout, trourourourout_," therefore a +four-syllabled sound succeeded by an interval, blown three times. In +the "Master of Game" we find the recheat preceded or followed by a +moot, the most constantly recurring melody. When the limer has moved +the stag, and the huntsman sees him go away, he was to blow a moot and +recheat. If the stag is moved but not viewed, and the huntsman knows +only by the slot that it is his stag that has gone away, he is to +recheat without the moot, for that was only to be blown when the stag +was seen. When the hounds are at fault and any one finds the slot of +the deer, he should recheat "in the rightes and blow a long moot for +the lymerer," or if he thinks he sees the hunted stag, he should blow +a moot and recheat, and after that blow two moots for the hounds. + +The _Forlonge_. A signal that the stag had got away far ahead of the +hounds or that these had distanced some or all of the huntsmen (_see_ +Appendix: Forlonge). + +The _Perfect_ or _Parfit_. Twici says it began by "a moot and then +_trourourout, trout, trout, trourourout, trourourout, trourourout, +trout, trout, trourourourout_," "and then to commence by another moot +again, and so you ought to blow three times. And to commence by a moot +and to finish by a moot." This was only blown when the hounds were +hunting the right line (_see_ Appendix: Parfet). + +The _Prise_. Twici says, blow four moots for the taking of the deer. +According to the "Master of Game," "the prise or coupling up" was to +be blown by the chief personage of the hunt only, after the quarry. It +was only blown when the deer had been slain by strength, or hunted, +and not when shot or coursed. He was to blow four moots, wait a short +interval (half an Ave Maria), and blow another four notes a little +longer than the first four. + +The _Menée_. Twici says the _Menée_ should only be blown for the hart, +the boar, the wolf, and the male wolf, but he does not give us any +analysis of this melody. In the "Master of Game" we are told that the +_Menée_ was blown at the hall-door on the return of the huntsmen. The +Master first blew four moots alone, then at the end of the four moots +the others joined him in blowing, and they all continued keeping time +together (_see_ Appendix: Menée). + +The _Mort_ or _Death_ was another sound of the horn, but we have no +description of the notes. Perhaps it is synonymous with the _Prise_. + +The _Stroke_ must have been another grouping of short and long notes, +but of this we have no record. + +Hardouin de Fontaines Guerin wrote a poem on the chase chiefly +concerning the different manners of blowing such as obtained in his +native country the provinces of Anjou and Maine. The poem was +illustrated with fourteen miniatures showing the notes to be blown on +as many different occasions during stag-hunting. + +The notes are written in little squares: [**white] denoting a long +note; [**black] a short note; [**white][**white] a note of two long +syllables; [**black][**black] a note of two short syllables; +[**black][**white][**white] a note of one short and two long +syllables; and [**black][**white][**white][**black][**black] a note of +one short, two long, and two short syllables. Of these six notes +combinations were made for all the signals to be blown. + + +ILLOEQUES, "here in this place," from the L. _illo loco_. Sometimes it +is spelt _illecques_, _iluec_, _illosques_, &c. It is constantly met +with in Anglo-Norman, and the Provence dialects (Botman, pp. 90, 242; +T. M., pp. 31, 93, 142; Roy Modus, lxix.; and in the will of the Duke +of York, Nichols). It has been suggested that it is the origin of the +familiar _yoicks_. In the "Boke of St. Albans" in the verses on +hare-hunting it also occurs. + +[Illustration: FROM HARDOUIN DE FONTAINES GUERIN'S WORK, WRITTEN IN +1394] + + +JOPEYE, synonymous with _jupper_, which, according to Cotgrave, is an +old word signifying "to whoot, showt, crie out alowd." The French word +_juper_, _jupper_, also spelt _joppeir_, had the same meaning, and we +find it employed in the "Chace dou cerf" for a halloa in hunting in a +similar way to _jopeye_ in our text: + + "_Et puis juppe ou corne i. lonc mot + Chaucuns en a joie qui l'ot._" + +In the sense it is used in our "Master of Game" (p. 185) it means to +halloa to the hounds, to encourage them with the voice. + + +KENETTES, small hounds. Kenet is a diminutive form of the +Norman-French _kenet_, and the O. F. _chen_, _cienetes_, _chenet_, a +dog: _i veneour a ii cienetes, Ne mie grans mais petitetes, Et plus +blans que n'est flors d'espine_ (Percival, 22,895). Derived from the +Latin _canis_ (_see_ Appendix: Harriers). + + +LIGGING, a bed, a resting-place, a lair. From O. Eng. _licgan_, +_licgean_, Goth. _ligan_, lie, lie down. The ligging of the hart was +what we now call his lair, spelt also layer. In our MS. it is used for +the dwelling of a wild cat (p. 71). + +This old expression is not entirely obsolete, but can be heard still +among the country people of the northern counties of England. + + +LIMER, lymer; the name given to a scenting-hound which was held in a +liam or leash whilst tracking the game. Limers never were any distinct +breed of hounds, but, of course, some breeds produced better limers +than others (De Noirmont, vol. ii. p. 350). + +A dog used as a limer had to be keen on the scent, staunch on the +line, not too fast, and was taught to run mute, for if the exact +whereabouts of any game had to be discovered, it would have been +impossible, if the hound gave tongue or challenged while on the scent. +A likely hound was chosen from the kennel at an early age, G. de F. +says at a year old (p. 157), and from that time accompanied his +master, sleeping in his room, and being taught to obey him. He was +continually taken out by his master with collar and liam and +encouraged to follow the scent of hinds and of stags and other beasts, +and punished should he venture to acknowledge the scent of any animal +he was not being entered to, or should he open on finding or following +the line. + +In England as well as on the Continent the huntsman went out in the +early morning to track the game to be hunted to its lair, or den, +before the pack and huntsmen came into the field. Deer, wild boar, +bear and wolves were thus harboured by means of a limer. Twici makes +the apprentice huntsman ask: "Now I wish to know how many of the +beasts are moved by the lymer, and how many of the beasts are found by +braches?--Sir, all those which are chased are moved by a lymer, and +all those which are hunted up (_enquillez_) are found by the braches" +(Twici, p. 12; _see_ Appendix: Acquillez). + +Limers were not only employed when a warrantable stag was to be hunted +by hounds, but a huntsman going out with his bow or cross-bow would +have his brachet on a liam and let him hunt up the quarry he wished to +shoot (_see_ Appendix: Bercelet). Also, the day before one of the +large battues for big game, the limers would be taken out to ascertain +what game there was in the district to be driven. + +A liam, _lyome_, or _lyame_, was a rope made of silk or leather by +which hounds were led, from O. F. _liamen_, a strap or line, Latin +_ligamen_. This strap was fastened to the collar by a swivel, and both +collar and liams were often very gorgeous. We read of "A lyame of +white silk with collar of white vellat embrawdered with perles, the +swivell of silver." "Dog collors of crymson vellat with VI lyhams of +white leather." "A lieme of grene and white silke." "Three lyames and +colors with tirrett of silver and quilt" (Madden, "Expenses of +Princess Mary"). + +A hound was said to carry his liam well when he just kept it at proper +tension, not straining it, for that would show that he was of too +eager temperament, and likely to overshoot the line; if he trailed his +liam on the ground, it showed that he was slack or unwilling +(D'Yauville). + +As soon as the stag was "moved" the limer's work was over, but only +for the time being; his master led him away, the other hounds were +uncoupled, and the harbourer, mounting his horse and keeping his limer +with him, rode as close to the chase as he could, skirting below the +wind and being careful not to cross the line, but managing to be at +hand in case the stag should run in company or give the hounds the +change. In this case the huntsman had to check the hounds, and wait +for the harbourer and limer to come up and unravel the change, and put +the pack on the right scent once more. + +The method of starting the stag with a limer was not done away with in +France until the eighteenth century, although in Normandy a change had +been made previously, and probably in England also. For our author +says that some sportsmen even in his time, when impatient, would +uncouple a few of the hounds in the covert, before the stag had been +properly started by the limer, which practice he, however, was not in +favour of except under the conditions he mentions. + +This uncoupling of a few older hounds in covert to start the deer, +coupling them again as soon as the deer was on foot, was later called +_tufting_, and is still customary in Devon and Somerset. + +The limer was not rewarded with the other hounds; he received his +reward from the hands of his master before or after the other hounds, +and after he had bayed the head of the stag. + +When not quoting or translating the old text the more modern spelling +of _li_mer has been used. + + +MADNESS. Old Eng. and Mid. Eng. _Woodness_, _wodnesse_, and _wodnyss_; +mad, _wode_. The seven different sorts of madnesses spoken of by the +"Master of Game" are also mentioned in nearly all subsequent works on +old hunting dealing with "sicknesses of hounds." They are the hot +burning madness, running madness, dumb madness, lank madness, +rheumatic madness or slavering madness, falling madness, sleeping +madness. + +These are mentioned in Roy Modus, and the cure for rabies, of taking +the afflicted dog to the sea and letting nine waves wash over him, as +well as the cock cure mentioned in our English MS., were both taken by +Gaston from Roy Modus, or both derived them from some common source +(Roy Modus, fol. xlv. r). + +The water cure is mentioned also by Albertus Magnus (Alb. Mag., 215, a +27). + +It seems likely to have been to try the efficacy of this cure that +King Edward I. sent some of his hounds to Dover to bathe in the sea, +the following account for which is entered in his Wardrobe Accounts: + +"To John le Berner, going to Dover to bathe six braches by the King's +order and for staying there for 21 days for his expense 3. 6d" (6 +Edward I. Quoted from MS. Philipps, 8676). + +The means of recognising rabies by a cock is also mentioned in the +recipe of the eleventh century given by Avicenna (957-1037), and it +appears again in Vincentius Bellovacensis and is also to be found in +Alexander Neckham. Although the manner of using the cock for this +purpose varies, we see by the fact of its being mentioned in different +works preceding our MS. that the cock enjoyed some legendary renown +for at least a couple of centuries before Gaston (Werth, p. 55). + +Nowadays only two varieties of rabies are recognised: furious and dumb +rabies. The numerous divisions of the old authors were based on +different stages of the disease and slight variations in the symptoms. + +When a dog is attacked with rabies its owner often supposes that the +dog has a bone in its throat, so that a report of this condition is +regarded by veterinary surgeons with suspicion. This corresponds with +the description in our text of dogs, with their mouths "somewhat +gaping, as if they were _enosed_ in their throat." + + +MASTIFF, from F. _metif_, O. F. _mestif_, M. E. _mastyf_, _mestiv_, +mixed breed, a mongrel dog (Cent. Dict., Murray). Some etymologists +have suggested that the word mastiff was derived from _masethieves_, +as these dogs protected their master's houses and cattle from thieves +(Manwood, p. 113). Others again give _mastinus_, i.e. _maison tenant_, +house-dog, as the origin, but the first derivation given of _mestif_, +mongrel, is the one now generally recognised. + +Although it will be quite evident to any one comparing the mastiff +depicted in our Plate, p. 122, with any picture of the British mastiff +that the two are very different types, we must not therefore conclude +that the artist was at fault, but that the French _matin_, which is +what our MS. describes and depicts, was by no means identical with our +present English breed of mastiffs, nor even with the old British +mastiff or bandog. The French _matins_ were generally big, hardy dogs, +somewhat light in the body, with long heads, pointed muzzles, +flattened forehead, and semi-pendant ears; some were rough and others +smooth coated. + +_Matins_ were often used for tackling the wild boar when run by other +hounds, so as to save the more valuable ones when the boar turned to +bay. + +In this chase, as well as when they were used to protect their +master's flocks against wolves, huge iron spiked collars were fastened +round the dog's neck. These spiked collars were very formidable +affairs; one of very ancient make which I have measures inside nearly +eight inches in diameter, and the forty-eight spikes are an inch long, +the whole weighing without the padlock that fastened it together about +two pounds. + +In England the name Mastiff was not in general use till a much later +date, even as late as the end of the eighteenth century, Osbaldiston +in his Dictionary ignoring the term mastiff, and using, like a true +Saxon, the old term bandog (Wynn, p. 72). In the seventeenth and +eighteenth centuries the terms were generally synonymous, and it seems +quite possible that the mastiff of the ancient forest laws was not our +bandog, but denoted, as in France, any large house-dog capable of +defending his master and his master's goods, watching his cattle, and, +as frequently necessary, powerful enough to attack the depredatory +wolf or the wild boar. These would in all likelihood be a very mixed +breed, and thoroughly justify the name _mestif_ or mongrel. + +Cotgrave in his French-English Dictionary gives the following:-- + +"_Mastin_, a mastiue or bandog; a great country curre; also a rude, +filthie, currish or cruell fellow." + +We find the word _matin_ in France used as a term of opprobrium, or a +name of contempt for any ugly or distorted body or a coarse person: +"_C'es un matin, un vilain matin._" Many interesting facts about the +mastiff have been collected by Jesse in his "History of the British +Dog," but he also makes the mistake of considering that the "Master of +Game" and Turbervile give us the description of the dogs then existing +in England, whereas these descriptions really relate only to French +breeds, although the characteristics may in many cases have tallied +sufficiently; but in others a dire confusion has resulted from blindly +copying from one another. + + +MENÉE, from Latin _minare_, something which is led, a following. This +word frequently occurs in the mediæval romances, and usually denoted +pursuit, either in battle or in the hunting field (Borman, p. 37). + +There are various meanings attached to _menée_:-- + +1. The line of flight the stag or other game has taken, and _Chacier +la menée_ seems to have meant hunting with horn and hound by scent on +the line of flight, in contradiction to the chase with the bow or +crossbow, which was called _berser_ (_Le Roman des Loherains_, 106, c. +30). In G. de F. (p. 157) it is used in the same sense. The meaning +in which Gaston de Foix uses the word menée is explained by him: _Et +puis se metre après, et chevauchier menée: c'est à dire par où les +chiens et le cerf vont_ (G. de F., pp. 43, 44, 171, 179). See also +_Chace dou Cerf_ and Hard. de Font. Guer. Edit. Pichon. + +2. The challenge of the hound when on the line. Page 171, we read that +a hunter should know whether the hounds have retrieved their stag by +the doubling of their menée, _i.e._ the hounds would make more noise +as soon as they found the scent or line of flight of the stag they +were chasing. _Menée_ evidently meant the sound made by the hound when +actually following the scent, not when baying the game. Later the +sense seems to have been widened, and a musical hound was said to have +_la menée belle_ (Salnove, p. 246). + +3. A note sounded on a horn (_see_ Appendix: Hunting Music). It was +the signal that the deer was in full flight. It appears to be used in +Twici to signify the horn-signal blown when the hounds are on the +scent of hart, boar or wolf, to press the hounds onwards (Twici, p. +23). This author says one cannot blow the menée for the hare, because +it is at one time female and another male, and to this Dryden in his +notes remarks that Twici is perfectly right in saying a man ought not +to blow the menée for a hare; for as every one knows, it is but a rare +occurrence for a hare to go straight on end like a fox, for they +commonly double and run rings, in which case if the hounds were +pressed, they would over-run the scent and probably lose the hare. But +he does not explain why Twici says if it were always male the menée +could be blown at it as at other beasts, such as the hart, the boar, +and the wolf. Is it that a male hare will occasionally run a long, +straight course of several miles, but that the female runs smaller +rings and more constantly retraces her steps, and therefore the menée +could never be blown at her? + +4. Menée was also used in the sense of a signal on a horn. + +The "Master of Game" says the _menées_ should be sounded on the return +of the huntsman at the hall or cellar door (p. 179). There was a +curious old custom which occasioned the blowing of the horn in +Westminster Abbey. Two _menées_ were blown at the high altar of the +Abbey on the delivery there of eight fallow deer which Henry III. had +by charter granted as a yearly gift to the Abbot of Westminster and +his successors. + + +METYNGE, here evidently means meating or feeding. As the "Master of +Game" says: "or pasturing" as if the two words were synonymous, as +_metinge_ also was Mid. Eng. for _measure_, it might have been a deer +of "high measure and pasturing." But anyhow the two were practically +identical, for as Twici says: "Harts which are of good pasture. For +the head grows according to the pasture; good or otherwise." See +below: MEUTE. + + +MEUTE had several meanings in Old French venery. + +1. The "Master of Game" translated G. de F.'s "grant cerf" as a hart +of high feeding or pasture. But he omitted to render the following +passage: "_Et s'il est de bonne meute, allons le laisser courre._" The +"_bonne meute_" is not translated by "high meating." It was an +expression in use to indicate whether the stag was in good company or +not. If a warrantable stag was accompanied by one or two large stags +he was termed "_Un cerf de bonne mute_" (or _meute_), but if hinds and +young stags (rascal) were with him he was designated as a "_cerf de +mauvaise mute_." In Roy Modus we read: "_La première est de savoir +s'il est de bonne mute._" + +Perhaps _meute_ when used in this sense was derived from the old +Norman word _moeta_, _m[=a][=e]ta_, from _m[=o]t_, meet, come +together. There was also an Old Eng. word _metta_ or _gemetta,_ +companion. + +2. Meute was also used in another sense which is translated by the +"Master of Game" as _haunts_, probably the place the deer usually +moves in. G. says: "_Il prendra congé de sa meute_," and the "Master +of Game" has: "he leaves his haunts." If a deer was harboured in a +good country for hunting he was also called "_En belle meute_" +(D'Yauville, voc. _Meute_). + +It was in this sense that the "Sénéschal de Normandye" answers the +question of his royal mistress about the stag he himself had harboured +that morning; he tells her the stag was _En belle meute et pays fort_. + +3. MEUTE, MUTE, a number of hounds, now called a pack or kennel of +hounds or a cry of hounds. + + +MEW, _Mue_, to shed, cast, or change. "The hart mews his horns," the +deer casts his head, or sheds his antlers. From the French _muer_, and +the Latin _mutare_, to change, of hawks to moult. + + +MOVE, MEU, Meue, mewe, meeve, old forms of move. To start a hart +signified to unharbour him, to start him from his lair. + +G. de F. says: _Allons le laisser courre_; but the word _meu_ or +_meve_ was also used in Old French in the same way as in English. + +Twici says: _Ore vodroi ioe savoir quantez des betes sunt meuz de +lymer, e quanz des bestes sunt trouez des brachez.... Sire, touz ceaus +qe sunt enchaces; sunt meuz de lymer. E tous ceaus enquillez sunt +trovez de brachez._ (Now I would wish to know how many beasts are +moved by a lymer and how many beasts are found by the braches.--Sir, +all those which are chased are moved by a lymer. And all those which +are hunted up are found by braches.) (Line 18; Tristan., i. 4337; +Partonopeus de Blois, 607.) + + +MUSE, _Meuse_. An opening in a fence through which a hare or other +animal is accustomed to pass. An old proverb says: "'Tis as hard to +find a hare without a muse, as a woman without scuse." + +"A hare will pass by the same muses until her death or escape" (Blome, +p. 92). + + +NUMBLES. M. E. _nombles_, _noumbles_; O. F. _nombles_. The parts of a +deer between the thighs, that is to say, the liver and kidneys and +entrails. Part, and sometimes the whole of the numbles were considered +the right of the huntsman; sometimes the huntsman only got the +kidneys, and the rest was put aside with the tit-bits reserved for the +King or chief personage (Turb., pp. 128-129). Numbles by loss of the +initial letter became umbles (Harrison, vol. i. p. 309), and was +sometimes written humbles, whence came "humble pie," now only +associated with the word humble. Humble pie was a pie made of the +umbles or numbles of the deer, and formerly at hunting feasts was set +before the huntsman and his followers. + + +OTTER. The Duke of York does not tell us anything of the chase of the +Otter, but merely refers one at the end of the chapter on "The Nature +of the Otter" to Milbourne, the King's Otter-hunter, for more +information and says, "as of all other vermin I speak not" (p. 73). +The Otter was evidently beneath his notice, as being neither regarded +as a beast of venery nor of the chase (Twety and Gyfford, Brit. Mus. +MS. Vesp. B. XII.). But the very fact that the King had an +Otter-hunter shows that it was a beast not altogether despised, +although probably hunted more for the value of its skin and for the +protection of the fish than for the sport. + +The Milbourne referred to by the Duke of York can scarcely be any +other than the William Melbourne we find mentioned in Henry IV.'s +reign as "Valet of our Otter-hounds" (Privy Seal, 674/6456, Feb. 18, +1410). + + +PARFET, _the perfect_. Twici says: _Une autre chasce il y ad qe homme +appele le parfet. Dunkes covient il qe vous corneez en autre +maneree.... E isse chescun homme qest en tour vous, que siet de +venerie puet conustre en quel point vous estes en vostre dedut par +vostre corneer_ (line 111). + +From comparing the various places where the word _parfait_ is employed +in connection with hunting, it may be concluded that to hunt the +"_Parfet_" was when the hounds were on the line of the right stag, to +sound the "_Parfet_" was to blow the notes that indicated the hounds +were hunting the right line. Dryden in his notes to Twici suggests +that the chase of the _parfet_ was "in opposition to the chase of the +_Forloyng_," that is, when the pack run well together "jostling in +close array" (Twici, p. 43). But Perfect in the O. F. works seems to +us to invariably be used, as already said, to indicate that the hounds +have not taken the change, but are staunch to the right scent. Jacques +de Brézé says the stag he is hunting joins two great stags, but +although some of the hounds ran silent for awhile, they still +continued staunch to their line, and here he uses the word "_parfait_" +(Sen. de Nor., p. 13). + +Modus also uses it in this sense: _Les chiens qui viennent chaçant +après le parfait_ (fol. xix. v). And what is most conclusive is the +sense given to it in our text: "Should blow to him again the parfyt so +that he were in his rightes and ellys nought," _i.e._ the parfyt +should only be blown if the hound was on the right line (p. 174). + + +PARFYTIERES, the name given in the "Master of Game" to the last relay +of hounds uncoupled during the chase of the stag. First came the +"_vaunt chase_," and then the "_midel_," and then the "_parfytieres_." +They may have been so called from being the last hounds to be +uncoupled, being those that completed or perfected the pack--_i.e._ +perfecters, or this relay may have derived its name from being +composed of some of the staunchest hounds from the kennel, those not +likely to follow any but the right line or the _parfyt_. It was +customary in the old days to keep some of the slower and staunchest +hounds in the last relay, and to cast them only when a stag nearing +its end rused and foiled, and sought by every means to shake off his +persecutors (_see_ Appendix: Relays). G. de F. gives the names of the +three relays simply as _La première bataille_, _la seconde_, and _la +tierce_ (p. 175). + + +POMELED; spotted, from O. F. _pomelé_, spotted like an apple. The +young of the roedeer are born with a reddish brown coat with white +spots, which the "Master of Game" calls _pomeled_. This term was also +frequently used in Ang.-N., O. F., and in the dog-Latin of our ancient +records to describe a flea-bitten or dappled horse. "_His hakenei that +was all pomeli gris_" (Strat.). "_Pommeli liardus, gris pommele, Uno +equo liardo pomele_" (Obs. Ward. Acc. 28, Ed. I.). G. de F. does not +use this word in describing the young of the roedeer, but says they +are born "_eschaquettes_" (p. 40). + + +RACHES; _ratches_ or _racches_, a dog that hunts by scent. A.-S. +_raecc_, a hound, and O. F. and Ang.-N. _brache_, _brachet_, _bracon_, +_braquet_; Ger. _bracken_. Ang.-Lat., _brachetus_, _bracketus_. + +Raches were scenting hounds hunting in a pack, later called "running +hounds," and then simply hounds. Although raches or brachets are +frequently mentioned in the O. F. and Ang.-N. metrical romances, and +in various early documents, we have never found any description of +them, but can only gather what they were from the uses they were put +to. We find that the bracco was used by the early German tribes to +track criminals, therefore they were scenting hounds. There is plenty +of evidence that they were used for stag, wild boar, and buck hunting +during the Middle Ages. They were coupled together and led by a +_berner_ or _bracennier_ or _braconnier. Braconnier_ now means +poacher, but this is only the later meaning; originally braconnier was +the leader of the bracos, or huntsman (Daurel, p. 337; Bangert, p. +173; Dol. 9188). + + +We gather that these brachets of the early Middle Ages were small +hounds, sometimes entirely white, but generally white with black +markings. Sometimes they were mottled (_bracet mautré_). One +description of a _braces corant_ says this hound was as white as a +nut, with black ears, a black mark on the right flank, and flecked +with black (Blancadin, 1271; Perc. 17,555, 22,585; Tristan M., 1475, +2261; Tyolet, 332). + +In the early days in England we find that braches were used to hunt up +such smaller game as was not unharboured or dislodged by the limer. +Twici says: "_Sire, touz ceaus qe sunt enchaces, sunt meuz de lymer. E +tous ceaus enquillez sunt trovez de brachez_" (_see_ Appendix: +Acquillez), _i.e._ All beasts that are enchased are moved by a limer, +and all those that are hunted up are found by braches (Twici, pp. 2, +12). Raches are mentioned in the "Boke of St. Albans" among the +"_Dyvers manere of houndes_," and the apprentice to venery is told he +should speak of "A mute of houndes, a kenell of rachys." He is also +informed that the hart, the buck, and the boar should be started by a +limer, and that all "other bestes that huntyd shall be sought for and +found by Ratches so free." John Hardyng in his Chronicle, speaking of +an inroad into Scotland by Edward IV., in whose reign he was yet +living, said, "And take Kennetes and Ratches with you and seeke oute +all the forest with houndes and hornes as Kynge Edwarde with the long +shanks dide." In the "Squyer of Low degree" we read that the huntsman +came with his bugles "and seven score raches at his rechase." + + +RESEEYUOUR; the word the most approaching this to be found in any +dictionary is under the head of receiver, M. E. _receyvour_, one who, +or that which receives. The _reseeyuours_ were most likely those +greyhounds who received the game, _i.e._ pulled it down after it had +been chased. We see in our text that _teasers_ and _reseeyuours_ are +mentioned together (p. 198). The former were light, swift greyhounds; +these were probably slipped first; and the latter (Shirley MS. spells +_resteynours_) were the heavy greyhounds slipped last, and capable of +pulling down a big stag. De Noirmont tells us: _Ces derniers étaient +surnommés receveours ou receveurs_ (ii. p. 426, and G. de F., p. 177). + + +RELAYS. In the early days of venery the whole pack was not allowed to +hunt at the commencement of the chase. After the stag had been started +from his lair by a limer, some hounds were uncoupled and laid on, the +rest being divided off into relays, which were posted in charge of one +or more _berners_ along the probable line of the stag, and were +uncoupled when the hunted stag and the hounds already chasing him had +passed. There were usually three relays, and two to four couples the +usual number in each relay, though the number of couples depended, of +course, on the size of the hunting establishment and the number of +hounds in the kennel. G. de F. calls these relays simply, première, +seconde, and tierce. The "Master of Game" calls the first lot of +hounds uncoupled the "finders" (p. 165), though this seems rather a +misnomer, as the harbourer with his limer (_see_ Limer) found and +started the deer. The _vauntchase_ for the first relay, and the +_midel_ speak for themselves, but we have little clue to the origin of +_parfitieres_ for the third relay. Were they so called because they +perfected or completed the chase, or because they were some of the +staunchest hounds who could be depended upon to follow the _parfit, +i.e._ the right line of the stag or animal hunted? (_see_ Appendix: +Parfet). Old authorities seem to have differed in opinion as to +whether the staunchest and slowest hounds should have been put in the +first cry or in the last (Roy Modus, fol. xvi.; G. de F., p. 178; +Lav., Chasse à Courre, pp. 297-8). + +In the "Boke of St. Albans" we read of the _vauntlay_, _relay_, and +_allay_. The first was the name given to hounds if they were uncoupled +and thrown off between the pack and the beast pursued, the relay were +the hounds uncoupled after the hounds already hunting had passed by; +the _allay_ is held: + + "Till all the houndes that be behynd be cum therto + Than let thyn houndes all to geder goo + That is called an _allay_." + +Instructions concerning when relays should be given always warn the +_berner_ not to let slip the couples till some of the surest hounds +have passed on the scent, and till he be sure that the stag they are +hunting is the right one and not a substitute, _i.e._ one frightened +and put up by the hunted stag. The "Master of Game" is careful also to +say: "Take care that thou _vauntlay_ not" (p. 169). + +The discontinuing of relays seemed to have been begun first in +Normandy and probably about the same time in England. + +In France the three relays of greyhounds which were used were called +_Levriers d'estric--i.e._ those which were first let slip; _levriers +de flanc_, those that attacked from the side; and _levriers de tête_, +those that bar the passage in front of the game or head it, terms that +correspond with our vauntlay, allay, and relay. In the "Master of +Game's" chapter on the wolf these relays of greyhounds are indicated +(p. 59). + + +RIOT. The "Master of Game's" statement on p. 74 that no other wild +beast in England is called ryott save the coney only has called forth +many suggestions as to the origin of this name being applied to the +rabbit, and the connection between riot, a noise or brawl, and the +rabbit. The word riot is represented in M. E. and O. F. by _riote_, in +Prov. _riota_, Ital. _riotta_, and in all these languages it had the +same signification, _i.e._ a brawl, a dispute, an uproar, a quarrel +(Skeat). + +Diez conjectures the F. _riote_ to stand for _rivote_, and refers to +O. H. G. _riben_, G. _reiben_, to grate, to rub (orig. perhaps to +rive, to rend). From German, _sich an einem reiben_, to mock, to +attack, to provoke one; lit. to rub oneself against one. + +Rabbit, which is in O. Dutch robbe, has probably the same origin from +_reiben_. + +The etymology and connection, if any, between the two words rabbit and +riot is difficult to determine. It is very probable that the rabbit +was called _riot_ from producing a brawling when the hounds came +across one. The term "running _riot_" may well be derived from a +hunting phrase. + + +ROE. The error regarding the October rut into which G. de F. and the +Duke of York fell was one to which the naturalists of much later times +subscribed, for it was left to Dr. Ziegler and to Dr. Bischoff, the +Professor of Physiology at Heidelberg, to demonstrate in 1843 the true +history of the gestation of the roe, which for more than a century had +been a hotly disputed problem. On that occasion it was shown with +scientific positiveness that the true rut of the roe takes place about +the end of July or first week in August, and that the ovum does not +reach the uterus for several months, so that the first development of +the embryo does not commence before the middle of December. + + +RUNNING HOUNDS AND RACHES (F. _chiens courants_). Under this heading +we include all such dogs as hunted by scent in packs, whatever the +game they pursued might be. They appear in the early records of our +kings as _Canes de Mota_, _Canes currentes_, and as _Sousos_ (scenting +hounds) (Close Rolls 7 John; Mag. Rot. 4, John Rot. 10; 4 Henry III.), +and are mentioned specifically as _cervericiis_, _deimericiis_, as +_Heyrectorum_ (harriers) or _canes heirettes_, and foxhounds as +_gupillerettis_ or _wulpericiis_ (Close Rolls, 15 John). + +The Anglo-Saxon word _Hundas_, hound, was a general name for any dog; +the dog for the chase in Anglo-Saxon times being distinguished by the +prefix _Ren_, making _ren hund_. + +Gradually the word dog superseded the word hound, and the latter was +only retained to designate a "scenting" dog. Dr. Caius, writing to Dr. +Gesner, remarks in his book: "Thus much also understand, that as in +your language _Hunde_ is the common word, so in our naturall tounge +dogge is the universall, but _Hunde_ is perticular and a speciall, for +it signifieth such a dogge onely as serveth to hunt" (Caius, p. 40). +(_See_ Appendix: Raches.) Running hounds was a very literal +translation of the French _chiens courants_, and as the descriptive +chapter given in our text is as literal a rendering from G. de F. +there is no information that helps us to piece together the ancestry +of the modern English hound. We do not know what breed were in the +royal kennels in the reign of Henry IV., but probably some descendants +of those brought to this country by the Normans, about the origin of +which breed nothing seems known. + +_Keep of Hounds._ The usual cost of the keep of a hound at the time of +our MS. was a halfpenny a day, of a greyhound three farthings, and of +a limer or bloodhound one penny a day. + +However for the royal harthounds an allowance of three farthings a day +was made for each hound (Q. R. Acc. 1407), and we also find +occasionally that only a halfpenny a day was made for the keep of a +greyhound. In Edward I.'s reign a halfpenny a day was the allowance +made for fox- and otter-hounds (14, 15, 31, 32, 34, Edward I. Ward. +Acc.), and sometimes three farthings and sometimes a halfpenny a day +for a greyhound. The Master of Buckhounds was allowed a halfpenny a +day each for his hounds and greyhounds. + +In the reign of Richard III. the Master of Harthounds was allowed 3s. +3d. a day "for the mete of forty dogs and twelve greyhounds and +threepence a day for three limers" (Rolls of Parl., vol. v. p. 16). + +The "Boke of Curtasye" (fourteenth century, Percy Society, iv. p. +26), gives us information which quite agrees with the payments entered +in the Wardrobe and other accounts of the King's hunting +establishment. And under the head of _De Pistore_ we find the baker is +told to make loaves for the hounds: + + "Manchet and chet to make brom bred hard + ffor chaundeler and grehoundes and huntes reward." + +Chet, a word not in use since the seventeenth century, meant wheaten +bread of the second quality, made of flour more coarsely sifted than +that used for manchet, which was the finest quality. + +Brom bread was oaten bread, and probably was very much the same as a +modern dog biscuit. + +One of the ancient feudal rights was that of obtaining bran from the +vassals for the hounds' bread, known as the right of brennage, from +bren, bran. + +Although bread was the staple food given to hounds, yet they were also +provided with meat. At the end of a day's hunting they received a +portion of the game killed (_see_ Curée), and if this was not +sufficient or it was not the hunting season game was expressly killed +for them. In a decree from King John to William Pratell and the +Bailiffs of Falke de Breaut of the Isle of Ely, the latter are +commanded to find bread and paste for the hounds as they may require, +"and to let them hunt sometimes in the Bishops chase for the flesh +upon which they are fed" (Close Roll, 17 John). In an extract from the +Wardrobe Accounts of 6 Edward I. we find a payment was made of 40s. by +the King to one Bernard King for his quarry for two years past on +which the King's dogs had been fed (MS. Phillipps, 8676). + +We find also that "Pantryes, Chippinges and broken bread" were given +to the hounds, _Chippings_ being frequently mentioned in the royal +accounts as well as meat for the hounds (Liber Niger Domus Ed. IV.; +Collection of Ordinances of the Royal Households; Jesse, ii. 125; +Privy Purse Expenses Henry VIII. 1529-1532). + +The cost of the keep of some of the King's hounds were paid for out of +the exchequer, others were paid from the revenues and outgoings of +various counties, and an immense number were kept by subjects who held +land from the crown _by serjeantry_ or _in capite_ of keeping a stated +number of running hounds, greyhounds, and brachets, &c., for the +King's use (Blount's Ancient Tenures, Plac. Chron. 12, 13 Ed. I.; +Issue Roll 25 Henry VI.; Domesday, tom. i. fol. 57 v). + +We see by the early records of our kings that a pack of hounds did not +always remain stationary and hunt within easy reach of their kennels, +but were sent from one part of the kingdom to another to hunt where +game was most plentiful or where there was most vermin to be +destroyed. As early as Edward I.'s reign we find conveyances were +sometimes provided for hounds when they went on long journeys. Thomas +de Candore or Candovere and Robert le Sanser (also called Salsar), +huntsmen of the stag and buckhounds (Close Rolls 49 Henry III.; 6, 8 +Ed. I.), were paid for a horse-litter for fifty-nine days for the use +of their sixty-six hounds and five limers (Ward. Acc. 14, 15 Ed. I.). +And as late as Henry VIII.'s time the hounds seemed to travel about +considerable distances, as in the Privy Purse expenses of that King +the cart covered with canvas for the use of his hounds is a frequently +recurring item. + + +SCANTILON, O. F. _eschantillon_, Mid. Eng. _Scantilon_, Mod. Eng. +scantling, mason's rule, a measure; the huntsman is continually told +to take a _scantilon_, that is, a measure, of the slot or footprint of +the deer, so as to be able to show it at the meet, that with this +measure and the examination of the droppings which the huntsman was +also to bring with him the Master of the Game could judge if the man +had harboured a warrantable deer (_see_ Appendix: Slot and Trace). + +SEASONS OF HUNTING. In mediæval times the consideration for the +larder played a far more important part in fixing the seasons for +hunting wild beasts than it did in later times, the object being to +kill the game when in the primest condition. Beginning with the-- + +_Red deer stag_: according to Dryden's Twici, p. 24 (source not +given), the season began at the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June +24), and _ended_ Holyrood Day (September 14). Our text of the "Master +of Game" nowhere expressly states when the stag-hunting begins or +terminates, but as he speaks of how to judge a hart from its fumes in +the month of April and May (p. 30), and further says that harts run +best from the "entry of May into St. John's tide" (p. 35), we might +infer that they were hunted from May on. He also says that the season +for hind-hunting begins when the season of the hart ends and lasteth +till Lent. But as this part of the book was a mere translation from G. +de F. it is no certain guide to the hunting seasons in England. The +Stag-hunting season in France, the _cervaison_, as it was called, +began at the _Sainte Croix de Mai_ (May 3rd) and lasted to _la Sainte +Croix de Septembre_ (Holyrood Day, Sept. 14), the old French saying +being: "_Mi Mai, mi teste, mi Juin, mi graisse; à la Magdeleine +venaison pleine_" (July 22) (Menagier de Paris, ii.). And although the +stag was probably chiefly hunted in England between Midsummer and the +middle of September, when they are in the best condition, and it was +considered the best time to kill them, they were probably hunted from +May on in the early days in England as they were in France. Had this +not been customary we imagine the Duke of York would have inserted one +of his little interpolations in the text he was translating, and +stated that although the season began in May _beyond the sea_, it only +began later in England. + +In Twety and Gyfford we read that the "tyme of grece, begynnyth alle +way atte the fest of the Nativyte of Saynt Johan baptist." Later on, +according to Dryden, the season of the stag began two weeks after +Midsummer (July 8). + +_Red deer hind_, Holyrood Day (Sept. 14) to Candlemas (Feb. 2) (Twici, +p. 24; Man., p. 181). According to others the hind and the doe season +ends on Twelfth-day or Epiphany (Jan. 6). + +_Fallow deer buck._ According to the Forest Laws the season began at +the Nativity of St. John (June 24) and ended on Holyrood Day (Sept. +14). Dryden adds a second date, _i.e._ two weeks after Midsummer, to +the former, but does not quote the source. + +_Fallow doe_ was hunted from Holyrood Day (Sept. 14) to Candlemas +(Feb. 2). + +_Roe deer buck_ was hunted from Easter to Michaelmas (Sept. 29). + +_Roe doe_, Michaelmas to Candlemas. + +_Hare._ According to the Forest Laws (Man., 176) the season commenced +Michaelmas (Sept. 29) and ended at Midsummer (June 24); Dryden in his +notes in Twici states that it commenced at Michaelmas and ended at +Candlemas (Feb. 2), while the "Boke of St. Albans" gives the same date +as the first-named in Manwood. According to the "Master of Game" the +hare seems to have enjoyed no close season, as G. de F.'s assertion +that the hunting of the hare "lasteth all the year" is also translated +without comment (p. 14): _Et le peut chassier toute l'année, en +quelque temps que ce soit quar touzjours sa sayson dure_ (G de F., p. +204). + +In Twety and Gyfford we also find that "The hare is alway in season to +be chasyd." + +In the sixteenth century in France the hare-hunting season was from +the middle of September till the middle of April (Du Fouilloux, p. 51; +De Noir., ii. p. 476). In England the same season seems to have been +observed (Blome, p. 91). + +_Wild boar._ According to the Forest Laws (Manwood and Twici), the +boar was hunted from Christmas Day to Candlemas (Feb. 2), but we have +evidence that boar-hunting usually began earlier. The boar was in his +prime condition when acorns, beechmast, and chestnuts were plentiful, +and was considered in season from Michaelmas to St. Martin's Day (Roy +Modus, xxxi.), and by some even from Holyrood Day (Bornam, p. 100; +Part, de Blois, 525). + +The huntsmen of King John of England were sent to hunt in the forest +of Cnappe in order to take two or three boars a day in November. King +John's letter giving instructions on this point to one Rowland Bloet +is dated 8th November 1215 (Jesse, ii. 32). + +_Wolf._ According to the Forest Laws, in the book already quoted, the +season during which the wolf was hunted began at Christmas and ended +at the Annunciation (March 25), but considering the destruction +wrought by this beast it is far more likely that it was hunted +throughout the year. + +_Fox._ According to the Forest Laws the season opened on Christmas Day +and ended on March 25, but nevertheless the fox was hunted early in +the autumn, for we have it on Twety and Gyfford's authority that "the +sesoun of the fox begynneth at the natyvite of owre Lady, and durryth +til the Annunciacion" (Sept. 8 to March 25). + +The "Boke of St. Albans" gives the season of the fox and wolf from the +Nativity to the Annunciation of Our Lady and that of the boar from the +Nativity to the Purification of Our Lady. Manwood and other accepted +authorities quote the above as alluding to the Nativity of Christ, +whereas the Nativity of Our Lady, Sept. 8, was intended, thereby +creating some confusion. + +According to the Wardrobe Accounts of Edward I. the foxhunting season +began on 1st September (Ward. Acc. Ed. I. 1299-1300). + +No doubt one of the reasons why the fox was not hunted earlier in the +year was on account of the fur, which was of course of less use or +value if obtained in summer. + +_Otter._ The Forest Laws give the season as from Shrove Tide (Feb. 22) +to Midsummer (June 24), but we find that in King John's reign the +otter was hunted in July (Close Rolls 14 John I.). + +_Martin_, _badger_, _and rabbit_ were hunted at all seasons of the +year. + +SNARES. No work dealing with the chase of wild animals in mediæval +times would be complete were it to omit all reference to snares, +traps, gins, pitfalls, and other devices to take game other than by +hunting. The "Master of Game" mentions the subject but briefly, +saying, "Truly I trow no good hunter would slay them so for no good," +but "Gaston Ph[oe]bus" contains seventeen short chapters in which the +author as well as the miniaturist describe the various contrivances +then in use, although the same disdain of these unsportsmanlike +methods is expressed by G. de F. that marks the Duke of York's pages. +In the first edition of the present work will be found descriptions of +the principal snares used in the Middle Ages. + + +SPANIEL. It is difficult to say at what date these dogs were first +introduced into our country; we only know that by the second half of +the sixteenth century spaniels were a common dog in England. In Dr. +Caius's time the breed was "in full being." He mentions land spaniels, +setters, and water spaniels, besides the small spaniels which were +kept as pet and lap dogs. That the breed was not then a recent +importation we may infer from the fact that, when speaking of the +water spaniel and giving the derivation of the name, Dr. Caius says: +"Not that England wanted suche kinde of dogges (for they are naturally +bred and ingendered in this country). But because they beare the +general and common name of these dogs synce the time when they were +first brought over out of Spaine." + +The chapter in the "Master of Game" on this dog, being translated +from G. de F., unfortunately throws no light on the history of the +spaniel in England, although we imagine that, had there been no such +hounds in our island at the time, the Duke would have made some such +remark as he has in other parts of his book of their being a "manner +of" hound as "men have beyond the sea, but not as we have here in +England." + +In his time the spaniel had enjoyed popularity in France for some two +centuries, and there was such continual communication between France +and England in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries that it would +have been indeed strange if this most useful dog for the then +favourite and universal sport of hawking had not been brought to +England long before his time. We may conclude that the "gentle hounds +for the hawk" of which he speaks in his Prologue were not spaniels. + + +SPAY. The usual meaning of this word (castrating females) given in all +dictionaries is clearly inapplicable on this occasion (p. 174), where +it undoubtedly means killing a stag with a sword, probably derived +from the Italian _spada_. When the velvet was once off the antlers the +stag at bay was usually despatched with the bow, for it was then +dangerous to approach him close enough to do so with the sword. When +achieved by bold hunters, as it occasionally was, it was accounted a +feat of skill and courage. + + +STABLES. O. F. _establie_, a garrison, a station. Huntsmen and +kennelmen with hounds in leash, whose duty it was to take up a post or +stand assigned to them during the chase, were called stables. We have +_Stabilitiones venationis_ that are mentioned in Domesday (i. fol. 56b +and fol. 252). In Ellis's introduction to Domesday he says: +"_Stabilitio_ meant stalling the deer. To drive the Deer and other +Game from all quarters to the centre of a gradually contracted circle +where they were compelled to stand, was _stabilitio_." Malmesbury, +Scriptores, post Bedam, edit. 1596, p. 44, speaking of the mildness of +Edward the Confessor's temper, says, "_Dum quadam vice venatum isset, +et agrestis quidam Stabulata illa, quibus in casses cervi urgentur, +confudisset, ille sua nobili percitus ira, per Deum, inquit, et matrem +ejus tantundem tibi nocebo, si potero_" (Ellis, i. 112). + +We see, however, at a later date from Twici and the "Master of Game" +that the watchers or stables they allude to were stationary--and did +not drive the game as described in above. + +These stations of huntsmen and hounds were placed at intervals round +the quarter of the forest to be driven or hunted in with hounds to +move the game, so that the hounds could be slipped at any game +escaping; sometimes they were to make a noise, and thus blench or head +the game back. In French such a chase was called a _Chasse à tître_ +(Lav. xxviii.), the word _tître_ meaning net or tape, but in this case +used figuratively. Our "Master of Game" evidently placed these +stations to keep the game within the boundaries so as to force it to +pass the stand of the King. Twici describes these stations of +huntsmen, using the word _establie_. "The bounds are those which are +set up of archers, and of greyhounds (_lefrers et de establie_) and +watchers, and on that account I have blown one moot and recheated on +the hounds. You hunter, do you wish to follow the chase? Yes, if that +beast should be one that is hunted up (_enquillee_), or chased I will +follow it. If so it should happen that the hounds should be gone out +of bounds then I wish to blow a moot and stroke after my hounds to +have them back" (Twici, p. 6). + +It was the duty of certain tenants to attend the King's hunts and act +as part of the stable. In Hereford one person went from each house to +the stand or station in the wood at the time of the survey (Gen. +Introduction Domesday, Ellis, i. 195). From Shrewsbury the principal +burgesses who had horses attended the King when he went hunting, and +the sheriff sent thirty-six men on foot to the deer-stand while the +King remained there. + +_Stable-stand_ was the place where these _stables_ were posted or +"set," and the word was also used to denote the place where archers +were posted to shoot at driven game. Such stands were raised platforms +in some drive or on some boundary of the forest, sometimes erected +between the branches of a tree, so that the sportsman could be well +hidden. A good woodcut of what was probably intended to represent a +"stand" is in the first edition of Turbervile's "Arte of Venerie," +representing Queen Elizabeth receiving her huntsman's report. + +There is no mention made of raised stands in our text, but with or +without such erections the position taken up by the shooters to await +the game was called his _standing_ or _tryste_, and a bower of +branches was made, to shelter the occupant from sun and rain, as well +as to hide him from the game. Such arbours were called _Berceau_ or +_Berceil_ in Old French, from the word _berser_, to shoot with a bow +and arrow; they were also called _ramiers_ and _folies_, from rames or +branches, and folia, leaves, with which they were made or disguised +(Noir., iii. p. 354). + +Manwood tells us that _Stable-stand_ was one of four "manners in which +if a man were found, in the forest, he could be arrested as a poacher +or trespasser," and says: "Stable-stand is where one is found at his +standing ready to shoot at any Deer, or standing close by a tree with +Greyhounds in his leash ready to let slip" (Man., p. 193). + + +STANKES, or layes; tanks or pools, large meers. Gaston says: _Estancs +et autres mares ou marrhés_ (G. de F., p. 21). Stank house was a +moated house. A ditch or moat filled with water was called a tank. + + +TACHE, or tecche, Mid. Eng. for a habit, especially a bad habit, vice, +freak, caprice, behaviour, from the O. F. _tache_, a spot, a stain, or +blemish; also a disgrace, a blot on a man's good name. In the older +use it was applied both to good as well as bad qualities, as in our +text. + + +TAW, to makes hides into leather; tawer, the maker of white leather. +In the fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, in the days of the +strict guilds, a sharp line was drawn between tawers and tanners, and +a tawer was not allowed to tan nor a tanner to taw (Wylie, vol. iii. +p. 195). No tawers were allowed to live in the Forest according to the +ancient forest laws. + +"If any white Tawer live in a Forest, he shall be removed and pay a +Fine, for they are the common dressers of skins of stolen deer" (Itin. +Lanc. fol. 7, quoted by Manwood, p. 161). + + +TEAZER, or _teaser_. "A kind of mongrel greyhound whose business is to +drive away the deer before the Greyhounds are slipt," is the +definition given by Blome (p. 96). These dogs were used to hunt up the +game also when the deer was to be shot with the bow. The sportsmen +would be standing at their trysts or stable-stand in some alley or +glade of the wood, and the hounds be put into the covert or park "_to +tease them forth_." + + +TRACE, slot, or footprint of deer. In O. F. and Ang.-N. literature the +word trace seems to have been used indifferently for the track of the +stag, wild boar, or any game (Borman, notes 147, 236, 237). G. de F. +expressly says that the footprint of the deer should not be called +_trace_ but _voyes_ or _piés_ (view or foot), yet the "Master of Game" +in his rendering says: "Of the hart ye shall say 'trace,'" so +evidently that was the proper sporting term in England at the time. +When slot entirely superseded the word trace amongst sportsmen it is +difficult to determine. Turbervile uses slot, and in the beginning of +the seventeenth century it seems the general term for the footprint of +deer (Man., p. 180; Stuart Glossary, vol. ii.; Blome, p. 76). Slot, it +may be contended, is as old a word as trace, but in Mid. Eng. it was +employed as a general term for a foot-track or marking of any animal. +The trace or slot was one of the signs of a stag, that is the mark by +which an experienced huntsman could recognise the age, size, and sex +of the deer. + +The old stag leaves a blunter print with a wider heel than a hind, but +it is difficult to distinguish the slot of a hind from that of a young +stag. Although the latter has invariably a bigger heel and makes +deeper marks with his dewclaws, yet his toes are narrow and pointed, +their edges are sharp, and the distance between his steps is somewhat +unequal, all of which may lead his slotting to be mistaken for the +tracks of a hind. "He has found what he wanted," says Dr. Collyns, +when speaking of the harbourer, "the rounded track, the blunted toe +point, the widespread mark, the fresh slot, in short, of a stag" +("Chase of the Red Deer"). + +The huntsman of old used to consider that any slot into which four +fingers could be placed with ease belonged to a warrantable stag (some +declared a stag of ten). That would mean that the slot would be about +three inches wide, if not more. I believe two and a half inches is +considered a fair measurement for mark of the heel by Devonshire +stag-hunters, who alone in England concern themselves with the +differences in the slot, as they only chase the wild deer. No such +woodcraft is necessary for the chase of the carted deer, and as long +as the master and huntsman can distinguish the footprint of a deer +from that of any other animal, that is all that is required of them in +this matter. The stepping or gait of a stag is also a sign that was +taken into consideration. The old stag walks more equally, and +generally places the point of his hind feet in the heel of his fore +feet. The gait of a hind is more uncertain; it is said she misprints, +that is sometimes the hind foot will be placed beside the fore foot, +sometimes inside or in front of it. She is not even so regular in her +gait as a young stag, unless she is with fawn, when she will place +her hind feet constantly outside her fore feet. A hind walks with +wide-spreading claws, so does a young stag with his fore feet, but +those of his hind feet will be closed. The larger the print of the +fore feet are in comparison to the hind feet the older the stag. + +The underneath edge of the claws round the hollow of the sole was +called the _esponde_ (sponde, edge or border). In older stags they +were blunter and more worn, and in hinds and younger deer sharper, +unless indeed the stag inhabited a damp and mossy country, where the +_esponde_ would not be so much worn down as if he lived on a rocky or +stony ground. (G. de F., 155, 129-145; Lav., p. 246; Stuart, p. 58; +Fortescue, p. 133). And thus did the woodmen of old study the book of +nature, which told them all they wished to know, and found for them +better illustrations than any art could give. + + +TRYST, in the language of sport, was the place or stand where the +hunter took up his position to await the game he wished to shoot. The +game might be driven to him by hounds, or he might so place himself as +to shoot as the game went to and from their lair to their pasturing +(_see_ Appendix: Stables and Stable-stand). In French it was called +shooting _à l'affut_, from _ad fustem_, near the wood, because the +shooter leant his back to, or hid behind a tree, so that the game +should not see him. + +In our MS. we are told that Alaunts are good for hunting the wild boar +whether it be with greyhounds, at the "tryst," or with running hounds +at bay within the covert. The tryst here would be the place where a +man would be stationed to slip the dogs at the wild boar as soon as he +broke covert, or after the huntsman had wounded the boar with a shot +from his long or cross-bow (p. 118). + + +VELTRES, _velteres_, _veltrai_. A dog used for the chase, a hound. +Probably derived from the Gaelic words _ver_, large or long, and +_traith_, a step or course, _vertragus_ being the name by which +according to Arian, the Gauls designated a swift hound (Blanc, 52). + + +WANLACE. Winding in the chase (Halliwell). In the sentence in which +this word is used in the chapter on the Mastiff (p. 122) we are told +that some of these dogs "fallen to be berslettis and also to bring +well and fast a wanlace about." Which probably means that some of +these dogs become shooting dogs, and could hunt up the game to the +shooter well and fast by ranging or circling. _Wanlasour_ is an +obsolete name for one who drives game (Strat.). + +In Brit. Mus. MS. Lansdowne 285 there is an interesting reference to +setting the forest "with archers or with Greyhounds or with +Wanlassours." + + +WILD BOAR. These animals were denizens of the British forests from the +most remote ages, and probably were still numerous there at the time +our MS. was penned. For although the Duke of York has only translated +one of the eleven chapters relating to the natural history, chase, or +capture by traps of the wild boar, and does not give us any original +remarks upon the hunting of them, as he has of the stag and the hare, +still it was most likely because he considered these two the royal +sport _par excellence_, and not because there were none to hunt in +England in his day. If the latter had been the case, he would in all +probability have omitted even the chapter he does give us, as he has +done with those written by Gaston de Foix on the deer, the reindeer, +and the ibex and chamois (p. 160). + +In some doggerel verses which are prefixed to "Le venery de Twety and +Gyfford" (in Vesp. B. XII.), the wild boar is classed as a beast of +venery. In the a "Boke of St. Albans" the wild boar is also mentioned +as a beast of venery. + +When Fitzstephen wrote his description of London in 1174, he says +wild boars as well as other animals frequented the forests surrounding +London, and it would certainly be a long time after this before these +animals could have been extirpated from the wild forests in more +remote parts of the country. + +_Sounder_ is the technical term for a herd of wild swine. "How many +herdes be there of bestes of venery? Sire of hertis, or bisses, of +bukkes and of doos. A soundre of wylde swyne. A bevy of Roos" (Twety +and Gyfford). In the French Twici we have also _Soundre dez porcs_. + +_Farrow_ (Sub.) was a term for a young pig, in Mid. Eng. _farh_, +_far_, Old Eng. _fearh_ (Strat.). Farrow (verb) was the term used when +sows gave birth to young. + +G. de F. says that wild boars can wind acorns as far as a bear can (p. +58), and turning to his chapter on bears, we find that he says that +bears will wind a feeding of acorns six leagues off! + +_Routing_ or rooting. A wild boar is said to root when he is feeding +on ferns or roots (Turb., pp. 153, 154). + +_Argus_, as our MS. calls the dew-claws of the boar, were in the later +language of venery called the _gards_ (Blome, p. 102). Twety and +Gyfford named the dew-claws of the stag _os_ and of the boar _ergos_. +"How many bestis bere _os_, and how many _ergos?_ The hert berith _os_ +above, the boor and the buk berith _ergos_." + +_Grease_, as the fat of the boar or sow was called, was supposed to +bear medicinal qualities. "And fayre put the grece whan it is take +away, In the bledder of the boore my chylde I yow pray, For it is a +medecine: for mony maner pyne" ("Boke of St. Albans"). + + +WILD CAT (_Felis Catus_), which at one time was extremely common in +England, was included among the beasts of the chase. It is frequently +mentioned in royal grants giving liberty to enclose forest-land and +licence to hunt therein. + +It was probably more for its skin than for diversion that the wild cat +was hunted, as its fur was much used for trimming dresses at one time. + +The wild cat is believed to be now extinct, not only in England and +Wales, but in a great part of the South of Scotland. A writer in the +new edition of the _Encyclopædia Britannica_ (art. "Cat") expresses +the opinion that the wild cat still exists in Wales and in the North +of England, but gives no proof of its recent occurrence there. + +Harvie-Brown in his "Vertebrate Fauna of Argyll" (1892) defines the +limit of the range of the wild cat by a line drawn from Oban to +Inverness; northward and westward of this line, he states, the animal +still existed. But there is no doubt that of late years the cessation +of vermin trapping in many parts of Scotland, which has caused a +marked increase in the golden eagle, has had the same effect upon the +wild cat. + +The natural history chapter of the wild cat is taken by the Duke of +York from G. de F.; did we not know this, some confusion might have +arisen through the fact being mentioned that there are several kinds +of wild cat, whereas only one was known to the British Isles. G. de F. +says there were wild cats as large as leopards which went by the name +of _loups-serviers_ or _cat wolves_, both of which names he declares +to be misnomers. He evidently refers to the _Felis Lynx_ or _Lynx +vulgaris_, which he properly classes as a "manner of wild cat," +although some of the ancient writers have classed them as wolves +(Pliny, Lib. viii. cap. 34). + + +WOLF. For a long time it was a popular delusion that wolves had been +entirely exterminated in England and Wales in the reign of the Saxon +King Edgar (956-957), but Mr. J. E. Harting has by his researches +proved beyond doubt that they existed some centuries later, and did +not entirely disappear until the reign of Henry VII. (1485-1509). + + +WORMING A DOG. This was supposed to be a preventive to the power of a +mad dog's bite. It was a superstition promulgated in very early times, +and seems to have been believed in until comparatively recent times. +We find it repeated in one book of venery after another, French, +English, and German: in England by our author, Turbervile, Markham, +and others. + +Pliny suggests this operation, and he quotes Columna as to the +efficacy of cutting off a dog's tail when he is very young (Pliny, +chap. xli.). + +G. de F. and the Duke of York are careful to say that they only give +the remedy for what it is worth, the latter saying: "Thereof make I no +affirmation," and further on: "Notwithstanding that men call it a worm +it is but a great vein that hounds have underneath their tongue" (p. +87). + + + + +LIST OF SOME BOOKS CONSULTED AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN TEXT + + + Albertus Magnus. _De Animalibus._ Ed. 1788. + + ---- _The Secrets of._ London, 1617. + + _Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales._ 1841. + + _---- of Cambria._ E. Williams. 1823. + + _Anc. Ten._, for _Ancient Tenures of Land_. By Thomas Blount. London, + 1874. + + Andreæ, E. C. A. _Die Geschichte der Jagd._ Frankfurt, 1894. + + _Archæologia._ Pub. by Soc. of Antiq. Beginning 1770. + + Arcussia, Ch. d'. _La Conference des Fauconniers_ (_Cab. de Venerie_, + vii.). 1880. + + Arkwright, for _The Pointer and his Predecessor_. By William A. + London, 1902. 4to. See Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + _Arrow Release, The._ By Ed. S. Morse. 1885. + + Aymon, for _Le Roman des quatres fils Aymon_. Edit. P. Tarbé. 1861. + + + _Bad. Lib. Hunt._, for "Badminton Library." Volume on Hunting by the + Duke of Beaufort and Mowbray Morris. Ed. 7. London, 1901. Errors in, + see Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + ---- vol. on _The Poetry of Sport_. London, 1896. Errors in, see + Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + Bangert, for _Die Tiere des Altfranz. Epos_. Von Fried. Bangert. + Marburg, 1885. + + Barrière-Flavy, C. _Censier du pays de Foix._ Toulouse, 1898. + + Barthold, F. W. _Georg von Frundsberg._ 1833. + + Bastard, A. de. _Libraire du duc de Berry._ Paris, 1834. + + Baudrillart, for _Traite des Eaux et Forêts, Chasse et Pêches._ Par M. + B. Paris, 1834. + + Beckford, for _Thoughts upon Hare and Fox Hunting._ By Peter B. + London, 1796. + + Beltz, G. F. _Memorials of the Garter._ 1841. + + Berg, L. F. Freiherr. _Gesch. der deutschen Wälder._ Dresden, 1871. + + Bertheleti, T., _General Collections of Statutes, 1225-1546_. London, + 1543-51. + + _Bib. Accip._, for _Bibliotheca Accipitraria_. By James Edm. Harting. + London, 1891. + + Blancandin, ed. _H. V. Michelant._ 1867. + + Blane, for _Cynegetica, or Observations on Hare Hunting_. By W. B. + London, 1788. + + Blaze, Elezear. _Catalogue d'une Collection._ Paris, 1852. + + ---- _Le Livre du Roy Modus._ Paris, 1839. + + Blome, for _The Gentleman's Recreation_. By Richard Blome. London, + 1686. + + Blount, T. _A Law Dictionary and Glossary._ 1717. + + _Bodl. MS. 546_, for the MS. of the "Master of Game" in the Bodleian + Library at Oxford. See "Existing MSS. of the 'Master of Game'"; see + Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + Borman, for _Die Jagd in den Altfranz. Artus und Abenteuer Romanen_. + _Von_ Ernst Borman. Marburg, 1887. + + _Boldon Book_, for _Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and + Ireland_ (vol. iii.). By Sir Th. Duffus-Hardy. London, 1875. + + _B. of St. Albans_, for _The Boke of St. Albans_. Edit. by William + Blades. London, 1881. See Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + "_B. of C._" for _Boke of Curtasye_. 14th cent. poem. Pub. by I. O. + Halliwell. Percy Soc. vol. iv. + + Bonney, for _Historic Notices on Fotheringhay_. By Rev. H. K. B. + Oundle, 1821. + + Borel, P., _Dictionnaire des termes du vieux François_. 2 vols. 1882. + + Bouton, Victor. _L'Auteur du Roy Modus._ Paris, 1888. + + Brachet, Ang. _An Etymological Dictionary of the French Language_ + (Clarendon Press). 1866. + + Brehm, for B.'s _Tierleben_. 3. ed. Von Dr. Pechuel-Loesche. Leipzig + and Wien, 1891. + + Brèzé, Jacque de. _La Chasse du grand Sénéschal de Normandye._ Paris, + between 1489 and 1494. + + Brière, L. de la. _Livre de Prières par Gaston Phébus_ (1835). Paris, + 1893. + + Broebel, P. _Die Fährte des Hirsches._ Halle, 1854. + + Browne, for _Pseudoxia Epidemica_. By Sir Ths. B. 1650. + + _Brut._, for _Le Roman de Brut_. By Wace. Ed. by Le Roux de Lincy. + Rouen, 1836-38. + + Budé. _Traitte de la Venerie._ Par B. Ed. H. Chevreul (Paris). 1861. + + Burrows, Montagu, Prof. _The Family of Brocas._ 1886. + + + Caius, for _Englishe Dogges_. By Johannes Caius. Reprint of ed. of + 1576. 1880. + + Camden, W. _Britannia._ 1586. + + _Canterbury Tales_, Chaucer's. Ed. Furnivall. 1868. + + Castellamonte, A. di. _La Venaria reale._ Torino, 1674. + + _Catalogue of the Duke of Marlborough's Library at White Knight._ + London, 1819. + + ---- London, 1881-83. + + ---- Oxford, 1772. + + "Cecil," for _Records of the Chase_. By "Cecil," edit. London, 1877. + See Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + Chaffourt, Jacques de. _Instructions._ Paris, 1609. (2nd ed.) + + Champgrand, for _Traité de Venerie et Chasse_. Par Goury de C. Paris, + 1769. + + Champollion-Figeac, Aimi. _Louis et Charles, ducs d'Orleans._ Paris, + 1844. + + Charles d'Orleans, for Charles de Valois. _Les poésies du duc Charles + d'Orleans._ Edit. Champollion-Figeac. Paris, 1842. + + ---- _Charles of Orleans' Poems._ Roxburgh Club. Ed. G. W. Taylor. + London, 1827. + + ---- Edit. by Charles d'Héricault. Paris, 1874. + + Chassant, Alphonse. _L'Auteur du Livre du Roy Modus._ 1869. See + Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + Chaucer, _Minor Poems_. Ed. Furnivall. 1871. + + Chézelles, H. de. _Vieille Vénerie._ Paris, 1894. + + _Chronique de la traïson de Richard II._ Eng. Hist. Soc. 1846. + + Cla., for _Li Romans de Claris et Laris_. Ed. by Dr. Alton. 1884. + + Clam. _La Chasse du Loup._ Par Jean de Clamorgan. Paris, 1566. + + _Close Rolls_, for _Calendars of the Close Rolls preserved in the Pub. + Rec. Office_. + + Codorniu, J. _Etude historique sur Gaston Ph[oe]bus._ Floraux, 1895. + + Cogho. _Des Erstlings Geweih._ Leipzig, 1886. + + Collyns, C. P. _The Chase of the Wild Red Deer._ London, 1862. + + _Compleat Angler._ _See_ Walton. + + _Com. Sports._, for _The Complete Sportsman_. By T. Fairfax. London. + + Corneli, R. _Die Jagd._ Amsterdam, 1884. + + Cornish, Ch. J. _Shooting._ Ed. by Horace G. Hutchinson. 2 vols. + (Newnes). London, 1903. + + Cotgrave. _Dictionary._ 1679. + + Cotgrave and Sherwood's _Dictionary_. 1632. + + ------------ 1673. + + Cox, Nich. _The Gentleman's Recreation._ London, 1674. + + _Cran. Ch._, for _Anecdotes and History of Cranbourne Chase_. By Wm. + Chafin. London, 1818. + + Culemann, L. _Delineatio Venatus._ Hanover, 1564. + + Cupples, George. _Scotch Deerhounds and their Masters._ London, 1894. + + Curmer, L. _Verure de J. Foncquet._ Paris, 1866. + + _Curtasye, Boke of._ Ed. by Halliwell. Percy Soc. Pub. Vol. iv. + + _Cynegetica._ London, 1788. + + + Dalton, Michael. _The Country Justice._ 1666. + + Daniel, W. B. _Rural Sports._ London, 1801. + + _D. et B._, for _Daurel et Beton_. Ed. by Paul Meyer. Paris, 1880. + + Dalziel, for _British Dogs_. By Hugh Dalziel. 3 vols. London, 1887-96. + + _Daurel et Beton._ Ed. Paul Meyer. Paris, 1880. + + Duc d'Aumale, for _Recueil de la Philobiblion Society_. Vol. ii. + London, 1855-56. + + Delacourt, for _Le Chasse à la Haie_. Par Peigne Delacourt. Péronne, + 1872. + + Delisle, L. _Inventaire des MSS. de la Biblioth. Nationale._ Paris, + 1876, &c. + + De Noir., for _Histoire de la Chasse_. Par le Baron Dunoyer de + Noirmont. Paris, 1876. 3 vols. + + Dillon, Viscount. _Fairholt's Costumes in England._ London, 1885. + + Ditschfield, R. H. _Old English Sport._ London, 1891. + + Doebel, H. W. _Neueröffnete Jäger Practica._ Leipzig, 1783. + + Dolopathos, for _Li Romans de D._ Ed. by Brunet et Montaiglon. 1856. + + Dombrowski, E. von. _Die Lehre von dem Zeichen._ 1836. + + Dombrowski, R. von. _Allgemeine Encyklopadie der gesammter Forst und + Jagdwissenschaft._ Wien, 1886. + + _Domesday Book._ By Henry Ellis (2 vols.). London, 1833. + + Drake, Francis. _Eboracum._ London, 1736. + + Dryden, Alice. _Memorials of Northamptonshire._ 1903. + + Dryden, Sir Henry. _Twici's Art of Hunting._ Middle Hill Press. 1840. + See Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + ---- _Daventry._ 1843. + + ---- _Gaston III. Le livre de la Chasse._ Daventry, 1844. + + Dudik. _Kaiser Maximilian's II. Jagdordnung._ Wien, 1867. + + Du Fouil., for _La Venerie_. Par Jacques du Fouilloux. Niort, 1864. + + Dugdale Bar., for _The Baronage of England_. 1675. + + + Eglamoure, for _The Romance of E. of Artoys_. Camden Soc. 1844. + + Ellis. See _Domesday Book_. + + Elyot, Sir Thomas. _The Boke named the Governour._ Ed. H. H. S. Croft. + 1880. + + Emmanuel John, Infant of Spain. _El libro de la Caza._ Edit. by G. + Baist. Halle, 1880. + + _Ency. of Sport_, for _Encyclopædia of Sport_. London, 1897. + + Enslin, Th. Ch. Fr. _Bibliotheck der Forst and Jagdwissenschaft._ + Leipzig, 1823. + + Essenwein, Augst. _Quellen zur Geschichte der Feuerwaffen._ 1872. + + Estlander, T., for _Pièces inedites du Roman de Tristan._ Ed. by C. G. + E. Helsingfors. 1867. + + Evans, D. S. _An English and Welsh Dict._ 1852-58. + + _Ex. Brit. An._, for _Extinct British Animals_. By J. E. Harting. + London, 1880. + + _Excerpta Historica._ London, 1831. + + + Fleming, H. F. von. _Der Volkommene Teutsche Jäger._ Leipzig, 1719. + + Fortescue, Hon. J. W. _Records of the Stag-hunting on Exmoor._ London, + 1887. + + Foudras, Marquis de. _Recits de Chasseurs._ Bruxelles, 1858. + + Fourtier, A. _Les grands Louvetiers de France._ Paris. + + Frederic II. _Reliquæ liborum Frederici II._ August. Vindob. 1596. + + Frunsberg, G. v. _Schlacht bei Pavia._ 1525. + + + Gace de la Buigne. _Bulletin du Bibliophile_, 13th series, by the Duc + d'Aumale; also in Philobiblion Society, vol. ii. London. See Bibliog. + in 1st edit. + + _Garin de Loh._ _Die Geste der Loherains._ A. Feist. 1884. + + Garnier, P. _Chasse du Sanglier._ 1876. + + Gaucheraud, H. _Histoire de C. de Foix._ 1834. + + _Gawaine, A Collection of Ancient Romance Poems._ Edit. by Sir Fred. + Madden. 1839. + + G. de F. stands for Joseph Lavallée's edition of Gaston de Foix's _La + Chasse de Gaston Ph[oe]bus_. Paris, 1854. + + G. de P., for _Roman de Guillaume de Palerne_. Ed. H. Michelant. + Paris, 1876. + + _G. de St._, for _Gottfried von Strassburg_. Ed. by P. A. Lehmann. + Hamburg, 1703. + + _Gentleman's Magazine._ 1752. + + _Gent. Recreation_, for _Gentleman's Recreation_. By Nicholas Cox. + London, 1686. + + _God. de Bouill._, for _Godefroi de Bouillon_. C. Hippeau. Paris, + 1877. + + Goechhausen, H. F. von. _Notabilia Venatoris._ Weimar, 1751. + + Goury de Champgrand. _Traité de Venerie._ Paris, 1769. + + Graesse, J. G. T. _Jägerbrevier._ Wien, 1869. + + ---- _Literaturgeschichte._ Dresden, 1845. + + _Greyhounds._ By a Sportsman. London, 1819. + + + Halliwell, for J. O. H.'s _A Selection from the Minor Poems of + Lydgate_. Pub. by the Percy Society. Vol. ii. 1842. + + ---- _Carols._ Pub. by the Percy Society. Vol. iv. 1842. + + ---- _Dictionary of Provincial and Archaic Words._ 1850. + + Hammer-Purgstall, Jos. von. _Falkner Klee._ Wien und Pest, 1840. + + Hard, de Font.-G. _Le Trésor de la Venerie._ Par Hardouin de + Fontaines-Guérin. Ed. by Baron J. Pichon. Paris, 1855. + + ---- Ed. by Michelant. Metz, 1856. + + Hardyng, for _The Chronicles of John Hardyng_. Ed. 1543. London. + + Harewood, H. _A Dictionary of Sport._ London, 1835. + + Harrison, for _Harrison's Description of England_ (Holinshed). Edit. + by F. J. Furnivall. London, 1877. + + Hartig, G. L. _Lehrbuch fin Jäger._ Tübingen, 1810. + + Harting, James Ed. See _Bib. Accip._ and _Ex. Brit. An._ + + ---- _Zoologist._ 1878-80. + + _H. de B._, for _Huon de Bordeaux_. Ed. by F. Guessard and C. + Grandmaison. Paris, 1866. + + Hartopp, E. C. C. _Sport in England._ London, 1894. + + Hearne, T. _Liber Niger Scaccarii._ 1728. + + Heresbach, Conrad. _Rei rusticæ libri quatuor ... Item de + Venatione...._ 1570. + + _Historical Review._ Jan. 1903. + + Hollinshed, R. (Harrison). Ed. F. G. Furnivall. London, 1877. + + Hore, J. P. _History of the Buckhounds._ 1893. + + _Horn._, for _Das Anglonormannische Lied vom Ritter Horn_. Ed. by E. + Stengel. Marburg, 1883. + + Houdedot, C. F. A. d'. _Les Femmes Chasseresses._ Paris, 1859. + + + Jesse, for _Researches into the History of the British Dog_. By G. R. + Jesse. 2 vols. London, 1866. + + _Journal des Chasseurs._ Vols. 27, 28, 29, and 30. Paris. + + Jubinal, Michel. _Nouveau Recueil de Conte_, &c. (_La Chace dou + Serf._) 1839. + + Jullien, E. _La Chasse, son Histoire et sa Législation._ Paris, 1868. + + ---- _La Chasse du Loup._ Paris, 1881. + + + Karajan, T. G. von. _Kaiser Maximilian's Geheimes Jagdbuch._ Wien, + 1858. + + Kellar, for _Thiere des Class. Alterthums_. Von Otto Kellar. + Innsbruck, 1887. + + + Kennet, White. _Parochial Antiquities._ 1695. + + Kobell, F. von. _Der Wildanger._ Stuttgart, 1859. + + Kreiger, Otto von. _Die hohe und niedere Jagd._ Trier, 1879. + + Kreysig, G. C. _Biblioteca Scriptorum Veneticorum._ Altenburg, 1750. + + Kroeger, C. _The Minnesinger of Germany._ Camb. (Mass.), 1873. + + + Laborde, Leon E. S. J. de. _Glossaire Français du Moyen Age._ 1872. + + ---- _Les ducs de Bourgogne._ 1847. + + _La Chace dou Serf._ Edited by Baron Jerome Pichon. Paris, 1840. _See + also_ Jubinal. See Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + _La Chasse Royal_, for _La Chasse Royale, composée par le Roy Charles + IX._ Ed. by H. Chevreul. Paris, 1857. + + La Croix, P. _La Moyen Age._ Paris, 1848-51. + + La Curne de Sainte Palaye: _Memoires sur l'ancienne Chevalerie._ + Paris, 1781. + + La Ferrière, Hector Conte. _Les Chasses de François I._ Paris, 1869. + + Lallemand. _Bibliothéque historique ... de la Chasse._ Rouen, 1763. + + Lancaster, Henry, Earl of. _Expenses of John of Brabant._ Camden Soc., + 1847. + + Landau, G. _Beiträge zur Geschichte der Jagd._ Kassel, 1849. + + Latini, Brunetto. _Li livres dou Tresor._ Edit. by Chabaille. Paris, + 1835. + + Lauchert, Prof. Fr. _Das Weidwerk der Römer._ Rottweil, 1848. + + Lavallée, for _La Chasse à Courre en France par Joseph La Vallée_. + Paris, 1859. + + ---- _Technologie Cynégétique, Journal des Chasseurs._ 1863. + + ---- _La Chasse à tir en France._ 1854. + + Le Coulteux de Cauteleu, Baron. _La Venerie Française._ Paris, 1858. + + Leguina, Enrique de. _Estudios bibliográficos La Caza._ 1888. + + Lenz, J. O. _Zoologie der Alten Griechen und Römer._ Gotha, 1856. + + Le Verrier de la Conterie. _L'Ecole de la Chasse aux Chiens Courans._ + Rouen, 1783. + + _Liber Niger._ _See_ Hearne. + + _Lib. de la Mont._, for _Biblioteca Venatoria de Gutierrez de la Vega, + Libro de la Monteria del Rey Alfonso XI._ Del D. Jose G. d. l. V. + Madrid, 1877. See Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + Liebermann, Felix. _Constitutionis de Foresta._ Halle, A. S. 1894. + + Lindsay, Robert. _Chronicles of Scotland._ Edinb., 1814. + + _Loh._, for _Die Geste des Loherains_. Ed. A. Feist. 1844. + + + Madden, for _The Diary of Master William Silence_. By D. H. M. London, + 1897. + + Madden, Sir Fred. _Privy Purse Expenses of Princess Mary._ 1831. + + _Maison Rustique_, for _M. R. de Maistres C. Estienne and Iean + Liebault_. Used ed. Paris, 1572 and 1578. + + Malory, for _La Morte d'Arthure_. Ed. by Sir T. Malory. London, 1856. + + Maluquer, Dufau de. _Comté de Foix._ Foix. Pau, 1901. + + Man., for Manwood's _Forest Laws_. 4th ed. by W. Nelson. London, 1717. + See _Pleas of the Forest_. + + Markham, Gervase. _Country Contentments, or the Husbandman's + Recreation._ London, 1611. + + ---- _Cheap and Good Husbandry._ London, 1614. + + ---- _The Young Sportsman's Delight and Instructor._ London, 1652. + + Maricourt, René de. _La Chasse du Lievre_, &c. Paris, 1858. + + Maundeville. _The Book of John M._ Ed. Dr. G. F. Warner (Roxburgh + Club). London, 1889. + + Meurer, Noe. _Jägerkunst._ 1618. + + Meyer, P. _Glossaire de la Curne de S. Paley._ 1875. + + Millais, J. G. _British Deer._. London, 1897. + + Monmouth, Gottfried von. Ed. Hoffmann and Vollmüller. Halle, 1899. + + Montauban, Renans de. Ed. by Michelant. 1843. + + Mont., for _L'antiquite expliquée_. By Bernard de Montfaulcon. Paris, + 1719. + + Mortillet, G. de. _Origines de la Chasse._ Paris, 1890. + + + Neckham, Alexander. _De Naturis Rerum._ Edit. Wright, 1858. + + _Négociation du Marechal de Bassompierre._ 1626. + + Nichols, J. _Royal Wills._ London, 1780. + + Nicolas, Sir N. H. _The Battle of Agincourt._ London, 1832. + + ---- _History of the Navy._ London, 1847. + + ---- _Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council._ + + ---- _Privy Purse Expen. of Elizabeth of York and Wardrobe Exp. of + Edward IV._ London, 1830. + + _Notabilia Venatoris._ Nordhausen, 1710. + + + _Ordinances._ _A Collection of O. and Regulations of the Royal + Household._ Soc. of Antiq. 1790. + + + Pärson, J. W. von. _Der edle hirschgerechte Jäger._ 1683. + + _Patent Rolls_ (Printed) _of the English Kings from Edward III. to + Henry VII._ + + _P. B._, for _Partonopeus de Blois_. Ed. G. Crapelet. 2 vols. Paris, + 1834. + + Pennant, Thomas. _British Zoology._ London, 1768-76. + + _Perc._, for _Perceval le Gallois_. Edited by C. Potvin. Soc. des + Biblio. Vol. xxi., 1866. + + Petit, Paul. _Le Livre du Roy Modus._ 1900. + + _Philobiblion Society._ Vol. ii. London, 1854-55. + + Picard, for _La Venerie des ducs de Bourgogne_. Par Etienne Picard. + Paris, 1881. + + Planché, I. R. _Military Antiquities._ 1834. + + _Pleas of the Forest._ By G. J. Turner. London, B. Quaritch, 1901. + + _Poetry of Sport_, vol. of Badminton Lib. Ed. by Hedley Peek. London. + + _Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York._ London, 1830. + + Prutz, Dr. H. _Rechnungen über Heinrich von Derby's Preussenfahrt._ + Leipzig, 1893. + + + Ramsay, Sir James. _Lancaster and York._ 1892. + + Raymond, G. _Rôles de l'armée de Gaston Ph[oe]bus, 1376-1378._ + Bordeaux, 1872. + + Reynardson, C. T. S. B. _Sports of Bygone Days._ London, 1787. + + Reissner, Adam. _Historische Beschreibung._ 1620. + + Ribbesdale, for _The Queen's Hounds_. By Lord R. London, 1887. + + Rohan-Chabot. _La Chasse a travers les âges._ Paris, 1898. + + _Rol. Lied._, for _Das Altfranztische Rolandslied_. Ed. by Ed. Max + Stengel. Heilbronn, 1878 and 1900. + + _Rolls of Parl._, for _Rotuli Parliamentorum_--Edw. III. to Henry IV. + + _Romania, Octob._ Paris, 1844. + + _Roman de Richard le Biaus._ Ed. Dr. W. Förster. Wien, 1874. + + _R. d. B._, for _Roman de Brut_. Par R. Wace. Ed. Le Roux de Lincy. + Rouen, 1838. + + _Roman de Perceval le Gallois._ Ed. Ch. Potvin. Mons, 1871. + + _Roman le, de Rose._ Ed. F. Pluquet. 1827. + + _R. de Rou._, for _Le Roman de Rou_. By Robert Wace. Ed. by F. + Pluquet. 1827. + + _R. V._, for _Roman de la Violette_. Ed. Fr. Michel. Paris, 1834. + + _Roy Modus_, for _Elezéar Blaze's_ ed. _of Le Livre du Roy Modus_. + Paris, 1839. See Bibliog. in 1st edit. + + Rye, W. B. _England as seen by Foreigners._ London, 1865. + + + Sahl., for _Englische Jagd, Jagdkunde und Jagdliteratur im 14. 15. und + 16. Jahrhund_. Von Paul Sahlender. Leipzig and London, 1895. + + ---- _Der Jagdtraktat Twici's._ Von Paul Sahlender. Leipzig, 1894. + + ---- _Das Englische Jagdwesen in seiner gesch. Entwicklung._ Von D. P. + Sahlender-Bautzen. Dresden and Leipzig, 1898. + + _Sainte-Palaye_, for _Memoires sur l'ancienne Chevalerie_. Par M. de + la Curne de S.-P. 3 vols. Paris, 1781. + + Salnove, R. de. _La Venarie Royale._ Paris, 1655. Niort, 1888. + + Scandianese, F. G. _Delia Caccia._ Vinegia, 1556. + + _Sen. de Nor._, for _Sénéschal de Normandye_, or _Le livre de la + Chasse et du bon chien Souillard_. Par le Baron Jer. Pichon. Paris, + 1858. + + Shaw, Vero. _The Book of the Dog._ London, 1889-91. + + Shirley, for _English Deer Parks._ By Evelyn Ph. S. London, 1867. + + _Shirley MS._, for Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 16,165 of the + "Master of Game," which is the version next in importance to + the one reproduced in the present work. _See_ Bibliography: + MSS. of the "Master of Game" in Ist edit. + + Smith, Sir Thomas. _De Republica Anglorum._ London, 1583. + + Souhart, for _Bibliographie des Ouvrages sur la Chasse_. Par R. + Souhart. 1886, with two additions of 1888 and 1891. + + _Statutes of the Realm._ 1810-1822. (9 vols.) + + Stisser, F. U. _Forst und Jagd Histor. der Teutschen._ Jena, 1738. + + _Strassburg, Gottfried von._ Ed. P. A. Lehmann. Hamburg, 1703. + + Stratmann, F. H. _Middle English Dic._ Rev. by H. Bradley. 1891. + + Strutt, J. _Sports and Pastimes of the English People._ Ed. 1875. + Errors in it, Appendix in 1st edit. + + -------- New ed. by J. C. Cox. 1903. + + ---- _Dress and Habits of the People of England._ + + Stuart, for _Lays of the Deer Forest_. By J. Sob. and Ch. Stuart. 2 + vols. Edin. and London, 1848. + + + Taplin, W. _Sporting Dictionary._ + + Tarbé, Prosper. _Le Noble et Gentil jeu de l'arbalaste._ Reims, 1841. + + ---- _Le Roman des quatres fils Aymon._ 1861. + + Tardif, for _L'Art de Fauconerie et des chiens de Chasse_. Par + Guillaume T. Paris, 1492. + + Thierbach, T. _Die Geschichtliche Entwicklung der Haud-feueqswaffen._ + Dresden, 1886-89. + + Topsell, Edward. _The Historie of Fovre-footed Beastes._ London, + William Iaggard, 1607. + + _T. and I._, for _Tristan und Isolde_. Von Gottfried von Strassburg. + Ed. Her. Kurtz. Stuttgart, 1844. + + _T. M._, for _Tristan: Receuil de ce qui reste des poemes_. Ed. by Fr. + Michel. 3 vols. London, 1835-39. + + Topham, J. _Observations on the Wardrobe Accounts of the 28th year of + Edward I._ 1787. + + _Traité (Nouveau) de Venerie._ Paris, 1750. + + _Traité des Chasses_ (Anon.). 2 vols. Paris, 1822. + + _Traité des Chasses et de la Venerie._ Paris, 1681. + + _Treat. on Greyh._, for _A Treatise on Greyhounds_. By a Sportsman. + London, 1825. + + T. Tresson, for _Histoire de Tristan de Leonois_. Ed. by Comte de + Tresson. Paris, 1781. + + _Tristan._ Ed. Fr. Michel. 3 vols. London, 1835-39. + + ---- _de la Table Ronde._ Pr. Ant. Verard. Paris, 1495. + + Turber., for _The Noble Art of Venery or Hunting_. London, 1575-76. + (When not specially mentioned, the second edit. of 1611.) + + Twety and Gyfford (also written Twety and Giffard), for article under + that title in the _Reliquiæ Antiquæ_. Vol. i., where Thomas Wright + published Twici's _Art of Hunting_, in Brit. Mus. MS. Vespasian B. + XII. Bibliog. Ist edit. + + Twici, for _The Art of Hunting_. By William Twici (MS. Phillipps, + 8336). Edited by (Sir) H. E. L. Dryden. Daventry, 1843. Bibliog. 1st + edit. + + _Tyolet, Romania._ Edited by G. Paris, 1885. + + + Usk, Adam of. _Chronicon._ Ed. London, 1876. + + + Vallès, Mossen Juan. _Tratado de Monteria._ 1556. + + _Venerie Nor._, for _Venerie Normande_. Par M. le Verrier de la + Conterie. Rouen, 1778. + + _Ver de la Cont._, for _L'Ecole de la Chasse aux Chiens Courans_. Par + M. de le Verrier de le Conterie. Rouen, 1763. + + Vignancour, Emile. _Recueil de Poésies Béarnaises._ 4th Edit. Pau, + 1886. + + Vincentius Bellovacensis. _Bibliotheka Mundi._ Edit. of 1624. + + ---- _Speculi majoriis._ 1591. + + Vyner. _Notitia Venatica._ + + + Wagner, F. von. _Die Jagd des grossen Wildes im Mittelalter._ Wien, + 1844. + + Walton, for _The Compleat Angler_. By Izaak Walton. Used ed. London, + 1815. + + _Wardrobe Accounts for the reigns of Edward III. to Henry IV._ + + Werth, Hermann. _Über die Ältesten franz. Übersetzungen Mittelalt. + Jagdlehrbücher._ Göttingen, 1888. + + ---- _Altfranzösische Jagdlehrbücher._ Halle, 1889. + + Whitaker, Joseph. _The Deer Parks of England._ London, 1892. + + + _Will. of Palerne._ _See_ G. de P. + + Wright, for _A History of Domestic Manners in England_. By Thomas + Wright. London, 1862. + + Wylie, for _History of England under Henry IV_. By James H. Wylie. + London, 1884-98. 4 vols. + + Wynn, for _History of the Mastiff_. By M. B. Wynn. Melton Mowbray, + 1886. + + + D'Yauville. _Traité de Venerie._ Paris, 1688. + + + + +GLOSSARY + +OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH TERMS AND WORDS OCCURRING IN THE ANCIENT TEXTS OF +"THE MASTER OF GAME" AND IN APPENDIX. + + + ABAI, ABAY, being at bay, 29, 118 + + ACHARNETH, ACHARNE, to set on, to eat flesh, 59, 60, 62 + + ACHAUF, heat, 38, 98 + + ACQUILLER, ENQUILLER, to rouse animals of the chase with hounds, App. + + AFERAUNT, the haunch, 38 + + AFFETED, fashioned, trained, 27, 141 + + AFORCE, _par force_, by force, App. + + AIGUILLOUNCE, thorny + + AKELID, cooled, 186 + + AKIRE, AKKERNE, acorns, 144 + + ALAUNTIS, ALAUNTZ, ALOND, allans or allauntes, a large hound, 3, 116-8 + + ALVELUE, covered with fleece, fat or woolly substance, App. + + ANALED, for _avaled_, hanging down, 114 + + ANCEPS, HAUSSEPIED, a snare which caught the game by the foot and + lifted it into the air, 61 + + ANCHES, rosemary + + APEL, French hunting-note, App. + + APERYNG, stoned, the roughness of antlers, 143 + + APPARAILLE, dressed venison + + ARBITTEN, bitten, devoured + + ARBLAST, cross-bow, 27 + + ARECHE, reach, 60 + + ARERE, _arrière_, behind, back there, 182, App. + + AREYN, spider, 137 + + AREYN, rain, 157 + + ARRACHER, to tear out; a term used for skinning certain animals, App. + + ASAUTE, SAUTE, in heat, 64, 66 + + ASCRIETHE, ASCRIE, to rate, shout at, to scold, 63, 74, 170 + + ASSAIEN, try or test, 88 + + ASSAYE, ESSAY, to try; taking assay, to see by a cut the thickness of + the fat, App. + + ASSISE, note on hunting-horn blown at death of stag which has been + hunted by stag-hounds, App. + + ASTERTE, escape + + ASTIFLED, inflammation in the stifle-joint, 103 + + ASTRIED, rated, shouted at, 170 + + ATHREST, thrust or push, 106 + + ATTE FULLE, when the stag's antlers show a certain number of tines, + App. + + ATTIRE, the stag's antlers, App. + + AUALED, AVAILED, hanging down, 106, 114 + + AUERILLE, _Avrille_, April, 30 + + AUNTELERE, AUNTILLER, AUNCULER, antler, 130, 140 + + AUNTRED, ventured, 28 + + AVAUNT, AUAUNT, a hunting cry, "Forward," 182 + + AVAUNTELLAY, relay of hounds + + AVAYL, avail, profit, 13, 31 + + AVENAUD, approachable + + AVENERY, oats + + AVISED, aware of, warned, informed, advised, cautious + + AVOY, a hunting cry, probably from "Away," App. + + + BACE, for Luce, a pike + + BAFFERS, barkers, 120 + + BAKE, back + + BALISTA, BALESTA, cross-bow, haronsblast, 27 + + BALOWE, bellow, roaring of a stag + + BANDRIKE, BALDRIC, belt to which horn was fastened, 128, 140 + + BARATEUR, quarreller + + BARBOURIS, barbers + + BAREYN, barren, 35 + + BASCO, Basque, Biscay, 106 + + BATYD, bruised, sore, 98 + + BATYNG, bating + + BAUDES, baubles, trifles, 83 + + BEAM, the main part of the stag's antlers, 142 + + BEENDYNG, bending + + BEERNERS, BERNERS, attendant on hounds, 148, 165 + + BEESTALE, BESTAILE, beasts, cattle, 36, 61 + + BEESTIS, beasts, App. + + BELLEN, BELOWYN, BELERVE, BELOWEN, bellow or roar, 160 + + BELUEZ, velvet, 26 + + BEME, beam; also trumpet + + BENES, beans, 26 + + BERCEL, a mark to shoot at, App. + + BERCELET, BERSLETTIS, BARCELETTE, a shooting-dog used by archers, 122 + + BERIES, burrows, earth of fox and badger, 67, 68 + + BERYED, buried + + BERYING, bearing, breaking, 136 + + BESTIS OF THE CHACE, beasts of the chase, usually fallow deer, + roe-deer, fox, martin, 3 + + BESTIS OF VENERIE, beasts of venery, usually the hart, hare, boar, and + wolf, 3 + + BEVY, a number of roe-deer together, App. + + BEVYGREASE, the fat of the roe-deer, App. + + BEWELLIS, BAWAYLLES, BAWELLIS, bowels + + BILLETINGS, the excrements of the fox, App. + + BISSES, BISES, BISCHES, red-deer hinds + + BISSHUNTERS, fur-hunters, 74 + + BITTE, bitten, taken, 17, 186 + + BLENCHES, marks, tricks, deceits, 159 + + BOCHERIE, butchery, 116 + + BOKEYING, the rut of the roe-deer, 41 + + BOLN, BOLK, BOLNE, bellow or bark, 39, 162 + + BOOCHERS HOUNDIS, butchers' dogs, 118 + + BOOLE, bull, 118 + + BOONES, bones, stag's foot + + BOONYS, bones, 131 + + BOORDCLOTH, table-cloth, 164 + + BOORDES, boards + + BOORIS, boars, 143 + + BOOST, boast + + BOTCHES, BOOCHES, sores, 63 + + BOTIRFLIES, butterflies, 66 + + BOUNTE, bounty, goodness, 79 + + BOUYES, boughs, App. + + BOWIS, BOWES, boughs, 137, 153 + + BRACH, BRACHE, a scenting-hound; later on it meant bitches + + BRACHETUS, a hound for hunting, 22 + + BRACONIER, the man who held the hounds + + BRAYNE, BREYN, brain, 176 + + BREDE, breadth + + BREDE, broad, 138 + + BREKE, brook, break; also applied to dress a deer + + BREMED, burnt, 112 + + BRENT, burnt, 79 + + BRERES, briars, 93 + + BRIGILLA, mildew, 96 + + BRIMMING, BREMYNG, be in heat, said of boar; the word _breme_, + _bryme_, or _brim_, valiant-spirited, 47 + + BROACHER, a red-deer stag of second year, App. + + BROCARD, a roebuck of the third year and upwards, App. + + BROCK, badger, App. + + BROKES, BROOCHES, BROACHES, the first head of a red-deer stag, and of + roebuck, 45 + + BROKET, brocket, young stag, 29 + + BROKET'S SISTER, hind in the second year, App. + + BROND, proud, 46 + + BUCHE, BYCHES, bitch + + BUGLE, buffalo; also horn for sounding hunting signals, App. + + BUKKES, BUKES, BUCKES, bucks + + BUKMAST, beechmast, App. + + BULLOKE, young stag in second year, 29 + + BURNYSSHEN, burnish, to rub the antlers when the velvet is off, 134 + + BURR, the lowest part of the stag's antlers + + + CABOCHE, to cut off the hart's head near the antlers, 176 + + CALF, CALFE, the young stag in his first year + + CAMAMYLE, camomile, 95 + + CAMPESTRIS, beast of the field or chase--_i.e._ buck, doe, fox, + martin, and roe-deer + + CANDLEMAS, February 2 + + CARAYNES, CARREYNS, KARIN, carrion, carcase, 62, 77 + + CARDIAC, CARDRYACLE, a disease of the heart, 34 + + CARRES, marshes, 45 + + CASE TO, stripping or skinning the hare, App. + + CATAPUCIA, spurge (_Euphorbia resinifera_), 101 + + CATT, CATTE, CATTYS, cat, App. + + CAUTELOUS, CAUTELS, cautious, crafty, 45 + + CETE, a number of badgers + + CHACEABLE, chaseable, a hert chaseable, which is now called a + warrantable stag, one fit to be hunted + + CHACECHIENS, grooms in attendance on hounds, 148, 177 + + CHALAUNGE, challenge + + CHASE, forest; also used to designate a method of hunting, and also a + hunting-party + + CHASSE, a French hunting-note + + CHASTISED, trained, 189 + + CHATER, CHACER (RECHATER, RECHEAT), a horn signal; also to chastise + hounds + + CHAUFED, ACHAUFED, heated, in heat, 49, 98 + + CHAULE, CHAULIS, CHAVEL, jaw, 170 + + CHAUNGE, change, 31, 108, 111 + + CHEERE, CHERE, cherish, welcome, 85 + + CHEVERAUS, roe-deer + + CHIBOLLIS, chives, 90 + + CHILDERMAS, Innocents' Day (December 28) + + CHIS, dainty, 83 + + CHIVAUCHER, CHEVAUCHER, to ride + + CHYMER, riding-cloak + + CHYMNEYIS, chimney, 98, 126 + + CLEES, clawes, the "toes" of a deer's foot, 77, 80, 131 + + CLEEVES, _sur_ or dew cleeves at the back of a deer's fetlock + + CLEPED, CLEPYD, called, 59, 140 + + CLERE SPERES, clear spires, woods, App. + + CLICQUETING, vixen fox when in heat, App. + + CLISTRE, enema, 100 + + CODDES, testicles of the hart + + COITING STONE, a quoit + + COLERS, COLIERS PLACES, collier or charcoal pits, 26 + + CONCILIDA MAIOR, comfrey (_Symphytum officinale_), 98 + + CONCILIDA MINOR, prunella, selfheal (_Prunella vulgaris_), 98 + + CONINGER, CONIGREE, rabbit warren, App. + + CONTRE, counter, back, heel + + CONTRE, country, 36 + + CONTROUGLE, CONTREONGLE, hunt counter, hunt heel, 150 + + CONYNGE, rabbit, 18 + + COOLWORT, cabbage, 100 + + COPEIS, COPIS, coppice, 155 + + CORNER, CORNEER, horn blower + + COTES, quoits, 178 + + COUCH, the resting-place of game; also hound's bed + + COUCHERS, setters, 120 + + COUERTTS, covert, shelter + + COUNTERFEET, COUNTFEIT, abnormal, 28, 142 + + COURSER, CURSAR, CURSER, swift horse + + COUTHEN, CONTHEN, COUTH, knew, to be able, ob. could, 2 + + COWE, cow, also tail, from _queue_ + + CRIE, cry (of hounds), 65 + + CROCHES, the upper tines of a deer's horns; called also _troches_ + + CROISE, cross, 150 + + CROKES, stomach (of red-deer) + + CROKYNG, crooked, curved, 128 + + CROMMES, crumbs + + CRONEN, groan, the roar of the stag + + CROSS TO, to dislodge roe-deer by hounds + + CROTETHE, voiding excrements, 29 + + CROTEY, CROTILS, CROTISEN, CROTISINGS, excrements, 16, 29, 30, 133 + + CUER, COER, heart + + CUIR, QUIR, leather, hide + + CURÉE, CURE, rewarding the hounds (also KYRRE and GUYRRE), 7, 29, 52, + 208 + + CURRES, CURRYS, curs + + CURTAISE, courteous, 115 + + + DAUNGERE, danger, 161 + + DEDIS, deeds, 49 + + DEDUT, DEUDIZ, DEDUIZ, _déduit_, pleasure, pursuit, sport + + DEFAUTE, DEFAUNT, lack, default, 84, 140 + + DEFET, DEFFETEN, opening or undoing the boar and removing the entrails + + DEFOILE, track, 150 + + DELYUERE, deliver, active, 124 + + DEPILED, stripped of hair + + DESFAIRE, undoing (brittling) of deer or boar, App. + + DESPITOUS, DESPYTOUS, despiteful, furious, 49 + + DESTERERE, DESTRIER, horse + + DETOURNER (LE CERF), to harbour the hart, App. + + DEYENG, doing + + DEYM, DEYME, DAINE, DINE, fallow-deer + + DISLAUE, wild, 159 + + DISSESE, disease + + DOO, doe + + DOWN, OR HUSKE, a number of hares, App. + + DRAGMES, drachms + + DREYNT, drowned + + DRIT, DRITT, excrements of animals called "stinking beasts," also mud, + 50, 66 + + DRYEN, dry, 102 + + DRYUE, driven, 128 + + DRYVE, made + + DUNE, donn, dun + + DURE, to last, endure, 43 + + DYETTE, diet + + + EARTH, a fox and badger's lodging-place, App. + + EDIGHT, done, set in order + + EELDE, old age, 123 + + EENDIS, ends + + EEREN, hairs, 44 + + EERYS, ERES, ears + + EGRE, eager, 115 + + EIRERES, harriers, 190 + + ELLIS, else, 90 + + EMELLE, EMEL, female, 41 + + EMPAUMURE, the croches or top tines of a stag's antlers, App. + + ENBROWED, brewed, soaked, 177 + + ENCHACE, to hunt, 108 + + ENCHARNYNG, blooding, feeding on flesh, 113 + + ENCHASEZ, moving deer, &c., with a limer, App. + + ENCORNE, to place a dead stag on his back, the antlers on the ground + underneath the shoulders, 174 + + ENFOURMED, informed + + ENGLEYMED, glutinous, 29 + + ENOSED, a bone in the throat, 87 + + ENPESHED, prevented, 11 + + ENQUEST, hunt, 182 + + ENQUILLER, rousing a buck with hounds, App. + + ENQUYRID, ENQUEYRREIDE blooding hounds after death of deer; also + rewarding of hounds, 173 + + ENSAUMPLE, example, 79 + + ENTENTE, intent + + ENTRYING, entering, beginning of + + ENTRYNGIS, entering, beginning of, 35 + + ENVOISE, ENVOYSE, O.F. _envoisse_, to leave the line, or overshoot the + line of the animal hunted, 31, 108, 170 + + ERBIS, herbs + + ERES OF ROEBUCK, "target," 44 + + ERGOTS, ARGUS, claws of boar, buck and doe; those of the boar were + sometimes called _gardes_, 130, 144 + + ERIS, ERES, ARS, anus, hinder parts; ears, occasionally thus spelt, + 89, 95, 106, 116 + + ERTHE, earth + + ESCORCHER, ESTORCHER, flaying deer, and other beasts of venery, App. + + ESPAULES, shoulders + + ESPAYARD, SPAYARD, SPAYER, stag of the third year, App. + + ESSEMBLE, assembly, 150 + + ESTABLIE, stand occupied by sportsmen; also beaters + + ESTORACIS CALAMITA, storax, resin, 96 + + ESYE, easy + + ETAWED, tanned + + ETYN, ITVN, eat + + EUENYNGIS, evening, 11 + + EUERYCHONE, EVERICHON, each one, every one, 163 + + EUILLE, EUELL, evil, wicked, bad, 6 + + EVOISED, at fault, or off the line + + EXPEDITE, to maim dogs by cutting off some of their claws + + EYNE, EYGH, EYNEN, eye, 116 + + EYRE, air + + + FACON, FAUCON, falcon, 121 + + FADIR, FADERE, father, 105 + + FADMYS, FADOMS, fathoms, 125 + + FAROWE, FAREWYN, PHAROWYN, farrow, bringing forth young pig, 47, 48, + 68 + + FARSYN, FARSINE, farcy, 69, 92 + + FASSON, FASSION, fashion + + FAUND, fawned + + FAUS, false + + FAUSMANCHE, false sleeve + + FAUT, fault + + FECHEWE, fitchew, polecat + + FEELDES, fields, 158 + + FEERNE, fern + + FELAUES, fellows + + FELE, many; also sensible, feeling + + FELLE, fierce, cruel, treacherous + + FELLE, FELE, wise, sensible, feeling; also cunning, 30, 115 + + FELNESSE, cruelty, fierceness, 71 + + FEMELLIS, females + + FENCEMONTH, the month when deer had their young and were left + undisturbed, App. + + FERMYD, firm, 162 + + FERRE, far, 16 + + FERRETTIS, ferrets, 72 + + FERRTEST, farthest + + FERS, fierce, 47 + + FERSLICHE, fiercely, 86 + + FESAWNT, pheasant + + FEUERYERE, February + + FEWES, FEWTE, track, trace, foot. Some animals were called of the + sweet foot, others of the stinking foot, 10. _See_ Appendix. + + FEWTERER, FEUTRERES, DEWTREES, man who leads greyhounds, 129 + + FIANTS, also LESSES, excrements of the wild boar, App. + + FISTOLES, fistula, 92 + + FIXEN, vixen, O.G. _fuchsen_, 64 + + FLAY, FLEAN, FLENE, to skin deer and certain other game, 174 + + FLAYSSH, flesh, 5 + + FLUX, dysentery + + FOILLYNG, stag going downstream when hunted, 32, 173 + + FOLIES, FOLY, FOLLY, lesser deer, not hart or buck, 196 + + FOLTISCH, foolish, 45 + + FOORME, FORME, FOURME, form of the hare, 14, 17 + + FORAGLE, strangle, straggle + + FORCHE, FOURCHED, forked, said of stag's antlers, 140, 177 + + FORLOYNE, FORLOGNE, FORLONGE, a note sounded on the horn, to denote + that the quarry or hounds or both had distanced the hunters, 173 + + FORSTERS, foresters, 148 + + FORSWONG, M.E. _Forswinger_, bruised, beaten (tucked up), 88 + + FORT, the thick part of woods + + FORUN, forewarn, 148 + + FOTYDE, footed + + FOUAILL, the reward given to the hounds after a boar hunt, consisting + of the bowels cooked over a fire, App. + + FOUMART, FAULMART, FOLMERT, polecat + + FOWTRERES, FEWTERERS, huntsmen who led greyhounds, slippers + + FOXEN, FFIXEN, A.S. _fixen_--_vixen_, a bitch fox, 64 + + FOYNE, weasel + + FRAIED, rubbed, 135 + + FRAY, frighten, scare, 149 + + FRAY, to rub off the velvet on stag's antlers, 26, 135 + + FRAYING-POST, the tree against which it was done + + FREYN, excrements of the wild boar, App. + + FROOT, FROTID, rub, 53, 94, 95, 146 + + FUANTS, excrements of the fox, martin, badger, and wolf, App. + + FUES, track, line, 18, 31 + + FUMES, FUMEE, FUMAGEN, FIMESHEN, FEWMETS, FEMEGEN, FEWMISHINGS, + excrements, droppings, particularly of deer, 9, 16, 38, 39, 133 + + FURKIE, pieces of venison hung on a fork-shaped stick + + FURROUR, fur, Fr. _fourrure_, 63 + + FUTAIE, FUTELAIE, forest, wood of old trees, also plantation of + beech-trees, App. + + FYNDERS, finders, hounds to start or find deer, 161, 165 + + + GADERYNGE, GADERYNG, gathering, meet, 156, 163 + + GADIRE, gather, 43 + + GAR, to force, to compel, 39 + + GARDES, the dew-claws of the wild boar + + GARSED, cupped, 90 + + GIN, GYNNE, trap, snare + + GIRLE, the roebuck in the second year, App. + + GISE, guise, manner of + + GLADNESSE, a glade, a clear space, 137 + + GLAUNDRES, glanders, 96 + + GLEMYNG, GLEYMING, slime, stickiness, 133 + + GLOTENY, gluttony + + GNAPPE, snap, 92 + + GOBETTES, small pieces, 81, 177 + + GOOT, goat + + GORGEAUNT, wild boar in his second year + + GOTERS, GOOTERE, GOUTIERES, gutters, the small grooves in the antlers + of a stag, 143 + + GRAUNT SOUR, stag of fifth year + + GRAUYLL, gravel, 143 + + GREASE, GRECE, the fat of certain animals, 25, 27, 49 + + GREASE-TIME, the season of hart and buck when they were fattest, 160 + + GREATER, OF THE, term used in counting the tines of a stag's antlers, + App. + + GREDE, seek, hunt, 183 + + GRES, upper tusks of wild boar, grinders, 50 + + GRESSOPPES, grasshoppers, 66 + + GRETE, greet, great, 13 + + GREUE, grieve, harass, injure, 45 + + GREY, badger, 68 + + GROVYS, grooves + + GUSTUMES, customs, 4 + + GUTTES, guts + + GUYEN, GUEYNE, Guienne + + GUYRREIS, quarry (_curée_), 105 + + GYNNES, GYNES, gins, traps, ruses, wiles, tricks, 35, 73 + + GYNNOUSLY, by stratagem or ingenuity, 15, 39, 43, 59 + + + HAIES, HAYES, nets, hedges, 74 + + HALLOW, the reward given to the hounds at the death + + HALOWE, halloa, App. + + HAMYLONS, the wiles of a fox + + HARBOUR, HERBOROWE, HARBOURE, HARBOROW, to track a hart to his lair, + 29 + + HARBOURER, man who harbours the deer, 130, 148 + + HARDIETHE, herds with + + HARDLE, HERDLE, HERDEL, HARLING, HARDEL, fasten or couple hounds + together, also to fasten the four legs of a roebuck together, 45, 190 + + HARDY, bold, courageous + + HARIS, hares, 17 + + HARNAYS, HERNEIS, harness, appurtenances, arms, &c., 60 + + HARONSBLAST, a crossbow, from O.F. _Arcbaleste_, 27 + + HAROWDE, herald, 139 + + HARTHOUND, HERTHOUND, hound used to chase the stag + + HAST, haste + + HASTILETTIZ, the dividing of the wild boar into thirty-two pieces + + HATT, hath + + HATTE, thicket, 118 + + HAUKES, hawks, 120 + + HAUKYNG, hawking + + HAUNTELERS, antlers, App. + + HAUSPEE, HAUSSEPEE, a trap; also a siege engine, 61 + + HAYTER, harrier, App. + + HEARSE, also BROKET'S SISTER, a red-deer hind in her second year, App. + + HEDDYD, headed + + HEERE, hair, 27 + + HEGHES, hocks + + HEIRERS, harriers, 111 + + HELE, HELTHE, health + + HELYN, heal, 127 + + HEMULE, HEMUSE, HEYMUSE, roebuck in the third year + + HENDIS, red-deer hind, 130 + + HER, hear + + HERBIS, herbs, 14 + + HERBOROWE. See HARBOUR + + HERDLE, to dress a roebuck + + HERNEIS, harness. See HARNAYS, also Appendix + + HEROUN, heron, 1 + + HERT, heart; also stag, 23, 34 + + HERTIS, harts, stags, 130 + + HIDRE, hinder + + HIGHTEN, called, named, 148, 182 + + HIRE, her, 19 + + HOGGASTER, wild boar in his third year, App. + + HOKKES, HOGHES, HOUGHS, hocks, 99, 114 + + HOOKES, hooks, first teeth of wolf and dog, 56, 83 + + HOOT (BE), promised, 79 + + HOOTE, hot, 32 + + HOPELAND, HOPOLAND, HOUPPELAND, a long surcoat or gownlike garment + + HOPPYN, hoping + + HORRED, hairy, 106 + + HOS, hoarse, 66 + + HOUE, hoof + + HOUGH, HOWFF, HOUFF, a haunt, a resort, used especially for the holt, + or dwelling-place of an otter, App. + + HOUNDIS, HUNDES, hounds; also hands, 1 + + HOUNGER, hunger + + HOUNTER, hunter + + HOWLYN, howl + + HOXTIDE, feast fifteen days after Easter, App. + + HUSKE, a number of hares, App. + + + IBOYLED, boiled + + ICLEPID, called, 105, 144 + + ILEYN, lain, 136 + + ILLOEQUES, ILLEOQS, here in this place, 183, 234 + + ILOST, lost + + IMAKYD, made, 137 + + IMEYNGID, mingled, 102 + + IMPRIME, unharbouring a hart + + INGWERE, INQUERE, inquire or seek, 151 + + IPRESSID, pressed, 136 + + IREEYNED, rained, 157 + + IREN, iron, 90 + + IRENGED, arranged, 142 + + IRONGED, ranged + + IROOS, iris, 93 + + ISPAIDE, spayed, castrated; also to kill with a sword. See Spay + + ISTAMPED, stamped, crushed, 93 + + ISTERED, stirred, 91 + + ITAWED, tawed, tanned, 126 + + ITHREST, thrust, pushe, 136 + + ITRED, trodden + + ITYNDED, tined, 142 + + IWERYD, worn, 147 + + IWETED, wetted, moistened, 97 + + IWRETHEDE, wreathed, 133 + + + JANGELERE, jangler, 124 + + JANNERE, January + + JAWLE, jaw, 50 + + JENGELETH, jangeleth, said of a noisy hound, 110 + + JOLLY, a bitch in heat, 54, 58 + + JOPEY, JUPPEY, to holloa, to cry out, to call, 171, 234 + + JUGE, JUGGE, judge + + JUGGEMENTZ, judgments, 130 + + JUILL, July + + JUIN, June + + JUS, juice + + JWERYD, worn + + + KAREYNES, carrion, 48, 58, 68 + + KELE, cool, 91 + + KEMBE, comb, 127 + + KENNETTIS, KENET, a small hunting hound, 111 + + KEPYN, keeping + + KERRE, KIRRE, KYRRE, CURE, CURÉE, QUARRY, reward of hounds. _See_ + CURÉE + + KEUERE, cover, 65 + + KEUERED, covered, 80 + + KITTE, to cut, sharp, 95 + + KITTYNG, cutting, 50 + + KNOBBER, stag in second year or broket, App. + + KNYFF, knife, 90 + + KOUNYNGLY, cunningly; also wisely + + KUNNE, KEN, to know, to be able, 15 + + KYDE, roebuck in first year + + KYEN, kine, cattle, 120 + + KYLLEIC, Welsh for grease time + + KYNDELETH, bring forth (said of the hare), 181 + + KYNDELS, young hare, 19 + + KYNDELY, naturally, M.E. kindely, kendeliche, cundeliche + + KYNNINGLY, cunningly + + KYTONS, KYTTONS, kittens, 71 + + + LABELLES, small flaps, 174 + + LADDE, led + + LADIL, ladle + + LAIES, pools, lakes + + LAIR, the resting-place of the various kinds of deer, 10 + + LAMMAS, LAMMASSE, August 1, 2 + + LAMMASSE OF PETER APOSTULL, June 29 + + LAPPE, lap, 158 + + LASSE, less, smaller + + LAUNCET, lancet + + LAUNDES, LONDES, wild uncultivated land, 36 + + LAVEY, unrestrained, wild, 111 + + LEATHER, the skin of deer and of the wild boar, App. + + LECHES, leeches, doctor or surgeon, 12 + + LEDER, leather, 126 + + LEFRER, levrier, greyhound + + LEFT, last, or live + + LEGGES, legs + + LEIE, lair + + LEIRE, river Loire in France, 77 + + LEIRES, lair, bed of a stag, 136 + + LEITH, layeth + + LEKES, leeks, 90 + + LERNYD, learned, taught + + LESE, leash, 59 + + LESETH, loseth, 52 + + LESS, OF THE, term used in counting the tines, App. + + LESSES, Fr. _laissées_, excrements of boar and wolves, 139, 146 + + LESSHE, LESSE, LESCHE, leash, 140 + + LESSHES, lesses, inferiors, 189 + + LESYNG, loosing, 119 + + LETTE, hindered, 51, 163 + + LEUERE, leaver, rather, sooner + + LEURETTIS, leverets, 19 + + LEUVE, leave, 31 + + LEUYS, LEUES, leaves, 138 + + LEVIR, leaver, rather + + LEVRIER, a hare hound + + LIAM, LYAM, rope by which the limer was held + + LIBARD, leopard, 70 + + LIFF, life, 31 + + LIFLODE, LYVELODE, livelihood, 59 + + LIGGING, LYGGING, lair, resting-place, 24, 71, 149, 191 + + LIPPIS, lips + + LITERE, litter + + LOGGES, lodges, 190 + + LONDE, land, 75 + + LOUEN, love + + LOUPES CORRYNERS (_loup cerviers_), lynx; occasionally it was probably + applied to the wolverine, 70 + + LOWRE, laugh, 81 + + LUCE, pike, 113 + + LYFF, life + + LYMER, a tracking hound on a leash, 31, 38, 152, 157, 167-9, 235 + + LYMMES, limbs + + LYMNER, LYMERER, LIMERER, man who leads hounds on a leash, 148, 166, + 235 + + LYMNERE, used both for man and hound, App. + + LYNSED, linseed, 104 + + LYOUN, lion + + LYTHIS, LIGHTIS, lungs + + LYVEN, LYUEN, live + + + MAISTIVES, mastif, mastiff + + MAISTRIS, masters + + MALEMORT, glanders, 96 + + MALENCOLIOUS, melancholy + + MALICE, cunning, 34 + + MAMEWE, MAMUNESRE, MAMEUE, MAUEWE, mange, 90, 91 + + MANESSETH, threatening, 51 + + MANNYS, man's, 151 + + MARCHES, district, 19 + + MARIE, marrow + + MARRUBIUM ALBUM, white horehound (_Marrubium vulgare_), 101 + + MARTRYN, martin, 73 + + MARY MAGDALENE DAY, July 22nd, 26 + + MASCLE, MASCHE, male, 67 + + MASTIN, a hound used for boar-hunting, a mongrel + + MATERE, matter + + MAYNED, maimed, bitten + + MAYNTYN, maintain + + MAYSTIF, MASTIF, MESTIFIS, MASTOWE, mastiff, 118, 122, App. + + MAYSTRE, MAISTRIE, MAISTRICE, MAYSTRY, mastery, skill, 71, 107 + + MECHE, big, 113 + + MEDE, meadow, 163 + + MEDLE, MEDEL, mix, 91 + + MENE, lesser, small, 128 + + MENEE, MENNEE, note sounded on a horn; also the baying of a hound + hunting, 171, 179 + + MENG, MENGE, mingle, 102 + + MERREIN, the main beam of a stag's antlers, App. + + MERVAILE, marvel + + MERVEILIOST, most marvellous, 181 + + MERVEILLOUS, MERUEYLOUS, marvellous + + MESTIFIS, mastifs, 118, 122 + + METIS, meats + + METYNG, METYNGIS, meet, meeting, 148 + + METYNGE, METYNG, feeding or pasture of deer, 9, 25, 34, 152 + + MEUE, MEW, MEVE, move, start, shed, 26, 42, 166 + + MEULE, MULE, burr, part of the antler, App. + + MEUTE, pack of hounds + + MEVETHE, meweth, to mew, casts or sheds. _See_ MEUE + + MEWS, house for hawks + + MODIR, mother, 105 + + MODIRWORT, motherwort (_Leonurus cardiaca_), 101 + + MONYTHE, MONETH, MONETHENYS, month, 27 + + MOOTE, MOTE, a note or horn signal, App. + + MORFOUND, MORFOND, to catch cold, glanders, 124 + + MORNYNGIS, morning, 7 + + MORSUS GALLINE, chickweed, 101 + + MORT, a note sounded on the horn at the death of the hart + + MOSEL, MOSELLE, muzzle, 77 + + MOTE, MOOTE, a note sounded on the horn, 168, 185 + + MOTYING, MOVING, 150 + + MOUNTENANCE, MOUNTANCE, extent of, as far as, 21, 101 + + MOUSTENESSE, moisture, 124 + + MOW, MOWE, MOWEN, to have power, to be able, 97, 178 + + MOWSE, burr of an antler + + MUE, mew, shed antlers, or feathers, molt. _See_ MEUE + + MULE, MEULE, burr of a stag's antler, 141 + + MUTE, MEUTE, a pack of hounds + + MYCHE, the assibulated form of _mukel_, _mikl_, great, much, 41 + + MYDDES, midst + + MYDDIL, middle + + MYNDE, memory, 2 + + MYSIUGEN, misjudge, 29 + + + NAIL, name given to a disease in dogs' eyes, now called Pterygium, 94 + + NARTHELESS, NATHELESS, nevertheless, 149 + + NATYUITE, nativity + + NEDEL, needle, 61 + + NEKYS, NEKE, NECKYD, neck, necked, App. + + NEMETH, taketh, 75 + + NEMPE, name, 165 + + NERES, kidneys + + NESCHE, NEYSSH, NESSH, soft, tender, moist, 52, 130, 131 + + NETHIR, nether, lower + + NETTELIS, nettles, 89, 101 + + NEWLICH, newly, freshly + + NOMBLES, NOMBLIS, part of the stag's intestines, App. + + NOONE, no more + + NOORCHE, NORSHE, NORSSH, nourish, to bring up, to educate, 56, 58, 80 + + NOOSETHERLIS, NOSETHRELLES, nostrils, 96, 105 + + NORTURE, bringing up, 30 + + NOTIS, nuts, 91 + + NOUGH, nigh + + NOYAUNCE, annoyance, 163 + + NYME, to take, to hold + + + OKIS, oaks, 144 + + OLYFF, olive, 90, 102 + + ONYS, once, 156 + + OO, OON, one, 17 + + OPENE, OPYN, open (of hounds to give tongue), 108, 155 + + OR, ERE, before, 17 + + ORDEYNE, ordain + + ORPED, brave, valiant, 107 + + OS, the dew-claws of the stag and hind, App. + + OSCORBIN (OS CORBIN), a small bone in the stag's body given to the + crows, App. + + OSTORACES CALAMYNT, storax or resin, 96 + + OTYR, OTERE, otter, 72-4 + + OUERJAWES, upper jaws, 176 + + OUERSETTE, overcome, 60, 66 + + OUERWHERTE, athwart, 87 + + OURSHETTE, overshoot, 159 + + OUYR, over + + OWETH, OWEN, ought + + OWRERS, harriers + + OYE, eye, 157 + + OYLE, oil, 102 + + + PAAS, PIZ, chest, 114 + + PAAS, pace, to walk slowly + + PACE, slot, track of stag, 132 + + PAMED, palmated + + PARASCEVE, PARASSEUE, Good Friday + + PARFITERS, PARFITORS, PARFITOURS, PARFYTEIROS, the third or last relay + of hounds 7, 10 + + PARTEL, a part of portion + + PARTEYNETH, appertaineth + + PARTIE, part + + PASE, pace, to step slowly, 130 + + PEARLS, the excrescences on the stag's antlers, App. + + PECE, piece + + PEECHTRE, PEOCHETRE, peach-tree, 102 + + PEL, Fr. _peau_, skin + + PERCEL, parsley, 101 + + PERCHE, the main beam of the stag's antler, App. + + PERFITE, PERFEET, PERFIT, perfect; also note sounded on the horn, 174 + + PERITORIE, wall pellitory (_Parietaria_), 101 + + PESEN, peas, 26 + + PESETH, paceth, 149 + + PEYN, pain + + PIERRURES, "pearls" or excrescences on the stag's antlers + + PILCHES, pelisse, a coat of skin or fur, 63 + + PLAYN CONTRE, clear open country, 19, 65 + + PLAYNES, plains + + PLAYSTIRE, plaster + + PLECKE, PLEK, PLECK, PLECCA, piece of ground, place, 183 + + PLEYN, PLEYNETH, complain, lament, 51 + + PLEYN, PLAYNETH, PLEIGNEN, Fr. _pleigner_, complain, lament + + POINTYNG, pointing, track of hare + + POLCATTES, polecats, 73 + + POMELED, mottled, dappled, spotted, 45 + + POONDE, POON, pond + + POORT, parts, behaviour, manners, 4 + + POPY, puppy + + PORCHE. _See_ PERCHE + + POUERE, POUER, power, 164 + + POUTURE, keep, food, used in connection with hounds + + POYNTED, painted + + PREEF, proof, 88 + + PREES, press, crowd, 118 + + PREUYD, proved, 90 + + PREUYLI, PRIUYLI, privily, 149 + + PRICE, PRISE, PRIEE, take, capture + + PRICKET, PRIKET, the fallow buck in his second year, App. + + PRIK, PRICK, to hunt, 116 + + PRIKHERID CURRIS, rough-coated curs, App. + + PRIKKYNG, PRICKING, footprint of hare, App. + + PRIME, noon (_hie prime_), midday + + PRISE, PRIZE, PRYCE, a horn signal blown in France for the buck, in + England for the hart and buck after the kill, 175 + + PRIVE, tame + + PROCATOURS, proctors, 195 + + PROFITENESS, perfectness, 2 + + PULEGRUN, pennyroyal (_Mentha pulegium_), 20 + + PULLETH, POILETH, take the hair off, Fr. _poiler_, 90 + + PURSNETTIS, purse-nets, 67 + + PURUEAUNCE, perseverance, 80 + + PUTTES, pits + + PYCHE, pitch + + PYLES, PILES, the skin of the boar, wolf, and smaller animals + + PYNSOURS, pincers, 98 + + + QUALES, quails, 119 + + QUARRY, the reward given to the hounds. _See_ CURÉE, App. + + QUAT, couched, lying down, used for deer, 172 + + QUATTELL, to quat, to squat, to crouch, to lie down, App. + + QUESTY, QUEST, to hunt, to give tongue, 110, 130, 155 + + QUYERE, QUYRRE, QUIR, QUARE, curée, quarry for hounds, reward, App. + + QUYK, EUELIS, QUICKEVIL, a disease of hounds + + QUYRRCIS, reward given to hounds. _See_ CURÉE, App. + + + RACCHES, hounds, 3, 74, 167 + + RAGE, madness + + RAGERUNET, RAGEMUET, dumb madness, 86 + + RASCAILE, RASCAYLE, RASKAILE, lean deer; any deer under ten was + usually called rascal, 7, 25, 150, 193 + + RAVEYN, prey, rapine, 57, 60 + + REAL, REALL, a tine (in France, the bay) on the stag's antler + + REAME, REAUME, realm, 78 + + REAR TO, to dislodge a wild boar, App. + + REBELLY, rebellious, unruly, 191 + + RECHASE, recheat, sound a note on the horn, to call back the hounds by + sound of horn, also to put them on the right scent, 168, 178, 191-8, + App. + + RECHE, to reck, to care, 57, 131 + + RECHELESS, reckless + + RECOPES, recoupling, 179 + + REFRAIED, REFREIDE, refrected, chilled, cooled, 47, 99 + + REIES, nets, App. + + RELAIES, relays (of hounds), 165 + + RELEVED, Fr. _relever_, said of the hare rising from her form to go to + her pasture, 14, 183 + + RELIE, RELYE, rally, 167 + + REMEUYE, REMEYID, removed + + RENNEN, rained, rains + + RENNYNG, RENNETH, running + + RENOUET, RENOVEL, Fr. _renouveler_, to renew, 48 + + RESCEYUED, received + + RESEEYUOUR, receiver, a greyhound in front of deer, 198 + + RESEITYNG, reseating + + RESOUNS, RESOUNS, RESONS, reasons, 6 + + RESTIF, quiet, restive, unwilling to go or to move forward, 109 + + RESTREYED, restrained, held back, 109 + + RETREYED, retrieved, 29 + + REUERE, REVERE, river + + REWE, rue, 90 + + REWE, row, 193 + + REWLE, rule, 55 + + REWME, Fr. _rhume_, a cold, 96 + + REYNE, rain, 21 + + REYNDERE, reindeer + + REYSON, REYSE, raising, raise, 29 + + RIALLE, RIAL, royal, also tine of stag's antlers, 28, 140 + + RIDINGTIME, REDENGTIME, bucking time of the hare, 20 + + RIG, RAGGE, backbone, App. + + RIOT, 74, App. + + ROCHES, ROKKES, rocks, 26 + + RODES, rods + + ROTELYNG, rattling, 162 + + ROUNGETH, Fr. _ronger_, chews the cud, 181, App. + + ROUSE TO, ROWZE, rouse, to dislodge buck or doe, App. + + ROUT, a number of wolves, 62 + + ROUTES, synonymous with slot, line of deer, 132 + + ROYAL, a tine, sometimes the trez tine (_see_ RIALLE), 28, 140 + + RUETTIS, horn or trumpet, 128 + + RUSYNG, rusing, 31, 45, 173 + + RUTSOMTIME, RUTSON, RUTTE, rutting time of deer, 24, 109 + + RYGES, back, haunches, 17 + + RYGHTES, rights, a stag's rights, three lower tines of antlers; a + hound was in his "rights" when hunting line, 174 + + RYOT, noise, 121 + + RYUERE, REUERE, river, 77 + + + SAYNOLFES, SPAYNELS, spaniels, 119 + + SCANTILONN, measure, 150, 165 + + SCOMBRE, SCOMBERE (stercoro in MS. Bod. 546), voiding excrements, 100, + 127 + + SCOMFITED, discomfited, 82 + + SEAT, the form of a hare, 16 + + SECHE, seek + + SECHYNG, SEKYNG, seeking, 110 + + SEEGH, SEGHE, saw, 13 + + SEELD, SEELDEN, seldom, 181 + + SELIDOYN, celandine, 94 + + SEMBLAUNT, SEMBLANCE, pretence, 16 + + SEMBLE, assembly or meet, 9 + + SEMOLY, seemly, 75 + + SENGLER, wild boar (_Sanglier_) + + SENS, incense, 96 + + SENTYN, scent + + SERCHYNG, searching, 6, 29 + + SERGEAUNTIS, sergeants, 165 + + SESOUNN, SESOUN, SESON, season, 29 + + SESOURS, seizers, 114, 117 + + SETTE, set, place, part of forest round which "stables" or stations of + men and hounds were placed, 149, 189 + + SEWE, SUE, Fr. _suir_, hunt, pursue, 150, 161 + + SEWET, suet, fat of deer + + SEWRE, swear + + SEYN, say, see + + SHAP, shape + + SHAPON, shaped + + SHEELD, shield, shoulder of a boar, 49 + + SHEELLEN, shall + + SHEERDE, cut, wound, 99 + + SHENT, shamed, disgraced, 79 + + SIKERLI, securely, 159 + + SINGULAR, the wild boar when he leaves the sounder, App. + + SKIRTIS, SKYRTIS, the skin and tissue surrounding the stomach + + SKULK, a number of foxes, App. + + SLAWTHE, sloth, 5 + + SLOUGH, lower part of the heart + + SLUG-HOUND, a sleuth-hound, a track hound, App. + + SLYKE, slick, sleek or smooth, 44 + + SMET, SMYTTEN, smitten, 192 + + SNAWE, snow + + SOAR, a buck in his fourth year + + SOEPOL, wild thyme (_Thymus serpyllum_), 20 + + SOILE, SOULE, SOUILLE, wallowing pool, soil or mud; "to soil" means + when a deer or wild boar takes to water or wallows in it, 37, 50, 144 + + SOIOURNE, SOIOURN, SOIOURNYING, SOJORN, SOJOURN, to remain, 98 + + SOLERE, upper chamber, 126 + + SOMEDELE, somewhat + + SOMERE, SOMER, summer, 45 + + SONE, soon + + SONNE, SUNNE, sun, 9 + + SONNE, SOUNE, sound + + SOPERE, SOPER, supper, 180 + + SOPPE, SOPPERS, herd of deer, 25 + + SORRELL, a buck in his third year + + SOTELLY, subtlety, cleverly + + SOTIL, SOTILLE, SOTILTE, subtle, clever, 67, 80, 95 + + SOULE, SOILE, alone, 168 + + SOUNDER, SOUNDRE, SUNDRE, a herd of wild boars, 53, 143 + + SOUR, stag of fourth year, the colour of a deer's hide; according to + Roquefort, a herd of swine, App. + + SOUSSE, oxide of zinc, 95 + + SOUZ-REAL, SOUCH-REAL, SUR-RYAL, sur-antler, a tine of the stag's + head, 140, 177, App. + + SOWLE, soul, 12 + + SPAINEL, SPAYNELS, spaniel + + SPARHAUKE, sparrowhawk, 114 + + SPATELL, spittle, 92 + + SPAY, to kill a deer with a sword 10, 174, 258; to castrate, 84, 258 + + SPAYARD, SPAYDE, SPAYER, SPYCARD, the stag in his third year, App. + + SPAYNEL, spaniel, 119 + + SPEIES, spires, young wood, 157 + + SPIRES, SPOYES, stalks, young wood; thick spires means thick wood, 65, + 118 + + SPITOUS, despiteful, 115 + + SPRAINTES, SPRAYTYNG, excrements of the otter, 73, 139 + + SPRINGOL, SPRINGALD, SPRINGOLD, SPRINGALL, siege engine to throw + stones or balks of timber, 23 + + STABLE, STABLYS, Fr. _establie_, a post or station of huntsmen and + hounds, 188 + + STAGGART, the stag in his fourth year, 29, 131 + + STALK, to go softly, creep, "Stalk the deer full still" (used by John + Lydgate, about 1430) + + STALL, to corner, to bring to bay, to stand still, 153 + + STANC, STANK, STANGES, STANGKES, Fr. _estanc_, pool, tank, pond, 32, + 72 + + STEPPIS, steps, footprint of deer, 73, 137 + + STERE, stir, 91 + + STERT, STIRT, start + + STINTE, STYNTE, to stop, to blow a stint--_i.e._ to stop or check the + hounds, a false scent, check, 19, 165 + + STONE-BOW, Fr. _arc-à-pierre_, a kind of crossbow + + STOONYS, stones, 143 + + STORDY, _estordic_, giddy, 116 + + STOUPEN, stoop + + STRAKE, to blow, 178 + + STRANGLE, straggle, 188 + + STRANLING, STRANLYN, squirrel + + STRATERE, straighter + + STRAUGHT, straight, 128 + + STRENGE, STRENGTH, stronghold, thick woods, 16, 118, 156 + + STRENGESTE, strongest + + STREPID, to strip + + STREYNOUR, strainer + + STREYNT, strain, progeny or breed + + STRIPID, stripped, term to denote skinning of hare, wild boar, and + wolf, App. + + STROKE, STRAKE, or STUKE, to sound a note on a hunting-horn, 52 + + STRONG, said of woods and coverts, thick, dense, 25 + + SUE, to seek, to hunt, 161 + + SUERS, followers + + SUET, the fat of the red-deer and fallow-deer + + SUETE, sweet, 19 + + SUGRE, sugar + + SURANTLER, a tine, generally the _bay_ + + SUR-ROYAL, the surroyal tine, 28 + + SURE BATYD (of hounds' feet), battered, bruised from over running, 98 + + SUSRIAL, surroyal tine + + STYNT, at fault; to stop + + SUYTE, suite, following + + SWEF, a hunting cry, meaning gently or softly, 182 + + SWERDE, sword, 11 + + SWOOR, swore + + SWOOT, SWOTE, sweat + + SYLVESTRES, beasts of venery--_i.e._ red-deer, hare, boar, and wolf, + App. + + SYNNES, sins, 7 + + SYNOWES, SYNEWES, sinews + + SYTHES, times + + + TACCHES, habits, also spots, markings, 121 + + TALOUN, talon, heel, 130, 131 + + TAWED, a kind of tanning, preparation of white leathers, 63 + + TAWNE, tan, tawny, 105 + + TAYLYD, tailed + + TEASER, TEAZER, TESOURS, a small hound that "teases" forth the game in + coverts, 189 + + TEG, the fallow doe in her second year + + TENT, tended, cared for, 103 + + TERCELLE, TIERCEL, the male of any species of hawk, 119 + + TERER, TEERORS, terrier, 4 + + TERPSE, to poise an arrow for shooting + + TERRYERS, terriers, 4 + + TESTE, head or antlers (_tête_) + + TEYNTES, touches, 65 + + THENDERLEGGIS, hind legs + + THENKYNGIS, thinking, 75 + + THENNES, thence + + THIDERE, thither + + TOCHES, teeth, 50, 56 + + TOGADERE, TOGIDRE, together + + TOKENYS, tokens, 86 + + TOSSHES, tusks + + TOUNGE, TOONG, tongue + + TOURE, tower, 77 + + TOWAILLES, towels, 164 + + TOWNGE, TUNGE, tongue + + TRACE, track or footprint of an animal, 9, 73, 130, 137 + + TRAUAILLE, TRAVAYLE, Fr. _travaille_, work, labour, 54, 93 + + TREDELES, excrements of otter, 73 + + TRENCHOUR, trencher, 174 + + TRESTES, tryst, trist, 190 + + TRESTETH, trusteth, 49 + + TREU, TREWE, true, faithful + + TRIP, a herd of tame swine, 53 + + TROCHIS, TROCHES, the tines "on top," 28, 135, 140 + + TRODES, trod + + TROWETH, believes or knows + + TRUSTRE, tryst, 118 + + TWIES, TWYES, twice, 82 + + TWIN, between + + TWYGGES, twigs, 22 + + TYME, season + + TYNDES, TYNYS, tines, 132, 142 + + TYSANE, a medicinal tea, 11 + + + UMBICAST, to cast round, 151 + + UNDIRNETHE, underneath + + UNDOING, dressing of a deer + + UNDOON, undone, to cut up + + UNNETH, scarcely, 80 + + UNSICKER, uncertain + + UNTHENDE, unsuccessful + + UNWAYSSH, unwashed + + UNWEXID, unwaxed + + UNYOYNE, unjoin, 97 + + UPREAR TO, finding of the hart buck, and boar with the limer + + USYN, use + + + VANCHASOURS, VANCHASERS, the relay of hounds that comes first, 7, 10 + + VANNCHACE, the first in the chase, 7, 10 + + VAUNTELLAY, VAUNTLAY, VNLAY, part of the pack held in reserve, when + uncoupled on the line of the stag before the hounds already hunting + had passed, 169, 172 + + VEEL, calf, used sometimes for the stag in his first year, App. + + VELINE, a horn signal, App. + + VELTRAGA, VELTRARIUS, a hound, an alaunt, App. + + VENT TO, said of an otter when it comes to surface of water for air; + also to empty, to cast excrements, App. + + VENTRERS, ventreres, 116, 117 + + VENYIN, venom + + VERFULL, a glassful, 101 + + VERREY, truly, true, 75, 105 + + VERTEGRECE, VERTEGRES, verdigris, 91 + + VESTEING, investigating, looking, 151 + + VEUTRERES, VEAUTRE, boarhound + + VEYN, vein + + VISHITETH, voiding excrements, 66 + + VMBLIS, umbles + + VNDIRTAKYNG, undertaking + + VNDYRSTONDYNG, understanding + + VNGLES, bugles, 128 + + VNNANYS, onions, 102 + + VOIDE, VOYDE, leave, go away, empty, 51, 191 + + VOIDEN, to purge, 61 + + VOIS, VOYS, voice, 66 + + VOYNES, veins, 99 + + + WAGGYNG, excrements of foxes, 139 + + WAIES, way, track + + WALOUYNG, wallowing, 146 + + WALTRER, welter + + WANLACE, put up game, 122 + + WARAUNT, warrant, save, 31 + + WARDEROBE, WERDROBE, excrement of badgers, 139 + + WARE, aware; also war, beware + + WAREYN, WAREYNS, warren, 66 + + WARLY, warily + + WAYSSH, wash + + WEDIR, weather, 8 + + WEDIS, weeds + + WELEX, grow, 163 + + WELLE, WOLLE, wool + + WELSPEDDE, well sped + + WENE, know, to think + + WERED, worn + + WERKIS, works, 5 + + WERVOLF, WERWOLFE, a man-eating wolf, 59 + + WERY, weary, 107 + + WETE, to wit, to know, 137 + + WEX, wax, to grow, 56, 85 + + WEXED, waxed, 128 + + WEXING, WEXYN, growth, 26 + + WEYTINGE, waiting + + WHEDER, whether + + WHITLY, whiter + + WIF, wiff, wife, 75 + + WODE, wood + + WODEMANNYS, woodman's, 129 + + WODMANLY, woodmanly, 176 + + WOLD, wish or would + + WONES, dwellings + + WONNED, WOUNED, wont, accustomed, 85 + + WOODE, wode, mad, 61, 85 + + WOODNESS, madness, 85 + + WOOTE, know, 43 + + WORTH UP, ON HORSE, mount on horseback, 175 + + WORTES, vegetables, roots, 11 + + WOXEN, part of verb _wax_, to grow + + WREECH, WRECHE, wretched, 55 + + WRETHIS, wreaths, 133 + + WROOT, to root, 48, 144 + + WROOTH, wrath, 49 + + WRYTENG, writing, 200 + + WURTHYNES, worthiness + + WYLELI, WILILICHE, wilily, 31 + + WYMMEN, women, 200 + + WYNDE, wind, scent, smell + + WYNDETH, winds, scents, 17 + + + YBREND, burnt, dry, 134 + + YEDE, went, 150, 166 + + YEMAN, yeoman, 148, 165 + + YEUE, give, 110 + + YFETED, made, well or evil shaped + + YFLANKED, a species of madness in hounds, "lank madness," 88 + + YFORE, therefore + + YFOUNDE, found, 164 + + YGOTE, begotten, bred + + YHEWE, hewn, 152 + + YLAFT, left, 178 + + YMAKYD, made + + YNOWE, YNOW, enough, 1 + + YONGIS, young + + YOULE, howl + + YPOCRAS, Hippocras, 11 + + YPOTICARIES, apothecary, 84, 101 + + YREST, rested, 136 + + YTHOWZT, thought of + + + + +INDEX + + + Acquillez, 201 + + Affeted, 27, 201 + + Agincourt, xi + + Agrimony, 100 + + Aiguilles or needles, 61 + + Alauntes, 3, 116-18, 202 + + Antlers of the hart, 26, 140-3, 203-4 + + Appollo, King of Lyonnys, 76 + + Aquitaine, xii + + Assembly, 7, 9, 150, 163-4 + + Auberey of Montdidier, 80 + + Aumarle, Duke of, xi + + + Badger, 3, 68-9 + + Badminton Library, xvi + + Baillie-Grohman, xxvi, xxviii + + Baiting, 118 + + Baldric, 128 + + Beaumont, 167, 182, 184 + + Bellowing time, 160, 162 + + Bercelet, 204 + + Berners, or attendants on hounds, 165-9, 172, 174, 205 + + Bisshunters, furhunters, 74, 206 + + Blaine, xvi + + Blenches, trick, deceit, 159, 206 + + Boar, wild--_see_ Wild boar + + Boce, hump, 206 + + Bodleian Library, xvii + + Boughs, 206 + + Brache, 22 + + Broches, 45 + + Brocket, 130 + + Buck, 3, 38-40, 109 + + Burnish, 28 + + Burr, 141 + + Burrows, 68 + + Butchers' hounds, 118 + + + Caboche, 176 + + Camomile, 95 + + Canker, the cure for, 99 + + Cat, wild--_see_ Wild cat + + Cecil's "Records of the Chase," xvi + + Celandine, 94 + + Chacechiens, 148 + + Change, 31, 111, 207 + + Chase, 3 + + Chase, beasts of the, 3 + + Chaucer, 2 + + Claudoneus, 76 + + Coney, 74 + + _Consolida major_, 98 + + _Consolida minor_, 98 + + Contreongle, 150 + + Cotton MS., British Mus., xii + + Couchers (setters), 120 + + Couples, 126 + + Curée, 7, 10, 29, 52, 173, 193, 208-209 + + + Dalziel, xvi + + D'Aumale, Duc, xvii + + Deer tithes, 195 + + Dryden, Sir Henry, xvii, Appendix + + + Encorne, 174 + + Envoiced, 170 + + Ergots of the hart, 130, 169 + + Excrements--_see_ Fumes + + + F. G. DE--_see_ Gaston de Foix + + Farrow, giving birth to young pigs, 47, 48, 68 + + Fees of huntsmen, 198 + + Fence month, 210 + + Ferrets, 72 + + Fewte, track, 210 + + Fewterer, 129, 211 + + Finders, 7, 9, 165 + + Foils, 32 + + Foix, Gaston de--_see_ Gaston de Foix + + Forlonge, a horn signal, 212 + + Fownes, Thomas, first pack of foxhounds established by, 213 + + Fox, the, 3, 64-67, 68, 212 + + Foxhounds, first pack of, 213 + + Fray, 135 + + Fraying-post, 214 + + Froissart, xii + + Fues, track, 10, 31, 111, 158, 168, 214 + + Fuite, track, 210 + + Fumes, 9, 17, 29, 39, 73, 133, 209-210 + + Fute, track, 210 + + + Garlic, 89 + + Gaston de Foix, xii, 12, 20, 202, 203, and App. + + Gathering--_see_ Assembly + + Gins, 30 + + Gladness or glade, 214 + + Grease or fat of game, 25, 30,36, 69, 214 + + Grease time, 215 + + Greyhound, the, 3, 24, 30, 45, 59, 62, 65, 70, 110, 113-115, 189, 197, + 216-8 + + Grinders, 50 + + Guienne, xxi, 3 + + _Guyenne loup cerviers_, 70 + + + Harbour, 9, 38 + + Hardel, 45, 218 + + Hare, 3, 14-22, 109, 181-7, 219-222 + + Hare pipes, 22 + + Haronblast, 27 + + Harness, 30, 60, 222 + + Harrier, 111, 196, 222-4 + + Hart, 3, 7, 23-37, 109, 140, 148-151, 165, 191-9, 224-7 + + Harting, J. E., xvii + + Hausse-piez, the, 61 + + Hawks, 1, 119, 120 + + Hayes or haia, 67, 74 + + Henry IV., King of England, xi, 1 + + Hippocras, 11 + + Holy Cross, Feast of, 29, 49 + + Holy Rood, 23 + + Horn, hunter's, 4, 128, 227 + + Horse, 69, 95 + + Hound, 1, 3, 30, 31, 75-84, 85-104, 105-112 + + Hunter, 4, 8, 123 + + Hunting cries, 150, 166-180, 181-7, 191, 229; + music, 168, 178, 191-9, 231-4, 244; + seasons, 253 + + + Idleness, the foundation of all evil, 5 + + _Illocques_, 234 + + Imagination, 5 + + Iris, the, 93 + + + Jopeye, to holloa to the hounds, 171, 234 + + + Kenettes, small hounds, 111, 235 + + Kennel, 4, 125 + + Kids, 42, 45 + + Kindles of the hare, 20, 21 + + King, hunting of the, 188-199 + + + Langley, Edmund of, xvi + + Latimer, 167 + + Lesses, 52 + + Leverettes or kindles, 20, 21 + + Ligging, a bed, a lair, 24, 71, 235 + + Lilies, medicinal qualities of, 102 + + Limer, a scenting hound, 31, 38, 152, 157, 161, 167-9, 235-7 + + Limerer, 150 + + Loup cerviers, 70 + + Lymer--_see_ Limer + + + Madness in the hound, 85, 86, 237 + + Makary slays Auberey of Montdidier, 81 + + Mallows, 102 + + Mange in the hound, 90, 91 + + Marten, 73 + + _Master of Game_, xi-xix, xxiv, 1, 2, 150, 163, 165, 175, 188 + + Master of Herthounds, 198 + + Mastiff, 3, 122, 204, 239-242 + + Melbourne, William, 73 + + Menée, the, 240-2 + + Metynge, or feeding, 242 + + Meute, 242 + + Mew, to shed, 243 + + Milbourne, 73 + + Moot or mote, 179 + + _Mort_ or death, the, 197 + + Mortimers, the, xii + + Motherwort, 101 + + Move, to start a hare, 243 + + Muse or meuse, 243 + + + Needles, 61 + + Nets, 30, 67, 73 + + Numbles, 243 + + + Otter, 3, 72-74, 244 + + + Parfet, the, 174, 244 + + Parfitters, 7, 10, 245 + + Parker, 189 + + Partridge, 119 + + Pennyroyal, 20 + + Pevensey, xii + + Ph[oe]bus, Gaston, Count de Foix--_see_ Gaston de Foix + + Pomeled, spotted, 45, 246 + + Prise, the, 197 + + _Pterygium_, 94 + + + Quail, 119 + + Quarry, 127, 136 + + Quest, 9, 130, 152, 154, 155, 156, 157, 163 + + + Rabies--_see_ Madness + + Raches, scenting-hounds, 3, 74, 246, 250-3 + + Rascal, 7, 25, 150, 193 + + Relays, 7 + + Resceyuour or receiver, 198, 247 + + Riot, 74, 249 + + Roebuck, 41-5, 250 + + Roosevelt, Th., xviii, xix-xxix + + Roy Modus, 202, 203, App. + + Royals (antlers), 28 + + Rue, 96 + + Ruets, 128 + + Running hounds--_see_ Raches + + Rutting, 23, 36, 109, 160, 161 + + Ryding time, 20 + + + Scantillon, a measure, 9, 253 + + Scotland, 120 + + Scombre, 127 + + Seasons of hunting, 253 + + Seton, 103 + + Setters, 120 + + Seven deadly sins, 4 + + Shakespeare, xi + + Shaw, Vero, xvi + + Shirley MS., 200 + + Snares, 257 + + Sounder or herd of wild swine, 53 + + Spain, 119 + + Spaniel, the, 3, 119-121, 257 + + Spay, to kill, 10, 174, 258 + + Spay, to castrate, 84, 258 + + Spraintes of otter, 73, 139 + + Springole, 23 + + Spurge, 48 + + Squire, a companion of the hart, 26 + + Stable-stand, 188, 258 + + Staggard, 29, 131 + + Stankes, or pools, 33, 72, 260 + + Stint, 19, 165, 171 + + "Stinking foot," 211 + + _Storax_, 96 + + Strutt's "Sports and Pastimes," xvi + + Sur-royal of the hart, 28 + + "Sweet foot," 211 + + + Tache, 260 + + Tally Ho, etymology and use of, 209 + + Talon, 130 + + Taw, to make hides into leather, 63, 261 + + Teazer, 198 + + Terrier, 4 + + Thyme, wild, 20 + + Trace, footprint of deer, 9, 137, 141 + + Troche, 140 + + Tryst, 118, 263 + + Twety and Gifford, 201, App. + + Twici, William, 201, App. + + Tysane, 11 + + + Valerian, 91 + + Vanchasers, 7, 10 + + Vauntlay, to cast off, 169, 172 + + Veltres, 263 + + Venery, beasts of, 3, 52, App. + + Vixen, 64 + + + Wagging, 139 + + Wall pellitory, 101 + + Wanlace, 204, 264 + + Wardrobe, 139 + + Wer-wolves, 59 + + Wild boar, 3, 23, 46-53, 264 + + Wild cat and its nature, 3, 70-71, 144, 265 + + Wilton, Lord, xvi + + Wolf, 3, 54-63, 266 + + Woodman's craft, 176 + + Worming a dog, 87 + + Wright, xv + + Wynn, xvi + + + Yeoman at horse, 165 + + Yeomen berners on foot, 165 + + York, Duke of, xi., xii + + + Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. + Edinburgh & London + + + + +_ABRIDGED PROSPECTUS OF THE +FIRST EDITION OF_ + +THE + +MASTER OF GAME + +_The Oldest English Book on Hunting_ + +BY EDWARD, DUKE OF YORK + +EDITED BY + +W. A. AND F. BAILLIE-GROHMAN + +WITH A FOREWORD BY + +THEODORE ROOSEVELT + + +With 44 Facsimile Photogravure Plates (4 with original text) and +Frontispiece reproduced in Colours and Gold, from the Miniatures in +the famous MS. f. fr. 616 in the _Bibliothèque Nationale_, Paris. +Monotint reproductions of the drawings in the Bodleian "Master of +Game" (MS. Bodl. 546), and other reproductions, transcripts of +hitherto unpublished MSS. and Documents, Literary and Historical +Notes, a Bibliography of MSS. and Printed Books on Hunting in the +principal Languages of Europe up to the end of the sixteenth century, +and a Glossary of Ancient English Hunting Terms, with Index. + +Only 600 COPIES (bound with these plates in "Rough Deerskin") will be +sold, of which half are reserved for England, the rest for America and +the Continent. Each copy is numbered and signed, and under no +circumstances will any more be published. =Price £6=. The first ten +copies are printed on Japanese Hand-made Vellum paper throughout and +Bound by Zaehnsdorf in White Vellum, price £30 each. + +Only 2 copies of the latter and 20 copies of the English Edition are +left. + +_HIS MAJESTY THE KING and H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES have been pleased +to subscribe for copies._ + +Published for the Editors by =BALLANTYNE & CO.=, 14 TAVISTOCK STREET, +COVENT GARDEN, W.C., LONDON, who will forward a Specimen Plate and +full particulars on application. + + +_Extracts from Reviews in the English and American Press_ + +_The Times._--"'The Oldest English Book on Hunting' renews its youth +in a superb and massive volume, elaborately illustrated with +reproductions of the quaintest of mediæval drawings. The archaic text +of the original English is happily modernised in parallel columns, so +that the book is pleasant and easy reading. The elaborate appendix is +a treasury of research ... and the bibliographical catalogue is +exhaustive." + +_The Fortnightly Review._--"A great classic has been rescued from +oblivion." + +_The Spectator._--"There can be no hesitation in ascribing to the +magnificently produced volume the first place in the classics of +hunting of an earlier date ever given to the public of our day. Some +of the attractions of this splendid volume ... the illustrations which +are as interesting as the text ... absolutely a masterpiece ... the +endurance of a scholarly and rational enthusiasm in the history and +pursuit of sport has its monument in the fine work now presented." + +_The Field._--"In many respects this is a remarkable book. It is the +oldest treatise on hunting in the English language. It was written +just five centuries ago, and, strange to say, until the present time +it has never been printed. As the treatise is from many points of view +of considerable importance, one would have supposed that long ere this +some enthusiastic scholar with a love for the chase would have been +found both able and willing to undertake its publication. On the other +hand, we have only to look at the text as now presented to us to see +that its preparation implies an enormous amount of labour, involving a +collation of the various MSS., a _verbatim et literatim_ transcription +of the text, a modern English translation in parallel columns, +critical and explanatory notes, and a glossary of ancient hunting +terms; in a word, a thorough mastery of the subject. All this Mr. and +Mrs. Baillie-Grohman have accomplished, and indeed much more, for they +have given an account of the existing MSS. of the work, a bibliography +of the mediæval literature of the chase. It was a happy thought to +illustrate the English text with facsimiles of the beautiful +miniatures which adorn the French original.... In the way of +reproduction nothing could be better ... the _tout ensemble_ is a +model of good taste and fine printing." + +_Baily's Magazine._--"This beautiful book ... in such sumptuous form +... bears evidence of wide research and of care in preparation. The +sumptuous production it is and the illuminations from old MSS. have +been reproduced as well as it was possible to reproduce them." + +_Land and Water._--"This is really an extremely interesting book, and +if Mr. Baillie-Grohman is as painstaking and accurate with his rifle +as he is with his pen, it is small wonder that he is in the front rank +of contemporary sportsmen." + +_The Standard._--"Singularly interesting and amusing ... sumptuous +book ... an immense amount of bibliographical information.... Mr. +Baillie-Grohman is a hunter of world-wide experience, and his +authority will be generally recognised." + +_Morning Post._--"Magnificent folio ... the editors' notes on the text +are full of far-sought information, and, what is more, are +delightfully written.... Happy is the sportsman and scholar who has a +copy of it." + +_The Country Gentleman._--"Mr. and Mrs. Baillie-Grohman have done +their work as editors admirably ... nothing could be better than the +general 'get-up' of this charming volume." + +_New York Herald._--"Magnificent edition of the 'Master of Game,' +edited with a loving care that makes it a literary marvel. No labour, +no expense has been too great for the editors of this truly splendid +edition of a singularly interesting work." + +_Chicago Tribune._--"Sumptuous folio of the first importance to +students ... it must ever be considered a classic of its kind." + +_The Nation_ (New York).--"One can hardly speak too highly of the +loving and enthusiastic care which the editors have manifested in +preparing the work for publication." + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Master of Game, by Second Duke of York, Edward + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43452 *** |