To the Right Honorable and my singular good Lord the 
Earle of Shrewsburie: Sir Thomas Cockaine Knight, 
wisheth increase of all honorable vertues. 
2A UING (right Honorable) at the instance of diuers my espectall good 
eg) ) Sriends, penned this short Pamphlet of my owne experience in hunting. 
And entring into consideration how greatly I am bounden to the 
Nobilitie of this land ; Reason challenged a speciall affection in me to preferre 
the patronage thereof to your honorable Lordship before any other, as well in 
respect I had the originall of my said experience under your most noble Grand- 
Sather (whose Seruant I was in my yonger yeares, and brought up in his house) 
as also in regard thut [ haue receaued many extraordinary favours, both from 
your said most noble Grandfather, from my honourable good Lord, your father, 
and lastly, and most especially from your selfe (my good Lord) ; who knowing 
me a professed Hunter, and not a scholler, I make no doubt but your Lordshippe 
wil affoord my plainnes herein your fauorable liking. And so (my good Lord) 
wishing you as honorable successe in all your vertuous actions as your Lordshippe 
can desire or imagine ; I humblie take my leaue of your Lordship. From my 
house neere Ashborne this last of December, 1590. 
Your honorable Lordships many waies so bounden : 
THOMAS COCKAINE. 
To the Gentlemen Readers. 
3)T hath bin long receiued for a truth, that Sir Zyistvam, one of King 
Arthures Knights, was the first writer and (as it were) the founder of 
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i the exact knowledge of the honorable and delightful sport of hunting ; 
whose tearmes in Hunting, Hawking, and measures of blowing, I hold to be 
the best and fittest to be used. And these first principles of Sir Zyistram yet 
extant, ioyned with my owne long experience in Hunting for these fiftietwo 
yeares now last past, haue mooued me to write more at large, of hunting the 
