HUNTING THE STAG. 



67 



STAG DRINKING. 



hard beset, and every way intercepted, to make force at their enemy 

 with their horns, who first comes upon him, unless they be ^ re- 

 vented by spear or sword. 



When the beast is slain, the huntsman windeth the fall of the 

 beast ; and then the whole company come up, blowing their horna 

 in triumph for such a conquest; among whom the skilfullest opens 

 the beast, and rewards the hounds with what properly belongs to 

 them, for their future encouragement, for which purpose the hunts- 

 men dip bread in the blood of the beast to give to the hounds. It 

 is very dangerous to go into a hart at bay ; o, which there are two 

 sorts, one on land and the other in water. If uie hart be in a deep 

 water, where you cannot well come at him, couple up your dogs ; 

 for should they continue long in the water, it wou,d endanger their 

 surbating or foundering. In this case get a boat, and swim to him, 

 with a drawn dagger, or else with rope that has a noose, and throw 

 it over his horns ; for if the water be so deep that the hart swims, 

 there is no danger in approaching him ; otherwise you must be 

 very cautious. 



As to the land bay, if a hart be burnished, consider the place ; 

 for if it be in a plain and open place, where there is no wood or 

 covert, it is dangerous and difficult to come into him ; but if he be 



