CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 205 



carried in every quarter to refreshe them temperately ; 

 therefore I should think it labour lost to set down 

 these things in any perfect order, were it not that I 

 have good hope to see the nobilitie and youth of 

 England exercise themselves as well in that as also 

 in sundrie other noble pastimes of recreation accord- 

 ing to the steppes of theyr honourable ancestors and 

 progenitors ; and therefore I adventure this travayle 

 to set down in articles and particularities the secrets 

 and precepts of Venerie, as you see.'* 



I trust that the ' nobilitie and youth ' of the west 

 of England will lay these words to heart, that they 

 will follow the steps of their forefathers, that every 

 man will, to the best of his power, use his influence 

 in preventing the noblest of English sports from 

 again falling into desuetude, and that if the time 

 come when it should be necessary to use exertion in 

 order to prevent the discontinuance of a sport which 

 it has been the pride, the boast, and the pleasure of 

 the good men and true of North Devon and Somer- 

 set, for many a century past to have enjoyed, 

 those who have the power of doing so, and their 

 number is not small, will, with heart and soul, com- 

 bine to give their support to the maintenance of the 

 hounds and the preservation of the deer, and show 



*■ 'Art of Venerie/ p. 109. 



