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 Corn- 

 wall, 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 7ioble 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 dis- 

 portful 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 com^ 



A 



