APPENDIX 247 



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 mautre). 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 un- 

 harboured or dislodged by the limer. Twici says : " ^Ire^ 

 toux ceaus qe sunt enchaces^ sunt mewz de lymer. E tous ceaus 

 enquille-z 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 

 homes as Kynge Edwarde with the long shanks dide." 

 In the " Squyer of Low degree " we read that the hunts- 

 man 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 re- 

 ceives. The reseeyuours were most likely those grey- 

 hounds 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 



