CHAPTER XIX 



WHAT MANNER AND CONDITION A GOOD 

 HUNTER SHOULD HAVE. 



Thou, Sir, whatever you be, great or little, that 

 would teach a man to be a good hunter, first he 

 must be a child past seven or eight years of age 

 or little older, and if any man would say that I 

 take a child in too tender age for to put him to 

 work, I answer that all nature shortens and 

 descends. For every man knoweth well that a 

 child of seven years of age is more capable in 

 these times of such things that he liketh to learn 

 than was a child of twelve years of age (in times 

 that I have seen). And therefore I put him so 

 young thereto, for a craft requires all a man's life 

 ere he be perfect thereof. And also men say that 

 which a man learns in youth he will hold best in 

 his age. And furthermore from this child many 

 things are required, first that he love his master, 

 and that his heart and his business be with the 

 hounds, and he must take ^ him, and beat him 

 when he will not do what his master commands 



^ " Take " is probably the scribe's mistake for " tache," teach. 



123 



