174 THE MASTER OF GAME 



should blow again to him the " ferfect,^' ^ if it so 

 he that he were in his rights^ and else 7iot. For by 

 that shall he be brought to readiness and comfort 

 who before did not know where the game or any of 

 his fellows were. And when it so is, that they have 

 thought that the bay has lasted long enough, then 

 should he whoso be the most master bid some of the 

 hunters go spay '' him behind the shoulder forward 

 to the heart. But the lymerer should let slip the 

 rope while he (the deer) stood on his feet, and let 

 the lymer go to (him), for by right the lymer 

 should never (go) out of the rope, though he (be let) 

 slip from ever so far. And when the deer is dead, 

 and lieth on one side then first it is time to blow the 

 death, for it should never be blown at hart hunting 

 till the deer be on its side. And then should the 

 hounds be coupled up and as fast as a man can. 

 One of the Berners should encorne him, that is to 

 say turn his horns earthwards and the throat up- 

 wards, and slit the skin of the throat all along the 

 neck, and cut labelles (small flaps) on either side of 

 the skin, the which shall hang still upon the head, for 

 this belongeth to an hart slain with strength, and 

 else not. And then should the hunter flay down the 

 skin as far as he can, and then with a sharp trencher 

 cut as thick as he can the flesh down to the neck 

 bone, and this done every man stand abroad and 



^ A note sounded only by those who are on the ri^ht line. 

 2 To kill with a sword or hunting knife. See Appendix : Spay. 



