248 APPENDIX 



were light, swift greyhounds ; these were probably slipped 

 first ; and the latter (Shirley MS. spells resteynours) were 

 the heavy greyhounds slipped last, and capable of pulling 

 down a big stag. De Noirmont tells us : Ces derniers 

 étaient surnommes receveours ou receveurs (ii. p. 426, and G. 

 de F., p. 177). 



RELAYS. In the early days of venery the whole 

 pack was not allowed to hunt at the commencement of 

 the chase. After the stag had been started from his lair 

 by a limer, some hounds were uncoupled and laid on, the 

 rest being divided off into relays, which were posted in 

 charge of one or more berners along the probable line of 

 the stag, and were uncoupled when the hunted stag and 

 the hounds already chasing him had passed. There were 

 usually three relays, and two to four couples the usual 

 number in each relay, though the number of couples de- 

 pended, of course, on the size of the hunting establish- 

 ment and the number of hounds in the kennel. G. de 

 F. calls these relays simply, première, seconde, and tierce. 

 The " Master of Game " calls the first lot of hounds un- 

 coupled the " finders " (p. 165), though this seems rather a 

 misnomer, as the harbourer with his limer [see Limer) 

 found and started the deer. The vauntchase for the first 

 relay, and the midel speak for themselves, but we have little 

 clue to the origin of parfitieres for the third relay. Were 

 they so called because they perfected or completed the 

 chase, or because they were some of the staunchest 

 hounds who could be depended upon to follow the parfit, 

 i.e. the right line of the stag or animal hunted ? {see 

 Appendix : Parfet). Old authorities seem to have differed 

 in opinion as to whether the staunchest and slowest 

 hounds should have been put in the first cry or in the 

 last (Roy Modus, fol. xvi. ; G. de F., p. 178; Lav., 

 Chasse à Courre, pp. 297-8). 



In the " Boke of St. Albans " we read of the vaunt/ay, 

 relay, and allay. The first was the name given to 

 hounds if they were uncoupled and thrown off between 



