256 APPENDIX 



hunting usually began earlier. The boar was in his 

 prime condition when acorns, beechmast, and chest- 

 nuts were plentiful, and was considered in season from 

 Michaelmas to St. Martin's Day (Roy Modus, xxxi.), 

 and by some even from Holyrood Day (Bornam, p. 100 ; 

 Part, de Blois, 525). 



The huntsmen of King John of England were sent 

 to hunt in the forest of Cnappe in order to take two 

 or three boars a day in November. King John's letter 

 giving instructions on this point to one Rowland Bloet 

 is dated 8th November 12 15 (Jesse, ii. 32). 



Wolf, According to the Forest Laws, in the book 

 already quoted, the season during which the wolf was 

 hunted began at Christmas and ended at the Annuncia- 

 tion (March 25), but considering the destruction wrought 

 by this beast it is far more likely that it was hunted 

 throughout the year. 



Fox. According to the Forest Laws the season opened 

 on Christmas Day and ended on March 25, but never- 

 theless the fox was hunted early in the autumn, for we 

 have it on Twety and Gyfford's authority that "the 

 sesoun of the fox begynneth at the natyvite of owre 

 Lady, and durryth til the Annunciacion " (Sept. 8 to 

 March 25). 



The " Boke of St. Albans " gives the season of the 

 fox and wolf from the Nativity to the Annunciation of 

 Our Lady and that of the boar from the Nativity to 

 the Purification of Our Lady. Manwood and other 

 accepted authorities quote the above as alluding to the 

 Nativity of Christ, whereas the Nativity of Our Lady, 

 Sept. 8, was intended, thereby creating some confusion. 



According to the Wardrobe Accounts of Edward I. 

 the foxhunting season began on 1st September (Ward. 

 Ace. Ed. I. 1299-1300). 



No doubt one of the reasons why the fox was not 

 hunted earlier in the year was on account of the fur, 

 which was of course of less use or value if obtained in 

 summer. 



