The hooke of Hunting '^^ 



IMmediately after Supper the Huntfman fliould go to his ma- 

 fters chamber, and if he ferue a king, then let him go to the mai- 

 fter of the games chamber, to knowe his pleafure in what quar- 

 ter he determineth to hunt the day following, that he may know 

 his owne quarter : that done, he may go to bedde, to the ende he 

 may rife the earlyer in the morning, according to the tyme and 

 feafon, and according to the place where he mull hunt : then when 

 he is vp and readie, let him drinke a good draughte, and fetche his 

 hound to make him breake his fall a little : And let him not for- 

 get to fill his bottel with good wine, that done, let him take a lit- 

 tle vineyger in the palme of his hand, and put it in the noftriils 

 of his hounde, for to make him fnuffe, to the ende his fent may be 

 the perfeder, then let him go to the wood. And if he chaunce by 

 the way to finde any hare, partriche, or any other beaft or bird that 

 is fearefuli, liuing vpon feedes or pafturage, it is an euill fygne 

 or prefage that he fhall haue but euill paftime that day. But if he 

 fynde any beafte of rauine, liuing vpon praye, as Wolfe, Foxe, 

 Rauen, and fuche lyke, that is a token of good lucke. He mufte 

 take good heede that he come not too earely into the fprings and 

 hewtes where he thinketh that the Harte doth feede and is at re- 

 liefe. For Harts do go to their layre commonly in the Springs, 

 yea, and though they were drawne into fome ftrong holde or 

 thicket, yet if they be olde craftie Deare, they will returne fome- 

 times to the bordure of the Coppes, to hearken or fpye if there be 

 any thing to annoy them. And if they chaunce once to vent the 

 huntefman or his hounde, they will ftraight way diflodge from 

 thence and goe fome other where, efpecially in the heate of the 

 yeare. But when the huntefman perceyueth that it is time to be- 

 ginne to beate, let him put his hounde before him, and beate the 

 out fides of the Springs or thickets : and if he finde of an Harte 

 or Deare that like him, let him marke well whether it be freflie 

 or not, and he may knowe as well by the maner of his houndes 

 drawyng, as alfo by the eye. For if he marke the pathes and 

 trackes where the Harte hathe gone, hee fliall fee oftentimes 

 the deawe beaten of, or the foyle frefhe, or elfe the grounde 



fome- 



