The hooie of Hunting loi 



keepe the ftrong couerts and thickets. And in fpring time when 

 their heades are tender, they keepe in yong frythes and coppifes, 

 and in the weakeft couerts that they can finde, for feare leaft they 

 fhould knocke and hurt their heades againft the boughes. And 

 therefore it is requifite to fet men abroad which are brought vp 

 in hunting, and vnderftande well their aduauntages, and with 

 them a good pricker or huntfman on horfebacke, mounted vpon 

 a good curtail, which fhould be lightly clad, hauing good bootes 

 and high, with an home about his necke. Phoehus fayth, that they 

 ought to be clad in greene when they hunt the Hart or Bucke, 

 and in rulTet when they hunt the Bore, but that is of no great 

 importance, for I remitte the coloures to the fantafies of- men. 

 Thefe horfemen fhould go ouer night to their mafters chamber, 

 or if they ferue a Prince, to the mafters of the games or his Lie- 

 uetenantes, to knowe which of them fhall followe the kennell, 

 and which fhall be for the Relayes, and in which Relay es and 

 where they fhall beftowe them felues, and what houndes they 

 fliall leade with them, what helpes and varlets fhall goe with 

 them. And thofe of the relayes fliall do well tohaue euerie man 

 a little byllet to remember the names of their Relayes : and then 

 let them go to their lodging, and get them a guide which may 

 condud: them in the morning. Afterwardes they muft looke that 

 their horfTes be well fhod and in good plight, giuing them otes 

 fufEcient : That done, they fliall go to bed, that they may rife in 

 the morning two houres before day. If it be in Sommer, they 

 muft water their horfTes, but not in Winter, and then they fliall 

 bayte them well vntill the varlets fhall bring the houndes for 

 their relayes. Their guide being come, they fhall breake their 

 fafts altogether. And in fteede of Pyftolets, they fhall haue each 

 of them a bottle full of good wyne at the pomell of their faddles. 

 And when daye fhall beginne to peepe, then muft they gette 

 on horfebacke, hauing with them their guide, their relayes, and 

 all their equipage. If they would fende a curtail to another of 

 the relayes, then fhall they fay to one of their varlets, that he goe 

 with one of their companions to fuch a Relay. When they are 

 come to the place appoynted for their Relaye, they fhall place 



their 



