115 The hoohe of Hunting 



commonly therefore rather defccnd downe the ftreame, than fwim 

 againft it, efpecially if the hounds run him well. And itfeemeth 

 he hath naturally this vnderftanding,that he knowethif he fhould 

 fwimme againft the ftreame when he goeth to the foyle, the 

 houndes would haue greater fent of him, than when he descen- 

 ded downe the ftreame. For the wynde would alwayes beare 

 the fent vpon them, and alfo it were more painefull and greater 

 trauell to him felfe, to fwymme againft the ftreame, than to 

 fwymme downe the ftreame. Vnderftande then that if a Harte 

 be fore runne, and come to a Ryuer or water, he will common- 

 ly take it, and fwymme in the verie middeft thereof, for he will 

 take as good heede as he can, to touch no boughes or twygges 

 that grow vpon the fides of the Ryuer, for feare leaft the hounds 

 flioulde thereby take fent of him. And he will fwymme along 

 the ryuer long time before he come out, vnlefTe he light vpon 

 fome blocke or other fuche thing which ftop him in the ftreame, 

 and then he is forced to come out. In fuch places the huntefmen 

 must haue good regard to blemifli at the place where he firft toke 

 foyle : and let them marke there wel which way he maketh head, 

 the which they may perceiue either by their houndes, or by mar- 

 king which way he fled when he came thether. Let them make 

 their houndes take the water and fwymme therein : for they may 

 finde fent vpon the bulrufhes or weedes which growe in the ry- 

 uer. Or otherwife, the huntefmen them felues may feeke to finde 

 where the Harte hath forfaken the foyle (which huntefmen call 

 breaking of the water) and there they (hall finde by the grade or 

 hearbes which he hath borne downe before him, which waye he 

 maketh heade. When they finde afluredly which way he maketh 

 heade, then let them call their houndes out of the water, for feare 

 leaft they founder them with too much colde after their heate. 

 And if there be three huntefmen of them together, let two of them 

 get one of the one fide of the riuer, and another on that other fide, 

 and let the thirde get him before that waye that the Harte hath 

 made heade, to fee if he can efpye him fwymming or lying in the 

 water: the two huntfmen which flialbe on each fide of the ryuer, ftial 

 beate with their hounds each of them vpon his fide, and far inough 



from 



