The hoohe of Hunting i^i 



Of the hunting of the Bucke. Chap. 44 



ALthough mine Audthor were a Frenchman, and in Fraunce 

 xVthe hunting of the Bucke is nothing fo common as the 

 hunting of the Harte is, yet fomewhat he hath written thereof, 

 the which (together with fome experience of mine owne) I haue 

 thought good here to place next vnto the hunting of the 

 Harte. 



It is needelefle to write what difference of heare, head, and 

 other proportions, there are betweene the Harte and the Bucke, 

 fince bothe kindes of Venerie are common inough in this our 

 noble Countrie. The Bucke is fawned in the end of May, and 

 hath all properties common with an Harte, but that the Harte 

 goeth fooner to the Rut, and is fooner in greace : for when a Hart 

 hath bene .xiiii. dayes at Rut, then the Bucke doth but fcarcely 

 beginne : there is not fo muche fkill to be vfed in lodgyng of a 

 Bucke, as in harboring of a Harte, nor needeth to vfe fomuch 

 drawing after him : but onely to iudge by the view and marke 

 what groue or couert he goeth into, for he will not wander nor 

 royle fo farre aboute as a Harte, nor change layre fo often : and 

 yet we vfe here in England to lodge the Bucke as wee vfe to 

 harbor the Harte, for the Bucke is much commoner with vs than 

 the Harte. He maketh his fewmifhing in fundrie maners and 

 formes as the Harte dothe, according to the feazon of the feede 

 that he findeth, but moft commonly they are round : when they are 

 hunted they flie into fuch ftrong couertes as they haue bene moft 

 accuftomed vnto, and neuer flee fo farre before the houndes, nor 

 double, crofTe, nor vfe fuche and fo many fubtile policies as an 

 Harte doth. For he turneth backe vpon the houndes oftentimes, 

 and efcheweth the high wayes as muche as he may, efpecially in 

 the open playnes : he is fometimes killed at Soyle as an Harte 

 doth, and will beate a Brooke or Riuer, but not fo craftely nor 

 can fo long endure therein, nor dare take fuche great riuers and 

 waters as the Harte will, he leapeth lightlier at the Rut than an 

 Harte, and groyneth as an Harte belloweth, but with a bafcr 

 voyce ratlyng in the throte : the Harte and he loue not one another, 



but 



