i6x The hoohe of Hunting 



the houndes runne him, and that he haue once made a turne or 

 two aboute his forme, then farewell houndes : for he will leade 

 them fometimes three or foure myles endwayes before he turne 

 the head, and that lightly into fome coaffc where he hath bene in 

 times paft, and from whence he hath bene chafed and hunted. For 

 an Hare wil goe feuen or eight myles endwayes at once and you 

 may know when a Hare is fo come from farre by this meanes. 



When you fee y* your hounds find where an Hare hath paft at re- 

 lief, vpon y ® highwayes fides, an d hath much doubled and crolled vpon 

 drie places, andneuer much broken out nor relieued in the corne, 

 it is a token that (he is but lately come into thofe quarters : and 

 then iscommonly (he wil ftay vpon fome high place, to looke about 

 hir, and to choofe out a place to forme in, and alfo y® better to faue 

 hirfelf, if flie perceiue either hounds or any thing els that followes 

 or meetes hir. Or you may alfo know, bycaufe commonly Hares 

 which ftray fo, doe make their forme clofe, bycaufe they are in 

 dout and dread. And when the hounds finde them and put them 

 vp, they breake and double, turning backe towardes their forme : 

 bicaufe it grieueth them to part from it, knowing not the coun- 

 trey. But when they perceiue that the hounds holde in to them, 

 then they returne by the fame wayes that they came. By thefe 

 tokens you may knowe an Hare that is a pafTenger, which may 

 chance to leade your houndes a luftie daunce after hir. 



Of the fubtilties of an Hare, when flie is 

 runne and hunted. Chap. 5-9 



I Might well mainteine that of all chafes, the Hare maketh 

 greateft paftime and pleafure, and fheweth moft cunning 

 in hunting, and is mceteft for gentlemen of all other hun- 

 tings, for that they may find them at all times, and hunt them 

 at moft feafons of the yeare, and that with fmall charges. And a- 

 gaine, bicaufe their paftime fliall be alwayes in fight, whereby 

 they may iudge the goodnelTe of their houndes, without great 

 paines or trauell. Alfo it is great pleafure to beholde the fubtil- 

 tie of the little poore beafte, and what fhift fhe can make for hir 

 felfe. Wherefore the huntfmen muft be wary and wife to marke 



hir 



