1 68 The hoohe of Hunting 



Hares which haue not bene hunted, are foolifh, and are neither of 

 force nor capacitie to vfe fuch fubtleties and pollicies, but hold on 

 endways before the houndes moft commonly : and do fquat and 

 ftart againe oftentimes, the whiche doth muche encourage the 

 hounds, and doth much better enter them, than if they should flee 

 into another quarter far before them. True it is and a thing often 

 proued, that an Hare hath greater fent, and is more eagerly hun- 

 ted by the houndes, when fhe feedeth and relieueth vpon greene 

 corne, than at any other time of the yere. And yet alfo you haue 

 fome Hares, which naturally giue fome of them greater lent than 

 fome others, and are much more eagerly hunted and chafed by y® 

 hounds. As thefe great wood Hares, and fuch as are fouleand mef- 

 led and keepe neare to the waters. But the litle red Hare, which is 

 (in maner) like a Coney of bignefTe, is neither of fo Itrong a fent 

 nor yet are fo eagerly hunted by the houndes as other Hares be. 

 Such as feede vpon the fmall branches of wilde time, or fuch like 

 herbes, are commonly very fwift, and wil ftand long vp before the 

 hounds. So haue you fome Hares more fubtle and crafty, than fome 

 others are, efpecially the females, for they double and turne fhorter 

 than the Bucks do, and that pleafeth the hounds but a litle. For 

 it is grieuous to hounds which are luftie and eager, to turn fo often 

 bicaufe they like better a chafe which fleeth before them endways, y* 

 they may run with al their force. And for fuch Hares as double and 

 crolFe fo often, it is requisite at default to caffc the greater compafle 

 about, when you beate to make it out. For fo flial you find al hir 

 fubtleties, and yet need to fticke vpon none of them, but only where 

 fhe went onwardes : for fo doing, you fhal abate the Hares force, 

 and conftrein hir to leaue doubling and eroding. Some Hares will 

 holde the high beaten wayes onely, where the houndes can haue 

 no fente, bycaufe there is neyther boughe, leafe, nor any moyfte 

 place wherwith y® Hare might leaue fent of hir body. The which 

 fhe muft needs leaue if it were in woodes, corne, high graffe, or 

 fuch other moyft and coole places. And therefore when a huntfman 

 fliall find fuch an Hare, and fhal fee his hounds at default vpon an 

 high way, let him hunt on with his houndes flill all alongfl the 

 way, vntiJl he finde where the Hare hath broken from the way, 



or 



