*\ 



1 88 The hoohe of Hunting 



take a bytchfoxe when (he is bragged and with cubbe, for then 

 fhe lyeth clofe about hir burrowe, and if flie heare neuer fo little 

 noyfe, fhe whippeth in quickely before the houndes or any thing 

 can come neare hir : fhe is a falfe and craftie beafte like vnto the 

 Wolfe. The hunting of the Foxe is pleafant, for he maketh an 

 excellent crye, bycaufe his fent is verie hote, and he neuer fleeth 

 farre before the houndes, but holdeth the ftrongeft couerts, and 

 fleeth from the fielde, as a beaft which trufteth not in his legges, 

 ! nor yet in his ftrength. And if the Foxe ftande in his defence, it 

 \ is by force, and yet alwayes he will as neare as he can keepe the 

 couert : yea though he finde none other couert but a buflie, yet he 

 will flee to it. And when he perceiueth that he maye no longer 

 endure nor fl:ande vp before the houndes, then will he take the 

 earth, and will trufl: to his Caftles there, which he knoweth per- 

 fectly : yet there is he taken alfo, but then mufl: it be digged, and 

 that in a fofte or light grounde. If Greyhoundes courfe hym, 

 then his laft remedie (if he be in the playne) is to bepyfle or to be- 

 fliyte the Greyhounds, that they may giue him ouer for the ilinke 

 and filthinefle thereof, yea, and Greyhoundes are more afrayde 

 of a Foxe, than of a greater beafl:. For I haue feene Greyhounds 

 which would runne hardly at an Hart, yea, would not refufe the 

 wilde Bore, nor the Wolfe, and yet they would fl:reyne curtefie 

 at a Foxe. When a bytche Foxe goeth on clycqueting, and feketh 

 a dogge, flie cryeth with a hollowe voyce, like vnto the howling 

 of a madde dogge : and likewife if fhe myffe any of hir cubbes, fhe 

 maketh y* felf fame noyfe : but when they are killed, they will ne- 

 uer crye, but defend themfelues till the lafl: gafpe. A Foxe wil pray 

 vpon any thing y* he can ouercome, yea, were it a vermine, and will 

 feede vpon all fortes of caryon : but the meate which they mofl:e 

 delight in, is poultrie, as Hennes, Capons, Gfit^^j Duckes, fmall 

 birdes, or any thing that they finde. And in default thereof, gen- 

 tle mafl:er Raynard will be content with butter, cheefe, creame, 

 flaunes, and cuftardes. They do much hurt in Warrens and co- 

 ney burrowes. And they kill Hares alfo by fraude, but not by 

 force of running. Some Foxes do praye abroade in the woodes 

 and fields, like vnto Wolues. And fpme there be which praye no 



where 



