246* The hooke of Hunting 



A short obferuation fet downe by the 



Tranflatour, concerning courfing 



with Greyhoundes 



BYcaufe I finde nothing in myne Author particularly written 

 of courfing with Greyhounds, it feemeth unto me, that they 

 haue not that kynd of Venerie fo much in eflimation in France, 

 as we do hold it here in England. But that they vfe their Grey- 

 hounds only to fet backfets, or receytes for Deare, Wolfe, Foxe, 

 or fuch like. Wheras we here in England do make great account 

 of fuch paftime as is to be feen in courfing with Greyhoundes at 

 Deare, Hare, Foxe, or fuche like, euen of them felues, when there 

 are neyther houndes hunting, nor other meane to help them. So 

 that I haue thought it correfpondent vnto this myne enterpryfe, 

 to fet downe fome briefe rules which I my felfe haue feene obferued 

 in courfing with Greyhounds. You fhall vnderffcand then, that we 

 vfe three maner of courfes with Greyhounds here in England, that 

 is at the Deare, at the Hare, and at Foxe or other vermine. First 

 for the courfe at the Deare (efpecially if it be a red Deare) you may 

 deuide your Greyhounds into three fundry parts, viz. Teafers, 

 SidelayeSj and Backfets, or Receytes. By this worde Teafers 

 is ment, the firfl Greyhounde, or brafe, or leafe of Greyhoundes, 

 which is let flip either at the whole hearde, to bring a Deare fm- 

 gle to y^ courfe, or els at a lowe deare, to make him flreine before 

 he come at the fidelayes and backfets. For a deare is of this nature, 

 that when he once hath fet his head forewarde any way, he will 

 holde on the fame waye, and neuer turneth and wrencheth as a 

 Hare will do before the Greyhounds. Therefore a Greyhounde 

 or a brafe being let flip to teafe as before fayd, will make a deare 

 ftreyne in his courfe before he come at the fidelayes or backfets, 

 and then they (being frefh) fhal the better be able to take him. It is 

 commonly vfed also in courfing of deare (fpecially red deare, vtfu.) 

 to lay a brafe of greyhounds or more by the midway, and thofe are 

 called fidelays, bicaufe they are to be let flip at y® midfide of a 



Deare. 



