150 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Ancient methods of coursing. 



distance, instead of a post, was the ditch, which 

 was a place made so as to receive the deer, and 

 keep them from being further pursued by the 

 dogs. Near to this place were seats for the 

 j udges, who were appointed to decide the wager. 

 As soon as the greyhounds that were to run, 

 the match were led into the dog-house, they 

 were delivered to the keepers, who, by the arti- 

 cles of coursing, were to see them fairly slipt j 

 for which purpose, there was round each dog's 

 neck a falling-collar, which slipt through rings. 

 The owners of the dogs drew lots which should 

 kave the wall, that there should be no advantage - r 

 the dog-house door was then shut, and the keeper 

 turned out the deer: after the deer had gone 

 about twenty yards, the person that held the 

 teazer loosed him, to force the deer forward, 

 and when it was got to the law-post, the dogs- 

 were led out from the dog-house, and slipt. If 

 the deer swerved before he got to the pinching- 

 post, so that his head was judged to be nearer 

 the dog-house than the ditch, it was deemed 

 no match, and was to be run again three days 

 after; but if there were no such swerve, and the 

 dog ran straight until he went beyond the pinch- 

 ing-post, then that dog which was nearest the 

 deer (should he swerve) gained the contest ; if no- 

 swerve happened, then that dog which leaped 

 the ditch first was the victor; if any disputes 

 arose, they were referred to the articles of the 

 course, and determined by the judges. 



