ANCIENT COURSING THE DEER. 93 



is often of several days continuance, and seldom finished without the maiming" or 

 destruction of part of the dog's. 



The following 1 account of ancient Coursing- with Greyhounds, is extracted from 

 Mr. Daniel's Rural Sports. In ancient times three several animals were coursed 

 with Greyhounds ; the Deer, the Fox, and the Hare. The two former are not 

 practised at present, but the coursing" of deer formerly, was a recreation in high 

 esteem, and was divided into two sorts ; the Paddock, and the Forest or Purlieu. 

 For the Paddock coursing-, beside the Greyhounds, which never exceeded two, 

 and for the most part consisted of one brace, there was the Teazer, or mongrel Grey- 

 hound, whose business it was to drive the Deer forward, before the real Greyhounds 

 were slipped. The Paddock was generally a piece of ground taken out of a Park, 

 and fenced with pales or a wall ; it was a mile in length, and about a quarter of a 

 mile in breadth, but the farther end was always broader than that which the dogs 

 started from, the better to accommodate the company in seeing which dog won the 

 match. At the hither end was the Dog-house, to enclose the Dogs which were to 

 run the course, which was attended by two men, one of whom stood at the door to 

 slip the Dogs, the other was a little without the door, to let loose the Teazer to 

 drive away the Deer. The Pens for the Deer intended to be coursed, were on one 

 side, with a Keeper or two to turn them out ; on the other side, at some distance, 

 stood the spectators. Along the course, were placed Posts. The first which was 

 next the Dog-house and Pens, was the Law-Post, and was distant from them, one 

 hundred and sixty yards. The second was the Quarter of a mile, the third the 

 Half Mile, the fourth the Pinching Post, and the fifth marked distance, in lieu 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 Judges, who were chosen to decide the Wager. 



So 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 Articles of Coursing were to 

 see them fairly slipt ; for which purpose there was round each Dog's neck, & fall- 

 ing collar which slipt through rings. The Owners of the Dogs drew lots which 

 dog should have the wall, that there should be no advantage ; the Dog-house door 

 was then shut, and the keeper turned out the Deer ; after the Deer had gone about 

 twenty yards, the person who held the Teazer loosed him, to force the Deer for- 

 ward ; and when the Deer was got to the Law Post, the Dogs were led out from 

 the Dog-house and slipped. 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 Deer ran straight, until he went beyond the Pinching 

 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 



o 



