The hooke of Hunting 45* 



for when they perceiue that theolde Harts are wearie of the Rut 

 and weakened in force, they runne vppon them, and eyther 

 hurt or kyll them, caufing them to abandon the Rut, and then 

 they remayne maillers in their places. Hartes doe muche fo- 

 ner kyll each other when there is fcarcitie of Hyndes, for if there 

 be Hyndes plentie, then they feparate them felues one from 

 another, and hyde them felues in one place or other. It is 

 a pleafure, to beholde them when they goe to Rutte and 

 make their vaute. For when they fmell the Hynde, they rayfe 

 their nofe vp into the ayre, and looke aloft, as though they gaue 

 thankes to nature which gaue them fo great delight. And if it 

 be a great Hart, he will turne his heade, and will looke if there be 

 none other neare to anoy or interrupt him. Then the yong deare 

 being not able to abyde them, and feing them make fuch counte- 

 nances, will withdraw them felues from them and runne away. 

 But if there be any of equall bygnefle, they beginne then both of 

 them to vault, and to fcrape the grounde with their feete, fhoc- 

 king and butting one againft another, in fuch fort, that you fhal 

 heare their blowes of their heades a good halfe myle of, fo long, 

 til he which is mafter do chace away the other. The Hind behol- 

 ding this paftime, doth neuer remoue from hir place, then he which 

 hath the maffrie, will begin to vault, and to bellow, cafting him 

 felfe with a full leape vpon the Hynde to couer hir, and that 

 quickly. They are very eafie to be kylled at fuch times, for they 

 follow the pathes and ways where the Hyndes haue gone, putting 

 their nofe to the grounde to followe by the fent, and neuer looke 

 nor vent whether any man be there aboutes which may annoye 

 them or not. During the time of their Rut they lyue with fmall 

 fuftenance, for they feede onely of fuche things as they fee before 

 them, and rather regard the tracke of the Hindes. Their chief 

 meate is the red Mufhrome or Todeftoole which helpeth well to 

 make them pyfle their greace, they are then in fo vehement heate, 

 that euerie where as they pafTe and finde waters, they tumble and lye 

 therein, and fometimes for difpight, they thruft their heades into 

 the earth, a man may eafily know the olde Hart from the yong, 

 by hearing him when he belloweth. For the elder they be, the 



greater 



