The hoie of Hunting 47 



their thirde yeare, bycaufe they haue not the courage, nor their 

 tudies and armes are not yet fufficient to defend them. 



After the Hartes haue mewed, they beginne in the monethes 

 of Marche and Apryll to thruft out their buttones, and as the 

 Sunne doth ryfe in his circle or courfe, and that their fcede doth 

 increafe and waxe harde, their heades in like manner and their 

 venyfone do growe and augment, and by the middeft of lune, 

 their heades will be fomed of as much as they will beare all that 

 yeare, at leaft if they be in a good corne countrey or where good 

 feede is, and haue nohinderance nor difquiet, and accordingly as 

 the feafon of the yeare doth increafe the croppe of the earth, euen 

 fo will their heades increafe in all refpeites. 



What is the caufe that Hartes do hyde 



themfelues when they haue 



mewed. Chap. 19 



HArtes doe hyde them felues when they haue mewed for 

 diuers reafons. Firft bycaufe they are leane and weake, 

 by reafon of the wynter paft, hauing no force to defende them 

 felues. And alfo bicaufe they beginne then to finde feeding, and 

 then they take their eafe to reftore their flefli and force. Another 

 reafon is, that they haue loft their weapons of defence, the which 

 be their heades, and dare not fliewe them felues as well for feare 

 of other beafts, as alfo for fliame that they haue, to haue loft their 

 ftrength and beautie. And alfo you flial fee by experience, y* 

 if (in a corne fielde or pafture where an Hart feedeth after he haue 

 mewed) there be any Pyes or layes, or fuche byrdes which chatter 

 at them and difcouer them, they will ftreight way returne vnto 

 their thicket, to hyde themfelues for the fliame and feare that they 

 haue. And you fliall vnderfland they will not leaue their thicket 

 (vnlefTe men do ftyrre and remoue them) vntill the ende of Au- 

 guft, when they begin to wax hote, and to hunt after the Hynds. 

 When the Harts that are in couert, do perceiue that their heades 

 do begin to dry, (which is about the .xxii. of luly) then they dif- 

 couer themfelues, going vnto the trees to fray their heads, and to 

 rub of the veluet. And 



