64 The hooke of Hunting 



it of endwayes to haue the liquor as fweetely and tenderly as 

 he may. And here let the Hunter marke one fecrete poynt, which 

 is : when he is in the woode and fliall iinde the Slotte of an 

 Harte, let him firfte marke what manner of Slotte or footing it 

 is, whether it be a worne footing or a lliarpe cuttyng foote, then 

 let him marke the Countrie and Foreft, wherein he is, for he 

 may iudge in himfelfe whether it be by occafion of the Coun- 

 trie or not, for afmuche as commonly the Hartes bredde in the 

 mountaynes and ftonie places, haue their toes and edges or fides 

 of their feete muche worne : the reafon is, bycaufe in clyming of 

 the Mountaynes, they ftay onely vpon their toes and edges or 

 fides of theyr feete, and not vpon the heele, the whiche toes the 

 Rockes and ftones do weare continually : and fo peraduenture 

 the Slotte might make it feeme an older Harte than it is. Now 

 in fandie countries it is contrarie, for there the Hartes do ftay 

 more vpon their heele than vpon the toes, the reafon is, that 

 leaning or flaying their feete vppon the fande, it flieth and flip- 

 peth away from vnder the toes bycaufe of the weight : for the clawe 

 whiche is harde, maketh it flide, and then the Harte is conftrayned 

 to ftaye himfelfe vpon his heele, whiche maketh it fometimes 

 to grow the broder and greater. All thefe tokens are the true 

 fignifications and markes whereby the Huntfman may 

 know and perceyue the age of the Harte. I woulde 

 alfo haue declared willingly to fuche as are 

 but learners, what the heele, the toe, the 

 bone, and other things do meane. 

 But I fee now adayes fo many 

 which vnderlland all thofe 

 things, that I holde 

 my peace for 

 breuitie. 



Of 



