The hoohe of Hunting 73 



the mofle, and pill the trees euen as a Goate will doe. 



In lanuariethcy leaue hearding with rafcal, and accompany them- 

 felues three or foure hartes togither, withdrawing themfelues in- 

 to the corners of the forefts, and go to the good winter pafture and 

 fogge, or to the corn then Iproong, as wheat, rie, and fuch other like. 



In Februarie and Marche they go to the plumpes and tuftes 

 of Coleworts, or of HafiU nuts or grene corne, and in medows 

 to pigwort, woodbynd, birche, and fuch like, wherof they croppe 

 the toppes. And in thofe two moneths they mewe and caft their 

 heades, beginning to marke what coaft may be moft commodi- 

 ous for them to take holde, and to harbour in, vntill their heads 

 be growen againe, and then they parte eche from other. 



In Aprill and May they reft in their thickets and holds, in the 

 whiche they remayn all that feafon, and llirre not much vntil the 

 beginning of rutte, vnlelTe they be llirred againft their wills, ta- 

 king their harbour neare vnto fome pretie fprings and couerts, 

 wherin there is muche yong fiytes, and theiin they will feede, as 

 lykewife alio in peafe, beanes, tares, thetches, lyntelles, and 

 fuche other Sommer corne as they can fy nde neare hande : for 

 they will not ftraye farre if they fynde anye feede nere to theyr 

 lay re. Some Hartes there be whiche will venture farre to iuch 

 feede, and will goe out therefore but once in two dayes. And 

 note you well, that fome Harts be fo craftie, that they haue two 

 layres wherein they harboure : and when they haue bene three 

 dayes on that one fyde of the forreft, they will take an other har- 

 borough as long on that other fyde of the forreft. And thefe be 

 olde hartes which haue bene fore ftirred and put from their feed, 

 whiche chaunge their laire, as the wynd chaungeth to haue per- 

 fed: vent as they come out of their thickets what faulte may per- 

 happes be in their feede. 



And you lliall alfo note, that in thefe Moneths of April and 

 Maye, they goe not to the foyle, by reafon of the moyftureof the 

 fpring, and of the deaw which giueth liquor fufficient. 



In lune, luly, and Auguft they go to the fprings and coppi- 

 fes, as before, and vnto corn, as wheat, otes, rie, barley, and I'uche 

 like as they may find (but feldom to rye or barly) and then are they 

 in their pride of greace. And let men fay what they wil, they go to 



G a the 



