102 The hooke of Hunting 



their houndes in fome faire place at the foote of fome tree, forbid- 

 ding the varlet that he vncouple them not without their know- 

 ledge and commaundement, and that he ftir not from thence nor 

 make any noyfe. Then flial they go three or foure hundreth paces 

 from thence, on that fide that the hunting is ordeined, and fliall 

 hearken if they heare any thing, or can difcouer the Hart, for feing 

 him a farre of, they flial better iudge whether he be fpent or not, 

 then if they marke him when he is hallowed or cryed at. For an 

 Hart when he is fpent, doth beare his head low if he fee no man, 

 fliewing thereby howe wearie he is. But when he feeth a man, 

 he rayfeth vp his heade, and maketh great boundes, as though he 

 would haue men thinke that he is ftrong and flout. As alfo the 

 horfeman flial withdraw him felfe afide for another reafon. And 

 that is, bicaufe the pages and they which holde the horfes do com- 

 monly make fuch a noyfe, that he can not heare the crye. And alfo 

 when the Hart doth heare noyfe, or hath the dogs in the winde, 

 they will either turne backe againe, or wheele afide from the relaye : 

 for which caufe the horfman flial hold himfelf afide to chofe and 

 marke the Hart at leyfure. And if he pafle by his relaye, he fliall 

 marke diligently whether he iinke or be fpent, and alio whether 

 he heare the hounds in chace comming after him or not. And me 

 thinkes that in hunting an Hart at force, it were not befl: to caft 

 off your relayes, vntill you fee the houndes of the kennell which 

 beganne the crye. So fliould you fee who hunteth beft, and alfo 

 the fwiftneffe of your houndes. But nowe adayes I fee fewe 

 hunt the Harte as he ought to be hunted : for men giue not their 

 hounds leyfure to hunt, neither is there palling two or three that 

 can hunt : for there are fo many hunters on horfebacke which can 

 neither blow, hallow, nor prick perfectly, which mingle themfelues 

 amongft the hounds, crolTing them, and breaking their courfe, in 

 fuch fort, that it is not poffiblethey fliould hunt truly : and therefore 

 I fay, that it is the horfes which hunt, and not the hounds. I wil 

 now therefore teach the Varlet how to forflow the Relaye when 

 the Hart is pail; by. Firft he mult lead his hounds coupled or tyed 

 vnto the tracke, and let them folow fo three or foure paces right, 

 then let him caft of one^ and if he take it right, then may he vn- 

 couple 



