The hooke of Hunting 173 



hounds do find where an Hare hath releued in fome fayre corne- 

 fielde or pafture. Then muft they confider the feafon of the yeare 

 and what weather it is : for if it be in the Springtime or in the 

 Sommer, then a Hare will not fit in the buflies, bycaufe thefe 

 PiflTemyers, Tikes, and fometimes Snakes and Adders will 

 driue them out : then they are conftreyned to fit in the cornefieldes, 

 or fallow fieldes and open places. In winter they loue to fit 

 neare the townes fides in fome tuflR;e of brambles or thornes : 

 efpecially when the winde is eyther Southerly or Northerly, 

 for they feare both thofe windes alfo exceedingly. Then accor- 

 ding to the feafon and place where the Hare flrall wont to fitte, 

 they fliall beate with their houndes to ftarte hir at the firft : and 

 vfing that meanes, they Ihall finde more Hares, and haue flior- 

 ter Iporte than in trayling after them as before fayde : and they 

 may fo enter their hounds and accuftome them, that aflbone as they 

 beginne to beate the bufflies with theyr hunting ftickes, the 

 houndes will in and ftriue who may firll gette in, like Spani- 

 els at retrife of a Partriche. And when the Hare is ftarte and on 

 foote, then let the huntefman go where he fawe hyr pafiTe, and 

 hallowe in all the houndes vntill they haue al vndertaken it, and 

 go on with it in full crie : Then let him rechate to them with 

 his home, and comforte them euery way that he can beft deuife : 

 and when he perceyueth that they are in full crie, let him follow 

 fayre and eafily, not making ouer much halfe at firfte, nor ma- 

 king to much noyfe eyther with home or voyce : for at the firfie 

 the houndes will eafily ouerflioote a chafe through too much heate : 

 and therefore if the huntefman ouerlay them, he fliould but chaffe 

 them more, which might caufe them both to ouerflioote it and to 

 leefe it. But when they haue run the fpace of an houre, and that 

 they are well in with it, and fticke well vppon it, then may the 

 huntefman come in nearer to his houndes, bicaufe by that time 

 their heate will be wel cooled and they wil hunte foberly. Aboue 

 all things let him marke the firft doublyng that the Hare ma- 

 keth as 1 haue before fayde, and thereby he may gouerne himfclf 

 all the day : for all the reft that flie will make will be lyke vnto 

 it : and according to the pollicies that he fliall fee hir vfe, and the 



place 



