THE COMMON HARE 
at least five and twenty editions. But the point is that in regard to the 
merits of the hare the praise bestowed on it by the famous French sports- 
man evoked no dissent from subsequent editors and translators. Du 
Fouilloux wrote: “ Je commenceray aux vertus et proprietez du Li^vre les- 
quelles sont grandes selon la stature de la beste,” thus echoing the 
opinion of Gaston de Foix uttered nearly two centuries before. 
Sir Thomas Cockaine,* knight, of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, in his “ Short 
Treatise of Hunting : compyled for the delight of noblemen and gentlemen, 
1591,” tells us that for fifty -two years (with two intervals, when serving 
in the wars in Scotlandf) he hunted the buck in summer and the hare 
in winter. His remarks on the latter after so long an experience are natu- 
rally of much interest, and it is worth noting that, although there was no 
close -time for hares in his day, his humanity caused him to write thus: 
“ When you have hunted the hare all winter and made your hounds very 
perfect, you may at the beginning of March give over the hunting thereof.” 
During the century which followed the death of Sir Thomas Cockaine, in 
the year after the appearance of his treatise of hunting, many works issued 
from the press dealing with various branches of field sports after the 
fashion of “ The Book of St Albans ” and containing sections on hunting, 
hawking, fowling, and fishing, with more or less information on the 
natural history of the species dealt with. 
Gervase Markham, Blome, Nicholas Cox, and others in this way con- 
tributed to the bibliography of the hare, but apparently it was not until 
the middle of the eighteenth century that any work was printed relating 
exclusively to that animal. 
In 1750 appeared an octavo pamphlet, entitled “ The Art and Pleasures of 
Hare Hunting, in six letters to a person of quality,” by John Smallman 
Gardiner, of Romford. It extends to fifty-six pages only, and was published 
at the price of one shilling. Some idea of its rarity may be formed from the 
fact that in a modern bookseller’s catalogue not long since a copy was 
priced at five guineas. I therefore count myself fortunate in possessing 
an uncut copy bound in vellum. It is not merely a literary curiosity, but 
is of practical value as being “ founded chiefiy on observations made in a 
long course of years and experience.” It deserves mention, therefore, 
as an important item not to be omitted from any bibliography of the 
hare. 
*The name is so spelled on the title page and dedication of his book, although historians and genealogists who 
have had occasion to refer to the family, have adopted the spelling “Cockayne.” 
tHe was knighted at the taking of Edinburgh in 1544, and died in November 1592. 
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