The Race and Antiquity of Hounds.

The Noble Art of Venery or Hunting

wherein is handled and set out the virtues, nature and properties of fifteen sundry chases, together with the order and manner how to hunt and kill everyone of them

translated and collected
for the pleasure of all noblemen and gentlemen
out of the best approved authors
which have written anything concerning the same
and reduced into such order and proper terms as are used here
in this noble realm of Great Britain

at London
printed by Thomas Purfoot
anno domini 1611

The Contents of this Book

First, the antiquity of hounds, together with the sundry sorts of Hounds and their several natures and properties.

The best order how to breed, enter and make perfect every one of the same.

The virtues, nature and properties of a Hart, together with the perfect order how to hunt him in his season. 

The nature and hunting of the Buck.

The nature and hunting of the Raindeer.

The nature and hunting of the Roe.

The nature and hunting of the Wild Goat.

The nature and hunting of the Wild Boar.

The nature and hunting of the Hare.

The nature and hunting of Conies.

The nature and hunting of the Fox.

The nature and hunting of the Badger.

The nature and hunting of the Marten and Wild Cat.

The nature and hunting of the Otter.

The nature and hunting of the Wolf. 

The nature and hunting of the Bear.

The cures and medicines for all diseases in Hounds. 

The proper terms of Venery.

A treatise of coursing with Greyhounds.

The measures of blowing. 

Of the Race and Antiquity of Hounds,
and who brought them into France.

Chapter I.

I have thought good diligently to look (as well in the books of antiquity as also in those of our time) from whence the first race of Hounds did come into France, and I never found chronicle nor history that seemed to speak of greater continuance than one which I saw in Brittany, written by one whose name was John of Monmouth, an Englishman, the which doth treat how after the pitious and dreadful destruction of Troy, Aeneas arrived in Italy with his son Ascanius (who was afterwards King of the Latins), and begat a sone named Silvius, of whom Brutus descended, who loved hunting exceedingly.

Now, it came to pass that Silvius and Brutus, being one day in a forest hunting a Hart, they were overtaken with night, and seeing the Hart pass before them almost spent by the hounds, they went towards him, to kill him. But fortune was such to Brutus (as God would) that whilst he meant to kill the Hart, by glancing of his arrow he killed his father Silvius, which thing caused the people to be moved, and to mutiny against him, thinking that he had done it of malice and desire to reign, and to have the government of the realm. In such sort that to avoid their great fury and indignation, Brutus was constrained to go out of the country, and undertake a voyage to Greece to deliver certain Trojans, his companions and allies, who were yet there detained in captivity since the destruction of Troy.

Which voyage he accomplished by force of arms, and when he had delivered them, he assembled a great number of the same Trojans, whom he caused to take an oath that as well for the dishonour they had received as also for the irrecuperable loss and damage of their goods, and for the lamentations and dole they had cause to make for their kinfolk and friends who had been slain in the cruel wars of Troy, they should never return to their country. Then did he cause to be rigged and trimmed a great number of ships, wherein he embarked himself and all his men, and took with him a great number of Hounds and Greyhounds.

Afterwards, he sailed so long till he passed the Straits of Gibraltar, entering the ocean seas, and descended on the Isles of Amorie, which at this present is called Brittany in France by reason of his name, which was Brutus. Which islands he conquered without resistance, and was therein peaceably by the space of four years, and afterwards took ship again and landed at Torneys, in the west of this noble realm, whereupon after his conquests made here over certain giants, one of his captains called Corineus did build the chief town of Cornwall. 

But to return unto his deeds in Armorie, when they were settled and had inhabited the said country, Brutus and his son Turnus (who had as beforesaid brought great store of Hounds with them) went daily out hunting in the great forest, which contained then in length from Tyffauge unto Poitiers, whereupon one part of the country is called to this present Gastine. 

Now, at that same time there reigned in Poitou and Aquitaine a king named Groffarius Pictus, who made his continual residence in Poitiers, and was one day advertised that the Trojans did greatly exercise themselves in hunting, and that they hunted in his forests with such kind of Dogs as after they had once found a Hart, they never left him till they brought him to death. 

Whereupon King Groffarius, having heard such news, was moved and exceeding angry, in such sort that he determined to make wars with them, and assembled all his forces. The Trojans, being advertised of such an assembly, marched all along the river of Loire with all their puissance, and met their enemies at a place where the city of Tours is presently situate and there they gave battle, in which Turnus cousin to Brutus, or as some chronicles say Turnus the eldest son of Brutus, was slain, and in remembrance of him the said city was built, and by the name of Turnus was called Tours. 

I have thought good to recount this history, that men may thereby understand that it is long since Hounds have been used in Britain, and I think certainly that these Trojans were the first who brought the race of Hounds into this country. For I find no history which makes mentions of longer continuance than that doth, and it is a thing most certain that the greatest part of the races of Hounds which are in France and other countries adjoining did come from the country of Brittany, excepting the race of White Hounds, the which I think to be come from Barbary. For being sometimes at Rochelle, I have enquired of many pilots and mariners, and amongst others I enquired of an old man named Alfonse, who had oftentimes been in the court of a Barbarian king called Doncherib, who used much hunting, and principally in hunting the Reindeer at force. And this man told me that all the Hounds of his kennel were white, and that all the Dogs of that country were such also. And surely I think indeed that the White Dogs are come out of the hot countries, for asmuch as they give not over their chase, how hot soever it be, whereas other Dogs do not hold out so in the heat.

Phoebus doth also agree with this opinion, saying that he has been in Mauritania, otherwise called Barbary, whereas he has seen the Reindeer killed at force with Dogs they call Baux, which give not over their chance for any heat that is. Whereupon mine opinion is that the race of White Dogs is come of those Dogs called Baux of Barbary, of which Phoebus doth speak. 

I will set down none other thing of the antiquities of Hounds, but I will write hereafter of the nature and complexions as well of White Hounds as of Fallow, Dun and Black,
which sorts are most commodious
for princes and gentlemen.