Paul Summers Young

  The Hunting of the Wild Goat. There are two sorts of Wild Goats; the one is called even so, Wild Goats, and the other sort is called Ysirus  or Saris .  Although I have not heard or read there be any of them in England, or at least any that be hunted, yet because it may be well enough there are some in Wales or in other mountains, I have thought good to set down the nature of him, and the manner of hunting him as I found it in mine author, placing him among the beasts of Venery, since it appears by the Holy Scriptures that his flesh is venison. The Wild Goat is as big as a Hart, but he is not so long, nor so long-legged, but they have as much flesh as the Hart has. They have wreathes and wrinkles on their horns, whereby their age is known; for so many years old as he is, so many wreaths you shall find about his horn, and as a Hart mews not the beam, the which is as big as a man's leg is he be an old Goat. They have a great long beard, and are brownish grey of colour, like unto a

  Of the Hunting of the Buck. Although mine author was a Frenchman, and in France the hunting of the Buck is nothing so common as the hunting of the Hart is, yet somewhat he has written thereof, the which - together with some experience of mine own - I have thought good here to place next unto the hunting of the Hart. It is needless to write what difference of hair, head and other proportions there are between the Hart and the Buck, since both kinds of Venery are common enough in this our noble country. The Buck is fawned in the end of May, and has all properties common with a Hart, but the Hart goes sooner to the rut, and is sooner in grease; for when a Hart has been xiiij days at rut, then the Buck but scarcely begins. There is not so much skill to be used in lodging of a Buck as in harbouring a Hart, nor needs to use so much drawing after him; but only to judge by the view and mark what grove or covert he goes into, for he will not wander nor royal so far about as a Hart, nor change

  Thomas radly vp he rose, and ran ouer þat mounteyn hye, and certanly, as þe story sayes, he hir mette at Eldryne Tre. He knelid down vpon his kne, vndurneth þe grenewode spray ; Louely Lady! þou rew on me ; Qwene of Heuen, as þou well may ! Then seid þat Lady bright, Thomas, let such wordis be ! ffor Quen of Heuon am I noght, I toke neuer so hye degre.  But I am a Lady of anoþer cuntre, if I be parellid moost of price ; I ride aftur þe wilde fee, my raches rannen at my deuyse. If thou be pareld most of price,  and ridis here in þi balye, Lufly Lady, as þou art wyse, to gif me leve to lye þe by. Do way, Thomas, þat were foly ; I pray þe hertely let me be ; ffor I say þe securly, þat wolde for-do my bewte. Lufly Lady, þou rew on me,  and I shall euermore with þe dwell, here my trouth I plight to þe, whedur þou wilt to Heuon or Hell. Man of molde ! þou wilt me marre, but ȝet þou shalt haue þi wille ; but trow þou well, þou thryuist þe warre, ffor alle my beute þou wille spille.  Down þe

  An Advertisement by the Translator of the English Manner in breaking up of the Deer. In describing this order how to break up a Deer, I have observed the duty of a faithful translator, nothing changing the words of mine author, but suffering him to proceed in the French manner; but because I find it different from our order in some points, therefore I have thought good here to set down such observations of difference as I have noted therein, lest the reader might be drawn in opinion that the error proceeded only in my default.  First, where he appoints the Deer's foot to be cut off, and to be presented to the Prince or chief. Our order is that the Prince or chief - if so please them - alights and takes assay of the Deer with a sharp knife, the which is done in this manner: the Deer being laid upon his back, the Prince, chief or such as they shall appoint comes to it, and the Chief Huntsman - kneeling if it be to a Prince - holds the Deer by the forefoot, while the Prince or chief

  Fytte the First As I me went þis Andyrs day, ffast on my way makyng my mone, in a mery mornyng of may, be Huntley bankis my self alone, I herde þe jay and þe throstell, þe mavys menyd in hir song, þe wodewale farde as a bell þat þe wode aboute me rong. Alle in a longyng, as I lay,  vndurneth a cumly tre, saw I wher a lady gay came ridand ouer a louely le. ȝif I shuld sitte till domusday, alle with my tong to know and se, sertenly, alle hur aray shalle hit neuer be scryed for me. Hir palfray was of dappull gray, sike on se I neuer non ; as dose þe sune on somers day, þe cumly lady hir selfe schone. Hir sadill was of reuyll bone,  semely was þat sight to se ! stifly sette with precious ston, compaste aboute with crapote, stonys of pryons, gret plente ; hir here aboute hir hed hit hong. She rode out ouer þat louely le, a while she blew, a while she song ; hir grathis of nobull silke þei were, hir boculs þei were of barys ston ; hir stiroppis þei were of cristall clere, and alle with per

  How to Kill a Hart when he is at bay, and what is then to be done. When a Hart is at bay, it is dangerous to go to him, and especially in rutting time; for at that time, their heads are venomous and most perilous, and thereupon came this proverb, If thou be hurt with Hart, it brings thee to thy Bear, but Barber's hand will Boar's hurt heal, thereof thou need not fear. The which has not been said for nothing, as has been proved by many examples. We read of an emperor named Basil, who had overcome his enemies in many battles, and had done great deeds of chivalry in his country, and was yet nevertheless slain by a Hart in breaking of a bay. Behold, gentle Reader, the unconstancy of variable fortune: a prince who had done so many deeds of prowess among men, who had comforted his friends and discomforted his enemies, who had peaceably defended his people, and courageously assaulted such as sought to subvert his dominion, was at the last in the pride of his pleasure and the unexpec

  Certain Observations and Subtlties to be used by Huntsmen in hunting a Hart at force. Now I have treated of such judgements and marks as the Huntsman may take of a Hart, and how they should behave themselves in harbouring of a Deer, I think meet likewise to instruct - according to my simple skill - the Huntsmen on horseback how to chase and hunt a Hart at force, as well by authority of good and ancient Hunters, as also by experience of my own hunting. Because these days there are many men who bear horns and bugles, and yet cannot tell how to use them, neither how to encourage and help their hounds therewith, but rather hinder than further them, having neither skill nor delight to use true measure in blowing.  And therewithal saying princes and noblemen take no delight in hunting, having their eyes muffled with the scarf of worldly wealth, and thinking thereby to make their names immortal, which indeed often leads them to destruction both of body and soul, and oftener is cause of the

  How to Set Relays. Relays must be set according to the seasons and growth of springs. In winter, when the Hart's head is hard, they keep the strong coverts and thickets; in springtime, when their heads are tender, they keep in young fryths and coppices, and in the weakest coverts they can find, for fear lest they should knock and hurt their heads against the boughs. Therefore, it is requisite to set men abroad who are brought up in hunting, and understand well their advantages, and with them a good pricker or huntsman on horseback, mounted upon a good curtal, who should be lightly clad, having good boots and high with a horn about his neck. Phoebus says they ought to be clad in green when they hunt the Hart or Buck, and in russet when they hunt the Boar, but that is of no great importance, for I remit the colours to the fantasies of men.  These horsemen should go overnight to their master's chamber, or if they serve a prince, to the master's of the game or his lieutenant&