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TJt* 
 
 COMPLETE SPORTSMAN} 
 
 O R, 
 
 jman's RecreatlonJ 
 
 Whole Arts 
 
 Of KcAiift^W^^^^^i Colts. 
 Of managi n^g- ^ace-Hot fes, HuU' 
 
 ten, Sec. ^ 
 
 Of Horfe- Racing* 
 Of Boivlirg. 
 Of Hare-bunting, 
 Of Fox-hunting. 
 Of Buck-hunting, 
 Of Otter'bunting. 
 
 Of Courjtng, 
 
 Of breeding and ordering Dogt 
 
 for the Gun, or Chafe, &c. 
 Of Angling in all its various 
 
 Branches. 
 Of breeding PigesHs, Rahheii, 
 
 Canary Bi>di, &c. 
 Of finding the Haunts of Pcir' 
 
 triJi 
 
 'ges, Pheajantij and all 
 
 maBn:r of Game. 
 Of Shooting, and of 
 Flyings $cc. 
 
 Sbcit 
 
 >ng 
 
 Together, with feveral other equally curious Articles 
 = too numerous to be mentioned in this Title Page, 
 
 By THOMAS FAIRFAX, Efq-, 
 
 A Sport/man^ s Skill, nvhsever means to claim, 
 Muji read our Book, and then beUl knonjo his Game ; 
 'Tkvill BovjlerSf Cour/ers, Racers, Hu .ters, fuii* 
 Or teach the Fotvlerjijitig Birds to /hoof. 
 
 LONDON:. 
 
 Printed for J. COOKE, at Shah/pear* s-Hec^i^ 
 in Fat^'NoJler-RQw, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THE Origin of innocent Diverfions, and 
 manly Exercifes, is coeval with the firfl: 
 Formation of Human Society. Indeed thefe 
 Diverfions and Exercifes exifted in the World 
 long before thofe States were formed, who af- 
 terwards made fo great a Figure in Hiftory, al- 
 though even under them, they were confidered 
 as honourable and no way beneath the Cha- 
 radbers of the greatefl: Heroes. The vital, 
 the adive Principle, which leads us to the 
 'Practice of innocent Diverfions, is one of the* 
 nobleft that can aftuate the Heart of Man, 
 namely Emulation; or a Defire to cxcell 
 others, while the Confequences refulting from 
 them are more important than fome will 
 believe, or others acknowledge j for while they 
 furniih a Relaxation from the Toils of Bu- 
 fmefs, and an Alleviation of the Cares of Life, 
 they add Vigour to the Mind; Health to the 
 Body, and, in conformity with the delightful 
 "" A 2 Variations 
 
iv PREFACE. 
 
 Variations of the Seafons, mix our Pains and 
 Pieafures- together with a juft and equal Tem- 
 perance. 
 
 In the infant Stale of Human Society, the 
 Exercifes of Hunting, Fowling, and Filhing, 
 were found necefTary to fupport Individuals 
 and their Families-, but afterwards, when re- 
 finement of Manners took place of favage 
 Rufticity; when Men began to know the Va- 
 lue of their own Importance, and confidered 
 themfelves as diftinguifhed above others, in 
 confequence of their Dexterity, or Ingenuity 
 in manly Exercifesj the Public became in a 
 Manner interefled, and it was found conducive 
 both to the Security and' Honour of the State, 
 to annex diftinguifhing Marks of Favour to 
 thofe whofe Adions entitled them to it, in a 
 more than ordinary Manned To this laudable 
 Principle may be alcribed the Origin of the 
 Olympic Games among the iGreeks, the pub- 
 lic Shews arriohg the .'Romans, aad Knight^ 
 errancryV as pradtifcd by ■ thele Northern Na- 
 tions of whom we are the lineal Defccndants. 
 The fame Spirit of Emuladon among Indivi- 
 duals, and the fame Reafons of State operate 
 lefs or more on. tKe, Human Mind, and rules 
 ail the various Forms of Government. 
 
 What was pradtifed from Motives of Ne- 
 cefiity in the early/ Ages of the AVorld, was 
 encouraged in more enlightened States, that 
 Youth might beliabituatcdin manly Exercifes, 
 
 in 
 
PREFACE. - 
 
 in order to wean them from that Effeti 
 
 which in a State of Indolence would have ^ 
 witched their Minds, and enervated their Bo- 
 dies. But ftill there was fomething wiinting, all 
 the Rules prefcribed for their Conduct were only 
 inroads, that k was rcafonable to fuppofe that 
 many of them would be forgotten as foon as 
 told. The ufe of Letters was either then noc 
 known, or but lictle underftood, fo that it was 
 impoflible for any Man to retain in his Me- 
 mory what was only verbally 'di(fl2ted, unlefs 
 he was fomething of an extraordinary Charad- 
 er, and far a^ove the common Ratik of his 
 Fellow Creatures, a Favour not to be ex- 
 pcded, and but feldom granted. 1 hofe who 
 live in the prefent Age, have this peculiar Ad- 
 vantage, that Arts and Sciences are noc only 
 reduced to proper Syilems, but every thing is 
 treated of in fo plain a Manner, that alniofl 
 every Perfon may underftand them. 
 
 With refped to the prefent Work, it has 
 many advantages above all that ha$ been al- 
 ready publiflied. The Rules laid down by the 
 bed Sportfmen have been carefully attended to, 
 but they have been no farther countenanced or 
 embraced, than was confident with the Au- 
 thor's practical Knowledge of the different Sub- 
 jeds. Many Superfluities have been lopped 
 off, the praftical Knowledge of the different 
 Subjedls have been inveftigated from adual Ex- 
 perience, and thofe who are fond of indulging 
 A3 themfelves 
 
P RE F A C E. 
 
 IV 
 
 V riari '^^ ^" njanly^nd innocent Amufemcnts., 
 p,^ ^iCre find an Inftrudtor, that will not de- 
 ceive, but be of fervice to them in all their 
 purfuits. The Author, though well acquainted 
 with the Theory, has advanced nothing but 
 what he knows to be confident with Pradice, 
 and the Reader wilimeet with a more accurate 
 Delineation of the Subjedl than can be found 
 in one half of the Books extant, whilft his 
 Pradice will give him daily Proofs of its Uti- 
 lity. As fuch it is prefented to the Public, 
 nor is there the leafl Doubt of ics tneeting with 
 their candidand favourable Reception, 
 
 THE 
 
THE ; 
 
 CoMPLEAT Sportsman 5 
 
 O R 
 
 Country Gentleman's 
 
 RECREATION, 
 
 Of Game-Cocks and Cock-Fighting. 
 Of the choice of COCKS. 
 
 HE beft properties for the choice of 
 fighting-cocks, is their fhape, colour, 
 and courage, and (harp heels or fpurs. 
 As to their fhape, the middle fized 
 ones are efleemed the beft, as being 
 fooneft and eafieft matched, as aifo' 
 the nimblefl and generally of moft 
 courage: the fmall fized ones are weak and tedious 
 in battle, ? 
 
 The Shape. 
 He fhould be of a proud and upright {hape, wi^b 
 a fmall head, a quick large eye, with a ftrong back,, 
 his fpurs long, rough,, and iharp, a little bending iipi- 
 wards, 
 
 ^4 *ife^ 
 
[8] 
 
 His Colour » 
 The grey pile, yellow pile, or red, wiih the black 
 J5r-eafl-, is efteemed the Leil; the pied hs not fo good, 
 and the v/hite and dun worft of all. 
 ''If he is red about the head, like fcarlet, it is a fign 
 of ftrength, luft and courage \ but if pale, it is a fign 
 cf faintnefs and ficknefs. 
 
 His Courage, . . 
 
 ^ His courage is fhewed by his^ wallc, treading, and 
 pride of his going, and in pen by his frequent crow- 
 ing: for the iharpnefs of his heel, ox^ as the cock 
 mafters call it, the narrow heel is only feen in his 
 fighting, or the cock is faid to be fharp heeled, or 
 narrow heeled, which every time he rifes, hits and 
 draws blood of his adverfary, gilding (as they term 
 jt)'his fpurs in blood, and every blow threatening 
 the ether's death. 
 
 Of Breeding, 
 
 The f/rieeding cocks for battle, is much diiFerent 
 /roir. thofe of the dunghill ; for they are like birds of 
 'pre)', in which the female is of better efteem than 
 the male; and fo in the breeding be fure that the 
 hens be right, that is, theymuft beof a right plume, 
 as ,2rey, grizzle, fpeckled or yellowifli. 
 :, Black or brown is not amifs, their bodies large, 
 »nd well pouked behind for large eggs, and well 
 iufted on the crown, which fhows good courage; ' 
 ; . If they have weapons it is the better; alfo they 
 muft be of a good courage, otherwife their chickens 
 will not be good. 
 
 And it is obfervable, that the perfeft hen from a 
 dunghill-cock, will bring a good chicken ; but the 
 beft cock from a dunghill-hen, can never get a good 
 one; and the beft feafon of the year to bieed in, is 
 from the increafe of the moon in February^ to the 
 
 increafe 
 
[9 3 . ,.,,,,., 
 
 increafe of the moon in Marchy for a March bird fs 
 of far greater efleem than thofe bred at other times. 
 
 Let the pen where fhe fits be placed warm, with, 
 foft fwtet ftraw therein for her neft, they being 
 much tenderer than the dunghill hens, and permit 
 no other fowl to come where fhe fits, for that will 
 difturb her. 
 
 ' You (hould obferve, if fhe he bufy in turning 
 her tg^ (herng a good fign) if not, do it at fuch 
 times as fhe rifes from her ' nefl; and be fure that 
 fhe has always meat and water by her, left when 
 fhe rifes fhefhould ftay too long to feek food^ and 
 fo her eggs fhould be chilled and fpoiled. 
 
 Likcwife in the place where fhe fits, let there be 
 fand^, gravel, and fine fifted aQ;ie;s, to bath and trim 
 herfelf at pleafure. ' ■ ' 
 
 In about three weeks fhe tirilt hatch, and obferve,^ 
 that if fhe do not cover and keep the firft warm till the 
 refl: are hatchei, take thofe from her, and keep therr^ 
 warm in wool by the ^re^ till all' are hatched, and 
 then put them under her, keeping both the hen and 
 chickens very warm, not fufFering them to go abroad 
 for three weeks or a month in the cold ; for they 
 are fo tender, that cold will kill them. . 
 
 Let them have plenty of food,, as oatmeal, cheefe- 
 parings, fine frtiall wheats and the like, and a large 
 room tav/alk in, with a boarded floor j for that oi 
 earth or brick, is too cold or moii^. 
 
 After three or four weeks, let them walk in your 
 court-yard, or garden, to pick worms, provided 
 there is no finks or puddles of ftinking water, v/hicli 
 is as bad as poifon for them to drink, engendering ' 
 corrupt difeafes. 
 
 After this manner, keep them till you can know . 
 
 the cock chickens from the hens; and when yoa 
 
 perceive their ccrabs or wattles to appear, cut them^ 
 
 ^^i anoint the fore with fweet butter, till w^W-^ and 
 
 A 5 tli'> 
 
C 10] 
 
 thi5 will make them have fine fmall, fTender,. aftd 
 fmooth heads ; whereas if you let the combs grow 
 to their bignefs, and then cut them off, it will caufe 
 them to have gouty thick heads, with great lumps 'y^ 
 neither is the Bux of blood good, for the leaft lofs of 
 blood inafeathered fowl, is very dangerous. 
 
 Let the cock chickens go with their hens, till they, 
 begin to fight one with another ; but then feparate 
 them in feveral walks, and that walk is the beft,. 
 that is freeft from the refort of others,. 
 
 Let the feeding places be upon foft dry ground^ 
 or upon boards^ for to breed them upon pavements^. 
 or on plaifter floors, vv'iJl make their beaks blunt and 
 weak, fo that it will binder their holding fafl-. 
 
 Any white corn, as oats^ barley, or wheat, is- 
 good food for a cock in his walk; fo are toaft, or 
 crufts of bread fteeped in beer or winej for it will 
 both fcour and cool them inwa-^dly. 
 
 If your chickens begin to crow, at about fix months- 
 clear and loud, ©r at unfeafonable times, it is afign^ 
 of cowardice and fal^ood, fo that they are not 
 worth the rearing;, for the true cock is very long 
 before he can get his vqice, and then he ohferves his- 
 hours. 
 
 To one cock four or five hens are fufiicient ; f^r 
 they are of fo hot a nature, and will tread fo much>, 
 that they foon confume their natural ftrength, 
 
 At two years old you may put a. cock to the bat- . 
 tie, as not being before perfe6l and compleat in eve- 
 ry member ;^ for by fuffering him to fight when his 
 rpurs are but warts, you may know his courage,, 
 butnothisgopdnefs. , 
 
 You muft alfo be elrcumfpedl about the perch 
 whereon he roofteth; for if it be too fmall in the 
 gripe, or crooked, or fo ill placed, that he cannot fiC; 
 without llradling,'it will make him uneven heeled^ 
 and by confequence no go©d flriker, 
 
 T£€ 
 
The beft way is to make a row of little percheri, 
 not above kvcn or eight inches long, and about a^ 
 foot from the ground, fo that with eafe they may go 
 up to them; and being fet, muft have their legs 
 clofe, the (hortnefs of the perch not admitting o* 
 therwife; and it is a maxim, He^ that is a clofe fitter 
 is always a narrow Jiriker. 
 
 You mufb always be careful, that when your cock 
 doth leap from the perch, the ground befoft where- 
 upon he iighteth.3 for hard ground- caufeth- gouti*^ 
 nefs* 
 
 Of dieting and^ ordering Co C K s, . 
 
 . For dieting and ordering a cock for the battle^, 
 which is the principal thingj obferve thefe direc- 
 tions. 
 
 The beft time to take up your cocks,, is the latter 
 end of ^«^a/?, and having viewed them well, and- 
 they are found,, hard feathered, and full fummed, put. 
 them in feveral pens. 
 
 Their pens (hould be made of clofe boards, well- 
 jbined together all but the forepart, which muft 
 be made open like a grate, the bars about two inches 
 apart, and before the grate, tv/o large troughs of^ 
 fbft wood, the one for water, and the other for meat;, 
 the door of the grate to be made to lift up and down,, 
 and of fuch largenefs, as with eafe to put the cock 
 in, and take him out, and to clean. the pen daily to* 
 keep it fweet. 
 
 The pen fhould be at leaft three feet high, and^ 
 two feet fquare, and of thefe many may be joined in 
 one front, according to the ufe you have for them. 
 
 For the lirft three or four days they are put ill! 
 their pens, feed them only with old wheat bread,, 
 the crufl pared away, and cut into little bits, with 
 which feed them ^x fun-rifmg, and fun-fet, giving- 
 
 themi 
 
c "^3 
 
 them about a handful at a tinner and be furelet him 
 not be without good frefii water. 
 
 After they have been thus fed four days, andthefr 
 crops cleared of the corn, worms, and other coarfe 
 feeding, in the morning take them out of iheir pens> 
 putting a pair of hots upon each of their heels, which- 
 hots are foft bombafted rolls of leather, covering their 
 fpurs, that they cannot hurt or bruife one another, 
 ib fetting them down upon the grafs, (that is tv/o 
 at a time) let them fight and bu£He one another for 
 a good while, provided they do not wound or draw 
 blood of each other, and this is called fparring of 
 cocks. 
 
 The reafon of thus exercifing them, is to chafe and 
 heat their bodies,, to break the fat and glut wLthia 
 them, and to caufe it to come away. 
 
 Your cocks being fparred fufficiently, and that 
 you fee them pant and grow weary, take them up 
 and untie their hots j then being provided with deep 
 flraw bafkets made for that purpcfe, with iweet foft 
 jftraw to the middle, put into each bafket a cock,, 
 covering him over with the like flraw to the top ; 
 then put on the lid clofe, fo let him fweat and ftovc: 
 till the evening i but before you put him into the 
 bafket, give him a pretty big lump of fv/eet butter, 
 with white fue:ar candy, and rofemary finely chop- 
 ped,^ and this fcouring will bring away his greafe^ 
 and breed breath and ilrength. 
 
 In the evening, about four or five of the clocks 
 take them out of the ftoving bafket, and licking their 
 heads and eyes all over, put them into the pens,, then 
 cake a good handful! of bread cut fmall,. put it to 
 each in their troughs,, and pifs therein, fo that the 
 cock may take the bread out of the warm urine, and 
 this will fcour and cleanfe both the head and the 
 body extremely, 
 
 'i he biead that you muft now and afterwaids give 
 
 them* 
 
E «3 1 
 tliem, muft not be fine white bread, but a fort made 
 for that purpo'e, after this manner: 
 
 Take halt a peck of wheat meal, and the like 
 quantity of fine oatmeal; mix thefe together, and 
 knead them in a ftiff*pafte, with ale, the whites of 
 twelve eggs, and half a pound of buiter. 
 
 This palte being well wrought, irake it into broad 
 thin cakes, and being three or four days old, and the 
 blifter rings cut away, cut it into little fquare bits^ 
 and give it to the cocks. 
 
 Having fed your cocks thus, after their fparring,. 
 the next day let them reft, only give them their or- 
 dinary feeding of bread and water ; then the next day 
 (which is the fparring) take them into a fair, even,, 
 green clofe, there fet down one of them,, and having 
 a dunghill cock in your arm?, fhow it ham, runn no- 
 from him, enticing him to follow you; and fo chafe 
 him up and down for half an hour, iufiering him now 
 and then to have aftrokc at him; and when youfee 
 him well beared and panteth, take him up, and carry 
 him to his pen, and there give hun his fcouring. 
 Take frefh butter, ha'f a pound; beat it in amar.- 
 tar, with the herb of grace, hyfop, and rofemarv, 
 until the herbs are incorporated therein, and that tne 
 butter is brought to a green falve ; and of this give 
 the cock a roll or two, as big as he can wcil fwallow ^ 
 then ftcve him in the bafket, as aforefaid, until the 
 evenings then take him out, put him in his peri,. and 
 feed him as before di reded. 
 
 The next day let him reft and feed, and the day 
 following again fpar him^ and this method obferve 
 every other day for the firft fortnight, to fpar or chaf^ 
 him, as beiug the moft natural and kindJieft heats;. 
 hut forget not to give him a fcouring after every heat„ 
 a^s aforefaid, for the breaking and cleaning him froni. 
 ^reafe, glut, aad filth,, which lying in his body eaufetb 
 
 purfiiid^jfe- 
 
[ H j' 
 
 gur^nefs and faintnefs, fo that he cannot ftand" out 
 the latter end of a hattle.. 
 
 Thus having fed your cock the firft fortnight, ob- 
 ferve the fame rules the next fortnight; but, for a 
 week do not fpar him,. or give him heats above twice 
 a week, fo that three or four times in a fortnight will 
 ht fufHcient ; and each time flove and fcour him ac- 
 cording to his hea's, long heats requiring longer fto- 
 ving:, as alfo greater fcouring. 
 
 But if you hnd him in good breath* and that he re- 
 quires but flight heats,, then ftove him the lefs, and. 
 give him the lefs fcouring. 
 
 For the third fortnight, which compleats the fix- 
 weeks, feed him as aforefaid,but fpar him not at all,, 
 for fear of making his head tender and fore, neither 
 give him any violent exercife, but only two or three 
 times in the fortnight, let him moderately be chafed- 
 up and down, to maintain his wind; and now and 
 then cuff a cock; w^hich you muft hold in your- 
 hands; which done, give him his fcouring, w^ll rol- 
 led up in povrder of brown fugar candy, for the 
 cock being now come to his perfe6l health, and clear 
 from filth in his body, the fugar prevents that ficknefs- 
 which the fcouring would then caufe, and alfo- 
 ilrengthens nature againft the medicine. 
 
 .Alatching of fighting CoCKs. 
 
 Your fix weeks feeding being finifhed, and findings 
 yx3ur cock in luft and breath, he is fitto fight, always 
 ebferving, that he hath at lead three days refl before 
 fighting, and be well emptied of meat before you 
 bring him into the pit. 
 
 Being brought into the pit, your chief care mufl be 
 in the matching him, in which confifls the greateft" 
 glory of a cock-mafler, therefore in your matching: 
 there are but two things to be confidered, viz. the: 
 ^eng»h-of.cockSa, and the length of cocks. 
 
[ H ] 
 
 Now for the knowledge of thefe, there are two> 
 fules: as for his ftrength, it is known by the thick- 
 nefs of his body, that cock being held ftrongeft whichi 
 is largeft in the girth, which may be eafily known by^ 
 the meafuring him with your fingers : as for his- 
 Ifength, it is eafily known, by griping him about the 
 middle, caufing him to ft reich forth his legs; but if- 
 you are doubtful of lofing in one, yet are lure to gaim- 
 in the other, you may venture to match.. 
 
 Yourcockbeingmatched thus,.prep3rehim to the. 
 bifttle: firft, with a fine pair of cock-fhears, cut olf 
 his mane clofe to the neck, from his head to the fet- 
 tingon of his (houlders; then clip ofF all the feathers. 
 from his tail clofe to his rump, which the more fcar- 
 fct it appears, the better ftate of body he is in : then; 
 take his wings^ ex-tending them forth by the firfb 
 feather, clip the reft ftopevTife, with fharp points^ thatr 
 in his rifing he may endanger the eyes of his adver- 
 fary; then, with a fharp knife, icrape fmooth. and' 
 fliarpen his beak, and alfo fmooth and fharpen his 
 fpurs j and laftly, fee that there be no feathers abont^ 
 the crown of his head for his adverfary to take hold'. 
 of; then, with yourfpittle,.moiften his head all over, 
 and fo turn him into the pit to try his fortune. 
 
 1 he battle being ended,.your firft bufinefs muft be 
 to fearch his wounds,, and fuch as.y£>.ii£ndi fuck out» 
 the blood with your mouth; then walli them with 
 warm urine tokeep them from rankling, and prefent- 
 ly give him a bit ortwoof your beft fcouring, and; 
 fo ftove him up as hot as you can for that night; and = 
 in the morning take him forth, and if you fee his 
 head much fwelled, fuck it with your mouth, as: 
 aforefaid, and bath it with warm urine. 
 
 Then having the powder of the herb ^^^^rr,. weir 
 dried, and finely fifted, pounce all the fore places- 
 therewitb, and give him a good handful of bread to- 
 eatj. out. of warm wine^ and then- put him into the- 
 
[ i6] 
 
 ftove again, as before diredled, being very careful 
 that no air cmue to him till the fwelling is gone j 
 but twice a day fuck and drefs bim, feed hiai.as 
 aforefaid. 
 
 But if your cock has received any hurt in his eye, 
 then take a leaf or two of right ground-ivy, that is,. 
 fuch as grows in little tufts in the bottom of hedges;, 
 chew it in your mouth very well, fucking out the 
 juice, which fquirting into his eye two or three times, 
 will foon cure it, provided the fight is not pierced; 
 and itwill alfoprefcrve the eye fiom films, flaws, 
 warts, i^c, 
 
 l( your cock hath veined himfelf, either by narrow 
 Itriking, or other crofs blow, find out the wound, 
 and prefently bind into it the foft down of a hare, 
 and it will both ftaunch ir, and cure it. 
 ; After your wounded coeks are put forth to their* 
 walks, as being fit to go abroad, and when you come 
 to vilitthcm in about a month or tv/o after;, if you 
 fi.nd any had fwelled bunches about their heads, 
 bJackifh at one end,^ it is a fign of unfound cores ; 
 and then with a (harp pen-knife open them, and 
 crufn out the faid cares; then fuck out all the cor- 
 rupLion, and fill the hole with frefh butter, which 
 will peife£t the cure. 
 
 0/ Colts. 
 
 COLT, a word in general, fign ifying the male 
 and female of the horfe kind ; the firft likewise 
 fox diftin£tion fake, being called a horfe colt, and the 
 other a filly. 
 
 After the colts have been foaled, you may fuffer 
 them to run with the mare till about Michaelmas^ 
 fooner or later, according as the cold weather comes 
 in;, then they muft be veined, after which let them 
 bskeptiaacoiivenient houfc, with a low rack, and 
 
[ 17 ] 
 
 manger for their hay and oats, which muft be fweet 
 and good j with a little wheaten bran inixed with the 
 oats, to caufe them to drink and to keep their bodies 
 open. , ' 
 
 Further, that <iolts thus fed with grain, do not 
 grow thickifh upon their legs, but grow broader, and 
 better knit than if they had eaten nothing but hay 
 and bran, and will endure fatigue the better. 
 
 But above all, they muft be kept from wet and 
 cold, which are the hurtfuleft things imaginable to 
 them, nothing being more tender than they are. 
 
 For proof of this, take a Spanifh flallion, and let 
 him cover two mares, which for age, beauty, and 
 comlinefs, may admit of no difFtrence between them ; 
 and if they be both horfe colts, or both fillies, which 
 is one and the fame thing, let one run abroad, and 
 the other be houfed, every winter, kept warm, and 
 ordinarily attended, as aforefaid ; and that colt that 
 has been kept abroad fhall have large fleihy fhoul- 
 ders, flabby and gouty legs, weak pafterns and ill 
 hoofs; and (hall be a dull, heavy jade, in compa- 
 rifon to the other which is houfed, and orderly 
 kept as before; and which will have a fine fore- 
 head, be well (haped, have good legs and hoofs, 
 and be of a good ftrength and fpirit : by which you 
 may know, that to have the fineft ftalllon, and the 
 beautifulleft mare, is nothing, if they are fpoiled \w 
 breeding up. 
 
 It is worth obfervation, that fome foals, under fix 
 months old, though their dams yeild abundance of 
 milk, yet decay daily, and have a cough, proceeding 
 from ceiiain pellicles, or fkins that breed in their 
 vftomachs, which obftrud their breathing, and at laft 
 deftroy them entirely. 
 
 To remedy this malady, take the bag wherein 
 the colt was foaled, dry it, and give them as much 
 of it in milk as you can take up with three fingers : 
 
 but 
 
f in 
 
 but ifyouhave not preferved the bag, procure the 
 lungs of a young fox, and ufe it inftead of the afore- 
 faid powder. 
 
 It will be proper to let the colts play an hour or 
 two, in fome court-yard or the like place, when 
 it is fair weather, provided you put them up again 
 carefulJy, and fee that they take no harm. 
 
 When the winter is fpent, turn them into fome 
 dry ground, where the grafs is (hort and fweet, and 
 wheie there is good water that they may drink at 
 pleafure; for it is not neceflary that a colt fliould fill 
 his belly immediately, like a horfe that labours 
 hard. 
 
 The next winter you may take them into the 
 houfe, and ufe them juft as your other horfes; but 
 let not your horfe colts and fillies be kept together^ 
 after the firft year. 
 
 This method may be obferved every fummer and 
 winter, till you break them, which you may da 
 after they are three years old; and it will be a 
 very eafy thing, if you obferve the aforefaid method 
 of houiing them, for ordering them the fecond year 
 as you do other horfes, that they will be fo tame 
 and gentle, that you need not fear their plunging^ 
 leaping, kicking, or the like coltifh tricks j for they 
 will take the faddle quietly. 
 
 Take notice, that as yearlings muft be kept abroad 
 together, fo thofe of two years old together ; the 
 like for thofe of three yearlings, which ordered is 
 moft agreeable to them. 
 
 In order to make him endure the faddle the better,, 
 the way to make it familiar to hiin will be, by clap- 
 ping the faddle with your hand as it ftands upon his. 
 back, by ftriking it, and fwaying upon it, dangling 
 the ftirrups by his fides, rubbing them againft his^ 
 fides, and making much of him, and bring him to 
 be familiac with, all things about him 3 as flraining 
 
 the. 
 
L 19 i 
 
 the crupper, faftening and loofening the girths, and 
 taking up and letting out the ftirrups. 
 
 Then as to the mouthing of him, when he will 
 trot with the faddle obediently, wafh a trench of a 
 full mouth, and put the fame into his mouth, throw- 
 ing the reins over the fore part of (he faddle, fo that 
 he may have a full feeling of it; then put on a mar- 
 tingal, buckled at fuch a length, that he may but 
 juft feel it when he jirks up his head ; then take a 
 broad piece of leather and put it about his neck, and 
 make the ends of it faft by platting of it, or fome 
 other way, at the withers, and the middle part before 
 his weafand, about two handfuls below the throp- 
 ple, betwixt the leather and his neck: let the mar- 
 tingal pafs fo, that when at any time he offers to 
 duck, or throw down his head, the caveiTon being 
 placed upon the tender griftle of his nofe, may cor- 
 real and punifli him ; which will make him bring his 
 head to, and form him to anabfolute rein : then trot 
 him abroad, and if you find the reins or martingal 
 grow flack, ftraiten them, for when there is no 
 feelrng, there is no virtue. 
 
 Cy Backing Colts. 
 
 BACK IN G a colt, after he has been exercifed 
 feme time morning and evening, and you find 
 him obedient, as dired^ed under the head of colt ; 
 then take him to fome ploughed grounds, the lighter 
 the better, and wheii you have made him trot a good 
 pace about it in your hand^ and thereby taking hint 
 from all his wantonnefs j fee whether your tackling 
 be firm and good, and every thing in it's true and 
 proper place; when having one flay to his head>. 
 and governing the chafing rein, you may take hij 
 back, yet not fuddenly but by degrees, with divers 
 
 hearings^. 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 heavings, and half rifings, which if he endure pa-- 
 tiently, then fettle yourfelf; but if he flirlnk and 
 diflike, then forbear to mount, and chafe him about 
 again, and then ofFer to mount, and do this till he, 
 be willing to receive you. 
 
 After you are fettled, receive your ftirrups, and 
 cherlfh him, put your toes forward, let him that ftays 
 his head lead him forward half a dozen paces, then 
 cherifli him again, fhake and move yourfelf on the 
 faddle, then let the flayer of his head, remove his 
 hand a little from the cavefTcn; as you thruft your 
 toes forward, let him move him forward with his 
 rein, till you have made him apprehend your own 
 motion of the body, and foot, which muft go equally 
 together, and with fpirit alio that he will go forward 
 without the other's afiiftance, and {^Jiy. upon the re-, 
 ftrain of your ow.n hands; then cherifn him, and 
 give him grafs, and bread to eat, alight from his back, 
 mount and unmount twice or thrice together, ever 
 mixing them with cherifhings ; thus exercife him^ 
 till he be made perfect in gomg forward and fland >. 
 ing flili at pleafure: this being done, the long , reini 
 may be laid afide, and the band about the neck, and 
 only ufe the trenches and cavefTon with the martin- 
 gal, and let the groom lead the way before, on ano- 
 ther horfe going only ftrait forwards, and rriak^ him 
 fland ftill when you pleafe, which will foon he ef- 
 fected by trotting after another horfe, fometimes e- 
 qually with him, fometimes before, fo that he fix 
 upon no certainty but your own pleafure, and be 
 fure to have regard to the well carriage of his neck, 
 and head, and as the martingal flackens, fo ftraighten 
 it from time to time. 
 
 0/ 
 
'['21] 
 
 ' Cy Horses. 
 
 THE horfe (hould have a broad forehead, la 
 great eye, a lean head; thin, flender, lean, 
 wide jaw5; a long, high, rearing neck; rearing 
 withers; a broad deep cheft and body, upright pal- 
 terns and narrow hco's. 
 
 There are very many things relating to a horfe, 
 and very neceffary to be known, v/hich will be found 
 under their proper articles; only there are a few 
 which are not fo conveniently reducible under fuch 
 heads, which mufthave room here. 
 
 To begin with turning a horfe to o;rafs: you 
 ought eight or nine days before you do iF, to take 
 bJoodpfhim; next day after, give him the drink 
 called, diapentey and in a day or two after his drink, 
 abate of his cloaths by degrees, before you turn him 
 out, left by doing them on a fudden he fhould take 
 cold; and curry him not at all after his cloaths are 
 taken off, but let him ftand in his duft, for that 
 will keep him warm ; neither is it proper to put him 
 out till the middle of May^ at fooneft, for till that 
 time grafs will not have bite enough; and let the 
 day be warm, fun-lhine, and about ten o'clock, for 
 horfes pampered in flables and kept clofe, will be 
 very fubfect to take cold. 
 
 To take him up from grafs, he mufl be very dry, 
 elfe he will b.-^ fubjedl to be fcabby ; and that not later 
 thzn Bartholomew -tide, when the feafon begins to let 
 cold dey^^s fall, that caufes much harm to your horfe ; 
 and then alfo the heart of the grafs begins to fail 
 -infomuch, that the grafs which he then feeds upon 
 breeds no good nouriftiment, but grofs, phlegmatic, 
 and cold humours, which putrify and corrupt the 
 blood ; and take him up very quickly, for fear ot 
 melting his greafe, his fat gotten at grafs beino- very 
 tender: then a day or two after he is in the Sable 
 
 lei 
 
[ " ] 
 
 let him be (hod, let blood, and drenched, which 
 will prevent the daggers, yellows, and the like dif- 
 tempers, occafioned by the gall and fpleen, which 
 the heart and ftrength of the grafs through the rank- 
 nefs of the blood, engenders in the body. 
 
 But the curious, after they have taken the horfe 
 into rhe ftable, before they either bleed or drench 
 him, in ahot, fun-fhining daytake him out into a 
 convenient place, and there trim him ; and then 
 .taking ordinary wafliingfoap, anoint his head and 
 every part of him with it all over, having care that 
 none gets into bis eyes and ears, then they wafh 
 him very well all over with warm water, and wipe 
 him with a warm linen cloth, and afterwards rub 
 him dry with woolen cloths j then foap him all 
 over again, efpecially his main and tail, and wafh 
 him very clean with back lee, with a wifp of wool- 
 len cloth, and when they have fuiEciently cleanfed 
 him, dry him as before, and lead him into the 
 ftable, let him be cleanfed with a clean,r thin, foft 
 cloth. 
 
 There are two or three things more to be added, 
 that are of feme fignificancy in reference to this 
 noble creature, and the iirft is, to make a horfe 
 follow his mafter, and to find him out and challenge 
 him amongil everfo many people. 
 
 Take a pound of oatmeal, to which put a quar- 
 ter of a pound of honey, and half a pound of li- 
 quorice, make a little cake thereof, and put it into 
 your bofom next to your naked fkin, th^n run and 
 labour yourfelf till you fweat, and fo rub all your 
 fweat upop your cake; then keep the horfe fafting 
 a day and a night and give it him to eat, which 
 done, turn him loofe, and he fhall not only follow 
 you, but alfo hunt and feek you out when he has 
 ioityou, and when he comes to you, fpit in his 
 
 moutli 
 
[ 23 ] 
 
 mouth, anoint his tongue wirh your fpittle, and 
 thus doing, lie will never forfakeyou. 
 
 Another thing, is to fliew how to make a horfe 
 look young: take a crooked iron, no bigger than 
 a wheat corn, and having made it red hot, burn a 
 little black hole in the tops of the two outermoft 
 teeth of each fide the nether chap before next to 
 the tufties where the mark is worn out, then pick 
 it with an awl blade, and make the {hell fine and 
 thin; then with a ftiarp fcraping-iron make all 
 his teeth white and clean ; this done, take a fine 
 lancet, and about the- hollows of the horfe's eyes 
 which are fhrunk down, make a Jittle hole only 
 through the fkin, and put in the quill of a raven or 
 crow, and blow the fkin full of wind; then take 
 the quill out, lay your finger on the hole a little 
 while, and the wind willftayin, and he will look as 
 youthful as if he were but five years old. 
 
 Of Horse-Feeders, or Grooms. 
 
 rx^ HERE are many obfervations to be made by 
 Jl one engaged in this office, in order to per- 
 form it well, efpecially when he hath the care of run- 
 ning-horfes, but we (hall only mention a few. 
 
 I. As to meat or drink, if there be any fuch, 
 or other nourifhment that he knows good for a 
 horfe, which yet the beft refufes, you muft not 
 thruft it violently upon him, but by gentle entice- 
 ments win him thereto, tempting him when he is 
 moft hungry or moft dry; if he get but a bit at a 
 time, he will foon increafe to a greater quantity. 
 
 Ever let him havelefs than he defires; and that he 
 may be brought the fooner to it, mix the meat he 
 loves bell v/ith that he loves worft, till both be alike 
 
 familiar 
 
r H ] 
 
 familiar, (o {hall he be a ftranger to nothing that is 
 good and wholefome. 
 
 2. If he finds his horfe fubje£t to ftifFnefs and 
 lamenefs, to the furbate, or to tendernefs of /eet, 
 then he (hould give him his heat upon fmooth carpet 
 earth, or forbear ftrong grounds, hard highways, 
 crofs ruts and furrows, till extremity compel him. 
 
 3 For the condition of a horfe's body, he muft 
 account that the ftrongeft ftate which is the highert 
 and leaft of flefh, fo it be good, hard, without inward 
 foul-fulnefs, to be the belt and moft proper for the 
 performing of matches: and herein you mull con- 
 fider, firft, the ihape of a horfe's body, there being 
 fome that are round, plump and clofe knit together, 
 which will appear fat and well fhaped, when they 
 are lean and in poverty; while others that are raw- 
 boned, flender, and loofe knit, will appear lean and 
 deformed, when they are fat, foul, and full of grofs 
 humours. 
 
 So likewife for their inclinations; for fome horfes 
 at the firft, feed outwardly, and carry a thick rib, 
 when they are inwardly as thin as may be ; whereas 
 others appear lean to the eye, when they are only 
 greafe. 
 
 In which cafe the feeder has two helps to advan- 
 tage his knowledge, the outward and the inward 
 one. 
 
 4. The firft is, the outward handling and feeling 
 the horfe's body all over his ribs, but particularly 
 upon his (hort and hindermoft ribs, and if his flelh 
 generally handle foft and loofe, and the fingers fink 
 therein as in down, he is foul without all queftion 5 
 but if it be hard and firm, and only foft upon the 
 hindermoft rib, he has greafe and foul matter within 
 liim, which muft be voided whatever comes of it. 
 And for ihe inward help, that is only fliarp exercife, 
 
 and 
 
[25] 
 
 and ilrong fcouring, the firfl: to diflblve, and the 
 latter to bring it away. 
 
 5. It is the feeder's bufinfefs to obferve the horfe's 
 ftones, for if they hang downwards, or low from 
 bis body he is out of lufl and heat, and is either fick 
 of greafe or other foul humours; but in cafe they 
 lie clofe trufled up, and hid in a fmall room^ thea 
 he is healthful, and in good plight. 
 
 6. As to tli€ limbs, the feeder or groom muft 
 always before he runs any match or fore heat, bathe 
 his legs, from the knees and gambrels downwards, 
 either with clarified dogs greafe, (which is the beft) 
 or trotter oil, that is next to it, or gKq the beft 
 hog's greafe, which is fufficient, arid work it in well 
 with his hands, not with fire, for what he gets not 
 in the firft night, will be got in the next morning, 
 and what is not got in then, will be got in when he 
 comes to uncioath at the end of the courfe ; fo that 
 the omtment need be ufed but once, but the rubbing 
 as often as there is opportunity. 
 
 7. The feeder may in any of the latter fortnights 
 of a running horfe's feeding, if he finds him clear, 
 and his greafe confumsd, about fix in the evenining, 
 ^ive him water in a reafonable quantity made luke- 
 warm, keeping him faftingfor an hour after: alfo, 
 if through the unfeafonabienefs of the weather you 
 canlnot water him abroad, then ac your own wa- 
 tering hours you are to do it in the houfe, with warm 
 
 'wa.er, and an handful of wheat-meal, bran, or oat- 
 meal, finely powdered, (which laft is the beft) put 
 • into the water ; which is very wholefome. 
 
 8. The rider is farther to note, that if the ground 
 whereon the horfe is- to run his-match, be dangerous, 
 and apt for bad accidents, as ftrains, .over reaches, 
 finew-bruifes, and the like, that then he is not 
 bound to give him his heats thereon, but havinq; 
 made him ac<iuain ted v^^ith.the nature -thereof, Ut 
 
 B him 
 
I 26 ] 
 
 Ihitn to take part of the courfe, as a mile, two, or 
 three, according to the goodnefs of the ground, and 
 fo run him forth again, which are called turning- 
 iieats) provided always he ends his heat at the 
 weighing-poft, and make not his courfe lefs, but 
 more in quantity than that he muft run. 
 
 If for fo me fpecial caufes he likes no part of the 
 courfe, he may often but not ever, give his heat up- 
 on any other ground about any. fpacicus and large 
 ^eld, whefe the horfe may lay down his body and 
 Jun atpleafur«.' 
 
 9. He muft have fpecial regard to all his airings, 
 breathings, and 'other exerciies whatever 5 to the 
 fweating of the horfe, and the cccafion, as if he 
 iweat on little or no occafion, as walking a foot- 
 
 ,£^^ pace, {landing ftill in the ftable, and the like ; this 
 
 ^* ihews that the horfe is faint, foul fedy and wants 
 
 ''^ cxercife : but if upon good occafions, as ftron^ 
 
 ,^ 'heats, great labours, and the like, he fweat, and it 
 
 f7\h a white froth like foap-fuds, he is inwardly foul, 
 
 /^•^and alfo wants exercife : again, if the fweat be 
 
 black, and as it were only water thrown upon him, 
 
 without any frothinefs, then he is cleanfed, and in 
 
 ;good luft, and good cafe, and may be rid without 
 
 any danger. 
 
 10, And laftly, he (hould obferve his hair in ge- 
 neral, but efpecially on his neck, and thofc parts 
 that are uncovered, for if they lie ileek ,and fmooth, 
 and clofe, holding the beauty of their natural colour, 
 the horfe is in good cafe, but if rough and ftaring, 
 or difcoloured, he muft be inwardly cold at heart, 
 and wants both deaths and warm keeping. 
 
 Of Horse Shoes. 
 iF tbefe there are feveral forts : i. That called 
 the planch-fhoe, or pancelet, which makes a 
 good foot, and a bad leg, by reafon it caufes the foot 
 
 to 
 
 O 
 
[27] 
 
 to grow beyond the meafure of the leg ; though for 
 a weak heel it is exceeding good, and will laft longer 
 than any flioe, being borrowed from the moil, that 
 has week heels and frufhes, to keep the feet from 
 ftones and gravel. 
 
 2. Shoes with calkins, which though they be in- 
 tended tofecure the horfefrom Aiding, yet they do 
 him more harm than good whereby many times he 
 wrenches his foot, or ftrains fome finews, more 
 efpecially upon ftony ways, where the ftones will not 
 fufFer his calkins to enter, the foot flips with more 
 violence ; though fome do not think a horfe well 
 ihod unlefs all his (hoes be made with calkins, either 
 fingle or double ; however, the double ones are left 
 hurtful, for he will tread evener with them than with 
 fingle calkins, but they muft not be over k)ng, or 
 (harp pointed, but rather fhort and flat. 
 
 3 There are Ihoes for lings, which were firft in- 
 vented to make a horfe lift his feet high, though 
 an unhandfome fight : this de(e^ is incident to 
 moll horfes that have not found hoofs, for tender 
 feet fear to touch the ground that is hard: but what 
 IS intended for a remedy, prov-es a prejudice to the 
 horfe, by adding high calkins, or elfe thefe rings 
 to his fhoes, for by that means he is made to have 
 weaker heels than before. 
 
 4. Shoes with fwelling welts or borders round 
 about them, are ufed in Germany^ &c. which being 
 higher than the heads of the nails, fayethem from 
 wearing.; and thefe are the beft lafting ihoes, if 
 made of well-tempered fluff, far they wear equally 
 in all parts, and the horfe treads equally upon them 
 
 5. Others that ufe totravel mountains where fmiths 
 are not fo eafily to be met with, carry ilioes about 
 them with vices, whereby they faflea thein to the 
 
 B 2 hoik^s 
 
[ 28 ] 
 fjorfe's hoof without the help of the hammer or 
 nail, notwithftanding it is more for fhew than any 
 good fervice ; for though this fort of (hoe may fave 
 his feet from ftpnes, yet it fo pinches his hoof, that 
 he goes with pain, and perhaps injures it more than 
 the ilones do : therefore upon fuch en ergent occa- 
 fions, it is better to make ufe of a joint-{hoe, which 
 IS made of two pieces, with a flat rivet- nail joining 
 them together in the toe, fo that you may make it 
 both wide and narrow to ferve any foot. 
 
 6. Th€ patt€rn-{hoe, is neceflary for a horfe that 
 is burnt in the hip, ftifle, or fhoulder, which will 
 caufe him to bear upon that leg the grfef is on, 
 and confequent]y ufe it the better, 
 
 -7. A ihoe proper ior flat feet. 
 
 B. The panton, or pantacle-fhoe, which opens 
 the heels, and helps hoof binding. 
 
 Thefe are of admirable ufe, in regard that they 
 never fhift upon the (zez^ and continue firm in one 
 place. 
 
 9. And laftly, the half panton fhoe. 
 
 0/ Horse Racing. 
 
 As to the method of ordcrmg running- h^fes, or 
 what is called keepings it will be found under the 
 article running-horjes, and therefore we will only 
 here fuppofe a horfe fet to run for a p/ate, and that 
 the hour of ftarting is at hand, uhen the drum beats 
 or the trumpets found, according to the cuftom of 
 the place where you run, to give notice for ftrip- 
 ping and weighing j be fure in the firfl: place, to 
 keep out the wind, and to firengthen you : if you 
 are light, that you muft carry weight, let it be 
 equally quilted in your waiflcoat ; but it is better if 
 you are juft weight, for then you have no more to do 
 thanjuft to drefsyou, according to your own fancy; 
 
 your 
 
C 29 J 
 ysur deaths fliould be of coloured filk, or of whiter 
 hoi land, as being very advantageous to the fpeda- 
 tors ; your waiftcoat and drawers muft be made 
 clofe to your body, and on your head a little caj> 
 tied on ; let your boots be gartered up faft, and your 
 fpurs muft be of good metal ; then mount and come 
 to the ftarting place, where going ofF brifkly or 
 gently, as occafion requires, make your horfe per- 
 form the courfe or heat, according to your intended 
 defign ; particularly, if you would win the fame, 
 and that your horfe excels in goodnefs more than 
 fpeed, ftart him roundly, and run hi^m to- the very 
 top of what he can do, during the whole courfe 
 or heat; and by that means, if the horfe you run 
 againft be not fo good at the bottom, though he has 
 more fpeed, you will beat him, becaufe he will run 
 off it a great way before he comes to the end. Bu(^ 
 on the contrary, if yourhorfe's talent be fpeed, all 
 that you can do is to wait upon the other horfe, and 
 keep behind till you come almoft to the fland, and 
 then endeavour to give a loofe by him. Sometimes 
 when you are to rua more heats than one, it will 
 be your policy to loofe a heat ; and in that cafe you 
 muft, for the eafing and fafeguard of your horfe, lie 
 behind as much as you can, provided you bring hii» 
 in within diftance. 
 
 The pofture to be obferved is, that you place 
 yourfelf upon your twift, with your knees firm,, 
 and your ftirrups juft at fuch a length, that yt)ur 
 feet, when they are thruft home in them, you can 
 raife yourfelf a little in the faddle, for your legs,, 
 without that allowance, will not be firm when you 
 come to run ; the counter-poife of your body muft 
 be forward, to facilitate your horfe's running, and 
 your elbows muft be cloie to your body; be fure, 
 above all things, that you do not incommode your 
 horfe by fwaggering this or that wav, as feme do, 
 B 2 ' for 
 
[30 1 
 
 hr fines weight fs a great matter in running, and 
 that a troublefome rider is as bad as (o much more 
 weight, there is no need to fay how necelTary it is to 
 take great care of your feat and hand; you muft 
 therefore beware of holding yourfelf by the bridle, or 
 of jobbing your horfe's mouth upon any oGcalion ; 
 yt)u muft take your right rein in the fame hand, 
 iiolding up horfe, &c. as you iind it necelTary, and 
 every now and then remave the bridle in his mouth. 
 But thefe things are beft karned by experience an(f 
 pradice. 
 
 A plate being run for by heats, every man that 
 rides muftbejuft weight at ftarti ng, in great fcales 
 for that purpofe, and at the end of the lame heat, 
 for if you want of your weight at coming in, you 
 Hiall lofe your heat, though you are the firft horfe: 
 you have half an hour between the firft and fecond, 
 to rub your horfes, and at the warning of the drum 
 aTid trumpet again, you mount, i5fc, as before, and 
 'io till ail is done, which is three, and fometimts 
 three heats and a courfe. 
 
 it" you do not breed racers yourfelF, be fure you 
 buy no horfe that has not extraordinary good blood 
 in his veins, for the charge of keeping is great, and 
 a good one eats no more than a bad, and requires no 
 more attendance ; fome to fave twenty or thirty 
 guineas in the price of a young hsrje^ have loft 
 hundreds by him afterwards. 
 
 A horfe that you have tried once or twice at a 
 twelve ftone plate, you may be fare will make an 
 extraordinary good hunter: and you are to obferve, 
 that the pofture, manner of riding, i^c. is the fame 
 in a match as in a plate race, only that there being 
 but a fmgle courfe to be run, you muft pu(h for all at 
 that one time; whereas when there arefeveral heats, 
 there is more faving, and variety of play. 
 
[ 31 ] 
 
 Of Hunting Horses^ 
 
 A Horse defigned for this manly exercife,, fiii 
 {hape fliould be generally ftrong and well kn it to- 
 gether, making equal proportions ; for you are to 
 obferve, that which has an unequal {hape mews weak- 
 nefs, fo equal ones fhews ftrength and durance ; and 
 what we call unequal, are a great head and a little* 
 neck ; a big body and a thick buttock ; a large limb 
 to a little foot, ^c, A hunting horfe^ while he is at 
 reft, let him have all the quietnefs that may be s let 
 him have much meat, much litter, much dreffing,. 
 and water even by him j let him fleep as long as he 
 pleafes ; keep him to dung rather foft than hard, and 
 look that it be well coloured, and bright, for dark* 
 nefs (hews greafe, rednefs^ and inward heat: and- 
 after his ufual fcourings, let him have exercifes, and 
 ma0ies of fweet malt, or let bread, or clean beans,, 
 or beans and wheat mixed together, be his b.eftfood,, 
 and beans and oats the moft extraordinary. 
 
 You may furnilh yourfelf with a horfe for hunting, 
 at fome of our fairs, which fhould have, as near as 
 can be, the following (hapesi 
 
 A head lean, large, and long; 2i chaul thin and 
 open ears, fmall, and picked, or, if they be fome- 
 what long, provided they ftand upright, like thofif- 
 of a fox, it is ufually a fign of mettle and tough- 
 nefs. 
 
 His /^?r^^W long and broad, not flat, and as it 
 is ufually termed hare-faceH, rifmg in the midfl lik« 
 that of a hare, the feather being placed above the 
 top of his eye j the contrary being thought by fom#' 
 to be a token of bJindnefs. ' 
 
 His eyes full, large, and bright ; his noftrils wide 
 and red within, for an open nofirll is a fign of a^ 
 good wind.. 
 
 B 4, Hi* 
 
His tnouthhrge^ deep in the wlkes and hairy; his 
 ihropp/e, weajand ov win d- pipe h\g^ loofe and ftrait, 
 when he is reined in with the bridle ; for if when 
 he bridles, it bends like a bow, (which is called 
 iock-ihroppkd) it very much hinders the free pafiage 
 ©f his wind. 
 
 His head muft befeton to his neck, that a fpace 
 may be felt between his neck and his chaul ; for to 
 be bull-necked is uncomely to (ight^ and alfo pre- 
 judicial to the horfe's wind. 
 
 His crelt ftiouldbe firm, thin, and well-rifen, his 
 neck long and flrait, yet not ioofe and pliant, which 
 the northern-men term withy-cragged, 
 
 Plis breafl ftrong and broad, his cheft deep, hi* 
 chine (hort, his body large and cJofe Ihut up to the 
 huckle-bone. 
 
 His ribs round like a barrel, his belly being hid 
 ■within them. 
 
 Kis fillets large, his buttocks rather oval than 
 broad, being well let down to the gafcoins, hiscam^ 
 brejs upiight, and not bending, which feme call 
 JiickU-hoghed\ though fome look upon this to be a 
 llgn of toughnefs and fpeed. 
 
 His legs clean, flat, and flrait i his joints fhort, 
 "well knit, and upright, efpecially betwixt the pafterns 
 and "the hoofs, having but little hair on his fetlocks ; 
 his hoofs black, flropg, and hollow, and rather long 
 and narrow, than big and fiat. 
 
 Laftly^ his mane and tail {heuld be long and thin, 
 rather than thick, which is counted by fome a mark 
 ofdullnefs. 
 
 As to marks or colours, though they do not abfo- 
 lutely give teftimony unto us of a ^^r//r goodnefs, 
 yet they, as well as his fhape, [do intimate to us, in 
 fome part, his difpofition and qualities : the hair it- 
 felf does oftentimes receive the variation oi its co- 
 
 lour>. 
 
I 33 } 
 
 lour, from the different te. 11 perature of the fubjei^ 
 out of which it is produced. 
 
 And fome do not fcruple to affirm, thajt where- 
 ever you meet with a horl'e that has no white about 
 him, efpecial'y in his forehead, though he be other- 
 wife of the beft reputed colours, as bay, black, for-- 
 rel, he is of a dogged and fullen difpofition, efpe-*- 
 cially if he have a fmall pink eye, and a narrow 
 face, with a nofe bendinglike a hawk's bill. 
 
 The Jgey &c. of a Hunter.^ 
 
 Having procured a horfe fuitable to the former de- 
 fcriptions, or your own rati$fa<aion at leaft, arKl' 
 which is fuppofed to bealready grx^unded in the fun- 
 damentals of his art, being taught fuch obedience^ 
 as that he will readily anfwer to the horfemen's helps 
 and corredions both of the bridle and hand, the 
 voice, the calf of the leg, and the fpurs, that hi 
 knows how to make his way forward, and hath = 
 gained a true temper of mouth, and a right placing 
 of his head, and that he haih learned to flop, and 
 turn readily : for unlefs he has been perfe£lly taught- 
 thefe things, he can never proceed efFedually*' 
 
 The horje being thus prepared,^ {honld be.five 
 years old, and well wayed before you begin to hunt 
 him ; for although it is cuftomary with fome to hunt 
 at four years old, yet at that age his joints not being 
 v/ell knit, nor he attained to his beft Orength and 
 courage, heis unable to perform any work of fpeed- 
 and roughnefs, and will be in great danger of ftrains, 
 and other maladies, and alfo a daunting of his fpirits, 
 and abating his natural courage.- 
 
 Your ^^r/^ being full five, you may, if you pleafe, , 
 put him to grafs from the middle oi May till Bartho^ 
 LameW'tldey for theii-the feafon will be fo hot, it will' 
 lM)t be convenient to work him*. 
 
 B 5^ B^^rtholomeW'i- 
 
f34j 
 
 Bartholomew-tide hting nov/ comet and the pride 
 and ftrength of the grafs nipped by the fevere frofts 
 and cold dews, To that the nouriftiment of it turns to 
 raw crudities, and the coldnefs in the night abates 
 as much of hisflefh and luft as he gets in a day : 
 take him from grafs while his coat lies fmooth and 
 fleek. ^ 
 
 Having brought him home, let your groom fet 
 him up that night in fome fecure and fpacious houfe, 
 where he may evacuate his body, and the next day 
 liable him. 
 
 Tkejjrft fortnight's Diet for a Hunting Horse; 
 §r the ordering of a Hunter, for the fir ft fortnight. 
 
 Your horfe being fuppofed to have evacuated all 
 his grafs, and his fhoes fo well fettled to his feet, 
 that he may be fit to be ridden abroad without dan- 
 ger : I ihall now, in a more particular manner, dt- 
 ie£i an unexperienced groom how he ought to pro- 
 ceed to order his horfe according to art. 
 
 Firjl^ he ought to vifit his horfe early in the 
 morning, to wit, by five o'clock in fummer, and 
 fix in v/inter ; and having put up his litter under his 
 ilall, and made clean his ftables, to feel his ribs, his- 
 chaul, and his flank, they being the principal figns- 
 "by which he muft learn to judge of the good or ill 
 fiate of a horfe's body. 
 
 He ought to lay his hands on his fhortribs, near 
 the flank, and if his fat feels to be exceeding foft 
 and tender, and to yield as it were under his hand^. 
 then he may be confident it is unfound, and that 
 the leaffc violent labour or travel will diflblve it; 
 which being difTolved before it be hardened by good 
 <iiet, if it be not then removed by fcouring, the fat 
 or greafe belonging to the outward parts or the body 
 will fall down into his heels, and lo caufe goutinefs 
 and fv/elling. 
 
 After 
 
ATter, by feeling on his ribs, he has f<?und his ht- 
 fbfc and unfound, then let him feel liis chaul ; andi 
 if he finds any flefhy fubftance, or great round ker- 
 nels or knots, he may be aflfured that as his outward 
 fat has been unfound, fo inwardly he is full of glut,, 
 and purfive, by means of grofs humours cleaving to 
 the hollow places of his lungs, i^c 
 
 This fat is to be enfeamed and hardened by mode-^- 
 rate exercife^ warm cloathing) and gentle phyfic, tp^ 
 ccleanfe away, his inward glut. 
 
 The fame obfervations muft' be made from the 
 flank, which; v/iil always be found to correfpondi 
 with bis ribs and chaul, for till it is drawn, it will 
 feel thick to your gripe, but when he is enfeamed 
 you will perceive nothing bat two thin fkins j andi 
 by thefe three obfervations of the rib, flank and 
 chaps, you may at any time pafs an indifferent judg- 
 -ment of the horfe's good or bad condition.. 
 
 Having made thefe remarks on yoiir horfe'sftate 
 and condition of body, then fift a handful or two* 
 (but not more) of good old oats, and give them to 
 him to preferve his ftomach from cold humours 
 which might opprefs it by drinking fading, and 
 likewife to make him drink the better.. 
 
 When he hath eaten them, pull ofF his collar, and 
 rub his head, face, ears, and nape of the neck, v*^ith 
 a clean rubbing cloth made of hemp, for it is fove- 
 reign for the head,, and difTolves all grofs and filthy.' 
 humours. 
 
 Then take a^naffle, and wafK it in- clean water,, 
 and put it on his head, drawing therein through the- 
 headflall to prevent his flipping it over his head, and' 
 fo tie him up to the rack, and drefs him thus : 
 
 F/Vy?) take a curry comb, fuitable to your horfe'ss 
 ikin, in your right hand ; that is, if the coat of youf 
 horfe be fhort and fmooth, then muft the curry- 
 comb be blunt .3. bxit if it-belong and rough, thcre- 
 
 the 
 
C 36 3 
 the teeth muft be long and (harp: {landing with your 
 face oppofite the horfe's, hold the left cheek of the 
 head-ftall in your left-hand, and curry him with a 
 good hand from the root of his ears, all along his 
 neck to his flioulders; then go over all his body 
 with a more moderate hand ; then curry his but- 
 tocks down to tKe hinder cambrel wich a hard hand 
 again J then change your hand, and laying your 
 right arm over his back, join your right fide to hb 
 left, and fo carry him gently from the top ©f hi-s 
 withers, to the lower patt of his fhoulder, every 
 now and then fetcning your ftroke over the left fide 
 of his breafl, and fo curry him down to the knee, but 
 no farther. 
 
 Then curry him well under his belly, near his^fore 
 bov/els, and, in a word, all over very well, his 
 legs under the knees and cambrels only excepted ; 
 and as you dreft his left fide, fo muft you the right 
 alfo. 
 
 In doing this, taice notice where your horfe keeps 
 a riggling up and down, biting the rack ftafFs, and 
 now and then offering to fnap at you, or lifting up 
 his leg ta ftrike at you, when you are currying him -: 
 if he do, it is an apparent fign,. that the roughnefs 
 of the combdifpleafes him, and therefore the teeth 
 of it is to be filed more blunt ; but if you perceive 
 he plays thefe or fuch like tricks through wanton-- 
 nefs, and the pleafure he takes in the fri<Slion, then 
 you Ihould every now and then correal him with your 
 whip gently for his waggiihnefs, 
 
 This currying is only to raife the duft, th^erefore, 
 after the horle has been thus curried, take either an 
 horfe- tail nailed to an handle, or a clean dufting 
 cloth of cotton, and wi[h it ftrik^ off the loofe dult 
 that the curry comb has raifed. 
 
 Then drefs him. all over with the French brufh, 
 both head, body and legs, to the very fetlocks, 
 
 oblerving 
 
[ ?7 1 
 
 obferving always to cleanfe the brufh from the filth- 
 it gathers from the bottom of the hair, by rubbing 
 it on the curry-comb ;, then duft the horfe again the 
 fecond time. 
 
 Then having wetted your hand in water, rub his 
 body all over, and, as near as you can, leave no> 
 ioofe hairs behind, and with your hands wet, pick-, 
 and cleanfe his. eyes, ears and noftrils, (heath, cods, 
 and tuel,. and fo rub him till he is as dry as at 
 firft. 
 
 Then take an hair patch, and rub his body all 
 over, but efpecially his fore-bowels under his belly-,, 
 his flank, and between hishinr'er thighs : and, in the 
 la ft place, wipe him over with a fine white linen 
 rubber. 
 
 Wheii:j<y<ju hai'e thus drelTed him, take a large, 
 faddle cloth (made on purpofe) that may reach dov/a 
 to the fpurring-place, and lap it about his body:, 
 then clap on his faddle, and throw a cloth over him,.. 
 that he may not catch cold. 
 
 Then twift two ropes of flraw very hard together^ .. 
 and with them rub and chafe his legs from the knees 
 and cambrels- downwards to rhe ground, picking his 
 fetlock joints, with your hands, from duft, filthy. 
 and fcabs : then take another hair patch kept on 
 purpofe for his legs, (for you. muft have two) . and 
 with it rub and drefs his legs alfo. 
 
 And while you are drefiing your; horfe^ let him 
 not ftand naked,- fo that his body be expofed to the 
 penetration of the air; but when he is firipped, do 
 your bunnefo roundly, without any intermifiion, 
 till you havefaddled him, and thrown his cloth over 
 him. 
 
 When you have done this, pick his feet clean with = 
 an iron picker, comb duwn his mane and tail with a 
 wet mane-comb, then fpurt (ome beer in hismoiith, 
 and lb draw hini out of the ftable»- 
 
 Thea 
 
[ 38 ] _ 
 
 Then mount him, rake or walk him either to fomie 
 running river or freOi fpring a mile of two diftant 
 from the ilable, and there let him drink about half 
 his draught at firit, two prevent raw crudities arifing 
 in his ftomach. 
 
 After he has drank, bring him calmly out of the 
 water, and ride him gently for a while; for nothing 
 is more unbecoming a h or fern an than to put his 
 horfe upon a fwift gallop as foon as he comes out of 
 the water, for thefe three reafons. 
 
 1. He does not only hazard the breaking of his^ 
 wind, but affuredly hazards the incording OF' burft^- 
 inghim. 
 
 2. It begets in him an ill habit of running away>^ 
 as foon as he has done drinking. 
 
 3. The forefight he has of fuch violent ^lex^rclfe, 
 ^makes him oftentimes refufe to quench his thirft, andl 
 therefore walk him a little way, and then put himt 
 into a gentle gallop for five or fix fcore paces^ and; 
 give him wind ; and after he has been raked a pretty/ 
 while, (hew him the water again, and Jet him drink 
 as much as he will, and then gallop him again, and? 
 repeat this till he will drink no more j but be fure 
 to obferve always, that you gallop him not fo muchi 
 as to chafe or fweat him. 
 
 Here take notice, that in his galloping after wa* 
 ter, (after the firlt weak's enfeaming) if fometimes 
 you give him a watering-courfe (harply of twelve 
 or twenty fcore paces, according as you find your- 
 horfe, it will quench his fpirit, and caufe him to gaU 
 Jop more pleafantly, and teach him to manage his> 
 limbs more nimbly, and ftretch forth' his body, 
 largely. 
 
 When your horfe has done drinking, then rake- 
 him to the top of an hill, (if there be one near the- 
 watering-place) for there, in a morning, the air is 
 gurefti. or clfe to feme fuch place, where he may 
 
 gain 
 
r 39 ] 
 
 gain the mofl advantage both by fun and air, and 
 there air him a foot-pace for an hour, or longer, as 
 you in your judgment (hall think fit, for the Itate of 
 his body, and then ride him home. 
 
 During the time of your horfe's airing, you may 
 eafily perceive feveral tokens of his fatisfadion, and 
 he pleafure that he takes in his exercife. 
 
 For he will gape, yawn, and as it were flirughis 
 body. 
 
 If he offers to ftand flill to dung or ftale, which his 
 airing will provoke, be fure give him leave ; as alfo 
 to flare about, neigh, or liflen to any noife. 
 
 Thefe airings are advantageous to the horfe on- 
 feveral accounts. 
 
 1. It purifies the blood (If the air be clear and 
 pure;) it purges the body of many grofs and fufFo- 
 eating humours, and fo hardens and enfeams the 
 horfe's fat, that it is not near fo liable to be difTolved 
 by ordinary exercife. 
 
 2. It teaches him how to let his wind rake, and 
 equally keep time with the other anions and motions 
 cf his body. 
 
 3. It is of great advantage, lK)th to hunters and 
 galjoppers, which are apt to lofe their flomaehs thro^ 
 excefs or warit of exercife, for the (harpnefs of the 
 air vvlil drive the horfe's natural heat. from the out-^ 
 ward parts to the inward, which heat by furthering 
 concoction creates appetite, and provokes the flo- 
 mach. 
 
 4. It creates luft and courage in the horfe, pro- 
 vided he be not aired too early. 
 
 When you are returned from airing,- and aredif- 
 mounted, lead the horfe on the ftraw, which fhould 
 always lie before the ftable door, and there by whir- 
 ling and itirring up the litter under his belly, you 
 •will ptovoke him to ftale. which- he wiil be brought 
 to do with a little pra<^ice, audit mlibs advantage* 
 
 ous 
 
[ 40 ]■ 
 
 0US to the health cf the horfe, and a means of Iceep^ 
 ing the ftable cleaner: then lead him into his ftall, 
 (having firft been well littered j) ihen tie up his head 
 to the empty rack, takeoff the (addle, rub his body 
 and legs all over with x.\\q frejh butter^ then with the- 
 hair patchy and laft of all with the woollen doth. 
 
 Then clothe him with- a linen cloth next to his 
 body, and over that a canvas-cloth, and both made 
 fit for him, to cover his breail, and to ccme pretty 
 low down to his legs. 
 
 Then put over the before-mentioned a body-cloth 
 of fix or eight ftraps, which is better than a fur^ 
 oingJe and pad ftuft with whifps, becaufe this keeps- 
 his belly in ihape, and is not fo fubje<St to hurt 
 him. 
 
 Now thefe cloths will be fufficient for him at hi« 
 firfi: ftabling, becaufe being inured to the cold, he 
 will not be fo apt to take cold, the weather being 
 indifferently v/arm ; but when fharp weather comes ^ 
 on, and you find his hair rife about thofe parts that 
 are unclothed, as neck, gafcoins, tf^c, then add ano- 
 ther cloth, which ought to be of woollen, and for 
 any horfe bred under the climate, and kept only for? 
 ordinary hunting, this clothing will be fufficient. 
 
 Having already given dire<Stions as to the clothing 
 of the horfe, i fiiall only add this one general rule; 
 that a rough coat is a token of want of cloaths, and 
 a fmooth coat of cloathing fufficient j therefore, if 
 nqt]«Eithftanding what cloaths you have given hsm^ 
 his €oat flflliiares, yonmuft add more cloaths till it: 
 lie. 
 
 But if when he has been in keeping fome time,. 
 you perceive him apt to fweat in the night, it is a figa 
 li€ is over-fed^ and wants exercife ; but if he fweat 
 at his firft coming from grafs^ then there is reafon to 
 add rather than^diminifh his cloaths before diredled 
 Ua. him atiiis houfiogj , for it pf oeeeds from the ;fouI 
 
 h:timQur8-. 
 
[41 } 
 
 humours that opprefs nature, and when they are 
 evacuated by exercife, nature will ceafe working, 
 and he will continue in a temperate flate of body all 
 the vear after. 
 
 When you have cloathed him up, pick his feet 
 clean with an iron picker, and wafli his hoofs clean 
 with a fpunge dipped in clean water, and dry thetn 
 with ftraw or a linen cloth, then leave him on his 
 fnaffle for an hour or more, which will affift his 
 appetite. 
 
 Then vifit him again, du^ a handful of bay, and 
 let the horfe teaze it out of your hand, till he hath 
 eaten it; then pull ofF his bridle, and rub his head 
 and neck clean with your hempen-cloth ; pull his 
 ears and flop his noftrils, to caufe him to fnort, which 
 will bring away the moift humours which opprefs 
 his brain, and then put on his collar, and give him 
 a quartern of oats clean dreffed in a fieve, having 
 iirft cleaned his locker or manger with a whifp of 
 ftraw and a cloth. 
 
 While he is eating his corn, fweep out your flable, 
 and fee that all things are neat about him ; then 
 turn up his cloaths, and rub his fillets, buttocks, and 
 gafcoins over with the hair-patch, and after that 
 with a woollen cloth ; then fpread a clean flannel 
 fillet cloth over his fillets and buttocks, which will 
 make his coat lie fmooth^ and turn down his houfing- 
 cloths upon it; then anoint his hoofs round from 
 the cornet to the toe with this ointment. -;^ 
 
 Take 4 ounces of Venice- turpentine j 3 ounces of 
 the beft rojin^ of bees-wax 2 ounces, i pound of 
 dog's greaje^ and half a pint of tratn oil ; melt all^ 
 thefe ingredients together, except the turpentine y 
 then take them off the fire, and put in the turpentine^ 
 liirring it ti'l it be well incorporated ; then pour lE 
 out into an earthen gallipot, and keep it forufe,. but 
 do not cover it till it is cold. 
 
 / >- — ^^^'"^ 
 
[42] 
 
 After this, flop his feet with cow- dung. If by 
 this time your horfe has eaten his oats with a good 
 ftoraach, fift him another quartern, and (o feed him 
 with little and little, while he eats with an appe- 
 tite; but if you find he fumbles with his corn, give 
 him no more for that time, but always give him his 
 full feeding, for that will keep his body in better 
 flate and temper, and increafe his ftrength and 
 vigour. 
 
 Whereas, on the contrary, to keep your horfe 
 always fharp-fet, is the ready way to procure a fur- 
 feit, if at any time he can come at his fill of pro- 
 vender. 
 
 But though you (hould perceive thatt he gather* 
 flelh too faft upon fuch home feeding, yet be fur« 
 not to ftint him for it, but only increafe his labour,, 
 and that will affift both his ftrength and wind. 
 
 Having done all the things before directed, dull a 
 pretty quantity of hay, and throw it down tohimont 
 bis litter, after you have taken it up under him j 
 and then fliutting up the windows and ftable door, 
 kave him till one o'clock in the afternoon ; then 
 vifit him again, and rub over his head, neck, fillets, 
 buttocks, and legs as before, with the hair patch and 
 woollen cloth, and then leave him to the time of the 
 evening watering, which fliould be about four 
 o'clock in the fummer, and three in the winter ; 
 when having put back his foul litter, and fwept away 
 that and his dung, drefs and faddle him, as before, 
 mount him and take him to the water, and when he 
 has drank, gallop him, and air him till you think it 
 time to go home ; where )ou are to order in all 
 points, as to rubbing, feeding, flopping his feet, iyc. 
 as you did in the morning, and having fed him about 
 fix o'clock, do not fail to feed him again at nine, 
 litter him well, and give him hay enough to ferve him. 
 all night ^ and fo leave him till next morning. 
 
 ,^fter 
 
[ 43 ] ■ 
 
 After the dire<$^ions for this one day, fo muft you 
 order him for a fortnight, and by that time his fieOi 
 will be fo hardened, and his wind fo improved j his 
 mouth will be fo quickened, and his gallop brought 
 to fo good a flroke, that he will be fit to be put to 
 moderate hunting. 
 
 Now during this fortnight's keeping, you are to 
 make feveral obfervations, as to the nature and dif- 
 poficion of your horfe, the temper of his body, the 
 couife of his digeftion, t^c, and to order him accor- 
 dingly. 
 
 1. Whether he be of a churlifh difpofition ; if foy 
 you muft reclaim him by feverity. 
 
 If of a gentle, familiar, and loving temper, you 
 muft engage and win him by kindnefs. 
 
 2. You muft obferve, whether he be a foul feeder^ 
 or of a nice ftomach ; if he be quick at his meat, 
 and retain a good ftomach, then four times of full 
 feeding in a night and a day are fufEcient j but if he 
 be a {lender feeder, and flow at his meat, then you 
 muft give him but little at a time, and often, as 
 about every two hours, for frefh meat will draw on 
 his appetite; and you muft always leave a little meat 
 in his locker, for him to eat at ieifure betwixt his 
 feeding times; and if at any time you find any left, 
 fweep it away and give him ftefti, and expofe that to 
 the fun and air, which will reduce it again to it^ 
 firft fweetnefs as before it was blown upon. 
 
 His ftomach may alfo be fharpened by change of 
 meat, as by giving one meal clean oats, and at ano- 
 ther oats and fplit beans, and when you have brought 
 him to eat bread, you may give him another meal of 
 bread ; always obferving to give him ofteneft that 
 which you find he likes beft; or you may give him 
 both corn and bread at the fame time, provided you 
 give him that laft which he eats beft, and which is 
 of the beft digeftion. 
 
 It 
 
 .^ 
 
 f 
 
_ [ 44 ] 
 
 It has been obferved of fome horfes, that they are 
 ©f fo hot a coni^itution, tha: they cannct eat without 
 drinking at every bit; and thofe hones ufaally carry 
 no belly. You muft let a pail of water ftand contr- 
 nuallv before fuch horfes, or at leaft o-ive them water 
 at noon, befides what they have abroad at their ordi- 
 nary t;me5. 
 
 Jn the next place, you are to obferve the nature 
 of his digeft ion, \vhe:her he retains his food long, 
 which is a flgn of bud digeP.ion; or whether he 
 dungs frequently, which if he does, and his dung 
 be loofe aiidbriin:,. it is a llgn of a good habit of 
 body ; but if it be feldom and hard, it is a fign of a 
 dry conftirution : in order to remedy which, give 
 him once a cay a handful or two of oats, well wa(h- 
 ed in good ftrong u.'e, and this will looien his body 
 ard keep him moili 3 and it will alio be good for his 
 wind. 
 
 The ficond fortnigbt^s diet for a Hunting Horse. 
 
 The hoife having been ordered for the fix ft fort- 
 Eight, according to the foregoing rules, will be ia 
 a pretty good ftate of body, for the grofs humours 
 in him Aili be dried up, and his flefli will begin to be 
 hardened, which you may perceive by feeling his 
 cb{iuli hisy2>;/-/ ribi and fiank ; for the kernels under 
 his chaps will not feel fj grofs as they did athrfl-, noc 
 will bis fiefh on his Ihort ribs feel fo foft aid loofe, 
 nor the ihin part of his fiank fo thick as at his tirft 
 houfirg, fo that you may now wittiout hazard, ven« 
 ture to hunt him moderately. 
 
 The time being row come that he may be hunted, 
 he is to be ordered on his days of reil, in ail points, 
 as to his dreiilr.g, hours of leeding, watering. Sec. 
 as in the nSx fortnight before di reeled ; but orJy 
 fince his labour is nov?,- increai'ed, you muft endeavour 
 t0 increaie his flren^'h ani courage like wife. 
 
 Take. 
 
L45 ] 
 
 Take two pecks of clean old beans, and one peck 
 of wheat, and let them be ground together and fift 
 the meal thro' a mea; Heve of an indifferent iinencfs 
 and knead it with warm water and a good ftcre of 
 yeaft j then let it lie an hour, or more, to fweil, 
 which will make the bread the lighter, and have 
 the eafier and quicker digeftion ; and after it has 
 been well kneaded, make it up in loaves of a peck 
 a piece, which will prevent there being too much 
 cruft, and prevent it's drying too foon ; let them be 
 well baked, and iland a good whii^e in the oven to 
 foak : when they are drawn, turn tbe bottoms up- 
 wards and let th?m ^znd to dry. 
 
 When the bread is a da? old, chip away the cru^, 
 a"d you may give the horfe Tome, giving him fome- 
 times bread, fomeiimes oats, and r:^metinies oat5 
 and fplit beans, according as you find his ftcmach : 
 and this feeding will bring him into £s good con- 
 dition as you need to denre for ordinary hunting. 
 
 The firft fortnight being expifed, and the bread 
 prepared, you ought then to pitch upon a day for his 
 going abroad after the dogs, and the dav before vou 
 hunf, he muft always be ordered after this manner. 
 
 In the m:rning proceed in your ufuai methc-d as 
 before, only obferve that day to give him no beans, 
 beciufe they are hard of digeftion but give him 
 moft of bread if you can d.-aw him to eat it, be- 
 caufe it is more nourifhing than oats ; and after the 
 evening, which ought to be fomewhat earlier than 
 at other times, give him only a l:ttle hav out of your 
 hand, and no more till tlie next dsy that he returns 
 from hunting ; and to prevent his eating his litter ; 
 or any thing elfeb^twhat you give him; inftead of 
 a muzzle put on a cavellbn, joined to a head-ftali of 
 a bridle lined with leather, for fear of hurting him, 
 and tyin? it fo tight as to hinder his eaticg -, and this 
 
 will 
 
r 46 ] 
 
 will prevent flcknefs in your horfe, which fome 
 horfes are incident to when their muzzle is put on, 
 notwithftanding the invention of the lattice window 
 fo much ufed ; but by taking this method, the 
 horfe's noftrils are at full liberty, and he will not 
 grow fiCk. 
 
 But as to corn, give him his meals, both after his 
 watering-, and «ttnine o'clock, and at that time be 
 fure to litter him well, that he may take his reft the 
 better that night, and then leave him till morning. 
 
 The next morning vifit him early, at about four 
 o'clock, and put a quarter of a peck of clean drefled 
 oats into his locker, pouring into it a quart of good 
 firongale, mixing the oats and ale well together; 
 then put back his dung and foul litter, and clean the 
 flable : but if he will not eat wafhed oats, give him 
 dry, but be fure not to put any beans in them. 
 
 When he has done eating, bridle him, and tie 
 him up to the ring and drefs him : having drefTed 
 him, faddlehim, and throw his cloth over him, arid 
 let him fland till the hounds are ready to go out. 
 
 Take care not to draw the faddle girths too 
 ftreight till you are ready to mount, left that fhould 
 caufe him to grow fick. 
 
 Tho' old horfes are generally fo crafty, that when 
 a groom goes to girt them up hard, they will extend 
 their bodies fo much by holding their wind (on pur- 
 pofe to gain eafe after they are girt ; that it will feem 
 difficult to girt them, but when they let go their 
 wind their bodies fall again. 
 
 When the hounds are unkennelled, (which (hould 
 not be before fun-rifmg) go into the field along 
 with them, and rake your horfe up and down gently 
 till zhare isftarted ; always remembering to let him 
 fmell to the dung of other horfes, if there be any, 
 which will provoke him to empty himfelf ; and fuffer 
 
 him 
 
[ 47 1 
 him to ftand flill till he does (o -, and if there be any 
 dezdfrogs^ rufhes, or the like, ride him upon them, 
 and whiftle to him, to provoke him to ftale and 
 empty his bladder. 
 
 The hare being ftarted, follow the hounds as the 
 other hunters do : but remembering it to be the firft 
 time of his hunting, he is not (o v/ell acqu^int^d 
 with the difte rent forts of grounds, as to know how 
 to gallop f^Tioothly and with eafe on them, and for 
 that reafon you ought not yet to put him to above 
 half his fpeed, that he may learn to carry a tiaj'd 
 body, and to manage his legs both upon fallows and 
 green fwarth. 
 
 Neither (hould you gallop him often, er any lonaj 
 time together, for fear of difcouraging him, and 
 , caufing a diflike of his exercife in him : and taice 
 , care to crofs fields to the beft advantage ; you fhould 
 make into the hounds at every default, and ftill keep 
 your horfe (as much as thefe dire6}:ions will allow 
 you) within the cry of the dogs, that he may beufed 
 to their cry ; and by fo doing, in a very fhort time 
 he v/ill take fuch delight and pleafure in their mufic, 
 that he will be eager ro follovv them. 
 
 And if it happen that the chace is led over any 
 
 carpet-ground, or fandy highway, on which your 
 
 horfe may lay out his body fmoothly, there you may 
 
 gallop him for a quarter or half a mile, to teach him 
 
 to lay out his body, to gather up his legs, to lengthen 
 
 and fliorten his ftroke, and according to the different 
 
 earth he gallops on, as if on green Jiuartb, meadow^ 
 
 niQorey heathy &c. then, to ftoop and run more on the 
 
 (hioulders ; if 2Ln\ong{\mGlehiI/s, or over high ridges 
 
 ^nd furrowsy then to gallop more roundly or in lefs 
 
 compafs, or according to, the vulgar phrafe, iws up 
 
 , and two down^ that thereby he may ftrike his fur- 
 
 ; -row clear, and avoid fetting his fore-feet in the bot- 
 
 ;)tom of it, and by that means fall over \ but, by the 
 
 way. 
 
C 48 1 
 
 way, galloping, tho* he (hould happen to fet his 
 feet in a furrow, yet carryinghis body fo round, and 
 refting on the hand in his gallop, would prevent his 
 falling; and to his perfection, nothing but ufe, and 
 fuch moderate exercife, can bring him. 
 
 *\ccording to thefe dire<S^ions, you may hunt till 
 about three o'clock in the afternoon, at which time 
 ride him home in a foot-pace, as you came out in the 
 morning ; and be fure that you let him walk out of 
 the field ; and as you are going home, confider 
 whether he hath fweat a little^ (for you muft not 
 fweat him much the firft time) but if not, then gal- 
 lop him gently on fome fkelping earth, till he fweat 
 at the roots of his ears, a little on his neck, and in 
 his flank ; but it muft be done of his own voluntary 
 motion, without the compulfion of whip or fpur ; 
 and then when he is cool as aforefaid, have him 
 home and ftable him, and by no means walk him in 
 hand to cool him, for fear of his cooling too faft, nor 
 do not wafii him, for fear of caufmg an obftrud^ion 
 of the natural courfe of the humours, and by that 
 means caufe an inflammation in his legs, which is 
 the original caufe of the fcratches. 
 
 His ftaii being well littered againft he comes home, 
 fet him up, tying his head to the ring with the bridle, 
 and then rub him v/ell down with dry ftraw all over 
 his head, neck, fore bowels, belly, flank, buttocks, 
 aud legs, and after that rub his body over with a 
 dry cloth, till he has not a wet hair left about him ; 
 the place where the faddle was, dry, in like manner, 
 and cloath him immediately with his ordinary 
 cloaths left he take cold ; and if you fuppofe him 
 to be very hot, throw a fpare cloth over him, that 
 he may not cool too faft, which you may abate when 
 . you pleafe, and fo let him ftand on his fnaffle, two 
 hours or better, now and then ftirring him in his 
 
 ftall 
 
t 49 ] 
 ftall with your whip, to prevent him from growing 
 ftiiFinthe legs and -oints. 
 
 When that time is expired, and you think he is 
 thorough cold, draw his bridle, rub his head, pick: 
 his feet from dirt or gravel, and put on his collar, ^ 
 and give him a quart or three pints of fifted oats^/r^jp 
 mixed with a handful of clean drefled hcmpfeed ; but>:^^ 
 give him not more than the quantity prefcribed, foi 
 tear of taking away his flomach, which WiU be very 
 much weakened through the heat of his body, and 
 want of w^ater. 
 
 Then take cfF the fpare cloth, (if it has not been \ 
 done before) for fear of keeping him hot too long; 
 and when he has eaten his corn, throw a pretcy 
 quantity of hay, clean dulled, on his litter, and let 
 him reft two or three hours, or thereabouts. 
 
 Then having prepared him a good mafh, made of 
 half a peck of malt, well ground, and boiling hot 
 water, fo much as the malt will fweeten and the ^* ^ 
 horfewill drink, flir them well together, and cover jL 
 it over with a cloth, till the water has cxtracSled the J 
 ftrength of the malt, which will be almoft as fweet 5- 
 as honey, and feel ropy like bird-lime; being but -ft^ 
 little more than blood-warm, give it the horfe, 
 but not before, left the ftcam go up his noftrils and 
 offend him ; and when he has drank up the water, 
 let him, if he pleafe, eat the malt too. 
 
 But if he refufe to drink it, you muft not give 
 him any other water that night, but place this 
 drink in fome place of his ftall, fo that he may not 
 throw it down, and let it ftand by him all night» 
 that he may drink it when he pleafes. 
 
 This mafti, or, as it is c^iWtA^horfe-caudle^ will com- 
 fort his ftomach, and keep his body in a due tem- 
 perate heat after his day's hunting ; it vvill cleanfc 
 and bring away all manner of greafe and grofs hu- 
 mours, which have been diftblvcd by the day's la- 
 C bour; 
 
r- 
 
 [ 50 3 
 
 bour; and the fume of the malt grains, after he has 
 drank the water, will difperfe the watery humours 
 which might otherwife annoy h;>i^head, and is al- 
 lowed by aM (killed in horfes, to be ^^r^^ advan- 
 tageous on that account. 
 
 After he has eaten his.mafli, ftrip him of his 
 cloathes» and run him over with 2, curry-comb^ Freruh 
 LruhO^ hair patchy woollen and cloih^ and cloath . him 
 up again , and cleanfe his legs as v/ell as his body, 
 <>f all dirt and filth which may annoy them, and 
 then remove him into another ftall, (that you may 
 not wet his Utter) and bathe his le^s all over from 
 
 ;j^*^the knees with warm leef-broih^ or (which is better) 
 with a quart of warm urin:^ in which four ounces. 
 
 oi Jalt'petre has-been dilTolved; then rub his legs 
 
 dry, fet him again into his flall^ and give hirn a good 
 home feeding cf oats, or bread, which he likes. beA, 
 
 f,y or both, and havingiliook good (lore of litter under 
 .him. that he may reft the better, and thrown him 
 -hay enough far all night, fhut the liable door cloie, 
 and leave him to his reft till the next morning. 
 About fix prfeven o'clock the next morning, go 
 ^ ^ to hiin again, but don't difturb him, forthe morn- 
 V* ino's reft is as refrefhing to a horfe as to.a man ; but- 
 v^ i when he rifes of his own accord, go to him,, put 
 >V - back his dung from his litter, and obferve what co- 
 ^\^ lour it is of, whether it be grcafy, and ftiine out- 
 ^ \yardly, and'alfo break it with your feet, to fee if it 
 ^ be fo inwardly, for if it be greafy and foul, (which 
 ^^-^\ou ma^i kno\Y by its fhining outwardly, and by the 
 fpots like foap that WiH appear within) or if it ap- 
 pear of a dark brown colour, and harder than it was, 
 jt.is a token that the hunting of the day before has 
 done him good, by difToIving part of the inward 
 clut which was within him ; and therefore the next 
 Vime you hunt, you (hould increafe his labour but a 
 S little. 
 
[51 ] 
 
 But if you perceive no fuch fymptoms, but that 
 his dung appears bright, and rathep joft than hard^ 
 without greafe, and in a word, that it holds the fame 
 pale yellow colour that it did before he hunted, 
 it is a fign that a day^s hunting made no diffoluiion^ 
 but that his body remains in the fame ftate iiil!, and 
 therefore the next day's hunting you may almoft 
 double his labour. 
 
 Having made thefe remarks on his dung^ then you «m 
 may proceed to order him as on his days of reft; that 
 is to fay, you fhall give him a handful or two of oats 
 before water, then drefs, water, air, feed, ^c, as 
 in the firft fortnight. 
 
 If you find him quick, and that he retains his 
 bread but a little while, then only chip his bread 
 lightly; but if it be flow, and he retains it long, 
 then cut away all the crufl and give it to fome other 
 horfe, and feed the hunting horfe only with the 
 crumby for that being light of digeftion, is foon con- 
 verted into chyle and excrements, but the cruft being 
 not fo foon digeftible, requires, by reafen of itshard* 
 nefs, longer time before it is conceded. 4 
 
 The next day after your horfe has refled, you may-^^^ 
 hur.t him again as you did the firft day, obferving 
 from the remarks you have made, to hunt him more 
 or lefs according as you find his temper and confti- 
 tution ; and when you come home, put in practice 
 the rules juft now given. 
 
 And thus you may hunt him three times a week 
 for a fortnight together, but do not fail to give him 
 his full feeding, and no other Jcourings but mafhes and 
 hemp-feed, which is equal in its virtue with the 
 former, and only carries ofF fupeffluous humours in 
 the dung, 
 
 Cz lh 
 
[52] 
 
 The chlrd fortnighfs diet, &c. for J Hunting- 
 Horse. 
 
 By this time the horfe will be drawn fo clean, hit 
 
 fiefh will be fo enfeamed, and his wind fo improved, 
 that he will be able to ride a chafe of three or four 
 miles without blowing or fv/eating ; and you may 
 find by his ^haul and Jl7nk, as well as his rih^ that 
 he is in an indifferent good ftate of body and there- 
 fore iji this next fortnight you muft increafe his la- 
 bour, and by that means you will be able to make a 
 judgment of ^vhat.he will be able to do, and whether 
 or no he will becveriit for running for /)/<2/^j, or a 
 mrdch. 
 
 When your horfe is fee over night, and fed early 
 in the morning, as has been di reded for the fecond 
 fortnight, then go into the field with him, and when 
 he is empty, (as he will be by that time you have 
 frarted your, game) follow the dogs at a good round 
 rate, as at half fpeed, and fo continue till you have 
 cither killed or lofl your firft har£. 
 
 This will fo rack your horfe, and he will have fo 
 emptied himfclf, that he will be in a fit condition to 
 be rid the next chafe brifkly, which as foon as it is 
 begun, you^ay fcjlow the dogs at three quarters 
 fpeed, and as mar as is fit for a good horfeman, and 
 ll^ilful huntfmani but be Jure to take care not to 
 ilrain him. 
 
 During this day's riding, you ought to obferve 
 nicely, your Xxoxit's fwe^n, unMr \x\sfaddh and fere- 
 bowels-i and jf it appear white, lil;e froth or foapr 
 fuds, it is a fign jof inward glut and foul-nefs, and 
 that your day's exercife was enough for him, tbeje- 
 fore ride him home, and order him a^ before di- 
 reaed. 
 
 But if it has happened that your exercife has been 
 r?. cafy as not to Iweat your hoxie thoroughly, then 
 
 you 
 
C 53 ] 
 
 you ought to make a train- fcenfe of four miles m 
 length, or thereabouts, and laying on your fleeteft 
 dogs, ride it brifkly, and afterwards cool him in the 
 field, and ride him home and ojder him as has beea 
 before directed. 
 
 A train- fcent^ is the trailing of a dead cat or fox,/f' 
 (and in cafe of neceility a red herring) three or four*""^ 
 miles, according as the rider' iliall pleafe, and then 
 laying the dogs on the fcent. 
 
 It will be proper to keep tv/o or three couple of 
 the fleeted hounds that can poflibly be procured, for 
 this purpofe. 
 
 When you take off your horfe^s bridle, give him a 
 good quantity of rj^ bread ini^iQzd of temp-fied a.n<\ 
 eais, and for that purpofe bake a peck loaf, for this y: 
 being cold and moiil, v/iil be of ufe to cool his ^^jfA 
 after his labour, and prevent codivenefs, to which- ,'; 
 you wirll find him addided \ then give him hay, and 
 afterwards a mafli, and order him in all things as 
 before dire£led. 
 
 The next morning, if you perceive by his dung 
 that his body is diftempered, and that he is hard and 
 bound, then take fome crumbs of your rye-bread, 
 and work it with as much fweet frelh butter as will 
 make it into a pafte, and make it up into balls about 
 the bignefs of a large walnut, of which give hurb 
 five or fix in a morning faffing. 
 
 After this put the faddle on upon the cloth, get 
 up and gallop him gently upon fome grafs plot or 
 clofe that is near at hand, till he begins lo fv/eat un- . 
 der his ears, and then carry him into the ftable again, 
 rub him well, and throw a fpare cloth over him*, 
 and a good quantity of frefh litter under him, ard 
 Itt him {land two hours on the bridle ; then give 
 him a quantity of rye-bread^ and fome hc4y to chew 
 upon, then procure him a warm malli, and feed him 
 
 witU 
 
[ 54 ] 
 
 with bread and corn, as much as he will eat, and 
 alio as much hay as he will eat. 
 
 The next ddj water him abroad, and order him 
 as is before direcled for days of reft. 
 
 The next day you may hunt him again, but not 
 fo hard as you did the time before, till the after- 
 ^noon; but then ride him after the dogs brifkly, and 
 if that does not make*him fweat thoroughly, make 
 another traln-fcent^ and follow the dogs three quar- 
 ters fpeed, that he may fweat heartily : then cool 
 him a little, and ride him home, and as foon as he 
 is come Into the ftable, give him two or three 
 balls as big as walnuts, of the following excellent 
 fcouring. 
 
 Take of butter, eight ounces ; Icnhive eleSfuart^ 
 ^ four ounces 3 grcmivel broom, and purJJy-Jeedsy of each 
 ,^two ounces ; amiijeeds, liquoricey and cream of tartar^ 
 of each one ounce ; of jalap, two ounces ; reduce 
 the feeds to a powder, then fiir them into a parte 
 with the eleSluary and butter, knead it w^U together, 
 put it into a pot, and keep it clofe flopped for ufe. 
 
 As foon as the horfe has taken thefe balls, rub him 
 dry, drefs him, and cloath him warm, and let him 
 ftand two or three hours upon the fnafflej and after- 
 wards give him two or three handfuls of rye-bread, 
 and order him as you have been dire£ted before, as 
 to hay, provendc^, mafh, l^c, and fo leave him till 
 the morning. 
 
 In the morning take notice of his dung, whether 
 it ftill retains the true colour, or be dark, blacky or 
 -rriand high-coloured : in the next place, whether it 
 be loofe and thin, or hard and dry. 
 
 If it be o^ -a. pale yellow, which is the right colour, 
 it is a fign of heahh, firength, and cleannefs ; if it 
 be dark, or black, then it is a fign there is greaje and 
 t)ther ill humours ilirred up, v/hich are not yet eva- 
 cuated ; if it be red^A high-coloured^ then it is a fign 
 
 that 
 
C 55 ] 
 
 that his blood is fevcrifh and diftempered, by means 
 of inward heat : if it be loofe and thin, it is a figa 
 of weaknefs ; but if hard and dry, it (hews the horfe 
 to be hot inwardly, or elfe that he is a foul feeder : 
 but if his dung be in a nnedium between hard and 
 foft, and fmell firong, ic is a fign of health and 
 vigour. 
 
 When thefe obfervations have been made on his 
 dung, then feed^ drefs^ wner^ ^Jc, as on his ufual 
 days of refi-, alv/ays letting him have variety, and his 
 fill of corn and bread. 
 
 The next day have him abroad into the field again, 
 but do not by any means put him to any labour 
 more than raking him from hill to hill after the 
 dogs, keeping him within found of their cry ; for 
 the intent of this day's exercife is only to keep him 
 in breath, and procure him an appctitfc. 
 
 In riding, let him fland Hill to dung, and look 
 back on it, that you may be able to judge of his 
 ilate thereby. 
 
 When the day is near fpent, ride him home with-- 
 out the leaft fweat, and order him as at other times^ 
 except that you are not to give him ^Vij fcouringsy or 
 rye-bread. 
 
 You may, if you pleafe, this day, water your 
 horfe, both at going into the field and coming out,, 
 galloping him after it, to warm the water in his 
 belly. 
 
 The next day being to be a day of red, order hlni 
 in the fame manner in every relpcvSi; as on other days- 
 of reft; and as you have fpent this week, }'ou rr^ulk 
 fpend the next, without any alteration ; and by this 
 time, and this management, you may deper)d upoa 
 it that your hoife has been drawn clean enough lujr 
 ordinary hunting. 
 
 Having thus drawn your horfe clean according to 
 
 ■art, you will perceive thofe figns befoic mentioned 
 
 C 4 verjp 
 
is6\ 
 
 very plainly, for his flefh on his fhort ribs and but- 
 tocks will be as hard as brawn^ his Jiank will be 
 thin, and nothing to be feit but a double fkin, and 
 chaps fo clean from fat, glut, or kermis^ that you may 
 hWe your fifls in them ; and above all, this exercife 
 will give plain demcnftration of the effe^tualnefs of 
 this method of ordering him, for he v/i)l run three 
 or four miles three quarters fpeed without fweating, 
 or fcarce fo much as blcwing. 
 
 When the horfe has been brought to this ftatc, 
 you mud ufe no more fcourings afrer hunting, (be- 
 caufe natuic has nothing to work on) but rye-bread 
 and ma{h. except the horfe be now and then trou- 
 bled with fome liitlc pofe in his head j and then 
 bruife a little muflard fetd in a fine linen rag, and 
 fletp it in a quart of flrong ale, for thiee or four 
 hours, and then untying the rag, mix the muftard 
 feed and the ale with a quarter of a peck of oats, 
 and give it to him. 
 
 In the laft place, the horfe having been thus 
 drawn clean, you ought to take care not to let him 
 glow foul again, through want of either airing or 
 hunting, or any other negligence, left by that mean* 
 you make yourfelf a double trouble. 
 
 Cy^r^/^w^ Hunting ^w^Race Horses, 
 Procure either an Arabian, a Spawjhy or Jurk'ijhy 
 horfe, or a Barb for a Stallkn, which is well-ftiaped, 
 and of a good colour, to beautify your race j and 
 forne advife that he be well marked too, tho* others 
 are of opinion, that marks are not fo fignificant as 
 Mr. Blundeviile and Fredcrigo Crijfone would have us 
 believe. 
 
 Thofe who have travelled into thofe parts report, 
 that the right /lrahu>in horfes aie valued at an almoft 
 incredil)!t rate, at five hundied, and others fay, two 
 •r three thoufand pounds an horfe ; that the Arahi 
 
 are 
 
C 57 1 
 
 arc as careful of keeping the genealogies of therr 
 horles, as princes are in keeping their pedigrees v 
 that they keep them with medals ; and that each 
 fon's portion is ufually twofuits of arms, two fcyme- 
 ters, and one of thefe horles. The yfrabjhoa^^ that 
 they will ride eighty miles a day without drawing 
 bitt ; which is no more than has been performed by 
 feveral of our Engli/b horfes. 
 
 But much more was performed ln» a highwayman's 
 horfe, who having committed a robbery, rode on tire 
 fame day from London to Torky being two bundled 
 miles 
 
 Notwithftanding their great value, and the diiH- 
 culty in bringing them trom Sccndcroon to Efiglaml 
 by fea, vet by the care and charge ofibme breeders 
 in the north, the jlrahian horfe is na llranger to 
 thole parts, where probably may be feen-at this day 
 fome of the race, if not a true Arabian flallion. 
 
 The Spanijh horfe (in the duke of Nc^.L'ca/lle^ ^P^'^.iL 
 nion) is the nobleft horfe in the world, and the moftTj 
 beautiful that can be; no horle is fo beautifully 
 fhaped all over from hd-idto croups and he is abfolutely 
 x\\<i ht\k /ioilion in the world, either for breed, for 
 the manage, the war, the pad, hunting, or running 
 horfes ; but as they are excellent, (o is their price 
 extravagant, thre^; or four hundred pifloles being a 
 common price for a Spuiiijh horfe. 
 
 Several have been fold for (tvQxx hundred, eight 
 hundred, and a ihoufand piftolcs a-piece. 
 
 The beli Sp^nr/b horfes aiebied in j'hidalujia^ and 
 particularly at Cor.iou::., where the king has man/ 
 - lluds of mares, and i'o iikewifu hav-c feveral cf the: 
 Spanijh nobility and gei.try. 
 
 Now be fides tbc great price they cofl at {u\}^ tl>s- 
 charges of the journey from Spain to Engleivd.v.n\\\)ii 
 very confidcratile i for firil they mufi travel from yf«- 
 diihijla to Bllboiiy or St. Sebii/iian^ the iieartlb ports 
 
Wi 
 
 nt 
 
 [-58] 
 
 to EnglavdfZnd Is at the leaft four hundred miles : and 
 in that hot country, you cannot v/ich fafety travel 
 your horfe above twenty miles a day -, and befides, 
 you muft be at the expenc of a Groom and Farriery 
 bsfides the cafualty of ficknefs, lamenefs and death: 
 fo that if he fliould happen to prove an extraordinary 
 good horfe, by the time you have got him home, he 
 nW alfo be an extraordinary dear one. 
 
 The Turkijh horfe is but little inferior to the Spa^ 
 ,jjh in beauty, but fomewhat odd (haped, his head 
 beino- fomewhat like that of a camel-, he hath excel- 
 lent eyes, a thin neck, excellent rifen, and fome- 
 what large of body j his croup is like that of a 
 Barb^ but very fmewy, good patterns, and good 
 hoofs : they never amble, but trot very well, and 
 are at prefent accounted better ftallions for galloppers 
 than Barbs. 
 
 Some merchants tell us, that there cannot be a 
 more noble and diverting fight to a lover of horfes, 
 than to walk into the paftures near Conjiantincphy 
 libout foiling time, where.he may fee many hundred 
 gallant horfes tethered, and every horfe has his atten- 
 dant or keeper, with his little tent placed near him 
 to lie in, that he may look to him and take care to 
 fhift him toirefhgrafs. 
 
 The price of a lurkijh horfe is commonly one , 
 hundred or one hundred and fifty pounds ; and 
 when bouo-ht, it is difficult to get a pafs, the Grand 
 gignior being (o very flria, that he feldom (but 
 upon very extraordinary occafions) permits any of 
 his horfes to be exported. 
 
 But if you fhould attain a liberty fo to do, and 
 travel by land, unlefs you have a Turk or two for a 
 ncovoy, you will be fure to have them feized on by 
 the way. 
 
[59'i 
 
 And befides, you will find the fame difficulties of 
 a long journey, for you mufi: come through Germany^ 
 which is a very long w^y, and Jthe fame charges at- 
 tending it^ that is, a Groom and Farrier, who muft 
 be careful that they intruft no perfon whatfoever with 
 the care of him but themfelves, efpecially in (hoeing 
 him, for 'tis the common practice beyond fea, as 
 ;well as here, wherever th.ey fee, a fine horfe, to hire 
 a farrier to prick him, that they may buy him for a- 
 ftallion. 
 
 But fome perfons chufe to buy horfes at Smyrna ia 
 
 Antvlia^ and from thence, and likewife from Con- 
 
 Jhntinople^ to tranfport them to England by fea,. which 
 
 .if the wind ferves right, arrive in England in a 
 
 month J though generally the merchants voyages are 
 
 not made in much lefs than tv/o or three months. 
 
 The Barb is little inferior to any of the former in- 
 
 beauty ; but our modern breeders account him too 
 
 flender and lady-like to breed on,, and therefore, in 
 
 the north of England^ they prefer the Spanijh and 
 
 l^urkijh horfe before him. 
 
 He is fo lazy and negligent in his walk, that ha- 
 will ftumble on carpet-ground. 
 
 His trot is like that of a cow, his gallop low, and 
 'with much eafe to himfelf ; but he is for the mofb 
 part finewy and nervous-, excellently v/inded, and; 
 good for a courje if he be not over- weighed. 
 
 The mountain Barbs ^vt efteemed the beiT,. becaufe- 
 they are ftrongeft and largeft : they belong to the Jl- 
 larbes, who value them themfelves as much as other 
 nations do, and therefore will not part with them to 
 any perfons, except to t\\Q Ftinceof,ihe land, to which. 
 they belong, v/ho can at, any time at his, pleafure 
 command them for his own ufe : JDut rfor the other 
 more ordinary fort,, they are to be .met with pretty 
 common in the hands of our nobility and gentry ; or 
 if you fend to Languedocy or Provencey in France^ 
 
 they 
 
i 60 ] 
 
 they jnay bebought there for forty or fifty piftoles a 
 hojfe 
 
 Or if you fend to Barbtiry^ you may buy one for 
 thirty pounds, or thereabouts j but in this cafe too, 
 the charges and journey will be great ; for tho* it be 
 no great voyage from Tunis io Mar/eiiiesin France^ 
 yet from Mar/ei lies to Calais^ by Iand.» is the whole 
 length of France, and from thence they are {hipped 
 /br England. 
 
 The next thing to be confidered is the choice of 
 margSy and according to the duke of Newcajils's opi- 
 nion, the fitted mare to breed out o^", is one that has 
 been bred of an Engltfo mare hy fire and dam, that is 
 well fore-handed, well underlaid, and ftrong put toge- 
 ther in general ; and in particular, fee that Ibe have a 
 lean head, v/ide noftriJs, open chaul, a big weajand, 
 and the xvirid pipe ftrait and loofe ; and of about five 
 -or f^K years old 3 and be fure that the ftallion be not 
 too old. 
 
 As for the feed of the Stallion ; 
 
 Keep him as high as pofTibly you can, for the firft 
 four or five months before the time of coV£ring, with 
 old clean oa!s znd Ipiit beanl, well huii'd, and if you 
 pleafe \ou may add bread to them, fuch as you will 
 hereafter be dire^Stcd to make ; and now and then a 
 handful of clean wheat may be given him, or oats 
 v/afned in firong ale, for variety* 
 
 Be fure to let him have plenty of gc6d old fwea hay^ 
 vrell cleanfed from duft, and good wheat ftrav/ to lie 
 on } v/ater him twice a c^ay, ^t fome fair running 
 ftream, or el fe in a clear (landing pond water, if you- 
 canno: have the firft;' and gallop him after he hath 
 drank, in fcnid nieadow or level piece of ground. 
 
 Do nor fufFef hiir. to drink his fill at his firft coming 
 to the water, biit after "his "firft .draughtj gallop an*! 
 
 fcrope 
 
[ 6i ] 
 fcopc him up and down to warm him, and then hrln^ 
 him to the water again and let him drink his fill, gal- 
 loping him again as before, never leaving the water 
 till he has drank as much as he will. 
 
 By this means you will prevent raw crudities, 
 which the coldnefs of the wa(er would otherwife 
 produce, to the detriment of his ftomach, if you 
 had permitted him to drink his fill at firft ; whereas 
 by allowing him his fill (tho* by degrees) at iaft, 
 you keep his body from drying too faft. 
 
 As for other lules for the oideiing him after wa- 
 tering, and the hours of feeding, b'V. they will be 
 more proper. 
 
 When the flallion is in luft, and the time of co- 
 vering is come, v/hich is beO- to be in May^ that 
 the foals may fall in the v^/)/-// following, otherwife 
 they will have little or no grafs. 
 
 Then pull oft his hinder fhoes, and lead him to the 
 place where the ftud of mares are which you intend 
 for covering; which place ought to be a cJofe, well 
 fenced, and in it a little hut for a man to iieip, and 
 a large flied with a marger, to feed your ftallion 
 with bread and corn during his abode with the mares, 
 and (helter for him in the heat cf the day, and in 
 rainy weather : and this clofeoLi^ht to be of fuificient 
 largenefs to keep the maies well for two monthw*^. 
 
 Before you pull off his bridle, let hini coveV a mare 
 or two in hand, then turn him loofe aniong them, 
 and put alt your mares to him, as well thole that arc 
 with foal, as thofe which are not, for there is no 
 danger in it ; and by that means they v/i!l all be 
 ferved in the height of their lutt, an-d according to 
 the intention of natire. 
 
 When your ihi ion has ccvercd them once, he 
 will try them all OV' r again, and thofe that will ad- 
 mit him, he will ferve ; and when he has done his^ 
 bufineis, he will beatagainft the pales, and attempt 
 
 to 
 
[62] 
 
 to be at liberty, which when your man finds, (who 
 is to obferve them night and day, and ta take care 
 that no other mares are put to your horfe, and ta 
 give you an account which take the horfe, and 
 which not, &c.) then take him up, and keep him 
 well as you did before, firft giving him a ma(h or 
 two, to help to reRore nature y for you will find him 
 little but fkin and bones, and his mane and tail will 
 rot off. 
 
 Be fure never to give him above ten or twelve 
 mares in a feafon at mod, otherwife you will fcarce 
 recover him againft the next covering time. 
 
 Some advife to covering in hand^ as the other is 
 called coveting out of bandy and is as follows : When 
 you have brought both your horfe and your mare to 
 a proper condition for breeding, by art and good 
 feeding, then fet fome ordinary ftone nag by her for 
 a day or two, to woo her, and that will make her 
 fo prone to luft, that (he will readily receive your 
 ilallion, which you fhould prefent to her,^ either 
 early in a morning, or late in an evenings for a day 
 or two together, and let him cover in hand once or 
 twice, if you pleafe, at each lime obferving tagive 
 the horfe the advantage of ground, and have a perfon 
 ready with a bucket of cold water to throw on the 
 Kiare's fhape immediately upon the difmounting of 
 the horfe, which will make her retain the feed fhe 
 received the better ; efpecially if you get on her 
 back, and trot her up and down for a quarter of an 
 hour, but take care of heating or ftrainingher ; and 
 it will not be amifs if you let them faft two hours 
 after fuch adt, and then give each of them a warm 
 mafh, and it is odds but this way yaur marcs may 
 be as well ferved as the other, and your fiallionWill^ 
 iaft you much longer. 
 
 If 
 
[ 63 ] 
 
 IF you take care to houfe the mares all the win- 
 ter, and keep them well, their colts will prove the 
 betcer. 
 
 Of riding a Hunting-match or Heats for a 
 Plate. 
 
 The firft thing requifite is a ridir^ who ought ta 
 be a faithful one, in whom you may confide ; and he 
 fhould have a good clofe (eat, his knees being held 
 firm to his laddie fkirts, his toes being turned inwards, 
 and his fpurs outwards from the horie's (ides, his \dt 
 hand governing the horfe's mouth, and his right 
 commanding the whip, taking care, during the 
 whole time of the trial, to fit firm in the faddle, 
 without wavingj or (landing up in the ftirrups, 
 which actions do very much incommode a horfe, not- 
 withftanding the conceited opinion of fome jockies, 
 that it is a becoming feat. 
 
 In fpurring his horfe, he fhould not ftrike him 
 hard with the calves of his legs, as if he would beat 
 the wind out of his body, but juft turning his toes 
 outwards, and bringing his fpurs quick to his fides ; 
 and fuch a (harp flroke will be of more fervice to- 
 wards the quickening of the horfe, and fooner draw 
 blood. 
 
 Let him be fure never to fpur him but when there 
 is occafion, and avoid fpurring: him under the fore- 
 bowels, between his fnoulders and girths, near the 
 heart, (which is the tendered place of a horfe) till 
 the laft extrefTuty. 
 
 As to the whipping the horfe, it ought to be over 
 thefhoulder on the near fide, except upon hard run- 
 ning, and when you are at all, then flrike the hcrfe 
 in the flank with a fir >ne jerk, the fkin being tender- 
 eft there, and moft fendble of the lafii. 
 
 He muft ob erve, v/hjn he whips and fpurs his 
 horfe, and is certain that he is at the top of his fpeed, 
 
 if 
 
[ ^4 ] 
 
 if then he claps his ears in his pole, or whifks hfs 
 tai), then he may be fure that he bears him hard ; 
 and then he ought to give him as much comfort as he 
 can, by fawing his fnaffle to and fro in his mouthy 
 and by this means forcing him to open his mouth, 
 which Will comfort him and give him wind. 
 
 \i in the time of riding there is any high wind ftir- 
 ring, if it be in his face, he fhould let the adverfary 
 lead, he holding hard behind him till he lees an op- 
 portunity of giving a loofe; yet he muft take care to 
 keep fo clofe to him, that his adverfary's hotfe may 
 break the wind from his, and that he, by looping 
 low in his feat, may (helier himself under him,, 
 which will ailift the Itrength of his horfe. 
 
 But on the contrary, if the wind be at his back, 
 he muft ride exactly behind him, that his own 
 horfe may alone enjoy the benefix of the wind, by 
 beina; as it were blown forward, and by breaking 
 it from his adverfiiry as much as poffible. 
 
 In the next place, obferve what ground your horfe 
 delights m oft to run on, and bear the horfe (as much 
 as your adverfary will give you leave) on level carpet 
 ground, becaufe the horfe v/ill naturally be dtfirous 
 to fpend him more freely thereon ; but on deep 
 eaiths give him more liberty, becaufe he will na- 
 turally favour himfeif thjereupon. 
 
 If you are to run up hill, don't forget by any 
 means to favour your horfe, and bear him, for feax 
 €>f running him out of wind,, but if it be down hill 
 (if your horfe's feet and fhouldtrs will endure it, 
 and you dare venture yoar neck) always give hiai 
 a loofe. 
 
 This may be obferved as. a general rule, that if 
 yau find your horfe iv. have the heels of the other, 
 that then you be cartful to preferve his fpeed till the 
 laft train fcenr,, if )Os are not to ruji a ftralt courfe ; 
 butiffo, then till the end of the couife, and fo t<^ 
 
 i^yfband 
 
1^5 1 
 
 liufband it then alfo, that you may be able to make 
 a puQi for it at the laft poft. 
 
 In the next place, you are to acquaint yourfelf, as 
 well as you can, of the nature and temper of your 
 adverfary's horfe, and if he be fiery, then to run jufl: 
 behind, or jufl cheek by joul, and with the whip make 
 as much noife as you can, that you may force him on 
 faficr than his rider would have him, and by that 
 means fpend him the fooner; or elfe keepjuft before 
 him, on fuch a flow gallop, that he may either over- 
 reach, or by treading on your horfe's heels (if he 
 will not take the leading) endanger falling over. 
 
 Take notice alfo on what ground your opponent's 
 horfe runs the worft, and be fure to give a loofe on 
 that earth, that he being forced to follow you,, may 
 be in danger of flumbling, or clapping on the back 
 finews. 
 
 in the like manner, in your riding obferve the fe- 
 yeral helps and correSiions of the hand^ the whipy and 
 fpur, and when, and how often he makes ufe of 
 them 5 and when you perceive that }?is horfe begins 
 rto be blown, by any of the former fymptoms, ag 
 clapping down his cars, whifking his tail, holding 
 out his nofe like a pig, ^c. you may then take it for 
 granted that he is at the height of what he can do ; 
 and therefore, in this cafe, take notice how your 
 own rides, and if he runs chearfully and flrongly, 
 without fpurring, then be fure to keep your adver- 
 fary to the fame fpeed, without giving him eafe, 
 and by fo doing, you will quickly bring him to give 
 out, or elfe diftance him. 
 
 Obferve at the end of every train f cent what con- 
 dition the other horfe is in, and how he holds out 
 in his labour, of which you may be able to make a 
 judgment by his looks, the working of his flank, 
 iind the flackncfs of his girths. 
 
166 J 
 
 For if he look dull, it is a fign that his fpirits fail 
 him ; if his flanks beat much, it is a token that his 
 wind begins to fail him, and confequently his 
 flrength will do fo too. 
 
 If his wind fail him, then his body will grow thin> 
 and appear tucked up, which will make his girths, 
 to the eye, Teem to be flack ; and therefore you may 
 take this for a rule, that a horfe's wanting girting, 
 after the firft fcent, provided he were girt clofeat his 
 iirft (darling, is a good fign ; and if you find it fo> 
 you need not much defpair of v/inning the v/ager. 
 
 After the end of every train-fccnty and alfo after 
 every heat for a plate, you mufl have dry flraw and 
 dry cloaths, both linnen and woollen, which have 
 been lleeped in urine and falt-petre a day or two, and 
 then dried in the fun, and alfo one or two of each 
 muft be brought into the field wet ; and after the 
 train has been ended, two or three perfons mufl 
 help you ; and after the groom has, with a knife of 
 heat^ fcraped off all the fw^at from the horfe's neck^ 
 body, t^jc. then they muft rub him well down dry, 
 all over, firft v/ith tKe dry ftraw, and then with dry 
 cloths, whilft others are bufy about his legs ; and 
 as foon as they have rubbed him dry, then let them 
 chafe them with the wet cloths, and never give over 
 till you are called by the judges to flart again. 
 
 The next thing to be regarded, are the judges or 
 triers oiHce, who are to fee that all things are ordered 
 accordinor to the articles agreed on, which to that 
 €nd ought to be read before the horfes ftart. 
 
 Next, that each trier on whofe fide the train is to 
 be led, according as the articles give directions for 
 its leading, according to the advice of the rider^ or 
 his knowledge of the nature and difpofition of that 
 horfe on whofe fide he is chofe. 
 
 Next, that each trier be fo ad vantageoufly mount- 
 ed, as to ride up behind the horfes (but not upon 
 
 them ) 
 
[ ^7 3 
 
 them) all day, and to obferve that the contrary horfc 
 ride his true ground, and obferve the articles in 
 every particular, or elfe not to permit him to pro- 
 ceed. 
 
 Next, that after each irain-fcent be ended, each 
 trier look to that horfe a^ainfl: which he is chofen, 
 and obferve that he be noway relieved but with rub- 
 bing, except liberty on both fides be given to the 
 contrary. 
 
 Next, as foon as the time allowed for rubbing be 
 expired, which is generally half an hour, they fhall 
 command them to mount, and if either rider refufe, 
 it may be lawful for the other to ftart without him ; 
 and having beat him the diflance agreed on, the 
 wager is to be adjudged on his fide. 
 
 Next, the triers (hall keep off all other horfes 
 from crofling the riders t only they themfelves may 
 be allowed to inftrud the r^d^fs byword of mouth, 
 how to ride, whether flow or faft, according to the 
 advantages he perceives may be gained by his direc* 
 .lions. 
 
 Lafl:ly, if there be any weight agreed on, they 
 •fhall fee that both horfes bring their true weight to 
 the ftarting-place, and carry it to the end of the 
 train, upon the penalty of lofmg tne wager. 
 
 Now in running for 2. plate there are not fo many 
 obfervations to be made, nor more dire<fiions re- 
 quired, than what have been already given, only 
 this; if you know your horfe to be tough at bottom, 
 and that he will ftick at mark, to ride him each heat, 
 according to the beft of his performance, and avoid 
 as much as poilible either riding at any particular 
 horfe, or laying for any, but to ride each hea^ 
 throughout with the beft fpecd you can. 
 
 But if you have a very fiery horfe to manage, or 
 one that is hard-mouthed and difficult to be held, 
 then flart him behind the reil of the horfes, v/ifeh 
 
 all 
 
all the coolnefs and gcntlenefs imaginable; imi. 
 when you find that he begins to ride at feme com- 
 mand, then put up to the other horfes, and if yoa 
 find they ride at their eafe, and are hard held, then 
 endeavour to draw them on fafter j but if you find 
 their wind begin to rake hot, and that they want a 
 fob, if your hof fe be in wind, and you have a loofe in 
 your hand, keep them up to their fpeed till you come 
 within three quarters of a mile of the end of the 
 heat, and then give a loofe and pufli for it, and leave 
 to fortune and the goodnefs of yourhorfe the event 
 of your fuccefs. 
 
 Lafiiy^ when either your huntrng-matcb or the trial 
 for the plate is ended, as foon as you have rubbed 
 your horfe dry, cloth him up and ride him home,, 
 and the flrft thing, give him the following drink to 
 comfort him. 
 
 Beat the yolks of three eggs, and put them mto a 
 pint and a half of fweet milk, then warm it luke- 
 warm, and put to it three pennyworth of fafFron, 
 and three fpoonfuls of fallad oil, and give it him ia 
 a horn. 
 
 Having done this, drefshim fligbtly over with th« 
 curry-comb, brufh, and woollen-cloth, and then 
 bathe the place where the faddle ftood with warm 
 fack, to prevent warbles ; and wafh the fpurring 
 places with pifs and fait, and afterwards anoint them 
 with turpentine and powder of yV/, mixed together j 
 then litter the ftable very well, clothing him up as 
 quick as polTible, and let him ftand for two hours. 
 
 Then feed him with rye-bread, after that with a 
 good mafli, and give him his belly full of hay, and 
 what corn and bread he will eat. 
 
 Then bathe his legsv/ell with urine and falt-petre, 
 leave him corn in his locker, and fo let him relt till 
 the next morning, at which time order him as before- 
 ^iredcd in his days of reft* 
 
 Hqw 
 
f %3 
 
 How to or3er a horfe for a match or phtf. 
 
 When you have matched your horfe, or defign t« 
 put him in for a plare, you fliould conlider thaC 
 you ought to referee a month at leafl, to draw his 
 body perfedtly clean, and to refine his wind to that 
 degree of perfection that is capable of being attained 
 by art. 
 
 In the firft place, take an exa£i: view of the ftate of 
 his body, bjth outwardly and inwardly, as whether 
 he be /oiu or high in flefii, or whether he be dull and 
 heavy when abroad, and if this has been caufed by 
 too hard riding, or by means of fome greafe that has 
 been diiTolved by hunting, and has not been removed 
 hy fcouring. 
 
 If he zppezr JIuggiJh and melancholy from either of 
 thefc cau'e«, then give him half an ounce of diapente 
 in a pint of good old Malaga fack, which will both 
 cleanfe his body and revive his fpirits. 
 
 Then for the firft week feed him continually with 
 Iready oats, and filit leans ^ giving hiin fometimes the 
 one and fometimes the other, according to what he 
 likes beft, alwavs leaving him fome in his locker for 
 him to eat at leifurewhen you are abfent j and when 
 you i:eturn at your hours of feeding, take away what 
 is left and -give him frefh, till you have made him 
 wanton and playlul. 
 
 To this purpofe, take notice, that tho' you ride 
 him every day mornirig and evening, on airing, and 
 every other day on huncing, yet you are nol tofweac 
 him, or put him to any violent labour, the defign of 
 this weeic's ordering being to keep him in wind and 
 breath, and to pi^ytm purftvenefs. 
 
 But take notice of this, that your oats, beans, and 
 hreadf are now to be ordered after another manner 
 than what they were before; for firft, the oats muii 
 be well dried in the fun, and then put into a clean 
 
r 70 ] 
 
 bag and foundly beat v/ith a flail or cudgel, till you 
 think they are hulled, then take them out of the bag 
 and winnow them clean, both from hulls and duft, 
 and give them to your horfe as there is occafion. 
 
 After the fame manner muft you order your beans, 
 feparating them from the hul!s, which are apt to 
 breed the glut^ and muft either be thrown away, or 
 given among chaff to fome more ordinary horfe. 
 
 And as for the Iread, which was only chipt before, 
 now the cruft muft be cut clean off, and be otherwife 
 difpofed of, it being hard of digeftion, and will be 
 apt to heat and dry the horfe's body ; and befides, 
 you muft make a finer bread than before, as follows. 
 
 Take two pecks of beans, and a peck of wheats 
 and let them be ground together, but not too fine, 
 to prevent too much bran being in the bread ; and 
 drefs one peck of the meal through a fine range, an4 
 knead it up with new ale yeaft, and the whites of a 
 dozen neW laid eggs, and bake this in a loaf by it- 
 felf ; but drefs the reft of the meal through a boulter, 
 and knead it only with ale and yeaft, and ufe it in 
 all other points as the former : the peck loaf is to be 
 given the horfe when you fet him, and the other at 
 ordinary times. 
 
 Having treated of the condition of thofe horfcs 
 which are melancholy and low of flefti, I fhall now 
 fpeak cf thofe which are brifk and lively : If your 
 horle be fo, that when you lead him out of the ftable 
 he will leap and play about you, then you muft not 
 only omit giving him the fcouring of fack and V/<7- 
 pente^ but any other whatfoever, for there being n« 
 foul humours, nor fuperfluous matter left in his 
 body, for the phyfic to work upon, it will prey 
 upon the ftrength of his body, and by that means 
 weaken it 
 
 If your horfe be engaged in a hunting-match, you 
 muft fweat him twice thi« week, but not by hunting 
 
 him 
 
[ 71 3 
 
 him after the hare^hut by train-fcents^ (ince the former 
 on this occafion may prove deceitful i for tho' the 
 hounds (hould be very fwifr, yet the fcent being cold, 
 the dogs will very often be at a fault, and by that 
 means the horfc willhave many fobs: fo that when 
 he comes to run train fcents in earneft, he will ex- 
 pect eafe for his wind. 
 
 Therefoie lead your train-fcents with a dead cat, 
 over fuch grounds as you are likely to run on, and 
 beft agrees with the humour of your horfe, and alfo' 
 chufe the fleetcft hounds you can get, and they will 
 keep your horfe up to the height of his fpeed. 
 
 As to the number of irain-Jcents that you fhould 
 ride at a time, that is to be ordered according to the 
 match you are to run, or rather according to the 
 ilrength of your horfe, and ability for performing his 
 heats; for if you labour him beyond his ftrength, it 
 wlH take him off his fpeed, weaken his limbs, and 
 daunt his fpirit. 
 
 If you give him tco little exercife, it will render 
 him liable to be purfive, and full of ill humours, as 
 glut, t^c, and incline him to a habit of lazinefs, fo 
 that when he comes to be put to labour beyond his 
 ufual race, h€ will grow reftive and fettle, like a 
 jade. 
 
 But fo far may be faid by way of dire(S^ion, that 
 if you are to run eight irain-Jcmis^ and the flrait- 
 courfe, more or lefs> you are to put him to fuch fe- 
 vcre labour, not above twice in the whole month's 
 keeping. 
 
 And if it be in the firil fortnight, it will be the 
 better, for then he will have a v/hole fortnioht to 
 recover his ftrengrh in again; and as for h's labour 
 in his lait fortnight, let it be proportionate to his 
 ftrength and wind, as fometimes half his tafk, and 
 then three quarters of it. 
 
 Only 
 
[ 7» ] 
 
 Only obfervc, that the laft trial you make in the 
 firft fortnight, be a train-fccnt more than your 
 match, for by that means you will find what he is 
 able to do. 
 
 If you defign your horfe for a Plate^ let him take 
 his heats aecording to this direction, only let him be 
 on the place, that he may be acquainted with the 
 ground ; and as for the hounds, you may omit them, 
 as not being lied'to their fpeed, but that of your 
 adverfary's horfe. 
 
 But as to the number of heats, let them be ac- 
 cording to what the articles exadl; only obfervc, 
 that as to the (harpnefs of them, they muft be regu- 
 lated according to his ftrength, and the goodncfs of 
 his wind. 
 
 And when you heat him, provide fome horfes 
 upon thecourfe to run againfthimj this will quicken 
 hts fpirits and encourage him, when he finds he caa 
 command them at his pleafure. 
 
 And here you mu(i: obferve the fame rule, not to 
 give the horfe a bloody heat for ten days or a fort- 
 night, before the plate be to run for; and let the 
 lall heat you give him before the day of trial be in 
 all his cloths, and juft fkelp it over, which will 
 imakc him run the next time the more vigoroufly, 
 when he (hail be ftript naked, and feel the cold air 
 pierce him. 
 
 During this month, and on his re ling days, and 
 after his fweats on heating days, (if there be any oc- 
 cafion for fweating him) you muft obferve the fame 
 rules which have bsen given for the firft week of the 
 third fortnighi's keeping, only you muft omit all 
 fcourings but rye-bread and mafhes, fmce your horfe 
 being in fo perfedl a ftate of body, has no need of 
 any, except you fhall judge there is occafion, and 
 that tiie horle proves thirfty, about eight or nine 
 
 o'clock. 
 
t 73 ] . 
 
 o'clock at night, you may give him the following 
 julep, to cool and quench his thirft. 
 
 Take two quarts of barley-water, three ounces of 
 fyrup of vioUtSt two ounces of fyrup of iemom, and 
 having mixed them together, give them the horfe to 
 drink, and if he refufe, place it fo that he may not 
 throw it down, and let it ftand by him all night. 
 
 During the laft fortnight you muft give him dried 
 ©ats that have becii hulled by heating, and having 
 walhed half aftrike of oats in the whites of a dozsri 
 or twenty eggs, ftir them together, and let them lie 
 all night to foak, and fprgad them abroad in the fun 
 the next morning, till they are as dry as they were 
 at.firft, and fogive them to your horfe, and v/hen 
 thefe are fpent, prepare another baantity after the 
 fame manner. 
 
 But if you find your horfe inclinable to be coftive, 
 then give him oats wafbed in two or three whites of 
 eggs and ale beaten together, to cool his body and 
 keep it moift. 
 
 Give him not any mafh for the lafl week, only the 
 harley-water before directed, but let him have his (ill 
 of hay, till a day before he is to ride the w^/<:/?, when 
 you muft give it him more fparingly, that he may 
 have time to digeft that he has eaten, and then, and 
 not before, you may muzzle him v/ith your cavcRbn ; 
 and be.fure that day, and not till the morning he is 
 led out, to feed him as much as poiTible, for fuch a 
 day's labour will require fomething to maintain his 
 ftrength. 
 
 Therefore in the morning before yo\3 are to lead 
 out, givs him a toaft or two of white bread fteeped 
 in fack, which will invigorate him ; and when you 
 have c^o^e, lead him out into the field. 
 
 But if you are to run for 2. plate ^ which commonly 
 
 is not till three o'clock in the afternoon, ^hen by 
 
 all means have him out early in the morning air, 
 
 D that 
 
[ 74 ] 
 
 that he may empty his body, and v;hen he is come 
 in from airing, feed him with toafts in fack ; con- 
 fidering that as too much fulnefs will endanger his 
 wind, fo too long fading will caufefaintnefs. 
 
 When he has eaten what you thought fit to give 
 lilm, put on his caveflbn, and having afterwards 
 foundly chafed his kgs with picce-greafe and brandy 
 warmed together, or train-oil (which likewife ought 
 to be ufed daily at noon, for a week before thcnjaub^ 
 or longer, if you fee caufe) ihake up his litter and 
 ihut the liable up clofe, and take care that there is 
 f?o noife made near him, and let him reft till the 
 hour comes that he is to go out into the field. 
 
 Of MARES. 
 
 ' /i ^are may be covered when (he is paffed two 
 
 /^ years old, though the beft time is after four 
 
 years old, when fhe will nourilh her colt beft ; and 
 
 "though ihe may breed till thirteen, yet when flie is 
 paft ten, it does not do fo well, for commonly an 
 ©Id mare's colt will be heavy in labour. The 
 proper time for covering, is reckoned from the end 
 of the firft quarter to the full moon, or at the full ; 
 for thofe coirs will be ftronger and hardier of na- 
 ture ; whereas 'tis obferved in thofe that are covered 
 after the change, that they will be tender and nice : 
 but before the mare is covered, (he fhould be taken 
 into the houfe about fix weeks, and be well fed 
 with good hay and oats, well fifted, to the end fh€ 
 may have ftrength and feed to perform the office 
 «f generation. 
 
 As for the manner of covering, (he muft be 
 brought out into fomc broad place, and tied to a 
 poft ; then bring out feme ftone jade to dally vv^ith 
 fjer, tQ provoke her to appetite j after which let 
 
 the 
 
f 75 ] 
 
 tihcfbUion be led but by two men, and let him leap 
 her in the morning fafting, and when he is difmount- 
 ing, let a pail of cold water be thrown upon her 
 ihape, which by reafon of the coldnefs, will make 
 her Ihrink in and trufs up her body, whereby flie is 
 caufed to retain the feed the better -, then take away 
 the ftallion, and let the mare be put out of the hear- 
 ing of the horfe, and let her neither eat nor drink 
 in four or five hours after, and then give her a 
 maih and white water : You may know if fhe 
 ftands to her covering, by her keeping a good fto- 
 mach, and her not neighing at the fight of a horfe; 
 fo likewife if (he does not pifs often, nor frequently 
 ©pen and (hut her fhape ; or that her belly four days 
 after covering be more gaunt, the hair more fleek 
 andclofe to her fkin> and the like. Some there 
 are who put the horfe and mare together into an 
 empty houfe, for three or four nights, and take the 
 horfe away in the morning and feed him well, but 
 the mare sparingly, and efpecially they give her but 
 little water. 
 
 Now as for the ordering the mare after coverIn<r, 
 let her be kept to the fame diet as before, for three 
 weeks or a month,, left the feed be impared before it 
 be foTffied in the womb j and let her be kept fweet 
 and clean, witcout any exercife, during three 
 weeks or a month ; and in the houfe till mid-dnyy 
 with her feet well pared, and with a thin pair of 
 (hoes on : take her up again about the latter end of 
 BepUmherj if not before, and keep her to the end 
 ©f her foaling. 
 
 If (he cannot foal, hold her noftrils fo that (he 
 cannot take her wind ; or if that will not do, take 
 the qtianttty of a wallnut of madder^ difTolve it into 
 a pint of ale, and give it warm to her j and in cafe 
 (he cannot avoid her Secundme, then boil two or 
 thfte handfulsof /^M«Win running- water, and put 
 D 2 half 
 
half a pint thereof in as much fack, or for want 
 thereof, a pint of ftrong beer or ale, with a fourth 
 part of fallad oil, mixed together, and give ut her 
 it:kev/arm in her noftrils, and h Id them clofe for a 
 good f(-ace ; or for want thereof, give her -good 
 green wheat or rye, but thelaft is beft, and they are. 
 as effetSlual ; and let her nor eat her clean for .that 
 is very unwholefome, and will dry up her milk. 
 
 When ihe has foaled and licked her foal, milk and 
 ilroke her before the colt fucks, which will both 
 caufc her to bring down her milk and make it to 
 iiiultiply, and keep it fo that it do not clod ; and in 
 cal'e fhe becomes dry, boil as much milk as you can 
 get from her with the leaves of lavender and JpiAe^ and 
 bathe the udder with it warm ^ till it. be broken, and. 
 the knobs and knots diilolved ^ her water now mud: 
 be white water, which is bran put into water,.,and. 
 give her fweet maflies ; and a month after iozlmg^^ 
 ?et her have a ma(h..with (ome krim/f one. 2ind fiven in 
 ir, v/hich will bC: a great prefervation to the colt,; 
 -after which, if fhe be moderately laboured at plo>v 
 QT harrov/, hoth fhe and the colt, will b^ the better, 
 provided fhe be kept from raw meats while .fhe re- 
 mams in the. ftable, - which will both -increafe her 
 inilk and caufe her coJt to -thrive the better ; and 
 €are muft be taken not to fuffcr the colt to fuck her 
 when (he is hot, left thereby you furfeit the colt. 
 
 In cafe, you jire defirous nomare.fhould goijarren, 
 in the month of July^ or in the beginning of.JuguJf, 
 iTCt a mare or tv/o that have not been covered that 
 vear before, and enforce them to be horfed ; when 
 they (hall be ready .to be covered, you rauft turn 
 fhem, with feme other horfe which you efteem not 
 as your beft horfe, among your llud of manes, andfo 
 he covering that mare or mares you turned Jn ;with 
 iii-m into the ftud, (hail caufe the reft, of them, if 
 ^riy of them have iigit conceived at their firft. covers 
 
l77'l 
 
 sngs to conte to that horfe agarn ; wliereby yew 
 ihall be fure to kc^p no mare barren all the year, but 
 have a colt of every mare, though not of your beit 
 horfe. You may fufFer your horfe to run amongll 
 your mares three weeks or a month; but if you 
 turn him into your (lud,. putting in no mare with 
 him ready to be covered, ~he will at his firft entering 
 beat all the mares, and perhaps hurt tho'e that had 
 conceived before, and fo do more hurt than good. 
 
 -Some reckon the beft recipe to bring a mare in 
 i^afon and make her retain, is to give her to eat, for 
 the fpace of eight days before you bring her to the 
 horfe, about two quarts of hemp-feed in the morr.- 
 ing, and the fame at night; but if fhe refufes to eat 
 it; mi-x with it a little bran or oats, or elfe let her 
 faft for a whil-e , and if the ftallion eats alfo of it, -it 
 will contribute much to generation. 
 
 It is a maxim, th-atamare fhould never be horfed 
 while fhe is bringing up her foal, becaufe the foal t > 
 which fhe is giving>fuck, as well as that in her bel!y.j 
 will receive prejudice thereby, and the mar^ herfeif 
 will be alfo fooner fpent ; but if you wculd have 
 your mares covered, let it be fevsn or eight days after 
 ihe has foaled, that (he may have time to cleanfe ; 
 and if it may be conveni^-ntly done, do not give her 
 the ftaliion till fhe defires him, and alfo incre^fe, by 
 . all means poiJible, that pallion, by ftrong feeding, C5V. 
 
 For the producing of rnabs^ the mare mufb be 
 brought in ieafon, and covered very, early in the 
 morning, any day before rhe fourth day of the moon 
 untiil it be full, but never in the increafe ; and thus 
 fhe will not fail to bring forth a male colt. 
 
 Mares^ befides the many didenipers they are lia- 
 MetoincommonAvith-horfes, and which will be 
 found under their feveral names, hive fome others, 
 peculiar to their kind only, of which we fhall fpeak 
 briefly, and their cure. ■ If your mares be barren, 
 D 3 ^oil 
 
[78] 
 
 boil good f!ore of the herb agnus m the water (Kc 
 drinks; or ftamp a good handful of leeks with four ©r 
 five fpoonfuls of wine, to which put fome cantharidijti 
 and ftrain them all together, with a fufficient quan- 
 tity of water to ferve her two days together, by 
 pouring the fanne into her nature, with a glifier-pipe 
 made for that qurpofe ; and at three days end offeir 
 the horfe to her, and if he covers her, wa(h her 
 nature twice together with cold water, or take 
 a little quantity of n'lirum^ fparrows dung, and tur- 
 pentine, wrought together, and made likea ftirpa(» 
 tory, and putting that into her nature, it will do. 
 
 If you would have her fruitful, boil good ftore of 
 motherwort in the water (he drinks. 
 
 If fhe lofes her belly, which ihews a confumptlon 
 of the womb, give her a quart of brine to drink, 
 having //jz^^zt'^r/ boiled therein. 
 
 l{ through good keeping fhe forfakes her food, 
 give her for two or three days together, a ball of 
 l)utfer and agnus f^y^z*; chopped together. 
 
 If fhe be fubje<ft to caft her foal, keep her at grafs 
 very warm, and once a week give her a good warm 
 mafh of drink, v/hich fecretly knits beyond expcda* 
 tion. 
 
 You are to obferve, that mares go with foal eleven 
 months and as many days as thev are years old ; as 
 for inffance, a mare of nine years old, will carry her 
 -foal eleven months and nine days ; fo that you may 
 fo order the covering of your mares, that their foals 
 maybe brought forth, if ycu will, at fuch time 
 PS there is abundandce of grafs. Sec Stallion and 
 Colt. 
 
 Of Stallions. 
 
 A Stallion is an ungelt horfe, defigned for the 
 covering of mares, ia order to propagate the fp€cif3i 
 
 and 
 
[79] 
 
 when his ftones are taken away, and he Is gelt, h 
 called a gelding. 
 
 Now in the chufing ftone-horfes, or ftallions fof 
 liiares, you ought to take great care that they nei- 
 ther have moon eyes, watery-eyes, blood -{hotteu- 
 eyes, fplents, fpavins, curbs, nor, if polTible, any 
 natural imperfection of any kind whacfoevcr ; for i^ 
 they have, the colts will take theni hereditary froin 
 their parents. 
 
 But let them be the beft, ableft, higheft fplrited* 
 fair coloured, and fine ft {haped ; and a perfon (houlcJ 
 Inform himfelf of all natural defe£ls in them, of 
 which none are free. 
 
 As for his age, he ought not to be younger, to 
 ^over a mare, than four years old, from which xlmx: 
 forward he will beget colts till twenty. 
 
 Let the ftallion be fo high fed, as to be full of luft 
 and vigour, and then brought to the place where the 
 mares are ; takeoff his hinder fhoes, and let hirrv 
 cover a mare in hand twice or thrice^ to keep him 
 fober; then pull off his bridle, and turn him loof^ 
 to the reft of the mares, which muft be in a conve-* 
 nientclofe, with ftrong fences and good food, and 
 there leave him till he has covered them all, fo that 
 they will take horfe no more j by which time his. 
 courage will be pretty well cooled. 
 
 Ten or twelve marcs are enough for one horfe ia 
 the fame year ; it will be alfo necefiary to have fom« 
 little flied or hovel in the field, lz which he may re- 
 treat to defend him from the rftr.-:, fun, and winc^, 
 which are very weakening to a iiorfe : let there be 
 likewife a rack and manger to feed him in, during 
 his covering-time, and it would not be amifs if one 
 were to watch him during that time, for fear of any 
 accident, and the better to know how ofte». he 
 covers each maie* 
 
 When 
 
[80 3 
 
 When he has cone his duty, take him away froQi 
 the mares, and remove them into fome frefh pafture. 
 
 Take notice that when you would have mares 
 covered, either in hand or otherwife, that both the 
 jU! lion and mare ought to have the ^ame feeding, 
 I'iz. if the horfe be at hay and oats, which are com- 
 monly called hard meats, the mate fhonld be alfb 
 at hard meat, othtrwife flie will not be fo nt to 
 hold. 
 
 In the like manner, if the flallion beat grafs, yon 
 Kiuft alfo put the maie to grafs 
 
 Thole mares which are in middling cafe, conceive- 
 the moft eafily j whereas thofe that are very fat, hold 
 wi'h great difriculry; thofe of them that are hot 
 and in feafon, retain a great deal better ; their heat 
 exciting the Oallion, who, on his part, performs 
 the adion with greater vigour and ardour. 
 
 And when you cover a mare in hand, in order that, 
 foe may the more certainly hold, let theflallion and 
 the mare be fo placed in the flable, that they may fee 
 €ach other, keeping them fo for fome time, which, 
 will animate them both, and then they will hardly 
 fail to generate. 
 
 For the ordering of a ftallion, fome give the fol- 
 lowing inflru6lions. 
 
 Feed the f( all ion, for three months at leaft, before 
 he is to cover, with good oat?, peafe, or beans, or 
 with coarfe bread, and a little hay, but a good deal 
 of wheat ilraw, carrying him twice a day out to 
 water> walking him up and down for an hour after 
 he has drank, but without making him fweat. 
 
 If the ftallion be not thus brought into wind be- 
 fore be cover?, he will be in danger of becoming 
 purfey, and broken winded ; and if he be not well 
 fed, he Will not be able to perform his tafk, or at 
 fecit the celts would be but pitiful and week ones ; 
 
 ai24 
 
. - . . . c^'^l, . .. 
 
 •and though you ftiou Id take great care to nourrOl ' 
 - him, yet you will take him in again very weak. 
 ' If you put him to many mares, he will not ferve- 
 ypu fo long, but his m^in and tail will fall away by 
 reafon of poverty, and it will be a difficult matter 
 to bring him to agood condition of body, againlt 
 the year following. ' .. 
 
 He ought to havemaj^es according to his flrengthj 
 as twelve or fifteen5;<)f at mt>ft not abb ve twenty. 
 
 * - ■ ' ■ Ml-- 
 
 Of SXABXES;; 
 
 y At S to the fituation of a ftable, it fhould be in a * 
 Xf^- good air, and upon hard, firm, and dry ground, , 
 that inr the v/inter the horfe may come and go clean 
 in and out; and, if it may be, it will be beftif it be 
 lituated' upon an afcent, that the urine^ foulwater, , 
 or any wef, may be conveyed awy by. trenches or 
 ^nks>cat out for -that pur^ofe.* 
 
 By no means let there be anyhen-rooftsyhog-fties • 
 or houfcs of eafement, or any other filthy fmeUs near- 
 it, -for hen-dung or feathers fwaUoweJ, oftentimes > 
 prove mortal, . and. the ill air of a jakes ■ fometimes 
 caufes blind nefs; and the fin ell o<f fv/iner is apt to ^ 
 , bteed'the /fln/«;.and there is no animal that delights 
 : more in. cleaiilinefsj /lor is more; ofiended at- un>» 
 wholefome favours than a. horfe. 
 
 Brick is bettef for building ftables than ftmcs the ? 
 
 latter being fubjedt to fv.^eating.in v/et weather, .and : 
 
 ■ -thedampnefs and moiflure caufes rheums and ca- - 
 
 tarrhes-. : , .,. .. , , 
 
 . Let the wall? beof a good fcoavenfent- thick nei^, at ' 
 
 ^lea-ft.a brioLand half oriwo brick ihjck^ both for the - 
 
 fake of fafety and warrrth in winter, and to defend > 
 
 him from being annoyed with the heat in fummer^ . 
 
 VV^hich would hinder his digeding his food. 
 
It will be prpp.er to have windows toth on the ea^ 
 and on the north fides, that he may have the benefit 
 of the north air in fummer, and of themoming fun 
 from the eaft in the winter. . , 
 
 Let the windows be glazed, and if they be fafhed 
 it will not only be the handfomer, but will be more 
 convenient to let air in at pleafure; and let tliere be 
 clofe wooden fhutters, that you may darken the 
 liable in the middle of the day, which will incline 
 the horfe to take his ricft as well in the day as in the 
 fti^t. -. 
 
 That part of the floor on which the horfe is to 
 ftand fhould be made of oaken planks, for they will 
 be both eafier and warmer for the horfe to lie upon 
 than ftones ; and be fure to lay them level, for if 
 they are laid higher before than behind, (as they ge- 
 nerally are in Inns and Horfe courfer's ftables, that 
 their horfes may appear to more advantage in fta- 
 ture) his hinder legs will fwell, and he never can 
 lieeafily, becaufehishfnder paits will be ftill flip- 
 ping down. 
 
 Lay the phnks crofs-ways,and not length-wayf> 
 and fink a good trench underneath them, which may 
 receive the urine through the holes bored in the planks^ 
 and convey it into fome common receptacle. 
 
 Kaif^ the ground behind him even with the planks> 
 that he may continually ftand upon a level , and let 
 the floor behind hira be paved with fmall pebble j 
 and be fure to let that part of the ftable where thcL 
 racks {land be weil wainfcotted. 
 
 Place two rings at each fide of hisftali forhis hal- 
 ter to run through, which fhould have a light woodea 
 logger at the bottom of it, to poife it perpendicularly^ 
 but not fo heavy as to tire the horfe, or to hinder 
 him from eating. r 
 
 Sme recommed a dcav/er or locker made in,the: 
 wainfcot partition^ rather thaa a iixt manger, for 
 
I: 8'3] 
 
 Bim to eat His corn out of, which may be taken out 
 to cleanfe at pleafure^ 
 
 •• Some again difapprove of this^way of feeding,, 
 thinking it may fpoil his cheft, and that his blowing^ 
 upon his hay will make it naufeous to his pakte: but 
 jothers again anfwer, that as to the fpoijing of hb 
 cheil, it rather ftrengthcns it and makes it firm ; 
 whereas on the contrary, the lifting of his head up 
 high to the rack, will make him withy cragged. 
 But the way before-mentioned he willfeed as he lies 
 which willbe for his eafe. And as to the hay, that 
 may be given him but by fmall quantities at a time ; 
 and there will be this advantage in receiving his hay 
 on the ground, the prone pofture will cleanfe hi^ 
 head fromfheum or pofe, which he may happen by 
 any ways to have gotten, and induce him to fneeze 
 and throw out all manner of watery humours that 
 may annoy his head. 
 
 If you have ftable room enough you may make 
 partitions^ and at the head^ towards the manger, 
 board them to that height that one horfe may not 
 molefl or fmell t<> another, allowing each horfe 
 room enough to turn about and lie down^ at plea- 
 
 fuf€^ 
 
 One of the flails may be made convenient for 
 your groom to lie in, in cafe of a match j or the fickv- 
 nefs of a horfe; 
 
 Behind the horfes maybe made a range of prefies, 
 with pegs to hang up faddles, bridles, ts'c. and 
 fhelves for other utenfilSy pots for ointment, ^V.. ' 
 
 Let the floor over the liable be cieled, whether 
 you make it a granary, or a lodging room for your 
 groom, that no duft may fall from it upon your horfes. 
 
 There are alfo other requifites, as dung-yard, a. 
 pump, a conduit 5 and if fome pond, or tunning 
 W^cr were near,, it wers better,. 
 
 of- 
 
r u I 
 
 Of BOW LIN Cj. 
 
 THE firft and greateft cunning to Be obferveJ 
 in bowling, is the right chufing your bowl> 
 ■which muft be fuitable to the ground, you defign to 
 run on. Thus for the clofe alleys your beft choice is 
 the flat bowl. 2, For open grounds of ad vantage, the 
 round byaffed bowl. 3. For green fwards that are 
 plain and levil, the bowl that is as round as a ball. 
 
 The next thing that requires your care, is the chu- 
 fing out your ground, and preventing the winding 
 hangings, and many turning advantages of the 
 fame, whether it be in open wide places, as bares 
 and bowling-greens, or in clofe bowling alleys. 
 
 Laftly, have your judgment about you, to obferve 
 and diftinguilh the filings, fallings, and advantages 
 of the places where you bowl : have your wits about 
 you, to avoid being rook-'d of your money j and" 
 have your underftanding about you, to know your 
 beft time and opportunity for this recreation ; and" 
 finally, a ftudious care of your words and paiiions ; 
 and then bowl away, and you may deferve, well 
 hii'ue you bowled indeed. 
 
 I 
 
 CouYp.r.g wuh Greyhounds, 
 
 S a recreation in great efteem. with many gentle* 
 men. It affords greater pleafure than hunting in 
 fome refpe£l?. As, tirft, becaufe it is fooner ended. 
 Secondly, if does not require fo much toil. Thirdly, 
 the of^me for the rnofl part always in fight. Fourth- 
 ly, in regard to the delicare qualities and fhapeof the 
 greyhound. 
 
 There are three fevcral courfes with greyhounds,, 
 z/z. at ihe deer, at the hare, and at the fox. 
 
 for the deer there are two forts of courfes, the one 
 
 ia 
 
[85] 
 m the paddock, and the other either In theforeft^or 
 purlieu. 
 
 For the paddock, there muft be the greyhound, 
 and the terrier, which is a kind of murrgrel grey- 
 hound, whofe bufinefs is to drive away the deer be- 
 fore the greyhounds are flipt, and moft ufually a 
 brace or leaih are let flip 5 feldom more than tw3 
 braces. 
 
 Hare-Hunting.. 
 
 THE heik way in this, is to go and find out one 
 fitting, which is eafily done by walking crofs 
 the lands, either ftubbis, fallow,, or corn, and caftiag 
 your eye up and down 5 . for in the fummer feafon 
 they frequent fuch places for fear of ticks, which are 
 common in woods^; alfo the rain and the fail of the 
 Jeaf offend them. 
 
 The reft of the year you muft beat up and down 
 with. poles to ftart them out of their forms and re- 
 treats, and fome hares will not ftir,. until they are 
 almoft touched, and it it is a certain fign that fuch 
 hares will make an excellent courfe. 
 
 If ahare fit near any clofe or covert, and have her 
 head towards the fame with a fair field behind her, 
 you may ride with as much company as you have be- 
 twcer. her and the covert before fhe put up, and 
 thtn (he is likely, to make her courfe towards- the 
 eharnpaia, for fhe fe'dom takes the fame way that 
 her head is, when ftie fits in her form. 
 
 When a hare is hrft flarted, you give her ground 
 ©r law, which is commonly twelvefcore }ards or 
 more, according to the ground wheie fhe fits, or clfe 
 -you loofe much of your fport, by putting an end to it 
 too foon i and it is very pkafant to fee the turnings 
 
 and 
 
i 16 J 
 
 and windings, that the hare will make to fav€ herferfv 
 which fometimes proves efFe£lual to her, 
 
 There are four forts of hares, i fome Jive in the- 
 mountains, fome in the fields, fome in marfhes, fome 
 every where, without any certain place of abode. 
 The mounting hanszTQ the fwifteft, the field hares are 
 j^pt io nimble, and thofe of the mar/her ?^xq the ilow- 
 cti ; but the wandering W^i.are moft dangerous to» 
 fblibw, for they are fo cunning in the ways and ma- 
 ft€S of the fields, running up the bills and rocks, be- 
 eaufe by cuftom they know- a nearer way, with ®th^ 
 bricks, to theconfufion of the dogs,, and difcourage-* 
 ment of the Hunters. 
 
 The hares of the mountains often exercife thenr- 
 iclves in the vallies and plains, and through practice 
 gLrow acquainted with the neareft ways to their 
 forms, or conftant places of abode ; fo that when at 
 any time they are hunted in the fields, fuch is their 
 fubtll dodging, that they will dally with the huntf- 
 ma-n till they feem, to be almoft taken, and: then on a 
 fudden take the neareft way to the mountains, and (o- 
 take fan£luary in the inaccellable places,, to which^ 
 neither dogs nor horfes can or dare afcend. 
 
 Hares which frequent bufhes and brakes are not 
 able to endure labour, nor are very fwift, becaufe of 
 the pain in the feet, growing fat by means of idle- 
 -Bef?,. and not ufing tbemfelves to running. 
 
 The /Ji>5«7r<^ being leaner of body, and oftner 
 chafed, is naore difficultly taken, by reafon of her 
 fingular agility ; for when fee begins her courfe, (he 
 bounds up from the ground as if ffie flew, afterwards 
 piffcs through all brambles,, over thick bufhes and 
 hedges, with all expedition ; andif fhe cometh into 
 deep grafs or corn, fhe eafily delivers herfelf and 
 ilides through it, always holding up one ear, and 
 tending it at pleafure^ to be the. moderator of hei? 
 
 Neiihej 
 
C «7 } 
 
 Neither is flie fo improvident an<f prodigal of her 
 ftrength, as to fpend it all in one courle, but (he has 
 regard to the force of her purfuer, who if he be flow 
 and fluggifh, (he is not profufe of her ftrength, nor 
 ufes her utmoft fwiftnefs, but only advances gendy 
 before the dogs, yet fafely from their clutches, re- 
 ferving her greatert ftrength for the time of her great- 
 eft neceflity, knowing ftie can out-rurt the dogs at 
 her pleafure, and therefore will not ftrain hcrfelf 
 more than flie is urged. 
 
 But if fhe be purlued by a dog thaTi: is fwifter than 
 the reft, then fhe puts on with all the force fhe can, 
 and having once left the hunters and dogs a great 
 way behind her, ibe makes to forae little hill, or 
 lifing ground, where ihe raifes herfelf upon her 
 hinder legs, that thereby fhe may obferve how far" 
 .©ff, or how near her purfuers are. 
 
 The younger hares, by reafon of their weak 
 iimbs, tread heavier on the earth than the older and 
 therefore leave the greater fcent behind them. 
 
 At a year old they run very fwiftly, and their fcent 
 is ftronger in the woods than in the plain fields 5^ and 
 if they lie down on the earth (as they love to do) in 
 red fallow grounds, they are eafily defcried. 
 
 Their footfteps in winter are more apparent tlian 
 ;in fummer, becaufe as the nights are longer, they 
 travel farther j neither do they fcent in winter morn- 
 ings fo foon as it is day, till the froft Is a little 
 thawed; but efpecially their footfteps are uncertain 
 at tlie full of the moon, for then they leap^ and play 
 together, fcattering or puting out their fcent or fa- 
 vour ; and in the fpring time alfo, when they do 
 engender, they confound one another's footfteps by 
 multitudes. 
 
 Hares and rabbits are mifchievous to nurferiesand 
 newly planted orchards, by peeling off the bark of the 
 plants i for the prevention of which fome bind ropes 
 
 abj^ut 
 
about the trees to a fufficient height; {omediuh thenr* 
 with tar, which being of itfelf hurtful to yourrg: 
 plants, the mifchief is prevented by mixing with it 
 any kind of greafe, and boiling it over a fife, fo as 
 both may incorporate J then with a brufh or little- 
 broom, daub over the ilem of the tree as high as 
 a rabbit or hare can reach ;do this in November^ and 
 it will fecure the trees for that whole year, it being . 
 in the winter^time^^only in which they feed upon the 
 bark. 
 
 Alfo fome thin ftuff out of a houfe of ofiice, or 
 the thick tempered with water, has been often ap- 
 plied with "good fuccefs ; or the white wafli made ufe ,- 
 of by plaifterers for whiting houfes, done once a ; 
 year' over the trees with a brufh, will preferve them -. 
 frcm hares, deers, and other animals. 
 
 As for iuch hares as are bred in v/arrens, the' wai*- 
 reners have a crafty device to fatten them^ which ? 
 has been found by experience to be effe6lual ; and 
 that is, by putting wax into their ears to make them < 
 d^af, and then turning them into the place where - 
 they are to feed, where, being freed from the fear of i 
 hounds, and for want of hearingj they grow fat 
 before others of their kind. 
 
 It is generally believed, that a hare naturally knows > 
 the change of weather from one twenty-four hours > 
 to another. 
 
 When {he goe5 to her form, fhe will ftiiFer the 
 dew to touch her as little as {he can, but takes the : 
 highways and beaten paths : again when {he rifes 
 cutof her form, if ihe^ couches her ears and fcut, , 
 and runs not very fait at firit, it is an infallible fign 
 ihat (he is oW and crafty. 
 
 They go to buck^commonly in ydnuary^ Fehruarj^ . 
 5nd Marck^-^Vi^ fometimea all the- warm months 5. 
 foniecimes fecking the buck at fe^en or ei^bt miMs 
 
 diflsai; : 
 
( 89 3 
 
 diftant from the place they ufually (it at^ follcrwliig 
 the highways, ^c. 
 
 To diftinguifti a male hare from the female, you 
 may know him as you hunt him to his form, by his 
 beating the hard highways : healfo feeds farther out 
 in the plains, and makes his doublings and croff.ngs 
 much wider, and. of greater compafs than the female 
 doth ; whereas the female will keep clofe by fome 
 covert fide, turning and winding in the bulhes like a 
 coney ; and if flie goes to relief in the corn fields^, 
 ihe feldom croiTes over the furrow, but follows them 
 along, flaying upon the thickcft tufts of corn to 
 feed. 
 
 You may likewifeknowabuckat his rifing out of 
 his form, by his hinder parts, which are more upon 
 the whitifh, and his fhouiders, before he rifes, wiJl 
 be redder than the doe's, having fome loofs long 
 hairs growing on them^ 
 
 Again, his head is fhorter and better trufied, his 
 hairs about his lips longer, and his ears fhorter and 
 more grey : the hair upon the female's chin are of 
 a. blackiffi gr«y.. 
 
 And befides, when hounds hunt a female hare, fhe 
 will ufe more crofling and doubling, feldom making 
 out end- ways before the hounds : v/hereas the mak 
 a6ts contrarily^ for having once made a turn or two 
 about his form,, then farewell hounds, for he wiU 
 frequently lead them-, five or fix miles before ever he 
 will turn his head. 
 
 When you fee that your hounds have found where 
 a hare hath pafied to relief upon the highway fide, 
 and hath much doubled andcrofTsd upon dry places, 
 and never much broken out nor relieved in the corn, 
 it is a fign ihe is but lately come thither, and then 
 commonly fhe will flay upon fome high place to 
 look about her, and to chufe out a place to form in, 
 which ihe will be loth to. part with^ 
 
[ 9« ] 
 
 The craft and fubiilty of aKk-BlE^ 
 
 As of all chaccs the hate makes the grcatcil paf- 
 timeand pleafurc, (o it is a great delight and fatis- 
 fadion to fee the craft of this fmall animal for her 
 felf-prefervation. 
 
 And the better to underhand them, confider what 
 weather it is j if it is rainy, then the hare will hold 
 the highways more than at any other time, and if 
 fhe come to the fide of any young grove or fpring* 
 fhe will fcarcely enter, butfquat down by the fide of 
 it till the hounds have overfhot her, and then (he 
 will return, the very fame way (he came, to the 
 place from whence fhe was ftarted, and will not go 
 by the way into any covert, for fear of the wet and 
 dew that hangs upon the boughs. 
 
 In this cafe the huntfman ought to ftay an hundred 
 paces before he comes to the v/ood-fide, by v/hich 
 means he will perceive whether fhe return as afore- 
 laid, which if (he do, hemuft halloo in the hounds, 
 and call them back, and that prefently, that th« 
 hounds may not think it the counter fhe came firft. 
 
 The next thing that is to be obferved, is the place 
 where the hare fits, and upon what wind flie makes 
 her form, either upon the north or (buth wind ; (he 
 will not willingly run into the wind, but run up on 
 a fide, or down the wind ; but if (he form* in the 
 water, itisafign (he is foul and meafled : if you 
 hunt fuch a one, have a fpecial regard all the day to 
 the brook-fidcs, for there, and near plafhes, (he 
 will make all her croflings, doublings, ^^r. 
 
 Some hares, have been fo crafty, that as foon as^ 
 they have heard the found of the horn, they would 
 inftantly ftart out of their form, though it was the 
 diftance of a quarter of a mile, and go and fwim in 
 fome pool, and reft upon fome ru(h bed in the midft 
 Qi it, and would not (tir from thence till they have 
 
 heaii 
 
C 51 3 
 
 heard the horn again, and then have ftartcd out again, 
 fwimming to land, and have flood up before the 
 hounds four hours before they could kill them, 
 fwimming and ufingall fubtilties and croiRngs in the 
 v/ater. 
 
 Nay, fuch is the natural craft an^fubtilty ofa hare, 
 that fometimes after (he has been hunted three hours, 
 (he Will itart a frcfii hare, and fquat into the fame 
 form. 
 
 Others having been hunted a confide rable time, 
 will creep under the door of a fheep-coat, and there 
 hide themfelves among the (heep, or when they have 
 been hard hunted, will run in among a flock of iheep, 
 and will by no means be gotten out from among 
 * them, till the hounds are coupled up and the (heep 
 driven into their pens. 
 
 Some of them (and that feems fomewhat (Irange) 
 will take the ground like a coney, and that is called, 
 .£oing io the vault. 
 
 Some hares will go up one fide of the hedge and 
 come down the other, the thicknefs of the hedge 
 being the only diftance between the courfes. 
 
 A hare that has beeji forely hunted, has got upoa 
 a quick-fet hedge, and ran a good way upon the top 
 thereof, and then leap'd ofF upon the ground. 
 
 And they will frequently betake themfelves to furz- 
 buflies, and will leap from the one to the other, 
 whereby the hounds are frequently in default. 
 
 Some affirm. that a hare^ after fhe has been hunted 
 two hours or more, has at length, to fave herfelf, 
 got upon an old wall, fix foot high from the ground, 
 and hid herfelf in a hole that was made for fcaffbld- 
 ing ; and that fome hares have fwam over the rivers 
 Trent and Severn, 
 
 A hare is fuppofed not to live above fevcn years at 
 the mofl, efpecially the bucks, and if a buck and a 
 doe fliall keep oae quarter together, they will nevier 
 
 fuffer 
 
[ 92 I 
 
 fii ffcr any ftrange^^r^ to fit with them; and there fore- 
 it is faid byway of proverb, " the more you hurit, the 
 more hares you fha^l have : becaufe when you have 
 killed one /:/(3r^3 another will come and pofTefs ms^ 
 form. . ^ ► 
 
 A hare hath "a gfeafer fcent, and; is more eagerly 
 hunted by th^ hountJ's/when fhe feeds and relieves 
 upon green corn, than at any other time in the year^ 
 and yet there are fome hares that naturally give a 
 greater fcent than others, as the large weed hansr 
 and fuch as are foul and meaffed keep near to the 
 waters: but the fmall \t^ hare, which is- not much 
 bigger than a coney, is neither of fo ftiong a (cent, 
 nor fo eagerly hunted. 
 
 The females are more crafty and politic than the 
 males, they double and turn (horter than they, . 
 which is unpleafant to the hounds ffor it is trouble^ 
 fome to them to turn fo often, delighting more in an 
 end-way chace, running with all' their force : for 
 thofe ^^r^-j which double and c'rofs fo often, it is 
 requifite at default, to cafl the greater compafs about,, 
 when you beat to make it out; for fo you wiU 
 find all her fubtilties, and yet need not ftick upon any. 
 of them, but only where fhe went on forward : by 
 this means you will abate her force, and conipel her 
 to need doubiing and crofiing. 
 
 How to mUr Hounds to a H^^RE. 
 
 Let the Huntfman. be fure in the firft place toraake 
 them very well acquainted v/ith himfeif and his 
 voice, and let them underftand the horn^ which he 
 fhould never blow but when there is good caufe for 
 it. 
 
 When you enter a young kennel of hounds, have 
 a fpecial regard to the country where you make the 
 fia-ft quarry,, for fo they are like to fucceed accord- 
 ingly ,i. fiQce^their -being entered, firft in -a. pJain and 
 
 champaia . 
 
[93] 
 
 champain couiitry... will cvake them ever after de- 
 light more to hunt therein than elfewhere ; and it is 
 the fanne with the coverts. 
 
 The beft reafon to enter yoan^ hbtinds, is in Sep^ 
 tember and Odoher^ for then the weather is temperate 
 and neither too hot nor too ^l<ivand ttils is thefea- 
 fon to find young hares til at have never 'J^een hunted, 
 which. are filly, and ignorant of the politic croflings^ 
 doublings,- ^^. of their fires, running commonly 
 end- ways, frequently fquatting, and as often ftarting ; 
 by which encouragemefit the hounds ar« the better 
 entered. ' 
 
 , Some hares hold the high -beaten ways only, where 
 the hounds can have no fcent 5 therefore when the 
 Huntfman finds his hounds at a defaultin the high- 
 way, ilet him hunt on until he -find where the hare- 
 hath brokeni from the highway, or hath found fame 
 dale or frefh place where the hounds may recover - 
 ii:ent, looking^narrowly on the ground as he goes, 
 to fee to find the footing or pricking of the hare, 
 
 'There are other p'aces.wherein a hound can find 
 no fcent; and that is, in fat and rotten ground,, 
 which flicks to the feet of the W^, and this is called 
 carrying, 2Lnd fo.oLcon^equenceihe leaves no fcent 
 behind her. 
 
 There are alfo certain months in the year in which 
 abound caafind no- fcent, and that is in thefpring- 
 time, by Eeafan of the fi^agrant fcent of flowers, an4^^ 
 the like. 
 
 But avoid hunting in hard frofly weather as much 
 
 as you can, for that wilH)e apt to furbate or founder 
 
 ;your hounds, and caufe them to lofe their claws; be- 
 
 jfrdes, at that time ^ hare runs better than at other 
 
 times, the folesjcf her feet being hairj. 
 
 mm- 
 
[94 1 
 
 IVhat time of the year is left for Hare hunting y hoio 
 
 U find her ^fiart her^ and chafe her. 
 
 The bcft time to begin hare huntings is about the 
 middle of Septewper^ and to end towards the latter 
 end of" February y left you deftroy the early brood of 
 leverets. 
 
 And befides, when the winter comes on, the 
 moiftncfs and coolnerfs of the earth increafcs, which 
 is agreeable to the nature of the hounds^ and very 
 acceptable, they not liking extremes either of hot 
 or cold weather. 
 
 Thofe hounds that are two years old atid upwards, 
 may be exercifed three times a week ; and the hunt- 
 ing fo often will do them good, provided they be well 
 fed ; and they may be kept the greateft part of the 
 day, both to try their ftouinefs, and to make them 
 itout. ^ 
 
 If any hound (hall have found the trail of a hare^^ 
 when fee hath relieved that night, the Huntfmani 
 ought not to be toohafty, but let the hounds make 
 it themfelves ; and when he perceives that they be* 
 gin to draw in together, and to call on freihly,thea 
 he ought to encourage them, efpecially that hound 
 which hunteth beft, frequently calling him by hisJ 
 Dame. 
 
 Here you may take notice, that a hare leaveth bet-- 
 ter fcentwhenfhc goes torelief than when ihe gocth 
 towards her form ; for when fhe relieves in the field, 
 ihe coueheth her body low upon the ground, pafling 
 often over one piece of ground, to find where the beft. 
 food lies, and thus leaveth the beft fccnt, croffing 
 alfo fometimes j befides, when fhe goes to her form 
 -ihe commonly takes the highways, doubling, crof- 
 fmg, and leaping as lightly as (he can ; in which 
 place, the hounds can have no fcent by reafon of the 
 \\x^y.^c, and yet ihey will fquat by the fides of 
 
 high 
 
[ 95 3 
 
 highways,, and therefore let the huntfmah beat very 
 well the fides of thofe highways. 
 
 Now having found where a hare hath relieved in 
 fome pafture or corn-field, you muft then confideii 
 the fcafon of the year, and what weather it is 5 for 
 if it be in the fpring-time or fumroer, a hare will 
 not then fit in bulhes, becaufe they are frequently 
 infefted with pifmires, fnakes and adders 5 but will 
 fit in corn-fields and open places. 
 
 In the winter- time> they fit near towns and vil- 
 lages, in tufts of thorns and brambles, cfpecially 
 when the wind is northerly or foutherly. 
 
 According to the feafon and nature of the plac« 
 where the hare is accuftomed to fit, there beat with 
 your hounds, and ftart her ; which is much better 
 fport than trailing of her from her relief to her 
 form. 
 
 After the hare has been flarted, and is on foot, 
 then ftep in where you faw her pafs, and halloo in 
 your hounds, until they have all undertaken it, and 
 go on with it in full cry j then rcchcat to them with 
 your horn, following fair and foftly at firft, making 
 not too much noife either with horn or voice ; for at 
 the firft, hounds are apt to overfboot the chacc 
 through too much heat. 
 
 But when they have run th€ fpace of an hour, and 
 you fee the hounds are well in with it, and ftick well 
 upon it, then you may come in nearer with the 
 hounds, becaufe by that time their heat will be 
 cooled, and they will hunt more foberly. 
 
 But, above all things, mark the firft doubling, 
 which muft be your dircdlion for the whole day ; for 
 all the doublings that fhe (hall make afterwards will 
 hz like the former, and according to the polices that 
 you fhall fee her ufe, and the place where you hunt, 
 you muft make your compaffes great or little, long or 
 ihort, to help the defaults, always feeking the moifteft 
 
 and 
 
[96 3 
 
 aad mod coawnodious places for the hounds to fcent 
 in. 
 
 To conclude; thofe who delight in hunting the 
 hare, muft rife early, left they be deprived of the fcent 
 of her foot-fteps, by which means the dogs will be in- 
 capacitated to follow their game ; for the nature of 
 the fcent is fuch that it will not remain fo long, but 
 iaddenly in a manner every hourvaniiheth away, 
 
 The laws ohferved In courjlng the H ar e , 
 
 1. That he that is chofen Fewterer, or that lets 
 looTe the greyhounds, (hall receive the greyhounds 
 matched to run together into his leafh as foon as he 
 comesintothefield,and follow nexttothehare-finder^ 
 or he who is to ftart rhe'hare until he come unto the 
 form, and no horfeman or footman is to go befor.i^, or 
 on any fide but dire£):ly behind, for the fpace of 
 about forty yards. 
 
 2. You ought to courfe a hare with no more than 
 a brace of greyhounds. 
 
 3. T-he hare- finder ought to give the hare three 
 fo-hoes before he put her from her form or feat, to 
 the end the dogs may^aze about, and attend her 
 flatting. 
 
 4. They ought to have twelve fcore yards law 
 before the dogs are loo fed, unlefs there be any danger of 
 lofing her. 
 
 5. That dog that gives the firft turri, if after that 
 tiiere be neither cote, flip, or wrench, Jie wins the 
 wager. 
 
 6. If one dog gives the firft turn, and the othec 
 bears the hare, he that bears the hare fhall win the 
 wager. 
 
 7. A go oy, or bearing the hare, is accounted 
 equivalent to two turns. 
 
 8. If neither dog turn the hare, he that leads laft 
 to the covert wms* 
 
 Q. If 
 
T 97 } 
 
 9. If one dog turn the hare, ferves himfejf, and 
 turns her again, it is as much as a cote, and a cote 
 is efteemed two turns. 
 
 10. If ail the courfe be equal, he that bears the 
 hare fhall win ; and if he be not born, the courie 
 fhall be adjudged dead. 
 
 11. If a dog take fall in his courfe, and yet perform 
 his part, he may challenge the advantage of -a turn 
 more than he gave. 
 
 12. If a dog turn the hare, ferve himfelf, and give 
 divers cotes, and yet in the end ftand ftill in ths 
 fieldj the other dog, if he turns home to the coverts, 
 although he gives no turn, (hall be adjudged to win, 
 the wager. 
 
 13. If by misfortune, a dog be rid over in his courfe 
 the courfe is void, and to fay the truth, he that did 
 the mifchief ought to make reparation fcr the da- 
 
 14. If a dog give the tirH and lafl turn, and there*^ 
 be no other advantage becwixt them, he that gives 
 the odd turn (hall win. 
 
 ;' 15. A cote is when the greyhound goeth end-ways 
 by -his fellow, and gives the hare a turn. 
 
 1 6. A cote ferves for two turns, and two trippings 
 or jerkins for a cote ; and if (he turneth not quite 
 about (he only wrencheth. 
 
 17. if there be no cotes given between a brace of 
 greyhounds but that one of them ferves the other at 
 turning : then he that gives the hare rnoft turns wins 
 the wager ; and if one gives as many turns as the 
 other, then he that beareth the hare v/ins the wager. 
 
 18. Sometimes the hares doih not turn but wrench ; 
 for (he is not properly faid to turn, except (he turn as 
 it were round, and two wrenches (land for a turn. 
 
 19. He that comes in firft to the death of the 
 hare, takes her up, and faves hef from breaking, 
 
 E chcnfticcm 
 
[ 98 3 
 
 chtrifcth the dogs, and cleanfes their mouths from 
 the wool, is adjudged to have the hair for his pains. 
 20, Thofe that are judges of the leafh, mutt give 
 their judgment prefently before they depart out of 
 ihe field. 
 
 Courfmg the FOX. 
 
 IN courfmg a fox, no other art is required than 
 ftandingclofe, and on a clear wind on the outfide 
 of fome grovtj, where you are to expe£l his coming 
 out, and then give him head enough, otherwife he 
 v/ill turn back to the covert : for the flowed grey- 
 hound will be fwift enough to overtalce him ; and 
 all the hazard of this courfe is the fpoiling your dog 
 by the fox, v/hich oftentimes happens ; and for this 
 reafon, you fhould not run any that are worth much 
 at this chafe ; but fuch tliat ;are hard hittcn do^s 
 that will ieiz.e any thing. 
 
 Fox Hunting. 
 
 Thefhapeand proporion of this beaft is (o well 
 "known, being fo commoii, that it is necdlefs to de- 
 scribe him. 
 
 flis nature is in many refpeiSls like that of a wolf, 
 for they bring as many cubs at a litter the one as the 
 other ; but in this they difFer^ the fox littering deep 
 iinder the ground, but the wolf doth not. 
 
 A bitch fox is very diiRcult to be taken when ibe 
 is braaged and with cub, for then fhe wijl lie near 
 l\er burrow, into which fhe runs, upon hearing the 
 jeafl noife: and indeed at any time it is fomewhat 
 difficult ; for the fox (and fo the v/oU) is a very fub- 
 tle creature. -r r u 
 
 Fox-hunting is a very pleafant exercife, tor by rea- 
 ioaofnisftTongjhotfcentj he maiccs an excellent 
 
 cry : 
 
{99,] 
 
 try : and as his fcent is hotted at hand, (o it diesthi 
 fooneft, 
 
 An^ befides, he never flies far before the hounds, 
 trufting not to his legs, ftrength, or champaign 
 grounds, but ftrongeft coverts. When he can no 
 longer lUnd before the ground, he then taketh earth, 
 and muft bedug out. " ' ' 
 
 If greyhounds courfe him on a plain, his lafl re- 
 Juge is to pifs on his tail, and flap it in their faces 
 a? they come near him; and fometimes fquirting his 
 thicker excrements upon them, to make them give 
 over the courfe or purfuit, 
 
 . . When a bitch fox goes a clicketting and feeking 
 for a dog, fhe cries with a hollow voice, not unlike 
 the howling of a mad dog, and in the fame manner 
 £he cries when (lie mifles any of her cubs ; but never 
 makes any cry at all when (he is killing, but defends 
 herfelf to the laft gafp. 
 
 A fox will prey upon any thing He can overcome^ 
 and will feed upon any fort of carrion : but their dain- 
 ties, and the food they mo/l delight in, is poultry. 
 
 They are very inju<rious an\3 deRructive to coiicy-' 
 warrens, and will fometimes kill hares by d<iceit and 
 fubtilty, but not by fwift running. 
 
 The fox is taken with hounds, grey-Iiounds, ter* 
 riers, nets and gins. 
 
 For Hunting above ground. 
 
 To hunt a fox with hounds, you mufldraw about 
 groves, thickets, and buflies, near villages : for in 
 fuch places he lurks to prey upon poultry, &c. but 
 if you can find one, it will be necefTary to ftop up 
 his earth the night before you intend to hunt, and 
 that about midnight, for then he goes out to prey ; 
 and this muft be done by laying two white ilicks 
 acrofs in his way, which will make him imagine ic 
 E 2 ;0 
 
[ 100 3 
 fo be fome gin or trap laid for him; or elfe they may 
 be flopped up clofe with black thorns and earth to- 
 gether. 
 
 The beft hunting a fox above groundj is in7<7-* 
 /iuciry, February^ and March ^ for then you mall 
 beft fee your hounds hunting, and beft find his 
 earthing; and befides, at thofe times the fox's (kin 
 is beil in feafon. 
 
 Again,, the hounds hunt the fox beft in the coldeft 
 weatjier, becaufe he leave th a very ftrong fcent be- 
 hind him ; yet in cold weather it chills fafleft. 
 
 At firft only caft off your fure finders, and as the 
 drag mends, fo add more as you dare truft them ; 
 livoid cafting off too many hounds at once, becaufe 
 woods and coverts are full of fundry chaces^ imd fo 
 you ;nay engage them in too many at one time. 
 
 Let lucb as you caft off at firll; be old ftauncfi 
 hounds which are fure, and if you hear fuch a hound 
 call on merrily, you may caft offfome others to him, 
 and when ihey run it on the full cry, caft off" the 
 reft, and thus you (hall compleat your paftime. 
 
 The words of comfort aie the fame which areiifed 
 Sn other chaces, attended with the fame hallooings, 
 and other ceremonies. 
 
 The hounds fhouldte left to kill the fox them- 
 feives, and to worry and tear him as much as they 
 pleafe : fome hounds will eat him with eagernefs. ' 
 
 When he is dead, hang him at the end of a pike- 
 flafF, and halloo In all your hounds to bay him ; but 
 reward them not with any thing belonging tp^ the 
 fox ; for it is not good^^ neither will the hounds ia 
 common eat it. 
 
 Of HuNTINQ a Fox under ground. 
 
 If in cafe a fox does fo far efcape as to earth, 
 i:ountrymen muft be got together with fhovels, 
 
 •fpad©6, 
 
1 101 i 
 
 fpades, mattocks, pickaxes, &<:. to dig him outy if 
 they think the'earth not too great. 
 
 They make their earths as near as they can hi 
 ground that is hard to dig, as in clay, ftony ground, 
 or amongft the roots of trees ; and their earths have 
 commonly but one hole ;^ and that is ftraight a long 
 way in before you come at their couch. 
 
 Sometimes craftily they take poffeflion of a badger*s 
 old burrow, which hath a variety of chambers, holes 
 and angles. 
 
 Now to facilitate this way of hunting the fox : 
 the huntfman muft be provided with one or two ter- 
 riers to put into the earth after him, that is to fix 
 him into an angle : for the earth often confifts of 
 many angles : the ufe of the terrier is to know where 
 he lies, for as foon as he finds him he continues bay- 
 ing or barking, fo that which way the noife is heard 
 that way dig to him. 
 
 '' However, I Ihall here adJ, that in the firft place 
 ,you .mult have, fuch as are able to dig, fo your ter- 
 riers muO: be garniOied with belis hung in collars, to 
 make the fox boh the fooner j. befides, the collaris 
 will be feme defence to the terriers. 
 
 The inftruments to dig withai are thefe ; a (harp 
 pointed fpade, which ferves to begin the trench, 
 where the ground is hardefl, as broader tools will 
 not fo well enter ; the round hollowed fpade, whicli 
 is ufeful to dig among roots, having very fharp 
 edges ; the broad flat fpade to dig withal, when the 
 trench has been pretty v.^ell opened, and the ground 
 fbfter 5 mattocks and pickaxes to dig in hard gioun J, 
 where a fpade will do but little fervice i the coat 
 rake to cleanfe the hole, and to keep it from flopping 
 op ; clamps, wherewith you may take either fox Oil 
 badger out alive,, to make fport with afterwards. "' 
 
 Aivi 
 
t J02 ] 
 And it would be very convenient to4iave a pail of 
 water to refrefh your tarriers with, after they are 
 c^me out of the earth to lake breath. 
 
 0/ D O G S. 
 
 AS their is no country in the world where there 
 is not plenty of dogs, fo no animals can boaft 
 of a greater variety, boih in kind and fhapc ; fome 
 being for buck, others for bear, bull, boar, and 
 fome for hare, coney and hedge-hog, while others 
 £re for other ufes, according to their various natures, 
 properties and kinds ; neither are the ufes and kind* 
 of them fo general, but iheir biinging up is alfo as 
 ■ €a(y^ there being no great regard to be had as to their 
 food, for they will eat any thing bu^t the fiefh of their 
 own fpecies, which cannot be fo dfefFcd by the art 
 of man, but they will find out by their fmeHing,and 
 fo avoid k. 
 
 A black hound is not to be defpifed, efpecially if 
 marked with white, and not red fpots ; feeing this 
 whitenefs proceeds from a flegmatic conilitution, 
 v/hich hinders him from forgetting the lefTon he is 
 taught, and makes him obedient ; whereas dogs 
 tliat have red fpots are for the moft part very fiery, 
 and hard to be managed, by reafon of the bilious hu- 
 mour that prevails, and caufes this irregularity with^ 
 in them : and therefore a black dog with white fpots 
 is valuable, being ufually hardy enough, will hunt 
 well, is itrongand fwift, and holds out a long time : 
 he v/ill not forfake the thace, and when you are 
 beating the water for fport, he will not be frighted 
 at it : and laftly, he is the more efteemed, becaufe 
 thcfe diflempers incident to dogs, feldom befal him. 
 
 There are fome grey coloured dogs that are good, 
 and others you ought n©t to meddle with -, that is, 
 
 moDgreh 
 
[103] 
 
 mongrels, which come from a hound bitch that ha? 
 been lined by a dog of another kind, or from a bitch 
 of another kind, that has been lined by a hound : 
 hounds cannot be good if they do not intirely retain 
 the nature that is peculiar to them ; and v/hen they 
 do, grey dogs are to be coveted, becaufe they are 
 cunning, never faulter, and grow not difcouraged 
 in the queft. 
 
 Yellow dogs, are thofe which have red fpots, in- 
 clining to brown ; and as choler is the moft predo- 
 minant humour in this animal, fo he is found to be 
 of a giddy nature, and impatient, when the bead he 
 follows makes turns, feeing he ftill runs forwards ta 
 find him, which is a great fault ; and thcrefv)re they 
 are feldom made ufe of to hunt any other than the 
 wolf, or fuch black beafls as are rarely inclined to 
 turnings : they are too f\^nrt, open but very little,: 
 efpecially in very hot weather ; they are naturallj' 
 impatient, and therefore hard to be taught, as they 
 are uneafy under corredtion-. 
 
 Oppofite to the deep mouthed or fouthern hound,. 
 are the long and flender hounds, called the^^^r, or 
 northe-rn hound ; which are very fwift, as not being 
 of fo heavy a body, nor having f© large ears : thefe^ 
 will exercife your horfes, and try their ftrengthi 
 .they are proper for open, level, and champaign 
 countries, where they may run in view, and full 
 fpeed ; for they will hunt more by the eye than h\^ 
 the nofe, and will run down a hare in an hour, and 
 fometimes fooner: but the fox v/iil" exercife thcni 
 longer and better. 
 
 Between thefe two extremes there are a middle fort 
 of dogs, which partake of both their qualiiies as to 
 ftrength and fwiftnefs, in a reafonable proportion : 
 they are generally brtd by croffing the ftrains, and 
 are excellenit in fpch countries as are mixed, viz>» 
 fjome mountains, fome inclofures, fome pkina aiid 
 E 4 fome 
 
[ I04 ] 
 fome woodlands ; for they will go through thick and 
 thin, neither need they be helped over hedges, as 
 the huntfmen are often forced to do by others. 
 
 A true, right fliaped, deep-mouthed hound, fhould 
 have a round, thickhead, wide noftrils, open and 
 wide upwards, his ears large and thin, hanging 
 lower than his chops, the fleeces of his upper lip 
 fhould be longer than thofe of his nether-chops, the 
 € hime of his back great and thick, ftrait and long, 
 and rather bending out than inclining in j his thighs 
 weil trufied, his haunches large, his fillets round and 
 large, his tail or ftern flrong fet on, waxing taper- 
 wife tov/ards the top, his hair under his belly rough 
 and long, his legs large and lean, his feet dry aiid 
 h.ud> with ftrong claws and high knuckles : in the 
 wh-Ie, he ought to be of (o juft a fymmetry, that 
 when he ftands level, you may not difcern v/hith is 
 highell, ^ fore or hinder parts. 
 
 For the northern ox Jieet houndy his head and nofe 
 ought to be flender and longer, his back broad, his 
 liclly gaunt, his joints long, and his ears thicker and 
 Ihorcer ; in a word, he is in all parts flender made, 
 and framed after the mould of a greyhound. 
 
 By croiling thofe breeds, as before obferved, you 
 mav bring your kennel to fuch a compofition as you 
 think fit, every man's fancy being to be preferred j 
 aiid it is a well known faying. 
 
 So many men^ jo mauy tninds ; 
 So many hounds^ fo many kinds* 
 
 Though I fhall refer the reader to the difeafes in- 
 cident to dogs, under their refpe£live heads, yet their 
 being b tien or flung by fome venomous creatures, 
 and others -being not fo eafily reducible to an article 
 by itfelf, it (hall be added here : and v/hen they are 
 iiung by fooie adder, or other infedt ot that nature. 
 
- [105 J 
 i3^pu= .iftuft take an handful of the herb crofs-worfy 
 *g<:ntfan, and as much rue, the fame quantity of 
 'Spanifli pepper, thin Broth, ends of broom and mint,- 
 of all an equal quantity; when this is done,, take 
 fome white wine, and make a decoction of the 
 whole, letting it boil for an hour in a pot ; then flraiii 
 the \vhole, into which put an ounce of difTolved trea- 
 cle, and' let the dog fwallow it, and obferve to wafh 
 • the bite therewith : if a dog is bitten by a fox, anoint 
 It v/ith oil wherein you have boiled fome rue and 
 worms. 
 
 Of DbG-MADNESSi 
 
 Dog-madnefs is a diftemper very common among all' 
 forts of dogs ; eafy to be prevented, but hard to be 
 cured : there are no lefs than feven forts of madnefs,. 
 amongft which fome are efteemed incurable. 
 
 The fymptoms of this difeafe are many, and eafily 
 4ifcerned ;- when any dog feparates himfelf contrary 
 to his former ufe, becornes melancholy, or droops his 
 head, forbears eating, and as he runs fnatches at 
 everything; if he often looks upv/ards, and tbathij 
 ftern at his fetting on be a little ere£^, and the relt 
 hanging down ; if his eyes be red, his breath ftrong,, 
 his voice hoarfe, and that he drivels and foams at the 
 mouth, you may be aflured He has this diftemper. . 
 
 The feven forts^ of madnefs ate as as follow : of 
 Which the two firft are incurable, viz. the hot burning' 
 fnadnefsy and running madnejs \ they are both very 
 dangerous; for all things they bite and draw bloocf 
 from, will have the fame diftemper; they generally' 
 feize on all they meet with, but chiefly on dogs :; 
 their pain is fo great,, it foon kills them. The five" 
 curable mad nefles are :: 
 
 Steeping madnefs:^ To called' from the dog's greaC- 
 drowiinefs, and almoft continual fleeping; and iHii- 
 h cau/^d by the4ittle worms that breed i* the moutW 
 ' ■' E 4 of 
 
of the ftomach, from c6rrupt humours, vapours, and 
 fumes which a fee nd to his h^ad: for cure of which* 
 take fix ounces ofthe juide Of wormwood, two Quncesr 
 of the powder of hariihbm burnt, and two drams ol" 
 agaric ; mix all thefe together in a little white wine, 
 iand give it the dog to drink in a drenching horn. 
 
 Dumbmadnejs lies alfo ih the blood, and caufes the 
 dog not to feed, but to hold his mouth always wide 
 open, frequently putting his feet to his mouth, as if 
 he had a bone in his throat : to cure this, talce the 
 juice of black hellebore, the juice o^ fpatula'putrtday 
 and of rue; of each four ounces : ftrain them well, 
 and put thereto two drams of unprepared fcammony^ 
 and being mixed well together, put it down the dog's 
 throat with a drenching horn, keeping his head up- 
 for fome time, left he caft it out again ^ then bleect 
 him in the mouthy by cutting two or three veins iii 
 his gums. _ ' 
 
 Lank madnefs is fo called, by reafon of the dog'^^ 
 Jeannefs and pining away : for cuie give them * 
 purge as before dire61ed, and alfo bleed them: but 
 ibme fay there is no cure for it. 
 
 Rheumatic, or fiavering madnefs^ occafions the dog'* 
 head to fwell, his..eyes to look yellow, and he will be 
 always ilaveiing and drivelling at the mouth ; to- 
 cure which, take four ounces of the powder of the 
 roots of polipody of the oak, fix oiinces of the j,u,ice- 
 of fennel roots, with the like quantity of the root^ 
 of miflctce, and four ounces of the juice of ivy ;: 
 bail all thefe together in white wine, and give it to 
 the dog as hot as he can drink it,, in a drenching' 
 horn. 
 
 TaWtng madnefs U fb termed becaufe it lies in the 
 iSog'sheacJ, and makes them reel as they go^ and to* 
 fall down : for cure, take four ounces of the juice pf 
 briony, and^he ia.iie quantity of the juice of peony^,. 
 
[ I07 ] 
 
 with four drams of ftavefacre pulverized ; .mix thefe 
 together, and give it to the dog in a drenching horn 5 
 aho let him blood in the ears, and in ihe two veins 
 that com^ down his fhoulders ; and indeed bleeding. 
 is neceffary for all forts of madnefs in dogs. 
 
 To prevent dogs from being mad that are bitten- 
 by mad dogs,, that is done by bathing them ; in or- 
 der to which take a barrel or bucking tub f^Upf wa-^ 
 ter, into which put about a bufliel and a h^liof^Sooty. 
 whifih muft be ftirred well, that it may Ve di/rQ>jved j. 
 then put in the dog that is bitten, and plunge hirri' 
 over head and ears feven or eight times tnerein,. and' 
 it will prevent his being mad ', but he fliould alfo be 
 blooded. 
 
 When dogs happen to be bit as aforefaid,' there is- 
 nothing better than their licking the place with their 
 own tongues, if ihey can reach it ; if not, then let it: 
 be wafhed with butter and vinegar made lukev/ami,^ 
 and let it afterwards be anointed v/ith Fi7zzV^ turpen- 
 tine : it is alfo good to pi fs upon the v/ound ; but:: 
 above all, take the juice of the ftalks of ftrong to- 
 bacco boiled in water, bathe the place therewith,, 
 alfo wafh him in fea water, or water artificially made: 
 fait: give him likewife a little mitbridate inwardly 
 in two or three fpoonfuls of fack, and fo keep him- 
 j^jparti and if you find him, after forae time, (lill to^ 
 droop, the bed way is to hang him.. 
 
 It may not be amifs to add what a late author-ad- 
 vifes every one who keeps a dog, which is to have 
 him wormed, and is a thing of little trouble and. 
 charge, and what he believes wouLd prevent their 
 being mad j and if they are, he isof opmion that it 
 prevents their biting any other creature ; for he aflTerts- 
 he had three dogs bit by mad dogs,, at three feverat 
 times, that were wormed, and though they died mad,, 
 yet they did not bite, nor do any mifchief to any 
 thing he had ;- and having a; mind, to make a full ex- 
 
 perimeafc 
 
.[108] 
 
 f eriment of, it, . he fhut one of them up in a kennej, 
 and put to him a dog he did not value : that the mad 
 dog would often run at the other dog to bite him ', 
 but he found his tongue fo much fwelled in his mouth, 
 that he could not make his teeth meet; that that dog, 
 though he kept him with the mad dog till he died, 
 yet he did not ail any thing, though he kept him two 
 years afterwards, and gave him no remedies to pre- 
 vent ahY harm, which might come from the biting 
 of thWifiW dog. 
 
 TIIt^ 'bed remedy is this, take white hellebore and 
 grate it with a grater to powder, which muft be 
 Kiixed with butter, and given to the dog : the dofe 
 TAud be proportioned to the flze of the dog; to a 
 very fniall lap-dog you may give three grains, to a 
 large maftifF fixteen grains, and fo in proportion to 
 other fizes. He adds, that the beft way is, to give 
 him a fmall quantity at firft, that it may be increafed 
 as it is found to v/ork, or not to work ; but that as 
 it is a ftrong vomit, and will make the dogs fick for 
 a little time, fo they muft be kept warm that day i% 
 is given them, and the next night, and they muft 
 not have cold water ; but when it has done working, 
 towards the afternoon give them fome warm broth, 
 and the next morning give them the fame before you- 
 Jet them out of the houfe or kennel. 
 
 Xhe fame author fays this is an extraordinary re- 
 medy for the mange ; that he never knew three dofers 
 fail of curing any dog that had it, except he had a 
 furfelt with it; which if he had, let him blocd alfo,, 
 and anoint him two or three times over with gun- 
 fiowdcr and foap, beat it up together, and it will 
 eure him. 
 
 Th 
 
The choice of a Dog ^»^ Bitch for breeding goid 
 Whelps. 
 
 The bitch ought to be one of a good kind, being 
 ilrong and well-proportioned in all parts, having her 
 •j-ibs and' flanks great and large. 
 
 Let the dog that lines her be of a good fair breed ; 
 and let him be young, if you intend to have light 
 and hot hounds ; for \^ the dog be old, the whelps 
 will participate of his dull and heavy nature. 
 
 If your bitch Ao not grow proud of her own ac- 
 cord fo foon as you would have her, you may make 
 her fo by givfng her the following broth : 
 
 Boil two heads of garlick, hair a caftor's ftone, the 
 juice of crefTes, and about twelve Spanijh flies, in a 
 pipkin that holds a pint, together with feme mutton, 
 and make broth of it 3 and give of this to the bitch 
 tv/o or three times, and fhe will not fail to grow 
 proud, and the fame pottage given ta the dog, v/ill 
 make him inclinable to copulation. 
 
 After your bitch has been lined and is with puppy, 
 you muft not let her hunt, for that will be the way 10 
 make her eaft her whelps j but let her walk up and 
 down unconfined in the houfe and court : never 
 Pocking her up in her kennel j for fhe is then im- 
 patient of food, and therefore you mjft make her 
 fome hot broth once a day. 
 
 If you v/ould fpay your bitch, it muft be done be- 
 ^fore (he has ever had a litter of whelps ; and in fpay- 
 ing her take not away all the roots and ftrings of the 
 veins ; for if you do,: it will prejudice her reins, and 
 hinder her fwiftnefs ever after : but by leavingfome 
 behind, it will make her much the flronger, and 
 more hardy. 
 
 But by no means do not fpay her while fhe I* 
 
 proud, for that vdli endanger her life : but you may 
 
 . . do 
 
[ iro J 
 
 io-h fifteen days after; but the befl: time of allii 
 when the whelps are fhaped within her. 
 
 Of the "Water spaniel y how io train ^ and order h'trrt 
 for the game in fowling. 
 
 The water dog is of ftich general ufe, and fb com- 
 mon amongft us, that there needs no great defcrip- 
 tion of him } but there are great diftercnces amongil' 
 them, as well in proportion as otberwife. 
 
 As to colour, the curious will make a difFerencer 
 as the black to be the beft and hardieft ; the.fpotted^ 
 or pied,, quickeftof fcent, and the fiver-hewed quick- 
 eft in fwimmiiig y but,, in truth,, colour is nothing 
 material,, for without doubt there are good and bad of 
 all colours, and that by experience is found : but his 
 breeding, training up, and coming of a good kind, 
 are the chief things y yet it muft be confefled, that 
 as to handfomencfs, the colaur is to be regarded, fo 
 is the proportion as to his (liape; and tlien his head 
 fhould be round, with curled hair, his ears bread 
 and hanging, his eyes full and. lively, his nofe fhorr, 
 his lips like unto a hound's, his neck thick and fhoit, 
 his fhoulders broad, his legs ftraight, his chine 
 fquare, his ribs with a compafs, his buttocks round, 
 his thighs brawny,, his belly gaunt, his paflerns 
 iirong and dew-clawed, and his fore-feet long and 
 round, with his hair in general long and curled, no^ 
 Joofe and fbagged j for the iirft Sieweth hardinefs 
 ^nd ftrength to endure the water, and the other much' 
 tendernefs and weaknefs. 
 
 Now for the training and bringing him up, you 
 can't begin too early, to teach him obedience, when 
 he can but lap,, for that is the piincipal thing to be 
 learned ; for being made to obey, he is then ready to 
 do your commands; therefote {q foon as he canlap, 
 teach him to couch and lie ciofe, not daring to {!i\t 
 from th^t poilure wilhgut your commafidsi and tha- 
 
 better 
 
rin] 
 
 better to efTe^l this, always cheri/h him when he does 
 your will, and corredb him when he difobeys ; and 
 '^be fure to obferve, that in the firft teaching him you 
 never let him eat any thing, but when he does feme- 
 thing to deferve it, that he may thereby know, that 
 fjod is a thing that i:omeih not by chance, or by a 
 jiberal hand, but, only for a reward for well- doing j 
 arid this will make him not only willing to learn, but 
 apt to remember what he is taught without blows.; 
 [and tot hat end, have no more teachers than one, 
 iTof Variety breed confufion, as teaching divers ways, 
 fo that he can learn no way well. 
 
 Another thing is, you mud be very conftant to th:e 
 words of direction by which you teach him, chufing 
 fuch as are moft pertinent to that p^urpofe; and thofe 
 ^^Ords't'hat you firft ufe, do not alter, for dogs takp 
 notice oT the found, not of the Englifij, fo that the 
 leaft alteration puts them to a ftand : For example, 
 |if' yoii teach him to couch at the v/ox^ clown ^ xh\$ 
 \vill be a known command unto him ;' and I am of 
 qpinion, that to ufe more words than what is necef- 
 fary, for one and the fame thing, is to overload his 
 memory, and caufe forgetfulnefs in him. 
 
 And this method ihoyld be oblerved as to the fet- 
 ting-dog. 
 
 You muft teach him alfo to know the word ofcor- 
 re£lion, and re^rehenfion, for no leffbn can be taught 
 without a fault j and no fault ihould efcape without 
 reprehenfion, or at the leafl of chiding, and in thisbe 
 conftant to a word ; as, Co too firrah, rafcal^ or the 
 like; which at firft fiiould be uTed w^ith a la(h or jerk, 
 to make him know that it is a word of wrath or anger^ 
 neither muft fuch words proceed from you lovingly, or 
 gently, but with paflidn and roughnefs of voice, toge- 
 ther v/ith fiercenefsoflooks, that the whelp may trem- 
 ble when he hears you fpeak thus. You muft have 
 certain words of cheriiliing when he haih done well, 
 
 ihat 
 
that he may be thereby encouraged, as. That's a^gofi 
 ' hoy^ vuelldone^ or the like, ufing therewith chearfulnefs 
 ofTpeech, without adfcions of favour, as fpitting in hrs 
 mouth, clapping him on his back, and the like; you 
 muft alfo ufe fome words of advice, that when he is 
 at his fport, he may the betrer perform the fame, and 
 they may ferve to fpur or put him forward with more 
 chearfulnefs of fpirit, as, Take heed^ henty or the like.. 
 
 When youT whelp is brought up to u-nderftand 
 thefe feveial words, viz. of inftruciion, carredtion, 
 cherifhing, and advice, and that he will couch and 
 ik dov/n at your feet, how, when, and as long as 
 you pleafe, and that with a word or look only ; therii 
 teach him to lead you in a line or collar, and to 
 follow at your heels, without coming too clofe or 
 hanging backr the meaning of this is, to teach him' 
 to be more familiar and obedient unto you. 
 
 Having brought him to perfe£l obedience, to follow 
 you in a. line, the next thing miift be, to make him; 
 follow you in "like manner loofe, without a line, and; 
 always lo be at your heels, and to lie down by you* 
 v/ithoutyour leave to the contrary: this is as necef- 
 "fary a lefTjn as can be taught him, for he muft be Co- 
 but upon fpecial occafiony as to raife up fowl from^ 
 their haunis, and find out, and bring what you have 
 ftiot or killed unto you. 
 
 The next leilbn to learn him is, to fetch and carry 
 any thing that you fhall command him; and this you 
 may begin to teach him by the way of fport, as by 
 taking your glove, and fhaking over his head, mak- 
 ing him to catch at it, and to play with it ; and 
 fometimes let him hold it m his mouth, and itrive to 
 pull it from you; then cail ic a little way from you, 
 and let him muzzle it on the ground ; theri take it 
 from him gently, giving him cheijAiing, as, That'i 
 a good boy, Well done, or the like» 
 
After you have fpent fome time in this, and that 
 you find him to take it from the ground, and to hold 
 it in his mouth, as it v/ere, from you; then begin to 
 caft it further and further, giving him your com- 
 mand, faying, Fetch, or bring it, firrah , and if he 
 brings it, then cheriib and reward him with meat, 
 oracrult of bread, and let him have no food, but 
 what he deferves by doing his lefTon, and by your 
 continual practice he will fetch your glove, or any 
 thing elfe you throw out for him. 
 
 If at any time he offers to run away with your 
 glove, or tofs it up and down wantonly, not bring- 
 ing it to you orderly, then firft give him your word 
 of infi:ru(Slion, 
 
 And if that will not do, your word of corref^ion ; 
 and if neither avail, then proceed to blows, and give 
 him nothing to eat as a reward, until he doth as you 
 command. 
 
 When by this means you have made him perfedl, 
 and that he will fetch a glove readily v/herever you 
 throw it, bringing it to you, altho' in company, and 
 all call him to come to them ; you muft then make 
 .much of him, and reward him very well : and hav- 
 ing trained him to fetch your glove, then proceed to 
 teach him to fetch whatfoever you throw from you, 
 as ftaves, flicks, ftones, money, or any thing that 
 is portable. 
 
 As^alfo teach him to carry live or dead fowl, and 
 with a tender mouth, that when you have occafion 
 to ufe him for the fport, he may bring them to you 
 without tearing, or fo much as bruifing a feather. 
 
 As you walk with him in the fields, drop fome- 
 thing behind you unknown to him ; and being gone 
 a little v/ay, fend him back to feek it, by faying. 
 Back, firrajj, I have loft ; and if at firft he iknd 
 amazed, urge him ftill,( and ceafe not by pointmg 
 to him the way you would hare him go, until by 
 
 fe eking 
 
[ i'4 ] 
 
 feeking out he finds that which you fo dropped ; 
 which make him take up, by faying. That's it, and to 
 bring it after you ; then drop it again, going twice 
 as far as formerly, cauling him to go back to feek it, 
 not leaving him till you have made him find it, and 
 bring it to you, for which cheriih and reward him ;. 
 and where he fails, there chaftife or chide him, (ome- 
 times with angrv words, o^h-r times with blows, and 
 fometimes keep him fading, according to his of- 
 fence; and thus do until he will hunt the way back 
 which you went, were it above a mile. 
 
 But if your dog happen to bring you a wrong 
 thing, you muft receive it from him, and cherifh 
 him; but fend him back preTently again, faying. 
 Away again, or, I have loft more, and be not fatil- 
 fied until he hath brought you the right thing ; and 
 if he return without any ihing, then be fure both ta 
 chide and beat him for his ftoth and negligence. 
 
 When he v/ili thus fetch, carry, and find ou.^ 
 things thus loft, then train him to hunting, begin- 
 ning fiift with tame fowl, which by your help (wherv 
 they dive, or otherwife) you may with little labour 
 fnake him take, which will hearten and encourage^ 
 him to the fport. 
 
 After this make him ufe all his cunning without 
 your afliftance, whether he gets or lofes the game, 
 and according to his defert, reward or corre<5t him ; 
 by this pradice he will become mafter of his game ;. 
 and be fure always that he brings his game (when 
 taken) to the fhore unto y©u without hurting it. 
 
 Your next bufinefs fhall be, to train him unto 
 your fowling-piece, caufing him to follow, as it 
 were, ftep by fiep behind you,, and under the covert 
 of your ftiadow until you have {hot,, or elfe couch^ 
 ©r lie clofe, where you appoint him, by faying. Lie 
 clofe,. milil you have ihot y and. then upon the leaft 
 
 notice?^. 
 
 I 
 
["6] 
 
 notice .or beckoning fpcedily to come and do what 
 you command. 
 
 Some are fo expert, as to have their eyet upon 
 the game, and upon the gun's going ofF, immediately 
 run to fetch it ; but 'tis adjudged not To good, for the 
 place (hould not be a warning to him, but your com- 
 mand J but if you give him his liberty at your (hoot* 
 ipg, when you come againit your nets or lime twigs, 
 as foon as he feeth the fowl entangled, and flutter 
 their wings, he v/ill prefently ruih in amongflthem, 
 and will occafion the fpoiling your Jime rods, and 
 the tearing or entangling your nets. 
 
 The fpaniel is of great uTe in the moulting time, 
 that is, when the wild fowl cafl their feathers, and 
 can't fly, but lie lurking about in fecret places 5 
 which I'eafon is between fummer and autumn : at 
 which time take your dog into fuch phces where they 
 re brt, caullng him to hunt about; ar.dwhen he finds 
 them, they are eafily taken, becaufe they can't Ry, 
 
 In. fenny countries, where fowl do much rei^rt, 
 great quantities may be taken, driving them into 
 places where you muft have nets ready fixed, as in 
 narrow creeks, or the like. 
 
 Thefe fowl, if taken and kept tame, and fed with 
 beafts livers, whey, curds, barley, pafle, fcalded 
 bran, and the like, are excellent food, far furpafling 
 thofe abfolutely wild, both in plumpnefs, fatnefs of 
 body, and alfo for fweetnefs of tafte, 
 
 0/ Lurchers. 
 Lurchers zrt i kmd of hunting dogs much likea mon- 
 grel greyhound, with pricked ears, and fhagged coat, 
 and generally of a yellowifh white colour : they arc 
 ^•ery fwift runners, fo that if they get betv/een the 
 burrows and the conies, they feldom mifs j and this 
 is their common practice in hunting ; yet they ufe 
 othe-r fubtilties^ as the tumbler 4oes, fome of them 
 V-- brin^- 
 
I ii6 ] 
 
 bringing in their game, and thofe are the be:fi-. It is 
 alfoobfervable that a lurcher will run down a hare 
 at a ftreich. ^ 
 
 T^^ Tumbler. 
 
 So called becaufe in hunting the}' turn and tum- 
 ble, winding their bodies about circularly, and then 
 fiercely and violently venturing on the beatt, do fud- 
 denly gripe at the very entrance or mouth of their 
 holes and receptacles, before they can make any re- 
 covery of felf fecurity. 
 
 This dog ufcth alfo -another craft and fubtilty ; 
 namely, v/hen he runneth into a warren, or fetcheth 
 a courfe about a coney-burrow, he hunts not after 
 them, nor does any way affright them ;. he {hews no 
 fpite againft them, but dillembling friendfliip, and 
 pretending favour, pafies by with quietnefs and 
 liience, marking their holes diligently, wherein he 
 is fcldom deceived, 
 
 V/hen he com<^s to a place v/here there is a cer- 
 tainty .of conies, he coucheih down ciofe with his 
 belly to the ground, provided always that by his fkill 
 and policy, that the wind be againft him in that en- 
 terprize, and the conies difcover him not where he 
 lurketh, by which means he gets the fcenc of the co- 
 nies, which is carried to him by the wind and air, 
 either going to their holes or coming out, either 
 4>afling this way, or running that v/ay, and by his 
 circumfpedlioa fo orders his matters, that the filly 
 coney is debarred quite from his hole (which is the 
 haven of his hope, and harbour of his fafety) and 
 fraudulently circumvented and taken!, before he c«in 
 leach his hole. 
 
 Thus having caught his prey, be immediately car- 
 ries it to his mafter, who waits for the return of his 
 dog in feme convenient lurking: place. 
 
 Thefe dogs are fomewhat lelTer than the hound% 
 being lanker» leaner, and fomewhat prick-eared., v 
 
 By 
 
1 117 ] 
 
 By the form and fafliion of their bodies, they 
 might be called mungrel greyhounds, if they were 
 fomewhat bigger. 
 
 But though they do not equal they greyhound in 
 iize, yet they will, in the compafs of one day, kilT 
 as many conies as ihall be a fufficient load for a horfe ; 
 "for craft and fubtiiity are the inftruments whereby 
 they make thisfpoi),. 
 
 ^Setting-Dog. 
 
 A dog trained up to the fetdng of partridges, &c, 
 from a whelp, till he comes to perfetSiion ; you mufi 
 pitch upon one that has a perfeil and good fcent, and 
 is naturally addicted to the hunting of fowl, and 
 .this dog may be either a land-fpaniel^ water -jpamel^ 
 or 2imongr€l\)p,x.wter\ both, or indeed \.he /hallow Jiew^d^ 
 hound^ tumbler f lurcher ^ or finall baJiard-majUff^ but , 
 none is better tlmn the land- Jpaniel -, he {hould be of 
 a good nimble fize, rather iVnall than thick, and of 
 a courageous mettle, which, tho' not to be difcerned 
 being very young, yet you may yexy well know it 
 from a right breed, which have been known to be 
 iirong, lufty, and nimble rangers, of a£live feet, 
 wanton tails, and bufy noftrils. 
 
 Having made choice of a dog, begin to ijiftrudi 
 iiim at four months old, or fix at the fartheft, and the 
 firft thin^ you fhould do, is to make him loving to, 
 and familiar with you ; th-e better to C'ft'eiSt this, lee 
 •him receive his food., as much as can be, from no 
 other hand b^ your own, and corred^ him rather 
 with words than blows. When he is fo far trained 
 as that he wiW follow none but yourfelf, and can 
 diftinguifh your frowns from yourfmiles, and fm 00th 
 words from rough, teach him to couch and lie clofc 
 to the ground, firft by laying him often on the ground, 
 and crying //VJ^, and then rewarding or chaftizing 
 hln, ijccording as he deferves J in the next place 
 
 teach 
 
t^ach him td come creeping to you, and; if he offers 
 toraife his body or head, you muft not only thruft 
 the rifing part down, but threaten him with an angry 
 voice, which ifhefcems to flight, give him a fmall 
 jerk or two with a whipcord lafli, and often renew 
 his leflbns, till he becomes very perfc^l in them. 
 
 Then teach him to lead in a ftring or line, and to 
 follow you clofe at your heels, . without trouble or 
 ftraining his collar; after he has learned thcfe things, 
 take him into the fields, and give him his liberty to 
 range, but ftill in obedience to your command, and 
 if he commits a fault, give him due corredl'ion. 
 
 As fooa as you fee him come upon the haunt of 
 any partridge (which may be known by his greater 
 cagernefs in hiinting, as alfo by a kind of whimper- 
 ing and whining voice, being very defirous ta open, 
 but not daring) you ought then to fpeak to him, bid- 
 ing him to take heed, or the like ; but yet, if he 
 either rufh in or fpring the partridge, or open, and fo 
 the partridge efcapes, then he ought to be feverely 
 correded, and caft him ofF again, and let him hunt 
 in fome place where you know a covey lies and fee 
 whether he has mended his fault ; and if you catch 
 any with your nets, give him the heads, necks and 
 pillions for his encouragement. 
 
 0/ Greyhounds. 
 
 The beftfort of them has a long body, ftrongand 
 pretty large ; a neat fharp head, fparkling eyes, a 
 long mouth and fharp teeth; little ears with thin 
 griiiles, a ftrait, broad and ftrong breaft, his fore legs 
 lirait andihort, his hind legs long and ftrait, broad 
 fhouldcrs, round ribs, flefhy buttocks, but not fat, 
 a long tail, and ftrong and full finews. 
 
 Of this kind, thofe are always fitteftto be chofen 
 among the whelps that weigh lighteft, for they will 
 be fooner at the ffame, and fo hang upon it, hindering 
 
C 119 1 
 
 it's Aviftnefs, till the heavier and flrong hounds 
 come to offer their afliflance ; and therefore, befides 
 what has been already faid ; 
 
 *Tis requifite for a greyhound to have large fide?, 
 and abroad midriff, (o that he may take his breath 
 in and out more eafily : his belly fhould alfo be fmall, 
 i( which otherwife would obflru(5tthe fwiftnefs of bis 
 courfe) his legs long, and his hairs thin and foft:the 
 Huntfman is to lead thefe hounds on his left hand, 
 if he is on foot, and on the right if on horfeback. 
 
 The befi: time to try to train and lead them to their 
 game, is at twelve months oldjtho* fome begin fooner 
 with them, with the males at ten months, and the fe- 
 males at eight months old, which lafl are generally 
 more fwift tlian the dogs: they mufl alfo be kept in a 
 ^ip while abroad, till they can fee their courfe ; nei- 
 ther fhould you run a young dog till the game has 
 been on foot a confiderable time, lefl being over 
 greedy of the prey heftrain his limbs too much. 
 
 It is a received opinion, that a greyhound hitch will 
 in common beat a ^r^y/;i?tt«^ dog, by reafon thatfhe 
 ♦excels htm in nimblenefs ; but if it be confidered 
 that the dog is longer and ftronger, that opinion will 
 i*eem to be a vulgar erxon 
 
 Here you may take notice as to the breeding of 
 greyhounds, that the beft dog upon an indifFerent bitch, 
 will not get fo good a whelp, as an indifFerent dog 
 •upon a good bitch. 
 
 And obferve this in general as to breeding; let the 
 dogs and bitches, as near as you can, be of an equal 
 ^ge, not exceeding four years old ; however, to breed 
 vwith a young dog and an old bitch, may be the 
 means of producing excellent whelps, the goodnefs 
 of which you may know by their flaapes, in the fol- 
 lowing manner. 
 
 in the .breeding of ^rf//^c«w<^i, in ihe iirft place. 
 
 The 
 
[ ^20 ] 
 
 The dieting i?f Gr ?y hounds confifts in thefc 
 four thing?, tood,exercife, airing, and kennelling. 
 
 The general food o^ 2i grejhotiml ought to be chip- 
 ptngs, crufts of bread, fo ft bones and griftles, the 
 chippings fcalded in beefj mutton, veal or venifon 
 broth: and when it is indifferent cool, then make 
 your bread only float in good milk, and give it your 
 greyhounds morning and evening, and this will keep^ 
 them in a good ftate of body. 
 
 But if your dog be poor, fickly and weak, then 
 take (beeps heads, wool and all, clean wafhed, and 
 having broken them to pieces, put them into a pot ;. 
 3nd when it boils, fcum the pot, and put good ftore, 
 of oatmeal into it, and fuch herbs as pottage is 
 ufually made with i boil thefe till the flefh is very 
 tender, and feed your dog with this morning and 
 evening, and it will recover him. 
 
 If you defign your greyhound for a wager, then 
 give him his diet bread as follows : 
 
 Take half a peck of good wheat, and half a peck 
 of the fineft, dried oatmea', grind them together, 
 boult the meal, and having fcattered in it an indifr 
 ferent quantity of liquorice and annifeeds, well 
 t eaten together, knead it up wiih the whites of eggs, 
 and bake it in fmall loaves indifferent hard, then foak 
 it in beef or other Jjroths ; and having walked him^ 
 and aired hjm half an hour after fun-rife in the mor-* 
 ning, and half an hour before fun-fetting, give hiin 
 ibme of it to eat. 
 
 The (xerafe of aQKE^novi^D, 
 
 He ought to be courfed three times a week, re- 
 wardmcr him with blood, which will animate and 
 encourage him to profecute his game; but forget not 
 to give the hare, all the juft and lawful advantage, 
 ^ that (he may ftand long before the greyhound^ that 
 
 thereby 
 
[ 121 ] 
 
 thereby he may fhew his utmoft ftrength and fkill 
 before he reap the benefit of his labour. 
 
 If he kill, do not fufFer him to break the hare* 
 but take her from him, and clean his chaps from the 
 wool of the hare ; give him the liver and lights, and 
 then take him up in your leafn, lead him home, and 
 wafh his feet with fome butter and beer, and put him 
 into the kennel, and half an hour afterwards feed 
 him. 
 
 Upon the courfing days, give your hound a toafb 
 and butter or oil, in the morning, and nothing elfe 
 and then kennel him till he go to the courfe. 
 
 The kQnntW'in^ greyhounds 2Lhcr this manner breeds 
 in them luft, fpirit, and nimblenefs : it alfo prevents 
 feverai dangerous cafualties, and keeps the pores 
 clofe, fo as not to fpend till time of neceflity ; 
 therefore fufFer not your hound to go out of the ken- 
 nel, but at the hours of feeding, walking, courfing, 
 or other necelTary bullnefs. 
 
 0/ Terriers, 
 
 A Terrier is a kind of hound, ufed chief!/ 
 for hunting the fox or badger ; fo called, becaufe he 
 creeps into the ground, as the ferrets do into the 
 coney- burrov/s, and there nips and bites the fox and 
 badger, either tearing them in pieces with his teeth, 
 or elfe hauling and pulling them by force out of their 
 lurking holes ; or at lead driving them out of their 
 hollow harbours, to be taken by a net or otherwife. 
 
 The huntfmen have commonly a couple of ter- 
 riers, to the end they may put in a frefh one, as oc- 
 cafion ferves, to relieve the other. 
 
 The time proper for entering thefe terriers is, 
 when they are near a year old ; for if It be done 
 within that time, they will hardly after be brought 
 to take the earth, and this entering and flelhing of 
 jthem may be performed feverai ways. 
 
 F When 
 
[ 122 3 
 
 When Foxes and badgers have young cubs, take 
 your old terriers, and enter them In the ground ; and 
 when they begin to bay, you mull: hold every one of 
 your terriers at a particular hole or mouth of the 
 earth, that they may liften, and hear the old ones 
 bay. 
 
 After you have taken the old fox or badger, fo that 
 nothing remain within but the young cubs, couple 
 all your old terriers, and put the young ones in their 
 ilead ; encouraging them by crying to kim^ to him. 
 
 And if they take any young cub within the ground_, 
 let them alone to do what they will with hitn ; and 
 do not forget to give the old terriers their reward ; 
 which is blood and livers -fried with cheefe, and 
 fome of iheir greafe, (hewing the heads and fKins to 
 encourage them. 
 
 Another way is, to take an old fox or badger, and 
 to cut his neither jaw away, leaving the upper to (hew 
 the fury of the beafl, tho' he can do no harm with 
 it, or elfe break out all his teeth 3 then dig an earth 
 in fome convenient place in the ground, making it 
 wide enough, that your terriers may the better turn 
 therein, and have room enough for two to enter. 
 
 Cover the hole with boards and turf, firft putting 
 the fox or badger in, and then your terriers, both 
 young and old, which when they have bayed fuifi- 
 ciently, begin to dig with fpades and mattocks, to 
 encourage them, againftfuch times as you are to dig 
 over them ; afterwards, take out the fox or bad- 
 ger, with the chumps or pinchers, killing it before 
 J hem i or let a greyhound kill it in their fight. 
 
 Of 
 
[123 ] 
 Of ANGLING. 
 
 Of FisHiNG-RoDs and Tackle, 
 
 AS for your tops, hazle or yew fwitches gathered 
 about the middle of December^ when moft free 
 from fap, are accounted very good, though the two 
 following, or preceding months, may reafonably 
 ferve, run them over a gentle heat, to make them 
 tough ; let the (lock and tops be taper, fmooth and 
 ikait, the pieces of each rod fui table in an exadl fym- 
 metry, free from knots, or elfe they will be deficient 
 in calling, and never ftrike well, nor be truly plia- 
 ble, but at a knot be apt to break and fpoil your 
 fport. To keep them in good order, bind them clofe 
 to a ftrait pole, and fo let them continue long, that 
 they may not warp; faften a loop of filk or horfe 
 hair at the end of it with flioemakers thread, that 
 the line may have play on it 3 and though many ufe 
 filk lines, yet I prefer the horfe hair as the beft ; and 
 in twitting or braiding, obferve an exa6l evcnnefs, 
 for one hair being fhorter than the reft in a link, the 
 whole ftrefs will lie on that, and in breaking, ren- 
 ders the reft much the weaker, and often a good 
 £ili is loft for want of this obfervance ; make your 
 knots fure, that they flip not: as for the colour of 
 the hair, it being free from nits or goutinefs, which 
 fome call botches, the pale, waterifti colour, is the 
 beft to deceive in a clear ftream, but in wheyifh or 
 muddy water, you may chufe indifferently a line; 
 for the ground angle need not be fo ftrong as ihac 
 you intend for your rod at the. artificial fly,^ abating 
 in the latter a hair from top to bottom, in every link 
 from one or two, to fix or eight, or more. 
 
 As for the hook, it muft be long in the (hank, and 
 
 of a compafs fomewhat inclining to roundnefs j for 
 
 if the ihank be ftrait, the point will ftand out- 
 
 F 2 ward; 
 
{ 12.4 ] 
 ward ; fatten the hair on the infide of the {hank, to 
 preferveit from fretting, v/Kether yoa angle at top or 
 bottom ; proportion your hook for fl:rength and com- 
 pafs, to the number of hairs you angle with next it, 
 neither ufe great hooks to fm.all baits, nor great baits 
 with little hooks ; barbel.^ chub mud have large hooks; 
 carp^eehy tench, pcarch^ breams, thofe of much lefler 
 iizej and experience teaches, ircui's in clear wa- 
 ter, graylings, fmtl/j, roaches^ Jai/uon~f?neI/s, dace^ '^^^ 
 and gudgems, are fooneft taken with fmall hooks, 
 though many ufe great ones for the trout, efpecially 
 in muddy water, yet the plrrcn mull be^anglcd for 
 with a hook according to his ilrength j hooks for 
 dub^fiies (hould be generally fmal), and fo for cod- 
 baits, but larger for worms, yet fuch as fome ufe 
 for the latter, do not generally take in clear water : 
 when you whip your hook, which is fiiled arming, 
 do it with filk lightly rubbM with (hoemaker's v/ax, 
 twifting it round on the Jower part of ihe line, 
 almoft to the bent of the hook on the infide, having 
 firfl fmoothed the fhank of the hook v/ich a v/het- 
 {lone ; and for worms let it be red-coloured filk, but 
 for cod bait, paftes, b-V. white. 
 
 Floats (hould be of cork for river-flfliing, but for 
 ponds, me'ers, and other flandiiig water, quill and 
 pens will do very well, and in very flov/ rivers, ef- 
 pecially when you are to angle near the top with 
 tender baits or paftes : as for your cork, let it be the 
 fineff, free from holes and flaws ; boie it through 
 with a fmall hot iron, thraft in a quili fizeable, fliap'd 
 with a knife to the likenefs of a pyramid, egg, or 
 pear, a proportionable bignefs, and with a pumice- 
 Hone finely fmooth it; run your line through the 
 quill, and wedge it in with the uppermoft hard part 
 of the quill, the fmaller end of the cork being to- 
 wards the hook, and the bigger towards the rod ; let 
 the £0 k be fo poifed with lead on the line, that the 
 
 quill 
 
E 125 ] 
 
 q:ulll (landing dire(Elly upright, ihe lead bite or nibble 
 may finic the cork. 
 
 To lead your line, do it with a (hot cloven, and 
 then clofed exadly on it ; but not above two of thefe 
 on any line, and that an inch and a half, or two 
 inches diftant from each other, and the lowermoft 
 plumb, feven or eight from the hook ; but for a 
 running line, either in clear or muddy water, nine or 
 ten inches ; and if you find a Tandy bottom in a river» 
 it being full of wood, with few ftones, fhape your 
 lead a diamond- fa (h ion, or to that of a barley-cora 
 or oval, bring the ends very clofe and fmooth to the 
 line, yet make it black, for the brightnefs will fcare 
 thefiOi. 
 
 It is very neceffary to have a landing net or hook, 
 or you may lofe many large fifli, by breaking ;ine or 
 hold, before you can land him. The net you may 
 fallen to the end of a long manageable pole : as for 
 the hook, it mud be a large one wiih a fcrew, to 
 fcrew into a focket at the end of a pole : and when 
 your fifh is entangled, clap it into the mouth of it, 
 and draw it to land ; but this latter is chiefly for 
 barbel^ falmon^ and other (Irong fifh. 
 
 As for your pannier, let it be of light ofier twigs, 
 neatly woven and worked up; and to be the more 
 compleatly prepared on all occafions,.have in readi- 
 nefs divers forts of hooks, lines, links ready twifted, 
 hair, and filk of feveral colours, fmall (Irong thread, 
 lead plummets, fhoerhaker's wax and floats of divers 
 fizes, line cafes, whet-flone, pen-knife, worm-bags, 
 boxes, baitSj fciflars. And thus having pretty well 
 accoutred my angler with tackle, it will be next 
 necelTary to know what baits he muft ufe, for ou that 
 mainly depends fuccefs or fruftration, 
 
 F 3 Baits 
 
[ 126 ] 
 
 Bails hred on trees ^ herbs } plants^ tvorms ; their feajon^ 
 and what fijh take them \ when andhow^ &c. 
 
 There are different forts of baits. 
 
 1. The garden-worm, lobworm, or treachet and 
 dew-worm, are one and the fame, though in divers 
 places their names thus alter ; and this worm, one of 
 the greateft fize, is an excellent bait for chevin^ falmon^ 
 barbel^ or eeU though the fmall of the fame kind are 
 not much afFeiled with them : that with a broad tail, 
 a red head, and a ftreak down the back, is the bed : 
 they are found in the latter end of the fummer, in the 
 evening, in gardens and church-yards, and may be 
 driven out of the earth with the juice of walnut-tree 
 leaves and water, poured on their holes. 
 
 2. Marfh or meadow- worms are found in marfhy 
 grounds, or in banks of rivers in fertile mould, being 
 tough and lively, and is a very good bait, efpecially 
 in March^ JprtX and September^ for pearch^ fouhder^ 
 l-ream^fmelt^ gudgeon^ falmori^ trout ^'grayling ; though 
 many, and not without fuccefs, -uie from Candlemas 
 to Michaelmas^ and in mofs and water it may be kept 
 fifteen days befoie ufe. 
 
 3. Brandlings, red -worms, and gilt tails, are 
 found in old dunghills, rotten earth, cow's dung, 
 hog'd dung, or tanner's bark, when it is ufed and caft 
 by? The brandling and gilt tail are efpecially good 
 for taking pearchy tench, bream, falmon, gudgecn, Jmelt ; 
 they are taken by trout and grayling in muddy or clear 
 water, and the red-worms, well fcour'd, are taken Ky 
 tench, pearch and bream, and beft in muddy water. 
 
 4. The worm called tag-tail is of a flefh colour, 
 having at his tail a yellow tag, near half an inch 
 long, found in meadows, after a fhower of rain, or 
 in chalky ground, in March and Jpril, if the wea- 
 ther be lemperate 5 this is held an extraordinary good 
 
 bait 
 
C 127 ] 
 
 bait for trout in cloudy weather, and a little fcour- 
 ing will ferve it. 
 
 5. The palmer-fl\^, palmer- worm, wool-bed and 
 cankers, are counted one and the fame, being bred 
 on herbs, trees, and plants, not being properly a ca- 
 terpillar, yet the fhape of one, being in the outward 
 part rough and woolly, and excellent baits for the 
 ehuby grajlingy trout , (hce or roach. The palmer-fly 
 and may-fly are held the foundation of fly-angling> 
 and have ufually good fuccefs. 
 
 6. The oak- worm, caterpillar, cabbage-worm^, 
 crabtree-worm, or jack, colwort-worm, or grub,, 
 may be long kept with the leaves of thofe trees or- 
 plants, thac breed them in boxes, with holes for air^ 
 or in withy bark ; they take chuh^ roach^ dace and trout^ 
 the oak- worm being preferable to any who bieed on 
 trees or plants, being the beft taken on the top of 
 the water, though you may go as deep as you will 
 with them : to get thefe, fearch the colewort or 
 cabbage leaves, beat the oak, or crab-tree, or haw- 
 thorn ; fome of them are hard Jind tough, others- 
 fmooth and foft; fome horned tailed, others have 
 them on their heads, fome fmooth, others hairy. 
 
 7. Bobs, of thefe there are two forts, they are 
 found in fandy or mellow ground, efpecially after 
 plowing; the one is juftly called the earth bob, whit6 
 grub or white bait, being much bigger than a gentle, 
 having a red head, the body foft and full of white 
 guts, the other is lefTer, and fomewhat blueifh, 
 found many times in digging on heaths ; they sre 
 excellent baits from Mid-npril toiht firfl: o^ November 
 to take tench, bream^ trout ^ chidr, roach^ Jmelts, jalmon^ 
 dace and carp ; they mufi: be kept in an earthen veflel,- 
 with the earth you find them in, covered very clofe 
 to keep out the cold and v/ind; fome boil them 
 about two minutes in milk before they ufe them, 
 v/hich makes ihem tougher and whiter, others dip 
 
 F 4. thenv- 
 
[ I2§ ] 
 
 them In honey or gum-ivy for carp^ hream^ and both 
 ways prove fuccefsful, 
 
 8. Gentles or maggots, may be kept with flefli, 
 and fcoured well with wheat-bran ; they are eafy to 
 be had, or bred by putrefaction. Thefe are fome- 
 times added to a worm on the hook, fometimes to a 
 dub-fly, zvAioizVt falmon-fmehs^ butoftner ufed by 
 ihemfelves, two or three on a hook ; the day before 
 you angle, put them into a box with gum-ivy, and 
 it will prove fuccefsful to your fport ; they are good 
 baits for tench^ barbely bream, bleak^ gudgeon, trouty 
 dace, chub, carp, 
 
 9. Flag-worms, or dock-worms are the fame, 
 found among flags, in old pits or ponds, viz, 7 he 
 fmall fibres of the flag- roots, by opening little hufks, 
 it is pale, yellow, or white, longer and flenderer 
 than a gentle, and thefe may be kept in bran, and 
 are good baits for bream, tench, roach, carp, dacey 
 
 . hkak 7in& perch; when you fifh with it for the^r^j^- 
 Jing ufe the fmalleft line, and the float, and fifh nine 
 or ten inches from the ground. 
 
 10. The bark- worm or afh-grub, are all one, be* 
 ing very full and white, bent round from the tail to 
 the head, the head being red, and the parts very 
 tender, refembling a young dorr or humble-bee^ 
 and may be ufed all the year, but particularly from 
 Michaelmas to the middle of A^ or June, and except 
 the fly and cod-bait^ is the beft for grayling, dacey 
 roach and chub ; it is found befl: under the bark of an 
 oak, afh, elder or beech ; efpecially when fell'd and 
 they have lain about a year, or in the hollow of thefe 
 trees when {landing, where doated or rotten ; it is 
 a very tender bait, and beft on a briflled hook, by 
 running the hook in at the head and up the belly, till 
 it ftays on the briftle, and no part of the hook's point 
 appears out of it j they are kept well in wheat bran, 
 and take l\i^ grayling with the fmajlefl line ; angle 
 
 with. 
 
[ 129 ] 
 with the float, keeping the bait feven or eight inches 
 from the bottom ; but if you fifh with it for roach^ 
 chub or rlace^ ufmg different tackle. 
 
 I f . There is a bob found un<Jer a cow-turd, called 
 the cow-turd bob, from the beginning, of May to 
 Michaelmas ',(om'i C2l\ it a- clap baft ; this is like a^ 
 gentle, but bigger; you may keep it fometimes in 
 mofs, but the beft is to keepitin earthsdug up under 
 the place where you find it ,- it is ver^^ good bait for 
 trout'i if you angle with it on-a briilled hook, on 
 the top of the water, and in the water ; it is taken 
 by chub^ carp^ bream^ tench ^ dace 2Si^ roach,- 
 
 11. The cod-bait, cad-bait, cadifworm,. or cafe- 
 worm, are one and the fame, bait, though of three 
 forts. The one is found under rtones that lie loofe 
 and hollow in fmall brooks, fliallow rivers, or very- 
 fine gravel,, in a cafe or hufk, and when fit for pur- 
 pofe, they are yellow ; they are bigger than a gentle, 
 having a black or blueifh head. Another fort is 
 found in pits, ponds, flow running rivers, ditches, 
 in cafes or hufc ofrufhes, water-weeds, ftraw, &c. 
 and are by fome called rufFcoats, or ftraw-wormff \ 
 thefe are accounted principal balLs for hleak^ falmoUy 
 fmelts^ tench^ bream ^ chub^ irout^ grayling and dace. 
 The next is a green fort, found in pits, ponds, or 
 ditches, in March^ coming, before the yellow ones, 
 for they are not in feafon till the end of A^r'il^ and 
 in July are out of feafon : the third fort is proper in 
 Augujly being fmaller than the other. Thefe muftbe 
 kept tender in woolen bags when you carry them 
 for ufe, but ta keep them long alive, in a green 
 withy bark, taken ofFandhoJlQwcd like a trunk,, lay 
 ii in.the dew to niolften it, • 
 
 V^ Natural 
 
£ ^3® ] 
 
 Natural flies for halts ^ their feafons^ and where to It 
 
 found, for what fifh they are proper^ Sec, 
 
 1. The ant-flies are found in their hills, about the 
 end of July, Auguji^ and moft part of September', with 
 the earth you take with therrj, they may be kept in 
 glafs bottles; tv/o or three of them fixed on the fmall 
 hook, are certain baits for chuh^ roach and dace^ if you 
 angle under water not above fix inches from the 
 boitom. 
 
 2. The brood of humble bees, hornets and wafps 
 are good baits, dry them over a fire, or in an oven, 
 fo not being over done, they v/ill laft long, and fit 
 handfomely on the hook, to take chuh^ eelsr breams, 
 flounders^ roach or d^ce ; feme boil them, but then 
 they will not keep long : hornets, v/afps an<l humble 
 bees, may be ufed alive, when their wings are a little 
 grown and their legs fbort, efpecially for the chub^ 
 as alfo the black-bee breeding in clay-walls. 
 
 3. The fern-fly or fern-bob, is found among fern 
 from May-day to the end of Augtiff^ it is thick and 
 Ihort of body, has two pair of wings, the uppermoft 
 reddifh and hard, v/hich may be taken off: the laffc 
 ten ciays of Aday the trout will take it every day, and 
 the 'chub refufes it no part of the fummer. 
 
 4. The flone-fly and green drake. The firft of 
 thefe is found under hollow ftones at the river fides r 
 the body of it is pretty thick, and almoft as broad 
 at the tail as in the middle, it is of a curious brown 
 colour, flreaK:ed a little with yellow on the back, 
 but much more on the belly, and is found by floney 
 rivers ; with this, bait {ox flounders^ dace^ hleak^ roach 
 and pearch, 
 
 c. The great moth that has a confiderable big 
 head with v/hitifh wings, is to be found in fummer 
 evenin2:s in gardens, or trees and plants \ it fpeedily 
 takes ckuh if you dibble with it, 
 
 6. The 
 
[ ^3^ I 
 
 6. The hawthorn -fly is black, found frequently 
 on hawthorn-trees, when the leaves are but out, the 
 befl ufe this can be put to, is to dib in a river for 
 trout. 
 
 7* The afh fl/, woodcock-fly or oak -fly, is the 
 fame, under different names, and holds good from 
 the beginning of May to the end of Auguft^ its of a 
 brov/nifh colour, and ufually found in the body oi 
 an oak or afb, {landing with his head downwards 
 towards the root of the tree, and is a very good bait 
 for trout. 
 
 The bonnet-fly comes in feafon in June^ is to be 
 found amongit any (landing grafs, and is an excel- 
 lent bait for chuh^ dace^ &c. 
 
 Thefe being the principal flies ufed in angling, I 
 now now come tomix'd baits of an other nature^ ^ 
 
 Mifallany of Baits very taking and much in ufe. 
 
 1. Salmon fpawn boiled, and faftened on the hook^ 
 is a very good bait for chuh^ and in fome rivers for 
 ttout^ it bemg advantaaeous to the anglerj particularly 
 in winter and fpring if he keeps it faked \ efpecially 
 in places w.here/<.7/?/i'^?j ufed tofpawnj for thither the 
 fxiii gather to exp?£l it. 
 
 2. Grafhoppers the latter end of Jum^ all 'July,^ 
 and Augujl^ if their legs and outward v/ings betaken 
 oif, efpecially for roach^ trout and graylings and here 
 you put a flender plate of lead on the (hank of your 
 hook, flenderefl at the ben<-, then draw your grals- 
 hopper over it, after put a leiTer grafhhopper or cod- 
 bait at thepointj 2nd keep it moving, lining up and 
 finking again ; a chubYni\ alfo take the bait freely, 
 and fo will a trcui if you dib with it, . 
 
 3. The water-cricket, water-houfe or creeper is 
 but one, thefe take /rt^^Mn March and ^/)r//,-and 
 fometimes in May^ if you angle at the river : it is to 
 hs angled with ia clear w^ter,. within a. foot of the 
 
 bottom. 
 
1 132 ] 
 
 bottom, feme let it drag on tKe ground. This> 
 creeper is bred in ftony rivers, and held to turn into ■ 
 a ftone fly, about the middle of May, that fly not 
 being anywhere feen before. 
 
 Lamery pride, or feaven, is a very good bait for 
 chub and eels^ night or day : this is no other than little 
 Jive things lilce fmall eeh^ no thicker than a ftraw, 
 and are to be found in Tandy, muddy heaps, near to 
 the fhores in rivers. 
 
 Snails, the black and white, are good baits for 
 chubi very early in the morning, trout and eels take 
 them on night-hooks, but the bellies of the blacic 
 may be flit, fo thaf the white may appear 5 fome dib 
 for chuh with houfe crickets. 
 
 For chuby barbel^ roach^ and dace^ you may angle 
 with cheefe or oat-cake, efpecially at the ledger-bait: 
 the cheefe you may wrap up two or three days in a 
 wet linen cloth, or moiften it over with honey and 
 water. 
 
 As for a pihe^ he is a greedy devourer, and therefore 
 moftly delights in fifhs frogs, ^c, therefore your baits 
 for him muft be fmall dace^ minowsi^ roach ^ falrriLm- 
 Jmelt. gudgeofiy bleak ^ ?nillers~thumb^ aifo trout and eels. 
 well fcour'd in wheat-bran, to take away the flime-: 
 and indeed moft fort of fmall fifh he takes, and how 
 you are to manage them on your hook, I fhall teM 
 you when I come to treat of the taking him in the 
 river Ihatnes. Periwinkle, a kind of water-fnai>; 
 is much ufed for roath^ being taken whole out of its 
 Iheli : Jkrirnps taken out of their hufkor fheil may 
 be ufed as a bait for chub, roach^ and dace* 
 
 Pajlcs proper for -ibe angUr. 
 
 Paftes are of feveral kinds, though tending to one 
 
 and the fame end : for a chub or chev'in^ make a paft'e 
 
 of the fatteft old cheefe, the fuet of mutton kidney, 
 
 a little ilrong runnet^ mix them equally and finely 
 
 toge;her. 
 
r »33 T 
 
 together, then put as much powder of turmerick aS' 
 will give them a fine yellow colour. 
 
 For roach and dace: grate fine bread into a little 
 fine water, wherein gum^ivy has been foaked. For 
 the harhel in Auguji^ make a pafte of new cheefe and 
 mutton fuet. For roach zn^ dace j you may put a 
 fittle butter to your crumb bait, and colour it with 
 faffron,. For carp or Unch mix crumbs of bread, with 
 honey, though for a carp I reckon this the fureft. 
 
 Take bean flour, or, for want of it, wheat-flour, 
 the infide of a leg of young rabbit, catfKin, or whelp, . 
 white bees-wax and fheep's fuet proportionable; beat 
 them in a mortar till well incorporated, then moiften 
 the maft with clarified honey, and work it up into 
 Kttle bails hd®re a gentle fire. 
 
 The chid? in winter takes a pafte made of fh-ong 
 chelhire-cheefei, beaten with butter and faifron till it 
 become a lemon colour. 
 
 Stoned cherries, finely grated manchet, fheep's 
 blood, fafFroa, make a good pafie for roach^ dace^^, 
 bleaks chub, trout, pearch 5 and for the chuh only put 
 a. little rufty bacon in it; 
 
 Another excellent pafte is made of the fatteft okl ^ 
 cheefe, mutton kidney fuet, ftrong runnet, annifeed 
 water, wheat flour, and the dripping^.of rufty bacan- 
 held againft the fire, . 
 
 TVhat is to be ohferved in angling with pajle^ 
 
 1, You muft proportion the quantity of your pafte 
 you put onyourhook to the fmallnefs or largenefs of 
 the fifh you angle for, as in other baits. 
 
 2. You may try oils upon any of thefe paftes, and 
 as you fee your fuccefs, fo continue the one or the 
 ether. And the beft for this purpofe are oil of poli- 
 pody of the oak, oil of petre, oil of ivy, and as pro^ 
 perly gum of ivy, and aiTafcetida^ 
 
 3- 'T*? 
 
[134 ] 
 
 3; To flrengthen any parte, and fo prevent its 
 wafliing oft the hook, it will not be amifs-to beat a 
 fmall quantity of fine flax, cut (hort, cotton v/ool or 
 fine lint among them, which wrll prove very bind- 
 ing ; ihofe that you would have keep long, put a. 
 little white dees-wax into them, and anoint them wich 
 clarifiedhoney, the latter you may wipe off. when 
 you fee occafion. 
 
 4. Pafte or tender baits muft not be angled with' 
 in rapid ftreams, but on a fmall hook in pits,, ponds,., 
 meers or Aow running rivers : your eye in this fort 
 of angling muft be quick, your rod fomewhat -ftiiF, 
 and a nimble hand to ftrike, or elfe the bait and fi(h 
 will quickly bid you farewell. This is better done 
 v/ith a quil float than a cork, which fooner fhews 
 the nibble or bite: and if you then be not very quick,., 
 your labour is loft, and with thefe paftes fuccefs is 
 ufually had {ot bream ^ hkak, chub ^ roach ^ dace^ carp^. 
 iench^ barbel. 
 
 Oils and ointmcnis ufifulin argUngi 
 
 Take oil of ivy-berries, anoint the infide of an 
 oakenbox with it, and put three or four worms^ or 
 other live baits into the box, fliutting it clofe j then 
 k^ep them not there too long, left the ftrength of 
 the oil kill ihcm, but take thefe out and put in more, 
 and fothey being fcented with the oil^ it will allure- 
 the fifh more readily to take them. 7'his may be 
 done iii the fame manner, for want of oil, with gum- 
 ivy, which is a tear that flows out of- the ivy ftalks^ 
 when flit or wounded by piercing. 
 
 Oil of fpike and difiblved gum-ivy, are held to be 
 much attracting, the bait being anointed with them, . 
 
 Oil oipolipody of the odiV^Kenice turpentine, and new.. 
 honey is very good, if eight inches of the line next 
 the hook be an-oi^ted vv^ith it^ but then there muft be 
 
 two 
 
r ns ] 
 
 two or three hairs, for it will not well flick to a fin- 
 gle one ; however, do not clog your line with it. 
 
 Chymical oil of lavender, or for wane of it, oil of 
 fpike iix drops, thr^e drams of affafoetida, Venice tur- 
 pentine one dram, camphire one dram, make thefe 
 into an ointment, and anoint them as the former j 
 this in clear water wonderfully takes gudgeons. 
 
 The fat of the thigh-bone of a heron, makes an 
 ointment that rarely fails, and is efteemed by thofe 
 that have tried it, the befl of any, being a new 
 experiment. 
 
 But let me commend to you above others this ; 
 take the oils of cammomile, lavender, annrfeed,each^^ 
 a. quarter of an ounce, heron's greafe^ and the beft*^^%£, 
 of a fla foetid a, each two drams, two fcruples of cum- 
 min feed finely beaten to powder, /^^Wc^ turpentine, 
 camphire and galbanum of each a dram ; add two 
 grains of civet and make them into an unguent; this 
 mufl: be kept clofe in a glazed earthen pot, or it lofes 
 much of its virtue 5. anoint your line with it as be- 
 fore, and your expectation will beikangely anfwer-- 
 ed. 
 
 Oil of afper fo much noifed alyout, and faid to be 
 excra(5^ed from a fowl called the Olprey^ is now found 
 to be a mixture of the oil of fpike, lavender, and ; 
 refined oil of turpentine, which however has a con-/|^^ 
 iiderable effect: in ftill or flow moving waters; and, 
 obferve in this cafe, your line mufl: be anointed every: 
 fecond drawing up, or the ftrength of the fcent being 
 wafhed off, you may expe6t your fport toceafe. 
 
 1 might nowfpeakfomething of artificial flies, and 
 other artificial baits, but not to keep the angler too 
 long from the watcfj I (hall have occafion elfewhere 
 to treat of them* 
 
 
 O^a Ftjhis 
 
C 1-36 }' 
 
 Fijfhes. Haunts, proper to be known, 
 
 HF you are not certain of any waters to fifh in,- 
 your bulinefs is to try the moft likely and promifing,. 
 
 Where trees fallen, wood, rufhes, weeds or rub- 
 bifh are in rivers or likely large ponds, there are 
 Itore of fiih promifed, for thither they refort for 
 warmth and fhelter ; but it is very troublefom^ 
 angling there. 
 
 The next are weirs, weir-pools, > mill-ftreamis, 
 fiood -gates, piles, pofts, pillars of bridges, catara£ls 
 and water-falls, eddies, whirling-pits, the fide of 
 a ftream, in the fummer efpeeially ; for then they 
 iove to bafk and lie lliallow, unlefs th& weather hQ 
 excefiive hoti 
 
 ThQ falmon \s found in large fwlft rivers that ebb' 
 and flow, gravelly and craggy. The trout moltly in 
 purling brooks and rivers that are fomewhat fv/ift aad 
 have fandy bottoms. The carp and tench love flili 
 waters, or fuch as gently move, where weeds or roots 
 ©f trees are near to fhelter them on occafion. Eeis 
 generally covet muddy rivers, ponds or flimy fands, . 
 efpeeially thofe of the larger ii'LQ, The pike^ b* earn 
 and chub are moftly found in fandy or clay rivers, 
 brooks or ponds, v/herein bufhes, bulrufhes or flags 
 grow. The batbeU ronch^ dace and ruffioi the moft 
 are found in fandy or gravelly deep rivers, coveting 
 to be under the fhade of trees. The umber is iike- 
 lieft to be found in marley or chyey flrcams, running . 
 very fwift. T\\q gudgeon- likes heft a fandy or gra- 
 velly bottom 5 yet for all this, a trl^l of divers wa- 
 ters will not be amifs v/here you mayfufpe6t any fifh ^ 
 are likely to breed ^ for experience in this art is the 
 fiu-jefl inftf udor, . 
 
 7mn 
 
[137] 
 
 Times proper above others to angle in^ according to the 
 ivatery weather. Sec. 
 
 1. In the hotteft manths take your opportunity 
 when it is cloudy, and the water is moved by gentle 
 gales. 
 
 2. When the floods have carried away the filth, 
 fudden fhowers incumber the waters too, and the 
 rivers, ^^. retain their ufual bounds, lookingofpalifh 
 colour. 
 
 3. When a violent fhower has mudded or troubled 
 the water, and after that the ftream runs fwift, for 
 then they ufually feek for creeks and (belter,- and in 
 the little rivulet running into the great one. 
 
 4. If you fifh for t'^r/) or tench 60 it early in the 
 morning, 'L'/z. a little before fun-rife, till eight, and 
 from four in the afternoon till fun-fet, when the days 
 are of a convenient length, June, July and Atigufiy 
 but in March, the. beginning of A^ril^ and the end 
 cf September they refufe not to bite in the warmth 
 of the day, the wind being ftill. 
 
 5. If you angle for )\it Jalmon,. the beft time is 
 from three in the afternoon till fun-fet, and in the 
 morning as before : his proper months are May^, 
 "June, July 2ir\di Augiifl, The barbel bites beft m 
 
 ■ May, June, July, and the beginning of Auguji, from 
 five to eleven in the morning. The pearch and ruff 
 all day in very cool and cloudy weather. The bream 
 bites from fun -rife till nine or ten in the morning, in 
 muddy water, efpecially when the wind blows hard, 
 for the moft part keeping in the middle of the river 
 or pond in May^ June, July or Auguft. 
 
 6. The />//^f bites in July, Auguji, September and 
 'O^ober, about three in the afternoon, in gentle wa- 
 ter and a clear gale. In Winter he bites all the day 
 long, and in Aprils May and the beginning of y^/w^,. 
 early in themojning and late in the evening. As 
 
 foe 
 
C 138 ] . 
 
 iot roach and dace^ they bite all the day long, if the 
 weather be not in the extremities of heat or eold, 
 en the top of the water. The gudgeon bites bed in 
 Jpril^ and till he has fpawned in May^ and if the 
 weather be cooly till wafp-time, and at the end of 
 the year, all day long in a gentle ftream ; obierve 
 when you angle for him, to Itir and rake the grour,-d, 
 and he will bite the better. As for the flounder^ 
 though he is found only in ebbing and flowing rivers,, 
 that have communication with the fea, he bites freely 
 all day in Jp-iU May^ June and July^ in a fwift 
 ftream ; he v/iil bite in' the ftill, but not near fo 
 freely. 
 
 Gtcufid baits to gather and feed the fi/h, that you may- 
 better and readily know where to find them, &c. 
 
 The ground-baits, or for baiting the ground, are 
 barley or wheat foft boiled, which, for prevention of 
 /battering, you may mix with fome pleafant frefh 
 earth, ale-grains, wheat bran fleep'd in fheep's blood, 
 clotted, dried and cut in fmall pieces, periwinkles 
 bruifed in their (hells, black and white fnails, worms 
 €ut in funder and made up in little balls of earth. 
 The guts of fowl, the fmall guts or livers cut fmall, 
 ©Id cheefe and oat-cakes bruifed together, malt grofly 
 ground, thefe efpecially gather tench^ dace^ carp^ chuby 
 roach ^ bream and barbel ; and the more you feed them ^ 
 they will be the furer to keep to that place, and be 
 the fatter to reward your pains when taken ; and 
 thefe throw in a little above the place you angle at,, 
 if it be a moving water, for before they ground, the 
 fiream will carry them fbme diftance from the place 
 you throw at. 
 
 When you angle in clear water keep out of fight 
 as much as may be, fheltered behind fome bufh or 
 tree, or by (landing as far oft' as poflibie, keep your 
 eye only on the fur face of the water, where your float 
 
 is 
 
[ ^39 ] 
 
 is, and to tfl'e^ this the better, your rod muft be 
 proportionable in length, to anfwer the place you 
 f)j(h at, and efpecially at the ground, and a long rod 
 and line at artificial fiies are very neceflarv. Aa 
 angler muft add filence to his patience, and move 
 his body as little as poflible may be, for the fiih are 
 very quick- fighted, and naturally fearful, particu- 
 larly the chuby carp, and trout, 
 
 VVhen in a clear v^ater you angle at the ground, 
 or with a natural fly dibble, alv^ays do it going up 
 the river; but in muddy water, or when you do it 
 with a d.b fly, ufe the contrary ; if yoa have hooked 
 a fifh, and fufpedb the ftrength of your line or rod^ 
 let him play and tire within the water, before you 
 offer to bring him near the top ; be fure to keep the 
 rod bent, left running to the end of the line, he 
 breaks his hold, or the hook; and if he be tired, 
 and has in a manner done fluftering, bring him to- 
 wards the top J and if there be occa/ion, ufe your 
 landing net or hook ; and take this for a general 
 rule in hooking all ftrong fifli. 
 
 Hew to take the falmon and falmon-fmelt hy afiglw^y 
 
 The falmon, though not found in many rivers in 
 Efiglandy is of principal note for river iifn, though it 
 as well belongs to the iea; They fpawn in Sep- 
 tember, and come in feafon the beginning of 
 March, 
 
 His beft biting is at nine in the forenoon, and 
 three in the afternoon, in clear water, efpecially 
 when the wind blows againft the ftream, but not 
 very roughly; then take the baits directed, and the. 
 firongeft'tackle, for when he is ftruck, he plunges 
 and leaps, though not ufually does he endeavour to 
 so to the end of the line. 
 
 TtvcL 
 
[ HO ] 
 The younger fort of thefe are fo tender mouthed, 
 that unlefs you fallen two hooks almofl in a quarter 
 of a circle afunder, they ufually break hold. For 
 the great falmon^ the principal bait is w?ll fcoured 
 dew v/orms ; for the fa'Tnon-Jnielt^ the brandling, 
 gilt-tail, meadow- worm, ^c. and for flies he takerh 
 them natural or artificial; and if you ufe thefe, a 
 cod-bait or gentle at the top of the hook is effe«5^ual; 
 this with the dub-fly takes falmon-fmelts beyond ex- 
 pecSlation ; but for a greater Jalmcn^ if your fly be 
 artificial, make it very large, with fix wings, one be- 
 hind another, that by that and the different colours, 
 he may fuppofe it, as indeed it will appear in the 
 water, a clufter of flies. He Is taken at the ground 
 with a running line or float, and fometimes he bites 
 lower than mid- water at ground-baits, clap baits, 
 and the larger fort fometimes take the minow and 
 loach, and for thefe you may angle with a wire- 
 ring on the top of the rod, letting the line run thro' 
 it to a great length j and when he is hooked, and is 
 fpent with plunging, fix your land hook in his 
 mouth, that is fcrewed to the end of a pole, as 
 directed to land him. 
 
 Server al ivajj ia take the Pike, and nvhere to fnd his 
 haunt Sy &c. 
 
 The Pike fpawns in March y his ufual haunts 
 are in fandy, chalky, or clayey places, fomewhat 
 near the banks ; for coveting folitude, he often lurks 
 in holes, to furprize other fiSi, as they fearlefly 
 fwim by ; fometimes he fhelters among bulruihes, 
 water-docks, weeds, or bufhes ; and then he bates 
 about the middle of the river or pond, at mid-water, 
 and for him you muft keep your bait in a gentle mo- 
 tion, and at all times to be above a foot from the 
 ground;, he rarely bites in the night, for then he.is 
 
 forr 
 
[ HI ] 
 
 far the moft part gone to reft in his retirement. In 
 Aprils May, Jum^ and the beginning of July, he 
 does it moft freely morning and evening in clear 
 water, and a gentle gale in ftill water, or a moderate 
 moving one; and in the reft of July, Auguft^ Sep- 
 tember , and O^ober, his beft biting time is about 
 three in the afternoon in water as before : in winter 
 months, if the weather be pleaung, and the water 
 clear, he will not refufe to bite at any time, though 
 the moft certain time is about three of the clock in 
 the afternoon, particularly in a gloomy, cloudy day ; 
 but if the water be muddied with rain, there is no 
 certainty of him: his beloved baits are, gudgeon, 
 roach^ dace, minows, falmon-f melts, no bigger than 
 gudgeons, a piece of an W, a young trout, i^c, but 
 all his baits muft be very frefh, and a live one 
 tempts him much the fooner, which may be put on 
 by drav/ing the line between the fkinand the nbs of 
 the fifti, and fo on the hook, faftening it in the gills, 
 and this you may ufe introwling; but here have 
 your tackle very ftrong, with wire about a foot from 
 your hook, the next to it fiik, and the reft of the 
 line ftrong fpun flax 3 come as little as you can near 
 the weeds, left they fpoil your bait before the pike 
 comes at it, faften the tail of the bait to the joint 
 of the wire, and having fixed your tackle, that the 
 line may run and play, let fo much lead be at the 
 hook as may carry the fifth's head downwards, as if 
 after playing on the top, fhe was going to the bot- 
 tom, and when you have funk it (o, that it is at a 
 convenient depth for the pike, flack your line, and 
 give it fcope that he may run to his hold, and there 
 pouch to fwallow it, which you may knov/ by the 
 moving of the line in the water, then with a fmart 
 jerk hook him; fome ufe no rod with this, but lead 
 and float, holding of the line in their hands on 
 links 3 and indeed there are feveral methods taker, 
 
 tho* 
 
[142] 
 
 tho' all to the fame purpofe 5 wherefore for brevity'^' 
 fake f omit them. 
 
 Angling for him at the fnap, is to give him leave 
 to run a little, and then ftrike, which muft be done 
 the contrary way to that which he moves, therefore 
 a double fpring hook is ufeful in this way of angling, 
 efpecially, for a great pi^e ufually will hold the bait 
 i'o faft in his teeth, that you may fail to pull it out 
 of his mouth, and likewife ftrike him, when if he 
 holds the fpring hook ever fo faft, the wire will 
 draw through the bait, and fo the fpring opening, 
 you v/ill frequently hook him on the outfide of his 
 mouth. Though trowling is furer than this, and 
 more pradicable, yet this is beft ufed in March, 
 when the^//f^ bites ill, then upon fpawning they are 
 iick, and lofe their ftomachs j bait this as the for- 
 mer, and he may be taken this way when he is fo. 
 
 Other brief rules for Pike angling, 
 T. When the ^//^^ has taken your bait, obferve 
 hov/ he moves ; if flowly, give him time, and you 
 will rarely mifs him; let not your bait fall in one 
 and the (dwc place above once or tv/ice, for if he 
 take it not, then he is farther ofF. 
 
 2. If you find, after he has taken the bait, he lies 
 ftill as fometimes he will, move your hand gently, 10 
 give notice which way his head lies, led in ftriking 
 you happen to pull the bait out of his mouth, if that 
 cannot be difcerned, ftrike diredlly upward : at the 
 fnap have firong tackle, and give two lufty jerks, 
 one after another, fattening a fwivel at the end of 
 your line, which mufl be ufed at trowl and fnap, 
 and your armed wire muft be hooked on it. 
 
 3. For the fnap, have a hollow piece of lead, 
 that it may pafs over the wire and end of the hook, 
 which you draw within the fifh's gills or mouth, 
 that, as direded, it may keep the head downward, 
 
 and 
 
[ U3 ] 
 
 ^nd at either of thefe baitings, if you cut away one 
 of the fins of the bait clofe at, the gills, alfo behind 
 the vent, and one on the contrary fide, it will play 
 the better and feem more lively. 
 
 4. Be fure to raife your hand in cafling when the 
 bait is about to fall into the water, 10 that by dafhing 
 it may not fright him away, and when it is funic a 
 little drav/ it near the top towards you a little, and 
 fo let it fall again ; and if your wire hook is joined 
 with a fletl rmg, the bait will play better, and fmk: 
 moredire6f: for fnap, Morch is the chief month, 
 February^ Aprils May^ September 2ind Oofcber for the 
 trowi ; and though a large bait invites him mofl:, 
 yet a leiTer takes him more furely. 
 
 To fnare 2Lpih \ when you perceive him raife,and 
 ftaying near the furface of the water, fallen about 
 a yard and a half of ftrong pachthread to a pole, and 
 at the end of it a running nooi'e of fma!l v/ire, fofily 
 ptiiting it over his head, with a quick jirk throw him 
 to land 5 this is often done to young pikes^ but the 
 older are more wary tho' fometimes catched by this 
 ineans, especially in ponds, as alfo when they corne 
 out of rivers and go a frogging in ditches in Marcby 
 April and May. 
 
 To find an angle for Pearch. 
 
 Thtpearch fpawns the beginning of March, and 
 <ielight in a good ftream of a moderate depth, abid- 
 ing ufually clofe hy a hollow bank, pebbly, gravelly 
 bottomed, with green weeds growiiig in it j being 
 commonly a river lifh ; he bites little in winter, but 
 in the middle of the day, yet in fummer all day, if 
 the weather be cool and cloudy, and the water fhaken 
 with the wind ; but more freely from {Qw^n. till ten 
 in the morning, and from two in the afternoon till 
 fix, and fometimes till fun-fet; if in the middle of 
 fummer, you muft look to him when he is flruck, 
 
 for 
 
[ H4 ] ' 
 ferhe is a very ftrong iifh and will ftruggle hard and 
 ]ong ; they generally go many together; and if there 
 be a great many in a hole, if you light right on 
 them, you may at one ftanding catch the greater 
 part if you give them time to bite ; but if you are 
 too hafty in ftriking you may chance to mifs your 
 aim ; he takes alrnoft all manner of worms ; as dew- 
 worms, red-worm, meadow-worms, cod-bait, alfo 
 the minow, loach, fmall frogs, wafps, hornets and 
 humble-bees. 
 
 He is beft taken with a float, refting the bait about 
 fix inches from the ground, and fometimes he is 
 taken about mid-warer : fome ufe a ledger-bait on 
 the ground, but the firft depth has ufuaily the beft 
 Juccefs. 
 
 To angle fcri he Carp, &c. 
 This fifh has always been in great efleem, making 
 many indullrious to find ways to take him. He de- 
 lights in fandy or muddy bottoms, in ftill deep wa- 
 ter, by the fides of a pond or river, though in a 
 good pond he thrives beft. He is very wary and 
 hard to be catched. His firft fpawning time is about 
 May-day, breeding three times a year and wonder- 
 fully encreafes if he likes the water he is in ; he 
 lives long though moft difagree as to the particular 
 number of years ; and indeed I fee no reafon how 
 that (hould be exadlly known. 
 
 He bites very early in April, May, June, July and 
 Auguf}^ and fometimes all night if the weather be hot 
 and ftar-light : . in the ftill deep water, if you angle 
 in the day-time, keep out of fight as much as may. be, 
 therefore provide a long rod : he is very ftrong and 
 muft phiy when ftruck, or he'll carry ofF your hook 
 by breaking the line or rod. 
 
 Ufe always the float and quill, angle for him fome- 
 times above and fometimes below mid-water, as the 
 
 weather 
 
{ H5 ] 
 XK^eather is, though in mid-water he is the certain* 
 lieft taken, efpecially in a pond, but in rivers he is 
 very ftiy : lay a ground-bait for him with ground 
 malt. 
 
 The baits you ufe on your hook muft be gentles, 
 two or three on the hook ; he takes likewife bobs, 
 wafps, fweetpaftes, marfh-worms, flag- worms, gilt- 
 tails, dew-worms, the cod bait and bread-grain boiled 
 foft ; and in 'June and July^ in the heat of the day^ 
 he ftiews himfelf on the top of the water, and often- 
 cft among the weeds, when you may take him with 
 a well fcoured lob-worm, angling as with a natural 
 fly ; but in this cafe keep out of fight as much as 
 you pollibly can. 
 
 Objervation vn the Tench, and the hefl way to angle 
 for him. 
 
 The temh fpawns the beginning of yuly^ is reck- 
 on'd a very good fifli, much coveted, yet delights in 
 muddy or foul water, and among weeds, the ponds 
 that are fuitable for carp pleafe him better than the 
 rivers, and in pits he thrives better than in either, 
 if they be agreeable to time, tho' in fomepits they 
 will not (notwithftanding they breed) come to an/ 
 bignefs ; and in others they will not breed at all, 
 but they will thrive wonderfully, beyond expedta- 
 tion : this I believe may happen where the ftorer is 
 notfkilful to diftinguifh males from females, but by 
 an unlucky guefs puts in all of one fort. Though 
 he covets mud, yet his fins are very large; and to 
 know him from others, there are two little barbs at 
 the angles or corners of his mouth \ his fcales are 
 fmall and fmooth, and about his eyes are circles of a 
 golden colour. They bite beft from day-light to 
 eight in the morning, and from four in the afternoan 
 till fun-fet ; but in the hot months, if the weather 
 be not tempeftuoua, they many times biteall nifflut 
 
 i he 
 
{ h6] 
 The belt feafon is from the beginning of May to the 
 end of Sepfef?iber. 
 
 He takes the cod-bait^ 7narJh-vj>rrm^gmtu\fiag-worm^ 
 or red-worm well fcoured ; and to make it take the 
 better, you may dip your bait in a little tar-water 
 juft before you ufe it, though the plain bait many 
 times pleafes him well. For want of the former 
 baits, you may ufe paftes /weetened with honey. 
 
 Angle for him wiih a i!oat of quill, letting the 
 bait into the water two foot, fometimes more or lefs, 
 but nt> great matter. 
 
 The Br e am'j haunt ^ and hew to angle for him. 
 
 The bream fpawns in the beginning of July\ is a 
 large bony fifh, is found in rivers and ponds, biit in 
 the latter, if convenient, he delights, moft : he is 
 Jong growing, and will be very fat, and is ahiioft as 
 great a breeder as the carp. 
 
 Breams fwim divers together in a gentle fi:ream, 
 loving a fandy, or clayifh bottom, and the deepefi: and 
 broadeft part of the water. Your beft time in the 
 feafon is to angle for him from fun- rife to eight 
 o'clock, in a moderate ftream, the water being a little 
 flimy or muddy, efpecial/y when a good breeze trou- 
 bles the water, and in windy weather, if in a pond, 
 he generally keeps the middle, and there you are 
 mofl likely to find him. In the afternoon, your 
 time is from three or four till fun-fet j but in a dark- 
 iih windy day he bites at any time. 
 
 He is angled for with much fuccefs from the be- 
 ginning of /^pril till Michaelmas, and may be taken at 
 other times, except the very cold months. 
 
 He takes as baits, flag-worms, gentles, grafhoppers, 
 their legs being off; red worms, gilt-tails and mea- 
 dow-worms well fcoured, bobs and under v/ater flies, 
 errecially the green ones j when he bites he runs off 
 \v;;h the bait to the farther Ihore, or as far that way 
 
 as 
 
[ 147 ] 
 as he can, nnd therefore you muft give him play, for 
 though he feems a fi{h made ftrong enough, he will 
 not much flruggle, but after two or three turns he 
 falls on one fide and may be eafily landed. 
 
 Here you muft angle with a float, fo that the bait 
 may touch the ground ; you may make a ground- 
 bait for bream with malt, and it will draw them 
 together. 
 
 The Barbel, how to find end take him by AngUug, 
 
 The Z'/7r^^/fpawns in Aprils fometimesin May^ is 
 a very ftrong fi(h, and takes his name from the barbs 
 that hang at his mouth, is curioufly fhaped with fmall 
 I'cales. in the hot months you will find him in the 
 fwifc ffrong ftreams, though he fhuns the current, and 
 delights fomewnat moie out cf the rapidity, under 
 fhades of trees and v/eeds, where they rout in the 
 fands like a hog, and fo nelt 5 fome fuupofe him to 
 eat much gravel and f;:;nd, but I rather fancy he-feeks 
 fir infecls or other food that heat and moifture pio- 
 duce in the bottom offhallows, yet fometirnes he is 
 found in the deep and iv/ifc waters, efpecially at v^^eirs 
 bridges or flood-gates, where he (belters among piles, 
 or in hollow places, holding by the mofs or weeds, 
 X() prevent his being carried av/ay by the flream ; 
 when winter is coming on, he retires to the ftill 
 deep. 
 
 His beft biting time is early in the morning, that 
 is, from the fun-rifing till ten, and from four till the 
 funfets, and often later, and this principally happens 
 from the 20th of May to the latter ^iv\ of Auguji : 
 you muft be v/ary in taking him, for he is very 
 lubtle, and ftruggles long, unle.'s well managed ; 
 many are found together trequently, but in Aprils 
 they are little worth, for then is the fpawning time. 
 
 G a As 
 
[ 14-8 ] 
 As for the baits you intend to take himwith, cai-e 
 •muft be taken that they are very fweet, Tuch as give 
 him not diftafte : angle for him wih a running-line, 
 and a bullet at the end. He takes gentles, not over- 
 fcoured, dew- worms, new cheefe, pafte, the young 
 hrood of w.afps and hornets ; and fo cunning he k^ 
 that you wili be cheated of many a bait in angling for 
 him, if you have not a watchful eye, and a quick 
 hand; for he will nibble and fuck it off, and ten to 
 one, when your float finks, and you attempt to ftnke, 
 whether hs has the hook in his mouth, yet often, if 
 you ftrike the contrary way hi^ head lies, you may 
 take him by the nofe, and give him play till tired, or 
 clfe, if he be any thing large, unlefs your tackle be 
 very ftrong, part of it goes with him. He is not an 
 over pleafant fifn to eat by reafon he is fomewhat dry^ 
 and very full of bones. Some fay he isCafy of con- 
 coclion, his eggs and fpawA vomit and purge vio- 
 lently. 
 
 The Trout's haunts ; the heft time to angle fcr hhn^ 
 and bis baits. 
 
 The/rttt/fpawns in October. His ufual haunts are 
 in fmall purling brooks or fwift gliding rivers, not 
 too great. Obferve whether their bottoms are pebble, 
 gravel or fmooth ftones j for on the fides of thefe he 
 ufually has his refidence, though he is often found in 
 the deep, efpecially a large one, alfo behind banks, 
 blocks, ftones, at turnings or points, where the 
 flream much beats or makes a kind of whirling ; he 
 loves coverture and (hade, from whence he may moft 
 cafily feize his prey : but his hold or hole is ufually 
 in deep places ; he is feldom found among weeds, 
 rather among boughs of trees that hang in the water, 
 or ihady buffies : he plies in fpring at the tail of the 
 flream, but, as many other fifh do, about the middle 
 »f May^ at the upper end, flaying long in a pbce, if 
 
 his 
 
[ '49 1 
 ^iis hold be near it. In the hot weather he leaves 
 the deep and goeth into the fharp ftreams among 
 gravel, unVefs by the exceflive heat of the weather, 
 drough enfues, and then the ftill deep delights him. 
 
 This iroui may be taken hy dibbing, or if the wea- 
 ther be dark, cloudy and windy, you may take him.^ 
 with the caft-fly. He is in feafon from March until 
 Michaehnas, but chielly about the end ci May, when 
 he is in the befl feafon ; his body is adorned with red 
 fpots. The female is counted better than the male. 
 They much affect to be near the fource or fpring of 
 Fivers, and where they run on lime ftones, thereat he 
 bell of trouts are found. 
 
 Angle for him at the ground with a running line, 
 with two or three fmall pellets of lead, omitting the 
 fioat, or you may take him by float angling at the . 
 ground, if you are dextrous at angling with a fingle 
 hair, two liojcs from your hook ; he is much fooner 
 taken than with two or three hairs, though you muft 
 bs cautious he break, not the line ; and this is better 
 done at the bottom than top, becaufe there he has not 
 fo much force to (hoot and fpring, as on the top, and 
 a (ingle hair next the hook, if well chofen and 
 (trong, will take one of thirteen inches, if there be. 
 water room free from wood and weeds. 
 
 He bites beft in a water that after a flood is clear- 
 ing or rifmg, fomewhat troubled, cloudy and windy 
 weather ; early in the morning is the beft time from- 
 the middle of Jpril to the end of Juguft^ from fun-- 
 rifing till near eleven, and fiom two till fun-fet ; but 
 at nine in the morning and three in the afternoon are 
 the bed times, at the ground or fly, as the water is 
 moft agreeable, in March ^ the beginning of Apr'ily 
 September^ and till the 13th o^ O^ober, and then yoii- 
 muft ceafe angling for the trout^ to the end of Febru- 
 ary \ after a (hower has fallen in the evening, you.- 
 G 3 will^ 
 
[ I50 3 
 will find him rife at a gnat. In warm weather you 
 may dib for him with the minow or loach. 
 
 7 he Eel, the haunt^ bait ond taking ihem^ &c. 
 
 His haunts, in the day time, are ufually under the 
 covert of tree roots, brufhwood, planks or pile^, 
 'about flood-gates, weirs or mill-dams, in hollow 
 holes in banks j they moftly delight in foul ftill water, 
 orjft leafl fuch as runs very flow with oufy Amd, or 
 muddy bottoms, in pits pone's and mcers. 
 . ^ Bait for him with a young; lamprey, dew-worms, 
 fcoured earth- worm.s and very fmall fifii, their fins 
 cut off, guts of chickens or o her fowl, cui in fmall 
 lengths, lean beef, the brood of wafps ; the four firft 
 rakethemday ornightjbutmoft of the reft are proper 
 lor night-hooks. 
 
 Take him in the day by a ledger-bait, by fnigling, 
 jjobing, brogling; as for broglmg and fnigling the 
 beft method 1 have known is this : get a long and 
 strong line, your hook of a fmall compafs baited with 
 Icouied red-worm or dew- worms, having one end of 
 your line in your hand, place very eafily the u pper 
 end of your hook in the cleft of a hazel rod of a 
 convenient length fo that it may flip out as you pleafe, 
 and where you fancy the eel to be let the bait leifurely 
 iink, and fuppofmg it fwallov/ed by giving time, 
 leifurely draw him up by a little and little, eafy lying 
 double, with the {!rength of the tail, your line is 
 endangered. This you muft pradlice in hot weather, 
 the waters being low. 
 
 A* for bobing, taking large earth worms out of 
 ^ood mould, fcour them v/ell in mofs, and run a 
 firong thread with a needle through them end-ways, 
 as many as will lightly wrap a dozen times round 
 your hand, make them into links, and fafien them 
 to a ftrong packthread or whipcord, two yards long 
 €>rmore; make a knot about fix or eight inches 
 ffooi the worms, put about three quarters of a pound 
 
[ 15' 1 
 
 of plummet, made pyramidically on the cord, by the 
 means of a hollownefs or bole bored through it, let 
 it fink to the knot, and fix the cord to a manageable 
 pole. Angle v/itb this in muddy or cloudy water, in 
 the fides of the ftreams or dseps ; when the eel or eels 
 tug, let them be well laftened by the teeth, before 
 you drav/ them up^ then ^o it gently, 'till on the 
 top, and then hoiir them quickly to land: many by 
 this way have been taken st a time. 
 
 Some, near eels haunts, fink a bottle of hay loofely 
 bound, fluft with lov/ls guts and liver, cut in long 
 ifhreds over night, and coming early the next morn- 
 ing, draw it up haiVily by the rope faftersed to the 
 band, and you'il find larg-e eels bedded in it for the fake 
 of the prex. This may be done w^ith a bundle of the 
 brufh wood, out of which, upoii. pulling up, they 
 cannot fo eafily get. 
 
 To angJcy Sec, for the Grsiyl'wg or Umber. 
 
 Though this fi{h has two nam»es given it, the for- 
 mer for the lefier fort, and the latter for the greater, 
 yet both are the fame fpecies. 
 
 Their haunts aie in marly clay, clear water and 
 fwiftftreams, the large is accounted eig,hteen inches, 
 being in leafoh all the year, but their prime is in 
 December^ when his gills and head are blackiih, and 
 his belly a dark grey itudded with black fpots. He 
 will bite freely, but is very tender mouthed, therefore 
 be careful he break not his hold, though he will not 
 ftruggle much, as being very faint when he is hooked. 
 Angle for him in or near the middle of the water, 
 for he is always more apt to rife than defcend, 
 wherefore he is chiefly taken by a ground-bait, ra- 
 ther than a running line; ufe for him a float of cork, 
 \f you particularly angle for him, but for 3i^rff)Ii}7g or 
 trcut the running line is beft, 
 
 Q 4 A^ 
 
r 152 ] 
 
 As for baits, he takes brandlings, gilt-talls, mea- 
 dow-worms, tag-tails, the bark-worm, flag-worm» 
 cod-bait, natural or artificial flies, particularly the 
 camblet fly and a fly made of purple wool, and one 
 made of tawny camblet hair, alfo the earth bob and 
 clap- bait. 
 
 ns Pope ^r Ruff, his haunt s^ how :o angle for him 
 uith proper baits, &c. 
 
 The pope or ruff is one, in fhape^ nature and dif- 
 pofition, Vike the pearch, though in bignefs net ex- 
 ceeding a \2iTge gudgeon, but of a mose pleafing tafte; 
 he bites eagerly, and many of them are ufually to- 
 gether^ where the water runs flowly and is deep, in 
 iandy places, fifty of them have been taken at a 
 ftanding. You may bait for him with the fmall red- 
 worm, gilt-tail, meadow- worm and other baits pro- 
 per for the pearchy he biting at the fame time the 
 pearcb does ; you may ground bait with new turned 
 up earth of a fallow, alfo with a clear fand, you may 
 take him with a fingle hair, -the link next the hook \ 
 the body of it is rough, and hath prickly and iliarp 
 fins ; it has its feafons and nature, like the pearch, and 
 is a very wholefome fifh, eating (hort and tender. 
 
 There are abundance of them to be killed ia 
 Msuljea river in Surry, 
 
 Some particular Ohfervattans on Gudgeon angling. 
 
 The gudgeon^ though not over large, is approved: 
 among other fifn, as a dainty, being very wholefome 
 food. This fifh fpawns twice or thrice in the year, 
 he delights in fharp flreams, with gravelly or fandy 
 bottoms, and (hews the young angler extraordinary 
 good fport, who not being v/eli fKilied in chufing, or 
 not well knowing how to come by other baies, may 
 
 take 
 
[ m I 
 
 (ake him \vlth a fmall red worm on the ground, or 
 very near it, and fcldom, by reafon of the toughnels"-^ 
 of his mouth, he is lod when ftruck. In the heat 
 of fummer they make to the (hallows in rivers, but" 
 when ihe weeds in autumn grow of a bad tafte, or 
 rot, and cold weather comes on, then they get to^ 
 gether in deep places; and here it is propereft tofifh' 
 for them at the ground, or a little above it, if you 
 fifli with a float; but it may be donewitha running 
 line on the ground, without a float : as for particular 
 baits, I have already difcourfed of them, and among 
 others, thole relating to the- Gudgeon. 
 
 The BLEAK^r Bley, ta angle fcr h'lm^ kc, 
 
 Thisfifli makes fport, tho' not much valued, not 
 being very wholefonie, it is many times deftroy'd by 
 a worm that breeds in his ftomach ; in hot weather 
 he bites eagerly, and you may fifla for him with feve- 
 ral hooks on one line, and if you catch three or four 
 together on the feveral hooks, do not fear the breaker 
 ixig of your line, tying them about half a foot one 
 above the other ; he is cafiiy taken with gentles, 
 fmall red-w. rms, and any fmall flies at top, water, 
 by dibbing or whipping them.^ 
 
 Angle at middle water, or at the top, for he is^ 
 ufually in motion : there is another fort of thefe 
 called the hia.kfea^ beuer and wliolefomer than this, 
 called by fome the fea camcUon^ becaufe in the 
 winter be feems often to change his colour. He is 
 as good as any carp^ 
 
 The Chub i?r CheveNj/;/; hauni:^andto angle for hi?n» 
 
 The f^M^fpawrs in Marchy is large tho' timorous; 
 is found in large rivers, having fand or clayey bot- 
 toms, delights much in flreams (liaded with trees,- 
 as alfo in holes where many of them confort tnge- 
 G 5 ther; 
 
C ^5^ 3 
 
 ther: he is in feafon from the middle of Mi?y 'tni 
 after Chrijimas ; you may take him dibbing on the 
 top of the v/ater, but in the hot months he keeps 
 xnid- water ; in the cold weather angle at the bottont 
 with the ledger-bait. 
 
 He bites from fun-riiing till eight, and from three 
 till fun-fet J the large one, when ftru:k, is fooneft 
 tired ; the lefs will ftruggle longer, and in fun-{hiny. 
 weather they bite, in winter the middle of the day. 
 
 He fcarcely refufes any bait, if not too large j as- 
 lampreys-pride, the 661*^8 brood, dew-worms fcoured 
 in mofs and gravel, clap-baits, fmall fnails, white 
 and black cheefe pafte, the marrow of an ox or cow's 
 back, a beetle with the legs oft, and all forts orbaits 
 bred on tress, plants and herla, cod baits, broods 
 of wafps, hornets and humble bees, the fat of rufty 
 bacon, dors, graihoppers, alfo a f{y^ and a cod baif^, 
 and an oak- worm on the hook together, infallibly 
 takes him in the hot months. 
 
 When he is taken, hemuft beeaten the fame day, 
 clfe will not be fo good y moft efteem his head the 
 beft part. 
 
 Dace or Dare, and Roach, tkiir hanis^ haii^y 
 3a:. and how ta angle for them. 
 
 As thefe delight in ponds or riv-ers with gravelly 
 bottoms or fand, fothsy love d-^cp clear v/aters, (haded 
 v/ith trees, either in rivers- or elfewhere ^ \ht dace- 
 fpawn about the middle oi March, and are in feafon 
 three weeks after. The flefh is fofr, and fweet in tafte. 
 
 You mud angle for the <;L-^^ within tv/o inches of 
 the bottom, and fonjetimss the bait may touch it if 
 it is v/orms, but if with fiies^ at the top cf the wa- 
 ter, orv/ithin'an inch. 
 
 The roach fpawns about the middle of ii%, and- 
 is fo healthful) that his foundnefs has created a com- 
 
 tnca 
 
[ 155 3^ 
 iinon faying, though it.often capf^s fo'me to :tell lycsj. 
 The bed roach^ by rej^fpn pf tlie ^bjiftdgnce.of foil, 
 are found in the T/^^.%^j near London-^ angle for him- 
 ^boiit two feet in the water: in temperate weather,, 
 they bite all day long. The, float angle takes them 
 belf. 
 
 Their,baits are numerous as their fry, ^/z. worms 
 JDred on tr^es, .plants, .or herbs, gentles, co,d-bait3, 
 graiboppers with ,the legs ofF, flies artificial or natu- 
 ral, particularly the ant-^y, meadow->varms fcour'd, 
 bread-corn boiled. The reach \n ponds is chiefly 
 found under the water-docks, if there be any, and^ 
 indeed few faiall come amifs to them. 
 
 The Flounder or Flook's haunts^ halts^and angling. 
 
 It is properly a falt-w;^ter fifh, and is no where^ 
 But in rivers that have communication with the Tea; 
 he's brought up by the tide, and Jofing himfelf into 
 frefh fl:reams, he after fome time minds not his way 
 back again. He loves gentle ftreams, gravelly and 
 fandy bottoms, is very fhy, and noteafily taken : He 
 bites all the day in May^ "June^ J^h^ and the' be- 
 ginning of JugnJ}^ ,tho' he will nibble miich about 
 the hook, and fuck oft the bait, if yhu be not wary 
 to keep it in motion, which. hinders him from feeing 
 the hook, if he does, av^ay he 'flies from it, fome- 
 times in thefhallow. He takes fcoured meadow or 
 marlh-worms, earth-worms, gentles, the brood of 
 wafps, gilt- tails and brandlings. He is to be angled for 
 with the float, and your bait muft touch the ground. 
 He's of good nourishment, ftrengthens the ftomach, 
 eaufesappetito, and helps the fpleen-. 
 
 To-take the : S M E L T -.with an angle. . 
 . As this fi(h generally lies at the tail of fnips, or in 
 brooks, fo you fifh for him at half tide, with a gentle, 
 tt^he flrft.you catch cut in fmall pieces about the hi g- 
 
 nefs 
 
[156] 
 BCTs of a gentle, bait your hook with ihzm, and 
 you'll find fport to admiratioB. 
 
 T^^ Mi NOW or Perch, Loach, /7«<3?Bull*head 
 or Miller's-thumb,. Lampreys. 
 
 As they are rather baits for other fifli than valu-^ 
 able in themfelves, lb the firft is taken with fmall 
 worms, brandling, and gflt-tails ; the two latter 
 with gilt-tails, meadow- worms at the ground. Lam- 
 freys^ are taken as the ^^Z, being much of that nature, 
 therefore I avotd enlarging thereon. 
 
 J\Snows feed by licking one another ; the loacb is 
 good for women with child, and are all very nou- 
 rifhing. 
 
 OhfervaUom on^ and rules for^ natural jiy-angling. 
 It is a nice point in angling, requiring a quick or 
 fliarp eye, and wary hand; it is termed by artifls,, 
 dibhling^ dipingy or dapeing, and is performed on the 
 furface of the water, or at moft fometimes not letting 
 the lait fink above two or three inches under, nor 
 that,, unlefs the oak fli for the chub or tnut has joined- 
 to it a clap -h ait or codrhalt. 
 
 This muft ever be done in clear water, without 
 lead or float, in the evening of a hot day, but in a 
 hot calm day is beft, aivd the ftill deep is to be prefer- 
 red before the ttream ; though on the fide of a ftream 
 when the water is clearing after great rains or floods, 
 jj s^x-^ proper; and all hours )0'j may dib with the 
 green drake Jly, but if you needs muft ^o it in the 
 ilream, ufe the Jione-fiy^ which is proper early or 
 late ; if it be windy in the evening, take the artificial 
 fione-Jiy^ for then in the liream the fifh life beft, and 
 are the fooneft taken; and if you pull off the 
 wings, you may angle in the water with it ( it 
 will alfo take very much in a ftreaca near the bot- 
 tom, but you, muft take care .to>eep out of fight as 
 
 much 
 
Ms/] _. 
 
 mucH as poflible, and keep your fly ia motion, thatt 
 it may appear to the fifh to be alive. 
 
 In dibbing for dace^ . roacb^ or chuh^ let not your 
 motion be fwift, if you can perceive any of them 
 coming towards it, but make tv/o or three fhort re- 
 moves, as if theywere at reft, or the fly Was fwimming 
 or playing ; then let it gently glide with the ftream^ 
 if poffible toward the fifh ; but if ifbe flow or {land- 
 ing watery you muft keep it moving with your hand, 
 not juft upon him,, but Tideways and flopingby him,, 
 left it fhould efcape him, it will make him mind it 
 the more; for only the /r5^</, if it be moved fwiftlyj . 
 will, if any, certainly follow it. 
 
 In a calm, dibbing is not fo faTe as when a pretty 
 good gale- ftirs the water, for then neither you nor 
 the deceit put on the fifh by an artificial fly is foeafily 
 difcovered ; and then few natural flies at liberty can 
 lie on the water; but for want of choice, they will 
 fhap at the firft that comes in their way, biting more 
 eagerly through hunger. If they will not rife at the 
 top, try them a little lower, for fome will be fooner- 
 taken, as the roach particularly, by dibbing under 
 water than at the top. Roach, dace^ znd chuh, will 
 foretimes be pleafed with an araficial fly, efpecially 
 if an earth-bob, cod -bait, earth worm ot gentle, be 
 put on the point of the hook : or an oak-worm is > 
 V€ry pleafing on the top,-or under the water. 
 
 At dibbing and trailing, trout and Jalmcn-fmeltSr 
 will take an artificial fly well, particularly i^itjione- 
 f'izn^ green- drake ^ early, or late in the evening. And. 
 if you fijfh iof Jalmon-fmelt^ rca<:h, chub oi dace, with 
 the dub-fly, put on a gentle, wafp, cod-bait, or clap- 
 bait ; let it (land v/ell on the point of your hook 
 when the wind- furls the waters, and few flies appear 
 on or over it, this is the befc time to angle with the 
 fly either natural or artificial ; for, having no variety, 
 ©r choice, they will q^uickly take your bait. K it be 
 
 a. fun-» 
 
[ 158 ] 
 a iiin .{Riny day get under the fhade of trees if you' 
 can, that neither your ihadow nor that of your rod 
 may appear, and fo fright them away. If you find' 
 the fiih rife not towards the top, fink your fiy by 
 degrees, and try ©ven to middle-water, for before^ 
 thefe forts of flies are tiaturalty rn feafon, the fifh very 
 rarely rife at them j wherefore, to know this, that' 
 you miftake not in your baiting, pbferve what flieg 
 are on the water, or flying near over it, or are op^ 
 the bufhes or trees near ponds or rivers, and thatfly 
 .which fwarms there moft is chief in feafon, and is to 
 be ufed either natural^or to be imitated by art. Some 
 open the firft fifti they take, and look into its ftomach 
 to fee what indigeftcd food there remains, and from' 
 thence do take their meafures, though uncertain j for' 
 either it muft be partly conlumed, or fo difcoloured 
 that it cannot well be known ; befides, fiih for ex- 
 treme hunger take in fuch food at one time as at 
 another they altogether diflike. 
 
 Artificial Fly -angling. 
 
 Artificial dub-fly or caft fly angling is fomewhat- 
 znore difHcult, and requireth more cunning than the 
 former, being more readily learned by feeing it done,- 
 than by printed diredions : however, { doubt notbut 
 to (^ive' a fati^fadlory account of it to the angler. 
 
 The iirft thing to be materially confidsred is,. tO' 
 know and chufe the proper colours of flies in feafon^ 
 when you angle, and thefe muft be proportioned to 
 the places you fifh in j for there are different haunts- 
 of flies, and are found much earlier in fome places 
 than in others, as the feafon proves hot or cold ; a- 
 warm fpring brings them early, but the contrary- 
 later, fometimes by a month, and always fooner in^ 
 high grounds than in thofe that are low, marftiy, or- 
 
[ ^59 J 
 
 The fly required being got, your next bufinefs is 
 to make one in colour, fliape, proportion of body and 
 wings as like it as poffible, always having the natural 
 one as a pattern ; and to do this^ you muft have in 
 readinefs bear's hair of divers colours, camel's hair 
 f«d, light and of a middle indifferent colour, badger'^3' 
 hair, fpaniel'is hair, fheep's wool, hog's hair, hog« 
 down, as is comb'd from the roots and briftles of a 
 hog, camblets and mohairs of divers colours, cow's 
 hair, abortive calves and colts hair, furs of fquirrels 
 tails, the tails of black cats, yellow and dun cats, of 
 hare's neck, the fern-colour'd ferret's fur, martin's- 
 yellow fur, filmer's fur, tails of white weafels, moles,. 
 Wack rabbits, down of a fox's cub, afh colour at the 
 roots of fox, fur that comes off the otter and otter- 
 cub, black-ifh and brown badgsr's hair that has been 
 in a fkinner's lime-pit ; hackles or feathers about a 
 eock or capon's neck,. and fuch as hang loofely down 
 each fide the tail, of various colours, particularly to 
 make the palmer-fly or infect called the wood bed : 
 you muft have feathers of all forts of fowl, ^d thofe 
 coloured ones required that you cannot get natural^- 
 yo'j may dye. 
 
 You muft likewifehavecaddows or blankets, from 
 which are got dubbings, or fofc cudrnons made of 
 flcins of abortive calves and colts, like filver wire, 
 gold twift, white and yellow bees-wax for ground- 
 work, or to frame the bodies and heads on, as the 
 nature of the fly more or lefs requires it, and a neat 
 pair of (harp pointed fciflars, to trim and ihape thg- 
 work wrth.- 
 
 How to make the Duh-fiy^ 
 
 Wet your materials to know how they will hoW^ 
 colour; for tho' dry, they may appear of the right- 
 colour, butmay alter being wetted, and confequent- 
 ly be too li^hu c;r- too dark,. This done, take the 
 
 hook 
 
[ i-6o 1 
 
 Hook in your left hand, beiwixt your fore-finger ani^" 
 thumb, the {hanks back upwards, and ftrong filk ot' 
 ritat colour the Ay requires, wax it with wax of 
 the fame colour, then draw it to the head of the 
 fhank betwixt the finger and thumb, and whip it 
 about the bare hook two or three times; draw your 
 line between your thumb and finger, hoyding th-e 
 hook fo faft, that it may only have a fpace to pafs by ; 
 fo joining the hook and line, but on the wings^, 
 fafhion the body and head, by twiftlng the dubbing 
 on your waxed fiik, and lappmg it on, then work- 
 it by degrees towards the head, and part the wings of 
 an even length, or the fly will not fwim upright;- 
 then turn rt into a proper Ihape, by nipping off th*e 
 fupeifluous dubbing from the filk, fo faften and ac- 
 coutre the fly. It would be convenient to fee on« 
 done by an experienced angler, and then thefe Qt- 
 re£lions will be eafy to you* 
 
 jHre^iom relating to duh- files ^ andanglmg with them^ 
 
 I. When you proportion your dtib-fiy^ confider 
 the largenefs or fmalhiefs of the fifh you intend it for, . 
 and be fure the belly of it is the exa(5l colour, be-^ 
 caufe that is moft obvious. 
 
 2: Let. the tail of the fly be only tathebend of 
 the hook, and not come unto the bent of it. ' 
 
 3. If the irout at the top of the water refufe it, 
 the day is not proper for it, or.theJiy is either cut 
 cf feafon or ilUmade, 
 
 When you angle with the duh-fiy^ it muft be in 
 fuch a river or water as is clear, after rain, or in a 
 river a little difcoloured with mofs or^bogs, in moor- 
 j(b places, or elfe in a cloudy or gloomy day, v^^-hen- 
 the water is flirred by gentle gales; or if the winds^ 
 be pretty high, they will rife in the plain deep ; but 
 in little wind, tUe bell isto angle inihe dream. 
 
 Kcfp 
 
[ i6i ] 
 
 Keep your ffy in continual motion in all weathers, 
 to prevent the fifh from difcerning the fraud ; in clear 
 and low water, let the body of the fly be the frnaller, 
 and the wings very flender. In dark weather and thick 
 water, let the fly be of a dark colour, but it muft 
 be pretty large body and wings, the better to be 
 difcovercd ; in a clear day, a light-coloured fly is 
 preferable, 
 
 A rod for the dub- fly Ihould be five yards at leaft, 
 and the line about feven, or fomewhat more,- if the 
 water be free from incumbrance of weeds, tffc. and 
 to adapt your fly to the colour of the water more 
 properly, have three of a fort, the one light, the 
 next a degree darker, and the third the true colouc 
 of the natural fly. 
 
 In cafting, obferve to do it always before you, thitt 
 it may fall on the water, and no part of the line dafh. 
 to fcaie away the fifli : and do it if you can without 
 making any circle in the water : but if the winds be 
 high, fomepartmuft be in the water, to keep the fly. 
 from being blown out.. Take your {landing (o, i£ 
 poflible, that the fun may be in your face, and wind 
 to your back. 
 
 In ftill or flow water, caft your fly almofl acrofs 
 the river or pond, and draw it towards you gently a. 
 little way, that you break not the water, or put it ia 
 trouble,, and let it bear with the current, if there bcr 
 a<iy, fi^fhing downwards and not upwards of the river,. 
 Thus having, as I hope, given plain inflrudlions in 
 thefe matters, to be underftood hy eafy capacities, I 
 proceed to defcribe artificial flies, for the proper 
 month of angling with them, 
 
 ^rtrJiaalT'Livs^ proper in the month of the fjhing fea-- 
 foriy and how to make. them. 
 In February^ the palmer-fly or plain hackle muftr 
 kave a rough, black, body,, which may be done with 
 
 black;. 
 
[ l62 ] 
 
 black fpaniel's hair, or the whirl of an oftridge fea^ 
 ther, and the red hackle of a capon all over. 
 
 The prince dun, that may be dabbed of the down 
 of a fox cub, with afn -coloured filk, the wings of a 
 ftarc's feather; this muil be made Irttle. 
 
 The little red, brown dub, with the foft half of 
 the black fpot of a hog's ear, the wings of mallards 
 feathers, near the white, wrap ii on with red filk» 
 
 Aiarch. The green tail may be made of the brown 
 hair of a fpaniel, taken from the outfide of the ear, 
 and a little from the extreme of the tail. 
 
 Morifli brown may be dubbed with black (beep's 
 wool, red filk, and the wmgs made of a partridge's 
 wing-feather. 
 
 Thorn-tree fiy dub, of a very good black, mix a 
 Wxx^i^ IjabellaccAQ>M\^^ mohair \ with it make a little 
 body, and the wings of a mallard's brighteft fea^ 
 thers. 
 
 The early bright brown make of the hair of a brown 
 (5?aniel, that of the flank of a red cow, and wing it 
 with the grey feather of a wild duck, 
 
 JpriL The violet fly, which takes excellently 
 from the frxth to the tenth, made of bear's bair a 
 light dun, Tnix'd with violet ftuflT, wing it v/ith the 
 greafy feather of a mallard. The horfe-fiefh fly, 
 which laft all this montii, dub with pink colours, 
 blue mohair and tamm)\ let the head be a dark brown 
 and the wings of a light colour. 
 
 The fmall bright brown is very well taken in a 
 cflear day and water, make it of fpaniel's fur with a 
 light grey wing. 
 
 May. The green drake, an excellent killer, dub 
 on a large hook with camel^% hair, bright beai's hair, 
 foft down comb'd from the briftles of a hog, mix yel- 
 low camblet ; let the body be long, and rib it with 
 green iiik mixt with yellow j let the whilks of his 
 
 tail 
 
[ i63 J 
 
 tail be the long hair of ,^^/^i, his wings the lighfe 
 grey feather of a ma/lard dyed yellow. 
 
 The ftone-fly dub, with dun bear's hair, mix it 
 with a little brown and yellow camblet, that (he may 
 be yellower on the belly and tail than any other jiart,. 
 to be th'.' better liked by the lifh, who moftly eye 
 the belly of baits ; and to adorn it the more, place 
 two or three hairs of the beard of a black cat on the 
 top of the hook,' in the whipping or arming, and in 
 warping on your dubbing, (taring one from another 
 fomcthing upright : ribher with yellow filk ; make 
 the wings long and large, of the dark grey feather 
 of a mallard^ or other fuch like feather. 
 
 The grey drake comes in v/hen the great ones go 
 out, much of fhape with it, but in colour differs, 
 and muftbe made of a paler and more blueifh yellow 
 and green, his ribs quite down his body muft be of 
 black, with black ftiining wir-gs very thin, and may 
 be made of the grey feathers of a mallard^ the down 
 under hogs briftles, and the black hair of a fpaniel, 
 and the wiiifksof his tar), or the beard of a black 
 cat» 
 
 June, The ant-fly is dubbed with brown and red 
 camblet, the wing of the feathers of a light grey 
 pidgeon. 
 
 The purple-fly, with purple wool mix'd with 
 light brown bear's hair, the wings of a flare's fea- 
 ther, dub it with purple filk. 
 
 The brown hackle made of the lightefl: brown hair 
 of a fomewhat grown colt, with a red hackle or 
 cock's neck-feather over it, wrap'd with hair-colour 
 or ajh coloured filk. 
 
 July, Orange fly, dub this with orange colour'd 
 cruel or wool, and the feather of a blackbird's wing. 
 
 The wafp-fly. Do this with brov/n dubbing, or 
 elfe with the hair of a black cat's tail y rib it with yel- 
 low. 
 
I »64 T 
 
 low fiik and make the wings of the grey feather i^ 
 a mallard's wing. 
 
 The blue dun mud be made with the down of a 
 water moufe, and the bJuifh dovm found on an old 
 fox j mix them well together, and dub with fad afh- 
 colour'd nlic y the feather of a iiare's quill will fur- 
 nifh you with wings,. 
 
 Augufl., The late ant-fly may be dubbed of the 
 hair of a cow that is of a blackifh brown, and for 
 the tagging of the tai^s wrap in fome red, and make 
 the wing of a dark feather : this fly takes admira- 
 bly. 
 
 The fern-fly muft properly be dubbed with the 
 wool taken from a hare's neck, of the colour of fern,, 
 when dry, make the wings of thedarkifli grey fea- 
 ther of a mallard. 
 
 The hearth- fly, dub of the wool of an aged' 
 black ewe, with fome grey hair to accommodate the^ 
 body and head, dub with black filk, and take the 
 light feather of a fl;are for the v/ings. 
 
 September. The little blue dun made of the fur of 
 a water-moufe, dub it with fad afti-colour'd filk, and 
 wing it with the feather of a blue pigeon. 
 
 The late badger. Do this with badger's hair that's 
 black, whip with red filk, and ufe a darkiih grey- 
 mallard's feather for the wings.. 
 
 The camel broom-fly, pull out for dubbing, the- 
 hair in the lime of old wall, whip it with read fllk, 
 make the wings of a flare's lighteft feather. 
 
 OSicber. This month is fupplied by the flies of 
 the former, for all being now upon their going 
 away, almoft any will do. Andthus^ reader, keep- 
 ing to my intended brevity,- having picked you out 
 the beft killing flies from a great many more, you by 
 knowing hew to make ihefe may eafily imitate all 
 others, having a natural fly before you, and chuflng 
 Riatsrials fuitable to its colour, by Ihaping her ac- 
 cording: 
 
[ i65 1 
 
 cording to the other ; then promife yourfclf fuccefs 
 in angling with her as diredied. 
 
 Various lut curious Observations /« Angling ; 
 clivers ways io angle, not commonly knowft* 
 
 Note, thatfometimes all forts of fi/h take baits at 
 the ground, when but fome forts will take the fly at 
 the top of the water ; and therefoie to angle for a 
 trout with worm, chufe the running line without any 
 float, only fmall plummets in their proper places. 
 This is fuccefsful at the ground, either in clear or 
 jnuddy water. 
 
 As for the latter, ufe a line a little more than half 
 the length of the rod, and fometimes lefs than that 
 length, and the lowermoil: links mud be at leaft three 
 hairs, and one at top of four, whereof have a water- 
 noofe at its bottom ; fo proceed with links of hve or 
 fix hairs a piece 'till you come to the topmoi}, make 
 xYiClower o^ cbcfnutcolourf or fon'el-bro!w/2» Then to 
 your reed or cane, have a top neither too ftiff nor too 
 feeble, bat between both ; the cane about three yards 
 and a half long, and the top about a yard and a haF, 
 or near two yards, in one or two pieces, and five or 
 fix inches of whalebone, fmooth round, and pliant. 
 
 Obferve to lead your line as is confident with 
 the v/ater, in rufFftreams more than in fmatl gen- 
 tle ftreams, and leaft of all in ftill water ; then carry 
 the top or point of your rod level with your hand, 
 and fo you will by the point of your rod perceive 
 the bite at the ground, then ftrike ftrait and gently 
 Hpwards, and by a little flacking your hand before, 
 you will give the fi(h time the better to take the 
 bait. 
 
 , If a large trout you angk for in muddy water, then 
 it requires fome art in baiting of your hook, as fup- 
 pofe the bait is a dew-worm, here you muft thruft 
 ihe hook in towards the tail, a little above the mid- 
 dle. 
 
[ i66 ] 
 
 dk, and out again below the head, then draw him 
 above the arming of the hook, or whipping, fo put 
 the point into the head of the worm, until it is very 
 near the place where the point of the hook firftcame 
 out, and fo draw back the worm, or that part that 
 was above the (hank. This hook fhould be indif- 
 ferent Idrge. 
 
 To bait two worms in muddy water for a tfout^ 
 he. from eight to ten inches : take meadow worms 
 or brandlings, or a brandling and gilt tail, and run 
 tne point of the hook in at the head down the body, 
 till it pafs the knot, or come to the middle of the 
 worm ; then ftir it above the arming or whipping, 
 put on the other, by running the hook in the fame 
 manner, and let the head of it juft cover the point 
 of the hook, then flip the firfi down till the knots or 
 middle of both worms meet together ; and thus you 
 may do by any other v/orms, for other fifh, as by the 
 foregoing diredions you find they take them. 
 
 Dire^ionsfor ANGLING with the running line in clear 
 water » 
 
 Put a gilt tail and fmall brandling on your hook, 
 before directed, we'l fcour'd, and here your hook 
 mull be much i mailer than in muddy v/ater, two or 
 three of the lowetmoft links of your line of a fingle 
 hair, fo rife from two or three, or four, of a grey or 
 dufkifli white, the line about two yards fhorter than 
 the rod, leaded with a fmall black plummet. 
 
 Angle with this in a ftream always up it, in a 
 river with a light hand, ftill cafting up the worm be- 
 fore you 3 let the rod be as the former : and thus you 
 may angle for JalmonjmeliSy ircut^ or graylings to 
 whofe proper baits I refer you in my treatife of baits 
 in this book. 
 
 DireJfions 
 
[ i67 ] 
 
 Diredfions for the Top water Angling with m 
 
 njorm. 
 
 Your line in this cafe muft be longer than your 
 rod, without any plummet or Heat, drawing your 
 bait down and up the ftream, in a clear day, with a 
 gentle har.d, that it may glide as if it were fwim- 
 ming, and your bait here muft be a gik-tail or 
 brandling, keep it from the (hore, and free from 
 entiinglement of weeds, woods, rufhes, or other in- 
 cumbrances that hinder fport. 
 
 Farther Dire^ions for Float-angling. 
 
 Here your line muft be tv.'^o or three feet longer 
 tbanjourrod in rivers, but in ponds and pits fome- 
 thing ihorter. Angling in clear water for falmon- 
 fmehs-, trouts, cr gr^uitfgs^ you muft put but one hair 
 next the hook, but in muddy water, and for other 
 iiQi, two or three, obferving the running line and rod 
 for \\iQ tench ^ and proportion this to it, lead it mode- 
 rately, but fo ihat ii: may keep the line ftrait and 
 even ; but for iench^ carp, barbel^ or chub^ your rod and 
 line muft have an additional ftrength in the thick- 
 nefs of the one, and the number of hairs in the o- 
 ther ; and your float manageable in the water, pro- 
 portioned according to the fwiftnefs or flownefs of 
 the water^ but with one worm, the water being very 
 cfcar; and obferve for fome fort of fifh, as flounders, 
 Jalmon-fmeits^ bream and gudgeon^ your bait muft drag 
 on the ground ; but for other forts, as, tench, roach, 
 bleak,, pt-ke, ruff, and carp,2Lt mid- water ; for grci) ling 
 and pearchj at ftx or nine inches from the bottom. 
 The chub is often taken at bottom, mid-wattr and 
 
 You may ufe the dives forts of baits, angling with 
 a float, but ground baits are moft frequently ufed, 
 and with fuccefs. 
 
 DireS^ions 
 
[ i68 ] 
 
 DireSftons fisr Drab ling. 
 
 IBy this, barbels of a large fize are taken ; to do it 
 compleatly, obferve thele rules. 
 
 Have a ftrong line of fix yards, which, before you 
 fallen ic to your rod, muil be put through a piece of 
 lead, that if the iifh bite, it may flip to and fro, and 
 that the water may fomething move it on the ground ; 
 bait it with a pretty large lob-worm well lcour*d, 
 and fo by its motion the barbel will be enticed into 
 the danger without fufpicion. The beft places are 
 in running water near piles, or under wooden 
 bridges, fupported with oaks floated and flimy. 
 
 Angling With //^^ Ledger- BAIT. 
 
 This is ufed for variety of exercife, to give refl to 
 the angler, and lb differs from others that are called 
 walking baits, and this is, v/hen the bait continues 
 to reft in one fix'd and certain place. 
 
 Here you mud take off* your float, but let the lead 
 remain, and within half a yard of the top of the line 
 wrap a thin plate of lead, an inch and a half long, 
 and pretty broad, viz, about an inch ; fo faften your 
 line to your red, caft in your bait either into a flill, 
 ilow draught, or <itx\\\t flream, and when it is at the 
 :bottom, you may flick your rod in the bank of the 
 river, or hold it in your hand at difcretion, and by 
 the bending of the rod, or motion of the lead at top^ 
 you will perceive when the fifli bite : give her fome 
 time, and ftrike contrary to where her head lies. 
 The chub and eel are fuccefsfully taken this way. 
 
 T^ lay Night-hooks. 
 To do this eflFedually, procure a fmall cord, which 
 may be about fixteen yards long, and to this, at equal 
 diflances, tie five or fix fine twilled flax or filk lines, 
 about eighteen inckes each, of the thicknefs of your 
 trowling line, fallen them fo that they may be eafily 
 
 removed. 
 
[ i69 ] 
 
 removed, and put on again; whip totheendsoFeach 
 of them a pretty ftrong hook, bait witha loach, mi- 
 now, or bull-head, the fins and gills cut off ; or, 
 thefe being wanting, the feven eyes, ^^/ brood, irnall 
 roach ^ gudgeon^ the pith of an ex or cow^s back- bone, 
 i^c. will ferve for the fi(b; put the point of the hook in 
 the tai^,and out at the mouth, {o that the nfh's head, 
 may have arefting in tbs hook's bent, and that the 
 point may not be difcovered, cover it with a worm, 
 cafting the cord, by a weight, over the river, (tream, 
 or pond, faften both ends to flakes on either-fide ;^' 
 and. be there early in the morning, and expert chub^ \ 
 large eeh^ trout or p'tke^ but for a pike keep the b^tt- 
 with 2iJlQat about: a foot or fomething more from the 
 bottom. 1 
 
 For this, to gather the fifh, you may bait the 
 ground with blood and grains,: or fewet m-ade up in 
 iweet earth., taken from under the green fward, or 
 partes, b'f. 
 
 C^/V^Receiptss or rare '^ ^^CKZt'Sy never hefdre iifj^de ' 
 publico " ' ■-- ^-'' ■ • ''■ 
 
 Take oil of amber, rofeinary and myrrb," an equal 
 quantity, infufe in them any worms, or ir^ingle paAe 
 with them, and the fift), if near, will liaftan to the , , 
 bait fo dipped, and then not have power to.go away, 
 till fhe either nibbles off the bait, or is tak^n. 
 
 Ground-bait for carp) v/Uh unprickkd Yampbire 
 bruifed, and made into balls, with v/alnut-.QJt. T.his 
 likewVfe allures tench and hrearri. 
 
 Over-night mix bean-flower v/ith^Jittic honey, , 
 wet it with reaify'd fpirits of wine, and a little oil ' , 
 of turpentine, make it up withlittle pellets,snd fuch ' f) 
 fifti as nibble it, when thrown in, will beftupiiied. Id ^ 
 that in the morning coming to thcmfelves a litxlt^, 
 they will bite very eagerly, as being, after their 
 drunken fit, exceeding; hunery. 
 
[ 170 ] 
 
 • J fpedi^l WINTER bait to ^et and prefer v^. 
 
 When plowing begins in Jufumr?^ before any 
 froils come that are f Tcible, to make entrance into 
 the earth, obferve where the ploughs are going, if 
 there be ftore of crov/s, lighted on the ground, efpe- 
 cially in that which is heathy, Tandy, or green land, 
 follow, and you v/ill find a white worm bigger than a 
 gentle, having a red head, which is held to breed of 
 ihe fpawn o>r egg of a beetle left in ihofe holes fhe 
 digs m the ground under horfe or cow dung, which 
 m .Vlarcb or April, turns to a beetle again: you may 
 put about two quarts of thefe into about half a bufhei 
 of the fame mould : when you gather them, put 
 them in a tub or other vefTel, where the froftor wind 
 may not come to kill them, and by this means, when 
 mod other baits are out, you may be provided all the 
 feafonable times in winter, and early in the fpring. 
 
 Un/eafenahle TuAES to Angle /«. 
 
 Having fpoke much of proper times to accommo- 
 date the angler, I (hall now fpeak fomething more of 
 unfeafonable ones, that thofe v/ho are ignorant in 
 this art, as to the niceties of it, may not loofe their 
 labour. V'';^'' 
 
 In thtfft^prning, either in the fpring or advancing 
 of the feafon, if a hoary frolt happen, the fifti will be 
 backward in biting that day, and little fport can be 
 expedted, for they will not freely rife, except in the 
 fvcning; and foon after they have fpawned they will 
 not bite tcrthe purpofe, till with grafs and weeds they 
 have well purged ar,d fcoured themfelves, fo that 
 I hey may by that means recover their flrength and 
 appetite. ■ 
 
 'Tis not proper to nfh when the north or eaft 
 v*^inds are (harp. 
 
 In 
 
C '70 
 
 In brooks that are fniHU and clear, where thewa,-! 
 ter is kept up by mills or dams, it is not goodanjlin^,, 
 for there efpecially the trout keeps her hole, and otlie^s 
 bite faintly. 
 
 Several other ujeful Observations ^ and Direc- 
 tions. ^ 
 
 Be fure always to keep your {hadow ofF,t'he water, 
 and therefore let the fun be in your face, or on one 
 fide of you when you angle, keeping Out of fi^^ht' 
 and making no noife ; and when you are bent 'for' 
 irouU you need make but three or four'e/Tays' wi;h 
 the ground-bait or fly ; for if it Comes hb'r i^en Va" 
 bite or offer, either there is not aiiy tj^ere, or they 
 keep clofe in their holes, 
 
 To catchTi^^'--' i*'^5Hj , ;■ 
 
 Take nettles, cinquefoin, and'chop'frn^JJ', then 
 mixfomejuiceof houfleek with it, rub yoijr hVnds 
 therewith, and throw it into the water, and keep 
 your hands in the water, and the iifh will come to 
 to them, that you may take them : or, take heart-wort 
 and lime, miiigle them together, and throvv it into 
 a {landing watei", and it will fox tKemViStlk jpu jiiaj^; 
 ta'ke them with your hand.?.' ' ' i "".;,:'"' '■' '^ ' 
 
 To take Pike as he lusjlcepin^ and [urimng;^in:f4:tii': 
 weather s tuiih a loop or net, ■ -> , , 
 Mijrch and Jugu/? the beft time?.- - Take a k>n»* 
 pole or rod that is light and ftraight, on the f.nall efid 
 faften a tuning loop of twilled horfe*hair- and filk, 
 of a large compafs, v/hich gently dra'wfcjn hini. ^wheii- 
 it=is five or fix inches over his gill, hokt-him ^iip; if 
 'tis a fmall//,^^, draw-it not fo;fir-6fi,^;ihd make no 
 noife in walking or fpeakin^ : if -he ires fo that vf>u 
 cannot conveniently noofe him, touch his tail with 
 the rod, and hCil turn as-^ou pjeafe, alfo W'ii-h a- 
 H 2 iu.id 
 
[ 172 ] 
 hand net, putting it gently under water, 'guide itjuft 
 unrd"er him, and lift it foftly till you almoft- touch him, 
 and thfcn xfo it as quick as you can. 
 
 To. invite. Fish. . . .,; 
 
 If yon take scctilis Indicasy znd make little balls of 
 it\Yith^CMrR^pin», 9lc^cj^eie,,^yheaCrP*QUi:, aj54,^^ 
 '■Ll^ flietJhe\a}fs\be'nQ bigger, than, p.eafe) an<l 'throw 
 tjiem, into,a ^!(l-ai)cliiig w^ter or calm, places where fifti 
 ?re, 'ait that tarte, o^itwHl be prefently ftupified, 
 Iwimming^.^oJhe i^ore as if they were drunkj fo 
 that yoUjioay take ti^en^i with your haiid. 
 
 ' To mak^Gnil'cr'der FisH-'PO^DS, 
 
 Moorifh-groand, and fuch as is full of fprings is 
 beil; the ftrit breeds them well, the laft prevents their 
 being ftplen; nejct,, let your pond be fo ordered, that 
 it hnay reciei've-the rain-\vater that falls from the hills, 
 ior that mightily refrefhes them j and if your pond 
 can receivp the pifs qf !:(6rres and other cattle, they'll 
 pFcduce the largeft and' fatteil fifh. Let your pond's 
 - Head be at thp loweft part of the ground, and let the 
 i.ob^ g^es have^a igiiick and fwift fall^, that when 
 5VU 'gb'fe 'efepty'iV, 5^od may not be' tod; long about 
 It: in building your pond, the beft way is to drive, 
 a row of ft3kss'of 6 or 7 foot long, and 6 or 7 inchfS. 
 iqusre, and 4 foat diftance ; elm is better than 
 t>uki ^r-ivethem.'iii the length of the pond's head, 
 and ram the firft row fourfopt and a half deep, then. 
 they'Hb^ ftrong* Next dig- your pond and throw 
 the earth: aniipng the fta^es and pjles; when they ^rc, 
 cQverQ<i (V/€Jli;d.Fiye. another row pv.^f th^iri, and rapi; 
 theeartli int^e yplcJ places,, that it Jie clofe an4^ 
 keep the ,w^l:eF in .'the better 5 and thus you muft, 
 continue ftal^e on ftiake,, ramming the ^arth till the 
 head b? ^o hjgh as you would have it. 
 
 Let 
 
[ 173 ] 
 
 Let the Infide of the dam be imooth, that no cur- 
 rent may hs^ve power over it j let your .pond c^rry fix 
 foot water, ami be eight foot dfeep, ^to t^ceive the 
 rains that fall into it : floor the bottom with large 
 •tuTfs of flot-gra^s, clofe jbin'd' and ftak'd dowh ; 
 -ftake alfoonthe pond fjde feveral faggots of light 
 wood, but lioj oak, for .thit's bitter and oflnenfiNre : 
 ■thefe faggots (helter the fifii, and after they cajl their 
 fpawn preferve th<?m from vermin, and the young 
 fi/h from devourersj let thcmalfo have fomeretiring 
 .places by roots of trees, hollow banks, both to che- 
 ^ifh them in cold and heat, and preferve them from, 
 danger : tarpi tench^ and br'aam ftore by themfelvesj; 
 ■pearch zn^ pike by thenifelves ; puit into iti either 
 minozvs or dace, but roach are injurious' to. all ponds 
 and great breeders. Ponds with ftrong landy bot- 
 toms, that lie warm and out of the wind, with nut- 
 trees and willows alfo (hehered, are the beft for carp 
 to breed in, and new made ponds breed better than 
 old, that are full: of :weeds and mud, therefore every 
 three years cleanfethem from the mud filth. To 
 make a ftore poj^irfow it, put in aUy^^M;;i^r^,.orall 
 millers \ obferve, -t^at (tore p:>nds afford the largeft 
 arKl fatteft carp,\ In a breeding pond put three fpaw^ 
 jiers to one miller' Draw y out pond about Jllhaliositidgy 
 and keep of females afufFicient number for breeding. 
 ^Indeed, y^u ought not to kill any of them. They'll 
 live and breed 50 or 60 years 5 but you may kill all 
 live males that are above three y^ars old, and put the 
 reft, that ar€ three, two, or one year old into the 
 pond again, as many of them as the pond will main- 
 tain : this do once every year. 
 
 Feed your pihy carp, and other filhj; ivtth bread, 
 grains 5 chippings of bread, entrails of chickens, 
 ^c* 
 
 H3 Of 
 
Q/fiUCK HUNTING. 
 
 HAVINGi under the article HarU (which fee) 
 treated fo largely, as to their nature, aiid the 
 way? of hunting them, there needs the lefs to be faid 
 2S to hunting the buck, and the rules for taking him ; 
 for I • that can hunt a ^ari ox Jhig well, will not hunt 
 a buck ill. 
 
 Befides, /^/i?w; dee* being common among^us, and 
 thofe ufiially in parks and inclofures of divers fitua- 
 ,tions and ftaturt^,: different from one another ; it 
 wbuJd be" a diflnjcult talk ta give inftrudions for 
 every particJular. '• 
 
 And indeed it is the proper bufinefs of every keeper 
 of parks, &c, to underftand the nature and craft of 
 his deer in hunting; all are to be acquired by expe- 
 rience more than reading; however, I fhall briefly 
 inform you of what relates to buck-huntings as now 
 praclifed. : ; 
 
 There is no fiich fkill and art required in lodging 
 .a:buctk, as in harbouring a hart or /iag^ nor fo much 
 drawing after, but you may judge by the view, and 
 obferve what grove or copice he enters ; for 3. buck 
 does not wander up and down as a tart^ nor change 
 his laver fo often, neither ufes fo many croflings, 
 doublings, ihifts and devices, nor doth he flee fo far 
 before the bounds^ but avoids the high-way and open 
 places^ as much as he can ; he is not fo crafiy or fo 
 iirong.to beat a river, or to flay fo long at foil; 
 neither is he fo free to take a great river, normuft it 
 be deep*; but being clofe hunted, he will flee into 
 iuch ftrong coverts as be is accuftomed to, and it has 
 been obferved that fome bucks that have leaped over 
 a park pale, after a ring or two, have returned of 
 
 themfelves^ 
 
[ ^1S ] 
 tnemfelves, chufing rather to die where they have 
 been acquainted, than in a ftrange place. 
 
 The buck groans and trots as the hart belletb, and 
 with a worfe noife and rattling in the throat, leaps 
 Irghter at the rut than \\^^Jlag\ neither will thefe 
 . two hearts come near one anoiher's layer, and they 
 have feldom or never any other relays than the old 
 hounds. 
 
 They alfo herd more than the hart does, and lie in 
 the drieft places, though if they are at large, the/ 
 herd but little from May to Augiifl, 
 
 Now the greateft fubtilty a huntfman needs to ufe 
 in hunting the huck^ is to have a care of hunting, 
 counting, or change, becaufeof the plenty oi fallow- 
 deer that ufe to come more diredlly upon the hounds 
 than the red deer does. 
 
 The does begin to fawn about the end of May^ and 
 continue till Midjummer, 
 
 The bijcks mew or (lied their horns or heads every 
 year, about, or in Apr'ily and part of Alay^ and their 
 new ones are burnifht about the end of AnguJ}. 
 
 The buck makes his Fewmijhing in divers manners 
 and forms as the hart^ according to the diverfity ©f 
 food, and the time of the day, morning and evening y 
 but they are moft commonly round. 
 
 The buck comes in feafon the eighth of y?//)', and 
 goes out at holy-rood^ which is the fourteenth oi 6V^- 
 ^ t ember. 
 
 The doe comes in feafon when the buck goesouf^ 
 and goes out at TVelfth-tide. 
 
 In buck-hunting the fame hounds are ufed as in 
 running', x.\\tjlag. In forefts and chafes, as they lie at 
 layer^ fo they are hunted. 
 
 In parks where they are inclofed, the fpert-is not 
 fo diverting by reafon of the greater change and foil, 
 unlefs they break out and run the country, which. 
 they feldom do. 
 
 H 4 • But 
 
[ 1.-6 ] 
 But deer that lie out though near the park, make 
 for the generality better chafes than forcft deer. 
 
 ^he keeper Jl)oothig a Buck to be run down. 
 
 In order to facilitate the chafe, the keeper com^ 
 motily lele<fts a fat buck out of the herd, which he 
 iloots to maim him, and then he is run down by the 
 hounds^ -■ 
 
 As to the method of hunting the buck ; the com* 
 pany generally go out very early for the benefit of 
 the morning, fomeilmes they have a deer ready 
 lodged, if nor, the coverts are drawn till one is 
 roQzed 5 orfometimes in a park a deer is pitched 
 \ipGn, and forced from the herd, then more bounds 
 are laid on to run the chafe ; if you come to be at a 
 Jaulty the old (launch hounds are only to be relied 
 ypon till you recover him again : if he be funk and 
 the hounds thxurt-him up, it is called an imprime^ 
 and the coinpany ah found a recheat; when he is run 
 down, every one ftrives to get in to prevent his being 
 torn by the hounds, fallow-deer leldom or aever 
 il:andlngat bay. 
 
 He that firit gets in cries hoo-up, to give n-otrcc 
 that he is dov/n and blows a death. When the com- 
 pany are all come in, they paunch him and reward 
 the hoimds-y and generally the chief perfon of qua- 
 lity amongit them takes Jay ^ that is, cut his belly open, 
 to fee how fat he is. 
 
 When this Is done, every one has a chop at his 
 neck, and the head being cut ofF is (hewed to the 
 hounds to encourage them to run only at male deer, 
 which they fee by the horns, and to teach them to 
 bite only at the head : then the company all ftanding 
 in a ring, one blows a fmgle death, which being 
 done, all blow a double fecheaty and conclude the 
 chace with a general hallo of hoo-up, and depart the 
 field to iheir feveral hames, or places of meet- 
 ing i 
 
ing; an^ th^huntfrnan 'or fome other, hatli the dett 
 crofs the buttocks of his horfe, and. fo cS^i'Hes' Jfiirn 
 home. ' 
 
 A HART is the moft nobfe krt3 lTktfe!y'1)^Sft, 
 an<l in the firft yfear is callfed a /j^iW rw^ in the 
 fecond a knobbery in the third a Z'/^c^, in the fourth, 
 a fla-ggard^ in the fifth, a y?<7^, and in the fixth, a 
 
 Harts are bred in moft countries, but the ancients 
 prefer thofe of Britain before all others, where they 
 areof divers colours. 
 
 Thefe excel aW others in the beauty of their horns, 
 which are very high, yet do not grow to their bone& 
 Hor fcalps, bdt to their fkfns, branching forth into 
 many fpears, being: folid throughout, and as hard as 
 ftones, and fall of? once a year. 
 
 But if they remain abroad in the air ; and if they 
 are by that means fometimes wet and fometimes dry, 
 ibey grow as light as any other Icfs folid fubftance ; 
 4)y which it (bould feem they arc of ah earthy fub- 
 fiance, concrete, and hardened with a ftrong heat, 
 made like unto boneS, ^ 
 
 They lofe their horns every year ih tbe fpring. 
 
 Atone year old they have nothing but bunches, 
 that are fmall fignificators of horns to' come : at two 
 years they appear more perfedly, but ft rait and fin- 
 gle : at three years they grow into two fpears ; ac 
 four into three, and f j increafe every year in their 
 branches till they arc fix ; and above that time their 
 age is not certainly to be known by the head. 
 
 Having loft their horns, in the day-time they hide 
 
 themfclvesj inliabiting the {hades, to ,ivoid the an- 
 
 . ' ' M 5 noyance 
 
noyancq;of^l£js,'2nd feed^, during that tfme, only m 
 the bight. ; . . 
 
 Their new horns come out at firft like bunche?, 
 and afterwards (as has been faid before) by the in- 
 -creafe of the fun's heat they growmorehard, covered 
 with a rough fkin, which is called a velvet head-, 
 and as thatfkin drieth, they daily try the ftrength of 
 their new heads upon trees, which not only fcrapeth 
 off the roughnefs, but by the pain they feel by thus 
 rubbing thcjn, they are taught how long to forbear 
 the company of their fellows ; for at laft, when in 
 their chaffing and fretting of their new horns againft 
 the trees, they can feel no longer pain and fmart in 
 them, they feem as if they thought ii v/ere high 
 time to forfake their folitary dwelling.s> and rejtufii. 
 again to their former condition. 
 
 It has teen obferved^ that when a hart prieketh 
 up his eais, he windeth fharp, very far and fure, and 
 difcovereth all treachery againft him; but if th^ry 
 hang down and wag, he perceives no danger. 
 
 Their age is dlfcerned by their teeth ; they have 
 four on bath fides, with which they grind their meat, 
 befides two other?, which are much larger in the 
 male than in the female. 
 
 All thefe beafts have worms in their heads, under- 
 neath their tongues, in a hollow place where; the 
 neck bone is joined to the head, which are no bigger 
 than fly-blows. 
 
 The blood of the hart is not like that of other 
 beafts^ for it liath no iibies in it, and therefore it is 
 hardly congealed, 
 
 fi is heart is very great, and fo are thofe of fear/u! 
 beaiis, having in Ic a bone like a crofs. 
 
 He hath no gall, and that is one of the caufes of 
 his long life, and therefore are his bowels fo bitter, 
 lb at the dogs will not touch them unlefs they be 
 very fac. ^^^ 
 
[ 179 1 
 
 The genital part of ?ihart is all nervous, the tail 
 fmall, and a hind hath udders between her thighs,. 
 with four fpeans hke a cow. 
 
 Thefe are, above all other beaft?,. both ingenious 
 and fearful, who although they have large horns, 
 yet their defence againil other four-footed beads is 
 to run away. 
 
 The hant is ftrangely amazed, when he hears any 
 one call or whifile in his fill: for trial, of which, 
 fome feeing 2. hart in the piainun motion, have called 
 after him,, crying, ware, ware^ take heed-, and there- 
 upon have (^Qn him inftantJy turn back, making 
 fome little ftand. 
 
 He hears very perfe£lly when his head an(^. ears are' 
 erecled, but imperfeiSlly when he lets them down. 
 
 When he is on foot, and not afraid, he admires 
 every thing he fees, and takes a pleafurc-to gaze at 
 them, 
 
 A hart can naturally fwim a great way, infomuch^ 
 that fome which have been hunted in foreft-s near the 
 fea, have plunged into it, and have been killed by 
 fifhermen twelve miles from land. 
 
 It is leported of them,- that when they go to rut, 
 and for that purpofe aie obligt^ to pafs^ (ome grcac: 
 river or arm of the fca,. they aUsmble in great herds,. 
 tb6 ftrongeft going in firR, and tha next in ftrength 
 following him, and fo one after the other, lelicving 
 themfelves by fiaying their head-s on the buttocks of 
 each other. 
 
 . The ^iW commonly carries her calf eight or nine 
 months, which ufually falls in May, ahha' fome of * 
 them have two at once,, and eat up the fkin wherein- 
 the calf did lie. 
 
 As the calf grov/s up, fhe teaches it to r^nj-leap,, 
 the way it muft take to defend itfelf from the hounds. 
 
 Harti and hinds are very long lived, living com- 
 monly an hundived years- and upwards. 
 
OTHart-Hunting. ' 
 
 7'he huntrman' muft firft of all citedrnpafs the 
 heiil in his own layer, and Co unharbour him in the 
 v'ew of thedogs, that fo they may never loie his 
 ilot or footing. 
 
 Neither muft he kt upon every one, either' of the 
 
 herd, or thofe that wander folitary alone, or a little 
 
 one, but partly by fight, and partly, by their footing 
 
 ■and furhets, make a judgment of the game, and alfo 
 
 ' hh{€Tvc the largenefs of his layer. 
 
 Thehuntfnian having made thefe dfcoveries in 
 onler to the chace, takes oW the couplings of the 
 dogs, and fome on horfeback, and others on foot, 
 follow the cry with the greateft art, obfervation and 
 fpeed, remembering and intercepting him in his 
 fubtle turnings and headlings j with all agi'ity leap- 
 ing hedges, gates, pates and ditcheis ; neither fear- 
 ing thorns, Gov/n hills nor woods, but mounting 
 frefh horfc l( the firft tire; follow the largeft bead of 
 the whole herd, which muft be hngled out of the 
 chafe, which the dogs percei'ving muil follow -, not 
 following any other. 
 
 The dogs are animated to the fport by the wind- 
 ing of horns and the voices of the huntfmen. 
 
 But fometimes ihe crafty beaft fends fortli his little 
 fquife to be facVificed by the dogs and hunters inftead 
 of himfelf lying clofe the mean time. In this cafe, 
 the hunifman muft found a retreat, break off th€ 
 doss, and take them in, that is, learn them again, 
 iintill they be brought to the fairer game; which 
 rifelh with fear, yet ftill driveth by Sight, until he 
 be v/eared and breathlefs. 
 
 The nobles call the beafr a wife hart^ who, to 
 avoid all his enemies, runneth into the greateft 
 lierds, and fo brings a cloud of error on the dogs, 
 to obftrudt their farther purfuit j fometimes aifo 
 
 beatinz 
 
[ i8i ] 
 beating fome of the herd Upon his fooiings, that f^ 
 he may more eafily efcape, by amufing the dogs. 
 
 Afterwards he betakes himfelf to his heels again, 
 ftill running with the wind, not only for the Take of 
 refrefhment, but alfo becaufe by that means he can 
 the more eafily hear the voice of his purfuers, whe- 
 ther they be far from him or near to him. 
 
 But atlaftbeingdifcoveredby the hunters, and fa- 
 gacious fcent of the dogs, he flies into the herds of 
 cattle, as cows, (heep, i^fc, leaping on a cow or ox, 
 laying the fore parts of his body thereon, that (o 
 touching the earth only with his hinder feet, he may 
 leave a very fmall or no fcent at all behind for the 
 hounds to difcern. 
 
 A chief huntfman to Lewis XII. of France, affirms 
 that on a time, they having a hart m chace, on a 
 fudden the hounds were at a fault, fo as the game 
 was out of fight, and not a dog would once ftir his 
 foot, at which the hunters were all amazed j at hi}, 
 by cafting their eyes about, they difcoyered the fraud 
 of the crafty beaft. 
 
 There was a great white thorn, which grew in a 
 fhadowy place, as high as a moderate tree, which 
 v/as_encompafIed about with other fmall fhrubs ; 
 into this the Z'd'r/ having leaped, flood there a-loft, 
 the boughs fpreading from one to another, andther^ 
 remained till he was thruft through by the huntfman, 
 rather than he would yield himfelf up a prey to the 
 hounds his mortal enemies. 
 
 But their ufual manner is, v/hen they fee them- 
 felves hard befet, and every way intercepted, to make 
 force at their enemies with their horns, who firfl 
 comes upon him, unbfs they be prevented by fpear 
 or fv/ord. 
 
 When the beaft is flain, the huntfman with his 
 horn v/indeth the fall of the beali, and then the whole 
 company comes up, blowing their horns in trium-^h 
 
 for 
 
[ l82 ] 
 
 forfirchaconquefl; amongwhom, thefkilfulleftopeiis^ 
 the beail, rewards the hounds with what properly be- 
 iongs to them, for their future encouiagement : for 
 which purpofethe huntimen dip bread in the fkin and 
 blood of the bead, to give to the hounds. 
 
 Of the rut of Harts> 
 
 Their rutting time is about the middle or5^/>f^z«3/'r,. 
 and continues tv/o months : the older they are the 
 hotter, and the better they pleafc ih^hinck^ and there- 
 fore they go to rut before the young ones ; and being 
 very fiery, they will not fuffer any of them to come 
 near the hinds^ till they have fatisfied their venerccd 
 appetite. 
 
 But for all this, the you^ng ones are even with the 
 old ; for when they perceive that the old are grov/n 
 weak by excefs of rutting, the young will frequently 
 attack them, and make them quit ihe place, that they 
 may be maders of the fport. 
 
 They may be eafily killed in rutting-time, for/ 
 they follow the fcent of the himls with fo much^ 
 eagernefsy laying their nofes to the ground,, that they 
 mind th'at only and nothing eife. 
 
 It is dangerous for any man to come near them; at 
 that time, for th«n they will maHe at any living 
 creature o'i a different kind. 
 
 In fome places their luf^ arifes in O^ioher^ and alfo 
 in May ; and then, whereas at other times the males 
 live apart from the females, they go about like luf- 
 civious lovers, feeking the company of the females. 
 
 The males, in their raging lufV, make a peculiar 
 jtoiie. 
 
 One male will cover many females^ continuing in 
 this appetite for one or two months. 
 ', The females feem chafte, and unwilling to admit 
 of copulation, by realbn of the rigour of the geniia/ o( 
 the male > and therefore they fink^down on their buf- 
 
 tocks.^ 
 
r »83 ] 
 
 tocks when they begin to feel bis femen^ as it has 
 been obferved in tame harU ; and if they can, the fe- 
 males run away, the males ftriving to hold them back. 
 with their fore feet. 
 
 It cannot be well faid that they are covered ftand- 
 ing, lying, or going, but rather running; for fo are 
 they filled with greateit fe verity. 
 
 When one month or fix weeks, is over of their 
 rutting, they grow much tamer ; and laying aiide all. 
 ftercenefs, they return to their folicary place, digging 
 .every one by himfelf a feveral hole or ditch, in which- 
 they lie to afTuage 'the ftrong favour of their lufl y 
 for they Itink like goats, and their face begins to look 
 blacker than at other times: and in thofe places they 
 live till fome fhowers of rain fall; after which they 
 return to the pafture again, living in flocks as they 
 did before. ' 
 
 The females having been thus filled, never affa- 
 ciate again with the male till {he is delivered of her 
 burthen^ which is in about eight months, and pro- 
 duces generally but one at a time,, very feldom two; 
 which fhe lodges cunningly in fome covert. If fhe 
 perceive, them llubborn. and wild, fhe v/ill beat them. 
 with her feet till they lie clofe and quiet. 
 , She oftentimes leadeih fonh her young, teaching 
 It to run, and leap over bufhes, f^ones, and fmafl 
 flirubs, and fo continueth all the fiimmer long, v/hile 
 their own llrength is the mofl confiderable. 
 
 It is very pleafant to obferve them when they go 
 out to rut, and make their vault i for when they fmell 
 th^ bind, they raife thc-ir nofe up into the air; and 
 if it be a great hart^ he will turn, his head and look 
 about to fee whether there be none near him to inter- 
 rupt and fpoil his fport* 
 
 Upon this, the young fly away for fear ; but if 
 there be any of equal bignefs, they then ftrive which 
 (hall vault firft> and iii the opofing each oihep, they 
 
 fcrape 
 
[ i8+ 1 
 
 fcrape the ground with their feet, fhdckirig and hut- 
 ting each other fo furioafly, that they may hear the 
 noile they make with their horns, a good half mile, 
 fo long till one of them is conqueror. 
 
 The >^/W beholding this encounter, tiever ftirs 
 from her flation, expc<5ting, as it were, the vaulting 
 of him who fhall get the mafiery, who having got it, 
 bellows and then inftantly covers her. 
 
 Of the coats and colours <?/Harts, . 
 
 The coats of harts are of three difiiierent forts, 
 ^rolun, red^ and fallow \ and of each of thefe coats 
 there proceeds two forts of harts, the one great and 
 the other fmall. 
 
 Oi brown harts ^ th^re are feme great, long and 
 hairy, bearing a high head, of a red colour and well 
 beamed, who will ftand before the hounds very long, 
 being longer of breatn, and fwifter of foot than 
 thofe of a fhorter ftature. 
 
 There are another fort of brown hart, which are 
 little, ihort and v/eil fet, bearing commonly a black 
 inan€, and are fetter and better venifon than the 
 former, by reafoon of their better feeding in young 
 coppices j : -ii^ \. ■■''• ' ' / *• . 
 
 They are very crafty, fe^ecially when -in gfe^fe, 
 and will be hardly found, becaufe they know they 
 are then moft enquired after ; befides they are fenfi- 
 ble they cannot ftand long before the hounds. 
 
 If they be old and feed on good ground, then are 
 their heads black, fair, and well branched, and com- 
 monly palmed at the top. 
 
 The fallow harts bear their heads high and of a 
 whitifh colour, their beams fmall, their antlers long 
 flender, and ill grown; having neither heart, courage^ 
 nor force. 
 
 But thofe that are 2ive of 2L]ivc\y red fallow^ having 
 a black or brown liii dowa the ndge^ of the back^ 
 
 are 
 
C 185 ] 
 
 arc ftrong, bearing fair and high heads, well furnifhed 
 and beamed. 
 
 Of the head, and branches of Harts. 
 
 As there are feveral forts of harts^ (o alfo have they 
 different heads, according to their age, country, relt 
 and feeding. 
 
 Here you muft take notice, that they bear not 
 their firft head (which we call broches, and in the 
 fallow deer/)r/Vij) until they enter the fecond year 
 of their age. 
 
 In the third year they bear four, fix, or eight fmall 
 branches : at the fourth, they bear eight or ten : at 
 the fifth, ten or twelve : at fix, fourteen or fixteen : 
 and the feventh year, they bear their heads beamed, 
 branched and fummec],with asmuch as ever they will 
 bear, and do never multiply but in greatnefs only. 
 
 The time of Hart 5 mewing or csifling their heads , 
 
 An old hart cafteth his head fooner than the young, 
 and the time is about the months of February and 
 March, 
 
 Here tiote, that if you geld a hart before he hath 
 a head, he will never bear any; and if you geld him 
 when he has a bead, he will never after mew and 
 caft it: and fo if he be gelded when he hath a vel- 
 vet head, it will ever be fo, without frayng or bur- 
 nifhing 
 
 As foon as they have caft their heads, they infiantly 
 withdraw into the thickets, hiding themfelves in fuch 
 convenient places where they can have good water 
 and rtrong feeding, near fome ground where wheat 
 and peafe are fown : but young harts do never betake 
 themfelves to the thickets till they have born their 
 third head, which is the fourth year. 
 
 After they have mewedy they will begin to buttton 
 in March and jlfril', and as the fun grows flrone, 
 
 and 
 
and the feafon of the year pufs forward the crops of 
 iher earth, (o will their heads increafe in all re- 
 fpedts ; fo that by the middle of June, their heads 
 will be fummed as much as they will bear all the 
 year. 
 
 Ti/e name} and diverfity of He ads ^ accordhg to the terms 
 ujed by Hunters, 
 
 The part which bears the antkrs^ royals, and tops, 
 is called the beam, and the little ftreaks there are 
 called gutters. 
 
 That which is about the cruft of the beam is tern:ied 
 pearls, and that which is about the bur itfelf, formed 
 like Iittle/)^<7r/i, is called, pear/s bigger than the reft. 
 
 The bur is next the head, and that which is about 
 the bur is called />^^rA; the firft is called anthr, the 
 iQCord fur -antler : all the reft which growaftetwards, 
 until you come to the crown, palm, or croche, are 
 called royals, Sind fur-royals , the little buds or broches 
 about the top^ are called croches. 
 
 Their heads alfo go by feveral names ; thefirjl 
 head is called a crowned top, becaufe the croches are 
 ranged in form of a crown. 
 
 The fecond is called a pnhned top, becaufe the 
 croches are formed like a man's hand. 
 
 Tki'-dly, all heads which bear not above three or 
 four, the croches being placed aloft, all of one 
 height, in form of a clufter of huts, are to be called 
 heads of fo many croches. 
 
 Fourthly, all heads which bear two in top, or 
 having their croches doubling, are to be QzM&di forked 
 heads. 
 
 Fifthly, all heads which have double burs, or the 
 antlers, royals and croches, turned downwards, con- 
 trary to other heads, are called heads* 
 
 HavQ 
 
[ ?87] 
 
 Hciv to know an old Hart by the fid ^ entries^ alatureu 
 foil, fewmetSy gate and wa!ks, fraying- flocks ^ htad 
 and branches. 
 
 Fir/ly by the fioi. You muft take good notice of 
 the treading of the bart*s foot ; if you find ihe tread- 
 ing of iw^, the one long and the other round, yet 
 both of one bignefs, yet the long /lot will indicate 
 the hart to be mucR larger than the round. 
 
 And befides, the old hart's hind foot doth never 
 over- reach the fore foot ; that of the young onestfo. 
 
 But above al), take this obfervation : When you 
 have found thzfiot of a hart in the wood, take no- 
 tice what manner of footing it is, v/hether worn or 
 fharpi and accordingly obferve the country, arfd 
 judge by that whether either may be occafioned 
 thereby. 
 
 For harts bred in mountains and ftony countries, 
 have the toes and fides of their feet worn, by means 
 of their continual climbing and refting themfelves 
 thereon, and not on the heel; whereas in other 
 ' places they ftay themfelves more on the heel than 
 ••■tbeSj" • foi- in foft or fandy ground they flip upon the 
 • hfeelj by reafon o( their weight; and thus by fre- 
 quent (laying themfelves thereon, it makes the hed 
 glow broader and bigger. 
 
 And thus may the age of a hart be known by his 
 fijt or treading. 
 
 The next thing to be confidered is the fewmeis; 
 and this is to be judged in Jpri I znd May, If the 
 feivmeti or fewmifhing be large and thick, they inti- 
 mate that the hart is old. 
 
 In the months of June and July^ they make their 
 
 fewmets in large crofeys, very foft ; and from that 
 
 time to the end of Jugujl^ they make them large, 
 
 long, knotty and anointed, and gilded, letting them 
 
 fall but few and fcattered, 
 
 la 
 
[ j88 ] 
 
 In September 2lX\A Oilober, there is no longer paffijig 
 a judgment by them, by reafon of the rut. 
 
 Thirdly, in order to know th^e height and thklcnefs 
 of a hart, obferve his entries and galitfi^s ihtb ' the 
 thickets, and what boughs be has. ay€r-(kidd€n, and 
 mark from thence the height of his belly i froi9-|flie 
 
 .ground. 
 
 By the height of the entries, a judgment is made^f 
 the age of a hart\ for a young deer is fuch as ufually 
 creep, but the old ones are ftiff and ftately. ' 
 
 His largenefs may be known by the height of his 
 creeping as he pafTes to his harbour, the young deer 
 creeping low, which the old will nctftoop to. 
 
 Fourthly^ take notice of h\s gaiiy, by which you 
 may know whether the hart be great and lon^g, and 
 whether he will (land long before the hounds or not j 
 for all harts which have a long ftep will ftand up a 
 long while, being fwift, light and well breathed; but 
 if he leaves a great flot, which is a fign of an old 
 ^^tr, he will not ftand long when he is chafed. .- 
 
 Lajily-^idkt notice of h!s/rfi_>'iK^-^(?/?;wher€, ob- 
 ferve, that by howmuchthei^^/^/ i« the ojde/^thc 
 fooner he goes to fray, and the^l^rg^r is thg^jree.lje 
 chufes to fray againft, an4 one fo ftrong that he lean- 
 not bend with his head. 
 
 All flags as they are furnifhed, beat their heads 6iy 
 againft fome tree or other, which^s called their/r^>- 
 tng-po/ii the younger deer do it againft weaker, lefter 
 and lower trees ; fo that accord i^n^ly hui^ters jodge 
 confidently of their age, and of the nearn^fs o( their 
 harbour, for that is the lafi adion or cerefn&ny they 
 ufe before they enter it. 
 
 As to the head and branches^ a hart Is old ; Firjiy 
 when the compafs of the bur is large, great and well 
 pearled* 
 
 Secondly^ 
 
r «89 ]' 
 
 Seccfully^ when the beam is large burthened and. 
 -well pearled, beifig ftrait, and not rendered crooked 
 by antlers. 
 
 Thirdly, wbe-n the gutters in it are large and deep. 
 
 Fourthly^ when the firft antler, called anteiller^ 
 is large, long, and near to the bur, the fur-antler 
 neat- to the antler j and they ought to be both well 
 pearled. * 
 
 . Fifthly^ the reft'of the branches which are higher,, 
 being well ordered and ki^ and well grown, accord- 
 ing to the largenefs and proportion ot the head ; and 
 the crochss, palm, or crov/n, beinggreat and large 
 too, according to the largenefs of the beam, are 
 figns of an ol^h^'t. 
 
 Haw ijfiika HyAKT in bis haunts and feeding^places, 
 according to the [euj'om (tf the year. 
 All ife^r/j change their manner of feeding every 
 month ; ^nd forafmuch as IS member is the conclu-' 
 fion of their rutting-iime, I (hall begin with that : 
 in this they feed in heaths and broomy places. 
 
 In December they herd together, and withdraw 
 themfelves into,the ftrength&of the forefts, tofhelier 
 themfelves from the cald winds, fnows and frofts', 
 feed on the holm trees, elder trees, brambles and 
 whatfoev.cr green thing they can find ; and if it fnow, 
 they will ikin or peel the trees like a goat. 
 
 In'January^ February and March, they leave herd- 
 ing, but will keep four or five in company, and in' 
 the corners of the foreft will feed on the winter paf-' 
 ture, fometimes making their incurfions into the 
 neighbouring corn-fields, if they can perceive the 
 bilades of whear, rye, or the like appear above ground. 
 In ^/>rf7 and -M^, they reft in their thickets and' 
 other bufhy and Ihady places, during that feafon, 
 and ftir very little till rutting time, unlefs they are 
 difturbed, 
 
 Ther^ 
 
[ I90 ] 
 
 There are fome harts fo cunning, that they will 
 have feveral layers to harbour in, a good diftance 
 one from the other, and will frequently change (for 
 their greater fecurity) from the one to the other ; 
 taking ftiij the benefit of the wind. 
 
 In thefe months they go not to the foil, by reafoni 
 of the moifture of the fpnng, -^nd the dew that con-- 
 tinnally overfpreads the grais. . ; j 
 
 In Juney July and Juguji, they are in the pride of 
 their greafe, and do refort to fpring coppices and coi"n ' 
 field?, only they feldom go where rye or barley grows. 
 
 In September and O^iober they leave their thickets 
 and go to the rut, during which feafon they have no 
 ceritain place either for food or harbour. 
 
 After xvhpit manner a Hunt [man jfhould go 'drawing in 
 the Jpringi 
 vHe ought not to come too early in the fprt-ngS or 
 hewts where he thinks the hart feedeth, and is at re- ' 
 lief, for they ufually go to their layers in thefprings, 
 and if they be old, crafty deer, they will return to 
 the border, of the, coppice, and there liften whether 
 ihey can hear any approacuhing danger, and if they* 
 once chance to vent the Huntfman or the hound, 
 they wi!l inilantly diflodge. 
 
 Now is the Huntfman's proper time 5 let him beat 
 the outfides of the fprings or thickets, if he find the 
 track of a hart or deer,, he ought to obferve whether 
 itbefiefh, v/hich may be known by the following 
 tokens, the dew will be beaten ofF, the foil frefh, 
 or the ground broken, or printed with other tokens ; 
 fo he may judge his game lately went that way. 
 
 Having round his flot or treading, and the hound 
 flicking well upon it, let him hold him ihort; for he 
 fhali draw better, being fo held, than if he were let 
 at length of the learn ; and thus let him draw till he 
 is come to the covert, if pollible, taking notice, by 
 
 the 
 
[ 19' 3 
 
 the way, of the flot, falls, entries, and the like, 
 till he hath harboured him. 
 
 Having done this, let him plafh dov/n fmall twigs, 
 fome above and fome below, as he fhali think lit, 
 and the while the hound is hot, let him beat the out- 
 fides and make ring-walks twice or thrice about the 
 v/ood, one while by the great and open ways, that 
 he may help himfelF by the eyej another while thr(/ 
 the thickets and coverts, for fear left his hounds 
 (hould overftioot it, having ftill better fcent in the 
 coverts than highways. 
 
 If he is in doubt whether the h'lrt is gone out of 
 the ring-walks, or fear he has drawn amifs, then let; 
 him go to the marks that he plaHied, and draw coun- 
 ter, till he may take up the fev/mec. •■ 
 
 Dtre£fiom for harbouring ^7 S T a G . 
 
 The harbourer having taught his hound to draw 
 mute always round the outfide of the covert, as foon 
 as his hound challenges, which jie knows by his 
 eager flouriftiing and (training his leam, he th^n - is 
 to feek for his flot ; if he finds his heel thick, and 
 the toe fpreading broad, thefe are figns.that it is an 
 old deer, efpeciallyiif it be fringed, that is broken on 
 both the iides,* ' 
 
 And if the ground be too hard.to make any judg- 
 ment from the flot, he muft draw into the covert as 
 he paiTes, obferving the fize of the entries ; the 
 larger and higher, the older the deer : as alfo his 
 croppings of the tenders as he pafles, the younger 
 the deer the lower, the older the deer the higher are 
 the branches. 
 
 He ought alfo to obferve the fewmifhings as he paf- 
 fes, the largenefs of v/hich befpeaks theJargenels cf. 
 the deer : He muft alfo be curious in obferving the . 
 fraying po ft, which is ufually the laft opportunity 
 he has to judge by 5 the cldefl deer fraying higheft, 
 
 againft 
 
r w^ 1 
 
 againft the largeft trees, and that being- found, it 
 mav he conchided his harbour is not far off. 
 
 Therefore he ought to draw with more circum» 
 fpection, checking the drawing-hound to fecure him 
 from fpending when he comes (o near as to have the 
 deer in the wind, which when you have difcovcicd 
 by his eagernefs that draws him, let him retire fome 
 diftance back, and round the place with the hound, 
 fafl: at a confiderable diftance, and then if he finds 
 him not difturbed, let him make a fecond round 
 wiihin that ; and this will not only fecure you that 
 he is in the harbour, but will alfo fecure. his conti- 
 nuance there ; for he will not (except he be forced) 
 pafs that taint your hound left in the rounding of 
 him. 
 
 So that having broke a bough for his direcSlion, he 
 may at any time unharbour ihat hart. 
 
 How to find a^AKT loji the night before, 
 
 A Huntfman may fail of killing a hart divers ways ; 
 fometimes by reafon of great heat, or by being over- 
 taken with the night, or the like. 
 
 If it fhould happen fo, do as fdllows. 
 
 Fir/^, they who follow the hounds, muft mark the 
 place where they left thechace, and at break of day 
 bring the blood hound to it, with the kennel after 
 him. 
 
 If any hound vents, whom he knows to be no liar 
 ror babbler, he fhaii put his hound to it, whooping 
 twice, or blowing two notes with his horn, to call 
 all his fellows about him ; and if he find where the 
 hart is gone into fome likely covert or grove, then 
 muft he draw his hounds about it, and if he there 
 renews the flot or view, let him firft conlider whether 
 it be right ornot, if it be right let him blow his horn. 
 
 And 
 
[ ^93 3 
 
 And if he happens to find five or fix layers, let It 
 not feem ftrange, for harts hunted and fpent do fre- 
 quently make many layers together, becaufe they 
 cannot ftand, but lie and feed. 
 
 Harts which are hunted, moft commonly run up 
 the wind, and ftrait forwards as far as they are able, 
 and finding any water or foil, do flay a long time 
 therein, by which means their joints are fo benumb- 
 ed and ftifFened, that coming out, they cannot go 
 far, nor fiand up long, and therefore are forced to 
 take up with any harbour they can find which may 
 be a prefent covert to them. 
 
 H-ow to find a Hart hi high woods. 
 
 In the feeking of a hart in high woods, you muil 
 have regard to two things ; that is, the thickets of 
 the foreft and the feafon, 
 
 li it be in very hot weather, gnats, horfe-flie?, 
 and the like, drive the deer cut of the high woods, 
 and they difperfe themfelves into fmall groves and 
 thickets, near places of good feeding. 
 
 According to the coverts v/hich are in the forefi- 
 fo mtift the Huntfman make his enquiry 5 for fomc- 
 times the hart lies in the tufts of white-horn, fome- 
 times under little trees, other whiles under o-reat 
 trees in the high woods, and fometimes in the ikirts 
 of the forell-, under the fhelter of little groves and 
 coppices. 
 
 And therefore the Kjntrman mufl: make his rincr. 
 walk large or fmall, according to the laraenefs \i 
 thofe harbours or coverts. 
 
 How to unharbour ^ Hart and caft off the hounds. 
 
 When the relays are well fet and placed, let the 
 
 Huntfman with his pole v/alk before the kennel of 
 
 hounds ; and being come to the blemifhes, let him 
 
 take notice of the flot, and fuch other marks as may 
 
 i be 
 
I ^94: ] 
 
 be obferved from the view of the deer, in order tha* 
 he may know whether the hounds run riot or not. 
 
 Then the huntfman muft caft abroad about the 
 covert, to difcover the/7^r^ whenhe is unharboured, 
 the better to diftinguiih him by his head or other ' 
 wife. 
 
 If the blood-hound, in drawing, chance to over- 
 ihoot, and draw wrong or counter, then the huntf- 
 man muft draw him back, faying. Back, back, foft, 
 Jofty until he hath fet him right again ; and if he per- 
 ceive that the hound hath mended his fault, by his 
 kneeling dov/n and obierving the Hot or ports, he 
 muft then cherifh him, by clapping him on the back, 
 and giving him encouraging words ; thus muft he 
 <iraw on with his hounds till he defcries the deer. 
 
 Some deers are fo cunning and crafty, that when 
 they are unharboured from their layer, they will coaft 
 round about to find fome other deer, v/hereby the 
 hounds may be confounded in the change of huts. 
 
 If the huntfman hath the hart in viev/, he ought 
 fiill to draw upon the fiat, blowing and hallooing 
 till the hounds are come in. VVhen he finds they are 
 in full cry, and take.it right, he then may mount, 
 keeping under the v/ind and coaft, to crofs the 
 hounds that are in chafe to help^them at default, if 
 need require. 
 
 The Jubtilties which are ufed in hunting a Hart at 
 foi cs* 
 
 A huntfman ought never to come nearer to the 
 hounds in cry, than fifty or fixty paces, cfpecially at 
 the firft uncoupling, or at cafting off the relays ; 
 for if a hart make doublings, or wheel about ot 
 acrofs before the hounds, (as he feldom does) if then 
 you come in too haftily, you will fpoil the flot or 
 view, and fo the hounds, for want of fcent, will be 
 apt to overflioot the chacc. 
 
 But 
 
But if after you have hunted an hour, the huntf- 
 man perceives that the W^ makes out end^ways be- 
 fore the hounds, and that they follow in full cry, 
 taking it right, then he may come in nearer, and 
 blow a recheatto the hounds, to encourage them. 
 
 Hereupon the hari will frequently feek other deer 
 at layer, and roufe them, on purpofe to make the 
 hounds hunt chace, and will lie down in fome of 
 their layers flat upon his belly, and fo fufFer the 
 hounds to over-flioot him ; and that they may not 
 either fcent or vent him, he will gather up all his 
 four feet under his belly, and will blow or breathe 
 on fome moift place of the ground, fo that the 
 hounds may pafs by him, poffibly, though within a 
 yard, and never vent him. 
 
 For v/hich caufe huntfmen fiiould blemifh at thofe 
 places, where they fee the hafi enter into a thicket, to 
 the end, that if the hounds (hould fall to cliange, 
 they may return to thofe blemifhes, and put the 
 hounds to the right flot and view, until they have 
 rouzed and found him again. 
 
 A hart has another way to bring the hounds to 
 change, and that is, when he fees himfelf clofely 
 purfued^ and that he cannot fhun them, he will 
 break into one thicket after another to find deer, 
 rouzing and herding with them, continuing foto do 
 fametimes above an hour, before he v/ill part from 
 them, or break herd . 
 
 Finding himfelf fpent, he will break herd, and fall 
 a doubling and crofTmg in fome hard highway that is 
 much beaten, orelfe in fome river or brook, in which 
 he will keep as long as his breath will permit him ; 
 and if he be far before the hounds, it may be then 
 he will ufe the former device, in gathering his legs 
 under his belly, as he lies flat along upon^ome hard 
 dry place, 
 
 I 2 Some 
 
Iii96 J 
 
 Sometimes he will take foil and To cover himre'f 
 under the water, that you /hall p?rceive nothing but 
 his nofe. 
 
 In this cafe the Huntfman mufl have a fpccfal re- 
 gard to his old hounds, who will hunt leifurely and 
 fearful])', whereas the young hounds will oyer-fhoot 
 their game. 
 
 If the hounds happen to be at a default, and hunt 
 in feverai companies, then it may be gueffed that the 
 hart has broken herd from the freih deer, and that 
 the frefii deer have feparated themfelves alfo: then 
 notice is to be taken how the o\diJianch bounds make 
 it, and to obft;rve the flot i and where you fee any 
 of the old hounds challenge, cherifh and encourage 
 that hound or hound?, haftening the reft in to birr, 
 crying hark to fuch a hound, calling him by his 
 name. 
 
 Here it is to be noted, that they cannot make it fo 
 well in the hard highv/a3':s as in other places, becaufe 
 they cannot have there fo perfed a fcent, either by 
 reafon of the tracks or footing of divers forts of 
 beafts, or by reafon of the fun drying up ih§ moifture 
 fo that the duft covereth the fljt. Now in fuch pla- 
 ces (fuch is thejiatural fubtilty of the beaft for ie\f- 
 prefervation) the hart will make m.any croffings and 
 doublings, holding them Jong together to make the 
 hounds give over the chafe. 
 
 In ttiis cafe, the firft care of the Hurjtfman is to 
 make good the head, and then draw round apace ; 
 firft down the v/ind, though deer ufually go up the 
 wind ; and if the way is too hard to Hot, then be 
 fare, to try far enough back. Expert hounds will 
 often do this of themfelves. 
 
 But if a hart break out into a champaign country, 
 and in the heat of the day too, i. e. between noon and 
 three of the clock, then if the Huntfman perceive 
 his hounds out of breath, he Qught not to force them 
 
 but 
 
I ^97 1 _ 
 
 bat comfort them ; and though they do nqt call upon 
 the flot or viev/, yet it is fufficient if they do but 
 wag their tails, for being ahnoft fpent it is painful 
 for them to call. 
 
 The laft refuge of a hart that has been forely 
 hunted, is the water, which in terms of art is called 
 thajoil', fwimming oftenefb down the ftream, keep- 
 ing the middle, fearing leaft by touching any bough 
 by the water fide, he may give fcent unto ths 
 hounds. 
 
 Whenever you come to a foil, (according to the olcf 
 rule, He who will his chafe find ^ let him firjl Iry up river 
 and down thewind) be fure, if your hounds challenge 
 but a yard above his going in, that he has gone up the 
 river ; fortho, he fliould keep the very middle of the 
 ftream, yet will that, with the help of the wind, 
 lodge part of the ftream and imbofh that comes from 
 him on the bank, it may be a quarter of a mile lower, 
 which hatil deceived. 
 
 • Therefore firfl try up the ftream, and where a 
 'deer firft breaks foil, both man and hound will beft 
 perceive it. 
 
 Now the ways to know when a hart is fpent, are 
 thefe : 
 
 i^f'r/?, He will run flifF, high and lompering. 
 - Secondly^ If his mouth be black and dry, without 
 «ny foam upon it, and'his tongue hanging out j but 
 they will ofteri clofe their mouths to deceive fpedla- 
 tors, . • ■ ' 
 
 Thirdly^ By his flot; for oftentimes he will clofe 
 his claws together as if he went as leifure and pre- 
 fently again open them wide, making great glidings, 
 and hiitmghis dew-glaws upon the ground, follow- 
 ing the beaten paths without doublings, and fome- 
 times going all along by a ditch fide, feeking fome 
 gap, not having ftrength to leap it: yet it has been 
 I 3 often 
 
[ igS ] 
 
 often feen, the dead-run deer have taken Tcry^ gre** 
 leaps. 
 
 A Huntfrnan muft therefore govern himfelf ac- 
 cording to the fubtilty and craft of the deer, ob- 
 icrving the doublings and crollings, and the places 
 where they are made; making his rings little or 
 great, according to the nature of the place, time, 
 and feafon ; for hounds are apt to fhoot where herbs 
 and flowers have their moft lively fecnt and odori- 
 ferous fmell. 
 
 Neither is the perfe61:ion or imperfection of the 
 hounds to be difregarded. And if thefe things be 
 done, it will be much if you lofe a hart by default. 
 
 To kill a Hart at bay. 
 
 It is very dangerous to go in to a hart at bay, and 
 efpecially at rutting time, for at that time they are 
 moft fierce. 
 
 There are two forts of bays ; one on t!.e land, and 
 the other in the v/ater. Now if the hart be in a 
 deep v/ater, where you cannot well come at him, then 
 couple up your dogs ; for ihould they continue long 
 in the water, it would endanger their furbating or 
 foundering. 
 
 In this cafe, get a boat and fwim to him, with a 
 dagger drawn, or elfe with a rope that has a noofe, 
 and throw it over his horns ; for if the water be fo 
 deep that the hart fwims, there is no danger in ap- 
 proaching him 3 otherwife you muft be very cau» 
 tious. 
 
 As to a land'hayy if a^^rrbe hurniftied, then you 
 muft confider the place ; for if it be in a plain and 
 open place, where there is no wood nor covert, it is 
 dangerous and difficult to come in to jiim ; but if he 
 be on a hedge fide, or in a thicket, then, while the 
 hart is ftarting on the hourds, you may coine foftly 
 and covertly behind liim and cut his throat. 
 
[•Ml 
 
 If you mifs your aim, and the hart turn head upon 
 you, then take refuge at fome tree ; and when the 
 hart is at bay, couple up your hounds; and when 
 you fee the hart turn head to fiy, gallop in roundly 
 to him, and kill him with your fword. 
 
 Dire^lor.s- at the death of a Hart or BucK,- 
 
 The fi ft ceremony, v/hen the hiintfrnan comes \x\ 
 to the death of a deer is, to cry, vjare haunchy that 
 the hounds may not break in to the deer; which be- 
 ing done, the next is the cutting his throat, and there 
 blooding the youngeft hounds, that they may the bet- 
 ter love a deer, and learn to leap at his throat : then 
 the mort having been blown, and all the company 
 come in, the beft perfon, who hath not taken fay be- 
 fore, is to lake up the knife that the keeper or huntf- 
 man is to lay acrofs the belly of the deer, fome hold- 
 ing by the fore-legs, and the keeper or huDtfman- ^ 
 drawing down the pizzle, the perfon who takes fay, 
 is to drav/ the edge of the knife leifurely along the 
 middle of the belly, beginning near the brifket, and- 
 drawing a little upon it, enough in the length and 
 depth CO difcover how fat the deer is ; then he that is 
 to break up the deer, firft flits the (kin from the cut- 
 ting of the throat downwards, making the arher^ 
 fo that the ordure may not break forth, and then he 
 paunches him, rewarding the hounds with it. 
 
 In the next place, he is to prefent the fame perfon 
 who took fay, with a drawn hanger, to cut ofF the 
 head of the deer. Which being done, and the hounds 
 rewarded, the concluding ceremony is, if it be a 
 Hag, then one blows a triple mort; and if a buck, a 
 double one ; and then all who have horns, blow a 
 recheat in cunfort, and immediately a general whoop^. 
 whoop. 
 
 It was formerly termed a wind or winding-horn 5 
 
 the horns, probably, were winding, or compalTed, 
 
 I 4 buc 
 
[ 200 ]. 
 but afterwards flrait horns grew into ufe, and then 
 they u fed to fay, blcvj a horn and found a horn\ and 
 DOW the Fre-fich or Gt'nnan horns are in repute. 
 
 In many cafes, formerly, leafing was obferved ; 
 that is, one was held either crofs a faddle or on a 
 man's back, and, v/ith a pair of dog-couples, re» 
 ceive ten pounds and a purfe, that is, ten flripes (ac- 
 cording to the nature of the crime, more or lefs fe- 
 vere) and an eleventh that ufed to be as bad as the 
 other ten called a purfe. 
 
 There are many faults, as coming too late into the 
 field 5 miilaking any term o^" art : thefe are of the 
 jefler fort ; the greater a^e hallooing a wrong deer. 
 Of leaving the field before the death of the deer, ifrV. 
 
 0/RABBETS or CONIES. 
 
 THE rahhst h^^m^ to breed at a year old, bears 
 at lead feven times a year ; flie carries her young 
 in her belly thirty days, if (he litters in the month of 
 Marchy and as foon as (he has kennelled, goes to 
 buck again; neither can they fuckle their young till 
 they have been with buck. Tame rabbets^ above all 
 other beafts, delight in imprifonment and folitarinefsj 
 they are violently hot in the adl of generation, per- 
 forming it with fuch vigour and excefs, that they 
 fwoon, and lie in trances a good while after the 
 
 The males being given too much to cruelty, kill 
 all the young ones they can come at, therefore the 
 females, after they have kennelled, hide them, and 
 clofe up the holes in fuch manner, that the buck 
 may not find thsm: they increafe wonderfully, bring- 
 ing forth every month, therefore when kept tame in 
 hutSj they mail be watched, and as foon as they 
 
 have 
 
[ ^01 ] 
 
 have kennelled in uft be put to the back, for they 
 will ocberwife mourn and hardly bring up their 
 young. 
 
 The huts in which tame rabbets are to be kept^ 
 fhould be make of thin v/ainfcot boards, fome ab^ut 
 two foot fquare, and one foot high, which fquare 
 muft be divided into two rooms, one with open win- 
 dows of wire, through which the rabbet may feed ; 
 and alefs room withcit light, wheieinfhemay lodge 
 and kennel ; and a trough, wherein to put meat and 
 otherneceiTaries for her, bef :)re each of them> and 
 thus you may make box upon box in divers ftories, 
 keeping the bucks by themfelves as alfo the does,, 
 unlefs it be fuch as have not bred, with w=htch you 
 may let the buck lodge. Further, when a doe has 
 kennelled one neil, and then kennelled another, the 
 firft muft be taken from her, and be put together in- 
 to feveral boxes, amongft rabbets of their own af^r, 
 provided the boxes be not peflercd, biit that they 
 have eafe and liberty. 
 
 For the choice of tame rich conies, it needs not to 
 look to their fhape, but to their richnefs ; only that 
 the bucks muft be the largeft and richeft you can get ; 
 and thatfkin is efteemed the beft, thAt has th- equal- 
 left mixture of black and white hair together^* yet 
 the black (hould rather fhadow the white : a black 
 ikin wich a few filver hairs, being much richer thaii 
 a white fkin VvHth a few black ones. 
 
 As to the prolit of tame rich comes, every one thit 
 is killed in feafon, that is, from Martinmds till after 
 Candlemas, h worth five others, as being much better 
 and larger; and when another fkin is Worth two- 
 pence or three-pence acthemoft, thefe-are worth a 
 fnilling or upwards. Again, the increafe is more ; 
 the tame ones, at one kindling, bringing forth more 
 thanthe wild do ; befides, they are always ready at 
 hand for the difn, winter and fummer; without che 
 ^ 5 charge 
 
lam O 
 
 charge of nMs, ferrets, &c. arid their fkins always 
 paying their keeper's ex pence, with interefl-. 
 
 The beft food for your tame comts, is the fweeteft, 
 fhorteft, and beft hay you .can get; on-eload will (etd 
 two hundred couple a year, and out of the ftock of 
 two hundred, may be fpent in the houfe as many as 
 are fold in the market, and yet a good ftock main- 
 tained to anfwer all cafualties. The hay muft be put 
 to them in little cloven fticks, that they may with 
 eafe reach and pull it out of the feme, but fo as not 
 to fcatter or wafte any ; and fweet oats, and water, 
 fhould be put for them in the troughs under the 
 boxes: and this foould be their ordinary andconftant 
 food, all other being to be ufed phyfically ; as that 
 you may, twice or three times in a fortnight, ro cool 
 their bodies, give them mallows, cIover-graTs, four 
 docks, blades of corn, cabbbage, or colewert leaves, 
 and the like, all which both cools and nourifhes ex- 
 ceedingly ; but Tweet grain ftiould be feldom ufed, 
 fince nothing rots them foner. Great care muft be 
 had, that when any grafs is cut for them where are 
 v/eeds, that there is no hemlock amongft it, for tho' 
 they will eat it greedily, yet it is prefent poilbn for 
 them, and fuddenly kills them. Their huts alfo murt 
 be kept fweet and clean every day, for their pifs and 
 ordure is of fo ftrong and violent a favour^ as will 
 annoy themfelves as well as thofe who look after 
 them. 
 
 The Infirmities to which tame conies are fulje£|-, 
 are two- fold. 
 
 r. The r^^ ; which comes by giving them green 
 meat or gathering greens for them, and giving them 
 to them with the dew on ; therefore let them have 
 it but feldom, and then the drynefs of the hay will 
 even dry up the moiilure, knit them, and keep them 
 found. 
 
 2. There is a certain rage of rnadnefs engendered 
 
 from 
 
[ 203 ] 
 from corrupt blood, fpringing from the ranknefs of 
 their keeping, and which is known by their wallow- 
 ing and tumbling with their heels upwards, and 
 leaping in their huts; to cure which, give them tare— 
 thiftletoeat. < . 
 
 Wild rabbets do a great deal of damage to vine- 
 yards, and all forts of corn, their teeth fparing no- 
 thing thar they come near ; and in fuch countries ast 
 abound with vineyards, they will eat the young 
 fhoots as foon as they begin to appear, and will do 
 them fo much damage, that it will endanger their, 
 ruin without fome proper remedy: to prevent which,, 
 take fome very fmall flicks of willow, well dried, 
 dip one end of them into fome melted brimllone, and^ 
 flick the other into the ground ; let them be about 
 a fathom diftant from each other, andfet fire to them^ 
 and this v/iJl prevent the rabbets (who hats the fmell) 
 from entering into any vineyard, on the fide of 
 which ihofe (ticks are fet : the fmell will lafl: four or 
 five days, at the expiration of v/hichyou mufl renew; 
 it, and fo a third time, infomuch, that in about fix- 
 teen days, the (hoot of the vine will be fo ftrong as. 
 not to be in danger of the infults of thofe animals. . 
 
 Thewaysof taking thefe creatures are various^, 
 particularly fuch as ftray from their burrows may be 
 taken with fmall greyhounds, or mungrels bred up 
 for that purpofe ; and their placee of hunting are 
 among bufhesj.hedges, corn -fields, and frelh paflures ; 
 and though you fhould mifs killing them,. yet they 
 are hereby drove back to their burrows, over whofe 
 holes you may lay purfe-nets, and then put in a. 
 ferret clofe muffled, whi^h will quickly make them 
 bolt out again to the net, and fo are caught. 
 
 The ferret fometimes finds a ra5^^/ afleep, which,, 
 ftie furprifes and kjlls, fucks her blood, lies upon 
 her, and fleeps there ; in v/hich rafeyou are obliged? 
 cither to kill her, or wait till fiie, awakes, which wilt 
 
 be- 
 
 y 
 
[ 204 ] 
 be.often five or fix hours ; and therefore you niuft 
 fire five or fix time into the hole to awake her, upon 
 which {he will come out ; but you muft always let 
 her fleep an hour before you fire, or elfe the noife will 
 fignify nothing. 
 
 When you take any of the does you muft turn 
 them loofe, that you may not depopulate your war- 
 rens, and flit their ears, that they may not be killed 
 by others, who fometimes lie in wait to {hoot them. 
 To force rrt'-^/'^/i out of their burrows without a 
 ferrety take fome powder of orpine and brimflone, 
 ^ _cld {hoes, parchment, or cloth, and burn them at the 
 /yiJiouth of the burrow, upon that fide which the wind 
 ^^blows, and fpread your purfe-net under the wind. 
 Some plit a crab or two into the holes, which will 
 force them out. 
 
 iVc'/ J /(? ?<^/f ^ R A B B E T S ^;?r/ H A R E 8 , 
 
 Thefe nets muft be made in the fame manner as 
 halliers, wherewith they take partridges. The me{h 
 fnould be an inch and a h;lf broad, made of, good 
 ftrong thread, and treble twifteJ ; but if you v/ould 
 make mcihes lozenge- wife, you muft al'ow four and 
 twenty, and three fathom in length, and let them 
 be v/ell verged with long twifted thread of a brown 
 colour. 
 
 But the net with fquare meihes will do better, in 
 which cafe they allow five feet in breadth or height, 
 and three or four faihon in length, according to the 
 place ; and in this no verging is required. 
 
 The £r{i: of thefe nets are to be placed in any path 
 ortradi, in any coppice or furrow; for rahhcis 2Si^ 
 hares always follow the moft eafy and beaten path : 
 
 You muft take notice how the wind fets that you 
 may fo fet the net, that the creature and wind may 
 -com.e together, if the wind he fide- ways, it may do 
 well enough, but never if the vfind blows over the 
 
 net 
 
[ 205 1 
 net Into the creature's face; for he will fcent both h 
 and you at a great diftance, efpecially a hare. 
 
 The way of taking wild Conies, 
 
 There are divers ways of doing this, either by 
 fmall curs or fpaniels bred up to the fport ; and the 
 places for hunting them who ftraggle from their bur- 
 rows, are among bufhes and hedges, corn-fields, or 
 frefh paftures ; or elfe by courfingthem with fmal} 
 greyhounds: and though you may mifs killing them, 
 yet thereby you drive them back to their burrows, 
 and preferve them from being a prey to others. 
 
 You may alfo drive them in'o their burrows, and 
 fpread purfc-nets upon the holes, fo that when they 
 come out, they will be entangled in them, and fo be 
 taken : Now to force them our, it will be proper to 
 have a ferret or two, whofe mouths muft be couped 
 and muffled up, and fo put into the holes, which will 
 caufe the conies to bolt out into your purfe-nets ; for 
 the conies will eafily fmell the ferrets, and at their 
 approach, (being of a timerous naturej dare not ftay 
 to fee thcm» 
 
 And for the more certain taking them,it would be 
 proper to have a hay net cr tv/o, which fhould be 
 pitched up at a fmall diftance, againft the burrov/s 
 you intend to hunt. 
 
 Qr FERRETS. 
 
 A FERRET is a little creature that is bred nri- 
 tura.My in Ef^glnndy but not in France^ Germar.y^ 
 Italy ^ and ^pam \ they are tamed for the ufe of thofe 
 who keep warrens and others. 
 
 The body of this animal is longer than is propor- 
 tionable ; their colour is variable, fometimes black 
 and white upon the belly; but moft commonly of 
 a yellowifli fandy colour, like wool died in urine. 
 
 The 
 
 / 
 
[ 206 ] 
 
 The head is fomething like that of a moufe, and 
 therefore into what hole foever fhe can put it, all the 
 body will eafily follow. 
 
 The eyes are fmall but fiery, like red hot iron, 
 and therefore fhe fees moft clearly in the dark. 
 
 Her voice is a whining cry without changing of 
 it : fhe hath only two teeth in her nether chap, 
 landing out and not joined and growing together. 
 
 The genital of the male is of a bony fubftance, 
 and therefore it always ftandeth flifF, and is not lefTer 
 at one time than another. 
 
 The pleafure of the fenfe of copulation, is not in 
 the genital part but in the mufcles, tunicles, and 
 nerves wherein the faid genital runs. 
 
 When they are in copulation, the female lieth 
 down or bendeth her knees, and continually crieth 
 like a cat, either becaufe the mail claweth her 
 with his nails, or by reafon of the roughnefs of his 
 genital. 
 
 The ferret ufually brings forth feven or eight at 
 a time, carrying them in her belly for forty days : 
 the young ones are blind for thirty days after they, 
 are lictered, and they may be ufed for procreation,, 
 as their dam is, within forty days after they can fee. 
 
 When they have been tamed, they are nouriihed 
 with milk, or barley bread, and they can faft a very 
 longtime. 
 
 When they go they contact their long back, and. 
 make it fl'and upright in the middle round like a 
 ' bov/1 : when they are touched they fmell like a martel^. 
 and they fleep very much. 
 
 li\\ii ferret is a bold audacious anirral, an enemy 
 to all others but his own kind ; drinking and fuck- 
 'ing in the blood of the beaft it biteth, but eateth not 
 the Eefh. 
 
 When the warrener has occalion to ufe \i\s ferrety. 
 lie firfl makes a noife in the warren to frighten the 
 
 coiiies 
 
I 207 1 
 
 confes who 'are abroad into their burrows, and then- 
 he pitcheth his nets ; after that he puts his ferret into 
 the earth, having muzzled her mouth, (o that flie 
 may not feize but only frighten the conies out of their 
 barrows, who are afterwards driven by dogs into the 
 nets or hays, planted for them, 
 
 0/ OTTERS. 
 
 SOME are of opinion that the ottsr is of the hea- 
 ver kind, being an amphibious creature, living 
 both in water and on the land; befides, the out- 
 ward form of the parts beareth a likenefs of the 
 beaver ; feme fay, were his tail ofF, he were ia» 
 parts like the beaver^ differing in nothing but habi- 
 tation, for the beaver frequents the fait water as- 
 well as the frelh, but the otter never goeth to the 
 fait. 
 
 Though the otter llveth in the water, yet he doth 
 not, like filhes, breathe through the benefit of the 
 water, he taketh breath like other four-footed hearts, 
 yet will remain a long time underneath the wacer 
 without refpiration. 
 
 If he wants prey in the waters, then he will quit 
 them for the land ; and if by painful hunting on. 
 fhore he cannot fill his belly, he will feed on herbs, 
 fftails, or frogs ; neither v/ill he take kfs pains in 
 the water to fatisfy his hunger, for he will fwim for 
 two miles together againft the ftream, that To when 
 he has filled his belly, the current may carry hinni, 
 down again to bis defigned lodging, which is always 
 near the water, very artificially built with boughs, 
 fprigs and fticks, couched together in excellent or* 
 der, wherein he fits to keep him from the wet. 
 
 In the hunting of fifh, he often puts his nofe above 
 water to take breath : he is a creature of wonderful 
 fwiftnefs and aStivity in taking his prey, and for 
 
 greedinefsj 
 
[ 20«^ 
 greedinefs, takes more than he knows what to' do 
 
 with. 
 
 He is a very fuBtil and crafty oeafl:, and endowed 
 with a wonderful fagacity and fenfe of fmelling, in- 
 fomuch that he can dire£tly wind the fiflies in the 
 water a mile or two diftance from him. -■ 
 
 The flefii of this beaft is both cold and filthy^.be- 
 ca'if^ it feedeth on ftinking fifh, and therefore not fit 
 to be eaten ; yet' ir is eaten in Germany, znd the Ca^^ 
 ^Z>«//^« Friars, who are forbidden the eating of ^Tl 
 manner of fleOi of other four- footed beafts, yet they 
 are not prohibited the eating of otters. There are 
 thofe in England^ who lately have highly valued an 
 etter pie, much good may do them with it. 
 
 0/ Otter-hunting. 
 
 This is performed by dogs, c?i\]ed otfer-hcunds, 
 and with a fort of inftruments, called oiter-fpearSy 
 with which when they find themfelves wounded, 
 they make to land and fight with the dogs, and that 
 furioufly, as if they were fenfible that the cold water 
 would annoy their green wounds. 
 
 There is indeed craft to be ufed in the hunting 
 them; but they may be catched in fnares under 
 water, and by river-lides ; but great care niuft be 
 taken, for they bite forely, and venomoudy, and if 
 they happen to remain long in the fnare, they , will 
 not fail to get themfelves free by their teeth. 
 
 In hunting them, one man muft be on one fide 
 of the river, and another on the other, both beat- 
 ino- the banks with dogs, and the beafV not being 
 able to endure the water long, you will foon difco- 
 ver if there be d^n otter or not in that quarter, for he 
 muft come out to make his fpraints, and in the night 
 fometimes to feed on grafs and herbs. 
 
 If 
 
[ 209 ] 
 
 Ifany of the hounds find out an otter^ then view 
 the foft grounds and moift places, to find out which 
 way he bent his head ; if you cannot difcover this 
 by the marks, you may partly perceive it by the 
 fprainis; and then follow the hounds, and lodge 
 him as a hart or deer. 
 
 But if you do nci find him quickly, you may ima- 
 gine he is gone to touch fomewhat farther off from 
 the river; forfometimes they will go to feed a con- 
 fiderable way from the place of thei*r reft, chuficg 
 rather to go up the river than down it. 
 
 The perfons that go a hunting otters^ muft carry 
 their fpears, to watch his vents, that being the chief 
 advantage ; and if they perceive him fwimming under 
 water, they muft endeavour to ftrike him with their 
 fpears, and if they mifs, muft purfue him with the 
 hounds; which, (if they be good, and perfedly en- 
 tered) will go chanting and trailing along by the 
 river fide, and will beat every root of a tree, and 
 ofier bed, and tuft of buU-rufhes ; nay, they will 
 fometimes take water, and bait the beaft, like a 
 fpaniel, by which means he will hardly efcape. 
 
 0/ BIRD-LIME. 
 
 Birdlime is ftufF prepared after different ways ; 
 the common method is to peel a good quantity 
 of holly bark about midfummer, fill i^ pan with it, 
 put fpring water to it ; boil it till the grey and white 
 bark arife from the green, which will require twelve 
 hours boiling; then take it off the fire, drain the 
 water well from it, feparate the barks, lay the green 
 bark on the ground in fomecool cellar, covered with 
 any green rank weeds, fuch as dog thijtlti^ hemhck^ 
 &c. to a good thicknefs ; let it lie To fourteen days, 
 by which time it will be a perfed mucilage; then 
 pound it well in a ftone mortar, till it becomes a 
 
 rough 
 
[ 210 ] 
 
 pa(lc,and that none of the bark be diTccrnable ; next 
 after wafh it well in fome running dream, as long as- 
 you perceive the leaft motes in it : then put it inta 
 an earthen pot to fermfnt, fcum it for four or five 
 days, as often as any thing rifes, and when no more 
 ccroes, change it into a frefh earthen veffei, and pre- 
 ferve it for ufe in this manner. Take what quantity 
 you think fit, put it in an earihen pipkin, add athird 
 part of capons or goofe-greafe to it, well clarified, or 
 oil of walnuts, which is better, incorporate them on 
 a gentle fire, and ftir it continually till it is cold, and 
 thus it is finifhed. 
 
 Xo prevent froft ; take a quantity of as much oil 
 o^ petroleum as you do goofe-greafe, and no cold will 
 congeal it : the Italians make theirs of the berries of 
 the miiJdo-ireeh&z.itd after the fame manner, and mix 
 it with nut-oil, an ounce to a pound of lime, and 
 taking it off from the fire, add half an ounce of tur- 
 pentine, which qualifies it alfo for the water. . 
 
 Great quantities of bird lime are brought from Da^ 
 mafcus^ fuppofed to be made of feheftens^ becaufe we 
 fometimes find the kernels, but it is fubje(Sl to froft, 
 impatient of wet, and will not laft above a year or 
 two good. There comes alfo of it mto England horn 
 Spmn^ which refifts water, but is of an ill fcent. 
 It is faid the bark of our lantona, or way- faring 
 (hrubs, will piake as good bird-lime as any. 
 
 How u uje Birdlime, 
 When your lime is cold, take your rods and warm 
 them a little over the fire > then take the lime, and 
 wind it about the top of your red, then draw your 
 rods afunder one from another, and clofe them again, 
 continually plying and working them together, till 
 by fmearing one upon another, yoa have equally 
 befiowed on each rod a fufficient proportion of 
 lime. 
 
 If 
 
[ 211 ] 
 
 If you lime any firing, do it when tde lime is very 
 hot and at the thinneft, befmearing the firings on all 
 fides, by folding them together, and unfolding thetn 
 again. 
 
 If you lime firaws, it muft be done likewife when 
 the lime is very hot, doing a great quantity together, 
 and working thtm before the fire till they are be- 
 fmeared, every fliaw having its due proportion of 
 'lime; having fo done, put them up in cafes of lea- 
 ther, till you have occafion to life them. 
 
 The hefi way sf making water Birdlime, 
 Buy what quantity you think fit of the (Irongeft 
 bird-lime you can procure, and wafh it in a clear 
 fpring water, till you find it very pliable, and the 
 hardnefs thereof removed \ then beat out the water 
 extraordinary well, till you cannot perceive a drop to 
 appear, then dry it well ; after this, put it into an 
 earthen pot, and mingle th«rewith capons greafe un- 
 falted, fomuch as will make it run, then add thereto 
 two fpoonfuls of ftrong vinegar, a fpoonful of thebeft 
 falad oil, and a fmall quantity of Venice turpentine j 
 this is the allowance of the^e ingredients, which muft 
 be added to every pound of ftrong bird-lime as afore- 
 faid. 
 
 Having thus mingled them, boil all gently over -a 
 fmall fire, ftirring it continually, then take it from tlie 
 fire, let it cool, when at any time you have occafion 
 to ufe it, warm it, and then anoint your twigs or 
 flraws, or any other fmall things, and no water will 
 take away the ftrength thereof. 
 
 This fort of lime is beft, efpecially for fnipes and 
 feldfares. 
 
 Of 
 
[ 212 ] 
 
 Of taking [mall Birds which ufe hedges and bu/hes idth 
 lime twigs. 
 
 The great lime bufh is beft for this ufe, which you 
 muil take after this manner : cut dov/n the main 
 branch or bough of any bufliy tree, whofe branch and 
 twigs are long, thick, fmooth, and firair, without 
 either pricks or knots, of which the willow or birch 
 tree are the beft; when you have prick'd it and trim- 
 med it from all fuperfluity. making the twigs neat 
 and clean, then take the beft birdlime, well mixed and 
 wrought together with goofe greafe, or capons gj eafe, 
 which being warmed, lime every twig therewith 
 within four fingers of the bottom. 
 
 The body from whence the branches have their 
 rife muft be untouched with lime. 
 
 Be fure you do not daub your twigs with too much 
 lime, for that will give diftafte to the birds, yet let 
 none want its proportion, or have any part left bare 
 .which ought to be touched : for as too much' will 
 deter them from coming, fo too little v/ill not hold 
 them when they are there. Having fo done, place 
 your bufh in fome quickfet or dead hedge near unto 
 towns end, back yards, old houfes, or the like ; for 
 thefe are the refort of fmall birds in the fpring time ; 
 in the fummer and harveft, in groves, buihes,. or 
 white-thorn trees, quickfet hedges, near corn-fields, 
 fruit-trees, flax and hemp lands, and in the winter 
 about houfes, hovels, barns, Hacks, or thofe places 
 where ftand ricks of corn, or fcattered chaff, ^r. 
 
 As near as you can to any of thefe haunts plant 
 your lime bufh, and plant yourfeif alfo at a conve- 
 nient diftance undifcovered, imitating with your 
 mouth fcveral notes of birds, which you muft learn 
 by frequent practice, walking the fields for that pur- 
 pofe very often, obferving the variety of fcveral birds 
 founds, efpecially fuch as they call one another by. 
 
 Some 
 
[ 213 ] 
 
 Some have been fo expert herein, that they could 
 imitate the notes of twenty feveral forts of birdwS at 
 leaft, by which they have caught ten birds to ano- 
 ther's one that was ignorant therein. 
 
 If you cannot attain it by your induftry, you muft 
 buy then a bird-call, of which there are feveral forts 
 and eafy to be framed ; fome of wood, fome of horn, 
 fome of cane, and the like. 
 
 Having learnt firft how to ufe this call, you fhall 
 fit and call the birds unto you, and as many of them 
 light on your bufh, ftep not out unto them till you 
 fee them fufRciently entangled, neither is it requiiite 
 to run to every fingle bird, but let them alone till 
 moie come, for the fluttering is as good as a ftale to 
 entice them more. 
 
 This exercife you may ufe from fun rifing till tea 
 o'clock in the mo''ning, and from oneii 1 almoft fun 
 fet. 
 
 You may take thefe fmall birds, only with lime 
 twigs without the bufh. 
 
 Some boys have taken two hundred, or three hun- 
 dred fmall twigs, about the bignefs of rufhes, and 
 about three inches long, and have gone with them 
 into a field where there were hemp cocks : upon the 
 tops of half a fcore lying all round together, they have 
 f^uck their twigs, and then have gone and beat that 
 field, or the next to it, where they faw any birds, and 
 commonly in fuch fields, there are infinite numbers 
 of linnets and green birds which are great lovers of 
 hempJeed. 
 
 And they flying in fuch vaft flocks, they have 
 caught at one fall of the.m upon the cocks eight do- 
 zen at a time. 
 
 But to return ; there is a pretty way of taking birds 
 with lime twigs, by placing near them a ftale or two 
 made of living baits, placing them aloft that they 
 may be vifible to the birds there about, who will no 
 
 fooncr 
 
[ 214 ] 
 
 fooner be perceived, but every bird v/ill come and 
 gaze, wondering at the ftrangenefs of the fight, and: • 
 having no other convenient lighting-place but where 
 the lime-twigs are, you may take what number you 
 lift of them. But the owl is a far better ftale than 
 the ba', being bigger and more eafily to be perceived, 
 befides he is never ken abroad, but he is followed 
 and perfecuted by all the birds that are near. 
 
 If you have not a living bat or owl, their ikins 
 will lerve as well, fluffed, and will laft you twenty 
 years : there are fome who have ufed an owl cut in 
 wood and naturally painted, with wonderful fuccefs. 
 
 Another ?mihod of taking all manner of Jmall Birds 
 zvith Birdlime. 
 
 In cold weather, that is in frofl or fnow, all forts 
 of fmall birds keep together in flocks, as larks, ehaf- 
 finches y linnets , goldfinches^ yelloiu- hammer Sy buntings^ 
 fp arrow Si &c. 
 
 All thefe, except the lark, perch on trees or buihes, 
 as well as feed on the ground. 
 
 If they refort about your houfe or adjacent fields, 
 then ufe bird-lime that is well prepared, and not too 
 old ; v/hich order after the following manner. 
 
 Put the bird-lime into an earthen difh, adding to 
 it fome frefh lard, or capons greafe, putting one 
 ounce of either to a quarter of a pound of bird- 
 lime J then retting it over the fire, melt it gently to- 
 gether; but you muft be fure not to let it boil, which 
 would lake away the ftrength of the bird-lime, and 
 fpoil it. 
 
 It being thus prepared, and you being furnifhed 
 with a quantity of wheat-ears ; cut the {{raw about 
 a foot long befides the ears, and lime them for about 
 fix inches from the bottom of the ears to the middle, 
 of the flraw j the lime being warmed that it may 
 run the thinner upon the ftraw, and therefore be the 
 
 lefs 
 
kfs difcernable, aijd liable to be. fufpeded by the 
 birds. 
 
 Then go into the field, and carry with you a bag 
 of chafF, and threflied ears, which fcatter together 
 for thecompafs of twenty yards in width (this will 
 be iri a fnowy feafon) then fticlc up the limed ftraws 
 with the ears leaning, or at the ends touching the 
 ground, then retire from the place, and traverfe 
 the grounds all round about ; and by that means, 
 diflurbing the birds in other haunts, they will fly 
 to the place where the chaflF, l^c, has been fcartered, 
 and the limed ftraws fet up, and pecking at the ears 
 of coin, and finding that they flick: upon them, they 
 w 11 ftraitway mount up from the earth, and in their 
 flight the bird -limed ilraw lying under their wings, 
 will caufe them to fall, and not being able to difen- 
 gage themfelves from theflraw, may be taken v/ith 
 eafe. You muft not go and take them up, when you 
 fee five or fix entangled, for that may prevent you 
 from taking as many dozen at a time. 
 
 If the birds that fall, where your limed ftraws arc, 
 be larks, do not go near them till they rife of them- 
 felves, and fly in great flocks ; by this method fome 
 have caught five or fix dozen at a lift. 
 
 Some of thefe ftraws may be laid nearer home, 
 iov tdkXn% finches, fparrows^yellowhammers^ &c. which 
 refort near to houfes, and frequent barn-doors; 
 where they may be eafily taken by the foregoing, 
 method. 
 
 Having performed this in the morning, take away 
 all the limed ears, thatfo the birds may feed boldly, 
 and not be diflurbed or frighted againfl next morn- 
 ing, and in the afternoon bait the fame place with 
 frefti chafF and ears of corn, and let them reft till 
 the next morning ; and then having ftuck up frefb 
 limed wheat ears, repeat your morning birding re- 
 creation. 
 
 Of 
 
I 216} 
 
 0/ CANARY-BIRDS. 
 
 THE Canary-bird is an admirable finging bird, of 
 a green colour, that takes its name fjom the 
 place from whence they firft came, wz. from the 
 Canary IJles^ and no where elfe ; but of late years, 
 there is a fort of birds, that are brought in abundance 
 from Germany^ efpecially (rom Tirol^ and are there- 
 fore called 6'^y*w<7« birds ; being a much better fort 
 than the other, though their originals are fuppofed 
 to have been firft brought from the Canaries. 
 
 Thefe birds, that is the cocks, never grow fat, . 
 and they cafinot be diftinguiOied by fome country 
 people from common green-birds ; though the Ca- 
 nary-birds are much luftier, have a longer tail, and 
 differ much in the heaving of the paiFages of the 
 throat, v/hen they fing. 
 
 But to make aright choice of this bird, and to 
 know when he has a good fong ; in the firll place, 
 lee him be a long bird, {landing ftrait and not 
 crouching, but fprightly like a fparrow hawk, {land- 
 ing with life and boidnefs, and not fubje<5t to be 
 fearful. 
 
 'Thefe birds being fo much efteemed for their 
 pleafing fong are fornetimes fold at a high price, at 
 ten or fifteen (hillings a-psece, moie or iels accord- 
 ino- to the goodneis and excellency of their- notes, 
 there being a great difference in them. 
 
 It is very i^dvifeable befoie you buy, firft to hear 
 them ling, for the buyer will then pleafe his ears ; 
 for one fancies a fong bird, another a very harfh 
 bird, if he be not io fweet : though undoubtedly 
 the beft Canary bird in general, is that which has 
 the moft variety of notes, and holds out in finging 
 the longeft. 
 
 In order to know whether a bird is in health be- 
 fore you buy him ^ take him out of the {tore cage^ 
 
 and 
 
[ 217 ] 
 and put him in a clean cage fingly, and If be (land up 
 bold'y^without crouching or fhrinlcing in his feathers, 
 and looks with a brifk eye, and not fubjed to clap his 
 head under his wing, it is a fign that he is in good 
 health ; but yet he may be an unheahhy bird ftilJ. 
 
 But the greateft matter is to obferve his dunging ; 
 if he bohs his tail like a nightingal, after he has 
 dunged, it is a great fign that he is not in perfeiSt 
 health, though he may fing at piefent and look 
 pretty br.fk, you may aiTure yourfelf, it v/ill not be 
 long before he is fick; but if his dung be very thin 
 like water, or of a flimy white without any black- 
 nefs in it, it is a fign of approaching death. 
 
 When a Canary -bird \s in perfe6l health, his dung 
 lies round and hard, with a fine white on the out- 
 fide and dark within ; dries quickly, and the larger 
 the dung is the better it is with him, fo that it be 
 long, round and hard; but but as to a feed bird, he 
 very feJdom dungs fo hard, unlefs he be very young. 
 
 Canary-birds arc fuhje£l to many difeafes, as im- 
 poflhumes, which afFe^i the head and caufe them to 
 fall luddenly from the perch, and die in a fhort time 
 if not fpeedily cured. 
 
 The mofl approved medicine is an ointment made 
 of frefh butter and capons greafe, melted together, 
 with which anoint the top of the bird's head, for 
 two or three days together, and it v/ill difTolve it, 
 and cure him; but if you have let it alone too long, 
 then after you have anointed him three or four times, 
 fee whether the place of his head be foft; and if fo, 
 open it gently and let out the matter, which will be 
 like the yolk of an egg ; when you have done this, 
 anoint the place, and this will immediately cure hirti 
 without any more to do. 
 
 And if you find the impodhume at any time re- 
 turn, do as before dire6led j you muft alfo give bim 
 figs, and let him have a fiice or two oUiquotics, with 
 white fu^ar candy in his water, 
 
 K Son:; 
 
Some are fo curious as to breed thefe birds in 
 England^ and they have exceUed all others; now for 
 the ordering of thefe brds when they begin to build^ 
 or are intended for breed. ng, make a convenient 
 cage, or prepare a room that may beiit for that pur- 
 pofe, taking care to let it have an outlet towards the 
 rifing of the fun ; whereyoumuft have a piece of 
 v/ire; that they may haveegrefs and regrefs at their 
 pleafure: when this has been done, fet up fome 
 brooms^ thhcr heath ov frail, in the corners of it, 
 opening them in the middle, and if the room be 
 pretty high two or three brooms may be fet under 
 one another,; but then you muft make partitions 
 •with boards over the top of every broom, otherwife 
 they will dung on one another's heads ; neither will 
 they endure to fee themfelves fo near each other's 
 nefts ; for the cock and hen will be apt to fly on an 
 hen that is not matched to them, when they (ee 
 them juft under their neft ; which many times caufes 
 the fpoiling of their eggs and young ones. 
 
 In the next place you muft caufe fomething to be 
 made fo convenient, 'and of fuch bignefs, ?s may 
 hold meat a confiderable time, that you may not be 
 difturbing them continually, and a proper veflel for 
 v/ater alfo; and the place where the feed is intended 
 to be put, muft be fo ordered that it may hang out 
 of the reach of the mice, for they are deftroyers of 
 them : you muft likewiie prepare fome fiufF of fe- 
 veral forts of things, fuch as cotton, wool, fmall 
 dead grafs, elk's hair, and along fort of mofs that 
 grows by ditch fides or in the woods, for them to 
 build their nefts withal. 
 
 Dry them well before you put them together, then 
 mingle all well, and put them up into a net like a 
 cabbage net, hanging it fo that they may with eafe 
 pull it out. 
 
 You muft alfo fet perches about the room, and if 
 it be large enough fet a tree in the middle of it, 
 that fo tliey may lake the more pleafure -, and always 
 
 re- 
 
t 219 3 
 rememljer to proportion your birds, according to 
 the largenefs of the room, or rather let it be undcr- 
 ftocked than overftocked, for they are birds that love 
 their liberty. 
 
 When you perceive them to begin to build and 
 carry fluff, give them once a day or in tvt^o days at 
 ieaft, a little greens and fomecoarfe fugar; for that 
 will caufe a flipperinefs in the body, that fo the eggs 
 may come forth without injuring the birds ; for they 
 die many times in laying the firft egg, which is a 
 lofs to the breeder; firft in refpedto his firft breed, 
 then to the unpairing of the cock, to which youi 
 ought to put another hen, whether he will pair or 
 no: but it would be much better if that cock were 
 taken out, than fuffered to continue in the breeding 
 place, efpecially if it befmallj but in a^large place 
 with pairs he cannot do that injury, and it will be a 
 difficult matter to diftinguifh which is the cock of 
 that hen that died, and as difficult to take him in a 
 large place, without doing more injury than the 
 bird comes to: fo that it will be beft to let him reft 
 to the end of the year, when if you leave but two or 
 three pairs together, it will be the beft way to take 
 "him out, and match him with another hen, and then 
 put him in again. 
 
 Befides, when you find that they have built their 
 nefts, the nets that have their breeding fluff in 
 them, may be taken away, for they will be apt to 
 build upon their eggs with new fluff, if they do- not 
 lay prefently. 
 
 As to the time of their breeding, it is ufually 
 three times a year, viz. in Jpri/y May, and June^ 
 and fometimes in Auguft: and as for ordering the 
 young ones, they muft not be left too long in the 
 nefts; for iffo they areapt togrov/fullen, and will 
 hot feed kindly, therefore they are to be taken out 
 at about nine or ten days old, and put into a little 
 bafket and covered over with a net or d^^ they will 
 
[ 220 ] 
 
 be apt to jump out upon the firft opening of the 
 bafket and be hurt, if they fall down. 
 
 They muftalfo be kept very warm for the firft week : 
 for they will be very tender, fubjecSl to the cramp, 
 and not digeft their meat, if they take cold. 
 
 And when they are taken from the old Canariesy 
 let it be in the evening, and if poffible, when the 
 old ones are out of fight; otherwife they will be ve- 
 ry apt to take dillafte, when they fit again and have 
 young ones, and ready at every iight to forfake both 
 young and their eggs. 
 
 Then as to the preparation of their meat ; foak 
 fome of the largeft rape-feed in water for twenty or 
 twenty four hours; but if the water be a little warm 
 twelve hours may be enough, then drain the water 
 from the feed, and put a third part of white bread to 
 it, and a little Canary-feed in flower, and mix them 
 all together. 
 
 Then with a fmall ftick, take up a little at the end 
 of it, and give every bird fome, two pr three times 
 over; for if you overcharge their ftomachs at firft, 
 they feldom thrive after it. 
 
 For you muft know that the old ones give them 
 but a little at a time, and the meat they recei\ e from 
 them, is warmed in the ftomach before they give it 
 them, and then all the rape is hulled, which lies not 
 fo hard at the ftomach, as thofe feeds which have the 
 fkin on. 
 
 , Neither muft their meat be made too dry ; for then 
 they will be apt to be vent burnt, becaufe all the 
 feeds are hot. 
 
 For it is obfervable that the old ones, conftantly 
 drink after they have eaten feeds, and a little before 
 they feed their young ones: and they commonly fit 
 a quarter of an hour feeding them, to keep them 
 warm, that the meat may the better nourifh them ; 
 therefore when you have fed them, let thern be co- 
 vered up very warm, that iheir meat may the better 
 di^cft witM them. 
 
 Uftly 
 
[ 221 
 
 Laftly, not to omit the feveral names of tliefe 
 blrdb at different times and ages: fuch as are above 
 three years old are called Runts^ thofe above tv^o are 
 named EreJpSy and thofe of the firft year that the old 
 ones brings up are called Branches \ thofe that arc 
 new flovirn and cannot feed themfelves Pujhers^ and 
 thofe that are bred up by hand N<'JiUngs* 
 
 Of PARTRIDGES. 
 
 PARTRIDGES being naturally a cowardly fear- 
 ful, fimple bird, are eafily deceived or beguiled 
 with any device whatever, by trainbait, engine, call, 
 ftale, or other enticement. 
 
 I (hall begin in the firft place to confider their 
 haunts, which are not (like the pheafants) certain, 
 but various, any covert will ferve their turn, and 
 fometimes none at all. ^ * 
 
 The places they delight in moft, are corn-fields, 
 efpecially while the corn grows, for under that cover 
 theyftielter, ingender, and breed: neither are thofe 
 places unfrequented by them when the corn is cut 
 ,down, by reafon of the grain they find therein, efpe- 
 cially in wheat ftubble, and the height thereof they 
 delight in, being to them as a covert or fhelter. 
 Now when the wheat -ftubble is rtiuch trodden by 
 men or beafts, they then betake themfelves to the 
 barley ftubble, provided itbefreftianduntrodden; then 
 will, in the furrows, among the clots, brambles, 
 and long grafs, hide both themfelves and covi&s, 
 which are fometimes twenty in number, or twenty- 
 five; nay I have heard of thirty in a covey. 
 
 Now after the winter feafon is come, and that thefe 
 ftubble-fields are ploughed up, or over foiled with 
 cattle, then do thefe partridges refort in the up-land 
 meadows, and lodge in the dead grafs, or fog under 
 hedges among mole-hills, or un^er the roots of 
 trees, fometimes they refort to coppices and under- 
 woods, efpecially if any corn-fields are near adjacent 
 K 3 lo 
 
[ 222 ] 
 
 to or where grows broom, brakes, fern, or any co- 
 vert v/hatfoever. 
 
 In the harveft-time, when every field is full of 
 men and cattle, then in the day-time you will find 
 them in the fallow-fields which are next adjoining 
 to the corn-fields, where they lie lurking till even- 
 ing, and then they feed among the (heaves of corn ; 
 as alib early in the morning. 
 
 When you know their haunts, according to the 
 fituation of the country and ieafon of the year, your 
 next care muft be to find them out in their haunts, 
 which is done feveral ways. Some do it by the eye 
 only; and this art can never be taught, but learned 
 by frequent experience, diftinguifhing thereby the 
 colour of the Partridge from that of the earth, and 
 how, and in what manner they lodge and couch to- 
 gether ; by v/hich method you may come near 
 enough to them, they being a very lazy bird, and 
 fo unwilling to take wing, that you may aimoft 
 let your foot upon them before they will fiir, pro- 
 vided you don't jftand and gaze on them, but be in 
 continual motion, otherwife they will fpring up and 
 be gone. 
 
 Another way to difcovcr them, is by going to 
 their haunts very early in the morning, or at the 
 ciofeof the evening, which is called the jucking^ 
 iime^ which is very loud and earneft, and after fome 
 few calls, the hen will anfwer, and by this nieans 
 they meet together, which you may know by their 
 rajeiting and chattering one with another; upon 
 hearing of which take your range about them, draw- 
 ing nearer and nearer to the place you heard them 
 jnck in; then caft your eye towards the furrows of 
 the land, and there you will foon find where, the 
 I'lcoveylies. 
 
 ■^ The beft, fureft, and eafieft way for finding of 
 
 ^<2r/r/i^^jr, is by the call, having nrfl learned the 
 
 true and natural notes of the ^^^r^nV^^-, knowing how 
 
 ■ . •/ to 
 
[ "3 J 
 
 to tune every note in it's proper key, applying them 
 to their due time and feafons. 
 
 Being perfed herein, either uiornings or evenings, 
 (all other times being improper) go to their haunt^, 
 and having conveyed yourfelf into fome fecret place 
 where you may fee and not be keuy liften a-while if 
 you can hear the partridge call, if you do, anfwer 
 them again in the fame notes, and as they change or 
 double their notes, fo muft you in like manner ; thus 
 continue doing till th^y dravvr nearer and nearer to 
 you : Having them in your view, lay yourfelf on your 
 back, and lie without motion, as if you were dead, by 
 which means you may count the whole number. 
 
 Having attained to the knowledge of difcovering 
 where they lie, the next thing is how to catch them; 
 
 Firft with Nets. 
 
 The nets for taking of partridges mufl be every 
 way like your pheafant nets, both for length and 
 breadth, except that the meflies muft be fmaller, be- 
 ing made of the fame thread, and dyed of the fame 
 colour. 
 
 Having found out the covey, draw forth your 
 nets, and taking a large circumference, walk a good 
 round pace with a carelefs eye, rather from than to- 
 v/ards them, till you have trimmed your nets, and 
 made them ready for that purpofe; which done, yoa 
 mufl draw in your circumference lefs and lefs, till 
 you come within the length of your net, then prick- 
 ing down a ftick about three feet long, fallen one 
 end of the line to your net, and make it faft in the 
 earth as you walk about, (for you muft make no 
 ftop nor llay) then letting the net flip out of your 
 hands, fpread it open as you go, and fo carry and 
 lay it all over i\\e partridges. 
 
 If they (hould be ftraggling, fo that you cannofi 
 cover them all with one net, then draw forth ano- 
 ther, and do with that as you did with the former, 
 and.foathirdif therebe occafioni having fo done, 
 K 4 rufh 
 
i 224 ] 
 
 rufli in upon tliem> who aiFrightcd, will fly up, and 
 
 i'o be entangled in the nets. 
 
 Secondly, zt'//i> Birdlime. 
 
 Get the faireft and largeft wheat-ftraws you can* 
 and cut them off betv/een knot and knot, and lime 
 them with the ftrongeft lime. Then go to the haunts 
 of purtridgesy and call, if you are anfwered, then 
 prick at feme diftance from you your lime ftraws, 
 in many crofs-rows and ranks, crofs the lands and 
 furrows, taking in two or three lands at leaft, then 
 lie clofe and call again, not ceafing till you have 
 drawii them towards you, fo that they be intercepted 
 by the way by your limed firaws, which they (hall 
 no fooner touch but they will be enfnared; and by 
 reafon they fhall run together like a brood of chickens, 
 they will fo befmear and daub each other, that very 
 few will efcape. 
 
 This way of taking ^^r/nV^^j is only to be ufed in 
 ftubble-fields, from Augiijl til! Chrifimas-y but if you 
 v/ill take them in woods, paftures, or meadows, then 
 you muftlime rods, as was before mentioned forphea- 
 fants and ftickthem in the ground after the fame 
 manner. 
 
 Thirdly, TJ? ^/r/V^ Partridges. 
 
 The driving of partridges is more delightful than 
 any other way of taking them : the manner of it is 
 
 ihuF, 
 
 Make an engine in the form of a horfe, cut cut of 
 canvas, and ftuff it with ftraw, or fuch like matter : 
 with this artificial horfe and your nets go to the haunts 
 ci fartridges^ and having found out the covey, and 
 pitched your nets below, you muft go above, and 
 taking the advantage of the wind, you muft drive 
 downwards: let your nets be pitched flope-wife, and 
 hovering. Then having your face covered with fome- 
 thing that is green, or of a dark blue, you muft, 
 puttme: the engine before, ftalk towards the partridge^ 
 '^ ° with. 
 
 I 
 
f 2=^5 ]: 
 
 with a flow pace, raifing them on their feet, but not 
 their wings, and then they will run naturally before 
 you. 
 
 If they chance to run a bye-way, or contrary to 
 your purpofe, then crofs them with your engine, and 
 by fo facing them, they will run into that tra6l you 
 would have them; thus by a gentle flowpace, you may 
 make them run and gowhich wayyou will,, and at 
 laft drive thenr into your net. 
 
 To take Partridges with a [etUng-dog, 
 
 There is no art of taking them fo excellent and. 
 pVeafant as by the help of a fettiug-dog, wherefore 
 to proceed to the fport, we (ball give you anaccount 
 what this fetting-dog is.. 
 
 You are to underftand then,, that a fetting dog is 
 a certain luftyland-fpaniel, taught by nature to hunt 
 the -partridges more than any chace whatever,. run> 
 ning the fields over with fuch aliacrity and nimble- 
 nefs as if there was no limit to his fury and? defire, 
 and yet,, by art, under fuch excellent command, that, 
 in the very height of his career, by ahem or found of 
 his mailer's voice, he ftiall ftand, gaze about hinr^. 
 look in his mailer's face, and obferve his directions,, 
 •whether to proceed, ftand ftill,.or retire : . nay^ when 
 he is evenjuft upon his prey, that he may even take 
 it- up in his mouth,.yet his obedience is fo far framed^ 
 by art, thatprefently he will either ftand or fall flat 
 en his belly, without during to mak« any noife or 
 motion till his mafter come to him^ and then, he'il 
 proceed in all things to follow his directions* 
 
 Having a dog, thus- qualified by art and nature-, 
 take him with you where /)^r/r/^^r^.t haunt,. there caft 
 ofF your dog, and by fome word of encouragemc^nt 
 that he is acquainted with, engage him to range^ 
 but never too far from-you; and fee that he beat his 
 ground juftly and even, without calling about or 
 flying now here,, now there, which the mettle of fome 
 willdoj if not corrected and reproved j therefore 
 ^ 5/ wiien 
 
[ 226 ] 
 when you perceive this fault, you muft pr^fentif r 
 call him in with a hem, and (o check him that he 
 dare not do the like again for that day ; fo he will 
 range afterwardswith more temperance, ever and anoji 
 looking in his maftei *s face, as if he would gather 
 from thence whether he did good or ill. 
 
 If in your dog^s ranging you perceive him to flop 
 on a fudden, or ftand ftill, you muft then make in 
 to him, (for without doubt he hath fet the partridges) 
 and as foon as you come to him, commmand him to- 
 go nearer to them, and he goes not, but either lies 
 iiill or fiands wagging his tail, as he would fay here 
 they are under my nofe, and withal now and then 
 look back ; then ceafe from urging him further, and 
 take your circumference, walking faft, with a care- 
 lefs eye,, looking ftrait before the nofe of the dog^ 
 and thereby fee how the covey lie, whether cbfe or^ 
 ftraggiing. 
 
 Then commanding the dog to lie ftill, draw forth 
 y^^ net, and prick one end to the ground, and fpread- 
 '^oi? net all open; and fo cover as many of the par^ 
 ifidg^s^zs you can; which done, make in with a noife 
 and fpring up'tbe/>^r/r/f^fj, which fhall no fooner 
 rife but they will be entangled in the net. And if you 
 Jet go the old coek and hen, it v/ill be a means to 
 inereafe your paftime. 
 
 0/ PHEASANTS. 
 
 APheafant is a bird about the bignefs of a cock*, 
 having a crooked bill, and feathers of various 
 colours ; its fleifh is delicious, and much coveted. Now 
 tojudgearight of this bird forearingj-a cock, if y^oung, 
 has a.fhort /jjur, li old, a fharp fmall fpur ; fee that it 
 be not pared, if fat it has a vein on the fide of this 
 breaft under the wing ;■ if new, a fat firm ; if you 
 touch it hard with your finger, it will peel ; then ff 
 young, it has a fmooth leg, and a fine fraooth grain 
 notheflelii; if old, it has a lUgged rinkled grain 
 
[227 ]' 
 onr the flefb, and full of hairs, like an old yard heii ;. 
 fo if flie be full of eggs, (he will have a faft and open- 
 vent, if not full, a clofe vent. 
 
 Of Pheasant-taking. 
 
 A rural diverfion, performed with nets, and only' 
 in crowing time, which is about the end oi February ^ 
 and in March^ before they begin to breed : it is done" 
 cither generally or particulaly, the firft is, when the 
 v/hole eye, viz. the old cock, arid hen, with all their 
 young ones, or powts, thsy flock or run together in 
 thick woods or coppices, are taken;: or particulai ly^ . 
 when none but the old, and fuch or the young as are 
 of age fit for coupling, are taken ; fo that you cannot M 
 have any alTurance with your nets to ftrike at mor@J<-* 
 than one ©r two at a time; for the pheafant is of a - 
 melancholy fallen difpofition, and when once they 
 have coupled, do not accompany in flocks as other ' 
 birds; 
 
 In order to the taking pZ'^^/^zw/j with the ^greater' 
 cafe, you mufl be acquained with their haunV and ■ 
 ufual breeding-places, which arein young thick-'and- 
 well-grown coppices, free from the annoyances of- 
 cattle or path ways; for being of a very timorous na- ;; \- 
 tare, they efteem the ftrength of their coverts their '* 
 only fafety, and do not abide, -or breed in open or '. 
 plain fields, nor under the covert of corn-fields, low^^, 
 fhrubby buflies, or in large or taU- trees. '^■^. 
 
 Having found their haunts, next you are to find 
 their eye, or brood ; and here you are to obfcrve, that 
 pheafcmts come out of the woods and coverts thrice a ^ 
 day, to feed \n frefh paftures, green v/heator other 
 grain, and that is about fun-rifmg, about noon, and a "^ 
 lixtle before fun-fet. Now thecourfeto be followed, 
 is-togo to that fide of the wood where you fuppofe ' 
 they make their fallies, and watch the places w^here 
 they come out; or bv fearching their haunts; for you • 
 may fee the young powts in that feafon, flock and run '■ 
 together after the iien like chickens. Ajain, if you : 
 
C 228 1 
 
 go to their haunts early in the morning orlate rh the 
 evening, you will hearthe old cock and hen call the'^r 
 yoyng ones, and the youngones anfwer them, and 
 accordingly dire£t your path as near as you can to the 
 P'ace where they areahenliedownasclofeas poflible,. 
 that you may not be difcernsd ;. butwrthal, obferve 
 how they lodge together^ the better to know how to^ 
 pitch your nets with greater advantage,. both of wind,., 
 weather, and places otherwife they will betake them,- 
 felves to their legs, and not to- their wing5,, unlefs- 
 forced to it by a cLofe purfult.. 
 
 But the cerraineft way to find them out,j*s to havg 
 ^A* an artificial pheaianL-call,. wherein aperfon ftiould^ 
 ^^jbe very expert in the imitation of their notes, and 
 The time wl^en, and to what purpofe they ufe them^ 
 which calls are much the fame as hens ufe in duckl- 
 ing their, chickens* 
 
 The chief time for ufing the call, is in themorn^- 
 ing early, or about fun fet, at which time they feek. 
 their food, and then the note muft he to call them to 
 feed; but though thefe are the beft times, yet 
 the call muft be ufed at other times, .only altering ths 
 i j!.otes for calling them together-, or the likg. 
 ",' Having th^e perfect ufe of the call, the knowledge 
 ^• of their haunts, and the times to take them, chufe 
 ^fome private place not to be difcovered, and then call 
 -^at firil very foftly, left any (hould he lodged very near 
 you, and. be affrighted at your loud note j but if no- 
 thing reply, then raife your note higher ami higher till 
 it be extended to the ufnioft compafs, andif any be 
 within hearing they will anfwer in as loud a note as 
 yours, provided it be tuneable,, or eJfe all will be 
 fpoiled. 
 
 As (oouus thcpbe^fantznCwcrs^'if it be at a gocd 
 diflance, creep nearer and nearer, fiill calling, but 
 not too loud, and as you advance nearer, fo will the 
 pheafant to you, (o that you will come in fight of her, 
 either on the ground or at perch, always imitating 
 her in her true noie^ then ceafe callingj, and fpread 
 
 yoa 
 
[ xi<3 J 
 
 your net between the />Z?^^/t2«^ and yourfelf, in- tbe^ 
 moft convenient place yoti can find, making one end 
 ©f the net faft to the ground, and holding the other 
 in your hand by a long line, fo that when any thin» 
 ftrains it, you may pull the netclofe togetherj whicb 
 done, call again, and as foon as yoU' perceive tbe 
 ■phealant come under your ner,,rire up and (hew your- 
 felf, upon which being affrighted, ihe will fpring;, 
 and fo become entangled in the net. 
 
 In cafe you have divers pheafanis znfwer the calf, 
 and that from feveral parts of the word, then keep^ 
 yiour fifft ftation, and as you hear them make to- 
 wards you, fo get your nets ready, fpreading them, 
 conveniently about you, viz. one pair of nets on one 
 iide and another on theother,lyingclorewithout any 
 n^oife,, only of your r^//, till you have allured thera^ 
 as aforefaid,. that they may be entangled in your 
 nets. 
 
 Another way to tzke phea/cwts, which is reckoned^ 
 better than the former, and that is, to be provided. 
 with ■^Jialephcafant^ that is, a live cocL, which muft 
 be tied dovi^n to your net, v^ho by his crowing will: 
 draw others in : you mu(t lie concealed in fome bufki 
 or <ecret place,, and when you. fee any phealant come 
 to your net,, then draw your line and.the net will faM 
 on him and take him. 
 
 To tz.kQ pheajants by fnares; when you, have found 
 their paflage out of the wood to their ufual places of. 
 feeding,, there plant a little ftake, with a couple of; 
 fiiares of horfe.-hair, one to lie flat on the ground for 
 their feet, and the otherabout the heigh t,of their head^ 
 to take them. by the neck; and in cafe there fhould h& 
 more pailss than one, you muft do the like to every, 
 one of them; then fetch a compafs about, and whejv 
 you are in adire6lline with the thea/ani and the fnare 
 that you have fitted, then make a gentle Ji^ife to af'* 
 &ight them^ 
 
 If 
 
['2^0 ] 
 
 If by their dunging and icraping you perceire that 
 they frequent any place, you may then make ufe of 
 fuch hedge rcws as a^e direfted to take fcwl with 
 lines and birdlime* only plant your running lines 
 from them of a convenient height, and ftill place one - 
 to lie flat to entangle their legs. 
 
 To take t>heajan:s or partridges, and to preferve 
 game in a rcan'5 own ground : when you perceive 
 anv e^.e of pheajanrs, or coivy of partridges, Uequent 
 fuch and fuch ground, go thither, and in fome plare 
 thereof, diitant from any hedge, bufh,or gate, about 
 forty or fifty fpaces, pit<:h up your fticks, each a foot 
 ]&ng, in a iquare. and in the middle of the fticks, feat- 
 ter a few corns, which may ferve as a train to draw 
 on the game to the great heap in the middle of the 
 {ticks, Sow the pile aj^rts zr.d partriages com\ng to 
 feed according to their cuilom, will foon find out the 
 train, and confequen'ly the great bait j th^y will not 
 fail to return thither next morning, in hopes of ano- 
 ther repaft, againft which time let it be laid ready 
 fsr them, and pitch by every one of the four fficks,a 
 bulb c: furz; if ihey eat the fecond time, which you 
 may cifcern by their dung, noiwithftanding the furz- 
 btifhes, then againft their next coming crofs fome 
 lines of packthread, in fordf*i of a net ; and if for all 
 this they come and eat, you may be fure to take them 
 when you pleaj'e v?ith the following device. 
 
 Take away the fticks, furz^bufhes and pack-» 
 thread ; 2n6 tnen pitch the net defcribed as follows. 
 
 Tne fournnain fapporters of the net muft be fixed 
 flrongiy in the ground, that the net may be lightly 
 fpread on the top : the four fides of the net m.ult t^e 
 ordered in the fame manner as fhail be now directed 
 by tne example of one of them, lift up the fide of ■ 
 the net over the top of the r.et that is fpread, for the 
 fide.mjii not he fiat, bu: itand Hoping like a pent- 
 houfe, fupporfed by fm-ii tv/igs. tne boit< m faltened 
 ia ;he earth, and the cord or ver^^ of the net reiling 
 
 on 
 
C 231 ] 
 on them, then place the fou^r furz-buflies at each 
 corner of the net, the more to embolden them, and 
 be fure the running-cord of the net be exact and 
 right, the two ends thereof muft be tied to a ftrong 
 cord, which cord mu ft reach to the next bu{h or 
 fhelter where you lie concealed, but within view of 
 the net ; when all is fixed, fpread the bait as former- 
 ly, but try once or twice how the nee will draw, that 
 upon occafion all may be in good order; the heft- 
 time to wait their coming is at break of day, when-, 
 they are all bufy in eating the bait, then draw your 
 Itne with a quick motion, and prefently fix it to the 
 buih where you are, and make all poilibie hafte to . 
 the net to prevent their efcaping, . 
 
 If you would preferve a breed in your grounds 
 then kiU the cocks, and keep the hens till towards 
 Lent, in feme convenient room, and then put them 
 out into your grounds, and they will Toon find cocks 
 fof a breed. 
 
 There is another :way found mod effectually for 
 he takingof ^^^<2/^77tjin the winter iealbn, provided 
 there is no fnow : get a net in the form of a cafiing 
 net, but larger, with the mefhes about five inches 
 wide; then take fome peafe or wheat, and knowing 
 their haunts, which w^ll bein young coppices cf a- 
 Bout three or four years growth; in fuch places feek 
 out their pnth, and dropp.ngs or dung, . which paths 
 generally lead from the young coppices to thofe that 
 are older; and having found out any path, lay about 
 a pint of corn in the place, obferving where you 
 lay it, fothat they may come to eat ; thus do for fe- 
 verai days or about a fornight, by which time they 
 Will be fo accuftomed to it, that they will come to 
 E.\-pe6l fome food, and by this means, , all, or moft 
 o^ the pheajhnis in that part, will be gathered to it. 
 
 Havino thus trained them, and that you certainly 
 know when you coine in the morning that they have 
 bcai iheiejwhich will be found by iheir eatiilg and 
 
 the 
 
[ 232 J 
 
 fBe dung, then in fuch places fet your nets, tljat is^, 
 ©ne in one place^ which is done thus 3; tie the top of 
 your netjtaa bow, th^n-fpread it at the bottom-,, 
 and peg it down to the ground on all parts except one, 
 which muft be raifed up above a foot and a half, like 
 an arched donr^ w^th an aftien ftick, then ilx to the 
 faid arch feveral' rods made of hazle, with the taper 
 ends to the earth, within the net. To that the pbeafanfs^ 
 may corns in by parting the fticks, but noc get out 
 again- 
 Having thus fet your nets, which muft be made of 
 coarfe thread, fuch as rabbet-hays^, and of a tanned' 
 colour, by putting them into a. tan- pit, cover your- 
 nets with boughs toprevent them from finding them-;- 
 and be firre to fet them fome diftance in the wood.. 
 The ufe of the nets is from the beginning of A% to 
 the latter end of O£lohe.r^ 
 
 Of PIGEONS. 
 
 A PIGEON is a domeftic bird, very well known^^ 
 and fed in order to be eaten: I fliali chiefly 
 mention thoffe that are bred" in pigeon or dove-houfes.;'. 
 fome there are, for want of the conveniency of fuch* 
 houfes, that are bred in coos and dove cotes; in. 
 treneral we reckon but two forts of pigeons,, the wild 
 and the tame; the tame rough-footed ones differ- 
 act much from the wild, only are fomewhat bigger,, 
 and more familiar: the wild ufually perch upon* 
 trees, being feldbm feen on the ground,- and are 
 very good food. 
 
 By wild pigeons^ are meant thofe. that Breed in- 
 woodsy fea rocks, is a and by the. tame fuch. as- 
 are bred in dove-houfes. 
 
 There are indeed many forts of pigeonSiyfiXQh a$. 
 tarriersj. crop^ersy powiers, horfemen, runts^ jacobins^ 
 turbiti^_ helrmUy nunsy tumbUrsy barhs^ pstits, ctvls^ 
 
[ 233 ] , 
 
 Jp9ts^ trumpeters^ Jbahers^ turners^ zn^ finikin s, from, 
 which proceed, when they are contrary matched 
 together, baftard bred pigeons^ fuch as are called, 
 from the cropper^ or powier and the carrrier^ powiing- 
 horfemen\ from the tu7nhler and the horjemen^ dra- 
 goons: of the generality of thefe I (hall fay but little, 
 they being only kept for fancy, and not for the profit 
 of the table, tho' the fame method is to be ufed in 
 breeding them. 
 
 There are different forts of runts^ one called Spa^^ 
 nijh runiSi generally of a blood-red, or mottled co- 
 lour; they are very loofe feathered, and large bodied, 
 but breed not fo often as the fmaller forts. 
 
 Horfemen are excellent breeders, and are not eafily 
 loft; the common Englijhrunt is a good iizQ<i pigeon^ 
 and breeds well. 
 
 The pigeon czlUd the Leghorn, is a fort of runty 
 only diftinguifhed by a little wattle over his noftril ; 
 he is a full bodied pigeon, whofe feathers lie clofe to 
 his body, and is an excellent breeder, and generally 
 of a grizzled colour, ermined round the neck. 
 
 To thofe who keep pigeons for the fake of good 
 breeding, I would recommend baflard-bred pigeons^ 
 fuch as powiing- horfemen, powiing-dragoons, from a 
 powters ox cropper^ and Leghorn ; the reafon is,, fuch 
 pigeon will breed nine or ten pair of young ones in a 
 year, for the little puff of wind thrown in from the 
 powtery gives them a heat and mirth ; they will conti- 
 nually be playing or courting, and when they ha\re 
 young ones, will feed them well, which a cropper^ by 
 reafon of the bignefs of his crop,, feldom doth. 
 
 Carriers breed but flowly, three or four pair a year 
 for them, is much, by reafon of their cold nature ; 
 they are conftant lovers,, and very rarely tread any but 
 their own mate, and therefore hard to match when 
 feparate; they will often take three months time.. 
 
 On the contrary, z. pewter w'lU tread any hen that 
 will let him, atan^ tinjej. and take him from his 
 
 owa 
 
cwn mate, and he will ma<ch to another in a day of 
 two; fo that baftard-bred/)/^^^«i are moft ferviceable 
 for thofe who breed them to fupply the table. 
 
 Great care muft be taken to make convenient places 
 to breed in, each pair of pigeons muft be fure to have 
 two nefts, with bafkets in them is beft, for before one 
 pair can go out of the neft, or feed themfelves, the 
 old ones wi-il lay and befetting; nay, I have ofteiv 
 feen a fecond pair hatched before the firft could feed 
 themfeives, and the old ones feed both pair. Be fure 
 when you take the young ones, clean the neft, or put 
 in a clean bafket, for cleanlinefs is a great help. 
 
 Never let them want meat, for if you do they can- 
 not be provided with foft meat in their crop when 
 the young hatch, which if wanting, the young ones- 
 certainly die; or if you feed ihe old ones by hand,, 
 they will go feed their young immediately wirh what 
 they get, which they not being able to digeft, kills- 
 diem, fo that the beft way is to let them have meat 
 always by them in a box,, with a hopper in it mada 
 for that purpcfe. 
 
 Bicid young ones for ftock in the fpring, thofe 
 bred \a the winter being generall cramped, and ne- 
 ver prove good breeders. 
 
 The reafon why I recommend bafkets to breed in^ 
 is, t2imQ pigeons feldom build their nerts^ the want of 
 which bafkets fupply. Be fure take care no vermin 
 comes among them. 
 
 Or thofe bred in pigeon- houfes, the grey pigeon^. 
 inclining to afh-colour and black, is the bell; and 
 file generally fhews her fruitful nefs by the rednefs of 
 her eyes and feet, and by the ring of gold colour 
 which is about her neck. 
 
 There are two feafons of the yearwherein you 
 may flock your pigeon-houfe, the firft is in May ; 
 forafmuch as thefefirfl^;V^^w have much ftrength- 
 ened themfeives during the winter, are in a con- 
 dition foon to yeild profit to the. buyer. Secondly in 
 
 JuguJIt 
 
[ 2^5 1 
 
 Auguft^ for at that time there are a great numBer of 
 young pigeons that have been well fed with the corn 
 which their dams, both cocks and hens, have plen- 
 tifully fupplied them with, from the harveft in that 
 feafon. 
 
 You muft take care to furnifh your pigeon houfe 
 according to the bignefs of it ; if you put but a few- 
 in ir, 'twill be a great while before you will have 
 the pleafure of eating young pigeons^ for you muft" 
 take none out of the pigeon-houfe before it is well 
 flocked. 
 
 Be fare to feed them in hard weather, and m 
 benting time, which is when the corn is in the 
 ear, and keep out the vermin, and you wiii nevec 
 wantftock. 
 
 It is good to give them loom, mixed with fait and 
 cummin feed, mixed well, made up in lumps and 
 dried; it provokes luft, and helps them in breeding. 
 
 Be fare never to let them want freih water. The- 
 beft food is tares; the mornings and evenings are. 
 proper times to give them their meat, and never at 
 noon,forfear of breaking their reft, which they ufually 
 take at that hour, which rooft is very neceflary lo< 
 make them thrive with the food which they eat. 
 
 A Secret to hinder Pigeons from quiilng the pigeon* 
 houfe. 
 
 Take the head and feet of a gelt he-goat, and 
 boil them together till the fiefh feparates from the 
 bone; take this flefti and boil it again in the fame 
 liquor, till the whole is confumed^ bruife into this, 
 decodtion, which is very thick, fome. potter's earth,, 
 out of which you are to take all the ftones, vetch,, 
 dung, hemp, food and corn ; the whole muft beknead- 
 td together and reduced to a pafte or dough, which 
 form into fmall loaves about the thicknefs of two- 
 £fts, aad dry them.in the fun. or oven, and take care: 
 
 it. 
 
. [ 2^ 1 
 
 it do tiotburn; v/hen they are baked, lay them in " 
 feveral parts of the pio;eon-houre, and as foon as 
 they are let there the pigeons will amufe ihemfelves 
 with pecking them, and finding fome tafte therein 
 which pleafes them, they will keep fo dole to it that 
 they will not afterwards leave it but -with regret. 
 Others take a handful of fait, which they candy, and 
 afterwards put it into the pigeoa-houfe. Some take 
 a goat's head and boil ic in water, with fait, cummin, 
 hemp, and urine, and then expofe it in the pigeon- 
 houfe, with which they amufe the pigeons. Laftly, 
 there are thofe who fry millet in honey, adding a 
 little water thereto to prevent its burning too ; this 
 preparation is a repalt to them, and will caufe 
 them.to have fuch an affection for their ordinary ha- 
 bitation, that they will be fo far from abandoning it 
 themfelves that they will draw ^i2ing<e pigeons to it. 
 
 Pigeons will live eight years, but they are only 
 prolific for the firft four years, afterwards they arc 
 worth nothing, for when they are once paft that age, 
 all they do is to deprive you of the profit you might 
 reap by others that are younger. It is fomething 
 difficult to know how to diftinguifh their age. 
 
 If you would furnifh your table with young ones 
 in the winter, and feed daintily, you muft not tarry 
 for them till thsy can fly, but take ihera when they 
 are grown pretty flrong; pluck the largeft quills out 
 of their wings, which will confine them to their 
 nefts; others tie their feet, or elfe break the bones 
 oif their legs, by which means they will be fat in a 
 very fliort time, becaufe the fubftance of the nou- 
 rifliment they receive being then not fo much dif- 
 perfed, turns into fat. 
 
 Pigeon-House, a piece of oeconomy, of which 
 a great deal may be faid, their being an infinite num- 
 ber of things to be obferved, in order to get a pigeon 
 boufe that may be advantageous and profitable to 
 you: to begin therefore i the firft thing is to pitch 
 
 upon 
 
[ m ] 
 
 upon a convenient place, of which none is more 
 proper than in the middle of a court-yard, which is 
 luppofcd to be fpacious enough, or without the 
 houfe, by reafon /)?^^(3Wf are naturally of a fearful 
 difpofition, and the leaft noife ihey hear frightens 
 them; hence it is, that they always make pigeon- 
 houfes with much care, and a great deal of reafon, at 
 fuch a diftance, that the rufling noife of the trees 
 fhalcen by the wind, ani the over murmurings of 
 the water, may not affright them. 
 
 As to the bignefs of the pigeon-houfe, that de- 
 pends upon the fancy of thofe who build them; but 
 it is better they fhould be fpacious than too little ; 
 and for its form, the round i^ to be preferred before 
 the Iquare ones, becaufe rats cannot io eafily come 
 at the one as at the other; and the round houfe is 
 alfo more ccmm.odious, by means of a ladder turn- 
 ing upon an axis, you eafily vifit all that is within 
 the pigeon houfe, and come near the nefts without 
 being propped, and take the pigeons in them; fo that 
 you may effedt that by conveniency oF this ladder 
 here, v/hich cannot be done in fquare pigeon-houfe. 
 
 Now to hinder rats from getting upon the outfide 
 into a pigeon-houfe, they faften tin plates to a cer- 
 tain height, and m fuch places where the rats might 
 pafs, at the outward angles of a fquare pigeon houfe ; 
 thefe plates ought to be a foot high, and raifed above 
 half a foot on the fides, that when the rats come to 
 them and cannot catch hold of them, ihey fail upon 
 the iron fpikes which are ufually fixed at the bottom 
 of the place where you forefee they may fall. 
 
 Moreover, care fhould be had that the pigeon- 
 houfe fhould be placed at fome fmall diftance from 
 water, that fo the pigeons rmy carry it to their young 
 ones; and the fame being a little warmed in their 
 bills it will be more wholefome for them than when 
 it is cold. 
 
 Care 
 
1 238 ] 
 
 Care ftiould be taken that the boards which cover 
 the pigeon-houre ihould be well joined tagether, in 
 fuch manner that neither rats nor wind can pafe 
 through; the covering alfo fhould be fuch that no 
 rain may penetrate throught it; efpecially, it ought 
 to be raifed on good folid foundations, the floor 
 good, the building folid, and well cemented, be- 
 cn\i{Q pige&ns dung has. an ill property of ruining 
 -foundations ; they muft be hard plaiftered, and 
 white-wafhed within and without, that being the 
 colour mofl pleafing to the pigeons. It muft be a 
 conftant caution, that there be no window or open- 
 ing of the pigeon houfe to the eaftward, but they 
 muft always, as much as may, be placed to the 
 fouth, for pigeons love d'ue^ily to feel the fun, and 
 efpecially in winter ; but if by reafon of the fitua- 
 tion of the place, youcaii donoothcrwife than make 
 the window of the pigeon houfe to face to the north, 
 you muft always keep it {hut clofe in cold weather, 
 and open it in fummer, that the codling air may 
 have pafTage into the place, which is refrefliing and 
 <ielie;htful to pigeons in that feafon of the year. 
 
 The pigeon-houfe fhould have two cinctures built 
 without, either of free-ftone or parget, one of which 
 is to reach to the middle of the pigeon-houfe, and 
 the other under the window, through which the 
 pigeons go in and oat; thefe two inclofures are made 
 on purpofe that the birds may reft upon when they 
 return out of the fields. 
 
 O/^ Shooting, ^/z^ Shooting Flying. 
 
 C^O early into the field, take with you fome rum 
 y in a wicker bottle that v/ill hold about a gill ; 
 this will k^ep out or expel wind, cure the gripes, 
 and give fpirits when fatigued ; but do not take too 
 much, for too much will make your fight unfteady. 
 . • When 
 
[ 239 I 
 
 When you have got your gun, a turn -fcrew, worm, 
 and flints ready, call your pointers, and take with 
 you a partridge-wing; with this carefully clean the 
 touch-hole, then charge and prime, but primie not 
 too full, becaufe the lingering fire will diiappoint 
 your aim. Charge in the field, and not the night 
 befojCj ram the powder well, butthefhot lightly; 
 let one thijd of the charge be powder, and two thirds 
 fliot, fecuring the charge with tow. When you arc 
 about to fire, take time, and keep your temper quiet 
 and unruffled as a Stoic. When you have fired, 
 charge again immediately i^efore the air gets into 
 the piece, and do not lofe time in charging it, for 
 if it cools it will be covered with a clammy fweat 
 that will render the effect of the charge uncertain, 
 Befides, you ihould be ready to fecure your game, 
 for a wounded pheafantwill often rife when you go 
 to take her, afidifyouare not ready to bring her 
 down again, may totally efcape ; this^ however, 
 rarely happens to woodcocks or fnipes. Permit your 
 mark to be diftant at leaft forty yards before you 
 fire; for if the diftance be lefs, you will either mifs, 
 the ftiot not having time to fpread, or you will tear 
 it to pieces, but do not let it be much farther, left 
 you wound to flightly to bring the bird down. The 
 flying marks, with refpecl to their motion and po- 
 fition are five, ift, moving towards you in a dire6t 
 line: adly, from you in a diredt line; 3dly, crofs 
 you; 4thly, circularly; 5f.hly, obliquely. Let the 
 iirft mark pafs, then take aim by advancing the 
 mouth of the piece above her head. Aim at the 
 fecond by raiung your piece till there is no fpace be- 
 tween the obje<S and the fight. When ) ou have a 
 traverfe or crofs mark, wait till it comes in fome 
 degree lineal, by g'-:tting forty yards to the right or 
 left, for this pofiv ion v/i;{ better allow eight feet in 
 the aim, than the other will two inches. When 
 the mark, is circular, wacch the courje, moving 
 
 round 
 
[ 240 3 
 round with your gun til! you gain the furtheft lineal 
 point, and then fire. In firing at a covey always 
 confine your aim to one. After the harveff^ when 
 the birds are become Ihy, watch their flight foon 
 after fun -fer, you will be directed by their call, arid 
 the next morning you will knov/ where to find them. 
 When a quail fifes, do not be in too much haite to 
 fire during her firft flight; her flight is always fliort, 
 and you may be fure to fpring her a fecond time, 
 when you are aware of her, and better prepared. 
 Tofhoot larks in frofty weather, load with as much 
 powder as Hiot, and fire among them as they rife, 
 for their wings being then expanded, you will kill 
 many more than if you fire at them on the ground. 
 Never fire at a mallard till you can get behind him, 
 for no {hot can enter his breaft. Do not fire full 
 againft the wind when it blows hard, for it will then 
 drive the ppwder into your face; and if it rains, 'im- 
 jnediately give over your fport. Never blow at the 
 mouth of youi piece after it has mifTed fire, left fome 
 latent fpark dicharge it through your head. Keep 
 your gun always dire6led from you, and your thumb 
 on the flint, which you {hould never hammer, be- 
 caufe the fparks may fall into the pan, and kill a 
 bve-ftander. 
 
 FINIS. 
 

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