The Master of Game: The Oldest English Book on HuntingEdward, of Norwich
History
The Master of Game: The Oldest English Book on Hunting
Edward, of Norwich
Hunting -- Early works to 1800
one of their rods, and when she is started, blow, holloa and rout as
before is said, and according to what the case requireth, do as before
is said and devised. And when she hath been well chased and well
retrieved, notwithstanding her rusing and squatting and reseating, so
that by strength at last she is bitten by the hounds, whoso is nearest
should start to take her whole from them, and hold her in his one hand
over his head high, and blow the death that men may gather thither,
and when they be come, then should she be stripped, all save the head,
and the gall and the paunch cast away, and the remnant should be laid
on a great staff or on a board, whoso hath it, or on the earth, and
then it should be chopped as small as it can be, so that it hang
together; and when it is so done then should one of the berners take
it up with the head and hold it as high as he is able in his hands,
and then whoso is most master, blow the death, and anon as he
beginneth every man help and holloa. And when the hounds have bayed,
as long as is wished by the aforesaid most master, then should the
berner pull as high as he can every piece from the other and cast to
every hound his reward. And then should the most master blow a mote
and stroke, if so be that he thinks that the hounds have done enough,
and else he should rest awhile, if the hounds be hot, till they be
cooled, and then led to the water to lap. And then if he wish blow
three motes and uncouple and speak and so do as before is said. And if
they will seek a covert for the hare and set greyhounds without, they
should blow and seek and speak in the manner as before is said, save
that if the hounds find anything what so ever it be, he shall rally
and jopey till he has seen it, or that he knows what it is (and if it
be an hare do as above is said),[237] and if it be ought else he shall
blow drawing with his horn and cry loud "So-how mon amy, so-how, sto
arere, so-how, so-howe," and seek forthwith again with three long
motes till the hare be found. Yet nevertheless if they be hart-hunters
that seek a covert for the hare, and their hounds find a fox, whoso
meeteth with him should blow out upon him to warn the fewterers[238]
that there is a thief in the wood. And if they run at the hare and the
hare happen to come out to the greyhounds in front of the raches and
be killed, the fewterer that let run should blow the death and keep it
as whole as he may till the hunters be come, and then should they
reward the hounds as before is said._
[227] "Back there!" from the Fr. _arrière_.
[228] "Out of couples, forward there, forward!" (Precisely the same
instructions are given by the later Twety and Gyfford.)
[229] "Gently, my friend, gently!"
[230] Quest, hunt, seek, also challenge.
[231] "Softly, there he has been!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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