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
if he would hunt any more. And if the King say yea, then shall the
Master of the Game if the greyhounds or bows or stable need not to be
removed, blow two long motes for the hounds, and forthwith blow
drawing with three long motes that men should stand still, and the
hunters may know that they should come to a new seeking with their
hounds. And when the hounds be come there where they should uncouple
blow three long motes and do and seek and blow, as is before said. And
if the bows and greyhounds and stable should be removed, then should
he blow a mote and stroke, without the mote in the middle, for to draw
men together, and thereby may men know that the king will hunt more
ere he go home. And when men come together, then should the Master of
the Game see to the placing of the King and of the Queen and of the
bows and of the greyhounds and of the stable, as I have said here
before, and the hunters to their seeking, and of all other things do
in the same manner as I have said. And if the king will hunt no more,
then should the Master of his Game, if the King will not blow, blow a
mote and stroke with a mote in the middle and the sergeant or whoso
bloweth next him, and no man else, should blow the first mote but only
the middle, and so every man as oft as he likes to stroke, if they
have obtained that which they hunted for. And the middle mote should
not be blown save by him that bloweth next the master. And thereby may
men know as they hear men stroke homeward whether they have well sped
or not. And this way of stroking should serve in the manner I have
rehearsed for all hunting save when the hart is slain with strength.
And when the mote is blown and stroked, then should the Master of the
Game lead the King to the curée, and show it him, and no man as I have
said above should come within it, but every man_ (keep) _without it.
And then the King shall tell the Master of the Game what deer he would
were_ (given away) _and to whom, and_ (after this) _if the King wishes
to stay he may. Nevertheless he usually goes home when he hath done
this. And then should the Master of the Game begin at one row and so
forth, and tythe all the deer right as they lie, rascal and others,
and deliver it to the proctors of the church that ought to have it.
And then_ (separate) _the deer that the king commandeth him to
deliver, and if any of them that should have part of the deer be not
there he should charge the master forester to send it home, and then
he should deliver a certain_ (part) _of the remnant to the afore said
sewers and to the sergeant of the larder and the remnants should be
given by the Master of the Game, some to the gentlemen of the country
by the information of the forester or parker, as they have been
friendly to the bailie, and the remnant to the officers and hunters as
he liketh best. And it is to be known that every man bow and fewterer
that hath slain anything should mark it that he might challenge his
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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