RELAYS. In the early days of venery the whole pack was not allowed to hunt at the commencement of the chase. After the stag had been started from his lair by a limer, some hounds were uncoupled and laid on, the rest being divided off into relays, which were posted in charge of one or more _berners_ along the probable line of the stag, and were uncoupled when the hunted stag and the hounds already chasing him had passed. There were usually three relays, and two to four couples the usual number in each relay, though the number of couples depended, of course, on the size of the hunting establishment and the number of hounds in the kennel. G. de F. calls these relays simply, première, seconde, and tierce. The "Master of Game" calls the first lot of hounds uncoupled the "finders" (p. 165), though this seems rather a misnomer, as the harbourer with his limer (_see_ Limer) found and started the deer. The _vauntchase_ for the first relay, and the _midel_ speak for themselves, but we have little clue to the origin of _parfitieres_ for the third relay. Were they so called because they perfected or completed the chase, or because they were some of the staunchest hounds who could be depended upon to follow the _parfit, i.e._ the right line of the stag or animal hunted? (_see_ Appendix: Parfet). Old authorities seem to have differed in opinion as to whether the staunchest and slowest hounds should have been put in the first cry or in the last (Roy Modus, fol. xvi.; G. de F., p. 178; Lav., Chasse à Courre, pp. 297-8). In the "Boke of St. Albans" we read of the _vauntlay_, _relay_, and _allay_. The first was the name given to hounds if they were uncoupled and thrown off between the pack and the beast pursued, the relay were the hounds uncoupled after the hounds already hunting had passed by; the _allay_ is held: "Till all the houndes that be behynd be cum therto Than let thyn houndes all to geder goo That is called an _allay_." Instructions concerning when relays should be given always warn the _berner_ not to let slip the couples till some of the surest hounds have passed on the scent, and till he be sure that the stag they are hunting is the right one and not a substitute, _i.e._ one frightened and put up by the hunted stag. The "Master of Game" is careful also to say: "Take care that thou _vauntlay_ not" (p. 169). The discontinuing of relays seemed to have been begun first in Normandy and probably about the same time in England. In France the three relays of greyhounds which were used were called _Levriers d'estric--i.e._ those which were first let slip; _levriers de flanc_, those that attacked from the side; and _levriers de tête_, those that bar the passage in front of the game or head it, terms that correspond with our vauntlay, allay, and relay. In the "Master of Game's" chapter on the wolf these relays of greyhounds are indicated (p. 59).