The Boke of Saint Albans | Project Gutenberg

Lyke wise as ī the booke of hawkyng aforesayd are writyn and noted the termys of plesure belongyng to gentiƚƚ men hauyng delite therin. In thessame maner thys booke folowyng shewith: to sych gentiƚƚ personys the maner of huntyng for aƚƚ maner of beestys. wether thay be Beestys of venery. or of chace. or Rascaƚƚ. And also it shewith aƚƚ the termys cōuenyent as weƚƚ to the howndys as to the beestys a forsayd. And in certayn ther be many dyuerse of thaym. as it is declared in the booke folowyng.

Bestẏs of venerẏ.

Wheresoeuere ye fare by fryth or by feƚƚ
My dere chylde take hede how Tristram dooth you teƚƚ
How many maner beestys of venery ther were
Lystyn to yowre dame and she shaƚƚ yow lere
Fowre maner beestys of venery there are
The first of theym is the .hert. the secunde is the hare
The boore is oon of tho. the wolff and not oon moo

Bestẏs of the Chace.

¶ And where that ye cum in playne or in place
I shaƚƚ yow teƚƚ which be beestys of enchace
Oon of theym is the .Bucke. a nother is the Doo
The Fox and the Martron. and the wilde Roo
And ye shaƚƚ my dere chylde other beestys aƚƚ.
Where so ye hem fynde Rascaƚƚ ye shaƚƚ hem caƚƚ
In fryth or in feƚƚ: or in forest I yow teƚƚ.

Note here the aage of an hert.

¶ And for to speke of the hert iff ye wiƚƚ it lere
Ye shaƚƚ hym a .Calfe. caƚƚ at the fyrst yere
The secunde yere a .Broket. so shaƚƚ ye hym caƚƚ
The therde yere a .Spayad. lerneth thus aƚƚ
The fowrith yere a .Stagge. caƚƚ hym by any way
The fithe yere a .grete Stagge. youre dame bide yow say
The vi. yere caƚƚ ye him an .hert.
Doth so my childe wylis ye been in quart

To knaw the hede of an hert. & that is dẏuerse

¶ And of the horny that he then berith a bowte
The fyrst hede shaƚƚ be Iugett wyth owte
Ther in fyndyn wee suche dyuersite.
Natheles the .vi. yere euermoore at the leest
Thow shalt weƚƚ Iuge the perche of thessame beest
When he hath Awntelere with owt any lett
Ryaƚƚ and Surriaƚƚ also there Isett
And that in the toppe so when ye may hym keen
Then shaƚƚ ye caƚƚ hym forchyd an hert of tenne
And when he hath in the toppe .iij. of the selue
Then ye shaƚƚ caƚƚ hym trochid an hert of .xij.
And afterwarde in the toppe when ther .iiij. bene
Then shaƚƚ ye caƚƚ hym sommyd an hert of .xvi.
And from .iiij. forwarde watt so befaƚƚ
Be he neuer of so many ye shaƚƚ hym summed caƚƚ
Ryght of the nombre euyn that he is
Callith hym from .iiii. forth summed Iwys
Also haue ye sele an hert heded weele.

An Heerde. A Beve. A Sounder. A Route.

¶ My chylde callith herdys of hert and of hynde
And of Bucke and of doo where yo hem fynde
And a Beue of Roos what place thay be in
And a Sounder ye shaƚƚ of the wylde swyne
And a Rowte of wolues where thay passin inne
So shaƚƚ ye hem caƚƚ as many as thay bene

A Littill herde. A mẏdẏll heerd A grete heerd

¶ .xx. is a littyƚƚ herde though it be of hyndis
And .xl. is a mydyle herde to caƚƚ hym be kyndis
And .lxxx. is a grete herde caƚƚ. ye hem so
Be it hert be it hynde bucƚƚe or ellis doo

How ẏe shall saẏ a gret hert & not a fair & oder

¶ A grete hert when ye hym se so shaƚƚ ye hym caƚƚ
Bot neuermore a fayre hert for no thyng that may be faƚƚ
A grete hynde a grete bucke and a fayre doo
My sonnys where ye walke caƚƚ ye hem so
So ye shulde naame sich dere: and do as I yow lere

¶ what is a beuẏ of Roos grete or small

¶ And sex is a beue of Roos on a rawe
And .x. is a mydyƚƚ beuy fuƚƚ wele I it kawe
A grete beuy is .xij. when thay to gedre be
And so caƚƚ hem sonnys woere that ye hem se
The moore nombur than ywis: the gretter the beuy is

What is a Sounder of swẏne grete or small

¶ Twelfe make a Sounder of the wylde swyne
Xvi. a medyƚƚ Sounder what place thay be inne
A grete sounder of swyne .xx. ye shaƚƚ caƚƚ
Forr geet not this lession for thyng that may faƚƚ
Thynke what I say: my sonne nyght and day

Of the Roo huntẏng. brekẏng. and dressẏng

When ye hunt at the Roo then shaƚƚ ye say thoore

He crossies and tresones yowre howndys byfoore

A grete Roobucke ye caƚƚ hym not so

Bot a fayre Roobucke and a fayre doo

With the bowellis and with the bloode

Rewarde ye yowre howndes my sonnys so goode

¶ And eche foote ye shaƚƚ cutte in .iiij. I yow kenne

Take the bowellis and the bloode and do aƚƚ to gedre then

Yeuyth hit than to yowre howndys so

And moche the glaadder then thay wiƚƚ go

That to yowre howndes a rewarde is calt

For hit is eeten on the grownde and on the skynne dalte

¶ The Roo shaƚƚ be herdeled by veneri I weene

The .ij. forther legges the hede layde by twene

And take oon ender legge vp I yow pray

And that oder forder legge right as I yow say

vppon the oder forder legge booth ye hem pytte

And with that other forther legge vp ye hem knytte

Oon thys maner thus when ye haue wroght

Aƚƚ hoole to the kechen then hit shaƚƚ be broght

Saue that yowre howndes eete: the bowillis and the fete.

Now of thage & vndoẏng of the boore

¶ Now to speke of the boore the fyrst yere he is
A pygge of the Sounder called ale haue I blis
The secunde yere an hogge and so shaƚƚ he be
And an hoggestere when he is of yeris .iij.
And when he is of .iiij. yere a beore sheƚƚ he be
From the Sounder of the swyne then deꝑtiith he
A Synguler is he so: for a lone he wiƚƚ goo.
¶ when ye haue slayn the boore and wiƚƚ do hym right
Ye shaƚƚ vndo hym vnflayne when he shaƚƚ be dight
Xxx. bredys and .ij. of hym ye shaƚƚ make
By the law of venery as I dare vnder take
Thurgh yowre houndys by stryngth iff that he be dede
Thay shaƚƚ haue the bowyllis boyle with the brede
Cast vppon the grownde ther the boore was slayne
And that is calde a Rewarde so hunteris it sayne
vppon the erth so haue I blis: for that so eeten is

Now of the hare.

¶ Now for to speke of the hare my sonnys secureli
That beest kyng shaƚƚ be calde of aƚƚ venery
For aƚƚ the fayre spekyng and blawyng lerf sere
Commyth of sechyng and fyndyng of the hare
For my leif chylder I take it on honde
He is the meruellest beest that is in ony londe
For he fymaes and crotis and Roungeth euermoore
And beerith talow and gris: and a boue teeth hath be foore
And other while he is male: and so ye shaƚƚ hym fynde
And other while female and kyndelis by kynde
¶ And when he is female and kyndelis hym with in
In .iij. degrees he hem berith or he with hem twyn
Too Rough and .ij. smoth who wiƚƚ hem se
And ij. knottis also that kyndelis wiƚƚ be
When he is female so teƚƚ I my tale.

¶ The rewarde for howndẏs.

¶ When yowre houndis by strenath hath done her to dede
The hunter shaƚƚ rewarde hem then with the hede
With the shulderis and the sides and with the bowellis aƚƚ
And aƚƚ thyngꝭ with in the wombe saue onli the gaƚƚ
The paunche also: yeue hem noon of thoo.
Wich rewarde when oon the erth it is dalt.
With aƚƚ goode hunteris the .halow. it is calt
Then the loynes of the hare loke ye not forgete
Bot bryng hem to the kechyn for the lordis meete
And of this ilke hare speke we no mare.

Wiche beestes shall be flaẏne & wich stripte

¶ Now to speke of the bestes when thay be slayne
How many be strypte and how many be flayne
Aƚƚ that bere skyne and talow and Rounge leue me
Shaƚƚ be flayne safe the hare for he shaƚƚ stripte be
And aƚƚ that berith greece: and piles ther vppon
Euer shaƚƚ be strypte when thay be vndoon
On̄ theys maner play: thus ye shaƚƚ say.

Whiche beestis shall be reride with the lẏmer.

¶ My dere sonnys echeon now wiƚƚ I yow lere
How many maner beestys as with the lymere
Shaƚƚ be vpreryde in fryth or in felde
Booth the hert and the bucke and the boore so wilde
And aƚƚ other beestys that huntid shaƚƚ be
Shaƚƚ be sought and founde with Ratchis so fre
Say thus I yow tolde: my childer so bolde

The discreuẏng of a Bucke.

¶ And ye speke of the Bucke the fyrst yere he is
A fawne sowkyng on his dam say as I yow wis
The secunde yere a preket. the .iij. yere a sowreƚƚ
A sowre at the .iiij. yere the trowthe I yow teƚƚ
The .v. yere caƚƚ hym a Bucke of the fyrst hede
The .vi. yere caƚƚ hym a Bucke and do as I you rede

Of the hornẏs of a Bucke.

¶ The hornys of a grete Bucke or he so be
Most be summyd as I say herkenyth to me
Too braunchis first pawmyd he most haue
And .iiij. avauncers the soth iff ye wiƚƚ saue
And xxiiij. espelers and then ye may hym caƚƚ
Where so ye be a grete Bucke I teƚƚ yow aƚƚ

Of the Roobucke.

¶ And iff ye of the Roobucke wiƚƚ knaw thessame
The first yere he is a kyde soukyng on his dame
The secunde yere he is a gerle: and so be siche aƚƚ
The thirde yere an hemule loke ye hym caƚƚ
Robucke of the first hede he is at the iiij. yere
The .v. yere a Roobucke hym caƚƚ I yow lere
At saynt andrew day his hornys he wiƚƚ cast
In moore or in moos he hidyth hem fast
So that no man may hem sone fynde
Ellys in certayn he doos not his kynde
¶ At saynt Iamys day where so he go
Then shaƚƚ the Roobucke gendre with the Roo
And so boldely ther as ye durne
Then is he calde a Roobucke goyng in his turne
And iff ye may a Robucke sle with owt any fayle
And ye fynde that heue grece at his tayle
As sum Robuckys haue when ye hit fynde
Then shaƚƚ ye rere it as ye do of hert and of hynde
Also the Robucke as hit is weele kyde
At holyrode day he gooth to Ryde.
And vsith the bit: when he may gete hit

Now of the hert and of the hynde.

¶ Sonnys of the hert and the hynde lerne yit ye may
Ther thay draw to the herde at holi roode day
To the stepe then thay goon yche hote day at noon
Which stepe thay vsen my childer I yow say
Tiƚƚ hit be Myddesomere at the last way
The cause of the stepe is to weere hym fro the flee
Who so commyth to that place may se hit with his ighe
An other thyng thay vse my chylde also
The same seson of the yere to soyle to go

Of the criẏng of theẏs beestẏs.

¶ An hert belowys and a bucke gronys I fynde
And iche Roobucke certayne bellis by kynde
The noyes of theyes beestys thus ye shaƚƚ caƚƚ
For pride of theyre make thay vsen hit aƚƚ
Say chylde where ye goo: yowre dame taght you so

Merke well theẏs sesonẏs folowẏng.

¶ Tyme of grece begynnyth at mydsomer day
And tyƚƚ holi Roode day lastyth as I you say
¶ The seson of the fox fro the Natiuyte
Tyƚƚ the annunciacion of owre lady fre
¶ Seson of the Robucke at Ester shaƚƚ begynne
And tiƚƚ mychelmas lastith nygh or she blynne
¶ The seson of the Roo begynnyth at Michelmas
And hit shaƚƚ endure and last vntiƚƚ Candilmas
¶ At Michelmas begynnyth huntyng of the hare
And lastith tiƚƚ mydsomer ther nyƚƚ no man hit spare
¶ The seson of the wolfe is in iche cuntre
At the seson of the fox and euermore shaƚƚ be
¶ The seson of the boore is from the Natiuyte
Tiƚƚ the purification of owre lady so fre
For at the Natiuyte of owre lady swete
He may fynde where he goth vnder his feete
Booth in wodys and feldis corne and oder frute
When he after foode makyth any sute
Crabbys and acornys and nottis ther thay grow
Hawys and heeppes and other thyngꝭ ynow
That tiƚƚ the purification lastys as ye se
And makyth the Boore in seson to be
For while that frute may: last his time is neuer past

Of the huntẏng of the haare

Now to speke of the haare how aƚƚ shaƚƚ be wroght
When she shaƚƚ with houndes be foundyn and soght
The first worde to the houndis that the hunt shaƚƚ owt pit
Is at the keneƚƚ doore when he openys it
That aƚƚ may hym here: he shaƚƚ say arere.
For his howndes wolde cum to hastely
That is the first worde my sonne of venery
And when he hath couplyd his houndes ychoon
And is forth with hem to the felde goon
And when he has of cast his cowples at wiƚƚ
Then shaƚƚ he speke and say his howndes tiƚƚ
Hors de couple auaunt se auaunt twis so
And then So ho so ho. thries and no mo
And then say .Sa sa cy auaunt So how I you pray
And iff ye se yowre howndes haue good wiƚƚ to renne
And draw a waywarde fro yow say as I yow kenne
Here how amy. agayne hem caƚƚ so
Than .Sweff mon amy sweff. to make hem soft go
And iff any fynde of the haare ther he hath bene
And he hight Richer or Bemounde thus to hym bedene
Oyes a Bemounde le vaillant. and I shaƚƚ you avowe
Qe quida tron̄ la cowarde on la court cowe
That Bemonde the worthe with owt any fayle
That wenyth to fynde the coward with the short tayle

¶ And iff ye se where the haare at pasture hath bene

Iff hit be in the tyme of the corne grene

And iff yowre houndes chace weeƚƚ at yowre wiƚƚ

Then .iij. motis shaƚƚ ye blaw booth lowde and shiƚƚ

There oon and there an other there be pasturyde has

Then say .illoques illoques in thessame place

So say to hem in kynde: vnto tyme that ye hir fynde

¶ And then cast a signe aƚƚ the feld abowte

To se at hir pasture where she hath be in or owte

Oder at hir forme for gladli to be she is not lefe

Ther she hath pasturid in tyme of Relefe

And any hounde fynd or musyng of hir mace

Ther as she hath byne and is goon owt of that place

Ha sy touz cy est yll. so shaƚƚ ye say

venez auez so how sa. also lowde as ye may

Sa cy ad este so how. after that

Sa sa cy auaunt. and therof be not lat

And when ye se vnto the playne her at the last

In felde or in errabuƚƚ londe: or in to the wode past

And yowre hounde wiƚƚ fynde of her ther then

Say .la douce amy la est a. and do as I yow ken

That is to say swete frende: ther is he come low

For to dry here. and ther with ye shaƚƚ say so how

Illoques ey douce ey vaylaunt so how so how. then twy

Thus may yē now dere sonnys lerne of venery

And when ye come ther as ye trow he wiƚƚ dweƚƚ

And so semeth to yow weƚƚ then say as I yow teƚƚ

La douce la est a venuz. for to dweƚƚ thoore

And therwith .iij. sohow. say ye no moore

And iff it semes woƚƚ yow to fynde aƚƚ in fere

And wenen so to do then say .douce how here how here

How here douce how here how here he sittys

So shaƚƚ ye say my chyldre and for no thyng lettyz

Aƚƚ maner bestys that euer chasede wore

Haue oon maner of worde .so how. and no more

To fulfiƚƚ or vnfiƚƚ eche maner of chaas

The hunt euermoore in his mowth that worde he haas

And iff yowre houndys at a chase renne ther ye hunt

And the beest begynne to renne as herttis be wont

Or for to hanylon as doos the fox with his gyle

Or for to crosse as the Roo dooth oder while

Oder dweƚƚ so that yowre honndys cannot owte go

Then shaƚƚ ye say. hoo sa amy sa sa

A complex sa arere so how. sich is the play

And sohow as moch is as sa how to say

Bot for .sohow is short in speche when it is brought

Therfore say we .sohow bot sa how say we noght

And iff yowre houndis chase at hert or at haare

And thay renne at defaute thus ye shaƚƚ say thare

Icy sohow assayne assayne ston hoho

Sa assayne arere sohow theis wordes and no moo

And iff yowre houndes renne weeƚƚ at fox or at doo

And so fayle at defaute say thus ferther or ye goo

Ho ho ore swef aluy douce a luy. that thay here

Ho hoy assayne assayne sa arere

So how so how venez a coupler. and do as I yow kenne

The moore worshyp may ye haue among aƚƚ menne

Yowre craftis let be kydde: and do as I yow bydde

Aƚƚ my sonnys in same: and thus may ye konne of game

The boost that the maẏster hunter makẏthe to his man now here foloẏng ẏe maẏ here.

The mayster to his man makyth his Roys

That he knowith be kynde what the hert doys

Att huntyng euermoore when he goys

Quod the man to his maister that were good loore

For to knaw what he doos the houndes befoore

What dooth he mayster quod the man

He dooth quod he eeuyn as thow mayst se

Brekyth. and so dooth no beest bot he

When brekyth he quod the man what is that to say

With his feete he opynys the erth ther he gooth a way

What is the cause quod the man maister I the pray

That the hert be foore the houndes when thay hym hunt ay

That then to the Ryuer he wellis for to goon

Quod the maister to the man ther ar causes toon

For .ii. cawses the hert desirith to the Rẏuer. & note wele theis termẏs foloẏng descende & oder

¶ Oon cause for the Ryuer descende he is ay
And so is he to the water when he takith the way
Why callist thow hym .descende. mayster I the pray
For he payris of is myght the sooth I the say
A nother is to the water whi he gooth other whyle
The howndes that hym sewen to founde to begyle
¶ Yit of this hert quod his man maister wolde I ken
In to the water when he leppys what he makes then
He proferith quod the mayster and so ye shaƚƚ say
For he wot not hym selfe yit how he wiƚƚ a way
Whether ouer the water he wiƚƚ for passe
Or turne ayen thessame way ther he fyrst was
Therfore hit is profre as theys hunteris sayne
And Reprofer iff thessame way he turne ayene
At that oder side of the water iff he vp sterte
Then shaƚƚ ye caƚƚ hit the .soule. of the hert
And that is for the water of his leggee weete
Downe in to the steppis ther fallyn of his fete
Ayen the water his way eeuen iff he hent
Then brekyth he water ther to take yow tent
And iff with the water go algate yow hit shaƚƚ
Defoulant the water an hert so hym caƚƚ

Now of the Nomblis merke wele the termẏs

¶ The man to his mayster spekyth fuƚƚ blyth
Off the nomblys of the hert that he wolde hym kith
How mony endys ther shaƚƚ be hem with inne
Quod the mayster bot oon thyk nor thynne
And that is bot the Gargilon to speke of aƚƚ bi dene
And aƚƚ theys oder .crokes and Roundulis. bene

The Auauncers. the Forchers

¶ Yit wolde I wit and thow woldest me leere
The crokes and the Roundellis of the Nomblys of ye dere
Oon croke of the Nomblis lyth euermoore
vnder the throote bolle of the beest be foore
That callid is .auauncers. who so can hem kene
And the hyndermost parte of the Nomblis thene
That is to say the Forchers that liggyn euer betwene
The .ij. theys of the beest that oder crokis euene
In the Mydref that callid is the rondeƚƚ also
For the sides rownde a bowte coruen it is fro
My deere sonnys bolde: say of game I thus yow tolde

¶ Yit wolde I witt maister whi theys houndes aƚƚ
Bayen and cryen when thay hym ceche shaƚƚ
For thay wolde haue helpe that is thayr skyƚƚ
For to slee the beest that thay renne tyƚƚ
¶ Teƚƚ me mayster quod the man what is the skyll
Why the haare woolde so faynne renne ayenest the hiƚƚ
Quod the mayster for her leggys be shorter be foore
Then be hynde: that is the skyƚƚ of yoore
¶ What is the cause quod the man yt men say of yt beest
That the haare sittith aye when she takyth heir reest
And oder beestys ly: as communeli men sayne
For .ij. causes quod the mayster I teƚƚ the playne
Oon is for she hurcles vppon hir houghis ay
And aƚƚ other beestys: can the side to the grownde lay
An oder cause ther is and that is noo lees
For she beerith booth sewet and pure greece

¶ yit wolde I mayster quod the man fayne witt more
Where lyth the suet of the haare be hynde or befoore
Ouer the loyne quod the mayster of iche haare thow take
By twix the tayle and the chyne euen oon the backe
¶ yit wolde I mayster quod the man thees at the leer
What thow walkest in the felde with thy lymeer
Ther as an hert pasturred hath: or yt thow hym se
To knawe faatt or lene whether that he be
I can quod the mayster weeƚƚ teƚƚ the thys caas
Whaite wele where he lay: and where he fumeyed haas
Yolow and englaymede iff that it be
Then is he fatt I the teƚƚ lerne theys of me
And iff it be booth blacke and harde and clene
Then he is meegre larbre and leene
And of thys ilke thyng iff thow leue not me
Take heede in the wyntre and then thow may it se

¶ Yit mayster of the haare fayn wolde I wit moore
What he dooth when he gooth the howndys befoore
He sorth and resorth ther he gooth a way
Pryckyth and repryckyth the sooth for to say
Bot wat is that quod the man when thay so doone
That shaƚƚ I quod the mayster teƚƚ the fuƚƚ soone
In the feeldes wheer he gooth no ways beene
Ther he sorth when he steppyth and hit may not be seene
And after when he dowblith and turnyth agaynne
Then he resoorth as goode hunteres saynne
And when he rennyth in the way dry or weete
Then men may fynde fostalx of clees or of feete
That pryckyth the haare aye when he dooth soo
And repryckyth then iff he agaynne goo

¶ Maister yit quod the man what is this to say
A vauntellay a lay. and a Relay.
That shaƚƚ I teƚƚ the quod he: for a littiƚƚ byȝete
When the howndys ar set: an hert for to mete
And other hym chasen and folowyn to take
Then aƚƚ the Relais thow may vppon hem make
Even at his comyng yf thow lett thy howndys goo
While the oder that be behynde fer arn hym froo
That is .a vauntelay. and so thow shaƚƚ hit caƚƚ
For thay are than fer before thoos oder howndes aƚƚ
And an hynderyng grete aƚƚ oder vntiƚƚ
For thay may not that day nomore sewe at wiƚƚ
And holde thyn houndes styƚƚ iff that thow so do
Tiƚƚ aƚƚ the houndes that be behynd be cum therto
Than let thyn houndes aƚƚ to geder goo
That called is an allay. and looke thow say so
And that hynderyng is yit to them that be behynde
For the restede wiƚƚ ouergo the weere by kynde
A relay is after when the houndes ar past
Fer be fore with the hert that hiet hem fast
To let thyn houndes fer after hem goon
And that is then a fortheryng to hem echoon
For and thyn houndes haue ouertake thees oder bi destres
Then shaƚƚ they aƚƚ folue hym of oon sweftnes

What is a forloẏng.

¶ Yit mayster wolde I fayn thus at yow leere
What is a forloyng for that is goode to here
That shaƚƚ I say the quod he the soth at lest
When thy houndes in the wode sechyn any beest
And the beest is stoƚƚ a way owt of the fryth
Or the houndes that thow hast meten therwith
And any other houndes before: than may with hem mete
Thees oder houndes arn then forloyned I the hete
For the beste and the houndes arn so fer before
And the houndes be hynde be weere and soore
So that thay may not at the best cum at ther wiƚƚ
The houndes before forloyne hem and that is the skyƚƚ
Thay be ay so fere be fore to me iff thow wiƚƚ trust
And thys is the forloyne lere hit iff thow lust

Wiche thre thẏnges cause the houndes to endure

¶ Yit wolde I weete mayster iff it ware thy wiƚƚ
Whan thyn houndes renne an hert vntiƚƚ
And ay the forther they goo the gladder thay bene
For .iij. causes quod he oft tyme is sene
Oon is when the hert rennys fast on a rese
He swetith that hit rennyth downe thorogh owt his clees
The houndes when thay fynde of that it is swete
Then ar thay leuer to renne and lother to lete
An oder cause when the hert ny no moore may
Then wiƚƚ he white froth caste ther he gooth a way
When thyn houndes fynde of that then ar thay glad
In hope thay shaƚƚ hym haue and renne so rad
The .iij. cause is of the hert when he is nygh dede
Then he castys owt of his mowth froth and blade rede
The houndes knaw that he shaƚƚ be take soone than
And euer the forther they goo the gladdir they renne
Thes are the causes .iij. that cawses hem gladde to be

Wich best a slau hounde takis as sone as aswift

¶ What beest yit mayster I ax it for non yƚƚ
That moost hoole aƚƚ houndes rennen vntiƚƚ
And also sone the slowyst shaƚƚ hym ouer take
As the swyftist shaƚƚ do what way so euer he take
That beest a Bausyn hight a Brok or a Gray
Thees .iij. namys he hath the sooth for to say
And this is cause therof: for he wiƚƚ by kynde
Go thorugh thornys a way the thykest he may fynde
Ther as the swyftist houndes may no forther goo
Then the slowest of foote be he neuer so thro

Whẏ the hare fumaẏs and croteis.

¶ yit mayster wolde I wete whi that men sayn
That the haare fumays and croteys booth playn
And aƚƚ other maner beestys that huntid be
Femyon̄ or fenon̄ as we wele hit se
That shaƚƚ I weeƚƚ teƚƚ the quod the mayster then
For why that he femays and crotis weeƚƚ I ken
He femaith for he beryth talow. this is no lees
And he croteis men sayn for he beerith grees
And Roukis on his houghis when he lettis it go
And beestys of sich kynde fynde wee no moo
How mony beestis femayen̄ mayster fayn̄ I wolde lere
And how many fenon̄ that ware goode to here
Aƚƚ this to teƚƚ quod the mayster I holde hit bot lihgt
Aƚƚ beestis that beere talow and stonde vpright
Femayen when thay do so say as I the kenne
And aƚƚ oder fenon̄ that rowken downe thenne.

How nonẏ maner beestis of venerẏ Releue

¶ How many maner beestis yit mayster me teƚƚ
Off venery Releuen by fryth or by ffeƚƚ
To this quod the mayster I shaƚƚ the answare
Off aƚƚ beestis bot .ij. the hert and the haare
From the Annunciacion of owre lady day
The hert then releues the sooth for to say
Tiƚƚ saynt Petris day and paule. and the haare right:
From the Purificacion of owre lady bright:
Tiƚƚ the translacion Releuys: leue ye me
Off saynt Thomas tide of Caunturburie.

To vndo the wẏlde Boore.

¶ Yit my chylde of the boore for to speke moore
When he shaƚƚ be vndoon I teƚƚ yow be foore
xxxij. bredis ye shaƚƚ of hym make
Now wiƚƚ yow my sonnys wit weere ye shaƚƚ them take
The fyrst of theym is the hede what euer be faƚƚ
An oder is the coler and so ye shaƚƚ hit caƚƚ
The sheldys on the sholderis: therof shaƚƚ .ij. be
Then eyder side of the swyne depertid in .iij.
The peestellis and the gambons deꝑte theym .ij.
And .ij. feleteys he hath: forgete not thoo
Then take is legges and is feete & shewith yowre sleght
For they shaƚƚ of his bredys be countid for .viij.
Departith the chyne in .iiij. pecis and nomoo
And take ther yowre bredis .xxx. and .ij.
And fayre put the grece whan it is take a way
In the bledder of the boore my chylde I yow pray
For hit is a medecyne: for mony maner pyne