Part 2
Having your Kennel of Hounds in good order and plight, and being desirous to enjoy those Pleasures, for which we have observed the aforesaid Rules; Lead them forth, and to your Game (Gentlemen:) Only take this _Caution_ along with you; Do not forget to have in your Pack a couple of _Hounds_, called _Hunters in the Highwayes_, that will Scent upon hard Ground, where we cannot perceive Pricks or Impressions; and for your Huntsman's and your own Ease, let a couple of _Old stench Hounds_ accompany you, by whose sure Scent, the too great Swiftness of the young and unexperienced Ones may be restrained and regulated; and if you please, take the following Observations with you, and away.
Of _Hart_ or _Stag-Hunting_.
Waving the Praises of this Creature, and the large _Encomiums_ due to his several Excellencies, we'll come to the Doctrinal Part, and understand the _Age_ of this our Game, which is known by several Marks, amongst which this is the most authentick: That if you take his view in the ground, and perceive he has a large Foot, a thick Heel, a deep Print, open Cleft and long space, then be assured he is Old; as the Contrary concludes him Young.
But _Where_ and _When_ shall we find him? Examine the following Annual or monethly Season-Description, and you shall find him; begining at the end of Rutting-time, that is, In
_November_, in Heaths among Furs, Shrubs and Whines.
_December_, in Forrests among thick and strong Woods.
_January_, in Corners of the Forrests, Corn-fields, _Wheat_, _Rye_, &c.
_February_ and _March_, Amongst young and thick Bushes.
_April_ and _May_, in Coppices and Springs.
_June_ and _July_, in Out-Woods and Purlieus nearest the Corn Fields.
_September_ and _October_, After the first showers of Rain, they leave their Thickets, and go to Rut, during which time there is no certain place to find them in.
When you have found him in any of these places, be careful to go up the Wind; and the best time to find him is _before Sun-rising_, when he goes to feed; then watch him to his Leir, and having lodged him, go and prepare; if he is not forced, he will not budge till Evening. Approaching his Lodging, cast off your _Finders_, who having Hunted him a Ring or two, cast in the rest; and being in full Cry and maine Chace, Comfort and Cheer them with Horne and Voice. Be sure to take notice of him by some _Mark_, and if your Dogs make _Default_, rate them off and bring them to the Default back, and make them cast about till they have undertaken the first Deer; Then cheer them to the utmost, and so continue till they have either set up or slain him. It is the Nature of a _Stag_, to seek for one of his kind, when he is Imbost or weary, and beating him up, ly down in his place; therefore have a watchful eye unto _Change_. As likewise by taking _Soil_ (_i. e._ Water) he will swim a River just in the middle down the Stream, covering himself all over, but his Nose, keeping the middle, least by touching any Boughes he leave a Scent for the Hounds; And by his Crossings and Doublings he will endeavour to baffle his Pursuers: In these Cases have regard to your _Old Hounds_, as I said before. When he is _Imbost_ or weary, may be known thus: By his Creeping into holes, and often lying down, or by his running stiff, high and lumpering, slavering and foaming at Mouth, shining and blackness of his Hair, and much Sweat; And thus much for _Stag_ or _Hart Hunting_. As for the _Buck_ I shall not speak any thing, for he that can Hunt a _Stag_ well, cannot fail Hunting a _Buck_ well. As likewise for the _Roe-Hunting_, I refer you to what is spoken of the _Hart_ or _Stag_.
_Of Hare Hunting._
As for the _Time_, the most proper to begin this Game, note; That about the middle of _September_ is best and to end towards the latter end of _February_, when surcease, and destroy not the young early Brood of _Leverets_; and this season is most agreeable likewise to the nature of _Hounds_; moist and cool. Now for the _Place_ where to find her, you must examine and observe the Seasons of the Year; for in Summer or Spring time, you shall find them in Corn-fields and open places, not sitting in Bushes, for fear of Snakes, Adders, _&c._ In _Winter_ they love Tuffs of Thorns and Brambles, near Houses: In these places you must regard the _Oldness_ or _Newness_ of her _Forme_ or Seat, to prevent Labour in Vain: If it be plain and smooth within, and the Pad before it flat and worn, and the Prickles so new and perceptible, that the Earth seems black, and fresh broken, then assure your self the Forme is new, and from thence you may Hunt and recover the _Hare_; if the contrary (which narrowly observe) it is Old, and if your _Hounds_ call upon it, rate them off; the Scent is Old. When the _Hare_ is started and on Foot, step in where you saw her pass, and hollow in your _Hounds_ till they have undertaken it, then go on with full Cry. Above all be sure to observe her first Doubling, which must be your direction for all that day; for all her other after Doublings will be like that. When she is thus reduced to the _slights_ and _shifts_ she makes by Doublings and Windings, give your Dogs _Time_ and _Place_ enough to cast about your Rings, for unwinding the same; and observe her _leaps_ and _skips_ before she squat, and beat curiously all likely places of Harbour: She is soon your Prey now.
_Of Coney-Catching._
Their _Seasons_ are alwayes, and the way of taking them thus: Set Pursenets on their Holes, and put in a _Ferret_ close muzzled, and she will bolt them out (being a natural Enemy to them) into the Nets: Or blow on the suddain the Drone of a Bag-Pipe into the Burrows, and they will boult out: Or for want of either of these two, take powder of _Orpine_ and _Brimstone_ and boult them out with the Smother: But pray use this last seldom, unless you would destroy your Warren. But for this sport _Hays_ are to be preferred above all.
_Of Fox Hunting._
_January_, _February_, and _March_, are the best Seasons for Hunting the _Fox_ above ground, the scent being then strong, and the coldest Weather for the _Hounds_, and best finding his Earthing. Cast off your sure Finders first, and as the _Drag_ mends, more; but not too many at once, because of the Variety of Chaces in Woods and Coverts. The night before the day of Hunting, when the _Fox_ goes to prey at midnight, find his Earths, and stop them with Black Thorns and Earth. To find him draw your _Hounds_ about Groves, Thickets, and Bushes near Villages; Pigs and Poultrey inviting him to such Places to Lurk in. They make their Earths in hard Clay, stony ground, and amongst Roots of Trees; and have but one Hole straight and long. He is usually taken, with _Hounds_, _Grey-Hounds_, _Terriers_, _Nets_ and _Gins_.
_Of Badger-Hunting._
This Creature has several Names, as _Gray_, _Brock_, _Boreson_, or _Bauson_; and is hunted thus. First go seek the Earths and Burrows where he lieth, and in a clear Moon-shine Night, stop all the Holes but one or two, and in these fasten Sacks with drawing strings; and being thus set, cast off your _Hounds_ and beat all the Groves, Hedges, and Tuffs within a mile or two about, and being alarum'd by the Doggs they will repair to their Burrows and Kennells, and running into the Bags are taken. Other Methods there are which are used, but the Common usage makes me omit.
_Of the Martern or wild-Cat._
These two Chaces are usually hunted in _England_, and are as great Infesters of Warrens, as the two last mentioned Vermine, but are not purposely to be sought after; unless the Huntsman see their place of Prey, and can go to it; and if the _Hound_ chance to cross them, sport may be had. But no Rule can be prescribed how to find or hunt them.
_Of the Otter._
This Creature useth to lye near Rivers in his Lodging, which he cunningly & artificially builds with Boughs, Twiggs and Sticks. A great Devourer of Fish, and eatable in some Countries, where they have _good stomacks_. It is a very sagacious and exquisitely smelling Creature, and much Cunning and Craft is required to hunt him. But to take him, observe this in short: Being provided with _Otter-Spears_ to watch his Vents, and good _Otter-Hounds_, beat both sides of the Rivers banks, and you'll soon find if there is any. If you find him, and perceive where he swims under Water, get to stand before him when he _Vents_, (_i. e._ takes breath) and endeavour to strike him with the spear: If you miss him, follow him with your Hound, and if they are good for _Otter_, they will certainly beat every Tree-root, _Bulrush-Bed_, or _Osier-Bed_, so that he cannot escape you.
_Of the Wild Goat._
This being a _Welsh-Chace_, I thought it not amiss to say something of it, as not altogether Forreign. The _Wild-Goat_ is as bigg and as fleshy as a _Hart_, but not so long-legg'd. The best time for hunting them is, at _All-hollontide_; and having observed the Advantages of the Coasts, Rocks, and places where the _Goats_ lie, set Nets and Toiles towards the Rivers and Bottoms; for 'tis not to be imagined, the Doggs can follow them down every place of the Mountaines. Stand some on the tops of the Rocks, and as Occasion offers throw down Stones; and place your Relays at the small Brooks or Waters, where the _Goat_ comes down; but let them not tarry till the _Hounds_ come in, that were cast off.
_Thus much for Hunting._
Of Racing.
As all _Beasts_ are Subservient to _Man_, and he a Liberty and Power to Use them, and make them his Instruments, for the Procurement of his _Profit_, or _Pleasure_; so is there not a Creature more Serviceable to man in either of these, as the _Horse_. A _Beast_ Valiant, Strong, Nimble and Hardy, the Vivacity of whose Spirits, neither Heat can scorch, or dry up, nor Cold benumb or freez; he is Valiant, Watchfull, and Laborious, naturally Cleanly, and of exquisite Scent; Gentle and Loving to man, docile, and of a retentive Memory, and Apt or Fit for the performing any Service wherein man employes him. And for the Use of which I am now speaking (_Racing_) he ought to be endued with these Qualifications. That he have the _Finest Cleanest Shape_ possible, and above all, _Nimble_, _Quick_, and _Fiery_, _apt to Fly with the least Motion_; nor is a long Bodied contemptible, it assuring _Speed_, tho it signifies _Weakness_ too. The _Arabian_, _Barbary_, or his Bastard, are esteemed the best for this Use, these excelling _Jennets_, though they are good too.
Having furnished your self with a _Horse_ thus qualified, you are to observe his right and due _Ordering_, before your designed _Racing_. _Bartholomew-tide_ is the most proper time to _take him from Grass_; the day before being Dry, Fair, and Pleasant: That Night let him stand conveniently, to empty his Body; the next day _Stable_ him, and feed him with _Wheat-straw_ that day, and no longer; lest you exceeding that time, it straighten his _Guts_, heat his _Liver_, and hurt his _Blood_; for want of _Straw_, Riding him Morning and Evening to _Water_, Airing, or other moderate Exercises will serve. Then feed him with good old sweet _Hay_, and according to the Season, and Temperature of his Body clothe him; for a _Smooth Coat_ shews _Cloth_ enough, and a _Rough Coat_ want of it. Observe likewise where you _Water_ your _Race-Horse_, that it be a Running _Water_, or Clear _Spring_, far distant (a Mile or more) from the _Stable_, adjoyning to some _Levell_; where after he has once well drunk, Gallop him, and so _Water_ and _Scope_ him, till that he refuse to drink more, for that time; then Walk him gently Home, (being an Hour on your way, or more) clothe, and stop him round with soft _Whisps_, and let him stand an Hour upon his _Bridle_, and after feed him with sweet sound _Oats_, throughly dryed either with _Age_, _Kilne_, or _Sun_; if he be low of Flesh, or bad Stomacht, add a third part of Clean Old _Beans_, to two parts of _Oats_, or wash his _Oats_ in Strong _Beer_ or _Ale_.
For _Dressing_ take these _Rules_. _Dress_ your _Horse_ twice a day, before you _Water_ him, both Morning, and Evening, thus: _Curry_ him after he is uncloath'd, from his _Ear-tips_ to his _Tayle_, and his whole Body intirely (save his Legs under the Knees, and Cambrels) with an _Iron Comb_; then Dust him, and Rub him with a _Brush_ of _Bristles_ over again. Dust him again, and wetting your hand in clean Water, rub off all the loose Hairs, and so rub him dry as at first; then with a fine _Hair Cloth_ rub him all over; and Lastly, with a fine _Linnen Cloth_; and then pick his _Eyes_, _Nostrils_, _Sheath_, _Cods_, _Tuel_, and _Feet_, clean.
The best _Food_ for your _Racer_, is good, sweet, well dryed, sunned, and beaten _Oats_: Or else _Bread_ made of one part _Beans_, and two parts _Wheat_ (_i. e._) two _Bushells_ of _Wheat_, to one of _Beans_, ground together: Boult through a fine _Range_ half a _Bushell_ of fine _Meal_, and bake that in two or three _Loaves_ by it self, and with _Water_, and good store of _Barme_, knead up, and bake the rest in great _Loaves_, having sifted it through a _Meal-sieve_: [But to your _Finer_, you would do well to put the _Whites_ of Twenty or Thirty _Eggs_, and with the _Barme_ a little _Ale_, 'tis no matter how little _Water_:] With the _Courser_ feed him on his Resting dayes, on his Labouring dayes with the _Finer_.
The best _Time for feeding_ your _Runner_ on his _Resting-dayes_ is; After his _Watering_ in the Morning, at _One_ a Clock at Noon, after his _VVatering_ in the Evening, and at _Nine_ or _Ten_ a Clock at Nights: On his _Dayes of Labour_, Two Hours after he is throughly Cold, outwardly and inwardly, as before.
As for the Proportion of Meat, I shall not confine your Love to a Quantity, only give him a little at once, as long as his Appetite is Good: When he begins to fumble and play with his Meat, hold your Hand, shut up your Sack.
As for his _Exercise_ it ought to be Thrice a Week, as his bodily Condition requires; if he be foul, moderate Exercise will break his Grease; if clean, then as you judge best, taking heed of breaking his Mettle, or discouraging him, or laming his Limbs. Before you air him to add to his Wind, it is requisite to give him a raw Egg broken in his mouth: If your Horse be very _Fat_, air him before Sun-rising and after Sun-set; if _Lean_, deprive him not of the least strength and Comfort of the _Sun_ you can devise. To make him _Sweat_ sometimes by coursing him in his Cloathes is necessary, if moderate; but without his Cloaths, let it be sharp and swift. See that he be _empty before you Course him_; and it is wholesome to wash his Tongue and Nostrills with _Vinegar_, or _piss_ in his Mouth, before you back him. And after his Exercise, cool him before you come home, house, litter and rub him well and dry; then cloath him, and give him after every Course a Scouring thus prepared.
_For scouring a Race Horse._
Take 20 _Raisins of the Sun_ stoned, 10. _Figgs_ slit in the midst, boyle them till they be thick in a Pottle of Fair Water, mix it with Powder of _Annis-Seeds_, _Lycoras_, and _Sugar-candy_, till it come to a stiff Paste, make them into round Balls, roul them in Butter, and give him three or four of them the next morning after his Course, and ride him an hour after, and then set him up Warm. Or this may be preferred, being both a Purge and a Restorative, a Cleanser and a Comforter, thus prepared.
Take three Ounces of _Annis-Seeds_, six Drams of _Cummin-Seeds_, one Dram and half of _Carthamus_, one Ounce and two Drams of _Fennugreek-Seed_, one Ounce and half of _Brimstone_; Beat all these to a fine Powder, and searse them; then take a Pint and two Ounces of _Sallet Oyl_, a pint and half of _Honey_, and a Pottle of _White-wine_; then with a sufficient Quantity of fine white Meal, knead and work all well into a stiff Paste; keep it in a clean Cloath, for use. When occasion requires, dissolve a Ball of it in a Pail of Water, and after Exercise give it him to drink in the Dark, that he may not see the Colour, and refuse it: If he does refuse, let Fasting force him to be of another mind.
To conclude, those Instructions, which are enumerated by Mr. _Markham_, I will give you in short before you run, and then away as fast as you can.
_Course not your Horse hard four or five dayes before your Match, lest you make his Limbs sore, and abate his Speed._
_Muzzle him not (except a foul Feeder) above two or three Nights before the Race, and the Night before his bloody Courses._
_Give him sharp, as well as gentle, Courses on the Race he is to run._
_Shoe him a day before you run him._
_Let him be empty on the Match Day._
_Saddle him in the Stable, and fix to him the Girths and Pannel with Shoo-makers Wax._
_Lead him with all Gentleness to his Course, and let him smell other Horses Dung to provoke him to stale_, &c.
And Lastly, Being come to the starting place rub him well, uncloath him, then take his Back, and the Word given, with all Gentleness and Quietness possible, start and away; _And God speed you well_.
Of Hawking,
I shall not insist on any large _Encomiums_ of this Recreation, only that it is a most _Princely and serious Pleasure_; nor shall I amuse you with subtle and nice _Distinctions_, and things no way material; But will inform you with what is meerly necessary for the right _Understanding and Use_ of this Noble Art. I shall begin then with _Hawks_, their _Names_ and _Flights_.
_Of Hawks there are two sorts._
The Long-Winged Hawks.
_Faulcon_ and _Tiercle-gentle_. _Gerfaulcon_ and _Jerkin_. _Saker_ and _Sakaret_. _Lanner_ and _Lanneret_. _Barbary Faulcon._ _Merlin_ and _Jack_. _Hobby_ and _Jack_.
The Short-Winged Hawks.
_Eagle_ and _Iron_. _Goshawk_ and _Tiercel_. _Sparrow-Hawk_ and _Musket_.
There are others too of inferiour sort as,
_Ring-Tail._ _Raven_ and _Buzzard_. _Forked Kite._ _Hen-driver_, &c.
And as the _Age_ of these _Hawks_ is, so we name them, as
The First Year a _Soarage_. The Second Year an _Intermewer_. The Third Year a _White Hawk_. The Fourth Year a _Hawk of the First Coat_.
Thus much for their _Names_, now we come to speak of the _Flights_ of these _Hawks_; which are these
The _Faulcon-Gentle_, for _Partridge_ or _Mallard_. _Gerfaulcon_, will fly at the _Herne_. _Saker_, at the _Crane_ or _Bittern_. _Lanner_, at the _Partridge_, _Pheasant_ or _Choofe_. _Barbary-Faulcon_, at the _Partridge_ only. _Merlin_ and _Hobby_, at the _Lark_, or any small Bird. _Goshawk_ and _Tiercel_, at the _Partridge_, or _Hare_. _Sparrow-Hawk_, at the _Partridge_ or _Black-Bird_. And the _Musket_, at the _Bush_.
Thus much for their several proper _Flights_, we are now come to their _Manning_, the Method of which being generally one and the same (though it has been the Labour of some to spend much Time, and many Words in treating of the various wayes of _Manning Hawks_, and yet comes all to one effect) I shall in short (according to the Design of this _Epitome_) lay down this Rule: That you watch, and keep them from Sleep, continually carrying them upon your _Fist_, familiarly stroak them with a Wing of some Dead _Fowle_, or the like, and play with them; Accustome to gaze, and look in their Face with a Loving, Smiling, Gentle Countenance; and that will make her acquainted, and familiar with Man.
Having made them familiar, the next thing is to _Bring them to the Lure_, (which the _Faulconer_ makes of _Feathers_, and _Leather_ much like a _Fowle_, which he casts into the Air, and calls the _Hawk_ to) which is after this manner. Set your _Hawk_ on the _Perch_, unhood her, and shew her some _Meat_ within your _Fist_, call her by _Chirping_, _Whistling_ or the like, till she comes, then Feed her with it; if she comes not, let her Fast, and be sharp set: _Short-winged Hawks_, are properly said to be _Called_, not _Lured_. Make her bold, and acquainted with _Men_, _Dogs_, and _Horses_, and let her be eager and sharp-set, before you shew her the _Lure_; knowing her _Luring_ Hours; and let both sides of the _Lure_ be garnished with warm, and bloody _Meat_; let her likewise know your _Voice_ well; so that being well acquainted with _Voice_, and _Lure_, the Hearing of the one, or Sight of the other, makes her Obedient; which you must reward by _Feeding_, or punish by _Fasting_. But before _Luring_ (or any _Flight_) it is requisite to _Bathe_ your _Hawk_ in some quiet and still shallow _Brook_, or for want of that in a Large _Bason_, shallow _Tub_, or the like, lest being at Liberty, you lose your _Hawk_, (whose Nature requires such Bathing) and make her rangle. Now to make her know her _Lure_, is thus: Give your _Hawk_ to another, and having loosned in readiness her Hood-strings, and fastened a _Pullet_ to the _Lure_, go a little distance, cast it half the length of the string about your Head, still _Luring_ with your Voice, unhood your _Hawk_, and throw it a little way from her: If she stoop and seize, let her plume the _Pullet_, and feed on it upon the _Lure_: Then take her and Meat on your Fist, Hood her, and give her the Tiring of the Wing, or Foot of the said _Pullet_.
Having _Manned_ and _Lured_ your _Hawk_, before you bring her to her _Flight_, one thing is to be observed and done, called in the _Faulconers Dialect_, _Enseaming_, which is to cleanse her from _Fat_, _Grease_, & _Glut_, known by her round _Thighs_, and full _Meutings_; and thus you may do it: In the Morning when you feed her, give her a bit or two of _Hot-meat_, and at Night very little or nothing. Then feed her Morning and Evening with a _Rook_, wash'd twice till the Pinions be tender; then give a Casting of Feathers as her Nature will bear; and once in two or three dayes give her a _Hens-neck_ well joynted and washt: Then a quick train _Pigeon_ every Morning; and after by these and her own Exercise, she has broken and dissolved the _Grease_, give her three or Four _Pellets_ of the Root of _Sellandine_, as bigg as a _Garden Pease_, steept in the Sirrup of _Roses_; and you have done this part of your Duty.
To _Enter_ your _Hawks_, for _Partridge_ or _Fowle_, observe this. Lay an Old Feild-_Partridge_ in a Hole, covered with something, and fasten to it a small _Creance_ (_i. e._ a Fine small long Line of strong and even-wound Packthread fastned to the _Hawks_ Leash when first Lured,) and uncoupling your ranging _Spaniels_, pluck off the Covering of the Traine _Partridge_ and let it go, and the _Hawk_ after it; and as soon as she has slain it, reward her well with it. And thus to make her fly at _Fowle_, feed her well with the _Traine_ of the Fowle you would have; doing afterwards as above.
The _Faults_ of _Hawks_ differ according to their Nature and Make: _Long-winged Hawks_ faults are thus helped. If she used _to take stand_, flying at the River, or in Champain Feilds, shun flying near Trees or Covert; or otherwise, let several Persons have _Trains_, and as she offers to stand, let him that's next her cast out his Traine, and she killing it reward her. And indeed you ought never to be without some live Bird or Fowle in your Bag, as _Pigeon_, _Duck_, _Mallard_, &c. If she be _Froward_ and _Coy_; when she Kills, reward her not as usually, but slide some other meat under her, and let her take her pleasure on it; giving her some Feathers to make her scoure and cast. If she be _Wild_, _look not inward_, but mind _Check_, (_i. e._ other Game, as _Crows_, &c. that fly cross her) then lure her back, and stooping to it, reward her presently.
The faults of _Short-Winged Hawks_ thus are helped. Sometimes the _Goshawk_ and _Sparrow-Hawks_, will neither kill, nor _Fly_ the Game to _Mark_, but will turn _Taile_ to it: Then encourage your Dogs to Hunt, cast a Traine _Partridge_ before your _Hawk_, make her seize it, and feed well upon it.