The School of Recreation | Page 5

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 Chase, Comfort
and Cheer them with Horn 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 Boughs he leave a
Scent for the Hounds; And by his Crossings and Doublings he will
endeavour to baffle his Persuers: 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 Form 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 Form is new, and from thence
you may Hunt and recover the Hare; if the contrary, it is old, and if
your Hounds call upon it, rate them off. 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 always, and the way of taking them thus: Set
Pursenets on their Holes, and put in a Ferret close muzzled, and she
will boult them out into the Nets: Or blow on a sudden 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 Orpiment 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