The Master of Game: The Oldest English Book on Hunting

Grease, as the fat of the boar or sow was called, was supposed to bear medicinal qualities. "And fayre put the grece whan it is take away, In the bledder of the boore my chylde I yow pray, For it is a medecine: for mony maner pyne" ("Boke of St. Albans").

WILD CAT (Felis Catus), which at one time was extremely common in England, was included among the beasts of the chase. It is frequently mentioned in royal grants giving liberty to enclose forest-land and licence to hunt therein.

It was probably more for its skin than for diversion that the wild cat was hunted, as its fur was much used for trimming dresses at one time.

The wild cat is believed to be now extinct, not only in England and Wales, but in a great part of the South of Scotland. A writer in the new edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (art. "Cat") expresses the opinion that the wild cat still exists in Wales and in the North of England, but gives no proof of its recent occurrence there.

Harvie-Brown in his "Vertebrate Fauna of Argyll" (1892) defines the limit of the range of the wild cat by a line drawn from Oban to Inverness; northward and westward of this line, he states, the animal still existed. But there is no doubt that of late years the cessation of vermin trapping in many parts of Scotland, which has caused a marked increase in the golden eagle, has had the same effect upon the wild cat.

The natural history chapter of the wild cat is taken by the Duke of York from G. de F.; did we not know this, some confusion might have arisen through the fact being mentioned that there are several kinds of wild cat, whereas only one was known to the British Isles. G. de F. says there were wild cats as large as leopards which went by the name of loups-serviers or cat wolves, both of which names he declares to be misnomers. He evidently refers to the Felis Lynx or Lynx vulgaris, which he properly classes as a "manner of wild cat," although some of the ancient writers have classed them as wolves (Pliny, Lib. viii. cap. 34).

WOLF,

For a long time it was a popular delusion that wolves had been entirely exterminated in England and Wales in the reign of the Saxon King Edgar (956-957), but Mr. J. E. Harting has by his researches proved beyond doubt that they existed some centuries later, and did not entirely disappear until the reign of Henry VII. (1485-1509).

WORMING A DOG,

This was supposed to be a preventive to the power of a mad dog's bite. It was a superstition promulgated in very early times, and seems to have been believed in until comparatively recent times. We find it repeated in one book of venery after another, French, English, and German: in England by our author, Turbervile, Markham, and others.

Pliny suggests this operation, and he quotes Columna as to the efficacy of cutting off a dog's tail when he is very young (Pliny, chap. xli.).

G. de F. and the Duke of York are careful to say that they only give the remedy for what it is worth, the latter saying: "Thereof make I no affirmation," and further on: "Notwithstanding that men call it a worm it is but a great vein that hounds have underneath their tongue" (p. 87).

1

As the hawks would be mewing and unfit to fly.

2

The Shirley MS. in the British Museum has "XV."

3

Gaston de Foix has a different sequence, putting the hart first and the hare sixth, and having four animals more, namely, the reindeer, the chamois (including ibex), the bear and the rabbit, while the "Master of Game" has one animal, the Marten, of which Gaston de Foix does not speak.

4

Gaston de Foix follows a different sequence, commencing with alaunts, then greyhounds, raches, spaniels, and says "fifthly I will speak of all kinds of mongrel dogs, such as come from mastiffs and alaunts, from greyhounds and running hounds, and other such."

5

The hounds that came in the first relay (van) and those in the subsequent relays. See Appendix: Relays.

6

Diverted or off the line.

7

Chasing small or lean deer. See Appendix: Hart.

8

To take those parts of the deer which fell to him by custom.

9

Curée: The ceremony of giving the hounds their reward on the skin of the animal they have chased. See Appendix: Curée.

10

Gaston de Foix in the French parent work puts it even more forcefully; he says: "tout droit en paradis." See Lavallée's ed. 1854.

11

Trace the deer to its lair.

12

See Appendix: Excrements.

13

See Appendix: Relays.

14

Despatched with a sword or knife. See Appendix: Spay.

15

Gaston de Foix says: "Tant vaut seigneur tant vaut sa gent et sa terre," p. 9.

16

The hare was frequently spoken of in two genders in the same sentence, for it was an old belief that the hare was at one time male, and at another female. See Appendix: Hare.

17

Means here: when the hare has arisen from her form to go to her feeding. Fr. relever. G. de F. explains, p. 42: un lievre se reliève pour aler à son vianders. Relief, which denoted the act of arising and going to feed, became afterwards the term for the feeding itself. "A hare hath greater scent and is more eagerly hunted when she relieves on green corn" (Comp. Sportsman, p. 86). It possibly was used later to denote the excrements of a hare; thus Blome (1686) p. 92, says: "A huntsman may judge by the relief and feed of the hare what she is."

18

Casting her excrements.

19

A mistake of the old scribes which occurs also in other MSS.; it should, of course, read "seventh" year. G. de F. has the correct version.

20

G. de F. says: "She hears well but has bad sight," p. 43.

21

"Fear to run" is a mistake occasioned by the similarity of the two old French words "pouair," power, and "paour" or fear. In those of the original French MS. of G. de F. examined by us it is certainly " power" and not "fear." Lavallée in his introduction says the same thing. See Appendix: Hare.

22

See Appendix: Hare.

23

G. de F. has: "vonts riotans tournions et demourant," i. e. run rioting, turning and stopping, p. 44.

24

Both the Vespasian and the Shirley MS. in the British Museum have the same, but G. de F., p. 45, has, "except those of their nature" (fors que celle de leur nature).

25

This is incorrect: the hare carries her young thirty days (Brehm, vol. ii. p.626; Harting, Ency. of Sport, vol. i. p. 504).

26

Should read "three" (G. de F., p.47).

27

See Appendix: Snares.

28

September 14. See Appendix: Hart, Seasons.

29

An engine of war used for throwing stones.

30

G. de F., p. 12. "Ainsi que fet un homme bien amoureus" ("As does a man much in love)."

31

This word ligging is still in use in Yorkshire, meaning lair, or bed, or resting-place. In Devonshire it is spelt "layer." Fortescue, p. 132.

32

G. de F., p. 12, has "limer" instead of "greyhound."

33

This passage is confused. In G. de F., p. 12, we find that the passage runs: "Et aussi il y a ruyt en divers lieux de la forest et on paix ne peut estre en nul lieu, fors que dedans le part." Lavallée translates these last five words, "C'est à dire qu'il n'y a de paix que lorsque les biches sont pleines." In the exceedingly faulty first edition by Verard, the word "part" is printed "parc," as it is in our MS.

34

G. de F., p. 14, says the harts go to gravel-pits and bogs to fray.

35

The MS. transcriber's mistake. It should be "cow."

36

G. de F. has "2 calves" as it should be.

37

G. de F. has "greyhound," as it should be (p. 15): "Et dès lors vont ils jà si tost que un levrier a assés à fere de l'ateindre, ainsi comme un trait d'arcbaleste" ("And from that time they go so quickly that a greyhound has as much to do to catch him as he would the bolt from a crossbow)."

38

Well proportioned. See Appendix: Antler.

39

Shirley MS. has the addition here: "Which be on top."

40

In modern sporting terms, a warrantable deer.

41

See Appendix: Curée.

42

Should be: venison.

43

Harness, appurtenances. See Appendix: Harness.

44

Means from a cross-bow or long-bow.

45

Go off the scent.

46

This should read as G. de F. has it (p. 20): "Et aussi affin que les chiens ne puissent bien assentir de luy, quar ilz auront la Cueue au vent et non pas le nez" ("And also that the hounds shall not be able to wind him, as they will have their tails in the wind and not their noses").

47

Ponds, pools. See Appendix: Stankes.

48

G. de F., p. 21: "Et s'il fuit de fort longe aux chiens, c'est à dire que il les ait bien esloinhés." See Appendix: "Forlonge."

49

Most old writers on the natural history of deer repeat this fable. See Appendix: Hart.

50

See Appendix: Hart.

51

Nativity of St. John the Baptist, June 24.

52

See Appendix: Grease.

53

This sentence reads somewhat confusedly in our MS., so I have taken this rendering straight from G. de F., p. 23.

54

They do not make such a long flight as the red deer but by ringing return to the hounds.

55

G. de F., p. 29, completes the sense of this sentence by saying that "the flesh of the buck is more savoury to all hounds than that of the stag or of the roe, and for this reason it is a bad change to hunt the stag with hounds which at some other time have eaten buck."

56

This is wrong; they rut in the beginning of August. See Appendix: Roe.

57

A clerical error. G. de F. (p. 36) says, "as do birds," which makes good sense.

58

See Appendix: Grease.

59

"They ring about in their own country, and often bound back to the hounds" would be a better translation.

60

From the French durer, to last.

61

G. de F. says "acorns."

62

Middle English ars, hinder parts called target of roebuck.

63

From the old French pomelé.

64

See Appendix: Roe.

65

See Appendix: Hardel.

66

In spite of the boar being such a dangerous animal a wound from his tusk was not considered so fatal as one from the antlers of a stag. An old fourteenth-century saying was: "Pour le sanglier faut le mire, mais pour le cerf convient la bière."

67

Proud. G. de F., p. 56, orguilleuse. G. de F., p. 57, says after this that he has often himself been thrown to the ground, he with his courser, by a wild boar and the courser killed ("et moy meismes a il porté moult des à terre moy et mon coursier, et mort le coursier").

68

Brimming. From Middle English brime, burning heat. It was also used in the sense of valiant-spirited (Stratmann).

69

November 30.

70

G. de F., p. 57, adds: "comme fait l'ours."

71

A badly worded phrase, the meaning of which is not quite clear. G. de F. has "acorns and beachmast" instead of hawthorns.

72

Farrow. See Appendix: Wild Boar.

73

G. de F., p. 58, saysy wind acorns as well or better than a bear, but nothing about winding a man. See Appendix: Wild Boar.

74

From F. renouveler.

75

See Appendix: Wild Boar.

76

September 14.

77

November 30.

78

Despiteful or furious deeds. G. de F., p. 60, says that he only trusts in his defences and his weapons ("en sa défense et en ses armes").

79

As this is somewhat confused we have followed G. de F.'s text in the modern rendering.

80

From the French grès, grinding-stone or grinders.

81

G. de F., p. 60, has "fortress" instead of "forest."

82

After the word "death" a full stop should occur, for in this MS. and, singularly enough, also in the Shirley MS. the following words have been omitted: "They drop their lesses," continuing "as other swine do."

83

At this point G. de F., p. 61, adds: "One says of all biting beasts the trace, and of red beasts foot or view, and one can call both one or the other the paths or the fues."

84

See Appendix: Wild Boar.

85

G. de F., p. 63, has: "Pource qu'il a plus travaillé et plus jeuné que n'ont les autres."

86

G. de F., p. 66, has "evil biting."

87

He keeps to the coverts.

88

Acherned, from O. Fr. acharné, to blood, from chair, flesh.

89

Needles. See Appendix: Snares.

90

Aucepis (Shirley MS.). G. de F., p. 69: haussepiez, a snare by which they were jerked from the ground by a noose.

91

This should be "jaw." G. de F., p. 70, has maisselles, i.e. Mâchoires.

92

Prepared. Tawing is a process of making hides into leather – somewhat different from tanning. There were tawers and tanners.

93

The term used by Turbervile (p. 188) is "goeth a clicqueting."

94

G. de F., p. 72, says, "because the hounds hunt him closely."

95

Our MS. only gives this one chapter on the fox, while Gaston Phœbus has another: Comment on doit chassier et prendre le renard. In this he gives directions as to earth-stopping, and taking him in pursenets, and smoking him out with "orpiment and sulphur and nitre or saltpetre." He says January, February, and March are the best months for hunting, as the leaf is off the trees and the coverts are clearer, so that the hounds have more chance of seeing the fox and hunt him closer. He says that one-third of the hounds should be put in to draw the covert, and the others in relays should guard the boundaries and paths, to be slipped as required. Although this is a Frenchman's account of fox-hunting, we have no reason to believe that the fox was treated at that period better by English sportsmen, for until comparatively recent times the fox was accounted vermin, and any means by which his death could be encompassed were considered legitimate, his extermination being the chief object in hunting him, and not the sport. Even as late as the seventeenth century we find that such treatment was considered justifiable towards a fox, for, as Macaulay tells us, Oliver St. John told the Long Parliament that Strafford was to be regarded, not as a stag or a hare, to whom some law was to be given, but as a fox, who was to be snared by any means, and knocked on the head without pity (vol. i. p. 149).

96

According to G. de F., p. 74, it should not read that some are hunted like wolves, but that they themselves hunt like wolves.

97

G. de F., p. 76, adds: "And they farrow their pigs in their burrows as does the fox."

98

According to the Shirley MS. this passage runs, "Men calleth him in Guyene loupeceruyers." See Appendix: Wild Cat.

99

Shirley MS. has "and egges," instead of "in hedges," which is the rendering G. de F. gives.

100

Bed or resting-place. See Appendix.

101

The author of "Master of Game" does not say anything more about the otter.

102

In Priv. Seal 674/6456, Feb. 18, 1410, William Melbourne is valet of our otterhounds. See Appendix: Otter.

103

In G. de F. "Clodoveus," p. 82.

104

G. de F., p. 84, says "sentement," good sense, feeling, or sympathy.

105

G. de F., p. 85, "Au moins," at least.

106

"Chis," or "cheese," hound, probably dainty hound, a chooser, from "cheosan," Mid. Eng. "choose," to distinguish: also written "ches," "chees." (Stratmann.)

107

Lasts longer good, i. e. lasts as long as two hounds that have not been spayed. G. de F. (p. 86) adds: "or at least one and a half."

108

Cherish, "wagging their tayles and seeming to cherish them," Turbervile, p. 223. See Appendix: Madness.

109

It should read "smelleth," as it is in Shirley MS. and in G. de F., p. 87.

110

The friendly licking of other dogs has often been noticed as an early symptom of rabies in a pack of hounds.

111

Du Fouilloux in his La Venerie (published 1561) copied much from Gaston de Foix's book, but either he or his editors made the ridiculous mistake of saying nine months instead of days. Turbervile, who translated, or rather cribbed, Du Fouilloux's book, has copied this absurd mistake, and says a hound may continue thus nine months, but not past (p.222).

112

Means "a bone in their throat." G. de F. (p. 88): "comme si ils avoient un os en la gueule." In the Shirley MS. "enosed," i. e. "un os. " See Appendix: Madness.

113

See Appendix: Worming.

114

"Lank madness" in Turbervile, p. 223. Tucked up. G. de F. (p. 88): "cousus parmi les flans" ("the flanks drawn in").

115

In Shirley MS. "ventoused upon or gersed." G. de F.: "ventouses, que on appelle coupes," hence "cupped and lanced" would be the proper meaning.

116

Makes them lose their hair. G. de F. (p. 90), "et si poile le chien."

117

"To viii. days" has been omitted.

118

Some confusion, which is still common, between eczema from various causes, and true parasitic mange or scabies.

119

G. de F. (p. 91) adds: "et est vermeille et saute d'un lieu en autre."

120

In the Shirley MS. the words are added: "to(o) hye plyte, " i. e. too high condition. G. de F. (p. 91) adds "gresse."

121

Ireos, Eng. Iris. This word is also constantly recurring in old household books. Aniseed and orris powder were placed among linen to preserve it from insects. In Edward IV.'s Wardrobe Accounts we read of bags of fustian stuffed with anneys and ireos.

122

Pterygium, name for the "sickness" in the eyes of hounds which our MS. describes as a "web coming upon them." It is called pterygium from its resemblance to an insect's wing; is an hypertrophy of the conjunctiva or lining membrane of the eye, due to irritation; it extends from the inner angle to the cornea, which it may cover: the treatment is excision. The cure for "the nail" mentioned in our MS. of hanging a collar of elm leaves round the dog is taken by G. de F. (p. 92) from Roy Modus xliv., where it is given without the saving clause "Mès cela est bien petit remède."

123

Celandine, Chalidonium Majus, from χελιδων, a swallow. The name was derived from the tradition that swallows used it to open the eyes of their young or to restore their sight. Has a yellow flower and an acrid, bitter, orange juice. Internally an irritant poison. Infusions in wine used by Galen and Bioscorides for jaundice, probably from the colour of the juice and flowers. Externally the juice was much used for wounds, ulcers, ophthalmic cases, and for the removal of warts. The Old French name for this plant was herbe d'arondelles (hirondelles).

124

Shirley MS. has "foussye," G. de F. (p. 92) "de la poudre de la tutie," oxide of zinc.

125

Shirley MS. adds: "that be marshals for horses."

126

Estoracis calamita, G. de F., p. 93. Lavallée appends the note: "Storax et Styrax calamita." Storax, a resin resembling benzoin, was in high esteem from the time of Pliny to the eighteenth century. It was obtained from the stem of Styrax officinalis, a native of Greece and the Levant. In our MS. four other ingredients mentioned by G. de F. have been left out, but the Shirley MS. gives them: "and oyle of Kamamyle and of Mallyor of aushes and of calamynt," i. e. oil of camomile, melilot (Meliters), rosemary, thymus calamita, a species of balm. Possibly this is a mint called Calaminta nepeta, a plant formerly much used in medicine as a gentle stimulant and tonic. Melilot, a genus of clover-like plants of the natural order of Leguminose.

127

Mildew. G. de F. (p. 93), Nigella, Nielle.

128

Rewe, Mod. Eng. rue, Lat. ruta. This herb was in great repute among the ancients, and is still employed in medicine as a powerful stimulant.

129

Consolida major. Lavallée in his note (p. 94) translates this consoude, which in English is comfrey, Latin Symphytum.

130

Consolida minor (Lavallée: note, petit consoude), Mod. Fr. Brunelle. G. de F. p. 94. Eng. Selfheal. Lat. Prunella vulgaris. It was at one time in repute as a febrifuge.

131

Agarys. G. de F. d'agret, probably agrimony, Lat. agrimonia. It is bitter and styptic, and was much valued in domestic medicine; a decoction of it being used as a gargle and the dried leaves as a kind of tea, and the root as a vermifuge.

132

Euphorbia resinifera, common spurge, exudes a very acrid milky juice which dries into a gum resin. Still used for some plasters.

133

Marrubium vulgare. G. de F. marrabre blanc, Eng. white horehound. It enjoyed a great reputation as a stimulating expectorant employed in asthma, consumption, and other pulmonary affections.

134

Leonurus cardiaca. G. de F. Artemise, Eng. Motherwort, Mod. Fr. armoise. A plant allied to the horehound as a vascular stimulant and diuretic and a general tonic, employed in dropsy, gout, rheumatism, and uterine disorders.

135

Parietaria. Eng. Wall pellitory. An old domestic remedy. It was supposed to be astringent and cooling, and used locally for inflammation, burns, erysipelas, and internally as a diuretic. It grows on old walls and heaps of rubbish.

136

Morsus gallinus.

137

Lilies. The white lilies here mentioned are probably Lilium connalium (lilies of the valley). In an old book of recipes I find them mentioned as an antidote to poison. (Haus und Land Bib. 1700.) They have medicinal qualities, purgative and diuretic in effect. Dried and powdered they become a sternutatory.