out the Couye by any meanes aforesaid or by other accident drawe foorth your Nets and taking a great large circumference or ring about the Partridgâ—… walke a good round pace with a carelesse eye rather from then towards the Partridgâ—… â—…ill you haue made your Nets yare trinâ—… and ready for your purpose which done you shall draw in your circumference or â—…ing lesse lesse till you come within the â—…ength of your Net then pricking down a â—…ticke of about three foote long or better â—…o which you must fasten one ende of the Line of your Net and making it fast in â—…he earth as you do walke about for no stay or stop must be seene in this action you shall then letting the net slip out of your hands spread it open as you goe and so carry it and lay it all ouer the Partridge But if there be so many Partridgâ—… that you cannot couer them all with one nette by reason that they doe lie stragling and not close together then you shall draw forth another net and in like maâ—…ner as you did with the former so you shall doe with the second net and spread it close before the firâ—… which done you may also pinne it down and doe the like with the third neâ—… 〈◊〉 occasion shall require it But â—…ot otherwise and hauing thus couered yoâ—… Partridge you shall then rush into theâ—… and with an affrighting voice as Heâ—… Ret or the like inforce them to spâ—… vp which they shall no sooâ—… doe 〈◊〉 presently they will be intangled so thaâ—… then running in your nets close togâ—… you may â—…ould all the Partridge 〈◊〉 within the â—…ne and so take them 〈◊〉 at your pleasure and dispose of theâ—… as you shall finde occasion and in thâ—… manner you may take either single Partridges paires or the whole coouies and that not at one distinct and proper time but at all seasons of the yeare whatsoeuer and in any ground champaine or Woodland or any other haunt or abiding place whatsoeuer The next way to take Partridges is with lime or lime-rods after this manner You shall first take of the fairest strongest and lardgest Wheate-strawe you can get of which that which is called the whole straw wheate is the best or for want of it the fairest and lardgest Rye-straw and cutting them of betweene knot and knot obseruing the lowest ioints or knots are the strongest and best you shall then lime these with the strongest and best lime in such manner as hath beene formerly deelared in other Chapters for the liming of other rods or wands and so comming to the haunts where Partridges doe vsually frequent after you haue called a little and find that you are answered againe you shall then in such manner and forme as hath beene formerly shewed you for other roddes prick downe these limed strawes round about you in many crosse rowes and rankes and that not very neere you but a prety distance off yet not out of the compasse of your eye but so as you may discerne when any thing toucheth them and these lymed strawes you shal place not onely crosse the Lands but the furrowes also taking at least two or three Landes within your circumference which done you shall then lay your selfe downe closse and secretly and beginne againe to call not ceasing till you haue drawne them toward you whither they cannot come but they must of necessitie passe through the Lime which they shall no sooner touch but presently they are taken and intangled and by reason that they come flocking and closse together like so many Chickins they wil so besmeare and daube one another that if there be twenty in the Coouy hardly any one will escape Now here is to bee noted that this manner of taking of Partridges with Limed â—…awes is properly to be vsed onely in Corne fieldes and that principally in the Stubble time or from Angust thâ—… Christâ—…as for before or after it is not so conuenient But if you will take them in woods in pastures or meadowes with Lyme then you shall vse the ordinarie Lyme-rods made of wooden wandes as hath bin before shewed and pricke them downe and order them in all points in such sort as is already mentioned of the Lymed strawes for it is both the safest certainest best course that can be taken There is yet another way for the taking of Partridges which is no lesse profitable and vsefull then either of the other and indeed somewhat pleasanter and fuller of delight and that is the taking them with engine or as some call it the driuing of Partridges which albe it is especially applyed to the wood-countrey yet may it notwithstanding be very well commodiously vsed in any place or ground whatsoeuer The maner to do it is thus you shal first make an engine in the fashion of a Horse which engine shal be made of Canuas or some such staffe and stopt with straw or such like matter of which engine amongst other engines I haue spoken very largely of in the former part of this Booke intreating of Water-fowle and therewithall set downe the liuely forme or figure thereof so that to stand longer vpon it were but a double labour needlesse vselesse and to small purpose Hauing therefore this engine and your nets in a readinesse you shall goe into the haunts where the Partridges doe frequent and hauing by some of the meanes or charracters before mentioned found out the coouy of Partridges you shall then in the most secretest and likelist place for that purpose and taking the best aduantage of the winde which is euer to goe aboue it and driue downe the winde you shall there pitch your net not flatte and couching but sloapewise and houering and that so close and secretly and so ouer-shadowed either with bushes shrubs leaues weedes or some other that groweth naturall to the ground it standeth in that not any thing may perceiue it till it be intangled in it when you haue thus placed your net or nets you shall then take your engine and goe to the place where the coouy of Partridges lodgeth and hauing your face couered or hid with some hood of greene or darke blew stuffe you shall pntting the engine before you make your foote stalke towards the Partridges and by gentle and slow steps or degrees you shall steale vpon the birdes and raise them as gently vpon their feete not their wings as may be and so make them runne before you which naturally they will doe of themselues for their feare is such thâ—… they will runne from any thing albe ineuer so well acquainted therewith especially from Horse or Beast because by reason of their grazing or feeding amongst them they are â—…ill in feare to bee trodden vpon by thâ—…m thus as by gentle and slow steps you doe driue them before you for you must by all meanes shunne â—…ash sudden hasty and affrighcfull motions if they chance to runne any by-way or contrarie to that which you
and fashion of these Neâ—… which we call Day-nettes because theâ—… are of vse but in the day onely and 〈◊〉 all the other engines belonging vnto 〈◊〉 same and without which the worke can in no wise be made perfect First then for the Nets you shall vnderstand that they are to be made either of very fine smale packthred or else of very strong and bigge Houswifes third the mash small and not aboue halfe an inch square each wayâ—… and the knots surely knit without slipping the length would be three fadome or little lesse and the debth or bredth would be one â—…sadome and no more it carryeth the fashion of the Crow-Nette and must be verdgd about after the same manner with very strong small Coard and the two ends extended vpon two small long poales sutable to the bredth of the Nette in such manner as hath beene â—…hewed before in the Nette for the takeâ—…ng of Plouers and other Fowle of that Nature with foure stakes tayle strings â—…nd draw in lines as hath beene before â—…escribed only whereas that was but one â—…ngle Nette and no more heere must be â—…wo of one length one bredth and one â—…ashion without any change or alteraâ—…ion these Nets must be layd opposite â—…ne to another yet so close and euen together that when they are drawne and puld ouer the sides and edges may 〈◊〉 and onely touch one another but beâ—… opened and cast asunder then the full length and bredth of both the Nets of plaine ground must be discouered betweene them These Nets being thus stakt doâ—… with strong stakes very stifly vpon their lynes so as with any nimble twich you may cast them two and fro at your pleasure you shall then to the vpper endes of the formost staues fasten your hand liâ—… or drawing Coards which would be 〈◊〉 the least a dozen fadome longe and 〈◊〉 extending them of such a reasonâ—… straightnesse as with any small aditiâ—… of strength they may rayse vp the Netâ—… and cast them ouer stake downe 〈◊〉 ther end of the single drawing Line aâ—…most a fadome beyond the seate wheâ—… your selfe must sit to pull for you muâ—… vnderstand that these drawing Lines 〈◊〉 not double aboue two fadome or liâ—… more and all the rest single as you 〈◊〉 better perceiue by the figure hereaâ—… demonstrated When your Nets are thus layd yâ—… shall some twenty or thirty paces beyond your Netts and as much on this side place your Gygges or playing wantons being fastened to the toppes of long poales and turnd into the winde so as they may play and make a noyse therein and these Giggs are certaine toyes made of long Goose feathers in the manner of shettlecocks and with little small turnells of wood ruuning in broad and flat Swan quilles made round like a small hoope and so with longer strings fastened to the Poale will with any small winde or ayre whatsoeuer twirle and flicker in the ayre after such a wanton manner that the Byrds will come in great flockes to wonder and play about the same the more perfect shape whereof you shall see described in the figure following for the better helpe of your memorie and vnderstanding in this businesse After the placing of your Giggs you shall then place your Stale which is a little small stake of wood to pricke downe fast in the earth hauing in it a morteise hole in which a long small slender pice of wood of about two soote long is so â—…stned that it may mooue vp and downe at pleasure and to this longer sticke you shall fasten a small line which running through a hole in the stake aforesaid and so comming vp to the place where you sit you may by drawing the line vp and downe vnto you with your right hand raise and mount the longer sticke from the ground as oft as you shall finde occasion Now to this longer stick before said you shall fasten a liue Larke or Butiâ—… for you must bee sure euer to presâ—… some aliue for that purpose or for waâ—… of such any other small birde which thâ—… line making to flicker vp and downe by your pulling will intice the Larkes to play about it and swoope so neere to the ground that drawing your hand yoâ—… may couer them with your Nets at pleâ—… also it will intice Hawkes and 〈◊〉 other Byrds of prey to stoope and striâ—… at the same so as you may take them 〈◊〉 you pleasure with great ease and delighâ—… and for further satisfaction you shall 〈◊〉 the portrature hereof more liuely desâ—… bed in the figure following There is also another Stale or inâ—… ment for these Byrdes which is called 〈◊〉 Looking-glasse and this is a round stake of wood as bigge as a mans arme and made very sharpe at the nether ende so as you may thrust and fasten it into the earth at your pleasure This stake is made very hollow in the vpper part about fiue fingers deepe at the least then into this hollownes is placed a threesquare piece of wood about twelue Inches long and each square two Inches broade lying vpon the toppe of the stake and going with a foote into the hollownes which footâ—… must haue a great knob at the toppe and â—…nother at the bottome with a deepe â—…endernesse betweene to which slenderâ—…esse must be fastned a small packthred â—…hich running through a hole in the side â—…f the stake must come vp to the seate â—…here you sit Now the three square â—…iece of wood which lies on the toppe of â—…he stake must be made of such a true â—…oyze and euenesse and the foote in the â—…cket so round smooth that vpon the â—…ast touch it will twerle and tourne as â—…und as any Scopperill winding the â—…ackthrid many times about it which â—…eing sodenly drawne and as sodenly 〈◊〉 goe againe will keepe the Engine in a perpetuall round motion in such sort as you shall see Children and Schoole-Boyes doe with wherligiggs made of 〈◊〉 Nutt a sticke and an Aple This done you shall with glew or other strong Cement fasten vpon the vpper most â—…att squares of the three square piece almost twenty small pieces of Looking-Glasses paynt all the spare wood betweene them of a very bright red collour which in the continuall motion and tourning about will giue such a gloryous reflection thâ—… the wanton birds cannot forbeare but wâ—… play about it with admiration til they 〈◊〉 taken the true shape wherof you shal 〈◊〉 more exactly in the next figure Noâ—… both this the other stale before spokâ—… offâ—…re are to be placed in the very midst 〈◊〉 Center betweene the two Nets aboâ—… 2 or 3 foote one distant from an other 〈◊〉 that in the falling of the Nets the Corâ—… may by no meanes touch or anoy theâ—… neither must they stand one before or 〈◊〉 ter another but in a direct Line one ouâ—… against the other the Glasse being 〈◊〉 continually moouing and the bird 〈◊〉 oft flickering When you haue
thus 〈◊〉 câ—…d you Nets your Giggs your staâ—… you shall then goe to the farther end of your long drawing lines stale lines hauing a little hassock made of Sedg about a foote or better hie you shal place within a yard or little more of the end of the same then sitting down vpon the same lay the maine drawing line with a strong button of wood made fast in the same ouerthwart your thye with your right hand continually draw the Glasseline with your left hand pull the staleline to shew the bird then when you perceiue the Larkes or other Birds to play neare about your nets Stales swooping neare and to the ground then you shal with bâ—…th hands pull the net ouer so couer take your pray in such wise as you shal find accasion wherin you are to obserue that you must not be too quick or hasty in pulling for greedines to strike often at single birds especially if you see the weather to be temperate the birds apt to play for so you may loose both much labour and much profite for you must take as much paines for one single Byrd as for halfe a dozen but neuerthelesse be patient a little while and when you shall see many birds playing about your Nets as with a little sufferance they will almost couer them ouer then you may stricke and be sure to stricke sure and suddenly and you shall seldome take vnder foure sixe eight nay sometimes a dozen at a pull according to the fruitfulnesse of the place and the aptnesse of the weather and season but if the wether be ill disposed or blustring then you must make a venture of necesâ—…tie and strike at all that comes whether they be single or otherwise and truely for mine owne part I haue seene at this one exercise thirty dozen of Larkâ—… taken in one Morning but that hath not beene vsuall but for â—…ght tenne 〈◊〉 twelue dozen it is an ordinary taking Now you are to obserue that the fiâ—… halfe dozen which you take you must by no meanes kill but keepe them aliue foâ—… stales and to that end you must haue 〈◊〉 neate bagge of strong linnen to keeâ—… them in the rest as you take them yoâ—… must kill them by crushing them in 〈◊〉 hinder parts of their heads and so 〈◊〉 them behind you in a place made for thâ—… purpose and thus euery day you 〈◊〉 preserue fresh stales and kill the old 〈◊〉 but in any sort be sure by no meanes to want any for that would be a great hindrance to the whole worke Againe you must obserue to lay behinde the seate you sit vpon all the spare Instruments and Implements which you are to vse about the whole worke as sparâ—… Stakes Poales Lines packthrid knitting-Pinne and Needle your Bagge with Stales a Mallet to knock in your stakes with and a nimble little Hatchet either to sharpen or make new Stakes when they are decayed Now for the full proportion and demonstration of the whole work be hold this Figure following For the better vnderstanding of this Figure if you please to note the letters as they stand you shall finde that the Letter A. sheweth the bodyes of the maine Nets and how they ought to be layd B. the tayle lines or hinder lines stackt to the Earth C. the fore lines likewise stackt to the Earth D. the knitting-Needle E. the Bird stale F. the Looking-glasse Stale G. the Line that drawes the Bird-Stale H. the Line which drawes the glass-stale I. the drawing double lines of the Nets which pulls them ouer K. the Stakes which stake downe the foure neather poynts of the Nettes and the two tayle lines L. the stakes which stake downe the fore Lines M. the single Line with the wooden button to pull the Net ouer with N. the Stake which stakes downe the single Line where the hassock should be and the Man sit O. the Mallet of Wood. P. the Hatchet Q. the Gigges And thus you haue the manner full discription of the Day-Netts with theâ—… vse and benefit I will now proceed to another man ner of taking other small Birds as Hedâ—… Sparrowes Linnets Bullfinches and all sorâ—…es of small Birds which haunt Hedgges Bushes Shrubs or any couert whatsoeuer in the open Field which Birds are for two vses namely either pleasure or food pleasure because euery one of them naturally haue excellent Fielde Notes and may therefore be kept in Cages and nourisht in their owne tunes or else trayned to any other Notes according to the pleasure of the owner or else for foode being of pleasant taste and exceeding much nourishing by reason of their Naturall heate and light disgestion These Birds are best to be taken with the great Lime-Bush or Lime-Tree after this manner You shall cut downe the mayne Arme or chiefe Bough of any Bushie Tree whose branches 〈◊〉 twigges are longe thicke smooth and straight without prickes knots or other crooked and deformed roughnâ—… of which the Willow-Tree or 〈◊〉 are the best and for want of them you may take the great Sallow the Poplar Aspen or any other of like thicknesse and smoothnesse and when you haue pickt it and trimde it from all leaues knots crooked branches Mosse or any other superfluity making the twigges neate and cleane yet not taking away any of the little Naturall budd knots which grow thicke on euery branch you shall then take of the best Lime well mixed and wrought together either with Hogges-grease Goose-grease or Capons-grease but the Goose or Capons is the best and being warmed a little you shall with the same Lime euery twigge and branch vpon the Tree from the very toppe and vpper end of euery twigge downe within foure fingers or three about to the bottome As for the body and mayne branches of this Tree from whence the smaller twigges doe aâ—…ise those you shall not touch with any Lime at all Now in the Lyming of this Tree you shall obserue not by any meanes to â—…able your Lime on too thicke wherâ—…y it may be too much apparant for the byrdes will be apt to find fauit 〈◊〉 and then you shall not by any inâ—…ment trayne them to your Bush wheâ—… fore make suer to spread you Lime â—…o thinne as may be euen so as you may 〈◊〉 or nothing change the collour of 〈◊〉 naturall twigges which may with greâ—… ease be done by working one twigge wiâ—… another and one branch with another and by making those which haue too little Lime to take it away from thoâ—… which haue too much till each haue â—…qually alike and yet in this manner oâ—… Liming you are to obserue that not any twigge want his sufficient proportiâ—… of Lime or haue any part left bare and vntoucht which ought to be touchâ—… but that all be truely and arteficially dâ—…cribed for as too much may hindâ—… the comming of the Birdes so too liâ—… will want strength to take
quickly scare the Hawkes from the Nest and make frustrate all your labour This Nett shall be a running Nett so drawne vpon a stroug line that when any thing shall stricke against it it may runne together like a purse and so inclose and keepe fast the thing taken and to that ende you shall make fast the strong lines to some knagge or branch of the tree that when the hawke or hawkes are taken they may not fall downe to the ground with the nettes but hang fettred in the same and that in such straite and little compasse that they may not haue liberty to beate or bruse themselues but hang safe without the breaking or hurting of any feather which aboue all things is chiefely to be regarded for the breaking and brusing of any of the maine feathers is such a disabling of the hawke that either she will not be able to flye at all or if 〈◊〉 doe flye yet through the want of those hurt feathers shee will not be able to make fourth her way with that naturall and true swiftnesse which otherwise she would doe and where the pray is too hard in flight for the pursuer there is not onely all labour lost but the pleasure depriued and no contentment to be taken in the pastime besides it makes the Hawke grow cowardly and fearefull and forces her to turne Tayle by reason of the knowledge she takes of her owne inabillity and weaknesse When you haue thus plast your first Nette about and ouer the Nest you shall then take your second Nette of the same size and fashion and place it betweene the most thickest and vsuall branches through which the Hawkes passe two and fro both from to the Nest and which before you had principally marked when the Hawkes went first from the Nest and this Nette you shall place somewhat more vpright then the first yet as close and secretly and hauing greate regard that the Hawkes may by no meanes passe either vnder or aboue it without danger of taking and it shall also as the first run together like a purse when it is stricken into and be fastned after the same manner to the branches that it may by no meanes fall to the Ground but containe and hould the Hawke till you come to vnloose her Now if you doe perceiue that euery Hawke when she cometh from the Nest taketh a seuerall way and that there be seuerall passages about the Nest in which they take greate delight you shall then in euery one of those same passages and likely-hoods place one of these Nettes so cuningly as may bee that they may neither goe from the Nest nor come to the Nest without the danger of taking of them When you haue thus placst your Nets and made euery noose fast and sure from slipping you shall then with all speede come downe from the tree for it is â—…tended that this worke must bee done withall speed and before the old hawkes returne home with their prey to the nest for if they shall come home and fiâ—…e you busie about the same they will not onely finde fault thereat but also enâ—…ce the young Hawkes away from the place and make you both loose your present labour and also make you bestow a great deale more in finding out of their nâ—…we haunts and passages Being discended from the tree you shall place your selfe close in some couert where neither the old Hawkes nor young Hawkes may discerne you and yet so as the old Hawkes may in no wise returne nor the young Hawkes remoue any whither but where you may discerne them and see both their meeting and encounter and what prey they bring home to their young ones Now as soone as the olde Hawke is come in with her prey which for the most part are euer liâ—… Byrdes you shall presently see the young Hawkes flockâ—… about her and then will shee driue them all before her to the nest being euer her selfe the last and then as many of them as chance but to touch your Nettes they are presently entangled and what scapes in going to the Nest you shall be sure to take in the coÌ„ming from the same againe what you faile of in the first morning you may be sure to accomplish in the second or the third Now if it happen at the first comming in of the olde Hawke as the young ones passe to the Nest that one or two bee stricken and taken in your Nette you shall not presently ascend the tree and fetch them downe but let them hang still in the Nette till the old Hawke haue fed the rest and is againe departed and that those young Hawkes which escaped likewise are come againe from the Nest and if by reason that the Nettes are filled they then goe free you presently go vp to the tree and fetch downe those which are taken loosening the Nets and foulding them about the Hawkes so close that they may by no meanes flutter and stirre any feather about them but lye still without mouing When you are descended and comen to the ground againe you shall then in the gâ—…lest soâ—…t you can take the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the nettes without striâ—… or â—…uffling of their feathers and presently make them vp and if you haue any Ruster hoods you shall put them on their heads for it will keepe them the quieter and make them lesse subiect to struggle or hurt themselues For the manner and forme of Mayling of your Hawkes it is thus to bee done you shall take a handkercher or any square piece of Linnen cloth Canuas or the like and then knit the two ends of any one side together in such straite and close manner that the Hawke may onely thrust her head thorow it and no more and that the pynions of the wings may rest vpon the noosse and stay the body from going thorow then you shall draw the rest of the handkercher all ouer the Hawkes body and folding it close together about her traine wrap it in such sort fast about the body of the Hawke that she may in no wise stirre or moue any feather about her and if herein you obserue to draw out the Hawkes legges so as she may not pull them vp or gather them closse to her body it will be more easie for the Hawke and you shall carry her with a great deale lesse danger There is another manner of Mayling of Hawkes and that is to take a soft flatte string of leather or any other gentle stuffe which will neither pinch much nor yet yeld much this string you shal put down between the pinion of the wing the hawkes body as low as you can and then bringiug it about the outward part of the wing draw the two ends together knit them of a reasonable straitnes so as the hawke may by no meanes moue or stir any part of her wing which doÌ„ne you shall do like to the other wing so carry home your
which would be â—…f the strongest best twind Packthred â—…ith great and large mashes at least two â—…ches from poynt to poynt or from â—…not to knot for it is to be obserued that â—…hese mashes the longer they are so as â—…he Fowle may not creepe through them â—…he better they are and the sooner and faster they doe entangle and hould the Fowle for the quantitie it would be not â—…boue two fadome deepe at the most and â—…xe in length which is the greatest proâ—…ortion that can be and as much as a â—…han is well able to ouerthrow this Net â—…hall be verdgd on each side with very strong Corde and at each end extended out stiffe vpon long Poals for the purpose then the Fowler hauing obserued â—…he haunts of these Foule that is to say â—…heir Morning and Euening feeding for â—…ou shall seldome obserue both in one and the selfe same place he shall make sure to come at least two howers before those feeding times which is at twilight in the morning and after Sunne set at night and vpon those haunts hee shall spread his net plaine and flatte vpon the ground staking the two lower ends firme vnto the ground so as they may onely come and goe and no more as for the vpper endes or higer verdge it shall stand extended vpon the long corde the fuâ—…ther ende thereof being staked fast downe to the earth two or three Fadomefrom the Nette and the stake which staketh downe that coarde to stand in a direct and euen line with the lower edge or verdgâ—… of the Net the distance still obseâ—… then the other ende of the coard which shall be at least tenne or twelue saâ—…ome long the Fowler shall hould in his owne hand at the vttermost distance asoresaid where he shall make some artificiall shelter of grasse sodds earth or â—…like matter where hee may lye out of the sight of the Fowle and neither giâ—… them offence by his owne view or the thing whereby he is obscured according to this figure following 〈◊〉 these things thus being made fit he â—…l haue care that his Net lye so tickle â—…y are that vpon the least pull or twich â—…ill rise from the earth and flye ouer â—…en he shall with his knife cut vp short â—…d fogge and other grasse and sprinckâ—…g it on the surface of the Net hide it much as you can from the view of the â—…wle for they are subtill and vpon the â—…t dislike are gone suddenly when â—…ngs are thus fitted you shall lye close â—…d watch their feeding time and if you â—…ll closse by your Net stake downe a 〈◊〉 Heron formerly taken for a Stale â—…d to entice the Fowle within your danâ—… it will be better making her now and â—…n to flutter her wings and thus the â—…wle comming vnto their haunt and â—…ding vp and downe as their natures 〈◊〉 as soone as you perceiue a competent â—…ber come within the danger of your Net you may draw your Coard suddenly and cast the Nette ouer them and so take at your pleasure and thus you may doe till the Sunne bee almost halfe an houre high but not after for till then seuerall flockes of Fowle may come and feede but after not any at which time you may take vp your Nettes and depart doing the like in the euening aâ—… their euening haunts which is from the Sunne set till twâ—…light at night or first rysing of the Starres and thus you may take any of these greater sort of Wilde-Fowle as also the Plouer of both kindâ—… or any Fowle whatsoeuer which taketh his foode from the Land as much as from the Water or more at some times and seasons CHAP. IIII. The taking of small Fowle with Neâ—… and great Fowle with Strings NOw for the taking of your smallâ—… sort of Wilde-Fowle with Nettes which are such as for the most part frequent and feede vpon the water you shall first obserue to make your Nets of the smallestand strongest packthred and the mashes of a much lesse compasse theâ—… for the greater Fowle neither shall they be of aboue two foot and a halfe or three foote deepe and as these are for diuers purposes so they shal be of diuers lengths as some to pitch ouerthwart Brooks or Riuers they shal be answerable to the Brookes or Riuers they are pitcht ouer â—…s some two fadome some three some â—…iue and some nine and these Nets shall be lined on both sides with false Nets of â—…trong packthred euery mash being very â—…eare a foote and a halfe square each way that as the Fowle striketh either through them or against them so the smaller Net may passe through the great mashes so â—…raiten and intangle the Fowle as thus These Nets you shall pitch for the Euening flight of Fowle before Sunne set and you shall stake them fast downe on each side of the Riuer about halfe a fooâ—… within the water the lower side of the Net being so plumd that it may sinke so farre and no more then for the vpper side of the Net you shall place it slantwise shoaling against the water yet not touching the water by a foote and a halfe at the least and the strings which supports and holds vp this vpper side of the Net shall be fastned to small yeelding sticks prickt in the bancke which as the Fowle striketh may yeeld and giue libertie to the Net to runne and intangle the Fowle yet one end euer made so fast that the Net may by no meanes be carried away and thus you shall place dâ—…uers of these Nets ouer diuers parts of the Riuer or Brooke about twelue score one from an other as the Riuer shall giue you ocasion so that if any Fowle come vpon the Riuer that night you shall be sure to haue your share thereof this done if there be any Fenne plash pits or other blancke waters a good distance from the Riuer you shall goe downe vnto them and the Euening beginning to shut in you shall shoote a Piece two or three off vpon those blancke waters and raise the Fowle from thence which at that time being scard will presently pack to the Riuers then you shall take your larger and midle sizd Nets and with them you shall surround your small plashes pits or blancke waters hanging your Nets slopewise and houering ouer them yet so loose as is possible then with your largest or longest Nets of all you shall goe to the Fenns or bigger waters and in those places where the greatest haunts of Fowle are you shall stake downe your Nets on the bankes shoaling ouer the water in such sort as hath beene formerly discribed so as no Fowle can come to the banke or rise from the banke but may be intangled also if there be any couert of Sedge Reede Rushes or other matter within the water you shall pitch your Nets about them also which done an howre or two before day in the Morning you shall take your Peice and goe to the Riuer first and see what
your Nets hath taken which when you haue vnlayded you may then take vp those Nets and lap them vp till the next Euening then if you finde there be many Fowle on the Riuer you may shoote off your Piece in one or two places and that will presently send them to the Fenns and blanke Waters which done when you haue bestowed your Nets in places conuenient til you haue further vse for them you shall about the first rising of the Sun goe to your other Nets which are on the blanke waters and see what they haue taken and vnlade them and so hang them by till the next time of vse as aforesaid and thus without fayle where plenty of Fowle are you shall take plenty and where they are the scarcest yet you shall haue an equall share without much trouble The next manner of taking of Fowle is with Strings or Lines made of long small Coard knotted here and there and containing in length many fadomes acording to the proportion of the places and haunts where you are to lay them and they are of especiall great vse for the taking of all sorts of the greater Wild-Fowle and the Plouers of both kinds which when oâ—… Fowler shall at any time vse he shall take those Strings as aforesaid and lime them all ouer exceeding well with the strongest and best Birdlime that may be gott then comming to the haunts where these Fowle most freqnent and feede if it be for the Euening flight then before Sunne set if for the Morning flight then at the least two howres before day and hauing a whole burthen of little sticks about two foote long at the most sharpe at the nether end and with a little forke at the vpper end he shall prick them in euen rowes all ouer the ground or place of haunt one row distant from another a yarde or too and one sticke siding another within fowre or fiue yards as they may conueniently beare vp the String and they shall be prickt a little shoaling or slantwise so as they may be within a foote and a halfe of the ground at the vttermost theâ—… shall these limed Strings be drawne and layd vpon the forkes some rowes higher then other some like a billow of water higher in one place then another till euery row be filled and the haunt couered all ouer then shall you fasten the endes with a slipping loope in such wise that vpon any violent straine the whole string may loosen and lap about any thing which toucheth it and in this wise you shall take a great number of Fowle together according to the flockes and heards in which they flye especially Plouers which for the most part come many together and not in a single file or rowe as commonly other Fowle doe but in a great broad cluster spreading and couering the ayre as it were all ouer and this manner of taking happeneth most commonly in the falling or comming to the ground oâ—… the Fowle whose nature is to swoope close by the ground a good distance before they light which happening amongst the strings either all or most part are many times intangled and these strings you neede not ouer precisely watch but being placed you may goe about other businesse till the time of flight be past and then returning to see what is taken you shall finde such as are stricken with the strings fast enough so as they can neither loosen themselues nor yet runne away with the string to hide either it or themselues and noting in what sort you layd your strings in the same rankes commonly you shall finde them or not much further off which being vnladed you may lappe them vp againe till you haue other conuenient time to vse them This taking of Fowle with limed Stringes may also be very well applied for the taking of the smaller wild fowle and such as onely haunt the water onely then our Fowler must obserue to lime all his Srings with strong and very good water tride lime such as will indure the water and not loose his vertue therein and these Strings are to be applied either for the Morning or Euening flight as aforesaide obseruing to take time enough before either of the flights for the placeing of the String and not to place them any where but vpon the most assured haunts where the Fowle certainely doe frequent and feede for otherwise it is losse of labour and much trouble to little purpose now for the manner of placeing these Strings as before you did them vpon the ground so now you shall doe them ouer the water within lesse then halfe a foote thereof making your forked stickes so much longer on purpose acording to the shallownes or deepenes of the water and heerein you shall obserue to lay these strings seldome or neuer in any Mooneshine night lest the shadow of the Lines giue offence to the Fowle or if you doe lay them to set it in such darke and obscure places where by the helpe either of Bancke Tree or other shelter the Mooneshine may be helde backe and obscured and your worke not perceiued And thus you may also lay these strings ouerthwart Riuers or Brookes and so as they may almost very neere touch the water nor neede you heerein at any time to make shorter your strings but pricking downe the first ende goe from boughe to boughe till you haue couered so much of the Riuer all ouer as you shall thinke to bee fit and conuenient and so as if any Fowle light thereon they may not fall out of your compasse or from your danger as thus for example And hauing thus placed your strings both on the banke waters and crosse the Riuers and obseruing the earliest houres as soone as the flights are past to come and visit your workes you shall finde that knowing the right haunts if Fowle fall any where they must necessarily fall within your danger nor can you chuse but take very many For as I saide comming in whole shoales or flockes together though these Fowle â—…ye singly one after one yet in their discent or lighting on the water they doe spread themselues and come into a single ranke all as it were lighting together though not flying in one ranke or company on the water in one and the same instant whereby it is not a single Fowle that striketh the string alone but for the most part the whole flocke flye so neere together and so come swooping into the Nette CHAP. V. Taking of great Fowle with Lime-â—…ggs THe next maner of taking of Fowle is with the Lime-twigs which may likewise as the rest before spoken off be appropriated and accommodated to all sorts of Fowle both the greater and the smaller Touching the taking of the greater sort of Wild-fowle with Lime-twigges our Fowler must prouide himselfe of good store of rodds the best kind whereof are the long smale and streight growne twigges or roddes which growe on the bushie branches of the Willow being cut of an
will escape away by meanes of such disorder but being iust and euen the proportion will shew you this Figure following The forme and manner of the second Crosse-staffe These two Crosse-staues being thus ioyned together euen fit to meet together you shall then both to the one to the other fixe a large wide Purse-net hauing that liberty at the toppe that the Crosse-staues may fall and part the one from the other a pretty distance and the lower ende of the Nette shall bee straite and narrow and fastened fast to the same hole in the longer Crosse staffe to which the shorter Crosse-staffe was before fastned then shal you haue twosmale coards or lines which with knots shall be fastened to each ende of the shorter Crossestasse passing through the two holes and so through the holes of the longer Cross-staffe through which they may goe and come at your pleasure and then shall the other two ends of the wards be tyed on a knot together at such an euen distance that the shorter staff may fal at your plea sure from the longer as farr as you thinke meet or the widenes of the Net wil suffer it and then another single ward being made fast to that last knot of the to cords which single ward you shal euer carry in your right hand with it you shal at your pleasure drawe the Crosse staues close together and close vp the Net as you shall finde occasion and also with it you shall make the staues and Net flye open widden as the place shal require where you are to set it for you must haue great regard in the vsing of this Engine euer to place it close for if you leaue any parte open either by too much slacknesse or the whole haunte not couered by too much straightnesse the Birds will quickly finde it and so escape and get away before you can come to your purpose But euery thing being made handsome and fit and the Lines yare and ready to passe too and froe with ease and gentelnesse then will the whole and intyre Engine cary the fashion and proportion of this figure which heere followeth The forme and maner of the Sparrow-Net Now for the vse of this Sparrow-Net is as was before said to be vsed late in the Euening or early in the Morning by seting it against the Eues of thatcht Houses or other houses or against the eaues of Stackes Houeles Barnes Stables and other out-Houses or against the eaues of Doue-coates and being set close against them to knocke and thrust the Crosse-staues close against the same making such a noyse as may inforce the Birds to flye out of their holes haunts into the Net and then presently to draw the longe single Line and shut vp the Crosse-staues close and then to take out the Birds so taken and in this manner you may in an Enening or else in a Morning goe ouer all your Houses Barnes or Stacks where are any haunts of Birds and take so many as you please The Birds which are generally taken with this Engine are Sparrowes Robins Wrens Starlings extrauagant Pydgioâ—… that lye out of the Doue-Coate or any other Fowle or vermine which passetâ—… in or out at any one certaine hole oâ—… passage The chiefe benefite of it is for the mewing of Hauks or geting into lust and strength sicke and weake Haukes for with this Engine you may Euening and Morning take so many Birds as you please and no more and so giue them warme to your Hauke which is the greatest nourishment that can be and both raiseth a Hauke soone and makes her mew fast because they are as it were taken out of their owne nest and from their owne liberty and freedome of feeding whereas Birds that are taken longe before they are vsed and so preserned day after day for these vses they mourne and fall away growing leane vnsauory and vnholesome and the Haukes fedd and nourisht therwith prosper but little better then with ordinary Dogges flesh or other flesh that is lest nourishing And thus much for Land-Fowle and the generall taking of them as well by day as by night Euening or Morning CHAP. XI The particular taking of some particular Birds by Nets and first of the Day-Nette HAuing spoken generally of Land Fowle of Birds and of the most generall wayes of taking the same either by Day Night Morning or Euening it is meete more that we proceed to such particular wayes of taking them as is most of vse both with our Fowlers in this Land as also with others in other Nations and being most agreeable with Art and Reason without which hardly shall any maâ—… bring his worke or indeauours to any good purpose It is meete then first that we beginne with they Da Net whose vse are especially for the taking of Larkes Buntingâ—… Merlins Hobbyes or any Bird that playeth in the Ayre or will stoope either to stale prey or gigge glasse or the like The time of the yeare for these Nets is from August till Nouember and the â—…hower or time a day very early in the Morning as a little before Sunne rise so as your Netts may be layd and all your Engines and implements fit and in readinesse to beginne your labor with the first â—…eepe of the Sunne wherein is to be noâ—…ed that the pleasanter and brighter the Morning is and the fayerer and earlier â—…hat the Sunne shineth and the milder â—…emper the Ayre is in the fitter the seaâ—…on is for this exercise and the longer â—…nd better your sport will continue For the place it would be euer in the most Champayne and playne Counâ—…ryes either on the short Barley Stubles the Lands lying large and playne on â—…uen and smooth greene layes or on leâ—…ill and slat Meddowes for it is to be vnâ—…erstood that the place which is to be â—…osen for this exercise must be so plaine â—…nd euen that the Nets both lying and â—…lling ouer may coutch so close and â—…me to the ground that the shortest Grasse or Stubble appearing through the same the Nette may lye as it were hideâ—… and vnperceiued by the Byrdes which shall play ouer the same as also there must be no hollownesse or seperation betwixt the Earth and any part of the verdge of the Net least the Birds which are sticken creepe and flicker out of the same as they will quickly doe vpon the least aduantage and this place must 〈◊〉 bee chosen neare or adioyning to anâ—… Towne or common course and meetinâ—… of many people for there these wantoâ—… fearefull Birds seldome haunte but 〈◊〉 remote and silent places as in valles 〈◊〉 sikes at the foote of hills or mountaine in lowe Meddowes or other hight grounds being a good way distant froâ—… villages yet hauing euer some Coâ—… fields neare bordering vpon them so there the Larke sings merriest and is 〈◊〉 test to strike and be Inticst with any Staâ—… whatsoeuer Now the next thing to bee obserue is the manner
hawks then gently vnmaile or vntrusse them as you shal findoccasion for the lesse time your hawke lies mailde or trnst vp the more wholesome it is for your hawks body and the longer she lies maylde or trusst vp the more apter shee is to receiue disease or lamenesse And herein is also to bee vnderstood that this latter kind of Mayling of haukes a trussing vp of the wings is nothing neare so good as the first Mayling with the handkercher nor carrieth a Hawke so easily nor yet so free from danger becanse it not onely pincheth the wings and maketh the pinions sore and tender but also a little bruseth the fethers which being but newly quilled are not come to their full strength and hardnesse and if any of them chance to be in bloud as all Hawkes though of one Ayrie yet some not at one instant then it is great odds but this trussing them either breaketh or bruseth them in their bloud whereby those feathers are made vnseruiceable for all that yeare following There bee some that when they take these young Hawkes doe neither Mayle them nor Trusse them but onely Seele them after this manner They take a Needle with a square point which we commonly call a Glouers Needle being fine smale and much worne and put in it a Crymson silke then put the Needle betweene the Hawkes eye and the neather lidde of the eye and so drawe the silke thorow it and then bring it crosse ouer the Hawkes heade and there taking the Needle from the Silke bring the two endes of the same ouer the toppe of the Hawkes head and so drawing both the nether liddes close ouer the eyes knit them with a fast knott vpon the crowne of the Hawkes heade and so carry her either in your handkercher or vpon your hand at your pleasure But this manner of Seeling of hawkes is both troublesome painefull and dangerous to the hawke and except the man haue a steedy hand and a cunning eye that doth it hee may not onely endammage the putting out of the Hawkes eye with the point of the Needle but also by any little ouer straining of the silke teare out the skinne of the lydde and thereby both cause a foule blemish and sometimes blindnesse as is continually seene in dayly experience To helpe then this discommodity of Seeling If you haue neither skill to Mayle your Hawke nor to trusse your Hawke rather then you shall Seele her you shall take a plaine Ruffter hood which some call the first hood being made of soft and gentle leather large and easie for the head and put it vpon her and so carry the Hawke home The next manner of taking of hawkes according to their seasons is to take them in their sorage which is indeede from that time they haue preyed for themselues and are masters of their owne strengthes and courages being able to make a true choise of their prey and to conquer it vntil the first whole yeare be fully expired and that they haue mewed and exchanged either all or at least most part of their first feathers after which time of the second coat they are no more called Sore-hawkes or hawkes in their soreage but entermewers or hawkes of the second Coat and they are most easily to be distinguished from the first for the feathers of the second coat are a little more palish blew and not so blacke as are those of the first and euery time that she changeth her coate is paler and paler till she come to bee called a white Hawke which you shal so much the easilier distinguish if you obserue the differences of her feathers for no hawk meweth so entirely but she leaueth euer some feather of the former yeare vnmewed those are so easily to be distinguished one from an other that any diligent obseruation you shall be euer able to knowe of what yeare or age your hawke is Now to proceed to the maner of taking these hawks in their sorage or after they preyed for themselues you shall being perfit in the knowledge of the ayrie for that is euer first to be intended most diligently marke their morning and euening going forth to find out their prey and how and where they prey as also the manner of their returning home where they take their stand that is on what brāches of the tree they do most vsually sit for hawkes are the constantest of all birds to the places wherunto they inure woont themselues neither will as others doe sit one while in one place another while on an other Therfore when you are acquainted with their hours of going out the places wher they sit at their returne you shal then take aduantage of her going out when shee is absent about her prey you shal climb the tree wher her stand is in a strait place through which necessarily she must passe you shall take a paire of those Nettes which Faulkoners commonly doe call Vrines or Vrnes being not much different in shape from the nets formerly described for the Branchers only they are much larger and more hollow in compasse and indeede are to bee bought almost of any Barbar or Nettemakers which dwell in the Wood Countries and they must be of strong twisted browne thride and dyed either Blewe or Greene as aforesaid with a reasonable large mashe for that sooner entangleth and holdeth the faster These Vrines you shall place in euery seuerall passage and in sundry Trees round the stand which the Hawkes vsethso as she may come no way to the stande without danger of the Nettes into which if at any time she strik she is presently taken and then to be disposed as was formerly described Now because you may not in any wise suffer the Hawke to hang too long in the Nette for feare of bruising and hurting her selfe you shall as soone as your Vrines are placed take vp some secret and vnseene place where you may lye and watch the comming of the hauke and assoone as you see her strike or be intangled presently with as conuenient speed as you can and not doeing any hurt to your other sport you shall assend vp to the tree and take downe the hauke and mayle trusse or hood her as you shal finde occasion Now if by the vncertainetie of the Hawkes comming home or the opennes and liberty of the passages which these young Hawkes haue you finde that this manner of worke auaileth not you shall then rise two howres at the least before day and come as neere to the Hawkes stand or resting place as you can possibly get without giuing of any affright or amazement to the young Hawkes and ascending vp into such trees as you see doth most face those places where the Hawkes sit and are so plaine in their viewes that they cannot rise without beholding them and in such trees amongst the most conuenient branches you shall pitch and place your Vrines and vnder the guard
her and to labour and seeke for their owne liuings for any of all which shee hath a seuerall Note or Tune All which when you haue learnt perfitly vpon your Call of which Cal I shal speake a great deale more largely in a particular Chapter hereafter then you shall with your Call come into these haunts before spoken off at such houres as are most conuenient and sitting for the purpose as namely very earely in the morning at which time they stragle and goe abroad to seeke out their foode which commonly is for the most part before the Sunne rising or else at furthest iust with the Sunnes rising or else in the euening somewhat before the Sunne beginne to set at which time they doe the like also in straggling abroad to to seeke their foode Now here is to be vnderstoode that albeit these two particular times of the day as the earliest of the morning and the latest of the euening are the best times of the day for the vse of the Call and the finding out of the Pheasants whether it bâ—…e by couples or otherwise the whole Eye or company yet neuerthethesse they are not the onely and alone times but you may as well vse the Call any time in the forenoone after the Sunne rise or any time in the afternoone before Sunne set by altering and exchanging onely your note or tune for as before Sunne rise and at Sunne set your note is to call them to their foode or to giue them libertie to range so your notes after Sunne rise and before Sunne set which are called the forenoone and afternoone notes must be to clucke them together and to bring them to brood as also to chide them for their straggling and to put them in feare of some danger ensuing As for the notes of reioycing or playing they may bee vsed at any time yet not so much for the discouery of these young Pheasants as for the finding out of the old couples when they are seperated and gone any distance one from another whether it be for foode through affright or any other naturall or casuall occasion whatsomener as euery hower hapneth to these fearefull and cowardly creatures Hauing thus the perfeit vse of your Call and the obseruation of the right howers and seasons being comed to the hauntes that is to say into the aforesaid thicke Copsies and Vnderwoods and hauing ranged through the same into the places most likely and best promising for your purpose which you shall know by the streÌ„gth of the vndergrowth the obscurenesse darkenesse and solitarinesse of the place you shall then lodge your selfe so closse as is possible and then drawing foorth your Call beginne to Call first softly and in a very lowe tune or note lest the Phesants be lodged too neare you and then a sudden loude note may affright them but if nothing reply or call backe againe to you then raise your note higher and higher till you make your call speake to the vttermost compasse prouided that by no meanes you ouerstraine it in the lest degree or make it speake out of tune for that were to lose all your labour and to giue the Foule knowledge of your deceit whereas keeping it in a most true pitch and naturall tune if their bee a Pheasant 〈◊〉 all the woode that comes within thâ—… compasse of the sound thereof shee 〈◊〉 presently make answere and call bacâ—… againe vnto you that in your own noâ—… also and as loude and shrill in euery prâ—…portion Now assoone as you heare this answere or report backe againe if you finde it come farre and is but one single voyce and no more then shall you as close and secretly as you can by degrees steale and creepe nearer and nearer vnto it still euer and anon applying your Call and you shall finde that the Phesant which answereth you will also come nearrer and nearter vnto you which assoone as you perceaue you shall then obserue that the nearrer and nearrer yon meete the lower and lower you make your Call to speake for so you shall perceiue the Phesant her selfe to doe and her in all poynts as neere as you can you must imitate and thus doeing in the end you shall get sight of the Phesant either on the ground or on the pearch that is vpon the bowes of some small Tree as it were prying and seeking where she may finde you which assoone as you perceiue you shall then cease from calling a space then as secretly and as speedily as you can see you spread your Nettes in the most conuenientest place you can finde betwixt your selfe and the Phesant ouer the toppes of the lowest shrubbes and bushes making one end of your Nette fast to the ground and holding the other end by a longe line in your hand by which when any thinge straineth it you may draw the Nette close together or at least into a hollow con passe which done you shall call againe and then assoone as you perceaue the Pheasant to come iust vnder your Nette then you shall rise vp and shew yourselfe that by giueing the Pheasant an affright he may offer to mount and so be presently taken and intangled within your Net Now if it so fall out that vpon your first calling you heare many answers and those out of many corners of the Wood then shall not you stir at all but constantly keepe your place still by al meanes iâ—…ticeing them to come vnto you and you not moning to them and as you shall heare them by their sounds come neerer and neerer vnto you so shall you 〈◊〉 the meane space prepare your Netteâ—… ready and spread them in such conâ—… ent places as you shall thinke fit rouâ—… about you one payre of Nettes on 〈◊〉 side and another payre of anothâ—… and then lye close and apply your 〈◊〉 till all the Pheasants be commed vnderneath your Nettes and then boldly discouer your selfe and giue the affright to make them mount which done take them out of the Netts and dispose of them at your pleasure and in this manner before discouered you may take either the single couples of olde Pheasants if it be after the time of the yeare of their payring or else the whole Eye of Pheasants according to the time of breed and the true and proper vse of the season Now there is another manner of taking of these Pheasans with Nettes but it must bee onely when they are very yonge when they are called pootes or Pheasant poots and not altogether Pheasants and this manner of taking is called dryuing of Pheasants and it is to be done after this manner First you shall either by the Arte of your eye still in their haunts diligence in search or else by the cunning of your Call finde out the Eye of Phesants bee they great or little and assoone as you haue found out any one of them you shall then alwaies taking the winde with you for they will naturally runne downe
would haue them you shall then presently crosse 〈◊〉 with your engine and as it were offer to face or oppose them aud they will presently recoile and runne into any tract that you would haue them and thus with these gentle obseruations you may driue them which way and whither you will so that at last they will runne themselues into your net with such violence and eagernesse that being ouerthrowne and intangled therein you may take and dispose them at your pleasure as you shall haue occasion The fourth and last way for the taking of Partridges and which indeed excelleth all the other for the excellency of the sport and the rarenesse of the Arte which is contained therein is the taking of them with the setting Dogge for in it there is a two-fold pleasure and a twofold Arte to bee discouered as first the pleasure and arte proceeding from the Dâ—…gge and is contained in this manner of raunging hunting and setting and then the pleasure and Art in the bird hunted and is contained in their simplicity folly and feare together with the 〈◊〉 they haue to preserue themselues by which meanes only they are circumuented ouertakeÌ„ making the old prouâ—… Too much pitty spoiles a Citie and so too much care of themselues is the destruction and losse of themselues To proceed then to our purpose it is meete that first before I wade further into this discourse I shew you what a Sâ—…ting Dogge is you shall then vnderstand that a Setting Dogge is a certaine lusty land Spaniell taught by nature to hunt the Partridge before and more then any other chase whatsouer and that with all eagernesse and fiercenesse running the fields ouer and ouer so lustily and busily as if there were no limit in his desire and furie yet so qualified and tempered with Art and obedience that when he is in the greatest and eagerest pursuit and seemes to be most wilde and frantike that yet euen then one hem or sound of his Masters voyce makes him presently stand gaze about him and looke in his Masters face taking all his directions from it whether to proceede stand still or retire nay when hee is commend euâ—… to the very place where his prey is and hath as it were his nose ouer it so that it seemes hee may take it vp at his owne pleasure yet is his temperance and obedience so made and framed by Arte that presently euen on a sudden he either stands still or falles downe flatte vpon his belly without daring once to open his mouth or make any noyse or motion at all till that his Master come vnto him and then proceedes in all things according to his directions and commandements When therefore you haue either by your owne industry made such a dogge or else by your purse friendship or other accidents obtained such a dogge you shall then take Partridges with him after this manner being come into the fields or haunts where Partridges doe frequent you shall there cast off your dogge and by crying Hye-Ret or Hey-whyrr or such like words of encouragement according to the custome of his owne nature or education giue him leaue to raunge or hunt which as soone as he beginneth to doe you shall then cease from any more words except any fault or mistaking enforce you and then you shall vse the words of correction or reprehension due for that purpose and in all his hunting and labor you shall haue great and especiall heed that hee neuer raunge too farre from you but beate his ground iustly and euen without casting about or flying now heare and now there and skipping many places which the heate and mettall of many good dogges will make them doe if they be not reprehended and therefore when any such fault shall happen you shall presently with a hem call him in and then with the terror of your countenance so threaten him that he shall not dare all that day after to doe the like but shall raunge with that modesty and temperance hunting all the ground ouer at an inch and euer and anon looking you in the face as who should say doe I now please you I or no all which when he doth you must then giue him cherrishments and encouragement Now if in this raunging and hunting you chaunce to see your dogge to make a sudden stop or to stand still you shall then presently make into him for he hath set the Partridge and assoone as you come to him you shall bid him goe nearer which if he doe you shall still say to him goe nearer goe nearer but if you finde he is vnwilling to goe or creepe nearer but either lies still or stands shaking of his tayle as who should say heere they are vnder myne nose and withall now and then lookes backe vpon you as if hee would tell you how neare they are then presently you shall cease from further vrging of him and then beginne to take your range or circumference about both the Dogge and the Partridge not ceasing but walking about with a good round pace and looking still before the Dogges nose till you behold and see plainely how and in what manner the Coouy lyeth whether closse and round together in one plumpe heape or cluster or else stragling and scattering here two there three aud in other places more or lesse as fortune shall administer when thus you see how the Couye lyeth you shall then first charge the Dogge to lye still and then drawing foorth your Nette as you walke hauing prickt downe one ende to the ground as hath beene before shewed then spread your Nette all open and as neare as you can couer all the partridges therewith euen from that which lyeth next to the Dogge to that which is furthest off but if you finde that one Nette will not serue to couer them then you shall draw foorth another and holding your raunge or walke stil in continuall motion spread out it and lay it before the first Nette and thus you may doe with as many Nettes as you shall haue occasion to vse till the whole Coouye be couered which done you shall then make in with a noyse and springe vp the Partridge which shall no sooner rise but they shall presently be intangled in the Net so as you may take them at your pleasure and dispose of them as you shall haue occasion in which taking whether it be this way or any other formerly spoken off if after they are in your mercy you will then be pleased to let goe againe the old Cocke and the old henne it will not onely be honest and Gentleman like but also good and profitable and a meanes both to continue and increase your pastime for â—…he young ones wil be reward enough for â—…our labor and the old ones thus let at â—…ibertie will bringe you foorth a new â—…rood the next yeare whereon to exerâ—…ise your Skill and knowledge whereas â—…o take all hand ouer head is such an vnâ—…aturall destruction
that when you â—…r any other in the Countrey would â—…aue sporte both they and you shall â—…ant it and all the whole Countrey as I haue seene where such destroyers liue will not be able to produce or to shew foorth one Partridge And beâ—…es these olde Partridges which wee commonly call Ruines being thus taken are neuer good meate nor tastefull by reason of their much toughnesse and hardnesse so that to take them shewes rather couetousnesse and gredinesse theâ—… delight or recreation Now albe in this whole discourse and generall vse of Nettes whether this 〈◊〉 spoken off or any other contained in â—…ny former part of this Treatise I haâ—… bounded them to the labour and indâ—… 〈◊〉 of one man yet you shall vnderstand that if in these recreations or labours you doe take a companion or 〈◊〉 friend with you that after you haâ—… found your game or set your game aâ—… soone as you doe beginne your raungâ—… or rounde walke he may presently coâ—… in â—…o you and as you take one endâ—… of the Nâ—…tte so he may take the otheâ—… and then carrying it vp betweene yoâ—… you may equally vnloose it and spreadâ—… oner your game you shall finde yoâ—… worke a great deale much more 〈◊〉 and certaine and your labour more safe and without all kinde of danger or trouble Now for a conclusion of this treatise when you are exquisite and pefect in all the things before spoken of and that you can do them readily perfectly with all Art and cunning you shall then know that from these you may deriue the taking of diuers other Byrdes as Quaâ—…les Rayles Morepoots and diuers others of like nature and condition all which are also very good flights for the Hawke and very dainty meates in the dishe as all that are â—…ither of good tooth or good bringing vp can very well witnesse Now for their manner of haunts they are as the Partridges are most in Corne Fieldes or in Pastures or Woods neare vnto Corne-Fieldes onely the Quaile loues most the Wheate Fieldes the Morepoots loues most the Heath and Forrest groundes where is store of Lynge and such like couert and the â—…uaile loue the long and high grasse wherein they may lye closse obscure and hidden For the manner of finding them it is in all points like that of the Partridge by the eye by the eare or by the haunt all which aske the same obseruations and carracters which haue beene formerly declared touching the Partridge and with the same causions exceptions and difficulties But the chiefe and principall meanes of all and which indeed exceedeth all is to finde them out by the call or pipe to which they listen with such earnestnesse that you can no soâ—… chaunt their notes but in an instant they reply and make answere vnto you pursuing and following the call with such greedinesse that they will neuer cease till they come vnto you and skippe and play about you especially the Qudiâ—…e which is inamored to heare her owne tune that you can no sooner make your quaile pipe speake in the true tune but in a trice she will make answere not â—…aue till she come to you and sport about you Now you are to obserue in the calling of these Byrdes that they haue diuers notes and tunes some belonging to the male Byrdes and some vnto the female all which you must haue perâ—… in your remembrance and then when you heare the male Byrd call you must answere in the note of the female and if the female call you must answere in the note of the male and so you shall be suer that both the one and the other will most busily come about you and neuer leaue till they finde the place from whence the sound commeth to which when they doe approch they will stand and gaze and listen till the Nette be quite cast ouer them Now for the manner of taking of any or all of these Byrds it is one and the same with the taking of the Partridge and may be done either by â—…ttes in such sorte as is formerly declarred in this Chapter or else by Lyme either bush or rodde by the stalking Engine and manner of driuing or lastly by the setting-Dogge in the same manner and forme as hath beene spoken of the Partridge Of which Setting-Dogge since he is of so great vse and excellencie I thinke it not amisse here in this place to demonstrate his true Figure and proportion The forme and proportion of the Setting Dogge Now although some may thinke it strange that a Dogge should be brought to Set this small game yet there is no strangenesse therein for Dogs in this Arte are made to any thing that they are accustomed so it be not a thing meerely contrary and against their natures which this is not for it is the nature of euery Spaniell naturally to hunt all manner of Byrdes or any thing that hath wing though some with more earnestnesse greedinesse then othersome Now these are Byrdes and haue wing so that they are naturall for the Spaniel to hunt and there then remaineth nothing but the accustoming the Dogge thereunto and acquainting him with your minde and determination that this is the thing which you would haue him hunt which assoone as he vnderstands instantly hee pursues and followes it and is as earnest in it as in any other chase prey or pleasure whatsoeuer And thus much for the taking of Partridges and other smaller Byrdes of like nature as also of the Setting-Dog and his seucrall vses CHAP. XVI More of the Setting-Dogge of his election and the manner of trayning him from a whelpe till he come to perfection Hâ—…uing spoken a little particularly of the Setting-Dogge and 〈◊〉 manner of vsing him being brought to perfection and fite for the present vse of the pastime I will heere in this place speake more generally and largely of him and shew how he is to be trayned and brought to be trayned and seruiceable for the purposes before treated off for albe I know that in diuers places of this Kingdome these Setting-Dogges are to be taught so that most men of ability may haue them at their pleasures yet likewise I know they are sould at suâ—… great rates and prizes that no indâ—…ous man whatsoeuer which ether loues the sport or would bepartaker of the benefit but will be glad to learne how to make such a dogge himselfe and so both saue his purse and make his pleasure and profit both more sure and more delicate for this I must assure all men that buy their dogges from mercinary teachers that euermore those sales-men doe reserue in their owne bosomes some one secret or another for the want of knowledge where of the purchaser quickly findes his dogge imperfit and so is forced vpon euery disorder or alteration of keeping to send the dogge back to his first master a new to be reformed which drawing on euer a new price makes the dogges
certaine price without end without valuation This falt to redresse and to make euery man the true master of his owne worke I will shew you heere in a briefe and compendious manner al the mysteries and secrets which lie hidde in this laboursome businesse The first thing therefore that you must learne in this art is to make a true election of your dogge which you intend to apply to this purpose of Setting and in this election you shall obserue that although any dogge which is of perfit and good sent and naturally adicted to the hunting of feathers as whether it be the Land-Spaniell Water-Spaniell or else the Mungrell betweene either of both those kindes or the Mungrels of either of those kindes either with the shallow flewed hound the tumbler lurcher or indeede the small bastard Mastiffe may bee brought to this perfection of Setting as I haue seene by daily experience both in this and in other Nations yet is their none so excellent indeede as the true bred Land-Spaniell being of a nimble and good size rather small then grosse and of a couragious and fierie mettall euermore louing and desiring toyle when toyle seemes most yrksome and wearie which although you cannot know in a whelpe so yong as it is intended he must be when you first begin to traine him to this purpose yet may you haue a strong speculation therein if you choose him from a right litter or breede wherein by succession you haue knowne that the whole generation haue beene endued with all these qualities as namely that he is a strong lusty and nimble raundger both of actiue foote wanton tayle and busie nostrill that his toyle is without wearinesse his search without changeablenesse and yet that no delight nor desire transport him beyond feare or obedience for it is the perfectest charracter of the most perfectest Spaniel euer to be fearefull and louing to him that is his Master and keeper I confesse I haue seene excellent rare Setting dogs made in the Low-Countries which haue beene of a Bastard tumblers kind for indeede a true Lande-Spaniel is there Gaysson and indeede I haue found in them if I may so tearme it a greater wisedome which indeede is but a greater feare then in our Land-Spaniels but comparing the whole worke together that is the labour in raundging the scent in finding and the art in Setting they haue beene much inferior to our dogs and not able to stand vp with them in the lardge and spatious Champaines nor yet to brush through or make their waies in the sharpe thickets and troublesome couerts To speake then in a word touching the best choice of this Setting dogge let him be as neere as you can the best bredde Land-Spaniell that you can procure and though some haue beene curious in obseruing of their colours as giuing prehominence to the Motley the Liuer-hude or the White and Blacke spotted yet questionlesse it is but a vaine curiosity for no colour is amisse for this purpose prouided the naturall qualities bee perfit and answerable for the worke to which ende you intende them Now when you haue thus made a good election of your Dogge you shall beginne to handle and instruct him at foure monethes olde or at sixe moneth at the vttermost for to â—…ferre longer time is hurtfull and will make the labour greater and more difficult to compasse for the elder Dogges are the more stubborne they are and doe both vnwillingly learne and with lesse will retaine that which is learned The first thing therefore that you shall teach your Whelpe is by all meanes possible to make him most louing and familar with you so that hee will not onely know you from any other person but also fawne vpon you and follow you wheresoeuer you goe taking his onely delight to be only in your company and that you may bring this the better to passe you shall not suffer him to receiue either foode or cherishings from any mans hands but your owne onely and as thus you grow familiar with the Whelpe and make him louing and fond of you so you shal also mixe with this familiarity a kinde of awe and obedience in the Whelpe so as he may aswell feare you as loue youâ—… and this awe or feare you shall procure rather with your countenance frowne or sharpe words then with blowes or any other actuall crueltye for these whelpes are quickly terryfied and the vyolence of â—…ment not onely depriâ—… them of courage but also makes them dull dead spirited whereas on the coâ—…ary part you are to striue to keepe your Dogge which is for this purpose as wâ—…ton as is possible When therefore you haue made your whelpe thus familiar and and vnto you so as he will follow you 〈◊〉 and downe whitheâ—… soeuer you got without taking notice of any man but your selfe only that he knoweth your frowne from your 〈◊〉 and your gentle words from your rough you shal begin to â—…each him to coutch lye downe close to the ground first by laying him downe to the ground and saying vnto him Lye close Lye close or some such like word of commandement and terrifying him with rough language when he doth any thing against your meaning and giuing him not onely cherrishings but foode as a peece of bread or the like which it is intended you must euer carry about you when he doth any thing according vnto your will till you haue made him so perfitly vnderstand you that when at any time you shall but say lye close downe couch or the like that then presently he doe the same without any stamering stay or amazement which by paines taâ—…ing and continual vse you shall perfitly bring to passe in a few daies This done you shall then make him after the same manner and with the same words not onely couch and lie downe as aforesaid but being couched you shall then make him come creeping vnto you with his belly and head close to the ground so farre or so little a way as you shall thinke good and this you shall do by saying Come nearer Come nearer or the like and at first till he vnderstand your meaning by shewing him a piece of bread or some other foode which may intice him and draw him with more willingnesse to come vnto you and in this lesson you must obserue that when he offereth to come vnto you if he either raise from the ground his fore-parts or his hinder-parts or if he doe but so much as offer to lift vp his head that then presently you doe not onely with your hand thrust his body downe in such sort as you would haue him but also accompany that action with the terror of your voice and such ratings as may not onely aâ—…ight the Whelpe but make him with greater care to striue to performe your pleasure which performance if it come not so speedily as you thinke fit or not with the willingnesse which is to be required in such an action if