THE PROLOGUE

CAP. PRIMUM.—THE PROLOGE

To the honure and reuerence

of you my ryght worshipfull

and dred lord H [enry] by the grace

of God eldest sone and heire

unto the hie excellent and

criston prynce H [enry] pe itt) by pe

forsaid grace Kyng of Ingelond
and of Fraunce, Prynce of Wales, Duc of Gueyne
of Lancastre and of Cornwale and Erle of Chestere,
TI yowre owyn in euery houmble wyse, am me auntred
to make this litel symple book which I recomaund
and submytte to yowre noble and wise correccioun,
the which book shal 3if it lyke to youre forsaide
lordshipe be named and called MAYSTER OF
GAME. And for pis cause, for pe matere pat
pis book tretep of bene im euery sesounn most durable,
and to my thenkyng to euery gentils hert oftenest *
most disportful of alle games pat is to say huntyng
for pough it be so that havkyng with gentil
houndis haukes for pe heroun and the Reuere be
noble and commendable 3it Jlastep it seelden at
the most not passyng, half pe yere, And though men
founden from Maij to Lammas” game ynow to
hawke at pere myght no wight fynde no haukes
to hauke with® but as of huntyng pere nys no
sesoun of al pe yere pat game ne may in euery good
contre ryght wel be founde and eke houndes redy
to enchace it. And sith pis book shal be alle of
huntyng which is so noble a game and heke lastyng
porgh alle pe yere to dyuerse beestis aftir pat pe
sesoun axeth in gladyng of man, me penketh I may
wel calle it MAYSTERE OF GAME. And
pough it be soo my dere lord pat many on couthen
bettere han medled hem of this matere and eke more
konnyngly pan I, 3it two pingges per be pat princi-
pally han bolded and caused me this werk to
make on hond. The first is trest of 30ure noble
correccion to the which as by fore is said I sub-
mitte pis litel and symple book, socoundly pat pough
L vunworpi be I am Maister of this game wip
pat noble prince your fadere oure aldere souereyne
and liege lord forsaid. And for I ne wold pat
his hunters ne yours pat now be or shuld come
here aftir weren vunknowe in pe profitenesse of
pis art for pi (sic) shall I leue this symple
memorial ffor as Chaucer saip in this prologe of the
xxv.' good wymmen. Be wryteng haue men of

" Shirley MS. has “most honeste and moste desporteful.”
* As the hawks would be mewing and unfit to fly.

CHAP. 1.—THE PROLOGUE

To the honour and reverence

of you my right worship ful

and dread Lord Henry by the gract

of God eldest son and heir

unto the high excellent and

Christian Prince Henry IV. by the

aforesaid grace King of England
and of France, Prince of Wales, Duke of Guienne
of Lancaster and of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester.
I your own in every humble wise have me ventured
to make this little simple book which I recommend
and submit to your noble and wise correction,
which book if it pleaseth your aforesaid Lordship
shall be named and called MASTER OF GAME,
and for this cause: for the matter that this book
treateth of being in every season of the year most
durable, and to my thinking to every gentle heart
oftenest! most disportful of all games, that is to say
hunting. For though it be that hawking with gentle
hounds and hawks for the heron and the river be
noble and commendable, it lasteth seldom at the
most more than half a year. For though men
find from May unto Lammas®* game enough to hawk
at, no one will find hawks to hawk with.’ But as
of hunting there is no season of all the year, that
game may not be found in every good country,
also hounds ready to chase it. And since this book
shall be all of hunting, which is so noble a game
and lasting through all the year to divers beasts
that grow according to the season for the glad-
dening of man, I think I may well call it MASTER
OF GAME.

And though it be so my dear Lord, that many
could better have meddled with this matter and
also more ably than I, yet there be two things
that have principally emboldened and caused me
to take this work in hand. The first is trust of
your noble correction, to which as before is said,
The second
is, that though I be unworthy, I am Master of this

I submit this little and simple book.

Game with that noble prince your Father our all
dear sovereign and liege Lord aforesaid. And as
I would not that his hunters nor yours that now be
or that should come hereafter were unknown in
the perfectness of this art, for these shall I leave
this simple memorial, for as Chaucer saith in his
prologue of “ The 25 * Good Women ” : “‘ By writing

2 August I.
«The Shirley MS: has “" X0V.7