58 THE MASTER OF GAME

CAP. 14 xiiili—OF RENNYNG HOUNDIS
AND OF HERE NATURE

A RENNYNG hounde?

is a kynde of houndis per
be fewe men pat ne haue seie some of hem. Nabe-
lees I shal deuyse how a rennyng hounde shal be
holed for good and faire and also I shal deuyse
of her maners. Of alle hewes of rennyng houndes
which be good and which be bad or euyl as of
greihoundes but pe beest hewe of rennyng houndes
and moost comon for to be good is iclepid broun
Tawne also pe goodnesse of rennyng houndes
and of al oper maner kynde of good houndes
commep of verray corage and of pe good nature
of here good fadire and of hire good modire
and also as towchyng greyhoundes men may wel
helpe to make hem good techyng as to lede hem
to wode and to feeldes and to be ay nye hem, in
makyng of many good guyrreis, whan pei han
wel idon and astyng” and biteng hem whan pei
done amys for pei byn beestis and perfore pei
have nede to be lernyd to pat men wil pat pei
shuld do. Aftere a rennyng hounde shuld be
wel bore and wel grove of bodie and shulde have
greet nosethrelles and open and longe snowte but
not smale and greet lippis and hangyng adoun
grete jeu and rede or blak greet forhede and
grete hede and large erys wel longe and wel
hangyng adoun and brood and nye pe hede a
grete neke and a greet brest grete shuldres and
grete leggis and stronge and not to longe greet
feet and rounde and grete clees and pe foot a litel
availede smale bi the flankis and longe sydes a
litel pintel and * long, smale hangyng ballokis and
wel trussyd togideris a good chyne bone and
grete bak good thies and greet hynder legges and
pe heghes streigh and not bowed pe taile grete
and hie and not crompyng vpon pe bak but
streight wip a litel crompyng vpward. Napbelees
I have sey some rennyng houndes with gret horred
tailles pe whiche were ful good rennyng houndis
hunten in diuers maners for sum folowyng pe
hert fast at pe frist * for pei goon lightly and fast
and whan pei han ronne so awhile pei han hyed
hem so fast pat pei be relinxed and breeples and
abiden stille and leuen pe hert, whan pei shuld
enchace. This maner of rennyng houndis men
shuld fynde comonly in pe lande of Basco ® and
Spayn, pei be right good for be wilde boor but

1 G. de F. puts the chapters on alaunts and greyhounds before this one, p. 106. SeeA

2 Ascrying, calling at him.

CHAP. 14.—OF RUNNING HOUNDS
AND OF THEIR NATURE

A RUNNING hound ? is a kind of hound there be few
men that have not seen some of them. Neverthe-
less I shall devise how a running hound shall be
held for good and fair, and also shall I devise of
their manners. Of all hues of running hounds,
there are some which be good, and some which be
bad or evil as of greyhounds. But the best hue of
running hounds and most common for to be good,
is called brown tan. Also the goodness of running
hounds, and of all other kinds of good hounds,
comes of true courage and of the good nature of
their good father and of their good mother. And
also as touching greyhounds, men may well help
to make them good by teaching and by leading
them to the wood and to fields, and to be always
near them, in making of many good curées when
they have done well, and of rating at and beating
them when they have done amiss, for they are
beasts, and therefore have they need to learn that
thing that men will they should do. A running
hound should be well born, and well grown of body,
and should have great nostrils and open, and a long
snout, but not small, and great lips and well hang-
ing down, and great eyes red or black, and a great
forehead and great head, and large ears, well long
and well hanging down, broad and near the head,
a great neck, and a great breast and great shoulders,
and great legs and strong, and not too long, and
great feet, round and great claws, and the foot a
little low, small flanks and long sides, a little
pintel not long, small hanging ballocks and well
trussed together, a good chine bone and great back,
good thighs, and great hind legs and the hocks
straight and not bowed, the tail great and high,
and not cromping up on the back, but straight and
a little cromping upward. Nevertheless I have
seen some running hounds with great hairy tails
the which were very good. Running hounds hunt
in divers manners, for some followeth the hart
fast at the first,! for they go lightly and fast and
when they have run so awhile, they have hied them
so fast that they be relaxed and all breathless,
and stop still and leave the hart when they should
chase him. This kind of running hounds men
should find usually in the land of Basco © and Spain.
They are right good for the wild boar, but are not

ppendix : Running Hounds.

RACHES

OR

RUNNING

HOUNDS

3 The word “not” omitted by scribe ; should read not long ; see G. de. F. p. 107 and Shirley.
4 Shirley MS. and G. de F. here add: “and athristeth (press) an hart at the first, as ee
une randonnée et dérompent une beste,” p. 107. 5 G. de F.: “pays des Basques, Biscaye, P- Ti

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