64. THE MASTER OF GAME

CAP. xvi—OF ALAUNTES AND OF
HURE NATURE

ALaunT is a maner and nature of houndes, and
pe good alauntz ben be which men clepyn alauntz
gentil,’ other per byn pat men clepyn alauntz
ventreres,” oper byn alauntz of pe bocherie, Thei
pat ben gentile shuld be made and shape as a
greyhounde evyn of alle pinges sauf of pe heued,
pe whiche shuld be greet and short, and pouze
ther alauntes of alle hewes pe verrey hue of pe
good alauntz pt is moost comon shuld be white,
wip a blak spott about pe eerys, smale eyne and
white stondyng eres and sharpe aboue. Men
shuld teche alauntz bettir, and to be of better
custumes pan eny oper beestis, for he is bettir
shape and strenger for to do harme pan eny oper
beest. Also comonly alauntz byn stordy * of here
owyn nature and haue not so good witte as many
oper houndes haue, for if a man prik * an hors pe
alaunt wil gladly renne and bite pe hors, also pei
renne at oxen and at sheepe at swyne and to alle
oper beestis or to men or to oper houndes, for
men han seyn alauntz sle here maystire. And
in alle maner wise alauntz byn july felle and euel
vndirstondyng and more foolish and more sturdy
pan eny oper maner of houndes. And men ® seyn
neuer Pre wel condicions and good, for a good
alaunt shuld renne also fast as a greihounde, and
eny beest pat he my3t come to he shuld hold wip
his sesours and nou3t leue it, for an alaunt of his
nature holdeth faster his biteng pan should iii
greihoundes pe best pat eny man may fynde, and
perfore it is be best hounde for to hold and for
nyme ‘al maner beestis and hold my3tely. And
whan he is wel condiciond and perfitly men ® hold
pat he is good amonge al oper houndes but men
fynden but fewe pat doon perfite. A good alaunt
shuld loue his maistire and folowe hym and helpe
hym in alle Cace and what ping his maister wold
hym comaunde he shuld do. A good alaunt
shuld goo fast and be hardy to nyme al maner
beestis, wipout turnyng and hold fast and not leue
it, and wel condiciond and wel at his maistris
comaundement and whan he is soche, men® hold
as I haue saide pat he is oon be good hounde pt
may be for to take al maner beestis. That oper

CHAP. 16.—OF ALAUNTES AND OF
THEIR NATURE

AN alaunte is of the manner and nature of hounds.
And the good alauntes are those which men call
alauntes gentle.! Others there are that men call
alauntes veutreres,” others be alauntes of the
butcheries. They that be gentle should be made
and shaped as a greyhound, even of all things save
of the head, the which should be great and short.
And though there be alauntes of all hues, the true
hue of a good alaunte,and that which is most common
should be white with black spots about the ears,
small eyes and white standing ears and sharp above.
Men should teach alauntes better, and to be of
better custom than any other beasts, for he is
better shaped and stronger for to do harm than
any other beast. And also commonly alauntes
are giddy * of their own nature and have not such
good sense as many other hounds have, for if a
man prick* a horse the alauntes will run gladly
and bite the horse. Also they run at oxen and
sheep, and swine, and at all other beasts, or at men
or at other hounds. For men® have seen alauntes
slay their masters. In all manner of ways alauntes
are treacherous and evil understanding, and more
foolish and more harebrained than any other kind
of hound. And no one ever saw ® three well con-
ditioned and good. For the good alaunte should
Tun as fast as a greyhound, and any beast that he
can catch he should hold with his seizers and not
leave it. For an alaunte of his nature holds faster
of his biting than can three greyhounds the best
any man can find. And therefore it is the best
hound to hold and to seize all manner of beasts
and hold them fast. And when he is well con-
ditioned and perfect, men hold § that he is the best
of all hounds. But men find few that are perfect
and good. A good alaunte should love his master
and follow him, and help him in all cases, and do
what his master commands him. A good alaunte
should go fast and be hardy to take all kinds of
beasts without turning, and hold fast and not leave
it, and be well conditioned, and well at his master’s
command, and when he is such, men hold,° as I have
said, that he is the best hound that can be to take
all manner of beasts. That other kind of alaunte is

1 The old spelling has been retained in the modern text, but in the notes alaunt is used. G. de F. says
“there are some which are called Alauntes gentil, but not that the good alauntes are so called.

2 See Appendix: Veltres and Alaunts.

3 G. de F. has “ estourdiz,” which the “Master of Game” translates as “ stordy’”’ or sturdy, but the modern

sense would be hairbrained, giddy, not sturdy.

: ees
* Means chase a horse. G. de F. says: “Se on court un cheval, ils le prennent voulentiers,” p. 100.

G. de F. says: “I have seen.”

6 G. de F. says: “I have never seen.”

1 Take or seize. Cie GomG Cm LnmSay si Mae lho diag SGardewhensays\mses ls nolde

 

aCe:

ALAUNTES