THE MASTER OF GAME

CAP. xviii—OF MAISTIUES AND OF
HER NATURE

Mastir isa maner of houndes.* pe mastif nature
is pisand his office for to kepe his mastres beestis
and his maistris hous, and it is a good nature of
houndis for pei kepen and defenden at her power
al her maistere goodes® pei byn of cherlich nature
and of foule shape napelees per byn some pat fallen
to be berslettis* and also to bryng wel and fast a
wanlace* about. Some tyme ® per ben many good
namelych for men pat hunten for profit of housold,
as for to gete flessh. Also of maystifs and of
alauntis® per ben many good for pe wilde boor,
Also of mastifs and of houndes for pe hauke per
bene houndes pat men shuld not make mooch
mencioun of perfore I uyl no more speke of hem,
for it is of no greet maistrie ne of grete redynes
pe huntyng pat pei don for here nature his not to be
tendirly norshed."

CHAP. 18.—OF THE MASTIFF AND
OF HIS NATURE

A mastirF is a kind of hound.! The mastiff’s
nature and his office is to keep his master’s beasts

and his master’s house, and it is a good kind of
hound, for they keep and defend with all their
power all their master’s goods.* They are of a
churlish nature and ugly shape. Nevertheless
there are some that come to be berslettis,* and also
to bring well and fast and range about.’ Some-
times there be many good, especially for men who
hunt for profit of the household to get flesh.’ Also
of mastiffs and alaunts® there are many good for
the wild boar. Also from mastiffs and hounds
for the hawk (there be bred) hounds that men
should not make much mention of, therefore [|
will no more speak of them, for there is no great
mastery nor great readiness in the hunting that they
do, for their nature is not to be tenderly nosed.’

1 In the Shirley MS. and in G. de F. (p. 115) the words “ that every man knoweth”’ are added.

2 See Appendix: Mastiff.

3 Bercellettis or bercelettes, hounds, most likely shooting dogs, from berser, to shoot, bercel, an archer’s butt. (Hall.

and Strat.) See Appendix: Bercelet.

4 Wanlasour, one who drives game. G. de F. (p. 115) has not this sentence, but says: “ Toutesvoyes y
en a d’aucuns qui chassent toutes bestes; més ils ne rechassent pas.” See Appendix: Wanlace.

5 Here G. de F. has: “Sometimes from mastiffs and running hounds there are bred many good hounds,
especially for men that hunt for profit of household,” &c. (p. 115).

6 Should read: “there be bred good hounds from mastiffs and alaunts.”

7 Tenderly nosed, Shirley MS. This MS. has the additional words: ‘“namelyche in harde neyper in sandye,

neyper in dusty grounde in no cuntreys.”

 

atnteiet

MASTIFFS WITH

FOR

WOLF

THEIR SPIKED

HUNTING

COL LARS