HOW A MAN SHOULD KNOW A GREAT HART

CAP™. xxiiii—HOW A MAN SHULD
KNOWE A GRETE HERT BY THE
FUMES

Artrre I shal teche yow to knowe, to deme pe
fumes of an hert for sum tyme pei croteye in
wrethis and sumtyme flatt, and somtyme ifourmed
and sumtyme sharpe at bop pe eendis, and som
tyme ipressid to gidres and somtyme in many
oper maner as I haue saide bifore. Whan pei
croteyen flat and it be in auerille or in May in to
Juyn if pe croteis ben greet and pik it is tokenyng
pat it is an hert chaceable, and if he fynde pe
fumes iwrethede and it be from myddes Juyn in to
pe mydel of August of greet fourme and in grete
wrethis and wel nessh, it is tokenyng pat it is an
hert chaseable, and 3if 3e fynde pe fumes p* ben
fourmed and not holdyng togideris as it is from
pe begynnyng of Juyl in to pe eende of August,
if pei ben grete and blak and longe and ben not
sharpe atte endes and ben hevy and drye with out
glemyng it is token pat it is an hert chaceable, and
if pe fumes ben faynt and light and ful of glemyng
or sharpe at bop pe eendis or at p‘ oon eende pise
byn tokenys pat he is no deere chaceable. But
3if it ben whan pei burnysshen pat pei trotei her
fumes moor ybrent and more sharpe at pat oon
ende but anoon whan pei haue burnysshed pei
crotei her fumes as by fore, and for pat pe fumes
bene good and greet, if pei ben gleymyng it is a
tokyn pat he hap suffryd some dissese. From pe
eende of August forpward pe fumes ben of no
jugement for pei vndo hem self for pe Rutte.

CHAP. 24.—HOW A MAN SHOULD
KNOW A GREAT HART BY THE
FUMES?

Arter I shall teach you to know a great hart by
the fumes of the hart, for sometimes they crotey
in wreaths, and sometimes flat and sometimes
formed, and sometimes sharp at both ends, and
sometimes pressed together, and sometime in many
other manners as I have said before. When they
crotey flat and it be in April or in May or in June
if the croteyes be great and thick it is a token that
it is a hart chaceable, and if he find the fumes
wreathed, and it be from the middle of June to
the middle of August in great forms and in great
wreaths and well soft, it is a token that it is a hart
chaceable, and if he find the fumes that are formed
and not holding together as it is from the beginning
of July into the end of August, if they are great
and black and long and are not sharp at the ends,
and are heavy and dry without slime, it is a token
that it is a hart chaceable. And if the fumes are
faint and light and full of slime, or sharp at both
ends, or at one end, these are the tokens that he is
no deer chaceable. But if it be when they burnish
that they crotey their fumes more burnt and more
sharp at the one end, but anon when they have
burnished, they crotey their fumes as before, and
for that the fumes be good and great; if they be
slimy it is a token that he has suffered some disease.
From the end of August forward, the fumes are of
no judgment for they undo themselves for the
rut.

1 See Appendix: Excrements.