chap.page
[Illustrations][ix]
[Introduction][xi]
[Foreword to the First Edition][xix]
I.[The Prologue][1]
II.[Of the Hare and of her Nature][14]
III.[Of the Hart and his Nature][23]
IV.[Of the Buck and of his Nature][38]
V.[Of the Roe and of his Nature][41]
VI.[Of the Wild Boar and of his Nature][46]
VII.[Of the Wolf and of his Nature][54]
VIII.[Of the Fox and of his Nature][64]
IX.[Of the Grey (Badger) and of his Nature][68]
X.[Of the (Wild) Cat and its Nature][70]
XI.[The Otter and his Nature][72]
XII.[Of the Manner and Habits and Conditions of Hounds][75]
XIII.[ Of Sicknesses of Hounds and of their Corruptions][85]
XIV.[Of Running Hounds and of their Nature][105]
XV.[Of Greyhounds and of their Nature][113]
XVI.[Of Alauntes and of their Nature][116]
XVII.[Of Spaniels and of their Nature][119]
XVIII.[Of the Mastiff and of his Nature][122]
XIX.[What Manner and Condition a Good Hunter should have][123]
XX.[How the Kennel for the Hounds and the Couples for the Raches and the Ropes for the Lymer should be made][125]
XXI.[How the Hounds should be led out to Scombre][127]
XXII.[How a Hunter's Horn should be Driven][128]
XXIII.[How a Man should lead his Groom in Quest for to know a Hart by his Trace][130]
XXIV.[How a Man should know a Great Hart by the Fumes][133]
XXV.[How a Man should know a Great Hart by the Place where he hath Frayed his Head][135]
XXVI.[How the Ordinance should be made for the Hart Hunting by Strength and how the Hart should be Harboured][148]
XXVII.[How a Hunter should go in Quest by the Sight][152]
XXVIII.[How an Hunter should go in Quest between the Plains and the Wood][154]
XXIX.[How a Hunter should go in Quest in the Coppice and the Young Wood][155]
XXX.[How an Hunter should go in Quest in Great Coverts and Strengths][156]
XXXI.[How a Hunter should Quest in Clear Spires and High Wood][157]
XXXII.[How a Good Hunter shall go in Quest to hear the Harts Bellow][161]
XXXIII.[How the Assembly that Men call Gathering should be made both Winter and Summer after the guise of beyond the Sea][163]
XXXIV.[How the Hart should be moved with the Lymer and Run to and Slain with Strength][165]
XXXV.[How an Hunter should Seek and Find the Hare with Running Hounds and Slay her with Strength][181]
XXXVI.[Of the Ordinance and the Manner of Hunting when the King will Hunt in Forests or in Parks for the Hart with Bows and Greyhounds and Stable][188]
[Appendix][201]
[ List of some Books Consulted and Abbreviations used in Text] [268]
[Glossary][282]
[Index][299]

ILLUSTRATIONS

[Fox Hunting"Above Ground"][Frontispiece]
[Gaston Phœbus surrounded by Huntsmen and Hounds]To face page[1]
[The Hare and her Leverets]"[14]
[How to Quest for the Hart in Woods]"[22]
[Buck-hunting with Running Hounds]"[38]
[Roebuck-hunting with Greyhounds and Running Hounds]"[44]
[Badger-drawing]"[68]
[Otter-hunting]"[72]
[How the Hounds were Led Out]"[86]
[Raches or Running Hounds in the Fifteenth Century]"[106]
[The Smooth and the Rough-coated Greyhounds]"[114]
[The Five Breeds of Hounds described in the Text]"[122]
[The Kennel and Kennelmen]"[126]
[The Master Teaching his Huntsman how to Quest for the Hart with the Limer or Trackhound]To face page[130]
[ How a great Hart is to be known by his "Fumes" (Excrements)]"[134]
[How the Hunter should view the Hart]"[152]
[How to Quest for the Hart in Coverts]"[164]
[ Hare-hunting with Greyhounds and Running Hounds]"[182]
[Hare-driving with Low Bells]"[184]
[Netting Hares in their "Muses"]"[186]
[The "Undoing" or Gralloching of the Hart: the Master Instructing his Hunters how it is Done]"[192]
[Hart-hunting with Greyhounds and Raches]"[196]
[ The "Curée" or Rewarding of the Hounds]"[198]
[Shooting Hares with Blunt Bolts]"[220]

INTRODUCTION

The "Master of Game" is the oldest as well as the most important work on the chase in the English language that has come down to us from the Middle Ages.

Written between the years 1406 and 1413 by Edward III.'s grandson Edward, second Duke of York, our author will be known to every reader of Shakespeare's "Richard II.," for he is no other than the arch traitor Duke of Aumarle, previously Earl of Rutland, who, according to some historians, after having been an accomplice in the murder of his uncle Gloucester, carried in his own hand on a pole the head of his brother-in-law. The student of history, on the other hand, cannot forget that this turbulent Plantagenet was the gallant leader of England's vanguard at Agincourt, where he was one of the great nobles who purchased with their lives what was probably the most glorious victory ever vouchsafed to English arms.