Our early hunting songs all concern the stag. One of the very "ancientest ditties" we have is, The Hunt is upp—
"The hunt is up, the hunt is up,
And it is well-nigh day;
And Harry our king is gone hunting,
To bring his deer to bay."
A very pretty song it is of the reign of bluff Hal, but the earliest song relating to a fox that I know is that of To-morrow the Fox will come to Town, of the same period, and in that there is no mention of reynard as an object of sport. His thievish qualities are recorded, that is all.
"To-morrow the fox will come to town,
Keep, keep, keep, keep!
To-morrow the fox will come to town,