Note 178 — ARRIAN ON COURSING.
William Dansey translation
Mayster of Game. c. xxxv. fol. 99.
This method of coursing was practised in England in the days of Edmund De Langley (A. D. 1380). From the instructions which he gives relative to it, it appears that the greyhounds were placed, as amongst the Celts, on the outside of the covert. So also in the beautiful poetry of Scott:
Marmion. Introduction to Canto ii.
And foresters in greenwood trim Lead in the leash the gazehounds grim, Attentive as the brachet’s bay From the dark covert drove the prey To slip them as he drove away. The startled quarry bounds amain, As fast the gallant greyhounds strain.
De Canibus et Venatione Libellus.
“Nos autem vidimus,” says Blondus, “venantes in capiendis leporibus hunc modum servare insidiandi. Divisi ac sparsi venatores per inculta frequentiùs quàm per culta, arte quâdam incedunt laqueis canem leporarium detinentes: spineta et sentes, sive dumeta, saltusve potiùs celebrantes quàm nemora. Nonnunquam etiam præmittunt odorum canem qui è latebris pellat timidum leporem, post quem è laqueis mittunt canem fugacem, altis clamoribus persequentes, qui sunt exhortationes fugacium canum.”
U. Aldrovand. de Quad. Digit. Vivip. L. ii.
“In montosis locis (agri Bononiensis) ob rubetorum frequentiam, canibus sagacibus ad lepores excitandos utuntur, deinde visis leporibus canes leporarios solvunt,” &c.
The classic poet of Barga, although we look in vain for a description of the hare-course throughout his varied and copious Cynegeticon, has left us the following counterpart in the machinery of the fox-chase with swift-footed hounds:
P. Angel. Barg. Cyneg. L. vi.
Intereà juvenes quà sunt asperrima campi Dumeta, et spinis clivus consurgit acutis, Obsedêre vias, alii quà mane tepenti Flamine in adversos auras fert Eurus odoras, Veloces tenuere canes: turbamque sagacem Immisêre, premant patulis, quæ naribus hostem Obscenam, et dumis sese occultare parantem, Conantemque animam tristi subducere letho. Quam postquam certo latratu ursere propinquam, Solvuntur canibus curracia vincla Lacænis:
and this is again followed by other chases, wherein the wolf and stag are the greyhound’s quarry.
Vénerie Normande. c. vii.
See also L’Ecole de la Chasse, (Rouen, 1788,) “Manière de prendre les loups avec les lévriers.”