1.8. Of the great plenty of Hares, redde Dere, and o|ther wilde beaſtes in Scotland, of the ſtrange properties of ſundry Scottiſh Dogges, and of the nature of Salmon. Chap. 8.

Of the great plenty of Hares, redde Dere, and o|ther wilde beaſtes in Scotland, of the ſtrange properties of ſundry Scottiſh Dogges, and of the nature of Salmon. Chap. 8.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 EEBO page image 10HAuyng made this ſpeciall deſcription of the Realme of Scotland, now will I touche ſuch thinges as concerne the ſame in generall. Firſt of all therefore in the fieldes and wilde places of the countrey there is great plenty of Hares, red Dere, Fallow dere, Ro [...]s, wilde Horſes, Wolfes and Foxes. Theſe Horſes are not gotten but by great flight and pollicie: for in the winter ſeaſon the in|habitants turne certayne tame Horſes and Mares amongſt them, wherewith they growe in the ende to be ſo familiar, that afterward they go with them to and fro, and finally home into theyr Maiſters yardes, where they be taken & ſoone broken to their handes. The Wolues are moſt fierce and noyſome vnto the heardes and flockes in all partes of Scot|land, ſauing in one parcell of Angus, called Glen|nors dale, where theſe beaſtes do no maner of hurt vnto the domeſticall cattell, but pray onely vpon the wilde. Foxes do much miſchiefe generally in all ſteades, but chiefly in the Mountaynes, where they be very hardly hunted, howbeit arte hath deui|ſed a meane to preuent their malice, and to preſerue theyr pultrie. Certes there is almoſt no houſe that dothe not for certayne dayes cheriſhe vp a yong Foxe, which the Scottes do call a Todde, and then killing the ſame, they mince the fleſhe thereof a|mongſt ſuche meate, as they giue vnto their foules and other litle beſtial, and by this meanes ſo many foules and cattell as eate hereof are preſerued from daunger of the Foxe, almoſt by two monethes af|ter, ſo that they may wander whether they will, for the Fores as it were winding or ſmelling the fleſhe of their fellowes yet in their croppes, will in nowiſe meddle with them, but eſchew and knowe ſuche a one, although it were among an hundred of other. In Scotland moreouer are Dogs of meruailous condition: for beſide the common nature and vni|uerſall properties of Dogges of all other countries, there are three ſortes with vs, whiche are not ſeene elſwhere in any quarter of the worlde. The firſte is an Hounde of greate ſwiftneſſe, hardineſſe, and ſtrenght, fierce and cruell vpon all wilde beaſtes, & egre againſt theeues, that offer their Maiſters any violence. The ſecond is a rache or hound very ex|quiſite in followyng the foote (which we call draw|ing) whether it be of man or beaſt, yea he will pur|ſue any maner of foule, and finde out whatſoeuer fiſh is caſt vp, or lurketh among the rockes, by that excellent ſence of ſmelling wherewith he is indued. The thirde ſorte is no greater than that of Raches, in collour for the moſt parte red with blacke ſpots, or els blacke and full of redde markes. Theſe are ſo ſkilfull that they will purſue a theefe or theefe ſto|len goodes in moſte preciſe maner, and finding the treſpaſſer, with great aſſuraunce, they will make a rayſe vpon him. Or if it be ſo that he haue taken the water for his ſauegarde, he ſhrinketh not to follow him, and entring and iſſuyng at the ſame places where the partie went in and out, he neuer ceaſeth to raunge til he haue noſed his footing, and be come to the place wherein the theefe is ſhrowded. The Dogges of this kinde are called Sleuthoundes. Certes this report would ſeeme mere incredible, ex|cepte it were dayly had in experience vpon the bor|ders of Englande and Scotland, where pillage is good purchaſe indifferently on both ſides. There is a lawe alſo among the borderers in time of peace, that who ſo denieth entraunce or ſute of a Sleut|hound in purſuyte made after fellons and ſtolen goodes, ſhalbe holden as acceſſary vnto the theft or taken for the ſelfe theefe.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 4 Of foules ſuche (as I meane) as liue by pray, there are ſundry ſortes in Scotlande, as Egles, Faucons, Goſhaukes, Sparhaukes, Marlions and ſuch like, but of water Foules there is ſo great ſtore that the report thereof may ſeeme to exceede all cre|dite. There are other kindes of birdes alſo in this countrey, the like of whiche is no where els to be ſeene, as the Caper [...]ailȝe or wilde Horſe greater in body than the Rauen, and liuing only by the [...] and barkes of the Pine trees. We haue in like ma|ner many More cockes and Hennes, whiche [...]|ſteyning from corne do feede vpon nought els, but the leaues of Cytiſus, whiche the Scottes do com|monly call Hadder. Theſe two are very delicate in Eating. The thirde ſorte is reddiſh blacke of co|lour, in quantitie comparable to the Pheſaunt, and no leſſe delicious in taſte and ſauour at the table, our countrey men call them wild Cockes, and their cheeſe ſuſtenaunce is by wheate. Beſide theſe, we haue moreouer another foule in Mers more ſtrãge and vncouth than all theſe afore mentioned, called a Guſtard, fully ſo great as a Swanne, but in co|lour of feathers and taſte of fleſhe, little differing from a Partriche, howbeit theſe byrdes are not ve|ry common, neyther to be ſeene in all places, ſuche alſo is their qualitie, that if they perceiue their egges to haue bene touched in theyr abſence by mans hãd (whiche lie commonly on the bare earth) they for|ſake thoſe neſtes and lay in other places. All other our foules are common to vs and other nations. Salmon is more plentifull in Scotland than in a|ny other region of the worlde, and bicauſe the na|ture of this fiſh is ſtrange, I wil ſet downe ſomuch as I do knowe hereof at this preſent time as fol|loweth. The Salmon in Harueſt time, commeth vp into the ſmall riuers, where the water is moſte ſhallow, and there the male & female rubbing their wombe one agaynſt another, they ſhedde theyr ſpawne, which forthwith they couer with ſand and grauell & ſo depart away, from henceforth they are gant & ſlẽder, & in apparance ſo leaue y^t thei appeare nought els but ſkin & bone, & therfore worthely ſayd to be growne out of vſe and ſeaſon, it is ſayd alſo y^t if they touche any of their full fellowes, during the time of this theyr leanneſſe, y^e ſame ſide which they EEBO page image 11 touched will likewiſe become leane, whereby it cõmeth to paſſe, that a Salmõ is oft ſeene to be fat on the one ſide of y^e chyne, & leane on y^e other. But to proceede, the aforeſayd ſpawne & milte being hidden in the ſande (as you haue heard) in the next ſpring doth yeelde great numbers of li|tle frie, but ſo neſhe & tender, for a long time that till they come to be ſo great as a mans finger (if you catch any of thẽ) yon ſhal perceyue them to melt & their ſubſtance to diſſolue & fade euen as if it were gelly, or in ſayd foorth againſt y^e ſunne. Frõ henceforth they go to the ſea, where within the ſpace of xx. dayes they grow to a maruey|lous greatneſſe, & then returning againe toward the place of their generation, they ſhew a nota|ble ſpectacle not vnworthy to be conſidered of. Certes in Scotlande there are many linnes or pooles, whiche being in ſome places among the rockes very ſhallow aboue, & yet deepe beneath, with the fall of the water, & thereto the Salmon not able to pearce thorow the Chanell, either for ſwiftneſſe of the courſe or depth of the diſcen [...], of ſuch water as cõmeth againſt him, he goeth ſo neare vnto the ſide of the rocke or damme, if I ſhall ſo call it, as he may, & there aduentureth to leape ouer & vp into the lin, if he leape well at the firſt, he abtaineth his deſire, if not he, aſſayeth eftſoones the ſecond or third time, till he returne now into his coũtry: a great fiſh able to ſwimme againſt the ſtreame, that before was a litle hod & ma [...]gre his reſiſtence, caried with the violent courſe of the water into the mayne Ocean, ſuch as aſſay often to leape, and cannot get ouer, do brooſe thẽſelues & become Meaſelled: others that happen to fal vpon dry land a thing often ſeene, are taken by the people (that watch their times) in cawdrons of hote water, which they ſet vpon the ſhallow & dry plottes with fire vnder them, in hope to catche the fatteſt, & ſuche as by reaſon of theyr weight do ofteneſt leape ſhorte. Cer|tes y^e taſt of theſe is reputed to be moſt delicate, and therfore their price is cõmonly greater than of the reſt. It is inhibited in Scotland to take any Salmon from the eight of September, vn|till the xv. of Nouember. Finally there is no mã that knoweth readily whereon this fiſhe liueth, for neuer was any thing yet found in their bel|lies, other than a thicke ſlymy humour.

1.8. Of the great plentie of hares, red deer, and other wilde beasts in Scotland, of the strange properties of sun|drie Scotish dogs, and of the nature of samon. The eight Chapter.

Of the great plentie of hares, red deer, and other wilde beasts in Scotland, of the strange properties of sun|drie Scotish dogs, and of the nature of samon. The eight Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _HAuing made this speciall description of the realme of Scotland, now will I touch such things as concearne the same in generall. First of all therfore in the fields and wild places of the country there is great plentie of hares, red déere, fallow déere, roes, wild horsses, woolues and foxes. These horsses are not gotten but by great flight and policie: for in the winter season the inha|bitants turne certeine fame horsses & mares among them, wherewith they grow in the end to be so fami|liar, that afterward they go with them to and fro, and finallie home into their maisters yards, where they be taken and soone broken to their hands. The woolues are most fierce and noisome to the heards and flocks in all parts of Scotland, sauing in one parcell of Angus, called Glennors dale, where these beasts doo no manner of hurt vnto the domesticall cattell, but preie onlie vpon the wild.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Foxes doo much mischéefe generallie in all steads, but chéeflie in the mounteines, where they be verie hardlie hunted, howbeit art hath deuised a meane to preuent their malice, and to preserue their pultrie. Certes there is almost no house that dooth no [...] certeine daies cherish vp a yong fox, which the Scots doo call a Todde, and then killing the same, they mince the flesh thereof amongst such meat, as they giue vnto their foules and other little bestials, and by this meanes so many foules and cattell as eate héer|of are preserued from danger of the fox, almost by two moneths after, so that they may wander whi|ther they will, for the foxes as it were winding or smelling the flesh of their fellowes yet in their crops will in no wise meddle with them, but eschew, and know such a one, although it were among an hun|dreth of other.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In Scotland also are dogs of maruelous conditi|on; for beside the common nature and vniuersall pro|perties of dogs of all other countries, there are thrée sorts with vs, which are not séene else-where in anie quarter of the world. The first is an hound of great swiftnesse, hardinesse, and strength, sterce and cru|ell vpon all wilde beasts, and eger against théeues that offer their maisters any violence. The second is a rach or hound verie exquisite in following the foot, (which we call drawing) whether it be of man or beast, yea he will pursue any maner of foule, and find out whatsoeuer fish is cast vp, or lurketh among the rocks, by that excellent sense of smelling where|with he is indued. The third sort is no greater than that of raches, in colour for the most part red, with blacke spots, or else blacke and full of red marks. These are so skilfull that they will pursue a théefe, or théefe stolen goods in most precise maner, and fin|ding the trespasser, with great assurance they will make a raise vpon him. Or if it be so that he haue ta|ken the water for his safegard, he shrinketh not to follow him, and entring and issuing at the same pla|ces where the partie went in and out, he neuer ceas|seth to range till he haue nosed his footing, & be come to the place wherein the théefe is shrowded. The dogs of this kind are called sleuthhounds. Certes this re|port would séeme méere incredible, except it were dailie had in experience vpon the borders of Eng|land and Scotland, where pillage is good purchase in|differentlie on both sides. There is a law also among the borderers in time of peace, that whoso denieth entrance or sute of a sleuthhound in pursuit made after fellons and stolen goods, shall be holden as ac|cessarie vnto the theft, or taken for the selfe theefe.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Of foules, such (I meane) as liue by preie, there are sundrie sorts in Scotland, as eagles, falcons, goshaukes, sparrowhaukes, marlions, and such like: but of water foules there is so great store, that the report thereof may seeme to excéed all credit. There are other kinds of birds also in this countrie, the like of which is no where else to be séene, as the capercailze or wild horsse greater in bodie than the rauen, and liuing onelie by the rinds and barks of the pine trees. We haue in like maner manie moore cocks and hens, the which absteining from corne, doo feed vpon nought else, but the leaues of Cy|tisus, which the Scots doo commonlie call Hadder. EEBO page image 15 These two are verie delicate in eating. The third sort is reddish blacke of colour, in quantitie compara|ble to the phesant, and no lesse delicious in taste and sauor at the table, our countrie men call them wild cocks, and their chiefe sustenance is by wheat.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Beside these, we haue also another foule in Mers more strange and vncouth than all these afore men|tioned, called a gustard, fullie so great as a swan, but in colour of feathers and tast of flesh, little diffe|ring from a partridge, howbeit these birds are not verie common, neither to be séene in all places, such also is their qualitie, that if they perceiue their egs to haue béene touched in their absence by mans hand (which lie commonlie on the bare earth) they forsake those nests, and laie in other places. All other our foules are common to vs and other nations. Sa|mon is more plentifull in Scotland than in anie o|ther region of the world, and bicause the nature of this fish is strange, I will set downe so much as I doo know hereof at this present time as followeth.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The samon in haruest time commeth vp into the small riuers, where the water is most shallow, and there the male and female rubbing their wombe one against another, they shed their spawne, which foorth|with they couer with sand and grauell and so depart away. From hencefoorth they are gant and slender, and in appearance so leane that they appeare nought else but skin and bone, and therefore worthilie said to be growne out of vse and season. It is said also that if they touch anie of their full fellowes, during the time of this their leannesse, the same side which they touched will likewise become leane, whereby it commeth to passe, that a samon is oft seene to be fat on the one side of the chine, and leane on the other. But to procéed, the aforesaid spawne and milt being hidden in the sand (as you haue heard) in the next spring dooth yéeld great number of little frie, but so [...]esh and tender for a long time, that till they come to be so great as a mans finger (if you catch anie of them) you shall perceiue them to melt, and their substance to dissolue and fade euen as it were gellie, or as yse laid foorth against the sun. From henceforth they go to the sea, where within the space of 20 daies they grow to a maruellous greatnesse, and then re|turning againe toward the place of their generati|on, they shew a notable spectacle not vnworthie to be considered.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Certes in Scotland there arc manie liunes or pooles, which being in some places among the rocks verie shallow aboue, are yet déepe beneath, with the fall of the water, and thereto the samon not able to pearse through the chanell, either for swiftnesse of the course, or depth of the descent of such water as com|meth against him, he goeth so neere vnto the side of the rocke or dam, if I may so call it, as he may, and there aduentureth to leape ouer and vp into the lin, if he leape well at the first he obteineth his desire, if not, he assaieth the second or third time, till he re|turne now vnto his countrie: a great fish able to swim against the streame, that before was a litle hod, and maugre his resistance, caried with the vio|lent course of the water into the maine ocean. Such as assay often to leape, and cannot get ouer, doo broose themselues and become measelled: others that hap|pen to fall vpon drie land, a thing often seene, are ta|ken by the people (that watch their times) in cal|drons of hot water, which they set vpon the shallow & drie plots with fire vnder them, in hope to catch the fattest, & such as by reason of their weight do oftnest leape short. Certes the tast of these is reputed to be most delicate, and therfore their price is commonlie greater than of the rest. It is inhibited in Scotland to take any samon from the 8 of September, vntill the 15 of Nouember. Finallie there is no man that knoweth readilie whereon this fish liueth, for neuer was anie thing yet found in their bellies, other than a thicke sli [...]ie humor.