nt day.
However, as the ancients tell us that a Poet cannot be a
_manufactured_ creature, and as I have not the smallest pretensions
to the "rhyming art," [although in former times[14] I did venture to
dabble with it] I must of necessity have recourse to _Prose_; and, at
the same time, to your candour and forbearance in perusing the pages
which ensue.

[Footnote 5: It may be taken for granted that the first book
in this country which excited a passion for the _Sports of
the field_ was Dame Juliana Berners, or Barnes's, work, on
_Hunting and Hawking_, printed at St. Alban's, in the year
1486; of which Lord Spencer's copy is, I believe, the only
perfect one known. It was formerly the Poet Mason's, and is
mentioned in the quarto edition of Hoccleve's Poems, p. 19,
1786. See too Bibl. Mason. Pt. iv. No. 153. Whether the
forementioned worthy lady was really the author of the work
has been questioned. Her book was reprinted by Wynkyn de
Worde in 1497, with an additional Treatise on _Fishing_. The
following specimen, from this latter edition, ascertains the
general usage of the French language with our huntsmen in
the 15th century.

Beasts of Venery.

Where so ever ye fare by frith or by fell,
My dear child, take heed how Trystram do you tell.
How many manner beasts of Venery there were:
Listen to your dame and she shall you _lere_.
Four manner beasts of Venery there are.
The first of them is the _Hart_; the second is the _Hare_;
The _Horse_ is one of them; the _Wolf_; and not one _mo_.

Beasts of the Chace.

And where that ye come in plain or in place
I shall tell you which be beasts of enchace.
One of them is the _Buck_; another is the _Doe_;
The _Fox_; and the _Marteron_, and the wild _Roe_;
And ye shall see, my dear child, other beastes all:
Where so ye them find _Rascal_ ye shall them call.

Of the hunting of the Hare.

How to speke of the haare how all shall be wrought:
When she shall with houndes be founden and sought.
The fyrst worde to the houdis that the hunter shall
out pit
Is at the kenell doore whan he openeth it.
That all maye hym here: he shall say "_Arere!_"
For his houndes would come to hastily.