not rise until he is close upon them. In extreme Severity of Frost, with much and permanent Snow, the warm Springs which do not freeze are Spots that then seldom fail, as the wild Ducks are confined to these places, in order to procure the Aquatic herbs growing there, and which are almost the sole food that remains for them at this inclement Season.

There was a peculiar kind of Language invented by Sportsmen of the middle Ages, which it was necessary for them to be acquainted with; and some of the Terms are still continued.

A Sege of Herons and of Bitterns; an herd of Swans, of Cranes, and of Curlews; a dopping of Sheldrakes; a spring of Teals; a covert of Coots; a gaggle of Geese; a badelynge of Ducks; a sord or sute of Mallards; a muster of Peacocks; a nye or nide of Pheasants; a bevy of Quails; a covey of Partridges; a congregation of Plovers; a flight of Doves; a dule of Turkies; a walk of Snipes; a fall of Woodcocks; a brood of Hens; a building of Rooks; a murmuration of Starlings; an exaltation of Larks; a flight of Swallows; a host of Sparrows; a watch of Nightingales; and a charm of Goldfinches.

When Beasts went together in Companies, there was said to be a pride of Lions; a lepe of Leopards; an herd of Harts, of Bucks, and of all sorts of Deer; a bevy of Roes; a sloth of Bears; a singular of Boars; a sounder of wild Swine; a dryft of tame Swine; a route of Wolves; a harrass of Horses; a rag of Colts; a stud of Mares; a pace of Asses; a baren of Mules; a team of Oxen; a drove of Kine; a flock of Sheep; a tribe of Goats;

VOL. III.

Y

a skulk of Foxes; a cete of Badgers; a richess of Martins; a fesynes of Ferrets; a huske or a down of Hares; a nest of Rabbits; a clowder of Cats, and a kendel of young Cats; a shrewdness of Apes, and a labour of Moles: and, when Animals were retired to Rest, a Hart was said to be harboured, a Buck lodged, a Roebuck bedded, a Hare formed, a Rabbit set, a Fox kennelled, a Martin tree'd, an Otter watched, a Badger earthed, a Boar couched; hence, to express their dislodging, they say, unharbour the Hart, rouse the Buck, start the Hare, bolt the Rabbit, unkennel the Fox, untree the Martin, vent the Otter, dig the Badger, and rear the Boar. Two Greyhounds were called a brace; three a leash: but two Spaniels or Harriers were called a couple; and three a couple and half; there was also a mute of Hounds for a number; a litter of Whelps, and a cowardice of Curs.

It is somewhat remarkable, that the above sort of Phraseology was not confined to Birds and Beasts, but extended itself to the various Ranks and Professions of Men, as the following Specimens will shew. A state of Princes; a skulk of Friars; a skulk of Thieves; an observance of Hermits; a sultittie of Serjeants; an untruth of Sompners; a lying of Pardoners; a multiplying of Husbands; an incredibility of Cuckolds; a safeguard of Porters; a stalk of Foresters; a blast of Hunters; a draught of Butlers; a temperance of Cooks; a melody of Harpers; a poverty of Pipers; a drunkenship of Coblers; a disguising of Tailors; a wandering of Tinkers; a malepertness of Pedlars; a fighting of Beggars; a rayful (that is a netful) of Knaves; a blush of Boys;

a bevy of Ladies; a nonpatience of Wives; a gaggle of Women; a gaggle of Geese; a superfluity of Nuns; and a herd of Harlots. It was also applied to inanimate things; as a caste of Bread; a cluster of Grapes, &c.

Such was the pointed Attention to the Minutiæ of the Table that a Boke of Kervinge was printed, which proves that the pleasures of good Eating must have been highly valued. Carving, indeed, was, in the Feudal Times, an Art in which the superior Ranks of Men were instructed. Before a person could receive the Honour of Knighthood, it was necessary for him to fill several subordinate Stations: among the rest, part of his Noviciate was passed as a Carving Esquire. The Terms of a Kerver, as taken from the above-mentioned Book, printed by Wynkyn de Worde, are as here followeth.

that Mallard.

Breke that Deer. Lesche that Brawn. Rere that Goose. Lyste that Salmon. Sauce that Capon. Spoyle that Hen. Fruche that Cheken. Unbrace Unlace that Conye. Dismembre that Heron. Display that Crane. Dysfygure that Pecocke. Unjoint that Bitture. Untache that Curlewe. Alay that Fesande. Wynge that Partryche. Wynge that Quaile. Mynce that Plover. Thye that Pygyon. Border that Pastie. Thye that Woodcocke. Thye all manner smalle Byrdes. Tymbre that Fyer. Tyere that Egge. Chynne that Samon. Strynge that Lampreye. Splat that Pyke. Sauce that Plaice. Sauce that Tench. Splay that Breme. Syde that Haddock. Tuske that Barbel. Culpon that Troute. Fyne that

Trance that Sturgeon.

Tayme that Crabbe.

Chevin. Trassene that Ele.

Undertrounch that Porpus.

Barbe that Lobster. Here endeth the goodlye terms of Kervynge.

The good Housewifery of former Times was also frequently, although quaintly, described in Verse. The following is a Specimen written near the close of the Eighth HENRY'S Reign.

Laws relating to Tild Fowl.

By 25 Hen. VIII. c. 11. From the first of March to the last day, of June yearly, no person shall withdraw, take, destroy, or convey, any Eggs of WILD Fowl, from or in any Nest where they shall be laid, upon pain of Imprisonment for one Year; and to forfeit for every Egg of any Crane or Bustard, 20d.; of a Bettour or Shovelard, 8d.; and for every Egg of Mallard, Teal, or other Wild Fowl, (except Crows, Ravens, Boscards, and other Fowl not used to be eaten) 1d.; half to the KING, and half to him that will sue by action of debt. And Justices have a power to enquire, hear, and determine the same, as in cases of Trespass.

No person, between the last day of May and the last day of August, yearly, shall take, or cause to be taken, any wild Ducks, Mallards, Wigeons, Teals, or wild Geese, with Nets or other Engines, on pain of a year's imprisonment; and to forfeit for every fowl so taken 4d. And the Justices of the Peace may hear and determine the same, as in cases of Trespass. 25 Hen. VIII. c. 11.

Nevertheless, any gentleman, or any other, that may dispend Forty Shillings a year Freehold, may hunt and take such wild fowl, with their Spaniels only, without using any Net or other Engine, except the long Bow. Id.