Profitable for skinne and flesh, Hares, Conies and Deere.
The Foxe planteth his dwelling in the steep cliffes by the sea side;
where he possesseth holds, so many in number, so daungerous for
accesse, and so full of windings, as in a maner it falleth out a
matter impossible to disseyze him of this his ancient inheritance.
True it is, that sometime when he marcheth abroad on forraying, to
reuittaile his Male pardus, the Captaine hunters, discouering his
sallies by their Espyal, doe lay their souldier-like Hounds, his
borne enemies, in ambush betweene him and home, and so with Har and
Tue pursue him to the death. Then master Reignard ransacketh euery
corner of his wily [23] skonce, and besturreth the vtmost of his
nimble stumps to quite his coate from their iawes. He crosseth
brookes, to make them lose the sent, he slippeth into couerts, to
steale out of sight, he casteth and coasteth the countrie, to get the
start of the way; and if hee be so met, as he find himselfe
ouermatched, he abideth, and biddeth them battell, first sending the
myre of his tayle against their eyes, in lieu of shot, and then
manfully closing at hand-blowes, with the sword of his teeth, not
forgetting yet, the whiles, to make an honourable retraict, with his
face still turned towardes the enemie: by which meanes, hauing once
recouered his fortresse, he then gives the Fico, to all that his
aduersaries can by siedge, force, myne, sword, assault, or famine,
attempt against him.
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