Duke of Norfolk’s “Lawes of Leashing and Coursing”.

George Turbervile's The Noble Arte of Venerie (1576).

These are  the Duke of Norfolk’s “Lawes of Leashing and Coursing” as listed in Harding Cox’s essay “Coursing”.[1]

 The date when matches were first made between dogs is not easily to be traced, but it was certainly before the time of Elizabeth, during whose reign, by special command of the Queen, certain ‘laws of the Leash or Coursing’ were drawn up and “allowed and subscribed by Thomas, Duke of Norfolk.’ They will be of much interest to the coursers of the present time, and are therefore here quoted:—

1. That he that is chosen Fewterer, or that lets loose the greyhounds, shall receive the greyhounds matched to run together, into his Leash, as soon as he comes into the field, and follow next to the hare-finder, or he who is to start the hare until he come unto the form ; and no horseman or footman is to go before, or on any side, but directly behind, for the space of about forty yards.

2. You ought not to course a hare with more than a brace of greyhounds.

3. The hare-finder ought to give the hare three so-ho's before he puts her from her form or seat, that the dogs may gaze about and attend her starting.

4. They ought to give twelve score yards law before the dogs are loosed, unless there be danger of losing her.

5. The dog that gives the first turn, if after that there be neither cote, slip, nor wrench, wins the wager.

6. If the dog give the first turn, and the other bear the hare, he that bears the hare shall win.

7. A go-by, or bearing the hare, is equivalent to two turns.

8. If neither dog turn the hare, he that leads last to the covert wins.

9. If one dog turn the hare, serve himself, and turn her again, it is as much as a cote, and a cote is esteemed two turns.

10. If all the course be equal, he that bears the hare shall win, and if she be not borne, the course shall be adjudged dead.

11. If a dog take a fall in a course, and yet performs his part, he may challenge the advantage of a turn more than he gave.

12. If a dog turn the hare, serve himself, and give divers cotes, and yet in the end stands still in the field, the other dog, if he turn home of the covert, although he gives no turn, shall be adjudged to win the wager.

13. If by misfortune a dog be ridden over in his course, the course is void, and to say the truth, he that did the mischief ought to make reparation for the damage.

14. If a dog give the first and last turn and there be no other advantage between them, he that gives the odd turn shall Win.

15. A cote is when a greyhound goeth endways by his fellow, and gives the hare a turn.

16. A cote serves for two turns, and two tripplings or jerkings for a cote ; and if she turneth not right about she only wrencheth. The first version has it thus :—A cote shall be more than two turns, and a go-by or bearing the hare equal to two turns.

17. If there be no cotes given between a brace of greyhounds and that the one of them serves the other as turning, then he that gives the hare most turns wins the wager; and if one give as many turns as the other, he that beareth the hare wins the wager.

18. Sometimes the hare doth not turn but wrencheth, for she is not properly said to turn, unless she turns as it were round ; and two wrenches stand for a turn.

19. He that comes in first to the death of the hare, takes her up and saves her from breaking, cherishes the dogs and cleanses their mouths from the wool, is adjudged to have the hare for his pains.

20. Those that are judges of the leash must give their judgment presently, before they depart the field.

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[1] Cox, Harding.  “Coursing.”  Coursing and Falconry (1892).  4-6.

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