The Master of Game: The Oldest English Book on Hunting

In Short

This work is the oldest English treatise on the pursuit of wild beasts, composed in the early fifteenth century by the Duke of York for the benefit of the future Henry V. It functions as both a technical manual and a social code, detailing the nature of game, the training of hounds, and the elaborate rituals of the forest. Its enduring value lies in its role as a primary witness to the medieval mind, capturing the intimate, often perilous relationship between humanity and the natural world during the high Middle Ages.

The Story

The text opens with a prologue that establishes hunting as the "most disportful" of all noble games, a pursuit that, unlike hawking, offers a constant rhythm of challenge across all seasons. The author presents his work as a "simple memorial" for the royal household, arguing that the perfection of the hunter’s art must be codified in writing so that the knowledge of the past is not lost to future generations. From this starting point, the book methodically surveys the natural history of the quarry: the hart, the buck, the roe, the boar, the wolf, the fox, the badger, the wild cat, and the otter.

Each animal is examined not just as a beast to be killed, but as a complex participant in a grand, seasonal drama. The author meticulously describes their habits, their physical maturation, the signs they leave in the brush, and the specific conditions that make them worthy of the chase. This biological foundation transitions into a rigorous analysis of the hounds themselves. The text distinguishes between the various breeds—running hounds, greyhounds, alauntes, spaniels, and mastiffs—outlining their distinct temperaments, their health, and the specialized roles they play in the field.

The narrative then shifts to the practical conduct of the hunt. The author guides the reader through the hierarchy of the woods: the duties of the master of game, the management of the groom in quest of a hart, and the precise techniques for tracking game by scent, sight, and the interpretation of animal signs. The technical progression reaches its climax in the detailed ordinances for royal hunting, where the author outlines how to organize the stable, set the greyhounds, and manage the "stands" for the sovereign. The text concludes by codifying the final, ritualistic acts of the hunt, including the curée, or the ceremonial reward given to the hounds upon the death of the stag. By documenting these exacting protocols, the author ensures that every participant, from the humblest groom to the King himself, understands the gravity and the beauty of the craft. Throughout the work, the hunt is treated as an exercise in order; it is a discipline that requires a "gentle heart" to master, demanding that the hunter respect the intelligence of the prey and the dignity of the animals that serve him.

How It Unfolds

The philosophical prologue The author justifies the act of writing, situating hunting as a noble, year-round pursuit that deserves its own comprehensive manual. He appeals to his royal pupil to preserve these traditions for the sake of future hunters and for his own instruction.

The natural history of the woods The text details the life cycles and temperaments of beasts ranging from the majestic hart to the malicious wild cat. This section provides the essential knowledge of the quarry’s habits, essential for any hunter hoping to track them with success.

The science of the kennel The focus turns to the hounds, describing their breeding, their diseases, and their specific hunting styles. The author emphasizes that a hunter must understand his dogs as deeply as he understands the game, for the hound is the extension of the hunter’s own intent.

The craft of the field These chapters provide granular, step-by-step instructions for tracking, harboring, and cornering the game. The reader learns the specific horn calls and the precise, disciplined movements required to navigate different types of terrain, from dense coverts to open plains.

The royal ordinance The work culminates in the formal structure of the high hunt, where the logistics of royal excursions are laid out. This final section demonstrates how the individual art of the hunter integrates into the wider political and social life of the court.

The People

The central figure is the author, Edward, Duke of York, who acts as the "Master of Game" to his sovereign. He is a teacher and a mentor, burdened by a sense of responsibility to pass down an ancient, courtly tradition. He views the hunt as a character-building endeavor, and he wants his student, the future King Henry V, to embody the patience and precision that the sport demands.

The Master of the Game stands between the wild nature of the forest and the structured society of the court. He is opposed by the inherent chaos of the wilderness—the elusive hart, the dangerous boar, and the "devil's spirit" found in the cat—but he is also tempered by the limitations of his own hounds and the fallibility of his grooms. He is not merely a predator; he is an administrator of nature. By the end of the text, he has successfully transformed the raw, brutal act of killing into a refined, ritualized art form. The hunt becomes a reflection of the hunter's own virtue, ensuring that the sport reinforces the social order of the nobility while fostering a profound, respectful intimacy with the wild world.

In Its Own Voice

"And since this book shall be all of hunting, which is so noble a game, and lasting through all the year of divers beasts that grow according to the season for the gladdening of man, I think I may well call it MASTER OF GAME."

The author explains his rationale for naming the book, framing the hunt as a perpetual, seasonal joy.

"But one thing I dare well say that if any beast hath the devil's spirit in him, without doubt it is the cat, both the wild and the tame."

In a rare moment of personal editorializing, the author offers his blunt assessment of the feline character during his survey of common beasts.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is an argument for the necessity of tradition and technical mastery. The author suggests that human beings, particularly the nobility, find their true form through the disciplined pursuit of nature. It raises the question of how to govern a landscape—how to know a beast, respect its nature, and ultimately dominate it with grace rather than brute force. It is about the "gentle heart," the idea that nobility is not just a title but a set of behaviors demonstrated through one's relationship with the environment and the animals that inhabit it. The hunt is a metaphor for the state itself: requiring organization, hierarchy, and a deep, intuitive knowledge of the terrain one seeks to control.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the intersection of natural history, linguistics, and the history of sport will find this book deeply rewarding. It offers a rare, unfiltered look into the medieval worldview, where a hunter’s identity was inextricably linked to his knowledge of the forest. The prose is warm and authoritative, though modern readers will need to navigate the idiosyncrasies of Middle English—often rendered here in its original, vibrant variety.

You will encounter attitudes toward animals that are starkly different from contemporary sensibilities, including a classification of beasts based on their utility and "malice." The length and technical detail regarding horn signals and hound diseases may be challenging, but they provide an immersive, tactile experience of the past. What stays with you is the author's profound devotion to the craft; his writing hums with the energy of a man who spent his life observing the subtle movements of deer and the complex, loyal behaviors of his hounds. If you are interested in how the medieval elite engaged with the wild, this volume is an indispensable, authentic, and strangely beautiful portal into that forgotten world.