Badger-HUNTING. In doing this, you must seek the earths and burrows where he lies, and in a clear moonshine night go and stop all the burrows, except one or two, and therein place some sacks, fastened with drawing strings, which may shut him in as soon as he straineth the bag. Some use no more than to set a hoop in the mouth of the sack, and so put it into the hole; and as soon as the badger is in the sack and straineth it, the sack slipeth off the hoop, and follows him to the earth, so he lies tumbling therein till he is taken. These sacks or bags being thus set, cast off the hounds, beating about all the woods, coppices, hedges, and tufts, round about, for the compass of a mile or two; and what badgers are abroad, being alarmed by the hounds, will soon betake themselves to their burrows; and observe, that he who is placed to watch the sacks, must stand close and upon a clear wind: otherwise the badger will discover him, and will immediately fly some other way into his burrow. But if the hounds can encounter him before he can take his sanctuary, he will then stand at a bay like a boar, and make good sport, grievously biting and clawing the dogs for the manner of their fighting is lying on their backs, using both teeth and nails; and by blowing up their skins, defend themselves against all bites of the dogs, and blows of the men upon their noses. And for the better preservation of your dogs, it is good
to put broad collars about their necks made of gray Hunting skins.
When the badger perceives the terriers to begin to yearn him in his burrow, he will stop the hole betwixt him and the terriers, and if they still continue baying, he will remove his couch into another chamber or part of the burrow, and so from one into another, barricading the way before them, as they retreat, until they can go no further. If you intend to dig the badger out of his burrow, you must be provided with the same tools as for digging out a fox; and besides, you should have a pail of water to refresh the terriers, when they come out of the earth to take breath and cool themselves. It will also be necessary to put collars of bells about the necks of your terriers, which making a noise may cause the badger to bolt out. The tools used for digging out of the badger, being troublesome to be carried on men's backs, may be brought in a cart. In digging, you must consider the situation of the ground, by which you may judge where the chief angles are; for else, instead of advancing the work, you will hinder it. In this order you may besiege them in their holds, or castles; and may break their platforms, parapets, casements, and work to them with mines and countermines until you have overcome them.
Having taken a live and lusty badger, if you would make sport, carry him home in a sack and turn him out in your court-yard, or some other inclosed place, and there let him be hunted and worried to death by your hounds.
There are the following profits and advantages which accrue, by killing this animal. Their flesh, blood, and grease, though they are not good food, yet are very useful for physicians and apothecaries for oils, ointments, salves, and powders for shortness of breath, the cough of the lungs, for the stone, sprained sinews, colic-aches, &c.; and the skin being well dressed, is very warm and good for old people who are troubled with paralytic distempers.