The booke of falconrie or havvking for the onely delight and pleasure of all noblemen and gentlemen : collected out of the best authors, aswell Italians as Frenchmen, and some English practises withall concerning falconrie / heretofore published by George Turbervile, Gentleman.

Author: Turberville, George, 1540?-1610?1611

THE BOOKE OF FALCONRIE or HAVVKING; For the onely delight and pleasure of all Noblemen and Gentlemen: Collected out of the best Authors, aswell Italians as Frenchmen, and some English practises withall concerning Falconrie; Heretofore published by George Turbervile Gentleman.

And now newly reviued, corrected, and augmented, with many new Additions proper to these present times.

NOCET EMPTA DOLORE VOLVPTAS.

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AT LONDON, ❧ Printed by Thomas Purfoot. An. Dom. 1611

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The Contents of this Booke.

A Description of all kindes of Hawkes that are in vse, and their properties.
The reclayming, jmping, mewing, and fleeyng, both the Field and River, of the same Hawkes.
Their diseases and cures, and all such speciall points as in any wise appertaine to that most excellent and Gentleman-like qualitie.
Also a little Treatise translated out of the Italian tongue, touching the diseases happening to Spanyels, with their cures.

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The names of those Authors, from whome this collection of Falconrie is borowed and made, both Iatalians and French.

Italians.

M. Francesco Sforzinoda
Carcano, Vicentino.
M. Frederigo Giorgj.

French.

Tardiffe.
Martin.
Malopin.
Mychelyn.
Amé Cassyan.
Artelowche.

Of Hawking by the Booke.If hee that rydes, by Booke,
Can make his Horse doe well:
Then he, by Booke, that makes his Hawke,
May make his Hawke excell.
The Hawke can flee as well by Art,
As Horse by rule can play his part.

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In commendation of Hawking, George Turbervile.I Deeme that no man doubts, but games & all our▪  [...]efe delights,
Were first deuisde to daunt the dumps of pensiue pained sprights.
To cleare the clowds of drowping cares, & mists of mournfull mind,
And banish bale that heauie harts in cheerelesse chaines did bind.
And more than that, to further health, by moouing too and fro,
That in our lumpish lustlesse limmes, no dire disease might grow:
Which otherwise (set sport aside, and sweet delightfull glee)
In idle bodies breeds of force, as we by proofe do see,
Not much vnlike the standing lakes, in durtie dampish grounds,
Where water hath no power to passe, most noysome filth abounds.
If games were thus found out at first, for mind and bodies ease,
Aswell to quite that one of griefes, as th'other of disease:
Why then? of force it follow must, that those delights are chiefe,
And most to be imbrast, that lend to either part reliefe,
Which if be so, I need not blush, or deeme it my disgrace,
If Hawks and Spanels I preferre, and set in highest place.
For truely no deuise delights, the mind of man so much,
No game so gladsome to the limmes, there is no pleasure such.
No Phisicke fitter to remooue the dregs of direfull paine,
And to restore to former life, the feeble force againe.
Of Spanels first I meane to speake, for they begin the glee,
Who being once vncoupled, when they feele their collers free,
In roysting wise about they range, with cheerefull chappes to ground,
To see where in the champion may some lurking fowle be found.
A sport to view them stirre their sternes, in hunting too and fro,
And to behold how nature doth her power in Spanels show:
[Page]Who scoure the fields with wondrous skill, and deale in cunning sort,
As though indeed they had conspirde, to make their master sport.
What merrier musicke can you craue? what note but halfe so good?
As when the Spaniels crosse the runne, of Peasants in the wood?
Or light vpon the little Poutes, where they haue lately beene?
Assuredlie no better glee, is either heard or seene.
So as by Hawkes doth pleasure grow, vnto the gazing eie,
And dogges delight the listning eares, before the hawkes do flie.
What dolt so dull but takes delight, when once the Spaniell springs
The fearefull fowle, and when the hawke lyes long vpon her wings?
What sence so sad, what mind so mazde, but sets his sorrowes by,
What once the Falcon free begins, to send amid the skie?
To turne and winde a bird by sleight, and eke at last to slay
With strong encounter, doues, and duckes, and euery other pray?
The prettie Partridge, Railes, and Quailes, that haunt the open field?
And from her mountay to enforce the Hearon haught to yeeld?
By binding with her close in cloudes, in manner out of sight?
For noble Peeres and chiefest States, a passing pleasant flight?
So small a bird, so large a fowle, at such a loftie gate,
To reach and rappe, and force to fall, it is a game of state.
No fellow to the flight at Brooke, that game is full of glee,
It is a sport the stowping of aroysting Hawke to see.
And if shee misse, to marke her how she then gets vp amaine,
For best advantage, to eneaw the springing fowle againe.
Who if be landed as it ought, then is it sure to die.
Or if she slippe, a ioy to see, the Hawke at randon flie,
And so for head to slay the fowle, a noble sport to view,
In my conceit no pleasure like to Hawkes, I tell you true.
It sets the sences all to worke, there may none idle be,
The tong it lures, the legs they leape, the eie beholds the glee:
The eares are busied eke to heare, the calling Spanels quest,
Do tell me then what sence it is, that respite hath to rest?
And more than that the bart it leaps, and laughes for ioy to thinke,
How such a slender hawke should cause, so huge a fowle to shrink.
This kind of sport doth banish vice, and vile devises quight,
When other games do foster faults, and breed but base delight.
[Page]No idle thought can harbor well within the Falconers braine,
For though his sports right pleasant be, yet are they mixt with pain.
The toyle he takes to find the fowle, his greedy lust to slay,
The fowle once found cuts off cōceits, & driues ill thoughts away.
He lures, he leapes, he calls, he cries, he ioyes, he waxeth sad,
And frames his moode, according as his hawke doth well or bad.
Dame Venus harbors not in holtes, no Cupid haunts the hilles,
Diana dwelles in open place, with bow her game she kils.
In woodes no wanton Goddesse woones: in Citie soiournes sinne,
There vice in vawts & dungeon dwells, the lecher lurks within.
Dianas traine doth loue the launds, they long abrode to rome,
But bawdie Ʋenus ympes embrace, the loitring life at home.
To dice, to daunce, to coll, to kisse, to carde the time away,
To prate, to prancke, to bowle, to bowse, and tipple out the day.
To checke at Chesse, to heaue at Maw, at Macke to passe the time,
At Coses, or at Saunt to sit, or set their rest at Prime.
Both Ticktacke and the Irish game, are sports but made to spend,
I wote not I, to what auaile those trifling games do tend.
Ʋnlesse to force a man to chafe, to chide, to sweat, to sweare,
To brawle, to ban, to curse, and God in thousand parts to teare.
At cockepit some their pleasures place, to wager wealth away,
Where Falconers only force the fields, to heare their spanels bay.
What greater glee can man desire, than by his cunning skill,
So to reclaime a haggard Hawke, as she the fowle shall kill.
To make and man her in such sort, as tossing out a traine,
Or but the lewre, when she is at large, to whoup her in againe?
Where birds, & beasts, & ech thing else, their freedome so imbrace,
As let them loose, they will be thralde no more in any case.
What finer feat than so to ympe a feather, as in view,
A man would sweare it were the old, and not set on a new?
When hawkes are hurt and broosde, by rash encounter in the skies,
What better skill, than for their harmes a powder to devise,
To drie the bloud within the bulcke, and make his Mummie so,
As no Physition greater Art, on pacients can bestow?
To cure the crampe, and eke the cray, the stone that lies within,
The Philanders, the Frounce, the Gout, the Panthas, & the pin.
[Page]The Rie, the Rhewne, the Canker, & both lice and mytes to marre,
And all such wormes as with your hawkes do wage continall war:
To make her mewe when time requires, to bowse and eke to bath,
By cunning skill to cause her cast, such glit as breeds her skath.
To cut her hoods, to shape her gesse, her tyrets, and her line,
With Bells, and Berrets, Ʋernels eke, to make the Falcon fine:
Belieue me is no common skill, no bate nor base deuise,
But meet for ciuill courtly men, that are reputed wise.
Which if be so, then yeeld me thankes, that beat my busie brow,
And tooke this toyle for thine auaile, to teach thee when & how
To worke this practise and deuise. Accept the Printers paine,
Who shewes thee sundry shapes of hawks, though little to his gaine.
Both he and I can do no more, than offer our good will,
And all to further thy delight, and adde vnto thy skill.
VVhich if we do, we haue the hire of both our meanings than,
You cannot do a better deed than thanke the painefull man.
George Turbervile.

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The Induction or Proeme to this Discourse, and Treatise of Hawking.

WE finde this a generall rule and obseruation, and doe hold it for good in all Arts and Sciences, wherein men do trauell & busie themselues, either to the benefit of others, or to their owne priuate pleasure, and humors, in the beginning of their workes to lay downe y^e subiect of that whereof they meane to treate, which in very déede is nothing else but the ground & matter which doth moue them to write: which doth not onely fall out in all liberall sciences, and studies greatly accounted and reuerenced of the learned of al ages, but also in the base and grosser trades of men, dayly practised with the hand. As whē the Goldsmith doth determine with himselfe by curious and cunning art, to fashion a Iewell of any price and value, he is driuen to make choice of his mettall, eyther gold or siluer, whereon to bestow the excellencie of his art, which cannot be named by a more fite or conuenient tearme, then to be called the Subiect of his Science. Likewise here mine Author in this Treatise, and Booke of Falconrie, following the accoustomed order of the learned, and common practise of such as doe write, hath laid downe a Hawke, the Subiect of his deuise, of which he is determined at large to speake, with full shew and declaration of the true nature and properties of all Hawkes, as also such other matter as is incident, and appertaining in any respect to that skill, of all other gentlemanly sports and practises, the most pleasant and [Page 2] cōmendable. But before he doth aduentdure to deale, specially of any matter concerning Falconrie, to giue the Reader a perfect and absolute vnderstanding, both of his conceite, and of the knowledge of the thing, he thinketh it not besides his purpose, but a matter most necessarie to the attainement of his deuise, To frame a generall diuision of all Hawkes & Birdes of prey, racking (as it were) and diuiding that one entire and generall name of a Hawke into many members and parts, the better thereby to display the true nature, quality, and condition of a Hawke, as also y^e skill of Falconrie: for the whole being layd out into his members and parts, it shall be the more easie to come to the notice of that, whereof he is resolued to write, whose nature and substance is included in his particular members. Wherefore mine Author following that order & prescribed rule of knowledg, hath vsed this methode, setting downe to the view of the reader, in the very entrie and proheme of his worke, a manifest and generall diuision of Hawks, y^e better to decipher the speciall nature of each one Hawke in his own proper kind, which otherwise were very hard to do, by meanes of confusion of sundry names and termes, as also, the number of birds of prey.

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A GENERALL DIVISION OF Hawkes, & Birdes of prey, after the opinion of one Francesco Sforzino Vicentino, an Italian Gentleman Falconer.

FIrst (saith he) you shall vnderstand, that of Hawkes that do liue by prey, and are in knowledge and vse of men, there are nine kinds.

1 The Eagle.
2 The Mylion.
3 The Gerfalcon,
4 The Falcon.
5 The Merlin.
6 The Hobbie.
7 The Goshawke.
8 The Sparowhawke.
9 The Matagasse.

This Hawke whome I terme a Matagasse, after the French, is in y^e Italian tongue called Regostola Falcone a, and among the Germains Thornkretzer, a Hawke not in vse with vs, & in truth of slender regard & estimation in nature. Yet neuerthelesse, both to follow mine Author, and to make my diuision perfect, I hold it néedfull to reckon that kind of Hawke among the rest: and in the latter end of the first part of this treatise, I will briefly describe you his nature, which is no lesse base than strange. You must note, that all these kind of hawkes,Addition. haue their male birdes and cockes of euery sort and gender, [As y^e Eagle his Earne, the Mylion his Tercell. the Gerfalcon his Ierkin, the Falcon his Tiercel gentle, the Merlin his Iacke, the Hobby his Robin, the Goshawke his Tiercell, & the Sparrowhawk his Musket.] And further, that y^e female of al birds of prey & rauine, is euermore huge than the male, more ventrous, hardy, and watchfull, but of such birdes as doe not liue by rauine and prey, the male is more large than the female.

A second or Subdiuision.

MOreouer, you shal know, y^t those nine sorts of hawks, may againe be diuided into two kinds, and either differing from the other in condition.

[Page 4]For some of them do prey vpon the foule, by stooping downe from their winges, and so seazing on the foule with their foote, doe breake in sunder with their beakes the neck bone, being of more force and strength in that part, then in the foot or tallons. And this sort of Hawkes do neuer vse to plume or the vypon the fowle whom they haue seazed, vntil such time as they perceiue it to leaue busking and bating in the foote: of which kind and qualytie are,

1 The Eagle.
2 The Mylion.
3 The Gerfalcon.
4 The Falcon.
5 The Merlin.
6 The Hobbie.
7 The Matagasse.

Now that other sort which I speake of, doe slay their prey and game by maine force of wing, at randon & before heade, not stouping at all from their wings, as the other Hawkes do, whome I made mention of before. And thiefe Hawkes haue their chefe force and strength in the foote, and not in the ieake, and therefore no sooner doe seaze vpon the prey, but presentlie they giue themselues to plume and tire thereon Of this sort are,

1 The Goshawke.
2 The Tiercel of the Goshawke.
3 The Sparowhawke.

Thus farre haue I made a generall diuision of all kindes of Hawkes that doe liue by prey: and again (as you sée) haue diuided those kinds into two parts. Wherefore now doe I purpose to deale more specially in the matter, and more particularly to procéede to the natures of enerie of them, to yéeld you a more perfect knowledge, and light therein.

Of the names of Hawkes of prey.

AL Hawkes and birds of prey, be comprised and included vnder these two names.

1 Aetos. or
2 Hierax

which is to say,

1 Ahnila or
2 Accipiter

which is the

1 Eagle. or
2 Falcon.

[Page 5]These two kinds doe serue to flie the prey for mans pleasure and pastime: of which onely Hawkes, my purpose is to treate and speake in this discourse here following.

For all Hawkes and birds of prey, doe not serue the Falconers vse, but only such as are hardy, and frée of mettle, able to flye the field and riuer. And therefore those onely kinds shall be the iniect of my booke, and not those base, basterdly refuse Hawkes, which are somewhat in name, and nothing in déede.

As the Gréekes would, that Hierax, & the Latines that Accipiter, which is a special terme to one hawke and bird of prey, should giue the generall name and title to all Hawkes, and birds of prey, because of his excellency: So in like manner, the Frenchmen of our age, haue ordayned that the Falcon, which is a tearme peculier and proper to one kinde of birde of prey, shal giue generall name and appellation to all Hawkes, & birds of prey whatsoeuer they bée, because the Falcon doth passe all other hawkes in boldnes and curtesie, and is most familiar to man, of all other birds of prey. And thereof it procéedeth that we say, the Falcon Gentle, the Haggard Falcon, the Falcon Sacre, and so likewise of the other Hawkes, calling them all by the name of Falcon.

Moreouer, as the Falcon, which is a speciall name of one kind of Hawkes, hath giuen name to all other Hawks & birds of prey: So hath it bestowed the name and title of a Falconer, to euery one of what state or calling soeuer hée bée, that doth deale with any kind of Hawkes and the terme of Falconrie, to the art, profession, and knowledge of luring and manning those birds of prey, by which singular skill, they are made to flée all other fowles, as well those fowles of the ayre, as of the land and riuer. Which in my conceit, deserueth no slender commendation and praise, being a matter almost quite against the lawes of nature and kind, for one fowle so artiffcially to vndertake, and so cruelly to murther another, and hauing atchieued his enterprise, with gréedy & willing mind, to repaire to man againe, hauing the whole scope of the heauens, and the circuite of the earth at their pleasure to range and peruse: & to [Page 6] yéeld themselues in such franke manner to the prison, & custodie of man, being by kind set free, and at liberty to prey, and dispose themselues. Such and so great is the singular skill of man, when by art he is resolued to alter the prescribed order of nature, which by industry and paine wée sée is brought to passe and effect.

Of the kinds of Eagles.

HAuing diuided all those birds of prey and rauine, which serue to Falconrie & Hawking, into Eagles & Falcōns, I mean first of all to dicipher you the Eagle & Vulture, whome some haue thought to be comprised vnder the kind of an Eagle. And so consequently after that, to speak of Falcōs, which are birds of prey, seruing to the vse and mystery of Hawking, and taking their names of the Falcon.

Aristotle was of opinion, that there was sixe kindes of Eagles, which are named by him, according as it pleased the inhabitants of Gréece to enforme him.

Pliny in making the same diuision of Eagles, hath varied in that point altogether from Aristotle, as touching the names and tearmes of Eagles, for that they were of diuers cōntries, and did write in seuerall languages. But for that I meane in this Booke onely to speake of those kindes of Eagles, which serue to Falconrie, I will deale but with two sorts of Eagles: for at these dayes, wée haue the vse and experience but of the browne Eagle, which is the Eagle Royall, and the blacke Eagle, the other kinds being of a base and slender courage, as no Falconer will paine himselfe to lure them, or manne them for vse or pleasure.

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First of the browne or yellow Eagle.

[depiction of hawk]

THe browne or yeallow Eagle after Aristotles opinion, is called in gréek Guyseon, which doth signifie in the French tong (kindly & no bastard born) becaus it is of al other kinds of eagles, the true & right eagle, & he doth cal him by y^e gréek word Chrysaitos, by reason of his goldē mayle, & in latin he is termed [Page 8] Stellaris, and Herodus. This is that Eagle, whome we call the Eagle royall, king of birds, and sometimes the bird of Iupiter, and that Eagle which ought to bee taken and accounted the principall best, being more huge and large then the rest, and besides more rare & dainty to be séene. For she doth haunt most commonly the toppes of high and craggie mountatnes, and doth there prey vpon all sorts of fowles, as also Hares, kidds, Goats, & such other like wild and sauage beasts of the field.

This Eagle doth liue alwayes solitary and alone, vnlesse happily she hath her broode with her, whome she doth conduct and guide from place to place, the better to instruct them how to kill their prey, and féed themselues. But no sooner hath shée made them perfect, & throughly scoled them therein, but presētly she chaseth them out of that coast, & doth abandon them the place where they were eyred, and will in no wise brooke thē to abide néere her, to the end, that the country where she discloseth and maketh her eyrie, be not vnfurnished of conuenient prey, which by the number & excessiue store of Eagles, might otherwise be spoyled and made bare. For it is very likely, that if her brood and increace should there make stay, being so huge birds, and of so great rauine, there would in short space lacke prey for her selfe, and by meane thereof bréede her to a father euill and mischiefe: for the auoyding of which, this prouident and carefull fowle doth presently force her brood to depart into some other part and Region.

This Eagle may with ease be discerned from the Vulture, because this Eagle Royall, being browne, or yellow maylde, hath not her arms or féet in any cōdition couered with plume, as the Vulture hath.

True it is, that the arme of the Eagle is short, yellow mayld & all beset with scales, y^e pounces large, her beake blacke, long, and crooked at the top. The traine of the Eagle Royall, as also the traine of the slender blacke Eagle is short and stife at the poynt, euen as the traine of the Vulture is.

The Eagle is alwayes of oneselfe hugenesse, in respect of her nature, and it cānot be said, in that she is an Eagle, that she is [Page 9] eyther larger or lesser, at any one time or other, vnlesse you giue her the surname and addition of blacke, yellow, or some other such proper name and tesme, which doth alter her according to her accidents, but nothing at all in regard of her substance and nature. And were it not that she is so massy a fowl and not portable on the fist, (as in troth she is exceding huge) and besides, it is so hard and difficult a matter to prouide her prey and food, Princes & puissant States, would more vsually haue her, and hawke with her for their solace and pleasure, than they now do. But by reason she is so hugh and ventrous, she might happily offer force and violence to the eyes and face of her kéeper, if at any time she should conceiue displeasure against him. And for this cause cheiflie, the Eagle is not in vse, as other meaner howkes, and of lesse force be in these days.

Hée that will haue the Eagle to be good and tractable, must deuise to take her an Eyesse in the Eirie, māning and accustoming her among houndes and greyhoundes, to the end that when hée goeth and addresseth him to the field, the Eagle soaring aloft ouer the hounds starting the game, Fox, Hare, gote or such like beasts of the wood, she making her downe-come, & stooping from her wings, may so stay, & seaze vopn the game, vntil the dogs come in, and procure the fall thereof. A man may féed her with any kind of flesh, and chiefly of such game and prey, as shée slayeth in the field by flight.

Tawnye or browne mayle in an Eagle, déepe and hallow eyes, specially if she bée bread in the west parts of the whrld, is an assured signe of her goodnesse: for the tawnie Eeale is euer found good in proofe.

Also the whitenes on the head of an Eagle, or on her backe, is a singular token of an excellent Eagle.

That Eagle, that when shée fleeth from the fist of her kéeper, wil eyther flée vpon the man, soaring round about him, or light on the ground, and take the stand, is by all probability & coniectture, no inward Eagle, but a fugitiue, and a rangler.

At what time the Eagle displayes her traine in her flight, & makes a turne in her mounty, it is a very great signe that shée [Page 10] determineth to flye on head, and gadde: the next remedy for which mischiefe, is to throw her out her meat, & lure her with as loude a voyce as you possible may. And if it be so, that shée then stoope not to that which is cast out vnto her, then eyther hath she ouer gorged her selfe, or otherwise shée is too hie, & too full of flesh. A meane to auoide this inconuenience, is to sowe the feathers of her train together, to y^e end she may not spread them abroad, nor vse the benefite of her traine feathers in her flight. Or else another way is, to deplume and make bare her tuell and fundament so as it may appeare, and then certainly for feare of the colde ayre she will not aduenture to mount so hie: but féeling her traine feathers fast sowed together, she wil stand in awe of other Eagles, whome by the meane of that deuice and practise, she shall in no wise be able to avoide.

When the Eagle maketh a short turne vpon her kéeper in her flight, & flieth not out aforehead, that is one principall good token that she will not away.

It hath béen sayd, that an Eagle is of force to arrest, and cause a Wolfe to stay, and will take him, with the aid and assistance of doggs, making in to her rescue, and that it hath béen séene and experimented. But for my part I finde the oddes of them so great, as I leaue the beleife of it to the Reader, not reciting it as a troth, but a thing written to shew the great hardinesse and vndaunted nature of the Eagle.

It is reported that the men of the country where the Eagle eyreth, knowing thereof, and intending to bereaue her young broode, doe arme and well furnish their heads, for feare least y^e Eagle do offer them force and violence. And if so they shew the old bréeder one of her chickens, or tie it to the bough of a trée neare the place where shée buildeth, she will call and cause the damme to repaire thither by continuall cleping, who findeth her, and pitying her cries, will bring it so much prouision and prey, as he that commeth to take her from the eyrie, shal there dayly be sped of as much flesh and prouision as will very reasonably serue him and sixe others. For the old Eagle will conuey thither hares, Conies, fowles, and such other like vittel, & [Page 11] viands, for the supply of her necessity.

The Eagle doth not commonly vse to prey nere vnto her eyrie, but to kill her prouision abroad as farre off as shée may. And if so it happen, shée leaue any flesh after shee is full gorged, that doth she reserue carefully for the next day, to the end that if foule weather should happily grow to hinder her flight, yet she might be stored of sufficient prey for the day following, without any further trauell.

An Eagle doth not forsake or change her Eyrie all her life time, but of custome doth yearely returne, and make repayre to one selfe place, and there buildeth most assuredly, by meane whereof it hath béen noted and obserued in times past, that an Eagle doth liue very many yeares. Before her old age, her beake waxeth so exceding long and crooked at the topp, as shée is much hindered thereby of her féeding: in sort, as shée dyeth not of disease, or by extremity of age, but onely by reason shée cannot possiblie vse the benefite of her beake, being accrewd & growne to such an exceding length and disproportion. Wherof commeth the Prouerbe be as I take it, Aquila senectus, the age of an Eagle, which is properly applyed to men that doe liue onely by drinke, as old men are wont to doe.

The Eagle doth euer wage warre with the little Roytelet, whome the French men doe so tearme, for that this fowle is thought to be a little king among birds, as the Etimologie of the worde doth séeme to import, the Latines likewise they call him Regulus, and the Germanes a Golden line. Alls [...] occasion and chiefe ground of this controuersie betwixt the Eagle and the Goldhenline is (by the report of Aristotle) onely vpon the name, for that she is called the king of birds: of which title & preheminence the Eagle would willingly bereaue her.

Againe, there is one other kind of little fowle, whome Aristotle calleth a Sitta, the Latines Reptitatrix or Scandulaca, & the Frenchmen Grimperean, that doth the Eagle very great outrage, & offence, For no sooner perceiueth she the Eagle to be absent from the eyrie, but presently in great despight shée breaketh all her egs in péeces.

[Page 12]This little soule is called.

In Frēch,: Roytelet.
In Latine.: Rēgulus.
In the German tong.: Goldhē lyne.

These two being in a manner y^e least birds of all other, are the greatest and deadliest enemies to the Eagle,

That other,

In Gréeke.: Sitta.
In Latine.: Scandulaca
In French.: Grinpereau

and do contend with her vpon poyntes of principality and rule.

When I said before, that the Eagle royall was of a yellow mayle, I meant nothing else by that speech, but that the Eagle was mayld, of the very colour of a Dears haire, which is in déede not yellow, but browne or tawny. And albeit Aristotle for his pleasure, termed it by the Gréek word, Chrisatos, which is as much in effect as to say, y^e Golden Eagle: yet must it not therefore be concluded, that this Eagle is of a right Golden mayle, but of a more browne or tawny mayle, then the other kind of Eagle is.

The Paynters and Statuaries of Rome haue disguised this Eagle in their portraytures, for euery man knoweth that it is farre otherwise, then they haue drawne it, As well the browne Eagles as the blacke, are skinned and vncased, as the Vultures be, and their skinnes rent to the Furryers and pellitors of Fraunce, with their wings, heades, and tallons, and euen of the same very colour, as I haue here set it downe and declared it vnto you.

[Page 13]

Of the blacke Eagle.

[depiction of hawk]

I Haue signified vnto you, that there are onely two sorts of Eagles which serue for Falconrie, which are the yellow or tawnie Eagle, whome I haue hitherto treated of, and the blacke Eagle whome I must now decypher vnto you. [Page 14] Aristotle doth terme the blacke Eagle Melauratus, and Lagoph [...]os, because shée taketh the Hare: and this Eagle y^e Latines call Pulla, Fuluia Leporaria and Valeria, y^e oddes and difference betwixt these two Eagles is easie to be found, for this blacke Eagle is lesse than the Eagle royall, which is y^e yellow and tawnie Eagle, and the blacke Eagle doth as much differ from the yellow Eagle, as y^e blacke Milion doth from the Milion Royall.

Plinie hath placed this blacke Eagle in the first order and rancke of Eagles, as one that would willinly prefer hir before oll other kinds of Eagles. And héere Aristotle hath set her but in the third order and place.

The blacke Eagle (sayth he) being lesse huge and corpulent than the other, is of farre more force and excellencie.

Moreouer, he affirmeth that the Eagles doe towre vp and mount so hie, of purpose for prospect, and to sée from farre. And by reason that their sight is so cleare and perfect, men haue reported them of all others, to be y^e only birdes that do participate with the diuine nature.

Moreouer, for the feare the Eagle hath of her excellent eies, shée maketh not her stooping from her gate at once, and rashly, as other kind of long winged hawkes do, but by little & little.

The Hare is a prey in whome she taketh great pleasure, yet when she findeth the Hare running, she offereth not forthwith to seaze vpō him on the Mountaine, but can forbeare and stai [...] her time, vntill he be on the plain champion, and thē seazing on him, shée presently carrieth him not away, but doth first make triall and experience of him, poysing and waying him in her pounces, and after that lifting vp y^e silke beast, doth beare him cleane away, and preyeth on him at her best will and pleasure

[Page 15]

Now as touching the Vultures, and first of the large ashe coloured or blacke Vulture.

[depiction of hawk]

[Page 16]THere are two sorts of Vultures, to wit, the ashe maild, or blacke Vulture, and the browne or whitish Vulture.

First will I speake of the blacke or ashemaild Vulture, who is in deede more huge than the browne, for the ashe coloured Vulture is y^e most larg bird of prey that is to be found, and the female Vulture more large then the male, euen as it falleth out by experience in all kindes of birds of prey and rauine.

The gréekes, they call the Vulture Gips, and the Latines Ʋulture.

This Hawke is a passenger in Egypt, more known by her coate and case thē otherwise, because the furriers do vse their skinnes for stomachers, to guarde and defend the breast against the force of feruent cold.

All other birdes of prey doe differ from the Vulture, in that they are destitute and void of plumage vnder their winges, whereas the Vultures be there vested & couered with an excellent fine downe. Their skinne is thicke like a Goats skin, and namely you shall find vnder their gorge, a certain patch of the breadth of your hand, where the plume is somwhat inclining to a red, like the haire of a Calfe, for y^e kind of plume hath not a web fashioned, as other feathers are vsually shapt and proportioned, but are like vnto the downe which is to be found on eyther side the necke, & on the vpper part of y^e pinion & bent of the wing, in which parts the down is so white that it glistereth, and is as soft as silke.

The Vultures haue this one point special, and peculiar to themselues, in that they are rough legged, a thing that hapneth not to any other kind of Eagles or birds of prey.

[Page 17]

Of the lesse Vulture, which is the browne or whitish Vulture.

[depiction of hawk]

[Page 18]THe brown or whitish Vulture doth differ from y^e blacke maylde Vulture, in that hée is somewhat lesse then the blacke Vulture is, hauing the plumage of her throate or gorge, of her backe, the feathers vnder the belly neare the pannell, and of the whole body tawnie, or browne of colour: but the brayle feathers, and of the traine, like to those of the blacke maylde Vulture, which induceth some to thinke that there is no difference at all betwixt those two kinds, saue that the one is male, and that other female, in the same gender and kind. But this is most certaine and assured, that with Noble personages you shall sée aswell the one kinde as the other. Eyther sort hath a short trayne in regard of the largnesse of their wings, which is not the nature and shape of other birdes of rauine and prey, saue onely that fowle whome the French tearme (Piscuerd,) the Italians, Pigozo, & in our mother spéech, I may call the Wodwall.

You shall euer find the Vultures rough, and hairie legged, which is an euident signe that they fret and rubbe them against the rockes, where their cheife abode and stay is. And further you shall note that the browne or blancke Vultures are more rare and dainty to bée séene, then the blacke or ashemaylde be.

Againe this is peculyer to them in their kind, that the feathers on their heads bée short in respect of the Eagles feathers, which hath béene some cause that they haue béene thought to bée balde and without plume, though in very déede it bée nothing so.

The Vulture that is ash coloured or blacke maylde, hath short armes all beset with plume, euen to the very Talons, which is a specially note among all those birds of rauine, onely peculiar to them, and not to any other fowle, hauing crooked Talons, vnlesse it be the Owle, who is rough legged euen in sort as these Vultures be.

To discerne the browne from the ashemayled Vulture, you must note, that the browne Vulture hath her necke feathers very streight and long, much like to those that y^e Cocke hath [Page 19] or the Stare. In regard of those feathers on her backe, sides, and the corner of the plye of her wings, which are little and slender, in manner of scales, but the breast feathers, as also those on the backe, and the couert feathers of the traine are to the red Vulture red, and to the blacke Vulture blacke, and to both kindes very large: by meane of their hugenes they can not be vpon their wings, nor rise from the stand without some aduantage.

A man shall seldome sée them vpon the plaines, and champion of Italie, Almanie, and France, vnlesse happily sometime in the winter, for then they raunge and wander into euerie part, for at that time in cheife they abandon and forsake the toppes of the stately and high mountaines, to auoyde the extremitie of cold, and do take their passage into more hote regions and countries, where the climate doth better serue their purpose, and better agrée with their nature.

The Vultures at the most, doe not disclose aboue two or thrée Chickens or young birds, and it is a very hard matter, and almost impossible for any man to robbe their Eyrie, for that most commonly they build in some hanging cliffe whether there is very hard and daungerous accesse. They may bée nourished and fedde with tripes, offall, and inwardes of beastes. And because they doe vsually haunt the fieldes of purpose to deuoure the offall, and refuse parts of such beastes as men haue slaughtered and slaine, and such like carrion, some men are of opinion, that they doe presage and betoken great murther and bloodie spoyle of men that are in armes.

The opinion of William Tardiffe a Frenchman, concerning the diuision of birds of prey, and other things worthie the obseruation.

BIrds of prey (sayeth he) which we vse in Falconrie, be of thrée kinds.

The

Eagle.
Falcon.
Goshawke.

[Page 20]Of Eagles there are two kinds, the one is absolutely called the Eagle, the other Zimiech.

Aquila,
Zimiech,

A red mayle in an Eagle, and déepe eyes, specially if shée be bred in the west mountaines (as is before said) is one special signe of her goodnes.

Whitenes vpon the head or backe of an Eagle, betokeneth the Excellency of the Eagle, which in the Arabian tongue is tearmed,

Zimiach, in the Sirian language.
Mearan, in the Gréeke.
Philadelph, among the Latines.
Mylyon.

The Eagle must euer bée taken when shée is in the eyrie, for her condition is to waxe afterwards very bold & outragious. It is said, that when the Eagle beginneth to grow to liking, neare cawking or calling time, shée cōmonly flyeth with other Eagles, bearing with them to their stand where they vse to prey, a péece of Arsenicke, otherwise called Orpiment, which doth delay and mortifie their lust and desire.

The Eagle will seaze vpon the Goshawke, and any other fowle of rauine, or prey that doth flée with Iesses, making sure account that it is a fit prey for her. And for that onely cause and none other, coueteth to apprehend and take them in their flight, for when they are wild and ramage, vsing the deserts, shée offereth them not any such violence.

A meane to auoyde the Eagle, when a man is determined to flée with his Hawke, is to plucke off the Hawks Iesses before shée flée, for otherwise let her doe her best, shée shall not escape the Eagle.

That Eagle, which is the kingly and right Eagle indéede, will slay the Hare, the Foxe, and such like beasts of the forrest and field.

The Eagle called Zimiech, will kill the Crane, and other lesse fowles.

[Page 21]

A Devise and Remedie for you, when the Eagle doth molest and hinder your game in Hawking.

FInde the meanes to gette an Eagle, and séele vp her eyes, but yet in such sort, as she may haue a little sight to aspire and clime to her mountée, into whose tuell and fundament, conuey a little Assa fetida, and sow vp the place. Then tye to her legges, eyther a wing, a péece of flesh, or a redde cloth, which the other Eagles may coniecture to be flesh, and so let her slye. For then will shée in her flight, for her owne safety and assurance, pull downe all the other Eagles from their stately gate and pitch, which otherwise she would neuer doe, were it not for the paine of that which is conueighed into her tuell.

Now will I lay you downe the report of Francis Sforzino Vicentino, an Italian, as touching the Diuision and Nature of Eagles, and so proceede to the Falcon.

[Page 22]

[figure]

THere are two sorts of Eagles, that is to say, the huge and royall Eagle, which is the Haggart or passenger. And a lesse Eagle, which is a base and bastard Eagle, in respect of the other.

[Page 23]The right Eagle is bredde in the highest clyues of the Leuant, and specially in those of Ciprus. They are as large as a wild Goose, and more. Some of them are of a browne mayle, and some other of a spotted mayle, their gorges and breastes are full of straked lynes, tending to redde, they haue long heades, great beakes, and very much crookt, strong armes and rough large stretchers, in a manner as great as the palme of a mans hand, boystrous talons, and a reasonable long trayne.

These Eagles, in the mayne fielde will take the Hare, and by force hold him, and carrye him in the ayre, as they flée, vntill they espie some rocke or other fit stand, where they may prey vpon him. In like sort they take other beastes, and sundry times doe roue and raunge abroad to beat & seaze on Goates, kiddes, and Fawnes. They are in vse, and price with sundry noble men, as hath béene reported vnto mée credibly.

The great Turke of all other Princes, doth most vse to flée with the Eagle, and doth giue his Falconers in charge to man and lure them, as they doe the Goshawke: and being throughly manned, hath a cast of Eagles at one time, vpon one pearch: betwixt twoo of his people into the field, when they are there, they flée both together, the one at the mowntée, a very stately pitch, and the other more base and low, and that Eagle that doth flye the base pitch, is taught to make a great noyse as shée roueth too and fro ouer the Forrest, not much vnlike the questing or calling of a dogge, by meane of which sodayne cry and noyse, diuers times there issue out of the couert, some wilde and sauage Beastes, which are no sooner discried by that high fléeing Eagle, but sodainly shée bateth of her pitch, and stoopeth from her wings, & at the down-come eyther seazeth or rifleth some one of them, slaying them by force, vntill the dogges may make in to her reskew. And thus betwixt the Eagle and curres, the prey [Page 24] is taken not without the great pleasure and liking of that mighty Prince the Turke. You may gesse of the excellency of this gallant Pastime, if it be true, as it is vouched by report. Herein I can affirme nothing of my selfe, but doe follow mine Author, from whome I collected this kind of hawking, and am bold to make recitall of it in this place, both for the hugenesse of the fowle, as also the strangenesse of the practise.

All these kindes of Eagles, haue their Tyercells or male birdes, of whome some huge, some of middle syse, and other some lesse, which are called Bastard Eagles, not had in any account.

Thus (as you sée) haue I layd downe to your view and iudgements, the kinds and sorts of Eagles, with their proper descriptions due to them, and other poynts incident too their natures: and haue stayed more about the matter, than néeded, in mine owne opinion, being a fowle so little in vse with vs, but I haue done it as well to make my diuision perfectly, as also to decypher that, which euery one perhaps hath not read, as touching the naturall inclynation of this royall bird, who for that shée is Quéene and chiefe of all Hawkes, deserueth some larger discourse than the rest, which are in nature more base, though in vse more familyar and ordynarie.

[Page 25]

Of the Falcon, and how many sorts of Falcons there are.

[depiction of hawk]

THere are seauen kinds of Falcons, & among them all for her noblenesse and hardy courage, & withal y^e francknes [Page 26] of her mettell, I may, and do meane to place the Falcon gentle in chiefe.

1 This Falcon is called the Falcon Gentle, for her gentle and courteous condition and fashions. In heart and courage she is valiant, ventrous, strong, and good to brooke both heate and cold, as to whome there commeth no weather amisse at any time, whereas the most part of other Hawkes, eyther are lightly offended with the one or the other, and must haue a hand kept vpon them accordingly, or otherwise there is no great pleasure to be taken in them.

The Haggart Falcon.

2 The second, is the Haggart Falcon, which is otherwise tearmed the Peregrine Falcon. The Haggart is an excellent good bird, but (as my Author affirmeth) very choyce, and tender to endure hard wheather: but in myne owne conceit shee is in nature farre otherwise. And my reason is this, that shée should be better able to endure cold then the Falcon Gentle, because shée doth come from forraine parts a straunger, and a passenger, and doth winne all her prey and meat at the hardest by maine wing, and doth arriue in those parts, where shée is taken when the fowles doe come in great flockes, which is the very hardest part of the yeare. Moreouer being a hote Hawke by kind, shée should the better sustaine the force of weather, and that shée is a hote Hawke of nature, may bée gathered by her flying so high a pitch, which I take to be, for that in the higher partes, shée findeth the colder ayre, for the middle region is more cold then the rest, because thether commeth no reflexion. And againe, shée meweth with more expedition (if she once begin to cast her feathers) then the other Falcons doe. But these points of controuersie I leaue to the learned, and such as haue the experience of the matter.

The Barbarie, or Tartaret Falcon.

3 The third, is that Falcon which is called the Tartaret, or Barbary Falcon, whome they do chiefly vse in Barbary, and [Page 27] most account of.

The Gerfalcon.

4 The fourth, is the Gerfalcon, which is generall, and common inough, as well in Fraunce, as in other places.

The Sacre.

5 The fift, is the Falcon Sacre.

The Laner.

6 The sixt, the Laner, common, as well in Fraunce, as in other Regions.

The Tunician.

7 The seauenth, is y^e Tunitian Falcon. These seauen kinds of Falcons are all hardy and good, according to the prey that belongeth to their force and nature. For they are diuers in nature, and of seuerall plumes, and besides that, disclosed and eyred in diuers countries. Wherefore I meane to touch euery one of their natures, and to declare you, wherevnto each is enclined, according as they are manned, & gouerned: and first of all I will treate of the Falcon Gentle.

But before I speake of the Falcon Gentle, I will somwhat touch the Etimologie of the name, and lay down the opinons of two learned men, and ancient writers, as touching that matter.

First Suidas a Gréeke Author doth affirme, that Falco which in our mother spéech doth import a Falcon, is a generall name to all Hawkes of prey and rauine, as Accipiter is in Latine, and Hierax in Gréeke.

Festus, he is of opinion, that the Falcon is so named, because of her pounces, and crooked talons, which do bend like vnto a sith or sickle, which in Latine is called Falx.

But wherehence soeuer the name is deriued, this is most assured, that of all other birds of prey, the Falcon is most excellent, and the very Prince of all other Hawkes, both for her goodnesse of wing, and great hardinesse and courage.

[Page 28]

Of the Falcon Gentle, and her property.

[depiction of hawk]

THe Falcon gentle, by nature doth loue to flée the Hearon euery way, & is a very good Hearoner, as well from her [Page 29] wings at the down-come, as from the fist, and aforehead, and will flée all other kinds of greater fowles, as those which are tearmed birds of Paradise, fowles more large then the Hearō. Moreouer shée is good to flée the shoueler, a fowle like the Hearon, but somewhat lesse, the wilde Goose, and such otherlike fowles, and therefore is excellent at the riuer or brook. If you take the Falcon Gentle an eyesse, you may boldly flée the Crane with her, but if shée be not an Eyesse, shée will neuer be so hardy as to venture on the Crane. And therefore being an Eyesse, and neuer séeing, nor knowing any other lesse fowle then the Crane, if you cast her off to the Crane, she forthwith thinketh it to be a fowle fit for her, and by meane thereof fléeth the Crane very well, and becommeth a very good Crane fléer, for hawks commonly proue eyther cowards, or hardie after they are first quarred.

An Observation.

IF a man doe well, he should neuer take the Falcons out of the Eyrie, till time they be fully summed & hard penned, or if hée do happely commit that errour, hée should not man her, but presently cause her to be conueighed and placed in an Eyrie that most doth resemble the Eyrie of a Hawke, if hée may conueniently come by any such, and there bréed her, and feede her with good flesh, such as the flesh of Pullets, Chickens, Pigeons, and such like, for otherwise her wings will not grow to any perfection, and her legs and other parts would quicklie be broken & waxe crooked, and her traine feathers, and for the most part, all her long feathers and flags be full of taints.

The good shape of a Falcon.

THat you may the better make choyce of your Falcon, and know a good Falcon from a refuse, I will discribe you the perfect shape of a right good Falcon, such a one as is very like to bée good, though many times wée sée, that in proofe, the most likely things to shew, and to the eye, becom in proofe, the worst and of least regard.

[Page 30]The shape of a good Falcon therefore is, first to haue wide nares, high and large eye-liddes, a great blacke eye, a round head, some what full on the toppe, a short thicke beake, blew as azure, a reasonable high necke, barbe feathers vnder the clappe of the beake, a good large breast, round, fleshly, strong, hard and stiffe bonded And that is the true cause, why the Falcon doth greatly affie in her breast, and striketh with it, and gageth it most at her encounter. And by meane shée is very strong armed, shée vseth the more fréely also to strike a foule with her pounces and talons. Moreouer shée must be broade shouldred, shée must haue slender sayles, full sides, long and great thighes, shée must be strong and short armed, large footed, with the seare of the foot soft, and all one for hew with the seare of the beake and nares, blacke pownces, long wings and crossing the traine, which traine ought to be short, and apt to bend and bow to euery side. For in the traine of a Hawke doth consist a great helpe, when shée flyeth. And therefore (as well as for beautie) if a traine feather or couert feather be broken or bruised, we doe couet to ympe them againe, or set them to right, because it may be the lesse hinderance to the hawke in her flight.

You must note that those very Falcons, that are of one kinde and sort, haue very great difference and odds betwixt them, and are called by diuers names, according to the time that a man beginneth to deale with them, and doth vndertake them, according to the places where they haunt, and according to the Countries whence they come.

They are diuided into mewed Hakes, Rammage hawkes, Sore-hawkes, and Eyesses, into large Hawkes, meane hawkes, and slender hawes, all which are of diuers and seuerall plumes and mayles, according to the diuersitie of the regions. Also they are of diuers prices, according to the goodnesse and estimation of them. Againe, some are blacke Falcons, some russet Falcons, some other blanck Falcons: some of which are riuer Hawkes, to slay the fowle at the brooke, and other some field hawkes, to flye the land, and there to [Page 31] kill the Fesant, Partridge, and such like fowles. Thus you sée how diuers and many they be, according to their outwarde accidents, and yet in nature, all Falcons. Therefore because I am to treate of euery kind seuerall, I will not longer holde you in this place, with description of the Falcon Gentle: but hereafter when I write in another place of the diseases, cures and the manning of these hawkes, I will as neare as I may, let passe nothing that shall belong in any respect vnto the Falcon, but that in one place or other you shall finde it.

Of the names of a Falcon, according to her age and taking.

THe first name and tearme that they bestow on a Falcon, is an Eyesse, and this name doth last as long as shée is in the Eyrie, and for that shée is taken from the Eyrie.

Those Falcons are tedious, and doe vse to crie very much, in their féeding they are troublesone and painefull to bée entred: but being once well entred and quarred, they leaue a great part of that vice, and doe proue very good to the Hearon, and to the riuer: and all other kinds of fowle they are hardy, and naturally full of good mettle.

2 The second name is a ramage Falcon, and so shée is called when shee hath departed and left the Eyrie, that name doth last, and shée is called a ramage Hawke, May, Iune, Iuly, and August. These Falcons are hard to bée manned by reason of the heat, and for that they can ill brooke hunger, or to stand emptie panneld: but who so can vse them with patience and iudgement, shall find them passing good, for that they are without fault.

3 Thirdly they are called sore Hawkes, from the end of August, to the last of September, October, and Nouember.

Those Hawks are of good disposition, they will doe verie well, and are in their prime, and full pride for beautie and goodnesse. Neuerthelesse those first plumes that they haue, when they forsake the Eyrie, those doe they keepe one whole [Page 32] yeare before they cast or mew them, and that kind of feather, is called the Sore-feather. According to the diuersitie of these tearmes and times, these Hawkes doe become better and better to be manned and kept.

4 The fourth spéech and tearme that is bestowed on them, (as my Italian Author doth call them) is, that they are tearmed Marzaroly, and so are they called from Ianuary, February, March, Aprill, vntill the middest of May. I haue no proper English phrase for them, but they are very tedious and painefull, and the reason is, for that they must bée kept on the fist all that space. Diuers of them are great baters, and therefore not very gréedy of meate or hungrie, they are but badde Hawkes, much subiect to Filanders and the wormes, who lookes to winne credit or good by kéeping them, must be of good experience, and no lesse patience.

5 Fiftly, they are called (Entermewers) or Hawkes of the first coate, that is, from the middle of May till Iune, Iuly, August, September, October, Nouember, December.

Those Hawkes are called Entermewers, for that they cast the old, and haue new feathers, and they prooue very good, and hardy Hawkes, but no great trust is to be giuen thē, for that they are giddy headed and fickle: wherefore he that lookes to haue good, or credit by kéeping of them, must be very circumspect, and regard their natures very well, and must kéepe a good hard hand on them, and must make his fist their pearch, & neuer in a maner let them be from the fist. [And thus vsed,Addition. they are in that yeare the highest flyers, & most apt for the riuer.]

Besides in those seuen kindes of Falcons, which I spake of in the first diuision, there are included sondry sortes tearmed according to the Countries and places where they are eyried, and whence they come: the speciall names and properties of all which, I hold it not so néedfull to discourse vpon, speaking fully & sufficiently of those seuen kinds of Falcons in their times and places, as they shall offer themselues in order vnto mée to bée decyphered vnto the Reader, to whose good [Page 33] iudgement and industrie. I meane to referre and leaue sondry things which I leaue vnspoken of, for that there is no man that is desirous of skill, but may with ease and will with dilygence (I doubt not) flée ouer to those very Authors in French and Italian, from whence I haue made this briefe collection, where he shall be assured to find things more at large set out: but the effect (vnlesse I be deceyued) comprised in these few pages of paper aswell concerning the kinds of Hawkes, as also their manning, luring, flights, mewing, diseases, and cures in euery condition, as (I trust) to the pleasure and profit of the gentle and willing reader. Wherefore I will now procéede to the Haggart Falcon, a most excellent bird, if her nature and property be obserued in due maner.

Of the Haggart Falcon, and why shee is called the Peregrine, or Haggart.

I Haue many times studied with my selfe, for what cause the Haggart Falcons, the most excellent birds of all other Falcons, haue béen tearmed Haggart or Peregrine Hawks. And at first was of opinion, that men so called thē, for that they are brought vnto vs from farre and forraine Countries, and are in déede méere strangers in Italie, (and as a man may call them) trauailers. And this I know for truth, they are not disclosed or eyred in Italie, and besides that, there are few in Italie that do take them at any time, but the greatest store of them are brought and conueied thither from forrane Regions, but if they should be tearmed peregrine or Haggart Falcōs, for this only cause, & onely in respect hereof, & nothing else, then might we as well bestow that name also vpon all other Falcons, y^t are not bred in Italy, as vpon the Tunitian & other Hawkes that are passengers. Wherefore I am of opinion, that for thrée causes principally, and in cheife, they are called Haggart or peregrine Falcons.

1 First, because a man connot find, nor euer yet did any man Christian or Heathen find their eyrie in any Region, so as it [Page 34] may well be thought, that for that occasion they haue atchiued and gotten that name and terme of Peregrine or Haggart falcons, as if a man would call them Pilgrims or Forrainers.

2 The second cause is, because these Falcons do rangle and wander more than any other sort of Falcons are wont to doe, séeking out more strange and vncouth countries, which indeede may giue them that title of Haggart & peregrine hawks for theyr excellency, because they do séeke somany strange & forraine coasts, and do rangle so farr abroad.

3 The Third and last cause, I doe thinke, may be their beauty and excellency, because this word (Peregrino) or Peregrine, doth many times import an honourable & choice matter had in great regard: but it skilleth not much which of these thrée alleadged is the true cause, wée will not stand vpon that nice point, for that a good Falconer ought much more to regard the scearching out of the true nature and property of Hawkes, then to haue so great and speciall respect vnto their names, and tearmes.

Wherefore I conclude, that these Haggart Falcons are not of Italie, but transported and brought thither from forraine places, as namely from Alexandria, Ciprus, and Candy. And yet this is for certaine, that in Italie there are taken of these Haggart Falcons, as in the dominion of the renowned Duke of Ferrara, & in the countrie neare Rauenna, being brought thither by force of weather and wind. And by that meanes there are none of those Haggarts found Eyesses, but they are al either soare Hawkes, or mewed Haggarts.

Of shape and proportion they are like the other Falcons, & are of thrée sorts, as touching their making and mould, that is to say, large, little, or Falcons of a middle size. Some of them are long shapt, some short trussed Falcons, some larger, some lesse.

They are ordinarily of foure mayles, eyther blancke, russet, browne, or turtle mayld, and some pure white maylde, without any iote or sport of any other colour, but those a man shall very seldome sée. And for that cause I meane not to say much [Page 35] of that kind of mayled Falcons, but will deale with such as are more ordinarie in vse.

Of the good shape of a Haggart Falcon.

[depiction of hawk]

[Page 36]A Good and right Haggart Falcon ought to haue her head of darke or blanck plume, flat on the toppe, with a white wreath or garland enuironing her head, a large blew bending beake, widenares, a great, ful, blacke eye, hie, stately necke, large breast, broad shouldred, a great feather, in colour like the feather of a Turtle, long vaines and sayles, but slender shapte, long traine, high thighes, and white on the inside, I meane her pendant feathers, short and great armed, large wide foot, with slender stretchers and falons, and the same to bée eyther pale white maylde, or pale blewish, tending somewhat to azure. These are generally, the most assured tokens of an excellent Haggart Falcon.

How to know a Haggart by her fleeing.

A Good skilfull Falconer, will quickly discern a good Haggart Falcon, from a sleight Falcon, though he be far off, by the stirring of her wings. For that a Haggart Falcon vseth not a thick stroke, but stirreth her wing by leasure and seldom, & getteth vp to her mountée, without any great making out. And although perhaps she be not so large as the fleight or soare Falcon, yet to séeming and shew, she is more large, which happeneth by meane of her sayles, which in very déed are of greater scope and compasse than the fleight Falcons are. Contrariwise the fleight Falcon shee vseth a more short and quicker stroke with her wing then the Haggart doth, & doth not deale so leasurely. There are besids this one difference, sondry other betwixt these two kinds of Falcons, which in this place I will deliuer you, for that you shall the better iudge the ods betwixt them, béeing both very good Falcons, and the best of all other, both for field, and riuer.

The difference and ods betwixt the Haggart, and the Falcon Gentle.

FOr that diuers haue delight to know the difference betwixt the Falcon Gentle and the Haggart, I will here shew you [Page 37] certaine speciall points concerning the difference of them both. First the Haggart is a larger hawke then the Falcon gentle, and a longer armed Hawke, with a reasonable large foot, and her talons more long then the Falcon Gentles are, a hie necke and a long, a fayre seasoned head, and a more long beake then the other hath.

1 The beam feathers of the Haggart, as shée is in her slight, are longer then the Falcon gentles, her traine somewhat larger, the Haggart hath a flatte thigh, but the Falcon gentle a round thigh.

2 The Haggart will lie longer on her wings thē the Falcon Gentle, and hath a more deliberate and leasurely stroke then the other Falcon hath, as I sayd before.

3 From the fist, it is reported by some, that the Falcon Gentle doth flie more spéedily then the Haggart, but at a long flight the Haggart is farre the better of both, and doth exell all other kind of Hawkes both for good wing, and maintenance of her flight, which is a perfect proofe of a very good backe.

4 The Falcon Gentle is more hasty and hote in all her doings then the Haggart, and is thought more rash and outragious of nature then the Haggart is. And when they flée together, the Falcon Gentle will make her stooping and downecome more vnaduisedly, and will vse the greater haste to be at her pitch againe then the other, and missing the fowle at the stooping, the Falcon gentle is in the greater chafe, and will presētly flée on head at the check, so as many times shée is hard to come by againe. Whereas the Haggart is more deliberate & better aduised, which procéedeth in my opinion, for that shée better knoweth the aduantage of her slight, than the Falcon gentle, because shée hath béen forced often to prey for her selfe, & hath not béen subiect to the order of any kéeper, neither hath had any hand kept vpon her, to make her eager & gréedy of the prey, more then naturally shée is accustomed to flée at her seasons to gorge her selfe, which she doth both aduisedly and to great aduantage.

5 The Haggart Falcon is taken in Candie, Rhodes, and [Page 38] many other places, of that Sea which is called Archipelagus, or the Aegean Sea.

6 The best sort of those Haggart Falcons, haue their beakes of the colour of azure.

7 Those of Ciprus which are small Hawks, and of a russet mayle, they are the most hardy and ventrous Hawkes of all others.

Much more might be said, as touching the Haggart, and Falcon Gentle: but for that the Hawks are dayly in hand and view, and because I haue a larger field to eare, which is to lay you downe the manning of them, and such things as are more necessarie to a good Falconer, I leaue it, and will procéede to the next kind of Falcon, which is the Tartaret or Barbarie Falcon. As touching whose name and nature I meane to deliuer you, what I haue gathered as well out of the French Copie, as also borrowed from the Italian, whome I do much reuerence as well for his language, as for his rare and deepe deuise in al things wherein he hoth deale.

[Page 39]

Of the Barbarie Falcon.

[depiction of hawk]

THe Barbarie or Tartaret Falcon, is a Hawke not very common in any Country, and she is called a passenger or passeby, euen as the Haggart Falcon is.

[Page 40]They are not full so large as the Tiercell Gentle, though some men do write otherwise of them, they are red plumed vnder the wing, strong armed with long talons & stretchers. They are very ventrous vpon all kind of fowles, and will flie at any game that the Haggart doth. With this Tartarot, or Barbary Falcon, and the Haggart also, you may flée all May and Iune, for they are Hawkes that are very slacke in mewing at the first, but when they once beginne, they mew & shedd their feathers very fast.

For what cause this Falcon is called a Barbary, or Tartaret Falcon.

THese kind of Falcons are called Barbarie Falcons, for that most commonly they make their passage through Barbary and Tunyse, where they are taken more often thā in any other place: As namely, in the Isles of Leuant, Candy, Cipres and Rhodes, where these Hawkes do more frequent and vse, then in any other Region, and the country men will sooner take them, by endeauour if they may, then any Hawkes that are eyréed in their Country. And truely I do not thinke, that in any other place, there are so many good Crane-slayers, as there are to be had in the Isle of Candy. The reason of it is, for that the Nobility and states of the Country, are much more enclined to kéepe those kind of Hawks that will kil the Crane, then any other people are elsewhere, and they doe enure and make their Falcons to that kind of game, more than to any other fowle. And surely you shall there haue excellent good Hawkes.

Thus much it hath pleased mine Author to write of, and in commendation of the Barbarie Falcon: but here with vs in England, I neuer saw or heard of the proofe of those hawkes, to be so good or excellent, as by his report I find them. Sondry other kind of Falcons proue better with vs here, as namely, the Falcon Gentle, the Haggart, and such like, which eyther are passengers, or brought to vs from other Countries. The [Page 41] Barbarie Hawk is much lesse then eyther the Falcon gentle, or the Haggart, and therefore I will onely follow mine Author as thuching her prayse, and so procéede to the next kind of Falcons, deliuering you both the opinion of the Italian, and French Gentlemen therein.

Of the Gerfalcon.

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[Page 42]THe Gerfalcon is a bird of great force, a very fayre hawke, specially being mewed, she is strong armed, she hath large stretchers and singles, she is fierce & hardy of nature, by mean whereof shée is the more difficult and hard to be reclaymed. A Gerfalcon will looke to haue a gentle hand kept on her, and her keeper to be curteous and full of patience. The Gerfalcon is a gallant Hawke to behold, more huge then any other kind of Falcon, her eyes and her head are like the Haggart Falcon. She hath a great bending beak, large nares, a mayle like vnto a Laner, very long sayles, and sharp pointed, a traine much like the Laner, a large foot, marble seared, blanck, russet, and brown plumed as other Falcons be, more beutifully to the eye than any other kind of Falcon.

These kind of Hawkes are made to flée from the fist to the Heron, Crane, Goose, Bustard, and such other like fowles. When they are mewed, they doe very much resemble the Laner, they doe not change the marble seare of the foot. Theyr Tiercels, (whome wée call Ierkyns) are had in great prize, they are brought from Leuant, Cipres, Candy, and Alexandria, by Marchants.

The Gerfalcons by report, do most commonly Eyrée in the parts of Prussia, and vpon the borders of Russia, and some of them come from the confines and mountaines of Norway. But most commonly they are taken about Almayne Passebyes (as wée tearme them) or passengers.

With the Gerfalcon, you may naturally flée all kinds of fowles, as I haue already written of the Haggart, and the Barbarie Falcon.

Let it not discourage or amaze you, that the Gerfalcon is so hard to be reclaymed and manned, for the fircenesse and hardines of their nature, is the onely cause thereof, but in the end being once wonne, they proue excellent good Hawkes.

They will sit very vpright and stately on the fist. Theyr beakes are blew, and so are the seares of their legs and feete, their pounces and talons are very long, and in troth they will lightly refuse to flée at nothing.

[Page 43]At my being in Muscouia, I saw sundry Gerfalcons verie fayre and huge Hawkes, and of all other kinds of Hawkes, that onely bird is there had in account and regard, and is of greater price then any other. The reason whereof I learned of certaine English Marchants my country men, who tolde me, that the Emperors Maiestie Iuan Vazaluich, did vse to flée the Rauen with a cast of Gerfalcons and tooke no slender pleasure and delight therein.

The Raven truely is a monstrous strong flight, by meane shee is of so great force and weight of wing, & withall doth vse to make so many turnes in the ayre, as you shall see no other foule do the like. Yet neuerthelesse as they told me, they had séene a cast of Gerfalcons beate her in such wise, as shée hath béene forced to take the stand, and to pearch in a Pins or Fir trée for her succour and safety. But that shift little preuayles, for no sooner is she pearched, but presently by commandement of the Emperour, each Muscouite drawing his hatchet from his backe, (without which toole they neuer trauell in that coū try) bestoweth his force to the felling of the trée, which is lightly done by meane of many hands, and the tendernesse of the timber, the hawkes all that while lying vpon their wings, looking for their game: who finding the trée to fayle her, at the fal is driuen to trust her wings again, and so by a fresh flight and new encounter, doth yéeld excéeding pleasure to his Maiestie, and such as are in the field, and in fine, is slaine by her mightie aduersaries the Gerfalcons, who most gréedily doe seaze vpon her, as their kind hath taught them to do. I imagine the flight to be very strong, and truely the pastime and pleasure cannot be small, but a game fit for such a mighty Prince as his Maiestie is. Thus much of the Gerfalcon.

Of the Sacre.

THere be 3. kinds of Sacres, the first is called Sephe after the Babylonians and Assyrians, that kind of Sacre is [Page 44] found in Egipt, and in the west parts, and in Babylon. Shée will stay the Hare, and such like.

The second kind is called Semy, she kils the Though, as her proper game, wherein she taketh the greatest pleasure.

The third is called Hyuair, or the Peleryn Sacre after the Egyptians and Assirians.

She is called a Peleryn or Haggart, for that her eyrée is not knowne, and because yearely shée maketh her passage towards Iudea, or Media, shée is taken in the Iles of Leuant, Cypres, Candy, and Rhodes. And therefore some thinke, shée conuneth out of Russia, and Tartaria, and also from the great Sea. That Sacre that is taken an entermewer, is the best Hawke. The Sacre of all Hawkes the most laboursome, and best able to brooke her fleight. She is also peaceable and verie tractable, & a Hawke that can best away with course and grosse diet. The prey of the Sacre are great fowles, the Heron, the Goose, the Crane, Bytor, and withall the small beastes of the field and forrest.

It is well to bée séen, that the Sacre is a Hawk somewhat larger then the Haggart Falcon, of a rusty and ragged plume like the kite, the seare of her beake and foot like the Laner, her pounces but short, neuerthelesse, she is of great force, & hardie to all kind of fowle, as I haue already reported of the Haggart and Barbarie Falcons, but not so ventrous and frée to flée the Crane, or such like game as the Haggart Falcon is.

This Sacre is a passenger, euen as the Haggart Falcon is. No man is able truly to say, when she eyréeth or discloseth, but at the Rhodes they say they come from the parts of Russia, & Tartaria, and the Ocean sea. These Sacres are takēin great number in the Iles of Leuant, Candy, Cipres, & Rhodes, & sondry other Ilands in the Ocean sea. But I must néeds confesse to you, that the Sacre is more disposed to the field a great deale, then to the brooke As to flée the wild Goose, the Bittor, the Fesant, the Partridge, and all such like fowles. And is nothing so dainty of her dyet, or to be kept, as the long winged hawkes are.

[Page 45]The Sacre is much like the Falcon Gentle for largeness eand the Haggart for hardines, and is a passenger as the Haggart is.

She is a Hawk chiefly to flée the kite, and yet may be made and manned to flée the field, and stay other game of the field as the Falcon doth.

The noble men that take pleasure in the Sacre, to make a flight with her at the kite, do vse this order & deuise, to bring the kite downe from her mountée, for that in the heate of the day, shée doth vse to soare and flée of an excéeding height in the cloudes, to take the comfort of the cold & fresh ayre, that is in the middle region: They tie a foxe taile to the leg of a mallard or Ducke, whome they cause to be born on the fist of some one Falconer, and do so, let the ducke flée in the middest of a plaine, whome as soone as the kite discries from her pitch, she presently bateth of her gate, and maketh her stooping to the ground, and there gazeth and woundreth at the strangenesse, and the shape of this fowle: then do they cast off the Sacre to the kite, who forthwith trusting to the goodnes of her wing, getteth vp to her pitch, as hie as possible she may, by making often turns and wrenches in the ayre, where it is a very pleasant sport to behold the bickering that is betwixt them in the ayre, specially if it be in a plaine where no trées or groues are, to hinder the sight of the matter, and the day fayre, and not windie, for then will the Kite and Sacre soare so high, as they will flée clean out of sight: But that serueth not the Kites purpose and turne, for the Sacre neuerthelesse doth conqure her in the encounter, beating her to the ground by meane of the sondry stoopinges & downe-comes that shée maketh vpon her.

They flée with the Sacre at two sorts of Kites, that is, to the Kite royall, which is called by the Frenchman, the (Milan Royall) and at one other kind of Kite, called the blacke Kite, (the Milan Noyer) which is farre the more nimble bird of the two, and doth more busily trouble the hawke in her flight then the other doth, by meane she is the lesse of the two, & vseth her wings farre better. Of all hawkes this kind of hawk hath the [Page 46] longest traine. We call the Tyercell of the Sacre, the Sacret, which is the male bird, & the Sacre the female, betwixt whom there is no oddes more then in the quantity and proportion: for commonly anong birdes of prey, the male is lesse then the female. The Sacre is called in Latine Bu [...]eo, and the Sacret Subuter.

Of the Laner.

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[Page 47]THe Laner is a Hawke common in all Countries, specially in France, and other places elsewhere, for voluntarylie shee maketh her Eyrie, and buildeth in high trées and Forrests and commonly in Crowes nests or in the high rockes & cliffes neare the sea, according as the country is for the purpose.

The Haggart is somewhat lesse then the Falcon gentle, faire plummed when she is an entermewer, but of shorter talons then any other kind of Falcon. And some hold opinion, that those Laners that haue the largest and best seasoned heads, & the seare of the foot azure or blewish, be the Eyesses or soare Hawkes, they are the best and choyest Laners.

With this Hawke may you flye the riuers, a well with the Laner as the Laneret, for they are both good, & likewise may you vse them to other kinds of flights, and specially to the field to kill the Partridge, the Fesant, the Hare, the Choffe, y^e Dawe, and all such sort of lesser fowle.

The Laner is not ouer dainty of her féeding, but can better brooke grosse and course victailes then any Falcon else can do.

Mewed Laners and Sacres, are hardly knowne from the soare Hawkes, because they do not change their plume. By these thrée signes you shall best knowe the Laner.

They are more blancke Hawkes then any other, they haue lesse beakes then the rest,Addition. and are lesse armed and pounced thē other Falcons be. [The Laners of all Hawkes are the fittest for young Falconers, because they will hardly take surfaits, & seldome be ouerflowne▪ or melt their grease.]

Of the Italian Author.

THe Laners doe commonly Eyre in the Alpes that diuide Italy from Almaine: some of them are reasonable hawks, some of a middle sute, and some lesse. Their heads are white, & flat aloft, blacke and large eyed, slender nares▪, short beake & thicke, and lesser then the Haggart Falcons, or the Falcon gentle▪

[Page 48]They are marble or russet mailde, the brest feathers white, full of russet spots, the points and extremities of their feathers full of round white droppes. Their sayles and traynlong, they are short legged, with a foot somewhat lesse then the Falcons, marble seered: but béeing mewed, they change the seere of the foot to a yellow.

These Hawkes will brooke to ffée long on their wings after their maner, and when they espie one that goeth abroad with a Sparowhawke to the field, they presently follow & couer the spaniels, so as no sooner is the sparowhawk cast off to the partridge, but if shée misse or come short of her game, the Laner stoopeth with great nimblenesse of wing, and eyther killeth the fowle, or otherwise enforceth it to stoope and fall amid the flight to the ground.

You shall neuer lightly sée a Laner lie vpon the wings, after shée hath flien to marke, but after one stouping, she maketh a point, and then doth awaite for the fowle after the maner of a Goshawke: for if she misse at the first downe-come, of kill not in the foote, she is by nature so slothfull and dull, as shée will séeke the aduantage to her greatest ease: and therefore, dooth commonly vse vpon the questing, and call of the Spaniels, to attend very diligently, and so to prey at her pleasure.

They are highly estéemed in France, & (as they say) ther made to the riuer, and there doe they vse to flée with the a caste or leash of Laners to the brooke, and sometimes with the Laners and Lanerets together, and sometimes doe flée the field with the Laner: but in Italy they doe not vse this kinde of hawke at all. With vs in England this kind of Hawke is in price, but accounted very slothfull and hard mettled, so as vnlesse you kéepe a very hard hand vpon her, shée will doe little good, cleane contrary to the nature of a Falcon gentle, who for one good vsage will shew a treble curtesie, and the better she is rewarded the better will shée flée: but vse the Laner wel, and shée maketh slender account therof, but becommeth slothfull, and vnapt to flée eyther field, or riuer.

[Page 49]

Of the Tunicion Falcon.

[depiction of hawk]

THe Tunicion is a Falcon euen much of the nature of a laner, yet somwhat lesse than the Laner, but very like her in plume and foote, alwaies more sluggish & heauie in her slight, [Page 50] and yet more créese then the Laner, and shée hath a large round head.

The cause why shee is called a Tunycian.

THis Falcon is tearmed a Tunician, for that ordinarily & most vsually shée is found to eyre in Barbarie, euen as I haue reported to you, that the Laner doth in France and otherwhere. And because Tunyce is the head and chiefe Cittie in all Barbarie, and the Prince and state there commorant and most abiding, holding the Court there, and do most chifely vse to flée with these kinde of Falcons of all others, they are most chiefly tearmed Tunycians.

The Tunycian may also be called a Punycian Falcon, for that which we reade of the warres Punicke, against the Carthaginenses, being maintayned against the inhabitants of that pace, where now is situated Tunyce.

The Tunycian is large, approaching néere the nature of a Laner, and very like in plume and male, and not vnlike for the seare of her foot, but somewhat lesse, and of a longer slight: her head is large and round.

They are excellent good for the riuer, and will lye well vpon their wings, and flye the field well, as I haue sayd before of the Laner. They doe naturally take pleasure to strike and seaze vpon the Hare, and all other kind of prey whatsoeuer.

This kind of Falcons is not so ordinarie or common in all parts and regions, as other hawkes are, saue onely in Barbarie and Tunyce.

[Page 51]

Of the Merlyn.

[depiction of hawk]

THere is a kind of Falcon that is called a Merlyn. These Merlyns are very much like the haggart falcon in plume, in seare of the foot, in beake and tallons. So as there sameth to be no ods or difference at all betwixt them, saue only in the bignesse, for she hath like demeanure, like plume, & very like conditions to the Falcon, and in her kind is of like courage, & therefore must be kept as choicely, and as daintily as the Falcon.

Assuredly diuers of these Merlyns, become passing good [Page 52] Hawkes and very skilfull, their property by nature is to kill Thruthes, Larkes, & Partridges. They flee with greater fircenes, & more hotely then any other hawke of prey. They are of greater pleasure, and full of courage, but a man must make greater care, and take good héed to them, for they are such busie & vnruely things with their beakes, as diuers times they eate off their own feet and talons very vnnaturally, so as they die of it. And this is the reason and true cause, that seldom or neuer shall you see a mewed, or entermewed Merlin. For that in the mew they doe spoyle themselues, as I haue before declared.

My Italian Authour hath these words, both of the shape and in commendation of the Merlin.

The Merline is (saith he) of the shape of a Falcon, lesse than the Sparowhawke, more nimble and wight of wing than any other Hawke, she doth kill all such game and prey as the Sparowhawk doth vse to slay, specially smal birds, namely Larks, Sparowes and such like, all which shée doth pursue with excéeding cruelty and courage.

She is reported to be a Hawke of the fist, and not of the lure, albeit a man may if he will, make her to the lure also. She is a very ventrous hawke and hardy, by this we may coniectture it: For though shée be little bigger then a pigeon, yet notwithstanding, she will hazard her selfe to flée the Partridge, the Quail, and such other like fowles, more large then her selfe, & will pursue them in so cruell manner; as sundry times she followeth them, euen to the villages and townes whether the silly birdes doe flee for ayde and rescue, from their naturall foe the Hawke.

The Merlin is the only Hawke of all others, in whom as my authour affirmeth, there is no difference betwixt the male & female, but yet by experience we find it otherwise, for the female is y^e larger bird of the two, & more big then the other in sight.

Some are of opinion, that Lidos, Hieraz in Gréek & Levis Accipiter in Latine, is our Merlin of whom we speake, & that those birds of prey whome Aristotle termeth (Leves) to our iudgement should be the Merlins, because they are the lesse Hawkes of all others that are to be found.

[Page 53]

Of the Hobbie.

[depiction of hawk]

OF all birdes of prey that belong to the Falconers vse, I know none lesse then the Hobbie, vnles it be the Merlin. The Hobby is a Hawke of the lure, and not of the fist: also shée is of the number of those Hawkes that are hie flying & towre Hawks, as the Falcon, the Laner, and the Sacre be. If a man be disposed to describe the Hobby, he cannot do better, nor deale more artificially, then to match her for shape with the Sacre. [Page 54] For in good faith there is but small difference or inequality betwixt them, saue that the Sacre is farre the huger birde.

The property of the Hobbye in all countries and regions where they are eyred, or otherwise brought, is to soar, and flée vpon the Huntsmen and Falconers, & so to follow them verie watchfully, to the end that whē they spring or put vp any smal birds, she may stoope from her wings, and seaze on them, as on her prey. And this is so ordinarie a Hawk, & the practice that I speake of so general, as there is not the simplest bowre or peasant but doth know it. I can make no fitter nor more apt comparison, then to resemble the frye & small fish of the Sea, being had in chase by the huger sort of fish desirous to deuour them: to the small fowles and birdes of the ayre, pursued by the Hobby.

For as soone as the silly fish that is chased by the Dolphin & such like, do perceiue their safety to be nothing in the Element of water, where, by God and Nature they are allotted to liue, eftsoon haue they their recourse to the ayre to saue themselues, chosing rather to lye at the mercy of the rauening sea-fowles, soaring vpon the water, then to yeelde themselues in prey to their naturall aduersaries the fish: Euen so the Hobbies perceyuing the Huntsmen or Falconers in the fielde to hunt the poore Leueret, or flée the Partridge, do forthwith accompanie them, soaring vpon them, in hope to encounter some one small bird or other, whome the hounds or spaniels shal by fortune put vp, & spring by ranging the field. Then the Larks, & such like small fowles, whose nature is not to braunch or take the trée, but altogether to liue vpon the groūd, finding thēselues pursued by the hounds & spaniels to beguile thē, are enforst to trust to their wings, & to take the ayre, & being there, finding thēselus molested by the Falconers & Hobbies, do make their choyce & election to become a prey rather to the dogs, or séeke mercy among the horse legs, & so to be surprised aliue, then to affie in the curtesie of the cruell Hobbies, and to be taken in their cruell tallons, where they are most assured to die the death.

The Hobbie is so nimble & wight of wing, that shée dares encounter the Crow, and to giue souse for souse, and blow for [Page 55] blow with him in the ayre.

This is a naturall and speciall tricke that shée doth vse, espying the Falconers in the field, she doth follow them, and attend on them, but it is but for a certaine space as though in verye deede shée had her limits and boundes precribed her, and appointed how farre he should flée. For as soone as shee leaueth them, shée presently scoureth along the side of some groue or high wood, where doth ordinarily vse to pearch and take the stand.

The Hobby hath a blew beake, but the seare of her beak and legges is yellow. The crinet or little blacke feathers vnder her eyes be very blacke, so as most commonly they continue and procéed from the beake to the temples or eare burres, and in like manner is there an other blacke streak that descendeth to eyther side of her gorge. As touching the toppe of the head it is betwixt blacke and yellow, but hath two white seames vpon the necke. The plumes vnder the gorge, and about the browes are reddish without spotte or droppe. The plumes vnder the belly (or as I may best tearm them) the breast feathers are browne for the most part, and yet poudered with white spots as Ermines. All the backe, the trayne, and the wings are blacke aloft, she hath no great scales vpon her leggs, vnlesse it be a few that begin behind the thrée stretchers and pounchies, which are very large in respect of her short legges. Her brayle feathers are engouted twixt redde and blacke. The pendant feathers (which are those behind the thigh) are of a rusty and smokie vernish complection. When a man seeth her soare aloft in the ayre, he will iudge her vnder the wings, that her plumage and downe, as well of her wings as betwixt her legs is russet and reddish mayled.

There are two fowles, whereof the one is called, (Ian le blancke) which I take to be the Harrohen or capped Kite, and y^e other (blanche queue) the ring tayle, who do alwaies flée with her for company, beating and sousing the Larks, and if happily they spie the Hobby encountring the Larke, whome they put and force to her wings, it is a pleasure to behold the game [Page 56] that is betwixt this cast of bussards and the hawke. For their desire and intent is to bereaue the sillye hobby of her prey: but she being nimble and wight of wing, encountreth with them, entercepting the Larke from them, mauger their might, and sondry times they buckle so together, as you shal sée them come tūbling down both I fear, one fast griping & seazed on y^e other.

Some would haue that this Hobby of whom I write should bée that bird whome Aristotle calleth Hipotriorchis, and the Latines Subuteo: but I am not of that mind, but that it should rather be the Sacre, whome Aristotle doth meane. But let the learned reader Iudge the controuersie, I am to lay down their natures and properties, and not to decide any matter of controuersie, which indéede doth belong to the curious Falconer, and not to him that doth embrace more the sport, then the diuersitie and oddes of spéech, which in euery Art a man shalbe assured to find. Let it suffice if I giue the Reader to vnderstand the nature of euery Hawke now a dayes in vse, and withall (according to my promise and meaning) doe let him know the meane to flie with them both the field and brooke, as also to giue him to witte, how to Mew, Ympe, and cure them being diseased. These are the speciall points, and such as deserue thankes from me, and commendation from him. I will procéede in the description of the nature of this Hawke, according to the opinion of the Italian.

The Italians opinion of the Hobbie.

THe Hobbies are more large then the Merlyns, & for beak, eyes, plume & foot, they very much resemble the Falcon. They will lie vpon their wings reasonablie wel, following mē and Spaniels, fleeing vpon them many times, to the end that when any Partridge or Quaile is sprung, they may the better stoupe from their wings, and so seaze on the fowle, which sundry times they doe.

These kind of Hawkes are vsed of such as go with nets, and spaniels: The order of which game is this.

The doggs they range the field to spring the fowle, and the [Page 57] Hobbies they accustome to flée alost ouer them, soaring in the ayre, whome the silly birdes espying at that aduantage, & fearing this conspiracy (as it were) betwixt the dogs and hawkes, for their vndoing and confusion, dare in no wise commit themselues to their wings, but do lie as close and flat on the ground as they possible may do, & so are taken in the nets,Addition. [which with vs in England is called Daring, a sport of all other most proper to the Hobbie.]

Some Gentlemē haue made report & for truth assured me, that the Emperour Ferdinando of famous memorie, did giue his Falconers in charge to kéepe & reclaime sundry Hobbies. And his Maiestie diuers times for recreation, would take his Horse, and into the fields with a Hobbie on his fist, holding in his right hand a long slender pole, or réed seuen foot in length, on the toppe whereof there was conueighed by sleight a strong line with a sliding knotte: And when happily his Maiestie had espied a larke on the ground, he would forthwith holde vp, and aduance his Hobbie, to the view of the silly birde, whome as soone as the Larke saw, he would in no wise dare to spring, but lie as still as a stone flat vpon the earth, so fearful they are of the Hobbie, in cheif of all other Hawks: then would the Emperour at his good leasure, and great pleasure, with his longe pole and the sliding line, take the sillye fowle and draw her vp vnto him, and truely tooke no small delight in this kinde of pastime, and would cause his Falconers to doe likewise, who by this deuise tooke many birdes, and in this sorte woulde they Hawke frō the beginning of September to the end of October.

This practise did somewhat resemble, and draw to the nature of our deuise, in daring of larkes, which we vse at these dayes, but (in my Iudgement) nothing so ready and fit as our pastime and ginne which we haue, which is a very good sporte and full of delight, to sée the fearefull nature of the silly Larke, with the great awe and subiection that the Hobbie hath her in, by the law of kind: for assuredly there is no other Hawke, no not the hugest, whome the Larke doth so much feare, as the Hobbie, which may manifestly appeare by this that I haue written, as also by dayly experience and practise in that behalf.

[Page 58]

Of the Goshawke, after the opinion of William Tardiffe a Frenchman.

[depiction of hawk]

A Generall division of Goshawkes, whome the French men call Autour.

[Page 59]THere are (saith he) fiue kinds of Authors or Goshawkes' speaking of the Goshawke in the largest name & nature, comprised in that word Autour.

The first and most noble kinde, is the female Goshawke, which is with vs most ordinarily in vse.

The second is named a demy Author, or Goshawke, as it were a kind betwixt two other sorts, and that is a spare slender hawke, and of little regarding respect of any good she will doe.

The third is the Tyercell which is the male, or cocke to the Goshawke, who doth flay the Partridge, & is not of sufficient force to kill the Crane. He is termed a Tyercelet, for that there are most commonly disclosed three birds in one selfe eyrée, two Hawkes, and one Tiercell.

The fourth kinde of Autour is the Sparrowhawke, whose nature is to kill all kind of prey that the Goshawke doth, saue onely the larger sort of fowles.

The fift kind is called (Sabech) whome the Egiptians term (Baydach) which doth very much resemble the Sparrowhauk, but is lesse then the Sparowhawke, and hath a very blew eye.

There are sundry sorts of Goshawkes, and those brought and conueyed out of sundry forraine parts and regions, but among them all, that Goshawke that is bred & eyred in Armenia & Persia, is the principall best hawke, & then next to her in goodnesse, the hawke of Gréece, and lastly that of Affricke.

The Hawke of Armenia hath her eyes gréen, but the best of y^e kind is she that hath black eyes & black plumes on her backe.

The hawke of Persia is large, well plumed, cleare and déepe eyed, with hanging and pendand eye-lids and browes.

The hawke of Gréece hath a great head, well seasoned, a strong necke, and is reasonable well plumed.

The Goshawke of Affricke hath blacke eyes in her soarage, but being a mewed hawke, her eyes become reddish and fiery.

At what times Hawkes begin to fall to liking, which is at Eawking time, all birds of prey do assemble themselues with the Goshawke, and do flocke together. As namely the Falcon, the Sacre, and such other that liue on prey, and rauine.

[Page 60]And hereof it procéedeth that the Goshawkes become so diuers in goodnesse, force, and hardinesse, according to the diuersity of their choyce and cawking.

The best Goshawke ought to be waighty, and a heauie bird, as those of great Armenia be.

In Syria they make choice of their hawkes, by the Massines & poyse of them, and do estéem the most weighty hawke for the best: as for the male & conditions they doe litle regard or prize.

The blancke Goshawke is the largest, the fayrest & most apt, and easie to bee reclaymed, and withall the strongest of all Hawkes of that sort, for shée can kill the Crane. And by reason she is eyréed in a very hie and lofty place, & can best endure the cold, which is most rife in the middle region of the ayre, therefore is shée good to flée all fowles of that sort and condition.

The Goshawke that doth encline and tend to a black mayle, and that hath superfluous plumes on her head, reaching down her front or forehead, like a peruque or borrowed hayre, that is a very fayre Hawke for beauty, but nothing strong.

[But truely there is no Goshawke more excellent then that which is bread in Ireland in the north parts,Addition. as in Vlster, and in the Country of Tyrone.]

The good proportion and shape of a Goshawke.

SHée ought to haue a small head, her face long & straight like the Vulture or Eagle, a large wind pipe or throat, great eies déepe set, and the apple or middle part of the eye blacke, nares, eares, backe and féet, large and blancke, a blancke long beake, long necke, big breast, hard flesh, long thighes, fleshie, & distant one from the other, the bone of the legge and knée short, long and large pounces, and talons.

The shape from the sterne or traine to the breast forward, ought to grow to a roundnesse. The feathers of the thighes towards the traine should be large, and the traine feathers short, soft and somewhat tending to an yron mayle.

The brayle feathers ought to be like the breast feathers, and the couert feathers of the traine should be spotted, and full off blacke rondels, but the colour of the very extremity and point [Page 61] of euery traine feather, ought to be blacke streaked. Of mayle, and colour, the best is the red, somewhat tending to blacke or plaine grieseld.

The signes of a good Goshawke, are hauty courage, desire and gréedy lust to féede, often tyring and plucking of her meat, sodaine snatching of her food vpon the fist, good enduiug, and great force in assayling her game.

The signe of boldnesse in a Goshawke is this, tie her in an open light place, and after a while darken and obscure it, by shutting some window, or such like deuise, then touch her vpon the sodaine at vnawares, if she then iumpe, and leape to the fist without feare or astonishment, that is an ass [...]red signe of hardinesse in a Goshawke.

The token of force in a Goshawke, is this, tie diuers Goshawkes in sundry places of one self chamber or mew, and that Hawke that doth flise and mewt hiest and farthest of from her, vndoubtedly is the strongest Hawke, for that one point declareth and argueth a good strong backe in the hawke.

A Token of goodnesse and excellency in those demie Goshawkes, whom my Author doth tearme (Petite Autours) is to haue large and cleare eyes, a small head, long neck, low, and close plume or downe, hard flesh, a gréene séere of her foote, large stretchers, and not goutie or fleshie, quicke enduing, large panell, and able to slise farre from her when she mewteth. The point of the beake to be blacke, is a very good signe.

The ill shape of Goshawkes.

ALbeit there bee a generall rule, that (contraria contraries dinos [...]unter) which is that one contrarie is knowne sufficiently by the other, & therfore hauing made you full shew of the good shape of Goshawkes, the ill proportion wil easily therby fall out, & be discerned of it self without any further trauell, yet neuerthelesse following mine Author, I think it not amisse to dicypher you the ill forme of a Goshawke: which is to haue [Page 62] a great head, a short necke, to be thick and grosse plumed, soft fleshed, short thighed, long armed, short tallons, tawnie hewed, tending to blacke, and hard and rough vnder the foote.

A Goshawke that when she is loose in the house, flees as though she were at large and liberty, breaking out of a mew, hauing great grosse feathers, eyes as red as blood, that is euermore baiting, and being set on the pearch, offereth to flée at the face of a man, such a Hawke if shée be kept low in flesh cannot be borne on the fist; if shée bée hie and full of flesh, shée will not then abide with her kéeper, but rangle & gad: wherefore of such Hawkes, there is no account to be made at all.

A fearefull Goshawke is hardly to be reclaimed and manned, for the feare shee hath, will alwaies cause her to refuse the fist and lure, and make her checke, and not willingly repayre to any deuise wherewith shée is called and rappeld, after her flight, which is a very great inconuenience in a Goshawke, and no small hinderance to the sport of him that shall happen to haue such a fearefull Hawke: for commonly vnlesse they be first fond of the kéeper, and in loue with the call, they will not flée their game to the liking of their owner; and the tediousnes in comming by them againe after the flight, doth bréed forgetfulnesse of the pastime, how good and delectable soeuer it were before.

That Goshawke that hath pendant plumes ouer her eyes, and (as they say in the Country) whose feathers hang in her light, the white of whose eye is very watrish and blanck, that is red maild, or bright tawnie, hath the most assured token that may be of ill conditions, and is not like to bée well comming. But if happely such a Hawke fall once to bée good, shée will then proue a passing Hawke.

Sometimes (though very seldome) do wée sée a Goshawke of bad shake, and in condition cleane contrary to those signes that ought to bée lookt for in a good Goshawke, proue light, lusty, able to hold out and mainetaine her flight, and such a one as will very well slay the greater sort of fowles.

The Goshawkes prey is the Fresant, the Mallard, the wild [Page 63] Goose, the Hare, and Conie,: besides all which, she will strike ventrously, and seaze on a Kidde or Goat, and keepe him play so long, as the dogs at length shall come in to assist her and further the fall of it, which doth manifestly decipher the great inestimable courage and valour of the Hawke.

Out of the French I haue collected this concerning the Goshawke.

Some men haue thought, and béene of this resolute mind, that the (Author) or Goshawke hath béene of the kinde of a Vulture, for the affinity and nearenesse of their tearmes and names: for (Autour) in the French, is that Hawke whome we call the Goshawke, and (Vautour) is the Vulture, which 2. tearmes as you sée, draw very neare to one speech.

Some other haue béen of opinion, that betwixt the Goshawk and Sparowhawke, is no ods or difference in nature, saue only in respect of the hugenesse of that one, and the slendernesse of the other: but my purpose is to treat of the Goshawke seuerally from the Sparowhawke, and so to procéede to the Sparrowhawke, of whome I will write according to the French & Italian Authors, in a seuerall Chapter by it selfe, to avoide the confusion, which otherwise might happen in that behalfe.

The Goshawke is euer more regarded than her Teircell, for the males or cockes among Hawkes and birds of prey, doe make euident proofe, and shew to the eye, of their difference frō the females and Hawkes.

Againe we may with ease discerne the Goshawke from her Tyercell, for that shée is farre larger, then the Tyercell of her kind.

The Falconers & Ostregers, haue to these two sorts, added a third kind (as I sayd before) whome they teranie the Demygoshawke, as a bird indifferent, betwixt the other twoo.

Both kinds of them are more hie, and longer armed, then eyther the Falcon, or Gerfalcon: they are Hawkes of the fist, and (as we call them) round winged Hawkes, quite contrarie [Page 64] to those I wrote of before, all which are Hawkes of the lure, and long winged Hawkes, otherwise called Towre hawkes.

The Hawke (I meane the female) is very much like the Eagle in mayle, and if we may make bold to compare y^e lesse with the larger, she hath a more stately high necke then the Eagle, & of a more red or yron mayle, the ground of her plume and downe tending to a red colour.

Those Goshawkes that are of Slauonia, are good at all maner of game, large, hardy, & faire plumed, their tongs blacke, and their nares great and wide.

There are Goshawkes, whome the Italians call Alpisani, or hawkes of the Alpes, which are much vsed in Lombardie, & Tuscane, they are more thick thē they are long, fierce, & hardy.

But those Goshawks that our Ostregers haue now adayes, are cheifly conueied out of Almaine, hauing their eyes & the seare of the beake, as also of their féet and legs yellow, contrarie to the Gerfalcon, whose seare is blew and azure.

Their traines are garnished with large droppes or spottes crossing the feather, party blacke, and party grey, as also the plumes of the necke and head are more towards a russet, and powdred with blacke, but those of the thigh, and vnder the belly or pannell, are otherwise marked, for they are not full so yellow, hauing round drops on them, not much vnlike those that are on the Peacockes trayne.

The Goshawkes of Almayne are not very fayre, though they be large Hawkes, red mayled, and yet not hardy.

There are sundry of them good in their soarage, but being once mewed, proue nothing worth: there be diuers of them taken in the forrest of Arde, and in sundrie places of Almayne. The Gréekes haue called the Goshawke Hierax, the Latines Accipiter stellaris, and the Italians Astuy.

Thus much haue I collected out of another French author, as necessarily belonging to the description of the nature of a Goshawk, because you shall see the seuerall opinions of sundry writers, and gather to your owne vse, what shall occurre and thwart best with your liking, for it is not the mayle and plume [Page 65] of the Hawke that I so greatly regard, or doe meane to stand vpon, as the making, reclaiming, diseases, and cures of the said Hawkes, each one after their proper nature and quality, if so my health will giue me leaue to runue mine authors through aduisedly, according to my meaning and resolution, at what time I first vndertooke this collection.

Out of the Italian concerning the Goshawkes, and their kinds.

THere are sundry sorts of Goshawkes, according to the diuersity of places and regions. There be hawkes of Armenia, Sclauonia, Sardinia, Calament, of the Aples which they vse in Lombardy, Tuscan, Marca and Puglia, some other of Russia, Fr [...]uli, Almania, and othersome of Lombardie, all which I will briefly touch vnto you, and not long dwell in the matter, hauing out of my French Authors already decyphered the natures of the most part of them.

First of all there are Goshawkes, calledt Armenia hawkes, much differing from the Goshawke, in sort as almost, they haue no resemblance at all to the other kinds of Goshawkes. They are very faire and huge, the mayle of them is blanke, as sundry Haggart Falcons be, they flée with great courage and life, all greater sort of fowles.

There are others eyried in Slavonia and Dalmacia, and thence are they tearmed Slauon Goshawkes, which indéed are good for any thing a man will employ them vnto. Very faire and hardy hawkes, large footed, very well penned, their downe and plumage excellent fine, their tongues blacke, and their nares large and wide

Those of Sardinia are nothing like the other hawkes, they are browne and russet plumed, small hawkes, hard and not small footed, and nothing ventrous.

Those of Calament are short trussed hawkes, and large, blanke seared on the foot, those flée the greater fowles excéeding [Page 66] well.

The Goshawkes of the Alpes, and of Calabria, are in a maner more large then they are long, very prowde, and hardy Hawkes.

The Goshawkes of Lombardy are not very large, browne maylde, and cowardly kytes to do any good.

The Goshawke of Russia and Sarmatia, is a large and huge Hawke, the most part of them are blanke Hawkes, and taken vp of great Princes and Nobles states, they are apt and able to doe any thing that may be looked for from Hawkes of that kind. My selfe haue séene great store of them in the Citie of Mosqua, which is the chiefe Dukedome of all Russia. The Moscovites and Tartarians do vse to flée with those Goshawks at the brooke, and there do beat vp the fowle with the drumme, without which you shall seldome sée a Boyaron (as they tearme them) which is a Gentleman, ryde at any time. And one speciall thing which I noted among them was, that as well Moscovites as Tartaros, do vse to beare their Hawkes on the right fist, which is cleane contrary to our manner and guise héere in England, or in any other Region that I haue heard or séene, saue onely in those North parts, no reason I can yéeld for it, but that each country for the most part hath his fashion.

Those of Friulie are good Hawkes and large, but not so faire as the Slavon Hawkes.

Note this, that a good Goshawke ought to be little, and broad shouldred, large breasted, very round and fleshly, hauing a long thigh, a short legge or arme, and the same great, and a large foote, and not gowty, but slender. Contrariwise, the Tiercell should be large, for it is a common saying,

A little Hawke, and a large Tiercell, is euer best.

All Goshawks are by nature gréedy, and catching, of whome some doe vse to flée the riuer, and fresh brookes, and some the Sea, and othersome againe the field, and neuer or very seldome the riuer or brooke.

[Page 67]The first sort for the most part doe prey vpon Duckes, Géese, Hearons, Shouelers, and such like fowle as do vsually haunt, and liue in the Sea and Riuers. And those diuers times doe seaze and take their prey vppon the sodayne at vnwares, by fléeing low neare the ground, and stealing vpon the fowle.

The other, after a while that they haue vsed to flée the field, do prey on Pigeons, Pullets, Hennes, and Partridges. And being once mewed Hawkes, and past their soarage, they will take the stand vpon some trée, and finding eyther Partridge, Fezant, Pullet, Henne, or such other like fowle, they make their stooping so fiercely, and in such great hast, and doe flée them so farre before head and at randon, mayntaining, and making good their flight, as in the end they kill them, and doe prey vpon them.

Of the Goshawkes, those that be ventrous and hardy will kill the Hare, and hauing kilde him, diuerse times they swallow in for hast great bones, and doe put them ouer very well, and endure them safely without any hurte of all.

Those that are the riuer Goshawkes, and doe haunt the water, and brookes, are commonly the most hardy and ventrous Hawkes of all that kind, and doe at the Riuer of their owne inclination and nature, fall to kill the great Fowles of the Riuer, of which I haue before made recitall and mention.

Truely the Goshawke is very much to be regarded for her hardy mettle and courage, for that therein shée is not inferiour to any kind of Hawke, but rather more fierce and eager. And againe to bee kept with greater care, for that shée is more choyce and daynty, and dooth looke to haue a more nice hand kept on her, then any other kind of Falcon or Hawke, vnlesse it be the Sparrowhawke, which is all [Page 68] one in a manner in nature with the Goshawke, and of whome I purpose now to write.

Of the Sparowhake, out of the French Authors.

[depiction of hawk]

[Page 69] I Will now write somewhat of the Sparowhawke, for that shée is in her kind, and for that game that her strength will giue her leaue to kill, a very good hawke, and much vsed in Fraunce. And besides, he that knowes wel how to manne, reclayme, and flée with the sparowhawke, may easily knowe how to kéepe, and deale with all other Hawkes. Moreouer, it is a Hawke that serues both winter and summer, with great pleasure, and the game that shée fléeth is ordinarie, and common to be had, and shée will generally flée at all kinde of game more then the Falcon, or then any other kinde of hawke will. And the winter Sparowhawke, if she proue good, will kill the Pye, the Iaw, the Chough, the Woodcock, the Thrush, the black-birde, the Felfare, and sundry other sortes of birdes.

The Diuersity of Sparowhawkes according to their times and age.

THe Eyasse Hawke, is shée that is taken in the Eyrie.

2 The brancher, is shée that followeth the olde Hawke from branch to branch, and trée to trée, which is also tearmed a ramage Hawke,

3 The Soare Hawke, is shée that hath flyen, and preyed for her selfe, and is taken before shée mew.

4 The fourth kind, is that Hawke that is mewed, and hath cast her soare feathers.

The good shape and proportion of a Sparowhawke.

SParowhawkes are of diuers plumes, some are small plumed, & blanke hawkes, othersom of a larger feather, which are not so good in our opinion as for their shape. The Hawke that is well shapt is large and short, with a slender heade, large, and broade shouldred, bigge armed, large [Page 70] and wide footed, and blacke maylde, with a good great beake, her eyes somewhat hollow and déepe set, blanke eye-lids, the seare of her beake twixt gréene and white, a high bigg necke, long wings, reaching quite athwart the body of the Hawke, so as the point of the wing méet with the toppe of the trayne very neare, and that her traine be not ouer long, but of a reasonable broad feather, sharpe pounces, small and blacke, and euermore well disposed to féede hungerly, and with great appetite.

The Nyasse Hawke is good, and will come to the fiste very well, and not lightly soare away, or be lost.

The Soare hawke is hard to bee manned, but will proue good, if shée will once brooke company: this Hawke, for that shée hath preyed for her selfe, is very ventrous and hardy.

The best Sparowhawke, is that Hawke whome wée call the brauncher.

What kinds of Sparowhawkes there are.

THere are Sparowhawkes, whome the Italians call (divoutemiglia) which are large and long Hawkes, with a great beake, large foot, and with 13. feathers in the traine. Those Hawkes are excellent to flée any kind of game.

There are other called Slauon Hawks, good for all purposes and full of hardines, long and large Hawkes, hauing a great long beake, and blacke breast feathers

There are others of Calabria not verye large, but of great courage plumed like the Quaile, that will doe according as they are taught and manned.

There be Sparowhawkes eyréed in Corsica, & brought from Sardinea, small Hawkes, browne or canuas mayld, that will flée very well.

Those of Almanya are very slender, and nothing good.

The Hawkes of Verona, and Vicentia, are of meane size, and many of them doe proue to be good Hawkes.

[Page 71]There be Sparowhawkes called Alpisans, of the Alpes, that are large, wight of wing, and ventrous to flee any kinde of fowle.

There are others eyréed in the vale of Sabbia, of a reasonable size, russet mayld, entermedled with golden spots, or droppes, like the Turtle, those be very good to flée great fowles.

There is one other kind of Sparowhawks, eyréed in Bergamasca, in a vallie called the Blacke vale, neare the confines of Voltolina, slender Hawkes, browne mayld, good to bée manned and reclaymed, and those are the principallest of all other Sparowhawkes.

I do not here in this place deale exactly of the mayles, and plumes of these kinds of hawkes, in part, for that the hawkes are of sundry and seuerall plumes, according to the diuersity of countries and regions where they are eyréed: and part, for that the hawks themselues are so ordinarily in vse, as it were to be estéemed but a supersluous labour, to waste much time therein, in penning of that, which is (in the opinion of men) of no great importance. My chiefe care and industrye (if health allow me leaue, and sicknesse too much offend not my ease) shall consist in the reclaymed and manning of all these kindes of Hawkes, according to their natures and properties, and in displaying the meanes to flée with them, and to kéepe them, both for the field and brooke. And after that, in declaration of their diseases, ordinarily incident vnto their kindes, and the best remedies for the same, which (I doubt not) are the onely and chiefest points that the discréete and learned reader will accept from mée, and such as will most stand him in steade that doth meane to deale with hawkes. Wherefore I thus make y^e Epilogue and conclusion of the first part of my treatise and collection, wherein are contayned all the kinds, names and the causes of those names, of all such hawkes and birds of prey as are most in vse, and regarded among noble men and gentlemen at these dayes, crauing the Reader to bestow no lesse good liking vpon the translation and collection hereof (if it in any part deserue it) then I haue employed trauell and [Page 72] paines in the true search and examination of the same, both out of the French and Italian Authors, where I must confesse, I haue not translated Ʋerbatim, and by word or line what I found, (for then had I not dealt so exactly as I now haue done, for that I found sondry thinges not so well agréeing to our humors and vse:) but haue taken my pleasure of them, in making choyce of the chiefest matter, which did occurre in them, hoping the more my paynes haue béene, the lesse shall be mine offence, and the greater the liking of the Reader, and the better his acceptance: which if I finde, both I for my trauell, shall thinke my selfe sufficyently guerdoned, and the carefull Printer déeme both his cost and charge well employed, being meant, to the benefite and pleasure of his natiue Countrymen, whose auayle he chiefely respecteth herin, and not any great aduantage that shall priuately fall out to him.

Of the Matagasse.

THough the Matagasse bée a Hawke of no account, or price, neyther with vs in any vse, yet neuerthelesse, for that in my diuision I made recitall of her name, according to the French Author, from whence I collected sundrye of those points and documents, appertaining to Falconrie: I thinke it not beside my purpose, briefly to describe héere vnto you, though I must néedes confesse, that where y^e Hawke is of so slender value, the definition, or rather description of her nature and name, must be thought of no great regard.

The shape of her is this.

She is beaked and headed like the Falcon, her plume is of two colours, her breast white, her eye, beake, and féete blacke, a long blacke traine, her flags and long feathers partly blacke, and white, and the colour of those feathers shee changeth not, though she mew neuer so oft.

[Page 73]Her feeding is vpon Rattes, Squirrells, and Lisardes, and sometime vpon certaine birdes shee doth vse to prey, whome she doth intrappe and deceiue by flight, for this is her deuise:

She will stand at pearch vpon some trée or post, and there make an exceeding lamentable crye, and exclamation, such as birdes are wonte to doe, being wronged, or in hazard of mischiefe, and all to make other fowles beleiue & thinke that she is very much distressed, and stands néedefull of ayde, wherevpon the credulous sellie birdes do flocke together presently at her call and voice, at what time if any happen to approach neare her, shée out of hand seazeth on them, and deuoureth them, (vngratefull subtill fowle) in requitall of their simplicity and paines.

These hawkes are in no accompt with vs, but poore simple fellowes and peasants sometimes do make them to the fiste, and being reclaimed after their vnskilfull manner, doe beare them hooded, as Falconers doe their other kindes of Hawkes whome they make to greater purposes.

Here I end of this hawke, because I neither accompt her worthe the name of a hawke, in whome there resteth no valour or hardines, ne yet deseruing to haue any more written of her property and nature, more than that shée was in mine Author specified, as a member of my diuision, and there reputed in the number of long winged hawkes. For truely it is not the property of any other Hawke, by such deuise and cowardly wile to come by her prey, but they loue to winne it be mayne force of winges at random, as the round winged hawkes doe, or by frée stooping as the hawkes of the Tower doe most commonly vse, as the Falcon, Gerfalcon, Sacre, Merlin, and such like which doe lie vpon their wing, roding in the ayre, and ruffe the fowle, or kill it at the encounter.

I cannot say, that at any time I haue seene this kinde of Hawke, neyther in any booke read of her nature and dispositifn, as I haue here made mention of it, saue onely in my author, who writing of Falconrie, was so bold as to ranke her [Page 74] among other Hawkes of greater account and value, and in Gesner, where he treateth of all kinds of birdes and fowles, where I remember well I haue read of the name and nature of the Matagasse, and there haue seen her proportion and shape set down in colours, such as I haue before declared you in this Chapter, and in my Iudgement, no oddes or difference to bée found betwixt Gesuerus, description, and mine Authors, in that behalfe.

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The Second Part or Booke of this Collection of Falconrie.

Certaine speciall points necessary for a Falconer, or Ostreger, collected out of the Italian Authors.

[figure]

Hauing made you sufficient shewe in the former part of this booke, and collection, of all kindes of Hawkes seruing to Falcō rie, it shall not be amisse to deliuer you some speciall and necessary rules, due to a good Falconer.

First, it is behoouefull for a Falconer to bée verie diligent & inquisitiue to learne and marke the qualitie and mettle of his hawkes, & to know which hawke he shall flye with all [Page 76] earely, and with which late, because all Hawkes are not disposed or mettled alike. Wherefore the first and speciall obseruation is, to note the naturall inclination and disposition of his hawkes in that behalfe.

Then next, it is necessarie for him to be found ouer his hawk, patient, and withall carefull to kéepe her cleane out of lyfe, mytes, and all such other diseases, as I shall hereafter treate of in the latter part of this collection, with such remedies, as I shall lay downe for euery gréefe. And of the two, hée must rather keepe his Hawke hie, and full of flesh, than poore and low. Besides that, this is one generall rule, which by experience you shall find to be most true, that all kindes of hawkes are more subiect to infirmities, being poore and low, then when they are lusty and full in flesh.

Euery night, after he hath flyen with his Hawke the day, eyther at the field or brooke, he must giue his hawke casting, somewhiles plumage, some other while pellets of Cotton, or such like, & again, sometimes some one medicine or other, according as by her casting, or mewte, hée shall perceiue her to stand néedefull thereof, which point I will more at large describe in another place, proper and peculiar to that matter.

Euery night hée must not forget to make the place verye cleane vnder the pearch, so as hée may both find the casting of his Hawke, and be certainely assured whether shée hath already cast or not, whereby he may the better iudge and discern her state. For by the casting is found, whether the Hawke doe néed eyther vpward or downeward scowrings, or stones, or any such like remedy.

He must remember euery euening to tye out his hawke a weathering, saue onely in such dayes, as shée hath bathed before, for because then the taking ouermuch moysture, will bréed her a thousand euils, and inconueniences. For such euenings as she hath bathed the day, shée ought of right to be placed in some warme chamber on a pearch, with a candle burning by her, where she must sit vnhooded, if so she be gentle [Page 77] and not rammage, to the end shee may tricke her selfe, and reioyce by enoyling her after the water, before shee flee againe.

Euery morning earely he must not forget to set her out to wether her, where if shée haue not already cast, shée may cast, and there kéepe her hooded, till such time as shee goe to the field.

In féeding his hawke, hée must beware of giuing her twoo sorts of meat at one time to gorge her withall, neither must he giue her such flesh, as hath any euill sauour, and is not swéet, but must respect to allow her wholesome meates for bréeding ill diseases. For hawkes are dainty birds in their kind, and the more to be considered of when they are in hand vnder a Falconers kéeping & vsage, because they were wont to prey for themselues at liberty, and therein follow such law and order, as nature had prescribed them, but being restrayned, the course of kind is quite altered in them, and therefore therefore the greater art and regard to be vsage for them. Art must supply the restraints of kind by cunning.

He must beware, if happily he haue occasion of necessary businesse, at his departure from home, not to leaue his hawke tyed on a pearch of any great height from the ground, for feare of bating and hanging by the héeles, for then eyther will shée cast her gorge, or otherwise spoyle her selfe: but shée must be placed on a low blocke or stone, and if there be more hawks then one, they must be sondred so farre one from the other, as they may not approach or reach one the other, neither with beake, talons, or otherwise, because their nature is to bite, and buckle, together, if they come within reach.

When hée addresseth him to make his flight with his Falcon, it is behouefull for him to haue all her follow Falconers, or such as haue hawkes in the field, to set downe their hawkes on the ground, to be in the more readinesse to assist him in his purpose, and to tye them sure, for feare of ill accidents that may be fall them.

And again, at the riuer, he must be skilfull to land his fowle [Page 78] so placing the residue of his company, and their hawkes, as they may flée eke without any encounter, which is not onely the losse of the fowle, and hinderance to their sport, but also the ruine and spoyle of their hawkes on both parts. He must bée carefull that his hawke kéepe her gate, and flée it good, so as in no wise hée plucke her not downe, nor make her bate of her pitch.

He must alwayes be assured to haue mummy in powder in his bagge in a readinesse, whatsoeuer should happen, with such other medicines as I shall hereafter treate of, for that it may so fall out, as his hawke may receaue a broose at the encounter of a fowle. Moreouer hée must not bée vnfurnished of Aloes washt, Cloues, Nutmegs, Saffron, casting, cryance, and such like necessary implements. And he must remember that his Aloes bée shining and cleare, for then is it of the best sort of Aloes.

Lastly, he must be able to make his lures, hoods, of all sorts, Iesses, Buets and other néedfull furniture for his hawke, and must not bée without store thereof to allow his betters and states in the field, if happily they want any such deuises. He cannot well be without his coping Irons, to cope his hawkes beake if it be ouergrowne, which will be a hinderance to her féeding, and to cope her pounces and talons, if néed be. Hée must haue his cauterizing buttons, and other yron or siluer tooles, to cauterize or burne his hawkes if cause require such cure. For hauing all these necessaries, and doing as I haue and will tell you, all his game shall succéede and sort well, and he be assured that for the most part of good pastime in the field, when other ignorant grooms shal both lacke sport, & lose their hawks, the greatest corsie that may happen to a gentleman that loues the game. Let these few aduertisements & instructions suffice in this place, if other poynts necessary not recited here, be remē bred at y^e full in any other part of this booke, I craue but thanks for my pains, & curtesie at the Falconers hands, for whose learning and pleasure I partly and chiefly wrote this collection.

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The first instruction is, how to make a Falcon▪ and other Hawkes fleeing, after the opinion of Iean de Frauchiers.

FIrst let your hawkes be taken on the fist and hooded, then let her be watched three dayes and nights, before you vnhoode her, and féede her alwayes hooded in an easie rufter hood. At the end of thrée dayes you may vnhoode her, and féede her vnhooded, and when shée is fed, hood her againe, so that shée bée not vnhooded (but when you féed her) vntil she know her meat: then when she beginneth to be acquainted with you, hood her and vnhoode her oftentimes, to the end shée may the better abide the hood. But vse her gently, and be patient with her at the first, and to the end your hawke may be the better manned & the sooner reclaimed, you shall do well to beare her commonly in places where most people do frequent, and where most exercises are vsed. And when she is well manned, make her come a little to the fist for her meat. And when you haue shewed her the pearch or stocke, and tyed her vpon it, put with her vppon the sayd pearch or stocke some Pullet, or other quicke fowle as often as you may, and let her féed there vpon at pleasure vntill she be reasonably gorged, and doe in like manner vpon the lure vntill shée know it perfectly. Afterwards you may giue her more liberty, and lure her with a cryance, luring her twice a day further and further off. And when shée is throughly lured, you shall teach her to flée vppon you vntill shée know both how to get to her gate, and to flée round vppon you. Then shall you cast her out some quicke Fowle, and when shée hath stooped and seazed vppon it, you shall suffer her to plume it, and to foote it at her pleasure, giuing her a reasonable gorge thereon, as is afore sayd, and continuing alwayes to reward her vpon the sayd lure, in such sort that shée neuer find the lure without some reward tyed vppon it, and by [Page 80] that meanes shée will alwayes loue the lewer and her kéeper well, and will not lightly rangle or be lost. Thus you may continue her fortie dayes or thereabouts, and then you may flée with her safe inough. But before you so doo, let her be skowred and bathed, and fed with cleane meat, and well washed, giuing her casting euery night, euen as men vse to giue fléeing Hawkes.

The manner of fleeing with Hawks, as well to the field, as to the River, and first to the river, according as Martine teacheth.

YOu must vnderstand that the riuer hawke ought to be let into the wind, and aboue her prey to get the vantage of her gate, and to be at her pitch: then shall you make in towards the prey. And when they are got vp to their full pryde, runne vpon the fowle, and land them, laying them out from of the water, and if you fayle in doing thereof, then you should take downe your hawke with some pullet, Pigeon, or other quicke fowle, to teach, and the better to win such hawkes as are but lately entred, vntill they know their prey, and their fléeing perfectly.

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To flye at the Hearon according to Martine.

[figure]

[Page 82]THere is another manner of fléeing, which is called the flight at the Hearon, this is the noblest slight of all others. For the Hawke ought to be well lured and well trayned to get vp to an high gate, and therewithall shee must well know a quicke fowle, and such a Falcon as is apt to flée the Hearon, should not bée flowen with to any other kind of fowle, but onely to the Hearon most commonly. For asmuch as amongst all other flights, there is no such mountey made, nor such force vsed as in the flight at the Hearon, and therefore reason would that such Falcons should not be flowen withall, or inured to any meaner or lesse prey than the Hearon. For if a Hawke be a good Hearoner, it is sufficient, and if after your Hawke haue flowen the Hearon, you should let her flée any other sleighter fowle or prey, shee will lightly (by your owne default) become a slugge and take disdaine, in such sort; that (where before shée was a good Hearoner) she wil be so no more, and will turne to her owne ease, so that shée will neuer care to flée the Hearon. For asmuch as shée will giue her selfe to prey vppon fowle, that is more easie to reach, and will forget or foreslowe her valiant hardinesse, the which is much to bée lamented, if a man haue once a good Hearoner, and doe so spill her. Neuerthelesse you may flée with the Sacre all manner of fowle more easily than with any other kind of Hawke, because shée is alike common to all sowle, euen so is she hard to be made, and of a hard and dull capacity, but despaire not therefore, for in the end they proue good, if the Falconer take such paines with them as he ought to doe.

For the flight to the field as Master Amè Cassian reach [...]th.

SOme kinde of Hawkes there bée which are made for the field. For asmuch as there be some men which delight more to haue Hawkes for the field than for the riuer, the Hawkes [Page 83] which are good to flee the field, are first entred by the Spaniels, and as well accustomed to know them by the haire and proportion, as they know their prey by the feathers and flight: and secondarily, they are also entred by customary knowledge of their prey, and therefore it is not lightly possible that this kind of pastime should be perfectly handled, vnlesse the dogs and Hawkes be so well acquainted and knowne one to the other, that each of them do loue others, for although naturally the Hawke be hardly entred to become familiar with the dogges, and will not lightly, nor at the first loue them, yet maruaile you not thereat, for in the end all field Hawkes will loue them, and become familiar with them, but to bring that to passe, you must continually beare your Hawke amongst Spaniels, and acquaint her with them, that shée may the better abide them, and that being doone, the oftener that your Hawke flée the field, the truer you shall find my opinion: and surely you may easily haue good hawks to the field, if you kéepe them in good order and dyet as reason requireth, giuing them vpon their first, second, and third prey, a reasonable good gorge, and afterwards you may withdraw and abate your reward by little and little, to make your hawke the easier forget it, for by that meanes you shall make your hawke know her liue fowle the better, if you reward her with the head and braynes of the fowle taken, and so of euery one which she shall slay, vntill you would giue her a gorge, at time and houre conuenient, and by that meanes, you may haue a good field Hawke vnlesse the fault be your owne.

Other slights to the field called great flights.

THere is yet another kind of flight to the field which is called the great slight, as to the Cranes, wild Géese, Bustard, Birde of Paradise, Bittors, Shouelars, and [Page 84] Hearons, and many other such like, and these you may flée from the fist, which is properly tearmed the Source. Neuerthelesse in this kind of Hawking which is called the great flight, the Falcons or other Hawkes cannot well accomplish their flight at the Crane, Bustard, or such like, vnlesse they haue the helpe of some Spaniell, or such dogge, well inured and taught for that purpose with your Hawke. For asmuch as great flights require pleasant ayde and assistance, yea and that with great diligence.

Advertisement given by Master Martine, to make a Hawke bold and hardy, and to love her prey.

IF you would haue your Hawke hardy, kéepe her oftentimes all day long vpon your fist, and féede her with Pullets flesh early in the morning, as much as shall be sufficent for a beaching, that doone, set her abroade in the Sunne, with water before her, to the end shée may bath when shée will, and bowze, as naturally they are enclyned to doe, and it doth them singular great pleasure, for bowzing may oftentimes preserue them from sicknesse, and yet sometimes a Hawke bowzeth after some disease, whereof shée hath long languished, and dyeth, or else shée is thereby recured: for after such a disease, bowzing doth either cure her, or quite dispatch her. Now when you haue doone as is before sayd (whether shée bath or not) you shall take your Hawke vppon your fist, and so kéepe her on the fist vntill you goe to bedde, and when you goe to bedde set a candle before her, which may last all the night, and in the morning (if she did bath) you shall set her in the Sunne for one howre vntill shée be well weathered, and then afterwards (if shee did not bath) take wine and water, and therwith bespout her well with your mouth thrée howres after, setting her in the Sunne againe, and (for lacke of Sunne-shine) [Page 85] before the fire, vntyll shée bée very well dryed, and if you bée well assured that shee is throughly enseamed cleane, and hath béen well manned by the space of thirty or fortye dayes, then may you flée the fielde with her, and if you perceyue that shée hath good desire to flée, let her flée, and if shée kill any thing giue her a good gorge therevpon, but if shée kill nothing, then feede her with the legge or the wing of an Henne or a Pullet washed in cleane running water, keeping her still vpon the fiste as is before sayd: and the next day flee with her agayne, and if she kill any thing, giue her her reward, and keepe her in this order vntill she be perfectly entred and quarred: but then you must haue discretion, for sometimes by this order, you may bring her low, in such sort that she should not easily be recouered to make her flight strongly. Yet Martine sayth the contrarye, but if an Hawke be very hard and stubborne to her Keeper in her flight, then let her be well spowted againe with luke-warme water, and so set abroade all night in the open ayre. In the morning let her bee set eyther in the Sunne or before the fire, where when shee hath well proyned her, you may goe flee with her, and if shee kill and flee well, then keepe her in this order and tune, for else she may take sundry euill toyes. And this precept serueth as well for them that desire to haue good Hawkes for the fielde, as otherwise: and if you would haue your Hawkes loue their prey, take Cynamon and Sugarcandye, of each a like quantitie, and make thereof a powder, and when your Hawke hath killed any thing, & that you come to rewarde her, sprinckle some of that powder vpon the part wherewith you reward her, and it shall make her loue that kind of prey the better euer afterwardes.

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How a man should vse an Eyasse Hawke.

IF you haue Eyasse Hawks, you shall féede them most with Poultrie, Beefe, or Goates flesh: and this is done to keepe them from ill toyes: and when they bée well lured and trayned, then beare them vpon the fist hooded, and ordered in all points according to the rule prescribed before in the first chapter, and after thirty or forty dayes past, bring them to the flight, and the first, second, and third flight, you may bée fond ouer them, abating your fauour, afterwardes by little and little, vntill they be brought in perfect tune, spowting them oftentimes with Wine and Water. For (as Martine sayeth) some Eyasse Hawkes will not much bath them. Neuerthelesse you ought therein also to vse discretion, for by often bathing or spowting, you may bring your Hawke very low, in such sort, that shée should haue more néede of a good gorge, than of bathing or spowting, and especially such Hawkes as are fierce of Nature, and will not often bathe of themselues.

A consideration of the Diversitie of Hawkes Natures, acccording to Martine.

THere are some sortes of Falcons which haue this diuersity of nature, that some of them will flye well, being hie and full of flesh, and some other flée best when they are kept low. Wherefore a Falconer should haue especyall consideration thereunto, for Falcons are fitte for all flightes, as is before saide, but the blanke Falcons are of one nature, and the blew Falcons of another, and the Falcon of the reddish plume hath also her properties diuers from the rest.

[Page 87]Neuerthelesse to speake as I haue found, of all other Hawkes, the blancke Falcon is best. And both by reason and experience I finde that she would be kept higher, and in better plight then other Hawkes, for you shall sée the blanke Falcon kéeping a like hand vpon her, and other Falcons prooue higher and in better plight when shée is fléeing then any other Hawke. And the reason is, because shée is very gentle, and with more ease manned then any other kind of Falcon, and loueth her kéeper better, so that thereby shée kéepeth her selfe higher, & in better plight then such Hawkes as bate much, and are froward of condition.

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How to seele a Sparrowhawke, and to make her fleeing, according to Guillam Tardiffe.

[depiction of hawk]

A Sparowhawke newly taken should be thus vsed, take a needle threeded with vntwisted thread, and (casting your Hawke) take her by the beake, & put the needle through her eye lidde, not right against the sight of the eye, but [Page 89] somewhat nearer to the beake because she may see backwards. And you must take good heed that you hurt not the webbe, which is vnder the eye-lidde, or on the inside thereof. Then put your needle also through that other eye-lidde, drawing the endes of the threed together, tye them ouer the beake, not with a straight knotte, but cut off the threedes endes neare to the knotte, and twist them together in such sorte that the eye-liddes may be raysed so vpwards, that the Hawke may not see at all, and when the threede shall waxe loose or vntyed, then the Hawke may see somewhat backewardes, which is the cause that the threede is put nearer to the beake. For a Sparowhawke should see somewhat backewardes, and a Falcon forwards. The reasō is, that if the Sparowhawke should see forwards, shée would beate off her feathers, or breake them when shée bateth vpon the fist, and séeing the companie of men, or such like, she would bate to much.

But to trimme your Sparowhawke in her rights, shée must haue Iesses of leather, the which must haue knottes at the end and they should be halfe a foote long, or thereabout, at the least a shaft-méete betweene the hoose of the Iesse, and the knotte at the end, whereby you tye the hawke.

She should also haue twoo good belles, whereby she may be the better heard. For commonly when a Sparowhawke taketh any prey, shée will carrie it into some thicke bush to féede thereon in such sort, that shée cannot lightly be eyther heard or séene, and whiles shée plumeth it, the plumage doth oftentimes couer both her eyes, or one of them, then to take away the sayd plumage, shée straineth with one of her feet, & thereby her belles discouer her. Therefore if shee had but one bel, she might happen to scratte with that foot which lacketh the bell, and so should not be heard. The Sparowhawks which are wonted to be hooded, and which will gently brooke it, are much better than they which wil not be hooded. For they bate lesse, and are with more ease borne in the raine, or any euill weather. For béeing hooded, the Falconer may hide and couor [Page 90] them with his cloke, which he cannot do to the other. Furthermore, they shall bée able to flée better and more strongly, that are good weather Hawkes, for they shall be lesse bruised than a Hawke which is not hooded, which will weary her selfe with bating, & withall a man may the better flée with them at aduantage, because they bate not, but onely when you would haue them to flée, whereby they haue the greater courage, and also a man may beare them in all places, without bating or beating themselues out of breath.

How a man should manne a Sparowhawke, and make her fleeing.

FOr as much as Sparowhawkes are of sundry sortes of plumes, and sundry shapes and proportions, there are also sundry manners of manning them and making them, and there is much lesse paines to bée taken with some one, than with some other. For the more eager and sharper set that a Sparowhawke is, the fooner shall you winne her, and man her.

First to winne her to féede, rubbe her féete with warme flesh, chirping and wistling to her, and sometimes present the flesh vnto her beake, and if shée will not yet féed, rub her féet with a quick birde, and the birde will crye, and if the Sparowhawke doe seaze it with her féet, it is a token that shée will féede. Then teare off the skinne and feathers of the birdes breast, and offer it to the Hawkes beake, and shée will taste thereof. For a Sparowhawke which féedeth immediatly after shée bée taken, doth shew that shée is eager, and hath good appetite. And you may giue her as much more at euening, yea and sometimes in the day time, so that shée be not gorged first, but that shée haue put ouer her meat. When shée is thus well entred, & will féed when you chirpe or wistle to her, [Page 91] then may you hood her with an hood that is large & déep inough, so that it neyther hurt nor touch her eyes when she will indure to be hooded and vnhooded, without bating, & that thée will feede hooded, then must you abate her meals, giuing her lesse meate, and féede her betimes in the morning when she hath endewed, (that is to say, when shée shall haue put ouer her meate, so as there remayneth nothing in her gorge,) then may you giue her a beaching in the day time, taking off, and putting on againe her hoode, to make her the more eager. For it will not bée amisse, to giue her a bitte or two of meate euery time that you hood her. When it is euening then sup her vp, giuing her the head or braines of a hen or pullet vntill the morning. And if you perceiue that shée is become very eager, then loose the threade wherewith shée is séeled, but let it be night first, and that shée haue séene backwards as before sayd.

If shée may abide Companie, yet watch her all that night that you vnseele her, to the end shée may also be accustomed to heare people speake, and be acquanted with them, and when you hoode her againe, giue her two or thrée bittes of meate. In the morning betimes, put a birde in her foote, whome if shée seaze hardilye, and plume thereon eagerly, then may you boldely take off her hoode, but if shée bate them, hoode her againe, and watch her vntill shée bée thorowly wonne and manned: but if shée féede well before company, and become familiar and quiet before them, watch her no longer, but kéepe her on the fist some part of the night amongst company, making her to plume, giuing her now and then a bitte or two of flesh, and putting her hoode on and off therewithall.

When you goe to bed, set your Hawke neare to your beddes head vpon some trestle or stoole, that you may wake her oftē in the night. Then rise before day, & take her vpon your fist, & off with her hoode, that shée may sée the people about her, & when shée beholdeth them, put a quick birde in her foote, as before sayd. When shée féedeth thereupon, hood her againe, giuing her [Page 92] the rest of your bird hooded, and when it is further foorth day, you may looke whether shée haue any thing in her gorge, or not. If shee haue nothing aboue, giue her some little beaching, and beach her oftentimes before company, hooding and vnhooding her. But at night she should be alwayes vnhooded, that shée may see people, and become acquainted with them, giuing her to féede of a Hen or Pullet. To heale the places where shée was seeled, to the end thée may sée the better: when thou goest to bed, holde her in a darke corner, & spirt a little Water vpon her head, that shée may frote her eyes against the pinions of her wings. Then in the morning when shée perceyueth the day light, and hath warme meate ready vpon your fiste, and is cleane loosed that shee may sée both before, and behind her, and séemeth to bée familiar and bolde amongst people, then may you make her as before sayd. But remember that you giue her no plumage that day, in which you haue giuen her washt meat, yea and allow her no plumage vntill shée bée well manned. For vntill shée bée throughly manned, shée will not dare to cast. Then if you would throughly manne your Sparowhawke, and kéepe her eager, take her earely in the morning vpon your fist, and goe into some place where no body shall interrupt you, where first cause her to plume with her beake vpon some quicke bird, then vnseaze her, and set her vpon some thing, and reach her your hand, and shew her your fiste, giuing her a bitte or two thereof. And if shée come therevnto willingly, then call her againe morning and euening, further and further off, but euer before company, to acquaint her the better with them, fastning a long line or cryance vnto her limmes: if it be fayre weather, and that the Sunne shine, you should then proffer her the water, to the end shée may bathe her. Prouided alwayes in so doing that shée bee sound, well manned, and that she be not poore nor gorged. For bathing is a thing which maketh a Hawke familiar and lustye. But remēber that alwayes after shée hath bathed, you giue her some liue birde to féede on, and alwayes when you call her [Page 93] or féed her, you must chirpe with your mouth, or whistle, to the end shée may become acquainted with your whistle, and come therevnto. You must féed her amongst horses and dogs, to make her also the better acquainted with them. If shée haue flowen, and you would set her in the Sunne to weather, set her vpon the ground on some cudgell or truncheon, making her fast, and shee will alwaies loue the better to sit vppon the ground. After shée hath bathed, if you perceiue your Sparrowhawke lusty, you may flée with her the next day towards the euening, but first you must haue reclaimed her to come out of a trée, and called her to you sitting on horsebacke, béeing alwayes prouided of some Pigeon, or other quicke thing, to take her downe the more easily. For before a man flee with a Sparrowhawke, shée would be throughly well reclaymed by watching, carrying, féeding and plumming before people, that shee loue her kéepers fist, and his countenance, that shée can abide both horses and dogges, that shee be cleane within, as well skowred with washtmeate, as also with plumage, and that shée bée sharpe set, and well comming, as well from the pearch, as from off the ground, or out of a trée. (∵)

[Page 94]

The meane to make a Sparrowhawke fleeing.

[depiction of hawk]

FIrst, he that would flée with a Sparrowhawke lately reclaimed, must flée in an euening somewhat before Sunsette. For at that time shée will bée most eager and sharpest set. Secondarily, the heate of the Sunne, (if one should [Page 95] flée in the morning) dooth much trouble the Hawke, and rayseth and stirreth her courage, making her prowde and ramage. So that shée léeseth the eagernesse of her appetite, and remembreth it not, thinking on nothing else but to soare and gadde abroade, whereby she may be easily lost. Furthermore, towards the euening, she cannot soare so far away from you, (although thee should soare) as she would do in the heat of the day, because the night will enforce her to goe to the pearch and stand. Also to enter your Sparrowhawke, it shall be best to seeke out some Champion Country, farre from the woodes, and let her bée vnhooded when the Spaniels bée vncoupled, then if the Partridge spring, and shée bate, cast her off, if they spring neare you. And if she kill, reward her vpon the ground, of the head, braines, necke, and breast of the Partridge. When shee hath fed, take it from her, and vnseaze her, and get vppon your horse a good way from her. Then whistle and call her, and if shée come vnto you, reward her better. Aboue all things, you must take good héed that shée fayle not her first flight at great birdes, least shée turne tayle and accustome her selfe to smaller game. But if shée be once well entred at great game, you may quickly make her flee Larkes and small birdes. If you find that shée haue most mind to flée Larkes, let her flée them, and reward her on them. For there is no flight pleasanter than the flight of the Sparrowhawke at the Larke. And forasmuch as the flesh and bloud of Larkes is hotte and burning, it shall be good when you flée the Larke, to giue your Hawke washt meate twice in a wéeke, and plumage very often. But giue her no plumage that day that shée hath washt meate, nor the day that shée batheth. When there is a knotte of good company mette together, and euery man hath his Sparrowhawke, if one of thē see his Sparrowhawke flée when another is also from the fist, there beginneth the pastime, & yet they may flée together. But it is a pleasure to take a Larke towring or clyming. Or if a Sparowhawke haue beaten down a Larke, or that y^e Larke be [Page 96] slipt from her,This flight is not vsed in England, neither did I ever heare of it before. and gotten vp towring as high as a man may behold, and then an other Sparrowhawke clyme after her, get so high that by often taynting her, so as the Larke is constrayned to stoope to the ground, and the hawke in the sayle of her. Then the Larke had rather flée for succour betwéene the legges of the men and the Horses, than to fall in the tallons of her naturall enemy: yet commonly shee is there taken also. He that would learne to make a Falcon well, let him beginne with a Hobby, and he that would make the Gerfalcon fléeing, let him acquaint himselfe with the Merlyn. But hée that can kéepe and make a Sparowhawke well, shall also be able to kéepe a Goshawke, for by the one that other is learned.

To take Tyme from off a Hawkes feathers.

TO remooue the lyme from a hawke, take dry and fine sand and cleane ashes mingled together, put them vppon the place which is lymed, and suffer it so one night. Afterward you shall beat well together thrée yolkes of egges, and with a feather you shall lay them vpon the sayd places, and suffer them so two nights. Then take as much larde as a plumme, and as much butter with it, melt them both together, and annoynt the sayd places, and suffer the hawke so one other night. Then on the morrow wash her with warme water, and wipe her with a cleane linnen cloath, vntill you haue wiped off all the lime, which by this deuise will easily be remoued. [Or if you beate Sallet oyle,Addition. and the yolkes of egges together, and so annoynt the limed feathers, and then within 12. houres after, wash them with hote water, and it will take away the lime.]

How to right and make straight bruised feathers.

IF you would make sound a bruised feather, then temper the place which is bruised, in warme water, and when the webbe [Page 97] thereof is well softened, and become tender with the hote water, set it as euen as you can out of the water. Afterwards take a great stalke of a Colwoort, and warme it well vpon the coales, or in the flame: then cleaue it in sunder, and within the clift put the brused feather, strayning the two sides of the Colewoort stalke together, vntill it haue brought the bruised feather into his former estate. The stalke of the hearbe called Br [...]onie, hath the same vertue.

To right and mend a Feather broken on the one side, and to ympe a bruised Feather.

TAke a slender long néedle, lay it in Vineger or salte water, that it may ruste and so hold the better within the feather: Afterwards thread it with vntwisted thread, and draw it through both ends of the bruised places, then draw it backe by the thread, vntill it may draw that one part to that other, so as the webbe may be close ioyned together: and suffer not your Hawke to flée, nor to vse her wings, vntill it be closed and strong againe. But if it were broken on both sides, cut it off, and take a square ymping néedle like vnto a Glouers néedle, lay it in Vinegar and salt water, and thrust it into both the ends of the web, vntill you haue brought them together, then giue your Hawke rest vntill the néedle be rusted in that web. For a feather that is broken or bruised within the quill, take another quill that is lesser, that it may goe into the broken or bruised quill, then cutte off the feather in that place, and the stalke of the quill being put into the old quil, force the end of the feather into the new quil that is cut: Afterwards ioyne together the two péeces, with the quill that is so put in, couering the place where it is so ioyned, with Cottō or smal downe feathers, with lew or Semond, or if you would [Page 98] not ympe it, glew it in with Semond or Rosen, and Ware molten together. If the feather be dropt away cleane, then put in another of like syze and colour For to bind in a feather that were slipped out of the pynion, take flaxe small chopped, & mingle with the yolke of an egge well beaten, put them together vpon a linnen cloath which is very neare worne, with the which you shall bind on both sides the place where the feather slipped, or else annoynt that place with Myrche and Goates bloud mingled together. To make a feather come againe which is cast and lost by bruise, or otherwise, and especially in the trayne of an Hawke, take oyle of Walnuttes and oyle of Bayes, as much of that one as that other, mingle them together, and droppe them into the place where the feather grew, and it shall put out a new feather speedily.

[Page 99]

How to beare and make a Falcon.

[depiction of hawk]

[Page 100]A Falcon lately taken, should be seeled in such sort, that when the séeling beginnes to slacken, the Falcon may sée forwards, to see the meat before her. For shee is better content when shée seeth the meat plainly before her, than if shee sawe it sidewayes, or looking backe. And shee should not bée séeled too straight, neither yet ought the thréed wherewith shée is séeled, be ouerstraight bound or knit about her head, but twisted and twyrled together.

A Hawke newly taken, should haue new furniture, as new Iesses, Leasse, and Bewets, all of good leather, and the Iesses, mayled, and the Lease mad with a button at the end. Then must you haue a little round sticke hanging in a little string, with the which you shall oftentimes stroke and handle your Falcon. For the more shée is handled, the better shée will bée manned, and become the gentlier, and the more familiar: and also if you should stroke or handle her with your hand, you might chance to catch a knappe of her beake now and then. Shée must haue two good belles, to the end shée may the better be found and heard when shée stirreth or scratteth. She must haue a hoode of good leather, well made and fashioned, well raised and bossed against her eyes, déepe, and yet straight inough beneath, that it may the better abide on her head, and yet neuer hurt her. So must you also a little cope her beake and talons, but not so much that you make them bléed.

How you shall manne a Falcon, and bring her out of her ramagenesse.

SOme say, that the soare Falcon which hath béene timely taken, and hath already passed the seas, is both the best Falcon, & also the hardest to be wone & māned. Wherfore obseruing the order which is before rehearsed, you must féed such a falcon w^t good & warme meats (as pigeōs) & such like quick birds vntil [Page 101] shée be full gorged twice a day for thrée dayes. For you must not breake her of her accustomed dyet all at once, and being lately taken, shee will more willingly féede on warme meats, than any thing else. When you féede her, you must whoope and lewre as you doe when you call a hawke, that shée may know when you will giue her meat. You must vnhoode her gently, giuing her two or thrée bittes, and putting on her hood againe, you must giue her as much more. But take héed that shée bée well and close séeled: three dayes being passed, if you perceiue her to be eager and gréedy of meat, and that shée féedeth with good appetite, then beginne to abate her her meat, that is to say, giue her but little at once, and often, so that shée haue not much aboue at one time, vntill it be Euening, and beare her late vppon your fist before you goe to bedde, setting her vppon a trestle or stoole very neare you, so that you may wake her often in the night. Afterwards you should take her on your fist againe before day, with some quicke bird or such like meate: and when you haue obserued this order with her two or thrée nights, and that you perceiue shée beginnes to bee much better fellow than shée was woont, and that shée séemeth to beginne to bée reclaymed, and féedeth eagerly vppon good meate, then beginne to change her diet, giuing her often, and little at once, the heart of an Hogge or a Shéepe. In the Euening when it beginnes to bee late, (without casting of her) lette her féeling thread a little loose, spowting water on her face, that shee may ieouke the lesse, and watching her all the night, hold her vppon your fiste vnhooded. But if shée sée any thing that mislikes her, and make semblance to bee afeard, then let her bee carryed into some darke place, where you haue no more but light to hoode her againe. And afterwardes giue her some beaching of good meate, and let her bee watched diuers nights together, vntill shée bee reclaymed, and Ieouke vpon the fiste by day time, although to let her Ieouke also somesometimes [Page 102] in the night, is a thing maketh her the sooner manned. In the morning by breake of the day, let her haue some warme meat to beginne with.

And because there be sundry Falcons of sundry sortes and conditions, as some mewed at large in the Woodes, some other taken at stand, where they haue long vsed, and some other taken soare Hawkes (whereof we now treate) whether they be Soare-hawkes, Mewed, or Nyasse, yet are they of sundry natures and properties, and therfore they must be diuersly gouerned and entred, which is the cause that it is hard to giue generall Rules. For those which are Gentle, easie to be reclaymed, and of a good kind and nature, ought also to bée the more fauoured, and the more gently handled. But when your Hawke is brought to the poynt before rehearsed, as well for the hooding, as also for her eagernesse to féede, if you peceiue that shee beginne to be acquainted therewith, you may vnhoode her by day time, farre from company, first giuing her a bitte or two of good meate. Afterwardes hoode her againe gently, giuing her a little meate againe hooded.

Aboue all thinges you must beware to hoode or vnhoode her in any place where shee may bée frayed, for that were able to marre her at the first. When shée beginneth to bee acquainted with Companye, if you perceiue that shee bée eager or sharpe set, vnhoode her, and giue her a bitte or two of meate, holding her right against your face and countenance. For that will cause her to dread no company. And when it is night, cut the thread wherewith shée is seeled, and you shall not néede to watch her, if you perceiue her bold inough amongst company. But yet let her be set vpon a trestle by you, that you may awake her two or three times in the night, and take her on your fist before day. For ouerwatching of a Hawke is not good, as long as a man may reclayme her otherwise.

[Page 103]And if by such good gouernment, and by dealing courteously with her, and keeping her from sodayne feare, you perceiue that she beginne to be acquainted with you, and to know you assuredly, and that shée feedeth eargerly, and sucketh to her meate before company, then giue her washt meate, and beach her in the morning, so that shée may alwaies haue somewhat in her gorge: which meat you shal lay in cleare water halfe a day, and you shall cause her to féed in company, giuing her in the morning about Sun rising the wing of a Hen or Pullet, and at euening, hooding her againe, take the foote of a Cony or an Hare, which is cut off aboue the ioynt, and flay it, stripping away the Clawes also, and temper and steepe the skin in faire Water, (pressing and wringing it a little) the which you shall giue her with the ioynt of the pynion of the Hennes wing.

You must take good héede how you giue your Hawke any Feathers, vntill shée be throughly reclaymed. For vntill shée be throughly wonne and reclaymed, shée dares not cast vppon the fist. And on the fist you must beare her continually, till shée be throughly manned. But when she makes semblance to cast, vnhood her gently by the tassell of the hoode.

You may giue her two dayes washt meat, and the third day plumage, according as shée is cleane or fowle within. And when shée hath cast, then hoode her againe, giuing her nothing to feed on, vntill she gleame after her casting. But when shée hath cast and gleamed, then giue her a beaching of hote meat, in company giuing her two or thrée bittes at once: and at euening make her plume a hennes wing in company also.

When you find her well reclaimed, and throughly manned, and eager, and sharpe set, then it is time to féed her vppon the lure.

And you must marke whether the feathers of your Hawkes casting bée fowle or slimie, and whether the slime thereof bée [Page 104] yellow or not. For if they bee, you must bee very circumspect to make her cleane with washt meat and casting, and if shee be cleane within, then giue her not so strong castings as Hares feet or Conies feet: but giue her the Pynions of an old Hennes wing, or the plumage that is to bee taken therevpon, or the necke bone chopped foure or fiue times betweene the ioyntes, washed and steeped in faire water. To make an end of this Chapter, it is certaine that it requireth more time to winne and to watch a Falcon once mewed in the woode, then one which is taken sore at passage. And likewise it is harder to winne a Hawke taken at stand, when she hath long time beene accustomed, then it is to make a Hawke which hath beene handled before.

[Page 105]

How to lure a Falcon lately manned.

[depiction of hawk]

[Page 106]BEfore you shew the lure to a Falcon newly reclaimed, you must consider three things. First, that she be well assured, and boldned in Company, well acquainted also with dogges, and with horses. Secondarily, that shee be sharpe set, and eager, hauing regard to the howre of the morning or euening when you will lure her. And the third consideration is, that shee bée cleane within, the lure must be well garnished with meate on both sides, and you must be a part in some secret place when you would giue her the length of the lease. You must first vnhoode her, giuing her a bitte or twaine vpon the lure as she sitteth on your fist, afterwards take the lure from her, and hyde it that shée sée it not, and when shée is vnseazed, cast the lure so neare her that she may catch it within the length of her lease, and if shée doe seaze vpon it, then shall you vse the voyce and accustomed spéech of a Falconer vnto his Hawke, and féed her vpon the lure on the ground, giuing her thervpon the warm thigh of a Henne or Pullet, and the heart also.

When you haue so lured her at Euening, giue her but a little meat, and let her be lured so timely, that when shée is therewith accustomed, you may giue her plumage, and a iucke of a ioynt. Afterwards, and in the morning betimes, take her on your fist, and when she hath cast and gleamed, giue her a little beaching of good warme meat. Afterwards, when the day is further forwards, and that it is time to féede her, take a Criance and tye it to her lease, and goe into some faire pleasant meadow, and giue her a bitte or two vpon the lure, as before sayd, then vnseaze her, and if you peceiue that she be sharpe set, & haue seased vpon the lure eagerly, then giue her to hold vnto some man which may let her off to the lure, then shall you vnwind the Criance, and draw it after you a good way, and hée which holdeth the Hawke, must hold his right hand on the Tassell of the Hawkes hoode in a readinesse, that hée may vnhoode [Page 107] her as soone as you beginne to lure, and if shée come well to the lure, and stoope vppon it roundly, and seaze it eagerly, then let her feede two or three bittes vppon it, and then vnseaze her and take her from off the lure, and hoode her, and then deliuer her againe to him which held her, and goe further off and lure her, féeding her alwayes vpon the lure on the ground, and vsing the familiar voyce of Falconers as they cry when they lure. And thus you shall lure her euery day further and further off, vntill she be well taught to come to the lure, & to take it eagerly.

Afterwardes let her be lured in company, hauing regard that neither dogs nor other thing come in sodainly to fray her, and when you take her vppe from the ground, hoode her vpon the lure, and when you haue well and often lured her on foote, then vse to lure her on horsebacke: the which you shall the eassier winne her too, if when you lure her on foote, you cause some on horsebacke to come neare you, that shée may see them, and cause them to come neare her when shée féedeth vppon the lure, causing them also to turne and tosse their horses about her, but let their horses be ruly, least they should vpon the sodaine affright her.

Furthermore the better to acquaint her with Horses, and that shée may the better know them, carrie your Falcon (whiles shée feedeth) on high vppon the lure neare vnto some man on Horsebacke, or gette your selfe vppe on horsebacke, and reward her vppon the lure amongst Horsemen, and when shée is well accustomed to them, and well acquainted with them, making no resemblance to feare them, you may then lure her on horsebacke in this manner: Hée which holdeth her to let her come to the Lure, must be on foote, and you where you Lure shall bée on Horse-backe, and when you call and cast the Lure about your head, then hee which holdeth her, shall take off her hood by the tassell, and you the [Page 108] meane while shall call and lure in the cunningest wise you can, as Falconers vse to doe: and if shée seare eagerly vppon the lure, and feare neither people nor horses, then take off the luring line or Creance, and lure her loose further and further off. And to make a Falcon come which is but newly reclaymed, and to make her come in company of another Hawke, there must bee two to hold a cast of Falcons, and two which shall lure them, but hee which holdeth the Falcon that is but lately lured, shall not let her come so soone as the other shall do: then shall the lure bee throwen out vnto the Falcon which is but lately lured, and when shee is fallen therevpon, her keeper shall carry her vppon the lure, to féede amongst the other make Hawkes. This being done twice or thrice, shée will follow them and loue them, and if you would haue her loue dogges, which is most necessary, you must call dogges about you when you féed her, or giue her tyring or plumage.

How you shall bath your Hawke beeing but lately reclaimed, how you shall make her fleeing, and to hate the checke.

WHen your Falcon is well lured aswell on horsebacke as on foote, and that shee is ready to bee cast off, and hath béene well rewarded vppon the lure, and is now altogether reclaymed from her ramage toyes, and when shee is also somewhat recouered of the paine and trauell which you haue put her vnto in making and reclayming her, and bee yet in good plight, and haue her thighs ploompe, and well brawned, then offer her Water to bath her, spie out a faire day when the Weather is cleare and temperate, then take a Bason so deepe that your Hawke may stand therein vppe to the Thighes, and fill it with water, and set it in some secret place: afterwards your Hawke being lured and well rewarded in the morning with warme meate, beare her [Page 109] vp vpon some high place or banke, and there hold her in the sun vntill she haue endued her gorge, taking off her hood, that shée may proyne and picke her selfe: that being doone, hood her again, and set her neare to the bason, afterwards taking off her hood againe (if shée will) let her leape downe into the Bason or vpon the grasse by it, and to make her know the water, slappe therein with a little wand, and let her bath therein as long as shée lift: when shee commeth out of the Water, take some meat in thy hand, and proffer it vnto her, and be well ware that shée come not out before thou proffer her thy fiste to giue her a bitte or twaine, then take her vp, and hold her in the sunne, and she will picke and proyne her on your sist, or vppon your knée; if shée will not bath her in a bason, then proffer her to bath in riuer water at some foorde. Bathing giueth an Hawke great courage, much boldnesse, and eager appetite: that day that shée batheth, giue her no washt meat. To make a new lured Falcon, and to make her vpwardes, the morrow after shée hath bathed, get on horsebacke in the morning or in the euening, when she is sharpe set, and choose out some field or pasture, where fewest doues or choughes bée, then take your lure well garnished on both sides, and hauing vnhooded your Hawke, giue her a bitte or twaine vppon the lure, then taking it away for her, hoode her againe, then going fayre and softly against the wind, vnhoode her: and before she bate or find any checke in her eye, whistle her from off your fist fayre and gently, and when shée flyeth about, (trotting forwards with your horse) cast out your lure, and suffer her not long to flée about you at the first. Continue this both morning and euening for a few dayes, and if you perceiue that your Hawke haue no great list to flée about you, nor to stoope to the lure, and that shée maketh no semblance to loue other Hawkes, then must you make her flée with one which loueth other Hawkes, and which will not gadde out to any change or checke: and that must first be done at the Partridge, for they flée not farre before an Hawke: and if your [Page 110] Falcon haue slowen, and returne to you twice or thrice, cast out the lure vnto her, and reward her vpon your Horsebacke, and afterwardes féed her vppe on the lure vppon the ground with good hote meate, to make her resolute in her fléeing, and that shée may returne to you with the better will, and if the fowle which you flew vnto be killed by any other Hawke, let your Hawke feede with the other Hawke, and when shée is so rewarded a little, take her off, and feed her vpon the lure.

If you flée to the Riuer with your Falcon, and that the flight be fayre and likely to be landed, staye and draw vnder the wind, and taking off your Hawkes hoode, cast her off with the rest. When you would haue your Hawke proue vpwards and a high flying Hawke, you must let her flée with a very high fléeing Hawke, but sée that your Hawke be well taught to hold in the head, and that shée loue well to flée with the other Hawkes, and if the fowle be in a poole, or on a pitte or plash, you must first cast off the high fleeing hawke, and hee which holdeth your new lured hawke, shall doe well to gette him vnder the wind, and when hee séeth his vantage let him vnhoode her, and if shee bate then, it is to get vppe to the other Hawke. Then let him cast her off, and she will clime against the wind right vnto the high fleeing Hawke, and before shee weary her selfe too much with clyming to reach or couer that other Hawke, lay out the fowle, when the high fleeing hawke shall be at her pitch, and lay them out behind her, if she kill the fowle, then giue your Hawke reward of the Heart and the breast with the other Hawks. If your hawke goe out to any checke, and kill a Doue or a Crow, or any other checke and feed vppon it, or haue fedde vppon it before you come at her, seeme not roughly to rebuke her at first, but take her downe to the lure, giuing her a bitte of meat, and hood her vppe, and flee not with her in two or three dayes after, but when you doe flee, flee as neare as you can where there be no checke, but if by no meanes you can keepe her from checking and going out, then for your last remedy, doe as followeth. If your [Page 111] Hawke haue killed a checke, and you come to her before shee haue fedde thereon, take the gall of a Henne, and annoynt therewith the breast of the checke which she hath killed, when shee hath plumed it, and is come to the bloud, and let her feed but little thereon least she make her sicke, for shee will surely cast it againe, yea though she should not cast it, yet would shee haue small lust to flee at such a fowle againe, but will hate and loath the meat thereof, or put any bitter meat therevppon, as powder of Mirre, or yong small wormes cut in gobbets, but take heed that the bitternesse bee not ouer strong, and if that the bitter taste haue discouraged the Hawke, then wette her meat in sugred water. Some put on two payre of belles vppon their Hawkes legges, or stitch together the principall long feathers of their wings, and also it shall be good when shee goeth from checke, to cast her out the lure, or to lay out an hurt fowle before her which shee may kill.

[Page 112]

How to flee a Hearon.

[figure]

[Page 113]TO make your Falcon a good Hearoner, you must set her very sharpe, and haue a liue Hearon, whereof you shall make your hawk a quarrey in this sort. In the morning when it shall be time to feede your Hawke, if you perceiue that she be very sharpe set, goe to a meadow, and let the Hearon goe after that you haue bruised both his féet and his hill, and hide your selfe behind some bush: and then he which holdeth the Hawke shall vnhood her, the which shalbe vnder the wind. And if your Hawke will not flée at the Hearon, cast out your lure the which you shall hold in a readinesse therefore: but if shée doe seaze on the Hearon, make her a quarrey thereon, giuing her first the heart, and when she hath eaten it, giue the Hearon to him which held the Hawke before, who retyring backe a little shall lure, tossing the Hearon about his head, holding her by one of the legges or winges: then doe you vnhood your hawke againe, and let her flie to him which lureth so with the Hearon, and let him not cast it out vnto her, but stay vntyll shée take and seaze it in his hand as he lureth with it: then despoyle the breast of the Hearon, and let your Hawke féede vpon it, & take the marrow of the bone in the Hearons wing, and giue it your Hawke: and in this doing two or three dayes, you shall now sle your Hawke therevnto, and make her loue the Hearon, the which you shall also bring the sooner to passe, if at the first you inure her with a make Hawk a good Hearoner. Then hauing found the Hearon at siege, you must gette you with your Falcon vp into some high place, into the wind, and let him which hath the Hearoner (that is the make Hawk) put vp the Hearon, and when he hath cast off his Hawke to her, let him marke whether the Hearon doe mount or not, for if she mount, then cast not off your Hawke, nor vnhood her not, but if the Hearon séeme to be discomfited, and that shée fall downe into the water, and that the make Hawke doe stoops her, then vnhood your yong Hawke, and aduance her: if shée bate to bée gone, let her flée to it.

[Page 114]

How a man shall make his Hawke to loue other Hawkes, when she hateth to flee with them.

THere are some Falcons which will not flée with other Hawkes, but draw backward, and stirre not: some other will crabbe with euery Hawke, and flée of purpose to crabbe with them: some Falcon hateth to sitte or to flée with another Hawke, eyther for doubt and feare which shée hath of them, or else, for because she loueth them not. That hawk which hateth other Hawkes doth crab with them, and shee which feareth them, doth flée from them. For remedye hereof you must haue a gentle Lanner, which may be set vpō a pearch with that Hawke which hateth others, but farre inough off, and by day light, then giue each of them a bitte of meate, as you passe by them, and set them nearer and nearer, and when they bée neare one to another, put meate betwéene them, that both of them may féede vpon it. Then if the Falcon make no semblance to crabbe with the Laner, you shall gorge her vppe at night with good meate, and set her abroad in the frost or cold vpon a pearch, if shée be high and in good plight, able to abide it, and so shall you lett her sitte thrée or foure houres.

In the meane time holde your Laner neare to the fire, and afterwardes take her vpon your fist, then let another bring you your Faldon hooded, and holde her close betwéen your side and the Laner, and when shee feeleth the warmth of the Laner, shée will draw to her, and hugge to her for the heat, and let them stand so together without ieouking (eyther the one or the other) vntill you sée that the Falcon doth greatly desire to ieouke, then vnhood her fayre and softly, and let it be in such a place as shée sée not, but let her sit so all the night vpon your fist. And when day appeareth, you must set them on the pearch, that one neare to the other, yet so as they cannot one [Page 115] reach to another: That being don two or thrée nights together, let them both be set abroad the third night in the cold, so neare that they may sit close together on the pearch, and when you see them sit close that one to that other for warmth, then vnhoode them, and afterwardes féede them, pearch them, and lure them both together, and take paine to finde the aduantage.

How you shall enseame a Hawke, or giue her castings, and skourings, &c.

SOme Falcons be harder bo enseame, than some others are, or the longer that a Falcon hath béene in the hand, the harder shée is to be enseamed: and an old mewed Falcon of the wood, which hath mewed but one cote in the Falconers handes, is much easier to be enseamed, than a yonger Falcon which hath béene longer in the Falconers handes: the reason is, because a Hawke which preyeth for her selfe, doth féede cleaner, and better, according to her nature, and vpon more holesome meates, than shée doth when shée is in mans handes, so that it is no maruaile though shée bee not so fowle within when shée is at her owne dyet, as when another man féedeth her. For a Hawke which is in our kéeping doth féede gréedily both on skinne, feathers, and all that comes to hand. Neyther is shée mewed with so cleane and holesome féeding, nor doth endue her meate so well, nor hath such open ayre at times conuenient as a Hawke which is at large to prey for her selfe. When you draw your Hawke out of the mew, if shée bee greasse (the which you shall know by her thighes if they be round and fatte, and also by her body if shée bée full in the hand, and that her flesh bée round as hie as her breast bone) and if shée be well mewed, and haue all her feathers full sommed, then giue her when shée woulde féede in the Morning a bitte or two of hote meate, [Page 116] and at night giue her but a little, vnlesse it bee very colde, and if shée feed well without constraint or forcing thereunto, then giue her washt meate thus prepared: take the wings of a Henne or Pullet for her dinner, and wash them in two waters, and if you giue her Hares flesh or Beefe, let it be washt in three waters, on the morrow giue her the legge of a Henne very hote, and at noone meate temperately warme, a good gorge, then let her fast vntill it be late in the euening, and if shée haue put ouer her meate and that there be nothing left in her gorge, then giue her a little warme meate, as you did in the morning, and let her thus be dyetted vntyll it bee time to giue her plumage, the which you shall know by three tokens, the first is, that feeling the end of the pinion of the Hawkes wing, you shall féele the flesh as it were tenderer, and softer than it was before she eate washt meate: the second, if her mewets bée cleane and white, and that the blacke of the mewt be right blacke, and not mingled with any other fowle thing and colour: the thirde token is, if shée be very sharpe set and do plume eagerly, you may giue her casting either of a Hares foote or a Conies foote, or of the small feathers, which are on the ioynt of the pinyon of an olde Hennes wing: take then the forefoote of an Hare, and beate it with the backe of a knife vntill the bones and clawes doe fall out, because the small bones may mouldre and bee all to frushed to pieces, the which you shall afterwardes cut and lay it in fayre fresh water, then wring it and giue her it at two morsells, and when you set her on the pearch, sweepe cleane vnderneath it that you may see whether the mewte bée full of strakes or skinnes, or not, and whether it be full of slime and ordure or not, and if it bée, then continue this kinde of casting thrée or foure nights together with washt meat, as is before sayd, and if you perceiue the feathers digested and soft, and that her casting be great and full of ordure, then take the necke of an olde Henne, and cutte it all alongst betweene the [Page 117] ioynts, and lay the ioynts in cleare cold water, and giue it to your Falcon without any other thing: and this is done because it beareth downe before it into the pannell, the meate which is vpon the ioynts, and there in the pannell the flesh consumeth, and the bones remayne sharpe & pricking, which break the kels and skins, and the grosse ordure, and bear them with them: and giue her so three nights together, giuing her by day washt meate as is before rehearsed, & afterwardes giue her casting or plumage againe, according as her state doth require. And thinke it not strange that a Falcon which is to bée enseamed, is sometimes a fortnight or more before shée wil take casting: neyther yet that some Falcons will easlier be enseamed in a month, than some other in fiue wéekes, according as they be stronger or weaker of nature, and fedde with cleaner or fowler meates, or according as they haue béene shorter or longer time in mens handes and kéeping. When you haue drawne your Falcon out of the mew, and that her principall feathers be full sommed, or that shée haue some yet in the quill, do not giue her washt meate, but quicke birds, & good gorges thereof, and set her as much as may bée in open places, for otherwise her feathers may chance to shrinke in the quill, & come to nothing.

To enter or make a Hawke, after the fashion of Lombardy.

WHen a Sparowhawke is māned and reclaymed, thē giue her nine or ten traines at the least, and when she killeth, féed her vp alwayes, and let the Quaile wherewithall you traine her, haue a feather pulled out of each wing, and cast off the Sparowhawke to her a far off, so often that she wil recouer the Quaile farre off, and then cast her out a Quaile which hath her full wings, afterwards you may flée the wilde Quaile with her: and euermore when shée doth kill, féede her [Page 118] vp with a full gorge: the Almaynes are of opinion, that the tercell of the Goshawke is more waighty and more valiant than the Hawke, both to Partridge & Fezant. If you would make a Sparowhawke to the Pye, then dismember the Pye, and cast her on the ground to the Hawke, and féede her vpon her with a hote meale, as with a Finch or such like birde, & vse that order with her twise or thrise, and afterwards you may cast vp a Pye to your Hawke that is séeled, beeing dismembred as before said, and let her kill her, and féede her vpon her, also you may take a feather or two out of the Pyes wing, and set her vppe in some trée, and let your hawke kill her there, and make her as good reward as you can thereof, and this being thus vsed, you may flée with your hawk to the wilde Pye, but euer remember that in making these traines your Pye be dismembred, that is to say, her bill and her tallons cut off, or so tyed and abated, that shée may not spoyle or hurt your hawke. Goshawkes, and Tercels of Goshawks are better when they are taken haggards of a Cote or two Cotes out of the wood, than they are when they be Soarehawkes, but then they must bée kept with more delycate féede than the Soarehawkes, for they are made daungerous. For asmuch as in the woodes they did commonly prey vpon warme meates, and therewithall they are sooner lost then Soarehawks be, by reason they remember theyr eyrie, but they should not be aboue one, or two Cotes at the most. (∵)

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To enseame a Falcon and to make her.

[depiction of hawk]

[Page 120]TAke your Falcon, and vse her as you vse the Goshawke in manner before declared, sauing that when you feede her you shall call and lure, as if you called her to the lure: and euery day you shall proffer her water, and euery night giue her casting accordingly as you shall sée that she endeweth: & take off her hoode oftentimes amongst companye: and to the end she shall not bate, hold alwayes the hood by the tassell in your hand ready. And in the euening when day light beginneth to fayle, take off her hoode amongst companye of people by the candle light, vntill she rowze and mewte, & then set her on the pearch and not before, and set light before her, and when shée is well wonne to know the fist, then beginne to make her know the lure, and so by little and little reclayme her, vntyll you may call her loose without Cryance. Euerye Falcon hath néede of a make hawke to teach her to holde in the head, and especially the Haggart Falcon, the which may be peraduenture an Haggart of two or thrée Cotes, & yet shall be the better Hearoner: but if a Haggart mewed will not holde in the head, then cutte off some part of her two princypalles in each wing, the long feather, and that which is next to it, and that shall force her to hold in. You must also feat her beake, & cope her reasonably. They alwayes giue their Hawkes tyring both morning and euening, but the Falconers of the East parts are of a contrarye opinion, and say that it weakeneth a Hawkes backe. If you would make your hawke vpwards, or high fléeing, then after shée is reclaymed and lured, and ready comming, when you lure her, and that shée commeth towards you, stoope the lure vpon her, and let her passe by you, and when she retourneth towards you, throw her out the lure, and make much of her, and do thus oftentimes vntill you may suffer her to flee longer about you, and to get vp higher, the which you must doe in a plaine field where no wood or trées are: & if shée get vp to any pitch, then let her flée a turne or two of iollity, and when shée is at the highest, and right ouer you, throw her forth the lure, or a Pigeon or Pullet, and giue her a good gorge thereon, [Page 121] making the most of her that you can deuise, and take héede that you cast not your lure into the water, least shée should thereby be rebuked. And when she is at her gate, if percase she gadde out after some check, and kill it, then take the prey from her angarly, and beate her therewith about the head, and hoode her vp without any reward: and hereby shee will the lesse delight to rake out after a check. When your hawke hath killed a fowle, take it out of her foot, and cast her vp againe, and when shée is right ouer you, cast out the lure, and féede her vp vpon it, to make her loue the lure the better. But at the beginning reward her and féede her well vpon the quarry, and that shall encourage her and kéepe her from going out to the checke. When shee is well in blood, and well quarried, then let her flée with other hawkes, vntill shée be well acquainted and invred.

If you would make your Hawk to the Crane, take an Nyasse Falcon gentle, and in entring of her, let her kill the greatest fowle that you can find. Her lure should also be a counterfaite Crane. And when you would make her fléeing, lette her flée from the fiste, and succour her quickly. For you must haue dogges made for the purpose, which may helpe and succour her sooner then a man can doe. And let such dogges féede alwayes with your hawke, to make them the better acquainted. If you would make a Falcon to the hare, her lure should be then a Hares skinne stuffed with strawe, and when shée is well lured, and that you would enter her, tie the sayde Hares skinne to the end of a cryance, and fasten it to your saddle pummell, and when you gallope it will bee like vnto a running Hare. Then vnhoode your Hawke, and cry, Backe with the Greyhounds, backe with the Greyhoundes. And when your Hawke commeth to seaze the sayde Hares skinne, let goe hour cryance, and suffer her to take it, and reward her well vpon it, and make the most of her that you can deuise. And when you go about to enter her the second time, let not slippe your cryance at the firste, but rather pull it from her [Page 122] by force, and afterwards let her seaze vpon it, and so by little and little you shall teach her to beate it and stoope at it. For so must she doe at a wild Hare. And you must feede her alwayes amongst the dogges, and when she is well nousled and entred in this manner, take a liue Hare, and breake one of her hinder legs, and let her goe in some faire place amongst your dogs, and your Falcon will stoope her and ruffe her, vntill the dogs may take her. Then take her from the dogs, and cast her out vnto the hawke, and cry backe, backe.

If you would make your Hawke fleeing to the Partridge, or Feasant, when she is reclaymed and made, then euery time that you lure her, cast your lure into some low tree or bush, that she may learne to take the trée or the stand. And if shée take the stand before shée espie the lure, let her stand a while. And after draw the lure out before her and cry, Loe birde, lo, Hey lo bird, hey lo, and rewarde her well. For in this manner shée will learne to take stand. But feede her alwayes on the ground, and in some thicke place, for in such places shee must encounter with the Fesant at Pearch. And at the first flée with her at Feasant, or Partridge that be young, to giue her the aduantage, and afterwardes at the old. If a Falcon will not take stand, but will kéepe her on wing, then must you flée with her in plaine places, where you may alwayes sée her vpon you. Sacres and Laners will commonly take stand both in a trée, and on the ground, but the Falcon gentle taketh stand more willingly vpon the ground. And when you draw a Hawke out of the mew, bear her not much in hot weather, for feare least by much bating in heate, shée may get the Pantise. But if there be no remedy, then kéepe her alwayes hooded, and take as good héede to her as you can. If your Hawke be coy and dangerous, then giue her salt with her meat, I meane a dramme of the salt called Sal Inde, or Sal geme, or Salis albi pulverizati, and giue her water, for shée shall haue néede thereof. And make her Ieouke all night in payne, & [Page 123] in a moyst or colde place, and so shall shée watch most of the night, and thereby her grease and pride will be abated. Sacres must be nousled and entred as soone as they be manned, for else they be very hard to be entred. Draw your Hawke out of the mew twenty dayes before you enseame her. If a Falcon trusse and carrye, to remedy the same, you must cope her tallons, her powlse, and her petty singgle. Neuer reward your hawke vpon riuer fowle, but reward her, and make much of her vpon the lure, to the end shée may the better know it, and estéeme it. The Souldan fléeth to the Crane, wilde Goose, & Bustard, with thrée or foure Hawkes at once, (or more) from the fiste, yea and those of all kind of Hawkes also, as Sacres, Gerfalcons, peregrine Falcons, and Mylanes. And ofterwards a man may make them flée to the mowntye. You should flée to the Crane before Sunne rising, for shée is sluggish and slothfull, and you may cast off to her a caste or a lease of Falcons, or you may hawke to her with the Goshawke from the fist without dogs. Wilde Géese are flowen to in the same manner. And if you haue dogs to helpe and succour your hawkes, sée that they be stanch and gentle, and well made for the purpose, and a Greyhound will be most readily made therunto. You shall flée but once in a day at the Crane, and therevpon reward her liberally, and make as much of her as you can. The Millaine should be let flée downe the wind. The Almaines doe flee at the Pye with a lease or two cast of Falcons at once, and they make them to mount and to stoope, as they doe at the Riuer. But this must be in a playne, where there be no trées nor wood, but little shrubbs and bushes. If you vse to giue your hawke a breakefast or beaching very timely in the morning, it will make her eager to flee at such time as will be conuenient for her to flee. And especially a Falcon which you would haue high fleeing, & those should not be highly kept, but should be fed nyne dayes together before Sunne rising, and at night late in the fresh or coole of the Euening. So shall [Page 124] you make them high fléeing, & by that means they will euery day get gate higher and higher, so that they bee flowen with euermore in the plaine champion. The Falcon gentle is commonly better inward when shée hath mewed, than in her soarage. The Falcon will kill the Hearon naturally, if shée be a peregrine Falcon, and yet you shall doe well to giue them traines. A Falcon may flee ten slights at riuer in one day, if the season be not extreame, and that is the most that you shall flée with her. The Falcons which are riuer Hawkes, should alwayes be borne vpon the fiste. A hawke shall haue forty castings before shee be perfectly made. For a hawke which hath not casting euery night, will be surcharged with abundance and superfluity of humors, the which doe (from the stomake) so ouerflow their braine, that they cannot flée so high as else they would doe. And therefore all hawkes should haue casting euery night naturally, if you would haue them sounde and cleane: and it is good to giue them tyring or plumage at night, especially field hawkes, but not riuer hawkes, for weakening their backes. And euery third day you shall present them to the water at the longest. Touch your Hawks feathers as little as you can, for much handling will make them out of order. The Millaine and the Laneret may bée set vppon the stone incontiuently, as soone as they be made. When your hawke hath flowen or bated, féede her not as long as shée panteth, or bloweth, nor vntill shée be in breath againe. For if you should, it is perilous to bring her into the disease called Astum, and (in a Hawke) the Pantise. If a hawke (eyther Falcon, or other) chance to be out of heart, and discouraged, (which happeneth oftentimes) then take such paines with her, that shée may kill some prey, and féede her vpon it with a full gorge euen as long as shée will eate, and the same night sette her abroade that shée may Ieouke in the open ayre at her owne pleasure: and on the morrow take her and féede her with small birdes to enseame her, neyther more nor lesse than you would doe with an Hawke that were new drawne out of the mew. [Page 125] If a Falcon or other hawke will not seaze or gorge, take the quill of a wilde Gooses feather, and tye it vnder her long single, and shee will seaze and gripe. And when she beginneth to seaze, take away the sayd quill, and shee will seaze long afterwardes. If you cannot giue couert to your Falcon, or your Goshawke, then cast her off with the Sunne in her back. All hawkes may be made flee at the sowrce or spring. But in what sort soeuer you flée with your Goshawke, let her haue the Sunne in her backe.

To flee all manner of Fowles.

ALl traines of Partridge, Rookes, Crowes, & Choughs, should bee seeled. Now to enter your hawke at any of them, make a little pit or hole in the ground, and put your traine therein. Then couer the hole with a little borde or sod of earth, to the which you shall fasten to a small cryance or corde, and that you shall holde in your hande to drawe away when you list. Then you shall make as though you vncoupled your spaniels to hunt and put vp y^e game, and you shall carry your hawke vnhooded. And when you perceiue that your hawke looketh that way where you haue layd the traine, then drawe off the borde, and cause the traine to springe as though the spanels had sprong it. And if your hawke doe take it, let her féede thereon her fill vpon the ground. And thus must you doe sundry times. If you would haue a good hawke, then nowsle her yong, for so will shée encrease her force by little and little, and in the end, shee will ouercome both Feasant and Partridge, &c. And when shée hath killed, let her gripe and seaze the prey at her pleasure. And let her also plume thereupon so long as shée will, & euermore let her bée rewarded vpon the ground. And when shee is well nousled, then reward her neuer but vpon the cockes of all preyes, because that will make her loue that prey the better. And when shée killeth a hen of any kind, let her no more but plume vpon it, & [Page 126] giue her but the heart, and the brayne at the most, because shée shall not loue to flée the Henne so well as the cocke. It is much better to nousle hawkes at yong fowles, than at the olde. For most commonly if a yong hawke bée let flee at olde game, shee will turne tayle, end cowardly giue it ouer, vnlesse you doe as before is declared. If you woulde nouzle or enter a Haggart▪ then do not enter her, or set her in blood vppon a yong prey, or inure her thereto. For then shée woulde not afterwards passe much for olde game. And likewise for the same consideration you shall not nouzle nor enter a mewed Hawke at yong game.

For the Goshawke, all fowles generally are good traynes, as Crane, Bustard, Hearne, wilde Goose, Riuer fowle, Cormorants, Choughes, Rookes, Kites, and all other fowle that haunt Riuers or Plashes.

How to make a trayne or flight for the Goshawke.

SEt one of the sayd fowles vpon the water, and betwéene you and the water let there be some small shrubs or bushes, so as the Goshawke may haue couert to take the stand if néede bée, as also to kéepe her out of sight of the fowle for her aduantage, then aduance your fist, so as the Hawke may descrye the fowle. After which you may holde it lower again, and so cast off the Hawke. And if so be that shée seaze the fowle, let her féed thereon at her pleasure on the ground. To make your Goshawke to the brooke, let her flée those traines afore sayde, as I haue told you. But when you sée the Hawke approach the fowle, and to be within danger, then strike vp your drum before such time as the fowle doe espie your Goshawke. For if shée once sée the Hawke before shée spring, shée will by no meanes willingly forsake the brooke, but fall to dyuing and ducking, a defence which nature hath prouided and taught them.

[Page 127]Thus must you deale with the Goshawke to the brooke, but if you will flée with her to the Hare and Lyueret, (which is a game that the Goshawke doth much delight to kill, and prey on) then must you bréech her, and at no time let her flée without that deuise, for feare least shée spoyle herselfe. For the Hare is of some force, and in striuing to escape from her, will force her to stretch her arms, and open her selfe too wide, which is the vtter vndoing of your hawke. The Sparrowhawkes doe vse to kill the fowle at the Sowrce or Souse, as the Goshawkes doe, which nature hath taught them (for that being round winged Hawkes,) if they dealt not vpon the aduantage, the fowle might easily slippe from them, and escape their danger. But so great is the curtesie of kinde, as she euer seeketh to recompēce any defect of hers, with some other better benefit, or at least, such as shall serue the turne. Thus haue you the French Falconers opinions layd downe as touching the fléeing with each kind of hawk, or at least the greatest part of them. For the knowledge to flée with the Falcon, serueth for all Towre Hawkes, and the Goshawks for the round winged Hawkes. (∵)

[Page 128]

To manne, hoode, and reclayme a Hawke, after the opinion of the Italian Falconer.

[figure]

HE that will furnish his hawke accordingly, must haue esses and Bewets of good leather, & shrill belles, according to the hugenesse or condition of his hawke. So must [Page 129] he also haue a hoode for her: and therewithall he must oftentimes hoode and vnhoode her, in such sort that shée be not afraid thereof, nor of her kéeper when he handleth her. In 9. nightes he should not suffer her to ieouke at all, nor to come on any pearch, but should keepe her continually so long vpon his fist. And when he will call her, let him obserue this order: Set the Falcon vpon the pearch and vnhoode her, then shew her your fiste with some meate in it, and call her so long till shee come to it. And when shée commeth feede her, and reward her as pleasantly as you can: But if shée come not, giue her nothing at all vntill she be very sharpe set. And this order must you kéepe with your Hawke seauen or eight dayes together.

When you would lure her, giue her vnto some other man to holde, and call her with a lure well garnished with meat on both sides, as you called her to your fist. After you haue vsed that manner of calling 6 dayes or thereabouts, cause her to bée held further from you, and cast the lure about your head, and throwing it out vpon the ground a little from you; And if shée come to it roundly, then feede her & rewarde her bountifully. And whiles your Hawke is vpon the lure, go about her fayre & softly, luring and crying, wo, ho, ho, as Falconers vse. And when you haue thus done by the space of certaine dayes, take your lure garnished as before sayd, and euery day call her to you as farre as shée may well heare and perceyue you: and let her bée loose from all her furniture, that is without eyther loynes or cryance: and if shée come so far off to you, then féed & reward her wel, and stop her in her féeding oftentimes, for that will make her come the better: but take héede that you hurt her not in so doing. You shall also sometimes call her on horseback. And when you haue vsed her thus a month, or vntil she come well and roundly, and that shée be familiar with the man without any strangenesse or coynesse, then myy you stop the lure vpon her, and make her flée vpon you. But before you do so, it shall be méet to bath her, least when shée is at libertye she rangle to séeke water, and so you might léese your Hawke: & euery seuen or eight dayes, your Hawke should be set to the [Page 130] water, for the nature of them so requireth. When you haue thus manned, reclaimed and lured your Falcon, go out with her into the fields, and wistle her off your fiste, standing still to sée what she will, do & whether she will rake out or not. But if shée flee round vpon you, as a good Hawke should flée, then let her flée a turne or two: which done, throw her out the lure and let her foot a hen or a pullet, and kill it and féede her well thereupon. Vnhoode her often as you beare her, and cease so to doe vntill shée haue endewed and mewted sufficiently.

When your Falcon is thus made and manned, go abroad with her euery morning when the weather is fayre and calm, and chuse a place for her to flee in, where there is some narrow brooke or plash of water. And when you cast her off, goe into the wind so far that the fowle may not discrie you. And when she is cast off, and beginneth to recouer her gate, make you then towards the brooke where the fowle lie, alwayes wysing & making your hawke to leane in vpon you. And when you perceyue that she is at a reasonable pitch, then (her head being in) lay out the fowle and land it if you can, and if you cannot, take downe your hawke, and let her kill some train, as thus. Take with you a ducke, and slip one of her wing feathers, and hauing thrust it through her nares, throw it out vnto your hawk, & cast it as hie as you can right vnderneath your hawke that she may the better know your hand, and you. And remē ber that you neuer flee a young hawke without some quicke thing carried into the field with you, that if shee faile at first to kill the wild fowle, you may yet make her kill that traine which you bring with you. And this you shall do for a certaine time, vntill your hawke be wel entred and quarried, and that she know a quarrior sufficiently. Some other Falcons there be of a contrarie nature, which will require great skill to finde their properties. And the same being known, you may kéepe them high or poore, according to their conditions. So shall you doe more good with them, than if you haue no respect to the diuersity of their nature: for then you should commit great errors, and seldome make good hawkes. You may train hawkes [Page 131] in this wise. First you shall feede your Hawke well vpon a fowle of the same kind that you would traine her withall, or haue her flée to. And you shall do so vntill you haue acquainted your Hawke with that kind of fowle, the which you may doe in this sort. Take that fowle that you will make the traine of, and set it on foote with meat tyed vpon the backe of it, and goe so neare it, that the Hawke may sée it: and when shée séeth it, let her seaze therevpon, and foote the fowle, and kill it. Or you may thus doe better: Take a Cryance and tye the fowle (which hath the meate tyed on her backe) by the beake, and cause one to stand close which may hold the same Cryance. Then vnhood your Hawke, and stand a far off, and let him draw the fowle and stirre it with his Cryance, vntill your Hawke may sée it stirre. And if shée foote it, then may you afterwards make her this other kind of traine. Take a quicke fowle which can flée, and when you haue halfe séeled it, and cast it out, let your Hawke flée to it, and if she kill it, reward and féede her vp well vpon it. (∵)

[Page 132]

To keepe and make Sarowhawkes.

[depiction of hawk]

IF you would know how to féede and man Sparowhawkes that be taken tender penned out of theyr eyrie, it is méet y^e you kéepe them in a fresh and swéet place, and giue them as much as they will eate of small birdes, as Sparrowes, Martlets, [Page 133] and such like. And also you may giue them other flesh, but sée that it be swéet, cleane, & good, shred into small pellets vpon a cleane trencher. When they begin to waxe fullsomed, giue them Sparowes, and other small birds whole, that they may learne to plume, foote, and tyre: and set them a bason of cleane water in a heape of sand, that they may bath therein, & proine and picke their feathers. They that be thus dealt withall doe not know how to prey, & therefore you must enter thē bytrains in this maner. Take a yong chicken which is of color & plume like a Feasant or Partrich, & cast it out before your sparhawk. But if she flée not vnto it, nor do foot it, then strip the skin vpō the head of the chicken vntill it bléed, & she will lightly seaze it, thinking that it is flesh to féed vpon. Thē féed her vpon it well, and thus you shall vse her vntill she will seaze a chicken of her selfe. When she will take a chicken of her selfe, goe into some fayre close or meadow, where nothing may bee to interrupt you, and take a yong chicken, and throwe it vp vnto your hawke, vntill she flée to it and foot it: then féed her vp therevppon, and coye her as much as you can deuise: For Nyasse Sparowhawkes are much more daungerous and coy than others be. When your Sparowhawke will foot a chicken well as before sayd, then you may traine her thus. Cause some of your seruants or others to stand close in some ditch or other priuy corner, with a liue chicken in his hand: and stand your selfe with your Sparowhawke vpon your fist a little distance from him: then cry and speake as you would speake, and cry to your spaniels when they range the field. And when you thinke that your sparowhawk looketh that way as he y^t hath the train standeth, let him cast vp the chicken as high as he can, and let your Sparhawke flée thereat and seaze it. That done reward her, and féed her therevpon, making much of her, & chéering her euermore among. Thus shall you do twice a day. When you haue thus trained her, moūt on your horseback, & giue her like trains in the field as before said. Then set her sharpe against an euening, and go out to séeke some game: & if you find, séeke to make her one flight at aduantage, and let her flée but once, and [Page 134] sup her vp vpon the prey. Thus in foure or fiue dayes at y^e beginning I would haue you let her flée but one flight in a day, rewarding her well alwaies when shée killeth any thing, to the end shée may know her game the better, and take the greater delight therein, vntill she be throughly nousled. To kéepe your Sparrowhawke in good order, rise early in the morning, and taking her vpon your fist, tap her on the trayne with your two forefingers, and stroke on her wings that shée may mantle and warble, and aduance her selfe bolt vpright, and delicately vpō your fist. Sometimes also take off her hoode, and put it on againe faire and softly, for rebuking her. When you haue kept her two howres vppon the fist, then set her in the Sunne to weather her halfe an howre: that being done, call her to your fist with meat, and whistle to heroften, and chirpe with your lippes, that she may learne to know that voyce when you call her, & when she commeth reward her well. Thus you should vse her daily, vntill she come well to the fist: remēbring alwaies that you deale with her as gently, and as amiably as you can deuise. When she is well manned, and well comming, trie if she couet not the water to bath her. And if she do bath, thē may you afterwards flée with her: But first, get on horsebacke, and call her from off the ground with a cryance, for feare least shée should thinke strange to come to you on horsebacke: and if shée come well to you from the ground, being on horsebacke, then may you boldly flée with her. But remember alwaies to espie some flight with aduātage at the first, for discouraging of your Hawke: For if she be once well nousled and entred, you may afterwards be the bolder how and when to flée with her.

The manner to feed a Sparowhawke.

TO féed a Sparowhawke orderly, you should giue her good meates, as thighes of chickens and pullets, yong Sparrowes, Martlets, and other small birds. Also shéepes hearts, or Lambes hearts: all these be excellent meat for a Sparowhawke. And those you must giue them cleane and hote, if it [Page 135] be possible: for with hote meates you shall kéepe her alwayes in best plight, and least danger to abate. And to preuent diseases, you shall giue her euery night casting of Cotton or lynt, or such like. And yet some are of opinion, that it is not best to giue a Sparowhawke casting so often: But by their leaue I thinke it méet: and my reason is, that when you giue her casting, you shall alwaies perceiue the disposition of her gorge, and pannell from time to time, by the signes which you shall sée vpon the casting, and in it: As sometimes it will be white, sometimes blacke, sometimes yellow, sometimes gréene, and of other colours: and by this meanes knowing the infirmity of your Hawke, you may the better prouide remedy for the same. Therefore I thinke it best to giue a Sparowhawke casting, and it shall not bee amisse to put therein sometimes a whole Cloue, in a pellet of Cotton, which is a tryed medicine to draw euill humors from a Hawkes head: Or sometimes you may put a chiue of Saffron in her casting. And aboue all things, giue her water once in thrée or foure dayes: For Sparowhawkes doe much couet the water, and it is the best thing (with other good dyet) that can be, to kéepe a Sparowhawke alwaies sound and in good case.Addition [The hearts of Pigs are very good for a Sparowhawke, and euer after her féeding, let her plumbe vpon a handfull of Parseley.]

Of feeding a Hawke.

TAke héede that you féed not your hawke with two sorts of meat at once, for that is perillous. Forasmuch as the substances of them being diuers, they striue in disgestion, or endewing, and bréede euill humors and wormes in a hawke, and fill her with wind. And beware also that you féede not your Hawke with flesh of beasts that be olde, nor that be hurt or tainted: For such meanes are hard to endew, & full of venome and corruption, bréeding diseases. Beware also that you giue not your hawke the flesh of a broode hen. And it shall not be amisse sometimes to change your hawkes meat and féeding.

[Page 136]Gooose flesh (if you vse it oftentimes) will bréed many flegmatike humors in a Hawke, and the cray in the pannell.

The flesh of a yong calfe is good for a gorge or two: but if you giue it oftener, it it ingendereth fleame and cold humors in the head,These feedings are for the most part contrary to our English order in Falconrie. and bréedeth lice in her. The heart is much better for common féeding than the rest.

The flesh of a Ram goate, a female goat, or a gelded goate, is good to set vp a hawke. But some are of opinion that it bréedeth the gowte, and moist watrie humors, and opilations in the gorge.

Mutton is not good, for it bréedeth humors in the head, as the Rie and such like: it dries vp and enflames a hawke, and makes her hose sit close to her leg.

Lambes flesh, and the flesh of a Kidde, is good giuen with Goates milke, especially when your hawke is poore, and hath béen hardly dealt withall.

Hares flesh, or Conies flesh, either cold or hote, is very good to endew, and sound meat for a hawke: but take héede that you giue her none of the braines, nor any of the hairs or bones, for they are perilous, and bréed wormes in the gorge, and in the guts.

Cats flesh is vnholesome, and hard to be indured, and bréedeth perilous wormes, and stoppeth a hawke in the gorge, and marreth her wind.

Rattes flesh is good and wholesome: it consumeth choller, helpeth to loose the head, giueth good appetite and digestion.

Dogges flesh is good and very sound, and very méete for those kind of Falcons which are hote Hawkes of Nature.

This feeding we vse not.Wolues flesh is naught, and contrarie to a Hawkes nature.

The flesh of a Fox (as mine Author affirmeth) is holesome, and setteth vp a Hawke.

If your Hawke happen to sit abroad in the cold ayre, & especially in the night, giue her small birds to féed vppon because they are hote of nature & comfort much: but beware that you [Page 137] vse it not continually, for it will make her too stately, and cause her forget you, in such sort that you shall hardly reclaime her from her coynesse.

To feede with riuer fowle, and such like, there are some of them good, and some bad, as I will briefly declare.

Some hold opinion, that the bones and bloud of a Bargander, Moorehen, and such like may be giuen to an hawke: but that the skinne, flesh, or feathers of them are not good, because they breed euill humors.

The flesh of a Ducke or of a Crane (as they report) is good and wholesome.

The flesh of a Partrich is most excellent when a hawke is sicke and diseased.

The flesh of a wild Goose, or of a slecked Crow, is good: but you must giue your Hawke but litte thereof, and none at all of their blood, for it is salt, brakish, & of an euill nourishmēt.

The flesh of these flesh Crowes, and of the Wagtayles, (a Dishwasher as we tearme them, in Latine called Motacilla) & the Cormorant, is of euill nourishment and digestion.

The flesh of a white Storke, and also of the blacke Storke, called (Saraciresia) is euill of nourishment, and hard to be endewed, and stincking.

The flesh of the Bitter, and Sea Coote, is good and sound, especially when the Sea Coote doth feed and scoure her with sand, it is good to enseame and breath a Hawke: although naturally all water fowles are cold of complexion, moyst, and hard of disgestion.

The flew of the white Heron, otherwise called the Shoueler, and of the blew and ashe coloured Heron, is of good digestion, and nourisheth well.

The flesh of Finches, hedge Sparowes, and such like, are in maner all one: and you must beware that you giue not your hawke too much of them at once.

The Cuckoes flesh is indifferent good for a hawke.

The flesh of a Hearon royall, that is to say, the gray Heron, is reasonable good, according to the opinion of many auncient [Page 138] Falconers: but Ptholomeus King of Egypt doth alleadge the contrary, saying, that naturally all fowles which liue vppon fish, frogs, or snakes, and such like venemous wormes, are euill of disgestion, and that their blood bréedeth opilations and euill humors, although they séeme to delight hawkes to féed on them for their delicate swéetnes and taste.

The flesh of the red Hearon is good: but you must giue but little of it.

The flesh of the Swan, and many other kinds of Water fowles, too long here to be rehearsed, are to bée vsed according to the time and circumstances of occasion.

The flesh of Sea-crowes, and Rauens, Cormorants, and such like, are of a brakish bloud, and therefore you may now and then giue your hawke a gorge thereof: but you must not vse it often.

The flesh of rauening birds, as Kites, Puttocks, Harpies, Eagles, Eyrons, and such like, all these are very contrary to the nature of Falcons, and are stinking, of euill disgestion, & chollericke. Their bloud and braines are worst of all, for they bréed perillous wormes.

The flesh of all birds which féed vppon séeds, as Feasants, Partridge, Quailes, and such like, are the best that can be, especially when a Falcon or any other hawke is sicke.

Doues flesh is excellent, either when a Hawke is sicke, or to mew withall: for it makes a hawke to mew well and quickly.

Pullets flesh, and Chickens flesh, is good at all times, and alwaies in season, as the flesh of that faire fowle Bella Dounais.

[Page 139]

To manne and make a Hawke: and first of a Nyasse Falcon.

[depiction of hawk]

THere are thrée sorts of Falcons, viz. Nyasses, Soarhawkes & Hawkes taking preying for themselues at large, which our [Page 140] Falconers call ramage or sleight Falcons. And I am of opinion that they are all made after one sort, and are manned much a like. But by mine aduice no man shall much assure himselfe in a Nyasse, because ouer and besides that (for the most part) they prooue not well, they doe also require great paines & attendance with extreame patience, to make them kill and stoope a fowle well, or to flee a high pitch. Neuerthelesse if a man will needes bee doing with them, he should first make a Nyasse to the Hearon from the fist, I meane both the blew and redde Hearon, and to such other great fowles. For asmuch as the Nyasse hawkes are naturally good seazers, bold & hardy birds, and after they be well in blood, and entred in fléeing to those fowles from the fist, then may you make them to the Riuer, going into some faire large field, whereas there may be either some wild Peacocks, flesh Crowes, or some other great fowle, bearing your Falcon on your fist: loose her hoode in a readines, drawing as neare the fowle as you can, and the first fowle or birde that springeth, vnhoode her, and let her flée from the fist to the same fowle, because they may draw your Hawke vpwards. And when shée is at a great gate, or at a reasonable pitch, then throw her out a Ducke or a Mallard séeled with a feather through the nares. And if shée kill it, then reward her well, and féed her vpon it with as much fauour as you can deuise, alwaies luring and crying to her to comfort and encourage her.

Of Ramage Falcons.

IF a Falconer chance to recouer a ramage hawke which was neuer handled before, let him immediately séele her, & therewithall let him euē then also put on her Iesses, the which must bee of Shameuse, leather, or soft calues leather, or such other leather as may bée gentle and plyable to her legge. At the end thereof, it shall not bée amisse to sette twoo Veruelles of Siluer, the one thereof may haue the Armes of the King, or Quéen whom you serue, and the other a Scutcheon of your [Page 141] owne armes. For asmuch as when they flée out, if they chance to be taken vp, they may the sooner be retourned againe, and restored to their owners, the which you must then remember to rewarde the taker vp of his hawke liberally. You shall also put her on a paire of good belles, with two proper Bewets: Being thus furnished, you shall goe about to man her, handling her often gently, and both to auoide the sharpenes of her beake, as also the better to rebuke her from biting and nipping: you shall haue a straight smooth sticke, as bigge as your finger, and halfe a foot long or more, with the which you shal gently stroke your hawk about the pinions of her wings,& so downwards thwart all her train. And if she chance to knap or bite at the sticke, let her bite hardly, for that will rebuke her thereof, whereas your hand being twitched away fearfully, would make her procéed the more eagerly. To man her wel, you must watch all the night and kéepe her on your fist: and you must teach her to féede séeled: and hauing a great and easie rufterhood, you must hood and vnhoode her oftentimes seeled as she is, handling her gently about the head, and coying her alwayes when you vnhoode her, to the end the take no disdayne or displeasure against her Keeper. And also make her to plume and tire somtimes vpon a wing, and kéepe her so on the fist day and night without perching of her, vntill she be wearie, and suffer you to hoode her gently and stirre not: and correct her of her ramage toyes, especially of snapping and biting, stroking her euermore as before said with your sticke. But if if it happen (as it doth sometimes) that your chance be to haue a Falcon so ramage & shrewde mettled, that she will not leaue her snapping & biting, then take a cloue of Garlicke cleane pilled, or a little Aloes Cycatrina, and when she byteth or snappeth at your hand or stick, offer her the Garlicke or Aloes, and let her bite bite it: For either the strong sent of the Garlicke, or the bitter taste of the Aloes, will quickly make her leaue her biting and snapping.

To vse a Hawke to the hoode

IT hapneth oftentimes that Falconers haue hawkes which come from Ciprus, Candya, Alexandria, and other far countryes, [Page 142] the which hauing béene in the hands of such as could not well skill of them, become coy and very vntowarde to bée hooded, and will hardly be wonne to abide the Hoode by any meanes. In this case you must first séele your Hawke, and beeing séeled, you must fitte her with a large easie hoode: and hoode and vnhoode her often therewith, watching her a night or two, and handling her oftentimes about the head as before sayde, vntill shée haue forgotten that fault. And when shée once doth leaue it, you may vnseale her in an euening by candle light, handling her still softly with your hand about the head, hooding and vnhooding her oftentimes, vntill shée will well abide the Hoode, and brooke to be handled. And here I thinke good to expresse mine opynion, that he which taketh in hand to be a Falconer, ought first to be very patient, and therwithall to take singular delight in a Hawke, so that hée may séeme to be in loue (as it were naturally) with his Hawke, euen that a man would say, it were a thing bread so in the bone as it could neuer bee rooted out of the flesh. For such a man with neuer so little paine and industrye, will become an excellent Falconer: but he which taketh not that delight in his Hawke, but doth rather exercise it for a pompe and boast, than vpon a naturall instinct: or being a poore man, doth vse it to get his liuing, such a man in mine opinion shall seldome proue a perfect Falconer, but a mar-hawke, and shall beare the bagge after a right Falconer.

To turne to my purpose, when your hawke beeing so séeled, doth féede well, and will abide the Hoode: and to bée handled, without striking or byting at your hand: then in an Euening by Candlelight you shall vnséele her, and with your finger and a little spittle, annoynt the place where the séeling thread was drawne through. And when you haue hooded her, take her on your fist, and holde her so all night vntill day appeare againe, doing off her Hoode oftentimes, and handling her gently with your hand, stroking hersoftly about the wings and the body, hooding and vnhooding of her, and giuing her sometimes to féede, a morsell or [Page 143] twaine, or sometimes tyring or plumage. But aboue all things you must watch her on the fist so many nights together, without setting her downe on any pearch, that she may be wearie, and suffer you to hoode and handle her gently without any manner of resistance, and vntill shée haue altogether left and forgotten her striking and byting at your hand: but some hawkes will belong before they leaue that fault, as the more coy or ramage that they be, the longer they will retaine those ill tatches, and will not peraduenture be wonne from them in thrée, foure, or fiue dayes. When shée is well reclaymed from it, then may you let her sit vpon a pearch to rest her. But euery night you shall doe well to kéepe her on the fist thrée or foure houres, handling her and stroking her gently, and causing her to tyre or to plume, alwayes making of her, and hooding and vnhooding her oftentimes, as before said. And the like may you doe also by day light, but in a Chamber apart, where shée may see no great light vntill shée feede surely and eagerly without dread.

To make your Hawke know your voyce,

IF your hawke be thus in foure or fiue dayes manned, so that shée begin to féede eagerly and boldly, then you shall first beginne to make her know your whistle, or the chirping of your mouth: and afterwards your voice in this maner Take a quicke Pullette, and going into some secret place, where your Hawke may well perceiue the fowle, and yet see no great open light, let her plume and feede vpon it, as shee sitteth vpon your fist: then chyrke with your voice, and vse those other sounds which Falconers do to their Hawks: and féed her so, hooding her gently: then afterwards you may let her plume a little vpon some wing, being still hooded, as well to loose her in the head, and to make her cast wat [...]r, as also to teach her the better how to fitte on the fiste. The feeding for a Falcon shall bée Pullets not very old, and Calues heartes, [Page 144] weathers hearts, and hogs harts, and to giue her a conuenient gorge, to the end the may the better disgest both the grosse substance, and the slimie matter. But if your Falcon be not eager or sharpe set, then shall you do well to wash her meate sometimes in fayre water, and some other whiles in vrine, wringing it a little, and then féeding her therewith for one, two, or three gorges, and that not continually: but respecting a day or two betweene, and that is referred to the discretion of the good Falconer. For this done somewhat to a bate a Hawke, and to enseame her. It shall not be amisse also in the morning when she is emptie both in the gorge and pannell, to conuey into her a little Sugar candy, to the quantity of a small nut, for that dissoluing in her, will make her the better to endure, and will both breake the grosse substance, and disgest the glit in her, and also wil make her eager as shall be further said hereafter.

How to make a Hawke know her feeding.

WHen your Hawk féedeth eagerly, and knoweth your wistle and your voyce, then may you teach her to know know her feeding, & to bate at it in this wise. You should with your right hand shew her meat, crying and luring to her aloud and if bate or strike at it, then must you quickly and handsomely let her foote it, and féede on it for thrée or foure bits: and doe thus oftentimes, to the end she may the better know her feeding. And afterwards feede her, and giue her euery night (without intermission) some casting eyther of feathers, or of cotton with two cloues sometimes cut in foure peeces, and put into the casting, or a little Aloes, wrapped vp in the Cotten, according as the Falconer shall see that it is requisite. For such castings make a Hawke cleane and eager. (∵)

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To make a Falcon bolde and ventrous.

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[Page 146]WHen a Falcon hath learned to féede, and to know the call of her Kéeper: then to make her hardy, you shall suffer her to plume a pullet or good great chicken. And you shal goe into some close place, where shée may not sée ouermuch light, as before said, where loosing her hood, in a readinesse you must haue a liue pullet in your hand, & knéeling on the ground, luring and crying aloud vnto her, make her plume and pul the pullet a little. Then with your teeth drawing the strings, vnhoode her softly, suffering her to plume and plucke it with her beake twice or thrice more, cast out the pullet vpon the ground before her. Then must you with raysing or holding down your fist, encourage her vntill she leape down vpon the Pullet, and seaze it. Then when shée beginneth to breake it, and to take blood, you shall lure & cry aloud vnto her, and encourage her by all the means that you can, féeding her vpon the ground. And therewithall you shal take her vp gently and nimbly with the pullet in her foot, whereon let her plume, and féed now and then a little. Then hoode her gently, and at last giue her tyring of a wing, or a foot of the said pullet.

To make a Falcon know the Lure.

AFter that your Falcon hath twice or thrice thus killed a pullet in som secret place, then must you make her know the lure in this wise, Fasten a pullet vnto your lure, and goe a part. Then giue your Falcon to holde vnto some other man, who may draw loose the strings of her hoode in a readines. And when you are gone a little backe from him, take your lure at halfe the length of the string, and cast it about your head once or twice luring with your voyce also. Then let that other vnhood your hawke, whiles you throw out the lure not far from your hawke, luring and crying stll vnto her. And if your hawk doe stoope to the lure, and seaze the pullet, suffer her to plume her, coying her, and luring still with your voyce. Then let her féede on the pullet vpon the lure, and afterwards take her vppon your fiste together with her meat, and hoode her suffering her to plume and tyre, as is before said.

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How to call your Falcon loose and at large.

WHen your Falcon hath come well thrée or foure times vnto the lure in some secret place, as well to a liue pullet as to a dead, then shall you goe abroad into some fayre meadow, where are no trées, and fastning a quicke pullet vnto the lure, giue your Hawke to hold vnto another man. Then tying also a cryance vnto your hawkes lease, cause that other which holdeth your hawke to make ready her hoode, and giue her a little bit of meat on his fist, chirping and chearing her w^t his voyce: Euen therewithall doe you goe backe foure or fiue paces or more, luring twice or thrice, let him which holdeih the hawke, doe off her hood, then do you take the lure at length of the string, and cast it about your head, crying and luring alowde, throwing it vpon the ground: & if your hawke stoope at the pullet, suffer her to breake it, and féed her vpon the lure, casting her to eate the braines and the heart of the pullet with the lure also, alwayes crying and luring. And this order, shall you obserue dayly further and further off, vntill shée bée well lured, entred, and manned.

How to call a Falcon that will come loose.

WHen your Falcon wil come a farre off vnto the lure, and stoope to it being thrown out, without any coynes or ramagenes, then setting her sharp, you shal get on horsbacke in a morning, and go into some fayre plaine field, and as neare as you can, where there is no wood nor trées, there giuing your hawke vnto some other man to hold (which must also bée on horsebacke.) Put your cryance to your hawke in such wise, that she may not tangle her selfe therewith in comming to the lure. Then drawing backe a little as much as you think méet, giue a sign to him that holdeth the hawk, to make ready her hood, and let him hold vp his fist on high. Then lure you thrée or four times, as lowd as you can, alwaies casting y^e lure abour your head, wherunto for y^e first time I would haue [Page 148] Pullet fastned still. And while you so doe, let him which holdeth your hawke, plucke off her hoode, and if she come straight to the lure, forbeare vntill shée come within eight or ten paces of you, then cast it vnto her. And if shée take the lure, let her plume thereupon, and lure you still with your voyce, lighting off your horse, and draw néere to your hawk fayre and softly, luring and crying vnto her, & so féede her as before said. But after that she be called two or thrée dayes to the lure on horsebacke with a criance, or more or lesse, according to the towardnesse or vntowardnesse of the Hawke, if shee come roundly a bow shot from you, you may then goe out in a morning, hauing set her reasonably sharpe for the purpose, & call her loose on horsebacke, that is without eyther lease or criance, but loose, & in company. And ifshée come to you, féede her vpon the lure, as before said, luring still vnto her, to make her acquainted with your voyce. And the next day you may call her to the drie lure without a Pullette, or any thing vpon it. And when she is come to the lure, cast her out a quicke Pullette, breaking first the féete and legges thereof, and let her kill it vpon the lure, and féede her vp.

To make a Falcon fleeing.

WHen your Hawke will come, and stoope to the lure roundly, and without any ramagenes, then if shee bee a Haggart, you must put her on a payre of great luring belles, and the like shall you doe also to a Soarehawke. And so much the greater ought your bels to be, by how much more you sée your Hawk giddy-headed, or like to rake out at check. For it can be no hurt to clog her w^t great bels at the first, vntil her conditions be known & well perceyued. That being done, & hauing also set her sharp, go one morning on horsebacke into some faire large field, without wood or trées, if it be possible, & hauing your hawk vpō your fist, consider of y^e wind, & ride you vp into the wind, or towards that way as the wind bloweth, [Page 149] halfe a bow shot. And hauing loosened your Hawkes hoode, whistle softly, as it were to prouoke your hawke to flée. Whereupon shée will beginne to bate, or at least to slap with her flagges and sayles, and to aduance her selfe vpon your fiste. Then suffer her vntill shée rowse or mewt, and when shée hath done eyther of them, vnhoode her, and let her flée with her head into the wind. For thereby shée shall be the better able to get vp on wing, and to get into the wind. Then will your Falcon naturally clime vpwards, rouing & fléeing round. Therefore when you sée that shée hath flowen two or thrée turns, you shall cry and lure with your voyce, & cast the lure about your head, whereunto first tye a Pullet, as before sayde, and if your Falcon come in, when she approacheth neare you, then cast out the lure into the wind, and if she stoope to it, reward her as before.

To make a Falcon leaue the stand on the ground.

IF your Falcon at first when shée fléeeth from the fist, will not get vp, but take stand on the ground, as the most parte of soare Falcons doe commonly, you shall not yet therefore be discouraged, nor out of hope, but rather making towards her with your horse, & threatning of her, séeme to feare with your wand, and driue her from the stand, vntill shée flée a turne or two. Then take her downe to the lure, and féede her. But if so chance that your Hawke will not leaue that fault of taking the stand, then must you séeke to finde out some Chough, Starling, or some such birdes, making ready your Hawkes hood, draw as neare them as you may vntill they ryse. Then vnhoode your Hawke, and no doubt if shée will flée them, they will traine her well vpwards. Then must you haue in a readinesse a Ducke séeled, as before saide, and so as shée may not sée but backewards, because shée may thereby mownt the higher. And holding her fast by one of the wings, neare vnto the body, in your right hand, and luring with your voyce to [Page 150] make your Falcon turne the head, forbeare till shée bee at a reasonable pitch, then running vnder her, cast vp your Duck towards her that shee may perceyue it, and that the Ducke may be to her in stead of a traine. And if shée strike her, or stoope her, or trusse her, then suffer her to kill it, and reward her vpon it, taking out one of her legges, or both, if neede require, feede her with a reasonable gorge. This being done once or twice, or oftner, according to the occasion, your hawke will leaue the stand, and delight to keepe her on wing, and become also the more obedient and louing.

To make the Falcon to the River.

WHen your Falcon is accustomed to flée for it, and will lye vpon you at a great gate, or at a reasonable pitch and will come and holde in the head at your voyce and luring, then may you goe to the Riuer where you shall finde any fowle, and there shall it behoue you to vse such policie, that you may couer the fowle, and get your hawke to a good gate aboue the fowle. And when her head is in, then lay out the fowle, and cry, Hey gar, gar, gar. And if your Falcon doe stoope them, and enew them once or twice, then quickly thrust your hand in your hawking bagge, and make her a traine with a Ducke seeled. And if your Hawke doe eyther trusse or stoop it, succor your hawke immediately, crossing the Ducks wings, and let your hawk plume, &c. I am of opinion, that for the first or second time that you shew your hawke a fowle, it shall not be best to shew her great fowle, but rather small fowle, as the Dapchicke, or such like. For if you shew them the greatest fowles at the first, it often happeneth that they slippe from the Hawke vp the wind, and the hawke cannot recouer them (but raketh out after) whereby the Falconer is fayne to trotte farther than hee would, yea and sometimes also he looseth his Hawke. Wherefore [Page 151] in my iudgement it were better at the first to be merry and wise.

To make a Hawke inward at the River, when shee raketh out.

IF it chance that your Hawke rake out with a fowle, and cannot recouer it, and in the end giues it ouer, and comes in againe directly vpon the man, then shall you doe well to cast her out a séeled Ducke. And if shée stoope it, or trusse it, crosse the wings, & suffer her to take her pleasure, rewarding her, and giuing her the heart, braines, tongue, and liuer, with a legge or two, according as you sée occasion. And for default of a quicke Ducke, take her downe to the dry lure, and let her plume a pullet, and feed her vpon it. Thus doing, your hawke will learne to giue ouer a fowle that rakes out, and hearing the Kéeper lure, shée will learne the better to hold in the head, and to make backe againe to the riuer.

To make a flight for a Haggart.

HE that would make a flight for a Haggart, hée shall doe well in my conceit, to flée where there be no Crowes, Choughs, or such like for the first two or thrée flights, because she shall take none occasion to rake out after such checke. And it shall be good also, that you let her not flée out on head too farre at the first, but runne after, and cry to her (Why loe, why loe) to make her turne head. And when shée is come in, take her down with the lure, vnto the which I would haue a quicke Pullet fastened, as before sayd. And you shall suffer her to tyre, plume, and feede as before, &c. It hapneth oftentimes that a Haggart through her gadding moode and gallantnesse of mind, doth rangle out from her kéeper, more thā vpō any other cause. Then shall you clogge her with greater luring bels, and make her a traine or two with a ducke séeled, to teach her hold in, and [Page 152] know the man. You shall not néede to trayne a Haggard so often as a Soarehawke, because they haue beene accustomed to prey for themselues, and doe by experience know one fowle from another. But they doe much better remember eyther the rebukes, or cherishings which are made to them, than Soarehawkes doe: and therefore it behooueth to vse more care and héede about a Haggart, than a Soare Falcon, & aboue all things to take her often downe with the drye lure, and to let her take her pleasure of her reward. And (as Falconers tearme it) to bée euer well in bloud. For otherwise shée will not long be at your commaundement, but make you follow her. (∵)

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How to make your Falcon kill her fowle at the first.

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WHen a Soare Falcon or a Haggard is well lured, and flyeth a good gate, or a reasonable pitch, and stoopeth [Page 154] well, then shall you first cast off a well quarried, or make Hawke, and let her stoope a fowle vppon a brooke or a plashe, and watch her vntill she put it to the plunge: then take downe your make Hawke, and reward her and hoode her vp, setting her a little way off by the flight, that you may vse her helpe afterwards if need be. This being done, take your yong hawke which is not yet entered, and going vp the wind halfe a bowshotte or thereabouts loose her hoode, and softly whistle her off the fist, vntill she haue rowsed or mewted, then let her flée with her head into the wind, hauing first giuen shewe to your company that they be in a readinesse against the Hawke bée at a good gate, and to shew water, and lay out the fowle. This order being obserued, and running and crying as Falconers vse to doe, hawke on your Falcon, and giue her leaue to get vp, and when shée is at a reasonable pitch, and couering the fowle, giue a signe to your companions that they drawe neate to the water, and all at once make in vppon the fowle on all sides the brooke (as Falconers tearme it) to land her: thē if your Falcon stoope, and strike or trusse it, runne in a pace to helpe her, and crossing the fowles wings, let your hawke take her pleasure on it, féeding her as custome is: but if so chance that shée cannot stay it at the first stooping, then you must giue your Hawke respite and time to recouer her gate: And when shée is at her gate againe, and her head in, then lay out the fowle againe as before sayd, vntill you may land it at the last, alwayes remembring that as soone as shée seaze it, you succour her quickly, and reward her according to order. True it is, that to be assured, you shall doe well alwayes to haue a quicke Mallard or Ducke in the hawking bag, whensoeuer you would make a slight: and if your hawke kill not the fowle which is stooped (as often hapneth by many ouerthwart chances) then may you quickly haue recourse to the hawking bag, and féeling your liue Ducke (your hawke being at her pitch, and her head in) you may throw her vp to your Hawke, & reward her, &c. For this order shall alwayes maintaine your Hawke to be inwards, and in good life and blood.

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How to doe when your river hawke will take stand in a tree.

IF you haue a Falcon which (as soone as shée hath once or twice stooped & endewed a fowle) will take stand on a trée, you must asmuch as may be, eschue to flée in places where trées be, and you must haue two or thrée liue traines, and giue them to sundry Falconers, placing them all of purpose, some here, some there: and when your Hawke hath stooped, and would goe to stand, then let him vnto whome the hawke doth most bend, cast out his traine ducke seeled, and if the Falcon stay her, then reward her, &c. And by this meanes shee will leaue that fault, but if in this doing twice or thrice, shée will not leaue that tricke, then the best counsaile I can giue you, is to ridde your hands of such a kite.

To make a hawke fond of the Lure.

WHen your Hawke is well quarrieed, and fléeth well to the riuer, and fléeth a great gate, or a reasonable pitch, then shall you doe well also to make her fond of the lure: for when a Hawke hath stooped once, twice, or thrice, you shall doe well to take her downe with the lure, and to let her kill a Pullet, and feede her vpon it: yea the higher fleeing that a Hawke is, the more néede to take her downe the oftner with the lure, and to regard that you ouerflée her not: For if it happen that a fowle being often stooped, will not spring againe, but will rather fall to diuing (which Falconers call the ploonge) then must you take her with dogges, or kill her with Hawking poles, or vse some such other deuise, and be faine to take downe your Falcon with the lure, and giue her the fowle vpon the lure, féeding and rewarding her with as much delight as you can, to make her fond of the lure. It hapneth oftentimes that many Falcons will hardly become fond of the lure, through the great desire they haue to kill their fowle. [Page 156] To helpe that, I thinke it not sufficient onely to kéep her from often killing, but sometimes you must also take the quarrey out of her foot as soone as shée hath fedde vpon a little of the braines, and hood her vp, then giuing her vnto another to hold: goe from her a bow-shot, and call her to the lure, and so féede and rewarde her well vpon the lure with the fowle that shée killed, and this order will make her fond of the lure.

How to helpe a Hawke when shee is froward and coy through the pride of grease.

SOmetimes a Falcon will become very proude and disdainefull by being ouer high kept, in sort that shée shall not nede to bée fedde nor rewarded according as they feede when they prey of themselues at large: and although shée flée and kill, yet as soone as shée hath plumed a little, let her kéeper take a shéepes heart cold, or the leg of a pullet, and whiles the Hawke is busie in pluming, let the Falconer conuey the hart of the shéepe, or the pullets legge into some part of the body of the fowle, that it may take some taste of it: and when the Hawke hath eaten the braynes, heart, and tongue of the fowle then let him take that forth, and call his Hawke with it vnto the fist, let him féede her therewith, and giue her a little of the feathers in the necke of the sayde fowle, to scowre her & make her cast.

When a Falcon will not holde in the head.

IF a Falcon vse to rake out after checke or otherwise, and leane out so farre, as neyther for whooping, luring, or for casting the Hawkes gloue about your head, shée will come in againe to the flight, but rather still more and more gad out, and so flée away: in this case you must follow after her, [Page 157] luring and whooping a good, proffering her to the lure, to make her put in her head againe: and if she doe turne and come to the lure, then féede and reward her. &c. And doe not fayle in any wise to be fond of her when she commeth to the lure, because she may thereby the better learne to know your voyce, & to come to the lure another time. Holding this order, (especially with Seare-hawkes, or hawkes of the first Cote) they will learne to hold in at the voyce or sight of the lure, yea, and that with such readines as it will bréed admiration in all them that behold it, to sée the excellency of art, what it is able by cunning to atchieue, which truely doth appeare in nothing more than in Hawking.

How to keepe a Hawke high fleeing.

WHen a Hawke is well made to the riuer, you should not flée with her aboue two flights in a morning, but féede her vp although shée kill not: but if shée be a stately high fléeing Hawke, you should not in any wise flée her aboue one flight in a forenoone, for it will bring her downe, and make her fall off her stately pitch by often fléeing, and becomming gréedy and hote of the quarrey. When a good high fléeing Hawke béeing whistled, or cast off the fiste, doth gather vpwards to a great gate, you must haue regard to continue her therein, fléeing with her vpon broade waters and open Riuers, eschewing little brookes, and gullets, and such places as lie near vnder couert, where there be trées, shrubs, and bushes in such sort that it will be very hard to land a fowle handsomely from them, at least not without helpe of dogges, and great clapping and a do. Yea sometimes eke you must of force alight from off your Horse, all which things are able to marre a high fléeing hawke. Forasmuch as crying, clapping of hands, noyse, bawling of dogges, and alighting on foote, and furthermore when a Hawke cannot sée the water vnder her, al these things doe teach her to forget her kindly fléeing, and to [Page 158] play the Kite, houering and winding as the Kite doth in the ayre without any shew of state: and in twice or thrice doing so, shée abateth her gate, and marreth her sléeping. Therefore let the Falconer take good heede to that consideration, and kéepe his hawke alwayes as high fléeing as he can, suffering her but seldome to kill, and not to stoope, beyond twice or thrice at the most, and euen when shée is at the highest, let him take her down with the lure: where when shée hath plumed and broken the fowle a little, let him féed her vp, and by that means hée shall maintaine his Falcon high fléeing, and inward, and very fond of the lure. Here I will not deny but that if shée kill euery day, although shée stoope from a very high gate, yet if shée be not rebuked or hurt therewith, she will doubtlesse become euery day higher fléeing than other, mary therewithall shée will so much forget the lure, as the more you shew it her, the more she will bend from it, and flée out on head from her Kéeper: and oftentimes wil teach you hot poasting iourneys. Wherefore aboue all thinges, the high fléeing hawke should be made inwards, and (as we tearme it) fond of the lure, because it is no lesse prayse worthy in a high fléeing Falcon to make in, and turne head at the second, or third tosse of the lure, and when shée powreth downe like a stone vpon it, than if she had killed: nay rather such are more estéemed than the other. And so is the Falconer more prayse worthy which doth winne his Hawke thereunto. For to come vnto the lure is a thing taught by art and industry, but to kill a fowle is the naturall property of a Hawke.

To make a high fleeing hawke vpwards.

IT hapneth oftentimes that a Hawke (although shee bée naturally high fléeing) will yet belong before she be made vpwards, but will fish and play the slugge: for when she shoulde get vp to couer the fowle, shee will stoope before the fowle bee put out, the which may procéede through two causes. First, it may bee that shée is too sharpe sette, and the second cause [Page 159] may be that shee is flowen withall out of time, eyther too soone or too late. So that when you see a Falcon vse those euill tatches without apparant cause, you shall do well to cast her out a dead fowl or a dead pullet for a dead quarrey (as Falconers tearme it,) and to hoode her vp without any reward, to the end she may take no encouragement to vse those vile trickes: for there is no greater spoyle to an high fléeing Hawke, than when shée killeth a fowle from a base and low pitch, and so much the greater is the losse of her, by how much the more shee doth vse those vile buzardly parts. Therefore by my best experience I prayse that order, to throw her out a dead quarrey and hood her vp: then afterwards within halfe an howre, call her to the lure and féede her, and doe this as often as shee vseth to fish or to play the base flugge on that fashion, and to find whether it procéed of beeing too sharpe set, or of fléeing out of time, the Falconer shall doe well with all diligence to note the naturall disposition of his Hawkes: as which will flée beeing hie and in good plight, and which best, when she is kept low, which will flee best when shee is set most sharpe and eager, and which contrary, and which in a meane betweene both, which earely at Sunne rising, and which when the Sunne is two howres high or more, which sooner, and which later in an euening. For the natures of Falcons are very diuers and sondrie, in such sort as to flee with a hawke at her best howre and time, and to flee with her out of that time, is a thing which will shew as great difference, as between an excellent good Hawke, and a Kite. Therefore let the Falconer haue especiall regard thereunto, setting his Hawkes to flee according to their natures and dispositions, and keeping them alwayes in good order. And heere it is to be noted, that al hawkes, aswell soarhawks, as mewed hawkes and haggartes, should be fet out in the euening two or three houres, some more and some lesse, hauing conuenient regard to their nature, as it is stronger or weaker: and in the morning also, accordingly as they cast, hooding them first, & then setting [Page 160] them abroad a weathering, vntill you get vp on Horsebacke to goe to field, and so your hawkes will alwayes be wel weathered and in good order. These be the best meanes and obseruations which I can set downe for Riuer Hawkes, which if it succeede well to you, then shall you stand assured of your sport, and I of my desire.

To make a Falcon to the Hearon.

NOw to teach you to make a flight at the hearon: although it be the most noblest and stately flight that is, and pleasant to behold, yet there is no such art or industry therein as in the other flights. For the Hawke fléeth the Hearon: moued by nature, as against her proper foe: but to the riuer shée fléeth as taught by the industry & diligence of the Falconer. Then must it néedes follow, that (such Falconers as haue flowen at the riuer, when the end of the moneth of February, or the beginning of March is come, a time when Hearons beginne to make their passage) if you will make those Falcons to that flight, you must cease fléeing at the riuer with them any longer: but you must pull them downe and make them light, the which you shall doe by féeding them with no wilde meats, but the hearts and flesh of Lambs, Calues, and chickens, and calling of them to the lure with other make Falcons, that is to say a cast at once, to the end they may accustome and acquaint themselues one with another, and so may the better flée the Hearon by helping one another, and by succouring each other. Herein you must take good héed so to acquaint them that they crabbe not together, for so would they doe when they come to the flight, whereby they might be in perill to bee spoyled or killed. When your Falcons be skowred and cleane, so as béeing sharpe set, they may be called hungry hawkes, or (as Falconers tearm them) eager hawkes, you must get a liue Hearon, vpon the vpper part of whose bill or truncke you must conuey the ioynt of a réede or Cane, so as shee may not hurt the [Page 161] hawke therewith: that being done, tie the Hearon in a Criance, then setting her vpon the ground, vnhood your hawke, to the end that when she espieth the Hearon, she may flée her: and if she doe so, make in apace to succour her, & let her plume, & take blood of it, allowing her the braines, the marrow of the bones, with the heart all together: (the Italians call it Soppa.) Hauing thus laid it vpon your Hawking gloue, giue it your Hawke: and afterwards rippe the breast of the Hearne, & let your Hawke feed thereon vntill she bée well gorged. This béeing done, hoode her vp vpon the Hearon, suffering her plume thereon with all the fauour that may be: then take her vpon your fist, and let her tyre a little vpon the foote or pynion of the wing. But if a Falconer haue not store of Hearons to traine withall (as often it hapneth, by mean the fowle is rare and daintie,) then may he doe thus: When he hath armed or cased the Hearons tronke with a Cane or réed, as before said, he may take a péece of a Calues skinne, or such other like, as long as the necke of a Hearon, & beginning at the head, continuing to the shoulders & body of the Hearon, let him sew it in proportion & shape of a sheath, that it may arme the hearons necke & head: & afterwards with a pensill, pen, & incke, or such other deuice, let him paint it as like as he can to the necke and head of an hearon, with fethers & euery thing to the purpose. Then let him set the counterfeit Hearon vpon the ground, as before said: and when the Hawke doth flée it and foot it, he must haue a quicke yong Pigeon, the which he must hansomly conuey vnder the Hearons wing, and let the Hawke plume and féede thereon, reseruing the hearon safe for an other time, and to make traine againe with it the next day. Then hauing thereupon rewarded your Hawke, and coyed her sufficiently, you may goe the next day into a meadow, or other conuenient place with your Falcon on your fist: and giuing the Hearon armed as before said, to some other which may holde it vnder his arme a good way off from the Hawke, as halfe an Arrowe shoote or more: Then your Hawke being [Page 162] vnhooded, giue signe vnto him to throw vp the hearon on hie, and if your hawke seaze it, reward and féede her with a pigeon as before saide, dealing familiarly with her, and the third day you may doe again in like manner, causing him that holdeth the traine to hide himselfe as close as he can, and to cast out the Hearon as farre from him as he may. All these being done, and the Hawke hauing thus often taken her train to your liking, you may the fourth day in a fayre field, put out the Hearon without cryance, or arming her at all: and when shée is vp of a reasonable height, you may cast off your Hawke, who if she bind with the Hearon and bring it down, then make in apace to rescue her, thrusting the Hearons bill into the ground, breake his wings and legges that the hawk may the more easily foote and plume it. Then reward her as bountifully as you can with the braines, the marrow of the bones and the heart as is before declared (making her the Italian Soppa) many vse to make a traine another way, which dooth not mislike me, and that is this: they cause one to clime a trée with the Hearon, from thence he casteth her out to the Hawke, and then they let their hawkes flée as before said. But as touching these traines, it behoueth that the Falconer bée of good iudgement, as also in diuers other things. For euen as the Hawke doth flée them with better or worse list and life, so behoueth if that the traines prouided be stronger or weaker accordingly. (∵)

[Page 163]

To make your Hawke flee the wilde Hearon.

[depiction of hawk]

[Page 164]WHen your Hawke will kill a traine lustily, and boldly, then may you goe into the field to finde a wilde Hearon at siege, and when you haue found her, win in as nie to her as you can, and goe with your Hawke vnder the wind, where hauing first loosed her hoode in a readinesse, as soone as the Hearon leaueth the siege, off with her hoode, and let her flée: and if shée clime to the Hearon, and beat her so that shée bring her down, runne in apace to rescue her, thrusting the Hearons bill into the ground, and breaking her wings & legges (as is aforesaide) féede her and reward her vpon your hawking gloue, in manner before declared. But if your hawk should fayle to beate downe the hearon, or doe giue him ouer, then shall you flée the Hearon no more with her, vnlesse it be with some other make hawke, which is well entred, and in good fléeing. And thereby the vnskilfull hawke séeing that other Hawke flée at the Hearon, and bind with her, will take courage and flée eake with that other make-Hawke, eyther little or much, and if they kill the Hearon, then should they be fedde and rewarded together while the quarrey is hot, making them an Italian Soppa as before said. And by this means the coward hawke may be made bold and perfect: But if it chance that any lusty roysting hawke will flée the Hearon of herselfe without trayn, or the Shoueler, the Falconer should let her foote it, plume and breake it vntill shée find blood, and should giue her the Soppa, as Falconers do tearm it, for so they will become much bolder, and the better Hearoners also. But hee that will worke surelie to enter his Hawke at the Hearon, let him helpe her by any practise or means that he can deuise: and these bee the means and preceptes to make a Falcon a good Hearoner.

[Page 165]

Of such Hawkes as flee from the fist, and first of the Sacre.

[depiction of hawk]

YOu must vnderstand that all sortes of Falcons are made to the lure, after one selfe maner, but they are not [Page 166] hawked withall alike: for the Sacres, Lanners, Gerfalcons, Millions, and Merlins, do not flée the riuer, vnles happily the Laners doe, which as I vnderstand doe flée the riuer in France: but they flée not single, but sundry Laners at one time, more than a cast or a leasse of them at once, and so peraduenture doe the Gerfalcon and the Million. Whereof although there be few in this country which are made or flowen withall, yet wil I not spare to write what I haue learned of them by heresay, beginning with the Sacre. I say that they are flowen withall from the fist, in a plaine fielde where there are fewest blocks, or stubs, or such other impediments, but that a man may gallop fréely: men hawke with them to the Hearon, the Kite, and such like, as also at Feazant, Partridge, Quaile, and sometimes at the Hare, but with more than one single Hawke at once as I saide before. And in Cyprus they hawke with them to the Crane with the help of the peregrine Falcon in this order: When they haue found the Crane, the Falconer doth loose his Hawkes hoode in a readinesse, (I meane the peregrine Falcon) & drawing as neare to the Crane as he can vnder the wind, when shée riseth, hee quickly vnhoodeth his hawke, and lets her flée, and after her they cast off a cast or a lease of Sacres, which follow the peregrin Falcon, that leadeth them as the more waighty and valiant Hawke: and because the Crane striueth not at the encounter in defence as the Hearon doth, but alwayes fleeth right forwards, therefore the peregrine Falcon doth seaze vppon the Crane, and buckling with her two or thrée boundes, the Sacres make in and beat her down to the ground vntill the Falconers come in to rescue their hawkes, who spéedily thrusting the Cranes bill into the ground, doe eftsoone breake her wings and legs (as they do the Hearons,) because they doe Hawkes most wrong with their legges and féet: which being done, they reward and féede all their Hawkes vpon the Crane, making them an Italian Soppa vpon their hawking gloue, of the braines, marrow, and the heart, but giuing the [Page 167] peregrine a greater reward than the Sacres, (yet with discretion) they reward them altogether. Those peregrine Falcons which are good for the Crane, are much estéemed in Cyprus of great states, and so much the more, by how much they are more rare and passing in perfection. But here amongst vs this slight is not vsed, as well for that wée haue no such ordinary store of Cranes, as also because our fields are not so playne, and frée without fewel, as theirs are in Cyprus.

This is the order in Cyprus, but in France, the chiefe vse of the Sacre, is to kill the Kite as I haue touched, and partly made you shew in the description of the Sacre, in the former part of this Collection. But by this yée sée, Euery country hath his custome. (∵)

[Page 168]

How to flee with the Lanner from the fish.

[depiction of hawk]

[Page 169]LAnners are much estéemed in France, for they flée with them (a cast or more at once) to the Riuer also. And because they are hawkes (which maintaine long slightes,) they tyre a fowle in such sorte, that with dogges and hawking poles they kill many, and by that meanes they spoyle more with a Laner, than with a better hawke. Thus much I haue heard by credible reports. These Laners are flowen withall at Partridge also & Feazant, and some say that many of them proue very good therefore. But in Italie they vse no such fléeing, pereduenture because there is no great skill in it. If you would flée with a Laner, you must kéep her maruailous short and sharpe set. For they are of the same nature that a Sacre, and that one (in manner) is made euen as that other is: and because they kéepe their castings long, by reason they are hard metteld hawkes, you shall not giue them casting of cotton, but of towe, or knottes of Hempe, or the shauing of a Hasell wand. And if you giue them any cotton casting, yet put the towe or knottes of Hempe on the outside of it, and so because they take small pleasure therein, they wil cast the sooner. Let this suffice to be said of these kinds of hawks, because they are ordinary, & their natures too well known of all men.

To hawke with the Gerfalcon and the Mylion.

I Will speake some few words of the Gerfalcon and the Milion, which are all (in manner) of one nature, as the hawkes last rehearsed, and are made to the lure in the selfe same manner. These hawkes (as far as I haue vnderstood) do not flée the Riuer, but alwaies from the fist they flée the Hearons, Shouelers, and the Kite with the forked tayle, and at such other flights. In going vp to their gate, they holde not that course or way which other Falcons doe. For they clime vp vpon the traine when they finde any fowle, and as soone as they haue reached her, they plucke her down, if not at the first [Page 170] yet at the second or third encounter. They are fedee and rewarded as other Falcons are: they are very crafty of nature, and couet to kéepe their castings long through sloth. Therefore you shall not giue them casting of Cotton, hut of Tow, Hasell, or hard things, as you shall do the Sacre and Laner. And you must kéepe them likewise very eager and sharpe set. It is a Hawke that is flowen withall by great states & Princes most commonly. And therefore I will write no more of it, as one that haue no great practise thereof.

To flee with the Merlyne at the. Partridge.

IF you will flée with the Merlyne at Partridge, chuse the formall, which is the larger, for they onely will proue good thereunto. And in trayning or making the Iacke, you should but loose your time. When you haue made the formall Merline to the lure, in maner before described, and that shée will likewise abide the hoode, you must make her a traine with a Partridge, if you can get any, if not, then with some other liue bird, in such order as hath béene set downe to trayne other hawkes. And if shée foote and kill it, then reward her, suffering her to take her pleasure on it, &c. This being done, you may straightwayes flee with her the wild Partridge: and if shée take it at the first flight (which seldome hapneth,) or if shée flée it, to mark and take it at the second flight, being retryued by the Spaniels, féede her vpon it with a reasonable gorge, chéering her with your voyce in such sort, that she may know the same. But if she proue not hardy at the first traine, then you shall doe well to proue her with another train, before you flée with her at the wild game. But if at the second traine she proue not hardy, it is a token that shee is cowardly, and nothing worth. (∵)

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To flee with the Merlyne at the Larke and Lenet.

[depiction of hawk]

I Like it well that men flée with a cast of Merlines at once at the Larke or the Lenet. For ouer and besides that they of themselues loue company and to flée together, they doe also giue greater pleasure or delight to the lookers on. For now [Page 172] that one (at the stooping) strikes the birde, and then that other at her downe come: and when that one climeth to the mowntie aboue the Larke, then that other lyeth low for her best aduantage, which is most delectable to behold. Yea and sometimes the poore birds become so fearefull, that they shrowde themselues in the houses and chambers of such as dwell neare the fieldes. So that both the birde and the Hawke are oftentimes taken both together by the countryman. And therfore it shall not be amisse to tye vnto their Iesses or Bewets some veruile bearing the armes of their owner & master, (as if they were falcons) to the end they may be restored vnto them. But to returne to my purpose, I say that when the Merlynes are throughly manned, and made gentle, you may carry them into the field, where hauing found a Larke or a Lenet, (making loose her hoode) you must goe as neare as you can into the wind to the bird. And as soon as the bird riseth from the ground, vnhoode your cast of Merlyns, and cast them to flée vntill they haue beaten downe the Larke or Lenet, and let them féede on her for their labour indifferently. But herewithall note that there is a kind of Larks, (called cutte Larkes) which doe not mount as the long spurd field Larke doeth, but flée foreheade before the Merlyn. In any case let them not flée such Larkes, for neyther will they make you like pastime, nor yet can you flée them without danger of léesing your Merlynes.

Of the time to mewe a Falcon.

LEtte vs now speake of the order how to mewe hawkes, and of the Mewes. First, to speake of Falcons, they may bée flowen withall vntill Saint Georges day, that is about the middest of Aprill. Then set them downe. And you must diligently marke, whether they haue any lyse or not. And if they haue, pepper them to kill the sayde lyse, and skowre them before you cast them into the mewe. That being done, you may put them into the mewe. There [Page 173] are two sundry sorts of mewing, that is to say, mewing loose at large, or at the Stocke: and I will first speake of this last kind of mewing.

Of mewing at the Stocke or the Stone.

THe place wherein you should mew a hawke at the stocke, should be a low parler or chamber vpon the ground, farre from any noyse or concourse of people, and situate towards the North or Northeast. Place therein a table of a conuenient length, for the number of your Falcons, and let it bée fiue or sixe foot broad at the least, with little thinne boardes or planckes all alongst the sides and ends, nayled on foure fingers high. And let this Table be set on trestles of two foot high, or thrée foot high from the ground, and fill these Tables with great sand, which hath prety little round péeble and grauell stones in it: in the midst whereof you may place some great frée stones a Cubite high, made like vnto a pillar, flat in the bottome, and playne & smooth aboue, growing by péecemeale lesse and lesse vnto the toppe of them, Whereunto let your hawkes be tyed, eyther Falcon, Gerfalcon, Myllion, or Merlyne. Then take a small cord of the bignesse of a bowstring or little more, put it through a ring, and binde it about the stone in such sort that the ring or swyvle may goe rounde about the stone without any stoppe or let: And thereunto tye the lease of a Falcon, which may so stand vpon the said stone being set in the sand. But you must haue regard, that (if you mew moe Falcons than one at once in one roome) you set your stones one so farre from another, that when your hawkes bate, they may not reach one another for crabbing. The great stones are set, for that a Falcon féeling the freshnes and coolenes of the stone, will delight to sitte still vppon it, & the litle grauel stones are, because a hawke will oftentimes swallow them to coole her within, and will kéepe them sometimes [Page 174] two or thrée howres, or more within her. The sand also is necessary, because when they bate, they shal not marre their feathers, and also because thereby their mewts are the easlier cleansed, and to be remoued from them. The litle cord or bend with the ring on it, are tyed about the stone, because the Falcon bating this way and that way, she shall neuer twind nor tangle, because the ring followeth her still. All day your Falcons should bée hooded vpon the stone, vnlesse it be when they would féed, for then onely you must take them on the fist vntill they haue sed. At night off with their hoodes, and because sometimes inconueniences doe happen by night, the Falconer may doe well to haue his bed in the mew, that hée may the sooner, and in time helpe or redresse any thing that shall happen amisse amongst his hawkes.

Of mewing at large.

IF you mould mew your Falcon at liberty, and at large, then must you mew but one at once in one roome, and yet if the circuit of your mew be great and capable inough, there may two, thrée, or foure Falcons bee mewed therein well inough (with diuisions.) The scope for one Falcon must bée 12. foote square, & as much in height, or therabout, with two windows a foot and a halfe broad, or two foot broad at the most. Wherof the one should open towardes the North, whereby the mewe may alwayes receiue fresh cold ayre, and the other towardes the East, for the heat and comfort of the Sun. And each of these windowes should haue his close casementes on the outside, to shut when you list, eyther one or both of them, according as occasion serueth. If your hawke be a madbraine Kite, & a great bater, then should it be best that this mew or chamber were on the ground, which if it be so, you must couer the ground with grosse sand foure fingers thicke, and thereupon set a stone in such sort as before said, because Falcons do couet to stand vpon a stone. And therwithal you must make her two [Page 175] handsome perches, neare to each window one, that sitting on the one, shee may haue the comfort of the Sunne, and on the other, the fresh of the coole ayre, and euery wéeke, or at least euery fortnight, you must set her a latten bason, or a vessell of stone or earth, and at euening fill it with water, that your hawke may to the water, if shee desire it. And if she doe hath therein, then take it away the night following, and haue regard that your bason, panne, or such other vessell bee of such bignes and depth, that a Hawke may therein commodiouslie hath at ease. Your mew must also haue a Portall, wherein there may be a little hole below to conuey in the deuise wheron their meat is serued, called amongst the Falconers, the Hacke. And that must bée made on this fashion. Take a péece of thicke boord, a foot and halfe long, and a foot broad, or therabouts, vnder the which fasten two little trestles, thrée or foure fingers hie. Let them be fast pinned or nayled to. Then with an awger or a pearcer, boare two holes on each side thereof, and through each of these put a short corde of the bignes of a bow-string, with the ends downward, through the holes, and knots fast knit on them vnder the button of the boord, so straight knit, that you cannot rayse the cord aboue the boorde more than a fingers breadth, or there abouts. And when you would giue your Hawkes meat, take a little sticke somewhat longer than the Hacke, and as bigge as your finger, but let it be of strong wood, as Crabtrée, Holly, or such like. And vpon that sticke binde your hawkes meat, and put the ends of the sticke vnder the cords, vpon the Hacke, and so conuey it into the mew to your hawkes, because the hawke shall not trusse or dragge her meat away into the mew, but may féede there. And as soone as shee hath gorged her and fed, take it away againe. And it is be vnderstood, that if you mew more thā one hawke single, then you must haue for euery hawke her seuerall Hacke. And it shall be good to kéepe one set howre in féeding your hawke, for so shall they mew sooner and better: and thus may you mew hawkes (loose and at large.) But [Page 176] vnlesse it be a Falcon which is so hote and madbrayned, that you are forced to mew her so at large.

In mine opinion it shall be better to mew at the Stocke or Stone, as before said, or else to mew them at the grate, (as we call it.) For in that kind of mewing wee take our hawkes on the fiste euery day, and so may see in what plight and state they be. And if they be sicke, or fallen into any infirmity, then may you giue them such medicines as shall be declared in the next diuision, the which cannot bee done when you mew at large. And therefore I commend the mewing at the Grate, because many times our happe is to haue Haggarts, or Passengers, or Lentiners, the which haue flowen eyther to the riuer, or preyed for themselues. So that it shall bée néedefull to beare them often and euery morning in the coole ayre, vntill midde Iuly, or more, or lesse, according as you shall see them ramage and coy, yea and to call them to the lure, and to ride abroad with them also sometimes an howre or two, in the fresh ayre. And it shall be a thing most necessary for a haggart or a hawke that hath preyed for her selfe, eyther more or lesse. This I haue obserued in mine owne experience, & me thinks it an aduertisement worthy the noting vnto all Falconers. Sundry Gentlemen doe vse to mew their hawkes on the pearch, which truely I can most commend, as well for that they are then assured to bée clean fedde, as also to be dayly perused for life, wormes, and other diseases, wherto they are by nature subiect. (∵)

[Page 177]

How to mew Marlins.

[depiction of hawk]

MArlins are also worth the mewing, if they bee hardie, and haue flowen well in their soarage. For although some men be of opinion, that a mewed Marlin is seldom good & that they are not possible to be mewed: yet haue I had Marlins that (being good in their soarage) haue proued much better [Page 178] when they were mewed. So that I would wish him that hath a good Merlyn to mew her: for surely, if you can mew them, they will proue better & better. Some men in the mew do vse to cast meale about their Merlyns, because they should not eate theyr féet: but aswell because they may eat their féete howsoeuer they were mewed, if that were their property: as also because in those that I haue mewed, I haue found no such cruelty vsed towards themselues: therefore I count it but a fable, nor will giue any other rules in the matter, than such as I haue prescribed already for the mewing of Falcons, & such like long winged hawkes.Addition. [Onely this if you shall line her pearch or stocke with a blacke Cony skinne, & kéepe her mew close, shée will doe much better.]

Of Goshawkes.

YOu shal not néed to shew any other game to a Goshawke for her first entring, than a Partridge, because in learning to flée the Partridge they proue most excellent. And the first yeare you shall doe best to flée them to the field, and not to the couert, for so will they learne to hold out, (and not to turne tayle) in the middest of their flight. And when they be mewed hawkes, you may make them doe what you will: and vnderstand you, that you shall not néede to take such pain, nor to vse such art in making of a Goshawke which is taken a brancher, as with a Nyasse, for she will alwayes know of her selfe what to doe. Yea and it shall be rather better to let her bée a little ramage still, than to man her ouer much. Her féeding would bée good and hote meats. And if you would instruct her to kill great fowles, make hor trains therof, as I haue shewed in the treatie of Falcons. And if you would haue her continue at those flights, then you must not let her flée any lesser fowles, for that would quickly mar her. If you would make her to flée with a Spaniell or dog to helpe and assist her, then féede your Goshawke with great fowles, as Cranes, Wildegéese and such like, and giue your dogge flesh tyed vnder the [Page 179] wings of such fowles when you train your hawke with them, and let your dog be rewarded with the said flesh, when you reward yeur Hawke vpon the traine: and alwayes acquaint the dog and the hawke well together. And this order you shal obserue for a moneth, or vntill your dogge will throughly know his dutie. And euermore kéepe your dogge tyed vp: for if you let him goe loose, it will marre him if he were the best that euer was. And neuer giue him reward of flesh, but whē he maketh in at such fowles to rescue the Hawke. Call your Goshawke to none other thing than to your fist. Yet sometimes you may take her downe with a dead Pullet or such like. And oftentimes spowte good wine vpon your Hawks Seare, obseruing the order to set her to the water, as is before rehearsed in the Treatise of Falcons. Euermore note that a Goshawke (for that she is dainty) would be cured with swéete thinges ministred in all such receites as you shall giue her.

[Page 180]

To make fleeing the Goshawke, eyther Nyasse or Ramage.

[depiction of hawk]

YOu shall first obserue many thinges already written of other kinds of Hawkes: as to séele and watch your hawk, [Page 181] winne her to feed, to the hoode, and to the fist, and diuers other such points which should be but tedious to rehearse. Therfore let me write of the order how to make a flight w^t a Goshawk, either Niasse or Ramage, the which is very hard to doe well. And for my part I would not counsell any man to trouble himselfe much with them. But if any man haue a Nyasse, or Ramage Goshawke, whereof he would see the proofe, let him man her, and make her to the fist: then let him enter her first to young Partridges, vntill it be Nouember. In which time the fieldes are ridde cleane, and become emptie, and the trees bare of leaues: then may you enter her to the olde Rewen, setting her short and eager. And if she kil at first, or second flight, féede her vp for three or four times with the Partridge which she hath killed: by that means I haue seene some of them come to good perfection.

To make the Soare Goshawke or the Haggart Goshawke.

YOur Soare Goshawkes, or your Haggarts, shal be trimmed with Iesses, Bewets and Bells, as soon as they come to your hands: and you shall by all meanes make them abide the hoode well, the which will be best brought to passe, kéeping them seeled, and hooding and vnhooding them oftentimes, & teaching them to feede on the fist three or foure dayes, more or lesse vntill they leaue their ramagenesse and coynesse, & become gentle: that being done, vnseele them at night by candlelight, causing them to plume or tyre vyon a wing or legge of a Pullet, and vse your hawkes gently, and deale the best with them that you can deuise, vntill you haue throughly manned and won them, and that in secret places where they may not see much light, setting them vpon a pearch, and vsing all diligence to make them impe to the fist by little and little, vntil at last they will come three or foure yardes from you, and feeding them most with the legges of Pullets or Calues hearts: then you may goe into a garden, or into a close abroad, and causing [Page 182] them to féed first a bit or two vpon your fist, with their hoods on, and afterwards asmuch with their hoods off, cast thē down fayre and softly to some pearch, and make them come from it to your fist, eyther much or little, with calling and chirping to them, saying: Towe, Towe, or Stowe, Stowe, as Falconers vse, & when they come féede them, crying & calling stil to make them acquainted with your voyce, The next day you may call them with a Criance, setting them vpon a pearch vntill they come vnto you further off, feeding and rewarding them liberally to make them loue you. And when they come to the fist readily, & without checking or ramagenesse, then lay a little from you a dead pullet vpon the ground, the hawk sitting vpon the pearch and calling and chirping to her, if she come and seaze the pullet let her plume her, and féed a pit or two theron, walking about her vntill you may without danger or mouing of her, come neare and take her vpon your fist, and so féede her: That being done, let her tyre and plume. Here I must aduertise you that the wing of a pullet cold, is not good féeding for a Hawke: for it will make a Hawke sicke: But the legs eyther hote or cold may be giuen. And likewise you shal mark that I would haue you cast out a Pullet to a Goshawke dead, and not aliue: for these kind of hawkes are much enclined of nature to play the Poulters. So that if you should vse to throw them out liue poultry, it might make thē somtimes when they flée, turn taile to the Partridge, and seaze the pullets or chickens which they shall sée in husbandmens yards and backsides when they flée. Or in like maner when they are set to bath at length of their loines, the which would not only marre them, and make them full of ill properties, but also might cause the ignorant people, (as women and boyes) to kill them in stead of a Puttocke. When you haue thus called your Goshawke abroade two or thrée dayes, vntill she be well cunning, you shall take her on your fist, and get vp on horsebacke with her, and so riding w^t her the space of an houre or thereabouts, vnhood and hoode her sometimes, and giue her a bitte or two of me at in the presence and sight of your Spaniels, because shée shall not be afearde of [Page 183] them. That being done, set her on a trée with a little short Cryance tyed to her loines, and going seuen or eight yardes from her on horsebacke, call her to your fist with such voyce and words as Falconers vse: and if she come, giue her two or thrée bits for reward, and cast her vp againe to the trée, then throw out the dead pullet eight or ten yards from her. If shée flée to it, and seaze it, let her féed thrée or foure bits vpon it, riding the meane while about her on horsebacke, and rating backe your Spaniels, because they shall not rebuke her at first, and so make her euer after fearefull of dogges. Then alight off your horse, gently take her vpon your fist, féed her, and when you haue so done, hoode her, and let her plume or tyre. Here I will say for mine owne opinion, that a deade Partridge, or a counterfeit Partridge, made with the very plumage, wings and tayle of a Partridge, were much better to throw out vnto your Gosshawke, because it would make her both know Partridge the better, and Poultrie the lesse.

[Page 184]

To make a Goshawke flee to the Partridge.

[depiction of hawk]

WHen your Go shawk is thus manned and cunning, then may you goe into the field with her, carrying [Page 185] with you a traine Partridge if need be: and vnhooding your Hawk, bear her as quietly as you can: you may let her plume or tyre a litle to make her eager. And if the Partridge spring, let her flée: if she marke one, or two, or more on the ground, then goe to her fayre and softly, and manacing her with your hand, or with a wand, cause her to take Pearch on some trée thereby. Then if you can retriue the Partridge with your spaniels, as soone as it springeth, you must cry Howit, Howit: and if she flee it to the marke againe, you must put her to a trée, and retriue it the second time, crying when it springeth as before said. And if she kill it, féed her vp with it: but if so chance that the Spaniels should take it, as oftentimes hote Spaniels light vpon the Partridge, being eyther flown out of breath, or otherwise surcharged with feare: then alight from your horse quickly, & taking it from the Spaniel, cast it out to your hawk crying, (ware hawke ware) and let her féed her fil on it. The next day you shal not flee with her, because hauing fed & rewarded her with bloody meat, she wil not so soon be in good case to flée againe. For such meat is not so easily endewed by a hawke, as the leg of a chicken or such like. Vsing her thus thrée or four times, she will be well in blood, and become well fléeing at this pleasant field-flight.

How to helpe a Hawke that turneth tayle to tayle, and giveth over her game.

IT hapneth oftentimes, that when you haue let your Goshawk flée at a Partridge, she wil neyther kill it, nor flée it to mark, but turneth tayle to tayle, as Falconers term it: that is when she hath flown it a bowshot or more, shée giueth it ouer and takes a trée. Then shall you call in your Spaniels to the retryfe, that way that your hawke flew the Partridge. And the Falconer drawing himselfe that way, may cast her out a quicke Partridge which he shall carry for such purposes in his Hawking bagge, in such sort as the Hawke may sée it, and thinke that it is the same which she flew. And so crying when [Page 186] you cast it out, ware Hawke ware, make her seaze it, & feede her vpon it, that she may be encouraged thereby to flée out with a Partridge. The day following you shal not flée with her, as is before said, but prepare her against the third day, and set her sharpe: and if then also your Goshawke giu [...]er, serue her with a quicke Partridge againe. But if shée [...] it the thirde time, I would not wish you to trouble your selfe any longer with such a vile Buzard, but ridde your handes of her, for sure it is great oddes that shée will neuer proue good. And yet if any man will trie his Hawke to the vttermost, than let him make her flée a Partridge which is flowne to the marke with some other well entered Hawke, at the first or second flight. And if she kill that, let him feed and reward her well, vsing her to such flights thrée or fouretimes, and so peraduenture shée may learne to holde out, and maintaine her flight the better.

When a Goshawke will not flee at all.

FOrasmuch as the Goshawks which are takē in September or October, doe not know their prey so well as they which are taken later, since they haue not preyed so long as those old, it hapneth many times that when they are made to the fist, and brought euen to the point to flée, if you let them flée at a Partridge, they take a trée and will not flée at all. To redresse that, you shall goe into a plaine fielde where are no trées, with a quicke Partridge, the which you shall giue to some of your company, your selfe shall ride vp and down half an houre with your Hawke vpon your fist vnhooded: & then drawing near to your companion which hath the Partridge, when you come within ten or twelue paces of him, let him priuily cast out the Partridge, and let your Hawke flée at it: which done, reward and féed her wel thereupon. If peraduenture your Goshawke haue néed of more such trains, then you may continue it thrée or foure times, vntil shée be well in blood [Page 187] with such flights: But surely such Hawkes are not greatly to be regarded. The same that is said of Goshawkes, is to be vnderstood also of Tercels. And alwayes remember, that the dext day after you haue rewarded and fed your Hawke vpon the fowle or bird that she killeth, féed her the next day with a shéeps heart, or hens legs betimes in the morning, to bring her in order againe to flée.

To make a Goshawke flee quickly.

SOare Goshawkes (especially Niasses) are commonly very fond of the man, and therfore should bée flowne with a little more ramage, and before they be throughly reclaymed, for else oftentimes within two or thrée strokes with theyr wings, they will giue ouer the fowle that they flée, & return straight againe to their Kéeper. Therefore remember to flee with them as soone as you can, and that vntill they be perfectly nousled and in blood. They must also be set in places where they sée not many folke, for feare they become very fond of the man: But when they haue flowne, and haue killed twice or thrice, then set them where people and dogges frequent, the which shall bée necessary to preuent the inconueniences which might happen, when they are at marke neare to a house, or vpon a high way, if then they should bée discouraged with sodaine sight of any person that went by. And yet by this aduertisement of fléeing quickly with a Soare Goshawke or a Nyasse, I might make some Falconer learne a worse mischiefe, if by fléeing ouer-soone with his Hawke, hee should pull her downe, or make her poore, the which would cause her to become fearefull and cowardly, and to giue ouer a Partridge, as I haue séene diuerse, that although they were at the first very towarde Hawkes, yet after they haue béene once pulled downe, they haue lost theyr courage and goodnesse. And therefore by what meanes soeuer a Goshawke or Tercell, shall become poore, it shall bée the Falconers parte first to sette her vppe againe, [Page 188] before he flée with her, vnlesse it be some Goshawke (whereof there are but few) which will not flée when she is hie, & in good plight. Then the Falconer may somewhat bate her flesh and pinch her with scouring, washt meat, and such like deuises: But let him alwayes rather kéep his Hawke in such wise that she may flée when she is lustie: & therewithall let him set her abroad (when it is not ouer cold) betimes in the morning for one howre or twaine. For being so weathered, when she hath flowne a Partridge to the marke, shée will not away, vntill it be retriued by the Spaniels.

That a Goshawke being a good Partridger, bee not flowne with to the Feasant.

IF your Goshawke be once a good Partridger, beware that you let her not flée the Pout, or the Feasant, for the feasant fléeth not so long a flight as the Partridge doth. And therfore the Goshawke being naturally more rauenous and desirous of prey than any other Hawke, would more delight to flée a short flight to the Feazant, and will care lesse to hold out at a Partridge True it is that some are good for both, but those are very rare: And therefore you must haue consideration thereof, as also to kéepe them in good order with fléeing, bathing, weathering, tyring, pluming, and diuerse other points of Falconrie, the which do serue also for tercels aswel as for goshawks.

How to vse a Haggart Goshawke.

THe traynes which you vse to giue soare Goshawkes and Nyasses, are not so requisite for a haggart. For the Soarehawkes and Nyasses when they are made to the fist, & to seaze a pullet vpon the ground, wil then abide & neuer soare away, and may immediatly be flown withall at a Partridge, so that you beare a liue traine Partridge with you to serue her if néed be, as hath been heretofore declared in entring of other hawks. [Page 189] And the principal point of consideration is, that you encourage any hawke well at the first. In fléeing with a Goshawke, it hapneth oftentimes that fléeing in the snow, and killing their prey vpon the ground, they fill their belles with snow, so that the Falconer canot tell where to finde them. At such times then, fasten a bell vpon the two couert feathers of your Hawkes Stearne or Trayne, and that aloft neare to her rumpe. For so doe the Falconers of Dalmatia vse at all times of the yeare to flée with their Hawkes. And it is a good meane to know at all times where, and what is become of your Hawke.

[Page 190]

To flee with a Goshawke to the Riuer.

[depiction of hawk]

NOw I haue (in mine owne iudgement) set downe as much as is necessarie, to make a Goshawke perfect in [Page 191] killing of a Partridge or any other field flight: I will also declare how you may flée to the Riuer with a Goshawke, and how you may kill great Fowles with her. A Goshawke (but no Tercell) may flée to the riuer at Mallarde, Ducke, Goose, Hearon, and such like, whether it be because the proueth not to the field, or for any other delight that she or her kéeper hath to the Riuer. And you shal hold this order in making her, the which doubtles shall bring her to perfection: for Goshawkes do more willingly flée such flights than at any other. And yet is there great difference seene in the proofe of them: for some of them proue much hardier & better than some other doe. Well, the Falconer shall first make his Goshawke to the fist, in such sort as I haue prescribed, when I taught to flée them vnto the field. Then must he carrie her into the field without bels, with a liue Ducke giuen vnto one of his companions. And the Falconer must haue with him a little drum or taberd fastned to the pommel of his saddle, together with the sinew of an oxe leg dried, which shal serue him to strike vpon his drumslet or taberd: and causing his companion to hide himselfe in a ditch or pitte, with the Ducke tyed to a Cryance, his Hawke being vnhooded vpon his fist, he shall draw towards his companion which standeth so hid in couert.There hath beene vsed a kind of flight with a Goshawk called the flight made to the becke, and it is like to this, but it is much surer and better. And when hée is neare him within two or three paces, or little more, hée shall strike vppon his Tabarde twice or thrice: and his Companion hearing him, shall throw out the Ducke aloft. And let the Falconer cast off his Goshawke to it, and if she take it at the Sowrce, let him reward her and féede her with a reasonable gorge, making her all the cheare that may be: then let him take her vpon his fist and hoode her, suffering her to plume or to tyre vpon a wing or a leg of the Ducke. The next day hée shall not flée with her, as before I haue admonished. But the third day he may go again in like maner with his companion, or else may seeke some water plash or pitte where Wildefowle lye, as Teales, or such like. Prouided alwayes that he seeke the aduantage of his flight, where the Banckes bee [Page 192] high: for the higher that the banks be, the better he may come to make his flight: and in such a place, hee and his companion, one on the one side, that other on the other, may ride fayre and softly vntill they find fowle, and yet put them not vppe. When they haue found them, both of them shall draw backe along by the banke, and the Hawke beeing vnhooded, they shall trotte both of them right vpon the fowle with their horses. When they bee neare them, he which hath the Tabarde shall beate it, so that the Fowle may rise, and then he may let flée his Hawke: and if shée take any of them at Sowrce, let him make in to her apace, and crosse the Fowles winges, so that shée may foote it, and plume it at her pleasure, rewarding her as before, &c. And the better to encourage her, when he hath hooded her, let him set her vpon the Fowle, and let her plume it her fill, and after let him take her on his fist, and giue her a wing or a leg of the fowle to tyre on: And the next day let him not flee, &c. And when his Hawke is throughly nouzled and in blood, then hee may flee twice in a day or oftner with her, rewarding her as before is expressed. Vsing his Hawke thus, hee shall so well encourage her, that hee may flée the oftner with her at his pleasure.

Of fiecing the Wilde-goose and Crane with a Goshawke.

SOme delight to flee Wildgeese and Cranes with a Goshawke, and such other great flights. And the traine must be made in this wise: When the Hawke is made to the fist as before said, let him goe on foote abroad into the field with his Goshawke on his fist, carrying with him a wildgoose or a tame Goose of the colour of a wilde-goose, tyed by the tayle with a Cryance. And hauing sette her on the ground eight or tenne Paces from him, lette him vnhoode the Hawke, and twitch the Goose with the Cryance vntill hee make [Page 193] it stirre and flicker with the winges. Then if his Goshawke bate at it, cast her off, and runne in to succour her, so that the Goose beate her not with her wings, for discouraging her. And if he haue store of traines, then he shall reward and féede her on the braines, heart, and thigh of that which hée trayned withall. But if hee haue no store, then it shall bée néedefull to saue that for another traine. This done, let him closely conuey a pigeon vnder the wing of the traine, and reward his hawke therewith, as hath beene heretofore declared in the traines to the Hearon. And the next day let her not flée, but set her down, &c. The third day he may giue her another traine somewhat further off. And the third train hee shal giue it her on horsebacke, fiftie or threescore paces off at the least, or so farre off as hee may come in to succour his hawke in time. His hawke being thus trayned and entred hee may ride out with his hawke (without belles, because the Géese shall not rise before the Falconer haue brought his Hawke to the vantage) then with his Tabard to beate it vp, & so foorth, whereof I haue told before. And hauing found any wilde géese, he shall shew them to his hawke, who being naturally mooued, will make from the fist to them, and will flee low by the ground, vntill shée come neare them. Then the Falconer shall ride after apace, and strike vpon his Tabarde, vntill hée rayse the wildgéese. And if his Hawke seaze any of them at Source, hée shall quickly succour her, and reward her, &c. But forasmuch as wilde Géese will rise as soone as they sée any body. Therefore the Falconer must teach his Hawke to take the aduantage, which is thus done: As soone as hée hath found them a farre off, lette him alight from his horse, and carry his Hawke vnhooded behind his horse, stawking towardes them, vntill hée haue gotten reasonably neare them, holding downe his hawke couerte vnder the horse necke or body, in such sorte that shée may finde the Géese. Then the Falconer shall runne [Page 194] in apace, and strike vpon his Tabarde, to rayse the Géese. And if she kill any of them, rewarde her, &c. Vsing his hawke in this order, she may be made to kill two or thrée, or more, in a day. And in like manner may shee be made to the Crane: And in like sort may hee creepe to flee at fowle which lye vpon pits or pondes. First shewing them to his Hawk, and letting her draw to them, and then running in to put them vppe with his Tabarde. But the Falconer must take héed, that as long as he may finde great flights, hée flée not at smaller fowle, to the end his Hawke way continue the more boldly to flée great flights. For a man may soone make a Hawke a cowarde, and a slugge. Yet some there bée (but those are very rare) which fleeing at all kindes of Fowles, become still hardier and hardier, and better and better. Now hauing written sufficiently of such flights, I will passe ouer to teach the meanes to mewe a Goshawke.

To mew a Goshawke.

WHen you haue flowen eyther with Goshawke or Tercel, Soar, or Haggart, vntill March, giue her some good quarrey in her foot, and foreséeing that shée be cleane from lyse, cut off the buttons of her Iesses, and throw her into the mew, the which may bée a roome eyther below, or on the ground, set towards the North if it bee possible. And as for the bignesse, so that it be not too little, lette it be as large as you will, and let the pearches therein be lyned with Cannas or cotton, so that the hawke hurte not her féete there vppon: for thereby shée might catch eyther the gowte; or the pynne. Let the mewe also haue a window toward the East, and another toward the North, to take fresh ayre, and the comforte of the Sunne. You shall also prouide in the same mewe, a Bason or other vessell for water, and euery thrée dayes at the most, change and shift the water. And feede [Page 195] your hawke eyther with Pygeons, or with Quailes, or else with hote flesh of a Weather or gelded Goate, for that will make her mew well and quickly.

To draw the Goshawke out of the Mewe.

ABout the beginning of October, if you perceiue your Goshawke faire mewed, and hard penned, then giue her eyther chickens, or Lambes hearts, and Calues hearts, by the space of 20. dayes together, to skowre her, and to make her slise out the slimy substance, and glytte out of her pannell, and to enseame her (as Falconers tearme it.) That being done, one euening you may draw her out of the mew, and new furnish her with Iesses, belles, & Bewets, and of all other things that shall bée néedefull. And when you haue féeled her, keepe her so séeled two or thrée dayes, vntill she will be gently hooded. And thereof a Falconer ought to haue a speciall regard. For commonly all mewed hawkes are as coy to bée hooded, as when they were first taken. But when you haue won her to abide the hoode gently, then in an euening by candle light you may vnséele her, and the next day you may goe about to shew her the fist and the gloue. And as I haue before aduised you to deale with Haggarts, or hawkes new taken from the Cage, you shall not forget to let her tyre and plume morning and euening, giuing her somtimes in the morning, when her gorge is emptie, a little Sugar Candie, for that will helpe her maruailously to endew. Sometimes also when shée is emptie in gorge and panell, you shall giue her skowrings of Aloes Cicatryne, Cloues and Stauesaker, wrapped in a little péece of cotton, or in towe, or linnen cloth. But hereof shall hée written more plainely in the treatise of medicines.

To make a mewed Goshawke fleeing.

WHen the Falconer shall perceyue his Goshawke to féede eagerly, and perceiueth by his iudgement that [Page 196] she is enseamed, and that hee may boldly flée with her: then let him goe with her into the field, and finding Partridge, if the hawke bate at them of her owne accord, it is a token, that shée is empty, and ready to flée: but if shee bate not, then doth it betoken the contrary. Therefore in such case féed her still with washt meats, and thinges conuenient, as long as you shall think requisite. For doubtles if she be once throughly enseamed and ready, shée will flée of her owne accord. And then if shée kill, féede and reward her, as hath béene before declared. But if shée flée to the marke with a Partridge, then you must retriue it and serue her as is also before expressed.

[Page 197]

How to keepe Nyasse Sparowhawkes.

[depiction of hawk]

SParowhawkes are to bee considered as all other kindes of hawkes are, according to their age and disposition. Some of them are named Nyasses, some Braunchers, some Soarehawkes, and some mewed hawkes: Some also Haggarts, [Page 198] béeing mewed in the woode, they are called Nyasses, which are taken in the eyrée. Branchers are those, that hauing forsaken the eyrée, are fodde by the old hawke vpon the boughes and branches neare about the eyrée, and thereupon they are called Branchers: afterwards they are called Soarehawks. They are called Soarehawkes, because when they haue forsaken the wood, and beginne to prey for themselues, they flée vp aloft vpon pleasure, which with vs Falconers is called soaring. Mewed hawkes are all hawkes that haue once or more shifted their feather: and Haggarts are they which prey for themselues, & doe also mew themselues eyther in the wood, or otherwise at large. To beginne with the Nyasse which is of greatest difficulty to bring vnto any perfection, you must first féede her in some fresh coole Chamber or parler vpon the ground. And the same chāber should haue two windows not very large, whereof that one should open towards the North, and that other towards the East, to take the fresh coole ayre, or the comfort of the Sunne at her pleasure. These windowes must be open, barred ouerthwart with lathes, or thin bordes, so thicke that neyther your hawkes may gette out, nor your Catte may come in. And in this Chamber caste and strew Vine leaues, and other fresh leaues. For it refesheth a hawke maruailously to rest vpon them. And for the same consideration it shall not be amisse to sette two or thrée great frée stones in the chamber, whereuppon the Hawkes may sitte coole and fresh. You must also haue two or thrée pearches lined or couered, one a little higher than another, so that the hawke as she groweth huger and huger, may flée from one pearch to another, and neuer hurt her féete. And when she is full sommed, so as she can flée, then wil it be méete and most necessarie to sette some large bason, or other vessell full of Water, that shée may bath her at pleasure therein. For that is not onely very wholesome for her bodie, but also will make her put out her feathers the better, & the faster. And you shall doe well to shift her water euery three [Page 199] dayes. You shall féed her with young Sparrowes, Martelettes, and young Pigeons, and sometimes with shéepes hearts: and whiles shee is very young and little, you should cutte her meate, and shredde it in small pellets vppon a trencher, or a cleane boorde for the purpose, setting it so neare her that shee may reach it with her beake, and feede. Thus you shall fade her twice, or more euery day, euen as you shall sée her endew it, or (as Falconers say) put it ouer. Beware that you giue her not gorge vpon gorge, for that will make her cast her gorge. But when shee is full sommed, and fléeth about, then you shall doe better to giue her whole birdes, and sometimes to féede her vpon your fist, suffering her to kill and straine the liue birdes in your hand: Yea and sometimes to put quicke birdes into the chamber to her, that shée may learne to know them, to foote them, and to kill them, and let her féede vpon them her selfe in your presence. For that shall bée very good as well to noule her, as also to make her leaue that vile condition which commonly all Nyasses haue, which is, to carry and hide their prey in some hedge or ditch, or secret place: and therein they will sitte very close for being heard, when they heare or perceiue their Kéeper to séeke them. Whereupon their Kéepers are oftentimes euill troubled and displeased. And also it shall not bée amisse, euery morning to goe into the saide Chamber, and to call them to the fist, whistling and chirping with your mouth, for by that means you shall both man them throughly, and also you shall gaine the time which you should else spend afterwardes, in making them when they were ready to bée drawne out of the faid chamber.

To reclayme and make the Nyasse Sparowhawke.

WHen your Nyasse Sparowhawke hath put forth all her feathers, & is full sommed, then shall you take her [Page 200] out of the chamber and furnish her with belles, bewets, Iesses, and lines. And by my counsell you shall also séele her at the first, to make her gentle to abide the hoode, which is contrary to her nature, and to make her tractable to bee handled, vsing her fauourably and louingly alwayes: and at the first with a hood, which is too great and large to hoode and vnhoode her oftentimes, stroking her head softly with your hand, vntill shée will stand still, and abide the hoode gently. Then in an euening by light of a candle you shall vnséele her, giuing her somewhat to tyre vpon, handling her, and stroking her feathers gently, sometimes hooding and vnhooding her. And because Nyasse Sparowhawkes are seldome made perfect and good without great paines and diligence, therefore obserue these things and vse them accordingly, if you wil haue a good Nyasse Hawke.

To traine a Nyasse Sparowhawke.

WHen your Nyasse is well wonne to the hood, and to the fist, let her kill small birdes vpon your fiste, then call her two or thrée dayes together, vntill shée wil come farre off. Then you must take a quicke Pigeon tyed by one foote with a Cryance, and stirre it vntill your Hawke will bate at it, and seaze it, though not farre off, yet as you may, and helpe her at the first, least the Pigeon strugling with her, bée too strong, and discourage her. Then let her plume her, and foot her, and féed her thereupon with as much fauour as you may, and whistle to her, to make her know your whistle, vntill shée haue taken a reasonable gorge. Then hood her vp, and let her plume or tyre a little afterwards. The day following you shal call her to the fist, and shew her a liue Pigeon, so neare that shée may reach at her with her beake. Then cast it out before her, vntill shee flee it, and take it.

That done, reward her, &c. Againe, you shall another time throw out a chicken before her, and if shée take and foote it, rewarde [Page 201] her, &c. Afterwards you shal cause one to hide himselfe close in a ditch or pitte, and throw her out a pigeon or pullet, if she take it, reward her & féed her vp with the brains, heart, and a leg or a wing, whistling, chirping, and speaking to her, to encourage her: and this order you shall obserue a while, still seruing her with greater and greater traines: for by that meanes you shall giue her courage to flée, yea if it were at a Feasant, for that chickens are some of them not much vnlike a Feasant poult. As also vsing her to great chickins, shée will neuer couet to carry as shée would doe, if you trained her with smaller birds, which is a thing worthy the obseruation, as you shall find by experience.

And when you haue giuen her sufficient traines of chicken and such like, you shall one day set her sharpe, then take a Quaile tied in a Criance, and in a plaine meadow: First, shew her vnto your Sparowhawke, then throw it vp aloft, and cast your hawk off handsomly after her, & if she take it, reward her with the brains, to nousle and encourage her, but feed her with the leg of a chicken or pullet, and deale daintely with her.

The next time you may traine her with a Quaile without a criance, the which hauing a legge broken, and two feathers pluckt out of each wing, giue it to another which may closelie throw it out to her, and féede her vppe thereupon with a good gorge. Being thus oftentimes trayned, you may ride out into the fields about nine of the clocke, where calling your Sparowhawke to your fist, and giuing her a bitte or two of meat, go with your Spaniels to séeke some Beauie of yong quailes, aduancing your fist aloft, that your Hawk may sée them whē they spring, and let her flée with aduantage at the first. If shee kill, reward and féede her, &c. but if shée misse, or that you find no young Quailes, then serue her with a traine of a Quaile, as is often before said.

[Page 202]

How to Hawke with a Sparowhawke being mad [...].

WHen your Sparowhawke is once made, you may go freely into the field: and if you find any young Quaile let her flee thereat with asmuch aduantage as you can: and if shée take it, reward and féede her, &c. Remember that at first entring of your Hawke you hold your fist aloft alwayes, aswell because your Hawke may see the game spring, as also that shée may learne to haue an eye to the Dogges, the which you shall alwayes cause to hunt on your right hand, whē they raunge, but especially when they quest and call, to the end you may the better, and at more aduantage cast off your hawk when you let her flée. And when your Sparowhawke doth know her game and how to flée, then may you flée more than one flight in a forenoone or an afternoone, so that alwayes you giue her som smal reward at euery flight that shée killeth. And because it behooueth much alwayes to encourage your Hawke, and to kéepe her well nouzled, you shall doe well euer to carry a liue Quaile with you, that if you finde none, or flée and misse, you may therewith traine or serue your hawke accordingly: and you may cause it so to be cast out vnto her, that shée will thinke it is sprung with the Spaniels. As also I would wish you euermore to kéepe aliue the second Quaile that you shall take, and kéepe it in your hawking bagge, so as if néede be, it may serue you at night, or at any time to reward your Hawke with: for keeping your hawke in this order, shee can neuer lightly be discouraged. And when your Hawke is throughly entred, and perfectly well in fléeing, and well nouzled, then you shall hold your hand low, whereas before you held it aloft. For your Hawk being much quicker sighted than you are, she will sooner sée the game spring also, and bate at the whurre, as we tearme it: then before the Hawke can recouer your fiste, the game is flowen farre off to her great disaduantage: yea, although you should let her goe when she bateth, [Page 203] yet shall shée not flée with such aduantage as you might lette her flée when she and you both spied the game spring at once, Hée therfore that will be a perfect keeper of a Sparowhawke or such like, must haue a quicke eye, and a good consideration and regard to the Spaniels, kéeping them still as neare as he can vpon his right hand, and holde his hand low, because his Hawke shall not bate at the game before he see it. And also it shall not be good to be ouer neare the Dogges, but rather a little aboue them, that you may let your Hawke flée, coasting at the vantage when the Game springeth, and alwayes to be quicke of eye, and nimble of hand, for he that is not so, nor regardeth the aduantages of a flight, shall hinder his Hawke, whereas hée might further and helpe her.

How to make a Sparowhawke, being eyther Soarehawke Ramage or Mewed Hawke.

NOw I haue spoken at large of Nyasse Sparowhawkes, it were méet that I should set downe some instructions also concerning Ramage Hawkes, and such as are taken when they haue preyed for themselues. And yet in effect the same precepts that serue for a Nyasse, will serue also for ramage Hawkes and mewed Hawkes. But yet they, (I meane ramage and mewed Hawkes) require not so much paine to make them know their game, nor to enter them, because they haue béene practised in preying for themselues, & the Nyasses are altogether ignorant and simple: so that the Nyasses must be taught to know their game, in a manner, euen as they are taught by the bréeder in the wood, the which (as I haue heard old Falconers tell) when her yong Hawkes goe out of the nest, and can hoppe or flecke from one bough to another, commeth in with some prey vnto them, and calling [Page 204] them altogether, she fleeth aloft, and lets the bird fall amongst them, so that which soeuer of them catcheth it w^t her tallents, féedeth vppon it for that meale, and then returneth the olde Hawke for some prey, vntill shée haue fedde them all & taught them to foote their prey. And therefore when a man hath them, Nyasse which neuer were taught so by the bréeder, hee must practise as neare as he can like the olde hawke, to teach them to foot, and to kil their prey, and to know it, the which you shal not be troubled with in a Soare, ramage, or mewed Hawke. For they which beare those names, haue learnt to prey for themselues: and most of all the mewed haggart Hawkes, for they are throughly nousled and trayned therein, yea and most commonly they haue learnt such conditions, that with all the paines wée can take, few of them can bee brought to any good perfection. But he which hath a Haggart Sparowhawk, must aboue all thinges take paines in weyning her from that vile fault of carrying, & that shall he do by seruing her often with great pullets, and other great traines, the which she cannot carry, and thereby she will learne to abide vpon the quarrey. Also they which delight in Haggarts, must take great héede that they offend them not, but rather coy them asmuch as they can with all deuises of fauour & cherishing, for they will remē ber fauor or iniurie much better than any other kind of hawk. And of the same condition are Lentiners for the most part, the which are called with vs March Hawkes or Lentiners, becaus they are taken in Lent with lime or such like means. And the Italians call them Marzarolli, because they are taken in March or thereabouts: so that the Etymologie of the name procéedeth all vpon one cause, and they are called so whether they be Soar-hawkes or mewed hawkes. Neyther is there any great difference betweene them and Haggarts for euill conditions, but the Lentiners are more subiect to moist humors, and especially in the head, and therefore you must plie them with casting and scowring, as shall be more at large declared in the Treatise of medicines.

[Page 205]

Certaine obseruations for an Ostreger in keeping of a Goshawke.

[figure]

MAny times it hapneth that a Goshawke or a Tercell which was good in her Soarage, doth become nothing so toward or good when she is mewed: and that procéedeth because [Page 206] in her soarage shée was not cherished to make her take delight in her flight: for in a manner all the skill of a Falconer or Ostreger consisteth in coying & delicate vsage of his hawke and so cherishing her, that shée may take pride and pleasure in her flight. Therefore I would not thinke it amisse if hée had alwaies at the first entring of his Goshawke or Tercell, a train Partridge in his bagge, to serue her with, when néede doth require, and so he shall winne her loue. And therewithall let him marke these obseruations, to keepe his hawke in good tune alwayes. First, let him consider that naturally all Goshawkes are full of moist humors, and especially in the head: & therefore let him plie them with tiring and plumage, both morning and euening, for that will open them in the heade, and make them cast water thereat. Let the Goshawks tyring be the rump of a béefe, or the vppermost ioynt of a wing which we call the Pynion, or a chickens leg, giuen by the fire, or in the warme Sunne. This will not onely keepe your hawke open in the head, but also kéepeth her in exercise, and vse, and from slothfulnes, which might marre her, and vtterly spoyle her.

It is good also to giue her euery night casting eyther of feathers or of cotton, and then in the morning to marke whether it be wrought round or not, whether it bée swéete or not, whether it be moist or drie, and of what colour the water is that droppes out of the casting, for thereby hée shall iudge in what case his Hawke is. He should also haue regarde to her mewtes, to sée whether they be cleane or not, and therevpon he may giue medicines accordingly, as shalbe hereafter declared. For the infirmity of a Hawke being once knowne, it is the more easily cured. He hath also to consider the season: for in the winter and colde weather, he must set his hawk or Tercell warme in some place where fire is made: he must rolle the pearch with cotton, or some such like thing, & the pearch must be set farre from the wall that his hawk hurt not her feathers when shée bateth: but if it be not colde, hee may set her euery [Page 207] morning in some place where the Sunne hath power, for an howre or two.

Remember that no hennes or pultrie come neare the place where your Hawke shall pearch, and especially in Lent when Hens haue young chickens commonly following them.

Remember also in the spring to offer your hawk to the water euery weeke, for else shée will soare away when shée fleeth, and make you séeke her.

If your Hawke bath her at any time of her owne accorde after her flight, goe presently to the next house with her, (if it bée in winter or cold weather) and weather her by a fire with her backe to the fire, and not her gorge, for that would make her sicke. And likewise drie your Hawke if you haue carried her in the raine. Let a good Falconer or Ostreger alwayes kéepe his hawke lusty and hie, and yet kéepe her in such tune, that shée may flée best when shée is high: for doubtles the plucking downe of a Hawk doth marre her and make her cowardly. Aboue all things an Ostreger must be patient and neuer chollericke.

A good Ostreger must also kéepe his hawke cleane, and her feathers whole, and if a feather bée broken or brused, hee must ympe it presently, as shall be taught hereafter also in this booke, and therfore he must haue his ymping néedles, his Semond, and such other things about him euermore in a readinesse. (∵)

[Page 208]

Certaine obseruations concerning Sparowhawkes.

[depiction of hawk]

SEt your Sparrowhawke euery morning abroade in the Sunne two howres, or neare thereabouts, and set her to the water twice in a wéeke at the least, and especially Nyasses, for they couet the water more than the rest. Soar-sparowhawkes [Page 209] would not be flowen withall too soone in a morning, for they soare willigly Take your Sparowhawke from the pearch alwayes with somewhat in your hand, to make her loue you, and be fond of you, for that is a thing of no small importance and consideration. As also to make your Sparowhawke foot great fowles, to the end shée may not learne nor be accustomed to carrion. And as touching mewing of a Sparowhawke, some vse to put their Sparrowhawke in the mew as soone as they leaue fléeing with her, cutting off both her bewets, lines, and the knots of her Iesses, and leaue herin the mew vntill shée be cleane mewed. But if you will haue her to flée at Partridge, Quayle, or Feazent poult, then you must draw her in the beginning of Aprill, and beare her on the fiste till shée be cleane and throughly enseamed. Some other kéepe their Sparowhawkes on the pearch vntill March, and then throw her into the mewe being peppered for lyfe if shée haue any. Her mew should bee a chamber aloft from the ground eight or nine foot long, and fiue or sixe foot broade, with two windowes, to the East and the North, as is before declared in the description of the mew for a Goshawke: and set her pearches and all other things euen as for a Goshawke, sauing that the mewe must haue one little window to conuey in her meate at. And your Sparowhawke being thus prouided of her mew, goe in to her in May in an euening by candlelight, and taking her softly, giue her to thy companion to hold, vntill thou haue pulled out all her traine feathers, one after another, holding the princiyall feather with thy one hand (which Falconers doe call the couert feather) and plucking out the other feathers with that other hand, for so shalt thou doe her least hurt: and this shall make her mew the faster, if thou féed her with hoat meat and birds, and alwayes kéepe an houre certaine to giue her her meat. Some will set water in the mewe by their Sparrowhawke continually, shifting and renuing the water euery second or third day. Some set water before a Sparowhawke in the mew but once in a fortnight, and then [Page 210] take it away againe within 24. howres after they haue set it there. Some will neuer set water before their Sparowhawks at all when they mewe them, saying that Sparewhawks are very hote, and pluck out their owne feathers for extream heat, and that therefore water is not to bee giuen or allowed them, because it killeth and delayeth the heat in them, which should further their mewing. I like that opinion: but for mine owne part and experience I would leaue the extremities and take the meane. And I would thinke it best to set water before a Sparowhawke in the mew, once in 14. dayes at the least, or oftner, if the hawke séeme to haue néed, the which you shall easily perceiue, if she haue any feathers or downe that stand staring vp on her backe, and when she sitteth alwayes as though she would rowze, or is twitching at her fethers with her beak, then set her water: but to set it by her continually, doth forslow her mewing: and to kéepe it alwayes from her, doth make her that she meweth not her feathers so cleane or so gallantly, as when shée may haue water once in a fortnight. As touching remedies for Hawkes that be slow of mewing, it shall be set downe in the Treatise of medicines in this booke also. (∵)

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The Third Part, or Booke, of this collection of Falconrie.

[figure]

BEfore I deale with diseases of Hawkes, and cures due to the same, (which is the subiect of this third and later part of my collection of Falconrie) I hold it very necessary, and of importance, [Page 212] aswell to the attainment of the cause of each particular disease, as also the deuise of remedy for each kind of mischiefe, to speake somewhat of the complexions of Falcons, vnder whose name and nature (you know) in the beginning of this Booke of Falconrie, I haue comprised all other hawkes, in regard that the Falcon is chiefe, and the Quéene of all other hawkes: nothing doubting at all, but that diuers wil muse at the name and tearme of the complexion of a hawke, as though indéed there were no such matter, led thereunto by their grosse conceit and blinded imagination, for that they cannot in their opinions iudge so easily of the natures of Hawkes, as they can of the complexions of men, whose clearnes and thinnes of skin bewrayes their inclination and complexion, wheras hawkes are not in any condition so to bée deemed and iudged, by mean of their plumes: which indéede is farre otherwise, for, as in man the naturall complexion is truly discerned by the skinne, so is the naturall disposition and constitution of a hawke by her cote and plume: which I aduenture not to report of my selfe, for that it striueth too much with common sense and ordinary capacity, but doe follow my Author, and thereupon am emboldened to auow it, not blushing to lay you down his spéechches as touching this matter, though not in the French Phrase, wherein he wrote it, but in the English ydiome, into which I haue translated it.

Artelowch mine Author, writing of the complexions of Falcons, in his treatise of Falconrie, medicines and cures, & such like matter, reporteth, and eke aduiseth:

That the blacke Falcons are melancholicke, and therefore should of right be phisicked with hot and moist medicines, by meane of their complexion, which is cold and drie, as with Aloes, pepper, Cocks flesh, Pigeons, Sparowes, Gotes flesh, and such like.

That the blancke Falcons are flegmaticke, and to be phisicked with hote and drie medicines, because of their flegme, which is cold and moist, as with Cynamon, Cloues, Silermont, and Cardamomum, Gotes flesh, Choghs, and such like.

[Page 213]The russet Falcons be of sanguine & chollerike complexion, mixt indifferently, and therfore to be physicked with cold medicines, moderatly moist, and drie.

As with Myrtels, Cassia, Fistula, Tamarinds, Vinegar, Pullets, Lambs flesh, and such like.

Hauing spoken thus much of the complexions of hawkes, a matter not long to be stood vpon, I will referre you ouer to the Italian Authors, as touching the diseases & cures, whose iudgements I doe very well allow, and in many points preferre beyond the French Falconers, for that they seeme to bée the more reasonable men, and lesse giuen to friuolous inuentions. Yet neuerthelesse in the last part hereof, you shall at your pleasure, peruse the French Falconers also, for that I would haue you to want nothing that may bee to your better knowledge and furtherance in Falconrie.

Of the diseases and cures of Hawkes. The opinion of M. Francesco Sforzino Ʋicentino, an Italian Gentleman Falconer.

IT doth belong to a good and skilfull Falconer, not alone to knowe all kindes of hawkes, and to haue the cunning how to reclaime, kéepe, fléepe, ympe, & mewe the sayd hawkes, with sundry other like matters incident and appertayning to Falconrie: but it is very necessary and behoueful for him to haue knowledge and good experience in their diseases and cures: for that they are birdes subiect to sundrie maladies and accidentes, the cure of all which doth rest in the carefull kéeper. Wherefore hauing (vnlesse I flatter my selfe) in the former parts of this collection, performed my promise, made in the very entry and begining of this booke, as touching Hawks, and other matters belonging to the misterie and skill of Falconrie: it is onely left now, and I rest charged with their diseases and cures, to dicipher vnto you the meane to know the maladies, as also a methode to recouer them: wherein if happily [Page 214] any man desire a more ample discourse of the natures, & originall causes of those diseases, thā herein I shall bewray, let him know & bethink himself, that I am neither profound Philosopher, nor learned Phisition by profession, but that in these I deale as a Falconer, manifesting and making shew of cures proper & peculiar to euery disease, wherw^t I could euer yet find a hawk charged, & such as may light vpon any kind of hawke, by misfortune & casualty. And as touching remedies for their mischiefs, I mean to speak of very few which I haue not sundry times approued w^t very good successe, wherfore I say, that hawkes may be diseased and vnperfect, either in body or feathers, which I intend and mean, when they are vnable by any euil accident to perform their parts and duties in any condition, as not to be able to flée, or strain the prey w^t their pounces, or any such like action, which by natur they ought to perform.

In body they are diseased, eyther by some outward cause, as by a stripe or bruise: or els by some hidden and inward euill, as by corrupt & contagious humors, procéeding either of too great heat & moisture of the head, or otherwise ouermuch drought & siccity of the liuer & inward parts, frō which procéedeth many times the pantas & shortnes of breath, & other perilous euils, whereof I mean to write in their peculiar places hereafter.

Again, hawkes are accustomed to be ill affected and diseased (as I may tearm it) in their feathers, for that diuers times being found of body, & in perfect state of health, yet they cannot flée or stir their wings, by meane of some broken or sliued feathers, & especially the flags, long feathers, or sacels, which sundry times are broken either in the quil, being bloody feathers, or neare the top or point of the feather: the remedy for which mischief & euil accident, I will reserue to the last part of this treatise, as a matter méetest for that place. But because y^e mischiefes and diseases that grow within the bodies of the hawks may be best discerned and known by their excrement, & by that which cōmeth from them, as namely, by the casting & mu [...]t of a hawke. Therfore I account it most expedient, to haue good iudgemēt to distinguish and know the diuersity and difference [Page 215] thereof, the better to come by the true knowledge of the diseases, wherby there may in good time be had a conuenient remedy for the euill Wherfore let vs first speake of their castings.

How to know the health and disease of a Hawke by her casting.

FAlconers do vse to giue 2. sorts of casting to their hawkes, either plumage, or cotton: & becaus most cōmonly they giue the Falcon pellets of cotton for her casting, I wil first speake therof. You must make choyce of fine, soft, whit cotton, & therof fashion & frame your casting as big a great nut, & at euening conuey it into her gorge, after you haue supt her: & in the morning betimes make diligent search to finde it, to peruse it in what maner the hawk hath rolled, & cast it, because therby you shall perceiue her good or euil state: for if she cast it, round, whit not lothsome in smel, & not very moist or waterish, it is a manifest token that she is sound. But otherwise, if shée rol not her casting well, but cast it long, not white, stinking, very moist, & slimy, it doth argue, that she is ful of diseases, as I shall more specially declare vnto you eftsoon. You must obserue this, that these castings do import & betoken the greater euill, by how much more they doe resemble the muet of a hawk in color and smell. For by that they do make shew that your hawk doth abound w^t too much euil humor. Wherfore you must the more diligently mark it, & wring it betwixt your fingers, to sée how much, & what kind of moisture doth drop frō the casting, & w^t al note the smel & color therof. But now it is hie time to procéed to a more speciall declaration of those castings, that you may be perfect in each condition.

Of naughty castings.

IF your hawkes casting be long, not wrought round,Black casting. and bée full of water, how much more long and moist it is, so much more it betokeneth the hawke to be diseased. And againe, if so it be blacke, & stinking, so much the more the hawke is in euil case & state. All and euery of these signes do yéelde a shew and proofe, that the hawk hath béen foule fod, & with corrupt flesh. Wherefore to remedy this mischiefe, you must féede her with hote Birdes, as Swallowes, Sparrowes, young [Page 216] Doues and such like, giuing them aliue, or as soone as they are killed.

But if it so happen, for all this care and good intendaunce, that the casting continue at one selfe stay, and be like euill in shew, then must you néedes giue your Hawke askowring, according to art, such as I will teach you to make hereafter.

If your Hawkes casting be gréene, it is a signe that she is ill affected and diseased in the Liuer,Greene casting. the cure whereof I will referre to a peculiar chapter for the same euil. But know neuerthelesse, that hawkes when they are ramage, diuers times doe cast such like gréene castinges as I speake of, and make such muets, by reason of some wilde fowle, that they haue killed and preyed vpon at their owne pleasure, or otherwise haue had the same giuen them by Falconers. And a man néede not greatly force thereof, for that with good féeding, they will lightly be recouered, and ridde of this disease.

Yellowish black casting.When the casting hapneth to bée yellowish blacke, and very moist and slimy, it argueth your Hawke to bee stuft with euill humors, procéeding of too great heat, or of immoderate and ouer great flights, or too much bating. For recouery of which euill, you must as spéedily as you may, bestow good féeding vpon your hawke, and coole her, by washing her meat in good fresh water, as endiue water, or such like, as shall best please the fancy of the Falconer, allowing her besides one or two, or moe castings of cotton: into which you must conuey very excellent good mummy beaten into pouder, and otherwise among incense, vsed in like manner. But if it so fall out that your hawke continue her ill casting, for all this remedy it shall not be amisse, fortwice or thrice to giue her this kind of casting, or vpward scowring euery other day.

Take Aloes washt and beaten to powder, one scruple, powder of Cloue foure graines, of Cubebes beaten to powder thrée graines: all which béeing well confected, and made in mixture, enwrappe in a péece of cotton and giue your hawke being emptie, and hauing no meate aboue, or in her pannell. [Page 217] And I nothing doubt, but vsing this order which I prescribe you, your hawke shall recouer in short space. In any case you must be circumspect and héedefuil, hauing a hawke thus diseased, to marke diligentlie whether the doe mend or payre, whether she waxe high, or abate her flesh. For that according as she shall doe any of these, it shall be necessary for you eyther to augment or decrease your scowring, and her féeding. And beléeue me, I know this by experiēce, that sondry hawks doe perish more by béeing ouer poor and low brought, through negligence of ill kéepers that make slender regard of them, thā by the extremity of the disease. This shall be sufficient as touching castings of cotton, which (as I said before) were peculiar to Falcons.

Falconers are accustomed to giue their hawkes casting of plumage, sometimes being empty aboue,Casting of plumage. and eake in feeding to suffer thē to take feathers, but specially to Sparowhawks. They giue them ioukes of wings of small birds, & Quailes, when they haue fedde them, tearing them out with their téeth, and plucking away the longest feathers, and so giue it.

These castings ln the morning being wrought round, and cast without any ill sauour or stinke, doe make euident shewe that the hawke is sound: and how much more round & swéete they are, the better token of the hawkes géed state. But contrariwise, if the casting bée long, slimy, and rammish in smel, with some small parts of the flesh vndisgested, cleaning to the same, and withall frothie, hauing a kind of foame sticking on it, all these things together, and euery one speciall by it selfe, doe import the disease of the hawke, and make full shew of her ill state. And therefore that shée standeth néedfull of a good scowring, and good intendance, as I said before.

The way to know in what tune hawks are by their mewting.

WIth that helpe and light that I haue already giuen you by the hawkes casting, if you diligently obserue [Page 218] the mewte,The good mewt. you shall easily prognosticate and so; esee her euil, and any such disease as your Hawke is infected with. For if the mewte be white, and not ouer thicke, nor ouercleare, and besides not hauing any blacke spotte in it, or at the least but little, it is an euident proofe that the hawke is excellently in tune, and not diseased. But if it be white, and very thicke in the middest, well it may importhealth, but it argueth the hawke to bee ouer grosse, and too full of grease. And therefore it shall bee needfull to cure that mischiefe, by giuing her liquide and moist meat, as the heart of a Calfe, Lambe, or such like. And for one or two mornings, to allow her (being empty and hauing nothing aboue to put ouer) a quantity of Sugar Candy which will scowre her, and make her slise, or else a gut of a chicken well washt, of a conuenient length and size, ful of good oyle oliue, well clarified in water, in such sort as hereafter I shall instruct you.

It is easily sound, when a hawke is euer greasie, and not enseamed, by her mewte, when it is white with some blacke in it, which euil is easily remoued by giuing her hot Sparows, and young Pygeons.

The euil mewte.But if her mewte be white, entermedled with red, yellow, grey, or such like colour, it is a signe that the hawke is very ill and diseased, & moreouer that she standeth néedfull of a scowring, as of mummy purified & beaten to pouder, wrapping it in cotton, or some such like matter, to set the gorge & stomacke of your hawke in tune againe, and other inward partes, as hereafter I shall make further shew of in a place méet for that spéech and discourse. Assuredly, when you sée your hawkes mewte so full of diuerse colours, it is very necessary for you to respect her cure, and to endeauour your selfe to remedy that mischiefe, or otherwise she must néeds perish vnder your hand, for that those are very deadly signes, and proofes of the ill state of your Hawke.The white and yellow mewte.

The white mewt, hauing a greater part of yellow in it, thā of any other colour, doth euidently make shew, that the [Page 219] hawke is surcharged with chollericke humours, caused and engendred by ouer-great flightes, when you flee with your hawke in the heate of the day, as also of ouermuch bating. Which euill you may prouide for and eschue, by giuing your hawkesmeat washt in cold waters, as Buglosse, Endiue, Borrage, and such like holesome cold waters, very medicinable for that mischief, alwayes remembring to strain the hawks meat, and wring it in a linnen cloth, after you haue washt it in the waters aforesaid.

And if this fall not out in proofe to your contentment, then if you can giue your hawke a quantity of Agaricke in a scowring, for the space of one morning or two, not suffering her to flee, or doe any thing, but doe set her downe. There is no question, but by the care and diligence of such a kéeper, your hawk shall quickly recouer.

The mewt of a hawke which is very blacke, declareth her liuer to bée infected, and is the most deadly signe of all others.The blacke mewte. For if it continue thrée or foure dayes, most assuredly the hawke will pecke ouer the pearch and die. But if it bee so but once, and no more, it greatly skils not. For then may it procéede of one of these two causes: eyther for that the hawke in pluming and tyring on the fowle, hath taken of the blood or guts of the prey, which is a matter of nothing: or else becaus shée hath beene gored with filthy meate. In this case it behooues you to respect her, and to allow her good warm flesh, and a cotton casting, with Mummey or the powder of Cloues and Nutmegs, with a smal quantity of Ginger, to set her stomack in tune againe.

A gréene méewt is also a signe of an infected and corrupt Lyuer, and happily of some Apostume,The greene mewte. vnlesse shée make that kind of mewte vpon this occasion, that shee hath béene gorged with some wilde and rammage meate, or her selfe be a rammage hawke: for then this rule doth not holde. You must looke to this euill as soone and with as great spéede as you possible may, féeding her with meate all powdered with [Page 220] Mummy prepared, if shée will take it with her flesh, as diuers hawkes will doe of themselues: but if not, then must it be giuen her in a casting, or some frowring, continuing it in this manner, sometimes after one fashion, sometimes after another, vntill you finde the mewte to be changed from the badde colour to the better. But when this mischiefe doth procéed, and continue long space, then shall you be fame to bestow on her a scowring of Agaricke, to rid those euill and noysome humors which doe offend your hawke, and after that another scowring of Incense beaten into powder, to recomfort her.

The mewte that is vndisgested, & tending to redde.The mewte that is not perfectly digested, tending to redde, and that is full of small wormes, like vnto flesh, not perfectly digested and endewed, giues manifest proofe, eyther that the hawke is not well in her gorge, or else that shée hath béene fed with ill and corrupt meates, cold and stincking, and vnholesome for a hawke.

This euill may be cured & helped with good warme meats, and besides that, with scowrings of wormeséede, enwrapped and conueyed into Cotton, or Lynte And it shal not be amisse to giue her a scowring of powder of Cloues, Nutmegs, and Ginger, which doth maruailously strengthen, and set the gorge in tune.

Of the dark sanguine mewte.The darke sanguine mewte, with a blacke in it, is the most deadly signe of all other, & I do not remember that euer I saw hawke make that kind of mewt, but shee died. Yet neuerthelesse a man ought not therefore in that case to giue ouer his hawk and to dispaire of hir, but rather to allow her of that receite and medicine, which earst Iherom Cornerus, that noble man, and cunning Falconer made, or else that which was deuised by Signior Manolus the Gréeke, which I haue manie times experimented in Falcons, not without good successe, and great commendation. And therefore hereafter I will lay it down for your better knowledge and practise, as the excellent deuises of most skilfull men in Falconrie.

And yet for all this, it may be, that a hawke doth make the [Page 221] like mewte that I wrote of, by meane of tyring on a fowle, & taking the blood of it, and of the rayns and guts, which if it do happen, it is a matter not to be regarded.

I haue sundry times séene the mewte of a Hawke grey, like milke, when it is turned and waxen sowre,The grey mewte. which truelie is a deadly token, and signe of great danger. Yet it shall not be amisse, to vse the receite which I lately spake of, deuised by those Gentlemen Falconers aforesaid.

By this which I haue spoken, as touching the mewtes of Hawkes, it may be gathered how greatly it doth import, and how behoouefull it is for a Falconer, or Ostreger, for the better cure of his hawkes, to peruse euery morning with greate care the mewte of his hawkes. For that it doth greatly concerne the good health and state of them, to finde out at the first their indisposition and diseases, before they bée too déepely rooted and confirmed in them, when truely it will proue a very hard and difficult matter to remoue the euill,

But now I count it high time to procéede, and descend to the knowledge and particular cure of the ordinary euils, and diseases, which doe plague and pester hawkes. In which discourse, to obserue some methode and order, I will speake generally of all infirmities and ill accidents hapning to the bodies of Hawkes, as namely of the feuer, and so consequently of euery speciall disease that belongeth to each particular member of a Hawke, aswell those that are within the body as with out: And besides all these, of the gorge, guttes, and lyuer, of the stripes and bruses that happen to hawkes: and lastly of their feathers, and other euils. Laying downe to your viewe in the latter part hereof, such instruments and tooles as Falconers doe vse to cauterize their Hawkes withall, with such other ordinarie remedies, as they doe commonly bestow vpon their diseased and sicke Hawkes.

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Or the Fever or Ague wherewith Hawkes are wont to bee molested and troubled.

I Haue noted and obserued, that the Feuer happeneth vnto Hawkes, by reason of some small colde, and heat ensuing the same. And verely in myne opinion, it doth much resemble the Tertian, wherewith we our selues are dayly vexed. You may easily gesse this griefe, when you sée your hawke shake & tremble, and presently after hold hir wings close vnder hir train, stouping down with hir head to the ground-warde. And besides all these tokens, you haue one more, which is, y^t your hawke will haue hir barbe feathers vnder hir beake staring, and out of order, and somtimes eake she will refuse hir meate. And if happely you touche hir with youre hande, you shall féele sensible the extremytie of heate that doth surcharge hir. All, or the moste part of these signes, do euidently argue your hawke to bée troubled with a Feuer, a very daungerous griefe, but not altogether deadly, for that I haue séene many hawkes recured of this disease. Wherefore all your care must bée, to coole and refreshe hir, because in déede the Feuer is nothing else but aninordinate heate. In this case, hir féeding must be eyther the leg of a chicken or a young pigeon, or some other small fowle, but Sparowes last of all, for they are not to be allowed in the beginning of the disease, for their great heate. And you must remember to wash her me [...] in the water of Buglosse, or Endiue, or in a mucillage of Psillium, in the iuyce of Cowcombers or Mellons, and afterwards drie it in a cloth, & so giue it her to féedeon. Moreouer you must (if you do well) bath the perch, and also her legs in the Sommer with Plantaine water (or for want of the water, w^t the very iuyce of it) w^t Lettice water, or Nightshade water, and sometimes among with the iuyce of Henbane, Lettice water, Nenuphar, Howsléeke, and such other cooling deuises, to delay her inordinate heat & inflammation, setting her in some out place where the ayr is fresh, but not where she may take the ayr too much, [Page 223] for that may breed a further inconuenience. If your sick hawk be very low brought in state, you must allow her a gorge twice a day, but with discretion and iudgement, not giuing her ouermuch at one time. And if so the Feuer cease not by these practises aforesaid, it shall be well done to giue your Falcon of excellent good Rubarbe, finely beaten to pouder, two scrouples, in a Cotton casting, to purge & scower her choler, which is the very originall ground of her Feuer. There are some that do wil & prescribe, that you must let your Falcon blood in the thigh, which albert I haue not experimented, yet doth it stand with reason, that it may doe good, if you can finely doe it: but it were much better in mine opinion, to open the vaine vnder her right wing, because that would chiefely refrigerate, & coole the lyuer out of hand, & so by a consequent, y^e whole body throughout. This order aforesaid is to be vsed, if the feuer be a hoate feauer wherewith your hawke is molested. But if it happen to bée a colde feauer which you shall perceiue, by that your hawk will be extreame cold, if you touch her. Her eyes looke not of their wonted hew, and besides all this, shée seldome mewteth and that with great paine.

Then you must set her in some warme place, & after her fitte of cold is past, shée must be gently borne on the fist. Besides when the feauer hath left her, for that time you should let her flée a little, it will doe her great good. Looke that her meat wherwith you fée [...]er, be hote flesh, as Sparrowes, (which in this cold feuer are very well to be allowed, though in the hoat ague I told you they were hurtful) pullets, pigeons, & such like hote fowles, the flesh of whome you must wash in wine wherein haue béen boyled these hote things following, as Sage, Mints, Pelamountaine, Cloues, Cynamon, & such other swéet comfortable deuises. Besides, you may giue your hawke the foresaid flesh if it please you, with hony, and a little powder of Oil, Fenell, & Commin medled together. But spetially you must obserue this rule, and remember it wel, not to giue your hawk gorge vpon gorge: and again, if your hawke bee high in flesh when this disease taketh her, shée must bée fed with little and [Page 224] seldome, although in déede it be very good at all times, howsoeuer shée bée affected, to keepe a reasonable hand vpon her, as touching her dyet, whether thée bee diseased or in perfect state. For of ouer great gorges, and too full and liberall a hand, doe procéed a thousand mischiefes and diseases to a Hawke, as experience doth dayly instruct vs, both to the great paines of those silly birdes, and the great griefe and cost of the vnskilful Kéeper, whose purpose and meaning perhaps, is by giuing his hawke liberally, to haue her flée lustily, and to continue in perfect health and state, whereas in troth nothing doth so much offend a hawke, as too great a gorge. As in all other things, so in this likewise, The meane is best.

Some Falconers do prescribe this methode for cure of the feuerin a hawke, which I doe not greatly commend or allow. They will you to take Reubarbe, Muske, Sugar Candie, & the iuyce of Motherwoort, and making a pill of those thinges aforesaid, to giue it your Hawke, feeding her afterwardes with Sparrowes, or young Rattes, which are very hotte meate.

Othersome appoint a paste or mixture to be made, as bigge as a nut, of these things following, which being stéeped a space in Vineger, must be giuen her, not dealing with her in sixe howres after, at the least. They take to the composition of this paste, Aloes, Muske, and the sat of a hen, equall portions, giuing it the hawke in manner aforesaid.

The Signes that they giue to know the feuer, are the wrything of the hawkes traine, the coldnes of her foot, and oftentimes the casting of her gorge. But the first rules and remedies do satisfie me sufficientlie, without these, because I find in them some more reason: yet doe not thinke it amisse, to set downe diuers mens opinions, because euery man may make his choice: for what likethone, perhappes contents not another.

[Page 225]

Of diseases of the head, and first of the Apoplexie or falling evill.

HAuing in purpose to treate of the diseases wherewith hawkes those silly birdes are vexed in their heades, I must do you to know, that vnder the name and tearme of the head, I doe not onely comprise that part that containeth the braine, but also the eares, eyes, beake, or chap, nares, & mouth of the hawke: al which parts are subiect to sundry diseases and euils. But first of all, I meane to speake of the chiefest, and most principall part of all the rest, & of such maladies as light vpon the braine, and after that, of such as happen to the externall and outward parts of the hawkes head. Among all which infirmities and griefs, I account the Apoplexie (whom the Italians call Gozza) the greatest and most perillous, as the which doth ordinarily cause and bring sodaine death.

This mischiefe doth commonly befall hawkes, by meane of too much grease, and store of blood, for that at that time ther doth happily breake some one vaine or other in the braine, which doth fill some concauity or hollow cell of the braine w^t blood, in which Cels, (as the learned do imagine and affirme) the animal spirites are engendered, and haue their beginning. Without which animall spirits, no liuing creature can eyther haue sense or mouing. Whereupon it doth follow of very necessity, and by a méere consequent, that the passage of those spirites being shut vp, and intercluded, the creature whatsoeuer it be, must die.

Againe, it may happen, for that the Hawke hath béene sette too long in the heat of the Sunne, for by that occasion there may bee so much humidity and moist humor drawne vp into the braine, as may engender this euill, and procure this mischiefe in the hawke.

Moreouer it may chance by making a long flight at a Feasant or Partridge, in the heat of the day, by meane of which the hawke hath surcharged her selfe with ouermuch trauaile. [Page 226] Wherefore it shall bee behouefull and necessary so to vse the matter with care and diligence, as it may be foreséene, that hawkes incurre not this aduenture and euill. Whereuppon for that hawkes in the mew, are accustomed to gather much grease, it shall bée good for the space of fifteene or twenty daies before the drawing of them out of the mew, to feed them with lyquide and slipper flesh, such as may lightly bee put ouer, and passe through them. As namely, with the hearts of Calues, Lambes, or Goates, washed in luke warme water, and afterwards dried in a linnen cloth, before you giue it your Hawke.

Likewise may you boldly féede your hawkes before they are drawne out of the mewe with small Pullets, and young Sparowes. When you haue thus done, and obserued this order of féeding them, when the time is come to drawe them out of the mewe, you must remember to draw them verie orderly, and after that, to continue the same kind of féeding, and to kéepe the same hand vpon them for other twenty daies space at the least, to scowre and disburden your Hawkes of that slime and glitte, which doth surcharge them, hauing them alwayes for the most part on the fist, and especially at night. Neyther shall it bée euill to scowre them, (or as our Ostregers and Falconers do terme it) to enseame them, by giuing them a quantity of washt Aloes, allowing a Falcon as much as the biggenesse of a Beane beaten in the powder, wrapped in Cotton, & so to make her a scowring thereof, and besides to giue her Sugar Candie two or thrée mornings. But in any condition you must beware not to vse Aloes vnwasht, because thereof are bred sundry ill accidents in hawkes. And for that occasion is it prescribed you to vse Aloes washt, to auoide that vndoubted euill which would otherwise happen.

Moreouer, I haue happily, and with good successe approued this remedy. I haue giuen so much larde, or butter, as I could well conuey into my hawkes throat, when shée hath béene emptie aboue, hauing first prepared the lard, [Page 227] or butter, by washing it seuen, eight, or more times in clear water, and afterwardes letting it soake in Rose-water a space, and lastly, by putting vnto it of the best Sugar that I could get, or Sugar Candie beaten to powder. And my order was, euer to giue this scowring euery seuenth or eight day. And this is not alone to bee vsed to hawkes in the mew, but also to such as are kept on the pearch and stocke. But if it so fall out, that by these deuises and scowrings you cannot make your Hawke haue a stomacke, and gréedy appetite to féed, it shall not bée euill to pisse vpon her meat, and hauing dried it in part againe, to giue her a gorge sufficient, so much as may serue her, and as shée will take. For the more liquide and slipper flesh you giue her, the sooner will shée bée enseamed. And by this meanes doe Falconers preserue their hawkes from the falling euill, and sodaine mischiefe,Adition. and besides that from sundry other perillous accidents, that doe follow those silly birds. [But if you take fine larde and beat it with Rue and Hysope till it be all one body, and then make a round pyll and giue it to the Hawke, it will helpe all diseases of the head.]

Of the Apostumes of the head.

FAlcons, Goshawkes, and other birds of prey, are wont to be much cumbred and molested with the swelling of the head, and the Apostume thereof, a very grieuous euill, occasioned by aboundance of euill humors, & the heat of the head. It is discerned by the swelling of the hawks eyes, by the moistur which sundry times issueth and distilleth from the eares, and often eake by euill Sauour, and smell of the Apostume. Also it may be perceyued by the small desire the hawke hath to mooue or aduance her selfe by the wresting of her heade, and the little regarde shée hath to tyre and pull the flesh that shée feedeth on, as though indéede tyring were verie painefull to her, and by that shée is scarce able [Page 228] to open her clappe, and beake, after her accustomed manner.

Against this most perillous euill, it shall be very necessary first of all to skowre your Hawke throughly, and after that the head in chiefe.

As touching the generall skowring. I can commend and allow you to giue her thrée or foure morninges, when shée hath no meate to put ouer, a pyll as bygge as a nutte of butter washt seuen or eight times in fresh water, and stéeped well in Rose water, mingling it afterward with Honie of Roses, & very good sugar, holding your Hawke on the fist, till shée make one or two mewtes. Which being done, to disburdē and skowre the head, it shall be excellent well done to take of Rewe séede foure drammes, Aloes Epatick twoo drammes, Saffron one scruple, reducing and forcing all these to fine powder, and with a quantitie conuenient of honie of Roses to make a pyll of that bignesse and syze, as may well be cōueyed into the hawks beake, by which her brayne may bée purged and skowred, thrusting the pyll so déepe into her throte, as you may well sée, holding her a space after it vppon the fist. And that doone, setting her downe on the pearch, in a conuenient place, fit for the time, and two hours after, to féede her at her accustomed time with good hotte meate.

But if happily there bee any of the corruption and filth in the Hawkes eare, it shall be very necessary, carefully with an instrument of siluer, or other good mettall for the nones, that the one ende bée sharpe poynted and edged, of purpose to apply lynt, and on the other ende hollow, and fashioned like vnto the eare of a Hawke, to clense and remoue the filth that furreth the hawkes eare. And with that ende, whereon the lynte or bumbast is, to skowre it very daintily, and presently vppon the same, to infuse and droppe in a quantity of Oyle of swéete Almondes, fresh and luke warme, and after the same to conuey into the eare a little lynt or bombast, to kéepe in the Oyle, till such time she bée dressed againe, to the ende the Oyle, may supplie and mollifie the filth, so as [Page 229] it may easily bée remoued and clensed. And this order must you obserue and continue, vntill the Apostume be resolued & throughly ripe. But if it so fall out, that the Aposthume wil not come to maturation, or ripe, in sorte as it may growe to suppuration, and be mundified in manner aforesaid, but wil rest at one stay in the head of the hawke: then must you bée fayne to come to cauterize the head aloft, and bestow a button there, to cause the humor to breath, and to bring the corrupt matter thither, remembring after this fire and cauterie to remoue the escarre, by bestowing on it for the space of eight or nine dayes, butter, by which you shall easily remoue the crust or escarre, which is made by the fire.

You must not forget, if it be so, as your hawke bée so weake as shée is vnable, or so froward as shée will not féede and tyre vpon her meate which you giue her, then to cut it in smal pellets, and so giue it her, eyther by fayre meanes or fowle, not leauing to vse it so, if it be possible, as shée may receyue it willingly, and féede her selfe, because it may the better nourish her. For this is one vndoubted rule, that when a Hawke doth refuse to féede and tyre, shée is very vnlusty, and diseased, and not one among a hūdreth of them, that doth recouer. And for mine owne part, in all my time, I haue recouered but one Falcon being so diseased, and that by the meane and cure aforesaid, and by vsing this cauterie.

Let this suffice, as touching this monstrous accident, for I meane to referre you to another place for the cauterie and fire, which you shall vse to hawkes where I will speake specially thereof. Only giuing you this caueat before you goe, that this euill of the head, is infectious, and will passe from one hawke to another, as the maungie doth among Spaniels, or any such contagious disease. Wherfore it shall be very good to sequester and sunder the hawke that is thus affected, from your other hawkes, for auoiding of the same euill.

[Page 230]

Of the distillation and swelling of a Hawkes head, and also of her eyes and na [...]es.

HAwkes are accustomed to haue a certaine distillation or Catarre in their heads, because when they ard hard sléen withall, & set in great heates, by long and painful flights, they easily take cold vpon the same, eyther through some vnhappy stormes of weather, or great windes, or by reason of the extreame cold of winter, & chiefly when they are full of grosse and naughty humors.

Of this Catarre or distillation, sundry times there grow a thousand mischiefes to those poore birdes, and specially the swelling of the head, with a kind of dropping humor, which is the cause many times, that the hawkes eyes become lesse, and are contracted in a manner together. Beside which inconuenience, the nares also become to bée stuft and stopped with excessiue excrement that descendeth from the braine. All which euill accidents doe require, and stand néedfull of seuerall cures before they can bée remoued, and the hawkes enioy their accustomed health.

Wherefore first of all, it shall bée necessary to scowre your Hawke being thus affected and diseased, with Butter prepaed in manner aforesaide, or with Oyle Oliue prepared after that fashion, as I shall instruct yon in the Chapter of the Pantas.

I haue in the Catarre of Falcons, (as also of other hawkes) diuerse times vsed with great good fortune and successe, to giue them of Agaricke two scruples, of Cynamon finely beaten, of the iuyce of Liquorish, of eyther one scruple, béeing make also into powder, and with a quantity of hony of Roses, to make all those thinges aforesaid into a pyll, as bigge as a Beane, for the largest sort of hawks, and for other lesse hawkes, halfe as bigge. And this was I accustomed to giue my Falcon, and other Hawkes in [Page 231] the morning, hauing nothing aboue in their gorges, holding my hawkeon the fist, vntill such time the medicine beganne to worke, because shée should not cast the scowring, (which then would doe her no pleasure at all,) and after three houres then to féed her with some meat. You must remember, and note this very well, that if your Hawke to whom you giue this scowring bée greasie, and ful of flesh, you may boldly giue it her two or thrée mornings. But if shée bée poore, and low, then once or twice to allow this scowring, will very well suffice her. For there is euer respect to bée had of the state of a hawke, when any vpward or downeward scowring is giuen them, for otherwise it will doe them greater mischiefe than pleasure.

But when you perceiue your hawks head to swell, and her eyes to be full of dropping humors, and to waxe lesse than naturally they were accustomed to be, by meane of the swelling of her head: It shall bée good, hauing giuen her this general scowring, that I haue spoken of, to scowre the head alone, and purge it with some deuise, to force her snite and snifle, as men doe accustom to sneze: and to force her therunto, you may take Pepper, Cloues, & mustard séede, of each one a like quantitie, making them all into very fine powder, as is possible, & then with a whistle of siluer, or other like mettell, (yea though it bée but a quill, it will serue the turne) being applyed vppon hernares, to blow it into hernares as strongly as you may, to make it pierce the furtherin. And besides that, you may rub and frot the pallate of your Hawke with the said powder, and not féed her after it, vntill such time shée hath left sniting, and snifling. If you continue this practise thrée or foure dayes, your hawke shall recouer assuredly.

To discharge the head of a Hawke, that is stuft with ill humor, Stauesaker which the Apothecaries do sel in the winter, I haue found a very excellent thing, and of great force, giuing of it the biggenesse of a Beane vnto my Hawke, [Page 232] being emptie, and hauing nothing aboue. And withall I was accustomed to rubbe the pallate of her mouth, forcing also some parte of the powder to ascend vppe into the head, by the hole that goeth to the braine: and after I had so done, would cast my hawke to the pearch, vnhooding her. Which was no sooner done, but you should sée her cast a worlde of slimy filth and moist humour, and snyse at her nares as fast.

But if it be so, that the aboundance of humors in the head, by none of these aforesaid remedies will be remoued, applying them neuer so often, nor the mischiefe cease to vexe your hawk which you shall easily discerne by her slimy castings, and the aboundance of filth that will issue at her nares: then must you of force be driuen ventrously to flée to the actuall cauterie, & with an yron button heat in the fire, to cauterize her vpon the head, vsing no lesse iudgement and discretion therein, than the daintinesse of the place requires, regarding the bone of the Hawkes head, which is not very strong, or hard. And before you doe vse the cauterie, it is necessary to cutte away those feathers, that are growing about the place where you meane to bestow your fire.

If with this monstrous moystnesse of your hawkes head, there be ioyned a swelling, or the dropping of her eyes: in that case I doe thinke it best to bestow your button vpon her head, iust betwixt her eyes, obseruing the same order that I haue alreadie prescribed you.

When the nares of your hawke are stuft with filth, and surcharged with such distillation from the head, as I haue spoken of: after a conuenient scowring, then shall it bée good to take Pepper and Mustard séed beaten into fine powder, and putting it into a cleane linnen cloth, to stype it a space in the strongest vinegar you can gette: and that done, to bestow some few droppes thereof vpon her nares, so as they may enter and pierce her nares. For truely this deuise [Page 233] will so scowre and drie vp the humor, as it will do great pleasure. But if so with these remedies and meanes you cannot resolue it, then must you be faine to vse the cauterie, not aloft vpon the head, but round about the nares, giuing her a little touch with the fire, somewhat below the nares, to make them more large, alwayes vsing the matter so carefully as you touch not the root or (or poret) of her nares. When you haue in this manner bestowed your fire, and actuall cauterie, vntill such time the paine doe cease, and the escarre fall away, (which is nothing else but the crust that is growne there, by meane of the fire,) you must annoint the place with fresh butter, and after that you haue so done, then procéede to the cure of it with the powder of Masticke, or Olibanum.

This is a very good remedy for the swelling in the head of a Hawke. Take Stauesacre, a quantity of Pepper, and a little Aloes Epaticke, beat these said things into fine powder, and put them into the water of rew, where when it hath béen stéeped a space in the said liquor, with a little bombast or lint, bath your Hawkes nares twice a day, and you shall find it ease your hawke greatly, and ridde a great part of the filthie matter that bréedeth the stoppage in her head. If all these remedies which I haue alleadged generally, nor any one speciall medicine will preuaile, as I said before: then must you repose your chiefest trust in the cauterie, which must bée done eyther on the head with a cauterizing button, or about the nares with a néedle, or sharp yron, fire hote, or some golden or siluer Instrument, of purpose made; applying after the fire, for the remouing of the Escarre, and the cure of the same, the remedies aforesaid.

Of the giddinesse and shaking of a Hawkes head.

THere doth diuers times happen vnto Falcons, and other Hawkes a mischiefe, whose nature is, to cause the hawke [Page 234] to shake her head continually, so as at no time shée can holde it still or steady, but is euer mouing it to one side or other, holding her eyes close shut withall. This disease is called Soda, which in english we may tearm the Megrim, or a kind of palsie, by mean the head is in continuall mouing.

The Cure.This euill may procéed, eyther by the fowlenesse of the panell, or of a corrupt and naughty liuer. The remedie for it is this, which I haue found very good, and wherewith I haue cured my hawke in times past. You must giu & your sick hawk a casting of cotton, in which you shall enwrappe of Aloes Epaticke one scruple, of Cloues two graines, making these into powder before you giue it: then two howres after the taking of this scowring, féed your hawke with a yong Pygeon, or a hote Pullets legge, vsing this selfe same order thrée or foure mornings one after another.

One other remedy for it is this. Take as much vnwasht Larde as the toppe of your little finger, with a quantitie of Pepper, and a little Aloes Epaticke, beate these two last into powder, and conuey them into the Larde, which done, thrust them into your hawkes throat, holding her on your fist a space after it: then tie her on the pearch in the Sunne, & there let her stay till shée cast both the scowring, & the slimy matter which is in her gorge. And this medicine you may vse euery rhird day once, féeding your hawke with hote meats, as Pigeons, and yong Sparowes, and euerytime you giue her this scowring, conuey into her a little Aloes, which is an excellent thing to scowre her, and quit her of of this disease.

If these receits and scowrings yéeld no remedy, then must you to the actuall cauterie, shearing away the plumes about that part of the head where you will apply your fire, euer respecting the bone, and burning nothing but the very skinne, to let the mischiefe breath, remouing the escarre, and doing the cure after the escarre remoued, as is before said. Let this suffice for this monstrous mischiefe which kils many hawkes: yet haue I cured my hawks twice by these remedies in my time.

[Page 235]

Of the Cataract in the eyes of a Hawke.

BEsides those other euils, there is a Cataract which dooth light vpon the eyes of a Hawke, whome we may tearm a suffusion, a mischiefe not easily remoued, and diuers times impossible to be recured, as namely, when it is grown too thick and ouerlong, hath béen suffered in the eye, without séeking remedy for it: but if it be not confirmed, then may it well bee remedied, and I my selfe haue cured sundry hawkes affected with this euill.

This euill accident doth happen, by meane of grosse humors in the head, which are wont to dimme and darken the sight, and sometimes cleane to put out the hawkes eye without redemption.

It may bee, that the hoode is the cause and ground of this disease, for I neuer in my life remember that I saw any other birde or fowle troubled with it but onely the Falcon: and perhappes it lights on her in chiefe, for that of all other, shée is most vsed to the hoode, and to be almost at no time vnhooded.

You must therefore haue an eye,The Cure. and especiall regard to this inconuenience at the first, by giuing one or two morninges a scowring of Aloes, or of Agaricke, to scowre your Hawke withall, because if you should aduenture vpon any sharpe or hard painefull medicine, applying it to the eye of your hawke, it would perhaps cause a great repaire of euil humors, and accidents to the place diseasaid.

When you haue giuen this scowring of Aloes, or Agaricke, to remoue the matter from the eye, you must vse a powder made of washt Aloes, finely beaten, one scruple, and of Sugar Candie two scruples, blowing out this powder into your Hawkes eyes thrée or foure times in a day, with the Pipe or quill aforesaid. This is the gentlest, and most Soueraine medicine that you can apply to the eye in this case, [Page 236] and whilest you do minister this receit, it shall bee good sometimes to bath the eye with the vrine of a little boy.

If by these medicines aforesaid, the webbe of the eye will not bee remoued, we must be driuen to vse a stronger receipt, which is this:

Another remedy.Take a new said egge, and rost it so long vntill the white of it become like milke. When you haue so done, put it into a fine white linnen cloth, and straine it so much, and so long, vntill you sée issue through your strainer a cleare gréene water, whereof you shall now and then infuse a droppe or two into the hurt eye, vsing it so thrée or foure times in the day at the least, vntll you sée your Hawke amend of her mischiefe, and waxe sound.

Last of all, if these thinges auayle not to the cure, I do commend and allow aboue all the rest, that you take the iuyce of Celendine rootes, making them cleane from the earth that doth vse to hang to the moores: then scrape away the outmost rynde and pill of the roote, and vse the iuyce to your Hawke. Truely I haue found this to bee of singular force and vertue in the like accident.

It shall not bée amisse, in this and such like affections and ill passions of the eye of a Hawke, to bath her eyes often with rose-water, wherein haue béen boyled the séeds of Fenygreke. But you must remember, that this water or coli [...]ie, be somewhat warme when you vse it, because the eye is so noble, and so sensible a member, as it can ill brooke thinges eyther ouerhote, or ouer cold, but must haue them moderately hot or cold. This deuise may you vse to bath your Hawkes eye withall, vntill such time she be recouered, féeding her mean while with good meats, and such as are light of disgestion.

Hawkes are of so noble and excellent a nature, as the most part of medicines that you doe apply to the hurtes and cures of men, you may boldly bestow on hawkes, as thinges verie holesome for them, as by their working will be most euidently séene and perceyued: yet must there bee a discretion vsed, in [Page 237] the administration of these said receites, hauing alwayes a regard vnto the weake and delicate nature of Hawkes, in respect of men: and therefore the quantities of euery thing must be allowed and giuen accordingly. [For when all the medicines recited shal faile to worke,Adition. if then you take but a leafe of ground Iuie, and champing it in your mouth, spit the iuyce thereof into the hawkes eye, it will not onely take away this euill, but any other griefe in the eye whatsoeuer.]

It hapneth diuers times, that through the catarre, and paine of the head and eyes, there lights vpon the eares of a Hawke so mortall and deadly an apostume, as seldom when, though there be great care vsed about the cure, shée may bée brought to perfect state or recouered. And this procéedeth, because the mischiefe lies so neare a neighbour to the braine, as before it can breake or be cleansed outwardly, it causeth the Hawke to perish, Besides that, it is very hard to apply medicines in that place: but if the hawke bée of so strong a nature, that shée brook the breathing and rupture of this disease, which you shall perceiue by the quitture and filth that dooth issue from her eares, giue her this remedie, which is a very noble receit, and approued of me oftentimes, as well in men, as in Hawkes, to my great commendation and glory.

Take hony of Roses, and oyle of egges,The Cure. incorporate them together, and powre twice or thrice a day into the eares of your Hawke, some few drops of it hote: and if you find by the aboundance of filth, that there néedeth great abstersion, you may adde thereunto a quantity of Sarcacoll beaten into powder.

The Wine of Pomegranats is a most excellent remedy in this mischiefe, confected with those things aforesaid.

Butter well coyled and beaten in a morter of lead, one howre at the least, and afterwards powred into the hawkes eares reasonable hote, twice or thrice a day, is a very good remedie.

[Page 238]

Of such evils as happen to Hawkes in their chaps and mouthes.

THe chaps and mouth of a hawke is subiect to sundry diseases, and in the hawkes mouth there are wont to grow certaine white peeces of flesh, and sometimes tending somewhat to blacke, which doe hinder the hawke from her feeding, by meane whereof without any other euident cause, shée becommeth leane and low. Wherefore it shall bee very necessary to looke into her mouth somtimes, both in the pallate, and vnder the tong, beeause that many times, there especially, doe grow vp certaine péeces of flesh like in shape to a grain of pepper, sometimes lesse, sometimes bigger than a pepper graine, which it shall be necessary to cut away, eyther with a payre of cysers, if you may commodiously doeit, or with Roch allome burnt, or with a drop of oyle of brimstone, applyed vpon a little cotton, w^t an yron vnto the place, taking away the corrupt flesh. You must mundisie the place with hony of Roses, and bumbast, or lynt, vntill you sée the quicke flesh vnderneath it, then afterwards vnto the hony of roses, you may apply and adde a litle pouder of masticke, or incense, to consolidate the wound, washing it sometimes among with white wine.

Moreouer and besides this, there is wont to happen vnto hawkes in the mouth, a certaine frownce or impediment, which doth hinder their féeding, as the other péeces of flesh do, of which I haue spoken before. This frownce may bée verie well perceyued and discerned with the eye, and will appeare also by the féeding of the hawke.

Diuers times this kind of euill is cured with hony of Roses, & with the powder of nut-shels bound in a péece of linnen cloth, well bathed and stiped together, and thrust vnder the hote ymbers vntill it may be brought vnto fine powder: this may you continue twice a day, as long as shall be néedfull.

But if this will not serue the turne, it shall bée very necessary to mortifie, and kill the frownce with Aqua fortis, such as [Page 239] Goldsmithes doe vse to part their mettals withall, hauing respect not to touch it any where, sauing only vpon the frownce, and part diseased, for that it will fret the good & sound flesh.

After you haue mortified the frownce or canker with Aqua fortis, as I haue told you, then must you mundifie and consolidate it with hony of roses, which will cure it out of hand.

Also it is very good to apply this receit following in the cure of the Frownce, whome the Italians call Zarvol.

Take a cleane Skellet, whereunto put good White Wine, a quantity of Verdigrece well beaten to powder, of Roche Allom like quantitie, one ounce of hony, and a few drie Rose Leaues, boyle all these things together to the consumption of halfe the Wine: then straine it, and with the straining hereof twice or thrice a day, bathe the frownce with a little lint or bumbast tyed on the toppe of an Instrument for the purpose. But you must well regarde whether the Flesh bée good or no, and with a toole fitte for it to search and cutte away the deade flesh, for otherwise it will doe little pleasure, and the Hawke should bée assured to suffer great paynes, and yet to die at last. Hauing mundified the wound with the receit aforesaid, bath it onely with hony of Roses, & it will dispatch the Cure.

Take Verdigrece a quantity, binde it in a linnen cloth, stype it one day and one night in Rose Water, or Plantine Water, or common water, not hauing the rest,The Cure. and afterwards wash the frownce therewith, vntill they bée mortified, which you shall well perceyue by the quicke flesh that will grow vnder: then apply Honey of Roses in the ende of the Cure, and it shall doe your hawke great good.

Egiptiacum is an excellent thing to cure & kill the frownce in a Hawke,Another which is none other thing but a very Canker such as men are plagued withall. Wherefore take Verdigrece, Roch Alome, of eyther two ounces, Honey of Roses [Page 240] one ounce, water of Plantaine, wine of Pemegranats, of eyther two ounces and a halfe, set them on a soft burning fire, alwayes stirring them with a sticke, or wodden splatter, vntil, it turne to the thicknesse of hony: then take a little of it, and mingle with a quantity of Plantaine water, and you shall find this the most excellent remedy, aswell for the frownce in a Hawke, as also for the canker in the mouth of a man Thus much is necessary to be vsed, when the frownce doth happen vnto a Hawke by some postume of the head, engendred by a corrupt liuer, or some other inward part. But many times it so falleth out, that the beake of a hawke is hindred & offended with this kind of euill, and not the mouth so much, in such sort as the Hawke cannot well féede, by meane this mischiefe doth so fret and eate the horne of her chappe and beake. For remedy of that, you must take a sharpe knife, and pare away as much of the beake as is corrupted: but if the malady or frownce haue eaten very farre vnder the horne of the beake, it is not sufficient to cut it away with a sharpe knife, as farre as the canker hath eaten, but you must afterwardes annoint the place with hony of Roses twice or thrice: and in so doing the Hawke shall recouer and doe well, for the hony of Roses wil both mundifie and incarne.

Sometimes a hawkes beake or chappe doth ouergrow so much, as it is very necessary to cope it with an yron, and afterward to sharpen the beake with a knife, taking away so much as is néedefull for the better féeding of your Hawke, but in any wise you must not meddle with the nether chappe, because that doth not commonly grow so fast, nor so farre as to hinder your hawkes féeding. Wherefore that part is to be fauoured. Let this suffice as touching the diseases of the hawks mouth, and the frownce, because there is no canker or frownce so ill, but béeing taken in time, with these receits, it wil be cured assuredly.

[Page 241]

Of the Pantas.

ONe speciall disease among others that bée lurking and secret within the breast and couert parts of a Hawke, is the Pantas, a very dangerous euill, and familiar to hawkes: for lightly few escape that are once encombred with this infirmity.

This mischiefe procéedes when the lungs and those breathing members by excessiue heat are ouerdried, and baked in such sort, as they cannot by any meanes freely draw the ayre to them, nor yet vtter it well being once receyued, for the better cooling of the heart, whose bellows the lungs are, by nature ordayned for that speciall purpose and office, wherby the hart waxeth inflamed, and by a necessary consequent, the hawke of force must perish.

Beside that, the humidity and moisture of the head distilling from aboue vpon those breathing parts, & there encrassed and waxen thicke, is wont also to bee a great furtherance to this mischiefe, and bréed difficulty of breathing. Wherefore it shall be very necessary to regard it at the first, before the disease haue taken too déepe roote: for that then, (for any thing I know) there is no remedy in the world to be had for the Pantas, which is commonly tearmed Asma.

You may iudge of the beginning of this griefe, and know it by this. Your Hawke laboureth much in the panell, mouing her traine often vp and downe, at each motion of her panell, and cannot many times mewte or slise: and when shée doth slise, she droppes fast by her, and makes a small round burnt mewt: these are apparant proofes that shée hath the pantas growing on her.

Againe, you may perceyue it by the more violent motion of her gorge then custome was, but the other are the most assured signes that you can desire, and infallible. Moreouer, when your hawke doth oftentimes open and close her clappes and [Page 242] beake, then is the disease very neare confirmed. And looke how much the more shée doth it, y^e more is the Pantas rootes on her, and then is the cure desperate, and not to be hoped for.

The best remedie that euer I could finde for the Pantas, was to scowre the Hawke with good oyle oliue,The cure of the Pantas. well washed in sundrie waters, so long, vntill it became cleare and white.

The way to wash oyle.My accustomed manner of washing it was, to put it in an earthen potte, that had a litle hole in the very bottom of it, of purpose made rounde, whereby it might the better bée stopte with the toppe of my finger: then do I conuey into this potte that quantitie of Oyle, which I meane to washe in it, and with cleare water do there coile it together with a woodden platter, or a spoone, that the water waxeth somwhat dark with it: after which remouing my finger, the water passeth away by the hole, the Oyle remaining behinde, and swimming aloft, as it is the nature of it to do. And thus do I fixe, seauen or eight times: so long vntill I perceiue the Oyle to haue no filth left in it at all. Then of this Oyle thus prepared, I bestowe vppon my Hawke that hath the Pantas, filling therewith a chickens gutte washt very cleane, of an inch long and somwhat more, for a Falcon and Goshawke: but for other lesse Hawkes of a lesse length, fast knit at both endes with a threed, to the end the Oyle may not issue out, which gutte I conuay into the Hawkes throte, after she hath cast: and is emptie aboue and in the pannell both, holding her on the fiste till she make a mewte: and one houre after she hath left mewting, then I féede her with some slipper flesh, as the heart of a Calfe, or a Pullets legge, refusing to vse olde Pigeons and Sparowes, because they are ouer hote meate, vnlesse happily the Hawke were very low and poore, but being hie and full of flesh, those other meates aforesaid, are not alone holesome, and sufficient for her, but they will be much better, being washt in water of Buglosse, and wroong drie in a linnen cloth, and then minged with the powder of [Page 243] Sugar Candie, vsing this order sixe or eight dayes, or more, euery other day till my Hawke recouer: giuing her euerie third or fourth day a cotton casting with Cubebes, & cloues, to scowre and discharge her of such moist humors as distilleth from her head, which sometimes (as I haue said before) is the chiefe and originall ground of this disease.

Besides this remedy, there is one other very good, and that is butter, and Larde well slised, and washed in sundry Waters, till they become very cleane, and White, which you may kéepe in Rose-water, vntill you haue occasion to vse it.

Of these being thus prepared and conserued, you may take as you haue néed, for euery scowring such a quantity, as will serue to make a pyll or pellet, so great as you may well conuey into your Hawkes throat, vsing it in maner and time aforesaid: giuing her now and then among that scowring of Cubebs and Cloues, as well for the reason already alleadged, as also because of her liquid meat and slipper féeding vpon those hearts, so bathed and stéeped in water. For Cubebs and Cloues will greatly comfort the stomacke and gorge of your Hawke.

I haue found by experience that oyle of swéete Almonds is of wondrous efficacy in the cure of this disease, giuing it in a chickens gut as aforesaid.

If these remedies which I haue shewed doe not preuaile, nor performe the perfect cure of your diseased hawke, ne yet do make her mewte, which hapned at no time to mée in all my experience and practise. But when there is no remedy to bée had at all, I can well allow the vse of Agaricke with a cotton casting, because Agaricke is of great force to cause a Hawke to slise. But if for all this, the griefe doe dayly procéed and increase, then doe I thinke good that you bestow a Cantery vpon your Hawkes head, betwixt her eyes, & eake at her nares, specialy if there be any imperfection in them. Some men are of opiniō, y^t for the cure of y^e Pantas you should giue your hawk [Page 244] two inches of a Lucerts tayle, newly cut off, conueying it into your hawkes gorge, and afterwards setting her in some dark place, till shée haue cast, and then to giue her goats milke with the bloud of a Doue. Othersome Writers doe will and aduise to let the hawke bloud in the necke.

But I for my part haue neither tried the one nor the other, if I shall tell you the truth of the matter, because I doe not at all like of these deuises: but doe assure you, that with those other remedies and receits, which I haue taught you in this Chapter of the Pantas (I meane the scowrings, and the cauterie) I haue done very much good, and recouered my hawks of this disease, and therefore doe recommend you to them, as vndoubted experiments.

Betony reduced into the forme of an Electuarie with hony is a very good remedie for this griefe, as well in men, as in Hawkes.

One other remedy which I find in an Italian Author, is this. Take Mummy, Rheubarbe, Saffron, & Sugar Candy, make all these into powder, giuing it to your Hawke, for the space of eight dayes at least in a chickens skinne, if shée will take it, if not, force it into her. And while you minister this medicine vnto her, all that time let her not be borne on the fist: and withall among sometimes, giue washt fresh butter with sugar candy, and sometimes a cotton casting with incense within it. But I doe more commend to giue her Bole Armoniacke in a Pill with hony.

These remedies no doubt are very good and soueraigne against the Pantas of a Hawke. Make you choice of them, but let the cautery be the last refuge, for that is an extremity. Remember this rule of Phisicke, that euer it is best to begin with the weakest: for if they will profite and do sufficient good, in vaine it were to charge nature with the strongest receites, which are rough and churlish in working.

[Page 245]

Of the infirmity and disease in the gorge of a Hawke. when shee doth cast her gorge.

SVndry are the diseases that Hawkes are pestred withal, by meane of the indisposition of the gorge, when the parte is out of tune: among which, the most ordinary and perillous is the casting of the gorge, when a Hawke doth cast her meat vndisgested, in the selfe same forme she receyued it: or else corrupted, and of a loathsome sauour, both which they do many times.

If shée cast it cleane, and not stinking, but of good smell, there is no great feare of the matter, nor any great danger: because it may procéede by mean some small bone is crossed and turned in the gorge of the Hawke, which doth cause her to cast it againe for her more ease and quiet: Wherefore in this case it shall bée good for the more surety, and to know the worst of the accident that may happen thereby, to beare your hawke to the water, or to offer her abasō of water, to trie whether she will bowze or no. For by bowzing, besides the good that she shall receiue by it, you shall haue euident proofe and vndoubted shew of her disease, and that indéede shée is sicke, and doth stand in néede of Physicke: but if shée bowze not at all, it argueth her to bée in good tune.

Those accidents are wont to happen by meane of ouer much moysture and humidity, and through excessiue rotten humors engendred in the gorge.

Wherefore if the Hawke cast her meat well sauouring, and of good colour, neyther stinking to smell, nor loathsome to viewe, and doe bowze after it, it shall bée good to heat and comfort the gorge with the powder of Nutmegges and Cloues, with a quantity of Muske, all enwrapped in a péece of fine cotton or bombast, giuing it to the hawke when shée is emptie [Page 246] pancid, as custome is to doe, holding her on the fist, vntill shée put ouer her said casting into her gorge. Then two howres after she hath cast it againe, it shall be very necessary to feede her with young Doues, giuing but halfe a gorge, or somwhat lesse at a time: & at night when hée sups her, to let her plume a little, and if the Hawke will bowze, to giue her leaue to doe it, for truely it will be very holesome for her. By this meanes I promise you, I haue recouered sundry sicke hawkes, and chiefly Sparrowhawkes.

I haue ouer and besides this, vsed with great good successe good Rose water altred with a quantity of powder of cloues, and muske, preparing it after this manner.

I haue taken Rose water two ounces, powder of Cloues two scruples, of fine muske fiue graines: and of this haue I giuen my hawke fiue ounces, or thereabout, after that as my hawke hath béen eyther poore or hie in state, holding her on the fist, vntill she hath made a mewte.

This medicine will bring her to a good appetite, a swéete breath, and will besides all these scowre very well.

But if that which she doth cast, be corrupted and stinking: ouer and besides the foresaid remedies, which indéede are excellent good, I can allow well that you take the roote of Celidonie, or Celondine, remouing away the vpper rynde, and pill off the roote vntill it looke redde, and droppe againe, then to infuse it in a quantity of luke warme water, stirring the roote vp and downe in the water, to cause it to receiue the effect and quality of the Celydonie the more. Of which root you must (after you haue so done) conuey a pellet as bigge as a beane for the huger sort of hawkes, into the beake of your Hawke, thrusting it downe with your forefinger into the very gorge of her, to the end it may the better descend into your Hawke. Besides this, it is very good to open her beake, & conuey into her one spoonefull of the water aforesaid, not all at once, but at twice or thrice, closing fast her clappes againe, [Page 247] because she may the better kéepe it, and not cast it vppe presently.

This béeing done, kéepe her a space vpon the fiste, vntill the roote and licout bée well setled in her gorge. After which, cast her on the pearch in such a place where is no resort, eyther of people, Dogges, Chickens, Cattes, or other such like things, to the end you may the better discerne her scowring: and besides, that shee may haue the lesse cause to bate. There let her stand vntil shée hath cast all the roote which shée receyued, and that the water hath made her mewt, and s [...]se sufficiently, which will doe her very great good. Then after two howres it shall bee well to giue her a yong Rat or Mouse, newly stripped out of the skinne hote, and for lacke thereof, a young Pigeon, whome you shall kill, by throwing her forcibly against the ground, with the raines downeward, because the bloud may gather together and stand: whereof féed your Hawke giuing her the heart also, and the raines thereof, without any more allowance of any of the Pigeons flesh. When shee hath dispatched and ridde this beaching of the Pigeons heart and bloud, or of the young Rat, then giue her in like manner the like quantity, onely of the dead Doue: onely twice a day to a Sparowhawk, but to a Falcon or Goshawk, foure or fiue beachings in one day, euer obseruing the selfe same order that I haue prescribed you.

The next morning you may, if néede bée, in a little lint, or flaxe, or such deuise, giue a scowring of Incense or Olibanum, I meane the leaues of it brused in your hand, as smal as is possible, giuing her but a small gorge, to the end that towardes the Euening, you may allow her a reasonable Supper.

By this vsage and order haue I cured sundry Hawes of mine owne, and other mens.

You must note y^t when these remedies aforesaid do not profite [Page 248] nor doe the feate, and that the Hawke doth cast her more than twice, then is it a desperate case, and so much the worse, if the Hawke bée low and poore, for then in that case haue I séene very few or none recured.

Neuerthelesse I haue sometimes séen a maruaile wrought in this case, by making the greater kind of hawkes, as Falcons, Gerfalcons, and such like, drunk with a spoonful or two of strong Malmesey, conueied by force into her gorge: but to the lesser hawks you must not giue so much of the malmesie, but in lesse quantity. Which done, they haue béen placed vpon a bed or a cushion, for on the pearch they cannot stand, being drowsie, but will lie as thinges in a trance for the space of a quarter of an howre, and many neuer recouer themselues againe, but if happily any doe after they are thus dealt withall recouer and slise, and scowre away their medicine, no question that hawke shall throughly recouer: then is it good to giue her of the bloody parts of a Pigeon vsed in that manner as I foreshewed you, but this dangerous medicine is not to be giuen, but in desperate cases.

Of divers Accidents that happen to Hawkes, by meanes of fowlenesse of the gorge, and indisposition thereof.

IT hapneth sometimes that a Hawke can hardly put ouer her meat, which may bée discerned by this, when in the morning she hath of her supper aboue. This misfortune chanceth partly by reason her meat was ouerdrie, and (as wée may say) so hard baked in the gorge, as shee could not put it ouer, and partly againe, for that the Hawke cannot endue sufficiently, neyther yet dooth fill in the Pannell as shée ought to doe.

[Page 249]In the first case, I haue holpen diuers with giuing the Hawke water at will, to bowze her pleasure, bathing besides her féet and pearch with fresh cold water: which not seruing the turne, I haue thrust my forefinger into her gorge, and so holpen it along, and sometimes my little finger, or a wax candle: and by that meanes haue caused her to fill in the ventricle sooner than otherwise shée would haue done. The weakenesse of which part diuerse times is a cause that the Hawke doth not well endue, nor fill in the Panel.

Somewhiles againe I haue vsed, and chiefly to Falcons to giue a scowring in Cotton of powder of Mummye, prepared of Cloues and Nutmegs, rolling aloft vpon the cotton a little lynt of Flaxe, because they should the sooner cast it. And by this meanes haue recouered them presently.

When a hawke doth endew but slowly, and hath by that means small lust to her meat, you must thus do, to make her more eager, & sharp, wrap her meat in the séed of Nasturcium, or water crassies, and so cause her to take it. But this must he vsed only in winter, by reason that kind of séed is very hote.

The meat being thus vsed, will bring her to be very sharpe sette, and cause her to be well breathed, and besides make her lusty, for indéed it is a medicine very excellent, and of infinite vertue.

Besides, sometimes the gorge is so out of tune, as it is the cause that the hawke at her accustomed hours doth not caste, but retayneth her casting within her. Whereupon it behoues some art to be vsed to make her cast. The next remedy for that (as I haue said already) is to giue the roote of Celendine, prepared in forme aforesaid.

Moreouer mustard seede, otherwise called Senuy séede, is an excellent & a present remedy for that mischiefe, being conueyed into the Hawkes throat of the bignes of a beane, to the huger sort of hawkes: but to the lesser hawkes a lesse quantity ought to be giuen: & besides that, one graine of Cloues, with a little pure Aloes well washt, albeit that will somewhat vexe [Page 250] and wrong the hawke in this care.

But aboue all other, doe I hommend and preferre a scowring conueyed into a little cotton casting, that is made of the powder of Aloes Epaticke washt, of Cloues, Nutmegs and Ginger, of ech of these equall portions, roling the Cotton in a little Tow or Flaxe, making it as hard with your hand as you may, & then rolling it in the powder of cloues, and forcing it downe the Hawkes throat: and presently you shall sée your hawke cast it vp with the olde casting which shee had before. This, besides the benefite of that, will comfort greatly, and strengthen the gorge, and scowre the head of all such euill humors as are there, surcharging the same. The vse of this deuise now and then will bee very necessary and beneficiall to your Hawkes without doubt.

If your Hawke will not cast, take Aloes, Pepper, powder of Cloues, and hony of Roses, making of all these a long pyll, and as bigge as a casting, giue it your hawke, and shée shall presently cast vpon the taking of it.

Of wormes that molest and trouble hawkes out of measure.

NOw doe I hold it high time, and the place very conuenient to write of such kinds of wormes, as do trouble and vexe the poore hawke as her mortall enemies, which after a sort doe depend of the gorge, through whose weakenesse there are engendred grosse and viscuous humors in the bowels of a hawke, where béeing weakely wrought by default of naturall heat, the humor conuerts into small wormes a quarter of an ynch long and more.

You may perceiue these wormes to plague and trouble your hawke, when you sée her cast her gorge, when her breath stinkes, when shee trembleth and writheth her traine, when shée croakes in the night, offereth with her beake to her panel, when her mewt is not cleane, white, nor in such aboundance as it ought to be. And besides all this, when your Hawke [Page 251] keepes at one stay, and is low of flesh continually.

In this case it behooues you to destroy these wormes eyther with a scowring of washt Aloes Epaticke, Mustard seede, and Agarick, of each one equall portions, vsing to giue it as I haue taught you before. Or else by ministring the pouder of the Gal of a Bore pig dryed in the smoake: or if these fayle, to giue the powder of Harts horne being dried.

White Dittander, Hiera pigra minore, (for there are sundry kinds of it) of each two drams, Aloes Epaticke well washte thrée drams, Agaricke, Saffron, of each one dram, being al incorporate with hony of Roses, is an excellent remedie against the wormes. You must kéepe it well, and giue Falcons, Goshawkes and such like, the bignes of a beane, but to Sparowhawkes, and the lesser sort of Hawkes, as much as a pease, in forme of a pyll, thrusting it downe your Hawkes throat, kéeping her after it a space on the fist, till she haue slised and mewted her medicine, feeding her afterward with good meat after your wonted maner. And this shall recouer her, and kill the wormes.

For the same disease it is very good to giue a scowring of white Dittander, Aloes Epaticke well washt, Cubebes foure or fiue, a few flakes of saffron, enwrapped in a morsell of flesh, to cause the hawke the better to take it.

This receit no doubt will both make the hawke to slyse and mewt, and withall recouer her. For it is an approued remedy against the worms, and specially when the hawke doth writh and wrest her traine.

Againe, take Rheuponticum, Sugar Candy, filings of yron, of each like quantity, of these, with iuyce of Wormewood, frame pyls, & conueying them into the skinne of a chicken, giue your hawke one pyll at a time, and it shall doe her pleasure.

Of the Flanders.

NOw I am entred in spéech of worms, I thinke it good to write somwhat of y^e Filanders, to giue both knowledge & [Page 252] cure of them. Albeit these worms do not al depēd of the gorge, for their natural place, & being is near the the rains of a hawk, where they be enwrapped in a certaine thin net or skin, seueral by themselues, apart from eyther gut or gorge.

These Filanders (as the very name doth import,) are smal as thréeds, & one quarter of an inch long, and more proper and peculiar to Falcons, than to any other hawke or fowle. And this makes me to thinke that they are naturally allowed the Falcon, because indéed they doe not at all times vexe & trouble the hawks, but now and then, & especially when the hawk is poor & low of flesh. But if she be hie & lusty, then by reason of the abundance of nourishment & food that they receyue from the hawke, they molest her not at all, but rather do her good: & my reason is this. I cannot be induced to thinke that nature (who doth vse to make nothing but to some end and purpose) hath produced and placed those Filanders in that part of the falcon for naught, or to hurt the hawke. But how & in what sort they pleasure or profit the hawke, I could neuer yet reach by coniecture.

When they are troubled and grieued with the Filanders, you shall first discerne it by the pouerty of the hawkes, by ruffling their traines, & by certain twitches and starts that they will make, strayning the fist or pearch with their pownce, and lastly by their crooking in the night time, which kind of noyse they vtter, when the Filanders pricke and gripe them within. For when they want their sustenance, which they can by no meanes haue when the hawks are low and poore, then do they endeauour to rend and breake that slender net wherein they are naturally inclosed, to issue out to séeke their victuals some other where. And many times it hapneth, that, not séeing to it in time, and at the first, they passe through their web, & crall vp as hie as the very heart, and other principall partes of the Hawke, whoreof it must néeds consequently follow, that shée perisheth without redemption.

I haue sometimes séene this pestilent worme by piercing [Page 253] and breaking the bed wherein nature hath layde them, ascend vp so hie as they came forth, & appeared at the Hawkes beake and mouth.

Wherefore it shall be necessary to respect the cure of these Fylanders, not by killing them as you would doe other wormes, (for then happily being dead, and rotting in that pléece, from whence they cannot passe away with the hawks mewte, they would there corrupt & breed a filthie impostume in her) but the way that you must take, is, by making them drunke with some medicine to entertaine them in such forte, as they may not offend or gripe the hawke.

The best remedy that can bée deuised for it, is to take a Garlick head, pilling from the cloues therof the vtmost rind: which done, you shall w^c some small yron toole or bodkin heat in the fire, pierce the Cloues, and make certaine holes in thē. And afterwards stéeping them in oyle at least thrée dayes, giue your Falcon one of them down her throat: for the Cloue of Garlicke vsed in this manner as I tell you, will so enrage & astone the Filanders, that for thirty or forty dayes after they will not at all molest your Hawke Whereupon some Falconers when their Falcons bee low and poore, once in a moneth doe of ordinarie giue them a cloue of Garlicke for feare of the Filanders, to preuent the worst, and truly to good effect. And for that very purpose and cause, are seldome or neuer without Garlicke stéeped in Oyle, where the longer they lye, the better, and more medicinable they are.

Thus must you deale with those Filanders that lie in the raynes. But there is one other kind of Filanders lying in the guts or panel of a hawke, which are long, small and white worms, as though they had dropt out of the raines of y^e hawk. If you will destroy those Filanders, you must take Aloes Epaticke, fylings of yron, Nutmegs, & so much hony as will serue to frame a pyll, which pyll you shall giue your hawke in y^t morning, as soon as shée hath cast, holding her on the fist for the space of an howre after. Thē cast her on the perch, & when [Page 254] you gesse her to haue slised her fill, and mewted it cleane, then féede her with good hote meate.

There are besides these, yet one other sort of Filanders in the guts of a hawke also, which cause a hawk to cast her gorge as soone as shée hath fed, and doe make her strong breathed: for them prouide this remedie.

Take Aloes Epaticke, & wormwood made into very smal powder, temper the powder with oyle of bitter Almonds: and that done, annoint therewith the flankes and sides of your hawke. And if you like not the oyle, for gresing your Falcons feathers and plumes, compound those foresaid powders with Vineger at the fire: but it is certaine that the Oyle is the better far of both, and more proper to this disease,

If you can, giue your hawke oyle of bitter Almonds, and not disquiet her gorge, and after it bestow the other cure vpon her, with the annointing her as I haue taught you, you shall find it the most perfect remedy that may be against those Filanders that lodge in the guts and bowels of your hawke.

Of the disease of the Liver.

THe liuer of a hawk is oftentimes enflamed by ouermuch bating and trauell, as it hapneth not seldome to Falcons brought from far and forrain countries by ship, & again, when they be impatient and bedlam in the mew, or when they flée surcharged w^c ouer great bels. For the ouerbelling of a Falcon puts her to a greater paine and trouble than néeds. By these, & such like occasions, hawkes become hote liuered. Againe somtimes it hapneth by meane of an Apostume, which is engendred eyther by some pricke of a thorne, or the stripe of an other hawkes pownce, by crabbing w^c her. For when they haue such a stripe or pricke, the skin is broken outwardly, but the bloud remaining corrupt within, engendreth the apostume. Many times this disease of the liuer procéedes of some bruise against the ground, or in a trée or the encounter with another fowle.

You shal perceiue this disease of the inflammation of y^e liuer [Page 255] when your hawke standeth melancholy, casteth not at her accustomed and wonted howres, by her fowle castings, by her stinking and ill coloured mewts (whereof I spake before) by her labouring thicke in the panell, and by féeling of her: For her pulse doth beat as the pulse of a man that hath a Feauer. Moreouer, her mewt is as blacke as any incke. The disease is the most pestilent and dangerous of all others.

If the heat of her liuer procéede of too much bating, or broiling with her selfe, you may easily cure her with foure or fiue good liquid and cooling gorges, as to féede her with the legge of a Pullet, or the heart of a Veale, bathed in Water of Buglosse, Bowrage, Harts tongue, and such like waters.

Moreouer, it is very Soueraigne to wash her meate in the iuyce of Henbane, or else (that which doth much more refresh the Hawke) to take a little larde or bacon without the rinde, and well washt and conserued in good Rose water, and last of all rolled in powder of Sugar Candy. With this receyte more than with any other, am I accustomed to recomfort and refresh my hawke when shée is sick of her liuer. Notwithstanding the other medicines are very wholesome and good. And specially good fresh butter, or Oyle washte and prepared, as I taught you in the former chapter.

But when the mischiefe of the liuer is engendred by some pricke of a thorne, or the crabbing with some other hawkes or foule, as diuers times it happeneth to the Falcon, by encounter with a Hearon, when they binde together in the aire. In this extremity, mummy purified made to powder, is very good. You must roll your hawkes meat in this mummy prepared thrée or foure times, and so giue it to your hawke: and if shée refuse to take it of her selfe then conuey it into her by force, with a cotton casting, foure or fiue dayes one after an other.

If shée be ill affected in her liuer by a bruise against y^e ground or against a trée, or by encounter with some other fowle, then [Page 256] take Rewbarbe of the best one scruple, drie it vpon a hote yron pan, vntill it may be made into fine powder, of that giue in a canuas casting, the weight of two graines of wheate to your larger sort of hawkes, but for the lesse hawke, the one half wil suffice. After she hath taken this casting, i [...] shee bee hie in flesh then two howres after féede her with a pullets legge washt in one of those cooling waters, but if shée bee low and poore, with good hote meat. Thus must you continue four or fiue dayes, giuing one day the casting with Rewbarbe, and another day with the mummy aforesaid. Truly without doubt your hawk shall recouer if you follow this methode, vnlesse the lyuer bée remoued out of his place, which sometimes dooth happen by some great bruise or straine. And you shall know it by a continuall hardnesse which you shall féele in the hawkes pannell, and by her yellow mewts.

For this inconuenience there is no remedy in the worlde to bée had, although you would trie all the medicines that are to bée vsed to hawkes, you shall profit nothing. It must needes follow that within fiue dayes your hawk peke off the pearch. It is not curable.

Gioroa us an excellent Falconer, for the indisposition and heat of the lyuer, willeth you to take halfe an ounce of Soldanel, and one ounce of I [...]eos, which is floure de Luce. You must beate these into fine powder, and conuey it into your casting, & so giue it your hawk. Withal at night hee wils you, when your hawke hath put ouer, and well scowred her filth, féed her with good meate washt in these cooling waters following.

Take water of Endiue, Maydenheare, Cycorie, and Buglosse: in these waters may you wash your hawkes meate, as also her casting, if it please you, wrapping in the casting the powder aforesaid. For what with the helpe of the one and the ther, no doubt you shall see a very good effect.

Moreouer the said Giordanus saith, that the Gerfalcons are of all other the hotest hawkes, and therefore to maintaine and kéepe them sound, he doth aduise to wash their castings in this [Page 257] water following.

Take Endiue water, Maydenheare, otherwise called Capillus Veneris, the water of Scabios [...] of eyther two ounces, one dramme of choice Rewbarbe, of the best Agaricke one scruple, put those in infusion, where after they haue béen infused seuen howres wash your Hawkes casting in it. This order vse euer when your Gerfalcon is out of tune, & it shall greatly pleasure her.

Of diseases that happen to Hawkes feet, and first as touching the swelling of a Hawkes foot.

SOmetimes the arme and foot of a Hawke doth swell, by means of ill humors that descend and drop down through weakenes of the foot or arme, through ouer great trauel & toile, through age, by reasō of some blow or bruise receiued long before. This mischiefe may easily bée discerned aswell by view of eye, as touch of hand: for besides that you shall plainely perceiue it in sight, you may feel a very great heat in the member, so as sometimes the Hawke is vnable to stand on her legs for paine and auguish thereof. Wherefore it is necessary to looke to it with all care that may be, and to vse the matter, as the humor bréed not the goote, or the pinne, which oftentimes hapneth to those poore birdes to their great and continuall plague.

The way to cure it, is to giue the humor a vent by launsing it, and after that to recomfort the member, by oftē annointing it with the white of an egge, vinegar, and rosewater, well beaten and coyled together, or else with very good olde oyle of oliues, such as you can come by out of a bottle wherein oyle hath béen long time kept: for those drops that hardly come out of the bottle, are farre better than any new fresh oyle, and are more medicinable in this case.

Moreouer, besides the ceasing of the paine, to delay the swelling, you shall find it very excellent good, to take the powder of Acacia, & terra Sigillata, of eyther foure drams, incorporating them with vineger, the white of an egge, Rose-water, and the iuyce of Nightshade, as much as will suffice to make this vnguent soft and delicate, and with this receite to annoint the [Page 258] hawks foot or arme oftentimes for a space: for this vnguent no question, will both take away the immoderate ach and paine, as also mollifie and delay the swelling, and so restore your hawke to her former plight againe. [But aboue all there is none more certaine then to take oyle of bay, and beating it wel with aqua v tae, Addition. annoint the hawks féet or legs therwith.]

An other approued medicine is, to annoint the swelling of your hawkes foot with Oleum Petraelium (which is the oyle of a Rocke) and with oyle of white Lillies, taking of each of these like quantity, the blood of a pigeon, and the talow of a candle, heating all these together a little at the fire. This vnguent wil throughly resolue the mischief, or at the least, by resoluing the thinnest humors, bring it to that passe, as you shall sée the grossest parts well digested which you shal perceiue by the whitenes and hardnes thereof. Then must you make an issue by lā cing finely with a knife the skinof the hurt place, & afterwards annoint it for certaine dayes with the vnguent aforesaid, and it shall recouer.

Besides this, a very good remedy for the swelling in a hawks foot after a rupture made, is to vse this cerot that followeth. Take Gumme Arabicke, Armoniack, Sagapeum a gumme so called, of eyther two drams, Gréeke Pitch, and ship pitch, of each a reasonable quantity, powder of Masticke thrée ounces, of oile of Iuniper, or of the Firtrée, new wax as much as wil suffice to make a Cerot according to art: dissolue your gums in vineger, which done, spread of this vpon a plegga [...]t of linnē cloth, applying it hansomly both within the foot and without, making certaine holes where through to conuey the hawks stretchers or talons: Alwayes remembring if the swollen part be broken before the application of your Cerot, to mundifie & clense the water and slime that is in the wound, and so euerie two or thrée dayes to change and renue your Cerot.

The vertue of it, is to deficcat, comfort, & mundifie the filth and quitture that is in the hurt member, wherby the hurt must of force be recouered.

Of the Gout in a Hawke.

[Page 259]MAny times for all the care and remedies aforesaide, the gowt doth befal a hawk, which is none other thing thā a hard tumor and swelling, full of corruption about the ioynts of a Hawks foot and stretchers, which disease is very paineful and offensiue, by mean whereof the hawke cannot prey. Truly the gowt is an incurable euill, and may bée termed a (nurquam sanus.) Let Falconers and writers say what they list, I for my part can thus much assure you, that in all my life, I was neuer able by any deuise to cure the gowte confirmed, whether it were for want of cunning in me, or by reason of the malignity of the disease, which doth rebel and scorn any remedy that shall bée applyed vnto it. Yet notwithstanding because it shal not séeme that I do it vpon sloth, & for desire to be silent, I will lay downe some one remedy or two vsed by diuerse Falconers, though oft times to small purpose or successe.

Some for the Gowt doe vse to take the pyls of wild Apples or Crabs, wild and sowre sloes, the rind of an Ash, or the keyes that grow vpon the ashe beaten into small powder, mingling it with halfe a pound of olde Oyle Oliue, all which they put into a Glasse bottle or other vessell of glasse close stopt with Paste, or such like deuise, so as no breath may issue forth of the Vessell, which done, they couer it in sand in the sun, or in horse dung for the space of forty dayes, and after that they strain it altogether, so as the vertue of the ingredience may be incorporated with the oyle. With this forsooth they annoynt the place, hoping to resolue and cure the Gowt, which I could neuer doe vpon any hawke of mine.

Othersome do accustome to annoint the Gowt in a hawk, with the milke or iuyce of Selandine, and the marrow of a Bacon hog, & taking a péece of linnen cloth, doe bath the member euery third day with the strongest Vineger they can get, and doe cause their hawke to stand vpon all this for the remedy of the Gowte.

Againe, there are, that with the iuyce of Selandine, Vinegar, and Hony, doe vaunt they haue made an Vnguent wherewith they hand done great wonders. But because [Page 260] by experience I could neuer find these to preuaile in the cure of the gowte, I leaue to speake or write in commendation of the same, putting you out of all hope for recouery of the same.

Of the Pinne in the Hawkes foot, a disease much like the corne in the foot of a man. The Italians tearme them Chiodetti.

THere is yet one other euill which hapneth in the foote of a hawke, by meane of matter that powreth down in a maner as hard to bée cured as the Gowte, and as cumbersome to the silly hawke as the Gout, for by reason of the pinne shée is neyther well able to foot her prey, to féed her selfe, nor yet to stand sure vpon her pearch.

The Pinne is a swelling disease that doth resemble sharp nayles, rising vp in the bottome or palme of the hawkes foote: and by reason it doth so much in shape resemble a nayle, by meane of the sharpenesse thereof, those swellings are called by the Falconers of Italy Chiodetti, as a man would terme them in English small nayles, of which, very few hawks can bee recured.

Yet for remedy of this disease, some doe aduise to open the vain of the leg, a thing not only friuolous to talke of, & a verie old womans fable, or Canterbury tayle, but also very perilous to bée put in practise. For truly neyther will I my selfe at any time practise it, ne yet aduise others to doe it. I can more commend that you mollifie and make soft the said pin with strong Vineger the best that may be gotten, which done, pare it til the bloud follow after: then to bring it to maturation, and to ripen it, apply handsomely vpon it in a linnen plegget, a quantity of vnguent made of iuyce of Lemmons, one ounce & a halfe of hennes grese, thrée drams powder of Masticke, leaues of Bittony and Frankensence, or Olibanum a resonable portion, & so much new waxe as will serue the purpose.

Besides this, I doe vse to boyle it in good white wine, all [Page 261] these things together, Waxe, Oyle of bitter Almonds, of each like quantity, a little Sage, Frankinsence, Rewe, Rosemary, to the consumption of three partes, then pounding well all these with Turpentine and yellow Waxe, I make an vnguent of excellent vertue and operation. And if by these remedies aforesaid, the Pinne become to be soft, and forgo his hardnesse, then doth it behoue you to cut it out from the roote, as low as is possible, and to drie it vp with Agrippa, an vnguent so called, and with Gratia Dei, mingling these two together by equall portions, as much of the one as of the other.

Ouer and besides all these, the playster that is called Emplastrum Sacrum and Isis, whome the Apothecaries do so term are of singular vertue, because they doe mollifie and desiccate the wound or disease. I cannot remember, that aboue twice, I could euer doe any good vpon my Hawkes herewith (nor with any other remedy) and therefore I will leaue to make any further recitall hereof.

There be some ventrous Falconers, that will with a cauterizing yron goe about to roote and burne out the Pinne, which I will at no time endeauour to doe, doubting least thereby I shall shrinke my Hawkes sinewes, and spoile my Hawke, by meanes they are so neare neighbours to the heart.

Of the breaking of a Pounce, or Cley of your Hawke.

SEing that I haue begunne to write and decipher you the mischiefes that doe happen to hawkes féete, it shall not be beside my purpose, nor amisse to say somewhat of the cure of their Pounces and Talons, when eyther by striking the fowle, or by any other accident they breake cleane off, or riue in sunder.

Wherfore when your hawk hapneth to haue this mischiefe the part of the pounce, or the whole pounce being brokē away, you must apply vnto it the bladder of the gall of a Henne, [Page 262] vsing the matter so as it may get into the broken Talon, binding it so handsomely and artificially to the hawkes foot, as the gall may not issue out, nor fall away from the place. This deuise will stoppe the blood, cease the paine, and within foure or fiue dayes fasten and harden the horne of the Pounce, so as the hawke shall bée able to flée: and if shée be a Falcon shee shal strike or ruffe a Ducke as before her hurt.

And to the end your hawk teare it not away with her beak, it shall bée necessary eyther to clap her on a hoode with a false beake made vnto it, or to fasten to her hood a péece of leather artificially, so long and large as may serue the turn, to arm her beake, so as in time her pounce, if it be but broken, may waxe whole againe: or if it bée clean riued away, a new may grow in the place againe. [But if it bée not cleane riuen away, then with a little new red sealing wax fixt about it,Addition. let her rest, & it will soone conglutinate together again.]

Let this suffice as touching the breaking or riuing of the Pounce of a Hawke.

When the thigh or legge of a hawke is out of ioynt.

BY some outward accident many times the thigh or legge of a Hawke is become out of ioynt: wherefore it shal be very necessary in this case, as soone as is possible, to set it in his right and naturall place againe, to the end that no matter nor fluxe of humor descend or distill to hinder the setting of it in ioynt againe, which must néeds ensue if it be not regarded in time. Which done, set the hawke in some such place where shée shall haue no occasion to bate or broile with her selfe, but bée at the greatest quiet and rest shee may, applying medicines that haue vertue to desiccate and strengthen the hurt member which you shall doe by bathing a linnen plegget, or a plegget of flax in the white of an Egge, Oyle of Roses, and Turpentine, with two drams of Sanguis Draconis, and of Aloes incorporated together, and binding it about the thigh or legge which is out of ioynt, and fastning ouer and aboue the said plegget a slender roller of linnen cloth, to conserue & kéepe [Page 263] if the more firmely and stayedly in the place where you would haue it to remaine. Vsing the matter thus ten dayes together shifting and renuing the medicine euery two dayes once, to the end the plegget waxe not ouer drie and stiffe to the hurte member.

I can like very well withall, if before you apply this said medicine, you bath well the thigh or legge of the hawk with a reasonable warme lotion or bath made of Wine, roses dried, Myrthe, Sage, Comfrey, Camemill, and Rosemary: for these will warme and comfort the nerues and sinewes, and withall drie vppe such fluxe of humor as shall powre down vpon the lame and broosed member. [But aboue all,Addition. if you bath if w^t the oyle of Swallowes & the oyle of Mandrag mixt together, it will take away all paine and tumor.]

When a hawke hath broken a thigh or a legge.

IF by any mishap your hawke haue broken an arme or a leg, as sundry times Falcons that are fowle slayers doe vse to doe by some stripe or encounter at the brooke with a strong fowle, you must with all care and speed set right the broken bones in their naturall place againe: which done, deplume and plucke away the feathers from the member that is hurt round about the wound.

Then take

Bole Armoniacke,
Aloes Epatick of the best,
Sanguis Draconis,

Of each a reasonable quantity made into fine powder.

After that take of

Beane flowre,
Barly flowre,
Linséed flowre,

Of each one dramme.

Then take of

Oyle of Dill,
Oyle of Roses,

Of each two drams.

Then take

The white of an egge,
The mucillage of fenegreke,
The mucillage of linséede,
The mucillage of hollihock,

So much of these as will serue to make a playster according to art.

[Page 264]When you haue made this plaster, spread a portion of it thinne vpon Flaxe or Lynte well towsed, applying it vpon the rupture and broken place with as great cunning and care as you can: you cannot vse it too daintily when you apply it, because of the tendernesse of the hurt. This done, binde it with a fine linnen coller to stay the playster. Then make fine splets of Timber all of one length, thinne as may be, and in fashion like the scales of a Sword scabbard, whome you must enwrappe in Lynt for brusing the member. These splets bestow orderly about your Hawks legge or thigh on euery side, binding them with the linnen rollers or fillets artificially, but neyther so loosely as the bones may slippe out of their place, ne yet so streightly, but that the hurt member may receyue his naturall nourishment & comfort. For otherwise it would be mortified, and the vse of it lost.

This ligature and rolling of the member must be continued at the least 30. dayes, for that the bone cannot close againe firmely vnder one moneths space. Yet can I wish that you vnbind your rollers, and change your medicine twice at the least in the first fiftéene dayes, dealing so daintily as the boues may not sunder thereby. And by meane thereof will your medicine, and the ligature worke the better effect.

Lastly, it shall not be amisse after you haue thus done, to vse for thrée or foure dayes this lotion or water, to bath your hawkes leg, to strengthen and comfort the place.

Take Roch Allom one dramme, Roses dried, the Pill or rinde of Pomegranets, and Frankensence, of each a small quantitie, white Wine as much as will suffice: wherein you must boyle these things aforesaid to the consumption of halfe the wine with this lotion, bath your hawkes thigh and legge plucking away the feathers as aforesaid. And this shall comfort the member so as no fluxe of humors shall repayre to the place. Besides all this you must not forget during the time of this cure to kéepe your diseased hawke remoued from all noise and accesse of people: and if this misfortune befall her in the Winter time, you must set her warme.

[Page 265]Moreouer it shall bée good and necessary in the beginning of your cure to giue your hawke,

1 Aloes washt, or
2 Agaricke in Trocyscks,

to scowre her, to the end there grow no inflammations. And withall to féede her with good meat, the better to maintaine her in state during the cure.

It will bée good for you to vse the helpe of some Apothecary for the confection of the playster, as also for your lotion or bath: for the more artificially it is made, the better effect it wil take. Truly it doth stand with good reason that it will recure your Hawke, the receit is so good. All the care must be in the dainty handling of the broken member, and in rolling and spletting it orderly.

Of the stripes and bruises in a Hawke.

HAwks are wont diuerse times to receiue stripes & blows by other fowles, as the Falcon by encounter w^t a heron, and sometimes by some other accident, as by carrying her in a hawkes bag vpon occasion, or by rashing into bushes & thorns or such like hurtfull places.

These stripes and hurts either are simple hurts (as they are termed) that is to say, in the skinne and flesh of a hawke only, or else compounds, as when a nerue and sinow is prickt, or cut in sunder.

The simple wounds and hurts are of slender or no danger at all, and will bee cecured lightly againe, eyther with the iuyce of Orgium, or a bath and lotion made of Masticke, Aloes and Myrrhe two drammes, Pympernell, Comfrey and Sage, of eyther a handfull and a halfe, of Agresta cleare and good, sixe pounds, putting all these thinges aforesaide into a stone vessell made very cleane, or else into an earthen potte, there suffering it to boyle so long with a close couer vppon it, vntill two third parts of the Agresta be wasted and consumed. Then strayning it very well, adding vnto it one Ounce [Page 266] of powder of Myrtils. This may you reserue to vse as a blessed and soueraigne medicine.

There is yet one other notable medicine deuised by Master Fredericke Zorz, and oftentimes approued by mée with very good successe.

Take good Aloes, Myrrhe, Olibanum, & Sarguis Draconis, of eyther one dramme, of fine Grains one scruple: beat al these into powder, and infuse them in two ounces of Aqua vitae, for the space of twelue howres: then after straine it very wel, & of this vse to the hurts of your hawkes head, and also to her shoulders, if they receiue any bruise or stripe.

But in any condition I cannot allow the vse of Oyle of Roses in hurts of the head, as it sames that the said Authour would haue it.

If your hawkes skinne of her thigh or hinder parts be broken, fretted away, or hurt by bearing her in a close Canuas bagge, or such like, you may easily recouer her with this deuise. The leaues of dried Sage beaten to powder, or the powder of Olibanum, or Masticke, bathing the hurt with white wine, whē you meane to apply the powder, and in two or thrée dayes you shall sée it recouered.

But if the stripe bée ioyned and matched with the offence of any nerue or sinew, then will it be a harder matter to cure, for that the hurt is of greater importance and danger, for then is it wont to be full of paine, and to cause inflammation. Wherfore in this case, the best remedy that can be deuised, is excelcellent good oyle powred reasonable hote into the hurt, taking away the feathers first that are about the wound, and vsing this bath about the member where the hurt is.

Take Roch Alome one dramme, dried Roses, rinds of Pomegranates and Myrrhe, of each a quantity, boyling all these in good odoriferous White Wine to the consumption of halfe.

No question this will greatly comfort the wound, and hinder the fluxe of humors that otherwise would flow downe to the place, and bréede an Apostume.

[Page 267]Much more might be said of stripes and bruises of hawkes, but I doe leaue you ouer to the learned Phisitions & skilfull Surgeons, because I will not ouerweary you with tedious circumstances: accounting it sufficient for mée to haue laide downe the cures for most ordinary hurts, which do rifest happen to hawks, and of such as haue times past by fortune come to my handes. If you couet to haue greater store of Medicines for the cure of any member or hurt part of your hawke, I aduise you that haue skill in the Italian tongue to slée ouerto Mess er Frederigo Giorgi his practise, plainely and excellently set downe in his Booke of Falconrie, from whence I haue collected sundry things. But as touching these hurtes and stripes of hawkes, I haue not borrowed much of him, but haue in this part of my collection more vsed the briefe cure of Francesco Sforzino Ʋicentine, that excellent Italian Gentleman Falconer.

Of Hawkes Lyse.

Hauing hetherto spoken of such diseases and gréefes, as for the most part hawkes are troubled withall within their bodies: now remayneth that in few spéeches I shew you a remedy for vermine and Lise, a particular passion and affection that lighteth on the skin of a hawke, and specially about her head, the plye of her wings, and her traine: for indéede these lise and mytes doe chiefly raigne and lodge in those thrée parts of the hawkes, more than in any other.

Falconers doe vse to ridde these vile wormes and lise in the winter time by takfng of pepper beatē to powder two drams, of warme water one pound, or as much as will suffice, mingling the pepper and water well together, and thē to pepper (as we terme it) or wash all her feathers with the saide lotion or bath, and specially those parts of the hawke whereof I spake before, where the mites and lise doe most haunt: which done, they set the hawke on a perch with her traine and backe to the Sunneward, holding in their hands a small stick, one handful [Page 268] long, on the toppe whereof they fasten a péece of waxe, either red, or gréene, & with that (while the Hawk doth weather her) they take away the lise and mytes crawling vpon the fethers, so as before the hawk be throughly dried and weathered, what with the waxe and their own dropping away, there wil not be a vermine leff about the hawke. For the pepper and water doth so much disease them, as they are enforced to leaue their accustomed lodgings: then the heat of the Sun or fire, helps to make them shew themselues: and the waxe by cleauing to thē, vtterly and clearely rids the hawke of them.

I haue séene some Falconers adde vnto the pepper & water, a quantity of Stauesager, as an enemy to the lise and mites, by meane of strength and force that is in it: and I take it to be very necessary to be added in this medicine to the Pepper for the better dispatch of those vile vermines which doe so much vexe and annoy the hawke, as shée can by no means kéepe her selfe in good state whilest shée is incumbred with them.

You must remember to pepper you hawke in this maner as I haue shewed you in a very warm sunny day, when there is no wind at all blowing in the skie. But if by fortune you be enforced to doe it in another time when the weather is cold and the Sunne not shining, then must you set your hawke by the fire to weather her, and drie her feathers: but neither must the fire bée ouer hote, nor the gorge of your hawk towards the fire, whereof I haue giuen you aduertisement before, in those precepts which are to be obserued of a good Falconer. For if you set her with the gorge to the fire, no doubt shée wil receiue no small harme and inconuenience thereby, and for the most part death ensues of it.

In the Summer time you may dispatch your hawke of the lise & mites with Auripigmentum beatē into very fine powder, bestowing and sifting it betwixt the hawks feathers w^t your fingers, & specially in those places where they do most vsually haunt, alwayes hauing regard that none of the powder come into your hawks eyes for offending her. And after the bestowing of this powder, you must in no wise bespowt her w^t water [Page 269] (as some vse to doe) to the great hurt and mischiefe of those poore birds. For the bathing or spowting her with water, is a meane to make the powder to frette away, and consume the Hawkes feathers.

Some other affirme that Mint leaues boyled in water, to the consumption of a third part, bathing the Hawke therwith somewhat warm, wil dispatch the Lyse and Mites, but for my part I neuer approued this medicine, and therefore can say little of it.

Let these suffice as touching the peppering of lowsie hawks, for of all other plagues that be fall the Hawke, I account this the least, because they may most easily be destroyed, as dayly experience doth teach vs: and yet the remedies for them good to be knowne, because you shall seldom or neuer buy a Hawk from the Cage that is not lowsie, or set your hawke on a perch where a lowsie hawke hath stood, and shée shall bée assured to bée neuer a lowse the worse for it.

Of misfortunes that happen to Hawkes in the mew. And first of all, of their laying egges in the mew.

IN the mew hawks are subiect to sundry accidents. Among all which (to passe ouer the greasines and excessiue glit that they are surcharged withal, hauing som what touch [...] that matter in the Chapter of the Gowt) the greatest mishap that may be, is when hawkes fall to laying egges, and to be with egge in the mew. For in very déed this is a great mischiefe, and diuers times doth kill the Hawke,

You shall first perceiue it by the creaking and crying that they vse in the mew somtimes, and other whiles on the perth, albeit now and then they dee it for eagernesse and appetite, when they are sharpe set: which as it is easily found, so is it as quickly remedied.

A man shall know when they fall to liking and laying, by this, from the necke of the hawke down to the very middle of [Page 270] her traine, there is vpon the feather a certaine thing like the floure of branne of a pale and ashie colour.

And because this accident hapneth by meane of too much daintinesse and lustfull pride of the Hawke, it shall bee good to kéepe her low, and to hold a hard hand ouer her, pinching her of her féeding, giuing her liquid and moist flesh from the midle of Aprill to the end of May, which is the onely tune to be feared of all the yeare for this matter. When the hawk doth leaue her croaking and crying in the mew, it is a manifest proofe that shée is with Egge, which you shall know both by her grosenes and silling in the panell, as also by her idle standing without list to féede. And it hahpily the egges bée growne any thing great within her, you shall hardly hinder her but that shée wil lay them. Therefore (as I tell yon) it shall bée good in time to looke vnto it, kéeping her low in Aprill and May. And in those monethes to minister vnto her Aloes Epatick washt, a quantity of Saffron lapped in bumbast or cotton, whereupon conuey a little Flaxe or Towe, and make a casting or scowring of it, thrusting it downe her throat into her gorge, the hawke being both empty paneld, and hauing no meate aboue to put ouer kooping her on the fist after it, till such time the scowring be in her gorge. Of this and such like scowrings may you giue your hawke euery third or fourth day for foure or fiue times, féeding her with liquid meates, such as will lightly be endewed. And vsing this order, no doubt your hawke shall doe well.

Againe, it is very good against the same mischiefe, to cause your Hawke in foure or fiue bits of meat, to take a quantity of Saffron in Chiues, vsing her after the manner and forme aforesaid.

Moreouer, it is a very good way to delay and kill the list and liking of a sparowhawke to féede her for thrée, foure, or more dayes if you thinke good with liquid meates washt in water, wherein the great pylles of Ornus haue béene infused for the space of eight or ten dayes béeing finely cut to péeces. But it should be far better if you cause those rinds & pilles to be boiled in water, so long vntill they become soft and tender, and then [Page 271] to wash your hawkes meat therein.

If your Hawke be with Egge (as they tearme it) so as you may perceiue and féele the egs within her, besides those foresaid remedies, it shall bée good to annoint her tuell with oyle oliue: which being done, conuey in thy forefinger at her tuell, as finely as thou canst, to féele the egs, which if thou once féele gripe thy hawkes pannel softly for hurting her, forcing downwards the eg towards thy finger in her tuell, & if it be possible so bring it away cleane, & rid thy hawke of it: but if thou canst not doe it, breake it euen there right, and afterward bestow a glister vpon thy hawke of things lenitiue, to make her mewt and slise well: for by this meane (as my Italian Author doth informe me) thou shalt discharge thy hawke of this mischiefe, and bring her to be in perfect state againe.

To cause a Hawke to mewe fast and well.

SOmetimes it so falleth out, that hawkes doe not mewe in time, so as they may be flown with in the pleasant time of the yeare, nor be drawne when other Falconers do accustome to draw their hawkes, but they come so late as the yeare is far spent, and small pleasure to be taken in kéeping or fléeing with them, for which a man is sometimes driuen of force to vse deuise to further the matter, and to practise to make her mew sooner than her accustomed maner is to mew of her selfe. Wherfore to make a hawke mewe timely, thesmost and best way is to cast her off into a good mewe for the purpose, (made in maner as I haue taught you before) and there to allow her of the best hote meats that may be had, as Quailes, Pigeons, and Sparowes, and now and then among to set her in the mewe some vessell, large and déepe, conueniently filled with water, wherein your hawke may bouze and bath at her pleasure.

But if this ordinary kind of good and kindly mewing will not serue the turne (which seldome or neuer almost hapneth to Goshawks, for that by this former fashiō & vsage they [Page 272] doth vse to mew very well and orderly (then as I said) it behoueth to assist and further nature by art and physicke, to cause a Hawke to mew timely.

To helpe in this case those kirnels or small nuttes, which are growing vnder the throat of a weather, are very good (as mine author affirmeth) vsing them euery third day for thrice, or thereabouts, allowing a Sparowhawke three or foure of them at once, being both empty gorged and panneld. But you may giue a Falcon sixe or more at one time, holding the hawk on the fist, till shee beginne to slise and mewte, and after that a space feede her with good hote meat, alwayes remembring that if the hawke do loath the taking of them, (as happily she wil) or doe not very well brooke them after thee hath taken them, then that you giue her respite betwixt times for thrée or foure dayes together, to the end shee may not finde her selfe cloyed with them.

If at the end of eight dayes shée beginne to cast any feather, then may you into the mew with her without more a doe: but if not, then must you fall to giuing her of those glandulous kirnels of the weather againe, once or twice more: for vsing it in this order the second time without questiō, within six or seuen dayes, shée will cast the backe feathers, or her sarcels or flags: thē must you throw hir into the mew, giuing hir water to bath for shée will very much couet the water, and you shall sée her within two oor thrée dayes so bare, and in a maner cleane without feathers, as shée will not bée able for lacke of them to flée to her ordinary stand or pearch. Wherefore I can commend and aduise you to haue some low pearch and stand for her in the mew, whereunto shée may iumpe when shée hath cast her feathers, so as shée is vnable to flée. Especially remēbring to séed her all that while shée is so without feathers, twice in a day, allowing her such and so much meat as she can endew, & make away with. For all that time will shée couet great gorges, and ridde great store of meate vntill she haue recouered her cote againe. And to restraine her, or kéepe a hard hand vpon her, hauing mewed her fethers, and béeing now at point to put foorth [Page 273] new in their places, will bréed her feathers to bée ful of taints and ill fauoured, and besides that her Sarcelles and principals will not be so long and large as they ought to bee, by meanes whereof shee will not bee able to slée so well as shée was accustomed.

Some others, to cause a hawke to mew spéedily, doe will you to enwrappe her meate in the powder of a Frogge dryed in an ouen or fornace.

Other some, in the powder of a Cuttell bone, taking off the powder of this fish bone, to the weight of a penny. But these practises and deuises I did neuer approue, and therefore doe committe them to the discretion of the Reader.

Of Accidents that happen and light vppon a hawkes feathers, and first how to vse the matter when a feather cannot bee ymped.

DIuers and sundry times it so fals out that a Hawkes feather being drawn out of the wing or traine by violence and force, the hole closes vp, and shuts after it presently, in such sorte as a new feather can by no meanes grow and spring vppe in the place to serue the hawkes turne and vse againe.

For remedie hereof, some doe will a man to make the hole againe where it was before, and to open it a fresh with a barley graine, dryed so as it bée not burnt. Then after that, to kéepe it open that it runne not together againe, you must frame a small Pellette of Larde, or boyled Hony, which béeing conueyed into the hole, will there abide, vntill such time as the shooting out of the new feather doe remoue it and displace it.

Some other time it hapneth a feather to bée broken in the quill so néere the wing, as it is not possible to ympe it againe: [Page 274] then doe they vse, (to make the quill to fall and droppe away without paine to the hawke) this deuise. They annoynt the place with the bloud of a young Rat, which will cause the broken quill to come away. After which, to kéep the hole open they vse the helpe aforesaid with the barly corne.

These two cures I neuer tryed, because it was neuer my happe (I thanke fortune) to stand néedfull of the practise. But truely I like neither of them so well, as I can greatly commend them.

Otherwise it chanceth through the hurt of a Hawkes wing, that one or two of her Flagges, long feathers, or Sarcelles are bruised, and thereby both put her to great paines, and eake hinder her fléeing. Wherefore it shall bée in this case very necessary, as soone as it hapneth to looke and view the wing well, whether there be any bloud much or little in the quill that is bruised in manner aforesaid: which if it be so, it shal be needfull to pierce it with a sharpe néedle, or such like instrument to giue the bloud issue before such time as it bée congealed and waxen hard. And after that to annoint the bruise, (and especially where the blacke bloud is) witholde larde and resty Bacon.

Moreouer, it shall be very good to cease the paine, to poure vpon the hurt place thrée or foure droppes of good Oyle of roses somewhat hote, which hauing vsed for the space of three or foure dayes, it shall not be amisse to bath it with Aqua vita to drie and resolue it. If you vse this meane in the beginning when the hurt is first taken, no doubt it will bréede resolution.

But if by negligence or otherwise it be foreslacked at first, so as the bruised Sarcell or other feather grow out of order, and crosse the next feather to it in fléeing, and by that meane bée a hinderance to the Hawke, and a paine, it shall be good to cut it off in the quill. And to the end there may grow an other second feather in the place of that which is so spoyled and cutte off, it shall bée well done to make the quill to drop [Page 275] away. To bring that to passe, first of all wipe well the bloud congcaled and corrupted within the place, and after that, fill it with Aqua vita, of the best that may bée gotten, and deale so artificially as the Aqua vita may stay, and not droppeout of the place. Which must be done by stopping the hole with wax, or such like deuise. This Aqua vita by meane of the heat of it, will cause the quill to fall away within eight dayes or little more, by meane whereof there may shoot out a new feather.

The way and manner how to ympe a Hawks feather, howsoever it be broken or bruised.

SOmtimes it so falleth out that y^e fethers of a hawks wing, or train may be broken, whereupon it is both necessarie and néedefull, to set other like in their steades. Which feat wée tearme the ymping of a hawkes feather.

This may be done in foure seuerall manners and fashions after that the feather is broken.

For first, in the greater and huger sort of Hawkes,The first way to ympe a hanke. if a feather be broken one fingers breadth or thereabouts mithin the quill, then your next remedie is, to sheare it off with a payre of Syssers or sheares, to the end it may not cleane or riue any further. Then hauing prepared a like feather to the same of some other Hawke or Fowle, resembling the broken Feather: you must cut the quill off it, and so force it together, as it may enter the broken quill of the Hawkes feather, annointing it before you thrust it in, or séeme to place it for good and all, in the Gummie fatte of a Figge, the Yolke of an Egge, or some kinde of Semonde made of purpose, thrusting it very directly into the truncke and quill of the broken feather, and as wée may tearme it, graffing the one in the other. And to the ende [Page 276] it may haue the better hold, and the faster stay, it shall not bée amisse to clynte or nayle them fast together with the point of a Partridge feather, taking the very toppe of it, and stripping away the Feathers on eyther side the webbe: and after that, making a small hole with a slender Néedle, so as it passe through both the quilles, as wel that which sticketh fast in the Hawkes wing, as the other borrowed and adopted Feather, drawing through the hole made with the Néedle, the point of the Partridges feather to fill vp the hole againe. Which done, cut it off close by the Webbefinely on eyther side, and so will it stand very handsomely fast, and almost not to be discerned, but to bée the hawkes naturall Feather.

The second manner of ymping.But if a Sarcell, a Flagge, or a Traine feather bée broken or sliued amid the Quill, so as another Feather ymped in him after the maner aforesaid, can well take no hold, or stand sure: Then shall it bée necessary to take a Iunyper sticke, or such like drie timber, and thereof to make a small sharpe Pegge so as it may enter the Quill, which done, dippe the one end of it in Glew, Semond, or the slime of the fishe, whome my Author tearmeth a Colpisce, the Germaines a Leymefische, (a fish as Gesnerus reporteth so soft and tender, as béeing sodde or fryed, he falleth all to a gellie, or glew, for which cause hée is detested greatly, and banished al mens tables.) Hée is headed like an Ape, and for that occasion (called of diuers Marmotum, as we may interprete it, a marmoset, or an Ape.) In the slime (I say) of this Fish, dyppe your Iuniper sticke, thrusting it into the broken quil, remē bring to place it so aptly as it may bee without the quill, of iust size to answere the length of the feather whē it was found, and vnbrokē. Then do put the other end likewise in the glew or semond, conueying it by force into y^e quil of the fether which you haue gotten, so close as the one quill touch the other directly. After all this, fasten and clynt both the quils to y^e iuniper peg, w^t a Partridge his feather as before. And if it were so, as the [Page 277] quill were sliued or rent, pierce it through with a néedle and thréed, and with the threed bind it hard to the sticke on both sides the quill, and it will hold very fast, and serue the hawks turne in her flight in stead of a naturall feather.

If a sarcell or other feathers be broken aboue the quill,The third manner of ymping. towards the point of the feathers two or thrée fingers breadth, you must cut it off w^t a sharpe penknife a slope, (and as they say) a swash, & then take another like feather to the same, cutting it in like maner as you did the other, so as it may fit with the same feather both for length and cut. Which done, with an ymping néedle layde in vinegar and salt, so close them together as they may bee thought to bée one feather.

The last maner of ymping is, when a feather is not quite broken off, but bruised, and (as it were) but markt, so as it cannot be holpen and righted againe with warme water.The fourth & last manner of ymping. In this case it shall be bether rather to cut away the feathers, onely to cut away the nether part of the web, iust ouer against y^t bruised place, leauing the vpper part whole and vntoucht: then to take a long slender néedle like a Glouers néedle, and to thréed it, and bauing so done, to thrust the eye of the néedle being thréeded into the greater part of the feather towards the quill, forcing the point of it so hard with a thimble, as it may bée cleane hid in the feather, and no part of it to bée séene. After that, ioyning both sides of the bruised feather together, where you cut the web, draw the thréed as hard & as straight as you can possible, so as the point of the néedle, by pulling off the thréed that hangeth out, may so farre enter the vpper part of the feather, as it may be halfe on the quill side, and the other halfe on the point of the bruised feather, which will strengthen the feathers maruailously. This done, cut off the thréede which was for none other purpose put there, but to draw the point of the néedle backe into the vpper part of the feather. (∵)

[Page 278]

How to ympe the traine of a Hawke beeing all broken, and neuer a feather whole or sound.

MAny times it so fortunes, as the traine of a hawke is quite spoyled, and no one feather left to serue the turne. Wherefore it shall be necessary in this case, to set your hawk a new traine which is done after this manner.

You must take a pée of paper as bigge as your hand, in the middle wherof you must slit a hole, through which conuey the hawkes traine being broken, vp to the very rumpe of her, drawing backe through the sayd slit of the paper, all the brailes and small feathers of the traine that grow about the hawkes tewell, both aboue and beneath, so as there appeare none at all but the long feathers, vpon which you meane to work your feat. Then cut off those long traine feathers with a fine penknife, beginning from the first, second, third, fourth, fift, and so on the other side of the traine in like manner, and you must cut them off a slope, sidewayes towards the top of the trunke or quil, vntil you come to the two couert feathers, which two you must cut directly and not sloping, as you did the rest. So as when you haue done, the traine of the hawke may bee in shape like the pypes of a payre of Organs. Then take the trayne of a mewed Iay (if it be possible, because they are the fayrest frathers being mewed) setting in euery quill of the hawkes traine, one feather of the Iay orderly, the first feather of the Iay, in the first quill of the Sparowhawke, and so consequently. And if the Iayes feather will not enter the hawks quill, then must you cut it a little, and brusing it with your finger, force it into the cut quill, annointing the end of the borowed feather in the fat of a figge, the yolke of an egge, or such like stuffe, and so placing it right and directly with the hawks feather. Hauing set one feather in this order aforesaid, on the one side of the hawkes traine, passe ouer to the other first feather of the other side, and doe in like maner, alwayes placing and ymping them so, as in length, and each condition else, they [Page 279] may agrée fully with the naturall feather of the hawke: and so from one to the other, vntill you come to the two couert feathers, which you must set last of all the rest, and those in so good order, as your eye may iudge them to bee excellently ymped by the iust length and size of them. After all this, take away your paper, and with a knife wette in a little spittle, goe ouer all the ymped feathers, putting the knife betwixt euery quill, close by the rumpe of your hawke, and so go along the feather to cutte away all such small feathers, as shall bée out of order, by meane of the ymping and cutting off the feather in the trayne of your hawke. Which done feather by feather, set your hawke first on your fist, and so after a space on the perch, that she may tricke her selfe, and right and enoyle her feathers with her beake.

Here will I not omitte to remember euery good Falconer, that hée haue in his house, and in a readinesse about him at al times, his ymping néedles, and such like necessary implements, to serue the turne withall, and to lend his companions if they néed. For it shall redound to his credite greatly, and by meanes thereof hée shall be accounted a gallant Gentleman, and a good fellow.

Now in mine own opinion, I haue discoursed sufficiently of all diseases, and made you priuy to the Italians order of physicking his hawke, which I can very well commend, as greatly agréeable to reason. Yet neuertheles in this last part, you shal for your greater store of remedies, & better knowledge haue the french falconers maner of dealing with their hawks haue set downe. But before I do that, I will write somewhat to instruct you how to prepare your Mummie, a very necessary thing to be learned, and without the which you ought to bée at no time, if you meane to kéepe hawkes, and to haue them in good order and tune.

[Page 280]

The way and meane to prepare Mummy for Falcons, and other birds of prey, and when and how it ought to be given.

Sythens that in these receits for hawks diseased and sicke, I haue diuers times made mention of Mummey, and of other medicins appropriate and peculiar to sundry griefes, here I thinke it not amisse to lay downe the meane how to prepare it for the vse and benefite of all Falconers that shall haue occasion to imploy it to any sicke hawke: For that in cure of a bruise, I take it to be the most ready and exquisite way to recouer the hurt hawke againe.

Mummie is prepared in this manner.

First, you must take Nutmegs, in number foure, Cloues, Ginger, & Cynamon, of eyther halfe an ounce, Saffron one dramme, reducing all these to fine powder. Boyle them in an earthen potte well glazed, & couered close with a reasonable quantity of good Malmesie, to the consumption of a third part: then take Mummy thrée ounces or foure, or so much as shall content you, beating it to powder, and putting it into a linnen cloth, so bound, as it may by no means issue out of the same. Hang it so by a string fastned to a sticke, as it may not reach the bottom of the pot, but as it may be infused in the very middle of the Malmesie, which you must cause to boyle againe at a soft fire, so long vntil there be a consumption of another third part. Which done, take it frour the fire, & let the mummy being so bound in y^t linnen cloth, rest for y^e space of four or fiue hours, to the end the vertue of those powders may pierce and enter the mummie, which by this meane will become very perfect. And hauing done all this, kéepe the mummie out of the sunne and wind in the shade, in the selfe same cloth wherein it was infused, vntil it be perfectly drie againe, and then vse it in pouder at your néed, eyther strewing it vpon your hawks meat, or giuing it in a casting of Cotton as I haue taught you before.

[Page 281]There is a kind of pyll or past deuised by that noble Gentleman Hierom Cornarus of famous memory for sicke Falcons, which haue lost their appetite, and day by day become megre and low, making a blacke mewte, or full of flesh vndigested, which is prepared in this maner following.

Take Saffron, Agaricke, Cubebes, Frankinsence, Rewe, Cloues; Cinamon, fine Aloes, of eyther two scruples, two Nutmegs, choice Mummy, Rewbarbe of the best, of eyther one dramme, and the fift part of the marrow of a Béefe, or Veale, as much as will suffice to make a mixture of these powders aforesaid: of all which you must make a pyll or past, giuing thereof to the huger sort of hawkes as much as a bean in a pyll in manner aforesaid,

This is a very good receit, but not so good as this vnderwritten which is deuised by (Messer Manoli) the Falconer to the renowned Signior Bartelmew Alviano, and practised vpon his Falcons being sicke and ill affected in their gorges. Hée was wont to take Triacle, Hiera Pigra, Cassea Lignea, Cloues, Cinamon, Aloes, Galenga, Agaricke of the best, Sirupe of Roses, confection of Hamech, Diacatholicon, Benedicta, of eyther one scruple, choyce Rewbarbe, Mummy washt and purified, of each two scruples, of Nutmegge thrée drams beaten to powder, those thinges that are to bée beaten in powder, and incorporating all with hony of roses, making thereof a pyll or past, which he would kéepe to serue his turne at néed, whereof hée would giue his huger hawkes the quantity of half a beane, and to lesser hawkes a lesser quantity informe of a pyll, being empty both in gorge and pannell. And truly this would worke a maruailous effect vpon his sicke Hawkes: & if you vse the same, no doubt you shall finde great pleasure in it.

[Page 282]

Of the cauterising instruments and tooles, wherewith Falconers doe seare their Hawkes in desperate cures, when nothing else will serue the turne but fire, the last refuge of all others.

[depiction of cauterising instruments]

HAuing sundry times in my collection of Falconrie spoken of cawterie, to be bestowed vpon Hawkes, according to tho diversity of their diseases & hurts, it shall bée very néedfull for me here in the latter end of my third booke, to set down the proportion and shape of the yrons which are proper to the matter and maner of cure, being a very necessary thing for euery good Falconer to haue those yrons about him continually to serue his turne.

[Page 283]Wherefore I say that the cauterising yrons are made in foure maners, and beare foure seuerall kinds of shapes, as by their peculiar pictures and portraitures may bée séene.

Wherof the first assigned to this charact (A) doth serue to cauterize the head of a hawke, because it is round,A & somwhat plaine on the toppe.

The second,B signed with the letter (B) shall serue to cawterise the nares without danger or hurt to the little stert that groweth vp in the middle of the nares, for that it is round and hollow at the top.

The third, which is (C) is a cawterising button to burne or seare the head of a Hawke,C and with that other deuise on the backe side, to cut the skin vnder the nares if néed be.

The last, signed with the character (D) is oftentimes vsed to cawterise and enlarge the nares of a Hawke,D & therefore is made so small & sharp at the point, y^e better to enter the nares.

Of these tooles and instrumentes, it behoues you to haue larger and lesser, according to the variety & proportion of your Hawkes, for that the Falcon and Goshawkes head being more huge than the Sparowhawkes, it shall not bee good nor conuenient to cawterise the all w^t one selfe yron of one bignes, but to shift your toole, according to the quality of the hawke.

Ouer and beside all these tooles aforesaid, a Falconer must haue his paire of kniues, one streight pointed, the other bending at the toppe, a splatter, his coping yrons, a payre of Sisers and a Surgeons instrument to serue his vse in all diseases of a hawke about her beake and pounces.

Thus much I accept sufficient as touching Hawkes and birds of prey, so as now there remayneth nothing more, but the French Falconers opinion of diseases and cures, and lastly, one small treatise and very necessary discourse, as touching the diseases that happen to Spaniels with the cure of the said mischiefes, which shall bée the very last part of af all this collection of Falconrie.

Though I like the Italian Gentleman very well for his [Page 284] singular skill and iudgement in Falconrie, yet neuerthelesse, because I find sundry things very good and necessary in the French practicioners which may stand you in stead, (as well for manning and luring, as also curing your diseased hawks) for whose onely benefite I vndertooke the collection of this my booke. And partly, for that the French Gentleman shall not grow iealoous of mee that I scorne his skill in regard of the learned and delicate Italian, waying them both indifferently, if I find them both to deserue like due commendation and praise: I haue here offered to your view and iudgementes sundry French mens opinions and inuentions as touching this art of Falconrie, crauing you to iudge the best both of thē and me: of them your neighbours for their first inuentions: & of me your Countryman for my late collection: whose paines bestowed herein, shall be nothing but a pleasure, if I may find my selfe guerdoned with good liking, and deserued thankes from you. And so I commit you ouer to the discourse it selfe without any farther circumstance or protestation.

How to keepe and maintaine all manner of Hawkes in health, good plight, and liking.

TO kéep Falcons and all maner of birds of prey in health, the chiefe Falconers say y^t they must neuer haue a great gorge giuē thē specially of grosse meats, as Béefe, Porke, and such other that are hard to be put ouer & endewed. Moreouer you must beware in any wise that yée féed them not with the flesh of any beast that hath lately gone to rutte, for y^t will kill them, and yée shall not perceyue how. I find by experience, that the giuing of great gorges, and the féeding of them with such sortes of flesh, (specially cold) doth destroy and surfeite more hawkes than all other mischances that can happen to them. And therefore I warne all Falconers to beware how [Page 285] they ouergorge their hawkes: and if they bee driuen to féede them with grosse flesh for want of better, let it bée well soaked in cleane water, and afterward sufficiently well wroong. It must bée done in Summer with cold water, and in Winter with luke warme water, and it must not bée wroong too much with the hand: for the massinesse of the flesh, and the loosenesse of the water will cause them to put ouer, and to indew the sooner and more speedily. And it will cause them to haue the larger panels, whereby they shall the better scowre thēselues downward of the glit & grosse humors. And this is to be vnderstood of all grosse flesh wherewith yée shall bée faine sometimes to féede your hawkes: but not of any other féeding that is light and of good digestion. For yée must haue discretion to reward your hawke now and then with some good line and warme meat, or else shée may bée brought too low. Neuerthelesse the seruing of your hawkes with washt meat (as is sayd before) is the way to kéepe them in health.

Of Aloes Cicotrina, wherewith you must make scowrings for your Hawkes.

I Tell you further that to maintaine your Hawkes in good plight, & to kéepe them from all diseases, you must euery 15 dayes, giue them the mountenance of a beane of Aloes Cicotrine which must bée put into them, wrapped vp in a little of the flesh, or of the skinne of a Henne, to the intent that the tast of the Aloes which is very bitter, bée not felt of them. And whē your hawke hath swallowed it downe, beare her vpon your fiste, the better to cause her to kéepe that which is giuen her, which done, let her afterward cast vp the water & slime which shée hath in her body: and take vp the rest of the Aloes againe which shée hath cast, and let it not be lost, for it is good and wil serue for another time. Then set your hawke in the Sunne [Page 286] or against the fire hooded, and féede her not till two howres after, at which time you shal giue her a reasonable gorge of some liue birde or fowle. And the said medicine must bée giuen in the morning after that the hawke hath cast.

Of common pylles that are given to Hawkes for laxatiue medicines or downeward scowrings.

NEuerthelesse in stead of the said Aloes, yée may at your discretion vse common pylles, such as Apotecaries giue men to make them loose bodied. And many are of opinion that they be much better than that other of Aloes: for the pils driue downeward, and scowre more strongly and with greater Effect. Yet notwithstanding yée may vse eyther of those two, making thē at your pleasure. Of the said pilles you shall giue your Hawke one or two after as the quantity of them is, and when shée hath taken them, set her by a fire, or in the Sunne, and féed her not for the space of two howres after, at which time yée shal giue her some quicke and liue thing to féede vpon: For the taking of the pylles, will set all her body out of temper and tune. And so yée shall kéepe your Hawkes in good plight, state and health.

Another way to scowre by medicine.

Stancsaker is called Filander, because it loues a man, and wil cleaue to him like the burre.TAke Aloes Cicotrine, and graines of Filander, otherwise called Stauesaker and Cassia Fistula, as much of the one as of the other to the mountaine of a bean together, and when yée haue beaten it into powder, put it into a Hennes gut of an inth long, tied fast at both ends: then conuey it into her in the morning, so as shée may put it ouer, and that must bée after shée hath cast, if shée had any casting at all. Then set your hawk by the fire or in the Sunne, and féed her with a quicke chicken, or some other liue warme meat two howres after, as is said afore: and so your hawkes shall be kept in good plight and state. And it is to be noted that you must not giue so much to [Page 287] a Goshawke, for they bée not of so strong and churlish nature and mettell as other hawkes are: & much lesse to a Sparowhawk, because shée is not able to brooke so strong a medicine as the Goshawke is. And therefore you must beare in minde that your giuing of the said things to your hawkes must be according to their natures and strengthes, by the good discretion of such as through their noble disposition doe place their care, pleasure and minds vpon such things.

To make a Hawke cast when she keepeth it too long.

FOrasmuch as Hawkes doe sometimes kéepe their casting too long, and cannot put it vp: or else it may now and then fall out that a man knoweth not whether they haue any casting or no: in such cases you must giue your hawke a little Aloes, and then she will cast it together with the slime, and filth that hindred the casting of it. And for want of Aloes, giue her the mountenance of a beane of the roote of Celendine, in two or thrée pellets, and it will ease her out of hand. And to further the matter, it shall not bée amisse to giue her one spoonefull of water wherein the Celendine rootes haue béene stéeped some space: for the bitternesse thereof will force her to cast.

Of the bathing of Hawkes.

IF you mind to kéepe your hawkes in time and state to flée well, you must make them bath oftentimes, and you must set water by them, though they list not to bath. For somtimes a Hawke is desirous to howze, and take of the water by reason of some chance, or for some heat of her body, or of her Liuer: and then is water good and auaileable to set her againe in good plight and health: which thing you shal lightly perceiue by that that the Hawke will make countenance of more cheare and reioyce more. When your hawke is bathed (whether it bée Goshawke or Falcon) lette her bée throughly well [Page 288] weathered at the sixe, or in the Sunne. And if she happen to be washed or sowst with raine, or otherwise, let her be throughly weathered as is said before, lest she surfet by cold, specially whē shée comes from the field, and from her fleeing. For then is she commonly mard for lacke of good order and looking too, insomuch that thereupon insue the Pantas, and other diseases. And therefore when the Falconer perceiueth the time to be dangerous for his hawke to take such manner of colde, as in winter time after her flight, or by taking wet in flying: hée must first weather her well at the sire, or in the Sunne, & then giue her fiue Cloues of Maces in her casting, & that will heate her againe.

To keepe Hawkes from inconveniences which they take of themselues, or which happen to them vnawares.

FVrthermore, to preserue Hawkes from mischiefes which they take lightly by cold or otherwise: when ye haue bathed & weathered them, beware of setting them in cold & moist places, but choose some warme and drie place, and with some cloth roll the pearch or billet that they stand on. For diuers times when hawkes haue beaten and bruised themselues at the encounter, with great toyle in the field or at the riuer, they bée so tyred, and take cold so lightly, & do so chafe their féet, that if yée should set them downe in that plight vpon a stande of stone or wood, their legges and féete would swell by reason of the humors that would fall downe & distill from the higher parts, and by that meane bréed gowtes, as hapneth in men by like disorder. For such diseases light not to men, nor yet to Hawkes, but for want of good héed and looking to when they haue distempered themselues by any immoderate exercise. When such diseases light vpon poore birdes, they be hard to [Page 289] bée cured, vnlesse a man haue very good skil to order them, and to prouide remedy for them.

How men should make their Hawkes to tyre every day.

I Say further, that the good Falconers and such as haue a care to vse their Hawkes well, and to kéepe them in health, must make them to tire towards the euenings before they let them iouke. When your hawke hath put ouer and indued, afterward in giuing her casting, you may well at your discretion giue her (if you list) a little Aloes Cicotrine in her casting, or else some common pyll, & that doth greatly scowre the head, and do her much good. And that must bée done eyther once a wéeke, or twice in thrée wéekes: and the said medicine is giuen diuers times by such as like not to giue their Hawks tiring. Neuerthelesse I say that tyring in the morning after the Hawke hath cast, is very good: And if the tyring bée of plumage, kéepe her from eating of feathers (as well as you may) for feare least shee take casting before the euening: for towards night it is no danger, for then of common course shée is to haue casting. Let her tyre against the Sunne, snyting and sewing her beake a little at your discretion, after as you find your Hawke low and poore, vntill you intend to goe to your pastime. I haue knowne many Falconers that neuer make their hawkes to tyre, saying, that it is but a custom, and néedlesse: but I say the contrary. For inasmuch as the Hawke is exercised by reasonable tyring, shée becommeth the healthier and the lighter both of body and of head, by all moderate exercises, yea, and shée is the better in state also as you may perceyue. And I belieue that the opinion of such as say so, procéedeth of nothing but of sloth and of small loue which they haue to their hawkes. Therfore forget not to make your Hawke to tyre against the Sunne in the morning: for it riddeth them the better of the watry humors that descend out of [Page 290] their heads, if eyther before the doing of it, or after, you set thē vpon a pearch against the Sunne, that they may tricke and enoyle themselues at their pleasure. This done, yée may set them in their accustomed places. And because some Falconers are so slothfull (as is said afore) that they will not make their Hawkes to tire, and othersom haue not leysure alwayes to do it: in stead of tyring, I will giue them a remedy that followeth to ease them of their watry humors which they haue in their heades for want of tyring. Take Agarike beaten into powder, and Ierapigra with a little saffron, and make a pyll of it as bigge as a beane, and put a third part lesse of Ierapigra than of Agaricke to binde your pouder together. Let that pyll so made bée put into hir wrapped in Cotton, towards Euening when shée hath endued her gorge & is emptie, making her so receyue it thrée or foure dayes together. And you may vse this medicine from moneth to moneth at your discretion: And by the opinion of all Falconers yée may giue this pyll for all vnknowne and hidden diseases for which you know none other remedy.

Another receit to keepe and maintaine your Hawkes in good health.

IF you entend to kéepe and maintaine your Falcons and al other Hawkes in health: take Germander, Pelamountaine, Basill, Grimel séede, and Broome flowres, of each of them half an ounce: of Isope, of Saxifrage of Polipodie, & of Horsemints, of each of them a quarter of an ounce: of Nutmegges, a quarter of an ounce: of Cubebs, Borage, Mūmy, Mogewort, Sage of the foure kinds of Mirabolans, Indorum, Kebulorum, Beliricorum, and Embelicorum, of each of them halfe an ounce: of Saffron an ounce, and of Aloes Cicotrine the fifth part of an ounce. All these things confect to a powder, and [Page 291] at euery eight day or at euery twelfth day giue your Hawkes the quantity of a beane of it with their meat. And if they will not take it so, put it in a Hennes gutte tied at both ends, or else after some other means, so as yée cause them to receiue it downe. And if they cast vp the flesh againe by force of the powder, let it no more be giuen them with flesh, but in the foresaid maner of the gutte, and let them stand emptie one howre after. And according as you sée your hawke disposed, make her to vse this medicine, to scowre her of the euill humors that are in her body, bred of féeding vpon naughty flesh, which engendreth such humors, and causeth many diseases in hawkes.

That the diseases which Hawkes haue in their heads, doe commonly come of giuing them too great gorges, and of fowle feeding: the meane to know it.

THe chiefe Falconers say and agrée, that the diseases in hawkes heads doe most commonly bréed of giuing them too great gorges, especially of grosse and ill flesh. For when a Hawke hath too full a gorge, shée cannot well put it ouer and indue it, whereupon it falleth to corrupting and stincking in her gorge by lying too long there, and specially, more in a Hawke that is low and poore, than in one that is high and full of flesh: insomuch that shée is forced to cast it all stincking. And if shee happen to put it ouer so stinking, it attainteth and rotteth her panel, by meanes whereof the fume and stinch ascend vp to her head, and there close and stuffe vp her eares, and the passages of her pipes and head, so as the humors which were wont, cannot passe away as they were accustomed, by reason whereof the heade swelleth inordinately. [Page 292] For the humor séeketh issue, and vent eyther at the eares, or at the nares, or at the throat: for want whereof the Hawke falles in danger of death if shée haue not spéedy remedy. And to discerne the disease of the head, the Hawke will sniffe often, and shut her eyes towards night, and sometimes shut eft the one, and eft the other eye, and make as though shée iouked with worse cheare than shée was wont to doe: and then must you beware that shée swell not betwéen the eye and the beake. And if shée doe, then cauterize her in that maner that is set down hereafter. Whensoeuer the humor makes a shew to sew out at the Hawkes eares, at her nares, or at her throat, then is shée in perill of death, if shée bée not holpen presently.

The remedy of the said disease.

YOu must take the larde of bacon that is not restie, nor ouer old, and of the fattest of it make slices, as it were to larde Partridges, and such small birdes, and let them stéep in fresh cold water a whole night, changing the Water three or foure times. Then take the marrow of béefe well picked, and sugar once boyled and clarified, and of those thrée thinges being ech of like quantity, with the quantity of a little Beane of Saffron in powder well mingled together, make pylls of the bignesse of a beane, and giue them to your hawke, causing some body to cast her, and opening her beake by force, if shee will not take them otherwise. This done, set her by the fire, or in the Sunne, and anone yée shall see how shée will scowre and slise by casting vpward and downeward the grosse humors wherwith her body is ouercharged. And when she hath muted well thrée or foure times, let her be taken from the fire or out of the Sunne, and set vpon her pearch in her accustomed place, and let her not be fedde till two howres after, and then allow her of a chicken or mutton but halfe a gorge. Let [Page 293] her bée thus dealt withall thrée dayes together, making her to tyre euery day against the sunne both morning and euening. And foure, fiue or sixe dayes after, giue her eueryday a cloue of Mace in her casting, and shée shall recouer.

When the three dayes are past wherein you haue so scowred her, take a little pepper beaten into very fine powder and mingling it with Vineger in a Sawcer, open her beake, and rubbe the roofe of her chap therewith, and likewise put a droppe or twaine of it into her nares, and set her by the fire or in the Sunne, and you shall sée how mightily it will open her head. Howbeit you must not giue this medicine to a Hawke that is very poore, for shée will not bée able to brooke it. And within an howre or two after feede her with a chickens legge: and after let her haue twice a day at her howres a reasonable gorge, and let the saide powder be giuen her no more but once.

In stead of this powder some giue this medicine following which you may giue also if you thinke good: that is to wit, a little Stauesacre, howbeit that is very strong, if there hée not skill vsed to delay the strength of it. Wherefore if you mind to giue your hawke of it, giue her not past thrée or foure graines of it wrapt in a cloath or in linte, which you must breake afterward, and beat into powder. Then take a little cleane water in a dish, and put your powder in it, and mingling it together in maner of a Sirop, put thrée or foure droppes of it into your hawkes nares, and set her in the Sun or by the fire as is said afore, if it be cold.

That done, then by Martines aduise, take pitch if you will to the mountenance of a beane which you must warme betwixt your handes, and afterward cleaue it to the roofe of her Beake, rubbing it ouer with a little of the powder of Stauesacre and Pepper till shée féele the pitch well vppon her Palate: and by and by in labouring to shake off the sayd pitch and water from her Palate, shée will cast: and let her cast her fill till shée be throughly scowred. And when yée [Page 294] thinke shée is scowred sufficiently, take away the said pitch if it it bée not falne off already, and set your hawke to the fire, or in the Sunne, as is saide in the medicine of the pepper, and féede her with some good meat one howre after.

And to recomfort your hawke after all these Medicines, ye may giue her foure or fiue Cloues of Mace as is sayde afore, after as the bignesse of them is, which you must first brooze a little, and put into her casting. For the Cloues so giuen, are singularly good for hawkes against all Rhewmes and humors of the head, so that it maketh them to haue a good breath and keepeth it from stinking, by setting their whole bodies in a temperate heate. And the Cloues béeing so giuen euerie eight day, is enough to kéepe a Hawke from all rhewmatike diseases of the head, and from all other diseases that come of cold.

Of a confirmed Rhewme that commeth of colde.

NOw that I haue spoken of the disease of the head which commeth oftentimes of giuing too great a gorge, or of fowle féeding, I will speake of the Rhewme or pose which bréedeth of the coldnesse of the braine and vpper part of the head. The hawks that haue this disease, endure such paine as they cannot holde open their eyes. And of this disease spring many other griefes, as the pinne and the webbe in the eye, whereby they loose their sight: and sometimes they loose their sight without hauing the pinne and the webbe in theyr eyes. Besides that, there followeth the Hawe in their eyes as in the eyes of a horse, and sometimes also the pyp in their tongs, and another disease which is called the Eff [...]yllous in the French tong, (I know not what english terme to bestow vpon it.) And moreouer the swelling of the roofe of their pallate which is called the Ʋvul [...], an ill disease, whereof bréedeth [Page 295] the Canker. All these diseases are very dangerous, and put hawkes in great hazard, if there bée not skill to remedy them betimes. And Master Amé Cassian saith, that such diseases bréede of flegme which is in the bodies of Hawkes, as I sayde afore of the other Rhewm: and that flegme commeth of setting them in moist and colde places. Also sometimes it commeth of bringing them home cold and wet out of the fieldes, and of setting them downe vpon their pearches without drying or warming them at the fire or in the Sunne.

The remedy of those diseases is first and formost to cauterize them in manner following. Fashion a little yron with a round head like a peaze (which is called a button) and make it in manner redde hote in the fire, but yet not ouerhote (for yron is very violent if it bée too much heat.) Cauterize her therewith on the toppe of her head, because the griefe and disease is there grounded. Cause your hawke to be well cast that you may cauterize her at your ease and pleasure, for you must beware of burning her too déepe, and therefore that yée may be sure to do it well, mayle your hawk fast, and pull off a few of her feathers. As soone as you haue done so, take another yron with a point as sharpe as the tooth of a combe, and put it in the fire as afore saide, and therewith pierce her nares in the mids. Thē two or thrée dayes after take another flat yron of a finger broad, heat likewise red hote, and cauterize your hawke againe therewith handsomely as it were betwéene the eye-lidde and the horne of the beake, & do it with the sharper side of the yron: not that the yron ought indéede to haue any edge, but rather by all reason to be blunt. And take good héed that the fire touch neither the ball of her eye nor her nares, and therefore sée that yée gard her eye with a wet clout to kéepe it from the smoak. All such maner of fires must bée giuen towards the euening before hawkes are supped, when they are empty, for otherwise the handling of them would make them cast their gorges. When all is done as it [Page 296] should bée, halfe gorge your Hawke, or somewhat lesse with warme meate. And the same day make prouision of such Snayles as are among vines, or among Fenell, and such as haue gray shelles, they are the best, for men are wont to eate of them. Stéepe fiue or sixe of them in the milke of an Asse, or of a Gate or else (for want of that) in womans milke, and let it be done in a good large glasse well couered, that they créepe not out.

The next morning breake the shelles, and wash them in new milke as it commeth from the Cow, then giue foure or fiue of those Snailes to your hawke, after that they bée of bignesse. And as soone as that is done, set her against a fire or the Sunne, and remoue her not away til she haue muted four or fiue times. And if shée can abide the heat well, let her alone still for it doth her much good. After noone féed her with a hens legge or with some small birds, or with a Ratte or a Mouse, which are best of all, and then set her in a warme placa, and giue her not too great a gorge. When euening comes that shée hath indued & put ouer her meat, take fiue or sixe Cloues of Mace, broken a sunder, and wrapped in a péece of flesh, or a pellet of Cotton, and make her to receiue it by faire meanes or fowle by opening her beake, and conueying it into her. Continue this medicine fowre or fiue dayes, and your hawk shall recouer. Afterward make her to tyre euening and morning and let her féeding bée stéeped in milke as is said afore of the Snayles, for the milke scowreth her body within, as is very nutritiue, and will quickle bring her to be hie, and in flesh againe.

Another medicine that Mallop in giveth in stead of the other aforesaid.

TAke the powder of Saffron and Camomill, of each the mountenance of a litle pease, & when yée haue mingled thē [Page 297] together, put thereto larde that is neyther restie, nor ouer salted, and stéepe them a night and a day in thrée of foure changes of water, and then wash the Larde throughly in faire licour. That done, take Sugar clarified and the marow of a Béefe. Of the things aforesaid, take as much of the one, as of the other, so as you may make fiue or sixe balls of the bignesse of a beane. Then mingle the said mixtures, and the powders together, and euery morning giue your hawke one of the balles till all be spent: and as is said afore, set your hawke by the fire, or in the Sunne, & féed her not by the space of an howre or twaine after: at which time you shall giue her eyther a Hens legge or some small birds, or a Rat, or some Mice. And in the morning when shée hath well indewed, giue her foure or fiue cloues of Maces lapped in a little flesh, or in the skinne of a henne, or in pullets of Cotton. And so may you cauterize her before the said medicine after the maner that I haue shewed before in the former receit of the Snayles, so you draw her meate in milke or in fresh butter.

For the disease of the eares which commeth of the Rhewme, and colde.

SOmetimes there hapneth another disease to hawkes, by reason of moysture of the head which is called the disease the eares, because there issue out certaine humors by them. And yée shall know the disease by this, that the hawke wil oft times wryth her head backe, and maketh not so good cheare as she should do, and is more vnlusty. Wherfore search & peruse hereares, and you shall find the disease there. The remedy whereof, by Master Amè Cassians deuise, is this.

Take a little long yron round at the end as a pease, and Oyle of sweet Almonds, or for lacke of that, Oyle of Roses, which is much better, if you can come by it. Then heate your yron in the fire, neyther glowing red, nor very hote, and put [Page 298] it into the oyle, and of that oyle so heat with the yron, droppe a little into your hawkes eares, putting the yron a little into them that they be not stopped. For then of such inconuenience hapneth oftentimes the Canker to the braine which is incurable and killeth the hawke. And beware of thrusting the yron too farre in, or of béeing too hote, for else you may kill her. You must continue the ministring of this oyle foure or fiue dayes, alwayes wiping away the humors gently that issue out of her eares, and alwayes respecting her casting whether, it be cleane or no. And if you list to scowre her with a common pyll or twaine, they will [...]ase her head maruailously wel, and doe her excéeding much good: or if you doe it with the sayd balles of Larde, Sugar, and marrow of béefe, it is good likewise, for you may vse eyther the one or the other at your pleasure.

Of the disease of the eye-lids which commeth of the Rhewme and cold.

ANother disease happeneth to Hawkes in the eye-liddes which causeth aswelling vnder the eye-lidde, betwéene the eye & the feare of the beake (wée haue no proper spéech for it) if yée remedie it not betimes it will swell round about: and thereof commeth the hawe in the eye which will ouergrow the eye and stoppe it. And assure your selfe it is a signe of death if it grow too long. For I haue séene many die of it in my time for lacke of remedy. Now by Master Amè Cossians opinion, the remedy is this. Heate the little round yron that I spake of afore, & cauterize her with it softly vpon her heade as is sayd for the Rhewm. Likewise w^t the other cutting yron, feare her betwéene the eye and the beake. Also pierce her nares with the little yron, and afterward giue her the Medicine of the Snayles after the manner aforesaid, foure or fiue dayes together. And for want of that medicine, you may vse the other of Larde, Sugar, and the Marow of Béefe mingled [Page 299] with the powder of Saffron and Camomill. [But if they fayle, then take the iuyce of Housléeke, Rose water,Addition. and the oile of the white of an egge, and mixe them together, and therewith amount the hawkes eye, and it will cure it without cauterizing.]

Of the Hawe in the eye which commeth of moysture and cold, and how it hapneth.

MOreouer somtimes there grows a great disease in their eyes which is named the Hawe and commeth after the same manner that it commeth in horses: namely, sometime by a blow or a stripe, sometime by a disease in the head, and most commonly by hurting of the eye with the streightnesse of the hoode, or by some other misfortune which cannot sometimes bée eschewed. And you shall discerne the cōming of this disease, by seeing a little filme growing vp from the bending of her beake, and couering her eye by little and little. And this filme is somewhat blacke afore, and is called the hawe, which putteth out the eye if it once ouergrow the ball of it. To remedy the same, take a little néedle that is very sharp pointed, and fine thréeded with a silke thréed, and therewith take vppe the hawe handsomely, and cut it with a little slicer, as horseleaches doe to horses, but beware that you cut it not too much for hurting of the eye, which you must wash with Rose water three dayes together. In these cures of diseases that grow in the eyes, there must bée great eare vsed for feare of a greater mischiefe, because of the daintinesse of the place.

Of a blow given to the eye, or of some other mischance.

SOmetimes the eyes of hawks are hurt by some mishappe, ome stripe or otherwise as I said afore. Against such vnlooked for mischances, Master Amè C [...]ssi [...]r giueth cleare Fenell water, & Rose water, as much of the one as of the other, & therwith washeth y^e eye twice or thrice a day. Master Malopin [Page 300] in his booke of the Prince, willeth to take the iuice of Celondine otherwise called Hearb Arondell,Arondell in French, is Hirundo, a Swalow, otherwise called Chelidon. or Swallowes hearbe, and to conuey it into the eye. And if it bee not to be had gréene, to take it drie, and to beat it into powder, and to blow it into her eye with a quill, and this shall recure the hawke.

Of the Filme in the eye, which some call the Veroll, or the Pinne and Webbe.

THere is another disease in the eye called a Filme, which commeth sometimes of disease in the head, & of Rhewms that distill into the eyes, and sometimes of standing too long, or too close hooded, which happeneth through the fault and negligence of such as haue the bearing and ouersight of them. For the remedie hereof, Master Martine sayeth, that yee must tak Celondine and bray it, putting thereto hony and fresh butter, and of each of those three giue your hawke a like portion with a hote gorge, and moreouer, put the Powder of Pepper and Aloes in her eye Or else (as sayth Master Amê Cassian) you must giue her the foresaide medicine of Larde, Sugar and Marow of Béefe thrée or foure dayes together, to scowre her, setting her by a fire, or in the Sunne, and féeding her after it with some liue Fowle, and kéeping her out of the wind, and from standing colde or moist. After shée is so scowred, if yée that the webbe shew it selfe much, cauterize her vpon the vpper part of her head, and likewise a little betwéene the eye and the beake after the manner aforesaid. When all this is done, squirt a little Rose-water into her eye, and if néed be, minister therto the powder or the iuyce of Celondine otherwise called Herbe Arondell, as is said before. This disease of the Pinne and Web, is of some men called the Verol, for the remedying whereof, they burne the shell of a Tortoise in a new potte, and beat it into fine powder, which they serce through a fine cloth. Then take they a cockle of the sea which [Page 301] is fashioned like a Hart, and burning it throughly in the fire, make it into fine powder, & serce it likewise. And finally they take Sugar Candie in powder. These thrée powders mixt together in equall portions, they vse to put into their hawks eyes till they be whole.

Master Michelin telleth of one other receit for the sayde disease, which is this. Make a little hose in the toppe of an egge and powre out the white of it: then coyle cleare Rose water, and Sanguis draconis well together, and fill vp your egge with them, and stirre them throughly with a small stick. Afterward wrap vp your egge in paste, and stop vp the hole of it, that nothing get out: which done, set it so closed in the fire till the past become blacke and red at the taking it from the fire. Then take out that which is within it, and beat it into powder, and serce it through a fine cloth: and of that powder you may vse to put in your hawkes eye till it be cured, washing her eye now and then with water of Fenell, and of Roses.

Master Mallopin makes another medicine for the same disease which is this. Take the dung of a Lyzart, (which is called a Prouinciall) and beat it into powder with Sugar Candy, somewhat more in quantity than the other, mingling thē both together. He sayth, that this powder is much better than all the others, whereof you may vse as is said afore, conueying into your hawkes eye water of roses, and of Fenell.Addition. [But the best medicine is to put euery day into the Hawkes eye a little of the powder of Tutia, or wash it with Tutia, and Rose-water mixt together.]

For the disease that breedeth in Hawkes beakes, commonly called Formicas.

DIuers times there growes a disease vpon the horne of hawkes beakes, which eateth and fretteth the beak from the head. Master Amè sayeth, it is a worme that eateth the horne of the beake within, by reason wherof the hawke is in great daunger if shée bée not holpen in time. Yee shall perceyue it by this, that the horne of the beake waxeth rugged, [Page 392] and the beake beginneth to riue and cliue from her head. Master Amè Cassian giueth this answere and remedy thereunto. Take the gall of an Oxe (or of a bull, which is better than of an oxe) and all to beate it, and breake it in a dish, and put thereto the powder of Aloes Cicotrine, and mingle them well together. Then noynt the horne of your Hawkes clap or beake therewith, and the very place where the Formica growes, twice a day. But beware that you touch neither her eyes nor her nares. And continue your so doing till shée bée throughly cured, and let her be bathed with Orpiment and Pepper, to kéepe her from vermine and Mites.

For the disease that breedeth in the Nares of Hawkes.

ANother disease bredeth in Hawks nares, so as they swel excéedingly: and sometime vpon the horne of the beake there ryseth a crust, at the remouing whereof the flesh is found to be raw vnderneath the clappe, insomuch that diuers times they loose the one halfe of their beake. Master Amè Cassian saith, that the hawke hath small Mites in her head, which créepe downe alongst her beake, & entring in at her nares, do bréede the saide disease: and that the hawke féeling them, and being molested therwith, thrusteth her talents into her nares. Or else it hapneth sometimes that a cast of Hawkes doe burcle and crab together, and thereof bréedeth the said disease. M. Amè Cassian prouideth for it this remedy following. Make little matches of paper,Here is lefte out the manner of cauterizing a hawks nares because the Italian hath set it downe. of y^e bignes of the tag of a point, & let your hawke be cast handsomly, & set your matches on fire w^c a candle, & seare your hawke vpon the place swollen, taking good heed y^t you do it not too roughly. Which being done, annoint it the next morning with a little Hennes grease, and so will it heale well, and her beake and nares will not be stuft but remayne open. Neuerthelesse yée must be faine sometimes to touch her with an yron, which is more dangerous than the other.

[Page 303]

The disease called the Frownce, which breedeth within hawkes beakes, and in their tongues.

THe Frownce procéedeth of moist & cold humours, which descend from the hawkes head to their palate, & the roote of the tongue. And of that cold, is engendred in the tongue, the Frownce, otherwise called (of the French men the Barbillons, or Sourchelons.) by meanes of which they loose their appetite, and cannot close their clap, whereof they oftentimes die, and that disease is named the Eagles bane. For as I reported to you in the first part of this collection, the Eagle seldome when dyeth of age, but onely by meane her beake doth ouergrow, so as shée cannot féede and gorge her selfe. Yée may perceiue this disease by losse of her appetite to féede And to know it the better, open your hawkes beake, and looke on her tongue whether it be swollen or no: And if there appeare not that disease, open her beake againe within a while after, and sée if there be any likelyhoode of it, and so may yée easily discrie the mischiefe. For remedy whereof the said Master Mallopin sayth, that you must take oyle of swéet Almonds, or oyle oliue washt in foure or fiue waters, and with that oyle annoynt her throate and her tong thrée or foure times a day with a feather for fiue or sixe dayes together. And if your hawke cannot féede, let her meate bée cut and shredde into very small pellets. This done, open her beake gently, and make her to receiue it downe, by conueying a smal sticke into her throate, giuing her not paste halfe a gorge at a time, and that must be either of Mutton, or of some liue fowle, Henne, Chicken, or such like: fiue or sixe dayes after, open her beake handsomely again, and with a payre of sharpe Sissers, cut off the typpes of the Barbyllons, till the bloud follow, but yet beware of cutting away too much. After this, annoint and moysten well her throate with sirope of Mulberies, called of the Apothecaries Diamor [...]n, and then annoint her with oyle of sweet Almonds, or with oyle Oliue,Addition. till shée bée recured. [Nothing cureth the Frownce so soone as the powder of allom brought to a salue with strong wine Vinegar, and annoint or wash the hawkes mouth therewith.]

[Page 304]

Of the disease called by the French men Escorchillons, a kind of Frownce or Canker.

Escorcer in French, is to rippe off the rind or skin of any thing of which word this disease seemeth to bee derived.SOmetimes there hapneth a disease to hawkes which is called the Escorchillons a hard disease to bee discerned. It bréedeth commonly of a Rhewme confirmed in the head, from whence spring many other diseases, (whereof I haue made mention in the Chapter of Rhewmes in the head, and of the disease called (the Barbillons) which bréedeth in Hawks tongues,) as the Pyppe doth, the disease of the Palate, and the Canker, which are very dangerous diseases and deadly. If yée will know the Escorchillons, let your hawke bee cast handsomely, and open her beake, and force downe her tongue with yout fingers end, so as you may sée her winde-pipe, and a little beneath her wind-pipe yée shall finde the Escorchillons like thrée or foure sharpe priekes growing one against another, that sometimes the Hawke cannot cast by meane thereof. And that is a perfect way to know this euill. Furthermore, in the same place, and on eyther side of the windpipe, ye shall find two small sterts of flesh, which are naturall to all Hawkes. But at the lower end of them doe grow vp many little prickes which are the cause that a Hawke cannot well cast in the morning, insomuch that sometimes shée is faine to cast her casting by péecemele, and not whole. And that is another assurance of the said disease, which may bée well cured & remedied both together.

The remedy which Amé Cassian giueth for this disease, is set forth in the former Chapter by Master Mallopin, where hée willeth you to take oyle of swéet Almonds, or Oyle Oliue, &c.

[Page 305]

The disease of the Canker which breedeth in the throats and tongs of hawkes.

YE must vnderstand that the canker bréedeth of fowle féeding your Hawkes, not washing of their meate in colde water in Summer, and in warme in Winter, which engendreth in their guts grosse slimie matter. And when those humors come to bée moued, they sume vp into the head, and (so distilling again) ingender heat of the liuer which breaketh out in the throat and the tong, and there engender the canker. You shall discerne this disease by the féeding of your hawke, for in taking her meat shée letteth it fal, and afterward hath much adoe to swallow it. Therefore let her beake bée annointed, and you shall find the disease of the Canker. Master Amè Cassian giueth this medicine for it. Take Oyle of Almonds, or oyle Oliue washed as is sayd afore, and annoint well her throat w^t it twice or thrice a day. That done, giue her the said medicine of sugar, lard, and marrow of béefe thrée dayes together, and féede her with mutton or with pullets, or hennes flesh dipped in the foresaid oyle, but yée must not wash your oyle of Almonds. After this, you must behold and regard the canker, & if you finde it white, take a smal yron made at the one end like a Rasor, and at the other end edged and sharpe. And if her tong bée very much ouergrowne with the canker, slit & open it hādsomely alongst the side of her tong, and with your rasor scrape away the whitenes softly which you sée there. Then take a little cotton or lint to drie and drinke vp the bloud of her tong, & sée that none bée left. And if the other side of her tong happen to be so too, slit it likewise: which done, take the iuyce of Maydenhaire and lay vpon it. And for want of that hea [...]be take a litle vinegar, or rather the iuyce of a lymond which is much better, and wash her meat in oyle till shée bée throughly recured. Master Michelin giueth another remedy which is this. Anoint wel her throat and tong with sirupe of mulberies (otherwise called Diamoron) two or thrée dayes together, after which, take of the foresaid good oyle: Then take the powder of brimstone, and [Page 306] of sugar candie, or of other white sugar mingled well together of each a like, and put a little thereof vpon the canker: for if you should lay much, it would fret the tong too sore. And this maner of dealing is better for a confirmed canker than any other. Therefore wash her meat with the oyle aforesaid, & feede her with mutton, or the flesh of hens or pullets.

Of a kind of Pippe that is in a Hawke.

THe Pip commeth chiefly of cold and moistnes of the head: and somtimes of féeding your hawke with euil and rotten flesh without washing it, and making it cleane in warme water in the winter, and in cold water in the Summer. Wherof ingendereth slimy & grosse humors in the body, which ascēd vp to the head, and ingender the pip on the top of the tong as yée sée commonly fall out in chickens. And yée may perceiue this disease by your hawkes often sniting, and by making a noyse twice or thrice in her sniting. Master Amé Cassian saith, that to remedy this disease, you must cast your hawke gently, and looke vpon the tip of her tong: and if you find her to haue the pip, yée must scowre her with a pyll made of Agarik and Ierapigra, giuen two or thrée dayes together with her casting towards night, and that will rid her of the Rhewm in her head, the rather if shée bée made to tire against the sunne in the mornings as is said afore. M. Malopin in his booke of the Prince, sayth, that to cure the pip, yée must bind a little cotton vpon a sticks end, and dipping it in swéet rosewater, wash her tongue well with it: and afterward annoint it thrée or four daies with oyle of Almonds, and oyle oliue, wel washed as is before said: and when yée haue done so, yée shall find the pip all white and soft. Then take an awle, and with the point of it lift vp the pip softly, remouing it as women do pip their chickens. Howbeit yée must not remoue it till it bée full ripe: for if yee take it too gréene, you shall hurt your hawke. And looke that yée wet her tong and palat twice or thrice a day with the foresaid oyle, till shée be throughly cured.

[Page 307]

Of the disease of their palate which falleth to swelling by reason of moysture of the head.

SOmetimes it hapneth that the palates or roofes of hawks mouthes are swollen, and looke whitish: which commeth of moysture and cold wherewith their heads are surcharged. And ye may perceiue this disease by that they cānot close their beakes, and by that they look not so chearly as they were wōt to do, ne can put ouer, or endew their meat but with great pain. To cure your hawke of this disease, you must open her beak, where you shal find the roof of her mouth whitish and swollen. And if you find it not so, you must search her beake to discerne if she haue any other disease there that lets her to shut it: for sometimes their beakes grow more on the one side of the clap than on the other, so as they cannot close them. The remedie that M. Amê Cassian giues for this euill, is this: The hawkes that are so diseased must haue the said pils of Larde, sugar, and marow of béefe, giuen them euery morning one or two for foure or fiue dayes space together, and about an howre or two after, feed them with some poultrie or mutton drawn through the foresaid oyle. And after those dayes open her beake again, and softly scrape of the whitenesse: and if yee find the swelling abated, then do none other thing to her but only continue your anointing of her with the said oile. But if ye perceiue the swelling to rise too hie, ye may launce or pricke it, but yée must beware that yée strike not too déepe, for ye may soone kill your hawke. Afterward lay the iuyce of mayden-haire to it, and continue it till it be throughly cured, and alwayes draw her meat in the said oyle, or else in milke or butter.

For the disease of the iawes

THe disease of the iaws cōmeth either of drawing y^e hood too streit, or for y^t it is too close & streit of it self. And y^t causeth the Rhewme to drop down out of the hawkes head vpon her [Page 308] gums and iawes (if we may so tearme them.) You shall know it by this, that shée can neyther open nor shut her beake.

M. Michelins medicine forths same.

ANnoint well the gorge, iawes, and nares of your hawke with oyle of swéet Almonds thrée or four dayes together and for want of that, take oyle Oliue washt in two or thrée waters, & draw her meat through it as is said before, and giue her pyls of lard, sugar and marow of a béefe, or else common pylles to scowre her both vpward and downeward.

Of the Hawke that hath broken her clappe by some mischance.

ANother inconuenience befalleth hawks by the negligēce of such as kéepe them: for in their féeding there cleaueth or remayneth some peece of flesh in their iawes, or in the roofe of their mouth, or on some place or other of their beake which marreth their beaks, so as it is enforced to fall away in sliuers & péeces. This hapneth for want of wiping their beaks as they ought to bée after their féeding, by meane whereof both her claps grow so much, as at length it falleth to breaking and riuing if it bée not remedied in time. And thereof bréedeth this disease which we call (Formica Corrosiva) whereby the beake becommeth brittle, & is vtterly marred. Master Amé Cassian appointeth this remedy following. Looke into your Hawkes beake, coping it and keping it very cleane, and if you find any Formica corrosiva there, remoue it. That done, annoint y^e horn of her beake with the bloud of a snake or an adder, & the bloud of a henne mingled together, to make it to grow the more spéedily. Also let the meat which shee eateth be cut in small pellets, for otherwise shée cannot féede. And yet for all that, cease not to flée with her. Within 15. dayes or thrée weekes after, when ye sée her beake begin to grow againe, cast your hawke handsomely, and cope her nether clap that the vpper clap may ioyn orderly vnto it, as it should doe of his owne nature.

[Page 309]

Of the falling sicknesse which happeneth to hawkes as well as to men, and other living things.

THe chiefe Falconers say, that the falling sicknes hapneth to hawkes through a fuming heat that ascendeth vp frour the liuer to their heads, and maketh them to fall down vpon y^e sodaine. M. Mallopin sayth, that to remedy this disease, the hinder part of their head must be perused and sought, where a man shall find two litle pits which must be cauterized with a wyer of brasse. And if that help not, then must you cauterize her daintily vpon the head w^t the foresaid round yron, or else you may hap to kill her. This done, drie red Lentils in an ouē, and make them into fine powder: then take the filing of yron the finest of it, as much of the one as of the other, & mingle thē both together with hony, & make it in little bals of the bignesse of a pease. Then giue your hawk two or thrée of them, putting them as far into her gorge as you can, and hold her vpon your fist at the fire, or in the sun till she haue made a mute or twain, and let her haue no meat till noone, and then serue her of a Pigeons wing, dealing so with her seuen or eight daies together: In the night let her be kept alwayes abroad, and in the day times in the darke with water continually before her.

M. Amê Cassian teacheth another medicin: that is to witte, that the skin of their heads must be launced right ouer against the foresaid pits, where there are little veynes which must be taken vp with a silke thréed, and annointed ouer with the bloud of a chicken. Which being done, yée must giue her the foresaid pils seuen or eight dayes together, taking good heed that yée set her not neare any other hawkes, and that your hawking gloue bée very cleane. For that kind of disease is cō tagious, and will soone passe from one hawke to another by feeding on the gloue whereon another hath béene fed before. And by night let her stand in the wind and open ayre, & by day in darke places, with water alwayes afore her, as is already taught you.

[Page 310]

Of another falling euill, which first breedeth in the necke and in the gorge of a Hawke.

IF you perceiue your hawk to haue a swollen neck & gorge, & that she panteth more strongly in y^e mornings at one time than at another: assure your selfe that shée hath the falling euill. Martin sayth, that you must take Sanguis Draconis, nutmegges, that kind of Mirabolans which are called Kebulme, Cloues, Cinamon, and Ginger, of each two pennie weight, and making it all into fine powder, strew a quantity of it euery morning vpon her meat, supping her euery night with a ratte or a mouse thrée or foure dayes together, and that will make her whole and sound.

Of the Fistula, a griefe that proceedes through paine of the head.

YE shall perceiue when your hawke hath the Fistula by the running of her nares, & by the streaming down of the humors from her head. For the which disease Martine alloweth this remedy. Yée must cast your hawke handsomely, and deplume her head behind in the backer part, and annoint it w^t butter and swines bloud together. And you shall finde a vain that commeth downe to her eyes which you must cutt, & knit it againe with a red silke thréed, anointing it well & throughly with butter & swines bloud for nine dayes together, and then it will recouer her.

For the swimming in the head of a hawke.

IF your hawke gape much and beate her wings, then bée yée sure that shée hath the swimming in the head. The remedy whereof is this. Take a fine néedle that is sharpe pointed, and when yée haue well heat it in the fire, pearce her nares with it through on both sides, and beware that yée goe not awrie, for so yée may do her great harme. Then anoint it with oyle and butter together, and it will recouer her by meane of the vente that you shall giue the humor by the nares.

[Page 311]

For all manner of diseases in the head, and specially for the ach that is in a Hawkes head.

WHensoeuer your hawk hath any great disease, or pain in her head, take sixe grains of pepper, four of Stauesaker, and fiue cloues, & beat them together into fine powder, & féede her but thrée dayes together with warme meat mingled with it, and shée shall recouer. And for want of that ye may vse the fine powder that is mentioned heretofore. And if your hawke will not bée fed with it, let be conueighed into cotton or into a hens skin to take away the sent of it, and féede her w^t none other than warme meat, and such as is light of disgestiō. For the diseases of the head doe so weaken her appetite & stomacke that shée cannot put ouer, nor endew her meat. And to the end she may the better indew it, giue her but small meales till shée be throughly recouered. And if shée will eate the yolke of an egge, drop vpon it some of the said powder, and giue it her with hote meate, and so yée shal reccouer her. Here are sundry receits and medicines which I neuer haue proued, and therefore I can warrant little of them: but neuertheles I find them in my French Authors, and therfore am so ventrous to place them here in this collection of remedies for hawkes: leauing thē ouer to the desirous Falconer that hath a will to practise vpon his hawk. For store (they say) is no sore, and among many there must néeds fal out some good and wholesome receits. Wherefore iudge discréetly of all: and make proofe of such as you like: Experience is the mother of skill.

Of the stone, and how, and whereof it commeth.

YOu must vnderstād y^t ther are 3. sorts of diseases in hawks called by the name of the stone, & scarsly doth the one come without the other. The one kéepeth beneath in their tuels, and the other in their bowels & panels: & they may be cured both together. Some cal this disease y^e Cray. And M. Amè Cassian sayth that the stone or Cray cōmeth by the eating of filthy flesh & by mean of soule féeding. For it burneth and drieth in their [Page 312] bowels (as I said heretofore in the diseases of the head) becaus y^e filth which they haue gathered in their panels inflameth their liuer, which doth so drie vp the substance of the guts, that they cānot mute, but must néeds die of it if they be not cured. Som say that this disease cōmeth of giuing thē washt meat hote before it be throughly cold, & that is like inough, for a hawk likes not of water & bloud both together at once. The stone in the fundament cōmeth of the filth which the hawke should mute, which thickneth and lies bakte at the tuel: by means whereof she becomes so poor that she cannot mute or stise frō her, and so must néeds die. Yet notwithstanding I haue oftē seen that whē a Falcon is hie & lusty, shée wilstise it out wel inough by mean of her strength. And ye may perceiue when shée hath the stone by that shee muteth with paine & by drops, which is a signe y^t she néedeth to scowre that matter wherof the stone doth grow. And when shée muteth at twice, & a third time after that, it is a token that the stone is throughly confirmed in her guts and panel. Moreouer, when ye see that her tuel is chafed, & but litle drops from her, and that the feathers of her train are much filed with her muting, and that she is euermore picking with her beak about her tuel, be ye sure she hath y^e stone in her tuel, which we cal y^e stone Cray. Again, when she muteth & maketh as though she would iouke vpō your fist, & in her cies is more troubled thā of ordinary: doubt not but that she hath the stone cray. And because she cannot rid it, she is in danger, if she bée not lookt too in time. The remedy therof by the iudgement of M. Amé Cassian is this: take a slice of lard (or a pellet of sope, wet in salet oyle) of the bignesse of a goose quill, and an ynch long, and put thereon the powder of Aloes Cicotrine: which done, cast your hawk hansomly, & conuey it into her tuell as ye would giue a man a suppository, & if the lard be too tender and soft to handle, sticke it vpon a hens feather, so as the feather appeare not through the Lard, (for so may ye do her great harme with the feather,) and so conuey it vppe into her tuell drawing away the feather gently, and leauing the Larde behind, and haue snayles in a readinesse to giue her immediately [Page 313] after yée haue applyed the said deuise. And for lacke of snayles, giue her the forementioned pyll of lard, mingled with marow and sugar, and set her in the Sun, or by a fire, without féeding of her til one howre after noone. And if thée endure wel to be by the fire, or in the Sun, let her alone, for the heat is very good for her. After this, giue her somwhat more than half a gorge of a yong pullet, or if yee can come by any myce or rats, nothing is better. But let her not stand in the ayre or in the wind except the weather be fayre & warm. At night when she hath indewed well, giue her foure or fiue cloues of mace broken, and lapped vp in a little cotton, or in the skinne of a henne: and do so three or four dayes, sauing the suppository or pellet aforesaid, for it will serue twice well inough. And thus shall you skoure your hawk throughly. Looke well to it that shée cast not vp y^e cloues of mace, for they be singular good for hawks in all respects, specially for all humors that surcharge their heads and generally for all Filanders and worms. And if you mind to rid a falcon clean out of the cray, and of the said disease: giue her meat steeped in Goats milke, or in other milke, and doe so foure or fiue dayes together: for the said milke is very good against the cray. In the booke of the Prince, there is another receit for this disease of the cray or stone. That is to wit: Take the gall of a pigge of thrée weeks old, and conuey it into your hawkes beake, so as shée may take it and swallow it downe whole without breaking, and take héed that she cast vp none of it againe. Afterwardes, giue her a little péece of the Pigges flesh, of the bignes of a Beane, and let her stand empty panneld vpon the same vntill night, setting her in the Sun, or by the fire. This medicine is very good for all birds of prey that are encombred with the Cray or Stone. Neuertheles, if a Goshawke or a Sparowhawke haue that disease (so it bée not too sore) giue it her no more but once. But as for other hawkes that are of stronger mettall, yée may giue it them thrice. And when euening is come, féed your hawke with a pullet or with mutton, or with small birds, and the next morning stéepe her meat in Goats milke, or womans milke, féeding her so three [Page 314] dayes together with small gorges, and she shall be sound. And if you will not or cannot vse the said receit, yée may take a little oyle Oliue, and somewhat lesse hony, and wette your hawkes meate therewith, for it is good to helpe that disease. Some put the said things into a Hennes gut lied fast at both ends, because a hawke wil take it the better: and naturally she likes not oyle with her meat.

Master Michelin sets down another medicin which is this. Take Lard, marow of béefe, Sugar clarified, and once boiled and Saffron in powder, of each a like quantity, prouided that the larde bée first stéeped in vineger four and twenty howres, and the water shifted thrée or foure times, & set abroad in the open ayre. Of the which thinges confected together, yee must make pyls of the bignesse of a beane, whereof you shall giue your hawke one or two, setting her in the sun, or by the fire, and féeding her with poultry or with muton, allowing her but reasonable gorges four or fiue dayes together, and giuing her maces as afore: for they cannot but do the hawke great pleasure in euery condition and part. Master Michelin teacheth another receit for this disease, specially for Goshawkes, and Sparowhawkes which I haue tryed oft.

Cut a shéepes heart in small péeces, and when yée haue let it lie stéeping all night in asses milke, goats milke, or womans milke, put a little boyld Sugar into the milke, and gorge your hawke reasonably therewith three dayes together. And assure your selfe that this medicise is very excellent for the Cray, & without danger for all maner of hawks. M. Martin saith in auouchment of this matter, that when a hawke cannot well mute with her ease, it betokeneth and plainly sheweth y^t shee hath the stone Cray. For remedy whereof, take the heart of a hogge, & a quantity of his sewet minced very small, & make them into powder together, & giue it the hawke in her meate thrée dayes successiuely. Againe, I haue séene some take the whit of an egge, or the whole egge, with a little saffron in pouder well coyled and beatē together, which being bestowed vppon the hawkes meat, hath cured her.

[Page 315] Mallopin sets down yet one other receit more. Put the iuyce of (water Cressyes) in a Hennes gut of one inch long, tyed at both ends, and force your hawke to receiue it. Which done, set her in the sun, or by the fire, and féede her not till noone, at which time giue her but halfe a gorge of hote meat, because of the medicine which hath set all her body out of temper. Let this be done two or thrée dayes, and if you find the medicine to haue scowred & taken much at the first of your hawke, giue her lesse & lesse, and so shall she recouer. The booke of Princes setteth downe yet one other remedy for the same disease, that yée might put it in vre which soeuer liked you best. Take a peny weight of Persly séed, as much of Smallage séede, a dramme of boyld sugar, a peny weight of Stauesaker, of wheaten bran one dram, and halfe the shell of an egge. Put them altogether into a good large posnet full of water, & séeth it till it be consumed to the one half, & then strain it through a cloth. Then take of Cassia Fistula one dramme and of Turbith one peny weight, of Hermodactils two peny weight, & of Aloes Cicotrine thrée peny weight. Beat all these into fine powder, & put them into the water wherein the other mixture was boyled, & make thereof a Clister in the bladder of a Pigge.

Then take a great quill of a goose, or of some other bird, and thereof make the necke of your Clysterbagge fast tyed to the bagge that nothing may issue out of it, and so giue your hawk the Clyster as you haue séene it giuen to men at their neede. This done set your hawke in the Sun, or by the fire, and kéepe her empty till noone, at which time giue her a pullets legge, and so shee shall recouer no doubt.

For the disease called the Filanders which happen in the bodies of Hawkes: and first of such as are in their gorge.

THe chiefe Falconers say that al hawks haue the Filāders at all times, & are neuer w^tout thē, like as it is said that no [Page 316] horse is without the Bottes. There are foure kinds of Filanders, and one other kind of Filanders, of which I will speake hereafter in their due places. And with all these sorts of Filanders, some hawks are more pestered than other some. The cause of thē is either their féeding on grosse & foul meats, which ingender & increase those filanders in thē, or els for that in flying eyther y^e field or the riuer, they breake some small veines within their bodies, at the encounter, by seazing too violentlie vpon their prey. By reason wherof the bloud bursteth out into their bowels, & there drieth and clottereth, whereof bréede the said Filanders in great aboundance. Afterward by reason of y^e stinch of the said bloud so clottered and bakte, béeing corrupted & putrified in the bulke, because it is out of the proper vessels & vains where it ought to be, the Filanders run about séeking the cleanest places of the body to shun the said noysome stinch, and créepe vp eyther into the hawks heart, or into her gorge, so as shée dyeth of it. Again, some men say, that theyr hawkes die of the diseases of the head, or of the Cray, when in déed they die of the Filanders, or (which is worse) of the (Aignilles) a kind of Filanders, for which wee want an English terme. I will speake first of those Filanders that craule vp to y^e hawkes gorges, and from thence to the holes in their palates, whereat the hawkes doe breath, and by them into their brains whereby they be in danger of death. Ye may perceiue this inconuenience in the gorge by this, that when you haue fed your hawke, the Filanders féeling the swéetnesse & taste of the flesh, do stirre and craule about in such wise, as you shall sée your hawk oftentimes gape. By reason wherof it commeth to passe that now and then she casteth her gorge. Again, yée may know by this, that your hawke will bee strayning at them with her talons. Therfore cast her gently, and looke into her throat, and you shall sée them crawling there. To kill the said Filanders, M. Amè Cassian sayth thus: take a great Radish roote, and make a hole in it, and fill it with water, & set it in embers verie hote, putting fresh embers to it continually by the space of halfe an howre or more, til it be throughly well boyled, and as [Page 317] your water diminisheth, fill it alwayes vp againe, howbeit that the raddish yéeldeth water inough of his owne nature. Than put the raddish into a dish, stampe it and presse out al the iuyce quite and cleane. This done, put the quantitie of a Pease of saffron made into powder into the saide water, and wash your hawkes meat therewith when yée féede her, and giue her but halfe a gorge. And if shée will not féed on it, let her be kept empty till shée bée very gréedy and eager: doe thus to her thrée or foure dayes together, and you shall kill the Filanders and make your hawk sound. [If you wash your hawks meate in the distilled water of Sauin,Additio it will kil the Filanders in any part whatsoeuer, or any other wormes.]

Of the Filanders that are in hawkes bowels, and in their Raines.

YE shall discerne that the Filanders are in her bowels, and guts, by her heauie cheare and playnt in the night, for she will cry, and make a mournefull noyse. Also ye may perceiue it by this, that when yée take her on your fist in the morning, shée will stretch herselfe more strongly than she is wont to do of ordinary, and sometimes shée will make as though shée would iouke vpon your fiste, & she will be busie with her beake about her backe right ouer against her raines. When yée sée these signes, assure your selfe that eyther the Filanders or the (Aignilles) doe trouble her: and if she haue not helpe of them betimes, they will kill her, for I haue séene many die of that disease: Master Amè Cassian giueth this remedy for that mischiefe.

Take Lentilles of the reddest that you can find, and parch them at the fire, and make fine powder of them, with the powder of worme séede, lesse by one halfe then of the powder of Lentils, and mingle and temper them well tothether, and make thereof a playster, driuen (vpon cloth or leather.) Then deplume your hawke in the place where her griefe is, and lay the playster to her panel, changing it euery day for four or fiue dayes space together, and she shall be cured.

[Page 318]If yee like not that receit, Master Michelin giueth you another which is this. Take the leaues of a Peach trée, of Rew, & of wormeséed, and of those thrée being brayed together, streine out the iuyce, & afterward take the powder of Wormewoode, and put it into the iuyce, and lay it vpon your hawkes reines playsterwise twice a day euening and morning for four or fiue dayes together, & it will kill the Filanders, & saue your hawk.

Master Amè C [...]ssian telleth yet one remedy more. Take (saith hee) a cloue of Garlicke pilled, and giue it your hawke in a hens skin, and it will heale her.

Of the Filanders or worms that are in hawkes legs & thighs, which the Frenchmen call Vers.

THere is another maner of Filander called the (Vers,) which commeth sometimes vpon hawkes that are lately taken, by setting them vpon a pearch vnhooded or vnséeled, for they fall to beating of themselues with so great force that they breake the veines of their legs. And this hapneth specially rather to haggard hawkes than to soare hawkes. By means whereof the bloud of those veines so broken, poureth and distilleth along their legs and panels betwéene the skinne & the flesh, and there lying in lumps doth conuert to wormes, whereof the hawke dieth. This disease may come also by her bating ouermuch vpon the fist, where through she bruseth her selfe violently: and sometimes he that beareth her furthereth it by his rashnes & impatience. And yée may perceiue that the filanders & worms are in your hawks legs or bowels by this: They plume thēselues oftentimes, yea, & the pendant feathers of their thighes & of their panels fal off voluntarily M. Mallopin saith that y^e remedy for this disease, is to wash your hawks thighes and belly twice a day for foure or fiue dayes together, with the foresaid medicin of the leaus of the peach trée, of rew, and of wormséede, and with the wormeséede it selfe.

For the diease called in French the (Aiguils) an evill worse than the Filanders, for which I know no apt English terme, and therefore must borrow the French terme of mine Author.

[Page 319]THere are found a kind of Filanders which are called (Aiguilles) because they be sharpe like a néedle, shorter & more perillous thā are the great Filandes, for asmuch as in séeking the cleanest parts of the body to shun the stinch and filth, they pearce the bowels & créepe vp to the hart, so that your hawke perisheth of them if she be not regarded in time. Ye shal perceiue this disease by her shrinking and snyting vpon y^e lure, as also by her grasping w^t her foot more strongly in the morning, than she was wont to do, & again by the often picking, & beaking in her braile feathers, & near her tuel. M. Mallopin giueth this remedy following. Take stauesacre beaten into powder, the herb of Barbarie, otherwise called in Gréek Pestora & Aloes Cicotrine, of each a like quantity, coyled altogether into powder, & giue your hawk the quantity of a bean therof, lapped vp in some part of a hens skin, or in cotton. Which done, set her in the sun or by the fire, & at noon allow her but halfe a gorge. You may giue her of this powder thrée or foure dayes, so she be not too low already: for if she bee not somwhat hie in flesh and in life, she will not be able to beare and brook it. And if this medicine cure her not, take this that followeth, which is of M. Malopins deuise also. Burn Harts horn wel raked in the embers, & when it is waxen cold, bent it into powder. Thē take y^t like quantity of Lupins made into powder, as ye had of the harts horn, & asmuch againe of the powder of wormséed, as of both the other, & half asmuch Aloes Cicotrine, as of the Hartes horn, and half as much Tryacle as of Aloes. Mingle all these together w^t hony by litle & litle, & force it to that thicknes, y^t yée may make bals of it to the bignes of a nut, whereof yée shal giue your hawk euery day one by the space of fiue or sixe daies allowing her but halfe a gorge after it. And if your hawk cast it againe, let it be lapped in a litle cotton, or in a hens skin y^e shée feel not the bitter tast of it. M. Amò Cassian giueth yet another remedy which is the medicin made heretofore for the filanders, y^t is to wit, rew & wormwood, of ech alike, & asmuch of the peachtrée leaues as of thē both, with a litle powder of wormséed infused in the iuyce of the said herbs. Thē fill a hens gut of an inch long therwith tied fast at both ends, & giue it to our hawke.

[Page 320]You may vse any of all these at your owne discretion and pleasure.

When a Hawke gapeth inordinately vp on the fist of her keeper.

A Hawke will now and then fal to gaping, eyther vpon her kéepers fist, or vpon the pearch, and specially when she is set in the Sun being somewhat hote. And this gaping may bée vnderstood and construed two wayes. The one is when shee doth it of her owne nature, but that is not so oft as the other which commeth by mischance, and that eyther of cold that she hath taken, or of some moist humor that distilleth downe into her gorge. Some are of opinion that the hawke which vseth it often is diseased with the Filanders which créepe vp & downe in her gorge before shée be fed, or after she hath indewed, as I haue declared in the chapter of Filanders of the gorge.

The remedy by Master Amè Cassians aduise, is to take the powder of wormeséede and of wormewood, of each alike, and one quarter lesse of Aloes Cicotrine, and of these thrée powders mingled together, to giue your hawke the mountenance of a Beane in her casting, lapped vp in a Hennes skinne, or in any such like deuise.

Of Apostumes that breed in Hawkes.

WHen a Hawke hath any Apostume in her body, yée shall know it by the stuffing of her nares, & by her inordinate panting, which accident commeth sometimes by rushing rashly into bushes, or by bating too much vpon the pearch, and moreouer, by ouer frée encounter with her prey. Now when shée is so bruised and chafed, and taketh cold vpon it, Apostums bréed therby, because the mischiefe is not known and looked vnto aforehand. Mallopin in his booke of the Prince, giueth this remedy.

[Page 321]Take the white of an egge well beaten, and the iuyce of Coleworts well bruised, as much of the one as of the other, & giue it your hawke in the morning in the small gut of a hen, and set her by a fire, or in the Sun, and at noon féed her with mutton, or with a pullet. The next day take Rosemary dried, and beaten into fine powder, and bestow it vpon her meat reasonably. For other thrée dayes giue her sugar, and thrée dayes next after that plie her again with her said powder, letting her stand warme day and night, and féeding her with good meat: and the likelyhood is great she shall be recouered.

Of a Hawke that hath her Liver inflamed.

THe inflamation of the Liuer hapneth sometimes through the negligence of such as haue the kéeping of hawks. For they féede them with grosse and naughty flesh, such as is state and stinking, without making of it cleane, by means wherof procéedeth the said inflammation of the Liuer. Also it hapneth for want of bathing when néede is, & for lacke of water, which they ought to haue, or with ouerfléeing of them, when they be empty paneld. Ye shall perceiue this disease by their féete: for they will be chased, and the colour of their chaps will bée changed, and looke whitish through the heate of their Liuer. And if yée find her tongue scorched and scalded blacke, it is a signe of death. To remedy this mischiefe, make the medicin of snailes stéeped in Asses milk, or Goats milk, mentioned in the chapters of the diseases of the head, & of the stone: and giue your hawks of it thrée or foure dayes in the mornings. And if yée cannot get that medicin, ye may vse the other that is made oflard, marow of béef, & of boyled Sugar, with a little Saffron, four or fiue dayes together euery morning, as is sayd before. For the scowring of her will rid and abate her heat. And all that while for seuen or eight dayes féed her with poultrie, or with mutton stéeped in milke: for milke is very good for the heat of the Liuer. And you must beware you féed her not with [Page 322] Pigeon, nor with other grosse flesh for bréeding her to inordinate heat. M. Amè Cassian sayth yet further, that to allay the said heat in hawkes, it is very good to stéepe or wet their meat in Endiue or Nightshade water: and likewise in white whey newly and lately made. And that this maner of féeding must be continued foure or fiue dayes till the Hawke bee wel scoured. And that if the hawke haue a desire to bouze the said whey, ye must let her take her fill. Master Amé Cassian saith moreouer, that when your medicine hath scowred your hawk after that maner, & her tong is not aught in the better tune, ye must take oyle oliue washt in two or thrée waters, and bath her tong & throat therewith with a feather thrée or four times in the day, for four or fiue dayes together, & gently scrape her tong and throat with a deuise of siluer or of other mettell for y^e purpose. And although she nether cā féed nor will, yet she must not be giuen ouer, but haue meate gently conueied into her gorge by small morsels and thrust down low inough with a fine sticke that she may take it: for she cannot swallow her meat by reason of the swelling of her tong, & therfore she must be assisted in maner aforesaid. M. Michelin saith furthermore that to comfort and strengthen the liuer withall, ye must stéep Rubarb in a dishfull of cold water all night, and the next morning wash her meat therewith, continuing so by the space of foure or fiue dayes together.

Martin giueth yet one other medicine which is this: Take a Pullets gut thrice the length of your little finger, & cutting it in thrée péeces (which you must tie fast at eyther end) fill them with Oyle of Almonds or oyle oliue, & thrust them into her throat, so as she swallow them one after another: & within an howre after gorge her reasonably with a young pullet. And the next morning take the séedes of rushes and the scrapinges of Iuorie, and the dung of Sparows, of ech two peny weight and make thereof a powder, and season your hawkes meate therewith, and it will pleasure her. And these two medicines are to be vsed when a hawke is not very fowle within, for if shée bée, then are the other former medicines better.

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Of the Canker which breedeth of overgreat heate in the Liver.

IF a Canker happen in the throat or tongue of a hawke, by meanes of the heate of the Liuer: Make her the foresaide medicine of Snayles, or that of Larde, as it is deuised before, giuing her her meat sowst in Milke, or oyle of swéet Almonds or oyle Oliue: and let the Canker be washt twice or thrice a day, till it waxe white and ripe, Then with your Instrument scrape it cleane away that nothing of it rewayne. And if there happen to bée any dead flesh in it, put powder of Alom, or the iuyce of Lymons in it, and plye it stil with the sayde Milke or Oyles, till shee be throughly recured. And to make new flesh grow vp againe, put to it a little hony of Roses.

Of the Pantas of the gorge.

BEcause many men speake of the disease of the Pantas diuersly, and yet know not what it is: I will shew thrée maner of Pantases wherewith hawkes are diseased. The first in the gorge, the second commeth of cold, and the third is in y^e reines and kidneys. The first kind of Pantas commeth of bating vpon the perch, or vpon the fist of him that beareth them, by meanes whereof some little veines of the liuer breake, and the bloud powreth out vpon the Liuer, which drieth and cloddeth into small flakes, and those rising vp afterward when the hawke bateth againe, doe stoppe the passages and windepipe, and thereof commeth the Pantas. And sometime when the Hawke bateth, those flakes doe so ascend into her throat, and he ouerthwart it that she presently falleth downe dead: insomuch that some hold opinion, it is the Pantas that maketh Hawkes to die sodenly. For proofe whereof, open your hawke when shée is dead, and yee shall finde this maladie in her throat. Master Amè Cassian giueth no Medicine to this Pantas in the gorge, because it cannot bée ministred to her, [Page 324] neither by her throat nor otherwise. For the disease holdeth her in the very windpipe, whereby the breath passeth in & out. Neuerthelesse his counsell is to close vp the hawke in some conuenient chamber with lattis windows, so as yée may not get out, and to set her two or thrée perches, that shee may flée from one to another, and haue the Sun shine in vpon her if it be possible, and she must haue alwayes water by her. And whē yée féed her, her meat must be cut in small pellets, and haue neyther feather nor bone in it, least she strain her self in tyring, and she must haue but halfe a gorge at once, and but once in a day. This is his counsell and aduise for this mischiefe.

Of another Pantas that commeth of colde.

ANother Pantas cōmeth of cold when hawks take wet in fleeing the field, or the ciuer, and are not weathered afterward, nor set in a place where they may stand warme. Againe, this disease commeth by standing where smoak or dust may annoy them. And ye shall know the Pantas by your Hawks panting, for that she cannot draw her breath as she should do. Malopin sayth, that to remedy this disease, ye must take the filings of yron, and meal of Lentils, of ech like quantitie, which you must temper together with hony till it be like past, that yée may make it in little bals as bigge as a Peaze. Whereof you shall giue your Hawk two or thrée euery morning, and after noo [...]e féede her with good meat, but not with béefe: which diet you shall allow her three or foure dayes. And if she amend not, season her meat with powder of Orpiment two or thrée dayes.

M. Michelm giueth this medicine following: Take Mayden-haire which groweth lightly at the heades of ponds and pits, and therewithall the roots of Persley, the rootes of Smallage. Of all these take like portions, and boyle them in a good bigge pot that is new. Then straine the water through a Colander, and put thereto a quantity of clarified sugar with a [Page 325] little marrow of béefe, and stirre them altogether, and thereof giue your hawke a portion in the morning, and as much at Euening with a small tunnel, or otherwise with a spoon or other fit deuice four or fiue dayes together, & let her not féed till noon be past, then giue her of pullets flesh without bloud, dipped in Oyle of swéet Almonds, or Oyle oliue washt in two or thrée waters: and when yée haue so sowst her meat, let it also bée seasoned with a little Saffron and Sugar. And foure or fiue dayes after, if néed be, giue her on her meat the powder of Orpiment without oyle, other thrée or four daies. And afterward ye may return again to your oyle of Almonds, or oyle Oliue, till your hawke bée throughly recured.

Of the Pantas that is in the reynes and Kidneys.

IT hapneth sometimes that when a hawke hath béene recouered of some great griefe by good kéeping and intendance, afterward shée waxeth euill againe, and falleth to panting, wherof bréedeth this disease of the reines and kidneis, in maner of a canker, as big as a bean, which swelleth bigger & bigger, in such wise that shée falleth to casting some part of her meat. This Pantas differeth much from both the other: for it will leaue her seuen or eight dayes, & then vexe her again more strongly. And somtimes it will take her but from Moneth to Moneth, so as she shall beare it out a whole yeare. It is discerned by this, that when she panteth, she stirreth her reins more thā her pineons, wheras in the other she stirreth more her pinions than her reines. Againe, to know it truly when it commeth and goeth euery seuen or eight dayes, if your Hawke chance to die, rippe her and you shall find a knubbe of the bignes of a small beane full vpon the reynes and the small of her backe whereof that disease procéedeth.

Master Cassian giueth this remedie for it. Yée must take the roots of Capers, of Fenel, of Smallage, and of Parsley and boyle them together in a new potte, to the consumprion [Page 326] of a third part. Then take an olde Tyle, the older the better, and make powder thereof. When you serue your hawke, féede her with flesh stéeped in the water of the saide rootes, a quarter of an howre, or therabouts afore hād. In the morning when yée giue her of that washt meat, giue her none of y^e pouder, and at night wash not her meat with the sayde Water, but besprinckle it with the powder, so competently as she may receiue it, and giue her not at any time aboue halfe a gorge: let this be done nine or ten dayes or more. If ye sée that your Hawke amend not, continue it still: for then was the disease very much confirmed, and the hawke had borne it out long, & it is hard to be cured. But if yée take the disease when it is new and gréene, plie her diligently with this Medicine, and it will helpe her.

Of the Hawke that is morfounded by some mischance.

Morfound is the Frēch word which doth signifie in English the taking of cold.SOmetimes it falleth out that hawkes are morfounded by some mischance, and sometimes also by giuing them too great a gorge, specially when they be wet. For then they cānot indew, nor put ouer their gorges, and so they surfet, because their meat conuerteth into slime, and grosse humors which ouerthrow their appetite, by meanes wherof they come oftentimes to their bane. Yée shall know the disease by this, that if yée giue your hawke a great gorge, specially ouer night, the next morning she will haue no list to her breakfast, but becommeth cold, and so falleth into great disease. Mallopin in his book of the Prince, giueth this medicine for it. When ye perceyue her to be so morfounded, and to haue lost her appetite, giue her no meat that day, but set water before her, and let her bowze or bath at her pleasure. When shee hath bathed and is weathered againe, throw her a liue Pigeon, and let her kill it, and take as much of the bloud of it as she lifteth, but let her not eate past one of the legs at that time. Afterward set her down on some hie thing with water by her, and beware of giuing [Page 327] her any great gorge. Then for foure or fiue dayes together giue her fiue or sixe cloues of maces lapped vp in a hens skin, and that will recouer her.

Of the disease that is called the privie and hidden evill in a Hawke, for which we haue no speciall tearme.

SOmetimes hawkes perish for want of knowledge of some secret disease that hapneth to them, and therfore I will tell you how you shall know it. The hawk that hath that disease is alwayes gréedy to féed, insomuch that when yée haue giuen her a great gorge in the morning, she will haue indewed it out of hand, and if ye giue her another at noone, she will put it ouer by & by, and if yée giue her the third at night, she will dispatch that quickly also, and the more shée féedeth, the more gréedy & nippie she is. This disease commeth of this, that when your Hawke is very poore & low in state, and you desirous to set her vppe quickly, thinking to bring her in good plight with great gorges, you féed her with Pigeons and other flesh which shée cannot indew by reason of her pouerty & weaknes, for want of heat in the liuer: the heat whereof is the cause of all kindly digestion & indewing. Also you may know this disease by hir often muting which is watrish & thin, and besides she doth slise further thā she is wont to doe by reason of spéedy induing her meat. M. Mallopin in his booke of the Prince sayth, that for remedy of this disease ye must stéepe a shéepes heart cutte in small péeces all one night in Asses milke, or Goats milke, and the next day giue your hawk a quarter of it in y^e morning for her beaching, as much at noon, & the rest at night, forcing her to receiue as much of the milke as ye can, and continue it fiue or six daies together til ye sée her mute kindly. Then féed her reasonably with good meat, stéeped in oyle of swéet Almonds, continuing it for thrée or foure dayes space twice a day. And as ye find your hawke to mend, so increase her meals by litle and litle, till shee be in as good plight as she was before, alwayes [Page 328] continuing the said Milke: for some are of opinion that milke is good for all diseases of a Hawke. Master Amè Cassian saith, that to remedy this disease, yée must take a tortois of the land and not a water Tortois, and stéepe the flesh of it in womans milke, Asses milke, or Goats milke, and giue your Hawke a quantity of it for a beaching thrée or foure times, and a little more at her féeding times sixe or seuen dayes together. Afterward féede her with shéepes hearts stéeped in womans milke, by little and little at once till shée bée recouered: and let her not stand in a dampish or moist place, but in warme places in the winter, and in coole places in Summer, and alwayes hooded.

Of the disease and weakenesse in there ynes.

WHen your Hawk cannot iump the length of her lines and cryance to your fist, or from your fist vp to the perch, nor bate with her wings: Ye may well thinke that shée hath the disease of the reines. Therfore M. Cassian willeth you to chop a hares skin haire and all in very small and fine peeces and to mingle it with cats flesh, and to féede your hawke with it seuen or eight dayes together: and if shée indew it, shée shall recouer of her disease.

Of Hawkes that haue the ague or Fever.

TO know whether your hawke haue the Ague: Marke whether her féet bée more swollen than they were wont to bée or no: if they be, then hath she the ague. To remedy this mischiefe, Michelin sayeth, you must mingle Arsenicke and Capons greace together well sprinckled with Vineger, wherof you must make a little ball, which you must cause your Hawke to take by casting her, and vse it in such wise as shee may kéepe it, and it will rid the Ague.

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Of the Hawke that voydeth wormes.

IF a Hawke voyde worms, by master Martins aduise yée must make this medicine following. Take of the fine fylings of yron and strew it vpon your hawkes meat, which (if you doe well) must be Porke: and féed her so thrée or foure dayes with that kind of flesh so seasoned, and it will cure her.

Of the Teynt in a hawkes feather, and how many kinds of it there be.

HItherto yée haue read of the inward diseases of hawks: Now I will tell you of the outward accidents: and first will speake of the Teynt which the French Falconers call Taigne, the Italians Zignuole and Tarmae, whereof there are thrée sorts. The first is when their principals or long. Feathers begin to droppe off, by meanes whereof many hawkes are marred and cast away without knowledge how to helpe it. Master Amè Cassian sayeth, that this commeth sometimes of the Liuer, and of the excessiue heate of the body, by meanes whereof small pimples rise vpon their winges, or on their traines, which afterward cause their Feathers to droppe-off, and when they are gone, the holes where they stood doe close againe, where through the hawke doth perish, if she bée not remedied. This disease is contagious, and one of them will take it of another, and therefore yée must not let the Hawke that is affected with it stand neare a Hawke that is sound, neyther must you touch or féed a sound Hawke on the Gloue whereon a sicke Hawke hath béene fédde. And yée shall know that she hath that disease, by her often picking with her beake vpon her principall feathers of her winges and traine and by their dropping away. Therefore cast your Hawke, and let her be well perused, and yée shall finde the saide disease. For remedy wherof, Master Martin, and [Page 330] M. Cassian say, you must cast your Hawke, and when you haue found the smal pimple whence the feather dropt first, you must get a little sticke of Firre, which is by nature gummy and fatte, make a little pegge of it, not sharpe at the forend, nor thrust it in with violence, but softly as you may. And if ye can get none of that wood, then take a graine of Barley and cutte off the forepoint of it, and annoint it with a little Triacle, or Oyle oliue, and conuey it into the hole, so as it may sticke a little out, and the hole not close together, and stoppe againe. Then with a small Launce or Penknife, you must slitte the pimple, and let out the redde water, which you shall find there. After this, take Aloes Cicotrine in powder, and put it into the gall of an oxe, coyled in a dish, and with those two mingled together, annoint the slit round about: and beware that there come nothing in the hole where the feather grew, for it might doe the hawke great harme. This done, take of the reddest Lentiles that you can come by, and lesse than halfe so much of the filings of yron, and mingle them together with hony, and thereof make Pilles as bigge as a Pease, and then giue your Hawke two or thrée of them euery morning. Then set her by a fire, or in the Sunne and after noone giue her a reasonable good gorge of a Pullet, or of mutton, and if ye list ye may giue her of those Pilles towards the Euening also. Let her meat be stéeped in milke as is saide heretofore fiue or sixe dayes together, and looke alwayes to the incisions that yée made, and shée shall bée recouered.

An other remedy Martin giueth for the same disease. Annoynt the place with some good Balme where the feathers fell away, and the Teint will die out of hand, and fresh feathers supply the place againe. And he sayth moreouer, that you must take the powder of Petre of Alexandria, which is sold at the Potecaries, and mingle it with Vinegar, and annoint the diseased place with it three or four times, and it will be whole.

The second kind of Teynt which fretteth the principalles [Page 331] of a Hawke to the very Quill, commeth (as the chiefe Falconers affirme) of ill kéeping, when they haue not their due intendāce, being neyther bathed nor scowred, nor kept in whole some places And therefore we are forbid to kéepe a Hawk in a sluttish corner. Againe, sometimes both in the mew and out of the mew it hapneth that by féeding them with filthie and loathsome flesh, they become full of filth both within & without, whereof bréedeth such a sort of wormes, as doe vtterlie fret asunder and marre their feathers. The thrée chiefe Falconers say, that for this second teynt which fretteth the feathers of a hawke in sort that they becom like sticks, yée must take vine shreds, & make thereof as strong Lie as ye can, and wash your hawke once a day with it throughly: & when she is weathered again, anoint all her feathers w^t hony out of the comb. Then make powder of Sanguis Draconis, and roch alom very small, and powder the foresaid Quils therewith, & your hawk shall be recured. Or else take a Mole of that sort which breedeth in medows, & put her in a new earthen pot wel couered, & stopped, & set it on the fire one whole day: which done, take her out againe as she is, & make her into powder very small. And when ye haue bathed your hawkes feathers throughlie with the said lée, by and by bestrew her feathers w^t the powder of the Mole a certaine time together, & it wil pleasure her.

The third kind of Teynt is knowne in hawkes by the riuing of their principall feathers throughout alongst the vpper side of the web of them. And that hapneth commonly for want of clean féeding and due attendance. To remedy this, Mallopin sayth, that yée must take a gréene réede, and cleane it all alongst, and scrape out the pith of it, and wring out of it as much iuyce as yee can, wherewith you must moysten the said riuen feathers all alongst the riftes of them, and they will close and shut againe as before. And if any feather happen to be dropt away, let a tente made of Firre or of a grayne of Barley as is said heretofore bée put into the hole of it, and vse it after the foresaide manner, and a new feather will grow againe out of hand. It this deuise, to cause a feather [Page 332] to grow againe be not to your liking, you shall in this collection find such as may content you.

Martin giueth another medicine and aduice for the same, which is this: Take two pennie weight of Orpiment, & nine graines of pepper, and make it into powder, and cast it vpon her meate which must be reasonable warme. Again, take thrée slices of bacon of that which is nearest the skinne, and let them bée so small as your hawk may swallow them with ease: sawce them with a little hony, and strew of the powder of the filings of yron vpon the hony, and giue your hawk therof thrée daies together. After which time take a young chicken, & before yée boyle it in wine, bruise the breast of it, and open it with a sharp knife or other instrument that the bloud may follow. Thē feed her with the said pullets flesh warme, stéeped in Goats milk, or other milke. Practise this two or thrée dayes, and afterwards thereupon giue her good warme meat, and shée shall recouer.

Of the Hawke that indeweth not, ne putteth over as she should doe.

IT falleth out sometimes that a Hawke cannot well indew, nor put ouer her meat as she should doe, & that is onely because shée is fowle within, or hath taken some surfet, or else that when she was low and poore, her kéeper being desirous to set her vp againe too hastily, gaue her too great gorges which she by reason of her weakenes was not able to put ouer, and indew, where through shée surfetted and forwent her appetite of féeding altogether. For remedy hereof, Maliopin saith, yee must féed her with light meats, & little at once, as with young rattes and mise, or with great rattes, for there is more substance in them than in the other, whereof yée must giue her but halfe gorges, that she may the sooner indew them, and put them ouer. Or else féede her with Chicken, or mutton dipped in Goats milke, or otherwise. And for want of those, take the yolke of an egge, & giue her a quarter of a gorge thereof, [Page 333] and when ye féede her with the flesh of any liue bird or fowle, stéepe it well in the bloud of the same fowle, and it will doe her much good. So shall your hawke mount of her flesh apace: if besides that, you doe also scoure her with pils made of Larde, marow of beefe, sugar and saffron thrée mornings together, & two howres after giue her a reasonable gorge.

Another receit which M. Michelin giueth, saying. When a Hawk indews not her meat, ne putteth it ouer as she ought to doe, but hath surfeited and wanteth naturall heat: Take very pure white wine, and stéepe her meat in it luke warm, giuing it her by little & litle oft times in the day, alwayes changing her meat, and sée that it be light of digestion. Do thus to her till shée bee in better tune againe, giuing her fiue or sixe cloues of maces in the euening wrapped in a little cotton, or in some other such like deuise: for that will warme her head, & all her other parts very well, and let the cotton bee dipped in odoriferous old wine.

Of the hawke that can neyther cast vp her meat nor endew it as she ought.

ANother mischief is wont somtimes to light vpon hawks namely, that by taking ouer-great gorges, they can neyther indew nor cast it againe, & also that many times a hawke soareth away with her prey, and féedeth so gréedily vpon it by reason shée was kept ouer eager and sharpe, that she can neyther get it vp nor downe, and thereupon falleth in daunger of death. Wherfore all men ought to vse discretion in feeding their hawks, that they ouer-gorge them not.

M. Cassian saith, that for remedy thereof, yée must set cleane water in a vessell before your hawke, & let her houze thereof at her plasure. And if she list not: then take the quantity of a beane of Porke, of the fattest of it, and two parts lesse of powder of Pepper, with a little salt brayed very small, and when ye haue mingled them altogether, make a little bal of it [Page 334] as bigge as a beane, and put it in your Hawks beake, so as she may receiue it. Then set her by the fire, or in the Sun, and you shall sée her cast her gorge. But let not the hawke bée too poore to whome you intend to allow this pill, for if shée bée too low, shée will hardly beare it.

Another medicine to make her cast her gorge.

RUb the roofe of her mouth with a little Vineger and Pepper, and she will cast by and by, And if yée list, ye may also conuey two or thrée drops of the same into her nares, and it will make her cast her gorge out of hand. And if yée sée that the Vineger and Pepper doe vexe and distemper her too much after the casting of her gorge, spirt a little fresh water with your mouth into her palat and nares.

Of the Hawke that casteth her gorge over much, and cannot indew as she should doe

MAny times it commeth to passe that when a hawk hath fed, shée cannot kéepe her meat but falleth to casting, as soone as shée hath receyued it. This commeth of féeding her with grosse fowle, & vnholesome meat not washed: or else for that she is foule in the panel, and so cannot indew by reason of the great store of filth that is within her. Therefore yée must beware that ye cut not her meat with a foule knife, or w^t a knif that hath cut onions, léekes, chibbols, or such other like things. To remedy this inconuenience, giue not your hawke great gorges. And to bring her well in tune again, scoure her with the forementioned pilles of larde, marow, sugar, and saffron by the space of thrée dayes. And aboue all things, let not the hawke that hath cast her gorge be fed a good space after it, but let her stand empty in the Sun with water before her to bowse at her pleasure, for that will doe her much good. And when yée féede her, giue her at the first time but a quarter of a [Page 335] gorge, and at the second somewhat more, if shée kéepe the first: and her meat must be some liue fowle, and good of digestion, till shée be brought againe to her naturall plight. But if she kéepe not all her meat, giue her yong rats or liue mice: and for want of those, giue her small birds til shée bée recouered. If these foresaid things boot not, then by Mallopins aduise, take Coriander seed beaten in powder, and temper it with warme water, straining it through a cloth, wash your Hawks meate therewith foure or fiue dayes together, and if ye haue no Coriander séed, take the iuyce of Coriander. And if your hawke mend not yet for all this: Follow the counsell of Master Michelins here insuing. Boyle Bay leaues in white wine till halfe the lyquor be wasted, and then let it coole with the leaues still in it. Which done, force a Pigeon by deuise to bowse so much of the wine that shée may die of it. Then immediately féed your hawke with the same Pigeon, and let her not eat more than a legge of it.

Of the Hawke that hath lost her appetite and will not feed to make her eager without bringing her low.

A Hawk doth somtime loose her appetite of féeding by some misfortune, as by taking too great gorges towards euening, which shée cannot well endew, because the nights are colder than the dayes. Also shée may loose her appetite by being foule in the panel, and diuerse times by coldnesse, or by some other disease which cannot bée perceyued out of hand. For remedy whereof, Master Mallopin sayeth, yée must take Aloes Cicotrine, boylde Sugar, and marrow of beefe, of each a like, sauing that there must bée least of the Aloes, and when yée haue mingled them together, and made them in little Balles or Pilles as bigge as beanes, giue of them to your hawke, and hold her in the Sunne till shee haue cast vppe the slime and filth that is within her. And if it happen to scowre downeward, lette it not trouble you, [Page 336] for it will doe her much good: and féede her not till noone, at which time giue her good meat, and serue her so thrée dayes together.

For the same disease Michelus sayth, you must take common pils that are giuen to purge men withall, & giue one or two of them to your hawk in the morning, keeping her hooded by the fire, or in the Sun, looking to hir that she cast them not, (if it may be) to the intent they may cause her to scowre downward. And the booke of the Prince sayth, that it is good giuing of those pilles to hawks in the beginning of September. For if they haue the Filanders, or any other inward disease, it scowreth them, and riddeth them of all mischiefes that may ensew. Three or foure dayes after you haue giuen your hawke these Pils, if she haue yet no lust to feed, cast the filing of yron vpon her meat three or foure dayes together.

M. Amè Cassian sayth, that for the same disease, when yon perceyue it you must giue your hawke a liue stockedoue, allowing her leaue to seaze and tire vpon it, & to take the bloud of it at her pleasure. And for want of a stockdoue, small birdes are good, and so be rattes and mise, so she haue them aliue. And if you will haue her to endew them quickly, giue her but halfe gorges.

When Hawkes are low brought, a remedie.

IT happeneth sometimes that Hawks are brought so low, that a man shall haue much a do to set them vp again. And that commeth through the fault of vnskilfull keepers, rather than any other thing. For some giue them ill meat, cold, & vnwashed. Also Hawks do happen to grow poore by some disease that their keepers are not ware of. Again, sometimes it hapneth that a Hawke soares away, and is lost foure or fiue dayes, and so becommes poore for want of prey. M. Cassian saith, that if ye will set her vp again, ye must feed her a little at once and with good meat, such as rattes and mice are, for they [Page 337] they be light of digestion, or else with small birds which are good likewise, and of great nourishment. Poultrie also is good but it nourisheth not so much of his owne nature as Mutton doth.

Againe, yée may set her vp (when she is low) in this maner following. Take a spoonefull or twaine of hony, thrée or foure of fresh butter, boyle them together in a new pot of water, thē take Porke well washed, & steepe it in that water, giuing your hawke a good reasonable gorge of it twice a day, warming your said water when you intend to féede your Hawke. And if yée can find any Snailes that bréed in running waters, giue her of them in the morning, and they will both scowre away the grosse slimie humors that are in her panell, and also bée a great helpe to set her vp againe, (for they nourish very well.) And if yée mind to make your hawke eager, and sharpe set, without bating her selfe, take the heart and liuer of a Pie, and when ye haue made it into powder, make your hawke to eat it, and it will set her sharpe and eager. These are the opinions of the French Falconers. You are to consider of them all, and to vse the most probable at your election and pleasure.

Of a Hawke that hath no list to flee, and is become vnlusty, or slothfull.

NOw and then it hapneth, that a Hawke hath no list to flée, eyther because she is in euill kéeping, that is to wit, of such as know not how to giue her her rightes: as bowzing, bathing, and such other things, whereof sometime shée hath great néed: or because the hawk is too hie, & full of grease, where through she becōmeth coy: or contrariwise, because she is too low and poore: or else by reason of some mishap or disease which shée hath that is vnknown. Therefore M. Cassian saith, if a hawke be vnlusty to flée, she must be viewed and perused by some one of good skill, and haue such remedies ministred to her, as she hath néed of, as wel for bathing as for bowzing: For [Page 338] in any wise water must be set before her. And if shée bée high and not well enseamed, her meat must bée throughly washed, that it may scowre her the better. Or else if ye list, yee may giue her the foresaide medicine of Larde, Marrow, and saffron. And if ye perceiue your hawke to be sicke or diseased, ye may vse the remedies set downe heretofore, according to the seuerall natures of the diseases, till your hawke bae in good plight againe as shée was before. [But truely there is nothing better for this euill then to giue herin a morning thrée or foure handsome pyls of Seladine well washt.Addition.]

Of the Hawke that hath broken her wing by some mischance.

IT hapneth somewhile that a Hawke breaketh her wing by mischance, as by bating against the ground, or otherwise. Master Mallopin sayth, that when a hawke hath her Wing broken after that manner, yee must take Sanguis Draconis, Bole Armoniacke, Gum arabicke, white Frankensence which is called Olibanum, Masticke, Aloes Cicotrine, of each of them a like quantity, and a reasonable quantity of fine meale flower. Make a powder of all the said things, tempering it with the white of an egge, and make thereof a playster, and lay it to the hurt when ye haue first set it right againe. Then crosse her wings one ouer another, as though they were not broken, and mayle her well and fast, so as she may not stirre them, and let the meat that you giue her be cut in small Pellettes. Remoue not the playster for seuen or eight dayes, and when yée lay on another, in any wise beware that that wing be not remoued: For if it be neuer so little remoued or displaced, your labour is lost, and your Hawke marred for euer.

Therefore keepe her in that order by the space of 14. or 15. dayes, setting her vpon a very soft cushion, and let her meate bée good and new killed, and giue her meetely good [Page 339] gorges of it, for shée néedes not to bée kept low to recouer her health the better.

Of a Hawke that hath had some blow or stripe vpon her wing.

SOmetimes a hawke hath a stripe on her wing by some mishappe, so as shée cannot afterward holde it right, but it hangeth alwayes downe, and lolleth. Master Cassian sayth, that yée must take Sage, Mintes, and Pelamountaine, and boyle them altogether in a new earthen pot full of good wine, and when they be well sodden, take the potte and set it vpon hote Imbers as close stopped as may bee. Then make a round hole of the bignesse of an Apple, in the cloath that your potte is stopped withall, for the steame to issue out at. Which done, take your Hawke vpon your fist, and holde out her hurt wing handsomely a great while ouer the hole, that it may take the fume which seameth vp out of the potte. Afterward let her be well dryed by kéeping her warme by the fire, for if shée should catch sodaine cold vpon it, it would become worse than it was before. Vse her thus twice a day, for thrée or foure dayes together, and shée shall bée recouered.

Of the Hawke that hath her wing out of ioynt.

WHen a hawkes wing is out of ioynt, yée must take her handsomely, and put it vp, so as yée may set it in his right place againe. Which done, lay a Playster to it, made of Sanguis draconis, Boli Armoni, Masticke, and flower tempered together with the white of an egge, and maile her vp letting it lie by the space of fiue or sixe dayes, and it wil be whole.

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Of a Hawke that hath her pinion broken.

IF a hawke chance to haue her pynion broken by treading vpon her, or by striking against some thing, M. Mallopia sayeth, that there is no better remedie, than the foresaide Receit made for her wing broken: and that if neede be, she must be mayled, that it may the better ioyne together againe, and the playster renewed euery fiue dayes. Or else let the hurt be splented by and by, and bound vp with conuenient deuises for the purpose, giuing her her meat cut in small pellets, and let her continue mailed, that she trouble not her seife with tyring.

Of the Hawke that hath her legge or thigh broken.

TAke Firre or Frankinsense, pill off the barke of it, & beat it into powder, and mingle it with the white of an egge: & if yée can, put in also a little Sanguis Draconis, & make a plaister of it. Then deplume your hawks thigh, and lay the playster to the broken place, taking good héed that ye bind it not too straight for feare of fluxe and repaire of accidents to the place, for so yée may do her great harme. And for want of Firre, or Frankinsence, take the barke of an Oke: for Firre is not to bée had in many places. Afterward renew your playster euery fiue or sixe dayes, till your Hawke be throughly whole, alwayes cutting her meat to her as aforesaid, and keeping her hooded. And if it bee broked beneath the thigh, lay the same playster to it, taking good héed that yée binde it not too hard: for in so doing yée may make her foot to wither away, and mortifie the member, which is a very great negligence. For Hawkes are daintie birdes, and daintily to bée dealt withall.

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Of the Hawke that is wounded with a stripe, or some other misfortune.

IF a Hawke happe to bée wounded by an Eagle, or any other bird of prey, by crabbing together, or by encounter in fleeing: or by a iobbe with the truncke of a Crane, Hearon, or other water fowle: or by taking some great blow against a tree or [...]ocke, whereby she is greatly pained, and in daunger to be marred, if there be not skill to helpe her with spéed. By M. Ame Cassian aduise, take the iuyce of the herbe called Culuerfoote, otherwise named Hearbe Rebert: and if yée find your Hawkes stripe to bée great and blacke, and yet that it hath no great gash, you must make incision, and slitte the skinne a little more by your discretion, that yée may the more easily conuey in the said iuyce. That done, lay a leafe of the same hearbe vpon the wound to couer it, spreading the feathers handsomely againe ouer it, and let it not be remoued 24. howres after. And know yée, that the sayde hearbe hath such vertue, that what wound soeuer you lay it on, it shall neuer swell nor rancle. For want of the hearbe it selfe, take of the Powder of it, and put it into the wound, kéeping it alwayes cleane by washing it with a little white Wine, as is aforesaid. And if yée sée that the iuyce or powder of that hearbe doe no good, take the medicine that Mallopin speaketh of. Take Oyle of Roses, and Capons grease, of each alike quantity, with a little lesse Oyle of Violetes, and lesse of Turpentine by the one halfe, and confect them altogether. Then take Masticke and Frankinsense in powder, of each alike: and if yée can finde the said hearbe called Culuerfoote, drie it, and beat it into powder also: and when yée haue serced your powders, put them into the saide Capons grease, and stirre them together with a sticke, till they bée throughly incorporated, and so shall your vnguent be perfect. And the chiefe Falconers say, you must make handsome tentes of Cotton, bebestowing [Page 342] on them this vnguent, and so apply them to the wounded places of your hawke from time to time till they be recured. And if the Hawkes skinne be much broken or torne, yée must sow it vp handsomly, leauing a little hole in one side for an issue, which you must kéepe open with a tent noynted with the foresaid vnguent till it be throughlie whole.

Master Michelin setteth downe another medicine, saying, that if a Hawke happen to haue a stripe or a wounde, you must plucke away the feathers round about the hurt place, and that if the wound bée so déepe, as it can by no means be stitched vp: yée must put of the powder hereafter following into it. Take Sanguis draconis, white Frankinsence, Aloes Cicotrine, and Masticke, and of those foure being all in like quantity, make a fine powder, and lay it vpon the wound, and afterward annoint it round about with oyle of Roses, or Oyle Oliue warme to comfort it. And if the wound bée not so large but that it may well be stitched: sow it together again leauing a little hole for an issue. Then make a playster with the white of an egge, and hauing first annointed it with the said Oyle, lay of the powder vpon the sore, and put a tent in it dipped in the said vnguent to kéepe the issue, and lay your playster vpon it, dressing it after that manner still, till your Hawke be sound.

There is yet another medicine very good and auaileable, which is this. Take the powder of fine Canell which is nothing else but Cinamon, & put it in the wound, supplying it afterward with good oyle of Roses, or oyle Oliue.

Another medicine of Master Cassians making.

TAke halfe an ounce of Masticke, a quarter of an ounce of Bolo Armoniacke, halfe an ounce of Roses, an ounce of [Page 343] Capons grease, an ounce of Oyle of Roses, an ownce of Oyle of Violets, and a quarter of an ounce of virgine waxe. Of all these, let the things that may be molten, be molten together: and let those things that are to be beaten into powder, be beaten to fine powder. And when yée haue streyned al your liquors into a new pot, put your powders into them, stirring them about w^t a sticke till they be well incorporated together, taking good héed that ye put not too much fire vnder your pot, and so shall your vnguent be perfect. Which you may vse in handsome pleggets for your hawke, tenting her with small tents dipped in the same vnguent, after the maner mentioned in the former receit, till shée hée throughly recured.

And if your hawke bée hurt or bruised without any skinne broken, take the powder of Mummy mingled with the bloud of a wood Culuer, or of a Pullet, and conuey it into her throat so as shée may receiue it down, and two or thrée howres after giue her a reasonable gorge of good meate. If the broose bée apparant, annoynt it with good oyle of Roses, and if néede require, for the largenesse or sorenesse of her woundes, let her be mailed, as is afore said, for her more quiete, and more speedy recouerie.

Of the Hawke that hath swollen feet.

IT happeneth diuers times that hawkes haue a swelling in their feete, & that cōmeth by chasing of their féet in fleeing their prey, & in striking it, & by taking cold vpon it, for want of rolling the perch with some warme cloath: or else because they bee ful of grosse humors, and fowle within, which humors beeing remoued by their labour and trauell in fléeing, droppe downe vpon their féete, and there swell, specially in Sacres more than in any others. For they be of their owne nature very heauie hawkes and haue grosse feete. Againe, it hapneth sometimes that a Hawke pricketh her selfe vpon a thorn by rushing into hedges and bushes ouer ventrously, wherupō [Page 344] follow such swellings as are dangerous, and hard to be cured. Therefore Master Cassian sayeth, that when a Hawke is in that taking, shee must bée scowred thrée mornings together with the Pyls of Lard, Marow, Sugar, and Saffron, and set in the Sunne, and fed two dayes after with some good meat. Then must yee take Bole Armoniacke, & Sanguis Draconis, lesse by one halfe, & make it in powder, & temper them well together with the white of an egge & Rose-water, and anoint her féet with it thrée or foure dayes twice a day, setting her vpon some cloth to kéepe her féet warme. And if this medicine do her no good, take this that followeth.

Mallopin sayeth, that if a Hawkes féet be but swolne, and haue not any knubs in the ball of the foot, take a payre of sizzers or coping yrons, & cope the talons of her swolne foote, till the bloud follow: which done, take Capons grease, oyle of Roses, & oyle of Violets, of each alike, & twice asmuch of Bele Armoniacke. Whē ye haue mingled thē all well together, make therof an vnguent, & anoint your hawks féet therewith twice a day til they be throughly whole, alwaies setting some soft & warm thing vnder her feet. And if this doe her no good, then trie the receits aboue mentioned till your hawke be throughly recured.

Of the swelling in the legges or thighes.

SOmetime a hawke hath her legs swellen, and sometime her thighes & not her legs: & that cōmeth eyther by ouer-laboring her selfe in fléeing,How to make oyle of agges. or by ouermuch seazing her prey, and by taking colde vpon it. Also by like labour and bating, the humors being stirred within her, droppe downe to her thighes & legs, and thereof commeth this swelling.

Wherefore first let your hawke be scowred with the pylles made of Lard, Marow, Sugar & Saffron, then roste nine or ten egs hard in their shels, & when they be cold againe, take the yolks of them, & breake them with your hand in an yron possenet ouer the fire. Thē take an yron Laddle, and stir them [Page 345] handsomely without ceasing, and when ye see them become blacke that yée would thinke they were mard and burnt, boile them still: which done, gather them together and presse out the oyle of them, then heate them againe as before to presse out as much oyle of them as is possible, and put it vp in a glasse. And when yée mind to vse it for the said disease, ye must take ten drops thereof, put thereto thrée drops of vineger, and thrée of Rose-water, and mingle them well together. This medicine is singular good against all swellinges of their thighes, legs & feet, and moreouer it supplyeth and mollifieth their sinewes. But first yée must anoint the swellinges with a litle Adiantum, and afterward with your oyle prepared as aforesaid till your hawke be cured.

Of the swelling in a hawkes foote which wee tearme the pin, or pin Gout.

DIuerse times there rise vp knubs vpon the féet of hawks as vpon the féet of Capons which some call Galles, and some Gouts. They come sometimes of the swelling of the legs and thighes, which I haue spoken of before, or of other diseases that bréed of the aboundance of humors within the Hawke, which must first be scowred with the last mentioned pilles thrée or foure dayes together And Master Amè Cassian sayth, that when a hawke hath the said pinnes and gowtines in her féet, ye must make round matches of paper as bigge as the agglet of a point, and feare or cauterise the pinne round about. And if the knub sticke farre out, ye may slit it mannerly with a hote sharpe knife, and put a little slice of fatte Lard into the slit to kéepe it open, and set your Hawke vpon a little heape of very fine salt. And if there grow any dead flesh it in, lay the powder of glasse, and two parts of Hermodactels vpon it, and when the Sore is scowred, annoint it with Swines grease and hony together, alwayes laying salt vnder [Page 346] her feete to the end of your cure. And to remedy the same, Mallopin in his Booke of the Prince sayth, that when a Hawke is gowty or hath the pin on her féete, ye must take of Rew thrée ownces, of Barberies three ownces, of Colewort leaues three ownces, of Oyle of Violets a reasonable quantitie, of Turpentine two ounces, of Shéepes sewet as much shall serue, of the fatte of a yong Pullet one ownce and a halfe, of Vergin waxe one ownce, of masticke one ownce, of white Frankincence one ownce, of Opopaner one ownce, and of Allom two ownces. First straine out the iuyce of the saide Herbes brayed together, then put thereto all your other mixtures made into powder. Which done, melt all your sewets together in a new earthen potte, and put your iuyces and powders therevnto, stiring them continually with a sticke ouer a soft fire, and so cooling them by little and little, whereby your vnguent will become perfect, and you may kéepe it two yeares good. And when yée occupie it, spread it playsterwise vpon leather, or linnen cloth, laying it vpon the pin gowt, remouing it each other day till it be whole, for 15. dayes together. And if the pin open not of it selfe, slit it and open it with a little sharp lance of steele made hote, then clense the filthie matter and quitture, and so shall your Hawke recouer assuredly.

Maister Cassian setteth downe another good and wel tried receit for the same which is this: Take a quantity of Turpentine, halfe as much white Sope, making the Sope into powder. That done, make ashes of vineshreds, and take thereof somewhat lesse thā of the powder of the sope. Set these thrée mixtures together vpon the coles in a new pot, and stirre them softly with a sticke till they be incorporate together. Thē make plaisters thereof, and bestow them on the pume-gowte so as they may not fall off, nor be remoued by the hawke, shifting them euery two dayes till fiftéene daies be past, and that the disease grow to maturation. Alterward you may slitte the pinne, drawing out all the matter and quitture cleane, but let your launce be somewhat hote wherewith you slit it, and if [Page 347] the pin open of it selfe, it is better. After this you must apply another playster of Draculum magnum, which you shall find at the Apotecaries: or it is a great drawer, and if it haue any dead flesh in it, lay a little Verdegréece to it, for that is a corosiue and a fretter.

Martine sayeth, that to soften the pinne on the hawks foot and to make it grow to a head, yee must take the rootes of Flower deluce which beares the blew leafe, drie it and beate it into powder, and make thereof a salue with hony of Roses, and lay it to the pinne till it be throughly whole.

Master Cassian sayth further, that if your hawkes féete bée chafed, and fall to swelling, take the fyling of yron beaten into powder to the mountenance of a beane or twaine, and the quantity of a beane of a gad of stéel fyled into powder, and twice as much of the barke of an oake, as of the fyling of yron, of which barke of the Oke, you must take away the vttermost part, and of the rest make fine powder, féered through a cloth. When ye haue mingled all these powders together, boyle them in a new pot with a potsle of good vineger, to the consumption of a third part. Then let it settle, and put the cléerest of it alone by it selfe, and the grounds of it also by it selfe in a long narrow bagge that the hawke may rest both her feet vpon it. And with the water yée may vse to bath, her féete euery day thrée or foure tymes a day. Likewise yée must wet and refresh the bagge with the same water, that the grounds may lie the closer vnder the féet of the hawke, which must stand vppon it night and day till shée bée recured. And truely this is good for all manner of griefes and swellinges of the féet.

Martin is of opinion that yée must take halfe an ounce of Aloes and the white of an egge, with halfe an ounce and two penny weighte of Glew, mingle them all together, and put them in presse, so as all may bée residence, and make thereof a playster, and lay it to your Hawkes [Page 348] féet till there be some issue and vent, then annoint them with soft sope. And when there hapneth any rupture, take Saltepéeter and Allom, of each two penny weight, making it into powder, bestow it vpon the broken place to fret the dead flesh away, for this is a good corosiue for that purpose.

Of the Hawke that careth away her owne feet

THis inconuenience hapneth to Merlions in chiefe, aboue all other hawkes, and to few or none else that I can read of. Master Cassian saith, it is a kind of Formica which maketh them to eate their féet in that order. For remedy hereof, make your hawke a collet of Paper to conuey about her necke, so as she may not touch her féet. Afterward, take an Oxe gal, mingle it with a reasonable good quantity of Aloes, and annoint your hawkes féet therewith twice or thrice a day, foure or fiue dayes, and it shall doe her pleasure, and preserue her frō this euill. If that doe her not good, then by Master Cassians aduice, take Swines dung, and putting it on a Tyle, set it to the fire or in an ouen, bake it till ye may force it into powder. Which done, wash your Hawkes féet with the purest & strongest vineger that ye can find, afterward bestow her féet in the same pouder, doing so twice or thrice a day for 14. or 15. daies till she be throughly recured.

The manner of the taking vp of Hawkes veynes when an humor droppeth downe too fast on their feet.

WHen ye intend to stoppe the veines that féede ill humors in your hawkes feet, let her be handsomely cast then away with her pendant feathers. After that, force her leg a little with your finger, and you shall sée a good prety bigge [Page 349] veyne vnder the knee. Hauing found the veyne, take a néedle and raise vp the skin a little, and make an issue at your discretion: but take good heed that ye touch not the veyne. That done, take the Clee of a Bittor, or of some other bird whatsoeuer, wherewith doe lift vp the veine, and draw your silke thréed vnder the veine vpon the Clée, and knit it on the side towards the leg to the knéeward for if yée cut it towards the thigh aboue the knot, ye spoyle your hawke. Doe no more to her but let it bleede as much as it will, remembring the next morning to anoint it with oyle or Capons greace. And bée ye sure that the taking vp of veynes is good and néedfull. For afterwarde the humors powre not downe vpon their legges and féet. I thought good to set ye downe this manner of taking vp of veines, because I haue vsed it my selfe, and recoue [...]ed many hawkes thereby. For when a Hawke hath the veines of eyther thigh once taken vp, the disease can no more returne for want of the wonted supply of moist humors, and crude matter that flowed vnto the place.

The manner of scowring and vsing your Hawkes when they are to be cast into the mew.

WHen the time is come to cast Hawes in the mew, it is requisite and needfull to scowre them, & to make them cleane. For diuers times we sée, that foule féeding of Hawkes in luring and fléeing time, engendreth the Filanders and other diseases in them, whereof they perish for want of care and cure in due time. Wherefore Master Michelin sayth, that when ye entend to cast your Hawk unto the mew, ye must make thrée pittes of the bignes of a beane, of the foresaid mixture of Lard, Marow, Sugar, and Saffron, which you may giur her thrée mornings together, not feeding her in two howres after, but suffering her to gleame. Then giue her [Page 350] some good flesh and reasonable gorge, setting her all the while at the fire, or in the sunne. And for other three mornings, after that, you must giue her the mountenance of a beane of Aloes C [...]ostrine when she hath cast, keeping her likewise by the fire, or in the Sunne, and she will cast the Aloes with grosse slime and filthy stuffe. Likewise Aloes being giuen towards night enwrapped in her casting, is very good against the Filā ders. This done and performed, as I haue told you, yée may cast her into the mew.

M. Amè Cassian sayth, that for the same purpose ye must conuey the quantity of halfe a hazell nut of Ierapigra into a hennes gut, knit feit at both ends, and force it into your Falcons throat, holding her on the fist by the fire or in the Sunne, till shee haue scowred, and so kéepe her empty and voyde till noone, at what time shée must be allowed of some good hote meate a reasonable gorge: the next morrow féede her well, and after those two dayes cast her into the mew without any moe ceremonies or circumstance.

Artelowch aduiseth you, that the mewing of a Hawke naturally with young Rattes, Mice, Dogges flesh, Pigeons, Rabbets, and other holesome fowles, is farre better than to vse any arte in the matter, or such superstitious practises, as you may perhaps reade some, and heare of many. Truely I am of his opinion, and so doe perswade you, that will mewe your hawkes in good order: for hast in that case maketh wast, as in all other things.

The best thing that you may doe, when you meane to cast her into the mew, is first to scowre her well after that maner that I haue shewed you in this booke, to cope her well and to set her vp in flesh before you cast her into the mew to discharge her of all disease as neare as yon can, to rid her of mites & life being once in the mew, to set her water sometimes, to feed her with liquid and laxatiue meats now and than, and to omitte none of those instructions which I haue collected for you out of the Italian Falconers: for they are very good obseruations, [Page 351] specially for soare Hawkes and Niasses.

But in the French man Artelo [...]ch, I finde one necessarie note for a Haggart, which is this.

The Haggart (saith he) is not to be cast loose into the mew, but to be mewed on the fist, for otherwise shée would become too coy and strange, and if shée fall to bating and beating her selfe for heat, then must you hoode her vp, or bespowt her with cold water, the next way to make her leaue bating. Thus must you continue her on the fist till shée beginne to shed her feathers, then shall it be good to set her downe, and tie her to a stone or perch as you doe the rest. And after she hath mewed, and comes to flée, then if you let her stand on a blocke or billet cased and rolled with cloth, you shall doe very well.

Goshawkes, Tiercels and Sparowhawks must be mewed as Falcons, saue that they will not be borne on the fist, but be at liberty in the mew, and very cleanely serued.

Before you draw your hawke out of the mew fiftéene or twenty dayes, you must begin to bate her of her diet, the sooner and better to enseam her, by restraint of her full féeding, which she had before, for otherwise there would follow surfet and repleation, than which there is no more dangerous euill.

It is no slender part of skill so to vse a Hawke in the mew as shée may be quit of all mishaps that befall her in the mewe, if she be not well attended and regarded, during the time she is in the mew.

The manner how to deale so with a Hawke in the mew, as she may avoide the mischances of the mew which sundry times doe happen, as wel diseases as other harms.

IT happeneth diuers times that when Hawkes are in the mew, some doe mew well and some ill, so as some of [Page 352] their owne nature, and some by mishap doe fail to be diseased, or otherwise breake their feathers, and cast them not all the yeare long. As touching this matter, Master Mallopin in his booke of the Prince saith, that when your Hawke meweth not well and kindly, goe in May to a slaughter house where Sheepe are killed, and take the kernels that are vnder theyr eares right against the end of the iaw-bone, of the bignesse of an Almond. Chop ten or twelue of those kernels verie small and giue them to your hawke with her meate, finding the meanes by some way or other that she may receyue them and put them ouer. And when she once begins to cast her feathers giue her no more of them.

Another way.

WHen ye mean to further the mewing of your Hawk, take of the Snailes that haue shels, stampe them shels and all, straining them through a cloth, and with the oyle that comes thereof wash her meate two or thrée times. Also take of the snayles that lie in running streames, giue your hawke of them in the morning: for that will both scowre her and nourish her greatly, and setteth her vp, & maketh her to mew apace. Master Michelin in his booke of the King of Cipres, saith thus: Cut an Adder in two parts and séeth him in water, and with that water and wheate together féede your Pullets, Pigeons, Turtles, and other birds which you intend to allow your hawkes that are slacke to mew, and soone after they shall mew their feathers apace.

M. Cassian saith, that when a Falcon will not mew, yée must take of Backs, otherwise called Reremice, and drie them so at the fire or in an Ouen, as yee may make them into powder which you must bestow vpon your Hawkes meate. Also take little sucking whelpes, and féede your hawke with the flesh of them stéeped in the milke or renet which you shall finde in the mawes of them: afterward shred the maw it selfe [Page 353] in small peeces, and force her to take it, and shée shall mew very well and timely. Likewise all maner of liue birdes make a Hawke to mew well, for it is their naturall féeding, and therfore best for them.

Martin sayeth, that to mew your Hawke well, ye must set water by her once or twice a weeke, and also rost Frogges in the fire, making them into powder, and bestowing it vpon her meate. Likewise small fishes chopped, and giuen with her meate, do further a Hawkes mewing very much. Thus doe the French Authors write, I leaue them to your experience that list to follow the French fashion.

The maner of dyetting and keeping Hawkes in the mewe.

WHen ye intend to cast your Hawke into the mew, yée must sée the mew very clean, then furnish your hawk with all her implements, setting her two or thrée times in the Sun, taking good héede that her furniture of her legges bée not so streight and vneasie, as she be driuen to be euer tearing at it. Also you must cast her into the mew high, lusty, and in good plight, well scowred, and fed with good hote flesh. Againe, yée must now and then giue her small fishes, specially to Goshawkes, Sparowhawkes, & all other round winged hawks, because those fishes be (as my Author tearmeth them) laxatiue, and good to scowre, setting them water twice or thrice a wéek. For now & then they will bowze, by meanes whereof they discharge their bodies of humors, and also their bathing in it, maketh them the better penned and the firmer. Young Rattes, Mice, and Swallowes are very good féeding for a Hawke, for they [...]ée nourishing meates, and will kéepe the Hawke in good plight. Therefore let your Hawke be mewed in a place that is cleane, handsome, and well kept, for she will reioyce and delight greatly in it. Thus haue ye the manner of mewing your hawke after the opinion of the French.

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The manner of drawing Hawkes out of the Mew.

WHen ye draw your hawkes out of the mew, yée had neede to take héede that they bée not too greasie: for sometimes when they bée so, and set vpon the fist vnhooded, they so take on and heate themselues with bating, that they break their greace within them, putting themselues in great danger of death. Wherfore my counsel is, that all mewed hawks should be well attended and fed with washt meat, fourtéene or fiftéene dayes before they bee drawne out of the mew to bréede resolution of glitte and grosse matter which is in their panels, whereof they shall scowre the most part by doing as is aforesaid, and so shall ye quit them of all danger.

Mallopin speaking hereof in his booke of the Prince, saith, that if a hawke bée huge and greasie, when she is new drawn, a man must not beare her vnhooded. For yée may well vnderstand, that if shée feele the sunne, the aire, or the wind; she lightly falleth to bating and stirring, by meanes whereof shée heateth her selfe inordinately, and so runs in danger of death, & spoyle by taking cold vpon it. Whereupon the Petty falconers and Nouices which know not what it meaneth, say that the hawke perisheth by meane of her me wing and thorough default. And therefore when a Hawke is to be drawne out of the mew, shée must be well attended and lookt to, that hernie at be washt, and regard had that shée bée not ouergorged. And if happily shée loose her appetite, and list to féede, take Aloes Cicotrine, and the iuyce of Barberies, and fores her to receyue it in the gut of a hen. Which done, hold her vpon your fist vntill she haue scowred, kéeping her empty till noone: At which time giue her some hote meat or bird, and the next day giue her of a hen, setting her water to hath: & assure your selfe that this medicine is good against all wormes and Filanders that may bréed in the body of a Hawke.

Mallopin sayth, that whē ye draw a hawke out of the mew, [Page 355] yée must wash her meat, féeding her therewith by little & little, and allow her such flesh as is laxatiue, that she may haue the lesse ioy to kéepe it long or stand vpon it, and to the end shée bée not proud or ouerhaught of her drawing out of the mew. And there withall shée must be dayly plyed and borne on the fist. Within few dayes after she is thus drawne, ye must scowre her and enseame her with the foresaid medicine of Lard, Sugar, Mace and Saffron with a very little Aloes, for if yee confect it with too much Aloes, yee shall bring her [...]ouer low. Therefore giue her of it euery day a pyll for thrée dayes together: & thereupon set her in the sunne or by the fire, kéeping her empty two or thrée howres after, then giue her a reasonable gorge of a pullet, or of mutton.

M. Cassian sayth, that some Falconers after they haue enseamed their hawkes in maner aforesaid thrée or four days before they intend to flée, doe giue them a pyll of the bignes of a beane made in maner following. They vse to take a little Larde with the powder of pepper and ashes sisted and serced, of each a like much, and a little fine salt, and a quantity of Aloes Cicotrine in powder. They mingle them all well and throughly together, and make thereof a bal, and conuey it into the hawks beak, so as they enforce her to take it down, if she will not otherwise. Which done, they hold her hooded by y^e fire or in y^e sun, making hir to kéep the pill as long as they can, & afterward do let her cast it at her pleasure. By this meane yée shall sée y^t shée will g [...] and slegmatick humors wherby her panell and vowells will be discharged of much glit, and she become sound and chearefull, and ready to flée her prey. And an howre or twain after this, they féed her with a liue thickē: for yée must [...] the pyll which shee hath receyued hath distempered h [...] very much. Neuerthelesse I must giue you warning that you must [...] so deale w^t a poor & low Hawke, as yée would wish a hawke that is high and in pride. In doing after this maner your Hawke shall bée lusty, & enioy her all the year after. For hardly shal that hawk do her part in fléeing that yeare which is not well scowred, & carfully enseamed.

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When Aloes is to bee giuen to Hawkes that are fleeing.

MAny are of opinion that when Hawkes are fléeing, they must haue Aloes Cicotrine giuen them from moneth to moneth, conueying the quantity of a beane thereof into their meat, or into a Hennes skinne, to take away the bitternesse thereof, that they may kéepe it as long as may be before they cast it, then setting them all the while by a fire, or in the Sun, till they haue cast the slimy and grosse humors with the Aloes. And if yee mind to kéepe your Hawke from the wormes and the Filanders, giue her the mountenance of a peaze of Aloes euery eight dayes in her casting. Againe, ye must remember that whensoeuer you perceiue your hawke waxe any thing cold, to giue her fiue or six cloues of maces, and they will scowre her head of all watry humors: moreouer, being giuen at euening in a little cotton as yée giue the Aloes, they be very good and auaileable against all maner of Filanders.

Of the Hawke that hath her talons broken.

A Hawke doth somtimes breake a talon by some mischāce and often by the rudenesse and churlishnes of the Falconer in vnseazing her roughly from her prey, insomuch that her talon tarrieth behind in the thing that shée seazed on, and somtimes is quite broken or sliued from the flesh, by reason wherof shée is in danger of spoyle, or at least wise of lozing her talon. When a Hawkes talon is so sliued off, as there remaineth nothing but the tender part that was within it: make a little prety lether gloue of the bignesse of her stretcher or clea, and fil it with Capons grease and dr [...]w it on, tying it handsomely to her leg with two prety strings, renuing it euery other day till the point of her stretcher be well hardned againe.

And if a Hawke happen to haue but a péece of her talon [Page 357] broken off, so as some part of it remayneth still behind, let it be annointed with the fatte of a snake, and it will grow againe as the others. And if the Hawke be hurt by violence, so as the talon is becom loose from the flesh, and fals to bléeding: then first of all cast the powder of Sanguis Draconis vppon it, and it will stanch the bloud out of hand: and if it swell or rancle after it, then dresse it and anoint it with Capons greace or hony of Roses till it be throughly recured.

In these hurts of hawkes talons, Martine giueth this coū sell following. Make little matches of paper, and sere therewith the stretcher that hath lost his talon, and bind the cindre of the same paper with a little hony to it, and let it so rest nine dayes together. And if the talon be quite bereft, put on the foresaid gloue with Capons greace, till the pownce be grown againe, and let the Hawke rest till shée be throughly sound. And if the Hawkes foot or leg chance to ranckle and grow to further inconuenience, confect the vnguent of Capons grease, Oyle of Roses, Oyle of Violets. Turpentine, powder of Frankinsence, and Mastick, and annoint the swelling therwith, and let her rest till shée bée throughly recured.

Of the Hawke that layes an Egge in the mew, or out of the Mew.

SOmetimes Hawkes are with egge in the mew, and efte withour the mew, whereby they fall sicke, and are in great daunger if there be not remedy had for it: which thing you shall easily perceyue by them in May & Aprill, at which times they are wont to be with egge. To remedy this inconueniēce, let the Hawkes meate bee washed in the vrine of a man-child of sixe or seuen yeares old, eight or nine dayes together, and that will kéepe her from laying. But if the egges bée already full fashioned within her, then to breake and dispatch them, yée must (as Master Martin sayeth) giue her the yolks [Page 358] of a couple of egges réere rosted with butter, twice or thrice a wéeke: and that must bée done during the moneths of May and Aprill. For besides that, it will breake and wast away the egs within a hawke, it is good also to set them vp when they be low in state, howbeit you must remember that whensoeuer yée minister this medicine, yee must giue them flesh withall, for it is of great nourishment.

Againe, Mallopin sayth, that to breake egges in a Hawke, yée must take of the liquor that bléedeth or oozeth out of vynes in March when they be cut, and with that liquor wash your Hawkes meat nine or ten dayes, and the egges will consume and waste away by that means, how great soeuer they be.

The manner of taking Hawkes in the Eyree.

FIrst you must beware that you take them not before they are somewhat waxen: for if yée doe so, and bring them into a cold and moist place, they will haue a disease in the backe, so as they shall not bée able to stand on their féet, and moreouer they shall bée in danger of vtter spoyle. Therefore they must not be taken till they be somewhat strong, and can stand well on their féet. And you must set them vppon some pearch or bayle of wood, that they may by that meanes the better kéepe their feathers vnbroken, and eschue the dragging of their traines vpon the ground, for so shall they bée the better sunned. Michelin sayth further, that to kéepe Eyesse hawks from that inconuenience, specially when they be taken ouer little, they must be kept in a drie and cleane place, & yée must strew euery where vnder them the hearbe that in (French is called Yeble) which hath a seede like Elder. This hearbe is of nature hote, and good against the gowte, and the disease of the reines which might befall them: Wherefore if ye will kéepe hawkes well that are new taken from out of the nest, if yée take them in the morning, yée must let them stand empty till noon: and if [Page 359] yée take them in the euening, yée must not féede them till the next morrow. And when yée féed them, giue them tender flesh, and after that, let them not stand empty any more too long for hindering their feathers, and tainting them.

Of Hawkes that haue lice, mites or other vermine.

IF yée will know whether your hawkes haue lice or mites set her in the warme Sunne out of the wind, and by and by yée shall easily perceyue it: for they will crall out vpon her feathers and swarme there. For remedy hereof, take a quantity of Orpiment beaten into very fine powder, and hauing mingled it with halfe as much powder of Pepper, let your Hawke bée cast handsomly that shée breake not her feathers then powder first the one wing, and so the other gently, and finally, all the whole carkasse of her: after which, set her vpon your fiste againe, bespowt her, and squirt a little Water on her with your mouth, and set her by a fire, or in the Sunne til she be throughly wethered. Afterward when yée intend to féed her, wash her beake to take away the sauor of the Orpiment, and beware that your Hawke be not poore, when you intend to vse Orpiment. Hauing thus done, you shall sée that al the mites and lice will discouer themselues vpon ker feathers and die, either the Orpiment alone, or the Pepper alone are as good as both of them together, to spoyle the mites. But here is the oddes, the Pepper maketh the mites to shew themselues, and then the Orpiment murdreth them. When ye vse the Pepper alone, put thereto a thirde part lesse of Ashes, to abate the force of the Pepper, and so shall your Hawke bée rid of those vermine. And assure your selfe that no hawke which hath the mites (be she neuer so good) is able to do her duty and play her part by reason of the annoyance which shée féeleth in her feathers by them. And if yée would ridde her of the mites without washing her, then my Authour bids you take a very olde [Page 360] Mauis or blacke bird, & hauing taken out all the grease that yée can find in her, anoint your Hawkes feet, and the pearch whereon yée set her therewith, for all the vermine will repaire down to it: & therfore shift her out of her place twice or thrice in the night, that shée may bée no more troubled therewith.

Addition.[But your best medicine of al, is to wash her in a warme bath made with water, blacke Sope, Stauesacre, pepper and Orpiment, hauing care to keepe it out of her mouth, eyes and nares.

Of the Hawke that holdeth not her wings vp so well as she should do, but lolleth them.

IF a Hawke that is newly taken be set straightwayes vpon a pearch or vpon the fist of one that hath no skill to vse her, shée ouerheates herselfe with bating, and afterward catcheth such cold vpon it, as she cannot recouer or trusse her winges close to her again, nor bée able to flée well. Mallopin saith, that to remedie this mischiefe, you must take of the best vinegar y^t is to bée gotten, & with your mouth spirt it vpon, and betwixt her feathe as till she be throughly wet, taking good héede that none of it come in her nares, and afterward set her by the fire or in the Sun, seruing her so two or thrée dayes together. And if shée recouer do nothing else to her, but if shée recouer not, let her bath, eyther of pleasure or of force, and shée will trusse vp her wings to her by meane of striuing with herselfe. Then let her be set very warme by a fire or in the Sunne: for if shee should chill vpon it, shée woulb become worse than before.

Of the Crampgout.

MArtin sayth yée shall discerne the Crampgowt by your Hawkes holding of her one foot vpon the other, and by her often knibbing and iobbing of her foot with her beake. For remedie whereof yée must east her handsomely & let her bloud on the veine that is betwéene the foot and the legge, and afterward annoint the veyne with Capons grease, or with oyle of Roses.

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To keepe a Hawke from all maner of Gowtes, the French mans opinion is this.

BY Martins aduise, if yée doubt that your hawke shal haue the Gowt, you must feare her and cauterize her, as hereafter followeth. Take a small yron with a round button at the end as big as a peaze, heate it red hote, and feare her therewith, first aboue the eyes, then vpon the toppe of her head, and thirdly vpon the bals of her feet. And this violent kind of dealing with her, is the next and assuredst way to do good in such desperate diseases, if any help bée to bée had. But my Italian Author Sforzine giueth ouer a Hawke that is troubled with the Gowt, and thinketh there is small credite to be gotten by the cure, because of the impossibility.

For the biting of a venomous beast or worme.

IF your hawke be bitten or stung of a venomous beast, or worme, make her to receiue a little Triacle, and powder of Pepper, and afterward feed her with hote meate two dayes: and beware that shée touch no water for twenty dayes after. Or else burne a Frogge and beat her into powder, and put thereof vpon Cats flesh, and yiue it your Hawke.

These are strange remedies and rare, and of the French deuise. Giue your iudgement of them, and by triall you shall know what they will doe. I find them in my Author, and therefore doe set them down, and not for any experience I haue had of them.

For the wound or biting of any beast.

IF your hawke be hurt by any mischance, and the mouth of the wound very small, rippe it larger, and scowre it with white wine, laying thereon a playster of white Frankinsence and Masticke, and annoini it round about with butter, oyle of Roses, or oyle Oliue.

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A Treatise and briefe discourse of the cure of Spaniels when they be any way ouer-heat: deuised & written by M. Francesco Sforzino Vicentino the Italian Gentleman Falconer.

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HOw necessary a thing a Spaniell is to Falconrie, & for those that vse that pastime, keeping hawks for their pleasure and recreation, I déem no man doubteth as wel to spring and retriue a fowle being flowen to the marke, as also diuers [Page 363] other wayes to assist and ayde Falcons and Goshawkes. Wherefore, séeing that hitherto in my collection I haue spoken altogether of Hawkes both for the riuer and field, and in my conceite haue left few néeefull poynts for a good Falconer vntoucht or treated of: now I shall not doe amisse, nor wander ouer wide from my purpose, if I say somewhat of Spaniels, without the which a Falconer, (specially vsing to flée the field) cannot be without mayme of his pastime, and impayre of his gallant glée. And againe, for that they are subiect to many diseases and plagues, (as wée commonly tearme them) for dogges, and longer than they are without infection wée may expect from them no pleasure, assistance or recreation: I will onely in this treatise describe you their harmes with cures due to the same. Among all which I place the Mangie first, as the capitall enemy to the quiet and beauty of a braue Spaniell, wherewith they poore dogges are oftentimes greatly plagued, both to the infection of their fellowes, and the no slender griefe of theyr masters.

The way to cure and discharge a Spaniell of the mangie, is to annoint him eyther at the fire, or in the Sunne,The cure for the Mangie. thrice euery other day with an vnguent made of Barrow, flicke one pound, common oyle thrée ounces, Brimstone well brayed foure ounces, salt well beaten and broosed, ashes well sifted and fierced, of eyther two ounces, boyling al these in a Kettle or Potte of Earth, mingling them well together till the barrow flicke bée incorporate and well compounded with the rest. With this Vnguent thus made and confected, annoint and besmeare all the body of your Spaniell, and euery other part of him, shifting his litter and kennell often, the oftner the better. And lastly, hauing thus done, wash him ouer and ouer with good strong lye, and it will mortifie and kill the Mangie.

But if perhaps (as commonly it falleth out) the Spaniel loose her heare, though it procéedeth not of the force of this [Page 364] vnguent and strong medicine, yet it shal be very good to bathe your Spanell, shredding his haire in this order, with the water of Lupines, or Hoppes, and to annoynt him with stale Barrowes flicke.

This medicine, ouer and besides that, it cureth and quitteth the Mangie it also maketh the Spanells skin beautifull and fayre to looke to, and killes the flies, the dogs disquieters and enemies, to his ease.

But when this foresayd remedy is not of force sufficient to rydde the Mangie, but that it spreddes and getteth greater power and dominion ouer your Spanell: then doth it behooue you to douise a farre stronger medïcine, which is, to take of strong Vinegar two quarters, or as much as will suffice, common Oyle six ounces,Another remedy more strong. Brimstone thrée ounces, sut of a chimny or pot, a quantitie of six ounces, brayed salt and serced, two handfulls: boyle all these aforesayd in the Vinegar, vsing the former order of anoynting your Spanell in the Sommertime.

If neither of these remedies aforesayd will serue the turne, then for a last refuge, you must be driuen to practise with a far stronger, than eyther of both. But in any wise, this medicine must not be ministred in the cold of winter, for it will then put the Spanell in great hazard of death.

A very strong medicine for the mangie.Take quicke Siluer, as great a quantity as shall suffice, and mortifie it with stale Barrowes flicke, or Larde, as if I should set you downe this proportion: Of Quicke Siluer two ounces, Barrowes grease ten ounces, mingle them well together, vntill they be incorporated: with this vnguent annoynt your Spanell in the sunne, tying him afterwards for the space of an houre in the Sun, to the end the vnguent may sincke in, and pierce the déeper. Then wash him twice with blacke Sope, and obseruing this order of annoynting him euery other day twice or thrice, assuredly you shall ryd him of all Manginesse, whatsoeuer it be.

But I must tell you this by the way, that this vnguent [Page 365] of Quicke Siluer will cause her haire to fall away. Wherefore it shall bée requisite euery third or fourth day to annoynt him with stale Bacon grease, for that will presently make his haire to grow and come againe.

If a Spaniell bée not very much infected with the mangy' then is it an easie matter to cure it in this sort.A way to cure the mangie without any vnguent.

To make a kind of bread with wheaten branne, and the rootes, leaues and fruit, or flowers of the hearbe which wee call Agrimonie, beating it wel in a morter, and making it into a past or dow baking it in an ouen, and so made to giue your Spaniels of the said bread as much as they list to eate, and none other bread at all for a time. With foure or fiue of these loaues of bread, made in maner as I tell you, haue I cured my Spaniels of the mangie, and some other of my friends.

Though euery body for the most part doe know these common hearbes, yet neuerthelesse I will follow mine Author, & set it downe with the same description as he doth.

Agrimonie is an hearbe that growes in meadowes & fields, neare vnto some roote of a trée, and vpon the mouth of sawe pittes, and other olde vncleane and vnoccupied places. The leaues of it doe spread vpon the ground, they are a shaftment in length, iagged on each side, like vnto the leafe of Hemp, diuided into fiue or more parts and branches, indented round about. It brings forth one or two blackish stalkes, vppon which there are certaine boughes standing one distant from another, on which there are yellow flowers, and those flowers being through ripe, doe yéeld certaine round berries, as bigge as a Peaze or Fetch which will cleaue and hang to a mans garments if he once touch them. This description doth my Italian Author make of the hearbe Agrimonie, wherof hée would haue this bread made to cure the mangie Spaniel. I leaue it ouer to thy vse and discretion till thou néede it. [But when all these medicines shall fayle, or to be sure not to fayle in your cure, take onely a pint of strong wine Vinegar,Addition. & mixe therewith a good quantity of gun-powder well bruised, and therewith annoint the dog al ouer, and you shal spare all other experiments.]

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Of divers accidents that happen to dogges, and first of that ill which is called For [...]ica.

EVery man doth know that there is a kinde of vile disease that lights vpon Spaniels eares, which doth greatlie vexe them in the Summer time especially with the flies, and the scratting and tearing themselues with their owne féet. We tearme it in English, a kinde of Mangie, but but both the Latimst and the Italian tearme it Formica. The French man hee calleth it Fourmye [...], which in troth is in English nothing else but an Ante or Pismire, applyed héere in this place to a dogges disease for some likelyhood and property betwixt the Pismire and the mischiefe, which is accustomed to exéepe and goe further and further with his infection, to the great annoyance of the poore Spaniell, euen as the Pismire is euer busie trauayling to and fro, and neuer vnoccupied.

The Cure.The way to ridde this vile disease and mischiefe, is to bestow vppon the infected place a medicine made of Gumme Drag aganthe foure ounces infused in the strongest Vineger that may bée gotten by the space of eight dayes: and afterwardes bruised on a Marble stone, as Painters do their colours, adding vnto it Roch Allom and Galles beaten to powder, of eyther two ounces. Vsing these thinges as I haue shewed you, you may make a powder of maruaylous force: for this purpose, laying it vppon the Member where the Mangie lies. This no question will kill the Formica.

Of the swelling in the Spaniels throat.Sometimes there befals this mischiefe vpon poore Spaniels. There droppeth downe an humor from their braines, by meane of which their throates and neckes do swell vnreasonably. For remedy of this, I will aduise you to take nothing more than to annoint all the place without with Oyle of Camomill, then washing and embroching the Dogges [Page 367] throat round about the griefe with vinegar not ouerstrong, and with Salte. If you doe this you shall recouer your Spaniell, and driue away this distillation of ill humors, that fal out of the Spaniels head, causing the great swelling in the throat.

Of a kind of wormes breeding in the hurts and mangie parts of a Spaniell.

SOmetimes when a Spaniel hath taken a hurt or wound, there doe engender in the wound certaine wormes that do hinder the cure of the hurt, causing it to continue at one stay, or to grdw worse and worse. Wherefore it shall bée very necessary to endeauour to kill them which you shall doe assuredly if you conuey into the wound nothing but the gumme of Iuie called in Latine (Gumma Hederae) kéeping it there for the space of one day or two, washing the woond with Wine,The cure. and after that annointing it with Bacon grease, Oyle of earthworms, and Rew.

Moreouer, a iuyce made of the gréene pylles, and rinds of Walnuts, or the powder of dryed Lupynes is very good. Likewise powder of wild Cucumbers is excellent to kill those wormes: and not that alone, but it will play the part of a Corrosiue fretting away the dead flesh, and encreasing the good.

But when the wormes grow within the body of a Spaniel,Of wormes within the body. The Cure. they must bée killed in this manner with an inwarde receit.

Cause your Spaniell eyther by loue or force to eate when hée is fasting, the yolke of an Egge with two scruples of good Saffron beaten into powder & confected with the saide Egge,When a spaniel is bitten by a Foxe or mad dogge. kéeping him after it from meat till night.

When a Spaniel is hurt as long as he can come to licke the wound with his tongue hee néedes no other remedie. His [Page 368] tongue is his surgeon. But when he cannot possiblie licke it, then such wounds as bee not venomous, you may resolue with the powder of Matresilua dryed in an ouen, or in the Sunne. And if it bée the bite of a Foxe, it shall suffice to annoynt it with oyle, wherein earth wormes and Rue haue béen boyled together.

But if it were bitten by a mad dogge, it shall bée best presently to thrust through the skin of his head, and pol with a hote yron iust betwixt the eares, so as the fire may touch both sides of the hole made: And after that with your hand to placke vp the skin of the dogges shoulders and flankes backwards, thrusting it through with the hote yron in like maner.

The giuing of this vent to the wound will greatly pleasure the Spaniel, and is a ready way to cure him.

Besides the application of this cauterie and fire, there is one other approued remedy, and that is, to cause your Spaniel to lappe twice or thrice of the broth of Germander, and eate the Germander it selfe boyled. I néed not to describe the hearbe it is so well knowne: but my Author sets down his proportion & flowre. It beares a iagged leafe, and hath a purple or blew flowre, and in shape it is like a little oke.

This herbe Germander sodden and confected with salt and oyle,To helpe a Spaniel that hath lost his sense of smelling. eyther simply bruised together, or made into a paste, and giuen vnto a Spaniell, will doe him very much good in the cure of the bite of a mad dog.

Now and then Spaniels by meane of too much rest and grease, and some other accident besides, doe loose theyr sense of smelling, so as they cannot spring or retriue a fowle after their accustomed maner. In this case it shall bée very good to scowre a Spaniel in this maner.The Cure.

Take Agaricke two drammes, Sal gemma one scruple, beate these into powder and incorporate them with Oximel, making a pill as bigge as a nut, conuey the pill into butter, and so giue it the Spaniell eyther by loue or force, as he may [Page 369] swallowe it. This will bring him to a quicke sent and sence againe, as I haue oftentimes approoued.

To cut off the tip of a Spanels tayle or sterne.

IT is very necessary to cut off a little of the Spanels tayle, when it is a whelpe for sundry occasions: for in so doing, you shall deliuer him, and be a meane that no kind of worme or other mischiefe shall greatly offend that part of your Spanell: Which, if it be not cut a little at the very point and toppe, is subiect to many euils and inconueniences, and will be a cause that the dog will not dare to presse ouerhastily into the couert after his game. Besides the benefite of it, the Dog becomes more beautifull by cutting the toppe of his sterne: for then will it bush out very gallantly, as experience will teach you.

It shall be good when Spanell whelpes are one moneth old or somewhat more, to worme them vnder the tong:To worme a Spanell. for there haue they a string very like to a worme, which must be pluckt away by some deuise or other. This is the order of it: If it be a whelpe of a moneth old, they take him and open his flew and tawes with a mans hand: but if it be a bigger Spanell, then do they conuay a round sticke into his mouth, to kéepe it wide open: which done, they plucke out the Dogges tong, and with a sharpe knife of purpose for it, they slyt the tong all alongst where the worme lyes, on both sides, and so very artificially with the point of the knife, they rayse vp the worme the better to pull it away. But in this case there must be care vsed, that the worme be not cut asunder, but had cleane away, without leauing any part of it behind.

Some men do vse (in the taking away of this worme in a Spanels tong) a néedle or such like instrument with a double twisted thréed hanging to it, two shaftments in length, thrusting the néedle quite vnderneath y^e worme iust in y^e middle of it, drawing the néedle so farre vntill the double twisted thréed be leuell with the middle of the worme, then drawing it hard with the hand, they pull it out (but by drawing the threed [Page 370] artificially, many times the worme breakes in two péeces, and then it is a verie harde matter to come by that parte that is slipt and left behind. Wherefore in mine opinion, the first is the better way to dispatche him cleane. For when this worme is once quite drawne out, the Spanell will become farre the fairer, and waxe the fatter. Many times the want of worming doth kéepe a Spanell poore, and out of flesh, so as he can not proue. And (as ancient writers affirme) the worming doth discharge the Spanell of madnesse and frensie (which I can hardly credite or beléeue: the infection and biting of an other madde Dogge being so venemous, as it is able to worke great effecte in the Dogge that is bitten.)

Thus much I thought good to write of Spanels, and their diseases and cures, for that they are superintendants, and necessarie seruants, both for the Hawke and the Falconer, without whome, the sport would bee but colde, and the toyle farre more than it is to the man. Wherefore it shall not be amisse for a good Falconer, alwayes to bréede and kéepe of the best kinde of Spanels that he may come by, and so to respect them, as they heate not at any time: Or if they doe by misfortune or neglygence of your lackey boye; then to regard their cure, which may be done in manner as I haue héere set downe: And withall to vse due correction to the boy. For a good Spanell is a great iewel: and a good Spanell maketh a good Hawke, and a curst maister, a carefull footeman. Farewell. (∵)

FINIS.

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❧ The Epilogue vnto the Reader.

LO Reader here, the end of this my booke,
Though not the end of my good will and loue,
Bestowe thy paines hereon a while to looke,
As I imployed my head for thy behooue:
It shall suffice if thou do not reprooue
This slender worke, compilde for thy delight,
Whose friendly looke my labour shall requite.

I count my toyle and trauaile but a game,
I deeme the dayes not long or spent amisse,
If so I may vnto thy fancie frame
This booke of mine which all of Hawking is,
Than which there can be found no better blisse
In my conceit to such as loue the glee,
And force the fields where brauest pleasures be.

I must confesse, my Hammers haue but hewde
That royall Rocke, which others found of yore,
I do but tread the path which others shewde
Vnto their friends, to make their skill the more:
I but translate a garment made before:
Which if I do with gallant shape to view,
I deeme as much as if I made a new.

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For hard it is to stalke in others steppes.
He thinkes himselfe a thrall that marcheth so:
He iumpes in ioy that at his pleasure leapes,
And is not forst in others feet to goe:
Nothing more leefe than liberty you know,
Which no Translatour hath I vndertake,
Vnlesse that he his Authours sence forsake.

Which vaunt I dare, I seldome here haue done,
Zforcino knowes, and can controll me then,
Italian borne, whose booke I over-runne,
And Giorgies eke compilde with learned pen,
Assuredly these two were skilfull men,
And wistfull well what Hawkes and hawking ment,
And all things else that further this intent.

To Tardiffe eke the Frenchman I appeale,
To Malopyn, and Mychelyn, cunning wightes,
Let Artelow [...]he be witnesse how I deale,
In field affaires, or else in river flights,
And Cassyan eke who well of hawking wrytes:
All these I wish as Iudges in the case
Where I corrupt or alter any place.

Some men perhaps will wonder that I wrote
Of slately hawkes, and byrdes of rare delight,
And blazde it out but in so base a note,
As scarce will please the gallant Courtiers sight,
Who weyes no gold that is not burnisht bright:
His curious eare but hardly will digest,
Sweet Musickes sound, that is not of the best.

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For mine excuse and for my simple pen,
To answere thus, I feare I shall be faine,
Sith charge of Hawkes committed is to men,
That Nobles serve for yearely hyre, and gaine,
(Who are not fine but homely mates and plaine)
My purpose was, to set them downe the trade,
To man their Hawks, and how they might be made.

For Peeres (I know, and you must needs agree)
Regard no more but onely to behold
The fleeing Hawkes, their ioy is but to see
The haughty Haggard worth her weight in gold,
To slay the fowle at brooke with courage bolde,
With Hawkes they never deale in other sort,
Their servants feed, and they enioy the sport.

Which if be so, the lowe and playnest stile
Doth best agree the Falconers mind to fit,
To carpe it fine with those that haue no guile,
A ieast it were and signe of slender wit,
The writers ought the readers vaine to hitte.
This was the cause I wrote my booke so plaine,
I told it earst, I tell it now againe.

The modest mind I know, will rest content,
With this excuse, and brooke mine answere well,
Of other some perhaps I shall be shent.
Whose sullen breasts with secret envie swell,
Who pleaseth all, deserues to beare the bell.
But if the Courtier fancy this my booke,
I scorne the proud disdainfull Momus looke.

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Falconers farewell, at pleasure doe pervse
These leaves and lines, each picture and each page.
Readers adue, I have no farther newes,
I can but wish you ancient Nestors age,
Vnto whose doomes my writings here I gage:
To cure your Hawkes or make your cunning more,
If ought be here, I clappe my hands therefore.
My Muse, and I, haue done the best we can,
To learne you how your Hawkes to lewre & man.
George Turbervile.

Liuor, edax rerum, tu (que) in vidiosa vetustas,

Omnia destruitis.

FINIS.

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The booke of falconrie or havvking for the onely delight and pleasure of all noblemen and gentlemen : collected out of the best authors, aswell Italians as Frenchmen, and some English practises withall concerning falconrie / heretofore published by George Turbervile, Gentleman.

Author: Turberville, George, 1540?-1610?1611

A second or Subdiuision.

Of the names of Hawkes of prey.

Of the kinds of Eagles.

First of the browne or yellow Eagle.

Of the blacke Eagle.

Now as touching the Vultures, and first of the large ashe coloured or blacke Vulture.

Of the lesse Vulture, which is the browne or whitish Vulture.

The opinion of William Tardiffe a Frenchman, concerning the diuision of birds of prey, and other things worthie the obseruation.

A Devise and Remedie for you, when the Eagle doth molest and hinder your game in Hawking.

Now will I lay you downe the report of Francis Sforzino Vicentino, an Italian, as touching the Diuision and Nature of Eagles, and so proceede to the Falcon.

Of the Falcon, and how many sorts of Falcons there are.

The Haggart Falcon.

The Barbarie, or Tartaret Falcon.

The Gerfalcon.

The Sacre.

The Laner.

The Tunician.

Of the Falcon Gentle, and her property.

An Observation.

The good shape of a Falcon.

Of the names of a Falcon, according to her age and taking.

Of the Haggart Falcon, and why shee is called the Peregrine, or Haggart.

Of the good shape of a Haggart Falcon.

How to know a Haggart by her fleeing.

The difference and ods betwixt the Haggart, and the Falcon Gentle.

Of the Barbarie Falcon.

For what cause this Falcon is called a Barbary, or Tartaret Falcon.

Of the Gerfalcon.

Of the Sacre.

Of the Laner.

Of the Italian Author.

Of the Tunicion Falcon.

The cause why shee is called a Tunycian.

Of the Merlyn.

Of the Hobbie.

The Italians opinion of the Hobbie.

Of the Goshawke, after the opinion of William Tardiffe a Frenchman.

The good proportion and shape of a Goshawke.

The ill shape of Goshawkes.

Out of the French I haue collected this concer­ning the Goshawke.

Out of the Italian concerning the Goshawkes, and their kinds.

Of the Sparowhake, out of the French Authors.

The Diuersity of Sparowhawkes according to their times and age.

The good shape and proportion of a Sparowhawke.

What kinds of Sparowhawkes there are.

Of the Matagasse.

Certaine speciall points necessary for a Falconer, or Ostreger, collected out of the Italian Authors.

The first instruction is, how to make a Falcon▪ and other Hawkes fleeing, after the opinion of Iean de Frauchiers.

The manner of fleeing with Hawks, as well to the field, as to the River, and first to the ri­ver, according as Martine teacheth.

To flye at the Hearon according to Martine.

For the flight to the field as Master Amè Cassian reach [...]th.

Other slights to the field called great flights.

Advertisement given by Master Martine, to make a Hawke bold and hardy, and to love her prey.

How a man should vse an Eyasse Hawke.

A consideration of the Diversitie of Hawkes Natures, acccording to Martine.

How to seele a Sparrowhawke, and to make her fleeing, according to Guillam Tardiffe.

How a man should manne a Sparow­hawke, and make her fleeing.

The meane to make a Sparrowhawke fleeing.

To take Tyme from off a Hawkes feathers.

How to right and make straight bruised feathers.

To right and mend a Feather broken on the one side, and to ympe a bruised Feather.

How to beare and make a Falcon.

How you shall manne a Falcon, and bring her out of her ramage­nesse.

How to lure a Falcon lately manned.

How you shall bath your Hawke beeing but lately reclaimed, how you shall make her fleeing, and to hate the checke.

How to flee a Hearon.

How a man shall make his Hawke to loue other Hawkes, when she hateth to flee with them.

How you shall enseame a Hawke, or giue her ca­stings, and skourings, &c.

To enter or make a Hawke, after the fashion of Lombardy.

To enseame a Falcon and to make her.

To flee all manner of Fowles.

How to make a trayne or flight for the Goshawke.

To manne, hoode, and reclayme a Hawke, after the opinion of the Italian Falconer.

To keepe and make Sarowhawkes.

The manner to feed a Sparowhawke.

Of feeding a Hawke.

To manne and make a Hawke: and first of a Nyasse Falcon.

Of Ramage Falcons.

Out of the French I haue collected this concerning the Goshawke.

The manner of fleeing with Hawks, as well to the field, as to the River, and first to the river, according as Martine teacheth.

How a man should manne a Sparowhawke, and make her fleeing.

How you shall manne a Falcon, and bring her out of her ramagenesse.

How you shall enseame a Hawke, or giue her castings, and skourings, &c.

Of the diseases and cures of Hawkes. The opinion of M. Francesco Sforzino Ʋicentino, an Italian Gentleman Falconer.