Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

Of the Fawlcon. chap. 20.

THe Faulcon is called Herodius, and is a royall fowle, and desireth praye, and vseth to sit on his hand that beareth him, and is a bolde birde and an hardye, as is the Gosehauke: and hath little flesh in comparison to his bodye, and hath many feathers: and therefore he is more lyght to flye. For in him is little thing that beareth downewarde, and much that beareth vpward, as Gregory sayth. And therefore he is right lyke to the E∣stridge in boldnesse and strength: and also much like thereto in diuers feathers and coulours. The Faulcon is full bolde and hardy, with most sharpest breast, & with strong clawes, & hurteth more his pray with rising theron with his breast, then with his bill, or with his clawes. And is so greate hearted, that if he fayle of his pray in the first flyght and réefe, in the second he taketh wreake on himselfe. And so if he be wilde, vnneth that day he seeketh praye. And if hee be tame, as it were for shame he flyeth aboute in the ayre, and then vnneth he commeth to his Lordes handes. For he holdeth himselfe ouercome, & as it were put out of kind, if he taketh not the foule that he flyeth to, as Gregorie saith.

This foule or bird is commonly cal∣led Falco, and Fulica also, as the Glose sayth Super Spalmum. And among all Birdes and Fowles, these Fowles haue little affection, and take little héede of their Birdes, as it is said in Exameron. With the same office of businesse, that he feedeth his owne birds, with such seruice he taketh and féedeth the birds that the Eagle throweth out of her neast, and is vnknowne to him. He flyeth and voideth carrion, and toucheth not stinking flesh, not in strong hunger: But he may well awaye with trauaile, and absteineth and abideth till he maye finde couenable praye, which he séeketh, as Gregorye saith.

(* 1.1Hawkes of pray are the onely pa∣stime of Princes: and next for idle per∣sons,

that set more by an inch of pleasure thē an ell of thrift, who bestow in Hauks & hounds, more then would suffice twice as many poore men: for sometime the taking of some one pray of .vi. d. y^e charge of so much wonne, stands them in twen∣tie markes, which is according to the olde Prouerbe, What is a Gentleman but his pleasure: but who is more gen∣tle, he that fauoureth the poore to the pro∣fit of a common wealth, or he that lasci∣uiously spendeth more in one yéere then his parents got in .20. I referre to the prudent.)

Notes

• * 1.1

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