The booke of faulconrie or hauking for the onely delight and pleasure of all noblemen and gentlemen: collected out of the best aucthors, asvvell Italians as Frenchmen, and some English practises withall concernyng faulconrie, the contentes whereof are to be seene in the next page folowyng. By George Turberuile Gentleman.

A generall diuision of Hawkes, and Birdes of praie, after the opinion of one Francesco Sforzino Vycentino, an Italyan Gentleman Falconer.

First (sayth hee) you shall vnderstand, that of Hawkes, that doe liue by praye, and are in knowledge and vse of men, there are nyne kindes.

• 1 The Egle.
• 2 The Mylyon.
• 3 The Gerfalcon.
• 4 The Falcon.
• 5 The Merlyn.
• 6 The Hobbye.
• 7 The Gosehawke.
• 8 The Sparowhawke.
• 9 The Mata∣gasse.

This Hawke whome I terme a Matagasse, after the French is in the Italian tounge, called, Regestola Falconera, and among the Germās, Thornkretzera, Hawke not in vse with vs, and in trouth of slēder regard and estimation in nature. Yet neuer∣thelesse, both to followe myne Author, and to make my diuision perfect, I holde it needefull to recken that kynde of Hawke a∣mong the rest: and in the latter ende of the first part of this trea∣tise, I will briefly describe you his nature, which is no lesse base than straunge.

You must note, that all these kynde of Hawkes, haue their Tyercelles, whiche are the male byrdes and cockes of euerie sorte and gender: And further, that the female of all byrdes of praye and rauyne, is euer more huge than the male, more ven∣trous, hardie, and watchfull, but of suche byrdes as do not liue by rauyne and pray, the male is more large than the female.

A second or subdiuision.

MOreouer, you shall know, that those nyne sortes of hawkes, may againe be deuided into two kyndes, and eyther diffe∣ring from the other in condition.

For some of them do pray vpon the foule, by stouping down from their winges, and so seazing on the foule with their foote, doe breake in sunder with their beakes, the necke bone, beeing of

more force and strength in that part, than in the foote or talons. And this sorte of Hawkes, do neuer vse to plume or tyre vppon the foul whom they haue seazed, vntill such time as they perceiue it to leaue busking and bating in the foote: of which kynde and qualitie are,

• 1 The Egle.
• 2 The Mylyon.
• 3 The Gerfalcon.
• 4 The Falcon.
• 5 The Merlyn.
• 6 The Hobbye.
• 7 The Matagasse.

Nowe that other sort which I speake of, do slay their praye and game by mayne force of wing, at randon and before head, not stowping at all from their wings, as the other hawkes doe, whom I made mention of before. And these hawkes haue their chiefe force and strength in the foote, and not in the beake, and therefore no soner do seaze vpon the pray, but presently they giue them selues to plume and tyre thereon. Of this sort are

• 1 The Gossehawke.
• 2 The Tiercle of the Gossehawke.
• 3 The Sparowhawke.

Thus farre haue I made a generall diuision of all kyndes of Hawkes that do liue by pray, & againe (as you see) haue deuided those kynds into two partes. Wherefore nowe do I purpose to deale more specially in the matter, and more particularly to pro∣ceede to the natures of euerie of them, to yeelde you a more per∣fect knowledge, and light therein.

Of the names of Hawkes of praye.

AL Hawkes and byrdes of pray, be comprysed, and included, vnder these two names.

• 1 Aetos. or,
• 2 Hierax.

which is to say,

• 1 Aquila. or,
• 2 Accipiter.

which is y^e,

• 1 Eagle. or
• 2 Falcon.

These two kindes doe serue to flye the praye, for mans plea∣sure and pastime, of which only hawkes, my purpose is to treate and speake in this discourse here following.

For all hawkes and byrdes of praye, do not serue the Falco∣ners vse, but onely such as are hardie and free of mettall, able to flye the fielde and ryuer. And therefore those onely kyndes shall be the Subiect of my booke, and not those base, bastardly refuse hawkes, which are somewhat in name, and nothing in deede.

As the Greekes would, that Hierax, & the Latyns that Ac∣cipiter, which is a speciall terme to one hawke and byrde of pray, shoulde giue the generall name and title to all Hawkes and byrdes of praye, bycause of his excellencie: So in like manner, the Frenchmen of our age, haue ordained that the Falcon, which is a terme peculiar and proper to one kinde of byrde of praye, shall giue generall name and appellation to all hawkes, and byrdes of praye, what so euer they bee, bycause the Falcon doth passe all other hawkes in boldnesse and curtesie, and is most fa∣miliar to man, of all other byrdes of praye. And thereof it pro∣ceedeth, that we say, the Falcon Gentle, the Haggart Falcon, the Falcon Sacre, and so likewise of the other hawkes, calling them all by the name of Falcon.

Moreouer, as the Falcon, whiche is a speciall name of one kynd of hawkes, hath giuen name to all other hawkes and birds of praye. So hath it bestowed the name and tytle of a Falco∣ner, to euerie one of what state or calling soeuer hee bee, that doth deale with any kinde of Hawkes: and the terme of Falconrie, to the arte, profession, and knowledge of luring and manning those byrdes of praye, by which singular skyll, they are made to flee all other foules, as well those foules of ayre, as of the lande and ryuer. Whiche in my conceite, deserueth no slender commendation and prayse, being a matter almost quite against the lawes of nature and kynde, for one foule so artificially to vndertake and so cruelly to murther another, and hauing atchie∣ued his enterprise, with greedie and willing minde, 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: and to

yeelde them selues in such franke maner to the pryson and custo∣die of man, being by kinde set free and at libertie to praye, and dispose them selues. Suche and so great is the singular skill of man, when by arte he is resolued, to alter the prescribed order of nature, which by industrie and payne we see is brought to passe and effect.

Of the kyndes of Eagles.

HAuing deuided all those byrdes of praye and rauine, whiche serue to Falconrie & Hawking, into Eagles and Falcons, I mean first of al to decypher you the Eagle and Vulture, whom some haue thought to be comprised vnder the kynd of an Eagle. And so consequently after that, to speake of Falcons which are byrdes of pray, seruing to the vse and mysterie of Hawking, and taking their names of the Falcon.

Aristotle was of opinion, that there was sixe kynds of Ea∣gles, which are named by him, according as it pleased the inhabi∣tantes of Greece to enforme him.

Plinie in making the same deuision of Eagles, hath varied in that poynt altogether from Aristotle, as touching the names and termes of Eagles, for that they were of diuers countries, and did write in seuerall languages. But for that I meane in this booke onely to speake of those kyndes of Eagles which serue to Falconrie, I will deale but with two sortes of Eagles, for at these dayes we haue the vse and experience but of the browne Eagle, whiche is the Eagle Royall, and the blacke Eagle, the other kyndes being of a base and slender courage, as no Falco∣ner will payne him selfe to lure them, or manne them for vse or pleasure.

First of the browne or yellowe Eagle.

[illustration] depiction of brown or yellow eagle

THe brown or yellow Egle after Aristotles opinion is called in Greeke Guyseon, which doth signifie in the Frenche tong (kindly & no bastard borne) bicause it is of all other kynds of Ea∣gles the true & right Eagle, & he doth cal him by y^e greeke word Chrisaitos, by reason of his goldē mayle, & in Latin he is termed

Stellaris, and Herodus. This is that Eagle whome we call the Egle royall, king of byrdes, and sometimes the byrde of Iupiter, and that Egle, which ought to be taken and accompted the prin∣cipall best, being more huge and large than the rest, and besides more rare and daintie to be seene. For shee doth haunt moste commonlye the toppes of highe and craggie mountaines, and doth there praye vpon all sortes of foules, as also Hares, Kyddes Gotes, and such other like wilde, and sauage beastes of the field.

This Eagle dothe liue alwayes solitarie and alone, vnlesse happily she haue hir broode with hir, whome she doth conducte and guyde from place to place, the better to instruct them howe to kyll their praye, and feede them selues. But no soner hath she made thē perfit, and throughly scooled them therin, but presently she chaseth them out of that coaste, and doth abandon them the place where they were eyred, and will in no wise brooke them to abide neare hir, to the ende (that the countrey where she disclo∣seth) and maketh her Eyrie, bee not vnfurnished of conuenient pray, which by the number and excessiue store of Eagles, might otherwise be spoyled and made bare. For it is verie likely, that if hir broode and increase should there make stay, beeing so huge byrdes, and of so great rauyne, there woulde in short space lacke praye for hir selfe, and by meane thereof breede hir to a farther euill and mischiefe: for the auoyding of whiche, this prouident and carefull foule doth presently force hir broode to depart into some other part and region.

This Egle maye with ease be discerned from the Vulture, bycause this Eagle Royall, being browne or yellowe maylde, hath not hir armes or feete 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, the pounces large, her beake blacke, long, and crooked at the toppe. The trayne of the Egle Royall, as al∣so the trayne of the slender blacke Egle, is short and stiffe at the poynt, euen as the traine of the Vulture is.

The Egle is alwayes of one self hugenesse, in respect of hir nature, and it can not be said, in that she is an Eagle, that she is

either larger or lesser, at any one time or other, vnlesse you will giue hir the surname and addition of blacke, yellowe, or some other such proper name and terme, which doth alter hir accor∣ding to hir accydentes, but nothing at all in regarde of hir sub∣stance and nature. And were it not that she is so massy a foule, and not portable on the fiste (as in troth she is exceeding huge) and besides, it is so harde and difficulte a matter, to prouide hir pray and foode, Princes, and puissant states, would more vsually haue hir, and hawke with hir, for their solace and pleasure, than they nowe doe. But by reason she is so huge and ventrous, she might happily offer force and violence to the eyes and face of hir keper, if at any time she should conceiue displeasure against him. And for this cause in chiefe, the Egle is not in vse, as other mea∣ner hawkes and of lesse force be in these dayes.

He that will haue the Egle to be good and tractable, muste deuise to take her an Eyesse in the Eyrie, mannyng and accu∣stoming hir among houndes and greyhoundes, to the end that when he goeth and addresseth him to the fielde, the Egle soaring aloft ouer the houndes starting the game, Foxe, Hare, Gote, or such like beastes of the wood, shee making hir downecōme, and stouping from hir wings, may so stay and seaze vpon the game, vntill the dogges come in and procure the fall thereof. A man may feede hir with any kynde of flesh, and chiefly of such game and praye as she slayeth in the fielde by flight.

Tawnye, or browne mayle in an Eagle, deepe and hollow eyes, specially if she be bred in the weast partes of the worlde, is an assured signe of hir goodnesse: for the tawnye Egle is euer founde good in proofe.

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

That Eagle, that when she fleeth from the fiste of hir keeper will either flee vpon the man, soaring round about him, or light on the grounde, and take the stand, is by al probabilitie and con∣iecture, no inwarde Eagle, but a fugitiue, and a rangler.

At what time the Egle, displayes hir trayne in hir flight, and makes a turne in hir mountie, it is a verie great signe that shee

determineth to flye on head and gadde: the nexte remedie for which mischiefe is to throwe hir out hir meate, and lure hir with as loude a voyce as you possible may. And if it be so that she then stoupe not to that which is caste out vnto hir, then eyther hath she ouer gorged hir selfe, or otherwise she is to hye and too full of fleshe. A meane to auoyde this inconuenience, is to sowe the feathers of hir trayne together, to the end she may not spread them abroade, nor vse the benefite of hir trayne feathers in hir flight. Or else another way is, to deplume and make bare hir tuell and fundament so as it may appeare, and then certainely for feare of the colde ayre she will not aduenture to mounte so hie: but feeling hir trayne feathers fast sowed together, she will stande in awe of other Eagles, whome by the meane of that deuice and practise, she shall in no wise be able to auoyde.

When the Eagle maketh a short turne vpon hir keeper in hir flight, and flyeth not out aforehead, that is one principal good to∣ken that she will not away.

It hath beene sayde, that an Eagle is of force to arest and cause a woulfe to stay, and will take him, with the ayde and as∣sistance of dogges, making into hir rescue, and that it hath bene seene and experimented. But for my part I finde the oddes of them so great, as I leaue the beliefe of it to the reader, not recy∣ting it as a troth, but a thing written, to shewe the great hardi∣nesse and vndaunted nature of the Eagle.

It is reported that the men of the countrey where the Eagle eyreth, knowing thereof, and intending to bereaue hir young broode, doe arme and well furnish their heades, for feare least the Eagle doe offer them force and violence. And if so they shewe the old breeder one of hir chickens, or tye it to the bough of a tree neare the place where she buildeth, she will call and cause the damme to repayre thether by continuall cleping, who findeth hir, and pitying hir cryes, will bring it so much prouision and praye, as he that commeth to take hir from the eyrie, shall there dayly be sped of as muche fleshe and prouision as will verie rea∣sonably serue him and sixe others. For the olde Eagle will con∣uey thyther Hares, Conies, foules, and such other like vittell, and

viandes, for the supplye of hir necessitie.

The Eagle doth not commonly vse to praye neare vnto his eyrie, but to kyll hir prouision abroade as farre off as she maye. And if so it happen, she leaue any fleshe after she is full gorged, that doth she reserue carefully for the nexte day, to the ende that if foule weather should happily growe to hinder hir flight, yet she might be stored of sufficient praye for the daye following, without any further trauell.

An Eagle doth not forsake or chaunge hir Eyrie all hir life time, but of custome doth yearely returne and make repayre to one self place, and there buildeth most assuredly, by meane where of it hath ben noted and obserued in time past, that an Egle doth lyue verie many yeares. Before hir olde age, hir beake waxeth so exceeding long and croked at the toppe, as she is much hinde∣red thereby of hir feeding: in sort as she dyeth not of disease or by extremetie of age, but only by reason she can not possible vse the benefite of hir beake, being accrewde and growne to such an exceeding length and disproportion. Whereof commeth the pro∣uerbe as I take it. Aquilae senectus the age of an Eagle, which is properly applyed to men that do lyue only by drinke, as olde men are wont to do.

The Eagle doth euer wage warre with the little Roytelet, whome the Frenche men doe so terme, for that this foule is thought to be a little king among byrdes, as the Etimologie of the worde doth seeme to importe, the Latines likewise they call him Regulus, and the Germans a Goldhenlyne. The occa∣sion and chiefe grounde of this controuersie betwixte the Eagle and the Goldhenlyne, is (by the report of Aristotle) onely vpon the name, for that she is called the king of birdes, of which title and preheminence the Eagle would willingly bereaue hir.

Againe there is one other kind of litle foule whom Aristotle calleth a Sitta, the Latines Reptitatrix or Scandulaca, and the Frenchmen Grimpereau, that doth y^e Egle verie great outrage & offence. For no soner perceiueth she the Eagle to be absent from the eyrie, but presently in great dispite she breaketh all hir egges in pieces.

This little foule is cal∣led.	In French.	Roytelet.	These two being in a maner ye lest birds of all other, are the gretest and deadliest enimies to the Egle and do cōtend with hir vpon poyntes of principalitie & rule.
In Latine.	Regulus.
In the Ger∣man tong.	Goldhen∣lyne.
That other.	In Greeke.	Sitta.
In Latine.	Scandulaca.
In French.	Grimpereau.

When I sayde before, that the Eagle royall was of a yellow mayle, I meant nothing else by that speach, but that the Eagle was maylde, of the verie coloure of a Deares haire, which is in deede not yellowe, but browne or tawnie. And albeit Aristotle for his pleasure, termed it by the Greeke worde, Chrisaitos, which is as much in effect, as to say, the golden Egle: yet must it not therefore bee concluded, that this Eagle is of a right golden mayle, but of a more browne or tawnie mayle, than the other kinde of Eagle is.

The Paynters, and Statuaries of Rome, haue disguised this Egle in their portraytours, for euery man knoweth, that it is farre otherwise, than they haue drawne it.

As well the browne Eagles as the blacke, are skynned and vncased, as the Vultures be, and their skynnes sent to the furry∣ers and pellytours of Fraunce, with their winges, heades, and talons, and euen of the same verie coloure, as I haue here set it downe, and declared it vnto you.

Of the blacke Eagle.

[illustration] depiction of black eagle

I Haue signified vnto, you that there are only two sortes 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.

Aristotle doth terme the blacke Eagle Melauratus, and La∣gophanos, bycause she taketh the Hare: and this Eagle the La∣tines call Pulla, Fuluia, Leporaria, and Valeria, the oddes and dif∣ference betwixte these two Eagles is easie to be founde, for this blacke Eagle is lesse than the Eagle royall, which is the yellow and tawnie Eagle, and the blacke Eagle doth as muche differ from the yellowe Eagle, as the blacke Mylion doth from the Mylion Royall.

Plinie hath placed this blacke Eagle in the firste order and rancke of Eagles, as one that would willingly prefer hir before all other kyndes of Eagles. And here Aristotle hath set hir but in the thirde 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 vppe and mount so hye, of purpose for prospect, and to see from farre. And by reason that their sight is so cleare and perfect, men haue re∣ported them of all others, to be the only byrdes that doe partici∣pate with the diuine nature.

Moreouer, for the feare the Eagle hath of hir excellent eyes, she maketh not hir stowping from hir gate at once, and rashly, as other kynd of long winged hawkes do, but by litle and litle.

The Hare is a praye in whome she taketh great pleasure, yet when she findeth the Hare running, she offereth not forth with to seaze on him vpon the mountaine, but can forbeare and staye hir time, vntil he be on the playne champion, and then seazing on him, she presently caryeth him not away, but doth first make tri∣al and experience of him, poysing and weying him in hir poun∣ces, and after that lifting vp the sillie beast, doth beare him cleane away, and prayeth on him at hir best will and pleasure.

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

[illustration] depiction of black vulture

THere are two sortes of Vultures, to wit, the ashe mayld, or blacke Vulture, and the browne or whitish Vulture. First will I speake of the blacke or ashmaylde Vul∣ture, who is in deede more huge than the browne, for the ashe-coloured Vulture is the most large byrde of praye that is to be founde, and the female Vulture more large than the male, euen as it falleth out by experience in all kyndes of byrdes of praye and rauyne.

The Greekes, they call the Vulture Gips, and the Latines Vulture.

This Hawke is a passenger in Egipt, more knowne by hir coate and case than otherwise, bycause the furryers doe vse their skynnes for stomackgers, to guard and defend the brest against the force of feruent colde.

All other byrdes of praye do differ from the Vulture, in that they are destitute and voyde of plumage vnder their winges, whereas the Vultures be there vested and couered with an ex∣cellent fyne downe. Their skinne is thicke like a Goats skinne, and namely you shall finde vnder their gorge, a certayne patche of the breadth of your hande, where the plume is somewhat in∣clining to a redde, like the haire of a Calf, for that kind of plume hath not a webbe fashioned, as other feathers are vsually shapte and proportioned, but are like vnto the downe which is to be founde on eyther side the necke, and on the vpper part of the plye and bent of the wyng, in which parts the down is so white, that it glistereth and is as soft as silke.

The Vultures haue this one poynt speciall, and peculiar to them selues, in that they are rough legged, a thing that hapneth not to any other kynd of Eagles or byrdes of praye.

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

[illustration] depiction of brown or whitish vulture

THe browne or whitishe Vulture, doeth differ from the blacke maylde Vulture, in that hee is somewhat lesse, than the blacke Vulture is, hauing the plumage of hir throte or gorge, of hir backe, the fethers vnder the belly neare the pannell, and of the whole bodie tawnie, or browne of co∣lour: but the brayle fethers, and of the trayne, like to those of the blacke maylde Vulture: whiche induceth some to thinke that there is no difference at all betwixte these twoo kindes, saue that the one is male, and that other female, in the same gender & kind. But this is most certaine & assured, that with Noble personages you shal see as wel the one kind as the o∣ther. Eyther sort hath a short trayne in regard of y^e largenesse of their wings, whiche is not the nature and shape of other birdes of rauine and praye, saue onely that fowle whome the Frenche terme (Piscuerd,) the Italians, Pigozo, and in our mo∣ther speache I may call the Woodwall.

You shal euer finde the Vultures rough, and heary legged, whiche is an euident signe that they frotte and rubbe them a∣gaynste the rockes, where their chiefe abode and staye is. And further you shall note that the browne or blancke Vultures are more rare and dayntie to bee seene, than the blacke or ashemaylde bee.

Agayne this is peculiar to them in their kinde, that the fe∣thers on their heades bee shorte in respect of the Eagles fe∣thers, which hath bin some cause, that they haue bene thought to be balde and without plume, thoughe in verie deede it bee nothing so.

The Vulture that is ashecoloured or blacke maylde, hathe shorte armes all beset with plume, euen to the very Talons, whiche is a speciall note among all those birdes of rauine, on∣ly peculiar to them, and not to any other fowle, hauing croo∣ked Talōs, vnlesse it be the Owle, who is roughlegged, euen in sorte as these Vultures be.

To discerne the browne from y^e ashemayled Vulture, you muste note, that the browne Vulture hath hir necke fethers very strayght & long, muche like to those that the Cocke hath

or the Stare. In regard of those feathers on hir backe, sides, and the corner of the plye of hir wings, whiche are little and slender, in manner of scales, but the breaste feathers as also those on the backe, and the couert feathers of the trayne, are to the redde Vulture redde, and to the black Vulture blacke, and to bothe kindes verye large, by meane of their hugenesse they can not be vppon their wings, nor ryse from the stande without some aduauntage.

A man shall seldome see them vpō the playnes, and cham∣pion of Italie, Almanie, and Fraunce, vnlesse happily some∣time in the winter, for then they rangle and wander into e∣uery parte, for at that tyme in chiefe they abandone and for∣sake the toppes of the stately and high mountaines, to auoide the extremitie of cold, & doo take their passage into more hote regions and countries, where the clymate dothe better serue their purpose, and better agree with their nature.

The Vultures at the moste, doo not disclose aboue twoo or three chickens or yong birdes, and it is a very harde matter and almoste impossible for any man to robbe their eyrie, for that moste commonly they buyld in some hanging cliffe whe∣ther there is very harde and daungerous accesse. They may bee nourished and fedde with tripes, offell, and inwardes of beastes. And bycause they doo vsuallye haunte the fieldes of purpose to deuoure the offell and refuse partes of suche beastes as men haue slaughtered and slayne, and suche like carrion, some men are of opinion, that they doe presage and betoken greate murther and bloudy spoyle of men that are in armes.

The opinion of William Tardiffe a Frencheman, concerning the diuision of birdes of praye, and other things woorthe the obseruation.

BIrdes of pray (sayeth he) which we vse in Falconrie, be of three kindes,

• The Eagle,
• The Falcon,
• The Goshawke.

Of Eagles there are two kindes, the one is absolutely cal∣led the Eagle, the other Zimiech.

• ...Aquila,
• ...Zimiech.

A redde mayle in an Eagle, and deepe eyes, specially if the be bred in the west mountaines, (as is before sayd) is one spe∣ciall signe of hir goodnesse.

Whitenesse vpon the head or backe of an Eagle, betokeneth the excellencie of the Eagle, whiche in the Arabian tongue is termed,

• Zimiach, in the Syrian language.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the Greeke.
• Philadelph among the Latines.
• ...Mylyon.

The Eagle must euer be taken when she is in the eyrie, for hir condition is to waxe afterwards very bold & outrageous. It is sayde, that when the Eagle beginneth to growe to ly∣king, neare cawking or calling time, she cōmonly flyeth with other Eagles, bearing with them to their stande where they vse to praye, a peece of Arsenicke, otherwise called Orpiment, whiche doth delay and mortifie their luste and desire.

The Eagle will seaze vpon the Goshawke and any other fowle of rauine, or pray y^t doth flye with Iesses, making sure accompt that it is a fitte pray for hir. And for that only cause and none other, coueteth to apprehend and take them in their flight, for when they are wilde and ramage, vsing the deserts, she offereth them not any suche violence.

A meane to auoyde the Eagle, when a man is determined to flye with his hawke, is to plucke of the hawkes Iesses be∣fore shee flye, for otherwise let hir do hir beste, shee shall not escape the Eagle.

That Eagle, which is the kindly and right Eagle in deede, will slaye the Hare, the Foxe, and suche like beastes of the Fo∣rest and fielde.

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

A deuise and remedie for you, when the Eagle doth moleste and hinder your game in hawking.

Fynde the meanes to get an Eagle, and seele vp hir eyes, but yet in suche sorte, as shee may haue a little sighte to a∣spire and clyme to hir mowntee, into whose tuell and fun∣damente conueye a little Assa fetidà, and sowe vp the place. Then tye to hir legges, eyther a wing, a peece of fleshe, or a redde clothe, whiche the other Eagles maye coniecture to bee fleshe, and so lette hir flye. For then will shee in hir flyghte, for hir owne safetie and assuraunce, pull downe all the other Eagles from their stately gate and pitche, which otherwise she woulde neuer do, were it not for the payne of that whiche is conueyed into hir tuell.

Now will I laye you downe the report of Frauncis Sforzino Vicentino, an Italian, as tou∣ching the diuision and nature of Eagles, and so proceede to the Falcon.

[illustration] depiction of eagle

THere are twoo sortes of Eagles, that is to saye, the huge & royall Eagle, whiche is the Haggart or Passenger.

And a lesse Eagle, whiche is a base and bastarde Eagle in respect of the other.

The ryghte Eagle is bredde in the hyghest clyues of Le∣uante, and speciallye in those of Cyprus. They are as large as a wylde 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, greate beakes, and very muche crookte, strong armes, and roughe large stretchers, in a manner as greate as the palme of a mans hande, boysteous talons, and a reasona∣ble long trayne.

These Eagles, in the mayne fielde wyll take the Hare, and by force holde him, and carrye him in the ayre as they flee, vntyll they espye some rocke or other fitte stande, where they maye praye vppon him. In lyke sorte they take other beastes, and sundrye tymes doe roue and rangle abroade to beate and seaze on Gotes, Kyddes, and Fawnes. They are in vse and price with sundry noble men, as hath bene re∣ported vnto mee credibly.

The greate Turke of all other Princes, doth moste vse to flee with the Eagle, and dothe gyue his Falconers in charge, to man and lure them, as they doe the Goshawke: and beeing throughly manned, hath a caste of Eagles at one tyme, v∣pon one pearche betwixte twoo of his people into the fielde, when they are there, they flee bothe togither, the one at the mowntee, a very stately pitche, and the other more base and lowe, and that Eagle that dothe flye the base pitche, is taught to make a greate noyse as shee roueth too and fro, ouer the Foreste, not muche vnlike the questing or calling of a dogge, by meane of whiche sodayne crye and noyse, diuers tymes there issue out of the couerte, some wylde and sauage beasts, whiche are no sooner discryed by that high fleeing Eagle, but sodaynly she bateth of hir pitche, & stoupeth from hir wings, & at the downecome either seazeth or rifleth some one of them, slaying them by force, vntill the dogges maye make in to hir reskewe. And thus betwixt the Eagle and curres, the praye

is taken not without the greate pleasure and lyking of that mightie Prince the Turke. You maye gesse of the excellencie of this gallante pastime, if it bee trewe, as it is vouched by report. Heerein I can affirme nothing of my selfe, but do fo∣lowe mine authour, from whome I collected this kinde of hawking, and ambolde to make recytall of it in this place, bothe for the hugenesse of the fowle, as also the straungenesse of the practise.

All these kindes of Eagles, haue their Tyercelles or male birdes, of whome some huge, some of myddle syse, and other some lesse, whiche are called Bastarde Eagles, not had in a∣ny accompte.

Thus (as you see) haue I layde downe to your vewe and iudgements, the kindes and sortes of Eagles, with their pro∣per descriptions due to them, and other poyntes incident to their natures: and haue stayed more aboute the matter, than needed, in mine owne opinion, beeing a fowle so little in vse with vs, but I haue done it as well to make my diuision per∣fectly, as also to decipher that, whiche euery one perhappes hath not read, as touching the naturall inclination of this royall birde, who for that shee is Queene and chiefe of all hawkes, deserueth some larger discourse than the reste, whiche are in nature more base, though in vse more familiar and ordinarie.

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

[illustration] depiction of falcon

THere are seauen kindes of Falcons, and among them all for hir noblesse & hardy courage, & withall the francknesse

of hir mettell, I may, & do meane to place the Falcon Gentle in chiefe.

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

The Haggart Falcon. 2 The seconde is the Haggart Falcon, whiche is otherwise tearmed the Peregrine Falcon. The Haggart is an excellent good byrd, but (as my Authour affirmeth) very choyce, and tē∣der to endure hard weather: but in mine owne conceyte she is in nature farre otherwise. And my reason is this, that shee should be better able to endure colde than the Falcon Gentle, bycause she dothe come from forayne partes a straunger, and a passenger, and doth winne all hir pray and meate at the har∣dest by mayne wing, and doth ariue in those parts where she is taken when the fowles do come in greate flockes, whiche is the very hardest parte of the yeare. Moreouer being a whote Hawke by kinde, she shoulde the better sustayne the force of weather, and that shee is a whot Hawke of nature, may bee gathered by hir flying so high a pitche, which I take to be, for that in the higher parts, she findeth the colder ayre, for y^e midle Region is more cold, than the rest, bycause thither commeth no reflexion. And agayne, shee meweth with more expedition (if she once begin to cast hir feathers) than the other Falcons do. But these poyntes of controuersie I leaue to the learned, and such as haue the experience of the matter.

The Barberie, or Tartaret Falcon. 3 The third is that Falcon which is called the Tartaret, or Barbary Falcon, whome they doe chiefly vse in Barbary, and

most accompt of.

The Gerfalcon. 4 The fourth is the Gerfalcon, which is generall, and com∣mon ynough, as well in Fraunce, as in other places.

The Sacre. 5 The fifte, is the Falcon Sacre.

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

The Tunician. 7 The seauenth is the Tunician Falcon. These seuē kinds of Falcons, are al hardie and good, according to the pray that belongeth to their force and nature. For they are diuers in nature, and of seuerall plumes, and besides that, disclosed and eyried in diuers countries. Wherefore, I meane to touche e∣uery one of their natures, and to declare you, wherevnto eche is enclined, according as they are māned, and gouerned, and first of all I will treate of the Falcon Gentle.

But before I speake of the Falcon Gentle, I will some∣what touch the Etimologie of the name, and lay downe the opinions of two learned men, and auncient writers as tou∣ching that matter.

Firste Suidas a Greeke Authour dothe affirme that Falco which in our mother speach doth import a Falcon, is a gene∣rall name to all Hawkes of pray and rauine, as Accipiter is in Latine, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Greeke.

Festus, he is of opinion, that the Falcon is so named, by∣cause of hir pownces and crooked Talons, which do bend like vnto a syth, or sickle, which in Latine is called Falx.

But wherehence soeuer the name is deriued, this is moste assured, that of all other birds of pray, the Falcon is most ex∣cellent and the very prince of all other Hawkes, both for hir goodnesse of wing, and great hardinesse and courage.

Of the Falcon gentle and hir propertie.

[illustration] depiction of falcon

THe Falcon Gentle, by nature doth loue to flee the Hearon euery way, and is a very good Hearoner as well from hir

wings at the downe come, as from the fiste, and aforehead, and will flee all other kindes of greater fowles, as those which are tearmed birdes of Paradise, fowles more large than the Hearon. Moreouer she is good to flee the shoueler a fowle like the Hearon, but somewhat lesse, the wilde Goose, and such o∣ther like fowles, and therefore is excellente at the Riuer or Brooke. If you take the Falcon gentle an eyesse, you maye boldly flee the Crane with hir, but if she be not an eyesse, she wil neuer be so hardie as to venture on the Crane. And ther∣fore being an eyesse, and neuer seing, nor knowing any other lesse fowle than the Crane. If you cast hir off to the Crane, she foorthwith thinketh it to be a fowle fitte for hir, and by meane thereof fleeth the Crane very well, and becommeth a very good Crane fleer, for Hawkes commonly proue eyther cowards, or hardie after that they are first quarred.

An Obseruation.

IF a man doe well, he shoulde neuer take the Falcons out of the eyrie, till time they be full summed, and hard penned, or if he do happily committe that errour, he should not man hir, but presentlie cause hir to be conueyed and placed in an ey∣rie, that most doth resemble the eyrie of a Hawke, if he maye conueniently come by any such, and ther breede hir, and feede hir with good fleash, such as is the fleash of Pullets, Chickens, Pigeons, & such like, for otherwise hir wings will not grow to any perfection, and hir legges and other partes woulde quickly be broken and waxe crooked, and hir traine feathers, and for the most part, all hir long feathers and flagges be ful 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 describe you the perfecte shape of a right good Falcon, suche a one as is very like to be good, though many times we see, that in proofe, the most likely things to shew, & to the eye, become in proofe, the worste and of least regard.

The shape of a good Falcon therefore is, first to haue wyde nares, high and large eyeliddes, a greate blacke eye, a rounde head somewhat full on the toppe, a shorte thicke beake blewe as azure, a reasonable highe necke, barbe feathers vnder the clappe of the beake, a good large breaste, rounde, fleshy, strong, harde, and stiffe bended. And that is the true cause, why the Falcon doth greatlye affye in hir breaste, and striketh with it, and gageth it moste at hir encounter. And by meane she is very strong armed, shee vseth the more freely also to stryke a fowle with hir pownces and talons. Moreouer she muste be broade shouldered, shee muste haue slender sayles, full sides, long and greate thighes, she must be strong and short armed, large footed, with the seare of the foote softe, and all one for hewe with the seare of the beake and nares, blacke pownces, long wings and crossing the trayne, whiche trayne ought to be short, and apte to bende and bowe to euery side. For in the trayne of a hauke doth consist a greate helpe, when she flyeth. And therefore (as well as for beautie) if a trayne feather or couert feather be broken, or brused, we do couet to ympe them agayne, or set them to right, bicause it may be the lesse hinde∣raunce to the hawke in hir flighte.

You muste note that those verye Falcons, that are of one kinde and sort, haue very greate difference and oddes betwixt them, and are called by diuers names, according to the tyme that a man beginneth to deale with them, & doth vndertake them, according to the places where they haunte, and accor∣ding to the countries whence they come.

They are diuided into Mewed hawkes, Rammage haw∣kes, Sore hawkes, and Eyesses, into large hawkes, meane hawkes, and slender hawkes, all whiche are of diuers and se∣uerall plumes and mayles, according to the diuersitie of the regions. Also they are of diuers prices, according to the good∣nesse and estimation of them. Agayne, some are blacke Fal∣cons, some russet Falcons, some other blancke Falcons: some of whiche are riuer Hawkes, to slaye the fowle at the brooke, and other some fielde hawkes, to flye the lande, and there to

kill the Fesant, Partridge, and such like fowles. Thus you see howe diuers and many they be, according to their outwarde accidentes, & yet in nature, all Falcons. Therefore, bicause I am to treate of euery kinde 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 I may, let passe nothing, that shall belong in any respect vnto the Falcō, but that in one place or other you shall finde it.

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

THe firste name and terme that they bestowe on a Fal∣con, is an Eyesse, and this name dothe laste as long as she is in the eyrie, & for that she is taken from the eyrie.

Those Falcons are tedious, and do vse to crye very muche, in their feeding they are troublesome, and paynfull to bee en∣tred: but beyng once well entred and quarred, they leaue a greate parte of that vice, and do proue very good to the Hea∣ton, and to the ryuer, and all other kindes of fowle. They are hardy, and naturally full of good mettall.

2 The seconde name is a ramage Falcon, and so she is cal∣led when she hath departed and left the eyrie, that name doth laste, and she is called a ramage hawke, May, Iune, Iulie, and August. These Falcons are harde to be māned by reason of the heate, and for that they can ill brooke hunger, or to stand emptie panneld: but who so can vse them with pacience and iudgemente, shall finde them passing good, for that they are without faulte.

3 Thirdlie they are called sore Hawkes, from the ende of August, to the laste of September, October, and Nouember.

Those hawkes are of good disposition, they will doe verye well, and are in their prime and full pryde for beawtie and goodnesse. Neuerthelesse those firste plumes that they haue, when they forsake the eyrie, those doe they keepe one whole

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 do become better and bet∣ter to be manned and kept.

4 The fourth speach and tearme that is bestowed on them (as my Italian Author doth call them) is, that they are tear∣med Marzaroli, and so are they called from Ianuary, Febru∣ary, Marche, Aprill, vntill the middest of May. I haue no pro∣per englishe phrase for them, but they are very tedious and paynefull, and the reason is, for that they must be kept on the fiste al that space. Diuers of them are great baters, and ther∣fore not very greedy of meate or hungrie, they are but badde Hawkes muche subiect to Filanders, and the wormes: who lookes to win credite or good by keeping them, must be of good experience and no lesse pacience.

5 Fiftly, they are called (Entermewers) or Hawkes of the first cote, 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 proue very good, and hardie Hawkes, but no great trust is to be giuē them, for that they are giddy headed, and sickle: wherefore he that lookes to haue good, or credite by keeping of them, must be very circum∣spect, and regarde their natures very well, and must keepe a good hard hande on them, and muste make his fiste theyr pearche, and neuer in a manner lette them bee from the fiste.

Besides, in those seuen kyndes of Falcons, whiche I spake of in the first deuision, there are included sundrie sortes tear∣med according to the Countries and places where they are eyried and whence they come, the speciall names and pro∣perties of all whiche, I holde it not so needefull to dis∣course vppon, speaking fullie and sufficiently of those seauen kyndes of Falcons in theyr tymes and places, as they shall offer them selues in order vnto me to be deciphered vnto the Reader, to whose good iudgement and industrie I meane

to referre and leaue sundry things whiche I leaue vnspoken of, for that there is no man that is desirous of skill, but, may with ease and will with diligence, (I doubt not) flee ouer to those ve∣ry Authours in Frenche and Italian, from whence I haue made this briefe collection, where he shall be assured to fynde things more at large set out: but the effect (vnlesse I be decey∣ued) comprysed in these fewe pages of paper, aswell concer∣nyng the kyndes of Hawkes, as also their mannyng, luring, flightes, mewing, diseases and cures in euery condition, as (I trust) to the pleasure and profite of the gentle and willing reader. Wherfore I wil now proceede to the Haggart Falcon, a most excellent byrde, if hir nature and propertie be obserued in dewe maner.

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

I Haue many times studied with my selfe, for what cause the Haggart Falcons, the most excellent byrdes of all other Fal∣cons, haue bene termed Haggart or Peregrin Hawkes. And at first was of opinion that men so called them, for that they are brought vnto vs, from farre and forayne countries, and are in deede meere strangers in Italie, and (as a man may call them) trauaylers. 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 conueyed thither from forayne regions· but if they shoulde be termed Peregrine or Haggart Falcons, for this onely cause, and onely in respect hereof and nothing else, then might we as well bestow that name also vpon all other Falcons, that are not bredde in Italie, as vpon the Tunician and other Hawkes that are passengers. Wherfore I am of opinion, that for three causes principally and in chiefe, they are called Haggart, or Peregrine Falcons.

1 First, bicause a man can not finde, nor euer yet did any man Christian or Heathen, fynde their eyrie in any Region, so as it

may well be thought, that for that occasion they haue atchieued and gotten that name and terme of Peregrine or Haggart Fal∣cons, as if a man, would call them Pilgrims or Forayners.

2 The second cause is, bycause these Falcons do rangle and wander more than any other sorte of Falcons are wonte to do, seeking out more straunge and vncouth coūtries, which in deede may giue them that title of Haggart and Peregrine Hawkes, for their excellencie, bycause they do seeke so many straunge and forayne coastes, and do rangle so far abrode.

3 The thirde and last cause, I do thinke, may be their beau∣tie and excellencie, bycause this worde (Peregrino) or Peregrine, doth many tymes importe an honorable and choyce matter, had in great regard: but it skilleth not muche whiche of these three alleged is the true cause, wee will not stande vpon the nyce poynt, for that a good Falconer, ought much more to regarde the searchyng out of the true nature and propertie of Hawkes, than to haue so great and speciall respect vnto their names and termes.

Wherefore I conclude, that these Haggart Falcons are not of Italie, but transported and brought thither from forayne pla∣ces, as namely from Alexandria, Cyprus and Candie. And yet this is for certayne, that in Italie there are taken of these Hag∣gart Falcons, as in the dominiō of the renowned Duke of Fer∣rara, and in the countrie neare Rauenna, beyng brought thither by force of weather and winde. And by that meanes there are none of those Haggarts founde eyesses, but they are all eyther soare Hawkes, or mewed Haggarts.

Of shape and proportion they are like the other Falcons, and are of three sortes, as touchyng their making, and moulde, that is to say, large, little, or Falcons of a middle sise. Some of them are long shapte, some shorte trussed Falcons, some larger, some lesse.

They are ordinarily of foure mayles, eyther blancke, russet, browne, or turtle maylde, and some pure white maylde, with∣out any iote or spotte of any other colour, but those a man shall ver seldome see. And for that cause I meane not to say much

of that kinde of mayled Falcons, but will deale with suche as are more ordinarie in vse.

Of the good shape of a Haggarte Falcon.

[illustration] depiction of haggart falcon

A Good and right Haggart Falcon ought to haue hir head of a darcke or blancke plume, flatte on the toppe, with a white wreath or garlande enuironing hir head, a large blew bending beake, wide nares, a great, full, blacke eye, hie, stately necke, large brest, brode shouldred, a great feather, in colour like the feather of a Turtle, log vanes and sayles, but slēder shapte, long traine, hie thighes, and white on the inside, I meane hir pendant fea∣thers, shorte, and great armed, large wide foote, with slender stretchers and talons, and the same to be eyther pale white maylde, or pale blewysh, tending somewhat to azure. These are generally, the most assured tokens of an excellent Haggart Fal∣con.

How to know a Haggart by hir fleing.

A Good skilfull Falconer, will quickly discerne a good Hag∣garte Falcon, from a sleight Falcon, though he be farre of, by the stirring of hir wings. For that a Haggart Falcon vseth not a thicke stroke, but stirreth hir wing by leasure and seldom, and getteth vp to hir mountee, without any great making out. And although perhaps she be not so large as the sleight or sore Falcon, yet to seeming and shewe she is more large, which hap∣peneth by meane of hir sayles, which in very deede are of grea∣ter scope and compasse than the sleight Falcons are. Contrary∣wise, the sleight Falcon she vseth a more short and quicker stroke with hir wing, than the Haggart dothe, and doth not deale so leasurely. There are besides this one difference, sundrie other, betwixt these two kindes of Falcons, which in this place, I will deliuer you, for that you shal the better iudge the oddes betwixt them, being both very good Falcons, and the best of all other, both for field and riuer.

The difference and oddes betwixt the Hag∣gart, and the Falcon Gentle.

FOr that diuers haue delight to know the difference betwixt the Falcon Gentle and the Haggart, I will here shewe you

certayne speciall poynts concernyng the difference of them both. First the Haggarte is a larger hawke than the Falcon gentle, and a longer armed Hawke, with a reasonable large foote, and hyr talons more long than the Falcon gentles are, a high necke and a long, a fayre seasoned head, and a more long beake than the other hath.

1 The beame feathers of the Haggart, as she is in hyr flight, are longer than the Falcon gentles, hir trayne somwhat larger, the Haggart hath a flatte thighe, but the Falcon gentle a round thighe.

2 The Haggart will lie longer on hyr wings than the Fal∣con gentle, and hath a more deliberate and leasurely stroke than the other Falcon hath, as I sayd before.

3 From the fiste, it is reported by some, that the Falcon gen∣tle dothe flie more speedely than the Haggarte, but at a long flight the Haggarte is farre the better of both, and doth excell all other kinde of Hawkes both for good wing, and maynteynance of hir flighte. Which is a perfite proofe of a very good backe.

4 The Falcon gentle is more hastie and whote in all hyr doings than the Haggarte, and is thought more rashe and out∣ragious of nature than the Haggart is. And whē they flee togi∣ther, the Falcon gentle will make hir stowping and downe∣come more vnaduisedly, and will vse the greater haste to be at hir pitche agayne than the other, and missing the fowle at the stowping, the Falcon gentle is in the greater chafe, and will presently flee on head at the checke, so as many times she is harde to come by agayne. Whereas the Haggarte is more deliberate and better aduised, whiche proceedeth in my opinion, for that she better knoweth the aduantage of hir flight, than the Falcon gentle, bycause she hath bene forced often to praye for hir selfe, and hath not bene subiect to the order of any keper, neyther hath had any hande kepte vpon hir, to make hir eger and greedie of the praye, more than naturally she is accustomed to flee at hyr seasons, to gorge hir selfe, whiche she doth both aduisedly and to great aduantage.

5 The Haggarte Falcon is taken in Candie, Rhodes, and

many other places, of that Sea whiche is called Archipelagus, or the Iegean Sea.

6 The best sorte of those Haggart Falcons, haue their beakes of the colour of Azure.

7 Those of Cyprus whiche are small Hawkes and of a rus∣set mayle, they are the moste hardie and ventrous Hawkes of all others.

Much more might be sayde, as touchyng the Haggarte and Falcon gentle, but, for that the Hawkes are dayly in hand and vewe, and bycause I haue a larger field to eare, whiche is, to lay you downe the mannyng of them, and such things as are more necessarie to a good Falconer. I leaue it, and will proceede to the next kinde of Falcon, whiche is the Tartaret or Barbarie Falcon. As touchyng whose name and nature I meane to deliuer you, what I haue gathered as well out of the French copie, as also borowed from the Italian, whom I do much reuerence as well for his language, as for his rare and deepe deuise in all things wherein he doth deale. (∴)

Of the Barbarie Falcon.

[illustration] depiction of Barbary falcon

THe Barbarie or Tartaret Falcon, is a hawke not very cō∣mon in any countrie, and she is called a passenger or passe∣bie, euen as the Haggart Falcon is.

They are not full so large as the Haggart Falcon, though some mē do write otherwise of them, they are red plumed vnder the wing, strong armed with long talons and stretchers. They are very ventrous vpon all kindes of fowles, and will flie at a∣ny game that the Haggart doth. With this Tartarot, or Bar∣barie Falcon, and the Haggart also, you may flee all Maye and Iune, for they are Hawkes, that are very slacke in mewyng at the first, but when they once beginne, they mew and shedde their feathers very faste.

For what cause this Falcon is called a Bar∣bary or Tartaret Falcon.

THese kinde of Falcons are called Barberie Falcons, for that most commonly they make their passage through Barbarie and Tunyse, where they are taken more often than in any other place: As namely in the Iles of Leuant, Candie, Cypres and Rhodes, where these Hawkes do more frequent, and vse than in any other Region, and the Countrie men will sooner take them, by endeuour if they may, than any Hawkes that are eyreed in their countrie. And truly I doo not thinke, that in any other place there are so many good Craneslayers, as there are to be had in the Ile of Candie. The reason of it is, for that the Nobilitie and states of the countrie, are much more enclined to keepe those kinde of Hawkes that will kill the Crane, than any other people are elsewhere, and they do enure and make their Falcons to that kinde 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 commendaciō of the Barbarie Falcon: but here with vs in En∣glande, I neuer saw or hearde of the proofe of those Hawkes, to be so good or excellent, as by his reporte I finde them. Sun∣drie other kindes of Falcons proue better with vs here, as name∣ly the Falcon gentle, the Haggarte, and such lyke, which eyther are passengers, or brought to vs from other countries. The Barbarie Hawke is muche lesse than eyther the Falcon Gentle,

or the Haggart, and therefore I will only followe myne Au∣thor as touching his prayse, and so proceede to the next kynde of Falcons, delyuering you both the opinion of the Italian and French Gentlemen therin.

Of the Gerfalcon.

[illustration] depiction of gyrfalcon

THe Gerfalcon is a birde of great force, a verie fayre hawke, specially being mewed, shee is strong armed, shee hath large stretchers and singles, she is fierce and hardy of nature, by meane whereof she is the more difficult and harde to be reclaymed. A Gerfalcon will looke to haue a gentle hand kepte on hir, and hir keeper to be curteous and full of patience. The Gerfalcon is a gallant hawke to beholde, more huge than any other kynde of Falcon, hir eyes and hir head are lyke the Haggart Falcon. She hath a great bending beake, large nares, a mayle like vnto a Laner, verie long sayles, and sharpe poynted, a trayne muche like the Laner, a large foote, marble feared, blanke, russet, and browne plumed as other Falcons be, more beautifull to the eye than any other kynde of Falcon.

These kinde of hawkes are made to flee from the fiste to the Heron, Crane, Goose, Bustarde, and suche other like foules. When they are mewed, they doe verie much resemble the La∣ner, they doe not chaunge the marble seare of the foote. Theyr Tiercels (whome we call Ierkyns) are had in great pryce, they are brought from Leuant, Cypres, Candy, and Alexandria by Merchantes.

The Gerfalcons by report, doe most commonly eyree in the partes of Prussia, and vpon the borders of Russia, and some of them come from the confines and mountaynes of Norway. But most commonly they are taken about Almayne Passebyes (as we terme them) or passengers.

With the Gerfalcon you maye naturally flee all kyndes of foules, as I haue alreadie written of the Haggart, and the Bar∣barie Falcon.

Let it not discourage or amaze you, that the Gerfalcon is so harde to be reclaymed and manned, for the fiercenesse and har∣dinesse of their nature is the onely cause thereof, but in the ende beyng once wonne, they proue excellent good hawkes.

They will sitte verie vpryght and stately on the fiste. Theyr beakes are blewe, and so are the seares of their legges and feete, their pounces and talons are verie long, and in troth, they will lightly refuse to flee at nothing.

At my beyng in Moscouia, I sawe sundrie Gerfalcons, verie fayre and huge hawkes, and of all other kyndes of haw∣kes, that onely byrde is there had in accompte and regarde, and is of greater price than any other. The reason whereof I lear∣ned of certayne Englishe Merchauntes my countrey menne, who tolde me, that the Emperours Maiestie Iuan Vazil∣niche, did vse to flee the Rauen with a cast of Gerfalcons, and tooke no slender pleasure and delight therein.

The Rauen truely is a monstrous strong flight, by meane she is of so great force and wight of wing, and 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 seene a cast of Gerfalcons beate hir in such wise, as she hath bene forced to take the stande, and to pearche in a Pyne or Fyrre tree for hir succour and safetie. But that shifte little preuayles, for no sooner is she pearched, but presently by commaundement of the Emperoure, eache Muscouite drawing his hatchet from his backe (without which tooke they neuer trauell in that countrey) bestoweth his force to the felling the tree, which is lightly doone by meane of many handes, and the tendernesse of the tymber, the hawkes all that whyle lying vpon their winges looking for their game: who finding the tree to fayle hir, at the fall is dry∣uen to trust hir winges agayne, and so by a freshe flight and newe encounter, doth yeelde exceeding pleasure to his Maiestie and such as are in the fielde, and in fyne, is slayne by hir mightie aduersaries the Gerfalcons, who most greedily doe seaze vpon hir, as their kynde hath taught them to doe. I imagine the flight to be verie strong, and truely the pastime and pleasure can not be small, but a game fit for such a mightie Prince as his Maie∣stie is. Thus much of the Gerfalcon.

Of the Sacre.

THere be three kindes of Sacres, the first is called Sephe, after the Babylonians and Assyrians, that kynde of Sacre is

founde in Egypt, and in the weast partes, and in Babylon. She will slay the Hare and such like.

The seconde kynde is called Semy, she kylles the Choughe, as hir proper game wherein she taken the greatest pleasure.

The thyrde is called Hynair or the Peleryn Sacre, after the Egyptians and Assyrians.

She is called a Peleryn or Haggart, for that hir eyree is not knowne, and bycause yearely she maketh hir passage towardes Iudea, or Media, she is taken in the Iles of Leuant, Cypres, Candye, and Rhodes. And therefore some thinke she commeth out of Russia, and Tartaria, and also from the greate Sea. That Sacre that is taken an entermewer, is the best hawke,

The Sacre is of all hawkes the most laboursome, and best able to brooke hir flight. Shee is also peacible and verie tracta∣ble, and a hawke that can best away with course and grosse diet.

The praye of the Sacre are greate foules, the Heron, the Goose, the Crane, Bytor, and withall the small beastes of the fielde and forest.

It is well to be sene, that the Sacre is a hawk somwhat lar∣ger than the Haggart falcon, of a rustie and ragged plume like the Kyte, the seare of hir beake & foote like the Laner, hir poūces but short, neuerthelesse, she is of great force, & hardie to all kynd of foule, as I haue alreadie reported of the Haggart and Barba∣rie Falcons, but not so ventrous and free to flee 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, where she eireeth or discloseth, but at the Rhodes they say they come from the parts of Russia, and Tartaria, and the Ocean Sea. These Sacres are taken in great number in the Iles of Leuant, Candle, Cypres, and Rhodes, & sundry other Ilandes of the Ocean sea. But I must needs con∣fesse to you, that the Sacre is more disposed to the fielde a great deale than to the brooke. As to flee the wilde Goose, the Byttor, the Feasant, the Partridge, and all such like foules. And is no∣thing so daintie of hir dyet, or to be kepte, as the long winged hawkes are.

The Sacre is much like the Falcon Gentle for largenesse, and the Haggart for hardinesse, and is a passenger as the Hag∣garte is.

She is a Hawke chiefly to flee the kite, and yet may be made and manned, to flee the field, and slay other game of the field as the Falcon doth.

The Noble men that take pleasure in the Sacre, to make a flight with hyr at the kite, do vse this order and deuice, to bring the kite downe from hir mountee, for that in the heate of the day she doth vse to sore and flee of an exceding height in the cloudes, to take the comforte of the colde and freshe ayre, that is in the middle region: They tie a foxe tayle to the legge of a Mallard or Ducke, whom they cause to be borne on the fiste of some one Falconer, and do so let the ducke flee in the middest of a playne, whom as sone as the kite descries from hir pitche, she presently bateth of hir gate, and maketh hyr stoupyng to the grounde, and there gazeth and wōdreth at the straungenesse and the shape of this fowle; then do they cast of the Sacre to the kyte, who forth∣with trusting to the goodnesse of hyr wing, getteth vp to hyr pitche, as hie as possible she may, by making often turnes and wrenches in the ayre, where it is a very pleasant sporte to behold the bickring that is betwixt them in the ayre, specially if it be in a playne, where no trees or groues are, to hinder the sight of the matter, and the day fayre and not windie, for then will the Kite and Sacre sore so hie, as they will flee cleane out of sight. But that serueth not the Kytes purpose and turne, for the Sacre ne∣uerthelesse doth conquere hyr in the encounter, beating hyr to the grounde by meane of the sundrie stoupings and downe comes that she maketh vpon hyr.

They flee with the Sacre at twoo sortes of Kytes, that is, to the Kite royall, which is called by the Frenche man, the (Mylan Royall) and at one other kinde of Kyte, called the Blacke Kyte, (the Mylan Noyer) whiche is farre the more nimble byrde of the twoo, and doth more busilie trouble the Hauke in hyr flight than the other doth, by meane she is the lesse of the twoo, and vseth hyr wings farre better. Of al Hawkes, this kind of Hawke hath the

longest trayne. We call the Tyercell of the Sacre, the Sacret, which is the male bird, and the Sacre the female, betwixt whom there is no oddes more than in the quantitie and proportion. For cōmonly among birds of pray, the male is lesse than the female. The Sacre is called in Latine Buteo, and the Sacret Subuter.

Of the Laner.

[illustration] depiction of Lanner falcon

THe Laner is a hawke common in all countries, specially in Fraunce and other places elsewhere, for voluntarily she maketh hyr eyree, and buildeth in high trees and Fo∣restes, and commonly in Crowes nestes or in the high rockes & clyffes neare the sea, according as the coūtrie is for the purpose.

The Haggart is somewhat lesse than the Falcon gentle, faire plumed when she is an entermewer, but of shorter talons than any other kynde of Falcon. And some holde opinion that those Laners that haue the largest and best seasoned heades, and the seare of y^e foote azure or blewish, be the eyesses or soare hawkes, they are the best and choysest Laners.

With this hawke may you flye the ryuer, as well with the Laner as the Laneret, for they are both good, and likewise maye you vse them to other kindes of flightes, and specially to the fielde to kyll the Partridge, the Feasant, the Hare, the Choffe, the Dawe, and al such sort of lesser foule.

The Laner is not ouer daintie of hir feeding, but can better brooke grosse and course vittailes, than any Falcon else can doe.

Mewed Laners and Sacres, are hardely knowne from the soare hawkes, bycause they do not chaūge their plume. By these three signes you shall best know the Laner.

They are more blanke hawkes than any other, they haue lesse beakes than the rest, and are lesse armed and pounced than other Falcons be.

Out of the Italian Author.

THE Laners doe commonly eyree in the Alpes that deuide Italy from Almayne: some of them are reasonable hawkes, some of a middle sute, and some lesse. Their heades are white, & flat aloft, blacke, and large eyed, slender nares, short beake and thicke, and lesser than the Haggart Falcons, or the Falcon gentle.

They are marble or russet maylde, the breast feathers white, full of russet spottes, the points and extremities of their feathers full of rounde white droppes. Their sayles and trayne long,

they are short legged, with a foote somewhat lesse than the Fal∣cons, marble seered: but beyng mewed, they chaunge the seere of the foote to a yelowe.

These Hawkes will brooke to flee long on their winges af∣ter their maner, and when they espie one that goeth abrode with a Sparowhawke to the ••••elde, they presently follow & couer the Spaniels, so as no soner is the Sparowhawke cast of to y^e Par∣tridge, but if she misse or come shorte of hyr game, the Laner stoupeth with great nimblenesse of wing, and eyther killeth the fowle, or otherwise enforceth it to stoupe and fal amid the flight to the grounde.

You shall neuer lightly see a Laner lie vpon the wings, af∣ter she hath flien to marke, but after one stoupyng she maketh a poynt, and then doth awayte for the fowle after the maner of a Gosehawke: for if she misse at the first downecome, or kill not in the foote, she is by nature so slothful and dull, as she will seeke the aduantage, to hyr greatest ease: and therfore doth common∣ly vse vpon the questing and call of the Spanels, to attend very diligently, and so to pray at hir pleasure.

They are highly esteemed in Fraunce, and (as they say) there made to the riuer, and there do they vse to flee with a caste or leashe of Laners to the brooke, and sometimes with the Laners and Lanerets togither, and sometimes do flee the field with the Laner: but in Italie they do not vse this kinde of Hawke at all. With vs in England this kynde of Hawke is in price, but ac∣compted very slouthfull, and hard mettelde, so as vnlesse you keepe a very hard hande vpon hyr, she will do little good, cleane contrarie to the nature of a Falcon gentle, who for one good v∣sage will shewe a treble curtesie, and the better she is rewarded the better will she flee: but vse the Laner well, and she maketh slender accompt thereof, but becommeth slouthfull, and vnapt to flee eyther field or riuer.

Of the Tunician Falcon.

[illustration] depiction of Tunisian falcon

THe Tunician is a Falcon euen muche of the nature of a La∣ner, yet somewhat lesse than the Laner, but verie like hyr in plume and foote, alwayes more sluggish and heauie in hir flight,

and yet more creese than the Laner, and she hath a large rounde heade.

The cause why she is called a Tunycian.

THis Falcon is termed a Tunycian, for that ordinarily and most vsually she is founde to eyree in Barbarie, euen as I haue reported to you, that the Laner doth in Fraunce and other∣where. And bycause Tunyce is the head and chiefe Citie in all Barbarie, and the Prince and state there, commorant and most abyding, holding the court there, and doe most chiefly vse to flee with these kynde of Falcons of all others, they are most chiefly termed Tunycians.

The Tunycian may also be called a Punycian Falcon, for that which we reade of the warres Punicke, against the Car∣thaginenses, beyng mainteined against the inhabitantes of that place, where nowe is situated Tunyce.

The Tunycian is large, approching neare the nature of a Laner, and verie like in plume and mayle, and not vnlike, for the seare of hir foote, but somewhat lesse, and of a longe flyght: hir head is large and rounde.

They are excellent good for the ryuer, and will lye well vp∣on their winges, and flye the field well, as I haue sayde before of the Laner. They doe naturally take pleasure to strike and seaze vpon the Hare, and all other kynde of pray whatsoeuer.

This kynde of Falcons is not so ordinarie or common, in all partes and regions as other hawkes are, saue only in Bar∣barie and Tunyce.

Of the Merlyn.

[illustration] depiction of merlin falcon

THere is a kynde of Falcon that is called a Merlyn. These Merlyns are very much like the Haggart falcon in plume, in seare of the foote, in beake and talons. So as there seemeth to be no oddes or difference at al betwixt them, saue onely in the big∣nesse, for she hath like demeanure, like plume, and very like con∣ditions to the Falcon, and in hir kind is of like courage, & there-must be kept as choycely and as daintily as the Falcon.

Assuredly diuers of these Merlyns become passing good haw∣kes

and verie skilfull, their propertie by nature is to kyll Thrus∣shes, Larkes, and Partridges. They flee with greater fiercenesse and more hotely than any other hawke of praye. They are of greater pleasure, and full of courage, but a mā must make grea∣ter care, and take good heede to them, for they are such busie and vnruly things with their beaks, as diuers times they eate of their owne feete and talons verie vnnaturally, so as they dye of it. And this is the reason and true cause, that sildome or neuer shall you see a mewed or entermewed Merlyn. For that in the mewe they do spoyle themselues, as I haue before declared.

My Italyan Author hath these words, both of the shape and in commendation of the Merlyn.

The Merlyn is (sayth he) of the shape of a Falcon, lesse than the Sparowhawke, more nimble and wight of wing than any other hawke, she doth kyll all such game and pray as the Spa∣rowhawke doth vse to slay, specially small byrds, namely Larks, Sparowes, and such like, all which she doth pursue with excee∣ding crueltie and courage.

She is reported to be a hawke of the fiste and not of the lure, albeit a man may if he will, make hir to the lure also. She is a verie ventrous hawke and hardie: by this we may coniecture it: For though she be little bigger than a Piegon, yet notwithstan∣ding, she will hazard hir selfe to flee the Partridge, the Quayle, and such other like foules, more large than hir selfe, and wil pur∣sue them in so cruell maner, as sundry times she followeth them, euen to the villages & townes, whether the silly birdes do flee for ayde and rescue, from their naturall foe the hawke.

The Merlin is the only hawke of al others in whom (as mine Author affirmeth) there is no difference betwixt the male and fe∣male, but yet by experience we finde it otherwise, for the female is y^e larger bird of the two, and more big than y^e other in sight.

Some are of opinion, that Lydos, Hierax, in greeke, and Leuis accipiter in Latin, is our Merlyn of whome we speake, and that those birdes of praye whome Aristotle termeth (Leues) to our iudgement shuld be the Merlyns, bicause they are the lesse haw∣kes of all others that are to be founde.

Of the Hobbye.

[illustration] depiction of hobby falcon

OF all birdes of praye that belong to the Falconers vse, I know none lesse than the Hobbye vnlesse it be the Merlyn.

The Hobbye is a hawke of the lure, and not of the fist: also she is of the number of those hawkes that are hye fleeing and towre hawkes, as the Falcon, the Laner, and the Sacre be. If a man be disposed to describe the Hobbye, he can not do better, nor deale more artificially, than to matche hir for shape with the Sacre.

For in good fayth there is but small difference or inequalitie be∣twixt them, saue that the Sacre is farre the huger byrde.

The propertie of the Hobbie in all countries and regions, where they are eyreed, or otherwise brought is to soare and flee vpon the hountesmen and Falconers, and so to follow them verie watchfully, to the ende that when they spring or put vp any smal byrdes, she may sloupe from hir winges, and seaze on them as on hir pray. And this is so ordinary a hawke, and the practise that I speake of so generall, as there is not the simplest bowre or pea∣sant but doth know it. I can make no fitter nor more apte com∣parison, than to resemble the frye and small fish of the sea, being had in chase by the huger sort of fish desirous to deuour them: to the small foules and birds of the ayre, pursued by the Hobbye.

For as sone as the silly fishe that is chased by the Delphin and such like, do perceiue their safetie to be nothing in the Element of water, where, by God and nature they are alotted to liue, eftsone haue they their recourse to the ayre to saue them selues, chosing rather to lye at the mercie of the rauening sea foules, soaring vp∣on the water, than to yeelde them selues in pray to their naturall aduersaries the fish. Euen so the Hobbies perceiuing the huntes∣men or Falconers in the field so hunt the poore Leueret, or flee y^e Partridge, do forthwith accompanie them, soring vpon them, in hope to encounter some one smal bird or other, whom y^e hounds or spanels shal by fortune put vp, and spring by ranging y^e field. Then the Larkes and such like small foules, whose nature is not to braunch or take the tree, but altogither to liue vpon y^e groūd, finding themselues pursued by the hounds and spanels, to begile thē, are enforst to trust to their wings, and to take the ayre, & be∣ing there, finding thēselues molested by y^e Falconers & Hobbies, do make their choyce and election to become a pray rather to the dogs, or seeke mercy among the horse legges, and so to be sur∣prised aliue, than to affie in the curtesie of the cruell Hobbies, and to be taken in their cruell talons, where they are most assured to dye the death.

The Hobby is so nimble and wight of wing, that she dares encounter the Crowe, and to giue souse for souse, and blowe for

blowe with him in the ayre.

This is a naturall and speciall tricke that she dothe vse, es∣pying the Falconers in the field she doth followe them, and at∣tende on them, but it is but for a certaine space, as though in ve∣rie deede she had hyr lymites and boundes prescribed hir, and appoynted howe farre she shoulde flee. For as sone as she lea∣ueth them, she presently scoureth along the syde of some groue or highe woode, where she dothe ordinarily vse to pearch and take the stande.

The Hobbye hath a blew beake, but the seare of hir beake and legges is yellowe. The crynet or little blacke feathers vnder hyr eyes be verie blacke, so as moste commonly they continue and proceede from the beake to the temples or eare burres, and in like manner, is there an other blacke streake that descendeth to eyther side of hir gorge. As touching the top of the heade, it is betwixt blacke and yellowe, but hath two whyte seames vp∣on the necke. The plumes vnder the gorge and about the browes, are reddishe, without spot or droppe. The plumes vn∣der the bellie (or as I may best terme them) the breast feathers, are broune for the most parte, and yet poudered with whyte spottes, as Ermynes. All the backe, the trayne and the wyngs are blacke aloft, she hath no great scales vpon hir legges, vnlesse it be a fewe that beginne behinde the three stretchers and poun∣cies, which are verie large in respect of hir short legges. Hir bra∣yle feathers are engouted twixte red and blacke. The pen∣dant feathers (which are those behinde the thigh) are of a rustie and smokie vernish complexion. When a man seeth hir sore aloft in the ayre, he wil iudge hir vnder the wings, that hir plu∣mage and downe, as well of hir winges as betwixt hir legges, is russet and reddishe mayled.

There are two foules, wherof the one is called (Ian le blancke) which I take to be the Harrohen or capped Kyte, and the other (Blanch queue) the ring tayle, who doe alwayes flee with hir for company, beating and sousing the Larkes, and if happily they spye the Hobbye encountering the Larke, whome they put and force so hir winges, it is a pleasure to behold the game

that is betwixt this cast of bussardes and the hawke. For their desire and intent is to bereaue the sillye Hobbye hir praye: but shee being nimble and wight of wing, encountreth with them, entercepting the Larke from them, manger their might and sundrie times they buckle so together, as you shall see them come tūbling down both yfeare, one fast griping & seazed on the other.

Some would haue that this Hobby of whom I write, should be that byrde whome Aristotle calleth Hipotriorchis, and the Latines Subuteo: but I am not of that mynde, but that it should rather be the Sacret whome Aristotle doth meane. But let the learned reader iudge the controuersie, I am to lay downe their natures and properties, and not to decyde any matter of con∣trouersie which in deede doth belong to the curious Falconer, and not to him that doth imbrace more the sporte, than the di∣uersitie and oddes of speache, which in euerie arte a man shall be assured to fynde. Let it suffice if I gyue the Reader to vn∣derstande the nature of euerie hawke nowe adayes in vse, and withall (according to my promise and meaning) doe let him knowe the meane to flye with them bothe the fyelde and brooke, as also to doe hym to witte, howe to Mewe, Ympe, and cure them beyng diseased. These are the speciall poynts, and such as deserue thankes from me, and commendation from him. I will proceede in the description of the nature of this hawke, ac∣cording to the opinion of the Italian.

The Italians opinion of the Hobbye.

THe Hobbies are more large than the Merlyns, and for beake, eyes, plume, and foote, they verie much resemble the Falcon. They will lye vpon their wings reasonably wel, folowing mē, and spanels, fleing vpon them many turnes, to the end that whē any Partridge or Quayle is sprong, they may the better stoupe from their wings, and so seaze on the foule, which sundry times they doe.

These kinde of hawkes are vsed of such as go with nettes, and spanels. The order of which game is this.

The dogges they range the field to spryng the fowle, and the Hobbies they accustome to flee alofte ouer thē, soring in the ayre, whom the sellie byrdes espying at that aduantage, and fearyng this conspiracie (as it were) betwixt the dogges and Hawkes, for their vndoing and cōfusion, dare in no wise cōmitte themselues to their wings, but do lie as close and flat on the ground, as they possible may do, and so are taken in the nettes.

some Gentlemen haue made reporte, and for truth assured me, that the (Emperoure Ferdinando) of famous memory, did giue his Falconers in charge to keepe & reclayme sundrie Hob∣bies. And his Maiestie diuers times for recreation, would take his horse, and into the fieldes, with a Hobbie on his fiste, holding in his right hād a long slēder pole, or reede seuen foote in length, on the toppe whereof there was conueyed by sleight, a strong line, with a sliding knotte: And, when happely his Maiestie had espied a larcke on the ground, he would forthwith hold vp, and aduaunce his Hobbie, to the vewe of the sellie byrde, whom as soone as the larcke sawe, she would in nowise dare to spryng, but lie as still as a stone, flat vpon the earth, so fearefull they are of the Hobbie in chief of al other Hawkes: then would the Em∣perour at his good leasure and greate pleasure, with his long pole, and the sliding line, take the sellie fowle, and drawe hyr vp vnto him, and truely tooke no small delight in this kinde of pa∣stime, and would cause his Falconers to do likewise, who by this deuise tooke many byrdes, and in this sorte woulde they Hawke frō the beginning of September, to the end of October.

This practise did somewhat resemble, and drawe to the na∣ture of our deuise, in daring of larckes, whiche wee vse at these dayes, but (in my iudgement) nothing so ready and fitte as our pastime and ginne which we haue, whiche is a very good sporte and full of delight, to see the fearefull nature of the sillie Larcke, with the great awe and subiection that the Hobbie hath hyr in, by the lawe of kinde: for assuredly there is no other Hawke, no not the hugest, whom the larcke doth so much feare as y^e Hobbie which may manifestly appeare by this that I haue written, as also by dayly experience and practise in that behalfe.

Of the Goshawke, after the opinion of VVilliam Tardiff a Frenchman.

[illustration] depiction of goshawk

A generall deuision of Goshawkes, whom the French men call Autour.

THere are (sayth he) fiue kindes of Autours or Goshawkes, speaking of the Goshawke in the largest name and nature, comprysed in that woorde, Autour.

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

The second is named a demy Autour, or Goshawke, as it were a kind betwixt twoo other sortes, and that is a spare slender hawke and of little regard, in respect of any good she will do.

The third is the Tyercle whiche is the male, or cocke to the Goshawke, who doth slay the Partridge, and is not of sufficient force to kill the Crane. He is termed a Tyerclet, for that there are most commonly disclosed three byrdes in one selfe eyree, two Hawkes, and one Tiercell.

The fourth kind of Autour is y^e Sparowhawke, whose na∣ture is to kill all kinde of praye that the Goshawke dothe, saue onely the larger sorte of fowles.

The fifth kind is called (Sabech) whom the Egiptians terme (Baydach) which doth very much resemble the Sparowhawke, but is lesse than the Sparowhawke, and hath a very blewe eye.

There are sundrie sortes of Goshawkes, and those brought and conueyed out of sundrie forayne partes and regions, but a∣mong thē all, that Goshawke that is bred & eyreed in Armenia, and Persia, is the principall best hawke, and then next to hyr in goodnesse, the hawke of Greece, and lastly that of Afrike.

The hawke of Armenia hath hyr eyes greene, but y^e best of y^t kinde is she that hath blacke eyes, & blacke plumes on hir backe.

The hawke of Persia is large, wel plumed, cleare and deepe eyed, with hangyng and pendant eyleddes and browes.

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

the Goshawke of Afrike, hath blacke eyes in hyr soarage, but being a mewed hawke, hyr eyes become reddish and fierie.

At what times Hawkes begin to fall to liking, which is at Cawking time, all byrdes of pray do assemble themselues with the Goshawke, and do flocke togither. As namely the Falcon, the Sacre, and such other that liue on praye and rauine.

And hereof it proceedeth that the Goshawkes become so di∣uers in goodnesse, force, and hardinesse, according to the diuersi∣tie of their choyce, and cawkyng.

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

In Syria they make choyce of their Hawkes, by the Massynes and poyse of them, & do esteeme y^e most weightie Hawke for the best: as for the mayle & conditions they do little regard or prize.

The blancke Goshawke is the largest, the fayrest, and moste apt and easie to be reclaymed, and withall the strongest of all Hawkes of that sorte, for she can kill the Crane. And by reason she is eyreed in a very hie and loftie place, and cā best endure the colde, which is most frife in the middle region of the ayre, there∣fore is she good to flee all fowles of that sorte and condition.

The Goshawke that doth encline and tend to a blacke maile, and that hath superfluous plumes on hyr head, reachyng downe hir fronte or forehead, like a peruque, or borowed hayre, that is a very fayre Hawke for beauty, but nothing strong.

The good proportion and shape of a Goshawke.

SHe ought to haue a small head, hyr face long and straight like the Vultur or Eagle, a large winde pipe or throte, great eyes, deepe set, and the apple or middle parte of the eye blacke, nares, eares, backe and feete, large and blancke, a blacke long beake, long necke, bigge brest, harde flesh, long thighes, fleshie, and di∣stant one from the other, the bone of the legge and knee shorte, long and large pounces, and talons.

The shape from the sterne or trayne, to the brest forwarde, ought to grow to a roundenesse. The feathers of the thighes to∣wards the trayne should be large, and the trayne feathers, short, softe, and somewhat tending to an yron mayle.

The brayle feathers ought to bee, like the brest feathers, and the couert feathers of the trayne, should be spotted, and full of blacke rondels, but the colour of the very extremitrie and poynt

of euery trayne feather, ought to be blacke streaked. Of mayle & colour, the best is the red, somewhat tending to blacke or playne grieseld.

The signes of a good Goshawke, are haughtie courage, de∣sire and greedie luste to feede, often tyring and plucking of hyr meate, suddayne snatching of hyr foode vpon the fiste, good endu∣ing, and great force in assayling hir game.

The signe of boldenesse in a Goshawke is this, tie hyr in an open lighte place, and after a while darcken and obscure it, by shutting some windowe or such like deuice, then touche hyr vp∣pon the suddayne at vnwares, if she then iumpe, and leppe to the fiste without feare or astonishment, that is an assured signe of hardinesse in a Goshawke.

The token of force in a Goshawke, is this, tie diuers Gos∣hawkes in sundrie places of one selfe chamber or mewe, and that Hawke that dothe s••ise and mewte hiest and farthest of from hir, vndoubtedly is the strōgest Hawke, for that one point declareth and argueth a good strong backe in the Hawke.

A token of goodnesse and excellencie in those demie Gos∣shawkes, whom my Author doth terme (petite Autours) is to haue large and cleare eyen, a small head, long necke, lowe and close plume or downe, harde fleshe, a greene seere of hir foote, large stretchers and not gowtie or fleshie, quicke enduyng, large panell, and able to slyse farre from hir when she mewteth. The point of the beake to be blacke is a very good signe.

The ill shape of Goshawkes.

ALbeit there be a generall rule, that (contraria contrarijs dinos∣cuntur) which is that one contrarie is knowen sufficiently by the other, and therefore hauing made you full shewe of the good shape of Goshawkes, the ill proportion will easely thereby fall out and be descerned of it self without any farther trauayle, yet neuerthelesse followyng mine Authour, I think it not amisse to decypher you the ill forme of a Goshawke: which is, to haue

a great head, a shorte necke, to be thicke and grosse plumed, softe fleshed, short thighed, long armed, shorte talons, tawnie hewed, tending to blacke, and harde and rough vnder the foote.

A Goshawke that when she is loose in the house, flees as though she were at large and libertie, breakyng out of a mewe hauyng great grosse feathers, eyes as redde as bloud, that is e∣uermore batyng, and beyng set on the perche, offreth to flee at the face of a man, suche a Hawke if she be kepte lowe in fleshe can not be borne on the fiste, if she be hie and full of fleshe, she wil not then abide with hir keeper, but rangle and gadde: wher∣fore of such Hawkes there is no accompt to be made at all.

A fearefull Goshawke is hardly to be reclaymed and man∣ned, for the feare she hath will alwayes cause hyr to refuse the fiste and lure, and make hyr checke, and not willingly repayre to any deuise wherwith she is called and rappelde, after hyr flight: whiche is a verie great inconuenience in a Goshawke, and no small hindrance to the sporte of him that shall happen to haue suche a fearefull Hawke: for commonly vnlesse they be firste fonde of the keeper, and in loue with the call, they will not flee their game to the likyng of their owner, and the tediousnesse in commyng by them agayne after the flight, dothe breede forget∣fulnesse of the pastime, how good and delectable soeuer it were before.

That Goshawke, that hath pendant plumes ouer hyr eyes, and (as they say in the Countrie) whose feathers hang in hir light, the whyte of whose eye is very watrishe and blancke, that is redde maylde, or bright tawnie, hath the moste assured token that may be of ill condicions, and is not like to be well cōming. But if happely such a Hawke fall once to be good, she will then proue a passing Hawke.

Sometimes (though very seldome) do wee see a Goshawke of badde shape and in condition cleane contrarie to those signes that ought to be lookt for in a good Goshauke, proue light, lusty, able to hold out and maintayne hir flight, and such a one as will very well slay the greater sorte of fowles.

The Goshawkes praye, is the Fezant, the Malard, the wilde Goose, the Hare and Conie: besides all whiche she will strike ventrouslie, and seaze on a Kidde or Goate, and keepe him play so long, as the dogges at length shall come in to assyste hir and further the fall of it, whiche doth manifestly decypher 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 bene of this resolute minde, that the (Autour) or Goshawke hath bene of the kind of a Vultur, for the affinitie and nearenesse of their termes and names: for (Autour) in the French, is that Hawke whom we call the Gos∣hawke, and (Vantour) is the Vultur, which twoo termes, as you see, draw very neare to one speach.

Some other haue been of opiniō that betwixt y^e Goshawke and Sparowhawke, is no oddes or differēce in nature, saue only in respect of the hugenesse of that one, and the slendernesse of the other: but my purpose is to treate of the Goshawke seuerally from the Sparowhawke, and so to proceede to the Sparow∣hawke, of whom I wil write, according to the French and Ita∣lian Authours, in a seuerall chapter by it selfe, to auoyde the cō∣fusion, which otherwise might happen in that behalf.

The Goshawke is euer more regarded than hyr Tiercell, for the males, or cockes among Hawkes and byrdes of praye, do make euident proofe and shew to the eye, of their difference from the femals and Hawkes.

Againe we may with ease discerne the Goshawke from hyr Tyercell, for that she is farre larger, thā the Tiercell of hir kind.

The Falconers and Ostregers, haue to these two sorts, added a thirde kinde (as I sayd before) whome they terme the Demy∣goshawke, as a byrde indifferent, betwixt the other twoo.

Bothe kindes of them are more hie, and longer armed than eyther the Falcon, or Gerfalcon: they are Hawkes of the fiste, and (as wee call them) rounde winged Hawkes, quite contrarie

to those I wrote of before, all whiche are Hawkes of the lure, and long winged Hawkes, otherwise called Towre Hawkes.

The Hawke (I meane the female) is uery much like the E∣gle in mayle, and if wee may make bolde to compare the lesse with y^e larger, she hath a more stately high necke than the Egle, and of a more redde or yron mayle, the grownde of hir plume and downe tending to a redde colour.

Those Goshawkes that are of Slauonia, are good at all ma∣ner of game, large, hardie, and fayre plumed, their toungs black, and their nares great and wide.

There are Goshawkes, whom the Italians call, Alpisani, or haukes of the Alpes, which are much vsed in Lombardie, and Tuscane, they are more thicke than they are lōg, fierce & hardie.

But those Goshawkes that our Ostregers haue now adaies, are chiefly conueyed out of Almayne, hauing their eyes and the feare of the beake as also of theyr feete and legges, yellow, con∣trarie to the Gerfalcon, whose feare is blew and azure.

Their traynes are garnished with large droppes or spottes, crossing the feather, partie blacke, and partie grey, as also the plumes of the necke and head, are more towardes a russet, and powdred with blacke, but those of the thighe and vnder the bel∣lie or pannell, are otherwise marked, for they are not full so yel∣lowe, hauing rounde droppes on them, not muche vnlike those that are on the Peacockes trayne.

The Goshawkes of Almaine are not verie fayre though they be large Hawkes, redde mayled, and yet not hardie.

There are sundrie of them good in their soarage, but beyng once mewed proue nothing worthe: there be diuers of thē taken in the forest of Arde, and in sundrie places of Almaine. The Greekes haue called the Goshawke Hierax, the Latins Accipi∣ter 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 Goshawke, bicause you shall see the seuerall opinions of sundrie wryters, and gather to your owne vse, what shall occurre and thwarte best with your liking, for it is not the mayle and plume

of the Hawke that I so greatly regard, or do meane to stand vpon, as the making, reclayming, diseases, and cures of the sayd Hawkes, each one after their proper nature and quali∣tie, if so my health will giue me leaue to runne myne authors through aduisedly, according to my meaning and resolutiō, at what time I first vndertooke this collection.

Out of the Italian concerning the Goshawkes and their kinds.

THere are sundie sortes of Goshawkes, according to the diuersitie of places and regions. There be Hawkes of Armenia, Slauonia, Sardinia, Calament, of the Alpes, whiche they vse in Lombardie, Tuscan, Marca, and Puglia, some other of Russia, Friuli, 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 deciphe∣red the natures of the most part of them.

First of al there are Goshawkes, called 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 fayre and huge, the mayle of them is blancke, as sundrie haggart Falcons be, they flee with great courage and life, all greater sort of fowles.

There are others eyried in Slauonia and Dalmacia, and thence are they tearmed Slauon Goshawkes, which indeede are good for any thing a man will employ them vnto. Very fayre & hardy Hawkes, large footed, very well penned, theyr downe and plumage excellent fine, their tungs blacke, and their nares large and wide.

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

Those of Calament are short trussed Hawkes, and large, blancke seared on the foote, those flee the greater fowles ex∣ceeding well.

The Goshawkes of the Alpes, and of Calabria, are in a manner more large than they are long, very prowde, and hardie Hawkes.

The Goshawkes of Lombardie are not very large, browne mayld, 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 blancke Hawkes, and taken vp of great Princes and noble states, they are apt and able to do any thing that may be looked for from Hawkes of that kinde. My selfe haue seene great store of them in the Ci∣tie of Mosqua, which is the chiefe dukedome of all Russia. The Moscouits & Tartarians doe vse to flee with those Goshawkes at the brooke, & there do beate vp the fowle with ȳe drumme, without whiche you shall seldome see a Boyaron (as they tearme them) which is a Gentleman, ride at any time. And one speciall thing which I noted among them was, that as well Moscouites, as Tartares, do vse to beare their Hawkes on the right fiste, whiche is cleane contrary to our manner and guise heere in England, or in any other Region that I haue heard or seene, saue only in those North partes, no reason I can yeeld for it, but that, each countrey for the most part hath his fashion.

Those of Friuli, are good Hawkes, and large, but not so fayre as the Slauon Hawkes.

Note this, that a good Goshawke ought to be littell, and broad shouldred, large brested, very round and fleshly, hauing a long thigh, a short legge or arme, and the same greate, 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 Goshawkes are by nature greedye, and catching of whome some we vse to flee the riuer, and fresh brookes, and some the Sea, and othersome agayne the field, and neuer or very seldome the riuer or brooke.

The firste sorte for the most parte doe pray vppon Duckes, Geese, Hearons, Shouelers, and such lyke fowle, as do vsual∣lie haunt, and liue in the Sea and riuers. And those diuers times doe seaze and take theyr pray vppon the suddayne at vnwares, by fleeing lowe neare the ground, and stealing vp∣pon the fowle.

The other, after a while that they haue vsed to flee the field, do pray on Pigeons, Pullets, Hennes, and Partridges. And being once mewed hawkes, and past their soarage, they will take the stand vppon some tree, and finding eyther Pa∣tridge, Fezant, Pullet, Henne, or suche other like fowle, they make their stowping so fiercely and in such great hast, and do flee them so farre before hed and at randon, mayntayning, and making good their flight, as in the end they kill them, and do pray vpon them.

Of the Goshawkes, those that bee ventrous, and hardie, will kill the Hare, and hauing kilde him, diuers times, they swallow in for hast greate bones, and doe put them ouer very well, and endue them safely withoute anye hurte at all.

Those that are the riuer Goshawkes, and doe haunte the water, and brookes, are commonly the moste hardy and ven∣trous Hawkes of all that kynde, and do at the riuer of theyr owne inclination and nature fall to kill the greate fowles of the Riuer, of whyche I haue before made recitall and mention.

Truely the Goshawke is very muche to be regarded for hir hardie mettall and courage, for that therein she is not inferiour to anye kynde of Hawke, but rather more fearce and eger. And agayne to bee kept with greater care, for that shee is more choyce and daynty, and doeth looke

to haue a more nice hard kept on hir, than any other kind of Falcon or Hawke, vnlesse it be ȳe Sparowhawke, which is all one in a maner in nature with the Goshawke, and of whom I purpose now to write.

Of the Sparovvhawke out of the french Authors.

[illustration] depiction of sparrowhawk

I Wil now write somewhat of the Sparhawke, for that she is in hir kynde, and for that game that hir strength will giue hir leaue to kill, a very good Hawke, and much vsed in Fraunce, And besides, he that knowes well how to man, reclayme, and flee with the Sparhawke, may easely know how to keepe, and deale with all other Hawkes. More∣ouer it is a Hawke, that serues both winter and somer, with great pleasure, and the game that she fleeth is ordinarie, and common to be had, and she will generally flee at all kynde of game, more than y^e Falcon, or than any other kind of Hawke will. And the winter Sparhawke, if she proue good, will kill the Pye, the Iaye, the chough, the Woodcocke, the Thrush, the blacke Birde, the Veylfare, and sundry other sortes of byrdes.

The diuersitie of Sparhawkes according to their times and ages.

1 THe Eyasse hawke, is she that is taken in the eyree.

2 The brancher, is she that followeth the old Hawke, frō braunch to braunch, and tree to tree, whiche is also tearmed a ramage Hawke.

3 The Sore Hawke, is she that hath flien, and prayed for hir, and is taken before she mewe.

4 The fourth kynde, is that Hawke, that is mewed, and hath cast hir soare feathers.

The good shape and proportion of a Sparhawke.

SParhawkes are of diuers ploumes, some are smal plumed, and blanke Hawkes, othersome of a larger feather, whiche are not so good in oure opinion as for theyr shape. The Hawke that is well shapt is large and short, with a slender heade, large, and broade shouldred, bigge armed, large

and wyde footed, and blacke maylde, with a good great beake, hir eyes somewhat hollowe, and deepe set, blanke eye liddes, the seare of hir beake twixt greene and white, a hie bigge necke, long wings, reaching quite athwart the bodie of the Hawke, so as the poynt of the wing meete with the toppe of the trayne very neare, and that hir trayne be not ouerlong, but of a reasonable broade feather, sharpe pownces, small and blacke, and euermore well disposed to feede hungerly & with great appetite.

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

The Sore Hawke is hard to bee manned, but will prone good, if she will once brooke company, this Hawke, for that she hath prayed for hir selfe, is very ventrous and hardie.

The best Sparowhawke, is that Hawke whom we cal the brauncher.

What kindes of Sparowhawkes there are.

THere are Sparowhawkes, whome the Italians call (di¦ventimiglia) whiche are large and long Hawkes, with a greate beake, large foote, and with thirteene feathers in the trayne. Those Hawkes are excellēt to flee any kind of game.

There are other called Slauon Hawkes, good for all purpo∣ses, and full of hardinesse, long and large Hawkes, hauing a great long beake, and blacke brest feathers.

There are others of Calabria not very large, but of greate courage, plumed like the Quayle, that will do according as they are taught and manned.

There be sparowhawkes eyreed in Corsica and brought frō Sardinia, small Hawkes, browne or canuas maylde, that will flee very well.

Those of Almania are very slender, and nothing good.

The Hawkes of Ʋerona and Ʋicentia, are of meane size, and many of them do proue to be good Hawkes.

There be Sparohawkes called Alpisani, of the Alpes, that are large, wight of wing, and ventrous to flee any kynde of fowle.

Ther are others eyreed in y^e bale of Sabbia, of a reasonable lise, russet maylde, entermedled with golden spottes, or drop∣pes, like the turtle, those be very good to flee great fowles.

Ther is one other kind of Sparowhawkes, eyreed in Berga∣masca, in a vallie called the Blacke vale, neare the confines of Ʋoltolina, slender Hawkes, browne mayld, good to be 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 kinde of hawkes, in parte for that the hawkes are of sundry and seuerall plumes, according to the diuersitie of countries and regions, where they are eyreed: and parte, for that the hawkes themselues are so ordinary in vse, as it were to be esteemed but a superfluous labour, to waste muche tyme therein, in penning of that, which is (in the opinion of men) of no greate importance. My chiefe care and industrie (if health allow mee leaue, and sicknesse too muche offende not my ease) shall consist in the reclayming and māning of all these kindes of hawkes, according to their natures and properties, and in displaying the meanes to flee with them, and to keepe them, both for the fielde and brooke. And after that, in declaration of their diseases, ordinarily incidente vnto their kindes, and the beste remedies for the same, whiche (I doubt not) are the only and chiefest poyntes that the discrete and learned reader will accept from mee, and suche as will moste stande him in steade that doeth meane to deale with hawkes. Wherefore I thus make the Epiloge and conclusion of the first part of my trea∣tise and collection, wherein are contayned all the kindes, names, and the causes of those names, of all suche Hawkes & birdes of pray as are most in vse, and regarded among no∣ble men and gentlemen at these dayes, crauing the Reader to bestowe no lesse good liking vppon the translation and collection heereof (if it in anye parte deserue it) than I

haue employed trauaile and paines in the true search and ex∣amination of the same, both out of the Frenche and Italian Authours, where I must confesse, I haue not translated Ʋer∣batim, and by word of line what I founde (for then had I not dealt so exactly as I now haue done, for that I found sundry thinges not so well agreeing to our humours and vse,) but haue taken my pleasure of them, in making choyce of the chiefest matter, whiche did occurre in them, hoping, that the more my paynes haue bin the lesse shall be mine offence, and the greater the liking of the Reader, and the better hys ac∣ceptaunce: whiche if I finde, both I for my trauayle, shall thynke my selfe sufficiently guerdoned, and the careful Prin∣ter deeme both his coste and charge well employed, beeyng meante, to the benefyte and pleasure of his natiue countrey∣men, whose auayle he chiefly respecteth herein, and not any great aduauntage that shall priuately fall out to him.

Of the Matagasse.

THough the Matagasse be a Hawke of none accompte, or price, neyther with vs in any vse, yet neuerthelesse, for that in my deuision I made recitall of hir name, according to the French Author, from whence, I collected sundrie of those poynts and documents, appertayning to Falconrie: I thinke it not beside my purpose, briefly to describe heere vnto you, though I must needes confesse, that where the Hawke is to so slender value, the definition, or rather description of hir na∣ture and name must be thought of no great regard.

The shape of hir is this.

She is beaked and headded like the Falcon, hir plume is of two colours, hir brest white, hir eye, beake, and foote blacke, a long blacke trayne, hir flagges and long fethers partly black, and white, and the coloure of those fethers she chaungeth not, though she mewe neuer so ofte.

Hir feeding is vpon Rattes, Squirrells, and Lisards, and sometimes vpon certaine birdes she doth vse to praye, whome she doth intrappe and deceyue by flyght, for this is hir deuise.

She will stand at pearche vpon some tree or poste, and there make an exceeding lamentable crye, and exclamation, suche as birdes are wonte to do, beeing wronged, or in hazarde of mischiefe, and all to make other fowles beleeue & thinke that shee is verye muche distressed, and standes needefull of ayde, wherevpon the credulous sellie birdes do flocke togither pre∣sently at hir call and voyce, at what time if any happen to ap∣proche neare hir, she out of hande seazeth on them, and deuou∣reth them, (vngratefull subtill fowle) in requitall of their sim∣plicitie and paynes.

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

Heere I ende of this fowle, bicause I neither accompte hir worthe the name of a hawke, in whome there resteth no va∣lour or hardinesse, ne yet deseruing to haue any more written of hir propertie and nature, more than that shee was in mine Authour specified, as a member of my deuision, and there re∣puted in the number of long winged hawkes. For truely it is not the propertie of any other hawke, by suche deuise and co∣wardly wile to come by their praye, but they loue to winne it by mayne force of wings at randon, as the rounde wynged hawkes do, or by free stowping as the hawkes of the Tower do moste commonly vse, as the Falcon, Gerfalcon, Sacre, Merlyn, and suche like, whiche do lye vpon their wing, roding in the aire, and ruffe the fowle, or kill it at the encounter.

I cannot saye, that at any time I haue seene this kinde of hawke, neyther in any booke read of hir nature and dispositi∣on, as I haue here made mention of it, saue onely in my au∣thur, who writing of Falconrie, was so bolde as to rancke hir

among other hawkes, of greater accompt and valewe, and in Gesner, where hee treateth of all kinde of birdes and fowles, where, I remember wel, I haue read of the name and nature of the Matagasse, and there haue seene hir proportion & shape sette downe in coloures, suche as I haue before declared you in this chapter. and, in my iudgemente, no oddes or difference to bee founde, betwixt Gesnerus description, and mine authors, in that behalfe. (∵)