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BEfore I deale with diseases of Hawkes, and cures due to the same, (which is the subiect of this third, and latter parte of my Collection of Falconrie) I holde it very necessarye, and of importance, as well to the attaynement of the cause of
each particular disease, as also the deuise of remedie for eache kinde of mischeefe, to speake somewhat of the complexions of Falcons, vnder whose name and nature (you knowe) in the beginning of this Booke of Falconrie, I haue comprised all other Hawkes, in regarde that the Falcon is cheefe, and the Queene of all other Hawkes: nothing doubting at all, but that diuers will muze at the name and tearme of the comple∣xion of a Hawke, as though indeede there were no such mat∣ter, ledde therevnto by their grosse conceyte and blinded ima∣gination, for that they can not in their opinions iudge so ea∣sily of the natures of Hawkes, as they can of the complexions of men, whose clearenesse and thinnesse of skinne bewrayes their inclination and complexion, whereas Hawkes are not in any condition so to bee deemed and iudged, by meane of their plumes: whiche indeede is farre otherwise, for, as in man the natural complexion is truly discerned by the skinne, so is the naturall disposition and constitution of a Hawke by hir cote and plume: whiche I aduenture not to reporte of my selfe, for that it striueth so much with common sense and ordi∣narie capacitie, but do follow mine Author, and thervpon am emboldned to auow it, not blushing to laye you downe hys speaches, as touching thys matter, though not in the Frenche Phrase, wherein he wrote it, but in the English ydiome, into which I haue translated it.
Artelowch mine Author, writing of the complexions of Falcons, in his treatise of Falconrie, medicines, and cures, and such lyke matter, reporteth, and eke aduiseth
That the blacke Falcons are melancholicke, and therefore should of right be phisicked with hote and moyst medicines, by meane of their complexion, which is cold and drie, as with Aloes, pepper, Cockes flesh, Pigeons, Sparowes, Gotes flesh, and such like.
That the blancke Falcons are flegmaticke, and to be Phi∣sicked with hote and drie medicines, bycause of their flegme, whych is cold and moist, as with Cinamon, Cloues, Siler∣mont, and Cardamomum, Gotes flesh, Choghs & such like.
The russet Falcons be of sanguine & cholericke complexiō, mixt indifferently, and therefore to be phisicked with cold me∣dicines, moderately moyst, and drie:
As with Myrtells, Cassia Fistula, Tamarinds, Vineger, Pullets, Lambs flesh, and suche like.
Hauing spoken thus much of the complexions of Hawkes, a matter not long to be stood vpon, I will referre you ouer to the Italian Authors, as touching the diseases and cures, whose iudgements I do very well allowe, & in many pointes preferre beyond the French Falconers, for that they seeme to be the more reasonable men, and lesse giuen to friuolous in∣uentions. Yet neuerthelesse in the last part hereof, you shall at your pleasure, peruse the French Falconers also, for that I would haue you to want nothing that may be to your better knowledge and furtherance in Falconrie.
IT doth belong to a good and skilfull Falconer, not alone to knowe all kinds of Hawkes, and to haue the cunning how to reclayme, keepe slee, ympe, & mewe the sayd Hawkes, with sundry other like matters incident and appertayning to Fal∣conrie: but it is very necessary and behouefull for him to haue knowledge and good experience in their diseases and cures: for that they are birds subiect to sundrie maladies and acci∣dents, the cure of all whiche dothe rest in the carefull keeper. Wherefore hauing (vnlesse I flatter my selfe) in the former parts of this collection, performed my promise, made in the very entry and beginning of this booke, as touching Hawkes, and other matters belonging to the misterie and skill of Fal∣conrie: it is only left now, and I rest charged, with their dis∣eases and cures, to decipher vnto you the meane to know the maladies, as also a methode to recouer them: wherein if hap∣pelie
any man desire a more ample discourse, of ye natures & o∣riginal causes of those diseases, thā herein I shall bewray, let him know & bethink himself yt I am neither profound Philo∣sopher nor learned phisitiō by professiō, but yt in these I deale as a Falconer, manifesting & making shewe of cures proper & peculiar to euery disease, wherwt I cold euer yet find a Hauke charged, & such as may light vpō any kind of Hawke, by mis∣fortune & casualtie. And as touching remedies for their mis∣cheefes, I meane to speake of very few which I haue not sun∣drie times approued wt very good successe, wherefore I say, yt Hawkes may be diseased and vnperfect, eyther in body or fea∣thers, which I intend & meane, whē they are vnable by any e∣uil aceidēt to performe their parts and dueties in any cōditi∣on, as not to be able to flee, or strayn ye pray wt their pownces, or any such like actiō, which by nature they ought to perform.
In body they are diseased, eyther by some outward cause, as by a stripe, or bruse: or else by some hiddē & inward euill, as by corrupt & contagious humors, proceeding either of too gret heate & moysture of ye head, or otherwise ouermuch drought & siccitie of ye Liuer & inward partes, frō which procedeth many times, the Pantas, & shortnes of breath, & other perilous euils, whereof I meane to write in their peculiar places heereafter.
Again, Hawkes are accustomed to be ill affected & diseased (as I may tearme it) in their feathers, for yt diuers times be∣ing sound of body, & in perfect state of health, yet they cannot flee or stirre their wings, by mean of some brokē or sliued fea∣thers, & especially ye flagges, lōg feathers, or sacels, which sun∣dry times are broken eyther in ye quill, being bloudie feathers, or neare the top or poynt of the feather: the remedie for whiche mischiefe & euill accidēt, I will reserue to the last part of this treatise, as a matter meetest for yt place. But bycause the mis∣chiefes and diseases that grow within the bodies of Hawkes, may best be discerned & knowē by their excrement, and by that which commeth frō them, as namely, by ye casting & muet of a Hawke. Therefore I accompt it most expedient, to haue good iudgemēt, to distinguish & know the diuersitie and difference
thereof, the better to come by the true knowledge of the disea∣ses, wherby, ther may in good time be had a conuenient reme∣die for the euill. Wherfore let vs first speake of their castings.
FAlconers do vse to giue two sorts of casting to their hauks, eyther plumage, or cotton & bicause most cōmōly they giue ye Falco pellets of cottō for hir casting, I wil first speak therof.
You must make choyce of fine, soft, white cotto, & therof fa∣shiō & frame your casting as big as a great nutte, & at euening cōuey it into hir gorge, after you haue inpt hir: & in ye morning betimes make diligēt search to find it, to peruse it in what ma∣ner ye hauke hath rolled, & cast it, bycause thereby you shal per∣ceiue hir good or euill state: for if she cast it, round, white, not lothsome in smell, & not very moyst or waterish, it is a mani∣fest token yt she is sound. But otherwise, if she rolle not hir ca∣sting wel, but cast it lōg, not white, stincking, very moist & sli∣mie, it doth argue, yt she is full of diseases, as I shal more spe∣cially declare vnto you eftsone. You must obserue this, yt these castings do import & betokē ye greater euil, by how much more they do resemble ye muet of a hauke in colour & smel. For by yt, they do make shew yt your hauke doth abound wt too much euil humor. Wherfore you must ye more diligētly mark it, & wring it betwixt your fingers, to see, how much, & what kind of moi∣sture doth drop frō ye casting, & withall note the smell & colour therof. But now it is high time to procede to a more special de∣claratiō of those castings, yt you may be {per}fect in each cōditiō.
IF your hawkes casting be long, not wrought round, and be full of water, how much more long and moist it is, so muche more it betokeneth the hauke to be diseased. And againe if so it be blacke, & stincking, so much the more the hawke is in euill case & state. Al, and euery of these signes, do yeeld a shew and proofe, that the hauke hath bin fowle fed, & with corrupt fleshe. Wherefore, to remedie thys mischeefe, you muste feede hir with hote Birdes, as Swallowes, Sparrowes, yong
Doues and suche like, giuing them aliue, or as soone as they are killed.
But if it so happen, for all this care and good intendaunce, that the casting continue at one selfe stay, and be like euill in shewe, then must you needes giue your Hawke a skowring, according to arte, such as I will teach you to make hereafter.
If your Hawkes casting be greene, it is a signe that she is ill affected and diseased in the Liuer, the cure whereof I wyll referre to a peculiar Chapter for the same euil. But know ne∣uerthelesse, that Hawkes, when they are ramage, diuers times doe cast suche like greene castings as I speake of, and make suche muets, by reason of some wild foule that they haue kil∣led, and prayed vpon at their own pleasure, or otherwise haue had the same giuen them by Falconers. And a man neade not greatly force thereof, for that with good feeding, they will lightly be recouered, and ridde of this disease.
When the casting happeneth to bee yellowish blacke, and very moist and slimie, it argueth youre Hawke to bee stuft with euil humors, proceeding of too greate heate, or of immo∣derate and ouergreat flights, or too much bating. For recoue∣rie of which euill, you must as spedelie as you maye, bestowe good feeding vpon your Hawke, and coole hir, by washing hir meate in good freshe water, as endiue water, or suche like, as shall best please the fancie of the Falconer, allowing hir be∣sides, one or two, or moe castings of cotton: into whiche you must conuey very excellent good Mummy beaten into pouder, and otherwhile among incense, vsed in like manner. But if it so fal out, that your Hawke continue hir ill casting, for al this remedie it shall not be amisse, for twice or thrice to giue hir this kind of casting, or vpward scowring euery other day.
Take Aloes washt, & beaten to powder, one scruple, pow∣der of Cloues foure graynes, of Cubebes beaten to powder three graynes: all whiche beeing well confected, and made in mixture, enwrappe in a peece of cotton, and giue your Hauke being emptie and hauing no meate aboue or in hir pannell.
And I nothing doubte, but vsing this order which I prescribe you, your hawke shall recouer in short space. In any case you muste be circumspect and heedefull, hauing a hawke thus dis∣eased, to marke diligently whither she do mend or payre, whe∣ther she waxe hye, or abate hir fleshe. For that according as she shall do any of these, it shall be necessary for you, eyther to augment or decrease your skowring, and hir feeding. And be∣leeue me, I knowe this by experience, that sundry hawkes do perishe more by being ouer poore and lowe brought, throughe negligence of ill keepers, that make slender regarde of them, thā by the extremitie of the disease. This shall be sufficient as touching castings of Cotton, whiche (as I sayde before) were peculiar to Falcons.
Falconers are accustomed to giue their hawkes casting of plumage, sometimes being emptie aboue, and eake in feeding to suffer thē to take fethers, but specially to Sparowhawkes. They giue them io••••es of wings of small birdes, & Quailes, when they haue fedde them, tearing them out with their teeth, and plucking away the longest feathers, and so giue it.
These castings, in the morning being wrought round, and caste without any ill sauour or slinke, do make euident shewe that the hawke is sounde: and howe muche more rounde and sweete they are, the better token of the hawkes good state. But contrariwise, if the casting bee long, slimie, and rammish in smell, with some small partes of the fleshe vndisgested, clea∣uing to the same, and withall frothie, hauing a kinde of fome sticking on it, all these things togither, and euery one speciall by it selfe, do importe the disease of the hawke, and make full shew of hir ill state. And therefore that she standeth nedeful of a good skowring, and good intendance, as I sayde before.
WIth that helpe and lighte that I haue alreadie gyuen you, by the hawkes casting, if you diligently obserue
the mewte, you shall easily prognosticate and foresee hir euill, and any suche disease as your hawke is affected with. For if the mewte be white, and not ouerthicke, nor ouercleare, and besides not hauing any blacke spotte in it, or at the leaste but little, it is an euidente proofe that the hawke is excellently in tune, and not diseased. But if it be white, and very thicke in the middest, well it maye importe healthe, but it argueth the hawke to be ouergrosse, and too full of greace. And therefore it shall be needefull to cure that mischiefe, by gyuing hir liquide and moyst meate, as the heart of a Calfe, Lambe, or such like. And for one or twoo mornings, to allow hir (being empty and hauing nothing aboue to put ouer) a quantitie of suger Can∣die, which wil skowre hir, & make hir slyse, or else a gutte of a chicken well washt, of a conuenient length & size, full of good oyle Oliue, well clarified in water, in suche sorte as heereafter I shall instruct you.
It is easily founde, when a hawke is ouergreasie, and not enseamed, by hir mewte, when it is white with some blacke in it, whiche euill is easily remooued, by gyuing hir hot Spa∣rowes, and yong Pygeons.
But if hir mewte be white, entermedled with red, yellowe, grey, or such like colour, it is a signe that the hawke is very ill and diseased, and moreouer yt she standeth nedefull of a skow∣ring, as of Mummy purified & beaten to pouder, wrapping it in cotton, or some suche like matter, to set the gorge & stomake of your hawke in tune agayne, and other inwarde partes, as hereafter I shall make further shewe of in a place meete for yt speache and discourse. Assuredly, when you see your hawkes mewte so full of diuers colours, it is very necessary for you to respect hir cure, and to endeuour your selfe to remedy that mis∣chefe, or otherwise she muste nedes perishe vnder your hand, for that those are very deadely signes and proofes of the yll state of your hauke.
The white mewte, hauing a greater part of yellowe in it, than of any other coloure, doeth euidently make shewe, that
the Hawke is surcharged with cholericke humoures, caused and engendred by ouer-greate flyghtes, when you flee with your hawke in the heate of the daye, as also of ouermuche ba∣ting. Whiche euill you maye prouide for and eschewe, by gy∣uing your hawkes meate washt in cold waters, as Buglosse, Endyue, Bourage, and suche like holsome colde waters, very medicinable for that mischiefe, alwayes remēbring to strayne the hawkes meate, and wring it in a lynnen cloth, after you haue washt it in the waters aforesayde.
And if this fall not oute in proofe to your contentmente, then if you can gyue your hawke a quantitie of Agaricke in a skowring, for the space of one morning or twoo, not suffring hir to flee, or do any thing, but do set hir downe. There is no question, but by the care and diligence of suche a keeper, your hawke shall quickly recouer.
The mewte of a hawke, whiche is very blacke, declareth hir lyuer to bee infected, and is the moste deadely signe of all others. For if it continewe three or foure dayes, moste assu∣redlie the hawke wyll pecke ouer the pearch, and dye. But if it bee so but once, and no more, it greatly skylles not. For then may it proceede of one of these two causes: eyther for that the hawke in pluming and tyring on the fowle, hath taken of the bloude or guttes of the praye, whiche is a matter of nothing: or else bycause shee hath bene gorged with filthye meate. In this case, it behooues you to respect hir, and to allowe hir good warme fleshe, and a cotton casting, with Mummy, or the pou∣der of Cloues and Nutmegges, with a small quantitie of Ginger, to set hir stomack in tune agayne.
A greene mewte is also a signe of an infected and cor∣rupte lyuer, and happely of some Apostume, vnlesse shee make that kinde of mewte vppon this occasion, that shee hath bene gorged with some wylde and rammish meate, or hir selfe be a rammage hawke: for then this rule doeth not holde. You must looke to this euyll as soone and with as great speede as you possible may, feeding hir with meate all powdered with
Mummie prepared, if she will take it with hir flesh, as diuers hawkes will do of themselues: but if not, then must it be gi∣uen hir in a casting, or some skowring, continuing it in this manner, sometimes after one fashion, sometimes after ano∣ther, vntill you finde the mewte to be chaunged from the badde colour to the better. But when this mischiefe doth procede, and continewe long space, then shall you bee fayne to bestowe on hir a skowring of Agaricke, to rydde those euill and noysome humors whiche do offende your hawke, and after that another skowring of Incense, beaten into pouder, to recomfort hir.
The mewte that is not perfectly digested, tending to redde, and that is full of small woormes, like vnto fleshe, not perfectly digested and endewed, gyues manifeste proofe, eyther that the hawke is not well in hir gorge, or else that she hath bene fedde with ill and corrupte meates, colde and stinking, and vnhol∣some for a hawke.
This euill may bee cured and helped, with good warme meates: and besides that, with skowrings of Woormeseede enwrapped and conueyed into Cotton, or Lynte. And it shall not bee amisse to gyue hir a skowring of pouder of Cloues, Nutmegges, & Ginger, whiche doth maruelously strengthen, and set the gorge in time.
The darke sanguine mewte, with a blacke in it, is the most deadely signe of all other, & I do not remēber that euer I saw Hawke make that kind of mewte, but she died. Yet neuerthe∣lesse a man ought not therefore in that case to gyue ouer his hawke, and to dispaire of hir, but rather to allowe hir of that receyte and medicine, whiche earste Iherom Cornerus, that no∣ble man, and cunning Falconer made, or else that whiche was deuised by Signor Manolus the Greeke, whiche I haue manie times experimēted in Falcons, not without good successe, and greate commendation. And therefore hereafter I will laye it downe for your better knowledge and practise, as the excellēt deuises of moste skilfull men in Falconrie.
And yet for all this, it may be, that a hawke doth make the
like mewte that I wrote of, by meane of tyring on a fowle, and taking the bloude of it, and of the raynes & guttes, which if do happen, it is a matter not to be regarded.
I haue sundry times seene the mewte of a hawke greye, like mylke when it is turned and waxen sowre, whiche truly is a deadlie token, and signe of greate daunger. Yet it shall not be amisse, to vse the receyte whiche I lately spake of, de∣uised by those Gentlemen Falconers aforesayde.
By this whiche I haue spoken, as touching the mewtes of hawkes, it maye bee gathered howe greately it doeth im∣port, and howe behoouefull it is for a Falconer, or Ostreger, for the better cure of his hawkes, to peruse euery morning wt great care the mewte of his hawkes. For that it doth greatly concerne the good health and state of them, to finde out at the firste their indisposition and diseases, before they be too deepe∣ly rooted and confirmed in them, when truely it wyll prooue a very harde and difficult matter to remoue the euill.
But nowe I accompte it hygh time to proceede, and de∣scende to the knowledge and particular cure of the ordinarie euills and diseases, whiche do plague and pester hawkes. In whiche discourse, to obserue some methode and order, I wyll speake generally of all infirmities and yll accidentes happe∣ning to the bodies of hawkes, as namely of the Feuer, and so consequently of euery speciall disease that belongeth to eache particular member of a hawke, as well those that are within the bodie, as withoute: And besides all these, of the gorge, guttes, and lyuer, of the stripes and bruses that happen to hawkes: and lastly of their feathers, and other euils. Laying downe to your viewe in the latter parte heereof, suche instru∣mentes and tooles, as Falconer do vse to cauterize their hawkes withall, with suche other ordinarie reme∣dies, as they do commonly bestow vpon their diseased and sicke Hawkes. (∵)
I Haue noted and obserued, that the Feuer happeneth vnto Hawkes, by reason of some smal colde, and heate ensewing the same. And verely in myne opinion, it doth much resemble the Tertian, wherewith we our selues are dayly vexed. You may easily gesse this griefe, whē you see your hawke shake & tremble, and presently after holde hir wings close vnder hir trayne, slouping downe with hir heade to groundewarde. And besides all these tokens, you haue one more, which is, that your hawke will haue hir barbe feathers vnder hir beake sta∣ring, and out of order, and sometimes eake she will-refuse hir meate. And if happely you touche hir with your hande, you shall feele sensibly the extremitie of heate that doth surcharge hir. All, or the moste part of these signes, do euidently argue your hawke to bee troubled with a Feuer, a very daungerous griefe, but not altogither deadely, for that I haue seene many hawkes recured of this disease. Wherfore all your care must bee, to coole and refreshe hir, bycause in deede the Feuer is no∣thing else but an inordinate heate. In this case, hir feeding muste bee, either the legge of a chicken, or a yong Pygeon, or some other small fowle, but Sparrowes laste of all, for they are not to be allowed in the beginning of the disease, for their great heate. And you must remēber to washe hir meate in the water of Buglosse, or Endiue, or in a mucillage of Psillin, in ye iuyce of Cowcumbers or Mellons, and afterwards drye it in a cloth, & so giue it hir to feede on. Moreouer you must (if you do wel) bathe the perche, & also hir legges in the Sommer with Plantaine water, (or for want of ye water, with ye very iuyce of it) wt Lettice water, or Nightshade water, and sometimes among with the iuice of Henbane, Lettice water, Nenuphar, Howsleeke, & suche other cooling deuises, to delaye hir inordi∣nate heate & inflamation, setting hir in some out place where the ayre is fresh, but not where she may take the ayre to much,
for yt may breede a further incōuenience. If your sicke hawke be very lowe brought in state, you muste allowe hir a gorge twice a day, but with discretion & iudgement, not giuing hir ouermuche at one tyme. And if so the Feuer cease not by these practises aforesayde, it shalbe well done to giue your Falcon of excellent good Reubarbe, finely beaten to pouder, twoo scrou∣ples, in a Cotton casting, to purge & skowre hir choler, whiche is the very originall grounde of hir feuer. There are some that do will and prescribe, yt you must let your Falcō bloude in the thygh, whiche albeit I haue not experimented, yet doth it stāde with reason, that it may do good, if you can finely do it: but it were much better in mine opiniō, to open the vayne vnder hir right wing, bicause that would chiefely refrigerate & coole the lyuer out of hād, & so by a cōsequēt ye whole body throughout.
This order aforesaide is to be vsed, if ye feuer be a hotte feuer wherewith your hawke is molested. But if it happen to bee a colde feuer, which you shall perceyue, by that your hawke will be extreme colde, if you touche hir. Hir eyes looke not of their woonted hewe, and besides all this, shee seldome mewteth, and that with greate payne.
Then you must set hir in some warm place, & after hir fitte of colde is past, she must be gently borne on ye fist. Besides, whē ye feuer hath left hir, for yt time you should let hir flee a little: it wil do hir great good. Looke yt hir meate wherwith you feede hir, be hot fleshe, as Sparrowes, (which in this colde feuer are very wel to be allowed, though in ye hot agew I told you they were hurtful) pullets, Pigeons, & such like hot fowles, the flesh of whome you must washe in wine, wherein haue bin boyled these hot things folowing, as Sage, Min••s, Pelamountaine, Cloues, Cynamō, & such other sweete cōfortable deuises. Be∣sides you may gyue your hawke the foresayde flesh, if it please you, with honie, and a little pouder of Dill, Fenel, & Comin medled togither. But specially you muste obserue this rule, & remember it well, not to giue your hawke gorge vpō gorge: & againe, if your hawke be hye in flesh when this disease taketh hir, she must be fed but little & seldome, although in deede it be
very good at all times, howsoeuer she be affected, to kepe a rea∣sonable hande vppon hir, as touching hir dyet, whither she be diseased or in perfect state. For of ouer greate gorges, and too full and liberall a hand, do procede a thousand mischiefes and diseases to a hawke, as experience doth dayly instruct vs, both to the greate paynes of those sillie birdes, and the greate griefe and coste of the vnskilfull keeper, whose purpose and meaning perhaps, is by giuing his hawke liberally, to haue hir flee lu∣stily, and to continue in perfect healthe and state, whereas in trothe nothing doth so muche offende a hawke, as too greate a gorge. As in all other things, so in this likewise, The meane is beste.
Some Falconers do prescribe this methode for cure of ye fe∣uer in a hawke, whiche I doe not greatly commende or al∣lowe. They will you to take Reubarbe, Muske, Suger can∣die, and the iuyce of Motherwoorte, and making a pylle of those things aforesayde, to gyue it your hawke, feeding hir afterwardes with Sparowes, or yong Rattes, whiche are ve∣ry hotte meate.
Other some appoynte a paste or myxture to be made, as bygge as a nutte, of these things following, whiche being stie∣ped a space in Vyneger, muste be gyuen hir, not dealing with hir in sixe houres after, at the leaste. They take to the compo∣sition of this paste, Aloes, Muske, and the fatte of a Henne, e∣gall portions, giuing it the hawke in manner aforesayde.
The signes that they gyue to knowe the Feuer, are the wrything of the hawkes trayne, the coldenesse of hir foote, and oftentymes the casting of hir gorge. But the firste rules and remedies do satisfie mee sufficiently, without these, bycause I finde in them some more reason: yet doe not thinke it a∣misse, to sette downe diuers mens opinions, bycause euery man maye make his choyce: for what liketh one, perhappes, contentes not another.
HAuing in purpose to treate of the diseases, wherewith hawkes those fillie birds are vexed in their heades, I must do you to knowe, that vnder the name and terme of the heade, I do not only comprise that part that contayneth the brayne, but also the eares, eyes, beake, or clappe, nares, and mouth of the hawke: all which partes are subiect to sundry diseases and euils. But firste of all, I meane to speake of the chiefest, and most principall part of all the rest, & of such maladies as light vpon the brayne, and after that, of suche as happen to the externall and outward parts of the hawkes head. Among all which infirmities & griefes, I account the Apoplexie (whome the Italians call Gozza) the greatest and most perillous, as the which doth ordinarily cause and bring sodayne death.
This mischiefe doth commonly befall hawkes, by meane of too muche grease, and store of bloude, for that at that tyme there doth happely breake some one vayne or other in ye braine, which doth fill some cōcauitie or hollow Cell of the brayne wt bloude, in which Celles (as the learned do imagine & affirme) the Animall spirites are ingēdred, and haue their beginning. Without which Animall spirites, no lyuing creature can ey∣ther haue sense or moouing. Wherevpon it doth follow of ve∣ry necessitie, and by a meere consequent, that the passage of those spirites beeing shutte vp, and intercluded, the creature, whatsoeuer it be, muste dye.
Agayne, it may happen, for that the hawke hath bene sette too long in the heate of the Sunne, for by that occasion there may bee so muche humiditie and moyste humour drawen vp into the brayne, as may ingender this euill, and procure this mischiefe in the hawke.
Moreouer it may chaunce, by making a lōg flight at a Fe∣sant, or Partridge, in the heate of the daye, by meane of which the hawke hath surcharged hir selfe with ouermuche trauaile.
Wherefore it shall be behoouefull and necessarie, so to vse the matter with care and diligence, as it may be foreseene, that hawkes incurre not this aduenture and euill. Wherevppon, for that hawkes in the mewe, are accustomed to gather muche grease, it shall be good, for the space of fifteene or twenty daies before the drawing of them out of the mewe, to feede them with lyquide and slypper fleshe, such as may lyghtly be put o∣uer, and passe through them. As namely, with the heartes of Calues, Lambes, or Goates, washed in luke warme water, and afterwarde dryed in a lynnen clothe, before you gyue it your hawke.
Lykewise may you boldly feede your hawkes before they are drawen out of the mewe, with small pullettes, and yong Sparrowes. When you haue thus doone, and obserued this order of feeding them, when the tyme is come to drawe them out of the mewe, you muste remember to drawe them very orderly, and after that to continewe the same kinde of fee∣ding, and to keepe the same hande vppon them, for other twentie dayes space at the leaste, to skowre and disburden your hawkes of that slyme and glytte, whiche doth surcharge them, hauing them alwayes for the moste parte on the fiste, and especially at nyghte. Neyther shall it be euyll to skowre them, (or as our Ostregers and Falconers do terme it) to enseame them, by gyuing them a quantitie of washt Aloes, allowing a Falcon as muche as the byggenesse of a Beane, beaten into powder, wrapped in Cotton, and so to make hir a skowring thereof, and besides to giue hir Suger Candy, twoo or three mornings. But in any condition you muste be∣ware not to vse Aloes vnwashte, bycause thereof are bredde sundry ill accidentes in hawkes. And for that occasion is it prescribed you, to vse Aloes washe, to auoyde that vndoubted euill, whiche would otherwise happen.
Moreouer, I haue happily, and with good successe ap∣prooued this remedie. I haue gyuen so muche larder, or but∣ter, as I coulde well conuey into my hawkes throte, when
shee hath beene emptie aboue, hauing firste prepared the larde or butter, by washing it seuen, eyght, or moe tymes in cleare water, and afterwardes letting it soke in Rose wa∣ter a space, and lastely by putting vnto it of the beste Su∣ger that I coulde gette, or Suger Candie beaten to pouder. And my order was, euer to gyue this skowring euery seuenth or eyght daye. And this is not alone to bee vsed to hawkes in the mewe, but also to suche as are kept on the pearche and stocke. But if it so fall out, that by these deuises and skow∣rings you cannot make your hawke haue a stomake and gre∣die appetite to feede, it shall not bee euill to pysse vppon hir meate, and hauing dryed it in part againe, to giue hir a gorge sufficient, so muche as may serue hir, and as she will take. For the more liquide and slypper fleshe you giue hir, the sooner wil she be enseymed. And by this meanes doe Falconers preserue their hawkes from the falling euill, and sodayne mischiefe, and besides that from sundry other perilous accidents, that do followe those sillie birdes.
FAlcons, Goshawkes, and other birdes of praye, are woont to be muche combred and molested with the swelling of the heade, and the Apostume thereof, a very greuous euill, occa∣sioned by abundance of euill humors, & the heate of ye head. It is discerned by ye swelling of ye hawkes eyes, by the moysture whiche sundrie tymes issueth, and distilleth from the eares, and often eake by euyll sauoure, and smell of the Apostume. Also it may bee perceyued by the small desire the hawke hath to mooue or aduaunce hir selfe by the wresting of hir heade, and the little regarde shee hath to tyre and pull the fleshe that shee feedeth on, as thoughe in deede tyring were verie paynefull to hir, and by that shee is scarce able to open hir clappe, and beaten after hir accustomed manner.
Agaynst this moste perilous euill, it shalbe very necessarie firste of all to skowre your hawke throughly, and after that the heade in chiefe.
As touching the generall skowring, I can commend and allowe you to gyue hir three or foure mornings, when shee hath no meate to put ouer, a pyll as bygge as a nut of But∣ter washt seuen or eyght tymes in freshe water, and steeped well in Rose water, myngling it afterwarde with Hoonie of Roses, & very good suger, holding your hawke on the fiste, tyll she make one or twoo mewtes. Which being done, to disburdē and skowre the head, it shall be excellent well done to take of Rewe seede foure drammes, Aloes Epaticke twoo drammes, Saffron one scruple, reducing and forcing all these to fine powder, and with a quantitie cōuenient of honie of Roses, to make a pyll of that bygnesse and syze, as may well be cōueyed into the hawkes beake, by whiche hir brayne maye bee pur∣ged and skowred, thrusting the pyll so deepe into hir throte, as you may well see, holding hir a space after it vppon the fiste. And that done, setting hir downe on the pearche, in a conueni∣ente place, for a time, and twoo houres after, to feede hir at hir accustomed time with good hotte meate.
But if happely there be any of the corruption and filthe in the hawkes eare, it shall be very necessarie, carefully with an instrument of siluer, or other good mettall for the nones, that the one ende bee sharpe poynted and edged, of purpose to ap∣ply lynte, and on the other ende hollowe, and fashioned like vnto the eare of a hawke, to clenze and remooue the filth that furreth the hawkes eare. And with that ende, whereon the lynte or bombaste is, to skowre it very dayntity, and pre∣sently vppon the same, to infuse and droppe in a quantitie of Oyle of sweete Almondes, freshe and luke warme, and after the same to conuey into the eare a little lynt or bombast, to keepe in the Oyle, till suche time shee be dressed agayne, to the ende the Oyle may supple and mollifie the filthe, so as
it may easily bee remooued, and clenzed. And this order muste you obserue and continue, vntil the Apostume be resolued and throughly rype. But if it so fall out, that the Apostume wyll not come to maturation, or rype, in sorte as it may growe to suppuration, and be mundified in manner aforesayde, but will reste at one staye in the heade of the hawke: then muste you be fayne to come to cauterize the heade aloft, and bestowe a but∣ton there, to cause the humor to breathe, and to bring the cor∣rupte matter thyther, remembring after this fyer and caute∣rie to remooue the escare, by bestowing on it for the space of eyght or nyne dayes, butter, by whiche you shall easily remoue the cruste or escare, whiche is made by the fier.
You must not forget, if it be so as your hawke be so weake, as she is vnable, or so frowarde, as she will not feede and tyre vppon hir meate whiche you gyue hir, then to cutte it in small pellettes, and so giue it hir, eyther by fayre meanes or fowle, not leauing to vse it so, if it bee possible, as she may receyue it willingly, and feede hir selfe, bicause it may the better nou∣rishe hir. For this is one vndoubted rule, that when a hawke doth refuse to feede and tyre, she is very vnlusty, and diseased, and not one among a hundreth of them, that doeth recouer. And for mine owne parte, in all my time, I haue recouered but one Falcon beeing so diseased, and that by the meane and cure aforesayde, and by vsing the cauterie.
Lette this suffise, as touching this monstrous accident, for I meane to referre you to another place for the cauterie and fire, whiche you shall vse to hawkes, where I will speake specially therof. Onely gyuing you this caueat before you go, that this euill of the heade, is infectious, and will passe from one hawke to another, as the maungie doeth among Spa∣nels, or any suche contagious disease. Wherefore it shall bee very good to sequester and sunder the hawke that is thus af∣fected, from your other hawkes, for auoyding of the same euyll.
HAwkes are accustomed to haue a certayne distillation or Catarre in their heades, bicause, when they are harde fleen withal, & set in greate heates, by long & paynefull flyghts, they easily take colde vppon the same, either through some vnhap∣py stormes of weather, or great windes, or by reason of the ex∣treme cold of winter, and chiefely when they are full of grosse and naughty humors.
Of this Catarre or distillation, sundry times there growe a thousande mischiefes to those poore birdes, and specially the swelling of the heade, with a kinde of dropping humor, which is the cause many times, that the hawkes eyes becomme lesse, and are contracted in a manner togither. Beside whiche in∣conuenience, the nares also becomme to be stufte and stopped with excessiue excrement, that descendeth from the brayne. All whiche euill accidentes do require, and stande needefull of se∣uerall cures, before they can be remoued, and the hawkes in∣ioy their accustomed health.
Wherefore firste of all, it shall bee necessarie to skowre your hawke, beeing thus affected and diseased, with butter prepared in manner aforesayde, or with Oyle Olyue, prepa∣red after that fashion, as I shall instruct you in the chapter of the Pantas.
I haue, in the Catarre of Falcons, (as also of other hawkes,) diuers tymes vsed with greate good fortune and successe, to gyue them of Agaricke twoo scruples, of Cy∣namon finely beaten, of the iuyce of Lyquerisse, of eyther one scruple, beeing made also into powder, and with a quantitie of Honie of Roses, to make all those things a∣foresayde into a pyll, as bygge as a Beane, for the largest sorte of hawke, and for other lesse hawkes, halfe as bygge. And this was I accustomed to gyue my Falcon, and other
hawkes in the morning, hauing nothing aboue in their gor∣ges, holding my hawke on the fiste, vntill suche tyme the me∣dicine beganne to woorke, bycause shee shoulde not caste the skowring, (whiche then would do hir no pleasure at all) and after three houres, then to feede hir with some good meate. You muste remember, and note this very well, that if your hawke to whome you giue this skowring, be greasie, and ful of flesh, you may boldely gyue it hir twoo or three mornings. But if shee be poore, and lowe, then once or twice to allowe this skowring will very well suffise hir. For there is euer respect to be had of the state of a hawke, when any vpwarde or downe∣warde skowring is gyuen them, for otherwise it wil do them greater mischiefe, than pleasure.
But when you perceiue your hawkes head to swell, and hir eyes to be full of dropping humors, and to waxe lesse than na∣turally they were accustomed to be, by meane of the swelling of hir heade: It shall be good, hauing gyuen hir this generall skowring, that I haue spoken of, to skowre the head alone, and purge it with some deuise, to force hir snyte and snuffe, as mē do accustome to sneze: & to force hir therevnto, you may take Pepper, Cloues, and Mustard seede, of eache one a like quan∣titie, making them all into very fine pouder, as is possible, and then with a whistle of siluer, or other like mettal, (yea though it be but a quill, it will serue the turne) beeing applyed vppon hir nares, to blowe it into hir nares as strongly as you may, to make it pierce 〈◊〉〈◊〉 further in. And besides that, you may rubbe and frotte the pallate of your Hawke with the sayde powder, and not feede hir after it, vntill suche tyme she haue lefte snyting and snuffing. If you continewe this practise three or foure dayes, your Hawke shall recouer assu∣redlie.
To discharge the heade of a hawke, that is stuft with yll humor, Senauza, which the Apothecaries do sellin the winter, I haue founde a very excellente thing, and of greate force, gyuing of it the byggenesse of a Beane vnto my hawke,
beeing emptie, & hauing nothing aboue. And withall I was accustomed to rubbe the pallate of hir mouthe, forcyng al∣so some parte of the powder to ascende vp into the heade, by the hole that goeth to the brayne: and after I had so doone, woulde caste my hawke to the pearche, vnhooding hir. Which was no sooner doone, but you shoulde see hir caste a worlde of slymie filthe and moyste humoure, and snyse at hir nares as faste.
But if it be so, that the abundance of humors in the heade, by none of these aforsayde remedies will be remoued, applying them neuer so often, nor ye mischiefe cease to vexe your hawke whiche you shall easily discerne by hir slymie castings, and the abundaunce of filthe that will issewe at hir nares: then must you of force be dryuen vētrously to flee to the actuall cauterie, & with an yron button heate in the fier, to cauterize hir vpon the heade, vsing no lesse iudgemente and discretion therein, than the dayntinesse of the place requires, regarding the bone of the hawkes heade, whiche is not very strong, or harde. And before you do vse the cauterie, it is necessarie to cutte a∣way those feathers, that are growing about the place where you meane to bestow your fier.
If with this monstrous moystnesse of your hawkes heade, there be ioyned a swelling, or the dropping of hir eyes: in that case I do thinke it best, to bestow your button vpon hir head, iuste betwixte hir eyes, obseruing the same order that I haue alreadie prescribed you.
When the nares of your hawke are stufte with filthe, and surcharged with suche distillation from the heade, as I haue spoken of: after a conuenient skowring, then shall it be good to take Pepper and Mustarde seede beaten into fine powder, and putting it in a cleane lynnen clothe, to stype it a space in the strongest Vyneger you can gette: and that done, to bestowe some fewe droppes thereof vppon hir nares, so as they may enter and pierce hir nares. For truely this
deuise will so scowre and drie vp the humor, as it will doe great pleasure. But if so with these remedies and meanes you cannot resolue it, then must you be fayne to vse the caute∣rie, not aloft vpon the head, but round about the nares, giuing hir a little touch with the fire, somewhat belowe the nares, to make them more large, alwayes vsing the matter so carefully, as you touch not the roote or (poret) of hir nares. When you haue in this maner bestowed your fire, and actuall cauterie, vntill such time the payne do ceasse, and the escarre fall away, (whiche is nothing else but the crust that is growen there, by meane of the fire,) you must anoynt the place with fresh but∣ter, and after that you haue so done, then proceede to the cure of it with the powder of Masticke, or Olibanum.
This is a very good remedie for the swelling in the head of a Hawke. Take Stauesacre, a quantitie of Pepper, and a little Aloes Epaticke, beate these sayd thinges into fine pow∣der, and put them into the water of Rew, where when it hath bin steeped a space in the said licoure, with a little bombast or lint, bath your Hawkes nares twice a day, and you shall finde it ease your Hawke greatly, and ridde a greate parte of the filthie matter that breadeth the stoppage in hir head. If all these remedies which I haue alleaged generally, nor any one speciall medicine will preuayle, as I sayde before: then muste you repose your chiefe trust in the cauterie, which must be done either on the head with a cauterizing button, or about the nares with a nedle, or sharpe yron, fyre hotte, or some golden or siluer instrument, of purpose made, applying after the fire, for the remouing of the Escare, and the cure of the same, the remedies aforesaid.
THere doth diuers times happen vnto Falcons, and other Hawkes, a mischeefe, whose nature is, to cause the Hawke
to shake hir head continually, so as at no time she can hold it still or steadie, but is euer mouing it to one side or other, hol∣ding hir eyes close shut withall. This disease is called Soda, which in english we may tearme ye Megrim or a kind of Pal∣sie, by meane the head is in continuall mouing.
This euill may proceede, eyther by the fowlenesse of the pa∣nell, or of a corrupt and naughtie liuer. The remedie for it is this, whichu I hae found very good, and wherewith I haue cured my hawke in times past. You must giue your sick hauke a casting of cotton, in whiche you shall enwrappe of Aloes Epaticke one scruple, of Cloues two graynes, making these into powder, before you giue it: then two houres after the ta∣king of this skowring, feede your Hawke with a yong Pige∣on, or a hote Pullets legge, vsing this selfe same order three or foure mornings one after another.
One other remedie for it is this. Take as much vnwasht Larde as the toppe of youre little finger, with a quantitie of Peper, and a little Aloes Epaticke, beate these two last into powder, and conuey them into the Larde, whiche done, thrust them into your haukes throte, holding hir on your fiste a space after it: then tie hir on the pearch in the sunne, and ther let hir stay til she cast both the skowring, and the slimie matter which is in hir gorge. And this medicine may you vse euery thirde day once, feeding your Hawke with hote meates, as Pigeōs, and yong Sparowes, & euery time you giue hir this skow∣ring, conuey into hir a little Aloes, which is an excellent thing to skowre hir, and quitte hir of this disease.
If these receytes and skowrings yeelde no remedie, then must you to the actual cauterie, shearing away the plumes a∣bout that part of the head where you will applie youre fire, e∣uer respecting the bone, and burning nothing but the very skinne, to let the mischiefe breath, remouing the escare, and do¦ing the cure after the escare remoued, as is before said. Let this suffice for this monstrous mischiefe, whiche killes many Hawkes: yet haue I cured my Hawkes twice, by these reme∣dies in my time.
BEsides those other euils, ther is a Cataract which doth light vpon the eyes of a Hawke, whome we may tearme a suf∣fusion, a mischiefe not easely remoued, and diuers times im∣possible to be recured, as namely whē it is growen too thicke, and ouerlong hath bin suffered in the eye, without seeking re∣medie for it: but if it be not confirmed, then may it well be re∣medied, and I my selfe haue cured sundrie Hawkes affected with this euill.
This euill accident dothe happen, by meane of grosse hu∣mors in the head, whiche are wont to dimme and darken the sight, and sometimes cleane to put out the Hawkes eye with∣out redemption.
It maye bee, that the hood is the cause and grounde of this disease, for I neuer in my life remember that I sawe any o∣ther byrd or fowle troubled with it but only the Falcon: and perhaps, it lights on hir, in chiefe, for that of all other, shee is moste vsed to the hoode, and to be almost at no tyme vn∣hooded.
You must therefore haue an eye, and especiall regarde to this inconuenience, at ye first, by giuing one or two mornings a skowring of Aloes, or of Agaricke, to skowre your Hawke withall, bycause if you shoulde aduenture vppon any sharpe or hard painefull medicine, applying it to the eye of youre Hawke, it woulde perhaps cause a greate repaire of euill hu∣mors and accidents to the place diseased.
When you haue giuen thys skowring of Aloes, or Aga∣ricke, to remoue the matter from the eye, you must vse a pow∣der made of washt Aloes, finely beaten, one scruple, and of Suger candye two scruples, blowing of this powder into your Hawkes eyes three or foure times in a daye, with the Pipe or quill aforesayd. Thys is the gentlest, and moste so∣ueraine medicine that you can applie to the eye in thys case.
and whilest you do minister this receyte, it shall be good some∣times to bath the eye with the vrine of a little boy.
If by these medicines aforesayd, the webbe of the eye wyll not be remoued, we must be driuen to vse a stronger receyte, which is this.
Take a newe layde egge, and rost him so long vntill the white of him become like milke. When you haue so done, put it into a fine white linnen cloth, and strayne it so much and so long, vntill you see issue through your strayner a cleare greene water, wherof you shall now and then infuse a droppe or two into the hurt eye, vsing it so three or foure times in the day at the least, vntill you see your Hawke amend of hir mischeefe, and waxe sound.
Last of all, if these things auayle not to the cure, I do com∣mend and allow aboue all the rest, that you take the iuyce of Celendyne rootes, making them cleane from the earthe that doth vse to hang to the moores: then scrape away the outmost rynde and pill of the roote, and vse the iuyce to your Hawke. Truly I haue found this to be of singular force and vertue in the like accident.
It shall not be amisse, in this and suche like affections and ill passions of the eye of a Hawke, to bath hir eyes often with rose water, wherin haue bene boyled the seads of Fenygreke. But you must remember, that this water or colirie, be some∣what warme when you vse it, bycause the eye is so noble, and so sensible a member, as it can ill brooke things eyther ouer∣hote or ouercolde, but muste haue them moderately hotte or cold. This deuise may you vse to bath your hawkes eye with∣all, vntill such time she be recouered, feeding hir meane while with good meates, and such as are light of digestion.
Hawkes are of so noble and excellent a nature, as the most part of medicines that you doe applie to the hurtes and cures of men, you may boldly bestowe on Hawkes, as things very holesome for them, as by their working will be most euidently seene and perceyued: yet muste there be a discretion vsed, in
the administration of these sayd receytes, hauing alwayes a regard vnto the weake and delicate nature of Hawkes, in respect of men: and therefore ye quantities of euery thing must be allowed and giuen accordingly.
It happeneth diuers times, that through the Catarre, and paine of the head and eyes, there lights vppon the eares of a Hawke so mortall and deadly an apostume, as seldome when, though there bee greate care vsed about the cure, she maye be brought to perfect state, or recouered. And this proceedeth, by∣cause the mischiefe lies so neare a neighboure to the brayne, as before it can breake or be clensed outwardly, it causeth the Hawke to perish. Besides that, it is very hard to applie medi∣cines in that place: but if the Hawke be of so strong a nature, that she brooke the breathing and rupture of this disease, which you shall perceyue by the quitture and filth that dothe issue from hir cares, giue hir this remedie, which is a very noble re∣ceyte, and approued of me often times, as well in men, as in Hawkes, to my great commendation and glory.
Take honie of Roses, and oyle of egges, incorporate them togither, and powre twice or thrice a daye into the eares of your Hawke, some fewe droppes of it hote: and if you find by the abundance of filth, that there needeth great abstersion, you maye adde therevnto a quantitie of Sarcacoll beaten into powder.
The wine of Pomegranats is a most excellent remedie in this mischiefe, confected with those things aforesayd.
Butter well coyled and beaten in a morter of lead, one houre at the least, and afterwardes powred into the Hawkes eares reasonable hote, twice or thrice aday, is a very good remedie.
THe chappes, and mouth of a Hawke is subiect to sundrie diseases, and in ye Hawkes mouth, there are wont to growe
certayne white peeces of flesh, and sometimes tending some∣what too blacke, which do hinder the Hawke from hir feeding, by meane whereof without any other euident cause, she becō∣meth leane, and lowe. Wherfore it shall bee very necessary to looke into hir mouth sometimes, both in the Palat, and vnder the tong, bicause that many times, there especially, do growe vp certaine peeces of flesh like in shape to a graine of Peper, sometimes lesse, sometimes bigger than a Peper grayn, which it shall be necessary to cut away, either with a payre of cysers, if you may commodiously do it, or with Roch Alome burnt, or with a droppe of Oyle of Brimston, applyed vpon a little cotton, with an yron vnto the place, taking away the corrupte flesh. You must mundifie the place with honie of Roses, and bombast or lynt, vntill you see the quicke flesh vnderneath it, then afterwards, vnto the honie of Roses, you may apply and adde, a little powder of Masticke, or incense to consolidate the wounde, washing it sometymes among with white wyne.
Moreouer, and besides this, there is wont to happen vnto Hawkes in the mouth, a certaine frownce or impedimente, which doth hinder their feading, as the other peeces of flesh do, of which I haue spoken before. This frownce may be very well perceyued and discerned with the eye, and will appeare also, by the feeding of the Hawke.
Diuers times this kind of euill is cured with honie of Ro∣ses, and with the powder of nutshels, bound in a peece of lin∣nen cloth, well bathed and styped togyther, and thrust vnder the whote ymbers, vntill it may bee brought vnto fine pow∣der: thys may you continue twice a day, as long as shall bee needefull.
But if this will not serue the turne, it shall be very neces∣sary to mortifie and kill the frownce with Aquae fortis, such as goldsmiths do vse to part their mettalls withal, hauing respect not to touch it any where, sauing only vpon the frownce, and part diseased, for that it will fret the good and sound fleashe.
After you haue mortified the frownce or canker with Aquae fortis, as I haue tolde you, then must you mundifie and consolidate it with honie of Roses, which wyll cure it out of hand.
Also it is very good, to applie this receyte following in the cure of the frownce, whome the Italians call Zaruoli.
Take a cleane Skillet, wherevnto put good white wine, a quantitie of Verdigrece, well beaten to powder, of Roche Alome like quantitie, one ownce of honie, and a fewe drie Rose leaues, boyle all these thyngs togither to the consump∣tion of halfe the wine: then strayne it, and with the strayning hereof, twice or thrice a day, bath the frownce with a little lint or bombast, tyed on the toppe of an instrumente for the purpose. But you muste well regarde whether the fleshe be good or no, and with a toole fitte for it to searche and cutte away the dead fleshe, for otherwise it will doe little pleasure, and the Hawke shoulde bee assured to suffer greate paynes, and yet to dye at laste. Hauing mun∣difyed the wounde with the receyte aforesayde, bathe it onelye wyth Honie of Roses, and it wyll dispatche the Cure.
Take Verdegrece a quantitie, bynde it in a linnen clothe, stype it one day and one nighte in Rose water, or Plan∣tine water, or common water, not hauing the rest, and after∣wardes wash the frownce therewith, vntill they be morti∣fied, whyche you shall well perceyue by the quicke fleshe that will growe vnder: then applye Honye of Roses in the ende of the cure, and it shall doe your Hawke great good.
Egiptiacum is an excellent thing to cure & kill the frownce in a Hawke, which is none other thing, but a very Canker, suche as men are plagued withall. Wherefore, take Verde∣grece, Roch Alome, of eyther two ownces, Honie of Roses
one ownce, water of Plantaine, wine of Pomegranats, of ey∣ther two ownces, and a halfe, set them on a softe burning fire, alwayes stirring them with a sticke, or wodden splatter, vntill it turne to the thicknesse of honie: then take a little of it, and mingle with a quātitie of Plantaine water, and you shal find this the most excellent remedie, aswell for the frownce in a Hawke, as also for the Canker in the mouth of a man. Thus much is necessary to be vsed, when the frounce dothe happen vnto a Hauke by some apostheme of ye head, engēdred by a cor∣rupt liuer, or some other inward part. But many times it so falleth out, that the beake of a Hawke is hindred and offended with this kind of euil, and not the mouth so much: in such sort, as the Hawke cannot well feede, by meane this mischiefe doth so fret and eate the horne of hir chappe and beake. For re∣medie of that, you must take a sharp knife, and pare away, as muche of the beake as is corrupted: but if the maladie or frownce haue eaten very farre vnder the horne of the beake, it is not sufficient to cut it away with a sharpe knife, as farre as the canker hath eaten, but you must afterwardes anoynt the place with honie of Roses, twice or thrice: and in so doing the Hawke shall recouer and do well, for the honie of Roses will both mundifie and incarne.
Sometimes a Hawkes beake or clappe doth ouergrowe so much, as it is very necessary to cope it with an yron, and af∣terward to sharpen the beake with a knife, taking away so much as is needeful for the better feeding of your Hawke, but in any wise you muste not medle with the nether clappe, by∣cause that doth not commonly growe so fast, nor so farre as to hinder your Hawkes feeding. Wherefore that part is to be fauored. Let this suffice as touching ye diseases of ye Hawkes mouth, and the frownce, bycause ther is no canker or frownce so ill, but being taken in time, with these receites, it will be re∣cured assuredly.
ONe speciall disease among others that be lurking and se∣cret within the brest and couert parts of a Hawke, is the Pantas, a very daungerous euill, and familiar to Hawkes: for lightly fewe escape, that are once encombred wyth thys infirmitie.
This mischeefe proceedes, when the lungs and those brea∣thing members by excessiue heate are ouerdried, and baked, in such sort, as they cannot by any meanes freely drawe the ayre to them, nor yet vtter it well being once receyued, for the bet∣ter cooling of the hart, whose bellowes the lungs are, by na∣ture ordayned for that speciall purpose and office, wherby the hart wareth inflamed, and by a necessarye consequente, the Hawke of force must perish.
Beside that, the humiditie and moysture of the head distil∣ling from aboue, vpon those breathing partes, and there en∣creased, and waxen thicke, is wont also to be a great furthe∣raunce to thys mischiefe, and breede difficultie of breathing. Wherefore it shall be very necessary, to regard it at the firste, before the disease haue taken too deepe roote: for that then (for a∣ny thing I know) there is no remedie in the worlde to be had for this Pantas, which is commonly tearmed Asina.
You maye iudge of the beginning of this greefe, and know it by thys. Your Hawke laboreth muche in the panell, mouing hir trayne often vp and downe, at each motion of hir panell, and cannot many times mewte or slise: and when shee doth slise, she droppes fast by hir, and makes a small rounde burnt mewte: these are apparant proofes, that shee hathe the Pantas growing on hir.
Againe, you may perceyue it by the more violent motion of hir gorge than custome was, but the other are the most assu∣red signes that you can desire and infallible. Moreouer, when your Hawke doth often times open and close hir clappes and
beake, then is the disease very neare confirmed. And looke how muche the more shee dothe it, the more is the Pantas rooted on hir, and then is the cure desperate, and not to be hoped for.
The best remedie that euer I coulde fynde for the Pantas, was to scowre the Hawke with good oyle oliue, well washed in sundrye waters, so long, vntill it became cleare and white.
My accustomed maner of washing it was, to put it in an ••arthen potte, that had a little hole in the very bottom of it of purpose made rounde, whereby it mighte the better bee stopte with the toppe of my finger: then do I conuey into this potte that quantitie of Oyle, whiche I meane to washe in it, and with cleare water do there coyle it togither with a wod∣den splatter, or a spone, that the water waxeth somewhat darke with it: after whiche remouing my finger, the water passeth away by the hole, the Oyle remayning behinde, and swim∣ming aloft, as it is the nature of it to do. And thus do I sixe, seauen, or eyght times, so long, vntill I perceyue the Oyle to haue no filthe lefte in it at all. Then of this Oyle thus pre∣pared, I bestowe vppon my Hawke that hathe the Pantas, filling therewith a chickens gutte washt very cleane, of an ynche long and somewhat more for a Falcon and Goshawke: but for other lesse Hawkes, of a lesse length, fast knit at bothe endes with a thread, to the ende the Oyle maye not issue out, whiche gutte I conuey into the Hawkes throte, after she hath cast, and is emptie aboue and in the pannell bothe, holding hir on the fiste till shee make a mewte: and one houre after she hath left mewting, then I feede hir with some slipper fleshe, as the harte of a Calfe, or a Pullets legge, refusing to vse olde Pigeons and Sparowes, bycause they are ouer hote meate, vnlesse happely the Hawke were very lowe and poore, but being hie and full of flesh, those other meates aforesayde, are not alone holesome, and sufficient for hir, but they will be much better, being washt in water of Buglosse, and wroong drie in a linnen cloth, and then minged with the powder of
Suger candie, vsing this order sixe or eyght dayes or moe, euery other day till my Hawke recouer: giuing hir euery third or fourth daye, a cotton casting with Cubebes and Cloues, to scowre and discharge hir of such moyst humors as destilleth from hir head, whiche sometimes (as I haue sayde before) is the chiefe and originall ground of this disease.
Besides this remedie, there is one other very good, and that is butter, and Larde, well slised, and washed in sundrie wa∣ters, till they become very cleane, and whyte, whyche you maye keepe in Rose water, vntill you haue occasion to vse it.
Of these beeing thus prepared and conserued, you maye take as you haue nede, for euery skowring suche a quantitie, as will serue to make a pill or pellet, so greate as you maye well conuey into your Hawkes throte, vsing it in maner and time aforesayd: giuing hir now and then among that skow∣ring of Cubebes and Cloues, as well for the reason alreadie alleaged, as also bycause of hir liquide meate and slipper fee∣ding vppon those harts, so bathed and stieped in water. For Cubebes and Cloues will greatly comfort the stomacke and gorge of your Hawke.
I haue found by experience that Oyle of sweete Almonds is of wonderous efficacie in the cure of this disease, giuing it in a chickens gutte as aforesayd.
If these remedies which I haue shewed, doe not preuayle, nor performe the perfit cure of your diseased hawke, ne yet doe make hir mewte, which happened at no time to me in all my experience and practise. But when there is no remedie to bee had at all, I can well allow the vse of Agaricke with a cotton casting, bycause Agaricke is of great force to cause a Hawke to slise But if for al this, the griefe do dayly proceede and in∣creace, then do I thinke good that you bestowe a Cauterie vp∣on youre Hawkes heade, betwixt hir eyes, & eake at hir nares, specially if there be any imperfectiō in thē. Some mē are of o∣pinion, yt for ye cure of the Pantas you shulde giue your hauke
two inches of a Lucerts tayle, newly cut off, conueying it into youre Hawkes gorge, and afterwardes setting hir in some darke place, till the haue cast, and then to giue hir gotes milke, with the bloud of a Doue. Othersome writers do will and aduise to let the Hawke bloud in the necke.
But I for my parte, haue neyther tried the one, nor the o∣ther, if I shall tell you the trouth of the matter, bycause I doe not at all like of these deuises: but doe assure you, that with those other remedies and receytes, whiche I haue taught you in this Chapter of the Pantas, (I meane, the skowrings, and the cawterie,) I haue done very muche good, and recouered my Hawkes of this disease, and therefore do recommend you to them, as vndoubted experiments.
Betony reduced into the forme of an Electuarie with ho∣nie, is a very good remedie for this greefe, as well in men, as in Hawkes.
One other remedie which I find in an Italian Author, is this. Take Mummy, Rhewbarbe, Saffron, & Suger candye, make all these into powder, giuing it to your Hawke, for the space of eight days at least in a chickins skinne, if shee will take it, if not, force it into hir. And while you minister thys medicine vnto hir, al that time let hir not be borne on the fiste: and withall among sometimes, giue washt fresh butter with suger candye, and sometimes a cotton casting with incense within it. But I do more commend, to giue hir bole Armoni∣acke, in a pill with honie.
These remedies no doubt, are very good and soueraigne a∣gainst the Pantas of a Hawke. Make you choyse of them, but let the Cawterie be the last refuge, for that is an extremitie. Remember this rule of Phisicke, that euer it is best to begin wt the weakest: for if they will profit and do sufficient good, in vayne it were to charge nature with the strongest receytes, which are rough, and churlish in working.
SVndry are the diseases that Hawkes are pestred withall, by meane of the indisposition of the gorge, when yt parte is out of tune: among which the most ordinarie and perillous is the casting of the gorge, when a Hawke dothe cast hir meate vndigested, in the selfe same forme she receyued it▪ or else cor∣rupted, and of a lothsome sauoure, both whiche they doe many times.
If shee cast it cleane, and not stincking, but of good smell, ther is no great feare of the matter, nor any great danger: by∣cause it maye proceede by meane some small bone is crossed and turned in the gorge of the Hawke, whiche doth cause hir to cast it againe for hir more ease and quiet: Wherefore in this case it shall be good for the more suretie, and to knowe the worst of the accident that may happen thereby, to beare your Hawke to the water, or to offer hir a bason of water, to trie whether she wil bowze or no. For by bowzing, besides the good that she shall receyue by it, you shall haue euident proofe and vndoubted shewe of hir disease, and that in deede shee is sicke, and dothe stande in neede of Phisicke: but if shee bowze not at all, it argueth hir to bee in good time.
These accidentes are wonte to happen by meane of ouer much moysture and humiditie, and through excessiue rottē hu∣mors, engendred in the gorge.
Wherefore if the Hawke cast hir meate well sauoring, and of good coloure, neyther stinking to smell, nor lothsome to vewe, and do bowze after it, it shall be good to heate and com∣fort the gorge, with the powder of Nutmegges and Cloues, with a quantitie of Muske, all enwrapped in a peece of fine cotton, or bombast, giuing it to the hawke when she is emptie
paneld, as custome is to do, holding hir on the fiste, vntill shee put ouer hir sayd casting into hir gorge. Then two houres after she hath cast it againe, it shall be very necessary to feede hir with yong Doues, giuing but halfe a gorge, or somewhat lesse at a time: and at nighte when hee suppes hir, to lette hir plume a little, and if the Hawke will bowze, to giue hir leaue to doe it, for truly it will be very wholsome for hir. By this meanes, I promise you, I haue recouered sundrie sieke Hawkes, and chiefly Sparowhawkes.
I haue ouer and besides this, vsed with great good successe, good Rose water, altred wt a quantitie of powder of Cloues, and muske, preparing it after this manner:
I haue taken Rose water two ownces, powder of Cloues two scruples, of fine Muske fyue graines: and of this haue I giuen my Hawke fyue ownces, or there about, after that as my Hawke hath bin either poore or hie in state, holding hir on the fiste, vntill she hath made a mewte.
This medicine will bring hir to a good apetite, a sweete breath, and will besides all these scowre very well.
But if that which she doth east, be corrupted and stincking: ouer and besides the aforesayd remedies, whiche indeede are excellent good, I can allow well that you take the roote of Ce∣lidonie, or Celondine, remouing away the vpper rynde and pill off the roote, vntill it looke redde, and droppe agayne, then to infuse it in a quantitie of luke warme water, stir∣ring the roote vp and downe in the water, to cause it to re∣ceyue the effect and qualitie of the Celydonie the more. Of which roote you must (after you haue so done) conuey a pel∣let as bigge as a beane for the huger sorte of Hawkes, into the beake of your Hawke, thrusting it downe with your fore∣finger into the very gorge of hir, to the end it may the better descend into your Hawke. Besides this, it is very good to open hir beake, and conuey into hir one spoonefull of the wa∣ter aforesayd, not all at once, but at twice or thrice, closing
fast hir clappes againe, bycause shee maye the better keepe it, and not cast it vp presently.
Thys beeyng done, keepe hir a space vppon the fiste, vn∣till the roote and licoure bee well settled in hir gorge. Af∣ter whyche, cast hir on the pearche, in suche a place, where is no resorte, eyther of people, dogges, chickens, cattes, or other suche lyke thynges, to the ende you maye the better discerne hir skowring: and besydes, that shee maye haue the lesse cause to bate. There let hir stande, vntill shee hathe cast all the roote whiche shee receyued, and that the water hathe made hir mewte and slise sufficiently, whyche will doe hir very greate good. Then after two houres it shall be well, to giue hir a yong Ratte or Mouse, newly stripped out of the skinne hote, and for lacke thereof, a yong Pigeon, whome you shall kill, by throwing hir forcibly against the grounde, with the raines downeward, bycause the bloud may gather togither, and stande: whereof feede youre Hawke, giuing hir the hart also, and the reynes thereof, withoute anye more allowance of any of the Pigeons fleshe. When shee hathe dispatched and rydde this beaching of the Pigeons hart and bloud, or of the yong Ratte, then giue hir in like manner the like quantitie, onely of the dead doue: onely twice a day to a Sparowhawke, but to a Falcon or Goshawke, foure or fyue beachings in one day, euer obseruing the selfe same order that I haue prescribed you.
The next morning you may, if neede be, in a little lint, or flaxe, or such like deuise, gyue a skowring of incense or Oliba∣num, I meane, the leaues of it broosed in your hand, as small as is possible, gyuing hir but a small gorge, to the ende, that towardes the euening, you may allowe hir a reaso∣nable supper.
By this vsage and order haue I cured sundrie Hawkes of mine owne, and other mens.
You must note, yt whē these remedies aforesaid, do not profit,
nor do the feate, and that the Hawke doth cast hir, more than twice, then is it a desperate case, and so much the woorse, if the Hawke be lowe and poore, for then in that case haue I seene very few or none recured.
Neuerthelesse, I haue somtimes seene a meruayle wrought in this case, by making the greater kind of Hawkes, as Fal∣cons, Gerfalcons and such like, dronke with a sponfull or two of strong Malmesie, conueyed by force into hir gorge: but to ye lesser Hawkes you must not giue so muche of the Malmesie, but in lesse quantitie. Which done, they haue bin placed vpon a bedde or a cusshen, for on the pearch they cannot stande, be∣ing drowsie, but will lie as things in a traunce, for the space of a quarter of an houre, and many neuer recouer themselues againe, but if happily any do after they are thus dealt with∣all, recouer and slise, and scoure away their medicine, no que∣stion that Hawke shall throughly recouer: then is it good to giue hir of the bloudy parts of a Pigeon vsed in that manner as I foreshewed you, but this daungerous medicine is not to be giuen, but in desperate cases.
IT hapneth sometimes that a Hawke can hardly put ouer hir meate which may be discerned by this, when in the mor∣ning she hath of hir supper aboue. This misfortune chaunceth partly by reason hir meat was ouerdrie, and (as we may say) so hard baked in the gorge, as she coulde not put it ouer, and partly agayne, for that the Hawke cannot endue sufficient∣ly, neyther yet dothe fyll in the pannell as shee oughte to doe.
In the firste case, I haue holpen diuers with gyuing the Hawke water at wyll, to bowze hir pleasure, bathing besides hir feete & pearche with freshe colde water: whiche not seruing the turne, I haue thruste my forefinger into hir gorge, and so holpen it along, and somtimes my little finger, or a waxe can∣dle: and by that meanes haue caused hir to fill in the ventricle sooner than otherwise she woulde haue done. The weakenesse of which part diuers times is a cause that the hawke doth not well endew, nor fill in the Panell.
Somewhiles againe I haue vsed, & chiefly to Falcons, to giue a skowring in Cotton of powder of Mummie, prepared of Cloues and Nutmegs, rolling aloft vpon the cotton a litle lynte of Flaxe, bicause they should the sooner caste it. And by this meanes haue recouered them presently.
When a hawke doth endew but slowly, & hath by yt meanes smal lust to hir meate, you must thus do, to make hir more e∣ger & sharpe, wrappe hir meate in the feede of Nasturciū, or wa∣tercrassies, and so cause hir to take it. But this muste be vsed onely in winter, by reason that kinde of seede is very hotte.
The meate being thus vsed, will bring hir to be very sharpe sette, and cause hir to be well breathed, and besides make hir lustie, for in deede it is a medicine very excellent, and of infi∣nite vertue.
Besides, sometimes the gorge is so out of tune, as it is the cause that the hawke at hir accustomed houre doth not caste, but retayneth hir casting within hir. Wherevpon it behooues some arte to be vsed to make hir caste. The nexte remedie for yt (as I haue sayde already) is to gyue the roote of Celendine, prepared in forme aforesayde.
Moreouer Mustard seede, otherwise called Senvye seede, is an excellent & a present remedy for yt mischiefe, being cōueyed into ye hawkes throte, of ye bignes of a beane, to ye huger sort of haukes: but to ye lesser haukes a lesse quātity ought to be giuē: and besides yt, one graine of Cloues, wt a litle pure Aloes wel washt, albeit yt wil somwhat vexe & wrōg ye hauke in this ease
But aboue all other, do I commend and preferre a skow∣ring conueyed into a little cotton casting, that is made of the pouder of Aloes Epaticke washt, of Cloues, Nutmegges and Ginger, of eache of these equall portions, rolling the cotton in a little Tow or Flaxe, making it as hard with your hande as you may, & then rolling it in ye pouder of Cloues, and forcing it downe the hawkes throte: and presently you shall see your hawke caste it vp with the olde casting whiche she had before. This, besides the benefite of that, will comfort greatly & strēg∣then the gorge, and skowre the heade of all such euill humors, as are there, surcharging the same. The vse of this deuise nowe and then, will be very necessarie and beneficiall to your hawkes without doubt.
If your hawke will not cast, take Aloes, Pepper, pouder of Cloues, and honie of Roses, making of all these a long pyll, and as bygge as a casting, gyue it your hawke, and she shall presently caste vpon the taking of it.
NOwe do I holde it high time, and the place very conue∣niēt to write of such kinds of woormes, as do trouble and vexe ye poore hawke, as hir mortall enimies, which after a sort do depende of the gorge, through whose weakenesse there are engendred grosse and viscuous humors in the bowelles of a hawke, where beeing weakely wrought by default of natu∣rall heate, the humor conuertes into small woormes a quarter of an ynche long, and more.
You may perceyue these woormes to plague and trouble your hawke, when you see hir caste hir gorge, when hir breath stynckes, when she trembleth and wrytheth hir trayne, when she croakes in the night, offreth with hir beake to hir pannell, when hir mewte is not cleane, white, nor in suche abundance as it oughte to bee. And besides all this, when your Hawke
keepes at one staye, and is lowe of flesh continually.
In this case it behooues you to destroy these woormes eyther with a skowring of washt Aloes Epaticke, Mustard sede, and Agaricke, of each one egal portions, vsing to giue it as I haue taught you before. Or else, by ministring the pouder of ye Gall of a Bore pygg•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the smoke: or if these fayle, to gyue the pouder of Harts horne being dryed.
White Dittander, Hiera pigra minore, (for there are sundry kindes of it) of eache two drāmes, Aloes Epaticke well washt three drammes, Agaricke, Saffron, of each one dramme, being all incorporate with Hoonie of Roses, is an excellent remedie agaynst the woormes. You muste keepe it well, and giue Fal∣cons, Goshawkes, & suche like, the bygnesse of a beane, but to Sparowhawkes, and the lesser sort of hawkes, as muche as a pease, in form of a pill, thrusting it down your hawkes throte, keping hir after it a space on ye fist, till she haue slised & mew∣ted hir medcine, feding hir afterward wt good meat after your wōted maner. And this shall recouer hir, and kill the worms.
For the same disease it is very good, to giue a skowring of white Dittander, Aloes Epaticke well washt, Cubebes foure or fiue, a fewe flakes of Saffron enwrapped in a morsell of fleshe, to cause the hawke the better to take it.
This receyte, no doubt, will bothe make the hawke to slyse and mewte, and withall recouer hir. For it is an approoued remedie againste the woormes, and specially when the hawke doth wrythe and wrest hir trayne.
Againe, take Rheuponticum, Suger Candy, filings of yron, of eache like quantitie, of these, with iuyce of Woormewood, frame pilles, and cōueying them into the skinne of a chicken, giue your hawke one pill at a time, & it shall do hir pleasure.
NOw I am entred in speche of wormes, I thinke it good to write somwhat of ye Filanders, to giue both knowledge &
cure of them. Albeit these wormes doe not all depende of the gorge, for their naturall place & being is neare the raynes of a hawke, where they be enwrapped in a certaine thinne nette or skinne, seueral by themselues, apart from either gut or gorge.
These Filanders (as the very name doth import,) are smal as threedes, & one quarter of an ynche long, a•••• more proper and peculiar to Falcons, than to any other hawke or fowle. And this makes me to thinke, ye they are naturally allowed ye Fal∣con, bicause in deede they do not at al times vexe & trouble the hawkes, but now & then, & specially when ye hawke is poore, & low of flesh. But if she be hie & lustie, then by reson of ye abun∣dance of nourishment & foode yt they receiue from ye hawke, they molest hir not at all, but rather do hir good: and my reason is this. I cannot be induced to thinke that nature (who doth vse to make nothing but to some ende and purpose) hath produced & placed those Filanders in that part of the Falcō for naught, or to hurt the hawke. But how and in what sort they pleasure or profit the hawke, I coulde neuer yet reache by coniecture.
When they are troubled and grieued with the Filanders, you shall firste discerne it by the pouertie of the hawkes, by ruffling their traynes, and by certayne twytches and startes that they wyll make, strayning the fiste or pearche with their pownce, and lastly by their crooking in the nyght time, which kinde of noyse they vtter, when the Filanders pricke and gripe them within. For when they wante their sustenance, whiche they can by no meanes haue, when the hawkes are lowe and poore, then do they endeuour to rende and breake that slender nette wherein they are naturally inclosed, to yssewe oute to seeke their vittayles some other where. And manye tymes it happeneth, that, not seeing to it in tyme, and at the firste, they passe through their webbe, and crall vp as hyghe as the verie hearte, and other principall partes of the Hawke, whereof it muste needes consequently followe, that shee perisheth with∣out redemption.
I haue sometimes seene this pestilent woorme by piercing
and breaking the bed wherein nature hath layde them, ascend vp so highe, as they came foorth, and appeared at the Hawkes beake and mouth.
Wherefore it shall be necessarie to respect the cure of these Fylanders, not by killing them (as you woulde doe other woormes, (for then happely beeyng deade, and rotting in that place, from whence they can not passe awaye with the Hawkes mewte, they woulde there corrupte and breede a filthie Apostume in hir) but the waye that you muste take: is, by making thē droncke with some medicine to entertayne them, in such sort, as they may not offend or grype the hawke.
The beste remedie that can bee deuised for it, is to take a Garlicke head, pysling from the cloues thereof the vtmoste finde: whiche doone, you shall with some small yron toole, or bookine hette in the fyre, pierce the cloues, and make cer∣tayne holes in them. And afterwards steeping them in Oyle at leaste three dayes, gyue your Falcon one of them downe hir throte: for the cloue of Garlicke vsed in this manner as I tell you, will so inrage & astonne the Filanders, that for thir∣tie or forty dayes after they wil not at al molest your hawke. Wherevpon some Falconers, when their Falcons be low and poore, once in a moneth do of ordinarie gyue them a Cloue of Garlicke, for feare of the Filanders, to preuent the woorste, and truely to good effecte. And for that verie purpose and cause, are seldom or neuer without Garlicke stieped in Oyle, where yt lōger they lye, ye better, & more medicinable they are.
Thus must you deale with those Filanders, that lye in the raynes. But there is one other kind of Filanders, lying in the guts, or pannell of a hawke, which are long, small, and white worms, as though they had dropt out of ye raines of ye hawke. If you will destroy those Filanders, you must take Aloes E∣paticke, fylings of yron, Nutmegges, & so much Honie, as wil serue to frame a pyll, which pyll you shall giue your hawke in ye morning, as soone as she hath easte, holding hir on ye fiste for ye space of an houre after. Then cast hir on ye perche, & when
you gesse hir to haue slysed hir pill, and mewted it cleane, then feede hir with good hotte meate.
There are besides these, yet one other sorte of Filanders in the guttes of a hawke also, whiche cause a hawke to caste hir gorge as soone as she hath fedde, and do make hir strong brea∣thed: for them prouide this remedie.
Take Aloes Epaticke, & Wormwood made into very small pouder, temper the pouder with Oyle of bitter Almondes: and that done, annoynte therewith the flanckes and sides of your hawke. And if you like not the Oyle, for gresing your Falcōs feathers & plumes, compounde those sayde pouders wt Vineger at the fire: but it is certaine that the Oyle is the better farre of both, and more proper to this disease.
If you can, giue your hawke Oyle of bitter Almonds, and not disquiet hir gorge, & after it bestow ye other cure vpon hir, with the annointing hir as I haue taught you▪ you shal finde it the most perfect remedie, yt may be against those Filanders, that lodge in the guttes and bowels of your hawke.
THe lyuer of a hawke is oftentimes inflamed by ouermuch bating & trauaile, as it happeneth not seldome to Falcons brought from farre & forrayne parts by shippe: & againe, when they bee impacient and bedlam in the mewe, or when they flee surcharged wt ouergreat bells. For the ouerbelling of a Falcō, puts hir to a greater payne & trouble, than needes. By these & suche like occasions, hawkes become hot lyuered. Againe som∣times it happeneth by meane of an Apostume, which is engē∣dred either by some pricke of a thorne, or the stripe of an other hawkes pownce, by crabbing wt hir. For whē they haue such a stripe or pricke, ye skinne is broken outwardly, but ye bloud re∣maining corrupt within, engēdreth ye apostume. Many times this disease of the lyuer proceedes of some broose agaynste the grounde, or in a tree, or the encounter with another fowle.
You shall perceiue this disease of the inflamation of ye liuer,
when your hawke standeth melancolie, casteth not at hir ac∣customed and woonted houres, by hir fowle castings, by hir stynking and yll coloured mewtes, (whereof I spake before) by hir labouring thicke in the panell, and by feeling of hir: For hir pulse dothe beate as the pulse of a man that hath a fe∣uer. Moreouer hir mewt is as black as any incke. The disease is the moste pestilent and daungerous of all others.
If the heate of hir lyuer proceede of too muche bating, or broyling with hir selfe, you maye easily cure hir with foure or fyue good lyquide and cooling gorges, as to feede hir with the legge of a Pullette, or the hearte of a Veale, ba∣thed in water of Buglosse, Bowrage, Hartes tongue, and suche like waters.
Moreouer it is very souerayne, to washe hir meate in the iuyce of Heubane, or else (that whiche doeth muche more re∣freshe the hawke) to take a lyttle larde or Bacon, withoute the rynde, and well washte and conserued in good Rose wa∣ter, and laste of all rolled in powder of Suger Candie. With this receyt more than with any other, am I accustomed to re∣comfort and refreshe my hawke, when she is sicke of hir liuer. Notwithstanding the other medicines are very wholesome & good. And specially, good freshe butter, or Oyle washte and prepared, as I taught you in the former chapter.
But when the mischiefe of the lyuer is engendred by some pricke of a thorne, or the crabbing with some other hawkes or fowle, as diuers tymes it happeneth to the Falcon, by en∣counter with a Hearon, when they binde togither in the ayre. In this extremitie, Mummie purified, made to powder, is very good. You must rolle your hawkes meate in this Mum∣mie prepared three or foure tymes, & so gyue it your hawke: and if shee refuse to take it of hir selfe, then conuey it into hir by force, with a Cotton casting, four or fiue dayes one af∣ter an other.
If she be ill affected in hir lyuer, by a broose against ye groūd or against a tree, or by encounter with some other fowle, then
take Rewbarbe of the best one scruple, dry it vpon a hot yron panne, vntill it may be made into fine pouder, of that gyue in a canuas casting, the weight of two graines of wheate to your larger sort of hawkes, but for the lesse hawke ye one halfe will suffise. After she hath taken this casting, if she be hye in fleshe, then two houres after feede hir with a Pullets legge, washt in one of those cooling waters, but if she be lowe & poore, wt good hot meate. Thus must you cōtinue four or fiue dayes, giuing one day the casting wt Rewbarbe, & another day wt the Mū∣my aforesayd. Truly without doubt your hawke shal recouer if you folow this methode, vnlesse the lyuer be remoued out of his place, which somtimes doth happen by somegreat broose or straine. And you shall know it by a cōtinual hardnesse, which you shal feele in the hawkes panell, & by hir yellowe mewtes.
For this incōuenience there is no remedie in ye world to be had, although you wolde trye all yt medicines yt are to be vsed to hawkes, you shal profit nothing. It must nedes folow, that wtin fiue daies your hawke peke of ye perche. It is not curable.
Giordanus, an excellent Falconer, for ye indisposition & heate of the lyuer, willeth you to take halfe an ownce of Soldanel, and one ownce of Iroes, which is floure de Luce. You muste beate these into fine powder, & conuey it into your casting, & so giue it your hawke. Withall at nyght he willes you, when your hawke hath put ouer, and well skowred hir filth, feede hir with good meate, washt in these cooling waters following.
Take water of Endiue, Maydenheare, Cycorie, and Bu∣glosse: in these waters may you wash your hawkes meate, as also hir casting, if it please you, wrapping in ye casting ye pou∣der aforesayde. For what with the helpe of the one and the o∣ther, no doubt you shall see a very good effect.
Moreouer the sayde Giordanus sayth, yt Gerfalcons are of al other ye hottest hawkes, & therfore to maintaine & kepe thē soūd he doth aduise to wash their castings in this water folowing.
Take Endiue water, Maydenheare, otherwise called Capil∣lus Veneris, the water of Scabiosa, of eyther twoo ownces, one
dramme of choise Rewbarbe, of the best Agarick one scruple, put these in infusion, where after they haue bin infused seuen houres, wash your Hawks casting in it. This order vse euer, when your Gerfalcon is out of tune, and it shall greatly pleasure hir.
SOmetymes the arme and foote of a Hawke doeth swell, by meanes of yll humors that descende and drop downe, through weaknesse of the foote or arme, through ouergreat trauail & toile, through age, by reasō of some blow or broose receiued lōg before.
This mischiefe may easily bee discerned as well by vewe of eye as touch of hande: for besides that you shall plainly perceiue it in sight, you may feele a verie great heate in the member, so as sometimes the hawke is vnable to stande on hir legges, for paine and anguish thereof. Wherfore it is necessarie to looke to it with all care that may be, and so vse the matter, as the humor breede not the goute, or the pinne, which oftentymes happeneth to those poore byrdes, to their great and continuall plague.
The way to cure it, is to giue the humor a vent by launsing it, and after that to recomfort the member by often annoynting it with the white of an Egge, Vinegar, and Rose water, well beaten and coyled togither, or else with verie good olde Oyle of Oliues, such as you can come by out of a Bottell wherein Oyle hath beene long time kept: for those droppes that hardly come out of the Bottel, are farre better than any newe fresh Oyle, and are more medicinable in this case.
Moreouer besides the ceasing the paine, to delay the swelling, you shall finde it verie excellent good, to take the powder of Acacia, and terra Sigillata, of either four drammes, incorporating them with vineger, the white of an Egge, Rose water, and the iuyce of Nightshade, as muche as will suffice to make this vn∣guent soft and delicate, and with this receyte to annoynt the hawkes foote or arme oftentimes for a space: for this vnguent no
question, will both take away the immoderate ache and paine, as also mollifie and delay the swelling, and so restore your hawk to hir former plight againe.
An other approued medicine is, to annoynt the swelling of your hawkes foote with Olium Petroleum, (which is the oyle of a Rocke) and with Oyle of white Lillies, taking of eche of these like quantitie, the bloud of a Pigeon, and the tallow of a candle, heating all these togither a little at the fire. This vnguent will throughly resolue the mischiefe, or at the least, by resoluing the thinnest humors, bring it to that passe, as you shall see the grossest partes well digested, which you shall perceyue by the whitenesse and hardnesse therof. Then must you make an issue, by launcing finely with a knife the skin of the hurt place, and afterwards an∣noint it for certaine dayes with the vnguent aforesayde, and it shall recouer.
Besides this, a very good remedie for the swelling in a hawkes foote, after a rupture made, is to vse this cerotte that followeth. Take Gumme Arabicke, Armoniacke, Sagapeum, a gumme so called, of either two drammes, Greeke Pitch, and ship Pitche, of eche a reasonable quantitie, Powder of Masticke three ounces, of Oyle of Iuniper, or of the Firre tree, new waxe as much as wil suffice to make a Cerot, according to Art: dissolue your gumms in Vineger, which done, spread of this vpon a pleggat of linnen cloth, applying it handsomly both within the foote and without, making certaine holes wherthrough to conuey the hawkes stret∣chers or talons: Alwayes remembring if the swollen part be bro∣ken before the application of your Cerot, to mundifie and clense the water and slime that is in the wound, and so euery two or three dayes to chaunge and renew your Cerot.
The vertue of it is to desiccat, comfort and mundifie the filth and quitture that is in the hurt member, whereby the hurt must of force be recouered.
MAny times for all the care and remedies aforesayde, the gowte doth befall a Hawke, which is none other thing than
a hard tumor and swelling, full of corruption aboute the ioyntes of a Hawkes foote and stretchers, which disease is verie painefull and offensiue, by meane whereof the Hawke cannot pray. Tru∣ly the Gowte is an incurable euill, and may bee tearmed a (nunquaem sanus.) Let falconers, and writors say what they lyst, I for my part, can this much assure you, that in all my life, I was neuer able by anye deuise to cure the Gowte confyrmed, whether it were for want of cunning in me, or by reason of the malignitie of the disease, whiche doeth rebell and scorne anye remedie that shall bee applyed vnto it. Yet notwithstanding, bycause it shall not seeme, that I doe it vpon slouth, and for desire to bee silent, I will laye downe some one remedie or two vsed by dyuerse Falconers, thoughe oft tymes to small pur∣pose or successe.
Some for the Gowte, do vse to take the Pilles of wilde Ap∣ples or Crabbes, wilde and sowre Sloes, the rinde of an Ashe, or the Keyes that grow vpon the Ashe beaten into small pow∣der, mingling it with halfe a pounde of olde Oyle Oliue, all which they put into a Glasse Bottell: or other vessell of Glasse, close stopte wyth Paste, or suche lyke deuise, so as no breathe may issue foorthe of the Vessell, whiche done, they couer it in Sande in the Sunne, or in Horse dung, for the space of fortie dayes, and after that, they streyne it altogyther, so as the vertue of the ingredience maye bee incorporated wyth the Oyle. With this forsooth they annoynt the place, hoping to resolue and cure the Gowte, whiche I coulde neuer doe vpon a∣ny Hawke of mine.
Other some doe accustome to annoynt the Gowte in a Hawke, with the milke or iuyce of Selendine, and the marrow of a Bacon hogge, and taking a peece of linnen clothe, do bath the member euery thirde day, with the strongest Vineger they can get, and do cause theyr Hawke to stande vpon all this, for remedie of the Gowte.
Againe, there are, that with the iuyce of Selendine, Vi∣neger, and Honie, doe vaunte they haue made an vnguent, wherewith they haue done greate woonders. But bycause
by experience I coulde neuer finde these to preuaile in the cure of the goute, I leaue to speake or wryte in commendation of the same, putting you out of all hope for recouerie of the same.
THere is yet one other euill which happeneth in the foote of a hawke, by meane of matter that powreth downe, in a maner as hard to be cured as the Goute, and as combersome to the fillie hawke as the Goute, for by reason of the Pyn she is neyther well able to foote hir pray, to feede hir selfe, nor yet to stande sure vpon hir Pearche.
The Pynne is a swelling disease, that doth resemble sharpe nayles, rysing vp in the bottome or palme of the Hawkes foote: and by reason it doeth so muche in shape resemble a nayle, by meane of the sharpnesse thereof, those swellings are called by the Falconers of Italie Chiodetti, as a man woulde terme them in English, small nayles, of which verie fewe Hawkes can bee recured.
Yet for remedie of this disease, some do aduise to open the vain of the leg, a thing not only friuolous to talke of, and a verie olde womans fable, or Cantorburie tale, but also verie perillous to be put in practise. For truly neither wil I my selfe at any time pra∣ctise it, ne yet aduise others to do it. I can more cōmend, that you mollifie and make soft the sayde Pyn with strong Vineger, the best that may be gotten, which done, pare it till the bloud follow after: then to bring it to maturation, and to ripen it, applie hand∣somly vpon it in a linnen plegget, a quantitie of vnguent made of iuyce of Lemmons, one ounce & a halfe of hennes greese, three drammes powder of Masticke, leaues of Bittonie, and Fran∣kensense, or Olibanum, a reasonable portion, and so much newe waxe as will serue the purpose.
Besides this, I doe vse to boyle in good white wine, all
these things togither, Waxe, Oyle of bitter Almondes, of eche lyke quantitie, a little Sage, Frankinsense, Rewe, Rosema∣rie, to the consumption of three partes, then pounding well all these wyth Turpentine and yellowe Waxe, I make an vnguent of excellent vertue and operation. And if by these remedyes aforesayde, the Pynne become to be soft, and forgo his hardnesse, then doeth it behoue you, to cutte it out from the roote, as lowe as is possible, and to drye it vppe with Agrippa, an vnguent so called, and with Gratia dei, mingling these two togyther by equall portions, as muche of the one as of the other.
Ouer and besides all these, the playster that is called Empla∣strum Sacrum, and Isis, whom the Apothecaries do so terme, are of singular vertue, bycause they doe mollifie, and desiccate the wounde or disease. I cannot remember, that aboue twice, I coulde euer doe any good vpon my Hawkes herewith (nor with any other remedie) and therefore I will leaue to make any fur∣ther recitall hereof.
There be some ventrous Falconers, that will with a caute∣rizing yron go about to roote and burne out the Pinne, which I will at no time endeuour to doe, doubting least thereby I shall shrinke my Hawkes sinewes, and spoyle my Hawke, by meanes they are so neare neighbours to the Hart.
SEyng that I haue begonne to wryte, and decipher you the mischiefes that doe happen to Hawkes feete, it shall not bee besyde my purpose, nor amisse, to saye somewhat of the cure of theyr Pounces and Talons, when eyther by stryking the fowle, or by any other accident, they breake cleane off, or riue in sunder.
Wherfore when your Hawke happeneth to haue this mischief, the part of the pounce, or the whole pounce beeing broken away, you muste applie vnto it the bladder of the gall of a Henne,
vsing the matter so as it may get into the broken Talon, byn∣ding it so handsomely and artificially to the Hawkes foote, as the gall may not issue out, nor fall away from the place. This deuise will stoppe the bloude, ceasse the paine, and within foure or fiue dayes, fasten and harden the horne of the Pounce, so as the Hawke shall be able to flee: and if she be a falcon, she shall strike or ruffe a Ducke as before hir hurt.
And to the ende your Hawke teare it not awaye with hir beake, it shall be necessarie eyther to clappe hir on a hoode with a false beake made vnto it, or to fasten to hir hoode a peece of leather artificially, so long and large as maye serue the turne, to arme hir beake, so as in time hir Pounce, if it bee but broken, maye waxe hole againe: or if it bee cleane ryued awaye, a newe may growe in the place agayne.
Let this suffice as touchyng the breaking or ryuing of the Pounce of a Hawke.
BY some outwarde accident, many tymes the thighe or legge of a Hawke is become out of ioynt: wherefore it shall be ve∣rie necessarie in this case, as soone as is possible, to set it in his right and naturall place againe, to the ende that no matter nor fluxe of humor descende or distill, to hinder the setting of it in ioynt againe, whiche must needes ensue if it be not regarded in time. Which done, set the Hawke in some such place, where she shall haue no occasion to bate or broyle with hir selfe, but bee at the greatest quiet and rest shee maye, applying medicines that haue vertue to desiccate and strengthen the hurte member, which you shall doe, by bathing a Linnen plegget, or a plegget of Flaxe in the white of an Egge, Oyle of Roses, and Tur∣pentine, with two drammes of Saenguis Draconis, and of A∣loes incorporated togyther, and bynding it aboute the thigh or legge whiche is out of ioynt, and fastning ouer and aboue the sayd plegget a slender roller of linnen cloth, to conserue and kepe
it the more firmely and stayedly in the place where you woulde haue it to remayne. Vsing the matter thus ten dayes togyther, shifting and renewing the medicine euerye two dayes once, to the ende the plegget waxe not ouer drie and stiffe to the hurte member.
I can lyke verie well withall, if before you applie this sayde medicine, you bathe well the thigh or legge of the Hawke with a reasonable warme lotion or bath, made of Wine, Roses dried, Myrrhe, Sage, Comfrey, Camomill, and Rosemarie: for these will warme and comfort the nerues and sinewes, and withall drie vp such fluxe of humor, as shall poure downe vpon the lame and broosed member.
IF by any mishap your Hawke haue broken an arme or a leg, as sundrie tymes Falcons that are fowle slayers doe vse to doe, by some strype, or encounter at the Brooke with a strong fowle, you must with all care and speede, sette right the broken bones in their naturall place againe: whiche done, deplume and plucke away the feathers from the member that is hurt, round a∣bout the wounde.
When you haue made this playster, spreade a portion of it thinne, vpon Flaxe or Linte well towsed, applying it vpon the rupture and broken place, wyth as greate cunning and care as you can: you can not vse it too daintily, when you applie it, bycause of the tendernesse of the hurt. This done, bynde it with a fine Linnen roller to staye the playster. Then make fine splets of Timber, all of one length, thinne as may be, and in fashion like the scales of a Sworde scabbarde, whome you must enwrappe in Lynt for broosing the member. These splets bestowe orderly aboute your Hawkes legge or thighe on euerie side, bynding them with the Linnen rollers or fillets artificially, but neyther so loosely as the bones may slippe out of theyr place, ne yet so streightly, but that the hurt member may receyue hys naturall nourishment and comfort. For otherwise it woulde be mortified, and the vse of it lost.
This ligature and rolling of the member, must be continued at the least .xxx. dayes, for that the bone cannot close againe firm∣ly vnder one Monethes space. Yet can I wishe, that you vn∣binde your rollers, and chaunge your medicine, twice at the least in the first fiftene dayes, dealing so daintily as the bones may not sunder thereby. And by meane thereof will your medicine, and the ligature, worke the better effect.
Lastly, it shall not be amisse, after you haue thus done, to vse for three or foure dayes this lotion or water, to bath your hawkes legge, to strengthen and comfort the place.
Take Roche Alom one dramme, Roses dryed, the pyll or rind of Pomgranets, and Frankinsense, of ech a small quantitie, white Wine as muche as will suffise: wherein you must boyle these things aforesayd, to the consumption of halfe the wine, with this lotion, bath your hawkes thighe and legge, plucking away the feathers as aforesayde. And this shall comfort the member, so as no fluxe of humors shall repayre to the place.
Besides all this, you must not forget, during the time of this cure, to keepe your diseased Hawke remoued from all noyse and accesse of people: and if this misfortune befall hir in the Winter time, you must set hir warme.
Moreouer, it shall be good and necessarie in the beginning of your cure, to giue your hawke,
It will be good for you to vse the helpe of some Apotheca∣rie for the confection of the playster, as also for your lotion or bathe: for the more artificially it is made, the better effect it will take. Truely it doth stande with good reason, that it will recure your Hawke, the receyte is so good. All the care must be in the daintie handling of the broken member, and in rolling and spleting it orderly.
HAwkes are wont diuerse times to receiue stripes and blowes by other fowles, as the Falcon by encounter with a Heron, and sometimes by some other accident, as by carying hir in a hawks bag vpō occasion, or by rashing into bushes and thornes, or such like hurtfull places.
These strypes and hurtes either are simple hurtes (as they are termed) that is to say in the skinne and fleshe of a Hawke only, or else compoundes, as when a nerue and sinewe is prickt, or cut in sunder.
The symple woundes and hurtes are of slender or no daun∣ger at all, and will bee recured lightly agayne, eyther with the iuyce of Orgium, or a bathe and lotion made of Masticke, Aloes, and Myrrhe, two drammes, Pympernell, Comfrey, and Sage, of eyther a handefull and a halfe, of Agresta cleare and good, sixe poundes, putting all these things aforesayde, into a stone Vessell made verye cleane, or else into an earthen potte, there suffering it to boyle so long with a close couer vppon it, vntill two thirde partes of the Agresta bee wasted and consu∣med. Then strayning it verie well, adding vnto it one ounce
of powder of Myrtils. This may you reserue to vse as a blessed and soueraigne medicine.
There is yet one other notable medicine, deuised by maister Fredericke Zorzi, and oftentymes approued by me, with verie good successe.
Take good Aloes, Myrrhe, Olibanum, and Saenguis Draeconis, of either one dramme, of fine Graynes one scruple: beate all these into powder, and infuse them in two ounces of Aqua vitae, for the space of twelue houres: then after strayne it verie well, and of this vse to the hurtes of your Hawkes head, and also to hir shoul∣ders, if they receyue any broose or stripe.
But in any condition I cannot allowe the vse of Oyle of Roses, in hurtes of the heade, as it seemes, that the sayde Authour woulde haue it.
If your Hawkes skinne of hir thigh or hinder partes be bro∣ken, fretted awaye, or hurt by bearing hir in a close Canuas bagge, or such like, you maye easily recouer hir with thys de∣uise. The leaues of dryed Sage beaten to powder, or the pow∣der of Olibanum, or Masticke, bathing the hurt with white wine, when you meane to applie the powder, and in two or three dayes you shall see it recouered.
But if the stripe be ioyned and matched with the offence of any nerue or sinewe, then will it be a harder matter to cure, for that the hurt is of greater importaunce and daunger, for then is it wont to be full of paine, and to cause inflamation. Wherefore in this case, the best remedie that can be deuised is, excellent good Oyle powred reasonable hote into the hurt, taking away the fea∣thers first that are about the wounde, and vsing this bathe about the member where the hurt is.
Take Roche Alome one dramme, dryed Roses, ryndes of Pomegranettes, and Myrrhe, of eche a quantitie, boyling all these in good odoriferous white Wine to the consumption of halfe.
No question this will greatly comfort the wounde, and hin∣der the fluxe of humors, that otherwise woulde flowe downe to the place, and breede an Apostume.
Much more might be sayd of stripes and brooses of hawkes, but I doe leaue you ouer to the learned Phisitions, and skilfull Surgeons, bycause I will not ouerwearie you with tedious circumstaunces: accounting it sufficient for mee, to haue layde downe the cures for most ordinarie hurtes, which doe ryfest hap∣pen to Hawkes, and of such as haue tymes past by fortune come to my handes. If you couet to haue greater store of medi∣cines, for the cure of any member or hurt part of your Hawke, I aduise you that haue skill in the Italian tongue, to flee ouer to Messier Frederigo Giorgi, his practise, plainely and excellent∣ly set downe in his booke of Falconrie, from whence I haue collected sundrye things. But as touching these hurtes and strypes of Hawkes, I haue not borrowed muche of him, but haue in this parte of my collection, more vsed the briefe cure of Francesco Sforzino Vicentino, that excellent Italian Gentle∣man Falconer.
HAuing hithervnto spoken of such diseases and greefes, as for the most part Hawkes are troubled withall within their bo∣dies: nowe remayneth that in fewe speeches I shew you a re∣medie for vermin and Life, a particular passion and affection that lighteth on the skinne of a Hawke, and specially about hir heade, the plie of hir wings, and hir trayne: for in deede these Life and Mytes doe chiefly raigne and lodge in those three partes of the Hawkes more than in any other.
Falconers doe vse to ridde these vile wormes and Life in the Winter time, by taking of pepper beaten to powder two drams, of warme water one pounde, or as much as will suffice, ming∣ling the Pepper and water well togither, and then to pepper (as we terme it) or washe all hir feathers with the sayde lotion or bathe, and specially those partes of the Hawke whereof I spake before, where the Mites and Life do most haunte: whiche done, they set the Hawke on a perche, with hir trayne and backe to the Sunne ward, holding in their handes a small sticke one handfull
long, on the toppe whereof they fasten a peece of waxe, either red, or greene, and with that, (while the Hawke doth weather hir) they take away the Life and Mytes crawling vpon the feathers, so as before the Hawke be throughly dryed and weathered, what with the waxe, and their owne dropping away, there will not be a vermin left about the hawke. For the Pepper and water doth so much disease them, as they are enforced to leaue their accu∣stomed lodgings: then the heate of the Sunne, or fire, helpes to make them shew themselues: and the waxe by cleauing to them, vtterly and clearely riddes the hawke of them.
I haue seene some Falconers adde vnto the Pepper and water, a quantitie of Stauesagre, as an enimie to the life and mytes, by meane of strength and force that is in it: and I take it to be verie necessarie to be added in this medicin to the Pepper, for the better dispatch of those vile vermines, which do so much vex and annoy the hawke, as she can by no meanes keepe hir selfe in good state, whilest she is incombred with them.
You must remember to pepper your hawke in this maner, as I haue shewed you, in a verie warme sunnie day, when there is no winde at all blowing in the Skie. But if by fortune you bee enforced to do it in another time, when the weather is colde, and the Sunne not shining, then must you set your hawke by the fire to weather hir, and drie hir feathers: but neither must the fire be ouer hote, nor the gorge of your Hawke towardes the fire, whereof I haue giuen you aduertisement before, in those pre∣cepts which are to be obserued of a good Falconer. For if you set hir with the gorge to the fire, no doubt, she will receyue no small harme and inconuenience thereby, and for the moste part death ensues of it.
In the Sommer time you may dispatch your hawke of the Life & Mites with Auripigmentū beaten into verie fine pouder, bestowing and sifting it betwixt the hawkes feathers with your fingers, and specially in those places where they doe most vsually haunt, alwayes hauing regarde that none of the powder come into your hawkes eyes for offending hir. And after the bestow∣ing of this powder, you must in no wise bespowt hir with water
(as some do vse to doe) to the great hurt and mischiefe of those poore byrdes. For the bathing or spowting hir with water, is a meane to make the powder to frette awaye, and consume the Hawkes feathers.
Some other affyrme, that Mynt leaues boyled in water, to the consumption of a thirde part, bathing the Hawke therewith somewhat warme, will dispatch the Lise and Mytes, but for my part, I neuer approued this medicine, and therefore can saye little of it.
Let these suffise as touching the peppering of lowsie hawkes, for of all other plagues that befall the Hawke, I account thys the least, bycause they may most easily be destroyed, as dayly ex∣perience doth teach vs: and yet the remedies for them good to be knowne, bycause you shall seldome or neuer buy a Hawke from the Cage that is not lowsie, or set your Hawke on a Perche where a lowsie Hawke hath stoode, and she shall be assured to be neuer a lowse the worse for it.
IN the mew Hawkes are subiect to sundrie accidents. Among all which (to passe ouer the gresinesse and excessiue glitte, that they are surcharged withall, hauing somewhat toucht that mat∣ter in the Chapter of the Goute) the greatest mishap that may be is, when Hawkes fall to laying egges, and to be with egge in the mewe. For in verie deede this is a great mischiefe, and dy∣uers tymes doth kill the hawke.
You shall first perceyue it by the creaking and crying that they vse in the mewe sometymes, and otherwhiles on the perche, albeit now and then they do it for egernesse and apetite, when they are sharpe set: which as it is easily founde, so is it as quickly remedied.
A man shall knowe when they fall to lyking and laying, by this, from the necke of the Hawke, downe to the verie middle of
hir traine, there is vpon the feather, a certaine thing like the floure of Branne, of a pale and ashie colour.
And bycause this accident happeneth by meane of too muche daintinesse, and lustfull pride of the Hawke, it shall bee good to keepe hir low, and to holde a hard hand ouer hir, pinching hir of hir feeding, giuing hir liquide and moyst fleshe, from the middle of Aprill, to the ende of May, which is the only time to be feared of all the yeare for this matter. When the Hawke doth leaue hir croaking and crying in the mewe, it is a manifest proofe that she is with Egge, whiche you shall knowe, both by hir grossnesse and filling in the pannell, as also by hir ydle standing withoute list to feede. And if happely the Egges bee growne any thing great within hir, you shall hardly hinder hir, but that shee will lay them. Therefore (as I tell you) it shall be good in tyme to looke vnto it, keeping hir lowe in Aprill and May. And in those monethes to minister vnto hir, Aloes Epaticke washt, a quan∣titie of Saffron lapped in Bombast or Cotton, wherevpon con∣uey a little Flaxe or Towe, and make a casting or scouring of it, thrusting it downe hir throte into hir gorge, the Hawke be∣ing both emptie panneld, and hauing no meate aboue to put o∣uer, keeping hir on the fist after it, till such time the scouring be in hir gorge. Of this and suche like scourings may you giue your hawke euery third or fourth day, for foure or fiue times, feeding hir with liquid meates, such as will lightly be indewed. And v∣sing this order, no doubt your hawke shall do well.
Againe it is verie good agaynste the same mischiefe, to cause your Hawke in foure or fiue byttes of meate, to take a quantitie of Saffron in chyues, vsing hir after the manner and forme aforesayde.
Moreouer it is a very good way, to delay and kill the list and lyking of a Sparhawke, to feede hir for three, foure, or moe dayes, if you thinke good, with liquid meates washt in water, wherin the great pilles of Ornus haue beene infused for the spare of eight or ten dayes, being finely cut to peeces. But it shoulde be farre better, if you cause those rindes and pilles to bee boyled in water, so long vntill they become softe and tender, and then to
wash your Hawkes meate therein.
If your Hawke bee with Egge (as they terme it) so as you may perceiue and feele the egges within hir, besides those foresaid remedies, it shall be good to annoynt hir tuell with oyle Olife: which being done, conuey in thy forefinger at hir tuell, as finely as thou canst, to feele the egges, whiche if thou once feele, gripe thy Hawkes pannell softly for hurting hir, forcing downwards the egge towardes thy finger in hir tuell, and if it be possible so bring it away cleane, and rid thy hawke of it: but if thou canst not do it, breake it euen there right, and afterwarde bestowe a clyster vpon thy hawke of things lenitiue, to make hir mewt and slise well: for by this meane (as my Italian Authour doth in∣forme me) thou shall discharge thy hawke of this mischiefe, and bring hir to be in perfite state againe.
SOmetimes it so falleth out, that Hawkes doe not mewe in time, so as they may be flowen with in the pleasant tyme of the yeare, nor be drawne when other Falconers do accustome to drawe their hawkes, but they come so late as the yeare is farre spent, and small pleasure to bee taken in keeping or fleeing with them, for which a man is sometimes driuen of force to vse deuise to further the matter, and to practise to make hir mew sooner than hir accustomed maner is to mew of hir selfe. Wherfore to make a hawke mewe timely, the surest and best way is to cast hir off into a good mewe for the purpose, (made in maner as I haue taught you before) and there to allow hir of the best hote meates that may be had, as Quayles, Pigeons, and Sparrowes, and now and then among, to set hir in the mewe some vessell, large and deepe, conueniently filled with water, wherein your hawke may bowse and bath at hir pleasure.
But if this ordinarie kinde of good and kindely mewing will not serue the turne, (which seldome, or neuer almost happe∣neth to Goshawkes, for that by this former fashion & vsage they
do vse to mewe verie well and orderly) then (as I sayde) it beho∣ueth to assist and further nature by Arte and Phisicke, to cause a Hawke to mewe tymely.
To helpe in this case, those kyrnelles or small nuttes, whiche are growing vnder the throte of a Weather, are verie good (as mine Authour affyrmeth) vsing them euery thirde day, for thrice, or thereaboutes, allowing a Sparrowhawke three or foure of them at once, being both emptie gorged and panneld. But you may giue a Falcon sixe or more at one time, holding the hawke on the fist, till she beginne to slise and mewte, and after that a space feede hir with good hote meate, alwayes remembring, that if the hawke do loath the taking of them, (as happely shee will) or doe not verie well brooke them after she hath taken them, then that you giue hir respite betwixte tymes, for three or foure dayes togither, to the ende shee may not finde hir selfe cloyed with them.
If at the ende of eight dayes she beginne to cast any feather, then may you into the mewe with hir, without more a doe: but if not, then must you fall to giuing hir of those glandulous kir∣nels of the Weather againe, once or twice more: for vsing it in this order the seconde time, without question, within sixe or seuen dayes shee will cast the backe feathers, or hir sarcels or flagges: thē must you throw hir into the mew, giuing hir water to bath, for shee will verie muche couet the water, and you shall see hir within two or three dayes so bare and in a maner cleane with∣out feathers, as she will not be able for lacke of them, to flee to hir ordinarie stande or pearch. Wherefore I can commende, and aduise you to haue some lowe perche and stande for hir in the mewe, wherevnto shee may iumpe when she hath cast hir fea∣thers, so as she is vnable to flee. Especially remembring to feede hir all that while she is so without feathers, twice in a day, al∣lowing hir such and so much meate, as she can endew, and make away with. For all that tyme will she couet great gorges, and ridde great store of meate, vntill shee haue recouered hir cote a∣gaine. And to restrayne hir, or keepe a harde hand vpon hir, ha∣uing mewed hir feathers, and being now at poynt to put forth
newe in their places, wyll breede hir feathers to bee full of tayntes, and ill fauoured, and besides that hir sarcelles and principalls will not be so long and large as they ought to be, by meanes whereof she will not be able to flee so well as shee was accustomed.
Some others, to cause a hawke to mewe speedely, do wyll you to enwrappe hir meate in the powder of a Frogge, dryed in an Ouen, or Fornace.
Other some, in the powder of a Cuttell bone, taking of the powder of this fishe bone, to the weyght of a pennie. But these practises and deuises I did neuer approoue, and therfore do committe them to the discretion of the Reader.
DIuers and sundrie tymes it so falles oute, that a hawkes feather beeyng drawen out of the wyng or trayne, by vio∣lence and force, the hole closes vp, and shuttes after it pre∣sently, in suche sorte, as a newe feather can by no meanes growe and spring vp in the place, to serue the hawkes turne and vse agayne.
For remedie heereof, some doe wyll a man to make the hole agayne, where it was before, and to open it a freshe, with a Barlye grayne, dryed so as it bee not burnte. Then after that, to keepe it open, that it runne not togyther a∣gayne, you muste frame a small pellette of Larde, or boyled Hoonie, whiche being conueyed into the hole, will there abyde, vntill suche time as the shooting oute of the new feather do re∣moue it, and displace it.
Some other time it happeneth a feather to be broken in the quill, so neere the wing, as it is not possible to ympe it againe:
then do they vse, (to make the quill to fall and droppe away withoute payne to the Hawke) this deuise. They annoynte the place with the bloude of a yong Ratte, whiche will cause the broken quyll to come away. After which, to kepe the hole pen, they vse the helpe aforesayde, with the Barly corne.
These twoo cures, I neuer tryed, bycause it was neuer my happe, (I thanke fortune) to stand needefull of the practise. But truely I like neyther of them so well, as I can greately commende them.
Otherwhile it chaunceth, through the hurte of a Hawkes wing, that one or twoo of hir Flagges, long feathers, or Sar∣celles, are broosed, and thereby bothe put hir to greate paynes, and eake hinder hir fleeing. Wherefore, it shall be in this case very necessarie, as soone as it happeneth, to looke and vewe the wing well, whither there be any bloude, muche or little, in the quill that is broosed, in maner aforesayde: which if be so, it shal be nedefull to pierce it with a sharpe needle, or such like instru∣mente, to gyue the bloude yssewe, before suche time as it bee congealed and waxen harde. And after that, to annoynte the broose (and especially, where the blacke bloude is) with olde larde, and restie Bacon.
Moreouer, it shall be very good to cease the payne, to poure vppon the hurte place, three or foure droppes of good Oyle of Roses, somewhat hotte, whiche hauing vsed for the space of three or foure dayes, it shall not bee amisse, to bathe it with Aqua vitae, to drye and resolue it. If you vse this meane in the beginning, when the hurt is firste taken, no doubt, it wyll breede resolution.
But if by negligence or otherwise, it be foreslacked at first, so as the broosed Sarcell, or other feather growe oute of or∣der, and crosse the nexte feather to it in fleeing, and by that meane bee a hinderance to the Hawke, and a payne, it shall be good to cutte it off in the quill. And to the ende there may growe another second feather in the place of that, whiche is so spoyled and cutte off, it shalbe well done, to make the quill to
droppe away. To bring that to passe, firste of all wipe wel the bloude congealed and corrupted within the place, and after that, fill it with Aqua vitae, of the beste that may bee gotten, and deale so artificially, as the Aqua vitae may staye, and not droppe out of the place. Which muste be done, by stopping the hole with waxe, or such like deuise. This Aqua vitae, by meane of the heat of it, will cause the quill to fal away within eight dayes, or little more, by meane whereof there may shoote oute a newe feather.
SOmetymes it so falleth oute, that the feathers of a hawkes wing, or trayne, bee broken, wherevppon it is bothe ne∣cessarie and needefull, to sette other lyke in theyr steades. Whiche feare, wee terme, the ymping of a hawkes fea∣ther.
This may be done in foure seueral manners and fashions, after that the feather is broken.
For firste, in the greater and huger sorte of hawkes, if a feather bee broken one fingers breadth, or thereaboutes, with∣in the quill, then your nexte remedie is, to sheare it off with a payre of Syssers, or sheares, to the ende it may not cleeue or ryue any further. Then hauing prepared a like feather to the same, of some other Hawke or fowle, resembling the broken feather: you muste cutte the quyll of it, and so force it togyther, as it maye enter the broken quyll of the Hawkes feather, annoynting it before you thruste it in, or seeme to place it for good and all, in the gummie fatte of a fygge, the yolcke of an egge, or some kinde of Semonde made of purpose, thrusting it very directly into the truncke and quill of the broken feather, and as wee maye terme it, graffing the one in the other. And to the ende
it maye haue the better holde, and the faster staye, it shall not bee amysse, to ciynte, or nayle them faste togyther, with the poynte of a Partridge feather, taking the very toppe of it, and strypping awaye the feathers on eyther syde the webbe: and after that, making a small hole with a slender needle, so as it passe through bothe the quilles, as well that whiche stycketh faste in the hawkes wing, as the other bo∣rowed and adopted feather, drawing through the hole made with the needle, the poynte of the Partridges feather, to fyll vp the hole agayne. Whiche done, cut it off close by the webbe finely on eyther side, and so will it stande very handsomely, faste, and almost not to be discerned, but to be the hawkes na∣turall feather.
But if a Sarcell, a Flagge, or a Trayne feather bee bro∣ken, or slyued amydde the quyll, so as another feather ymped in him after the manner aforesayde, can well take no holde, or stande sure: Then shall it bee necessarie to take a Iunyper sticke, or suche like drye tymber, and thereof to make a small sharpe pegge, so as it may enter the quyll, whiche done, dyppe the one ende of it in Glewe, Semonde, or the slyme of the fishe, whome my Author termeth a Colpisce, the Germaines a Leymefische, (a fishe, as Gesnerus reporteth, so softe and tender, as beeyng sodde, or fryed, he falleth all to a gellie, or glewe, for whiche cause hee is detested greately, and bannished all mens tables.) He is headded like an Ape, and for that occasion (called of diuers, Marmotum, as we may interprete it, a Mar∣moset, or an Ape.) In the slyme (I saye) of this fishe, dyppe your Iuniper sticke thrusting it into the broken quill, remē∣bring to place it so aptly, as it may be without the quill, of iust size to answere ye length of ye feather when it was sound & vn∣broken. Then do put ye other end likewise in the glew, or Se∣mond, cōueying it by force into ye quil of the fether which you haue gotten, so close as the one quill touche the other directly. After all this, fasten & clynte both ye quils to ye Iuniper pegge, wt a Partridge his feather, as before. And if it were so, as the
quill were slyued or rente, pierce it through with a needle and threede, and with the threed bind it harde to the sticke, on both sides the quil, and it will hold very faste, and serue the hawkes turne in hir flight in steade of a naturall feather.
If a sarcell, or other feathers be broken aboue the quyll, to∣wards the poynt of ye fethers twoo or three fingers bredth, you must cut it off with a sharpe penknife, aslope, and (as they say) a swashe, & then take another like feather to the same, cutting it in like maner, as you did the other, so as it may fitte with ye same feather, both for length and cutte. Which done, with an ymping needle sayde in Vyneger and salte, so close them to∣gither, as they may be thought to be one feather.
The laste maner of ymping is, when a feather is not quyte broken off, but broosed, and (as it were) but markte, so as it can not bee holpen and righted agayne with warme water. In this case it shall be better, rather to cutte awaye the fea∣thers, onely to cutte the nether parte of the webbe, iuste ouer agaynst the broosed place, leauing the vpper parte whole and vntouchte: then to take a long slender needle, like a Glouers needle, and to threede it, and hauing so done, to thruste the eye of the needle beeing threeded, into the greater parte of the fea∣ther towardes the quyll, forcing the poynte of it so hard with a thymbell, as it may bee cleane hydde in the feather, and no parte of it to bee seene. After that, ioyning bothe sides of the broosed feather togyther, where you cutte the webbe, drawe the threede as harde and as streyghte as you can possible, so as the poynte of the needle, by pulling of the threede that han∣geth out, may so farre enter the vpper parte of the feather, as it maye bee halfe on the quyll side, and the other halfe on the poynt of the broosed feather, which wil strengthen the feathers maruelously. This done, cutte off the threede, which was for none other purpose put there, but to draw the point of the nee∣dle backe into the vpper parte of the feather.
MAnye tymes it so fortunes, as the trayne of a hawke is quite spoyled, and no one feather lefte to serue the turne. Wherefore it shall be necessarie in this case, to set your hawke a newe trayne, which is done after this manner.
You muste take a peece of paper as bygge as your hande, in the myddle whereof you muste slytte a hole, through which conuey the hawkes trayne being broken, vp to the very rumpe of hir, drawing backe throughe the sayde slytte of the paper, all the brayles and smal fethers of the trayne that grow about the hawkes tewell, both aboue and beneath, so as there appere none at all, but the long feathers, vppon whiche you meane to woorke your feate. Then cutte off those long trayne feathers wt a fine penknife, beginning frō the first, second, third, fourth, fifte, and so on the other side of the trayne in like manner, and you must cut them off aslope, sidewayes, towards the toppe of the truncke or quill, vntill you come to the twoo couert fea∣thers, which twoo you must cut directly, & not sloping, as you did ye rest. So as when you haue done, the trayne of ye hawke may be in shape like the pypes of a payre of Organes. Then take the trayne of a mewed Iay, (if it be possible, bicause they are the fayrest feathers beeing mewed) setting in euery quyll of the hawkes trayne, one feather of the Iaye, orderly, the first feather of the Iaye, in the firste quill of the Sparowhawke, and so consequently. And if the Iayes feather will not enter the hawkes quill, then muste you cutte it a little, and broosing it with your finger, force it into the cutte quill, anoynting the ende of the borowed feather in the fatte of a sigge, the yolcke of an egge, or suche like stuffe, and so placing it right and di∣rectly with the hawkes feather. Hauing set one feather in this order aforesayde, on the one side of the hawkes trayne, passe ouer to the other firste feather of the other side, and do in lyke
manner, alwayes placing and ymping them so, as in length, and eache condition else, they may agree fully with the natu∣rall feather of the hawke: and so from one to the other, vntill you come to the twoo couert feathers, whiche you muste sette laste of all the rest, and those in so good order, as your eye may iudge them to be excellently ymped by the iuste lengthe & syze of them. After all this, take awaye your paper, and with a knife wette in a little spittell, go ouer all the ymped feathers, putting ye knife betwixte euery quyll, close by ye rump of your hawke, and so go along the feather, to cut away all such small feathers, as shall be out of order, by meane of the ymping and cutting of the feather in the trayne of your hawke. Whiche done feather by feather, set your hawke firste on your fiste, and so after a space on the perche, that she may tricke hir selfe, and right and enoyle hir feathers with hir beake.
Here will I not omitte to remember euery good Falconer, that he haue in his house, and in a readinesse about him at all tymes, his ymping needles, and suche like necessarie imple∣mentes, to serue the turne withall, and to lende his compani∣ons, if they neede. For it shall redounde to his credit greatly, and by meanes thereof he shall be accompted a gallant Gen∣tleman, and a good fellowe.
Now in myne owne opiniō, I haue discoursed sufficient∣lye of all diseases, & made you priuie to the Italians order of phisicking his hawke, whiche I can very well commende, as greatly agreable to reason. Yet neuerthelesse in this last part, you shall for your greater store of remedies, and better know∣ledge, haue the Frenche Falconers manner of dealing wt their hawkes set downe. But before I do that, I will write some∣what to instruct you howe to prepare your Mummie, a very necessary thing to be learned, and with∣oute the whiche you oughte to bee at no time, if you meane to kepe hawkes, and to haue them in good order and tune.
SYthence that in these receytes for hawkes diseased & sicke, I haue diuers times made mention of Mummy, and of other medicines appropriate and peculiar to sundrie griefes, here I thinke it not amisse, to laye downe the meane, how to prepare it for the vse and benefite of all Falconers, that shall haue oc∣casion to imploye it to any sicke hawke: For that in cure of a broose, I take it to be the most ready and exquisite way to re∣couer the hurte hawke againe.
First, you must take Nutmegges, in number four, Cloues, Ginger, & Cynamon, of eyther halfe an ownce, Saffron one dramme, reducing all these to fine pouder. Boyle them in an earthen potte well glazed, & couered close with a reasonable quantity of good Malmesie, to the cōsumption of a third part: then take Mummie three ownces, or foure, or so much as shall content you, beating it to pouder, and putting it into a lynnen cloth, so bounde, as it may by no meanes ifsew out of ye same. Hang it so by a string fastned to a sticke, as it may not reache the bottom of the pot, but as it may be infused in ye very mid∣dle of the Malmesie, which you must cause to boyle againe at a soft fire, so long vntil there be a cōsumption of another thirde part. Which done, take it from ye fire, & let ye Mummie, being so bounde in ye lynē cloth, rest for ye space of four or fiue hours, to the ende the vertue of those pouders may pierce and enter the Mummie, which by this meane will become very perfect. And hauing done al this, kepe the Mūmie out of the sunne & winde in ye shade, in the self same cloth wherin it was infused, vntil it be perfectly drye againe, and the vse it in pouder at your nede, eyther strewing it vpon your hawkes meate, or gyuing it in & casting of Cotton, as I haue taught you before.
There is a kind of pill or past, deuised by that noble Gentle∣man, Hierom Cornarus of famous memorie, for sicke Falcons which haue lost their appetite, and day by day become megre and lowe, making a blacke mewte, of full of flesh vndigested, which is prepared in this maner following.
Take Saffron, Agaricke, Cubebes, Frankinsense, Rewe, Cloues, Cinamom, fine Aloes, of eyther two scruples, two Nutmegs, choyce Mummy, Rewbarbe of the best, of eyther one dramme, and the fifte parte of the marrowe of a Beefe, or Veale, as muche as will suffise to make a mixture of these powders aforesaid: of al whiche you must make a pill or paste, giuing thereof to the huger sorte of Hawkes as muche as a Beane in a pill, in manner aforesayd.
This is a very good receyte, but not so good as this vnder∣writtē, which is deuised by (Messer Manoli) the Falconer to the renowmed Signor Bartelmewe Aluiano, and practised vppon his Falcons, being sicke, and ill affected in their gorges. He was wont to take Triacle, Hiera Pigra, Cassea Lignea, Cloues, Cinamom, Aloes, Galenga, Agaricke of the best, Si∣rup of Roses, confection of Hamech, Diacatholicon, Benedi∣cta, of eyther one scruple, choyse Rewbarbe, Mummy washt and purified, of each two scruples, of Nutmegge three dram∣mes, beating to powder those thinges that are to be beaten in powder, and incorporating all with honie of Roses, making thereof a pill or paste, which he would keepe to serue his turne at neede, whereof he would giue his huger Hawkes the quan∣titie of halfe a Beane, and to lesser Hawkes, a lesser quanti∣tie, in forme of a pill, beeing emptie both in gorge and pannell. And truely, this would worke a mar∣uelous effect vpon his sicke Hawkes: and if you vse the same, no doubt you shall find greate pleasure in it.
Blacke cae∣sting.
Greene ca∣sting.
Yellowish black casting.
Casting of plumage.
The good mewte.
The euill mewte.
The white and yellowe mewte.
The blacke mewte.
The greene mewte.
The mewte that is vndis∣gested, and tending to redde.
Of the darke sanguine mewte.
The greye mewte.
The cure.
The Curre.
Another remedie.
The Cure.
The Cure.
Another.
The cure of the Pantas.
The way to wash Oyle.
Agresta.
The first way to ympe a Hawke.
The seconde manner of ymping.
The thirde manner of ymping.
The fourth & last man∣ner of ymping