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

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

[illustration]

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

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

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

The great Turke of all other Princes, doth most vse to flée with the Eagle, and doth giue his Falconers in charge to man and lure them, as they doe the Goshawke: and being throughly manned, hath a cast of Eagles at one time, vpon one pearch: betwixt twoo of his people into the field, when they are there, they flée both together, the one at the mown∣tée, a very stately pitch, and the other more base and low, and that Eagle that doth flye the base pitch, is taught to make a great noyse as shée roueth too and fro ouer the Forrest, not much vnlike the questing or calling of a dogge, by meane of which sodayne cry and noyse, diuers times there issue out of the couert, some wilde and sauage Beastes, which are no sooner discried by that high fléeing Eagle, but sodainly shée bateth of her pitch, and stoopeth from her wings, & at the down-come eyther seazeth or rifleth some one of them, slaying them by force, vntill the dogges may make in to her reskew. And thus betwixt the Eagle and curres, the prey

is taken not without the great pleasure and liking of that mighty Prince the Turke. You may gesse of the excellency of this gallant Pastime, if it be true, as it is vouched by re∣port. Herein I can affirme nothing of my selfe, but doe follow mine Author, from whome I collected this kind of hawking, and am bold to make recitall of it in this place, both for the hugenesse of the fowle, as also the strangenesse of the pra∣ctise.

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

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