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.

Of the names of Hawkes of prey.

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

• 1 Aetos. or
• 2 Hierax

which is to say,

• 1 Ahnila or
• 2 Accipiter

which is the

• 1 Eagle. or
• 2 Falcon.

These two kinds doe serue to flie the prey for mans plea∣sure and pastime: of which onely Hawkes, my purpose is to treate and speake in this discourse here following.

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

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

Moreouer, as the Falcon, which is a speciall name of one kind of Hawkes, hath giuen name to all other Hawks & birds of prey: So hath it bestowed the name and title of a Falconer, to euery one of what state or calling soeuer hée bée, that doth deale with any kind of Hawkes and the terme of Falconrie, to the art, profession, and knowledge of luring and manning those birds of prey, by which singular skill, they are made to flée all other fowles, as well those fowles of the ayre, as of the land and riuer. Which in my conceit, deserueth no slender commendation and praise, being a matter almost quite against the lawes of nature and kind, for one fowle so artiffcially to vndertake, and so cruelly to murther another, and hauing at∣chieued his enterprise, with gréedy & willing mind, to repaire to man againe, hauing the whole scope of the heauens, and the circuite of the earth at their pleasure to range and peruse: & to

yéeld themselues in such franke manner to the prison, & custo∣die of man, being by kind set free, and at liberty to prey, and dispose themselues. Such and so great is the singular skill of man, when by art he is resolued to alter the prescribed order of nature, which by industry and paine wée sée is brought to passe and effect.