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FIrst, he that would flée with a Sparrowhawke lately re∣claimed, must flée in an euening somewhat before Sun∣sette. For at that time shée will bée most eager and sharpest set. Secondarily, the heate of the Sunne, (if one should
flée in the morning) dooth much trouble the Hawke, and rayseth and stirreth her courage, making her prowde and ra∣mage. So that shée léeseth the eagernesse of her appetite, and remembreth it not, thinking on nothing else but to soare and gadde abroade, whereby she may be easily lost. Furthermore, towards the euening, she cannot soare so far away from you, (although thee should soare) as she would do in the heat of the day, because the night will enforce her to goe to the pearch and stand. Also to enter your Sparrowhawke, it shall be best to seeke out some Champion Country, farre from the woodes, and let her bée vnhooded when the Spaniels bée vncoupled, then if the Partridge spring, and shée bate, cast her off, if they spring neare you. And if she kill, reward her vpon the ground, of the head, braines, necke, and breast of the Partridge. When shee hath fed, take it from her, and vnseaze her, and get vppon your horse a good way from her. Then whistle and call her, and if shée come vnto you, reward her better. Aboue all things, you must take good héed that shée fayle not her first flight at great birdes, least shée turne tayle and accustome her selfe to smaller game. But if shée be once well entred at great game, you may quickly make her flee Larkes and small birdes. If you find that shée haue most mind to flée Larkes, let her flée them, and reward her on them. For there is no flight pleasanter than the flight of the Sparrowhawke at the Larke. And forasmuch as the flesh and bloud of Larkes is hotte and burning, it shall be good when you flée the Larke, to giue your Hawke washt meate twice in a wéeke, and plumage very often. But giue her no plumage that day that shée hath washt meate, nor the day that shée batheth. When there is a knotte of good company mette together, and euery man hath his Sparrowhawke, if one of thē see his Sparrowhawke flée when another is also from the fist, there beginneth the pastime, & yet they may flée together. But it is a pleasure to take a Larke towring or clyming. Or if a Sparowhawke haue beaten down a Larke, or that ye Larke be
slipt from her,* 1.1 and gotten vp towring as high as a man may be∣hold, and then an other Sparrowhawke clyme after her, get so high that by often taynting her, so as the Larke is constrayned to stoope to the ground, and the hawke in the sayle of her. Then the Larke had rather flée for succour betwéene the legges of the men and the Horses, than to fall in the tallons of her naturall enemy: yet commonly shee is there taken also. He that would learne to make a Falcon well, let him beginne with a Hobby, and he that would make the Gerfalcon fléeing, let him acquaint himselfe with the Merlyn. But hée that can kéepe and make a Sparowhawke well, shall also be able to kéepe a Goshawke, for by the one that other is learned.
This flight is not vsed in England, neither did I ever heare of it before.