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.

How to lure a Falcon lately manned.

[illustration] depiction of hawk

BEfore you shew the lure to a Falcon newly reclaimed, you must consider three things. First, that she be well assured, and boldned in Company, well acquainted also with dogges, and with horses. Secondarily, that shee be sharpe set, and eager, hauing regard to the howre of the morning or euening when you will lure her. And the third consideration is, that shee bée cleane within, the lure must be well garnished with meate on both sides, and you must be a part in some secret place when you would giue her the length of the lease. You must first vnhoode her, giuing her a bitte or twaine vpon the lure as she sitteth on your fist, afterwards take the lure from her, and hyde it that shée sée it not, and when shée is vnseazed, cast the lure so neare her that she may catch it within the length of her lease, and if shée doe seaze vpon it, then shall you vse the voyce and accustomed spéech of a Falconer vnto his Hawke, and féed her vpon the lure on the ground, giuing her thervpon the warm thigh of a Henne or Pullet, and the heart also.

When you haue so lured her at Euening, giue her but a little meat, and let her be lured so timely, that when shée is therewith accustomed, you may giue her plumage, and a iucke of a ioynt. Afterwards, and in the morning betimes, take her on your fist, and when she hath cast and gleamed, giue her a little beaching of good warme meat. Afterwards, when the day is further forwards, and that it is time to féede her, take a Criance and tye it to her lease, and goe into some faire pleasant meadow, and giue her a bitte or two vpon the lure, as before sayd, then vnseaze her, and if you peceiue that she be sharpe set, & haue seased vpon the lure eagerly, then giue her to hold vnto some man which may let her off to the lure, then shall you vn∣wind the Criance, and draw it after you a good way, and hée which holdeth the Hawke, must hold his right hand on the Tassell of the Hawkes hoode in a readinesse, that hée may vn∣hoode

her as soone as you beginne to lure, and if shée come well to the lure, and stoope vppon it roundly, and seaze it ea∣gerly, then let her feede two or three bittes vppon it, and then vnseaze her and take her from off the lure, and hoode her, and then deliuer her againe to him which held her, and goe fur∣ther off and lure her, féeding her alwayes vpon the lure on the ground, and vsing the familiar voyce of Falconers as they cry when they lure. And thus you shall lure her euery day further and further off, vntill she be well taught to come to the lure, & to take it eagerly.

Afterwardes let her be lured in company, hauing regard that neither dogs nor other thing come in sodainly to fray her, and when you take her vppe from the ground, hoode her vpon the lure, and when you haue well and often lured her on foote, then vse to lure her on horsebacke: the which you shall the eassier winne her too, if when you lure her on foote, you cause some on horsebacke to come neare you, that shée may see them, and cause them to come neare her when shée féedeth vppon the lure, causing them also to turne and tosse their horses about her, but let their horses be ruly, least they should vpon the so∣daine affright her.

Furthermore the better to acquaint her with Horses, and that shée may the better know them, carrie your Falcon (whiles shée feedeth) on high vppon the lure neare vnto some man on Horsebacke, or gette your selfe vppe on horse∣backe, and reward her vppon the lure amongst Horsemen, and when shée is well accustomed to them, and well ac∣quainted with them, making no resemblance to feare them, you may then lure her on horsebacke in this manner: Hée which holdeth her to let her come to the Lure, must be on foote, and you where you Lure shall bée on Horse-backe, and when you call and cast the Lure about your head, then hee which holdeth her, shall take off her hood by the tassell, and you the

meane while shall call and lure in the cunningest wise you can, as Falconers vse to doe: and if shée seare eagerly vppon the lure, and feare neither people nor horses, then take off the luring line or Creance, and lure her loose further and further off. And to make a Falcon come which is but newly reclay∣med, and to make her come in company of another Hawke, there must bee two to hold a cast of Falcons, and two which shall lure them, but hee which holdeth the Falcon that is but lately lured, shall not let her come so soone as the other shall do: then shall the lure bee throwen out vnto the Falcon which is but lately lured, and when shee is fallen therevpon, her keeper shall carry her vppon the lure, to féede amongst the other make Hawkes. This being done twice or thrice, shée will follow them and loue them, and if you would haue her loue dogges, which is most necessary, you must call dogges about you when you féed her, or giue her tyring or plumage.