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MAny times it hapneth that a Goshawke or a Tercell which was good in her Soarage, doth become nothing so toward or good when she is mewed: and that procéedeth be∣cause
in her soarage shée was not cherished to make her take delight in her flight: for in a manner all the skill of a Falconer or Ostreger consisteth in coying & delicate vsage of his hawke and so cherishing her, that shée may take pride and pleasure in her flight. Therefore I would not thinke it amisse if hée had al∣waies at the first entring of his Goshawke or Tercell, a train Partridge in his bagge, to serue her with, when néede doth require, and so he shall winne her loue. And therewithall let him marke these obseruations, to keepe his hawke in good tune alwayes. First, let him consider that naturally all Gos∣hawkes are full of moist humors, and especially in the head: & therefore let him plie them with tiring and plumage, both morning and euening, for that will open them in the heade, and make them cast water thereat. Let the Goshawks tyring be the rump of a béefe, or the vppermost ioynt of a wing which we call the Pynion, or a chickens leg, giuen by the fire, or in the warme Sunne. This will not onely keepe your hawke o∣pen in the head, but also kéepeth her in exercise, and vse, and from slothfulnes, which might marre her, and vtterly spoyle her.
It is good also to giue her euery night casting eyther of feathers or of cotton, and then in the morning to marke whe∣ther it be wrought round or not, whether it bée swéete or not, whether it be moist or drie, and of what colour the water is that droppes out of the casting, for thereby hée shall iudge in what case his Hawke is. He should also haue regarde to her mewtes, to sée whether they be cleane or not, and therevpon he may giue medicines accordingly, as shalbe hereafter decla∣red. For the infirmity of a Hawke being once knowne, it is the more easily cured. He hath also to consider the season: for in the winter and colde weather, he must set his hawk or Ter∣cell warme in some place where fire is made: he must rolle the pearch with cotton, or some such like thing, & the pearch must be set farre from the wall that his hawk hurt not her feathers when shée bateth: but if it be not colde, hee may set her euery
morning in some place where the Sunne hath power, for an howre or two.
Remember that no hennes or pultrie come neare the place where your Hawke shall pearch, and especially in Lent when Hens haue young chickens commonly following them.
Remember also in the spring to offer your hawk to the water euery weeke, for else shée will soare away when shée fleeth, and make you séeke her.
If your Hawke bath her at any time of her owne accorde after her flight, goe presently to the next house with her, (if it bée in winter or cold weather) and weather her by a fire with her backe to the fire, and not her gorge, for that would make her sicke. And likewise drie your Hawke if you haue carried her in the raine. Let a good Falconer or Ostreger alwayes kéepe his hawke lusty and hie, and yet kéepe her in such tune, that shée may flée best when shée is high: for doubtles the pluc∣king downe of a Hawk doth marre her and make her coward∣ly. Aboue all things an Ostreger must be patient and neuer chollericke.
A good Ostreger must also kéepe his hawke cleane, and her feathers whole, and if a feather bée broken or brused, hee must ympe it presently, as shall be taught hereafter also in this booke, and therfore he must haue his ymping néedles, his Semond, and such other things about him euermore in a readinesse. (∵)