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SEt your Sparrowhawke euery morning abroade in the Sunne two howres, or neare thereabouts, and set her to the water twice in a wéeke at the least, and especially Nyas∣ses, for they couet the water more than the rest. Soar-sparow∣hawkes
would not be flowen withall too soone in a morning, for they soare willigly Take your Sparowhawke from the pearch alwayes with somewhat in your hand, to make her loue you, and be fond of you, for that is a thing of no small importance and consideration. As also to make your Sparow∣hawke foot great fowles, to the end shée may not learne nor be accustomed to carrion. And as touching mewing of a Spa∣rowhawke, some vse to put their Sparrowhawke in the mew as soone as they leaue fléeing with her, cutting off both her be∣wets, lines, and the knots of her Iesses, and leaue herin the mew vntill shée be cleane mewed. But if you will haue her to flée at Partridge, Quayle, or Feazent poult, then you must draw her in the beginning of Aprill, and beare her on the fiste till shée be cleane and throughly enseamed. Some other kéepe their Sparowhawkes on the pearch vntill March, and then throw her into the mewe being peppered for lyfe if shée haue any. Her mew should bee a chamber aloft from the ground eight or nine foot long, and fiue or sixe foot broade, with two windowes, to the East and the North, as is before declared in the description of the mew for a Goshawke: and set her pear∣ches and all other things euen as for a Goshawke, sauing that the mewe must haue one little window to conuey in her meate at. And your Sparowhawke being thus prouided of her mew, goe in to her in May in an euening by candlelight, and taking her softly, giue her to thy companion to hold, vntill thou haue pulled out all her traine feathers, one after another, holding the princiyall feather with thy one hand (which Fal∣coners doe call the couert feather) and plucking out the other feathers with that other hand, for so shalt thou doe her least hurt: and this shall make her mew the faster, if thou féed her with hoat meat and birds, and alwayes kéepe an houre cer∣taine to giue her her meat. Some will set water in the mewe by their Sparrowhawke continually, shifting and renuing the water euery second or third day. Some set water before a Sparowhawke in the mew but once in a fortnight, and then
take it away againe within 24. howres after they haue set it there. Some will neuer set water before their Sparowhawks at all when they mewe them, saying that Sparewhawks are very hote, and pluck out their owne feathers for extream heat, and that therefore water is not to bee giuen or allowed them, because it killeth and delayeth the heat in them, which should further their mewing. I like that opinion: but for mine owne part and experience I would leaue the extremities and take the meane. And I would thinke it best to set water before a Sparowhawke in the mew, once in 14. dayes at the least, or oftner, if the hawke séeme to haue néed, the which you shall ea∣sily perceiue, if she haue any feathers or downe that stand sta∣ring vp on her backe, and when she sitteth alwayes as though she would rowze, or is twitching at her fethers with her beak, then set her water: but to set it by her continually, doth forslow her mewing: and to kéepe it alwayes from her, doth make her that she meweth not her feathers so cleane or so gallantly, as when shée may haue water once in a fortnight. As touching remedies for Hawkes that be slow of mewing, it shall be set downe in the Treatise of medicines in this booke also. (∵)