The gentlemans academie. Or, The booke of S. Albans containing three most exact and excellent bookes: the first of hawking, the second of all the proper termes of hunting, and the last of armorie: all compiled by Iuliana Barnes, in the yere from the incarnation of Christ 1486. And now reduced into a better method, by G.M.

¶The maner to speake of Hawkes from an egge till they be able to be taken.

TO speake of the first original be∣ginning of Hawkes, first they be egges, after they be disclosed they are Hawkes, & most com∣monly Goshawkes be disclosed as soone as they chough, or ka∣dow, and in some places more timely, according to the hote climate of the country, which the rather infuseth a timely breeding. And we ought to say, that Hawkes do eire, and not breede in the woods or rocks: also that they draw, when they beare that wherewith they build their nests, and that in their loue or courting humour they call and not kanke, and that in the action it self they treade: when they are disclosed and beginne to feather in any am∣ple maner, by a naturall instinct and kinde they will drawe somewhat out of the nest, coueting to clam∣ber vpon the boughs, and then come to the nest a∣gaine, and they be called Bowesses. After S. Mar∣garets day they will flie from tree to tree, and then they are termed Branchers, at which is the most con∣uenientest time to take them, and seuen nights be∣fore saint Margarets day, & seuen nights after is the best time for taking Sparrow hawkes.

How you shall take Hawkes, with what in∣struments, and how you shall kidde them.

What gentleman or other whosoeuer will take Hawkes he must haue nets which are called vrines, and they must be made of good small threed, which would be died either greene or blew, for feare of the Hawkes espying of the same, then must he haue nee∣dle and threede for the inseeling of such Hawkes as are taken, and in this manner they must be inseeled: take the needle & threede and put it thorow the vp∣per eie lidde of the one side, and so likewise of the o∣ther, and make it fast vnder the Hawkes beake: so as she may not see at all, and then she is inseeled as shee ought to be: some vse to inseele Hawkes by the ne∣ther eie lidde, fastning it aboue the beake almost vp∣on the head, but that is approoued ill, for by all rea∣son the vpper eie lidde closeth more iustly than the neather, because that it is much larger: when you haue seeled your Hawke, and brought her home, cast her on a pearch, and let her stand there a night and a day, and on the next day towardes euening, take a knife, and with great care see you cut the threedes insunder which inseele hir, and take them away soft∣ly for feare of breaking her eie liddes, then beginne in gentle manner to feede her, and vse all the lenitie and meekenesse you can vnto her vntill she will sit quietly vpon your fist, for by much striuing you shal hurt her wings which were not a little dangerous: and then the same night after the feeding, watch her

all night and all the next morrow from any sleepe or rest, which will occasion hir to be reclaimed with lesse difficultie: yet note, that the first meate which she shall eate be hote, and let her take enough there∣of without troubling.

When your Hawke may be drawne to reclaime, and the manner of her diet.

If your hawke be hard penned, she may be drawn to be reclaimed, for the while she is tender penned, it is hurtfull to reclaime her. And if she be a goshawke or a Tersell which shall be reclaimed, euer feed them with washed meate at the drawing and at the reclai∣ming, but looke that it be hote, and in this manner wash it: take the meate and swill it vp and downe in the water, and then wring the water out and feed her therewith if she be a brancher, but if it be a Iesse, then must you wash your meate much cleaner than for a brauncher, and wiping it with a linnen cloth so feede her, and euermore the third day giue her cast∣ing: if she be a Goshawke or Tersell in this sort, take new flannell cloth, and cut fiue pellets thereof of an inch long at the least, then take the flesh, and cut fiue morsels, and with your knifes point cut a hole in e∣uery morsell, and put therein the pellets of cloth, then lay them in a dish of faire water, and take your hawke, and giue her a bit of warme meate so bigge as halfe her casting, then take one of them which li∣eth in the water and giue it her, and so one after an∣other, and then feede her for all night.

How to feede your hawke and know her infirmities.

A sparrow hawke would alwayes be fedde with vnwashed meat, and her casting would be plumage: and haue an especiall care that the ground bee cleane vnder her pearch, whereby in the morning you may the more readily finde her casting when shee hath cast, by which you shal know whether she be sound I or no, for some casting wil be yelow, some greene, some clammie, and some cleare: and if it be yellow, then she engendereth the frounce which is a canker which riseth in the mouth or cheeke, and if it bee greene it betokeneth the rie, the propertie of which euill is this, it wil arise in the head and make it swel, her eies wil be heauy and darke, and but it haue pre∣sent remedy it will fall into the legs and make them impostume, and if it reuert from the legges vnto the head againe, then is it mortall: if it be clammie and roping, then is it the apparant signe of a disease cal∣led the Cray, which causeth a hawke that she cannot mute: but if it bee cleare and bright, then is there great assurance of her soundnesse.

When your Hawke shall bathe.

Once in three dayes during the Summer let not your hawke faile to bathe, and once a weeke in the winter, if the weather be faire and conuenient, and not els, and euery time your hawke batheth giue hir a bit or two of hote meate vnwashed, of what kinde soeuer your hawke be.

How to make your hawke flee with a co∣rage in the morning.

If you haue a determination that your Hawke shall flee in the morning, then feede her the night before with hote meate, and wash the same meate in vrine and wring out the water cleane, and that shal adde vnto her a lust and courage to flee in the next morning to your contentment.

How to make a Hawke flee well which is full gorged.

If your hawke be full gorged, and yet notwith∣standing you would faine haue a flight, take three cornes of wheate, and put them in a morsell of flesh and giue it vnto your hawke, and immediately shee will cast all that is within her, which as soone as she hath cast, looke you haue a bit or two of some hote meate to giue her, and then you may boldly flee her: this medcine also is excellent for a Hawke that is o∣uergorged.

The true Termes and Titles belonging to Hawkes.

The first true Tearme and Title a Falconer ought to learne, is to holde fast at all times, and especially when she batteth, or striueth to flee away. It is cal∣led batting, in that she batteth with hirselfe without cause: the second is, rebate your hawke to your fist, and that is when she batteth the least moouing that

you can with your fist will rebate her backe againe vppon your fist: the third is, feede your Hawke, and not giue her meate: the fourth is, a Hawke smiteth or seweth her beake, not wipeth her beake: the fift, your hawke iouketh, and not sleepeth: the sixt, your hawke pruneth, and not piketh, and she pruneth not but when she beginneth at her legges, and fetcheth moisture like oile at her taile wherewith she imbal∣meth her feet, & strikes the fethers of hir wings tho∣row her beake: and it is called the Note then when shee fetcheth the oile: and note, that in any wise a Hawke ought not to be troubled whilest shee is in pruning of her selfe, for, when shee pruneth shee shewes her selfe to bee lusty and in courage, and when shee hath done she will rowze her selfe migh∣tily: sometimes your Hawke countenances as shee piketh hir selfe, and then she pruneth not▪ wherefore you must say, she reformeth her fethers: the seuenth, your Hawke collieth, and not beaketh: the eight, she rowzeth and not shaketh her selfe: the ninth, she streineth, and not clitcheth or snatcheth: the tenth, she mantleth, and not stretcheth when as she putteth her legges from her one after another, and hir wings follow after her legges, for then shee doeth mantle her, and when she hath mantled her, and crosseth both her wings together ouer her backe, you shall say your Hawke warbleth her wings, which is a terme most proper for that purpose: the eleuenth, you shall say your Hawke-mutesseth, or muteth, and not skliseth: the twelfth, you shall say, cast your Hawke to the pearch, and not set your Hawke vpon the pearch.

Termes to commend sundrie properties in a Hawke.

First you shall say, this is a faire Hawke, an huge hawke, along hawke, a short thicke hawke, but not that shee is a great Hawke: also you shall say, this hawke hath a large beake, or a short beake, but call it not a bill: an huge head, or a small head faire sea∣soned: you shall say your Hawke is full gorged, and not cropped, and your Hawke putteth ouer and en∣dueth, and yet she doth both diuersly, as thus: shee putteth ouer when shee remooueth her meate from her gorge into her bowells, and thus you shal know it: when shee putteth ouer shee trauerseth with her body, and chiefly with her necke as a crane doth, or an other bird: shee endueth neuer as long as her bo∣welles be full at her feeding, but as soone as shee is fed and resteth, she endueth by little and little, and if her gorge be voide, and the bowel any thing stiffe, then you shall say shee is embowelled and hath not fully endued, or, so long as you can feele any thing in hir bowels it is dangerous to giue her any meate. You shall say an Hawke hath a long wing, a faire long traine with sixe barres out, and standeth vpon the seuenth, this hawke is enterpenned, that is to say, when the feathers of the wings be betweene the body and the thighes, this hawke hath an huge legge, or a flat legge, a round legge, or a faire ense∣red legge.

To know the Maile of an hawke.

Hawkes haue a white Maile, canuas maile or a red maile, and some call a red maile an yron maile, a white maile is easiest knowen, a canuas maile is be∣tweene a white maile and an yron maile, and an y∣ron maile is exceeding red. A goshawke or tercell in their soreage haue not their mailes named, but it is called their plumage, and after that cote it is called their maile, and if your hawke flee for reward you shall say, cast the Hawke thereto, and not let flee thereto.

Nommed or seased.

And if your hawke nomme a foule, and the foule breake away from her, shee hath discomfited many feathers of the foule, and is broken away, for in true Falconers language you shall say, your Hawke hath nommed or seased a foule, and not taken it.

Why a Hawke is called a Rifler.

It happeneth many times through eagernesse or foolishnesse, that a hawke when she should nomme a foule, she seaseth but on the feathets onely, where∣by her flight is effectlesse, looke how oft she so doth, so oft she rifleth, and for that cause such hawkes are called Riflers.

Diuers proper names to the feathers and other parts of an Hawke.

The formost bearing out feathers of a hawke are called the breast feathers, the feathers vnder the wings are called plumage, those vnder the beake are called the barbe feathers, and those which are at the ioynt of the hawks knee, & stand hanging and sharp at the ends, those be called the pendant feathers, the feathers of the wings next the body are the flagge or flags fethers, the long feathers of an hawks wing are the beame fethers, & those that some call the pinion feathers of an other foule, are in a hawke called the sercell feathers. Besides this, you shal vnderstand if a hawke be in the mew that same sercell feather is al∣waies the last that she wil cast, and til that be cast she is not absolutely mewed, yet it hath beene some∣times seene that hawkes haue cast it first (as report maketh mention) but the other rule is most gene∣rall: and when she hath cast her sercels in the mew, then, and not before it is time to feed hir with washt meat, and to beginne to inseam her: which word in∣seame in a hawke betokeneth greace, and but it be taken away by feeding with washed meate and o∣therwise as it shall be mentioned hereafter, she will gather a pannell which may turne to her vtter con∣fusion: moreouer, if shee do flee therewith and take blood and colde it is present death, there are also certaine feathers which close vpon the sercelles and they are called the couerts or couert feathers, and so likewise are all the feathers tearmed which are next ouer the long beame feathers and the flagge

feathers vppon the wings, the feathers vppon the backe are called the backe feathers, the Hawkes beake is the vpper part which is nooked, the nea∣ther parte of the beake is called the Hawkes clappe, the holes in the Hawkes beake are called her nares, the yellow betweene the beake and the eies is cal∣led the Sere: Hawkes haue long small blacke fea∣thers l••ke haires about the sere, which are properly called Crynits.

Of the soreage of a Hawke.

The first yeare of euery Hawke whether shee be called brancher or eyesse, that selfesame first yeare is alwayes called her soreage, and during that yeere she is called a Sore Hawke, for and if shee doe es∣cape that yeere all impediments, with good feeding and orderly regarding, she is likely to endure long.

How to reclaime a hawke.

If you will reclaime your Hawke, you must parte one meale into three meales, till such time that shee will come to reclaime, which when shee doth to your contentment, then encrease her meales eue∣ry day better and better: and haue chiefe regard that ere she come to reclaime, by no meanes she soare, for albeit she be perfitly reclaimed, yet it may happen shee will soare so high into the aire, as you shall nei∣ther see her, nor finde her: and as a generall principle if your hawke flie at the partrige, looke that you en∣seame her before she flie, whether she be brauncher, eyesse, or menod hawke.

Why a Hawke is called an eyesse.

An Hawke is called an eyesse of her eies, for a hawke that is brought vp vnder a Bussard, Puttocke or Kite, (as there be many) they alwayes haue wa∣tery eies, for when they are disclosed and kept in forme vntill they be full summed, you shall knowe them most assuredly by their waterie eies, neither will her looke bee so quicke, liuely, and sharpe as a brancher is: and thus because the best knowledge is by the eies, all such hawkes as are extraordinarily brought vp not vnder their owne dams, are called Eyesses: Againe, you may knowe an eyesse by the palenesse of her seres of her legges, and the sere ouer her backe, and also by the taints vppon her taile or wings which taints come for lacke of feeding when they be eyesses.

What a Taint is.

An ataint is a thing which goeth ouerthwart the fethers of the wings and of the taile, like as if it were eaten with the wormes, and it beginneth first to breed at the body in the pen, in such sorte that some pens will fret in sunder and fall away thorowe the same taint, and then is the hawke disparaged for all that yeere insuing.

An outward signe to know when your hawke is enseamed.

This rule is infallible and most certaine, looke

how long your hawkes feete be blackish and rough, so long she is full of greace and glut, but euer as shee enseameth so her feet wil wax yellow and smooth.

How to demeane your selfe when your hawke is ready to flee.

When you haue enseamed your hawke and re∣claimed her, and she is ready to flee to the partrige, take then a partrige in your bag, & go into the field, and there let your spaniels range for a couey of par∣triges, and when they are put vp and begin to scat∣ter, looke that you haue about you well eied mar∣kers to some of them, then couple vp your spaniels, which done, let some one of your company priuilie take the partrige out of your bagge, and tie it by the leg in a paire of creance, then cast it vp as high as he can, which as soone as the hawke shall perceiue shee wil flee thereunto, if your hawke sease the partrige aboue giue her a reward therefore, and go after that by leasure to the partriges which were marked, and do thus as I wil teach you: If you haue a chased spa∣niel which wil be rebuked and is a good retriuer, vn∣couple him and no more of the spaniels, then goe to a single partrige of the couey so dispersed, and be as nigh as you can vnto the rising thereof, and if your hawke desier cast her vnto it, which if she take, then is she made for that yeere, and of the same partrige which she thus killeth reward her in manner as here followeth.

How you shall reward your Hawke.

Take a knife and cut the head and the necke from the body of the partrige, and strippe the skinne a∣way from the neck, then giue the same to the hawke and couer the body of the foule with a hat or other garment and lay the same head or necke therevpon, and if so be she wil forsake the foule she plumeth vp∣on and come to the reward, then secretly take away the partrige, and reward your hawke with the brain and the necke, but haue heede she eate no bones, for they be exceeding euill to endure, and they wil take from her lust and courage in fleeing, and in this ma∣ner reward her of as many as she shall kill, only haue that discretion, that her rewardes be not too great, for feare you make her full gorged, and then can she flee no more for that day.

How your Hawke shall reioyce.

When your Hawke hath to your contentment killed a foule, and is by you rewarded (as aboue said) let her not by any meanes flee againe til she haue re∣ioyced her, which is to say, till she haue sewed, sui∣ded, or cleansed her beake, or else rowzed her, and when shee hath done any of these or all: then may you boldely at your pleasure flee her againe.

How you shall doe that you rebuke not your hawke when she killes.

Learne one thing perfitly, and haue great heede thereof, that is, when your hawke hath nommed or killed a partrige, stand a good way off and come not too nigh her, and be sure to keepe backe al your spanielles for feare of rebuking her, for many hawks cannot endure spaniels, and also many spaniels will teare the game from the hawkes foote, which is an extreame mischiefe: and whilest your hawke plu∣meth, come softly towardes her by little and little, but if you see she leaue pluming, and fix her eies vp∣on you, then stand still and checke her and whistle her till she plume againe, and in this manner do till you come close vnto her, then leasurely and with∣out trouble fall downe vpon your knees, and priui∣ly whilest she plumeth put vnder your hand, and be sure of her gesse, for, hauing that sure, you may rule all things else at your owne pleasure, which if you ouerslip or forget, then the least feare will make hir indeuour to carry away her game, or else forsaking it let it ascape, which is but losse both to your selfe and your hawke.

An opinion of Ostrengers.

Ostrengers hold opinion, that if you feede your Hawke continually with Porke, with Iaies, with Pies, or beare her abroad much in rainie weather, she will vndoubtedly prooue lowsie.

Of Ostrengers, Speruiters, and Falconers.

Because that now I haue spoken of Ostrengers, you shall vnderstand, that they be called Ostrengers which are the keepers of Goshawkes or Tercelles, and those which keepe Sparrow hawkes or muskets are called Speruiters, and those which keepe any o∣ther kinde of hawke being longwinged are termed Falconers.

Of the Gesse, Lewnes, Tyrrits, Bewits, Cre∣ance, and how they are fastned.

All hawkes haue or should haue about their legs gesse made of leather, and many times some of silke, which shoulde be no longer than that the knots of them should appeare in the midst of the left hand be∣tweene the long finger and the least finger, because the lewnes should be fastned to them with a paire of tyrrits, which tyrrits, should rest vppon the lewnes, and not vpon the gesses for feare of fastning or han∣ging vpon trees as shee flies, and those same lewnes you shall fasten about your little finger slackely in compassing the same in foure or fiue fould like to a bow string which was neuer vsed, and the tyrrets serue to keepe her from winding when shee battes. Lastly, those somewhat broad leathers to which her belles are put vnto, and so buttoned about her legs, you shall call Bewits. The Creance is that line to which you fasten your hawke when you call her to reclaime of what sort soeuer it be.

How a man shall take a Hawke from the Eyree.

Whoso will take a hawke out of the eyree, it be∣hooueth him to be very circumspect in bringing it vp easely, and to keepe it from colde or hurting of the bones, for they are first very tender and must haue great rest, neither may they haue stinking or filthy aire, but as sweete and good as is possible, and euermore must you giue them cleane meat and hot, and a little, yet often, many times chaunging their meate, yet alwayes so as it be hot, let the same meate be cut into little morsels, for they ought not to tire on bones till they be of abilitie to flee. But when as they beginne to penne, and plumeth, and spalcheth and picketh themselues, put them in a close warme place into which no fulmerds, weesels or other ver∣mine can come, neither winde nor raine can annoy, and then she will soone som her selfe, yet euermore giue her hote meate, for it is better for a man to feed his hawke while she is tender with hote meates, and so make her good with some cost, than to feede her with euil meate and make her naught with no cost, and as soone as shee is sommed then let her bathe.

When to put you Hawke in the mew.

If you haue a loue or care of your hawke, keep her wel, & put her not late in the mew: whosoeuer for couetousnesse of his hawkes fleeing plesure looseth the time of her mewing, hee may after put her in

the mew at aduenture, and haue her mew at insuffi∣cient leisure: the best time therefore to put a hawke into the mew, is in the beginning of Lent, for if she be then well kept, she will be mewed by the begin∣ning of August.

How to dispose and ordaine your mew.

Dispose your mew so as it be free from weesel or poulcat, or any other vermine, and that it be not an∣noyed either with winde or cold, or extreame heat, yet let one part of the mew stand so as the Sun may come in for the most part of the day, let also the sci∣tuation be so appointed as your hawke may not bee troubled with much noise nor tumult of men, nei∣ther let any person come vnto her, but onely he that feedeth her: prouide to haue in your mew a feeding stocke for your hawke, and a long string tied there∣vnto to make her meate fast withall, for else she wil carry it about the house, and soile it with dust, and many times hide it til it stinke and be vnwholsome, insomuch as it may occasion her death, and therefore when it is bound to the feeding stocke, neither in the feeding, nor in the tiring, neither at her lighting downe, nor at her rising vp shall shee doe her selfe anye hurte or preiudice, then when as shee hath fedde, take away whatsoeuer shee shall leaue, and at the next time giue her fresh and sweete meate, for stale and long kept meate engendereth manie euill and mortall sickenesses, and looke that you neuer go to your mew, but when as you doe intend

to giue her meate, or bring her water wherein shee may bathe, neither suffer any raine to wette her at a∣ny time for diuerse causes: and for her bathing, that shall occasion her to mew well.

The manner how to put a Hawke into the mew.

First before you put your hawke into the mew, haue an especiall care, that if she haue any sickenesse or infirmitie in her, you cure her before you put her into the mew, for it is an infallible principle, a sicke hawke shall neuer mew well, or if she doe mew, yet shall she not endure any longer than whilest shee is great and fat, for as her estate wastes, so her life con∣sumes. Some men without any medicine will in∣uent howe to mew their hawkes, some will putte their hawkes into the mew at high estate, some when they are very lowe, some when they be full, some when they are empty and leane, and some when they are miserably leane, but of al it is no great matter so she be sound: neuerthelesse, this is my opi∣nion, both as I haue seene and learned, whosoeuer putteth a goshawke, a tercell, or sparrowhawke into the mew, so high as shee can possibly be no higher, she will holde her long in the point before shee will mew any feather, and who so putteth his hawke in leane, she wil be as long ere she be remounted, and whoso puts her into the mew too hungry, and too leane, if she haue meate at will she wil eate too gree∣dily, and so through surfet die ere shee come to any mewing. But whoso will haue his Hawke endure

and mew kindly, my best counsell is, that she be nei∣ther too high nor too low, neither in great distresse of hunger, but in such case or plight as she should be when she is at hir best flying: this obserued, obserue after, that the first day she comes into the mew she eate not too much, vntill such time as her stomacke be made stanch, which perceiued you may then giue her such meate as I shall set downe here following.

How to feede your hawke in the mew▪

With what meate she hath bene most common∣ly vsed to be fed, with the same feed her eight daies continually, and in those eight dayes giue her birdes enow both morning and euening, and let her plume vppon them well, and take casting of the plumage which will cleanse her and make her haue an excee∣ding good appetite: also it will scower her bowels, which being scowred, you may after aduenture to giue her what meate you will, so it be cleane and fresh: yet the best meate for to make a hawke mew soone without medicine is the flesh of a kidde, of a yong swanne, or of a chickin, but aboue al, the flesh of a ratte, goslings are good, or any such like, which are of themselues hote: if you take gobbets of great fresh eeles, and principally that next the naurll, and dippe it in the hote blood of a mutton, it will make a hawke mew soone, and all other things, it will make her white after her soreage: these meates be∣fore mentioned are the best to mew a hawke with, and to keepe her in good state, but it must bee your care that she haue some euery day, so that she rather

leaue some thing then want any thing, and euerie third day let her not faile to bathe if she be so dispo∣sed: and when shee is almost firme, then giue her hennes flesh, fat porke, or dogges flesh, any of these three is good. An hawke is not full firme or readie to drawe out of the mew till such time as her sercell be ful growen, yet haue I seene some men take them out of the mew when the sercell was but halfe ap∣peared, but I am against it, and thinke it perillous, because they are not then hard penned: some men vse when a hawke hath cast her sercell to begin and wash her meate, and feede her so in the mew with washed meate a moneth or sixe weekes before they draw her, but I am not of that opinion.

To know when a Hawke tireth, feedeth, gorgeth, beaketh, rowseth, endueth, muteth, pearcheth, ioi∣keth, putteth ouer, pruneth, plumeth, warbleth, and mantleth.

A hawke she tireth vppon rumps, she feedeth vp∣on all manner of flesh, she gorgeth when shee filleth her gorge with meate, she beaketh when she seweth, which is to say, she wipeth her beake, shee rowseth when she shaketh al her feathers and her body toge∣ther, she endueth when her meate in her bowelles falles to digestion, she muteth when she auoides her ordure, she percheth when she stands on any manner of bough or perch, she ioiketh when she sleepeth, she puts ouer whē she auoyds her meat out of her gorge into her bowels, she proineth when she fetcheth oile with her beake out of her taile & annoints her feete

and her feathers, she plumeth when she pulles off the fethers from any foule, or from any other thing and casts them from her, she warbleth when she draweth both her wings ouer the midst of hir back, and there they meete both, and softly shaketh them, and lets them fall againe, and she mantleth when she stretch∣eth one of her wings along after her leg, and after∣ward the other wing, which most commonly shee doth before she warbleth her.

The true names of a Spar-hawke, as Ostren∣gers, and Speruiters haue thought.

There is a question whether a man shall call a spare∣hawke, a spere-hawke, or an aspere-hawke, to which Ostrengers and Speruiters answer she may be called by al the three names for three reasons▪ first, she may be called a spere-hawke, for of al the hawkes that are she is most spere, that is, she is most tender to keepe, for the least misdiet or disorder whatsoeuer kils hir. Secondly, she may be called an asper-hawke, by rea∣son of the sharpnes of her corage, & her quick looke, & also of her fleeing, for she is most aspere and sharp in all things which belong vnto her more than anie other hawke. Lastly, she may be called a sparehawke for two reasons, one is, she spareth goshawkes and tercels both, such as be in their soreage vntill such time as they may bee reclaymed and made readie to flee, as also all goshawkes or tercels which are not fully mewed till such time as they may be cleane en∣s••amed & ready to flee, for al the while they be vna∣ble the sparehawke occupieth the season of the yere, and kills the partrige excellently wel, which is from

Saint Margarets day till Lammas, and so foorth in the yeere, she will also flee wel at yong fesants, yong heath cockes in the beginning of the yeere, and after Michaelmasse when partriges through greatnesse passe their daunger, I haue then seene them made, some to flie the pie, some the teale vppon riuers, some to flie the woodcocke, and some for the blacke birde or the thrush: the flight at the woodcocke is a cunning flight, and asketh great craft, therfore when you come to a wood or a quetch of bushes, cast your sparrowhawke into a tree, and beate the bushes, then if any woodcocke arise shee will assuredly haue it▪ yet you must first make her therevnto, or to any o∣ther foule casting one first in a string out of the bush∣es whereby she may know her pastime, and she must sit aloft as when she is made for the partrige: again, (as before I haue saide) you may call her a sparrow∣hawke for this other reason, which is, if there were a shippe laden full of hawkes and nothing else, and if there were one sparrowhawke amongst them there should be no custome be paide because of her, and so for the most common name they are called sparrow hawkes, as prooue the reasons before mentioned.

How a hawke flieth.

An hawke flieth to the riuer diuerse wayes, and killeth the foule diuersly, that is to say, shee flieth to the view, to the beake, or to the toll, and all is but one, as you shall knowe hereafter, shee flieth also to the qu••••••e, to the creep, and no other way, and she

nymmeth the foule at the fere iuttie, or at the iuttie fere.

To know what Huffe, Iuttie ferry, Mount, Randon, Creepe, Ennewed meanes.

A Goshawke or a Tercell that shall flee to the view, to the toll, or to the beake, is taught in this manner▪ you must finde a foule in the riuer or in a pit, and then set your hawke a good way off vpon a moll hill, or on the ground, and creepe softely to∣wards the foule, and when you come almost where the foule lieth, looke backward toward the hawke, and with your hand make signe for your hawke to come to you, and when she is a comming and com∣meth lowe by the ground almost at you, then smite your hawkes poule, and crie huffe, huffe, huffe, and make the foule to rise, which when she shall see, doubt not her forwardnesse in fleeing, but if shee nyme or take the further side of the riuer or pit from you, then she slaieth the foule at fere iuttie: but if she kill it on that side that you are on your selfe as many times it chanceth, then you shall say shee killed the foule at the iutty ferry if your hawke nime the foule aloft, you shal say she tooke it at the mount, or at the sonce, but if the foule rise not but flee along close by the riuer and the hawke nyme it, then you shal say, she killed it at the randon: when you haue your Hawke on your fist, and creepe softly to the riuer or to the pit, stealing softly to the brinke thereof, and by that meanes slay a foule, then you shall say it was

killed at the creepe either at the fere iuttie, or iuttie fery as is aboue mentioned, but if it chance, as it doth many times, and most often, that the foule for feare of your hawke rise and falles againe into the riuer ere the hawke can sease vppon her, and so lieth she and dare not rise, you shal say then your hawke hath endewed the foule into the riuer, and so you shal say also if there be moe foules in the riuer than that the which your hawke nymeth, if they dare not arise for feare of your hawke.

A theefe.

You shall vnderstand, that a goshawke ought not to flee at any foule vpon the riuer with belles at her feete in any wise, by which meanes a goshawke is called a theefe.

Querre.

If you see store of mallards separate from the ri∣uer and feeding in the fielde, if your hawke flee co∣uertly vnder hedges, or close by the ground, by which meanes she nymeth one of them before they can rise, you shall say, that foule was killed at the Querre.

Marke this terme Drawe.

There be many Falconers which doe misuse this terme Drawe, and say that their hawkes will drawe

to the riuer, where that terme Draw is properly as∣signed to that hawke which wil kill a rooke, a crow, or a rauen sitting vppon a land, wherefore it must be saide, that such an hawke will drawe well to a rooke.

How a man shal make a hawke to the Querre.

Take a tame mallard and set him in a faire plaine, & let him go whither he wil, then take your hawke vppon your fist and go to that plaine, and being a good distance off hold vp your hand, and see if your hawke can espie the mallard yea or no by her owne corage, and if you finde she haue discerned the foule and desire to flee thereto, let her kil it and plume wel thereon, and in this sorte serue her three or foure times, and doubt not but shee is perfitly made to the Querre: I haue knowen gentlemen, that whensoe∣uer and wheresoeuer they see any tame duckes, and if their hawkes would desire to them, they woulde let them flee, which they found encouraged their Hawkes to bee well fleeing to the Querre an other time.

A prety deceit to take an hawke that is broken out of the mew, or any foule that sit∣teth in trees.

Looke where an hawke pearcheth for all night in what place soeuer it bee, and softly and leasurely clime vp to her with a sconce or lanthorne which

hath but one light in it, and let that light be toward the hawke, so as she see not your face and in that ma∣ner you may come to her, and take her either by the legges or any other part, for she will not in any wise mooue from the light, and in this sort may you take any other fowle.

Of Hawkes belles.

The bells which your hawke shal weare, looke in any wise that they be not too heauy, whereby they ouerloade hir, neither that one be heauier than an o∣ther, but both of like weight: looke also, that they be well sounding and shrill, yet not both of one sound, but one at least a note vnder the other: also, that they be whole and not broken, and chiefly in the sounding place, for if they bee crackt, there the sound will be dul and naught, of spar-hawkes belles there is choice enough, and the charge little, by rea∣son that the store thereof is great: But for goshawks sometimes belles of Millaine were supposed to bee the best, and vndoubtedly they be excellent, for that they are sounded with siluer, and the price of them is thereafter, but there be now vsed belles out of the lowe Countries which are approoued to be passing good, for they are principally sorted, they are well sounded, and sweet of ringing, with a pleasant shril∣nesse, and excellently well lasting.

To what Honour all Hawkes do belong, and first to an Emperor.

First, there is an Eagle, a Bawter, and a Melowne, the worst of these three will kill an hinde calfe, a fawne, a roe, a kidde, an elke, a crane, a buzzard, a storke, a swanne, a foxe in the plaine ground: and these are not enlured neither reclaimed, because they be so exceeding ponderous to the pearch portatiue, and these three by their proper natures belong to an Emperour.

What to a King.

Vnto a King belongeth at his pleasure tributa∣ries a Gerfalcon, and a tercell of a Gerfalcon which is most commonly called a Gerkin.

To a Prince.

There is a Falcon gentle, and a Tercel gentle, and both of them belong euery way to a Prince.

To a Duke.

There is a Falcon of the Rocke, and that belon∣geth (in the opinions of all Falconers) to a Duke.

To an Earle.

There is one other falcon, and that hawke is cal∣led a falcon peregrine, which by the best iugements is bequeathed to an Earle.

To a Baron.

To a Baron and his degree belongeth a Hawke which is called a Bastard.

To a Knight.

There is a Sacre and also a Sacret, and both the one and the other do belong vnto a knight.

To an Esquier.

The Lanar and the Lanret, hawks of exceeding hardnesse do both belong to an Esquier.

To a Ladie.

There is an Hawke called a Merlin, both Iacke and Formale, and they belong vnto a Lady.

To a Yongman.

To euery Yongman is due the Hawke called the Hobbie, and these be all the long-winged haugs or

hawkes of the Tower, and all these are by lure both called and also reclaymed.

Of short winged Hawkes.

Of short winged hawkes, which are hawkes of another kinde, there is first a goshawke the which is for a Yeoman.

There is a tercell of a Goshawke which is for a poore man.

There is a Sparre-hawke which is for a poore man.

There is a Musket, which is (as olde Authours haue entitled them) for a holy water Clarke: and these be the short winged hawkes, of an other kind from the former, for they flee to the Querre, and to fere iuttie and iuttie ferry.

Thus endeth the processe or discourse of Hawk∣ing, and now followeth the most excellentest approued receits and medicines belonging to all manner of diseases and other impediments in Hawkes whatsoeuer.