The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

CHAP. XVIII.

BROOK HAWKING.

HAWKS for this Sport are the Gerfalcon and Jerkin, the Haggard Falcon and the Tassel Gentle. [ 10]

In many places there are Ponds enclosed with Woods, Bushes, and the like obscurities, so that they are concealed from Passengers, and such places Ducks do much resort unto. Now for the Training up your Hawk to take them, observe these Directions.

Your Hawk being in all points ready to fly, be provided with two or three live Train-Ducks, and let there be a Man that must lie concealed in some Bush-by the Pond with them, so that [ 20] coming to the place, having your Hawk pre∣pared for the sudden Flight, beat the Bush with your Pole where the Man lieth concealed with the Ducks, who must cast forth one of them, to the end the Hawk may think it was put up by you, and if with a Courage she takes it, Re∣ward her well. And this is the way to train up up a Goshawk to catch a Fowl at Sowce.

Having trained your Hawk to this, you may boldly go with her to the Ponds where the Fowl [ 30] lies, and creeping close to the place raise them up by beating about with your Pole, and when any rise let go your Hawk from your Fist, and if she seize it let her take pleasure thereon, and Reward her well.

It is very necessary to have a Spaniel with you; for if the Hawk is well acquainted with the Sport, she will be so nimble at the Catch, that they will fall into the Water together, and by that means the Fowl may go to Plung, so that [ 40] then the Spaniel will be ready to do good Ser∣vice, and not displease the Hawk.

A Flight for a Falcon to the River.

WHen your Hawk will fly, jump, and come in at your Lure, then she is fit to go to the River; and to manage your Flight observe these Directions: When you have found where [ 50] the Fowl lies, then go about a quarter of a Mile up in the Wind to the River side, and whistle off your Hawks, loosing their Hoods, and let them fly with their Heads in the Wind, for there must be a Cast of Hawks for this Flight. Then let the Falconers, or others that are at the sport, strike their Poles in the Water to cause the Hawks to come in unto you and own the River; and when they are got up into their places, then let one of the Falconers ride down to shew the [ 60] Fowl, and when the Hawks have made their stooping, and have ennued the Fowl, then go off from the River again; and when the Hawks have made good their places, then let one of the Falconers go below the Fowl, that is, down the sover; and the other that is above, let him come down and shew the Fowl again, and by that means the Fowl will be crost over Land, that the Hawks may make a fair stooping, and knocking the Fowl on the Land will occasion the killing it, which will Quarry your Hawks.

But if they should miss their Stooping, so as the Fowl may get to the River again, then your Hawks must go to their Wings to make good their flight; but if the Fowl should go to plung, then take down your Hawks, lest you should fly them too long, and the Faulconers with their Spears or Poles may endeavour to Spear or kill the Fowl, which take to Quarry the Hawks with.

If they kill not the Fowl at first stooping, give them respit to recover their place; and when they are at their place again and their Heads in, lay out the Fowl as before directed, and Reward them well if they kill.

You should do well to have a live Duck in your Hawking-Bag, that if they kill not the Fowl which is stooped (as oft-times it happens) than your Hawks being at their pitch and their Heads in, you may throw to your Hawks and Reward them; and by this means you shall always keep your Hawks in good life and blood, and to be Inwards.

To make a Hawk Inward of the River, when she Raketh out.

IF your Hawk can't recover the Fowl by rea∣son of its breaking away at stretch, and gives it over and comes in again, then cast her out a Seeled Duck; and if she stoop it, or truss it, cross the Wings and let her plume and take her pleasure thereon, and Reward her therewith, and by this means she will learn to give over the Fowl that rakes out, and take back to the River a∣gain.

To keep a Hawk high flying.

YOur Hawk being well made to the River, you should not fly her above two flights in the Evening, but feed her up although she kills not; and if she be a slately high flying Hawk, one flight in an Evening is sufficient; for often flying will bring her down, and make her fall of her stately pitch, and will become greedy of the Quarry.

When a good flying Hawk doth get up to a good place, you must continue her therein, Flee∣ing with her upon narrow Waters and Rivulets, shuning broad Waters and such places that lie near Coverts, where a Fowl can hardly be land∣ed without the assistance of Dogs, ••nd where she can't see the Water under her, whic•• are great Impediments, and will cause her to play the Kyte, and much abate her Gate, and quite spoil her high flying; therefore always keep her as high flying as possible; but be sure make her Inwards, that is, fond of the Lure, and to be in such love with it, as upon tossing it up she will presently come sowcing down upon it, which is no small honour to the Faulconer, to have her at such command. And if she chance to play the Kyte

[illustration]

Brook Hawking.

To the Worshipfull Gilbert Gerard Cossine of Brafferton hall in the North Rideing of york shire Esq^r. Son and heyre of S.^r Gilbert Gerard Knight and Baronet by Mary Daughter to the Right Reverend Father in God Iohn Cossine late Lord Bishop of Durham

This Plate is humbly Dedicated by Ric. Blome.

and be lazy, then throw her our either some Train-Duck, or dead Quarry, and Hood her up for about half an hour, then call her to the Lure and feed her.

Some are of Opinion that in such cases you should not Reward her at all, to the end she should not be encouraged to use such ill Tricks; but the former way is adjudged the best.

If your Hawk so soon as she hath stooped and endewed a Fowl, will take stand on a Tree or [ 10] Stump by the Rivers side, Reclaim her from this ill quality, by having in readiness two or three Men with live Trains, and that way which she sits or most bends, let them cast forth the Train-Duck, and if she kill it Reward her. And thus doing for three or four days, she will be broke of that ill quality.

To make a Hawk fond of the Lure. [ 20]

WHen your Hawk is well Quarred, and fleeth well to the River with a good pitch and a great Gate, it is requisite to make her fond of the Lure, and to take her down there∣with, permitting her to kill a Duck or Pigeon tied thereto, after she hath made two or three stoop∣ings.

The higher she fleeth, the more need there is to take her down. [ 03]

If it happen that a Fowl (being often stooped) will not rise again, but fall to diving (that is, plunging) contrive all the ways you can to kill it by Poles or Spears, and take down your Hawk with the Lure, and let her feed on the Train-Duck to please her self thereon, and this will make her become fond of the Lure. But if you take her down to a sweet Pelt, and Reward her well with a warm Pigeon, she will be as well pleased as if she had killed the Fowl. [ 40]

In case she useth to rake out after Check, and lean out so far as not to come in again to the flight, neither the Luring, Whooping, nor Casting the Glove about your Head will do the business; for there is no remedy but following her, and if perchance at length she comes in unto the Lure, take her gently up, feed her with good Meat, and use her kindly as before directed, to the end she may be encouraged, and become in love with your Voice and Vsage against the like occa∣sion. [ 50]

If you practice this diligently towards Soar-Hawks, or Hawks of the first Coat, they will learn to hold in at Voice, or sight of the Lure, when ever you perceive they are inclined to gad.

All Hawks should be set out in the Evening before Fleeing, to be well aired and sharp set a∣gainst their coming into the Field, and to stand Hooded as before directed. [ 60]