The gentleman's recreation in four parts, viz. hunting, hawking, fowling, fishing : wherein these generous exercises are largely treated of, and the terms of art for hunting and hawking more amply enlarged than heretofore : whereto is prefixt a large sculpture, giving easie directions for blowing the horn, and other sculptures inserted proper to each recreation : with an abstract at the end of each subject of such laws as relate to the same.

OF HAWKING.

The Introduction.

THe Element wherein the Faulconer useth to trade, is the Air; and though he dealeth sometimes in the Water, yet he prefers the Air before it, that yielding him most Recre∣ation; for it is unable to stop the high soaring of his generous Faulcon: in it she flies to such a height, that, being lost to the sight of Mortals, she seems to con∣verse with Heaven alone; and, like Icarus, endangers her Wings to be scorcht by the Sun-beams; and yet is fearless, cutting the fluid Air with her nimble Pini∣ons, making her High-way over the steepest Mountains and deepest Rivers, and in her lofty career looks down with a seeming contempt on the greatest Glories we most estimate: and yet such is her Loyalty and Obedi∣ence to her Master, that a word from his mouth shall make her stoop and condescend.

This Element of Air is not onely to be praised for the Recreation it affords the Faulconers, but for its Useful∣ness to all, no creature being in a condition to live with∣out it: for if the inspiring or expiring Organ of any

creature be stopt, it must speedily die, and pay the Debt that's due to Nature.

And as this Element justly merits praise, so do its wing'd Inhabitants, both feeding and refreshing Man∣kind: with their Bodies they perform the first, and the latter with their harmonious Voices.

The number of Heaven's airy Quire is so great, I cannot here well enumerate them; yet I must not pass by these nimble Musicians of the Air, which warble forth such curious Notes as puzzle Art to imi∣tate.

I mean to speak of few, and first of the Lark: When she means to recreate her self and hearers, she quits the Earth, and sings as she ascends; and having made an end of her heavenly Ditty, she seems to swound to think she must descend again unto the dull Earth, which she would scorn to tread but for necessity.

Again, observe how the Black-bird and the Thrush contend who shall with their unimitable Voices bid the best welcome to the fragrant Spring.

Nor doth the Nightingale come short in breathing out her loud Musick through the small Organ of her Throat. How have I oft admired in a still night the clearness of her Airs, the sweetness of her Descants, her natural Risings and Fallings, her Doublings and Re∣doublings!

Much more might be said of these, which I shall wave, being a digression from my purpose, which is to treat of another Bird of Pleasure, viz. the Hawk

HEre note, that the Hawk is distinguished into two kindes; the Long-winged, and Short-winged Hawk.

Of the first kind there are these, which are here a∣mongst us most in use:

• The Gerfaulcon and Jerkin,
• Faulcon and Tiercel-gentle,
• Lanner and Lanneret,
• Bockerel and Bockeret,
• Saker and Sakaret,
• Merlin and Jack-merlin,
• Hobby and Jack,
• The Stelletto of Spain,
• The bloud-red Rook of Turkie,
• The Waskite from Virginia.

Of the Short-winged Hawks there are these:

• The Eagle and Iron,
• Goshawk and Tiercel,
• The Sparrow-hawk and Musket,
• Two sorts of the French Pie.

Of inferiour sort there are these:

• The Stanyel or Ring-tail,
• The Raven and Buzzard,
• The Forked Kite and bold Buzzard,
• The Hen-driver, &c.

It is not to be expected that we should treat of all these and many others bearing different Names, but onely such which are most in use, of which I shall re∣gularly treat concerning their Eyries, Mewings, Ca∣stings, Renovation of Feathers, &c. with their Re∣claiming, Dieting, Diseases, Cures, and Method of Practice.