The ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton in the county of Warwick Esq, fellow of the Royal Society in three books : wherein all the birds hitherto known, being reduced into a method sutable to their natures, are accurately described : the descriptions illustrated by most elegant figures, nearly resembling the live birds, engraven in LXXVII copper plates : translated into English, and enlarged with many additions throughout the whole work : to which are added, Three considerable discourses, I. of the art of fowling, with a description of several nets in two large copper plates, II. of the ordering of singing birds, III. of falconry / by John Ray ...

§. VI. To enter a Goshawk to fly to the field.

PRovide three or four hand-Partridges, with a companion, and one couple of staunch Spaniels; then go into the field, having prepared your Hawk with ap∣petite and courage to fly. Then one of you shall go near hand from the other unto some bushes or other covert, whereas he shall spend his voice to the Dogs after the accustomed manner, and using some blows with his Pole, he shall secretly let the Par∣tridge spring as from forth the same, with such judgment in the delivery as that the Hawk may see it, crying with a loud voice, Howe, Howe, Howe, that she may learn to know the word of warning, when she should at any other time look about her, and be watchful at an instant to take her advantage. This done, and your Hawk flying after it with spirit, and taking it, be sure with all expedition to get in to her, that no Dog or other thing may fright her, or deprive her of it: But suffer her to plume and take her pleasure on it, and further to take bloud thereon, still having the Spaniels in sight close by her. Then you must teach her to take the head in her foot, and eat it on the ground: And when she hath so done, and looketh about her, having your Spaniels by you, through the Partridges pelt (as before in her first teaching) once among the Dogs, and let her take it being in her Leash, that she may not carry it from you: And whilst she sits there and plumes make her supper ready; take her gently to your Fist, and there content her. By thus ordering and using of her, you will without doubt very suddenly have an excellent Hawk: And by all means fly her to the field all the first year, and let her not see the Pheasant at all, for that will draw her love from the Partridge, and make her give them over; being a shorter flight.

When you have thus entred and blouded her, and also killed three or four Par∣tridges more from the mark at the retrive, and perceive that she knows a Partridge by sight, and the accustomed terms, and will go readily from the Fist thereto; be sure, that all the fore-part of the year you let her go no more one flight in ten, near to the rising of her Game, for that will make her slothful; the Partridge being then weak,

and she taking them easily at the sowce in a short space, she will afterward remember it, and look for the same order, and without it will not fly towards the latter end of the year, but if the Partridge be sprung far from her, will make as if she saw it not, and fly to the next tree she meets with.

Some Hawks have an ill property, that when they have flown a Partridge hard to any covert, and take it not at the first flight, there will they sit still on the ground, and not get up to any stand for their better advantage. To amend which fault, when your Hawk hath flown a Partridge, make after her with all the speed you can, taking your Dogs with you by your command, and when you have found her, be sure to take her up, but not on your Fist by any means, if there be either hedge or tree near hand, but take her by the body or shoulders suddenly with both your hands, and throw her upon either hedg, bush, or tree, and then beat for the Partridge, when as it is impossible but she must see it; if it doth spring then, and she fly after and kill it, well. This course being well followed will certainly reclaim her from that fault, and teach her to rise her self; for she will quickly understand that else she shall be caught and tost up, and also that thereby she shall enjoy some pleasure and content. This is a common and lasting fault of the Eyas Hawk or brancher, seldom of the Haggard, and therefore you need not fear frighting or angring her by so doing.

It is in my opinion the most commendable and safe way after one of these Hawks is first entred, and only knows a Partridge, then immediately to teach her and use her to fly from forth the Hood. Often bating at Partridges sprung to other Hawks discom∣forts and discourages her: Besides, she will, if carried bare-fac'd, be very stirring and unquiet on the Fist, not a Dog can stir, or bird rise, but she will offer to be gone. Let her also sit and weather in the Hood, and never take it off but when she shall either fly, feed, bathe, or is to take her rest at night.