CHAP. I.

The Authors opinion of the Goshawke and Tarsell , and of their difference ; all which hee writeth vnto them that are of small practise , and to them that would haue their labours put to the best profit .

THe Goshawke is most able to indure much , and is more profitable then the Tarsell , not onely with bringing home many quarries , but with bringing diuersity and variety of quarries : Her disposition is meeke and gentle , if she be mildely delt with , and not so apt to ill conditions as is the Tarsell , she is subiect to seeke for poultry , into which fault she will neuer fall , except it be through want of knowledge in her keeper ; which fault to preuent , as also how to reclaime a Hawke from that euill condition , or any other , I will hereafter giue most plaine and true instruction in his proper place .

CHAP. II.

Wherein the Tarsell differeth from the Goshawke .

EXcept it be for his practise , I would not aduise him that cannot rightly effect all things in a Goshawke , to meddle with the Tarsell , for hee is apt to ill conditions , which euery good Austringer ( if he will ) is able to preuent : He will take dislike at many things , or at any thing ; he is apt to royle , and sometimes may finde poultry that is fit for his turne ; and if he once take a liking , and stand well affected that way , there is none vnfit for him : Hee will quickely know a Doue-house , and too soone learne to finde the way into it , and then he hath wit enough to please himselfe ; but these faults and many more follow such Hawkes as are not well handled , but are harshly and vnkindely delt with in their first manning : He is light-headed and nimble winged , the quicke handling of them in his flying pleaseth more then the Goshawke , and therein the Spar-hawke exceedeth the Tarsell , and the Marlin therein exceedeth both Goshawke , Tarsell & Spar-hawke . They may fitly be compared vnto a A comparison . large Gelding , and a smaller , the first hauing a large and long stroke goeth faster then he seemeth , the other In either kinde this holdeth not generally . that gathereth short and thick seemeth to goe much faster then he doth ; the larger shall inforce the lesser to strike thrise for the ground that he will almost at twice performe ; my opinion is , hee that riddeth most ground , with most ease , shall longest endure . Iudge your selfe the difference betweene the Goshawke , Tarsell , and Spar-hawke .

CHAP. III.

Of Goshawkes there are three seuerall kindes , and so of Tarsels , the Haggart Hawke , the Ramish , and the Eyas , much differing from the rest .

I Onely write now the differing dispositions of these Hawkes , of their seuerall properties , and the inconueniences that followeth them in particular : and first of the Haggart in generall . She hath liued long at liberty , hauing many things at her command , and she is therefore the harder to be brought to subiection and obedience : In her first manning she is apt to take euery accidentall occasion that giueth offence to come from her keeper ; A comparison . As a yong horse in his first riding , if he shall bogge or be afraid of something , if his rider shall then spurre him vpon it , the horse may thus thinke that the thing whereon now in feare all his thoughts are placed , is the true moouer of the spurres that torment him ; so the Haggart tyed to her Masters fist , that bateth , and then findeth her restraint , the obiect taken away , she will stare her keeper in the face , and thinke all the offence came from him , to whose fist she was tyed , otherwise she had beene at liberty , and so could haue freed her selfe from whatsoeuer feared her . But let mee speake this now more A caueat . than I purposed , lest hereafter in his proper place I may forget to giue that caueat , if thy Haggart be so angry as that she stare thee in the face vpon any such accidentall occasion , or sodaine thought of her present bondage , owne it not , see it not , and by all meanes possible carry thine eye from looking vpon her , for that will worke her more dislike towards thee ; which if you obserue , you shall the sooner finde her pacified . She seldome meweth timely or orderly ; and although some can say that A great inconuenience . they haue had a Haggart Goshawke mewed well and faire , fit to draw at Bartholomew ; I answere , one Swallow maketh not a Summer .

When the Haggart is flying , nature is altered , and therefore I must not here speake of her good or bad properties at that time , for they are wrought in her through the good or bad discretion of her keeper , when she was in making , or after she was made , as her keeper thoght . I will leaue those to their proper place , onely I say & so conclude , that your Haggart is very louing and kinde to her keeper , after that he hath brought her , by his sweet and kinde familiarity , to vnderstand him ; but if shee fall into any vice , shee is most hardly reclaimed from it , and brought to good perfection againe ; if it shall be hoped for , it shall soonest be gotten and performed , by exchanging her keeper , if his skill may equall her former keeper .

CHAP. IV.

The description of the Rammish Hawke .

THere is small difference betweene the Haggart and the Rammish , onely the Rammish Hawke hath had lesse time ( by preying for her selfe then the other ) to know her owne strength and worth , but in manning and making her I will set downe my whole practise , with my friendly aduise to others that will enter into the same course , for in the Rammish Hawke is my especiall delight , for in them my labours haue proued most successefull .

CHAP. V.

Of the Eyas Hawke , vpon whom I can fasten no affection , for the multitude of her follies and faults .

I Feele it most burthensome to spend my time idlely ; I thinke the difference little , either to be idle , or spend the time to no purpose , or be long of doing a little , and such effect his trauell will giue him for reward that medleth with an Eyas , except a long expectation of good will giue him satisfaction ; For they are so foolish as the first yeare they will hardly be taught to take a bough well , and if that cannot be effected , there can no prosperous successe be expected . I haue knowne some that haue not prooued very excellent the second yeare in taking a bough , and then it is a foule fault , to doe nothing the first yeare , and not very much the second ; for I haue seene diuers entermewers hang I will not affirme that all will prooue thus . with their head downward , holding a bough fast in her foote or feete . I haue knowne some of them likewise that would sooner catch a dogge in the field then a Partridge , and although she had flown a Partridge very well to marke , and sat well , yet so soone as a dog had but come in to the retroue , she would haue had him by the face . One other as ill a fault as this , if she flye well , yet it is oddes you Neither is this generally to be vnderstood . shall finde her sitting vpon the ground at marke , when although you keepe your dogs quietly behinde you , and though you vse some course to terrifie her , or take her betweene your hands and You shal finde hereafter a remedy for this . throwe her vp , you may perhaps finde her folly giue her leaue to fall againe vpon the ground within twelue or twenty yards of you ; feare the worst , the best will helpe it selfe , it may be she will not goe to a tree at all , ( this is grieuous . ) Neither will most of them like the hoode well , and many of them will cry as loud to you , as you will speake to them . Neither can I hope to buy a sound Hawke of them from the Cage , who knoweth not that they are hot and scratching vpon the quarry : Art will easily amend that fault , which I will not faile Easie to be amended . to deliuer in his place . But this I say , if a man haue the patience to endure their impatience , and attend a long time for their good proofe , if at the last she shall prooue well , she may be ranked among the best in the highest degree : She will euer mewe orderly and timely , and except some euill accident shorten her dayes , she will liue longer then any of the rest , she is not apt to be sicke , or surfeit so soone as the other , yet if a sicknesse should befall her , she will out-grow it with lesse danger then the other . In this discourse I haue altogether spoken of the Eyas-Hawke , but the Tarsell is not so vnapt to take a bough , neither is hee apt to catch dogges , if hee prooue well : there can no attribute be giuen to the Rammish Tarsell ( but all qualities examined ) he shall owne as good , or better . And thus much as concerning my opinion of the Eyas Hawke .

CHAP. VI.

To the friendly Reader .

FRiendly Reader , before I beginne to treate of the Rammish Hawke , and to set downe the courses whereby I haue made so many and so extraordinary good Hawkes , as they could not be bettered both for flying and good conditions , I must tell you , and so farre explaine my selfe , that I doe not therein so much arrogate to my selfe , as to thinke my courses are not to be equalled , but they may be bettered , euen by men that liue in obscurity , but for what I write , is my opinion ; from which ( although it shall mooue others but little ) I cannot be drawne , because I haue had thereby so good , so prosperous , and so profitable successe : Some may contrary my opinion , who can for themselues say but as I doe , that their opinion is such ; if I cannot set downe sufficient reasons for my proceedings , my Hawkes shall testifie for me , it hath long laine by me , and that I haue not beene forward to publish this but in a Manu-script , is very well knowne to many of my friends , Gentlemen that haue come to visite and comfort me in the time of my sicknes ( which hath continued with me for the most part these three yeares , in all which time I haue made but onely one Hawke , but diuers haue beene brought vnto me to be cured of diuers diseases , and some to be reclaymed from ill conditions ) and by these Gentlemen I haue been ouer-powred ( desiring that my knowledge might not be buried with mee ) to thrust out my labours to publike view . And although my memory hath escaped some secret , yet I am assured the skilfullest shall finde something herein set downe , that neither he nor any man hath made vse of , either in making his Hawke of good and faire condition , or in reclayming her , or any other of their kinde , from any ill condition . And thus followeth my direct course for the reclayming , manning , and making of my short-winged Hawke .

CHAP. VII .

The manner how I haue vsed the Rammish-sore - Goshawke , after I haue taken her from the Cage vnto my fist , vntill she hath beene flying .

I Must speake something of the time wherein vsually I make choyse to buy my Rammish Hawke , about the latter of Michaelmas terme ; or if I can learne that there are more Hawkes comming before Christmas , I will tarry their comming , for those Hawkes doe not shew themselues out of the great couerts vntill after Saint Iames : And to buy one of them in the beginning of Michaelmas terme that hath beene so long taken , and done so little for her selfe , I like not , but I will hope for a more late taken Hawke , which when I haue , I follow How I begin with my Hawke . in this manner . I continue her vpon my fist tenne dayes or a fortnight , ( vnlesse in a shorter time I finde her a sound Hawke ) which I shall the sooner vnderstand , because I see how she putteth ouer This must be especially obserued . her meate , how shee doth in due it ; and if there be any doubt of her well-doing , there shall hardly a mute escape my sight whosoeuer doth carry her for mee , for she shall be well assured to finde no other perch then the fist , from that time I rise vntill Thus you may recouer her strength , that in so long a iourney is made weake . I goe to bed , when she shall goe with me ; and if in this time I finde it fit , she doth not faile to haue casting . I finde no time lost in this course , for in this time I will raise my Hawke and giue her strength , and she will be the lesse time after she is vnhooded before shee doth flye ; my castings that My manner of castings in the beginning . I giue , are Thrums , gotten of the Weauer , I get them washed , but not with Sope , I cut the threads an inch long or lesse , and I size them out for a small casting , and giue them lose with her meate ; or otherwise , I tye vpon the thrids two or foure small knots , leauing some thrids open at the end of either knot ; otherwise I giue plumage and some small bones , if the fowle like me , the bones of that part of the wing that is vsually broken from the Partridge . Flannell I could neuer approue of , neither did I euer vse the iukes and feathers of a house-Doue , The Feathers of the House-Doue not good . for they ( by reason of their owne dung they sit in ) are hot and strong in sauour . I am carefull not to make my casting too great ; I thinke there is no man but hath that care if hee but vndertake to feed a Hawke . When I find my Hawke in strength of body and stomacke bettered , I proceed to peppering , ( for I will let nothing escape me vnset downe in the whole practise of my Hawke , vntill For peppering . I haue made her flying ) and although peppering be as common with euery man as feeding , yet because I haue knowne and heard of many Hawks that haue dyed vpon peppering , when I had younger experience , I grew very carefull thereof , and I tooke this course : First , I made my water seeth , and then I put thereto a quantity of pepper , and a lesse quantity of Staues-acre pounded small ; I put in the lesse of both , because I seeth them in the water , which maketh the water strong : When the water had sod a while , I did streine it through a fine linnen cloth , which should suffer neither Pepper nor Staues-acre to goe through , and therein I would then wash my Hawke . My reason why I doe not alow of , nor vse the common course of A reason why thus . peppering , is this ; The water not strained through a cloth , the Pepper hangeth in the Hawkes feathers , and when she falleth to pruning of her selfe , shee oftentimes getteth it into her beake , and so it hangeth either vpon the tongue or in the mouth of the Hawke , and setteth it on fire , the heate and dislike whereof maketh many Hawkes to cast Especially such as are not perfectly sound . their gorge , and so their sicknesse encreasing , they dye . Besides , I haue come many times to some places foure or fiue daies , or a weeke after that they haue peppered their Hawkes : And I haue seene the backe part of their wings red so long after their peppering : There may thereupon grow ( although not sodainely ) an incurable blister , which will lame his Hawke , and her Master shall neuer know how it commeth ; but with the roughnesse An office ill performed . of the Pepper , and with the ill handling of them that haue executed that office , I haue many times seen the skin in that place rubbed off . If any man will follow my course he may , if not , let this warne him of the inconueniences that follow the other , many Hawkes hauing dyed vpon peppering , Auoyde euery inconuenience . my reason can finde no other cause than what is aforesaid , or else a great fault in her keeper , that would put his Hawke to such a hazard , A fault in her keeper . before he had made her body able and fit for it . My place of peppering should be in a very warme roome , although the fire were not very great I cared not , my time should be in the euening , and for my company I cared not how many both men and dogs , the more the better , for The earnestlier she looketh at many things , the lesse she will feare any . then the Hawke seeing so many things , that any one of them might giue offence alone , there is now so much change , men , dogges , fire-light , and candle-light , that she looketh at all , and knoweth not which to be afraid of . Besides , she hath a desire to dry her selfe , and so let her continue vntill she be dry , and hath picked her selfe , by that time I would thinke it time to giue her some meate , & that should be but a little : she had none aboue one houre before I beganne to pepper her ; my Let her haue no meate aboue when you pepper her . hoode is layd away with no purpose to handle it before foure and twenty houres were spent , that night she neuer went from my fist , but when I entreated my friend to ease me . But note , I seldome did sit still with her , but I would walke , and Sit not still in manning your Hawke . when I walked , or whether I sat still , I would entreate my Hawke not to be idle , but in this manner to walke and trauell with me , very often turning my hand gently , forward and backeward , A good meanes to man your Hawke . whereby my Hawke should be made , leisurely , to remooue her feete one after another , forward and backeward . I had rather she should gently remooue a foote , then with anger strike a wing , and the often remoouing her foote will saue her many a bate . It may be your Hawke ( good friend ) shall want that attendance that mine hath had for a fortnight before , if you faile in the beginning , looke for no succesfull ending , it is very like Obserue this . you shall finde it at this time , when shee will distemper and ouer-heate her selfe with bating , which my former courses taken with my Hawke , assureth me that I neede feare no such thing . To proceede , I with my Hawke vpon my fist walke , and I entreate her to doe so likewise , by the gentle remoouing her feete , which she should practise that night either vpon my fist , my friends , or my mans ; towards the morning ( if the weather Lose not the morning . would giue me leaue ) I walke abroad with some company , both men and dogs : and howsoeuer the weather was , I would euer be abroad at the breake of the day , and so continue so long as I could conueniently . If my Hawke were vnquiet , All Hawkes are then naturally disposed to stirre . it would be about , or rather before , the Sunne riseth , it is a time wherein all creatures spirits are quickened : Although my Hawke hath been thus truely watched , yet I should finde in her a naturall working and stirring , as though she had somthing to doe ; then to put her out of that humor , I would haue either the wing of a Mallard , Pullet , or such like , to set her a-worke , and put-by those thoughts which nature taught her , and teach her to alter nature . All this while I haue both company and dogs with me ; as I finde cause I goe into the house , where I and my Hawke walke , she walking vpon her feet as well as I vpon mine , I would tend her many times with tyring and plumage : And thus either vpon my fist or vpon some mans else , she should sit and walke all that day , for I thinke that is the day of marring or making ; and this I thinke that if she should be set down vpon a pearch but whilest I should change Allow her no ease but vpon the fist . my Gloue , she would be more impaired thereby then she would profit in tenne dayes trauaile , being compared to my course herein taken , and which I vse , and will take two nights and two daies together . I assure you that I haue neuer met with that Hawke that hath shewed her selfe froward , or vnruly , no not this first day , neither shall I euer doe , if I order her after this manner . Well this day is spent in this manner , euening approacheth , and bid'deth the Hawke take her rest , which I haue euer found her very ready and willing vnto , & fashion her selfe to take her vp lodging vpon my fist , neither owning nor looking for other pearch . Now she is conformable vnto my will , she is euen already become familiar and sociable , Already sociable . and so I will continue her . Now I shew her the hoode , which my care hath before-hand prouided , and made very large , I thinke somewhat larger then is vsuall , but much larger at the top of the beake then I euer saw vsed . My hoode made fit and easie , I would offer to put it on , Take care to haue a very easie hood . which at that time I could neuer haue my Hawke dislike . Thus I would vse her with hooding and vnhooding that night ; and then would I bethinke mee whereof my Hawke was likelyest to dislike or be afraid ; I would now seeke out the Smiths Forge , and there shee should endure the blowing of the fire , and knocking of the Anuill , and the sparkes flying about the shop . I pray you marke , it is not long since shee was begunne with , and what I haue done to her I haue deliuered plainely , belieue me within this little time , and with this my small paines , I haue made my hawke such as she would not be distempered , disorderly , Who will not take this course ? froward , or more vnruly , but that I haue seene flying Hawkes much worse . It will be no hard matter to watch her this night , but it will be almost vnpossible to keepe her waking . I haue heard of some that haue watched their Hawkes seauen nights and as many dayes , and still she would be wilde , Rammish , & disorderly . Know ( good Reader ) that a little sleepe will suffice nature in any creature , and when a Hawke is vpon the fist , the man spending his time with sitting still , talking , or at Tables , hee may be vertuously spending his time in reading the Scripture ; in this time his Hawke sits still , she hath no exercise , and there is little difference in this , either to be vpon a pearch or his fist : hee may say , if I should set her vpon a pearch , whensoeuer it were in her sight shee would bate to goe to it ; I aske what is the difference betweene bating to goe to the pearch , or I doe not allow that she should be set vpon a pearch . bating to flye from all things else ? And thus you shal neuer haue her a well-manned Hawke . What are the discommodities that follow a Hawke thus manned ? She will endure nothing , because shee hath not beene made acquainted with any thing ; for when her Master or keeper should see her to take offence or dislike , hee will auoyde that because she shall not bate : Another-while he cryeth All which I would haue my Hawke vsed vnto . out , come not in the taile of my Hawke ; but whosoeuer shall vndertake the course that I haue vsed , he shall finde his Hawke seldome apt to take any offence at all . In a mans much sitting still in the time of manning his Hawke , an easie apprehension will finde a great errour , for when the man sitteth still , the Hawke sitteth still , and if she To sit still an ouer-sight . hath been truely watched , although she doth not winke or shut her eyes , yet her heart may be fast sleeping ; or if it be in the day , so long as her keeper sitteth still , she will be quiet , but let him but stirre and walke , she liketh not that , she hath sitten quietly vpon his fist , and she is very loath to haue that custome broken . Euery Austringer of any experience knoweth , that a Hawke thus vsed will thus bate . Why is it so ? Not because her eyes meete with that which sitting still shee saw not , but because now she meeteth labour , shee is angry and discontent , because shee is not as shee was sitting at ease . A Hawke before she is truely manned ( that hath been set & vsed vnto a pearch ) will perpetually bate to be there . I hold it a great He is in an errour that setteth downe his Hawke hooded before she be well manned . error to set her hooded , because she should not see whereon she sitteth ; for sure I am this fashion will breed more than a little inconuenience , and yet hereby there is no loue gained from his Hawke .

I haue obserued that it is much walking with my Hawke that hath wrought such good effect in her ; for in my walking and turning , her eye The Authors obseruation . doth still behold change of obiects , and the stirring of her feete doth worke as much or more good in her , for that maketh her desirous to sit still , and desirous of ease , which bating doth not giue , and in the first making saueth her many a bate . As at my first beginning I labor to acquaint her with whatsoeuer a Hawke may dislike ; so my manner of working this , is by that meanes , which The meanes is most necessary . otherwise she would dislike , and that is carriage , and in this beginning to make my fist her pearch , vntill she be such as I would haue her , which this night and the next day shall make her , for this night is but the second night ; and now my chiefest practise is the vsing her to the hoode , which she will as familiarly take as the Faulcon . I will shew you my manner therein : I shew her the hoode , put it to and ouer her head many times , I finde her so truely manned , as that shee will no more dislike the stroaking therwith , then the bare hand , I put it on gently and very leisurely , and I could neuer meet with any dislike hereof in my Hawke ; I would either put it on with my full hand , or else holding it by the tassell , whereby Obserue this . you may know that it was lesurely & gently done , which will be a means that she shal neuer hereafter be coy of it : But if my fine Austringer will shew his dexterity and nimblenesse of the hand , and with his finger in her necke thrust her head into the hoode , if he misse the right doing it , the next time he commeth in such a manner , he may peraduenture finde her dislike , this is the next way to make her thinke her head shall be pulled off ; for the putting it on in such a quicke manner , or thrusting her head into the hoode with the finger Auoyde all such vnkindnesse . behinde , will make the Hawke vnderstand that it is no kindnesse , but violence and churlish vsage , which must neuer be offered a Hawke , and then you shall perhaps finde her dislike your hand and hoode comming to her , and so being a little coy or angry , neuer be content to carry her beake right , but turne it in the hood ; and so my fine quicke hand bobbeth his Hawke , and maketh her vtterly dislike the hoode .

There is no way but gentlenesse to redeeme a Beware of hasty hooding . Hawke so bobbed , and therefore I aduise thee not to trust to the quicknesse of the hand , but rather to holde the hoode by the tassell to her head , & then to put it on leisurely , with a light carriage . You may say she will not suffer this ; so thinke I also , after she hath once taken a dislike thereof ; but I spake in the beginning how to vse your hoode , so as she shall neuer with such vsage take dislike thereof : vse her as I haue vsed mine , and you shall finde yours as I finde mine ; Admit your Hawke shall turne her head away from the hoode , I know she will not bate from it , perhaps she will I could neuer finde more distemper . likewise turne her body by the remoouing one or both of her feete ; vpon the putting her head aside , I would still holde my hoode within an inch of her head , vntill she should turne her head , and then to put it on leisurely ; but if she stirre her body and remooue her feete , then pull backe your hand , and by turning your body and your fist whereon she sitteth , set her right and fit , and then holde the hoode gently to her nose , which she will be willing to put her head into , rather then stirre any more , for she knoweth there is no hurt ensueth . I could with ordering of my hawke She will finde no hurt in leisurely hooding . ( as I haue already set downe ) neuer finde any Hawke at a worse passe then so . Well , she is now wel made acquainted with the hood , the morning commeth , which I haue said before , reuiueth all her spirits , which before were heauie and dull , at Morning and euening are the times to make a hawke well conditioned . the breake of day getting company and dogges with mee , or in the Towne , or rather where I should meete most passengers , there would I be walking , hooding my Hawke , and sometimes let her feede after her hooding : After one or two houres being abroad I would into the house againe , where my Hawke should shew her selfe as sociable and familiar as a Lanner . I vse altogether a lowe pearch , which set in the middest , or in such place of the roome wherein I was , as that both men , women , children & dogs should goe by her , Their desire of ease will make them endure all things , and their so sitting , man them with all things . I did not feare although they did wipe their Gownes against her , I euer found them so glad of their ease .

The second day , I know my hawke is as wel manned as I can desire , it may be I will set her downe vpon such a lowe pearch , and in such a place as I haue foresaide , and I know there shee would sit , not fearing any thing , and not making one bate in two or three houres , ( if I would let her sit so long , which as yet I must not ) vnlesse hunger should enforce her to stirre . I make no doubt but Haue something to please her howsoeuer . she would be very gentle to take vp , if she doe not iumpe to the fist . Now I follow her with castings , and I keepe her vpon my fist vntill I goe to bed , and now I am able to gouerne her , not needing any more helpe , and yet I pray thinke , A Hawke must be kept to her good perfection . that I know if shee be not held and kept in this good perfection , she will fall againe : But all this I am able to doe , onely with late sitting vp and early rising . I feede her so as that I know she shall cast betimes , which I will carefully looke for one houre before day ; and when I take her vp I will surely please her with something , then I fall to my olde Trade againe , walking abroad as I did before , vsing her hoode as I finde cause . I neuer call her aboue eight or tenne yards , vntill I finde that shee is bolde enough and not fearefull , and that she be farre in loue with my voyce , which I neuer faile to giue her , euen from the beginning of her feeding , vntill shee is flying , and that is lowde enough , as if I were to call her thirty or forty score , although I call her but ten yardes . Well , when I beginne to call her in cranes , although it be for so small a distance , it shall be done from the hoode , and from the fist of another man , in manner as your long-winged Hawke is lewred : and when I call her twice or thrice at a time , betweene euery calling I put on her hoode , and so still I haue her let in from the hood : Who knoweth not that a Hawke set downe vpon a stile , blocke , or any other conuenient thing , when she shall with the often seeing the Cranes drawne at length , and her keepers accustomed manner in calling her , soone learne to know that now shee After she is once called and set downe againe , she will not let him goe fiue yards . shall be fed , & will be ready to follow him before he can get twenty yards from her ? But all this is not to the true purpose . I haue seen a Haggart with foure dayes calling , not suffer the going from her fiue yards , but she would haue been at his elbow , after she had beene once set downe , and yet she was far enough from the perfection of comming ; for it is the voyce that must not onely in this , but The voyce is the Mistresse of knowledge to your Hawke . in greater matters , worke a good effect in my Hawke . As I am thus calling my hawke in cranes , it is very certaine she will soone come to that vnderstanding as that she will bate vpon hearing my voyce , before she be vnhooded , I then stay my voyce vntill she be quiet ; then I call againe , and then stay my voyce vntill she be vnhooded : and againe , I giue my voyce , not holding out my fist , vnlesse I see her comming : My experience hath taught mee to stay her , and not to let her come vntill she be quieted , because I haue seene long A reason . winged hawkes , ( with which profession I haue made an end thirty yeares since ) let into the lewer in the time of their bating , when they haue had their eye presently setled vpon some other farre remote from the lewer , whether they haue presently gone , and then not come to the knowledge , could not finde the lewer , and so haue beene lost . I spend two , three , and often foure times of the day thus in calling my Hawke , then I call my Hawke often . for the day , for the most part my fist is her pearch , and if I set her downe , it shall be euer vpon a owe pearch , where all sorts of people and dogs shall How I bestowe my Hawke . trauell by her , and where she shall see the fire stirred and blowen , and wood brought thereto , and diuers other such like obiects : She will not for any , or all of these make a bate . In this manner I haue trained my hawke , that when shee hath beene a flyer . I durst set her downe vpon a Veluet stoole , in a cleanely kept dyning-Chamber or Parlour , as the place was whereunto I went , for I would haue my Hawke as much in my eye as could be ; perhaps I should see the Lady or Mistresse of the house looke discontentedly hereat , so well haue I beene acquainted with my Hawkes good disposition , that I haue promised if my Hawke should make a mute in the roome , I would licke it vp with my tongue ; Anger and vnquietnes is the cause of many mutes . for well I knew no angry mute should come from her , otherwise she would not mute ; And I knew well ( vnlesse I were negligent , which I would neuer be ) that she would not stirre vntill hunger did prouoke it : This for the day .

In the euening when I had called and supped her , then I would no more let her part from my fist , but continue her vntill I fed my selfe , it may be if I had such meanes she should be vpon the fist for that season also , and so vntill I went to bed , ( which the loue to my Hawke would not haue me hasten . ) In the morning before day I would assuredly haue her vpon my fist , and follow her in such manner as I haue formerly done , thinking that I could neuer be too frequent with There cannot be too much familiarity betweene the man and Hawke . my hawke , nor she with me . My inducements to carry her thus in the euening , and night , would make her loue me as her perch , and by my taking her vp so early in the morning , I would perswade her that there had beene her pearch all night : But whether my hawke will haue this louing apprehension , or no , I know not , yet I am assured it worketh this benefit , that she will indure as much or more than any other hawke not so delt with ; And it is this that maketh her so willing to sit still and take her ease , and not take offence , although there should fly about the house fire , dishes , trenchers , and any thing else that would mad other hawkes , they shall not mooue her . Me thinkes I heare some man say , I haue taken a very painefull course in making my hawke . I aske who will not fast one-day to be assured that hee shall feele no A question . want so long as hee liueth ? Worke but out your taske in this fashion , and you shall during your A sweet satisfaction . hawkes life finde none but playing-dayes . Let me not omit any thing in my proceedings ; As for the hoode , I neuer in the house let her sit hooded at all , and when shee is a flying hawke , neuer vnhooded in the field . Bee not negligent towards your Hawke at no time , but especially whilest she is in manning , if you be , shee will pay you for it in her flying . I am afraid to be tedious , and I cannot more briefly deliuer my practise and my experience , I would gladly walke plainly , and giue vnto euery man full satisfaction .

I should haue forgotten one speciall benefit By these meanes if she be found taken from the Cage , she will be made flying in twenty dayes . that is gained by your three nights painefull following your Hawke , that is , she shall not at all weaken her selfe with many bates : also her familiarity will be such , as that you may thereby better her dyet in her calling , and of a poore Hawke from the cage , make her strong and full of flesh , the contrary no doubt followeth those Hawkes that are by fits dealt withall ; one while carefully watched and manned , and to another time neglected , and then their dyet shortned to make The fruits of negligence . them conformable at a keeper without forme . Hence proceed the marring of many hawkes , that when they should be entered and flye , they are so weake , as they are not able to shew what they would doe if they had strength . If this be not motiue enough to make you haue a care of your hawkes decaying strength , and her falling of flesh , then know that pouerty is the mother and If you will haue your Hawke flye well , let her be full of flesh . nurse of all diseases : I haue followed aduising too long , and left the deliuering of my practise . Now to proceede therewith , my hawke is to be called lose , she shall not be weakened or hanged with draging her cranes aboue eight or nine score , and my manner is to call her thirty and forty score before I put her into a tree , and I vse to call her at all houres in the day , I feare not her comming home vnto me ; but admit what I haue not met with , that she falleth off and goeth to a tree , it must be want of a stomacke that maketh her doe so , or want of weathering , or bathing , which I will be sure she shall not want , neither do I thinke she should want a stomacke , which if she should want , that want will make her sit quietly , Patience is an excellent vertue in an Austringer . and I had rather attend her pleasure with patience now , then when I am in sport . I will tell you something touching this point : when I am trauelled with my flying hawke , that is as louing as sociable & conformable to my wil in all companies and times as I can desire ; yet , I do beare her bare-fac'd for the most part all my iourney , and when I perceiue she groweth hungry , then I put on her hoode , and if there be no present hope of a flight , I set her vpon the fist of one that knoweth what doth thereunto belong , then I pray him to ride hind-most of the company , and I put my selfe formost ; then I call my hawke , when her I call my Hawke alwayes when I feed . hoode being pulled off , she commeth by all the company merrily to the fist ; Vse maketh perfectnesse , thus I vse my hawke , and she neuer receiues meate from me , but I call her . It may be you will be aduised hereby to doe the like , if you once finde the benefite thereof , you will hold the greatest paine in effecting it , sweet contentment and Paine is rewarded with pleasure . pleasure : But to my hawke which doth not so , ( but granted she should do so ) make me waite her pleasure ; I am not hasty to call her vntill shee hath taken her pleasure : which with my obseruation , I will soone discerne , and then when I call her , I know she will soone please me , and so conclude , we are both pleased : but if such an accident should befall me three or foure nights before I went to flye her , I would now not faile but shew her a Partridge the next night , if I could get a You shall find a reason for this elsewhere . hand Partridge it would please me , if not , I would not be at all sorry ; but such a chance hath seldome befallen me , & therfore to hold on with my true proceeding : when I haue my hawke perfectly comming , strong and in all points fit to flye , the night before I shew her a Partridge , at Sunne-set , I set her downe vpon some stile , gate , or raile , and walke from her ; I would chuse a place where there should be many high trees , I would not giue her my voyce vntill she went to a tree , but I would keepe my selfe with my company twenty-score from her , vnlesse I should haue one , whose eye should attend her remoue , lest shee should goe from me another way , thereby I should know the better what I had to doe : when she doth remoue and let vp and downe , then I giue her my voyce , which shee is glad to heare ; hauing taken her downe , I sup her , not putting her vp any more , my reason for this course , so taken , is this ; when my hawke is in a tree , that hath beene long kept This my reason for my former flying . and man'd by me , and a longer time bene kept in bondage before she came to me , now she beginneth to know her selfe , and thinke of what shee hath formerly done for her self , she would get her supper , and it is so late that shee seeth nothing A Hawke may be sotted with long calling and drawing after a man . whereon to prey , and therefore when she shall see the next night , what is in her power to command ; you shall not need to bid her goe , but shee will giue you cause of ioy , to see with what mettall and spirit she flieth . No Partridge in the world can flie from a good short-winged hawke , and the Pur in her springing will make any hawke flie therto , When you enter your Hawke looke she hath all her rights . if she haue been rightly ordered , and in strength . I aduise you once more , be sure your hawke hath all her rights , let her not haue any smacke of wildenesse , nor want either weather or water . It is to be vnderstood , that I haue shewed my hawke water within two or three dayes after she hath beene peppered , but it should be at a brooke , or some other grauelly place , fit for that purpose , holding my first to the water , and the end of my lines in my right hand , if she did not bathe at my first or second day shewing her water , but refused , it should be that she had no desire to bathe , and that when she refused so to doe , wildenesse or Rammishnesse should not be the cause thereof : Let her not bate to flye from you , which although you haue nothing in your fist she will doe . if she did iumpe to the water , I would haue something in my fist ready to shew her , when she made shew of comming from the water ; which should make her euer after , when shee had done , looke for the fist , where she should dry , prune , and oyle her selfe , and as yet she neuer had other pearch to weather vpon then my fist , neither shal she vntil she be a true flying hawke . Now for the place where I would first shew her a Partridge , it should be in a champion , where Partridges will assuredly flye The place to enter my Hawke champion . to a hedge , then my hawke must needs take stand vpon a bush in the hedge , for it is great oddes that she shall not haue it in the foote , & although she be farre behinde it , yet she will assuredly goe to the place , because the loue of the Partridge inviteth Hereof I cannot make any doubt , because I neuer knew it worse . it , & it is ods , that neerer then that she shall haue no place fit to goe vnto ; Well at the retroue , there is no doubt but shee will haue it ; but say that my hawke either hath it in the foote , or otherwise , that she was so neere it that she hath with striking at it , in the fall beate it cleane through the hedge , and there my Hawke sitteth vpon the ground , it can prooue no worse ; if shee haue it in the foote we are all well pleased . If she sit vpon the ground I stay both men and dogs , for it may be it is not flicked . A Hawke that hath thus shewed her mettle will not sit long so , but vp vnto a A Hawke that hath that mettle is not so dull as to sit long vpon the ground . bough ; then I ride in quietly , if the Partridge be there , it is very lucky , if not , I hold it no ill lucke to haue so hopefull a young Hawke ; but I goe presently about to please her , hauing a browne Chicken in my bagge , the necke I pull in sunder , but breake no skinne , and tyed to my Lewers or Cranes , holding the end in my hand , I throw it out fluttering , and thereupon please her as well as if she had killed a Partridge : I doe not tye it A preuention of euill . to my Lewers , as fearing her dragging , or offring to carry it , out of a wilde , Rammaish , or any other ill disposition ; for I haue before this tyed a dead Vse the same course . Foule to my Cranes , and throwne it out vnto her , amongst men , dogs , and Horses , walking about her , and thereon I let her take all her pleasure , but by little bits of warme meate I sup her from my hand , letting her wholly see all that I doe , vntill I see her ready to forsake the quarrie to catch my hand , then I deliuer vp more couertly , vntill I haue her iumpe to my fist , where with plumage or tyring I end her supper . You shall hereafter finde a better benefit to many purposes Expect a better benefit . by your dealing with your Hawke thus . Thus I reward my Hawke vpon her Partridge , and the commodities thereof exceed their vnderstanding that haue not made vse thereof .

As I haue tolde you that I would choose a champion-Countrey wherein to enter my hawke , yet it should be so as that there should be some small hedges : And I haue alwayes this consideration that I will well know , that whither I ride there should haue beene no store of hawking , and then I know they can flye no better then a hand Partridge , and they will flye worse at that season Choose such Partridges as are heauy flyers . then some Partridges doe that haue beene well flowne too , three weekes before Michaelmas . I haue ridden out of Essex into Sussex , vnto the East part of the Downes there , to enter my Hawkes ; Where I haue not failed to doe it , to the great woonder of the worthy Knights and Gentlemen in those parts , and some ( right Worshipfull ) in the West parts of those Downes can witnesse , that in their company I haue killed for the most part of a moneth together with an entermured Goshawke , eight , nine , and tenne Partridges in a day . The day of my going thither , and the day of my returne to London , was iust fiue weeks , and it was a fortnight or more in Michaelmas terme when I came backe . I killed in that time with that one Hawke foure-score and odde Partridges , fiue Pheasants , seauen Rayles , and foure A note of a large quarry . Hares against my will . This is not vntrue , for I will present that much honoured Knight with one of my Bookes , who saw all this done : And euery man may know that we lost some time with fogges and raigne , and my going and comming spent foure dayes .

I haue in the East part showne such Hawkes , as there was neuer seene the like there , and all of them made in this manner , as I haue deliuered . If they had fallen in Fearne , or among some small shrubbed Purzes , I would when I came in but holde vp my hand , and she would presently be there ; or if any man else got in before me , if he did not hold out his fist , she would light vpon his head . Is not this a sweet comfort , A sweet comfort . for so little paines ? If your Hawke be followed with flying as I vse mine , you shall haue no cause to complaine of the short-winged Hawke , that if they fit still but one houre they are presently wilde , and care not for their keeper ; you shall rather haue a care to giue her ease , setting her still ( as I haue vsed mine ) vpon a lowe pearch , and in the greatest assembly , neuer hooded in the house ; and so when she is to weather abroad vnhooded , vpon a lowe pearch , neuer putting her in a corner to take weather and ease in , for neither all nor none of my Hawks will be diseased , except of purpose foule play be offered , which I hope I shall neuer meet with . If it hath rayned , then you shall be enforced to set her high , for if she ba●e to come to The vsing of her to a little meate as she doth sit vpon the pearch will make her loue you , and looke for it . you , either when you come to take her vp or otherwise , she shall wet her wings , so is she shall haue more neede to weather , then when she was set out . So neere as I can remember I will omit nothing of my practise . The manner of giuing my casting was ouer hand without any meate My manner of giuing casting . when I went to bed , although she had much meate aboue , it did not hurt : Casting thus giuen could not hinder the putting ouer her meate , nor should lye in her pannell with her meate , but after the meate is gone then commeth the casting that maketh cleane , and carryeth away what is left ; Thus I doe before she is flying , but after she is flying she will vpon euery flight take some plumage , and She prouideth casting for her selfe . therefore with the bones and feathers of a Partridge wing I conclude her supper . I neuer faile giuing her castings , for I can finde the perfect or imperfect estate of my Hawke no better then by the knowledge of her castings : And I thinke it will giue the best instructions to a young beginner , A helpe for a yong Austringer . euen to know the times of feeding his hawke , and so by his diligent obseruation come to better vnderstanding ; I thinke castings are as naturall as meate : For mine owne part , from the beginning of Hawking , vntill after Michaelmas , I haue giuen two castings , and receiued two euery day from my Hawke , and sometimes three .

I must explaine my selfe thus ; When I haue An explanation that I may not be mis-vnderstood . early in the morning killed a Partridge , and giuen my Hawke the head in her foote , which I suddenly get againe , for if I should giue her leaue to eate all the heads , I must not flye so often as I doe , but so soone as she hath the head , I quickly pull out the heart , and breake off the wing , and then holding the heart to her , and bruising it betweene my finger and thumbe , she receiueth it at three or foure bits , I continuing my hand still in his place , and then cunningly I take vp the head , letting her iumpe to my fist , where she shall plume vpon the wing , vntill I haue bitten the skull from the braines , that she may haue them without bones . But it hath thus fallen out , when I haue so early flowne my hawke , that she hath eaten the head , which I haue beene willing to let her doe , and I haue giuen the heart withall , because there were other hawkes to flye , and no great store of Partridges ; An obseruation . by which meanes it would be long before my turne would be to flye againe , and it hath so prooued that I haue not flowne at all ; but ryding homeward , for such is my manner , euer to call my hawke , I set her loose vpon a paire of barres , going from her , preparing meate for her dinner , when I had walked about fifty or threescore paces , I gaue her my voyce , she made no respect About tenne of the clocke I called my Hawke . of it , that vsually vpon my first call , would be at my elbowe ; I stayed and maruelled , and because the day was glorious , and the time dangerous to tempt a hawke to play the wanton , I went backe ( I must confesse ) in some feare , giuing the fairest words I could to stay her , lest shee should remooue ; good hawke she had no such thought , but when I came neere her , she gaue mee a small casting that she had taken in the morning , and then I gaue her another , which shee repayde at three of the clocke in the afternoone .

I haue many times ( and lately ) seene olde and such as went for most expert Austringers , when we haue had a hawking iourney , beene afraid to haue any thing stirre in their Chamber , for hindring This hath beene in the beginning of hawking . their hawkes from casting , and to keepe the curtaines drawne before the windowe , not suffering the least light to appeare so neere as they can , for that would be another hindrance to their Fall not into this inconuenience . casting , all this while they lye in bed and giue aime , and when they are vp they are driuen to seeke darke corners , wherein to set their hawkes vntill they cast , when it were more fit they were in the field to flye .

I dare not reprooue , I know they know their owne errours . I was neuer yet inforced to stay for my hawkes casting , neither doe you make any doubt , if you will follow your hawke with that familiarity as I haue followed mine , either in the field , or in the house , carryed bare-faced in either If she be wild and fearefull , it may make her put it ouer againe . places , she will cast , or in any of them , to pull off her hoode when she offereth to cast . Not long after my hawke hath cast I vsually giue her a little meate ; There is nothing but sicknesse , ( a barre against all good perfections ) or wildenes , or rammishnes which maketh her stare and looke about her , which makes her afraid to performe those duties , which otherwise she would do : The hawks no better manned then so , are many other ways more defectiue and disorderly then so . Thus much for ordering my hawke with castings for her dyet .

I haue flowne a hawke all one season , and neuer fed but vpon the best meate I could , she neuer My manner of feeding , and with what I feede . tasted Beefe , neither was her feathered meate ( but very seldome colde ; and to helpe her better , a night did hardly escape me but I thrust out the marrow of the wings of either Ducke , Pheasant , Partridge , Doue , Rooke , or such like , breaking the bone off at either end , and so with a feather the end cut off , driue it whole without breaking into a dish of faire water , setting my hawke loose vpon the Table , I would giue it her betweene This will keepe your hawke-strong and able . my thumbe and finger , which she would much desire , & very much ioy in , & would expect such kindnesse at my hands . The better the meate is the lesse will serue ; your practise will soone tell you that there is difference betweene the wing of an The difference of meat is to be respected . olde Doue , and the wing of a young Pigeon , and so much is the difference betweene the wings of a Doue flying abroad for his foode , and the Doue long kept in a mewe for prouision ; although you shall finde the one leane , yet you shall finde it tender and moyst ; and the Doue in the mewe , although it be extreamely full of flesh , and with his ease and good feed layd with fat vpon the necke , and vnder the wing , yet this pulled in peeces you shall finde it hard and extreamely drye .

Now you vnderstand how I made my hawke flying to the field , and if you will now suppose her to be truely flying , and that she will tend vpon the Dogs for a retroue ; for nature will quickly teach her to know what good seruice the Spantell doth her : Say by some ill accident I misse a flight , the Partridge may be runne into a Cony-hole ; it is in Kent a safe and common rescue : or the hawke may strike at it in the fall , and so the Nature teacheth the Partridge to saue her life by any means . Partridge flicke . In Sussex I haue seene two flights in one after-noone lost , the Partridge would fall vpon the hedges which were a rod broad in some place , very thicke , and neuer come to the ground ; If ( I say ) one of these or other such like accident should befall me , otherwise I held it a very hard matter to misse a flight , and although I know ( if I would let my hawke alone , and beate to serue her with one other Partridge ) that she would tend vpon the Dogs , and so kill it .

I dare do no such thing , for I know if I should Worthy to be well marked . vse her much to that , she would fall better in loue with my Dogges then with me , for they answere her attendance with springing a Partridge vnto her , and after a few times so serued , although for want of Partridges they cannot doe it , yet she will expect it with such desire , as that she will neglect my calling her , and so in the end prooue an ill commer , and then want no ill conditions ; there Let your care preuent such mischiefe . is no readier way to teach her to catch a Henne ; one fault begetteth another : If she should in this following the Dogs light vpon an Hen , get some in your company to runne and catch her by the legs , letting the Henne goe , if you haue none in your company that can doe it handsomely , doe it your selfe ; in such manner , and then setting her downe vpon some conuenient place , call her and giue her some meate and plumage , and so she will be well reconciled , and not at all the more vnfit Make a reconcilement . to flye againe . Now I haue my hawke at this passe I desire to goe to the couert , if the couert be large I hawke to the Couert . I put vp my hawke , not making question but she will draw after the Dogs , although I should stand still ( the field hath taught her that ; ) If I serue her not in a quarter or halfe an houre , I take her to my fist , and giue her something , and then I put her vp againe , and this bettereth my hawkes conditions : But it I should with a vaine hope let her still drawe , and not serue her , I feare very hunger The hawke free from blame . will make her looke out to saue her life . The hawke is not herein to be blamed , for extreame hunger will make her keeper forget himselfe . I pray you note hereby , and by what I haue formerly said , that your voyce , be it high or lowe , neither your action in the couert , is that she looketh for , for she will giue diligent attendance vnto the Dogs .

If I spring a Phesant , I cannot in the couert haue my Dogs at that commaund that I haue them in the field . Let me make all the hast I can after my hawke , I might misse of the quick finding her , if by The field hath taught her better . my dogs questing I were not drawne where she is ; it is ten to one she will not hunt for it vpon the ground , if she should it will teach her wit ; but it is more likely that she will , if the couert with Broome or Furzes be not thicke in the bottome but that she may see it , she will as it runneth tend it , flying ouer it from tree to tree , and when the Dogs doth spring it , she is so ouer it , as that it will neuer rise to goe to a high pearch , if it should the hawke would haue it before it come there , and I haue seene diuers hawks spoyled with Dogs . then falling amongst the Dogs they striue who is most worthy : All this is quickely done , and before the Faulconer can get in to them ; it may be you shall finde your hawke to enioy it , if it be with some contention all the better for my hawke , for it will forbid her not to be too hot of a Pheasant vpon the ground , and you shall with your practise finde the profit of it as I haue done ; for in the killing of more Pheasants then I will name , and I thinke in seauen yeares hawking to the Couert , I neuer had cause to cry , Here ret : For if my hawke hath it not in the foote the first flight , when I know my Dogs will not meddle with it , then I shall before I can get to them assuredly here a baye , and my hawke ouer the head of it , when hauing beene well flowne , the feare of the hawke , maketh the Pheasant sit fast : An Eyas hawke would be hotter , and it may be strike at it , and misse it , and so strike her selfe vnder the Phesant , Thus may a Rammish hawke lose a Pheasant . and then if the Pheasant goeth our vpon that aduantage , it is lost without great lucke . Your Rammish hawke will not often lose a Pheasant thus , she partly forbeareth , because the Dogs are so hotly baying , and it may be she hath met with some rough dealing amongst them before , but Which I wish she should as the first flying . she will so tend it as that she will challenge it for her master : And I haue euer had such successe with such hawkes , as what with their true flying and diligent attendance at the retroue , I should seldome finde the Pheasant but so high as that I might take it downe with my hand , or else shake it downe in my armes ; which done , I would goe to a conuenient place , whether my hawke would diligently wayte vpon me , and there holding it by the legs , I should soone haue my hawke vpon the body , but I would cleanely put her to the head , couering the body with my Hat or Gloue , I would not sticke to please her well : Notwithstanding , some mens opinions are , that if they be well rewarded , and kindely pleased vpon a Pheasant , they will forbeare the true stiuing Partridge : I know not whether my discretion hath so preuailed with my hawkes , or their own good dispositions haue wrought such vnderstanding in them ; but assuredly I neuer had hawke that I haue had the handling of from the beginning , but they haue loued a Partridge much better then the Pheasant . Loue a Partridge better then a Pheasant .

It may be a wonder to some why I desire not to haue my hawke take a Pheasant from the pearch , and further wondred at , why I should allowe of some contention betweene my hawke and Dogs . I vnderstand that generally all dogges are hotter in the couert then in the field , and I may meete with dogs , that if she should not be coye of them they would endanger her life , especially if she should catch a Hare , and so might my owne dogs doe against their will . I haue seene a Pheasant when the hawke hath come to strike at him at the pearch , chop to another bough with such skill , as that hee hath gotten a long bough betweene him and the hawke , and with his cunning remoues beate the hawke out of breath , and in all this conflict would striue to get aboue the hawke ; and when he hath had this aduantage , goe proudly away , and leaue the hawke out of breath , or vnable to follow .

It may likewise be said that I am too peremptory in my opinion , in presuming my hawke shal kill the first Partridge : For my opinion to the couert , hauing my hawke so familiarly made , as that in the field she is wel pleased with my louing dealing with her , and will attend my comming in to her , not fearing any thing so I be by her : so would I haue her in the couert wholly to relye vpon mee , and be confident that when I shall come vnto her , shee shall haue her desire satisfied ; she will soone vnderstand thus much , with vsing her in such manner as I haue fore-tolde ; and as for my hawke I am most confident in her entring her selfe , she hath no way beene weakened , she is familiar , Make her louing and familiar , or else her strength and ability are Tutors to ill conditions . strong , and able , and I know nature hath taught her to doe the best she can .

You haue formerly been told how and where I would enter my hawke , at Partridges that had not beene flowne at , and in faire flying ; I aduise you what to doe , by telling you what I haue done .

I was entreated to flye a Goshawke of my neighbours , that would not kill a Partridge , nor had killed one that yeare ; I flew her to the couert , where I so encouraged my hawke , as that Winter The couert hindreth not a hawks flying in the field . she proued a good Partringer . This approoueth that the flying to the Couert doth not hinder a Hawkes mettle in the field .

I did know Sir Edward Suliard , a Knight of high estimation in that Art , as well as otherwise , for his worthy disposition , flye a foolish Goshawke at Blacke-bird and Thrush , and hee was glad when he had gotten her to that perfection , to beate it into a hedge or bush : he did it to make her know that she had a commanding power ouer Fowle , if she would put her selfe to it ; she proued a very good Hawke .

I know many will say they haue had Hawkes , Hawkes that are once flown to the Pheasant will flye no more to the Partridge . that if they had once seene a Pheasant , that then they would kill no more Partridges that yeare : It is very like there haue beene many such ; and as I confesse that , so I pray you giue mee leaue to thinke that the fault was not in them , but in the vnskilfulnesse of their Keeper .

Some men so soone as their Hawkes giue vp a Partridge , doe presently worke vpon them with scourings , and then pinch them and shorten their dyet , by which meanes they are vnable to kill a How they are made vnable to kill a Partridge . Partridge , or thereby their courage is so taken from them , that they will not shew what they are able to doe .

I would aduise you herein , but all is in the practise and handling ; I will tell you my course , if I meete with such a Hawke , and my reason for it , contrary to most mens opinions . I set vp my rest that in tenne dayes I will flye my Hawke no more ; but I striue with all the Art I haue , to Rest increaseth strength and courage . bring her to as much courage and strength as euer she had , with good meate , and some other deuices I would practise vpon her , ( where with you shall meet amongst my receits , set forth for cures . ) I would now haue more care in making this Hawke , for it is credite to make of a Herein true Art is shewed . Bussard a good Hawke .

It is not my meate and dyet I giue her must alone effect this in my Hawke , but a diligent care ouer her for other wants , as manning , bathing and weathering , all speciall meanes to make a hawke ioy in her selfe ; and she shall bate as little as I can , for weakning her .

When I haue brought my Hawke to such perfection , I dare promise to my selfe she shall then doe as well and better then euer she did . Although I haue beene tedious , and at large set downe my manner of practizing with the sore Rammish Hawke ; yet I doe not thinke there is any thing set downe but some will be content to haue the reading thereof : and let mee deliuer this as my last request .

When you haue made a perfect good A Hawke well made asketh small tendance . Hawke , let her not be neglected , but keepe her so ; the keeping is much easier then the making her so .

I assure you in all my proceedings , from the first to the last with my Hawke , I neuer I was her friend , she my playfellow . found it painefull , but the comforts I had of a good conclusion fedde mee with sweete contentment and pleasure . It now followeth that I shew how to reclaime any short-winged Hawke from any euill condition .