FALCONRY, the art of training all manner of
hawks, but more especially the larger ones called fal-
cons, to the exercise of hawking. See HAWKING.
When a falcon is taken, she must be feelled in such
a manner, that, as the feeling slackens, she may see
what provision lies before her; but care ought to be
taken, not to feel her too hard. A falcon or hawk
newly taken should have all new furniture, as new jes-
ses of good leather, mailed leashes with buttons at the
end, and new bewets. There should also be provided
a small round stick, to stroke the hawk; because, the
oftener this is done, the sooner and better will she be
manned. She must also have two good bells, that
she may be found when she scattereth. Her hood
should be well fashioned, raised, and embossed against
her eyes, deep, and yet strait enough beneath, that it
may fasten about her head without hurting her; and
her beak and talons must be a little coped, but not so
near as to make them bleed.
If it be a soar-falcon, which hath already passed the
seas, she will indeed be harder to reclaim, but will
prove the best of falcons. Her food must be good and
warm, and given her twice or thrice a-day, till she
be full gorged: the best for this purpose is pigeons,
larks, or other live birds; because she must be broken
off by degrees from her accustomed feeding. When
she is fed, you must hoop and lure, as you do when
you call a hawk, that she may know when you intend
to give her meat. On this occasion she must be un-
hooded gently; and after giving her two or three bits,
her hood must be put on again, when she is to get two
or three bits more. Care must be taken that she be
close feelled; and after three or four days, her diet may
be lessened: the falconer setting her every night to
perch by him, that he may awaken her often in the
night. In this manner he must proceed, till he find
her to grow tame and gentle; and when she begins to
feed eagerly, he may give her a sheep's heart. He may
now begin to unhood her in the day-time; but it must
be far from company, first giving her a bit or two,
then hooding her gently, and giving her as much more.
When she is sharp set, he may now unhood her, and
give her some meat just against his face and eyes, which
will make her less afraid of the countenances of others.
She must be borne continually on the sill, till she is
properly manned, causing her to feed in company, gi-
ving her in the morning, about sun-rise, the wing of a
pullet; and in the evening, the foot of a hare or co-
ney, cut off above the joint, flesh and laid in water,
which being squeezed, is to be given her with the pi-
cion of a hen's wing. For two or three days give her
washed meat, and then plumage in more or less quantity
as she is thought to be more or less foul within.
After this, being hooded again, she is to get nothing
till she has gleamed and cast, when a little hot meat
may be given her in company; and, towards evening,
she may be allowed to plume a hen's wing in company
also. Cleanse the feathers of her casting, if foul and
slimy; if she be clean within, give her gentle cast-
ings; and when she is reclaimed, manned, and made
eager and sharp set, he may venture to feed her on the
lure.
However, three things are to be considered before
the lure be shewed her, 1. That she be bold and fami-
liar in company, and not afraid of dogs and horses.
2. Sharp set and hungry, having regard to the hour
of morning and evening, when you would lure her.
3. Clean within, and the lure well garnished with meat
on both sides; and when you intend to give her the
length of a leash, you must abscind yourself.
She must also be unhooded, and have a bit or two
given her on the lure as she sits on your sill; afterwards
take the lure from her, and hide it that she may not
see it; and when she is unfeelled, cast the lure so near
her, that she may catch it within the length of her
leash, and as soon as she has seized it, use your voice as
falconers do, feeding her upon the lure, on the ground,
with the heart and warm thigh of a pullet.
Having so lured your falcon, give her but little meat
in the evening; and let this luring be so timely, that
you may give her plumage, and a jack of a joint next
morning on your sill. When she has cast and gleamed,
give her a little reaching of warm meat. About
noon, tie a creance to her leash; and going into the
field, there give her a bit or two upon her lure: then
unwind the creance, and draw it after you a good way;
and let him who has the bird hold his right-hand on the
tassel of her hood, ready to unhood her as soon as you
begin to lure; to which if she come well, stoop round-
ly upon it, and hastily seize it, let her cast two or
three bits thereon. Then, unfeizing and taking her off
the lure, hood her and give her to the man again; and,
going farther off, lure and feed her as before.
In this manner is the falconer to proceed, luring
her every day farther and farther off, till she is accu-
stomed to come freely and eagerly to the lure; after
which she may be lured in company, taking care that
nothing affright her. When she is used to the lure on
foot, she is to be lured on horseback; which may be
effected the sooner, by causing horsemen to be about
her when she is lured on foot.
16 T
When
When she has grown familiar to this way, let some body on foot hold the hawk, and he on horseback must call and call the lure about his head, the holder taking off the hood by the tassel; and if she seize eagerly on the lure without fear of man or horse, then take off the creance, and lure her at a greater distance. And if you would have her love dogs as well as the lure, call dogs when you give her her living or plumage. See the article HAWKING.