IIWVKWKED. 317 



The Hawkweed was held in liigh estimation by 

 our ancestors who hved before the art of falconry 

 was banislicd by the invention of gunpowder ; for, 

 in those early days the care of the falcons was consi- 

 dered as a place of great trust, and noblemen did not 

 in those times consider it a degradation to prepare 

 the meat for their falcons, as we learn from Peacham, 

 who says, *' It can be no more disgrace to a great 

 lord to draw a fair picture than to cut his hawk's 

 meat." The Duke of St. Albans is hereditary 

 grand falconer of England, which post has been 

 attached to that noble title as long back as the year 

 1250. 



At what period the art of falconry was first 

 practised in this country is not known. Mr. Pen- 

 nant says, *' I cannot trace the certainty of falconry 

 in our country till the reign of King Ethelbert, the 

 Saxon monarch, in the year 760, when he wrote to 

 Germany for a brace of falcons which would fly at 

 cranes, and bring them to the ground, as there were 

 very few such in Kent." This was one of the field 

 sports which the dames of high rank were allowed 

 to partake of. Prior observes, 



A falc'ner Henry is when Emma hawks ; 

 With her of tarsels and of lures he talks. 



And Shakspeare says, 



Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk. 



