20 BRITISH BIRDS. " 



by some ; but the amusement was still cherished, and it 

 was even thought it would be practised to the end of the 

 world. A king of Kent begged from a friend abroad 

 two falcons of " such skill and courage, as to attack 

 cranes willingly, and, seizing them, throw them on the 

 ground." He says, " he makes this request because 

 there were few hawks of that kind in Kent." There are 

 instances, too, of Saxons leaving hawks by will : and 

 one of the kings of the Heptarchy liberated some lands 

 " from those who carried with them hawks or falcons, 

 horses or dogs." 



Falconry appears to have been in high estimation at 

 the court of the king of Wales, for there were only 

 three officers of his household above the master of the 

 hawks : he occupied the fourth place from the sovereign 

 at the royal table, but was not permitted to drink more 

 than three times, lest he should be intoxicated, and neg- 

 lect his birds. The discharge of his duty in this respect 

 was the chief object at which he aimed, and one attend- 

 ed, according to popular opinion, with great honour. 

 Not only had he the management of the hawks, and the 

 direction of the people employed in this sport, but when 

 he had been very successful, the king was obliged, by 

 law and custom, to rise up to receive him when he en- 

 tered, and even, on some occasions, to hold his stirrup. 



