FALCONRY IN BERWICKSHIRE. 



Next will I sing the valiant Falcon' s fame. 

 Aerial fights where no confederate brute 

 Joins in the bloody fray ; but bird with bird 

 Jousts in mid air. 



SOMERVILLE, Field Sports. 



BEFORE the introduction of the fowling-piece, and for cen- 

 turies afterwards, until guns were so much improved that 

 the art of shooting birds on the wing was acquired by 

 sportsmen, hawking was one of the chief field sports in 

 Scotland. It was a favourite amusement of many of our 

 kings, noblemen, and others, who could afford the great 

 expense which attended it, 1 and ladies delighted to accom- 

 pany the falconers to the field. 



It is a very ancient sport, having been followed in the 

 East more than 2000 years ago ; in England it appears to 

 have been practised as early as the eighth century, and in 

 the celebrated Bayeux Tapestry Harold is represented with 

 a Hawk upon his hand. 



After the Norman Conquest it seems to have advanced 

 rapidly, and in the succeeding centuries the rank of an 

 individual was indicated by the kind of Hawk carried on 

 the wrist thus, the Gyr Falcon was carried by the king, 2 

 the Peregrine by an earl, while to ladies belonged the 

 Merlin. 



1 The expense connected with falconry is mentioned in an Act of the Scottish 

 Parliament the 1st of November 1600 : " For sa-meikle as by common consuetude 

 of all countries, special prohibition is made to all sorts of persons to slay Wyld- 

 foull, Hair, or Vennison, except sik as by their revenues may bear the charges and 

 burdings of the Hawkes, Houndes, and Dogges, requisite in sik pasty mes," &c. 



2 The gentle Paucon that with his fete distreineth 

 The Ring's hand. 



CHAUCER. The Assemble of Foules. 1561. 



