THE FALCON KIND. 71 



CHAPTER V. 



OP THE FALCON KIND AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



EVERY creature becomes more important in the history of natnre, 

 in proportion as it is connected with man. In this view, the smallest 

 vegetable, or the most seemingly contemptible insect, is a subject 

 more deserving attention than the most flourishing tree, or the most 

 beautiful of the feathered creation. In this view, the falcon is 

 k more important animal than the eagle or the vulture ; and, though 

 so very diminutive in the comparison, is, notwithstanding, from its 

 connexion with our pleasures, a much more interesting object of cu- 

 riosity. 



The amusement of hawking, indeed, is now pretty much given over 

 in this kingdom ; for as every country refines, as its inclosures become 

 higher and closer, those rural sports must consequently decline, in 

 which the game is to be pursued over a long extent of country ; and 

 where, while every thing retards the pursuer below, nothing can stop 

 the object of his pursuit above. 



Falconry, that is now so much disused among us, was the princi- 

 pal amusement of our ancestors. A person of rank scarce stirred out 

 without his hawk on his hand, which in old paintings is the criterion 

 of nobility. Harold, afterwards king of England, when he went on a 

 most important embassy into Normandy, is drawn in an old bas-relief, 

 as embarking with a bird on his fist, and a dog under his arm. In 

 those days, it was thought sufficient for noblemen's sons to wind the 

 horn and to carry their hawk fair, and leave study and learning to tho 

 children of meaner people. Indeed, this diversion was in such high 

 esteem among the great all over Europe, that Frederick, one of the 

 emperors of Germany, thought it not beneath him to write a treatise 

 upon hawking. 



The expense which attended this sport was very great : among the 

 old Welch princes, the king's falconer was the fourth officer in the 

 state ; but, notwithstanding all his honours, he was forbid to take more 

 than three draughts of beer from his horn, lest he should get drunk 

 and neglect his duty. In the reign of James I. Sir Thomas Monson 

 is said to have given a thousand pounds for a cast of hawks ; and such 

 was their value in general, that it was made felony in the reign of Ed- 

 ward III. to steal a hawk. To take its eggs, even in a person's own 

 ground, was punishable with imprisonment for a year and a day, to- 

 gether with a fine at the king's pleasure. In the reign of Elizabeth, 

 the imprisonment was reduced to three months ; but the offender was 

 o lie in prison till he got security for his good behaviour for seven 

 years farther. In the earlier times, the art of gunning was but littlo 

 pract'scd, and the hawk was then valuable, not only for its affording 



