FALCONRY. 



By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY. 



"Why slight your king. 

 And lose the quest he sent you on, and prove 

 No sui'er than our falcon yesterday. 

 Who lost the hern we slipt him at, and went 

 To all the winds ? " 



Tennyson's Elaine, p. 181. 



Nothing in the present time affords a parallel to Falconry in the days of 

 our ancestors. It formed a common bond between the inhabitants of all 

 comitries, and pervaded the law, custom, domestic and religious life, prayer 

 and commerce, war and peace, tenure of land ; and every thing in which men 

 and women alike were mixed was full of it. Second only to the Roman 

 religion, its influence penetrated the palace and the cottage. It has now 

 ceased — is gone ! Instead, we have cricket, boating, hunting, shooting, &c. ; 

 but not with one of these can I truthfully compare Falconry ; none has 

 produced, or ever will produce, such an effect on the life of us islanders. The 

 above bear no more resemblance to Falconry than the modern frequenter of 

 a St. James's or Pall-Mall Club, or the Stock Exchange, does to the baron, 

 knight, esquire, or gentleman of coat armour of ancient times. Each exhibits 

 merits, though of a different kind ; and the English men of this day are not 

 degenerate from those who won Cressy, Poictiers, Agincourt, and many 

 another well-fought field. But though our men preserve their vigour, I 

 much question if the few remaining Falcons have done so. 



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