132 FALCONRY. Clafs 11. 



fize and grey color, a great deftroyer of fhcep, 

 lambs and fawns. Whether this is our Erne, we can- 

 not determine from fo obfcure a defcription ; but we 

 Matter ourfclves that fome commentator will arife to 

 elucidate the works of thefe Scotijh naturalifts, who 

 have dealt out their knowlege with fo fparing a hand, 

 as to excite without fatisfying our curiofity. 



FALCONRY. 



Falconry was the principal atpufement of our an- 

 ceftors : a perfon of rank fcarce fiirred out v/ithout 

 his hawk on his hand •, which, in old paintings, is 

 the criterion of nobility. Harold, afterwards king of 

 Engl^rJ, when he went on a moil important embaf- 

 fy into Normandy, is painted embarking with a bird 

 on his fill, and a dog under his arm * : and in an 

 antient pidlure of the nuptials of Henry VI, a noble- 

 man is reprefented in much the fame manner -f ; for 

 in thofe days, It was thought fufficient fof noblemen's 

 fens to winde their horn and to ' cjirry their hawk fair^ and 

 leave jiudy and learning to the children of mean 'people \. 

 The former were the accompliibments of the times 3 

 Speufer makes his gallant Sir T'riftram boaft, 



Ne is there hauke which mantleth her on pearch. 

 Whether high tovvring, or accoafting low. 



But I the mcafure of her flight doe fearch, 

 And all her pray, and all her diet know ||. 



In fhort, this diverfion was, among the old Englifh^ 



* Monfaucon monumens de la monarchle fran^olfe^ I. 372. 

 -j- Mr^WalpoWs anecdotes of faintingiY. 33. 

 \ B'log. Brit, article CarAon. 

 \ Boor VI. Canip z» 



the 



