FALCON. 109 



ever can give notice of this Hawk to Mr. Cliiflinch at the Privy stairs, 

 Whitehall, shall have a good reward." 



Hawks so called, and Girfalcon orGirfal, were formerly in great 

 request; of these the white ones were in most esteem, and part of the 

 revenue in the time of King Henry I. and afterwards, was paid 

 by way of tine ; for instance, Outi, of Lincoln, tined in one hundred 

 Norway Hawks and 100 Girfals ; four of the Hawks and six of the 

 Girfals to be white ones. If he could not get four white hawks, he 

 was to give four white Girfals instead of them ; again, Ralf, son of 

 Drogo, in tive Hawks and ti^^e Girfalcons for himself, and in two 

 Hawks for Nicolas de Sigillo, &c. &c.* The privilege, however, of 

 Hawking seems to be contined to the higher ranks,t and each had 

 his apppropriate species allowed to him. 



It may not be amiss here to mention the gradations of rank to 

 which particular hawks were appropriated, about the 14th century, 

 viz.- — 



" lliree Hawkys longyn to an Emperour, that is to say, an 

 Egkyl, a Watour, a Millon, neither lured nor redaymyd for hem. 



" Ther ben hawkes of Tower, that is to say, a Gerefaucone, 

 and a Tarsenlet of the same for a Kynge. 



" A Faucon reytyll,| a Tarselett thereof for a Prince. 



" A Faucone of the Rock, a Tarselett thereof for a Duke. 



" A Faucon Peregryne, a Tarselett thereof for a Lorde.§ 



" There is a Bastarde, and that Hawke is for a Baron. 



" A Sakyr, and a Sakyret, for a Knygth. 



* Madox's History of the Exchequer, Vol. i. p. 273, 



t Among the figures of the very antient font, in Winchester Cathedral, is a personage, 

 with a hawk on his fist, well figured in Vetust. Monum^Y.W. pi. 39. 40. of whom it is merely 

 said, that one of the attendants, with a hawk on his fist, is expressive of his office, and may 

 be one of the officers of the court. But Milner rather thinks, that the hawk, held in this 

 manner, proves the personage to be of noble birth.— See Survey of Winchester, vol.ii, p. 79. 



X In an old printed Edition of the Work it is GentyU. 



§ For an Earl the same. 



