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tlie nature of the bird of iiaradi.se, wliich tliey say lives iii>on air 
Pray let him take me along with him.’ < Your maje,sty,’ resumed 
Cottington, ‘has hit wonderfully upon two points in the man’s 
fortune ; one that concerns his iiresent estate ; and one that 
touches, it is to he hoped, upon his future. Sir, it is of Mr. '\\'ood, 
an old falconer of his late majesty, whose luunl)le petition I have 
now to make known to you. He is a man e.vtremely well versed 
in his art, having followed it from his youth upwards, to the 
great content of his late blessed majesty ; and I believe I may add 
of his majesty’s successor.’ ‘ Old Wood,’ said the king, ‘I know 
him well, and a good brisk old fellow he was. He would toss up a 
line in a second, that one might have taken for a partridge oneself.’ 
‘ Well, Sir, lie can do as much now. I do not believe there is a man 
of his art breathing who is better acquainted with the quality 
mettle of his liawks, or more thoroughly experienced in all which 
they aflect, or whatsoever suits their individual natures. He .seems 
to know what sort of relish to give their food, by the very feel of 
their beaks under his finger.’ ‘He must be a jiroper falconer 
indeed,' said the king. ‘ Truly is he ^ir ; and as his knowledge, so is 
his care. No man waters or bathes his hawks with more-I had 
almost .said -fatherly attention ; nor feeds and looks to their clean- 
ing with a more happy result.’ ‘ Nay he is .something like the son 
ot a hawk, if you come to that,’ said Charles. ‘ His own beak, I 
suppose, (by one of !Sir Kenelm’s sympathies) helps him to a know- 
ledge & consideration of all other beak.^.’ ‘ A shrewd quip, i’ faith ’ 
said Cottington laughing, ‘ and a pity it is that Sir Kenelm, with 
his stately discourses, heard it not. But, Sir, to be serious with 
regard to this poor man : money is not his most jiressinf^ want • if it 
were he would forego the mention of it, like a good subject ; but he 
IS mightily desirous of being serviceable to your majesty in another 
way ; and therefore, in pursuance of what I have partly stated, I 
must add that there is not a better caterer or coper of his birds 
’twixt this and the Land’s End ; none that can cut a pounce with a 
more masterly nicety, or better provide against dulness & overgrowth 
in the beak. He is, furthermore, one of those who scorn to have too 
many fowls on hand, being as active as a youth in taking them in 
due season ; and for reclaiming and keeping his hawks on the fist, 
1 never met, not only with his equal, but with any man who could 
stand by him.’ ‘ AVell my lord,’ said the king, ‘ I know your love of 
the sport, & fully credit your zeal in behalf of the fowler ; and now 
what is it I am to do ? for you know these are not the times or 
I'laces for adding to the list of our .servants, nine-tenths of whom, as 
it is, have nothing to do.’ ‘ ’Tis true. Sir,’ replied Cottington, ‘ but 
if your maje.sty will pardon my zeal in behalf of an old brother 
siiortsman, to whom I have been indebted for many a day’s jollity, I 
may take the freedom of reminding you that there is a vacancy in 
