126 
HAWKING. 
when pursuing his Hawk at Hitchen, in Hertfordshire, at- 
tempted, with the assistance of his pole, to jump over a wide 
ditch, full of muddy water, hut the pole unfortunately break- 
ing, the king fell head over ears into the thick mud, where he 
might have been suffocated had not one of his attendants, seeing 
the accident, leaped into the ditch after his royal master, and 
pulled him out. 
No pains were spared in breaking-in the Hawks, as 
much of their value depended on their docility, derived 
from good and careful training. The young birds, when 
taken out of the nest, or sometimes caught by traps, as 
soon as they began to fly, were put into linen hags, with 
openings for the head and tail, that they might he brought 
home without injury. A hood or cap was then placed over 
its eyes, and for a day or two the bird was left to itself. 
After which it was placed quietly on the fist, carried up and 
down the whole day, and gently stroked with a feather. 
Having been, in some degree, tamed by this treatment, and 
accustomed to handling, the hood was taken on and off 
quickly, till it was willing to feed. Meat was then offered, 
and the hood removed, the falconer making a particular call 
at the same time, which was invariably used whenever it 
was fed, hut on no other occasion, that it might become 
acquainted with the voice of its feeder. It was then taught 
to alight upon the fist from a perch, being still hood-winked, 
and receive its food; this was called luring the Hawk. 
When it was so far tamed as to come readily when called, 
it was allowed to remain unhooded, and then put to the 
lure, an artificial bird, made of feathers and leather, thrown 
up into the air. To this a live Pigeon or dead Chicken 
was fastened, part of which it was permitted to seize and 
eat; during this part of training it was prevented from 
escaping by a long string. When quite familiar with the 
lure, it was taught to fly at live game, chiefly by means of 
a Duck, which was blind-folded that it might not escape. 
The natural disposition of the Hawk would induce it to 
carry off its game, when caught, hut this was checked by 
the skill and kind treatment of the falconer, so that the 
