The School of Recreation Part 3

The First Year a _Soarage_.

The Second Year an _Intermewer_.

The Third Year a _White Hawk_.

The Fourth Year a _Hawk of the First Coat_.

Thus much for their _Names_, now we come to speak of the _Flights_ of these _Hawks_; which are these

The _Faulcon-Gentle_, for _Partridge_ or _Mallard_.

_Gerfaulcon_, will fly at the _Herne_.

_Saker_, at the _Crane_ or _Bittern_.

_Lanner_, at the _Partridge_, _Pheasant_ or _Choofe_.

_Barbary-Faulcon_, at the _Partridge_ only.

_Merlin_ and _Hobby_, at the _Lark_, or any small Bird.

_Goshawk_ and _Tiercel_, at the _Partridge_, or _Hare_.

_Sparrow-Hawk_, at the _Partridge_ or _Black-Bird_. And the _Musket_, at the _Bush_.

Thus much for their several proper _Flights_, we are now come to their _Manning_, the Method of which being generally one and the same (though it has been the Labour of some to spend much Time, and many Words in treating of the various wayes of _Manning Hawks_, and yet comes all to one effect) I shall in short (according to the Design of this _Epitome_) lay down this Rule: That you watch, and keep them from Sleep, continually carrying them upon your _Fist_, familiarly stroak them with a Wing of some Dead _Fowle_, or the like, and play with them; Accustome to gaze, and look in their Face with a Loving, Smiling, Gentle Countenance; and that will make her acquainted, and familiar with Man.

Having made them familiar, the next thing is to _Bring them to the Lure_, (which the _Faulconer_ makes of _Feathers_, and _Leather_ much like a _Fowle_, which he casts into the Air, and calls the _Hawk_ to) which is after this manner. Set your _Hawk_ on the _Perch_, unhood her, and shew her some _Meat_ within your _Fist_, call her by _Chirping_, _Whistling_ or the like, till she comes, then Feed her with it; if she comes not, let her Fast, and be sharp set: _Short-winged Hawks_, are properly said to be _Called_, not _Lured_. Make her bold, and acquainted with _Men_, _Dogs_, and _Horses_, and let her be eager and sharp-set, before you shew her the _Lure_; knowing her _Luring_ Hours; and let both sides of the _Lure_ be garnished with warm, and b.l.o.o.d.y _Meat_; let her likewise know your _Voice_ well; so that being well acquainted with _Voice_, and _Lure_, the Hearing of the one, or Sight of the other, makes her Obedient; which you must reward by _Feeding_, or punish by _Fasting_. But before _Luring_ (or any _Flight_) it is requisite to _Bathe_ your _Hawk_ in some quiet and still shallow _Brook_, or for want of that in a Large _Bason_, shallow _Tub_, or the like, lest being at Liberty, you lose your _Hawk_, (whose Nature requires such Bathing) and make her rangle. Now to make her know her _Lure_, is thus: Give your _Hawk_ to another, and having loosned in readiness her Hood-strings, and fastened a _Pullet_ to the _Lure_, go a little distance, cast it half the length of the string about your Head, still _Luring_ with your Voice, unhood your _Hawk_, and throw it a little way from her: If she stoop and seize, let her plume the _Pullet_, and feed on it upon the _Lure_: Then take her and Meat on your Fist, Hood her, and give her the Tiring of the Wing, or Foot of the said _Pullet_.

Having _Manned_ and _Lured_ your _Hawk_, before you bring her to her _Flight_, one thing is to be observed and done, called in the _Faulconers Dialect_, _Enseaming_, which is to cleanse her from _Fat_, _Grease_, & _Glut_, known by her round _Thighs_, and full _Meutings_; and thus you may do it: In the Morning when you feed her, give her a bit or two of _Hot-meat_, and at Night very little or nothing. Then feed her Morning and Evening with a _Rook_, wash'd twice till the Pinions be tender; then give a Casting of Feathers as her Nature will bear; and once in two or three dayes give her a _Hens-neck_ well joynted and washt: Then a quick train _Pigeon_ every Morning; and after by these and her own Exercise, she has broken and dissolved the _Grease_, give her three or Four _Pellets_ of the Root of _Sellandine_, as bigg as a _Garden Pease_, steept in the Sirrup of _Roses_; and you have done this part of your Duty.

To _Enter_ your _Hawks_, for _Partridge_ or _Fowle_, observe this. Lay an Old Feild-_Partridge_ in a Hole, covered with something, and fasten to it a small _Creance_ (_i. e._ a Fine small long Line of strong and even-wound Packthread fastned to the _Hawks_ Leash when first Lured,) and uncoupling your ranging _Spaniels_, pluck off the Covering of the Traine _Partridge_ and let it go, and the _Hawk_ after it; and as soon as she has slain it, reward her well with it. And thus to make her fly at _Fowle_, feed her well with the _Traine_ of the Fowle you would have; doing afterwards as above.

The _Faults_ of _Hawks_ differ according to their Nature and Make: _Long-winged Hawks_ faults are thus helped. If she used _to take stand_, flying at the River, or in Champain Feilds, shun flying near Trees or Covert; or otherwise, let several Persons have _Trains_, and as she offers to stand, let him that's next her cast out his Traine, and she killing it reward her. And indeed you ought never to be without some live Bird or Fowle in your Bag, as _Pigeon_, _Duck_, _Mallard_, &c. If she be _Froward_ and _Coy_; when she Kills, reward her not as usually, but slide some other meat under her, and let her take her pleasure on it; giving her some Feathers to make her scoure and cast. If she be _Wild_, _look not inward_, but mind _Check_, (_i. e._ other Game, as _Crows_, &c. that fly cross her) then lure her back, and stooping to it, reward her presently.

The faults of _Short-Winged Hawks_ thus are helped. Sometimes the _Goshawk_ and _Sparrow-Hawks_, will neither kill, nor _Fly_ the Game to _Mark_, but will turn _Taile_ to it: Then encourage your Dogs to Hunt, cast a Traine _Partridge_ before your _Hawk_, make her seize it, and feed well upon it.

If a _Hawk take a Tree_, and will not fly at all, feed her then upon quick Birds, and make her foot them, and in the plain Champaign Feilds unhood her, and riding up and down a while let one cast out a Feild-_Partridge_ before her, let her fly at it, and footing it feed on it. If they be _too fond of Man_, that after a stroke or two will not fly, be seldom familiar with her, and reward her not as she comes so improperly: Otherwise reward her well.

As for _Mewing of Hawks_, the best time for _Long-winged Hawks_ is about the middle of _April_, and _March_ for the _Short-Winged Hawks_. There are two kinds of Mewings. 1. _At the stock or stone_; so called from its being low upon the ground, free from Noise, Vermin or ill Air. 2. _At large_; so called from being in a high Room, with open Windows towards the _North_ or _North-East_. The former is accounted the best Mewing.

I shall not insist on the erecting or ordering of this Mew, leaving that to the Discretion of the Faulconer; only before he mews his _Hawk_, see if they have _Lice_, to pepper and scowre them too. The best _time to draw _the Field_-Hawk from the Mew_, is in _June_, and she will be ready to fly in _August_; the Hawks for the River in _August_, will be ready in _September_. And because _Hawks_ are subject to divers Infirmities and Diseases, I shall prescribe some Remedies, and so Conclude.

_Cures for Hawks Diseases._

The good Faulconer ought diligently to observe the Complexions of his _Hawks Castings_ and _Mewtings_, to judge of their Maladies, and is prescribed by some as an excellent way; and is indeed so; but an a.s.sured sign of knowing whether they are sick or distempered is this. Take your _Hawk_, turning up her Train, if you see her Tuel or Fundiment swelleth, or looketh red; Or, if her Eyes or Eares be of a fiery Complexion, it is an infallible sign of her being not well and in good health; and then Scouring is necessary first; which is done by the most Soveraign _Aloes Cicatrine_, about the quant.i.ty of a Bean, wrapt up in her Meat; and this avoids Grease, and kills Wormes too.

_For the Cataract_: Take one Scruple of washt _Aloes_ finely beaten, and two Scruples of _Sugar-candy_, mix these together, and with a Quil blow it three or four times a day into your _Hawks_ Eye.

_Pantus_ or _Asthma_: Pour the Oyl of sweet _Almonds_ into a Chickens Gutt, well washt, and give it the _Hawk_: Or, scower her with _Sellandine_-Pellets, and Oyle of _Roses_, and then wash her meat in the Decoction of _Coltsfoot_.

_Filanders_ or _Wormes_: To prevent them, seeing your Hawk low and poor, give her once a month a Clove of _Garlick_. To cure or kill them; take half a dozen Cloves of _Garlick_, boyle them very tender in _Milk_, then take them and dry the Milk out of them; put them into a spoonful of the best _Oyle of Olives_, and having steept them all Night, give them both to your Hawk, when she has cast, in the morning; feed her not til two hours after, and then with warm Meat, and keep her warm all that day.

_Lice_: Mail your Hawk in some Woollen Cloath, put between her Head and Hood a little Wool, and take a Pipe of _Tobacco_, put the little end in at the Tream, blow the smoak, and the Lice that escape Killing, will creep into the Cloth: _Probatum_.

_Formica_: Take a little of the Gall of a _Bull_, and beating it with _Aloes_, anoint the Beak of the Hawk, Morning and Evening.

_Frounce_: Take the Powder of _Allume_, reduced to a Salve with strong Wine Vinegar, and wash her mouth with it; then take the Juice of _Lollium_ and _Raddish_, mixt with Salt, and anoint the Sore.

_Apoplex_: Gather the Herb _Asterion_ (the Moon being in the Waine and in the Sign _Virgo_) wash your Hawks meat with the Juice thereof when you feed her, is Soveraign.

_Wounds_: Take the Juice of _English Tobacco_, or _Mouse-eare_, after you have sticht it up, with a little Lint, bathe the place is highly approved.

Many other Diseases there are, which others have largely treatad of, and to whom I refer you in case of some Diseases, which may occur; and here take leave to conclude this my discourse of Hawking:

Of Riding,

This n.o.ble Art being rightly and throughly learnt, qualifies a Gentleman for the three preceding Sports, and is for that Reason placed here, as a necessary Attendant of them. And here we must first examine the Ends & Design of our proposing this Art to our selves, & accordingly lay down as briefly as may be the necessary Rules and Lessons are to be observed and learnt, for the obtaining and prosecuting the same, and I take these to be the usual Perfections we aime at, _To Ride well the great _Horse_, for the Warrs or Service, and the _Horse_ for Pleasure_; of both which as concisely as I can, in their Order.

As a _Preface_ to this, we must begin with _Taming a young Colt_. After you have kept your Colt at home some time, and made him so Familiar with you, as to suffer _Combing_, _Currying_, _Handling_, and _Stroaking_ any part, 'tis high time then to offer him the Saddle, which you must lay in the _Manger_ first, that by its smell, he may not be afraid of it, or the _Styrrups_ Noise. Then gently saddling him (after his dressing) take a sweet _Watring Trench_, anointed with Honey and Salt, and place it in his Mouth so, that it may hang directly over his _Tush_; then lead him abroad in your hand, and Water him; and after he has stood an hour rein'd thus, take off his Bridle and Saddle, and let him feed till Evening; Then do as in the morning; then dress and Cloath him, having _Cherisht_ him before, _i. e._ By the _Voice_ delivered smoothly and gently; or by the _Hand_ by gently stroaking and clapping him on the neck, or b.u.t.tock; or lastly by the _Rod_, by rubbing it on his Withers or Main.

On the next day as before; and after that, put him on a strong _Musrole_, or sharp _Cavezan_, and _Martingale_; which is the best guide to a Horse for setting his Head in due place, forming the Rein, and appearing Gracefull and Comely; it corrects the yerking out his Head, or Nose, and prevents his running away with his Rider. Observe therefore to place it right, that it be not buckled straight, but loose, and so low, that it rest on the tender Grissle of his Nose, to make him the more sensible of his Fault, and Correction; and so as you see you win his Head, bring him straighter by degrees; let him but gently feel it, till his Head be brought to its true Perfection.

Having observed this well, lead him forth into some soft or new Plowed Land, and to take off his wanton knavish Tricks, trot him about in your hand a good while: Then offer to Mount; if he refuse to suffer you, Trot him again; then putting your foot into the _Styrrop_, mount half way; if he takes it impatient, correct him, and about again; if not cherish him, and place your self a moment in the Saddle, dismount, cherish, and feed him with _Gra.s.s_, or _Bread_: All things being well, remount, even in the Saddle, keeping your Rod from his Eye; then let one lead him by the _Chaff-Halter_, and ever and a-non make him stand, and cherish him, till he will of his one accord go forward; then come home, alight gently, and do a good Horsemans Duty, _To dress and feed him well_. This Course in few dayes will bring him to Trot, by following some other Horseman, stop him now and then gently, and forward; not forgetting seasonable _Cheris.h.i.+ngs_ and _Corrections_, by _Voice_, _Bridle_, _Rod_, _Spurs_.

Being thus brought to some certainty of _Reine_, and _Trotting_ forth-right, then to the _Treading forth of the large Rings_. And here first examine your Horses Nature, before you choose your Ground, for, if his Nature be dull and sloathful, yet strong, then _New-plow'd-Field_ is best; if _Active_, _Quick_, and _Fiery_, then _Sandy-ground_ is to be preferred; in the most proper of which mark out a large Ring, of a Hundred Paces circ.u.mference. Now then walk about it on the right seven or eight times, then by a little straightning your right Rein, and laying your left Leg Calf to his side, make a half Circle within the Ring upon your right down to its Center; then by straightning a little your left Rein, and laying your right Leg Calf to his side, make a half Circle to your left hand, from the Center to the outmost Verge, and these you see contrary turned make a Roman S. Now to your first large Compa.s.s, walk him about on your left hand, as oft as before on the right, and change to your right within your Ring; then Trot him first on the right-hand, then on the left, as long as you judge fit, and as often Mornings, and Evenings as the Nature of your Horse shall require. In the same manner you may make him to _Gallop_ the same Rings, though you must not enter it all at once, but by degrees, first a Quarter, then a Half-quarter; and the Lightness and Cheerfulness of your Body, not the Spur, must induce him to it.

The next Lesson is to _Stop Fair, Comely, and without Danger_. First see that the Ground be hard and firm, then having cherisht your Horse, bring him to a swift Trot, about Fifty Paces, and then straightly and suddenly draw in your Bridle hand; then ease a little your hand to make him give backward, and in so doing, give him liberty, and cherish him; then drawing in your Bridle hand, make him retire, and go back; if he strike, ease your hand; if he refuse, let some by-stander put him back, that he may learn your intention; and thus he may Learn these Two Lessons at once.

_To Advance before_, when he stoppeth, is thus taught: When you stop your Horse, without easing your hand, lay close and hard to his sides both the Calves of your Legs, and shaking your Rod cry, _Up, Up_; which he will understand by frequent Repet.i.tion, and Practice: This is a Gracefull, and Comely Motion, makes a Horse Agile, and Nimble, and ready to Turn; and therefore be carefull in it: That he take up his Legs _Even_ together, and bending to his Body; not too high, for fear of his coming over; not sprawling, or pawing; or for his own pleasure; in these faults correct him with Spur and Rod.

To _Yerk out behind_ is the next Lesson, thus learnt: Presently upon your making him stop, give him a good brisk jerk near his Flank, which will make him soon understand you. When he does it, cherish him; and see he does it comely, for to yerk out his hinder Legs, till his Forelegs be above ground, is not graceful; or one Leg yerk't further out than the other; or one Leg out while the other is on the ground; in this case a single Spur on the faulty side is best. But to help him in Yerking, staying his mouth on the Bridle, striking your Rod under his belly, or touching him on the Rump with it, are reckoned necessary.

To _Turn readily on both hands_, thus: Bring his large Rings narrower, & therein gently walk him, till acquainted. Then carry your Bridle-hand steady and straight, the outmost rather straighter then the inmost Rein, to look from, rather than to the Ring; Trot him thus about, on one side and the other successively, as aforesaid. After some time stop, and make him advance twice or more, and retire in an even Line; then stop and cherish him. To it again, after the same manner, making him lap his outmost Leg above a foot over his inner. And thus the _Terra a Terra_, _Incavalere_ & _Chambletta_, are all taught together. Perfect your Horse in the large Ring, and the straight Ring is easily learnt.

Your Horse being brought thus far to perfection, with the _Musrole_ and _Trench_, now let a gentle _Cavezan_ take their place; with a smooth Cannon-Bit in his Mouth, & a plain watering Chain, Cheek large, and the Kirble thick, round and big, loosely hanging on his nether Lip; and thus mount him, and perfect your Horse with the _Bit_ in all the 'foresaid Lessons, as you did with the _Snaffle_; which indeed is the easier to be done of the two.

To teach your Horse _To go aside_, as a necessary Motion for shunning a blow from an Enemy, is thus: Draw up your Bridle-hand somewhat straight, and if you would have him go on the Right, lay your left Rein close to his Neck, and your left Calf likewise close to his side (as in the _Incavalere_ before) making him lap his left Leg over his Right; then turning your Rod backward, jerking him on the left hinder Thigh gently, make him to bring to the right side his Hinder parts, and stand as at first in an even direct Line: Then make him remove his Fore parts more, that he may stand as it were Cross over the even Line, and then bring his hinder parts after, and stand in an even Line again. And thus you must do, if you would have him go on the Left hand, using your Corrections & Cheris.h.i.+ngs on the right. Use it, and you may be sure of Perfection.

As for the _Manages_, somewhat have bin spoken of them, there being but two (among many) useful call'd _Terra a Terra & Incavalere_ before treated of; & for the _Carreere_, only take this: Let it not extend in length above six-score yards, give your Horse warning before you start him by the Bridle hand, and running full speed, stop him suddenly, firme and close on his b.u.t.tock.

For the _Horse of Pleasure_, these following Lessons are to be learnt.

As first to _Bound aloft_, to do which: Trot him some sixteen yards, then stop, and make him twice advance; then straighten your Bridle-hand; then clap briskly both your Spurs even together to him, and he will rise, though it may at first amaze him; if he does it, cherish him, and repeat it often every day, till perfect.

Next to _Corvet_ and _Capriole_ are Motions of the same nature, and in short are thus taught. Hollow the ground between two joyning Walls a Horses Length, by the side of which put a strong smooth Post of the same length from the Wall, and fasten at the Wall an Iron Ring over against the Post: Thus done, ride into the hollow place, and fasten one of the _Cavezan-Reins_ to the Post, and the other to the Ring; then cherish him, and by the help of the Calves of your Legs, make him advance two or three times; then pause, and Cherish him; make him advance again a dozen times more, and then rest; double your Advancings, and repeat them till it becomes habitual to him, to keep his _Ground_ certain, advance of an _equall height_ before and behind, and observe a _due Time_ with the motions of your Leggs. The Inequality of his advancing his hinder Legs, is helpt by a Jerk on the Fillets by some body behind him with a Rod.

The laborious Motion of _going sideways_, being fitter for the War-Horse, than the Horse for Pleasure, usefull for the avoiding a Blow may come from an Enemy, I omit here, refering you to that.

Thus much for those material Lessons which the Rider ought to teach his Horse for _War_ or _Pleasure_, and therefore I shall conclude this Head, with this _Caveat_, _That in whatever Lesson your Horse is most imperfect, begin and end with_; and remember, that _Exercise_ makes things as it were natural; when _Desuetude_ is the forerunner of Forgetfulness, and _Ignorance_ the Consequent of Both.

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