Hunger's Prevention: OR, The whole Art OF FOWLING BY Water and Land. Containing all the Secrets belonging to that Art, and brought into a true Form or Method, by which the most Ignorant may know how to take any kind of Fowl, either by Land or Water. Also, exceeding necessary and profitable for all such as travel by Sea, and come into uninhabited places: Especially, all those that have any thing to do with new Plantations. By GERVASE MARKHAM. LONDON, Printed by A. Math. for Anne Helm and Thomas Langley, and are to be sold at their Shops in Saint Dunston's Church yard, and over against the Saracens head without Newgate. 1621. TO THE HONOURABLE KNIGHT Sr. EDWIN SANDS, and to his much honoured and worthy friends Mr. THOMAS GIBBS Esquire, Mr. THEODORE GULSTON Doctor of Physic, and Mr. Samuel Rot Esquire, Adventurers, and Noble favourers of the blessed Plantation of VIRGINIA. CVstome which maketh this claim of Dedication, and the goodness of your noble and worthy Natures, stirs in me a boldness to call upon your names, and to fix them to the Frontispiece of this small and little Treatise, that as a safe Armour they may shield it from the bitterness of Envy. What the work is, or how profitable it may be, either to the present times, or those of the future, your own judgements can better tell, than any defence in me make perfect; It is sufficient that I have have brought it into the world to do you Service, at which end if it have the happiness to arrive, it hath the full gain of all mine own wishes; if otherwise it stumble on mischance, the oblivion which shall cover me shall be no greater than the patience which I have long since made mine own and only companion. However my hope which cannot sink, and your goodnesses (which is the strong groundwork of this my poor endeavour) shall keep me thus confident that what I have done is both honest in itself, and wholesome for others, and with that Livery I send it into the World to do you and yours service, both here, and in other foreign places. By him that is the true admirer of your Virtues. GERVAS●… MARKMAM. To all the most worthy and noble Lords, Knights, Gentlemen and Merchants, Counsellors, and Adventurers for the blessed Plantation of VIRGINIA. I Have here presumed (Right Honourable, right Worshipful, and most worthy Gentlemen) to present unto your hands this small Treatise, being a Work long by me thought upon, long by many of my dearest friends urged upon, and now I hope (to th●… glory of God and my Country's profit) in a good and prosperous hour brought forth to be looked upon: The Livery it wears is Truth, the reward it seeks is trial and experience, and the full aim at which it bends is the general good of all good men, whose painful industries makes them the Masters, Fathers, and Nurses of the best Knowledges. Ignorance, Wealth, and Ease may hold sleight of the argument, but that Wisdom and Experience which hath run through the test of Affliction, will say it is worthy and necessary: for it will feed the hungry, cloth the naked, and give soft rest to the weary; it will appease Mutinies, breed Love, and make men able every way to do and suffer. Being then so good in itself, and so glorious in others, to whom can I better pref●…rre it then to your worthy goodnesses, whose pious and religious hearts, aiming to reduce an Infini●…e number of yet lost souls to the possession of the true heavenly Jerusalem, have already kindled the glorious Star of example in the South, which doubtless giveth that certain promise of never to be extinguished Sunshine, that men which are now living, Babes sucking, and Infants yet unborn, shall travel as holy pilgrims to your monuments, to admire and praise your virtues. To the Treasury of that action of Plantation, lo, I bring this my poor mite, and offer it to your service, which if you shall please to accept, I doubt not but the benefit shall return to those in your employment a revenue worthy their practice; and myself rest ever ready to do you and my Country Service. Gervase Markham. A Table containing all the principal matters mentioned in this Book. Chap. I. OF Fouling, and the knowledge thereof. Page 1. The Arte. ibid. ●…iuersities of Fowl. 2 Chap. II. The several kinds of Fowl, and the taking with Nets. 5 The haunts. 6 Chap. III. Taking of great Fowl with Nets. 12 Chap. FOUR Taking of small Fowl with Nets 16 Taking great Fowl with springe. 20 Taking small Fowl with springe. 23 Chap. V. Taking great Fowl with Lime-twigs. 26 Taking small Fowl with Lime-twigs.! 30 Chap. VI Taking Fowl with engines. 36 Of the great Sprindgs'. 37 Taking small Fowl with engine. 41 Chap. VII. Of the Fouling Piece, and other Engines. 43 Chap. VIII. Of the stalking Horse. 47 Seueral●… engin●… to stalk with. 49 The Horse unstoopt. 52 The Ox stalk. 53 Chap. IX. The use of the Water-Dogge. 67 His training 73 Of the moulting time. 85 Chap. X. Of Land Fowl, and the general taking of them. 88 Diversity of Land Fowl. 89 Diversity of ●…aking. 90 The Crow Net. ibid. Taking by night, and first of the Low-bell. 92 Of the Tramell. 96 Of Bat-fouling. 98 Of ●…he Sparrow Net. 100 Chap. XI. ●…erticular taking of particular Birds with Nets. 110 ●…f Day Net. ibid. ●…me of the year, and place. 111 ●…he fashion of the Nets. 112 ●…f the 〈◊〉 115 ●…f the Stale. ibid. ●…eseruation of Stales. 120 ●…ing with the Limebush and shape of the bush. 124 ●…e manner of lyming. 125 ●…f the bird Call, & how to learn to call. 128 ●…he manner of taking. 129 ●…king with Lime-twigs. 131 〈◊〉 of Stales with the Limebush. 132 Chap. XII. ●…taking of Hawks, and of such as breed in England. 134 ●…king of young jasse Hawks. 135 ●…ow to find the Airy. 136 ●…king of Braunchers. 138 ●…hat Nets to be used. 139 ●…he placing of the Nets and other observations. 141 ●…hat to be done when the Nets are placed. 142 ●…e mayling of Hawks. 144 ●…e trussing of Hawks. 145 The S●…ling of Hawks. 146 Discommodities in Ceiling, and the helps. 147 Taking Hawks in their Soreage. 148 Placing the Urines. 150 Taking with Stales. 151 Taking with lime diverse ways. 153 The making of the little Limebush. 156 Discommodities of lime. 157 Remedy against lime. 159 Taking Hawks with the Lantern. 16●… The art how to follow a Hawk fled. 163 What a check of any Fowl is. ibid. The coming in of the wild Haggard. 17●… The haunts of Haggards. 17●… To know the good Hawk from the bad. 17●… How to take the Haggard. 17●… The placing of the Cradle. 17●… How to know the Day stand from the Nig●… stand. 17●… Chap. XIII. How to take Fowl with Baits. 18●… How to destroy Kites, Ravens, etc. 18●… Other ways to use Baits. 18●… Of fastening baits to the ground. 18●… Of carrion to be used for Baits. 19●… Taking of other Fowl with Baits. 19●… Taking of small Birds with Bates. 19●… ●…f other Baits. 193 ●…aites with Hemblocke. 194 ●…aking wild Fowl with baits. 195 ●…ow to recover Fowl entranced. 197 Chap. XIIII. ●…f the taking of Pheasants with Nets, etc. 198 ●…iuers ways to take Pheasants. 199 ●…he nature of Pheasants. ibid. ●…he general taking of Pheasants. 200 ●…he haunts, and how to find the 〈◊〉. 201 ●…f the Call for Pheasants. 203 ●…mes to use the Call. 204 ●…he manner of using the Call. 205 ●…he taking of many Pheasants together. 208 ●…he Dryving of Pheasants. 209 ●…seruations in driving. 214 ●…king Pheasants with the Limebush. 216 ●…e fashioning of the Limebush. 217 ●…he manner of taking. 218 ●…he taking of old Pbeasa●…ts. 219 ●…seruations when they are taken. 220 ●…he seasons for the use of the nets or li●…e. 227 ●…he fas●…ion of the Nets. 228 Chap. XV. ●…aking of Partridges with Nets or other engines, of drying, or setting them, and of the setting Dog. 230 Four ways to take Partridges. 231 Haunts of Partridges. 232 How to find Partridges. 235 To take Partridges by the luke. ibid. To take Partridges with the Call. 241 Taking of Partridges with Nets. 244 Taking of Partridges with Ly●…e. 247 Taking of Partridges with engine, and of driving them. 249 Taking Partridges with the setting Dog. 252 How to set Pari●…dges. 254 Helps in the use of Nets. 258 Taking of Rayls, Quails, etc. 259 Diversity of Nets. 260 Chap. XVI. Of the setting Dog, his election, and manner of training from a Whelp, till he come to perfection. 264 Chap XVII. Of the making of the best Ly●…e, and of the preservation, as also of the lyming of Rods, Bushes, Straws, Strings, etc. 279 FINIS. Hunger's Prevention. CONTAINING The whole Art of Fowling by Water and Land. CHAP. I. Of the pleasant recreation of Fowling, and all the particular knowledges belonging to the same. FOwling is an Art of discerning The Art of Fowling. and understanding how to take all manner of Fowl, and it is to be applied or used two several ways, that is to say, either by enchantment, or enticement, by winning or wooing the Fowl unto you with Pipe, Whistle, or Call: which either beguileth them with their own voice, or amazeth them with the strangeness of the sound: or else by Engine, which unawares surpriseth and entangleth them: of both which I shall speak more largely hereafter. Now for the Fowl on which this Art D●…sitie of Fowl. is to be exercised, they are diverse and of sundry natures; and so as if a man should run into all the particularities, it were infinite to describe, because they alter in nature as in feather: but for the purpose of which I intent to entreat, and for the better understanding of the Reader, I will reduce them only into two general kinds or heads: that is to say, into Waterfowl, and Land-Fowle, concluding under them all whatsoever is useful or necessary for man: as whether it be for his pleasure, his particular profit and vocation, or for his dish, whereby his Table and diet may be supported and maintained, and but for some one of these three, this Art is needless and useless. To speak then first of Waterfowl, The nature of Waterfowl. which fo●… their more abundance and generality of use, you shall understand they are a kind of Fowl which naturally take delight to live in the water, gathering from thence their food and sustenance: and out of the which they cannot by any means live, which makes them more particular in some places then other Land-Fowle are: for into high and dry countries they will not come except in the Winter season, and not then neither, except it be upon great inundation or overflowing of Brooks, which commonly so soon as they return into their first narrow and small estate, they forthwith quit the places and are no more seen there; for it is to be understood that all Waterfowl are in their own nature the subtlest and wisest of Birds, and most respective to their own safety: whence it came to pass that the most ancientest and skilful Falconers have compared them to a well ordered, and well governed Camp strongly fortified and entrenched with floods of waters, Rivers and Ditches, with their high banks almost unpassable, and having Scouts on land far off, and Courts of Guard, sentines, and all sorts of other watchful Officers surrounding the body of the gross, to give a speedy allarume on any approach or dismay taken; and indeed, who soever shall observe their manner of living or couching, shall find no less than I have spoken, and how ever some straggling Fowl which lie aloof from the greater number, or whole body will still call first, and as it were awaken the rest upon the least noise, amazement, or other affright discerned; for it is the nature of Waterfowl never to fly alone, but in great flocks and herds, having ever a most especial respect to the general safety: and where at any time you shall see a single Fowl, or a couple flying alone, there you may be assured they have violently been stirred up by some affright, and so either in the amazement or pursuit, have been compelled to separate and disperse themselves, yet such is their natures, and so addicted to sotietie and company, that they will not cease; nay, hardly sometimes leave wing until they have met together again: and as this may sometimes happen by men's passing up and down by their haunts, so it most commonly chanceth by the beating of Hagards, and wild Hawks upon rivers and blank waters which turning aloft, and watching for their prey: when at any time they arise, presently pursue them, and cause these alterations: Nay, the very bald Buzzard, and Ring-tayle will sometimes occasion the same. CHAP. II. The several kinds of Fowl, and taking with Nets. NOW of these Waterfowl, and such as may very well pass under that title, there are innumerable kinds, if feather or proportion should distinguish them: but for the better order and method of this work which I intent, I will only reduce them into two several kinds. That is, such as live of the water, and upon the water by gathering much of their food from thence, and swimming continually thereupon, and such as live of the water, but not upon the water, as by the gathering of most of their food from thence, but not swimming upon the same, more than wading with their long legs therein, & diving with their long necks to gather that wh●… on they feed. For such as live of the water & on the water, are wild Swans, or Elkes, Buztards, wil●…●…cese, Barnackles, Mall●…ds W●…, T●…s, Snypes, Shelfo●…le, and all manner of Fowl whatsoever, which hath a whole w●…bbd foot like the Goose or Mall●…d b●…ing, as it were, by nature made and accommodated for the water; those w●… w●…bde feet like Oars rowing thei●… bodies upon the waters in what 〈◊〉 they please; and the●… are called the ●…ler kind of wild Fowl: Those which live of the water, 〈◊〉 on the water, are Cranes, Herons, Bil●…s, S●…s, and any Fowl whatsoever which ●…th in, sustenance in the water and y●…h 〈◊〉 his foot cloven, and these 〈◊〉 c●…lled cure the greater sort o●… water Fo●…le. Now to proceed to the pleasure, pros●…nd knowledge of this Art, which is the manner of taking of either of these 〈◊〉 of Fowls: The first and principalest thing our skilful Fowler hath to learn, is the knowledge of the hannts or places of residence where these Fowl for the most part abide; for to hunt (as men say) after Had I wist, or to find the pleasure you pursue but by chance or hazard, without Art, knowledge and experience, makes the toil so much greater than the delight, and the profit so incertain, that both lie drowned and lost in the ignorance. This to redress and draw a certainty to the recreation: you shall understand that all sorts of greater Wildfowl, which are those which cleave the foot; their haunts are commonly by the edges and sides of shallow Rivers, Brooks, or other rundels, or currents of water which do either come from their especial heads, or else are worn and made by the violence and force of the inundations of Land-waters, which falling down into those low places or drains, do for the Winter time run like small Brooks, or Rivers, and these Sewers or passages of water commonly do not last longer than the Winter or Spring, but dry up as the year groweth dry and temperate. Neither shall you here expect to find herds or flocks of these Fowl, for neither will the place afford them food, nor is the safety so pleasing to multitudes, only upon such wadable Ri●…ers, you shall find here a couple and there a couple, and hardly above a pair at once in one place, which makes them somewhat the harder to be taken by engine or●…ice, but are the bravest and best slights for Hawks that can be deuis●…; csp●… the Heron which taketh most delight in the so places, because here they may w●… 〈◊〉 c●…t their pleasures: fo●… by reason of the breaking out of Rin●…, whose ou●… falleth into th●…se run●… or forced currants, these Fowls often find much small Fish and other prey which makes them tarry and continue about those places; besides be●… so 〈◊〉 to wade and dive in, the prey is gotten with case, and the ●…le much ●…er to continue there then in places of more difficulty: Also they delight in low sticks and boggy, places, where the Land-waters descending, fall and ●…pe a ●…ll lake or plash, and the more s●…, 〈◊〉, ●…tten and fertile such grounds are, the fitter they are for the haunts of such foul, provided ●…hey have firm wading therein without ●…its, quarries or such places of deeps ●…nd dangers: also they love to haunt and ●…bide upon the dry banks, or hard ●…nobs of earth which either border a●…out, or are within overflowed and drow●…ed Meadows, low Pastures or such ●…ke firm earth's, where the Fowl may ●…ade and wander up and down to find ●…is food, now in the water, and imme●…iately on the dry ground; They love ●…lso the dry parts of drowned Fens, ●…hich are overgrown with tall and long ●…shes, reads, seges, stover, or any other kind of Covert, especially the Bilters which naturally is a melancholy foul, & ●…lighteth not in the day but in dark sha●…ie and obscure places; lastly, they affect to wander upon rotten and half drowned Mores or Cars, through which pass many drains or sluices for water, or the hollow valleys of Downs, Heathes. or Plains, where there is shelter either ●…fhedges, Hills, Rocks, or other tuffes of ●…ushes or Trees, where they may lurk ●…bscurely and be hardly diserned; now for the lesser Fowl and such as cleave not the foot but have it entire as in one web; their chief and principallest haunts, and where the greatest numbers resort, is on continual drowned Fens or Cars where the water abideth the longest time without abatement, or when it is by the violence of the Sun's heat, and the dry temprature of the season brought to be firm ground, yet it is so environed with great Sluices Ditches, and drains or with the ●…allings down of great main Rivers or ●…ents of fresh water, that there is continually plenty for them to swim upon, and to find safety from the affright of men, and the troubles of the grazing of Cattle; either of which they will not endure, whence it comes that as the water leaves them so they leave the place, and remove into the moister and colder Climates; their haunt is the main Streams and Channels of the greatest Ri●…rs, where the current is swiftest and least subject to freeze, and the broader and deeper such Rivers are, the greater delight do the smaller Fowl take therein. The Wild Goose and the Barnackle only excepted, which delight not in any water above their sonnding, for when they cannot conveniently ●…ome to the bottom to suck upon the ●…uze, or fatness of the water, they pre●…ntly depart thence and seek more shal●…w places; also these two sorts of Fowl ●…he Wild Goose and Barnackle, are infinit●… delighted with green winter Corn, ●…s the blades of Wheat or Rye: and ●…herefore they are ever for the most part 〈◊〉 be found where any such Grain is ●…wne, especially where the ends of the ●…ands are much drowned or have much ●…ater standing about them, wherein they ●…ay bathe and padell themselves after ●…eir feeding. The next place that these ●…aller wild Fowl delight to haunt in ●…e the smaller Brooks and Rivers; pits 〈◊〉 ponds full of water, as where quaries ●…stone have been digged, plaster, clay, ●…otters earth or such like matter: also vp●…n drowned Meadows, Pastures, Mores or such like places: also upon plashes and blank waters, or upon Meres, loughes ●…r any great Lakes, and so much the ra●…her if they be full of little Lands very ●…ldome frequented, and those Lands ●…ell furnished with Shrubs, Bushes, Reeds, and other such like shelter, for than they will build therein and (the water running continually) not depart at any season, and if these Lands have growing within them some very tall Trees also, it is a good haunt for the greater wild Fowl also: for the Sorke, Craine; and some other delight to build and breed in such places. Lastly these small wild Fowl delight to be wheresoever any water remaineth, and little resort of people cometh, for the only thing they labour fo●… t●… sa●…, and where they are not pe●…aded of it, there is no abiding. CHAP. III. Taking of great Fowl with Nets. WHen our Fowler knoweth the haunts of every sort of Fowl, he shall then proceed and l●…arne how to take them; and in it there are diverse things to be observed, for ●…oule are to be taken diverse ways as by Nets, with Fowling Piece, with the Stalking horse, with the Water Dog, ●…r by driving them as in the time of moulting, and diverse other sundry ways, all which shall be at large set forth and ●…xplained hereafter: First then for the ●…king of these greater sort of wild ●…owel with Nets, he shall first observe ●…he making of his Nets, which would be ●…f the strongest & best twinned Packthread, ●…ith great and large mashes, at least two ●…ches from point to point, or from ●…not to knot, for it is to be observed that ●…hese mashes the longer they are (so as ●…he Fowl may not creep through them) ●…he better they are and the sooner and faster they do entangle and hold the Fowl; for the quantity it would be not ●…boue two fathom deep at the most, and ●…xe in length, which is the greatest pro●…ortion that can be, and as much as a ●…han is well able to overthrow: this Net ●…hall be verdgd on each side with very strong Cord, and at each end extended out stiff upon long Poals for the purpose, than the Fowler having observed ●…he haunts of these Fowl, that is to say ●…heir Morning and Evening feeding, (for ●…ou shall seldom observe both in one and the self same place) he shall make sure to come at least two hours before those feeding times; which is at twilight in the morning, and after Sun set at night, and upon those haunts he shall spread his net plain and flat upon the ground, staking the two lower ends firm unto the ground, so as they may only come and go and no more: as for the upper ends or higher verge it shall stand extended upon the long cord, the fu●…ther end thereof being staked fast down to the earth two or three Fadomefrom the Net, and the stake which staketh down that cord to stand in a direct and even line with the lower edge or verdg●… of the Net, the distance still obse●… then the other end of the cord (which shall be at least ten or twelve sa●…ome long) the Fowler shall hold in his own hand at the uttermost distance aforesaid, where he shall make some artificial shelter of grass, sodds, earth, or ●…like matter, where he may lie out of the sight of the Fowl, and neither gi●… them offence by his own view, or the thing whereby he is obscured, according to this figure following. 〈◊〉 these things thus being made fit, he ●…l have care that his Net lie so tickle ●…y are that upon the least pull or twitch ●…ill rise from the earth and fly over. ●…en he shall with his knife cut up short ●…d fog and other grass, and sprinck●…g it on the surface of the Net, hide it much as you can from the view of the ●…wle, for they are subtle, and upon the ●…t dislike are gone suddenly: when ●…ngs are thus fitted, you shall lie close ●…d watch their feeding time, and if you ●…ll close by your Net stake down a 〈◊〉 Heron (formerly taken) for a Stale, ●…d to entice the Fowl within your dan●… it will be better, making her now and ●…n to flutter her wings, and thus the ●…wle coming unto their haunt, and ●…ding up and down as their nature's 〈◊〉 as soon as you perceive a competent ●…ber come within the danger of your Net, you may draw your Cord suddenly and cast the Net over them, and so take at your pleasure, and thus you may do till the Sun be almost half an hour high, but not after; for till then several flocks of Fowl may come and feed, but after not any, at which time you may take up your Nets and depart, doing the like in the evening a●… their evening haunts, which is from the Sun set till tw●…light at night, or first rising of the Stars: and thus you may take any of these greater sort of Wildfowl; as also the Plover of both kind●… or any Fowl whatsoever which taketh his food from the Land as much as from the Water, or more at some times and seasons. CHAP. FOUR The taking of small Fowl with Ne●… and great Fowl with Strings. NOw for the taking of your small●… sort of Wildfowl with Nets which are such as for the most part frequent and feed upon the water, you shall first observe to make your Nets of the smallestand strongest packthread, and the mashes of a much less compass the●… for the greater Fowl, neither shall they be of above two foot and a half or three foot deep, and as these are for diverse purposes so they shall be of diverse lengths as some to pitch overthwart Brooks or Rivers, & they shall be answerable to the Brooks or Rivers they are pitched over, ●…s some two fathom, some three, some ●…iue, and some nine, and these Nets shall be lined on both sides with false Nets of ●…trong packthread, every mash being very ●…eare a foot and a half square each way, that as the Fowl striketh either through them, or against them, so the smaller Net may pass through the great mashes & so ●…raiten and entangle the Fowl as thus. These Nets you shall pitch for the Evening flight of Fowl, before Sun set, and you shall stake them fast down on each side of the River, about half a foo●… within the water, the lower side of the Net being so plummed that it may sink so far and no more, then for the upper side of the Net, you shall place it slantwise shoaling against the water, yet not touching the water by a foot and a half at the least, and the strings which supports and holds up this upper side of the Net, shall be fastened to small yielding sticks, pricked in the bank, which as the Fowl striketh may yield and give liberty to the Net to run and entangle the Fowl: yet one end ever made so fast that the Net may by no means be carried away, and thus you shall place d●…uers of these Nets over diverse parts of the River or Brook, about twelve score one from an other as the River shall give you occasion, so that if any Fowl come upon the River that night, you shall be sure to have your share thereof: this done if there be any Fen, plash, pits, or other blank waters a good distance from the River, you shall go down unto them, and the Evening beginning to shut in, you shall shoot a Piece, two or three off upon those blank waters and raise the Fowl from thence, which at that time being scared will presently pack to the Rivers, than you shall take your larger and middle sizd Nets, and with them you shall surround your small plashes, pits, or blank waters, hanging your Nets slopewise and hover over them, yet so loose as is possible; then with your largest or longest Nets of all, you shall go to the Fens or bigger waters, and in those places where the greatest haunts of Fowl are, you shall stake down your Nets on the banks, shoaling over the water in such sort as hath been formerly described; so as no Fowl can come to the bank, or rise from the bank, but may be entangled: also if there be any covert of Sedge, Reed, Rushes, or other matter within the water, you shall pitch your Nets about them also; which done an hour or two before day in the Morning, you shall take your Peice and go to the River first and see what your Nets hath taken, which when you have unlayded, you may then take up those Nets and lap them up till the next Evening, then if you find there be many Fowl on the River, you may shoot off your Piece in one or two places, and that will presently send them to the Fens and blank Waters, which done, when you have bestowed your Nets in places convenient till you have further use for them, you shall about the first rising of the Sun, go to your other Nets which are on the blank waters, and see what they have taken and unlade them; and so hang them by till the next time of use as aforesaid, and thus without fail, where plenty of Fowl are you shall take plenty: and where they are the scarcest yet you shall have an equal share without much trouble. The next manner of taking of Fowl The taking of great Fowl with strings. is with Strings or Lines made of long small Cord knotted here and there, and containing in length many fathoms, according to the proportion of the places and haunts where you are to lay them; and they are of especial great use for the taking of all sorts of the greater Wildfowl, and the Plovers of both kinds, which when o●… Fowler shall at any time use, he shall take those Strings as aforesaid, and lime them all over exceeding well with the strongest and best Birdlime that may be got, then coming to the haunts where these Fowl most freqnent and feed, if it be for the Evening flight then before Sun set, if for the Morning flight, then at the least two hours before day and having a whole burden of little sticks about two foot long at the most; sharp at the neither end and with a little fork at the upper end; he shall prick them in even rows all over the ground or place of haunt, one row distant from another a yard or too, and one stick siding another, within four or five yards as they may conveniently bear up the String, and they shall be pricked a little shoaling or slantwise: so as they may be within a foot and a half of the ground at the uttermost, the●… shall these limed Strings be drawn and laid upon the forks some rows higher then! other some, like a billow of water, higher in one place then another, till every row be filled and the haunt covered all over, then shall you fasten the ends with a slipping loop, in such wise that upon any violent strain the whole string may loosen and lap about any thing which toucheth it, and in this wise you shall take a great number of Fowl together, according to the flocks and herds in which they fly, especially Plovers, which for the most part come many together, and not in a single file or row as commonly other Fowl do, but in a great broad cluster, spreading and covering the air as it were all over; and this manner of taking happeneth most commonly in the falling or coming to the ground o●… the Fowl, whose nature is to swoop close by the ground a good distance before they light, which happening amongst the strings, either all or most part are many times entangled, and these strings you need not over precisely watch, but being placed you may go about other business till the time of flight be past, and then returning to see what is taken, you shall find such as are stricken with the strings fast enough, so as they can neither loosen themselves, nor yet run away with the string to hide either it or themselves, and noting in what sort you laid your strings, in the same ranks commonly you shall find them, or not much further off, which being unladed you may lap them up again till you have other convenient time to use them. This taking of Fowl with limed Taking of small fowl●… with strings. Strings, may also be very well applied for the taking of the smaller wild- fowl, and such as only haunt the water, only than our Fowler must observe to lime all his Srings with strong and very good water tried lime, such as will endure the water and not lose his virtue therein; and these Strings are to be applied either for the Morning or Evening flight as aforesaid; observing to take time enough before either of the flights, for the placing of the String; and not to place them any where but upon the most assured haunts, where the Fowl certainly do frequent and feed; for otherwise it is loss of labour and much trouble to little purpose; now for the manner of placing these Strings, as before you did them upon the ground, so now you shall do them over the water within less than half a foot thereof: making your forked sticks so much longer on purpose, according to the shallowness or deepness of the water: and herein you shall observe to lay these strings seldom or never in any Moonshine night, lest the shadow of the Lines give offence to the Fowl, or if you do lay them to set it in such dark and obscure places, where by the help either of Bank, Tree, or other shelter, the Moonshine may be held back and obscured, and your work not perceived. And thus you may also lay these strings overthwart Rivers or Brooks, and so, as they may almost very near touch the water, nor need you herein at any time to make shorter your strings but pricking down the first end, go from bough to bough till you have covered so much of the River all over, as you shall think to be fit and convenient, and so as if any Fowl light thereon they may not fall out of your compass, or from your danger: as thus for example. And having thus placed your strings both on the bank waters and cross the Rivers, and observing the earliest hours as soon as the flights are past, to come and visit your works, you shall find (that knowing the right haunts) if Fowl fall any where, they must necessarily fall within your danger, nor can you choose but take very many: For (as I said) coming in whole shoals or flocks together, though these Fowl ●…ye singly one after one, yet in their descent or lighting on the water, they do spread themselves and come into a single rank, all as it were lighting together (though not flying in one rank or company) on the water in one and the same instant: whereby it is not a single Fowl that striketh the string alone, but for the most part the whole flock fly so near together, and so come swooping into the Net. CHAP. V. Taking of great Fowl with Lime-●…ggs. THe next manner of taking of Fowl is with the Lime-twigs, which may likewise, as the rest before spoken off, be appropriated and accommodated to all sorts of Fowl, both the greater and the smaller. Touching the taking of the greater sort of Wild-fowl with Lime-twigs: our Fowler must provide himself of good store of rodds, the best kind whereof are the long, small, and straight grown twigs, or rods which grow on the bushy branches of the Willow, being cut of an even length one by another; and these twigs of which we speak, being for the greatest sort of Fowl, should be of the greatest length and thickness, yet but small, light, and slender, being apt to play, wind about and cleave to the least feather which toucheth it; and for the true length thereof, it must suit the place in which it is to be used, as the length of the grass, fog, rushes, or such like amongst which it is to be pricked, or else the depth of the water, that as much of the twig as is limed may in the standing be free from other annoyance. These rodds or twigs thus prepared, you shall with very good and strong Birdlime besmear all the upper parts or points thereof, down below the middle part of the rod, and holding them before the fire make the Birdlime melt and and run upon them that the bark of the rod may not be discerned from the Birdlime; and thus having made a convenient number of them according to the quantity of grounds or haunts wherewith you are acquainted, you shall use them in this manner. First, having well observed and acquainted yourself with the haunts and feedings of these greater sort of Wild-fowl, and know both morning and evening where they usually do light, you shall then before Sun set (as before I showed) if it be for the evening flight, and before day if it be for the Morning flight go with your Limerods to their several haunts, and in the very heart or midst of the haunt you shall first pin down a stale, which should be alive foul formerly taken, of the same kind which they are that now haunt the place, and for which you now lay, and this Stale you shall pin down in such sort that she may have liberty of wing to flutter up and down at pleasure, and then on each side, and round about this Stale every way you shall prick down your Lyme-roddes within a foot or thereabouts one of another in even rows one by one, and row after row till you have covered the haunt all over, and left no place for any Fowl to fall besides them. And these rods you shall prick slope wise with the points bending into the wind and from the ground a good foot and better. Some use to cross pri●…ke them, that is, one point into the wind, and another against the wind, that which way soever the Fowl cometh they may the more readily take them without any prevention; and truly it is not to be disallowed, for it doth afford much safety to the work: when you have thus placed your lime-rods, you shall then place a Stale or two more aloof●… from the lime-rods, and then finding a●…fitte and convenient place for yourself to lie concealed in, and having small strings running along the ground, by which you make the Stales stir at your own pleasure; lie as close as is possible, and when you hear or see any Fowl coming, stir your Stales and they will presently upon sight of them, strick and swoop in amongst them, where if any touch (if you have so much leisure) you may take them away presently, but if not let them flutter and tumble amongst the rods till the greater herds come, and that you have limed as many as you are able to deal with; than you may rise, and gather them together at your pleasure; and here is to be noted, that in this case of taking Fowl with the Lymerods, as yourself may not be absent, so you must have also for your better aid an excellent good, well-taught and obedient Water-dogge, that when any Fowl offereth to flutter away, as ordinarily th●… will do though your eye be never so good, the dog may forthwith find them out and bring them unto you, for in this confusion and taking of mavy there will be work enough for both: when you have gathered up all your foul, slain such as you please, and saved those you think meet for Stales, and so bagged them severally, you shall then gather up your Rods and bundle them up together and so carry them where they may lie safely till your next occasion to use them; and thus you may do Morning and Evening during the season of the year, and as long as the haunt shall serve you purpose. These Limerods may also be applied Taking of smaller Fowl with Limerods'. for the smaller sort of Wildfowl, and and such as only frequent the water, and they must be trimmed and sizd out according to your use, and the depth or sounding of the water, making them so much longer as the water is deeper: and the Lime which trimmeth these Rods would be good strong water Lime such as no moisture or frost may trouble, now for the placing of these Rods as you did prick them on the dry Land so you shall prick them in the Water, as much of the Rod as is limed being above the water, and amongst your Rods you shall stake down here and there a live Stale being either a Mallard, or a Widgon, or a Tail, and thus you may do all over either any shallow plash, fen, or any other blank water which is wadeable, or so as you may with convenience prick down your Limerods, also you prick them down upon the dry banks, or borders which do surround these Fens, plashes, pits, and blanke-waters; fixing a Stale or two amongst them, which may entice the Fowl from the water to the dry Land, and upon the very brim or edge of the water you shall prick your Rods shoa●…ing or sloapewise over the water, so thick together that a Fowl may not creep between them but upon any approach to the bank that she may take the Lime-rod with her. These limerods (as the other formerly treated off for the greater sort of Wild-fowl) you shall not need continually to watch and ●…ttend, for it matters not much in what ●…orte the Stales move, (because their restraint will make them busy enough,) only you shall come thrice a day to see what is taken, as early in the Morning, at high noon, and late in the Evening neither shall you in any wise come without your water Dog, for he is a main instrument, and a servant of such use that without him in this place you shall lose half your gettings, therefore in any wise be ever sure to have him at your heels; then coming amongst your Rods, if you find any touched and within your own reach you may gather them up, clear them of the Rods and bag them, but if they be fluttered or fleikt into any River, or deep sewer where you cannot come at them, there you shall send forth your Dog to fetch them; also when you come and find any of your lime-rod●… disordered, twitched up and some borne away, but no Fowl to be perceived, than you may be assured that some are touch but yet cropen away and hidden either in holes about the banks, or in other covert adjoining: whereupon you sh●… call your dog and make him hunt, and search every corner, beating the cou●… round about, and if there be any goodness at all in him you cannot lose a foul, for the lime is so strong a scent that almost a man may follow it, thus when you have gathered what for that time is taken, you shall set all your Rods in order again, renewing all such as are broken or spoilt, and so let them stand (as before) till your next time of coming; And thus you shall continue to do as long as you find the haunts fit for your purpose, but so soon as you see it begin either to decay or that the game goeth away, (for it is to be known that these Fowl are so subtle and careful of their own safety, that being much beaten upon they will find it and forthwith forsake the place) than you shall immediately hunt out a new haunt that is untroubled, and there do as hath been before declared, & then after a month or three week's rest, the first haunt will become as good as it was before; and so you may have sport continually, nor at any time fleepe without having your prey in your own possession; There are some which use to mix with their Limerods and their Lime-strings, laying a row of the one and then a row of the other, ●…y which means the Limerods standing much thinner are not so easily perceived nor give that offence to the Fowl which in their thick standing many times they do, whereby the skilfullest Fowler may sometimes miss of his prey, and the course is not to be disliked, for the taking is more safe and more certain, yet it is more necessary and more generally to be used for the greater sort of Wildfowl then for the smaller; And now by that way to speak a word or two of the Wild-Goose or Barnackle which commonly do f●…de and haunt together, as they may be taken by the forms and instructions, before rehearsed, so they may the better and in more abundance be taken, if their truest and most usuallest haunts be applied, and therefore you shall know there is no better place or haunt to set your limerode in, for the taking of these kinds of Fowls then as upon the green Winter-Corne being Wheat or Rye; but especially Wheat on which they feed most earnestly, and by all means you shall choose the darkest and brownest coloured Rods you can find, and which is of nearest colour unto the Earth, for though the blade may be shot up above the Earth yet in the Winter time it covereth not the Earth, nor is the blade so twight that being near, it is much discerned from the Earth, therefore as I said the darkest coloured Rods are the best; and these you shall place sloapewise upon the Lands as was before declared for other dry places, and about the water Furrows on every side & in the midst, you shall place sundry rows of limerods so as the foul may in no wise come to the water without the touch of them, and these Rods shall be of the largest and heaviest, for the Fowl is of great strength and will bear a little Rod clean away; and from these Rods when you have placed them, you shall not be far distant more than to avoid trouble or suspicion of the Fowl, (which ●…y all means must be eschewed) but standing on some high knob or other ●…aisd ground far off, mark when, where, ●…nd in what manner the Fowl lighteth, ●…nd if you find any touched or taken, ●…hich you may find by the sudden rising ●…f the rest of the Fowl, and the flutte●…ing and struggling of them to rise which ●…re touched and cannot; where upon you ●…all make in, and if any half limed be flecking away, let your Dog fetch them in whilst you yourself take up the rest, and thus you may pass from haunt to haunt till you be fully satisfied in your pleasure; also it is not amiss if when you have placed your Rods you beat the Fowl off from all other haunts, which will make them come the sooner to that where your Rods are placed, and make your sport much the quicker and mo●… certain. CHAP. VI Taking Fowl with Engine as Springs, etc. THe next manner of taking of Fowl is w●… Engine or artificial d●… vice, and is also app●… pryated and acom●… dated to both sor●… Fowle (as the others formerly tre●… off,) both particularly and generally, 〈◊〉 there be some Engines which perticu●… lie take those Fowl which cleave t●… foot, others which take those only which cleave not the foot, and others which take both sorts; as those which do cleave the foot, and those which do not cleave the foot, and of these which are so general are the greater number. To speak then first of those Engines Of the great Spring. which take the Fowl which cleave the foot, they are the great and lesser Springs, which are thus to be made and thus to be acomodated; first knowing assured●…y (as it is ever to be presupposed) the true haunts and places where the Flocks or coupels of greater sorts of Fowl do ●…sually feed both evening and Morning, and noted well the furrows and water tracts, where they usually stalk and pa●…dle to find worms, flotte-grasse, roots and other such like things on which they feed, you shall mark where many fur●…owes meet in one, and break out as it were in one narrow stream or passage, and so descending afterwards divides it ●…elfe into other parts and branches; this middle part or chore being the deepest ●…nd as it were feeding the rest, then no●…ing how every furrow breaketh and cometh into this Centre or little pit, you shall mark which is most padled, with the Fowl, or which is easiest and fittest for Fowl to wade in, not being much deeper in water then the Fowl is from the eye to the bottom or lowest part of the beak, this passage found out and chosen you shall take, small and short sticks and prick them cross wise over, thwart all the other passages, one stick within half an inch of an other making as it were a kind of fence to guard every way but one which you would have the Fowl to pass, and if hese sticks stand but above the water a handful or somewhat more such is the nature of the foul that they will not press over them but stray about till they find the open way, wherein they will run swiftly up, pad●… ling up and down for their victuals; when thus you have hemmed out all wai●… but one, you shall take a good stiff sti●… cut flat on one side and pricking both ends down into the water make the 〈◊〉 per part of the bought or flat side of the stick touch the water and no more; than you shall make a bow or bought of small Hazel or Willow, made in the fashion of a pear broad, and round at one end and narrow at the other, at least a foot ●…ong and five or six inches wide or better, and at the narrow end a little small ●…icke or dent, than you shall take a very good stiff young grown Plant of Ha●…ell, Elm, or Witchen, being rushy grown, and clean without knot, three or four Inches or better about at the bottom, and an Inch at the top, and ●…auing made the bottom end sharp, ●…t the top you shall fasten a very strong ●…oope or swickell of above an hundred Horse hairs, plaited very fast together with strong Packthread, and made so ●…mooth and you're that it will slip and run ●…t pleasure, and this swickell or loop, ●…hall be of the Just quantity of the hoop, ●…ade pear wise as was before menti●…ned, then hard by this loop or swickel, ●…hall there also be fastened with strong Horse hair within an Inch and a half of the end of the plant, a little broad thin ●…rycker, made sharp and equal at both ●…nds after this proportion. And then the bigger sharp end of the Plant being thrust and fixed hard into the ground, close by the edge of the water, the smaller end with the loop and the tricker, shall be brought down to the first bridge, and then the hoop made pearewise being laid on the bridge, on●… end of the tricker shall be set upon the nick of the hoop, and the other end against a nick made on the small end of the plate, which by the violence and bend of the Plant shall make them stick●… and hold together until the hoop be●… moved; this done the swickell shall b●… laid upon the hoop in such fashion a●… the hoop is proportioned, then from cach side of the hoop you shall pri●… little sticks as aforesaid, as it were 〈◊〉 a very impaled path or highway 〈◊〉 the hoop, and as you go farther and farther from the hoop or Spring, so you shall make the way wider and wider, that the Fowl may be entered a good way in before it perceive the fence; the beginning or first entrance being as wide as the largest furrow whatsoever, so that any Fowl falling near the same, they may be enticed to go and wade up the same, where they shall no sooner touch the Spring either with head, foot or feather, but they shall presently be taken, and that member swickled which first toucheth the Spring; and according to the strength of the plant, so you may take any Fowl how great or big soever: for I have myself taken a Faun in one of these Springs, which hath equalled the strength of any Fowl, and that by one leg only, whereby it hath had the whole body to struggle withal. Now for the taking of smaller Fowl Taking smaller Fowl with Engine. with this Engine as the Snipe, the woodcock●…, Puett, and Lapwing, or any other foul which feedeth in marish and moist grounds, or amongst water furrows, sucking the fatness of the soil, the device and Engine is all one without alteration, only it may be of much less strength and substance, according to the Fowl it is set for, especially the sweaper or main plant, which as it is prescribed of hazel, Elm, or Witchen, so in this case it may be of Willow, Sallow, strong grown Ozyer, or any yielding plant which will bend and give again to it own straightness; and this kind of Engine is for the Winter season only, when much wet is on the ground, and not when the furrows are dry; But if there happen any great frosts so that you are locked out from these ordinary waters, than you shall search out where these standing waters have any dessents or small passages, so as by the swift current or motion the water is not so apt to frieze, and in these places you shall erect your Springs, and where such currents are not, there you shall as much as you can enforce and make them; for although the greater Fowl will pack to the Rivers, and deeper running Brooks, yet these smaller Fowl cannot go thither, but will labour and ply any place which is made or prepared for them, & the greater the forced is, the sooner and apt they are to be taken. CHAP. VII. Of the Fowling-Piece a nother Engine. THe next Engine to these is the Gun or Fowling Piece, which is a general Engine and may serve forany Fowl great or little whatsoever, for it hath no respect at what it striketh, being within the level: And of the Fowling Piece you shall understand that to be the best which is of the longest barrel, as five foot and a half, or six foot, and the boar indifferent, as some what under Harquebus, for these hold the best charges, & carry the farthest level, which is a principal thing to be regarded; for Fowl are of such a tickle and counning nature, that a man shall hardly get within any indifferent or near station, and to shoot ●…ut of level or distance were to shoot against the wind, and scarr-Crow like, only to affright Fowl with the loss of labour; as for the shape or manner of it, 'tis better it be a fire lock or Snaphance then a cock and tricker, for it is safer and better for carriage, readier for use & keeps the powder dryer in all weathers, whereas the very blowing of a coal is many times the loss of the thing aimed at; as for the charge your round haile-shot or drop-shot, is better than the single or double Bullet, and this halle-shot would be of bigness according to the Game you shoot at, which if it be great and large, than it would be of twenty or thirty to a charge, or less as the Piece will carry; but if the Game be small, than it would be of forty or threescore, as shall seem best in the discretion of the Fowler; Now for the use of this Fowling-Peice, it is either for Land or Water that is passable or may be waded, as whether it be in Fen, upon Plash, or Pits, or any other blankwater; and herein first the Fowler is to observe the finding out of his Game, and which Fowl lieth fittest for his purpose, at no time striving to shoo●… at a single Fowl, if he can by any mean●… compass more within his level; then he shall seek as near as he can to shoot with the wind, not against the wind, and rather sidewaies or behind the Fowl then full in their faces, than he shall seek the convenientest shelter he can find, as either hedge, Bank, Tree, or any other shadow which may hide him from the gaze of the Fowl, for they are so fearful of the proportion, visage, or motion of a man, that upon the least suspicion they are gone in a moment, and therefore when under his covert or pertision he is gotten within his level and hath the Wind fit and certain, than he shall make choice of his mark, which (as before I said) would in no wise be a single Fowl, having more within your level, but rather the longest and largest Rank or File of Fowl you can find, for since one shoot is as much as you can get at one time and in one place, it is meet you put it to as great use and profit as you can possibly, which done you may instantly and speedily discharge, and then send forth your Dog to fetch what you have strucken, both as well those which are slain out right as those which are hurt and mained; and being so as you cannot yourself conveniently come by them: but by all means you must have your Dog in such true obedience that he may not stir from your heels, or let so much as his shadow be perceived, till you have shot and yourself bid him go, for to rush forth too suddenly or upon the first fire or cla●… of the Snaphance, though the Piece go●… not off (as many mad headed Curs w●… do) is many times the loss of very much good sport; which to avoid suffer no●… your Dog to stir till you bid him; Thus as you do upon these blank w●…ters, so you shall also do upon the brooks & greater Rivers, where if you have not shelter sufficient by reason of the nakedness of the banks and want of Tr●…, than you shall creep upon your hands and knees under the banks, and lying even flat upon your belly, put the No●… of your Peice over the bank and so take your level; for a Fowl is so wonderfully fearful of a man, that albeit 〈◊〉 H●…ke were turning over her to ke●… her in awe yet upon the least show of 〈◊〉 man she will rise and trust to her wings and Fortune, CHAP. VIII. Of the Stalking-Horse an other Engine. NOw for as much as these shelters or coverts are after a way then found, and that Fowl do many times lie so far removed within ●…he water, that unless a man do go in●…o it where no shelter at all is, more than 〈◊〉 man bringeth with him, he cannot po●…iblely compass a shoot; so that of ne●…ssity a man must have some moving ●…addow or shelter to walk by him; In ●…is case there is nothing better than the ●…alking Horse, which is any old jade ●…yned up for that use, which being stripped ●…ked and having nothing but a string ●…out the neither chap, of two or ●…ee yards long, will gently and as you ●…ue ocation to urge him, walk up and down in the water which way you will have him; flodding and eating upon the grass or other stuff that grows therein; and then being hardy & stout without taking any affright at the report of the Peice, you shall shelter yourself and your Peice behind his fore shoulder, bending your body down low by his side, and keeping his body still full between you and the Fowl; Then having (as was before showed) chosen your mark, you shall take your level from before the fore part of the Horse, shooting as it were between the Horse's ne●… and the water, which is more safe an●… fur●…r then taking the level under th●… Horses belly, and much lesser to be perceived; the shoulder of the Horse co●… ring the body of the man, and the Horse●… legs shadowing the legs of the ma●… also: and as thus you stalk upon th●… great blank waters, so you may stall●… also along the banks of Brookes i●… great Rivers, by little and little winn●… the Fowl to as near a station as can 〈◊〉 desired, and thus you may do also vp●… the firm ground, whether it be on mo●… Heath, or other rotten earth, or else up the tilth where green Corn groweth; or generally, in any other haunt where Fowl are accustomably used to feed or abide. And as you make use of this Stalking horse, so must you not in any wise want your Water-dogge, for he is as useful at this time as at any other, nor can you well do any thing without him; especially if it be upon Rivers or broad deep waters, yet you should have him at such obedience that whilst you are a stalking you may leave him with your Bags, saddle & bridle & other needments, where he may lie close, & never stir till you have shot, and then upon the least gibbet or call, to come running unto you, and to fetch forth what you shall kill, which with a small practice he will do readily ●…nd willingly after you have made him ●…nderstand your mind, for they are ●…reatures of wonderful great capacity, ●…nd naturally inclined to the sport, so ●…hat being kept in true awe there is no●…ing which they will not with great rea●…nesse perform. Several Engines to stalk with. Now forasmuch as these Stalking hor●…, or Horses to stalk withal, are not ever in readiness, and at the best ask a good expense of time to be brought to their best perfection: as also, in that every poor man or other which taketh delight in this exercise, is either not master of a Horse, or if he had one yet wanteth fit means to keep him: and yet nevertheless this practice of Fowling must or should be the greatest part of his mantenance. In this case he may take any pieces of old Canvas, and having made it in the shape or proportion of a Horse with the head bending downward, as if he graed, and stopping it with dry Straw, Moss, Flocks, or any other light matter, let it be painted as near the colour of a Horse as you can devose; of which the Brown is the best, and in the midst let it be fixed to a Staff with a pick of Iron in it to stick down in the ground at your pleasure, and stand fast whilst you choose your mark, as also to turn and wind any way you please, either for your advantage of the wind, or for the better taking of your level, and 〈◊〉 must be made so portable that you may bear it easily with one hand, mooui●… and wagging it in such wise that it may seem to move and graze as it goeth; neither must this in any wise exceed the or dinary stature or proportion of a common Horse, for to be too low or little will not cover the man, and to be two big and huge will be both monstrous & troublesome, and give affright to the Fowl, therefore the mean in this is the best measure, and only worth the observation. The form and manner of the Stalking horse of Canvas stopped. Now these Engines are ever better and more proper for the water then the Land, and though they will serve very fitly for both, yet are they more convevient for the Water, by reason that the Water hideth all their imperfection, and maketh them appear to the Fowl one and the same thing which at the first they did seem. Now there be some which do not so The Horse unstopped. well approve of this Horse thus stopped and furnished out; alleging it to be too heany and troublesome, and though a man use all the Art that may be in the lightness thereof, yet still they say it is to weighty; and therefore they will by all means have them made of single Canvas unstopped at all, but only stretched out upon splents made of wood, or upon strong wire proportioned like unto a Ho●…se wherein they vary nothing from the Figure formerly described, but only in the stoping; for this and the other must be painted also, and that very thick too, lest in the turning it against the Sun it prove transparent, or so as a man may see through it, which will give such an offence to the Fowl, that they will in no sort endure it. Also you must observe in the Stalk to turn that side ever upon the Fowl which is plain without splents, or other marks more than the painting only for fear of offence, and these are as good as any live Horse for this use being artefully handled in the motion, and made to move by slow degrees at leisure, as a Horse doth, and not suddenly or rudely, for that will discover them and breed affight in the Fowl. There be others which use instead of The Ox or shape of horned beast. this Stalking Horse of Canvas either stopped or unstopped, to make the proportion of a beast or horned Neat, as Ox, Cow, or Bull in Canvas, as afore is showed, either stopped or unstopped, according to the fancy of the Fowler, and as he shall find fittest for his strength to support and carry without any offence, and this figure he shall make in as true form and proportion as he can device, for the eye of a Fowl is so cunning that they will easily perceive any gross absurdity, or misshapen, or unlike form, and thereat quickly take offence, and avoid the thing deceiving; it shall also be very well painted to the life, either Black, Browne, or Pied, according to the usual colours of the cattle in those places; for though black and brown are generally the best, because of their shadow, yet in such places where no such Black or Brown cattle are, or at least very gaysome or novel, there they are the worst colours, and aught lest to be used; for your Engine must ever be suitable to that wherewith the eye of the Fowl is most acquainted, nor must you alone stand precisly upon the colour, but also upon every other face or main character, by which the whole body is disstinguyshed; as in fixing the Horns, which must ever be suitable to the colour of the Beast and the breed of the Country, for it is commonly seen here with us in England, that your entire black, your brown, and your brinded cattle have ever the goodliest Heads and fairest extended Horns, the whitest & the largest, and your white pied, and blood-red cattle the least Heads, crumpled, short, and foul collored; Therefore to make your Engine black, brown, or brinded with short crooked and ilfavord Horns, or white or pied, with great, strait and large spread Horns, were both an absurdity to be laughed at, and a prevention of the sport you labour for, by affrighting the Fowl out of your company with that, by which you should entice them only to stay and grow familiar with you; and therefore you must accommodate every thing in his true and proper nature, without strangeness or offence. Nor may you in any sort stalk with these Engines in any place but where these cattle are usual and in most abundance, for to stalk with a Horse where no Horses live or are bred, or with the Ox, where no Oxen are know is absurd and loss of labour, but this is no doubt in our Nation, therefore the best use I can give you of these Engines, is that when you have so much beaten the Fowl with the Stalking-Horse, that they begin to find your deceit, and will no more sit or endure you, (as generally it falls out,) than you may an other while stalk with the Ox or Beast, till the Horse be forgotten, and thus by the change and alteration of your Engines you may make your sport last & be continually, for the shape of your Ox Engine, it followeth in the next Page The form and manner of an Ox Engine. Now there be others without a further curiosity (and indeed it is nothing at all to be discomended) which frame themselves Engines like Stags, or red Deer, and these also they frame of canu●…sse as the former, either stopped or unstopped, with the natural horns of Stags fixed there on, and the colour painted so livey, that the Fowl may not discern them from a Stag or a thing that is living, and these Engines are right good and very useful in all such places or low fenney grounds where any such Stags or Deer do usually feed; as about Hatfield Chase in the North parts, or Ramsey in Huntintonshire and such like where the Stag is more familiar with Fowl, and feedeth nearer them than either the Horse or the Ox, and therefore this Engine being artificially & well made is of as good use as any of the former Engines, and will indeed bring a man within a far nearer distance; only it is subject to quicker discovery, and therefore it must be the oftener altered and changed to prevent the subtlety of the Fowl: as for the proportion or form of this Engine it is placed in the next page. The form and manner of the Stag Engine. Now there be some that will only but make the moulds or models of th●… heads of these beasts only, and putti●… them upon their own heads so sta●… therewith, holding opinion that it is b●… only the face of the Man which is drea●… full, and breedeth affright in the Fow●… and that if it be hidde●… in any of the forms before showed, a man may win his sport at pleasure. I do confess it is the face of a man which keepeth all living things in the greatest awe, and that the face being covered or concealed a man may proceed better in these pastimes, but that it should work this great effect and be as useful as the former models, I utterly deny and differ from; for the very body of man is too well known unto Fowl, that when soever it is mixed with any unnatural form or monstrous shape, it presently causeth amazement, which amazement though it may a little hold the Fowl at gaze, whereby the man may come at a much nearer distance; yet before the mark can be chosen and the level taken commonly the astonishment wasteth away, and fear entering the mind, the Fowl suddenly ariseth, before the Piece can be discharged: And therefore though 〈◊〉 well allow that the face of the man ●…hould be covered with some hood or o●…her garment, which may be rather sha●…ow-like then monstrous; yet I would ●…ot have him to Stalk with these models of heads only, without some thing else to overshadow ones body and go by them. Lastly the skilful Fowler must understand that these Engines of what kind soever, are fitter for the early morning Stalk or the late evening Stalk, then at any other time of the day when the Sun is aloft or in his high glory, for at such time the lest blink or deformity is very soon perceived, and the natural fear of the Fowl is most prone and apt to raise up by thoughts and fears, where by they are forced to rise up and fly away before that the skilfullest man ca●… f●…ish his purpose, or recover his mark●… or l●…ll. There are other dead Engines to Stalk withal; as an artificial Tree Shrub, or Bush, which may be mad●… of small Wandes, or thin Splinter●… folded together in the shape or bod●… of a Tree, and so covered with Canua●… and painted like the bark of the Tr●… represents or figures; of which th●… Willow, Poplar, or such as grow b●… Waters and Rivers sides are the bes●… for the other which grow upon the dr●… grounds, as Oak, Elm, & the like, are not so familiar with foul, & therefore by the strangeness may occasion affright, and for the leaves it is not much material, because this time and season of Stalking after Fowl is for the most part in the winter season when leaves are from the trees: But let it be at any season that you please, either in Summer or in Winter, having made the boale of the Tree, as afore is said, with Canvas and Wands, you shall in certain holes made ●…n the top for that purpose, stick in ●…he boughs and true natural brauches ●…f the Tree which you would figure in ●…ch sort as they grow at that season, 〈◊〉 you shall give no affright or terror to the Fowl; and the Tree will appear after this form or figure following. The form and manner of the Tree to stalk with. As for the Shrub or Bush, it shall not be so tall as the tree, but much thicker which you may make either of on●… entire Bush, or of diverse Bushes woven and entangled one within another either with small Withy wands, Cord, or Packthried, that may not be discerned and this shall not be above the ordinary stature of a man, but thicker than four or five men, and in the midst of the bottom shall be a small stake driven with an Iron pick in the end, somewhat longer than the Bush, which being driven into the ground may support & stay up the Bush whilst you take your mark and find your level, according to this form and figure following. The form and manner of the Bush Engine to stalk with. The last of these stalking Engines is the dead hedge of two or three yard●… long, and a yard and three quarters hie, made of small wands in the manner of a true hedge, and bushed out with twigs, leaves and such like as hedges are, and with certain supports or stays, where by not only to bear it from the ground at your pleasure, but also to stay and hold it up whilst you do find your mark and take your level, according to the form and manner of these figures following. The form and manner of two sorts of Hedges to stalk with. Now for these dead Engines which carry not the shape of any living creature, they are not altogether so necessary for the Stalk as the Stand, because the only thing that can discover them, or breed aff●…ight from them is their motion, for to have a dead thing move to grossly is much unnatural, and the Fowl will not only apprehend it, but eschew it: therefore by all means you must be careful not to move them at all but to lie at the stand watching behind them; or if you do move them, to do it like the hand of a Clock, with such slow and still motion that you may gain your purpose unperceived, and then it is as safe a way as any of the other before prescribed. CHAP. IX. The use of the Water Dog, and the manner of training them. THe Water Dog is a creature of such general use, and so frequent in use amongst us here in England, that it is needless to make any large descripti●…n of him: the rather since not any a●…ongst us is so simple that he cannot say ●…hen he seeth him, This is a Water●…ogge, or a Dog bred for the Wa●…r; yet because in this (as in other crea●…res) there are other Characters and ●…ormes which pretend more excellency, ●…nd figure a greater height of virtue ●…en others do; I will here describe as ●…ere as I can the best proportion of a 〈◊〉 Water Dog. First, for the Colour of the best Wa●…r Dog, all be it some (which are curious in all things) will ascribe more excellency The description of the Water Dog. to one colour then to another, as the Black to be the best and hardest, the Lyver-hued swiftest in swimming, and the Pied or Spotted Dog, quickest of sent; yet in truth it is nothing so, for all colours are alike, and so a Dog of any of the former colours, may be excellent good Dogs, and of any may be most notable Curs, according to their first ordering and training; for Instruction is the liquor where with they are seasoned, and if they be●… well handled at the first, they will eue●… smell of that discretion, and if they be ill handled they will ever stink of tha●… folly: For nature is a true mistre●… and bestows her gifts freely, and it i●… only nurture which abuseth them. To proceed then, your Dog may be of any colour and yet excellent, an●… his hair in general would be long an●… curled, not loose and shagged; for th●… first shows hardness and ability to 〈◊〉 dure the water, the other much tenderness and weakness, making his spo●… grievous; his head would be round an●… curled, his ears broad and hanging, h●… Eye full, lively and quick, his Nose very short, his Lip, Hound-like, side and rough bearded, his Chaps with a full sert of strong Teeth, and the general features of his whole countenance being united together would be as Lion-like as might be, for that shows fierceness and goodness: His Neck would be thick and short, his Breast like the breast of a Ship, sharp and compassed; his Shoulders broad, his fore Legs straight, his Chine square, his Buttokes ronnde, his Ribs compassed, his belly gaunt, his Thighs brawny, his Cambrels crooked, ●…his Pasterns strong and dew clawde, and ●…all his four feet spacious, full and ●…ound, and closed together to the clay, ●…ike a water Duck, for they being his ●…ares to row him in the water, having ●…hat shape, will carry his body away the ●…aster. And thus you have the true description of a perfect Water Dog, as you may see following. Now for the cutting or shaving him from the Navel downward, or back, ward, it is two ways wel●… to be allowed of that is, for Summer hunting, or fo●… wager: because these Water Dogg●… naturally are ever most laden with hai●… on the hinder parts; nature as it were labouring to defend that part most, which is continually to be employed in the most extremity, and because the hind●… parts are ever deeper in the water th●… the fore pa●…ts, therefore nature hath given them the greatest armour of hair to defend the wet and colduesse; yet this defence in the Summer time by the violence of the heat of the Sun, and the greatness of the Dog's labour is very no●…o ●…e and troublesome, and not only maketh him sooner to faint and give over his sport, but also makes him by his overheating, more subject to take the Maungie. And so likewise in matter of wager, it is a very heavy burden to the Dog, and makes him to swim less nimbly and slower, besides the former offences before receited; But for the cutting or shaving of a Dog all quite over, even from the Foot to the Nostril that I utterly dislike, for it not only takes from him the general benefits which Nature hath lent him, but also brings such a tenderness and chillness over all his body, that the water in the end will grow irksome unto him; for how soever men may argue that keeping any creature cold, will make it the better endure cold, yet we find by true experience both in these and diverse other such like things, that when Nature is thus continually kept at her uttermost ability of endurance, when any little drop more is added to that extremity, presently she faints, and grows distempered, whereas keep Nature in her full strength and she will very hardly be conquered, and hence it doth come that you shall see an ordinary land Spaniel, being lustily and well kept, will tire twenty of these over shaved Curs in the could water: whereas let them have the rights Nature hath bestowed upon them, and the water is as familiar unto them as the Land any way can be●… therefore to conclude this point, I would have the skilful Fowler, if he keep his Water-Dogge only for his use of Fowling as to attend his Nets. Limerods', Fowling-Piece or such like, which is only for the most part apropriate to the Winter season, than not to shave his Dog at all, for he shall find in the sharp frost and snow, when the Air shall freeze the drops of water faster on the hair th●… the Dog can cast them off; that the uttermost benefit that Nature hath granted, is no more but sufficient, and the careful Master should rather seek to increase then diminish them. Now for the manner of training or His training. bringing up of his Water Dog, it is to be understood that you cannot begin too early with him, that is to say even when you first wean him, and teach him to lap, for even then you shall begin to teach him obedience, which is the main thing that includeth all the lessons which he shall learn, for being made to obey your will, he is serviceable for any purpose you shall employ him in, as one the contrary part, wanting due obedience he is good for nothing at all but to syoyle the work you shall labour to effect; and therefore (as I said) so soon as it is able to lap, you shall teach it to couch and lie close, not daring to stir or move from that posture in which you put it, without your especial licence, cherrishing it ever when it doth your will and correcting it when it doth the contrary, and always observing this maxim in the first teaching of him, that you never let you Dog eat or taste any meat but when he doth something to deserve it, that custom may make it know, food is a thing which cometh not by chance, or the bounty of your hand, but for reward or merit when he doth your commandment, and this will not only make him willing to learn, but apt to remember and retain what he learneth, and diligently to perform your pleasure without stick or amazement, the characters of your commands, being so dee●…ely Imprinted in his knowledge: and to this end you must have no more teachers no more feeders, cherrishers, or correctors but one, for multiplicity breeds confusion, and to teach diverse ways is to teach no way well: also you must be very constant to the words of directions by which you teach, choosing such as are the most signifficant for your purpose, and fittest for the action you would have the Dog do, and by no means alter that word which you first use, though you use a word of the same signification: for you must understand the Dog takes notice of the sound and not of the English, and therefore the least variation puts him into amazement, and is a language he understands not; as thus for example: I●… when you teach your Whelp first to Coutch, you use the word (Coutch) 〈◊〉 after you use the word (Down) and not Coutch, it will put the Dog into amazement and he will not know what to do: And how ever some hold of opinion it is good to use all sorts of words, yet it is not so, for the overloading of the Dog's memory with many words for one and the same lesson, is the first thing that breeds forgetfulness, and fills the Dog full of by-thoughts and doubtfulness: when you have the Dog thus acquainted with the word which is due to the instruction of his lesson, you must then teach him to know the word of reprehension or correction, for no lesson can be taught without a fault, and no fault ought to escape at the best without chiding; and in this word also you must be as constant as in the former without variation of sound, or multiplycity of language, that the Dog may know assuredly when you chide, or are angry, and not stand amazed between hope and fear, as not knowing whether you chide or give encourag●…ent; and of these words there are diverse; as Wilt thou villain, Ha Rasball: and such like, which at first should not be used without a jerk or small stripe, to make him know that it is a word of wrath and anger, neither must such words procceed from you lovingly and gently, but with passion and and roughness of voice, that the Whelp may even tremble when he hears you: Now to these words of reprehension you must also join words of cheerishing, that as the one correcteth him for faults committed; so the other may encourage and comfort him as oft as he doth your pleasure: and in teaching these dumb things, correction may better be spared then cheerishing, because the reward and comfort he finds by doing your will, is the only certain and sure ground which expounds your meaning unto him, and makes him capable of those things you would have him learn; and in these words also, you must be as constant and certain as in any of the other without variation or change of sound, alacrity and cheerfulness of spirit, being accompanied either with food, the spitting in the●… mouth, cheerishing of the hand, or other clawing in which the Dog taketh delight, that he may know by such comforts he hath truly done your will, and be thereby encouraged to do it as oft over as you shall be pleased to command him: And these words of cheerishing are also diverse; as That's a good boy, Well done, S●… boy, and such like as shall best agree with your nature and invention. And to these three you shall add a fourth word, which is no less necessary than any of the former, being neither altogether instructive, altogether correcting, nor altogether cherrishing: but taking as it were a part from them all, and doing something of them all in one instant and one breath, and this may be called the word of advice or heed taking, being only to be used when a Dog is about to do his lesson, and either goeth the wrong way to work, or too rashly, too slowly, or too negligently; or else leaveth out some observation which he should perform in the Lesson, any of which as soon as you perceive him incline unto, you shall immediately use your word of advice unto him, which both as a bit shall serve to restrain and stay him, till he have better thought of what he go●…th about, or else as a Spur or Rod, put him froward with more alacrity of spirit, till he have done his Lesson in such form as may content you, and these words of advice are as the others, diverse also: as Him, Bewise, Take-heed; or such like, and to these you must be as constant as to the former, and make election of that you intent to use and no other, and by all means be exceeding careful not to misapply them, as to advice when you should correct, cherish when you should advise, Inst●…uct when you should punish, or punish when you should instruct, any of which is gross in a teacher and brings the Dog into confusion. When therefore you have made your whelp understand these several sounds or words, as that of Instruct on, Correction, Cherrishing, and Advise, and that he will couch and lie down at your feet how you please, when you please, and as long as you please, and that with a single word or a look only, you shall then proceed and teach him to lead in a line and colour, following you at your heels in decent and comely order, neither treading upon your heels, or going before or side by you which shows too much haste, nor hanging back or straining your Line by the means of too much sloth, but following in decent and orderly manner without offence either to the Dog or his leader, and this kind of leading is to make the Whelp familiar with you, that he may love and acknowledge you and no man else, in which Lesson when you have made him perfect by his daily attendance of you, and by going into no place without the Dog, you shall then make him attend you lose, in the same manner as he did in the Line, without straying or going his length from your heels vn●…esse you command him, which is the most necessary Lesson can be taught a Water-Dog, for he must by no means be a ranger, but upon especial occasion, as either to beat out Fowl from their covert, or to find strucken Fowl when ●…hey are lost. When this general obedience is taught (which is done by obser●…ation of his going, and mooveing him ●…y sights or sports which may tempt him ●…o stay beyond his bounds and then to ●…orrect his offences, and to cherish and reward his obedience, you fhall then teach him to fetch and carry any thing you shall throw forth of your hand; and this you shall first begin to teach by the way of sport or pastime with the Dog, as by taking your glove and shaking it about his head and lips, and making him catch and snap at it, and to play with it as a thing in which he delighteth, and sometimes to hold it in his mouth and strive to pull it from you, and then casting it a little way from you suffer him to mussel and worry it on the ground, and then take hold on it again and take it from him with cherrishing, and thus do till he will take it from the ground, and hold it in his mouth as it were to tempt you to take it, than cast it further from you and say Fetch, or Bring Sirrah, and if he do bring it you make exceeding much of him and reward him either with Bread, or Meat, and let him have no food but what he deserveth by doing your will in his Lesson, and thus daily and hourly augment and increase your Lesson, till you have made your Dog so perfect that he will fetch your Glove unto you wheresoever you thro●… it: In which if at any time he offer to run away with your Glove, or to toss it up and down, and play with it without regard to bring it unto you; then first use your word of advice, which if it do not prevail, then use your word of correction, but if both fail, then give him blows, and for that time let him lose his food and find no reward till he do your pleasure: when by this means you have perfeited him, that he will fetch your Glove quickly and readily unto you, wheresoever you throw it, and so truly understand that it is his duty to bring it only unto you, that if twenty men in the company call him severally, yet he will shunt he n all to bring it unto you, and leap up to your bosom to deliver it, you shall then reward him exceedingly and after train him to fetch whatsoever you shall throw from you, as Staffs or Cudgels, Bags, Nets, Instruments of all kinds, and indeed, any thing whatso●…uer that is portable: than you shall use him to fetch round cudgel stones, and flints, which are troublesome in a Dog's mouth, and lastly, Iron, Steele, Money, and all kind of metal, which being cold in his teeth, flippery and ill to take up, a Dog will be loath to fetch, but you must not desist nor let-him taste food, till he will as familiarly bring and carry them as any thing else whatsoever: as for the using him to carry, dead, or live Fowl, or Pullen, it is not amiss, because by that means he will not break or tear in pieces any Fowl at all, which fault is intolerable in any Dog whatsoever, and proceeds from too much greediness, but in the use thereof let him ever bring the least Fowl you can get without hurt, that if you send him for a Lark, he may bring it without bruising a feather. This lesson this perfected, you shall then as you walk, drop something behind you which the Dog may not see, and being gone a little way from it, send the Dog back to seek it, by saying, Back I have lost, or some such like word, and if at the first he stand amazed, urge him still and cease not, by pointing with your finger the way you would have him go, till he do turn back and find that which you have dropped, which make him take up and bring after you; then drop it again and go twice as far as you did at the first, and then send the Dog back to seek it, not leaving till you make him hunt and bring it you, then cherish and reward him, and where he fails there chide and punish him, sometimes with blows, sometimes with want of food, and thus continue to do till the Dog will hunt the way back in which you went, be it a mile or more according to your occasion: and herein is to be noted that if you send your Dog back to fetch any thing, if he return and bring back any thing in his mouth, though it be not the thing you lost, yet you shall receive it and cherish him, but not suffer him to stay, but immediately send him back again, saying Away again, or I have lost more, and never be satisfied till he bring the thing you want, for the much toil will be punishment enough for his mistake, and make him more careful to the sent of any thing about you; but if at any time he return without any thing in his mouth, then be sure both to chid & beat him, for his emptiness of mouth shows both sloth and negligence: when he will thus fetch, carry, and find things being lost, than you may train him to hunting, beginning first with tame Fowl, which by your own help at diving and other losses, you may make him with little labour, take, which incourragement will hearten and make him delight in the sport, then after you may make him use all his own cunning, and without assisting him, let him either get or lose his prey, observing to give him relief according to his desert in well hunting, and to punish him with want of reward according to his sloth or negligence; and thus wont him till he be full master of his game, and can find the advantages and losses in enery water, and observing ever to make him (when he taketh his prey) to bring it on shore unto you without hunting, and that he shall not dare to nip or bite it, after once you shall say Forbear, or 'tis dead, or any such like thing whatsoever. After this you shall train him unto you Piece, in form as was showed in a former Chapter, making him stalk either step by step behind you and under the covert of your shadow, till you have shot, or else to couch down and lie close where you shall appoint him till you have shot, and then by a shout or gibb●…t to make him come running unto you to do whatsoever you shall appoint him●… and in this you must observe that the Dog by no means rush forth or discover himself till you appoint him, for it is the nature of every free m●…ttle Dog, and many of those which come from the b●…st reputed teachers, that as soon as they hear the Piece go off, they will p●…esently rush forth and fly in a●…gst the Fowl, before you can have leisure to open your lips; but it is a fault and to be reprehended, for the Piece must not be as a warning to give the Dog liberty, but as a preparation to make him ready to attend your commandment: for if you give him this liberty at your Piece then when you come amongst your Nets or Lime rods, as soon as he sees the entangled Fowl but to flutter their wings, he will presently fly in amongst them, and not only adventure the spoiling, and tearing of your Nets, and disordering your lime-rods, but also break them in pieces, and breed you a world of trouble and vexation, and therefore by all means have him in that true obedience that he may not dare to take any freedom more than you give him. There are a world of other lessons which may be taught a Water Dog, but because they do appertain more to pleasure, or the commendation of the Teacher's Art and the Dog's capacity) than any needful use or commodity, I w●… here (for tediousness sake omit them, assuring every industrious labourer in this Art, that the rules here already described are sufficient to make a dog do any thing meet for any man's purpose. The last use of the Water Dog is in Of the moulting time. the moulting time, when these wild Fowl do cast their feathers and are so disabled that they cannot fly, but do lurk and hide themselves in the strength of their best coverts, not daring to peep or look abroad, which commonly is between Summer and Autumn, in these warmer Countries, at this time you shall bring your Water Dogs and thrusting them into the coverts, make them hunt the Fowl forth, and bring them into the open waters or great streams, then having in some narrow creek or straitened place (if it be in the broad blank waters) pitched up your nets, get with your boats between the covert and the Fowl, and so taking up your dogs withal leisure and gentleness drive the Fowl before you (who of their own natures, will shun your presence) till you bring them within the compass of the Nets, and then surrounding them about you may ouerthrow●… multitudes of them together, for sheep will not drive more easily than these Fowl at this time; and though some may object against this manner of taking both in respect it destroys so many, as also the unseasonableness both of the Fowl itself, and the time of their sickness, yet if such please to consider the great infinits of these Fowl which cannot decrease & the excellency of the time for feeding and cramming them, whereby one is made more excellent than twenty; they cannot choose but both allow it and practise it, for who knoweth not that any Fowl which preyeth for itself abroad, except it be the Mallard, Teyle, and Plover, but is a great deal less sweet and pleasant than the crambde Fowl, some tasting of Fish, some of mud, and some of grass, and indeed not any in general either very fat, or very pleasant; whereas these which are thus taken and fed by hand in the house, and there crambd with food in which they most delight, as the livers of Beasts and Sheep, Whey, Curddes, Barley, Paste, scalded Bran, and such like, are both passing fat, exceeding sweet, and of great price, and therefore to be preferred before all other Fowl whatsoever. CHAP. X. Of Land-Fowle, and the general taking of them. HAning now discoursed of Water Fowle, and their several kinds according to their manner of feeding, haunts and shapes. It resteth now th●…t we proceed to the discourse of Land-Fowle, or Birds of the Land having no commercement or use of the Water more than the washing of their Bylles or particular bathe for the health of their bodies, and that but seldom or in distinct times and places, as an Element with which they have the least desire of acquaintance: And of these Land-Fowle there are more diverse and sundry kinds then of the Waterfowl, and indeed such infinits, that since the dissolution and spo●…le of Paradise no man hath seen them, no man can name them. To fly then from an impossible treatise Diversity of Land Fowle. (because every nation hath his particular blessing, and none can boast to enjoy all) I will sort the Land Fowl of our Kingdom into three ranks: the first such as are fit for food, as Pigeons of all kinds, Rooks, Phoasants, p●…dge, Quails, Rails, Blackebyrds, Fellfares, Sparrows, and a world of others. Secondly, such as are preserved for voice, and are called singing Birds, as the Nightingale, Throst●…ll, L●…nnet, Lark, Bulfinch, Spynke, and diverse of the same nature, all which are good in the dish also. Thirdly and lastly, all such as are for pleasure only, as Hawks of all kinds, Castrells, Ringtailes, Buzzards, Kites, and generally all Birds of prey, which in truth are useful but for pleasure only; Now each of these kinds may be drawn into two several kinds, as the greater sort & the lesser sort, the greater sort of those for food, and the lesser also for food, & so consequently of the rest in their natures and kinds. Mow these Land-fowle are to be taken Diversity of take, two several ways; that is to say, generally, as when all or many kinds are taken together & at one instant; and particularly as when one kind is taken alone by itself after a particular form or man●… and no others mixed amongst them. Now for the general way of taking The general way of taking Fowl. these Land Fowle where many kinds are taken together, it is either to be done by day or by night; if by day, then with the great Net which commonly is called the Crow Net, which either is made o●… The Crow Net to take by day. double twisted thread or fine whip pack●… thread, and it differeth nothing in length, depth bigness of mashe, manner of laying and overturning from the plo●… Net formerly spoken of in the Water ●…owle; only if it be larger and the coards ●…onger it is not amiss, this Net being ●…efore or near unto Barn doors where Corn is a thrashing, or in any such pla●…s where Corn hath been winnowed ●…nd the chaff remaining, with which you ●…hall ever observe to ●…ouer and hide ●…he Net as soon as it is laid so as it may ●…ot be seen, and then soon as the flocks of birds come, and are scraping amongst ●…he chaff, you lying aloof off concealed, ●…ith the cord in your hand shall soden●…y draw it & overturn the Net upon the Birds, by which at one pull you may take many Crows, Pigeons, Kites, Buzzards, and such like ravenous birds; and this Net you may lay in any stubble field upon ●…he Corn lands provided the stubble cover ●…he Net so as it be not perceived, for these kind of ravenous Fowl are curious eyed and who will quickly spy any train or enticement that is laid for them; also if you take notice of their morning and evening haunts, where they use to call and gather themselves together, to worm and feed upon the greeneswarth, or else the tilth which hath been but newly turned up, and the●… lay this Net so as it be not too gro●… perceived, and it is as available as in the other places, so that you be careful of two observations the one to conceal and hide your Person as in some furrow, behind some artificial bank, or 〈◊〉 'mongst the thick tufts of Sedge, or rushes, ror such like covert, and the other not to be too rash or hasty in striking, but to stay till you have a full number withi●… your danger, and then to pull freely suddenly, and quickly, for the least delib●…ration you take after the Net is once ray●…d, is the utter loss of the whole pray●… and as a warning-peice make them fly●… the danger. If you exercise this general manner of General taking by Night. taking of Land-Fowle by Night then 〈◊〉 is to be done diverse ways, according to the nature and manner of the Country wherein you dwell, or the situation and fashion of the ground, as whether it b●… champagne and plain, or woody, rou●… and Mountainous. The fi●…st general manner of taking o●… O●… the Low-Bell. Land-Fowle by night, in Champay●… Countries is with the Lowbell, wh●… exercise may well be used f●…om the end of October till the end of March following, ●…s thus for example. After the Night hath covered the face of the Earth, (which commonly is about ●…eight of the Clock at Night) the Air ●…eing mild and the Moon not shining, you shall take your Low-Bell, which is a Bell of such a reasonable size, as a man may well carry it in one hand, and haue●…ng a deep, hollow, and sad sound, for ●…he more quick and shrill it is, the worse it is, and the more sad and solemn ●…he b●…tter: and with this Bell, you shall ●…lso have a Net (of a small mash) at least twenty yards deep, and so broad that it may cover five or six ordinary Lands or more, according as you have company to carry it, (for the more ground it co●…ers, the more is your sport, and the ●…icher the pray that is taken,) with these ●…nstruments you shall go into some stub●…le field, either Wheat, Rye, or Barley, but the Wheat is the best, and he which ●…ca rieth the Bell shall go the foremost and ●…oule the Bell as he goeth along so ●…olemnly as may be, letting it but now and then knock on both sides, then shall follow the Net being borne up at eac●… corner, and one each side by sundry persons, than another man shall carry an ol●… iron Cresset, or some other vessel of stone or iron in which you shall ha●… good store of cinders or burning coal●… (but not blazing) and at these you sha●… light bundles of dry Straw, Hay, Stubble, Links, Torches, or any other substain●… that will blaze, and then having sprea●… and pitched your Net where you think any Game is (having all your lights blazing) with noises and poles beat all vp●… that are under the Net, and then presently as they flicker up, you shall see the●… entangled in the Net, so as you may take them at your pleasure: as `partri●… Rails, Larks, Quails, or any other small Birds of what kind soever, which lodge upon the ground; which done you shall suddenly extinguish your lights, and then proceed forward and lay you●… Net in another place, observing to do●… in all things as hath been before described, for the use of these Instrumen●… are, that the sowed of the Bell makes th●… Birds to lie close, so as they da●… not stir or offer to remove away whilst you are pitching and laying of your Net, for the sound thereof is ●…readfull unto them and makes them ●…ye closer and fraster; then the sud●…ennesse of the blazing light (which ●…hey can far worse endure then the ●…ell) makes them spring up and offer ●…o fly away, whilst the Net stays ●…nd entangles them, whereby you may ●…ake them at your own will and ple●…ure. And in this sort the Country being ●…pt and fit for the pastime, you may ●…ake abundance both of great Birds ●…nd likewise of small Birds, which ●…hough the pleasure be a little painful for the time, yet you shall find infinite ●…elight therein, for every man shall have ●…omething to do, and no man shall stand ●…dle that either hath ability of body or ●…pirit. This taking of Birds with the Low●…ell as it is used thus in the corn and stu●…le fields, so it may also be used in any o●…her Champain place, where either ●…here is growing high fog or grass, Whynnes, Bats, Ling, short and low Grass, or any other kind of low covert wherein Birds may lodge and hide themselves; provided that such places have no Trees, or high rough Thorns, bushes or Brambles, for so you shall entangle and tear your Net in pieces, and loos●… both your sport and your labour. Also in this pastime is to be observed, that it must be done with great silence and secrecy, not any noise being hard but the sound of the ●…ell only, until such time that the Nets be laid and the lights are all blazing, and then you may vs●… your pleasures, but as soon as the lights are extinguished, then presently a general silence shall be made as before: and each man shall apply his several busine●… t●…ll the sport be finnished, and so much of the Night consu●…ed as you shall imagine meet to bestow on that Labour, which may be as long as the Night is dark but no longer, for if the Moon rise, whereby the Birds may make way for themselves, than they will hardly ly●… till your N●…ttes or other Engines be ready, for the very noise of your feet i●… going will be sufficient to affright them. There is another way of taking both Of the Tr●…mell. of great and small Fowl, by Night i●… Champain Countries, and that is with the Tramell, or long Tramell Net, being much like unto that Net which is formerly described for the Lowbell, both in shape, mashe, and all other proportions, yet if you please it may be somewhat longer but not much broader, because than you shall be forced to run upon it and endanger the breaking. This Net when you come into the place where the haunt of Birds are, which rest upon the earth (being such as are before named) you shall then spread it upon the ground, and let the neither or or furthest end thereof (being plummed with small plummets of lead) lie loose on the ground and then bearing up the former end, by the strength of men at the two for most ends only, trail it a●…ong the ground, not suffering that end which is borne up to come near the ground by a full yard or more. Then on each side the Net shall be carried great blazing lights of fire, such as were formerly spoken of, and by the ●…ightes others with long Poles to beat ●…p the Birds as they go, and as they rise ●…nder the Nets so to take them; and in this sort you may go over a whole corn Field, or any other Champain ground where the haunts of Birds are, till you have compassed every part thereof. And this will most assuredly afford you great store, both of pleasure and profit, according as the haunts of the Birds are, for if there be plenty you shall take plenty, if their be few, yet of those few you shall have your share. Next to the Tramell I think meet to Of Batfowling. proceed to Batte-fowling, which is likewise a nighty taking of all sorts of great and small Birds which rest not on the earth, but on Shrubs, tall Bushes, Hawthorn trees, and other trees, and may fitly and most conveniently be used in all Woody, rough, and Bushy Countries, but not in the Champain. For the manner of Batfowling it may be used either with Nets, or without Nets: If you use it without Nets (which indeed is the most common of the two) you shall then proceed in this manner. First, there shall be one to carry the Cresset of fire (as was showed fo●… the Lowbell) than a certain number as two, three, or four (according to the greatness of your company) and these shall have poles bound with dry round wispes of hay, straw, or such like stuff, or else bound with pieces of Links, or Hurdes dipped in Pitch, Rosen, Grease, or any such like matter that will blaze. Then another company shall be armed with long poles, very rough and bushy at the upper ends, of which the Willow, Byrche, or long Hazel are best, but indeed according as the Country will afford so you must be content to take. Thus being prepared and coming into the Bushy, or rough ground where the haunts of Birds are, you shall then first kindle some of your fires as half, or a third part, according as your provision is, and then with your other bushy and rough poles you shall beat the Bushes, Trees and haunts of the Birds, to enforce them to rise, which done you shall see the Birds which are raised, to fly and play about the lights and flames of the fire, for ●…t is their nature through their amazedness, and affright at the strangeness of the lightt and the extreme darkness ●…ound about it, not to depart from it, but ●…s it were almost to scorch their wings in the same; so that those which have the rough bushy poles, may (at their pleasures) beat them down with the same, & so take them. Thus you may spendas much of the night, as is dark for longer is not convenient; and doubtless you shall find much pastime, and take great store of birds, and in this you shall observe all the observations formerly treated of in the Lowbell; especially, that of silence, until your lights be kindled, but than you may use your pleasure, for the noise and the light when they are heard and seen a far of, they make the birds sit the faster and surer. The birds which are commonly taken by this labour or exercise, are for the most part, the Rooks, Ringdoves, Blacke-birdes Throstles Feldyfares, Linnets, Bulsinches; and all other Birds whatsoever that perch or sit upon small boughs or bushes. This exercise as it may be used in these Of the Sparrow Net. rough, woody and bushy places, so it may also be used alongst quickset hedges, or any other hedges or places where there is any shelter for Birds to perch in. Next to these general take of birds in the dark of night, either in Champain or Woody grounds, we may annex and place the taking of Birds with the Sparrow net, which is an excercise to be used after Sunset in the evening and before Sunne-rise in the morning, which is either after birds go to their roost, or before they stir in the morniug. The Engine or Sparrow-nette which is to be made for this purpose, must carry this fashion or proportion. First, you must have a long pole of the bigness or quantity of a handsome Hawks pole, and at the upper end thereof must be fastened strongly, either with one, two or more grains, a small square cross wood like unto the head of an ordinary Hayrake, but of a much larger length and size and of a little longer square, according to the fashion or proportion of this figure following. The form and manner of the first Crossestaffe. Then you shall make another staff in all proportions like unto this, but not above a third part in length at the uttermost this shorter Crossestaffe you shall join to the longer, with a strong small Cord so loosely that at your pleasure it may fall two and fro from the longer Crossestaffe, and when both the Crossestaves meet together, that then they may be both of one equal length and height, and join even and just together without any difference; for otherwise they will be out of order, and that which you seek to take will escape away by means of such disorder, but being just and even, the proportion will show you this Figure following. The form and manner of the second Crossestaffe. These two Crossestaves being thus joined together even & fit to meet together, you shall then both to the one & to the other, fix a large & wide Pursenet having that liberty at the top that the Crossestaves may fall and part the one from the other a pretty distance and the lower end of the Net shall be straight and narrow, and fastened fast to the same hole in the longer Cross staff, to which the shorter Crossestaffe was before fastened, then shall you have twosmale coards or lines, which with knots shall be fastened to each end of the shorter Crossestasse passing through the two holes, and so through the holes of the longer Cross-staffe, through which they may go and come at your pleasure, and then shall the other two ends of the wards be tied on a knot together, at such an even distance that the shorter staff may fall at your plea sure from the longer as far as you think meet, or the wideness of the Net will suffer it, and then another single ward being made fast to that last knot of the to cords (which single ward you shall ever carry in your right hand) with it you shall at your pleasure draw the Cross staffs close together, and close up the Net as you shall find occasion, and also with it you shall make the staffs and Net fly open & widden as the place shall require where you are to set it; for you must have great regard in the using of this Engine ever to place it close, for if you leave any part open either by too much slackness, or the whole haunt not covered by too much straightness, the Birds will quickly find it, and so escape and get away before you can come to your purpose: But every thing being made handsome and fit, and the Lines you're and ready to pass too and fro with ease and gentleness, then will the whole and entire Engine, carry the fashion and proportion of this figure which here followeth. The form and manner of the Sparrow-Net. Now for the use of this Sparrow-Net, is (as was before said) to be used late in the Evening, or early in the Morning, by setting it against the Eues of thatched Houses or other houses, or against the eaveses of Stacks, Hoveles Barnes, Stables, and other outhouses, or against the eaveses of Dove-coates, and being set close against them to knock and thrust the Crossestaves close against the same, making such a noise as may enforce the Birds to fly out of their holes & haunts into the Net, and then presently to draw the long single Line and shut up the Crossestaves close, and then to take out the Birds so taken, and in this manner you may in an Enening, or else in a Morning, go over all your Houses, Barns or Stacks, where are any haunts of Birds and take so many as you please. The Birds which are generally taken with this Engine, are Sparrows, Robins, Wrens, Starlings, extravagant Pydgio●… that lie out of the Dovecoate, or any other Fowl, or vermin which passet●… in or out, at any one certain hole o●… passage. The chief benefit of it is for the mewing of Hauks, or getting into lust and strength, sick and weak Hawks, for with this Engine you may Evening, and Morning take so many Birds as you please, and no more: and so give them warm to your Hawk, which is the greatest nourishment that can be, and both raiseth a Hawk soon, and makes her mew fast, because they are as it were taken out of their own nest, and from their own liberty and freedom of feeding, whereas Birds that are taken long before they are used, and so preserned day after day for these uses, they mourn and fall away, growing lean, unsavoury, and unwholesome, and the Hawks fed and nourished therewith, prosper but little better than with ordinary Dog's flesh, or other flesh that is lest nourishing. And thus much for Land-Fowle and the general taking of them, as well by day as by night; Evening, or Morning. CHAP. XI. The particular taking of some particular Birds by Nets, and first of the Day-Nette. Having spoken generally of Land Fowl of Birds, and of the most general ways of taking the same, either by Day, Night, Morning or Evening, it is meet more that we proceed to such particular ways of taking them as is most of use, both with our Fowlers in this Land, as also with others in other Nations, and being most agreeable with Art, and Reason, without which hardly shall any ma●… bring his work or endeavours to any good purpose. It is meet then, first that we begin with they Da- Net, whose use are especially for the taking of Larks, Bunting●… Merlin's, Hobbyes, or any Bird that playeth in the Air, or will stoop either to stale, prey, or gig, glass or the like. The time of the year for these Nets, Time of the year and season. is from August till November, and the ●…hower or time a day, very early in the Morning, as a little before Sun rise so as your Nets may be laid, and all your Engines and implements fit and in readiness to begin your labour, with the first ●…eepe of the Sun, wherein is to be no●…ed that the pleasanter and brighter the Morning is, and the fayerer and earlier ●…hat the Sun shineth, and the milder ●…emper the Air is in, the fitter the sea●…on is for this exercise, and the longer ●…nd better your sport will continue, For the place, it would be ever in the The place. most champagne and plain Coun●…ryes, either on the short Barley Stubles, the Lands) lying large and plain, on ●…uen and smooth green lays, or on le●…ill and slat Meadows, for it is to be vn●…erstood, that the place which is to be ●…osen for this exercise, must be so plain ●…nd even that the Nets both lying and ●…lling over, may couch so close and ●…me to the ground, that the shortest Grass or Stubble appearing through the same, the Net may lie as it were hide●… and unperceived by the Birds which shall play over the same, as also there must be no hollowness, or separation betwixt the Earth, and any part of the verge of the Net, lest the Birds which are sticken, creep and flicker out of the same, (as they will quickly do) upon the least advantage; and this place must 〈◊〉 be chosen near or adjoining to an●… Town, or common course and meetin●… of many people, (for there these wanto●… fearful Birds seldom haunt) but 〈◊〉 remote and silent places, as in valles 〈◊〉 sikes, at the foot of hills or mountain in low Meadows, or other height grounds, being a good way distant fro●… villages, yet having ever some Co●… fields near bordering upon them; so there the Lark sings merriest, and is 〈◊〉 test to strike and be Inticst with any Sta●… whatsoever. Now the next thing to be observe The fashion of the Nets and other Engines. is the manner and fashion of these Ne●… which we call Day-nettes (because the●… are of use but in the day only) and 〈◊〉 all the other engines belonging unto 〈◊〉 same, and without which the work can in no wise be made perfect. First then for the Nets, you shall understand that they are to be made either of very fine small packthread, or else of very strong and big Housewives third, the mash small, and not above half an inch square each way●…, and the knots surely knit without slipping, the length would be three fathom (or little less,) and the debth or breadth, would be one ●…sadome and no more, it carrieth the fashion of the Crow-Nette, and must be verdgd about (after the same manner,) with very strong small Cord, and the two ends extended upon two small long poles, (suitable to the breadth of the Net,) in such manner as hath been ●…hewed before in the Net for the take●…ng of Plovers, and other Fowl of that Nature, with four stakes, tail strings, ●…nd draw in lines as hath been before ●…escribed, only whereas that was but one ●…ngle Net and no more, here must be ●…wo, of one length, one breadth, and one ●…ashion; without any change or altera●…ion, these Nets must be laid opposite ●…ne to another, yet so close and even together, that when they are drawn and pulled over, the sides and edges may 〈◊〉 and only touch one another; but be●… opened and cast asunder, than the full length and breadth of both the Nets, of plain ground must be discovered between them. These Nets being thus stakt do●… with strong stakes, very stiffly upon their lines, so as with any nimble twitch, you may cast them two and fro at your pleasure, you shall then to the upper ends of the foremost staffs fasten your hand li●… or drawing Coards, which would be 〈◊〉 the least a dozen fathom long, and 〈◊〉 extending them of such a reason●… straightness, as with any small aditi●… of strength, they may raise up the Net●… and cast them over, stake down 〈◊〉 their end of the single drawing Line, a●…most a fathom beyond the seat whe●… yourself must sit to pull, for you mu●… understand that these drawing Lines 〈◊〉 not double above two fathom or li●… more, and all the rest single as you 〈◊〉 better perceive by the figure, herea●… demonstrated. When your Nets are thus. laid, y●… shall some twenty or thirty paces beyond Of the Gigges. your Nets, and as much on this side, place your Gygges, or playing wantoness; being fastened to the tops of long poles, and turned into the wind, so as they may play and make a noise therein, and these Giggs are certain toys made of long Goose feathers in the manner of shettlecocks and with little small turnells of wood ruuning in broad and flat Swan quills made round like a small hoop, and so with longer strings fastened to the Pole will with any small wind or air whatsoever, twirl and flicker in the air after such a wanton manner, that the Birds will come in great flocks to wonder and play about the same; the more perfect shape whereof you shall see described in the figure following, for the better help of your memory and understanding in this business. After the placing of your Giggs you Of the Stale. shall then place your Stale, which is a little small stake of wood to prick down fast in the earth, having in it a morteise hole, in which a long, small, slender pice of wood of about two soot long is so ●…stned that it may move up and down at pleasure, and to this longer stick you shall fasten a small line, which running through a hole in the stake aforesaid and so coming up, to the place where you sit, you may by drawing the line up and down unto you (with your right hand) raise and mount the longer stick from the ground, as oft as you shall find occasion. Now to this longer stick (before said) you shall fasten a live Lark or Buti●…, (for you must be sure ever to pres●… some alive, for that purpose) or for wa●… of such any other small bird, which th●… line making to flicker up and down by your pulling, will entice the Larks to play about it and swoop so near to the ground, that drawing your hand yo●… may cover them with your Nets at ple●…; also it will entice Hawks, and 〈◊〉 other Birds of prey to stoop and stri●… at the same, so as you may take them 〈◊〉 you pleasure; with great ease and deligh●… and for further satisfaction you shall 〈◊〉 the portraiture hereof more lively des●… bed in the figure following. There is also another Stale or in●… Of the Looking. glass. meant for these Birds which is called 〈◊〉 Looking-glass, and this is a round stake of wood as big as a man's arm and made very sharp at the neither end, so as you may thrust and fasten it into the earth at your pleasure. This stake is made very hollow in the upper part, about five fingers deep at the least, then into this hollowness is placed a threesquare piece of wood about twelve Inches long, and each square two Inches broad, lying upon the top of the stake, and going with a foot into the hollowness, which foot●… must have a great knob at the top and ●…nother at the bottom, with a deep ●…endernesse between, to which slender●…esse must be fastened a small packthread, ●…hich running through a hole in the side ●…f the stake, must come up to the seat ●…here you sit: Now the three square ●…iece of wood which lies on the top of ●…he stake, must be made of such a true ●…oyze and evenesse, and the foot in the ●…cket, so round & smooth, that upon the ●…ast touch it will twerle and turn as ●…und as any Scopperill, winding the ●…ackthrid many times about it which ●…eing suddenly drawn, and as suddenly 〈◊〉 go again, will keep the Engine in a perpetual round motion, in such sort as you shall see Children, and Schoolboys do with wherligiggs, made of 〈◊〉 Nutt, a stick, and an Apple. This done you shall with glue, or other strong Cement, fasten upon the upper most ●…att squares of the three square piece. almost twenty small pieces of Looking-Glasses, & paint all the spare wood between them, of a very bright red colour, which in the continual motion and turning about will give such a glorious reflection, th●… the wanton birds cannot forbear but w●… play about it with admiration, till they 〈◊〉 taken, the true shape whereof you shall 〈◊〉 more exactly in the next figure. No●… both this & the other stale before spok●… off●…re are to be placed in the very midst 〈◊〉 Centre between the two Nets, & abo●… 2 or 3 foot one distant from an other, 〈◊〉 that in the falling of the Nets the Cor●… may by no means touch or annoy the●… neither must they stand one before or 〈◊〉ter another, but in a direct Line one ou●… against the other, the Glass being 〈◊〉 continually moving, and the bird 〈◊〉 oft flickering. When you have thus 〈◊〉 c●…d you Nets, your Giggs, & your sta●… you shall then go to the farther end of your long drawing lines, & stale lines, & having a little hassock made of Sedg, about a foot or better high, you shall place within a yard or little more of the end of the same, & then sitting down upon the same, lay the main drawing line (with a strong button of wood made fast in the same) overthwart your thy, & with your right hand continually draw the Glasseline, & with your left hand pull the staleline to show the bird, & then when you perceive the Larks, or other Birds to play near & about your nets & Stales, swooping near and to the ground, than you shall with b●…th hands pull the net over, & so cover & take your prey, in such wise as you shall find occasion, wherein you are to observe that you must not be too quick or hasty in pulling, & for greediness to strike often at single birds (especially if you see the weather to be temperate & the birds apt to play) for so you may lose both much labour and much profit, for you must take as much pains for one single Bird, as for half a dozen, but nevertheless be patient a little while, and when you shall see many birds playing about your Nets (as with a little sufferance they will almost cover them over) than you may strick and be sure to strick sure and suddenly, and you shall seldom take under, four, six, eight, nay, sometimes a dozen at a pull, according to the fruitfulness of the place, and the aptness of the weather and season but if the wether be ill disposed or blustering, than you must make a venture of neces●…tie and strike at all that comes, whether they be single or otherwise, and truly for mine own part I have seen at this one exercise, thirty dozen of Lark●… taken in one Morning, but that hath not been usual: but for ●…ght, ten, 〈◊〉 twelve dozen, it is an ordinary taking. Now you are to observe that the fi●… Preservation of Stales. half dozen which you take, you must by no means kill, but keep them alive fo●… stales, and to that end you must have 〈◊〉 neat bag of strong linen to kee●… them in, the rest as you take them yo●… must kill them, by crushing them in 〈◊〉 hinder parts of their heads, and so 〈◊〉 them behind you in a place made for th●… purpose, and thus every day you 〈◊〉 preserve fresh stales and kill the old, 〈◊〉 but in any sort be sure by no means to want any, for that would be a great hindrance to the whole work. Again you must observe to lay behind the seat you sit upon, all the spare Instruments and Implements, which you are to use about the whole work, as spar●… Stakes, Poles, Lines, packthrid, knitting-Pinne and Needle; your Bag with Stales, a Mallet to knock in your stakes with, and a nimble little Hatchet either to sharpen or make new Stakes, when they are decayed. Now for the full proportion, and demonstration of the whole work, be hold this Figure following. For the better understanding of this Figure, if you please to note the letters as they stand, you shall find that the Letter— A. showeth the bodies of the main Nets, and how they ought to be laid. B. the tail lines, or hinder lines stackt to the Earth. C. the fore lines likewise stackt to the Earth. D. the knitting-Needle. E. the Bird stale. F. the Looking-glass Stale. G. the Line that draws the Bird-Stale. H. the Line which draws the glass-stale I. the drawing double lines of the Nets which pulls them over. K. the Stakes which stake down the four neither points of the Nets, and the two tail lines. L. the stakes which stake down the fore Lines. M. the single Line with the wooden button to pull the Net over with. N. the Stake which stakes down the single Line, & where the hassock should be, and the Man sit. O. the Mallet of Wood P. the Hatchet. Q. the Gigges. And thus you have the manner & full description of the Day-Netts, with the●… Taking Birds with the Lim●…Bush use and benefit. I will now proceed to another man ne'er of taking other small Birds, as Hed●… Sparrows, Linnets, Bullfinches, and all sor●…es of small Birds, which haunt Hedgges, Bushes, Shrubs, or any covert whatsoever in the open Field, which Birds are for two uses, namely, either pleasure or food, pleasure because every one of them naturally, have excellent Field. Notes, and may therefore be kept in Cages, and nourished in their own tunes, or else trained to any other Notes, according to the pleasure of the owner, or else for food, being of pleasant taste, and exceeding much nourishing, by reason of their Natural heat, and light digestion. These Birds are best to be taken with the great Limebush, or Lime-Tree after The shape of Bush. this manner. You shall cut down the main Arm or chief Bough, of any Bushy Tree, whose branches, 〈◊〉 twigs, are long, thick, smooth, and strait, without pricks, knots, or other crooked and deformed roughn●… of which the Willow-Tree or 〈◊〉 are the best, and for want of them you may take the great Sallow, the Poplar, Aspen, or any other of like thickness, and smoothness, and when you have picked it and trimde it, from all leaves, knots, crooked branches, Moss, or any other superfluity, making the twigs neat, and clean, (yet not taking away any of the little Natural bud knots, which grow thick on every branch) you The ●…ner of Lyming. shall then take of the best Lime, well mixed and wrought together, either with Hogs-grease, Goose-grease, or Capons-grease, (but the Goose or Capons is the best) and being warmed a little, you shall with the same, Lime every twig and branch upon the Tree, from the very top and upper end of every twig, down (within four fingers or three about) to the bottom. As for the body and main branches of this Tree, (from whence the smaller twigs do a●…ise) those you shall not touch with any Lime at all. Now in the Lyming of this Tree, you Observation in Liming. shall observe not (by any means) to ●…able your Lime on too thick, wher●…y it may be too much apparent, for the birds will be apt to find favit 〈◊〉, and then you shall not by any in●…ment train them to your Bush, whe●… fore make sure to spread you Lime ●…o thin as may be, even so as you may 〈◊〉 or nothing change the colour of 〈◊〉 natural twigs, which may with gre●… ease be done by working one twig wi●… another, and one branch with another, and by making those which have too little Lime, to take it away from tho●… which have too much, till each have ●…qually alike; and yet in this manner o●… Liming, you are to observe that not any twig want his sufficient proporti●… of Lime, or have any part left bare and untouched (which ought to be touch●…) but that all be truly and arteficially d●…cribed; for as too much may hind●… the coming of the Birds, so too li●… will want strength to take them, wh●… they do come. When your Bush is thus prepared, 〈◊〉 The use of the Bush. Limed, you shall then carry it forth 〈◊〉 the Field, (for it is intended that 〈◊〉 Tree ought not in any wise to be abo●… a man's usual and reasonable burden, and finding where the haunts of th●… small Birds are, which in the Springtime commonly is about quickset hedgges, or dead hedges, near unto Town's ends, back-yeards, old houses, or any other covert and habitation where people resort. In the Summer and Harvest, in Groves, Bushies, whitethorn Trees, and quickset-hedges near Corn fields, fruit trees, Vineyards, Flax-lands, Hemp-lands Rape-lands or the like, and in the dead of Winter about Houses, hovells, Barns, Stacks or any place where either Corn, seeds or any chaff or gambling is scattered, (for it is to be intended that this use of the Bush will continue the whole year through) you shall then as near as you can to any of these haunts, place your Limebush, as if it be a hegde, then close by the hedge, if a Tree then close to the Tree, if a stack, within a pace or two of the stack, and so of the rest, provided always that wheresoever you pitch down your Bush, you may ever at the foot thereof, or as near as is possible, ●…aue some close Covert where yourself may sit concealed, and unperceaved of ●…he Birds, and in such manner that what●…oeuer sound shall proceed from you, it may still seem to the Birds to co●… from the Bush. When these things are thus prepared, Of the Bird call. and yourself placed, you shall then 〈◊〉 you can (and the Art is easily learned) with your lips and Tongue begin 〈◊〉 chirppe like a Sparrow and to call as they do when the Cock and the Henn●… 〈◊〉 removed one from another, than yo●… shall with another note (more whi●… like) call like the Linnet, or Bull●…, 〈◊〉 your notes as your fancy pl●…, yet ever and anon calling conti●… in one note or other. Now for as much as this Art is a litt●… How to learn to call Birds. hard and curious, and that no words 〈◊〉 writing can express the true sound th●… of, or show the motions, ordering o●… sounds which must proceed from th●… Lips, Tongue, and breath, it is mee●… that he which is studious, and would 〈◊〉 skilful in this Art, do go into th●… Field where these Birds do haunt, and there making their notes, chyrps, an●… whistels, practise as near as he can 〈◊〉 counterfeit the same, till he be grow●… to that exquisite perfectness therein, th●… he may perceive the Birds to gath●… 'bout him where he lies, and sitting on the branches above him, hearken and listen to the sounds he uttereth, this when he perceiveth, he may conclude himself an absolute Master in the Art, and then take upon him to go abroad with the great Limebush, doing in all points as hath been before recited: But if either nature or accident do deny you this couning, and that by no means you can frame your Lips or Tongue to these sounds, (as I have known diverse, that could never in all their lives learn to whistle, others that could never learn to tune,) than you shall either mak●… or buy a Byrd-call, of which there are diverse, and very easy to be framed, some of wood, some of horn, some of Cane, and such like stuff; the full proportion and making whereof, shall be at large set down hereafter in a particular Chapter. With this Call (having learned artificially The manner of Taking. how to use it) you shall sit under your Bush and call the Birds unto you, and as any of them shall light upon your Bush, you shall let them alone and not ●…oue till you see them safely entangled, with their own skipping up and down, and struggling when they find themsel●… ensnared will do better, than any aff●… from you whatsoever, neither shall yo●… stir for a single Bird, one, or two, 〈◊〉 stay till many be entangled, for the 〈◊〉 that are taken will with their striving 〈◊〉 fluttering in the Bush, be as good as stales, & make a world of others repair unto them. Now as soon as you do perceive your Bush to be pestered, you shall then rise up and take all such as are i●…angled, and either nip them in the heads, or put them alive into a bag at your pleasure, and according to the purpose for which you intent them; and this ●…ercise you may use from before Su●… rise, till ten of the Clock in the 〈◊〉 noon, and from one in the afternoo●… till almost Sunnesette in the Evening, 〈◊〉 which space, I have seen twenty do●… of Birds taken, and sometimes mo●… sometimes less, according to the seas●… of the weather, (which would be 〈◊〉 and bright,) or the fruitfulness of 〈◊〉 haunts in which the Birds har●… 〈◊〉 There be others which take these 〈◊〉 Birds with Limetwiggs only, (and 〈◊〉 with the great Bush) by rising early in ●…king 〈◊〉 ●…ith Lime-twigs. the Morning before the day break, and going to the haunts, watch when the Birds go forth to seek their food, (which is ever at the spring of the day) and then finding that they have forsaken the Hedges, they go and place their Limetwiggs all along the Hedges, some uppright, some slope wise, and some cross, and there withal of such a convenient thickness, that the Birds can come no way into the Hedge, but of force they must be entangled: this done they go into the Corne-Fields, Meadows, or Grounds which are adjoining, & where the Birds do feed, and there beating them up and scarring them, make them retire to the Hedges in great flocks and dryfts, into which they are no sooner entered, but presently they are entangled amongst the Lime-twiges, and so taken in great abundance,: But this manner of taking small Birds, is not so general as the former, for it is but for one certain time of the year, as in the Spring, and fall of the Leaf, and at one certain time of the day, as an hour before Sun rise, and an hour after, whereas the other is all the year long, and at all seasons and houre●…, so long as the weather is clear and the Sun shineth. There is yet another way of taking Use of Stales with the Limebush. these small Birds with the great Limbebushe (before mentioned) and that is if either you want a call, or have not the true ufe of a call: than you shall employ the Stale, (of which there are diverse) as thus for instance: when your Bush is placed as was before showed, you shall then take a night Batte or two, being alive, and place them upon the object which is next of all to your Lime bush, and in such apparent manner, that no Bird thereabouts but may behold them, which will no sooner be perceived, but every Bird will come to gaze and wonder at them; then having no other convenient lighting place but the Limebushe, they will flock as thick into the same as may be, and so you may take them at your pleasure. Now as these night Batts, so the Owl is of like nature, and may be employed after the same manner; and by reason that she is less stirring and more melancholy than the Bat, as also of greater quantity, and sooner to be perceived, she is a better Stale than the Bat. Now if you have not a live Owl or a live Batte, if you can get but the skins of either and stop them with wool or flocks, they will serve as well as if they were alive, and continue (with careful keeping) twenty years and better. I have seen some that for want of either of these hath had an Owl so lively cut out in wood, and so artificially painted, that it hath served him for this purpose, as well as any live one could do, and he hath taken Birds in wonderderfull great abundance therewith. CHAP. XII. Of the taking of Hawks of all kinds, and all Ages. Having written of the general taking of Land-Fowle of all sorts both great and small; and also descended to the taking of some particular Birds as hath been before showed; we will now write of the manner of taking of Hawks of all kinds; especially such as are most frequent in our Kingdom, and with which my experience hath oft been familiar, as the Goshawk, and her What Hawks breed in England. Tercell, the Sparrowhawke and her Musket, the Me●…ne, Hobby, Kestrel, Ringtaile, and the like, all which have their eyries and breed in this kingdom, as also the Faulcon-Gentill, Haggard, Passenger, and diverse others, which though naturally they breed not amongst us, yet by many accidents they come into the Kingdom wild, and sometimes breaking out of the Mew turn wild, so that without some especial Art they are not to be recovered, because having any long time preyed for themselves, the Luer, voice, and all rules of obedience are then utterly forgotten. To begin then with such Hawks as The taking of young Hawks. breed in our Kingdom, you shall understand that they are to be taken three several ways, and at three several seasons: that is to say, either from the Eyrie after they be disclosed (and then they be called Eiasse,) or after they be full summed and begin to forsake their Nest, (and then they be called Braunchers;) or last, after they have prayed for themselves (and then be called Sore-Hawkes, or Hawks in their S●…reage.) For the taking of the Eiasse Hawke The taking of Eiasse Hawkes. or Hawkes, from the Airy, which is as soon as they be disclosed, and have cast off the first Down which covereth their feathers, there is but small difficulty to be used, more than in the finding out of the Airy or Nest, which is soon done by walking up and down in the Woods amongst the tallest and goodliest Trees How to find the Airy. which grow in the thickest coverts and are furthest from paths, ways or places where people accustom to frequent, for in such they build and no other, and if you chance to come where the Airy is, you shall know it by the mutings & slycings of the old hawks; which will not only bedaube the Tree and trences under the Airy, but also the ground and other places; as also, commonly upon the ground (at the foot of the tree) you shall find much plumage, feathers and bones of birds scattered, any of which characters when you find, you may then be well assured that there the airy is; so that if you please but to watch near or about the same, either early in the morning, or at the closing of the evening you shall see the male Hawk bring in prey for the female Hawk which sitteth upon the nest, which when you see, you may then (if you please) when the female riseth to bathe or solace herself (which commonly is about high noon) climb up into the tree, & look into the nest, and view how many eggs she sitteth upon; but in any wise be careful not to touch any of them or give any affright fright to the old Hawk, but only look upon them and so depart, (for any gross affright will soon make her to forsake the airy.) This done you must let them rest till the young Hawks be disclosed, which after they are a week or ten days old you may take them from the nest at your pleasure, and bear them home, and so bring them up, with war●… meat and live birds till they be f●…ll summed and hard feathered, and after reclaim and man them as you shall find occasion. These Hawks be called Eiasse, or Fool hawks because they will dote and be fond of the man as of their natural dambes, following him up and down, and crying after him for food as oft as they see him or be hungry, yet this is not the best manner, nor the best season for the taking of young Hawks; for neither can the man feed them so naturally and choicely as the true damn can, nor half so well preserve their feather from hurts and bruises, which by reason of their tenderness & bloodiness they are much subject unto, and a hurt taken on the feathers whilst they are in the blood may disable The rake●… of 〈◊〉 the hawk in flying most part of the year following. The second season for the taking of young Hawks is when they are Branchers, that is to say, when they are full summed; hard quill-featherd, and begin to forsake their Nests and trust to their own wings, skipping from bough ●…o bough, (yet not far from the Nest) and as it were trying their feathers, and by degrees enabling them to beai●… and carry their bodies, ever and anon expecting food from the old Hawks, (for as yet these Branchers are not able to pray for themselves.) This as soon as you shall perceive, you The manner of placing the Nets. shall then (being fitted of all such implements, as shall hereafter be specified) very early in the Morning (as before day) arise and go to the Airy, and there watch the rising of the old Hawks, when they go forth to fetch their prey; and soon after they are departed, you shall see the young Hawks also rife from the Nest and fly forth upon the boughs and branches of the Tree, skipping and fluttering up and down from one arm of the Tree to another; and h●…rein in you shall observe the ways and passages which they take when they first leap from the Nest, and through which boughs and branches they go (for their goings out and their comings in are ever certain) and marking which is the fittest for your purpose, you shall presently climb up into the tree, and having diverse little nets of two foot, or two foot and a half square, made of strong twisted Housewives thread, and died as near as you can to the colour of the leaves of the tree, that it may give no affright or dislike to the Hawks; you shall place one about the Nest (half circular) and leaving one only passage in and out, from and two the Nest, and this Net shall as it were penthouse over, or cover the Nest above head; yet at least a foot and half higher than the Nest, and in such secret manner that it may not be perc●…ed, for to lie too close and near the Nest or to open and plain to be perceived, will quickly scare the Hawks from the Nest, and make frustrate all your labour. This Net shall be a running Net so What kind of Nets drawn upon a stroug line, that when any thing shall strick against it it may run together like a purse, and so enclose and keep fast the thing taken, and to that end you shall make fast the strong lines to some knagge or branch of the tree, that when the hawk or hawks are taken, they may not fall down to the ground with the nets, but hang fettered in the same; and that in such straight and little compass that they may not have liberty to beat or bruise themselves but hang safe without the breaking or hurting of any feather; which above all things is chiefly to be regarded, for the breaking and bruising of any of the main feathers, is such a disabling of the hawk, that either she will not be able to fly at all, or if 〈◊〉 do fly, yet through the want of those hurt feathers she will not be able to make fourth her way with that natural and true swiftness which otherwise she would do, and where the prey is too hard in flight for the pursuer, there is not only all labour lost, but the pleasure deprived and no contentment to be taken in the pastime; besides it makes the Hawk grow cowardly and fearful, and forces her to turn Tail, by reason of the knowledge she takes of her own inability and weakness; When you have thus placed your first Net about and over the Nest, you shall The placing of the other Nets then take your second Net of the same size and fashion, and place it between the most thickest and usual branches, through which the Hawks pass two and fro, both from & to the Nest, and which before you had principally marked when the Hawks went first from the Nest, and this Net you shall place, somewhat more upright than the first, yet as close and secretly, and having great regard that the Hawks may by no means pass either under or above it without danger of taking, and it shall also as the first run together like a purse, when it is stricken into, and be fastened after the same, manner to the branches, that it may by no means fall to the Ground, but contain and hold the Hawk till you come to unloose her. Now if you do perceive that every Observation in takeing of Hawks. 〈◊〉 Hawk when she cometh from the Nest, taketh a several way, and that there be several passages about the Nest, in which they take great delight, you shall then in every one of those same passages and likelihoods, place one of these Nets so cunningly as may be, that they may neither go from the Nest, nor come to the Nest without the danger of taking of them. When you have thus placed your Nets What to be done when the Nets are placed. and made every noose fast and sure from slipping, you shall then with all speed come down from the tree, (for it is ●…tended that this work must be done withal speed, and before the old hawks return home with their prey to the nest, for if they shall come home and fi●…e you busy about the same, they will not only find fault thereat, but also en●…ce the young Hawks away from the place, and make you both loose your present labour, and also make you bestow a great deal more in finding out of their n●…we haunts and passages:) Being descended from the tree, you shall place yourself close in some covert, where neither the old Hawks, nor young Hawks may discern you; and yet so, as the old Hawks may in no wise return, nor the young Hawks remove any whither but where you may discern them, and see both their meeting and encounter, and what prey they bring home to their young ones. Now as soon as the old Hawk is come in with her prey, (which for the most part are ever li●… Birds) you shall presently see the young Hawks flock●… about her, and then will she drive them all before her to the nest (being ever herself the last) and then as many of them as chance but to touch your Nets, they are presently entangled, and what escapes in going to the Nest, you shall be sure to take in the coming from the same again & what you fail of in the first morning, you may be sure to accomplish in the second or the third. Now if it happen (at the first coming in of the old Hawk as the young ones pass to the Nest) that one or two be stricken and taken in your Net, you shall not presently ascend the tree, and fetch them down, but let them hang still in the Net till the old Hawk have fed the rest, and is again departed, and that those young Hawks which escaped, likewise are come again from the Nest; and if (by reason that the Nets are filled) they then go free, you presently go up to the tree and fetch down those which are taken, loosening the Nets, and folding them about the Hawks so close that they may by no means flutter and stir any feather about them, but lie still without moving. When you are descended and comen How to take H●…kes fr●…m the Nett●…s. to the ground again you shall then in the g●…lest so●…t you can, take the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the nets, without stri●… or ●…uffling of their feathers, and presently make them up, and if you have any Ruster hoods, you shall put them on their heads, for it will keep them the quieter, and make them less subject to struggle or hurt themselves. For the manner and form of Mayling The manner of Mayling Hawks. of your Hawks, it is thus to be done; you shall take a handkerchief, or any square piece of Linen cloth, Canvas, or the like, and then knit the two ends of any one side together in such straight and close manner that the Hawk may only thrust her head thorough it and no more, and that the pinions of the wings may rest upon the noosse, and stay the body from going thorough; than you shall draw the rest of the handkerchief all over the Hawks body, and folding it close together about her train, wrap it in such sort fast about the body of the Hawk that she may in no wise stir or move any feather about her; and if herein you observe to draw out the Hawks legs, so as she may not pull them up, or gather them close to her body, it will be more easy for the Hawk, and you shall carry her with a great deal less danger. There is another manner of Mayling T●…etrussing of Hawks. of Hawks, and that is to take a soft flat string of leather, (or any other gentle stuff, which will neither pinch much, nor yet yield much) & this string you shall put down between the pinion of the wing & the hawks body as low as you can; and then bringiug it about the outward part of the wing draw the two ends together, & knit them of a reasonable straitness, so as the hawk may by no means move or stir any part of her wing, which done you shall do like to the other wing, so carry home your hawks, & then gently unmaile or untruss them as you shall findoccasion, for the less time your hawk lies mailde or trnst up, the more wholesome it is for your hawks body, and the longer she lies mailed or trusst up, the more apt she is to receive disease or lameness. And herein is also to be understood that this latter kind of Mayling of hawks (a trussing up of the wings) is nothing near so good as the first Mayling with the handkerchief, nor carrieth a Hawk so easily nor yet so free from danger, becanse it not only pincheth the wings and maketh the pinions sore and tender, but also, a little bruiseth the feathers, which being but newly quilled are not come to their full strength and hardness, and if any of them chance to be in blood (as all Hawks (though of one Airy) yet some not at one instant) than it is great odds but this trussing them either breaketh or bruiseth them in their blood, whereby those feathers are made unserviceable, for all that year following. There be some that when they take The Ceiling of Hawks. these young Hawks, do neither Mail them nor Truss them, but only Seel them after this manner. They take a Needle with a square point (which we commonly call a Glover's Needle) being fine, small and much worn, and put in it a Crimson silk, than put the Needle between the Hawks eye, and the neither lid of the eye, and so draw the silk thorough it, and then bring it cross over the Hawks head, and there taking the Needle from the Silk, bring the two ends of the same over the top of the Hawks head, and so drawing both the neither lids close over the eyes, knit them with a fast knot upon the crown of the Hawks head, and so carry her either in your handkerchief, or upon your hand, at your pleasure. But this manner of Ceiling of hawks Discommodities in Ceiling of Hawks. is both troublesome, painful, and dangerous to the hawk, and except the man have a steady hand and a cunning eye that doth it, he may not only endamage the putting out of the Hawks eye with the point of the Needle; but also by any little over straining of the silk, tear out the skin of the lid, and thereby both cause a foul blemish and sometimes blindness as is continually seen in daily experience. To help then this discommodity of Help for the discom modities. Ceiling; If you have neither skill to Mail your Hawk, nor to truss your Hawk (rather than you shall Seel her) you shall take a plain Ruffter hood which some call the first hood) being made of soft and gentle leather, large and easy for the head, and put it upon her, and so carry the Hawk home. The next manner of taking of hawks Taking Hawks in their Soreage. (according to their seasons) is to take them in their sorage, which is indeed from that time they have preyed for themselves and are masters of their own strengths and courages, being able to make a true choice of their prey, and to conquer it; until the first whole year be fully expired, and that they have mewed and exchanged either all, or at least, most part of their first feathers, after which time of the second coat, they are no more called Sore-hawkes, (or hawks in their soreage) but entermewers, (or hawks of the second Coat) and they are most easily to be distinguished from the first, for the feathers of the second coat are a little more palish blue, and not so black as are those of the first, and every time that she changeth, her coat is paler and paler till she come to be called a white Hawk, which you shall so much the easilier distinguish, if you observe the differences of her feathers, for no hawk meweth so entirely but she leaveth ever some feather of the former year unmewed, & those are so easily to be distinguished one from an other, that any diligent observation you shall be ever able to know of what year or age your hawk is. Now to proceed to the manner of taking these hawks in their sorage, or after they preyed for themselves, you shall (being perfect in the knowledge of the airy for that is ever first to be intended) most diligently mark their morning and evening going forth to find out their prey, and how and where they prey, as also the manner of their returning home, & where they take their stand (that is, on what branches of the tree they do most usually sit) for hawks are the constantest of all birds to the places whereunto they enure & wont themselves, neither will as others do sit one while in one place & another while on an other. Therefore when you are acquainted with their hours of going out & the places where they sit at their return, you shall then take advantage of her going out, & when she is absent about her prey, you shall climb the tree where her stand is & in a straight place through which necessarily she must pass, you shall take a pair of those Nets, which Faulkoners commonly do call Urines, or Urns, being not much different in shape from the nets formerly described for the Branchers only they are much, larger and more hollow in compass, and indeed are to be bought almost of any Barber, or Nettemakers which dwell in the Wood Countries; and they must be of strong twisted brown thrid, and died either Blue or Green, as aforesaid, with a reasonable large mashe, for that sooner entangleth and holdeth the faster. These Urines you shall place in every Placing of the Urines several passage, and in sundry Trees round the stand which the Hawks usethso as she may come no way to the stand without danger of the Nets, into which if at any time she strike, she is presently taken, and then to be disposed as was formerly described. Now because you may not in any wise suffer the Hawk to hang too long in the Net for fear of bruising and hurting herself, you shall as soon as your Urines are placed, take up some secret and unseen place, where you may lie and watch the coming of the hawk and as soon as you see her strike or be entangled, presently (with as convenient speed as you can, and not doing any hurt to your other sport) you shall assend up to the tree, and take down the hawk and mail, truss or hood her as you shall find occasion. Now if by the uncertainty of the Taking with stales Hawks coming home, or the openness and liberty of the passages which these young Hawks have, you find that this manner of work availeth not, you shall then rise two hours at the least before day, and come as near to the Hawks stand (or resting place) as you can possibly get (without giving of any affright or amazement to the young Hawks) and ascending up into such trees as you see doth most face those places where the Hawks sit, and are so plain in their views that they cannot rise without beholding them, and in such trees amongst the most convenient branches you shall pitch and place your Urines, and under the guard of them you shall fix Stales of such Birds, either great or little, as you see the Hawk daily preyeth upon, and these Stales you tie at such a convenient liberty, that they may flutter with their wings, and fly a little up and down about the Net, yet by no means without the guard of the Nets, nor so as the Hawk may not in any wise come unto them, or offer to strick at them without the certain danger of the Nets. And having thus placed your Nets round about the stand in every convenient place, you shall then descend and lodge yourself in some secret place where you may lie and watch what issue doth follow of your business; Then you shall see that as soon as the day openeth, and the Hawk beginneth to rouse herself upon her stand, and to gaze and look about her (as it is the nature and manner of every Hawk) and hath also cast up her casting of plumadge, or feathers which she had received into her body the day and night before, and is then sharp, eager, and hungry, as of necessity and likelihood she must needs be. Then will she no sooner espy your Stales, but with all speed possible she will fly unto them, a●…d striking at them with great eagerness (as her hunger will compel her) she will presently be entangled in the Neetes, so as you may take her at your pleasure; and thus in one morning with a little diligence and temperance, in one morning you may take the whole Airy; But if out of too much rashness and hastiness, or for the covetousness to be Master of one Hawk you rise up to soon, and show yourself, whereby the rest of the Hawks do take affright or dismay; presently those Hawks untaken will mout and fly away, and so all the rest of your hope is utterly lost for that day, and you must begin again and be more ad●…ised the next morning. There be some that for the taking of Taking with Lime diversely. these Sore-hawkes do use lime-rods, or a little small Lime bush artificially made of fine twigs fixed so gently into a little socket of wood made like a handle, that as soon as any thing toucheth or striketh them they presently depart from the socket and clap close to the thing that toucheth them, whereby they are entangled, these little bushes are artificially placed about the stand where the hawk useth to sit, compassing it so about that the Hawk cannot come to the same, whether with wings opened or wings close, but she must of necessity touch the points of the rods, (for more than the points must not come near the stand, or appear, above it for fear of giving affright) and then as soon as the points are touched, (leaving the socket) they clap under the Hawks wings and so entangle her. As for the lime-rods which are to be used single by themselves, they must be fixed to the nearest branches to the stand, coming sloapewise so near unto the stand that the Hawk cannot come in, or settle herself upon the same, but must of force touch some one point or other of them, which no sooner shall be touched, but presently it must forsake the place where it was fixed and clap unto the Hawk; which assoove as she feeleth, and beginneth to be angry, and to beat or struggle with her wings, then instantly the rest clap about her, and altogether entangle her. And here is i●… to be noted that these Limerods must not be only placed in and about the Stand, or that particular place where the Hawk most usually sitteth, but also in and about all passages and places of likelihood through which the Hawk goeth, or flieth when she comes to the stand; yet in such secret & close manner and so sheltered with leaves, and other branches, that the Hawk may by no means discern or distinguish them from the natural sprays or twiggs of the tree. And here is further to be noted that these single Lime-twigs or Limerodds may be of a good size or length, as a foot, or a foot and a half, and Limed either half or three parts, as occasion shall serve, yet the smaller and finer that these rods are the better they are, and do much sooner catch and more safely entangle. But for those that are to be used Bush-wife in the wooden sockets or handles, containing some a dozen, and some sixteen rods in a cluster, yet so as one may not touch another; these must be as small as small may be, as not above six inches at the most, and limed about four inches and no more, two inches being left clean and unlymed: that is to say, half an inch which must stand in the socket; and also an inch and a half above the Socket, which is preserved for the Man to handle and touch, when either he putteth the Rods into the Socket, or taketh them out of the Socket. Now for the manner of making of The making of the little Lime bus●…e. this little Limebush with the Socket, it is two ways to be framed, that is to say, if the Socket be round and thick and of a large compass, whereby it is to be fixed into the Stand, and nothing but the rods to appear above, then must all the holes (in which the Limerods must stand) be made above sloapewise all of one just height and just depth, and the Rods of one true and equal length without difference. But if the Socket must be small and slender whereby it cannot contain above a hole or two on the top of the Socket, and that it is to be fixed amongst the branches as a natural branch, or a main spray of the Tree, then must the holes be made sloapewise down all the length of the Socket, and in such wise as you see twiges grow, that is to say not one just oposite to another, but one in the mid part or middle space between two, as by cutting of any natural bushy branch whatsoever, you may easily perceive. And in this case you shall not have your Rods all of one entire length, but the uppermost must be the shortest, (as about the scantling before mentioned of six Inches) and then the next longer by so much more as there is difference between the holes, and so as the tops may meet, and be of an equal height, the next longer than that, so as it may also meet in an even height with the first; and so consequently every one longer than other, yet so as none at the top may be longer or shorter than the first, but all meet of one equal height and make the Bush of one entire and even proportion. Now although this manner of taking Discommodities of taking with lime. with lime is very safe and certain and may be dove with more ease and less trouble than any of the former, yet is it nothing so good nor so neat: First, in respect it fouleth the feathers and glueth them together, whereby the hawk is deprived the perfect use of them, for the Birdlime (whose cleaving and sticking nature almost no man is so Ignoraut as not to understand) when it is gotten upon the feathers, doth so stick & felter upon the same, that it is almost in no wise to be taken away, but doth so disable the Hawk, that I have seen many in mine own experience, that albeit they did try many experiments, yet could they never make their Hawks (once limed) clean again, till those feathers were mewed & new came in their place; Secondly it fouleth and disableth not the ordinary and useless feathers (as the plumage on the breast, or the small feathers on the back, but the main and principal feathers belonging to the wings, and without which a Hawk cannot at all move, or bear herself in the Air. And lastly it is of such a melting and loose Nature, that albe it touch or hurt but a feather or two at the first; yet with struggling and striving, or much rubbing and handling of the Lime, or seeking to wash away the Lime with things not fit for that purpose, it presently spreadeth farther and farther, so that where there was but a few feathers infected, presently you shall have the whole Hawks body, and hardly any feather free from the annoyance of the Lime. Now in as much as the manner of takeing Remedies against Lime. of Hawkes is most common, (because most easy) both among Fowlers, and Falconers; and that indeed old Hawks are very hard or seldom gotten without the help of Lime, as well in respect oftheir Natural wing, and skill to apprehend and find out what they imagine may hurt them, as also in respect of their vigilance and care to fly and eschew all manner of affrights, and shows which shall interpose and happen between them and the places which they have chosen for their haunts: And because that every man is not a taker of Hawks, but may and doth many times buy his Hawk from the Fowler or other Land-taker, and that indeed the Fowler or Land-takers, may and do happen very many times light of excellent principal choice Hawks, both Haggards and others, that therefore this offence of Lime may neither hinder you of a good jewel when it is tendered you. nor abate from the Fowler any part of the just reward and merit which is due to his labour, as also that ignorance in this case may not hinder you of a full years' sport, (as many times it doth when this mischance happeneth) but that you may cleanse and make clean your Hawk; presently as soon as you see this pollution and foulness, you shall first observe to take off your Limerods with your wet hands, (having for that purpose ever water in readiness) so gently and easily as may be, not rolling (as some do) the Limerods up and down and so spreading them farther, but (lifting them upright and putting a white paper between the Lime-rodd and the feathers) divide them gently without any further annoyance, and between every feather and another that is touched with the Lime, (as near as you can) put a little piece of white paper, for this will both keep the other feathers from further infection, and also suck in the Lime and make it much apt and easier to be taken away, nor will it let the lime spread any whitt further than it was at the first applying, then having thus guarded all the rest of the feather, you may very well mail up your Hawk (if she be a wild one) or otherwise put on a Rufter-hood, and so bring her home (but mayling is the better) when you have brought her home, you shall unmayle her; and first, take away one paper (beginning with the principalest feathers) and then having very fine clarified Capons Grease, or at least Goose-grease, anoint the limed feather very well and thick therewith, then take of the finest hour glass sand and scatter it as thick as you can upon the ointment; which done go to another infected feather and do as much, and so consequently to as many feathers as you can well handle at one time, and then having warm water ready, bathe the infected feathers (thus dressed as aforesaid) in the same, and then gently rubbing and chafing the Limed feathers between your fingers, working off the Lime, which you shall find will come away in thick little rough rolls so fast as you can wish or desire it. But if it so happen that you cannot come to bathe these feathers in the warm water, than (having anointed them as aforefaide, and pounust on the sand) you shall take a piece of spundge, and dipping it in the warm water, bathe the feathers therewith and then working them between your fingers you may easily bring away the Lime as aforesaid, and make your hawk as clear as she ewas before her taking, observing ever and anon when the Lime sticketh & cometh not away so roundly and quickly as you would have it, then presently to pour on more of the sand, and so to continue, till the Hawk●… be thoroughly cleansed. Now there is another manner of taking Taking Hawks with the Lantern of theseyoung Hawks, and indeed no more generally for them then for other elder hawks of what nature or quality soever they be, so they take their stands either on Trees, Rocks, Towers, or any place aloft which is assailable, and where a man may climb without danger or eminent peril, and especially this manner of taking is excellent for the regaining of all such Hawks as shall happen to break out of the Mew, where having been long kept and without familiarity with the man (more than the receiving of their food) they are becomed almost utterly wild and Haggard again. And also for all such hawks as shall happen to escape or break away before they be reclaimed or made to know the man and obey his voice, or for any other wild hawk as hath been before spoken. Any of which chances or mischances The Art how to follow a hawk fled. when they shall happen unto you, you must first diligently pursue and follow the Hawk both by inquisition and Art: By inquisition, as by enquiring amongst Field-keepers, Shepherds, Herdsmen, and the like, if they have seen or heard of a Hawk, and by Art in taking advantage of the wind and weather, for if there blow any stiff or loud gale of wind then commonly, a Hawk will fly down the wind, but if the Air be mild, gentle, and pleasant, then now and then she will put up into the wind. Also you must have a very diligent eye to note in your pursuit if you see any Check arise, whether they be Crows, Pydgions, Ravens, or any other birds, for it is ten to one that there you shall be sure to find your Hawk. Now that you may know what a Check What a Check of any Fowl is, you shall understand that whensoever you see any flocks or multitudes of Crows, Pigeons, Ravens or the like, to raise up and gather together in one place & fly about and about in the same place making a noise, or showing much rouble and vexation, one while seeing, a nother while mounting, sometimes stoopeing, and sometimes rainging & wheelin and every motion showing either anger, fear, or amazement, according to the nature of the Fowl which are troubled, than you shall know that such an object is called a check, and that these Fowl (what soever they be) thus troubled are either pursued by some other Fowl of prey that is their enemy, or else have found some affright or amazement which causeth them thus to fly up and down●… and wonder: so that presently when you perceive any such check you must make into it and behold the reason thereof; and again as you have an eye and care to respect this matter of check and the other observations before specefied, so also if your hawk be a long winged hawk and altogether trained up at the River, and that the time of the year and season is fit for that purpose than you must have a diligent regard to look down to the valles and lower grounds, especially in the morning & evenings, & at such times as are fire for pray, and there you must beat along the River side, and about all blank or standing waters as are plashes, pits, quarries, or any other place where either Duck, Mallard, Shell-fowle, or Greene-fowle have any haunt, and it is great odds but in some one of th●…se places and at these times and seasons, you shall find your Hawk, but if it be not a long-wingd Hawk, but a short-wingd Hawk, as a Goshawk, Tercell or the like, than you shall make your search about Woods, Groves, plumps of Trees, and such like places where Birds great or little do resort, as also about men's Houses, Barns, backe-yardes, Pullen-houses, and such places where Pullen do resort and use to feed, for Gos●…wkes and such like, especially those which are called Poulterers do ever most frequent those places, and will ever for the most part take there stands either in high Trees, or on the tops of unfrequented Houses, or on the top of some other high stakes, or Hovells near adjoining to such places. Now when by this atificiall search and inquiry you have found your Hawk, you shall then with all care and diligence watch and pursue her from place to place till you bring her to the evening or night stand, which will be about the closing or setting of the Sun, (for it is to be presupposed, that this Hawk is utterly ramadge and wild, and not to be taken by any Call or Luer:) when you have therefore brought her to the stand, and see her safely and constantly settled, which you shall know by the rousing of herself and shaking of her feathers, as also by her feaking, pruning, and such like delights, which she will take in herself after she is constantly settled, (for before you shall see no such motion come from her) than you may be bold to depart and leave her, for without some extraordinary affright, nothing will move her till the next morning; then having provided all things, fit for your purpose, both for climbing unto her, as also for the matter and manner of her taking, you shall then in the dead of the night, and when it is at the uttermost darkness, (for no night can be too dark for this purpose) come to the stand and having with you a dark Lantern (which is that which showeth the light at one side, and by the turning of your hand may be extinguished and wholly dark at your pleasure) you shall turn the light of the the Lantern just before your face, and as directly against the hawk as you cau device, to carry it, and so with as little noise as as you can possible make, you shall climb up to the Hawk, observing ever to carry the Lantern so just before your face, that your Hawk may in no wise perceive your face, for the least blink thereof may affright her, but being well guarded by the light of the candle, and the darkness of the night, you are safe enough, and may by this means come even to the very branch, or certain place whereon she sitteth, unto which as soon as you are arrived and that the Hawk is within the compass of your reach, you shall then very 〈◊〉 artificially steal up your other hand in which the Lantern is not, and with it take her fast by the legs, thrusting your great singer between her legs, and your forefinger on the outside of one leg, and your middle finger and little finger on the outside of the other leg, and so hold her that she can neither stir nor move; then having a hook or some other crooked engine at your side whereby to fasten your Lantern, presently clap the Hawk to the contrary side with one hand and stay the batting of her wings with the other, and then having your handkerchief or some other linen cloth in a readiness, presently mail the Hawk and so bring her down from the stand and carry her home. This is a certain and most infallible way for the taking of any of those wild Hawks before mentioned, yet if in this work you observe to cover your face with a close hood either, of green or blue colour leaving only two loop holes for your eyes and the rest of your face concealed, your work will be more easy, and you shall come to your prey with a great deal less suspicion, for nothing is so affrightful in this case as the face of the man only. And albe the glimmering or light of the candle mixed with the darkness of the night is a guard sufficient, because the flame of the candle is the only object which taketh up the Hawks eye, yet nevertheless in as much as your hand may now and then chance sometime to fail in the carriage of the Lantern, and partly by looking for your right way, and to avoid danger, and partly to make sure your prey, so that you may neither come too rashly upon her, nor yet go too far away or wide on either hand, you may now and then let your Lantern slip from before your face to the hazard and loss of all your labour, therefore it is most expedient that you have this hood before spoken of to cover and conceal your face, and then you shall not need to fear, but your work will prosper and go on according to your wish, and in the fullness of perfection. Now there is another wild Hawk Of the old wild Haggard. (which is of a great deal more price and value then any of these which we have formerly written of) which will hardly or never be taken with any of these ways, means, devices, or engines before recited, because she is a Hawk of more age, circumspection and cunning and that is the Haggard Falcon gentle, and now and then (though seldom) the Gerfaulcon or the Gerkin. These Hawks come into this Land The coming of the wild Haggard. (or any other of like climate or temperature) in the beginning of Winter, and (according to the opinions of the best Falconers and Fowlers) to come in by the pursuing of Wildfowl (at that season of the year) from other more colder Nations, where the waters and rivers are closed up and covered with ice, so as they can neither find relief nor pleasure, nor any thing to sustain them; and here commonly they do continue from October to March (if the season of the year do fall out any thing wet) but after that time they depart again and will not stay by any means; whence it comes that your skilfullest Falconers will not (after March is spent, and sometimes before it be gone) in any wise let their Haggards fly either at the river or at any other prey (as the Hearne or the like) for by a very natural instinct and moving of their own bloods at that time of the year, they are forced upon every toy or conceit to fly away, nor will turn tail again, till they come into those colder Regions from which before they departed; where finding the river's beginning to open, and all sorts of foul to come in and resort, there she presently meeteth with her Tercel, where coupling and engendering, they bring forth their eyries together upon the rocks, cliffs, and other high places bordering near the Sea side. Now when the Haggard (whether it The haunts of Haggards. be Tercel or Falcon) is comed into this Kingdom, you shall understand that their haunts are ever for the most part both upon great and small rivers which run through low and large leveled valleys or plains, where there is ever some dry ground whereon to land her prey when she hath taken it, and where all kind of the middle sort of foul do resort, as Duck, Mallard, Tail, Widgeon, Shel-foule and Greene-foule; and up and down these rivers she will beat and fly at an extraordinary high pitch, so that if any foul happen either upon affright or otherwise to rise up; or if any foul happen to come in unto that river, th●…n be sure one of them is ever her own, for her art and skill is so great that it is hard for any foul to escape her. As they do haunt thus upon the rivers and moving streams, so also they will haunt upon the plashes and blank waters; in the open seasons, and when they are not closed and bound up with ice, and also upon pits and quarries where stone hath been digged, and upon small rundles or little narrow and shallow streams when any Fowl use but to frequent and lie upon the same. Now here is a principal thing to To know the good Hawk from the bad. be observed, that in searching the haunts of these Haggards, such Haggards as you shall find to pray upon the great, large and strong waters, whether they be rivers or blank waters, that you shall account ever those Hawks to be the best, as in that greatness and strength of conquest to be ever most valiant, most cunning and nimble and the highest fliers, and such Hawks as shall pray upon little pits, small plashes, or narrow rundels and small rivellets, that those are the weaker Hawks, less skilful, and less valiant. Now when you have either heard of, How to take these Haggards. or shall by your own especial observation see the coming in of any of these Hawks and from the knowledge of their own worth and value shall be desirous to make yourself owner and possessor of so gentlemanly and rich a treasure, you shall first then early in the morning by the spring of day rise up to watch her haunt, and as near as you can see her manner of preying (not so much for any thing that is available therein to the taking of the Hawk, as to have a true knowledge of her worth and excellency) when you have seen her take her prey and feed, you shall then see her rouse herself and go to her place of rejoicing, where after she hath fea●…t and trimmed herself, and pruned some of her feathers, you shall then watch her unto day stand, which is never very far from the place where she preyeth, and is most commonly either upon some dead remoate rail or pale, or some old stake or pole set up for cattle to rub themselves against in the Summer season, or else upon the withered trunk or arms of some old, dead and decayed tree; To which stand when you have watched her, and see her safely and constantly settled; you may then depart away about any of your other business, for she will not begin to stir (from that place) till it be towards evening, which commonly is between three and four of the clock in the after noon; Now about three quarters of an hour, or half an hour (at the least) before that time you shall come forth again, and watch her as before unto her evening prey, and so from thence to her night stand; which commonly will be either upon some medow-stake, mearestone, or else some of the other things before rehearsed: Now when you have thus found out both her day stand and her night stand, to which these Hawks are wonderful constant, you shall then the next morning come to the day stand and having noted the arm or the branch whereon she most usually sitteth: you shall mount up to the place and having very fine small long lime rods well limed with the best lime, you shall of them make a cradle, that is, you shall crosewise The Placing of the Cradle. place your lymerods on the branch or stake on penthouse wise hanging over another, that when the Hawk cometh in with her spread wings to light upon the stand, that then as she gathereth in her wings together, she may so draw in the lymerods under her wings, and by that means be entangled and taken, and these lymerods you shall place so you're and nimble to rise and fall about the Hawk, that upon the least touch of any feather they may presently in an instant cleave unto her, and one lymerod must depend and by a small string be so fastened unto another. that when the Hawk toucheth but one rod, presently in an instant all the rest may suddenly clap about her. Now that I stand not more seriously and in larger terms to describe this Cradle, the true manner figure and proportion, I hold it a matter half needless because it is a thing so exceeding frequent amongst all sorts of Falconers and Foulers, that hardly one man in ten if he have any skill or delight that way) but can show you how to perform it, Besides, these things which consist only in action and not in relation, are so hard to be set down in words (especially that an ignorant understander may get profit thereby, multiplicity of words confounding memory, and scarcity of words wanting satisfaction) that I had rather refer the diligent learner to a Q●…ere amongst the skilful Foulers, then by an animation of unperfect words, make him do any thing contrary to art and good order: let it suffice then that this Cradle is nothing else then a row or circle of lime-twigs which are fastened one to another with an entire third, and placed so artificially about the stand that the Hawk may by no means come to seat herself upon the same, without the danger of touching some one of them; which one touched, doth presently draw all the rest after it and by that means the Hawk is taken. When you have thus placed your cradle on the day stand, you shall then go to the night stand and there do as much, placing your cradle in the same manner as was before showed; and this must be done during the time that the Hawk is upon her day Stand, which performed, you shall then go again to the day stand to see what effect your work hath taken and if you find that the Cradle is either too largewhereby the Hawk cometh into her Stand without touching it, or too low & narrow, that all her feathers are so high above it that any of them can touch it; than you shall upon her first departure reform all those errors, and out of the true judgement of your eye, make it so fire that by no means possibly she may escape the second time, and then forthwith having the true scantling of the first Cradle, make the second (which is that upon the Nightstand) suitable and answerable in all points to the former, and so either in one or the other, you cannot choose but accomplish your purpose, which as soon as you have attained, you shall forthwith take the Hawk and draw off the Limerods in such sort as hath been before showed, than Mail her up, bring her home, cleanse away the Lime, and then man and order her according to the art of a skilful Falconer: and so keep●… her either for use or sale, as you shall find occasion or the necessity of you affairs requireth. There be other Fowlers which use to take these kind of Hawks) which go a nearer way to work (yet nothing more sure than this, or certain) and that is they will find out their haunts, some times by the Check and trouble of foul, which rising from the water will presently Enewe and turn back again to the River as not daring to go forward in their passage, or by the coming in of Fowl, and presently seeing them wheel about and turn back again as fast as wing can bear them, and sometimes by seeing the bald Buzzard, Ringtaile, or other such like cowardly birds of pr●…y, hanging and watching about the Rivers, for it is the nature of them, as soon as they see the Haggard, to follow, watch and alloofe to pursue him, and then when the Haggard hath taken his prey and fed thereon at his pleasure, as soon as she forsakes it and is gone away, presently this cowardly bird seizeth on the remainder and taketh such leave as the Haggard had left behind her, so that you cannot have a better guide unto the haunt of a Haggard than one of these Buzzards, for they will direct you at a hair to the place of their preying. Now therefore others which will not take this pains neither, but think it much to tedious, and therefore they will only desire to inform themselves of the Hawks stands, and they care for no further, whence it doth come that they will labour about to search in the most likely places to find out the stands, and when they come truly to the place indeed and where the stand is, they may perfectly know it by the Muting and Slycings of the Hawk, which indeed differeth much from any other Fowl whatsoever, and these Muting or Slyseyng will be in great plenty both upon the stand, and also round about the Stand. Now if it be the day Stand, than you How to know the Day-stand from the Nightstand. shall find about it nothing but Muting, & Slyscing without any mixture of other matter; But if it be the night Stand, than you shall find lying amongst the mutings many and diverse castings of feathers, plumage and the like, which you may know to belong to a Hawk, and no other Fowl, by the bigness, proportion and substance; For if it belong to a Falcon it will be almost as big as a reasonable Almond in the shell, fully as long and somewhat more ronnd, with both the ends alike of equal sharpness, and for the substance it will be all feathers and plumadge without any other mixture. Any of these characters, when you have truly found, and have 〈◊〉 great circumspection and ●…are vie●…ed them over and over, and see nothing to oppose and cross your opinion, than you may assure yourself, it is the sta●… of a Hawk. Now whether it be her Stand for the present time, or were her Stand in so●… late time before, but is now forsak●…, you shall know that difference by the ●…stings, but if it be a forsaken Stand you shall find no casting, but such as are dry, old, withered, and without any substance; but if it be her Stand for the present time, then shall you find ●…stings there of all natures, as some al●…gether dry, some three parts dry, some half dry, and some less; Nay if 〈◊〉 make diligent and careful search, you shall find amongst them the very casting which she cast but that Morning, which being wholly moist, you may with a small pressing, press moisture out of it all which when you have found true by a comparison betwixt them and your own experience, you may then assure yourself that you are right, and that this is the right Stand which you looked for, so that then you shall here place your Cradle, in such sort as hath been formerly described unto you, and then going to the Day-stand, you shall do as much there, and then giving good attention upon your work, you shall quickly find that the effect will make good your hopes to the uttermost of your wishes, and the full benefit of all your well taken labours. Now forasmuch as this Haggard Falcon Gentille and her Tercell which is the Male Hawk, are of so much prize and worthy estimation here amongst us, and that our Land affords them in the seasons before said in a reasonable plenty. I thought good in this figure following to represent unto your view, the true shape and Beauty of both these Hawks, the Haggard-Faulcon and the Goshawk. The form and fashion of the Haggard Falcon. The shape and fashion of the Goshawk. And thus much touching the necessary experience and knowledge for the artificial taking of Hawks of all kinds, and all ages, which are familiar with us here in England and do either breed, or come by chance intoour nation. CHAP. XIII. How to take diverse sorts of Land-Fowles, and Waterfowl, with Baits. Having spoken thus of the general taking of Land-Fowle of diverse and sundry natures, as also of the taking of sun dry other kinds of small Birds, great Birds, Birds of prey, and the like, for all such I have showed the Engines, Tools, Instruments, and devices which are to be applied in those businesses; I will now descend to another general way o●… taking diverse kinds of Land-fowle, and diverse kind of Waterfowl also, without any kind of engine or instrument at all but only with Bats, and inti●…ement of food; on which, 〈◊〉 soon as atany tim they shall feed, or taste, presently they shall be sticken senceless●… and sick, so as at your pleasure you may take them, and make yourself master of what prey soever you shall be disposed to spend your time upon, and although I cannot give any singular commendations of these experyments, so far fourth as they are applied to the taking of any Fowl or Birds which are to be used for food, because they are poisonous, and astonishing, and so may make the flesh which is so polluted and infected both dangerous & unwholesome, yet whensoever at any time they are used for the destroying, kill, and consuming of ravenous and wicked Birds, such as are Ravens, Kites, Buzzards, Carryon-Crowes and the like, any of which are not only hurtful to flocks and Foulds, by killing and destroying new yeaned Lambs, sick weak sheep and the like but also are very offensive to Conny-warrens, Parks and other places of Chase, by killing in great abundance many young Rabites, pecking out of the eyes of young Fauns Kydes and the like, then is there no knowledge more beneficial and excellent, or aught with greater violence to be pursued and followed in this busy and artificial pastime of Fowling, than this manner of taking and destroying Birds with these baits and engines of food, which are so much the more certain and assured and effected with greater ease and less labour, by as much as the food is fearful and affrightful than the engines, and that Birds will follow it with less suspicion and amazement, than either Nets, Limerods', Springs, S●…rings, or any other Engine, that carrieth a greater show and presenteth affright in a more large and horrid manner. To speak then first of the destroying How to destroy Kites Ravens, Buzzards, etc. of any of these wicked, ravenous and offensive birds; you shall first do well to observe their haunts, and the places where they hover most for the gaining and compassing of their prey; and above all things you shall observe the times and hours in which they are most sharp and eager for the getting of their prey, as namely, very early in the morning as soon as they do unpearch themselves & range about to get food, as also in the eveniug a little before Sunset, at which time likewise they rise from their day Stand, and do with as much painfulness hunt about & range to get food as in the morning; and especially, if it be at that time of the year, when they have young ones, then shall you not cast out any bait so fast as they will with greediness cease it, nay, and with that extraordinary eagerness, that they will not many times stick to strike at it, when you hold it fast within your fingers. Having thus sorted your time & place coweniently, you shall take a pretty quantity of Nux-Vomica, and first dissolve it either in wine vinegar, or wine lees, of which the lees of sweet wines are ever the best; or for want of them you may either take the lees of claret wine or white, then take the garbage or e●…trailes of any fowl or bird whatsoever; as whether it be Chicken, Pullet, Duck, Mallard, or any other foul that you have occasion to kill either for dinner or supper, or for want of such garbage you may take the intrals (which is the small gutes and other such like refuse stuff) either of Piges, Rabites, or any thing that you kill which is of like nature, and these intrals or garbage you shall all to besmear and anoint with the confection of Nux-Vomica, prepared as is before showed, and then cast fourth the garbage into such places where these ravenous Birds do haunt, and then lodge yourself in some convenient place, where you may watch the bait thus prepared, and you shall see that it shall no sooner be seized upon, and but a bit or gobbett or two devoured or swallowed down, that then presently whatsoever hath so eaten it, will presently grow dizzy and as it were dumb, reeling & tumbling up & down, until it fall into dead sound, so that you may come and with your hand gather them up. There be other Fowlers, which to Other ways to use the former Bait. work the destruction of these kind of ravenous Fowl, do take little pretty big pieces of raw lean flesh, as either Beef, Mutton, Veal, or any other kind of Flesh, and do make little secret holes in the, flesh, then take little pieces of Nux-Vomica, and put them into the flesh and so close the holes close together again, and then cast out the bait into such places where these ravenous Fowl resort, and so watching it as soon as the bait is ceased and preyed upon, presently it will work the same effect as was before spoken of, and you shall take your prey both certainly and quickly, nor need you (if you please) to take them single, or one by one, but if you please to cast out many of these baits, you shall take many of them at one stooping, for you shall fee them so eager and busy striving who first shall seize the first bait, that if you cast out twenty hardly will any one of them be found frustrate, but each will take the full effect, that either your labour or wish requireth. Now whereas some do use to stake Of fastening Baits to the Ground. down these baits, and fasten them so to the Ground that they may not be taken away, but that the Fowl shall be forced to prey upon them in the places where they lie, that is nothing near so good as to let them lie loof, and so as they may truss them and carry them away at their pleasure, for it is the nature of these ravenous Creatures to snatch and catch at their preys, and ever to truss it and carry it away with them, which when at any time they find to be fastened, and that it will not rise and go with them, presently they begin to doubt, and suspect that some mischief lies hidden therein, and you shall see them presently forsake it, & then mounting upon their trains, fly whueing into the Air, nor will they ever after offer to strike at it or come near it, for it is ●…o be understood that these ravenous Kites, as they are fearful and cowardly out of their own natures, so are they likewise infinitely jealous and suspicious, and apt to catch at any apprehension which shall be offered, either of fear or danger, and what places soever they suspect, from them they presently fly, nor can any enticement whatsoever again draw them within the compass of their former fear, and therefore to avoid this suspicion, let ever your Baits lie loose upon the ground, and so as they may easily be trust up and borne away by the violence of any stooping. Now as you use either the intrals 〈◊〉 Of carrion to be used for baits. garbage before spoken off, or else these smaller pieces of flesh, (of which we hau●… already sufficiently entreated) so you may use any kind of Carrion whatsoever, whether it be Horseflesh, or Dogs-flesh, or any other kind of flesh made carrion by any mischance whatsoever, and either besmear and daub it with this confecttion of Nux-Vomica dissolved as before said, or else stoup the gum as beforesaid into the fleshy parts of the carrion, and questionless you shall then take of these ravenous creatures in infinite abundance. Now if you have a desire to take any Taking of other foul with baits. other Land-fowle with these baits, as House-doves, Stocke-doves, Rooks, Choughs, or any other, than you shall take Wheat, Barley, Fetches, Tares or other pulsse, and boil them very well with good store of Nux-vomica in ordinary running water, and when they are almost boiled dry, and as it were ready to burst, than you shall take it from off the fire, and set it by, and cover it till it be thoroughly cold, and that the Grain hath sucked up and drunk in all the moisture; which done, take this Grain thus boiled, and in the several haunts where any of these kind of Fowl frequent, which you would have taken, scatter and strew it as thick as you can possibly devose, and be you then well assured of it, that as many of them as shall chance or happen but to take or eat of the same, presently they shall fall down in a dead swound, and you shall come and gather them up at your pleasure, for their dissinesse and drunkenness comes suddenly and swiftly upon them, that they shall have no time or leisure to slecke away or to hide themselves, but that you may take and gather them up, and so carry them whether soever you shallbe disposed. As thus you take these greater kind of Taking of small birds with Baits. Land-Fowle, so you may also take all manner of other smaller Land-Fowle, of what nature or quality soever they be whether of the lesser, middle kind, as are the Thrushes, Blackbirds, Fellfares, Iay●…, Starlings, and such like, or else of the smallest kind of Birds, as Sparrows, Robins, Linnets, Bullfinches, Cordials and a world of such like, if you do but observe to boil in your water with your Nux-V●…mica, the seeds of Grains in which any of these small birds do delight, as Hem●…sedd, Linseed, Rapeseed, and above all oth●… your Mustardseed, for though it be not so pleasant as any of the other seeds, not yet so apt to entice Birds to feed upon it, yet when it is thus used and boiled, it than doth take more surer and certain then any of the other seeds whatsoever, both by reason of the natural sharpness and fume which it carrieth, and sends up to the brain to amaze and intosticate it, as also the strength of the other mixture, which joining with the former natural violence, doth so utterly take away all sense and motion, that not any thing is left to the poor Bird but a most deadly slumber. There be other Fowlers which instead Other Baits. of the Nux-Vomica do only take the lees of wine, (and the sharper & quicker such lees are, the better they are and the better effect doth proceed from their use,) and in these lees of wines, they do boil any or all of their grains, as wheat barley, fetches, or any other pulse, as also any or all of the seeds formerly rehearsed, and do strew and scatter them in the haunts where the foul or Birds do usually use to haunt which you would take, and it is altogether as good and as fully effectual as the Nux-Vomica is, and is a great deal more neat and more wholesome, and far better than any other, for not being poisonous or infectit corrupteth not the blood, or leaves behind in the flesh any thing but what a man may with safety taste, having in it only a power to amaze and to astonish without any further danger or mischief, which on the contrary part to a scripulus conceit, is both offensive and loathsome as we find in daily experience. Now in the making of this confection need you to stand too strictly or sevearely on the boiling of it, for if you have not every thing answerable to your purpose, if you only steep and infusse your grains or seeds in the lees of wine, it will be fully as effectual, and without any boiling at all will do every way as much as can be desired herein, only it must then have a longer time to stand and infuse, so that the Grains or seeds may drink in the Lees, and be as it were ready to burst before you make any certain use of them. There be other Fowlers which in case Bait made with Hemlock and Henbanne. that they can neither get Nux-Vomica nor yet these lees of wine, will instead 〈◊〉 them take the juice of Hemlock and 〈◊〉 it steep these Grains or seeds, and then mix with them in that juice a p●…tie sprinkling of Henne-bane seed or Poppy seed, or both if you can c●…passe to get them, and having let it stand in steep two or three days at the least, after drain it out, and then scatter it amongst the haunts of these Fowl or Birds, and as many as shall taste or feed upon the same, so many will presently be taken with a frenzy or dizines, that they shall have no power to fly or move, but that you may take them up at your pleasure and do with them what your fancy best liketh, whether it be to kill them keep them, or to revive them again for some other intent and purpose. Now having thus attained to the full Taking of wild foul●…with ba●…ts. perfection of all manner of baits for the taking of all sorts of Land-fowle of what nature or quality soever they be, if then you have a desire likewise to know the secrets, and how with the like baite●… to take all manner ofWater-fowle, especially such as at any time do forsake the water, and range up and down to find some part of their food upon the Land, as for the most part do your wild Geese, Barnackles, the Grey Plover, Mallards', Bytters, Bustards, Curlewes, S●…uellers, and a world of others like unto them, then shall you for the taking of any of these kind of waterfowl, take the seeds of the herb called Bellenge, the leaves, roots and all, and having cleansed and picked them from all filth as clean as is possible, you shall put them into a vessel full of clear running-water, and there let them lie in steep fully a day and a night and fomewhat better, then taking the same water in which they were thus long steeped, boil them altogether in the same, till the water be in a manner all consumed, and the seeds and hea●…bes left in a so●… dry then take it off and let it stand and cool: then having occasion to use it, take as much thereof as you shall think convenient, and then go to the haunts where any of these water-sowle use, whether it be upon early Winter come lands, on Meadows, banks of Rivers in moist and watery Lands in Fens as amongst Reeds, Rushes, Sedge, and other course Stover, or in any other haunt whatsoever, and there spread of this bait in d●…uers and sundry places, and as many Fowl as shall either taste or feed thereon, so many presently willbe stricken with a drunken dizziness, so that they will turn up their heels and lie in a dead trance for a great while together, without any moving at all. Now there be other Fowlers, which to this bait or confection, do add good store of Bri●…stone and boyles it well with the same, and it is very good also, for Sulphur is of such a sharp and peirceing nature, that if it catch but the brain of any of these cold weak creatures, it presently suffocates it, and makes the Fowl lose all manner of sense and motion. Now if after you have taken any of How to recover foul that are entranced. these Fowl, and having them in your own safe keeping, you desire to restore them to their first health, whether it be against this Bait last of all rehearsed, or against any of the other formerly recited thorough out this whole work, you shall then take a little quantity of salad-oil, (according to the strength ability and bigness of the Fowl; so having your Oil and every thing fit for the purpose, drop it down the throat of the Fowl, than chaff the head well with a little strong Wine Vinegar, and the Fowl will presently recover again, and be as healthful and as able as ever she was. And thus much for the taking of all manner of Fowl whether belonging to the Water or Land, with Baits and such like astonishing devices. CHAP. XIIII. Of the taking of Pheasants with Nets, Lyme-bush●… or any other Engine. Having thus passed over the general taking of Land fowl and Landbyrdes, with some particular use of diverse particular Engines, and have not only showed the general use of all Nets, lime, Engines, and all ●…ner of Baits: We will descend to th●… more particular taking of some 〈◊〉 particular Land-fowle, and which indeed are of more particular renown and estimation, and of greater price and value than any that have been heretofore spoken of: And of which in the first rank I will place the Pheasant, as being indeed a Bird of singular beauty, excellent in the pleasure of her flight, and as rare as any Bird whatsoever that flies, when she is in the dish, & well cooked by a skilful and an ingenious workman. To speak then of the manner of taking divers ways to take Pheasants. the Pheasants, you shall understand that it is to be done three several ways; that is to say, with Nets, with the Lime ●…ush, or else with other particular Engines of which there are diverse kinds, ●…nd do carry diverse shapes, according ●…o the seasons of the year when they are ●…sed, and the manner of the place in ●…hich they must be used as shall be at ●…arge delared hereafter. For the taking of the Pheasant with The nature of the pheasant. ●…ettes it is to be done, either generally, ●…r particularly: Generally as when you ●…ake the whole Eye of Pheasants, that is 〈◊〉 say, the old, the young, and altogether, the old Cock, the old Hen, and all their poots as they fleck and run together in the thick & obscure woods, or particularly when you take none but the old Pheasants, or such young Pheasants as are comed to the age of coupling and pairing, so as you can have no hope with your Nets to strike at more than one Pheasant or two at the most at one instant or fixed time, for these kind of Birds are of a melancholy, sad and sullen disposition, and after once they be coupled and paired together, do no more keep in flocks, or companies together, but live separated and asunder from other pairs. When therefore you shall intend to The general taking Pheasants with Nets. put in practise this general way of taking of Pheasants with Nets, which (as before I said) is to take the whole Eye of Pheasants both young and old, and altogether without any reservation, you shall then first of all learn●… to know the haunts of Pheasants and their usual and common places of breeding: otherwise do what you can, your work will be frustrate, and your labour spent in vain. The haunts then wherein Pheasants Haunts of Pheasants. naturally do abide and breed are not in open and plain Fields, (for their fears are so great, and their cowardliness so much that they dare not live without covert or shelter) nor yet under the covert of Corn Fields; low shrubs or bushes, neither yet in tall old high Woods where every Tree may fitly be employed for Timber. But in thick young Coppses well grown and ready for ordinary sail of small bush wood, Poles and the like, having been diverse years reserved from the haunts of cattle of all kinds, and from the tracing and paths of men's feet: by reason of which solitarynesse and safeness, the Pheasant takes great delight herein, and will here above all other places breed and bring forth her young ones, provided that it be ever thick grown and obscure, for if it be otherwise thin, plain and passable, she will n●…ither breed nor come near it, for she accounts the strength of her covert to How to find the Eye of pheasants. be her only safety. Now when you have thus found out the haunts and breeding places of the Pheasant, than your next care is to find out the Eye or brood of Pheasants, which you may do sundry ways: as first, by your eye, in searching up and down those haunts, and viewing the bushes and trees and other obscure places, where for the most part they reside, and where you shall see them fleck and run together in companies and heaps, as it were so many Chickens after the Hen; or else by rising early in the Morning, or coming late in the Evening, and observing, how and when the old Cock and Hen calleth to the young ones, and then how the young ones answers back unto them again, and so from that sound to direct your path as near as you can to the place where they meet and gather together, lying there down so close and secretly, that by no means you may be discerned; but that you may take a true observation how they meet, and how they lodge together, that from thence you may take a true knowledge, both how, where, which way and after what manner to pitch your Nets, and with what advantage both of wind and weather, for the gaining of you purpose. But if it so fall out, that either by your own want of knowledge in this kind of practice, or through any other natural imbecility either in your eye or ear, that neither of these ways sort with your liking but seem either too tedious or too difficulty. Then the most certainest, readiest and Of the ca●… for the Pheasant. easiest way for the finding out of this pleasure, is to have an absolute, perfect, and natural Pheasant-call, of which you must both by practice, and the instruction of the most skilful in that Art, not only learn all the several notes and tunes which the Pheasant useth, but also the several and distinct applications of them, and the time when, and to what purpose she useth them: as whether it be to cluck them together when she would brood them; to call them to food and meat when she hath found it, to chide them when they straggle too far, and to keep them out of danger, or to call them together and to make them rejoice and wanton about her, and to labour and seek for their own livings; for any of all which she hath a several Note or Tune. All which when you have learned perfectly upon your Call (of which Call I shall speak a great deal more largely, in a particular Chapter hereafter) than you shall with your Call come into these haunts (before spoken off) at such hours as are most convenient and sitting for the purpose: as namely, very early in the morning, at which time they straggle and go abroad to seek out their food, which commonly is for the most part before the Sun rising, or else at furthest just with the Sun's rising, or else in the evening, somewhat before the Sun begin to set, at which time they do the like also in straggling abroad to to seek their food. Now here is to be understood, that Time's to use the Call. albeit these two particular times of the day, as the earliest of the morning, and the latest of the evening are the best times of the day for the use of the Call, and the finding out of the Pheasants whether it b●…e by couples, or otherwise the whole Eye or company; yet neverthethesse's they are not the only and alone times but you may as well use the Call any time in the forenoon after the Sun rise, or any time in the afternoon before Sun set, by altering and exchanging only your note or tune, for as before Sun rise, and at Sun set, your note is to call them to their food, or to give them liberty to range; so your notes after Sun rise, and before Sun set, which are called the forenoon and afternoon notes, must be to clucke them together and to bring them to brood, as also to chide them for their straggling, and to put them in fear of some danger ensuing. As for the notes of rejoicing or playing, they may be used at any time, yet not so much for the discovery of these young Pheasants, as for the finding out of the old couples, when they are separated and gone any distance one from another, whether it be for food, through affright, or any other natural or casual occasion whatsomener, as every hour happeneth to these fearful and cowardly creatures. Having thus the perfeit use of your The manor of using the Call. Call, and the observation of the right hours and seasons, being comed to the haunts (that is to say into the aforesaid thick Copsies and Vnderwoods') and having ranged through the same into the places most likely and best promising for your purpose, which you shall know by the strength of the undergrowth, the obscureness, darkness, and solitariness of the place, you shall then lodge yourself so close as is possible, and then drawing forth your Call, begin to Call first softly, and in a very low tune or note (lest the Pheasants be lodged too near you, and then a sudden loud note may affright them) but if nothing reply or call back again to you, then raise your note higher and higher, till you make your call speak to the uttermost compass: provided that by no means you overstraine it in the least degree, or make it speak out of tune, for that were to lose all your labour, and to give the Fowl knowledge of your deceit whereas keeping it in a most true pitch and natural tune, if their be a Pheasant, 〈◊〉 all the wood that comes within th●… compass of the sound thereof, she 〈◊〉 presently make answer, and call bac●… again unto you, & that in your own no●… also, and as loud and shrill in every pr●…portion. Now as soon as you hear this answer or report back again, if you find it come far, and is but one single voice and no more, then shall you as close and secretly as you can by degrees steal and creep nearer and nearer unto it, still ever and anon applying your Call, and you shall find that the Pheasant which answereth you, will also come nearrer and nearter unto you, which as soon as you perceive, you shall then observe that the nearrer and nearrer yond meet, the lower and lower you make your Call to speak, for so you shall perceive the Pheasant herself to do, and her in all points as near as you can you must imitate, and thus doing, in the end you shall get sight of the Pheasant either on the ground, or on the perch, that is upon the bows of some small Tree, as it were prying and seeking where she may find you which as soon as you perceive you shall then cease from calling a space, & then as secretly and as speedily as you can, see you spread your Nets in the most convenientest place you can find betwixt yourself and the Pheasant, over the tops of the lowest shrubs and bushes making one end of your Net fast to the ground, and holding the other end by a long line in your hand, by which when any thing straineth it, you may draw the Net close together or at least into a hollow compasse, which done you shall call again, and then as soon as you perceive the Pheasant to come just under your Net, than you shall rise up and show yourself, that by giving the Pheasant an affright he may offer to mount, and so be presently taken and entangled within your Net. Now if it so fall out that upon your Taking of many Pheasants together. first calling you hear many answers and those out of many corners of the Wood, then shall not you stir at all but constantly keep your place still, by all means i●…ticeing them to come unto you, and you not moaning to them, and as you shall hear them by their sounds come nearer and nearer unto you, so shall you 〈◊〉 the mean space prepare your Nette●… ready and spread them in such con●… ent places as you shall think fit rou●… about you, one pair of Nets on 〈◊〉 side, and another pair of anoth●… and then lie close and apply your 〈◊〉 till all the Pheasants be com underneath your Nets, and then boldly discover yourself and give the affright to make them mount, which done take them out of the Nets, and dispose of them at your pleasure; and in this manner (before discovered) you may take either the single couples of old Pheasants, if it be after the time of the year of their pairing, or else the whole Eye of Pheasants, according to the time of breed, and the true and proper use of the season. Now there is another manner of taking Of the driving of Pheasants. of these Pheasans with Nets (but it must be only when they are very young) when they are called pootes, or Pheasant poots and not altogether Pheasants, and this manner of taking is called driving of Pheasants, and it is to be done after this manner. First, you shall either by the Art of your eye, still in their haunts, diligence in search, or else by the cunning of your Call, find out the Eye of Pheasants, be they great or little, and as soon as you have found out any one of them, you shall then (always taking the wind with you for they will naturally run down the wind:) Place your Nets ●…rosse the little paddes and ways which you see they have made, and padled in the woods, (for they will make little tracks almost like sheep's tracks) and as near as you can come to some special haunt of theirs, which you shall know by the bareness of the ground, mutings and loose feathers which you shall find there, and these Nets you shall hollow, loose and circular wise, the neither part thereof being fastened close to the ground, and the upper side lying hollow, loose, and bending, so that when any thing ru●…heth into it. it might fall and entangle them; which done you shall (taking the advantage of the wind) go where you had before found the haunt, and there with your Call (if you find the Eye be scattered abroad and separated one from another) you shall call them together, and as soon as you find they are all com in and do begin to cloocke and peep one to another; than you shall cease from any more calling, and taking an instrument which some Fowlers do call a Driver, being made of good str●… white wands or Ozyers, such as bask●… makers do use, being set fast in a handle, and in to or three places twisted about and bound with other wands, carrying the form and fashion of those wanddressers which Clothworkers do most commonly use in the dressing of their Cloth, and not much different from this figure here following. The form and fashion of the Driver. With this driver (as soon as you 〈◊〉 the Pheasants gathered together) you shall rake and make a gentle noise upon the boughs and Bushes which shallbe round about you, which as soon as the poottes do hear, they will presently run in a heap together from it as fast as they can a little way, and then stand and listen, keeping all as close together as can be (for then they dare not scatter) and then you shall give another rack or two, at which they will run again as before, and thus by racking and dashing upon the small trees and bushes, you shall drive them like so many sheep before you, which way or whether you please, and if at any time they chance to go that way which you would not have them, than you shall cross them, and making a noise with racking, as it were in their faces, they will presently turn and go as you would have them, for against the noise they dare not come for their lives, and thus you shall not cease driving them by little and little till you have brought them altogether in one flock wholly into your Nets, into which they will run with all eagerness till they be so entangled that not any one can escape, but will all rest at your mercy to dispose according to your own pleasure. Now in this driving of the Pheasant, Observations in driving. there are two things principally to 〈◊〉 observed, either of which when you shall happen to fail in may be the utter loss of your whole labour; the first is secrecy in your concealment, for if you shall lay yourself so open that the birds may perceive you, or behold your face, it will be such a strange affright unto them that their amazement will make them scatter and run one from another and hide themselves in holes, and bottom of bushes, where they will lie and not stir upon any occasion, as long as any day endureth, and therefore you must be very circumspect in any wise 〈◊〉 to discover yourself, but to follow them so secretly and closely, that they may either not perceive you at all, or if they do perceive you, yet not so that they may imagine you do pursue them; which that you may the better do, it shall 〈◊〉 be amiss for you if you wear over 〈◊〉 your face a hood of some green 〈◊〉 stuff as suitable as you can to the lea●… of the trees, having only loope-hol●… for your eyes and nostrils; And al●… 'bout your head if you wear a wreath Oaken leaves, or other leaves, it will be very good, and will take up the eyes of the birds from greater suspicions, as also if you trime and hang your garments with branches and leaves of trees, it will be very available and bring your work to effect sooner and better. The other observation is time and leisure in the work, for this business hath no greater foe in the world than rashness and hastiness, for any thing that is done to these fearful creatures suddenly or rashly, breedeth offence and amazement, and every amazement is to them an alarm of death, nor will their fears suffer them to argue or dispute with the object, but the very first apprehension is sufficient to make them all fly at an instant, nor will their fears let them stay till every one have beheld the thing which should suddenly affright and fear them: But if any one of them take a scare, it is a sufficient warning piece to set all the rest a packing, and therefore you cannot take too great leisure or care in this business, and when at any time you shall find any staggering or (as it were) astonishment amongst them, then presently cease, and lie as still as if that you were dead, till the fear be passed over and forgotten of them, and that you see they gaze no more about them, but gathering themselves together do begin to peep and clucke one to another, and to joy and rejoice amongst themselves; which when you do perceive, than you may beginneagaine, and fall to your work as you did before, till it you have brought to that fol period of your desires which your a●…es looked for. The next way to these already recited Taking Pheasants with the Lymehush. for the taking of Pheasants, is with the Lyme-bnshe or the Lyme-roddes, in which business is to be observed all those things which were formerly recited for the Nets both as touching the nature of the Birds, their haunts, fashion of breeding, and the manner of finding of them; only in the use of the thing 〈◊〉 s●…lfe, you are to observe this manner 〈◊〉 proceeding. First, whether you deal with Bu●… or single rods, you shall make sure●… tri●…ne them with the best and strong●… lime that can be got, and provide th●… your rods be of a very good size, as twelve, or ten Inches at the least, and that they be limed full out to the midst, but no further, except it be upon some special occasion, where the Bushes are so deep that you cannot fix them handsomely, at so shallow and small a proportion; and then in this case you may lime your rods fully to three parts at the least. Now for the fashion of the Lymebushe The fashion of the lime bush. to be used for this purpose, it must not contain above six or eight twigs at the most, being the top 〈◊〉 of some young Willow tree, and the single or neither end thereof, being almost a shaftment long from the twigs, which shall be made sharp: so as you may either stick them gently in the ground (yet so as they may always remove with the least touch whatsoever) or else prick them into shrubs & little bushes, through which the Pheasants usually run and trace when they are upon the ground; also if you see any little small trees whereon the Pheasant useth commonly to 〈◊〉, if one them, and near to the branch which she makes her perch, you place two or three of these bushes, and prick them so, that she can neither spread her wings to light on, not yet take her wings to fly off witho●… touching some of them, you shall be sure the Pheasant can hardly or never escape your taking. When you have thus placed these little The manner to take with the Bush. bushes, you shall then draw forth your Call, and then begin to call (as hath been formerly declared) but by no means remove from your place, or discover yourself, but lie as close as is possible, and cease not till you have entist all the Pheasants about you; which you will quickly do if your call be good, and your Art skilful in the tuning: & you shall see as soon as they come within the danger of your bushes, presently upon the touch of any of them, they will in an instant fasten, and when one is limed, that one will go very near to lime all her fellows, for what by h●… own striving and struggling amongst them, their coming to gaze, and seeking to escape or avoid like danger some will be smeared by her that was ●…ken; some will light on other bushes, s●… that if there be twenty hardly will any one escape, or if it hap some one or two do escape by mounting, and so get to the perch, as is the natural quality of them, and there sit prying and peeping to see what becomes of their fellows; than it is ten to one that they are taken with the Lyme-bushes which you had placed formerly on the perch, and therefore yond must be sure to have a circumspect, busy, and diligent eye in all places. Again of the old Pheasants when you Taking old Pheasants. call, will not come in upon the ground (as it is their nature so to do, especially in the Winter season, which is the chiefest time for the use of the Limebush) but do mount and come flying from perch to perch, till they come to that perch which is next you, ever prying and peeping where they may find out those which calleth: than you shall see, that as soon as they light upon any of these pearches, where your Lyme-bushes are placed, persently as soon as they touch they are taken, and thus not any one, whether old or young shall escape you. Now for as much as you cannot ha●… Observations when they are taken. an Eye in every place, but that whilst you are busy in gathering up one, anoth●… may fleck away and run into th●… thicks and hide herself; or whilst you are gathering up those upon the ground, you may lose the sight of what is done or taken upon the perch, you shall therefore keep a true record how many bushes you pricked down, after what manner and in what places, and then having taken all such Pheasants as you can possibly find, yond shall then gather up all your Rods again, and make sure that you have your full number, but if you miss any one of them, than you may be assured that there are some limed which you have not found out, and therefore that you may recover all such losses, you shall be sure never to be without an excellent ftaunch Spaniel, which will lie close at your foot●… without stirring, and this Spaniel must be an excellent Retriver, one that will fetch and carry, and that by any means will not break nor bruise either flesh or feather, but having found his prey will forthwith bring it unto you and lay it by you, this D●…gge as soon as you shall find that any Pheasants are escaped, you shall thrust into the thicks and make him hunt and bring you fourth all such Pheasants as shall lie hidden, till by the true number of your Lime-Bushes you find there is no more stricken in that place, than you shall go and search all your Pearches, and if you find any Bushes there missing, you shall then put in your Spaniel and make him hunt and bring fourth whatsoever was there taken also, till your true and iuft number of Lime-bushes be made up without the loss of any, for albe some may object that by reason of the greatness of these Bushes (containing many brainches in one stalk) that therefore by the wallowing and struggling of the Bird (and especially this being a bird of some power and strength) they may be scattered and lost amongst other Bushes and Brambles, yet let them know that these Lime-bushes as soon as they do once touch the more they are struggled with, the more fast they do entangle and wrap & catch about cuery feather that moveth and holds the foul so fast from stirring that he is not able to go or creep through any chyncke, but where he is first overthrown, there he commonly lieth without moving, his own fear daunting him as much or more than any other vexation or trouble, whereas indeed the single lime rod lying light and without 〈◊〉 cumber (more than the taking away 〈◊〉 the use of the wings) they will fleike an●… run away with them sometimes mo●… then a quarter of a mile, by which mean●… I have seen diverse Pheasants lost, an●… found dead in a bush a month after, 〈◊〉 they are so cowardly, that being o●… stricken they never joy or will ever fee●… food after; now for the proportion and manner of this Limebush it is contained in this figure. The form and fashion of the Limebush for Pheasants. In the selfsame manner as you place ●…his Limebush, so you may if you please place single lyme-roddes also, and not a●…one and upon bushes, shrubs, by tracts ●…nd such like places but also upon the ground and in every open place where any thing must pass from one 〈◊〉 to another, or from one thick to ano●…, and these lime-rods must be pricked sloapewise and cross, shoaring alongst the ground, and that not one way only but every way that the Birds 〈◊〉 lie come, observing in every place tu●… rows or files of lime-rods, the o●… turned sloapewise one way, the oth●… sloapewise the quite contrary way, that the points being severed a gre●… distance one from another, and so as Byrd may easily walk between the●… without touching either, you shall th●… place a third row between them all 〈◊〉 slope, clean contrary to either of the other according to the form ofthiss Figure. following. The true manner and form how to place Limerods. Which being duly observed no Fowl can come any way but they must of necessity be within the danger of touching, and thus you may place according to the quantity of your ground, as many L●…eroddes as you shall think good and as the place will contain, provided that you do not over charge the ground, or place them so exceeding thick and apparent that they breed affright and amazement, for that were to spoil your whole work and to be the utter loss of your labour, and therefore you must by all means keep a true mediocrity and set them neither too thick too scar nor yet too thin to escape, but in due proportion, as the length of a Rod or somewhat less between Lime-rod and Lime-rodde. And as you have a care thus to the placing, so you must also have an especial care to the number and to the true form and proportion in which they stand, for when you either want of your number and do not take up what you set down, or if you find that your proportion is in any place broken, than you may be very well assured that some are touched and fled, which you have not found, and then you must hunt with your Spaniel (as hath been before declared) and so bring them forth, for every time you look upon your lime-rods it is not necessary that you take them up or count them, (for that were toil to no purpose) but only look upon your proportion, and if that hold perfect than you may be well assured not any thing hath com amongst them, but if that fail or be disordered, then there hath been something amongst them and something is taken. Now to make any comparisson between The seasons for the use of Nets or of lime the use of the Nets, and the use of these lime-rods, or to give any pre-eminence or place more to the one then to the other were needless and to no purpose, since they are both of equal virtue and goodness, and have indeed each of them their distinct times and seasons for their several employments, for you shall here understand that those lime-rods or the use of Lime is only for the winter season, as from the beginning of November at whichtime every tree hath shed his leaf, & every bird is content to perch upon the twigs which are the very figures and Emblems of Lime-twigs, until the beginning of May, at which time on the contrary part every Tree is budded and doth begin to spread and open his leaf, so as all Birds may couch and hide themselves under the covert and shadows of the same, and the true use of the Nets are from the beginning of May when Trees are leaved, till the latter end of October when every tree doth shed and lose his leaf, so there is no time of the year, more than the very time of engendering, but may be exercised in this pleasure, whence what profit may arise I leave to be judged by those which keep good Houses and such as have good Stomaches. Now for the substance, fashion or The fashion of the Nets. proportion of these Nets, they would first be made of the best twined double Huswives thread that can be got, and if it be died either green or blue it is so much the better, the mash would be reasonable square and large, as almost an inch between knot and knot, it would be in length about three fathom at the least and in breadth seven foot or better, it must be verdgd on each side with strong, small fine cord, and as it were surfled thereon and the Net placed not strait, but thick and large, so that at any time it is extended it may lie come pass wise and hollow, also the two ends shall be verdgd likewise with small cord, yet that more for strength then for any particular use or purpose, some do use to make these Nets of a much more lardger size, as seven fathom or five fathom, but such Nets are cumbersome and full of trouble, and hardly to be ruled with one hand, & therefore in case there be need of any such long Nets, than you may take a couple of the first size (which was three fathom) and joining them together, or pitching them one close by another, they will serve fully as well, and rather better than those long sizd nets, and be both better to pitch, readier to take up, and a great deal more you're and nimble for any purpose in which you shall employ them. And thus much for the taking of Pheasants, in general either with theNettes, or the Limebush. CHAP. XV. Of taking of Partridges with Nets, or any other engine, of driving them, or setting them, and the making of the setting D●…gge. Having spoken of the manner and form of taking of Pheasants, we will now come to the manner of taking of Partridges, being a bird of no less use, worth and excellency either for pleasure in her flight, or for food in the dish, than the Pheasant before spoken of, only the difference holdeth in the quantity and not in the quality, for the Partridges are birds of a much less size, of no white less excellency, nor are they much in their nature different in condition, for these Partridges are naturally cowardly and fearful, also very simple and foolish and most easy to be deceived or beguiled with any train, Bait, Engine, or other device whatsoever, whether it be by enticement of Call, or Stale, or any other allurement, or else by affright or terror, whence it comes that albeit this art of taking these Partridges be pleasant, profitable and necessary, yet it is neither much painful nor much difficult, but may be attained to in the fullness of all perfection by a man's own and only labour, judgement and industry, provided that his diligence be always accompanied with an earnest desire and willingness, and that willingness must by all means possible never be abandoned of temperance rest and discretion To speak then generally of the taking 4. Ways to take Partridges of Partridges, you shall understand that it is to be done four several ways that is to say, by Nets, by Lime, by Engine, and by the setting Dog, for as touching the Hawk, which curiosity may make a fifth way for the taking of them, I will here omit it, as a strain too high for this discourse, and as a peculiar Art belonging to the Noble falconer, not the homely and honest plain Fowler. For the taking of Partridges with Haunts of the Partridge. Nets, it is likewise to be done diverse and sundry ways, according to the manner of haunts, and the places wherein these birds do inhabit, for you must understand, that Partridges are not like Pheasants, (in this case) constant to one place of abiding, but do come into diverse; nay, if they have any small covert whatsoever, be it so high as a man's hand they will lodge in the same, and sometimes in the very plain Champains where they have no shelter whatsoever, more than the poor short grass. But to come to the more particu●… and certain haunts of the Partridge, and indeed where they take most delght and do most constantly abide, you shall understand that for the most part it is in Corn Fields, whether spacious or little, & especially during the time that Corn is growing or standing, for under the covert and shelter of it they meet: engender, breed, and bring fourth their young ones, now when the Corn is cut down, they do yet not withstanding still remain in the stubbles, especially in the Wheat stubble (if there be plen●… thereof) both by reason of the excellency of the grain on which they love to feed before all other, as also for the height and largeness of the stubble, which makes their covert safer and stronger, but when this wheat stubble is either scanty or of small circute, or when it is too much soiled and trodden either with men or cattle, than they forsake it and go either to the Barley stubbles which albe they yield not so safe covert, nor so sweet food, yet being fresh, pleasant and not so usually trodden or beaten they do take great delight therein, and will in the furrows amongst the clots, brambles and long grass and fog, hide and cover both themselves and their whole Covies or Broods very sufficiently, although they be very many in number, (for no Bird bringeth fourth more than the Partridge) sixteen and seventeen being an ordinary brood or Covey, twenty, two and twenty, and five and twenty many times found, and I have hard speak of thirty and one and thirty, now after the Winter season cometh and that these stubble fields are either torn up with the Plough, or otherwise over soiled with cattle, manure, or the like, then do these Partridges resort into the enclosed grounds or upland Meadows and do lodge in the dead grass or fog, under hedges, amongst mole hills and under banks or at the roots of trees. Also you shall find the haunts of Partridges all the year long in small Copsies or Vnderwoods', especially if any Corn fields lie bordedring upon the same, as also in bushy Closes where grow plenty of shrubs and Brambles, or where there grows Broome, Brakes, Ferne, Whinnes, Gorse, Ling, or any covert great or little whatsoever; provided still that some Corn field be evermore adjoining to these coverts and quiet places, for otherwise these birds will take little or no delight and pleasure therein, but rather shun and eschew them. Again, in the height of harvest time when every Corn field is full both of people and cattle, so that these Birds can have no quiet lodging in the same, than you shall find them in the day time in the Fallow or tilth fields which are next adoyning to the Corn fields where they will lie lurking amongst the great clots and wild ketlockes; and only in the early mornings, and likewise late in the evenings, fetch their food from the Corn shocks or sheaves that are the nearest adjoining. Thus when you know their haunts, How to find out Partridges according to the Situation of the Coun●…rie, (whether it be champagne or woody, Mountainous, or plain) and the sea●…on of the year, whether Summer or Winter, your next skill shallbe to find them out in their haunts and how to know where they lodge, which is to be ●…one diversely, for there be some that will find out the Covyes of Partridge ●…y their eyes, as Hare finders do find Hares, in taking their rainges over the Stubble fields, or other hannts where they do use, and casting their Eyes on each hand to both sides of the furrow, will find them out though they be never so close couched together, and this is a skill which can by no means possibly in the World, be taught by any demonstration but only by exercise and the goodness of the Eye, which being able at the first ●…linke to distinguish of every object & to know the colour of the Birds from the colour of the earth, and how, and in what manner they lodge and couch together, will in ranging about find them, a good distance before he cometh near them; Nay, I have heard of some that have found Partridges threescore paces off, by perceiving the Eye of the Partridge only; but that I hold a cunning more than ordinary and may be rather desired then enjoyed; sure I am that any reasonable good sight which will apply himself thereunto, and mark but truly the colour of the Partridge, and how 〈◊〉 differeth from the ground, as also ther●… manner of lodging, whether it be in o●… entire heap or lump, and in one place, or else in diverse little heaps, as by couples and pairs in diverse places like so many brown clots of earth, together with their diversity and change of feather, may easily find out a Covey of Partridges wheresoever they lie, alb●… he make his range a good distance from them: And so much the rather and better, in as much as he may (when his eye●… hath first apprehended them) wal●… nearer and nearer unto them, till 〈◊〉 absolutely know whether there be any mistaking in his sight or no: for these Birds are so dull and slothful, and so unwilling to take to the wing to fly, except by mere compulsion, that till you be ready to set your foot upon them they will not stir; provided ever, that you do not at any time stand still or gaze upon them, but be ever walking or moving; for such gazing or wondering strickes freare unto them, and then presently they do spring up and are gone. There be others, that find out these Partridges, by the hantes or places where they did last couch and lie, which when they have by their ranging found out, they first look whether the haunt be old or new, which they may know by the newness or oldness of their dung or ordure, by their padlings or treading, and by the warmth or coldness, for if the haunt be new, the dung or ordure will be green and soft, and the white ends will colour your fingers: the padlings and tread, round about the haunt, will be soft and dirty, and the earth will be new broken and of darker colour than the mould round ab●… it, and being very new indeed the 〈◊〉 whereon they sat will be warm and the ground smooth and flat, with some down and small feathers scattered upon it. But, if the hunt be old and long forsaken, then on the contrary part, the ordure or dirt will be dry and brickle and rather moulder and break in pieces then cleave to your singers; the padlings or tread will be rough, dry, and hard, and of the same colour with the rest of the crust of the earth, and the very hawt itself whereon the sat will be as cold as any other part of the earth, without 〈◊〉 there down or feathers, or any thing elso but what is dried & backed into the earth, neither will there be any plainness or smoothness, but all of like colour and roughness; which kind of old haunt●… when it is found out, it is to be neglected for it serveth for no other purpose or charackter then to let you know that there the Partridges have been a●… such or such a time, as yesterday, the other day, or a week before, for the less dry, the less clean, and the less●… soiled the haunt is, the longer time ago it was since the Covey of Partridg●…s were there, and the more moist, the more dirty and more troubled it is, the later is the time since they fled away. Now if you find the haunt to be new and warm (as aforesaid) than you may assure yourself that the Birds are but newly stolen off from the same, (if no affright troubled them) and are but fleckt some little way (as a Land or two off, or peradventure a little less or a little more) therefore than you shall be very circumspect, and look as carefully as is possible about you, moving by very leasurable and slow●… degrees, and having a special regard to the furrows of the Lands, there is no doubt but in a very short space you shall find the whole Covye out, which as soon as you do, you shall presently wind of from them, and by no means look towards them, but as if you were careless by casting your countenance a cleave contrary way, and so fetch a great and large circumference round about them, keeping an ordinary round march, making your circumference less and less, and casting your eye busily and carefully about you, till you h●… discovered the whole Covye, albe they lie separated in diverse parts (as many times it falleth out they do) for your eye at the first may happen to glance but of a single Partridge (for it is the nature of the old ones in these cases many times to lie alone and somewhat removed from the Covye) or of a couple at the most, but then taking your circumferance or walk about them, there is no one sha●… escape from your knowledge- There be others which to find out To take Partridge by the juke. Partridges do go unto the haunts either very early in the Morning, or at the closing up of the Evening, which is called the iuking time, and there do listen for the calling of the Cock Partridge, which will be very loud and earnest, then presently after some few calls the Hen will make answer, which as soon as they hear they listen and follow them till they meet together, which you shall very well perceive and know by their chattering and rejoicing one with another which as soon as you hear, than you shall take your range about them, and drawing in by little & little to the place where you heard them iuke, you shall carefully cast your ●…ie about you, especially towards the Furrows of the lands, and there is no question to be made, but you shall presently find where the Coovie lies, and after what manner, so that after you may proceed to the business of taking them according as your delight and pleasure shall lead you. Now the last way for finding out of To take Partridges with the Call. these Partridges (and which of all other is both the best, safest, most easy, and most artificial) is with the call (of whose sharp proportion, and manner of making I shall speak more largely hereafter in a particular Chapter) with this call having learned the true and natural notes of the Partridge and being able to tune every several note in their right and proper key, and that you know the due times and seasons for every note, and can fitly accommodate them to the haunts and places wherein they are to be used, after the same manner as hath been formerly declared for the Pheasant; for you are to understand that the Partridge hath as variable notes and tunes, and differeth as much in her several callings as the Pheasant doth, and in some cases more: having therefore (as I said) your calls made ready and fit, and that the time of the day (which must ever of necessity be either Morning or Evening, (for the Noonday is never any good or seasonable time for this purpose or exercise) you shall go to the haunts where you do know that Partridge●… do frequent, whether it be champa●…e or wood-land, corne-fields, meadows or pastures, and having conveyed yourself into some close and secret place, where you may see and not be seen; as if it be in the champain or plains, then under the covert of some Bank, Hill or Ditch; If in the wood-lands, then under Bushes, Shrubs, or Brambles; If in corne-fields, then in the Furrows, or where the Corn is highest and thickest; And if in meadows, then in the thick and high tufted grass, or among●… high weeds and such other like places of shalter; and being thus placed in secret, and fit for your pastime, yo●… shall fi●…t listen a while if you can hea●… the Partridge call, which if you do, you shall then make answer again, and that in the same note or tuen in which the Partridge calleth, and ever as she altereth or changeth her note, or doubleth it over more or less, so shall you ever make answer and alter and change your note and time, and double or treble as she shall give you example, and still apply your call till you find that she draweth nearer and nearer unto you, and not one single Partridge only, but many, if many be within the compass of the sound of your call, and not the old ones only single by themselves, but attended and followed on by their several coovies, for this calling is so delightful and natural unto them that they will pursue and follow it as far as they can hear it, when thus you have drawn the Partridges unto you, and that you see them and their whole flocks to becomed within your view, you shall then cast yourself flat upon your back, and lie without mooveing as if you were dead, and then you shall see the Partridge come running and pecking about you without any fear or dread, so as you shall not only take a full view of them, but also if you please you may number and count them. After thus you have gotten the full Taking of partridges with Nets. perfection how to find out Partridges, your next lesson shall be to learn how to take and entangle them: And first of the taking of them with Nets, you must understand that the Nets wherewith you must take Partridges, aught to be shaped and proportioned in all points, both length and breadth like unto the Pheasant Net, only the mash would be somewhat smaller; It must be also of the selfsame third, and in like manner died and coloured, or if it be somewhat longer or somewhat broader, it will not be amiss, but a great deal better, and you shall take your prey more certainly and with less care and hazard, for you are to understand that the longer your nets are, the longer you may make your circumference or walk about them, and the broader that they are, the more ground you may cover, and so bring more within your danger, provided always that they be not to●… broad or cumber some by reason eith●… of their length or breadth, for thereby you may not only annoy yourself and hinder the work, but also breed affright to the birds, which are so fearful and tender of their safeties, that upon the least blink or dislike, they will presently spring up and fly away leaving all your labour frustrate and disappointed; Therefore (as before showed) having your nets of true size and compass, and fitly accommodated to your purpose with Lines and Cordes answerable; you shall then (having found out the Covye by any means aforesaid, or by other accident) draw forth your Nets and taking a great large circumference or ring about the Partridg●…, walk a good round pace with a careless eye, rather from, then towards the Partridg●… ●…ill you have made your Nets you're, trin●… and ready for your purpose; which done you shall draw in your circumference or ●…ing less & less till you come within the ●…ength of your Net, then pricking down a ●…ticke of about three foot long or better ●…o which you must fasten one end of the Line of your Net, and making it fast in ●…he earth as you do walk about (for no stay or stop must be seen in this action) you shall then (letting the net slip out of your hands) spread it open as you go and so carry it and lay it all over the Partridge. But if there be so many Partridg●… that you cannot cover them all with one net, by reason that they do lie straggling and not close together, than you shall draw forth another net, and in like ma●…ner as you did with the former, so you shall do with the second net, and spread it close before the fir●… which done you may also pin it down and do the like with the third ne●…, 〈◊〉 occasion shall require it (But ●…ot otherwise) and having thus covered yo●… Partridge, you shall then rush into the●… and with an affrighting voice, as He●… Ret, or the like, enforce them to sp●… up, which they shall no soo●… do, 〈◊〉 presently they will be entangled, so tha●… then running in your nets close tog●… you may ●…ould all the Partridge 〈◊〉 within the ●…ne, and so take them 〈◊〉 at your pleasure, and dispose of the●… as you shall find occasion, and in th●… manner you may take either single Partridges, pairs, or the whole coovies, and that not at one distinct and proper time, but at all seasons of the year whatsoever, and in any ground, champain or Woodland, or any other haunt or abiding place whatsoever. The next way to take Partridges is Taking of Partridges with Lime. with lime or limerods, after this manner: You shall first take of the fairest, strongest and lardgest Wheate-strawe you can get (of which, that which is called the whole straw wheat, is the best, or for want of it the fairest and lardgest Rye-straw) and cutting them of between knot and knot (observing the lowest joints or knots are the strongest and best) you shall then lime these with the strongest and best lime, in such manner as hath been formerly deelared in other Chapters for the liming of other rods or wands, and so coming to the, haunts where Partridges do usually frequent, after you have called a little, and find that you are answered again, you shall then in such manner and form as hath been formerly showed you for other rods, prick down these limed straws round about you in many cross rows and ranks, and that not very near you, but a pretty distance off, yet not out of the compass of your eye, but so as you may discern when any thing toucheth them: and these limed straws you shall place not only cross the Lands but the furrows also, taking at least two or three Lands within your circumference; which done, you shall then lay yourself down close and secretly and begin again to call, not ceasing till you have drawn them toward you, whither they cannot come, but they must of necessity pass through the Lime, which they shall no sooner touch, but presently they are taken and entangled and by reason that they come flocking and close together, like so many Chickens, they will so besmear and daub one another, that if there be twenty in the Coovy hardly any one will escape. Now here is to be noted, that this manner of taking of Partridges with Limed ●…awes, is properly to be used only in Corn fields, and that principally, in the Stubble time, or from Angust th●… Christ●…as, for before or after it is not so convenient: But if you will take them in woods, in pastures, or meadows with lime, than you shall use the ordinary Lymerods made of wooden wands, as hath been before showed, and prick them down, and order them in all points in such sort as is already mentioned of the Limed straws, for it is both the safest certainest, & best course that can be taken There is yet another way for the taking Taking partridges with Enggine, or the driving them. of Partridges, which is no less profitable and useful then either of the other and indeed somewhat pleasanter and fuller of delight, and that is the taking them with engine, or as some call it the driving of Partridges, which albe it is especially applied to the wood-countrey, yet may it notwithstanding be very well & commodiously used in any place or ground whatsoever. The manner to do it is thus; you shall first make an engine in the fashion of a Horse, which engine shall be made of Canvas, or some such staff, and stopped with straw or such like matter, of which engine (amongst other engines) I have spoken very largely of in the former part of this Book entreating of Waterfowl, and therewithal set down the lively form or figure thereof, so that to stand longer upon it, were but a double labour, needless, useless, and to small purpose. Having therefore this engine and your nets in a readiness, you shall go into the haunts where the Partridges do frequent, and having by some of the means or characters before mentioned found out the coovy of Partridges, you shall then in the most secretest and likelist place for that purpose, and taking the best advantage of the wind (which is ever to go above it and drive down the wind) you shall there pitch your net, not flat and couching, but sloapewise and hover, and that so close and secretly and so over-shadowed either with bushes, shrubs, leaves, weeds or some other that groweth (natural to the ground it standeth) in that not any thing may perceive it till it be entangled in it, when you have thus placed your net or nets, you shall then take your engine and go to the place where the coovy of Partridges lodgeth, and having your face covered or hid with some hood of green or dark blue stuff, you shall (pntting the engine before you) make your foot stalk towards the Partridges, and by gentle and slow steps or degrees, you shall steal upon the birds, and raise them as gently upon their feet (not their wings) as may be, and so make them run before you, which naturally they will do of themselves, for their fear is such, th●… they will run from any thing albe inever so well acquainted therewith, especially from Horse or Beast, because by reason of their grazing or feeding amongst them, they are ●…ill in fear to be trodden upon by th●…m; thus as by gentle and slow steps you do drive them before you (for you must by all means shun ●…ash, sudden; hasty and affrighcfull motions) if they chance to run any by-way or contrary to that which you would have them, you shall then presently cross 〈◊〉 with your engine, and as it were offer to face or oppose them, and they will presently recoil and run into any tract that you would have them, and thus with these gentle observations, you may drive them which way and whither you will, so that at last they will run themselves into your net with such violence and eagerness, that being overthrown and entangled therein, you may take and dispose them at your pleasure, as you shall have occasion, The fourth and last way for the taking Taking partridges with the setting Dog. of Partridges (and which indeed excelleth all the other for the excellency of the sport, and the rareness of the Art which is contained therein) is the taking of them with the setting Dog, for in it there is a twofold pleasure and a twofold Art to be discovered: as first, the pleasure and art proceeding from the D●…gge, and is contained in this manner, of ranging, hunting, and setting, and then the pleasure and Art in the bird hunted, and is contained in their simplicity, folly, and fear, together with the 〈◊〉 they have to preserve themselves, by which means only they are circumvented & overtaken, making the old prou●… Too much pity spoils a City, and so too much care of themselves is the destruction and loss of themselves. To proceed then to our purpose, it is What a a setring Dog is. meet that first before I wade further into this discourse, I show you what a S●…ting Dog is, you shall then understand that a Setting Dog is a certain lusty land Spaniel, taught by nature to hunt the Partridge before, and more than any other chase whatsoever, and that with all eagerness and fierceness, running the fields over and over so lustily and busily, as if there were no limit in his desire and fury; yet so qualified and tempered with Art and obedience, that when he is in the greatest and eagerest pursuit, and seems to be most wild and frantic, that yet even then, one hem or sound of his Master's voice makes him presently stand, gaze about him, and look in his Master's face, taking all his directions from it, whether to proceed, stand still, or retire; nay, when he is commend eu●… to the very place where his prey is, and hath, as it were, his nose over it, so that it seems he may take it up at his own pleasure, yet is his temperance and obedience so made and framed by Art, that presently even on a sudden he either stands still, or falls down flat upon his belly, without daring once to open his mouth, or make any noise or motion at all, till that his Master come unto him, and then proceeds in all things according to his directions and commandments. When therefore you have either by How to set Partridges your own industry made such a dog, or else by your purse, friendship, or other accidents obtained such a dog, you shall then take Partridges with him after this manner; being come into the fields or haunts, where Partridges do frequent, you shall there cast off your dog, and by crying Hye-Ret, or Hey-whyrr or such like words of encouragement according to the custom of his own nature or education, give him leave to range or hunt, which as soon as he beginneth to do, you shall then cease from any more words, except any fault or mistaking enforce you, and then you shall use the words of correction or reprehension due for that purpose, and in all his hunting and labour, you shall have great and especial heed that he never range too far from you, but beat his ground justly and even, without casting about or flying now hear and now there, and skipping many places, which the heat and mettle of many good dogs will make them do if they be not reprehended, and therefore when any such fault shall happen, you shall presently with a hem, call him in, and then with the terror of your countenance so threaten him, that he shall not dare all that day after to do the like, but shall range with that modesty and temperance, hunting all the ground over at an inch, and ever and anon looking you in the face, as who should say, do I now please you I or no; all which, when he doth, you must then give him cherrishments and encouragement. Now if in this ranging and hunting you chance to see your dog to make a sudden stop or to stand still, you shall then presently make into him (for he hath set the Partridge) and as soon as you come to him, you shall bid him go nearer; which if he do, you shall still say to him, go nearer, go nearer; but if you find he is unwilling to go or creep nearer, but either lies still, or stands shaking of his tail, as who should say here they are under mine nose, and withal, now and then, looks back upon you, as if he would tell you how near they are; then presently, you shall cease from further urging of him, and then begin to take your range or circumference about both the Dog and the Partridge, not ceasing but walking about with a good round pace, and looking still before the Dog's nose, till you behold and see plainly, how and in what manner the Coovy lieth, whether close and round together in one plump heap, or cluster, or else straggling and scattering, here two, there three, and in other places more or less as fortune shall administer: when thus you see how the Covye lieth, you shall then first charge the Dog to lie still, and then drawing forth your Net as you walk, having pricked down one end to the ground (as hath been before showed) then spread your Net all open, and (as near as you can) cover all the partridges therewith, even from that which lieth next to the Dog to that which is furthest off, but if you find that one Net will not serve to cover them, than you shall draw forth another, and holding your range or walk still in continual motion spread out it, and lay it before the first Net, and thus you may do with as many Nets as you shall have occasion to use, till the whole Coovye be covered, which done you shall then make in with a noise and, springe up the Partridge, which shall no sooner rise, but they shall presently be entangled in the Net so as you may take them at your pleasure, and dispose of them as you shall have occasion, in which taking whether it be this way or any other formerly spoken off, if after they are in your mercy, you will then be pleased to let go again the old Cock and the old hen, it will not only be honest and Gentleman like, but also good and profitable, and a means both to continue and increase your pastime, for ●…he young ones willbe reward enough for ●…our labour, and the old ones thus let at ●…ibertie will bring you forth a new ●…rood the next year, whereon to exer●…ise your Skill and knowledge, whereas ●…o take all hand over head is such an vn●…aturall destruction, that when you ●…r any other in the Country would ●…aue sport, both they and you shall ●…ant it and all the whole Country, (as I have seen where such destroyers live) will not be able to produce, or to show forth one Partridge. And be●…es these old Partridges (which we commonly call Ruins) being thus taken, are never good meat nor tasteful, by reason of their much toughness and hardness; so that to take them shows rather covetousness and greediness, the●… delight or recreation. Now albe in this whole discourse, and Help in use of Nets general use of Nets (whether this 〈◊〉 spoken off, or any other contained in ●…ny former part of this Treatise) I ha●… bounded them to the labour and ind●… 〈◊〉 of one man; yet you shall understand that if in these recreations or labours, you do take a companion or 〈◊〉 friend with you, that after you ha●… found your game, or set your game, a●… soon as you do begin your raung●… or round walk, he may presently co●… in ●…o, you, and as you take one end●… of the N●…tte, so he may take the othe●… and then carrying it up between yo●… you may equally unloose it and spread●… ouer your game, you shall find yo●… work a great deal much more 〈◊〉 and certain, and your labour more safe, and without all kind of danger or trouble. Now for a conclusion of this treatise, Taking of Rails, Quails, etc. when you are exquisite and perfect in all the things before spoken of and that you can do them readily & perfectly, & with all Art and cunning, you shall then know that from these, you may derive the taking of diverse other Birds, as Qua●…les, Rails, Morepoots, and diverse others of like nature and condition, all which are also very good flights, for the Hawk, and very dainty meats in the dish, as all that are ●…ither of good tooth, or good bringing up can very well witness. Now for their manner of haunts they Their haunts. are as the Partridges are, most in Corn Fields, or in Pastures or Woods near unto cornfields, only the Quail loves most the Wheat Fields; the Morepoots loves most the Heath and Forrest grounds where is store of Ling and such like covert, and the ●…uaile love the long and high grass wherein they may lie close obscure and hidden. For the manner of finding them it How to finds them is in all points like that of the Partridge, by the eye, by the ear, or by the haunt all which ask the same observations and characters which have been formerly declared touching the Partridge, and with the same causions exceptions and difficulties. But the chief and principal means of all, and which indeed exceedeth all, is to find them out by the call or pipe, to which they listen with such earnestness that you can no so●… chant their notes but in an instant they reply and make answer unto you, pursuing and following the call with such greediness, that they will never cease till they come unto you, and skip and play about you, especially the Qudi●…e, which is enamoured to hear her own tune, that you can no sooner make your quail pipe speak in the true tune but in a trice she will make answer & not ●…aue till she come to you, and sport about you. Now you are to observe in the calling Diversity of Notes. of these Birds, that they have diverse notes and tunes, some belonging to the male Birds, and some unto the female, all which you must have per●… in your remembrance, and then when you hear the male Byrd call you must answer in the note of the female, and if the female call, you must answer in the note of the male, and so you shall be sure that both the one and the other will most busily come about you, and never leave till they find the place from whence the sound cometh, to which when they do approach they will stand and gaze and listen till the Net be quite cast over them. Now for the manner of taking of any, How to take them. or all of these Birds, it is one and the same with the taking of the Partridge and may be done either by ●…ttes in such sort as is formerly declarred in this Chapter, or else by lime (either bush or rod) by the stalking Engine, and manner of driving, or lastly by the setting-Dogge in the same manner and form as hath been spoken of the Partridge. Of which Setting-Dogge since he is of so great use and excellency, I think it not amiss here in this place to demonstrate his true Figure and proportion. The form and proportion of the Setting Dog. Now although some may think it strange that a Dog should be brought to Set this small game, yet there is no strangeness therein; for Dogs in this Art are made to any thing that they are accustomed, so it be not a thing merely contrary and against their natures, which this is not; for it is the nature of every Spaniel, naturally to hunt all manner of Birds, or any thing that hath wing (though some with more earnestness & greediness then othersome.) Now these are Birds and have wing, so that they are natural for the Spaniel to hunt, and there then remaineth nothing but the accustoming the Dog thereunto, and acquainting him with your mind and determination, that this is the thing which you would have him hunt, which as soon as he understands, instantly he pursues and follows it, and is as earnest in it, as in any other chase, prey or pleasure whatsoever. And thus much for the taking of Partridges and other smaller Birds of like nature, as also of the Setting-Dog, and his seucrall uses. CHAP. XVI. More of the Setting-Dogge, of his election, and the manner of training him from a whelp, till he come to perfection. H●…uing spoken a little particularly of the Setting-Dogge, and 〈◊〉 manner of using him being brought to perfection and fire for the present use of the pastime, I will here in this place speak more generally and largely of him, and show how he is to be trained and brought to be trained and serviceable for the purposes before treated off, for albe I know that in diverse places of this Kingdom these Setting-Dogges are to be taught (so that most men of ability may have them at their pleasures) yet likewise I know they are sold at su●… great rates and prizes that no ind●…ous man whatsoever (which either loves the sport or would bepartaker of the benefit) but will be glad to learn how to make such a dog himself, and so both save his purse and make his pleasure and profit both more sure and more delicate; for this I must assure all men, (that buy their dogs from mercenary teachers) that evermore those sales-men do reserve in their own bosoms some one secret or another, for the want of knowledge, where of the purchaser quickly finds his dog imperfect, and so is forced upon every disorder or alteration of keeping to send the dog back to his first master a new to be reform, which drawing on ever a new price, makes the dogs certain price without end, without valuation. This fault to redress; and to make every man the true master of his own work, I will show you here in a brief and compendious manner all the mysteries and secrets which lie hid in this laboursome business. The first thing therefore that you must learn in this art, is to make a true election of your dog, which you intent to apply to this purpose of Setting, and in this election you shall observe, that although any dog which is of perfect and good sent, and naturally addicted to the hunting of feathers, as whether it be the Land-Spaniell, Water-spaniel, or else the Mongrel between either of both those kinds, or the Mongrels of either of those kinds, either with the shallow flewed hound, the tumbler, lurcher, or indeed, the small bastard Mastiff may be brought to this perfection of Setting (as I have seen by daily experience, both in this and in other Nations) yet is their none so excellent indeed as the true bred Land-Spaniell, being of a nimble and good size, rather small then gross, and of a courageous and fiery mettle, evermore loving and desiring toil, when toil seems most irksome and weary, which although you cannot know in a whelp so young, as it is intended he must be, when you first begin to train him to this purpose, yet may you have a strong speculation therein, if you choose him from a right litter or breed, wherein by succession you have known that the whole generation have been endued with all these qualities, as namely; that he is a strong, lusty and nimble raundger, both of active foot; wanton tail, and busy nostril, that his toil is without weariness, his search without changeableness, and yet, that no delight nor desire transport him beyond fear or obedience; for it is the perfectest character of the most perfectest Spaniel, ever to be fearful and loving to him that is his Master and keeper: I confess I have seen excellent rare Setting dogs made in the Low-Countries, which have been of a Bastard tumblers kind (for indeed a true Lande-Spaniel, is there Gaysson) and indeed, I have found in them (if I may so term it) a greater wisdom (which indeed is but a greater fear) then in our Land-Spaniels, but comparing the whole work together, that is the labour in raundging, the scent in finding, and the art in Setting, they have been much inferior to our dogs, and not able to stand up with them in the large and spacious Champains, nor yet to brush through or make their ways in the sharp thickets and troublesome coverts. To speak then in a word touching the best choice of this Setting dog, let him be as near as you can the best bred Land-Spaniell, that you can procure, and though some have been curious in observing of their colours, as giving prehominence to the Motley, the Liver-hude, or the White and Black spotted; yet questionless, it is but a vain curiosity, for no colour is amiss for this purpose, provided the natural qualities be perfect and answerable for the work to which end you intend them. Now when you have thus made a good election of your Dog, you shall begin to handle and instruct him at four months old, or at six month at the uttermost, for to ●…ferre longer time is hurtful, and will make the labour greater and more difficult to compass, for the elder Dogs are the more stubborn they are and do both unwillingly learn, and with less will retain that which is learned. The first thing therefore that you shall teach your Whelp is, by all means possible to make him most loving and familiar with you, so that he will not only know you from any other person, but also fawn upon you and follow you wheresoever you go, taking his only delight to be only in your company, and that you may bring this the better to pass you shall not suffer him to receive either food or cherishings from any man's hands but your, own only; and as thus you grow familiar with the Whelp, and make him loving and fond of you, so you shall also mix with this familiarity a kind of awe and obedience in the Whelp, so as he may aswell fear you as love you●… and this awe or fear you shall procure rather with your countenance, frown, or sharp words, then with blows, or any other actual cruelty, for these whelps are quickly terrified, and the violence of ●…ment not only depri●… them of courage, but also makes them dull & dead spirited, whereas on the co●…ary part you are to strive to keep your Dog (which is for this purpose) as w●…ton as is possible. When therefore you have made your whelp thus familiar and and unto you, so as he will follow you 〈◊〉 and down whithe●… soever you got without taking notice of any man but yourself only, & that he knoweth your frown from your 〈◊〉, and your gentle words from your rough, you shall begin to ●…each him to couch & lie down close to the ground first by laying him down to the ground, and saying unto him, Lie close, Lie close; or some such like word of commandment, and terrifying him with rough language when he doth any thing against your meaning and giving him not only cherrishing, but food (as a piece of bread or the like, which it is intended you must ever carry about you) when he doth any thing according unto your will, till you have made him so perfectly understand you that when at any time you shall but say, lie close, down, couch, or the like, that then presently he do the same, without any stamering, stay or amazement, which by pains ta●…ing, and continual use, you shall perfectly bring to pass in a few days. This done, you shall then make him after the same manner, and with the same words not only couch and lie down (as aforesaid) but being couched you shall then make him come creeping unto you with his belly and head close to the ground so far or so little a way as you shall think good, and this you shall do by saying, Come nearer, Come nearer, or the like; and at first (till he understand your meaning) by showing him a piece of bread or some other food which may entice him and draw him with more willingness to come unto you, and in this lesson you must observe that when he offereth to come unto you, if he either raise from the ground his foreparts, or his hinder-parts, or if he do but so much as offer to lift up his head, that then presently you do not only with your hand thrust his body down in such sort as you would have him, but also accompany that action with the terror of your voice, and such rating as may not only a●…ight the Whelp, but make him with greater care to strive to perform your pleasure, which performance if it come not so speedily as you think fit, or not with the willingness which is to be required in such an action, if then to the terror of your voice you add a sharp jerk or two with a whip-coa●…●…ash, it shall not be am●…, but much auaileable●…; only by all means forbear buffet about the dog's head with your fists, for such correction is naught, and not only makes a dog dull and of a slow spirit, but also takes a way from him a●… pleasure and delight in that which is and should be his natural exercise. Now when he doth perform your will other fully as you would desire, or in part according to the apprehension of his first knowledge, you shall then by no means forget not only to cherish him, but also to feed him, and then renew his lesson again, till he do every thing as perfectly as art can require it couching when you command him, creepeing upon his belly as far as you will have him, and pausing and staying, when and as oft as you bid him, and in this practis●… you shall continue him, and make him so perfect and ready that when at any time you chance to walk abroad, and that the wanton whelp begins to play in the fields, (for range you shall not suffer him till he have full strength) if you see him most busy, even than you shall speak unto him, and make him in the ●…eight of his pastime, presently fall to the ground, and not only lie close, but also come creeping on his belly unto you thi●… when you have perfited you shall ●…lien teach him to lead in a string ●…line and to follow you at your heel close without either trouble or straining of his colour, in which there is small art to be used, more theu a daily labour and practise, and not striving too roughly with the Whelp, but by all gentle means, first giving him understanding what to do, and then showing the manner how to do, you shall see that in a day or less, he will do as much as can be desired. When all these things aforesaid are perfectly learned, it is to be imagined that by this time the whelp will be at least twelve months of age, at which time (the season of the year being fit) you may very well adventure to go into the field and suffer him to range and hunt therein, yet with such carefulness and obedience, that albe his spirit and mettle do never so much transport him, yet upon the first (Him) or warning of your voice that he stop and look back upon you, as who should say (do you call) and upon the second, or reitteration of your voice, that forthwith he either forbear hunt further, or else come into your foot and walk by you, till you give him new encouragement; and in this ranging or hunting of the whelp, you find that through wantonness or foolishness he be given to babbling or opening without cause, you shall then at first chide him therefore, but if that prevail not, you shall then correct him much more sharply, as by biteing him hard with your teeth at the roots of his ears, or else lashing him hard with a sharp whip-corde-lash, till you have made him so staunch that he will hunt close and warily, without once opening either through wantonness or the rising up of any small birds before him. Now when you have brought your dog to this staunch and obedient manner of hunting, and that he will bestow himself in such manner as you please to appoint him, then as soon as you find him to come upon the haunt of any Partridge (which you shall know both by his greater eagerness in hunting, as also by a kind of whimpering and whining in his voice being greedily desirous to open, only fear and awe keeps him in an unwilling obedience) you shall then speak unto him as warning him to take heed, by saying, (Be wise, Take heeede) or the like, but if notwithstanding he either rush in and so spring them, or else open or use any other means by which the Partridge escapeth, you shall then presently take him and correct him very sound, and then cast him off again and either let him hunt those in such places as you have marked them, or else in some other haunts where you are assured some Covey lodgeth; and then as before showed, being com upon the haunts, give the dog warning, and if you see that out of fear he standeth still and waveth his tail, looking forward as if he did point at something, than you may be sure that the Partridge, or that he hunteth, is before him, than you shall make him lie close, and yourself taking a large range or ring about him, shall look if you can find the Partridge: which as soon as you have found, if he have set them far off, you shall then by saying (go nearer) make the dog creep on his belly nearer to the Covey, but if he be near enough you shall then make him lie close without stirring, and then drawing your nets take the Partridge as hath been before showed, and then cherish the dog exceeding much, first by giving him the heads, necks and pinions of the Partridge, and then by clawing and clapping him, and by giving him either bread or other food which you must evermore at those times carry about you; but if it happen that as before, so again he chance to spring up the game, by his awant of taking heed or other rudeness, than again you shall correct him more than before, and so take him up into your string and lead him home, tying him up for that night, without giving him any thing more than a bit of bread and water to keep and maintain life in his bosom, and then the next day have him to the field, and do as before showed, yet with somewhat more terror and hard countenance, that he may not only call to mind his former fault, but also see that yet he hath not gotten your favour, and there is no question but he will be much more careful than he was before, & strive in all things more readily to obey your commandments; and then when he performeth your will and doth according to your expectation you must by no means forget to bestow upon him all the cheerishing that may be, as those of the voice, the hands, and of food also, whereby the dog may be delighted and encouraged to increase and go forward in his well doing. And herein you are to observe also, that when your dog setteth the Partridge, if he do stand upright upon his legs looking as it were at, or over the Partridge, that then such standing is a fault and may give a blink or offence to the Partridge, and therefore in this case you shall speak unto the dog and chide him, saying unto him, Be wise, or lie close, not leaving till you see him lay himself down upon his belly on the ground. Again, you shall observe, that when you go in unto the Covey to spring the Partridge up into your nets, that if the dog rush hastily after you, and offer to spring them either before, or as soon as you, that likewise it is a great fault, and you must correct him very bit●…erly for the same; and to the end no that fault in you, may bring on that fault in the dog, you must observe to go very leisurely and with great discretion into the Covey and ever as you go speak to the dog to be wise and to lie close, terrifying him in such sort that he may not move till you give him liberty. Many other observations there be, but none more material than these already rehearsed; so that being careful and diligent to use and observe these according to the truth of their natures, there is no doubt but you shall bring your whelp in one four or five months to that full perfection which can be required of any reasonable judgement. And thus much for the bringing up of any Spaniell-Whelpe to this excellent art of Setting. CHAP. XVII. Of the making of the best Lime, and of the preservation, as also of the Lyming of Rods, Bushes, Strings, etc. NOw for as much as the perfection of this Art consisteth in the perfection of the Instruments which are to be employed therein, and that whereas any of them shall either grow or be defective, that there the whole work must necessarily perish and fall to ruin, and for as much as there is no instrument more available or more casual than Birdlime is, both by reason of the strength, and vigour, and ability to hold and entangle when it is good and perfect, and also the aptness to lose, not to cleave or stick, when it is either weak rotten or defective: I think it not here amiss to declare unto you how and in what manner to make and compound the most excellentest and perfitest Birdlime, for all manner of uses or purposes, wherein soever it shall be employed, whether it be in Winter or in Summer, in the Frost or in the Thaw, or whether it be by Water or by Land, or for any general ●…fe to be employed in this art of Fowling. To make then the best and most excellentest Making of Bird-lime Birdlime, you shall take at Midsummer the Bark of Holly and pill it from the Tree, so much as will fill a reasonable big vessel, then put to it running water, and set it on the fire, and boil it till the grey and white Bark rise from the green, which will take for the most part, a whole day or better in boiling, then take it from the fire and separate the Barks after the water is very well drained from it, which done, take all the green Bark and lay it on the ground in a close place, and a moist floor, as in some low Vault or Cellar, and then with all manner of green weeds, as Docks, Hemlock, thistles and the like, cover it quite over a good thickness, and so let it lie for the space of ten or twelve days, in which time it will rot and turn to a filthy and slimy matter, then take it up from the ground and put it into a large mortar, and there beat and grind it exceedingly till it be comed to one universal paste or toughness, without the diserning of any part of the Bark or other substance, which as soon as you see, you shall take it out of the mortar, and carry it to a quick and swift running stream, and there wash it exceedingly, not leaning any moat or foulness within it, than put it up in a very close earthen pot, and let it stand and purge for diverse days together, not omitting but to scum it and cleanse it as any foulness rises, for at least three or four days together, and then perceiving no more scum will arise, you shall then take it out of that pot and put it in another clean earthen vessel, and cover it close, and so keep it. Now when you have occasion to use How to v●… lime. your Lime, you shall take of it such aquantitie as you shall think●… fit, and putting it into an earthen pipkin, with a third part of Hogs-grease, Capons-grease or Goose-grease, finely clarified (but Capons-grease or Goose-grease is the best) and set it one a very gentle fire and there let them melt together, and stir them continually, till they be both incorporated together, and that you cannot discern any separation of bodies, but all one entire and perfect substance, then take it from the fire and cool it, stirring it still till it be cold As soon as your Lime is well cooled, Lyming of Rods, Strings, etc. you shall then take your Lyme-roddes, and beaking or warming them a little over the fire to make them warm and dry, then take some of the Lime (so prepared as aforesaid) and wind it about the tops of the rods, then draw the rods asunder one from another and close them again, then open them and shut them again, continually plying and working them together, till by smearing one upon another you have equally bestowed on every rod a like quantity of lime, not any rod having more or lesser than another, but all alike both in thickness and depth, always provided that you keep the full and entire breadth of your hand (at least) free and without any lime at all, ever and anon warming the rods before the fire to make the lime spread and bed upon them the better and to make it lie smother and plainer, without any gross or palpable show, whereby the Fowl may take affright or amazement before they come to touch it; If you lime any strings, you shall do it when the lime is very hot and at the thinnest, besmearing the strings on all sides, by folding them up together and undoing them again, and by laying the places that are untouched to the places that are touched, till all be generally touched and no part of the cord free from lime, nor any part thicker or thinner than another, the knots only excepted, which must be a little better limed then any other part of the cord; both because of their weight and that they may fasten a great deal the sooner. Now lastly for the lyming of Straws, it must be done also when the lime is very hot, and in such manner as the rods are done, before the fire, only you must not do a few, but a great heap together, as much as you can well gripe in your hands, for so they are the stronger, and not so apt to bruise or break in pieces, and therefore in the opening and working of them you shall not do it with a little quantity or a few together, but still as many as you can well gripe, tossing and turning them, and working them before the fire, till they be all besmeared, and that every straw have his true proportion and quantity of lime, which as soon as you see it is done in perfection, you shall then have cases made of leather, in which to put in your several bunches of rods, and so set them up and keep them till you have occasion to use them. Now if it so fall out that the weather do prove so extreme sharp and frosty, that your lime-rods do frieze, and thereby loose all their strength and vigour, so as they cannot hold any thing at all; then when you mix your grease and lime together, you shall take a quatter so much of the oil of Peter (which the Pothecaries call Petrolium) as you do of Capons-grease, and mixing them together well, and working it upon the rods, it will ever keep your ●…ime so supple, tough, fine and gentle, that no ●…rost how great or violent soever, shall by any means annoy or offend you. And thus much for the knowledge of lime and the several uses, with which I end this brief Treatise or Summarie Collection of this pleasant and delightful Art of Fouling, which if it give any small satisfaction or contentment, to the industrious and diligent Reader, I have the full accomplifhment of my desire, and hold my pain sufficiently rewarded. FINIS.