“The Haukes dyd syng
Their belles dyd ryng
Thei said they came frō the tower.
We hold with the kyng
And wyll for him syng
To God, day, nyght, and hower.”
p. 383.
But I apprehend that by a hawke of the towre Skelton means—a hawk that towers aloft, takes a station high in the air, and thence swoops upon her prey. Juliana Berners mentions certain hawks which “ben hawkes of the toure.” Book of St. Albans, sig. c. v.: and Turbervile says; “Shee [the hobby] is of the number of those Hawkes that are hie flying and towre Hawks.” Booke of Falconrie, p. 53. ed. 1611.
Page 255. v. 935. the malarde] i. e. the wild-drake.
v. 936. becked] i. e. beaked.