In so moch that gentiƚƚ men and honest persones haue greete delite in haukyng and desire to haue the maner to take haukys: and also how and in waat wyse they shulde gyde theym ordynateli: and to knaw the gentiƚƚ termys in communyng of theyr haukys: and to vnderstonde theyr sekeneses and enfirmitees: and also to knawe medicines for theym accordyng. and mony notabuƚƚ termys that ben vsed ī hawkyng both of their haukys and of the fowles that their hawkys shaƚƚ sley. Therfore thys book fowlowyng in a dew forme shewys veri knawlege of suche plesure to gentiƚƚ men and ꝑsonys disposed to se itt.
Thys is the maner to begynne to kepe hawkys: bot not aƚƚ maner hawkys. bott oonli Goshawkys: and Tercellis of Goshawkys. and spare hawkys. and in watt maner thay shaƚƚ be taake.
The maner to speke of hawkis fro an eeg to thei be habuƚƚ to be takene.
Now to speke of hawkys. first thay been Egges. and afterwarde they bene disclosed hawkys. and communeli goshawkys been disclosed. as sone as the choughe and in some place more tymeli after the contre is of hete. and tymeli bredyng.
¶ And we sħaƚƚ say that hawkis doon Eyer. and not brede. in the woodes. And we shaƚƚ say that howkys doon draw when they bere tymbering to their nestes. and nott they beld ne make ther nestes And in the tyme of their loue they caƚƚ. and not kauke. And we shaƚƚ say that they trede.
¶ And when they bene vnclosed and begynneth to feder any thyng of lengthe Anoon be kynde they wiƚƚ draw somwatt out of the nest: and draw to bowis. and come agayn to ther nest And then thay be clepit Bowessis ¶ And after saynt Margaretis day thay wiƚƚ flie fro tree to tree. And then thay bene calde Brawncheris. And then it is time for to take hem
¶ And .vij. nighttis be fore saynt Margaritis day &̄ .vij. nightis after is beste takyng of spare hawkes.
How ẏe shall demeẏn ẏow ī takẏng of hawkis & with wat instrumētis & how ẏe shall kide them
Who so wiƚƚ take hawkes he must haue nettis wich ben kalled vrines and tho must be made of good small threde. and it hade need to be died other green or blwe for espieng of thee hawke. and he most take with hym needeƚƚ and threde to ensile the hawkes that ben takien. And in this maner they must be ensiled. Take the needeƚƚ and threde: and put it thorow the ouer igh lid and so of that other. and make hem fast vnder the beke: thatt she se neuer a deeƚƚ and then sħe is ensiled as she awthe to be. Sum vsen to ensile hem with the needer igh lidde a bone the beke on the hede almost: bot that is the wors way For of reeson the ouer igh lidde closith more iustly then the nether be cause of the largenesse. When she is ensiled then bere thi hawke home on thi fiste and cast hir on a perch and let hir stande ther a night and a day and on that other day towarde eeuen. then take and cut eseli the thredes and take hem a way softeli for brekyng of the lyddis of the ighen. Then softe and faire begynne to fede her. and fair fare with her tiƚƚ sħe wiƚƚ sitte weeƚƚ vppon the fist. For it is drede for hurtyng of hir wengys. And then thessame night after the fedyng wake her aƚƚ nyght and the morow aƚƚ day. Then shee wiƚƚ be preui Inowgh to be reclamed. And the first meete that she shaƚƚ eete: lett it be hoot. and yeue her Inough ther of
Whan ẏowre hawke maẏ be draw to reclaẏme and the maner of hir dẏette
And if yowre hawke be harde pennyd: she may be drawne to be reclaymed For aƚƚ the while that she is tender pennyd: she is not habuƚƚ to be reclaymed ¶ And if she be a Goshawke or Terceƚƚ that shaƚƚ be reclaymed euer fede hym with wasħe meete at the drawyng. and at the reclaymyng. bot loke that hit be hoote. and in this maner wasħe it. Take the meet and go to the water and strike it vpp and downe in the water. and wringe the waater owte. and fede hir ther with and she be a brawncher. And if it bene an Eyesse thow most wasħ the meete clenner then ye doo to the brawncher. and with a linne cloth wipe it and fede hir. And euermore the thrid day yeue her castyng when she is fleyng if she be a Goshawke or Terceƚƚ in this maner: Take new blanket cloth and cut .v. pelettis therof of an inche longe. And take the flesħ and cutt .v. morceilis: and withe a knyues poynt make an hoole in eueri morceƚƚ. and put therin the pellettis of cloth. and take a fair disħ with water and put hem therin. Then take the hawke and yeue her a morceƚƚ of hoote meete the mowntenawns of halfe hir sooꝑ. Then take hit that lyth in the waaṫ. and fede hir for aƚƚ nyght.