254

FALCONRY.

of Esle, was the first among the Italian princes who usedthis method of fowling; 18 and that the Emperor Henry fol-lowed this example of his father’s steps, is proved by thewords of Collenticcio. “ Fu (Enrico) dato estremamenteall’ essercitio della caccia, et dell’ uccellare con falconi, etuccelli di rapina; il qual modo d’uccellare, k fame, cheFederico suo padre fosse il primo autore, che lo portasse inItalia.” Compendio dell ’ Istoria del Regno di Napoli, di Pan-dolfo Colfenuccio, di Mambrino Roseo e di Tom. Costo. InVenetia, 1613, 4to. i. p. 88. The service w hich Frederic II .rendered to this art, is seen in a book he wrote in Latin upon it, intituled De Arte Venandi cum Avibvs, which wasprinted for the first time at Augsburg, anno 1596, from aMS. belonging to Joachim CamerariHS, a physician at Nu-remberg. 10 Deficiencies sometimes occur, from lacunee inthe manuscript, and there are some additions by the au-thor’s son Manfred, King of Sicily. The hood worn by thehawk, is said to have been an Arabian invention. TheEmperor had received presents of falcons from some Arabianprinces, and also procured skilful persons from that countrywho could manage those birds in a superior manner." Al-bertus Magnus is presumed to have inserted much from thiswork into his book, which treats of animals.

In none of the masculine exercises and the healthy sportsof the field, have the fairer sex participated more than infalconry. In days of chivalry the ladies kept hawks, whichwere then as much caressed, by those who wished to obtain

18 Aves autcm aucupio natas, accipitres videlicit, falcones, giro-falcos, pere-grinos, montauos, gibbosos, astures, quos Pausanias aslorgios vocat, quae primus inItaiiam longo postliminio jredericus yLnobarbus advexit, ac cicures effici edocuit,prirausque ex Italia Rainatdus marchio Estensis apud se in delitiis habuit, ad cen-tum quinquaginta tnugnis Axpensis aluit. Bandcllus Dominicanus, QrcU. Funebr. inPrinctp. Mnntiumuw. j ■

*9 Reliqua Librorum Fgederici II. Imperatorisde Arte Venandi cum Avibus,cumManfredi Regis Additioufbus;—ex meiubranis vetustisnpnc priniurn edita. Alber-tos M. de falconibus, asturibus, et accipitribus. Augusts Vindel. ad insigne pinus1596, 414 pages 8vo.

*° This work being extremely scarce, and having an opportunity to give someextracts, they may not be unacceptable. “ The lK>od had its origin among theoriental nations; for the eastern Arabs used it more than any other people withwhom we are acquainted, in taming falcons and birds of tbe same species. Someof the kings of Arabia sent to us the most expert falconers, with various kinds of,falcons ; and I did not fail, after I had resolved to collect into a book every thingrespecting falconry, to invite from Arabia and every other country such as weremost skilful in il; and I received from them tbe best information they could give.Because the use of the liood was one of the roost effectual methods they knew fortaming hawks, I had the benefit of it. I employed a hood in taming these birds;and it has been so much approved in Europe , that it is proper it should be handeddown to posterity.”