Falconry

Falconry is the art of rearing, training and using birds of prey, like falcons, hawks and eagles. Falconers were commonly in the employ of major households, but falconry was seen as a sport or recreational activity in a similar way to hunting. Period art displays the lords and ladies walking and riding with a bird on their glove. The bird would be released to hunt for other birds or small animals to the joy of the nobility, but it was the falconer's job to look after and train the raptor. The chief falconer was a respected position within the housegold. Birds were given as gifts between royalty and prey was bred to hunt with.

Falconry was widespread across Europe and the Middle East. There are some claims that it was introduced during the Crusades, but there are early references to it by writers like Aristotle and the Romans certainly had falconers.

In heraldry, a standing falcon is often displayed wearing a jess and bells on its legs. These are both signs of the association that was made been the birds and falconry.

Writings on falconry

Those familiar with the modern novel "Kes" or "Kestrel for a Knave" by Barry Hines may remember the poem that ranked the birds of prey according to the rank of those who used them. The poem was found in the Book of St Albans (1486) which was written by Dame Juliana Barnes, prioress of Sopwell nunnery. However, the ranking is more a reflection of reality than a set of rules. Falconry was expensive. Some of the large birds are rarer, harder to get eggs of and harder to train. Accordingly, it was the greater nobility who were able to use these birds for falconry.

'An Eagle for an Emperor, a Gyrfalcon for a King:

a Peregrine for a Prince, & a Saker for a Knight,

a Merlin for a lady, a Goshawk for a Yeoman,

a Sparrowhawk for a Priest, & a Kestrel for a Knave.'

The full list of the falconry Laws of Ownership from the book is:

King: Gyr Falcon (male & female)

Prince: Peregrine Falcon

Duke: Rock Falcon (subspecies of Peregrine)

Earl: Tiercel Peregrine

Baron: Bastarde Hawk

Knight: Saker

Squire: Lanner

Lady: Female Merlin

Yeoman: Goshawk or Hobby

Priest: Female Sparrowhawk

Holy water Clerk: Male Sparrowhawk

Knaves, servants, children: Kestrel

Edmund Bert said in his "Treatise of Hawks and Hawking" (1619)

"Whatsoever he be that undertaketh this profession I will wish him an able body, a quicke and most of all an earnest love and delight thereunto; to such a man a hawke will quickly teach knowledge, but of him that wanteth wit she will make a foole, and of a dull spirit a true pack-horse."

The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II wrote "De Arte Venandi cum Avibus" (The Art of Falconry) which is regarded as one of the first major scientific writings on the anatomy of birds.

Falconry in the SCA

Falconry is not commonly seen in the SCA. The Society does not have any laws relating to this craft which is not surprising due to the wide range of mundane laws that may be found. For instance, in Australia the native birds are all protected by federal laws but it is the states who manage their use and keeping. In the state of Victoria, falconry is only allowed for the purposes of education and rehabilitation by licensed wildlife officers, so it is rarely seen outside of wildlife centres. Other countries, like the United Kingdom, do allow amateur falconers and falconry clubs.

External sites

• www.scottishfalconry.co.uk - History of falconry
• www.hawk-conservancy.org - Brief History of Falconry