Publications of the Clan Lindsay Society - Electric Scotland

138 THE ROYAI, I'ALCONKRS OF SCOTl-AND.
from a height as ilid the true falconn, uiid they
returned at the call or whistle of the falconer.
In early times only those could engage in falconry
who had the right conferred on them \)y charter from
the Crown, or from some subject-superior who himself
was competent to grant it The possession of the right
was therefore a great distinction, and the carrying of
a hawk on the fist was a mark of high gentility.
Afterwards, however, and even before the time of the
Reformation, falconry was a much less exclusive
privilege. All classes of the connnunity had come
to engage in it, and this as well as the destruction of
game by other means so spoiled the sport for all that
Parliament was constrained to interfere. In 1599, an
Act was passed prohibiting the sale of game, and for-
bidding the killing of it except by those whose revenues
were fit to bear the expense of maintaining hawks and
hounds. Again, in 1621, it was enacted that none
but those who had at least a plough of land in heritage
(104 acres) should engage in hunting and hawking.
These measures, however, were ineffective in saving
a sport that was already doomed by the changing
conditions.
When every little laird strained his resources to
keep up as much state as he could achieve, his hawks
would have a conspicuous place in his household, and
among the many servitors with whom he surrounded
himself to one would no doubt be assigned the duty
of training and caring for the bird.s. A more numerous
staff was maintained by the great nobles, according to
their rank and means. In 150S there is mention of
five falconers who were in the service of the Earl of