[1] [2] [3] ORder requireth that I ſpeake ſomewhat of the Fowles alſo of Englande, which I may eaſily deuide into the wilde and tame, but alas ſuch is my ſmall ſkill in Fowles, that to ſay the truth I cã neyther recite their nombers nor well diſtinguiſhe one kinde of them from an other. Yet thys I haue by generall knowledge, that there is no nation vnder the ſunne which hath in time of ye yere more plentie of wild Fowle then we, for ſo many kindes as our Iland doth bring forth: We haue therfore the Crane, the Bitter, the wilde and tame Swanne, the Buſtarde, the Hieron, the Curlew, the Snite, the Wilde|gooſe, Dotcrel, Brant, Larke, Plouer, Lap|wing, Téele, Wigeon, Mallard, Sheldrake, Shoueler, Pewet, Seamewe, Barnacle, Quaile, Woodcocke, Partrich and Feaſant, beſides diuers other, whoſe names to [...]e are vtterly vnknowne, and much more the taſte of theyr fleſh wherewt I was neuer acquain|ted. But as theſe ſerue not at al ſeaſons, ſo in theyr ſeuerall turnes, there is no plentye of them wanting, wherby the tables of the No|bilitie and Gentrie ſhould ſéeme to be dayly vnfurnyſhed. But of all theſe the production of none is more maruellous then that of the Barnacle, whoſe place of generatiõ we haue fought oft times ſo farre as the Orchades, where as peraduẽture we myght haue found the ſame nearer home, and not onely vppon the coaſtes of Ireland, but euen in our owne riuers. If I ſhoulde ſaye howe either theſe or ſome ſuch other Fowle not muche vnlyke vnto them doe bréede yéerely in the Thames mouth, I doe not thincke that many will be|leue me, [...]e more [...]he. 11. [...]pter of [...] deſcrip+ [...]n of [...]cotland. yet ſuch a thing is there to be ſéene, where a kinde of Fowle hath hys beginning vpon a ſhort tender ſhrubbe ſtanding vppon the ſhore from whẽce when theyr time com|meth they fall downe either into the ſalt wa|ter and liue, or vpon the dry land and periſh, as Pena the French Herbarien hath alſo no|ted in the very ende of hys Her [...]all. As for Egretes, Pawperes and ſuch like, they are daily brought vnto vs from beyonde the ſea, as if all the Fowle of our countrey could not ſu [...]fice to ſatiſfie our delicate appetites. Our tame Fowle are ſuch for the moſt parte as are common both to vs and to other Coun|treys, as Cockes, H [...]rnes, Géeſe, Duckes, Pecockes of Inde, blew Pecocks, Pigeons and ſuch lyke whereof there is great plenty in euery Fermours year [...]. They are kepte there alſo to be ſolde eyther for ready money in the open markeſtes, or elſe to be ſpent at home in good company amongſt theyr neigh|bours wythout reprehenſion or [...]n [...]s. Ney|ther are we ſo miſerable in England (a thing only graunted vnto vs by the eſpeciall grace of God and liberty of our Princes) as to dine or ſuppe wyth a quarter of a Hen, or to make ſo great a repaſt with a cocks combe as they doe in ſome other Countreys: but if occaſion ſerue the whole carcaſes of many Capo [...]s, Hennes, Pigeons and ſuch lyke doe oft goe to wracke, beſide Béefe, Mutton, Veale and Lambe: all which at euery feaſt are taken for neceſſary diſhes amongſt the comminal|tye of England. The gelding of Cockes, where by Capons are made, is an auncient practiſe brought in of olde time by the Ro|maines when they dwelt here in thys lande: but the gelding of Turkies or Indiſh Pea|cockes is a newer deuiſe: and certainely not vſed amiſſe, ſith the rancknes of that byrde is very much abated therby, and the taſt of the fleſh in ſundry wiſe amended. If I ſhould ſay that ga [...]s growe alſo to be gelded, I ſup|poſe that no man will beleue me, neyther haue I taſte [...] a [...] any tyme of ſuch a fowle ſo ſerued, yet haue I heard it more then once to [...] vſed in the Countrey, where theyr Géeſe are driuen to the fielde like herdes of cattell by a Gooſeheard, a toy alſo [...]le [...] to be mer|uailed at then the other. For as it is rare to heare of a gelded gander, ſo it is ſtraunge to me, to ſée or heare of Géeſe to be ledde to the field lyke ſhéepe: yet ſo it is, and theyr Goſe|herd caryeth a cattle of paper or parchement wyth hym when he goeth about in the mor|ning to gather the Goſlings together, the noyſe whereof commeth no ſooner to their eares, then they fall to gaggling, and haſ [...]n to goe wyth hym. If it happen that the gates be not yet open, or that none of the houſe be ſtirring, it is ridiculous to ſée how they will péepe vnder the dores, and neuer leaue cry|ing and gagling til they be let out vnto him to ouer take theyr fellowes. I might héere [page 120] make mention of other fowles which we re|pute vncleane, as Crowes, Pies, Choughs, Rookes, &c: but ſith they abound in all coun|tries, (though peraduenture moſt of all in Englande by reaſon of our negligence) I ſhall not néede to ſpend any tyme in ye reher|ſall of them. Neyther are they cheriſhed of purpoſe to catch vp the woormes that breede in our ſoyles, (as Pollidore ſuppoſeth,) ſith there are no vplandiſhe townes but haue or ſhoulde haue nettes of their owne in ſtore to catche them withall. Sundrie actes of Par|liament are likewyſe made for their vtter deſtruction. Nothing therefore can be more vnlykely to be true, then that theſe rauinous and noyſome foules are nouriſhed amongſt vs to deuour our Woormes, whych doe not abounde much more in Englande then elſe where in other countries of the mayne.