Can someone please suggest the association between falconry/hawking and perceptions of females in the elizabethan era!?!? I think it has to do with the gender of the birdWww@QuestionHome@Com
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Position:Home>History> Elizabethan falconry/hawking and females?Question: Elizabethan falconry/hawking and females!? Can someone please suggest the association between falconry/hawking and perceptions of females in the elizabethan era!?!? I think it has to do with the gender of the birdWww@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Well, I'm no authority on this but, as falconry was considered the sport of kings there were guides laid down for which birds were considered suitable for which people!. A lady would have a female merlin!. "The merlin, a small but determined hunter, was considered appropriate for noblewomen!." http://www!.strolen!.com/content!.php!?node=!.!.!. (there's some very interesting information here, which says that the guide to birds and owners is just that, not a regulation) The merlin is the smallest European falcon and hunts small birds!. I have no idea how falconry could be associated with the perception of women, except that falconry was the sport of kings, and only noblewomen would take part!. It was very fashionable at one point, and people would take their birds everywhere! (Do read some of the links!.) A list and background is here: http://www!.elizabethan-era!.org!.uk/elizab!.!.!. http://www!.hawk-conservancy!.org/histfalc!.!.!. http://www!.r3!.org/life/articles/falconry!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com There is a good description comparing a woman to a falcon in John fletcher's play 'the Tamer Tamed' (a sequel to 'the Taming of the Shrew')!. Although it was written a little after the elizabethan period (it was published in 1611), I think it is close enough to be relevent!. Maria, the heroine, says: "Now thou com'st near the nature of a woman!. Hang these tame-hearted eyasses, that no sooner See the lure out, and hear their husbands' holla, But cry like kites upon' em! The free haggard (Which is that woman that hath wing and knows it, Spirit and plume) will make an hundred checks, To show her freedom, sail in ev'rey air, And look out ev'ry pleasure, not regarding Lure nor quarry till her pitch command What she desires, making her foundered keeper Be glad to fling out trains, and golden ones To take her down again!." 'eyass' is a young hawk taken from nest for training 'haggard' is a hawk caught when in the adult plumage, untamed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com First I have heard of it, but then that wasn't the area/time period that I was most interested in!. I will star this for others while I do a bit of research myself!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |