THE MIRROR OF FALCONRY BY PIERRE HARMONT AND THE FALCONRY OF FRANCOIS DE SAINCTE AULAIRE. Translated by John Loft.

(1619) 2013 1st edition in English. 8vo (158 x 240mm). Ppxxx,482. B/w illustrations. Green boards, spine titled in gilt.

Harmont's Mirror of Falconry, and The Falconry of Francois de Saincte Hilaire came to John Loft's notice after the publication of his D'Arcussia's Falconry. The original books used by Loft were made available by M. Patrick Paillat who went to the trouble of photographing 472 pages of text in order to make the translation possible. The Mirror of Falconry was first published in 1634 by Pierre Bilaine although the current translation is of a reprint of 1650. The Falconry of Francois de Saincte Aulaire was first published in 1619 by Robert Fouet. Only a dozen copies are now known to exist and it was not reprinted until 1888. The text used for Loft's translation was the 1619 first edition. "Those who have read Loft's translation of d'Arcussia's Falconry will know roughly what to expect from this new work when they are told it concerns the same period and comes in the same format, but where d'Arcussia was discursive and anecdotal these two authors never stray from their subject and St. Aulaire considers it his religious duty to pass on the knowledge he has gained in his half-century of managing and flying birds of prey, as he calls them. He was an excellent instructor. Falconry has come a long way since then and we do not need his instructions but we can still admire his expertise on all fronts and enjoy what he reveals about the different conditions, beliefs, and practices of the times. Harmont, the professional falconer, was as methodical in setting out his information as he must have been in managing his section of the huge royal falconry establishment, both when at court and when on campaign. He writes with noticeable confidence. It is of particular interest that he flew and looked after two alethes. (It seems unlikely that they were ever brought over from America in numbers). St. Aulaire was a country gentleman but any professional he employed would have been there merely to serve and not to advise him. He was familiar with all the falcons and hawks then available, but his first love was the peregrine. He did not despise goshawks in spite of some prejudice against them and, according to his masterly description of their behaviour, his (unimprinted) hawks differed not a jot from ours. This is a handsome as well as a fascinating volume. It is one to be treasured." John Loft himself writes; "In truth few copies [of this book] will be read right through to the end." Loft does a disservice to his own book which is an exemplary translation of a major work, to which he has contributed many pages of informed commentary. The two books are of interest for their own sake: John Loft's own contribution should be read by anybody who has read, or intends to read, other works on falconry of the period. If you haven't, you should.