THE SCENE: This passage demonstrate the awe and affection that medieval people often held for birds of prey.
THE TEXT: From the time of Brigid a noble falcon was accustomed to frequent the place, and to perch on the top of the tower of a church. Accordingly it was called by the people “Brigid’s bird”, and was held in a certain respect by all.
This bird used to do the bidding of the townspeople or the soldiers of the castle, just as if it were tamed and trained in chasing, and, because of its own speed, forcing ducks and other birds of the land and rivers of the plain of Kildare from the air down to the ground to the great delight of the onlookers. For what place was left to the poor little birds, when men held the land and the waters, and a hostile and terrible tyrant of a bird endangered the air?
A remarkable thing about this bird was that it did not allow any mate into the precincts of the church where it used to live. When the season of mating came, it went far away from its accustomed haunts and, finding a mate in the usual manner in the mountains near Glendalough, indulged its natural instincts there. When that was finished it returned alone to the church.
– The History and Topography of Ireland, Gerald of Wales, 12th Century AD
