THE SETTER. 175 



A curious document, which is probably the earliest 

 legal instrument of this nature on record, is in existence, 

 having been preserved by Mr. Daniel in his Rural Sports, 

 proving that in the seventeenth century setter breaking 

 was an understood and regularly managed branch of 

 business. 



Singularly enough, this document is a contract between 

 a Worcestershire farmer and a namesake, and doubtless a 

 collateral ancestor, of my own since a branch of my 

 family were early settled in that county which would 

 seem to show that I come honestly by my love of field- 

 sports, as a matter of inheritance from past generations. 



" RIBBESFORD, Oct. 7, 1685. 



" I, John Harris of Willdon, in the parish of Hastle- 

 bury, in the county of Worcester, yeoman, for and in 

 consideration of ten shillings of lawful English money this 

 day received of Henry Herbert of Ribbesford in the said 

 county, Esq., and of thirty shillings more of like money 

 by him promised to be hereafter payed me, do hereby 

 covenant and promise to the said Henry Herbert, his 

 ex'ors and adm'ors, that I will from the day of the date 

 hereof, until the first day of March next, well and suffi- 

 ciently maintain and keep a Spanile bitch, named Quand, 

 this day delivered into my custody by the said Henry 

 Herbert, and will before the first day of March next, fully 

 and effectually traine up and teach the said Bitch to set 

 Partridges, Pheasants and other game as well and exactly 

 as the best sitting doggers usually set the same. And the 

 said Bitch so trained and taught shall and will deliver to 



