HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 321 



pared for them between Michaelmass and Christmass, by cutting 

 down the reeds and rushes, and putting them aside in the nooks 

 and corners of the hafts, and in the vallies, to make them level ; 

 for should they be permitted to rot on the islands, the Pewits 

 would not endure them. 



" After three weeks sitting, the young ones are hatch't, and 

 about a month after are almost ready to flye, which usually hap- 

 fens on the third of June, when the proprietor of the poole orders 

 them to be driven and catch'd, the gentry comeing in from all 

 parts to see the sport ; the manner thus. They pitch a rabbit- 

 net on the bank side, in the most convenient place over against 

 the hafts, the net in the middle being about ten yards from the 

 side, but close at the ends in the manner of a bow ; then six or 

 seven men wade into the poole beyond the Pewits, over against 

 the net, with long staves, and drive them from the hafts, whence 

 they all swim to the bank side, and landing run like lapwings into 

 the net, where people standing ready, take them up, and put them 

 into two penns made within the bow of the net, which are built 

 round, about three yards diameter, and a yard high or somewhat 

 better, with small stakes driven into the ground in a circle, and 

 interwoven with broom and other raddles. 



" In which manner there have been taken of them in one morn- 

 ing 50 dosens at a driving, which at 5s^ per dosen (the ancient 

 price of them) comes to twelve pounds ten shillings : but at seve- 

 ral drifts that have been anciently made in the same morning, 

 there have been as many taken as have been sold for thirty pounds, 

 so that some years the profit of them has amounted to fifty or 

 threescore pounds, beside what the generous proprietor usually 

 presents his relations, and the nobility and gentry of the county 

 withal], which he constantly does in a plentiful manner, sending 

 them to their houses in crates alive, so that feeding them with 

 livers and other entrails of beasts, they may kill them at what dis- 

 tance of time they please, according as occasions present them- , 

 selves, they being accounted a good dish at the most plentiful 

 tables. 



" But they commonly appoint three days of driving them, within 

 fourteen days, or thereabout, of the second or third of June ; 

 which' while they are doing, some have observed a certain old one 

 that seems to be somewhat more concerned than the rest, being 

 clamourous, and striking down upon the very heads of the men, 

 which has given ground of suspicion that they have some govern- 



