THE KING'S CORMORANTS. 263 
tried, and as we hear so little about it afterwards, there 
can be no doubt but that.it proved a failure, which, 
indeed, might have been expected, as the bird is what 
falconers would call an habitual ‘carrier. Neither do 
the otters seem to have answered. Vines were grown in 
Surrey for wine in ancient times, and I wonder if this 
vine-garden was for that purpose.” ] 
“No. 4, February 28th, 1619—To John Wood, whom 
His Majesty heretofore appointed to attend the French 
ambassadors, with the cormorants sent by His Majesty’s 
good brother, the French King, the sum of £215, for so 
much by him disbursed and laid out for his charges 
incident to the performance of the said service, over and 
above the sum of 450, impressed unto him, for and 
towards the said charges, appearing by his bill, of the 
particulars thereof, delivered in upon oath, and allowed 
by us and the rest of the Commissioners of the Treasury. 
By writ dated the 18th July, 1609, and by confirmation 
dated the last of July, 1618. 
“4th October, 1619.—To Robert Wood, whom His 
Majesty intendeth to send, with divers cormorants, to 
his good cousin, the Duke of Lorraine, the sum of £60, 
by way of an imprest towards defraying the expenses in 
that journey. By writ, dated 7th October, 1619. 
“28th August, 1624.—To Robert Wood, the sum of 
498 8s. 6d., in full satisfaction of the charge and loss 
sustained by Luke Wood, in his late travels, with three 
