GAME-PRESERVING. 217, 



In the year 1536, Henry VIII. issued a proclamation 

 in order to preserve the partridges, pheasants, and herons 

 " from his palace at Westminster to St. Giles-in-the- 

 Fields, and from thence to Islington, Hampstead, 

 Highgate, and Hornsey Park.'' Any person, of whatever 

 rank, who should presume to kill, or in any wise molest 

 these birds, was to be thrown into prison, and visited by 

 such other punishments as to the King should seem 

 meet. 



Some interesting particulars in regard to pheasants are 

 furnished by the " Privy Purse Expenses of King Henry 

 VIII." For example, under date xyj 11 ' Nov. 1532, we 

 have : — 



" Itm the same daye paied to the 



fesaunt breder in rewarde . . ixs. iiijd. 



" Itm the xxv daye paied to the preste 



the fesaunt breder at Elthm in 



rewarde ij corons . . . ixs. iiijd. 



And in December of the same year : — 

 " Itm the xxijd. daye paied to the french 



Preste the fesaunt breder for to bye 



him a gowne and other necesarys . xls." 



From these entries it would appear that even at this 

 date some trouble and expense was incurred in rearing 

 •pheasants. No allusion, however, is made to their being 

 shot. They must have been taken in a net or snare, or 



