2l6 THE PARTRIDGE. 



might take pheasants or partridges in their own grounds 

 or precincts in the day-time between Michaelmas and 

 Christmas. But every person of a mean condition having 

 killed or taken any pheasant or partridge, forfeited 20s. 

 for each one so killed, and had to find surety in £20 

 not to offend so again. 



In some of these old statutes, however, it was expressly 

 stated that although pheasants and partridges could not 

 be killed by any one with impunity, no penalty should 

 attach for killing such birds as crows, kites, and buzzards, 

 as these were well known to be destructive to the game 

 which the statutes were framed to protect. 



In the second part of Henry VI. Act iii. Sc. 2, we find 

 the Partridge (Perdix cinered) appropriately placed by 

 Shakespeare in the nest of the kite : — 



" Who finds the partridge in the puttock's nest, 

 But may imagine how the bird was dead, 

 Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak." 



Henry VI. Part II. Act iii. Sc. 2. 

 Such was the beautiful metaphor uttered by the Earl 

 of Warwick upon the occasion of the Duke of Gloucester's 

 death. The unfortunate Duke was discovered dead in his 

 bed, with marks of violence upon his features, and grave 

 suspicion fell upon the Duke of Suffolk^ho " had him in 

 protection." This circumstance, coupled with the fact that 

 Suffolk was a sworn enemy of Duke Humphrey, placed a 

 heavy weight in the balance against him. 



