SIXTEENTH CENTURY 133 
dedicated to this particular branch of sport. The strictness 
with which Herons had been for many years protected at 
their breeding-places is shown by the stringent statutes of 
James the First of Scotland in 1427, and James the 
Fourth in 1493, as well as by that of our Henry the 
Seventh in 1504. The first of these enactments lays 
down that there was to be no shooting with hail-shot or 
hand-gun within six hundred yards of a heronry, while 
Henry the Seventh’s Act forbade all killing of Herons except 
by means of the hawk and the long bow, the more deadly 
crossbow which discharged bolts being excluded. It was in 
the interest of holders of manors on which herons bred 
to keep the laws in force, and not allow them to lapse, but 
whether this was really done is doubtful. 
Ancient tenures of land sometimes particularise the yield 
of Herons, which the woods should annually afford, an asset 
of no small consideration (cf. ‘“‘ History of Fowling,” p. 212). 
That they were held to be very good eating at Hunstanton 
Hall is clear, and evidently the majority of those brought in 
were the produce of the estate, although there is no Heronry 
there now. 
On one page Herons and Rabbits “ of store’ occur five 
times running (p. 483), followed by a pig and a buck of store. 
This indicates pretty plainly that there was a Heronry not 
far off, especially as in another place four pence is given “‘ to 
one that clymed the herons at Mr. Prattes.”* Hooking down 
young Herons from the nest, or when ‘‘ branchers,” was the 
general way of taking them.t+ 
The Bittern only comes once into the le Straunge 
Accounts, which is rather singular: ‘‘ [April 22nd, 1527.] 
Item « buttour kylled with ye crosbowe’’{ somewhere on 
* P. 556. 
; In the ‘Account Book of Hurstmonceux Castle,” 1643-43, com- 
municated by Mr. T. B. Lennard to ‘Te Sussex Archeological,” there are 
several references to tae practice of hooxing Herons, 
Paid for climing v dozon of herons. 
4», making a new heron rope. 
white leather for the herne climers use. 
a pole to his hearne hooke. 
the heron climer for climing viii dozon & a half of herons. 
climing xxx rooks for the hawks. 
