THE SETTER. 175 
A curious document, which is probably the earliest 
legal instrument of this nature on record, is in existence, 
havifig been preserved by Mr. Daniel in his Rural Sports, 
proving~that in the seventeenth century setter breaking 
was an understood and regularly managed branch of 
business. 
Singularly enough, this document is a contract between 
a Worcestershire farmer and a namesake, and doubtless a 
collateral ancestor, of my own—since a branch of my 
family were early settled in that county—which would 
seem to show that I come honestly by my love of field- 
sports, as a matter of inheritance from past generations. 
“ RipBesForD, Oct. 7, 1685. 
“J, John Harris of Willdon, in the parish of Hastle- 
bury, in the county of Worcester, yeoman, for and in 
consideration of ten shillings of lawful English money this 
day received of Henry Herbert of Ribbesford in the said 
county, Esq., and of thirty shillings more of like money 
by him promised to be hereafter payed me, do hereby 
covenant and promise to the said Henry Herbert, his 
ex’ors and adm’ors, that I will from the day of the date 
hereof, until the first day of March next, well and suffi- 
ciently maintain and keep a Spanile bitch, named Quand, 
this day delivered into my custody by the said Henry 
Herbert, and will before the first day of March next, fully 
and effectually traine up and teach the said Bitch to set 
Partridges, Pheasants and other game as well and exactly 
as the best sitting doggers usually set the same. And the 
said Bitch so trained and taught shall and will deliver to 
