176 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
the said Henry Herbert, or whom he shall appoint to 
receive her, at his house in Ribbesford aforesaid, on the 
first day of March next. And if at any time the said 
Bitch shall for want of use and practice or o’rwise forget to 
sett game as aforesaid, I will at my cost and charges, 
maintain her for a month or longer as needs may require, 
to traine up and teach her to sett game as aforesaid, and 
shall and will fully and effectually teach her to sett game 
as well and exactly as is above mentioned. 
“Witness my hand and seal the day and year first 
above written. 
“JOHN HARRIS his x mark. 
“ Sealed and delivered in presence of 
“H. PAYNE his x mark.” 
The fowling-piece not being at that time invented, nor 
indeed brought to any perfection a century later, the 
object of breaking the spaniel to set was the netting of 
birds, which is now regarded as rank poaching. The 
training was, however, identical; and stanchness was, if 
possible, more necessary, inasmuch as drawing the net over 
the covey requires longer time than merely to walk up to 
the game, then than now. The price, as the value of 
money then stood, is very large. At all events, the pas- 
sage proves the antiquity of this mode of training, and 
further shows, at that day, that the identity of the setting 
spaniel with the other breeds of the same dog, was not 
questioned. 
It is worthy of remark, that the term setter is very 
recent; the animal, when all its present habits and char- 
