PHEASANT. 
257 
at Appuldurcombe." — " (The King probably made this 
visit to amuse himself with hawking, or some other species 
of chace, as it appears by a curious letter, copied in the 
Appendix, that he had, some time before, given strict 
orders for the preservation of the game in the Royal 
demesne. See Appendix, No. xxxvii.)." 
"Appendix, No. XXXVII., p. Ixxxvii. 1541. 
HENRY VIII. 
Order from Henry VIII. under his Sign manual to Richard 
Worsley, Esq., Captain of the Isle of Wight, to prevent 
any Pheasants or Partridges being killed in the Isle of 
Wight. 
Trusty and vvelbeloved we grete yo" well and being crediblye 
enfourmed that o"" Games of Partriche and Fesant w^^ in our Isle of 
Wight is much decayed by the prmission and sufferaunce of suche 
lewd P^sons as for their pryvate Lurres contrary to our Lawes and 
Pleasure doo dailye w' Netts and other Engyns take the same. 
Yo" shall undrestande that myndyng to havie the said Games of 
Ptriches and Fesant cherished w*^ in our saide Isle as wel for our 
Disporte and Pastyme if we should chance to repayre thither As for 
our Furniture at Sundry our Honor's Manors and Houses which from 
tyme to tyme We entende to replenishe w' the Score of the same Isle 
as nede shall requyre Our Pleasure and Commandement is that 
yo" shall not only uppon Monicon to be by yo" hereof gyven to the 
inhabitaunts of the said Isle have diligent Regarde and Vigilant Eye 
that no man of no Degree or Condicon kill any Fesant or Partriche 
wt Net, Engyne or Hawke on any our propre Lands in the same Isle, 
taking the Netts and Engyns of all such as shall attempte the contrary 
and further punishing the Ptyes soe offending as to your wisdom shal 
be thought convenyent. But also that yo" shall advise all the rest of 
the Owners and Inhabitants there at o^ Contemplation also to spare 
the same Games in their owne Grounds, speally absteyning to take or 
suffre to be taken any Fesant or Partriche w^^ Netts and such Engyns 
as totally destroyeth the Brede of the same wherein yo" shall doo unto 
us acceptable service. And thiese our Lres shall be your sufficient 
Warraunt and Discharge in that Behalf. 
Geven undre our Signet at o^ Manor of Otland the 19th daye of 
Decembre the 32 yere of c Reign." 
