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MR. T. SOUTHWELL ON EARLY DUTCH AND ENGLISH DECOYS. 
II. 
ON SOME EARLY DUTCH AND ENGLISH DECOYS. 
By Thomas Southwell, F.Z.S., V.-P. 
Read 26tli May, 1903. 
In the year 1844 the Chetham Society published a very in- 
teresting diary of two journies,* the first undertaken in the year 
1634 through the United Provinces of Holland, and the second 
in the following year, 1635, through parts of England, Scotland, 
and Ireland, by the same person. The volume of MSS. con- 
taining these journals consists of sixty rather closely written 
leaves, bound together in a parchment cover ; it is not signed, 
but the Editor of the contribution to the Chetham Society 
considers there is sufficient evidence, internal and otherwise, to 
show that without doubt the writer of the MSS. was Sir 
William Brereton, of Handford, in Cheshire, the great Par- 
liamentary General, whose exploits in the distracted period 
which was soon to follow “ are inseparably interwoven with 
the history of his native county.” 
I wish to call attention to this journal, as published, first 
because it contains some interesting information with regard 
to Decoys early in the 17th century, some of which, for 
instance, those at Handford ; two at or near Newcastle ; and 
“ Orion’s ” Decoy at Bridgwater appear hitherto to have escaped 
the notice of writers on the subject — and secondly, owing to the 
volume in which it is published not being readily accessible to 
the general reader. There is evidence not only that Brereton at 
this early date worked his Decoy with the appliances and in 
* Remains | Historical and Literary | Connected with the Palatine Counties of | 
Lancaster and Chester | published by | The Chetham Society | Vol. i. | printed for 
the Chetham Society | m.dccc.xliv. | [small quarto!. 
Travels | in | Holland the United Provinces | England, Scotland | and Ireland, 
m. dc. xxxiv. -m. dc. xxx v. | By | Sir William Brereton, Bart.. | Edited by | Edward 
Hawkins, Esq. | P.R.S., F.S.A., F.L.S. | printed for the Chetham Society | 
M.CCC XLIV. 
