2l6 
THE PARTRIDGE. 
might take pheasants or partridges in their own grounds 
or precincts in the day-time between Michaelmas and 
Christmas. But every person of a mean condition having 
killed or taken any pheasant or partridge, forfeited 20 s. 
for each one so killed, and had to find surety in £20 
not to offend so again. 
In some of these old statutes, however, it was expressly 
stated that although pheasants and partridges could not 
be killed by any one with impunity, no penalty should 
attach for killing such birds as crows, kites, and buzzards, 
as these were well known to be destructive to the game 
which the statutes were framed to protect. 
In the second part of Hemy VI. Act iii. Sc. 2, we find 
the Partridge (.Perdix cinerea ) appropriately placed by 
Shakespeare in the nest of the kite : — 
“ Who finds the partridge in the puttock’s nest, 
But may imagine how the bird was dead, 
Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak.” 
Henry VI. Part II. Act iii. Sc. 2. 
Such was the beautiful metaphor uttered by the Earl 
of Warwick upon the occasion of the Duke of Gloucester’s 
death. The unfortunate Duke was discovered dead in his 
bed, with marks of violence upon his features, and grave 
suspicion fell upon the Duke of Suffolk, who “ had him in 
protection.” This circumstance, coupled with the fact that 
Suffolk was a sworn enemy of Duke Humphrey, placed a 
heavy weight in the balance against him. 
