Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

His most Sacred Majesty hath been pleased to signify his royal pleasure to me, by
y^e right Hon^ble W^m. Blaithwait Esqr. &: y^t he would have some mocking birds,
read-birds &. as allso blew-birds, Baltimore-birds, black birds with red upon their
Wings; and any other sorts of small birds y^t are curious either for colour, or singing:
partriges, pheasants, wild Turkeys, and any other such sort of Fowl;
summer-ducks, fishing-Hawks, or any other sort of Hawks, Bald Eagles, & all
sort of eagles.

This is therefore in his Majestys Name, to will and require You to use yo^r utmost
care and diligence to procure so many of these birds and Fowl, as you can
with in your Country. You are to take care to provide cages, with suitable
Diet, and other Conveniences: and not put too many of them together, nor on
board one Ship. You must take 3 receipts from y^e Captain or Commander of y^e Ship
or Vessel bound to London; whome I doe hereby in his Majesties Name, command
to take you on board, and look to you carefully. And what he will have for so
doing ^{upon demand} I will pay him. They are to be consigned to his Majestys use to y^e right
hon^ble Wm Blaithwait Esqr out of y^e Lords of y^e Council for Trade & forreign
plantations, one of y^e Clarks of his Matys most hon^ble Privy Council, and his
Majesteys principal Secretary of War, at his house near white Hall.
And one of y^e receipts you must transmit to him, and y^e other two You must send
to me, with an account what they have cost, and other charges accruing thereon:
All which I will pay You. In punctually complying with these my orders
and Commands to You, I hope all his majestys loving Subjects in
this his Majesty most ancient and great Colony and Dominion of Virginia, will be assisting to you for y^e procuring of y^e s^d Fowls and
Birds &c. in doing which, You will highly oblige,

Gov^r Order
for birds
for RW