Chapter 3

Valentiniani imperatoris in validos mendicos lex. 7.b Venatici canes. 1.b Vertagus. 3.b. 11.b Versator. 9.b. 12.b Villaticus. 6.b Vrcanus. 9.b

_Indicis finis._

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Of Englishe Dogges, _the diuersities, the names,_ +the natures, and the properties.+

A Short _Treatise written in latine_

+by Iohannes Caius of late memorie, Doctor of Phisicke in the Uniuersitie of Cambridge,+

+And newly drawne into Englishe by Abraham Fleming Student.+

_Natura etiam in brutis vin ostendit suam._

Scene and allowed.

¶ Imprinted at London

+by Rychard Johnes, and are to be solde ouer against S. Sepulchres Church without Newgate.+ 1576.

¶ A Prosopopoicall speache _of the Booke._

Some tell of starres th'influence straunge, Some tell of byrdes which flie in th'ayre, Some tell of beastes on land which raunge, Some tell of fishe in riuers fayre, Some tell of serpentes sundry sortes, Some tell of plantes the full effect, Of English dogges I sound reportes, Their names and natures I detect, My forhed is but baulde and bare: But yet my body's beutifull, For pleasaunt flowres in me there are, And not so fyne as plentifull: And though my garden plot so greene, Of dogges receaue the trampling feete, Yet is it swept and kept full cleene, So that it yeelds a sauour sweete.

_Ab. Fle._

DOCTISSIMO VIRO, ET

Patrono suo singulari D. Perne, E- _liensis ecclesiæ Cathedralis dignissi-_ mo Decano, Abrahamus Flemingus, #eudaimonian#.

Scripsit non multis abhinc annis (optime Patrone) et non impolitè scripsit, vir omnibus optimarum literarum remis instructissimus, de doctorum grege non malè meritus, tuæ dignitati familiaritatis nexu coniunctissimus, clarissimum Cantabrigiensis academiæ lumen, g[em]ma, et gloria, Johannes Caius, ad Conradum Gesnerum summum suum, hominem peritissimum, indagatorem rerum reconditarum sagacissimum, pulcherrimaq. historiarum naturalium panoplia exornat[um], epitomen de canibus Britannicis non tam breuem quàm elegantem, et vtilem, epitomen inquam variis variorum experimentorum argumentis concinnatam; in cuius titulum c[um] forte incidissem, et nouitate rei nonnihil delectarer, interpretationem Anglicam aggressus sum. Postquam vero finem penso imposuissem, repentina quædam de opusculi dedicatione cogitatio oboriebatur tãdemque post multas multarum rerum iactationes, beneficiorum tuorum (Ornatissime vir) vnica recordatio, instar rutilantis stellæ, quæ radiorum splendore quaslibet caliginosas teterrimæ obliuionis nebulas dissipat, et memoriæ serenitatem, plusquã solarem, inducit, mihi illuxit; nec nõ officii ratio quæ funestissimis insensæ fortunæ fulminibus conquassata, lacerata, et convulsa, penè perierat, fractas vires multumq. debilitatas colligebat, pristinum robur recuperauit, tandemque aliquando ex Lethea illa palude neruose emergebat, atque eluctata est. Quã voragin[em] simulatque euaserat, sic effloruit, adeoque increuit, vt vnamquamque animi mei cellulã in sui ditionem atque imperii amplitudinem raperet. Nunc vero in contemplatione meritorum tuorum versari non desino, quorum magnitudinem nescio an tam tenui et leuidensi orationis filo possim circumscribere: Hoc, Ædepol, me non mediocriter mouet, non leuiter torquet, non languide pungit. Est præterea alia causa quæ mihi scrupulum injicit, et quodammodo exulcerat, ingrati nempe animi suspicio a qua, tanquam ab aliqua Lernæa Hydra, pedibus (vt aiunt) Achilleis semper fugi, et tam[en] valde pertimesco ne officij mora et procrastinatio (vt ita dicam) obscænam securitatis labem nomini meo inurat, eoque magis expauesco quod peruulgatum illud atque decantatum poetæ carmen memoriæ occurrebat.

Dedecus est semper sumere nilque dare.

Sed (Ornatissime vir) quemadmod[um] metus illius mali me magnopere affligebat atque fodicabat, ita spes alterius boni, nempe humanitatis tuæ, qua cæteris multis interuallis præluxeris, erigit suffulcitque: Ea etiam spes alma et opima iubet et hortatur aliquod quale quale sit, officij specimen cum allacritate animi prodere. Hisce itaque persuasionibus victus me morigerum præbui, absolutamque de canibus Britannicis interpretation[em] Anglicam, tibi potissimum vtpote patrono singulari, et vnico Mæcenati dedicand[um] proposui: non quod tam ieiuno et exili munere immensum meritorum tuorum mare metiri machiner, non quod religiosas aures sacratasque, prophanæ paginæ explicatione obtundere cupiam, nec quod nugatoriis friuolisque narrationibus te delectari arbitrer, cum in diuinioribus excercitationibus totus sis: sed potius (cedat fides dicto) quod insignis ille egregiusque liber alium artium, et præcipuè medicæ facultatis princeps (qui hoc opusculum contexuit) ita viguit dum vixerat adeoque inclaruit, vt haud scio (vt ingenué fatear quod sentio) an post funera parem sibi superstitem reliquerit. Deinde quod hunc libellum summo studio et industria elaboratum in transmarinas regiones miserat, ad hominem omni literarum genere, et præsertim occultar[um] rerum cognitione, quæ intimis naturæ visceribus et medullis insederat (O ingeni[um] niueo lapillo dign[um]) cuius difficultates Laberyntheis anfractibus flexuosisque recessibus impeditas perscrutari et iuuestigare (deus bone, quam ing[en]s labor, quam infinitum opus,) excultum, Conradum Gesnerum scriberet, qui tantam gratiam conciliauit vt non solum amicissimo osculo exciperet, sed etiam stud lose lectitaret, accuratè vteretur, inexhaustis denique viribus, tanquam perspicacissimus draco vellus aureum, et oculis plusquam aquilinis custodiret, Postremo quemadmodum hanc epitomen a viro verè docto ad virum summa nominis celebritate decoratum scriptam fuisse accepimus, ita eandem ipsam (pro titulo Britannico) Britãnico sermone, licet ineleganti, vsitata et populari, ab esuriente Rhetore donatam, tuis (eruditissime vir) manibus commendo vt tuo sub patrocino in has atque illas regionis nostræ partes intrepide proficiscatur: obtestorque vt hunc libellum, humilem et obscuram inscriptionem gerentem, argumentum nouum et antehæc non auditum complectientem, ab omni tamen Sybaritica obscoenitate remotissimum, æqui bonique consulas.

Tuæ dignitati deditissimus

_Abrahamus_ _Flemingus._

To the well disposed Reader.

As euery manifest effect proceedeth frõ som certain cause, so the penning of this present abridgement (gentle and courteous reader) issued from a speciall occasion. For Conradus Gesnerus, a man whiles he liued, of incomparable knowledge, and manyfold experience, being neuer satisfied with the sweete sappe of vnderstanding, requested _Iohannes Caius_ a profound clarke and a rauennous deuourer of learning (to his praise be it spoke though the language be somewhat homely) to write a breuiary or short treatise of such dogges as were ingendred within the borders of England: To the contentation of whose minde and the vtter accomplishement of whose desire, _Caius_ spared no study, (for the acquaintance which was betweene them, as it was confirmed by continuaunce, and established vpon vnfainednes, so was it sealed with vertue and honesty) withdrew himself from no labour, repined at no paines, forsooke no trauaile, refused no indeuour, finally pretermitted no opportunity or circumstaunce which seemed pertinent and requisite to the performance of this litle libell. In the whole discourse wherof, the booke, to consider the substaunce, being but a pamphlet or skantling, the argument not so fyne and affected, and yet the doctrine very profitable and necessarye, he vseth such a smoothe and comely style, and tyeth his inuention to such methodicall and orderly proceedings, as the elegantnes and neatnesse of his Latine phrase, (being pure, perfect, and vn mingled) maketh the matter which of it selfe is very base and clubbishe, to appeare (shall I say tollerable) nay rather commendable and effectuall. The sundry sortes of Englishe dogges he discouereth so euidently, their natures he rippeth vp so apparantly, their manners he openeth so manifestly, their qualities he declareth so skilfully, their proportions he painteth out so perfectly, their colours he describeth so artificially, and knytteth all these in such shortnesse and breuity, that the mouth of th'aduersary must needes confesse & giue sentence that commendation ought to bee his rewarde, and praise his deserued pension. An ignoraunt man woulde neuer have beene drawne into this opinion, to thincke that there had bene in England such variety & choice of dogges, in all respectes (not onely for name but also for qualitie) so diuerse and vnlike: But what cannot learning attaine? what cannot the kay of knowledge open? what cannot the lampe of vnderstanding lighten? what secretes cannot discretion detect? finally what cannot experience comprehend? what huge heapes of histories hath _Gesnerus_ hourded vp in volumes of a large syze? Fishes in floudes, Cattell on lande, Byrdes in the ayre, how hath he sifted them by their naturall differences? how closely and in how narrow a compasse hath he couched mighty and monstruous beasts, in bygnesse lyke mountaines, the bookes themselues being lesser then Molehilles. The lyfe of this man was not so great a restority of comfort, as his death was an vlcer or wound of sorrow: the losse of whom _Caius_ lamented, not so much as he was his faithfull friende, as for that he was a famous Philosopher, and yet the former reason (being, in very deede, vehement and forceable) did stinge him with more griefe, then he peraduenture was willing to disclose. And though death be counted terrible for the time, and consequently vnhappy, yet _Caius_ aduoucheth the death of _Gesner_ most blessed, luckie, and fortunate, as in his Booke intituled _De libris proprijs_ appeareth. But of these two Eagles sufficient is spoken as I suppose, and yet litle enough in consideration of their dignitie and worthines. Neurthelesse litle or mickle, something or nothing, substaunce or shadow take all in good part, my meaning is by a fewe wordes to wynne credit to this worke, not so much for mine owne Englishe Translation as for the singuler commendation of them, challenged of dutie and desart. Wherefore gentle Reader I commit them to thy memorie, and their bookes to thy courteous censure. They were both learned men, and painefull practitioners in their professions, so much the more therfore are their workes worthy estimation, I would it were in me to aduaunce them as I wishe, the worst (and yet both, no doubt, excellent) hath deserued a monument of immortality. Well there is no more to be added but this, that as the translatiõ of this booke was attempted, finished, and published of goodwill (not onely to minister pleasure, as to affoord profit) so it is my desire and request that my labour therin employed may be acceptable, as I hope it shalbe to men of indifferent Judgement. As for such as shall snarr and snatch at the Englishe abridgement, and teare the Translatour, being absent, with the teeth of spightfull enuye, I conclude in breuity there eloquence is but currishe, if I serue in their meate with wrong sawce, ascribe it not to vnskilfulnesse in coquery, but to ignoraunce in their diet, for as the Poet sayeth

_Non satis est ars sola coquo, seruire palato:_ _Nanque coquus dontini debet habere gulam:_

It is not enough that a cooke vnderstand, Except his Lordes stomack he holde in his hand.

To winde vp all in a watcheworde I saye no more, But doe well, and Farewell,

His and his Friendes,

Abraham Fleming.

The first Section of this _discourse_.

¶ The Preamble or entraunce, into this treatise.

I wrote vnto you (well beloued friende _Gesner_) not many yeares past, a manifolde historie, contayning the diuers formes and figures of Beastes, Byrdes, and Fyshes, the sundry shapes of plantes, and the fashions of Hearbes, &c.

I wrote moreouer, vnto you seuerally, a certayne abridgement of Dogges, which in your discourse vpon the fourmes of Beastes in the seconde order of mylde and tameable Beastes, where you make mencion of Scottishe Dogges, and in the wynding vp of your Letter written and directed to Doctour _Turner_, comprehending a Catalogue or rehersall of your bookes not yet extant, you promised to set forth in print, and openly to publishe in the face of the worlde among such your workes as are not yet come abroade to lyght and sight. But, because certaine circumstaunces were wanting in my breuiary of Englishe Dogges (as seemed vnto mee) I stayed the publication of the same, making promise to sende another abroade, which myght be commytted to the handes, the eyes, the eares, the mindes, and the iudgements of the Readers. Wherefore that I myght perfourme that preciselye, which I promised solempnly, accomplishe my determination, and satisfy your expectacion: which art a man desirous and (2) capeable of all kinde of knowledge, and very earnest to be acquaincted with all experimentes: I wyll expresse and declare in due order, the grand and generall kinde of Englishe Dogges, the difference of them, the vse, the propertyes, and the diuerse natures of the same, making a tripartite diuision in this sort and maner.

All Englishe Dogges be eyther of,

{ A gentle kinde, seruing the game. { A homely kind, apt for sundry necessary vses. { A currishe kinde, meete for many toyes.

Of these three sortes or kindes so meane I to entreate, that the first in the first place, the last in the last roome, and the myddle sort in the middle seate be handled. I cal th[em] vniuersally all by the name of English dogges, as well because England only, as it hath in it English dogs, so it is not without Scottishe, as also for that wee are more inclined and delighted with the noble game of hunting, for we Englishmen are adicted and giuen to that exercise, & painefull pastime of pleasure, as well for the plenty of fleshe which our Parkes and Forrests doe foster, as also for the oportunitie and conuenient leasure which we obtaine, both which, the Scottes want. Wherfore seeing that the whole estate of kindly hunting consisteth principally,

In these two pointes,

{ In chasing the beast } that is in { hunting } { In taking the byrde } { fowleing }

It is necessary and requisite to vnderstand, that there are two sortes of Dogges by whose meanes, the feates within specifyed are wrought, and these practyses of actiuitie cunningly and curiously compassed,

Two kindes of Dogges

{ One which rouseth the beast and continueth the chase, } { Another which springeth the byrde and bewrayeth flight by pursuite, }

Both which kyndes are tearmed of the Latines by one common name that is, _Canes Venatici_, hunting dogges. But (3) because we Englishe men make a difference betweene hunting and fowleling, for that they are called by these seuerall wordes, _Venatio_ & _Aucupium_, so they tearme the Dogges whom they vse in these sundry games by diuers names, as those which serue for the beast, are called _Venatici_, the other which are vsed for the fowle are called _Aucupatorij_.

The first kind called _Venatici_ I deuide into fiue sortes.

{ The first in perfect smelling { The second in quicke spying { The thirde in swiftnesse and quicknesse { The fourth in smelling & nymblenesse { The fifte in subtiltie and deceitfulnesse,

excelleth.

Of the Dogge called a Harier, in Latine _Leuerarius_.

That kinde of Dogge whom nature hath indued with the vertue of smelling, whose property it is to vse a lustines, a readines, and a couragiousnes in hunting, and draweth into his nostrells the ayre or sent of the beast pursued and followed, we call by this word _Sagax_, the _Græcians_ by thys word #ichneutên# of tracing or chasing by y^e foote, or #rhinêlatên#, of the nostrells, which be the instrumentes of smelling. Wee may knowe these kinde of Dogges by their long, large, and bagging lippes, by their hanging eares, reachyng downe both sydes of their chappes, and by the indifferent and measurable proportion of their making. This sort of Dogges we call _Leuerarios_ Hariers, that I may comprise the whole n[um]ber of them in certaine specialties, and apply to them their proper and peculier names, for so much as they cannot all be reduced (4) and brought vnder one sorte, considering both the sundrye uses of them, and the difference of their seruice wherto they be appointed.

Some for

{ The Hare { The Foxe { The Wolfe { The Harte { The Bucke { The Badger { The Otter { The Polcat { The Lobster { The Weasell { The Conny, &c.

Some for one thing and some for another.

As for the Conny, whom we haue lastly set downe, wee use not to hunt, but rather to take it, somtime with the nette sometime with a ferret, and thus euery seuerall sort is notable and excellent in his naturall qualitie and appointed practise. Among these sundry sortes, there be some which are apt to hunt two diuers beasts, as the Foxe otherwhiles, and other whiles the Hare, but they hunt not with such towardnes and good lucke after them, as they doe that whereunto nature hath formed and framed them, not onely in externall composition & making, but also in inward faculties and conditions, for they swarue oftentimes, and doo otherwise then they should.

Of the Dogge called a Terrar, in Latine _Terrarius_.

Another sorte there is which hunteth the Foxe and the Badger or Greye onely, whom we call Terrars, because they (after the manner and custome of ferrets in searching for Connyes) creepe into the grounde, and by that meanes make afrayde, nyppe, and byte the Foxe and the Badger in such (5) sort, that eyther they teare them in peeces with theyr teeth beyng in the bosome of the earth, or else hayle and pull them perforce out of their lurking angles, darke dongeons, and close caues, or at the least through cõceaued feare, driue them out of their hollow harbours, in so much that they are compelled to prepare speedy flight, and being desirous of the next (albeit not the safest) refuge, are otherwise taken and intrapped with snares and nettes layde ouer holes to the same purpose. But these be the least in that kynde called _Sagax_.

Of the Dogge called a Bloudhounde in Latine _Sanguinarius_.