Chapter 8

But 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_,

Venaticos rursum divido in quinque genera. Aut enim odoratu, aut visu fatigant feras, aut pernicitate vincunt, aut odoratu & pernicitate superant, aut dolo capiunt.

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_.

[Sagax.] Qui odoratu fatigat, & prompta alacritate in venando utitur, & incredibili ad investigandum sagacitate narium valet: a qua re nos sagacem hunc appellamus, quem Græci ab investigando #ichneutên#, à nare #rhinêlatên# dicunt. Huic labra propensa sunt, & aures ad os usque pendulæ, corporisque media magnitudo.

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.

[Leverarius.] Hunc Leverarium vocitabimus, ut universum genus in certas species atque nomina reducamus: cum alioqui usus aut officii nomine, in unitatem speciei adigi nullo modo queant.

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 and brought vnder one sorte, considering both the sundrye uses of them, and the difference of their seruice wherto they be appointed.

Nam alius leporis, alius vulpis, alius cervi, alius platycerotis, alius taxi, alius lutræ, alius mustelæ, alius cuniculi (quem tamen non venamur nisi casse & viverra) tantum odore gaudet: & in suo quisque genere & desiderio egregius est.

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.

Sunt ex his qui duos, ut vulpem atque leporem, variatis vicibus sequi student, sed non ea felicitate, qua id quod natura sequi docuit: errant enim sæpius.

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_.

[Terrarius.] Sunt qui vulpem atque taxum solum, quos Terrarios vocamus; quod subeant terræ cuniculos, more viverrarum in venatu cuniculorum, & ita terrent mordentque vulpem atque taxum, ut vel in terra morsu lacerent, vel è specu in fugam aut casses cuniculorum ostiis inductas compellant. Sed hi in sagacium genere minimi sunt.

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 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_.

[Sanguinarius.] Qui insequuntur, majores: propenso & hi labro atque aure, nec vivas tantum uti memorati omnes, sed & mortuas quoque conspersi sanguinis odore persequuntur.

The greater sort which serue to hunt, hauing lippes of a large syze, & eares of no small lenght, doo, not onely chase the beast whiles it liueth, (as the other doo of whom mencion aboue is made) but beyng dead also by any maner of casualtie, make recourse to the place where it lyeth, hauing in this poynt an assured and infallible guyde, namely, the sent and sauour of the bloud sprinckled heere and there vpon the ground.

Sive enim vivæ sauciantur feræ, atque è manibus venatorum elabuntur, sive mortuæ ex vivario sublatæ sunt (sed profusione sanguinis utræque) isti canes odore facilè persentiscunt, & subsequuntur. Eam ob causam ex argumento sanguinarii appellantur.

For whether the beast beyng wounded, doth notwithstanding enioye life, and escapeth the handes of the huntesman, or whether the said beast beyng slayne is conuayed clenly out of the parcke (so that there be some signification of bloud shed) these Dogges with no lesse facilitie and easinesse, then auiditie and greedinesse can disclose and bewray the same by smelling, applying to their pursute, agilitie and nimblenesse, without tediousnesse, for which consideration, of a singuler specialtie they deserued to bee called _Sanguinarij_ bloudhounds.

Cum tamen fieri solet ut furum astutia nullo consperso sanguine abripiatur fera, etiam sicca hominis vestigia per extentissima spatia nullo errore sequi nôrunt,

And albeit peraduenture it may chaunce, (As whether it chaunceth sealdome or sometime I am ignorant) that a peece of fleshe be subtily stolne and cunningly conuayed away with such prouisos and precaueats as thereby all apparaunce of bloud is eyther preuented, excluded, or concealed, yet these kinde of dogges by a certaine direction of an inwarde assured notyce and priuy marcke, pursue the deede dooers, through long lanes, crooked reaches, and weary wayes, without wandring awry out of the limites of the land whereon these desperate purloyners prepared their speedy passage.

in quantalibet multitudine secernere, per abditissima & densissima loca appetere, & si flumina tranent etiam persequi, cumque ad ulteriorem ripam perventum est, circuitu quodam qua fugitum est investigare, si primo statim odore in vestigium furis non inciderint.

Yea, the natures of these Dogges is such, and so effectuall is their foresight, that they cã bewray, seperate, and pycke them out from among an infinite multitude and an innumerable company, creepe they neuer so farre into the thickest thronge, they will finde him out notwithstandying he lye hidden in wylde woods, in close and ouergrowen groues, and lurcke in hollow holes apte to harbour such vngracious guestes. Moreouer, although they should passe ouer the water, thinking thereby to auoyde the pursute of the houndes, yet will not these Dogges giue ouer their attempt, but presuming to swym through the streame, perseuer in their pursute, and when they be arriued and gotten the further bancke, they hunt vp and downe, to and fro runne they, from place to place shift they, vntill they haue attained to that plot of grounde where they passed ouer. And this is their practise, if perdie they cãnot at y^e first time smelling, finde out the way which the deede dooers tooke to escape.

Sic enim arte inveniunt, quod fortuna nequeunt, ut rectè videatur ab Æliano scriptum lib. 6. cap. 59. de animalibus, #to enthumêtikon kai dialektikon, kai mentoi kai to haireton#, hoc est, considerationem, ratiocinationem, atque etiam participationem seu arbitrium canibus hisce venaticis inesse; nec ante cessant persequi, quàm sunt fures comprehensi.

So at length get they that by arte, cunning, and diligent indeuour, which by fortune and lucke they cannot otherwyse ouercome. In so much as it seemeth worthely and wisely written by Ælianus in his sixte Booke, and xxxix. Chapter. #To enthumêtikon kai dialektikon#. to bee as it were naturally instilled and powred into these kinde of Dogges. For they wyll not pause or breath from their pursute vntill such tyme as they bee apprehended and taken which committed the facte.

Eos luce in tenebris habent heri, nocte producunt, quo alacriores in persequendo sint assueti tenebris, quibus prædones delectantur maximè.

The owners of such houndes vse to keepe them in close and darke channells in the day time, and let them lose at liberty in the night season, to th'intent that they myght with more courage and boldnesse practise to follow the fellon in the euening and solitarie houres of darkenesse, when such yll disposed varlots are principally purposed to play theyr impudent pageants, & imprudent pranckes.

Iidem, cum fures insequuntur, non ea donantur libertate qua cum feras, nisi in magna celeritate fugientium furum, sed loro retenti herum ducunt qua velit ille celeritate, sive pedes sit, sive eques.

These houndes (vpon whom this present portion of our treatise runneth) when they are to follow such fellowes as we haue before rehersed, vse not that liberty to raunge at wil, which they have otherwise when they are in game, (except upon necessary occasion, wheron dependeth an urgent and effectuall perswasion) when such purloyners make speedy way in flight, but beyng restrained and drawne backe from running at randon with the leasse, the ende whereof the owner holding in his hand is led, guyded, and directed with such swiftnesse and slownesse (whether he go on foote, or whether he ryde on horsebacke) as he himselfe in hart would wishe for the more easie apprehension of these venturous varlots.

In confiniis Angliæ atque Scotiæ propter frequentia pecorum & jumentorum spolia, multus usus hujus generis canum est, & principio discit pecudem & armentum persequi, postea furem relicto armento.

In the borders of England & Scotland, (the often and accustomed stealing of cattell so procuring) these kinde of Dogges are very much vsed and they are taught and trayned up first of all to hunt cattell as well of the smaller as of the greater grouth, and afterwardes (that qualitie relinquished and lefte) they are learned to pursue such pestilent persons as plant theyr pleasure in such practises of purloyning as we have already declared.

In hoc genere nullus est aquaticus naturaliter, nisi eos ita nominare placeat, qui Lutram insequuntur, qui subinde ripas, subinde aquas frequentant. Non recusant tamen omnes, aviditate prædæ tranantis flumina, etiam aquis se committere. Sed hoc desiderii potius est, quàm naturæ.

Of this kinde there is none that taketh the water naturally, except it please you so to suppose of them whych follow the Otter, whych sometimes haunte the lande, and sometime vseth the water. And yet neuerthelesse all the kind of them boyling and broyling with greedy desire of the pray which by swymming passeth through ryuer and flood, plung amyds the water, and passe the streame with their pawes. But this propertie proceedeth from an earnest desire wherwith they be inflamed, rather then from any inclination issuyng from the ordinance and appoyntment of nature.

Quod autem ex his aliquas Brachas nostri, Rachas Scoti sua lingua nominant, in causa sexus est, non genus. Sic enim canes foeminas in venatico genere vocare solent nostri.

And albeit some of this sort in English be called _Brache_, in Scottishe _Rache_, the cause hereof resteth in the shee sex and not in the generall kinde. For we English men call bytches, belonging to the hunting kinde of Dogges, by the tearme aboue mencioned.

Ad postremum, in natura sagacium est, ut alii pervestigando taceant ante excitatam feram, alii statim ad primum odorem voce prodant animal, etsi remotum adhuc, & in cubili; & quo juniores, eo petulantioris oris & mendacioris sunt. Ætas enim & venandi assiduitas experientiam in his facit & certitudinem, ut in aliis omnibus, maximè, cum norint obtemperare domino vel inhibenti vel animanti.

To bee short it is proper to the nature of houndes, some to keepe silence in hunting untill such tyme as there is game offered. Othersome so soone as they smell out the place where the beast lurcketh, to bewray it immediatly by their importunate barcking, notwithstanding it be farre of many furlongs cowchyng close in his cabbyn. And these Dogges the younger they be, the more wantonly barcke they, and the more liberally, yet, oftimes without necessitie, so that in them, by reason of theyr young yeares and want of practise, small certaintie is to be reposed. For continuance of tyme, and experience in game, ministreth to these houndes not onely cunning in running, but also (as in the rest) an assured foresight what is to bee done, principally, being acquainted with their masters watchwordes, eyther in reuoking or imboldening them to serue the game.

Of the Dogge called the Gasehounde, in Latine _Agaseus_.

[Agasæus.] Quod visu lacessit, nare nihil agit, sed oculo; oculo vulpem leporemque persequitur, oculo seligit medio de grege feram, & eam non nisi bene saginatam & opimam oculo insequitur,

This kinde of Dogge which pursueth by the eye, preuayleth little, or neuer a whit, by any benefite of the nose that is by smelling, but excelleth in perspicuitie and sharpenesse of sight altogether, by the vertue whereof, being singuler and notable, it hunteth the Foxe and the Hare. Thys Dogge will choose and seperate any beast from among a great flocke or hearde, and such a one will it take by election as is not lancke, leane and hollow, but well spred, smoothe, full, fatte, and round, it followes by the direction of the eyesight, which in deede is cleere, constant, and not uncertaine,

oculo perditam requirit, oculo, si quando in gregem redeat, secernit, cæteris relictis omnibus, secretamque cursu denuo fatigat ad mortem. Agasæum nostri abs re, quòd intento sit in feram oculo, vocant.

if a beast be wounded and gone astray this Dogge seeketh after it by the stedfastnes of the eye, if it chaunce peraduenture to returne & bee mingled with the residue of the flocke, this Dogge spyeth it out by the vertue of his eye, leauing the rest of the cattell vntouched, and after he hath set sure sight upõ it he seperateth it from among the company and hauing so done neuer ceaseth untill he haue wearyed the Beast to death. Our countrey men call this dogge _Agasæum_. A gasehounde because the beames of his sight are so stedfastly setled and vnmoueably fastened.

Usus ejus est, in septentrionalibus Angliæ partibus magis quam meridionalibus; locis planis & campestribus, quàm dumosis & sylvestribus; equitibus magis quàm peditibus, quo ad cursum equos incitent (quibus delectantur magis quàm ipsa præda) assuescantque sepes fossasque inoffensè & intrepidè transilire & aufugere,

These Dogges are much and vsually occupyed in the Northern partes of England more then in the Southern parts, & in fealdy landes rather then in bushy and wooddy places, horsemen vse them more then footemen to th'intent that they might prouoke their horses to a swift galloppe (wherwith they are more delighted then with the pray it selfe) and that they myght accustome theyr horse to leape ouer hedges & ditches, without stoppe or stumble, without harme or hassard, without doubt or daunger, and so escape with safegard of lyfe.

quò insessores per necessitates & pericula salutem fuga sibi quærant, aut hostem insequendo cum velint cædant.

And to the ende that the ryders themselues when necessitie so constrained, and the feare of further mischiefe inforced, myght saue themselues vndamnifyed, and preuent each perilous tempest by preparing speedy flight, or else by swift pursute made vpon theyr enimyes, myght both ouertake them, encounter with them, and make a slaughter of them accordingly.

At si quando canis aberraverit, dato signo quàm mox accurrit, & feram de integro subsequens, clara voce, cursuque celeri ut ante lacessit.

But if it fortune so at any time that this Dogge take a wrong way, the master making some vsuall signe and familiar token, he returneth forthwith, and taketh the right and ready trace, beginning his chase a fresh, & with a cleare voyce, and a swift foote followeth the game with as much courage and nimblenesse as he did at the first.

Of the Dogge called the Grehounde, in Latine _Leporarius_.

[Leporarius.] Quod pernicitate vincit, leporarius dicitur, quòd præcipua ejus cura, præcipuusque usus est in persequendo lepore. Quanquam & in capiendo platycerote, cervo, dorcade, vulpe, & hoc genus aliis feris, & viribus & memorata velocitate valent: sed plus minus pro suo quisque desiderio, & corporis firmitudine aut exilitate.

There is another kinde of Dogge which for his incredible swiftnesse is called _Leporarius_ a Grehounde, because the principall seruice of them dependeth and consisteth in starting and hunting the hare, which Dogges likewyse are indued with no lesse strength then lightnes in maintenance of the game, in seruing the chase, in taking the Bucke, the Harte, the Dowe, the Foxe, and other beastes of semblable kinde ordained for the game of hunting. But more or lesse, each one according to the measure and proportion of theyr desire, and as might and habilitie of theyr bodyes will permit and suffer.

Est enim strigosum genus: in quo alii majores sunt, alii minores: alii pilo sessili, alii hirto. Majores majoribus, minores minoribus feris destinamus.

For it is a spare and bare kinde of Dogge, (of fleshe but not of bone) some are of a greater sorte, and some of a lesser, some are smooth skynned, & some are curled, the bigger therefore are appoynted to hunt the bigger beasts, & the smaller serue to hunt the smaller accordingly.

Cujus naturam in venatione, magnam; in hoc, miram deprehendi: quòd (referente Joanne Froisarto historico lib. hist. suæ 4.) leporarius Richardi secundi Anglorum regis, qui ante neminem præter regem agnoverat, venientem Henricum Lancastriæ ducem ad castellum Flinti ut Richardum comprehenderet, relicto Richardo, Henricum solitis in Richardum favoribus exceperit;

The nature of these dogges I finde to be wonderful by y^e testimoniall of histories. For, as Iohn Froisart the Historyographer in his 4. _lib._ reporteth. A Grehound of King Richard, the second y^t wore the Crowne, and bare the Scepter of the Realme of England, neuer knowing any man, beside the kings person, wh[en] _Henry Duke_ of _Lancaster_ came to the castle of _Flinte_ to take King _Richarde_. The Dogge forsaking his former Lord & master came to _Duke Henry_, fawned upon him with such resemblaunces of goodwyll and conceaued affection, as he fauoured King _Richarde_ before: he followed the Duke, and vtterly left the King.

quasi adversitates Richardi futuras intellexerat & præsentiscerat. Id quod Richardus probe animadvertit, atque ut præsagium futuri interitus verbis non dissimulavit.

So that by these manifest circumstances a man myght iudge this Dogge to haue bene lightened wyth the lampe of foreknowledge & vnderstãding, touchyng his olde masters miseryes to come, and vnhappinesse nye at hand, which King _Richarde_ himselfe euidently perceaued, accounting this deede of his Dogge a Prophecy of his ouerthrowe.

Of the Dogge called the Leuiner, or Lyemmer in Latine _Lorarius_.

[Levinarius seu lorarius.] Quod sagacitate simul & pernicitate potest, & genere, & compositione corporis medium est inter sagacem illum & leporarium, & à levitate appellatur levinarius, à loro (quo ducitur) lorarius. Hic propter velocitatem & gravius feram urget, & citius capit.

Another sort of dogges be there, in smelling singuler, and in swiftnesse incomparable. This is (as it were) a myddle kinde betwixt the Harier and the Grehounde, as well for his kinde, as for the frame of his body. And it is called in latine _Leuinarius_, _a Leuitate_, of lyghtnesse, and therefore may well be called a lyghthounde, it is also called by this worde _Lorarius_, _a Loro_, wherwith it is led. This Dogge for the excellency of his conditions, namely smelling and swift running, doth followe the game with more eagernes, and taketh the pray with a iolly quicknes.

Of the Dogge called a Tumbler, in Latine _Vertagus_.

[Vertagus.] Quod dolo agit, vertagum nostri dicunt, quòd se, dum prædatur, vertat, & circumacto corpore, impetu quodam in ipso specus ostio feram opprimit & intercipit.

This sorte of Dogges, which compasseth all by craftes, fraudes, subtelties and deceiptes, we Englishe men call Tumblers, because in hunting they turne and tumble, winding their bodyes about in circle wise, and then fearcely and violently venturing upõ the beast, doth soddenly gripe it, at the very entrance and mouth of their receptacles, or closets before they can recouer meanes, to saue and succour themselues.

Is hoc utitur astu. Cum in vivarium cuniculorum venit, eos non lacessit cursu, non latratu terret, nec ullas inimicitias ostentat, sed velut amicus aliud agens, taciturna solertia prætergreditur, observatis diligenter eorum cuniculis.

This dogge vseth another craft and subteltie, namely, when he runneth into a warren, or setteth a course about a connyburrough, he huntes not after them, he frayes them not by barcking, he makes no countenance or shadow of hatred against them, but dissembling friendship, and pretending fauour, passeth by with silence and quietnesse, marking and noting their holes diligently, wherin (I warrant you) he will not be ouershot nor deceaued.

Eò cum pervenerit, ita se humi componit, ut & adversum ventum semper habeat, & cuniculum lateat. Sic enim ille revertentis aut exeuntis cuniculi odorem facilè sentit, & suus cuniculo omnino tollitur, & prospectu fera fallitur.

When he commeth to the place where Connyes be, of a certaintie, he cowcheth downe close with his belly to the gro[un]d, Prouided alwayes by his skill and polisie, that y^e winde bee neuer with him but against him in such an enterprise. And that the Connyes spie him not where he lurcketh.

Ad hunc modum compositus canis, & prostratus, aut exeuntem cuniculum & imprudentem in ipso specus ingressu versutè opprimit, aut revertentem excipit, atque ad latentem herum ore perducit.