Chapter 9

By which meanes he obtaineth the sent and sauour of the Connyes, carryed towardes him with the wind & the ayre, either going to their holes, or cõming out, eyther passing this way, or running that way, and so prouideth by his circumspection, that the selly simple Conny is debarred quite from his hole (which is the hauen of their hope and the harbour of their health) and fraudulently circumuented and taken, before they can get the aduantage of their hole. Thus hauing caught his pray he carryeth it speedily to his Master, wayting his Dogges returne in some conuenient lurcking corner.

Minor hic est sagaci illo, strigosior, & erectiore aure. Corporis figura leporarium spurium diceres, si major esset. Et quamvis eo minor multò sit, uno tamen die tot potest capere, quot justum equi onus esse possunt. Dolus enim illi pro virtute est, & corporis agilitas.

These Dogges are somewhat lesser than the houndes, and they be lancker & leaner, beside that they be somwhat prick eared. A man that shall marke the forme and fashion of their bodyes, may well call them mungrell Grehoundes if they were somwhat bigger. But notwithstanding they counteruaile not the Grehound in greatnes, yet will he take in one dayes space as many Connyes as shall arise to as bigge a burthen, and as heauy a loade as a horse can carry, for deceipt and guile is the instrument wherby he maketh this spoyle, which pernicious properties supply the places of more commendable qualities.

Of the Dogge called the theeuishe Dogge in Latine _Canis furax_.

[Canis furax.] Huic similis canis furax est, qui jubente hero noctu progreditur, & sine latratu odore adverse persequens cuniculos, cursu prehendit quot herus permiserit, & ad heri stationem reportat. Vocant incolæ canem nocturnum, quòd venetur noctu. Sed hæc de iis qui feras insequuntur.

The like to that whom we have rehearsed, is the theeuishe Dogge, which at the mandate and bydding of his master steereth and leereth abroade in the night, hunting Connyes by the ayre, which is leuened with their sauour and conueyed to the sense of smelling by the meanes of the winde blowing towardes him. During all which space of his hunting he will not barcke, least he shoulde bee preiudiciall to his owne aduantage. And thus watcheth and snatcheth up in course as many Connyes as his Master will suffer him, and beareth them to his Masters standing. The farmers of the countrey and uplandishe dwellers, call this kinde of Dogge a nyght curre, because he hunteth in the darke. But let thus much seeme sufficient for Dogges which serue the game and disport of hunting.

¶ A Diall pertaining to the _first Section._

Dogges seruing y^e pastime of hunting beastes. are diuided into

{ Hariers { Terrars { Bloudhounds { Gasehounds { Grehounds { Leuiners or { Lyemmers { Tumblers { Stealers

In Latine called _Venatici_.

The seconde Section of _this discourse_.

Of gentle Dogges seruing the hauke, and first of the Spaniell, called in Latine _Hispaniolus_.

[Ex generosis aucupatoriis.] Qui aves, proximum locum habent. Eos Aucupatorios dici ante proposuimus.

Svch Dogges as serue for fowling, I thinke conuenient and requisite to place in this seconde Section of this treatise. These are also to bee reckoned and accounted in the number of the dogges which come of a gentle kind, and of those which serue for fowling.

Hi ex generosorum numero etiam sunt, & duûm generum. Alii enim per sicca tantum venantur: Alii per aquas tantum aves persequuntur.

There be two sortes

{ The first findeth game on the land. { The other findeth game on the water.

Qui per sicca tantum, aut libero vestigio & latratu avem investigant & excitant, aut tacito indicio eandem commonstrant.

Such as delight on the land, play their partes, eyther by swiftnesse of foote, or by often questing, to search out and to spring the byrde for further hope of aduauntage, or else by some secrete signe and priuy token bewray the place where they fall.

Primum genus Accipitri servit; secundum reti.

The first kinde of such serue { The Hauke, The seconde, { The net, or, traine,

[Hispaniolus.] Peculiaria nomina primum genus non habet, nisi ab ave ad quam venandam natura est propensius. Qua de causa falconarii hos phasianarios, hos perdiciarios, vocare solent.

The first kinde haue no peculier names assigned vnto them, saue onely that they be denominated after the byrde which by naturall appointment he is alotted to take, for the which consideration.

Some be called Dogges,

{ For the Falcon { The Phesant { The Partridge

and such like,

Vulgus tamen nostrum communi nomine Hispaniolos nominat, quasi ex Hispania productum istud genus primo esset. Omnes maxima ex parte candidi sunt: & si quas maculas habeant, rubræ sunt, raræ, & majores. Sunt & ruffi atque nigri, sed perpauci.

The common sort of people call them by one generall word, namely Spaniells. As though these kinde of Dogges came originally and first of all out of Spaine, The most part of their skynnes are white, and if they be marcked with any spottes, they are commonly red, and somewhat great therewithall, the heares not growing in such thicknesse but that the mixture of them maye easely bee perceaued. Othersome of them be reddishe and blackishe, but of that sorte there be but a very few.

Est & hodie novum genus ex Gallia advectum (ut novitatis omnes sumus studiosi) sed ex toto in albo obfuscatum maculosè, quem Gallicanum vocitamus.

There is also at this day among vs a newe kinde of dogge brought out of Fraunce (for we Englishe men are maruailous greedy gaping gluttons after nouelties, and couetous coruorauntes of things that be seldom, rare, straunge, and hard to get.) And they bee speckled all ouer with white and black, which mingled colours incline to a marble blewe, which bewtifyeth their skinnes and affordeth a seemely show of comlynesse. These are called French dogges as is aboue declared already.

The Dogge called the Setter, in Latine _Index_.

[Index.] Secundum genus est, quod tacito pede atque ore avem quærit, & nutum juvantis heri sequitur, vel promovendo se, vel reducendo, vel in alterutram partem dextram aut sinistram declinando. Cum avem dico, Perdicem & Coturnicem intelligo.

Another sort of Dogges be there, seruiceable for fowling, making no noise either with foote or with tounge, whiles they followe the game. These attend diligently vpon theyr Master and frame their conditions to such beckes, motions, and gestures, as it shall please him to exhibite and make, either going forward, drawing backeward, inclining to the right hand, or yealding toward the left, (In making mencion of fowles, my meaning is of the Partridge & the Quaile)

Cum invenerit, cauto silentio, suspenso vestigio, & occulto speculatu, humiliando se prorepit, & cum propè est, procumbit, & pedis indicio locum stationis avium prodit: unde canem indicem vocare placuit. Loco commonstrato, auceps exporrectum rete avi inducit.

when he hath founde the byrde, he keepeth sure and fast silence, he stayeth his steppes and wil proceede no further, and with a close, couert, watching eye, layeth his belly to the grounde and so creepeth forward like a worme. When he approcheth neere to the place where the birde is, he layes him downe, and with a marcke of his pawes betrayeth the place of the byrdes last abode, whereby it is supposed that this kinde of dogge is called _Index_, Setter, being in deede a name most consonant and agreable to his quality.

Quo facto, canis ad consuetum heri indicium seu vocabulum quam mox assurgit, & propinquiori præsentia aves perturbat, atque ut inexplicabilius irretiantur, facit.

The place being knowne by the meanes of the dogge, the fowler immediatly openeth and spreedeth his net, intending to take them, which being done the dogge at the accustomed becke or vsuall signe of his Master ryseth vp by and by, and draweth neerer to the fowle that by his presence they might be the authors of their owne insnaring, and be ready intangled in the prepared net,

[Lepus tympanum pulsat.] Quod artificium in cane, animali domestico, mirum videri non debet, cum & lepus agreste animal, & saltare, & tympanum anterioribus pedibus numero pulsare tympanistarum more, & canem dente atque ungue petere, pedibusque crudeliter cædere, in Anglia visus est omnium admiratione, anno salutis nostræ 1564.

which conning and artificiall indeuour in a dogge (being a creature domesticall or householde seruaunt brought vp at home with offalls of the trencher & fragments of victualls,) is not much to be maruailed at, seing that a Hare (being a wilde and skippishe beast) was seene in England to the astonishment of the beholders, in the yeare of our Lorde God, 1564, not onely dauncing in measure, but playing with his former feete vppon a tabberet, and obseruing iust number of strokes (as a practicioner in that arte) besides that nipping & pinching a dogge with his teeth and clawes, & cruelly thumping him with y^e force of his feete.

Nec est vanum istud, eoque relatum lubentius, quòd operæ pretium putarem, nihil prætereundum esse, in quo naturæ spectanda sit providentia.

This is no trumpery tale, nor trifling toye (as I imagine) and therefore not vnworthy to bee reported, for I recken it a requitall of my trauaile, not to drowne in the seas of silence any speciall thing, wherin the prouidence and effectuall working of nature is to be pondered.

Of the Dogge called the water Spaniell, or finder, in Latine _Aquaticus seu Inquisitor_.

[Aquaticus seu inquisitor.] Qui per aquas aucupatur propensione naturali accedente mediocri documento, major his est, & promisso naturaliter hirtus pilo. Ego tamen ab armis ad posteriores suffragines, caudamque extremam, ad te (Gesnere) detonsum pinxi, ut usus noster postulat, quo pilis nudus expeditior sit, & minus per natationes retardetur.

That kinde of Dogge whose seruice is required in fowling vpon the water, partly through a naturall towardnesse, and partly by diligent teaching, is indued with that property. This sort is somewhat bigge, and of a measurable greatnesse, hauing long, rough, and curled heare, not obtayned by extraordinary trades, but giuen by natures appointment, yet neuerthelesse (friend _Gesner_) I have described and set him out in this maner, namely powlde and netted from the shoulders to the hindermost legges, and to the end of his tayle, which I did for vse and customs cause, that beyng as it were made somewhat bare and naked, by shearing of such superfluitie of heare, they might atchiue the more lightnesse, and swiftnesse, and be lesse hindered in swymming, so troublesome and needelesse a burthen being shaken of.

Aquaticus à nostris appellatur, ab aquis quas frequentat sumpta appellatione. Eo aut aves in aquis aucupamur (& præcipue anates; unde etiam anatarius dicitur, quod id excellenter facit) aut Scorpione occisas educimus, aut spicula sagittasve fallente ictu recuperamus, aut amissa requirimus: quo nomine & canes inquisitores eosdem appellamus.

This kinde of dogge is properly called, _Aquaticus_, a water spaniel because he frequenteth and hath vsual recourse to the water where all his game & exercise lyeth, namely, waterfowles, which are taken by the helpe & seruice of them, in their kind. And principally duckes and drakes, wherupon he is lykewise named a dogge for the ducke, because in that quallitie he is excellent. With these dogges also we fetche out of the water such fowle as be stounge to death by any venemous worme, we vse them also to bring vs our boultes & arrowes out of the water, (missing our marcke) whereat we directed our leuell, which otherwise we should hardly recouer, and oftentimes they restore to vs our shaftes which we thought neuer to see, touche or handle againe, after they were lost, for which circumstaunces they are called _Inquisitores_, searchers, and finders.

[Anatum fallaciæ.] Quanquam Anas & canem & aucupem quoque egregiè subinde fallat, tum urinando, tum etiam dolo naturali. Etenim si quis hominum, ubi incubant aut excludunt, propinquabit, egressæ matres venientibus se sponte offerunt, & simulata debilitate vel pedum vel alarum, quasi statim capi possint, egressus fingunt tardiores.

Although the ducke otherwhiles notably deceaueth both the dogge and the master, by dyuing vnder the water, and also by naturall subtilty, for if any man shall approche to the place where they builde, breede, and syt, the hennes go out of their neastes, offering themselues voluntarily to the hãds, as it were, of such as draw nie their neasts. And a certaine weaknesse of their winges pretended, and infirmitie of their feete dissembled, they go so slowely and so leasurely, that to a mans thinking it were no masteryes to take them.

Hoc mendacio sollicitant obvios, & eludunt, quoad profecti longius, à nidis avocentur; caventque diligenter revertendo, ne indicium loci conversatio frequens faciat.

By which deceiptfull tricke they doe as it were entyse and allure men to follow them, till they be drawne a long distaunce from theyr neastes, which being compassed by their prouident conning, or conning prouidence, they cut of all inconueniences which might growe of their returne, by using many carefull and curious caueates, least theyr often haunting bewray y^e place where the young ducklings be hatched. Great therfore is theyr desire, & earnest is theyr study to take heede, not only to theyr broode but also to themselues.

[Anaticularum providentia.] Nec anaticularum studium segnius ad cavendum. Cum enim visas se persentiscunt, sub cespitem confugiunt aut carectum, quorum obtectu tam callidè proteguntur, ut lateant etiam deprehensæ, nisi fraudem canis odore detegat.

For when they haue an ynckling that they are espied they hide themselues vnder turfes or sedges, wherwith they couer and shrowde themselues so closely and so craftely, that (notwithstanding the place where they lurcke be found and perfectly perceaued) there they will harbour without harme, except the water spaniell by quicke smelling discouer theyr deceiptes.

Of the Dogge called the Fisher, in Latine _Canis Piscator_.

[Canis piscator.] Canem piscatorem (de quo scribit Hector Boethus) qui inter saxa pisces odore perquirit, nullum planè novi inter nostros, neque ex relatione aliquando audivi, etsi in ea re perscrutanda perdiscendaque diligentior fuerim inter piscatores & venatores:

The Dogge called the fisher, wherof _Hector Boethus_ writeth, which seeketh for fishe by smelling among rockes & stones, assuredly I knowe none of that kinde in Englande, neither haue I receaued by reporte that there is any suche, albeit I haue bene diligent & busie in demaunding the question as well of fishermen, as also of huntesmen in that behalfe being carefull and earnest to learne and vnderstand of them if any such were,

[Lutra.] nisi Lutram piscem dicas, ut à multis creditur:

except you holde opinion that the beauer or Otter is a fishe (as many haue beleeued) & according to their beliefe affirmed,

[Pupinus.] quo modo & Pupinus avis piscis esse dicitur & habetur. Sed qui perquirit piscem (si quis perquirat) venationisne causa, an famis faciat, more cæterorum canum, qui per inediam cadaverum morticinam carnem appetere solent, tum demum ad te scribam, cum de ea re certior fiam.

and as the birde _Pupine_, is thought to be a fishe and so accounted. But that kinde of dogge which followeth the fishe to apprehend and take it (if there bee any of that disposition and property) whether they do this for the game of hunting, or for the heate of hunger, as other Dogges do which rather then they wil be famished for want of foode, couet the carckases of carrion and putrifyed fleshe. When I am fully resolued and disburthened of this doubt I wil send you certificate in writing.

Interim id scio, Ælianum & Aetium Lutram #kuna potamion# solere appellare. Intelligo etiam Lutram hoc habere cum cane commune, quòd per inopiam piscium excursiones in terram faciat, atque agnos laniet, rursusque ad aquam satur redeat. Sed inter nostros canes is non est.

In the meane season I am not ignorant of that both Ælianus, and Ælius, call the Beauer #kuna potamion# a water dogge, or a dogge fishe, I know likewise thus much more, that the Beauer doth participate this propertie with the dogge, namely, that when fishes be scarse they leaue the water and raunge vp and downe the lande, making an insatiable slaughter of young lambes vntil theyr paunches be replenished, and wh[en] they haue fed themselues full of fleshe, then returne they to the water, from whence they came. But albeit so much be graunted that this Beauer is a dogge, yet it is to be noted that we recken it not in the beadrowe of Englishe dogges as we haue done the rest.

[Phoca.] Phoca etiam inter scopulos atque saxa prædatur piscem, sed in numero canum nostratium habitus non est, etsi canis marinus à nostris appelletur.

The sea Calfe, in like maner, which our country m[en] for breuitie sake call a Seele, other more largely name a _Sea Vele_, maketh a spoyle of fishes betweene rockes and banckes, but it is not accounted in the catalogue or n[um]ber of our Englishe dogges, notwithstanding we call it by the name of a Sea dogge or a sea Calfe. And thus much for our dogges of the second sort called in Latine _Aucupatorij_, seruing to take fowle either by land or water.

¶ A Diall pertaining to the _second Section_.

Dogges seruing the disport of fowling. are diuided into

{ Land spaniels { Setters { Water spaniels or finders.

called in latine _Canes Aucupatorij_

The fisher is not of their number, but seuerall.

The thirde Section of this _abridgement_.

Nowe followeth in due order and conuenient place our Englishe Dogges of the thirde gentle kinde, what they are called to what vse they serue, and what sort of people plant their pleasure in th[em], which because they neede no curious canuassing and nye syfting, wee meane to bee so much the briefer.

[Ex generosis delicatis, Melitæus seu fotor.] Est & aliud genus canum generosorum apud nos, sed extra horum ordinem, quos Melitæos Callimachus vocat, à Melita insula in freto Siculo (quæ hodie usu derivante Malta vulgo dicitur, & christiano milite nobilis existit) unde ortum id genus habuit maximè: atque à Melita Siculi Pachyni, ut author Strabo est.

Of the delicate, neate, and pretty kind of dogges called the Spaniel gentle, or the comforter, in Latine _Melitæus or Fotor_.

There is, besides those which wee haue already deliuered, another sort of gentle dogges in this our Englishe soyle but exempted from the order of the residue, the Dogges of this kinde doth _Callimachus_ call _Melitæos_, of the Iseland _Melita_, in the sea of _Sicily_, (what at this day is named _Malta_, an Iseland in deede, famous and renoumed, with couragious and puisaunt souldiours valliauntly fighting vnder the banner of Christ their vnconquerable captaine) where this kind of dogges had their principall beginning.

Perexiguum id est planè, & foeminarum lusibus ac deliciis tantum expetitum, quibus, quo minus est, eo gratius est, ut sinu gestent in cubiculis, & manu in pilentis,

These dogges are litle, pretty, proper, and fyne, and sought for to satisfie the delicatenesse of daintie dames, and wanton womens wills, instrumentes of folly for them to play and dally withall, to tryfle away the treasure of time, to withdraw their mindes from more commendable exercises, and to content their corrupted concupiscences with vaine disport (A selly shift to shunne yrcksome ydlnesse.) These puppies the smaller they be, the more pleasure they prouoke, as more meete play fellowes for minsing mistrisses to beare in their bosoms, to keepe company withal in their chambers, to succour with sleepe in bed, and nourishe with meate at bourde, to lay in their lappes, and licke their lippes as they ryde in their waggons, and good reason it should be so, for coursnesse with fynenesse hath no fellowship, but featnesse with neatenesse hath neighbourhood enough. That plausible prouerbe verified vpon a Tyraunt, namely that he loued his sowe better then his sonne, may well be applyed to these kinde of people who delight more in dogges that are depriued of all possibility of reason, then they doe in children that be capeable of wisedome and iudgement. But this abuse peraduenture raigneth where there hath bene long lacke of issue, or else where barrennes is the best blossome of bewty.

The vertue which remaineth in the Spainell gentle otherwise called the comforter.

genus sanè ad omnia inutile, nisi quòd stomachi dolorem sedat, applicatum sæpius, aut in sinu ægri gestatum frequentius, caloris moderatione.

Notwithstanding many make much of those pretty puppies called Spaniels gentle, yet if the question were demaunded what propertie in them they spye, which shoulde make them so acceptable and precious in their sight, I doubt their aunswere would be long a coyning. But seeing it was our intent to trauaile in this treatise, so that y^e reader might reape some benefite by his reading, we will communicate vnto you such coniectures as are grounded upon reason. And though some suppose that such dogges are fyt for no seruice, I dare say, by their leaues, they be in a wrong boxe. Among all other qualities therfore of nature, which be knowne (for some conditions are couered with continuall and thicke clouds, that the eye of our capacities can not pearse through th[em]) we find that these litle dogs are good to asswage the sicknesse of the stomacke being oftentimes thervnto applyed as a plaster preseruatiue, or borne in the bosom of the diseased and weake person, which effect is performed by theyr moderate heate.

Quin & transire quoque morbos ægritudine eorum intelligitur, plerumque & morte: quasi malo in eos transeunte caloris similitudine.

Moreouer the disease and sicknesse chaungeth his place and entreth (though it be not precisely marcked) into the dogge, which to be no vntruth, experience can testify, for these kinde of dogges sometimes fall sicke, and sometime die, without any harme outwardly inforced, which is an argument that the disease of the gentleman, or gentle woman or owner whatsoeuer, entreth into the dogge by the operation of heate intermingled and infected.

Generosorum canum genus jam explicui: Nunc rusticum adjicio.

And thus haue I hetherto handled dogges of a gentle kinde whom I haue comprehended in a triple diuisiõ. Now it remaineth that I annex in due order such dogges as be of a more homely kinde.

A Diall pertaining to the _thirde Section_.

In the third section is cõtained one kind of dog which is called the

Spaniell gentle or the cõforter,

It is also called

{ A chamber cõpanion, { A pleasaunt playfellow, { A pretty worme,

generally called _Canis delicatus_.

The fourth Section of this _discourse_.

Dogges of a course kind seruing for many necessary vses called in Latine _Canes rustici_, and first of the shepherds dogge called in Latine _Canis Pastoralis_.

[Ex rusticis.] In eo memorabilia duo tantum genera sunt: pecuarium seu pastorale, & villaticum seu Molossum: