{ 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_.
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.
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. 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 (6) 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. 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. 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. 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 (7) to play theyr impudent pageants, & imprudent pranckes.
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 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. 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. 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 (8) hunting kinde of Dogges, by the tearme aboue
mencioned. 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_.
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, 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
(9) 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. 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. 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. 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_.
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 (10) 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. 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. 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. 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_.
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 (11)
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_.
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. 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. 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. 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 (12) of their hole. Thus hauing caught his pray he carryeth it
speedily to his Master, wayting his Dogges returne in some conuenient
lurcking corner. 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_.
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.
(13) ¶ 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 (14)
_this discourse_.
Of gentle Dogges seruing the hauke, and first
of the Spaniell, called in Latine
_Hispaniolus_.
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.