{ The shepherds dogge
{ The mastiue or Bandogge.
These two are the principall.
The first kinde, namely the shepherds hounde is very necessarye and
profitable for the auoyding of harmes and inconueniences which may come
to men by the meanes of beastes. The second sort serue to succour
against the snares and attemptes of mischiefous men. Our shepherdes
dogge is not huge, vaste, and bigge, but of an indifferent stature and
growth, because it hath not to deale with the bloudthyrsty wolf,
sythence there be none in England, which happy and fortunate benefite is
to be ascribed to the puisaunt Prince _Edgar_, who to thintent y^t the
whole countrey myght be euacuated and quite cleered from wolfes, charged
& commaunded the welshem[en] (who were pestered with these butcherly
beastes aboue measure) to paye him yearely tribute which was (note the
wisedome of the King) three hundred Wolfes. Some there be which write
that _Ludwall_ Prince of Wales paide yeerely to King _Edgar_ three
hundred wolfes in the name of an exaction (as we haue sayd before.) And
that by the meanes hereof, within the compasse and tearme of (24) foure
yeares, none of those noysome, and pestilent Beastes were left in the
coastes of England and Wales. This _Edgar_ wore the Crowne royall, and
bare the Scepter imperiall of this kingdome, about the yeere of our
Lorde, nyne hundred fifty, nyne. Synce which time we reede that no Wolfe
hath bene seene in England, bred within the bounds and borders of this
countrey, mary there have bene diuers brought ouer from beyonde the
seas, for greedynesse of gaine and to make money, for gasing and gaping,
staring, and standing to see them, being a straunge beast, rare, and
seldom seene in England. But to returne to our shepherds dogge. This
dogge either at the hearing of his masters voyce, or at the wagging and
whisteling in his fist, or at his shrill and horse hissing bringeth the
wandring weathers and straying sheepe, into the selfe same place where
his masters will and wishe is to haue th[em], wherby the shepherd
reapeth this benefite, namely, that with litle labour and no toyle or
mouing of his feete he may rule and guide his flocke, according to his
owne desire, either to haue them go forward, or to stand still, or to
drawe backward, or to turne this way, or to take that way. For it is not
in Englande, as it is in _Fraunce_, as it is in _Flaunders_, as it is in
_Syria_, as it in _Tartaria_, where the sheepe follow the shepherd, for
heere in our country the sheepherd followeth the sheepe. And somtimes
the straying sheepe, when no dogge runneth before them, nor goeth about
& beside them, gather themselues together in a flocke, when they heere
the sheepherd whistle in his fist, for feare of the Dogge (as I imagine)
remembring this (if vnreasonable creatures may be reported to haue
memory) that the Dogge commonly runneth out at his masters warrant which
is his whistle. This haue we oftentimes diligently marcked in taking our
journey from towne to towne, when wee haue hard a sheepherd whistle we
haue rayned in our horse and stoode styll a space, to see the proofe and
triall of this matter. Furthermore with this dogge doth the sheepherd
take sheepe for y^e slaughter, and to be (25) healed if they be sicke,
no hurt or harme in the world done to the simple creature.
Of the mastiue or Bandogge called in Latine _Villaticus_ or
_Cathenarius_.
This kinde of Dogge called a mastyue or Bandogge is vaste, huge,
stubborne, ougly, and eager, of a heuy and burthenous body, and therfore
but of litle swiftnesse, terrible, and frightfull to beholde, and more
fearce and fell then any _Arcadian_ curre (notwithstãding they are sayd
to ha{n}e their generation of the violent Lyon.) They are called
_Villatici_, because they are appoynted to watche and keepe farme places
and co[un]try cotages sequestred from commõ recourse, and not abutting
vpon other houses by reason of distaunce, when there is any feare
conceaued of theefes, robbers, spoylers, and night wanderers. They are
seruiceable against the Foxe and the Badger, to drive wilde and tame
swyne out of Medowes, pastures, glebelandes and places planted with
fruite, to bayte and take the bull by the eare, when occasion so
requireth. One dogge or two at the vttermost, sufficient for that
purpose be the bull neuer so monsterous, neuer so fearce, neuer so
furious, neuer so stearne, neuer so vntameable. For it is a kinde of
dogge capeable of courage, violent and valiaunt, striking could feare
into the harts of men, but standing in feare of no man, in so much that
no weapons will make him shrincke, nor abridge his boldnes. Our Englishe
men (to th' intent that theyr dogges might be the more fell and fearce)
assist nature with arte, vse, and custome, for they teach theyr dogges
to baite the Beare, to baite the Bull and other such like cruell and
bloudy beastes (appointing an ouerseer of the game) without any collar
to defend theyr throtes, and oftentimes they traine them vp in fighting
and wrestling with a man hauing for the safegarde of his lyfe, eyther a
Pikestaffe, a (26) clubbe, or a sworde and by vsing them to such
exercises as these, theyr dogges become more sturdy and strong. The
force which is in them surmounteth all beleefe, the fast holde which
they take with their teeth exceedeth all credit, three of them against a
Beare, fowre against a Lyon are sufficient, both to try masteryes with
them and vtterly to ouermatch them. Which thing _Henry_ the seuenth of
that name, King of England (a Prince both politique & warlike)
perceauing on a certaine time (as the report runneth) commaunded all
such dogges (how many soeuer they were in number) should be hanged,
beyng deepely displeased, and conceauing great disdaine, that an yll
fauoured rascall curre should with such violent villany, assault the
valiaunt Lyon king of all beastes. An example for all subiectes worthy
remembraunce, to admonishe them that it is no aduantage to them to
rebell against y^e regiment of their ruler, but to keepe them within the
limits of Loyaltie. I reede an history aunswerable to this of the selfe
same _Henry_, who hauing a notable and an excellent fayre Falcon, it
fortuned that the kings Falconers, in the presence and hearing of his
grace, highly commended his Maiesties Falcon, saying that it feared not
to intermeddle with an Eagle, it was so venturous a byrde and so mighty,
which when the King harde, he charged that the Falcon should be killed
without delay, for the selfe same reason (as it may seeme) which was
rehersed in the cõclusion of the former history concerning the same
king. This dogge is called, in like maner, _Cathenarius_, _a Cathena_,
of the chaine wherwith he is tyed at the gates, in y^e day time, least
beyng lose he should doe much mischiefe and yet might giue occasion of
feare and terror by his bigge barcking. And albeit _Cicero_ in his
oration had _Pro. S. Ross._ be of this opinion, that such Dogges as
barcke in the broade day light shoulde haue their legges broken, yet our
countrymen, on this side the seas for their carelessnes of lyfe setting
all at cinque and sice, are of a contrary iudgement. For theefes roge vp
& down in euery corner, no place is free from them, no not y^e princes
pallace, (27) nor the country mans cotage. In the day time they practise
pilfering, picking, open robbing, and priuy stealing, and what
legerdemaine lacke they? not fearing the shamefull and horrible death of
hanging. The cause of which inconuenience doth not onely issue from
nipping neede & wringing want, for all y^t steale, are not pinched with
pouerty, but som steale to maintaine their excessiue and prodigall
expences in apparell, their lewdnes of lyfe, their hautines of hart,
theyr wantonnes of maners, theyr wilfull ydlenes, their ambitious
brauery, and the pryde of the sawcy _Salacones'_ #megalorrhountôn# vaine
glorious and arrogant in behauiour, whose delight dependeth wholly to
mount nimbly on horsebacke, to make them leape lustely, spring and
praunce, galloppe and amble, to runne a race, to wynde in compasse, and
so forthe, liuing all together vpon the fatnesse of the spoyle. Othersom
therbe which steale, being thereto prouoked by penury & neede, like
masterlesse m[en] applying themselues to no honest trade, but raunging
vp and downe impudently begging, and complayning of bodily weakenesse
where is no want of abilitie. But valiaunt _Valentine_ th'emperour, by
holsome lawes prouided that suche as hauing no corporall sicknesse,
solde themselues to begging, pleded pouerty wyth pretended infirmitie, &
cloaked their ydle and slouthfull life with colourable shifts and cloudy
cossening, should be a perpetuall slaue and drudge to him, by whom their
impudent ydlenes was bewrayed, and layde against them in publique place,
least the insufferable slouthfullnes of such vagabondes should be
burthenous to the people, or being so hatefull and odious, should growe
into an example. _Alfredus_ likewise in the gouernment of his common
wealth, procured such increase of credite to Justice and vpright dealing
by his prudent actes and statutes, that if a mã trauailing by the hygh
way of the countrey vnder his dominion, chaunced to lose a budget full
of gold, or his capcase farsed with things of great value, late in the
euening, he should finde it where (28) he lost it, safe, sound, and
vntouched the next morning, yea (which is a wonder) at any time for a
whole monethes space if he sought for it, as _Ingulphus Croyladensis_ in
his History recordeth. But in this our vnhappy age, in these (I say) our
deuelishe dayes nothing can scape the clawes of the spoyler, though it
be kept neuer so sure within the house, albe it the doores bee lockt and
boulted round about. This dogge in like maner of _Græcians_ is called
#oikouros#.
Of the latinists _Canis Custos_, in Englishe the Dogge keeper.
Borrowing his name of his seruire, for he doth not onely keepe farmers
houses, but also merchaunts maisons, wherin great wealth, riches,
substaunce, and costly stuffe is reposed. And therfore were certaine
dogges founde and maintained at the common costes and charges of the
Citizens of _Rome_ in the place called _Capitolium_, to giue warning of
theefes comming. This kind of dogge, is also called,
In latine _Canis Laniarius_ in Englishe the Butchers Dogge.
So called for the necessity of his vse, for his seruice affoordeth great
benefite to the Butcher as well in following as in taking his cattell
when neede constraineth, vrgeth, and requireth. This kinde of dogge is
likewise called,
In latine _Molossicus_ or _Molossus_.
After the name of a countrey in _Epirus_ called _Molossia_, which
harboureth many stoute, stronge, and sturdy Dogges of this sort, for the
dogges of that countrey are good in deede, or else their is no trust to
be had in the testimonie of writers. This dogge is also called,
In latine _Canis Mandatarius_ a Dogge messinger or Carrier.
Upon substanciall consideration, because at his masters voyce and
commaundement, he carrieth letters from place to place, wrapped vp
cunningly in his lether collar, fastened therto, or sowed close therin,
who, least he should be hindered in his passage vseth these helpes very
skilfully, namely resistaunce (29) in fighting if he be not ouermatched,
or else swiftnesse & readinesse in running away, if he be vnable to
buckle with the dogge that would faine haue a snatch at his skinne. This
kinde of dogge is likewise called,
In latine _Canis Lunarius_, in Englishe the Mooner.
Because he doth nothing else but watch and warde at an ynche, wasting
the wearisome night season without slombering or sleeping, bawing &
wawing at the Moone (that I may vse the word of _Nonius_) a qualitie in
mine opinion straunge to consider. This kinde of dogge is also called.
In latine _Aquarius_ in Englishe a water drawer.
And these be of the greater and the waighter sort drawing water out of
wells and deepe pittes, by a wheele which they turne rounde about by the
mouing of their burthenous bodies. This kinde of dogge is called in like
maner.
_Canis Sarcinarius_ in Latine, and may aptly be englished a Tynckers
Curre.
Because with marueilous pacience they beare bigge budgettes fraught with
Tinckers tooles, and mettall meete to mend kettels, porrige pottes,
skellets, and chafers, and other such like trumpery requisite for their
occupacion and loytering trade, easing him of a great burthen which
otherwise he himselfe should carry vpon his shoulders, which condition
hath challenged vnto them the foresaid name. Besides the qualities which
we haue already recounted, this kind of dogges hath this principall
property ingrafted in them, that they loue their masters liberally, and
hate straungers despightfully, wherevpon it followeth that they are to
their masters, in traueiling a singuler safgard, defending them
forceably from the inuasion of villons and theefes, preseruing their
lyfes from losse, and their health from hassard, theyr fleshe from
hacking and hewing with such like desperate daungers. For which
consideration they are meritoriously (30) tearmed,
In Latine _Canes defensores_ defending dogges in our mother tounge.
If it chaunce that the master bee oppressed, either by a multitude, or
by the greater violence & so be beaten downe that he lye groueling on
the grounde, (it is proued true by experience) that this Dogge forsaketh
not his master, no not when he is starcke deade: But induring the force
of famishment and the outragious tempestes of the weather, most
vigilantly watcheth and carefully keepeth the deade carkasse many dayes,
indeuouring, furthermore, to kil the murtherer of his master, if he may
get any aduantage. Or else by barcking, by howling, by furious iarring,
snarring, and such like meanes betrayeth the malefactour as desirous to
haue the death of his aforesayde Master rigorouslye reuenged. An example
hereof fortuned within the compasse of my memory. The Dogge of a
certaine wayefaring man trauailing from the Citie of London directly to
the Towne of Kingstone (most famous and renowned by reason of the
triumphant coronation of eight seuerall Kings) passing ouer a good
portion of his iourney was assaulted and set vpon by certaine
confederate theefes laying in waight for the spoyle in _Comeparcke_,
a perillous bottom, compassed about wyth woddes to well knowne for the
manyfolde murders & mischeefeous robberies theyr committed. Into whose
handes this passinger chaunced to fall, so that his ill lucke cost him
the price of his lyfe. And that Dogge whose syer was Englishe (which
_Blondus_ registreth to haue bene within the banckes of his
rem[em]brance) manifestly perceauyng that his Master was murthered (this
chaunced not farre from _Paris_) by the handes of one which was a suiter
to the same womã, whom he was a wooer vnto, dyd both bewraye the bloudy
butcher, and attempted to teare out the villons throate if he had not
sought meanes to auoyde the reuenging rage of the Dogge. In fyers also
which fortune in the silence (31) and dead time of the night, or in
stormy weather of the sayde season, the older dogges barcke, ball,
howle, and yell (yea notwithstandyng they bee roughly rated) neyther
will they stay their tounges till the householde seruauntes, awake,
ryse, searche, and see the burning of the fyre, which beyng perceaued
they vse voluntary silence, and cease from yolping. This hath bene, and
is founde true by tryall, in sundry partes of England. There was no
faynting faith in that Dogge, which when his Master by a mischaunce in
hunting stumbled and fell toppling downe a deepe dytche beyng vnable to
recouer of himselfe, the Dogge signifying his masters mishappe, reskue
came, and he was hayled up by a rope, whom the Dogge seeyng almost
drawne up to the edge of the dytche, cheerefully saluted, leaping and
skipping vpon his master as though he woulde haue imbraced hym, beyng
glad of his presence, whose longer absence he was lothe to lacke. Some
Dogges there be, which will not suffer fyery coales to lye skattered
about the hearthe, but with their pawes wil rake up the burnyng coales,
musying and studying fyrst with themselues how it myght conueniently be
done. And if so bee that the coales cast to great a heate then will they
buyry them in ashes and so remoue them forwarde to a fyt place wyth
theyr noses. Other Dogges bee there which exequute the office of a
Farmer in the nyghte tyme. For when his master goeth to bedde to take
his naturall sleepe, And when,
A hundred barres of brasse and yron boltes,
Make all things safe from startes and from reuoltes.
VVhen Ianus keepes the gate with Argos eye,
That daungers none approch, ne mischiefes nye.
As Virgill vaunteth in his verses, Then if his master byddeth him go
abroade, he lingereth not, but raungeth ouer all his lands lying there
about, more diligently, I wys, then any farmer himselfe. And if he finde
anything their that is straunge and pertaining to other persons besides
his master, (32) whether it be man, woman, or beast, he driueth them out
of the ground, not medling with any thing which doth belong to the
possession and vse of his master. But how much faythfulnes, so much
diuersitie there is in their natures,
For there be some,
{ Which barcke only with free and open throate but will not bite,
{ Which doe both barcke and byte,
{ Which bite bitterly before they barcke,
The first are not greatly to be feared, because they themselues are
fearefull, and fearefull dogges (as the prouerbe importeth) barcke most
vehemently.
The second are daungerous, it is wisedome to take heede of them because
they sounde, as it were, an _Alarum_ of an afterclappe, and these dogges
must not be ouer much moued or prouoked, for then they take on
outragiously as if they were madde, watching to set the print of their
teeth in the fleshe. And these kinde of dogges are fearce and eager by
nature.
The thirde are deadly, for they flye upon a man, without vtteraunce of
voyce, snatch at him, and catche him by the throate, and most cruelly
byte out colloppes of fleashe. Feare these kind of Curres, (if thou be
wise and circumspect about thine owne safetie) for they bee stoute and
stubberne dogges, and set vpon a man at a sodden vnwares. By these
signes and tokens, by these notes and argumentes our men discerne the
cowardly curre from the couragious dogge the bolde from the fearefull,
the butcherly from the gentle and tractable. Moreouer they coniecture
that a whelpe of an yll kinde is not worthe the keeping and that no
dogge can serue the sundry vses of men so aptly and so conueniently as
this sort of whom we haue so largely written already. For if any be
disposed to drawe the aboue named seruices into a table, what mã more
clearely, and with more vehemency of voyce giueth warning eyther of a
wastefull beast, or of a spoiling theefe then this? who by his barcking
(as good as a burning beacon) (33) foreshoweth hassards at hand? What
maner of beast stronger? what serua[un]t to his master more louing? what
companion more trustie? what watchman more vigilant? what reuenger more
constant? what messinger more speedie? what water bearer more painefull?
Finally what packhorse more patient? And thus much concerning English
Dogges, first of the gentle kinde, secondly of the courser kinde. Nowe
it remaineth that we deliuer vnto you the Dogges of a mungrell or a
currishe kinde, and then will wee perfourme our taske.
¶ A Diall pertaining to the
_fourth Section_.