_Ad Gesnerum._
The first Section of this
_discourse_.
¶ The Preamble or entraunce, into
this treatise.
Scripsimus ad te (charissime Gesnere) superioribus annis variam
historiam de variis quadrupedum, avium, atque piscium formis, variis
herbarum atque fruticum speciebus & figuris.
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.
Scripsimus & de canibus quædam ad te seorsum, quæ in libro tuo de
iconibus animalium ordine secundo mansuetorum quadrupedum, ubi de
Canibus Scoticis scribis, & in fine epistolæ tuæ ad Gulielmum
Turnerum de libris a te editis, inter libros nondum excusos,
te editurum polliceris.
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.
Sed quia de Canibus nostris quædam in eo libello mihi videbantur
desiderari, editionem prohibui, & alium promisi. Quamobrem, ut
promissis meis starem, & expectationi tuæ satisfacerem, homini omnis
cognitionis cupido, universitatem generis, differentiam atque usum,
mores & ingenium, veluti methodo quadam conabor explicare.
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 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.
Dispertiar in tres species, Generosam, Rusticam, & Degenerem; sic ut
de illa primò, de hac postremò, de rustica, medio loco tibi dicam.
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.
Omnes Britannicos vocabo; tum quòd una Insula Britannia, ut Anglicos
omnes, sic quoque Scoticos omnes complectatur: tum quòd venatibus
magis indulgemus, quia voluptati ex feris & venatione, propter
animalium copiam, atque hominum otium, magis Britanni sumus dediti,
quàm eorum animalium indigi & negotiosi Scoti.
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.
[Ex generosis venaticis.] Ergo cum omnis ratio generosæ venationis,
vel in persequendis feris, vel in capiendis avibus finiatur, canum,
quibus hæc aguntur, duo genera sunt: alterum quod feras investiget,
alterum quod aves persequatur.
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,