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.

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.