De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
Science
De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
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. 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 (2) 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.
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. I cal thẽ 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. 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,
Two kindes of Dogges
{ One which rouseth the beast
and continueth the chase, }
{ Another which springeth the byrde
and bewrayeth flight by pursuite, }
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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