De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
Science
De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
Of such dogges as keepe not their kinde, of such as are mingled out of
sundry sortes not imitating the conditions of some one certaine spice,
because they resẽble no notable shape, nor exercise any worthy property
of the true perfect and gentle kind, it is not necessarye that I write
any more of them, but to banishe them as vnprofitable implements, out of
the boundes of my Booke, vnprofitable I say for any vse that is
commendable, except to intertaine straũgers with their barcking in the
day time, giuyng warnyng to them of the house, that such & such be newly
come, wherevpon we call them admonishing Dogges, because in that point
they performe theyr office.
Of the Dogge called Turnespete in Latine _Veruuersator_.
There is comprehended, vnder the curres of the coursest kinde, a
certaine dogge in kytchen seruice excellent. For whẽ any meate is to bee
roasted they go into a wheele which they turning rounde about with the
waight of their bodies, so (35) diligently looke to their businesse,
that no drudge nor skullion can doe the feate more cunningly. Whom the
popular sort herevpon call Turnespets, being the last of all those which
wee haue first mencioned.
Of the Dogge called the Daunser, in Latine _Saltator_ or _Tympanista_.
There be also dogges among vs of a mungrell kind which are taught and
exercised to daunce in measure at the musicall sounde of an instrument,
as, at the iust stroke of the drombe, at the sweete accent of the
Cyterne, & tuned strings of the harmonious Harpe showing many pretty
trickes by the gesture of their bodies. As to stand bolte upright, to
lye flat vpon the grounde, to turne rounde as a ringe holding their
tailes in their teeth, to begge for theyr meate, and sundry such
properties, which they learne of theyr vagabundicall masters, whose
instrumentes they are to gather gaine, withall in Citie, Country, Towne,
and Village. As some which carry olde apes on their shoulders in
coloured iackets to moue men to laughter for a litle lucre.
Of other Dogges, a short conclusion, wonderfully ingendred within the
coastes of this country.
Three sortes of them,
{ The first bred of a bytch and a wolfe, } In Latine _Lyciscus_.
{ The second of a bytche and a foxe, } In Latine _Lacæna_.
{ The third of a beare and a bandogge, } In Latine _Vrcanus_.
Of the first we haue none naturally bred within the borders of England.
The reason is for the want of wolfes, without whom no such kinde of
Dogge can bee ingendred. Againe (36) it is deliuered vnto thee in this
discourse, how and by what meanes, by whose benefite, and within what
circuite of tyme, this country was cleerely discharged of rauenyng
wolfes, and none at all left, no, not to the least number, or the
beginnyng of a number, which is an _Vnari_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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