The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

A start to outlandish dogges in this conclusion, not impertinent to the Authors purpose.

VSe and custome hath entertained other dogs of an outlandish kind, but a fewe and the same being of a pretty bignes, I meane Island dogs, curled and rough all ouer, which by reason of the length of their haire make shew neither of face nor of body. And yet these curs, forsooth, because they are so strange are greatly set by, esteemed, ta∣ken vp, and many times in the roome of the Spaniell gentle or comforter. The natures of [ 40] men is so moued, naie rather married to nouelites without all reason, wit, iudgement or perseuerance,

Erromen allotrian paroromen suggeneis. Outlandish toyes we take with delight, Things of our owne nation we haue in despight.

Which fault remaineth not in vs concerning Dogs onely, but for artificers also. And why? it is manifest that we disdaine and contemne our owne workemen, be they neuer so skilfull, be they neuer so cunning, be they neuer so excellent. A beggerly beast brought out of barbarous borders, from the vttermost countries Northward, &c, we stare at, we gaze at, we muse, we meruaile at, like an Asse of Cumanum, like Thales with the brazen [ 50] shanks, like the man in the Moone.

The which default Hippocrates marked when he was aliue, as euidently appeareth in the beginning of his booke Peri agmon, so intituled and named:

And we in our worke intituled De Ephemera Britanica, to the people of England haue more plentifully expressed. In this kind looke which is most blockish, and yet most waspish the same is most esteemed, and not among Cittizens onely and iolly Gentlemen, but a∣mong

among lusty ••ordes also, and noblemen. Further I am not to wade in the foorde of this discourse, because it was my purpose to satisfie your expectation with a short treatise (most learned Conrade) not wearisome for me to write, nor tedious for you to peruse. A∣mong other things which you haue receiued at my hands heretofore, I remember that I wrote a seuerall description of the Getullian dog, because there are but a few of them, and therefore very sildome seene. As touching dogs of other kinds you your selfe haue taken earnest paine in writing of them both liuely, learnedly, and largely. But because we haue drawne this libell more at length then the former which I sent you (and yet breefer then the nature of the thing might well beare) regarding your most earnest and necessary stu∣dies. [ 10] I will conclude making a rehearsall notwithstanding (for memories sake) of certaine specialties contained in the whole body of this my breuiary. And because you participate principall pleasure in the knowledge of the common and vsuall names of Dogs (as I ga∣ther by the course of your letters) I suppose it not amisse to deliuer vnto you a short table containing as well the Latine as the English names, and to render a reason of euery par∣ticular appellation, to the intent that no scruple may remaine in this point, but that eue∣ry thing may be sifted to the bare bottome.