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.

OF THE GREY-HOVND, [ 40] with a naration of all strong and great hunting DOGGES.

AMong the diuers kinds of hunting Dogs, the Grey-hound or Graecian Dog,* 1.1 called Thereuticos or Elatica (by reason of his swiftnesse,) strength, and sagacity to follow and deuoure wilde beastes of great stature, deserueth the first place; for such are the conditions of this Dog, as Plato hath obserued, [ 50] that he is reasonably sented to finde out, speedy and quicke of foote to follow, and fierce and strong to take and ouer∣come: and yet silent comming vpon his pery at vnawares, according to the obseruation of Gratius;

Siccanis illa suos taciturna superuenit hostes.

Like to the Dogs of Acarnania which set vpon their game by stealth. Of these are the grea∣test dogs of the world, which in this place are briefely to be remembred.

[illustration]

[ 10] [ 20]

These haue large bodies little heads, beaked noses, but flat, broad faces aboue their eies,* 1.2 long necks but great next to their bodies, fiery eies, broad backs, and most generous sto∣macks, both against al wild beasts & men also. Their rage is so great against their prey, that sometimes for wrath they loose their eie-sight. They will not onely set vpon Buls, Boars,* 1.3 [ 30] and such like beastes, but also vpon Lyons, which Mantuan noteth in this verse;

Et Truculentus Helor certare leonibus audens.

The greatest dogs of this kind are in India, Scithia, and Hircania,* 1.4 and among the Scithians they ioine them with Asses in yoake for ordinary labour. The Dogs of India are concei∣ued by Tigres, for the Indians wil take diuers femals or Bitches, and fasten them to trees in woods where Tygres abide: wherunto the greedy rauening Tiger commeth,* 1.5 and instant∣ly deuoureth some one or two of them, if his lust do not restrain him, & then being so filled with meate (which thing Tygers sildome meete withal) presently he burneth in lust and so lymeth the liuing Bitches, who are apt to conceiue by him: which being performd he reti∣reth to some secret place, & in the meane time the Indians take away the Bitches, of whom come these valourous dogs, which retain the stomack and courage of their father, but the [ 40] shape & proportion of their mother, yet do they not keepe any of the first or second litter for feare of their Tygrian stomacks, but make them away and reserue the third litter.

Of this kind were the Dogs giuen to Alexander by the King of Albania,* 1.6 when he was going into India, and presented by an Indian, whom Alexander admired, and being desi∣rous to try what vertue was contained in so great a body,* 1.7 caused a Boare and a Hart to be turned out to him, and when he would not so much as stir at them, he turned Beares vnto him, which likewise he disdained and rose not from his kennel; wherewithal the king being moued, commaunded the heauy and dul beast (for so he termed him) to be hanged vp: his keeper the Indian informed the king that the dog respected not such beasts, but if he would [ 50] turne out vnto him a Lyon, he should see what he would do.

Immediatly a Lyon was put vnto him, at the first sight whereof he rose with speede (as if neuer before hee saw his match or aduersary worthy his strength) and bristling at him, made force vpon him and the Lyon likewise at the Dogge, but at the last, the Dogge tooke the Chappes or snowt of the Lyon into his mouth, where he held him by maine strength vntill hee strangled him, doe the Lyon what he could to the contrary,

the King desirous to saue the Lyons life, willed the Dogge shoulde be pulled off, but the labour of men and all their strength was too litle to loosen those irefull and deepe biting teeth which he had fastened. Then the Indian infourmed the King that except some vio∣lence were done vnto the Dog to put him to extreame paine, he would sooner die then let goe his holde; whereupon it was commaunded to cut off a piece of the Dogges taile, but the Dog would not remoue his teeth for that hurt: then one of his legges were likwise se∣uered from his body, whereat the Dogge seemed not apalled; after that another legge, and so consequently all foure, whereby the truncke of his body fell to the grounde, still holding the Lyons snowt within his mouth, and like the spirit of some malicious man chu∣sing [ 10] rather to die then spare his enimie. At the last, it was commaunded to cut his heade from his body, all which the angry beast indured, and so left his bodiles head hanging fast to the Lyons iawes: whereat the king was wonderfully mooued, and sorrowfully repented his rashnes in destroying a beast of so noble spirite, which could not be daunted with the presence of the king of beasts: chusing rather to leaue his life then departe from the true strength and magnanimity of mind. Which thing the Indian perceiuing in the K. to mi∣tigate the Kings sorrowe, presented vnto him foure other Dogges of the same quantity and nature, by the gift whereof he put away his passion, and receiued rewarde with such a recompence as well beseemed the dignity of such a King, and also the quality of such a present.

Pliny reporteth also that one of these did fight with singular courage and policy with [ 20] an Elephant: and hauing got holde on his side, neuer left till he ouerthrewe the beast and perished vnderneath him. These Dogges growe to an exceeding greate stature, and the next vnto them are the Albanian Dogs. The Arcadian Dogs are said to be generated of Li∣ons.* 1.8 In Canaria one of the fortunate Ilands, their Dogs are of exceeding stature.

The Dogs of Creete are called Diaponi, and fight with wilde Boares: the Dogs of Epirus called Chaonides of a Citie Chaon, are wonderfully great and fierce; they are likewise called Molosssi, of the people of Epirus so termed, these are fayned to be deriued of the Dog of Cephalus,* 1.9 the first Greyhound whome stories mention: and the Poe••s say, that this Grey∣hound of Cephalus, was first of all fashioned by Vulcax in Monesian brasse, and when he liked his proportion, he also quickned him with a soule, and gaue him to Iupiter for a guift, who [ 30] gaue him away againe to Europa, she also to Minos, Minos to Procris, and Procris gaue it to Cephalus: his nature was so resistable, that he ouertook all that he hunted, like the Teume∣sian Foxe. Therefore Iupiter to auoid confusion, turned both the incomprehensible beasts into stones. This Moloskus or Molossus Dog, is also framed to attend the folds of Sheepe, and doth defend them from Wolues and theeues, whereof Virgill writeth thus:

Veloces Spartae catulos acremque Molossum Pasce fero pingui nunquam custo dibus illis Nocturum stabulis, furem incursusque luporum Aut imparatos a Tergo horrebis Iberos.

These hauing taken holde, will hardly be taken off againe, like the Indians and Prasian [ 40] Dogs, for which cause they are called incommodestici, that is, modi nescij such as knowe no meane, which caused Horace to giue counsell to keepe them tied vp saying.

Teneant acres tora molossos.

The people of Epirus doe vse to buy these Dogges when they die, and of this kind were the Dogges of Scylla,* 1.10 Nicomedes, and Eupolides. The Hircanian Dogges are the same with the Indian. The Poeonian, Persian, and Median, are called Syntheroi, that is companions, bost of hunting, and fighting, as Gratius writeth:

Indocilis dat proelia medus.

The Dogges of Locus and Lacaene are also very great and fight with Bores. There are also a kind of people called Cynamolgi,* 1.11 neere India, so called because for one halfe of the [ 50] yeare they liue vpon the milke of great Dogges, which they keepe to defend their Coun∣trey from the great oppression of Wilde cattell,* 1.12 which descend from the Woodes and Mountaines of India vnto them yearely, from the Summer solstice to the middle of Wynter, in great numbers of swarmes like Bees returning home to their Hiues and Hony-combes; These cattell set vpon the people and destroy them with their Hornes,

except their Dogges be present with them, which are of great stomach and strength, that they easily teare the Wilde cattell in pieces, and then the people take such as be good for meate to themselues, and leaue the other to their dogges to feed vpon:* 1.13 the residue of the yeare they not onely hunt with these Dogs, but also milke the females drinking it vp like the milke of sheepe or Goats. These great dogs haue also deuoured men, for when the seruant of Diogenes the Cynike ranne away from his maister, beinge taken againe and brought to Delphos, for his punishment he was torne in pieces by Dogs.* 1.14 Euripedes also is said to be slaine by dogs, whereupon came the prouerb C••••os Dike, a Dogs reuenge: for King Archelaus had a certain dog which ran away from him into Thracia, and the Thracians [ 10] (as their manner was) offered the same Dog in sacrifice, the King hearing thereof,* 1.15 laied a punishment vpon them for that offence, that by a certaine day they should pay a talent; the people breaking day, suborned Evripides the Poet (who was a great fauorite of the Kings) to mediate for them, for the release of that fine; wherunto the king yealded: after∣ward as the said king returned from hunting, his dogs stragling abroad, met with Euripedes and tore him in pieces, as if they sought reuenge on him, for being bribed against their fellow which was slaine by the Thracians. But concerning the death of this man, it is more probable that the dogs which killed him, were set on by Aridaeus and Cratenas, two Thessa∣lian poets his emulatours & corriuals in poetry, which for the aduancement of their own credit, cared not in most sauage and Barbarous manner, to make away a better man then [ 20] themselues. There were also other famous men which perished by Dogges, as Actaeon, Thrasus, and Linus; of Thrassus Onid writeth thus;

Praedaque sis illis quibus est laconia Delos Aute diem Raptonon ade unda Thraso.

And of Linus and Actaeon in this manner;

Quique verecunda speculantem membra Dianae, Quique Crotopiaden diripuere Linum.

Lucian that scoffing Apostata, who was first a Christian and afterward endeauored all his wit to raile at christian religion, euen as he lacerated and rent his first profession, so was he rent in pieces by dogs; and Heraclitus the Phylosopher of Athens, hauing beene long sick and vnder the hands of Physitians, he oftentimes anointed his body with Bugils-sewet, & [ 30] on a day hauing so annoynted himselfe, lying abroad sleeping in the sun, the dogs came,* 1.16 and for the desire of the fat tore his body in pieces. I cannot heere forget that memora∣ble story of two christian Martyres, Gorgonius and Dorotheus, which were put to death vn∣der Diocletian in the ninth persecution, and when they were dead,* 1.17 their carkases were cast vnto hungry dogs of this kind, kept for such purposes, yet would not the dogges once so much as stir at them, or come neere to touch them; & because we may iudge that the ra∣uening nature of these creatures was restrained by diuine power, we also read that when Benignus the Martyr, by the commaundement of Aurelian, was also throwen aliue to be deuoured of these dogs, he escaped as free from their teeth, as once Daniell did from the Lyons den. I may also adde vnto these the dogs of Alania and Illiria, called Mastini, who [ 40] haue their vpper lips hang ouer their neather, and looke fierce like Lyons, whom they re∣semble in necke, eies, face, colour, and nailes; falling vpon Beares, and Boares, like that which Anthologius speaketh off, that leaped into the sea after a Dolphin, and so perished; or that called Lidia, slaine by a Boare; whose epitaph Martiall made as followeth:

Amphitheatrales inter nutrita magistros Lydia dicebar, domino fidissima dextro Nec qui Dictaea Cephalum de gente secutus. Non me longa dies, nec inutilis abstulit aetas. Fulminea spumantis apri sum dente perempta, Nec quaerar inferras quamuis cito rapta per vmbras. [ 50] Venatrix siluis aspera, blanda domi Qui non Erigones mallet habere Caenem Lucifera pariter venit ad aestra deae Qualia Dulychio fata fuere cani Quantus erat Calydon aut Erymanthe tuus, Non potui fato nobiliore mori.

There be in France certaine great Dogs (called Auges) which are brought out of great Brittaine,* 1.18 to kill their Beares, Wolues, and wilde Boares; these are singularly swift and strong, and their leaders, the better to arme them against the teeth of other beasts, couer some of their parts with thicke cloutes, and their neckes with broad collars, or else made of Badgers skins. In Gallia Narbon, they call them Limier, and the Polonians call all great made Dogs for the Wolfe and such like beastes, (Vislij:) and peculiarly for the Beare and Bore, Charzij, for Hares and foule, Pobicdnizcij, and Dogs of a middle scantling bee∣twixt the first and the second psij.

Grey-hounds are the least of these kinds, and yet as swift and fierce as any of the residue, [ 10] refusing no kind of Beast, if he be turnd vp thereunto, except the porcupine, who casteth her sharp pens into the mouth of al dogs.* 1.19 The best Grey-hound hath a long body, strong and reasonable great, a neate sharpe head, and splendent eyes, a long mouth, and sharp teeth; little eares and thin gristles in them, a streight neck, and a broad and strong brest, his forelegs straight and short, his hinder legs long and straight, broad shoulders, round ribs, fleshy buttockes, but not fat, a long taile, strong and full of sinnewes, which Nemesi∣an describeth elegantly in these verses.

—Sit cruribus altis Costarum sub fine decenter prona carinam: Renibus ampla satis validis diductaque coras Sit Rigidis multamque gerat sub pectore lato [ 20] Quae sensim rursus sicca se colligat aluo; Cuique nimis molles fluitent in cursibus aures Elige tunc cursu facitem facilem facilem{que} recursis Dum superant vires, dum loeto flore iuuentus.

Of this kind, that is alway the best to be chosen among the whelps, which way gheth ligh∣test: for it will be soonest at the game, and so hang vpon the greater beasts hindering their swiftnes,* 1.20 vntill the stronger and heauier dogs come to helpe: and therefore besides the markes or necessary good parts in a Grey-hound already spoken of, it is requisite that he haue large sides, & a broad midriffe or filme about his hart, that so he may take his breath [ 30] in and out more easily: a small belly, for if it be great it will hinder his speedy course, like∣wise his legs haue long, thin, and soft haires, and these must the hunter leade on the left hand if he be a foot,* 1.21 and on the right hand if he be on horsebacke.

* 1.22The best time to try them, and traine them to their game is at twelue months old, how∣beit some hunt them at ten months if they be males, and at 8. monthes if they be females, yet is it surest not to straine them or permit them to run any long course till they be 20. moneths old, according to the old verse,

Libera tunc primum consuescant colla ligari: Iam cum bis denos phoebe repauerit ortus, Sed paruos vallis spatio septoue nouelli nec cursus virtute parem &c. [ 40]

Keepe them also in the leame or slip while they are abroad vntill they see their course, I meane the Hare or Deere,* 1.23 & losen not a yong Dog, til the game haue ben on foot a good season, least if he be greedy of the prey he straine his lim still they breake. When the Hare is taken, deuide some part thereof among your Dogges, that so they may be prouoked to speed by the sweetnes of the flesh.

* 1.24The Lacedemon grey-hound was the best breed, they were first bred of a Fox and a dog, and therefore they were called Alopecides, these admit copulation in the eight moneth of their age, and sometime in the sixt, and so continuing bearing as long as they liue, bea∣ring their burthen the sixth part of a yeare, that is, about sixty daies, one or two more or lesse, and they better conceiue and are more apt to procreation while they are kept in la∣bor,* 1.25 [ 50] then when they lie idle without hunting, & these Lacedemon Dogs differ in one thing from all other Dogges whatsoeuer, for wheras the male outliueth in vulgar dogges of all countries the female, in these the female out-liueth the male, yet the male performeth his labour with more alacrity, although the female haue the sharper sence of smel∣ling.

The noblest kind of dogs for the Hare keep home, vnlesse they be led abroad, and sil∣dome barke: they are the best which haue the longest neckes, for which cause,* 1.26 they vse this artificiall inuention to stretch their neckes; they dig a deep hole in the earth, wherein they set the Grey-hounds meat, who being hungry thrusteth downe his head to take it, but finding it to be past his reach, stretcheth his neck aboue the measure of nature, by cu∣stome wherof, his necke is very much lengthned. Other place the Grey-hound in a ditch,* 1.27 and his meat aboue him, and so he teacheth vpward, which is more probable. It is the pro∣perty of these Dogs to be angry with the lesser barking Curs, and they will not run after euery trifling beast, by secret instinct of nature, discerning what kind of beast is worthy or [ 10] vnworthy of their labor, disdaining to meddle with a little or vile creature.* 1.28 They are nori∣shed with the same that the smaller hunting dogs are, and it is better to feede them with milk then whay. There are of this kind called Veltri, and in Italian Veltro, which haue bene procreated by a Dog and Leopard, and they are accounted the swiftest of all other. The grey-hounds which are most in request among the Germans are called Windspill, alluding to compare their swiftnes with the wind, the same are also called Turkischwind and H••tz∣hund, and Falco a Falcon, is a common name whereby they call these Dogges. The French make most account of such as are bred in the mountaines of Dalmatia, or in any other mountains, especially of Turkey, for such haue hard feet, long eares, and bristle tayles. There are in England and Scotland, two kind of hunting dogs, and no where else in al the [ 20] world; the first kind they call in Scotland Ane Rache, and this is a foot smelling creature, both of wilde beasts, Birds, and Fishes also, which he hid among the Rockes, the female hereof in England is called a Brache. The second kind is called in Scotland a Sluth-hound, being a little greater then the hunting hound, and in colour for the most part browne, or sandy-spotted. The sence of smelling is so quicke in these, that they can follow the foote∣steps of theeus, and pursue them with violence vntill they ouertake them; and if the theef take the water, they cast in themselues also, and swim to the other side, where they find out againe afresh their former labor, vntill they find the thing they seeke for: for this is com∣mon in the borders of England and Scotland, where the people were wont to liue much vpon theft, and if the dog brought his leader vnto any house, where they may not be suf∣fred to come in, they take it for granted, that there is both the stollen goods and the theef [ 30] also hidden.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The name of a greyhound
• * 1.2

  Oppianus Their descrip¦tion. Plutarch
• * 1.3

  Their desire of fit game.
• * 1.4

  Countries of Grey∣hounds.
• * 1.5

  Generation by Tygres. Aristotle
• * 1.6

  Pliny. A history of Alexanders dogs.
• * 1.7

  Gillius Aelianus Pliny. Strabo Pollux.
• * 1.8

  Pollux Th•• Alb••••i∣an Dogges Solmus. Seneca
• * 1.9

  The Dogges Molosse of o•• Creet. Aristotle. Albertus Ʋarinus.
• * 1.10

  Pollux.
• * 1.11

  Xenophon. ••e••••as
• * 1.12

  of people that liue vpon the m•••••• of Dogs
• * 1.13

  Aelianus
• * 1.14

  Aelianus Dogs deuou∣rers of men.
• * 1.15

  Valerius m••••
• * 1.16

  Ranisius
• * 1.17

  Ranisius Text
• * 1.18

  The French Dogges.
• * 1.19

  The quali∣ties and parts of a good Grey-hound Pliny. Xenophon.
• * 1.20

  Bellisarius.
• * 1.21

  Pollux.
• * 1.22

  The time of teaching a grey-hound.
• * 1.23

  Aristotle Xenophon.
• * 1.24

  The time of engendring.
• * 1.25

  Pliny. Aristotle.
• * 1.26

  Albertus.
• * 1.27

  An inuentiō to make a Grey-hound haue a long necke.
• * 1.28

  The diet of a good Grey-hound.