The Preamble or entrance, into the Treatise following.
I Wrote vnto you (well beloued friend Gesner) not many years past, a manifolde history, containing the diuers forms and fi∣gures of Beasts, Birds, and Fishes, the sundry shapes of plants, and the fashions of Hearbes, &c.
I wrote moreouer, vnto you seuerally, a certaine abridge∣ment of dogs, which in your discourse vppon the formes of [ 10] Beasts in the second order of milde and tamable beasts, wher you make mention of Scottish Dogs, and in the winding vp of your letter written and directed to Doctour Turner, com∣prehending a Catalogue or rehersall of your books not yet extant, you promised to set f•r•h in print, and openly to publish in the face of the world among such your workes as are not yet come abroad to light and sight. But, because certain circumstances were wan∣ting in my breuiary of English dogs (as seemed vnto me) I staied the publication of the same, making promise to send another abroad, which might be committed to the hands, the eies, the eares, the minds, and the iudgements of the Readers.
Wherefore that I might performe that precisely, which I promised solemnly, accom∣plish [ 20] my determination, and satisfie your expectation: which are a man desirous and ca∣pable of all kind of knowledg, and very earnest to be acquainted with al experiments: I wil expresse and declare in due order, the grand and generall kind of English dogs, the diffe∣rence of them, the vse, the properties, and the diuers natures of the same, making a tri∣partite diuision in this sort and manner. All English dogges be either of a gentle kind ser∣uing the game, a homely kind apt for sundry necessary vses, or a currish kind, meete for may toies.
Of these three sorts of kindes so meane I to intreate, that the first in the first place, the last in the last roome, and the middle sort in the middle seate be handled. I call them vni∣uersally all by the name of English dogs, as wel because England only, as it hath in it En∣glish [ 30] dogges, so it is not with the Scottish, as also for that wee are more inclined and de∣lighted with the noble game of hunting, for we Englishmen are adicted and giuen to that exercise and painefull pastime of pleasure, as well for the plenty of flesh which our parks and Forrests do foster, as also for the opportunity and conuenient leisure which wee ob∣taine, both which, the Scots want. Wherefore seeing that the whole estate of kindly hun∣ting consisteth principaly in these two points, in chasing the beast that is in hunting, or in taking the bird that is infowling. It is necessary and requisite to vnderstand that there are two sorts of dogs by whose meanes, the feates within specified are wroght, and these pra∣ctises of actiuity cunningly and curiously compassed, by two kindes of Dogs, one which [ 40] rouzeth the beast & continueth the chase, another which springeth the bird, and bewrai∣eth the flight by pursute. Both which kinds are termed of the Latines by one common name, that is, Canes Venatici, hunting dogs. But because we English men make a diffe∣rence betweene hunting and fowling, for they are called by these seuerall words Venatio, & Aucupium, so they term the dogs whō they vse in these sundry games by diuers names, as those which serue for the beast, are called Venatici, the other which are vsed for the fowl are called Aucupatorij.
The first kind called Venatici I deuide into fiue sorts, the first in perfect smelling, the se∣cond in quicke spying, the third in swiftnes and quicknes, the fourth in smelling and nim∣blenes, the fift in subtility and deceitfulnes, heerein these fiue sorts excelleth. [ 50]
