The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

Several things to be observed in Spaniels. [ 50]

THe best way to breed Spaniels is to let their Dams be about two years old, and that they may Litter about March; and kill all the Puppies but four or five. Your Dog should be a∣bout six or seven years old. The first Litter is to be esteemed the best; yet some prefer the se∣cond and third for the best. The Names of your Spaniels should be short, and Monosillables, that they may be the better and quicker understood. It [ 60] is left to your own discretion to have any of the Dogs gelt, or the Bitches spaid: But if in case you do so, let it be done whilst they are young; for such are not apt to be lost by stragling away.

For divers Reasons it is necessary to cut off the top of the Spaniel's Stern or Tail whilst he is a Whelp, for it hinders the breeding of Worms there: Also if it is taken off he will be more for∣ward to press into the Covert after the Game; be∣sides he is more graceful with a short Stern, as Grey-hounds and Hounds are with theirs long.

Instead of cutting off the Stern, it is better to twist it off, which must be done whilst they are sucking: And if thus pulled off, there is a string that comes out with it which doth much hinder their madness.

Thus much concerning Land Spaniels; I shall only add a few Lines of Advice, and so end this Chapter.

Every Gentleman, whose Genius leads him to this delightful Recreation, should apply and en∣ure himself as well to look into the ordering and right managing his Hawk, as into their ••••ying. He should as well observe them in the House as in the Field: For a Gentleman to have but one Hawk, is to have as it were none; and to have a great many is to be a Falconer, and not a Gentleman. He that keeps one, and no more, must be forced to leave all other Affairs to see her flee at such time that she is in a condition to flee, and that per∣adventure may not be above twice a Week, in re∣gard of such Accidents that oft-times intervene. I should therefore advise you to keep a Cast; for the same Charge that keeps one will keep two; and five or six couple of Spaniels are enough, which should be of a middle size, rather fat than lean, which are better for use, and more creditable: Besides, the lean ones are subject to many Di∣seases.

With this Equipage a Gentleman may so manage his Pleasure, as to render it rather profitable than chargeable unto him.