THE ENGLISH BLOODHOUND. 243 



a breed from St. Hubert's Abbey, in Ardennes, which, according to the old 

 legends, was imported by St. Hubert from the south of Gaul about the sixth 

 century. The Talbot was the popular Hound from the twelfth to the sixteenth 

 century, but became extinct about the end of the last century. The Southern 

 Hound, another very old breed showing many characteristics of the Blood- 

 hound, is difficult to find now in his pure state, although many of our old 

 packs of Harriers are descended chiefly from him. The best authorities agree 

 that the St. Hubert, Talbot, and Bloodhound are all closely allied. Edwin 

 Brough in "The Century" 



In the twelfth century, Henry III. gave the following 

 instruction: 



Whereas Eduard, the king's son, has intrusted to Robert DeChenney, his 

 valet, his dogs to be accustomed to blood, it is commanded to all foresters, 

 woodmen, and other bailiffs and servants of the king's forests, and keepers of 

 the king's warrens, that they allow the said Robert to enter with them the 

 king's forests and warrens, and to hunt with them, and to take the king's 

 game, in order to train the said dogs. This to hold good till the Feast of St. 

 Michael next ensuing. 



Witness the king, at Woodstock, 20 Feb., 40, Henry III., 



which would mean February 20th, A.D. 1256. 



We can have no better authority of the period than that 

 of the statements of Doctor Caius, written between 1555 

 and 1572: 



The greater sort, which serve to hunt, having lippes of a large syze, and 

 eares of no small length, doo not onely chase the beast while it liveth, but being 

 dead by any maner of casualtie, make recourse to the place where it lyeth, 

 havyng in this poynt an assured and infallible guyde, namely, the sent and 

 savour of the blood sprinckled heere and there upon the ground. Thes ; kinde 

 of dogges pursue the deede dooers through long lanes, crooked reaches, and 

 weary wayes, without wandring away out of the limits of the land whereon 

 these desperate purloyners prepared their speedy passage. 



Yea, the natures of these dogges is such, and so effectual is their foresight, 

 that they can bewray, separate, and pycke them out from among an infinite 

 multitude and an innumerable company, creep they never so far into the thickest 

 thronge; they will find him out notwithstanding he lye hidden in wylde woods, 

 in close and overgrowen groves, and lurke in hollow holes apte to harbour 

 such ungracious guestes. Moreover, although they should pass over the water, 

 thinking thereby to avoyde the pursuite of the Hounds, yet will not these dogges 

 give over their attempt, but presuming to swim through the streame, persevere 

 in their pursuite; and when they be arrived and gotten the further bancke, 

 they hunt up and downe, to and fro run they, from place to place shift they, 

 until they have attained to that plot of grounde where they passed over. And 

 this is their practise, if perdie they can not at ye first time smelling finde out 

 that way which the deede dooers tooke to escape . For they will not pause or 



