WATEE SPANIELS. 59 



to one colour than another, as the blacke to be the best 

 and hardiest ; the lyver-hued swiftest in swimming, and 

 the pyed or spotted dogge quicker in scent. Yet in 

 truth, it is nothing so, for all colours are alike, 

 and so a dogge of any of the former colours may 

 be excellent dogges, and of any may be notable 

 curres, according to their first ordering and trayning for 

 instruction wherewith they are seasoned, and if they be 

 well handled at first, they will ever smell of that dis- 

 cretion ; and if they be ill-handled, they will ever stinke 

 of that folly ; for nature is a true mistresse, and bestows 

 her gifts freely, and it is only nature which abuseth 

 them. Now for the cutting and shearing from the 

 navill downwards or backwards. It is two wayes well to 

 bee allowed of, that it is for summer hunting or for wager ; 

 because these water-dogges naturally are ever most 

 laden with haire on the hinder partes, nature as it were 

 labouring to defend that parte most, which is continu- 

 ally to bee employed in the most extremity, and 

 because the hinder parts are ever deeper in the water 

 than the fore part, therefore nature has given them the 

 gi-eatest armour of haire to defend themselves from 

 wette and coldnesse ; yet this defence in the summer 

 time, by the violence of the heate of the sonne, and the 

 greatnesse of the dog's labour, and is very noysome and 

 troublesome, and not only maketh him soon to faint, 

 and give over his sporte, but also maketh him, by his 

 overheating, more subject to mangie; and so likewise in 

 a matter of wager, it is a very heavy burthen to the 

 dogge and makes him swim less nimbly and slower; 

 but, for the cutting or shaving off the haire of a 

 dogge all quite over, that I utterly dislike; for it not 

 only takes from him the general benefits which nature 



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