THE MASTIFF IN THE l8TH CENTURY. 135 



The honest surly temper of the mastiff, and its dislike to 

 strangers is well depicted by Gay in his xxivth Fable. 



" He next the mastiff's honour try'd 

 41 Whose honest jaws the bribe defy'd, 

 44 He stretched his hands to proffer more 

 " The surly dog his fingers tore. 



Of the mastiff's existence in Scotland, and the trusty 

 vigilant nature of the breed, we may learn from a scarce old 

 book, published in Edinburgh in 1715, entitled "A Geograph- 

 ical Historical description of the shire of Tweed-dale (i.e. 

 Peebles) with a miscellany and curious collection of selecl 

 Scottish Poems, by A. P., M.D., the author being Dr. 

 Alexander Pennecuik. In this work is the following : " On 

 the minister of Newland's bold mastiff Turk, whom his master 

 slew in passion with a stroke of his foot." 



" Howl and lament, ye Newland Tykes and Currs, 



" Ye who for lesser matters make great sturr's ; 



" Bark with a hideous noise and direful moan, 



" For * Tories Turk, your Captains dead and gone. 



44 The trusty punier of the Newland pease, 



4i Lyes breathless, oh ! and none knew his disease, 



" His awful looks the traveller did affright, 



" The vagabond by day, the thief by night, 



44 With vigilance and care he kept the store, 



" And seldom wandered from his masters door, 



44 No beggar, yea, no Laird, durst make their entry, 



44 Without leave asked of this valiant sentry, 



44 Hell's porter, Cerberus, though fierce and cruel, 



4> Durst never face this hero at a duel, 



44 Now he is past both physic oyl and plaister, 



44 And murdered lyes by his too cruel raaister, 



" Who yet may vow, and swear to his last breath 



" He had no hand in his kind mastiff's death. 



* The minister's name was Archibald Tory. 



