86 The Dog Book 



The Dogge called the Setter, in Latine, Index. 



Another sort of Dogges be there, seruiceable for fowling, making no noise either 

 with foote or with tounge, whiles they folio we the game. These attend diligently 

 vpon theyr Master and frame their conditions to such beckes, motions, and gestures, 

 as it shall please him to exhibite and make, either going forward, drawing backe- 

 ward, incHning to the right hand, or yealding toward the left, (In making mencion of 

 fowles my meaning is of the Partridge and the Quaile) when he hath founde the 

 byrde, he keepeth sure and fast silence, he stayeth his steppes and wil proceede no 

 further, and with a close, couert, watching eye, layeth his belly to the grounde and 

 so creepeth forward like a worme. When he approacheth neere to the place where 

 the birde is, he layes him downe, and with a marcke of his pawes, betrayeth the 

 place of the byrdes last abode, whereby it is supposed that this kinde of dogge is 

 called Index, Setter, being in deede a name most consonant and agreeable to his 

 quality. The place being knowne by the meanes of the dogge, the fowler imme- 

 diatly openeth and spreedeth his net, intending to take them, which being done the 

 dogge at the accustomed becke or vsuall signe of his Master ryseth vp by and by, 

 and draweth neerer to the fowle that by his presence they might be the authors of 

 their owne insnaring, and be ready intangled in the prepared net, which conning 

 and artificiall indeuour in a dogge (being a creature domesticall or householde 

 seruant brought vp at home with offalls of the trencher and fragments of victualls) 

 is not much to be maruailed at, seeing that a Hare (being a wilde and skippishe 

 beast) was scene in England to the astonishment of the beholders, in the year of 

 our Lorde God, 1564 not onely dauncing in measure, but playing with his former 

 feete vppon a tabbaret, and obseruing iust number of strokes (as a practicioner in 

 that arte) besides that nipping & pinching a dogge with his teeth and clawes, 

 & cruelly thumping him with y' force of his feete. This is no trumpery tale, nor 

 trifling toye (as I imagine) and therefore not vnworthy to be reported, for I recken 

 it a requitall of my trauaile, not to drowne in the seas of silence any speciall thynge, 

 wherein the prouidence and effectual working of nature is to be pondered. 



Of the Dogge called the water Spaniell, or finder, in Latine Aquaticus seuinquisitor. 



That kinde of dogge whose seruice is required in fowling vpon the water, partly 

 through a naturall towardnesse, and partly by diligent teaching, is indued with that 

 property. This sort is somewhat bigge, and of measurable greatnesse, hauing 

 long, rough, and curled heare, not obtayned by extraordinary trades, but giuen 

 by natures appointment, yet neuerthelesse (friend Gesner) I have described and set 

 him out in this maner, namely powlde and notted from the shoulders to the hinder- 

 most legges, and to the end of his tayle, which I did for use and customs cause, that 

 beyng as it were made somewhat bare and naked, by shearing of such superfluitie of 

 heare, they might atchiue the more lightnesse, and swiftnesse, and be lesse hindered 

 in swymming, so troublesome and needelesse a burthen being shaken of. This kinde 

 of dogge is properly called Aquaticus, a water spaniel because he f requenteth and hath 

 vsual recourse to the water where all his game & exercise lyeth, namely, water- 

 fowles, which are taken by the helpe & seruice of them, in their kind. And prin- 

 cipally ducks and drakes, whereupon he is lykewise named a dogge for the ducke, 

 because in that qualitie he is excellent. With these dogges also we fetche out of the 



