The Setter. 281 



on the land play their parts either by swiftness of foot, or by often 

 questing, to search out and to spying the bird for further hope of 

 advantage, or else by some secret sign or privy token betray the 

 place where they fall. 



The first kind of such serve the hawk, the second the net or 

 train. The first kind have no particular names assigned them, 

 save only that they be denominated after the bird which by natural 

 appointment he is allotted to take. Thus, some be called dogs for 

 the falcon, some for the pheasant, some for the partridge, and such 

 like. 



The common sort of people call them by one general word, 

 namely, " spaniells," as though these kind of dogs came originally 

 and first out of Spain. The most part of their skins are white, and 

 if they be marked with any spots, they are commonly red and some- 

 what great, the hairs not growing with such thickness but that the 

 mixture may be easily perceived. Others be reddish or blackish, 

 but of that sort there are but few. There is also at this day a new 

 kind of dog brought out of France (for we Englishmen are marvel- 

 lous greedy, gaping gluttons after novelties, and covetous cor- 

 morants of things that be seldom, rare, strange, and hard to get) 

 and they be speckled all over with white and black, which mingled 

 colours incline to a marble blue, which beautifyeth their skin and 

 affordeth a seemly show of comeliness. These are called French 

 dogs, as is above declared already. 



The dog called the Setter, in Latin Index. Another sort of dog 

 there be serviceable for fowling, making no noise either with foot 

 or tongue whilst they follow the game. These attend diligently 

 upon their masters, and frame their conditions to such becks, 

 motions, and gestures as it shall please him to exhibit and make, 

 either going forward, drawing backward, inclining right hand or 

 yielding to the left. In making mention of fowl my meaning here 

 is of partridge and quail. When he hath found the bird he 

 keepeth sure and fast silence, and stayeth his steps and will proceed 

 no further, and with close, covert, watching eye, layeth his belly to 

 the ground and so creepeth forward like a worm. When he 



