280 Modern Dogs. 



spaniels had been left behind, for which he would 

 have the boat return, though previously he would 

 not consent to put back to rescue his sailors, some 

 of whom were drowned. One could scarcely believe 

 even a monarch of the stamp of James II., guilty 

 of so cruel and inhuman an action. But toy 

 spaniels have not been fortunate in their connection 

 with Royalty, for Mary Queen of Scots' favourite 

 dog was a little black and tan spaniel, and it was 

 found almost heartbroken, curled up in her royal 

 mistress's gown a short time after her melancholy 

 death at the axe of the headsman. About that time 

 and a little later the toy spaniel became fashionable 

 because he was a royal favourite, docile in disposi- 

 tion, and intelligent withal. Towards the close of the 

 sixteenth century Dr. Caius alludes to him as " the 

 Spaniell gentle, otherwise called the Comforter," but 

 does not say much in his favour. He, however, 

 alludes to such lap or toy dogs as "good to assuage 

 the sickness of the stomach," being applied thereto 

 as a preservative plaster, and as being likewise 

 useful when borne in the bosom to keep in " moderate 

 heat diseased and weak persons." Caius follows 

 with a lot of other rubbish, but in his day the little 

 dogs were pampered and petted much as they are 

 now, and, no doubt because they afforded pleasure 

 to their fair mistresses, who kissed and fondled 



