THE DOG. J73 



Instances of sagacity. 



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. " I did once relate to your highnesse after 

 what sorte his tacklinge was wherewithe he did 

 sojourn from my house at the Bathe to Green- 

 wich palace, and deliver up to the cowrte there 

 such matters as were entrusted to his care. This 

 he hathe often done, and came safe to the Bathe, 

 or my howse here at Kelstone, with goodlie re- 

 turnes from such nobilitie as were pleased to em- 

 ploie him; nor was it ever tolde our ladie queene, 

 that this messenger did ever blab ought concern- 

 jnge his high truste, as others have done in more 

 special matters. Neither must it be forgotten as 

 how he pnce was sente with two charges of sack 

 wine from the Bathe to my howse, by my man 

 Combe; and on his way the cordage did slack- 

 <ene> but my trustie bearer did now bear himselfe 

 so wisely as to covertly hide one flasket in the 

 rushes, and take the othej- in his teethe to the 

 howse, after whiche he wente forthe, and return- 

 ede with the other part of his burden to dinner: 

 hereat yr highnesse may, perchance, marvele 

 and double, but we have livinge testimonie of 

 those who wroughte in the fieldes, and espiede 

 his worke, and now live to tell they did muche 

 longe to plaie the dogge and give stowage to the 

 wine themselves; but they did refrain, and 

 watchede the passinge of this whole businesse. 



" I neede not saie how muche I did once 

 grieve at missinge this dogge, for, on my journie 

 towardes Londone, some idle pastiiners did di- 

 yerte themselves with huntinge mallards in a 



