Englijhe Dogges. 25 



herd take sheepe for y'^ slaughter, and to be healed if they be aicke, 

 no hurt or harme in the world done to the simple creature. 



Of the mastiue or Bandogge called in Latine 

 Villaticiis or Cathenarius. 



THis kinde of Dogge called a mastyue or Bandogge is vaste, huge, 

 stubborne, ougly, and eager, of a heuy and burthenous body, and 

 therefore but of litle swiftnesse, terrible, and frightfull to beholde, and 

 more fearce and fell then any ArcaiioM curre (notwithstading they 

 are sayd to haue their generation of the violent Lion.) They are called 

 Villatici, because they are appoynted to watche and keepe farme places 

 and coutry cotages sequestred from commO recourse, and not abutting 

 vpon other houses by reason of distaunce, when there is any feare conceaued 

 of theefes, robbers, spoylers, and night wanderers. They are seruiceable 

 against the Fose and the Badger, to drive wilde and tame swyne out of 

 Medowes, pastures, glebelandes and places planted with fruite, to bayte 

 and take the bull by the eare, when occasion so requireth. One dogge or 

 two at the vttermost, sufficient for that purpose be the bull neuer so mon- 

 3terous,neuer so fearce, neuer so furious, neuer so steame, neuer so vntame- 

 able. For it is a kinde of dogge eapeable of courage, violent and valiaunt, 

 striking could feare into the harts of men, but standing in feare of no 

 man, in so much that no weapons will make him shrincke, nor abridge his 

 boldnes. Our Englishe men (to th' intent that theyr dogges might be the 

 more fell and fearce) assist nature with arte , vse, and custome, for they 

 teach theyr dogges to baite the Beare, to baite the Bull and other such 

 like cruelland bloudy beastes (appointing an ouerseer of the game) with- 

 out any collar to defend theyr throtes, and oftentimes they traine them vp 

 in fighting and wrestling with a man hauing for the safegarde of his lyfe, 

 eyther a Pikestaffe, a clubbe, or a sworde and by vsing them to such 

 exercises as these, theyr dogges become more sturdy and strong. The force 



d2 



