To to Reader. 



Englishe dogges he discouereth so euidently, their natures he rippeth 

 Tp so apparently, their manners he openeth so manifestly, their qualities 

 he declareth so skilfully, their proportions he painteth out so perfectly, 

 their colours he describeth so artificially, and knytteth all these in such 

 shortnesse and breuity, that the mouth of th' adversary must needes 

 confesse & giue sentence that commendation ought to bee his rewarde, 

 and praise his deserued pension. An ignoraunt man woulde neuer have 

 beene drawne into this opiaion, to thincke that there had bene in England 

 such variety & choice of dogges, in all respectes (not onely for name 

 but also for qualitie) so diuerse and vnlike. But what cannot learning 

 attaine ? what cannot the kay of knowledge open ? what cannot 

 the lampe of vnderstanding lighten ? what secretes cannot discretion 

 detect ? finally what cannot experience comprehend ? what huge heapes 

 of histories hath Gesaerus hourded vp in volumes of a large syze ? 

 Fishes in floudes, Cattell on lande, Byrdes in the ayre, how hath he sifted 

 them by their naturall differences, how closely and in how narrow a com- 

 passe hath he couched mighty and monstruous beasts, in bygnesse lyke 

 mountaines, the bookes themselues being lesser then Molehilles. The 

 lyfe of this man was not so great a restrority of comfort, as his death 

 was an vlcer or wound of sorrow ; the losse of whom Cains lamented, not 

 so much as he was his faithfull friende, as for that he was a famous 

 Philosopher, and yet the former reason (being in very deede vehement 

 and forceable) did stinge him with more griefe, then he peraduenture 

 was willing to disclose. And though death be counted terrible for the 

 time, and consequently vnhappy, yet Qaius aduoucheth the death of 

 Gesner most blessed, Inckie, and fortunate, as in his Booke intituled 

 De lihris propijs, appeareth. But of these two Eagles sufficient is 

 spoken as I suppose, and yet Utle enough in consideration of their 

 dignitie and worthines. Neurthelesse litle or mickle, something or 

 nothing, substaunce or shadow take all in good part, my meaning is by a 



