35 2 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



is of course our own, but it is impossible to claim any one of them as indigenous to this 

 country, closely identified with it as they are at the time of writing. 



Dr. John Caius alludes to the Setter in his work on " English Dogges " under the 

 title of Index, and his classification of it with the Spaniel is a convincing proof of its 

 identity with that animal at the period in which Dr. Caius wrote as follows : 



"Another sort of Dogges be there, serviceable for fowling, making no noise either with 

 foote or with tounge, whiles they followe the game. These attend diligently vpon theyr Master 

 and frame their conditions to such beckes, motions, and gestures, as it shall please him to 

 exhibite and make, either going forward, drawing backeward, inclining to the right hand, or 

 yealding toward the left, (In making mencion of fowles my meaning is of the Partridge and 

 the Quaile) when he hath founde the byrde, he keepeth sure and fast silence, he stayeth 

 his steppes and wil proceede no further, and with a close, couert, watching eye, layeth his 

 belly to the grounde and so creepeth forward like a worme. When he approcheth neere to 

 the place where the birde is, he layes him downe, and with a marcke of his pawes, 

 betrayeth the place of the byrdes last abode, whereby it is supposed that this kinde of 

 dogge is called Index, Setter, being in deede a name most consonant and agreeable to his 

 quality. The place being knowne by the meanes of the dogge, the fowler immediatly 

 openeth and spreedeth his net, intending to take them, which being done the dogge at the 

 accustomed becke or vsuall signe of his Master ryseth vp by and by, and draweth neerer 

 to the fowle that by his presence they might be the authors of their owne insnaring, and 

 be ready intangled in the prepared net." 



The above extract, though not throwing much light upon the appearance of the breed 

 in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, nevertheless is a proof of its existence ; but the following 

 remarks taken from Gervase Markham's " Hunger's Prevention, or the Art of Fowling," 

 which was published in London in 1655, gives a considerable amount of information upon the 

 dog's character and the uses to which it was then placed. Under the heading of "What a 

 Setting Dog is " Gervase Markham writes : 



" Before I wade further into this discourse I show you what a setting dogge is. You 

 shall then understand that a setting dogge is a certaine lusty land spaniell taught by nature to 

 hunt the partridges before, and more then any other chase whatsoever, and that with all 

 eagernesse and fiercenesse, running the fields over and over so lustily and busily as if there 

 were no limit in his desire and furie ; yet so qualified and tempered with art and obedience, 

 that when he is in the greatest and eagerest pursute, and seemes to be most wilde and 

 frantike, that yet even then, one hem or sound of his master's voyce makes him presently 

 stand, gaze about him, and looke in his master's face, taking all his directions from it 

 whether to proceede, stand still, or retire. Nay, when he is come even to the very place 

 where his prey is and hath as it were his nose over it, so that it seemes hee may take 

 it up at his owne pleasure, yet is his temperance and obedience so made and framed by 

 arte that presently even on a sudden he either stands still or falles downe flatte upon his 

 belly, without daring once to open his mouth, or make any noyse or motion at all, till that 

 his master come unto him and then proceedes in all things according to his directions 

 and commandements." 



This quotation might almost have been taken from a modern work on Setters, as it 



