THE CAT OF ALBION 83 



He dothe delight that he enjoyeth his libertye; and 

 in his youthe he is swifte, plyante and merrie. He 

 maketh a rufull noyse and a gastefull when he pro- 

 fereth to fighte with an other. He is a cruell beaste 

 when he is wilde, and f alleth on his owne feete from 

 most high places, and seldom is hurt therewith. 

 When he hath a fayre skinne, he is, as it were, 

 prowde thereof, and then he goeth faste aboute to 

 be scene." 



So writes John Bossewell, in his "Workes of 

 Armorie," 1597; and the vigour and accuracy of 

 the description shame our feebler pens. Bosse- 

 well, it is true, found part of this admirable portrait 

 in a still older book, translated from the Latin by 

 Thomas Berthlet, and printed by Wynkyn de Worde 

 in 1498. In its curious pages, the wild cat of Great 

 Britain and his tamer brother are characterized with 

 minute fidelity, the writer dwelling upon their close 

 resemblance to the leopard, their swiftness, grace, 

 and savage playfulness. 



" The Cat is surely most like to the Leoparde, 

 and hathe a great mouthe, and sharp teeth, and a 

 long tongue, plyante, thin and subtle. He lappeth 

 therewith when he drinketh, as other beastes do 

 that have the nether lip shorter than the over ; for, 

 by cause of unevenness of lips, such beastes suck 

 not in drinking, but lap and lick, as Aristotle saith, 

 and Plinius also. He is a swifte and merye beaste 



