86 The Dog Book 
The Dogge called the Setter, in Latine, Index. 
Another sort of Dogges be there, seruiceable 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 backe- 
ward, 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 approacheth neere to the place where 
the birde is, he Jayes 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 imme- 
diatly 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, which conning 
and artificiall indeuour in a dogge (being a creature domesticall or householde 
seruant brought vp at home with offalls of the trencher and fragments of victualls) 
is not much to be maruailed at, seeing that a Hare (being a wilde and skippishe 
beast) was seene in England to the astonishment of the beholders, in the year of 
our Lorde God, 1564 not onely dauncing in measure, but playing with his former 
feete vppon a tabbaret, and obseruing iust number of strokes (as a practicioner in 
that arte) besides that nipping & pinching a dogge with his teeth and clawes, 
& cruelly thumping him with y’ force of his feete. ‘This is no trumpery tale, nor 
trifling toye (as I imagine) and therefore not vnworthy to be reported, for I recken 
it a requitall of my trauaile, not to drowne in the seas of silence any speciall thynge, 
wherein the prouidence and effectual working of nature is to be pondered. 
Of the Dogge called the water Spaniell, or finder, in Latine Aquaticus seuinquisitor. 
That kinde of dogge whose seruice is required in fowling vpon the water, partly 
through a naturall towardnesse, and partly by diligent teaching, is indued with that 
property. This sort is somewhat bigge, and of measurable greatnesse, hauing 
long, rough, and curled heare, not obtayned by extraordinary trades, but giuen 
by natures appointment, yet neuerthelesse (friend Gesner) I have described and set 
him out in this maner, namely powlde and notted from the shoulders to the hinder- 
most legges, and to the end of his tayle, which I did for use and customs cause, that 
beyng as it were made somewhat bare and naked, by shearing of such superfluitie of 
heare, they might atchiue the more lightnesse, and swiftnesse, and be lesse hindered 
in swymming, so troublesome and needelesse a burthen being shaken of. This kinde 
of dogge is properly called Aquaticus, a water spaniel because he frequenteth and hath 
vsual recourse to the water where all his game & exercise lyeth, namely, water- 
fowles, which are taken by the helpe & seruice of them, in their kind. And prin- 
cipally ducks and drakes, whereupon he is lykewise named a dogge for the ducke, 
because in that qualitie he is excellent. With these dogges also we fetche out of the 
