3 o8 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



to his Care. Houfes, gardens, yards, &c. are fafe from 

 depredations whilft in his cuftody. Confined during the 

 day, as foon as the gates are locked he is left to range 

 at full liberty: He then goes round the premifies, exa- 

 mines every part of them, and by loud barkings gives no- 

 tice that he is ready to defend his charge. 



Dr Caius, in his ingenious treatife on Britifh Dogs, tells 

 us, that three of thefe animals were reckoned a match 

 for a Bear, and four for a Lion. 



We have a curious account, recorded in Stow's An- 

 nals, of an engagement between three MaftifFs and a 

 Lion, in the prefence of James the Firft. " One of the 

 Dogs being put into the den, was foon difabled by the 

 Lion ; which took it by the head and neck, and dragged 

 it about : Another Dog was then let loofe, and ferved in 

 the fame manner : But the third being put in, immedi- 

 ately feized the Lion by the lip, and held him for a con- 

 fiderable time ; till, being feverely torn by his claws, the 

 Dog was obliged to quit his hold ; and the Lion, greatly 

 exhaufted in the conflict, refufed to renew the engage- 

 ment •, but taking a fudden leap over the Dogs, fled into 

 the interior part of his den. Two of the Dogs foon died 

 of their wounds : The laft furvived, and was taken great 

 care of by the king's fon j who faid, " he that had 

 fought with the king of beafts, mould never after fight 

 with any inferior creature." 



The MaftifFs of great-Britain were noted in the time 

 of the Roman emperors ; who appointed an officer, 

 whofe fole bufinefs it was to breed, and fend from hence, 

 fuch as would prove equal to the combats of the amphi- 

 theatre. 



The following anecdote will (hew, that the MaftifF, 

 confcious of its fuperior ftrength, knows how to chaftife 



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