700 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
describes what then constituted the most perfect form of the 
greyhound in his day, which holds good still:— 
Headed lyke a snake, 
Necked lyke a drake, 
rooted lyke a catte, 
Taylled lyke a ratte, 
Syded lyke a teme. 
And chyned lyke a beame.” 
The greyhound is the fleetest of all dogs, and is the only 
one who can cope with the hare in speed. The keenness 
with which he pursues his game is thus beautifully described 
by Somerville:— 
“ With emulation fired, 
They strain to leave the field, top the barred gate, 
O’er the deep ditch exulting bound, and brush 
The thorny-twining hedge: the ridges bend 
O’er their arched necks : with steady bounds by turns 
Indulge their speed, or moderate their pace.” 
The greyhound never gives tongue, like other dogs of the 
chase, when in pursuit of his game. 
Greyhounds have been held in much estimation for many 
centuries in Great Britain. In the time of King John they 
were accepted by him as payment in lieu of money for the 
renewal of grants, fines, and forfeitures due to the crown. 
There is one fine upon record, paid to that monarch in 1203, 
which specifies “five hundred merks, ten horses, and ten 
leashes of greyhoundsand we find another mentioned in 
1210, of “one swift horse, and six greyhounds.” 
The following curious circumstance is related by Frois¬ 
sart, of King Bichard the Second, when confined in the 
castle of Flint; which we shall give in the author’s words. 
“ And it was informed me, Kynge Bicharde had a grey- 
hounde called Mathe, who always waited upon the kynge, 
