Page:Of-englishe-dogges.djvu/58

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A treatiſe of

whom (if yon coniectnre to be so named of your country worde Hunde which signifieth the generall name Dogge, because of the similitude and likenesse of the wordes I will not stand in contradiction (friend Gesner) for so muche as we retaine among va to this day many Dutche wordes which the Saxons left at such time as they occupyed this country of Britane. Thus much also vnderstand, that as in your language Hunde is the common word, so in our naturall tounge dogge is the vniuersall, but Hunde is perticular and a speciall, for it signifieth such a dogge onely as serueth to hunt, and therefore it is called a hunde.

Of the Gasehound.

The Gasehounde called in latine Agasœus, hath his name of the sharpnesse and stedfastnesse of his eyesight. By which vertue he compasseth that which otherwise he cannot by smelling attaine. As we haue made former relation for to gase is earnestly to viewe and beholde, from whence floweth the deriuation of this dogges name.

Of the Grehounde.

The Grehounde called Leporarius, hath his name of this word, Gre, which word soundeth Gradus in latine, in Englishe degree. Because among all dogges these are the most principall, occupying the chiefest place, and being simply and absolutely the best of the gentle kinde of houndes.

Of the Leuyuer or the Lyemmer.

This dogge is called a Leuyner, for his lightnesse, which in latine soundeth Leuitas, Or a Lyemmer which worde is borrowed of Lyemme which the latinists name Lorum; and wherefore we call him a Leuyner of this worde Leuitas (as we doe many things besides) why we deriue and drawe a thousand of our tearmes out of the Greeke, the Latine, the Italian, the Dutch, the French, and the Spanishe tounge: (Out of which fountaines indeede, they had their originall issue.) How many words are buryed in the grave of forgetfullnes? growne out of vse? wrested