Scripsimus & de canibus quædam ad te seorsum, quæ in libro tuo de iconibus animalium ordine secundo mansuetorum quadrupedum, ubi de Canibus Scoticis scribis, & in fine epistolæ tuæ ad Gulielmum Turnerum de libris a te editis, inter libros nondum excusos, te editurum polliceris.
I wrote moreouer, vnto you seuerally, a certayne abridgement of Dogges, which in your discourse vpon the fourmes of Beastes in the seconde order of mylde and tameable Beastes, where you make mencion of Scottishe Dogges, and in the wynding vp of your Letter written and directed to Doctour _Turner_, comprehending a Catalogue or rehersall of your bookes not yet extant, you promised to set forth in print, and openly to publishe in the face of the worlde among such your workes as are not yet come abroade to lyght and sight.
Sed quia de Canibus nostris quædam in eo libello mihi videbantur desiderari, editionem prohibui, & alium promisi. Quamobrem, ut promissis meis starem, & expectationi tuæ satisfacerem, homini omnis cognitionis cupido, universitatem generis, differentiam atque usum, mores & ingenium, veluti methodo quadam conabor explicare.
But, because certaine circumstaunces were wanting in my breuiary of Englishe Dogges (as seemed vnto mee) I stayed the publication of the same, making promise to sende another abroade, which myght be commytted to the handes, the eyes, the eares, the mindes, and the iudgements of the Readers. Wherefore that I myght perfourme that preciselye, which I promised solempnly, accomplishe my determination, and satisfy your expectacion: which art a man desirous and capeable of all kinde of knowledge, and very earnest to be acquaincted with all experimentes: I wyll expresse and declare in due order, the grand and generall kinde of Englishe Dogges, the difference of them, the vse, the propertyes, and the diuerse natures of the same, making a tripartite diuision in this sort and maner.
Dispertiar in tres species, Generosam, Rusticam, & Degenerem; sic ut de illa primò, de hac postremò, de rustica, medio loco tibi dicam.
{ A gentle kinde, seruing the game. { A homely kind, apt for sundry necessary vses. { A currishe kinde, meete for many toyes.
Of these three sortes or kindes so meane I to entreate, that the first in the first place, the last in the last roome, and the myddle sort in the middle seate be handled.