Paul Summers Young

  Chapter 9. The Signs and Tokens which a Man ought to regard in judging whether the Whelps will be good or not. The ancient authors would say a man may know the best whelps by the dame's teats, and that such as commonly sucked the teats which are nearer the heart of the dame are the best and the strongest, because the blood about that place is most lively and delicate.  Others have said they might be known by a token they have under the throat, where there are certain hairs like unto dog's bristles, and that if there be odd hairs, it is a token of goodness, and that if there be even, it is an evil token. Some others have taken mark by the hinder legs, by the dewclaws, for if there be none (say they) it is a good token, and if there be but one, it is also good, but if there be two, it is an evil likelihood.  Some again will look within the mouth of the whelp, thinking such as have the roof of their mouth black should be good, and such as are red there should not be much w...

Liber incipit Theophrasti. Tractatus I. Caput I. Um ersten das ich euch fürhalt, ist bilich, die materiam, darvon ich nachfolgend schreib, was dornach die selbig sei, zu erfleren. so wissen, das dis buchs inhalt ist, zu beschreiben die vier geschlecht der geistmenschen, als nemlich von den wasserleuten, von den bergleuten, von den feurleuten und wintleuten. dorbei auch begriffen werden under denen vier geschlechten die risen, die melofinen, der venusberg und mas denen gleich ist, die wir als menschen ansehen zu sein, und doch nicht aus Adam, sonder ein anderi geschöpf und creatur, geschiden von menschen und von allen tieren, und wiewol das ist, das sie under uns fomen und geboren werden finder von inen, wiewol nicht des geschlechts des sie seind, sonder unsers gesch;echts, wie aber die ding sich balten gegen uns, das ist zu beschreiben in solcher ordnung. am ersten ir schöpfung und was sie seind, zum andern ir dritten wie sie zu uns fomen und sich seben lassen, mit uns vermischen und b...

  Chapter 8. Of the Seasons in which it is best to have Young Whelps, and how you may best govern them. There are certain seasons in the which little whelps are hard to escape or to be brought up, especially if they be whelped in the end of October, because of the winter and cold which then begin to reign, and for that, milk and other nouritures which are most meet for them do then begin to fail. Therefore, it is then very hard (if they be whelped in such season) that they should escape death, for as much as the winter has overtaken them before they have force to endure the cold; and though they do escape, yet will they be small and weak.  Another unmeet season for whelps is in July and August, because of the vehement heats, and the flies, fleas and other vermin which then will torment them. But the best season to have whelps is in March, April and May, when the time is temperate and the heat not over great. Also, it is the right time which nature hath appointed for the breedi...

  Liber  de Nymphis Sylphis Pygmaris et Salamandris et de caeteris spiritibus Theophrastus Hohenheimensis Prologus Wiewol uns befant und in gutem wissen ist die geschöpft der natürlichen dingen aller und aller, was got beschaffen hat, ein ieglichs lant das sein erfent, das in im ist und wachst, ein ieglich mensch sein eigen erfantnus sein selbs hat. also ieglich ein hantwerf und handirung, duntschaft in seinen subiecten treit: durch solche ding werden erfent alle die geschöpft, so got beschaffen, und nichts ist verborgen, das dem menschen nit wissent sei oder werde, nit das alles in eim sei, das ist das ein mensch das alle wisse, sonder ein ieglicher das sein; so sie all zusamen genomen werden, so ist es aber alles befant, und ein iegliche stat, dorf, haus ic treit sein eigen erfantnus aller natürlichen dingen, darzu in den hantwerfen und handirungen, in welchen alle geschöpft gebraucht werden, das in dem, das in dem, und also wirts alles gebraught und alles erfaren, worzu es ...

  Chapter 7. How a Man may choose a Fair Bitch to bear Whelps, and the mean to make her go proud; also, the Signs under the which she may best be lined to bring forth Dog Whelps which shall not be subject unto Diseases.  If you would have fair hounds, you must first have a fair bitch which is of a good kind, strong adn well-proportioned in all parts, having her ribs and her flanks great and large, the which you may make to go proud in this wise. Take two heads of garlic, half the stone of a beast called Castor, with the juice of Cresseys, and a dozen of the flies called Cantharides. Boil all these together (in a pot holding a pint) with mutton, and give the pottage two or three times unto the bitch to drink, and she will not fail to go proud. And in like manner shall you make your dogs desirous of the bitch. Afterwards, when you see your bitch goes proud, attend the full of the Moon until it be passed, and then cause her to be lined (if it may be under the signs of Gemini and ...

  Chapter 6. The Tokens whereby a Man may know a Good and Fair Hound. A hound which should be good and fair ought to have these marks following.  First, I will begin at the head, the which ought to be of a mean proportion, and is more to be esteemed when it is long than when it is short-snouted; the nostrils ought to be great and wide-opened, the ears large, side, and of a mean thickness; the chin of the back-compass bowed like a Roch, the fillettes great.  Also, the haunches great and large, the thigh well-trussed and the ham straight and well-compassed, the tail big near the reins, and the rest slender unto the very end; the hair underneath the belly hard, the leg big, the sole of the foot dry and formed like a Fox's foot, the claws great. And you shall note that seldom shall you see such dogs as are short-trussed (having their hinder parts higheer than their foreparts) to prove swift.  Now, to declare unto you the signification of these marks, you shall understand...

  Chapter 4. Of the Complexion and Nature of Dun Hounds. Our Dun Hounds are such as anciently our kings of France and dukes of Alençon did most esteem. They be common, because they are fit for most chases, and therefore they are fittest for gentlemen, for their nature and complexion is such that they hunt all kind of chases you would have them to hunt. The best of the race are such as be dun on the back, having their four quarters red or tanned, and the legs of the same colour, as it were the colour of a Hare's legs.  Sometimes, you shall see some that have on the top of their backs dun or almost black, and their legs streaked and flecked with red and black, and their legs streaked and flecked with red and black, the which do commonly proved excellent, and although there are not many bad Dun Hounds to be seen, yet nevertheless the light dun, having their legs fallow after a whitish colour, are seldom so strong nor so swift as the other are, and princes cannot so much delight i...