De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges

This seventeenth‑century manuscript offers a meticulous survey of the dogs that populate England’s countryside and courts. Written for a learned patron, it blends Latin dedication with a clear English introduction, setting out the author’s aim to catalogue each breed’s history, temperament, and purpose. The tone is scholarly yet approachable, inviting listeners to step into a world where canine companions were as much partners in sport as symbols of status.

The work divides the animals into five principal groups—hunting, fowling, gentle, working and mongrel—before narrowing them further into three broad classes and five functional types such as scent‑tracking, sight‑chasing, and blood‑scent hounds. Detailed descriptions highlight physical traits, hunting methods, and the subtle ways each dog fulfills its role, from the keen‑nosed “Sagax” to the bold “Sanguinarius.” Listeners will discover a vivid portrait of Tudor‑era England, where the relationship between people and their dogs shaped both leisure and livelihood.