Note E273 — 46.
Reading edition
"Mastiues and Mungrels." Although the influence of a very patriotic sumptuary tax has diminished the number of dogs, we have still 'thousands too manie.' [This may with truth be said even still.] However, as Lent now makes little difference in the mode of living, which it certainly did in the earlier period of the Reformation, our dogs are not driven by our meagre fare to prey on the lambs; and therefore need not be particularly watched on this account.—M. Mastif is derived from O. Fr. mestif = a mongrel (Cotgrave). In the Craven dialect a great dog is still called a masty. See note E35.