Notwithstanding recent introductions and popularisations of other canine pets, the toy spaniels appear to well hold their own in favouritism; one even fancies they are increasing in numbers, as they certainly are in quality. The original toy spaniels were black, tan, and white in colour; and orange or red and white, the former known as the King Charles, and later the latter as Blenheims. The King Charles were called after the second monarch of that name, who had so great a partiality and fondness for such creatures; and the Blenheims obtained their designation from the family seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, where at one time they were bred to perfection and kept with great care.

English Toy Spaniels 17English Toy Spaniels 18English Toy Spaniels.

However, I imagine that long before the restoration of the Stuarts (1660), toy spaniels were general favourites with the aristocracy. A story is told that James II., on one occasion fleeing from a sinking ship, suddenly discovered that some favourite spaniels had been left behind, for which he would have the boat return, though previously he would not consent to put back to rescue his sailors, some of whom were drowned. One could scarcely believe even a monarch of the stamp of James II., guilty of so cruel and inhuman an action. But toy spaniels have not been fortunate in their connection with Royalty, for Mary Queen of Scots' favourite dog was a little black and tan spaniel, and it was found almost heartbroken, curled up in her royal mistress's gown a short time after her melancholy death at the axe of the headsman. About that time and a little later the toy spaniel became fashionable because he was a royal favourite, docile in disposition, and intelligent withal. Towards the close of the sixteenth century Dr. Caius alludes to him as "the Spaniell gentle, otherwise called the Comforter," but does not say much in his favour. He, however, alludes to such lap or toy dogs as "good to assuage the sickness of the stomach," being applied thereto as a preservative plaster, and as being likewise useful when borne in the bosom to keep in "moderate heat diseased and weak persons." Caius follows with a lot of other rubbish, but in his day the little dogs were pampered and petted much as they are now, and, no doubt because they afforded pleasure to their fair mistresses, who kissed and fondled them, obtained the name of Comforters; moreover, a vulgar superstition prevailed that if these little dogs were carried about the person of anyone suffering from disease, the disorder became transferred from the individual to the dog, which usually died in consequence!

Some writers have said that the King Charles spaniel was originally brown and white in colour, but I have not been able to find anything to establish the truthfulness of such a statement; still I have no doubt that the original toy spaniel was much more like a little cocker spaniel than it is at present, and in addition to being used as a "comforter," was occasionally trained to hunt the coverts, beating out the pheasants and woodcocks, stirring up the hares and the rabbits just as the rustic biped with the long stick does at the present day.

Writers on canine matters at the early part of this century have little to tell about the King Charles and the Blenheim spaniels, excepting as to their value and sagacity. Sir William Jardine, as late as 1843, in his "Naturalist's Library," says of the King Charles that it is "a beautiful breed, in general black and white, and presumed to be the parent of the cocker;' but in 1820 John Scott wrote in the "Sportsman's Repository" that "the very delicate and small carpet spaniels have excellent noses and will hunt truly and pleasantly, but are neither fit for a long day or for a thorny covert. The "Sportsman's Cabinet" (1803) has little more to give about the King Charles spaniel, but mentions one that in 1792 belonged to a gentleman, in De Vere-street, Clare Market. This gentleman went with his family to Drury Lane theatre, about 5.30 in the afternoon, leaving the little dog locked up in the dining-room. At eight o'clock the door was opened, the dog escaped, found its way to the theatre, and although the house was crowded at the time, ferreted out its master, who was sitting in the centre of the pit. I am afraid none of our modern toy spaniels could perform such a feat as this.

The Dukes of Norfolk at one time had an exceptional strain of spaniels., which were valued highly, so much so that when a friend of one of the dukes asked as a favour for a puppy, his Grace haughtily replied, "Which of my estates would you like, sir?" Indeed, of this Howard, who bore no good name, it was said he valued these "trumpery little dogs more than he did his tenants, and, rather than present any of them with a puppy, either destroyed those for which he had not room, or fed his hawks with them".

Richardson, in a little handbook about dogs which he wrote in 1845, says that "in London the King Charles and Blenheims are bred with great care and to the highest perfection. The Blenheim is frequently crossed with the Charles, so that the variety of colour, on which the difference in nomenclature depends, often appears in the same litter." After writing a lot of nonsense as to this cross, Richardson goes on to say that "Several 'Spaniel Clubs ' have been formed to promote the careful breeding of these dogs, and of some of these His Royal Highness Prince Albert is patron, both Her Majesty and the Prince being enthusiastic admirers of these beautiful little creatures. His Royal Highness has, at no sparing outlay, erected a superb kennel for them at Windsor".

"The members of these spaniel clubs subscribe a small sum each, and with the amount contributed a handsome collar of silver, with gold entablature, is purchased; a particular day is then named, and judges are appointed, when each member brings to the club-room a dog of his own rearing, and that dog adjudged to possess the greatest number of good points attains the collar as a prize. King Charles and Blenheims have been known in London to fetch the price from 150 to 200 guineas".