Called 'Bungay', the Favourite Dog of Sir John Harington (1561-1612)

British (English) School. Oil painting on panel, Called 'Bungay', the Favourite Dog of Sir John Harington (1561-1612), British (English) School, formerly believed to be painted around 1608, now dated to circa 1800. A dog of nondescript breed or part spaniel, pale brown with white front and paws and with clipped hind-quarters, sitting, facing to the left. Background neutral grey. Label on frame 'Bungey. The favourite dog of Sir John Harrington, 1561-1612, godson of Queen Elizabeth. In a letter addressed to Prince Henry in 1608, Bungey was the favourite dog of John Harington, godson of Queen Elizabeth I, and writer and wit. After Bungey's death in 1608, Harington wrote a letter and epigram about the dog to Prince Henry, Bungey's portrait appeared on the engraved title-page to Harington’s translation of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso and Harington also mentioned an ‘excellente picture, curiously limned’ of Bungey. Sadly the Anglesey Abbey picture cannot be the contemporary portrait referred to by Harington since it dates from the 18th or early 19th century. ‘To Prince Henry’, The Letters and Epigrams of Sir John Harington together with ‘The Prayse of Private Life’, ed. Norman Egbert McClure, Philadelphia, 1930, No. 52, p.132 “Kelston, June 14, 1608. May it please your Highnesse ....to reade what others have told of my rare dogge, .... I did once relate to your Highnesse after what sorte his tacklinge was wherewithe he did sojourn from my house at the Bathe to Greenwiche Palace, and deliver up to the cowrte there such matters as were entrusted to his care. This he hathe often done, and came safe to the Bathe, or my house here at Kelstone, with goodlie returnes from such nobilitie as were pleasede to emploie him; nor was it ever tolde our Ladie Queene, that this messenger did ever blab ought concerninge his highe truste, as others have done in more special matters. .... I will now saie in what manner he died. As we traveld towardes the Bathe, he leapede on my horses necke, and was more earneste in fawninge and courtinge my notice, than what I had observed for time backe; and, after my chidinge his disturbinge my passinge forwardes, he gave me some glances of such affection as moved me to cajole him; but, alas! he crept suddenly into a thorny brake, and died in a short time....Thus I have strove to rehearse such of his deedes as maie suggest much more to your Highnesse thought of this dogge. But, having saide so much of him in prose, I will say somewhat too in verse, as you may finde hereafter at the close of this historie.... As I doubt not but your Highnesse would love my dogge, if not myselfe, I have been thus tedious in his storie; and again saie, that of all the dogges near your father's courte, not one hathe more love, more diligence to please, or less pay for pleasinge, than him I write of; for verily a bone would content my servante, when some expecte greater matters, or will knavishly find oute a bone of contention. I now reste your Highnesse friend, in all service that maye suite him, John Harington. P.S. The verses above spoken of, are in my book of Epigrams in praise of my dogge Bungey to Momus. And I have an excellente picture, curiously limned, to remaine in my posterity. Kelstone, June 14, 1608.’ Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire (Accredited Museum)