This site
http://www.molosserma...d/b/b008/history.html says:
...dogs of the Mastiff/Greyhound cross. This dog, described on the continent as "Englische dogge" never became any popular in Britain, but when exported to Germany and Denmark this "breed" soon gained popularity as a hunting dog.
These "Englische Dogges" probably had influence on two modern breeds; they was bred into the already existing Danish Mastiff (the Broholmer) and they also served as a breed base for the Great Dane....