Of the Creation and firſt beginning of SERPENTES.

THere is no Man that can iuſtly take exception that this Hiſtory of Serpents beginneth at theyr Creation: for ſeeing our purpoſe is, to ſet forth the workes of GOD, by which as by a cleere glaſſe, he endeuoureth to diſperſe and diſtribute the knowledge of his Maieſty, Omnipotencie, Wiſedome and Goodneſſe, to the whole race of Man-kinde, it ſeemeth moſt proper that the firſt ſtone of this building, laid in the foundation be fetched from the Creation: and the rather, becauſe ſome Naturaliſts (eſpecially amongſt the auncient Heathen) haue taken the Originall of theſe venemous Beaſts, to be of the earth, without all reſpect of Diuine and Primary Creation. And hereunto ſome Hereticks, as the Manichees and Marciontes, haue Auguſtine, Epiphan. alſo ſubſcribed, though not directly, for they account the Creation of theſe venemous & all hurtfull beaſts an vnworthy worke for the good GOD, becauſe they could neuer ſee any good vſe of ſuch creatures in the World.

Yet we know the bleſſed Trinity created the whole frame of this viſible World by it Zanchius. ſelfe; and for good, reaſonable, and neceſſarie cauſes, framed both the beneficiall & hurtfull Creatures, eyther for a Phyſicall or metaphyſicall ende. Therfore it is moſt certaine, that if we conſider the outward parts of theſe Creatures endued with life, no man nor nature could begin and make them, but the firſt Eſſence or fountaine of life: and if we can be brought, to acknowledge a difference betwixt our ſhallow capacitie, and the deepe wiſedome of God, it may neceſſarily follow by an vnauoydable ſequele, that their vſes & endes were good, although in the barrenneſſe of our vnderſtanding, we cannot conceiue or learne them. But I purpoſe not to ſollow theſe thinges Philoſophically by arguments, but rather Diuinely by euident demonſtration of the thinges themſelues. And firſt of all, it, appeareth, Gen. 1, 24. that God brought forth out of the earth all creeping thinges after their kinde: And leaſt that any man ſhould doubt, that vnder the generall name of creeping thinges, Serpents and other Venemous beaſts, were not intelligibly enough expreſſed, it is added Cap. 3, 1. That the Serpent was more ſubtile then all the Beaſtes of the fielde which God had made. The Prophet Dauid alſo, Pſal. 148, 7. among other thinges which are exhorted by the Prophet to praiſe their Creator, there are named Dragons, which are the greateſt kind of Serpents. Vnto this alſo alluded S. Iames, cap. 3, 7. ſaying: That the whole nature of Beaſtes, and of Birdes, of creeping thinges of the ſea is tamed by the nature of man: for Man, which is next vnto God, hath authoritie and power, to rule ouer all his workes, and therefore ouer Serpents.

And herein it is fit to ſhew, what wonders men haue wrought vpon Serpents, taming and deſtroying them rather like Wormes and Beaſts, no waies enemies to mankind, but friendly, and endued with ſociable reſpect, or elſe as weaklinges commaunded by a ſuperiour power. Such an one was Atyr a notable Inchaunter, who by touching any Serpent Textor. brought it into a deadlie ſleepe; according to theſe verſes.

Nec non ſerpentes dire exarmare veneno, Doctus Atyr: tactuque graues ſepire chelydros:

In Engliſh thus;

The cunning Atyr, ſerpents fierce, of poyſon did diſarme, And Water-ſnakes to deadly ſleepe, by touching he did charme.

Aluiſius Cadamustus, in his deſcription of the new World, telleth an excellent hyſtorie of a Lygurian young man, beeing among the Negroes trauailing in Affrick, whereby he endeuoureth to prooue, hovv ordinary and familiar it is to them, to take and charme Serpents, according to the verſe of the Poet;

Frigidus in prat is cantando rumpiter anguis.

that is,

The cold-earth-ſnake in Meddowes greene, By ſinging, broke in peeces may be ſeene.

The young man beeing in Affricke among the Negroes, and lodged in the houſe of a Nephew to the Prince of Budoniell, when he was taking himſelfe to his reſt, ſuddenly awaked, by hearing the vnwonted noiſe of the hiſſing of innumerable ſorts of Serpents; wherat while he wondred, and beeing in ſome terror, he heard his Hoſt (the Princes Nephew) to make himſelfe readie to go out of the doores, (for he had called vp his ſeruants to ſadle his Cammels:) the young man demaunded of him the cauſe, why hee would goe out of doores now ſo late in the darke night? to whom he anſwered, I am to goe a little way, but I will returne againe verie ſpeedily: and ſo hee went, and with a charme quieted the Serpents, and droue them all away, returning againe with greater ſpeed then the Lygurian young man his gheſt expected. And when he had returned, he asked his gheſt if hee did not heare the immoderate hyſſing of the Serpents? and he aunſwered, that he had heard them to his great terrour: Then the Princes Nephew (who was called Bisboror) replyed, ſaying; they were Serpents which had beſet the houſe, and would haue deſtroyed all their Cattell and Heards, except hee had gone foorth to driue them away by a Charme, which was very common and ordinary in thoſe parts, wherein were abundance of very hurtfull Serpents.

The Lygurian young man, hearing him ſay ſo, maruailed aboue meaſure, and ſaid, that this thing was ſo rare and miraculous, that ſcarcely Chriſtians would beleeue it. The Negro thought it as ſtrange that the young man ſhould bee ignorant heereof, and therefore told him, that their Prince could worke more ſtrange things by a Charme which he had, and that this and ſuch like, were ſmall, vulgar, and not to be accounted miraculous. For when he is to vſe any ſtrong poyſon vpon preſent neceſſitie, to put any man to death, hee putteth ſome venom vppon a ſword, or other peece of Armour, and then making a large round circle, by his Charme compelleth many Serpents to come within that circle, hee himſelfe ſtanding amongſt them, and obſeruing the moſt venomous of them all ſo aſſembled, which he thinketh to containe the ſtrongeſt poyſon, killeth him, and cauſeth the reſidue to depart away preſentlie; then out of the dead Serpent hee taketh the poyſon, and mixeth it with the ſeede of a certaine vulgar Tree, and therewithall annoynteth his dart, arrow, or ſwords point, whereby is cauſed preſent death, if it giue the bodie of a man but a very ſmall wound, euen to the breaking of the skinne, or drawing of the blood. And the ſaide Negro did earneſtly perſwade the young man to ſee an experiment heereof, promiſing him to ſhew all as he had related, but the Lygurian beeing more willing to heare ſuch things told, then bolde to attempt the triall, told him, that hee was not willing to ſee any ſuch experiment. And by this it appeareth, that all the Negroes are addicted to Incantations, which neuer haue anie approbation from GOD, except againſt Serpents, which I cannot verie eaſilie be brought to beleeue.

And ſeeing I haue entered into this paſſage of Charming, being (no doubt) an inuention of Man, and therefore argueth his power to tame theſe venomous Beaſts, according to the former ſaying of Saint Iames, although I condemne ſuch courſes vtterly, yet it is

lawfull to proſecute the ſame, ſeeing the holie Ghoſt, Pſalme 58, verſe 4, 5. arffirmeth a practiſe againſt Serpents, a dexteritie and ripenes in that practiſe, and yet an impoſſibility to effect any good, except the voyce of the Charmer come to the eare of the Adder: For thus hee writeth; Their poyſon is like the poyſon of a Serpent, like a deafe Adder that ſtoppeth his eare. 5. Which heareth not the voyce of the Inchaunter, though hee be most expert in cunning. Vpon which words, Saint Augustine, Saint Ierom, & Caſsidorus wryting, ſay; that when the Charmer commeth to Inchaunt or Charme, then they lay one of theyr eares to the earth ſo cloſe, as it may not receiue ſound, and their other eare they ſtoppe with theyr taile. I will therefore yet adde ſomewhat more of this taming of Serpents.

I haue heard a Gentleman of ſinguler learning, & once my Worſhipfull good friend, and daily encourager vnto all good labours, report diuers times very credibly, vppon his Ma: Will: Morley of Glynde in Suſſex. owne knowledge and eye-ſight, that beeing at Padua in Italy, hee ſawe a certaine Quackſaluer, or Mountebacke vpon a ſtage, pull a Viper out of a box, and ſuffered the ſaide Viper to bite his fleſh, to the great admiration of all the beholders, receiuing therby no danger at all. Afterward he put off his doublet and ſhirt, and ſhewed vppon his right arme a very great vnwonted blew veine, ſtanding beyond the common courſe of nature; and he ſaid, that he was of the linage of Saint Paule, & ſo were all other that had ſuch veines, and that therefore (by ſpeciall vertue to that Family giuen from aboue) no Viper nor Serpent could euer annoy or poyſon them: but withall, the fellowe dranke a certaine compound water, or antidote, for feare of the worſt, and ſo at one time vented both his ſuperſtitious hypocriſie, and alſo much of his Antidote to his great aduantage.

But I haue ſince that time alſo read, in Matthiolus his Commentaries vppon the ſixth Booke of Dioſcorides, that there were wont to be many ſuch Iuglers in Italy, carrying in theyr boſomes liuing Serpents, of whoſe fraudulent Impoſtures hee ſpeaketh in this ſort. They take Serpents in the Winter time, when they growe dead and ſtiffe through cold, and yet for their better defence againſt their venomous byting, they defend themſelues by a certaine experimentall vnguent, knowne to bee practiſed in this ſport, made of the Oyle preſſed out of vvilde Radiſh, the rootes of Dragonwort, the iuyce of Daffodill, the braine of a Hare, the leaues of Sabine, ſprigges of Bay, & ſome other few things there-vnto added. As ſoone as they haue taken them, they inſtantly all to ſpette vpon their heads, for by reaſon of a ſecret antipathy in Nature, they grow very dull thereby, and lay aſide the force and rage of venome; for the ſpettle of a Man, is of a cleane contrarie operation to their poyſon. And when afterward they make oſtentation heereof in the Market, or publique Stage, they ſuffer them to bite their owne fleſh: but firſt of all, they offer thē a peece of hard fleſh, where-vppon they bite to clenſe their teeth from all ſpawne and ſpume of venome, or els ſometime pull forth the little bagges of poyſon, which inhaere in their chaps, and vnder their tongues, ſo as they are neuer more repleate or filled againe: And by this deceit they deceiue the world where euer they come, giuing foorth that they are of the linage of Saint Paule, who caſt a Viper off from his hands, as wee reade in the holie Scripture.

It was an inuention of auncient time among the wiſe Magitians, to make a pipe of the skinnes of Cats legges, and there-withall to driue away Serpents; by which it appeareth, that the ſoueraigntie of Man ouer Serpents, was giuen by GOD at the beginning, and was not loſt, but continued after the fall of man, (although the hand that ſhould rule be much weaker) and practiſed by the moſt barbarous of the world, neceſſitie of defence forcing a violence and hatred, betwixt the Serpent, and the Womans ſeede. For this cauſe we reade of the ſeauen daughters of Atlas, whereof one was called Hyas, whoſe dailie exerciſe was hunting of venomous Beaſtes, and from her the Hyades had their denomination. And for a concluſion of this Argument, I will adde this one ſtorie more out of Aelianus. When Thonis the King of Egypt had receiued of Menelaus, Helen to be ſafely kept, whiles he trauailed through Aethiopia, it hapned that the King fell in loue with her beautie, and oftentimes endeuoured by violence to rauiſh her; then, it is alſo ſaid, that Helen to turne away the Kings vnlawfull luſt, opened all the matter to Polydamna the wife of Thonis, who inſtantly fearing her owne eſtate, leaſt that in time to come, faire Helen ſhould depriue her of her husbands loue, baniſhed her into the Iland of Pharus, which was full of all manner of Serpents, and yet taking pittie on her for her ſimplicitie, gaue her a certaine herbe, whereby ſhe droue away all Serpents. For (it is ſaid) when the Serpents and venomous beaſts doe but ſmell the ſame herbe, they inſtantly hide their heads in the earth. Helen comming into that Iſland planted the ſame there, and was therefore called by the inhabitants, after her owne Name Helenium, which the skilfull Herboriſts at this day affirme to grow in Pharus.

Vnto this diſcourſe of the taming of Serpents, I may adde yet more ſtrange things, if any thing be ſtrange in the nature of this World. And thoſe are ſome hiſtories of the familiaritie of Men, Women and Serpents. Alexander was thought to bee begotten of a Serpent, for it is ſaid, that one a time there was found a great Serpent vppon his Mother Plutarch. Olympia as ſhee was ſleeping; and ſome ſay (for the honour both of the Mother and the Sonne, that this Serpent was Iupiter, turned into the likeneſſe of a Serpent, as wee reade he changed himſelfe into many other ſhapes. And the like ſtory vnto this, is alledged of Scipio Affricanus his mother, who long time remained barren without the fruite of the Ca: Oppius Iul: Higinus wombe, inſomuch as that P: Scipio her husband, vtterly diſpaired of poſteritie. It hapned one day, as ſhe was in her bed, her husband beeing abſent, there came a great Snake and lay beſide her, euen in the preſence of the ſeruants and familie, who beeing mightily aſtoniſhed Gellius. thereat, cryed out with loude voyces for feare, whereat the woman awaked, and the Snake ſlidde away inuiſibly. P: Scipio hearing this report at his returne home, went to the Wiſards to vnderſtand the ſecret or ſignification of this prodigie: who making a ſacrifice, gaue aunſwere that it betokened prolification, or birth of children, and therevpon followed the birth of Scipio Affricanus.

We reade alſo in Plutarch of certaine Serpents, louers of young Virgins, who after they were taken and inſnared, ſhewed all manner of luſtfull, vitious, & amorous geſtures Pierius. of vncleanenes and carnalitie; and by name, there was one that was in loue with one Aetolia a Virgin, who did accuſtome to come vnto her in the night time, ſlyding gentlie all ouer her body neuer harming her, but as one glad of ſuch acquaintance, tarried with her in that dalliance till the morning, and then would depart away of his owne accorde: the which thing beeing made manifeſt vnto the Guardians and Tutours of the Virgin, they remoued her vnto another Towne. The Serpent miſſing his Loue, ſought her vppe and downe three or foure dayes, and at laſt mette her by chance, and then hee ſaluted her not as he was wont, with fawning, and gentle ſlyding, but fiercely aſſaulted her with grimme and auſtere countenaunce, flying to her hands, and binding them with the ſpire of his bodie Pierius. faſt to her ſides, did ſoftly with his tayle beate vpon her backer parts. Whereby was collected, ſome token of his chaſtiſement vnto her, who had wronged ſuch a Louer with her wilfull abſence and diſappointment.

It is alſo reported by Aelianus, that Egemon in his verſes, writeth of one Aleua a Theſſalian, who feeding his Oxen in Theſſaly, neere the Fountaine Haemonius, there fell in loue with him a Serpent of exceeding bigneſſe and quantitie, and the ſame would come vnto him, and ſoftly licke his face and golden haire, without dooing him any manner of hurt at all.

Theſe, and ſuch like thinges, doe euidently prooue, that Serpents are not onely involuntarilie tamed by Men, but alſo willingly keepe quarter with them, yeelding to the firſt ordinance of the Creatour, that made them ſubiects & vaſſals to men. And thus much ſhall ſuffice to haue ſpoken in this place, concerning the firſt creation of Serpents.

Of the naturall Generation of SERPENTS, and their ſeuerall Originalls.

IT beeing thus cleered, that Serpents were at the beginning created by GOD, and are ruled by Men, it now followeth, that wee ſhould in the next place talk of the matter of their beginning, and the meanes of their continuance euer ſince their Creation.

Firſt therefore it is moſt plaine in Geneſis, that the Earth, (by the vertue of the Word of GOD) did produce all Creeping things, and among them Serpents: but ſince that time, they haue engendered both naturally, and alſo prodigiouſly.

As concerning their conſtitution, it is held to be moſt cold, aboue all other liuing Creatures; Pliny. Gallen. and therefore Pliny writeth, that they haue neither heate, nor bloode, nor ſweat. Heere-vnto ſubſcribeth Galen and Raſis; yet Auicen ſeemeth to affirme the contrary. Mercuriall decideth this controuerſie, and proueth that Serpents are extreamely cold, & their bodies outwardly moiſt. Firſt, becauſe thoſe which are ſtunge & poyſoned by Serpents, are oppreſſed with an vnnaturall cold, which ouercommeth naturall heate, and diſtendeth all their parts, vexing them intollerably. Secondly, there can be aſſigned no other reaſon why theſe Creatures hide themſelues 4. moneths in the yere, but onely their naturall cold, making thē ſo tender, as they are altogether vnfit to endure any externall frigiditie. Thirdly, if a Man take a Snake or a Serpent into his handling in the midſt of Sommer, & warmeſt part of the yeere, yet ſhall he perceiue, that they are cold in a palpable manner being aliue, which is not a qualitie competible to any other creature. Fourthly, ſeeing that blood is the proper and natiue ſeate of all heate in naturall liuing bodies, Serpents hauing a very ſmall quantitie of blood, muſt alſo haue a ſmaller proportion of heate: and therfore it followeth vnauoidably, that the eminencie of their temperament, is cold in the higheſt degree, aboue all other liuing Creatures. And that their bodies be outwardlie moyſt, it appeareth (ſaith Iſidorus) by this, that when they ſlide along vpon the Earth, (which way ſoeuer they goe) they leaue behind them in their traine or path a ſlymie humour.

By this therefore it is confirmed, that they are of the Earth and of the Water, as afterward we ſhall ſhew in the deſcription of their kindes. But yet there are prodigious beginnings of Serpents, whereof ſome ſeeme to be true, & other to be fabulous. The firſt ſort Plutarch. Pierius. Textor. are thoſe which Plinie affirmeth to be engendred of the marrowe in the backe-bone of a man, and that indifferently, out of the dead bodies of good & euill men. Yet ſome more modeſt, thinking it vnreaſonable, that the remnants of a good meeke man, ſhould beget or be turned into ſo barbarous, venomous, & cruell a nature; rather taking it for granted, that peace and quietnes is the reward of ſuch perſons, attribute theſe beginnings or alterations to the bodies of wicked men, as a iuſt deſerued puniſhment of their former euills, that the reuerſion of their bodies ſhould after death turne into Serpents, whom they reſembled being aliue in the venemous fraude of their ſpirits. Of this Ouid ſpeaketh.

Sunt quae cum clauſo putrefacta est Spina ſepulchro, Mutari credunt humanas angue medullas.

Which may be thus engliſhed;

Some thinke the putride backe-bone in the graue rack'd, Or marrow changd, the ſhape of Snakes to take.

In Egypt, as Frogges and Mice are engendred by ſhowers of raine, ſo alſo are Serpents: And Autcen ſaith, that the longeſt haires of women are eaſily turned into Serpents. Nicander Macrobius Caelius Rho: dreameth; that all venomous beaſtes are engendred of the blood of the Tytans or Gyants. Acuſilaus, of the blood of Typhon. Apollonius Rhodius of the drops of blood which doe diſtill from Gorgons. Virgilius ſaith, that dung beeing laid in a hollow place, ſubiect to Pliny. receiue moyſture, engendereth Serpents. Of the Gorgons drops, Ouid writeth thus.

Cumque ſuper Lybicas victor penderet arenas, Gorgonei capitis guttae cecidere cruentae, Quas humus exceptas, varios animauit in angues, Vnde frequens illa eſt infeſtaque cerra colubris.

Which may thus be Engliſhed:

And as he ouer-flew The Lybicke ſandes, the drops of bloud that from the head did ſewe Of Gorgon being new cut off, vpon the ground did fall, Which taking them, and as it were conceiuing them withall, Engendred ſundry Snakes and wormes: by meanes whereof that Clyme Did ſwarme with Serpents euer ſince, to this ſame preſent time.

But moſt ſtrange of all other, are the ſucceeding Narrations. For it is reported that when L. Scipio, and C. Norbanus were Conſuls, that the mother of Cluſius in Hetruria, brought foorth a liuing Serpent in ſtead of a childe, and the ſayde Serpent by the commaund of the Wiſardes was caſt into a Ryuer, neuertheleſſe it woulde not drowne but ſwimmed againſt the ſtreame. And Pliny ſayth, that at the beginning of the Marſycke warre, there was a mayd-ſeruaunt that brought foorth another Serpent. And Fauſtina Obſequent. the Empreſſe dreamed that ſhe brought foorth Serpents, when ſhee was with childe of Commodus and Antoninus, and one of theſe Serpents ſeemed more fierce then the other, which proued allegorically true: for afterward Commodus was ſo voluptuous and tyrannous, that he ſeemed like a Serpent to be borne for nothing, but for the deſtruction of mankinde.

In the yeare of the Lorde 1551. there was a little Latine booke printed at Vienna, wherein was contained this Hiſtory following. In this Summer (ſayth the Booke) about S. Margarites day, there happened moſt rare and admyrable Accidents: for neere a Village called Zichſa, by the Riuer Theoſe in Hungaria, there were many Serpents & Liſards bred in the bodies of men, very like to ſuch as are bred in the earth, whereupon they fell into exquiſite torments: and there dyed of that calamity, about three thouſand, & ſome of the bodyes being layde againſt the Sunne gaping, the Serpents came foorth of theyr mouthes, and ſuddenly entred into their bellies againe. Amongſt other, there was a certaine Noble-mans daughter which dyed of that malady, and when ſhe was diſſected or ripped, there were found in her body two great Serpentes. Theſe thinges ſeeme to bee miraculous and aboue the order of Nature: yet credible, becauſe in our experience in England, there haue beene Wormes like Serpentes found in the bodies of men, whereof ſome haue beene eiected the parties being aliue, and other when as the parties were dead. But that theſe beginnings of Serpents being vnnaturall are Diuine and ſent from God as ſcourges, it may appeare by another notable Hiſtory, recorded in the aforenamed booke, both in the ſame yeare, and in the ſame Countrey.

There was (ſayth mine Author) found in a mowe or rycke of corne, almoſt as many Snakes, Adders, and other Serpentes, as there were ſheafes, ſo as no one ſheafe could be remoued, but there preſently appeared a heape of ougly and fierce Serpents. The countrey-men determined to ſet fire vpon the Barne, and ſo attempted to doe, but in vaine, for the ſtraw would take no fire, although they laboured with all their wit and pollicye, to burne them vp: At laſt, there appeared vnto them at the top of the heap a huge great Serpent, which lifting vp his head ſpake with mans voyce to the countrey-men, ſaying: Ceaſe to proſecute your deuiſe, for you ſhall not be able to accompliſh our burning, for wee were not bredde by Nature, neither came we hither of our owne accord, but were ſent by God to take vengeance on the ſinnes of men. And thus much for the true and naturall beginninges of Serpentes.

Now we reade in holy Scripture, that the rod of Moſes was turned into a Serpent by diuine myracle, whereby he was aſſured of the power that God woulde giue him to deliuer his people Iſraell out of Egypt, which land abounding with Serpentes, both naturall bredde in the earth, and morall, ſuch are crafty and polliticke Princes and people: yet Moſes ſhoulde take them as he did his Serpent by the tayle, and cauſe them to bende vnto him like as it were a wand, or elſe ſome other little walking ſtaffe: and alſo that his power ſhould be vnreſiſtable, becauſe his Serpent deuoured others. The Magitians or Sorcerers, (as Iannes & Iambres) reſiſted him, and alſo turned their rods into Serpents. But Moſes did it by true pietie, they by diabolicall deluſions, as falſe Chriſtians many times worke miracles by outward ſignes of true pietie, and therefore Moſes rodde ouer-came the Sorcerers Serpents, becauſe the end of fraude and falſhood is, to be ouercome by truth & pietie.

From this changing of rods into Serpents, came the ſeuerall metamorphoſing of ſundry other things into Serpents alſo, as that tale of Orpheus head, after he was torne in pecces by the Thraſian women; and the ſame throwne into a Riuer, was taken vp in Lemnos. The Poet deſcribeth it thus;

Hic ferus expoſito peregrinis anguis arenis Os petit, & ſpar ſos ſtillanti rore capillos Lambit, & hymniferos inhiat diuellere vultus: Tandem Phoebus adest: morſuſque inferre parantem Arcet, & in Lapidem rictus Serpentis apertos. Congelat, & patulos vt erant indurat hiatus.

In Engliſh thus;

No ſooner on the forraine coast now cast a-land they were, But that cruell natur'd Snake did ſtraight vpon them fly, And licking on his ruffled haire, the which was dropping dry, Did gape to tyre vpon thoſe lippes that had beene wont to ſing The heauenly hymnes. But Phoebus ſtraight preuenting that ſame thing, Diſpoints the Serpent of his baite, and turnes him into ſtone, With gaping chaps. &c.

So Iſacius Tzetzes writeth, that when Tireſia found Serpents in carnall copulation in Cithaeron, he ſlew a femall, who preſently after death was turned into a Woman, then alſo he ſlew a male, who likewiſe beeing dead, was in the ſame place and manner turned into a man. When Cadmus was ſent by his Father, to ſeeke out his ſiſter Europa that vvas rauiſhed by Iupiter, with ſtraight charge not to returne backe againe except he could finde her, hauing ſpent much time in ſeeking her, to no purpoſe, becauſe he could not find her, and not daring to goe backe againe to his father; hee was warned by the Oracle that hee ſhould goe into Baeotia to build a Cittie. Comming thether, he ſent his companions to the Fountaine of Mars that was in the Countrey to fetch water, where a great Serpent came and killed them; at the laſt, Cadmus not finding their returne, went likewiſe to the ſame Fountaine, where he found all his men ſlaine, and the Serpent approching to aſſaile him, but he quickly killed it. Afterward he was admoniſhed by Pallas, to ſtrew the teeth of the ſame Serpent vppon the ground, which he performed, and then out of thoſe teeth (ſaith Ouid) aroſe a multitude of Armed-men, who inſtantly fell to fight one with the other, in ſuch cruell and bloodie manner, that at the laſt there were but fiue of them all left aliue, which fiue (by the will of Pallas) were preſerued to be the Fathers of the people of Thebes. And ſo Apollonius faineth, that with the helpe of men bred of Serpents teeth, came Iaſon to obtaine the Golden-Flecce.

They faine alſo, that Achelous when hee ſtroue with Hercules about Deianira, turned himſelfe into diuers ſhapes, and laſt of all into a Serpent, or as ſome ſay; into a Riuer. So likewiſe Cadmus afore-ſaid, beeing ouer-come with the ſight and ſence of his owne miſeries, and the great calamities that befell to his Daughters & Nephewes, forſooke Thebes, and came into Illyrium, where it is ſaid, that hee earneſtly deſired of the Gods to be turned into a Serpent, becauſe a Serpent was the firſt originall of all his extremities. Antipater faineth Iupiter to be turned into a Serpent, and Meduſa refuſing the loue of Neptune, is alſo fained by Ouid to be turned into a Serpent, when he writeth;

Hanc pelagi rector templo vitiaſſe Minerua, Dicitur, averſus est & castos Aegide vultus Nata Iouis texit: neue hoc impune fuiſſet, Gorgoneum crinem turpes mutauit in Hydros. Nunc quoque vt attonitos formidine terreat hoſtes, Pectore in aduerſo, quos fecit ſuſtinet angues.

In Engliſh thus;

It is reported how ſhe ſhould abuſde by Neptune be, In Pallas Church, from which fowle fact, Ioues daughter turnd her eie: And leaſt it ſhould vnpuniſht be, ſhe turnd her ſeemely haire To loathſome Snakes, the which the more to put her foes in feare, Before hir breaſt continually ſhe in her hand doth beare.

Pierius writeth, that the myrtle rod was not lawfull to be brought into the Temple of Necates, and that a Vine braunch was extended ouer the head of her ſigne: and whereas it was not lawfull to name wine, they brought it into her Temple vnder the name of milke, and that therein continually liued harmeleſſe Serpents. The reaſon of al this was, becauſe that her owne father Faunus fell in loue with her, whom ſhe reſiſted with al modeſty, although ſhe were beaten with a myrtle rodde, and made to drinke Wine; but at laſt the beaſtly father was transformed into a ſerpent, and then hee oppreſsing her with the ſpyres of his winding body, rauiſhed her againſt her minde. Theſe and ſuch like ſtories and Fables are extant about the beginninges of ſerpents; all which, the Reader may conſider, to ſtirre vp his minde to the earneſt and ardent meditation of that power that of ſtones can make men, of Rocks water, of water wine, and of ſmall roddes great ſerpents.

Then thus hauing expreſſed the originall of ſerpentes in their creation, it followeth now to adde the reſidue of this Chapter about their generacion. It is a generall rule Pliny. Ariſtotle that all beaſts wanting feet and haue long bodies, performe their worke of carnall copulation by a mutuall embracing one of the other, as Lampreys and ſerpentes: And it is certaine, that two ſerpents in this action ſeeme to be one body and two heads, for they are ſo indiuiſibly vnited and conioyned together, and the frame of their body is altogither vnapt Aelianus. for any other manner of copulation. When they are in this action they ſend forth a ranke ſauour offenſiue to the ſence of them that doe perceiue it: And although like vnto many Fiſhes, they want ſtones, yet haue they two open paſſages wherin lyeth their generatiue ſeed, and which being filled, procureth them to their veneriall luſt, the ſeede it ſelfe being like a milky humour; and when the female is vnder the male, ſhe hath alſo her paſſages to receiue the ſeed, as it were into the celles of hir wombe, and there it is framed into an egge, which ſhe hideth in the earth an hundred in a cluſter, about the quantity of a Birdes egge, or a great bead, ſuch as are vſed ſometime by women.

And this is generall for all ſerpents except Vipers, who lay no egges, but hatch in their wombes their young ones, as we ſhall ſhew at large in their particular hyſtory. The ſerpent hauing layd her egge ſitteth vpon them to hatch them at ſeuerall times, and in a yeare they are perfected into young ones. But concerning the ſuppoſed copulation of ſerpents and Lampreys, I will not meddle in this place, reſeruing that diſcourſe to the hiſtoric of fiſhes, and now only it ſufficeth in this place to name it, as a feigned invention, although ſaint Ambroſe and other anncient Writers haue beleeued the ſame, yet Athaeneus, and of late dayes P. Iouius, haue learnedly and ſufficientlie declared by vnanſwearable arguments the cleane contrarie. The ſerpents loue their egges moſt tenderly, and doe euerie one of them know their owne, euen among confuſed heapes of the multitude, and no leſſe is their loue to their young ones, whom for their ſafeguard, ſometime they receiue into their mouthes and ſuffer them to runne into their bellies: And thus much for the generation of ſerpents.

Of the Names of Serpents, and their ſeuerall parts or Anatomie.

BY Serpents we vnderſtand in this diſcourſe all venomous Beaſts, whether creeping without legges, as Adders and Snakes, or with legges, as Crocodiles and Lizards, or more neerely compacted bodies, as Toades, Spiders and Bees; following heerein the warrant of the beſt ancient Latiniſts, as namely Cornelius Celſus, Pliny & Apuleius doe call Lyce Serpents, in that their relation of the death of Pherecydes the Sirian, who was the Praeceptor of Pythagoras, of whom it is ſaid, Serpentibus perijſſe, to haue perriſhed by Serpents, when on the contrary it is manifeſted he was killed by Lyce. Aristotle and Galen define a Serpent to be animal ſanguineū pedibus orbatum & ouiparum, that is, a bloody Beaſt without feere, yet laying egges; and ſo properly is a Serpent to be vnderſtood.

The Haebrewes call a Serpent Nachaſch. Darcon and Cheueia by the Chaldees: ſo alſo Thaninim & Schephiphon, by the Hebrewes, as Rabbi Salomon, Munſter & Pagnine write. The Graecians, Ophidi and Ophis, although this word doe alſo ſignifie a Viper in particular, euen as the Latine, Serpens, or ſerpula doe, ſometime a Snake, and ſometime an Adder. The Arabians Haie and Hadaie, for all manner of ſerpents. And Teſtuh or Tenſtu, or Ageſtim for ſerpents of the wood; likewiſe Apartias & Atuſsi. The Germans Ein ſchlang: which word ſeemeth to be deriued from Anguis by an vſuall figure, and after the German faſhion, propoſing Sch. The French call it Vn ſerpent, the Italians Serpe & ſerpente: and Maſſarius ſaith, that Scorzo and Scorzone, are generall wordes for all manner of Serpents in Italy, which ſtrike with their teeth. The Spanyards call them Sierpe. The Graecians call the young ones in the Dammes belly, Embrua: and the Latines Catuli. And thus much for their Names in generall, which in holy Scripture is engliſhed a Creeping thing.

Now it followeth, that I ſhould ſette downe a particular deſcription of all the outward parts of Serpents; and firſt of all, their colour is for the moſt part like the place of their habitation or abode, I meane like the Earth, wherein they liue; and therefore I haue ſeene ſome blacke, liuing in dung, ſome yellow, liuing in ſandy rocks, & ſome of other colour, as greene, liuing in trees and fieldes; but generally, they haue ſpots on their ſides and bellie, like the ſcales of fiſh, which are both white, black, greene, yellow, browne, & of other colours alſo, of which Ouid writeth:

—Longo caput extulit antro, Caeruleus ſerpens horrendaque ſibila miſit.

that is;

The greeniſh Serpent extolld her head from denne ſo ſteepe, And fearefull hyſsing did ſend forth from throate ſo deepe.

The frame of their bodies doth not much varry in any, except in the feete & length, ſo that with a reſeruation of them, we may expreſſe their vniuerſall Anatomy in one viewe: for almoſt all of them are of the ſame proportion that is ſeene in Lyzards, if the feete be excepted, and they made to haue longer bodies. For they are incloſed in a kinde of ſhell or cruſtie skinne, hauing their vpper parts on their backe, and the nether parts on the bellie like a Lizard; but they want ſtones, & haue ſuch manner of places for copulation as fiſhes haue, their place of conception beeing long and clouen. All their bowels, by reaſon of the length and narrownes of their bodies, are alſo long and narrow, and hard to be diſcerned, becauſe of the diſſimilitude of their figures and ſhapes. Their arterie is long, & their throate longer then that: the ground or roote of the artery is neere the mouth, ſo as a man would iudge it to be vnder the tongue, ſo as it ſeemeth to hang out aboue the tongue, eſpecially when the tongue is contracted, and drawne backward. The head long like a Fiſhes, and flatte; neuer much bigger then the bodie, except in monſtrous and great ſhaped Serpents, as the Boas. Yea, Ariſtotle maketh mention of a Serpent that had 2. heads, and Arnoldus, of a Serpent in the Piraeney Mountaines, ſlaine by a ſouldier, that had three heads, in whoſe belly vvere found two ſonnes of the ſaid ſouldier deuoured by him, and the back-bone thereof was as great as a mans skull, or a Rammes head. And ſuch an one we read in our Engliſh ſtory was found in England, in the yeere 1349. And the 23 yeere of Edward the third, there was a ſerpent found in Oxfordſhire, neere Chippingnorton, that Holinſhed. had two heads and faces like women, one beeing ſhaped after the new attire of that time, and another after the manner of the old attyre, and it had great winges, after the manner of a Bat.

The Tongue of a Serpent is peculiar, for beſides the length & narrowneſſe thereof, it is alſo clouen at the tippe, beeing deuided as it were with very little or ſmall nailes points. It is alſo thinne, long, and black of colour, voluble; neither is there any beaſt that moueth the tongue ſo ſpeedily: wherefore ſome haue thought, that a Serpent hath three tongues, but in vaine, as Iſidorus ſheweth, for they deceiue by the nimblenes thereof. Their ventricle is large, like their maw, and like vnto a dogs, alſo thinne, and vniforme at the end. The Hart is very ſmall, and cleaueth to the end of their artery, but yet it is long, & ſheweth like the reynes of a Man: vvherefore ſometimes it may be ſeene to bend the tippe or lappe thereof to the breaſt ward. After this followeth the Lights, but farre ſeperate from it, being ſimple, full of fibres, and open holes like pipes, and very long: The Liuer long and ſimple; the Melt ſmall and round as in Lizards. The Gall is for the moſt part as in fiſhes, but in Water-ſnakes it is ioyned to the Liuer: in other Serpents to the ſtomacke or maw. All their teeth ſtand out of their mouth, and they haue thirtie ribbes, euen as there were among the Haebrewes and Egyptians thirtie daies to euery month.

Ariſtotle ſaith, that as their eyes be ſmall, ſo alſo they haue the ſame good hap that befalleth young Swallowes, for if by chance they ſcratch or rend out their eyes, then it is ſaid they haue other grow vp naturally in their places: In like manner their tayles beeing cut off, grow againe. And generally, Serpents haue their hart in the throat, the gall in the bellie or ſtomack, and their ſtones neere their tayle: Their egges are long and ſoft, & in their teeth they carrie poyſon of defence and anoyance, for which cauſe they deſire aboue all other things to ſaue their heads. Their ſight is but dull and dim, and they can hardlie looke Aelianus. Iſidorus. atone ſide, or backward, becauſe their eyes are placed in their temples, and not in theyr fore-head, and therefore they heare better then they ſee. They haue eye-liddes, for generally no creatures haue eye-liddes, except thoſe which haue haire in the other parts of their bodies; foure-footed Beaſts in the vpper cheeke, Fowles in the nether, or Lyzards which haue egges, or Serpents which haue ſoft backs. They haue alſo certaine paſſages of breathing in their noſtrills, but yet they are not ſo plaine that they can be termed noſtrills, but breathing places. Theyr eares are like to finny Fiſhes, namely ſmall paſſages, or hollowe places in the backer parts of their head, by which they heare.

Their teeth are like ſawes, or the teeth of Combes ioyned one within the other, that ſo they might not be worne out by grinding or grating together; and yet they bend inward, to the end that they may the better hold their meate in their mouthes, beeing without all other externall helpe for that purpoſe; for euen thoſe Serpents which haue feete, yet can they not apply them to their chaps. In the vpper chap they haue two longer then all the reſidue, on either ſide one, bored thorough with a little hole like the ſting of a Scorpion, by which they vtter their poyſon. Yet there be ſome good Authors that affirme, that this poyſon is nothing els but their gall, which is forced to the mouth by certaine veines vnder the ridge or backe-bone. Some againe ſay, that they haue but one long tooth, & that a crooked one, which turneth vpward by often byting, which ſometime falleth off, and then groweth againe, of which kinde thoſe are, which men carry vp and downe tame in their boſoms.

Although they be great raueners, yet is their throate but long and narrow, for helpe whereof when they haue gotten a bootie, they erect themſelues vppon their tayles, and ſwallow downe their meate the more eaſily. They cannot be ſaid properly to haue any neck, yet ſomthing they haue, which in proportion anſwereth that part. They haue tailes like all other creatures, except Men and Apes, and ſome ſay that their poyſon is contayned in their tayles, & is from thence conuayed into little bladders in their mouthes, therefore the Mountebancks or Iuglers, breake that bladder, that they may keepe them without poyſon, but within the ſpace of twentie foure houres, they are recollected, and growe anew againe.

Their bodies are couered ouer with a certaine skin like a thinne barke, and vppon Serpents it ſupplieth the place that ſcales and haire doe vpon Beaſts and Fiſhes; for indeed it is a pure skinne, and in moſt things they are like to Fiſhes, except that they haue lights, & Fiſhes haue none: the reaſon is, they liue on the Earth, and the Fiſhes in the Sea, & therfore haue finnes and gilles in ſtead thereof. The little Serpents haue all their bones like thornes, but the greater, which ſtand in neede of greater ſtrength, haue ſolide bones for their firmitude and better conſtitution. It is queſtionable whether they haue any melt or no, and ſome ſay they haue at the time of their laying of egges, and not otherwiſe. Theyr place of conception or ſecrete, is large, and ſtandeth farre out, beginning beneath, and ſo ariſing vp to the back-bone double; that is, hauing one skinne or encloſure on either ſide, with a double paſſage wherein the egges are engendered, which are not layd one by one, but by heapes or cluſters together. They haue no bladder to containe vrine, like to all other Creatures, which haue feathers, ſcales, or rinde-ſpeckled-skinnes, except the Torteiſes: the reaſon is, becauſe of the exiguitie and ſmalenes of the aſſumed humour, and alſo all the humour acquired, is conſumed into a looſe and euaporate fleſh. And to conclude this Anatomie, I will adde a ſhort deſcription vvhich Gregorius Macer a Phiſition wrote to Geſner 1558. by his owne diſſection as followeth, ſaying.

As I lay at reſt in a greene field, there came vnto mee a great Serpent hyſſing, & holdding vp her necke, which I ſuddainly with a peece of vvood amazed at a ſtroake, and ſo ſlevv without perrill to my ſelfe. Afterward, ſticking her faſt to a pale, I drevv off her skin, which was verie faſt and ſharpe, and I found betwixt the skinne & the fleſh, a certaine little thinne skinne, deſcending all vppon the body with the outward skinne, and this vvas ſome-what fat. And when I came vnto the place of excrements, I found it like a Fiſhes, but there iſſued forth certaine filth, farre exceeding in ſtinking ſauour the excrements of a man. After I had thus pulled off the skinne, it was eaſie for mee to looke into the inward parts, which I found to anſwere the inward Anatomy of Fiſhes & Fowles in ſome parts, and in other things, there appeared a proper diſpoſition to the Serpent it ſelfe. For the arterie Trachaea was about three or foure fingers long, turned about with little round circles, and ſo diſcended to the lights, vnto which the hart and the bladder contayning the gall, did adhaere or cleaue faſt. Then the liuer was long like the fiſh Lucius, and ſo a white caule or fatnes couered both the liuer and ſtomack, which was halfe a ſpanne long: The guttes began at the chappes, and ſo deſcended downe to the place of excrements, as vvee ſee they doe in Fiſhes.

Beneath the liuer were the guttes, vpon either ſide deſcended a certaine neruy or hard veine, vnto which the egges did cleaue: which were couered with ſuch little skinnes as Hennes egges are before they be layd, but yet they were diſtinguiſhed in ſeate or place becauſe of their multitude; for vpon either ſide I found two and thirty egges. The tongue of the Serpent was clouen, and very ſharpe, but there appeared not any poyſon therein. And ſo it is euident, that in the veine Trachaea, hart and lights, it agreeth with Birdes; in the liuer, guttes and caule, it reſembleth a Fiſh, but in the place of the gall, and diſpoſition of the egges, it differeth from both. And thus farre Macer, with whoſe words I will conclude this Chapter of Serpents Anatomie.

Of the quantitie of Serpents, and theyr abode, foode, and other accidents.

SO great is the quantitie of Serpents, and their long during age increaſeth them to ſo great a ſtature, that I am almoſt afraide to relate the ſame, leaſt ſome ſuſpitious and enuious minded perſons, ſhould vtterly condemne it for fabulous; but yet when I conſider not onely the plentifull teſtimonies of worthy and vndoubted Antiquaries, and alſo the euidence of all ages, (not excepting this wherein we liue) wherein are and haue beene ſhewed publiquely many Serpents and Serpents skinnes, I receiue warrant ſufficient to expreſſe what they haue obſerued, and aſſured aunſwere for all future Obiections, of ignorant, incredulous, and vnexperienced Aſſes. Wherefore as the life of Serpents is long, ſo is the time of theyr groweth and as their kindes be many, (as wee ſhall manifeſt in the ſucceeding diſcourſe) ſo in their multitude, ſome grow much greater and bigger then other.

Gellius writeth, that when the Romanes were in the Carthagenian warre, and Attilius Regulus the Conſull had pitched his Tents neere vnto the riuer Bragrada, there was a Serpent of monſtrous quantitie, which had beene lodged within the compaſſe of the Tents, and therefore did cauſe to the whole Armie exceeding great calamitie, vntill by caſting of ſtones with ſlings, and many other deuiſes, they oppreſſed and ſlew that Serpent, and afterward fleyed off the skinne and ſent it to Rome, which was in length one hundred and twentie feete. And although this ſeemeth to be a Beaſt of vnmatchable ſtature, yet Poſsidonius a Chriſtian Writer, relateth a ſtorie of another which was much greater, for hee writeth, that he ſaw a Serpent dead, of the length of an acre of Land, and all the reſidue both of head and bodie, were anſwerable in proportion, for the bulke of his bodie was ſo great, and lay ſo high, that two Horſemen could not ſee one the other beeing at his two ſides, and the widenes of his mouth was ſo great, that hee could receiue at one time within the compaſſe thereof, a horſe and a man on his backe both together: The ſcales of his coate or skinne, beeing euery one like a large buckler or target. So that now there is no ſuch cauſe to wonder at the Serpent which is ſaid to be killed by S. George, which was as is reported ſo great, that eight Oxen were but ſtrength enough to drawe him out of the Cittie Silena.

There is a Riuer called Rhyndacus neere the Coaſts of Bythinia, wherein are Snakes of exceeding monſtrous quantitie, for when thorough heate they are forced to take the water, for their ſafegard againſt the ſunne, and birds come flying ouer the poole, ſuddenlie Mela. Pliny. Megaſth. they raiſe their heads and vpper parts out thereof, and ſwallow them vp. The Serpents of Megalauna, are ſaid by Pauſanias to be thirtie cubits long, and all their other part anſwerable. But the greateſt in the world are found in India, for there they grow to ſuch a quantitie, Solinus. Textor. Strabo. Aelianus. that they ſwallow vp whole Bulls, and great Stagges. Wherefore I doe not maruell that Porus the King of India, ſent to Augustus Caeſar very huge Vipers, a Serpent of tenne cubits long, a Torteiſe of three cubits, and a Partridge greater then a Vulture. For Alexander in his nauigation vpon the Red-Sea, ſaith; that hee ſaw Serpents fortie cubits long, and all their other parts and members of the ſame quantity.

Among the Scyritae, the Serpents come by great ſwarmes vppon their flocks of ſheepe and cattell, and ſome they eate vp all, others they kill and ſucke out the blood, and ſome part they carry away. But if euer there were any thing beyond credite, it is the relation of Volateran in his twelfth booke of the New-found Lands, wherein he writeth, that there are Aloſius. Gillius. Scaliger. Cardan. Serpents of a myle long, which at one certaine time of the yeere come abroad out of their holes and dennes of habitation, and deſtroy both the Heards and Heard-men if they find them. Much more fauourable are the Serpents of a Spaniſh Iſland, who doe no harme to any liuing thing, although they haue huge bodies, and great ſtrength to accompliſh their deſires.

In the kingdome of Senega, their Serpents are ſo great that they deuoure whole beaſts, as Goates, and ſuch like, without breaking any one of their bones. In Calechute, they are as great as their greateſt Swine, and not much vnlike them, except in their head, which doth farre exceede a Swines. And becauſe the King of that Country hath made a Lavv, that no man kill a Serpent vnder paine of death, they are as great in number as they are in quantitie: for ſo great is his error, that hee deemeth it as lawfull to kill a Man, as a Serpent.

All kindes of Serpents are referred to their place of habitation, which is eyther the earth, or the waters of the earth; and the ſerpents of the earth, are moe in number then the P. Fagius. ſerpents of the vvater, except the ſerpents of the Sea: And yet it is thought by the moſt learned Rabbines, that the ſerpents of the Sea, are fiſhes in the likenes of Dragons. Nowe Venetus. Hatthonus the places of Serpents abode beeing thus generally capitulated, wee muſt enter into a farther narration of their habitations, and regions of their natiue breeding. In the firſt place, India nouriſheth many and diuers ſorts of Serpents, eſpecially in the Kingdome of Morfilium, and Alexander the Emperour, found among other Beaſts, ſundry kinds of ſerpent • in a long Deſert, which is on the North-ſide of India. But all the Nations of the World may giue place to Ethiopia for multitude and varietie, for there they gather together on heapes, and lye in compaſſe like round hills, viſibly apparant to the eyes of them that behold Pi • rius. them a farre off. The like is ſaid of all Affrica, for in Numidia, euery yeere there are many men, women and children, deſtroyed by Serpents. The Iſland Pharus, is alſo (by the teſtimony of the Egyptians) filled with ſerpents: The Coaſtes of Elymais are annoyed by ſerpents; and the Caſpians are ſo annoyed by ſerpents which come ſwymming in the floods, that men cannot ſayle that waies but in the Winter-time. For from the beginning of the Spring, or aequinoctiall, they ſeeme (for their number) to approch fauening, like troupes and Armies. There are alſo certaine Ilands called Ophiuſae inſulae, named after Solinus. Aelianus. Ophis a ſerpent, for the multitude bred therein: And there are ſerpents in Candy, Epheſus, and all hot Countries; for this priuiledge hath GOD in nature giuen to the colder Countreys, that they are leſſe annoyed with ſerpents, and their ſerpents alſo leſſe nocent and hurtfull: and therefore the ſerpents of Europe, are fewer in number, leſſer in quantity, Cor. Celſus. Pierius. and more reſiſtable for their weakenes and ſtrength.

There were a people in Campania called Oſci, becauſe of the multitude of ſerpents bred among them. Likewiſe there are great ſtore in Lombardy and Ferrara. And whereas we haue ſaide, that the moſt nocent and harmfull ſerpents are bredd • in the hoteſt Regions, where they engender more ſpeedily, and alſo grow into greater proportions, yet is it not Sc • liger. to be vnderſtood of any ſpeciall propertie appertayning to them alone, for I read in Olaus Magnus, his deſcription of the Northerne Regions, of ſerpents of as great quantitie as in any other place of the World; but yet their poyſon is not halfe ſo venomous & hurtfull, as in the hoter Regions, eſpecially the Affrican ſerpents. In Botina neere Liuonia, there Olaus Mag: are great ſtore of great ſerpents alſo, ſo that the Heard-men are at continuall war and contention with them for defence of their flock: Likewiſe, in the Mountaines of Heluetia and Auergne, whereof there are many wonders reported in the world, which I will not ſtand vpon to relate in this place. We reade alſo, that ſome places haue beene diſinhabited, & diſpeopled by ſerpents, ſuch were the people of Scythia, called Neuri, who before the war of Darius, were conſtrained to forſake theyr ſoyle, becauſe they were annoyed, not onely with home-bred ſerpents, but alſo with many other which came from other parts: and ſo the Country remaineth deſolate to this preſent day, the ancient Inhabitants beeing all remooued to dwell among the Buditani. The Cittie Amyclae in Italy, (as M: Varro writeth) was deſtroyed alſo by ſerpents. And there be certains places of the world, which haue receiued their denomination from ſerpents, beſides the Ophiuſae neere Creete.

The Iland Tenos, was called Hydruſſa and Ophiuſſa, ſo were Cremiuſcos, Aepolium, and the Mountaines Macrocremnij, Rhodus, & the long Ilands Ophiades in the Arabian coaſt, Eupolides. which after it had remained a long time deſart, was purged and cleered from ſerpents by the Kings of Egypt. Nicaenetus alſo calleth Cyprus, Ophiodia. And in Pauſanias, we read of a place name Opheos Kephale, the Serpents head. The like might be ſaide of Riuers, as of Orontes, called alſo Ophites and Ophis in Pontus, which deuideth a ſunder Colchis, and the Diod: Sicul. Country Thiamica. Ebuſus nouriſheth no ſerpents, and the earth thereof hath in it a ſecret vertue to driue away ſerpents, wherefore it is much deſired of all men to carry about them, for that it hath beene often prooued, that neuer any venomous beaſt durſt aduenture vpon any man poſſeſſed thereof. The like is ſaid of Ireland, as our owne Chronicles Arrianus. Suetonius. Pliny. doe plentifully declare, and therefore I will ſpare to enter into any narration thereof.

To come therfore to the more particular abode of Serpents, eſpecially, of ſuch as are knowne to vs, we muſt leaue of the talke and nominaton of Kingdoms, and deſcend to dennes, holes, caues, dunghils, ſheep-coats, valleys, rocks, hollow-walls and trees, woods, greene paſtures, hedges. and ſuch like places, wherein they make their moſt abode: And now and then in theſe Northerne parts of the world (& yet ſildome) they diue downe into the bottome or rootes of trees, eſpecially ſuch as are greene all the Winter-time: For they finde in them a greater heate or warmth, then in other, whoſe leaues fall off and decay in the cold weather, except in the rootes of Birch. And by reaſon of their multitude gathered together at the roote of this tree, it falleth out that their breath heateth the ſame, and ſo preſerueth the leaues of it from falling off: Wherefore in auncient time, the ignorant multitude, ſeeing a Birch-tree with greene leaues in the Winter, did call it our Ladies Tree, or a Holy tree, attributing that greeneneſſe to miracle, not knowing the former reaſon, or ſecrete of Nature. Solinus reporteth of ſuch a like wood in a part of Affrica, wherein all the Winter time, the leaues of all the Trees abide greene, the cauſe is as before recited, for that the Serpents liuing at the rootes of the trees in the earth, doe heate thē with their breath. Neither ought any man to wonder that they ſhould ſo friendly liue together, eſpecially in the winter & cold time, ſeeing that by experience in England, we know that for warmth they will creepe into bed-ſtraw, & about the legges of men in their ſleepe; as may appeare by this ſucceeding diſcourſe, of a true hiſtory done in England, in the houſe of a worſhipfull Gentleman, vpon a ſeruant of his, whom I could name if it were needfull. He had a ſeruaunt that grew very lame and feeble in his legges, & thinking that he could neuer be warme in his bed, did multiply his clothes, and couered himſelfe more & more, but all in vaine, till at length he was not able to goe about, neither could any skill of Phiſitian or Surgeon find out the cauſe.

It hapned on a day as his Maiſter leaned at his Parlour window, he ſaw a great Snake to ſlide along the houſe ſide, and to creepe into the chamber of this lame man, then lying in his bedde (as I remember,) for hee lay in a lowe chamber, directly againſt the Parlour window afore-ſaid. The Gentleman deſirous to ſee the iſſue, and what the ſnake would doe in the chamber, followed, and looked into the chamber by the window; where hee eſpied the ſnake to ſlide vppe into the bed-ſtraw, by ſome way open in the bottome of the bedde, which was of old bordes. Straightway his hart riſing therat, he called two or three of his ſeruaunts, and told them what he had ſeene, bidding them goe take their Rapiers & kill the ſaid ſnake. The ſeruing-men came firſt and remoued the lame man (as I remember) and then the one of them turned vp the bed, and the other two the ſtraw, their maiſter ſtanding without at the hole, whereinto the ſaid ſnake had entered into the chamber. The bedde was no ſooner turned vp, and the Rapier thruſt into the ſtraw, but there iſſued forth fiue or ſix great ſnakes that were lodged therein: Then the ſeruing-men beſtirring themſelues, ſoone diſpatched them, & caſt them out of doores dead. Afterward, the lame mans legges recouered, and became as ſtrong as euer they were: whereby did euidentlie appeare, the coldnes of theſe ſnakes or Serpents, which came cloſe to his legges euerie night, did ſo benumme them as he could not goe. And thus for heate they pierce into the holes of chimneyes, yea into the toppes of hills and houſes, much more into the bottomes and rootes of Trees.

When they perceiue that winter approcheth, they find out their reſting places, wherin they lye halfe dead foure moneths together, vntill the Spring-ſunne againe communicating her heate to all Creatures, reuiueth, and (as it were) raiſeth them vp from death to life. During which time of cold and vvinter, as Seneca writeth, Tuto tractari pestifera ſerpens potest, non deſunt tunc illi venena, ſed torpent: They may bee ſafely handled, without Epist. 5. feare of harme, not becauſe they want poyſon at that time, but becauſe they are drouzie, and deadly aſtoniſhed. But there is a queſtion, whether when they be in this ſecrecie or drouzines, they awake not to eate, or elſe their ſleepe be vnto them in ſtead of foode. Olaus Magnus affirmeth of the Northerne ſerpents, that they eate not at all, but are nouriſhed with ſleep. Cardan ſaith, that they take ſome little foode, as appeareth by thoſe which are carried vp and downe in boxes to be ſeene, and are fedde with branne or cheaſill. But this may be aunſwered, that ſerpents in boxes, are not ſo colde as thoſe in woods and deſarts: and therefore, ſeeing cold keepeth them from eating, the externall heate of the boxhouſe, or humane body which beareth them about, may be a cauſe, that incloſed ſerpents feede in Winter as well as in Sommer, and yet the ſerpents which run wild in the fieldes, eate nothing at all, during the time of their Chias or Ehiaus, that is, their lying hid.

Greuinus that learned man proponeth this queſtion, Si ſerpentes calidi ſunt, qui fit vt in regros tres aut quatuor menſes, id est toto illo tempore qu • deliteſcunt abſque cibo vivunt? If (ſaith he) Serpents be hot, how commeth it to paſſe that they can liue three or 4. months without all foode, that is, all the time of their lying ſecret? He maketh (in my opinion) a ſufficient aunſwere to this queſtion, which for me ſhall conclude the cauſe, ſaying; Doth it not fall out with Serpents as it doth with ſome women, who beeing full of humor, and thicke phlegmaticke matter, haue but a little and weake naturall heate, (yet proportionable to the ſaid humour) doe liue a great time by reaſon thereof without foode or nouriſhment. And for this cauſe, all the hoaſts of Philoſophers doe define, that ſerpents doe alſo abſtaine from eating a long ſeaſon. For Nature hath clothed them with a more ſolide skinne, and liued them with a more thicke and ſubſtantiall fleſh, to the intent that theyr naturall heate ſhould not eaſily vaniſh away and decay in their bodies, but remaine therein permanent, for the feeding and preſeruing of life. When they ſleepe, they ſeeme to ſleepe with open eyes, which is elegantly deſcribed by Philes in theſe Greeke verſes.

Opōs kathéude kai dokeī palin blepin Ophis te kai ptox kai thumou pleres león Epipetatai gar he chlamys ton ommaton Allou tinos Chitonos apaloterou. Phrorountos autois os dioptras, task-óras.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

How can the Hare, the Serpent, and the Lyon bold, Both ſleepe, and ſee together at one time? Within theyr eye-lids, a ſoft skinne their ſight doth fold, Shielding their apples, as glaſse doth weakened eyne.

The foode of Serpents that is permitted them by God, is the duſt of the earth, as may appeare by that firſt and iuſt ſentence, which GOD himſelfe gaue vpon them, for ſeducing our firſt Parents Adam and Eue, Gene: 3. 14. Becauſe thou hast doone this thing, thou art accurſed aboue all the Beasts of the field, for thou ſhalt goe vppon thy belly, and eate dust all the dayes of thy life. And againe, Eſay 65. 25. Dust ſhall be meate to the Serpent. And leaſt that we ſhould thinke that this curſe hath not taken hold vpon the Serpent, we may finde the expreſſe practiſe heereof, Michae. 7. 17. Where it is ſaid of Gods enemies, that, They ſhall licke the dust like the Serpent. Yet Aristotle affirmeth truly, that Serpents are Omninori, that is, deuourers of fleſh, fiſh, herbes, or any other thinges; howbeit, heerein they paſſe their kind, or elſe the curſe of God reacheth not to any other kinds thē to that alone which deceiued our firſt Parents.

We haue ſhewed already, how they eate and deuour men, women & children, oxen, ſheepe, and goates, but whatſoeuer they eate, they retaine nothing but the moyſture of it, and the reſidue they eiect whole and vndigeſted. VVhatſoeuer is offered them, that they take, either a bird, or a ſmall chicken, or an egge, hauing it, they take hold but of one end, as of the head of a chicke, or ſmall end of an egge, and ſo ſet it directly before them; then doe they gather themſelues together in as ſhort a compaſſe as may be, that ſo their bodies which ſeeme long and ſmall, beeing extended, may appeare great and wide, reduced into a ſhort and compacted frame. And ſurely, heereby they open and make wider their paſſage or ſwallow, for then they ſuddenly goble in the beaſt or meate before them, without any great adoe; & hauing kept it in their body till it be dryed from all moiſture, they caſt it out againe as they ſwallowed it vp, at another ordinary place. But for birds & chickens, they ſtriue with them till they haue gotten off their feathers, or els, if they ſwallowe them whole, they eiect the feathers as they doe egge-ſhells.

The Serpents of the North, doe in the Sommer time eate the fleſh of birds, & herbes, and after the eating of them, they taſt of a little water, or milke if they can attaine it, or els vvine. For this cauſe they will ſuck the vdders of Kine, or Goates, or ſheepe, as hath been ſeene in England. Yet is their appetite to drinke but ſmally, as is in all other Creatures, whoſe liuers are fungous, and ſoft like Spunges; and ſo are all beaſtes and creatures which lay egges. Aboue all kindes of drinke they loue vvine, and thereof they be drunke, wherfore in Italy they ſet pottles of vvine to entrappe Vipers: for if once they ſmell the vvine, they enter the veſſell gladly and ſpeedily, and the vvine or milke whereof they drinke, is poyſoned by them. But in thoſe places of Affrick where it neuer raineth, they eate a kinde of black moyſt vvorme, which hath many legges, as is ſaid by Theophrastus. And to conclude, their meate and drinke is ſo ſmall, that it is receiued for truth, Nullum venenatum perit fame vel ſiti, that no venomous beaſt perriſheth by hunger or thirſt.

The voyce of Serpents is called Sibilus, a hyſſing, and theyr voyce differeth from all other beaſts hyſſing, in the length thereof: for the hyſſing of a Torreiſe is ſhorter and more abrupt. Of this hyſſing voyce ſpeaketh Lucan, ſaying;

Quod ſtrident vlulant que ferae quòd ſibilat anguis.

In Engliſh thus;

Gnaſhing and howling is the voyce of wild beaſtes, Long hyſsing in Snakes and Serpents doth reſt.

Among other things notable in a Serpent, this is one, becauſe it eaſteth off his old age euery yeere, whereof the Graecians tell this fabulous reaſon. Once Man-kinde ſtroue earneſtly with the Gods, by ſupplication for a perpetuall youth, that they might neuer waxe old: and obtayning their deſire, they layd the ſame to be carried vpon an Aſſe The ſillie beaſt waxing ſore athirſt in his trauaile, at laſt came vnto a water, and thereof endeuoured earneſtly to drinke; but the keeper of the ſame water beeing a Serpent, denied leaue to the Aſſe to drinke thereof, except he would grant him his carriage, which was Perpetuall youth: The poore Aſſe ready to perriſh for thirſt, eaſily condiſcended therevnto. Whervppon the Serpent changeth her age for youth, and men their youth for old age; and the Aſſe for his puniſhment, is more tormented with thirſt then any other beaſt.

But to leaue fables, and to come more neere the marke, the Latines call the caſting of their skin, Anguina ſenectus, ſpolium ſerpentis, & vernatio: the Graecians, Opheos derma, ſuphar, leb • ris & geras: the Arabeans, Geluc & Genlut, & Fulcalhaileb: the Italians, Spoglia delle ſerpi: and the Spanyards, Pelle de la culebra. About this Snakes skinne there is great difference among Authors, ſome affirming it to be the very skinne. Other, that it is nothing but a kind of hard Leproſie, growne vpon them during the Winter time vvhile Aelianus. Greuinus. Olaus. Mag. Textor. Pliny. they lye hid. Some againe ſay, that they caſt it twiſe a yeere, firſt in the Spring, and then ſecondlie in the Autumne. But by conference of all together it appeareth, that while the Serpents lye hidde, by reaſon of their drought now in the beginning of the Spring when they come firſt abroade, they rubbe off this skinne by ſlyding betwixt two ſtones, or vnderneath ſome roote of a tree, or elſe betwixt ſome boughes or ſmall trees, beginning at the head, and ſo continuing to the tayle. And within foure and twenty houres, that which was raw and bald, beginneth to haue another skinne vppon it; and ſo as a young child or beaſt commeth out of the Secondine doth a Serpent come out of his skinne.

As concerning their eye-ſight, they naturally doe take the iuyce of Fennell, which they eate, and by that recouer their ſeeing againe: and if it happen that they cannot finde ſufficient, they rubbe their dimme eyes there-vpon. And if it happen that any of his ſcales Mercurialis be bruſed or fall ſenceleſſe, then doe they rubbe themſelues vppon the thornes of Iu •… per. And whereas it is thought that they caſt their skinnes againe in Autumne, that is to be attributed eyther to Vipers alone, which caſt their skins twice a yeere, or elſe to thoſe which Pliny. are long before they caſt, and ſo it falleth off in Harueſt or Autumne the firſt time, which by reaſon of the vnſeaſonablenes, is thought to be a ſecond coate. And this haue I my ſelfe often found heere in England in the Sommer time. The caſting of this skinne is thus elegantly deſcribed by Tibullus:

Crudeles Diui ſerpens novus exuit annos Formae non vllam fata dedere moram Anguibus exuitur tenui cum pelle vetustas Cur nos angust a conditione ſumus.

Which may thus be engliſhed;

O, cruell Gods, ſith Serpents change their yeerely age, And Fates delay not to refine their forme, Sith ſnakes with tender skinne excuſſ'd theyr yeeres enlarge, Why vnto worſer hap is Man-kind borne?

Of the inward diſpoſition of Serpents, and of their concord and diſcord with other Creatures.

IT is euer to our woe to be remembred, that which the Lord himſelfe hath left recorded in Geneſis, that, The Serpent was more ſubtile then all the beaſts which God had made. By which is expreſſed, the naturall diſpoſition of this beaſt aboue other to ſubtiltie and policie; For I cannot approoue the ſaying of them, who thinke that the deuill at the beginning, might as well haue vſed the tonge of an Aſſe or a dogge to haue deceiued Man, as well as a ſerpents; but ſurely that old Serpent knewe very well, (better then all they which ſpeake the contrary) that he could not haue ſo fit a ſubiect in all the World, as the ſhape, wit, and cunning of a Serpent. And that this came not into the Serpent at that time when the deuill framed his tongue to ſpeake, may appeare by the praecept of our Sauiour Chriſt, where he ſaith; Be wiſe as Serpents, be innocent as D • ues. For if there had not beene naturally, ſome extraordinarie faculty of vnderſtanding in this beaſt, as there is of meekenes in a Doue, his wiſedome would neuer haue ſent vs to a ſerpent poſſeſt with a deuill, but rather to ſome other ingenious Beaſt, whereof there were great ſtore in the World. And therefore I conclude, that ſubtiltie and prudence, came not to the Serpent as ſpeaking into Balaams Aſſe, but rather by nature or creation.

And yet concerning this laſt ſentence of our moſt bleſſed Sauiour, I cannot but expreſſe the words of Tzetzes, who writeth thus vpon it, Seruate capita vestra, quemadmodum ſerpens qui inſidijs petitus vapulanſque ad mortem, omnimodò caput ſuum abſcondit, ſic vos à tyrannis & impijs cruciati, caput ſeruate mihi, fidem veſtram, & ne Deum negetis vſque ad ipſam mortem: That is, it is as much as if our Sauiour Chriſt would ſay; Euen as whē a ſerpent is ſet vpon and ſtrooken, by all the meanes ſhe can ſhe hideth her head, and expoſeth all her other parts to blowes, reſeruing that ſound; ſo you, when you are perſecuted by Tyrants, preſerue your head, that is, your fayth, and deny not your God to death. And this thing is affirmed by all Writers, both diuine and humane, which haue euer touched this poynt, that aboue all the parts of the body the Serpent preſerueth his head. For Pliny ſaith, that if his body be cut off but two fingers length from his head, he will goe away as if he had no harme at all, and liue longer.

Paulus Fagius writing vpon Geneſis, ſaith; It is the opinion of ſome Haebrues, that the Serpent at the beginning did goe vpright, and was indued with all the affections of men: but this Iewiſh fable is not worthy to be confuted, becauſe humane affections cannot proceed but frō a reaſonable ſoule, which to aſcribe to the ſerpent, were blaſph • mous & abſurd. Beſides, that then the ſoule might die, and that God had created ſuch a ſoule, otherwiſe then by breathing into the body the breath of life.

Serpents haue many Epithets giuen vnto them, as illiberall, perfidious, trecherous, venomous, poyſonfull, ſtinging, implacable, furious, ſauage, mercileſſe, deuouret, and ſuch like: And indeed the holy Writers, by a Serpent doe vnderſtand implacable furie: For they are Immitiſsïmum animalium genus, a moſt vngentle and barbarous kinde of all creatures, as may appeare by the rage of a little Snake, one of the leaſt of Serpents kinde: for when he perceiueth that he is hurt or wounded, hee neuer ceaſeth caſting out his poyſon, vntill he haue done harme, or die for madnes.

Two things I find to be notable in Serpents, the firſt is proper to their kind, the ſecond is common to them with Swine, Rats and Mice. Firſt, they are aboue meaſure kinde, not onely to their young ones, but alſo to their egges. For Funckius confidently ſweareth, that at Lostorfium hee ſaw a ſerpents egge taken & caſt into a hot fornace, and when it began to fry in the ſame, whether by naturall inſtinct, or by ſmell thereof, the olde Serpent came, and would haue runne into the fire to fetch it out, but that hee and other ſtrangers by hindered her by killing her. And ſo likewiſe, if in a Wood one of them be ſet on fire, all the Serpents that are within the ſauour thereof, or within the hearing of the hyſſing, will iſta • tly gather vnto it, euen as Beaſtes when they heare one another roare. And ſo great is their loue one toward another, (as Pliny & Textor write) that it was a vulgar ſaying, Serpentium morſus non petit ſerpentes, one ſerpent will not bite another. And Iuuenall writeth;

Sed iam ſerpentum maior concordia Scilicet, quam hominum inter ſe.

That is to ſay;

Better doe ſerpents with ſerpents accord, Then Man with Man, who ſhould be their Lord.

I cannot conceale a moſt memorable hiſtorie as euer was any in the world, of a fight betwixt the Serpents of the Land and the Water. This hiſtory is taken out of a Booke of Schilt • ergerus, a Ba • arian, who knew the ſame (as he writeth) while hee was a captiue in Turky, his words are theſe. In the kingdome called Genycke, there is a Citty called Sampſon, about which while I was priſoner with Baiazeta King of Turkes, there pitched or arriued an innumerable company of Land and Water-ſerpents, compaſſing the ſaid Cittie a mile about. The Land-ſerpents came out of the vvoods of Trienick, which are great & many, and the Water-ſerpents came out of the bordering Sea. Theſe were nine dayes together aſſembling in that place, and for feare of them there was not any man that durſt goe out of the Citty, although it was not obſerued that they hurt any man, or liuing creature there-abouts. VVherefore the Prince alſo commaunded, that no man ſhould trouble them, or doe them any harme, wiſely iudging, that ſuch an accident came not but by Diuine miracle, and that alſo to ſignifie ſome notable euent. Vppon the tenth day, theſe two valiant troupes ioyned battell, early in the morning before the ſunne-riſing, ſo continuing in fight vntill the ſunne-ſet, at which time the Prince with ſome horſe-men, went out of the Cittie to ſee the battell, and it appeared to him and his aſſociates, that the Water Serpents gaue place to the Land Serpents. So the Prince and his company, returned into the Citty againe, and the next day went forth againe, but found not a Serpent aliue, for there were ſlaine aboue eyght thouſand: all which, he cauſed preſently to bee couered with earth in ditches, and afterward declared the whole matter to Baiazeta by Letters after he had gotten that Cittie, whereat the great Turke reioyced, for hee thereby interpreted happines to himſelfe.

But I haue beene too long in this firſt and proper affection of Serpents, namely, theyr mutuall concord; and this example of the Land and Water-ſerpents, doth not breake the common promiſed rule, becauſe it is to be vnderſtood of ſerpents that liue in the ſam • element. The ſecond propertie of Serpents is to preſage peſtilence, rottenneſſe of ayre, famine, floods, and ruine of thoſe places wherein they are commorant, and haue theyr abiding: Aelianus. ſo doe they knowe to chuſe a good ayre, and fore-knowe fertilitie of fruites, earthquakes, and great tempeſts. VVhen Helice was deſtroyed, fiue dayes before, the ſerpents, ſnakes, rats, mice and vveſills, departed all out thereof, beeing wiſer then men, that miſdeeming no harme, although they ſawe & wondered at theſe remooualls, yet ſtood it out to their owne vtter ruine, ouerthrow and deſtruction.

Of the friendſhip and enmitie which Serpents keepe with other Creatures.

EVer ſince the deuill entered into the Serpent, it became hatefull to all, or the moſt part of the Beaſts of the field, ſo that it may as truly be verified of the Serpent as it was of Eſau, that the hands of all men and beaſtes are againſt them, (except very few) for they are ſtrangers to all, and find very fewe or no friends. Yet it is reported, that the Serpent and the Foxe will liue peaceably together in one caue or lodging. There is a ſtory, not vnpleaſant, of a Man that found a Serpent encloſed betwixt two ſtones, and at the intreatie of the ſerpent, he looſed him out of danger, and did him no harme. The Serpent beeing releaſed and free from death, inſtead of other recompence for ſo good a turne, told the Man that hee had beene therein long time incloſed, and was very hungry, and therefore was forced (againſt his will) to make the beſt of his fortune, & therefore muſt needes eate the Man, and bad him prepare himſelfe for death. The man aſtoniſhed at this motion, replyed to the ſerpent, that he hoped hee would not deale ſo with him, hauing deliuered him from death, now to put his deliuerer to death: and ſaid moreouer, that he would not be the Iudge of his owne caſe, but referre the ſame to the next they found: and the ſerpent alſo yeelded to that iudgement, beeing aſſured that no creature would quit the man, leaſt he ſhould caſt his owne life into perrill. Forth then they went and met with an aſſe, to whom the man told the difference betwixt him and the ſerpent, howe kindly hee ſaued the ſerpents life, and how vnkindly, he againe would take away his life. And then the ſerpent bade the Aſſe conſider what iudgement hee gaue, and for whom hee ſpake. The Aſſe adiudged it lawfull for the ſerpent to kill the man. Loe now, ſaide the ſerpent, make you readie, for the matter is iudged againſt you, and withall, began to make force at him with mouth and ſting. But the man ſaid, that hee would not take this Aſſes decree for reaſonable, and therefore prayed the ſerpent to tarry yet a little longer, and to try once more the next beaſt they met withall; and the ſerpent thinking himſelfe ſure of the bootie, yeelded there-vnto. Then forth they paſſed againe, & ſhortly after met with a Fox, to whom the man related his caſe, and the benefit he had done to the ſerpent: The ſerpent againe, confeſſed he releaſed him, but withall, denyed his caſe to be as the man had ſaid, ſo deſperat, but onely he entrapped himſelfe, the better to compaſſe a bootie.

The Foxe hauing heard them both, (deſirous to end the matter for the mans benefit) would needes goe with them both, to the place where the ſerpent was incloſed, and ſo all parties conſented. And whē the Fox came thether, he bade the Serpent goe into the ſame place againe, that ſo he might the better iudge of the whole matter. The ſerpent went in againe betwixt the ſtones, and was ſo incloſed as he was before, for he could not ſtirre neither backward nor forward. Then the Foxe asked the man if this were the ſerpents caſe, from which he had deliuered him? The man anſwered yea, in all poynts. Then hee bade the ſerpent come out againe, as he ſaid hee could, without the helpe of the man. But the ſerpent called the man to helpe him againe. Nay, ſaid the Fox, I found you two at variance, becauſe of your diſcharge from this place, and ſeeing nowe you are as you were before, and the man as he was before your enlargement, my ſentence is, that when you come forth of that place you are in, then ſhall you eate the man: and if hee will let you foorth againe, I will neuer pittie him. By this fable is ſhewed, that Foxes loue not Serpents ſo well as they loue men; and yet they neuer loue men, but they are afraide, ſuſpitious, and vvilling to forſake their familiaritie.

Some ſay there is a kind of loue betwixt Serpents and Cats, whereof I finde this ſtorie in Ponzettus. There were certaine Monks, who all of them fell ſicke vpon a ſuddaine, and the Phiſitians could not tell how or whence this ſickneſſe came, except from ſome ſecrete poyſon. At laſt, one of the ſeruants of the Abbey, ſaw the Cat which was dailie fedde at Ponzettus the Monks table, to play with a ſerpent; and thereby it was coniectured, that the ſerpent hauing in his ſport, loſt or left ſome poyſon vppon the Cats skinne, the Monkes by ſtroking of the Cat were infected there-with. And the cauſe why the Catte was not harmed thereby, was for that ſhee receiued the poyſon from the ſport, and not from the anger of the ſerpent.

And this thing ſurely is not ſo maruailous, ſeeing that little Mice and Rats doe alſo play with Serpents, and heerein Politicians play the ſerpents, vvho hold correſpondence and peace both with the Catte and the Mouſe: that is, with two ſworne and naturall enemies together. The like peace and league they are alſo ſaide to keepe with Eeles, as may more plainely appeare by this following hiſtorie, of a certaine Monke, called, Rodolphus a Will Monachus Capellenſis.

There vvas (as this Monke affirmeth) one of his fellowe Monks, which did often tell him, that beeing a little boy, and vſing to ſport himſelfe by the water ſide, hee hapned to catch an Eele, which he attempted (for his owne pleaſure) to carry to another water, and by the way as he went, hee paſſed thorough a vvood, at which time when hee was in the vvood, the Eele began to hiſſe & cry mainelie, at the hearing wheteof, there gathered together very many ſerpents round about him, inſomuch that he was afraid, and ſet downe his basket faſt pinned and ranne away; afterward he came againe and ſought for his baſket, but he found not the Eele therein, wherefore it was ſuppoſed, that the Serpents deliuered the ſame Eele out of the basket, by ſome ſleight of nature: the onely doubt is, whether Eeles doe hyſſe or not, ſeeing they are fiſhes, and Omnes piſces m • ti, all fiſhes are mute or dumbe. But for anſwer to this obiection, it is moſt certaine that Ecles haue a voyce, as all they knowe which vſe fiſhing in the night; for I my ſelfe, haue not onely heard ſuch a voyce in the night time in Riuers, and other waters where Eeles abounded, but haue had it confirmed by diuers other, of greater practiſe & experience in fiſhing. The reaſon wherof, may be their manner of generation; for they engender not by ſpawne as other fiſhes, but of the ſlyme of the earth or vvater, and differ not frō ſerpents in their externall forme, except in their colour, and therefore may be ſaid to partake with fiſhes & ſerpents in both their natures: that is, hauing a voyce like a ſerpent, & a ſubſtance like a fiſh. Such is theyr confederacie with liuing Creatures, and with no more that I euer read or heard of.

But moreouer, it is ſaid that they loue ſome plants or herbes aboue meaſure, as the Fenell and Iuy; and for this latter, both Pliny and Textor, doe not without great cauſe wonder, that euer there was any honour aſcribed or giuen to the Iuy, ſeeing that ſerpents (the moſt vnreconcileable enemies of man-kind) delight ſo much therein. But herein the deuil blinded their reaſon, as hee did the modeſt women that worſhipped Priapus, or the Tartars, which at this day worſhip the deuill, to the end that he ſhould do thē no harme. Thus much I can onely ſay of the friends and louers of Serpents, by the multitude whereof wee may coniecture, how among other parts of the curſe of God vpon them, they are held accurſed both by man and beaſt.

Now then it followeth, that we enter into a more particular deſcription, or rather a relation of that hatred which is betweene them and other creatures, and firſt I will beginne with their arch enemie, I meane Man-kind. For vvhen GOD at the beginning did pronounce his ſentence againſt the Serpent, for deceiuing our firſt Parents, among other things he ſaid, I will put enmity betwixt thee and the Woman, betwixt thy ſeed & the womans ſeede. Whereby he did ſignifie that perpetuall warre, and vnappeaſeable diſcord, vvhich ſhould be for euer (by his owne appoyntment) betwixt them. And the truth heereof is to be ſeene at this day, for by a kind of ſecret inſtinct, and naturall motion, a man abhorreth the ſight of a Serpent, & a ſerpent the ſight of a man. And as by the tongue of the ſerpent, was wrought mans confuſion, ſo by the ſpettle of a mans tongue, is wrought a ſerpents aſtoniſhment. For indeed ſuch is the ordinance of God, that men & Serpents, ſhould euer annoy and vexe each other. And this, Eraſmus ſaith ſhall continue, as long as meminerimus illius inauſpicati pomi, we ſhall remember that vnfortunate Apple.

Iſidorus ſaith, that ſerpents are afraid of a man naked, but will leape vpon, and deuoure a man clothed. Which thing is alſo affirmed by Olaus Magnus, for he ſaith, that when he was a boy hee often tryed it, that when hee was naked, hee found little or no reſiſtance in ſerpents, and did ſafely without all danger combat with them hand to hand. I my ſelfe alſo in my younger time, when I was about tenne or twelue yeeres old, vſed many times in At Seauenoake in Kent, which novve belongs to Sir Raphe Boſsevile, Knight. &c. the Spring and Sommer time, to waſh my ſelfe with other my colleagues, in certaine fiſh-ponds, wherein I haue ſeene and met with diuers water-ſnakes, without all harme; and I did neuer in my life, heare of any harme they did to any of my fellowes beeing naked, neither did I euer ſee any of them runne away ſo faſt on the Land, as they did fly from vs in the vvater; and yet are not the vvater-ſnakes leſſe hurtfull then the Land-Adders. And this was well knowne to many.

About the beginning or Fountaine Springs of Euphrates, it is ſaid, that there are certaine ſerpents which know ſtrangers from the people of the Country, wherefore they doe Aelianus. Pliny. no harme to the naturall borne Country-men, but with ſtrangers, & men of other countryes they fight with might and maine. And along the bankes of Euphrates in Syria, they alſo do the like; ſauing that if they chaunce to be trode vpon by any of the people of thoſe parts, they bite (like as a dogge doth) without any great harme; but if any other, forrainer or ſtranger annoy them, they alſo repay him with malice, for they bite him, and intollerably vexe him; wherefore the Country-men nouriſh them, and doe them no harme. Such as theſe are alſo found in Tirinthus, but they are very little ones, and are thought to be engendered of the earth.

The firſt manifeſtation in nature, of mans diſcord with ſerpents, is their venom; for as in a ſerpent there is a venome which poyſoneth a man: ſo in a man, there is the venom of his ſpittle, which poyſoneth a ſerpent. For if the faſting ſpittle of a man, fall into the iawes of a ſerpent, he certainly dieth thereof. And of this, thus writeth the Poet Lucretius.

Est vtique vt ſerpens, hominis quae tacta ſaliuis. Diſperit, ac ſeſe mandendo conficit ipſa.

In Engliſh thus;

As ſerpent dyeth when ſpittle of man he tasteth, Gnaſhing his teeth to eate himſelfe he wasteth.

The cauſe of this, the Philoſophers (which knew nothing of Adams fall, or the forbidden Apple) doe aſſigne to be in the contrarietie, betwixt the liuing ſoules or ſpirits of theſe Creatures: for the Serpents life is cold and dry, and the humane life hote & moyſt, wherfore either of both abhorreth one the other; and the ſerpent leapeth as farre from a mans Pierius. ſpittle, as it would doe out of a veſſell of ſcalding water.

Agatharcides writeth, that there was a King in Affrick called Pſyllus, whoſe Sepulchre was preſerued in the greater Syrtes. From this King there were certaine people named Pſyllians, in whoſe bodies there was a certaine inbred and naturall power to kill, or at the leaſt to aſtoniſh Serpents, Spiders, Toades, and ſuch like, and lay them for dead, euen by the ſauour or ſmell of them. And the manner of theſe men, to try the chaſtitie of theyr wiues, was to take their children newly borne, and to caſt them vnto direfull Serpents, for if they were of the right line, & lawfully begotten, then did the ſerpents die before them, but if they were adulterous, and the children of ſtrangers, the ſerpents would eate and deuoure them. Pliny affirmeth, that euen in his dayes, there were ſome of thoſe people aliue among the Naſomons, who deſtroyed many of them, & did poſſeſſe their places; yet ſome running from death, eſcaped. Generally, ſuch people were called Marſi and Pſilli, for the Marſi were a people of Italy, deſcended of Circes (as is ſaid) in whom there was a vertue to cure all the ſtinging of ſerpents, by touching the wounded places. Such ſaith Crates Pergamenus, are in Helleſpont, about the Riuer Parius. And ſome are of opinion, that at the beginning they were Ophiogenes, borne or bred of Serpents; or that ſome great Noble man, father of that country, was of a ſerpent made a man. And Varro ſaith, that in his time there were ſome few men aliue, in whoſe ſpettle was found that vertue, to reſiſt & cure the poyſon of venomous beaſts.

But hauing named Ophiogenes, or Anguigenae, that is, men bred of ſerpents or ſnakes, I ſee no cauſe why it ſhould be iudged, that thoſe which cure ſerpents poyſon, ſhould be ſo miſiudged; for to cure poyſon, is not the worke of poyſon, but of an Antidote, or contrary power to poyſon: and therefore curers & reſiſters of poyſon, are without all learning called Ophiogenes, that is, ſerpents broode: but rather, that terme belongeth more iuſtlie to thoſe people, whoſe nature is ſociable with ſerpents, and ſerpents agree with them, as they would doe with their own kind. Such an one was Exagon the Embaſſadour at Rome, who at the commandement of the Conſuls, (for their experience) was caſt naked into a veſſell or tunne of ſnakes, who did him no harme, but licked him with their tongues, and ſo with great miracle, he was let foorth againe vntouched: and yet there is no more reaſon to ſay, that this man was borne of the linage of ſerpents, becauſe thoſe Men-enemies did not hurt him, then it was to ſay, that Daniell was borne of Lyons, becauſe that the Lyons did not harme him. Or that Romulus and Remus were borne of the kindred of Wolfes, becauſe a ſhee Wolfe did nouriſh thē. VVe do read of many people in the world, which were ſurnamed of Serpents, all which may as well be deemed to be diſcended of ſuch creatures, becauſe of their name, as well as the other, who were by GOD, for their innocencie preſerued from death.

Ebuſus was called Colub •• xia, and the people thereof Ophiuſſae, and in Arabia we reade of the Ophiades, both which are deriued from Serpents, called in Greeke Opheis. Euſtathius alſo relateth a ſtory of a man called Ophis. I omit to ſpeake of the Ophitae and others; yet thus much I muſt needs ſay, that commonly ſuch names haue been giuen to Serpents, for ſome cauſe or accident, either fainedly or truly deriued from Serpents. So wee read of Ophion, a companion of Cadmus, and a builder of Thebes, who was ſaid to be made by Pallas of a Dragons tooth. Likewiſe the Spartanes were called Ophiodeiroi by Pythius, becauſe Caelius Rho • in a famine they were conſtrained to eate Serpents.

S. Augustine maketh mention of certaine blaſphemous Haereticks, who were called Ophitae, becauſe they worſhipped a Serpent, & ſaid that the ſerpent which deceiued our firſt Parents Adam and Euah, was Chriſt. Wherefore they kept a Serpent in a Caue, whom they did nouriſh and worſhippe, which at the charme of the Prieſt would come out of his Caue, and licke the oblations which they ſet vppon his denne; rowling and folding himſelfe round about them, and then would goe in againe: then did theſe abhominable Haereticks breake theſe oblations into the Euchariſt, and receiue them as ſanctified by the ſerpent. And ſuch alſo is the ſtorie of Caelius Rhod: where hee termeth the great deuill Ophioneus, whom both holy Scripture, and auncient Heathen ſay, that hee fell out of Heauen. But all theſe things are but by the way, vpon occaſion of that vnnaturall conceit of thoſe men called Ophiogenes: that is, deſcended or begotten by Serpents. Therefore I will returne where I left, namely, to the hatred of Men to Serpents, and of Serpents to Men againe: In teſtimonie whereof, there haue beene mutuall ſlaughters, namely men, which haue killed monſtrous ſerpents, and ſerpents which haue killed men againe.

Hercules beeing but an Infant, (as Poets faine) killed thóſe two ſerpents which Iuno ſent to his cradle to deſtroy him; for Iuno is ſaide to be much offended at his birth, becauſe hee was begotten by Iupiter vppon Al • mena: and therefore there was reſerued the Image of Diod. Sicul. Hercules at Athens, ſtrangling a ſerpent. But Pierius maketh of this fiction a good morall or Hieroglyphick, when he ſaith, that by Hercules ſtrangling of the ſerpents in his cradle, is vnderſtood, how thoſe men which are borne for any great enterpriſes, ſhould kill their pleaſures while they be young. I neede not to ſtand long vpon this poynt, for it is euident, that to this day there are many Hyades, both men and women, which are not afraid to kill the Serpents broode. But ſuch as haue perriſhed by ſerpents, I meane men of any note, are alſo expreſſed, whereof Ouid writeth of A • lacos the ſonne of Priamus and Alixothoes, who following the Nymph Heſperia, (with whom hee was in loue) was ſuddainly killed by a ſnake biting his foote. So were Apaeſantus, Munitus, Eurydice, Laocoon, Opheltes the ſonne of Lycurgus King of Nemea, Orestes, Idmon and Mopſus, were ſlaine by ſerpents: vvherof Opheltes, by the negligence of his Nurſe Hypſiphiles, leauing him vngarded in his cradle.

It is recorded by Aelianus and Pliny, that when a ſerpent hath killed a man, he can neuer more couer himſelfe in the earth, but in puniſhment of ſo vile an offence, wandereth to and fro ſubiect to infinite miſeries and calamities, beeing not acknowledged by his female if he be a male, nor yet by the male if it be a female; and is forſaken of all his crew or ſocietie. The earth it ſelfe, not dayning to entertaine a man-murtherer into her bowels, but conſtraining him to liue Winter and Sommer abroad vppon the open earth. And thus hath the Diuine prouidence diſpenſed his iuſtice, that hee ſuffereth not murther of men to be vnpuniſhed among the greateſt haters and enemies of men.

What monſters therefore are they which haue ſerpents in their delights, and admire that in them vvhich ſhould be hated of all men. And how baſe were thoſe minded Graecians, Aelianus. which worſhipped the Serpent for a God? Or the Athenians, which kept a Serpent in their Temple, for an opinion that the ſame did conſerue their Tower or Caſtle from all Herodotus Aeneas Syl: enmity. Iupiter was alſo worſhipped in many places in the ſhape of a Serpent. And the auncient Boruſsians, worſhipped a naturall Serpent of the earth. It is ſtrange to conſider the errour of the King of Calechut, who doth as ſeuerely puniſh the ſlaughter of a Serpent, as hee doth the ſlaughter of a Man; and not onely reſtraineth his ſubiects from harming them, but alſo buildeth for them little coates, wherein they ſafely lodge in the winter time. And the cauſe of this errour, is their conceit, that they thinke ſerpents are Diuine powers dropped out of Heauen, which they proue, becauſe when they ſting fiercely, they quickly kill, and diſpatch their enemie ſuddainly. Wherfore they thinke that no creature can kill ſo ſpeedily, except an Angell of God. Some of the Heathen, had their Ophiocephale beaſts with Serpents heads, which they did worſhip for a God. And the Poet Virgil hath an excellent deſcription of Aeneas, his ſacrificing to the ghoſt of his Father Anchiſes. Gellius.

—adytis tum lubricus anguis ab-imis Septem ingens gyros ſeptena volumina traxit Amplexus placide tumulum lapſuſque per aras Ceruleae cui terga notae, maculoſus & auro Squammam incendebat fulgor: ceu nubibus ar • us Mille trahit varios aduerſo ſole colores Obstupuit viſu Aeneas, ille agmine longo Tandem interpateras, & laeuia pocula ſerpens Libauitque dapes, rurſuſque innoxius imo Succeſsit tumulo, & depaſta altaria liquit.

Which may be thus engliſhed;

Then from the hollow holes, a ſlyding ſnake appeared, Which ſeauen waies did wind and turne, and dead-mans tombe embrace, Glyding along the Altar from, and backe, with colour cleered, By ſunne-ſhine-light, like ſpots of gold each varied to the face A thouſand hiewes, whereat Aeneas maruayled: but yet at last, This ſnake the holy diſhes, and ſmoothest cups of choyce Did haſt to touch, like as it would the ſacreds tast, And ſo ſunck downe from Altar cleane, without both harme or noyſe.

And to make an end of this Section, of the Antipathy betwixt Men and Serpents, that whoſoeuer is of the Womans ſeede, may profeſſe himſelfe an enemy to the Serpent, let him but conſider how that hatefull monſter Heliogabalus, hauing by the helpe of the Marſicke-Priestes Pampridius gathered together many ſerpents, one day in the morning, vvhen the people were gathered together to ſee ſome rare & vnheard of ſpectacle, ſuddenly he let looſe the ſerpents, and hurt many of the people. Tzetzes telleth another ſtory, of a deuiſe or vvarlike ſtratagem, how ſerpents by ſlings or trunks, were ſent abrode among the Campes of their enemies. So doth Galen, of ſerpents included in an earthen pot, and caſt like dartes among the Tents of the Romanes. And ſo did Anniball ſhevv to Antiochus, how in a battell by ſea, he might ſhoote ſerpents among the Marriners to his enemies, and hinder their rowing: for when he did follow the ſame deuiſe at Pruſiae, he went away Victor & Conquerour. And thus I will conclude this part, with the Emblem of Alciatus, which hee wrote vnto the Duke of Millan, vppon his Armes, beeing an Infant proceeding out of a Snakes iavves. Pierius.

Exiliens Infans ſinuoſi è faucibus anguis, Est gentilitijs nobile ſtemma tuis. Talia Pelleum geſsiſſe numiſmata regem. Vidimus, hiſque ſuum concelebraſſe genus Dum ſe Ammone ſatum, matrem anguis imagine luſam. Diuini & ſobolem numinis eſſe docet. Ore exit, tradunt ſic quoſdam enitier angues, An quia ſic Pallas de capite orta Iouis.

In Engliſh thus;

Out of the mouth of winding ſnake, Great Duke, this is thy Crest, A leaping Infant making ſcape From iawes, a wofull rest: The like Coate did Pelleus King Vpon his ſiluer preſſe, As we haue ſeene, the fame to ſing Of Kindreds worthineſſe. For whiles of Ioue he glorieth. Deſcended of his race, He faines his Mother like a ſnake, Borne of Diuineſt grace. But why proceeding from the mouth? Some Serpents ſo are bred, Or els, that Pallas iſſueth Out of great Ioue his head.

And the like by the ſame Author is expreſſed vpon this theame, That the wiſdom of man, is fooliſhnes with GOD; therefore vppon the vnnaturall coniunction of two mortall enemies, framed into one bodie, he thus writeth elegantly:

Quid dicam quodnam hoc compellem nomine Monstrum? Biforme quod non est homo, nec est draco. Sed ſine vir pedibus, ſummis ſine partibus anguis Vir angui-pes dici, & homiceps anguis potest: Anguem pedit homo, hominem ructauit & anguis Nec finis hominis est initium, nec est fera. Sic olim Cecrops doctis regnauit Athenis. Sic & Gigantes terra Mater protulit Haec vafrum ſpecies, ſed & religione carentem Terrena tantum quique curet, iuduat.

That is to ſay;

What ſhall I call? or how this Monster rightly name? Biformed, which nor man nor dragon, in all the ſame. But man vnlegged, and ſnake vnheaded: doubtful parts, Man-ſnake, ſnake-man, exceeding humane arts. Mans tayle breedes ſnake, & ſnake a man vp-casteth, On end is not of man, nor other of wild beast tasteth. Such one was Cecrops, learned Athens King, And Gyants ſuch did earthly mother bring. Miſhapen then, an earthly mind expreſseth, Deuoyde of grace, for worlds good onely wiſheth.

Thus then I will leaue to talke of our moſt iuſt (& by GOD ordained) hoſtilitie, betwixt men and ſerpents, and deſcend to a particular diſcouery, hovve Serpents and other beaſtes, are for mans ſake at the like enmitie. And firſt of all I will begin with the Foules, and ſo diſcend to foure-footed Beaſtes, and inſects, or imperfect creatures.

Eagles are alwaie in warre with Serpents, from an high they eſpy them, and ſuddainly flye downe vppon them, vvith a great noyſe or cry, tearing out their bovvels, and caſting aſide their venom or poyſon. And ſome (as Albertus) ſay, that they will in particuler deale with Vipers, Tygres & Dragons, when ſhe ſeeth them hunting thoſe ſmall beaſts or birdes vvhich are her pray. This fight is thus deſcribed by Virgill, howe the Eagle griping the ſerpent in her talant, flyeth vp into the ayre.

Vtque volans altè raptum cum vulua dracone •• Fert Aquila, implicuitque pedes, atque vnguibus haeſit Saucius et ſerpens, ſinuoſa volumina verſat, Arrectis horret ſquaemnus, & ſibilat ore. Arduus, inſurgens: illa haud minus vrget adunc • Luct antem rostro, ſimul aethera verberat ali •

In Engliſh thus;

As Eagle flyeth on high, and in her clawes a Dragon beareth, Folded within her feete, wounded, dying to her talants cleaueth. The ſerpent fierce now windeth round, and with her head erected, Hyſsing out threats, rough ſcales vpſetteth that were deiected, To fright her fo: but all in vaine, for ſhe with beake doth ſtriue, And beate the ayre with wings of force, till Dragon ceaſe to liue.

There is in the ſeauenth Booke of Aelianus hiſtorie of liuing Creatures, a notable and elegant ſtory, of an Eagle which was almoſt ouercome by a Serpent, and yet preſerued & made Conquerour by a man. There was (ſaith hee) ſixteene men which were threſhing of corne in the heate of the ſunne, by reaſon whereof they became very thirſtie, then they agreed to ſend one of their company to a Fountaine not farre off, to fetch ſome water for them all to drinke; and ſo the meſſenger comming to the Fountaine, found an Eagle almoſt killed by a Serpent: for whiles frō an high ſhe beheld the ſerpent, beeing more greedie of the pray for to feede her young, then vvarie to auoyde danger, fell downe vpon her bootie, which was too ſtrong for her; for the ſerpent receiued her aduerſary with fell force, power, and preparation to ſtifle her, and ſo indeede ſhe had accompliſhed, had not by chance this threſher come vnto them: for the ſerpent had ſo enſnared and wrapped vp the Eagle with her long body, that ſhe was neerer ad pereundum quam ad perdendum, that is, to be killed, then to kill, or get a pray. The man beholding the ſight, with his ſickle cut aſunder the ſerpent, and ſo deliuered the Eagle: but how the Eagle required the man, ſhall be ſhewed in the hiſtory of the Eagle.

In the Mountaines of Morfilium, there are great ſtore of great Serpents, which are very dangerous, but there are alſo great vvhite Eagles, which doe eate and deſtroy them. Some ſay that the Vulture doth alſo deſtroy ſerpents, but heerein I cannot be ſatisfied, for all Eagles doe not hunt after this game, but onely the leſſer ſort of them. Eagles whē they build their neſt to breed in, they ſeeke out a certaine ſtone called Aëtites, the vertue wherof P. Uen • tus A •• ſtotle Philoſtratus keepeth ſerpents from their young, and alſo make their egges fruitfull, ſo as it is a verie rare thing for Eagles to haue a rotten egge.

All kindes of great Hawkes, Buſſards, & Kites, are alſo enemies to ſerpents, ſnakes, & Adders, and the Kites will eate them, if they find thē aliue or dead, as I my ſelfe haue often ſeene by experience. The Storkes alſo doe hunt after ſerpents, wherefore in Theſsalie, Solinus. it is as vnlawfull to kill a Storke as to kill a man; for they haue many deuiſes to catch Serpents, and all venomous beaſts, and thereof to eate without harming themſelues: and not onely eate themſelues, but giue thereof to their young ones, as Iuuenall witneſſeth.

—Serpente ciconia pullos nutrit Et inuenta per deuiarura lacerta.

In Engliſh thus;

The Storke her young ones, according to kind, In Serpents and Lizzards, doe their meate find.

Sometime they fight together irefully, & the ſerpent ſtrangleth the ſtorke by twyning about her necke; againe, the ſtorke killeth the ſerpent by pecking vppon her head, and ſo ſometimes they are both found dead together. As the Eagle hath the ſtone Aëtites, ſo hath the ſtorke Lychnites, to defend herſelfe and her young ones from the rage of ſerpents. There is (as Oppianus writeth in his Ix • nticis) this vulgar ſtory in Italy. There was a certaine ſerpent, which came two yeeres together to the neſtes of diuers ſtorkes & deſtroyed theyr young ones, neither could all the ſtorkes make ſufficient force againſt her with all their might to ſaue their broode. The third yeere the ſerpent came againe to attempt the like ſlaughter; but there among the ſtorkes ſhee found a certaine ſtrange Bird neuer ſeene before, being ſhorter then the ſtorkes, and yet had a great long ſharpe bill, as ſharpe as the poynt of any ſword. This bird (as it ſeemeth) was brought thether by the ſtorkes to guard their young ones, when the Parents were gone abroade to forrage for them. Then, as ſoone as the young ones were hatcht, out commeth the Serpent from his hole, and beginneth to aſſaile the neſts of the ſtorkes, but the guardian bird, (according to the truſt committed to her) reſiſted the ſerpent, and pecked at her mortally with her ſharpe beake. The ſerpent to end his aduerſary, nimblie aduaunced himſelfe vpright, & endeuoured to reach the bird; but the warie bird, ſoared ſo high aboue his reach, that the langrell ſerpent could not catch him, & ſo they continued in fight, till at laſt the bird killed the ſerpent, after that the ſerpent had once onely faſtened his venomed teeth vpon the bird, which afterward ſo wrought vpon this bird, that all her feathers did flie off from her backe.

But of all other Fowles enemies to ſerpents, there is none greater or more deadlie, then the bird called Ibis, which the Egyptians doe wonderfully honour; for when ſwarmes of Philes Marcedi. Simocratus Diodorus Zoroaſter. ſerpents come into Egypt out of the Arabian gulfes and fennes, theſe birds meete and deſtroy them: and there is ſuch an admirable feate in ſerpents of theſe birdes, that they doe not onely tremble, and fall ſenceleſſe at their ſight, but alſo at the ſight of their feathers: they do harme to no other liuing thing, except Locuſts and Caterpillers, wherefore they are worthily nouriſhed, and called Inimicae et populatores ſerpentum, enemies and deſtroyers of ſerpents.

All kind of Pullen, as Cocks and Hennes, are likewiſe enemies to the broode of ſerpents. And a good couragious cock, (as Columella ſaith) is able to kill and reſiſt a ſerpent. For, (as Rondoletius ſaith) he hath found in the croppe or craw of pullen, young ſerpents deuoured by them. But from whence Albertus had his relation, that a Henne cannot be hurt that day by a ſerpent wherein ſhe layeth an egge, I cannot tell, and therefore leaue it to the Reader to beleeue or refuſe.

And it is alſo ſaid, that the fleſh of hennes applyed to the bitings of ſerpents, doth cure Creſcentius them, or els cauſe a hen to ſitte vpon the wounded place; but if the beaſt which is wounded, be a cow with calfe, or any ſuch other femall with young, how ſoeuer it fareth with the old one, ſurely the young ones ſhall perriſh.

There is alſo another bird, which for his combatting with ſerpents, is termed Ophiomachus, a fighter with ſerpents. Although Geſner be of opinion, that Ophiomachus neuer ſignifieth Textor. a Bird. Of this Bird the Septuagints make mention, Leuit. 11. but many of the better learned, doe interpret it for a Lizard, or a Locuſt, or an Ichneumon. The Peacocke alſo is a terrour to ſerpents, ſo as they will not abide within the hearing of his voyce, for it is at perpetuall fewde with all venomous beaſtes. And the Vulture, as wee ſaid before, is a terrour vnto them, inſomuch as one of their feathers burned, will by the ſauour of the ſmoake driue away the ſerpent. And to conclude, the Swallowes alſo are at variance with the ſerpents broode, for the ſnake will creepe vp to the ſwallowes neſt, & therein ſuddenly ſurprize the young, for the old ones will flye away chattering, and chirping in mournfull ſort, not beeing able to hinder or reſiſt their chicke-deuouring foes. But at the laſt, when they ſee all their young ones diſpatched, as if they could not endure to liue for ſorrow, or els thinking it poſſible to fly into the ſnakes belly to fetch out againe their deuoured young ones, they fall downe vpon their enemies iawes, doing what they can to make them deuoure and ſwallow them vp alſo. And thus much for the hatred betwixt fowles Oppianus and ſerpents: Wherein, although they kill the ſerpent, either in their owne defence, or els for rauen & pray, yet may we admire the prudence of the moſt mightie Creator, who hath ſo diſpoſed of his power, that he cauſeth the fowles of heauen, to reuenge mans quarrell vpon the ſerpents of the earth, by whoſe ſubtiltie man was plucked from heauen, and they made ſubiect to corruption.

In the next place, God hath alſo framed an oppoſition betwixt ſerpents, & the beaſts of the earth and water, which liue with ſerpents in the ſame Element, that ſo they might be both annoyed at home and abroade. I will therefore beginne with the dogge, who is a notable enemie to the ſerpents, as I my ſelfe haue ſeene many in England, for hee vvill earneſtly ſeeke them out with noſe and foote, both in waters, dunghills, and hedges, and when he hath found any one, he will ſuddainly ſnatch him into his mouth, biting him about the middle, & ſo holding it in equall poyſe, will fling and ſhake it about his eares very faſt and violently, till hee perceiue it can ſtirre no more, and then ſuddainly againe letteth it fall out of his mouth to the earth, but if it beginne to ſtirre, he ſnatcheth it vp againe, and ſhaketh it about his eares as before, and ſo neuer giueth ouer till it appeare dead: but they ſildome kill them, onely they aſtoniſh them, and ſo may a young childe knock out theyr braines. Howbeit, when they fight in defence of their Maiſters, then they kill them, by byting them in peeces. And yet is it more ſafe for them, to aſtoniſh them, and leaue them for dead, by ſhaking them about their eares, then by biting them in pecces, for that commonly then, while they ſhare them aſunder, they are ſtung or bitten by the ſerpent. And this I haue ſeene often in mine owne experience. But one of the greateſt enemies of Serpents, are Harts, a timorous beaſt of all other, and yet greedie to combat with the ſerpent, vvherefore I will briefely deſcribe this their war and hatred, out of Solinus, Aclianus, Plutarch, and Oppianus.

The Hart will greedily follow out the path of the ſerpent, and finding it lodged in his denne or hole, by the vertue of his noſe draweth it out of the earth, and thereof ſome haue deriued Elaphos a Hart, of Elanein tous opheis, that is, driuing away of ſerpents. And herein I thinke it not reaſon to follow the opinion of Aclianus, who intreating of Harts drawing ſerpents out of the earth, ſaith; that the ſerpent is inticed and allured out of her hole, by the breath of the Hart, as by a Philtre or Cup of loue; for ſeeing that there is ſo great an hoſtilitie, and antipathy in nature, betwixt their whole diſpoſition, howe can it come from any ſecret ſympathy, that the ſerpent (which is the ſubtilleſt of all beaſtes) ſhould be bewitched with the loue of his enemies breath? But if it be ſaid that Serpents, which are by nature very cold, can eaſily be drawne forth by a warmer breath, as it were by the ſweet beames of the hot ſunne; how then falleth it not out, that when any other beaſt breatheth vpon their lodging, and into their dennes, they are not remooued? But let it be granted, that the warmeneſſe of the Harts breath maketh him forſake his denne, yet it cannot be aſcribed to any ſecret in nature, as if there were a fire of loue in the Harts throat or bones, but onely from the naturall concomitant qualitie of heate, with expiration, reſpiration, & inſpiration: and therefore I cannot but conclude, that there is not any poſſibilitie or probabilitie in nature, that where the ſpirits, which take and make the breath, are at ſuch variance, there the breath proceeding from the one aduerſary, ſhould ſo inchaunt & beguile the other.

But the true cauſe of this extraction of ſerpents out of their lodgings, is as I coniecture, not her warme breath, that allureth, nor yet ſcorcheth and burneth her aduerſary, but that when the Hart hath found the denne of the Serpent, by her violent attraction of the ayre out from the ſerpent, ſhe enforceth it for the ſafegard of life to follow it out of the denne. As when a veſſell is broched, or vented, the vvine followeth the flying ayre; or as a Cupping-glaſſe draweth blood out of a ſcarified place of the body: and ſo is a ſerpent againſt her will, drawne to followe the breath of her deſtroyer. Oribaſius and Gunterius, doe ſubſcribe vnto this opinion, and take it for moſt conſonant to reaſon and truth, and therfore I will not follow it any further: for by the ſelfe ſame manner doe the Sea-Rammes drawe the Sea calfes out of their lodgings among the Rocks vnder the earth, for when they haue found the Calfe, they keepe them from ayre, and preuent their refrigeration.

When the ſerpent ſeeth himſelfe ſo drawne forth by his aduerſarie, hee beeing aboue meaſure incenſed to rage, flyeth away, and maketh his poyſon more noyſome, violent & powerfull, for which cauſe, there was wont to be a prouerbiall caueat or warning: Caue ne incideris in ſerpentem, quum extracta à latebris anhelitu cerui, effugerit, tum enim propter iracundiam vehementius ei venenum est. Take heede leaſt you meete with a ſerpent flying away from the Hart, after ſhe is drawne out of her denne by her breath, for then, by reaſon of her rage, her poyſon is more ſorcible. But I will proceede to the more ſtrange & wonderfull combat betwixt ſerpents and Harts. For when the ſerpent perceiueth the vnauoidable danger, and that ſhe muſt needes fight for her life, ſhe hyſſeth ſtrongly, lifting vp her head from the earth, euen to the throat of the Hart, & thereat catcheth & gnaſheth with her teeth; but on the other ſide, the valiant Hart, (if ſuch a word may be giuen to a fearefull beaſt) as it were deriding his aduerſaries weake endeuours to harme, ſuffereth the ſerpent to wind about his breaſt and belly, and to embrace both necke and legges with his long and weake bodie, that ſo he may haue the more power vpon it, for he teareth it into an hundred peeces.

But the moſt ſtrange combats, are betwixt the Harts and Serpents of Libia, where hatred hath his deepeſt footing, for there the ſerpents watch the Hart when he lyeth downe to ſleepe vpon the ground, and beeing a multitude of them, ſet vpon him altogether, faſtning their poyſonfull teeth in euery part of his skinne, ſome on his neck and breaſts, ſome on his ſides and backe, ſome on his legges, and ſome hanging vpon his priuie partes, byting him with mortall rage, to end and ouerthrow him. The poore Hart beeing thus oppreſſed with multitude, and aſſailed without any warning to the battell, in vaine attempteth to runne away, for their cold earthy bodies, winding tayles, and pinching teeth, hinder his wonted pace, and ouer-charge his ſtrength: whereat beeing forced to quite himſelfe in the beſt manner he can, enraged with teeth, feete and hornes, aſſaileth his enemies, whoſe ſpeares and arrowes of teeth and ſtinges, ſticke ſo faſt in his body; tearing them in peeces which he can touch with his teeth, beating others aſunder where he can reach thē with his hornes, and trampling vnder his feete thoſe which cleaue to his lower parts: and yet ſuch is the rage and dauntleſſe courage, or rather hatred of theſe enemies, not willing to die alone, (but like Champions to end their liues vppon and with their aduerſarie) doe ſtill hold faſt, and euen when their bodies are beaten in peeces, their heads ſticke cloſe, and hang ſharpe vpon the Harts skinne, as though they would grow with him, and neuer fall off, till he ſhould alſo fall downe dead. But the Hart feeling ſome eaſe, and hauing by the ſlaughter of their bodies deliuered his feete from thraldome, by a diuine naturall inſtinct, flyeth and runneth faſt to ſome adioyning fountaine, where hee ſeeketh for Sea-crabbes, whereof he maketh a medicine, that ſhaketh off their heads which cleaue ſo faſt vnto him, and alſo cureth all their wounds and poyſon. This valiant courage is in Harts againſt ſerpents, neuer yeelding, tyring, or giuing ouer, and yet otherwiſe, are afraid of Hares and Connyes by nature.

But what is the cauſe of this hoſtilitie betwixt Harts and ſerpents? is it for meate, or for medicine and cure? Surely they would abhorre to eate them, if it were not for health and naturall medicine, for ſometimes the pores of their body are dulled and ſhut vp, ſomtimes the wormes of their belly, doe aſcend vp into the roofe of their mouthes while they chew the cudde, and there cleaue faſt; for remedie whereof, the Hart thus afflicted, runneth about to ſeeke for ſerpents, for the eating of a ſerpent cureth this maladie. Pliny ſaith, that when the Hart waxeth old, and perceiueth that his ſtrength decayeth, haire changeth, & his bodie beginnes to be feeble, then for the renewing of his ſtrength, he firſt deuoureth a ſerpent, and afterward runneth to ſome fountaine of water, wherof when he hath drunk, he findeth a ſenſible alteration, both in horne, haire, and whole bodie. And this thing is alſo deliuered by the Writer of the Gloſſe vpon the 42 Pſalme, which beginneth, Like as the Hart deſireth the water ſprings, ſo longeth my ſoule after my GOD. But for the ending of this queſtion, we muſt conſider and remember, that there are two kinds of Harts, one eateth ſerpents, and feeling the poyſon to worke, ſtraight-way by drinking caſteth vp the poyſon againe, or elſe cureth himſelfe by couering all his body ouer in water. The other kind onely by nature killeth a ſerpent, but after victorie forbeareth to eate it, and returneth againe to feede in the Mountaines. And thus much for the diſcorde betwixt Harts and Serpents.

In the next place, great is the variance betwixt Serpents, Dragons & Elephants, wherof Pliny & Solinus write as followeth. When the Elephants, called Serpent-killers, meete with the Dragons, they eaſily tread them in peeces, and ouer-come them, wherefore the Dragons and greater ſerpents, vſe ſubtiltie in ſtead of might, for when they haue found the path, and common way of an Elephant, they make ſuch deuiſes therein to intrap him, as a man would thinke they had the deuiſe of men to helpe them, for with their tayles they ſo enſnare the way, that when the beaſt commeth, they entangle his legges as it were in knots of ropes; now when the beaſt ſtoopeth downe with his trunke to looſe and vntie them, one of them ſuddenly thruſteth his poyſoned head into his trunke, whereby hee is ſtrangled. The other alſo, (for there are euer many which lye in ambuſh) ſet vpon his face, byting out his eyes, and ſome at his tender belly: ſome wind themſelues about his throat, and all of them together, ſting, bite, teare, vex & hang vpon him, vntill the poore beaſt, emptied of his blood, and ſwollen with poyſon in euery part, fall downe dead vppon his aduerſaries, and ſo by his death kill them at his fall and ouerthrow, whom hee could not ouer-come beeing aliue. And whereas Elephants (for the moſt part) goe together in flocks and troupes, the ſubtile ſerpents doe let paſſe the formoſt of euery rancke, and ſette onely vpon the hindermoſt, that ſo one of the Elephants may not helpe another; & theſe ſerpents are ſaid to be thirtie yardes long.

Likewiſe, foraſmuch as theſe Dragons know, that the Elephants come and feede vpon the leaues of trees, their manner is to conuay themſelues into the trees, and lye hid among 〈◊〉 the boughes, couering their fore-parts with leaues, and letting their hinder partes hang downe, like dead parts and members: and when the Elephant commeth to brouze vpon the Tree-toppes, then ſuddenlie they leape into his face, and pull out his eyes, and becauſe that reuenge doth not ſatisfie her, thirſting onely after death, ſhe twyneth her gable-long bodie about his necke, and ſo ſtrangleth him.

It is reported that the blood of Elephants is the coldeſt blood in the world, & that the Dragons in the ſcorching heate of Summer, cannot get any thing to coole thē except this blood: for which cauſe they hide themſelues in Riuers & Brookes, whether the Elephants come to drinke, and when he putteth downe his trunck they take hold thereof, & inſtantlie in great numbers leape vp into his eares, which onely of all his vpper parts, are moſt naked and vnarmed, out of which they ſuck his blood, neuer giuing ouer their holde till hee fall downe dead, & ſo in the fall, kill them which were the procurers of his death. So that his and their blood is mingled both together, whereof the Auncients made their Cinnabaris, which was the beſt thing in the world to repreſent blood in painting: Neither can any deuiſe or arte of man, euer come neere it; and beſide, it hath in it a rare vertue againſt poyſon. And thus much for the enm • tie betwixt Serpents and Elephants.

The Cat alſo, by Albertus is ſaid to be an enemie to ſerpents, for hee ſaith ſhee will kill them, but not eate thereof; howbeit, in her killing of them, except ſhe drinke incontinently, ſhe dieth by poyſon. This relation of Albertus, cannot agree with the Monks of Mesven their relation about their Abbey-cat. But it may be that Albertus ſpeaketh of vvildcats in the woods and mountaines, who may in • auine for their pray kill a ſerpent, which followeth with them the ſame common game.

The Roes or Roe-bucks do alſo kill ſerpents, & the Hedge-hogge is enemy vnto them, for ſometimes they meete both together in one hole, and then at the ſight of the ſerpent, the hedge-hogge foldeth himſelfe vp round, ſo as nothing appeareth outwardly, ſaue onelie his prickles and ſharpe briſtles: the angry ſerpent ſetteth vpon him, and biteth him with all her force; the other againe, ſtraineth herſelfe aboue meaſure, to annoy the ſerpents teeth, face, eyes, and whole body: and thus when they meete, they lie together afflicting one another, till one, or both of them fall downe dead in the place. For ſome-time the ſerpent killeth the hedge-hogge, and ſometime the hedge-hogge killeth the ſerpent, ſo that many times ſhe ca • rieth away the ſerpents fleſh and skin vpon her backe.

The Weſills alſo fight with ſerpents with the like ſucceſſe; the cauſe is, for that one & other of them liue vpon iuyce, and ſo for their pray or bootie, they fall together in mortall Ariſtotle Peroitus Iſi • orus. Aelianus. warre. Heerein the Weſill is too cunning for the Serpent, becauſe before ſhe fighteth; ſhe ſeeketh Rue, and by eating thereof, quickly diſcomforteth her aduerſarie. But ſome ſay, that ſhee eateth Rue afterward, to the intent to auoyde all the poyſon ſhee contracted in the combat.

The Lyon alſo and the Serpent are at variance, for his rufling mane is diſcouraged, by the extolled head of the Serpent to his breaſt. And therefore as S. Ambroſe ſaith, this is an admirable thing, that the ſnake ſhould runne away from the Hurt, the moſt fearefull of all other • eaſts, and yet ouer-come the Lyon, King of all the reſidue.

The Ichneumon or Pharoes Mouſe is an enemy to ſerpents, & eateth them, and becauſe he is too feeble to deale with a ſnake alone, therefore when hee hath found one, hee goeth and calleth as many of his fellowes as he can find, & ſo when they find themſelues ſtrong enough in companie, they ſet vpon theyr pray, & eate it together; for which cauſe, when the Egyptians will ſignifie weakenes, they paint an Ichneumon. The Peacock is alſo a profeſted Pellonius Orus. terrour and ſcourge to Snakes & Adders, and they will not endure neere thoſe places where they heare their voyce. The Sorex and Swine, doe alſo hate and abhorre ſerpents, and the little Sorex hath moſt aduantage againſt them in the Winter-time, vvhen they are at the weakeſt. To conclude, the horſe is wonderfully afraid of all kinds of Serpents if he ſee them, and will not goe ouer, but rather leape ouer a dead ſnake. And thus I will end the warre betwixt ſerpents, and foure-footed beaſtes and fowles.

Novv leaſt their curſe ſhould not be hard enough vnto them, God hath alſo ordained one of them to deſtroy another, and therefore now it followeth, to ſhewe in a word, the mutuall diſcord betwixt themſelues. The Spider (although a venomous creature) yet is it an enemie to the ſerpent, for when ſhee ſeeth a ſerpent lye vnder her tree in the ſhadow, Pliny. ſhe weaueth or twiſteth a thred downe from her vveb vppon the head of the ſerpent, and ſuddenly byteth into his head a mortall wound, ſo that he can do nothing but onely roule to and fro, beeing ſtrooken with a Megrim, whereby hee hath not ſo much power, as to breake the Spiders thred hanging ouer his head, vntill he be dead and ouerthrowne. The Eraſmus The Cockatrice is ſuch an enemie to ſome kind of ſerpents, that he killeth them vvith his breath or hyſſing.

The Lyzard, a kind of ſerpent, is moſt friendly to man, & very irefull againſt ſerpents, to the vttermoſt of his power, whereof Eraſmus (in his booke of friendſhippe) telleth this ſtorie: I ſaw (ſaith hee) on a day, a very great Lyzard fighting with a ſerpent in the verie mouth of a Caue, at the firſt ſight whereof I maruailed at the matter, for the ſerpent was not viſible our of the earth: there was with me an Italian, who ſaid, that ſurely the Lyzard had ſome enemy within the Caue. After a little while the Lizard came vnto vs, & ſhewed vs his ſide all wounded, as it were crauing helpe, for the ſerpent had bitten him ſore, for of greene, he made him appeare redde, and this Lyzard did ſuffer himſelfe to be touched of vs. Thus ſaith Eraſmus.

Againe, in the ſame place he ſaith, that when a Lyzard ſaw a ſerpent lye in waite to ſet vpon a man beeing a ſleepe, the Lyzard ranne to the man, and neuer ceaſed running vpon the mans face, ſcratching his necke and face gentlie with his clawes, vntill he had awaked the man, and ſo diſcouered to him his great danger. The Locuſt alſo fighteth with a ſerpent, and killeth him when he luſteth, for he getteth hold with his teeth vppon his lower chappe, and ſo deſtroyeth him; but this is not to be vnderſtood of euery kinde of Locuſt, but onely of one kind, which for this cauſe is called Ophiomachum genus.

The Serpent is alſo an enemy to the Chamaeleon, for in the extremitie of famine, ſhee Aelianus. ſetteth vpon them, and except the Chamaeleon can couer herſelfe from his rage, hee hath no defence but death. Albertus calleth a certaine vvorme, Spoliator colubri, becauſe (as he ſaith) it will take faſt hold vpon a ſerpents necke vnder-neath his iawes, and neuer giue ouer till he hath wearied and deſtroyed his aduerſarie. The Torteiſes are enemies to Serpents, and will fight with them, but before they enter combat, they arme themſelues with wild Marioram or Peniroyall.

But there is not any thing in the worlde that fighteth more earneſtly againſt ſerpents then Sea-crabbes & Creuiſes, for when the Sunne is in Cancer, ſerpents are naturally tormented with paines and feauers, and therefore if ſwine be ſtunge or bitten with ſerpents, Thraſillus Pliny. Aelianus they cure themſelues by ca • ing of Sea-crabs. There is a great water neere Epheſus, at the one ſide whereof there is a Caue full of many noyſome & irefull ſerpents, whoſe bytings by often probation, haue beene very deadly both to men and beaſtes. Theſe ſerpents doe oftentimes endenour to crawl ouer the poole; now on the other ſide there are great ſtore of Crabbes, who when they ſee the ſerpents come crawling or ſwimming, they inſtantly put out their crooked legges, & as it were with tonges or pynſars, reach at the ſlyding ſerpent, where-withall the ſerpents are ſo deterred, that through their ſight, & often remembrance of their vnhappy ſucceſſe with them, they turne backe againe, and neuer dare any more aduenture to the other ſide. Where wee may ſee the moſt wiſe prouidence of the Creator, who hath ſet Sea crabs, the enemies of ſerpents, to guard both men and cattell, which are on the oppoſite ſides: for otherwiſe, the inhabitants would all perriſh, or els be droue away from their dwellings. To conclude, not onely liuing creatures, but alſo ſome kind of earth and plants are enemies to ſerpents: and therfore moſt famous are Ebuſus & Creete, as ſome ſay, although Bellonius ſay, that there are Scolopendraes Vipers, and Slow-wormes in Creete, yet he ſaith they are without venome: and there are very fewe in England & Scotland, but none at all in Ireland, neither will they liue if they be brought in thether from any other Country. This antipathy with Serpents, proceedeth from liuing to dead and vegetable things, as trees, herbes, and plants, as may be ſeene by this diſcourſe following.

There is ſuch vertue in the Aſhe-tree, that no Serpent will endure to come neere either the morning or euening ſhadow of it, yea though very farre diſtant from them, they do ſo deadlie hate it. We ſet downe nothing but that wee haue found true by experience: If a great fire be made, and the ſame fire encircled round with Aſhen-boughes, & a ſerpent put betwixt the fire and the Aſhen-boughes, the ſerpent will ſooner runne into the fire, then come neere the Aſhen-boughes: Thus ſaith Pliny. Olaus Magnus ſaith, that thoſe Northren Countries which haue great ſtore of Aſh-trees, doe want venomous beaſts, of which opinion is alſo Pliny. Callimachus ſaith, there is a Tree growing in the Land of Trachinia, called Smilo, to which if any Serpents doe either come neere, or touch, they foorth-with die. Democritus is of opinion, that any Serpent will die if you caſt Oken-leaues vpon him. Pliny is of opinion, that Alcibiadum, which is a kind of wild Bugloſſe, is of the ſame vſe & qualitie; and further, beeing chewed, if it be ſpet vpon any ſerpent, that it cannot poſſibly Aelianus. Conſtantinus liue. In time of thoſe ſolemne Feaſtes which the Athenians dedicated to the Goddeſſe Ceres, their women did vſe to lay and ſtrew their beddes, with the leaues of the Plant called Agnos, becauſe ſerpents could not endure it, and becauſe they imagined it kept them chaſt, Where-vpon they thought the name was giuen it. The herbe called Roſemarie, is terrible Aelianus to ſerpents.

The Egyptians doe giue it out, that Polydamna, the wife of Thorris their King, taking pittie vpon Helen, cauſed her to beſet on ſhore in the Iland of Pharus, and beſtowed vpon her an herbe (whereof there was plenty) that was a great enemy to ſerpents: whereof the ſerpents hauing a feeling ſence (as they ſay) and ſo readily knowne of them, they ſtraightwaies got them to their lurking holes in the earth: and Helen planted this herbe, who cō ming to the knowledge thereof, ſhe perceiued that in his due time it bore a ſeede that was a great enemie to ſerpents, and there-vpon was called Helenium, as they that are skilfull in Elecompane in Engliſh. Plants affirme; and it groweth plentifully in Pharus, which is a little Ile againſt the mouth of Nylus, ioyned to Alexandria with a bridge. Rue, (called of ſome Herbe of grace) eſpecially that which groweth in Lybia, is but a backe friend to ſerpents, for it is moſt dry, and therefore cauſing ſerpent ſoone to faint and looſe their courage, becauſe (as Simocatus affirmeth) it induceth a kind of heauines or drunkenneſſe in their head, with a vertiginie or giddines through the exceſſe of his drineſſe, or immoderate ſticcitie. Serpents cannot endure the ſauour of Rue, and therefore a Weſill, when ſhe is to fight with any ſerpent, eateth Rue, as a defenſatiue againſt her enemie, as Ariſtotle, & Pliny his Interpreter, are of opinion.

The Country people leauing theirveſſels of milke abroade in the open fieldes, doe be-ſmeare thē round about with garlick, for feaſt leaſt ſome venomous ſerpents ſhould creepe into them, but the ſmell of garlick, as Eraſmus ſaith, driueth them away. No ſerpents were euer yet ſeene to touch the herbe Trifolie, or Three-leaued-graſſe, as Aedonnus wold make vs belieue. And Cardan the Phiſitian hath obſerued as much, that ſerpents, not any thing that is venomous, will neither lodge, dwell or lurk priuily neere vnto Trifolie, becauſe that it is their bane, as they are to other liuing creatures: and therfore it is ſowne to very good purpoſe, & planted in very hot coūtries, where there is moſt ſtore of ſuch venomous creatures. Arnoldus Villanouanus ſaith, that the herb called Dracontea killeth ſerpents. And Florentinus affirmeth, that if you plant woormwood, Mugwort, or Sothernwood about your dwelling, that no venomous ſerpents will euer come neer, or dare enterpriſe to invade the ſame. No ſerpent is found in Vines when they flouriſh, bearing flowers or bloſſoms, for they abhor the ſmell, as Ariſtotle ſaith. Auicen an Arabian Phiſitian, ſaith, that Capers doe kill wormes in the guts, & likewiſe ſerpents. If you make a round circle with herbe Betonie, & therein include any ſerpents, they will kill themſelues in the place rather then ſtriue to get away. Galbanum killeth ſerpents only by touching, if oyle & the herbe called Fenell giant be mixt withall. There is a ſhrubbe called Therionarca, hauing a flower like a Roſe, which maketh ſerpents heauy, dull and drouſie, and ſo killeth them, as Pliny affirmeth.

Albertus and Kyranides affirme, that there is a certaine Tree in Aſia called Hyperdiocis, which ſoundeth as much as, Against the right hand, with whoſe ſweet fruite Doues are delighted; but there are ſerpents which are ſore enemies to the Doues: ſo lying in waite for them, and not beeing able to abide the ſmell and ſhadow of the Tree, the Doues notwithſtanding very ſafely doe there in the Tree ſeeke their refuge, and finde foode where-with to ſuſtaine themſelues. Raſis (who practiſed phiſick one hundreth yeres) affirmeth, that if any man doe melt Sal Almoniack in his mouth, and then ſpet it into a ſerpents mouth, that he will die of it.

Of the Medicines made and taken out of SERPENTS.

IT is manifeſt, that if any man be wounded of a Serpent, though Remedies to be had and taken from ſerpents. the wound ſeeme incurable, that the bowels or inward parts of the ſame ſerpent, being applied to the wound, will cure the ſame; and thoſe that haue eaten the liuer of a boyled Viper at any time, ſhall neuer after be wounded of any ſerpent. Neither is a ſnake venomous, vnleſſe at ſome-times of the Moone, when ſhee is throughly mooued or angred. And a liue ſnake or ſerpent being caught, if the bitten place be bathed, ſoked or waſhed with the ſnake being bruſed in any water, it is of notable effect. Beſides, they are thought to be verie ſoueraigne againſt many infirmities, and therefore (as Pliny ſaith) they are dedicated to Aeſculapius.

Auicen ſaith, that if any be troubled with the Leproſie, he is to be cured by taking a black ſerpent, and beeing excoriated, he muſt be buried ſo long till there breede wormes of him, and then he is to be taken forth of the earth and dryed, and ſo to be giuen to the leprous perſon for three dayes together, the quantitie of one dramme at euery time, with ſyruppe of honie. Pliny, and with him agreeth Cornelius Celſus, affirmeth, that if any one do eate the middle part of ſnakes or ſerpents, caſting away the heads & tayles, they cure Str • mes, which we in Engliſh call the Kings-Euill. There is a diſeaſe called Elephantia, or Elephantiaſis, which is a kind of Lepry proceeding of Melancholie, choler and flegme, exceedingly aduſt, and maketh the skinne rough, of colour like an Elephant, with blacke wanniſh ſpots, and dry parched ſcales and ſcurffe: This diſeaſe (I ſay) ſo greeuous, and Strumes, are exceedingly holpen by eating often of Vipers and ſerpents, as Iohn Taganet, in his firſt Booke Institut. Chirurg. hath aſſured vs.

Pliny ſaith, that if you take out the right eye of a ſerpent, and ſo bind it about any part of you, that it is of great force againſt the watering or dropping of the eyes, by meanes of a rhume iſſuing out thereat, if the ſerpent be againe let goe aliue. And ſo hee ſaith, that a ſerpents or ſnakes hart, if either it be bitten or tyed to any part of you, that it is a preſent remedie for the tooth-ach: and hee addeth further, that if any man doe • aſt of the ſnakes hart, that he ſhall neuer after be hurt of any ſerpent.

Paulus Venetus, in his ſecond booke, chap. 40, writeth, howe that in the Prouince of Caraiam, there be ſerpents of exceeding greatnes, which beeing killed, the inhabitants of the Country doe pull out their gall, which they vſe to prize at a verie high rate when they ſell any of it, for it is very medicinall: ſo that they which are byt of a madde dogge, if they take inwardlie in any drinke but the quantitie of a penny weight of this gall, they are preſently cured. And if a woman be in her trauaile of child-birth, if ſhee taſt neuer ſo little of this gall, the birth will be the more ſpeedie. So, if any be troubled either with the Pyles or Haemerrhoides in the fundament, if that the place be annoynted with this gall, after a few dayes, he is ſet free from his diſeaſe. Hippocrates giueth the ſeede of ſerpents as a remedie againſt the ſuffocation of the belly.

Nicholaus Myrepſus preſeribeth this medicine againſt ſtraines & hardneſſes. Take a dead ſerpent, & put him into a new pot, luting it very well with Gypſum, then ſet it in a furnace that it may be burnt, after that, commixe the aſhes of a ſerpent with an equall portion of the ſeedes of Fennegreke, ſo being wrought vp with Attick-hony, & throughly diſgeſted, annoynt the place affected. And with him agreeth Pliny, who expreſly affirmeth, that the aſhes of ſnakes and ſerpents; beeing annoynted vpon Strumes, eyther with oyle or waxe, is a ſinguler medicine. And likewiſe to drinke the aſhes of a ſerpent, that is burrit to powder in new earthen potte, is very good: but it will be the more effectuall, if the ſerpents be killed betweene two tracks or forrowes that are made with Cart-wheeles. The aſhes of a ſerpent burnt with ſalt in a pot, beeing put with oyle of Roſes into the contrary eare, helpeth the tooth-ach.

An vnguent againſt the Morphue, preſcribed by Olaus Magnus. Take of the aſhes of a ſerpent burnt in a newe pot and well couered, two ounces, Lytarge, Galbanum, Ammoniacum, and Opponax diſſolued in Vineger, three ounces, boyle them vntill the Vineger be conſumed, then ſtraine them, putting to them of Turpentine three ounces, Frankinſence, Maſticke and Sarcocolla three ounces, Saffron two ounces, working them with a Spathulor till they be cold. The powder of a burnt ſerpent, is likewiſe good againſt Fiſtuloes. The fat of a ſnake or ſerpent mixt with oyle, is good againſt Strumes, as Pliny ſaith. The fat of ſnakes mixt with Verdegreaſe, healeth the parts about the eyes that haue any rupture. To which agreeth the Poet, when he ſaith:

Anguibus ereptos adipes • rugine miſce, Hipoterant ruptos oculorum iungere partes.

Which may be thus engliſhed;

The fat of ſnakes mingled with yron-rust, The parts of eyes doth mend, which erst were burſt.

It is certaine that barrenneſſe commeth by meanes of that grieuous torment and paine in child-birth; and yet Olympias of Thebes is of opinion, that this is remedied with a Bulls gall, the fat of ſerpents, and Verdegreaſe, with ſome honie added to them, the place beeing there with annointed before the comming together of both parts. When a Woman is not able to conceiue by meanes of weakeneſſe in the retentiue vertue, then there is no doubt, but there muſt needes growe ſome membrane in the bellies entrance, for which it is not amiſſe to make a Peſſarie of the fat of a ſerpent, verdegreaſe, & the fat of a Bull mixt together, &c. and to be applied. Hippocrates in lib. de Sterilibus.

Geſner had a friend who ſignified to him by his Letters, that the fat of a Serpent vvas ſent to him from thoſe ſulphureous Bathes which were neere vnto Cameriacum, and was ſold at a very deere rate, namely, twelue poundes for euery ounce, and ſometimes deerer. They vſe to mixe it with the emplaiſter of Iohn de Vigo, that famous Chirurgeon) for all hardneſſes, nodes, and other priuie & vnſeene (though not vnfelt) torments proceeding of the Spaniſh-poxe. They vſe it yet further, againſt leprous ſwellings, and pimples, and to ſmooth and thinne the skinne. Matthiolus ſaith, that the fat of a black Serpent, is mixt to good purpoſe with thoſe oyntments that are prepared againſt the French or Spaniſhpox. And Pliny mixeth their fat with other conuenient medicines, to cauſe haire to grow againe. The ſuffumigation of an old ſerpent, helpeth the monthlie courſe. Michaell Aloiſius ſaith, that oyle of Serpents decocted with the flowers of Cowſleps, (euer remembring to gather and take that which ſwimmeth at the toppe) is ſinguler to annoynt podagricall perſons there-with.

NOvv followeth the preparing of Serpents. Take a Mountaine-Serpent, that hath a blacke backe, and a vvhite bellie, & cut off his taile, euen hard to the place where he ſendeth forth his excrements, and take away his head with the breadth of foure fingers, then take the reſidue & ſquiſe out the blood into ſome veſſell, keeping it in a glaſſe carefully, then fley him as you doe an Eele, beginning from the vpper & groſſer part, and hang the skinne vpon a ſtick and dry it, then deuide it in the middle, and referue all diligently. You muſt waſh the fleſh and put it in a pot, boyling it in two parts of Wine, and beeing well and throughly boyled, you muſt ſeaſon the broth with good ſpices, and Aromaticall or cordiall powders, and ſo eate it. But if you haue a mind to roſt it, it muſt be ſo roſted, as it may not be burnt, and yet that it may be brought into powder, and the powder thereof muſt be eaten together with other meat, becauſe of the loathing, and dreadfull name, and conceit of a ſerpent: for beeing thus burned, it preſerueth a man from all feare of any future Lepry, and expelleth that which is preſent. It keepeth youth, cauſing a good colour aboue all other Medicines in the vvorld; it cleereth the eye-ſight, gardeth ſurelie from gray haires, and keepeth from the Falling-ſicknes. It purgeth the head from all infirmitie, and beeing eaten (as before is ſaid) it expelleth ſcabbines, & the like infirmities, with a great number of other diſeaſes. But yet ſuch a kind of Serpent as before wee haue deſcribed, and not any other, beeing alſo eaten, freeth one from deafenes.

You may alſo finelie mince the heads and tayles of Serpents, & feede there-with chickins or geeſe, beeing mingled with crummes of bread or Oates, and theſe Geeſe or Chickins beeing eaten, they helpe to take away the Leproſie, and all other fouleneſſe in mans bodie. If you take the dryed skinne, and lay it vppon the tooth on the inner ſide, it will mittigate the paine thereof, ſpecially if it proceede from any hote cauſe. In like ſort, the ſame skinne waſhed with ſpettle, and with a little peece of the taile laid vppon any Impoſtume, or Noli me tangere, it will tame and maſter the paine, cauſing it to putrefie more eaſilie and gentlie, and ſcarcely leauing behind any cicatriſe or skarre. And if a woman beeing in extremitie of paine in child-birth, do but tye or bind a peece of it on her belly, it will cauſe the birth immediatly to come away. So the skinne beeing boyled and eaten, performeth the ſame effects that the Serpent doth.

The blood of a Serpent is more precious then Balſamum, and if you annoynt your lips with a little of it, they will looke paſsing redde: and if the face be annoynted there-with, it will receiue no ſpot or fleck, but cauſeth it to haue an orient and beautifull hue. It repreſſeth all ſcabbineſſe of the body, ſtinking in the teeth and gummes if they be there-with annointed. The fat of a ſerpent, ſpeedily helpeth all rednes, ſpots, & other infirmities of the eyes, and beeing annoynted vpon the eye-liddes, it cleereth the eyes exceedingly. Item, put them into a glaſſed ſpot, and fill the ſame with Butter in the Month of May, then lute it well with paſte (that is, Meale well kneaded) ſo that nothing may euaporate, then ſette the pot on the fire, and let it boyle wel-nigh halfe a day; after this is done, ſtraine the Butter through a cloth, and the remainder beate in a morter, and ſtraine it againe, and mixe them together, then put them into water to coole, & ſo reſerue it in ſiluer or golden boxes, that which is not cuaporated, for the older, the better it is, and ſo much the better it will be, if you can keepe it fortie yeeres. Let the ſicke patient, who is troubled eyther with the Goute, or the Palfie, but annoynt himſelfe often againſt the fire with this vnguent, and without doubt he ſhall be freed, eſpecially if it be the Goute. All theſe preſcriptions and directions, were taken from the writings of a certaine nameleſſe Author.

Hippocrates ſaith, that a Hart or Stagge hauing eaten any Serpents, the wormes in their guttes are thereby expelled. And Abſyrtus hath the ſame words, that Harts by eating of a Serpent, doc kill and expell wormes from their guttes. Hierocles, to a certaine medicine which he prepared for the Strangulion in a horſe, mingled the dung of a Lyzard, & Stèar herpetou, (that is, as I interpret it) the fat of a ſerpent, the blood of a Doue, &c. Laurence Ruſius ſaith, that it is good to giue the fleſh and decoction of Serpents, to madde, beating and ſtriking horſes. And that the fatte of a Serpent, &c. doth cure the puffing or ſwellings that ariſe in horſes backs, which come by meanes of any compreſſion, or cloſe ſitting and thruſting downe.

Item, the vnguent that droppeth from a Serpent, whilſt he is roſted on a ſpit, is highlie commended for Fiſtuloes that are in horſes hoofes. Galen and Raſius, doc counſell vs to cut in peeces a ſnake or ſerpent, and to lay the fat there of vpon a ſticke, and to annoint the outward parts of the hoofe of any horſe. Horſeleaches, liue Miſe, the greene Lyzard being burned, if they be giuen to a Hawke in her meate, they do cauſe a ſpeedie mutation of her feathers or wings; and the ſame effect haue little Riuer-fiſhes, finely beaten or ſtamped, if they be caſt vpon any meate.

Item, the Serpent that is ſpeckled, and of diuers and ſundry colours, of all others hath the leaſt poyſon, and in the German tongue it is called Huf, (peraduenture it is that which we call a ſnake) if, (I ſay) you take this ſerpent, and boyle it with Wheate, and giue the ſame Wheate to a Henne to feede vpon, beeing mingled amongſt her meate and drinke with the venim of a Serpent, a Hawke beeing fedde with the fleſh of ſuch a Henne, forth-with caſteth her ſicke feathers, and is freed from any other diſeaſe, if ſhe haue any at all, as Albertus ſaith.

The old skinne of an Adder or Snake, that he caſts off in the Spring-time, if it be rubbed vpon the eyes, cleereth the ſight, as Pliny ſaith. And Galen biddeth vs, if any be troubled with blood-ſhotten eyes, to take the old caſt-skinne of ſerpents, & being beaten with Sea-water', to annoynt them there-withall. And Cardan ſaith, that the caſt-skin of a ſnake, if the eyes be rubbed there-with euery morning, that they will neuer be very dim of ſight, nor yet euer haue any pinne or webbe in them. Amongſt compoſitions that are made for the eyes, they vſe to mixe the caſt-skinne of ſnakes, as Diocles affirmeth; adding further, that the old age, or caſt-skinne of a ſnake beeing boyled in vvine, is an excellent helpe for paine in the eares, if a little thereof be dropped into them. Boyle the caſt skinne of a ſnake with toppes of Poppy, and droppe a little thereof into the cares, if any be troubled vvith paine thereof, and this is an excellent remedy, as Galen in his third Booke, De Compoſit. medicam. ſec. loca, hath taught vs, hauing himſelfe learned the ſame from Archigenes. The caſt-skinne of ſerpents being burned in a pot, or on a hot burning tyle-ſhard, if it be mingled with oyle of Roſes, and ſo dropt into the eares, is prooued to be very effectuall againſt all ſores, and ſickneſſes of the eares; but eſpecially againſt the ſtinking ſauour of them: or if they be puralent or full of matter, then to be mixt with vineger. Some vſe to mingle Bulls gall there-with, and the iuyce of the fleſh of Torteiſes beeing boyled.

Marcellus ſaith, that if you take the gall of a Calfe, with a like quantitie of Vineger, and mixe them with the caſt-skinne of a ſerpent, if then you dippe a little vvooll into this medicine, and put it into the eare, that it helpeth very much, eſpecially if with a ſpunge being ſoked in warme-water, you firſt foment the eare. Dioſcorides and Galen doe affirme, that the caſt-skinne of a ſerpent, if it be boyled in Wine, doth cure the tooth-ach, if the pained place be waſhed there-with. But yet, in intollerable paines of the teeth, this is prooued more ſinguler. Take the caſt-skinne of a Serpent and burne it, then temper it with oyle, till it come to the thicknes or conſiſtence of hard Hony, and couer the tooth (being firſt ſcoured and clenſed there-with, annoynting all the neere places to the ſame, and put ſome of it into the hollownes of the tooth. And as Archigenes ſaith, if you lay the caſt-skinne of a ſnake vnto the teeth, not beeing burnt, they will all fall out. It cureth likewiſe the lowſie euill, called Phthiriaſis. And Galen preſcribeth this caſt-skin of ſnakes or ſerpents, for a remedie againſt the Cholick, if it be put into a braſſe pot with ſome oyle, and ſo burnt to powder, if then it be diſſolued in oyle, and the place there-with annoynted, it is of great vertue. And if it bee boyled in a Tinne veſſell with ſome oyle of Roſes, it remedieth the the Bloody-flixe, and ſuch as be troubled with Teneſmas, which is, a great deſire in going to ſtoole, and yet can doe nothing.

Arnoldus de villa noua, in his Breuiarie ſaith, that if you take the caſt-skin of a ſerpent, Opopanax, Myrrhe, Galbanum, Caſtoreum, yellow Sulphur, Madder, Pidgeons or Hawkes doung, and incorporate them with the gall of a Cow, they beeing firſt pulueriſed, and the fume thereof receiued through a tunnell at the lower parts, it bringeth foorth either the dead or liuing birth. Cardan lib. de Subtil. ſaith, that the caſt-skin of a ſerpent burned in the full of the Moone, & entring into the firſt degree of Aries, if the aſhes thereof be ſprinkled on the head, that thereby terrible and fearefull dreames will follow. And if the face be annointed or waſhed there-with being firſt layd in water, that it will cauſe one to looke very fearefully and horribly: and if it be held vnder the tongue, it will make one very wiſe and eloquent: and if it be kept vnder the ſoles of the feete, it maketh one very gratious among Princes, Magiſtrates and great men. And another ſaith, that this caſt-off-skin beeing pulueriſed when the Moone is in her increaſe, and in the firſt degree of Aries, if the powder thereof be ſet on the Table, in a woodden or metalline diſh, if any poyſon be therin, it will be diſperſed and doe no hurt, and yet the powder will remaine ſafe and whole: and if giuen to a Leaprous-perſon, his diſeaſe will ſpreade no further. And if you put a little of this powder into any wound, it will cure it within three dayes. I haue ſeene, (fayth Galen) Goates that haue eaten of the boughes and leaues of Tamariske, and I haue found them without a ſpleene: alſo I haue ſeene other Goates that haue lickt vppe ſerpents after they had caſt their skinne, and I haue prooued, that after that, they haue growne verie white, and to haue kept their young yeeres a great while; ſo that it was long before they waxed old.

Of the way to driue away Serpents. Of their poiſon and bytings. A certaine and ſure way to cure thoſe, who either haue beene poyſoned, envenomed, or bitten by them.

TO expell and driue farre away any venomous Creatures, wee vſe Suffu •• igations to expell Serpents. to make fumigations of the roote of Lyllies, Harts-horne, and the hornes and hoofes of ſuch beaſts as be clouen-footed: likewiſe of Bay-leaues and berries, Calamint, Water-creſſes, and the aſhes of the Pine-tree. The leaues of Vitex, Bitumen, Castorium, Melanthium, Goates-hornes, Cardamomū, Galbanum, Propolis, which may be called Bee-glew, the herbe called Horſtrange, Panax, Opopanax, Fleabane, the ſhauings or ſcrapings of the Cipres or Ceder tree beeing ſteeped in oyle, the Iet-ſtone, Sagapinum, the herbe called Poley, Ferne, and all other things that haue a ſtrong or vehement ill ſauour, beeing caſt on the coales for a fumigation, doe with theyr vapour chaſe away venomous beaſtes. For whereas all venomous creatures haue the paſſages or pores of theyr bodies wery ſtraight and narrow, they are very eaſily filled and ſtuffed, and are quickly ſtopped and ſuffocated by ſuch like ſents and ſmells.

Aetius in his 13. Booke, ſetteth downe an excellent fume after this manner. Take of Galbanum, of Sandaracha, Butter, and of Goates-fat, of euery one a like much, make them into Pills, and vſe them for a Fumigation. Nicander in Theriacis ſetteth downe ſome for the ſame intentions, in theſe verſes.

Ceruinique graui cornu nidore fugabis: Et ſic cum accendens Gagatae quandoque lapillum, Quem conſumentis non exedit impetus ignis: Multifidam filicem crepitantibus inijce flammis, Aut imas viridis libanotidos accipe fibras, Tantundemque acris naſturci: his junge duobus Aequali capre • iam jactum pondere cornu, Aut exic • ant em nares cerebrumque nigellam, Interdum Sulphur, faedum quandoque Bitumen, Vt-ſu • pta aequali pendantur ſingula parte. Praeterea graveolens candentibus indit a prauis Galbana, et ignitum faciens vetica dolorem, Dentatiſque cedrum maxillis ſectile lignum, Omnibus inviſum ſerpentibus eff • at odorem.

In Engliſh thus;

By Hart-horne-fu •• doe ſerpents ſlide away When ſtone Gagates burning's put thereto: Which heate of fire doth not cleane destroy; Then int' thoſe flames cast many-leaued Ferne alſo. Of greene hogs- •… ll, take the lowest by a • ches, Of Noſewort ſharpe, ſo much 〈◊〉 to them ioyne A like proportion of Roes horne, in • aight & kantches, Or els Nigella, drying noſe and braine, Or Brimstone, called fil •• y Sulphure, So all be equall in waight and parts to cure. Beſides, Galbanum ranck, layde on burning coales. Or Nettles, which doe cauſe a fierie paine, And Cedar cut, all burn'd d'bout ſerpents holes, Them ouer-come, and make them flie amaine.

The breath or vapour that iſſueth from Serpents, is ſo peſtilent, that it killeth all young chickins, as Columella ſaith; & for preuenting of this miſchiefe, it is good to burne Harts-horne, Womens baire, or Galbanum.

Vis et mirificos cautus perdiſcere odores, Accenſis quibus arcetur teterrima ſerpens, Aut Styracem vras, aut atri vulturis alam, Vel nepetam aut frondem rigidae ſtirpemque myricae.

In Engliſh thus;

If thou wouldſt learne what odours for thy skill Were best to ſcarre the ſerpent fierce away, Burne Styrax, or blacke Vultures winged quill, Or Neppe, greene leaues, or ſtock of Tamariske aſſay.

And Pliny and Sextus agreeing with him, doe ſay; that if you burne the feathers of a Vultar, all Serpents will quickly avoyde the ſtrong ſent thereof. There is a certaine Riuer in the countries of Media & Paeonia, (as Aristotle teſtifieth) wherin there is a ſtone found, with whoſe fume ſerpents are chaſed away: whoſe propertie is ſuch, that if any man caſt water on it, it will burne, and burning, if with any Fan you goe about to make it to flame, it is ſtraight-way quenched; and thus beeing extinguiſhed, it ſendeth forth a ſauour ſtronger then any Brimſtone. And to this ſubſcribeth Ni • ander in theſe words.

Vel tu Threicium flamma ſuccende lapillum, Qui licet irriguis merſus tamen ardet in vndis, Expreſſaque ſtatim reſtinguitur vnctus oliua, Hanc quem fluçtiſoni mittant de littore Ponti, Qui, rude vulgus, ibi veſcentes carne magiſtri Paſcendi pecoris ſuapoſt armenta ſequntur.

In Engliſh thus;

Or take the Thracian ſtone, which ſet on fire Will burne in water, yet quenched is with oyle. This cast from Pontus ſhore, Heard-men deſire, The better to feede their flocks, & ſerpents foyle.

The povvder of a Cedar tree, putteth to flight venomous Serpents, as Virgil in the third of his Georgicks witneſſeth.

Diſce et odoratum ſtabulis accendere Cedrum, Galbaneoque agitare graues nidore chelydros.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

Learne how of Cedar, fire in thy foldes to make, And with Galbanums ſauour, put to flight the ſnak.

Things that are ſtrewed or layd vnder vs, both in our houſes and in high-waies or beds, will likewiſe defend & keepe vs frō venomous creatures, as for example; Sothernwood, Of ſuch things as are layd vnder vs, that wil expel ſerpents. Dittander; Fleabane; Calamint; Gentian; Haſtula regia; Sage; Nightſhade; S. Iohnsvvort, called of ſome Fuga damonum; Margerom; Origan; Wilde-Rue; Wilde-Time; Bay-leaues; the ſhauings or toppes of the Cypres or Cedar-tree; Cardamomum; Penyroyall; Wormevvood; Mugwoort; Lyſimachia, called in Engliſh Looſe-ſtrife; & Roſemarie. And if we cannot lye vpon ſuch a bedde:

Tunc nixta virides ſinuoſi vorticis alueos, Amnicolam nepetam per obeſas collige ripas. Aut tibi cast a ſalix, pulchro quae flore renidet, Praebeat, instrata ſecurum fronde grabatum. Sic quoque montanum polium, cuius graue ſpirans Horret odor, nomenque ſuum quae debet echidnae Herba, et ab Euxina quae fertur origanus vrbe, Quaecunque illarum decerpitur obuia, prodest. Quin etiam multo per aprica cacumina flore Ridens abrotonus, pecorique ingrata petitum Pabula ſerpillum, molli quod paſcitur horto. Praestat item exiguam circumluſtrare conyzam, Vrticeaſque comas, et ſpinoſas anagyros: Sic et punicea ſectis ex arbore ramis. Regaliſque amplis licet hastae frondibus vti. Accipe item innocuo medicantem frigore ſtrumum, Atque inviſa pigris Scyra prima aestate bubulcis. Nicander.

In Engliſh thus;

Then by the winding bankes of crooked ſtreames The Water-neppe take vp, which vnder-foote is tread, Or the chast Oſier, whoſe fayre flower hath beames And leaues, ſecure from ſerpents make thy bedde. The Mountaine Poley, whoſe ſtrong-ſmelling breath The ſnakes abhorre, and that which doth the Hydraname, The Origan which commeth from Euxinus earth, Doe profit all gainst ſerpents, if you beare the ſame. The ſmyling Sothernwood, which groweth on tops of hills, Wild-Marioram, to beaſts abhorred foode, Conyza ſtrewed, the haunt of ſerpents ſpills, The Nettle-croppes, thorny Anagres ſtay theyr moode, So doe Pomegranate branches out from tree: And the broade leaues of Kingly Hooſta vſe, Strume, healing ſtrumes in harmeleſse cold I ſee, And Scyra, which in Sommer Neatheards doe refuſe.

In like ſort, to ſprinckle the place with water, wherein Sal Ammoniacum is diſſolued, driueth away Serpents, as Auicen affirmeth.

If any one annoynt himſelfe, either with Deares-ſewit, the fat of Elephants or Lyons, Of vnguents and thinges borne about vs, frō which ſerpents will runne avvay. Serpents will ſhunne that perſon: and there be ſome, (as Pliny ſaith) that for feare of Serpents, doe annoynt their bodies with the ſeedes of Iuniper. The iuyce of the blacke Vine extracted from the roote, and annoynted on the bodie, perſormeth the like. For preſeruation from Serpents, Nicander compoundeth this oyntment. Take two Vipers about the end of Spring-time, Deare-ſewit thirtie drammes, Vnguenti roſati thirtie ſixe drams, crude oyle of Oliues as much, commix them with nine ounces of Waxe, boyle the Serpents till the fleſh fall from the bones, which you muſt caſt away becauſe they are venomous.

They that will yet be more aſſured, let them annoynt their bodies with a thinne cerate, made of Wax, oyle of Roſes, a little Galbanū, ſome powder of Harts-horne, or els Cummin-ſeede of Ethiopia. &c. Aetius. If a man carry about him the tooth of a Stag, or thoſe ſmall bones which are found in his hart, he ſhall be ſecured from ſerpents. If any one doe beare about him Wild-Bugloſſe, or the roote of the wild-carot, hee cannot be wounded of any Serpents. Greuinus is of the minde, that the Iet-ſtone, beſide other manifeſt qualities, hath yet this as peculier to it ſelfe, that he which carrieth it about with him, need neither to feare ſerpents, nor any other poyſons.

Now for venomous beaſtes, which are found in any houſes, the beſt way is to powre ſcalding water into their dennes & lurking-holes. And if any man (conſtrained by neceſſitie) can find no other place to ſleepe, but ſuch a one as where Salamanders, the Spyders called Phalangia, or the like ſerpents doe abound, it is good to ſtop the holes and corners with Garlick beaten with water, or ſome of thoſe herbes which before we haue ſpoken of. But yet men now adayes hold it the ſafeſt courſe, to powre vnquenched Lime ſprinckled with water, into their dennes and ſecret corners.

As they that are bitten by a madde dogge, ſo all ſuch perſons as be wounded by venomous creatures, are in exceeding great danger, vnleſſe at the firſt they receiue ſpeedy help and ſuccour: The ſafeſt way therefore to cure the poyſon, is by attractiues, which dravve from the more inward parts to the ſurface, and not to make too much poſt-haſt in cloſing vp the wound. But if any one hath ſwallowed downe, and taken inwardly any poyſon, the beſt way is (as Dioſcorides writeth) to vomit often: but if any be wounded by byting, then it is beſt to vſe ſcarification, and to faſten Cupping-glaſſes vpon the place affected, to draw out the poyſon. Some vſe to ſuck the venom out, and others to cut off and diſmember the part. And this is to be obſerued, that if any one will vndertake to ſuck out the venom, the partie that attempteth it muſt not be faſting: & beſides, he muſt waſh his mouth with ſome Wine, and after that, holding a little oyle in his mouth, to ſuck the part, and to ſpet it preſently forth. And before Cupping-glaſſes be applyed, the part muſt firſt be fomented with a Spung, then ſcarified deepely, that the venomous matter may the more ſpeedily be drawne out from the more inward parts; and yet cutting of the fleſh round in a compaſſe, doth more good then any ſcarification.

But if the place will admit no ſection or inciſion, then cupping-glaſſes, with deepe ſcari • ication, with much flame, muſt needes be vſed: for by attraction of the blood, and other humors with windines, the poyſon it ſelfe muſt of neceſſitie follow. And Aetius in his 13 Booke and tenth chapter, counſelleth that the ſicke perſon be kept from ſleepe, and ſo ſitte ſtill, vntill he find ſome ceaſing or releaſe from his paine. Beſides, the member which is enuenomed, ought to be bound round about, that the poyſon may not too eaſily conuey it ſelfe, and penetrate into the more noble and principall parts, as the hatt, liuer or braine. And in this manner hauing applyed your Ligature, you muſt by the aduiſe of Fumanellus, ſet on your Cupping-glaſſes, and they beeing remoued, apply the herbe Calamint vppon the place, and to giue the patient, ſome of the roote of Mugwort in powder, or the beſt Treacle, and ſuch cordialls as doe corroborate the hart: and for this intent, Bugloſſe, Borage, Balme, and any of their flowers are much commended.

A Doue or Pidgion beeing deuided in the midſt, & applyed hote to the place affected, attracteth poyſon to it ſelfe, and healeth. And the ſame effect and vertue haue other liuing creatures, as namely, hennes and chickins, young Kiddes, Lambes and pigges, if they be ſet to in the beginning, immediatly after the cupping-glaſſes be remoued, for beeing as yet hot and warme, they draw out the poyſon and mittigate paine. But if neither any one for loue or mony can be found, that will or dare ſuck out the venim, & that no cupping-glaſſe can be prouided, then it is beſt that the patient doe ſuppe of mutton, veale, or gooſe broth, and to prouoke vomiting. Yet they that will more effectually and ſpeedily giue help, vſe to kill a Goate, and taking out the entralls, with the warme dung therein found, forth-with bind it vnto the place.

The learned Phiſition Matthiolus, in his comment vppon Dioſcorides, ſaith; that to auoyd the danger that commeth by ſucking out the venom, men now a-dayes vſe to apply the fundament of ſome Cocke or Henne, or other Birds after the feathers are puld off, to the wounded place, and the firſt dying, to apply another in the ſame order, and ſo another and another, vntill the whole venomous matter be cleane driuen away, whereof one may be certainely aſſured, if the laſt henne or byrd ſo applyed, doe not die. Auicen the Arabian ſaith, that the Phiſitians of Egypt, (in which Country there bee infinite ſtore of venomous beaſts) doe haſten to burne the part with fire, as the ſafeſt and ſureſt remedy, when any one is this way endangered: For fire not onely expelleth poyſons, but many other grieuances. But the way how they vſed to burne with fire, was diuers in theſe caſes: For ſome-times they vſed to ſeare the place with a hot yron, and other-whiles with a corde or match beeing fired, and ſometimes ſcalding oyle; and many other deuiſes they had with burning medicaments, to finiſh this cure, as ſaith Hieron. Mercurialis in his firſt Booke D • Morb. Venenatis writeth, and Iohn Tagault, Inſtitut. Chirurg. lib. 2. ſaith, that the wound muſt firſt be ſeared with a hot yrou (if the place can endure it) or els ſome cauſtick and vehement corroding medicine muſt be vſed: for all ſuch wounds are for the moſt part deadlie, and doe bring preſent death, if ſpeedy remedie be not giuen; and therefore, according to Hyppocrates counſell, to extreame griefes, extreame remedies muſt be applyed; ſo that ſometimes the ſafeſt way, is to take or cut off that member, which hath either been bitten or wounded.

Neither am I ignorant (ſaith Dioſcorides) what the Egyptians doe in theſe caſes: For whē they reape their Co • e in Harueſt-time, they haue ready at hand prepared, a pot with pitch in it; and a ſtring or band hanging at it; for at that time of the yeere they are moſt afraid of Serpents, which then chiefely doe hide themſelues in darke holes, and caues of the earth, and vnder thick clots & turffes, for Egypt aboundeth with ſuch venomous & poyſonfull creatures. When as therefore they haue wounded either the foote or any other part, they that are preſent, doe put the ſtring into the pot of pitch, and binding the place, they fall to cutting it with ſome inſtrument rounde in compaſſe as the ſtring is tyed, after this is done, they powre in of the pitch a ſufficient quantitie, then vntying and looſing the band, they laſtly annoynt it with Garlick and Onions.

A certaine Countriman beeing bytten of a Serpent, perceiued by and by his foote to ſwell, and by little & little the force of the poyſon to ſwell vp higher, & neerer to the hart, the Caſtle of life: who beeing taught & inſtructed of an old woman, to burie his foote vnder the earth, and to 〈◊〉 henne into two parts to apply to the wound, and to the hen ſhe wiſhed him to lay aliue frogge, who continually ſucking the blood from the hennes fleſh, might by this meanes at length, attract and draw all the poyſon into it ſelfe. So when hee had held his foote a whole night couered and buried vnder the earth, & finding no abatement, but rather an increaſe of his tormenting paine; at length, by the aduiſe and direction of a certaine Noble Matron, he dranke a good draught of Theriaca & Hony tempred in Ale, and ſo after a few houres, fell on a great & continuall vomiting, by which meanes he was perfectly freed from the paines of the vpper parts of his body, his feete notwithſtanding continuing in their former ſwelling: which was alſo taken cleane away, onely by drinking the milke of a black Goate, ſo much in quantity at a time as one egge-ſhell would containe, his foote in the meane ſpace beeing held or plunged in a ſufficient quantitie of the ſame milke. From which there iſſued and ranne, a foule ſtinking, glutinous & ſnivelly matter, and this he was admoniſhed to doe by a certaine Prieſt.

But yet afterwards by chaunce, waſhing himſelfe in a hot ſunnie day in a certaine Riuer, and ſitting vppon the banke, his feete hanging downe into the water, and hee falling faſt a ſleepe, (hee knew not well how long time hee ſo continued) at length awaking, hee plainly perceiued the water that was neere, on all ſides to bee filthy, ſtained and polluted with much ſtinking matter, and as it were, dreggie refuſe and ful • ulencie, and from that time forwards, he remained well and luſtie, and as ſound as a Bell.

Another time a Mayde being bitten of a Serpent, layd preſently vpon the wound ſome Freſh-cheeſe, made of the milke of a white Goate, and powring or ſprinkling her foote with the milke of the ſame Goate, as a defenſatiue for that part, was by this meanes reſtored to her former health, as a certaine learned man teſtified in his Letters written to Geſner.

Vegetius affirmeth, that if any liuing creature be bytten and wounded of venomous Beaſts, the place which is hurt, muſt firſt of all be ſuffumigated with hens egge-ſhels burnt, which firſt ought to be infuſed in Vineger, with a little Harts-horne, or Galbanum. After fomentation, the place muſt be ſcarified, & the blood muſt be let out, or elſe the place muſt be ſeared with a hot yron, ſo farre as the venom ſtretcheth. And this care muſt be had, that the Cauterre be neuer applyed and layde, either aboue the ioynts, or in ſinewie parts at any time, for the ſinewes or ioynts beeing ſeared and burnt, there muſt of neceſſitie, a continuall weakenes and debilitie follow. Therfore great diligence muſt be vſed, that neither a little aboue, nor a little beneath the nerues & ioynts, we lay any Cauterizing medicine, yea, although neceſſitie biddeth vs. But it is alſo requiſite that euery one thus wounded, doe gently and eaſily prouoke ſweating with warme clothes caſt vpon him, & afterwards to walke vp and downe, & to take Barley-meale in his meate, with ſome leaues of the Aſh-tree, and the white Vine added to it. And to the wound it is good to apply Attick-Honie, or Comin heated and patched, and ſo mixed with olde Wine. Some vſe to mixe newe Hogs-dung and Attick-honny tempered together with wine, and ſo beeing warmed, to apply it as a Cataplaſme, adding to it ſome vrine of a man.

I haue ſaid before, that young chickins, beeing diſſected or cut in peeces when they are warme, ought to be layde to the ſtinged part: and ſome there be that yeelde this reaſon why they ſhould be good for this purpoſe, becauſe (ſay they) there is a naturall antipathy betwixt them, and venomous creatures. But this reaſon is reaſonleſſe, and I think rather, that hennes or young birds, beeing of a very hot nature and complexion, doe eaſilie concoct and diſgeſt notable poyſon, and their ſtomacks do conſume moſt dry & hard ſeedes, which the ſtrongeſt man liuing cannot doe; which may eaſily alſo be prooued by this argument, that many times by their rauening, they ſwallowe downe ſand and little ſtones, which they doe eaſily diſſolue, and their croppes very ſoone diſcharge, without any offence to them at all. And therefore the ſpirits of an invenomed perſon, beeing helped and refreſhed, with the liuely and ſtrong naturall heate of theſe fowles thus applyed, and receiuing and acquiring ſtrength from the part wounded, and ſo haſtily leaping out as it were, and quickly ſparkling forth, they doe expell, ſhut and draw out the poyſon.

Now, after we haue deſcribed the generall method of curing this miſchieuous euill, we will now deſcend to particular remedies, obſeruing euer this rule & order, that firſt I will ſpeake of ſuch meanes as are topicall, or ſuch as are outwardly applyed; and next, of ſuch as be taken inwardly, and in both of them I will firſt deſcribe compound, before I ſpeake of ſimple medicaments. This one leſſon you muſt carry with you, that many remedies are preſcribed and ſet downe, which be not onely good for the bytings of ſerpents, but alſo for the bitings and ſtingings of all other venomous creatures, as namely, of Scorpions, Tarantula • s, Spyders and the like. But yet, ſith theſe doe properly reſpect Serpents, I vvill in this place firſt ſette them downe: beginning firſt (according to my promiſe) with ſuch compounded Medicines, as are applyed outwardly for helpe againſt the ſtinging of Serpents.

Theriaca Andromachi applyed plaiſter-wiſe, is notable for this purpoſe. So there bee other vehement ſtrong plaiſters, whoſe vertue is to attract, expell, and diſcuſſe venime, of which are thoſe which are made of Salt, Niter, Muſtard-ſeede, and Roſemary-ſeedes, Dittanie, or Dittander, and the roote of Chamaeleon: and this that followeth is of ſinguler vertue. Take of the ſcumme, froth or ſpume of ſiluer, one pound, Ceruſe, and of the beſt Turpentine, of either as much as of the former, old oyle three pounds, waxe ſixe ounces, Ammoniacum Thymiama, foure ounces, and of Galbanum as much: boyle the Ceruſe, the ſcumme of ſiluer, and the oyle ſo long, that they will not cleaue vnto the hands, then melting the other ingredients, incorporate them all together, and vſe them when neede is for any bytings, &c.

There is an Emplaiſter fathered vpon one Epigonus, & bearing his name: for this Epigonus beeing in cloſe priſon, and condemned to die, for reuealing this Medicine had his pardon granted him, and was freely diſcharged, becauſe he there-with healed the daughter of the Emperour Marcus: for beeing ſorely wounded by a Serpent in her breaſt, and all other Phiſitians diſpayring of helpe, yet with this ſhee was recouered. It is alſo good for all new and old Vlcers, and for ſuch as are either bytten by men, or by any kinde of venomous creeping wormes and ſerpents. Take of Squamma aeris, (which is the ſcales and offall of Braſſe, blowne from it in melting) of Ammoniacum, Aloes hepatica, Verdegreaſe, of Aes vſtum, of Frankinſence, Sal ammoniacum, Ariſtolochia rotunda, of euery one halfe an ounce, Turnep-ſeedes three ſcruples, of the roote of Dragonwort halfe an ounce, ſeedes of Mugwoort nine ſcruples, pure wax fiue pound, of Colophonia one pound, old oyle three ounces, ſharp Vinegar halfe a ſpoonefull, Muſtard-ſeede three ſcruples, Spodium nine ſcruples, Stone-Allom and Opopanax, of either halfe an ounce: Infuſe the metalline ingredients for three dayes ſpace in Vineger, and beate and powder them together, melting thoſe that are to be melted, then ſprinkle on thoſe that are dry; and all of them being throughly wrought and made vp, according to the form of an Emplaiſter, vſe them where neceſſitie requireth.

Antonius Fumanellus a late Phiſitian, preſcribeth an experimented, and (as hee calleth it) a diuine oyle againſt any poyſon taken into the body, or the byting of any venomous beaſts and ſerpents, whether it be receiued inwardly by drinking it downe, or annoynted outwardly vpon the body, & this is it that followeth. Take of oyle of Oliues one pound, the flowers and the leaues of the herb called S. Iohnſwort bruſed, boyle them for the ſpace of three houres and ſtraine them, then boyle againe other freſh flowers and leaues of the ſame herbe and ſtraine them hard, and doe ſo againe the third time, then adde to them of the rootes of Gentian and Tormentill, of eyther one ounce, boyle and ſtraine them as you did before, and reſerue this oyle for your vſe.

Andreas Matthiolus in his Commentaries vpon Dioſcorides, doth exceedingly cōmend oyle of Scorpions, becauſe beeing annoynted vpon the pulſes outwardlie, it is (as hee affirmeth) a ſinguler remedie, not onely againſt any poyſon taken inwardlie into the bodie by the mouth, but for the bytinges and ſtinginges of any venomous creature whatſoeuer. The way to prepare and make it, he deſcribeth at large, in his Praeface vpon the ſixt book of Dioſcorides, which I thinke needleſſe heere to deſcribe to auoyde tediouſnes; therefore if any one be deſirous to know the compoſition of it, let him read Matthiolus in the place before cyted. Vnquenched Lyme, mixeth with Honnie and oyle, and applied to the place the thick-nes of a cerote, is good againſt the wounds that come by any venomous beaſtes byting.

Now I thinke it meete to ſet downe thoſe ſimple medicaments which are outwardlie to be applied, eyther by laying on, or by annointing, againſt the ſting and venomous byting of Serpents. It is beſt firſt to foment the ſore place with hote vinegar, wherein Catmint hath been boyled, and in ſtead of Vineger, one may take Salt-water, or Sothern-wood, Maidenhaire, and Garlick, either in drinke, meate, or to be vſed as an oyntment. The roote of Aram, & of Aſtrologe, & the leaues of the true Daffadill, and oyle of Balme, is moſt effectuall: alſo Beellium, and the roote either of the white or black Beete, is good againſt the bytings of Serpents.

Betonie, Coleworts, eſpeciallie the Wild-coleworts, Calamint, the leaues of the wild Figge-tree, Centorie, Onions, Germander, Chamaeleon, the herbe called Fleabane, wilde Carrets, Rocket, Heath, Fennell, Figges, Winter-cherries, Enula Campana, Barly-meale, the Day-lilly, Hiſop, the Flower-deluce-roote, Horehound, Balme, Water-creſſes, Baſill, Origan, Plantine, Leekes, Turneps, Madder, Rue, Verven, Muſtard-ſeede, Scabioſe, and S. Iohnſwort, all theſe plants are greatlie praiſed amongſt the Writers of Phiſick, for the miſchiefes aboueſaid.

Pliny is of opinion, that the bowels or entralls of Serpents themſelues, beeing applyed, will ſurelie cure the wounds of all other Serpents, although they ſeeme incurable. A liue ſerpent beeing caught, if it be bruſed, beaten and ſtamped in water, and the hurt place fomented there-with, will aſſuredlie helpe and doe much eaſe.

Quae nocuit ſerpens, fertur caput illius aptè Vulneribus jungi, ſanat quae ſauciat ipſa, Vt Lariſſea curatus Telephus hosta. Qu. Serenus.

Which may be thus engliſhed;

What Serpent hurteth, men ſay by long experience, His head applyed doth cure: for where the wound, The helpe is alſo made, as in Telephus ſence, Harmd by Lariſſus ſpeare, by it was cured found.

And Guil. Varignana ſaith, deuide or cut a ſerpent, and lay it vpon the place, and it will mittigate the anguiſh and paine. The ſeede of Thraſpi and of Tithimal (which is a kind of ſpurge) is greatlie vſed for this. Aut Tithimallus atrox, vulnus quae tuta pervngat. Some Serenus beſides theſe, doe put the roote of black Hellebor into the wound, becauſe it draweth out the poyſon, as I by mine owne experience can teſtifie, ſaith Matthiolus.

There be alſo ſundry Antidotes and preſeruatiues which are taken inwardly, that are very effectuall againſt the bytings of ſerpents and venomous beaſts, as namely that, which is called Theriaca Andromachi, or Methridate, & the like compoſitious. Galen in his booke De Theriaca ad Piſonem, preferreth Theriaca Andromachi before all other medicines either ſimple or compound, for virulent wounds; becauſe it performeth that effect for which it is miniſtred. For it was neuer as yet heard, that euer any one perriſhed of any venomous hurt or byting, who without any delay foorth-with dranke this medicine: and if any man had taken it before he receiued any ſuch dangerous hurt, if he were ſet vppon and aſſailed by any poyſonous creature, it hath not lightlie been heard that hee hath dyed of the ſame. There be many Antidotes deſcribed by the Ancients, which they ſet downe to be admirable for theſe paſſions: As for example, that which Auicenna termeth Theriaca mirabilis, whoſe compoſition is as followeth. Take of Opium and of Myrrhe, of eyther of them a dramme, Pepper one dramme and a halfe, the roote of Ariſtolechia longa and Rotunda, of each of them three drammes, Wine two drammes; make them vp with Hony & Rocket water, ſo much as is ſufficient for an Electuarie: the quantitie to giue, is foure ſcruples, relented in ſome fit and conuenient decoction.

King Antiochus, ſurnamed Magnus, had a kinde of Theriaoa which hee vſed againſt all poyſons, which is deſcribed of Pliny in his 20 booke and laſt chapter in this wiſe. Take of Wild-time, Opopanax, and the herbe called Gromell, of each a like much, two drammes, Trifolie one dramme, of the ſeedes of Dill, Fennell, Smallage, Aniſe, and Ameos, of euery one alike ſixe drammes, of the meale of Orebus twelue drammes: all theſe beeing powned and finely ſearſed, muſt with wine a ſufficient quantitie, be made into Trochiſces, whereof euery one muſt weigh one dramme, giue thereof one dram at a time in a draught of wine. There is another Antidote and preſeruatiue againſt any poyſon, deſcribed by Paulus Aegineta, much like vnto this, which is thus. Take of Bryonie, Opopanax, of the roote of Iris Illirica, and of the roote of Roſemarie, and of Ginger, of each of theſe three drammes, of Ariſtolochia fiue drammes, of the beſt Turpentine, of wilde Rue, of each three drams, of the meale of Orobus two drammes; make them into Torchiſches with Wine, euerie one weighing one ſcruple and a halfe, or two ſcruples to be giuen alſo in wine.

Galen in his ſecond booke De antidotis, chapter 49. diſcourſeth of a certaine Theriacall medicament, called Zopyria antidotus, (ſo taking the name of one Zopyrus) which was notable againſt all poyſons, & bytings of venomous creeping creatures. This Zopyrus in his Letters written vnto Mithridates, ſollicited him very much, that he would make ſome experiment of his Antidote: which as he put him in mind he might eaſily doe, by cauſing any one that was alreadie condemned to die, to drinke downe ſome poyſon afore-hand, & then to take the Antidote: or els firſt to receiue the Antidote, & after that to drinke ſome poyſon. And put him in remembrance, to try it alſo in thoſe that were wounded any maner of way by Serpents, or thoſe that were hurt by arrowes, or Darts, annoynted or poyſoned by any deſtroying venime: So all things being diſpatched according to his praemonition, the man (notwithſtanding the ſtrength of the poyſon) was preſerued ſafe & ſound by this alexipharmaticall medicine of Zopyrus.

Matthiolus in his Praeface vpon the ſixth booke of Dioſcorides, entreating of Antidotes and preſeruatiues from poyſon, ſaith; that at length, after long ſtudie and trauaile, he had found out an Antidote, whoſe vertue was wonderfull and worthy admiration: and it is a certaine quinteſſence extracted from many ſimples, which hee ſetteth downe in the ſame place. He ſaith it is of ſuch force and efficacie, that the quantitie of foure drammes being taken either by it ſelfe, or with the like quantitie of ſome ſweet-ſenting Wine, or els with ſome diſtilled water, which hath ſome naturall propertie to ſtrengthen the hart; if that anie perſon hath either been wounded or ſtrooken of any venomous liuing thing, & that the patients life be therewith in danger, ſo that he hath loſt the vſe of his tongue, ſeeing, & for the moſt part all his other ſences, yet for all that, by taking this his Quinteſſence, it will recouer and raiſe him, as it were out of a dead ſleepe, from ſicknes to health, to the great aſtoniſhment and admiration of the ſtanders by. They that deſire to know the compoſition of this rare preſeruatiue, let them read it in the Author himſelfe, for it is too long and tedious to deſcribe it at this time.

There be beſides theſe compounds, many ſimple Medicines, which beeing taken inwardly, doe performe the ſame effect, as namelie the Thiſtle, where-vppon Serenus hath theſe verſes following.

Carduus et nondum doctis fullonibus aptus, Ex illo radix tepido potatur in amni.

That is to ſay;

The roote of Teaſill young, for Fullers yet vnfit, Drunke in warme-water, venome out doth ſpit.

That Thiſtle which Qu. Serenus heere vnderſtandeth, is properly that plant which of the Greekes is called Scolymos. Yet it is taken ſomtimes for other prickly plants of the ſame kind, as for both the Chamaeleons, Dipſacos, or Labram veneris, Spina alba, Eryngium, and ſome other. But Dioſcorides attributeth the chiefeſt vertue againſt poyſons, to the Thiſtles called Chamaeleon albus, and to the Sea-thiſtle, called Eryngium marinum, which ſome call Sea-hull or Huluer: for in his third booke and ninth chapter, entreating of Chamaeleon albus, hee ſaith thus. The roote of it taken with Wine inwardly, is as good as Treacle againſt any venime: and in the 21 chapter of the ſame booke, Eryngium, is (ſaith he) taken to good purpoſe with ſome wine, againſt the byting of venomous creatures, or any poyſon inwatdly taken. And the ſame Serenus, adſcribeth the ſame vertue to the Harts curd or rennet, as followeth.

Cervino ex foetu commixta coagula vino Sumantur, quae res membris agit atra venena.

In Engliſh thus;

Wine mixt with rennet taken from a Hart, So drunk, doth venom from the members part.

He meaneth a young Hart, beeing killed in the Dammes belly, as Pliny affirmeth alſo the ſame in his 8. booke and 30 chapter in theſe words; The chiefeſt remedie againſt the byting of Serpents, is made of the coagulum of a Fawne, killd and cut out of the bellie of his damme. Coagulum, is nothing els but that part in the belly which is vſed to thicken the Milke.

Proderit et caulem cum vino haurire ſambuci. Qu. Serenus.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

In drinke, the powder of an Elder-ſtalke, Gainst poyſon profiteth, as ſome men talke.

That vertue which Serenus here giueth to the ſtalke of Dwarfe-Elder, (for that is meant in this place) the ſame effect Dioſcorides attributeth to the roote, in his fourth booke, and Pliny to the leaues. The herbe called Betony is excellent againſt theſe fore-ſaid affects, & by good reaſon, for the greateſt part of poyſons doe kill through their exceſſe of coldnes, and therefore to ouer-come and reſiſt them, ſuch meanes are neceſſarie, by which naturall and liuely heate is ſtirred vp and quickned, and ſo the poyſon hindered from growing thick together, and from coagulation.

Againe, all men doe agree, that thoſe medicines are profitable which do extenuate, as all thoſe doe which haue a propertie to prouoke vrine, and Betonie is of this qualitie, and therefore beeing taken with Wine, it muſt needes doe good in venomous bytings, and that not onely in the bytings of men and Apes, but in Serpents alſo. Radiſh alſo hath the ſame qualitie, beeing taken with vineger and water boyled together, or els outwardly applyed, as Serenus affirmeth.

Siue homo, ſeu ſimilis turpiſsima bestia nobis Vulnera dente dedit, virus ſimul intulit atrum, Vetonicam ex duro prodest aſſumere Baccho. Nec non et raphani cortex decocta medetur, Si trita admorſis fuerit circumlitor membris.

In Engliſh thus;

If man, or Ape (a filthy beast most like to vs) By byting wound, and therein poyſon thrust, Then Betony in hard wine ſteeped long, Or rinde of Radiſh ſod as ſoft as pappe, Doe heale, applyed to the member ſtrong.

There be certaine herbes and ſimples, as Wild-lettice, Veruen, the roote called Rhubarb, Agarick, oyle of Oleander, and the leaues of the ſame, the ſeedes of Peonie, with a great number a little before deſcribed, that beeing taken either inwardly or outwardly in iuyce or powder, doe cure poyſon, yea though it be receiued by hurt from enuenomed arrowes, ſhafts, or other war-like engines & weapons: for the Arabians, Indians, the Galles (now termed French-men) and Scythians, were wont to poyſon theyr arrowes, as Paulus Oroſius in his third booke teſtifieth of the Indians, where hee writeth, howe Alexander the Great, in his conquering and winning of a certaine Cittie, vnder the gouernment of king Ambira, loſt the greateſt part there of his whole Armie with envenomed Darts and quarrells. And Celſus in his fifth Booke ſaith, that the auncient Galles were wont to annoynt their arrowes with the iuyce of white Hellebor, with which they did great miſchiefe. Pliny affirmeth the ſame to be vſed of the Scythian Nation. The Scythians (ſaith hee) doe annoynt their arrow-heads with the corrupt, poyſonous, and filthy ſtained dreggie blood of Vipers, and with mans blood mixed together: ſo that the wounde ſeemeth to be incurable. And to this alludeth Quintus Serenus.

Cuſpide non quiſquam, longa neque caede ſariſſae, Fulmine non gladij, volueris nec felle ſagittae, Quàm cito Vipereo potis est affligier ictu: Quare aptam dicamus opem, ſuccoſque manentes.

Which may be thus engliſhed;

There is no man with ſpeare or launces poynt, Sharpe edge of ſword, or ſwift arrowes might, To kill ſo ſoone, as Vipers force doth dint: Then fit is the ayde and meanes that it acquite.

There is a certaine kind of people to whom it is naturally giuen, either by touching or ſucking, to cure the wounding of venomous Serpents, called Pſylli, (a people of Libia) & Marſi people of Italie, bordering vppon the Samnites, and Aequiculania, and thoſe that were called by the auncient Writers Ophiogenes, which dwelt about Helleſpont, as both Pliny, Elianus, and Aeneas Siluius doe witneſſe.

Callias in the tenth Booke of the hiſtory which hee wrote of Agathocles the Syracuſan, ſaith, that if any man were bytten of a Serpent, if eyther a Lybian by birth, or any Pſyllus, whoſe body was accounted venom to ſerpents, was either purpoſely ſent for, or came that way by chaunce, and ſaw the wound but indifferently and not very ſore tormenting the patient, that if he did lay but a little of his ſpettle vpon the byting or ſtroke, that preſently the aking and paine would be mittigated. But if he found the ſick patient in great and intollerable anguiſh and paine, he tooke this courſe in his curation, that firſt he would ſucke and draw vp into his mouth a great deale of water, and firſt rinſe & waſh his own mouth there-with, and after this, pouring it all out of his owne mouth into a cup, he would giue it to the poore wounded perſon to ſuppe of. Laſtly, if the malignity and ſtrength of the venome had crept and ſpred it ſelfe very farre and deepe into the body, ſo that there vvas danger of death, then would he ſtrippe himſelfe ſtarke naked, and ſo lie and ſpread his bodie vppon the naked body of the ſicke perſon, and ſo by this way of touching, breake the malice and qualitie of the poyſon, and giue perfect cure to the man. For more confirmation heereof, Nicander Colophonius is ſufficient authority, whoſe verſes I will here deſcribe.

Audiui Libycos Pſyllos, quos aſpera Syrtis Serpentumque ferax patria alit populos, Non ictu inflictum diro, morſuue venenum Laedere: quin laeſis ferre et opem reliquis, Non viradicum, proprio ſed corpore juncto.

Which is in Engliſh thus;

The people Pſylli bred in Lybia Land Neere Syrtes, where all ſerpents doe abound, Are neuer ſtunge nor bitten by that band Vnto their harme, or any bodyes wound: But ſtraight one naked man anothers hurt doth heale, No rootes, but bodies vertue danger doth repeale.

Some of the Greekes haue left in writing, that the Idolatrous Prieſts and Prelats of the God Vulcan, that dwelt in the Ile Lemnos, had a ſpeciall vertue giuen them to cure thoſe who were wounded by Serpents: wherevpon it is ſaid, that Philoctetes beeing wounded by a ſerpent before the Altar of Apollo, went thither to be remedied of his hurt. Cornelius Celſus ſaith flatly, that the people called Pſylli had no ſuch peculiar gift in healing thē that were hurt of ſerpents, either by ſucking or touching the place, but beeing boldly aduenturous, had preſumed thereby to attempt and do that, which others of leſſe courage had no ſtomack to doe: for whoſoeuer durſt be ſo confident as to follow their example, ſhould be himſelfe out of danger, and aſſure the other ſafe and free from feare of further hurt.

Galen in his booke De Theriaca ad Piſonem, manifeſtly ſheweth, that the Marſi, who liued in his dayes, had no ſuch ſpeciall qualitie againſt the poyſon of Serpents, but that with their crafty dealing, and knauiſh tricks, they beguiled the common people. For (ſaith he) thoſe Iuglers and Deceiuers, do neuer hunt Vipers at any conuenient time, but long after the Prime of the yeere and Spring, wherein they caſt their skins, when as they are weake, and haue loſt their ſtrength, and are very faint: then do they take them, & ſo by long vſe and continuance, teach them, and invre themſelues one to another, & bring it ſo to paſſe, that they will feede them with ſtrange and vnaccuſtomed meates to their nature; yea they will permit them to taſt of fleſh, and conſtraine them to be continuallie gnawing and byting of the ſame, that by their ſo labouring and ſtriuing, their poyſon may by little and little be ſpent, and purged out of their bellies. Beſides all this, they giue thē a kind of bread made of milke and flower, that by this meanes the holes in their teeth may be ſtopped: & ſo by this labourious courſe of dyeting them, they bring the matter ſo about, that theyr bytings are very weake, & do ſmall annoyance to any that they ſtrike at. So that the ſeers and lookers on, account it a thing exceeding common reaſon and nature, and blaze it abroade for a miracle.

Matthiolus alſo, a Phiſition of late dayes, agreeth with him in this poynt, affirming expreſly, that theſe kind of trumperies and craftie fetches, are much put in practiſe in theſe times, by ſuch bold and impudent Quackſaluers, Mountebanks, and cooſeners of plaine Country-people, who dare face it out, lye, faine and cogge, that they are deſcended from the race and linage of Saint Paule, wherein they ſhewe themſelues notorious lyers. &c. Thus farre Matthiolus.

Serpents doe ſometimes creepe into the mouthes of them that are faſt aſleepe, where-vppon a certaine Poet ſaith;

Non mihi tunc libeat dorſo jacuiſſe per herbam.

Which may be engliſhed thus,

Then would I not vpon the graſſe, Lye on my back where Serpents paſse.

For if a man ſleepe open-mouthed, they ſlilie conuey themſelues in, and wind & role them round in compaſſe, ſo taking vp their lodging in the ſtomacke, and then is the poore wretched man, miſerably and pittifully tormented; his life is more bitter then death, neither feeleth he any releaſe or mittigation of his paine, vnleſſe it be by feeding this his vnwelcome gueſt in his gueſt-chamber, with good ſtore of Milke, and ſuch other meates as Serpents beſt like of. The onely remedy againſt this miſchiefe, is to eate good ſtore of Garlicke, as Eraſmus in his Dial. De Amicitia ſaith. Cardan ſaith, how that it was reported for a certaine, that a Viper entring into a mans mouth being aſleepe and gaping with his mouth, the venomous worme was expelled onely with burning of Leather, and ſo receiuing the ſtinking ſume at his mouth, the Viper not enduring it, hee eſcaped with life. But of this more in our diſcourſe of the Viper.

A certaine man called Ciſſus, beeing very deuout in the ſeruice, and much addicted to the worſhip of the God called Serapis, being trecherouſly wound in and intrapped, by the craftie wilines of a certaine woman, which firſt he loued and afterward married, when by her meanes he had eaten ſome ſerpents-egges, he was miſerably vexed, and torne & rent with diſquiet and torment through all his body, ſo that he ſeemed to be in great hazard of preſent death. Whereupon, forthwith repayring and praying hartily to this his God, for his helpe and deliuerance, he receiued aunſwer, that he muſt goe and buy a liue Lamprey, All this medicinall deſcription of Serpents, was written by Tho Bonham Doctor in Phiſicke. and thruſt his hand into the veſſell or place where it was kept and preſerued; which hee forth-with did, and the Lamprey caught faſt hold on his hand, byting hardly, & holding faſt by the teeth: and at length, when ſhe was pulled from her faſt hold, the ſickneſſe and grieuous torment of his body, was plucked away, and he freely deliuered from that threatning danger. Thus farre Aelianus.

The Concluſion of this generall Diſcourſe of SERPENTS.

HAuing thus diſcourſed of the medicinal qualities in Serpents, and the remedies which Almighty GOD in nature hath prouided againſt their venom, now for a concluſion, I will adde ſome other naturall vſes of them, and ſhut vp all in moralities, and in ſundry wayes to take them.

There were certaine Amazons, as Pierius noteth, that in theyr warre-like preparations and Armes, did vſe the skinnes of Serpents. And to the intent that this may not ſeeme ſtrange, the Troglodites Herodotus Mela. Pliny. did eate Serpents and Lyzards, for they liued in Caues in ſtead of houſes, & their voyce was not a ſignificant voyce, but a kinde of ſcrietching, like gnaſhing. And for theſe cauſes, Serpents are very much afraid of any one of this Nation. Likewiſe certaine of the Candeans were called Ophiophagi, that is, Eaters of Serpents, and one part of the people of Arabia eate Snakes. But in India, Ethiopia, and an Iland in the Ocean, found out by Iambolus, there are Serpents which are harmeleſſe, and their fleſh very ſweet and pleaſant to be eaten: So are there in Macinum, a Prouince of Aſia. In Manzi in the vpper India, and Solinus. Scaliger. Boemus Caraia, they ſell the fleſh of Serpents in open Markets. Theſe ſerpents are called Iuanae, & the common people are forbidden to eate them, becauſe they are very delicate, euen as Pheaſants, Partridges and Peacocks are in Fraunce. Yet is there but one way to dreſſe them, which is, to roule them in Lard, and ſo to ſeeth them. For firſt they bowell them, then waſh them and fold them vp together round, putting them into a pot no bigger then Aeneas Syl: Nicander Venetus. P. Martyr to receiue their quantitie; vpon them they caſt Pepper with water, & ſo ſeeth them vpon wood & coales that will not ſmoake. With this Lard there is made a broth ſweeter then any Nectar, which they vſe in many bankets of great account.

But for the taking of Serpents, I will yet adde one or two more experiments, vvherein the Ancients reuenged themſelues vpon theſe irreconcileable enemies of mankind. They did vſe to ſet into the earth a deepe pot, whereinto all venomous creatures would gather and hide themſelues, then came they ſuddenly & ſtopped the mouth of that veſſell, wherby Florentinus they incloſed all that were taken, and ſo making a great fire, eaſt the ſaide part of venomous ſerpents into the ſame, which conſumed them all. Otherwiſe, they tooke a liuing Serpent, and digged in the earth a deepe Well or pit ſo ſteepe, as nothing at the bottome could climbe vp to the top thereof, into this pit they would caſt the ſerpent, and with her a brand of fire, by meanes whereof the encloſed Serpent would fall a hyſſing for her life, at the hearing whereof, her fellowes of the ſame kind, were therby eaſily inuited to come at her call to giue her releefe, (as we haue ſhewed elſwhere) who finding the noiſe in the bottome of the pit, doe ſlide downe of their owne accord, wherby they likewiſe intrap themſelues in the ſame pit of deſtruction.

But the Iuglers or Quackſaluers take them by another courſe, for they haue a ſtaffe ſlit at one end like a payre of tongs, thoſe ſtand open by a pinne, now when they ſee a ſerpent, Viper, Adder or Snake, they ſet them vppon the neck neere the head, and pulling foorth the pinne, the ſerpent is ineuitably taken, and by them looſed into a prepared veſſell, in which they keepe her, and giue her meate. It is reported, that if a Serpent bee ſtrooken with a Reede, ſhe ſtandeth ſtill at the firſt blow, as if ſhe were aſtoniſhed, and ſo gathereth Caelius Rhoi Aelianus herſelfe together, but if ſhe be ſo ſtrooken the ſecond or third time, as one deliuered from her aſtoniſhment and feare, ſhe recollecteth her wits and ſtrength, and ſlydeth away. The Conſtantinus like obſeruation vnto this, is that of the Auncients, that a ſerpent cannot be drawne out of her denne by the right hand, but by the left, for they ſay, if one lay hold on her taile by the right hand, ſhe will either ſlide farther into the earth from him, or elſe ſuffer herſelfe to be pulled in peeces, neuer turning againe: and therefore ſaith mine Authour, Non cedit trahenti, Pliny. Textor ſed elabitur fugiens, aut certe abrumpitur, ſhe yeeldeth not to him that draweth her, but ſlideth away, flying from him, or els ſuffereth herſelfe to bee pulled in peeces in the combat.

The ſundry Hieroglyphicks, ſtatues, figures, Images, and other morrall obſeruations about Serpents, are next heere to be expreſſed, which the Auncients in their Temples, Shieldes, Banners, Theatres and publique places had erected for their honours and dignitie. And firſt of all, in the Temple of Delphos, neere the Oracle, there was placed the Serpent which prouoked Apollo to fight with him, wherein it was by him ſlaine. And the Plutarch. Pierius. Hermopolitans, did reſerue the Image of Typhon, in a Sea-horſe, wherevppon ſat fighting a Hawke and a Serpent: by the Sea-horſe they ſignified the Monſter Typhon, by the other beaſts, as namely the Hawke and the Serpent, how by his principalitie and gouernment, which he had gotten by violence, he troubled both himſelfe and others.

Hercules had in his ſhield certaine Serpents heads, pictured with theſe verſes.

Bis ſena hic videas, ſtridentibus effer a flammis Coll • , venenato vultu maculoſa draconum. Tum magis offenſo ſpirantia gutture virus Quam magis Alcides offuſo ſanguine pugnat.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

Of Dragons heads twiſe ſixe heere maiſt thou ſee, Raging amongst the flames with poyſond ſpotted face: Casting moſt venom forth when they enraged be, As when Alcides ſaw his blood diſtill apace.

And ſo Virgill ſaith of Auentinus.

—Clypeoque inſigne parentum. Centum angues, cinctamque gerit ſerpentibus, Hydram.

That is to ſay;

His ſhield an hundred ſnakes, his Fathers crest An Hydra in their compaſſe is entest.

Oſcus which raigned among the Tyrrhenians, gaue in his Standard & Coate of Armes a Serpent. Now the people Oſci (from whom it may be he was ſprung and deriued) liued Pierius. in Campania in Italie, as we haue ſhewed alreadie.

In auncient time we read, that when hoſtilitie began to be compounded, they had Herolds and Embaſſadors of peace, which they called Caduceatores, which carried vpright a certaine Rodde or ſtaffe called Caduceus, this Rod was very ſtraight, & at the either ſide, Suidat. were artificially ioyned two ſerpents figures, winding and crooking into each other as the manner of Serpents is. This Rodde was ſo ſacred, that it was a great offence to violate or offer any iniury vnto it: for by the ſtraight Rod, was ſignified Perfect & Vpright reaſon or vnderſtanding; by the two crooked ſerpents at eyther ſide thereof, was figured the two Armies inuading and aſſailing the ſame Vpright-vnderſtanding, yet not preuailing: For this paſſed thorough and betwixt them without harme, by truce and entreaties of Peace. This Rod was therfore conſecrated to Mercury, the tailes of the Serpents reaching downe to the handle or halfe of the Rod, where they were adorned with vvings. Alciatus made theſe Emblematicall verſes vpon the Caduceus.

Anguibus implicitis, geminus Caduceus abis, Inter Amaltheae cornua rectus adest. Pollentes ſic mente viros, fandique peritos Iudicat, vt rarum copiae multa beet.

In Engliſh thus;

Twixt Ceres hornes the Rod of Peace doth ſtand Vpright, with winding ſnakes, and double-winged tayles, To ſhew that minds and tongues with Learnings brand, Are bleſt with plenty in all worldly vayles.

But hauing thus entred into the Hieroglyphicall Emblems, if I ſhould ſay ſo much as I find made ready, and ſquared for the architecture of this diſcourſe, I might looſe my ſelfe in a volumnious world of matter, therefore I will but giue the Reader a taſt hereof. By the Serpent in Holy-writ, are many obſeruatiue ſignifications; and firſt, that the deuill himſelfe, which is Malus deus mali mundi, an euill God of an euill world, ſhould be termed and expreſſed by a Serpent. The cauſe ſaith Pierius, is linguae motatio, the continuall and neuer ceaſing motion of a Serpents tongue: and ſo the continuall and euer-working perſwaſions of diabolicall tentations, and a true mixture and limbe of this old Serpent, ſpeaketh otherwiſe with his tongue, then he thinketh with his hart. Therefore it is alſo ſaid, that a naturall ſerpent hath a clouen or twiſted tongue.

Clemens ſaith truly, that Serpents doe alſo ſignifie men giuen ouer to ſinnes, and fraudulent impoſtors or malices, Onos hybristes, ho akotastos, bukos agrios ho pleonecticos, kai ophis ho apatroon, that is, An inſolent & an intemperate Aſſe. There is a raging wolfe which is couetous, and there is a ſerpent which is an impoſtour and fraudulent. The ſame learned man ſaith, that riches are like to a ſerpent: For as when an ignorant man thinketh to take a Serpent without harme by the tayle, ſhee turneth backe againe and biteth him, but if he take her by the necke, ſhe cannot execute any part of her malice: euen ſo when a wiſe man hath the managing of riches, by vertue of his diſcretion hee ſo charmeth them, that there is not in them any harme at all: but the fooliſh man is mortally ſtung by his imprudent poſſeſſion and diſpenſation of them.

OF THE ADDER.

IT falleth out in the particular Diſcourſe of Serpents, that I expreſſe the moſt knowne Serpent to vs in England in the firſt place, according to Alphabeticall order, that is, the Adder. For although I am not ignorant, that there be which write it Nad • re, of Natrix, which ſignifieth a Water-ſnake, yet I cannot conſent vnto them ſo readily, as to depart from the more vulgar receaued word of a whole Nation, becauſe of ſome likelyhood in the deriuation from the Latine: For whereas Naders may ſeeme not improperly to be deriued of Natrix, and Natrix of Natando, that is, ſwimming in the water, the firſt coniecturall deriuation is deſtroyed by the latter, becauſe this Serpent whereof wee now entreat, haunteth not the waters, except for drinke in her time of thirſt, and therefore I miſlike the writing of Nadere for Adder: & rather take that word to ſignifie a land ſnake. And yet if there be any good argument of deriuation of Engliſh from Latine, I would not haue the Reader thinke, but that the Adder may as well be deriued à terra, from the earth which it vſeth, or of ater, blacke, which is the colour that it beareth, or from atrox fierce, (for there is no ſerpent of that quantitie, more fierce, angry, or hurtfull,) as well as nadere from natrix.

The Latines doe expreſſe this kind of ſerpent by the word Coluber, whereof ſome giue ſundry reaſons, either becauſe colit vmbras, it haunteth and liueth in hedges & ſhadowye Iſidorus. places, or els à lubricis tractibus, of his winding pace or path. Gelenius deriueth it of the Greeke word R • lobouros, which ſignifieth wanting a tayle, becauſe the ſnakes which are about houſes, are ſometimes found without tayles, which haue been ſtrooke off my men; but this opinion hath no reaſon for the Adder, which is not domeſticall. Indeede I confeſſe that Pliny vſeth Coluber for a generall word for ſerpents, when he ſaith, Coluber in aqua viuens, which deceiued Theophr • stus & Gaza, applying it to the water Serpent. And ſo Eraſmus and others, tranſlate Ophis coluber, that is, the generall greeke word for a Serpent, an Adder. There is alſo Colubra, as in Lucilius, Varro, & Nonius Marcellinus appeareth; wherevnto agree Horace, Virgill, and Cornelius Celſus. The Italians call this ſerpent Lo Scorzone, ſcorſoni Colubra, la ſcorzonara la ſcorſona. The French, Colenure. The Spanyards, Culebra, and at this day, the Grecians Nerophis. And thus much for the name, except I may adde theſe verſes of Virgill in his Georgicks.

Aut tecta aſſuetus Coluber, ſuccedere & vmbrae Pestis acerba boum, pec • rique aſpergere virus Fouit humum. Cape ſaxa manu, cape robora paſtor. Tollentemque minas, & ſibila colla tumentem. Deijce, iamque fuga tumidum caput abdidit altè; Cum medij nexus, extremaque agminae caudae Solvuntur, turdoſque trahit ſinus vltimas orbes.

In Engliſh thus;

Or when the Adder vſing houſe or ſhade Bred in the earth, the bane of ſheepe and neate, Then ſhepheard take both ſtone in hand and blade, To quaſh his ſwelling necke and hiſsing threat. Or when his fearefull heàd he puts full deepe in earth To flye thy wrath, him ſunder in the midst, Or cut his tayle, if no part els appeareth, For that will ſtay his pace, while on't thou treadeſt.

This is vſuall, to call a water-Adder, a houſe-Adder, a Land-ſnake, and ſuch other, but catachreſtically confounding one kind with another. And thus much for the name of this Serpent. The parts differ not from the generall deſcription before recited, it is long like an Eeele, and hath many Epithets, as virides colubri, greene Adders, long, rough, venomous, diuers coloured, ſwelling, ſlyding, winding, blew, terrible, ſecret, hurtfull, Meduſaean, Cyniphian, Gorgonean, Lybiſsine, biting, ſpotted, wreathing, black, bending, heauy, ſcalie, and diuers ſuch other, as the Gramarians haue obſerued. But concerning the colour hereof, it is moſt commonly blacke on the backe, ſometimes greeniſh and yellowiſh. The ſcales of it are more ſharpe then of the Snake, & therefore the Egyptians were wont to ſay of the Thebane Adders, that they had a certaine appearance of hornes vppon them, as we ſhall ſhew more at large in the ſtory of Ceraſtes, or the horned ſerpent.

Victorius, ſpeaking of the great wormes which are bred in mens bellies, doth call them Caecas Colubras, blind Adders; but otherwiſe, the Adder which is proper to the earth, is not blind, but ſeeth as ſharply as any other ſerpent either by day or by night. They are hoter then the ſnakes, and therefore liue more in the ſhadowes, and lye for the moſt part round, folded vp together like a rope, as the Poet noteth, ſaying;

Hirtus & vt coluber, nodoſo gramine tectus Ventre cubat flexo, ſemper collect us in orbem.

In Engliſh thus;

As the rough Adder in knotty graſſe is couered, Lyeth on her belly, and round in circle gathered.

They are a craftie & ſubtill venomous beaſt, biting ſuddenly them that paſſe by them, wherevpon Iacob ſaid that his ſonne Dan ſhould be Coluber in via, an Adder byting the horſe heeles. When ſhe hath bitten, with her forked or twiſted tongue ſhee infuſeth her poyſon, vvhereof, and the remedy ſeming there-vnto, there is this hiſtory in Ambroſius Paraeus. At what time (ſaith he) Charles the ninth lay at Melines, I and Doctor Le Feure the Kings Phiſitian, were ſent for to cure a certaine Cooke of the Lady Castroperſees, who was bitten by an Adder, as he was gathering wilde Hops in a hedge. The Cooke as ſoone as he was bitten in the hand, ſucked the wound with his mouth, thinking therby to mittigate the paine, and draw out againe the poyſon; but as ſoone as his tongue touched the wound, preſently it ſo ſwelled that he could not ſpeake: and beſides, is arme or ſhoulder ſwelled into a high bunch or tumour, which did put him vnto painfull torments, inſomuch that he ſwounded twice in our preſence; his face and colour changed as though he would preſently die. Whereat we all deſpayred to cure him, yet did not forſake him, nor left to try ſome meanes to eaſe his torments. Then wee waſhed his tongue with Triacle, mixed with an equall proportion of white vvine and Aqua vitae; then alſo I cauſed the arme to be ſcarified all ouer, and launced the place where the Adder had bitten him, out of which flowed abundance of corrupt mattery blood. Then we waſhed the vvound with Triacle and Mithridate, in Aqua vitae; ſo we cauſed him to be layd into a warme bedde, there to ſvveat, and commaunded to keepe him awake, which was done accordingly; and ſo the next day the ſwelling was abated, & the malignant ſymptomes were all euacuated: ſo we gaue order to keepe the vvound or launced place open, & afterward the Cooke began to be well againe. This one example in ſtead of many, I thought good to inſert into this place, that hereby the generall cure may be learned and followed.

It agreeth with all other ſerpents in the changing or putting off the skin; for after that by faſting it hath made his fleſh low and abated, then by ſlyding thorough a narrow paſſage, whereof Virgill thus writeth.

Qualis vbi in, lucem coluber, mala gramina paſtus, Lubrica conuoluit ſublato pectore targa Frigida ſub terra, tumidum quem bruma tegebat: Arduus ad ſolem & linguis micat ore triſulcis Nunc poſitis nouus exuuijs, intiduſque iuventa.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

Euen as the Adder in the ſpring ill fedde and leane Moueth her winding limbes, holding vp her brest, Whom winters cold whiles hyd in earth made ſwell, In ſunne-ſhine with her treble tongue expreſt Doth licke and make to ſhine her skinne, neate youth Renueth, and caſts old coate, for heate enſueth.

S. Ierom ſaith, that when the Adder is thirſtie and goeth to drinke, ſhe firſt of all at the water ſide caſteth vp her venome, leaſt that by drinking it deſcend into her bowels and ſo deſtroy herſelfe, but after that ſhe hath drunke, ſhe licketh it vp againe; euen as a ſouldiour re-armed after he was diſarmed. The voyce of this ſerpent is hiſsing, although it be verie Herodo • us. ſeldome heard. And it is ſaid, that when Craeſus vndertooke to wage vvarre with Cyrus, the ſuburbes of Sardis vvere all filled with Adders, which vvere deuoured aftervvard by horſes in the paſtures. Whereat the King and people vvere not a little moued: But the Prieſtes, after conſultation with the Oracle, tolde them that it ſignified, howe ſtrangers ſhould deuoite the people of that Cittie; becauſe that Adders were bred in thoſe coaſtes, therefore they tooke them to ſignifie naturall inhabitants, and becauſe horſes came from other Countries, therefore ſtrangers, (as Cyrus and his ſouldiours) ſhould be thereby ſignified. And this is to be noted, that the enemies of this ſerpent, are the ſame that are common to other, and the Hart aboue all other beaſts of the earth. Yet this Serpent (ſaith S. Ambroſe) will kill a Lyon, & runne away from a Hart.

¶ The Medicines ariſing out of this beaſt, are briefely theſe; The water wherein an Pliny Silnius. Adder is preſerued aliue, is a remedy againſt the poyſon of a Toade: Alſo Adders or Vipers included in a pot with the ſcrapings of Vines, and therein burnt to aſhes, do help the vvennes or Kings-euill. And Pliny alſo affirmeth, that if a man which hunteth Crocodils, beate about him any part of the fatte of an Adder, or the gall mixed vvith the herbe Potamigiton, he cannot be hurt by that beaſt.

Serpents and Adders, eſpecially deafe Adders, ſignifie vntepentant wicked men, and alſo diſcord, as the Poet deſcribeth it, vvhen Alecto ſent a Serpent, Snake or Adder, to Virgill. moue cōtention in the familie of Amata. Libro 7. Aenead. And thus much for the Adder.

OF THE AMMODYTE.

THis Serpent I call after the Greeke name, Ammodytes, an Ammodyte. It is alſo found to be called Ammodyta, and Cenchrias, or rather Centrias, or Centrites, becauſe of the hardnes of their tayles, vvhich are alſo clouen on the vpper ſide. The Italians call it Aſpido del corno, becauſe it hath vpon the vpper chap a hard warte like a horne. The head of this Serpent is longer & greater then a Vipers head, and her chappes vvider, beſides the late expreſſed difference vpon the vpper lippe: and yet it may well be termed a kind of Viper. It is Immanis fera, a fierce wilde beaſt, in length not aboue a cubite, hauing diuers blacke ſpots vpon the skinne, and certaine appearances of ſtrakes or ſmall lines vpon Olaus Mag: Auicenn • . the backe. The colour of the other parts is euer like the ſand wherin it keepeth & maketh abode, according to theſe verſes of Lucan.

Concolor exustis, atque indiſcretus arenis Ammodytes.

In Engliſh thus;

The Ammodyte, indiſcreete on the Land, Doth hold the colour of the burning ſand.

The Countries moſt of all annoyed with theſe Serpents, are Lybia, Italy, and Illiria, eſpecially about Gortinium, and the Mountaines of Lampidia. Their harmes are not inferiour to the ſtinging and poyſon of Aſpes, for Matthiolus writeth, that hee hath knovvne ſome to die thereof vvithin three houres after the wound receiued. And if they doe not dye within ſhort time, then doth the blood iſſue forth in abundant maner out of the hurt, and the wound ſwelleth. Afterward, all is turned into matter, and then followeth dulnes in the head, and diſtraction in the mind; they liue long which endure it three dayes, and it was neuer knowne that any liued aboue ſeauen dayes: this alſo beeing obſerued, that thoſe that be hurt by a femall doe dye ſooneſt. For together with their byting, they infuſe a vehement payne, which cauſeth ſwelling, and the ſore to runne.

I find the cure hereof in Aetius to be thus, firſt of all Triacle muſt be giuen to the ſicke perſon to drinke, and alſo layd vpon the wound, alſo drawing or attractiue playſters, and ſuch poulteſſes which are fit for running vlcers. But firſt before the playſters, ſcarifie all the places about the hurt, and bind the vpper parts hard, then launce the ſore a little with a Pen-knife, and let him drinke ſweete water with Rungwort, Gourdes, Castoreum, and Caſsia. Auicen preſcribeth in the cure of theſe Serpents venorn: Caſtoreum, Cinnamon, the roote of Centory, of each two ounces with Wine, and the roote of long Hartwort, of Aſſoaſier, the iuyce of the roote Gentian. And for emplaiſter, Hony ſod and dryed, and ſo pounded, the rootes of Pomgranats, and Centory, the ſeede of Flaxe, and Lettuce, and wilde Rew: And ſo I conclude with Doctor Geſner, Percuſſus ab Ammodyte festinet ad remedium ſine quo nemo affugere, He which is hurt by an Ammodyte, let him make haſt for a remedy, without which neuer man eſcaped death.

OF THE ARGES AND ARGOLAE.

THere is mention in Galen and Hippocrates, of a Serpent called Arges: Now Arges ſignifieth in Greeke white, ſwift, idle, ill mannered: of this Serpent Hippocrates telleth this ſtory. There was (ſaith he) a young man drunke Galenus. Hippocrates. which lay aſleepe vpon his backe in a certain houſe, gaping: Into this mans mouth entered a ſerpent called Arges, the young man perceiuing it in his mouth, ſtriued to ſpeake and cry but could not, and ſo ſuddenly gnaſhing his teeth, deuoured and ſwallowed downe the Serpent: After which he was put to intollerable paines, his hands ſtretching & quiuering like as a mans that is hanged or ſtrangled, and in this ſort he caſt himſelfe vp and downe and dyed. It ſeemeth therefore that this Serpent hath his name from the ſudden deſtruction, he bringeth to the creatures it ſmiteth, and therefore in auncient time we read that Mercury was called Argiphon, for killing of Serpents.

THe Argolae are onely mentioned by Suidas, for he ſaith, that Alexander brought them to Alexandria from Arges, & caſt them into the riuer to expell and deuour the Aſpes: where they continued a long time, till the bones of the Prophet Ieremy were brought out of Egypt vnto Alexandria which ſlew them, (as the ſame Author writeth:) And thus much of theſe two kindes of Serpents.

OF ASPES.

IN Hebrewe as appeareth Deut. 32. the Aſpe is called Pethen, in Pſal. 58. Akſchub, in Iſa. 59. and Ier. 8. Zipheoni, an Aſpe or a Cockatrice, worſe then a Serpent. The Arabians Haſyos, and Haſcos: the Greekes Aſpis, the Italians Aſpe, and Aſpide, the Spaniardes Biuora, the French Vnaſpic, the Germans Ein ſclang genannt, and the Latines Aſpis. About the notation or deriuation of this word, there is ſome difference among Writers. Ariſtophanes deriueth it from Alpha, an intenſiue Particle, and Spizo which ſignifieth to extend; either by reaſon of his ſharpe-ſhrill hiſſing, or for the length of his body. Others deriue Aſpis from Hios, which ſignifieth venome or poyſon, & therefore ſaith the Scripture: The poyſon of Aſpes, becauſe that is a predominant poiſon. The Latines call it Aſpis, quod venenum aſpergit morſu, bycauſe it ſprinkleth abroad his poyſon when it biteth. Beſides we read of Aſpis a Buckler, an Iſland in the Lycian Sea, a Mountaine in Affrike, and there is faſhion of camping Souldiours in the fielde called Aſpides.

The Epithets declaring the nature of this peſtiferous Serpent are, Iocheeira, reioycing in poiſon, Elikoeſſa, winding, Lichmores, putting out the tongue, Smerdalee fearefull, Phoineſſa, cruelly killing. Likewiſe in Latine, dry, ſleeping, drouzy, deadly, ſwelling, and Aſpis, Pharia, a Pharian Aſpe, ſo called of the Iſland Pharus, where they abound. It is ſaid Cal: Rhod. that the Kings of Egypt did weare the Pictures of Aſpes in their crownes: whereby they ſignified the inuincible power of principality in this creature, whoſe wounds cannot eaſily be cured: And the Prieſtes of Egypt and Aethiopia, did likewiſe weare very long caps, hauing toward their toppe a thing like a Nauell, about which are the formes of winding Aſpes, to ſignifie to the people, that thoſe which reſiſt GOD and Kings, ſhall periſh by Diodorius, Pierius. vnreſiſtable violence. Likewiſe by an Aſpe ſtopping his eare, was figured & vnderſtood a rebell obeying no lawes or degrees of the higher power: But let vs leaue this diſcourſe of moralities, and come nearer to the naturall deſcription of Aſpes. There are many kings Aelianus. of Aſpes after the Egyptian diuiſion, for one kind is called Aſpis Siua, a dry Aſpe. This is the longeſt of all other kindes, and it hath eyes flaming like fire, or burning coales; another kind is called Aſilus, which doth not onely kill by biting, but alſo with ſpetting, which it ſendeth forth while it ſetteth his teeth hard together, and lifteth vp the head. Another kind is called Irundo, becauſe of the ſimilitude it keepeth with Swallowes, for on the back it is blacke, and on the belly white, like as is a Swallow. We read alſo in Albertus of Aſpis Hypnalis, and Hippupex, but it may bee that both theſe names ſignifie but one kinde. This Hypnale killeth by ſleeping, for after that the wound is giuen, the patient falleth into a deepe and ſweete ſleepe, wherein it dyeth: and therefore Leonicenus ſaith; Illam fuiſſe, ex cuius veneno ſibi Cleopatram ſuauem mortem conſciuit, that it was the ſame which Cleopatra bought to bring vpon her ſelfe a ſweete and eaſie death. There is alſo an Aſpe called Athaes, which is of diuers colours: But I doe conſider that all the kindes may well be reduced Aetius. Aegmeta. Pliny. to three, that is, Ptyas, Charſaea, and Chelidonia. Ptyas hurteth by poyſoning mens eyes, by ſpetting forth venom, Chaerſaea liueth on the Land, and Chelidonia in the waters.

The Aſpe is a ſmall Serpent, like to a Land Snake, but yet of a broader backe, and except in this differeth not much from the Snake, their Neckes ſwell aboue meaſure, and if they hurt in that paſſion, there can bee no remedy, for the ſtroake of their eyes are exceeding red and flaming, and there are two pieces of fleſh like a hard skin which grow out of their foreheads, according to theſe verſes of Nicander;

Praeterea geminae, calli inſtar fronte carunclae Haerent, ſanguineis ſcintillant lumina flammis.

That is to ſay;

As hard as Brawne two bunches in their face Doe grow, and flaming-bloudy-eyes their grace.

And the dry Aſpe ſo called, becauſe it liueth in mid-landes, farre from any water, hath a vehement ſtrong ſight, and theſe eyes both in one and other are placed in the Temples of their head. Their teeth are exceeding long, and grow out of their mouth like a Boares, and thorough two of the longeſt are little hollowes, out of which hee expreſſeth his poyſon: They are alſo couered with thinne and tender skinnes, which ſlyde vp when the ſerpent byteth, and ſo ſuffer the poyſon to come out of the holes, afterward they returne to their place againe. Of all which thus writeth Nicander;

Quatuor huic intra marillae concaua dentes, Radices fixere ſuas, quas iuncta quibuſdam, Pelliculis tunica obducit, triſte vnde venenum Effundit, ſi forte ſu • ſe approximet hoſti.

In Engliſh thus;

Within the hollow of their cheekes fiery teeth are ſeene Faſt rooted, which a coate of skinne doth ioyne and ouer-hide, From whence ſad venom iſſueth forth when ſhe is keene, If that her foe ſhe chance to touch as ſhe doth glide.

The ſcales of the Aſpe are hard and dry, and red, aboue all other venemous Beaſtes, and by reaſon of her exceeding drought, ſhee is alſo accounted deafe. About their quantity here is ſome difference among Writers: For Aelianus ſaith, that they haue beene found of 2. cubits length, and their other parts anſwerable: Againe, the Egyptians affirme them to be foure cubits long: but both theſe may ſtand together, for if Aelianus ſay true, then the Egyptians are not deceiued, becauſe the greater number containeth the leſſer. The Aſpe Ptyas is about two cubits long: the Cherſaen Aſpes of the earth, grow to the length Aetius. Auicenna. Arnoldus. Strabo. of fiue cubits, but the Chelidonian not aboue one, and this is noted, that the ſhorter Aſpe killeth ſooneſt, and the long more ſlowly: one beeing a pace, and another a fathom in length. Nicander writeth thus;

Tam proceram extenſa querunt quam brachia duci, Tanta que craſsities est, quantum miſsile telum, Quod faciens haſtas docta faber expolit arte.

Which may be thus engliſhed;

As wide as armes in force out-ſtretched, So is the Aſpe in length, And broad euen as a casting Dart, Made by a wiſe Smythes ſtrength.

The colour of Aſpes is alſo various and diuerſe, for the Irundo Aſpe, that is, the Chelidonian reſembleth the Swallow: the Ptyas or ſpetting Aſpe reſembleth an aſh colour, flaming Aetius. Olaus. like Gold, and ſomewhat greeniſh: the Cherſaen Aſpe of an aſh colour or green, but this later is more rare, and Pierius ſaith, that he ſaw a yellow Aſpe neere Bellun: of theſe colours writeth Nicander:

Squalidus interdum color albet, ſaepe virenti, Cum maculis ſaepe est cineres imitante figura, Nonnunquam ardenti veluti ſuccenditur igne, Id que nigra Aethiopum ſub terra quale refuſus Nilus ſaepe lutum, vicinum in Nerea voluit.

Thus otherwiſe;

Their colour whitiſh pale, and ſometime liuely greene, And ſpots which doe the aſh reſemble, Some fiery red: in Aethiop blacke Aſpes are ſeene And ſome againe like to Nerean mud, Caſt vp by flowing of the Nilus floud.

The countries which breed Aſpes, are not onely the regions of Affricke, and the confines of Nylus, but alſo in the Northerne parts of the world (as writeth Olaus Magnus) are many Aſpes found: like as there are many other Serpents found, although their venom or Am • paraeus. poyſon be much more weak, then in Affrica, yet he ſaith that their poyſon will kill a man within three or foure houres without remedy. In Spayne alſo there are Aſpes, but none in Bellonius France, although the common people do ſtile a certaine creeping thing by that name. Lucan thinketh that the originall of all came from Affrica, and therefore concludeth, that Merchants for gaine haue tranſported them into Europe ſaying;

Ipſa caloris egens, gelidum non tranſit in orbem; Sponte ſua, Nilo que tenus metitur arenas. Sed quis erit nobis lucri pudor? Indepetuntur, Huc Lybicamortes, & fecimus aſpida merces.

In Engliſh thus;

The Aſpe into cold Regions not willingly doth goe, But neere the banks of Nilus warme, doth play vpon the ſandes, Oh what a ſhame, of wicked gaine, muſt we then vndergoe? Which Libian deathes, and aſpiſh wares haue brought into our lands.

Their abode is for the moſt part in dryeſt ſoyles, except the Chelidonian, or water Aſpe, which liue in the bankes of Nylus all the yeare long, as in a houſe & ſafe Caſtle, but when they perceiue that the water will ouer flow, they forſake the bankes ſides, & for ſafegard Aeli •• us▪ of their liues, betake them to the Mountaines. Sometimes alſo they will aſcend and climbe trees: as appeareth by an Epigram of Anthologius. It is a horrible, fearefull, and terrible Serpent, going ſlovvly, hauing a vveake ſight, alvvayes ſleepy and drowzy, but a ſhrill and quicke ſence of hearing, whereby ſhee is vvarned and aduertiſed of all Giltius. noyſe, which when ſhe heareth, preſently ſhe gathereth her ſelfe round into a circle, and in the middeſt lifteth vp her terrible head: Wherein a man may note the gratious prouidence of almighty GOD, which hath giuen as many remedies againſt euill, as there are euils in the world. For the dulneſſe of this Serpents ſight, and ſlownes of her pace, doth keepe her from many miſchiefes. Theſe properties are thus expreſſed by Nicander.

Formidabile cui corpus, tardum que volumen, Quandoquidem tranſuer ſa via est prolixa que ventris Spira, veternoſi que niuere videntur ocelli. At ſimul ac facili forte abſeruarit aure Vel minimum ſtrepitum, ſegnes è corpore ſomnos Exoutit, & teretem ſinuat mox aſpera tractum, Horrendum que caput, porrecta que pectora tollit.

In Engliſh thus;

This feared Aſpe hath ſlow and winding pace, When as her way, on belly ſhe doth trauerſe, Her eyes ſhrunke in her head winking, appeare in face, Till that ſome noyſe her watchfull eare doth rauiſh, Then ſleepe ſhak't off, round is her body gathered, With dreadfull head, on mounted necke vp lifted.

The voyce of the Aſpe is hiſſing, like all other Serpents, and ſeldome is it heard to vtter any voyce or ſound at all, except when ſhe is endangered, or ready to ſet vpon her enemy. Whereupon ſaith Nicander;

—Graue ſibilat ipſa Beſtia, dum certam vomit ira concita mortem.

In Engliſh thus;

This beaſt doth hiſſe, with great and lowdeſt breath, VVhen in her moode ſhe threateneth certaine death.

That place of Dauid Pſalme. 58. which is vulgarly read, a death Adder, is more truely tranſlated A deafe Aſpe, which when ſhe is enchanted, to auoyde the voyce of the Charmer, ſhe ſtoppeth one of her eares with her taile, and the other ſhe holdeth hard to the earth: And of this incantation thus writeth Vincentius Belluacenſis. Virtute quorundā verborum incantatum aſpis, ne veneno interinat, vel vt quidam dicunt vt quieta capi poſsit, & gemma de fronte eius auferri, quae naturaliter in eo naſcitur, that is to ſay, The Aſpe is enchanted by vertue of certaine vvords, ſo as ſhe cannot kill with her poyſon, or as ſome ſay, be taken quietly without reſiſtance, and ſo the Gemme or pretious ſtone be taken out of her forehead, which naturally groweth therein. And from the wordes of the Pſalme a, foreſaid, not onely the certaintie and effectuall vſe of charming is gathered by Pierius, but alſo by many iuſtified in the caſe of Serpents. Whereof I haue already giuen mine opinion in the former generall Treatiſe, vnto the which I will onely adde thus much in concluſion, which I haue found in a certaine vnnamed Authour: Daemones diſcurrunt cum verbis ad ſerpentes, & infectione interiori hoc faciunt, vt ſerpentes ad nutum eorum moueantur, ac ſine laeſione tractabiles exhibeantur: Which is thus much in effect; Deuils runne vp & downe with words of enchauntment to Serpents, and by an inward or ſecrete infection, they bring to paſſe that the Serpents diſpoſe thēſelues after their pleaſure, and ſo are handled without all harme. And indeed, that it may appeare to be manifeſt that this incantation of Serpents is from the deuill, and not from God, this onely may ſuffice any reaſonable man: becauſe the Pſalmiſt plainely expreſſeth, that the ſerpent ſhifteth it off, & auoideth Peritiſsimos muſsitantium incantationes, the moſt skilfull Charmers. Now if it came from the vnreſiſtable power of almighty God, it ſhould paſſe the reſiſtance of them or deuills; but beeing a fallacie of the deuill, the ſerpent (wiſer in this poynt then men that beleeue it) eaſily turneth tayle againſt it: and in this thing we may learne to be wiſe as Serpents, againſt the inchaunting temptations of the deuill or men, which would beguile vs with ſhadowes of words and promiſes, of no valuable pleaſures.

If we may belieue Pliny, Elianus, and Philarchus, the Egyptians liued familiarly vvith Aſpes, and with continued kindnes wanne them to be tame. For indeede among other parts of their ſauage beaſtlines, they worſhipped Aſpes euen as houſhold Gods, by meanes whereof the ſubtill ſerpent grewe to a ſenſible conceit of his owne honour and freedome, and therefore would walke vp and downe and play with their children, doing no harme, except they were wronged, and would come and licke meate from the table, when they were called by a certaine ſignificant noyſe, made by knacking of the fingers. For the gueſts after theyr dinner, would mixe together hony, wine, and meale, and then giue the ſigne, at the hearing whereof they would all of them come foorth of their holes; and creeping vp, or lifting their heads to the table, leauing their lower parts on the ground, there licked they the ſaid prepared meate, in great temperance by little & little without any rauening, and then afterward departed when they were filled. And ſo great is the reuerence they beare to Aſpes, that if any in the houſe haue neede to riſe in the night time out of theyr beds, they firſt of all giue out the ſigne or token, leaſt they ſhould harme the Aſpe, and ſo prouoke it againſt them: at the hearing whereof, all the Aſpes get them to their holes and lodgings, till the perſon ſtirring be layd againe in his bed.

The holy kind of Aſpes, they call Thermuſis, and this is vſed and fedde in all their temples of Iſis with the fat of Oxen or Kine. Once in the yeere they crowne with them the Image of Iſis, and they ſay that this kind is not an enemy to men, except to ſuch as are very euill, wherevpon it is death to kill one of them willingly.

It is reported of a certaine Gardiner making a ditch or trench in his Vineyarde, by chaunce and ignorantly, he ſet his ſpade vpon one of theſe Thermuſis Aſpes, and ſo cut it aſunder, and when he turnd vp the earth, he found the hinder-part dead, and the fore-part bleeding and ſtirring: at which ſight his ſuperſtitious hart ouercome with a vaine feare, became ſo paſsionately diſtreſſed, that he fell into a vehement and lamentable frenzie. So as all the day time he was not his owne man, and in the night, in his madde fits leapt out of his bed, crying out with pittifull & eager complaint, that the Aſpe did bite him, the Aſpe did wound him, and that hee ſaw the picture of the ſaid aſpe (by him formerly ſlaine) following him, and tearing his fleſh, & therefore moſt inſtantly craued helpe againſt it, ſaying ſtill he perriſhed by it, he was mortally wounded. And when he had now (ſaith Elianus) continued a while in this ſuperſtitious fury and diſeaſe of the mind, his kindred & acquaintance brought him into the houſe of Serapis, making requeſt vnto that fained God to remoue out of his ſight that ſpectre and appariſion; and ſo he was releaſed, cured, and reſtored to his right mind.

This kind of Aſpe they alſo ſay is immortall and neuer dyeth, and beſides, it is a reuenger of ſacriledge, as may appeare by ſuch another hiſtory in the ſame place. There was a certaine Indian Peacock ſent to the King of Egypt, which for the goodly proportion and feature thereof, the King out of his deuotion conſecrated to Iupiter, and was kept in the Temple. Now there was (ſaith hee) a certaine young man which ſet more by his belly, then by his GOD, which fell into a great longing for to eate of the ſaid Peacocke: and therefore to attaine his appetite, he bribed one of the Officers of the Temple with a good ſumme of Money to ſteale the ſayd Peacocke, and bring it to him aliue or dead. The couetous wretch enraged with the deſire of the Money, ſought his opportunity to ſteale away the Peacock, and one day came to the place where he thought & knew it was kept, but when he came, he ſaw nothing but an Aſpe in the place thereof, and ſo in great feare leaped back to ſaue his life, and afterward diſcloſed the whole matter. Thus far Aelianus.

The domeſticall Aſpes vnderſtand right and wrong, and therefore Philanthus telleth a ſtory of ſuch an Aſpe which was a Female, and had young ones: in her abſence one of her young ones killed a childe in the Houſe: When the old one came againe according to her cuſtome to ſeeke her meate, the killed child was layed forth, and ſo ſhe vnderſtood the harme: Then went ſhe and killed that young one, and neuer more appeared in that houſe. It is alſo reported, that there was an Aſpe that fell in loue with a little Boy that kept Geeſe in the prouince of Egypt, called Herculia, whoſe loue to the ſaide Boy was ſo Aelianus feruent, that the Male of the ſaide Aſpe grew iealous thereof. Whereuppon one day as he lay aſleep, ſet vpon him to kill him, but the other ſeeing the danger of her loue, awaked and deliuered him.

There is much and often mention made of Aſpes in holy Scripture, beſide the forenamed place, Pſal. 58. as in Eſay. 59. the Iewes are compared to Aſpes, and their labours to Spiders webs. And Eſa. 11. The ſucking childe ſhall play vpon the hole of the Aſpe. Where-vpon a learned man thus writeth: Quicun que ex hominibus occulto veneno ad nocendum referti ſunt, ſub regno Christi mutato ingenio fore vel pueris innoxios: that is, whoſoeuer by ſecret poyſon of nature are apt to do harme to other in the kingdome of Chriſt: their nature ſhall be ſo changed, that they ſhall not harm ſucklings, not able to diſcouer thē. Great is the ſubtilty and fore-knowledge of Aſpes, as may appeare by that, in Pſal. 58. agaynſt the Charmers voyce. Alſo it is ſtrange, that all the Aſpes of Nilus doe thirty dayes before the floud remoue themſelues and their young ones into the Mountaines, and this is done yearely, once at the leaſt, if not more often.

They ſort themſelues by couples, and do liue as it were in marriage, Male and Female, ſo that their ſence, affection, and compaſſion, is one and the ſame: for if it happen that one of them be killed, they follow the perſon eagerly, and will finde him out, euen in the middeſt of many of his fellovves: that is, if the killer be a beaſt, they will know him among beaſtes of the ſame kind: And if he be a man, they will alſo finde him out among men: and if he be let alone, he will not among thouſandes harme any but hee: breaking thorough all difficulties (except Water,) and is hindered by nothing elſe, except by ſvvift Pliny. flying away. Wee haue ſhewed already, how the Pſyllians in Aſia, caſt their Children newly borne to Serpents, becauſe if they be of the right ſeede and kindred to their Father, no Serpent will hurt them, but if they be Baſtards of another race, the Serpentes deuour them: Theſe Serpents are to be vnderſtood to be Aſpes. Aſpes alſo we haue ſhewed were Suidas. deſtroyed by the Argolae, which Alexander brought from Argos to Alexandria, and therefore thoſe are to be reckoned their enemies. Shadowes doe alſo ſcare away and terrifie Aſpes, as Seneca writeth. But there is not more mortall hatred or deadly warre betwixt any, then betwixt the Ichneumon and the Aſpe. When the Ichneumon hath eſpied an aſpe, ſhe firſt goeth and calleth her fellowes to helpe her, then they all before they enter fight do vvallow their bodies in ſlime, or wet themſelues, and then wallow in the ſand, ſo harneſſing, and as it were arming their skinnes againſt the teeth of their enemy: and ſo when they finde themſelues ſtrong enough, they ſet vpon her, briſtling vp their tayles firſt of all, and turning them to the Serpent till the Aſpe bite at them, and then ſodenly eare the Aſpe can recouer, with ſinguler celerity they fly to her chaps and teare her in pieces, but the victory of this combat reſteth in anticipation, for if the Aſpe firſt bite the Ichneumon, then is he ouercome, but if the Ichneumon firſt lay hold on the Aſpe, then is the Aſpe ouercome. This hatred and contention is thus deſcribed by Nicander;

Solus eam potis est Ichneumon vincere peſtem, Cum graue cautus ei bellum parat, edita que oua, Quae fouet in multorum hominum inſuperabile lethū, Omnia fracta terit, mordace que dente laceſsit.

That is to ſay;

Ichneumon onely is of ſtrength, that peſt to ouerquell, Gainst whom in warie wiſe his warre he doth prepare, Her egges, a deadly death to many men, in ſand he doth out ſmell, To breake them all within his teeth, this nimble beaſt doth dare.

Pliny, Cardan, and Conſtantine affirme, that the Hearbe Arum, and the roote of Winterberry, do ſo aſtoniſh Aſpes, that their preſence layeth them in a deadly ſleepe: And thus much of their concord with other creatures.

Galen writeth, that the Marſians doe eate Aſpes without all harme, although as Mercuriall ſayth, their whole fleſh and body is ſo venomous, and ſo repleate with poyſon, that it neuer entreth into medicine, or is applyed to ſicke or ſound vpon any Phyſicall qualification: the reaſon of this is giuen by himſelfe and Fracastorius, to be either, becauſe Aſpes vnder their Climate or Region are not venomous at all, as in other Countries, neither Vipers nor Serpents are venomous: or elſe becauſe thoſe people haue a kind of ſimpathy in nature with them, by reaſon whereof, they can receiue no poyſon from them.

The poyſon of Aſpes ſaith Moſes, Deut. 32. is crudele venenum, a cruell poyſon, and Iob. 20. Cap. expreſſing the wicked mans delight in euill, ſayth: That he ſhall ſucke the poiſon of Aſpes. For which cauſe as we haue ſhewed already, the harme of this is not eaſily cured. VVe read that Canopus, the Maiſter of Menelaus ſhip, to bee bitten to death by an Toxtor. Aſpe at Canopus in Egypt. So alſo was Demetrius Phalareus, a Scholler of Theophraſtus, & keeper of the famous library of Ptolomaeus Soter. Cleopatra likewiſe to auoyde the tryumph that Augustus would haue made of her, ſuffered her ſelfe willingly to bee bitten to death by an Aſpe. VVhereupon Properitius writeth thus:

Brachia ſpect aui ſacris admorſa colubris, Et trachere occultum, membra ſoporis iter.

In Engliſh thus;

Thus I haue ſeene thoſe wounded armes, VVith ſacred Snakes bitten deepe, And members draw their poyſoned harmes, Treading the way of deaths ſound ſleepe.

We read alſo of certaine Mountebankes, and cunning Iuglers in Italy, called Circulatores, to periſh by their owne deuiſes, thorough the eating of Serpents, and Aſpes which Aelianus. they carried about in Boxes as tame, vſing them for oſtentation to get Money, or to ſell away their antidotes. When pompeius Rufus was the great Maiſter of the Temple-works at Rome, there was a certaine circulator or Quackſaluer, to ſhew his great cunning in the preſence of many other of his owne trade, which ſet to his arme an Aſpe, preſently he ſucked out the poyſon out of the wound with his mouth: but when he came to looke for his preſeruatiue water, or antidote, he could not finde it; by meanes whereof the poyſon fell dovvne into his body, his mouth and gummes rotted preſently, by little and little, and ſo vvithin two dayes he was found dead. The like ſtory vnto this is related by Amb: Paraeus of another, vvhich at Florence vvould faine ſell much of his medicine againſt poyſon, and for that purpoſe ſuffered an aſpe to bite his fleſh or finger, but vvithin foure houres after he periſhed, notwithſtanding all his antidoticall preſeruatiues.

Now therefore it remaineth, that wee adde in the concluſion of this hiſtory, a particuler diſcourſe of the bytings and venom of this ſerpent, and alſo of ſuch remedies as are appointed for the ſame. Therefore we are to conſider, that they byte and doe not ſting, the Mercuriall. Aetius. femalls byte with foure teeth, the males but with two, and when they haue opened the fleſh by byting, then they infuſe their poyſon into the wound. Onely the Aſpe Ptyas, killeth by ſpetting venom thorough her teeth, and (as Auicen ſaith) the ſauour or ſmell therof will kill, but at the leaſt the touching infecteth mortally. When an Aſpe hath bitten, it is a very difficult thing to eſpie the place bitten or wounded, euē with moſt excellent eyes, as was apparent vppon Cleopatra aforeſayd; and the reaſon hereof is giuen to be this, becauſe the poyſon of Aſpes is very ſharpe, and penetrateth ſuddenly and forcibly vnder the skinne, euen to the inmoſt parts, not ſtaying outwardly, or making any great viſible externall appearante. Yet Gallen writing to Piſo, affirmeth otherwiſe of the wound of Cleopatra; but becauſe drowſineſſe and ſleepe followeth that poyſon, I rather beleeue the former opinion: and therefore Lucan calleth the Aſpe, Somnifera, that is, a ſleepe-bringing ſerpent. And Pictorius alſo ſubſcribeth herevnto.

Aſpidis et morſu laeſum dormire fatentur In mortem, antidotum nec valuiſse ferunt.

Which may be engliſhed thus,

Hee that by rage of Aſpes tooth is bitten, or is wounded, They ſay doth ſleepe vntill his death cureleſſe, he is confounded.

The pricks of the Aſpes teeth, are in apparance not much greater then the prickings of a needle, without all ſwelling, and very little blood iſſueth forth, and that is black in colour; ſtraight way the eyes grow darke & heauy, and a manifold paine ariſeth all ouer the body, yet ſuch as is mixed with ſome ſence of pleaſure, which cauſed Nicander to cry out, perimitque virum abſque dolore, it kills a man without paine. His colour is all changed, &▪ appeareth greeniſh like graſſe. His face or forehead is bent continually frowning, and his eyes or eye-liddes moouing vp and downe in drowſines without ſence, according to theſe verſes following,

Nec tamen vlla vides impreſsi vlnera morſus, Nec dignus fatu tumor ictum corpus adurit Sed qui laeſus homo eſt, citra omnem fata dolorem Claudit, & ignano moriens torpore fatiſcit.

Which I tranſlate thus;

Wounds of impreſſed teeth, none canſt thou ſee, Nor tumour worth the naming, ſmitten body burning, But yet the hurt man painleſſe taketh deſtiny, And ſleeping dyeth, ſluggiſhly him turning.

The true ſignes then of an Aſpes biting, is ſtupour or aſtoniſhment, heauineſſe of the head, and ſlothfulnes, wrinking the forehead, often gaping and gnawing and nodding, bending the necke, and convulſion: but thoſe which are hurt by the Ptyas, haue blindnes, paine at the hart, deafeneſſe, and ſwelling of the face. And the ſignes of ſuch as are hurt by the Chalidonian or Cherſaean Aſpe, & the Terreſtrian are all one, or of very little difference, except that I may adde the Crampe, and the often beating of the pulſe, & frigiditie of the members or parts, or paine in the ſtomack, but all of them in generall, deepe ſleepe, and ſometimes vomitting. But by this, that the blood of the place by thē bitten turneth black, it is apparant and manifeſt, that the poyſon of the Aſpe mortifieth or killeth the naturall heate; which is ouercome by the heate of the poyſon outwardly, & the darknes or blindneſſe of the eyes, proceedeth of certaine vapours which are infected, and aſcend vp to the diſturbance of the braine: and when the humours are troubled in the ſtomacke, then followeth vomiting, or elſe the crampe, and ſometimes a looſneſſe when the knuckles are drawen in by the venomous byting, or the infected humours falling downe into the intrals. Ponzettus To conclude, ſo great is the tabificall effect of this poyſon of Aſpes; that it is worthily accounted the greateſt venom, and moſt dangerous of all other: for Aelianus ſayth, Serpentum venenum cum peſtiferum ſit, tum multò aſpidis peſtilentius, the poyſon of all ſerpents is peſtiferous, but the venom of the aſpe moſt of all. For if it touch a greene wound, it killeth ſpeedily, but an old wound receiueth harme thereby more hardly. In Alexandria, when they would put a man to a ſudden death, they would ſet an aſpe to his boſome or breaſt, and then after the wound or byting, bid the partie walke vp and downe, and ſo Galenus. immediatly within two or three turnes hee would fall downe dead. Yet it is reported by Pliny, that the poyſon of Aſpes drunke into the body doth no harme at all, & yet if a man eate of the fleſh of any beaſt ſlaine by an Aſpe, he dyeth immediatly.

But concerning the cure of ſuch as haue beene, or may be hurt by Aſpes, I will nowe entreate, not ſpending any time to confute thoſe, who haue wrote that it is incurable: on the contrary it ſhall be manifeſt, that both by Chirurgery and Medicines, compound and ſimple, this both hath beene & may happily be effected. Firſt it is neceſſary when a man is ſtunge or bitten by a Serpent, that the wounded part be cut off by the hand of ſome skilfull Chirurgeon, or elſe the fleſh round about the wound, with the wound it ſelfe to bee circumciſed and cut with a ſharpe Raſor; then let the hotteſt burning thinges be applyed, Dioſcorid. Actuarius Aegineta euen the ſearing yron to the very bone. For ſo the occaſion beeing taken away from the poyſon to ſpread any further, it muſt needes die without any further damage. Then alſo the holes in the meane time before the eiection, muſt be drawne, eyther with cupping-glaſſe, or with a Reede, or with the naked rumpe of a Ringdoue or Cocke; I meane the very hole ſet vppon the bitten place. And becauſe the place is very narrowe and ſmall, it muſt be opened, and made wider, the blood be drawne forth by ſcarifications, and then muſt ſuch medicinall herbes be applyed as are moſt oppoſite to poyſon, as Rew, and ſuch Mercurialis. like. And becauſe the poyſon of Aſpes doth congeale the blood in the veynes, therfore againſt the ſame muſt all hote thinges made thinne be applyed, as Mithridatum & Triacle diſſolued in Aqua vitae, & the ſame alſo diſſolued into the wound; then muſt the patient be vſed to bathings, fricaſing or rubbing, and walking, with ſuch like exerciſes. But when once the wound beginneth to be purple, greene, or blacke, it is a ſigne both of the extinguiſhment of the venome, & alſo of the ſuffocating of naturall heate, then is nothing more ſafe then to cut off the member, if the partie be able to beare it. After Cupping-glaſſes, and Paraeus ſcarifications, there is nothing that can be more profitably applyed then Centory, Myrre, and Oppium, or Sorrell after the manner of a plaiſter. But the body muſt be kept in dailie motion and agitation, the wounds themſelues often ſearched and preſſed, and Sea-vvater vſed for fomentation. Butter likewiſe, & the leaues of Yew, are very good to be applyed Aetius to the bytings of Aſpes. And in the Northerne Regions, (as witneſſeth 'Olaus Magnus,) they vſe nothing but branne like a playſter, and theyr cattell they annoynt with Triacle & ſalt all ouer the bunch or ſwelling. And thus much for the Chirurgicall cure of the biting of Aſpes. In the next place, wee may alſo relate the medicinall cure, eſpecially of ſuch thinges as are compound, and receiued inwardly.

Firſt, after the wound, it is good to make the party vomit, & then afterward make him drinke iuyce of Yew and Triacle, or in the default thereof, wine, as much of the iuyce as a groate waight, or rather more. But for the tryall of the parties recouery, giue him the powder of Centory in wine to drinke, and if he keepe the medicine, he will liue, but if he vomit or caſt it vp, he will die thereof. But for the better auoydance & purging out of the digeſted venome, diſtributed into euery part of his body, giue the party Garlicke beaten with Zythum, vntill he vomit, or els Opponax in wine allayed with water: alſo Origan dry Mercuri: and greene. After the vomit, the former antidoticall medicines may be vſed. And the northerne people vſe no other Triacle then Venetian. Whereas there are aboundance of all Andreas. manner of Serpents in the Spantſh Iſlands, yet neuer are any found there to vſe Triacle, neither doe they account of it as of a thing any whit vertuous, but in ſtead thereof they vſe the bearded Thapſia, Gilliflowers, and red Violets, and the herbe Auance, boyled in wine Vinegar, the ſharpeſt that may be gotten, & a ſound mans vrine, wherwithall they bathe the wounded part, although much time after the hurt receiued. But ſaith Amb: Paraeus, it is much better for the patient to drinke thereof faſting, & before meate two howres, three ounces at a time. And by the help of this notable experiment, the Inhabitants of thoſe Ilands, are nothing afraid to offer theyr bodyes to be bitten by the moſt angry Aſpes. And thus much for compound medicines in generall.

It is ſaide, that the firſt and chiefeſt eaſie remedy for ſuch as are bitten by Aſpes, is to drinke ſo much of the ſharpeſt Vineger, as he can ſenſibly perceiue and feele the ſame vpon the right ſide of his midreffe, becauſe that poyſon firſt of all depriueth the liuer of ſence. Aetius. For Pliny ſaith, that hee knew a man carrying a bottle of Vineger to be bitten by an Aſpe, whiles by chaunce he trode therevpon, but as long as he bore the Vineger and did not ſet it downe, he felt no paine thereby, but as often as to eaſe himſelfe hee ſet the bottell out of his hand, he felt torment by the poyſon, which being related to the Phiſitians, they knew thereby that Vineger drunke into the ſtomacke was a ſoueraigne antidote againſt poyſon. Yet ſome ſay, that the firſt knowledge of this vertue in vineger, grew from the neceſſitie which a little boy bytten by an Aſpe had of drinking, and finding no other liquour but a bottle of vineger, dranke thereof a full draught, and ſo was eaſed of his paine. For the reaſon is, that it hath both a refrigeratiue, and alſo a diſſipating vertue, as may appeare when Cor. Celſus. it is poured on the earth, becauſe it yeeldeth a froth, and therefore when it commeth into the ſtomacke, it diſperſeth all the infected humours.

The Northerne Shepheards doe drinke Garlicke and ſtale Ale againſt the bytings of Aſpes. And ſome hold opinion that Anniſeede is an antidote for this ſore. Other vſe Hart-wort, Olaus. Mag. Apium ſeed, and wine. Aron being burned, hath the vertue to driue away ſerpents, and therefore beeing drunke with oyle of Bayes in blacke wine, it is accounted very ſoueraigne againſt the bytings of Aſpes. The fruite of Balſame, with a little powder of Gentian in vvine, or the iuyce of Mynts, keepeth the ſtomacke from the Crampe after a man is bytten by an Aſpe. Other giue Castoreum, with Lignum Caſsiae, and ſome the skinne of a Storkes ſtomacke or mawe. There be certaine little filthy and corrupt wormes bred in rotten wood or paper, called Cimices, theſe are very profitable againſt poyſon of Aſpes, or any other venomous byting beaſt, and therefore it is ſaid that Hennes & other pullen, do earneſtly ſeeke after theſe wormes, and that the fleſh of ſuch fowle as haue eaten thereof, is alſo profitable for the ſame purpoſe.

Athaeneus alſo writeth, how certaine thieues were condemned to be caſt to ſerpents to be deſtroyed, now the morning before they came forth, they had giuen them to eate Cytrons; when they were brought to the place of execution, there were Aſpes put forth vnto them, who byt them, and yet did not harme them. The next day, it beeing ſuſpected, the Prince commaunded to giue one of them a Citron, and the other none, ſo when they were brought forth againe the Aſpes fell on them, and ſlew them that had not eaten Cytron, but the other had no harme at all. The Egyptian Clematis or Periwinke drunke in vineger, is very good againſt the poyſon of Aſpes; ſo likewiſe is Corrall in Wine, or the Pliny. Orpheus leaues of Yew. Henbane bruſed with the leaues thereof, and alſo bitter Hoppes haue the ſame operation. The vrine of a Torteyſe drunke, is a medicine againſt all bytings of wild beaſts, and the vrine of a man hurt by an Aſpe: as Marcus Varro affirmed in the eyghtieninth yeere of his age, according to the obſeruation of Serenus ſaying;

Si vero horrendum vulnus ferafecerit aſpis Vrinam credunt propriam conducere potu: Varronis fuit iſta ſenis ſententia, nec non Plinius vt memorat ſumpti iuvat imber aceti,

Which may be engliſhed thus;

If that an Aſpe a mortall wound doe bite, It's thought his vrine well doth cure againe, Such was the ſaying of old Varro hight, And Pliny to, drinke vineger like drops of raine.

But it is more ſafe to agree with Pliny in the preſcription of mans vrine, to reſtraine it to them that neuer had any beards. And more particularly againſt the Aſpe called Ptyas, & Matthiolus out of Dioſcorides ſaith, that the quinteſſence of Aqua vitae, and the vſuall antidote both mixed together and drunke, is moſt powerful againſt the venoms of the deafe Aſpe. And thus much for the antipathy & cure of Aſpes byting venomous nature, whervnto I will adde for a concluſion, that prouerbicall ſpeech, of one Aſpe borrowing poyſon of another, out of Tertullian againſt the Hereticke Marcion, who gathereth many of his abſurd impieties from the vnbeleeuing Iewes. Deſinat nunc haereticus á Iudaeo, aſpis quod aiunt á vipera mutuari venenum, that is, let the haereticke now ceaſe to borrow his venom of a Iew, as the Aſpes doe borrow their poyſon from Vipers. And true it is, that this prouerbe hath eſpeciall vſe, when one bad man is holpe or counſelled by another; and therefore when Diogenes ſaw a company of women talking together, hee ſaid merrily vnto thē, Aſpis par' echidnes pharmacon daneizetai, that is, the Aſpe borroweth venom of the Viper. Thus much of the Aſpe.

❧ Of the Deſcription and differences of BEES.

AMongſt all the ſorts of venomous Inſects, (or cut-waſted creatures) the ſoueraigntie and preheminence is due to the Bees, who D: Bonhan his diſcourſe of Bees, waſps and Drones. onely of all others of this kinde, are made for the nouriſhment of mankind, all other (cut-waſted) ſeruing onely for medicinall vſe, the delight of the eyes, delectation of the eares, & the ornament, trimming, and ſetting forth of the body, which they performe at the full. They are called of the Hebrewes, Deborah. The Arabians terme them, Albara, Nahalea, and Zabar. The Illirians and Sclauonians, Wezilla. The Italians, Ape, api, vna ſticha, moſcatella, ape or ſc • ppa, pecchi. The Spanyards, Abcia. Frenchmen, Mouſches au miel. The Germaines, Eenymbe, apen. Names. The Flemmings, Bie. The Polonians, Pztzota. The Iriſhmen, Camilij. In Wales a Bee is called Gweniv. Amongſt the Graecians they haue purchaſed ſundry names, according to the diuerſitie of Nations, countries and places, but the moſt vulgar name is Meliſſa, & in Heſiodus, Melie. Otherſome call a Bee Plaſtis, á fingendo, of framing. Some againe, Anthedon: and of their colour, Zanthai. Of their offices and charge, Egemones, ab imperando, from gouerning. Sirenes, à ſuam cantu, from their ſweet voyce. The Latines call them by one generall name, Apis and Apes. Varro ſometimes termes them Aues, but very improperly, for they might better be named Volucres, not Aues. So much for their names, now to the definition.

A Bee is a cut-waſted liuing creature, that can flye, hauing foure winges, and bloudles, Apum definitio the onely Crafts-maſter of Hony-making. Their eies are ſomewhat of a horny ſubſtance, hid deep in their bodies, as is alſo their ſting: they want neither toong nor teeth, they haue Deſeription of their parts. 4. wings, being of a bright and cleare colour, growing to their ſhoulder-blades, whereof the two hindermoſt are the leſſer, becauſe they might not hinder their flying: and out of their ſhort feet or ſtumps, there grow forth as it were two fingers, wherein they carry a little ſtone, for the peizing and making weighty their ſmall bodies in ſtormy, tempeſtuous, bluſtering, or troubleſome weather, for feare leaſt they might be driuen from their houſe and home, by the contrary rage and violence of the winds. They do not breath (by Plinies No reſpiration in Bees. good leaue) but either pant, moue, or ſtirre (as the hart or braine doth) and by tranſpiration they are comforted, refreſhed, and made liuely. Their ſtomack is contexed and framed of the thinneſt part of all their members, wherein they not onely retaine, and ſafely keepe their Honny dew which they haue gathered, but alſo digeſt, purifie, and clenſe it, which is the true and onely reaſon, why the Honny of Bees is longer kept pure and fine, then any Manna or Meldew, or rather it is not at all ſubiect to corruption.

Bees euen by nature are much different: for ſome are more domeſticall and tame, and Differences of Bees from nature. others againe are altogether wilde, vplandiſh, and agreſtiall. Thoſe former are much delighted with the familiar friendſhip, cuſtome and company of men, but theſe can in no wiſe brook or endure them, but rather keep their trade of hony-making in old trees, caues, holes, and in the ruders, and rubbiſh of old wals and houſes. Of tame Bees againe, ſome of them liue in pleaſant and delightfull Gardens, and abounding with all ſweet ſenting & odoriferous plants and hearbs, and theſe are great, ſoft, fat, and big-bellied. Others again, there be of them that liue in townes and villages, whoſe ſtudy and labour is to gather hony from ſuch plants as come next to hand, and which grow farther of, and theſe are leſſer in proportion of body, rough and more vnpleaſant in handling; but in labour, induſtrie, witteand cunning, far ſurpaſſing the former. Of both ſorts of theſe, ſome haue ſtings (as all true Bees haue:) others againe are without a ſting, as counterfeit and baſtardly Bees, which (euen like the idle, ſluggiſh, lyther, and rauenous cloyſtered Monkes, thrice worſe then theeues) you ſhall ſee to be more gorbellied, haue larger throats, and bigger bodies, yet neither excellent or markable, either for any good behauiour and conditions, or gifts of the mind. Men call theſe vnprofitable cattle, and good for nothing, Fuci, that is drones; either becauſe they would ſeem to be labourers, when indeed rhey are not: or becauſe that vnder the colour and pretence of labour (for you ſhall ſometimes haue them to carry wax, and to be very buſie in forming and making hony-combes,) they may eate vp all the hony. Theſe Drones are of a more blackiſh colour, ſomewhat ſhining, and are eaſily knowne by the greatneſſe of their bodies. Beſides ſome Bees are deſcended of the kingly race, and borne of the bloud Royall: where of Aristotle maketh two ſorts: a yellow kind, which is the more noble, and the blacke, garniſhed with diuers colours. Some make three Kings, differing in colour, as black, red, and diuers coloured. Menecratés ſaith, that thoſe who are of ſundry colours are the worſer, but in caſe they haue diuerſity of colour with ſome blacknes, they are eſteemed the better. He that is elected Monarch Caeſar, and captaine generall Deſcription of the King. of the whole ſwarme, is euer of a tall, perſonable, and heroycall ſtature, being twice ſo high as the reſt, his wings ſhorter, his legs ſtreight, brawny, and ſtrong, his gate, pace, & manner of walking is more lofty, ſtately and vpright, of a venerable countenance, and in his forehead there is a certaine red ſpot or mark with a Diadem, for he far differeth from the Differences in regard of ſexe▪ populer and inferiour ſort in his comelineſſe, beauty, and honor. The Prince of Philoſophers confoundeth the ſexe of Bees, but the greateſt company of learned Writers do diſtinguiſh them: whereof they make the feminine ſort to be the greater. Others againe will haue them the leſſer, with a ſting: but the ſounder ſort (in my iudgment) will neither know nor acknowledge any other males, beſides their Dukes and princes, who are more able & handſome, greater and ſtronger then any of the reſt, who ſtay euer at home, and very ſeldome (vnleſſe with the whole Swarme) they ſtir out of doores, as thoſe whom nature had pointed out to be the fitteſt to be ſtander-bearers, and to carry ancients in the camp of Venus, and euer to be ready at the elbowes of their loues to do them right: Experience teaching vs, that theſe do ſit on egges, and after the manner of birdes, do carefully cheriſh and make much of their young, after the thin membram or skin wherein they are encloſed is broken.

The difference of their age is knovvne by the forme, ſtate, and habite of their bodies. Of age. For the young Bees haue very thinne and trembling winges, but they that are a yeare old, as they that are two or three yeares of age are very trimme, gay, bright-ſhining, and in very good plight and liking, of the colour of Oyle.

But thoſe that haue reached to ſeauen yeares, haue layed away all their flatneſſe and ſmoothneſſe, neither can any man afterwards, either by the figure and quality of their bodies or skinnes, iudge or diſcerne certainely their age (as wee ſay by experience in Horſes:) For the elder ſort of them are rough, hard, thinne and leane ſcragges, ſtaruelinges, lothſome to touch and to looke vpon, ſomewhat long, nothing but skinne and bone, yet very notorious and goodly too ſee to, in regard of their grauity, hoarenes and aunciency. But as they be in forme and ſhape, nothing ſo excellent, ſo yet in experience and induſtrie they farre outſtrippe the younger ſort, as thoſe whom time hath made more learned, and length of dayes ioyned with vſe, hath ſufficiently inſtructed and brought vp in the Art or trade of hony-making.

The place likewiſe altereth one whiles their forme, and ſometimes againe their nature, (as their ſexe and age do both.) For in the Iſlands of Molucea, there be Bees very like to The differēce of the forme of Bees, according to the place. winged Piſmires, but ſomewhat leſſer then the greater Bees, as Maximilian Tranſiluanus, in an Epiſtle of his, written to the Byſhop of Salſpurge, at large relateth it. Andrew Theuet in his Booke that he wrote of the new-found World, Cap. 51. amongſt other matters reporteth that he did ſee a company of Flies or Hony-bees about a tree named Vhebehaſon, Bees of Amo • ca. which then was greene, with the which theſe Hony-bees do liue and nouriſh themſelues: of the which trees there were a great number in a hole that was in the tree, wherein they made Hony and Waxe. There is two kindes of the Hony-bees, one kind are as great as ours, the which commeth not onely but of good ſmelling flowers, alſo their Hony is very good, but their Waxe not ſo yellow as ours. There is another kinde halfe ſo great as the others: their hony is better then the others, and the wilde men name them Hira. They liue not with the others food, which to my iudgment maketh their VVaxe to be as black as coales, and they make great plenty, ſpecially neare to the Riuer Vaſſes, and of Plate. The Bees called Chalcoides, which are of the colour of Braſſe, and ſomewhat long, which are ſaid to liue in the Iſland of Creta are implacable, great fighters and quarrellers, excelling all others in their ſtinges, and more cruell then any others, ſo that with their ſtinges they haue chaſed the inhabitants out of their Citties; the remainder of which Bees do remaine and make their hony-combs (as Aelianus ſaith) in the Mountaine Ida. Thus much of the differences of Bees, now it remaineth to diſcourſe of the Politike, Ethicall, and oeconomicke vertues and properties of them.

Bees are gouerned and doe liue vnder a Monarchy, and not vnder a tyrannicall ſtate, admitting and receiuing their King, not by ſucceſſion or caſting of lots, but by reſpectiue The gouernment of bees. aduiſe, conſiderate iudgement, and prudent election; and although they willingly ſubmit their neckes vnder a kingly gouernment, yet notwithſtanding they ſtill keepe their ancient liberties and priuiledges, becauſe of a certaine prerogatiue they maintaine in giuing their voyces and opinions, and their King being deeply bound to them by an oath, they exceedingly honor and loue.

The King as he is of a more eminent ſtature, and goodly corporature (as before wee haue touched) then the reſt: ſo likewiſe (which is ſingular in a King) he excelleth in mildneſſe and temperateneſſe of behauiour. For he hath a ſting, but maketh it not an inſtrument of reuenge, which is the cauſe that many haue thought, their king neuer to haue had any. For theſe are the lavves of Nature, not written with Letters, but euen imprinted and engrauen in theyr conditions and manners: and they are very flovv to puniſh offenders, becauſe they haue the greateſt and Soueraigne povver in their hands. And although they ſeeme to bee ſlacke in reuenging and puniſhing priuate iniuries, yet for all that they neuer ſuffer rebellious perſons, refractorious, obſtinate, and ſuch as will not bee ruled, to eſcape without puniſhment, but vvith their pricking ſtinges they greeuouſly wound and torment, ſo diſpatching them quickly. They are ſo ſtudious of peace, that neither vvillingly nor vnvvillingly they vvill giue any cauſe of offence or diſpleaſure. VVho therefore vvould not greatly be diſpleaſed vvith, and hate extreamely thoſe Dionyſian Tyrants in Sicilia; Clearchus in Heraclea, and Apollodorus the Theefe, Pieler and ſpoyler of the Caſſandrines? And vvho would not deteſt the vngratiouſnes of thoſe levvd clavv-backes, and Trencher-paraſites, and flatterers of Kings, vvhich dare impudently maintaine, that that a Monarchy is nothing elſe but a certaine way and rule for the accompliſhing of the will, in vſing their authority as they liſt, and a ſcience or skilfull trade, to haue wherewith to liue pleaſantly in all ſenſuall and worldly pleaſure: which ought to be far from a good Prince, who whileſt he would ſeem to be a man, he ſhew himſelfe to be farre worſer then theſe little poore-winged-creatures. And as their order and courſe of life is farre different from the vulgar ſort, ſo alſo is their byrth; for they of the kingly race are not borne after the manner of a little Worme, as all the comminalty are, but is forthwith winged, and amongſt all his younglings, if he find any one of his ſons to be either a foole, vnhandſome, that none can take pleaſure in, rugged, rough, ſoone angry, fumiſh or too teaſtie, il ſhaped, not beautifull or Gentlemanlike, him by a common conſent, and by a Parliamentary authority they deſtroy, for feare leaſt the whole Swarme ſhould bee diuided and diſtracted into many mindes, and ſo at length the Subiectes vndone by factions, and banding into partes.

The King preſcribeth lawes and orders to all the reſt, and appointeth them their rules and meaſures: for ſome he ſtraightly chargeth and commaundeth, (as they tender his fauour, and will auoyde his diſpleaſure) to fetch and prouide water for the whole Campe. He enioyneth others to make the Hony-combes, to build, to garniſh and trimme vp the houſe well and cleanely, to finiſh perfectly the worke, to find and allow, to promote and ſhew others what to doe. Some he ſendeth forth to ſeeke theyr liuing, but being vvorne with yeares, they are maintained of the common ſtocke at home. The younger and ſtronger being appointed to labour, and take theyr turnes as they fall: And although (being a King) he be diſcharged and exempt from any mechanicall buſineſſe, yet for all that, in caſe of neceſſity he will buckle himſelfe to his taske, neuer at any time taking the fielde or ayre abroad, but either for his healths ſake, or when he cannot otherwiſe chuſe, by means of ſome vrgent buſineſſe. If in reſpect of his yeares he be luſty and ſtrong, then like a noble Captaine hee marcheth before his whole winged-army, expoſing himſelfe firſt to all perils, neither with his good will, will he be carryed of his Souldiers vnleſſe he be wearied and vveakened by meanes of crooked age, or maiſtered and cleane put out of heart by any violent ſickneſſe, ſo that he can neither ſtand on his Legges nor fly. When night approcheth, the ſigne and token being giuen by his Honny-pipe, or Cornet, (if you will ſo call it) a generall proclamation is made through the whole Hiue, that euery one ſhall betake himſelfe to reſt, ſo the watch beeing appointed, and all thinges ſet in order, they all make thēſelues ready and go to bed. So long as the King liueth, ſo long the whole ſvvarm enioy the benefit of peace, leading their liues vvithout any diſquieting, diſturbance, vexation, or feare of feuture wars. For the drones do vvillingly contain thēſelues in their own celles, the elder liuing contented with their ovvne homes, and the younger not daring for their eares to breake into their father Lands, or to make any inrodes or inuaſion into the houſes of their predeceſſours. The King keepeth his Court by himſelfe, in the higheſt and largeſt part of the whole Palace, his lodging being workemanlie and very cunningly made of a fine round or encloſure of Waxe, beeing thus as it were fenced and paled about as with a defenſible wall. A little from him dwell all the Kings children, beeing very obedient to their parents becke. Their King being dead, all his ſubiects are in an vprore, Drones bring foorth their young in the celles of the true Bees, all are in a hurly burly, all being out of ſeaſon and order. Aristole ſaith, that Bees haue many Kings, which I would rather tearme Vizeroyes or Deputies, ſithence it is certaine (as Antigonus affirmeth) that as vvell the ſwarmes do dye and come to naught, by hauing of many Kinges, as none at all. And thus to haue ſpoken of good Kings let this ſuffice. Euill Kings are more rough, rugged, browner, blacker, and of more ſundry colours: whoſe natures and diſpoſitions you will condemne, in reſpect of their habite and manner of body and mind, the one and other are thus phyſiogmonically deſcribed by the Poet:

Nam que duae regnum facies, duo corpor a gentis. Alter erit maculis auro Squallentibus ardens, Et cutilis clarus ſquamis, inſignes & ore. Faedior est alter multo, quàm puluere abacto Quum venit & ſicco terram ſpuit ore venator: Diſidia latamque trahens inglorias alum—Hunc Dede neci, melior vacua ſine regnet in aula.

In Engliſh thus;

The two aſpects of kingly Bees, two nations do diſcloſe, One of them, Golden ſpotted red, burning with pale hew, And hauing ſcales both red and cleare, and great about the noſe, The other filthy to behold like dust, for it is true, Which hunters ſpit vpon dry land, when all is cruſht and preſt, In ſloth belly broad, doth trauaile worſer then the leaſt, Him kill, let the other raigne Alone, in empty Court, do not diſdaine.

And thus hetherto haue we ſpoken of their kinges and Dukes: now will we bend our diſcourſe to the common ſort of Bees.

Bees are neither to be accounted wilde, nor altogether calme and quiet creatures, but of a nature betwixt both: & of all other they are eſteemed moſt ſeruiceable and profitable. Their ſting giueth both life & death to them, for being depriued of it, they ſurely die: but hauing it, they repell all hoſtility from their ſwarmes. Of theſe there are none Idle, although they be not all Honny-makers, neither are the moſt ſluggiſh of them all, like vnto the Drones in their inclination and manners: For they do not corrupt and marre the honie-combes, neither doe they lie in waite by treachery and deceit to filt • h hony, but are nouriſhed by flowers, and flying forth with their fellowes, do get their liuing with them; although ſome of them want the skill to make and lay vp the hony finely and ſafely, yet notwithſtanding euery one hath his proper charge and buſineſſe to vſe and practiſe, for theſe bring water to the king, and to the older Bees that cannot trauaile.

The elder ſort if they be of a ſtrong and robuſtious conſtitution, are choſen for the gard of the kinges perſon, as the fitteſt perſons to be about him, in reſpect of their approoued worth, faithfull dealing, and vprightneſſe of conſcience, for the ordering and diſpoſing of all matters. Some giue Phyſicke to thoſe that are ſicke, by making and giuing to them a medicinall aliment of hony, that is drawne from Anniſe, Saffron, and Hiacinthes. But if any thorough age or ſickneſſe chance to dye, then they whoſe office it is to carry forth the dead bodies to burying, do forthwith flocke together, carrying the dead bodie of their brother on their ſhoulders, as it were on a Beere, leaſt the pure Honny-combes might be fainted with any vncleanlineſſe, ſtinke, or naſtineſſe.

Bees haue alſo their Ambaſſadours and Orators, ſent with commiſſion or authority, and put in truſt to deale in their Princes affayres, their old beaten Souldiours, their Pypers, Trumpetters, horne-winders, Watchmen, Scout-watches, and Sentinels. Likewiſe Souldiers euen in a readineſſe to defend, and looke to their hony-wealth and goods, as if it were a Citty committed to their truſt and valiancy, and theſe do puniſh, torment, and throw to the ground all flying Theeues and Wormes, that dare inuade ſecretly by any cunning paſſage, or mine into their manſions. And that they might beare the world in hand, that they are no priuy or ſecret Theeues in their flying, they make a noyſe and humming, which together with their flight, is heard both to beginne and end: Which ſound, whether it proceedeth from the mouth, or from the motion of their winges: Ariſtotle and Heſychius, do much vary and contend.

Their Pipers and horn-blowers doe aedere Ziggon, as Heſychus ſaith (the Engliſhmen terme it Sing) and that they make to be the watch-word and priuy token, for their watch and ward, ſleepe, and daily labour. They loue their King ſo entirely, that they neuer ſuffer him to goe abroad alone, but their Army being diuided into two partes, and by heapes winding themſelues round, they doe as it were encloſe and fence him on all ſides • ▪ If in any iourney the King happe to wander from his company, and cannot be found, beeing driuen away by the force of ſome ſtormie windes or weather, they all forth-with make a priuie ſearch, and with their quick-ſenting, purſue and follow the chace ſo long, vntill he be certainely found; and then, becauſe he is tyred with flying, and the tediouſnes of tempeſts, the common ſort lift him vpon their wings, and ſo triumphantly conuey him home as it were in a Chariot. But if he die by the way, then they all mournefully depart, euerie one to his owne place ſeperating themſelues, or peraduenture for a while, they worke vp theyr hony-combes not yet finiſhed, but neuer make any more hony; So that at length, growing to be lazie, ſickly, waſted, conſumed and diſtained with their owne filth and corruption, they all miſerably perriſh. For they cannot poſsibly liue without a King, againſt whom, none is ſo hardy as to lift vp his finger to offer him any violence, much leſſe to conſpire his deſtruction, vnleſſe he (after the faſhion of Tyrants) doe ouerthrow and turne all things vpſide downe, after his owne will and luſt, or neglecting careleſly the Weale publique, ſetteth all vpon ſixe and ſeauen. Yea, if he accuſtome himſelfe to goe often abroad, (which he cannot doe without the great hurt and preiudice of his Cittizens) they do not by and by kill him, but they take from him his wings, & if he then amend his life & looke better to his office, they ſingularly affect and honour him.

When the King by flying away hath left his Bees, they fetch him againe, and being a fugitiue from his kingdome, they follow him amaine by his ſmell, as it were with liue and cry, (for amongſt them all the King ſpelleth beſt) and ſo bring him backe to his kinglie houſe. None dare venture out of his owne lodging firſt, nor ſeeke his liuing in any place, except the King himſelfe firſt going forth, do direct them the way of their flight. For I am hardly of Aristotles mind, who affirmeth that the King neuer commeth abroad, but when the whole ſwgrme doth, which is ſeldome ſeene. But if by reaſon of his tyrannie, cruelty and violent rule, they be forced to ſeeke ſome other dwelling places, then a few dayes before the time appointed, there will be heard a ſolitary, mournfull, and peculiar kinde of voyce, as it were of ſome trumpet, & two or three dayes before, they flie about the mouth of the Hiue; ſo when all things are in a readines for their flight, being all aſſembled, they flie all ſpeedilie away, and kill the Tyrant (whom they left behind) if he attempt to follow them. But a good King they neuer forſake, and if at any time he pine and fall away by reaſon of ſicknes, any plague or murren, or through old age, all the meaner ſort do make mone, the whole route and multitude of Senators and Aldermen do greatly bewaile him, not conueighing any meate into their hiues, nor yet looking out of doores for meere griefe, filling the whole houſe with ſorrowfull hummings & laments, and gathering themſelues by heapes about the carkaſſe of the dead King, they doe with great noyſe tragically mourne for him. Neither doth cōtinuance of time mittigate or take away their griefe, but at length all of theſe faithfull friends, partly through griefe, and partly through famine, they are cleane conſumed and brought to death.

Whilſt they haue a King, the whole ſwarme and company is kept in awfull order, but he being gone, they goe vnder the protection of other Kings. They haue not many kings at once, neither can they endure Vſ •• pers, ouerthrowing their houſes, and rooting out their ſtocke and familie. And if in one ſwarme there be two Kings, (as ſometimes it falleth out) then one part adhaereth to the one king, and the other ſide cleaueth to the other, ſo that ſometimes in one hiue, you ſhall find hony-combes of ſundry formes & faſhions: where they behaue themſelues ſo honeſtly and neighborly, that the one medled • not with the others charge and buſines, hauing no mind to enlarge their Empire, to entyce, drawe or winne by faire meanes, the ſubiects of the ſide, but euery one beeing obedient to his owne king without contradiction. They honour him ſo highly, that being loſt they complaine, being decrept, they preſerue and keepe him, beeing weary, they carry him round about with them, beeing dead, they bewayle him with all funerall pompe and heauineſſe, yeelding vp at length euen their very liues for an aſſurance of their loues and faithfull dealings. Oftentimes they arreare deadly war againſt ſtrangers borne, for the hony that they haue ſto • ne from them, as for the catching and ſnatching vppe afore-hand thoſe flowers whereon they purpoſed to ſitte on; ſo that ſometimes the quarrell is determined by dint of ſword in a iuſt battle. Oftentimes againe they wrangle about their hony-combes and dwelling houſes, but then the deadly and vnappeaſable warre is, when the contentio • is about the life, crowne and dignitie of their King, for then they beſtirre themſelues moſt eagerly, defending him moſt valiantly, and receiuing the darts or ſtings that are bended againſt him, with an vndaunted courage, by the voluntary and thicke interpoſing of their owne bodyes, betwixt the darts and the perſon of their king.

Neither are Bees onely, examples to men of politicall prudence and fidelity, but alſo preſidents for them to imitate in many other vertues. For whereas Nature hath made thē Zooa agelaia, that is, creatures liuing in companies and ſwarmes, yet do they all things for the common good of their owne route and multitude, excepting euer the Drones and theeues, whom if they take tripping in the manner, they reward with condigne puniſhment. Their houſes are common, their children common, their lawes and ſtatutes common, and their country common. They couple together without queſtion, as Camels do, priuily and apart by themſelues, which whether it proceed of modeſty, or be done through the admirable inſtinct of Nature, I leaue it to the diſpute and queint reſolution of thoſe graue Doctors, who being laden with the badges and cognizances of learning, doe not ſticke to affirme that they can render a true reaſon euen by their owne wits, of all the cauſes in nature, though neuer ſo obſcure, hid and difficult.

Flyes and dogges doe farre otherwiſe, whoſe impudencie is ſuch, that hauing no regard of times, perſons, or places, they will not giue place, or be diſioyned. Yea the Maſſagets (as Herodotus writeth) hauing their quiuer of arrowes on their carts, they dealt with their vviues very vnſeaſonably, and though all men beheld it, yet they moſt impudently contemned it. And that which is worſer, this beaſtly faſhion is crept amongſt the vſurpers, or at leaſt profeſſors of the Chriſtian name, who ſhame not openly to kiſſe and embrace, yea euen to play & meddle with filthy whores & brothelly queanes. Bees ſurely will cōdemne theſe kind of people of beſtiall impudency and wanton ſhameleſneſſe; or cauſing them to bluſh if they haue any grace, will teach them repentance. Neither are they altogether ſuch creatures as cannot endure or away with muſicke, (which is the princeſſe of delights, and the delight of Princes) as many vnlearned people cannot, but are exceedingly delighted with tune in any harmony wherein is no iarring, ſo the ſame be ſimple and vnaffected.

And although they haue not the skill to daunce according to due time, order and proportion in Muſicke, as they ſay Elephants can, yet doe they make ſwifter or ſlovver theyr flight, according to the Trumpettors mind, who with his ſharpe and ſhrill ſound cauſeth them to beſtirre themſelues more ſpeedily; but beating ſlowly and not ſo loude vpon his braſen inſtrument, maketh them more ſlow, and to take more leyſure. Neither hath Nature made thē onely the moſt ingenious of all liuing creatures, but by diſcipline hath made them tame and tractable. For they doe not onely know the hand and voyce of the honyman, or him that hath the charge and ordering of the ſame, but they alſo ſuffer him to do what liketh him beſt: which euery man muſt needes confeſſe to be an argument of a generous and noble diſpoſition, thus to vnder-goe the rule of their ouer-ſeers and Surveiors, but the hand and diſcipline of a ſtranger, they will by no meanes endure.

As for oeconomicall vertues they excell alſo, and namely for moderate frugalitie and temperance, not profuſely and prodigally waſting and deuouring the great ſtore of hony which they gathered in the Sommer ſeaſon, but they ſuſtaine themſelues therwith in winter, and that very ſparingly: And ſo whilſt they feede vppon few meates, and thoſe of the pureſt ſort, they purchaſe long life, (the reward of ſobrietie.) Neither are they ſo higgardlie and ſordidous minded, but when as they haue gathered more hony then their number can well ſpend, they communicate and impart ſome very liberally amongſt the Drones. As for their clenlineſſe theſe may be certaine Arguments, that they neuer exonerate nature within their hiues, (except conſtrained thereto by ſome ſicknes, foule weather, & for ſome vrgent neceſſity) that they conuay away the dead carkaſſes, that they touch no rotten nor ſtinking fleſh, or any other thing, no herbe that is withered, nor no ill-ſenting or decayed flovvers.

They kill not their enemies within their hiues, they drinke none but running water, and that which is throughly defecated: they will not dwell in houſes impure & foule, ſluttiſh, blacke, or full of any feculent or dreggy refuſe, and the excrementes of the labourers and ſickly, they gather on a heape without their pauilions, and aſſoone as their leaſure ſerueth; it is carried cleane away. Concerning their temperance and chaſtity, (although it hath beene partly touched before,) yet this I will adde, that it is wonderfull what ſome men haue obſerued. For whereas all other creatures doe couple in the open ſight of men, the Elephant onely excepted, and Waſpes likewiſe not much differing in kind, do the ſame: yet Bees were neuer yet ſeene ſo to ioyne together, but either within their hiues very modeſtly they apply themſelues to that buſineſſe, or elſe abroad do it without any witneſſes. And they are no leſſe valiant, then modeſt and temperate, Dum corpora bello obiectant, pulchramque petunt per vulner a mortem. Their war is either ciuill or forraine. Of the former there be diuers cauſes, that is to ſay: the multitude of their Dukes or Captaines lying in waight to betray both King and kingdome: ſcarſity of vittaile, ſtraightnes of place and roome, corruption of manners and idleneſſe. For if they haue no Dukes, then is it expedient (as otherwhiles it happeneth) they ſtay the ouerplus, leaſt the number of them growing to great, either violence might be offered to the King, or the commons drawne to ſome ſedition.

They kill them moſt of all, when as they haue no great ſtore of young Bees to plant any new colonies, ouerthrowing and ſpoyling withall their hony-combs (if they haue any.) They execute alſo Theeues and Drones, ſo often as they haue not roome inough to do their buſines in, (for they hold the more inward part of the Hiue,) ſo taking from thē at one time, both their hony-combs and meat. The ſcarſity and lacke of Hony, cauſeth them alſo to be at deadly feude, ſo that the ſhort Bees do encounter the long with might and maine.

In the which bicketing, if the ſhort be Conquerors, it will be an excellent Swarme, but if fortune ſmile on the long Bees ſide, they liue idlely, making neuer any good Honny. Whoſoeuer getteth the day, they are ſo giuen to rapine and reuenge, as they take no priſoners, nor leaue any place to mercy, but commit all to the ſword. Now concerning their forren warres, I muſt ſay that they giue place to no other liuing creature, either in fortitude, or hardy venturing: and if either men, Foure-footed-beaſts, Birds, or Waſpes, do either hinder, diſquiet, or kill any of them, ſo that they be not well contented, agaynſt all theſe they oppoſe themſelues very ſtoutly, according to their power wounding them. They hate extreamely adulterous perſons, and ſuch men as bee ſmeared with any oyntment, thoſe that haue curled or criſped haire (as alſo all vnfaithfull and baſe raskally people) and all thoſe that weare any red clothes of the colour of bloud: as contrarywiſe they loue and reuerence exceedingly their Maiſters, Keepers, Tutors, Defenders, and Maintainers: ſo that ſitting vpon their hands, they doe rather tickle and licke them in ſporting wiſe, then either wound or hurt them, though neuer ſo little with their ſting. Yea theſe men may ſafely without any touch of hurt, and without any couering to their hands, gather together the Swarmes in a very hot Summer; yea, handle, place them in order, heap vp together, ſit or ſtand before their Hiues, and with a ſticke take cleane away Drones, Theeues, Waſpes, and Hornets.

If any Souldier looſeth his ſting in fight, like one that had his Sword or Speare taken from him, he preſently is diſcouraged and diſpaireth, not liuing long, through extreamity or griefe. Going forth into the fielde to fight, they ſtay till the watchword be giuen, which being done, they flocke in great heapes round about their King (if he be a good one) ending all their quarrell in one ſet battell. In their order of fighting, how great vertue, courage, ſtrength, and nobleneſſe, theſe poore creatures ſhew, as well wee our ſelues can teſtifie, and they better who haue aſſured vs by their writings, that whole armies of armed men haue beene tamed by the ſtings of Bees, and that Lyons, Beares, and Horſes, haue beene ſlaine by meanes of them. And yet (how fierce and warlike ſoeuer they ſeeme to be,) they are appeaſed and made gentle with continuall or daiely company, and vnleſſe they be to much netled and angred, they liue peaceably inough without any great trouble, neuer hurting any one maliciouſly or deceitfully, that ſtandeth before their Hiues. If I ſhould goe about to declare at large their ingenie, naturall inclination, cunning worke-manſhip and memory, I ſhould not onely giue vnto them with Virgil: Particulam aurū diuinae, but alſo hauſtus mentis aethereae, and (liceat Pythagoricè errare,) the Metempſuchooſis of that ingenious Philoſopher. For after that they are incloſed in a cleane and a ſweet hiue; they gather out of gummie and moiſt licqour-yeelding trees, a kind of glutinous ſubſtance, thicke, clammy and tough, (called of the Latines Comoſis, and of the Greekes Mitys,) eſpecially from Elmes, Willowes, Canes or Reedes, yea euen from ſtones; and this they lay for the firſt foundation of their worke, ſo couering it all ouer as with a hard cruſt at firſt, bringing to it afterwardes another layer of Piſſocera, which is a kinde of iuyce of Waxe and Pitch, made with Gumme and Roſin, and ouer that againe they lay Propolis, which we call Bee-glew.

In this ſame three-fold tilie, and ſure ground-worke thus artificially begunne, they doe not onely laugh to ſcorne, ieſt at, and mocke the eyes of the ouer-curious ſpectators of their Common-wealth and workes, but that which no man conſiders, they doe heereby defend both themſelues and theirs, againſt raine, cold, ſmall vermin and beaſts, and all their enemies. Then after this they build their Combes, with ſuch an Architectonicall prudence, that Archimedes in reſpect of them ſeemes to be no body. For firſt of all they ſet vp the cells of their Kings and Princes, in the higher place of the hony-combes, beeing large, fayre, ſumptuous, ſtately and loftie, beeing cunningly wrought, of the moſt tryed, pureſt, & refined Waxe, trenching them round for the greater defence of the regall Maieſtie, with mound and encloſure, as it were with a ſtrong Wall, Bulwarke, or Rampire.

And as Bees in regard of their age and condition, are of three ſorts, ſo likewiſe doe they deuide their Cells: for to the moſt auncient they appoint houſes next to the Court, (as thoſe that are the fitteſt to be of his priuie counſaile, & garders of his perſon) next to theſe are placed the young Bees, and thoſe that be but one yeere old. And they of middle yeres and ſtronger bodies, are lodged in the vttermoſt roomes, as thoſe that are fitteſt and beſt able to fight for their King and country. Yet Aristotle ſaith, that Bees in the making of their Tents or Cells, doe firſt of all prouide for themſelues, and next for their King & his Nephewes, and laſtlie for the Drones. And as in the fabricature of their hony-combes, they make the faſhion according to the magnitude and figure of the place, faſhioning it either orbicular, long, ſquare, ſword-like, or foote-like, &c. according to their owne liking, running out ſometimes in length eyght foote: ſo their little Cells contrariwiſe, are framed after a certaine forme in a Geometricall proportion and meaſure; for by rule they are iuſtly Sexangular, and capable enough to hold the tenant.

The whole combe containeth foure orders of Celles; The firſt the Bees occupie; the next the Drones poſſeſſe; the third, thoſe that are called of the Greekes Chadoones, of the Latines, Apum ſoboles, (call them if you pleaſe Schadones.) The laſt is appointed for the roome of hony making. There be ſome who conſtantly auerre, that the Drones do make combes in the ſame hiue the labouring Bees doe, but that they lacke the skill and power of mellification, it beeing vncertaine whether this comes to paſſe either through theyr groſſnes and bigbellied fatnes, or through their ſetled & naturall lazines. And if through the weightines of the honie the combes beginne to ſhake and wagge, and to leane & bend as though they were readie to fall, then doe they reare them vp, and vnderproppe them with pillars made archwiſe, that they may the more readilie diſpatch their buſineſſe, and execute their charges, (for it is neceſſarie that to euery combe there be a ready way.)

In ſome places, as in Pontus, and in the Cittie of Amiſus, Bees make white hony, without any combes at all, but this is ſildome ſeene. And if a man would conſider the rare and admirable contexture and fabricke of their honie-combes, farre excelling all humane Art and conceit, who would not ſubſcribe with the Poet, Eſſe Apibus partem diuinae mentis, et haustus aethereos? who will deny them (I ſay) either imagination, fantaſie, iudgement, memorie, and ſome certaine glimſe of reaſon? But I will not diſpute of this, neither am I of Pythagoras mind, who conceited that the ſoules of wiſe men, and of other ingenious creatures, departed into Bees. But whoſoeuer will diligently examine how they deuide their labours, as ſome to make vppe the combes, ſome to gather hony, to heape together their meate, to trimme and dreſſe vp the houſes, to clenſe the common draught, to vnderſhore the ruinous walls, to couer thoſe places wherein any thing is to be kept, to draw out the very ſtrength of the hony, to diſgeſt it, to carry it to their Cells, to bring water to the thirſtie labourers, to giue foode at ſet and appointed howres to the old Bees that ſitte, to defend their King with ſuch ouer-ſight and painefull regard, to driue away Spyders, and all other enemies, to carry forth the dead, (that no ſtinke or ill ſauour hurt,) euery one to know and goe to his owne proper cell, and generally, all of them not to ſtray farre from home to ſeeke their liuing; and when the flowers are ſpent neere their lodgings, to ſend out their eſpialls to looke for more in places further diſtant, to lye with their faces vpward vnder the leaues when they haue ſet foorth any voiage by night, leaſt their wings beeing much moiſtened by the dew, they ſhould come tardie home the next day, to ballance and peize their light bodies with carrying a ſtone in ſtormie weather, and when there is anie whirlewind, to fly on the further ſide of the hedge, for feare leaſt either they might be diſturbed, or beaten downe by the boiſterous violence thereof. Whoſoeuer (I ſay) wil dulie conſider all this, muſt needes confeſſe, that they obſerue a wonderfull order and forme in their Common-wealth and gouernment, & that they are of a very ſtrange nature and ſpirit.

I had almoſt omitted to ſpeake of that naturall loue which they beare to theyr young, a great vertue, and ſildome ſeene in the parents of this age. For Bees doe ſitte vpon theyr combes (when they haue laid their increaſe) almoſt like vnto birds, neither wil they ſtirre from thence but in caſe of pinching hunger, returning out of hand to their breeding place againe, as though they were afeard leaſt that by any long ſtay and abſence, the vvorke of their little cell might be couered ouer by ſome Spyders web (which often happeneth) or the young by taking cold might be endangered. Their young ones be not very nice or tender, nor cockeringly brought vp, for being but bare three dayes old, as ſoone as euer they begin to haue wings, they enioyne them their taske, & haue an eye to thē that they be not idle, though neuer ſo little. They are ſo excellent in diuination, that they euen feele afore-hand, and haue a ſence of taine and cold that is to come, for then (euen by Natures inſtinct) they fly not far from home: and when they take their iourney to ſeeke for theyr repaſt, (which is neuer done at any ſet and ordinary time, but onely in faire weather) they take paines continually and diligently without any ſtay, beeing laden with ſuch plentie of hony, that oftentimes being ouer-wearied, they faint in their returne to their own priuate cotages, not beeing able to attaine them. And becauſe ſome of them in regard of their roughnes are vnfit to labour, by rubbing their bodies againſt ſtones and other hard matter they are ſmoothed, afterwards addreſsing themſelues moſt ſtourly to their buſineſſe. The younger ſort beſtirre thē right doutelie without dores, bringing to the hiue all that is needfull. The elder looke to the family, placing in due order that hony which is gathered and wrought by the middle-aged Bees. In the morning they be all very ſilent, till one of them awaken all the reſt with his thriſe humming noyſe, euery one buſtling himſelfe about his owne proper office and charge. Returning at night, they are as it were in an vproare at the firſt, and after that, they make a little muttering or murmuring among themſelues, vntill the principall officer appointed for ſetting of the watch, by his flying round about, and his ſoft and gentle noyſe, dooth as it were couertly and priuily charge them in their kings name to prepare themſelues to reſt; and ſo this token being giuen, they are as ſilent as fiſhes, ſo that laying ones • are to the mouth of the hiue, you ſhall hardly perceiue any the leaſt noyſe at all: ſo dutifull they are to their Kings, officers and rulers, repoſing themſelues wholie in his bookes, fauour and pleaſure! And now I will intreate of theyr excellencie and vſe.

Whereas the Almightie hath •… ared all things for the vſe & ſeruice of 〈◊〉 , ſo eſpecially The vſes of Bees. among the reſt hath he made Bees, not onely that they ſhould be v •… vs patternes and preſidents of politicall and oeconomicall vertues, (of the which before I haue diſcourſed) but euen Teachers and Schoolemaiſters inſtructing vs in certain diuine knowledge, and like extraordinary prophets, premonſtrating the ſucceſſe & e • ent of things to come. For in the yeeres 90. 98. 113. 208. before the birth of our bleſſed Sauiour, vvhen as great ſwarmes of Bees lighted in the publique and oxe-market, vpon 〈◊〉 houſes of priuate Cittizens, and the Chappell of Mars, many conſpiracies and tr •• ons were intended againſt the ſtate at Rome, with which the common-wealth was well-nigh deceiued, inſnared, yea and ouerthrowne. In the dayes of Seuerus the Emperour, Bees made their combes in the Enſignes, banners and ſtanderds of the ſouldiers, and moſt of all in the campe of Niger, after which enſued diuers conflicts betwixt the Armies of Seuerus & Niger, Fortune for a time imparting her fauours equally to them both, but at length Seuerus ſide carried away the bucklers. Swarmes of Bees alſo filled the Statuaes which were ſet vp in al Hetruria, repreſenting Antonius Pius, and after that they fell in the campe of Caſsius, and what hurly burlies after that followed, Iulius Capitolinus will reſolue you. At which time alſo a great number of Romans were intrapped and ſlaine by an ambuſh of Germaines in Germany, P: Fabius and Q: Elius beeing Conſuls. It is written that a ſwarme lighted in the tent of Hoſtilius Rutilus, who was in the Army of Druſus, and did there hang after ſuch a maner, as they did encloſe round his ſpeare which was faſtened to his pauilion, as if it had beene a rope hanging downe, M: Lepidus and Munatius Plancus beeing Conſuls. Alſo in the conſulſhip of L: Paulus and Caius Metellus, a ſwarme of Bees flying vp and downe, preſignified the enemy at hand, as the Soothſayers well diuined. Pompey likewiſe warring againſt Caeſar, when for the pleaſuring of his friends he had ſet his Army in aray, going out of Pyrrhaciū, Bees met with him, & darkened e • en the very ancients with their great multitude. We read in the hiſtories of the Heluetians, how that in the yere of our Lord God 1385. when Leopold of Auſtrich prepared to goe againſt Sempach with an hoſt of men, being yet in his iourny, a ſwarme of Bees fled to the towne, and there reſted vpon a certaine great tree called Tilia: wherevpon the vulgar ſort rightly fore-told the comming of ſome ſtrange people to them. So likewiſe Virgill in the 7. booke of his Aeneades, ſeemeth to deſcribe the comming of Aeneas into Italy after this manner.

—Lauri Huius Apes ſummum denſae (mirabile dictu) Stridore Nigenti liquidum trans aethera vectae Obſedere api • em et pedibus per mutua nexis Examen ſubitò ramo frondente pependit, Continuò vates: externum cernimus (inquit) Aduenture virum.

that is,

A tale of wonder to be told, there came a ſwarme of Bees, Which with great noyſe within the ayre a Bay-tree did attayne, Where leg in leg they cleaped faſt, and top of all degrees O're-ſpread, and ſuddenly a hiue of them remaind There hanging downe: whereat the Prophet ſaid, Some ſtranger heere ſhall come to make vs all afraid.

Which thing alſo Herodotus, Pauſanias, and diuers other Hiſtoriographers, haue with greater obſeruation then reaſon confirmed. Laon Acraephnienſis, when he could not finde the Oracle of Trophonius, by a ſwarme flying thither hee found the place. In like ſort, the Nurſes being abſent, Iupiter Melitaus, Hiero the Siracuſſan, Plato, Pindarus, & Ambroſius, were nouriſhed by hony, which Bees by little and little put in their mouthes, as Plutarch, Pauſanias, and Textor are Authors. Zenophon likewiſe in his Oeconomicks, termeth hony-making the ſhop of vertues, and to it ſendeth mothers of houſholds to be inſtructed. Poets gladly compare themſelues with Bees, who following Nature onely as a Schoole-miſtres, vſeth no Art. So Plato ſaith, that Poets ruled by Art, can neuer performe any notable matter. And for the ſame reaſon Pindarus maketh his brags, that hee was ſuperiour to Bacchilides, and Simonides, hauing onely Nature, not Art to his friend. Bees vnleſſe they be incenſed to anger, doe no hurt at all, but being prouoked & ſtirred vp they ſting moſt ſharply: and ſuch is he diſpoſition and naturall inclination of Poets; and therefore in his Minoe ſtrictly enioyne • , that thoſe who loue their owne quiet, muſt take great heed that they make no wars • ythe • with Poets or Bees. Finally, they haue ſo many vertues which we may imitate, that 〈◊〉 ▪ Egyptians, Chaldaeans & Graecians, haue taken diuers Hieroglyphicks from them. A •• hee that will read ouer Pierius, ſhall there finde ſtore of Emblemes of them.

The Country people in like manner haue learned of them Aeromantie, that is, diuination of thinges by the ayre, for they haue a fore-feeling and vnderſtanding of raine and windes afore-hand, and doe rightly prognoſticate of ſtormes and foule weather; So that then, they flye not farre from their owne homes, but ſuſtaine themſelues with their owne hony-ſuck alreadie prouided. Which beeing true, we muſt then thinke it no ſtrange matter, that Aristaeus, Philiſtius, Ariſtomachus Solenſis, Menus the Samnite, and ſixe hundred others, that haue writ of the Nature of Bees, bidding adue to all thoſe pleaſures and delicacies that are found in Citties, for fyftie and eyght yeeres ſpace together, inhabited the woods and fieldes, that they might more exactly come to the knowledge of their order of liuing, and naturall diſpoſitions, leauing it as a monument for poſteritie to imitate. But what theyr bodies doe worke in ours, I iudge woorth the labour and paines taking to let you vnderſtand, that we may be aſſured there is nothing in Bees, but maketh to the furtherance of our health and good.

Firſt therefore, their bodies beeing taken newly from the hiues and bruiſed, & drunke Medicinall vſes. with ſome diareticall wine, cureth mightily the Dropſie, breaketh the ſtone, openeth the obſtructed paſſages of the vrine, and helpeth the ſuppreſsion thereof. Beeing bruiſed, they cure the wringings and grypings of the belly, if they be layd vpon the place affected: and if any haue drunke any poyſonous hony, Bees being likewiſe drunke doe expell the ſame. They mollifie hard vlcers in the lippes, and beeing bound to the part, they cure a carbuncle and the Bloody-flixe, amending alſo the cruditie of the ſtomack, and all ſpots & flecks in the face, beeing tempered with their owne made hony; as both Hollerius, Alexander, Benedictus and Pliny haue written.

Galen affirmeth, that if you take liue Bees out of their combes, and mixe them with honie wherin Bees haue beene found dead, you ſhall make an excellent oyntment to be vſed againſt the ſhedding and falling of the hayre in any place of the head, cauſing it to growe againe, and come afreſh. Pliny againe willeth vs to burne many Bees, commixing the aſhes with oyle, and there-with to annoynt the bald places; but wee muſt (ſaith he) take great heede that we touch no other place neere adioyning. Yea he affirmeth, that Honie wherein is found dead Bees, is a very wholſome medicine, ſeruing for all diſeaſes. Erotis cap: 61. De morb: muliebrib. commendeth highly the aſhes of Bees beaten and tempered with oyle, for the dealbation of the hayre.

Bees alſo are very profitable, becauſe diuers liuing creatures are nouriſhed by, and doe feede full ſauerly on their hony, as the Beare, the Badger or Brocke, Lizards, Frogges, ſerpents, the Woodpecker or Eate-bee, Swallowes, Lapwings, the little Titmouſe, which of ſome is called a Nunne, becauſe his head is filletted as it were Nun-like, the Robin-redbreaſt, Spyders and Waſpes, as Bellonius hath well obſerued.

But to what end (you will ſay) ſerueth their ſting, againſt whoſe poyſon Pliny knew no remedie? I muſt needes confeſſe truly that which cannot be denied, that the ſtings of Bees are ſometimes venomous, but that is when eyther they are madde and raging, and be exceedingly diſquieted by meanes of anger, or ſome vehement Feauer, for otherwiſe they doe not ſting, but pricke but a little: and therefore Dioſcorides neuer made mention of the ſtinging of Bees, ſuppoſing it very vnmeete for a man to complaine of ſo ſmall a matter as the ſting of a ſilly Bee. But yet they that haue ſucceeded him, haue obſerued paine, rednes, and ſwellings, as companions and effects of their malice, eſpecially if the ſting doe ſticke in the fleſh, which if it doe very deepe, then death hath ſometimes followed, as Nicander writeth in his Theriacis. In like manner the people of the old World (that vvee may proue the ſting of Bees to be conuerted to ſome good vſe) did (as Suidas writeth) puniſh thoſe perſons who were found guilty of cooſenage, and deceitfull counterfeiting of merchandiſe after this ſort: Firſt they ſtripped the offender ſtarke naked, annointing his body all ouer with hony, then ſetting him in the open ſunne with his hands and feete faſt bound, that by this meanes beeing tormented with flyes, Bees, and ſcorching beames of the ſunne, he might endure puniſhment, paine & death, due to his lewd and wicked life. With which kind of puniſhment & torture, the Spanyards doe grieuouſly vex the poore naked Ilanders of America at this day, (now called the Weſt Indies) who are vnder their rule and gouernment, not for iuſtice ſake, (as thoſe Auncients did) but for ſatisfaction and fulfilling of their barbarous wills, and beaſtly tyrannie, that they might ſeeme to be more cruell, then crueltie it ſelfe.

Noninus ſaith, that if the herbe Balme (called Apiaſtrum) be beaten, and annoynted with oyle vppon the ſtinged place, that there will enſue no hurt thereby. Florentius counſelleth the gatherer of hony, to annoynt himſelfe with the iuyce of Marſh-mallowes, for by that meanes he may ſafely and without feare take away the Combes. But the iuyce of any Mallow vvill doe as much, and eſpecially if it be mixed with Oyle: for it both preſerueth from ſtinging, and beſides it remedieth the ſtinged. But admit that Bees by theyr ſtinging doe vexe and diſeaſe vs, yet notwithſtanding the dead Bees ſo found in the hony, doe ſpeedily bring cure to that hurt, if they be duly applyed, abating and taking away all the paine and poyſon. What ſhould I ſay? No creature is ſo profitable, none leſſe ſumptuous. GOD hath created them, and a little money and coſt will maintaine them, and ſmall prouiſion will content them. They liue almoſt in all places, yea euen in Forreſts, Woods and Mountaines; both rich and poore by their good husbandry do gather good cuſtomes and penſions by them, they paying (as all men know) very large rents for their dwelling houſes; and yet for all their tribute they pay, a man need neither keepe one ſeruaunt the more for the gathering of it, nor ſet on pot the oftner. Merula ſaith, that Varro gathered yeerely fiue thouſand pound weight of Hony: and that in a ſmall Village of Spaine, not exceeding one Akre of ground, he was wont to gaine by Honie there gathered, tenne thouſand Seſterties, which is of our Engliſh coyne about fiftie pounds. Wee are furniſhed alſo out of their vvork-houſes or ſhops, with vvaxe, Sandaracha, Bee-glevv, combes, and dregges of waxe, which no Common-wealth can well ſpare. To ſpeake nothing of the examples of their vertues and noble properties, being no leſſe wholſome for the ſoule, then theſe others are for the good prouiſion and maintenaunce of our life, and for nouriſhment of our bodies neceſſary and commodious.

Now for the conſeruation of Bees, it is very meete (as Pliny writeth) that we come by them lawfully, & by honeſt meanes, that is, eyther by gift, or by buying of them, for being taken away by theft, they will not proſper with vs: euen as the herbe called Rew beeing ſtolne, will very hardly or neuer grow. Furthermore, to keepe theſe good Pay-maiſters, and to make them in loue with you, you muſt remoue from their Hiues mouthes, vnluckie, miſchieuous, and deceitfull people, and idle perſons that haue nothing to doe, cauſing them to ſtand further off: As alſo all thoſe that are diſtayned with whoredome, or infected with the diſeaſe called Gonorrhaea, or the fluxe of menſtrues, bathes, or anie thing that ſmelleth of ſmoake, mud, dung, or ordure of cattell, men or beaſts, houſes of office, ſincks, or kitchens. Mundifie & correct the ayre oftentimes, infected with the breath and vapour of Toades and Serpents, by burning of Balme, Time, or Fennell; hauing great care to keepe them neate, cleane and quiet. Deſtroy all vermine and ſeekers to prey vpon their Hony, robbers, pillers and pollers, and if at any time they be ſicke, giue them Phiſicke.

Nowe the ſignes of their vnhealthines, as of all other liuing creatures, are knowne by three things; that is, from the action offended, the outward affect of the body, and excrements. For their cheerefulneſſe beeing gone, ſluggiſh dullnes, a giddy and vertiginous pace, often and idle ſtanding before the mouth of the Hiue, lacke of ſtrength, wearineſſe, litherneſſe, languiſhing, and want of ſpirit to doe any buſines, deteſtation of flowers and Honie, long watchings, and continuall ſleepings, vnaccuſtomed noyſes and hummings, are ſure arguments that Bees are not in good health. As alſo if they be ſome-what rough, not fine and trimme, dry and vnpleaſant in handling, not ſoft, harſh and rugged, not delicate and tender, if their combes be infected with any manner of filthy, corrupt, and noyſome ſauour, and that theyr excrements melt, ſtinke, and be full of vvormes, carrying dead carkaſſes daily out of their houſes, that they haue no regard to theyr Bees and Beehiues, it is a certaine token that they are ſicke, and that ſome exidemicall, generall peſtilence or plague rageth amongſt them, whereof that famous Poet Virgill hath very elegantlie, but confuſedly touched ſome part, in the fourth Booke of his Georgickes, in theſe following verſes.

Si verò (quoniam lapſus Apibus quo que nostres Vita tulit) tristi languebunt corpora morbo, Illud non dubijs poteris cognoſcere ſignis. Continuò est agris alius color, horrida vultum Deformat macies, tum corpora luce carentum Exportant tectis, et triſtia funera ducunt. Aut illae pedibus connexae ad limina pendent, Aut intus clauſis cunctantur in adibus omnes, Ignauae que fame, et contracto frigore pigrae Tum ſonus auditur grauior, tractim que ſuſurrant. Frigidus vt quando ſiluis immurmurat auſter, Vt mare ſolicitum ſtridet refluentibus vndis, Aestuat aut clauſis rapidus fornacibus ignis.

In Engliſh thus;

The life of Bees is ſubiect vnto fall, Theyr bodies languiſh with diſeaſes ſad: This by vndoubted ſignes diſcerne you ſhall, Their bodie's then with other colour is clad. A leaneneſſe rough doth then deforme their face, Then doth the liuing bring dead bodyes out, And for theyr fellowes make a funerall place, Mourning ſad exequies theyr dwellings all about. Or els with feete in feete they hang vpon The threſhold of their Hiue, or els abide Cloſe within dores, not looking on the ſunne Till ſloth by cold and famine theyr life vppe dryde: Then alſo is their ſound and voyce more great, Drawing ſoft, like Southerne wind in woods, Or fire encloſed in burning furnace heate, Or as int' Seafalls backe the flyding floods.

And ſo the ſickneſſes of Bees beeing euidently knowne, plainly perceiued and cured, they will liue many yeeres, although Ariſtotle, Theophrastus, Pliny, Virgill, Varro, Columella, Cardan, and finally all Authors, would make vs beleeue that they •• ldome attaine to nine yeeres, but neuer to tenne. Although we know by good experience, knowledge of place, and the credible atteſtation of men worthy beliefe, that they haue liued 30. yeares. Which onely reaſon hath induced me to belieue, that Bees (euen by Natures appoyntment) are long liued, and that onely with Albertus I onely doubt, whether they dye by meanes of old age.

I am not ignorant how they are made away with the rage and violence of diſeaſes, and other enemies, but if they haue all things furniſhed fit for the preſeruation of their life, & prolongation of health, and the contrary farre from them, I knowe no reaſon but that I ſhould conclude them long liued, yea more durable then any other liuing creature, and neuer to dye, but that I may not deny their time and turne to be mortall. For they onelie doe feede vpon hony, that immortall Nectar, ſent from heauen, and gathered from a diuine dew (the very life and ſoule of all herbes, fruites, trees and plants.) Of whoſe nature, vſe, and excellencie, if you would know more, I muſt referre you to the learned writings of Phiſitions.

❧ Of Bees called Drones and THEEVES.

ADrone or a Dran in Engliſh, is of the Latines called Fucus, of the Greekes Kephen, and Thronaz. Of the Illirians Czeno, of The names. the Germans Traen. Of the Belgies Beſonder ſtrael. Of the Spaniards Zangano. Of the Italians Ape che non famele. Of the French Baradon, and Fullon. Of the Pannonians (novv called Hungarians) Here. Of the Polonians Czezew. This kind of Bee is called Fucus, as ſome thinke Quaſifur, becauſe he doth furtim mella deuocare, deuour Honny by ſtealth: although it be more agreeable to truth, that it is tearmed Fucus, becauſe he doth Apibus fucum fraudemque facere: And through the colour and pretence of keeping warme the Hiues, he ſpendeth their ſtocke, and vndo all their hony-making. And therefore for ſome to deriue Fucus the Latin word, from Phagomai the Greeke, ſeemeth to be farre fetched: Some againe will draw Fucus, à fouendo, quia incubando apum iuuant faeturas, and this in my minde is as harſh as the former.

Many men make the Drone to be one of the 4. ſorts of Bees, which is very vnaduiſedly doone, as ſome would make vs beleeue: Becauſe they beſtow no paines in gathering the The deſcription. Hony, nor labour it throughly to haue it perfectly wrought. He is twice ſo great as the common Bee, and greater then the Theefe, ſo that in bigneſſe he eueneth, yea, ſurpaſſeth the King himſelfe: and yet he attaineth vnto this greatneſſe, not by the gift of Nature, but by his cuſtome and trade of life. For whereas Bees doe prepare and make their celles for the breeding of Drones: they make them leſſer then the Drones, and not heere and there through the Hiue, but onely in the vttermoſt, and as it were in the baniſhed or moſt out-caſt place of all in the whole Camp and lodged Army. Beſides, the ſmall Wormes of the Drones, are far ſmaller at their firſt bringing forth, then thoſe that are of the kingly race, and linage of their Dukes: Who yet at length grow greater then any of them all, in regard that by labour and trauaile, they waſt and diminiſh nothing of ſuperfluous matter, and thoſe groſſe humours, wherewith they abound, as alſo that both day and night (like Oxen lying at racke and Manger) they gluttonouſly rauen & ſtuffe themſelues with the hony-liquor, which they againe pay for full dearely, in time of any general dearth and ſcarſity of vittaile and prouiſion.

Further this is to be added, that the Drone is of a more ſhining black colour, then the true labouring Bee, he is alſo greater then the greateſt, without ſting, ſluggiſh, idle, ſlothfull, without hart or courage, cowardous and vnapt to war, not daring to venture life & limbe in manly Martiall trade, as the true Ligitimate Bees will.

Aristotle ſaith, that they breed and liue amongeſt the true Bees, and when they flye abroad, they are carryed ſcatteringly, here and there aloft in the aire as it were, with ſome violence or tempeſt; ſo exerciſing themſelues for a time, they returne from whence they came, ther greedily feeding vpon the hony. Now why the droues may be compared with the Dukes and Princes, in reſpect of their corporature, and Bees like vnto them in theyr ſting, let vs heare Aristotles reaſon. Nature would (ſaith he) there ſhould be ſome difference, leaſt alwaies the ſame ſtock ſhould encreaſe one of another confuſedly, without order or conſideration, which is impoſſible: For ſo the whole ſtocke would either be dukes or Drones. And therefore the true Bees in ſtrength and power of engendering and bree-ding, are comparable to their Dukes, and the Drones onely in greatneſſe of body reſemble them: to whom if you allow a ſting, you ſhall make him a Duke. Theſe Drones further of the Graecians are called Cothouroi, becauſe he putteth not forth any ſting: whereof Ariſt. l. 3. de • ener. Anim. c. • 0. Heſiodus hath theſe verſes thus interpreted;

Hinc vero Dij ſuccenſet & homines, quicunque ociaſus; Viuat, fucis ac aleo-carentibus ſimilis ſtudio, Qui apuni laborem abſumunt ocioſi Vorantes.

In Engliſh thus;

Both God and men, diſdaine that man VVhich Drone like in the hiue, Nor good, nor ill, endeuour can Vpon himſelfe to liue, But idle is, and without ſting, And grieues the labouring Bee Deuouring that which he home brings, Not yeelding help or fee.

So that either he hath no ſting at all, or elſe maketh no vſe of it for reuengement. Pliny ſaith flatly, that they are ſtingleſſe, and would haue them called imperfect Bees, & the famous Poet Virgill ſtileth them, Ignauumpecus: that is, idle and vnprofitable, good for nothing. Columella maketh them a race or ſtocke of a larger ſize, very like vnto Bees, and accounteth them very aptly to be placed in the ranke of ordinary ſorts of Creatures, of the ſame kinde and company with Bees. They ſuffer punniſhment, and are ſcourged many times in the whole Bee-common-wealth, not onely for pretence of idleneſſe, gluttony, extertion, and rauenous greedineſſe, to which they are too much adicted; but becauſe lacking their ſting, and by that defect, being as is were emaculated, they dare ſhew themſelues in publique.

Pliny doth not expreſſe their nature and quality. The Drones are ſtingleſſe, and ſo to be reckoned imperfect Bees, and of the baſeſt ſort, taking their originall from tyred and worne-out Bees, and ſuch as be paſt labour and ſeruice, liuing onely vpon a bare penſion • we may call them the very ſlaues and bond-men of the true Bees, to whom they owe all due homage and ſubiection, wherefore they exerciſe their authority ouer them, thruſting them firſt out of doores by head and ſhoulders, like a company of drudges to theyr worke; and if they be any thing negligent, not beſtirring themſelues quickly and liuely, they giue them correction, and punniſh them without all pitty and mercy. For in the moneth of Iune, two or three Bees, (eſpecially of the younger ſort) will hale out of the Hiue one Drone, there beating of him with there winges, pricking and tormenting him with their ſtinges, and if he offer any reſiſtance to their Lordly rule, then they violently caſt him downe from the ſhelfe or ſtep whereon he holdeth, down to the earth as though they would breake his necke. Thus when they haue glutted their wils, and puniſhed him at the full, they at length put him to a ſhamefull death, all which we haue often beheld, not without great admiration and pleaſure.

Sometimes the Drones remaine like baniſhed perſons, before the enterance of the hiue, and dare not venture to preſſe in. For three cauſes ſpecially the Bees do driue and caſt out the drones: either when they multiply aboue meaſure, or when they haue not place ynough left for their labourers, or that they be pinched with hunger and famine, for lacke of Hony. And as they carry a deadly hatred againſt the Drones, ſo to make it more apparant, they will not hurt ſuch perſons as offer either to take away with their bare handes any of the drones, and to caſt them away, yea, though they be in the greateſt heat of their fight. Aristotle in his ninth Booke De histo. Animal. Cap. 40. affirmeth, that Bees are engendered apart one from another, if their Captaine liueth: but in caſe their King and Captaine dies, ſome ſay they breed in the Bees celles, and that of all others of this kinde, they are the moſt noble and couragious.

The young drones are bred without any King, but the true younger Bees neuer: for they deriue their originall and petigree from the kingly ſtocke. Some will ſay that the Their generation. young drones doe fetch their originall from the flowers of the Herbe Cerinthe (deſcribed by Pliny, which is a kind of Hony ſuckle, hauing the taſt of the Hony and Waxe together) from the Oliue tree and Reede; but this opinion is weakely grounded, and ſtandeth vpon ſmall reaſon.

Aristotle affirmeth, that they proceede from the longer and bigger Bees, yea, and thoſe that are tearmed Thieues: which without queſtion he receiued either from the Auncient Philoſophers, or ſome others that had the charge and were skilfull of ordering Honny, that liued in his time. Some will haue them to breed and come from putrifaction, as Iſidore from ſtinking and putrified Mules: Cardan frō Aſſes, Plutarke and Seruius from Horſes. Otherſome are of opinion, that they firſt proceede of Bees, and that afterwards they degenerate baſtardlike from them, after they haue loſt their ſtings, for then they become Drones: neither are they afterwardes knowne to gather any Honny, but being as it were depriued of their ſtrength, they grow effeminate, ceaſing either to hurt, or to do any good at all.

Some againe hold the contrary ſide, aſſuring vs vppon their knowledge, that the true labouring Bee fetcheth his beginning from the Drone, becauſe long experience (the Maiſters of wiſedome) hath taught vs, that there is yearely knowne to be the greater ſwarme, when there is the greater multitude of Drones. But this to me ſeemeth rather the deuiſe and inuention of ſome curious braine, then any true grounded reaſon. For becauſe that many Drones breede (as it commeth alwaies to paſſe in good and plentifull yeares) therefore there ſhould be greater Swarmes is no good conſequent: but contrariwiſe, becauſe the multitude of Bees do greatly increaſe through the moderatenes of the pure aire, and the plenty of the Hony-dropping dew, and through the aboundance of this millifluous moyſture, there muſt needs follow a greater foiſon and ſtore of drones: as the Philoſopher hath well obſerued. But admit that this be true, that whereas there is the greater encreaſe of drones, there ſhould yearly enſue the more ſwarmings: yet muſt we not thervpon conclude, that Bees do owe, and ought to aſcribe their firſt originall from Drones, but rather that they are indebted and bound in honeſty to the drones, becauſe in time of breeding, they giue much warmth and comfort to their young (as Pliny lib. 11. c. 11. ſaith) conferring vppon them a liuely heat, fit for their encreaſe and proſpering. Some deuide them into male and female, and that by coupling together they make a propagation of their kind, although (as Athenaeus writeth) neither drones nor Bees were euer yet ſeen of any one to couple together.

But whereas Waſpes, Hornets, and other Cut-waſted creatures that make any combs and breed in the ſame, haue beene ſometimes (though ſeldome) ſeene, both by vs and Aristotle, to ioyne together, I can ſurely ſee no cauſe why we ſhould vtterly take from them the vſe of Venus, though in that reſpect they be very modeſt and moderate.

I haue before in the diſcourſe of their generation ſaid, that the Bees do make the male kind, and the Drones to be but the female; but ſith that in the time of Hony-making, they punniſh them ſo ſharply after they haue eiected them from poſſeſſion firſt, ſo that afterwards they put them to death, I can hardly be enduced to beleeue that the drones are but the female kind, conſidering that one thing would ecclipſe and ouercaſt all thoſe reſplendant vertues which all men know to be in Bees, to deale thus cruelly with their Parents. To what vſe therefore ſerue they in hiues? Seeing Virgill in the fourth booke of his Georgiks thus deſcribeth them;

Immuniſque ſedens aliena ad pabula fucus.

That is to ſay;

The Drone as free and bold doth ſit, And wast of others food commit.

Where Festus taketh Immunis, for lazy, idle, vnſeruiceable, vnprofitable, and ſuch as are nothing worth, except perchance after the guiſe of wicked men, they ſo ſerue theyr owne turnes, as to liue by the ſweat of other mens labours, and to bring out of order, or vtterly ſeeke to ouerthrow the whole frame of the common wealth.

But the moſt approoued Authors ſet downe diuers good vſes of drones. For if there Their vſes. be but a few of them among the Bees; they make them the more carefull about their affaires, and to looke more duely to their taske: not by their good example, (for they liue in continuall idleneſſe) but becauſe they might continue their liberality towardes ſtrangers, they worke the more carefully in their Honnie-ſhoppe. And (if Bartholemaeus doe not deceiue vs) theſe Drones bee not altogether idle: but they imploie themſelues about the building of the Kings Houſe, which they make large, ſtately, and very ſumptuous in the higher and middle part of the Combes, being very faire to ſee too in reſpect of their couering.

So then they are but lazie, in reſpect of Hony-making and gathering: but if you looke toward their Art or ſcience of building, they are to be accounted excellent deuiſers of the frame and chiefe Maiſters of the whole worke. For as the Bees do faſhion out the combs of the Drones nigh the Kings Pallace: ſo againe, for the like counterchange of kindnes, the Drones are the ſole inuentors, and principall work-maiſters of the Kinges Court; for which cauſe both they and their of-ſpring, kinsfolkes, and friends, (if they haue any) are bountifully rewarded of the whole ſtocke of Bees, by giuing them franckly & freely their diet and maintenance which coſteth them nothing.

The Lockers or holes of the vp-growne Bees, are ſomewhat to large, if you reſpect the quantity of their bodies, but their combes leſſer, for thoſe they build themſelues, & theſe other are made by the Bees, becauſe it was not thought cōuenient and indifferent, ſo great a portion of meat to be giuen to ſuch vile labourers and hirelings, as was due to their own Sons and Daughters, and thoſe that are naturally ſubiects.

Tzetzes, and ſome other Greekes doe beſides affirme, that the Drones are the Bees Butlers or Porters to carry them water, aſcribing moreouer to them a gentle and kindly heat, with which they are ſaid to keepe warme, cheriſh and nouriſh the young breede of the Bees; by this meanes as it were, quickning them, and adding to them both life and ſtrength.

The ſame affirmeth Columella in theſe wordes. The Drones further much the Bees for the procreation of their iſſue, for they ſitting vpon their kind or generation, the Bees are ſhaped and attaine to their figure, and therefore for the maintenaunce, education, and defence of a new yſſue, they receiue the more friendly entertainement. And Pliny lib. 11. c. 11. differeth not from him. For not onely they are great helpers to the Bees in any architectonicall or cunning deuiſed frame (as hee ſaith) but alſo they doe good in helping and ſuccouring their young, by giuing them much warmth and kindly heat, vvhich the greater it is (vnleſſe there be ſome lacke of Hony in the meane ſpace) the greater will the ſwarme be.

In ſumme, except they ſhould ſtand the Bees in ſome good ſtead, the Almighty would neuer haue encloſed them both in one houſe, and as it were made them freemen of the ſame Citty. Neither doubtleſſe would the Bees by maine force violently breake in vpon them, as being the Sworne and profeſſed enemies of their common-wealth, except when their ſlauiſh multitude being to much encreaſed, they might feare ſome violence or rebellion, or for lacke of prouiſion: at which time who ſeeth not, that it were farre better the Maiſter Worke-men, free Maſons, and Carpenters might bee ſpared, then the true labouring Husbandman, and tiller of the Eearth? Eſpecially ſince that miſſing theſe, our life is endangered for lacke of meate, and other neceſſaries, and thoſe other for a time we may very well ſpare without our vndoing, and for a need, euery one may build his ovvne lodging. But as they be profitable members, not exceeding a ſtinted and certaine number, ſo if they be to many, they bring a ſickneſſe called the Hiue-euill, as well becauſe they conſume the food of the hony-making Bees, as for that in regard of their extreame heat, they choke and ſuffocate them.

This diſeaſe is by the Authour of Geoponicon thus remedyed. Moyſten with Water inwardly the lidde or couering of their Hiue, and earely in the Morning opening it, you ſhall finde Drones ſitting on the droppes that are on the couers, for beeing glutted with Honny, they are exceeding thirſtie, and by that meanes they vvill ſticke faſt to the moyſt and Devvie places of the Couer: So that vvith ſmall adoe, you may either deſtroye them quite, or elſe if you pleaſe, take away what number you liſt your ſelfe. And if you will take away withall their young, who are not yet winged, and firſt pulling off their heades throw them among the other Bees, you ſhall beſtow on them a very welcome dinner. But what the dreaning of Drones portended, and what matter they Miniſter in the Hieroglyphicall Art, let Apomaſueris reueale and diſcloſe out of the Schooles of the Egyptians and Perſians. I thinke I haue diſcharged my duety, if I haue ſet dovvne their true Vſes, true Nature, generation, degeneration, deſcription, and names.

Fur in Latine, or Theefe in Engliſh, is by Aristotle called Phoor, of Heſychius Phoorios: from whence I take the Latine word Fur to be deriued. Some haue thought that theeues Of Bees called theeues. are one proper ſort of Bees, although they be very great, and blacke, hauing a larger bellie or Bulke then the true Bee, and yet leſſer then the Drones, they haue purchaſed this theeuiſh name, becauſe they doe by theft and robbery deuoure Honny, belonging to others, and not to them. The Bees do eaſily endure, and can well away with the preſence of the drones, and do as it were greete and bid one another welcome, but the Theeues they cannot endure, in regard that the Bees do naturally hate them, for in their abſence the Theeues priuily and by ſtealth creepe in, there robbing and conſuming their treaſure of Honny, ſo greedily and haſtily (without chewing) ſwallowing it downe, that beeing met withall by the true Bees in their returne homewards, & found ſo vnweildy by means of their fulneſſe, that they cannot get away, nor be able to reſiſt, but are ready to burſt againe, they are ſeuerely punniſhed, and for their demerites by true Iuſtice put to death. Neither thus onely do they prodigally conſume & ſpend the Bees meate, but alſo priuilie breed in their celles, whereby it often commeth to paſſe, that there are as many drones & Theeues, as true and lawfull Bees.

Theſe neither gather Hony, nor build houſes, nor help to beare out any mutuall labor with Bees: for which cauſe they haue Watch-men or Warders appointed to obſerue and ouerſee by night ſuch as are ouerwearied by taking great and vndefatigable paines in the day time, to ſecure them from the Theeues and Robbers, who if they perceiue any Theefe to be ſtolne in a doores, they preſently ſet vppon him, beate, and either kill him outright, or leauing him for halfe dead, they throw him out. Oftentimes alſo it happeneth, that the Theefe being glutted and ouercloyed with Honny, cannot fly away or get himſelfe gone in time, but lyeth wallowing before the Hiues entrance, vntill his enemies either in comming forth or returning home do ſo find him, and ſo with ſhame diſcredit and ſcoffing-ſcorne ſlay him.

Aristotle appointeth no office, charge or buſineſſe to the Theefe, but I thinke that he is ordained for this end, that he might be as it were a ſpur to prick forwards, to whet and Their vſes. quicken the courage of the true Bees, when the other offer them any iniury: and to ſtirre and encourage them to a greater vigilancy, diligence, and doing of right and iuſtice to euery one particularly. For I cannot ſee to what other purpoſe Thieues ſhould ſerue in a Chriſtian common-wealth, or what vſe might be made of ſuch as lie in waight to do diſpleaſure, and practiſe by crafty fetches, Ambuſhes, and deceitfull treacheries, to wound their Neighbours, either in their eſtimation, credit, or goodes. Thus hauing at large diſcourſed of the leſſe hurtfull and ſtinging ſort of Bees, I will now apply my ſelfe to a more fumiſh, teſty, angry, Waſpiſh, and implacable generation, more venemous then the former, I meane Waſpes and Hornets.

OF VVASPES.

AWaſpe of the Chaldeans is tearmed Deibrane: Of the Arabians Zambor. Of the Engliſh-men a Waſpe. Of the Germans Eine VVeſpe. Of the Belgies Harſel. Of the Gothes Bool Getingh. D. Bonham. The common people of Italy tearme it Veſpa, and ſome of them do vſually call it Muſcone, and the Bononians Vreſpa. The French Gueſpe. The Spaniards Abiſpa, and Veſpa imitating the Latines, who call it Veſpa. The Polonians Oſſa. The Slauonians Woſſ. The Hungarians Daras. Calepine ſaith that it is called Veſpa, qui veſperi muſcas venatur in cibum. The Greekes do alſo name them diuerſly, for commonly they are called Sphekes. The Scholiaſt of Nicander calleth them Lucoſpades, and Suidas Dellides, & Delithes. Of Heſychius Auletaj, and Paſſaleres, and Gaza nicknameth them Authrenaj: for theſe ought rather to be called Bees. Eustathius deriueth Tous ſpekas, apo Tes diaſphagon, becauſe they ſeeme to bee ſo much cut-aſunder in the Waſt or middle, as that they ſeeme to gape and to be cleane clouen aſunder, as by the figure here ſet before your eyes you may plainely perceiue. A Waſpe is a kinde of inſect, that is, ſwift, liuing in routes and companies together, hauing ſomewhat a long body encircled, with with foure membranous wings, (where of the two former are the greateſt) without bloud, ſtinged inwardly, hauing alſo ſixe feete, and a yellow colour, ſomewhat gliſtering like Golde, garniſhed with diuers blacke ſpots all ouer the body in forme of a triangle. Whereupon peraduenture Pollio would needs haue it called Diachruſos.

The body of a Waſpe ſeemeth to be faſtened and tyed together to the middeſt of the breaſt, with a certaine thinne fine thred or line, ſo that by meanes of this diſioyned, and not well compacted compoſition, they ſeeme very feeble in their loines, or rather to haue none at all. Whereupon Aristophanes the Greeke Poet, in his Comedy, entituled Spheres or Waſpes, tearmeth all thoſe Maids which are fine, ſlender, and pretty ſmall in the waſt, Spherodeis, reſembling them to Waſpes, as if one ſhould call them Waſpe-waſted-wenches, whom Terence very quaintly and elegantly tearmeth Iunceas, that is, ſlender, long, and ſmall, like to a Bulruſh. I think that all the whole pack of them haue ſtings in generall, although I am not ignorant that ſome Authors hold the contrary, affirming that the breeding female Waſpes doe want them: but thus much I can ſay of my owne knowledge, that on a time finding a Waſpes neſt, and killing them euery one by pouring hot scalding liquor into their holes, becauſe I would boult out the truth, I plainely perceiued by long viewing of their bodies, that there was not one of them all but hadde a ſting, either thruſt out euidently, or cloſely and ſecretly kept and couered. So that:

—Quid nobis certius ipſis Senſibus eſſe potest, quo • era ac falſa notemus.

In Engliſh thus;

What can more certaine be then ſence, Diſcerning truth from falſe pretence.

They make a ſound as Bees do, but more fearefull, hideous, terrible, and whiſteling, eſpecially Lucret 〈◊〉 . when they are prouoked to wrath; from whence Theocritus fetcheth this prouerb, Sphex bomboom tettigos enantion, that is, Scilicet obſtrepita • s argutae veſpa cicadit: and this old ſaid ſaw may well be applyed to thoſe who being themſelues vnlearned, will not ſticke to cry out, exclaime, and procure trouble to thoſe that be more learned: or to ſuch In Hoedeporis. as be weake, feeble, and impotent perſons able to do nothing, that will offerto contend with their betters and ſuperiors with their brawling ſpeeches, and ſpitefull raylings. And this latine prouerb carrieth the ſame ſenſe, Catulus leonem adlatrans.

If you will haue the gifts and ornaments of their minds deſcribed, you muſt conſider that a Waſpe is a creature that liueth in companies together, one with another, ſubiect to a ciuill gouernment vnder one King or Ruler, induſtrious, mutuall friendes one to another, ingenious, crafty, ſubtle, quicke, and cunning, of a very quarrelſome nature, and much ſubiect to anger and teſtineſſe. This is a good Argument of their ciuill and politicall manner of life, in that they liue not ſolitarily in a deſart or Wilderneſſe where no man keepeth, but they build for themſelues a Citty, both excellent and admirable for the notable buildings and houſes in it, where they ſpend their time (for the moſt part) according to the mutable and neuer fayling lawes of Nature, obſeruing and keeping euer the Golden meane, as well in their daily taskes, as in their diſpoſitions and affections of mind.

Beſides, they are gouerned with a kingly, not with a tyrannicall gouernment, (as Aelianus ſaith) although by nature they are great fighters, eger, bioyſterous, and vehemently tempeſtuous: and he is led to ſay this, becauſe their Dukes or generals are ſtingleſſe, or rather hauing ſtings as their Subiects, they will not vſe the ſame to the hurt of their inferiors, by thruſting it forth, or ſtriking in paſſion.

Now although they be twice ſo great, and harder or rougher then the other Waſpes, yet are they not vnfurniſhed of the vertue of patience and clemency, or gentle and debonaire behauiour, by which meanes they keepe in order, and containe in their liſts, as it were by gentle language, their vnruly rout, and mutinous companies. There is no man but will confeſſe, that this is an euident token and Argument of their mutuall loue, and great good liking which they bear one to another: for whoſoeuer dare be ſo knack-hardy as to come neere there houſes or dwelling places where they haue to do, and to offer any violence or hurt to the ſame, at the noyſe of ſome one of them, all the whole Swarme ruſheth out, being put into an amazed feare, to help their fellow Cittizen, and doe ſo buſily beſtirre themſelues about the eares of their moleſters, as that they ſend them away packing with more then an ordinary paſe, and if we will credit Aelianus. The Phaſelites in times paſt were conſtrained to forſake their Citty, for all their defence, munition, and Armour, onely through the multitude, and cruell fierceneſſe of the Waſpes, wherewith they were anoyed.

Againe, this manifeſtly prooueth, that they want not a harty and fatherly affection, becauſe with more then heroycall courage and inuincible fury, they ſet vpon all perſons, of what degree or quality ſoeuer, that dare attempt to lye in wait to hurt or deſtroy theyr young breede, no whit at all dreading Neoptolemus, Pyrrhus, Hector, Achilles, or Agamemnon himſelfe, the Captaine generall of all the whole Graecians if he were preſent. Yea the Diuine Poet Homer, in 12. Lib. of his Iliades, when hee would expreſſe the haughty and generous ſpirits of the Greekiſh Chiefetaines, hee likeneth them to Waſpes in theſe wordes, Spekeſsin ajolois cradien kai Thumon echouſaris, that is, hauing the harts and ſtomacks of Waſpes, when they are to fight for their priuate dwellings, their deare Progeny & of-ſpring. The loue that Bees carry to their iſſue is great, but it canot be greater then that of waſpes, neither can they haue a greater promptitude, alacrity, or deſire to defend their young ones, if they be any way offended by paſſengers. Which thing Homer in his Iliads lib. 12. inſinuateth by the example of the chaſing God Iupiter, who took it marueylous angry, and much repined at the ſturdy ſtomackes of the Graecians, adding that the Greeks did defend themſelues as valiantly, and endured the ſhock and aſſault of their enimies, as euer Waſpes of Bees would in defence of their children or iſſue: in theſe verſes following;

—Non enim ego putaui heroas Achiues Suſtentaturos nostrum robur, & manus inuictas Illi autem quaſi veſpae acres at que apes, Quae nidos faciunt ad viam puluerulentam, Neque deſerunt cauam domum: ſed expectantes, Viros venatores pugnant pro filijs.

That is to ſay;

I did not thinke our noble Graetian Lords, could beare Our force, and with vnconquered hands maintaine Our right: but they like Waſpes and Bees deuoyde of feare, Which by high-wayes their houſes vſe to frame, Doe not for ſake their hollow dusty homes, What • re they be that come to hunt them out: Fighting with valour, (not fearefully like Drones) To rid their young ones both from death and doubt.

Beſides this, they further builde for them very large dwellings, with Chambers and floores, in a round and orbicular forme, with roomes one aboue another, finely and wittily compacted, ſo that there is ſpace enough of ingreſſe and regreſſe, and very defenſible againſt all windes and weather, and yet their neſts or houſes, are not all made after one faſhion, but very different, ſome of them repreſenting a Harpe, ſome made much after the faſhion of a Peare, a Toadeſtole, a Bottle, or budget of Leather, and ſome like a ſtanding cuppe with handles.

Some affirme, that the matter of theyr Combes is confuſed, rude, and •… fauouredlie heaped vppe, full of barke and ſand, but I could neuer as yet ſee it otherwiſe then light, ſlender, and thinne like paper, dry, tranſparent, gummy and thinne, as though it vvere thinne leaues of gold, ſhaken very eaſily hither and thither with the wind, and riſing many times from the foote or foundation very ſmall, and broade aboue like vnto a top. The place of this their building, is thought to be diuers, and much different for ſome reſpects. For if they haue loſt theyr Duke or principall Leader, then doe they make them neſtes of clay in the high holes of walls and hollow Trees; and as ſome ſay (although hetherto I ould neuer ſee it) they make vvaxe there alſo.

But in caſe they haue a Generall or Duke, then they make their neſtes vnder the earth, their Cells or Chambers beeing formed with ſixe angles or corners, much like vnto Bees. They make theyr Combes • ound, much after the faſhion of a broade Toadeſtoole, from whoſe centers there goeth forth as it were a ſhort ſtalke or tying, by which the Combe eleaueth, and is faſtened hard to thearth, or ſome Tree, or peraduenture to ſome other Combe. They haue ſuch a tender care ouer their females, (eſpecially at ſuch time as they are great with young,) and ſuffer them ſo much to haue their owne wills, as they will neither permit them to take any paynes abroade for theyr liuing, nor yet to ſeeke for their meate at home: But the males flying about, (like good Purueighers,) bring all home to their owne dwellings, thereby as it were ſtrictly enioyning the femalls to keepe theſelues within dores.

All which fore-cited particulers, if a man would dulie enter into conſideration of them, hee muſt needes confeſſe, (will hee nill hee) the admirable induſtry, diligence, wit, prudence, Art, ſweat, and labour that is in theſe poore vermine. Their naturall inclination to anger, and the haſtie fumiſhneſſe of Waſpes, not onely Cockes, which doe ſcratch and ſcrape vppe with their ſpurres their neſts, doe finde implacable, but euen all other diſturbers and prouokers; From whence (I take it) that prouerbe hath ſprung, Sphekian erithizein, which the Latines, as Plautus almoſt in the ſame ſence vſeth, I • ritare erabrones: For Crabro among the Poets, is vſed ſometimes for a Hornet, and other-whiles for a Waſpe.

In like manner, Clemens Alexandrinus, Stromaton 2. when he would expreſſe and declare the fouleneſſe and abhominable hurt of ſuch ſinnes that doe lye in waite, as it were to deceiue, and watch to doe diſpleaſure to the life of man, hath theſe wordes, Houtoi gar (inquit) oi ant agonist ai pacheis koij Olumpicoi, ſphaecon hos eipein eiſi drimuterai, kai malist a • edone. That is, theſe fatte, dull, groſſe and Olimpicall enemies of ours, are worſet then Waſpes, more cruell and diſpleaſant, and eſpecially ſenſuall and worldly pleaſure. Yea, whoſoeuer dare aduenture to challenge into the fielde this hardie and couragious little creature, hee ſhall (I dare be bolde to ſay) but Cadmeam victoriam reportare, looſe more then hee ſhall get, whet his ſword againſt himſelfe, and returne home by weeping croſſe, conſidering that beſides the noblenes of their ſtout ſtomacks, and armed ſtinges, they are withall ſo ſtiffe and obſtinate, as that they will neuer giue ouer.

They 〈◊〉 in their firſt breeding, ſtocke, ſexe, place, feeding, and manner of labour. Iſidore ſayth, (although perhaps not ſo trulie) that Waſpes doe firſt proceed from the rotten carkaſſes of dead Aſſes: for all holde opinion, that the blacke Flyes called Beetles, doe take their originall from them. But I am rather mooued to thinke, that they were firſt bredde from the dead bodie of ſome warlike and fierce Horſe, and ſo alſo thinketh Pliny, in his eleuenth booke & twentith chapter. And the Graecians haue vſually this famous and vulgar verſe in their ordinary talke.

Hippoimen ſphekon geneſis, Tauroi de meliſſon, Equi enim veſparum generatio, Tauri verò Apum.

In Engliſh thus;

Waſpes doe first come from Horſes, and Bees are bred from Bulls.

And ſurely, their incredible ſwiftneſſe in their flight, their ardent and burning deſire they haue to fighting, are ſufficient inducements to mooue me to thinke, that they tooke theyr firſt beginning from ſome gallant Horſe, and not from Aſſes, Oxen, or Cowes, & much leſſe from the fearefull Deere. For dame Nature hath ſildome beene ſo indulgent and friendly to any one beaſt beſides an horſe, as to excell both in ſwiftnes of pace, quickneſſe of ſpirit, courage of ſtomacke, and magnanimity. And I rather leane to this ſide, becauſe els I doe not know what ſence I ſhould giue to that Ariſtotelean prouerbe:

Chairete aellopodoon thugateres ippoon, Saluete volucripedum filiae Equorum:

Which may be engliſhed thus;

All hayle yee daughters of ſwift-footed Horſes.

For beſides the truth that lyeth in the bare wordes, I take the morrall of it to be vttered as a wittie checke, or a figuratiue flout, conceitedly to rebuke & hit in the teeth, thoſe ſhrewd women, curſt and ſcolding wiues, which are ſo peeuiſh that they will not be pacified, who are like vnto waſpes in their ſullen diſpleaſant humours, tempeſtuous madnes, and pelting chafe.

Some waſpes doe proceede from the ſtinking carkaſſe of a Crocodile, if wee may giue any credite to the Egyptians and their fellowes; and for that cauſe, when they imagine or thinke a waſpe, they paint and draw out the ſhape and forme of a Crocodile or a Horſe. From hence Hierom Cardan would make this collection, that of euery corrupted liuing creature, another doth proceede: which in my conceit is very abſurd and againſt all reaſon. For this beeing granted, the generation of waſpes would be infinite, and daily experience would read a Lecture of contradiction againſt him, vpon the progreſſe of Natures workes. Many times waſpes doe breede by the mutuall company of the male & female together, which though Athaeneus counteth but a fable, yet for all that, ſith the Philoſopher doth plainely tell vs, that hee hath beene an eye-witnes to the ſame, (as in his firſt booke De generat. Animal. cap. 16. and in his ninth booke De histor. Animal. cap. 41.) I will wholy incline to his iudgement. But what manner of beginning they haue by ioyning together, and how it is perfited & accompliſhed, let vs a little lend our liſtening eares to Aristotle, and Pliny his Interpreter.

The Princes or Ring-leaders of the waſpes, when they haue made choyce of a fit place for themſelues vnder the earth, either in the holes, chincks, or clefts of the Rockes, or in thatched houſes, (as I haue often ſeene) there they make there combes in the beginning of Sommer, faſhioning their ſmall cells with foure little dores, wherein ſmall wormes do breede, who when they are more growne, they make yet other greater dores or hatches, and then againe, when theyr young are at the greateſt, they make others, ſo that towards the end of Autumne, you ſhall find many, and thoſe very large neſtes: wherin their principall Commaunder doth breed, not with euery waſpe indifferently, but onely with thoſe of his owne race and princely linage. They are bred in the moſt eminent and higheſt placo of the waſpe neſt, like vnto great wormes, their celles being foure or fiue in number, cloſe ioyned and couched together, for otherwiſe they would encreaſe after the ſame ſort in all reſpects as the common waſpes doe.

The excrement is onely in the ſmall wormes, and their young increaſe remaineth immoueable without any ſtirring before they be able to flye, and whilſt they are couered as it were with a thinne membrane, and yet in the ſame ſeaſon of the yeere, and in the ſpace of one day, you ſhall manifeſtly perceiue a great difference: for one flyeth out, another ſticketh ſtill as it were in the ſhell, another rolleth and tumbleth, and a fourth cannot ſtir one whit. All theſe haue their beginning and increaſe for the moſt part in Autumne, not in the Spring, and ſpecially in the full of the Moone. This one thing here is to be noted, that waſpes doe not ſwarme, and that in Sommer-time they are ſubiect to Kings, and in Winter, Guuaicocrateia, the females regiment, or Muliebre imperium preuaileth. And when they haue renued and repayred their iſſue with a great ſupply, & that they be freſh and luſtie, the Empire againe returneth to the Maſculine kinde, and yet it is but a ſhort, brittle, and ruinous Empire not able to beare vp it ſelfe, although by Natures immutable decree, orderly ruled, and rightfully gouerned.

Ariſtotle ſaith that it is not likely that the young waſpes are brought forth as a broode, becauſe they be ſo great in bulke, as that in reaſon it ſhould not ſeeme probable, that ſo ſmall a flye as a waſpe, ſhould haue ſuch great young ones. But this is a bare & weake reaſon, not beſeeming the dignitie of ſo great a Philoſopher. For what can any man alleadge to the contrary, why Nature in a lawfull birth and breeding, ſhould not as ſoone, and as ſpeedily finiſh, and make to grow and increaſe, as ſhee doth in generation that proceedes of rottennes or corruption, which I hold to be but illegitimate. Let vs but call to minde young birds, in how ſhort a time after they be out of the ſhell, they be feathered, they be able to goe, to eate, yea quickly increaſed in ſtrength, and growne to theyr full greatnes, ſo that they are in their full flowre ere one be aware. All which when one hath throughly conſidered, he will eaſily iudge, that famous Phyloſopher Ariſtotle, to haue relyed but vpon a weake proppe, hauing ſcarſe probability to ſtand on his ſide for the maintenance of his opinion. His credit therefore at this time muſt not be ſufficient to barre vs the libertie of contradicting him.

The ſame Ariſtotle, the monarch of our moderne learning, ſaith, that the •• al wormes of waſpes, before they haue any wings at all, are ſome-what long, not much vnlike thoſe wormes which Hippocrates calleth E • lai, that breede in fleſh called (as I iudge) •• ggots, but in our country, Gentiles: & theſe waſpiſh wormes are ſomewhat white, knowne and eaſily diſcerned by their ſlits or daſhes, the hinder part of their body being very thicke and groſie, hauing a black liſt or line running along their backs, without feet, not creeping, but rolling & tumbling thēſelues this way & that way confuſedly. When they haue disburthened themſelues of their breed, they cloſe vp their cells with a certaine thin ſmall skinne, which againe beeing broken when they come to any perfection or growth, they get thē ſelues our of dores into the cleere light, & at two daies end wil be able to flie round about. The Philoſopher maketh two kinds of waſpes, the one wild & fell, the other more meeke and quiet. The wilder ſort is ſildom ſeene, for they liue & breed in mountaines & woods, in Oke trees, & not in the earth, and this kind is greater, blacker, more diuerſly coloured, & ſtingeth more cruelly then the other. After they haue liued one whole yeere, they are ſeene to flie away, if in the winter the tree be cut downe. Theſe kinde of waſpes I did once ſee in a wood in Eſſex, where going vnwarily to gather ſimples with another Phiſitian, & offending one of this fumiſh generation, the whole ſwarme of them preſently ruſhed forth about mine eares, & ſurely had I not had in my hand ſome ſprigs or branches of broome for my defence, I had vndoubtedly payde deerely for this my vnaduiſednes, if it had not coſt me my life, for they purſued me in euery place of the wood, with a vehement rage for a long ſeaſon, inſomuch that I was faine to take me to my heeles, & ſo to ſeeke to ſaue my ſelfe from further danger. And if our owne countriman Sir Francis Drake himſelfe had beene there, although hee was (as Meteranus a ſtranger, (and ſo vnpartiall) in his Belgick Hiſtorie right truly obſerued,) Omnium ducum nostri ſeculi fortiſsimus ac famoſiſsimus, yet I make no doubt, but he would haue taken my part, and beene a companion with me in this my fearefull flight.

Some of theſe vvaſpes, as well thoſe of the crueller kinde as thoſe of the gentler, doe lacke a ſting, (or rather I thinke they vſe it not.) Otherſome againe of both ſorts, are furniſhed with ſtinges, and thoſe that want them, are euer the leſſer and weaker, neither reuenging themſelues any way, nor offering to make reſiſtance. Contrariwiſe, thoſe who haue ſtings are greater, ſtronger, more quarrellous, concentious, ſtubburne and eager. Some account theſe the males, and thoſe other ſtingleſſe to be the females. Many of thoſe which haue ſtinges, doe for-goe and quite looſe them when Winter draweth on, as ſome make reckoning, but it was neuer my hap to ſee this, ſaith the Philoſopher, in his 9 booke De hiſt: Animal: capit. 41.

If you catch a Waſpe, holding her faſt by the feete, ſuffering her to make her vſuall humming ſound, you ſhall haue all thoſe that lacke ſtinges preſently come flying about you, which the ſtinged waſpes neuer are ſeene to doe. Therfore ſome hold this as a good reaſon to prooue, that the one ſhould be the male, the other the female. Both theſe ſorts, both wilde and vnwilde, haue beene ſeene to couple together after the manner of Flyes. Beſides, (in reſpect of ſexe) both kindes of waſpes are deuided into Captaines or Ringleaders, and into labourers, thoſe former are euer greater in quantitie, and of more calme diſpoſition; theſe other, both leſſer, more froward, teſtie, peeuiſh, and diuers. The males or labourers, neuer liue one whole yeere full out, but all of them die in the winter time, which is euident by this, becauſe in the very beginning of cold weather, they are as it were frozen or benummed, and in the depth or midſt of hard winter, a man ſhall hardly or neuer ſee any of them.

But yet for all that, their Dukes or principall Chiefetaines, are ſeene all the winter long to lye hidde in their lurking holes vnder the earth: and indeed many men whē they plowed or broke vppe the ground, and digged in winter, haue found of this ſort. But as for the labouring waſpe, I neuer as yet heard of any that could finde them. Theyr Principall or Captaine, is broader, thicker, more ponderous and greater then the male waſpe, and ſo not very ſwift in flight, for the weightines of their bodies is ſuch an hinderance to them, that they cannot flie very farre: whereby it commeth to paſſe, that they euer remaine at home in their hiues, there making and deuiſing their combes, of a certaine glutinous matter or ſubſtance, brought vnto them by the worke-waſpes: thus ſpending their time in executing and dooing all thoſe duties that are meet, in their Cells.

Waſpes are not long liued, for theyr Dukes (who liue longeſt,) doe not exceede tvvo yeeres. And the labouring, that is the male waſpes, together with Autumne, make an end of their dayes. Yea which is more ſtrange, whether their Dukes or Captaines of the former yeere, after they haue ingendered and brought forth new ſprong vp Dukes, doe dye, together with the newe waſpes, and whether this doe come to paſſe after one & the ſelfe-ſame order, or whether yet they doe and may liue any longer time, diuers men do diuerſly doubt. All men hold the wilder kind to be more ſtrong of nature, and to continue and hold out the longer. For why, theſe other making their neſts neere vnto common high-wayes and beaten paths, doe liue in more hazard, lye open to diuers iniuries, and ſo more ſubiect to ſhortnes of life.

The brouity of their life, is after a ſort recompenced, and ſome part of amends made by the rare clammy glewiſhnes of the ſame: for if you ſeperate their bulkes from the head, & the head from the breaſt, they will liue a long while after, and thruſt out their ſting almoſt as ſtrongly as if they were vndeuidable, and free from hurt and deathes harme.

Apollonius calleth waſpes Omoboroi, and Aristotle, Meloboroi, although they doe not onely feede on rawe fleſh, but alſo on peares, plummes, grapes, reyſins, and on diuers and ſundry ſorts of flowers and fruites; of the iuyce of Elmes, Suger, Hony, and in a manner of all things that are ſeaſoned, tempered, made pleaſant, or prepared with eyther of theſe two laſt rehearſed.

Pliny in his 11. booke capit. 53. is of opinion that ſome waſpes, eſpecially thoſe of the wilder & feller kind, do eate the fleſh of Serpents, which is the cauſe that death hath ſome-times enſued of their poyſonous ſtinging. They alſo hunt after great flyes, not one vvhit ſparing the harmeleſſe Bees, who by their good deedes haue ſo well deſerued. According to the nature of the ſoyle & place, they do much differ in their outward forme & faſhion of their body, and in the manner of their qualities and diſpoſitions of their mind: for the common waſpes beeing acquainted, & familiarly vſed to the company of men & beaſts, are the gentler, but the Hermites and ſolitary waſpes, are more rude, churliſh, and tempeſtuous: yea Nicander termeth them Olaus, that is, pernicious. They are alſo more vnhappy, dangerous, and deadly in very hote countries, as Ouidius reporteth, and namelie in the Weſt-Indies: where both in their magnitude and figure, there is great difference betwixt theirs and ours, ſo that they are accounted farre more poyſonous & deadly, then either the Engliſh, French, Spaniſh, or Barbarian waſpes. Some of theſe dangerous generation doe alſo abound in exceeding cold Countries, as Olaus Magnus in his 22. booke telleth vs.

Their vſe is great and ſinguler: for beſides that they ſerue for foode to thoſe kinde of Hawkes which are called Kaiſtrells or Fleingalls, Martinets, Swallowes, Owles, to Brocks or Badgers, and to the Cameleon: they alſo doe great pleaſure and ſeruice to men ſundry wayes, for they kill the Phalangium, which is a kind of venomous Spyder, that hath in all his legges three knots or ioynts, whoſe poyſon is perilous and deadly, and yet waſpes do cure their wounds.

Raynard the Foxe likewiſe, who is ſo full of his wiles and craftie ſhifting, is reported to lye in waite to betray waſpes after this ſort. The wilie thiefe thruſteth his buſhie tayle into the waſpes neſt, there holding it ſo long, vntill hee perceiue it be full of them, then drawing it ſlylie forth, he beateth and ſmyteth his tayle-full of waſpes againſt the next ſtone or tree, neuer reſting ſo long as hee ſeeth any of them aliue; and thus playing his Foxe-like parts many times together, at laſt hee ſetteth vppon their combes, deuouring all that he can find.

Pliny greatly commendeth the ſolitary waſp to be very effectuall againſt a Quartaine-Ague, if you catch her with your left hand, & tyeor faſten her to any part of your body, (alwayes prouided, that it muſt be the firſt waſpe that you lay hold on that yeere. Mizaldus memor. Cent. 7. attributeth great vertue to the diſtilled water, and likewiſe to the decoction Mizaldus of common waſpes, affirming expreſly, that if any part be there-with annoynted, it ſtraightwayes cauſeth it to ſwell monſterouſly, and to be puffed vp, that you would imagine them to be ſicke of a Dropſie: and this courſe craftie-drabbes & queanes vſe to perſwade their ſweet harts, that they are forſooth with child by them: thus many times beguiling and blinding the eyes of vvarie and expert Midwiues. Wherevpon we may very confidently conclude, that their poyſon is very hote, flatuous or windie. Some do prole after waſpes, and kill them by other ſleights & deuiſes. For when the Labourers do much vſe and frequent elmes, which they doe very often about the Summer ſolftice, to gather from them ſome gummy and clammy matter, their Dukes and Princes beeing at home, not ſtanding ſtill, but ſetling themſelues to their buſines or trade, and helping to hatch vp their young, they are ſuddenly choked with the fume of Brimſtone, Garlicke, the branches of Coleworts, or other pot-herbes, or els by breaking downe & onerthrowing their combes, they die through famine.

VVhen you are minded to defend the Bees from the inuaſion and ſpoyle of waſpes, you muſt ſette a potte with ſome peeces of fleſh in it neere the Hiue, and when the waſpes (in hope of ſome prey) are entered, ſuddenly clappe ouer the couer, and ſo deſtroy them, or elſe by pouring in ſome hot water at the toppe, you may ſcald them all to death in the pot. In like ſort, ſome doe gently breath vppon Raiſins, fruites, Suger, Hony, Oyle, by which, eyther the waſpes are chaſed away, or by taſting the oyle doe die. And againe, ſome doe mixe corroſiues with Honie, (as for example, Sublimate, Vitrioll, Auripigmentum, &c.) that they by taking this venomous or poyſon-infected drinke, may ſuffer condigne puniſhment for their intemperate and inſatiable gluttony.

Of the ſtinging of vvaſpes, there doe proceede diuers and ſundry accidents, paſsions and effects, as payne, diſquieting, vexation, ſwelling, redneſſe, heate, ſweatings, diſpoſition or will to vomit, loathing and abhorring of all thinges, exceeding thirſtineſſe, & now and then fainting or ſwounding; eſpecially when after the maner of venomous creatures, they haue infected their ſtings eyther by taſting the fleſh of ſome Serpents, or by gathering their foode from venomous plants.

I will nowe ſette before your eyes and eares one late and memorable example of the danger that is in VVaſpes, of one Allens vvife, dwelling not manie yeeres ſince at Lowick in Northamptonſhire, vvhich poore woman reſorting after her vſuall manner in the heate Allens wife of the Sommer to Drayton, the Lord Mordants houſe, beeing extreamely thirſtie, and impatient of delay, finding by chaunce a blacke Iacke or Tankerd on the table in the Hall, ſhe very inconſiderately and raſhly ſette it to her mouth, neuer ſuſpecting or looking what might be in it, and ſuddainly a Waſpe in her greedineſſe paſſed downe with the drinke, and ſtinging her, there immediatly came a grea • tumour in her throate with a rednes, puffing and ſwelling of all the parts adiacent; ſo that her breath beeing intercepted, the miſerable vvretch whirling herſelfe twiſe or thriſe round, as though ſhee had had ſome vertiginie in her braine, preſently fell downe and dyed. And this is knowne for a truth, not onely to me, but to moſt of the inhabitants there abouts, being as yet freſh in their memories, and therefore their authorities as I take it, is vnreproueable.

Now, for feare leaſt I ſhould looſe my ſelfe in this troubleſome and vaſt Ocean of Natures admirable fabricature, I wil now diſcourſe of ſuch medicinall meanes, as will defend from their furious malice. The vertue of Mallowes, and of Althea, (called Marſh-mallowe) is notable againſt the prickings of Waſpes. For the ſofteſt and moſt emollient herbe, is applyed as a contrary to a watlike and hurtfull creature, whoſe iuyce beeing annoynted with oyle, eyther abateth the rage of vvaſpes, or ſo blunteth and dulleth theyr ſting, that the paine is not very ſharpe or byting. Pliny lib: 21. capit: 171. And of the ſame mind is Auicen: Waſpes (ſaith he) will not come neere any man if he be annoynted with oyle and the iuyce of Mallowes. For as a ſoft aunſwere doth frangere iram, and as the Graecians haue a ſaying; Edus Megiston estin orges, pharmakon logos: So alſo in naturall Salomon. Philoſophy we ſee, that hard thinges are quailed, and their edge euen taken off with ſoft and ſuppling: as yron with a fine, ſmall, and ſoft feather, the Adamant ſtone with blood, and the ſtinge of vvaſpes, Hornets and Bees, with oyle and Mallowes.

What is ſofter then a Caterpiller? and yet if Aetius credite be of ſufficience, the ſame beeing beaten with oyle, and annoynted vppon any part preſerueth the ſame from the woundes and ſtinges of vvaſpes. And of the ſame vertue is the herbe called Balme, being ſtamped and mixed with oyle. The ſame ſymptomes or accidents doe follow the ſtinging of Waſpes, as of Bees, but farre more painefull, and of longer continuance, to vvit, redneſſe, intollerable paine, & Apoſtumes. And if any be ſtrooken of the Orenge or yellow coloured vvaſpes, eſpecially in a ſinowie or ſome ſenſible part, there will followe a convulſion, weakenes of the kees, ſwounding, yea, & ſometimes death, as before I haue touched.

Againſt the ſtingings of vvaſpes diuers medicines are preſcribed by Phiſitions, but I will ſpeake of ſuch onely as I haue made proofe of, and ſuch as are confirmed by long experience. The curation of their ſtings. Gilbert the Engliſhman, ſaith, that vvaſpes beeing bruiſed and applyed to the place affected, doe cure their owne wounds very ſtrangely. The ſame vertue peraduenture, not onely the Scorpion, but the greater part of Inſects haue, if any one would make Gilbertus Anglus. any dilligent tryall thereof. If a man be ſtinged of any venomous vvaſpes (which is eaſily knowne by the blewnes of the place, madnes, rauing and fainting of the partie, and coldneſſe of the hands and feete) after you haue giuen him inwardly ſome Alexipharmacall medicine, the place agrieued muſt be launched, or rather opened with a Cauterie, ſo beeing thus enlarged and opened, the venome muſt be well ſucked out, and the paring or ſhauing of that earth wherein the waſpes build their neſts, muſt be wrought & kneaded with Vineger, and ſo applyed like a Cataplaſme.

A plaiſter alſo made of VVillow-leaues, Mallowes, and the combe of waſpes, is verie medicinable for the ſame, as by the counſell of Haly Abbas I haue experimented. The Engliſh-Northerne-men, doe prepare moſt excellent emplaiſter woorth gold, againſt all Haly Abbas ſtinges of waſpes, onely of that earth whereof their Ouens are made, hauing vineger and the heads of Flyes commixed therewith. Let the place be very well rubbed with the iuyce of Citrulls, & withall, let the partie that is pained drinke of the ſeed of Margerom beaten to powder the quantity of two drammes: or thus. Take of the iuyce of Margerom two ounces, of Bole Armony two drammes, with the iuyce of vnripe Grapes ſo much as is ſufficient, make an emplaiſter. Another. Annoynt the place with the iuyce of Purcelane, Beetes, or ſweet Wine, and Oyle of Roſes, or with Cowes bloud, or with the ſeedes of the Spirting or wilde Cucumber (called Nolime tangere) beaten with ſome VVine. Thus farre Galen. Barly Meale wrought vp with Vineger and the Milke or iuyce of a Fig-tree, brine, or Sea water, are excellent for theſe griefes, (as Dioſcorides lib. 8. Cap. 20. writeth) if the wound be often fomented, bathed, or ſoked with any of them. To drinke, giue two drammes of the young and tender leaues of Bayes with harſh wine, and if the part affected bee onely annointed with any of theſe, they are much auaileable. In like ſort the decoction of Marſh-mallowes drunke with Vineger and water, are much commended, and outwardly ſalt with Calues fat: Oyle of Bayes draweth out the poyſon of VVaſpes. The leaues of Marſh-mallow (as Aetius ſaith) beeing bruiſed and applyed, doe performe the ſame.

The iuyce of Rue or Balme, about the quantity of two or three ounces drunke with wine, and the leaues being chewed and laid on with Hony and Salt, or with Vineger and Pitch, do help much. VVater-creſſes, Roſemarie, with Barly meale, and water with vineger ſod together, the iuyce of Iuy leaues, Marigolds, the bloud of an Owle, all theſe are very affectuall againſt the ſtinging of waſpes: as Pliny lib. 31. Cap. 9. telleth vs. The buds of the wilde Palme-tree, Endiue with the root, and wilde Timbe being applyed playſterwiſe, doe helpe the ſtinging of VVaſpes. After the vemine is drawne out by ſucking, the place effected muſt bee put into hot water the ſpace of an houre, and then ſuddenly they muſt be thruſt into Vineger and brine, and forthwith the paine will bee aſſwaged, the tumour ceaſe, and the malice of the venemous humor cleane extinguiſhed. Rhazes ſaith, Rhazes. that the leaues of Night-ſhade, or of Sengreene, do very much good in this caſe. And in like ſort Bole Armony with vineger and Champhire, and nuts beaten with a little vineger and Castoreum.

Alſo take the Combe with Honny applying to the place, and hold the grieued place neere the fire immediatly, and laying vnder them a few aſhes, binde them hard, & forth-with the paine will bee ſwaged. Serapio ſaith, that Sauorie, or Creſſes applyed, and the Serapio. ſeed thereof taken in drinke, and the iuyce of the leſſer Centory mixt with wine, are very meete to bee vſed in theſe griefes, he alſo commendeth for the ſame purpoſe the leaues of Baſill, the Herb called Mercury, and Mandrakes, with Vineger. Ardoynus is of opinion that if you take a little round ball of Snow, and put it into the fundament, the paine will Ardoynus. ceaſe, eſpecially that which proceedeth by waſpes. Let the place be annoynted with Vineger and Champhire, or often fomented and bathed with Snow-water. Take of Opium, of the ſeed of Henbane and Champhire, of each alike much, and incorporate them with Roſe water, or the iuyce of VVillowes, and laie it vppon the wounded place, applying on the top of it a linnē cloth, firſt throughly wetted in wine. Iohannes Meſue (who of ſome Meſue. is called Euangelist a medicoram) preſcribeth this receipt of the iuyce of Siſimbrium two drammes and a halfe, and with the iuyce of Tartcitrons make a potion. The iuyce alſo of Spina Arabica, and of Margerom are nothing inferiour to theſe forementioned. Aaron, Aaron. would in this griefe haue water Lintells (called by ſome Duckes meat) to be ſtamped with vineger, and after to be applyed.

Constantine aſſureth vs, that Alcama tempered with Barley meale and vineger, and ſo Constanti. bound to the place, as alſo Nuts, leaues of vvall-nuts, and Bleetes, are very profitable in this paſſion. Item, apply very warme to the wound a Spiders web, bruiſed with a vvhite Onion, & ſufficient Salt and vineger, will perfectlie cure it. Guil: Placentinus will warrant, Guliolmus. Placentinus. Gordonius that a Plate of cold Iron laid vppon the wound, or Lead ſteeped in vineger, will doe the deed. Gordonius counſell is to rub the place with ſage and vineger, and afterwards to foment it with water and vineger ſod together. Varignana would haue vs to apply Chalk in powder, and invvardly to take the ſeedes of Mallovves boyled in vvine, water, and a little Uarignana. vineger.

Matthiolus much commendeth Sperage being beaten and wrought vp with Hony, to Matthiolus annoint the place. Likewiſe Flyes beaten and annointed on the place, vvinter Sauoury, VVater-creſſes, with oyle of Momerdica, giue moſt ſpeedie helpe. Arnoldus Villanouanus Arnoldus de villa noua. aſſureth vs, that any freſh earth, eſpecially Fullers earth, is very auayleable, and the herbe called Poley vſed as an vnguent, or elſe Goats Milke. And Marcellus Empiericus is not behinde Marcellus. his commendations for the vſe of Bullockes dung, to be applyed as a poulteiſſe to the ſtinged part.

Theſe and many others any man aſcribe that hath hadde but an eaſie taſt of the infinity of Phyſickes ſpeculation, for the ſtore-houſe of Nature, and truely learned Phyſitions, which way ſoeuer you turne you, will Miniſter and giue ſufficient ſtore of alexyteriall medicines for the expulſing of this griefe. In concluſion one and the ſelfe ſame medicament will ſerue indifferently for the curation of waſpes & Bees, ſauing that when we are ſtung with Waſpes more forceable remedies are requyred, and for the hurts that Bees doe vs, then weaker and gentler are ſufficient. In the hundreth and nintith yeare before the byrth of our bleſſed Sauiour, an infinite multitude of Waſpes came flying into the Market place at Capua, (as Iulius witneſſeth) and lighted on the temple of Mars, all which when with great regard & diligence they were gathered together and ſolemnly burnt, yet for all that they preſignified the comming of an enemy, and did as it were foretell the burning of the Citty, which ſhortly after came to paſſe. And thus much for the Hiſtorie of the Waſpe.

OF HORNETS.

AHornet is called of the Hebrewes Tſirhah. Of the Arabians Zabor, and Zambor. Of the Germans Ein hornauſſ, Horlitz, Froiſln, Ofertzwuble. Of the Flemminges Horſele. Of the The names. French-men Trellons, Troiſons, Foulons. Of the Italians Calauron, Crabrone, Scaraffon, and Galanron. Of the Spaniards Tabarros ò Moſcardos. Of the Illirians Irſſen. Of the Slauonians Sierſzen. Of vs Engliſhmen Hornets, & great waſpes. The Graecians cal them Anthrénas, and Anthrenoùs, becauſe with their ſting they raiſe an Anthrar or Carbuncle, with a vehement inflamation of the whole part about it. The Latines call them Crabrones peraduenture of Crabra, a Towne ſo named in the territory of Tuſculanum, where there is great plenty of them: or it may be they are tearmed Crambrones of Caballus (a horſe) of whom they are firſt engendered: according to that of Ouid 15. Metamorphoſ.

Preſſus humo bellator equus Crabronis origo est.

That is to ſay;

When war horſe dead vpon the earth lies, Then doth his fleſh breed Hornet flyes.

Albertus tearmeth a Hornet Apis citrina, that is a yellow or Orenge coloured Bee. Cardan laboureth much to proue that dead Mules are their firſt beginners. Plutarke is of opinion, that they firſt proceed from the fleſh of dead Horſes, as Bees do out of a Buls belly: and I thinke that they haue their breeding from the harder, more firme and ſolide parts of the fleſh of Horſes, as Waſpes do from the more tender or ſoft. Hornets are twice ſo great as the common Waſpes, in ſhape and proportion of body much reſembling one Their deſcription. another. They haue foure winges, the inward not beeing halfe ſo large as the outward, beeing all ioyned to their ſhoulders, which are of a darke, browniſh, and of a Cheſtnutlike colour, theſe wings are the cauſe of their ſwift flight: they haue alſo ſixe feete of the ſame colour and hew, that their breaſt and ſhoulders are of. Their is ſomewhat long, of the colour of Saffron, their eyes and lookes are hanging or bending downewards, crooked and made like a halfe Moone, from which grow forth two peakes like vnto Sithes or two ſickles, nothing varying in colour frō their feet. Their belly is as though it were tied to their ſhoulders with a very fine thred, the forward and middle part whereof is ouercaſt with a browne colour, & begirt as it were with a girdle of Saffron. The hinder part is altogether yellow, eaſily diſcerned and remarkable for thoſe eight browne pricks or ſpecks, euery one of them being much like vnto a ſmall triangle, beſides they haue certain clefts or ſlits on both ſides, both before and behind, by which they can at their pleaſure when they liſt, either ſhrinke vp themſelues, or draw and gather themſelues together, and with the ſame againe lengthen and ſtretch out their bodies. They haue alſo neere to their belly on both ſides foure blacke ſpots, and in their taile they are armed with a ſtrong piercing ſting, and the ſame very venomous. They make a ſound or a buzzing ſtrange noyſe, more hydeous and dreadfull then waſpes doe. They are ſhrewd, fierce, and cruell, quickly angry and wrathfull, and although they liue in companies together, yet notwithſtanding they are euer known to be but of an homely, rude, curft, and vntractable diſpoſition and nature, and will neuer be brought by any Art or faſhioning to lay aſide their vplandiſh wildeneſſe, (as ſome Herbes will doe that are tranſplanted into Gardens.)

They are beſides this of ſuch a miſcheeuous malignity and venemous quality, that as ſome affirme, nine of their ſtings will kill a man, and three time nine will be able to kill a ſtrong Horſe; eſpecially at the riſing of the Dog-ſtar and after, at which time they haue a more fiery, haſty, and inflaming nature, and men at that ſeaſon, by reaſon of their large exaltation and ſending forth of ſpirits, grow more weake and faint.

And therefore it is no maruaile though in holy Scripture, they are compared or likened to moſt fierce & cruell enemies, which ſhould put & caſt forth the Cananites, Hettites, and Cheuits, Exod. 23. 28. So likewiſe Ouid in the eleuenth Booke of his Metamorphoſ. hath theſe words, Spicula carbronum ardentia. The burning ſtings of Hornets: And Virgill in the fourth booke of his Georgiks, calleth them Aſperrima, moſt ſharp and violent. Terence (the moſt eloquent of all Comicall Poets) in his Comedy intituled Phormio, and Plautus in his Amphytrio, haue this Prouerbe: Irritaui crabrones, I haue prouoked or incenſed the great Waſpes to anger: which I ſuppoſe they vſed as a by-word againſt the properties, natures, and froward behauiours of women, who beeing in their wonted ſumiſh mood, if once you go about to ouerthwart them, or a little to contrary their wilfulneſſe, you ſhall pull an old houſe ouer your owne head by a further prouocation, & perhaps if you get you not the ſooner out of their ſight and reach of their Clutches, you may chance haue ſomewhat more flying about your eares then you would.

It is good therefore if you haue a Wife, that is, Calcata immitior hydra, vnquiet and contentious, to let her alone, not to wake an angry Dogge: and when a miſchiefe is well quieted and brought aſleepe, to go your waies and ſay neuer a word. Whereas among Bees, their Drones and Kinges do want ſtinges; yea, and ſome Waſpes too, as before I haue writ: yet notwithſtanding all Hornets in generall, as well the greater ſort of them that builde their houſes in trees, as the leſſer ſort that dwell in the earth, are prouided of ſtinges, neither doth their Ring-leader ſeeme to bee vnarmed. For Waſpes haue theyr preſidents of their owne ſociety, and their Captaines generall as well as Bees & waſpes, whatſoeuer Pliny lib. 11. cap. 21. dreame to the contrary: which in proportion and quantity are farre greater (if you reſpect the bodies of other Hornets) then either the captaines of the Bees or Waſpes, are in compariſon of their ſubiects. Theſe alſo ſpend their time within doores, as the captaines of Waſpes do, not hauing many but one head to guid & rule ouer them, leaſt by banding into parties and factions, ſome ciuill warre (wherein all things are miſerable, as Tully ſaith) or other mutinie might ariſe to their finall deſtruction. They are great vexers and troublers, and euen like ſuch as had ſworne the death of In bellis ciuilibus omnia ſunt miſera▪ Tul. in ep sam • ▪ their enemies, Robbers, and Thieues: And yet at home they nouriſh peace, excelling euen the very Bees themſelues in their painefull, earneſt, and willing deſire to maintaine their ſtocke and common ſociety.

For neither do they chide, braule, or contend, nor yet make any ſtir or ruſtling when any is promoted to any office or place of preferment in their corporation; neither are they diſtracted into diuers mindes with their buſineſſes, neither yet doe they raiſe any tumult, make any vprore, or keepe a coyle or ruffling at the election of their Prince or captaine generall, but with common conſent they vſe but one Table, taking their commons together like good friends and fellowes, and whatſoeuer they kill, they carry ſome part of it home, frankly imparting it to their neighbors, children, and companions.

Neither do they yearely driue and expell forth of the doores to ſeeke new habitations, where they can, (as ſome Bees deale very churliſhly and vnnaturall with their young) but they contrarywiſe cheriſh in their boſome, defend and keepe warme, their new ſpringed vp progeny and race, building for them greater Houſes, and rayſing of moe Sellers and flores, bording and planking the ſame in caſe of neceſſity, neuer ceaſing till they be fully reard and made fit for their defence and ſafety. But as for their King and captaine (whom they exceedingly honor and highly eſteeme) they make choyce of ſuch a one, as neyther ſeemeth to be a King without a kingdome, nor a Prince without people and poſſeſſions, and yet he ſo behaueth himſelfe, and carryeth himſelfe ſo euenly, as though hee had but little to do in this his Empire. And yet in largeneſſe of body and greatnes of his hart, in ſtoutneſſe and ſtatelineſſe of ſtomacke and perſon, he ſtaineth all the reſt, carrying away the prize from them all, and when there is proclamation of warre to be made againſt any forraine foes, and that their flags and ancients bee diſplayed by ſounding his deadly blaſt, he giueth the defiance to his enemies, moſt couragiouſly beſtirring himſelfe more then any of his followers, ſhewing himſelfe both moſt vehement, warlike, and skilfull in fight, and yet againe at home towardes his ſubiects, (like a true noble ſpirit) he is very gratious, gentle, and temperate, tractable, eaſie to bee intreated and moſt ready to forgiue. They make for themſelues certaine holes or dwelling places vnder the ground, caſting forth the earth much after the faſhion Piſmires: for you muſt vnderſtand that neither Waſpes nor Hornets do ſend forth any Swarmes as Bees doe, but thoſe young Hornets which ſpring from them now and then, do there remaine among their breeders, making their beds or hiues much greater, by meanes of the earth formerly caſt out.

They enlarge their Combes exceedingly, by adding more and more vnto them, ſo that of a ſtrong and healthy ſtocke of Hornets, it hath beene knowne they haue gathered three or foure Treyes or baskets full of Combes. If any Hornets ſtray from their owne home, they repayre to ſome tree, l & there in the top of it makes their Combs, ſo that one many times may very eaſily and painely perceiue them, & in theſe they breede one captaine generall, or great commaunder, who when he is growne to be great, he carryeth away the whole company, placing them with him in ſome conuenient lodging. Wilde Hornets (as Pliny ſaith) do liue in the hollow trunkes and cauities of trees, there keeping themſelues cloſe all the winter long, as other Cut-waſts do.

Their life is but ſhort, for they neuer exceede the age of two yeares. Their combs are wrought with greater cunning, more exquiſite Art, and curious conceit, then thoſe either of Waſpes or Bees, and theſe excellent deuiſers doe make them one while in the trunkes of trees, and ſometimes againe in the earth, encreaſing them at their pleaſure with more floores and buildings, according to the encreaſe of their iſſue, making them ſmooth and bright, decking and trimming them with a certaine tough or binding ſlime or Gelly gathered from the gummy leaues of plantes. Neither do any of the little mouths or entries of their Cells looke vpwardes, but euery one bendeth downewardes: and the bottome is placed vpwards, leaſt either the raine might ſoke thorough them in long ſhewers, or the head of them being built vpwardes, they might lye open and be the more ſubiect, and expoſed to the vnruly rage and furious blaſts of winds and ſtormes.

If you eye well their neſtes, you ſhall finde them all for the moſt part exactly ſex angular or ſixe cornered, the outward forme and faſhion whereof is diuided with a murry coloured pertitions: and their membranous ſubſtance is much like vnto the rinde or bark of Byrch, which in the patching heat of Sommer cleaueth and openeth it ſelfe into chaps. The ſtinging of Waſpes is for the moſt part accompanied with a Feuer, cauſing withall a carbuncle, ſwelling, and intollerable paine.

I my ſelfe beeing at Duckworth in Huntingtonſhire, my natiue ſoyle, I ſaw on a time a great Waſpe or Hornet making after and fiercely purſuing a Sparrow in the open ſtreet of the Towne, who at length beeing wounded with her ſting, was preſently caſt to the ground, the Hornet ſatisfieng her ſelfe with the ſucked bloud of her quelled prey, to the exceeding admiration of al the beholders and conſiderers of this ſeldome ſeene combate. Aristotle, whom I ſo greatly reuerence, and at whoſe name I doe euen riſe and make curteſie, knowes not of a ſurety how Hornets do engender, nor after what manner they bring forth their young breede. But ſince we are aſſured of this that they bring forth their young by the ſides of their Cells, as Waſpes and Bees, we need not doubt, but that they doe all other matter after their manner, and if they couple together, they doe it by night, as Cats do, or elſe in ſome ſecret corner, that Argus with his hundreth eyes can neuer eſpye it.

Hornets gather meate not from floures, but for the moſt part they liue vppon fleſh, whereby it commeth to paſſe, that you ſhall often finde them euen in the very dunghills, or other ordure. They alſo proule after great Flyes, and hunt after ſmall Byrdes, which when they haue caught into their clutches, after the manner of hungry Hawkes, they firſt wound them in the head, then cutting it aſunder, or parting it from the ſhoulders, carrying the reſt of the body with them, they betake themſelues to their accuſtomed flyght. The greater ſort of them dye in the hard winter, becauſe they ſtore not themſelues ſufficiently aforehand with any ſuſtenaunce as Bees doe, but make their prouiſion but from hand to mouth, as hunger enforceth them, as Aristotle enformeth vs. In like ſort Landius hath well obſerued, that Hornets both day and night keepe watch and Ward beſides the Hiues of Bees, and ſo getting vpon the poore Bees backs, they vſe them in ſtead of a waggon or carry age: for when the ſilly Bee laboureth to be diſcharged of his cruell Sytter: the Hornet when he hath ſucked out all his iuyce, and cleane bereft him of all his moyſture, vigour, and ſtrength, like an vnthankefull Gueſt, and the moſt ingratefull of all winged creatures, he ſpareth not to kill, and to eate vp his foſterate and chiefe maintainer.

They feede alſo vppon all ſweete, delicious, and pleaſant thinges, and ſuch as are not vntoothſome and bitter, and the Indian Hornets are ſo rauenous, and of ſuch an inſaſiate gluttony (as Ouidius reporteth) that they fly vpon Oyle, Butter, greaſie Cookes, all ſorts of ſharpe ſawce vſed with meates, and all moyſt and liquid thinges, not ſparing the very Napkins and Table clothes, and other linnen that is any way ſoyled, which they do filthily contaminate with the excrements of their belly, & with their Viſcous laying of their egges.

But as they get their liuing by robbery, and purloining of that which others by the ſweat of their browes, by their owne proper wits and inuention, and without the ayde & helpe of any do take great paines for: ſo againe they want not a reuenge to puniſh, & a prouoſt Marſhall to execute them for their wrongfull dealings: tearmed of ſome a Gray, Broch, Their vſes, or Badger, who in the full of the Moone maketh forcible entrance into their holes or lurking places, deſtroying and turning topſie-turuy in a trice their whole ſtocke, famile, and linage, with all their houſhold ſtuffe and poſſeſſions.

Neither do they onely miniſter foode to this paſſing, profitable, and fat beaſt, but they ſerue in ſtead of good Almanackes to country people, to foretell tempeſts and change of weather, as Hayle, Raine, and Snow: for if they flye about in greater numbers, and bee oftner ſeene about any place, then vſually they are wont, it is a ſigne of heate and fayre weather the next day. But if about twilight they are obſerued to enter often their neſtes, as though they would hide themſelues, you muſt the next day expect raine, wind, or ſome ſtormy, troubleſome or boyſterous ſeaſon: whereupon Auienus hath theſe verſes,

Sic & crabronum rauca agmina ſi volitare, Fine ſub Autumni conſpexeris athere longo, Iam veſpertinos primos cum commouet ortus, Virgilius, pelago dices inſtare procellam.

In Engliſh thus;

So if the buzzing troupes of Hornets hoarſe to flye, In ſpatious ayre bout Autumnes end you ſee, When Virgill ſtarre the euenings lampe eſpie, Then from the Sea ſome ſtormy tempeſt ſure ſhall be.

Furthermore, ſince it is moſt certaine that thoſe remedies which do heale the ſtingings Remedies againſt their ſtings. of Waſpes, do alſo help thoſe wounds and griefes which hornets by their cruell ſtinging cauſe, yet notwithwanding as Aggregator hath pronounced, the Zabor is the Bezoar, or proper antidote of his owne hurt, if he be oftentimes applyed with Vineger and Water, Oyle and Cow-dung tempered together. In like ſort all manner of ſoiles and earths that are myry and muddy, are much commended in this caſe, ſuch as Bacchus applyed to bald Selenus, who was wounded with Hornets, when longing for a little Hony, he iogged & ſhaked their neſts, thinking he had lighted vpon ſome Bees Hony, which Ouid moſt elegantly 3. Fastocum hath deſcribed in theſe verſes;

Millia crabronum coëunt, & vertice nud • Spicula defigunt, ora que prima notant. Ille cadit praeceps, & calce feritur aſelli: Inclamatque ſocios, anxilium que vocat. Concurrunt Satyri, turgentia que ora parentis Rident, percuſſo claudicat ille genu. Ridet & ipſe Deus, limumque inducere monſtras; Hic paret monitis, & linit ora luto.

In Engliſh thus;

Of Hornets thouſands on his head full bare, And on his face their poyſond ſpeares ſticke fast, Then headlong downe he fell, and Aſſes foot him ſmote, Whiles he for help his voyce to fellowes caſt, The Satyres flocke came runne apace, and did deride Their ſires ſwellen mouth, whiles Aſſe had made him lame, The God himſelfe did laugh, yet ſhewed an earth to hide The wound which he receiued, and ſo did heale the ſame.

If any one be deſirous of moe medicines againſt the perillous and tranſpeircing ſtinging of theſe horne-mad Hornets, he ſhall finde ſtore of them digeſted together in the Hiſtory of Waſpes: for their remedies are common, belonging as well to the one as to the other, there being no other difference but this, that here they muſt be giuen in a greater meaſure or quantity, and their vſe ought longer to be continued. And let this ſuffice to to haue ſpoken thus much of ſuch inſectes or Cut-waſted vermine as are winged, and liue in companies and routes together. Now will I make choyce to deſcribe ſuch as are winged and liue ſolitarily, leaſt I ſhould ſeem to loſe my ſelfe in this troubleſome and vaſt Ocean of Phyſicall contemplation.

❧ OF CANTHARIDES or Spaniſh Flyes.

THis kinde of Cut-waſt is called of the Graecians Kantharis, and among the Latines it changeth not his name. Of the Frenchmen Cantaride. Of the Italians Cantarella. Of the Spaniards Cubillo. Of the Germans Grüne Kefer, Goldkaefer. Amongſt the Belgies or Netherlanders, it is tearmed Spaenſche Vlieghe, and of vs Engliſh-men Cantharides, and Spaniſh Flyes. I haue ſeene two ſorts of Cantharides, the one great, and the other ſmall. Of the greater ſort ſome are thicke, and long bodyed, which are found among wheat, and theſe are thicke, groſſe, and vnwieldy like vnto Beetles, they are alſo of ſundry colours, and changeable hew, with Golden ſtreekes or lines croſſing their winges, and theſe are beſt to bee vſed in Phyſicke. They of the other leſſer kind, are leane and thinne ſcragges and ſtaruelings, broad, hairy, heauy, and ſluggiſh, and for phyſicall vſes little worth.

The greater ſort alſo are not alwaies of a gliſtering green colour, but otherwhiles you ſhall haue them ſomewhat reddiſh or murrey coloured, but yet all of them of a glittering brightneſſe, and maruellous ſhining gloſſe, piercing the eyes with ſinguler delight. The leſſer ſort are not ſo common as the greater, ſomewhat differing from them in ſhape and proportion of body, but in vertue, quality, and manner of breeding: there is no diſagreement at all to be found.

Thoſe of the leſſer ſort haue their bodies and heades ſomewhat long & hooked, theyr eyes very blacke, and hanging out, theyr winges growing out from the middeſt of their Loynes, beeing marked with tvvo Syluer ſpeckes or prickes, and ſome fewe vvhite ſpottes.

They are commonly found in the Summer ſeaſon, in the Hearbe that is called Cicutaria, or wilde Hemlocke. Their feete and Legges are very ſmall and long, finely decked and garniſhed, as it were with a Vermillion red, or beautifull purple. There is alſo another ſort of theſe anſwerable to the former, in colour of their bodies in euery reſpect, ſauing that their eyes are greene: their head very little; and the hinder part of their ſhoulders round and crooked.

The third ſort haue theyr Head and Shoulders all one, being ſo cloſely and confuſedly ioyned together, as if they were but one thing, and could not by any meanes bee ſeparated, vnleſſe in imagination, and theſe are of a ruſty colour, and their ſmall pinke eyes as blacke as Iette, their winges as well as their heades are nothing differing in colour, ſauing that their winges doe gliſter with ſome ſtrakes of the colour of Golde, their feete alſo are ſhort, and as blacke as Pitch.

The fourth is very like to the third ſort, but it is rather of a greeniſh, then of a ruſty Iron coulour, but in all other reſpects there is no difference to bee ſeene, ſauing in their magnitude, for this laſt deſcribed is the leaſt of them all. But th • ſe • indes of Cantharides as well the greater as the leſſer, doe firſt proceede not from any beaſtes, as ſome haue thought, but they rather take their Originall from ſome to ten, ſtinking, and corrupt moyſture and ſiccity, Ticteta • gar en tois toon puroon lei • is kai tais ageirais, kai tous Sukais proſeti to toon Kantharidoon phulon, the meaning whereof is, that the whole ſtocke and kindred of Cantharides doe bring foorth or lay their young in the vile, baſe, and imperfect force of heate or warmth: and further in moyſt Figges, as Aelianus in his ninth Booke and thirty nine Chapter, vvord for worde hath exſcribed out of Aristotle.

They doe alſo breede from a certaine little Worme which is found in the ſponge of the Dogge bryer (called of the Phyſitions Bedeguar) and from Catterpillets of the Figge-tree, Popler, Peare-tree, Aſhe, Oliue-trees and Roſes: for in all theſe there bee found certaine Wormes, the very Founders and Parentes of Cantharides, but yet in the white Roſe theſe Wormes are of much leſſer force, power, and ſufficiency, then in the former.

Cantharides doe couple together and generate, but yet not any liuing creature of their owne kind, but onely a little ſmall Worme. They feede vppon all manner of pulſe and Corne, but eſpecially Wheat, and then they are beſt for medicinall Vſes. They ſmell like vnto Tarre, and in their taſt they much reſemble the Cedar-tree, as Nicander reporteth. Their vertue and quality is to burne the body, to patch and to bring a hard ſeale or cruſtineſſe vpon any part they ſhall be applyed to, or as Dioſcorides ſayth, to gnaw or eate into, to rayſe bliſters, exulcerate and rayſe an inflammation, for which reſpect, they mixe them with ſuch medicaments as are apointed to heale Leproſies, any dangerous Tetters and Ring-wormes, or thoſe that be cancerous.

They are applyed to hard, Scuruy, or Mangy Nayles, beeing firſt tempered vvith ſome fit playſters or Cerotes tending to the ſame purpoſe, taking them ſo cleane away, that they fall of by the rootes. Some vſe alſo to temper them with ſuch conuenyent medycines as are warranted to take away Wartes, Cornes, or any hard knobbes or peeces of fleſh growing in the hands or feet. Some againe vſe to puluerife Cantharides, and then mixing them with Tarre, do make an Vnguent to cure the falling away of the hayre, or the ſhedding of it, eyther in the head or beard, but heerein there muſt bee good aduiſe required, leaſt at any time by their cauſticke faculty they exulcerate too deepe into the fleſh.

Cantharides mingled with Lime, ſerue in ſtead of a Pen knife to eradicate and take away thoſe little hard and red ſwellinges riſing chiefely in the Crowne of the head, armepittes, or priuy partes, called of ſome Phyſitions Pani: and ſome there bee againe that will aduenture a little of thē in powder, to giue with ſuch Medicines whoſe propertie is to prouoke Vrine: But yet there is hard hold and tough reaſoning on both ſides, whether they ought to be giuen inwardly with Dioretikes or no, conſidering that being ſo drunk, they are accounted amongeſt ſtrong poyſons, tormenting the Bladder without any ceaſing: otherſome againe hold the contrary, aſſuring vs vpon their owne experience, that not exceeding their due quantity, they may be taken with other Correctories, to ſerue as a Retricle to trāſport them to the place affected, ſo that you ſee either ſide hath his ſtrength and reaſons.

Iust a pari premitur veluticum pondere libra, Prona nec hac plus parte ſedet nec ſurgit ab illa.

That is to ſay;

As when an euen ſeale with equall weight is peized, Nor fals it downe this way, or is it that way raiſed.

But beeing mingled and wrought vppe with the iuyce of Vna Taminea, (which is a kinde of Berry, growing on the Hearbe called Ampelos angria, a kind of Bryonie) ſheeps or Goates ſewet, there is no doubt but that they doe great good. Some of my mayſters (ſaith Galen, the prince of all Phyſitions next to Hippocrates) did vſe to put Cantharides amongeſt ſuch medicines as they prepared to mooue vrine, taking onely their wings with the feete, but I (ſayth hee) am wont to take Cantharides wholy, as well as ſome partes of them, and ſo I iudge them the more ſafe to bee vſed and prepared this vvay, eſpecially I miſſe not to make choyce of ſuch as are found among Corne, and haue as it were a yellow circle or encloſure croſſing ouerthwart their wings, lib. 3. & lib. 11. de Simplic. facult.

Beeing applyed rightly, they doe alſo prouoke the monthly tearmes, and that very effectually, and put into Antidotes, they are thought of many to helpe Hydropicall perſons, as not onely Hippocrates and Dioſcorides, but alſo Gallen, Auicenna, Rhazes, Pliny, and other Phyſitions of beſt note and worth haue witneſſed: I cannot heere ſufficiently enough commend theyr aſſured, tryed, and approoued vſe, being commixed with Leauen, Salt, and Gumme Ammonialum, for the diuerſions of Rheumes or Catarrhes, the taking away of all goutiſh paines, out of the ha • ch or hippe (called the Sciatica of the Populer ſort,) whileſt they draw forth and donſume from the center of the body, (beeing there throughly and deepely impacted) to the ſurface the matter or offending humours cauſing theſe griefes aboue ſaid.

They are alſo good againſt the vemine of a Salamandra, as Pliny in his 29. Booke and 24. Chapter aſſuteth vs. They are alſo highly eſteemed of ſome, beeing duely prepared and orderly mixed with certaine other medicines, to take away and correct the remiſſe negligence, falling-faintneſſe, and heartleſſe caſting downe of the Virile part, yea they do (as they ſay) very much prouoke too venetous incitements.

But heere I would counſell each one not to bee to knack-hardy bold, in medling with them, for theſe or the like intentions for as they bring both health and helpe, being duly commixed, and orderly tempered, not exceeding their doſe and firſt quantity; ſo againe, if you faile in their due and skilfull applycation or propmation, they induce and driue men into moſt intollerable grecuous ſymptomes and accidents, and other whyles to death it ſelfe. Iohn Langius ſetteth downe a true and very pleaſaunt ſtory, which in this place, becauſe it maketh greatly for out matter in hand, I will not refuſe breefely to deſcribe it.

There was (ſaith he) at Bononie in Italy, a certaine rich and noble young man of France (which Gallus, to vſe his owne wordes, was Gallo quouis gallinaceo ſalacior) who falling extreamely in loue with a certaine Maide in the ſame Citty, preuayled ſo farre at length through his earneſt importunities and inceſſant ſollicitations, that at length they appointed and agreed vppon the time and place of their meeting, to keepe theyr Reuelles for one night. So this luſty Gallant beeing thus inſnared in the inextricable laborinth of her beauteous Phyſnomy, fearing deadly, leaſt his heart ſhould turne into Liuer, or that hee might faint and looſe his courage before hee ſhould attaine to his iournies end; in this his doubtfull coaping, and dangerous skirmiſhing-conflict, like a Wiſe-man fearing the worſt, caſting all dangers aforchand what might enſue, would needs know of a fellow Souldier, and Countrey-man of his, who hadde as one may gueſſe borne a ſtandard in the Campe of Venus, what were beſt to bee doone, to mooue him to a more vygorous courage, and to keepe his credit for that time, leaſt either he ſhould turne Crauen like an ouertyred Iade, or elſe bee vtterly non-ſuited which was worſt of all: who preſently wiſhed him to take ſome Cantharides in his Broath, which the other at all aduentures forthwith did.

But it was not long before this iolly Yonker felt an itching about his lower parts, then being frolike aboue meaſure, ſuppoſed it to bee the operation of his medicine that cauſed this Colt-euill, he without any more ado hyed him to his Loue, minding there indeed to draw the matter to a ſet battell, and to end all controuerſies by dynt of ſword.

Tunc animis opus, Aenea tunc pectore firmo.

In Engliſh thus;

Of courage then indeed, Then of ſtout breaſt is neede.

But yet for all this, in the ſtill of the night, when euery one beſides were at reſt, my reſtleſſe Franke ſelt his whole body to bee pockily torne, and miſerably rent with ſundry cruell prickinges and ſtinginges, feeling moreouer a ſtrange taſt in his mouth, like the iuyce or liquor that yſſueth from the Cedar-tree, ſtamping and ſtaring, raging and faring like a furious, madde, frantike Bedlam, being all moſt beſides himſelfe thorough the extreamity of his payne, vertiginy, and giddineſſe of his braine, with inclination to fainting or ſwounding: ſo beeing troubled, toſt, and perplexed, all ſad, melancholike and male-content, deſtitute of counſell and comforr, like a ſilly Miſer, and an impotent Suiter, and not like a couragious hot-ſpurre, hee let his action fall, turning his backe like a Nouyee and freſh-water Souldier, full ſore againſt his will you may bee ſure, but there was no remedy, and ſo with as much ſpeede as hee could, bidding his Loue adew, hee trudged home to his owne lodging; whether beeing come; and finding no reliefe, but rather an encreaſe of his tormentes, with a continuall burning of his Vrine and ſtrangury, hee lamentably beſought, and with weeping and teares moſt humbly craued and cryed out for helpe, requeſting the fauour and furtherance, both of my ſelfe and of another Phyſition for the cure: ſo I beeing admitted to viſit this poore patient, I firſt gaue him ſome Oyle to drinke, thereby to prouoke vomiting: then was there prepared a Glyſter, made of the Hearbes Mercurialis, Mallowes, and the rootes of Althaea decocted, wherein was diſſolued Caſsia, with Oyle of Violets and Lyllies. After the adminiſtring of this, I commanded him to take a good draught of Cowes or Goates milke once in euery houres ſpace, and if Milke could not be hadde, then I willed him to take an Almond, Milke made Exnucleis pinea, ſecdes of Mellons, Guordes, and Poppy bruiſed with the diſtilled Water of Mallowes, and Alkeakengy, and this would I haue giuen to him in good quantity in ſtead of the Milke if it were wanting.

But after that my fiery Frenchman hadde recouered his former health with theſe and the like remedies, and that the vnaduiſed Authour of this raſh counſell had very humbly intreated pardon at our handes for this his great fault, he proteſted ſolemnely with a great oath, that hee would neuer hereafter preſcribe any Phyſicke to any man lyuing.

Thus farre Iohannes Langius in his firſt Booke Epistela. Medicinal. forty eyght.

There is alſo very profitable vſe to bee made of Cantharides, for if you beate them to powder, and conuay a little of it into Apples, Peares, Plummes, Figges, Peaches, or Quinces: eſpecially thoſe that bee fayreſt and ripeſt, and thoſe that hang the loweſt, finely cloſing it vp againe with the pill, which if any Theeues or Robbers of Orchards ſhall taſt of, they fall within a while after into an intollerable burning in their Vrine and ſtrangury, making it onely in dropping-wiſe, whereby theyr theft is ſoone found out, and they well rewarded with ſowre Sawce for theyr ſweete meate: And this is an excellent night-ſpell, & therefore I was loth to pretermit it, but to make you acquainted withall.

There is alſo another excellent medicinall vſe of Cantharides, if they be duely, and according to true art adminiſtred, and with great warineſſe for that paſſionate grieuaunce, which at this time though ſome fooliſh Phyſitions neuer heard tell of any ſuch, I wil call Peſſuli infirmit as, yet I may not ſet it downe in Engliſh, becauſe I would haue but a few acquainted with ſecrets. Habeo enim ego ſingulare quoddam contra, penis Languorem remedium, quo cum promiſcuè vterer, vtranque multis nobilibus (qui veneris vulgo ſtudioſiores videntur) animos & vires adauxit abſque noxa. Vni tamen inter caeterosſic obfuit, vt à venere (cui nimium litârat) ſanguinem continuó mingeret, & lipoithymia frequenti laboret. Sanè niſi lactis copia in procinctu fuiſſet, omninò interijſſet venereus pullus, & meritas ſalacitatis cupidiniſ que paenas luiſſet.

And let this ſuffice to haue ſpoken of their medicinall vertues and qualities: Now will I proceede to tell you of their ill name, naughty, venemous, and pernitious properties. They are reckoned and ſcored vppe in the number of moſt deadly and hurtfull poyſons, not onely becauſe they cauſe eroſion and inflammation, but more in regard of their putrifactiue quality and making rotten, wherein they exceede. Their iuyce beeing taken into the ſtomacke, and ſo piercing into the veines, or layd vppon the skinne outwardly ſo long till it hath entred the veines, is a moſt ſtrong poyſon, whereupon Ouid when he wiſhed ill vnto, or curſed his enemy writ this: Cantharidum ſuccos dante parente bibas. lib. Triſt. Cicero ad Parum, in the ninth Booke of his familiar Epiſtles, hath theſe wordes, Ca •• s accuſante L. Craſſo, Cantharidas ſumpſiſſe dicitur, as if he purpoſed by that way to make an end of himſelfe by death. Galen in his third booke De Simplic. medicam. facult. writeth thus.

If they bee taken inwardly into the body, though but in ſmall quantity, and mixed with other conuenient correctories, they doe mightily prouoke vrine, and ſometimes corrode and fret the bladder, ſo that it is as cleare as the noone-day, that what thinges ſoeuer do ouerthrow nature, by reaſon of their extreame frigiditie, if they be taken but in a very ſmall quantity, yet will nouriſh the body: ſo on the other ſide, whatſoeuer is contrary, repugneth or goeth againſt humaine Nature, by meanes of corrupting or any putrifactiue quality like vnto Cantharides, can neuer do ſo. Bartholomeus Montegnana a learned Phyſition, aſſureth vs, that he once knewe one Francis Bracca a Cittizen of Paduay in Italy, who hauing but outwardly applyed Cantharides to his knee, yet their poyſon ſpreading to other inward parts, he voyded fiue pintes of bloud by way of vrine: and this may any man ſee, if he will take the paines to read ouer Montegnana Conſil. 182. Cap. 10.

The ſame accident hath alſo befalne them, who to be remedyed of rough, hard, mangy, or leproſ-like nailes, haue aduentured to apply them to their great toe. So that Cantharides muſt not raſhly be applyed and vſed, as common deceiuers, blind-empiricks, and couſening Land-lopers would make plaine countrey people beleeue. Pliny relareth a ſtory of one Coſsinus a Romaine Knight, who was deerely beloued of Nero the Emperour, who hauing a very dangerous Tettar (a diſeaſe in times paſt was peculiar to the people of Aegypt) a Phyſition of that countrey in ſtead of curing, did kill him by giuing him Cantharides to drinke.

But I ſhould rather thinke that Coſsinus dyed by the outward applycation of Cantharides, becauſe by their burning and cauſticke quality, they cleane eate and conſume away filthy Tetters or Ringwormes, Mangineſſe, ſcuruineſſe, Lepries, and all hard Callous warts, Cornes, or peeces of fleſh that grow in the handes or feete; for I can ſee no reaſon why any would bee ſo wilfully blinde, as to giue them inwardly for the curation of any Tetters or ſuch like griefes: or at leaſtwiſe I muſt thinke that the right vſe of Cantharides was vnknowne to the ancient Phyſitions of the old world, as by Galen it may appeare in his eleuenth booke de Simplic. Med. fac. and in his fourth booke de victa Acut.

The ſame Pliny (in his twenty nine booke and fortith Chapter) witneſſeth, that Cantharides were reprochfully layd to Cato vticenſis charge, and that hee was ſorely blamed for offering to make a price of poyſons, and to ſell them openly, as in port-ſaile to any that would giue moſt, ſo that their price roſe to threeſcore ſeſterties. Being drunke in too large a quantity, or elſe apply outwardly to any part, eyther too long or too deepe, they produce theſe or the like ſymptomes, accidents, and effects.

The party to whom they are any way giuen, feeleth apricking, paine and torment in his bowelles and inward partes, extending from the mouth downe to the lower partes about the Bladder, Raines, and the places about the Waſt and ſhort ribbes: they doc alſo vlcerate the bladder very dangerouſly, inflaming the yard, and all other partes neere the ſame with a vehement apoſtimation: after this, they piſſe bloud, and little peeces of fleſh.

Otherwhiles there will follow a great laske and a bloudy-flyxe, fainting and ſwounding, a numneſſe or dulneſſe of moouing or feeling, debilitation, our feebleneſſe of the mind, with alicnation of the wit, as though they were beſtraught, likewiſe lothing or abhorring of meate with a diſpoſition to vomiting, and often an ordinary deſire to make water, and to exonerate nature, but all in vaine. He that taketh them findeth in his mouth the taſt or tallage of pitch: and all theſe ſymptomes, paſſions, or effectes, that they work, haue I with much labour faithfully collected out of the ſixth booke of Dioſcorides, & the firſt Chapter. And out of Galen Lib. de Theriaca ad Piſonem Cap. 4. and lib. 3. de Temperam. cap. 3. And out of ancient Rhazes (who practiſed Phyſicke one hundreth yeares, if truth be truely related) Tit. 8. Chap. 17. If any one be either affected or infected with any accydents, by meanes of Cantharides, Dioſcorides doth thus cure them, as you may readily find in the booke and chapter before cited.

Firſt of all hee cauſeth them to vomit often and much: and after that hee preſcribeth Glyſters to bee made for the ſcouring of the belly with Niter, and to preſ • rue the bladder inwardly, to take Milke and Pſyllum: and then hee would haue the matter of Glyſters to be ſomewhat different from thoſe which were taken in the beginning; as namely to bee made of Barley Water, Marſh-Mallowes, the white of an Egge, the Muſciling of Line-ſeedes, Water of Ryce, the decoction of Fennigreeke, Hydromell, ſatte Broathes, Oyle of Almonds, the fat of a Gooſe, and the yelkes of Egges. And inwardly to take at the mouth, hee biddeth them to vſe Cowes Milke, Hydromell, the Graines or fruite of the Pitch-tree, both the greater and the leſſer ſort, Wine ſodde to the halfe, Duckes fatte, a decoction with ſome diureticall ſeedes (namely with the foure greater cold ſeeds, which are Cucumbers, Guords, Citruls, and Melons) and likewiſe ſome decoction made of Figges, with ſirup of Violets. Oyle of Quinces is hyely commended of ſome as a proper and ſpeciall Antidote in this caſe, and ſo is Oyle of Lillies, and Terra Samia.

Rhazes counſell is, after the taking of ſome Glyſters made of any fat broathes, to make an iniection into the yarde with Oyle of Roſes, and the ſicke perſon to ſit in a warme Bath. Tit. 8. Chapter 17. The Writers and Authours of Phyſicke and Phyloſophy cannot agree, in what part of the Cantharides theyr poyſon cheefely lurketh: for ſome will haue it to bee principally in the head and feete, and others againe will none of that: And yet they all agree vppon this poynt, that in what part of the body ſoeuer their poiſon is ſeated, that their winges are a ſoueraigne remedy and preſeruatiue, and if they bee wanting, that their poyſon is deadly: ſo that although they be neuer ſo poyſonous, yet haue they their owne remedy which in themſelues they containe and carry about: Thus ſaith Pliny in his eleuenth booke and 35 chapter.

And peraduenture for the ſame cauſe, Galen in his eleuenth Booke which hee entituled De Simplic. Medicament. facultatibus, aduiſeth vs expreſly and learnedly, that Cantharides ſhould be taken whole as they are, and ſo to be vſed either for inward or outward vſes. For why it is far better, euen in the outward applycation of them, that they ſhould more gently and ſlowly corrode, gnaw, or fret aſunder, and that their burning vertue and quality ſhould be a little corrected and weakened, then to performe their full effect to the great danger of the patient, and many times to his vtter vndoing and deſtruction. Therefore they are cleane out of the way, who when they wold vſe them for any inward cauſe, The error of 〈◊〉 medi •… -giuers. doe caſt away their winges and feete, whereas indeede they ought to take all of them, not reiecting any one part of them. For being giuen whole, they neede not ſo much any correctiues to bridle and leſſen their powerfull operation, in regard of their wings and feete, the proper reſiſters and expellers of their owne or other poyſon.

The ſafeſt courſe is to vſe all, and euery part of them without exception, vnleſſe you would haue them to corrode, fret, inflame, or burne any part. Lycus Neapolitanus is of opinion, that Purcelane is their proper counter-poyſon, which vertue Pliny in his twentith Booke, Chapter 13. aſcribeth to the Herbe called wilde Baſill: who alſo many waies commendeth Acetum Scylliticum, Oleum Oenanthium, Cowes milke and brothes made of Goates fleſh for theſe intentions, in his 23. Booke, Chapter the ſecond and fourth, and likewiſe in his 28. Booke and tenth Chapter. And for our Hiſtory of Cantharides, let this for this time ſuffice, which I much wonder that the famous learned Geſner hath in ſuch deepe ſilence paſſed ouer, neuer ſo much as mentioning them: whereof notwithſtanding ſo many Authours, both of the Auncientes and Neoterickes doe ſo much ring.

Many moe authorities could I haue alledged concerning this my diſcourſe of Cantharides, but that I ſuppoſed it a labour as endleſſe in toyle, as needleſſe in vſe; the one ſauoring of too much curioſity, the other of a fryuolous affectation: ſo that I hope euen amongeſt the whole Colledge of Phyſitions, whereſoeuer in England (if their eares be not to dainty) to find ſome few graynes of their good wordes, and ſuch curteous conſtruction, as that I may neither bee charged with partiality of concealing (where it is meete I ſhould be mute) nor be ſuſpected of vnſufficiency, for not purſuing where I can finde no good footing.

OF CATERPILLERS, OR PALMER Wormes, called of ſome Cankers.

NOw I am come to ſpeake of Caterpillers, ſometimes the deſtroiers and waſters of Egypt: as well in regard of the great differēce that is found in their ſeuerall ſorts, as for their great dignity and Their name. vſe, wherein ſome of them are moſt notable and excellent. Some thinke that Eruca, which is Engliſhed a Catterpiller, hath his deriuation Ab erodendo, which is not altogether improbable: For they gnaw of and conſume by eating, both leaues, boughes, and flowers: yea, and ſome fruits alſo, as I haue often ſeene in peaches.

Ouidius the famous Poet, ſtyleth them by the name of Tineae agrestes:

Quaque ſolent canis frondes intexere filis, Agreſtes Tineae, res obſeruata colonis, Feraci mutant cum papilione figuram.

In Engliſh thus;

And thoſe wilde mothes by husbandmen obſerued, Which fold themſelues in hoary ſpringing leaues, Gainſt force of famine, and ſtorme to be preſerued, A ſhape from fruitfull Butterflyes receiues.

The Graecians call a Catterpiller Kámpe, by reaſon of his crooked, winding or bending pace in wauing ſort, whereby in creeping they bow, wry, and lift vp themſelues. Of the Hebrewes it is termed Ghazain, becauſe it ſheareth, pilleth, & deuoureth the fruites of the earth, as Kimhi vpon the firſt of Ioell writeth. The Italians call it Rugauerme, and Brucho, for ſo Marcellus Virgilius vpon Dioſcorides ſaith expreſly, that in his time all the people of Italy, named it Erucae, Bruchi. The Spanyards terme it Oruga. The French-men, Chenille, and Chattpleuſe. Of the Engliſh they are commonly called Catterpillers, of what kind ſoeuer they be of. But the Engliſh-Northren-men, call the hairie Catterpillers, Oubuts, and the Southern-men vſually terme them Palmer-wormes. Of the Polonians it is called by the name of Ruphanſenka. In the Germaine tongue Ein Raup, in the Belgian, Ruipe. Of the Illerians Gaſienica. And Siluaticus will haue it called Certris, and Cedebroa.

If I ſhould goe about to deſcribe and ſet downe all the differences and varieties of Catterpillers, Their differences. I might perhaps vndertake an endleſſe and tedious labour. I thinke it therefore fitteſt to bend my ſlender skill, and to imploy my beſt forces, in ſpeaking of ſuch as are more notable and common with vs in this Country: For ſome of them in touching are rough, hard, and ſtiffe; and other-ſome againe, are ſoft, ſmooth, and very tender. Some are horned, either in the head or in the tayle, and againe, others haue no hornes at all. Some haue many feete, and ſome fewer, and none at all haue aboue ſixteene feete. Moſt of them haue a bending ſwift pace, and like vnto waues, and others againe keepe on their way very plainely, ſoftly, by little and little, & without any great haſt. Some change their skinnes yeerely, others againe there be that neither change nor caſt their old dry skinnes, but keepe them ſtill. Some of them ceaſing altogether from any motion, and giuing ouer to eate any thing at all, are transformed very ſtrangely into a kind of vermin or wormes, who beeing couered with a hard cruſt or ſhell, lye as it were dead all the winter; & from theſe come in the beginning of hot weather, our vſuall Butter-flyes.

Many of theſe Catterpillers are bred of the egges of Butter-flyes: and ſome againe do breede in the leaues of trees, of their owne proper ſeede, beeing left there in the time of Autumne, included in a certaine webbe, or els by meanes of the dew or ayre, therein ſhut and putrified, as commonly the little hairie Cankers or Caterpillers which are ſo full of feete, doe breede. Beſides, ſome of them doe feede on leaues, ſome on flowers, & there are ſome which deuoure fruites.

All ſmooth Catterpillers which are not hairie, are of a yellow or greene colour: ſome againe are found of a reddiſh colour, or browniſh, or elſe they be of ſundry hewes. But of all others, the moſt excellent is the greene coloured Catterpiller, which is found vppon that great buſhy plant, vſually termed Priuet, or Primprint, which hath a circle encloſing round both his eyes and all his feete, hauing alſo a crooked horne in his tayle: theſe Catterpillers are blackiſh-redde, with ſpots or ſtreakes going ouerthwart theyr ſides, beeing halfe white and halfe purpeliſh, the little pricks in theſe ſpots are inclining to redde: The reſt of theyr body is altogether greene.

There is another Catterpiller feeding altogether vpon Elder-trees, not much differing from the former, ſauing that this is altogether of a greene colour, & wanting thoſe ouerthwarting croſſe white markes or ſpots, and the other ſmall white pricks which we deſcribed in the former.

There is alſo a third ſort of greene Catterpillers, which when Autumne or the fall of leafe draweth on, are turned into a certaine ſheath or caſe, beeing of a very hard and hornie ſubſtance, of colour very browne, and this feedeth altogether vpon pot-herbes, eſpecially thoſe that be ſoft, as Lettuce: wherevpon it may not vnfitly be termed, Eruca Laotucaria.

Laſtly, there is to be ſeene another ſort, of a greene colour, which is the leaſt of them all, and this kind liueth and feedeth vpon trees, (eſpeciall in the Oke) there drawing out theyr webbe, by meanes of which beeing ſtyrred and ſhaken, they eaſily fall downe vpon the heads of trauaylers and paſſengers by the way ſide, cleauing to their hats & garments. And this kind of Catterpiller is too well knowne and found in the Sommer-time, and when cold weather approacheth, they fold themſelues into a rude, plaine, & nothing curious web. And thus beeing included in a greeniſh ſcabbard or caſe tending to redde, they all die in Winter, and all theſe haue tenne feete, as all they haue that goe bending themſelues vpwards. But to leaue the greene, and come to them that are yellow, there is to be found a certaine Catterpiller called Vinula, being as the word ſoundeth, a very elegant & fine inſect to looke vpon, and paſſing beautifull: & this kind haue I often found amongſt Willowes, full ſauourly feeding vpon theyr leaues. His lyps and mouth are ſome-what yellow, his eyes blacke as a cole, his fore-head purple coloured, the feete and hinder part of the body, of a greene graſſie hue, his tayle two-forked, and ſome-what blacke. The whole body is as it were ſtained and dyed with thicke Red-wine, which runneth alongſt the necke and ſhoulders blades, as it were in forme of a Burgonian croſſe, or of the Letter X made croſſe-wiſe downe vnto the tayle with a white line, addeth no ſmall grace to the other parts.

There is yet another Catter-piller of yellow-blackiſh colour, called Porcellus, we may in Engliſh call it Pigges-ſnoute, in reſpect of the faſhion of the head, eſpecially the greater ſort of theſe, for the leſſer haue round white ſpecks vpon their ſides, and theſe liue and are altogether to be found amongſt the leaues of the Marſh Trifolie, which they conſume & deuoure with an incredible celeritie. In the wilde Night-ſhade, (which the Italians call Belladona) there is found a ſmooth Catterpiller, of a yellow-greeniſh colour, hauing a horne in his fore-head the length of a finger, which Hierom Cardan the learned Phiſitian, reporteth that he had often ſeene.

The hayrie Catterpillers are moſt miſchieuous and dangerous amongſt them all, and theſe are eyther thicke or thinne hayred, and the moſt venomous is that which is called Pityocampe, whoſe byting is poyſon: and this is euer found in the Pine-apple-tree, beeing The deſcription of Piryocamp • es. as thicke as three little fingers, and three fingers long beeing layd a-croſſe. They conſiſt of eleuen ſlyts or cuts betwixt the head and the tayle, and they haue ſixteene feete, according as all other hayrie Palmer-wormes haue. That is to ſay, neere the head on both ſides, three, in the middeſt of their body on both ſides, foure, and at the end of the tayle on both ſides, one. Their former feete are crooked and ſmall, with which they feele, try and aſſay the way whether it be paſſable or no, theyr other feete are broader, with many iagges and notches like a ſavve, to take the faſter hold, and ſtay with ſurer footing vppon ſmooth and ſlippery leaues. Their head is much like a Piſmires, and the reſt of their bodies like other common Catter-pillers. They are rough, & full of briſtly ſtanding vp hayres on all ſides, and thoſe in theyr ſides are white, but thoſe on their backes doe ſhine, beeing very bright and gliſtering, the midſt whereof is garniſhed with many ſpots, as though it were full of eyes.

Their skinne is blacke, which is ſoone ſeene, their hayres beeing cut or taken cleane away. All their hayres are but ſmall, and yet they ſting more vehemently then any nettle, whereby is cauſed intollerable paine, burning, itching, a feauer, and much diſquietneſſe: when as their poyſon is ſuddenly in a moment, ſent and conueighed without any manifeſt apparance, or ſence of any wound to be iudged by the eye, vnto thoſe parts that are next to the entralls, as the harr, liuer, and the reſt. They weaue their webs after a fine and exquiſite manner, as Spyders do, drawing out in length, framing and trimming in good order, their hayrie ſmall threads. And vnder theſe when night draweth on, they lye, as in their own proper tent and pauillion, aſwell to auoyde cold, as the diſcōmodities of futious blaſts & ſtormes: for the matter & ſubſtance of this their tent is ſo handſomely wrought, ſo firme, ſtiffe, clammy & ſure, that they neither care for furious winds, nor yet any raine or ſtorme will euer ſoke thorow. Beſides, the largenes of this houſe is ſuch, and of ſo great receit, as it will eaſily receiue and lodge many thouſands of Caterpillers. They make their neſts or buildings in the higheſt branches of the Pitch and Pine-trees, where they liue not ſolitarily (as other Palmer-wormes do) but in flocks or cōpanies together. Which way ſoeuer they take their iourny, they are ſtill ſpinning & drawing out their threds for theyr web, and early in the morning (if it be likely to proue faire) the younger ſort by heapes attend the elder, & hauing firſt bared & robbed the trees of all their boughes & leaues, (for they make cleane riddance of all where-ſoeuer they come) they afterwardes dexterouſlie bend thēſelues to their weauing craft. They are the only plague & deſtruction of pitch & Pine-trees, for vnto any other roziny or gummy trees they neuer doe harme.

There is great plentie of them to be found in the Mountaine of Athos, ſcituate betwixt Macedonia and Thrace, in the woods of Trident, and in diuers valleyes beyond the Alpes, in which places there is ſtore of theſe fore-named Trees, (as Matthiolus ſaith.) They are doubtleſſe moſt poyſonous and venomous vermine, whether they be cruſhed outwardlie with the hands, or taken inwardly into the body: yea they are ſo knowne, manifeſt, and ſo neuer fayling a poyſon, & ſo eſteemed of in times paſt, as that Vlpian the famous Lawyer, interpreting the Law Cornelia De Sicarijs, or priuie murtherers, that he in that place, calleth and eſteemeth the giuer of any Pityocampie in drinke or otherwiſe to any one, to be doomed a murtherer, and their puniſhment to be equalized. Sect. Alium. ff. ad Leg. Corn. de ſie.

As ſoone as this kind of Catterpiller is receiued into the body, there followeth immediatly a great paine, extreamely tormenting the mouth and palate; the tongue, belly, and ſtomacke are grieuouſly inflamed by their corroding, and gnawing poyſonous qualitie, beſides the intollerable payne the receiuer feeleth, although at firſt the partie ſeemeth to feele a certaine pleaſant itching, but it is not long before hee perceiueth a great burning within, loathing and deteſting of meate, and a continuall deſire to vomit and goe to the ſtoole, which neuertheleſſe hee cannot doe. At length, vnleſſe ſpeedy ſuccour be giuen, they ſo miſerably burne and parch the body, that they bring a hard cruſtines, skurffe or ſcald vpon the ſtomacke, as though the ſides thereof had beene plaiſtered with ſome hard ſhardes, or other like thinges, after the manner of Arſenicke, as Dioſcorides, Aetius, Pliny and Celſus doc aſſure vs. In like manner Galen in his eleuenth booke Simp. cap. 50. And Auicen 505. cap. 25. haue teſtified the ſame.

And for this cauſe Aetius and Aegineta doe ſay, that it is nothing wholeſome for any to ſit downe to meate, to ſpread the Table, or make any long tariance vnder any Pine tree, leaſt peraduenture through the ſauour or ſmell of the meates, the reeke or vapour of their broathes, or noyſe of men, the Pityocampies beeing diſturbed from theyr homes and vſuall reſting places, might fall downe either into their meates beneath, or at leaſt-wiſe caſt downe, or let fall any of their ſeede, as poyſonous as themſelues. They that receiue hurt by them, muſt haue recourſe to thoſe preſeruatiues and medicines, as were preſcribed to thoſe that were poyſoned by Cantharides, for by them they are to be cured, and by no other meanes. Yet for all that, oyle of Quinces is properly commended to vomit withall in this caſe, which muſt be taken twiſe or thriſe, euen by the preſcript of Dioſcorides and Aetius. They are generated, or to ſpeake more aptly, they are regenerated (after the maner of Vine-fretters, which are a kind of Catterpillers, or little hayrie wormes with many feete, that eate Vines when they begin to ſhoote) of that Autumnall ſeede of theirs, left & reſerued in certaine ſmall bagges or bladders within their webbes.

There is another ſort of theſe Catterpillers, who haue no certaine place of abode, nor yet cannot tell where to find theyr foode, but like vnto ſuperſtitious Pilgrims, doe wander and ſtray hither and thither, (and like Miſe) conſume and eate vp that which is none of their owne: and theſe haue purchaſed a very apt name amongſt vs Engliſhmen, to be called Palmer-wormes, by reaſon of their wandering and rogiſh life, (for they neuer ſtay in one place, but are euer wandering) although by reaſon of their roughnes and ruggednes, ſome call them Beare-wormes. They can by no meanes endure to be dyeted, and to feede vpon ſome certaine herbes and flowers, but boldly and diſorderly creepe ouer all, and taſt of all plants and trees indifferently, and liue as they lift.

There are ſundry other ſorts of theſe Cankers or Catterpillers to be found, in the herbes called Craneſ-bill, Ragwort, Petie-Mullen, Hoppes, Coleworts, Haſells, Marigolds, Fenell, Lycorice, Baſill, Alder, Night ſhade, Water-Betony, Garden-ſpurge, & other ſorts of that herbe; in Elme-trees, Peare-trees, Nettles, and Gilliflowers. Yea there is not any plant to be found, which hath not his proper and peculiar enemy and deſtroyer: all which becauſe they are ſo commonly knowne of all, though perhaps not of all obſerued, I will, (leaſt I ſhould ſeeme to be infinite,) paſſe ouer with ſilence. But yet I will adde a word or two of a ſtrange and ſtinking Catter-piller, which it was neuer my hap as yet to ſee, deſcribed by Corradus Geſner, in theſe wordes following. This ſtinking Catterpiller (ſaith he) is very like to thoſe that are horned, but yet it wanteth hornes, differing frō them all in colour. I firſt eſpyed it creeping vpon a wall toward the end of Auguſt. Anno. 1550. there commeth from it a lothſome and an abhominable ſauour & ſmell, ſo that you would verily beleeue it to be very venomous. It went forwards very frowningly, & with a quick, angry, and deſpightfull countenaunce, as it were in bending wiſe, the head alwaies ſtretched vp aloft with the former two feete: I iudge her to be blind. She was the length and breadth of a mans finger, with a fewe ſcattering and rugged hayres, ſomewhat briſtly & hard both on her backe and ſides, the backe was very blacke. The colour of her belly and ſides was ſome-what redde, enclining to yellow, and the whole body was diſtinguiſhed, deuided, and eaſily diſcerned with foureteene ioynts or knots, and euery ioynt had a certaine furrow like a kind of wrinckle running all along the back. Her head was blacke and ſome-what hard: her mouth crookedly bending like hookes, hauing teeth notched like a ſaw, and with theſe teeth as with pincers or nyppers, whatſoeuer ſhe layd hold on, ſhe (as famiſhed) did bite. She went on ſixteene feete, as for the moſt part all the ſorts of Palmer-wormes doe. Without doubt, ſhe muſt be concluded to be exceeding venomous.

The learned man Vergerus, tooke it to be a Pityocampe, and others thought it a Scolopendra: but that could not be, by reaſon of the number of her feete. I could hardly with much adoe endure her vyle ſmell, till I had drawne out her deſcription. Shee ſo infected two hot-houſes with her abhominable ſauour and ſtinke, that my ſelfe and they that were with me, could not endure in the place. Thus farre Geſner, as I haue to ſhew out of certaine ſcroles of paper of his, neuer as yet imprinted.

Now will I proceede to diſcourſe of the originall, generation, aliment, and metamorphoſis of Catterpillers.

Chare liber noſtrûm test is benefide laborum, Ne tua purpureo ſuffuderis or a rubore Agrestes abacis tine as ſi expreſſere noſtris, Vermiculoſ que leuem qui in the cam vellera mutant. Hi ſiquidem artificis prudenti pollice Dij Finguntur, tenui qui non tenuatur opella Et qui vermiculis, dextrae miranda potentis Signa ſuae prodit, potius quám corpore vaſti Molifero Barnhi, tumido vel robore Ceti Equam antiſ que alijs, qui lata per aequoratentant Fulmine as ſine mente minas: et noſtra profundo Lintea quá mergant, large mare gutture ructant.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

Deere Booke, a witnes of my labour true, Be not aſhamed to write of little wormes, Nor Catterpillers, which from baſe things enſue, And into eaſie caſes againe returnes: For theſe are fram'd by hand of GOD moſt wiſe, Neuer abaſed in any worke ſo ſmall: For out of Wormes his wonders doe ariſe, As well as from great beasts ſo tall. Tower-bearing Elephant, huge Whale, And other monſters ſwimming in the Seas, Irefull beasts, in hills and deepest dale, Death threatning to all that them diſpleaſe.

For ſo I thinke it beſt to beginne with the verſes of a good Poet, who indeede did ſee and admire the inſcrutable wiſedome and diuine prouiden •• of the Almightie, in the generation and breeding of Catterpillers. Which whilſt diuers Authours laboured to expreſſe and ſet downe diuerſly, I knowe not what clowdes of errors they haue thruſt vs into; for ſwaruing themſelues beſides the way, although they pretend a matchleſſe vnderſtanding in theſe miſteries of Phyloſophy, they haue cauſed others to tread awry as much as themſelues, and to be blinded with the maſcarados of abſurdities. And firſt, if we will beginne to rifle in the monument of former times, I will heere produce Ariſtotles opinion in his fifth booke, Hiſtor. cap. 19. who there expreſly ſaith, that they take their beginning from the greene leaues of herbes, & namely of Radiſh and Coleworts, by meanes of their ſmall ſeede of generation, beeing like vnto Millit-ſeede, which is there left about the end of Autumne, from which, femall wormes proceede: and of theſe little wormes in the ſpace of three dayes a Catterpiller is formed, about the Spring time, or toward the latter end thereof, which growing to their due quantitie, and well fedde withall, they ceaſe at length from any further motion, & when Autumne beginneth, they change both forme and life.

Pliny is of this mind, that Catterpillers fetch all their pedegree, raſe, parentage & birth, from a dew thickned and incraſſated by the heate of the Sunne, and ſo ſtill left behind in leaues: and Arnoldus de Villa noua is of the ſame iudgement. Otherſome deriue them wholy from Butter-flyes, and will haue them to proceede of no other beginning, which as ſoone as they are crept out of their hard ſhells or ſcabbards, wherein they had lien as it were dead all the Winter, as ſoone as Summer & warme weather draweth on, they caſt certaine egges eyther vnder or aboue the leaues of certaine herbes, which egges according to the quantitie of their bodies, are either greater or leſſer, and ſome of theſe ſhelles wherein they are included, are of a skye colour; others yellow, white, blacke, greene, or redde: and ſo beeing at length about foureteene dayes quickned and nouriſhed with the liuely and kindly heate of the Sunne, their ſhell-houſe beeing broken, firſt commeth forth ſmall Catterpillers, like vnto little wormes, ſauing that they are diuerſly coloured, who at their firſt appearance, beeing as it ſhould ſeeme very hungry, doe altogether bend themſelues to deuoure and eate vp both leaues and flowers, eſpecially of thoſe trees and plants, whereon they were whilſt they were in egges.

But I am of opinion; that not onely this, but by diuers other wayes and meanes they may proceede and increaſe, for although the doctrine of Aristotle in this poynt ſeemeth to be vnſauoury, and nothing reliſhing diuers taſtes, becauſe hee affirmeth that that little worme which is found vpon Coleworts, doth turne into a Catterpiller: yet for all that, it is not ſo much without ſmack of ſalt, or ſo abhorrent to reaſon as they would make ſome beleeue. For Nature, as ſhee is able, and doth produce and bring foorth a liuing creature from an egge, ſo likewiſe from a worme ſhee breedeth a more perfect liuing creature, by many degrees; and that not by way of corruption, but by way and meanes of her excellent perfection. For although a worme afterwards be not that thing which before it was, (ſo farre as is apparant to outward ſence) yet for any thing we can gather or perceiue, it is that which it was, and this That, is more by a great deale now, then before it was. For a worme dyeth not, that a Catterpiller may therby ſpring, but to the old body, Nature addeth a greater magnitude: as for example, feete, colours, winges: ſo that whilſt life remaineth, it acquireth other parts, and other offices.

There be ſome alſo that deride the opinion of Pliny, becauſe hee contendeth that Catterpillers haue their beginning and production from dew. But it may not be denyed in my conceit, that ſome imperfect ſmall creatures, are bred and take life from dew, and not without great reaſon. For the Sunne by his kindly heate and warming qualitie, worketh and acteth, beeing as it were the forme, and the moiſture or humour is Paſsiue, as the matter or ſubiect for the heate of the ſunne is different from that of the fire: for it eyther quickneth and inſpireth with life, or at leaſt-wiſe conſerueth and maintaineth our life, by meanes of likenes, proportion, or ſymmetry, wherein our liues and ſpirits reſpect each other. Beſides, there is nothing more nouriſhing then Dew, for with it onely ſome certaine ſmall creatures are fedde, and doe thereby liue: which thing the diuine Poet verie well obſerued, when he vttered theſe words; Quantum nos nocte reponit.

So that in reſpect that it is humour, it is matter, in reſpect it is thin, it pierceth and eaſily entereth in, and in reſpect it is attracted and throughly concocted by the Sunne, it is the apter made to generation. For the preparation of the forme, carrieth with it the matter or ſtuffe, as his mate & companion: So theſe two meeting together, there cōſequently followeth the quickning or taking life of ſome one creature. And not onely are ſome Catterpillers the of-ſpring and breed of dew, as common experience can witneſſe, but euen the greateſt part of Catterpillers do fetch their ſtocke and pedegree from Butter-flyes, vnleſſe it be thoſe that liue vpon Colewarts and Cabbages, and thoſe that are called Vine-fretters, with ſome few other. For thoſe that liue and breede in Vines, (called of the Graecians Ipes,) doe proceede from dew, or ſome dewie and moyſt humour, which is included in their webbes, and there growne to putrefaction. For then doe they ſwarme ſo exceedingly in ſome countryes, as I dare neither affirme, nor otherwiſe imagine, but that they muſt needes haue ſuch a mighty encreaſe from putrefaction. And this for the moſt part happeneth when the Eaſterne wind bloweth, and that the warmth of the ayre furthereth and haſteneth forwards any corruption.

All the whole packe of them are great deſtroyers and deuourers of herbes and Trees: where-vpon Philippis the Paraſite, as Athenaus ſayth in Pythagoriſta, braggeth of himſelfe in this wiſe, Apòla • ſathumon lachanonte kampe. Veſcens thyme • lere que eruca ſum. I am (ſaith he) a Catterpiller that eateth both Tymbe & pot-herbs. And to this ſence ſpeaketh Martiall, Erucam malé paſcit hortus vnam. A Garden hardly and ſlenderly can ſuffiſe to feede one Catterpiller. I thinke he meaneth, when the time of their waſting and deuouring is gone and paſt, for they commonly leaue but little behind. For that beeing paſt, they goe wandering hither and thither, vp and downe vncertainely, waſted and hunger-ſtarued, and ſo at length pyning away by little and little through famine, ſome ſeeke them fit places within, other-ſome aboue the earth, where they transforme themſelues, eyther into a bare and empty bagge or caſe, or hanging by a thred into an Aurelia couered with a membrane.

If this happen in the midſt of Sommer, the hardrind or ſhell wherein they are encloſed beeing broken, about the time of 24. dayes, there flyeth out a Butterflye: but if it come to paſſe in the midſt, or toward the end of Au • umne, the Aurelia continueth a whole vvinter, neither is there any excluſion before the vernall heat. And yet notwithſtanding, all Catterpillers are not conuerted into Aureliaes, but ſome of thē being gathered & drawne together on a heape (as the Vine-fretters) do growe at length to putrefaction, from which ſometimes there falleth as it were three blackiſh egges, the true and proper mothers and breeders of Flyes and Cantharides. When the Butterflyes doe ioyne together very late, or after the time it ought to be, they doe lay or caſt theyr egges which will continue vitall, and that may liue till the next Spring, (if a diligent care be had of them) as well as is often ſeene in Silke-wormes, whoſe egges the Spanyards ſell, and that very vſually by vvhole ounces and pounds. I haue now according to my cunning, diſcourſed of the tranſmutations and variable changes of Catterpillers, it followeth next that I write of the qualities and vſe of Catterpillers, together with thoſe preſeruatiues which experienced Phiſitians haue warranted for true and infallible.

All Catterpillers haue a burning qualitie, and ſuch as will readily fetch of the skinne, and flea it quickly, and rayſe bliſters. If any one drinke the Catterpiller that liueth in the Their qualities. Pytch-trees, there will forth-with follow a great paine about his mouth and iawes, vehement inflamation of the tongue, ſtrong griping and wringing of the ſtomacke, belly and inteſtines, with a ſenſible itching about the inward parts, the whole body is as it were burned and ſcalded with heate & hot vapours, & the ſtomack abhorreth all meate: all which are to be remedied with the ſame meanes, as thoſe that haue taken Cantharides. Yet properly, (as here-to-fore I haue touched) oyle of Quinces giuen to cauſe vomiting, is the beſt and ſafeſt. And if we may credit Pliny, new Wine boyled to the third part, and Covves milk being drunk, are very effectuall. There is not any one ſort of Catterpillers, but they are maligne, naught, and venomous, but yet they are leaſt hurtfull who are ſmooth and without hayres; and the moſt dangerous of all the reſt, is that which heeretofore I termed a Pityocampe, whoſe poyſon for the moſt part is deadly.

The daughter of Caelius Secundus liuing at Baſill in Germany, (as Geſner ſaith) when ſhee had vnwarily and greedily eaten ſome Colewort-leaues, or Cabbage in a Garden, and with them ſome Catterpillers, after a ſtrong vomit that was giuen, her belly beganne to ſwell, which ſwelling, hauing continued theſe many yeeres, could neuer as yet receiue any cure. If you will haue your Gardens and Trees vntouched and preſerued from their miſch • euous qualitie, you muſt firſt take cleane away in the winter-time their webbes, or any part thereof (though neuer ſo little) that you can find cleauing to the bare boughes: for if you let them alone till the Spring, you ſhall ſooner ſee them, then find them remooued, for in a ſhort ſpace of time, they deuoure vp all that is greene both leaues & flowers. Some vſe to annoynt their Trees with the gall of a greene Lizard, and ſome with a Bulls gall, which as ſome conſtantly report, they can by no meanes away withall.

The Country-people choke them with the vapour of a little Brimſtone, with ſtraw being fired vnder the Tree, and ſo to ſmother them. Some there be, that make a fumigation with Galbanum, Harts-horne, the ſhauings of Iuory, and Goates-hoofes, and Oxe-dung. Didymus in Georgicis ſaith, that if you bare the rootes of your trees, and be-ſmeare or ſoyle them with Doues-dung, they ſhall neuer be hurt by any wormes.

I ſhould willingly haue omitted, and not renewed with any freſh diſcouery Columellaes remedy againſt Catterpillers, (or rather the immodeſt dece • t, and deluding tricke of Democritus,) vnleſſe experience, which is, Iterata eiuſdem eventus obſeruatio, a repeated obſeruation of the ſame euent, had approoued the verity thereof, eſpecially in the Country of Stiria. And Palladius in his firſt booke, chap. 35. and Conſtantinus neere the end of his xj. and xij. Bookes, whoſe wordes be theſe.

At ſinulla valet medicina repellere pestem, Dardaniae veniunt artes, nudata que plantas Faemina, quae just is tum demum operata juventae Legibus, obſcaeno manat pudibunda cruore, Sed reſoluto ſinus, reſoluto maest a capillo Ter circum areolus, et ſepem ducitur horti: Quae tum lustravit gradiens (mirabile viſu) Non aliter decuſſapluit quam ex arbore nimbus, Vel Teretis mali, vel tectae cortice glandis, Voluitur ad terram distorto corpore campe.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

But when no medicine can that plague expell Then vſe they Arts, which once the Troyans found A woman which had virgin-lawes obſerued well, Her, bare and naked bring they to the ground, Flowing with Natures ſhamefull filthy blood: Her boſome open, and her hayre vntrimmed falling Like one ore'prest with griefe, forgetting good, Three times about the plots and hedges walking. Which done, a wonder tis for to be told, As rayne drops from the trees, type apples fall, Wallnuts out of huskes: ſo caſt you may behold Theſe wormes from trees, all torne, and cannot crall.

Theophraſtus ſaith, that Catterpillers will touch no plants which are moiſtened or beſprinckled with Wine. They will die if they take the fume, or be any way ſmoaked with the herbe Pſora. Aetius. Whereby it is apparant (ſaith Siluius) that the herbe commonly termed Scabioſe, is not the true Pſora. Catterpillers that liue and feede on Coleworts, if they be but touched with that kind of worme which is found in the Fullers Teaſell, they die. Pliny. All to beſprinkle a Colewort whilſt it hath but onely three leaues, with Niter, or with ſaltiſh and briniſh earth, and by meanes of the ſaltneſſe, the Catterpillers vvill be quite driuen away. Geopon. Palladius in this caſe preferreth the aſhes of Figge-leaues. The Sca-onion called Squilla, beeing ſowne or hanged vp in Gardens, hindereth the breeding of Catterpillers. Otherſome in the moſt places of their Gardens, and round about them, ſow and ſet Mints, the pulſe called Orobos, which is ſomewhat like Vetches, and ſome worme-wood, or at leaſt-wiſe hang them in bunches in diuers places of the ſame, to expell this kind of noyſome creature.

Some very aduiſedly take dry leaues & ſtalks of Garlicke, & with the ſame doe ſmoke and perfume their whole Garden, ſo that by this way the ſmoke being conuayed into all places thereof, the Catterpillers will fall downe dead, as Palladius hath written, in whoſe writings, any man may read of plenty of ſuch antydots and alexipharmicall medicines, as may ſerue to deſtroy Catterpillers.

Now will I ſpeake of their vſe in Phiſicke, and in the Common-wealth. The webbe of Catterpillers beeing taken inwardly, ſtayeth womens fluxes, as Matthiolus ſaith. Beeing likewiſe burnt and put into the noſtrells, it ſtancheth bleeding at the noſe. The Catterpillers Theyr vſe in Ph • acke. that are found amongſt the herbes called Spurges of all ſorts, (by the iudgement of Hippocrates) are notable for putulent and mattrie wombes, eſpecially if they be firſt dryed in the Sunne, with a double quantity of earth-wormes, and a little Anny-ſeed finely powdered, and ſo all of them to be relented, and taken in ſome excellent White-wine. But in caſe they feele any heauines or aking in the belly after the taking of this Medicine, then it were good to drinke a little Mulſe therevpon. This ſayth Hippocrates in his booke De ſuperfoetat.

Di • ſcorides in his firſt booke and 90. chapter, giueth in drinke thoſe common Catter-pillers that liue in companies together, againſt the diſeaſe called the Squinſie. But vnleſſe by ſome hidde and ſecret property, they doe good in this griefe beeing receiued inwardly, it were needfull (in regard of their manifeſt venomous nature) that they were vtterly reiected & contemned. Nicander vſeth them to prouoke ſleepe, for thus he writeth, Ei de ſúge tripſas oligo en bammati kampen Kepeien droſoeaſtan epi chloreida noto. &c.

Which Hieremias Martius hath thus tranſlated.

Quod ſi rodentes olus et frendentia vermes (Lueva quibus virides depingunt terga colores) In medio ſacra de Palladis arbore ſucco Triveris, hinc que tuum colleveris vndi que corpus, Tuta dabis dulci ſecurus membra quieti.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

With herbe-eating, or greene-leafe-gnawing wormes, Whoſe backs imprinted are with colours liuely greene, All bruiſed, mixed with iuyce from Pallas tree that rumes, Annoynted body brought to ſound ſleepe is often ſeene.

There are to be ſeene in diuers thornie, pricklie, ſharpe and rough herbes, (as for example in Nettle) ſundry hairie or lanuginous Catterpillers, which beeing tyed or hanged about ſome part of the body, do by and by (as the report goeth) heale thoſe infants which haue any ſtopping of the meates paſſage when they cannot ſwallow.

A Catterpiller bree-ding in pot-herbes, beeing firſt bruiſed and then annoynted vpon any venomous bytings of Serpents, is of great efficacie: and if you rubbe a naughtie or a rotten tooth with the Colewort-catterpillers, and that often, within a few dayes following, the tooth will fall out of his owne accord. Auicenna. Catterpillers mixt with oyle, doe driue away Serpents. Dioſcorides. If a man annoynt his hands, or any other part with oyle, it will cauſe that hee ſhall receiue no hurt by the ſtinging of Bees, VVaſpes, or Hornets, as Aetius ſayth. Pliny cyteth many fond and ſuperſtitious fained matters, and lying tales, deuiſed by thoſe who in his time were called Magi, Soothſayers or Diuiners, concerning the admirable vertues of Catterpillers. All which, becauſe I ſee them hiſſed out of the Schoole of Diuinitie, and that in hart ſecretly I haue condemned them, I will at this time let them paſſe without any further mention.

They are alſo a very good meate to diuers byrdes and fowles, which are ſo needful for the vſe, benefit, and foode of man-kinde, as to Starlings, Peacocks, Hennes, Thruſhes, Dawes or Choughes: and to ſundry fiſhes likewiſe, as to the Tench, Pike or Pikerell, & to a certaine Sea-fiſh called a Scorpion: alſo to the Troute, and ſome others, who are eaſily deceiued with a Catterpillerd hooke. VVhich kind of fiſhing fraude, if you would better be inſtructed in, I muſt referre you to Tarentinus in his Geoponicks, and to a little booke dedicated to Robert Dudley, late Earle of Leiceſter, written by Ma: Samuell Vicar, of Godmancheſter in Huntingtonſhiere.

It is not to be paſſed ouer in ſilence, how that not many yeres ſince, there came infinite ſwarmes of Catterpillers out of Thrucia into Polonia, Hungaria, and beyond the lymits of Germany, which did not onely deuoute the fruites of trees, but whatſoeuer was greene either in the medowes & tilled fields, beſides the Vines: which was taken for an euident prognoſticke and ſigne (as many diuined) of ſome great Turkiſh Armie to come ſwarming into thoſe parts: neither herein did this their geſsing and miſtruſt deceiue them, for the next yeere following was the ſiedge of Vienna in Austria, the waſting, ſpoyling and ouer-running of Hungaria, and the deadly Engliſh-Sweating could not containe it ſelfe in an Iland, but muſt ſpread it ſelfe among them of the Continent, wherevppon enſued the deſtruction of many thouſands of people, before any remedy could be found out. In the yeere of grace 1573. there ruſhed infinite ſwarmes of Catterpillers into Italy, where they ſpoyled and made hauock of all greene buds & graſſe growing vpon the face of the earth, ſo that with theyr vnquenchable and inſatiate voracity, they left nothing but the bare rootes of trees and plants: and this hapned chiefely about Mantua and Brixia. And vpon the necke of this, followed a terrible & fearefull peſtilence, of which there dyed aboue 50. thouſand perſons.

Alſo in the yeere of our Lord GOD 1570. there vvere two great and ſuddaine ſwarmes of Catterpillers that came ruſhing into Italy in the ſpace of one Sommer, which put the Romans into an exceeding great feare, for there was nothing left greene in all their fieldes that could be preſerued from their rauine, and from their gluttonous and pilling maw. And although the fertilitie of the yeere immediately following, did almoſt blot and race out the memory of this their heauy puniſhment, & that many ſeemed as it were to repent them of theyr repentance, yet are we not to doubt, but that many were truly penitent, and ſeriouſly were drawne to amendement of life by a due conſideration heereof. God grant that we may be warned by other mens puniſhments, leaſt that poore creature, which we imagin to be the ſillieſt & leaſt able to do vs harme, we find the moſt heauie.

❧ OF THE BOAS.

IT was well knowne among all the Romans, that when Regulus was Gouernour or Generall in the Punick warres, there was a Serpent (neere the Riuer Bagrade) killed with ſlings & ſtones, euen as a Towne or little Cittie is ouer-come, which Serpent was an hundred and twenty foote in length: whoſe skinne and cheeke bones, were reſerued in a Temple at Rome, vntill the Numantine warre.

And this Hiſtory is more eaſie to be beleeued, becauſe of the Boas Serpent bred in Italy at this day: for we read in Solinus, that when Claudius was Emperour, there was one of them ſlaine in the Vatican at Rome, in whoſe belly was found an Infant ſwallowed whole, and not a bone thereof broken. The Germaines call this Serpent Vncke, and beſides thē I doe not reade of any other Name. Some haue ignorantly confounded it with Cherſydrus, an Adder of the earth, but vpon what reaſon I doe not know, onely Solinus diſcourſing of Calabria, might giue ſome colour to this opinion, when he ſaith, Calabria Cherſydris est frequentiſsima, & boam gignit quem Anguem ad immenſam molē ferunt coaleſcere: that is to ſay, Calabria is full of Earth-Adders, and it breedeth the Boas, vvhich Snake ſome affirme will grow into a monſtrous ſtature. Out of which words, there is no wiſe man can collect that the Boas and the Adder of the earth are all one thing.

The Latines call it Boa and Boua of Bos, becauſe by ſucking Cowes milke it ſo encreaſeth, that in the end it deſtroyeth all manner of hedres, Cattell and Regions. And our domeſticall Snakes and Adders, will alſo ſucke milke from Kine, as in all the Nations of the world is moſt manifeſt to them that will obſerue the ſame.

The Italians doe vſually call them, Serpeda de Aqua, a Serpent of the water, and therefore all the Learned expound the Geeeke word Hydra for a Boas. Cardan ſaith, that there are of this kind in the kingdome of Senega, both without feet & wings, but moſt properly they are now found in Italy, according to theſe verſes.

Boa quidem ſerpens quem tellus Itala nutrit Hunc bubulum plures lac enutrire docent.

Which may be engliſhed thus,

The Boas Serpent which Italy doth breede, Men ſay, vppon the milke of Cowes doth feede.

Their faſhion is in ſeeking for their prey among the heardes, to deſtroy nothing that giueth ſuck ſo long as it will liue, but they reſerue it aliue vntill the milk be dryed vp, then afterward they kill & eate it, and ſo they deale with whole flocks & heards. The poyſon of it, ſaith Feſtus, maketh tumour & ſwelling in the body, wherevnto all others agree, except Albertus, who in this poynt agrees not with himſelfe, for in one place hee ſaith that they are venomous, & their teeth alſo like other Dragons, in another place he ſaith, their poyſon is very weake, and not to be regarded, becauſe they be Dragons of the third order or deuiſion. They goe all vpon their belly, and ſo I will conclude their ſtory with Mantuan.

Turpi Boa flexilis aluo.

that is to ſay,

The filthy Boas on his belly mooues.

OF THE CHAMAELEON.

IT is very doubtfull whether a Chamaeleon were euer knowne to the auncient Hebrewes, becauſe there is no certaintie among thē for the appellation thereof, ſome affirming one thing, and ſome another. We read Leuit. 11. among other beaſts there forbidden to be eaten of, Koah, or Koach, which Rabbi Kimhi interpreteth a kind of Crocodile (Hazah,) Rabbi Ionas in the Arabian, Hardun, and ſo alſo doth Auicen. The Chalde Koaha, the Perſians An ſanga, the Septuagints and S. Ierom, a Chamaeleon. The ſelfe ſame word is found Leuit. 14. which the Iewes do vulgarly at this day take for Senicus, a Crocodile of the earth. The word Oah or Oach, ſeemeth to come neere to this, which is ſome-times interpreted a Torteyſe, a Dragon, or a Monkey. And Oas by Syluaticus, is tranſlated a Salamander. Kaath by the Iewes, is tranſlated a Cuckoe, a Iay, a Pellican, & an Onocratua: and in the ſecond of Sophoni for a Chamaeleon. Some haue framed an Hebrew word Gamalion, which is abſurd, for Gameleon. Zamelon, Aamelon, Hamaleon, & Meleon, are but corrupted termes of Chamaeleon, as Iſidorus well obſerueth, or els ſignifieth ſome of the kinds of Lyzards or Stellionds, as is manifeſt in Albertus, and other learned Writers. Therefore I will not blot more paper about the Arabian beaſtes Harbe and Alharbe, Alarbian or Hardon, Hardun or Alharba, but leaue them to the iudgement of thoſe, vvho delight in the inueſtigation of ſuch ſecrets.

Chamaeleon is a Greeke word, from whence the Latines, and almoſt all Nations haue borrowed the name of this ſerpentine or creeping beaſt, except the Germaines, and they onely haue fained names, as Lindtwarm in Albertus, that is, a Worme of the wood, and Rattader by Geſner, that is a Ratmouſe, becauſe in quantitie & compoſition, it reſembleth both thoſe creatures. Some Latines, by reaſon of the ſimilitude it holdeth with a Lizard, call it Muri Laccritus, a Mouſe-Lyzard. The Greeke word Chamaeleon, ſignifieth a low & humble Lyon, becauſe in ſome parts and members, he reſembleth that lofty & couragious beaſt. So do they deriue the names of certaine low & ſhort herbs, from great & tall trees, as Chamaeceraſus, Chamaecipariſſus, Chamaedris, and Chamaepitis, ſhrubs of plumtree, heath, Cipres, Germander, & ground Iuy, from the Cherry, the Cypres, the Cedar, & the Pine tree. And thus much for the name of the Chamaeleon.

The countries breeding Chamaeleons, are Affrica, Aſia, and India, & for the quantity thereof I do find diuers deſcriptions, ſome particuler, as in Bellonius and Scaliger, and ſome generall in other Writers, all which I purpoſe briefely & ſucceſsiuely to expreſſe in this place. It is ſaide (ſaith Bellonius,) that the Frogge & the Chamaeleon are like one to the other, becauſe they vſe the ſame Art and induſtry in taking their meate: and to the intent that this thing may more euidently appeare, both by the deſcription and the picture, I haue thought good to entreate of the Chamaeleon, amongſt the Water-beaſts, becauſe it liueth for the moſt part, in moyſt, marſhy, and Fennie places. I haue ſeene of thē two kinds, one, a leſſer kind in Arabia, beeing of a whitiſh colour, all ſette ouer with yellowiſh or reddiſh ſpots, and in quantitie not exceeding the greene Lyzard. The other, in the hot places of Egypt, being twiſe as big in quantitie as the Arabian, and of a changeable colour, betwixt white, greene, browne & yellow, for which occaſion ſome haue called it verſi-color Chamaeleon, that is, a Turne-coate-coloured Chamaeleon. But both theſe kindes of Chamaeleons, haue a copped head, like to a Camell, and two bones at the toppe of theyr browes ſtanding vp on either ſide, and hanging out: their eyes are moſt cleere and bright, about the bignes of a peaſe, onely couered vvith a skinne, ſo that their appearance outwarde, exceedeth not the quantity of a Millet-ſeede. They are very flexible, turning vpwards and downewards, & are able at one time to looke two ſeuerall wayes, diſtinctly vpon two ſeuerall obiects, vvherein they exceede all other beaſts. It is a heauie and dull beaſt, like the Salamander, neither can it runne, but like a Lizard, wherfore it is not afraid of the ſight of men, neither doth it

runne from their preſence, neither is it eaſily prouoked to harme or bite a man: it climbeth little trees for feare of Vipers and horned Serpents.

Some haue thought that it neuer eateth meat, but is nouriſhed with the wind, becauſe it draweth in very eagerly many times the wind into the belly, whereby it ſwelleth: for it hath great lights ſtretched all along the ſides of the belly: but this opinion is falſe, as ſhall be ſhewed hereafter, although it cannot be denyed that it is Ouiparum patrentiſsimum famis: that is, The moſt induring famine among all other Egge-breeding-beaſtes, for it faſteth many times eyght monthes: yea, a whole yeare together. In ſtead of Noſtrils and eares it hath certaine paſſages in thoſe places, whereby it ſmelleth and heareth.

The opening of the mouth is very large, and it hath teeth on the neather and vpper chap like Sawes, ſuch as are in a Slo-worme, the toong very ſmooth, halfe a hand breadth long, where withall it licketh in thoſe inſectes Flyes, Horſe-flyes, Locuſtes, and Emittes, whereupon it feedeth: For it keepeth at the mouth a certaine fome or moyſture, and alſo vpon the tayle and backer partes, wherewithall thoſe Flyes and other Creatures are ſo much delighted, that they follow the Chamaelion, and as it were bewitched with the deſire thereof, they fall vppon the moyſture to their owne perdition; and this is to bee noted, that this moyſture or fome in the backer partes of the body is like a Spunge. It hath a line or ſtrake vnder the belly, indented as it were with ſcales, white in colour, and ſtretched out to the tayle, but the feete ſeeme to bee of an artificiall worke of Nature, wherein is a curious difference betwixt the former and the hinder: for the forefeete haue three fingers or clawes within, and two without: the hinder feete on the contrary, haue two without and three within: It layeth twelue long Egges, ſuch as Lyzards do, the hart is not much greater then the heart of a Domeſticall Mouſe or Rat: it hath two lappes of a Liuer, whereof the left is the greater, vnto which cleaueth the skinne of the Gall, the which skin exceedeth not in quantity a Barly-corne. And thus farre the deſcription by Bellonius.

In the next place for the better manifeſtation of the nature of this beaſt, I will alſo adde the deſcription that Scaliger maketh thereof. For he ſaith, when Iohannes Landius was in the fartheſt parts of Syria, he ſaw fiue Chamaelions, whereof he bought one, which with his tongue did very ſoddenly take off a Fly from his breaſt: Wherefore in the diſſection of the ſaid Chamaelion, he found that the tongue thereof was as long as a hand breadth, hollow and empty, in the toppe whereof there was a little hole with filthy matter therein, wherewithall he tooke his prey: which thing ſeemed new and ſtrange vnto thē which heretofore thought that a Chamaelion liued onely by the ayre. His backe was ſomewhat crooked, riſing with ſpotted bunches like a Sawe, like the Turbut-fiſh, his belly cloſed with ſhort ribbes, his eyes moſt beautifull, which he turneth euery way without bending his necke: his colour white, greene, and dusky: naturally greene, ſomewhat pale on the backe, but paler and nearer to white on the belly, yet was it beſet all ouer with red, blew, and white ſpots.

It is not true that the Chamaelion chaungeth her ſelfe into all colours, vppon greene groweth greenneſſe, vpon the dusky is tempered a dusky colour; but vppon blew, red, or white the natiue greennes is not blemiſhed or obſcured, but the blew, white, and red ſpots yeald a more liuely and pleaſant aſpect; vpon black, ſtandeth browne, yet ſo, as the green hew ſeemeth to be confounded with blacke, and it doth not change his owne colour into a ſuppoſed colour, but when it is oppreſſed with feare or griefe. That it liueth ſometime of the Ayre, a whole yeare or more, doeth appeare, becauſe it eateth no meate during that time, but gaping with a wide mouth draweth in the ayre, & then ſhutting his chaps againe his belly ſwelleth. Yea, I found one that conſtantly affirmed, that they turne themſelues to the beames of the Sunne, and gaping wide after them, follow them hard as it were to draw them in. They haue fiue diſtinct clawes vpon euery foote, with two of which they claſpe the round boughes or twigges of trees, as Parrats doe when they ſit vppon their pearches, and theſe clawes ſtand not as other Birdes doe, three together and one by it ſelfe, but in imparity or diſſimilitude, three on the one ſide, and two on the other, and ſo are parted with an inuerſe order, for the hinder and former are contrary one to the other, ſo as if there bee three clawes on the inſide, and two on the outſide of the Leg before, then are there three on the outſide behind, and two on the inſide: And thus much I receiued from Langius. So farre Scaliger.

Now we will proceede to the perticular deſcription of their parts, as we find them recorded in other Writers, leauing thoſe breefe and pregnable Narrations of Bellonius & Scaliger. And firſt of all for the figure and outward ſhape of their bodies, then for theyr colour, and the reaſons of their mutability and variation of colour. For the figure and ſhape of their bodies, Pliny is of opinion, that a Chamaelion is like to a Crocodile of the Earth, except in the ſharpe bending of the backe-bone, or the length or greatneſſe of the tayle. Some ſay that the whole parts of the body doth repreſent a Lizard, excepting that the ſides are ioyned to the belly, and the baeke-bone ſtandeth vp as in Fiſhes. Arnoldus Ariſtotle ſaith it reſembleth a Stellion if the Legs were not ſtraighter and higher: but the truth is, it is a Foure-footed-beaſt, much like to a Lizard, yet it goeth higher from the Earth, Solmus. and alwayes gapeth, hauing a rough skinne all ouer the body like a Crocodile, and is alſo full of ſcabs.

The length of it from the tip of the Noſe to the rumpe of the taile, is 7. or 8. fingers, the height of them fiue fingers, and the Legs lone, three fingers and a halfe. The length of the tayle eyght or nine fingers, the backe-bone eminent & ſtanding vp, cerſted or indented all throughout to the tip of the taile, but neare the rump, the creſtes are more low and leſſe viſible. On eyther ſide at the roote of the ribbes ſtand bony eminent bunches, from which diſcendeth a line, and is extended throughout the length of the tailo on both ſides; and if it were not for theſe bunches the turnings about, and the other three in the lower part, it would be ſo exaſperated or extenuated toward the end like to the tayle of a Rat or great Mouſe. The middle place betwixt the bottome of the belly and the top of the backe, contayneth an Angle or flexure of ſixteene ribbes, after the faſhion or proportion of a Greeke Lambda, except that the angle thereof be more wide & potent, which looketh backeward toward the taile, and within theſe ribbes is the whole haunch of the body and belly, contained in a round compaſſe on either ſide. Beeing blacke, it is not vnlike the Crocodile, and being pale, it is like to the Lizard, ſet ouer with blacke ſpottes like a Leopard. It changeth colour both in the eyes, tayle, and whole body, alwayes into the colour of that which is next it, except red and white, which colours it cannot eaſily vndertake, ſo that it deceiueth the eyes of the beholders, turning blacke into greene, and greene into blew, like a Player, which putteth of one perſon, to put on another: according to theſe verſes of Ouid;

Id quoque quod ventis animal natritur & aura, Protinus aſsimilat, tetigit quoſcun que colores.

In Engliſh thus;

The beaſt that liueth by wind and weather, Of each thing touched taketh colour.

The reaſons of this change of colour are the ſame which are giuen of the Buffe and Polypus Fiſh; namely, extreamity of feare, the thinneſſe, ſmoothneſſe, and baldneſſe of the skinne. Whereupon Tertullian writeth thus: Hoc ſoli Chamaelienti datum quod vulgo dictum est de ſuo corio ludere: That is to ſay, This is the onely gift of nature to a Chamaelion, that according to the common Prouerbe it deceiueth with his skin: meaning that a chamaelion at his owne pleaſure can change the colour of his skinne. Whereupon Eraſmus applyeth the prouerb, de alieno corio ludere, to ſuch as ſecure themſelues with other mens perill. From hence alſo commeth another prouerbe, Chamaileontos rumetaboloontaros, more mutable then a Chamaelion, for a crafty, cunning, inconſtant fellow, changing himſelfe into euery mans diſpoſition; ſuch a one was Alcibiades, who was ſaid to be in Athens, and of ſuch a man reſembling this beaſt, did Alciatus make this emblem againſt flatterers:

Semper hiat, ſemper tenuem qua veſcitur auram, Reciprocat Chamaelion, Et mutat faciem, varios ſumitque colores, Praeter rubrum vel candidum. Sic & adulator populare veſcitur aura, Hianſque cuncta deuorat. Et ſolum mores imitatur principis atros. Albi & pudici neſcius.

That is to ſay;

It alway gapes, turning in and out that breath Whereon it feedes: and often changeth hew: Now blacke and greene, and pale, and other colours hath, But red and white Chamaelions do eſchew: So Clawbackes feede on vulgar breath as bread, With open mouth deuouring fame and right, Princes, blacke-vices praiſe, but vertues dread, Deſigned in nature by colours red and white.

A Chamaelion of all Egge-breeding-beaſtes is the thinneſt, becauſe it lacketh bloud, and the reaſon hereof is by Aristotle referred to the diſpoſition of the ſoule: For he ſaith, through ouer much feare, it taketh vpon it many colours, and feare through the want of bloud and heate, is a refrigeration of this beaſt.

Plutarke alſo calleth this beaſt a meticulous and fearefull beaſt, and in this cauſe concludeth the change of his colour, not as ſome ſay, to auoyde and deceiue the beholders and to worke out his owne happineſſe, but for meere dread and terrour. Iohannes Vrſinus aſſigneth the cauſe of the change of Chamaelions colour, not to feare, but to the meate & to the ayre, as appeareth by theſe verſes;

Non timor, imò cibus, nimirum limpidus aër, Ambo ſimul vario membra colore nouant.

Which may be thus engliſhed;

Not feare, but meate which is the ayre thinne, New colours on his body doth begin.

But I for my part doe aſſigne the true cauſe to bee in the thinneſſe of their skinne, and therefore may eaſily take impreſſion of any colour, like to a thin fleake of a horne, which beeing layde ouer blacke, ſeemeth blacke, and ſo ouer other colours: and beſides, there being no hinderaunce of bloud in this beaſt, nor Intrals, except the Lights, the other humours may haue the more predominant mutation; and ſo I will conclude the diſcourſe of the partes and colour of a Chamaelion, with the opinion of Kiranides, not that I approoue it, but to let the Reader know all that is written of this Subiect, his wordes are theſe: Chamaelem ſingulis horis diei mutat colorem: A Chamaelion changeth his colour euery houre of a day.

This beaſt hath the face like a Lyon, the feet and tayle of a Crocodile, hauing a variable colour, as you haue heard, and one ſtrange continued Nerue from the head to the tayle, beeing altogether without fleſh, except in the head, cheekes, and vppermoſt part of the tayle, which is ioyned to the body; neither hath it any bloud but in the hart, eyes, and in a place aboue the hart, and in certaine vaynes deriued from that place, and in them alſo but a very little bloud.

There be many membranes all ouer theyr bodies, and thoſe ſtronger then in any other Beaſtes. From the middle of the head backward, there ariſeth a three ſquare bone, and Ariſtotle. Pliny. the fore part is hollow and round like a Pipe, certaine bony brimmes, ſharpe and indented, ſtanding vpon either ſide. Theyr braine is ſo little aboue their eyes, that it almoſt toucheth them, and the vpper skinne beeing pulled off from their eyes, there appeareth a certaine round thing like a bright ring of Braſſe, which Niphus calleth Palla, which ſignifieth that part of a Ring, wherein is ſet a pretious ſtone.

The eyes in the hollow within, are very great, and much greater then the proportion of the body, round, and couered ouer with ſuch a skinne as the whole body is, except the apple, which is bare, and that part is neuer couered. This apple ſtands immoueable, not turned, but when the whole eye is turned at the pleaſure of the beaſt. The ſnoute is like to the ſnoute of a Hog-ape, alwayes gaping, and neuer ſhutting his mouth, and ſeruing him Solinus. for no other vſe but to beare his tongue and his teeth: his gumbes are adorned with teeth as we haue ſaid before, the vpper lippe beeing ſhorter and more turned in then the other. Their throate and arterie are placed as in a Lizard: their Lights are exceeding great, and they haue nothing els within their body. Whervpon Theophraſtus as Plutarch witneſſeth, conceiueth, that they fill the whole body within, & for this cauſe it is more apt to liue on the ayre, and alſo to change the colour.

It hath no Spleene or Melt, the tayle is very long, at the end and turning vp like a Vipers tayle, winded together in many circles. The feete are double clouen, & for proportion Ariſtotle reſemble the thumbe and hand of a man, yet ſo, as if one of the fingers were ſet neere the ſide of the thumbe, hauing three without and two within behind, and three vvithin, and two without before; the palme betwixt the fingers is ſomewhat great: from within the hinder legges, there ſeeme to growe certaine ſpurres. Their legges are ſtraight, and longer then a Lizards, yet is theyr bending alike, and theyr nayles are crooked and very ſharpe. One of theſe beeing diſſected and cut aſunder, yet breatheth a long time after, they goe into the caues and holes of the earth like Lizards, wherein they lie all the winter time, and come forth againe in the Spring, theyr pace is very ſlow, and themſelues very gentle, neuer exaſperated but when they are about wild-figge-trees.

They haue for theyr enemies the Serpent, the Crow and the Hawke. When the hungry • erpent doth aſſault them, they defend themſelues in this manner, as Alexander Mindius writeth: they take in their mouthes a broad & ſtrong ſtalk, vnder protection whereof as vnder a buckler, they defend themſelues againſt theyr enemy the Serpent, by reaſon that the ſtalke is broader then the Serpent can gripe in his mouth, and the other parts of the Chamaeleon ſo firme and hard, as the Serpent cannot hurt them: he laboureth but in vaine to get a prey, ſo long as the ſtalke is in the Chamaeleons mouth. But if the Chamaeleon at any time ſee a Serpent taking the ayre, and ſunning himſelfe vnder ſome greene tree, he climbeth vp into that tree, and ſetleth himſelfe directly ouer the Serpent, then out of his mouth he caſteth a thred like a Spyder, at the end whereof hangeth a drop of poyſon, as bright as any pearle, by this ſtring he letteth downe the poyſon vpon the Serpent, which lighting vppon it, killeth it immediatly. And Scaliger reporteth a greater vvonder then this in the deſcription of the Chamaeleon, for he ſayth, if the boughes of the Tree ſo grow as the perpendiculer line cannot fall directlie vpon the Serpent, then hee ſo correcteth and guideth it with his fore-feete, that it falleth vpon the Serpent within the mark of a hayres breadth.

The Rauen and the Crow are alſo at variance with the Chamaeleon, & ſo great is the aduerſe nature betwixt theſe twaine, that if the crow eate of the chamaeleon beeing ſlaine by him, he dyeth for it, except he recouer his life by a Bay-leafe, euen as the Elephant after he hath deuoured a chamaeleon, ſaueth his life by eating of the Wile-oliue-tree. But the greateſt wonder of all is, the hoſtility which Pliny reporteth to be betwixt the Chamaeleon and the Hawke. For he writeth, that when a Hawke flyeth ouer a Chamaeleon, ſhe hath no power to reſiſt the Chameleon, but falleth downe before it, yeelding both her life and limbes to be deuoured by it; and thus that deuourer that liueth vpon the prey & blood of others, hath no power to ſaue her owne life from this little beaſt.

A Chamaeleon is a fraudulent, rauening and gluttonous beaſt, impure, and vncleane by the law of GOD, and forbidden to be eaten: in his owne nature wilde, yet counterſetting meekenes, when he is in the cuſtodie of man. And this ſhall ſuffiſe to haue ſpoken for the deſcription of this beaſt, a word or two of the Medicines ariſing out of it, and ſo a concluſion.

I find that the Auncients haue obſerued two kindes of Medicines in this beaſt, one magicall, and the other naturall, and for my owne part, although not able to iudge of either, yet I haue thought good to anex a relation of both to this Hiſtory. And firſt of the naturall medicines, Democritus is of opinion that they deſerue a peculier Volume, and yet he himſelfe telleth nothing of thē worthy of one page, except the lying vanities of the Gentiles, & ſuperſtitions of the Graecians. With the gall, if the ſuffuſions and Leprous parts of the body be annointed three dayes together, and the whiteneſſe of the eyes, it is beleeued to giue a preſent remedy: and Archigenes preſcribeth the ſame for a medicine for the Marcellus. taking away of the vnprofitable and and pricking hayres of the eye-browes. It is thought if it be mixed with ſome ſweet compoſition, that it hath power to cure a quotidian Ague. If the toong of Chamaelion be hung ouer an obliuious and forgetfull perſon, it is thought to haue power to reſtore his memory.

The Chamaelion from the head to the tayle, hath but one Nerue, which beeing taken Rhazes. out and hung about the necke of him that holdeth his head awry or backeward, it cureth him. The other parts haue the ſame operation as the parts of the Hyaena & the Sea-calfe. If a Chamaelion be ſod in an earthen pot, and conſumed till the waterbe as thicke as oile, then after ſuch ſeething, take the bones out, and put them in a place where the Sunne neuer Kiranides. commeth, then if you ſee a man in the fit of the falling ſickneſſe, turne him vppon his belly, and annoynt his backe from the Os ſacrum to the ridge bone, and it will preſently deliuer him from the fit: but after ſeuen times vſing, it will perfectly cure him. The Oyle thus made muſt be kept in a Boxe. This medicine following is a preſent remedy agaynſt Trallianus. the gowt. Take the head and feet of a Chamaeleon, cut offalſo the outward partes of the knees and feete, and then keepe by themſelues thoſe parts: that is to ſay, the partes of the right legge by themſelues, and the partes of the left Legge by themſelues, then touch the Nayle of the Chamaeleon with your Thumbe and right finger of your hand, dipping the tips of your fingers of the right hand in the bloud of the right foote of the beaſt: and ſo likewiſe the fingers of the left hand in the bloud of the left foote, then include thoſe parts in two little Pipes, and ſo let the ſicke perſon carry the right partes in the right hand, and the left parts in the left hand, vntill he be cured: and this muſt bee remembred, that hee muſt touch euery morning about the Sun riſing the ſaid Chamaeleon, yet liuing and lapped in a Linnen cloth, with thoſe parts that are oppreſſed with the Gout.

The like ſuperſtitious and magicall deuiſes are theſe that follow, as they are recorded by Pliny and Democritus. The head and thraot being ſet on fire with wood of Oake, they beleeue to be good againſt Thunder and raine, and ſo alſo the Liuer burned on a Tyle. If the right eye be taken out of it aliue, and applyed to the whitenes of the eyes in Goats Milke, it is thought to cure the ſame. The tongue bound to a woman with child, preſerueth her from danger in child-byrth, if the ſame tongue be taken from the beaſt aliue, it is thought it foreſheweth the euent of iudgement. The heart wrapped in blacke Wooll of the firſt ſhearing, by wearing it, cureth a quartane Ague, the right claw of the forefeet bound to the left arme with the skinne of his cheekes, is good againſt robberies and terrours of the night, and the right pap againſt all feares. If the left foote be ſcorched in a furnace with the Herb Chamaeleon, and afterward putting a litle ointment to it, & made into little Paſties, ſo being carryed about in a wooden boxe, it maketh the party to go inviſible. The right ſhoulder maketh a man to preuaile againſt his aduerſaries, if they doe but tread vpon the Nerues caſt down vpō the earth. But the left ſhoulder they conſecrate the ſame to monſterous dreames, as if that thereby a man might dreame what hee would in his owne perſon and effect, the like in others.

With the right foote are all paulſies reſolued, and with the left foote all Lethargies: the Wine wherein one ſide of a Chamaeleon hath beene ſteeped, ſprinkled vppon the head, cureth the ach thereof. If Swines Greaſe be mingled with the powder of the left foote or Thigh, and a mans foote be annoynted therewith, it bringeth the gout, by putting the Gall into fire, they driue away Serpentes; and into Water, they draw together Weaſels, it pulleth off hayre from the body, ſo alſo doth the Liuer, with the Lightes of of a Toade; likewiſe the Liuer diſſolueth amorous inchantments. Melancholy men are cured by drinking the iuyce of a Chamaeleon out of a Chamaeleons skin. They alſo ſay, that the Intrals and dung of this beaſt waſhed in the vrine of an Ape, and hung vp at our enemies gates, cauſeth reconciliation.

With the taile they bring Serpentes aſleepe, and ſtay the flowing of the flouds and Waters: the ſame mingled with Ceder and Myrrhe, bound to two rods of Palme, and ſtrucke vpon water, cauſeth all thinges that are contained in the ſame water to appeare; but I would to GOD that ſuch Magitians were well beaten with Róddes of ſtronger wood, vntill they forſooke theſe magicall fooleries: And thus much for the ſtory of the Chamaeleon.

OF THE COCKATRICE.

THis Beaſt is called by the Graecians Baziliſcos, and by the Latine Regulus, becauſe he ſeemeth to be the King of ſerpents, not for his magnitude or greatneſſe. For there are Pliny. Solinus, many Serpents bigger then he, as there be many Foure-footed-beaſtes bigger then the Lyon, but becauſe of his ſtately pace, and magnanimious mind: for hee creepeth not on the earth like other Serpents, but goeth halfe vpright, for which occaſion all other Serpentes auoyde his ſight. And it ſeemeth nature hath ordained him for that purpoſe: for beſide the ſtrength of his poyſon which is vncurable, he hath a certaine combe or Corronet vppon his head, as ſhall be ſhewed in due place: It is alſo cald Sibilus, as we read in Iſidorus, Sibilus enim occidit antequam mordeat vel exurat: The Cockatrice killeth before it burneth. The Hebrewes call it Pethen, and Curman, alſo Zaphna, and Zaphnaini. The Chalde Armene, Harmene, and alſo Carmene: The Aegyptians Vreus, the Germans Ein Ertz Schlengle, the French Vn Baſilic: The Spaniards and Italians Baſiliſco.

There is ſome queſtion amongeſt Writers, about the generation of this Serpent: for ſome, (and thoſe very many and learned) affirme, him to be brought forth of a Cockes egge. For they ſay that when a Cock groweth old, he layeth a certaine egge without any ſhell, in ſtead whereof it is couered with a very thicke skinne, which is able to withſtand the greateſt force of an eaſie blow or fall. They ſay moreouer, that this Egge is layd onely in the Summer-time, about the beginning of Dogge-dayes, being not long as a Hens Egge, but round and orbiculer: Sometimes of a duſty, ſometimes of a Boxie, ſometimes of a yellowiſh muddy colour, which Egge is generated of the putrified ſeed of the Cocke, and afterward ſet vpon by a Snake or a Toad, bringeth forth the Cockatrice, being halfe a foot in length, the hinder part like a Snake, the former partlike a Cooke, becauſe of a treble combe on his forehead.

But the vulger opinion of Europe is, that the Egge is nouriſhed by a Toad, and not by a Snake; howbeit in better experience it is found that the Cocke doth ſit on that egge himſelfe: whereof Leuinus Lemnius in his twelth booke of the hidden miracles of nature hath this diſcourſe, in the fourth chapter thereof. There happened (ſaith he) within our memory in the Citty Pirizaea, that there were two old Cockes which had layd Egges, & the common people (becauſe of opinion that thoſe Egges would engender Cockatrices) laboured by all meanes poſſible to keepe the ſaid cockes from ſitting on thoſe egges, but they could not with clubs and ſtaues driue them from the Egges, vntill they were forced to breake the egges in ſunder, and ſtrangle the cockes. But this point is worth inquiry, whether a cocke can conceiue an Egge, and after a certaine time lay the ſame' without a ſhell. I for my part am perſwaded, that when a cocke groweth old, and ceaſeth to tread his female in the ordinary courſe of nature, which is in the ſeuenth or ninth yeare of his age, or at the moſt in the foureteenth, there is a certaine concretion bred within him by the putrified heat of his body, through the ſtaying of his ſeede generatiue, which hardeneth vnto an egge, & is couered with ſuch a ſhell, as is ſaid already: the which egge being nouriſhed by the cocke or ſome other beaſt, bring eth forth a venomous worme, ſuch as are bred in the bodies of men, or as Waſpes, Horſe-flyes, and catterpillers engendered of Horſe-dung, or other putryfied humours of the earth: and ſo out of this Egge may ſuch a venomous Worme proceede, as in proportion of body, and peſtiferous breath, may reſemble the Affrican cockatrice or Baſiliske, and yet it is not the ſame whereof wee purpoſe here to intreat, but will acknowledge that to be one kind of cockatrice, but this kind is generated like other Serpents of the earth, for as the auncient Hermes writeth, it is both falſe and impoſſible, that a cockatrice ſhould be hatched of a cockes Egge. The ſame writer maketh mention of a Bazeliske ingendered in dung, whereby hee meaneth the Elixir of life, wherewithall the Alchimistes conuert mettals.

The Aegyptians hold opinion, that theſe cockatrices are engendered of the Egges of the Bird called Ibis, and therefore they breake thoſe Egges whereſoeuer they finde them: and for this cauſe in theyr Hieroglyphicks, when they will ſignifie a lawfull execution after an vpright iudgment, & ſound inſtitution of their forefathers, they are wont to make an Ibis, and a cockatrice.

The countries breeding or bringing forth theſe cockatrices, are ſayd to be theſe: Firſt Pliny. Textor. Auicenna. Aelianus Solinus. Affricke, and therein the Ancient ſeat or land of the Turkes, Nubia, and all the wildernes of Affrica, & the countries Cyrenes. Gallen among the Phyſitions only, doubteth whither there be a cockatrice or no, whoſe authority in this caſe muſt not be followed, ſeeing it was neuer giuen to mortal man to ſee & know euery thing, for beſides the holy ſcriptures vnauoidable authority, which both in the propheſie of Eſay and Ieremy, maketh mention of the cockatrice and her Egges: there be many graue humainé Writers, whoſe authority is irrefragable, affirming not onely that there be cockatrices, but alſo that they infect the ayre, and kill with their ſight. And Mercuriall affirming, that when he was with Maximilion the Emperour, hee ſaw the carkaſe of a cocatrice, reſerued in his treaſury among his vndoubted monuments. Of this Serpent the Poet Georgius Pictorius writeth on this manner;

Rex est ſerpentum baſiliſcus, quem modo vincunt Mustelae inſultus, ſaeuaque bella ferae. Lernaeum vermem baſiliſcum foeda Cirene Producit cunctis maximè perniciem. Et naſci ex ouo galli, ſi credere fas est, Decrepiti, in fimo, ſole nitente, docent. Sed quoniam olfactu loedit, viſuque ferarum Omne genus credas, nulla tenere bona.

That is to ſay;

The Bazeliske the Serpents King I find, Yet Weaſels him do' ouercome in warre, The Cyren land him breedes of Lernaes kind, They to all other a deſtruction are: And if we may beleeue, that through the heat of Sunne, In old Cockes Egges this beaſt is raiſed firſt, Or beaſtes by fight or ſmell thereof are all vndone, Then ist not good, but of his kind the worſt.

Wee doe read that in Rome, in the dayes of Pope Leo the fourth, there vvas a Cockatrice found in a Vault of Church or Chappell, dedicated to Saint Lucea, whoſe peſtiferous breath hadde infected the Ayre round about, whereby great mortality followed in Rome: but how the ſaid Cockatrice came thither it was neuer knowne. It is moſt probable that it was created and ſent of GOD for the punniſhment of the Citty, which I do the more eaſily beleeue, becauſe Segonius & Iulius Scaliger do affirme, that the ſayd peſtiferous beaſt was killed by the prayers of the ſaid Leo the fourth.

I thinke they meane that by the authoritie of the ſayde Byſhop, all the people were mooued to generall faſting and prayer, and ſo Almighty GOD who was mooued for theyr ſinnes, to ſend ſuch a plague amongeſt them, was likewiſe intreated by their prayers and ſutes, not onely to reuerſe the plague, but with the ſame hand to kill the beaſt, wherewithall it was created: euen as once in Aegypt by the hand of Moſes, hee brought Graſſe-hoppers and Lice, ſo by the ſame hand he droue them away againe.

There is ſome ſmall difference amongeſt the Writers, about the quantity and partes of this Serpent: which I will breefely reconcile. Firſt Aelianus ſaith, that a Cockatrice is not paſt a ſpanne in compaſſe, that is as much as a man can gripe in his hand. Pliny ſaith, that it is as bigge as twelue fingers. Solinus and Iſidorus affirme, that it is but halfe a foot long.

Auicen ſaith, that the Arabian Harmena, that is, the Cockatrice, is two cubits and a halfe long. Nicander ſaith, Et tribus extenſo porrectus corpore palmis, that is, it is in length but three palmes. Aetius ſayth, that it is as bigge as three handfuls: Now for the reconciliation of all theſe. It is to bee vnderſtood, that Pliny and Aelianus ſpeaketh of the Worme that commeth out of the Cockes Egge, in regard of the length, but not of the quantity, and ſo confound together that Worme and the Cockatrice. For it is very reaſonable, that ſeeing the magnitude and greatneſſe of the Serpent is concluded to bee at the leaſt a ſpan in compaſſe, that therefore the length of it muſt needes bee three or foure foote at the ſhorteſt; elſe how could it bee ſuch a terrour to other Serpents, or how could the fore part of it ariſe ſo eminently aboue the earth, if the head were not lifted at the leaſt a foote from the ground. So then we will take it for graunted, that this Serpent is as big as a mans wriſt, and the length of it aunſwerable to that proportion.

It is likewiſe queſtionable whether the Cockatrice haue Winges or no: for by reaſon of his conceiued generation from a Cocke, many haue deſcribed him in the fore-part to haue Winges, and in the hinder part to haue a tayle like a Serpent: And the conceit of winges ſeemeth to bee deriued from Holy Scripture, becauſe it is written Eſay 14: verſe twenty nine, De radice cobibij egredietur regulus & ſemen eius abſorbens volucrem: That is to ſay, Out of the Serpents rootes ſhall come a Cockatrice, and the fruite thereof ſhall bee a fiery flying Serpent, as wee tranſlate it in Engliſh: but Tremellius the beſt Interpreter, doth render the Hebrew in this maner: De radice Serpentis prodit haemorrhus & fructus illius prester volans: That is to ſay; VVord for word, Out of the roote of the Serpent ſhall come the Haemorrhe, and the fruite thereof a flying Prester. Now we know, that the Haemorrhe and the Prester are two other different kindes of Serpentes from the Cockatrice, and therefore theſe Interpreters beeing the more faithfull and learned, wee will rather followe the Holy Scripture in theyr tranſlation, then the vulgar Latine, which is corrupted in very many places, as it is alſo Eſay. the 30. verſe ſixe. For Praester, there is againe in the vulgar tranſlation the Cockatrice: and for this cauſe vvee haue not deſcribed the Cockatrice vvith winges, as not finding ſufficient authority to warrant the ſame.

The eyes of the Cockatrice are redde, or ſomewhat inclyning to blackeneſſe, the skinne and carkaſe of this beaſt haue beene accounted precious, for wee doe read that the Pergameni did buy but certaine peeces of a Cockatrice, and gaue for it two pound and a halfe of Syluer: and becauſe there is an opinion that no Byrd, Spyder, or venomous Beaſt, will indure the ſight of this Serpent, they did hang vppe the skinne thereof ſtuffed, in the Temples of Apollo and Dinna, in a certaine thinne Net made of Gold: and therefore it is ſayde, that neuer any Swallow, Spider, or other Serpent durſt come within thoſe Temples: And not onely the skinne or the ſight of the Cockatrice worketh this effect, but alſo the fleſh thereof, being rubbed vppon the pauement poſtes or Walles of Solinus. Scaliger. any Houſe. And moreouer, if Siluer bee rubbed ouer with the powder of the Cockatrices fleſh, it is likewiſe ſayde, that it giueth it a tincture like vnto Golde: and beſides theſe qualities, I remember not any other in the fleſh or skinne of this ſerpent.

The hiſſing of the Cockatrice which is his naturall voyce, is terrible to other ſerpents, and therefore as ſoone as they heare the ſame, they prepare themſelues to fly away, according to theſe verſes of Nicander;

Illius auditos expectant nulla ſuſurr • s, Quantumuis magnas ſinuent animalia ſpiras Quando vel in pastum, vel opacae deuiae ſiluae, Irriguóſue locos, mediae ſub luce diei Excandeſcenti ſuccenſa furore feruntur, Sed turpi cōuerſa fugae dant terga retrorſum.

Which may be engliſhed thus,

When as the greateſt winding Serpents heare, (Feeding in woods or pasture all abroad, Although inclos'd in many ſpiers, yet feare: Or in mid-day the ſhaddowes neare brookes road,) The fearefull hiſsing of this angry beast, They runne away: as fast as feete can lead them, Flying his rage vnto ſome other rest, Turning their backes whereby they do eſcape him.

We read alſo that many times in Affrica, the Mules fall downe dead for thirſt, or elſely dead on the ground for ſome other cauſes, vnto whoſe Carkaſe innumerable troupes of Serpentes gather themſelues to feede thereuppon: but when the Bazeliske windeth the ſayd dead body, he giueth forth his voyce: at the firſt hearing whereof, all the Serpents hide themſelues in the neare adioyning ſandes, or elſe runne into theyr holes, not daring to come forth againe, vntill the Cockatrice haue well dyned and ſatisfied himſelfe. At which time he giueth another ſignall by his voyce of his departure: thē come they forth, but neuer dare meddle with the remnants of the dead beaſt, but go away to ſeek ſome other prey. And if it happen that any other peſtiferous beaſt come vnto the waters to drink Aelianus. neare the place wherein the Cockatrice is lodged, ſo ſoone as it perceiueth the preſence thereof, although it be not heard nor ſeene, yet it deaparteth back againe, without drinking, neglecting his owne nutriment, to ſaue itſelfe from further danger: whereupon Lucanus ſaith;

—Latè ſibi ſubmouet omne Vulgus, & in vacua regnat Baſiliſcus árena.

Which may be thus engliſhed;

He makes the vulgar farre from him to ſtand, While Cockatrice alone raignes on the ſand.

So then it beeing euident that the hiſſing of a Cockatrice is terrible to all Serpentes, and his breath and poyſon mortall to all manner of Beaſtes: yet hath GOD in nature not left this vilde Serpent without an enemie; for the Weaſell and the Cocke are his tryumphant Victors; and therefore Pliny ſayth well: Huic tali monstre quod ſaepe enectum concupiuere reges videre, mustelarum virus exitio est, adeò naturae nihil placuit eſſe ſinae pari: That is to ſay, This monſter which euen Kinges haue deſired to ſee when it was dead, yet is deſtroyed by the poyſon of Weaſels, for ſo it hath pleaſed nature that no beaſt ſhould be without his match.

The people therefore when they take Weaſells, after they haue found the Caues and lodging places of the Cockatrices, vvhich are eaſily diſcerned by the vpper face of the earth, vvhich is burned with theyr hotte poyſon, they put the Weaſell in vnto her▪ at the ſight whereof the Cockatrice flyeth like a weakeling ouermatched with too ſtrong an aduerſary, but the Weaſell followeth after and killeth her. Yet this is to bee noted, that the Weaſell both before the fight and after the ſlaughter, armeth her ſelfe by eating of Rue, or elſe ſhe would bee poyſoned with the contagious ayre about the Cockatrice: and beſides this Weaſell, there is no other beaſt in the World, which is able to ſtand in contention againſt the Cockatrice, ſaith Lemnius.

Againe, euen as a Lyon is afrayd of a cock, ſo is the Bazeliske, for he is not onely afrayd at his ſight, but almoſt dead when hee heareth him crow, which thing is notoriouſly knowne throughout all Affrica. And therefore all Trauellers which goe through the Deſertes, take with them a Cocke for theyr ſafe conduct againſt the poyſon of the Bazeliske: and thus the crowing of the Cocke is a terror to Lyons, & a death to Cockatrices, yet he himſelfe is afraid of a Kite.

There are certaine learned Writers in Saxonie, which affirme, that there are many kindes of Serpentes in theyr Woods; whereof one is not vnlike to a Cockatrice: for they ſay it hath a very ſharpe head, a yellow colour, in length not exceeding three Palmes, of a great thickeneſſe, his belly ſpotted and adorned with many white prickes: the backe blew, and the tayle crooked and turned vppe, but the opening of his mouth is farre wyder then the proportion of his body may ſeeme to beare. Theſe Serpentes may well bee referred to Cockatrices: for howſoeuer theyr poyſon is not ſo great as the Bazeliskes of Affrica, (euen as all other Serpentes of the hotte Countryes, are farre more peſtiferous then thoſe which are bred in the cold Countries:) the very ſame reaſon perſwadeth mee, that there is a difference among the Cockatrices, and that thoſe of Saxonia may differ in poyſon from thoſe in Affrica, and yet bee true Cockatrices: Beſides this, there is another reaſon in Lemnius, which perſwadeth the Reader they are no Cockatrices; becauſe when the Country-men ſet vppon them to kill them, with Clubs, Billes, or Forkes, they receiue no hurt at all by them, neither is there any apparant contagion of the Ayre: but this is aunſwered already, that the Poyſon in the colde Countrey is nothing to great as in the hot, and therefore in Saxony they neede feare the byting, and not the ayres infection.

Gardan relateth another ſtory of a certaine Serpent, which was found in the walles of an olde decayed Houſe in Millan, the head of it (ſayth he) was as bigge as an Egge, too bigge for the body, which in quantity and ſhape reſembled a Stellion. There vvere teeth on eyther chappe, ſuch as are in Vipers. It hadde two Legges, and thoſe very ſhort, but great, and their feete had clavves like a Cats: ſo that vvhen it ſtood, it vvas like a Cocke, for it hadde a bunch on the toppe of the head, and yet it vvanted both Fethers and Winges: The tayle was as long as the body, in the top whereof there was a round bunch as big as the head of an Italian Stellian. It is very likely that this beaſt is of the kind of Cockatrices.

Now we are to intreate of the poyſon of this ſerpent, for it is a hot and venomous poiſon, infecting the Ayre round about, ſo as no other Creature can liue neare him, for it killeth, not onely by his hiſſing and by his ſight, (as is ſayd of the Gorgons,) but alſo by his touching, both immediately and mediately, that is to ſay; not onely vvhen a man toucheth the body it ſelfe, but alſo by touching a Weapon wherewith the body was ſlayne, or any other dead beaſt ſlaine by it, and there is a common fame, that a Horſe-man taking a Speare in his hand, which had beene thruſt through a Cockatrice, did not onely draw the poyſon of it into his owne body and ſo dyed, but alſo killed his Horſe thereby. Lucan writeth;

Quid prodest miſeri Baſiliſcus cuſpide Mauri Tranſactus? velox currit per tela venenum, Inuadit manumque equumque.

In Engliſh thus;

What had the Moore to kill The Cockatrice with ſpeare, Sith the ſwift poyſon him did ſpill, And horſe that did him beare.

The queſtion is in what part of this Serpent the poyſon doth lye; Some ſay in the head alone, and that therefore the Bazeliske is deafe, bycauſe the Ayre which ſerueth the Organe of hearing, is reſolued by the intenſiue calidity: but this ſeemeth not to P •… bee true, that the poyſon ſhoulde bee in the head onely, becauſe it killeth by the fume of the whole body, and beſides when it is dead it killeth by onely touching it, and the Man or Beaſt ſo ſlayne, doth alſo by touching kill another: Some agayne ſay, that the poyſon is in the breaſt, and that therefore it breatheth at the ſides, and at many other places of the body, through and betwixt the ſcales; which is alſo true, that it doth ſo breath: for otherwiſe the burning fume that proceedeth from this poyſonfull beaſt, would burne vppe the Intrals thereof, if it came out of the ordinary place; and therefore Almighty GOD hath ſo ordained, that it ſhould haue ſpiraments and breathing places in euery part of the body, to vent away the heate, leaſt that in very ſhort time, by the iucluſion thereof, the whole compage and iuncture of the body ſhould be vtterly diſſolued, and ſeparated one part from another.

But to omit inquiry in what part of his body the poyſon lyeth, ſeeing it is moſt manifeſt that it is vniuerſall, we will leaue the ſeate thereof, and diſpute of the inſtruments and effectes.

Firſt of all therefore it killeth his owne kinde, by ſight, hearing, and touching. By his owne kinde, I meane other Serpentes, and not other Cockatrices, for they can liue one beſide another, for if it were true (which I doe not beleeue) that the Arabian Harmene were any other Serpent then a Cockatrice, the very ſame reaſon that Ardoynus giueth of the fellowſhippe of theſe two Serpents together, (becauſe of the ſimilitudes of their natures) may very vvell prooue that no diuers kindes can liue ſo well together, in ſafety without harming one or other, as doe one and the ſame kind together. And therefore there is more agreement in nature betwixt a Cockatrice and a Cockatrice, then a Cockatrice and Harmene, and it is more likely that a Cockatrice dooth not kill a Cockatrice, then that a Cockatrice doth not kill an Harmene: And againe, Cockatrices are ingendered by Egges, according to the Holy Scripture; and therefore one of them killeth not another by touching, hiſſing, or ſeeing, becauſe one of them hatcheth another. But it is a queſtion whether the Cockatrice dye by the ſight of himſelfe: ſome haue affirmed ſo much, but I dare not ſubſcribe therevnto, becauſe in reaſon it is vnpoſſible, that any thing ſhould hurt it ſelfe, that hurteth not another of his owne kinde, yet if in the ſecret of nature GOD haue ordayned ſuch a thing, I will not ſtriue againſt them that can ſhew it.

And therefore I cannot without laughing remember the olde Wiues tales of the Vulgar Cockatrices that haue bin in England; for I haue oftentimes heard it related confidently, that once our Nation was full of Cockatrices, and that a certaine man did deſtroy them by going vppe and downe in Glaſſe, whereby their owne ſhapes were reflected vpon their owne faces, and ſo they dyed. But this fable is not worth refuting, for it is more likely that the man ſhould firſt haue dyed by the corruption of the ayre from the Cockatrice, then the Cockatrice to die by the reflection of his owne ſimilitude from the glaſſe, except it can be ſhewed that the poyſoned ayre could not enter into the glaſſe wherein the man did breathe.

Among all liuing creatures, there is none that perriſheth ſooner then dooth a man by the poyſon of a Cockatrice, for with his ſight he killeth him, becauſe the beames of the Cockatrices eyes, doe corrupt the viſible ſpirit of a man, which viſible ſpirit corrupted, all the other ſpirits comming from the braine and life of the hart, are thereby corrupted, & ſo the man dyeth: euen as women in their monthly courſes doe vitiat their looking-glaſſes, or as a Wolfe ſuddainly meeting a man, taketh from him his voyce, or at the leaſt-wiſe maketh him hoarſe.

To conclude, this poyſon infecteth the ayre, and the ayre ſo infected killeth all liuing things, and likewiſe all greene things, fruites, and plants of the earth: it burneth vp the graſſe where-vppon it goeth or creepeth, & the fowles of the ayre fall downe dead when they come neere his denne or lodging. Some-times hee byteth a man or a beaſt, and by that wound the blood turneth into choller, and ſo the whole body becommeth yellow as gold, preſently killing all that touch it, or come neere it. The ſymptomes are thus deſcribed by Nicander, with whoſe words I will conclude this Hiſtorie of the Cockatrice, writing as followeth:

Quod ferit hic, multo corpus ſuccenditur igne, A membris reſoluta ſuis caro defluit, & fit Lurida & obſcuro nigreſcit opaca colore. Nullae etiam volucres quae faeda cadauera paſcunt, Sic occiſum hominem tangunt, vt vultur, & omnes; Huic ſimiles alia, pluuiae quoque nuncius aura Coruus, nec quaecun que fera per deuia lustra Degunt étali capiunt ſibi tabula carne. Tum teter vacuas odor hinc exhalat in auras, Atque propinquantes penetrant non ſegniter artus; Sin cogente fame ventens aproximet ales Triſtia fata refert, certam que ex aëre mortem,

Which may be engliſhed thus;

When he doth ſtrike, the body hurt is ſet on fire, And from the members falleth off the fleſh, withall, It rotten is, and in the colour blacke as any myre. Refus'd of carrion-feeding-birds both great and ſmall Are all men ſo deſtroyed. No Vulture or Bitter fierce, Or weather-telling-Crow, or deſerts wildeſt beaſt, Which liue in dennes ſuſtaining greateſt famines force, But at their tables doe this fleſh deteſt. Then is the ayre repleate with's lothſome ſmell, Piercing vitall parts of them approaching neere, And if a bird it tast to fill his hunger fell, It dyes aſſured death, none neede it feare.

OF THE CORDYLL.

ALthough I finde ſome difference about the nature of this lyuing creature, and namely whether it bee a Serpent or a Fiſhe, yet becauſe the greater and better part make it a Serpent, I will alſo bring it in his due order in this place for a venomous beaſt. Geſner is of opinion, that it is no other but a Lizard of the Water, but this cannont agree with the deſcription of Aristotle & Bellonius, who affirme the Cordill to haue Gilles like a Fiſh, and theſe are not found in any Lizard. The Graecians call this Serpent Kordule, and Kordulos, whereof the Latines deriue or rather borrow their Cordulus, and Cordyla. Numenius maketh this a kind of Salamander which the Apothecaryes do in many Countryes falſely ſell for the Scincus or Corcodile of the Earth, and yet it exceedeth the quantity of a Salamander, being much leſſe then the crocodile of the earth, hauing gils, and wanting fins on the ſides, alſo a long taile, and according to the proportion of the body, like a Squirrels, although nothing ſo big, vvithout ſcabs: the back being bald and ſome what black, & horrible rough, thorow ſome bunches growing therupon, which being preſſed do yeald a certain humor like milk, which being ſayd to the Noſthrils doth ſmell like poyſon, euen as it is in a Salamander. The beake or ſnout is very blunt or dull, yet armed with very ſharp teeth. The clawes of his forelegges are diuided into foure, and on his hinderlegges into fiue: there is alſo a certaine fleſhy fin growing all along from the crowne of his head, vnto his tayle vppon the backe, which when he ſwimmeth hee erecteth, & by it is his body ſuſtained in the water from ſinking, for his body is mooued with crooked winding, euen as an Eele or a Lamprey.

The inward parts of this Serpent are alſo thus deſcribed. The tongue is ſoft and ſpungy, like as is the tongue of a Water-Frogge, wherewith as it were with Glew, he draweth to his mouth, both Leches and Wormes of the earth, whereupon it feedeth. At the roote of his tongue there is a certaine bunch of fleſh, which as I thinke ſupplieth the place of the lightes, for when it breatheth, that part is eſpecially mooued, and it panteth too & fro, ſo that thereby I gather, either it hath the Lights in that place, or elſe in ſome other place neere the iawes. It wanteth ribs as doth the Salamander, and it hath certain bones in the backe, but not like the ordinary back-bone of other ſuch Serpents. The heart is alſo all ſpungy, & cleaueth to the right ſide, not to the left: the left care whereof ſupplyeth the place of the Pericadium.

The liuer is very blacke, and ſomewhat clouen at the bending or ſloape ſide: the melt ſomewhat red, cleauing to the very bottome of the ventricle. The reynes are alſo very ſpungy, ioyned almoſt to the Legges, in which parts it is moſt fleſhy, but in other places eſpecially in the belly and breaſt, it is all skinne and bone. It alſo beareth Egges in her place of conception, which is forked or double, which are there diſpoſed in order, as in other liuing griſtly creatures. Thoſe Egges are nouriſhed with a kinde of red fatte, out of which in due time come the young ones aliue, in as great plenty and number as the Salamanders. And theſe thinges are reported by Bellonius, beſides whom I finde nothing more ſaid, that is worthy to be related of this Serpent, and therefore I will here conclude the Hiſtory thereof.

OF THE CROCODILE.

BEcauſe there be many kinds of Crocodiles, it is no maruaile although ſome haue taken the word Crocodilus for the Genus, and the ſeuerall Species, they diſtinguiſh into the Crocodile of the Earth and the water. Of the earth are ſub-diuided into the Crocodiles of Breſilia, and the Scincus: the Crocodiles of the water into this here deſcribed, which is the vulgar one, and that of Nilus, of all which we ſhall entreat in order, one ſucceſſiuely following another. But I will not contend about the Genus or Species of this word, for my purpoſe is to open their ſeuerall natures, ſo far as I haue learned, wherein the works of almighty God may be knowne, and will leaue the ſtrife of wordes to them that ſpend their wittes about tearmes & ſillables only. Thus much I find, that the auncients had three generall tearmes for all Egge-breeding Serpentes. Namely, Rana, Testudo, Lacerta: And therefore I may forbear to intreate of Crocodilus as a Genus & handle it as a ſpecies, or particular kinde. The Hebreus haue many words which they vſe for a Crocodile. Koah Leuit. 11. which the Arabians render Hardun, and the Perſi • ds Sanga, which word commeth neere the Latine worde Scincus for a Crocodile of the earth, and yet that word Koah by Saint Ierom and the Septuagints is tranſlated a Chamaeleon.

In the ſame place of Leuiticus the word Zab is interpreted a kinde of Crocodile: where-withall Dauid Kimhi confoundeth Gereſchint, and Rabbi Salomon, Faget. The Chaldes tranſlate in Zaba. The Perſians An Raſu. The Septuagints a Crocodile of the earth, but it is better to follow Saint Hierom in the ſame, becauſe the Text addeth according to his kinde, wherefore it is ſuperfluous to adde the diſtinction of the crocodile of the Earth, except it were lawful to eate the Crocodiles of the water.

In Exod. 8. there is a Fiſh called Zephardea, which commeth out of the waters and eateth men, this cannot agree to any Fiſh in Nilus, ſaue onely the Crocodile; and therefore this word is by the Arabians rendered Al Timaſch. Some do hereby vnderſtand Pagulera, Grenelera, & Batrichoi, that is great frogs. Aluka by moſt of the Iewes vnderſtand a Horſleach, Pro. 30. but Dauid Kimhi taketh and vſeth it for a Crocodile. For he ſayth, it is a great Worme, abiding neere the Riuers ſides, and vpon a ſudden ſetteth vpon men or cattell as they paſſe beſides him. Tiſma and Alinſa are by Auicen expounded for a crocodile: and Tenchea for that Crocodile that neuer moueth his neather or vnder chap. 〈1 line〉 ſhipped by the inhabitants, and kept tame by the Prieſtes in a certaine Lake, this ſacred Crocodile is called Suchus, and this word commeth neere to Scincus, which as wee haue ſaid, ſignifieth any Crocodile of the earth, from which the Arabian Tinſa ſeemeth alſo to be deriued, as the Egyptian Thampſai doth come neere to the Arabian Treniſa. Herodotus calleth them Champſai, and this was the old Ionian word for a Vulgar Crocodile in hedges. Vppon occaſion whereof Scaliger ſaith, hee asked a Turke by what name they call a Crocodile at this day in Turky, and he aunſwered Kimpſai, which is moſt euidently corrupted from Champſai.

The Egyptians vulgarly call the Crocodile of Nilus, Cocatrix, the Graecians Neilokrokadeilos, generally Krocodeilos, and ſometimes Dendrites. The Latines Crocodilus, and Albertus, Crocodillus, and the ſame word is retayned in all languages of Europe. About the Etymologie of this word, I find two opinions not vnprofitable to be rehearſed: the firſt, that Crocodilus commeth of Crocus, Saffron, becauſe this beaſt, eſpecially the Crocodile of the earth, is afrayd of Saffron, and therefore the country people, to defend theyr Hiues of Bees and hony from them, ſtrow vpon the places Saffron. But this is too farre fetched, to name a beaſt from that which it feareth, and beeing a ſecrete in nature, it is not likelie that it was diſcouered at the firſt, and therefore the name muſt haue ſome other inueſtigation.

Iſidorus ſaith, that the name Crocodilus commeth of Croceus color, the colour of Saffron, becauſe ſuch is the colour of the Crocodile: and this ſeemeth to be more reaſonable • For I haue ſeene a Crocodile in England brought out of Egypt dead, and killed vvith a Musket, the colour whereof was like to Saffron growing vpon the ſtalkes in fieldes. Yet it is more likely, that the deriuation of Varinus and Eustathius was the originall, for they ſay that the ſhores of ſands on the Riuers, were called Croc • and Croculae: and becauſe the Crocodiles haunt & liue in thoſe ſhores, it might giue the name to the beaſts, becauſe the water Crocodiles liue and delight in thoſe ſandes, but the Land or earth Crocodiles abhorre and feare them.

It is reported that the famous Grammarian Artemidorus ſeeing a Crocodile lying vppon the ſands, he was ſo much touched and moued there-with, that he fell into an opinion Aurelianus that his left legge and hand were eaten off by that Serpent, and that thereby he loſt the remembrance of all his great learning and knowledge of Artes. And thus much for the name of this Serpent.

In the next place we are to conſider the Countries wherein Crocodiles are bred, and keepe theyr habitation, and thoſe are eſpecially Egypt, for that onely hath Crocodiles of Ariſtotle Mela. Diod. Sicul. both kindes, that is, of the water and of the Land, for the Crocodiles of Nilus are Amphibij, & liue in both elements: they are not only in the riuer Nilus, but alſo in all the pooles neere adioyning. The Riuer Bambotus neere to Atlas in Affrica, doth alſo bring foorth Crocodiles: and Pliny ſaith, that in Darat a Riuer of Mauritania, there are Crocodiles ingendered. Likewiſe Apollonius reporteth, that when he paſſed by the Riuer Indus, he met with many Sea-horſes and Crocodiles, ſuch as are found in the Riuer Nilus, and beſides theſe countryes I doe not remember any other, wherein are ingendered crocodiles of the water, which are the greateſt and moſt famous Crocodiles of all other.

The Crocodiles of the earth, which are of leſſer note and quantitie, are more plentiful, for they are found in Libia, & in Bithinia, where they are called Azaritia, & in the Mountaine Syagrus in Arabia, and in the vvoods of India, as is well obſerued by Arianus, Dioſcorides, and Hermolaus, and therefore I will not proſecute this matter any further.

The kindes being already declared, it followeth that we ſhould proceed to their quantitie and ſeuerall parts. And it appeareth that the water Crocodile is much greater, and Marcellinus Herodotus. Iſidore. more noble, then the Crocodiles of the earth; for they are not aboue two cubites long, or ſome-times eyght at the moſt, but the other are ſixteene, and ſometimes more. And beſides, theſe crocodiles, if they lay their egges in the water (ſaith Bellunenſis) thē their young ones are much greater, but if on the Land, then are they leſſer, and like the Crocodiles of the earth. In the Riuer Ganges there are two kinds of Crocodiles, one of them is harmeleſſe, & doth no hurt to any creature, but the other is a deuouting vnſatiable beaſt, killing 〈1 line〉 ſnoute there groweth a bunch like a horne.

Now a Crocodile is like a Lyzard in all poynts (excepting the tayle, and the quantity of a Lyzard,) yet it layeth an egge no greater then a Gooſes egge, and from ſo ſmall a beginning ariſeth this monſtrous Serpent, growing all his life long, vnto the length of fifteene or twenty cubits. And as Phalareus witneſſeth, in the dayes of Pſammitichus King of Egypt, there was one found of fiue and twenty cubits long: and before that, in the dayes of Amaſis, one that was aboue ſixe and twenty cubits long, the reaſon whereof was theyr long life, and continuall growth.

Wee haue ſhewed already, that the colour of a Crocodile is like to Saffron, that is, betwixt yellow and redde, more inclining to yellow then redde, not vnlike to the blacker kind of Chamaeleon: but Peter Martyr ſaith, that their belly is ſomewhat whiter then the other parts. Their body is rough all ouer, beeing couered with a certaine barke or rinde, ſo thicke, firme and ſtrong, as it will not yeelde (and eſpecially about the backe) vnto a cart-wheele when the cart is loaded, and in all the vpper parts, and the tayle, it is impenitrable with any dart or ſpeare, yea ſcarcely to a piſtoll or ſmall gunne, but the belly is ſofter, whereon he receiueth wounds with more facility: for as wee ſhall ſhew afterwardes, there is a kind of Dolphine which commeth into Nilus, and fighteth with them, wounding them on the belly parts.

The couering of their backe is diſtinguiſhed into diuers deuided ſhells, ſtanding vppe farre aboue the fleſh, and towardes the ſides they are leſſe emynent, but on the belly they are more ſmooth, white, and very penitrable. The eyes of a Crocodile of the vvater, are reported to be like vnto a Swines, and therefore in the vvater they ſee very dimlie, but out of the water they are ſharpe and quicke ſighted, like to all other foure-footed Serpents that lay egges. They haue but one eye-lidde, & that groweth from the nether part Caelius Rho • of the cheeke, which by reaſon of their eyes neuer twinckleth. And the Egyptians ſay, that onely the Crocodile among all the liuing creatures in the water, draweth a certaine thin bright skinne from his fore-head ouer his eyes, where-withall hee couereth his ſight: and this I take to be the onely cauſe of his dimme ſight in the waters.

The head of this beaſt is very broade, and his ſnoute like a Swynes. When hee eateth or byteth, he neuer mooueth his neather or vnder chappe. Whereof Aristotle giueth this reaſon, that ſeeing Nature hath giuen him ſo ſhort feete, as that they are not able to hold Herodotus Pliny. Solinus. Marcelinus. or to take the prey, therefore the mouth is framed inſtead of feete, ſo as it may more vehemently ſtrike and wound, and alſo more ſpeedily mooue and turne after the prey, and this is better done by the vpper thē the nether chap. But it is likely that hee was not deceiued, although he ſpeaketh of Crocodilus Marinus, a crocodile of the ſea: vvheras there is no Crocodile of the Sea, but rather ſome other monſter like a Crocodile in the ſea, and ſuch peraduenture Albertus ſaw, and there-vpon inconſideratly affirmed, that all Crocodiles moue theyr vnder-chapps, except the Tenchea. But the learned Veſſalius prooueth it to be otherwiſe, becauſe that the nether chappe is ſo conioyned and faſtned to the bones of the temples, that it is not poſsible for to be moued. And therfore the Crocodile onely among all other liuing creatures, moueth the vpper-chap, and holdeth the vnder-chap vnmoueable.

The ſecond wonder vnto this, is that the Crocodile hath no tongue, nor ſo much as any Albertus. Herodotus. appearance of a tongue. But then the queſtion is, how it commeth to diſtinguiſh the ſapours and taſt of his meate. Where-vnto Aristotle aunſwereth, that this Crocodile is ſuch a rauening beaſt, that his meate tarrieth not in his mouth, but is carryed into his ſtomacke, like as other water-beaſts, and therefore they diſcerne ſapours, and relliſh theyr meate more ſpeedily thē other; for the water or humour falleth ſo faſt into their mouthes, that they cannot ſtand long vppon the taſt or diſtaſte of their meate. But yet ſome make queſtion of this, and they aunſwere that moſt men are deceiued heerein, for whiles they looke for his tongue vpon his nether-chap, as it is in all other beaſts, and find none, they conclude him to want that part: but they ſhould conſider, that the tongue cleaueth to the moueable part, and as in other beaſts the nether-chap is the ſeate of the tongue, becauſe of the motion, ſo in this the tongue cleaueth to the vpper-chappe, becauſe that it is moueable, and yet not viſible as in other, and therefore is very hardly diſcerned. For all this, I rather conclude with the former Authours, that ſeeing it liueth both in the waters and on the land, and therefore it reſembleth a fiſh and a beaſt, as it reſembleth a beaſt, locum obtinet lingua, it hath a place for a tongue, but as it reſembleth a fiſh, Elinguis est, it is without a tongue. It hath great teeth ſtanding out, all of them ſtand out before viſibly when the mouth is ſhut, and fewer behind. And whereas Ariſtotle writeth, that there is no liuing creature which hath both dentes prominentes, & ſerratos, that is, ſtanding out, and deuided like a ſaw, yet the Crocodile hath both. Theſe teeth are white, long, ſharpe, & a little crooked and hollow, their quantity well reſembling the reſidue of the proportion of the body: and ſome ſay, that a crocodile hath three rowes of teeth, like the Lion of Chius, & T. Martyr like the Whale, but this is not an approoued opinion, becauſe they haue no more then 60. teeth. They haue alſo 60. ioynts or bones in the back, which are alſo tied together with ſo many nerues. The opening of his mouth reacheth to the place of his eares, and there be ſome Crocodiles in Ganges which haue a kind of little horne vpō their noſes or ſnout. The Aelianus melt is very ſmall, & this ſomeſay is onely in them that bring forth egges, their ſtones are inward & cleaue to their loynes. The taile is of the ſame length that the whole body hath, and the ſame is alſo rough & armed with hard skin vpon the vpper part & the ſides, but beneath it is ſmooth & tender. It hath finnes vpō the tayle, by the benefit wherof it ſwimmeth, as alſo by the help of the feete. The feet are like a Beares, except that they are couered with ſcales in ſtead of haire; their nailes are very ſharp & ſtrong, for if it had a thumbe as well as it hath feet, the ſtrength thereof would ouer-turne a ſhip. It is doubtful whether it hath any place of excrement except the mouth: And thus much for the ſeuerall parts of the Crocodile.

The knowledge alſo of the naturall actions & inclinations of Crocodiles is requiſite to be handled in the next place, becauſe that actions folow the members as ſounds do inſtruments. Firſt therfore, although Ariſtotle for the moſt part ſpeaking of a Crocodile, calleth it aquatilis & fluuiatilis, yet it is not to confine it to the waters & riuers, as though it neuer came out of thē like fiſhes, but onely to note that particuler kind which differeth frō them of the earth, for it is certaine that it liueth in both elements, namely earth & water: & for the time that it abideth in the water, it alſo taketh ayre, & not the humour or moiſtnes of the water, yet can they not want either humor of the water or reſpiration of the ayre: and for the day time it abideth on the land, & in the night in the water, becauſe in the day, the Herodotus P •• y. earth is hoter then the water, & in the night, the water warmer then the earth: & while it liueth on the land, it is ſo delighted with the ſun-ſhine, & lieth therein ſo immoueable, that a man would take it to be ſtark dead. The eyes of a Crocodile (as we haue ſaid) are dull & blind in the water, yet they appeare bright to others, for this cauſe, whē the Egyptians wil ſignifie the ſun-riſing, they picture a Crocodile in the water looking vpward to the earth, & when they will ſignifie the weſt, they picture a Crocodile diuing into the water, and ſo for the moſt part the crocodile lyeth vpon the banks, that he may either diue into the water with ſpeed or aſcend to the earth to take his prey.

By reaſon of the ſhortnes of his feet, his pace is very ſlow, & therefore it is not only eaſie to eſcape from him by flight, but alſo if a man do but turne aſide & wind out of the direct way, his body is ſo vnable to bend it ſelfe, that hee can neither wind nor turne after it. Whē they go vnder the earth into their caues, like to all other foure-footed & egge-breeding ſerpents, as namely Lizards, Stellions, & Torteiſes, they haue all their legs ioyned to their ſides, which are ſo retorted as they may bend to either ſide, for the neceſsity of couering their egges, but when they are abroad, and goe bearing vp all their bodies, then they bend only outward, making their thighes more viſible. It is ſom-what queſtionable, whether they lye hid within their caues 4. months or 60. daies, for ſome Authors affirme one thing, & ſome another, but the reaſon of the difference is taken from the condition of the cold weather, for which cauſe they lye hid in the winter-time. Now foraſmuch as the winter in Egypt is not vſually aboue foure months, therfore it is taken that they lye but foure months, but if it be by accidēt of cold wether prolonged longer, thē for the ſame cauſe the crocodile is the longer time in the earth. During the time they lye hid, they eate nothing, but ſleepe (as it is thought) immoueably, & when they come out againe, they do not caſt their skinnes as other Serpents doe.

The tayle of a Crocodile is his ſtrongeſt part, and they neuer kill any beaſt or man, but firſt of all they ſtrike him downe and aſtoniſh him with their tailes, and for this cauſe, the Egyptians by a Crocodiles tayle doe ſignifie death & darknes. They deuoure both men and beaſts if they find them in theyr way, or neere the bankes of Nilus, wherein they abide, Orus. taking ſometimes a calfe from the cow his damme, and carrying it whole into the waters. And it appeareth by the portraiture of Nealces, that a Crocodile drew in an Aſſe into Nilus as he was drinking, and therefore the dogges of Egypt by a kind of naturall inſtinct, do not drinke but as they runne, for feare of the Crocodiles: wherevpon came the prouerbe, Vt canis é Nilo bibit & fugit, as a dogge at one time drinketh and runneth by Nilus.

When they deſire fiſhes, they put their heads out of the water as it were to ſleepe, and then ſuddenly when they eſpy a booty, they leape into the waters vppon them and take them. After that they haue eaten and are ſatisfied, then they turne to the land againe; and as they lye gaping vpon the earth, the little bird Trochilus maketh cleane their teeth, and is ſatisfied by the remainders of the fleſh ſticking vppon them. It is alſo affirmed by Arnoldus, that it is fedde with mud, but the holy Crocodile in the Prouince of Arſinoe, is fedde Sira • o. with bread, fleſh, wine, ſweet and hard, ſodde fleſh and cakes, and ſuch like thinges as the poore people bring vnto it when they come to ſee it. VVhen the Egyptians will write a Orus. man eating or at dinner, they paynt a Crocodile gaping.

They are exceeding fruitefull and prolificall, and therfore alſo in Hieroglyphicks they are made to ſignifie fruitfulnes. They bring forth euery yeere, and lay their egges in the earth or dry land. For during the ſpace of three-ſcore dayes they lay euery day an egge, & within the like ſpace they are hatched into young ones, by ſitting or lying vpon them by courſe, the male one while, & the female another. The time of their hatching is in a moderate Aelianus. Solinus. and temperate time, otherwiſe they perriſh and come to nothing, for extremity of heate ſpoyleth the egge, as the buds of ſome trees are burned and ſcorched off by the like occaſion. The egge is not much greater then the egge of a Gooſe, and the young one out of the ſhell is of the ſame proportion. And ſo from ſuch a ſmall beginning doth this huge and monſtrous Serpent grow to his great ſtature, the reaſon whereof (ſaith Aristotle) is, becauſe it groweth all his life long, euen to the length of ten or moe cubits. When it hath layd the egges, it carryeth them to the place where they ſhall be hatched, for by a naturall prouidence and fore-ſight, it auoydeth the waters of Nilus, and therefore euer layeth her egges beyond the compaſſe of her floods: by obſeruation whereof, the people of Egypt know euery yeere the inundation of Nilus before it happen. And in the meaſure of this place it is apparent, that this beaſt is not indued onely with a ſpirit of reaſon, but alſo with Plutarch. a fatidicall or propheticall geographicall delineation, for ſo ſhee placeth her egges in the brimme or banke of the flood (before the flood commeth) that the water may couer the neſt, but not herſelfe that ſitteth vpon the egges. And the like to this is the building of the Beauer, as we haue ſhewed in due place before in the Hiſtory of Foure-footed beaſtes.

So ſoone as the young ones are hatched, they inſtantly fall into the depth of the vvater, but if they meete with frogge, ſnayle, or any other ſuch thing fit for their meate, they doe preſently teare it in peeces, the damme byteth it with her mouth, as it were puniſhing the puſillanimity thereof, but if it hunt greater things, and be greedy, rauening, induſtrious and bloody, that ſhe maketh much of, and killing the other, nouriſheth and tendereth this aboue meaſure: after the example of the wiſeſt men, who loue their childrē in iudgement, fore-ſeeing their induſtrious inclination, and not in affection, without regard of worth, vertue, or merrit. It is ſaid by Philes, that after the egge is layd by the Crocodile, many times there is a cruell ſtinging Scorpion which commeth out thereof, and woundeth Sclinus. the Crocodile that layde it. To conclude, they neuer proſper but neere the waters, and they liue threeſcore yeeres, or the age of a mans life.

The nature of this beaſt is to be fearefull, rauening, malitious, and trecherous in getting of his prey, the ſubtiltie of whoſe ſpirit, is by ſome attributed to the thinneſſe of his blood, and by other to the hardnes of his skin and hide. How it dealeth with her young ones, we haue ſhewed already, as it were trying their nature whether they will degenerate or no, and the like things are reported of the Aſpes, Cancers, & Torteyſes of Egypt.

From hence came the conceit of Pietas Crocodili, the pietie of the Crocodile. But as we haue ſaid, it is a fearefull Serpent, abhorring all manner of noyſe, eſpecially from the ſtrained voyce of a man, and where hee findeth himſelfe valiantly aſſaulted, there alſo hee is diſcouraged, and therefore Marcellinus ſaith of him, Audax Monstrum fugacibus, at vbi audacem ſenſerit timidiſsimum: An audacious Monſter to them that runne away, but moſt fearefull where he findeth reſiſtance.

Some haue written, that the Crocodile runneth away from a man if he winke with his left eye, and looke ſtedfaſtly vppon him with his right eye, but if this bee true, it is not to be attributed to the vertue of the right eye, but onely to the rareneſſe of ſight, vvhich is conſpicuous to the Serpent from one eye. The greateſt terrour vnto Crocodiles, as both Pe • : Mar: Seneca and Pliny affirme, are the inhabitants of the Ile Tentyrus within Nilus, for thoſe people make them runne away with their voyces, and many times purſue and take them in ſnares. Of theſe people ſpeaketh Solinus in this manner. There is a generation of men in the Ile Tentyrus within the waters of Nilus, which are of a moſt aduerſe nature to the Crocodile, dwelling alſo in the ſame place. And although their perſons or preſence be of ſmall ſtature, yet heerein is theyr courage admired, becauſe at the ſuddaine ſight of a Crocodile they are no whit daunted: for one of theſe dare meete and prouoke him to runne away. They will alſo leape into the Riuers and ſwimme after the Crocodile, and meeting with it, without feare caſt themſelues vppon the Beaſts backe, ryding on him as vppon a horſe. And if the Beaſt lift vppe his head to byte him, when hee gapeth they put into his mouth a wedge, holding it hard at both ends with both their hands, & ſo as it were with a bridle, leade, or rather driue them captiues to the Land, vvhere with theyr noyſe they ſo terrifie them, that they make them caſt vppe the bodies which they had ſwallowed into theyr bellies: & becauſe of this antypathy in nature, the Crocodiles dare not come neere to this Iland.

The like thing wee haue before in our generall diſcourſe of Serpents, ſhewed to be in the Indian Pſylli againſt the greateſt Serpents. And Strabo alſo hath recorded, that at what time crocodiles were brought to Rome, theſe Tentyrites folowed & droue thē. For whom there was a certaine great poole or fiſh-pond aſſigned and walled about; except one paſſage for the Beaſt to come out of the water into the ſun-ſhine: and when the people came to ſee them, theſe Tentyrites with nettes would draw them to the Land, & put them backe againe into the water at theyr owne pleaſure. For they ſo hooke them by theyr eyes, and bottome of theyr bellyes, which are their tendereſt partes, that like as horſes broken by theyr Riders, they yeelde vnto them, and forget theyr ſtrength in the preſence of theſe theyr Conquerours.

Peter Martyr in his third booke of his Babylonian Lagation, ſaith, that from the Cittie Cair to the Sea, the Crocodiles are not ſo hurtfull and violent as they are vp the Riuer Nilus into the Land, and againſt the ſtreame. For as you goe further vp the Riuer, neere the mountanie and hilly places, ſo ſhall you find them more fierce, bloody, and vnreſiſtable, whereof the inhabitants gaue him many reaſons. Firſt, becauſe that part of the Riuer which is betwixt the Citty Cair and the Sea, is very full of all ſorts of fiſhes, whereby the beaſts are ſo filled with deuouring of them, that they liſt not come out of the water on the Land to hunt after men or cattell, and therefore they are the leſſe hurtfull, for euen the Lyon and Wolfe doe ceaſe to kill & deuoure when theyr bellyes are full. But ſometimes the Crocodiles beneath the Riuer, follow the gales or troupes of fiſh vp the Riuer, like ſo many Fiſher-men, and then the Country Fiſher-men incloſe them in Nettes, and ſo deſtroy them. For there is a very great reward propoſed by the Law of the Country, to him that killeth a Crocodile of any great quantitie; and therefore they grow not great, and by reaſon of their ſmalnes are leſſe aduenturous. For ſo ſoone as a great Crocodile is diſcouered, there is ſuch watch and care taken to interrupt and kill him for hope of the reward, that he cannot long eſcape aliue.

Thirdly, the Crocodiles vp the Riuer, towards the Mountaines, are more hurtfull, becauſe they are preſſed with more hunger and famine, and more ſildome come within the terrour of men, wherefore they forſake the waters, and run vp and downe to ſeeke preyes to ſatisfie their hunger, which when they meet withall, they deuoure with an vnreſiſtable deſire, forced and preſſed forward by hunger, which breaketh ſtone walls. But moſt commonly when the Riuer Nilus is loweſt, and ſunck downe into the channell, then the Crocodiles in the waters doe growe moſt hungry, becauſe the fiſh are gone away with the floods; and then the ſubtile beaſt will heale and couer himſelfe ouer with ſand or mudde, and ſo lye in the banke of the Riuer, where hee knoweth the women come to fetch water, or the cattell to drinke, and when he eſpieth his aduantage, he ſuddainely taketh the woman by the hand that ſhe taketh vp water withall, and draweth her into the Riuer, where he teareth her in peeces and eateth her. In like ſort dealeth he with Oxen, Cowes, Aſſes, and other cattell. If hunger force him to the Land, and he meete with a Cammell, horſe, Aſſe, or ſuch like beaſt, then with the force and blowes of his tayle he breaketh his legges, and ſo laying him flat on the earth, killeth and eateth him: for ſo great is the ſtrength of a Crocodiles tayle, that it hath beene ſeene that one ſtroke thereof hath broken all the foure legges of a beaſt at one blow.

There is alſo another perrill by Crocodiles, for it is ſaide that when Nilus falleth, and the water waxeth low, the Barkes thorough want of wind, are faine by the Marriners to to be tugged vp the ſtreame with long lynes and cordes: the ſubtile Crocodile ſeeing the ſame, doth ſuddainely with his tayle ſmite the ſame line with ſuch force, that eyther hee breaketh it, or by his forcible violence tumbleth the Marriner downe into the vvater, whom he is ready to receiue with open mouth before he can recouer. Yea many times by meanes thereof the Barke it ſelfe ſo tottereth and reeleth, that the violent beaſt taketh a man out of it, or elſe cleane ouer-turneth it, to the deſtruction of all that are in it.

Aelianus ſaith, that among the Ombitae which are in Arſinoe, the Crocodiles are harmeleſſe, and hauing ſeuerall names when they are called, doe put their heads out of the vvater and take meate gently, which meate is the head and garbage of ſuch ſacrifices as are brought thether. But in another place hee writeth, that among the Ombitae or Coptitae, it is not ſafe for a man to fetch water from the Riuer, or to waſh theyr feete, or walke on the Riuers ſide, but with great caution and warines. For euen thoſe beaſtes which are moſt kindly vſed by men, doe rage againſt their Benefactours, as namely the Crocodile, the Ichneumon, the Wild-cats, and ſuch like. And yet Plutarch in his booke Vtra animalium, ſaith, that the Prieſtes, by the cuſtome of meate-giuing, haue made ſome of them ſo tame, that they will ſuffer theyr mouthes and teeth to be clenſed by men. And it is further ſaid, Marcelinus. that during the ſeauen Ceremoniall dayes of the natiuity of Apis, there is none of thē that ſheweth any wilde tricke or cruell part, but as it were by compact betwixt them and the Prieſtes, they lay aſide all cruelty and rage during that time.

And therefore Cicero writeth moſt excellently, ſaying; Egyptiorum morem quis ignoret? quorum imbutae mentes prauitatum erroribus, quamvis carnificinam potius ſubierint, quam ibim, aut aſpidem, aut crocodilum violent. That is to ſay, Who is ignorant of the cuſtome of the Egyptians? whoſe mindes are ſo ſeaſoned and indued with erronious wickedneſſe, that they had rather vnder-goe any torment, then offer violence to an Ibis, an Aſpe, or a holy Crocodile. For in diuers places, all theſe, and Cats alſo, were worſhipped by the people, according to the ſaying of Iuuenall.

Crocodilon aderat parshaec Egypti, Illa pauit ſaturam ſerpentibus Ibim.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

This part of Egypt Crocodiles adore, That, the Ibis, fed with Serpents ſtore.

But the reaſons of diuine worſhippe or honour giuen to the Crocodiles are worth noting, that the diligent Reader may the better haue ſome taſte of that auncient blindnes whereby our fore-fathers were miſleddge and ſeduced, to forſake the moſt glorious and euer-bleſſed principles of Diuinitie, for arguments of no waight.

Firſt therefore the Idolatrous Prieſtes, thought there was ſome diuine power in the Crocodile, becauſe it wanted a tongue, for the Deitie or Diuine ſpeech, hath no neede of a voyce to expreſſe his meaning, according to the ſaying of the Graecians, Kai di apſophoa bainoon keleuthon kai dikes, ta thueta agrikata diken: For by a mute and ſilent way it aſcendeth, and bringeth all things mortall to a vocall iuſtice, which ſpeaketh in action though not in voyce, euen as all that is in the Crocodile, is action and not voyce.

Secondlie, by reaſon of a certaine thinne ſmooth skinne comming from the midſt of his fore-head, where-withall it couereth his eyes, ſo that when it is thought to be blind, Caelius yet it ſeeth: euen ſo is it with the Diuine power, for euen then when it is not ſeene, yet doth it ſee perfectly all mortall things.

Againe, by theyr egges & neſts they vſually fore-ſhew the ouer-flowing of Nilus, to the infinite benefit of their country wherein they liue, for thereby the husband-men know when to till their Land, and when not, when to ſow and plant, and leade foorth theyr flockes, and when not: vvhich benefite is alſo aſcribed to Diuinitie, and therefore the Crocodile is honoured with diuine power.

Againe, it layeth threeſcore egges, & layeth threeſcore yeeres, which number of three-ſcore, was in auncient time the firſt dimenſion of heauen and heauenly things.

Cicero alſo ſpeaking againſt this Egyptian vanitie, ſaith, that they neuer conſecrated a beaſt for a God, but for ſome apparant vtilitie, as the Ibis for deuouring of Serpents, and the Crocodile for beeing a terrour to theeues: and therefore the Arabian and Lybian theeues durſt not come ouer the Riuer Nilus to robbe the Egyptians for feare of the Crocodiles.

There is a tale in Diodorus Siculus of the originall of a Crocodiles diuine worſhippe, which although it cannot be but fabulous, yet I haue thought good to inſert it in this place, to ſhew the vanitie of ſuperſtition and Idolatry. There was a King of Egypt called Minas, or as Herodotus calleth him Menes, who following his houndes in hunting into a certaine mariſh of Moeris, fell in with his horſe, and there ſtucke faſt, none of his follovvers daring to come after him to releaſe him, ſo that he had there perriſhed, had not a crocodile come and taken him vp vppon his backe, and ſette him ſafe vppon the dry Land. For which miracle, the ſaid King there built a Citty, and cauſed a Crocodile to be vvorſhipped, which was called Sychus by all the inhabitants of that Citty, and alſo gaue all the ſaid Mariſh of Moeris for the ſuſtenance of the ſame. It was nouriſhed with bread, fleſh, & wine, cakes, ſodde fleſh, and ſweete new wine: ſo that when any man came to the Lake wherein it was kept, the Prieſts would preſently call the Beaſt out of the water, and being come to the Land, one of them opened his mouth, and the other put in meate, delicacies, and VVine.

This Crocodile of Moeris, is the ſame that is called Arſinoe, and like to that at Thebes, about which they did hang iewels of gold, ſiluer, and iemmes of earings, bracelets, and ſuch other thinges of price. When it dyed, they did ſeaſon the body thereof with ſalt, & buried it in the holy Tombes or burying Pots. The ſame alſo are called Ombitae, I meane the people of that Egypt which dwell in Arſinoe, and for the loue of the Crocodiles, they abandon all manner of Hawkes their enemies, inſomuch that many times they take them and hang them vp in publique vpon gallowes for that purpoſe erected. And further, they Herodotus keepe certaine dayes of tryumphes like the Olympiades, and games of honour: and ſo farre they were blinded with that ſuperſtition, that they thought themſelues exceedingly bleſſed if they loſt their children by them, and thought themſelues much honoured, if they ſaw them with their eyes fetched out of the ſtreetes and playing places by Crocodiles.

Againe, all the Egyptians holde opinion, that the Crocodile is a Diuinatour, vvhich they prooue by the teſtimonie of Ptolomeus, who calling one of theſe ſacred Crocodiles, which was the oldeſt and beſt of all, he would not aunſwere him, and afterward offering him meate, he alſo refuſed it, whereat many wondered: and ſome of the Prieſts ſayde, it was ſome prognoſticall ſigne either of the Kings death or his owne, & ſo it fell out ſhortly after, for the ſame Crocodile dyed. As though a Swine might not as well be accounted diuine, ſeeing it alſo refuſeth all meate and prouocation, at the time of theyr ſicknes, and before death.

There is a citty in Egypt called Apollinopolis, the citty of Apollo, where the inhabitants abhor & condemne the worſhip of crocodiles, for when they take any of them they hang thē vp and beate them to death, notwithſtanding their teares & cryings, and afterward they eate them: but the reaſon of their hatred is, becauſe Typhon their auncient enemy, vvas clothed with a Crocodiles ſhape. Others alſo ſay, the reaſon of their hatred is, becauſe a Crocodile tooke away and deuoured the daughter of Pſamnites, and therfore they enioyned all their poſteritie to hate Crocodiles.

To conclude this diſcourſe of Crocodiles inclination, euen the Egyptians themſelues account a Crocodile a ſauage, and cruell murthering beaſt, as may appeare by their Hieroglyphicks, for when they will decypher a mad man, they picture a crocodile, who beeing Orus. put from his deſired prey by forcible reſiſtance, hee preſently rageth againſt himſelfe. And they are often taught by lamentable experience, what fraude & malice to man-kind liueth in theſe beaſts, for they couer themſelues vnder willowes & greene hollow bankes, Aelianus till ſome people come to the waters ſide to draw and fetch water, and then ſuddenly, or euer they be aware, they are taken and drawne into the water. And alſo for this purpoſe, becauſe he knoweth that he is not able to ouer-take a man in his courſe or chaſe, he taketh a great deale of water in his mouth, & caſteth it in the path-waies ſo that when they endeuour to run from the crocodile, they fall downe in the ſlippery path, and are ouer-taken & deſtroyed by him. The common prouerbe alſo, Crocodili lachrimae, the crocodiles teares, iuſtifieth the treacherous nature of this beaſt, for there are not many bruite beaſts that can weepe, but ſuch is the nature of the Crocodile, that to get a man within his danger, he will ſob, ſigh & weepe, as though he were in extremitie, but ſuddenly he deſtroyeth him. Others ſay, that the crocodile weepeth after he hath deuoured a man. How-ſoeuer it be, it noteth the wretched nature of hypocriticall harts, which before-hand will with fayned teares endeuour to do miſchiefe, or els after they haue done it be outwardly ſorry, as Iudas was for the betraying of Chriſt, before he went and hanged himſelfe.

The males of this kind do loue their females aboue all meaſure, yea euen to iealouſie, as may appeare by this one hiſtory of P. Martyr. About the time that hee was in thoſe countries, there were certaine Marriners which ſaw two Crocodiles together in carnall copulation vpon the ſands neere the Riuer, from which the water was lately fallen into a certaine Iland of Nilus, the greedy Marriners forſooke their ſhip, and betooke themſelues to a long boate, and with great ſhouting, hollowing & crying, made towards them in verie couragious manner: the male at the firſt aſſault fell amazed, & greatly terrified ran away as faſt as he could into the waters, leauing his female lying vpon her backe, (for whē they ingender, the male turneth her vpon her backe, for by reaſon of the ſhortnes of her legges ſhe cannot doe it her ſelfe) ſo the Mariners finding her vpon her back & not able to turne ouer her ſelfe, they eaſily ſlew her, and tooke her away with them. Soone after, the male returned to the place to ſeeke his female, but not finding her, and perceiuing blood vpon the ſand, coniectured truly that ſhe was ſlaine, wherefore hee preſently caſt himſelfe into the Riuer of Nilus againe, & in his rage ſwam ſtoutly againſt the ſtreame vntill hee ouertooke the ſhip wherein his dead femall was, which he preſently ſet vppon, lifting vp himſelfe and catching hold on the ſides, would certainly haue entered the ſame, had not the Marriners with all their force battered his head and hands with clubs and ſtaues; vntill he was wearied and forced to giue ouer his enterpriſe, & ſo with great ſighing and ſobbing departed frō them. By which relation it is moſt cleere what naturall affection they beare one to another, and how they chooſe out theyr fellowes, as it were fitte wiues and huſbands for procreation.

And it is no wonder if they make much of one another, for beſides thēſelues they haue few friends in the world, except the bird Trochilus and Swine, of whom I can ſay little, except this that followeth. As for the little bird Trochilus, it affecteth and followeth them for the benefit of his owne belly: for while the Crocodile greedilie eateth, there ſticketh faſt in his teeth ſome part of his prey, which troubleth him very much, & many times ingendereth wormes, then the beaſt to helpe himſelfe taketh land, and lyeth gaping againſt the ſunne-beames weſtward, the bird perceiuing it, flyeth to the iawes of the beaſt, and there firſt with a kind of tickling-ſcratching, procureth (as it were) licence of the Crocodile to pull foorth the wormes, and ſo eateth them all out, and clenſeth the teeth thoroughly, for which cauſe the Beaſt is content to permit the Bird to goe into his mouth. But when all is clenſed, the ingratefull Crocodile endeuoureth ſuddainely to ſhut his chappes together vppon the Bird, and to deuoure his friend, like a curſed wretch which maketh no reckoning of friendſhip, but the turne ſerued, requiteth good with euill. But Nature hath armed this little bird with ſharpe thornes vpon her head, ſo that while the Crocodile endeuoureth to ſhut his chaps and cloſe his mouth vpon it, thoſe ſharpe thornes pricke him into Ariſtotle Marcelinus. Aelianus. Leo Afric: his palate, ſo that full ſore againſt his vnkind nature, hee letteth her flye ſafe away. But where as there be many kinds of Trochili, which are greedy of theſe wormes or clenſings of the Crocodiles, ſome of them which haue not thornes on theyr heades pay for it, for there beeing not offence to let the cloſing of the Crocodiles mouth, they muſt needes be deuoured: and therefore this enforced amity betwixt him and the Crocodile, is onely to be vnderſtoode of the Claedororynchus, as it is called by Hermolaus.

There be ſome that affirme that he deſtroyeth all without exception that thus come into his mouth, and other-ſome ſay he deſtroyeth none, but when he feeleth his mouth ſufficiently clenſed, he waggeth his vpper chappe, as it were to giue warning of auoydance, Plutarch. and in fauour of the good turne, to let the bird flie away at his owne pleaſure. Howbeit, the other and former narration is more likely to be true, and more conſtantly affirmed by all good Authors except Plutarch. And Leo Afric: ſaith, that it was the conſtant and confident report of all Affrica, that the Crocodile deuoureth all for theyr loue and kindneſſe, except the Claedororynchi, which they cannot, by reaſon of the thornes vppon their head.

That there is an amitie and naturall concord betwixt Swine and Crocodiles is alſo gathered, becauſe they onely among all other liuing foure-footed beaſtes, doe without danger, Calcagninus. dwell, feede and inhabite vppon the banks of Nilus, euen in the midſt of the Crocodiles; and therefore it is probable that they are friends in nature. But oh how ſmall a ſum of friends hath this beaſt, and how vnwoorthy of loue among all creatures, that neuer in nature hath but two, in heauen or earth, ayre or water, that will aduenture to come neere it, and one of theſe alſo, which is the beſt deſeruing, it deuoureth and deſtroyeth, it it get it within his danger.

Seeing the friendes of it are ſo few, the enemies of it muſt needes be many, and therefore require a more large catalogue or ſtory. In the firſt ranke whereof commeth, (as worthy the firſt place, the Ichneumon, or Pharaohs-mouſe, who rageth againſt their egges and Diod: Sicul. their perſons, for it is certaine that it hunteth with all ſagacity of ſence to finde out theyr neſts, and hauing found them, it ſpoyleth, ſcattereth, breaketh & emptieth all theyr egs. They alſo watch the old ones aſleepe, and finding their mouthes open againſt the beames of the Sunne, ſuddenly enter into them, and being ſmall, creepe downe theyr vaſt & large Strabo. throates before they be aware, and then putting the Crocodile to exquiſite and intollerable torment, by eating their guttes aſunder, and ſo their ſoft bellies, while the Crocodile tumbleth to and fro ſighing and weeping, now in the depth of water, now on the Land, neuer reſting till ſtrength of nature fayleth. For the inceſſant gnawing of the Ichneumon ſo prouoketh her to ſeek her reſt in the vnreſt of euery part, herbe, element, throwes, throbs, rowlings, toſsings, mournings, but all in vaine, for the enemy within her breatheth thorough her breath, and ſporteth her ſelfe in the conſumption of thoſe vitall parts, vvhich waſt and weare away by yeelding to her vnpacificable teeth, one after other, till ſhee that crept in by ſtealth at the mouth, like a puny theefe, come out at the belly like a Conquerour, thorough a paſſage opened by her owne labour & induſtry, as we haue alſo ſhewed at large in the ſtory of Ichneumon. But whether it be true or no, that the Trochilus doth awake the ſleeping Crocodile, when he ſeeth the Ichneumon lye in waite to enter into her, I leaue it to the credite of Strabo the reporter, and to the diſcretion of the indifferent Reader.

Monkeyes are alſo the haters of Crocodiles, as is ſhewed in theyr ſtory, & lye in waite to diſcouer, and if it were in their power to deſtroy them. The Scorpion alſo & the crocodile are enemies one to the other, and therefore when the Egyptians will deſcribe the combat of two notable enimies, they paint a crocodile and a Scorpion fighting together, for euer one of them killeth another: but if they will decypher a ſpeedy ouerthrow to ones enemy, then they picture a Crocodile; if a ſlow and ſlacke victory, they picture a Scorpion. And as wee haue already ſhewed out of Philes, that out of the egges of crocodiles, many times come Scorpions, which deuoure and deſtroy them that lay them.

Fiſhes alſo in their kinde are enemies to Crocodiles, the firſt place whereof belongeth to the moſt noble Dolphin. Of theſe Dolphins it is thought there be two kinds, one bred in Nilus, the other forraine and comming out of the Sea, both of them profeſſed enemies to the Crocodile: for the firſt, it hath vpon the backe of it ſharp thorny prickles or finnes, as ſharp as any ſpeares poynt, which are well knowne to the fiſh that beareth them, as her armour and weapons againſt all aduerſaries. In the truſt and confidence of theſe prickles, the Dolphin will allure and draw out the Crocodile from his denne or lodging place, into the depth of the Riuer, and there fight with him hand to hand. For the Dolphin, as it knoweth his owne armour and defence, like other beaſts and fiſhes, ſo doth it knowe the weakeſt parts of his aduerſary, and where his aduantage of wounding lyeth. Now, as we haue ſaid already, the belly of the Crocodile is weake, hauing but a thinne skin, and penetrable with ſmall force, wherefore when the Dolphin hath the Crocodile in the midſt of Strabo. Solinus. the deepe waters, like one afrayd of the fight, vnderneath him he goeth, & with his ſharp finnes or prickles on his backe, giueth his weake and tender belly mortall wounds, whereby his vitall ſpirits, with his guts & entralls, are quickly euacuated. The other Dolphins of the Sea being greater, are likewiſe armed with theſe prickles, and of purpoſe come out of the Sea into Nilus to bid battell to the Crocodiles.

When Bibillus (a worthy Romane) was Gouernour of Egypt, hee affirmed that on a ſeaſon the Dolphins and the Crocodiles mette in the mouth of Nilus, and bade battell the one to the other, as it were for the ſoueraigntie of the waters, and after that ſharp combat, Senecae. it was ſeene how the Dolphins by diuing in the waters, did auoyd the byting of the Crocodiles, and the Crocodiles dyed by ſtrokes receiued from the Dolphins vpon their bellyes. And when many of them were by this meanes as it were cut aſunder, the reſidue betooke themſelues to flight, and ranne away, giuing way to the Dolphins. The Crocodiles doe alſo feare to meddle with the Sea-hogge, or Hog-fiſh, becauſe of his briſtles all about his head, which hurt him alſo when he commeth nigh him: or rather I ſuppoſe, as it is a friend to the Swine of the earth, and holdeth with them a ſympathy in nature, ſo it is vnto the Swine of the water, and forbeareth one in the Sea, as it doth the other on the Land.

There is likewiſe a certaine Wild-oxe or Bugill among the Parthians, which is an enemie to the Crocodile, for as Albertus writeth, if he find or meete with a Crocodile out of the water, he is not onely not afrayd of him, but taketh hart and ſetteth vppon him, and with the waight and violent agitation of his body, treadeth him all to pectes: & no maruaile, for all beaſts are enemies to the Crocodiles on the Land, euen as the Crocodile lyeth in waite to deſtroy all them in the water. Hawkes are alſo enemies to Crocodiles, & Orus. Aelianus. eſpecially the Ibis-bird, ſo that if but a feather of the Ibis come vpō the crocodile by chance, or by direction of a mans hand, it maketh it immoueable and cannot ſtirre. For vvhich cauſe, when the Egyptians will write or decypher a rau • ning, greedy, idle-fellowe, they paynt a Crocodile, hauing an Ibis feather ſticking in his head. And thus much for the enmitie betwixt the Crocodiles and other liuing creatures.

It hath beene ſildome ſeene that Crocodiles were taken, yet it is ſaide that men hunt them in the waters, for Pliny ſaith, that there is an aſſured perſwaſion, that with the gall and fat of a Water-Adder, men are wonderfully holpen, & as it were armed againſt Crocodiles, and by it enabled to take and deſtroy them, eſpecially when they carry alſo about them the herbe Potamegeton. There is alſo a kind of thorny Wilde-beane growing in Egypt, which hath many ſharpe prickles vpon the ſtalkes, this is a great terrour to the Crocodile, for he is in great dread of his eyes, which are very tender & eaſie to be wounded. Therefore he auoydeth their ſight, being more vnwilling to aduenture vpon a man that Creſcenſun: beareth them, or one of them, then he is to aduenture vpon a man in compleate Armour, and therefore all the people plant great ſtore of theſe, and alſo beare them in theyr hands when they trauaile.

There be many who in the hunting and proſecuting of theſe Crocodiles, doe neither giue themſelues to runne away from them, nor once to turne aſide out of theyr common path or roade, but in a fooliſh hardineſſe, giue themſelues to combat with the beaſt, when they might very well auoyd the danger, but many times it hapneth that they pay decrely for their raſhnes, and repent too late the too much reputation of their owne man-hoode: for whiles with their ſpeares and ſharpe weapons they thinke to pierce his ſides, they are deceiued, for there is no part of him penetrable except his belly, and that he keepeth ſafe enough from his enemies, blunting vpon his ſcales (no leſſe hard then plates ofyron) all the violence of theyr blowes and ſharpneſſe of weapons, but clubbes, beetles, and ſuch like weapons, are more irkeſome to him, when they be ſette on with ſtrength, battering the ſcales to his body, and giuing him ſuch knocks as doth diſmay and aſtoniſh him. Indeede Diodorus. there is no great vſe of the taking of this Serpent, nor profit of merchandize commeth thereby, his skinne and fleſh yeelding no great reſpect in the world.

In auncient time they tooke them with hookes bayted with fleſh, or els incloſed them with nettes as they doe fiſhes, and now and then with a ſtrong yron inſtrument caſt out a boat downe into the water vpon the head of the Crocodile. And among all other there is this one worthy to be related. The Hunter would take off the skin from a Swines backe and there-withall couer his hooke, whereby hee allured and inticed the Serpent into the midſt of the Riuer, & there making it faſt, hee went afterward to the next watering place, and there holding another Hogge, did beate and ſmyte him, till he cryed ardentlie, vvith which voyce or cry, the Crocodile beeing mooued, goeth preſently to the bayte & ſwalloweth Herodotus. it vppe, and maketh after the noyſe: at laſt, comming to the Land, the Hunter with valiant courage and diligence, caſteth mudde and durt into his eyes, and ſo blindeth him that he may oppreſſe and kill him with eaſe.

Leo Afric: relateth alſo this meanes or way to take Crocodiles: There be many Trees planted vpon the bankes of Nilus, vnto one of theſe there is a long and ſtrong rope tyed, and at the end of the ſame there is faſtened a hooke of a cubite long, and a finger in quantitie: vnto this hooke for a bayte, is tyed a Ramme or a Goate, which beeing ſette cloſe to the Riuer, and tormented with the hooke vppon which it is faſtened, cryeth out amaine, by hearing of whoſe voyce, the hunger-greedy Crocodile is rayſed out of his denne, and inuited as he thinketh to a rich prey, ſo hee commeth (although it ſelfe of a trecherous nature, yet ſuſpecteth not any other) and ſwalloweth the bayte, in which he findeth a hooke not to be diſgeſted. Then away he ſtriueth to goe, but the ſtrength of the rope ſtayeth his iourney, for as faſt as the bayte was to the rope and hooke, ſo faſt is he alſo enſnared and tyed vnto it, which while hee waueth and ſtrayneth to vnlooſe and breake, hee wearieth himſelfe in vaine. And to the intent that all his ſtrength may be ſpent againſt the tree and the rope, the Hunters are at one end thereof, and cauſe it to be caſt to and fro, pulling it in, and now letting it goe againe, now terrifying the beaſt with one noyſe and feare, and anone with another, ſo long as they perceiue in him any ſpirit of moouing or reſiſtance: ſo beeing quieted, to him they come, and with clubbes, ſpeares, beetles, ſtaues, and ſuch manner of inſtruments, pierce thorough the moſt tendereſt partes of his body and ſo deſtroy him.

Peter Martyr hath alſo other meanes of taking Crocodiles. Their nature is, that when they goe to the Land to forrage and ſeeke after a prey, they cannot returne backe againe but by the ſame footſteps of their own which they left imprinted in the ſand: whervpon, when the country people perceiue theſe footeſteppes, inſtantly with all the haſt they can make, they come with Spades and Mattocks and make a great ditch, and with boughes couer the ſame, ſo as the Serpent may not eſpy it, and vpon the boughes they alſo againe lay ſand to auoyde all occaſion of deceit, or ſuſpition of fraude at his returne: then vvhen all thinges are thus prepared, they hunt the Crocodile by the foote vntill they finde him, then with noyſes of bells, pannes, kettles, and ſuch like thinges, they terrifie and make him returne as faſt as feare can make him runne towardes the waters againe, and they folow him as neere as they can, vntill hee falleth into the ditch, where they come all about him, and kill him with ſuch inſtruments or weapons as they haue prepared for him: and ſo beeing ſlayne, they carry him to the great Cittie Caire, where for theyr reward they receiue ten peeces of gold, which amounteth to the value of ten nobles of our Engliſh coine.

There haue beene ſome brought into that Citty aliue, as P. Martyr affirmeth, whereof one was as much as two Oxen & two Cammels could beare and draw, and at the ſame time there was one taken by this deuiſe before expreſſed, which had entered into a village in Saetum neere Nilus, and ſwallowed vp aliue three young Infantes ſleeping in one cradle, the ſaid Infants ſcarcely dead were taken againe out of his belly, and ſoone after when no more tokens of life appeared, they were all three buried in a better & more proper graue of the earth. Then alſo there was another ſlaine, and out of his belly was taken a whole Ramme not diſgeſted, nor any part of him conſumed, and the hand of a woman which was bitten or torne off from her body aboue the wriſt, for there was vppon the ſame a Bracelet of Braſſe.

We doe read that Crocodiles haue beene taken and brought aliue to Rome. The firſt that euer brought them thither, was Marcus Scaurus, who in the games of his aedility, brought fiue forth and ſhewed thē to the people in a great pond of water, (which he had Pliny. Capitolinus. Lampridi •• . prouided onely for that time) & afterward to Heliogabalus and Antoninus Pius. The Indians haue a kinde of Crocodile in Ganges, which hath a horne growing out of his noſe like a Rhinocerot: vnto this beaſt they caſt condemned men to be deuoured, for in all their executions, they want not the helpe of men, ſeeing they are prouided of beaſtes to doe the office of Hang-men.

Aurelius Feſtiuus writeth, that Firmus a Tyrant of Aegypt beeing condemned to Nilus to be deuoured by Crocodiles, before hand bought a great quantity of the fat of Crocodiles, and ſo ſtripping himſelfe ſtarke naked, layde the ſame all ouer his body, ſo hee went among the Crocodiles and eſcaped death: for this ſauage beaſt beeing deceiued with the ſauour of it owne nature, ſpared the man that had but ſo cunningly carryed it. And this is a wonderfull worke of almighty GOD, that ſo ordereth his actions in the nature Uadian •… . of this beaſt, that he beguileth the cruell nature of the liuing, by the taſt and ſauour of the dead: how beit ſome thinke that the Water-Crocodile is daunted with the ſauour of the fat from the Land Crocodile, and the Land-Crocodile by the water againe.

And ſome againe ſay, that all venomous beaſtes runne away from the ſauour of the fat heereof; and therefore no maruaile if it alſo be afraide, being venomous, as well as any Aetius. other. Wherefore the ſaying of Firmus was not to bee attributed to any indulgence of the Crocodile toward their owne kinde, but rather to a deadly antipathy reflecting themſelues vppon themſelues, though not in ſhape and figure as the Cockatrice, yet in ſence, ſauour, and rankneſſe of their peſtiferous humour.

The vſe of crocodiles taken, is for their skinne, fleſh, caule, and medicine aryſing out of it. Their skinne as it is exceeding hard vppon their backes while they are aliue, ſo is it P: Martyr. alſo when they are dead, for with that the common people make them better armour then coats of Mayle, againſt Darts, Speare, or Shielde, as is well knowne in all Aegypt at this day. For the fleſh of crocodiles, it is alſo eaten among thoſe people that do not worſhip it: as namely, the people about Elephantina Apollinopolis. Notwithſtanding by the Herodoius. Law of God Leuit. 11. it is accounted an vncleane beaſt, yet the taſt thereof being found pleaſant, and the relliſh good, without reſpect of GOD or health, the common people make vſe thereof.

The medicines ariſing out of it are alſo many. The firſt place belongeth to the caule, which hath moe benefits or vertues in it, then can be expreſſed. The bloud of a crocodile Dioſcorid. is held profitable for many thinges, and among other it is thought to cure the bitings of any Serpent. Alſo by annoynting the eyes, it cureth both the dregs or ſpots of bloud in them, and alſo reſtoreth ſoundneſſe and cleareneſſe to the ſight, taking away all dulneſſe or deadneſſe from the eyes. And it is ſaid, that if a man take the liquor which commeth Pliny. from a peece of a crocodile fryed, and annoynte therewithall his wound or harmed part, that then he ſhall bee preſently rid of all paine and torment. The skinne both of the Land & water crocodile dryed into powder, and the ſame powder with Vineger Arnoldus. or Oyle, layd vpon a part or member of the body, to be feared, cut off, or lanced, taketh away all ſence and feeling of paine from the inſtrument in the action.

All the Aegyptians doe with the fat or ſewet of a crocodile annoynt all them that be ſick of Feauers, for it hath the ſame operation which the fat of a Sea-dogge or Dog-fiſh hath, and if thoſe parts of men and beaſts which are hurt or wounded with crocodiles teeth, be Aetius. annoynted with this fat, it alſo cureth them. Being concocted with water and Vineger, and ſo rowled vppe and downe in the mouth, it cureth the tooth-ach: and alſo it is outvvardly Rhazes. applyed agaynſt the byting of Flyes, Spyders, Wormes, and ſuch like, for this cauſe, as alſo becauſe it is thought to cure Wennes, bunches in the fleſh, and olde woundes. It is ſolde deare, and held pretious in Alcair. Scaliger writeth, that it cureth the Gangren. The canyne teeth which are hollow, filled with Frankinſence, and tyed to a man or woman which hath the tooth-ach, cureth them, if the party know not of the carrying them about: And ſo they write, that if the little ſtones which are in their belly be taken forth and ſo vſed, they work the ſame effect againſt Feauers. The dung is profitable againſt the falling off of the hayre, and many ſuch other things.

The biting of a Crocodile is very ſharp, deepe, and deadly, ſo that whereſoeuer he layeth his teeth, ſeldome or neuer followeth any cure. But yet the counſell of Phyſitions is, Aetius. that ſo ſoone as the patyent is wounded, he muſt be brought into a cloſe Chamber wher are no windowes, and there bee kept without change of ayre, or admiſſion of light, for the poyſon of the Crocodile worketh by cold Ayre and light; and therefore by the want Arnoldus. of both is to be cured. But for remedy (if any bee) they preſcribe the ſame which is giuen for the cure of the biting of a mad Dog, or (as Auicen) the byting of a Dogge not madde. But moſt proper is the dung of a man, the Fiſh Garum and Myſy pounded together, and ſo applyed, or elſe the broth of ſalt-ſod-fleſh, & ſuch other things as are vulgarly knowne to euery Phyſition: and therefore ſeeing we liue in a country far from the annoyance of this Serpent, I ſhall not neede to blot any Paper to expreſſe the cure of this poyſon.

The Crocodile of Nilus onely liueth on Land and water, all other are contented with Bellonius one element: the picture of the Crocodile was wont to be ſtamped vpon coyne, and the skinne hanged vp in many famous Citties of the world, for the admiration of the people, and there is one at this day at Paris in France.

OF THE ARABIAN OR AEGYPTIAN Land-Crocodile.

THe figure of this Crocodile ſheweth euidently the difference betwixt him and the other of Nilus; and beſide it is neither ſo tall or long as is the other, the which proportioned beaſt is onely particular to Aegypt and Arabia, and ſome becauſe of his ſcaly head, legges, articles, and clawes, haue obſerued another difference in it from the former: yet in his nature, māner of liuing & preying vpon other cattel, it differeth not from that of the Water. The tayle of this Crocodile is very ſharpe, and ſtandeth vp like the edges of wedges in bunches aboue the ground, wherewithall when: he hath mounted himſelfe vp vpon the backe of a beaſt, he beateth and ſtriketh the beaſt moſt cruelly, to make him go with his Rider to the place of his moſt fit execution, free from all reſcue of his Heard-man or Paſtor, or annoyance of Paſſengers, where in moſt cruell and ſauage manner he teareth the Limbes and parts one from another till he be deuoured. The Apothecaries of Italy haue this beaſt in their ſhops to be ſeene, and they call it Caudiuerbera, that is, a Tayle-bearer, for the reaſon aforeſaid. And thus there being nothing in this beaſtes nature different from the former, beſides his figure, and that which I haue already expreſſed, I will not trouble the Reader with any more Narration about it.

OF THE LAND CROCODIE of Breſilia.

THe figure and proportion of this ſerpent was altogether vnknowne in this part of the world, till of late our diſcouerers and nauigatours brought one of them out of Breſilia. The length of it is about a fathom, & the breadth as much as ten fingers broad: the forelegges haue tenne clawes, fiue vppon a foote, the hinder legges eight, and both before and behind they are of equall length. The tayle exceeding long, farre exceeding the quantity & proportion of his body, being marked all ouer with certaine white and yellowiſh ſpots. The skinne all couered with an equall, ſmooth, and fine coloured ſcale, which in the middeſt of the belly are white, and greater then in other parts. It can abide no water, for a little poured into the mouth killed it, and after it had beene two or three dayes dead, being brought to the fire, it mooued and ſtirred againe faintly, euen as thinges doth that lyeth a dying. It is not venomous nor hurtfull to eate; and therefore is digged out of his caue by any body ſafely without danger.

OF THE CROCODILE OF THE earth, called Scincus: a Scinke.

THere haue beene ſome that haue reckoned Scinkes and Lizards among Wormes, but as the Greeke wordes Erpetx, and Scolex, differ in moſt apparant dialect, and ſignification, and therefore it is an opinion not worth the confuting, for there are no worms of this quantity. But for the better explycation of the nature of this beaſt, becauſe ſome haue taken it for one kind, and ſome for another. ſome for a Crocodile, and others for a beaſt like a crocodile; wee are to know that there are three kindes of Crocodiles: the firſt is a water-beaſt or Serpent, and vulgarly tearmed a Crocodile, the ſecond is a Scinke or a Crocodile of the earth, which is in all partes like that of the water, except

in his colour and thickneſſe of his skinne: the third kinde of Crocodile is vnknowne to vs at this day, yet Pliny and others make mention of it, and deſcribe it to bee a beaſt hauing his ſcales like a Gorgon, growing or turning to his head from the tayle, and not as others do, from the head to the tayle.

The Graecians call this beaſt Skigkos, and ſome vnlearned Apothecaries Stincus, and Myrepſus Sigk. It is alſo called Kikeros, and the Haebrew Koach, doth more properly ſignifie this beaſt, then any other Crocodile or Chamaeleon, or Lizard. Some of the Haebrewes doe expound Zab for a Scinke, and from thence the Chaldaes and the Arabians haue their Dad and Aldab, turning Z into D: So we read Guaril and Adhaya, for a Scinke or Crocodile of the earth: Alarbian is alſo for the ſame ſerpent among the Arabians, Balecola, and Ballecara Schanchur, and Aſchanchur, and Askincor, and Scerantum, & Nudalep, and Nudalepi, are all of thē Synonymaes, or rather corrupted words for this crocodile of the earth. But there are at this day certain Pſeudoſcinkes ſet out to be ſeen & ſold by Apothecaries, that are nothing elſe but a kind of Water-Lizzard: but the true difference is betwixt them, that theſe water-Lizards are venomous, but this is not, and neither liuing in the Northerne partes of the world, nor yet in the water: and ſo much ſhall ſuffice for the name and firſt enterance into this Serpents Hiſtory.

They are brought out of the Eaſterne Countries, or out of Aegypt: yet the Monkes of Meſuen affirme, that they had ſeene Scinkes or Crocodiles of the earth about Rome. Syluaticus and Platearius in Apulia. But howſoeuer their affections may lead them to coniecture of this ſerpent, I rather beleeue that it is an Affrican beaſt, & ſeldome foūd in Aſia or Europe. They loue the bankes of Nilus, although they dare not enter the water, and for this cauſe ſome haue thought (but vntruely) that when the Crocodile layeth her egges in the water, the young is there alſo engendered and hatched, and is a Crocodile of the water, but if they lay theyr egges on the dry Land, from thence commeth the Scinke or Crocodile of the earth. This folly is euidently refuted, becauſe that they neuer lay egges in the water, but all vpon the dry Land. They are found (as I haue ſaid before) in Aegypt, and alſo in Affricke, and among the Lydians of Mauritania, otherwiſe called Lodya, or rather Lybia, among the Paſtorall or Plow-men-Affricans; among the Arabians, and neere the red Sea, for all thoſe at this day ſolde at Venice, are brought from thoſe partes. The greateſt in the world are in India, (as Cardan teacheth) who are in all thinges like Lizards, ſauing in their excrements, which ſmell or ſauour more ſtrongly, and generally the difference of their quantity ariſeth from the Country which they inhabite, for in the hotter and moyſter country they are greater, in the hotter dryer Region they are ſmaller, & generally they exceede not two or three cubits in length, with an anſwerable proportionable body, which is thus deſcribed.

There bee certaine croſſe lines which come along the backe one by one, ſomewhat white, and of a dusky colour, and thoſe that be dusky haue alſo in them ſome white ſpots. The vpper part of the necke is very dusky, the head and the tayle are more white, the feet and all the neather part of the breaſt and belly are white, with appearance vpon them of ſome ſcales, or rather the skinne figured in the proportion of ſcales: vppon either feete they haue fiue diſtinct fingers or clawes, the length of their Legges is a Thumbe and a halfe: that is, three inches, the tayle two fingers long, the body ſixe, ſo that the whole length from the head to the tippe of the tayle, (which is firſt thicke, and then very ſmall at the end) is about eyght fingers. When they haue taken them they bowell them, and fill theyr bodies with Sugar, and Silke of Wooll, and ſo they ſell them for a reaſonable price. That which I haue written of their length of eyght fingers, is not ſo to bee vnderſtood, as though they neuer exceeded or came ſhort of that proportion: for ſome-times they are brought into theſe partes of the World twenty or foure and twenty fingers long, ſometimes againe not aboue fiue or ſixe fingers long.

When they lay theyr Egges, they commit them to the earth, euen as the Crocodiles Ariſtotle. of the water doe. They liue vpon the moſt odoriferous flowers, and therefore is his fleſh ſo ſweete, and his dung or excrements odoriferous. They are enemies to Bees, and liue much about Hiues, inſomuch as ſome haue thought they did lay their Egges in Hiues, and there hatch their young ones: But the occaſion of this error was, that they ſavve young ones brought by theyr Parents into ſome Hiue, to feede vpon the labouring Bee. For the compaſſing of theyr deſire they make meale of any tree, which they haue ground in the Mill of their owne mouths, and that they mix with blacke Hellebor iuyce, or with the liquor of Mallowes, this meale ſo tempered they lay before the hiues, wherof aſſoone as the Bees taſt, they dye, and then commeth the Crocodile with her young ones, and lick thē vp; and beſide Bees, I doe not read they are hurtfull to any. The Indians haue a little beaſt about the quantity of a little Dogge, which they call Phattage, Aelianus. very like to a Scinke or Crocodile of the Earth, hauing ſharp ſcales, as cutting as a ſaw.

There is ſome hurt by this beaſt vnto men, for which cauſe I may iuſtly reckon it among the venomous, for if it chance to bite any man, if the wounded man fall into a ſeuer Rhazes. before he make water, he dyeth for it, but if he firſt make water, the beaſt dyeth and the man eſcapeth.

It is thought that it containeth a kind of naturall magicke, witch-craft, or ſorcery; and therefore they ſay it hath a ſtupifying power, changing the mind from louc to hatred, and from hatred to loue againe. The powder of this Serpent drunke in Wine, if it ſtirre venerous luſt, it hurteth the Nerues and ſinnewes. There be certaine magicall deuiſes rayſed out of this Serpent which are not woorth the writing, as not hauing in them any dram of wit, learning, or truth; and therefore I will not trouble the Reader with them, but follow on the concluſion of this Crocodiles ſtory in the Narration of the medicinall vertues, which are farre moe and more operatiue then thoſe in the former Crocodile, for I thinke Almighty GOD bleſſeth meekenes and innocency with exceſſe of grace in men and beaſtes, as may be ſeene in theſe two kindes of Crocodiles, the dung and excrement of the one, beeing more worth then the body of the other, through harmeleſſe innocency.

The body of this Serpent to be dryed, after it hath line long in ſalt, and to bee preſerued in Nooſewort, as Ruellius and Marcellus write: (but truth is, there is no need of Salt where Noſewort is applyed, becauſe the Arcrimony of this Hearb doth eaſily dry vp the moyſture of the beaſt, keeping Wormes from breeding in it.) With the powder thus prepared, venerious men ſtirre vp their luſtes. Mithridate is called Diaſincu, becauſe it is compounded of the Scinke or Crocodile of the earth, and it containeth in it a moſt noble Antidote againſt all poyſons. Gallen had an Antidote againſt Scorptions, which among other thinges containeth in it the fleſh of a Crocodile of the Earth, wherewithall he cured all them that had beene ſtung with Scorpions in Lybia. It is alſo good agaynſt the byting of mad beaſtes, and pleuriſes; againſt poyſoned Hony, or the crudity and loathing that commeth in the ſtomacke by eating of ſound Honny: It is profitable againſt empoyſoned Arrowes or Dartes, being taken immediately before or after the wound, as Apelles hath obſerued.

Serapio did make a medicine compounded of the dung of this Crocodile, and applyed the ſame againſt the falling ſickneſſe. Of the body of this Scinke, except the head and the feete being ſod or roſted, and eaten by them that haue the Sciattica, an old cough (eſpecially children,) or the paine of the loynes, giueth them much eaſe. They are alſo mixed with medicines againſt the paine of the feete, as Galen did for Amarantus the Grammartan. They are alſo good in medicine againſt the coldneſſe of the ſinnewes. This beaſt is very hot, and therefore increaſeth the ſeede of man, and prouoketh luſt; and for this purpoſe the greateſt and fatteſt, & ſuch a one as is taken in the ſpring time, when they burne in luſt for copulation is preferred. But this is not to be meant of the fleſhy partes, but onely of thoſe partes that are about the reynes, if a man drinke thereof the weight of a groat in Wine afterwardes, for the alaying of the heate thereof, the Phyſitions doe preſcribe a decoction of Lentiles with Hony, and the ſeede of Lettice drunke in Water. The ſnout of this Crocodile with the feete drunke in white wine, hath the ſame operation: but we haue ſhewed already, that theſe parts are to be cut offand throwne away, becauſe if there be any venome in the beaſt it lyeth in them.

A perfume being made of the body and intrals of this Crocodile vnder the wombe of a Woman labouring with child, is thought to yeald much help, for her ſafe, ſpeedy, and eaſie trauaile, or flockes of wooll perfumed therewith, and layd to her belly. But it is the part of good Phyſions to be very warie in giuing of medicines for ſtirring vp of luſt in any, except in marryed perſons, and then alſo when they are young, to procure a lawfull iſſue and poſterity in the world: otherwiſe they ſhall both decay the body, for all violent helpes of carnall copulation, do in the end prooue detriments to nature, if they continue any time, and alſo they are hurtfull to the Soule, when not onely the vnnaturall deſire of luſt, but alſo the intemperate pleaſure of ſinne is increaſed thereby; and that is a miſerable cure, which killeth the Soule to help one part of the body. Beſides all kinds of medicines for this purpoſe, (amongſt which this Crococodile is the cheefe) haue their pecuculier venome, and when they are miniſtred, either they haue no effect at all through age or ouermuch impotency, or elſe they worke too violently, which is moſt dangerous, or ſome one hurt or other followeth the poyſon: and ſo I will leaue the proſecution of this part.

The duſt of the skinne of this Crocodile being annoynted with Vineger or Oyle vpon any part or member which is to be cut off, taketh away the ſence of paine in the time of execution. The bloud is good for the eyes, and taketh away the filthy skinne of the body, with the ſpots and burles in the face, reſtoring the firſt, true, natiue, and liuely colour. The fat taketh away the paine in the reines, and cauſeth a diſtillation of the ſeede of man, yet this fatte touching the hayre of a man, maketh it to fall off, and a man annoynted heerewith, is ſafe from the annoyance of Crocodiles, although they play with him. It alſo cureth the bytinges of Crocodiles, the inſtillation of this Crocodile, foulded vp in the wooll of a blacke Sheepe of the firſt birth, and wherein is no other colour, hath power to driue away a quartan Ague. And Raſis ſaith, that it beeing hung ouer the head of a woman being in trauaile, keepeth her from deliuery. In the gall of this Serpent there is a power againſt the falling off of the hayre, eſpecially if the medicine bee made of the rootes of Beetes to neeſe withall; and beſides, the eyes beeing annoynted therewith, and with Hony, there is nothing more profitable againſt ſuffuſions. The ſtones & reines haue power to prouoke generation, and Aetius preſcribeth an Antidote to bee made of the taile of this beaſt, againſt the gout.

Great is the vertue of the dung or excrement of this Serpent, if the ſame could be caſily found, but while it is ſought for, it looſeth the vertue. It is called Crocodillia, and is profitable to giue a good colour to womens faces, that is the beſt which is whiteſt, ſhort, and not heauy, feeling like Leauen betwixt the fingers, that is, ſmelling ſomewhat ſharp like Leauen.

It is adulterated with Meale, Chalke, white-earth, or painting, but it is deſcerned by the heauineſſe. The reaſon of the vertue of this is, becauſe it feedeth vpon the ſweeteſt & beſt ſmelling Herbs, whereby it commeth to paſſe, that it doth not onely ſmell fragrantly, but alſo containe in it many excellent vertues. Firſt therefore it is good for the comelineſſe of the face, to giue colour to it, according to the ſaying of Horace: Colorque ſtercore fucatus Crocodili: A colour in-grained with the dung of a Crocodile, and for this cauſe alſo is the verſe of Ouid: Nigrior ad pharij confugit picis opem: That is, The black Woman goeth to craue helpe of the Fiſh Pharius, to become more beautifull; for by the fiſh Pharius, is vnderſtood a Crocodile. As ſome thinke eight, graynes of this dung, or rather the weight of eyght groates, with halfe ſo much Muſtard-ſeede and Vineger, cureth the falling off of the haire. Arnoldus doth preſcribe a compoſition of the dung and Cantharides, for the regenerating and bringing againe of haire that is decayed. If a perfume hereof be made and infuſed by a Tunelli into the holes of Serpents, it will driue them away, by reaſon of the ſharp and leaueniſh ſauour thereof.

Tralianus maketh a medicine thereof for an Eye-ſalue againſt the whiteneſſe and bloud-ſhot-eyes. It is good alſo againſt dimneſſe and ſuffutions, being annoynted with the iuyce of Leekes: and to conclude, it is drunk in ſweetwine and Vineger, againſt the falling ſickneſſe, and alſo being applyed vnto women, ſtirreth vp their monthly courſes. And thus much ſhall ſuffice for the ſtory of the Crocodile.

OF THE DART.

AMong the diuers kindes of Serpents, there is one of ſpeciall note which the Graecians call Acontia. The Latines Iaculares, or Iaculi, or Sagitta, a Dart or Arrow. The Graecians at this day Saetta. The Turkes Orchilanne: In Calabria and Sicilia, Saettone, and of the Germans Ein ſchoſſz oder angelſch lang. The reaſon of this name is taken from his ſwift leaping vpon a man to wound and kill him; and therfore the Poets ſay Iaculi que volucres, ſpeaking of theſe kindes of Serpentes. Albertus and Auicen alſo calleth them Cafezati, and Cafezaci, Altararat, Acoran, and Altinanti.

The manner of this Serpent is to get vp into trees or hedges, and from thence to flie like an Arrow vpon the vpper partes of men, and ſo to ſting, bite, and kill them: and of this kind it is thought that was, which came vpon the hand of the Apoſtle Paule, whereof the Poet writeth;

Ecce procul ſauus ſterilis robore tunci Torſit, & immiſit (Iaculum vocat Africa) ſerpens: Perque caput Pauli tranſactaque tempora fugit. Nil ibi virus agit: rapuit cum vulnere fatum, Deprenſum est, quaefunda rotat, quàm lenta volorent, Quàm ſegnis Scythicae strideret arundinis aer.

In Engliſh thus;

Loe from a farre, a cruell Serpent from an Oke Came flying like a Dart, in Affrica the ſame A Dart is cald, the head and Temples ſtroke Of Paule, by winding ſpires to worke his bane: But nothing could the poyſon there auaile, For with the wound he put away his death Faſter then ſwiftest flye, or turning ball, Or Seythian reede remou'd with windy breath.

This kind of Serpent is for the moſt part in Lybia, in Rhodes, in Lemnus, in Italy, Calabria, Marcelinus. Bellonius Olaus. Mag. and Sicilia, and in many of the Northerne Countries, and alſo in Germany, wherof Geſner telleth this ſtory following. There is heere the Coaſts of Zuricke a Riuer called Glat, and a village or towne vpon that Riuer Glatfelden. Neare this Riuer, as a poore man was gathering wood, there was a ſerpent of ſome three or foure foote long, which from a tree endeuoured to leape vpon the poore man, by gathering his body together, (as it were into foure ſpires or riſings like halfe hoopes,) the man ſeeing it, left his ſa • ke and ranne away: neuertheleſſe, the Serpent leaped after him at the leaſt ſixteene or ſeuenteene foote, but yet for that time hee laſt turned about him, and not ſeeing the Serpent to follow him, gathered courage and comfort, and would come back againe for his ſacke that he had left behind him. The crafty Serpent expecting ſo much, had ſet himſelfe againe into another tree, and priuily lay till the man came for his ſacke, and then ere he was aware came flying at him as hee did before, and preſently winded about his left arme; All his body except his taile hung downe, and his neck, which he held vp hi •• ing in the mans face: the man hauing no ſleeue on his arme except his ſhirt, yet did the ſerpent ſo preſſe the skin and fleſh, that the circles of his winding ſpires and prints of his body appeared therein after he was taken off, yet did he not bite the man, for the poore countryfellow did preſently with his other hand take him by the head and caſt him away, notwithſtanding, he had ſo foulded himſelfe about his arme: ſhortly after that arme beca ••• to grow mattery, and all the fleſh to the bone conſumed, yet was all the rotten putty •… enuenomed fleſh and ſubſtance, by the skill of a worthy learned Phyſition taken a •… and as good fleſh brought in the roome thereof as euer was before, yet was the ma •… ry yeare preſcribed to let that arme bleede, and then iſſued foorth blacke thicke 〈…〉 ſome of the woundes or rather ſcarres, of the poyſon outwardly remaining.

In the Northerne partes they leape tenne foote at a time, firſt gathering t •… elues Olaus Mag: into the ſimilitudes of Bowes or halfe Hoopes, and then fight with thoſe 〈◊〉 they would deuour, making many times a noyſe among the Hearbes or Flowe •… ich are parched or withered by the Sunne; and therefore by the bounty of GOD 〈◊〉 nature, theyr owne noyſe bewrayeth them to their ſupitious aduerſaries, and ſo 〈◊〉 times are auoyded in ſafety. Like vnto theſe are certaine in Hungary (as Iohannes V •… •… ported vnto Geſner,) whoſe bodies are of an equall craſſitude or thickneſſe, ſo as 〈◊〉 appeare without tailes, being for that purpoſe called Decurtati, Curtailes, theſe in t •• • ame manner do leape vpon men as theſe Darters do, but they are very ſhort, ſildome •… ding the length of two hands breadth.

There is ſome difference among Authours about the nature of this Serpent: for Aelianus confoundeth it with the Snake of the Earth, called Cherſydrus, and ſayth it liueth ſometime in the Water and ſometime on the Land, lying in waight to deſtroy all lyuing Creatures. And (hee ſayth) it vſeth this fraud, it euer lyeth hidde in ſecret neere the high-wayes, and many times climbeth vppe into trees where it roundeth it ſelfe round into a circle, and hideth his head within the foldes of his owne body, ſo ſoone as euer it eſpyeth a Paſſenger, eyther a man or beaſt, it leapeth vppon him as ſwift as a Dart flyeth. For it is able to leape twenty cubits ſpace, and ſo lighting vppon the man or beaſt, ſticketh faſt vnto it without falling off of his owne accord, vntill they fall downe dead.

But herein Aelianus ſeemeth to be deceiued, becauſe hee maketh but one Serpent of twaine: namely, this Dart and the Land-Snake, which are moſt apparantly different in nature, kind, and quality.

Aetius alſo confoundeth this ſerpent with the Millet-ſerpent, called Cenchrites, and ſayth it is of the quantity of two cubits, great on the head, and the fore part ſmaller at the tayle, being of a greeniſh colour. And he ſaith further, that at ſuch time as the Millet-ſeede groweth and flowriſheth, this ſerpent is moſt ſtrong and hurtfull, and ſo with the reſidue hee agreeth vvith Aelianus, but heerein hee is alſo deceiued, writing by here ſay as himſelfe confeſſeth, and therefore it is more ſafe for vs to haue recourſe to ſome eiewitneſſe for the deſcription of this ſerpent, then to ſtand vppon the opinions of them which writ by the relation of others.

Bellonius ſaith; that he ſaw one of theſe in Rhodes, being full of ſmall round black ſpots, not greater then the ſeedes of Lentiles, euery one hauing a round circle about him like an eye, after ſuch faſhion as is to be ſeene in the little Eiſh called the Torpedo. In length it exceedeth not three palmes, and in bigneſſe no greater then the little finger. It was of an Aſhe-colour, comming neere to the whiteneſſe of Milke, but vnder the belly it was altogether white: vpon the backe it had ſcales, but vppon the belly a thin skin, as in all other Serpents.

The vpper part of the backe was ſomewhat blacke, hauing two blacke lines in the middle, which beginne at the head, and ſo are drawne along the whole body to the tayle. As for the Cafezati, and Alterarati or Altinatyri, thoſe are redde Serpentes, (as Autcen ſaith) which are but ſmall in quantity, yet as deep and deadly in poyſon as in any other, for they hurt in the ſame manner that theſe Darters do. Some of thē do ſo wound with theyr poyſon, as the afflicted perſon dyeth incontinent without ſence or payne: Some againe dye by languiſhing payne after many hopes of recouery, looſing life. Among all the people of the Worlde, the Sabians are moſt annoyed with this kinde of redde Serpentes; for they haue many odoriferous and ſweete ſmelling Woods, in the which theſe Serpentes doe abound, but ſuch is their rage and hatred againſt men, that they leape vppon them and wounde them deadly, whenſoeuer they come within their compaſſe. And ſurely if it be lawfull to coniecture what kinde of Serpentes thoſe were, which in the Scripture are called fiery Serpentes, and did ſting the Iſraelites to death in the Wilderneſſe, vntill the brazen Serpent was erected for their cure; among all the Serpentes in the world, that kind of paine and death can be aſcribed to none more porperly then to theſe Cafezati or Red-Dart-Serpents.

For firſt the wilderneſſe which was the place wherein they annoyed the people, doth very well agree to their habitation. Secondly, thoſe fiery Serpentes are ſo called by figure, not that they were firey, but as all Writers doe agree, eyther becauſe they were redde like fire, or elſe becauſe the paine which they inflicted, did burne like fire, or rather for both theſe cauſes together which are ioyntly and ſeuerally found in theſe red Serpents; and therefore I will conclude for my opinion, that theſe Serpents (as the higheſt poyſon in nature) were ſent by GOD to afflict the ſinning Iſraelites, whoſe poyſon was vncurable, except by Diuine miracle.

Matthiolus alſo telleth a ſtory of a Shepheard which was ſlaine in Italy by one of theſe, as hee was ſleeping in the heate of the day vnder the ſhaddow of a tree, his fellow Shepheardes beeing not farre off looking to theyr flockes, ſoddainely there came one of theſe Dart-Serpentes out of the tree, and wounded him vppon his left pappe, at the byting whereof the man awaked and cryed out, aad ſo dyed incontinently: his fellow Shepheards hearing this noyſe, came vnto him to ſee what he ayled, and found him dead, with a Serpent vpon his breaſt; now knowing what kind of Serpent this was, they forſooke their flockes and ran away for feare.

The cure of this Serpentes byting, if there bee any at all, is the ſame vvhich cureth the Viper, as Aetius and Auicen writeth, and therefore I will not relate it in this place. The gall of this beaſt mixed with the Sythian Stone, yealdeth a very good Eye-ſalue. The which Gall lyeth betwixt the backe and the Lyuer: And thus much ſhall ſuffice for this Serpent.

OF THE DIPSAS.

THis Dipſas hath many names for many occaſions: Firſt Dipſas in Greeke ſignyfieth thirſt, as Sitis dooth in Latine, and thereof alſo it is called Situla, becauſe whoſoeuer is vvounded by this Serpent dyeth. It is alſo called by ſome Prester: and by ſome Cauſon, becauſe it ſetteth the whole body on fire: but wee ſhall ſhew afterwardes, that the Prester is a different Serpent from this. It is called likewiſe Milanurus, becauſe of his black taile, and Ammo • tis, becauſe it lyeth in the ſand, and there hurteth a man. It is not therefore vnfitly defined by Auicen, to bee Vipera ſitem faciens, That is, A Viper cauſing thirſt, and therfore Ouid ſporting at an old drunken woman named Lena, calleth her Dipſas in theſe verſes;

Est quaedam nomine Dipſas anus, Ex re nomen habit, nigri non illa parentem, Memnonis in roſeis ſobria vidit equis.

In Engliſh thus;

There is a woman old, which Dipſas may be hight, And not without ſome cauſe, thirſty ſhe euer is, For neuer Memnous ſire, all blacke and ſildome bright, Did ſhe in water ſweete behold in ſoberneſſe.

They liue for the moſt part neere the Waters, and in ſalt Mariſhy places: whereupon Lucan ſaide:

Stant in margine ſiccae Aſpides, Et medijs ſitiebant Dipſades vndis.

That is to ſay;

Vpon pits brinke dry Aſpes there ſtood, And Dipſads thirſt in middeſt of water floud.

It is called Torrida Dipſas, and Arida Dipſas, becauſe of the perpetuall thirſt, and therefore the Aegyptians when they will ſignifie thirſt, doe picture a Dipſas: wherevpon Lucianus relateth this ſtory, there is (ſaith hee) a ſtatue or monument vppon a Graue, right ouer againſt the great Syrtes betwixt Sillya and Aegypt, with this Epigram:

Talia paſſus erat quoque Tantalus Aethiope cretus, Qui nullo potuit fonte leuare ſitim. Tale nec è Danao nat as implere puellas Aſsiduis vndis vas potuiſſe reor.

That is to ſay;

Such Tantalus indured in Aethiope bred, Which neuer could by Water quench his thirſt, Nor could the Graecian maids with water ſped, That with dayly pourings till the veſſell curſt.

The ſtatue was the picture of a man like vnto Tantalus, ſtanding in the middeſt of a Water ready to drinke, by drawing in of the Water, about whoſe foote was foulded a Dipſas: cloſe by ſtood certaine women bringing water and pouring it into him to make it runne into his mouth; beſides, there was certaine Egges as it were of Estriches lay pictured beſide them, ſuch as the Garamants in Lybia ſeeke after. For it is reported by Lucianus, that the people of that Country doe earneſtly ſeeke after the Fſtryges Egges vppon the ſandes, not onely to eate the meate that is in them, but alſo to make ſundry veſſels or inſtruments of the ſhell, and among other things they make Cappes of them. Neare vnto theſe Egges doe theſe trecherous Serpentes lie in waight, and ſo while the poore Country-man commeth to ſeeke for meate, ſuddenly he leapeth vppon him, and giueth him a mortall wound.

Aelianus hath an Embleme, which hee ſeemeth to haue tranſlated out of Greeke from Antipiter Sidonius, of a Falconer, which while he was looking vppe after Birdes for meate for his Hawke, ſuddainely a Dipſas came behind him and ſtung him to death. The title of his Embleme is, Qui alta contemplatur cadere, he that looketh hie may fall, and the Embleme it ſelfe is this that ſolloweth:

Dum turdos viſco, pedica dum fallit alaudas, Et iacta altiuolam figit arundo gruem, Dipſada non prudens auceps pede perculit, vltrix Illa mali, emiſſum virus ab ore tacit. Sic obit, extento qui ſidera reſpicit arcu, Securus fati quod ia cit ante pedes.

Which may be thus Engliſhed;

Whiles Thruſh with line, and Larke deceiued with net, And Crane high flying pierced with force of reede, By Falconer was: behold a Dipſas on the foote did ſet, As if it would reuenge his bloudy foule miſdeed, For poyſon out of mouth it cast, and bit his foote, Whereof he dyed, like Birds by him deceiued, Whiles bending bow aloft vnto the ſtars did looke, Saw not his fate below, which him of life bereaued.

This Dipſas is inferior in quantity vnto a Viper, but yet killeth by poyſon, much more ſpeedily, according to theſe verſes;

Exiguae ſimilis ſpectatur Dipſas echidnae, Sed festina magis morsictus occupat aegros. Parua & lurida cui circa vltima cauda nigreſcit.

That is to say;

This Dipſas like vnto the Viper ſmall, But kils by ſtroke with greater paine and ſpeede, whoſe taile at end is ſoft and blacke withall, That as your death auoyd, with carefull heede.

It is but a ſhort Serpent, and ſo ſmall (as Arnoldus writeth,) it killeth before it be eſpyed, the length of it not paſt a cubit, the fore part being very thick, except the head which is ſmall, and ſo backward it groweth ſmaller and ſmaller: the taile being exceeding little, the colour of the forepart ſomewhat white, but ſet ouer with blacke and yellow ſpots, the taile very blacke. Galen writeth, that the ancient Marſi which were appointed for hunting Serpentes and Vipers about Rome, did tell him that there was no meanes outwardly to diſtinguiſh betwixt the Viper and the Dipſas, except in the place of their abode, for the Dipſas (he ſaith) keepeth in the ſalt places; and therefore the nature thereof is more fiery, but the Vipers keepe in the dryer Crountries, wherfore there are not many of the Dipſades in Italy, becauſe of the moyſtnes of that Country, but in Lybia where there are great ſtore of ſalt Marſhes. As we haue ſaid already, a man or beaſt wounded with this ſerpent, is afflicted with intollerable thirſt, inſomuch as it is eaſier for him to breake his belly, then to quench his thirſt with drinking, alwaies gaping like a Bull, caſteth himſelfe downe into the water, & maketh no ſpare of the cold liquor, but continually ſucketh it in till either the belly breake, or the poyſon driue out the life, by ouer-comming the vitall Spirites. To conclude, beſide all the ſymptomes which follow the biting of Vipers, which are cō mō to this ſcrpent, this alſo followeth thē, that the party afflicted can neither make water, vomit, nor ſweat, ſo that they periſh by one of theſe two waies: firſt either they are burned vp by the heat of the poyſon, if they come not at water to drinke, or elſe if they come by water, they are ſo vnſatiable, that their bellies firſt ſwell aboue meaſure, and ſoone breake about their pr •• y partes. To conclude, all the affections which follow the thicke poyſon of this Serpent are excellently deſcribed by Lucan in theſe verſes following;

Signiferum iuuenem Tyrrheni ſanguinis Aulum Torta caput retrò Dipſas calcata momordit▪ Vix dolor aut ſenſus dentis fuit: ipſaque leti Frons caret inuidia: nec quicquam plaga minatur. Ecce ſubit virus tacitum, carpitque medullas Ignis edax, calidaque incendit viſceratabe. Ebibit humorem circum vitalia fuſum Pestis, & in ſicco linguam torrere palato Coepit, defeſſos iret qui ſudor in artus Non fuit, atque occulos lachrymarum venarefugit. Non decus imperij, non moeſti iura Catonis Ardentem tenuere virum, quin ſpargere ſigna Auderet, totiſque furens exquireret agris. Quas poſcebat aquas, ſitiens in corde venenum. Ille vel in Tanaim miſſus, Rhodanumque Padumque Arderet, Nilumque bibens per rura vagantem: Acceſsit morti Libyae: fatique minorem Famam Dipſas habet terris adiuta peruſtis. Scrutatur venas penitus ſquallentis arenae: Nunc redit ad Syrtes & fluct us accipit ore: Aequoreuſque placet, ſed non & ſufficit humor. Nec ſentit fatique genus, mortemque veneni: Sed putat eſſe ſitim: ferroque apertre tumentes Suſtinuit venas, atque osimplere cruore. Lucanus lib. 9.

In Engliſh thus;

Tyrrhenian Aulus, the auncient-bearer young, Was bit by Dipſas, turning head to heele, No paine or ſence of's teeth appear'd, though poyſon ſtrong, Death doth not frowne, the man no harme did feele, But loe, ſlye poyſon takes the marrow, and eating fire Burning the bowels warme till all conſumed, Drinking vp the humour about the vitall ſpire, And in dry palate was the tongue vp burned. There was no ſweat the ſinnewes to refreſh, And teares fled from the veine that feedes the eyes, Then Catoes lawes, nor Empiers honor freſh, This fiery youth could hold: but downe the ſtreamer flyes, And like a mad man about the fieldes he runs, Poyſons force in heart did waters craue: Though vnto Tanas, Rhodanus, Padus, he comes, Or Nilus: yet all to little for his heate to haue. But dry was death, as though the Dipſas force Were not inough, but holpe by heate of earth, Then doth he ſearch the ſands: but no remorſe To Syrtes floud he hies, his mouth of them he filleth, Salt water pleaſeth, but it cannot ſuffice, Nor knew he fate, or this kind venoms death, But thought it thirſt, and ſeeing his veines ariſe Them cut, which bloud ſtopt mouth and breath.

The ſignes of death following the byting of this Serpent, are extreame drought and inflamation both of the inward and outward partes, ſo that outwardly the partes are as dry as Parchment, or as a skinne ſet againſt the fire, which commeth to paſſe by aduſtion and commutation of the bloud, into the nature of the poyſon. For this cauſe many of the auncients haue thought it to be incurable; and therefore were ignorant of the proper medicines, practiſing onely common medicines preſcribed againſt Vipers: but this is generally obſerued, that if once the belly beginne to breake, there can bee no cure but death. Firſt therefore they vſe ſcarification, and make vſtion in the body, cutting of the member wounded. If it be in the extremity, they lay alſo playſters vnto it, as Treacle, liquid pitch with oyle, Hennes cut aſunder aliue, and ſo layde to hote, or elſe the leaues of Purſlaine beaten in Vineger, Barley-meale, Bramble-leaues pounded with Hony, alſo Plantine, Iſope, White-garlicke, Leekes, Rue & Nettles. Then muſt the gouernement of their bodies be no leſſe looked vnto; firſt, that they be kept from all ſharpe and ſalt meates, then, that they be made continually to drinke oyle, to procure vomit, and vvith theyr vomits which they caſt out of their ſtomacke, to giue them glyſters, that ſo the waters may be drawne to the lower parts. Beſides, ſome take medicines out of Fiſhes, eſpecially ſuch as are ſalt, and the leaues, barke, or ſprigges of Laurill: and to conclude, there is nothing better then Treacle compounded of Vipers fleſhe. And thus much for the Dipſas.

OF THE DOVBLE-HEAD.

BEcauſe the Graecians call this Serpent Amphisbaina, and the Latines from thence Amphisbenae, becauſe it goeth both waies as if it had two heads & no taile: and for this purpoſe it is neuer ſeene to turne his body, as it were to turne about his head. When it hath a purpoſe to auoyde that thing which it feareth, or where-withall it is offended, hee doth but onely change his courſe backward as he went forward; ſo that it is as happy a Lyntius, whom the Poets faine to be very quick-ſighted, or as thoſe Monſters which are ſaid to haue eyes in their backs, or rather like to Ianus, which is ſayde to haue two faces, one forward, and another backward, and therefore I haue called it Double-head, I truſt fitly enough to expreſſe the Greeke word, although compounded of two words together, for ſo is the Greeke word alſo, which the French doe expreſſe by a like compounded word, Double-marcheur, that is, going two waies. It is likewiſe called Ankeſime, Alchiſmus, & Amphiſilenem. And thus much may ſuffice for the name.

It is ſaid that this Serpent is found in the Iland Lemnus, but among the Germans it is vnknowne. There is ſome queſtion whether it may be ſaid to haue two heads or no. Galen affirmeth, that it is like a ſhippe hauing two fore-parts, that is, one behind, & another before. Pliny alſo ſubſcribeth here-vnto, and maketh it a very peſtilent Serpent, Geminum habet caput Amphisbena, tanquam parum eſſet, vno ore fundi venenum, ſaith hee; It hath a double-head, as though one mouth were not enough to vtter his poyſon, according to the ſaying of the Poet:

Est grauis in geminum ſurgitis caput Amphis-benae Serpens qui viſu necat et ſibilo.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

This Serpent Double-head, is grieuous to be ſeene, Whoſe clouen-head doth kill with ſight and hiſsing keene.

Vnto this alſo Elianus ſubſcribeth, that it is a true Serpent, and hath two heads, ſo that whenſoeuer it is to goe forward, one of them ſtandeth in the place of the tayle, but when it is to goe backward, then the head becommeth the tayle, and the tayle the head. So alſo Mantuan ſayth it is a double-headed Serpent, and a fearefull ſtinging Aſpe. And ſo generally all the Auncients, vntill Mathiolus and Greuinus time, who firſt of all began to contrary this opinion, affirming it to be impoſſible in nature, for one Serpent to haue tvvo heads, except it be monſtrous; and exceede the common courſe of nature. Such a one was that Serpent with two heads that Ariſtotle ſpeaketh of, which doth eaſily happen to all thoſe creatures which at one birth bring forth many young ones; for ſo theyr bodies may be conioyned into one, whiles theyr heads ſtand aſunder like twaine. And they ſay that this Serpent doth reſemble a Worme of the earth, whoſe head and tayle is hard to be be diſtinguiſhed aſunder except you ſee it going. And they ſay further, that this Serpent is like to the Scytall, of which we ſhall ſpeake afterwards, differing from it in nothing except in going backward and forward, and this is all that they can bring againſt the opinion of the Auncients, whom I will not ſtand to confute, but leaue the Reader to beleeue one or other: for it ſhall not bring to mee any great diſaduantage, except the loſſe of his newe Engliſh name, for I haue dealt faithfully with the Reader in ſetting downe the opinion of both ſides, and if I doe fayle in a fit name, yet will I not ſwarue from the beſt deſcription of his nature.

The whole proportion of his body is of equall magnitude or greatnes, and the two extremities doe anſwer the middle. His eyes are for the moſt part ſhut, the colour like earth, not blacke, but tending to blacknes, the skinne rough and hard, and ſet ouer with diuers ſpots: all which properties, or rather parts, are thus deſcribed by Nicander.

Cuius perpetua eſt taecum caligine lumen, Quod latas vtrin que genas porrecta que menta, Terreus est illi color et denſiſsima pellis Plurima quam varij distinctam ſignafigurant, Plus alijs alto ſerpentibus aggere tendat:

In Engliſh thus;

Whoſe eye is euer voyde of light, becauſe Two cheekes both broade & ſtanding vp it hides, The colour earth, thicke skinne, with ſpots in rowes, Then other Serpents with greater bulke it glides.

Solinus Polihistor affirmeth, that they ingender and bring egges forth of the mouth, that is, out of that mouth which is toward the tayle, if there be any ſuch. There is no ſerpent that doth more boldly aduenture to indure the colde then this doth, for it commeth out of his denne not onely before other Serpents, but alſo before the Cuckoe ſing, or the Graſhopper commeth forth. They are exceeding carefull of theyr egges, and therefore ſildome depart from them vntill they be hatched, whereby alſo may be collected their great loue to their young ones. And further, by their forward and timely comming out of their holes, Greuinus maketh a good obſeruation, that theyr temperament or conſtitution, is more hote then any other Serpent.

The Graecians haue all obſerued, that this kind of Serpent is hard to be killed, except with a Vine-branch, which they ſay was demonſtrated by Dioniſius, who beeing turned by Iuno into madnes, one day falling faſt aſleepe, this Serpent leaped vppon him & awaked him, whereat he beeing angry, preſently killed it with a Vine-branch. Some haue affirmed, that a ſmall rodde or batte couered with the skinne of this Serpent, and ſo la • d beſide a man, driueth away all manner of venomous beaſtes. A Wild-oliue-branch or ſprigge wrapped in this skinne, doth cure the ſenceleſſe and benummed eſtate of the ſinewes, and alſo is good for many thinges, as Nicander expreſſeth in theſe verſes.

Haec vbi iam creuit, cedentes ligna coloni Sectam deglabrant oleastri exarborc virgam, Quale pedum, ſtrictiſ que , prehenſi pellibus Anguis Inſectam obuoluunt, quas certis deinde diebus Exarere ſinunt, cantantes ante cicadas Vtilis hic bacalus frigentibus artubus eſſe Fertur, vbi exanimis digitos corpedo fatigat, Tunc quia constrictos, & eorum vincula, neruos Calfacit immiſſo fouet extendit que calore.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

When this is growne, the Peaſants cutting wood, Doe peele a branch taken from Oliue-wilde, A 〈◊〉 in length, of ſtrained Snakes-skinne good, Rowling it vp herein, till dayes fulfild, And let it dry before Graſhoppers greene: Thus made, is good for ſinewes cold, Or nummed fingers, whoſe force hath beene By heate extending what cold band did hold.

The wounds that come by the byting or ſtinging of this Serpent, are not great, but very ſmall, and ſcarcely to be diſcerned outwardly, yet the accidents that followe, are like to thoſe which enſue the bytings of Vipers, namely, inflamation, & a lingering death. The cure therefore muſt be the ſame which is applyed vnto the ſting of Vipers. And peculiarly I finde not any medicine ſeruing for the cure of this poyſon alone, except that which Pliny ſpeaketh of, namely Coriander drunke by the patient, or layd to the ſore.

It is reported by Gallen and Greuinus, that if a woman with childe doe chaunce to goe ouer one of theſe Double-headed-ſerpents dead, ſhee ſhall ſuffer abortment, and yet that they may keepe them in their pockets aliue without danger in boxes. The reaſon of this is giuen by Greuinus, becauſe of the vapoure aſſending from the dead ſerpent, by a ſecrete antypathy againſt humane nature, which ſuffocateth the childe in the mothers wombe. And thus much for this Serpent.

OF THE DRAGON.

AMong all the kindes of Serpents, there is none comparable to the Dragon, or that affordeth and yeeldeth ſo much plentifull matter in hiſtory for the ample diſcouery of the nature thereof: and therefore heerein I muſt borrow more time frō the reſidue, then peraduenture the Reader would be willing to ſpare from reading the particuler ſtoryes of many other. But ſuch is the neceſſity heereof, that I can omit nothing making to the purpoſe, eyther for the nature or morality of this Serpent, therefore I will ſtriue to make the deſcription pleaſant, with variable hiſtory, ſeeing I may not auoyd the length heereof, that ſo the ſweetnes of the one, (if my penne could ſo expreſſe it) may counter. uaile the tediouſnes of the other.

The Hebrewes call it Thanin, and Wolphius tranſlateth Oach a Dragon, in his Commentaries vpon Nehemiah. The Chaldees call it Darkon, and it ſeemeth that the Greeke word Dracon is deriued of the Chaldee. We reade of Albediſimon or Ahedyſimon for a kind of Dragon, and alſo Alhatraf, and Hauden, Haren carnem, and ſuch other termes, that may be referred to this place. The Graecians at this day call it Drakos, the Germans, Trach Lindtwarm, the French, Vn Dragon, the Italians, Drago and Dragone. The deriuation of the Greeke word, beſide the coniecture afore expreſſed, ſome thinke to be deriued from Derkein, becauſe of their vigilant eye-ſight, and therfore it is fayned that they had the cuſtody not onely of the Golden-fleece, but alſo of many other treaſures. And among other things, Alciatus hath an Emblem of their vigilancy ſtanding by an vnmarried virgin.

Vera haec effigies innuptae est Paladis: eius Hic Draco, qui domina constitie ante pedes. Cur Diuae comes hoc animal? custodia rerum Huic data, ſic lucos ſacraque templa colit. Innuptas opus est cura aſſeruare puellas Pervigili: laqueos vndique tendit amor.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

This Dragon great which Lady Pallas ſtands before, Is the true picture of vnmarried maydes: But why a conſort to the Goddeſſe is this? and more Then other beaſts more meeke, who neuer fades? Becauſe the ſafegard of all things belongs to this, Wherefore his houſe in Groues and ſacred Temples ſet, Vnmarried maides of guardes muſt neuer miſſe, Which watchfull are to voyde loues ſnares and nette.

For this cauſe the Egyptians did picture Serapis their God with three heads, that is to 〈◊〉 of a Lyon in the middle, on the right hand a meeke fauning dogge, and on the left hand a rauening Wolfe, all which formes are ioyned together by the winding bodie of a Dragon, turning his head to the right hand of his God; which three heads are interpreted to ſignifie three times; that is to ſay, by the Lyon, the preſent time, by the Wolfe, the time paſt, and by the fauning dogge, the time to come, all which are garded by the vigilancie of the Dragon. For this cauſe alſo among the fixed ſtarres of the North, there is one called Draco, a dragon, all of them ending their courſe with the Sunne and Moone, and they are in this Spheare called by Aſtronomers the Interſections of the Circles, the ſuperiour of theſe aſcending, is called the head of the Dragon, and the inferiour deſcending, is called the tayle of the Dragon. And ſome thinke that GOD in the 38. of Io • ▪ by the word Gnaiſh, meaneth this ſigne or Conſtellation.

To conclude, the auncient Romans (as Vegetius writeth) carried in all their bands the Eſcutchion of a Dragon, to ſignifie their fortitude and vigilancie, which were borne vp by certaine men called for that purpoſe Draconarij. And therefore when Constantius the Emperour entered into the City of Rome, his Souldiers are ſaid to beare vppe vppon the toppes of their ſpeares, dragons gaping with wide mouthes, and made faſt with golden chaines and pearle, the wind whiſtling in their throates, as if they had beene aliue, threatning deſtruction, and theyr tayles hanging looſe in the ayre, were likewiſe by the vvinde toſſed to and fro, as though they ſtroue to come off from the ſpeares, but when the wind was layd, all theyr motion was ended, where-vpon the Poet ſaith:

Manſueſcunt varij vento ceſſante Dracones.

In Engliſh thus;

When whistling winde in ayer ceaſt, The Dragons tamed, then did reſt.

The tale alſo of the Golden-fleece, if it be worth any place in this ſtorie, deſerueth to be inſerted heere, as it is reported by Diodorus Siculns. When Actës raigned in Pontus, he receiued an aunſwere from the Oracle, that hee ſhould then dye when ſtrangers ſhould come thether with ſhippes and fetch away the Gol-den-fleece. Vpon which occaſion hee ſhewed himſelfe to be of a cruell nature, for he did not onely make Proclamation that he would ſacrifice all ſtrangers which came within his dominions, but did alſo performe the ſame, that by the fame and report of ſuch crueltie, he might terrifie all other Nations frō hauing acceſſe vnto that Temple. Not contented heere-with, hee raiſed a great ſtrong vvall round about the Temple wherein the Fleece was kept, and cauſed a ſure watch or guarde to attend the ſame day & night, of whom the Graetians tell many ſtrange fables. For they ſay there were Bulls breathing out fire, and a Dragon warding the Temple and defending the Fleece, but the truth is that theſe watchmen becauſe of their ſtrength were called Bulls, becauſe of their cruelty, were ſaid to breathe out fire, and becauſe of their vigilancie, crueltie, ſtrength and terrour, to be dragons.

Some affirme againe, that in the Gardens of Heſperides in Libia, there were golden Apples, which were kept by a terrible Dragon, which dragon was afterward ſlaine by Hercules, and the Apples taken away by him, & ſo brought to Euryſhteus. Others affirme that Heſperides had certaine flocks of ſheepe, the colour of whoſe woll was like gold, and they were kept by a valiant Sheepheard called Draco: but I rather agree with Solinus, who giueth a more true reaſon of this fable, Nefamae licentia vulneretur fides, leaſt (as he ſaith) fayth and truth ſhould receiue a diſgrace or wound by the lauiſh report of fame. There was among the Heſperides a certaine winding Riuer comming from the ſea, and including within it the compaſſe of that land which is called the Gardens of Heſperides, at one place whereof, the falling of the water broken by a Rocke, ſeemeth to be like the falling downe of Snakes, to them that ſtand a farre off, and from hence ariſeth all the occaſion of the fable afore-ſaid.

Indeed there was a ſtatue of Hercules, in the left hand wherof were three Apples, which he was ſaid to haue obtained by the conqueſt of a dragon, but that conqueſt of the dragon did morrally ſignifie his owne concupiſcence, whereby hee raigned ouer three paſsions, that is to ſay, ouer his wrath by patience, ouer his cupiditie by temperance, and ouer his pleaſures by labour & trauaile: which were three vertues farre more precious then three golden Apples. But I will ſtay my courſe from proſecuting theſe morrall diſcourſes of the dragon, and returne againe to his naturall hiſtory; from which I haue ſomewhat too long digreſſed.

There are diuers ſorts of Dragons, diſtinguiſhed partly by their Countries, partlie by their quantitie and magnitude, and partly by the different forme of their externall partes. There be Serpents in Arabia called Sirenae, which haue winges, beeing as ſwift as horſes, running or flying at their owne pleaſure, and when they wound a man, hee dyeth before he feeleth paine. Of theſe it is thought the Prophet Eſay ſpeaketh, chap. 13. ver. 22. Serpens clamabit in Templis voluptarijs: and for Serpents, the old Tranſlators read Syrenae, & ſo the Engliſh ſhould be, the Syrene dragons ſhould cry in their Temples of pleaſure: and the auncient diſtinction was, Anguis aquarum, Serpentes terrarū, Dracones Templorū: that is to ſay, Snakes are of the water, Serpents of the earth, & Dragons of the Temples. And I thinke it was a iuſt iudgement of God, that the auncient Temples of the Heathen-Idolaters were annoyed with dragons, that as the deuill was there worſhipped, ſo there might be appearance of his perſon in the vglie forme and nature of a dragon. For God himſelfe in holy Scripture, doth compare the deuill vnto a dragon, as Reue: 12. ver: 3. And there appeared another wonder in Heauen, for behold a great Redde-dragon, hauing 7. heads, and tenne hornes, and ſeauen crownes vpon his head. verſe 4. And his tayle drewe the third part of the ſtarres of heauen, and caſt them to the earth: and the dragon ſtoode before the Woman which was ready to be deliuered, to deuoure her child when ſhee had brought it forth. Verſe 5. So ſhe brought forth a man-child, which ſhould rule all Nations with a rodde of yron. And her Sonne was taken vp vnto God and to his throne. Verſe 6. And the Woman fledde into the Wildernes, where ſhe hath a place prepared of God, that they ſhould feede her there 1260. dayes. Verſe 7. And there was a battaile in heauen, Michaell and his Angels fought againſt the Dragon, and the Dragon fought and his Angels. Verſe 8. But they preuailed not, neither was theyr place found any more in heauen. Verſe 9. And the great Dragon that old Serpent called the deuill and Satan, was caſt out, which deceiueth all the world, he was euen caſt vnto the earth, and his Angels were caſt out with him. Verſe 13. And when the dragon ſaw that he was caſt vnto the earth, he perſecuted the VVoman which had brought forth a man-child: and ſo forth, as it followeth in the Text. Where-vppon S. Auguſtine writeth, Diabolus draco dicitur propter inſidias, quia occulte inſidiatur: that is, the deuill is called a dragon becauſe of his treachery, for he doth treacherouſly ſet vpon men to deſtroy them.

It was wont to be ſaid, becauſe dragons are the greateſt Serpents, that except a Serpent eate a ſerpent, he ſhall neuer be a dragon: for theyr opinion was, that they grew ſo Aelianus. great by deuouring others of their kind; and indeede in Ethiopia they grow to be thirtie yardes long, neither haue they any other name for thoſe dragons but Elephant-killers, & they liue very long.

Oneſicritus writeth, that one Apoſiſares an Indian, did nouriſh two Serpents dragons, whereof one was ſixe and forty cubits long, and the other foureſcore; and for the more famous verification of the fact, he was a very earneſt ſuter to Alexander the great, when he was in India to come and ſee them, but the King beeing afraid, refuſed.

The Chroniclers of the affayres of Chius doe write, that in a certaine valley neere to the foote of the mountaine Pellenaus, was a valley full of ſtraite tall Trees, wherein was bred a dragon of wonderfull magnitude or greatnes, whoſe onely voyce or hiſsing, did terrifie all the Inhabitants of Chius, and therefore there was no man that durſt come nigh vnto him, to conſider or to take a perfect view of his quantitie, ſuſpecting onely his greatneſſe by the loudeneſſe of his voyce, vntill at length they knewe him better by a ſinguler accident worthy of eternall memory. For it hapned on a time that ſuch a violent wind did ariſe, as did beate together all the Trees in the wood, by which violent colliſion, the branches fell to be on fire, and ſo all the wood was burned ſuddainely, compaſſing in the dragon, whereby he had no meanes to eſcape aliue, and ſo trees fell downe vpon him & burned him. Afterward, when the fire had made the place bare of wood, the inhabitants might ſee the quantity of the dragon, for they found diuers of his bones & his head, which were of ſuch vnuſuall greatnes, as did ſufficiently confirme them in their former opinion: and thus by diuine miracle was this monſter conſumed, who neuer any man durſt behold beeing aliue, and the inhabitants of the Country ſafely deliuered from their iuſt conceiued feare.

It is alſo reported, that Alexander among many other beaſtes which hee ſaw in India, did there finde in a certaine denne a dragon of ſeauentie cubites long, which the Indians accounted a ſacred beaſt, and therefore intreated Alexander to doe it no harme. When it vttered the voyce with full breath, it terrified his whole Armie: they could neuer ſee the proportion of his body, but onely the head, and by that they geſſed the quantitie of the whole body, for one of his eyes in their appearance ſeemed as great as a Macedonian buckler. Maximus Tyrius writeth, that in the dayes of Alexander, there was likewiſe ſeene a dragon in India, as long as fiue roodes of land are broade, which is incredible. For hee likewiſe ſaith, that the Indians did feede him euery day with many ſeuerall Oxen and ſheepe. It may be that it was the ſame ſpoken of before, which ſome ignorant men, and ſuch as were giuen to ſette forth fables, amplified beyond meaſure and credite.

Whereas dragons are bredde in India and Affrica, the greateſt of all are in India, for in Ethiopia, Nubia, and Heſperia, the dragons are confined within the length of fiue cubits, & twenty cubits: for in the time of Euergetes, there were three brought into Egypt, one was nine cubits long, which with great care was nouriſhed in the Temple of Eſculapius, the other two were ſeauen cubits long. About the place where once the Tower of Babell was builded, are dragons of great quantitie, and vnder the Equinoctiall, as Nicephorus Callistus writeth, there are Serpents as thicke as beames, in teſtimony wherof their skinnes haue been brought to Rome. And therefore it is no maruell, although S. Austine writing vpon the 148. Pſalme, doth ſay, Draconis magna quedam ſunt animantia maiora non ſunt ſuper terram: dragons are certaine great beaſts, and there are none greater vpon the earth. Neither is it to be thought incredible that the ſouldiours of Attilius Regulus did kill a dragon which was a hundred and twenty foote long, or that the dragons in the dennes of the Mountaine Atlas, ſhould grow ſo great that they can ſcarce moue the fore-parts of their bodie. I am yet therefore to ſpeake of the dragons in the Montaines Emodij, or of Arigia, or of Dachinabades, or the Regions of the Eaſt, or of that which Augustus ſhewed publiquely to the people of Rome, beeing fiftie cubits long; or of thoſe which be Stumpſius. in the Alpes, which are found in certaine Caues of the South-ſides of the hills, ſo that this which hath beene ſaid, ſhall ſuffiſe for the quantitie and Countries of dragons. Beſides, there are other kindes of dragons which I muſt ſpeake of in order: and firſt of all of the Epidaurian dragons, which is bred no where but in that Country, beeing tame, and of yellow golden-colour, wherefore they were dedicated to Aeſculapius, of whom Nicander writeth in this manner;

Nunc veridem et nigrem post dicta venena Drachonem Aſpice, quem patulafago Phoebia proles Ingelido peli nutriuit, culmine iuxta Letae pelethuniae quondam decliuia vallis,

In Engliſh thus;

After theſe venoms now behold the dragon blacke and greene, Nouriſhed by Apollos ſonne vnder a Beech full broade, On top of the cold Pelus, as often hath beene ſeene, By fertill vale of Pelethun his ſlyding roade.

There are likewiſe other kindes of Tame-dragons in Macedonia, vvhere they are ſo meeke, that women feede them, and ſuffer them to ſucke their breaſts like little children, their Infants alſo play with them, riding vppon them and pinching them, as they would doe with dogges, without any harme, and ſleeping with them in their beds. But among all dragons, there was none more famous then the dragon Python, or Pithias, as the Poets faine, which was bred of the ſlyme of the earth, after the flood of Ducalion, and ſlaine afterwards by Apollo, whereof there lieth this tale; That when Latona was with childe by Iupiter of Apollo and Diana, Iuno reſiſted their birth, but when they were borne and layde in the cradle, ſhe ſent the dragon Python to deuoure them, Apollo beeing but a young Infant, did kill the dragon with a darte. But this tale ſeemeth too fabulous and incredible, and therefore they haue mended the matter with another deuice; For they ſay that Python by the commaundement of Iuno, did perſecute Latona throughout all the world, ſeeking to deuoure her, ſo as ſhe had no reſt vntill ſhee came vnto her ſiſter Aſteria, who receiued her into Delos, where ſhe was ſafely deliuered of Apollo and Diana. Afterward, when the child was growne vp, he ſlew the dragon in remembrance & reuenge of the wrong done to his mother. But the true cauſe of this hiſtory is deliuered by Pauſanias & Macrobius, to be thus; That Apollo killed one Python a very wicked man in Delphos, & that the Poets in excuſe of the fact, did faine him to be a dragon, as afore-ſaid. And ſo I ſhall not neede to ſay any more of Python, except theſe verſes following out of Ouid about his generation.

—Sed te quo que maxime Python, Tum genuit populiſ que nouis incognite ſerpens Terror eras: tantum ſpatij de monte tenebras. Hunc Deus arcitenens & nunquam talibus armis Antè, nici in damis, capriſque fugacibus vſus; Mille grauem telis exhausta penepharetra Perdidit effuſo per vulnera nigra veneno, Neue operis famam poſſet delere vetustas, Inflituit ſacros celebri certamine ludos Pithia per domitae ſerpentis nominem dictor. Caeruleus tali prostratus Apolline Python.

Which may be engliſhed thus;

But yet thou vgly Python wert engendered by her, tho A terrour to the new-made-folke, which neuer erſt had knowne So foule a Dragon in their life, ſo monſtrouſly fore-growne, So great a ground thy poyſond paunch did vnderneath thee hyde, The God of ſhooting, who no where before that preſent tyde Thoſe kind of weapons put in vre but at the ſpeckled Deere, Or at the Roes ſo light of foote, a thouſand ſhafts well neere Did on that hydeous Serpent ſpend, of which there was not one But forced forth the venomd-blood, along his ſides to gone: So that his quiuer almoſt void, he nayld him to the ground, And did him nobly at the last by force of ſhot confound. And least that time ſhould of this worke deface the worthy fame, He did ordaine in mind thereof a great and ſolemne game, Which of the Serpent that he ſlew, of Pythions bare the name.

Of the Indian Dragons there are alſo ſaid to be two kindes, one of them fenny, and liuing in the Marſhes, which are ſlow of pace and without combes on their heades like females: the other in the Mountaines, which are more ſharpe and great, and haue combes vpon their head, their backs beeing ſome-what browne, and all their bodies leſſe ſcalie then the other. When they come downe from the mountaines into the plaine to hunt, they are neither afraid of Marſhes nor violent waters, but thruſt themſelues greedily into all hazards and dangers: and becauſe they are of longer and ſtronger bodies then the dragons of the Fennes, they beguile them of their meate, & take away from them their prepared booties. Some of them are of a yellowiſh fieric-colour, hauing alſo ſharpe backs like ſawes; theſe alſo haue beardes, and when they ſette vppe their ſcales they ſhine like ſiluer. The apples of their eyes are precious ſtones, and as bright as fire, in which there is affirmed to be much vertue againſt many diſeaſes, and therefore they bring vnto the Hunters and killers of dragons no ſmall gaine, beſides the profit of theyr skinne and theyr teeth: and they are taken when they deſcend from the mountaines into the valleyes to hunt the Elephants, ſo as both of them are kild together by the Hunters.

Their members are very great, like vnto the members of the greateſt Swine, but theyr bodies are leaner, flexibly turning to euery ſide, according to the neceſſitie of motion: Their ſnoutes are very ſtrong, reſembling the greateſt rauening fiſhes; they haue beardes of a yellowe golden colour, being full of briſtles: and the Mountaine-dragons commonly haue more deepe eye-liddes then the dragons of the Fennes. Their aſpect is very fierce and grimme, and whenſoeuer they mooue vppon the earth, their eyes giue a ſound from theyr eye-liddes, much like vnto the tinckling of Braſſe, and ſome-times they boldly venture into the Sea and take Fiſhes.