another goodly Asse made like the former the reliques whereof are yet to be there séene on the ground 2 In Cicilia neare to the Citie of Catauea within two myles there passeth an indifferent great Riuer ouer which is a goodly Bridge of wood whereon foure Cartes may easily méete togither and it is named Pous Asini 1 The large stréete whereby we passe along from the Market place vnto the Cathedral Church of S. Mauritus in the Cittie of Lypara is called Asinesca stréete 2 In the auncient Cittie of Perugia there is a stréete which direct to the Monasterie of Couented Fryers of S. Fraunces and it is tearmed the Paradise of the Asini 1 In Friuli on certaine high downe bearing hilles where the auncient familie of the Gordes of Sauorgnani haue their iurisdiction is a way that leadeth to a certaine Castle of theirs named Here fell I with mine Asse Which words are there engrauen in very hard stones that so faire a memorie of the Asse might not be forgotten 2 In Apulia is a great way of tenne large myles by which they passe from the great Tower till they come to Mount Iargano it is called Longasina 1 There is a vale by the way as ye goe along from Fabriano to Cammerino neare to the shipping place of the auncient Varrani now Lordes of the said Cittie and it is named the vale of Asini 2 Neare to the parts of Heluetia among the Cantons where Zurich is named ye haue a valley called Asinari 1 At the Citie of Bologna there is a Tower which for height contendeth with the starres called the Tower of the Asinelli 2 A Tower of lesser height is to be séene in the Prouince of Basilicata otherwise called Lucania without the walles of the Citie of Venafro on the West side and it is tearmed the Tower Asino 1 A Fountaine plentifully abounding with water is to be séene on the confines betwéene Pipeono and the Castle of Souino it is nominated Fountaine Asini 2 Passing the Riuer Pauara and leauing the corner of the way whereby we goe to Modoua there turning on the left hand and within a quarter of a myle onwarde standes a Fountaine beautified with engrauen stone yet passing vnder a goodly vault by thrée great pipes of mettall wel neare rotten and defaced out of them comes great aboundance of water and it is called Fountaine Asinara Hauing so lately mentioned the Citie of Modeua I call to minde a memorie concerning the Asse which the said Citie long time kept among other things with good regard And it was a milking paile wherin a citizens Asse of Bologna had drunke for it happened that about matter of the confines warres ensued betwéene them of Bologna and Modeua They of this part at one time among other made a tumultuous inuasion on the territories of Bologna and finding some encounter which they looked not for by reason of their vnorderly proceeding they were enforced to returne yet they sought for some bootie in the stable of Bolognian Cittizen from whence the maister thereof had but lately before taken foorth his Asse and for feare escaped away thereon There found they the milking paile wherin the Asse before spoken on had drunke which they tooke away with them and mounting it on the point of a Launce after the maner of carrying some great Trophée they returned there with to the Cittie all the people of Modeua running to gaze theron as at a most rich spoyle gotten by conquest of warre which by them long time after was kept as an especiall example as we reade in the booke called the Annales of Lombardie But nowe returne wee to the other memories of the Asse 1 At the Cittie of Vercellis in the Church of Saint Lazarus is to bee séene a goodly auncient Sepulcher of Marble on the couerture whereof is verie linely carued an Asse lying along verie formally euen as the figures of men are shaped vppon Toombes And there are certaine letters engrauen at the féete of the said Asse but nothing can be made of any sillable by reason they are so defaced by antiquitie Here I confesse and that for some reuerence which dutifully I beare to the Asse not to haue founde any other Sepulcher carrying remembrance of the Asse but only this one albeit I haue spared no labour in reading ouer bookes sufficient beside all other possible dilligence imployed 1 Apuleius wrote a booke intituled the golden Asse 2 Plautus composed a Comedie called Asinaria I could neuer know what booke that was which gaue matter to our Poet thus to sing Now do I call to minde a new rare praise Worthie so many Dukes and Emperours Which in the Asses booke is found alwaies Wherefore I am now content to prosecute the search therof no further in hope another time to vnderstand more of it 1 Bartolus the famous Lawier in L. 1. F. de sup L. leg speaketh of a lawe which willeth that the Testator making a bond of his mooueables to a straunger and letting passing his setled good to his kindred that rightfully should as heires succéed this lawe limitteth and appointteth that his Asse if he happened to haue any is not comprehended among the mooueables But as a good stable and setled without any other implication the same Asse shall remain to his kindred y ◠do inherit the goods seated And this lawe for this purpose do I account sufficient because I am loth to trouble myselfe in searching huge lawe Libraries for any other for my labour therin would excéed the Asses 1 No sort of frutes are found but beare name of some beaste or of a man as the Apple of Appius the Prune Maximillian of Maximillianus and that of the Asse which is the sort of Prunes named great good faire and yelow being rightly tearmed the Prune Asinare 2 There is a kind of Cucumber which much auaileth for medicine and it is called Cucumber Asini 2 Nouius Marcellus recordeth that the Romanes of old would celebrate the feast of the gardein God whereat the husbands children only should be present each one out-brauing other vpon his Asse and so ryding on this beast thrée times they would circle the temple about Afterward they should cast lottes and his Asse to whome the lot fell must haue his throte cut with whose blood each filling a little glasse viall they would striue to maister one another by throwing the same in the face of statue which represented the God of the gardein 2 Herodotus a most auncient writer reports that the Gréekes were wont yearly to celebrate the feast Asinaria in memorie of that notable victorie which the Athenian had against the Persians neare to the Riuer Asinone 1 Among all the pastimes wherein most and least delighted concerning table play was the game called Scarralasino to wit vnlead the Asse whereat by imitation of the Asse who suffers himselfe to be ridden by all persons indifferently all the standers by may play and easily learne it without any labour 2 Schoole-children
speake what Plinie rehearseth in his second booke and twentieth Chapter that of the corruption in the Asses carcasse is engendered the blacke Flie called a béetle which Flie as is said in the thirtieth booke and second Chapter the people of Egypt worshipped as a God perswading themselues that it was the very image of the Sun And this was because all the Béetles as Elianus writes and Snydas likewise confirmeth are male-kinde and haue no female among them in this maner then is their engendring continued The séed of the Oxe Horse or dung of the Asse spilt or spred on the ground which afterward they turne togither with their féete making therof the fashion of a bed and so lye thereon and circle it for twentie eight dayes togither when it receiueth forcible heate at the time for them to take life and thus appeares new engendred Béetles theron which are like to the Sun because he likewise spreads on the earth his vertue seminall Thus by his continuall course are they encreased flying vp toward heauen and the heate of his beames and as the Mooue reneweth euerie moneth so doth this kinde of Béetle stil renew Now let vs speake a little of the vertue which naturally appertaineth to the hoofe of the Asse according to Plinie when it is boyled in Asses milke and applied to weak sighted eyes it helpes them greatly taking all offence whatsoeuer from them and cleares the sight most miraculously Plutarche writeth in the life of Alexander the great that the poyson giuen him to drinke was an excéeding cold water gathered from a certaine Rocke in the Countrey of Nouaria which cannot be kept but in an Asses hoofe for all other things are not able to hold it but wil breake by reason of the extreame coldnesse Such then and so many are the stupendious actions notable graces and supernaturall gifts or quallities of the Asse which can neuer be sufficiently commended as therfore he deserueth to haue the chiefe place amongst all brutish beasts liuing on the earth By iust equitie whereof our Poet being intirely moued thus singeth If I would sing his due deserued praise This not another leafe would me suffise To name the vertues that him signifies And giues to him the palme of following daies Hence is it that wee néede make no great meruaile why the auncient Astrologers mooued by his so many natural perfections Noblenesse and excellencie doo honour him in heauen with the name of two starres placed in the signe of Cancer called Asinelle and in an other place they set downe thrée named Praesepe Asinelli the Asses maunger Nor can I but declare as succéeding in this place the great and diligent regard which euermore the auncient magnificent Lords had to make as one would say the Asses name immortall perswaded mooued and prouoked thereto by his so many rare and excellent qualities in aboundant sort bestowed on him by nature and speciall benignitie of celestiall fauour To the end I may then with some gratitude of mind leaue such a memorie to posteritie as shall make the Asses name to be perpetuall note how these things following haue bene entitled and honoured with the name of the Asse 1. Cities 2. Castles 3. Boroughes 4. Villages 5. Islands 6. Seas 7. Ports 8. Mountaines 9. Riuers 10. Bridges 11. Stréetes 12. High waies 13. Vallies 14. Towers 15. Fountaines 16. Sepulchers 17. Bookes 18. Lawes 19. Frutes 20. Feastes 21. Games 22. Oathes 23. Proper names 24. Families 25. Prouerbes And to the end this which I haue said may appearantly bee knowne binding my selfe willingly to the Asses name it wil be hard for me to gather and consort in this place two named things for each of the fiue and twentie before declared that only beare memorie of the Asse and so shall do for euer Nor shall I néed to collect any more then two of each though for euery one I could set downe ten at the least because I am loth to be troublesome to my selfe as also fearefull to hinder any from imitating the steppes of such Asse-friends 1 One of the most principall Cities in Persia not farre off from the great Citie of Selencia is called in the Persian tongue Zaucamora which in our language is as much to say as the Asses Citie 2 In Peloponesus or Morea if we wil so call it néere to the sea that lieth toward the West is the Citie named Asinari 1 In Calabria at the Marquesate of Oluito there is a Castle called Castello del gl'Asini 2 In Friuli about ten myles distant from Asola is an other tearmed Castello Asinino 1 In the territorie of Placentia is a village named Villa discontral Asino 2 Neare to Rome as ye go toward Braciano is a Village that hight Asina bella 1 In the territorie of Siena is a Borough called Asina luuga 2 On the way as we ryde from Bologna to Florence betwéene Loiano and Pietramala we come to a Borough tearmed Scarcalasino 1 Asinetta is an Island at the mouth of the red sea not much distant from the land on the East side where stands the strong Citie of Aden 2 In the Eupine sea called Mare Maiore on the North part neare to Palus Meotides there is a little Islande which aboundeth with swéete water and it is called Isola Asinina 1 Olaius Magnus a most diligent writer of the North parts affirmeth that the sea which from Norway we saile by to the Prouince of Lapponia called Schiuziroffi in our language is tearmed Mare Asinone 2 The great spacious 〈◊〉 which from the Realme of Ireland passeth on to Iseland of the Countrey people is called Mare Asinesco 1 In the Aegean sea neare to the Castle which vulgarely is called Dardanelli on the side of Asia is to be séene a most faire Port though not ouer bigge and it is named Porto Asinino 2 In the Isle of Cyprus before we arriue at the hauen of Famogosta a Port is found which is not very sure for yéelding shelter from the colde Northeast winde it is called Porto Asinetto 1 Ten myles of from Florence may ye discerne the mountain Asinaro where the obseruant Fryers of a Monasterie builded on the top of the mountaine daily serue God 2 On the part where Abrutium is seated in Italy is Mount Asinello on the top whereof is a Church dedicated to S. Eustatius 1 Neare the water Treuio by Abrucium is a little Riuer named the Riuer of Asino 2 In the territories of Ragusa or Epidaurus within sixe myles distance of the Cittie runneth the Riuer Asinesco which is a nauigable water and hath a defenceable Port at the Sea mouth 1 Among the ruines of Aquileia which was destroyed by Attyla is to be séene part of a most sumptuous Bridge at the head whereof stands a huge Asse of very pure marble which with her Dugges séedes two yoong Asses and this Bridge is yet called Pont ' Asinone On the other part of the same Bridge now ruined as the eldest men of the Countrey auouch was
proofe sufficient inough without calling Aristotle to witnesse who confesseth the same in his fourth booke of the parts of beasts Therefore it is not to be meruailed at that so brotherlike he goeth with all beasts and trauelleth with man so quietly which likewise was regarded by the same Poet when he said The Asse doth neuer harme nor vse deceit As do the Foxe and Wolfe of rauenous minde Who still for spoyle lye all the yeare in wait He boldly braues not any other kinde To such as rydes him he procures content And is a foe to warre or brabblement Such as delight themselues in ryding on the Asse séem to haue no common or vulgare iudgement because they make choyse of the very noblest beast that euer was produced by nature Wherfore it is not to be thought strange why our Poet exhorteth to ryde on him saying Who would not go on foote and yet desires An ambling Haqueney or fine paced lennet Ryde he the Asse that neuer failes or tires Afterward to honor the Asse the more thus he procéedeth A good regard by nature hath the Asse In Alexandria when to ryde they please They vse none else nor in the East like case But we that neuer can our mindes appease But we that neuer can our mindes appease With what our country yeelds by natures grace Seeke Dolphins on the lulles Woolues in the seas The same Poet to confirme how pleasing the delight of ryding on the Asse is declares in a fewe verses a little merrie storie in this maner A Pensiue man I met vpon the way Ryding no faster then his Asse would goe His sadnesse grew thereby as some did say One ryding faster yet in scorne would know His cause of griefe whereon poore man quoth he Ryde faster and this fit will soone be gon Wherewith he turned angry as might be Saying My friend leaue me and ryde thou on I am to iourney as best liketh me This pace so sweet and pleasing to my minde Is my delight when gallopping like thee Such pleasure and content I should not finde That the Asse is a beast as apt to be taught as the Elephant and goes very farre beyond him though daily experience shewes vs much yet shall it not be offensiue for me to recount an Asse-fauouring historie which maister Iohn Lyon a most diligent and faithfull Cosmographer of Affrica noteth in the eight part of his great volumme where describing what notable things are found in Affrica he discourseth on matters concerning the great Cittie of Cayro and among other speaketh thus as followeth Hither were brought many pleasant iestes especially such as teach Cammels Asses and Dogges to daunce a sight very pleasing to behold chiefly in the Asse for at a certaine time one of these Iesters when his Asse had danced a while speaking to him said in this maner The Soldane meanes to erect a goodly building wherfore he shall néede to imploy all the Asses in Cayro for carriage of lime stone and other necessary things At these words the Asse sodeinly fell to the grounde turning his héeles vp toward heauen his belly swollen and his eyes closed euen in such sort as if he had bene dead Then fell the man to many lamentable circumstances how he had lost his Asse and entreated the by standers that they wold helpe to requite him with another and therefore to make some gathering among them yet they saide they did not imagine his Asse to be dead albeit he stirred not but knew his counterfeit drift was to get himselfe some money and prouender for his beast Then they turned to the Asse bidding him to arise but he stirred not although they laboured him with many stripes and could not get to rise by all their endeuour then the man pursuing his former practise said to the standers by Gentlemen I giue ye all to vnderstand how the Soldane hath caused to be published by sound of Trompet that to morrow all the people in Cayro must goe forth to sée his tryumph commaunding all the faire gentlewomen in the Cittie to be mounted on goodly Asses afterward the beasts shall eate good barley and drinke the pure water of Nylus No sooner had the Iester spoken these words but the Asse leapt vp on his féet and brauely shewed signs of excéeding contentment whereon the Iester thus began againe I heare it for credible that a certaine peazant of the Countrey where I was borne hath euen now made a request to me that this faire Asse of mine might serue his foule ill fauoured wife to ryde on The Asse at these spéeches as if he had humane vnderstanding laid downe his cares flat and beganne to goe about halting feyning as if he had bene starke lame Then said the Iester doth yoong and faire women please thée Heereat the Asse merely lifted vp his head euen as if he had replied that they did His maister procéeding said Here are many both yoong and faire shewe me which of them best liketh thée The Asse running to make search where diuers women stood to behold him and making choyse of the verie fairest and most honourable to her he went and touched her with his head Then all the standers by cried with a loude voyce Behold the Ladie of the Asse as making a merie iest of the matter And the man mounting on his Asse rode to shewe his quallities else where But what greater example of an Asses instruction can we alleadge then that which Ammonius Alexandrinus a Philosopher of no meane estéeme affirmeth to wit that he had an Asse was his scholler and came ordinarily to hear his readings This meruell moued our Poet to sing There was an Asse once so ingenious As most attentiuely he heard the skill Of that praise-worthie man Ammonius But whither wander I to gather matter of his praise in this print when it might suffise me only to speake of him that which followeth in our Poets Canto that is In sooth I thinke that who so giues his minde T'obserue his iestures by good proofe shall see To Mathematique skill he is enclinde Because without reach of Astrologie Aboue the rest he doth the spring descrie For alwaies by his voyce the same is told When as he feedes and delueth with his foote Or to the earth holds downe his head be bold Raine doth ensue to bide is no boote How wise and well aduised beside all this the Asse appeares to be I think there is not any man in the world but remembers knows it wel inough because he wil neuer return any way where he hath once stumbled or falne And although he may be enforced thereto by his maisters stripes yet he hath a very respectiue care of his stepping his foote in the former place of offence as with great wit our Poet noteth the same saying Oh that the Asse were but so happie blest To haue a tongue as men haue to disclose How much his thoughts with vertues are possest Then would his deeds reueale what hidden goes For
mountaines Hence ensues it that in the other partes of the lande about Brescia we sée in many places the heades of Asses fixed on the ridge of walls and buildings which in opinion of the vulgare was because Goblins and dancing Fairies that runne in courses haue bene séene to plaie vp and downe vpon them The Lapidaries say that there is a stone in the Asses necke called the Asse stone which by the opinion of Magitians hath no small vertue and perhaps it may be the same stone which Albertus Magnus calleth the stone Asia Dioscorides writes that the liuer of an Asse eaten fasting helpes them that are afflicted with the falling sicknesse The selfesame power and vertue saith he hath the Asses hoofe beaten into powder and drunk in white wine The dung of an Asse wrapped in a linnen cloth and layd on his head that hath much blood abounding in his nose doth withdraw it and makes it perfectly sound as al Authors that haue written in Phisicke do affirme Plinie saith that the drinking of an Asses milke is the chiefest remedie to helpe them that haue receiued poyson Hereto we may ioyne that it is a present remedie for the swelling of the ioynts as also it cures the gout Besides this he addeth that the same milke mingled with a quantitie of honie is a most admirable helpe for them troubled with the Dissenteria especially if it bee drunke fasting Finally the vniuersall Academie of Phisitians doe herein agrée that the drinking of an Asses milke cureth many and sundry infirmities whereof my skill serues me not to make report But well I know and thereof am able to yéeld a most certaine testimony that to an especiall friend of mine who not long since was greatly gréeued with the stone report was made of the vertue of this milke wherof he drinking as the very latest remedie of hope not only receiued the most singular benefit of recouerie from the point of death which he sawe him vnlikely to escape but likewise attained his former health and good disposition Suetonius Tranquillus reports that Poppea wife to Nero euery morning vsed to wash all her bodie with Asses milke only to cherish and maintaine health beautie and softnesse as also to make the bodie amiable and delicate For this purpose she had fiue hundreth Asses continually kept and such especially as very lately before had foled their yoong which vse from that time to this present day hath bene obserued by many of our greatest Matrons and among all the rest by Ione that was the Quéen of Naples But to speak some what concerning the vertue of this beasts skinne do we not reade that if it be taken and vsed as a mantle to wrappe about a childe while he is in the Cradle that it causeth the vertue of courage and boldnesse in such sort as when he comes to yeares he shall neuer know the man to be affraide of See we not likewise by daily experience that such as sléepe vppon an Asses skinne or vse it vppon them as a couering shalbe frée from vermine or Lice about them Hereof procéeds it that maisters maisters mates mariners captaines and such like as serue eisher in shippes or gallies haue ordinarily these skinnes about them The forenamed vertue quallitie and gift considered by our Poet altogither enforced him to sing in this maner I will not stand to tell the long discourse Of Dioscorides Plinie and the rest Whose skill in phisicke sprang from soundest sence Vrgde them to write great matters of this beast Concerning medicine all of soueraigne might Which for good cause I spare here to recite Yet will I not forbeare to rehearse that if we haue such consideration as ought be vsed about matter of great profit we shall receiue some by this skinne when it is laboured and made wih holes in many places that it may serue as Siue or Searse wherewith commodiously we take vp corne or whatsoeuer kind of pulse beside to clense it from the dust and other matter of annoyance we shall then be enforced to confesse that without the benefite of this skin very hardly could we deale in such businesse Hereto let vs adioyne another commoditie which we receiue by this skinne in the sharpe assaults of warre séeing thereof is made the Drums and Tamburines with other such like instruments fit for the vse of warre which being to such proportion as they should be and smitten on as men are instructed in the manner how they deliuer such an apt sound as awakes and cheares the minde of a man although he were neuer so cowardly or timorous prouoking him to the battaile making him withall fierce and couragious bee the assault neuer so hotte and perillous What shall wee then say of the Asses bones Is it not a thing especially to be noted that the marrow being taken foorth such a kinde of Flute is of them as yéeldes a very sweete and pleasing harmonie This was the cause which moued the Ambassadour of the great Duke of Moscouia that went to Rome the last yeare to demaund whereof those instruments that wee call Cornets which in honour of him among other musicall instruments were sounded when he entred his lodging which the noble Gouernour of Verona had prouided for him And being answered that they were of wood couered with this beastes skinne he meruailed greatly thereat And albeit he graunted that they gaue a moste pleasing melodie yet hée saide they were not comparable to them made of Asses bones in his owne Countrey Then may we safely on the Asses behalfe affirme with our Poet. Aliue and dead in flesh and bone he soundes I am resolued then to reade no further in what I haue spoken of concerning the quallitie vertue and properties of the Asse and of his bones because if I would it were conuenient for me according to our Poets opinion principally to recount How Sampson with the Iawe bone of an Asse Vanquisht the Philistines And from one tooth A mightie streame of water foorth did passe Then at this Cantōs end let vs cōclude this point only we must néeds except what may not wel be shadowed with silence because it is little lesse then miraculous and is rehearsed by Apuleius in his booke of Country matters If any man bitten by a Scorpion doth sodeinly mount vppon an Asse sitting with his face toward the Asses taile all the venome of the Scorpion which the man hath receiued shal part from him and enter into the Asses bodie whereupon he rydes and the Asse shal presently be séene swolne changed and complaining as if he had bene bitten by the Scorpion so that the man shalbe soundly recouered from any peril of the poyson The proofe heereof the before named Author affirmeth that by himselfe it hath very often and many times bene séene If men then receiue such a benefit by the Asse he that should conceale it from being knowne I leaue to the iudgement of the Asse-fauouring Reader Likewise let him be so censured that spares to