into two parts which taile becommeth their hinder Legs wherefore the Aegyptians when they would describe a man that cannot moue himselfe and afterwardes recouereth his motion they decypher him by a frog hauing his hinder legges The heads of these young Gyrini which we call in English Horse-nailes because they resemble a Horse-naile in their similitude whose head is great and the other part small for with his taile he swimmeth After May they grow to haue feete and if before that time they bee taken out of the water they dye then they beginne to haue foure feete And first of all they are of a blacke colour and round and heereof came the Prouetbe Rana Gyrina sapientior wiser then a Horse-naile because through the roudndnesse and rolubility of his body it turneth it selfe with wonderfull celerity which way soeuer it pleaseth These young ones are also called by the Graecians Moluridae Brutichoi and Batrachida but the Latines haue no name for it except Ranunculus or Rana Nascens And it is to be remembred that one frogge layeth an innumerable company of Egges which cleaue together in the water in the middle whereof she her selfe lodgeth And thus much may suffice for the ordinary procreation of frogges by generation out of Egges In the next place I must also shew how they are likewise ingendered out of the dust of the earth by warme aestiue and Summer shevvers whose life is short and there is no vse of them Aelianus saith that as he trauailed out of Italy into Naples he saw diuers frogges by the way neere Putoli whose forepart and head did mooue and creepe but their hinder part was vnformed and like to the slyme of the earth which caused Ouid to write thus Semina limus habet virides generantia Ranas Et generat truncas pedibus eodem corpore saepe Altera pars viuit rudis est pars altera tellus That is to say Durt hath his seede ingendring Frogs full greene Yet so as feetlesse without Legs on earth they lye So as a wonder vnto Passengers is seene One part hath life the other earth full dead is nye And of these Frogs it is that Pliny was to be vnderstood when he saith that Frogs in the Winter time are resolued into slyme and in the Summer they recouer their life and substaunce againe It is certaine also that sometime it raineth frogs as may appeare by Philarchus and Lembus for Lembus writeth thus Once about Dardania and Paeonia it rained frogs in such plentifull measure or rather prodigious manner that all the houses and high-waies were filled with them and the inhabitants did first of all kill them but afterwards perceiuing no benifit thereby they shut their doores against them and stopped vp all their lights to exclude thē out of their houses leauing no passage open so much as a frog might creepe into and yet notwithstanding all this diligence their meat seething on the fire or set on the table could not be free from thē but continually they found frogs in it so as at last they were inforced to forsake that Countrey It was likewise reported that certaine Indians people of Arabia were inforced to forsake their countries through the multitude of frogs Cardan seemeth to find a reason in nature for this raining of frogges the which for the better satisfaction of the Reader I will here expresse as followeth Fiunt haec omnia ventorum ira and so forward in his 16. booke De subtilitate that is to say these prodigious raines of frogs and Mice little Fishes and stones and such like thinges is not to be wondered at for it commeth to passe by the rage of the winds in the tops of the Mountaines or the vppermost part of the Seas which many times taketh vp the dust of the earth congealeth them into stones in the ayre which afterwards fall downe in raine so also doth it take vp frogs and fishes who beeing aboue in theayre must needes fall downe againe Sometimes also it taketh vp the egges of frogs and fishes which beeing kept aloft in the ayre among the Whirle-windes and stormes of shewers doe there engender and bring forth young ones which afterwards fall downe vpon the earth there being no poole for them in the ayre These and such like reasons are approued among the learned for naturall causes of the prodigious raining of frogs But we read in holy Scripture among the plagues of Aegypt that frogges were sent by GOD to annoy them and therefore whatsoeuer is the materiall cause it is most certaine that the wrath of GOD and his almighty hand is the making or efficient cause and for the worthinesse of that deuine story how God maketh and taketh away frogs I will expresse it as it is left by the Holy-ghost in Cap. 8. Exod. verse 5. Also the Lord saide vnto Moses say thou vnto Aaron stretch out thy hand with thy rodde vpon the streames vpon the Riuers and vpon the ponds and cause frogs to come vpon the land of Egypt ver 6. Then Aaron stretched out his hand vpon the waters of Egypt and the frogs came vp couered the land of Egypt verse 7. And the Sorcerers did likewise with their Sorceries and brought frogs vp vpon the land of Aegypt Verse 8. Then Pharao called for Moses Aaron and said pray ye vnto the Lord that he may take away the frogs from mee and from my people and I will let the people goe that they may doe sacrifice to the Lord verse 9. And Moses saide vnto Pharao concerning me commaund when I shall pray for thee and thy seruants and for thy people to destroy the frogges from thee and from thy houses that they may remaine in the Riuer onely verse 10. Then he said tomorrow he answered be it as thou hast said that thou mayst know that there is none like the Lord our GOD. verse 11. So the frogges shall depart from thee and from thy houses from thy people and from thy Seruants onely they shall remaine in the Riuer verse 12. Then Moses Aaron went out from Pharao Moses cryed vnto the Lord concerning the frogs which he had sent vnto Pharao ver 13. And the Lord did according to the saying of Moses so the frogs dyed in the houses and in the Townes and in the fieldes ver 14. And they gathered them together by heapes and the land stanke of them c. And this was the second plague of Aegypt wherein the Lord turned all the fishes into Frogges as the booke of wisedome saith and the Frogs abounded in the Kinges chamber and notwithstanding this great iudgement of God for the present Pharao would not let the people goe and afterwardes that blind superstitious Nation became worshippers of Frogges as Philastrias writeth thinking by this deuotion or rather wickodnesse in this obseruant manner to pacifie the wrath of God choosing their owne wayes before the word of Almighty God But vain is that worship which is inuented without
is to bee giuen is one dramme Another Take of the rootes of Capers the rootes of long Aristolochie or Hartwort Bay-berries rootes of Gentian of each a like quantity to bee taken in Wine or let him drinke Diassa with svveete strong Wine Comin and the seedes of Agnus Castus Another Take of the seedes of Nigella tenne drammes of Daucus and Comin-seedes of each alike fiue drammes seedes of wilde Rue and Cypres Nuttes of eyther three Drammes Spiknard Bay-berries round Astrologe Carpobalsamum Cynaomn the root of Gentian seeds of Trifolium Bituminosum and of Smallage-seede of either two drammes make a confection with Hony so much as is sufficient Giue the quantity of a Nut with old Wine Rhazes Out of Pliny Celsus and Scaliger IT is good to giue fiue Pismires to them that are bitten of any Phalangium or the seedes of Nigella Romana one dram or Mulberries with Hypocistis and Hony There is a secret vertue and hidden quality in the root of Parsely and of wilde Rue peculiarly against those hurts that Spiders infect by their venome The bloud of a Land-Tortoyce the iuyce of Origanum the roote of Behen Album Veruaine Cinquefoile all the sortes of Sengreene Cipres-roots the Iuie of Iuy roots being taken with some sweet Wine or water and Vineger mixed and boyled together are very speciall in this griefe Likewise two drams of Castoreum to prouoke vomiting being relented in some mulse Apollodorus one of the disciples of Democrates saith there is an herb called Crocides which if any Phalangium or other poisonous Spider do but touch presently they fal down dead and their poyson is so dulled and weakened as it can doe no hurt The leaues of the Bull-rush or Mat-rush which are next to the root being eaten are found to giue much help Pliny Take of Myrrhe of Vna Taminea which is the berry of the herb called Ampelos Agria being a kind of Bryony which windeth it selfe about trees and hedges like a vine of some called our Ladies seale of either alike and drink them in 3. quarters of a pinte of sod wine Item the rootes of Radish or of Darnell taken in Wine is very effectuall Celsus But the excellentest Antidote of all other is that which Scaliger describeth whom for his singular learning and deep conceit I may tearme Nostris orbis seculi ornamentum The forme whereof in this place I will prescribe you Take of the true and round Aristolochia of the best Mithredate of either one ounce Terra Sigillata halfe an ounce of those Flyes which are found to liue in the flower of the Herb called Napellus in number 18. iuyce of Citrons so much as is sufficient mixe them altogether For against this mischiefe of Spyders oragainst any other shrewd turnes grieuances or bytings of any Serpents whatsoeuer Are as yet neuer found out so effectuall a remedy or so notable an alexipharmacall Thus far Scaliger The iuyce of Apples being drunke and Endiue are the propper Bezoar against the venom of a Phalangie Petrus de Albano Thus much of inward now wil I proceed to generall outward medicaments and applications Fiue Spiders putrified in common Oyle applyed outwardly to the affected place are very good Ashes made of the dung of draught beasts tempered with vineger and vsed as an ointment or instead of vineger water and vineger boyled together and applyed as before are proued to be singuler Take of vineger 3. pints and a halfe Sulphur viuum two ounces mix them and foment bath or soke the wounded part with a Spunge dipped in the liquor or if the paine be a little asswaged with the fomentation then wash the place with a good quantity of Sea-water Some hold opinion that Achates which is a precious stone vvherein are represented diuers forms whereof some haue the nine masts some of Venus c. will heale all bitings of Phalangies and for this cause being brought out of India it is held at a very deere rate in this Country Pliny Ashes made of fig-tree-leaues adding to them some Salt and wine The roots of the wilde Panax being beaten to powder Aristolochie Barly Meale kneaded together and vvrought vp with vineger Water with hony and salt applyed outwardly for a fomentation The decoction of the herb Balme or the leaues of it being brought to the forme of a Pultes and applyed but we must not forget to vse warme bathes and sometimes to the place agrieued Pliny Cut the vaines that appeare vnder the tongue rubbing and chafing the swelled places with Salt and good store of Vineger then cause the patient to sweat carefully warily for feare of cold Vigetius Theophrastus saith that practitiones do highly commend the root of Panax Chironia Moysten the wound with Oile Garlike bruised Knot-grasse or Barly-meale and Bay-leaues with wine or with the dregs or Lees of wine or wilde Rue applyed in manner of a Cataplasme to the wounded place Nonus Take of Sulphur Vivum Galbanum of each alike 4. drams and a halfe of Euforbium halfe a dram Hasell-nuts excorticated two drams dissolue them and with wine make towardes the curation Flyes beaten to powder and applyed vpon the place affected The fish called a Barble cureth the bitings of any venomous Spider if being raw it be slit asunder in the middest and so applyed as Galen saith Annoint the whole body with a liquid Cerote and foment the place affected with Oyle wherein Trifolium Bituminosum hath beene infused or bath it often with Spongies soked in warme Vineger then prepare make ready cataplasmes of these Ingredients following that is of Knot-grasse Scala Caeli called Salomons-seale Leekes Cheesill or Branne decocted in Vineger Barley-Meale and Bay-berries and the leaues boyled in Wine and Hony Some doe also make Cataplasmes of Rue or herb-grace Goats dung tempered with wine Cypres Margerom and wilde Rue with Vineger An emplaster of Asclepiades Take of the seedes of wilde Rue and Rocket-seeds Stauesackre Rosemary-seedes Agnus-Castus Apples and Nuts or in stead of these two of the leaues of the Cipres-tree of each alike beate and temper them altogether with vineger hony Aetius Apply the decoction of Lupines vpon the affected place the eschar being first remoued then annoint it in the warme Sun-shine or against the fire with the fat of a Goose tempered with wilde Rue and Oyle or else of the pap of Barly and the broth of Lupines make a cataplasme Oribasius The Filberd-Nut that groweth in India healeth the bytings of the Phalangies Auicenna Goates dung dissolued with other conuenient Cataplasmes and Oyle of Worme-wood and the iuyce of Figs helpeth much Kiranides Apply oftentimes a cold peece of iron to the place Petrus de Albano Foment the place very often with the iuyce of the Herbe Plantine Hildegardis The artificiall Oyle of Balme is singular Euonimus A fomentation made of the leaues and stalkes of Imperatoria called Master-wort and continued a good space or else Veruaine bruised and stamped the iuyce being taken in wine and
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 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 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 oraque prima notant Ille cadit praeceps calce feritur aselli Inclamatque socios anxiliumque vocat Concurrunt Satyri turgentiaque 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
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
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 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 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 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
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 Ammoâ—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
And safe enough had not the Dragon them espied Hee eate the young ones all the damme with sannes destroyde Well worthy such a death of life to be denied This is by Calchas said a type of labour long Whose fame eternall liues in euery tongue There be certaine beasts called Dracontopides very great and potent Serpents vvhose faces are like to the faces of Virgins and the residue of their body like to dragons It is thought that such a one was the Serpent that deceiued Eue for Beda saith it had a Virgins countenaunce and therfore the woman seeing the likenes of her owne face was the more easily drawne to belieue it into the which when the deuill had entred they say he taught it to couer the body with leaues and to shew nothing but the head and face But this fable is not worthy to be refuted because the Scripture it selfe dooth directly gaine-say euerie part of it For first of all it is called a Serpent and if it had beene a dragon Moses vvould haue said so and therefore for ordinary punishment God doth appoint it to creepe vpon the belly wherefore it is not likely that it had either winges or feete Secondly it was vnpossible and vnlikely that any part of the body was couered or conceited from the sight of the woman seeing she knew it directly to be a Serpent as afterward shee confessed before GOD and her husband There be also certaine little dragons called in Arabia Vesga and in Catalonia dragons of houses these when they bite leaue their teeth behind them so as the wound neuer ceaserh swelling as long as the teeth remaine therein and therefore for the better cure thereof the teeth are drawne forth and so the wound will soone be healed And thus much for the hatred betwixt men and dragons now we will proceede to other creatures The greatest discord is betwixt the Eagle and the Dragon for the Vultures Eagles Swannes and dragons are enemies one to another The Eagles when they shake theyr winges make the dragons afraide with their ratling noyse then the dragon hideth himselfe within his den so that he neuer fighteth but in the ayre eyther when the Eagle hath taken away his young ones and he to recouer them flieth aloft after her or else wheÌ„ the Eagle meeteth him in her nest destroying her egges and young ones for the Eagle deuoureth the dragons and little Serpents vpon earth and the dragons againe and Serpents doe the like against the Eagles in the ayre Yea many times the dragon attempteth to take away the prey out of the Eagles talants both on the ground and in the ayre so that there ariseth betwixt them a very hard and dangerous fight which is in this manner described by Niâ—ander Hunc petit invisum magni Iouis armiger hostem Cumque genis parat acre suis ex aethere bellum Pascentem in siluis quam primum viderit Quod totos ferus is nidos cum mitibus ouis Et simul ipsa terens et vastans pignora perdat Non timet hoc serpens imò quodam impete dumis Prosiliens ipsamque aquilam leporemque tenellum Ex trahit ex rapidis vifraudeque fortior vncis Cauta malum declinat auis fit ibi aspera pugna Vt queat extortam victor sibi tollere praedam Sed frustra elapsam et volitantem hinc inde volucrem Insequitur longos sinuum contractus in orbes Obliquoque leuans sursum sua lumina visu Which may be englished thus When as the Eagle Ioues great bird did see her enemy Sharpe warre in th' ayre with beake she did prepare Gainst Serpent feeding in the wood after espy Cause it her egges and young fiercely in peeces tare The Serpent not afraid of this leapes out of thornes With force vpon the Eagle holding tender Hare Out of her talants by fraude and force more strong That takes and snatches despight her enemies feare But wary Bird auoydes the force and so they fight amaine That Victor one of them might ioy the prey alone The flying fowle by winding Snake is hunted all in vaine Though vp and downe his nimble eyes this and that way be gone In the next place we are to consider the enmitie that is betwixt Dragons Elephants for so great is their hatred one to the other that in Ethyopia the greatest dragons haue no other name but Elephant-killers Among the Indians also the same hatred remaineth against whom the dragons haue many subtile inuentions for besides the great length of their bodies where-withall they claspe and begirt the body of the Elephant continually byting of him vntill he fall downe dead and in the which fall they are also bruzed to peeces for the safegard of themselues they haue this deuice They get and hide themselues in trees couering their head and letting the other part hang downe like a rope in those trees they watch vntill the Elephant come to eate and croppe of the branches then suddainly before he be aware they leape into his face and digge out his eyes then doe they claspe themselues about his necke and with their tayles or hinder parts beate and vexe the Elephant vntill they haue made him breathelesle for they strangle him with theyr fore-parts as they beate them with the hinder so that in this combat they both perrish and this is the disposition of the dragon that he neuer setteth vpon the Elephant but with the aduantage of the place and namely from some high tree or Rocke Sometimes againe a multitude of dragons doe together obserue the pathes of the Elephants and crosse those pathes they tye together their tailes as it were in knots so that when the Elephant commeth along in them they insnare his legges and suddainly leape vppe to his eyes for that is the part they ayme aboue all other which they speedily pull out and so not beeing able to doe him any more harme the poore beast deliuereth himselfe from present death by his owne strength and yet through his blindnesse receiued in that combat hee perrisheth by hunger because hee cannot choose his meate by smelling but by his eye-sight There is no man liuing that is able to giue a sufficient reason of this contrariety in nature betwixt the Elephant the Dragon although many men haue laboured their wits and strayned their inuentions to finde out the true causes thereof but all in vaine except this be one that followeth The Elephants blood is saide to be the coldest of all other Beasts and for this cause it is thought by most Writers that the dragons in the Sommer time doe hide themselues in great plenty in the waters where the Elephant commeth to drinke and then suddenly they leape vppe vppon his eares because those places cannot be defended with his truncke and there they hang fast and sucke out all the blood of his body vntill such time as hee poore beast through faintnesse fall downe and die and they beeing drunke with his blood doe likewise perrish in
betwixt Frogs and Mise called Batrachomiomachia hath deuised many proper names for Frogs such as these are Lyninocharis Gracediet Peleus Dust-liuer Hidromedousa Water-haunter Phusignathos Nature-cryer Hypsiboas Loud-cryer Leuthaios Lowe-liuer Poluphonos great Labourer Krambophagos Brasile-eater Lymnesios Poole-keeper Kalaminthios Mint-eater Hidrocharis Water-child Borborokoïtes noise-maker Prassaphogos Grasse-eater Pelauseas dust-creeper Pelobates dust-leaper Krawgasides drought-hater Prassaios Grasse-greene and such other like according to the witty inuention of the Author all which I thought good to name in this place as belonging to this History In the next place wee are to consider the diuersity and kindes of Frogges as they are distinguished by the place of their abode for the greatest difference is drawn from thence some of them therefore are Water-Frogges and some are Frogges of the Land the Water-Frogges liue both in the water and on the Land in Marshes standing-pooles running streames and bankes of Ryuers but neuer in the Sea and therefore Rana Marina is to be vnderstood of a Fish and not a Frog as Massarius hath learnedly prooued against Marcellus The frogs of the land are distinguished by their liuing in gardens in Meddows in hollow Rockes and among fruites all which seuerall differences shall be afterward expressed with their pictures in their due places here onely I purpose to talke of the vulgar and common frogge whose picture with her young one is formerly expressed Besides these differ in generation for some of them are engendered by carnall copulation some of the slime and rottennesse of the earth Some are of a greene colour and those are eaten in Germany and in Flanders some againe are yellow and some of an Ashe-colour some spotted and some blacke and in outward forme and fashion they resemble a Toad but yet they are without venome and the female is alwaies greater then the male when the Aegyptians will signifie an impudent man and yet one that hath a good quicke sight they picture a frogge because he liueth continually in the Mire and hath no bloud in his body but about his eyes The tongue is proper to this kinde for the fore-part thereof cleaueth to the mouth as in a fish and the hinder part to the throat by which he sendeth forth his voyce and this is to bee vnderstood that all frogges are mute and drunke except the greene frogs and the frogs of the Water for these haue voyces And many times the voyces of frogs proceedeth from the nature of the Countreyes wherein they liue for once all the frogges in Macedonia and Cyrenia were drunke vntill there were some brought thither out of some other Countries as at this day the frogges of Seriphus are all drunke whereuppon came the Prouerb Batrachos ec Seriphou A frogge of Seriphus because the frogs of that Countrey doe neuer croake although you carry them into any other Country This Seriphus is one of the Islands of the Sporades in Greece wherein is the Lake called Pierius which doth not runne in the Summer but onely in the winter and all the frogs which are cast into that lake are perpetually silent and neuer vtter their voyce whereof there are assigned two causes one Fabulous and the other true and naturall The first the Seriphians say that when Perseus returned with the head of Medusa hauing gone very far till he was weary layd him downe beside that lake to sleep but the croaking frogs made such a noyse as he could take no rest Whereat Perseus was much offended and therefore prayed Iupiter to forbid the frogs from crying who instantly heard his prayer inioyned perpetuall silence to the frogs in that water and this is the Fabulous reason being a meere fiction of the Poets The second and more true reason is that of Theophrastus who saith that for the coldnesse of the water the frogs are not able to cry in that place The voyce of frogges is said by the Latinists to bee Corare and by the Graecians Ololugon peculiar words to set forth this crying now because their tongue cleaueth to the pallet of their mouth and theyr voyce proceedeth but from their throat to their mouth and the spirit is hindered by the tongue so as it cannot proceed directly therefore it hath two bladders vppon either side of the mouth one which it filleth with wind and from thence proceedeth the voyce Now when it croaketh it putteth his head out of the water holding the neather lip euen with the water and the vpper lip aboue the water and this is the voyce of the male prouoking the female to carnall copulation They haue but very small lungs those without bloud ful of froth like to al other creatures of the water which do lay egges and for this cause they do neuer thirst wherefore also Sea-calues and Frogges are able to liue long vnder the Water They haue a double Liuer and a very small Melt their Legges behind are long which maketh them apt to leape before they are shorter hauing deuided clawes which are ioyned together with a thinne broad skinne that maketh them more apt to swimme The most place of their abode is in fennes or in warme Waters or in fish-pooles but yellow and Ashe-coloured frogs abide in Riuers Lakes and standing pooles but in the Winter time they all hyde themselues in the earth And therefore it is not true that Pliny saith that in the VVinter time they are resolued into slyme and in Summer they resume againe their first bodyes for they are to be seene many times in the winter especially in those waters that are neuer frozen as Agrecolaana Mathiolus hath soundly obserued and they haue beene seene in certaine running streames holding small fishes in their mouths as it were sucking meat out of them Sometimes they enter into their holes in Autumne before winter and in the spring time come out againe When with their croaking voyces the Male prouoketh the femall to carnall copulatiō which he performeth not by the mouth as some haue thought but by couering her backe the instrument of geneneration meeting in the hinder parts and this they performe in the night season nature teaching them the modesty or shamefastnesse of this action And besides in that time they haue more security to giue themselues to mutuall imbraces because of a generall quietnesse for men and all other their aduersaries are then at sleepe and rest After their copulation in the waters there appeareth a thicke Ielly out of which the young one is found But the Land-frogges are ingendered out of Egges of whom wee discourse at this present and therefore they both suffer copulation lay their egges and bring forth young ones on the land When the Egge breaketh or is hatched there commeth forth a little black thing like a peece of flesh which the Latines call Gyrini from the Greeke word Gyrrinos hauing no visible part of a liuing creature vpon them besides their eyes and their tailes and within short space after their feet are formed and their taile deuided
dye within short time and for this cause this is the best way to take them In the whottest day they are drawne into the deepe where they swimme willingly with their backes or shelles aboue the Water where they take breath and in continuance the Sunne so hardeneth them that they are not able to helpe themselues in the water but they grow very faynt and weake and are taken at the pleasure of the Fisher-man They are also taken on the toppes of the Water after they returne weary from theyr feeding in the Night-time for then two men may easily turne them on theyr backes and in the meane-while another casteth a Snare vppon them and draweth them safely to the Land In the Phaenician Sea they are taken safely without daunger and generally where they may be turned on theyr backe there they can make no resistaunce but where they cannot many times they wound and kill the Fisher-men breaking the nets asunder and let out all the other Fish included with them Bellorius writeth that there bee of these Sea-Tortoyces two kindes one long the other round and both of them breath at theyr Noses bycause they want Gilles and the long ones are most frequent about the Port Torra in the redde Sea whose couer is variable for the Males shell is playne and smooth vnderneath and the Females is hollow The Turkes haue a kinde of Tortoyce whose shell is bright like the Chrysolite of which they make haftes for Kniues of the greatest price which they adorne with Plates of gold In Iambolus an Island of the South there are also found certaine Monsters or liuing creatures which are not very great yet are they admirable in Nature and in the vertue of their bloud Their bodyes are round and like the Tortoyce hauing two crosse lynes ouer theyr backes in the ends of which is an eye and an eare at eyther side so as they seeme to haue foure eares the belly is but one into which the meate passeth out of the mouth They haue feete round about and with them they goe both backward and forward The vertue of their bloud is affirmed to be admirable for whatsoeuer body is cut asunder put together if it be sprinkled with this bloud during the time that it breatheth it covniteth as before The ancient Troglodytes had a kind of Sea-Tortoyce which they call Celtium which had hornes vnto which they fastened the strings of their Harpes these also they worshipped and accounted very holy Yet some thinke that they might better be called Celetum then Celtium but I thinke Hermolaus dooth better call them Chelitium apo tes Cheluos which signifieth both a Tortoyce and their broad breastes and with their Hornes they helpe themselues in swimming Albertus also maketh mention of a Tortoyce called Barchora but it is thought to be a corrupt word from Ostra Codermus These Sea-Tortoyces are found sometimes to be eyght cubits broad and in India with their shelles they couer houses and such vse they also put them vnto in Tabrobana for they haue them fifteene cubits broad And thus much for all kind of Tortoyces OF THE VIPER NOtwithstanding the asseueration of Suessanus who will needes exclude the Viper from the Serpents because a Serpent is called Ophis and the Viper Echis yet I trust there shall be no reasonable man that can make exeption to the placing of this liuing Creature among Serpents for that great learned man vvas deceiued in that Argument seeing by the same reason hee might as vvell exclude any other as the Snake Dragon Scorpion and such like who haue their peculiar names beside the generall vvord Ophis and yet might hee also haue beene better aduised then to affirme a Viper not be called a Serpent for euen in Aristotle whom he expoundeth and approoueth hee might haue found in his fifth Booke of Gen animal and the last Chapter that the Viper is recorded Inter genera opheon That is Among the generall kindes of Serpents although as wee shall shew afterward it differeth from most kindes of Serpents because it breedeth the young one in his belly and in the winter-time lyeth in the Rockes and among stones and not in the earth The Haebrevves as it appeareth Esay 59. and Iob. 6. call it Aphgnath and according to Munster Aphgnaim plurally for Vipers because of the variety of colours wherewithall they are set all ouer The Arabians from the Greeke word Thereon signifieng all kind of wilde Beastes doe also call it Thiron and that kinde of Viper vvhereof is made the Triacle they call a Alafafrai and Alphai they also call it Eosman as Leonicenus wryteth Beside it is called Alphe which seemeth to bee deriued of the Haebrevves and Afis which may likewise be coniectured to arise from the Greeke vvord Ophis The Greekes call the Male peculiarly and properly Echis and the Female Echidna and it is a Question whether the vulgar word among the Gaecians at this day Ochendra doe not also signify this kinde of Serpent Bellonius thinketh that it is corrupted of Echidna the Female Viper The Germans haue many vvords for a Viper as Brandt Schlangen Natet-Otter Heck-Nater and Viper-Nater The French Vne Vipere The Spaniards Biuora and Bicha The Italians Vipera Maraesso Scurtio and sometimes Scorzonei although Scorzo and Scorzone be generall wordes in Italy for all creeping Serpents without feet and that strike with theyr teeth There is also about the word Maraeso some Question although Leonicenus decideth the matter and maketh it out of all Controuersie and Rhodigimus thinketh it a very significant vvord deriued from the people Marsi bycause they carryed about Vipers The Mountebankes do also call Suffili from Sibila the hissing voyce which it maketh Some will haue Nepa to be also a Viper yet wee haue shewed that already to signyfie a Scorpion The Graecians say that the Viper is called Echidna paro to echinin eaute ten gonen achri thanaton bycause to her ovvne death shee beareth her young one in her belly and therefore the Latines doe also call it Vipera quasi vipariat bycause it dyeth by violence of her byrth or young and they attribute vnto it venome and pestilence and generally there are fevve Epithets vvhich are ascribed to the Serpent but they also belong vnto this There is a pretious Stone Echites greenish in colour which seemeth to bee like a Viper and therefore taketh name from it Also an Hearbe Echite like Scammony and Echidmon or Viperina In Cyrene there are Myce which from the similitude of Vipers are called Echenatae Echion was the name of a man and Echionidae and Echionij of people and Echidnon a Citty beside the Sea Aegeum Also the Eagle vvhich by the Poets is fayned to eate the heart of Prometheus is likewise by them sayde to bee begotten betvvixt Typhon and Echidna and the same Echidna to be also the Mother of Chimaera which from the Nauell vpward was like a Virgin and down-ward like a Viper of which