drie things the twelfth part of a setarius which was twenty ounces whereby it appeareth that a cyath was one ounce one half ounce one dram and one scruple it may goe with vs for foure ordinarie spoonfulls Cubit a measure from the elbow to the middle finger stretched out at length which went ordinarily for 24 fingers bredth or 18 inches which is one foot and a halfe yet Pliny in one place maketh mention of a shorter cubit namely from the elbow to the end of the fist or knuckles when the fingers be drawn in close to the hand Cutanean eruptions be such wheales pushes or scabs as do breake out of the skin and disfigure it D DEbilitie i. weaknesse or feeblenesse Decoction a liquor wherin things haue bin sodden Decretorie daies be such as in a sicknesse shew some chaunge or alteration in the patient either for good or bad Defensatiue in medicines taken inwardly are such as resist venom or pestilent humor in outward applications such as defend the sore or place affected from the flux or fall of humors thither Denarius a coin of siluer in Rome and in other countries of gold the same that Drachma Attica i. a dram in weight which is vij d. ob of our mony and the piece in gold answereth neere to a full French Crowne in poise it goeth for a dram Dentifrices are meanes in Physicke to preserue the teeth and make them white and faire Depilatorie are those medicines which either fetch off the haire or hinder it from comming vp againe at all or at leastwise from growing thicke They were called in Greek and Latine both Psâ—…lothra Desiccatiue i. drying Digestiues be those medicines which taken inwardly helpe concoction of meate or humors or applied without vnto a sore doe comfort the place and make way for speedie healing Dislocations when the bones be either out of ioynt or else displaced to Disopilate i. to open to Dissipate i. to scatter and dispatch Distortion crookednesse or turning awry vnnaturally Diureticall such things as prouoke vrine Dose i. that weight or quantitie of any medicine that may be giuen either conueniently or without danger to the patient Dram the eight part of an ounce which is the weight of a Roman denier or Denarius Dysenterie is properly the exulceration or sore in the guts whereupon ensueth besides the painefull wrings of the belly a flux also of bloud at the siege and therefore it is vsually taken for the bloudy flix E EClogues See Eidyls Electuaries be medicinable compositions or confections to be taken inwardly made of choise drugs either to purge humors to strengthen the principall parts or to withstand any infirmitie for which they are made The substance is betweene a syrrup and a Conserue but more inclining to the consistence of conserues Eidylls or Eidyllia be small poemes or pamphlets written by Poets such as Theocritus in Greeke compiled and much like vnto the Pastorals or Eclogues of Virgill in Latine Embrochation is a deuise that physitians haue for to foment the head or any other part with a liquor falling from aloft vpon it in maner of rain whereupon it took the name in Greeke Embroche and hath found none yet in Latine vnlesse we should vse Superfusio Emollitiues medicines that do soften any hard swelling Empiricks were those physitians who without any regard either of the cause in a disease or the constitution and nature of the Patient went to worke with those medicines whereof they had experience in others fall it out as it would Empirick books of Diodorus contained receits approoued and found effectuall by experience Emunctories be those kernelly places in the body by which the principall and noble parts doe void their superfluities or such things as offend to wit vnder the ears for the brain the arm-pits for the heart and the share for the liuer c. Emplastration in the Hortyard is grafting by inocelation with a scutcheon in Physicke the applying of a salue or plastre Epilepsie i. the falling sicknesse Errhines be deuises made like tents sharper at one end than the other to bee put vp into the nose either to cure some vlcer there or to draw downe and void humors out of the head or to prouoke sneesing c. Eschare is that crust which ariseth vpon a cauterie either actuall or potentiall as also the roufe or scab that groweth vpon a sore Euacuation i. Voidance and riddance of any thing out of the bodie by vomite purging bleeding sweating c. Excalfactorie i. Heating or chaufing Excoriation i. fretting the skin off when a part is made raw a way to exulceration Excresence i. ouergrowing vnnaturally of any thing in mans bodie Exoticall i. forraine and brought from other countries Exorcismes i. coniurations by certain charmes and spels Exorcists they that practised such Exorcisms To Expectorat i. to rid and discharge out of the breast by coughing or reaching Expiatorie were sacrifices or oblations for to make satisfaction and atonement Exiccatiue See Desiccatiue Extenuat i. to make thin Exulceration i. a sorenesse of any part inward or outward when not onely the skin is off but the humor doth fret deeper still Exulceratiue be such things as are apt to eat into the flesh and make an vlcer F Fermentation i. an equall mixture of things working as it were together a tearme borrowed from the leuaine which disperseth it selfe into the whole masse or lumpe of dough Filaments bee the small strings that hang to a root like threads or haires which some call the beard of the root and in resemblance thereof other things growing likewise bee so called Fissures clifts or chaps whether it bee in the hands feet lips or fundament Flatuosities i. windinesse gathered within the bodie Flora the goddesse of floures among the Painims Fomentations properly be deuises for to be applied vnto any affected part either to comfort and cherish it or allay the paine or els to open the poores to make way for ointments and plastres If they be liquid things they are laid too by the means of bladders spunges or such like if drie within bags or quilts Fractures i. bones broken Frictions or Frications rubbings of the bodie vpward or downeward gently or otherwise as the cause requireth Frontall the forme of an outward medicine applied vnto the forehead to allay paine to procure sleepe c. Fukes i. paintings to beautify the face in outward appearance They are called at this day complexions whereas they bee cleane contrarie for the complexion is naturall and these altogether artificiall Fumosities bee vapours steaming vp into the head troubling the braine Fungous i. of an hollow and light substance like to Fusses or Mushromes G GArga rismes bee collutions of the mouth and parts toward the throat either to draw downe and purge humours out of the head or to represse and restraine their flux or to mundifie and heale any sore there growing Gargarising or Gargling is the action of vsing a liquor to the said purpose Gestation an exercise of
said juice incorporat with oile serueth for an ointment also to be applied outwardly for the Sciatica Some vse the seed for the strangury The substance of Broom stamped with swines grease helpeth the ach or pain in the knees To come now to Tamarisk which the Greeks call Myrice Lenaeus affirmeth That it is vsed in maner of the Amerian willow for beesomes and more than so that if it bee sodden in wine stamped and reduced into a liniment with hony it healeth cankerous vlcers and in very truth some hold That the Myrice and Tamariske be both one But doubtlesse singular it is for the spleen in case the patient drink the iuice pressed out of it in wine And by report there is that wonderfull antipathy and contrariety in Nature betweene Tamariske and this one part alone of all the other bowels that if the troughs out of which swine drinke their swil be made of this wood they wil be found when they are opened altogether without a spleen And therfore some Physitians do prescribe vnto a man or woman also diseased in the spleen and subject to the opilations therof both to drinke out of cups or cans of Tamarisk and also to eat their meat out of such treen dishes as be made of that wood One renowned writer aboue the rest and for knowledge in great credit and author it among Physitians hath affirmed and auouched constantly That a twig of Tamarisk slipped or broken from the plant so as it touched neither the ground nor any yron toole assuageth all belly ache in case the patient weare it about him so as that his girdle and coat hold it fast and close to the body The common people cal it The vnlucky tree as I haue heretofore said because it beares no fruit is neuer with vs set or planted In Corinth and all the territory or region round about they name it Brya and make two kinds thereof to wit the wilde which is altogether barren and that which is of a more tame and gentle nature This Tamarisk in Egypt and Syria beareth in great plenty a certain fruit in substance hard and wooddy in quantity bigger than the gal-nut of an vnpleasant and harsh tast which the Physitians do vse in stead of the Gal-nut and put into those compositions which they name Antheras Howbeit the very wood of this plant the floure leaues and barke also be vsed to the same purpose although they be not so strong in operation as the said fruit The rind or barke beaten to pouder is giuen with good successe to them that cast vp bloud also to women who haue a great shift of their fleurs likewise to such as be troubled with a continual flux occasioned by the imbecility of the stomack The same bruised and applied as a cataplasme represseth and smiteth backe all impostumations a breeding The juice pressed out of the leaues is good for the same infirmities moreouer they vse to boil the leaues in wine for the same intent But of themselues alone being brought into a liniment with some hony among they are good to be applied vnto gangrenes The foresaid decoction of the leaues beeing drunke in wine or the leaues applied with oyle of Roses and wax mitigat the said gangrenes namely when the flesh tendeth to mortification And in this manner they cure the night-foes or chilblanes Their decoction is wholsome for the paine of teeth or eares for which purpose serueth the root likewise and the leaues Ouer and besides the leaues haue this property That if they be brought into the form of a cataplasme with barly groats and so applied they keep down and restrain corrosiue vlcers The seed if it be taken to the weight of a dram in drinke is a preseruatiue and counterpoison against spiders and namely those called Phalangia And if the same be incorporat with the tallow or grease of any fatlings or beasts kept vp in stall stie or mow into a liniment it is singular good for any vncome or fellon Of great efficacy it is also against the sting of all serpents except the Aspis The decoction likewise of the seed clysterized is singular for the jaundise it kils lice and nits and staieth the immoderat flux of womens months The ashes of the very wood of the tree is good in all those cases beforesaid which if they be mingled in the stale of an oxe and so taken of man or woman either in meat or drink it will disable them for hauing any mind to the sports of Venus euer after And a burning cole of this wood when it is quenched in the stale or beasts pisse they vse to saue lay vp in the shade for that purpose but if one list to kindle lust then they set it on fire againe To conclude the Magitians say That it would do as much if the vrine only of a gelded man were taken for the said purpose CHAP. X. ¶ Of the Bloud-rod Of Siler Of Priuet The Alder tree and Ivy. Of Cisthus and Cissos Of Erithranos Of Chamaecissos or Ground-Ivie Of Smilax or Bindweed Of Clematis THe Plant called the Sanguin-rod is as vnhappy as the foresaid Tamariske The inner bark thereof is singular good to open again those vlcers which are healed aloft only and skinned before their time The leaues of Siler brought into a liniment and applied as a frontall to the forehead allay the paine of the head The seed thereof driuen into pouder and incorporat with oile is good for the lousie disease and keepeth the body from lice The very serpents cannot abide this plant or shrub but flie from it which is the cause that the peasants of the country make their walking staues thereof Our Ligustrum or Priuet is the very same tree that Cypros is in the East parts To good vse it serueth amongst vs here in Europ for the juice of it is wholsome for the sinews the ioynts and any extreme cold The leaues applied with some corns of salt heale all inueterat vlcers in any part whatsoeuer and particularly the Cankers in the mouth The graines or berries that it beareth are good to kill lice also for any gal where the skin is fretted off between the legs and so be the leaues likewise The foresaid berries do cure the pip in Hens and Pullen As for the Alder tree the leaues if they be applied hot as they be taken out of scalding water do cure without faile any tumor or swelling As touching the Ivy tree 20 kinds therof and no fewer I haue already shewed and of al these there is not one but the vse of it in Physick is doubtfull and dangerous For first and formost Ivy if it bee drunke in any quantity howsoeuer it may purge the head surely it troubleth the brain Taken inwardly it hurteth the sinews applied outwardly it doth them much good Of the very same nature it is that vineger All the sorts of Ivies be refrigeratiue In drink they prouoke vrin But the soft and
health consisted in this That a man should become as bloudie as a sauage beast or that be counted a remedy which indeed is cause of a mischiefe and malady And wel deserue such bloud-suckers and cruell leeches to be frustrat of their cure and thereby to worke their owne bane and destruction for if it be held vnlawfull and abhominable to prie and look into the entrails and bowels of a mans body what is it then to chew and eat them But what monster was hee who first broched this geare and deuised such accursed drugs Ah wicked wretch the inuenter and artificer of those monstrosities thou that hast ouerthrowne all law of humanity for with thee wil I haue to do against thee will I whet my tongue and turne the edge of my style who first didst bring vp this bruitish leech-craft for no other purpose but to be spoken of another day and that the world might neuer forget thy wicked inuentions What direction had he who thus began to deuoure mans body lim by lim nay what conjecture or guesse moued him so to do what might the originall and foundation be whereupon this diuelish Physick was grounded what should he be that bare men in hand and would persuade the world That the thing which is vsed as a poison in witchcraft and sorcerie should auaile more to the health of man than other knowne and approued remedies Set case that some barbarous people vsed so to do say that strange nations and far remoued from all ciuility had these manners among them must the Greekes take vp those fashions also yea and credit them so much as to reduce them into a method amongst other their goodly Arts And yet see what Democritus one of them haue done there be extant at this day books of his inditing and penning wherein you shal reade That the soul of a wicked malefactor is in some cases better than that of an honest person and in other That of a friend and guest preferred before a stranger As for Apollonius another of that brood hee hath written That if the gums be scarrified with the tooth of a man violently slain it is a most effectuall and present remedy for the tooth-ach Artemon had no better receit for the falling sicknesse than to draw vp water out of a fountaine in the night season and to giue the same vnto the Patient to drink it in the brain-pan of a man who died some violent death so he were not burnt And Antheus took the scull of one that had bin hanged and made pills thereof which he ministred vnto those who were bitten by a mad dog for a soueraigne remedy Moreouer these writers not content to vse these sorceries about men imploied the medicines also of the parts of man to the cure of foure footed beasts and namely if kine or oxen were dew-blowne or otherwise puffed vp they were wont to bore holes through their horns so to inlay or interlard them as it were with mens bones finally when swine were diseased they tooke the fine white wheat Siligo being permitted to lie one whole night in the very place where some men were killed or burnt and gaue it them to eat As for me and all vs that are Latine writers God forbid we should defile our papers with such filthinesse our intention is to put downe in writing those good and wholsome medicines which man may affoord vnto man and not to set abroad any such detestable and hainous sorceries as for example to shew what medicinable vertue there may be in brest-milke of women newly deliuered what healthfull operation there is in our fasting spittle or what the touching of a man or womans body may auaile in the cure of any malady and many other semblable things arising from naturall causes For mine owne part verily I am of this mind That we ought not so much to make of our health or life as to maintain and preserue the same by any indirect course and vnlawful meanes And thou whosoeuer thou be that doest addict thy selfe to such villanies whiles thou liuest shalt die in the end a death answerable to thy beastly and execrable life To conclude therefore let euery man for to comfort his heart and to cure the maladies of his mind set this principle before his eies That of all those good gifts which Nature hath bestowed vpon man there is none better than to die in a fit and seasonable time and in so doing this is simply the best That in his power it is and the meanes hee hath to chuse what death he list CHAP. II. ¶ Whether Words Spels or Charmes are auaileable in Physicke Also whether wonders and strange prodigies may be either wrought and procured or put by and auoided by them or no. THe first point concerning the remedies medicinable drawn from out of man which mooueth the greatest question and the same as yet not decided and resolued is this Whether bare Words Charms and Inchantments be of any power or no If it be granted Yea then no doubt ought we to ascribe that vertue vnto man But the wisest Philosophers and greatest Doctors take them one by one doubt thereof and giue no credit at all thereto And yet go by the common voice of the whole world you shall find it a generall beleefe and a blinde opinion alwaies receiued whereof there is no reason or certain experience to ground vpon For first and formost we see that if any beast be killed for sacrifice without a sett forme of praier it is to no purpose and held vnlawfull semblably if these inuocations be omitted when as men seeke to any Oracles and would be directed in the wil of gods by beasts bowels or otherwise all booteth not but the gods seem displeased thereby Moreouer the words vsed in crauing to obtaine any thing at their hands run in one form and the exorcismes in diuerting their ire turning away some imminent plagues are framed after another sort also there be proper termes seruing for meditation only and contemplation Nay we haue seene and obserued how men haue come to make suit and tender petitions to the soueraign and highest magistrats with a preamble of certain set prayers Certes so strict and precise men are in this point about diuine seruice that for fear least some words should be either left out or pronounced out of order there is one appointed of purpose as a prompter to read the same before the priest out of a written booke that hee misse not in a tittle another also set neare at his elbow as a keeper to obserue and mark that he faile not in any ceremony or circumstance and a third ordained to goe before and make silence saying thus to the whole assembly congregation Favete linguis i. spare your tongues and be silent and then the fluits and haut-boies begin to sound and play to the end that no other thing be heard for to trouble his mind or interrupt him the while And verily
water and if the gout be hot they would be laid to soked in water only The same spunges ought for the dissoluing of hard callosities to be wet with salt water against the sting or prick of scorpions with vinegre In the cure of wounds spunges may be vsed in stead of vnwashed greasie wooll somtimes applied with wine and oile and somtimes also with the said wooll this only is the difference That such wooll doth mollifie wheras spunges do restrain and smite back and yet a facultie they haue to fetch out and sucke away the filthy excrements attyr and quitter that gather in sores and wounds They may be bound about the body of those that haue a dropsie either drie or else wet in warme water or vinegre according as need requireth either to goe gently to worke or to couer and dry the skin Ouer and besides good it is to apply spunges to those accidents and infirmities of the body which require euaperation namely if they be well soked and throughly wet in hot water and then pressed and strained between two tables or bords After which manner they are good to be laid to the stomack and in a feauer against extremitie of heat For those that be troubled with the oppilation or hardnes of the spleen there is not a more effectual remedy than to apply spunges to the place affected wet in oxycrat or vinegre water together like as for shingles and S. Anthonies euill with vinegre only But in this application of them consideration must be had that they couer the sound parts also round about as well as the other Spunges wet in vinegre and cold water staunch any flux of bloud If there be any place of the skin blacke and blew vpon a fresh or new stripe lay thereto spunges well drenched in salt water changing them often one after another and it shall recouer the naturall colour againe in which order they bring down the swelling of the cods and allay their paine Being hacked and cut small they serue to good purpose for to be laid to the biting of mad dogs so that eftsoones and euer and anon they be wet and refreshed with vinegre cold water or hony good store one with another The spunges of Africke or Barbarie being burnt or calcined doe make soueraigne ashes for to be drunke with juice of vnset leeks in cold water so there be put vnto a draught thereof a quantitie of salt by such as cast or reach bloud vpward at the mouth The same ashes reduced into a liniment either with oile or vinegre and so applied as a frontall to the forehead driue away tertian agues These African spunges haue this peculiar qualitie to discusse any tumors if they be applied to them well soked in oxycrat or water and vinegre mixed together The ashes of any spunges whatsoeuer burnt together with pitch staunch the bleeding of any wound and yet some there be who in this case burn those only with pitch which are of a grosse and loose making and not so compact as the rest Moreouer for the accidents of the eies spunges are many times burnt and calcined in an earthen pot vnbaked and the ashes which come thereof do much good also vnto the pilling and asperitie of the eie lids the excrescense of flesh and whatsoeuer in those parts needeth astriction or otherwise to be vnited sowdred or incarnat and for these effects it is much better to wash the said ashes Furthermore spunges in friction and rubbing of crasie bodies may well stand in stead of currying combs and course linnen cloaths besides they serue right handsomely and fitly to couer and defend the head against the extreame heat of the Sun Moreouer the ignorance of our Physitians is the cause that all spunges be reduced to two only kinds to wit vnder the name of Affrican which be of more tough and firme substance and the Rhodiacke which are softer and therefore meet for fomentations At this day the tendrest and most delicat spunges are found about the walls of the citie Antiphellus And yet Trogus writeth that about Lycia the softest spunges called Penicilli do grow in the deep sea and namely in those places from whence other spunges beforetime had been plucked and taken away Finally Polybius doth report that if spunges be hung about the tester or seeling of a bed ouer sicke persons they shall take the better rest and repose all night for it Now is it time for me to returne vnto Beasts of the Sea and other creatures liuing and bred in the waters THE XXXII BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS The Proem ¶ Medicines taken from liuing creatures of the Sea HAuing so far proceeded in the discourse of Natures historie that I am now arriued at the very height of her forces and come into a world of Examples I cannot chuse but in the first place consider the power of her operations and the infinitenesse of her secrets which offer themselues before our eies in the Sea for in no part else of this vniuersall Frame is it possible to obserue the like majestie of Nature in so much as we need not seeke any further nay we ought not to make more search into her diuinitie considering there cannot be found any thing equall or like vnto this one Element wherein she hath surmounted and gone beyond her owne selfe in a wonderfull number of respects For first and formost Is there any thing more violent than the Sea and namely when it is troubled with bloustring winds whirlpuffs stormes and tempests Or wherein hath the wit of man beene more emploied seeke out all parts of the whole world than in seconding the waues and billowes of the Sea by saile andore Finally Is there ought more admirable than the inenarrable force of the reciprocall tides of the Sea ebbing and flowing as it doth wherby it keepeth a current also as it were the streame of some great riuer CHAP. I. ¶ Of the fish Echeneis and her wonderfull propertie Of the Crampe-fish Torpedo and the Sea-hare The wonders of the Red sea THe currant of the Sea is great the tide much the winds vehement and forcible and more than that ores and sails withall to helpe forward the rest are mighty and powerfull and yet there is one little sillie fish named Echeneis that checketh scorneth and arresteth them all let the winds blow as much as they will rage the stormes and tempests what they can yet this little fish commandeth their fury restraineth their puissance and maugre all their force as great as it is compelleth ships to stand still A thing which no cables be they neuer so big and strong no ankers how massie and weightie soeuer they be sticke they also as fast and vnmouable as they will can performe Shee bridleth the violence and tameth the greatest rage of this vniuersall world and that without any paine that she putteth her selfe vnto without any holding and putting backe or by any other
the Elements 6. Of the seuen Planets 7. Concerning God 8. The nature of the fixed starres and Planets their course and reuolution 9. The nature of the Moone 10. The eclipse of Sun and Moone also of the night 11. The bignesse of starres 12. Diuerse inuentions of men and their obseruations touching the coelestiall bodies 13. Of Eclipses 14. The motion of the Moone 15. Generall rules or canons touching planets or lights 16. The reason why the same planets seeme higher or lower at sundry times 17. Generall rules concerning the planets or wandring stars 18. What is the cause that planets change their colours 19. The course of the Sunne his motion and from whence proceedeth the inequalitie of daies 20. Why lightenings be assigned to Iupiter 21. The distances betweene the planets 22. The harmonie of stars and planets 23. The geometrie and dimensions of the world 24. Of stars appearing sodainly 25. Of comets or blasing stars and other prodigious appearances in the skie their nature situation and sundry kinds 26. The opinion of Hipparchus the Philosopher as touching the stars fire-lights lamps pillars or beames of fire burning darts gapings of the skie and other such impressions by way of example 27. Strange colours appearing in the firmament 28. Flames and leams seene in the skie 29. Circles of guirlands shewing aboue 30. Of coelestiall circles and guirlands that continue not but soone passe 31. Of many Suns 32. Of many Moones 33. Of nights as light as day 34. Of meteors resembling fierie targuets 35. Astrange and wonderfull apparition in the skie 36. The extraordinarie shooting and motion of stars 37. Of the stars named Castor and Pollux 38. Of the Aire 39. Of certaine set times and seasons 40. The power of the Dog-star 41. The sundrie influences of stars according to the seasons and degrees of the signes 42. The causes of raine wind and clouds 43. Of thunder and lightning 44. Whereupon commeth the redoubling of the voice called Echo 45. Of winds againe 46. Diuerse considerations obserued in the nature of winds 37. Many sorts of winds 48. Of sodaine blasts and whirle-puffs 49. Other strange kinds of tempests storms 50. In what regions there fall thunderbolts 51. Diuers sorts of lightnings and wonderous accidents by them occasioned 52. The obseruations of the Tuscanes in old time as touching lightening 53. Conjuring for to raise lightning 54. Generall rules concerning leames and flashes of lightning 55. What things be exempt and secured from lightning and thunderbolts 56. Of monstrous and prodigious showres of raine namely of milke bloud flesh yron wooll bricke and tyle 57. The rattling of harnesse and armour the sóund also of trumpets heard from heauen 58. Of stones falling from heauen 59. Of the Rain-bow 60. Of Haile Snow frost Mists and Dew 61. Of diuers formes and shapes represented in clouds 62. The particular propertie of the skie in certaine places 63. The nature of the Earth 64. The forme and figure of the earth 65. Of the Antipodes and whether there bee any such Also as touching the roundnesse of the water 66. How the water resteth vpon the Earth 67. Of Seas and riuers nauigable 68. What parts of the earth be habitable 69. That the earth is in the mids of the world 70. From whence proceedeth the inequalitie obserued in the rising and eleuation of the stars Of the eclipse where it is wherfore 71. The reason of the day-light vpon earth 72. A discourse thereof according to the Gnomon also of the first Sun-dyall 73. In what places and at what times there are no shadows cast 74. Where the shadows fall opposite and contrary twice in the yeare 75. Where the dayes bee longest and where shortest 76. Likewise of Dyals and Quadrants 77. The diuers obseruations and acceptations of the day 78. The diuersities of regions and the reason thereof 79. Of Earthquakes 80. Of the chinks and openinst of the earth 81. Signes of earthquake toward 82. Remedies and helps againg eatthquakes comming 83. Strange and prodigious wonders seen one time in the earth 84. Miraculous accidents as touching earthquake 85. In what parts the seas went backe 86. Islands appearing new out of the sea 87. What Islands haue thus shewed and at what times 88. Into what lands the seas haue broken perforce 89. What Islands haue bin ioyned to the continent 90. What lands haue perished by water and become all sea 91. Of lands that haue settled and beene swallowed vp of themselues 92. What cities haue beene ouerflowed and drowned by the sea 93. Wonderfull strange things as touching some lands 94. Of certaine lands that alwaies suffer earthquake 95. Of Islands that flote continually 96. In what countries of the world it never raineth also of many miracles as well of the earth as other elements hudled vp pell mell together 97. The reason of the Sea-tides as well ebbing as flowing and where the sea floweth extraordinarily 98. Wonderfull things obserued in the sea 99. The power of the Moone ouer Sea and land 100. The power of the Sun and the reason why the sea is salt 101. Moreouer as touching the nature of the Moone 102. Where the sea is deepest 103. Admirable obseruations in fresh waters as well of fountaines as riuers 104. Admirable things as touching fire and water ioyntly together also of Maltha 105. Of Naphtha 106. Of certaine places that burne continually 107. Wonders of fire alone 108. The dimension of the earth as well in length as in breadth 109. The harmonicall circuit ond circumference of the world In sum there are tn this boooke of histories notable matters and worthy obseruations foure hundred and eighteene in number Latine Authours cited M. Varro Sulpitius Gallus Tiberius Caesar Emperour Q. Tubero Tullius Tiro L. Piso T. Livius Cornelius Nepos Statius Sebosus Casius Antipater Fabianus Antias Mutianus Cecina who wrote of the Tuscane learning Tarquitius L. Aquila and Sergius Paulus Forreine Authours cited Plato Hipparchus Timaeus Sosigenes Petosiris Necepsus the Pythagoreans Posidonius Anaximander Epigenes Gnomonicus Euclides Ceranus the Philosopher Eudoxus Democritus Crâ—…sodemus Thrasillus Serapion Dicearchus Archimedes Onesicritus Eratosthenes Pytheas Herodotus Aristotle Ctesius Artemidorus the Ephesian Isidorus Characenus and Theopompus ¶ IN THE THIRD BOOKE ARE COMPREHENded the Regions Nations Seas Townes Hauens Mountains Riuers with their measures and people either at this day known or in times past as followeth Chap. 1. Of Europe 2. The length and breadth of Boetica a part of Spaine containing Andalusia and the realme of Grenado 3. That hither part of Spaine called of the Romans Hispania Citerior 4. The Prouince Nerbonencis wherin is Dauphine Languedoc and Provance 5. Italie Tiberis Rome and Campaine 6. The Island Corsica 7. Sardinia 8. Sicilie 9. Lipara 10. Of Locri and the frontiers of Italie 11. The second gulfe of Europe 12. The fourth region of Italie 13. The fifth region 14. The sixth region 15. The eighth region 16. Of the riuer Po. 17. Of Italie beyond the Po counted the eleuenth
conceptions and children within the wombe The signes how to know whether a woman goe with a sonne or a daughter before she is deliuered 7. Of the conception and generation of man 8. Of Agrippae i. those who are borne with the feet forward 9. Of strange births namely by meanes of incision when children are cut out of their mothers wombe 10. Of Vopisci i. such as being twins were borne aliue notwithstanding the one of them was dead before 11. Histories of many children borne at one burden 12. Examples of those that were like one to another 13. The cause and manner of generation 14. More of the same matter and argument 15. Of womens monethly tearmes 16. The manner of sundry births 17. The proportion of the parts of mans body and notable things therein obserued 18. Examples of extraordinary shapes 19. Strange natures of men 20. Of bodily strength and swiftnesse 21. Of excellent sight 22. Who excelled in hearing 23. Examples of patience 24. Who were singular for good memorie 25. The praise of C. Iulius Caesar. 26. The commendation of Pompey the Great 27. The praise of Cato the first of that name 28. Of valour and fortitude 29. Of notable wits or the praises of some for their singular wit 30. Of Plato Ennius Virgill M. Varro and M. Cicero 31. Of such as carried a maiestie in their behauiour 32. Of men of great authority and reputation 33. Of certaine diuine and heauenly persons 34. Of Scipio Nasica 35. Of Chastitie 36. Of Pietie and naturall kindnesse 37. Of excellent men in diuerse sciences and namely in Astrologie Grammer and Geometrie c. 38. Item Rare peeces of worke made by sundry artificers 39. Of seruants and slaues 40. The excellencie of diuerse nations 41. Of perfect contentment and felicitie 42. Examples of the varietie and mutabilitie of fortune 43. Of those that were twice outlawed and banished of L. Sylla and Q. Metellus 44. Of another Metellus 45. Of the Emperour Augustus 46. Of men deemed most happy aboue all others by the Oracles of the gods 47. Who was canonized a god whiles hee liued vpon the earth 48. Of those that liued longer than others 49. Of diuerse natiuities of men 50. Many examples of strange accidents in maladies 51. Of the signes of death 52. Of those that reuiued when they were carried forth to be buried 53. Of suddaine death 54. Of sepulchres and burials 55. Of the soule of ghosts and spirits 56. The first inuentors of many things 57. Wherein all nations first agreed 58. Of antique letters 59. The beginning of Barbers first at Rome 60. The first deuisers of Dials and Clockes In summe there be in this booke of stories strange accidents and matters memorable 747. Latine Authors alleadged Varrius Flaccus Cn. Gellius Licinius Mutianus Mutius Massurius Agrippina wife of Claudius M. Cicero Asinius Pollio Messala Rufus Cornelius Nepos Virgil Livie Cordus Melissus Sebosus Cernelius Celsus Maximus Valerius Trogus Nigidius Figulus Pomponius Atticus Pedianus Asconius Sabinus Cato Censorius Fabius Vestalis Forreine Writers Herodotus Aristeus Beto Isigonus Crates Agatharcides Calliphanes Aristotle Nymphodorus Apollonides Philarchus Damon Megasthenes Ctesias Tauron Eudoxus Onesicratus Clitarchus Duris Artemidorus Hippocrates the Physitian Asclepiander the Physitian Hesiodus Anacreon Theopompus Hellanicus Damasthes Ephorus Epigenes Berosus Pessiris Necepsus Alexander Polyhistor Xenophon Callimachus Democritus Duillius Polyhistor the Historian Strato who wrate against the Propositions and Theoremes of Ephorus Heraclides Ponticus Asclepiades who wrate Tragodamena Philostephanus Hegesias Archimachus Thucidides Mnesigiton Xenagoras Metrodorus Scepsius Anticlides and Critodemus ¶ IN THE EIGHT BOOKE ARE CONtained the natures of land beasts that goe on foot Chap. 1. Of land creatures The good and commendable parts in Elephants their capacitie and vnderstanding 2. When Elephants were first yoked and put to draw 3. The docilitie of Elephants and their aptnesse to learne 4. The clemency of Elephants that they know their owne dangers Also of the felnesse of the Tigre 5. The perceiuance and memory of Elephants 6. When Elephants were first seene in Italie 7. The combats performed by Elephants 8. The manner of taking Elephants 9. The manner how Elephants be tamed 10. How long an Elephant goeth with young and of their nature 11. The countries were Elephants breed the discord and warre betweene Elephants and Dragons 12. The industrie and subtill wit of Dragons and Elephants 13. Of Dragons 14. Serpents of prodigious bignesse of Serpents named Boae 15. Of beasts engendred in Scythia and the North countries 16. Of Lions 17. Of Panthers 18. The nature of the Tygre of Camels and the Pard-Cammell when it was first seene at Rome 19. Of the Stag-Wolfe named Chaus and the Cephus 20. Of Rhincceros 21. Of Onces Marmosets called Sphinges of the Crocutes of common Marmosets of Indian Boeufes of Leucrocutes of Eale of the Aethiopian Bulls of the best Mantichora of the Sicorne or Vnicorne of the Catoblepa and the Basiliske 22. Of Wolues 23. Of Serpents 24. Of the rat of India called Ichneumon 25. Of the Crocodiles and Skinke and the Riuer-horse 26. Who shewed first at Rome the Water-horse and the Crocodiles Diuerse reasons in Physicke found out by dumb creatures 27. Of beasts and other such creatures which haue taught vs certaine hearbes to wit the red Deere Lizards Swallowes Tortoises the Weasell the Stork the Bore the Snake the Panther the Elephant Beares Stocke-Doues House-Doues Cranes and Rauens 28. Prognostications of things to come taken from beasts 29. What cities and nations haue bin destroied by small creatures 30. Of the Hiaena the Crocuta and Mantichora of Bieuers and Otters 31. Of Frogs sea or sea-Calues and Stellions 32. Of Deere both red and Fallow 33. Of the Tragelaphis of the Chamaeleon and other beasts that change colour 34. Of the Tarand the Lycaon and the Wolfe called Thoes 35. Of the Porc-espines 36. Of Beares and how they bring forth their whelpes 37. The rats and mice of Pontus and the Alps also of Hedgehogs 38. Of the Leontophones the Onces Graies Badgers and Sqirrils 39. Of Vipers Snailes in shels and Lizards 40. Of Dogs 41. Against the biting of a mad dog 42. The nature of Horses 43. Of Asses 44. Of Mules 45. Of Kine Buls and Oxen. 46. Of the Boeufe named Apis. 47. The nature of sheepe their breeding and generation 48. Sundry kinds of wooll and cloths 49. Of sheepe called Musmones 50. Of Goats and their generation 51. Of Swine and their nature 52. Of Parkes and Warrens for beasts 53. Of beasts halfe tame and wild 54. Of Apes and Monkies 55. Of Hares and Connies 56. Of beasts halfe sauage 57. Of Rats and Mice of Dormice 58. Of beasts that liue not in some places 59. Of beasts hurtfull to strangers In summe there be in this Booke principall matters stories and obseruations worth the remembrance 788. Latine Authors alledged Mutianus Procilius Verrius Flaccus L. Piso Cornelius Valerianus Cato Censorius Fenestella Trogus Actius Columella Virgil Varro Lu. Metellus Scipio Cornelius
the tips of her hornes turned from the Sun toward the East but in the waine contrariwise Westward Also that she shines the first day of her apparition ¼ parts and the foure and twentieth part of an houre and so riseth in proportion the second day forward vnto the full and likewise decreaseth in the same manner to the change But alwaies she is hidden in the change within fourteene degrees of the Sunne By which argument we collect that the magnitude of the other Planets is greater than that of the Moone for so much as they appeare otherwhiles when they be but seuen degrees off But the cause why they shew lesse is their altitude like as also the fixed starres which bv reason of the brightnesse of the Sunne are not seene in the day time whereas indeed they shine as clearely by day as by night And that is manifestly proued by some eclipses of the Sun and exceeding deepe pits for so they are to be seene by day light CHAP. XV. ¶ Generall rules touching the motions and lights of other Planets THose three which we say are aboue the Sun be hidden when they goe their course together with him They arise in the morning and be called Orientall Matutine and neuer depart farther than eleuen degrees But afterwards meeting with his raies and beames they are couered and in their triple aspect retrograde they make their morning station a hundred and twenty degrees off which are called the first and anon in a contrarie aspect or opposition 180 degrees off they arise in the euening and are Occidentall Vespertine In like sort approching from another side within an hundred and twenty degrees they make their euening stations which also they call the second vntill he ouertake them within twelue degrees and so hide them and these are called the euening settings As for Mars as he is neerer vnto the Sun so feeleth he the Sun beames by a quadrant aspect to wit ninetie degrees whereupon that motion tooke the name called the first and second Nonagenarie from both risings The same planet keepeth his stationarie residence six moneths in the signes whereas otherwise of his owne nature but two moneths But the other planets in both stations or houses continue not all out foure moneths apiece Now the other two inferiour planets vnder the Sun go downe and are hidden after the same manner in the euening Coniunction and in as many degrees they make their morning rising and from the farthest bounds of their distance they follow the Sun and after they haue once ouertaken him they set againe in the morning and so out-go him And anon keeping the same distance in the euening they arise againe vnto the same limits which we named before from whence they are retrograde and return to the Sun and by the euening setting they be hidden As for Venus she likewise maketh two stations according to the two manners of her apparance morning and euening when she is in farthest bounds and vtmost points of her Epicycle But Mercurie keepeth his stations so small a while that they cannot be obserued This is the manner and order as well of the lights and appearances of the planets as of their occultations and keeping close intricate in their motion and enfolded within many strange wonders For change they do their magnitudes and colours sometime they approch into the North the same againe go backe toward the South yea and all on a sudden they appeare one while neerer to the earth and another while to the heauen wherein if we shall deliuer many points otherwise than former Writers yet confesse we do that for these matters we are beholden vnto them who first made demonstration of seeking out the wayes thereto howbeit let no man dispaire but that hee may profit and goe forward alwaies in further knowledge from age to age For these strange motions fall out vpon many causes The first is by reason of those eccentrique circles or Epicycles in the stars which the Greekes call Absides for needs we must vse in this treatise the Greeke termes Now euery one of the planets haue particular Auges or circles aforesaid by themselues and these different from those of the starry heauen for that the earth from those two points which they call Poles is the very centre of the heauen as also of the Zodiacke scituate ouerthwart betweene them All which things are certainly knowne to be so by the compasse that neuer can lie And therefore for euery centre there arise their owne Absides whereupon it is that they haue diuerscircuits and different motions because necessarie it is that the inward and inferiour Absides should be shorter CHAP. XVI ¶ Why the same Planets seeme sometime higher and some lower THe highest Absides therefore from the centre of the earth are of Saturne in the signe Scorpio of Iupiter in Virgo of Mars in Leo of the Sun in Gemini of Venus in Sagittarius of Mercury in Capricorne and namely in the middle or fifteenth degree of the said signes and contrariwise the said planets in the same degrees of the opposite signes are lowest and to the centre of the earth neerest So it commeth to passe that they seeme to moue more slowly when they goe their highest circuit not for that naturall motions doe either hasten or slacke which be certaine and seuerall to euery one but because the lines which are drawne from the top of the Absis must needs grow narrow and neere together about the centre as the spokes in cart wheeles and the same motion by reason of the neerenesse of the centre seemeth in one place greater in another lesse The other cause of their sublimities is for that in other signes they haue the Absides eleuated highest from the cen tre of their own eccentrique circles Thus Saturne is in the height of his Auge in the 20. degree of Libra Iupiâ—…er in the 15. of Cancer Mars in the 28. of Capricorne the Sunne in the 29. of Aries Vâ—…nus in the 16. of Pisces Mercurie in the 15. of Virgo and the Moone in the 4. of Taurus The third reason of their altitude or eleuation is not taken from their Auges or circles accentrique but vnderstood by the measure and conuexitie of heauen for that these planets seeme to the eie as they rise and fall to mount vp or settle downward through the aire Hereunto is knit and vnited another cause also to wit the Zodiaks obliquitie latitude of the planets in regard of the eclipticke For through it the starres which we called wandering do moue and take their course Neither is there any place inhabited vpon earth but that which lieth vnder it For al the rest without the poles are fruitles desart and ill fauoured Only the planet Venus goeth beyond the circle of the Zodiake 2. degrees which is supposed to be the very efficient cause that certaine liuing creatures are ingendred and bred euen in the desart and vnhabitable parts of the world The Moone likewise
vpon the tumour that beareth aloft aboue the edges theymust needs glide off and run by The same is the reason why the land cannot be seen by them that stand vpon the hatches of the ship but very plainly at the same time from the top of the masts Also as a ship goeth a far off from the land if any thing that shineth and giueth light be fastened to the top-gallant it seemeth from the land side to goe downe and sinke into the sea by little and little vntill at last it be hidden clean Last of all the very Ocean which we confesse to be the vtmost and farthest bound enuironing the whole globe by what other figure else could it hold together and not fall downe since there is no other banke beyond it to keepe it in And euen this also is as great a wonder how it commeth to passe although the sea grow to be round that the vtmost edge thereof falleth not downe Against which if the seas were euen flat and plaine and of that forme as they seem to be the Greeke Philosophers to their own great ioy and glory do conclude and proue by Geometricall subtill demonstration that it cannot possibly be that the waters should fall For seeing that waters run naturally from aloft to the lower parts and that all men confesse that this is their nature and no man doubteth that the water of the sea came euer in any shore so far as the deuexitie would haue suffered doubtlesse it appeares that the lower a thing is the neerer it is to the centre and that all the lines which from thence are sent out to the next waters are shorter than those which from the first waters reach to the vtmost extremitie of the sea Hereupon the whole water from euery part thereof bends to the centre and therfore falls not away because it inclines naturally to the inner parts And this we must beleeue that Nature the work-mistresse framed and ordained so to the end that the earth being dry could not by it selfe alone without some moisture keepe any consistence and the water likewise could not abide and stay vnlesse the earth vpheld it in which regard they were mutually to embrace one another and so be vnited whiles the one opened all the creeks and nouks and the other ran wholly into the other by means of secret veins within without and aboue like ligaments to claspe it yea and so break out at the vtmost tops of hils whether being partly caried by a spirit and partly expressed forth by the ponderositie of the earth it mounteth as it were in pipes and so far is it from danger of falling away that it leapeth vp to the highest and loftiest things that be By which reason it is euident also why the seas swell not and grow notwithstanding so many riuers daily run into them CHAP. LXXVj ¶ How the matter is vnited and knit to the earth THe earth therefore in his whole globe is in the midst thereof hemmed in by the sea running round about it And this need not to be sought out by reason and argument for it is knowne already by good proofe and experience CHAP. LXXVij ¶ Nauigation vpon the sea and great Riuers FRom Gades and Hercules pillars the West sea is at this day nauigable and sailed all ouer euen the whole compasse of Spaine and France But the North Ocean was for the most part disconered vnder the conduct of Augustus Caesar of famous memorie who with a fleet compassed all Germanie and brought it about as far as to the cape of the Cimbrians and so from thence hauing kenned and viewed the vast and wide sea or else taken notice thereof by report he passed to the Scythian Clymat and those cold coasts frozen and abounding with too much moisture For which cause there is no likelihood that in those parts the seas are at an end whereas there is such excessiue wet that all stands with water And neere vnto it from the East out of the Indian sea that whole part vnder the same clyme of the world which bendeth vnder the Caspian sea was sailed throughout by the Macedonian armies when Seleuchus and Antiochus reigned who would needs haue it so that Seleuchus and Antiochus should beare their names About the Caspian sea also many coasts and shores of the Ocean haue bin discouered and by piece-meale rather than all whole at once the North of one side or other hath been sailed or rowed ouer But yet to put all out of coniecture there is a great argument collected out of the Mere Maeotis whether it be a gulfe and arme of that Ocean as I know many haue beleeued or an ouerflowing of the same and diuided from it by a narrow piece of the continent In another side of Gades from the same West a great part of the South or Meridian gulfe round about Mauritania is at this day sailed And the greater part verily of it like as of the East also the victories of Alexander the Great viewed and compassed on euery side euen as farre as vnto the Arabian Gulfe Wherein when Caius Caesar the sonne of Augustus warred in those parts the marks and tokens by report were seen remaining after the Spaniards shipwracke Hanno likewise in the time that Carthage flourished in puissance sailed round about from Gades to the vtmost bounds and lands end of Arabia and set downe that his voyage in writing Like as also Himilco was at the same time sent out in a voyage to discouer the vtter coasts of Europe Moreouer Cornelius Nepos writeth that in his time one Eudoxius a great sailer at what time he fled from King Lathyrus departed out of the Arabian gulfe and held on his course as far as Gades Yea and Coelius Antipater long before him reporteth that he saw the man who had sailed out of Spain to Aethiopia for traffique of merchandise The same Nepos maketh report as touching the compassing about of the North That vnto Qu. Metellus Celer Colleague to C. Afranius in the Consulship but at that time Proconsull in Gaule certain Indians were giuen by a King of the Sueuians who as they failed out of India for traffick as merchants were driuen by tempests and cast vpon Germanie Thus the seas flowing on all sides about this globe of the earth diuided and cut into parcels bereaue vs of a part of the world so as neither from thence hither nor from hence thither there is a thorow-faire and passage The contemplation whereof seruing fit to discouer and open the vanitie of men seemes to require and challenge of me that I should proiect to the view of the eye how great all this is whatsoeuer it be and wherein there is nothing sufficient to satisfie and content the seuerall appetite of each man CHAP. LXViij ¶ What portion of the earth is habitable NOw first and formost me thinks men make this reckoning of the earth as if it were the iust halfe of the globe and that no portion of it
little lesse than 25000 stadia CHAP. CIX ¶ The Harmonicall measure and Circumference of the World DIonysidorus in another kind would be beleeued for I will not beguile you of the greatest example of Grecian vanitie This man was a Melian famous for his skill in Geometrie he dyed very aged in his owne countrey his neere kins-women who by right were his heires in remainder solemnized his funerals accompanied him to his graue These women as they came some few daies after to his sepulchre for to performe some solemne obsequies thereto belonging by report found in his monument an Epistle of this Dionysidorus written in his owne name To them aboue that is to say To the liuing and to this effect namely That he had made a step from his sepulchre to the bottome and centre of the earth and that it was thither 42000 stadia Neither wanted there Geometricians who made this interpretation that he signified that this Epistle was sent from the middle centre of the earth to which place downward from the vppermost aloft the way was longest and the same was iust halfe the diametre of the round globe whereupon followed this computation That they pronounced the circuit to be 255000 stadia Now the Harmonicall proportion which forceth this vniuersalitic and nature of the World to agree vnto it selfe addeth vnto this measure 7000 stadia and so maketh the earth to be the 96000 part of the whole world THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS The Proeme or Preface HIt herto haue we written of the position and wonders of the Earth Waters and Starres also we haue treated in generall termes of the proportion and measure of the whole world Now it followeth to discourse of the parts thereof albeit this also be iudged an infinite piece of worke nor lightly can be handled without some reprehension and yet in no kinde of enterprise pardon is more due since it is no maruell at all if he who is borne a mortall man knoweth not all things belonging to man And therefore I will not follow one Author more than another but euery one as I shall thinke him most true in the description of each part Forasmuch as this hath been a thing common in manner to them all namely to learn or describe the scituations of those places most exactly where themselues were either borne or which they had discouered and seene and therefore neither will I blame nor reproue any man The bare names of places shall be simply set downe in this my Geographic and that with as great breuitie as I can the excellency as also the causes and occasions thereof shall be deferred to their seuer all and particular treatises for now the question is as touching the whole earth in generalitie which mine intent is to represent vnto your eies and therefore I would haue things thus to be taken as if the names of countries were put downe nâ—…ked and void of renowne and fame and such onely as they were in the beginning before any acts there done and as if they had indeed an indument of names but respectiue onely to the World and vniuersall Nature of all Now the whole globe of the earth is diuided into three parts Europe Asia and Africa The beginning we take from the West and the Firth of Gades euen whereas the Atlanticke Ocean breaking in is spred into the Inland and Mediterranean seas Make your entrance there I meane at the Streights of Gibralter and then Africa is on the right hand Europe on the left and Asia before you iust betweene The bounds confining these are the riuers Tanais and Nilus The mouth of the Ocean at Gades whereof I spake before lyeth out in length 15 miles and stretcheth forth in breadth but fiue from a village in Spaine called Mellaria to the promontorie of Africke called the VVhite as Turannius Graccula born thereby doth write T. Liuius and Nepos Cornelius haue reported that the breadth thereof where it is narrowest is seuen miles ouer but ten miles where it is broadest From so small amouth a wonder to consider spreadeth the sea so huge and so vast as we see and withall so exceeding deepe as the maruell is no lesse in that regard For why in the verie mouth thereof are to be seen many barres and shallow shelues of white sands so ebbe is the water to the great terrour of shippes and sailers passing that way And therefore many haue called those Streights of Gibralter The entrie of the Mediterranean Sea Of both sides of this gullet neere vnto it are two mountaines set as frontiers and rampiers to keepe all in namely Abila for Africke Calpe for Europe the vtmost end of Hercules Labours For which cause the inhabitants of those parts call them the two pillars of that God and doe verily beleeue that by certaine draines and ditches digged within the Continent the maine Ocean before excluded made way and was let in to make the Mediteranean seas where before was firme land and so by that meanes the very face of the whole earth is cleane altered CHAP. I. ¶ Of Europe ANd first as touching Europe the nource of that people which is the conqueror of all nations and besides of all lands by many degrees most beautifull which may for right good cause haue made not the third portion of the earth but the one halfe diuiding the whole globe of the earth into two parts to wit from the riuer Tanais vnto the Streights of Gades The Ocean then at this space abouesaid entreth into the Atlanticke sea and with a greedie current drowneth those lands which dread his comming like a tyrant but where he meeteth with any that are like to resist those he passeth iust by and with his winding turns and reaches he eateth and holloweth the shore continually to gaine ground making many noukes and creekes euery where but in Europe most of all wherein foure especiall great gulfes are to be seene Of which the first from Calpe the vtmost promontorie as is aboue said of Spain windeth and turneth with an exceeding great compasse to Locri and as far as the promontorie Brutium Within it lieth the first land of all others Spaine that part I meane which in regard of vs at Rome is the farther off and is named also Boetica And anon from the Firth Virgitanus the hither part otherwise called Tarraconensis as far as to the hils Pyrenaei That farther part of larger Spaine is diuided into two prouinces in the length thereof for on the North side of Boetica lyeth Lusitania afront diuided from it by the riuer Ana. This riuer beginneth in the territorie Laminitanus of the hither Spain one while spreading out it selfe into broad pooles or meeres otherwhiles gathering into narrow brooks or altogether hidden vnder the ground and taking pleasure to rise vp oftentimes in many places falleth into the Spanish Atlantick Ocean But the part named Tarraconensis lying fast vpon Pyrenaeus shooting along all
no more than 5 fathom deepe howbeit in certain chanels that it hath it is so deep that it canot be sounded neither wil any anchors reach the bottom and there rest and withall so streight narrow these chanels are that a ship cannot turne within them and therefore to auoid the necessitie of turning about in these seas the ships haue prows at both ends and are pointed each way in sailing they obserue no star at all As for the North pole they neuer see it but they carry euer with them certaine birds in their ships which they send out oft times when they seeke for land euer obseruing their flight for knowing well that they wil fly to land they accompany them bending their course accordingly neither vse they to saile more than one quarter of a yeare and for 100 daies after the Sun is entred into Cancer they take most heed and neuer make saile for during that time it is winter with them And thus much we come to knowledge of by relation of antient Writers But we came to far better intelligence and more notable information by certain Embassadors that came out of that Island in the time of Claudius Gaesar the Emperor which happened vpon this occasion and after this manner It fortuned that a free slaue of Annius Plocamus who had farmed of the Exchequer the customs for impost of the red sea as he made saile about the coasts of Arabia was in such wise driuen by the North windes besides the realme of Carmania and that for the space of 15 daies that in the end he fell with an harbour thereof called Hippuros and there arriued When he was set on land he found the King of that Countrey so curteous that hee gaue him entertainment for six moneths and entreated him with all kindenesse that could be deuised And as he vsed to discourse and question with him about the Romanes and their Emperour he recounted vnto him at large of all things But amongst many other reports that he heard he wondred most of all at their iustice in all their dealings was much in loue therewith and namely that their Deniers of the money which was taken were alwaies of like weight notwithstanding that the sundry stamps and images vpon the pieces shewed plainly that they were made by diuers persons And hereupon especially was he mooued sollicited to seeke for the alliance and amitie of the people of Rome and so dispatched 4 Embassadours of purpose of whom one Rachias was the chiefe and principall personage By these Embassadours we are informed of the state of that Island namely that it contained fiue hundred great townes in it that there was a hauen therin regarding the South coast lying hard vnder Palesimundum the principall citie of all that realme and the kings seat and pallace that there were by iust account 200000 of commoners citizens moreouer that within this island there was a lake 270 miles in circuit containing in it certain Islands good for nothing else but pasturage wherein they were fruitfull out of which lake there issued 2 riuers the one Palesimundas passing neere to the citie abouesaid of that name and running into the hauen with three streames whereof the narrowest is fiue stadia broad and the largest 15 the other Northward on India side named Cydara also that the next cape of this country to India is called Colaicum from which to the neerest port of India is counted foure daies sailing in the midst of which passage there lieth in the way the Island of the Sunne They said moreouer that the water of this sea was all of a deepe greene colour and more than that full of trees growing within it insomuch as the pilots with their helmes many times brake off the heads and tops of those trees The stars about the North-pole called Septentriones the Waines or Beares they wondred to see here among vs in our Hemisphere as also the Brood-hen called Vergiliae in Latine as if it had been another heauen They confessed also they neuer saw with them the Moone aboue the ground before it was 8 daies old nor after the 16 day That the Canopus a goodly great and bright star about the pole Antarcticke vsed to shine all night with them But the thing that they maruelled and were most astonied at was this that they obserued the shadow of their own bodies fell to our Hemisphere and not to theirs and that the Sun arose on their left hand and set on their right rather than contrariwise Furthermore they related that the front of that Island of theirs which looked toward India contained 10000 stadia reached from the South-East beyond the mountains Enodi Also that the Seres were within their kenning whom they might easily discouer from out of this their Island with whom they had acquaintance by the meanes of trafficke and merchandise and that Rachias his father vsed many times to trauell thither Affirming moreouer that if any strangers came thither they were encountred and assailed by wild sauage beasts and that the inhabitants themselues were gyants of stature exceeding the ordinary stature of men hauing red haire eies of colour blewish their voice for sound horrible for speech not distinct nor intelligible for any vse of traffick and commerce In all things else their practise is the same that our merchants and occupiers do vse for on the farther side of the riuer when wares and commodities are laid downe if they list to make exchange they haue them away and leaue other merchandise in lieu thereof to content the forrein merchant And verily no greater cause haue we otherwise to hate abhor this excessiue superfluitie than to cast our eie so far and consider with our selues what it is that we seeke for from what remote parts we fetch it and to what end we so much desire al this vanitie But euen this Island Taprobane as farre off as it is seeming as it were cast out of the way by Nature and diuided from all this world wherein we liue is not without those vices and imperfections wherwith we are tainted and infected For euen gold siluer also is there in great requestand highly esteemed and marble especially if it be fashioned like a tortois shell Iemmes and pretious stones pearles also such as be orient and of the better sort are highly prised with them and herein consisteth the very height of our superfluous delights Moreouer these Embassadors would say that they had more riches in their Island than we at Rome but we more vse thereof than they They affirmed also that no man with them had any slaues to command neither slept they in the morning after day-light ne yet at all in the day time That the maner of building their houses was low somewhat raised aboue the ground and no more adoe that their markets were neuer deare nor price of victuals raised As for courts pleading of causes and going to law they knew not what it meant
are saith he by these markes In one of their eies they haue two sights in the other the print or resemblance of an horse He reports besides of these men that they wil neuer sinke or drowne in the water be they charged neuer somuch with weighty and heauy apparel Not vnlike to these there are a people in Aethiopia called Pharnaces whose sweat if it chance to touch a mans body presently he falleth into a phthisick or consumption of the lungs And Cicero a Romane writer here among vs testifieth that generally all women that haue such double apples in their eies haue a venemous sight and doe hurt therewith See how nature hauing engraffed naturally in some men this vnkind appetite like wild beasts to feed commonly vpon the bowels and flesh of men hath taken delight also pleasure to giue them inbred poisons in their whol body yea venom in the very eies of some that there should be no naughtinesse in the world againe but the same might be found in man Not farre from Rome city within the territory of the Falisci there be some few houses families called Hirpiae which at their solemne yearely sacrifice celebrated by them in the honour of Apollo vpon the mount Sorecte walke vpon the pile of wood as it is on fire in great iolity and neuer a whit are burnt withall For which cause it is ordained by an expresse arest or act of the Senat that they should be priuiledged and haue immunity of warfare and all other seruices whatsoeuer Some men there be that haue certaine members and parts of their bodies naturally working strange and miraculous effects and in some cases medicinable As for example king Pyrrhus whose great toe of his right foot was good for them that had big swelled or indurate spleenes if he did but touch the parties diseased with that toe And they say moreouer that when the rest of his body was burnt after the manner in the funerall fire that great toe the fire had no power to consume so that it was bestowed in a litle case for the nones and hung vp in the temple for a holy relique But principally aboue all other countries India and the whole tract of Aethiopia is full of these strange and miraculous things And first formost the beasts bred in India be very big as it may appeare by their dogs which for proportion are much greater than those in other parts And trees grow there to that tallnesse that a man cannot shoot a shaft ouer them The reason hereof is the goodnesse and fatnesse of the ground the temperat constitution of the aire and the abundance of water which is the cause also that vnder one fig tree beleeue it that list there may certaine troupes and squadrons of horsmen stand in couert shaded with the boughes And as for reeds they be of such a length that between euery ioint they will yeeld sufficient to make boats able to receiue three men apeece for to row therein at ease There are to be seene many men there aboue fiue cubits tall neuer are they known once to spit troubled they are not with pain in the head tooth-ach or griefe of the eies and seldome or neuer complaine they of any sorance in other parts of the body so hardy are they and of so strong a constitution thorough the moderat heat of the Sun Ouer and besides among the Indians be certain Philosophers whom they call Gymnosophists who from the Sun rising to the setting thereof are able to endure all the day long looking full against the Sunne without winking or once mouing their eies from morning to night can abide to stand somtimes vpon one leg and sometimes on the other in the sand as scalding hot as it is Vpon a certaine mountaine named Milus there be men whose feet grow the tother way backward and of either foot they haue eight toes as Megasthenes doth report And in many other hils of that countrey there is a kind of men with heads like dogs clad all ouer with skins of wild beasts who in lieu of speech vse to bark armed they are and well appointed with sharp and trenchant nailes they liue vpon the prey which they get by chasing wild beasts fowling Ctesias writes that there were discouered and knowne of them aboue 120000 in number By whose report also in a certaine country of India the women beare but once in their life and their in fants presently waxe grey so soone as they are borne into the world Also that there is a kind of people named Monoscelli that haue but one leg apeece but they are most nimble and hop wondrous swiftly The same men are also called Sciopodes for that in hotest season of the Summer they ly along on their back and defend themselues with their feet against the Suns heate and these people as he saith are not farre from the Troglodites Againe beyond these Westward some there be without heads standing vpon their necks who cary eies in their shoulders Among the Westerne mountains of India the Satyres haunt the country wherein they be is called the region of the Cartaduli creatures of all other most swift in footmanship which one whiles run with all foure otherwhiles vpon two feet only like men but so light footed they are that vnlesse they be very old and sick they can neuer be taken Tauron writeth That the Choromandae are a sauage and wild people distinct voice and speech they haue none but in stead thereof they keep an horrible gnashing and hideous noise rough they are and hairy all ouer their bodies eies they haue red like the houlets and toothed they be like dogs Eudoxus saith That in the Southern parts of India the men kind haue feet a cubit long but the wome so short smal that thereupon they be called Struthopodes i. sparrow footed Megasthenes is my Author that among the Indian Nomades there is a kind of people that in stead of noses haue only two smal holes and after the manner of snakes they haue their legs feet limmer wherwith they crawle and creep and named they are Syrictae In the vtmost marches of India Eastward about the source head of the riuer Ganges there is a nation called the Astomes for that they haue no mouths all hairy ouer the whole body yet clothed with soft cotton and down that come from the leaues of trees they liue only by the aire and smelling to sweet odors which they draw in at their nosthrils No meat nor drinke they take only pleasant sauours from diuers and sundry roots floures and wild fruits growing in the woods they entertaine and those they vse to carry about with them when they take any farre journey because they would not misse their smelling And yet if the sent be any thing strong and stinking they are soone therwith ouercome dy withal Higher in the country and aboue these euen in the edge and skirts of the mountains the Pygmaei
whole life Some neuer go their full time with their children and such women if peraduenture by helpe of physicke or other good means and choice keeping they ouercome this infirmitie bring daughters ordinarily and no other The Emperor Augustus among other singularities that he had by himselfe during his life saw ere he died the nephew of his neece that is to say his progenie to the fourth degree of lineall discent and that was M. Scyllanus who hapned to be borne the same yeare that he departed out of this world He hauing been Consull and afterward Lord Gouernor of Asia was poysoned by prince Nero to the end that he might thereby attaine to the empire Qu. Metellus Macedonicus left behind him six children and by them eleuen nephewes but daughters in law and sons in law and of all such as called him father seuen In the Chronicles of Augustus Caesars acts for his time we finde vpon record that in his twelfth Consulship when L. Sylla was his companion and collegue in gouernment vpon the eleuenth day of Aprill C. Crispinus Helarus a gentleman of Fesulae came with solemne pompe into the Capitoll attended vpon with his nine children seuen sons and two daughters with 27 Nephewes the sonnes of his children and 29 nephewes more once remoued who were his sons nephewes and twelue Neeces besides that were his childrens daughters and with all these solemnly sacrificed CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of the same matter more at large A Woman commonly is past childe-bearing after 50 yeares of her age And for the most part their monthly termes stay at forty As for men it is cleare and wel knowne that king Massinissa when he was aboue 86 yeres old begat a son whom he called Methymathmas Cato Censorius that famous Censor begat another vpon the daughter of Salonius his vassal when hee was past 80 yeares of age And hereof it commeth that the race which came of his other children were surnamed Liciniani but the off-spring of this last sonne Salonini from whom Cato Vticensis who slew himselfe at Vtica is lineally descended Moreouer it is not long since that dame Cornelia of the house and linage of the Scipio's bare vnto Lu. Saturninus her husband who died whiles he was Prouost of the city of Rome a son named Volusius Saturninus and who afterwards liued to be Consull who was begotten when his father was 62 yeares old with the better To conclude there haue beene amongst meaner persons very many knowne to haue gotten children after fourscore and fiue CHAP. XV. ¶ Of Womens monethly sicknesse OF all liuing creatures a woman hath a flux of bloud euery moneth and hereupon it is that in her wombe onely there are found a false conception called Mola i. a Moone-calfe that is to say a lump of flesh without shape without life and so hard withal that vneth a knife will enter and pierce it either with edge or point Howbeit a kinde of mouing it hath and staieth the course of her moneths and sometime after the manner of a childe indeed it costeth the woman her life otherwhiles it waxeth in her belly as she groweth and ageth with her now and then also it slippeth and falleth from her with a laske and loosenesse of the guts Such a thing breeds likewise in the bellies of men vpon the hardnesse of liuer or spleen which the Physitions call Scirrhus i. an hard wedge and cake vnder their short-ribs And such an one had Oppius Cato a nobleman of Rome late Pretour But to come againe to women hardly can there be found a thing more monstrous than is that flux course of theirs For if during the time of their sicknes they happen to approch or go ouer a vessel of wine be it neuer so new it wil presently soure if they touch any standing corne in the field it wil wither and come to no good Also let them in this estate handle graffes they will die vpon it the herbes and young buds in a garden if they do but passe by will catch a blast and burne away to nothing Sit they vpon or vnder trees whiles they are in this case the fruit which hangeth vpon them will fall Do they but see themselues in a looking glasse the cleare brightnesse thereof turneth into dimnesse vpon their very sight Look they vpon a sword knife or any edged toole bee it neuer so bright it waxeth duskish so doth also the liuely hue of yvorie The very bees in the hiue die Yron steele presently take rust yea and brasse likewise with a filthy strong and poisoned stink if they lay but hand thereupon If dogs chance to taste of womens fleures they run mad therewith and if they bite any thing afterwards they leaue behinde them such a venome that the wounds are incureable nay the very clammy slime Bitumen which at certaine times of the yere floteth and swimmeth vpon the lake of Sodom called Asphaltites in Iury which otherwise of the owne nature is pliable enough soft and gentle and ready to follow what way a man would haue it cannot be parted and diuided asunder for by reason of the viscositie it cleaueth and sticketh like glue and hangeth all together pluck as much as a man will at it but only by a thred that is stained with this venomous bloud euen the silly Pismires the least creatures of all others hath a perceiuance sence of this poison as they say for they cast aside will no more come to that corn which they haue found by tast to be infected with this poison This malady so venomous and hurtful as it is followeth a woman stil euery 30 daies and at 3 moneths end if it stay so long it commeth in great abundance And as there be some women that haue it oftner than once a month so there are others again that neuer see ought of it But such lightly are barren and never bring children For in very deed it is the materiall substance of generation and the mans seed serueth in stead of a runnet to gather it round into a curd which afterwards in processe of time quickneth and grows to the form of a body which is the cause that if women with childe haue this flux of the moneths their children are not long liued or else they proue feeble sickly and full of filthie humours as Nigidius writeth CHAP. XVI ¶ In like manner of births and infants in the mothers wombe THe same Nigidius is of opinion that a womans milke nource to her owne child giuing it sucke will not corrupt and be naught for the babe if she conceiue againe by the same man to whom she brought the former childe Also it is held that in the beginning end of the foresaid menstruall fleures a woman is very apt to conceiue Moreouer it is commonly receiued for an infallible argument in women that they are fruitfull and with childe if when they annoint their eies with their owne spittle as with a medicine the same appeare
may wonder the more at this matter and come to the full conceit thereof if he do but consider that it was counted an exceeding great iourny that Tiberius Nero made with three chariots shifting from one to the other fresh in a day and a night riding post haste vnto his brother Drusus then lying sicke in Germany and all that was but 200 miles CHAP. XXI ¶ Examples of good Eie-sight VVE find in histories as incredible examples as any be as touching quicknesse of Eie-sight Cicero hath recorded that the whole Poeme of Homer called Ilias was written in a piece of parchment which was able to be couched within a nut shel The same writer maketh mention of one that could see and discerne out-right 135 miles And M. Varro nameth the man and saith he was called Strabo who affirmeth thus much moreouer of him that during the Carthaginian war he was wont to stand and watch vpon Lilybaeum a cape in Sicily to discouer the enemies fleet loosing out of the hauen of Carthage and was able to tel the very just number of the ships Callicrates vsed to make Pismires and other such like little creatures out of yvorie so artificially that other men could not discerne the parts of their body one from another There was one Myrmecides excellent in that kinde of workmanship who of the same matter wrought a chariot with foure wheeles and as many steeds in so little roome that a silly flie might couer all with her wings Also he made a ship with all the tackling to it no bigger than a little bee might hide it with her wings CHAP. XXII ¶ Of Hearing AS for hearing there is one example wonderfull For the bruit of that battell whereupon Sybaris was forced sacked was heard the very same day as far as Olympia in Greece As touching the news of the Cimbrians defeature as also the report and tidings of the victorie ouer the Persians made by the Roman Castores the same day that it was atchieued were held for diuine reuelations rather than humane reports and the knowledge thereof came more by way of vision than otherwise CHAP. XXIII ¶ Examples of Patience MAny are the calamities of this life incident to mankind which haue affoorded infinite trials of mens patience in suffering paines in their body Among others for women the example of Leaena the courtisan is most rare and singular who for all the dolorous tortures that could be deuised would neuer bewray Harmodius and Aristogiton who slew the tyranous king And for men Anaxarchus did the like who being for such a cause examined vpon the racke in the midst of his torments bit off his own tongue with his teeth the only means wherby he might haply reueale and disclose the matter in question and spit it in the face of the ty rant that put him to his torture CHAP. XXIIII ¶ Examples of Memorie AS touching memorie the greatest gift of Nature and most necessary of all others for this life hard it is to iudge and say who of all others deserued the chiefe honor therein considering how many men haue excelled and woon much glory in that behalfe King Cyrus was able to call euery souldier that he had through his whole army by his owne name L. Scipio could do the like by all the citizens of Rome Semblably Cineas Embassador of king Pyrrhus the very next day that he came to Rome both knew and also saluted by name all the Senate the whole degrees of Gentlemen and Cauallerie in the citie Mithridates the king reigned ouer two and twentie nations of diuers languages and in so many tongues gaue lawes and ministred justice vnto them without truchman and when he was to make speech vnto them in publicke assembly respectiuely to euery nation he did performe it in their own tongue without interpretor One Charmidas or Charmadas a Grecian was of so singular a memory that hâ—… was able to deliuer by heart the contents word for word of all the books that a man would call for out of any librarie as if he read the same presently within book At length the practise hereof was reduced into an art of Memory deuised and inuented first by Simonides Melicus and afterwards brought to perfection and consummate by Metrodorus Sepsius by which a man might learne to rehearse againe the same words of any discourse whatsoeuer after once hearing and yet there is not a thing in man so fraile and brittle againe as it whether it be occasioned by disease by casual iniuries or occurrents or by feare through which it faileth somtime in part and otherwhiles decaieth generally and is clean lost One with the stroke of a stone fell presently to forget his letters onely and could reade no more otherwise his memorie serued him well enough Another with a fall from the roofe of a very high house lost the remembrance of his owne mother his next kinsfolks friends and neighbors Another in a sicknesse of his forgot his own seruants about him and Messala Corvinus the great Orator vpon the like occasion forgot his own proper name So fickle and slipperie is mans memorie that oftentimes it assaieth and goeth about to leese it selfe euen whiles a mans body is otherwise quiet and in health But let sleep creepe at any time vpon vs it seemeth to be vanquished so as our poore spirit wandreth vp and downe to seeke where it is and to recouer it againe CHAP. XXV ¶ The praise of C. Iulius Caesar. FOr vigor and quicknesse of spirit I take it that C. Caesar Dictatour went beyond all men besides I speake not now of his vertue and constancie neither of his high reach and deep wit whereby he apprehended the knowledge of all things vnder the cope of heauen but of that agilitie of minde that prompt and ready conceit of his as nimble and actiue as the verie fire I haue heard it reported of him that he was wont to write to reade to indite letters and withall to giue audience to suiters heare their causes all at one instant And being emploied as you know he was in so great and important affairs he ordinarily indited letters to foure secretaries or clerkes at once and when he was free from other greater businesse he would otherwise finde seuen of them work at one time The same man in his daies fought 50 set battels with banners displaied against his enemies in which point he alone out-went M. Marcellus who was seene 40 times saue one in the field Besides the carnage of citizens that hee made in the ciuill wars when he obtained victory he put to the sword 1192000 of his enemies in one battell or other And certes for mine owne part I hold this for no speciall glory and commendation of his considering so great iniurie done to mankind by this effusion of bloud which in some part hâ—… hath confessed himselfe in that he hath forborne to set downe the ouerthrowes bloud-shed of his aduersaries fellow citizens during the
at what time as the citie was besieged by the Lacedaemonians god Bacchus appeared sundry times by way of vision in a dreame to Lysander their king admonishng him to suffer his delight and him whom he set most store by for to be enterred Whereupon the king made diligent enquirie who lately was departed this life in Athens and by relation of the citizens soone found it out and perceiued who it was that the foresaid god meant and so gaue them leaue to bury Sophocles in peace and to performe his funeralls without any molestation or impeachment CHAP. XXX ¶ Of Plato Ennius Virgil M. Varro and M. Cicero DEnis the tyrant borne otherwise to pride and cruelty being aduertised of the comming and arriuall of Plato that great clerke and prince of learning sent out to meet him a ship adorned with goodly ribbands and himselfe mounted vpon a charriot drawne with foure white horses receiued him as if he had bin a K. at the hauen when hee dis barked and came aland Isocrates sold one Oration that he made for 20 talents of gold Aeschines that famous oratour of Athens in his time hauing at Rhodes rehearsed that accusatorie oration which he had made against Demosthenes read withall his aduersaries defence againe by occasion wherof he was confined to Rhodes and there liued in banishment and when the Rhodians that heard it wondred thereat Nay qd Aeschines you would haue maruelled much more at it if you had heard the man himselfe pronouncing it pleading Viua voce yeelding thus as you see a notable testimony of his aduersary in the time of his aduersitie The Athenians exiled Thucidides their Generall Captaine but after he had written his Chronicle they called him home again wondring at the eloquence of the man whose vertue and prowesse they had before condemned The KK of Egypt and Macedonie gaue a singular testimony how much they honoured Menander the Comicall poet in that they sent Embassadors for him and a fleet to waft him for his more securitie but he wan vnto himselfe more fame and glory by his owne setled iudgement for that he esteemed more of his owne priuat study and following his book than of all those fauors offered vnto him from great princes Moreouer there haue bin great personages and men of high calling at Rome who haue shewed the like in token how they esteemed and regarded the learned crew of forrein nations Cn. Pompeius after he had dispatched the war against Mithridates intended to go and visit Posidonius that renowned professor of learning and when hee should enter into the mans house gaue streight commandement to his Lictors or Huishers that they should not after their ordinary maner with all others râ—…p at his dore and this great warriour vnto whom both the East and West parts of the world had submitted vailed bonet as it were and based his armes and ensignes of state which his officers carried before the verie dore of this Philosopher Cato syrnamed Censorius vpon a time when there came to Rome that noble embassage from Athens consisting of three the wisest sages among them when hee had heard Carneades speake who was one of those three gaue his opinion presently That those embassadors were to be dispatched and sent away with all speed for feare least if that man argued the case it would be an hard piece of worke to sound and find out the truth so pregnant were his reasons and so witty his discourses But Lord what a change is there now in mens manners and dispositions This Cato the renowned Censor both now and at all times else could not abide to haue any Grecian within Italy but alwaies gaue judgement to them all in generall to be expelled but after him there comes his nephew once remoued or his nephewes sonne who brought one of their Philosophers ouer with him when he had bin military Tribune or knight marshall and another likewise vpon his embassage to Cypres And verily a wonder it is and a memorable thing to consider how these two Catoes differed in another point for the former of them could not away with the Greek tongue the other that killed himselfe at Vtica esteemed it as highly But to leaue strangers let vs now speak of our own countrimen so renowned in this behalfe Scipio Africanus the elder gaue expresse order and commanded That the statue of Q. Ennius the poet should be set ouer his tomb to the end that the great name and stile of Africanus or indeed the booty rather that hee had woon and carried away from a third part of the world should in his monument vpon the reliques of his ashes be read together with the title of this poet Augustus Caesar late Emperor expressely forbad that the Poeme of Virgil should be burned notwithstanding that he by his last wil and testament on a modesty gaue order to the contrary by which means there grew more credit and authority vnto the Poet than if himself had approued and allowed his owne verses Asinius Pollio was the first that set vp a publicke Library at Rome raised of the spoile and pillage gained from the enemies In the Library of which gentleman was erected the image of M. Varro euen whiles he liued a thing that won as great honor to M. Varro in mine opinion considering that amongst those fine wits whereof a great number then flourished at Rome his hap only was to haue the garland at the hands of a noble citizen and an excellent Orator beside as that other nauall crowne gained him which Pompey the Great bestowed vpon him for his good seruice in the pyrats war Infinite examples more there are of vs Romans if a man would seeke after them and search them out for this only nation hath brought forth more excellent and accomplished men in euery kinde than all the lands besides of the whole world But what a sin should I commit if I proceeded farther and speake not of thee O M. Cicero and yet how should I possibly write of thee according to thy worthinesse would a man require a better proofe of thy condigne praises than the most honorable testimony of the whole body of that people in generall and the acts onely of thy Consulship chosen out of al other vertuous deeds throughout thy whole life Thine eloquence was the cause that all the Tribes renownced the law Agraria as touching the diuision of Lands a-among the commons albeit their greatest maintenance and nourishment consisted therein Through thy persuasion they pardoned Roscius the first author of that seditious bill and law whereby the States and degrees of the city were placed distinctly in their seats at the Theatre they were content I say and tooke it well that they were noted and pointed at for this difference in taking place and rowms which he first brought in By means of thy orations the children of proscript and outlawed persons were ashamed and abashed to sue for honorable dignities in common-weale thy witty head it was that put
his heeles and biting withall that he made an end of the conquerour champion There was another great horse hoodwinked because he should couer a mare but perceiuing after that he was vnhooded that he serued as a stalion to his own dam that foled him ran vp to a steep rock with a downfall and there for griefe cast himselfe down and died We find also in record That in the territorie of Reate there was a mare killed all to rent an horsekeeper vpon the same occasion For surely these beasts know their parentage those that are next to them in bloud And therefore we see that the colts will in the flocke more willingly keep company and sort with their sisters of the former yere than with the mare their mother Horses are so docile and apt to learne what we find in histories how in the army of Sibaritanes the whole troup of horsemen had their horses vnder them and vsed to leap and daunce to certaine musicke that they were wonted and accustomed vnto They haue a fore-knowledge when battell is toward they will mourne for the losse of their maisters yea and other whiles shed teares and weep pitiously for loue of them When king Nicomedes was slaine the horse for his owne saddle would neuer eat meat after but for very anguish died with famine Philarchus reporteth That king Antiochus hauing in battaile slaine one Centaretus a brave horsman of the Gallogreeks or Galatians became maister of his horse and mounted vpon him in triumphant wise But the horse of him that lay dead in the place and vpon whom Antiochus was mounted for very anger and indignation at this indignitie passed neither for bit nor bridle so as he could not be ruled and so ran furiously among the cragges and rocks where both horse and man came downe head long and perished both together Philistus writeth That Dyonisius was forced to leaue his horse sticking fast in a quaue-mire and got away but the horse after he had recouered himselfe and was gotten forth followed the tracts of his master with a swarm or cast of bees setling in his mane and this was the first presage of good fortune that induced Denis to vsurp the kingdome of Sicilie Of what perceiuance and vnderstanding they be it cannot be exprest that know those light horsmen full well that vse to launce darts and iauelines from horseback by the hard seruice that they put their horses to which they doe with great dexteritie resolution in straining winding and turning their bodies nimbly euery way Nay ye shall haue of them togather vp darts and iauelines from the ground and reach them againe to the horsman And commonly we see it to be an ordinary matter with them in the great race or shew place when they are set in their geirs to draw the chariots how they ioy when they are encouraged and praised giuing no doubt a great proofe and confessing that they are desirous of glorie At the secular solemnities exhibited by Claudius Caesar in the Circensian games the horses with the white liuery notwithstanding their driuer and gouernour the charioter was cast and flung to the ground euen within the bars wan the best prize went away with the honour of that day For of themselues they brake and bare down whatsoeuer might impeach them of running the race thoroughout they did all that euer was to be done against their concurrents and aduersaries of the contrarie side as well as if a most expert chariot-man had been ouer their backes to direct and instruct them At the sight wherof men were ashamed ta see their skill art to be ouermatched surmounted by horses And to conclude when they had performed their race as much as by law of the game was required they stood stil at the very goale and would no farther A greater wonder and presage was this in old time that in the Circensian games exhibited by the people the horses after they had flung and cast their gouernour ran directly vp to the Capitol as well as if he had stood still in his place and conducted them and there fetcht three turnes round about the temple of Iupiter But the greatest of all was this which I shall now tell That the horses of Ratumenus who had woon the price in the horse-running at Veij threw their Mr. down and came from thence euen out of Tuscane as far as to the foresaid Capitoll carrying thither the Palme branch and chaplet of Victory woon by Ratumenas their Mr. of whom the gate Ratumena took afterwards the name at Rome The Sarmatians minding to take a great iournie prepare their horses two daies before and giue them no meat at all only a little drinke they allow them and thus they will ride them gallop 150 miles an end and neuer draw bridle Horses liue many of them 50 yeres but the mares not so long In fiue yeres they come to their full growth whereas stone horses grow one yere longer The making of good horses indeed and their beautie such as a man will chuse for the best hath bin most elegantly and absolutely described by the Poet Virgill And somewhat also haue I written of that argument in my booke which I lately put forth as touching Tournois and shooting from horsebacke and in those points required and there set downe I see all writers in manner to agree But for horses that must be trained to run the race some considerations are to be had and obserued different from horses of other vse and seruice For whereas to other affaires and imploiments they may be brought when they are two yeeres old colts and not vpward to the Lists they must not be brought to enter into any mastries there before they be full fiue yeres of age The female in this kind go eleuen months compleat with young and in the twelfth they fole commonly the stalion and the mare are put together when both of of them are full two yeeres old and that about the Spring Equinoctiall that is to say in mid-March but if they be kept asunder vntill they are full 3 yeeres of age they breed stronger colts The Stalion is able to get colts vntil he be three and thirtie yers old for commonly when they haue serued in the race and run ful twenty yeres they are discharged from thence let go abroad for to serue mares And men say that they will hold to 40 yeeres with a little helpe put to the forepart of his body that he may be lifted vp handsomly to couer the mare Few beasts besides are lesse able to ingender and leape the female often nor sooner haue enough of them For which cause they be allowed some space between euery time that they do their kind And in one yeere the most that the Stallion is able to do that way is to couer 15 mares and that is somewhat with the oftenest If ye would coole the courage quench the lust of a mare share and clipher mane And
townes or otherwise busie in their ciuil affaires The quils or feathers of Egles laid among those of other foules will deuour consume them Men say that of all flying Fowle the Egle onely is not smitten nor killed with lightening whereupon folke are wont to say that shee serues Iupiter in place of his squire or armor-bearer CHAP. IV. ¶ When Egles began to be the Ensignes and standards of the Roman legions and what fowles they be that war with Egles CAius Marius in his second Consulship ordained that the legions of Romane soldiers only should haue the Egle for their standard and no other ensigne for before-time the Egle marched formost indeed but in a ranke of foure others to wit of Wolues Minotaures Horses and Bores which were borne each one before their own seuerall squadrons and companies Not many yeares past the standard of the Egle alone began to be aduanced into the field to battell and the rest of the ensignes were left behind in the campe but Marius reiected them altogether and had no vse of them at all And euer since this is obserued ordinarily that there was no standing campe or leaguer wintered at any time without a paire of Egle standards Of Egles the first and second kind prey not only vpon the lesse foure footed beasts but also maintain battell with the red Deere euen the stag and the hind The maner of the Egle is after she hath wallowed in the dust and gathered a deale thereof among her feathers to settle vpon the horns of the Deere aforesaid to shake the same off into his eies to flap and beat him about the face with his wings vntill she driue him among the rocks and there force him to fall down from thence headlong and so to breake his neck Moreouer the Egle hath not enough of this one enemie but she must war with the dragon also howbeit the fight betweene them is more sharp and eager yea and putteth her to much more danger albeit otherwhiles they combat in the aire The Dragon of a naturall spight and greedy desire to do mischiefe to the Eagle watcheth euermore where the airie is for to destroy the egs and so the race of the Egles The Eagle again wheresoeuer she can set an eye vpon him catcheth him vp and carieth him away but the serpent with his taile windeth about his wings and so intangleth and tieth them fast that downe they fall both of them together CHAP. V. ¶ A strange and wonderfull accident of an Egle. THere hapned a maruellous example about the city Sestos of an Egle for which in those parts there goes a great name of an Egle and highly is she honored there A yong maid had brought vp a yong Egle by hand the Egle again to requite her kindnes would first when shee was but little flie abroad a birding and euer bring part of that shee had gotten vnto her said nurse In processe of time being grown bigger and stronger would set vpon wild beasts also in the forrest and furnish her yong mistresse continually with store of venison At length it fortuned that the damosell died and when her funerall fire was set a burning the Egle flew into the mids of it and there was consumed into ashes with the corps of the said virgin For which cause and in memoriall thereof the inhabitants of Sestos and the parts there adioyning erected in that very place a stately monument such as they cal Heroum dedicated in the name of Iupiter and the virgin for that the Egle is a bird consecrated vnto that god CHAP. VI. ¶ Of Vultures or Geires THe blacke Vultures are the best of that kind No man euer could meet with their nests whereupon some haue thought but vntruly that they fly vnto vs out of another world euen from the Antipodes who are opposite vnto vs. But the very truth is they build in the highest rocks they can find and their yong ones haue many times bin seene two together and no more Vmbricius who was counted the most skilfull Aruspex of our age saith they vsually lay three egs whereof they take one of them to sacre and blesse as it were the other eggs and the nest and then soon after they cast it away Also that the maner of the Geires is to foresee a carnage and to fly two or three daies before vnto the place where there wil be any carions or dead carkasses CHAP. VII ¶ Of the Sangualis and Immussulus AS touching the Sangualis and the Immussulus our Augurs at Rome are in a great doubt and make much question what they should be Some are of opinion that the Immussulus is the chicke of the Vulture and the Sangualis likewise the yong Ossifraga Massurius saith that the Sangualis and Ossifraga be both one and as for the Immussulus it is the yong bird of the Egle before it come to haue a white taile Some haue affirmed confidently that after the death of Mutius the Augure there was neuer any of them seen at Rome But I rather am of this mind and me thinkes it sounds more like a truth such is the supine negligence and carelesnesse of men in all things else that no maruell it is if they know them not although they see them CHAP. VIII ¶ Of Hawkes WE find in Faulconrie 16 kinds of Hawks or Fowles that prey Of which the Circos which is lame and limpeth of one leg was held in antient time for the luckiest Augurie in case of weddings and of cattell Also the Hawke called Triorches of three stones or cullions that it hath is reputed a bird of good presage and in Augurie lady Phemonoe hath giuen vnto it the honor of the best simply and most fortunate The Romans call it Buteo i. a Buzzard and there is a worshipfull house and family in Rome of that syrname by occasion that a Buzzard setled and perched himselfe vpon the Admirall ship where Fabius himselfe one of that house was presaging a boone-voyage and happy successe according as it fell out indeed As for the Hauk which the Greeks name Aesalo i. the Merlin she alone is euer seen at all times of the yeare whereas the rest are gon when winter commeth In generall Hawks are diuided into sundry and distinct kinds by their greedinesse more or lesse and their manner in chase and preying for some there be that neuer seise on a foule but vpon the ground others againe neuer assaile any birds but when they spy them flying about some tree There be also that take a bird perching and sitting on high and ye shal haue of them that ouertake them as they fly in the wide and open aire The doues therefore and pigeons knowing the danger of flying aloft so soon as they espy them either light vpon the ground and settle or else fly neere the earth and thus help themselues by taking a contrarie course to the Hawks nature to auoid their talons There is in the ocean of Africke an Island called
a great delight to inueagle others and to steale away some pigeons from 〈◊〉 owne flocks and euermore to come home better accompanied than they went forth Moreouer Doues haue serued for posts and courriers between and bin imploied in great affairs and namely at the siege of Modenna Decimus Brutus sent out of the town letters tyed â—…o their feet as far as to the camp where the Consuls lay and thereby acquainted them with newes and in what estate they were within What good then did the rampier and trench which Antonius cast before the towne To what purpose serued the streight siege the narrow watch and ward that he kept wherefore serued the riuer Po betweene where all passages are stopped vp as it were with net and toile so long as Brutus had his posts to flie in the aire ouer all their heads To be short many men are growne now to cast a speciall affection and loue to these birds they build Turrets aboue the tops of their houses for doue-coats Nay they are come to this passe that they can reckon vp their pedigree and race yea they can tel the very places from whence this or that pigeon first came And indeed one old example they follow of L. Axius a Gentleman somtiâ—…e of Rome who before the ciuill war with Pompey sold euery paire of pigeons for 400 deniâ—…s as M. Varro doth report True it is that there goeth a great name of certaine countries where some of these pigeons are bred for Campanie is voiced to yeeld the greatest and fairest bodied of all other places To conclude their manner of flying induceth and traineth me to thinke and write of the flight of other soules CHAP. XXXVIII ¶ Of the gate and flight of birds ALl other liuing creatures haue one certaine manner of marching and going according to their seuerall kind vnto which they keep and alter not Birds only vary their course whether they go vpon the ground or flie in the aire Some walke their stations as Crowes and Choughs others hop and skip as Sparrows and Ousels some run as Partridges Woodcocks and Snites others again cast out their feet before them staulk and jet as they go as Storks and cranes now for flying some spread their wings abroad stirring or shaking them but now then hanging and houering with them all the while as Kites others again ply them as fast but the ends only of their wings or the vtmost feathers are seen to moue as the Chaffinch Yee shall haue some birds to stretch out their whole wings sides mouing them as they flie as Rauens and others a man shal see in their flight to keep them in for the most part close as the Woodpeckers Some of them are known to giue one or two claps with their wings at first and then glide smoothly away as if they were carried and born vp with the aire as Linnets and others are seen as if they kept stil the aire within their wings to shoot vp aloft mount on high to flie streight forward to fal down again flat as Swallows Ye would think and say that some were hurled out of a mans hand with violence as the Partridge and others again to fal down plumbe from on high as Larks or els to leap jump as the Quailes Ducks Mallards and such like spring presently from the ground vp aloft and suddenly mount vp into the skie euen out of the very water which is the cause that if any chance to fall into those pits wherein wee take wild beasts they alone wil make good shift to get forth and escape The Geirs or Vulturs and for the most part all weightie and heauy foules cannot take their flight flie vnlesse they fetch their run and biere before or els rise from some steepe place with the vantage And such are directed in the aire by their tails Some looke about them euery way others bend and turne their necks in flying and some fly with their prey within their talons eat it as they fly Most birds cry and sing as they flie yet some there be contrariwise that in their flight are euer silent In one word some flying carry their brests and bellies halfe vpright others again beare them as much downward Some flie side-long and bias others directly forward and follow their bills and last of all there be that bend backward as they flie or els bolt vpright In such sort that if a man saw them all together he would take them not to be one kind of creature so diuers different are they in their motions CHAP. XXXIX ¶ Of Martinets MArtinets which the Greeks call Apodes because they haue little or no vse of their feet and others Cypseli are very good of wing and flie most of all others without rest And in very truth a kind of Swallows they be They build in rocks stony cliffes And these be they and no other that are seen euermore in the sea for be the ships neuer so remote from the land saile they neuer so fast and far off ye shall haue these Martinets alwaies flying about them All kinds els of Swallowes and other birds do somtime light settle and perch these neuer rest but when they be in their nest For either they seem to hang or els lie along and a number of shifts and deuises by themselues they haue besides and namely when they feed CHAP. XL. ¶ Of the bird Caprimulgus and the Shouelar THe Caprimulgi so called of milking goats are like the bigger kind of Owsels They bee night-theeues for all the day long they see not Their manner is to come into the sheepheards coats and goat-pens and to the goats vdders presently they go and suck the milke at their teats And looke what vdder is so milked it giueth no more milke but misliketh and falleth away afterwards and the goats become blind withall There be other birds named Plateae i. Shouelars Their manner is to flie at those foule that vse to diue vnder the water for fish and so long will they peck and bite them by the heads vntil they let go their hold of the fish they haue gotten and so they wring it perforce from them This bird when his belly is â—…ull of shell fishes that he hath greedily deuou red and hath by the naturall heat of his craw and gorge in some sort concocted them casteth vp all vp again and at leasure picketh out the meat and eateth it again leauing the shels behind CHAP. XLI ¶ The uaturall wit of some birds THe Hens of country houses haue a certaine ceremonious religion When they haue laied an egge they fall a trembling quaking and all to shake themselues They turne about also as in procession to be purified with some festue or such like thing they keep a ceremonie of hallowing as well themselues as their egs CHAP. XLII ¶ Of the Linnet Poppinjay or Parrat and other birds that can speake THe Linnets be in manner the
few who haue a certaine pipe or conduit in stead of a gut the same wrapped and infolded together Which is the cause that if they be cut in two and pulled in pieces yet they haue a speciall property to liue long and each part asunder wil pant stir by it selfe The reason is because the vitall vertue in them whatsoeuer it is is not seated in any one member this or that but spred and defused throughout the whole body and least apparent in the head of all other parts for that alone vnlesse it be plucked away together with the breast moueth not one jot No kind of creatures haue more feet than these and the more they haue the longer liue they when they be diuided asunder as we see by experience in the Scolopendres Eies they haue that is certain besides sight they are not without the sences of feeling tasting some there be that smell a few that haue their hearing also CHAP. V. ¶ Of Bees BVt among them all Bees are principall and by good right deserue especiall admiration as being the only Insects ordained by Nature for mans vse They gather honie a most sweet pleasant fine and wholesome liquor They frame the hony combs and work the wax which serue for a thousand turns in this life They indure pains continually and dispatch their worke and businesse They haue a policie and Commonwealth among themselues They hold their seuerall counsels and there is not a swarme or cast that they haue without a king and captaine of their owne and that which is most admirable of all there be ciuill fashions and customes among them Moreouer being as they are neither tame and gentle nor yet to be counted wilde and sauage yet see the wondrous worke of Nature by the means of so little a creature nay a shadow rather to say a truth of the least creature she hath effected a thing incomparable what strength of sinewes what force and puissance is able to countervaile this so great industry and effectuall power of theirs What wit and policy of man is answerable to their discreet and orderly course Beleeue me they passe them all and in this one point surpasse That all things are common among them and nothing know they priuat and seueral What should we debate and make question any more as touching their breath Why should wee dispute of their bloud which cannot chuse but be very little in such smal bodies Let vs rather consider henceforth their wit and the gifts of their mind CHAP. VI. ¶ The naturall order and regiment that is in Bees BEes all winter time keep close within their hiues and good reason for how possibly should they indure hard frost and chilling snow how should they abide the piercing blasts of the North winds And verily it is the manner of all these Insects so to doe but yet they keepe not in so long For why being nestled warm as they are within our houses they sooner doe recouer their vigor come abroad betimes But as concerning Bees either the times haue changed places altered their course or els the writers beforetime of this argument haue greatly erred They begin to retire themselues and take vp their wintering harbor presently vpon the setting and occultation of the star Vergiliae and come not forth into the field againe vntill after the rising and apparition thereof So that Bees go not abroad at the very beginning of the Spring as Writers haue set downe for who seeth not the contrary throughout all Italie but remaine still close and secret vntill that Beanes begin to bloom before which time they settle not themselues to any worke or labour But from thence forward they lose not a day they slack not their painful trauel neither play they one jot if the weather be faire wil permit the first thing they do is to make their combs wax that is to say their own habitations store-houses When they are prouided of lodging they thinke vpon the multiplying of their owne kind and finally they gather and make both hony and wax the substance whereof they sucke from the floures of trees and hearbes from the gums also of trees which breed such gluie matter and besides out of the iuice gum and rosin of the willow elme and cane With these and such like they plaister all the hiue within throughout as it were with a coat or parget intermingling withall other iuices that are more vnsauorie gathered from the bitterest hearbs they can get to the end that they might keepe out other little vermines that are greedy of their hony as knowing full well that they are about a piece of worke which is worthie to be desired and sought after Of this gummy and glutinous substance they frame also their dores and entries which are wide and large CHAP. VII ¶ The proper termes belonging to their worke THe first foundation of their worke skilfull hony-masters do call Commosis the second Pissoceros the third Propolis which lieth between those former coats and the wax of the hony combe whereof there is so great vse in Physicke Commosis is the first coat or crust of a bitter tast Pissoceros commeth next after it as it were a thinner course of pitch or varnish and a weaker kinde of wax made of the more liquid and mild gum of vines and poplars But Propolis consisteth of a more solid matter as hauing the strength of some floures withall howbeit as yet it is no ful and perfect wax but the foundation and strengthening of the combs and serueth as a good defence against cold and to stop the passage of waspes and such hurtful creatures as would do iniurie to the bees for stil a strong sent it carrieth as which many men do vse in stead of Galbanum After this munition done then followeth the prouision of that which is called Erithace some terme it Sandaracha and others Cerinthus This must serue for the bees meat whereof they are to liue whiles they worke and found it is oftentimes laid apart within the concauities of their combs it being also of a bitter taste Now this Erithace commeth of the Spring-dew and the moisture issuing out of trees in manner of gum in lesse abundance euer when the South-west wind blows but when it is full South more blacke and in the Northerly constitution far better and more red withall Great store hereof Bees meet with vpon Almond trees Menecrates saith That it is a floure foreshewing what haruest shall insue but no man saith so besides him CHAP. VIII ¶ What flowers they be which Bees serue themselues most withall for their worke AS for wax Bees gather and make it of the floures of all trees herbs and plants sauing the docke and Goose-foot which are two kinds of herbs Some except also a kind of Broom called Spart but vntruly for in Spaine where there be many places full of that shrub the honie carrieth the strength thereof in the
some water will ingender this vermin if we do but wash therein For euen in wax there will breed mites which are thought to be of all creatures that haue life the very least Also ye shall haue others again ingender of filthy dry dust namely fleas which vse to skip and hop with their hinder feet lustily like these tumblers and vautors Last of all there be that come of a certaine moist pouder in câ—…anies of the ground and those be our ordinary little flies CHAP. XXXIV ¶ Of one kind of creature that hath no passage to void excrements THere is a creature as foule and ill-fauoured as the rest which hath euermore the head fast sticking within the skin of a beast and so by sucking of bloud liueth and swells withall the only liuing creature of all other that hath no way at all to rid excrements out of the body by reason whereof when it is too full the skin doth crack and burst and so his very food is cause of his death In Horses Asses and Mules these do neuer breed in Kine and oxen they be common and otherwhiles in dogs who are pestered not only with these ticks but also with all other vermine aboue named And in Sheepe and Goats a man shall finde none other but ticks It is as strange a thing also to see how the horse-leeches which be nourished in standing waters of fens are thirsty after bloud for these will thrust their whole head into the flesh for to draw and suck out bloud Finally there is a kind of flies that plagueth dogs and none else they are busie commonly about their eares where they will bite and sting them shrewdly for there they cannot come by them with their teeth to snap and kill them CHAP. XXXV ¶ Of Moths and Gnats WOoll and cloth when they be dusty breed moths especially if a spider also be gotten within them For the Spider is very thirsty and by reason that he drinketh vp all the moisture of the cloth or wool he increaseth the drinesse much more In paper also they will ingender A kind of them there is which carry their coats and cases with them as cockles and snailes do but they haue feet to be seen If they be turned out of their coats or husks they presently die If they grow still they wil proue to be Chrysalides The wild fig tree breeds certaine Gnats called Ficarij As for the Cantharides or French greene Flies they be bred of little wormes in Fig trees Peare trees wilde Pines or Pitch trees the Eglantine Brier and Roses A venomous vermin this is howbeit medicinable in some sort The wings be they that are good in physick cast them away the rest is deadly Moreouer there be other gnats that soure things will ingender And no maruell seeing there be some wormes found in snow which are white if the snow be but thin and new fallen But in case it haue lien long and bee deep a man shall find in the mids within those which are red for snow also if it be old waxeth red rough and hairy greater also than the rest and dull of motion CHAP. XXXVI ¶ Of the fire-Fly called Pyralis or Pyrausta THe fire also a contrary element to generation is not without some liuing creatures ingendred therein For in Cypres among the forges and furnaces of copper there is to be seen a kind of four-footed creature and yet winged as big as the greater kind of flies to flie out of the very midst of the fire and called it is of some Pyralis of others Pyrausta The nature oâ—… it is this so long as it remaines in the fire it liues but if it chance to leap forth of the Furnace and fly any thing farre into the aire it dieth There is a riuer in the kingdome of Pontus called Hypanis which about the summer Sunstead vseth to bring down the streame thin pellicles or bladders like to grape kernels out of which there breaks forth and issueth a foure footed flie like vnto those aboue named and it liueth not aboue one day whereupon it is called Hemerobion i. a day-fly All other Insects of like sort may continue and liue a seuen-night The Gnat and the little wormes three weeks but such as bring forth their yong aliue may endure a full moneth As for the metamorphosis of these creatures from one forme to another it is most commonly performed in three daies or foure at the most All the rest of the winged kind lightly die in Autumne among which the brees and horse-flies are ordinarily blind first To be short those flies which haue bin drowned and so come to their death if they be laid and kept in hot cinders or ashes will come again to themselues and reuiue CHAP. XXXVII ¶ A discourse Anatomicall of the nature of liuing creatures part by part according to their particular members IT remaines now to treat of the seuerall parts of the body and ouer and aboue the former descriâ—…ion to particularize and set down the story of one member after another First therefore this is generall that all liuing creatures whatsoeuer hauing bloud haue also heads and few of them haue cops or crested tufts vpon their heads vnlesse it be birds and those be of diuers forms and fashions The Phoenix is adorned with a round plume of feathers out of the midst of which growes another little pennache Peacockes carry vpon their heads a tuft as it were of little hairy trees and the Stymphalides a lock of crisped and curled haires Feasants haue feathers standing vp like hornes The pretty Titmouse or Nonett is filletted or coifed vpon the head and in lieu thereof the Lark hath a little peruke of feathers whereupon at first it was called Galerita but afterwards after the French word Alanda and of it one of the Roman legions tooke the name because of their pointed Morions We haue written alreadie of the Ginny or Turky cocks and hens vpon whom Nature hath bestowed a folding crest lying from the very bill ouer the midst of the head vnto the nape of the necke She hath giuen also vnto all the sort of Seamewes Fen ducks and Moore-hens certain cops and crisped tufs to the Woodpeck also and Baleare crane But aboue all others the house dunghill cocks carry vpon their heads the goodliest ornament of their combe and the same consisting of a massie and fleshie substance indented besides like a saw And yet we may not properly say it is either flesh gristle or callositie but composed of some particular matter by it selfe which canot well be named As for the crests of dragons I could meet with no man hitherto that euer saw them To come now to Horns there be many fishes as well of the sea as fresh waters and also Serpents that haue horns in diuers and sundry sorts But to speak a truth and properly they be no hornes indeed for those pertain only to four-footed heasts As for Actaeon and 〈◊〉 of whom we read
skin that lieth ouer the place Moreouer among fouls of the aire those of the Herons kind which are called Leuci for that they be white want by report one eie And for certaine in case of Augurie if these birds flie either into the South or North it is holden for an excellent good presage for they assure men that peril is past and promise securitie Nigidius affirmeth That neither Locusts nor yet Grashoppers haue eies As for snailes and such like the two little horns that they put forth serue them in stead of eies as they sound or trie the way before them The earth-mads and all the sort of worms grubs are without eies Men alone of all liuing creatures haue eies of diuers colours some of one and some of another For all other creatures of one and the same kind are eied alike Howbeit some horses there be that extraordinarily haue red eies But in men it is hard to set down the infinit variety and difference in them for some haue great glaâ—…ing eies others againe as little as pinking Others also there be that haue them of a moderate and reasonable bignes Some be goggle eied as if they would start out of their heads and those are supported to be dim-sighted others be hollow eied and they are thought to haue the best and clearest sight like as they who for colour haue goats eien Moreouer ye â—…all haue some men who can discern a far off others againe that see not but neere at hand Many there are whose eiesight dependeth of the Sunnes light for let the day be ouercast and cloudy or the Sun gon downe they see just nothing and others contrariwise there be that all the day time haue but a bad sight yet in the night season they see better than any others As concerning 2 balls or apples in one eie as also who they bee that can bewitch and hurt folk with their very eie sufficient hath bin said already * Gray eies commonly in the dark see more cleare than others It is reported of Tiberius Caesar the Emperor to haue had this property by himself that if he were awakened in the night for a while he could see euery thing as wel as in the cleare day light but soon after by little and little the darknesse would ouercast and shadow all again a gift that no man in the world was euer known to haue but himselfe Augustus Caesar of famous memory had red eies like to some horses and indeed wall-eied he was for the white thereof was much bigger than in other men which also was the cause that if a man looked earnestly vpon him and beheld him wistly and a man could not anger him worse he would be displeased highly offended Claudius Caesar had a fleshy substance about the corners of his eies that tooke vp a good part of the white and many times they were very red and bloud fhotten C. Caligula the Emperor his eies were euer set in his head and stiffe again Nero had a very short sight for vnlesse he winked as it were and looked narrow with his eies he could not well see ought were it neuer so neere Twentie couple of professed masters of fence and sword-plaiers there were in the fence-schooâ—…e that C. Caligula the Emperor maintained among the rest two there were no more whom a man could not make to winke or once to twinckle with their eies present before them what weapon he would or make offer to strike so steady firm were they and therfore they euermore carried the prize were inuincible So hard a matter is it for a man to keep his eies from twiring and many men naturally cannot chuse but be euermore winking and twinckling with their eies but such are holden for fearful and timorous persons None haue their eyes all of one color for the bal or apple in the midst is ordinarily of another color than the white about it Neither in any one part of the body are more signes and tokens to be gathered of the affection and disposition of the heart than in the eie of man especially aboue all other creatures By it we may know whether one be modest staied sober gentle mild pittifull or no. It sheweth malice hatred loue heauinesse sorrow and joy In the cast also of the eie there is as much variety for some haue a furious cruell terrible fierce sterne and fierie looke others shew grauitie and constancie in their eie Some haue an ouerthwart regard with them others looke askew and awry One while a man lookes atoneside and hath a wanton sheeps eie another while he casteth his eie downe and lookes heauily and when he list againe hee can giue one a pleasant and merry looke In briefe the Eies are the very seat and habitation of the minde and affection For one while they be ardent and fierie otherwhiles they be bent and fixed vpon a thing one while they twinckle another time they winke close and say nothing From them proceed the teares of compassion When wee kisse the eie we thinke that we touch the verie heart and soule From hence commeth our weeping from hence gush out those streames of water that drench and run downe the cheeks But what might this water and humour be that in the hearts griefe issueth in such plentie and is so ready to flow Where may it lie at other times when we are in joy in mirth and repose it cannot be denied That with the Soule we imagine with the minde we see and the Eies as vessels instruments receiuing from it that visuall power and faculty send it soon after abroad Hereupon it commeth that a deep and intentiue cogitation blinds a man so that he seeth not namely when the sight is retired far inward Thus it is that in the Epilepsie or Falling-sicknes the eies are open and yet see nothing for why the mind within is darkened Moreouer Hares haue this qualitie to sleep open eied and so do many men besides them and this the Greekes do expresse by the terme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nature hath framed and compounded the eie of many thiâ—… membranes or skins As for those tunicles without-forth they are tough and hard like horn to withstand the iniuries of heat and cold and those she hath ordained eftsoones to be clensed and purified with the moisture of teares to the end that they should be slipperie and moueable for to turne quickly and to shift from all that may offend As for the middle part membrane of the eie she hath set in a ball like a window made of transparent horne or rather of a grape the little compasse whereof containeth all the sight of the Eie and suffereth it not to wander and roll here and there but directeth it as it were within a certaine pipe or small conduit by which means also to note by the way the apple being gathered into so narrow a circâ—…e doth easily auoid all inconueniences that
are incident vnto it for to annoy the same This ball and point of the sight is compassed also round about with other circles of sundry colors black blewish tawny russet and red to the end that by this medley and temperate mixture of colors enuironed with the white besides the light might be let in represented to the Optick-sinew and also by a temperat reuerberation and beating backe from those other colours it should not dazle or offend the apple with the exceeding brightnesse thereof In sum this mirror or glasse-window is so perfect and so artificially contriued that as little as the ball of the sight is a man may see himselfe ful and whole in it And this is the cause that many fouls from a mans fist are ready to peck at the eies aboue all other parts for that they would gladly sort and draw vnto their owne representation and image which they see in the eies as vnto that which they naturally affect Certain sumpter-horses and mules such like beasts of carriage only are troubled with sore eies and diseased that way at euery change and increase of the Moon But man alone in the catarrhact suffusion of the eie by voiding from it a certain humor which troubled the sight doth recouer and see again There haue bin many known blind 20 yeares and more yet afterwards inioied the benefit of their eies Some haue bin borne blinde without any fault or defect of their eies Diuers men likewise haue suddenly lost their sight by some secret accident and no outward offence knowne to giue occasion thereof Many right skilfull masters in Chirurgerie and the best learned Anatomists are of opinion That the veines of the eies reach to the braine For mine owne part I would rather thinke that they passe into the stomacke This is certain I neuer knew a mans eie pluckt out of his head but he fell to vomiting vpon it the stomack cast vp all within it We that be citizens of Rome haue a sacred and solemne manner and vse among vs To close vp their eies that lie a dying and are giuing vp the Ghost and when they be brought to the Funerall fire to open them againe The reason of this ceremonious custom is grounded hereupon That as it is not meet for men aliue to haue the last view of a mans Eie in his death so it is as great an offence to hide them from heauen vnto which this honor is due the body now presented Man alone is subiect to the distortion depraued motion of his eies Hereof are come the syrnames of certain families in Rome Strabones Poeti for that the first of those houses were squint-eied and had rolling eies Those that were borne blink but with one eie our countrymen called Coclites as also them that were pinke-eied and had very small eies they termed Ocellae As for such as came by those infirmities by some iniurie or mischance they were surnamed Lucini Moreouer we see that those creatures which ordinarily do see by night as Cats do haue such ardent and fierie eies that a man cannot indure to look full vpon them The eies also of the Roe-bucke and the Wolfe are so bright that they shine again and cast a light from them The sea-calues or Seales and the Hyenes alter eftsoones their eies into a thousand colours Ouer and besides the eies of many fishes do glitter in the night when they be drie like as the putrified and rotten wood of some old trunke of an oke or other wood Wee haue said before that those winke not nor shut their eie-lids who cannot roll their eies atone-side but are faine to turne their whole head withall when they would see a thing that is not iust before them The Chamaeleons by report rol their eies all whole euery way as they list vp and downe too and fro Crabs looke awrie And yet such fishes as are inclosed within a brittle and tender shell haue their eies inflexible stiffe Lobsters and Shrimpes for the most part haue their eies standing out very hard albeit they be couered with the like shells Those that haue hard eies are not so well sighted as those that haue moist It is commonly said that if a man pluck the eies out of the heads of yong serpents or yong Swallows they wil haue new again in their place All Insects and other creatures that lie within hard shels stir their eies as four-sooted beasts do their ears but in those that haue tender shels their eies be hard And all such as also fishes Insects haue no lids to their eies and therfore couer them not But there be none without a thin membrane or pellicle ouer them which is cleare and transparent like glasse Men and women haue haire growing on the brims of both Eie-lids but women do colour them euery day with an ordinarie painting that they haue so curious are our dames and would so fain be faire beautiful that for sooth they must die their eies also Nature ywis gaue them these hairy-eie-lids for another end namely for a palaisade as it were rampier of defence for the sight yea and to stand out like a bulwark for to keep off and put by all little creatures that might come against the eies or what things soeuer els should chance to fall into them Some write That the haire of the eie-lids will shed and fal away but not without some great injury and namely in such persons as be ouermuch giuen to lecherie No other liuing creatures haue these haires but such as otherwise be clad all ouer their bodies with haire or feathers But as four-footed beasts haue them in the vpper lid only so Fouls haue none but in the nether like as those serpents which are tender skinned and four-footed as Lizards The Ostrich is the only foule which hath haire on the vpper eie-lidde The Ape hath on them both as well as man Moreouer all fouls haue not eie-lids and therefore such do not winke namely those that bring forth liuing creatures The greater and heauier foules when they would close their eies doe it with drawing vp the nether lid The same also twinkle by means of a pellicle or skin comming from the corners of their eies Doues and such like birds wink with both eie-lids but four-footed beasts that lay egs as Tortoises and Crocodiles vse the nether lid only without any twinkling at all because their eies be very hard The vtmost compasse or edge of haire in the vpper lid the Latines called in old time Cilium and thereof came the name of the brows to be Supercilium in Latine This brim of the eie-lid if it be diuided by any wound cannot be drawne together againe like as some few parts besides of mans body Vnder the eies are the balls of the Cheeks which men and women only haue which in old time they called Genae in Latine And by the law of the twelue Tables women were expressely
In the knees of men there is generally reposed a certaine religious reuerence obserued euen in all nations of the world for humble suppliants creep and crouch to the knees of their superiors their knees they touch to their knees they reach forth their hands their knees I say they worship and adore as religiously as the very altars of the gods and for good reason haply they do so because it is commonly receiued That in them there lies much vital strength For in the very ioint and knitting of both knees on either side thereof before there are two emptie bladders as it were like a paire of cheeks which hollownesse and concauitie if it be wounded and pierced through causeth as present death as if the throat were cut In other parts likewise of the body we vse a certain religious ceremonie for as our maner is to offer the backe part of the right hand to be kissed so we put it forth and giue it as well in testimonie of faith and fidelitie It was an antient fashion in Greece when they would make court and with great respect tender a supplication to some great personage to touch the chin In the tender lappet of the eare is supposed to rest the seat of remembrance which we vse to touch when we mean to take one to beare witnesse of an arrest or other thing done and to depose the same in the face of the court Moreouer behind the right eare likewise is the proper place of Nemesis which goddesse could neuer yet find a Latine name so much as in the very Capitol and that place are we wont to touch with the fourth finger which is next the least in token of repentance when we haue let fal some word rashly and would craue pardon of the gods therefore The crooked and swelling veins in the legs man alone hath and women very seldome Oppius writes that C. Marius who had bin Consul of Rome 7 times endured without sitting down for the matter to haue those veins taken forth of his legs a thing that neuer any was known to abide before him All foure-footed beasts begin to go ordinarily on the right hand and vse to ly downe on the right side others go as they list Lions and Camels only haue this propertie by themselues to keep pace in their march foot by foot that is to say they neuer set their left foot before their right nor ouer-reach with it but let it gently come short of it and follow after Men women haue the greatest feet in proportion of all creatures but females vsually in euery kind haue lesse slenderer feet than males Men and women only haue calues in their legs and their legs full of flesh Howbeit we reade in some writers That there was one man in Aegypt had no calfe at all to his legs but was legged like a crane Man alone hath palmes of his hands broad flat soles to his feet and yet some there be who that way are deformed and disfigured And thereupon it came that diuers came to be sirnamed Planci i. flat footed Plauti i. splay footed Scauri i. with their ancles standing ouermuch out Pausi i. broad footed Like as of their mis-shapen legs some haue bin named Vari i. wry legged others Vatiae and Vatinij i. bow-legged which imperfections beasts also are subiect vnto Whole hoofed are all they that beare not horns in regard wherof they be armed with houfe in stead of that offensiue weapon and such as they be haue no ancle bones but all clouen footed haue those bones Howbeit all that haue toes want ancles and in a word there is not one hath them in the fore-feet Camels haue ancles like to Kine and Oxen but somewhat lesse for indeed they be clouen footed although the partition be very little and hardy discerned vnder the foot but seemeth flesh all ouer the sole as Beares also which is the cause that if they trauaile farre vnshod their feet are surbated and the beasts will tire CHAP. XLVI ¶ A discourse of beasts houfes THe Houfes of Horses Mules Asses and such like beasts of carriage onely if they be pared and cut will grow againe In some parts of Sclauonia the Swine are not clouen-footed but whole hoofed All horned beasts in manner be clouen-footed but no beast beares two hornes and hath withall the houfe of one entire peece The Indian Asse hath onely one horne The wild Goat also called Oryx is clouen houfed and yet hath but one horne The Indian Asse moreouer of all the whole houfed beasts alone hath the pasterne or ankle-bones As for Swine a mungreâ—…l kind they are thought to be of both in regard of those bones and thereupon are reputed filthy and acursed They that haue thought that a man had such are soon conuinced As for the Once he indeed alone of all those whose feet are diuided into toes hath that which somewhat resembles a pasterne bone So hath a Lion also but that it is more crooked and winding As for the streight pasterne bone indeed it beareth out with a bellie in the joynt of the foot and in that hollow concauitie wherein the said bone turnes it is tied by ligaments CHAP. XLVII ¶ Of Birds feet and their Clawes or Tallons OF Fowles some haue their feet diuided into clees and toes others be broad and flat footed and some are betweene both which haue indeed their toes parted and distinct and yet their feet be broad between But of all them that haue foure toes to a foot to wit 3 in the forepart and one behind at the heele in manner of a spurre howbeit this one is wanting in some that are long legged The Wrinecke or Hickway with some few others haue two before and other two behind The same bird putteth out a tongue of great length like to serpents It turneth the necke about and looketh backward great clawes it hath like those of Choughes Some bigger birds haue in their legs one other shanke-bone more than ordinarie None that haue crooked tallons be long legged All that staulke with long shankes as they fly stretch out their legges in length to their tailes but such as be short legged draw them vp to the midst of their belly They that say No bird is without feet affirme also That Martinets haue feet like as also the swift Swallow called Oce and the sea Swallow Drepanis And yet such birds come so little abroad that they be seldome seen To conclude there haue been now os late Serpents knowne flat-footed like Geese CHAP. XLVIII ¶ Of the feet of Insects ALl Insects hauing hard eies haue their fore-legges longer than the rest to the end that otherwhiles they might with them scoure their eies as we see some flies doe but those whose hinder-legs are longest vse to skip and hop as Locusts Howbeit all of them haue six legs apeece Some Spiders there be that haue two ouer and aboue the ordinarie and those be very long and euery leg hath
three joynts As for some sea-fishes we haue said before that they haue eight legs namely Many feet Pourcuttles Cuttles Calamaries and Crabfishes and those moue their fore-clees like armes a contrary way but their feet either they turne round or else fetch them crooked atone side and a man shall not see any liuing creature againe al round but they As for others they haue two feet to guide them and lead the way but Crabs onely haue foure There be Insects besides vpon the land that exceed this number of feet and then they haue no fewer than twelue as the most sort of wormes yea and some of them reach to an hundred No creature whatsoeuer hath an odde foot As touching the legs of those which bee whole houfed they be all full as long when they first come into the world as euer they will be well may they shoot out bigger and burnish afterward but to speake truly and properly they grow no more in length And therefore when they be yong sucking foles a man shall see them scratch the haire with the hinder feet which as they wax elder and bigger they are not able to do because their legges thriue only in outward compasse and not in length Which also is the cause that when they be new foled they cannot feed themselues but kneeling vntill such time as their neckes be come to their full growth and just proportion CHAP. XLIX ¶ Os Dwarfes and genitall parts THere are no liuing creatures in the world euen the very fowles of the aire not excepted but in each kind there be dwarfs to be found As for those males which haue their instruments of generation behind we haue sufficiently spoken In Wolues Foxes Weesils and Ferrits those genitall members be of a bonie substance and of them there be soueraigne medicines made for to cure the stone and grauell in mans bodie engendred The Beares pisle also becommeth as hard as an horn men say so soone as his breath is out of his bodie As for Camels pisles they vse in the East countries to make their best bow strings therof which they account to be the surest of all others Moreouer and besides the genitall parts put a difference between nation and nation also between one religion and another for the priests of Cybele the great mother of the gods vse to cut off their owne members and to gueld themselues without danger of death On the contrarie side some few women there be monstrous that way and in that part resemble men like as we see there are Hermaphrodites furnished with the members of both sexe In the daies of Nero the Emperor the like accident was seen and neuer before in some foure-footed beasts For he in very truth exhibited a shew of certaine mares that were of the nature of those Hermaphrodites found in the territorie of Treuiers in France and they drew together in his owne coach And verily a strange and wondrous sight this was To see the great monarch of the world sit in a charriot drawne by such monstrous beasts As touching the stones of Rams Buckes and greater beasts they hang dangling downe between their legs but in Bores they be thrust together knit vp short close to the bellie Dolphines haue these parts very long and the same lying hidden within the bottom of their bellies In Elephants likewise they be close and hidden In as many creatures as doe lay egges the stones sticke hard to their loines within the bodie and such be euer most quicke of dispatch in the act of generation and soone haue done the feat Fishes and Serpents haue none at all but in stead therof there be two strings or veines reach from their kidnies to their genitall member The * Buzzard a kind or Hawke is prouided of three stones A man hath his cods sometime bruised and broken either by some extraordinarie accident or naturally and such as be thus burst are counted but halfe men and of a middle nature betweene Hermaphrodites and guelded persons To conclude in all liuing creatures whatsoeuer the males be stronger than the females setting aside the race of Panthers and Beares CHAP. L. ¶ Of Tailes THere is not a liuing creature excepting men and Apes take as well those that bring forth their yong aliue as others that lay egges only but is furnished with a taile for the necessarie vse of their bodies Such as be otherwise rough-haired and bristly yet haue naked tailes as Swine those that be long shagged and rugged haue very little and short skuts as Beares but as many as haue long side haires be likewise long tailed as Horses If Lizards or Serpents haue their tailes cut off from their bodies they will grow againe In fishes they serue in good stead as rudders and helmes to direct them in their swimming yeathey fit their turnes as well as oares to set them forward as they stirre them to this or that hand There be Lizards found with double tailes Kine and Oxen haue the longest rumpe for their tailes of any other beasts yea and the same at the end hath the greatest tuft and bush of haire Asses haue the said docke or rumpe longer than horses and yet all such beasts either for saddle or packe haue it set forth with long haires Lions tailes are fashioned in the very tip thereof like vnto Kine or Oxen and Rats but Panthers are not after the same manner tailed Foxes and Wolues haue shag tailes like sheep but that they be longer Swine carie their tailes turned and twined round And Dogs that be of curres kind and good for nothing carrie their tailes close vnderneath their bellies CHAP. LI. ¶ Of Voices Aristotle of opinion That no liuing creature hath any voice but such only as are furnished with lungs and wind-pipes that is to say which breath and draw their wind and therefore he holdeth that the noise which we heare come from Insects is no voice at all but a very sound occasioned by the aire that gets within them and so being enclosed yeelds a certaine noise and resoundeth againe And thus it is quoth he that some keep a humming or buzzing as Bees others make a cricking with a certain long traine as the Grashoppers for euident it is and wel known that the aire entring into those pipes if I may so term them vnder their breast and meeting with a certaine pellicle or thin skin beates vpon it within and so sets it a stirring by which attrition that shril sound commeth Again it is as apparent that in others and namely Flies and Bees the buzzing which we heare begins and ends euer with their flying For no doubt that sound commeth not of any wind that these little creatures either draw or deliuer but of the aire which they hold inclosed within and the beating of their wings together As for Locusts it is generally beleeued receiued that they make that sound with clapping of their feathers and wings and thighs together In like manner among fishes in
most of all Which being done by great paine and labour of man or happening through raine and plenty of showers vnlesse there insue a drie season faire weather to extenuate that grosse substance into which the Oliue had turned the foresaid iuice and humor all the oile is consumed and lost For it is heat nothing els as Theophrastus saith which ingendreth oile therfore both about the presse at first also in the very garners where Oliues be laid after they vse to keep good fires by that means to draw the more oile forth A third default there is in oile and that comes of two much sparing and niggardise for some men there are who being loth to be at cost to pluck and gather Oliues from the tree wait still and looke that they should fal of themselues And such folke as would seeme yet to keepe a meane herein namely to take some paines and be at a little cost beat and pell them downe with perches and poles whereby they do offer wrong to the poore trees â—…ea and hinder themselues not a little the yeare following when they shall find how much it is out of their way thus to break their boughes and branches Whereupon the law in old time prouided well for this inconuenience by an expresse inhibition to all gatherers of Oliues in these words No man so hardie as to breake strike and beat the Oliue tree But they that go most warily and gentlâ—… to worke stand vnder the tree and with some canes shake the boughes and branches therewith or lightly smite them but in no case let driue and lay at them either with full down-right or crosse-blowes And yet as heedfull as they be in so doing this good they get by striking and knapping off the young shootes and sprigs which should beare the next yeare that they haue the trees carry fruit but once in two yeares for it The like hapneth also if a man stay till they fall of themselues for by sticking on the tree beyond their due time they rob the oliues to come after of all their nutriment wherewith they should be fed and detaine the place likewise where they should come forth and grow An euident proofe hereof is this That oliues vnlesse they be gathered before the ordinary yearely western winds do blow they gather heart again vpon the tree wil not so easily fall as before Men vse therefore to gather the Pausian Oliues first after Autumne which are fullest of carnosity not so much by nature as by misgouernement and disorder soone after the round Orchitae which haue plenty of oile then the oliues Radij and these forasmuch as they be most tender and soonest ouercome with abundance of the lees which we called before Amurca are therby forced to fal Howbeit such oliues as be thick skinned and hard tough also and admitting no wet rain by which means they are the least of all others wil abide on the tree til March and namely the Licinian Oliues the Cominian Contian Sergian which the Sabins eal roial all which change not colour look black before the foresaid Western wind blowes that is about the 6 day before the Ides of February for by that time folk think they begin to ripen Now for as much as the best most approued oile is made of them it seems that reason also being conformable to this defect of theirs justifies aproues the same in the end And this is commonly receiued and held among them that cold winters breed scarcity and dearth but ful maturity brings plenty namely when they haue leisure to ripen on the tree howbeit this goodnes is not occasioned by the time but by the nature rather of those kind of oliues which be long ere they turn into the foresaid dregs Amurca Men are also as much deceiued in this that when Oliues be gathered they keep them vpon borded floors in sellars and garners will not presse them before they haue swet whereas in truth the longer they lie the lesse oile they yeeld the more dregs of lees For by this means the ordinary proportion they say is to presse out of euery Modius of Oliues not aboue 6 pound of oile But no man makes any reckoning of the lees howmuch it increases in measure day by day in one the very same kind of Oliues the longer that they be kept ere they be pressed In one word it is a common error setled euery where that men do think the abundance of oile is to be esteemed according to the bignes of the oliues considering that the plenty of oile consists not in the greatnes of the fruit as may appeare by those that of some are called Roiall of others Majorinae and Phauliae which euery man knoweth are the biggest and fairest Oliues to see to yet otherwise haue least oile in them of any others Likewise in Aegypt the oliues are most fleshie ful of pulp howbeit least oleous As for the country Decapolis of Syria the oliues indeed be very smal there no bigger than Capers yet commended they are for their carnosity And for that cause the oliues from the parts beyond sea are preferred before the Italian for goodnesse of meat and as better to be eaten yet those of Italy yeeld more oile And euen within Italy the Picene and Sidicine oliues surpasse the rest For in truth these are first confected and seasoned with salt or els as all others prepared condite either with lees of oile or wine cuit Some oliues there be which they suffer to swim alone as they be in their owne oile without any help and addition of other things and such be called Colymbades And the same they vse otherwhiles to bruise and cleanse from their stones and then confect them with green herbs which haue some pleasant commendable taste Others there are which being otherwise very green and vnripe are presently brought to maturity and made mellow by lying infused and soking in hot scalding water And a wonder it is to see how Oliues wil drink in a sweet liquor and how by that means they may be made toothsome yea and to carry the tast of any thing that a man would haue them Among oliues there be also that are of colour purple like to those grapes which change colour when they begin to ripen Moreouer besides the aboue named sorts of oliues there be some named Superbae i. proud Also there are Oliues to be found which being dried by themselues onely are passing sweet yea and more delicate than raisins mary these are very geason and yet such are in Africke and about the city Emerita in Portugall As touching the very oile it self the way to preserue it from being ouerfat and thick is with salt If the barke of an Oliue tree be slit and cut it will receiue the rellice and smell of any medicinable spice and the oile thereof wil seem aromatized otherwise pleasant in tast it is
infused or in steep For certainly if the berries be not dried before they would yeeld an oile from them Howbeit afterward there was a deuise found out to make a white wine of the white Myrtle in this maner Take of Myrtles wel beaten or stamped the quantity of two Sextares steep the same in three hemires or pintes of wine and then straine and presse forth the liquor Moreouer the very leaues of the Myrtle tree being dried and reduced into a kinde of meale are singular good for to cure the vlcers in mens bodies for certaine it is that this powder doth gently eat away and consume the superfluous humours that cause putrifaction And besides it serueth well to coole and represse immoderate sweats Ouer and besides the Oile also of Myrtles a strange and wonderfull thing to tell hath a certaine rellish and taste of wine and withall the fat liquor thereof is indued with a speciall and principall vertue to correct and clarifie Wines if the bagges and strainers where-through the wine runneth bee first sooked and drenched therwith for the said oleous substance retaineth and keepeth with it all the lees and dregges and suffereth nothing but the pure and cleare liquour to passe through and more than that it carrieth with it the commendable odour and principall vertue of the said oile Furthermore it is said That if a way faring man that hath a great journey for to goe on foot carrie in his hand a sticke or rod of the Myrtle tree he shall neuer be weary nor thinke his way long and tedious Also rings made of Myrtle twigs without any edged iron toole keep downe and cure the swelling bunch that riseth in the groine What should I say more The myrtle intermedleth in war affaires for Posthumius Tubertus being Confull of Rome who was the first that entred in a petty triumph ouant into the city because he had easily conquered the Sabines and drawne in manner no bloud of them rode triumphant in this manner to wit crowned with a chaplet of Myrtle dedicated to Venus Victoresse and from that time forward the Sabines euen his very enemies set much store by that tree and held it in great reuerence And euer after they that went but ouant into the city after a victory ware this kind of garland only except M. Crassus who after he had vanquished the fugitiue slaues and defeated Spartanus marched in a coronet of Lawrel Massurius writeth how Generals when they entred triumphant into Rome riding in their stately chariots which was the greatest honor of all others ware vpon their heads chaplets of Myrtle L. Piso reporteth That Papyrius Masso who first triumphed in mount Albanus ouer the Corsians vsed euer after to come vnto the games Circenses and to behold them crowned with a garland of myrtle This Papyrius was grandfather by the mothers side to the second Scipio Africanus Finally M. Valerius according to a vow that he made in his triumphs vsed to weare coronets as well of Lawrell as Myrtle CHAP. XXX ¶ Of the Lawrell or Bay tree thirteene kinds thereof LAwrel is appropriate vnto triumphs and besides groweth most pleasantly before the gates of the Emperors court and bishops pallace giuing attendance there as a dutifull portresse or huisser most decently This tree alone both adorneth their stately houses also keepes watch and ward duly at the dores Cato setteth down two kinds of Lawrel to wit the Delphick and the Cyprian Hereunto Pompeius Lenaeus hath ioined a third which he called Mustacea because in old time they vsed to lay the leaues therof vnder certain cakes or March-panes which in those daies they called Mustacea as they were in baking this third kind hath leaues of all others largest flaggy hanging and whitish withall As for the Delphick it carieth leaues of one entire colour greener than the rest the baies or berries thereof likewise are biggest and of a reddish green colour With this Lawrell were they wont to be crowned at Delphos who won the prise at any tournoy or solemne game as also the victorious captains who triumphed in Rome The Cyprian Lawrell hath a short leafe black crisped or curled and about the sides or edges thereof it turneth vp hollow like a gutter or crest-tile Howbeit afterwards there were ranged in the rank of Lawrels other trees to wit the Tinus which some take to be the wild Lawrel others say it is a kind of tree by it self indeed it differeth from other Lawrels in the colour of the fruit for it beareth blew berries Then came the roiall Lawrel in place which began to be called Augusta or Imperial This is a very tal and big tree with leaues also as large in proportion and the Baies or berries that it beareth are nothing sharp biting and vnpleasant in tast But some there be that think this roiall Bay is not a Lawrel but a seuerall tree apart as hauing longer broader leaues than the rest of the ordinary sort And these writers speaking of other kinds call our common Bay tree Baccalia and namely that which is so fruitful and beareth such a sort of berries as for the fruitlesse and barren of that sort they name Triumphal which is as they say vsed in triumphs Whereat I maruell very much vnlesse this ordinance and custom began of Augustus Caesar by occasion of that Lawrell which came to him as sent from heauen as I wil shew anon more at large and of all others it is for height lowest in leaf short and frizled very geason and hard to be found Now there is another kind of Lawrell named Taxa very fit for greene arbors and to be wrought into knots Out of the middest of the leafe there growes forth another little one in manner of a skirt tongue or lappet of the leafe Also without any such excressence there is that which they name Spadonia as one would say the guelded Bay that cares not how shadowie the place be where it grows for be it neuer so remote out of the Sun or ouer shadowed howsoeuer yet it ceases not to grow ouerspread the ground where it standeth Moreouer in this rank is to be reckoned the wild shrub called Lowrier or Chamaedaphne There is besides the Lawrell Alexandrina which some call Idaea i. Mountaine Lawrel others Hyppoglottion i. Horse tongue some Daphnitis others Carpophyllon or Hypelate This plant putteth forth branches immediatly from the root of a span or nine inches long very proper and handsom to draw workes or to clad arbors withall in a garden also to make garlands and chaplets The leaues are more sharp and pointed softer also and whiter than those of the Myrtle yea haue within them a bigger grain or seed of colour red Great plenty therof groweth vpon the mountaine Ida likewise about Heraclea in Pontus and in one word neuer but in hilly and mountain countries As for the herb Daphnoeides or Laureola it hath many names for some terme it Pelasgum others Eupetalon and
than the blasting aforesaid for when it falleth vpon any trees or plants it there resteth and remains stil it congealeth all into an yee and no puffe of wind there is to remoue and dislodge it for why such frosts commonly are not but in time of a stil cleer and calm aire Touching that manner of Blasting or misliking called Sideratio as if they were smitten with the maligne aspect of some planet this danger chanceth peculiarly by some drie and hote winds which are busie commonly about the rising of the Dog star at what time wee shall see vong trees and newly graffed to die outright especially Figge trees and Vines The Oliue ouer and besides the worme whereto it is subject as wel as the Figge tree hath another greefe and sorance called in Latin Clavus Fungus or Patella i. a Knur Puffe Meazil or Blister chuse â—…ou whether and nothing is it but a very sendge or burne by the sunne Furthermore Cato saith That the red Mosse is hurtfull vnto trees Oftentimes also wee find that as wel Oliues as Vines take harm by ouermuch fertilitie and fruitfulnes As sor scab and skurfe what tree is cleare of it The running mange or tettar is a mischeefe peculiar vnto the Fig tree as also to breed certain Hoddy-dods or shell-Snailes sticking hard therto and eating it And yet these maladies are not indifferent and alike in all parts of the tree For thus you must think that some diseases are appropriate to one place more than another For like as men are troubled with the Arthriticall torments or the Gout euen so be trees yea and after 2 sorts as well as they for either doth the disease take the way to the feet that is to say to the roots there breaketh out and sheweth it selfe or else it runneth to the exterior joynts and fingers to wit the smal branches and top twigs which be farthest remote from the main body of the tree Hereupon then begin they to drie wither and waxe blacke and verily the Greeks haue proper names and tearms respectiue to the one infirmity and the other which we in Latin want Howbeit we are in some sort able to expresse the Symptones following therupon and namely when we say first That a tree is ill at ease sicke and in pain euery where anon that it falls away looks ill poore and leane when wee see the fresh green hew gone and the branches fraile and brittle last of all that it is in a wast consumption or feuer hectick and dieth sensibly to wit when it receiueth no nourishment or not sufficient to reach vnto al parts and furnish them accordingly and the tame Figge tree of al others is more subject hereunto as for the wild they be exempt wholly from all these inconueniences hitherto named Now as touching the scab or scurfe incident vnto trees it commeth of certain foggie mists and clammie dewes which light softly and leisurely after the rising of the Brood-hen star Vergiliae for if they be thin and subtile they drench and wash the trees wel and do not infect them with the scab howbeit in case they fall down right or that there be an ouer great glut of showers and raine the Fig tree taketh harme another way namely by soaking of too much moisture into the root Vines ouer and aboue the Worme and the Blast haue a disease proper vnto themselues called Articulatio which is a certain barrainesse of theirs when they leese their spring in the verie joynt And this may come vpon three causes the first when by vnseasonable and ill weather as frost heat haile or other forcible impressions of the aire they forgoe their young sprouts the second as Theophrastus hath well noted if in pruning of them the cut stand vpward and open to the weather the third when they be hurt by those that haue the dressing of them for want of skill and taking good heed for all these wrongs and inconueniences they feele in their joynts or knots A seuerall kind of blasting or mortification there is besides in vines after they haue done blooming which is called Roratio namely when either the grapes do fall off or before they come to their full growth be baked as it were into a thick and hard callositie It happens also that they be otherwhiles sick in case after their pruning their tender oilets or buds be either bitten with the frost or sindged with some blast The same befalleth likewise to them vpon some vntimely or vnseasonable heat for surely in all things a certaine measure and moderate temperature doth well to bring them to their perfection To say nothing of the wrong that is done vnto them by the vine-masters themselues and husbandmen as they dresse and trim them namely when they bind them ouer-streight as hath been said before or when the labourer that diggeth about them chaunceth to do them one shrewd turne or other by some crooked crosse blow or else when the ploughman at vnawares doth loosen the root or glance vpon it with the share and so disbarke the bodie of it finally they haue injurie done vnto them in case the pruning-hooke bee ouer blunt and so giue them a bruse In regard of all these causes they are lesse able to beare either cold or heat for euery outward injurie is readie to pierce their fresh galls and a skald head is soon broken But the tenderest and weakest of al others be the Apple trees and namely the hastie kind that bringeth sweet Iennitings Howbeit some trees there be which vpon such feeblenesse and hurt done vnto them become barren onely and die not namely the Pine and Date tree for if a man fetch off their heads you shall see them faile in bearing fruit but this hurt will not kill them quite Moreouer it falleth out otherwhiles that the Apples only or other such fruits as they hang are diseased when as the tree aileth nothing to wit if in due trme they wanted rain warmth or winds that were needfull or contrariwise if they had too much of euery one for by such means they either fall from the tree of themselues or els they are the worse for it if they proue worth ought at all The greatest displeasure that can happen to Vine or Oliue tree is when in their very blooming they be pelted with violent showers of raine for together with the blossome down goeth the fruit of them both From the same cause proceed the cankerwormes or caterpillars a most daungerous and hurtfull kind of vermine to trees which will eat out the greene bud knot and all Others there be that wil deuoure the blossome and leaues of Oliues also as in Miletum and thus hauing consumed all the greene leaues leaue the trees bare naked and ill-fauored to the eye These wormes doe breed in moist and warme weather and especially if there be thick and foggie mists Of the same vermine there is another engendred namely if there ensue vpon the former wet season hotter gleames of
were holden to call the Commons away from their market affaires Also the manner in those daies was to take their sleepe and repose in good straw and litter Yea and when speech was of glory and renowne men would call it by no other term but Adorea of Ador a kind of fine red wheat Where by the way I haue in great admiration the antique words of those times and it doth me good to think how significant they were For thus we read in the sacred Pontificall Commentaries of the high priests For the Augurie or solemne sacrifice called Canarium let there be certain daies appointed to wit before the corn shew eare out of the hose yea and before that it come into it But to return againe to the praise of Husbandry When the world was thus addicted and giuen to Agriculture Italy was not only well prouided and sufficiently furnished of corne without any help from out prouinces but also all kind of grain and victuals were in those daies so exceeding cheap as it is incredible for Manius Martius a Plebeian Edile of Rome was the first man that serued the people wheat at one Asse the Modius and after him Minutius Augurinus the eleuenth Tribune of the commons euen he who indited that mutinous and seditious citizen Sp. Melius brought down the price of wheat for 3 market daies to an Asse the Modius The people therefore of Rome in regard of this good deed of his erected a statue for him without the gate Trigemina and that with such affection and deuotion that euery man contributed somewhat thereto by way of beneuolence Trebius also in the time of his Aedileship caused wheat to be sold vnto the people at the same rate to wit one Asse a Modius For which cause there were 2 statues also in memorial of him set vp both in the Capitoll and also in Palatium and himselfe when he was departed this life had this honor done vnto him by the people at his exequies as to be carried on their shoulders to his funerall fire It is reported moreouer That in the very same yeare wherein the great goddesse Cybele called also the mother of the gods was brought to Rome there was a more plentifull haruest that Summer and corn was at a lower price than had bin known in ten yeares before Likewise M. Varro hath left in writing That when L. Metellus made shew of so many Elephants in his triumph at Rome a Modius of good red wheat was worth no more than one Asse also a gallon of wine cost no more And as for drie figges thirty pound weight carried no higher price and a man might haue bought a pound of Oile oliue and 12 pound of flesh at the very same reckoning And yet all this plenty and cheapnesse proceeded not from the great domaines and large possessions of those priuate persons that incroched vpon their neighbors and hemmed them within narrow compasse For by the law published by Stolo Licinius prouided it was that no Roman citizen should hold in priuat aboue fiue hundred acres The rigor of which law or statute was extended and practised vpon the Law-maker himselfe and by vertue thereof he was condemned who for to possesse aboue that proportion and to defraud the meaning of the said Act purchased more lands in the name of his Son Loe what might be the proportion and measure of possessions allowed euen then when as the State and Common-wealth of Rome was in the prime and began to flourish And as for the Oration verily of Manius Curius after such triumphs of his and when he had subdued and brought vnder the obeisance of the Roman Empire and laid to their dominion so many forrein nations what it was euery man knoweth wherin he deliuered this speech That he was not to be counted a good man but a dangerous citizen who could not content himselfe with a close of seuen acres of ground And to say a truth after that the kings were banished out of Rome and their regiment abolished this was the very proportion of land assigned to a Roman Commoner If this be so What might be the cause of so great plenty abundance aforesaid in those daies Certes this nothing els great LL and generals of the field as it should seem tilled themselues their ground with their own hands the Earth again for her part taking no small pleasure as it were to be eared and broken vp with ploughes Laureat and ploughmen Triumphant strained her selfe to yeeld increase to the vttermost Like it is also that these braue men and worthy personages were as curious in sowing a ground with corne as in ordinance of a battell in array as diligent I say in disposing and ordering of their lands as in pitching of a field and commonly euery thing that commeth vnder good hands the more neat and cleane that the vsage thereof is and the greater paines that is taken about it the better it thriueth and prospereth afterwards What shall we say more was not C. Attilius Serranus when the honorable dignity of Consulship was presented vnto him with commission to conduct the Roman army found sowing his own field and planting trees whereupon he took that syrname Serranus As for Quintius Cincinnatus a purseuant or messenger of the Senat brought vnto him the letters patents of his Dictatorship at what time as he was in proper person ploughing a piece of ground of his owne containing foure acres and no more which are now called Prata Quintiana i. Quintius his medowes lying within the Vaticane and as it is reported not onely bare-headed was hee and open breasted but also all naked and full of dust The foresaid officer or sergeant taking him in this maner Do on your cloths sir quoth he and couer your body that I may deliuer vnto you the charge that I haue from the Senate and people of Rome Where note by the way that such Pursevants and Sergeants in those daies were named Viatores for that eftsoones they were sent to fetch both Senatours and Generall captaines out of the fields where they were at worke but now see how the times be changed They that doe this businesse in the field what are they but bond-slaues fettered condemned malefactors manacled and in one word noted persons and such as are branded and marked in their visage with an hot yron Howbeit the Earth whom wee call our Mother and whom wee would seem to worship is not so deafe and sencelesse but she knoweth well enough how shee is by them depriued of that honour which was done in old time vnto her insomuch as wee may well weet that against her will shee yeeldeth fruit as shee doth howsoeuer wee would haue it thought by these glorious titles giuen vnto her that she is nothing displeased therewith namely to be labored and wrought by such vile and base hirelings But we forsooth do maruell that the labor of these contemptible bond slaues and abiect villains doth not render the like
than to labor a ground exceeding much and to ouer-til it L. Rarius Rufus a man of very base and low parentage descended yet aduanced to the Consular dignity for his prowesse in feats of arms was otherwise very thrifty and sparing after the maner of the old world insomuch as partly by his niggardise and partly through the liberality of Augustus Caesar he had gathered good together amounting to the sum of an hundred millions of Sesterces all which masse of money what with purchasing land to land in the Picene country and what with bestowing such a deale of husbandry vpon it more ywis of a vain glory and ostentation than for any profit that he reaped thereby he laid forth and spent euery whit of that stock insomuch as hardly he could finde any man that would take vpon him to be his executor or to accept simply of the inheritance What shall we say then or what good commeth of such houses or lands so chargeable as that they are like to cost a man his life and that by famine I hold therfore that in all things a mean is best and bringeth greatest profit in the end To till and husband ground well is necessary to ouer-do the same and to exceed turneth more to the damage than the profit of the lord vnlesse it were done by his own children or to maintain the charge of keeping such hinds as otherwise must be found if they sat still and did nothing for setting that cause aside it falleth out oftentimes that the gathering and inning of some haruest if a man count all the pains emploied and the mony of the purse is nothing beneficial to the master In like maner Oliues would not alwaies be tended and looked vnto ouermuch neither do some grounds require much diligence but are the worse for such attendance as may be seen by report in Sicily which is the cause that new commers thither for to be tenants and to occupy those lands are many times deceiued and put besides their reckoning After what manner then shall we proceed in the husbandry of our land to most benefit and behoofe Learn a rule out of the Oracle or sententious riddle which goeth in this forme Malis bonis i. Cheapest Best But herein me thinks good reason it is that our old great grandfathers should be defended and excused for holding these strange and obscure paradoxes they I say who by such rules and precepts tooke great care and paines to instruct vs how to liue Would you know then what they meant by this word Malis surely they vnderstood those that were cheapest and stood them in least The chiefe point of all their prouidence and forecast was to goe the nearest way to worke and to be at the smallest cost and no maruell for who were they that gaue out these thriftie precepts euen those who reproched a victorious General and one who triumphed ouer the enemy for hauing a cupboord of siluer plate weighing but ten pound those I say who if their bayliffes of husbandrie chanced to die whereby their lands in the countrey stood void would make suit to be gone themselues thither and to return to their own fermes leauing behind them the glory of all their victories by them atchieued and to conclude euen those who whiles they were imploied in the conduct of armies had their grounds looked vnto and tilled at the charges of the common-weale and had no other for their bayliffs than the noble Senators of Rome From their mouths came these other oracles and wise sentences following An ill husband is he who is forced to buy that which his ferme might affoord him As bad is that housholder master of a family who doth that in the day which might be don by night vnlesse vnseasonable weather driue him to it worse than either of these is he who doth that vpon work-daies which should haue bin done on play daies or idle holidaies but the worst of all other is he who when the weather is fair wil chuse to work rather within close house than abroad in the open field here I cannot hold and rule my selfe but I must needs alledge one example out of antient histories whereby it may be vnderstood How it was an ordinary matter to commense actions and to maintaine pleas in open court before the body of the people in the case of Husbandry as also in what sort those good Husbandmen of old time were wont to defend their owne cause when they were brought into question And this was the case There was one C. Furius Cresinus late a bond-slaue and newly infranchised who after that hee was set at liberty purchased a very little piece of ground out of which he gathered much more commodity than all his neighbors about him out of their great and large possessions whereupon he grew to be greatly enuied and hated insomuch as they charged him with indirect means as if he had vsed sorcery and by charmes and witch-craft drawne into his owne ground that increase of fruits which should otherwise haue growne in his neighbors fields Thus vpon complaint and information giuen he was presented and indited by Spurius Albinus an Aedile Curule for the time being and a day was set him down peremptorily for his personal appearance to answer the matter He therfore fearing the worst and doubting that he should be cast to pay some grieuous fine at what time as the Tribes were ready to giue their voices either to acquit or condemne him brought into the common place his plough with other instruments and furniture belonging to husbandry he presented likewise in the open face of the court his owne daughter a lusty strong lasse and big of bone yea and as Piso telleth the tale well fed and as well clad he shewed there I say his tooles and plough yrons of the best making and kept in as good order maine and heauy coulters strong and tough spades massie and weighty plough-shares and withall his draught Oxen ful and faire Now when his course came to plead his own cause before the people and to answer for himselfe thus he began and said My masters quoth he you that are citizens of Rome behold these are the sorceries charms and all the inchantments that I vse pointing to his daughter his oxen furniture abouenamed I might besides quoth he alledge mine owne trauell and toile that I take the early rising and late sitting vp so ordinary with me the carefull watching that I vsually abide and the painefull sweats which I daily indure but I am not able to represent these to your view nor to bring them hither with me into this assembly The people no sooner hard this plea of his but with one voice they all acquit him and declared him vnguilty without any contradiction By which example verily a man may soone see that good husbandrie goeth not all by much expence but it is pains taking and careful diligence that doth the deed And hereupon came the old sayd
leaue the heauen and those coelestiall Bodies in their maiestie What is the cause that as the Magnet or loadstone draweth iron vnto it so there is another stone abhorreth the same and driueth iron from it What should the reason be of the Diamond that peerlesse stone the chiefe iewell wherein our rich worldings repose their greatest ioy and delight a stone otherwise inuincible and which no force and violence besides can conquer but that it remaineth still infâ—…ngible and yet that the simple bloud of a poore Goat is able to burst it in pieces Besides many other secrets in nature as strange yea and more miraculous All which we purpose to reserue vnto their seuer all places and will speake of them in order Mean while may it please the Reader to pardon vs and to take in good part the manner of our entrance into this matter for albeit we shall deale in the beginning with the smallest and basest things of all others yet such they be as are wholsome and concerne much the health of man and the maintenance of his life And first will we set in handwith the garden and the herbes that wee finde there CHAP. I. ¶ Of the wilde Cucumber and the juice thereof Elaterium THis wild Cucumber as we haue said heretofore is far lesse than that of the Garden Out of the fruit hereof there is a medicinable juice drawne which the Physitians call Elaterium For to get this juice men must not stay vntill the Cucumber be fullâ—… ripe for vnles it be taken betimes and cut down the sooner it wil leap flurt in the handling from the stele whereto it hangeth against their faces with no smal danger of their eye-sight Now when it is once gathered they keepe it soone whole night The next morrow they make an incision and slit it with the edge of a cane They vse to strew ashes also thereupon to restrain and keep down the liquor which issueth forth in such abundance which done they presse the said juice forth andreceiue it in raine water wherin it setleth and afterwards when it is dried in the Sunne they make it vp into Trochisques And certaine these Trochisques are soueraigne for many purposes to the great good and benefit of mankind For first and foremost it cureth the dimnesse and other defects or imperfections of the eyes it healeth also the vlcers of the eye lids It is said moreouer that if a man rub neuer so little of this juice vpon vine roots there will no birds come neere to pecke or once touch the grapes that shall hang thereon The root of this wild Cucumber if it be boiled in vinegre and made into a liniment and so applied is singular good for all kinds of gout but the juice of the said root helpeth the tooth-ach The root being dried and incorporat with rosin cureth the ringworme tettar wild scab or skurf which some cal Psora and Lichenes it discusseth and healeth the swelling kernels behind the eare the angrie pushes also and biles in other Emunctories called Pani and reduceth the stooles or skars left after any sore and other skarres to their fresh and natiue colour againe The juice of the leaues dopped with vinegre into the ears is a remedie for deafenesse As for the liquor concrete of this cucumber named elaterium the right season of making it is in autumne neither is there a drug that the Apothecaries hath which lasteth longer than it doth howbeit before it be three yeres old it begins not to be in force for any purpose that a man shal vse it and yet if one would occupie it fresh and new before that time he must correct the foresaid Trosch es with vinegre dissoluing them therin ouer a soft fire in a new earthen pot neuer occupied before but the elder they be the better and more effectuall they are insomuch as by the report of Theophrastus Elaterium hath bin kept and continued good 200 yeares And for fiftie yeares it is so strong full of vertue that it wil put out the light of a candle or lamp for this is the triall and proofe of good Elaterium it being set neer therto before that it puts out the light it cause the candle to sparkle vpward and downward That which is pale of color and smooth is better than that which is of a greenish grasse color rough in hand the same also is somwhat bitter withall Moreouer it is said that if a woman desire to haue children do cary about her the fruit of this wild Cucumber fast tied to her bodie she shall the sooner conceiue and proue with child prouided alwaies that in the gathering the said Cucumber touched not the ground in any case Also if it be lapped within the wooll of a Ram be bound to the loins of a woman in trauell of childbirth so that she be not her selfware therof she shal haue the better speed and easier deliuerance but then so soon as the infant the mother be parted the said Cucumber must be had out of the house in all hast where the woman lyeth Those writers who magnifie these wild Cucumbers and set great store by them affirm That the best kind of them groweth in Arabia and the next about Cyrenae but others say That the principall be in Arcadia That the plant resembleth Turnsol That betweene the leaues and branches thereof there groweth the fruit as big as a Wallnut with a white taile turning vp backeward in manner of a Scorpions taile whereupon some there bee who giue it the name of the Scorpion Cucumber True it is indeed that as wel the fruit it selfe as the juice therof called Elaterium be most effectuall against the pricke or sting of the Scorpion as also that it is a medicine purgatiue of the bellie but especially cleanseth the wombe or matrice of women The ordinarie dose is from half an Obulus to a Solid i. an obole or half a scruple according to the strength of the patient A greater receit than one Obulus killeth him or her that taketh it but being taken within that quantitie aboue named in some broth or conuenient liquor it is passing good for the dropsie yea and to euacuat those filthie humors thar engender the lowsie diseas Being tempered with honey and old oile and so reduced into a thin ointment or liniment it cureth the Squinancie and such diseases incident to the windpipes CHAP. II. ¶ Of the Serpentine Cucumber called otherwise the Wandering Cucumber also of the Garden Cucumbers Melons or Pompions MAny there be of opinion that the Serpentine Cucumber among vs which others call the wandring Cucumber is the same that the former Cucumber which yeeldeth Elaterium The decoction whereof is of that vertue that whatsoeuer is besprinckled therewith no myce wil come neer to touch it The same being sodden in vinegre and brought to the consistence of an ointment is a present remedie to allay the pains of gout as
Garland of Roses vpon his head was by authoritie of the Senate committed to prison and was not enlarged before the end of the warre P. Munatius hauing taken from the head of Marsyas a Chaplet of floures and set it vpon his owne and thereupon being commaunded to ward by the Triumvirs called vnto the Tribunes of the Commons for their lawful fauour and protection but they opposed not themselues against this proceeding but deemed him worthie of this chastisement See the disclipine and seueritie at Rome and compare it with the loosenes of the Athenians where yong youths ordinarily followed reuils and bankets and yet in the forenoon would seeme to frequent the schooles of Philosophers to learne good instructions of vertuous life With vs verily we haue no example of disorder in this behalf namely for the abuse of garlands but only the daughter of Augustus Caesar late Emperor and cannonised as a god at Rome who complaineth of her in some letters of his yet extant that with grone and griefe of heart to be giuen to such riot and licentious loosenesse that night by night the would seem to adorn with Guirlands the statue and image of Marsyas the Minstrell We do not read in Chronicles that the people honoured in old time any other with a Coronet of floures but onely Scipio sirnamed Serapio for the neere resemblance that he had to his baily or seruant so called who dealt vnder him in buying and selling of Swine in which regard he was wonderous well beloued of the commons in his â—…ribuneship as bearing himself worthy of the famous and noble house of the Scipioes sirnamed Africani Howbeit as well descended and beloued as he was yet when hee died he left not behind him in goods sufficient to defray the charges of his funerals the people therfore made a collection and contributed by the poll euery man one As and so took order by a generall expence that he should be honourably enterred and as his corpes was carried in the streets to his funeral fire they flung floures vpon his bere out of euery window all the way In those daies the maner was to honor the gods with chaplets of floures and namely those that were counted patrones and protectours as well of cities and countries as of priuat families to adorne and beautifie therewith the tombs and sepulchres of those that were departed as also to pacific their ghosts and other infernall spirits farther than thus there was no vse of such Guirlands allowed Now of all those Chaplets most account was made of them wherein the floures were platted We find moreouer That the Sacrificers or Priests of Mars called Salij were wont in their solemnities feasts which were very sumptuous to weare Coronets of sundry floures sowed together But afterwards Chaplets of Roses were only in credit and reputation vntill that in processe of time the world grew to such superfluitie and sumptuous expence that no Guirlands would please men but of the meer precious and aromaticall leaf Malabathrum and not content therewith soone after there must be Chaplets fet as far as from India yea and beyond the Indians those wrought with needle work and the richest coronet was that thought to be which consisted of the leaues of Nard or els made of fine silke out of the Seres country and those of sundry colors perfumed besides al wet with costly and odoriferous ointments Further than thus they could not proceed and so our dainty wanton dames rest contented hithereto and vse no other Chaplets at this day As for the Greekes verily they haue written also seuerall Treatises concerning floures and Garlands and namely Mnestheus and Callimachus two renowmed Physicians haue compiled bookes of those Chaplets that be hurtfull to the braine and cause head-ach For euen herin also lieth some part of the preseruation of our health considering that perfumes do refresh our spirits especially when we are set at table to drinke liberally and to make merrie whiles the subtile odour of flours pierceth to the braine secretly ere we be aware Where by the way I cannot chuse but remember the deuise of Queene Cleopatra full of fine wit and as wicked and mischieuous withall For at what time as Antonie prepared the expidition and journey of Actium against Augustus and stood in some doubt of jealousie of the said Queen for al the fair shew that she made of gratifying him and doing him all pleasure he was at his taster would neither eat nor drink at her table without assay made Cleopatra seeing how timorous he was and minding yet to make good sport and game at his needlesse feare and foolish curiositie caused a Chaplet to be made for M. Antonius hauing before dipped all the tips and edges of the flowres that went to it in a strong and rank poison and being thus prepared set it vpon the head of the said Antonie Now when they had sitten at meat a good while and drunk themselues merrie the Queen began to make a motion and challenge to Antonie for to drink each of them their chaplets and withall began vnto him in a cup of wine seasoned and spiced as it were with those floures which she ware her owne self Oh the shrewd vnhappy wit of a woman when she is so disposed who would euer haue misdoubted any danger of hidden mischiefe herein Well M. Antonie yeelded to pledge her off goeth his owne Guirland and with the floures minced small dresseth his own cup. Now when he was about to set it to his head Cleopatra presently put her hand betweene and staied him from drinking and withall vttered these words My deare heart and best beloued Antonie now see what she is whome so much thou dost dread and stand in feare of that for thy security there must wait at thy cup and trencher extraordinarie tasters a straunge and new fashion ywis and a curiosity more nice than needfull lo how I am not to seek of means and opportunities to compasse thy death if I could find in my heart to liue without thee Which said she called for a prisoner immediately out of the goale whom she caused to drink off the wine which Antonie had prepared for himselfe No sooner was the goblet from his lips againe but the poor wretch died presently in the place but to come again to the Physicians who haue written of floures besides those abouenamed Theophrastus among the Greekes hath taken this argument in hand As for our countreymen some haue entituled their bookes Anthologicon but none of them all so farre as euer I could find wrote any Treatise concerning floures Neither is it any part of my meaning at this present to make Nosegaies or plat any Chaplets for that were a friuolous and vaine peece of work but as touching floures themselues I purpose to discourse so much as I think and find to be memorable and worth the penning But before I enter into this Treatise I am to aduertise the
forrein Nations who time out of mind haue been euer accustomed to annoint their bodies with the iuice of certain herbs for to imbellish and beautifie them as they thought And verily in some of these barbarous countries ye shall haue the women paint their faces some with this herbe and others with that yea and among the Dakes and Sarmatians in Transyluania Valachia Tartaria those parts the men also marke their bodies with certain characters But to goe no farther than into Gaule there groweth an herb there like vnto Plantain and they call it Glastum i. Woad with the iuyce whereof the women of Britain as wel the maried wiues as yong maidens their daughters anoint and dy their bodies all ouer resembling by that tincture the color of Moores and Ethyopians in which manner they vse at some solemne feasts and sacrifices to go all naked CHAP. II. ¶ That Clothes be died with certaine Herbs ANd now of late dayes we know there hath been taken vp a strange and wonderfull maner of dying and colouring clothes For to say nothing of the groin brought out of Galatia Africke and Portugal whereof is made the royall Skarlet reserued for princes only and great captains to weare in their rich mantles of estate and coats of armes behold the French inhabiting beyond the Alps haue inuented the means to counterfeit the Purple of Tyrus the Skarlet also and Violet in graine yea and to set all other colours that can bee deuised with the juice only of certain hearbs These men are wiser beleeue mee than their neighbours of other nations before them they hazard not themselues to sound and search into the bottome of the deepe sea for Burrets Purples and such shell-fishes These aduenture not their liues in strange coasts and blind baies where neuer ship hath rid at anker offering their bodies as a prey to feed the monstrous Whales of the sea while they seeke to beguile them of their food in fishing for the said Burrets all to feed that wherby as well vnchast dames of light behauiour might set out themselues and seeme more proper to allure and content adulterous ruffians as also those gallants again squaring and ruffling thus in their colours might court faire ladies and wedded wiues yea and with more case entrap and encompasse them to yeeld to their pleasure but these men stand safe vpon drie land and gather those hearbs for to die such colors as an honest minded person hath no cause to blame nor the world rason to crie out vpon Nay our braue minions and riotous wantons it might beseeme also to be furnished therewith if not altogether so glorious to the eye yet certainly with lesse offence and harm But no part it is of my desseigne and intent to discourse vpon these matters at this present neither will I stand on the thrift and good husbandry that may be seen in such a thing as this least I might seeme to colour any vanitie with a shew of commodity and frugalitie and to limit excesse and superfluitie within the tearms of profit and cheapnesse which indeed will not be gaged and brought within any compasse Besides I shall haue occasion hereafter in some other place to make mention both of dying stones and also of painting walls with herbs As for the art and mysterie of Diers if euer it had been counted any of the liberal Sciences beseeming a gentleman either to professe or practise I assure you I would not haue ouer passed it in silence And yet I promise you this feat grows to credit euery day more than other and the hauens abroad where those fishes be taken which furnish them with colors are mightily frequented and in greater name and request than euer they were In which regard I canot chuse but shew and declare what account we ought to make of these dumbe tinctures in that behalfe I meane such hearbs and simples whereof there is but base reckoning or none at all made for those great princes which were the first founders and establishers of the Roman Empire did mighty things therewith and emploied these herbs in the highest matters of state For in the affaires of greatest importance namely either in publick sacrifice for the auerting of some heauy judgement of the gods threatened or in expiation of any grieuous sinne and offence committed whether they performed diuine seruice to their gods or dispatched honourable embassages to other States they vsed their Sagmina and Verbenae by which two words verily was meant one and the same thing euen some plain and common grasse plucked vp with ceremoniall deuotion turfe and all from their castle hil or citadel of Rome And this at all times was obserued religiously that they neuer sent their heraulds to the enemies of the people of Rome for to clarigat that is to say to summone them with a lowd voice for to make restitution of that which they deteined of theirs without a turfe and tuft of the said grasse and euermore there accompanied these heraulds in their train one speciall officer who had the charge to carie and tender that hearbe who thereupon was called Verbenarius CHAP. III. ¶ Of grasse Chaplets NO Coronets verily were there euer at Rome better esteemed either to testifie the triumphant majestie of that victorious citie the soueraign lady of the whole world or to giue testimony of honour and reward for some notable seruice performed for the Common-weale than those which were made simply of green grasse The crownes of beaten gold and enriched with pearle the Vallare and Murall Chaplets bestowed vpon braue knights and valiant souldiers who either entred the fortified camp of the enemie ouer trench rampier or mounted the wals in the assault of a city came nothing neer to this the Nauall garlands giuen to admirals and generals at sea for obtaining victory in that kind of seruice the ciuick coronets also presented vnto such as had rescued a Romane citizen and saued his life came behind these and in one word the Chaplet triumphal which they ware who entred with triumph into Rome was nothing comparable to these And yet all these Guirlands abouenamed haue notable prerogatiues and differ one from another in many respects In a word those Coronets and Chaplets of honor all saue these made of grasse were giuen many times by some priuat and particular persons are by the captains and generals themselues vnto their soldiers yea and otherwhiles from one Generall to another when they were ioined together in equall commission in testimony of vertue and valour CHAP. IIII. ¶ The singularitie and rare examples of such Chaplets made of grasse NOw whereas other Garlands of honour and Coronets of triumph were alwaies either ordained by a decree from the Senat in time of peace and after the troubles of warre ouerblowne or granted by an act of the people being quiet and â—…epose when dangers were past this Chaplet of grasse aforesaid it was neuer any mans hap to haue but in some
liues he saued at what time as he took that garland first vpon his head Let him vaunt as much as he wil of the said Coronet as also of the proud and vain glorious title of Foelix i. happy which addition or syrname he took vpon him caused to be put into his stile yet when as through his tyranny he held besieged those Roman citizens whom he had proscribed and confined into all parts of the world surely he forewent all and yeelded that crowne vnto Sertorius Moreouer M. Varro doth report That Scipio syrnamed Aemilianus was honoured with an Obsidionall Coronet in Africk the same yere when as Manlius was Consull for sauing three cohorts besieged as also three companies besides which he led forth to deliuer the other and by whose means he forced the enemy to break vp his siege This is to be seen and read in a Table which Augustus Caesar late Emperor of famous memory caused to be hanged vp at the base or foot of the said Scipioes statue erected in the Forum or publick hall which himselfe built As for Augustus himselfe the Senate crowned him with an Obsidionall Chaplet vpon the thirteenth day of September that yeare when he was Consull with M. Cicero the son of that great Cicero the Orator Whereby we may see that a Ciuick Chaplet was not thought sufficient nor any waies comparable to this Coronet And setting a side these aboue named I do not find in histories of any one who was crowned with a green chaplet of grasse Now this you must note withall That there was not one certaine hearbe set out appointed for these honorable Guirlands but look what kind of herbage grew then in the place besieged where the danger was that very same they tooke were they neuer so base weeds and of no reckoning for as contemptible otherwise as they were yet being once imploied to this vse they innobled adorned the person himselfe who ware them in a Chaplet And certes the lesse maruel I haue if these things be vnknowne to vs now adaies seeing as I doe how little or no account is made euen of those things which make to the maintenance and preseruation of our health to the cure of all dolorous griefes and maladies of the body yea and to the preuention of death it self But what man is there well giuen and honestly minded who can containe and hold his peace hauing so just cause to reproue and rebuke the maner of the world in these our daies first and formost our life was neuer so costly as now it is in regard of the dainties delights and superfluities which must be maintained if will liue to the fashion of the time and for to injoy these pleasures onely we hold our liues more sweet and precious Neuer were men more desirous of long life and neuer lesse carefull to entertaine the means of long life The gouernment of our health we commit to the charge of others and strangers we credit with our owne bodies and yet slacke enough and negligent are they to ordain according to our trust and confidence that which indeed should do vs good Thus the Physitians are prouided well for they thriue alone and go away with the gains by this means Oh good God to see the folly and vanity of man Nature hauing put so many good things into our own hands as she hath and willing that we should inioy them for our health and pleasure yet we to our great shame and rebuke be it spoken are so vnhappy as to commit our selues to other mens tuition liue vnder their warrantize and assurance Full well I know that I for my part also shall haue but small thanks of many a one for all my paines taken in writing this history of the world and Natures works nay I am assured that I make my selfe a laughing stocke and am condemned of them for spending and losing my time in such a frivolous piece of worke as this is Howbeit this is yet my comfort and no small contentment I take herein that my labors and trauels excessiue and infinit though they be cannot be despised but the contempt will redound likewise to dame Nature her selfe And yet she againe as a kind and tender nurce ouer mankind hath not failed as I wil declare hereafter for our good to indue the very weeds which we tread vnder footwith medicinable vertues yea hath bestowed vpon those which otherwise we hate dare not approch but with careful heed for the shrewd pricks and thorns which they carry about them singular properties to cure diseases For ouer and besides those whereof I made mention in the booke going next before this there be other herbs of that pricking kinde which are so wonderfull in their operation and effects that I can neuer admire sufficiently and comprehend her prouidence appearing in them Furnished shee had the earth with smooth pricklesse plants enough in the nature of meats for to content our tooth satisfie our appetite she had ingrauen and liuely painted in floures notable properties in physick for to recouer maintain our health by the singular beauty which she gaue vnto them to allure the heart and eye of man to look toward them saying as it were Come and gather vs wherin she had made a good medley of profit and pleasure together And when she had thus done she staid not there but deuised to bring other herbs hideous to the eie and vntractable in hand As if in the forming of them in that fashion wee might heare her to giue a reason Why she so did saying after a sort vnto vs in an audible voice That she made them with pricks and thornes because she would not haue the foure footed beasts as hungry and greedy after meat as they be to eat them down That the shrewd hands of some vngracious folk who can let nothing stand might not be euer anon plucking and twitching at them for wantonnesse that people should not go carelessely trampling vpon them with their feet finally for feare that birds pecking setling aloft vpon their tender branches would sliue them down or knap them asunder Therfore I say with these prickles seruing in stead of weapons as wel defensiue as offensiue she hath both protected and also armed them and al to keep them safe and sure for the health of man and to do him seruice Lo how euen that which wee hate and seem to abhorre in these herbs was deuised for our comfort and benefit if we had the grace to see it CHAP. VII ¶ The medicinable vertues of other floures and herbs seruing for Chaplets Also of Erynge AMong those hearbes which beare pricks * Erynge or Eryngion is singular for a soueraigne hearbe it is against serpents and all poysons whatsoeuer as if it grew for nothing els But to come to particulars for stings bitings of venomous creatures the root therof to the quantity of one dram is taken in wine And in case
is powerfull against all venomous beasts and namely the perillous spiders Phalangia but specially against the poison of scorpions And in truth look who carry this herbe about them shall not be stung If a man make a circle or compasse vpon the earth with the branch of this herb a scorpion as some say being within the same shall not haue the power to get forth nay if the herb be laid vpon a scorpion or if with the same being wet a man besprinckle the said scorpion it wil surely die out of hand It is said that foure grains of the seed taken in drink do cure the quartan and three the tertian or if the very herb it selfe be laid vnder the patients head after it hath bin thrice caried about the bed it worketh the like effect The seed is of power to stir vp carnal lust Applied with hony it discusseth biles rising in the emunctories Yea this Heliotropium for a certaintie causeth werts to fall of by the very roots as also it taketh away all excrescences in the fundament It draweth down by vrin the corrupt bloud in the reines and loins lying cluttered about the ridge bone in case the seed be either applied as a liniment or sodden in the broth of a cock or capon and so supped off or else with Beets and Lentils As for the vtmost rind of this herbe it is singular for to recouer the fresh and natiue colour in places black and blew with stripes The Magitians and Wise-men do prescribe for the quartan tertian agues That the Patient should tie the herbe Heliotropium with three knots in a tertian and with four in a quartan praying withall and making a vow That he would vndo those knots after he were once cleare of the feuer but this he must do before the herbe be taken out of the ground Another property as strange and miraculous is reported of Adiantum in Summer it is green in winter it withereth and decaieth not it checketh all water for being bespreint dashed and drenched quite therewith yet it looketh as if it were dry so great is the antipathy or contrarietie between them whereupon the Greeks gaue it that name And otherwise a plant it is fit for Vinet-workes and knots in a garden Some call it Callitrichon others Polytrichon both which names were giuen it for the effect that it worketh For it coloreth the hair black And for this purpose it is sodden in wine with the seed of Ach or Persley and a good quantity of oile is put thereto for to make the haire curled and to grow thick by which meanes it keeps the hair from shedding and falling off 2 kinds there be of it the white and the black which also is the shorter The greater kind they cal Polytrichon the other Trichomanes Both of them haue pretie fine branches shining with a blacke color and the leaues resemble fearn in which the nether sides vnderneath be rough duskish and browne but all the leaues stand directly one a gainst another in order fastened to the stalkes by slender steles No root at all these Capillar hearbes haue but they grow vpon shadowie rocks and walls dashed and beaten on with water but most of all they seek after pits or holes of wels and springs and stony places wherout fountains issue and that is a strange maruellous thing considering they be not wet with water nor haue any sence or feeling thereof They haue a wonderful faculty and the black especially to break the stone and to expel it out of the body For which cause rather than for growing on stones and rocks I beleeue verily it was by our countrymen called in Latin Saxifrage To this purpose as much as 3 fingers be able to pluck vp is ordinarily taken in wine they prouoke vrin and resist the poison of serpents and venomous spiders Being boiled in wine they stay the flux of the belly A Chaplet made of them allaieth the head-ach And a liniment therof is thought good to be applied against the sting of the Scolopendres but it must be often taken off and renewed for feare the hearb become ouer-drie and lose all the vertue In this wise it is to be vsed where the haire is fallen away by some infirmitie These hearbes discusse and resolue the kings euill they dispatch and rid away the skales or dandruffe in the visage and heale the skals of the head A decoction of these Maiden-haires is singular good for those who are short winded for the liuer also the spleene the jaundise and the dropsie An ointment made with Maiden-haire and Wormewood easeth the paines of the kidney and in case of strangurie procureth ease and free passage of vrine They bring downe the after-birth in women and their monethly tearmes Howbeit drink them with vinegre or the juice of the blackberrie bramble they stanch bloud A proper liniment is made thereof with oile Rosat to annoint young children that haue the red gum and be all broken out but first they would be bathed in wine The leaues of Maiden-haire stamped with the vrine of a man child vnder fourteene yeares of age and yet not vndergrowne together with the some of salt petre is said to keep the bellies of women from wrinkles and riuels vpon child-bearing if they be annointed therwith To conclude men say That Partridges and cockes of the game will fight more lustily in case this hearbe bee entermingled with their meat And the same also is very good for sheepe to grase vpon about their folds CHAP. XXII ¶ Of Picris Thesium Asphodill Alimus Acanthus or Brankursine Elaphoboscum Scandix Iasione Of Caucalis Sium Silybum Scolymus or Zimonium Sonchus Chondrillum or Chodrilles and of Mushromes THe hearbe Picris tooke the name as heretofore we haue said of the notable bitternesse which it hath The leaues thereof be round Excellent good it is to take away werts Thesium likewise commeth nothing behind for bitternesse but it purgeth the bellie for which purpose it must be stamped strained and taken in water As touching the Asphodell it is one of the soueraign most renowmed herbs in the world Some haue giuen it the name Heroion And Hesiodus hath written that it growes in the woods Dionysius saith That there is both male and female of it Certain it is that the bulbous roots of the asphodel sodden with husked barly is a singular restoratiue for those bodies which are wasted with a consumption especially of the lungs and bread made of them wrought together with corne meale of floure into a dough is most wholesome for mans bodie As for Nicander he vsed to giue either the stem which we called Antherichon or the seed or els the Onion bulbous roots thereof in wine to the quantitie of three drams as a preseruatiue against serpents scorpions and to preuent the feare and daunger of these harmefull and pestilent creatures hee appointed the same to be laid vnder folks heads as they lay asleep Vsually
and declare the qualitie of Hydromel or honied water so neere a dependant thereto Of which there be two kinds the one is fresh and new made in hast vpon occasion and presently vsed the other is kept and preserued As touching the former Hydromel if it be made as it should be of dispumed and clarified hony it is of singular vse in that exquisit spary diet fit for sick persons and namely in meats of light digestion such as is a thin gruell made of naked frumenty washed in many waters also to be ioyned in restoratiues for to recouer the Patients strength much enseebled Moreouer good it is for the mouth and the stomacke to mitigat the fretting humors setled and bedded therin to cool the extremity of heat for I find in good authors that to ease and mollifie the belly it is better to be giuen cold than otherwise aâ—… also that it is a proper and conuenient drink for those who chil and quake for cold likewise for such as be heartlesse haue smal or no courage at all whom those writers cal Micropsychos Moreouer there is a reason rendred full of infinite subtiltie and the same fathered first vpon Cato Why the same things feel not alwaies bitter or sweet alike in euery mans tast for he saith that this diuersitie proceedeth from those little motes or bodies that go to the making of all things whiles some of them be smooth others rough rugged some cornered others round in sum according as they be more or lesse respectiue and agreeable to the nature of each man this is the cause that those persons who are ouer-wearied or exceeding thirsty be more cholerick and prone to anger Good reason therefore that such asperity of the spirit or rather indeed of the vital breath should be dulced and appeased by the vse of some sweet and pleasant liquor which may lenifie the passage and mollifie the conduits of the said spirit that they do not cut race and interrupt it going in out in drawing or deliuering the wind And in very truth euerie man may find by experience in his own self how meat and drink doth moderat and appease anger sorrow heauinesse and any passion or perturbation of the mind whatsoeuer And therefore those things would be obserued which make not onely to the nourishment and health of the body but also serue for to rectifie and reform the maners and demeanor of the mind Now to return again vnto our Hydromel or honied water very good by report it is for the cough and being taken warm it prouoketh to vomit put oile thereto and it is singular against the poison of Ceruse or white lead A countre-poison also it is and a preseruatiue to such as haue eaten Henbane and Dwale especially taken with asses milk as I haue obserued hertofore Instilled into the ears or poured into the fistulous sores of the secret parts it is thought to be excellent Incorporat with the crums of soft bread and reduced into the form of a pessarie and so put vp it is singular for the infirmities of the natural parts of women and being applied accordingly it taketh down all sudden swellings occasioned by windines cureth dislocations and in one word mitigateth all pains Thus much of Hydromel new made for our moderne physitians haue vtterly condemned the vse of that which is kept vntil it be stale And this they generally hold That it is not so harmlesse as water nor so solid and powerfull in operation as wine Howbeit let it be long kept it turneth into the nature of wine and as all writers do accord then is it most hurtfull to the stomack and contrary to the sinewes As for honied wine the best and most wholsome is alwayes that which is made of the oldest wine that is hard and indeed with it you shall haue it to incorporat very easily which it will neuer do with any that is new sweet and being made of green harsh or austere wine it doth not fill and charge the stomacke no more it doth being made of boiled honey and ingendreth lesse ventosities which is an vsual thing with hony This honey bringeth them to appetite of meat who haue lost their stomack Taken actually cold in many it loosneth the belly but being hot it stayeth and bindeth the same The honied wine is very nutritiue and breedeth good flesh Many haue held out a long time fresh and lusty in their old age with the nourishment of honied wine alone without any other food whereof we haue one notable example of Pollio Romilus who being aboue an hundred yeres old bare his age passing well whereat the Emperour Augustus of famous memorie maruelled much and being vpon a time lodged as a guest in his house he demanded of him what means he vsed most so to maintaine that fresh vigour both of body and mind to whom Pollio answered By vsing honied wine within and oile without Varro saith that the yellow jaundise was called a Kings disease or a sicknesse for a King because it was cured ordinarily with this honied wine called Mulse As touching another kind of honied wine named Melitites how it is made of Must or new wine hony together I haue declared sufficiently in my treatise of wines But I suppose there hath bin none of this sort confected these hundred yeares past and aboue for that it was found to be a drink which bred ventosities in the stomacke and other inward parts Howbeit the manner was in old time to prescribe it for to bee giuen in agues to make the bodie soluble prouided alwaies that it had the due age also to those who lay of the gout to such likewise as had weake and feeble sinews and to women who abstained altogether from meere wine Next after Honey the treatise of Wax which is correspondent to the nature of honey by good order followeth Corcerning the originall working and framing thereof the goodnesse the seueral kinds according to diuers countries I haue written in conuenient place This is generally obserued that al sorts of wax be emollitiue heating and incarnatiue but the newer and fresher they are the better they are thought to be Wax taken inwardly in a supping or broth is singular for the bloudy flix and exulceration of the guts so be the very honey-combes giuen in a gruell made of frumenty first parched and dried at the fire Contrarie it is to the nature of milk for take ten grains of wax made in smal pills of the bignesse of millet corns in some conuenient lipuor they will not suffer the milke to cruddle in the stomacke If there be a rising or swelling in the share the present remedie is to sticke a plastre of white wax vpon the groine Moreouer to reckon vp and decipher the sundry vses that wax is put vnto in matters of Physicke as it is mixed with other things it is no more possible for a Physician than to particularize of other simples and of
the blacke oliue is not so friendly to the stomacke better for the belly but offensiue both to the head and the eies Both the one and the other as well the white as the black being punned and applied to burned or skalded places do cure them but the black haue this propertie That if they be chewed and presently as they be taken out of the mouth laid to the burne or scald they will keep the place from blistering Oliues in pickle are good to clense foule and filthie vlcers but hurtful to those who pisse with difficultie As touching the mother or lees of oliue I might be thought to haue written sufficiently following the steps of Cato who deliuered no more in writing but I must set down also the medicinable vertues obserued therein First and foremost therefore it helpeth the sorenesse of the gumbs cureth the cankers vlcers of the mouth and of all other medicins it is most effectuall to fasten the teeth in the head If it be dropped or poured vpon S. Anthonies fire and such other corrosiue and fretting vlcers it is of singular operation to heale them but for kibed heeles the grounds or dregs of the black oile-oliue is the better as also therewith to foment smal children As for that of the white oliues women vse to apply it with wooll to their secret parts for some accidents thereto belonging Be it the one or the other generally it is more effectuall sodden than otherwise Boiling it ought to be in a copper or brasse vessell vntill it come to the consistence of honey Vsed it is with vineger old wine or with must according as the cause requireth in curing the infirmities of the mouth teeth and eares in healing running skalls and finally in the cure of the genetoirs or priuie members of the fissures or chaps in any part of the body In wounds it is vsed with linnen cloth or lint but in dislocations it is applied with wooll And verily in these cases and in this practise it is much emploied especially if the medicine be old and long kept for being such it healeth fistulous sores And being injected by a syring into the vlcers of the fundament genetoirs or otherwise by a metrenchyte into the secret sores within the naturall parts of women it cureth them all Also a liniment thereof is singular for to be applied to the gout of the feet also in the rest whether they be in the hands knees hucklebone or any other joint so they be not setled or inueterat but taken at the first But in case it be sodden againe in the oile of green oliues vntill it come to the consistence of honey and so applied it causeth those teeth to fall out of the head without paine which a man would willingly be rid of It is wonderfull to see how it healeth the farcines and manges of horses being vsed with the decoction of Lupines and the herbe Chamaeleon To conclude there is no better thing than to foment the gout with these lees of oile raw CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of the wild Oliue leaues The oile of the floures of the wild vine Ocnanthe Of the oile Cicinumâ—… of Palma Christi The oile of Almonds of Bayes of Myrtles of Ruscus or Chamaemyrsine of Cypresse of Citrons and of Nuts THe leaues of the wild oliue haue the same nature that the leaues of the tame As for Antispodium or the ashes made of the tender branches of the wild oliue it is of greater force and operation in staying and repressing of rheume catarrhes and fluxes than that abouenamed in the former chapter Ouer and besides it assuageth the inflammations of the eies it mundifieth vlcers it doth incarnat and fill vp the void places where the flesh is gone it gently eateth away and without mordication the excrescence of ranke and proud flesh drieth the sores healeth and skinneth them vp In other cases this oliue is vsed as the other oliues yet one peculiar propertie hath the wild oliue That a spoonefull of the decoction of their leaues with hony is giuen with good successe to them that spit and reach vp bloud Howbeit the oile made hereof is more aegre and sharpe yea and mightier in operation than that of the other Oliues and a collution thereof to wash the mouth withall setleth the teeth that be loose The leaues of the wild oliue reduced into a cataplasm with wine and so applied do cure whitflawes about the root of the nails carbuncles and generally al such apostemations with hony the said cataplasme serueth well to clense and mundifie where need is The decoction of the leaues yea and the juice of the wild oliue is put into many compositions and medicines appropriat to the eies To good purpose also the same is dropped into the ears with hony yea although they ran filthy atter A liniment made with the floures of the wilde Oliue is singular for the swelling piles and the chilblanes that be angry in the night and the same applied with barley meale to the belly or with oile to the head for the ache thereof occasioned by some rheume is known to do very much good The young tendrils or springs of the wild oliue being boiled and laid to with hony do re-ioyn and re-vnite the skin of the head which was departed from the bones of the skull The same tendrils pulled ripe from the wild oliue and eaten with meat do knit the belly and stay lasks but torrified and so beaten to pouder and incorporat with honey they do mundifie the corrosiue and eating vlcers they breake also carbuncles As touching oile of oliues the natute and manner of making it I haue already treated of at large But forasmuch as there are many kindes thereof I purpose do set dogn in this place such as serue for physick only And first to begin with the oile made of vnripe oliues called in Latin Omphacinum and which commeth neere to a green colour it is thought of all others most medicinable moreouer the same is best when it is fresh and new vnlesse it be in some case when it were requisit to haue the oldest that may be found thin and subtil odoriferous and nothing at all biting which be qualities al of them contrarie to that oile which we vse with our meats This greene or vnripe oile I say is good for the sores of the gumbes and if it be held in the mouth there is no one thing preserueth the whitenesse of the teeth better it represseth also immoderat and diaphoretical sweats The oile Oenanthemum made of the floures of the wild vine Oenanthe hath the same operations that oile rosat hath But note by the way that any oile howsoeuer it doth mollifie the body yet it bringeth vigor and addeth strength thereto Contrary it is to the stomacke it encreaseth filthinesse in vlcers doth exasperat the throat and dul the strength of all poisons especially of ceruse or white lead and plastre namely if it be drunk with honied water
rind thereof incorporat with wax and rosin healeth all maner of scales within â—…o daies The same boiled and applied accordingly cureth the accidents befalling to the cods and genetoirs The very perfume thereof coloreth the haire of the head black and the suffumigation fetcheth downe the dead infant out of the mothers belly It is giuen inwardly in drinke for the infirmitie of the kidnies bladder precordial parts how beit an enemy it is vnto the head and sinews A decoction or bathe thereof if a woman sit in it staieth the immoderat fluxe both of Matrice and belly Likewise the ashes taken in white wine are singular for the pains and torments of the collick as also a collution therewith is as effectuall to cure the fal of the Vvula and other defects incident to that part CHAP. VI. ¶ The medicin able vertues considered in the floures leaues fruit boughes branches bark wood iuice root and ashes of many trees of seuerall kinds IT remaineth now to decipher the manifold medicines which apples such like fruits tender skinned do affoord according to the variety of trees which bring them forth Of which thus much in generall is to be noted That all fruits which ripen in the Spring while they be soure and harsh be enemies to the stomack they trouble the belly disquiet the guts and bladder and withall be offen siue to the sinews but if they be ful ripe or sodden they are the better But to grow vnto particulars Quinces if they be boiled baked or rosted are sweeter and more pleasant to the tast than raw Yet being throughly ripe vpon the tree although they be eaten raw they are good for those that spit and reach bloud and are diseased with the bloudy flix such also as vpon the violent motion of vnbridled cholerick humors void vpward and downward as also for them who be subiect to continual loosnesse of the belly occasioned by the feeblenes of the stomack Being once boiled or baked they are not of the same operation for they lose therby that astringent vertue which their iuice had In hot and sharp feuers they serue for to be applied to the brest And yet if they be sodden in rain water they will do well in those cases aboue recited but for the pain of the stomack it matters not whether they be raw sodden or baked so they be reduced into the form of a cerot laid too Their down or mossinesse which they beare if it be boiled in wine and reduced into a liniment with wax healeth carbuncles And the same maketh the haire to grow again in bald places occasioned by some disease Raw Quinces condited and preserued in hony do stir the belly moue to siege They impart vnto the hony a pleasant tast whereby it is more familiar and agreeable to the stomack But such as being parboiled before are then kept and confited in honey be thought good for the stomacke in the opinion of some who ordaine and prescribe to stamp them first and then to take them in manner of a meat or consâ—…ue beeing incorporaâ—… with Rose leaues boyled for the infirmities of the Stomacke The juice of raw Quinces is a soueraigne remedy for the swoln spleen the dropsie and difficulty of taking breath when the patient cannot draw his wind but vpright The same is good for the accidents of the breasts or paps for the piles and swelling veines The floure or blossom of the Quince as well green and fresh gathered as drie is held to be good for the inflammation of the eies the reaching and spitting of bloud and the immoderat flux of womens monthly terms There is a mild juice drawn also from these floures stamped with sweet wine which is singular for the flux proceeding from the stomack and for the infirmities of the liuer Moreouer the decoction of them is excellent to soment either the matrice when it beareth down out of the body or the gut Longaon in case it hang forth Of Quinces also there is made a soueraigne oile which is commonly called Melinum but such Quinces must not grow in any moist tract but come from a sound and dry ground which is the reason that the best Quinces for this purpose be those that are brought out of Sicily The smaller Pear Quinces called Struthia are not so good although they be of the race of Pome Quinces The root of the Quince tree tied fast vnto the Scrophules or Kings-euill cureth the said disease but this ceremony must be first obserued That in the taking vp of the said root there be a circle made round about it vpon the earth with the left hand and the party who gathereth it is to say What root he is about to gather and to name the Patient for whom he gathereth it and then as I said it doth the deed surely The Pome-Paradise or hony Apples called Melimela and other fruits of like sweetnesse do open the stomacke and loosen the belly they set the body in a heat and cause thirstinesse but offensiue they be not to the sinews The round Apples bind the belly stay vomits and prouoke vrine Wildings or Crabs are like in operation to the fruits that be eaten soure in the Spring and they procure costiuenesse And verily for this purpose serue all fruits that be vnripe As touching Citrons either their substance or their graines and seed within taken in wine are a counterpoison A collution made either with the water of their decoction or their juice pressed from them is singular to wash the mouth for a sweet breath Physitians giue counsell to women with child for to eat the seed of Citrons namely when their stomackes stand to coles chalk and such like stuffe but for the infirmity of the stomack they prescribe to take Citrons in substance howbeit hardly are they to be chewed but with vineger As for Pomgranats needlesse altogether it were now to iterate and rehearse the nine kinds thereof Sweet Pomgranats all the sort of them which by another name we called Apyrena are counted hurtfull to the stomack they ingender ventosities and be offensiue to the teeth and gums But such as in pleasant tast are next vnto them which we called Vinosa hauing smal kernels within are taken and found by experience to be somwhat more wholsom they do stay the belly comfort and fortifie the stomack so they be eaten moderatly and neuer to satisfie the appetite to the full yet some there be who forbid sick persons once to tast of these last named yea and in no hand wil allow any Pomgranats at all to be eaten in a feuer forasmuch as neither their juice and liquor nor the carnous pulp of their grains is good for the patient In like maner they giue a charge and caueat not to vse them in vomits nor in the rising of choler Certes Nature hath shewed her admirable worke in this fruit for at the very first opening of the rind she presently maketh shew of
bath of this decoction The root of this Cerrus in powerful against the prick of scorpions The bark of the Corke tree beaten into pouder and taken in hot water is excellent for to represse any flux of bloud whether it be vpward or downward The ashes of the said bark giuen in wine hot is greatly commended for the reaching and spitting of bloud CHAP. V. ¶ Of the Beech and Cypressetrees Of the great Cedars and their fruit called Cedrides of Galbanum THe leaues of the Beech tree being chewed do much good to the gums and lips in any accidents that be fall vnto them The ashes of Beech mast is singular for the stone if it bee applied as a liniment The same also bringeth haire againe when by occasion of sicknesse it is shed and fallen away if the place be annointed with it and hony together Cypresse tree leaues stamped and so applied are a conuenient remedie for the sting of Serpents Also laid vnto the head with dried groats of Barley they ease the pain therof occasioned by the heat of the Sunne In like sort the same cataplasme cureth ruptures For which cause a drinke made of them is very good A liniment also of Cypresse leaues and waxe mingled together assuageth the swelling of the cods Tempered with vineger they will make the haire cole black Moreouer if they be stamped with two parts of soft dough or the tender crums of bread so incorporat together with Amminean wine they allay the paine of the feet or the sinews The little bals or Apples hanging vpon Cypresse trees are soueraigne for to be taken in drinke against the sting of serpents and for the casting vp of bloud out of the body Brought into an onitment they serue for the swellings or impostumes gathered to a place Take them whiles they be yong and tender stamp them with swines grease and Bean floure they do much good to those that are bursten and for that purpose a drink made of them is passing effectuall With ordinary meale they serue in a cataplasme to be applied vpon the swelling kernels behinde the ears as also the kings euill There is a juice drawn out of these apples after they haue bin stamped together with their grains or seed within which if it be mingled with oile helpeth them to their cleare sight again whose eies are ouercast with a web dimmed The same effect it hath if it be taken in wine to the weight of one Victoriat or halfe dram But Cypresse apples rid and cleansed from their grains within and reduced into a liniment with fat dried figs and so applied vnto the cods cure their infirmities and namely resolue the tumors incident to those parts but incorporat with leuaine they dispatch the Scrophules or kings euill The root and leaues punned together and then taken in drink do comfort the bladder and help such as are diseased with the strangury they serue also against the prick of the venomous spiders Phalangia Their small shauings or scrapings if a woman take in her drinke procure her monethly terms and are singular for the sting of scorpions The great Cedar called by the Greeks Cedrelate as one would say the Fir-Cedre yeeldeth a certain pitch or parrosin named Cedria a singular medicine for the tooth-ach for it breaketh them fetcheth them out of the head and easeth all their pain As touching the liquor that runneth from the Cedar and the manner how it is made I haue written already this kind of pitch were excellent for the eies but for one discommodity in that it causeth head-ach It preserueth dead bodies from corruption a world of yeares contrariwise liuing bodies it doth putrifie and corrupt A strange and wonderfull property thus to mortifie the quick and quicken as it were the dead It marreth and rotteth apparell as wel linnen as woollen and it killeth all liuing creatures And therefore I would not aduise as some haue done to tast this medicine and take it inwardly for the squinancie or crudities of the stomack neither would I be bold but fear rather to prescribe it in a collution with vineger to wash the mouth withall for the toothach or to drop it into their eares who be hard of hearing or otherwise haue vermine within them But a monstrous and beastly thing it is which some report of it That if a man do annoint therwith the instrument or part seruing for generation at what time as he is minded to know a woman carnally it wil bring her to an abortiue slip if she were conceiued before or hinder conception if she were cleare Howbeit I would not make doubt to annoint therwith the head other parts for to kill lice or to rid away the scurffe or scaily dandruffe among the haire either in head or face Some giue counsell for to drink it in sweet wine cuit vnto them who are poisoned with the sea Hare For mine own part I hold it a safer way and an easier to annoint therwith the leprosie But some of the foresaid authours haue applied it to filthy putrified and stinking vlcers the excrescences therein as also to rub or annoint therwith the eies against the pin and web such accidents as dim and darken the sight Moreouer they haue prescribed to drink a cyath of it for to cure the vlcer of the lungs and to expell wormes and vermin out of the belly Of this pitch or rosin there is an oile made which they call Pisselaeon and the same is far more strong in operation for all the infirmities aboue named than the simple rosin it selfe Certaine it is that the fine dust scraped or filed from the Cedar wood chaseth away serpents so do the berries also of the Cedar beaten to pouder and reduced with oile into a liniment in case a man annoint his body all ouer with the same As touching Cedrides i. the fruit of the Cedar it is soueraign for the cough and prouokes vrine bindeth the belly healeth ruptures It cureth spasmes convulsions or cramps yea and helpeth the infirmities of the matrice if it be applied accordingly Also it is a counterpoison against the venomous sea Hare and a medicine for other maladies aboue named and namely for apostemes and inflammations Of Galbanum I haue written heretofore Good Galbanum should be neither moist nor dry but such in all respects as I haue described already Being taken of it selfe alone in drink it cureth an inueterat cough shortnesse and difficultie of winde ruptures crampes and convulsions Outwardly applied it is singular for the Sciatica pleurisie or pains of the side angry biles and fellons It is good also to be vsed in case the flesh corrupted by meanes of corrosiue vlcers as wolues and such other is departed and eaten from the bone moreouer for the wens called Scrophules or the kings euill the knots and nodosities growing vpon the ioints and the tooth-ach it serueth also in a liniment with hony for to annoint scald heads With oile
muskles and sinews that he became paralyticke in that part and euer after vnto his dying day was rid as well of all sence as of the paine of the gout But say that in these cases it might be tollerable to set down in their books some poisons what reason nay what leaue had those Greeks to shew the means how the brains and vnderstanding of men should be intoxicat and troubled what colour and pretence had they to set downe medicines and receits to cause women to slip the vntimely fruit of their womb and a thousand such like casts deuises that may be practised by herbs of their penning for mine owne part I am not for them that would send the conception out of the body vnnaturally before the due time they shall learne no such receits of me neither will I teach any how to temper spice an amatorious cup to draw either man or woman into loue it is no part of my profession For wel I remember that Lucullus a most braue Generall and a captain of great execution lost his life by such a loue potion Much lesse then shall ye haue me to write of Magick witch-craft charmes inchantments and sorceries vnlesse it be to giue warning that folk should not meddle with them or to disproue those courses for their vanities and principally to giue an Item how little trust and assurance there is to be had in such trumpery It sufficeth me and contenteth my mind yea and I think that I haue done wel for mankind in recording those herbs which be good and wholsome found out by men of wit and learning for the benefit of posterity CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of Moly and Dodecatheos of Poeony otherwise called Pentorobus or Glycyside Of Panaces Asclepium Heraclium and Chironium Of Panaces Centarium or Pharnaceum Of Heraclium Siderium Of Henbane called Hyoscyamus Apollinaris or Altercangenus HOmer is of opinion That the principall and soueraigne hearb of all others is Moly so called as he thinketh by the gods themselues The inuention or finding of this hearbe hee ascribeth vnto Mercury and sheweth that it is singular against the mightiest witcheraft inchantments that be Some say that this herb Moly euen according to Homers description with a round and black bulbous root to the bignesse of an onion and with a leafe or blade like that of Squilla groweth at this day about the riuer or lake Peneus and vpon the mountain Cylleum in Arcadia also that it is hard to be digged out of the ground The Grecian Simplists describe this Moly with a yellow floure wheras Homer hath written that it is white I met with one physitian a skilful Herbarist who affirmed vnto me That this Moly grew in Italy also and in verie truth he brought and shewed me a plant which came out of Campaine about the digging vp whereof among hard and stony rocks he had bin certain daies but get he could not the entire root whole and sound but was forced to break it off and yet the root which he shewed mee was thirtie foot long Next vnto Moly in account and reputation is that plant which they call Dodecatheos for that it doth represent comprehend the maiesty of all the chiefe gods They say if it be drunk in water it is a soueraign medicine for al maladies Seuen leaues it hath resembling very much those of Lectuce and the same spring from a yellow root As touching Paeony it is one of the first herbs that were euer known and brought to light as may appeare by the author or inuentor thereof whose name it beareth still Some call it Pentorobos others Glycyside where by the way I am to aduertise the Reader of the difficulty in the knowledge of herbs by their names considering that the same herbe hath in sundry places diuers appellations But to proceed forward with our Paeony it groweth among bleake and shady mountains rising vp with a stem between the leaues 4 fingers high and bearing in the top 4 or 5 heads fashioned somwhat like to Filberds within which there is plenty of seed both red and black This herb is good against the fantasticall illusions of the Fauni which appeare in sleep It is said that this herb must be gathered in the night season for if the Rainbird woodpeck or Hickway called Picus Martius should chance to spie it gathered he would flie in the face and be ready to peck out the eies of him or her that had it The herb Panace promiseth by the very name a remedy of all diseases A number there be of herbs so called and all ascribed to some god or other for the inuention of them for one of them hath the addition of Asclepion for that Aesculapius had a daughter named also Panacea As touching the concret juice named Opopanax it is drawn from the root of this plant beeing of the Ferula or Fennell kind such as I haue heretofore shewed by way of incision the which root hath a thick rind and of a saltish sauor When the root is pulled out of the ground there is a religious ceremony obserued to fil vp the hole again with all sorts of corn as it were in satisfaction to the earth for the violence offered in tearing it vp As for the said juice Opopanax where and how it should be made and which is the best kind therof and not sophisticat I haue declared already in my Treatise of forrain and strange plants That which is brought out of Macedony they cal Bucosicum because the Neat-heards of the country mark when the liquor breakes forth and runneth out of it selfe and so receiue and gather it from the plant this wil not last but of all the rest soonest loseth the force Moreouer in all sorts of it that is rejected principally which is black and soft for these be markes to know that it is corrupted and sophisticate with wax A second kind there is of Panaces which they cal Heraclium the inuention of the vertues and properties whereof is attributed vnto Hercules Some there be who call it Origanum Heracleaticum the wild because it is like to Origan wherof I haue heretofore written but the root of this Panaces is good for nothing A third kind of Panaces took the name of Chiron the Centaur who was the first that gaue intelligence of the herbe and the vertues thereof The leafe is like vnto the Dock but that it is bigger and more hairy the floure is of a golden yellow color the root but small it loueth to grow in rich fat and battle grounds The floure of this Panaces is most effectual in Physick in which regard there is more vse and profit thereof than of all the former kindes A fourth Panaces there is besides found out also by the same Chiron whereupon it hath the denomination of Centaureum called also it is Pharnaceum the occasion of this two fold name is this because there is some controuersie in the first inuention thereof
in the end al their Physicke proued nothing but words and bibble babbles for beleeue me his schollers and disciples thought it more for their ease and pleasure to sit close in the schooles and heare their doctours out of the chaire discourse of the points of Physicke than to go a simpling into the desarts and forrests to seeke and gather herbs at all seasons of the yere some at one time and some at another CHAP. III. ¶ Of the new practise in Physicke of Asclepiades the Physitian and what course he tooke to alter and abolish the old Physicke for to bring in the new WHat cunning means soeuer these new Physitians could deuise to ouerthrow the antient manner of working by simples yet it maintained still the remnants of the former credit built surely vpon the vndoubted grounds of long experience and so it continued till the daies of Pompey the Great at what time Asclepiades a great Oratour and professor of Rhetoricke went in hand to peruert and reiect the same for seeing that he gained not by the said Art sufficiently was not like to arise by pleading causes at the bar to that wealth which he desired as he was a man otherwise of a prompt wit and quick spirit he resolued to giue ouer the law and suddenly applied himselfe to a new course of Physick This man hauing no skill at all and as little practice considering he neither was well studied in the Theoricke part of this science nor furnished with knowledge of remedies which required continuall inspection vse of simples wrought so with his smooth and flowing tongue and by his daily premeditat orations gained so much that he withdrew mens mindes from the opinion they had of former practise and ouerthrew all In which discourses of his reducing all Physick to the first and primitiue causes he made it a meere coniecturall Art bearing men in hand that there were but fiue principall remedies which serued indifferently for all diseases to wit in Diet Abstinence in meat Forbearing wine otherwhiles Rubbing of the body Walking and the Exercise of gestations In sum so far he preuailed with his eloquent speech that euery man was willing to giue eare applause to his words for being ready enough to beleeue those things for true which were most easie and seeing withall that whatsoeuer he commended to them was in each mans power to perform he had the general voice of them so as by this new doctrine of his he drew al the world into a singular admiration of him as of a man sent descended from heauen aboue to cure their griefs and maladies Moreouer a wonderfull dexterity and artificiall grace he had to follow mens humors and content their appetites in promising and allowing the sick to drink wine in giuing them eftsoons cold water when he saw his time and all to gratifie his patients Now for that Herophylus before him had the honor of being the first Physitian who searched into the causes of maladies and because Cleophantus had the name among the Antients for bringing wine into request and setting out the vertues thereof this man for his part also desirous to grow into credit reputation by some new inuention of his own brought vp first the allowing of cold water beforesaid to sick persons as M. Varro doth report took pleasure to be called the Cold-water Physitian He had besides other pretty deuises to flatter please his patients one while causing them to haue hanging litters or beds like cradles by the mouing rocking whereof too and fro he might either bring them asleep or ease the pains of their sicknes otherwhiles ordaining the vse of bains a thing that he knew folk were most desirous of besides many other fine conceits very plausible in hearing and agreeable to mans nature And to the end that no man might think this so great alteration and change in the practise of Physick to haue bin a blind course and a matter of smal consequence one thing aboue the rest that woon himfelfe a great fame and gaue no lesse credit and authority to his profession was this that meeting vpon a time by chance with one he knew not carried forth as a dead corse in a biere for to be burned he caused the body to be carried home from the funerall fire and restored the man to health again Certes this one thing wee that are Romanes may be well ashamed of and take in great indignation That such an old fellow as he comming out of Greece the vainest nation vnder the sun beginning as he did of nothing should only for to inrich himself lead the whole world in a string and on a sudden set down rules and orders for the health of mankind notwithstanding many that came after him repealed as it were and annulled those lawes of his And verily many helps had Asclepiades which much fauored his opinion and new Physick namely the manner of curing diseases in those daies which was exceeding rude troublesome painfull such adoe there was in lapping and couering the sicke with a deale of cloaths and causing them to sweat by all meanes possible such a worke they made sometime in chafing and frying their bodies against a good fire but euery foot in bringing them abroad into the hot Sunne which hardly could be found within a shadie and close citie as Rome was In lieu whereof not onely there but throughout all Italy which now commanded the whole World and might haue what it list hee followed mens humours in approouing the artificiall baines and vaulted stouves and hot houses which then were newly come vp and vsed excessiuely in euery place by his approbation Moreouer he found means to alter the painefull curing of some maladies and namely of the Squinancie in the healing whereof other Physitians before him went to worke with a certain instrument which they thrust down into the throat He condemned also worthily that dog-physick which was in those daies so ordinarâ—… that if one ailed neuer so little by and by he must cast and vomit He blamed also the vse of purgatiue potions as contrary and offensiue to the stomack wherein he had great reason and truth on his side for to speake truely such drinks are by most Physitians forbidden considering our chiefe care and drift is in all the course of our physick to vse those means which be comfortable and wholsom for the stomack CHAP. IIII. ¶ The foolish superstition of Art-Magicke which here is derided Of the tettar called Lichen remedies proper for it and the diseases of the throat ABoue all other things the superstitious vanities of Magitians made much to the establishing of Asclepiades his new Physicke for they in the heigth of their vanity attributed so strange and incredible operations to some simples that it was enough to discredit the vertues of them all First they vaunted much of Aethyopus an hearbe which by their saying if it were but cast into any great riuer or
and of Poppy one spoonfull in 4 cyaths of wine not very old the same medicine may be giuen also last at a night to bedward with some addition of sal-nitre or fried barly meale if it be long after meat and one hemine of the juice thereof is singular for the cholique if it be ministred in a clystre though the patient were in an ague In cases of the spleene it is good to drink 3 oboles weight of Agarick in one cyath of old wine for it cureth the spleen and of the same operation is the root of all sorts of Panaces taken in honied wine but for the accidents of the spleen Teucrion hath no fellow if it be taken either dry in pouder or boiled to the quantity of one handfull in 3 hemines of vineger and the same herb maketh a soueraigne salue for green wounds to be applied with vineger or if the patient cannot indure it with a fig or water in stead of vineger Polemonia likewise is a good herb for the spleen to be drunk in wine so is Betony taken to the poise of one dram in 3 cyaths of oxymell and Aristolochia is likewise respectiue to this part in case it be giuen vnto the patient as against the poison of serpents If the Patient continue the eating of Argemonia seuen daies together with his meat it will as they say in that time consume and wast the swelling spleen Agarick taken to the weight of 2 oboli in oxymell is effectuall that way The root of Nymphaea Heraclia or Nenuphar drunk in wine is able of it selfe to consume the same Cissanthemos is an excellent herb for the spleene or milt if a man take a dram of it twise a day in two cyaths of white wine and hold on that course for fortie daies together it wil by report rid away the diseased spleen by vrine to which purpose the decoction of hyssop with figs serueth very well euen so doth the decoction of Lonchitis if it bee taken before it spindle and run vp to seed also the root of Harstrang boiled is good for spleene and kidnies Acorum if it be taken in drink consumeth the milt For the Midriffe and Hypochondriall parts or the small guts lying in the flanke vnder the short ribs * Radish roots be singular The seed of water Betony if it be drunke thirty daies together the weight of one denarius at once in white wine is singular in that case the pouder of Betony taken in drink with hony and vineger of Squilla is commended for that purpose as also the root of Lonchitis drunk in water and Teucrium applied as a liniment Scordum incorporat with wax and Agarick with the pouder or floure of Fenigreek help the infirmities of the bladder and namely the intollerable pains of the stone and grauell as I haue beforesaid Polemonia drunk in wine and in like manner Agaricke is good for that purpose the root or leaues of Plantaine taken in sweet wine cuit also Betonie prepared in that manner as it was appointed for the disease of the liuer be remedies for the infirmities of that part Betonie also giuen in drink and applied in a liniment healeth a rupture and the same is most effectuall in curing the strangury some prescribe and giue counsell to drink Betony Veruaine Yarrow or Millefoile of each a like portion in water as an excellent remedy for the stone and grauel And well knowne it is that for to ease the strangury and remoue the cause thereof Dictamnus is an approued medicine so is the decoction of Cinquefoile if it be boiled in wine to the consumption of a third part found by experience to be an vndoubted remedy in that infirmity the same also is singular good to be applied in that rupture where the guts be falne downe The vpper root of Glader or Flags causeth young infants to make water if it be laid to the bottom of the belly the same giuen inwardly with water cureth those that are burst and haue their guts slipped downe and helpeth the infirmities of the bladder in an outward liniment The iuice of Harstrang healeth little children who are bursten and of Fleawort there is made a good ointment to annoint their Nauell when it beareth out ouermuch Both the Pimpernels do prouoke vrine so doth the decoction of Acorus root the very root it selfe also beaten into pouder and taken in drink worketh the like effect and besides healeth all the accidents of the bladder Cotyledon or Vmbelicus Veneris both herb and root breaketh the stone and expelleth it by grauell being otherwise singular good for all inflammations of the genitall parts or members of generation if the stalks and seed be taken with Myrrhe of each a like quantity Walwort stamped together with the tender leaues thereof and so drunk in wine driueth out the stone the same applied outwardly cureth the accidents befailing to the cods Groundswell with the pouder of Frank incense and sweet wine reduced into an ointment cureth the inflammation of the sayd cods The root of Camfrey brought into a liniment staieth the rupture whereby the guts come downe and white Hypocist his represseth the cancerous sores in those parts Semblably Mugwort is singular to be giuen in sweet wine for the stone and strangur The root of Nenuphar or Nymphaea Heraclia taken in wine assuageth the paine and griefe of the bladder of the same power is Sampier so highly commended by Hippocrates now is this one of the wild woorts which are vsually eaten in salads and certes this is that very herbe which the good countrey wife Hecale forgat not to set vpon her boord in a feast that she made as we may read in Callimachus the Poet And what is it but a kind of garden Batis It groweth vp with one stem halfe a foot high or a span at most the seed is exceeding hot round and odoriferous like vnto Rosemary if it be dried it bursteth and hath within a white kernell which some call Cachrys The leaues be fatty and of a grayish white in manner of the oliue leafe but that they be thicker and saltish in tast roots it hath three or foure of a finger thicknesse it groweth vpon the sea coast among rocks and clifts This herbe may be eaten raw or boiled it skilleth not how with Beets Coles and other such woorts and in tast likewise it is aromaticall and pleasant it is vsually preserued and kept condite in a kinde of pickle and the principall vse that it hath is to cure the strangury if either leafe stalk or root be drunk in wine also beeing thus taken it maketh folke look with a more louely cheerful colour but if one be too bold with it vse it not with moderation it breedeth ventosities The decoction of Sampiermaketh the body soluble and is diureticall for it mightly draweth water from the kidnies In like manner the pouder of dryed Althaea or Marsh-Mallow drunk in wine cureth the strangury and easeth
come vnto the diseases of the seat there is nothing so good for them as Bears gall incorporat together with their grease Some put thereto litharge of siluer and Frankincense in which cases butter is very good if with Goose grease and oile of Roses it be reduced into a liniment the consistence or thickenesse of which composition must be such as the grieued place will admit namely that it be gentle and smooth so as there be no paine in the anointing Also Buls gal is a soueraigne medicine applied therto vpon soft lint for it wil quickly skin the chaps and clefts in the fundament If that part be swelled the suet of a Calfe is very good to anoint it therewith but if the tumors appeare about the share then there would be Rue ioined therto as for other infirmities incident to those parts nothing better than Goats bloud tempered with parched Barly meale In like manner for the hard knobs in the seat called Condylomata Goats gall by it selfe is a speciall remedy so is the gall of a Wolfe tempered in wine and so applied For the biles and impostumes rising in any place therabout there is not a better medicine to scatter and dissolue them than Bears bloud or Buls bloud dried first and so beaten to pouder But the soueraigne remedy of all others is the stone which a wilde Asse is said to void with his vrine at what time as he is killed in chase which stone as it commeth first-forth of his body seemeth very liquid and thin but being shed once vpon the ground it groweth thicke and hard of it selfe This stone tied to the twist or inward part of the thigh is said to dispatch all collection of humors that might ingender biles and botches or at leastwise so to resolue them that they shall neuer impostumat and come to suppuration This stone is very rare and hard to be found for it is not in euery wild asse but surely famous it is and much spoken of by reason of this medicinable property that it hath Moreouer the vrin of an Asse together with Nigella otherwise called Gith is singular good in these cases Likewise a liniment made with the ashes of an horse house incorporat together with oile and water so is the bloud of any horse but especially of a stallion the bloud also and gal of a Cow or Oxe Their flesh moreouer which we cal boeuf hath the same effect if it be laid warme vnto the place The ashes also of their cleies tempered with water and hony The vrine of the Goats the flesh of the male Goats boiled in water In like maner their dung sodden with hony Bears gall or the gall of a bore last of all the vrine of a Sow applied vnto the place with wooll As touching the galls which by ouermuch riding on horseback be incident to the twist and the inner parts of the thigh as euery man knoweth full well which do burne and chaufe the skin in those parts the fomie slime which a horse yeeldeth as well from his mouth as his cullions is soueraigne therefore if the place be annointed therwith It falleth out many times that there arise swellings in the very share and groine by occasion of some sores or vlcers in other parts of the body for the repressing of which there is a present remedy namely to take three horse hairs and to tie them in as many knots and so conuey them into the said vlcer which is the cause of such tumors CHAP. XVI ¶ Proper remedies for the gout the falling sicknesse for such as be taken or strucken with a Planet or dead palsie for the laundise and fractures of bones ACerot made of Beares grease Buls tallow and wax of each an equall quantity is singular good for the gout in the feet And yet some there be who adde vnto them Hypoquistis and gall nuts Others preferre a male Goats tallow together with the dung of a female goat Saffron or Mustard seed and the branches of Yvie stamped with Parietary also of the wall or els the floures of the wilde Cucumber reduced all into the forme of a cataplasme and so applied In like manner others vse a pultesse made of beasts dung the mother of vineger tempered together Some magnifie highly commend in this case the dung of a calfe which hath not as yet tasted of grasse or Buls bloud alone without any other thing likewise a wolfe sodden quicke till all the flesh be gon and nothing but bones remaining or els a liue Wolfe sodden in oile til the said oile be gellied to the height or consistence of a cerot Semblably there is good account made of the tallow of a hee goat with as much Parietary of the wall and a third part of Senvy as also of the ashes of Goats dung incorporat with hogs grease moreouer it is said that the best thing that the patient can do for to haue ease of the Sciatica is to endure the said dung as hot as possibly he can vnder his great toes till it be ready to burne them For all otherjointgouts as well in feet as hands or elsewhere the gall of a Beare is a soueraigne medicin as also a Hares foot bound fast to the place affected And some are of this opinion that the gout of the feet will be assuaged in case a man cut off the foot of a quick hare carrie it about him continually As touching kibes bears grease cureth them so it healeth also the chaps in the feet but more effectual it is in case there be allum put therto for which purpose Goats suet is commended the pouder also of horse teeth the gall of a bore or sow the lights likewise of a swine together with the fat laid to the place Now if the feet be surbatted galled and bruised in the sole by treading or stumbling against that which offendeth them the same medicines be very good but say they are benummed and frozen with cold the ashes of Hares haire bringeth them into order again The lungs also of an Hare slit and skiced so laid too is good for any bruise or contusion in the feet or the ashes of the said lungs applied thereto Contrariwise if they be scorched and burnt with the heat of the sun they find a most soueraign cure by the grease of an asse likewise by boeufe tallow oile of roses mixed together The corns agnels chaps callosities of the feet the fresh dung of a bore or sow doth heal if it be applied therto in form of a cataplasm and not remoued before the third day Of the like efficacy are the ashes of a swines ankle bones the lungs of a bore or sow or of a stag If one haue galled his feet by the fretting stubbornnes of hard shoes the vrin of an asse together with the mire that is made of the same vrine vpon the ground doth heal if it be applied to the place the corns or agnels find much ease by
heat of the Sun that it may frie therein vntill it be blanched white and look pure and cleare then is it put vp in tin boxes or peuter pots and reserued for vse The true mark to know which is good Oesypum after it is thus tried putrified is thus if it haue a rank smel stil of the first filthines which it had from the sheep also if when you rub it with your hand in water it melt not but in the working look whitish like vnto cruse or white lead a soueraigne thing it is for the inflammation of the eies for the hard callosities also that grow vpon the eye-lids Some there be who torrifie the foresaid greasie wooll into an earthen pot or pan so long vntill it haue forgone and yeeldeth forth all the sweet and fattinesse the which they suppose to be the best Oesypum that is for any erosion fretting or hardnesse of the eyelids or to cure the scabs and sores yea and the watering of the angles of the eies Well this fatty excrement thus clarified incorporat with goose grease cureth not only the vlcers of the eies but of the mouth also and members of generation the same tempered with Melilot and Butyr maketh an excellent linement for all inflammations of the matrice the chaps also and swelling piles or biggs in the fundament Many other vertues it hath which I will digest into their seuerall places and speake of them accordingly As touching the filthy excrements hanging to sheeps tailes and baltered together into round pils or bals if they be dried and so beaten to pouder are singular for the teeth yea though they shooke in the head if they be rubbed therwith also for the gums though there were gotten into them a cankerous sore Now concerning fleece wooll that is pure and washed either by it selfe alone or else with sulpher vif it is passing good to be applied to any place in paine whereof the cause is not euident and known which also being reduced into ashes is soueraign for the accidents which happen vnto the priuie parts In sum of such vertue is wooll that there is no cataplasme pultesse or plaister in manner applied to a grieued place but the same hath wooll laid ouer it The same also hath a singular vertue aboue all things to recouer the appetite of meat in the very sheep that beare it in case they haue lost their stomacks and feed not for pluck the wooll that groweth to their tailes and therwith tie the same as hard as is possible you shall see them presently fall to their meat But it is said withall that the rest of the taile which is vnderneath the said knot where it was bound will quickly become mortified and die CHAP. XIII ¶ The nature and properties medicinable of Eggs. GReat societie and affinitie there is between wooll egs in this regard That if they be applied both together in a frontall to the forehead they represse all violent flnxes rheums falling into the eies but you need not take for this purpose any wool that hath bin dressed or clensed with the Fullers scouring weed neither is it required that in this case there should be vsed any more but the white of an egg and the same ought to be infused or spread vpon the foresaid wooll with the pouder of Frankincense in very truth the white of an egg alone if it be instilled or dropped into the eies is sufficient to restraine the flux of humors thither yea and to coole any hot rheume or inflammation incident to them Howbeit some think it better to put saffron therto and vse this gleere or white of the egg beaten in stead of water for all collyries or medecins appropriat to the eies The white of an eg incorporat whit fresh butyr is so soueraign for the red and bloud shotten eies which put little children to pain as none in the world better nay there is not in a maner any other vsed in that case The same beaten and tempered with oile assuageth the heat of S. Anthonies fire if there be leaues of beets laid vpon the place and kept bound thereto The white of an egg incorporat with salhormoniacke finely puluerized doth extend and turn backward the haires of the eielids which grow inward into the eies the same with pine nut-kernels a little hony mingled withall and so reduced into a liniment takes away the pimples that arise in the face annoint the visage therwith it will keep it from being sun-burnt If one be scalded with hot water lay quickly an egg to the place yelke white and altogether it will take out the fire and preserue it from blistering some put thereto barley meale and a little salt but say the place be blistered exulcerat with any burne or scald parched barley with the white of an egg and swines grease is an excellent medicine to heale the sore and the same cataplasme is much vsed in the cure of the haemorroids piles and chaps of the fundament and especially in children for to reduce the tiwill into the right place if it hang forth for the rifts and chaps which appeare in the feet take the white of an egg sodden or rosted the weight of two deniers of ceruse as much of letharge of siluer and myrrhe with a little quantitie of wine incorporat all together into a cataplasme there is not a better medicine for them and for the inflammation called S. Anthonies fire the white of an eg beaten together with Amydum or starch-floure is right soueraign It is said moreouer that the white of an egg is very good to conglutinat or sowder any wound yea and two expell the stone and grauell out of the body The yelke of an egg sodden vntill it be hard and tempred with a little saffron with hony also and brest-milke and so reduced into a liniment allaieth the pain of the eies if they be anointed or fomented therewith or if the same be incorporat with oile rosat honied wine and so spred vpon a quilt of wooll and applied it workes the same effect Others there be who take the yelke or an hard egg mix therwith the pouder of persley seed adding thereto fried barly meale dried and honied wine with which composition they annoint the sore eies Also the yelk of a soft egg alone supped off and swallowed down cleare that it touch not the teeth by the way is singular good for those that be troubled with the cough with the rheume or catarrhe that hath taken a way to the brest or pectorall parts yea and the roughnesse of the throat pipes which causeth hoarsenesse but principally if one be bitten with a worme or serpent called Haemorrhois let him both sup off the yelke of an egg raw or soft and apply it also to the wounded place It helpeth the infirmities of the reins it healeth the fretting excoriation and vlcers of the bladder yea and cureth those that reach cast vp bloud Fiue
boiled in vineger and water is of the same effect The milt of a sheep first torrified then puluerized and taken in wine helpeth much this infirmitie A liniment likewise made of Pigeons dung and hony is of great vertue if the patients belly be annointed therewith Touching those that haue feeble stomacks and cannot concoct and digest their meat It is said That the maw or gisier of that kind of Geire or Vulture which is called in Latine Ossifragus dried puluerized and drunk is right soueraigne Nay if the patient doe but hold the same gisier in his hand whiles he is at his repast it will help digestion And in truth there bee diuers that for this cause weare these gisiers ordinarily about their necks but I think it not wholsome to do so long for it maketh them leane as many as vse it and spendeth their body To stay a flux of the belly the bloud of Mallards or Drakes is thought also to be singular good The meat made of shell-snailes discusseth and scattereth ventosities The Milt of a Mutton broiled to ashes and giuen in wine is singular good to allay the wrings and torments of the belly Of the same operation is the wild Quoist or Ringdoue sodden in vineger and water The greater kind of Swallows or Martins called Apodes are no lesse powerfull if they bee sodden and taken in wine The ashes of the bird Ibis plucked burnt without his feathers so giuen to drink work the same effect But strange it is and wonderfull if that be true which is reported as touching this malady namely that if a Ducke bee applied aliue vnto the belly which is tormented with such wrings she shal draw away the disease into her own body and die of the torment but the patient shal be eased by that means These painful gripes likewise are cured with sodden hony wherein Bees sometimes were drowned to death As for the Collick there is nothing so good to assuage the paine thereof as to eat Larkes which the Latines name Galeritae Howbeit some giue aduise and think it better to burne and calcine them in their feathers within a new earthen vessel so to stamp them to ashes or pouder and to drink therof foure daies together in water by three spoonfuls at a time Others make no more ado but take the heart of a Lark and bind it to the inward part of the thigh and there be againe who would haue the same to be swallowed downe whole newly taken out of the bird while it was warme There is a family of the Asprenates men of good quality and reputation for that they had bin somtimes Consuls of Rome in which house of two brethren the one was fully cured of the collick by eating these birds and by wearing ordinarily the heart of one of them about his arme inclosed within a bracelet of gold the other being likewise troubled with the said disease found remedy by a kind of sacrifice which he offered in a little chappell made with vnbaked brickes piled vp archwise in manner of a furnace and so soon as the sacrifice was finished he stopt vp the same againe That Vulture which is called Ossifragus hath one gut of wonderfull nature for it is able to concoct and digest whatsoeuer the said foul deuoureth And for certain this is known and generally receiued that the nethermost end therof cureth the collick if the patient do but carry it about him There are other secret and hidden diseases incident to the guts wherof there be wonders told and namely that in these cases if yong whelpes before they can see be applied for 3 daies together vnto the stomack especially and the brest so that they suck milke from out of the patients mouth the while the said disease shall passe into the body of the poore whelps whereof in the end they shall die Let the same be ripped opened then it wil appear euidently what the cause was of the foresaid secret malady of the patient But such whelps ought when they are dead to be enterred buried As for the Magitians they auouch That if the belly be annointed lightly with the bloud of a Bat the party thus dressed shall not need to feare any paine of that part for one whole yeare after or if it chance that one be pained in the belly let him say they indure to drinke the water that runneth down from his feet when his legs be washed and he shall find help anone CHAP. VIII ¶ Medicines against the stone and grauell the paines of the bladder The swellings in the cods and the share Also for the biles and botches called Pani FOr them that are troubled with the stone it is good to annoint the region of the belly with Mouse dung It is said that the flesh of an Vrchin or Hedgehog is very good meat pleasant in tast if so be he were killed outright in the head at one blow before that he had time to shed his owne vrine vpon himselfe and looke whosoeuer eat this flesh shall neuer be subject to the disease of the strangury The flesh of an Vrchin killed in this sort helpeth the bladder in case the vrine passe by dropmeale from it But contrariwise if the Vrchin chance to wet and drench himselfe with his owne vrine as many as eat of the flesh shal fal into the infirmity of the strangury or pissing dropmeale Moreouer it is said That earthworms drunke either in wine or cuit is of great efficacy to breake or dissolue the stone as also that snailes prepared in that sort as they are ordained to be dressed for shortnesse of wind work the like effect Take snails naked out of their shels and stamp them giue 3 of them to the Patient to drinke in a cyath of wine the first day two the morrow after and the third day one againe you shall see how it will helpe the strangurie or pissing dropmeale But let the empty shels be burnt the ashes therof wil scoure away and expell the stone Semblably it is said that the same effect followeth vpon drinking the liuer of a water-snake the eating of the ashes of scorpions calcined either in bread or with locusts Likewise to take the little stones or grit that be found in the craw of a cocke or in the gisier or maw of a stock-doue to beat the same to pouder and therewith to spice the drinke is singular good for the infirmity aforesaid To do the like with the skin of a Cocks or Hens gisier dried or if it be new and fresh to rost and eat it Also for the stone and other difficulties or impediments of the bladder it is good to take the dung of Quoists or Stock-doues with Beane meale In like manner there is much help found by the ashes of Quoists feathers such as be of a wilder kind than the rest taken with Oxymell Moreouer the ashes of the guts of this bird giuen to the quantity of three spoonfuls as also the nest of
see out of the said masks neuerthelesse To conclude Vermillion is vsed much in limming the titles and inscriptions of roles and books it setteth forth the letters also and maketh them more faire and beautifull which are written in tables ouer sepulchres be they enriched otherwise either with gold or marble stone CHAP. VIII ¶ Of quicksilver artificiall called Hydragyrum Of guilding siluer Of Touch-stones for to trie the diuerse kinds of siluer SO inuentiue is the wit of man that there hath beene deuised in the world a means to make an artificiall Quicksiluer in stead of the true and natural and that out of the second kind of Minium which before I called Secundarium I should erewhile haue spoken therof in the chapter of the right Quicksiluer but deferred it I haue no further than to this present place First therfore this is to be vnderstood that made it is two maner of waies somtimes of the Minium aforesaid punned with vinegre in morters and with pestles all of brasse otherwhiles it is drawn by fire for they put secondarie Vermilion in an earthen pot wel luted all ouer with cley vpon which is there set a pan of yron the same couered ouer the head with another pot well cemented vnder which earthen pot abouenamed there ought to be a good fire made the same kept continually with blowing and thus by circulation there wil appeare a dew or sweat in the vppermost vessel proceeding from the vapors resolued which being wiped off will in substance shew liquid as water and in color resemble siluer The same liquor is easie to diuide into drops and as apt again by the lubricitie thereof to run into an humor This quicksiluer being by the judgement of all men a rank poyson I suppose that al things reported of Minium as medicinable be dangerous remedies vnlesse haply that by inunction of the head or belly it staies all flux of bloud with this caution and charge notwithstanding that it neither perce and enter into the inward noble parts nor touch the wound for otherwise my conceit is that it ought not to be vsed I see that now adaies siluer only and in maner nothing els is guilded by the means of this artificiall Quicksiluer wheras gold foile should be laid also after the same maner vpon vessels or any workmanship of brasse but as I haue beforesaid the deceit fraud that is euery where in the world which makes men so wittie as they be hath deuised other means of guilding and those of lesse dispence charge than with any Quicksiluer according as I haue before declared I canot thus write as I do so much of gold and siluer but me thinks I must of necessity speak of the stone which they cal in Latin Coticula which in times past was not vsually found in any place but in the riuer Tmolus as saith Theophrastus but in these daies we find it euery where fome call it Heraclius others Lydius Now these stones all the sort of them are but small not exceeding foure inches in length and two in bredth That part or side which lies aboue toward the Sunne when it is found is thought better for touch than the other which lieth to the earth By meanes of these touchstones our cunning and expert mine-masters if they touch any ore of these mettals which with a pickax or foile they haue gotten forth of the veine in the mine will tell you by and by how much gold there is in it how much siluer or brasse and they will not misse a scruple a wonderfull experiment and the same infallible As touching siluer two degrees there be of it different in goodnesse which may be knowne and discerned in this maner For lay a piece of siluer ore vpon a sclise plate or fire pan of yron red hot if it continue white still it is very good if the same become reddish go it may for good too in a lower degree but in case it looke blacke there is no goodnes at all in it Howbeit there is some deceit also in this triall and experiment which may crosse a man in his iudgement for let the said sclise or plate lie a time in a mans vrine be the ore neuer so base that is laid thereupon when it is burning red hot it will seeme to take a white colour for the time and deceiue him that shall see it To conclude there is another pretty proofe of siluer fine if it be brought and burnished and that is by breathing vpon it for if the breath be seene thereupon presently as a sweat and the same passe away incontinently as a cloud it is a signe of perfect siluer CHAP. IX ¶ Of mirroirs or looking glasses And of the Aegyptian silver AN opinion it was somtime generally receiued and beleeued That no plates might be driuen by the hammer nor mirroirs made but of the best and purest siluer And euen this experiment is falsified and corrupted by deceit But surely a wonderful thing in Nature this is of these mirroirs of siluer that they should represent so perfectly the image of any thing that is before them as they do which must needs be as all men confesse by the reuerberation of the aire from the solid body of the mirroir which being beaten backe againe from it bringeth therwith the said image expressed therin The same reuerberation is the cause that such looking glasses as by much vsage are polished and made subtile doe in that sort gently driue backe the image represented within them that it seemes infinitely big in proportion of the body it selfe such difference there is in them so materiall it is whether they repercusse and reject the aire or receiue and entertaine it Moreouer there be drinking cups so framed and fashioned with a number of mirroirs within that if there do but one look within them he shall imagine that he saw a multitude of people euen as many images as there be mirroirs There are deuised looking glasses also which will represent monstrous shapes and such be those mirroirs that are dedicated in the temple at Smyrna but this comes by reason that the matter wherof they be made is in that sort fashioned For it skilleth much whether mirroirs be hollow either in manner of a drinking pot or of a Threcidian buckler whether the middle part lie low and inward or rise and beare out with a bellie whether they be set crosse and ouerthwart or stand bias whether they hang with their heads bending backward or bolt vpright For according as the matter which receiueth the image is disposed to this or that fashion or set one way or other so it turneth the shadowes back againe for verily the said image represented in a mirroir is nothing els but the brightnesse and clearenesse of the matter which receiueth the same returned and beaten backe againe But to go through in this place with all things concerning such looking glasses the best known in old time
the Pyramides abouesaid a great name there is of a tower built by one of the kings of Egypt within the Island Pharos and it keepeth commands the hauen of Alexandria which tower they say cost 800 talents the building And here because I would omit nothing worth the writing I cannot but note the singular magnanimity of K. Ptolome who permitted Sostratus of Gnidos the master workeman and architect to graue his owne name in this building The vse of this watch-tower is to shew light as a lanthorne and giue direction in the night season to ships for to enter the hauen where they shall auoid bars and shelues like to which there be many beacons burning to the same purpose and namely at Puteoli and Rauenna This is the danger onely lest when many lights in this lanterne meet together they should be taken for a star in the skie for that a far off such lights appeare to sailers in manner of a star This enginer or master workman beforesaid was the first man that is reported to haue made the pendant gallery and walking place at Gnidos CHAP. XIII ¶ Of the Labyrinths in Aegypt Lemnos and Italy SInce wee haue finished our Obelisks and Pyramides let vs enter also into the Labyrinths which we may truly say are the most monstrous workes that euer were deuised by the head of man neither are they incredible fabulous as peraduenture it may be supposed for one of them remaineth to be seen at this day within the jurisdiction of Heracleopolis the first that euer was made to wit three thousand and six hundred yeares ago by a king named Petesuccas or as some thinke Tithoes and yet Herodotus saith it was the whole worke of many KK one after another and that Psammerichus was the last that put his hand to it and made an end thereof the reason that moued these princes to make this Labyrinth is not resolued by writers but diuerse causes are by them alledged Demoteles saith that this Labyrinth was the roiall pallace and seat of king Motherudes Lycias affirmeth it to be the sepulchre of K. Moeris the greater part are of opinion that it was an aedifice dedicated expressely and consecrated vnto the Sun which in my conceit commeth nearest to the truth Certes there is no doubt made that Daedalus tooke from hence the pattern and platforme of his Labyrinth which he made in Crete but surely he expressed not aboue the hundreth part thereof chusing onely that corner of the Labyrinth which containeth a number of waies and passages meeting and incountring one another winding and turning in and out euery way after so intricat manner and so inexplicable that when a man is once in he cannot possibly get out againe neither must wee thinke that these turnings and returnings were after the manner of mazes which are drawne vpon the pauement and plain floore of a field such as we commonly see serue to make sport and pastime among boies that is to say which within a little compasse and round border comprehend many miles but here were many dores contriued which might trouble and confound the memorie for seeing such variety of entries allies and waies some crossed encountred others flanked on either hand a man wandred still and knew not whether he went forward or backward nor in truth where he was And this Labyrinth in Crete is counted the second to that of Aegypt the third is in the Isle Lemnos the fourth in Italy made they were all of polished stone and besides vaulted ouer head with arches As for the Labyrinth in Aegypt the entrie thereof whereat I much maruell was made with columns of stone and all the rest stuffed so substantially and after such a wonderfull maner couched and laid by art of Masonrie that impossible it was they should in many hundred yeres be disjointed and dissolued notwithstanding that the inhabitants of Heracleopolis did what they could to the contrary who for a spight that they bare vnto the whole worke annoied and impeached it wonderfully To describe the site and plot therof to vnfold the architecture of the whole and to rehearse euery particular therof it is not possible for diuided the building is into sixteene regions or quarters according to the sixteene seuerall gouernments in Aegypt which they call Nomos and within the same are contained certain vast stately pallaces which bear the names of the said jurisdictions and be answerable to them besides within the same precinct are the temples of all the Aegiptian gods ouer and aboue fifteen little chappels or shrines euerie one enclosing a Nemesis to which goddesse they be all dedicated to say nothing of many Pyramides forty ells in height apiece and euery of them hauing six walls at the foot in such sort that before a man can come to the Labyrinth indeed which is so intricat inexplicable wherein as I said before he shall be sure ro lose himselfe he may make account to be weary tyred out for yet he is to passe ouer certain lofts galleries garrets all of them so high that he must clime staires of ninety steps apiece ere he can land at them within the which a number of columns and statues there be all of porphyrit or red marble a world of images and statues representing as well gods as men besides an infinit sort of other pieces pourtraied in monstrous and ougly â—…hapes and there erected What should I speake of other roums and lodgings which are framed and situat in such manner that no sooner are the dores and gates opened which lead vnto them but a man shall heare fearfull cracks of terrible thunder furthermore the passages from place to place are for the most part so conueighed that they be as dark as pitch so as there is no going through them without fire light and still be we short of the Labyrinth for without the main wall therof there be two other mighty vpright wals or wings such as in building they call Ptera when you are passed them you meet with more shrouds vnder the ground in manner of caues and countermines vaulted ouer head and as dark as dungeons Moreouer it is said that about 600 yeares before the time of K. Alexander the Great one Circamnos an eunuch or groome of K. Nectabis chamber made some small reparations here about this Labyrinth neuer any but hee would go about such a piece of work It is reported also that while the main arches and vaults were in rearing and those were made all of foure square ashler stone the place shone all about and gaue light with the beams and plancher made of the Aegyptian Acacia sodden in oile And thus much may serue sufficiently for the Labyrinths of Aegipt and Candy The Labyrinth in Lemnos was much like to them only in this respect more admirable for that it had a hundred and forty columns of marble more than the other all wrought round by turners craft but with such dexterity that a very
exhibit a spectacle wherat the world should lament and cry out in detestation of Fortune no lesse ywis than if they had bin the bones and reliques of king Alexander the Great his corps to be laid solemnly in his sepulchre and herein he pleased himselfe not a little Titus Petronius late Consull of Rome when he lay at the point of death called for a faire broad-mouthed cup of Cassidoine which had cost him before-time three hundred thousand sesterces and presently brake it in pieces in hatred and despight of Nero for feare lest the same prince might haue seazed vpon it after his disease and therewith furnished his own bourd But Nero himselfe as it became an Emperour indeed went beyond all others in this kind of excesse who bought one drinking cup that stood him in three hundred thousand festerces a memorable matter no doubt that an Emperour a father and patron of his country should drink in a cup so deare But before I proceed any farther it is to be noted that we haue these rich Cassidoine vessels called in Latine Murrâ—…ina from out of the Leuant for found they be in many places of the East parts and those otherwise not greatly renowned but most within the kingdom of Parthia howbeit the principall come from out of Carmania The stone whereof these vessels be made is thought to be a certaine humour thickened and baked as it were within the ground by the naturall heat thereof In no place shali a man meet with any of these stones larger than small tablements of pillars or counting-bourds and seldome are they so thicke as to serue for such a drinking cup as I haue spoken of already resplendant they are in some sort but that brightnesse is not pearcing and to say a truth it may be called rather a polishing glosse or lustre than a radiant and transparent clearenesse but that which maketh them so much esteemed is the variety of colours for in these stones a man shall perceiue certaine vains or spots which as they be turned about resemble diuers colours enclining partly to purple and partly to white he shall see them aâ—…o of a third colour composed of them both resembling the flame of fire Thus they passe from one to another as a man holdeth them in so much as their purple seemeth to stand much vpon white and their milkie white to beare as much vpon the purple Some esteemed those Cassidoine or Murrhene stones richest which represent as it were certain reuerberations of sundry colours meeting all together about their edges and extremities such as we obserue in rainbowes others are delighted with cerataine fattie spots appearing in them and no account is made of them which shew either pale or transparent in any part of them for these be reckoned great faults and blemishes In like maner if there be seene in the Cassidoine any spots like corns or graines of salt if it containe resemblances of werts although they beare not vp but lie flat as they doe many times in our bodies finally the Cassidoine stones are commended in some sort also for the smell that they do yeeld As touching Crystall it proceedeth of a contrary cause namely of cold for a liquor it is congealed by extream frost in maner of yce and for the proofe hereof you shal find crystal in no place els but where the winter snow is frozen hard so as we may boldly say it is very yce and nothing els whereupon the Greeks haue giuen it the right name Crystallos i. Yce We haue this crystall likewise out of the East-parts but there is none better than that which India sends to vs. Ingendred it is also in Asia and namely about Alabanda Ortosia and the mountains adioyning but in request it is not no more than that which is found in Cyprus howbeit there is excellent crystall within Europe and namely vpon the crests of the Alps. King Iuba writeth that in a certaine Island lying beyond the red sea ouer-against Arabia named Neron there growes crystall as also in another thereby which yeeldeth the Topase pretious stone where Pythagoras lieutenant or gouernour vnder king Ptolome digged forth a piece which carried a cubit in length Cornelius Bocchus affirmeth that in Portugall vpon certaine exceeding high mountaines where they sinke pits for the leuell of the water there be found great crystal quarters or masses of a wonderfull weight But maruellous is that which Xenocrates the Ephesian reporteth namely that in Asia and Cyprus there be pieces of crystall turned vp with the very plough so ebb it lierh within the ground an incredible thing considering that before-time no man beleeued that euer it could be found in any place standing vpon an earthly substance but onely among cliffes and craggs It soundeth yet more like a truth which the same Xenocrates writeth namely that oftentimes it is carried down the streame running from the mountains As for Sudines hee saith confidently that crystall is not engendred but in places exposed onely to the South and verily this is most true for you shall neuer meet with it in waterish countries lying Northerly be the climat neuer so cold no though the riuers be frozen to an yce euen to the very bottome Wee must conclude therefore of necessitie that certaine coelestiall humours to wit of raine and some small snow together do concurre to the making of crystall and here upon it comes that impatient it is of heat and vnlesse it be for to drinke water or other liquor actually cold it is altogether reiected but strange it is that it should grow as it doth six angled neither is it an easie matter to assigne a sound reason thereof the rather for that the points be not all of one fashion and the sides betweene each corner are so absolute euen and smooth as no lapidarie in the world with all his skil can polish any stone so plain The greatest most weightie piece of crystal that euer I could see was that which Livia Augusta the Empresse dedicated in the Capitoll which weighed about fiftie pounds Xenocrates mine authour aboue-named affirmeth that there was seene a vessell of crystall as much as an Amphore and some besides him doe say that there haue beene brought out of India crystall glasses containing foure sextars a piece Thus much I dare my selfe auouch that crystall groweth within certaine rockes vpon the Alps and those so steep and inaccessible that for the most part they are constrained to hang by ropes that shall get it forth They that be skilfull and well experienced therein go by diuers markes and signes which direct them to places where there is cristall and where also they can discerne good from bad for this you must think there be many imperfections and faults therein as namely when it is rough or rugged in hand rustie like yron cloudie and full of speekes otherwhiles there is a secret hidden fistulous vlcer as it were within there lieth also in
k 443 f. 516 g. 520 i. 557 e. 559 c. the paines proceeding thereupon how to be assuaged 148 l. See more in Dysenterie a Blouding called in Latine Sanguiculus 332. g B O Bodies of those that haue been stung with serpents or bitten by mad dog make egs addle vnder a hen and cause ews and such to cast their young vntimely 299. b the remedie ibid. c Boëthus an excellent imageur and engrauer 483. b Minerua of his workemanship ibid. a child throtling a goose wrought by him 503. c better he was in siluer than in brasse ibid. Boy children by what means they are thought to be gotten and bred 215 f. 226 k. 257 b. 279 b d. 288 m 339 e. 340 m. Boies how Salpe caused to looke young and smooth without haire on their faces 449 c Bolae certaine pretious stones 625. c Bole-armen common a painters colour 528. e Bolbiton what it is 336. l Boleti what Mushroms 132. m Bolites what it is 110. l Bombace See Cotton Bone ach how to be eased 67. d Bones grieued how to be helped 262. k Bones broken how to be knit and sowdered 40 h. See Fractures Bones growing within the ground 588. h stones of a Bonie substance ibid. a Bone found in a horse heart for what it is good 326. m Bonet vailing wherupon and for what cause it arose 305. a Borage See Buglosse wild Bores what they do yeeld aduerse to serpents 322. h wild Bores greace medicinable 324. k their vrine likewise and gall 325. d Bores greace medicinable 230 h Bores troubled and skalt with their owne vrine 332. l Bostrychites a pretious stone 625. b Bots in beasts how to be expelled 326. l Botches See Impostumes Botches in the emunctories how to be discussed or else ripened 121 d. 122 g. 144. g. See Impostume called Pani Botryon what medicine 301 c Botrys what hearbe 222 h. the description ibid. Botrys 278 h. what names theCa ppadocians giue it ibid. Botrytes a pretious stone 625 b Borax naturall 454 g. a minerall and where found 470 l the degrees of Borax in goodnesse and where to be had 470 l m. Borax artificiall 470 m. called Lutea or yellow Borax 471. a. how it is made and prepared ibid. b. how coloured ib. of two sorts ibid. Borax which is best and how knowne 471 c the prices of the seuerall kinds of Borax ibid. d Nero paued the great Cirque at Rome all ouer with greene Borax 471. c Borax of three kindes ibid d Borax in powder how to be laid in painting ibid. Borax that goldsmiths vse is called Chrysocolla or Gold-soder 571. f. it is altogether artificiall ibid. how it is made ibid. the vertues medicinable 471. c Borysthenes a famous riuer 410. k. floteth ouer the riuer Hypanis 411. c. once in the Summer looketh of a violet colour ib. the water of it very light ibid. Borsycites a pretious stone 631. a Bowels their obstructions how cured 259. a See Praecordiall parts B R Brabyla 278. i Bracelets giuen to Roman citizens for their seruice in wars 461 c. Bracelets of gold worne by men next to their arme bare 461. f. why they are called Dardania 462. g Brains and the pellicles thereof impostumat how to be cured 185. f Braine pellicles how comforted 189. d Braines light how to be setled 67. a Braines intoxicated by Halicacabus or Dwale how to be helped 113. a Braine how it is purged of phlegmaticke humours 47. c 232. l. 233. e. 234. k. Braines of a wild Bore aduerse to serpents 322. h Brainsicke or bestraught of wits how to be cured 44. g. 46. i 56. h. 219. d. 283. a. 591. a. Brambles what medicinable vertues they be endued withall 195. f. they are exceeding astringent 196. k Branded markes how to be taken 240. g Brankursine an hearbe to what vses it serueth 129. b. two kindes thereof ibid. the medicinable vertues ibid c Branches for lights in temples made ordinarily of brasse 489. c. Brasse pots how they may be scoured rid frō furring 51 b Brasse ore See Cadmia Brasse a mettall greatly esteemed 486. i of Brasse-founders a confraternitie at Rome ibid. k Brasse weighed out for paiment and money 462. k Brasse first coined by Ser. Tullus K. of Rome ibid. l what was the stampe ibid. the valew enhaunsed and raised at Rome 463. a Brasse mines where the best 486. l they are medicinable 506. g Brasse tried out of the ore 486. k Brasse made of Cadmia 486. h Brasse Cyprium or copper made of Chalcitis ibid. m Brasse Sallustianum 487. a. why so called ibid. Brasse Linianum ib. why so called ibid. Brasse Marianum 487. a Brasse Cordubense ibid. Brasse Mascelin a cōpound temperature of the best 487. c Brasse Corinthian what mixture it was ib. d. highly esteemed ibid. Corinth brasse mettall of three kinds 488. g Brasse of Aegina highly esteemed 448. h Brasse of Delos much accepted ibid. Brasse of Corinth emploied both in publike and priuate buildings 489. a Brasse Coronarium what it was and why so called 505. b Brasse Regulare ib. called also Ductile and why ibid. c Brasse Caldarium 505. c Brasse Campanum ibid. Statuaria what temperature of Brasse it was 505. e and why so called ibid. Tabularis what temperature of Brasse and whereupon so named ibid. Brasse Collectaneum what it is ibid. the temperature of Brasse called Formalis 505. f the temperature called Ollaria ibid. colour of brasse named Grecanicke 505. f what vernish saueth Brasse from rust 506. g Brasse serueth for perpetuitie of registers 506. g Brasse skales 507. c Brasse rust or Verdegris 508. g diuerse waies to gather it 508. h how it is sophisticated 508. i. how discerned ib. k Brasse green rust or Verdegris how to be calcined and prepared for vse in Physicke 508 k. l. vncalcined what medicinable vertues it hath 509. a Bread at Rome different according to states degrees 11. b Bread leauened 141. a Bread downe-right ibid. Bread bisket ibid. besides nourishment what vertues medicinable it yeeldeth ibid. sea-Breams Melanuri how they feed of crumbs 429. a how they beware of a bait within an hooke ibid. Breath stinking an vnseemely disease 239. f proceeding from corrupt lungs how remedied 329. b what maketh a sowre and strong breath 377 a. 441. a Breath how it may be made sweet 64. g. 65. e. 79. a. 105. d. 131. c. 140. i. 156. m. 162. i. 164. i. 174. h 239. f. 240. g. 304. g. 313. a. 326. k. 328. k. 350. g. 377. a 441. a. 624. i. for diseases and paine in the Breast what medicines be appropriat 46. l 53. a. 56. h. 66. g. i. 74. i. 76. l. 120. h 154. g. 180. l. 182. l. 186. i. 192. l. 193. b. 246. g. 247. c. d 250. l. 290. i. k. 275. e. 284. h. 289. f. for Breasts impostumat remedies 141 c. 246 g. suppurations in the breast how clensed 144 h. 216 l vlcers in the breast how healed 208. g Breasts of women swelled how to be helped