speake what Plinie rehearseth in his second booke and twentieth Chapter that of the corruption in the Asses carcasse is engendered the blacke Flie called a béetle which Flie as is said in the thirtieth booke and second Chapter the people of Egypt worshipped as a God perswading themselues that it was the very image of the Sun And this was because all the Béetles as Elianus writes and Snydas likewise confirmeth are male-kinde and haue no female among them in this maner then is their engendring continued The séed of the Oxe Horse or dung of the Asse spilt or spred on the ground which afterward they turne togither with their féete making therof the fashion of a bed and so lye thereon and circle it for twentie eight dayes togither when it receiueth forcible heate at the time for them to take life and thus appeares new engendred Béetles theron which are like to the Sun because he likewise spreads on the earth his vertue seminall Thus by his continuall course are they encreased flying vp toward heauen and the heate of his beames and as the Mooue reneweth euerie moneth so doth this kinde of Béetle stil renew Now let vs speake a little of the vertue which naturally appertaineth to the hoofe of the Asse according to Plinie when it is boyled in Asses milke and applied to weak sighted eyes it helpes them greatly taking all offence whatsoeuer from them and cleares the sight most miraculously Plutarche writeth in the life of Alexander the great that the poyson giuen him to drinke was an excéeding cold water gathered from a certaine Rocke in the Countrey of Nouaria which cannot be kept but in an Asses hoofe for all other things are not able to hold it but wil breake by reason of the extreame coldnesse Such then and so many are the stupendious actions notable graces and supernaturall gifts or quallities of the Asse which can neuer be sufficiently commended as therfore he deserueth to haue the chiefe place amongst all brutish beasts liuing on the earth By iust equitie whereof our Poet being intirely moued thus singeth If I would sing his due deserued praise This not another leafe would me suffise To name the vertues that him signifies And giues to him the palme of following daies Hence is it that wee néede make no great meruaile why the auncient Astrologers mooued by his so many natural perfections Noblenesse and excellencie doo honour him in heauen with the name of two starres placed in the signe of Cancer called Asinelle and in an other place they set downe thrée named Praesepe Asinelli the Asses maunger Nor can I but declare as succéeding in this place the great and diligent regard which euermore the auncient magnificent Lords had to make as one would say the Asses name immortall perswaded mooued and prouoked thereto by his so many rare and excellent qualities in aboundant sort bestowed on him by nature and speciall benignitie of celestiall fauour To the end I may then with some gratitude of mind leaue such a memorie to posteritie as shall make the Asses name to be perpetuall note how these things following haue bene entitled and honoured with the name of the Asse 1. Cities 2. Castles 3. Boroughes 4. Villages 5. Islands 6. Seas 7. Ports 8. Mountaines 9. Riuers 10. Bridges 11. Stréetes 12. High waies 13. Vallies 14. Towers 15. Fountaines 16. Sepulchers 17. Bookes 18. Lawes 19. Frutes 20. Feastes 21. Games 22. Oathes 23. Proper names 24. Families 25. Prouerbes And to the end this which I haue said may appearantly bee knowne binding my selfe willingly to the Asses name it wil be hard for me to gather and consort in this place two named things for each of the fiue and twentie before declared that only beare memorie of the Asse and so shall do for euer Nor shall I néed to collect any more then two of each though for euery one I could set downe ten at the least because I am loth to be troublesome to my selfe as also fearefull to hinder any from imitating the steppes of such Asse-friends 1 One of the most principall Cities in Persia not farre off from the great Citie of Selencia is called in the Persian tongue Zaucamora which in our language is as much to say as the Asses Citie 2 In Peloponesus or Morea if we wil so call it néere to the sea that lieth toward the West is the Citie named Asinari 1 In Calabria at the Marquesate of Oluito there is a Castle called Castello del gl'Asini 2 In Friuli about ten myles distant from Asola is an other tearmed Castello Asinino 1 In the territorie of Placentia is a village named Villa discontral Asino 2 Neare to Rome as ye go toward Braciano is a Village that hight Asina bella 1 In the territorie of Siena is a Borough called Asina luuga 2 On the way as we ryde from Bologna to Florence betwéene Loiano and Pietramala we come to a Borough tearmed Scarcalasino 1 Asinetta is an Island at the mouth of the red sea not much distant from the land on the East side where stands the strong Citie of Aden 2 In the Eupine sea called Mare Maiore on the North part neare to Palus Meotides there is a little Islande which aboundeth with swéete water and it is called Isola Asinina 1 Olaius Magnus a most diligent writer of the North parts affirmeth that the sea which from Norway we saile by to the Prouince of Lapponia called Schiuziroffi in our language is tearmed Mare Asinone 2 The great spacious 〈◊〉 which from the Realme of Ireland passeth on to Iseland of the Countrey people is called Mare Asinesco 1 In the Aegean sea neare to the Castle which vulgarely is called Dardanelli on the side of Asia is to be séene a most faire Port though not ouer bigge and it is named Porto Asinino 2 In the Isle of Cyprus before we arriue at the hauen of Famogosta a Port is found which is not very sure for yéelding shelter from the colde Northeast winde it is called Porto Asinetto 1 Ten myles of from Florence may ye discerne the mountain Asinaro where the obseruant Fryers of a Monasterie builded on the top of the mountaine daily serue God 2 On the part where Abrutium is seated in Italy is Mount Asinello on the top whereof is a Church dedicated to S. Eustatius 1 Neare the water Treuio by Abrucium is a little Riuer named the Riuer of Asino 2 In the territories of Ragusa or Epidaurus within sixe myles distance of the Cittie runneth the Riuer Asinesco which is a nauigable water and hath a defenceable Port at the Sea mouth 1 Among the ruines of Aquileia which was destroyed by Attyla is to be séene part of a most sumptuous Bridge at the head whereof stands a huge Asse of very pure marble which with her Dugges séedes two yoong Asses and this Bridge is yet called Pont ' Asinone On the other part of the same Bridge now ruined as the eldest men of the Countrey auouch was
another goodly Asse made like the former the reliques whereof are yet to be there séene on the ground 2 In Cicilia neare to the Citie of Catauea within two myles there passeth an indifferent great Riuer ouer which is a goodly Bridge of wood whereon foure Cartes may easily méete togither and it is named Pous Asini 1 The large stréete whereby we passe along from the Market place vnto the Cathedral Church of S. Mauritus in the Cittie of Lypara is called Asinesca stréete 2 In the auncient Cittie of Perugia there is a stréete which direct to the Monasterie of Couented Fryers of S. Fraunces and it is tearmed the Paradise of the Asini 1 In Friuli on certaine high downe bearing hilles where the auncient familie of the Gordes of Sauorgnani haue their iurisdiction is a way that leadeth to a certaine Castle of theirs named Here fell I with mine Asse Which words are there engrauen in very hard stones that so faire a memorie of the Asse might not be forgotten 2 In Apulia is a great way of tenne large myles by which they passe from the great Tower till they come to Mount Iargano it is called Longasina 1 There is a vale by the way as ye goe along from Fabriano to Cammerino neare to the shipping place of the auncient Varrani now Lordes of the said Cittie and it is named the vale of Asini 2 Neare to the parts of Heluetia among the Cantons where Zurich is named ye haue a valley called Asinari 1 At the Citie of Bologna there is a Tower which for height contendeth with the starres called the Tower of the Asinelli 2 A Tower of lesser height is to be séene in the Prouince of Basilicata otherwise called Lucania without the walles of the Citie of Venafro on the West side and it is tearmed the Tower Asino 1 A Fountaine plentifully abounding with water is to be séene on the confines betwéene Pipeono and the Castle of Souino it is nominated Fountaine Asini 2 Passing the Riuer Pauara and leauing the corner of the way whereby we goe to Modoua there turning on the left hand and within a quarter of a myle onwarde standes a Fountaine beautified with engrauen stone yet passing vnder a goodly vault by thrée great pipes of mettall wel neare rotten and defaced out of them comes great aboundance of water and it is called Fountaine Asinara Hauing so lately mentioned the Citie of Modeua I call to minde a memorie concerning the Asse which the said Citie long time kept among other things with good regard And it was a milking paile wherin a citizens Asse of Bologna had drunke for it happened that about matter of the confines warres ensued betwéene them of Bologna and Modeua They of this part at one time among other made a tumultuous inuasion on the territories of Bologna and finding some encounter which they looked not for by reason of their vnorderly proceeding they were enforced to returne yet they sought for some bootie in the stable of Bolognian Cittizen from whence the maister thereof had but lately before taken foorth his Asse and for feare escaped away thereon There found they the milking paile wherin the Asse before spoken on had drunke which they tooke away with them and mounting it on the point of a Launce after the maner of carrying some great Trophée they returned there with to the Cittie all the people of Modeua running to gaze theron as at a most rich spoyle gotten by conquest of warre which by them long time after was kept as an especiall example as we reade in the booke called the Annales of Lombardie But nowe returne wee to the other memories of the Asse 1 At the Cittie of Vercellis in the Church of Saint Lazarus is to bee séene a goodly auncient Sepulcher of Marble on the couerture whereof is verie linely carued an Asse lying along verie formally euen as the figures of men are shaped vppon Toombes And there are certaine letters engrauen at the féete of the said Asse but nothing can be made of any sillable by reason they are so defaced by antiquitie Here I confesse and that for some reuerence which dutifully I beare to the Asse not to haue founde any other Sepulcher carrying remembrance of the Asse but only this one albeit I haue spared no labour in reading ouer bookes sufficient beside all other possible dilligence imployed 1 Apuleius wrote a booke intituled the golden Asse 2 Plautus composed a Comedie called Asinaria I could neuer know what booke that was which gaue matter to our Poet thus to sing Now do I call to minde a new rare praise Worthie so many Dukes and Emperours Which in the Asses booke is found alwaies Wherefore I am now content to prosecute the search therof no further in hope another time to vnderstand more of it 1 Bartolus the famous Lawier in L. 1. F. de sup L. leg speaketh of a lawe which willeth that the Testator making a bond of his mooueables to a straunger and letting passing his setled good to his kindred that rightfully should as heires succéed this lawe limitteth and appointteth that his Asse if he happened to haue any is not comprehended among the mooueables But as a good stable and setled without any other implication the same Asse shall remain to his kindred y ◠do inherit the goods seated And this lawe for this purpose do I account sufficient because I am loth to trouble myselfe in searching huge lawe Libraries for any other for my labour therin would excéed the Asses 1 No sort of frutes are found but beare name of some beaste or of a man as the Apple of Appius the Prune Maximillian of Maximillianus and that of the Asse which is the sort of Prunes named great good faire and yelow being rightly tearmed the Prune Asinare 2 There is a kind of Cucumber which much auaileth for medicine and it is called Cucumber Asini 2 Nouius Marcellus recordeth that the Romanes of old would celebrate the feast of the gardein God whereat the husbands children only should be present each one out-brauing other vpon his Asse and so ryding on this beast thrée times they would circle the temple about Afterward they should cast lottes and his Asse to whome the lot fell must haue his throte cut with whose blood each filling a little glasse viall they would striue to maister one another by throwing the same in the face of statue which represented the God of the gardein 2 Herodotus a most auncient writer reports that the Gréekes were wont yearly to celebrate the feast Asinaria in memorie of that notable victorie which the Athenian had against the Persians neare to the Riuer Asinone 1 Among all the pastimes wherein most and least delighted concerning table play was the game called Scarralasino to wit vnlead the Asse whereat by imitation of the Asse who suffers himselfe to be ridden by all persons indifferently all the standers by may play and easily learne it without any labour 2 Schoole-children
seuentie Sestertiaes which according to Budeus and other Computists amounteth to the summe of a thousand and fiue hundred crownes Moreouer he addeth hereto that he sawe foure Asies rated at foure hundred Sestertiaes Plinie testifieth that an Asse was sold for a very great number of Crownes albeit the certaine summe I doo not now readily remember but any one may reade it truly set downe in the seuenth booke of his naturall historie Lampridius telleth vs that Heliogabalus the Emperour when he would bestow a magnificent gift on the people of Rome vsed to giue them certaine Asses meaning that a speciall and rare estimation consisted therein because indéed it was the gift of an Emperour Marcus Polus in the first booke of his voyage to the great Cane of Cathaia the eleuenth Chapter where he speaketh of the Persian kingdome saith In this kingdome are there likewise Asses the very fairest and greatest that are in the world which are wont to be sooner sold then horses And the reason is because they eate lesse and beare greater burthens beside they dispatch more myles in a day then the Horses or Mules are able to do nor can they endure so much labour as the Asses will Wherefore the Merchants of those parts going from one Prouince to another passe through great desarts and sandie places where growes 〈◊〉 hearbes or grasse at all and by reason of the great distance of wells and swéete water they make their dayes iourney the longer wherefore the more gladly they vse these Asses because they are swifter runne better and serues them with very small expences They vse Camells like wise who beare great lading and are not chargeable but yet they are not so swift as their Asses But let vs admit that the Asse had not these vertues nor that there were founde in him any of the quallities whereon we haue discoursed yet can we not deny but he hath one only gift which in Nobilitie perfection makes him alone to surpasse any other kinde of beast whatsoeuer I meane those vnreasonable that euer nature brought foorth For the neuer meant to produce the kindes of he or shée Mules whereas the Asse is the only cause they are engendred and maintains them in the world to the great commoditie of man as daily experience sufficiently testifies Wherefore our Poet thus sings thereof The Asse was reckoned by his great deserts Most honorable and who him molested According to their faults were punished But because I would drawe to an ende I conclude that of his honorable qualities worthie all commendation I haue not as yet declared the least particuler by reason they are such and so great that whosoeuer would collect them all togither may as easily conuey all the water of the sea into a little glasse or contend with a thing that of it selfe is infinite Yet will I not so giue ouer but adioyne to the ende of this first part that which our Part firmely beléeued of the Asse when he said In learned Schooles for wisedome might he read But infinite I know therewith dispence And do that office in his excellence In conclusion for whatsoeuer either hath bene or may be said the nature of the Asse is good pleasing humble and curteous which foure rare quallities are farre contrary to the theft pride vnrulinesse and villany of other beasts The end of the first part The Noblenesse of the Asse The second part ALl the matters wherof we haue spoken in the former part to shewe the perfection and Noblenesse of the Asse I may safely affirme to be of little or no auaile at all or profitable in ought to humane kinde considering what benefit is to be receiued by his excrements as also from the members of his bodie after he is dead But to the end that all men of what condition soeuer may perceiue I speake nothing but the truth I am determined in this second part to make choyse of other matters then is before Beginning with his flesh which when the Asse is yoong is very sauourie and delicate and may compare with all other sorts of flesh whatsoeuer And though it be not in vse as the flesh of the Calfe Kidde or such like questionlesse the reason may be that nature the most wise preseruer of all kindes of beastes hath prouided that man shall not be drawen with any desire to eate thereof but first hath rather chosen to put into our mindes that such as heare the meaning of such flesh are wont to make a scornfull looke thereat And this may be to the end that if perhaps men should taste therof they would become so coueting thereafter as despising al other kindes of flesh they would giue themselues only to féede on the Asse whereby sodeinly might ensue the destruction of the Asses kinde and so they should become of such deare value as they were in the times wherof alreadie we haue spoken as Marcus Varro sawe them solde and Plinie reporteth Herehence doubtlesse would arise this hurt that poore men who maintaine themselues and family by the helpe of an Asse onely should not be able to buy any not hauing the meanes to laie out so great a summe of mony That this kinde of flesh in swéetnesse excell all other the noble men in the kingdome of Scotland are so perswaded for I haue heard of a Scottish Gentleman who in Sciences hath made so great profit as the principall students in all Italy haue not a little admired him when he heard that such a miserable slaughter of Asses was made in Mantua The aforesaid Gentleman affirmed to me that no banquet in Scotland was reputed of any value where the flesh of a young Asse was not to be had In the good and memorable time of Pius Quartus began they not to make a vsuall seruice therof both in feasts and banquets of greatest importance And if the rounde table of the mightie Lord of T. called Triclinium could speake hardly would be credited the quantitie of Asses flesh which in those times was eaten thereon And did not Mecenates vse Asses flesh as a foode most delicate We read at a certaine time in the Citie of Samaria an Asses head was sold for foure score pence And they that so bought them â—ed thereon with such sweetnesse and delight as if they had eaten the very daintiest meate that could be bought for a greater price Plutarche rehearseth that in a certaine warre King Artaxerxes made an Asses head was likewise sold in his Campe for seuentie Drachmaes But leaue we the Asses head in so great estéeme to be eaten as also the flesh wherein the bones thereof are closed and speake we of the last and chiefe benefite which we receiue by the head of the Asse when it is cut off and the flesh parted from it What merueilous properties and vertue is included in the said Asses head the poore husbandman wel knows and great proofe is made thereof in many places of Italy as also diuers other territories beyond the