docilitie and gentlenesse of some fish where they will come to hand and take meat at a mans hand in what countries fishes serue in stead of oracles 3. Of those fishes that liue both on land and water the medicines and obseruations as touching Castoreum 4. Of the sea Tortoise many vertues medicinable obserued in sundry fishes 5. Receits of medicins taken from water creatures digested and set in order according to sundry diseases first against poyson and venomous beasts 6. Of Oisters Purple shell-fishes sea-weeds called Reits their vertues medicinable 7. Medicins against the shedding of the haire how to fetch haire againe also against the infirmities of eies ears teeth and to amend the vseemely spots in the face ly 8. Many medicins set down together vnorder 9. Remedies for the diseases of the liuer and sides stomacke and bellie others also disorderly put downe 10. Against feuers and agues of all sorts and many other infirmities 11. A rehearsall of all creatures liuing in the sea to the number of 122. In summe ye hauehere medicines stories and obseruations 928. Latine Authors Licinius Macer Trebius Niger Sexitius Niger who wrote in Greeke Ovid the Poet Cassius Hemina Mecanas and L. Atteius Forreine Writers K. Iuba Andreas Salpe Pelops Apelles of Thasos Thrasillus and Nicander ¶ THE XXXIII BOOKE DECLARETH the natures of Mettals Chap. 1. In what estimation were the mines of gold at the first in the old world the beginning of gold rings the proportion of gold that our ancestors had in their treasure the degree of knights or gentlemen at Rome the priuiledge to weare gold rings and who only might so do 2. The courts and chambers of judges or justices at Rome how often the gentlemen of Rome and men of armes changed their title the presents giuen to valiant souldiours for their braue seruice in the wars the first crowns of gold that were seene 3. The ancient vse of gold besides both in men women of the golden coine when copper and brasse money was first stamped when gold and siluer was put into coine before mony was coined how they vsed brasse for exchange in old time At the first taxation and leuie made of Tribute what was thought to be the greatest wealth and at what rate were the best men sessed How often and at what time gold grew into credit and estimation 4. The mines of gold and how naturally it is found when the statue or image of gold was first seene medicinable vertues in gold 5. Of Borras and six properties of Borras in matters of Physicke the wonderfull nature that it hath to soder all mettals and giue them their perfection 6. Of Siluer Quick-siluer Antimonie or Alabaster the drosse or refuse of siluer also the scum or some of siluer called Litharge 7. Or Vermilion in what account it was in old time among the Romanes the inuention thereof of Cinnabaris or Sangdragon vsed in painting and Physick diuers sorts of vermillion and how painters vse it 8. Of Quicksiluer artificiall the maner of gilding siluer of touchstones diuers experiments to trie siluer the sundry kinds therof 9. Of mirroirs or looking-glasses of the siluer in Aegypt 10. Of the excessiue wealth of some men in money who were reputed for the richest men when it was that at Rome they began to make largesse and scatter money abroad to the commons 11. Of the superfluitie of coine and the frugalitie of others as touching siluer plate beds and tables of siluer when began fitst the making of excessiue great and massiue platters and chargers of siluer 12. Of siluer statues the grauing and chasing in siluer other workmanship in that mettall 13. Of Sil of Azur of superfice Azur named Nestorianum also of the Azur called Coelum that euery yere these kinds be not sold at one price This booke hath in it of medicines stories and obseruations 1215. Latine Authors alledged L. Piso Antius Verrius M. Varro Cor. Nepos Messula Rufus Marsus the Poet Buthus Iulius Bassus and Sextius Niger who wrote both of Physicke in Greeke and Fabius Vestalis Forreine Writers Democritus Metrodorus Sceptius Menaechmus Xenocrates and Antigonus who wrate all three of the feat and skill of grauing chasing and embossing in mettall Heliodorus who wrote a booke of the rich ornaments and oblations of the Athenians Pasiteles who wrote of wonderfull pieces of worke Nymphodorus Timaeus who wrate of Alchymie or minerall Physicke Iolla Apollodorus Andreas Heraclydes Diagoras Botryensus Archimedes Dionysius Aristogenes Democritus Mnesicles Attalus the Physician Xenocrates the sonne of Zeno and Theomnestes ¶ THE XXXIIII BOOKE TREATETH of other Mettals Chap. 1. Mines of Brasse Copper Iron Lead Tin 2. Sundry kinds of Brasse namely Corinthian Deliacke and Aegineticke 3. Of goodly candlesticks other ornaments of temples 4. The first images made at Rome the originall of statues the honour done to men by statues sundry sorts and diuers forms of them 5. Of statues pourtraied in long Robes and of many others who first erected images vpon columnes and pillars at Rome when they were allowed first at the cities charges also what maner of statues the first wer at Rome 6. Of statues without gowne or cassocke and some other the first statue pourtraied on horsebacke at Rome when the time was that all Images as well in publike places as priuat houses were abolished at Rome and put downe what women at Rome were allowed to haue their statues and which were the first erected in publike place by forrein nations 7. The famous workemen in making casting Images the excessiue price of Images of the most famous and notable colosses or gyant-like images in the citie of Rome 8. Three hundred sixtie and six peeces of work wrought in brasse by most curious and excellent artificers 9. What difference there is in Brasse the diuers mixtures with other mettals how to keepe brasse 10. Of Brasse ore called Cadmia and for what it is good in Physicke 11. The refuse or scum of Brasse Verdegris the skales of brasse and copper steele copper rust or Spanish greene of the collyrie or eye-salue called Hieracium 12. Of a kinde of Verdegris named Scolecia of Chalcitis i. red Vitrioll Mysy Sory and Copporose or Vitrioll i. blacke Nil 13. Of the foile of Brasse named white Nil or Tutia of Spodium Antispodium of Diphryges and the Trient of Servilius 14. Of Iron and mines of Iron the difference also of Iron 15. Of the temperature of Iron the medicinable vertues of Iron and the rust of Brasse and Iron the skales of Iron and the liquid plastre named of the Greekes Hygemplastrum 16. The mines of Lead of white and blacke Lead 17. Of Tin Of Argentine Tin and some other minerals 18. Medicins made of Lead refuse of Lead of Lead ore of Ceruse or Spanish white of Sandaricha of red Orpiment In summe here are contained natable matters stories and obseruations 815. Latine Authours cited L. Piso Antias Verrius M. Varro Messala Rufus Marsus the
sent thither of purpose from Philadelphus haue made relation of the forces which those nations are able to raise and maintain And yet further diligence is to be imploied stil in this behalfe considering they wrote of things there so diuers one from another and incredible withall They that accompanied Alexander the great in his Indian voiage haue testified in their writings that in one quarter of India which he conquered there were of towns 500 in number and not one lesse than the city Cos of seuerall nations nine Also that India was a third part of the whole earth the same so wel inhabited that the people in it were innumerable And this they said beleeue mee not without good apparance of reason for the Indians were in manner the onely men of all others that neuer went out of their own country Moreouer it is said That from the time of Bacchus vnto Alexander the Great there reigned ouer them sucessiuely 154 kings for the space of 5402 yeres between and 3 moneths ouer As for the riuers in that country they be of a wonderfull bignes And reported it is that Alexander sailed euery day at the least 600 stadia vpon the riuer Indus and yet in lesse than fiue moneths and some few daies ouer he could not come vnto the end of that riuer and lesse it is than Ganges by the confession of all men Furthermore Seneca a Latine writer assaied to write certain commentaries of India wherein he hath made report of 60 Riuers therein and of nations 120 lacking twaine As great a labour it were to reckon vp number the mountains that be in it As for the hils Imaus Emodisus Paropamisus as parts all and members of Caucasus but one vpon another and conioine together And being past them yee go downe into a mighty large plain country like to Aegypt It remaineth now to shew the continent and firm land of this great country and for the more euident demonstration let vs follow the steps of Alexander the great and his Historiographers Diogneus and Beton who set down all the geasts and iournies of that prince haue left in writing That from the Caspian ports vnto the city Hecatompylos which is in Parthia there are as many miles as we haue set down already From thence to Alexandria in the Ariane country which city the same king founded 562 miles from whence to Prophthasia in the Dranganes land 199 miles so forward to the capitoll towne of the Arachosians 515 miles From thence to Orthospanum 250 miles last of all from it to the city of Alexandria in Opianum 50 miles In some copies these numbers are found to vary and differ But to return to this foresaid city scituat it is at the very foot of Caucasus From which to the riuer Chepta and Pencolaitis a town of the Indians are counted 227 miles From thence to the riuer Indus the towne Tapila 60 miles and so onward to the noble and famous riuer Hidaspes 120 miles from which to Hypasis a riuer of no lesse account than the other 4900 or 3900. And there an end of Alexanders voiage howbeit he passed ouer the riuer and on the other side of the bank he erected certaine altars and pillers and there dedicated them The letters also of the king himselfe sent back into Greece do cary the like certificate of his iournies and agree iust herewith The other parts of the country were discouered surueied by Seleucus Nicator namely from thence to Hesudrus 168 miles to the riuer Ioames as much some copies adde 5 miles more therto from thence to Ganges 112 miles to Rhodapha 119 some say that between them two it is no lesse than 325 miles From it to Calinipaxa a great town 167 miles an half others say 265. And so the confluent of the riuers Iomanes Ganges where both meet together 225 miles many put therto 13 miles more from thence to the town Palibotta 425 miles so to the mouth of Ganges where he falleth into the sea 638 miles As for the nations which it pains me not to name from the mountains Emodi the principal cape of them Imaus which signifies in that country language ful of snow they be these the Isari Cosyri Izgi and vpon the very mountains the Ghisiotosagi also the Brachmanae a name common to many nations among whom are the Maccocalingae Of riuers besides there are Pinnas Cainas the later of which twain runneth into Ganges both are nauigable The people called Calingae coast hard vpon the sea But the Mandei Malli among whom is the mountain Mallus are aboue them higher in the country And to conclude then you come to Ganges the farthest bound and point of all that tract India CHAP. XVIII ¶ The riuer Ganges MAny haue bin of opinion so haue written that the spring of Ganges is vncertain like as that also of Nilus and that he swelleth ouerfloweth and watereth all the countries whereby he passeth in the same sort that Nilus doth Others again haue said that it issueth out of the mountains of Scythia how into it there run 19 other great riuers of which ouer and aboue those beforenamed certain are nauigable namely Canucha Vama Erranoboa Cosaogus and Sonus There be also that report that Ganges presently ariseth to a great bignesse of his owne sources and springs and so breaketh forth with great noise and violence as running downe with a fal ouer craggy and stony rocks and when he is once come into the flat plains and euen country that he taketh vp his lodging in a certain lake and then out of it carrieth a mild and gentle stream 8 miles broad where it is narrowest and 100 stadia ouer for the most part but 160 where he is largest but in no place vnder 20 paces deep i. a 100 foot CHAP. XIX ¶ The nation of India beyond the riuer Nilus WHen ye are ouer Ganges the first region vpon the coast that you set foot into is that of the Gandaridae and the Calingae called Parthalis The king of this countrey hath in ordinance for his wars 80000 foot 1000 horse and 700 Elephants ready vpon an houres warning to march As for the other nations of the Indians that liue in the champion plaine countries there be diuers states of them of more ciuility than the mountainers Some apply themselues to tillage and husbandry others set their minds vpon martiall feats one sort of them practise merchants trade transporting their owne commodities into other countries and bringing in forrein merchandise into their own As for the nobility and gentry those also that are the richest and mightiest among them they manage the affaires of State and Commonweale and sit in place of justice or els follow the court and sit in counsell with the king A fit estate there is besides in great request namely of Philosophers Religions giuen wholly to the study of wisdom learning and these make profession
Rome were wont to go before all others as also the Fundane vines had their time as well those that are planted in vineyards as they which runne vpon trees like as those of the other side neere also to the city of Rome namely from Veliternum and Priuernum For as touching the wine of Signia it is held for a medicine only and by reason of an astringent verdure that it hath it is excellent good to stay the flux of the belly In the fourth place of this race of vines Iulius Caesar late Emperor of famous memory hath raunged for to serue the publick and solemne feasts of the city the Mamertine wines from about Messana in Sicily for he was the first as appears by his letters missiue that gaue credit and authority vnto them And of those the Potulane wines so called of them who first planted the vines whereof they came are most commended and namely those that are vpon the next coast of Italy Within the same Sicily the Taurominitane vines are highly esteemed insomuch as many times they go for Messana wine and are so sold by whole pottles Now for all other wines from about the coast of the Tuscane sea Northward good reckoning is made of the Praetutian and such as come from Ancone also of the Palmesian wines which haply tooke that name for that the first plant of that vine came from a palme or Date tree But in the midland parts of Italie within the firme land good regard there is of the Cesenatian and Mecaenatian wines Within the territory of Verona the Rhetian wine carrieth the price which Virgill ranged next after the Falerne wines Anon you come to the wines Adriane and those that grow far within the tract of the Venice gulfe Now from the nether sea about Lions ye haue the Latiniensian the Grauiscane and the Statonian wines Throughout all Tuscane the wines about Luna beare the name like as those of Genes for Liguria Betweene the Pyrenean hills and the Alpes Massiles hath the commendation for wines of a double taste for the vines there do yeeld a certain thick and grosse wine which they call Succosum i. full of juice and liquor good to season other wines and to giue them a prety tast When ye are passed once into France or Gaule the wine of Beterrae is in chiefe request As for the rest within Languedoc and the Prouince of Narbon I am not able to auouch any thing for certainty such a brewing and sophistication of them they make what with fuming perfuming and colouring them and would God they put not in some herbes and drugs among that be not good for mans body For certaine it is that they commonly buy Aloe togiue the wine both another tast and also a counterfeit color Moreouer in the farther and more remote coasts of Italy toward the Ausonian sea there be wines which are not without their praise and commendation and namely those of Tarentum Seruitium and Consentia likewise of Tempsa Bauia and Lucania howbeit the Thurine wine goeth before them all As for the wines of Lagaria which be made of the grapes not farre from Grumeritum there goes a right great name of them by reason that Messala vsed ordinarily to drink thereof and thereby was supposed to preserue his health so well Of late daies there be certaine wines in Campaine growne into credit like as they haue gotten new names by good ordering and husbandrie or by chance I know not whether namely those of Tribellia foure miles from Naples of Caulium neare to Capua and last of all the Trebulaine wines within theirown territorie for before time they were euer counted no better than common wines for euery man to drink no more than the Trifolines from whence they vaunt of their descent As for the wine of Pompeij a towne in the kingdome or Naples neither it nor the vine wherof it commeth will last aboue ten yeres at the most after which tearme the elder they both be the worse they are Besides they are found by experience to cause the head-ach insomuch as if a man drinke thereof ouer-night he shall be sure not to haue his head in good tune vntill noone the morrow after By which examples aboue rehearsed it is plaine in my conceit that the goodnesse of the wine standeth much vpon the soile and the climate and not in the grape so as a needlesse and endlesse matter it is to reduce all kind of wines to a certaine number considering that one and the selfe same Vine planted in diuerse places hath sundrie operations and maketh varietie of wines Now as concerning the wines of Spaine the Laletane vineyards are much spoken of for the plentie and abundance of wine that they yeeld but those of Tarracon Arragon and Laurone are much praised and renowned for the fine and neat wines which they make As for the wines that come out of the Islands and namely the Baleares they are comparable to the very best in Italie I am not ignorant that most men who shall read this Treatise will thinke that I haue omitted and ouerpassed many wines for euery man likes his own and as ones fancie leadeth so goes the voice and the cry and there runs the Hare away It is reported that one of Augustus Caesars freed men reputed for the finest taster that he had about his court and who knew best what would content his pallat and please his tooth vpon a time when he tasted the wine that was for the Emperors bourd at what time as he made a feast said to one of the guests at the table That the said new wine indeed had a new and strange tast and was none of the best and those that were inname howbeit quoth he this is for the Emperors cup and willingly wil he drink of no other notwithstanding it be but a homely wine made hereby in the countrey and not far fetched And now for a finall conclusion of this matter I cannot denie but that there bee other wines which deserue to be numbred among those that are right good and commendable howbeit suffice it shall to haue written of these which by the common opinion and consent of the world are held for the better CHAP. VII ¶ Of Wines beyond-sea IT remaineth now to speake of outlandish Wines beyond the sea First and formost therfore next to those wines renowned by the Poet Homer and whereof we haue written before best esteemed alwaies were the wines of the Islands Thasos and Chios and namely that of Chios which they call Arusium or Aruisium Erasistratus the most famous Physician of his time matched with these the Lesbian wine and his authoritie gaue credite vnto it and this was much about the six hundred yeare after the foundation of Rome But in these daies there is nowine to that of Clazomene euer since that they began to put therto lesse sea-water for to season it than their custome was As for the wine of Lesbos it hath a sent and
may be excused for sowing it as they doe and making saile-cloath thereof in regard of the necessarie traffique they haue into Arabia and India for to fetch in the commodities of those countries what need or reason I pray you hath France so to do Can the Gauls be sorted in the same range with the Egyptians Whether would they go Is it not sufficient that they see the mightie mountaines standing iust between them and the Miditerranean sea Will not this serue to keepe them from Nauigation that on the huge Ocean side they can discouer nothing but the vast Elements of Water and Aire together Howbeit for all this restraint the Cadurci Caletes Rutene and Bituriges the Morini also who are supposed to be the farthest people inhabiting our Continent yea and thoroughout all parts of Fraunce they weaue Line and make Sailes thereof And now adayes also the Flemmings and Hollanders dwelling beyond the Rhene I meane those antient Enemies to the State of our Empire doe the like insomuch as the women there cannot deuise to go more rich and costly in their apparell than to weare fine Linnen The obseruation whereof putteth me in mind of a thing that M. Varro doth report of the whole Race and Familie of the Serrani in which House this Order was precisely kept That there was not a woman amongst them knowne to weare any Linnen about her no not so much as in a smocke next her bare skinne Now in Germanie the spinners and weauers of Linnen doe all their worke in shrouds caues and vaults buried as it were vnder the ground so do they also in Italy and that part of Lombardie that lieth between the Poand Ticinus to wit in the Countrey Aliana where after the Setabines in Castile which is the best there is very fine workemanship of Linnen cloath and may deserue the third place for goodnesse thoroughout all Europe For the Retovines bordering hard vpon the foresaid Allianes and the Faventines who inhabit the broad port-way Aemilia are to be ranged in a second degree and next to the Setabines for the fine Linnen which they make And in very truth this Fauentine cloth is alwaies far whiter than the Allian which is ordinarily brown when it is new wouen and before it be bleached Like as the Retovine is exceeding fine thick wouen withall and besides not inferior in whitenesse to the Fauentine howbeit no nap or down it carieth a thing which as there be some who do greatly praise and like so there be others again discommend and dislike as much As touching the thred it selfe that they make of their Flax it is more euen if euener may be than that which the Spider spinneth so neruous also and strong withall that if a man list to make triall thereof with his teeth it will giue a twang and ring again like a Lute-string and therefore it carrieth a double price to other As touching the Spanish Flax and namely that which Aragon and Cartalogna doth yeeld it is passing faire and white by reason of a certain brook or running water passing vnder Tarracon wherein it is watered the nature whereof is to giue it a singular brightnesse aboue the rest Wonderous fine it is and runneth into a dainty small thred for there first was deuised the fine Cypres or Lawne and the curtains thereof It is not long ago since out of the same parts of high Spaine there was brought into Italy the flax of Zoela most commodious meet for hunters to make great nets and toile A maritime city this Zoela is in Gallitia scituat neere the ocean There is excellent good Line also to be found at Cumes in Campaine within Italy which serueth very well for snares and small nets to take fishes and to catch birds with The same also yeeldeth matter and stuffe for the great cord-nets abouesaid for wote wel this that Flax fitteth our turns as well to snare and intrap all other beasts as it doth to indanger our own selues vpon the sea But of all others the toile made of Cumes flaxen cords are so strong that the wild bore falling into it wil be caught and no maruell for these kind of nets will checke the very edge of a sword or such like weapon I my selfe haue seene so fine and small a thred that a whole net knit thereof together with the cords and strings called Courants running along the edges to draw it in and let it out would passe all through the ring of a mans finger I haue known one man also carry so many of them easily as would go about compasse a whole forest But this is not the greatest wonder of them for more than so euery one of these threds that went to the making of the mashes was twisted 150 double and euen of late daies Iulius Lupus who died Lord Deputy or Gouernor of Egypt had such This may well seem a maruell incredible to those who neither knew nor saw the net-worke Habergeon or Curet of Amasis a king somtime of Egypt which was shewed of late daies within the temple of Minerua in the Isle of the Rhodians euery thred whereof carried a twist 365 double Certes Mutianus a man of good credit as who had bin thrice confull of Rome hath related so much at Rome vpon his owne knowledge for wheras there remained yet certaine small reliques and little pieces therof it was his hap of late to meet with some of them and by his owne triall to find that true which hac bin reported by others And verily great pittie it is that such an excellent rich and rare peece of work as it was should thus come to nothing by mens iniurious handling of it raueling out the threds as they haue don for to see the proose of the thing But to returne againe to our flax of Italy That which groweth in the Pelignians countrey is at this day in great account and request how beit none vse it but the Fullers There is not a whiter flax to be found indeed resembling wool nearer than this flax Like as for quilts ticks and mattrasses the flax of the Cadurei in France had no fellow for surely the inuention therof as also of flox to stuffe them with came out of France As for vs here in Italy euen as our maner was in old time te lie and sleep vpon straw-beds chaffy couches so at this day wee vse to call our pailers still by the name of Stramenta The Line or flax of Egypt is nothing strong howbeit the people there do raise exceeding great gaine and profit thereof And foure distinct kinds thereof are knowne according to the names of the sundry countries where they grow to wit Taniticum Pelusiacum Buticum and Tentyriticum Moreouer in the higher parts of Egypt which bend toward Arabia there groweth a certaine shrub or bush carrying cotton which some call Gossypium others Xylon and the linnen therof made they therefore cal Xylina This plant is
foggie and mistie with the dewes rising from the riuer Nilus Moreouer certain floures there be that are sweet and pleasant enough yet they stuffe and fil the head Others so long as they be fresh and green haue no smel at all for the excessiue abundance of moisture within them as we may perceiue in Fenigreek which the Grecians call Buceros Many floures cast a quick and liuely smel and yet are not without good store of juice but moist enough as violets roses and saffron but such as are destitute of such moisture and yet their sent is piercing and penetrant they all of them be of a strong sauor also as for example the Lilly of both kinds Sothernwood Marjeram haue a hot and strong sauor Some herbs there be which yeeld no smel nor goodnes at all but in their floure only for all their other parts be dul and good for nothing as violets and roses Of garden herbes the strongest of smel be alwaies dry as Rue Mints and Ach or Parsley likewise are all such as grow in dry places Some fruits the elder they be and the longer kept the sweeter is their sauor as Quinces and the same Quinces degard smell better when they be gathered than if they hung stil vpon the tree and so preserued Others there are that vnles they be broken bruised rubbed and crushed haue no smell and ye shall haue those that cast no sent at all vnlesse their rind or bark be taken off as also such as except they be cast into the fire and burnt yeeld no sauor as Frankincense and Myrrhe Furthermore all floures being bruised are more bitter than they were vntouched and vnhandled Some after they be dry retain their odor longest as the Melilot There are that make the place sweeter where they grow as the floure de lis insomuch as it persumeth the whole tree whatsoeuer it is the roots whereof it toucheth The herb Hesperis smels more by night than day whereupon that name was deuised There are no liuing creatures which yeeld from their bodies a sweet sauor vnlesse we giue credit to that which hath bin reported of the Panthers Furthermore this would not be passed ouer as touching the difference of odoriferous plants and their floures in this respect that many of them are neuer imployed to the making of Guirlands and chaplets as namely the Floure-de-lis and Nard Celticke Saliunca which although they yeeld both of them an excellent sauor yet are not vsed that way But as for the Flour-de-lis it is the root only therof that is comfortable for the odor as if Nature had made the plant it selfe to serue only for physick vses and compositions of sweet perfumes The best Floure-de-lis is that which groweth in Illyricum or Sclauonia and not in all parts thereof not I say in the maritime coasts but farther vp into the main among the mountaines and forrests of Drilo and Narona The next to it in goodnes commeth out of Macedon and it hath the longest root of all others but slender withall and whitish In the third place is to be ranged the flour-de-lis of Africk or Barbary which as it is the biggest in hand so is it also the bitterest in tast As touching the Illyrian Ireos there be two sorts of it namely Rhaphanitis which is the better of the twain so called for the resemblance that it hath to the Radish root The second they name Rhizotomos and it is somwhat reddish In sum the best Ireos if a man do but touch it wil prouoke sneesing The stem of the Flour-de-lis groweth streight and vpright to the height of a cubit The floure is of diuers colours like as we see in the rainebow whereupon it took the name Iris. The Ireos of Pisidia is not reiected but held to be very good Moreouer they vse in Sclavonia to be very ceremonious in digging vp the root of flour-de-lis for 3 moneths before they purpose to take it forth of the ground the manner is to poure meade or honied water round about the root in the place where it groweth hauing before-hand drawne a threefold circle with a swords point as it were to curry fauor with the Earth make some satisfaction for breaking it vp and robbing her of so noble a plant and no sooner is it forth of the ground but presently they hold it vp alost toward heauen This root is of a feruent caustick nature for in the very handling it raiseth pimples and blisters in maner of a burn vpon their hands that gather it Another ceremonie also they haue in gathering thereof for none must come about this worke but such as haue liued chast and not touched a woman this I say aboue all is obserued most precisely This root aboue all others is most subiect to the worme for not onely when it is dry but also while it is within the earth it quickly commeth to be worme-eaten In old time the best Irinum or oile of Ireos was brought from the cape of Leucas and the city of Elis in Boeotia for planted it hath bin in those parts many a yeare But now there is excellent good commeth out of Pamphylia howbeit that of Silicia and namely from the Septentrionall parts is most highly commended As for the plant Saliunca or Nard Celtick ful of leaues verily it is yet they be so short that handsomly they canot be knit and twisted for garlands a number of roots it putteth forth to which the floure or herbe groweth close for surely a man would iudge it all herbe rather than floure as if it were platted and pressed flat to the root with ones hand and in one word resembling a very thick tuft of grasse by it selfe This herb groweth in Austria and Hungarie also among the Morici and the Alps on the Sun side As for that which commeth vp about the citie Eporrhedia it is so pleasant and odoriferous that there is as much seeking after it as if it were some precious mettall and it yeeldeth a reuenue to the City no lesse than some mettall mine And in very truth a singular herbe it is in a wardrobe to lie among good cloathes for to get them a most pleasant and commendable smell Another plant there is which the Greekes vse likewise in their Wardrobes called Polium This herbe Musaeus and Hesiodus the Poets extoll and set out to the highest degree for they report that it is good for all things that it shall be imployed about but principally that it auaileth much to win men fame renown promotions and dignities Ouer and aboue which vertues miraculous it is if it be true which they say that the leaues thereof in the morning seeme white about noon purple and at the Sun-setting blew Two kinds there be of it one groweth in the plains champian grounds and is the greater another in the woods and is the lesse Some call it Teuthrion The leaues resemble the gray haires of an old man springing directly from the root
Winter are confused and corrupt And this is the reason also that lightnings are common in our Italie for that the aire being more moueable and wauering by reason of a kinder Winter and a cloudie Summer is alwaies of the temperature of Spring or Autumne In those parts also of Italy which lie off from the North and encline to warmth as namely in the tract about Rome and Campania it lightneth in Winter and Summer alike which happeneth in no other part thereof CHAP. LI. ¶ Sundry sorts of Lightnings and Wonders thereof VErie many kindes of Lightnings are set downe by Authors Those that come drie burne not at all but onely dissipate and disperse They that come moist burne not neither but blast things and make them looke duskish Now a third kinde there is which they call Bright and Cleare and that is of a most strange and wonderfull nature whereby tuns and such like vessels are drawne drie and their sides hoops and heads neuer toucht therewith or hurt nor any other shew and token thereof is left behinde Gold copper and siluer money is melted in the bags and yet the very bags no whit scorched no nor the wax of the seale hurt and defaced or put out of order Martia a noble Ladie of Rome being great with childe was strucke with lightning the childe she went withall was killed within her and she without any harme at all liued still Among the Catiline prodigies it is found vpon Record that M. Herennius a Counsellor and States-man of the incorporate towne Pompeianum was in a faire and cleare day smitten with Lightning CHAP. LII ¶ Of obseruations as touching Lightning THe Antient Tuscanes by their learning do hold that there be nine gods that send forth Lightnings and those of eleuen sorts for Iupiter say they casteth three at once The Romans haue obserued two of them and no more attributing those in the day time to Iupiter and them in the night to Summanus or Pluto And these verily be more rare for the cause aforenamed namely the coldnesse of the aire aboue In Hetruria they suppose that lightnings break also out of the earth which they call Infera i. Infernall and such be made in Mid-winter And these they take to be terrene and earthly and of all most mischieuous and execrable neither be those generall and vniuersall lightnings nor proceeding from the stars but from a very neere and more troubled cause And this is an euident argument for distinction that all such as fall from the vpper skie aboue strike aslant and side-wise but those which they call earthly smite straight and directly But the reason why these are thought to issue forth of the earth is this because they fall from out of a matter nearer to the earth forasmuch as they leaue no markes of a stroke behind which are occasioned by force not from beneath but comming full against Such as haue searched more subtilly into these matters are of opinion that these lightnings come from the Planet Saturne like as the burning lightning from Mars And with such lightning was Volsinij a most welthy citie of the Tuscanes burnt full and whole to ashes Moreouer the Tuscanes call those lightnings Familiar which presage the fortune of some race and are significant during their whole life and such are they that come first to any man after he is newly entred into his owne patrimonie or familie How beit their iudgement is that these priuat lightnings are not of importance and fore-tokening aboue ten yeres vnlesse they happen either vpon the day of first mariage or of wedding As for publique lightnings they be not of force aboue 30 yeares except they chance at the very time that townes or colonies be erected and planted CHAP. LIII ¶ Of raising or calling out Lightnings by Coniuration IT appeareth vpon record in Chronicles that by certaine sacrifices and prayers Lightnings may be either compelled or easily intreated to fall vpon the earth There goeth a report of old in Hetruria that such a lightning was procured by exorcismes and coniurations when there entered into the citie Volsinij after all the territory about it was destroyed a monster which they named Volta Also that another was raised and coniured by Porsenna their King Moreouer L. Piso a writer of good credit reporteth in his first booke of Annales that Numa before him practised the same feat many a time and often and when Tullus Hostilius would haue imitated him and done the like for that he obserued not all the ceremonies accordingly was himselfe strucke and killed with lightning And for this purpose sacred groues we haue and altars yea and certaine sacrifices due thereto And among the Iupiters surnamed Statores tonantes and Feretrij we haue heard that one also was called Elicius Sundry and diuers are mens opinions as touching this point and euery man according to his owne liking and fancie of his minde To beleeue that Nature may be forced and commanded is a very audacious and bold opinion but it is as blockish on the other side and sencelesse to make her benefits of no power and effect considering that in the interpretation of Lightning men haue thus farre forth proceeded in skill and knowledge as to foretell when they will come at a set and prescript day and whether they will fordoe and frustrate the dangers pronounced or rather open other destinies which lie hidden and an infinite sort of publicke and priuat experiments of both kinds are to be found And therefore since it hath so pleased Nature let some men be resolued herein and others doubtfull some may allow thereof and others condemne the same As for vs we will not omit the rest which in these matters are worth remembrance CHAP. LIIII ¶ Generall rules of Lightning THat the Lightning is seene before the Thunderclap is heard although they come indeed iointly both together it is certainely knowne And no maruell for the eye is quicker to see light than the eare to heare a sound And yet Nature doth so order the number and measure that the stroke and the sound should accord together But when there is a noise it is a signe of the lightning proceeding of some naturall cause and not sent by some god and yet euermore this is a breath or winde that commeth before the thunderbolt and hereupon it is that euery thing is shaken and blasted ere it be smitten neither is any man stricken who either saw the lightning before or heard the thunderclap Those lightnings that are on the left hand be supposed to be luckie and prosperous for that the East is the left side of the world but the coming therof is not so much regarded as the return whether the fire leap back after the stroke giuen or whether after the deed done and fire spent the spirit and blast abouesaid retire backe againe In that respect the Tuscans haue diuided the heauen into 16 parts The first is from the North to the Suns rising in the Equinoctiall
somtime called Pedasus where the Parliament and Terme is holden and whereof the gulfe is named Adramitteos Other riuers be there besides to wit Astron Cormalos Eryannos Alabastros and Hieros out of Ida. Within-forth be Gargara a towne and â—…ill both And then again toward the sea side Antandros before-time called Edonis then Cymeris and Assos which also is Apollonia Long since also there was a towne called Palamedium After all these you come vpon the cape Leolon the middle frontier between Aeolus and Troas And there had bin in antient time the city Polymedia and Cryssa with another Laryssa also As for the Temple Smintheum it remaineth still But farther within the towne Colone that was is now decayed and gon and the traffique and negotiation in all affaires turned from thence to Adramytteum Now as touching the territorie of the Apolloniates after you be past the riuer Rhyndicus you finde these States the Eresians Miletopolites Poemanenes Macedonians Aschilacae Polychnaei Pionites Cilices and Mandagandenes In Mysia the Abrettines and those called Hellespontij besides those of base account and estimation The first city you encounter in Troas is Amaxitus then Cebrenia and Troas it selfe named also Antigonia now Alexandria and is entituled a Roman Colony Beyond Troas standeth the towne Nee there runneth also Scamander a riuer nauigable and Sigaeum a Towne sometime vpon the cape so called At length you come to the hauen of the Greeks into which Xanthus and Somoe is runne ioyntly together as also Palae-Scamander but first it maketh a lake The rest that Homer so much speaks of namely Rhaesius Heptaporus Caresus and Rhodius there is no mention or token remaining of them as for the riuer Granicus it runneth from diuers parts into the chanel of Propontis Yet there is at this day a little city called Scamandria and one mile and a halfe from the port or sea the free city Ilium that enioyeth many immunties and liberties of which towne goeth all that great name Without this gulfe lieth the coast Rhoetea inhabited with these townes vpon it namely Rhoeteum Dardanium and Arisbe There stood sometimes also Acheleum a towne neere vnto the tombe of Achilles founded first by the Mityleneans and afterwards re-edified by the Athenians vpon the Bay Sigaeum vnder which his fleet rode at anchor There also was Acantium built by the Rhodians in another coine or canton of that coast where Aiax was interred a place thirty stadia distant from Sigaeum and the very Bay wherein his fleet also lay at harbour Aboue Aeolis and one part of Troas within the Continent and firme land there is the towne called Teuthrania which the Mysians in old time held And there springeth Caicus the riuer aboue said A large countrey this is of it selfe and especially when it was vnited to Mysia and all so called containing in it Pioniae Andera Caâ—…e Stabulum Conisium Tegium Balcea Tiare Teuthrane Sarnaca Haliserne Lycide Parthenium Thymbrum Oxiopum Lygdanum Apollonia and Pergamus the goodliest city of them all by many degrees through it passeth the riuer Selinus and Caetius runneth hard vnder it issuing out of the mountain Pindasus And not far from thence is Elea which as we said standeth vpon the strond And verily all that tract and iurisdiction is of that city named Perganena To the Parliament and judiciall Assises there resort the Thyatyrenes Mygdones Mossines Bregmenteni Hieracomitae Perpereni Tyareni Hierapolenses Harmatapolites Attalenses Pantaenses Apollonidenses and other pety cities of no name and account As for Dardanium a pretty towne it is threescore and ten stadia from Rhoeteum Eighteene miles from thence is the cape Trapeza where the sea beginneth to rush roughly into the streight Hellespont Eratosthenes mine Authour saith That the cities of the Solymi Leleges Bebrices Colycantij and Trepsedores somtime flourished but now are vtterly perished Isidorus reporteth as much of the Arymeos and Capretae the very place where Apamia was built by Seleucus betweene Cilicia Cappadocia Cataonia and Armenia and for that he had vanquished most fierce and cruell nations at the first he named it Damea CHAP. XXXI ¶ The Islands lying before little Asia and in the Pamphylian sea Also Rhodus Samus and Chios THe first Island of Asia is iust against the mouth or channell of Nilus called Canopicus of Canopus asmen say the Pilot of K. Menelaus The second is Pharus which is ioined to Alexandria by a bridge in old time it was a daies sailing from Aegypt to it and now by fires from a watch-tower sailers are directed in the night along the coast of Egypt Caesar Dictator erected therein a colony And in truth it serueth in right good stead as a Lanthorne for the hauens about Alexandriâ—… bevery dangerous and deceitfull by reason of the barres and shelues in the sea and there are but three chanels and no more by which a man may passe safely to Alexandria to wit Tegamum Posideum and Taurus Next to that Isle in the Phoenician sea before Ioppa lies Paria an Isle of no great compasse for it is all one town This is the place folke say where lady Andromeda was exposed and cast out to a monster Moreouer Aredos the Isle before named between which and the Continent there is a fountaine as Mutianus writeth in the sea where it is fifty cubits deep out of which fresh water is drawne and conueighed from the very bottome of the sea through pipes made of leather As for the Pamphylian sea it hath some smal Islands of little or no reckoning In the Cicilian sea there is Cyprus one of the fiue greatest in those parts and it lieth East and West full against Cilicia and Syria The Seate it was in times past whereunto nine Kingdomes did homage and of which they held Timosthenes saith That it contained in circuit foure hundred and nineteene miles and an halfe but Isidorus is of opinion that it is but three hundred seuenty fiue miles about The ful length thereof betweene the two capes Dinaretas and Acamas which is Southward Artemidorus reporteth to be a hundred and sixtie miles and a halfe and Timosthenes two hundred who saith besides that sometime it was called Acamantis according to Philonides Cerastis after Xenagoras Aspelia Amathusia and Macatia Astynomus calleth it Cryptos and Colinia Townes there be in it fifteene Paphos and Palepaphos that is Paphos the new and Paphos the old Curias Citium Corineum Salamis Amathus Lepathos Soloe Tamaseus Epidarum Chytri Arsinoe Carpasium and Golgi There were in it besides Cinirya Marium and Idalium but now are they come to nothing And from the cape Anemurium in Cilicia it is fifty miles distant All that sea which lieth betweene it and Cilicia they call Aulon Cilicium that is to say The plaine of Cilicia In this tract is the Island Elaeusa and foure others besides euen before the cape named Clides ouer-against Syria Likewise one more named Stiria at the other cape or point of Cilicia Moreouer against Neampaphos i. new Paphos
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
city Alexandropolis bearing the name of Alexander the first founder CHAP. XXVI Media Mesopotamia Babylon and Seleucia REquisit now it is and needfull in this place to describe the positure and situation of the Medians kingdom and to discouer all those countries round about as farre as to the Persian sea to the end that the description of other regions hereafter to be mentioned may the better be vnderstood Wherein this first and formost is to be obserued that the kingdome of Media on the one side or other confronteth both Persis and Parthia and casting forth a crooked and winding horne as it were toward the West seemeth to enclose within that compasse both the said realmes Neuerthelesse on the East side it confineth vpon the Parthians and Caspians on the South Sittacene Susiane and Persis Westward Adiabene and Northward Armenia as for the Persians they alwaies confronted the red sea whereupon it was called the Persian gulfe Howbeit the maritime coast thereof is called Cyropolis and that part which confineth vpon Media Elymais In this realme there is a strong fort called Megala in the ascent of a steep high hill so direct vpright that a man must mount vp to it by steps and degrees and otherwise the passage is very streight and narrow And this way leadeth to Persepolis the head city of the whole kingdome which Alexander the great caused to be rased Moreouer in the frontiers of this Realme standeth the city Laodicea built by king Antiochus From whence as you turn into the East the strong fort or castle Passagarda is seated which the sages or wise men of Persia called Magi do hold and therein is the tomb of Cyrus Also the citie Ecbatana belonging to these sages which Darius the king caused to be translated to the mountaines Between the Parthians and the Arians lie out in length the Parotacenes These nations and the riuer Euphrates serue to limit and bound the seuen lower realmes abouenamed Now are we to discourse of the parts remainitg behind of Mesopotamia setting a side one point and corner thereof as also the nations of Arabia wherof we spake in the former booke This Mesopotamia was in times past belonging wholly to the Assyrians dispersed into pettie villages and burgades all saue Babylon Ninus The Macedonians were the first that after it came vnder their hands reduced it into great cities for the goodnesse and plenty of their soile and territorie For now besides the abouenamed townes it hath in it Seleucia Laodicea and Artemita likewise within the quarters of the Arabians named Aroei Mardani Antiochea and that which being founded by Nicanor gouernor of Mesopotamia is called Arabis Vpon these ioine the Arabians but well within the countrey are the Eldamarij And aboue them is the citie Bura situat vpon the riuer Pelloconta beyond which are the Salmanes and Maseans Arabians Then there joine to the Gordiaeans those who are called Aloni by whom the riuer Zerbis passeth and so discharged into Tigris Neere vnto them are the Azones and Silices mountainers together with the Orentians vpon whom confronteth the city Gaugamela on the West side Moreouer there is Sue among the rocks aboue which are the Sylici and Classitae through whom Lycus the riuer runneth out of Armenia Also toward the Southeast Absitris and the town Azochis Anon you come down into the plains champion country where you meet with these towns Diospage Positelia Stratonicea Anthemus As for the city Nicephorium as we haue already said it is seated neer to the riuer Euphrates where Alexander the great caused it to be founded for the pleasant seat of the place and the commodity of the country there adioining Of the city Apamia we haue before spoken in the description of Zeugma from which they that goe Eastward meet with a strong fortified town in old time carrying a pourprise compasse of 65 stadia called the royall pallace of their great dukes potentates named Satrapae vnto which from all quarters men resorted to pay their imposts customs and tributes but now it is come to be but a fort and castle of defence But there continue still in their entire and as flourishing state as euer the city Hebata and Oruros to which by the fortunat conduct of Pompey the Great the limits and bounds of the Roman empire were extended and is from Zeugma 250 miles Some writers report that the riuer Euphrates was diuided by a gouernor of Mesopotamia and one arme thereof brought to Gobaris euen in that place where we said it parted in twain which was done for feare lest one day or other the riuer with his violent streame should indanger the city of Babylon They affirme also that the Assyrians generally called it Armalchar which signifieth a royall riuer Vpon this new arme of the riuer aforesaid stood sometime Agrani one of the greatest towns of that region which the Persians caused to be vtterly rased and destroyed As for the city of Babylon the chiefe city of all the Chaldaean nations for a long time carried a great name ouer all the world in regard whereof all the other parts of Mesopotamia and Assyria was named Babylonia it contained within the walls 60 miles the walls were 200 foot high and 50 thick reckoning to euery foot 3 fingers bredth more than our ordinary measure Through the middest of this goodly great city passeth the riuer Euphrates a wonderfull piece of worke if a man consider both the one and the other As yet to this day the temple of Iupiter Belus there stands entire This prince was the first inuenter of Astronomie It is now decayed and lieth waste and vnpeopled for that the city Seleucia stands so neere it which hath drawne from it all resort and traffique and was to that end built by Nicator within 40 miles of it in the very confluent where the new arm of Euphrates is brought by a ditch to meet with Tigris notwithstanding it is named Babylonia a free state at this day and subiect to no man howbeit they liue after the lawes and manners of the Macedonians And by report in this city there are 600000 citisens As for the walls thereof it is said they resemble an Eagle spreading her wings and for the soile there is not a territorie in all the East parts comparable to it in fertilitie The Parthians in despight again of this city and to do the like by it as somtime was done to old Babylon built the city Ctesiphon within three miles of it in the tract called Chalonitis euen to dispeople and impouerish it which is now the head city of that kingdom But when they could do little or no good thereby to discredit the said new Babylon of late dayes Vologesus their king founded another city hard by called Vologeso Certa Moreouer other cities there are besides in Mesopotamia namely Hipparenum a city likewise of the Chaldaeans and innobled for their learning as well as Babylon scituate vpon the riuer Narragon which
infected and to change the colour thereupon Furthermore doubtlesse it is that children breed their fore teeth in the seuenth moneth after they are borne and first those in the vpper chaw for the most part likewise that they shed the same teeth about the seuenth yere of their age others come vp new in the place Certaine it is also that some children are borne into the world with teeth as M. Curius who thereupon was surnamed Dentatus and Cn. Papyrius Carbo both of them very great men and right honourable personages In women the same was counted but an vnlucky thing presaged some misfortune especially in the daies of the KK regiment in Rome for when Valeria was borne toothed the wizards and Soothsayers being consulted thereabout answered out of their learning by way of Prophesie That look into what citie she was caried to nource she should be the cause of the ruine and subuersion thereof whereupon had away shee was and conueied to Suessa Pometia a city at that time most flourishing in wealth and riches and it proued most true in the end for that city was vtterly destroied Cornelia the mother of the Gracchi is sufficient to proue by her own example that women are neuer borne for good whose genitall parts for procreation are growne together and yeeld no entrance Some children are borne with an entire whole bone that taketh vp all the gum instead of a row of distinct teeth as a son of Prusias king of the Bythinians who had such a bone in his vpper chaw This is to be obserued about teeth that they onely check the fire and burn not to ashes with other parts of the body and yet as inuincible as they are and able to resist the violence of the flame they rot and become hollow with a little catarrhe or waterish rheume that droppeth and distilleth vpon them white they may be made with certaine mixtures and medicines called Dentifices Some weare their teeth to the very stumps onely with vse of chawing others againe loose them first out of their head they serue not onely to grind our meat for our daily food and nourishment but necessary also they be for the framing of our speech The fore-teeth stand in good stead to rule and moderate the voice by a certaine consent and tuneable accord answering as it were to the stroke of the tongue and according to that row and ranke of theirs wherein they are set as they are broader or narrower greater or smaller they yeeld a distinction and varietie in our words cutting and hewing them thicke and short framing them pleasant plaine and ready drawing them out at length or smuddering and drowning them in the end but when they bee once falne out of the head man is bereaued of all means of good vtterance and explanation of his words Moreouer there are some presages of good or bad fortune gathered by the teeth men ordinarily haue giuen them by nature 32 in all except the nation of the Turduli They that haue aboue this number may make account as it is thought to liue the longer As for women they haue not so many they that haue on the right side in the vpper iaw two eie-teeth which the Latines call Dogs-teeth may promise themselues the flattering fauors of Fortune as it is well seene in Agrippina the mother of Domitius Nero but contrariwise the same teeth double in the left side aboue is a signe of euill lucke It is not the custome in any countrey to burne in a funerall fire the dead corps of any infant before his teeth be come vp but hereof will we write more at large in the Anatomie of man when wee shall discourse purposely of euerie member and part of the body Zoroastres was the onely man that euer wee could heare of who laughed the same day that he was borne his brain did so euidently pant and beat that it would beare vp their hands that laid them vpon his head a most certain presage fore-token of that great learning that afterward he attained vnto This also is held for certain and resolued vpon that a man at three yeares of age is come to one moitie of his growth and height As also this is obserued for an vndoubted truth that generally all men come short of the ful stature in time past and decrease stil euery day more than other and seldome shall you see the son taller than his father for the ardent heat of the elementarie fire whereunto the world enclineth already now toward the later end as somtimes it stood much vpon the waterie element deuoureth and consumeth that plentifull humor and moisture of naturall seed that engendreth all things and this appeareth more euidently by these examples following In Crete it chanced that an hill claue asunder in an earth-quake and in the chink thereof was found a body standing 46 cubits high some say it was the body of Orion others of Otus We find in chronicles records of good credit that the body of Orestes being taken vp by direction from the Oracles was seuen cubits long And verily that great and famous poet Homer who liued almost 1000 yeres ago complained and gaue not ouer That mens bodies were lesse of stature euen then than in old time The Annales set not downe the stature and bignesse of Naevius Pollio but that he was a mighty gyant appeareth by this that is written of him namely that it was taken for a wonderfull strange thing that in a great rout presse of people that came running together vpon him he had like to haue bin killed The tallest man that hath bin seen in our age was one named Gabbara who in the daies of prince Claudius late Emperor was brought out of Arabia nine foot high was hee and as many inches There were in the time of Augustus Caesar 2 others named Pusio and Secundilla higher than Gabbara by halfe a foot whose bodies were preserued and kept for a wonder in a charnell house or sepulchre within the gardens of the Salustians Whiles the same Augustus sate as president his niece Iulia had a little dwarfish fellow not aboue 2 foot and a hand bredth high called Conopas whom she set great store by and made much of as also another she dwarfe named Andromeda who somtime had been the slaue of Iulia the princesse and by her made free M. Varro reporteth that Manius Maximus and M. Tullius were but two cubits high yet they gentlemen and knights of Rome and in truth we our selues haue seen their bodies how they lie embalmed and chested which testifieth no lesse It is well knowne that there be some that naturally are neuer but a foot and a halfe high others again somwhat longer and to this heigth they came in three yeres which is the full course of their age and then they die Wee reade moreouer in the Chronicles that in Salamis one Euthimenes had a son who in three yeres grew to be three cubits high but
ciuill wars Yet Pompey the great deserues honour more iustly for scouring the seas and taking from the rouers 846 saile of ships But to return again to Caesar ouer and aboue the qualities of worth before rehearsed an especiall property of his owne he had for clemency and mercy wherein he so far forth surmounted all other men that hee repented therof in the end As for his magnanimity it was incomparable and he left such a president behind him as I forbid all men to match or second it For to speake of his sumptuosities of his largesses of the magnificent shewes exhibited to the people the exceeding cost charges therein bestowed with all the stately furniture thereto belonging were a point of him that fauored such lauish expence and superfluities But herein appeared his true hautinesse of mind indeed and that vnmatchable spirit of his that when vpon the battel at Pharsalia as wel the cofers caskets with letters other writings of Pompey as also those of Scipio's before Thapsus came into his hands he was most true to them and burnt all without reading one scrip or scrol CHAP. XXVI ¶ The commendation of Pompey the great AS concerning all the titles and victorious triumphs of Pompey the great wherein hee was equall in renowne and glory not onely to the acts of Alexander the great but also of Hercules in a manner and god Bacchus if I should make mention therof in this place it would redound not to the honour onely of that one man but also to the grandeur and Maiestie of the Roman empire In the first place then after he had recouered Sicily and reduced it vnder obeisance where his first rising was and where hee began to shew himselfe in the quarrell of the Common weale and to side with Sylla hauing also conquered and subdued Africke and raunged it vnder the obedience of Rome where he acquired the surname of Magnus by reason of the great booty and pillage which he brought from thence being no higher of birth and calling than a Roman gentleman or man of armes entred with triumphant chariot into Rome a thing that was neuer seene before in a man of that place and qualitie Immediatly after this he made a voiage into the West and hauing brought vnder obeisance of the Romans 876 great townes which he forced by assault betweene the Alpes and the marches of Spaine he erected trophies and triumphant columnes vpon the mountain Pyrenaeus with the title and inscription of these victorious exploits and neuer made one word of his victorie ouer Sertorius so braue a mind he carried with him And after the ciuill troubles and broiles appeased quenched which drew after them all forreine wars he triumphed againe the second time being as yet but a knight of Rome so oftentimes a generall of command conduct before he euer serued as soldier in the field These famous deeds atchieued sent out he was in another expedition to scoure cleere all the seas and so forward into the East parts From whence he returned with more titles stil of honor to his country after the manner of those that winne victories at the solemne festiuall * Games for as the victors vse not themselues to accept the chaplets and guirlands in their own names but to be crowned therwith in the behalf of their natiue countries euen so Pompeius in that temple which he caused to be built of the bootie and pillage woon from the enemies and dedicated to Minerva entituled the citie with the whole honour and attributed all to them in an inscription or table engrauen in this manner Pompeius the Great Lord Generall hauing finished the warres which continued thirtie yeares during which he had discomfited put to flight slaine or receiued to mercie vpon submission 2183000 men sunke or taken 846 saile woon and brought to his deuotion of cities townes and castles to the number of 1538 subdued and put vnder subiection all lands and Nations betweene the lake Maeotis and the red sea hath dedicated of right and good desert this temple to Minerva This is the briefe and summarie of his seruice in the East As for the triumph wherin he rode the third day before the Calends of October in the yeare wherein M. Messala and M. Piso were Consuls the tenure and title ran in this form Whereas Cn. Pompeius hath cleared all the sea coasts from Pyrats and rouers and thereby recouered vnto the people of Rome the lordship and soueraignetie of the seas and withall subdued Pontus Armenia Paphlagonia Cappadocia Cilicia Syria the Scythians Iudaea and the Albanois the Island Creta and the Bastarnians hath triumphed ouer them all as also for the vanquishing of the 2 kings Mithridates and Tigranes But the greatest glorie of all glories in him was this as himselfe deliuered openly in a ful assembly at what time as he discoursed of his owne exploits That whereas Asia when he receiued it was the vtmost frontier prouince and limit of the Roman Empire hee left the same in the very heart mids therof and so deliuered it vp to his countrey Now if a man would set Caesar on the other side against him likewise rehearse his noble acts who indeed of the two seemed greater in the sight of the world he had need verily to fetch a circuit about the world and comprehend the whole globe thereof which were an infinit piece of work and in all reason impossible CHAP. XXVII ¶ The praise of Cato the first of that name IN sundry other kindes of vertues many men haue diuersly excelled But Cato the first of the Porcian house was thought to be the only person who was able to perform three things in the highest degree that are most commendable in a man For first and formost he was a singular good Oratour secondly a most braue captaine and renowned commander in the field and last of all a right worthy Senatour and approued counsellor And yet in my conceit all these excellent parts seeme to haue shined more bright although he came after the other in Scipio Aemylianus To say nothing of this blessed gift besides that he was not hated and spighted of so many men as Cato was But if you will seeke for one especiall thing in Cato by himselfe this is reported of him That he was judicially called to his answer 44 times and neuer was there man accused oftner than he yet went he euer cleare away and was acquit CHAP. XXVIII ¶ Of Valour and Fortitude AN endlesse peece of worke it were to know and set downe who bare the prize for valiancy namely if we admit the fabulous tales of poets As for the poet Ennius he had in greatest admiration T. Caecilius Teucer and especially his brother and in regard of those two he compiled the sixt booke of his Annales to the rest But L. Siccius Dentatus a Tribune of the Commons not long after the banishment of the kings when Sp. Tarpetus and A. Aeterinus were
Catiline to flight and banished him the city thou and none but thou didst out-law M. Antonius and put him out of the protection of the State All haile therefore O M. Tullius faire chieue thee thou that first was saluted by the name of Parens patriae i. Father of thy countrey first that deserued triumpth in thy long robe the laurel garland for thy language the only father indeed of eloquence of the Latin tongue and as Caesar Dictator somtime thine enemy hath written of thee hast deserued a crown aboue all other triumphs by how much more praise-worthy it is to haue amplified and set out the bounds and limits of Roman wit and learning than of Roman ground and dominion CHAP. XXXI ¶ Of a certaine Maiestie in behauiour and cariage THose who among other gifts of the minde haue surpassed other men in sage aduise and wisdome were thereupon at Rome surnamed Cati and Corculi In Greece Socrates carried the name away from all the rest being deemed by the Oracle of Apollo Pythius the wisest man of all others CHAP. XXXII ¶ Of Authoritie AGaine Chilo the Lacedemonian was of so great reputation among men that his sayings were held for Oracles and three precepts of his were written in letters of gold consecrated in the temple of Apollo at Delphi where the first was this Know thy selfe the second Set thy minde too much on nothing The third Debt and Law are alwaies accompanied with misery His hap was to die for ioy vpon tidings that his son wan the best prize and was crowned victour at the solemne game Olympia and when he should be interred all Greece did him honour and solemnized his Funerals CHAP. XXXIII ¶ Persons of a diuine spirit and heauenly nature AMong women Sybilla was excellent at diuination and for a certaine fellowship and societie with coelestiall wights of great name As for men among the Greeks Melampus and with vs Romans Martius carried as great an opinion CHAP. XXXIV ¶ Scipio Nasica SCipio Nasica was iudged once by the Senat sworne to speak without passion and affection to be the best honestest man that euer was from the beginning of the world howbeit the same man as vpright as he was suffered a repulse and disgrace at the peoples hands in his white Robe when he sued for a dignity and to conclude in the end his hap was not to depart this life in his owne countrey no more than it was the will of God that Socrates the wisest man so deemed by the Oracle of Apollo should die out of prison CHAP. XXXV ¶ Of Chastitie SVlpitia daughter of Paterculus and wife to Fulvius Flaccus by al the voices in general of Roman dames carried away the prize for continencie and was elected out of the hundred principall matrons of Rome to dedicate and consecrate the image of Venus according to and ordinance out of Sybils bookes Claudia likewise was by a religious and deuout experiment proued to be such another at what time as she brought the mother of the gods Cybele to Rome CHAP. XXXVI ¶ Of Pietie or kindnesse IN all parts verily of the world there haue been found infinite examples of naturall loue and affection but one example thereof at Rome hath been knowne singular aboue all others and incomparable There was a poore young woman of the common sort and therefore base and of no account who lately had been in childbed whose mother was condemned to perpetuall prison and there lay for some great offence that she had committed this daughter of hers and young nource aforesaid obtained leaue to haue accesse vnto her mother and euermore by the gaoler was narrowly searched for bringing to her any victuall because her iudgment was to be famished to death thus she went and came so long vntill at last she was found suckling of her mother with the milke of her breasts This was reputed for such a strange and wondrous example that the mother was released and giuen to the daughter for her rare piety and kindnes both of them had a pension out of the city allowed them for their amintenance for euer and the place where this hapned was consecrated to Pietie in so much as when C. Quintius and M. Acilius were Consuls there was a temple to her built in the very place where this prison stood iust whereas now standeth the Theatre of Marcellus The father of the Gracchi happened to light vpon and take two serpents within his house whereupon he sent out to the Sooth-sayers for to know what this thing might presage who made this answer That if he would himselfe liue the female snake should be killed Nay marry qd he not so but rather kill the male for my wife Cornelia is yong enough and may haue more children This said he meaning to spare his wiues life in consideration of the good she might do to the common-weale And in truth like as the wizards prophesied so it fell out soone after and their words tooke effect M. Lepidus so entirely loued his wife Apuleia that he died for very thought and griefe of heart after shee was diuorced from him and turned away P. Rutilius chanced to be somewhat ill at ease and sickish but hearing of his brothers repulse and that hee was put by his Consulship for which he stood in suit died suddenly for sorrow P. Catienus Philotimus so loued his Lord and master that notwithstanding he was by him made his sole heire of all that euer he had yet for kind heart cast himselfe into the funerall fire to be burnt with him CHAP. XXXVII ¶ Of diuers excellent men in many Arts and Sciences and namely in Astrologie Grammer and Geometrie IN the skill and knowledge of sundry Sciences an infinit number of men haue excelled howbeit we wil but take the very floure of them all and touch those only whom meet it is to be named for their speciall desert In Astrologie Berosus was most cunning in so much as the Atheniens for his diuine predictions and prognostications caused his statue with a golden tongue to be erected in the publicke schoole of their Vniuersitie For Grammer Apollodorus was singular and therefore was highly honored of the States of Greece called Amphictyones In Physicke Hippocrates excelled so far forth as by his skill hee foretold of a pestilence that should come out of Sclauonia and for to cure and remedie the same sent forth his disciples and schollers to all the cities about In recompence of which good desert of his all Greece by a publick decree ordained for him the like honors as vnto Hercules For the very same cunning and science king Ptolomae gaue vnto Cleombrotus of Cea at the solemne feast holden in the honour of the great mother of the gods a hundred talents and namely for curing the king Antiochus Critobulus likewise acquired and got himselfe a great name for drawing an arrow forth of king Philips eie and curing the wound when he had don so as the sight remained
the Lionesse hath done a fault that way she either goeth to a riuer and washeth away the strong and ranke sauor of the Pard or else keepeth aloofe and followeth the Lion afar off that he may not catch the said smell I see it is commonly held that the Lionesse brings forth yong but once in her life for that her whelps in her kinling teare her belly with their nailes and make themselues roome that way Aristotle writeth otherwise a man whom I cannot name but with great honour and reuerence and whom in the historie and report of these matters I meane for the most part to follow And in very truth King Alexander the Great of an ardent desire that he had to know the natures of all liuing creatures gaue this charge to Aristotle a man singularly accomplished with all kinds of science and learning to search into this matter and to set down the same in writing and to this effect commanded certaine thousands of men one or other throughout all the tract as well of Asia as Greece to giue their attendance and obey him to wit all Hunters Falconers Fowlers and Fishers that liued by those professions Item all Forresters Park-keepers and Wariners all such as had the keeping of heards and flockes of cattell of bee-hiues fish-pooles stewes and ponds as also those that kept vp fowle tame or wild in mew those that fed poultry in barton or coup to the end that he should be ignorant of nothing in this behalfe but be aduertised by them according to his Commission of all things in the world By his conference with them he collected so much as thereof hee compiled those excellent bookes de Animalibus i. of Liuing creatures to the number almost of 50. Which being couched by me in a narrow roome and briefe summary with addition also of some things which he neuer knew I beseech the Readers to take in good worth and for the discouerie and knowledge of all Natures works which that most noble and famous King that euer was desired so much to know to make a short start abroad with me and in a briefe discourse by mine own pains and diligence digested to see all To return now vnto our former matter That great philosopher Aristotle therefore reporteth That the Lionesse at her first litter bringeth forth fiue whelps and euery yeare after fewer by one and when she commeth to bring but one alone she giueth ouer and is barren Her whelps at the first are without shape like small gobbets of flesh no bigger than weesels When they are six moneths old they can hardly go and for the two first they stir not at all Lions there be also in Europe only between the riuers Achelous and Nestus and these verily be far stronger than those of Africke or Syria Moreouer there are two kinds of Lions the one short wel trussed and compact with more crisp and curled mains but these are timerous and cowards to them that haue long and plain haire for those passe not for any wounds whatsoeuer The Lions lift vp a leg when they pisse as dogs do and moreouer they haue a strong and stinking breath their very body also smelleth rank Seldom they drink and eate but each other day and if at any time they feed til they be full they wil abstain from meat three daies after In their feeding whatsoeuer they can swallow without chewing downe it goes whole and if they finde their gorge and stomacke too full and not able indeed to receiue according to their greedy appetite they thrust their pawes down their throats and with their crooked clees fetch out some of it again to the end they should not be heauy and slow vpon their fulnesse if haply they be put to find their feet and fly Mine Author Aristotle saith moreouer That they liue very long and hee proueth it by this argument That many of them are found toothlesse for very age Polybius who accompanied Scipio Aemylianus in his voiage of Africke reporteth of them That when they be growne aged they will prey vpon a man the reason is because their strength will not hold out to pursue in chase any other wild beasts then they come about the cities and good towns of Africke lying in wait for their prey if any folk come abroad and for that cause he saith that while hee was with Scipio hee saw some of them crucified and hanged vp to the end that vpon the sight of them other Lions should take example and be skarred from doing the like mischiefe The Lion alone of all wilde beasts is gentle to those that humble themselues vnto him and will not touch any such vpon their submission but spareth what creature soeuer lieth prostrate before him As fell and furious as he is otherwhiles yet he dischargeth his rage vpon men before he sets vpon women and neuer preyeth on babes vnlesse it be for extreme hunger They are verily persuaded in Lybia that they haue a certain vnderstanding when any man doth pray or intreat them for any thing I haue heard it reported for a truth by a captiue woman of Getulia which being fled was brought home again to her master that she had pacified the violent fury of many Lions within the woods and forrests by faire language and gentle speech and namely that for to escape their rage shee hath been so hardy as to say she was a silly woman a banished fugitiue a sickly feeble weak creature an humble suiter and lowly suppliant to him the noblest of all other liuing creatures the Soueraigne and commander of all the rest and that she was too base and vnworthy for his glorious Maiestie to prey vpon her Many and diuers opinions are currant according to the sundry occurrences that haue hapned or the inuentions that mens wits haue deuised as touching this matter namely that sauage beasts are dulced and appeased by good words and faire speech as also that fell serpents may be trained and fetched out of their holes by charmes yea and by certaine coniurations and menaces restrained and kept vnder for a punishment but whether it be true or no I see it is not yet by any man set downe or determined To come againe to our Lions the signe of their intent and disposition is their taile like as in horses their eares for these two marks and tokens certainly hath Nature giuen to the most couragious beasts of all others to know their affections by for when the Lion stirs not his taile he is in a good mood gentle mild pleasantly disposed and as if he were willing to be plaied withall but in that fit he is seldome seen for lightly he is alwaies angry At the first when he entreth into his choler he beateth the ground with his taile when he groweth into greater heats he flappeth and jerketh his flanks and sides withall as it were to quicken himselfe and stir vp his angry humour His maine strength lieth in his brest hee maketh not a
to say after the Sunsted in summer All other birds which be as it were of the same race driue their yong ones out of the nest when they be once flidge and put them to it forcing them to flie abroad like as the Rauens also who likewise feed not on flesh only and they likewise when they perceiue their yong once to be strong chase and driue them away farre off Therefore about little villages and hamlets there commonly be not aboue two paire of them at once And about Cranon verily in Thessalie yee shall neuer see aboue one paire of them for the old ones giue place to the yong and fly away There are some diuers and different properties in this bird and that before-named for the Rauens engender before the Sunsted and fot sixtie daies are somwhat ill at ease and troubled with a kind of drought or thirstines especially till such time as the figges be ripe in Autumne and then from that time forward the Crow beginneth to be diseased and sick Rauens for the most part lay fiue egges and the common sort are of opinion that they conceiue and engender at the bill or lay their egges by it and therefore if women great with child chance to eat a Rauens egge they shall be deliuered of their children at the mouth and generally shall haue hard labour if such an egge be but brought into the house where such a great bellied woman be Aristotle denies this and saith that the Rauens conceiue by the mouth no more than the Aegyptian Ibis and he affirmeth that it is nothing else but a wantonnesse which they haue in billing and kissing one another which we see them to doe oftentimes like as the Doues and Pigeons also The Rauens of all other foules seeme to haue a knowledge of their owne significations in presages and fore-tokens for when the mercinarie hired souldiers of Media were all massacred vnder a colour of entertainment and hospitalitie the Rauens flew all away out of Peloponnesus and the region of Attica The worst token of ill lucke that they giue is when in their crying they seeme to swallow in their voice as though they were choked The night birds haue also crooked tallons as the Owles Scritch-Owle Howlets All these see but badly in the day time The Scritch-Owle alwaies betokeneth some heauie newes and is most execrable and accursed and namely in the presages of publick affaires he keepeth euer in desarts and loueth not only such vnpeopled places but also that are horrible and hard of accesse In summe he is the very monster of the night neither crying nor singing out cleare but vttering a certaine heauy groane of dolefull mourning And therefore if he be seen to fly either within cities or otherwise abroad in any place it is not for good but prognosticates some fearfull misfortune Howbeit I my selfe know that he hath sitten vpon many houses of priuat men and yet no deadly accident followed thereupon He neuer flieth directly at ease as hee would himselfe but euermore sidelong or byas as if he were carried away with the wind or somewhat else There fortuned one of them to enter the very secret sanctuarie within the Capitoll at Rome in that yeare when Sex Papellio Ister and L. Pedanius were Consuls whereupon at the Nones of March the city of Rome that yeare made generall processions to appease the wrath of the gods and was solemnly purged by sacrifices CHAP. XIII ¶ Of the bird Incendiaria THis fire-bird Incendiaria is likewise vnlucky and as our Chronicles and Annals doe witnesse in regard of her the city of Rome many a time hath made solemne supplications to pacifie the gods and to auert their displeasure by her portended As for example when L. Cassius and C. Marius were Consuls in that very yeare when by occasion of a Scritch-Owle seene the city likewise was purged by sacrifice as is aboue said and the people fell to their prayers deuotions But what bird this should be neither do I know nor yet finde in any writer Some giue this interpretation of Incendiaria to be any bird whatsoeuer which hath beene seene carying fire either from altar or chappell of the gods Others call this bird Spinturnix But hitherto I haue not found any man that would say directly That hee knew what bird this should be CHAP. XIV ¶ Of the bird Cliuina or Cluina LIkewise the bird named in old time Clivina or Cluina which some call Clamatoria and which Labeo describeth by the name of Prohibitoria I see is as little known as the other Nigidius also maketh mention of a bird called Subis which vseth to squash Egles egs CHAP. XV. ¶ Of other vnknowne Birds IN the Augures bookes which the Tuscanes haue composed there be many birds described and set out in their colours which haue not been seene some hundreds of yeares past And I muse and maruell much that they should be now extinct and the race of them cleane gone considering that the kind of those fowles is not lost but continueth still in great aboundance which men eat daily at their tables and consume so ordinarily CHAP. XVI ¶ Of night-flying Birds OF strangers and forrein writers Hylas is thought to haue written best and most learnedly as touching Auguries and the nature of birds He reports in his book that the Howlet Scritch-owle the Spight that pecketh holes in trees the Trogone and the Chough or Crow when they be hatched come forth of their shels with their taile first and that by reason of their heads so heauy the egs are turned with the wrong end downward so the hinder part of the body lieth next vnder the henne or the dam to sit vpon and cherish with the heat of her body CHAP. XVII ¶ Of Owles or Howlets IT is a pretty sight to see the wit and dexteritie of these Howlets when they fight with other birds for when they are ouerlaid and beset with a multitude of them they lie vpon their backs and with their feet make shift to resist them for gathering themselues into a narrow compasse there is nothing in a maner to be seen of them saue only their bill and talons which couer the whole body The Faulcon by a secret instinct and societie of nature seeing the poore How let thus distressed commeth to succor and taketh equal part with him and so endeth the fray Nigidius writeth that Howlets for sixty daies in winter keepe close and remain in couert and that they change their voice into nine tunes CHAP. XVIII ¶ Of the Spight or Woodpecker SOme little birds there are also that haue hooked clees as the Spights which are known by the sirname of Martius and be therefore called Pici Martij These are of great account in Auspices and presage good They that job and pecke holes in trees and will climbe vpright like cats are of this race As for them they will rampe vp with their bellies to the tree bending backward when they peck
chiefe commeth from Parapotamia the second from Antiochia and Laodicea in Syria and a third sort from the mountaines of Media and this is best for medicine Some prefer before all these that which groweth in the Island Cyprus As for that which is made in Africke it is meet for Physitions onely and is called Massaris Now the better euer is that which they gather from the white wild vine than from the black Moreouer there is another tree which serues for perfumes some call it Elate and we Abies i. the Fir others Palma or the Date and some againe Spathe That which grows about the sands of Africk where Iupiter Hammons temple standeth is highly commended aboue the rest and after it that in Aegypt Next thereto is the Syrian This tree is odoriferous when it grows in dry places only it hath in it a certaine fat liquor or Rosin and entreth into compositions of sweet ointments for to correct and mitigate the other oile In Syria there is a drug which they call Cinnamum Caryopon A iuice or oyle this is pressed out of a certain nut This Cinnamon differeth much in forme from the stickes of true Cinnamon indeed aboue specified although in smell it commeth neare vnto it A pound thereof is worth to be bought and sold 40 Asses i. 2 shil 6. d. THE THIRTEENTH BOOK OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS The Proeme THus far forth the woods and forrests are of estimation in regard of the pleasure they doe vnto vs for perfumes and sweet odors and in truth if we consider duly these aromaticall plants admirable they be cuerie one in their kinde euen as they be weighed apart by themselues alone But such is the riot and super fluitie of man that being not content with that perfection of Nature shining in those plants and trees aboue rehearsed he hath not ceased to mingle and compound them and so of them all together for to make one confused smell and thus were our sweet ointments and precious perfumes deuised whereof we purpose to write in this booke next insuing CHAP. I. ¶ Of Ointments Perfumes and their compositions and when they came into knowledge first at Rome AS touching the inuention of Ointments it is not well knowne who was the first that deuised them Certaine it is that during the raigne of the Troianes and whilest Ilium stood men knew not what they meant nay they vsed not so much as Incense in Sacrifice and diuine seruice The sume and smoke of the Cedar and the Citron trees onely the old Troianes were acquainted with when they offered sacrifice their fuming and walming steame more truly I may so terme it than any odoriferous perfume they vsed which they might easily come by since they were plants growing among them and so familiar notwithstanding they had found out the iuice of Roses wherwith yet they would not correct the foresaid strong fumes in those daies for that also was knowne to be a commendable qualitie of Oile Rosate But the truth is The Persians and none but they ought to be reputed the inuentors of precious perfumes and odoriferous ointments For they to palliate and hide the ranke and stinking breath which commeth by their surfet and excesse of meats and drinkes are forced to helpe themselues by some artificiall meanes and therefore goe euermore all to be perfumed and greased with sweet ointments And verily so farre as euer I could finde by reading histories the first prince that set such store by costly perfumes was King Darius among whose coffers after that Alexander the Great had defeated him and woon his campe there was found with other roiall furniture of his a fine casket full of perfumes and costly ointments But afterwards they grew into so good credit euen among vs that they were admitted into the ranke of the principal pleasures the most commendable delights and the honestest comforts of this life And more than that men proceeded so far as therewith to honour the dead as if by right that duty belonged to them And therefore it shall not be amisse to discourse of this theame more at large Wherein I must aduertise the Reader by the way that for the present I will but only name those ingredients that go into the composition of these ointments such I mean as came not from herbs and trees shrubs plants reseruing the treatise of their natures vertues and properties vnto their due place First and formost therefore all perfumes took their names either of the country where they were compounded or of the liquors that went to their making or of the plants that yeelded the simples and the drugs or els of the causes and occasions proper and peculiar vnto them And here it would be noted also principally that the same ointments were not alwaies in like credit and estimation but one robbed another of their honor and worth insomuch as many times vpon sundry occasions that which was lately in request and price anon gaue place to a new and later inuention At the first in antient time the best ointments were thought to come from Delos but afterwards those that were brought out of Aegypt no talke then but of Mendesium compounded at Mendes a city there And this varietie and alteration was not occasioned alwaies by the diuersity of composition and mixture but otherwhiles by reason of good or bad drugs for ye should haue the same kind of liquors and oiles better in this country for one purpose and in that for another yea and that which in some place was right and true the same did degenerat and grow to a bastard nature if you changed once the region for a long time the oile or ointment of Iris or the Floure-de-luce root made at Corinth was in much request and highly praised but afterwards that of Cizicum won the name and credit for the artificiall composition thereof Semblably the oile of Roses that came from Phaselus was greatly called for but in processe of time Naples Capua and Praeneste stole that honor and glory from thence in that behalfe The ointment of Saffron confected at Soli in Cilicia imported for a good while and carried the praise alone but soone after that of Rhodes was euery mans money The oile drawne out of the floures of the wild vine in Cyprus bare the name once but afterwards that of Egypt was preferred before it in the end the Adramyttians gained the credite and commendation from both places for the perfect and absolute confection thereof The ointment made of Marjoram gaue credit for a certain time to the Isle Cos but not long after their name was greater for another made of Quinces As for the oile Cyprinum which came of Cypros the best was thought to be made in Cyprus but afterwards there was a better supposed to be in Egypt where the ointments Metopium and Mendesium all of a sudden were better accepted than all the rest It was not long first but that Phoenice put Aegypt by
the same haue risen againe of themselues without mans helpe This happened during the wars against the Cymbrians to the great astonishment of the people of Rome who thereupon gathered a fore-tokening of great consequence for at Nuceria in the groue of Iuno there was an old Elme fell and after the head was lopped off because it light vpon the very altar of Iuno it arose of it own accord and that which more is immediatly vpon it put forth blossoms and flourished And this was obserued That from that very instant the majesty of the people of Rome began to take heart reuiue and rise again which had bin decaied and infeebled by so many and so great losses that the Romans hed receiued The like chanced by report neer the city Philippi vnto a Willow tree which was fallen downe and the head of it cut off clean semblably to an Aspen tree at Stagyrae neere vnto the colledge or publik place of Exercise there And all these were fortunate presages of good luck But the greatest wonder of all other was this of a Plane tree in the Isle Antandros which was not only fallen but also hewed and squared on all sides by the Carpenter and yet it rose againe by it selfe and recouered the former greennesse and liued notwithstanding it bare 15 cubits in length foure elnes in thicknesse and compasse All trees that we are beholden vnto the goodnesse of Nature for we haue by 3 means for either they grow of their owne accord or come of seed or else by some shoot springing from the root As for such as we inioy by the art and industry of men there be a great number more of deuises to that effect whereof we will speake apart in a seuerall booke for that purpose For the present our treatise is of trees that grow in Natures garden onely wherein she hath shewed her selfe many waies after a wonderfull manner right memorable First and formost as we haue shewed and declared before euery thing will not grow in euery place indifferently neither if they be transplanted will they liue This happeneth sometimes vpon a disdaine otherwhiles vpon a peeuish forwardnesse and contumacie but oftner by occasion of imbecility and feeblenesse of the very things that are remoued and translated nay one while the climate is against it enuious otherwhiles the soile is contrary therunto The balm tree can abide no other place but Iury. The Assyrian Pome-citron tree will not beare elswhere than in Syria As for the Date-tree it scornes to grow vnder all climats or if it be brought to that passe by transplanting it refuseth to beare fruit But say that it fortune by some meanes that she giueth some shew and apparance of fruit she is not so kind as to nourish and reare vp to perfection that which she brought forth forced against her will The Cinnamon shrub hath no power and strength to indure either the aire or earth of Syria notwithstanding it be a neere neighbor to the naturall region of her natiuity The daintie plants of Amomum or Spikenard may not away with Arabia howbeit they be brought out of India thither by sea for king Seleucus made triall therof so strange they are to liue in any other country but their own Certainly this is a most wonderful thing to be noted That many times the trees for their part may be intreated to remoue into a forrain country and there to liue yea and otherwhiles the ground and soile may be persuaded and brought to accord so wel with plants be they neuer such strangers that it will feed and nourish them but vnpossible it is to bring the temperature of the aire and the climat to condiscend thereto and be fauourable vnto them The Pepper-trees liue in Italy the shrub of Casia or the Canell likewise in the Northerly regions the Frankincense tree also hath been knowne to liue in Lydia but where were the hot gleames of the Sunne to bee found in those regions either to dry vp the waterish humor of the one or to concoct and thicken the gumme and Rosine of the other Moreouer there is another maruell in Nature welneare as great as that namely that shee should so change and alter in those same places and yet exercise her vertues and operations otherwhiles againe as if there were no change nor alteration in her She hath assigned the Cedar tree vnto hot countries and yet wee set it to grow in the mountaines of Lycia and Phrygia both She hath so appointed and ordained that cold places should be hurtfull and contrary to Bay-trees howbeit there is not a tree prospereth better nor groweth in more plenty vpon the cold hill Olympus than it About the streights of the Cimmerian Bosphorus and namely in the city Panticapaeum both K. Mithridates and also the inhabitants of those quarters vsed all meanes possible to haue the Lawrel and the Myrtle there to grow only to serue their turns when they should sacrifice to the gods it would neuer be did they what they could and yet euen then there were good store of trees there growing of a warm temperature there were Pomegranates and Fig-trees plenty and now adaies there be Apple-trees and Pyrries in those parts of the best and daintiest sort Contrariwise ye shall not find in all that tract any trees of a cold nature as Pines Pitch-trees and Firres But what need I to goe as farre as to Pontus for to auerre and make good my word Goe no farther than Rome hardly and with much adoe will any Chestnut or Cherrie trees grow neere vnto it no more than Peach-trees about the territory of Thusculum And worke enough there is to make hazels and filbards to like there turne but to Tarracina thereby ye shall meet with whole woods full of Nut-trees CHAP. XXXIII ¶ Of the Cypresse tree That oftentimes some new plants do grow out of the ground which were neuer knowne to be there beforetime THe Cypresse hath bin counted a meere stranger in Italy most vnwilling there to grow as we may see in the works of Cato who hath spent more words and made oftner mention of the Cypresse alone than of all other trees whatsoeuer Much ado there is with it before it come vp and as hard it is to grow and when all is done the fruit is good for nothing The berries that it beareth be wrinckled and nothing louely to the eie the leaues wherewith it is clad bitter in tast a strong and violent smell it hath with it not so much as the very shade therof is delectable and pleasant and the wood but small not solide but of an hollow substance insomuch as a man may range it among the kinds of shrubs Consecrated is this tree to Pluto therefore men vse to set a bough thereof as a signe before those houses wherein a dead corpes lieth vnder bourd As touching the female Cypresse it is long ere shee beareth The Cypresse tree for all this in the end growing
vp to a pyramidall forme sharp pointed is not rejected buâ—… much set by if it were for nothing els but to stand between euery row and ranke of Pine-trees howbeit now adaies it is ordered with cutting and clipping for to grow thick in borders about garden quarters along the allies also to climbe vpon walls in manner of seeling and being thus kept down it is by this means alwaies small and tender Moreouer thereof are drawne many vinets and borders about story-works in colours for so fine is the leafe so short and green withal that it may be brought in a traile to winde about pictures either of hounds and hunters or of ships and sailers or any counterfeits and images whatsoeuer most daintily Two sorts there are of the Cypresse tree First that which runneth vp into a pyramidal point winding vpward as a round spire which also is called the female A sfor the male it sendeth out branches and spreadeth broad it is lopped also and serueth in frames to beare vp vines Both the one and the other is suffered to grow for perches railes and plankes to be made of their boughes when they are cut Once in thirteen yeares there is made a fall and not one of those but are sold for a Roman denier apiece A wood thereof planted in this manner is of all others most gainfull and yeeldeth greatest profit insomuch as in old time they were wont commonly to say That one fall of such Cypresse poles would yeeld a man a portion sufficient to giue with his daughter in mariage The Island Candie is the naturall countrey of the Cypresse tree howsoeuer Cato hath called it a Tarentine tree haply because it came thither first In the Isle Aenaria the Cypresse trees spring againe after they be cut downe to the roots But in Candie looke what ground soeuer a man doth breake vp and plough vnlesse he sow or set it with some other thing Cypresses will come vp and presently shew aboue ground In many places also of that Isle they spring and grow of themselues euen in ground otherwise vntilled and principally in the mountaines â—…da and those which they cal the white Hils vpon the very crests and tops wherof which are alwaies couered with snow they are to be seen in greatest plenty A wonderfull thing considering that in all other places they loue warmth and without it will not grow and besides when they haue met with a familiar ground vnto them yet they care not much for it but disdaine so kind a nource whereby a man may see that not onely the nature of the soile and the ordinarie power of the climat serueth much for these plants but also certain sudden and temporarie impressions of the aire do wonderfully worke in this case for some showers there be that oftentimes do bring seeds with them and ingender plants The same rains do fall somtime after one certain manner otherwhiles also in such strange sort as men are able to giue no reason thereof A thing that befell the country about Cyrene in Barbary at what time as the herbe Laserpitium which beareth ihe gum Benjoine grew there first as hereafter we will write more at large in our treatise of herbes Moreouer about the 430 yere after the foundation of Rome city there sprung vp a very forest or wood neere vnto the same city by reason of a certaine thick and glutinous shoure like to Pitch that then fell CHAP. XXXIIII ¶ Of Ivie IT is said that now the Iuie tree groweth also in Asia and yet Theophrastus in his time deliuered the contrary and a ffirmed that neither it was to be found there nor yet throughout all India but only vpon the mount Merus Ouer and besides it is reported that Harpalus did what he could to store the country of Media therewith but all in vaine And as for Alexander the Great when he returned from out of India with victory for the rarenesse thereof he would haue all his soldiers go in a sumptuous shew wearing chaplets therof vpon their heads resembling herein prince Bacchus in solemnities and high feasts of which god the people of Thracia euen at this day are furnished from this tree and do with Ivie set out and garnish the heads of their launces pikes and iauelins their mourrons also and targuets An enemy is Ivie doubtlesse to trees and generally to all plants and sets whatsoeuer it cleaveth and breaketh sepulchres built of stone it vndermineth city walls good onely to harbour serpents and most comfortable for their cold complexions so that I cannot chuse but maruell much that it should be honored at all and accounted of any worth But to enter into a more particular consideration and discourse of Iuie two principall kinds are found therof like as of all other trees to wit the male and the female The male is described to be a more massiue and greater body to be clad with a harder and fattier leafe and to shew a flower inclining to purple and yet the flower of them both the male as well as the female doth resemble that of the wild Rose or Eglantine saue that it hath no smell at all These generall kinds containe each of them three particular sorts for there is the black and the white Iuie and a third besides named Helix and yet we must admit other subdiuisions of these also for of the white there is one sort that beareth white fruit only and another that hath white leaues withall moreouer of such as carry only white fruit one kind hath big berries growing thick together and bunching round in maner of grapes which clusters be called of the Greeks and Latines Corymbi A second sort there is of the white Iuie named Selenitium which beareth smaller beries and those not so close set and thick couched together Semblably it is to be said of the black for there is an Iuy that beareth also a black grain or seed another with a fruit of a Saffron colour and hereof are the garlands made which Poets weare some call it Nysia others Bacchica the leaues of it are not altogether so blacke but it beareth the greatest bunches and biggest berries of all the black kind And verily of this Iuie there be some Greeke writers that make two sorts according to the diuers colors of the berries for the one they call Erythranus i. the red the other Chrysocarpos as one would say the golden berry Iuie Now as touching the rampant or climbing Iuie Helix there be many and sundry sorts thereof differing in their leafe especially for first formost the leaues of this Iuie are small cornered and better fashioned than the rest which indeed are but of a plain and simple making There is a difference likewise in the length between euery knot and ioint but especially in this that it is barren and beareth no fruit at all And yet some there be who attribute that to the age and not to a seuerall kind of Iuie by it selfe saying that the
foure goodly pillars of Hymettian marble which in the yâ—…re of his Edileship were brought abroad to rich and beautifie the Theatre the Stage and Shew-place of the solemne plaies by him set out for as yet there had not bin in publicke place at Rome any marble pillars seen â—…o how lately is come vp this excessiue expence in rich glorious building so common in these daies See I say how in those times faire trees beautified pallaces more than any thing els insomuch as Domitius for the want of six trees only would not stand to the price that himselfe first made no not to buy his very enemy out of house and home with it but no maruel if trees were accounted of so highly seeing that our ancestors in old time thought not scorn to take otherwhiles their syrnames from them Thus that braue and valiant souldier came to be named Fronditius who maugre the bearâ—… of Anniball swum ouer the riuer Vulturnus with a chaplet of green leaues answerable to his name set vpon his head and performed many feats of arms and worthie exploits against him Thus they of the noble Licinian family had for their addition Stolons i. the vnprofitable water-shoots that put forth from the root or tree it selfe and neuer proue or come to any good And why so For that one of the said house deuised the means to clense trees vines of such superfluous twigs the practise feat of cutting which a way is called Pampinatio and therupon was one Licinius first sirnamed Stolo Moreouer our predecessors in antient time made good statutes and ordinances for the maintenance of trees and expressely prouided it was by the laws of the 12 Tables at Rome in these words That whosoeuer made wilfull waste and cut downe any trees growing in another mans ground should be peined in the court for a trespasse don forfeit for euery such tree 25 pound of brasse money But what should we thinke of this Did these law-makers trow ye suppose or imagine that other wilde trees would euer haue growne to that high reckoning aboue named and which now they are come vnto who valued fruitfull trees at no greater price and set the penalty for the trespasse so low But neuer maruell we any more hereat considering to what a proportion Apple-trees and such like are risen vnto For there be many of them here about the city of Rome in the villages neere adioining which are set for a yearely rent of 2000 Sesterces and one of them yeeldeth more profit and reuenue by the yere to the owner than a pretty ferm in times past of good domaine to the land-lord Hereupon came the inuention of graffing trees for this purpose haue we such bastard fruits intermingled one with another of sundry kindes as if Apples and other fruits were not for poore men to eat but grew only for the rich Hence forward now therefore will we shew the right perfect and absolute manner how to order and cherish them that it may appeare by what means especially such annuall commodity can be made of them as is beforesaid For the better performance of which discourse I meane to leaue the common and ordinary way neither will I handle the vsuall and vulgar manner of that point in husbandry wherein euery man is perfect and whereof no man maketh question but deliuer such matters onely as be vncertaine and doubtfull whereby oftentimes folke are deceiued and beguiled For to break my head or busie my brains in needlesse trifles and therein to affect a kinde of curiositie was neuer my manner yet nor is it any part of my meaning and intention now But before I doe enter into particulars mâ—… purpose is to treat in generalitie of this matter and touch briefely the consideration of heauen and earth both so farre forth as may concerne in common all kindes of trees whatsoeuer CHAP. II. ¶ Of the nature of the Skie respectiue vnto trees and what quarter thereof they should regard TRees generally do like best that stand to the Northeast wind for it nourisheth them well causeth them to spread thick and grow euery way in length and breadth and withall maketh the timber more fast and strong But in this rule most men do eâ—…e and be much deceiued for in vnderpropping vines the forkes would not be set opposite against that wind to hinder the blast thereof a point that is to be obserued in regard of the North wind only Moreouer we find by experience that if trees haue a kindly winter and cold season in their due time their wood will be more firme and so likewise will they bud and shoot out best otherwise if the warm Southerne winds blow vpon them much ye shall haue the trees proue soft and feeble and their blossoms come to nothing blooming as they do before time for if it chance that presently after their floures be fully out and ready to shed there fall any store of raine the fruit is quite gone for that yeare And as for Almond trees and Peare-trees if it be but close and cloudy weather only without any raine or the wind stand South when they floure sure they be to lose their fruit Certes a glut of rain in May at what time as the Brood-hen star called Virgiliae doth arise is exceeding hurtfull to Vines and Oliue-trees for then is the very season of their knitting or conception Then be the foure decretorie or criticall daies that giue the doome of Oliue trees either to good or bad this is the Southerly point of filthy foule and glowmie weather wereof wee haue spoken before Moreouer all manner of graine feeleth the inconuenience of Southern wind at the time of their ripening Well may corne make hast and ripen sooner but it shal neuer haue the kind maturity and perfection as it ought As for the cold pinching black frosts and Northern winds which blow out of season come thâ—…â—…rly or come they late they be hurtfull all But if the wind stand Northeast in winter there is nothing so good generally for all fruits of the earth And verily a good shower now then during that time wil do no harm and that men wish for rain then the reason is euident for why trees with bearing of fruit are drawne dry and haue lost their naturall moisture with shedding their leaues they be poore and feeble so that it is kind for them to be hungry then and to haue a greedy appetite to new food which is raine Now if the winter be open and warm withal that so soone as the trees haue don bearing they rest not between but conceiue again presently vpon it that is to say bud spurt anew vea and fall afresh to blossome whereby they haue another euacuation that way also to spend their sap and radicall moisture we find by experience that there is nothing in the world so bad for them Nay if many such yeres come together immediatly one after another the very trees themselues will die for
wrong yea to stifle and strangle them outright whereas indeed a vine as it ought to be kept down with oisier twigs so it must not bee tied ouer streight For which cause euen they also who othewise haue store plenty ynough euen to spare of willows oisiers yet chuse rather to bind vines with some more soft and gentle matter to wit with a certain hearb which the Sicilians in their language called Ampelodesmos i. Vine-bind But throughout all Greece they tie their vines with Rushes Cyperus or Gladon Reeke and sea grasse Ouer and besides the maner is otherwhiles to vntie the Vine and for certain daies together to giue it liberty for to wander loosely and to spred it selfe out of order yea and to lie at ease along the ground which all the yere besides it onely beheld from on high in which repose it seemeth to take no small contentment and refreshing for like as draught horses when they be out of their geeres and haknies vnsadled like as Oxen when they haue drawn in the yoke yea and greyhounds after they haue run in chase loue to tumble themselues and wallow vpon the earth euen so the Vine also hauing bin long tied vp and restrained liketh wel now to stretch out her â—…ims and loins and such easement and relaxation doth her much good Nay the tree it selfe findes some comfort and ioy therby in being discharged of that burden which it carried continually as it were vpon the shoulders and seemeth now to take breath and heart again And certes go through the whole course and worke of Nature there is nothing but by imitation of day and night desireth to haue some alternatiue ease and play dayes between And it is by experience found very hurtfull and therefore not allowed of to prune and cut Vines presently vpon the Vintage and grape-gathering whiles they be still wearie and ouertrauelled with bearing their fruit so lately ne yet to binde them thus pruned in the same place again where they were tied before for surely vines do feel the very prints and marks which the bonds made and no doubt are vexed and put to pain therewith and the worse for them The maner of the Gaules in Lumbardy in training of Vines from tree to tree is to take two boughs or branches of both sides and draw them ouer in case the stock Vines that beare them be sorty foot asunder but foure if they are but twenty foot â—…istant And these meet one with another in the space between and are interlaced twisted and tied together But where they are somwhat weake and feeble they be strengthened with Oisier twigs or such like rods here and there by the way vntill they beare out stiffe and look where they be so short that they wil not reach out they are with an hook stretched and brought to the next tree that standeth without a Vine coupled thereto A Vine branch drawn thus along in a traile they were wont to cut when it had growne two yeares for in such Vine stocks as by reason of age are charged with wood it is the better way to giue time leisure for to grow and fortifie the said branch that is to passe from tree to tree so as the thicknes thereof will giue leaue yea and otherwise it is good for the old main bough to feed still and thriue in pulp and carnositie if we purpose that it should remaine and carrie a length with it Yet is there one maner besides of planting and maintaining Vines of a mean or middle nature between couching or interring a branch by way of propagation and drawing them thus in a traile from one to another namely to supplant that is lay along vpon the ground the whole stock or main body of a Vine which done to cleaue it with wedges and so to couch in many furrowes or raies as many parcels thereof comming all together from one Now in case each one of these branches or armes proceeding from one body be of it selfe small weake and tender they must be strengthned with long rods like staues bound vnto them round about neither ought the small sprigs and twigs that spring out of the side be cut away The husbandmen of Novaria rest not contented with a number of these trailed branches nor with store of boughs and trees to sustaine and beare them vnlesse they be shored and supported also with posts and ouerthwart railes about which the yong tendrils may creep wind No maruell therefore if their wines be after a sort rough hard and vnpleasant for besides the baduesse of their soile the maner of their husbandry is so crooked and vntoward Our husbandmen moreouer here about vs neer vnto the city of Rome commit the like fault and find the same defect thereupon in the Varracine Vines that be pruned but once in two yeres a piece of husbandry by them practised not for any good that it doth vnto the vine but because the wine thereof is so cheap that oftner pruning would not quit cost neither doth the reuenue answer the labor and the charges In the territorie of Carseoli a champion and plain countrey about Rome the peasants take a better order and hold a middle and temperat course For their maner is to proin and cut away from the Vine those parts onely that are faulty and rotten when they begin once to drie and to wither leauing all the rest for to beare Grapes and thus discharging it of the superfluous burden that it caried they hold opinion that it is not good to wound it in diuers places for by this means say they it will be nourished and come on very well But by their leaue vnlesse the ground be passing rich and fat Vines thus ouercharged with wood will for want of pruning degenerate into the bastard wild wines called Labruscae But to returne againe vnto our plots planted with Trees and Vines coupled together such grounds when they be plowed require a good deep stitch although the corn therein sown need it not Also it is not the manner to disburgen or deffoile altogether such trees and thereby a great deale of toile and labor is saued but when the Vines are a pruning they would be disbranched at once with them where the boughs grow thickest and to make a glade onely thorow the superfluous branches would be cut away which otherwise might consume the nutriment of the grape As for the cuts and wounds remaining after such pruning and debranching we haue already forbidden that they should stand either against the North or the South And I think moreouer it were very well that they did not regard the West where the Sunne setteth for such wounds will smart and be long sore yea and hardly heale again if either extreme cold pinch or extreme heate parch them Furthermore a Vine hath not the same liberty in a vineyard that it hath vpon a tree for better means there are and easier it is to hide the said wounds from the weather
will be but the worse for it and such are the Almond trees for where before they did beare sweet Almonds they will euer after bring bitter Moreouer you shall haue some trees that wil thriue do the better after this hard dealing namely a kind of peare tree called Phocis in the Island Chios for you haue heard by me already which trees they be that lopping and shredding is good for Most trees and in manner all except the Vine Apple tree Fig tree and Pomegranate tree will die if their stocke or bodie be clouen and some be so tender that vpon euery little wound or race that is giuen them yee shall see them to die howbeit the Figge tree and generally all such trees as breed Rosin defie all such wrongs and injuries and will abide any wound or bruse whatsoeuer That trees should die when their roots are cut away it is no maruell and yet many there bee of them that wi liue and prosper well neuerthelesse in case they be not all cut off nor the greatest master roots ne yet any of the heart or vitall roots among the rest Moreouer it is often seene that trees kill one another when they grow too thicke and that either by ouershadowing or else by robbing one another of their food and nourishment The Iuie also that with clipping and clasping bindeth trees too hard hastneth their death Misselto likewise doth them no good no more than Cytisus or the hearbe Auro which the Greekes name Alimus growing about them The nature of some plants is not to kill and destroy trees out of hand but to hurt and offend them only either with their smell or else with the mixture and intermingling of their owne iuice with their sap Thus the Radish and the Lawrell doe harme to the Vine if they grow neare vnto it for surely the Vine is thought to haue the sense of smelling and wonderfully to sent any odours and therefore it is obserued in her by experience That if shee be neare vnto Radish or Lawrell shee will turne away and withdraw her selfe backeward from them as if shee could not abide their strong breath but vtterly abhorred it as her very enemie And vpon the obseruation of this secret in Nature Androcides the Physitian deuised a medicine against drunkennesse and prescribed his patients to eat Radish if they would not be ouercome with wine Neither can the Vine away with Coleworts or the Cabbage nay it hateth generally all worts or pot-hearbs it abhorreth also the Hazell and Filberd tree in such sort as a man shal sensibly perceiue it to looke heauily and mislike if those plants aforesaid grow not farther off from it And now to conclude and knit vp this discourse would you kill a Vine out of hand lay to the root thereof nitre or salt-petre and alumne drench it with hote sea-water or doe but apply vnto it Bean cods or the shales or husks of the pulse Eruile and you shall soone see the operation and effect of a most ranke and deadly poison CHAP. XXV ¶ Of many and sundry prodigies or strange tokens and accidents about trees Also of an Oliue plot which in times past was transported all and whole from one side of an high port way to another IN this Treatise of the faults and imperfections incident to Trees me thinks I should do wel to say somwhat of the supernatural occurrences in them obserued for we haue known some of them to grow vp and prosper without any leaues at all And as there haue bin Vines and Pomegranats seen to beare fruit springing immediately from the trunke and not from branch or boughs so there haue bin vines charged with grapes and not clad with leaues and Oliues likewise had their berries hanging vpon them whole and sound notwithstanding all their leaues were shed and gon Moreouer strange wonders and miracles haue hapned about trees by meere chance and fortune for there was an Oliue once which being burnt to the very stump reuiued came again and in Boeotia certain Fig Trees notwithstanding they were eaten and gnawn most piteously with Locusts yet budded anew and put forth a fresh spring Also it hath bin marked that trees haue changed their colour from black to white And yet this is not alwayes a monstrous thing beyond naturall reason and specially in such as come of seed as wee may obserue in the Aspe which eftsoones turneth to be a Poplar Some are of opinion That the Servise Tree if it bee transplanted and come into a hoter ground than is agreeable to the nature thereof will leaue bearing and be barren But it is taken for no lesse than a monster out of kind that sweet Apples and such like fruits should proue sowre or sowre fruit turne to be sweet as also that a wilde Fig Tree should become tame or contrariwise And it is counted for an vnluckie sign if any Tree change from the better to the worse to wit if a gentle garden Oliue degenerate into the wilde and sauage if a Vine that was wont to beare white grapes haue now black vpon it and so likewise if a Fig Tree which vsed to haue white Figs chaunce afterwards to beare black And here by the way I canot forget the strange accident that befell in Laodicea where vpon the arriuall of King Xerxes a Plane tree was turned into an Oliue But if any man be desirous to know more of these and such like miracles for as much as I loue not to runne on still and make no end I refer him ouer to Aristander a Greek writer who hath compiled a whole volume and stuffed it full of such like wonders let him haue recourse also to C. Epidius a Countryman of ours whose Commentaries are full of such stuffe where he shall find also that trees sometimes spake A little before the ciuil war brake out between Iulius Caesar and Pompey the Great there was reported an ominous and fearfull sight presaging no good from out of the territory of Cumes namely That a great Tree there sunke down into the earth so deep that a very little of the top boughs was to be seen Hereupon were the propheticall books of Sibylla perused wherin it was found that this prodegie portended some great carnage of men and that the neerer that this slaughter and execution should be to Rome the greater should the bloud shed be A prodigious signe and wonder it is reputed also when trees seem to grow in places where they were not wont to be and which are not agreeable to their natures as namely on the chapâ—…ers of pillars the heads of statues or vpon altars like as to see one tree of a diuers and contrary kinde growing vpon the top of another as it befell about the city Cyzicum hard before the streit siege that was laid vnto it by Mithridates both by sea and land where a Fig tree was seen to grow vpon a Lawrel Likewise at Tralleis about the time of the foresaid ciuill war a Date
tree grew out of the base or foot of a Columne that Caesar Dictator caused there to be erected Semblably at Rome also twice during the war between the Romans and K. Perseus there was a Date tree known to grow vpon the lanterne or top of the Capitoll temple foreshewing those victories and triumphs which afterward ensued to the great honor of the people of Rome And when this was by stormes and tempests ouerthrowne and laid along there sprung vp of it selfe in the very same place a Fig tree at what time as M. Mâ—…ssala and Caius Cassius the two Censors held their Quinquennall solemne sacrifices for the assoiling and purging of the city of Rome From which time Piso a renowmed Historiographer and Writer of good credit hath noted that the Romans were giuen ouer to voluptuousnesse and sensuality and that euer since all chastitie and honest life hath bin exiled But aboue all the prodigies that were euer seen or heard there is one that passeth and the same hapned in our age about the very time that Nero the emperor came to his vnhappy end and fall for in the Marrucine territorie there was an oliue garden belonging to Vectius Marcellus a right worshipfull knight of Rome which of it selfe remoued all and whole as it stood ouer the broad highway to a place where lay tillage and earable ground and the corn lands by way of exchange crossed ouer the said causey againe and were found in lieu of the Oliue plot or hortyard aforesaid CHAP. XXVI ¶ The remedies for the maladies and diseases of Trees NOw that I haue declared the diseases of Trees meet it is that I should set down the cure and remedies thereto Where this one thing would be first noted That of Remedies some be common to all trees others appropriate to certain Common be these following To bare and clense the roots to hil and bank them again that is to say to giue aire vnto the roots let the wind into them and contrariwise to couer them keep both wind weather from them to water them or to deriue diuert water from them to refresh their roots with the fat liquor of dung to discharge them of their burden by pruning their superfluous branches Item to giue their humors issue and as it were by way of phlebotomie to let them bloud and to skice and scrape their bark round about in maner of scarification To take downe their strength and keep them vnder that they be not too lusty proud Also if the cold hath caught their buds or burgeons therby caused them to look burnt rough and vnpleasant to slick polish smooth them again with the pumy stone These verily be the diuers helps to cure trees howbeit vsed they must be with great discretion for that which is very good for one is not so good for another and some trees require this course others that to be taken with them As for example the Cypres tree canot abide either to be dunged or watered it hateth all digging and deluing about it it may not away with cutting and pruning it is the worse for all good physick nay all remedies to others are mischiefs to it and in one word go about to medicine it you kil it All Vines and Pomegranat trees especially loue alife riuer sides desire to be watered for thereby will they thriue and prosper The Fig tree also it selfe is nourished and fed in waterie grounds but the fruit that it beareth is the poorer by that means Almond trees if they be plied with digging will either not bloome at all or else shed their floures before due time Neither must any yong plants or trees newly graffed be digged about their roots before they haue gathered sufficient strength and begin to beare fruit Most trees are willing enough to be disburdened of their superfluous and ouer-â—…ank branches like as we men can spare our nails to be pared and bush of hair to be cut when they be ouergrowne As for old trees they would be cut down hard to the ground for vsually they rise again of some shoot springing from the root and yet not all of them Regard therefore must be had that none be so vsed but such as we haue noted before as are able of nature to abide it For trees to be watered at the roots in the heate of summer it is good but in winter it is as bad In the fal of the leaf it may be wholsom it may also be hurtfull and therefore the nature of the soile would be considered for the grape-gatherer in Spain meeteth with a good vintage notwithstanding the Vines stand in a marish and fennie ground howbeit in most parts of the world besides it is thought good husbandry to draine away from the roots the very rain water that falls from aboue in Autumne About the rising of the Dog-star trees desire most of all to be wel watered and yet they would not haue too much thereof euen in that time for in case their roots be ouer-drenched and drowned therewith they will catch harm Herein also the age of trees is to be respected which in this case prescribeth what is meet and sufficient for yong trees be lesse thirsty than others also Custome is a great matter For such as haue beene vsed vnto watering must not change their old woont but they require most of all others to be vsed so still Contrariwise Those Trees which grow vpon dry grounds naturally desire no more moisture than that which is needful In the territory about Sulmo in Italy and namely within the Liberties of Fabianum the Vines which doe beare the harder and sowrer Grapes must of necessitie be watered And no maruaile for the verie lands and Corne-fields vse to haue water let in vnto them And here a wonderfull thing is to be obserued This water cherisheth the Corne but killeth all the hurtfull Grasse among and the riuer ouer flowing the lands is as good as a weeding In the same countrey the maner is in midwinter to open a sluce or draw vp their floodgates for to ouerflow their vine roots with the riuer and so much the rather if either it be an hard frost or snow lie vpon the ground And why so because the pinching cold should not burne them and this they call there by the name of Tepidare i. to giue them a kindly warmth as in a stouve see the memorable nature of this only riuer to be warme in winter and yet the same in summer is so cold that hardly a man can endure his hand in it CHAP. XXVII ¶ Of caprification or scarifying trees also the maner of dunging them TOuching the remedies for blasting as well by heat as cold I will treat in the booke next following Meane while I cannot omit one manner of cure by way of Scarification For when the bark is poore and lean by reason of some disease or mislike so as it clengs together pressing and binding the quick wood
winds hurt all spiked corne as well Wheat as Barly at three seueral times to wit in their floure presently vpon their blooming and last of all when they begin to ripen for then namely when they are vpon the point of maturitie those blasts consume the grain and bring it to nothing which before was full whereas at the two former seasons they hinder it altogether from knitting and growing The hot gleames moreouer of the Sun betweene often clouding do much harme to corne Furthermore there be certaine little wormes breeding in the root that do eat it which happeneth by occasion of much raine falling immediatly after the seednesse especially when some sudden heat and drowth ensueth therupon which bindeth the earth aboue and so encloseth the moisture conceiued within the very cause nourice of putrifaction Ye shall haue other such like vermin engender likewise in the very grain of the corn namely when the ear doth glow within and is chafed with sultry hot rains Ouer and besides there be certain green flies like small Beetles called Cantharides which do gnaw and eat the corne But al these and such like worms or flies die presently when the corn which was their food is gone Moreouer Oile Pitch and Tarre all manner of greace also be contrarie to seed-corne especially and therefore take heed that you sow none such as hath caught oile pitch or grease As for showers of raine good they are for corne so long only as it is in the green blade when corne is blooming be it either wheat or barley or such like raine is hurtfull Mary Pulse takes no harme thereby vnlesse it be the Cich-pease All kinds of wheat and other bread corne when they be toward ripenesse catch hurt by showers but Barley more than any Besides all this there is a certaine white hearbe or weed resembling Panicke growing among corne and ouerspreading whole fields which not onely hindereth corne but also killeth all the cattell that feedeth thereupon For as touching ray or darnel burs thistles and brambles I may hold and reckon them not so much for faults and imperfections of corn as rather the plagues and infections proceeding from the very earth And for blasting which commeth of some distemperature of the aire a mischiefe common as well to corn as vines it is as hurtful as any other malady whatsoeuer This vnhappie blast falleth most often in places subject to mists and dewes and namely hollow vallies and low grounds lying vnder the winde for contrariwise windie quarters and such as are mounted high are not subiect to this inconuenience Also we may number among the faults incident to corne their rankenesse namely when the blade is so ouergrowne and the stalke so charged and loden with a heauie head that the corn standeth not vpright but is lodged lieth along Moreouer when there fals a great glut of rain insomuch as the ground stands with water there befalleth vnto all corn and pulse yea and whatsoeuer is sowne a certaine disease called in Latine Vrica insomuch as the very Cich-pease taketh hurt therby for by reason that the rain washed from them that salt quality which was naturall thereunto it becommeth sweeter than it should be and loseth the kind tast There is a weed that claspeth and tieth about Ciches and Eruiles wherby it choketh and killeth them both and thereupon it is called Orobanctum i. Choke Eruile After the same maner dealeth Ray or Darnel by wheat wild Otes likewise named by some Aegilops with barly as also the weed Securidaca i. Ax-fitch which the Greeks also for the resemblance that it hath to an axe head call Pelicinon with Lentils These weeds I say kill corne by winding about it Another herb there is growing neere to the city Philippi which killeth Beans if the ground be fat and good they name the said weed Ateramnon but if it be found in a hungry and leane soile and namely when being wet some vnhappy wind bloweth vpon it they call it Teramnon As for the graine of Raie or Darnell it is very small and lieth inclosed with a sharpe-pointed husk The bread which hath any of this seed in it soone causeth dizinesse and swimming of the head And by report in Asia and Greece the masters of the common Bains and Stuphes when they would keep away the great resort of multitude thither haue a deuise to cast Darnell seeds vpon burning coles for this perfume will quickly set them farther off Moreouer if the Winter proue to be wet and waterish ye shall haue in the Pulse called Eruile a little vermin ingendred there called Phalangion and it is of the kind of these spiders Likewise vpon Vetches there wil breed naked dew-snails yea otherwhile those little ones with shels or houses on their backs which creeping from the ground wil gnaw eat them that it is a wonder to see what foul work they will make Thus much concerning all the maladies and inconueniences to speak of incident to corne It remaineth now to treat of the remedies As touching the cure of those harms that come by hurtful weeds to the corn in blade it consisteth principally in two things namely either in the vse of the weeding knife or hooke when they be newly come vp or els in strewing ashes when the corn is a sowing But as for those dangers that touch the seed or grain in the eare and cod as also that settle about the root they must be preuented by good forecast euen before it be thrown into the ground It is generaly thought that if seed-corn lie steeped beforehand in Wine it will be better able afterwards to resist all diseases whatsoeuer Virgil giueth order to infuse or soke the Beanes that must be sown in nitre and oile lees or dregs and he assureth vs that they will prosper mightily besides and become exceeding great But others are of opinion that if for 3 daies before they be cast into the earth they lie in vrine shere water mingled together they wil being thus prepared come on apace and thriue passing well It is said moreouer That if Beans be thrice raked and rid from weedes one Modius of them being whole and solid wil yeeld a Modius again after it is husked broken As for other seed-corn it wil escape the danger of the worme if either it lie before among Cypresse leaues bruised or be sowed in and about the change of the Moon namely when she is not to be seen aboue the earth in our hemisphaere Many there be who practise other remedies namely for the Millet they would haue a toad to be caried round about the field before that it be harrowed which done to be put close within an earthen pot and so buried in the middest of the said field and by this meanes for sooth neither Sparrows will lie vpon the corn nor any worm hurt it Mary in any case this same toad must be digged out of the ground againe before the field be mowed
vertue it hath 355. c Breeding time in plants 471. e of the Brest in man and beast 343. e. f Breast apples 438. l Bricke and tile who deuised 188. k Brickes and tiles raigned See Raine Brimstone mine 568. i Brim of the eie-lids being wounded cannot be drawne together 336. i Brittaine an Island renowmed 86. k Brocci who they were 336. l Brochos what it is 363. a Brood-hen starre Uirgiliae 588. h setting of brood-hens 589. f Broome where and when to be set 523. c Bruscum in maple 467. a Bruta what tree 371. a Brutium a promontory 51. b Bryon Aromaticum what it is 375. d Bryon a weed in the sea 401. c B V Bubetij what plaies they are 550. k Bubulcus surname to the house of Iunij whereupon ib. h Bucephalia the citie 221. a Bucephalus King Alexanders horse 220. l. his description and rare qualities ib. m Bucklers of what wood they be made 590. k Buffles horne of eight gallons 331. f. buffles horne how it is vsed 332. g Building vpon land in the country 554. g. h Bull baiting 225. e Buying and selling who deuised 187. e Bulls wild vntameable 206. i Bullais 437. a Bumasti grapes 405. a Bumelia a kinde of Ash-tree 465 f Bunches in wood 487. l Bura citie 41. a Burning and burying of dead-bodies after diuerse sorts 186. l. m. Butter hath the vertue and properties of oyle 340. k Butterfly how it is bred 329. e Butterflies no good signe of the Spring 586. g Buteo See Triorches Buteo gaue the name to the house of Fabij in Rome 274. k Buzzards good meat 296. k Buzzard See Buteo B Y Byzacium territory of Affricke 505. e. most fruitfull ground ibid. Byzia a castle of Thracian kings hated of Swallowes and why 278. l C A CAchrys in an Oke what it is 400. l. the vse and manner thereof ibid. Cadytas what it is 496. i Cadmus whore borne 108. g. first found out for to write prose ibid. Casias wind 23. a Caecina his practise by Swallowes 283. a Caesares and Caesones why so called 160. i. such commonly fortunate ibid. Caesar his breast-plate made of English pearle 256. k Caesar Dictator his liberalitie in wines 420. h Caesar ript out of his mothers belly 160. i C. Caesar his quickenesse of spirit 168. k Caesar repented him of his clemencie ibid. l Caesar his fidelitie concerning writing 168. m Caesaris Thronos a starre 34. l Caesaria a citie in Mauritania 53. d Caius Hirtius inuented stewes for Lampries in Asia 267. c. Caius Marius first aduanced the Aegle in the Romane ensigne 273. c Caius Caligula the Emperour his saying of Surrentine wines 414. h Caia Cecilia Leoke Tanaquill Calpe a Promontory 51. b Calpe a mountaine ibid. e Calculosae a kinde of Purples 259. b Calydna Island 316. b Calamus Aromaticus 375. a Calculation of the yeare by Caesar the Author followeth 586. l. Calamaries fishes 244. b Calaminth first vsed by Lizards 210. l sea-Calfe his qualities 213. b Calues chosen for sacrifice 235. e Callithriches a kind of Apes 225. b Camalodunum a towne in Brittaine 36. k Cammell hath no fore-teeth in the vpper iaw 337. b Cammels how they engender 302. l Cammels their diuerse kinds 205. b Camelopardalis what kinde of beasts 205. d Campaine in Italy a most fruitfull country 567. e. f Canell See Casia Canes See Reeds Canes of India serue betweene ioints for boats 482. m Canes of diuerse sorts 483. b Canes and reeds how they grow ibid. a Canarium what sacrifice 551. b Caucamum 374. b Canetias the workemen that made the stature of Diana at Ephesus 491. c Canopus the name of a starre where and in what manner it appeareth and where not 34. l Canopus a goodly starre seen in Taprobane about the pole Antarticke 130. i Canterius in a Vineyard what it is 528. i. k Cantharolethus in Thrace 327. a. why so called ibid. Capnumargos a kinde of red marle 506. b Capparis the plant of the fruit capres 400. i Caprification to be practised after raine 546. b Caprification what it is 444. k Caprificus what it is ibid. 〈◊〉 Cappadocians how they tooke their names 116. h Caprimulgi what birds 292. i Carambis promontory 49. a Carbunculus burning earth 503. b Carbunculus in corne what it is 598. i Cardamomum foure kinds 365. 〈◊〉 Cardiaca disease of the heart 341. a Cardo what it is 598. i Carpinus what manner of trees 466. m Carginon what it is 476. g Carpheotum 367. d Caryoâ—…a dates why so called and the wine thereof 387. d Caryopon what drug 397. e. the worth ibid. Carob-tree 390. g Carobs or caracts what kinde of fruit 447. b Carpentry and the tooles whose inuention 188. l Carpophilon 452. m Carseoly territory 537. f Carthegon what it is 476. g Casia 372. i Casia the sweet spice where it groweth 373. e the plant described ibid. Casia the best ibid. Casius a mount of admirable height 102. g Caspiae gates so called 122. g Caspia part not the streights of Caucasus they be described 455. a. b. Castor and Pollux star what is to be thought of them 18. k wherefore men invocate them at sea ibid. l Castoreum what it is 212. m Cat of gold worshipped as a god 546. b Cats how they ingender 302. l. Cats how subtill in hunting 308. g. Catacecaumene a region 415. f. why so called 416. g Caligula his eies stiffe in his head 334. k Cataractae See Diomedian birds Cato Censorius commended 410. l. his precepts touching Uines 411. a Cato perswaded the Senate of Rome to destroy Carthage by occasion of a figge 443. a. b. c Cato his praise and commendation 169. f Catorchites what kinde of Dates 421. a Catoblephas what kinde of beasts 206. l Cati and Corculi why so called 173. b Cause of vomit 342. l Caunians naturally subiect to the swelling of the spleene 331. k. Cauneas presaged ill fortune to M. Crassus 445. a Cauchi a people without trees their habitation and country described 455. a. b Cauaticae a kinde of Snailes 218. i C E Cea Island 41. a Cedar gum 424. g Cedars which be best 489. a Cedar oyle ibid. Cedar for Masts 490. g Cedars of dwarfe kinde 388. l. m Cedrelate 389. a. the timber thereof euerlasting ibid. Cedrelaeon 434. h. i Cedrium what it is 46. h Celendine reuealed by Swallowes 210. l Celtium a kinde of Tortoise 241. e Celtie See Lote-tree Centigranum wheat 565. b Cepphus a beast 205. e Cephenes or Serenes young dronâ—… Boes and how they be fed 318. i Ceratias a kinde of Comet 15. e Cervus a Mast-tree 458. m. the mast thereof ibid. Cerastes what worme 492. g. wormes in figge-trees 539. c Cerastae serpents 208. g. Cerastae serpents haue hornes of flesh 331 C H Cheapenesse of all victuals in Rome 551. d. the cause thereof ibid. f Chalcedon why called the citie of the blind 114. g Chamaedaphne 452. m Chamecerasti 448. h Chameleons lights are very
fro 18. i Stature in men and women is now decaied 165. a Stewes for fishes who deuised 266. m Straw serued for bedding 551. a Strength of body many examples 166. k Stimmata 381. d Strabones who they be properly 335. e Stimphalides crisped on the head 331. a Straw how to be vsed and ordered 602. l. m Stones greased and enflamed with fire 48. g Stones of beasts how they are placed 352. k Stone quarries who first digged 188. i Stones found in trees 489. b. c white Stones in the maw of young birds vsed in Magicke 343. b. Stone of a strange power 42. h Stones raining downe 28. h Stone in young heifers good for women 343. c Stones raining downe 19. c Stomacke how it is framed and the vse 340. g Stockdoues out of the way for a time 284. h. sit vpon their egges Cocke and Hen by turnes 300. k Storks esteemed better meat than Cranes in old time 282. g their manner of flight ibid. h to kill a Storke fellonie in Rhessalie ibid. kinde to their parents ibid. k no Storkes within eight miles of the lake Lurius 285 c Starres and other flames seene about the Sunne 17. d Stay-ship fish See Echeneis Straw how it is a signe of good ground 503. a Straw of barly the best 562. k Strix a word of cursing 347. d Strabones families in Rome why so called 335. e Strategiae what they be 119. d Strawberrie tree See Arbute Strobos plant Laedeum 370. h Strobon in Ceraunia 321. a. a sweet tree ibid. Storax a sweet odour ibid. c. the effects thereof ibid. Storax Calamita 378. g Styrax or Storax the tree ibid. Styrax gum of diuerse kinds 378. k Struthea what Quinces 436. h Struthopodes what people 156. h Sturgeon fish much set by of our ancestours 245. e S V Subis a bird 277. c Sugar 362. k Suns motion what it is 13. f. wherefore it burneth not the earth 14. m. what Summer we shall haue Democritus shewed by the Solstice 590. g. how many furlongs from the cloudie region to the Sunne ibid. how to know the heights of it from the earth vp to the Sunne 15. a Summan what kinde of dish 230. l Suns heat causeth monstrous shapes in Aegipt 146. k Superfluitie of meat alwaies dangerous 356. h Subulones a kinde of stag 331. c Subsolanus wind 22. l Sunne a diuine power 36. c. his Eclipse See Eclipse Sulpitius Gallus first found the reason of the Eclipse 8. l Sulpetia a Matron that consecrated Venus image 173. f Superstition in chusing Marget 4. i Superfluitie in pretious ointments 384. g. h Superfluous expence in Seeling and inlaid workes 494. h Sun greatest of the Planets 3. b. the soule of the world ib. Island of the Sunne described 132. i Suns many seene at once 17. f. in midwinter maketh tempests 20. g Suns motion what it is 13. f. the strange colour appearing therein 17. g. the signes of weather depending of his rising or setting 611. a. b. lends his light to the other stars 3. c why the Sun departeth from vs in Winter 8. g. h Sunsteads when 13. i Sunne his race 2. k Sunne the greatnesse thereof 8. g. by how many demonstrations it appeareth bigger than the earth ibid. Sunne the best prognosticator of weather 611. a Signes depending on the Suns rising or setting 611. a. b Sunstead of Summer 587. e. what weather we shall haue Democritus gesseth by the Solstice day 590. g Sunne his power 44. h. fed by the salt sea ibid. l Sumach a plant 389. b Sunnes Oxen whence the fable arose that they were kept in stall 43. f Supernata a kinde of Abricocts 436. l Suculae what starres 592. l Surname Stolo whence it came 489. c Surus the name of an Elephant 194. i Susinum See Oile of Lillies Superfitation See more in Conceptions S W Sweate of the Pharnaces dangerous to be touched 155. b Swine when they goe a brimming 229. f. how long they breed ibid. eat their owne Pigs ibid. g. their age 230. b their diseases ibid. they know the swinards voice ibid. i how they are knowne sicke or sound ibid. their subtiltie and wit ibid. their flesh yeeldeth varietie of dishes 230. k. haue ten ribs 243. f Swallowes feed flying 284. h. they are indocible 295. b of diuerse sorts 288. h. how they feed and keepe cleane their young birds ibid. their neasts make a banke to Nilus ibid. i. how they build ibid. g. they fortifie an Island yearely 288. i Swallowes enemies to Bees 320. i young Swallowes being calcined doth cure the squinancie 288. k Swallowes hauing lost their eies will haue new 336. g they are gone in Winter 283. d. why they build not in the citie Thebes ibid. l. nor in Byzia ibid. wild Swans how they flie 282. i Swans sing not before they die 284. l of Swiftnesse in running many examples 166. m S Y Syrians warre against Locusts 328. h Sylke-wormes how to be vsed 323. b Sylla Dictatour died of lice 329. d Sybilla excellent at diuination 173. d Syria a renowned region the description thereof 99. f Syrenes fabulous birds 296. k Syagri kinde of Dates 387. b Sycomore tree 389. d. passing fruitfull ibid. Syraeum what it is 416. l Sycc what kinde of rosin 463. a Syene a towne at noonetide in the middest of the Summer no shadow is to be seene there 35. f Syringias a kinde of Cane or Reed 483. b Syrites a stone found in a Wolfes bladder 344. g Syrictae people that haue legs like Snakes 156. h T A TAder riuer 53. d of Tailes a discourse 352. l Taprobane Island 157. a Taprobane the manner of the people and their long life 131. b. Taprobane thought to be a second world 129. b Taprobane Island description thereof ibid. b. king of Taprobane admitted the Romans vpon relation of their iustice and seeing their peeces of coin all of equall weight 129. f the maner fashions of the Island of Taprobane 130. k Tamarix 398. m of Tastes thirteene kindes 448. l of Tallow 344. k Tallow whether it lieth in the breast ibid. Tales there be of Scritch-owles feeding young infants with their milke 347. c Tanaquils distaffe and spindle 228. g Tarre out of what tree it is boiled 464. h. whereto it is emploied ibid. the manner of drawing it ibid. Taprobane and Toidis countries most fruitfull of pearles 254. k. Tarum 298. m Tarandus what beast 215. c Tasts of sundrie sorts in hearbes 449. b Tasting equall to all creatures 306. l Tasting common to all creatures ibid. Tast of meats in all creatures but man is at the lip of the tongue 339. b Taurus a mightie mountaine 105. e. the diuerse names thereof ibid. Taurus a bird lowing like a Bull. 293. a Tautalus citie swallowed vp 40. m Tayles of serpents being cut off will grow againe ibid. Tayle in all creatures except men and Apes 352. i. serueth to necessarie vse ibid. Tayles of Oxen and Kine greatest and biggest 16. m Taygetus an hill 37.
stem which they called Magydaris And they affirme besides that it beareth leafy flat graines for the seed in color like gold which shed presently vpon the rising of the Dog-star especially if the wind be south Of which grains or seeds fallen to the ground young plants of Laserpitium vse to grow vp vnderneath that within the compasse of one yere wil thriue both in root and stem to the just and full perfection they haue writen moreouer that the vse was to dig about their roots and to lay them bare at certain times of the yeare Also that they serued not to purge cattell as is aforesaid but to cure them if they were diseased for vpon the eating thereof either they mended presently or else ended and died out of hand but few they were that miscaried in this sort As touching the former opinion of purging and scouring true it is that it agreeth well to the other Silphium or Laserpitium of Persia aforesaid Another kind there is of it named Magydaris more tender and lesse forcible and strong in operation than the former and affourdeth no such juice or liquor at all it grows about Syria and commeth not vp in all the region about Cyrenae Moreouer vpon the mount Pernassus there is great plentie found of a certaine hearbe which the inhabitants would needs haue to be Laserpitium and so they cal it wherewith indeed they are wont to abuse and sophisticat that singular and diuine plant the true Laserpitium so highly commended and of so great account and regard The principall and best triall of the true and sincere Laser is taken from the colour somewhat enclining to rednesse without breake it you shall haue it appeare white within and anone transparent If you drop water vpon it or otherwise thin spittle it will resolue and melt Much vse there is of it in many medicines for to cure mens maladies Two plants more therebe well knowne to the common sort and base multitude and to say a truth few els are acquainted with them notwithstanding they be commodities of much gaine and many a peny is gotten thereby The first is Madder in great request among diers and curriers and for to set a color vpon their wooll and leather right necessarie The best of all and most commended is our Madder of Italie principally that which groweth about villages neere vnto our citie of Rome And yet there is no country or prouince lightly but is full of it It commeth vp of the owne accord and is sowed besides of seed and set of slips in manner of Eruile Howbeit a prickie stalke it hath of the owne the same is also full of joints and knots and commonly about euery one of them it hath fiue leaues growing round in a circle The seed is red What medicinable vertues it hath and to what purpose it serueth in Physicke I will declare in place conuenient The second is that which is called in Latin Radicula i Sope-wort an hearb the juice wherof Fullers vse so much to scoure their wooll withall and wonderfull it is to see how white how pure how neat and soft it will make it Beeing set it will come vp and grow in any place but of it selfe without mans hand it groweth most in Asia and Syria among rough craggie and stony grounds The best is that which is found beyond the riuer Euphrates and that bears a stem like tall Fennell howbeit small and slender and whereof the inhabitants of the countrey there doe make a delicate dish for besides that it hath a commendable tast and much desired it giueth a pleasant colour to what meat soeuer is sodden in the pot with it It beareth a leafe like the Oliue the Greeks cal it Strution it floureth in Summer louely it is to the eie but no smel at all it hath to content the nose prickie moreouer it is like a thorne and the stalke notwithstanding couered with a soft down seed hath it none but a big root which they vse to cut shred mince small for the purposes aforesaid CHAP. IV. ¶ The manner of trimming and ordering Gardens the sorting of all those things that grow out of the Earth into their due places besides corne and plants bearing fruit IT remaineth now to treat of Gardens and the carefull diligence thereto belonging a commendable thing in it selfe and recommended vnto vs besides by our fore-fathers and auncient writers who had nothing to speake of in more account and admiration in old time than the gardens of the Hesperides of Adonis and Alcioniis as also those pendant gardens vpon tarraces and leads of houses whether they were those that Semyramis Queene of Babylon or Cyrus K. of Assyria deuised and caused to be made Of which and of their workmanship my intent is to make a discourse in some other booke Now for this present to goe no farther than Rome the Romane KK verily themselues made great store of gardens and set their minds vpon them for so we read that Tarquin surnamed the Proud the last king of Rome was in his garden when he gaue dispatch vnto that messenger that was sent from his sonne about a cruell and bloudie errand for to know his fathers aduise and pleasure as touching the citizens of Gabij In all the twelue tables throughout which contain our ancient lawes of Rome there is no mention made so much as once of a Grange or Ferm-house but euermore a garden is taken in that signification and vnder the name of Hortus i. a Garden is comprised Haeredium that is to say an Heritage or Domain and herupon grew by consequence a certain religious or rediculous superstition rather of some whom we ceremoniously to sacre and blesse their garden and hortyard dores only for to preserue them against the witchcraft and sorcerie of spightful and enuious persons And therefore they vse to set vp in gardens ridiculous and foolish images of Satyres Antiques and such like as good keepers and remedies against enuy and witchcraft howsoeuer Plautus assigneth the custodie of gardens to the protection of the goddesse Venus And euen in these our daies vnder the name of Gardens and Hortyards there goe many daintie places of pleasure within the very citie vnder the color also and title of them men are possessed of faire closes and pleasant fields yea and of proper houses with a good circuit of ground lying to them like pretie farmes and graunges in the countrey all which they tearme by the name of Gardens The inuention to haue gardens within a citie came vp first by Epicurus the doctor and master of all voluptuous idlenesse who deuised such gardens of pleasance in Athens for before his time the manner was not in any citie to dwell as it were in the countrey and so to make citie and countrey al one but all their gardens were in the villages without Certes at Rome a good garden and no more was thought a poore mans cheiuance it went I say for land and liuing The
occasion of debility or sicknesse haue their nature or seed run from them against their wills Touching Cichory of the garden which is very like vnto the Lectuce there be two kindes thereof but the green that seemeth to be of a wilde and sauage nature is the better of a more brown and duskish colour it is and a Summer herb only The other indeed is whither and continueth all winter howbeit worse of the twaine and yet both the one and the other are right comfortable to the stomack especially when it is ouercharged with waterish humors Beeing eaten in a salad with vinegre at meat they refresh and coole mightily so do they also in forme of a liniment and by that means resolue other humors besides those in the stomack Generally the roots of all wild Cichories being sodden with barly grouts to a gruel and so supped off do comfort a weake stomack Being reduced into a liniment applied to the region of the heart aboue the left pap with vineger they cure the trembling thereof and the faint cold sweats that break out vpon weaknesse All the sort of these Cichories as well tame as wild being taken in broth each other day be good for gouty persons for such also as reach and cast vp bloud shed their sperm or haue the running of the reins Howbeit Petronius Diodotus in his booke intituled Contradictions vtterly condemned the garden Endiue Seris and alledged many reasons and arguments to confirme that position of his howbeit the whole colledge of all Physicians besides stand against him CHAP. IX ¶ Of Garden Coleworts Lapsana Sea Coleworts or Soldanella of Squilla of other bulbous roots as the Potatoes and of Bulbium THe commendable proprieties of the Colewoort are so many that it were a long labor to discipher them all considering that both Chrysippus and Dieuches two Physitians haue compiled each of them a booke particularly of this hearbe wherein they haue collected their vertues as they be appropriat and respectiue to euery part of mans body yea and before al others Pythagoras and after him Cato haue as amply set out the praises therof As for Catoes opinion and judgement of the said herb I am the more willing in this place to set downe and follow diligently because it might be knowne what simples and what drugs they were which the old Romans vsed for their Physicke 600 yeres after the foundation of the city The Greeke writers of greatest antiquity haue made three kinds of Coleworts to wit the crisped or ruffed cole which they called Selinas or Selinoides for the resemblance that the leaues haue to Parsley these Coleworts be good for the stomack and gently loosen the belly The second sort is named in Greeke Lea with broad leaues springing forth from a great stem whereupon some haue giuen it the name of Caulodes these woorts are to no vse at all for Physicke The third is properly called by the name of Crambe very well stored with leaues this is but those are smaller than the rest simple also plain bitterer besides this Cole is in comparison of others but most effectuall in Physick Howbeit Cato preferreth before all that which is crisp and frizled next vnto it the smooth Cole with the large leaf big stalk He commendeth the Colewort stamped raw together with vineger honey Coriander Rue Mints and the root of Laser to be singular good for the heaâ—…-ach the mist and dimnesse of the eies the appearance of sparkling motes before them the stomack and precordiall parts if a man take fasting 2 Acetables of this composition And he saith moreouer that this confection is so soueraign that they who do but bray and beat the ingredients shall sensibly find themselues mightily comforted and fortified thereby And he concludeth withall that Coleworts may be either stamped together with the foresaid species and so taken in a supping or els be eaten first dipped and soked in the forenamed liquor as also that a liniment made of them together with Rue a little Coriander some few corns of salt and barley meale is soueraigne to asswage the paines of any gout be it in feet hands or any other ioint whatsoeuer Moreouer that a decoction made therof doth wonderfully comfort and fortifie the sinewes yea and mitigate the arthriticall griefes or ioint-ach if the parts be tormented therewith Ouer and besides a fomentation made therewith is singular for al fresh wounds old vlcers yea and cankers which could not possibly be repressed or healed by any other medicines but he appointeth first that they be bathed in hot water and then a cataplasme of the said worts to be laid vpon the afflicted place and the same to be refreshed twice a day By which manner of cure he saith that fistulous sores may be healed dislocations set streight swellings and imposthumes drawn outward to an head or otherwise where need is discussed resolued before they tend to suppuration He addeth moreouer saith that whosoeuer eat good store of sodden Coleworts together with oile and salt fasting in a morning shall fall to sleep again in the night if they were before ouercharged with watching in their sleep shall not be troubled with dreams or other vnquiet fansies and imaginations Furthermore hee affirmeth that worts twice boiled are excellent good for the torments and wrings of the belly so there be ioyned to the second decoction oyle salt cumin and barly groats and thus beeing eaten without bread they are the better among other effects that these Coleworts do work this is not to be forgotten that they purge cholerick humours being taken with sweet grosse wine More than that he auoucheth That if his vrine who vse to feed of Colewoorts be reserued it is singular good for the sinews if the grieued part be bathed therin after it is made hot again But because you should fully vnderstand his meaning I care not much to set downe his very words for to expresse the same the better If quoth he you wash little children with the said vrâ—… prepared in manner aforesaid they will neuer be weak and feeble in their lims He aduiseth moreouer to drop the juice of Colewoorts warme into the eares with wine and assureth vs that it is good for them that be hard of hearing Finally that ringworms tettars itch and dry scabs such as be not exulcerat are healed thereby Now concerning the opinion of the Greeks also as touching Coleworts I thinke it meet to set them down for Catoes sake I mean touching those points only that he ouerpassed and omitted First and formost therefore the Greeks hold that the Colewort being not throughly sodden purgeth choler keeps the body soluble howbeit twise sodden it bindeth the belly Item That it is contrary to wine and a very enemy to vines And more particularly if it be taken fasting or in the beginning of a meale before other meat it preserueth a man from drunkennesse and eaten after meat when a man is
poole it would draw the same dry and was of power by touching onely to open lockes or vnbolt any dore whatsoeuer Of Achoemenis also another herb they made this boast That beeing throwne against an armie of enemies ranged in battel array it would driue the troups and squadrons into feare disorder their ranks and put them to flight Semblably they gaue out and said That when the king of Persia dispatcâ—…ed his Embassadors to any forrein states and Princes he was wont to giue them an herb called Latace which so long as they had about them come where they would they should want nothing but haue plenty of all that they desired besides a number of such fooleries wherewith their bookes bee pestered But where I beseech you were these herbs when the Cimbrians and Teutons were defeated in a most cruell and terrible battell so as they cried and yelled again What became of these Magitians and their powerfull herbs when Lucullus with a small army consisting of some few legions ouerthrew and vanquished their owne kings If herbs were so mighty what is the reason I pray you that our Romane captaines prouided euermore aboue all things how to be furnished with victuals for their camp and to haue al the waies and passages open for their purveâ—…ours In the expedition of Pharsalia how came it to passe that the souldiers were at the point to be famished for want of victuals if Caesar by the happy hauing of one hearbe in his campe might haue injoied the abundance of all things Had it not bin better think ye for Scipio Aemilianus to haue caused the gates of Carthage to flie open with the help of one herbe than to lie so many yeres as he did in leaguer before the city with his engins ordinance to shake their wals batter their gates Were there such vertue in Ethiopius aforesaid why do we not at this day dry vp the Pontine lakes and recouer so much good ground vnto the territory about Rome Moreouer if that composition which Democritus hath set downe and his bookes maketh prayse of to be so effectual as to procure men to haue faire vertuous and fortunat children how happeneth it that the kings of Persia themselues could neuer attaine to that felicity And verily wee might maruell well enough at the credulity of our Ancestors in doting so much vpon these inuentions howsoeuer at the first they were deuised and brought in to right good purpose in case the mind and wit of man knew how to stay and keepe a meane in any thing els besides or if I could not proue as I suppose to doe in due place that euen this new leech-craft brought in by Asâ—…lepiades which checketh those vanities is growne to farther abuses and absurdities than are broched by the very Magitians themselues But this hath beene alwaies and euer will bee the nature of mans mind To exceed in the end and go beyond all measure in euery thing which at the beginning arose vpon good respects and necessary occasions But to leaue this discourse let vs proceed to the effects and properties remaining behind of those herbs which were described in the former booke with a supplement also and addition of some others as by occasion shall be offered and presented vnto vs. Howbeit to begin first with the remedies of the said Tettars so foule and vnseemly diseases I mean to gather a heape of as many medicines as I know appropriat for that malady notwithstanding I haue shewed alreadie of that kind not a few Well then in this case Plantaine stamped is very commendable so is Cinquefoile and the root of the white Daffodill punned and applied with vineger The young shoots or tender branches of the fig-tree boiled in vineger likewise the root of the Marsh-Mallow sodden with glow in a strong and sharpe vineger to the consumption of a fourth part Moreouer it is singular good to rub tettars throughly with a pumish stone first to the end that the root of Sorrell stamped and reduced into a liniment with vineger might be applied afterwards therupon with better successe as also the floure of Miselto tempred incorporat with quick-lime the decoction likewise of Tithymale together with rosin is much praised for this cure but the herb Liuerwort excelleth all the rest which therupon tooke the name Lichen it groweth vpon stony grounds with broad leaues beneath about the root hauing one stalke and the same small at which there hang downe long leaues and surely this is a proper herb also to wipe away all marks and cicatrices in the skin if it be bruised and laid vpon them with hony Another kind of Lichen or Liuerwort there is cleauing wholly fast vpon rockes and stones in manner of mosse which also is singular for those tettars being reduced into a liniment This herb likewise stancheth the flux of bloud in green wounds if the juice be dropped into them and in a liniment it serueth well to be applied vnto apostumat places the jaundise it healeth in case the mouth and tongue be rubbed and annointed with it and hony together but in this cure the Patients must haue in charge To bathe in salt water to anoint themselues with oile of almonds and in any case to abstain from all salads and pothearbs of the garden For to heale tettars the root of Thapsia stamped with hony is much vsed As for the Squinsie Argemonia is a soueraigne remedy if it be drunk in wine Hyssop also boiled in wine and so gargarized likewise Harstrang with the rennet of a Seale or Sea-calse taken both of them in equall portion moreouer Knot-grasse stamped with the pickle made of Cackrebs and oile and so gargled or els but held only vnder the tongue Semblaby the juice of Cinquefoile being taken in drink to the quantity of three cyaths this juice besides in a gargarisme cureth all other infirmities of the throat And to conclude with Mullen if it be drunk in water it hath a speciall vertue to cure the inflammation of the amygdals or almond kernels of the throat CHAP. V. ¶ Receits for the scrophules ar wens called the Kings-euill for the paines and griefes of the singers for the diseases of the breast and namely for the Cough PLantaine is a soueraigne herb to cure the Kings euill also Celendine applied with honey and hogs lard so is Cinquefoile The root of the great Clot-bur serueth for the same purpose if it be incorporat with hogs grease so that the place after it is annointed therewith be couered with a leafe of the said Bur laid fast vpon it in like manner Artemisia or Mugwort also a Mandrage root applied with water is good for that purpose The broad leafed Sideritis or Stone-sauge being digged round about with a spike of yron and taken vp with the left hand and so applied vnto the place cureth the kings euill prouided alwaies that the Patients when they be healed keep the same herbe still by them for
the antient Romans were wont to doe at the siege and assault of any towne or city was by their priests to conjure and call forth that god or goddesse which was the patron or patronesse therof and withal to promise vnto the said god or goddesse either the same place againe or else a greater and more spacious seat yea and the like diuine worship or better among the Romanes and euen at this day our Pontifies or Bishops haue the charge of this sacred ceremony amongst other functions belonging to their ministery And hereupon well known it is that for this cause and nothing else it was neuer divulged obroad what god was the protector and patron of Rome city for feare least some of our enemies should assay to coniure him forth and deale by vs as we do by them Furthermore who is there that is not afraid of all maledictions and cursed execrations and especially when the names of the infernall fiends or vnluckie foules are vsed in such bannings For feare likewise of some harme see we not that it is an vsuall thing to crush and break both egge and fish shels so soon as euer the meat is supped and eaten out of them or els to bore the same through with a spoone stele or bodkin From hence came those amatorious eidyls and eclogues of Theocritus among Greek Poets of Catullus and Virgil among vs full of amorous charmes in imitation of such exorcismes and coniurations indeed I assure you many folke there be of this beleefe That by certaine spells and words in manner of charmes all the pots and vessels of earth baking in a furnace may be cracked and broken without touching them at all And there are not a few who are persuaded for certaine that euen the very serpents as they may be burst by inchantment so they can vnwitch themselues and that as brutish otherwise and earthly as they be yet in this one thing they haue a quicke sence and vnderstanding insomuch as at the charms of the Marsians they will shrink from them and draw in their bodies round into a knot though it were in the night season when they lie asleepe Some there be also that when a skare-fire hath taken an house write certaine words vpon the walls and thereby limit and confine the fire that it shall go no farther Certes I am not able to say whether strange forraine and ineffable words hard to be pronounced are more auailable to the effecting of these incredible things or our Latin words comming out at a venture vnlooked for and spoken at random which must needs seem ridiculous in our judgement seeing that the spirit and mind of man expecteth alwaies some great and mighty matter in these coniurations and exorcismes which may carry a majesty therewith to incline and moue the gods to mercy and fauour or rather indeed to command their heauenly power perforce But to proceed Homer the Poet hath written that prince Vlyxes being wounded in the thigh stanched the bloud with a charme And Theophrastus testifieth that there be proper spels to cure the Sciatica Cato hath left in writing that there is a special charm for dislocations wherby any bone put out of ioint may be set again And M. Varro reporteth the like vertue of certain good words for the gout As for Caesar the Dictatour it is commonly said of him that hauing beene once endangered with the fall or ouerthrow of his coach wherein he rode would neuer afterwards ride in coach againe vnlesse so soone as euer hee had taken his place and before that he set forward vpon his way he had pronounced a certaine charm that he had in store and persuaded he was that if he said it ouer three times together he should come by no mischance in his journey but trauel in security A thing that I know many now adaies to practise ordinarily as well as he But for farther proofe and confirmation of this opinion I report me to euery mans conscience and knowledge to that I say which there is not one but knoweth What is the cause I pray you that the first day of euery yeare we salute one another for luck sake with wishing a good new yere What is the reason tel me that in all our publick processions and generall solemnities euery fifth yeare for the health and good estate of the city they made choice of such persons for to lead the beasts appointed to sacrifice whose names were good and fortunat or how commeth it about that for to preuent or diuert witchcraft and sorcery we obserue a peculiar adoration and inuocat vpon the Greekish goddesse of vengeance Nemesis in which regard onely we haue her statue or image set vp in the Capitoll notwithstanding we know not yet what name in Latine to giue her How is it that in making mention of those that be dead we speake with reuerence and protest that we haue no meaning to disquiet their ghosts thereby or to say ought preiudiciall to their good name and memoriall If there be nothing in words how hapneth it I would fain know that we haue such an opinion of odd numbers beleeuing that they be more effectuall in all things than the euen a matter I may tell you of great consequence if we do but obserue the criticall daies in feuers Also in the gathering of our first fruits be they Pears Apples Figs c. wherfore vse we to say These be old God send vs new What mooueth vs to wiâ—…h health and say God helpe or blesse when one sneezeth for euen Tiberius Caesar who otherwise was known for a grim sir and the most vnsociable and melancholick man in the world required in that manner to be salued and wished well vnto whensoeuer he sneezed though he were mounted in his chariot And some there be who in this case do ceremoniously salute the party by name and thinke there is a great point of religion lies in that Moreouer is not this an opinion generally receiued That when our ears do glow and tingle some there be that in our absence doe talke of vs Attalus auoucheth for a certainty that if a man chance to espie a scorpion and do no more but say this one word * Duo i. two the serpent wil be stil quiet and neuer shoot forth his sting And now seeing by occasion of mentioning a scorpion I am put in mind of Africk you shal vnderstand thus much that throughout all that country there is not one goeth about to do any thing but before he begins he saith this word * Africai Africk As for other nations in euery enterprise that men take in hand they vse the name of their gods pray ordinarily that it would please them to giue a grace and blessing to their attempts As for this ceremony namely when the table is spread and furnished with viands to lay a ring from the finger vpon it we see it commonly orderly practised and that it
two Coss. to their fathers who notwithstanding stood for the said dignitie and honorable place Nay more This Flavius had a speciall grace besides granted To be at the same time one of the Tribunes also or Prouosts of the Comminaltie At which indignitie the Senat took such disdaine and chafed so for despight and anger that as we reade in the antient Annals and Chronicles of our city there was not one Senator of them all but laid away his golden rings and gaue vp his place Many are of opinion although they be farre deceiued that the knights and men of arms also did the semblable and left off their rings the same time And this likewise goeth currant and is generally receiued That they cast aside the caparisons and trappings of their bard horses for these be the two badges or markes which cause them to be called Equites as one would say knights men of arms or horsmen True it is besides that in some annals we find it recorded that it was the nobility only of Rome that gaue ouer their gold rings and not generally the whole body of the Senat. Wel how soeuer it was this hapned when P. Sempronius Longus and L. Sulpitius were Consuls But Flavius abouesaid seeing what trouble and discontentment was risen hereupon throughout the city vowed to erect and build a temple in the honor of Concord if he could reconcile the estate of the Senat and the order of the gentlemen again to the common people And seeing that he could not be furnished with mony out of the common treasure of the city for defraying of charges requisit to this piece of work he made means to haue certaine extreme vsurers condemned to pay good round sums of mony with these fines a little chappell he caused to be made all of brasse and reared it in the place appointed for Embassadors out of strange countries to wait and giue attendance in called Graecostasis the which was at the head of the publique grand place or hal of assemblies called Comitium where in a table of brasse he tooke order there should be cut and engrauen the veritie of the dedication of the said temple which was 104 yeres after the temple in the Capitol was dedicated and in the 448 yere from the foundation of the city This is the first and most antient euidence that may be collected out of all the antiquities of Rome now extant as touching the vsage and wearing of Rings Another testimonie we haue thereof in the second Punicke War which implieth that rings in those daies were vsed more ordinarily as wel by commons as gentlemen and Nobles for otherwise if they had not bin so vsually worn as wel by one as another Annibal could neuer haue sent to Carthage those three Modij of rings which were pluckt from the fingers of those Romans who were slain in the battell of Cannae Moreouer the Chronicles beare witnesse that the great quarrell betweene Caepio and Drusus from which arose the sociall war of the Marsians and the ruin of the state grew by occasion of a ring sold in portsale which both of them would haue had the one as well as the other Neither at that time verily did all Senators weare gold rings for known it hath bin within the remembrance of our grandfathers that many of them and such as beare the Pretorship in their old age and to their very dying day neuer wore any other rings but of iron The same doth Fenestella report of Calphurnius and of Manilius also who was Lieutenant vnder Caius Marius in the war against King Tugurtha And many other historians affirme the like of L. Fusidius him I meane vnto whome Scaurus dedicated that Booke which he compiled of his Life There is a whole house or family at Rome of Quintij wherein by antient custome and order there was neuer any known so much as the very women to weare any gold about them And euen at this day the greater part of those nations and people who liue vnder the empire of Rome know not what these rings mean All the countries of the East throughout and Egypt generally at this time content themselues with simple writings and bare scripts without any seale or signe manuel set vnto them But so far off are we in these daies from keeping vs to the plain hoop rings of our ancestors that as in all things els so in them also we loue to change and alter euery day so giuen we are to excesse and superfluitie for now many must haue curiously set in their rings pretions stones of excellent beautie and most exquisit brightnesse and vnlesse their fingers be charged and loden again with the riches and reuenues of a good lordship they are not adorned and decked to their mind But I purpose more fully to speake hereof in my treatise of gems and pretious stones Others again wil haue in their rings and stones sundry figures and portraitures as they list themselues engrauen that as there be some rings costly for the matter so others again should be as pretious for the workmanship Yee shall haue many of these wantons and delicate persons make conscience forsooth to cut and engraue some of their pretious stones for hurting them and to shew that their rings serue for somewhat else than to seale and signe withall doe set the said stones whole and entire as they be And diuers there are who will not enclose the stone with gold on the inside of the colet which is hidden with the finger to the end forsooth that it may touch the naked skin and be seene through And such an opinion they haue of these stones that gold is worth nothing in comparison of many thousands of them now in vse and request Contrariwise many there are who will haue no stone at all in their rings but make them all of massiue gold and therewith do seale a deuise that came vp in the time of Claudius Caesar the Emperor Furthermore in these our daies some slaues set iron within a collet of gold in stead of a stone and others again hauing their rings of iron yet they adorn and set them out with the most pure and fine gold that may be had This licence no doubt and libertie of wearing rings in this order began first in Samothrace as may appeare by the name of such rings which therefore are called Samothracia Now to come again to our golden rings The manner was in old time to weare rings but vpon one finger onely and namely that which is the fourth or next to the little finger as we may see in the statues of Numa and Servius Tullius Kings of Rome but afterward they began to honour the fore-finger which is next vnto the thumbe with a ring according to the manner which we see in the images of the gods and in processe of time they took pleasure to weare them vpon the least finger of all and it is said that in France and Brittaine they vsed them vpon the
wont to go to bed and sleepe without a standing cup of gold vnder his pillow also That Agnon Teius a great captain vnder Alexander the Great was giuen to such wastfull prodigality as to fasten his shooes and pantophles with buckles of gold But Antony aboue named to the contumelie and contempt of Nature abused gold and imploied it to the basest seruice that is an act as much as any other deseruing proscription and outlawing indeed But among diuers things besides I wonder much at this That the people of Rome vpon the conquest of so many Nations imposed vpon them a tribute to be paied alwaies in siluer neuer made mention of gold as for example when Carthage was subdued Annibal vanquished the Carthaginians were injoined for 50 yeres together to make paiment yerely of 12000 pound of siluer only and no gold at all Neither can it be thought that there was little gold at that time to be had abroad in the world for Midas and Croesus both were possest of infinit sums and huge masses of gold and Cyrus vpon his conquest of Asia met with 34000 pound weight of gold besides the golden plate and vessell and other gold which he found ready wrought and among the rest certain leaues a Plane and a vine-tree both of beaten gold In the pillage also of this victory he gaue away 500000 talents of siluer and one standing cup that he tooke from Semiramis that weighed 15 talents And Varro mine Author saith That the poise of the Aegyptian talent ariseth to So pound Besides there had raigned before time ouer the Colchians Salauces and one Esubopes who hauing newly broken vp a piece of ground in the Samnians country is reported to haue gotten out thereof great store of siluer and gold notwithstanding that the whole kingdome is renowned for the golden fleeces there And verily this prince had the arched and embowed roufes of his pallace made of siluer and gold the beames and pillars also sustaining the said building yea the jambes posts principals and standards all of the same mettall namely after he had vanquished Sesostres K. of Aegypt so proud a prince that as Chronicles make mention he was wont euery yere to haue one or other as the lot fell out of those kings who were his tributaries and did homage to him for to draw in his charriot like horses when he was disposed to ride in triumph These and such like things haue bin thought fabulous tales but haue not our Romans done semblable acts which the age and posterity hereafter wil think incredible Caesar afterwards Dictatour was the first that in his Aedileship when hee exhibited a solemne memoriall in the honour of his father departed did furnish the whole Cirque and shew-place with all things meet for such a solemnity of cleane siluer insomuch as the chasing staues and bore-speares were of siluer wherewith the wild beasts were assaulted a spectacle neuer seene before And not long after C. Antonius set forth his plaies when he was Aedile vpon a stage or scaffold of siluer after whose example diuers free cities and townes of the empire haue don the like Semblably L. Muraena and C. Caligula the Emperor erected a frame or pageant to go and rise vp of it selfe with vices supporting images and jewels in the place of publick pastimes which was thought to haue in it 124000 pound of siluer Claudius Caesar who succeeded Emperor after him when he rode in triumph for the conquest of Brittaine among other crownes of beaten gold shewed two that were principall the one of 7 pound weight which high Spaine had giuen to him the other weighing 9 pounds sent vnto him as a Present from that part of Gaule which is called Comata as appeared by the inscriptions and titles which they bare Nero his successour to shew vnto Tyridates king of Armenia what abundance of treasure he had kept the great Theatre of Pompeius for one whole day couered all ouer with gold But what was that furniture in comparison of his golden house which tooke vp a great part of the city and seemed as it were to compasse it about In that yeare when Sex Iulius and Lucius Aurelius were Consuls which fell out to be 7 yeares before the third Punicke warre there was found in the treasury or chamber of Rome 700026 pound weight of gold in Masse or Ingots of siluer likewise in Bullion 92000 pound weight besides the coine and ready money which amounted to 375000 Sesterces The yeare wherein Sex Iulius and L. Marcius were Consuls to wit in the beginning of the sociall warre against the Marcians and other Romane allies the treasure of Rome arose to 846 pounds of gold in Bullion C. Caesar at his first entrance into the city of Rome when the ciuill war between him and Pompey was begun took out of the citie chamber 15000 wedges or ingots of gold 35000 lumps or masses of siluer and in ready money 40000 Sesterces And to say a truth neuer was the city of Rome wealthier than at this time Moreouer Aemylius Paulus after he had defeated and vanquished Perseus the Macedonian King brought into the Treasurie of the Citie a bootie of 3000 pound of gold in weight After which time the common people of Rome had neuer any tributes or taxes leuied of them by the State Moreouer this is to be obserued That after the ouerthrow and destruction of Carthage the beames began first to be guilded within the temple of the Capitoll whiles Lu. Mummius was Censor And now adaies you shall not see any good house of a priuat man but it is laid thicke and couered ouer with gold Nay the brauery of men hath not staid so but they haue proceeded to the arched and embowed roufs to the walls likewise of their houses which we may see euery where as wel and throughly guisded as the siluer plate vpon their cupbourds And yet Catulus was diuersly thought of in the age wherein he liued because he was the first that gilded the brasen tiles of the Capitoll Touching the first inuentors as well of gold as also of all other mettals to speake of I haue already written in my seuenth booke As for the estimation of this mettall that it should bee chiefe as it is I suppose it proceedeth not from the colour for siluer hath a brighter lustre more like to the day and in this respect more agreeable to the ensignes of war than that of gold because it glittereth and shineth farther off and hereby is their errour manifestly conuinced who commend the colour of gold in this regard that it resembleth the starres for well it is knowne that their colour is not reputed richest either in precious stones or in many things besides Neither is gold preferred before other mettals because the matter is more weighty or pliable than the rest for lead surmounterh it both in the one and the other But I hold that the reputation which it hath commeth
criminal imputations that he objected to Camillus challenged him for this That the dores of his dwelling house were plated and garnished with brasse copper Moreouer as L. Piso reporteth in his Chronicle Cneus Manlius after his conquest of Asia was the first that in the triumph wherein he rode in the yeare after the foundation of Rome 568 he made a shew of three-sided tables cup-bourds and bourds supported by one foot all of brasse And Valerius Antias verily doth write That L. Crassus heire to that great Orator L. Crassus made sale of many such brasen tables which fell vnto him by right of inheritance Semblably I find in the histories That in old time they were wont to make many large basons supported with a frame of 3 feet known by the name of Delphick basons for that they were commonly dedicated to Apollo the patron or god of Delphos for to receiue the gifts and oblations offered to him In those daies also the lamp-branches hanging aloft in churches spreading out their arms abroad and carrying lights like trees bearing fruit were vsually made of brasse and such a one is to be seen in the temple of Apollo within the Palatine hill at Rome which being found by Alexander the great in the saccage of Thebes the said prince dedicated to the god Apollo at Cyme a towne in Aeolia To conclude this art of founding and casting brasse proceeded farther and passed on vntil it was commonly practised in making the idols and images of the gods CHAP. IIII. ¶ At what time the first brasen Image was cast at Rome The first originall and beginning of statues and the honour that belonged to statues Also the diuers kinds and fashions of them THe first Image of brasse that euer was made at Rome I finde to be consecrated to Ceres raised it was out of the goods of Sp. Cassius who aspiring to be a king was therefore slaine by his owne father But this honor continued not long proper to the gods but passed from them vnto the statues of men also and their portraitures and that after sundry sorts In antient time the manner was to vernish their images and statues of brasse with Bitumen more maruel it is therefore that afterwards men should take such pleasure to guild them as they did this inuention whether it came from Rome or no I know not but if it did surely it was no antient deuise nor of any long continuance there Certes the manner was not in old time to expresse the liuely similitude of men in brasse vnlesse they were such worthy persons as by some notable and famous acts deserued to be immortalized as namely for winning the prizes at any of the foure sacred and solemn games holden in Greece and principally at those of Olympia where it was an ordinary thing to see the statues of those erected and dedicated who had atchieued any victory there But in case any one were so happy as to obtain victory at those solemnities 3 seueral times his statue in brasse was so liuely perfectly cast that it resembled his person ful whole according to the proportion of euery member joint and muskle of the body yea euen to the haire of the head and beard And such kind of complete images the Greeks vse to call Iconicae i. personages The manner of the Athenians was to honour men of singular vertue and valour by representing their personages in brasse but I am not sure whether those Athenians were the first that brought vp that manner or no true it is that long ago they caused statues of Harmodius and Aristogiton to be made of brasse at the charges of the state and to be erected in publick place for that they had the courage and heart to kill Pisistratus who tyrannized ouer them and this fell out just in that very yeare wherein the kings were also deposed at Rome and expelled the city for euer And in processe of time this manner was taken vp in all parts of the world so plausible to the nature of man is the ambitious desire to perpetuate their memorie by such monuments insomuch as there is not a good towne within our prouinces but they haue begun already to beautifie their market places with many such ornaments of brasen statues images together with titles honours and dignities ingrauen at the bases or pied-stal therof for the better continuance of mens memoriall that the posterity might be informed by such inscriptions as well as by their tombs and sepulchers And at length the ambition of men proceeded so far that as well their priuat houses within as the base courts and porches without were so beset with images that a man would take them for some publicke places within a city and all this arose from the deuote courtesie of vassalls in token of homage and honour done to those their patrons and lords whom they acknowledged to be the protectors and maintainers of their life and liberty CHAP. V. ¶ Of brasen statues in long robes and diuers other sorts of Images Whose statues were first erected vpon pillars When they were set vp first in publicke and at the common charges Finally which were the first in Rome IN antient time all the images and statues erected to the honour of any men were in their gowns and robes Men delighted also to haue them otherwhiles all naked resting vpon their spears which they held in their hands this pattern came from the Greeks resembling the maner of their yong men which in that sort did exercise naked in their publick wrestling places thereupon called Gymasia and such images are named Achilleae And verily the Greekish fashion it is To hide no part of the body but to shew all wheras the Romanes contrariwise like souldiers and military men vsed to make their statues armed with a cuirace or brest plate only leauing the rest of the body discouered and bare And Iulius Caesar verily the Dictator was well content that his image should be set vp in the Forum or common place at Rome armed with an habargeon or coat of male As for such statues which represented in habit the priests of Pan called Luperci i. all discouered but their priuities it is an inuention new come vp and as lately deuised as those which be pourtraied in clokes or mantles Mancius appointed that his image should be erected in that habit and manner that is to say bound and vnarmed as he was deliuered prisoner to the Numantines his enemies As touching the statue of L. Actius a famous Poet I will report vnto you what writers haue recorded namely That being himselfe a very little man and low of stature he caused his image to be made exceeding big and tall and so to be set vp within the temple of the Muses at Rome As for the statues represented on horse-backe in great name and request they were among the Romans but no doubt they had their precedent from the Greeks At first they honoured such horsmen only in
this sort who had won the price in the race at those solemn sacred games which were held in Greece and those horse-runners they called Celeres howbeit afterwards the like honor obtained they who had born themselues best at the running of chariots whether they were drawn with 2 horses or four And from hence came the manner with vs of our valiant captains and victorious generalls to haue their statues made riding triumphant in their chariots Howbeit long it was first ere this fashion came to be taken vp and before the daies of Augustus Caesar late Emperour of famous memory there had not been knowne any such images at Rome riding in chariots either drawne with six steeds or Elephants as now there be The manner also of riding in coches with 2 horses about the cirque or shew place which vsually they did who had bin lords Pretors of Rome represented in their pourtraitures is not antient Concerning statues erected vpon columns or pillars they be of greater antiquity as may appeare by that of C. Menius who vanquished the antient Latines that inuaded the territory of Rome vnto which nation the people of Rome was woont by vertue of the league to allow the third part of the bootie and pillage gotten in the wars during the Consulship of which C. Menius vpon the victory atchieued of the Antiats the city of Rome ordained that the beak-heads with their brasen tines which were taken from them in a conflict at sea should be fastened vnto the pulpit of publicke pleas and Orations which thereupon was euer after called Rostra and this fortuned in the 416 yeare after the foundation of Rome The like statue vpon a column was set vp for the honour of C. Duillius who first defeated the Carthaginians by sea and for that nauall victorie entered Rome in triumph the same remaineth at this day to be seen in the Forum or grand place of the city Semblably P. Minutius obtained the same honour who being Purueior generall of corne for the city in time of a dearth behaued himselfe so well in that office that his statue of brasse was erected vpon a piller without the gate of Rome called Trigemina and that by an vniuersall contribution of the people who gaue voluntarily toward the charges therof euery man to the value of an ounce of brasse coine And I wot not whether I may boldly say that he was the first man who receiued that honour at the peoples hands for before-time I am well assured that the Senat only granted such rewards for mens good seruice Certes these were braue and honourable memorials had they not begun vpon occasion of some trifling matters to speake of For such a statue was that of Actius Nauius the Augur or Soothsayer which stood before the entrie of the Curia or Councell-chamber of Rome the base or foot of which pillar was burnt at what time as the said Curia or Senat-house caught a light fire at the funerals of P. Clodius The like image was set vp by authoritie from the State in the publicke place of elections at Rome called Comitium to the honor of Hermodorus the Ephesian who translated out of Greeke into Latine the lawes of the 12 tables which the ten Decemvirs had gathered and set down for the publicke benefit of the city As for the statue of Horatius Cocles which remaineth to this day there was another reason of it and the same of greater credit and importance for that he alone sustaining the charge and brunt of K. Porsenaes army made good the woodden bridge ouer Tybre at Rome and caused the enemies perforce to abandon the place As touching the Statues of the Prophetesses Sibyllae three of them there be neare vnto the Rostra before said but of a lesse making whereat I nothing maruell the one was repaired by Sex Pacuvius Taurus one of the Aediles of the Commons the other two by M. Messala And I assure you I would haue taken these Images and that of Actius Nauius to haue beene the most antique of all others as being set vp in the daies of K. Tarquinius Priscus but that I see the statues of the former kings within the Capitoll CHAP. VI. ¶ Statues without gowne or robe at all Of other Statues Which was the first statue on horse-backe When and whereupon all the Images as well publicke as priuat were demolished and put downe What women they were at Rome who were honoured with brasen statues and which were the first statues erected publiquely at Rome by strangers AMong the said Statues of Roman kings that of Romulus is without any coat or cassocke at all like as that also of Camillus which standeth at the pulpit Rostra As for the Image of Q. Martius Tremellius which was erected before the temple of Castor and Pollux the same was in a gowne and sitting vpon horse-backe this noble knight had vanquished the Samnites twice and by the winning of Anagnia a city not far from Rome procured thereby an easment vnto the people from paying tribute vnto the state for the maintenance of the wars In the ranke of the most antique monuments of Rome I may range the statues of Tullius Cloelius L. Roscius Sp. Nautius and C. Fulcinius which stand about the Pulpit Rostra and these were the foure Roman Embassadors who against all law of Nations were during their embassage murdered by the Fidenatians For this was an ordinary custome with the Romanes to honour those in this manner who in the seruice of the Commonwealth were vniustly killed as may appear likewise by P. Iunius and T. Coruncanus who by Teuca the queene of the Illyrians were put to death notwithstanding they came in embassade to her And here I cannot ouerpasse one point noted in the Annals that the measure of the statues erected in the common place at Rome was set down precisely to be three foot in height whereby it may appeare that this proportion and scantling in those daies was thought to be honorable Neither wil I conceale from you omit the memorable example of C. Octauius who for one word speaking lost his life this man beeing sent as Embassadour vnto king Antiochus and hauing deliuered his message vnto him according to his charge and Commission when hee saw that the king made no haste to giue him his dispatch presently but said hee would make him an answer another day made no more adoe but with a wand or rod that he had in his hand drew a circle about the king and compelled him by force to giue him his answer before he stirred his foot without that compasse But this cost him his life and for that he was killed thus in his Embassage the Senat of Rome ordained That his statue should be erected in the most conspicuous place of the city and that was in the publick pulpit for Pleas and Orations the Rostra before named I read in the Chronicles that the Senat made a decree that Taracia Caia or as some say
was of Aristides his making but there is a man lying sicke in his bed of his painting that cannot be praised sufficiently And verily to conclude with his owne word so accomplished he was in this art that K. Attalus by report gaue vnto him for one table with the picture one hundred talents of siluer About the same time there flourished as I haue said before Protogenes born he was at Caunos a city in Cilicia and subject to the Rhodians he was so exceeding poore at the beginning and withall so studious intentiue and curious in his worke without all end that fawer pictures by that means came out of his hands and himselfe neuer rise to any great wealth Who it was that taught him his art it is not knowne for certaine but some say that he painted ships vntill he was 50 yeres of age which they collect by this argument That when at Athens in the most conspicuous and frequented place of the city he was to adorne with pictures the porch before the temple of Minerva wherein he depainted that famous Paralus and * Hemionis which some call Nausicaa he deuised certaine borders without wherein he painted among those by-works which painters call Parerga certaine small gallies and little long barks to shew therby the small beginnings of his art and to what height of perfection hee was come to in the end when his workmanship was thought worthy to be seen in the most eminent place of that citie But of all the painted tables that euer he wrought that of Ialysus is accounted the principall which is now dedicated at Rome within the temple of Peace whiles he was in painting this Ialysus it is said that he liued only vpon steeped Lupines which might serue him in stead of meat and drinke both to satisfie his hunger and quench his thirst and this hee did for feare least too much sweetnesse of other viands should cause him to feed ouer liberally and so dul his spirit and senses And to the end that this picture should be lesse subiect to other injuries and last the longer he charged it with foure grounds of colours which he laid one vpon another that euer as the vpper coat went that vnderneath might succeed in the place and shew fresh againe In this table the pourtraiture of a dog is admirable and miraculous for not only art but fortune also met together in the painting thereof for when he had done the dog in all parts to the contentment of his owne minde and that ywis was a very hard and rare matter with him could not satisfie and please himselfe in expressing the froth which fell from his mouth as he panted and blowed almost windlesse with running displeased he was with the very art it selfe and albeit he thought that he had bin long enough already about the said froth and spent therein but too much art and curiositie yet somewhat he wist not what was to be diminished or altered therein the more workmanship and skill that went thereto the farther off it was from the truth indeed and the nature of froth the onely marke that he shot at for when he had done all that he could it seemed still but painted froth and not that which came out of the dogs mouth whereas it should haue been the very same and no other which had been there before Hereat he was troubled and vexed in his mind as one who would not haue any thing seene in a picture of his that might be said like but the very same indeed Many a time he had changed his pensill and colours as often he had wiped out that which was done and al to see if he could hit vpon it but it would not be for yet it was not to his fansie At the last falling clean out with his own workmanship because the art might be perceiued in it in a pelting chase he flings me the spunge-ful of colors that he had wiped out full against that vnhappy place of the table which had put him to all this trouble but see what came of it the spunge left the colours behind in better order than hee could haue laied them and in truth as well as his heart could wish Thus was the froth made to his full mind and naturally indeed by meere chance which all the wit and cunning in his head could not reach vnto After whose example Nealces another painter did the like and sped as wel in making the froth falling naturally from a horses mouth namely by throwing his spunge against the table before him at what time as he painted a horse-rider cheering and cherking vp his horse yet reining him hard as he champed vpon his bit Thus I say Fortune taught Protogenes to finish his dog This picture of Ialysus and his dog was of such name and so highly esteemed that K. Demetrius when hee might haue forced the city of Rhodes on that side onely where Protogenes dwelt forbare to set it on fire because he would not burne it among other painted tables and thus for to spare a picture he lost the opportunitie of winning a towne During this strait siege and hot assault of Rhodes it chanced that Protogenes himselfe was at worke in a little garden that he had by the townes side euen as a man would say within the compasse of Demetrius his camp And for all the fury of warre and the daily skirmishes within his sight and hearing yet he went on still with his workes that he had in hand and neuer discontinued one hour But being sent for by the king and demanded How he durst so confidently abide without the walls of the city in that dangerous time he answered That he knew full well that Demetrius warred against the Rhodians and had no quarrell to good Arts and Sciences The king then glad in his heart that it lay now in his hand to saue those things which he had spared before and whereof he had so good respect bestowed a very strong guard about Protogenes for his better safety security and as great an enemy as he was to the Rhodians yet he vsed otherwhiles to visit Protogenes of his owne accord in proper person because he would not eftsoones call him out of his shop from worke and setting aside the maine point and occasion of lying before Rhodes which was the winning thereof the thing that hee so much desired euen amid the assaults skirmishes and battels hee would finde time to come to Protogenes and took great pleasure to see his worke By occasion of this siege and hostilitie arose this tale moreouer of one table of his making That all the whiles he painted it the dagger forsooth was set to his heart and a sword ready to cut his throat and it was the picture of a Satyre playing vpon a paire of bag-pipes which he called Anapauomenos by which name as well as by the thing it selfe hee would seem to signifie that he tooke but little thought and care during
which no doubt if it had diuers tinctures and colours in it would haue confounded them all into one now out of one doth dispense and digest them accordingly and in boiling the drugs of the clothes setteth the colour and staineth surely And verily this good moreouer haue the clothes by this scalding that they be alwaies more firme and durable than if they had not come into the boiling cauldron CHAP. XII ¶ The first deuisers of the art of Potterie and in working in cley Of Images made of earth Of earthen vessels and their value in old time NOw that I haue discoursed of painting enough if not too much it were good to annexe and joyne thereto the craft of Potterie and working out of cley And to begin with the original and inuention of making the image or likenesse of any thing in cley it is said that Dibutades a Sicyonian born and a Potter was the first that deuised at Corinth to form an image in the same clay whereof he made his pots by the occasion and means of a daughter which hee had who being in loue with a certain yong man whensoeuer he was to take a long iourney far from home vsed ordinarily to mark vpon the wal the shadow of her louers face by candle light and to pourfill the same afterwards deeper that so she might inioy his visage yet in his absence This her father perceiuing followed those tracts and by clapping cley therupon perceiued that it took a print and made a sensible forme of a face which when hee saw hee put it into the furnace to bake among other vessels when it was hardned shewed it abroad And it is said that this very piece remained in the bains of Corinth safe vntill Mummius destroied the city Howbeit writers there be who affirme That Rhoecus and Theodorus both of the Isle Samos were the first inuentors of this feat of forming shapes in cley long before the expulsion of the Bacchiadae out of Corinth And by their saying when Demaratus was faine to flie out of that city and to retire himselfe into Tuscan where he begat Tarquinius afterwards syrnamed Priscus king of Rome there accompanied him from Corinth Eucheir and Eugramnus two Imageurs in cley and they taught in Italy the art of Potterie and Imagerie in that kind As for Dibutades beforesaid the inuentor he was not of his craft but indeed he deuised to vse with other cley and earth a ruddle or els to colour the white cley with madder His inuention it was to set vp Gargils or Antiques at the top of a Gauill end as a finiall to the crest tiles which in the beginning he called Protypa The same man afterwards deuised other counterfeits and those be termed Ectypa and hence come the louvers and lanterns reared ouer the roofs of temples which are so curiously wrought in earth In sum this man gaue the originall name Plastica to the craft and Plastae to to the craftsmen in this kind But Lysistratus of Sicyone and brother to Lysippus of whom I haue written before was the first that in plaster or Alabaster represented the shape of a mans visage in a mould from the liuely face indeed and when hee had taken the image in waxe which the foresaid mould of plastre had giuen vsed to form and fashion the same more exactly This man staied not there but began to make images to the likenesse and resemblance of the person for before him euery man studied only to make the fairest faces and neuer regarded whether they were like or no. Lysistratus also inuented to make counterfeits in cley according to the images and statues in brasse already made And in the end this feat of working in cley grew to such height that no images or statues were made without moulds of cley wherby it may appear that the skill and knowledge of Potterie is more antient than founderie or casting brasse To come now to Imageurs in cley Damophilus Gorgasus were counted most excellent principal of all others and they were good painters besides as may appear by the temple of Ceres in Rome that standeth at the greatest shew-place called Circus Maximus which these two workmen enriched both with pictures and also with earthen images for in the said temple there be certaine Greek verses set vp which testifie That all the work on the right hand was wrought by Damophilus on the left hand by Gorgasus Before this temple was built M. Varro saith that all Rome was furnished with images of Tuscan work and no other but of this church when it was re-edified the pictures vpon the wals were esteemed so rich that people thought them worthy to bee cut out in great crusts and flakes out of the said wals and for to saue them they bestowed cost to set them in frames fair crested about the edges also by his report the images wherwith the festeries louers of the said church stood adorned were dispersed into diuers parts of the city as singular pieces of work and well was he that could haue one of them Moreouer I reade that Chalcosthenes made diuers pieces of work in raw cley at Athens and the place called Ceramicos tooke the name of his work-house And M. Varro writeth that himselfe knew at Rome a certaine man named Posis who was wont to make of cley clusters of grapes and fishes soliuely that whosoeuer looked vpon them could hardly haue discerned them by the eie from grapes and fishes indeed The same author doth highly extoll and magnifie one Arcesilaus a very familiar friend of Lu. Lucullus and whom he loued very well whose moulds were commonly sold dearer euen to workemen themselues than the workes of others after they were finished And hee sayth That the image of Venus Genetrix which standeth in the Forum of Caesar was of his making but before hee had fully finished the same for haste of dedication it was set vp vnperfect After which time as he affirmeth Lu. Lucullus bargained with him to make the image of Felicitie for which he was to haue threescore thousand Sesterces howbeit the death both of the one and the other was the cause that the worke was neuer finished As for Octauius a knight of Rome being minded to make a fair standing cup hee paied to him for the mould in plastre one whole talent The same Varro praiseth also Praxiteles who was wont to say that the craft of Potterie and working in cley was the mother of Founderie and of all workes that are cut engrauen chased and embossed who albeit hee were an excellent founder and imageur in brasse and knew how to carue graue and chase passing well yet would he neuer goe in hand to make any piece of worke but he would forme it first in cley in a mould of his own making Moreouer this art by his saying was much practised in times past in Italy and Tuscan especially from whence and namely out of the city Fregellae king
manner is to imploy the smaller sort in their priuat buildings but the bigger serueth for greater publicke workes At Pitana in Asia and in Massia and Calentum cities of low Spaine the bricks that be made after they are once dried will not sinke in the water but flote aloft for of a spungeous and hollow earth they be made resembling the nature of the pumish stone which is very good for this purpose when it may be wrought The Greeks haue alwaies preferred the walls of bricke before any others vnlesse it be in those places where they had flint at hand to build withall for surely such brick wals if they be made plump vpright wrought by line and leuell so as they neither hang nor batter be euerlasting therfore such bricks serue for wals of cities and publick works their roial pallaces likewise be built therewith After this sort was that part of the wall at Athens laid and reared which regards the mount Hymettus so they built also at Patrae the temples of Iupiter Hercules although all the columns pillars and architraues round about them were of ashler stone thus was the pallace of K. Attalus built at Tralle is likwise that of K. Croesus at Sardis which afterward was conuerted to their Senat-house named Gerusia likewise the sumptuous and stately house of king Mausolus at Halicarnassus which goodly aedifices continue at this day Wee read in the Chronicles that Muraena and Varro when they were the high Aediles at Rome caused the outmost coat which was ouercast of the brick-wals of Lacedaemon to be cut out whole and entire and to bee set and enclosed within certaine frames or cases of wood and so to be translated from thence to Rome for to adorne and beautifie the publicke hall for elections of Magistrates called Comitium and all for the excellent painting vpon that parget The workmanship therein although it were excellent and wonderfull in it selfe yet being thus remoued and brought so far safe it was esteemed more admirable Moreouer here within Italy the walls of Aretine and Meuania be made all of bricke mary at Rome they dare not build their houses with this kind of bricke because a wall bearing in thicknesse but one foot and an halfe wil not sustain aboue one single story for the order of the city permitted not the common wals and those which were outmost to be thicker than a foot and an halfe neither wil the partition wals within abide that thicknes but are made after another sort CHAP. XV. ¶ Of Brimstone and Alume with their seuerall kinds also their medicinable properties HAuing spoken sufficiently of Bricks it remaineth that I should proceed to other kinds of earth wherein the nature of sulphur or brimstone is most wonderfull being able as it is to tame and consume the most things that be in the world it is ingendred within the Islands Aeoliae which lie between Italy and Sicily those I meane which as I haue said before doe alwaies burne by reason thereof Howbeit the best sulphur is that which commeth from the Isle Melos There is found thereof likewise in Italy within the territory about Naples and Capua and namely in the hills called Leucogaei that which is digged out of the mines is fined and brought to perfection by fire Of brimstone there be foure kinds to wit Sulphurvif or Quickebrimstone which the Greeks call Apyron because it neuer came into the fire the same is found solid of it selfe i. by whole pieces and in masse which their Physitians doe vse and none but it for all the other kindes consist of a certaine liquid substance and being boiled in oile are made vp and confected to their consistence whereas the sulphur vif is digged out of the mine such as we see that is to say transparent cleere and greenish The second kind is named Gleba good onely for Tuckers and Fullers The third sort also yeeldeth but one vse and no more and that is for tincture of wooll by reason that the smoke and perfume thereof wil bring it to be white and soft and this brimstone they call Egula As for the fourth kinde it serueth most of all for matches and wieks As touching the nature of Brimstone so forcible it is that if it be cast into the fire the verie smell and steeme thereof will driue those in the place into a fit of the falling sicknesse if they be subject thereunto As for Anaxilaus he would commonly make sport withall at a seast and set all the guests into a merriment for his manner was to set it a burning within a cup of new earth ouer a chafing dish of coales and to carry it about the table where they were at supper and in very truth the reuerberation of the flame would make all that were neere it to looke pale and wan after a most fearefull manner like as if there were as many grisly ghosts or dead mens faces And to come more neere to the properties that it hath respectiue vnto Physicke it healeth mightily and is a maturatiue it doth resolue withall and discusse any gathering of impostumes in which regard it entereth ordinarily into such plasters that bee discussiue and emollitiue A cataplasme made with it incorporate with grease or sewet and so applyed vnto the loynes and regions of the Kidnies doth wonderfully assuage the paine and griefe in those places being tempered with turpentine it riddeth away the foule tettars called Lichenes that arise in the face yea and cleanseth the leprosie The Greekes haue a pretty name for it and call it Harpacticon for the speedy remouing and snatching it from the place where it is applied for eftsoones it ought to be taken away The same reduced into a lohoch or liquid Electuarie is good to be licked and let downe softly towards the lungs in case of shortnesse and difficultie of winde in which sort it serueth for them that spit and reach out of the breast by coughing filthie matter and soueraigne it is for those that be stung with scorpions Take sulphur-vif mix it with sal-nitre grind the same together with vinegre it maketh a singular good liniment for to scoure the foule morphew let the same be tempered and prepared with vineger of Sandaracha it killeth the nits that breed in the eie-lids Moreouer brimstone is imployed ceremoniously in hallowing of houses for many are of opinion that the perfume and burning thereof will keep out all inchantments yea and driue away foule fiends and euill spirits that doe haunt a place The strength of Sulphur is euidently perceiued felt in the springs of hot waters that boile from a vain of it neither is there in all the world a thing that sooner catcheth fire wherby it is apparant that it doth participat much of that element Thunderbolts lightnings in like manner do sent strongly of brimstone the very flashes and leames thereof stand much vpon the nature of sulphur and yeeld the like light Thus much shall suffice as touching the
the sumptuous and superfluous expences in vessels made of it The first inuention of Cassidoine vessels and the excesse that way the nature and properties of those Cassidoins And what vntruths the writers in old time haue deliuered as touching Amber TO the end that it may appeare more euidently what the triumph of Pompey wrought in this respect I will put downe word forword what I find vpon record in the registers that beare witnesse of the acts which passed during those triumphs In the third triumph therefore which was decreed vnto him for that he had scoured the seas of pyrats and rouers reduced Natolia and the kingdome of Pontus vnder the dominion of the Romans defeated kings and nations according as I haue declared in the seuenth booke of this my history he entred Rome the last day of September in the yere when M. Piso and M. Messala were Consuls on which day there was carried before him in shew a chesse-boord with all the men and the same bourd was made of two precious stones and yet it was 2. foot broad and 4 foot long and lest any man should doubt hereof and thinke it incredible considering no jems at this day come neare thereto in bignesse know he That in this triumph hee shewed a golden Moone weighing thirtie pounds three dining-tables also of gold other vessell likewise of massie gold and precious stones as much as would garnish nine cup-boords three images of beaten gold representing Minerva Mars and Apollo coronets made of stones to the number of three and thirtie a mountaine made of gold foure square wherein a man might see red deare lyons fruit-trees of all sorts and the whole mountaine inuironed and compassed all about with a vine of gold moreouer an oratorie or closet consisting of pearle in the top or louver whereof there was a clocke or horologe Hee caused also to be borne before him in a pompous shew his owne image made of pearles the pourtraiture I say of that Cn. Pompeius whom regall majestie and ornaments would haue better beseemed and that good face and venerable visage so highly honoured among all nations was now all of pearls as if that manly countenance and seueritie of his had beene vanquished and riotous excesse and superfluitie had triumphed ouer him rather than hee ouer it O Pompey ô Magnus how could this title and syrname Le-grand haue continued among those nations if thou hadst in thy first victorie triumphed after this manner What Magnus were there no means else but to seek out pearles things so prodigal superfluous and deuised for women and which it had not beseemed Pompey once to weare about him and therewith to pourtray and counterfeit thy manly visage And was this the way indeed to haue thy selfe seeme precious doth not that pourtraiture come nearer vnto thee and resemble thy person farre liker which thou didst cause to be erected vpon the top of the Piraenean hils Certes a foule shame and ignominious reproch it was to be shewed in this maner nay to say more truly a wonderfull prodegie it was presaging the heauie ire of the gods for so men were to beleeue and euidently to conceiue therby that euen then and so long before the head of Pompey made of orient pearle euen the richest of the Leuant should be so presented without a bodie But setting this aside how manlike was all the rest of his triumph and how answerable to himselfe For first and foremost giuen freely by him vnto the chamber of the citie there were a thousand talents secondly vpon his leutenants and treasures of the campe who had performed so good seruice in defending the sea-coasts he bestowed two thousand Sestertia apiece thirdly to euery souldiour who accompanied him in that voiage he allowed fiftie Sestertia Well this superfluitie yet of Pompeies triumph serued in some sort to excuse Caius Caligula the Emperour and to make his delicacie and excesse to be more tollerable who ouer and besides all other effeminat tricks and womanly deuises wherof he was full vsed to draw vpon his legs little buskins or starlups made of pearle Pompeies precedent I say in some measure justified Nero the Emperour who made of rich and faire great pearles the scepters and maces the visors also and maskes which players vsed vpon the stage yea and the very bed-roumes which went with him as hee trauailed by the way So as wee seeme now to haue lost that vantage and right which we had to find fault with drinking-cups enriched with pearls yea and much other houshold stuffe and implements garnished therewith since that wheresoeuer we go from one end of the house to the other we seem to passe through rings or such jewels at leastwise which were wont to beautifie our fingers only for is there any superfluitie els but in regard and comparison hereof it may seeme more tollerable and lesse offensiue But to return vnto the triumph of Pompey this victory of his brought into Rome first our cups and other vessels of Cassidoine and Pompey himselfe was the first who that very day of his triumph presented vnto Iupiter Capitolinus six such cups and presently from that time forward men also began to haue a mind vnto them in cupbourds counting tables yea and in vessell for the kitchin and to serue vp meat in and verily from day to day the excesse herein hath so far ouergrowne that one great Cassidoine cup hath been sold for fourescore sesterces but a faire and large one it was and would containe well three sextars id est halfe a wine gallon There are not many yeres past since that a noble man who had been Consull of Rome vsed to drinke out of this cup and notwithstanding that in pledging vpon a time a lady whom he fancied he bit out a piece of the brim thereof which her sweet lips touched yet this injurie done to it rather made it more esteemed and valued at a higher price neither is there at this day a cup of Cassidoine more pretious or dearer than the same But as touching other excesse of this personage and namely how much he consumed and deuoured in superfluities of this kind a may may estimat by the multitude of such Cassidoin vessell found in his cabinet after his death which Nero Domitius tooke away perforce from his children and in truth such a number there were of them that being set out to the shew they were sufficient to furnish and take vp a peculiar theatre which of purpose he caused to be made beyond the Tyber in the gardens there and enough it was for Nero to behold the said theatre replenished with people at the plaies which he exhibited there in honor of his wife the Empresse Poppaea after one child-bed of hers where among other musicians he sung voluntary vpon the stage before the plaies began I saw him there my selfe to make shew of many broken pieces of one cup which he caused to be gathered together full charily as I take it to
Fistulaes how to be kept open 191. c Fistulous sores in the secret parts how healed 136. k. See Priuities Fistula betweene the angle of the eye and the nose how it is to bee cured 125. e. 146. m. 286. g. it is called Aegilops 235. a Fistulaes how they are bred in any part of the bodie 262. h Fits cold and shaking in an ague how to be put by 57. d 61. b. 143. a. 162. h. 260. â— 313. a. 314. i. 316. l. Fits otherwise of chill cold how to be cased 57. f. 61. a. 67. d See more in cold Fiue-finger or fiue-leaued grasse See Cinquefoile F L Flags what hearbe See Xiphion Flancke diseased how to be cured 37. e. 40. k. 54. i. 275. e Flatuositie See Ventositie Cn. Flauius for what demerit he was created Aedile curule and Tribune of the Commons 457. a. b Flax the wonderfull power thereof 1. d. e. f the plant thriueth apace 2. h. the seed how it is sowne how it commeth vp and groweth 2. i Flax of Spaine 3. a. b Flax of Zoela 3. c Flax of Cumes ibid. Flax of Italy 3. d spinning of Flax what manner of worke 4. k Flax how to be dressed hetchelled spun beaten wouen c. 4 k. l Fleawort the hearbe descriBed 233. c. the diuerse names it hath ibid. the nature and vertues ibid. Fleas how to be killed 60. l. 63. c. 120. l. 124 m. 186. h against the breeding of Fleas 387. f Fleagme viscous sticking in the chest and throat how to be cut and dissolued 46. g. h. 64. l. 73. c. 74. g 107. d. 121. e 122. h. 130. i. 167. d. 173. e. 183. c. 198. i. 200. i. 206. i 246. g. i. 257 a. 277. b. 329. b. Fleagme and fleagmaticke humors how to be purged downward 72. h. 75. c. 140. h. 150. h. 170. g. 172. h. 182. h 185. c. 186. g. 198 l. 218. i. 250. l. m. 251. a. b. 252. h. l 281. b. 288. g 291. b. Flemmings vsed Flax and made linnen in old time 2. l Flesh ranke and proud in vlcers how to be repressed 50. m 61. b. See more in Vlcers and Excrescence Flesh meat how it may be kept fresh and sweet all Summer long 71. a how it is preserued from maggot and corruption 342. i Flexumines at Rome who they were 461. a Flint stone where it is cut with the saw 588. i Flory of Painters what it is 531. b Flos-Salis i. Sperma Ceti 416. k Flos or floure of Antimonie what it is 474. g Floures that bring tidings of the spring 92. g Floure-de-Lis root medicinable 87. d Floure-de-Lis where the best groweth ibid. d. e Floure-de-Lis of Illyricum of two sorts ibid. e Floure-de-Lis called Rhaphantis and why so ibid. why it is named Rhizotomus ibid. the ceremonious manner of taking vp the root 87. e. f Floure gentle surpasseth all floures for pleasant colour 89. a. the description and nature thereof ibid. why it is called Amaranthus ibid. b Spring Floures 92. g Summer Floures ibid. k Autumne Floures 92. l Floures of hearbes different 19. f Floures and their varietie 79. e. f Floures differ in smell colour and iuice i. tast 86. l Floures in Aegipt why they sent not well 87. b what Floures be employed in guirlands 89. e Flux of the stomacke or laske called Caeliaca passio how to be staied 39. e. 43. d. 49. d. 55. c 59. d 66. h. k. 68. h. 73. d 76. g. i. 106. l. 108 g. 111. a. 122. g. 124. k. 128. l. 139 f 144. i. 147. b. 148. h. i. 163. e. 164. g. l. 151. f. 153. c. f 156. g. 158. g. i. 165. b. e. 167. f. 168. g. 172. l. 174. k 177. c. f. 178. k. 188. l. 192. h. 195. e. 196. g. m. 197. e 216. h. 249. a. 250. g. 285. d. 289. c. 219. d. 307. c 318. l. 332. g. 331. b. c. d. e. f. 352. h. i. 353. b. c. 382. l m 422. l. if it be inueterat and of long continuance 418. k. Flux called Lieuterie how staied 165. e. See Laske Flies where they are not at all 95. b. how to be killed 220 g. Flies witlesse creatures 364. k. they flie like clouds out of the territorie of Olympia at a certaine time ibid. vpon what occasion ibid. their heads bloud ashes c. yeeld medicines ibid. F O Foemur Bubulum what hearbe 282. g Fole-foot the hearbe why called in Greeke Asarum 86. g Fole-foot another herbe called in Greeke Chamaeleuce aâ—d in Latine Farfugium 199. a. the description ibid. the vertues that it hath ibid. b why called Bechion and Tussilago 246 i. two kindes of it ibid. wild Fole foot a direction to find water 246 i. the description thereof ibid. the second Fole-foot called Saluia described ibid k Fome of a Dog and Horses mouth how they were liuely painted by chance and fortune 542. l Fome of water medicinable 414. h Food of light digestion 141. b Forke fish See Sea-Pussin Formacei what walls they be 555. b Fortune or Chance accounted a goddesse 270. l Fortuna huiusce diei 497 d. a temple for her at Rome ibid. Forum of Rome spread with caltraps 5. e. and why ibid. paued with fine workes in colours ibid. Forum of Augustus Caesar at Rome a sumptuous building 581. f. what Caesar paid for the plot of ground where this Forum stood 582. g Founderie i. the feat of casting images and workes of mettall so excellent that it was ascribed to some of the gods 487. c. an ancient art in Italy 493. e a Fountaine purging and clensing of it selfe euerie ninth yeare 411. b Fountaines which be naturally hot doe engender salt 414. m. Fountaines yeelding diuerse sorts of water some hot some cold others both 401. c Fountaines yeelding water not potable for beasts but medicinable onely for men ibid. d Fountaines giuing names to gods goddesses and cities ibid. Fountaines standing vpon diuerse minerals ibid. Fountaines of hot waters able to seeth meats ibid. e. Licinian Fountaines hot rising out of the sea ibid. red fountaines in Aethyopia 402. m. the vertues of them ibid. a Fountaine yeelding water resembling wine 403. e a Fountaine casting vp an vnctuous water seruing in stead of oyle to maintaine lampes ibid. f a Fountaine seething vp with water of a sweet smell 407. b the reason thereof ibid. number of Foure forbidden in some cases 305. f Fox greace gall and dung effectuall in Physicke 324. h Fox pizzle medicinable ibid. k Fox tongue medicinable 325. d Fox taile described 99. b Foxes how they may be kept from Geese Hens and Pullaine 342. k F R Fractures or bones broken how to be knit and soudered 58. k. 119. d. 183. a. 200. l. 233. b. 275. f. 335. e. 394. k. l 412. k. Freckles how to be scoured out of the face 140. m. 161. b. e 168. k. 173. c. 174. l. 175. b. 308. g. 314. k. See more in Face and Visage Fresh water at sea how Saylers may haue at all times 413. f. 414
gods with an oblation of corne yea and to offer prayers and supplications vnto them by no other means than cakes made of salt and meal yea and as Hemina mine author saith for to induce the people of Rome the better vnto it he allowed them to parch their corne in their sacrifices for that corne thus partched was supposed to be a more wholsome food by which meanes this one thing insued in the end that no corne was counted pure and good nor fit to be vsed in diuine seruice but that which was thus baked or partched He also instituted the feast Fornacalia to wit certaine holy-daies for the parching and baking of corne as also another as religiously obserued called Terminalia namely for the bounds and limits of lands for these and such like gods as then they worshipped most as also the goddesse Seia so called a serendo i. of sowing corne and setting plants and Segesta which name they gaue her a segetibus i. of corn fields whose images we at this day do see in the grand Cirque or Shew-place at Rome A third goddesse there is among them whom to name and inuocate within-house they might not with safe conscience Lastly so religious and ceremonious they were in old time that they would not so much as taste of new corne or wine before the Priests had taken a sey of the first fruits CHAP. III. ¶ Of Iugerum and Actus Of the antient Lawes ordained for Cattell in old time How often and at what time Corne and victuals were exceeding cheape at Rome What noble and famous persons addicted themselues wholly to Husbandrie and Tillage AN Acre or Arpen of ground called in Latine Iugerum was as much as might be eared vp or ploughed in one day with a yoke of Oxen. And Actus in Latine is a Land or so much just as two Oxen are driuen and occupied in whiles they plough in one tract without any rest This contained by the old time 120 foot in length and being doubled in length made the Acre or Iugerum abouesaid In antient time of the old Romans the greatest Present that could be giuen to captains and souldiers who had borne themselues valiantly in the seruice of their countrey was as much ground as they could haue eared or broken vp in one day And it was thought a great reward to receiue at the hands of the people of Rome halfe a pint or a pint at the vtmost of corn Moreouer in so great request was corn and Husbandry that the first and chiefe houses in Rome took their syrnames from thence and namely the Pilumni who deuised first the pestill to bray corne withall in their mils and backhouses also the family of the Pisenes who tooke their name a pisendo i. of stamping or pounding corne in a mortar The Fabij in like manner the Lentuli and the Ciceroes each one according to the seuerall pulse that they skilled best to set or sow Moreouer to the house of the Iunij they gaue the syrname of Bubulcus by occasion of one of their ancestors who knew passing well how to vse and order oxen Ouer besides all this that you may know what regard was had of corn among other sacred and holy ceremonies there was nothing reputed more religious than the bond of Confarration in knitting vp of mariages assurance making of the chiefe priests yea the manner of the new wedded brides was to carry openly before them a wheaten cake In times past the Magistrates called Censors iudged it a trespasse worthy of great rebuke to be an il husband that is to say to be carelesse and negligent in tilling the ground And as Cato reporteth if men called one by the name of a good husbandman they were thought to haue praised commended him in the highest degree hereupon also it came that rich and substantiall men were termed in Latine Locupletes as one would say Loci-pleni i. wel landed And as for the very word Pecunia in Latine which signifieth money it took the name of Pecus i. cattell And euen at this day as appeareth in the Registers of the Censors and the accounts of the city Chamber all their rents reuenues and customes growing vnto the people of Rome are called Pascua for that a long time the whole domaine of Rome stood vpon pasturage and nothing els The penalties and fines also which offendants were put to pay were raised of nothing else but of Kine Oxen and Sheep where by the way I cannot conceale from you the fauorable regard that the antient lawes and ordinances of Rome had whereby it was expressely forbidden That no Iudge who had power to enioine or impose any paine and amercement should name the fine of an Oxe vnlesse he had passed that of a Sheep first The solemne games and plaies also in the honour of Kine and oxen they who frequented them called Bubetij Moreouer king Seruius at the first when hee made brazen coine stamped the peeces with the portraiture of Sheepe Kine and Oxen. By the lawes of the twelue Tables all persons whatsoeuer aboue foureteen yeares of age were forbidden vnder pain of death either by stealth to feed their cattell in the night time vpon any corn-field of another mans ploughed and sown or to cut the same downe by syth or sickle at such a time and in that manner By the same laws also ordained it was That whosoeuer was attaint or conuicted thereupon should be hanged by the head and strangled for satisfaction of the goddesse Ceres and in one word to be more grieuously punished than in case of man-slaughter But if the offender were vnder that age beforesaid the same law prouided that hee should be whipped at the discretion of the Pretor or Lord chiefe Iustice for the time beeing or if this punishment were remitted by the partie who sustained the domage then hee should satisfie vnto him for the trespasse as a slaue and pay double for the losse according as honest and indifferent men valued it Furthermore in antient time the distinction of States and degrees in the city of Rome both for wealth and worship was according to their lands and not otherwise Insomuch as those citizens were reputed for chiefe and principall who were possessed of Land and liuing in the Countrey and these made the State called the Rusticke Tribes in Rome whereas contrariwise the other estate reputed the meaner in degree was named the Vrbane Tribes consisting of Artisans and such like as were not landed persons into which if a man were transferred from any of the rest it was thought a great shame and disgrace as if he were reproched for idlenesse negligence in husbandry And hereupon these foure Tribes alone took name of those foure principall parts or quarters of the city wherein they were seated to wit Suburrana Palatina Collina and Exquilina Ouer and besides vpon faires and market daies the Rustick Tribes vsually visited the city vpon which daies therefore no publick assemblies of the people
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