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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46234	An history of the wonderful things of nature set forth in ten severall classes wherein are contained I. The wonders of the heavens, II. Of the elements, III. Of meteors, IV. Of minerals, V. Of plants, VI. Of birds, VII. Of four-footed beasts, VIII. Of insects, and things wanting blood, IX. Of fishes, X. Of man / written by Johannes Jonstonus, and now rendred into English by a person of quality.; Thaumatographia naturalis. English	Jonstonus, Joannes, 1603-1675.; Libavius, Andreas, d. 1616.; Rowland, John, M.D.	1657 (1657)	Wing J1017; ESTC R1444	350,728	372

be searched into Thuan. l. 53. Histor. That that appeared the 6th of the Ides of November under the Constellation of Cassiopaea some men said it was in the Firmament it self amongst the heavenly spheres It had neither Tail nor hair but like the other Stars it sent forth beams equally The Diameter of it contained the Diameter of the Earth 7. times and ½ part and it was greater than the Earth 361 times and ½ it was bigger than the Sun twice and 2 ● parts Tycho Brache 1. part Progymnas Astronom Yet this Eminency of greatnesse and light decreased afterwards by degrees untill it vanished quite away It had no motion except that which it had common with the fixed Stars it alwayes held the same Position to the neighbouring Stars in Cassiopaea It lasted 16 months What was foreshewed by it is variously determined by divers men Gemma Frisius in Cosmocritica writes That since the birth of Christ there was hardly any apparition to be compared with it whether we consider the height of the sign or the rarity or the long continuance of it The Britans ascribed it to the lamentable death of Mary An Oxford Astrologer was Authour of this opinion who by Cassiopaea the Sister to King Cepheus said That some Queen in the North must be noted out by it and by its 16 moneths continuance he foreshewed I know not according to what calculation of the Arabians and the ascending of the Star into the upper parts That that Northern Queen after 16 years should ascend up into heaven The event made good his praediction Thuan. l. 5 4 Molerus seemed to expect a new Prophet by it in the year 1590 and the conquest of the Gospel over all through the World Liborovius foretold but falsly War in 1619 and the banishment of the chief Prince in Germany in 1620 the restoring of him again by the Eastern Countries in 1627 and many such like things There is extant concerning this Star a godly and excellent Copy of Verses of a certain famous Writer which I here set down Whether that Comet without blazing tail That shines as clear as do the fixed Stars Shall in succeeding times so far prevail As to raise Dearths or Plagues or bloody Wars God onely knowes and after-times will shew But if Man's Wit can any thing foretell 'T is not amisse to search such signs are new And lift our minds above this place we dwell This is that Star which did the Wise-men bring From the East land to Bethleem and there In David's City born was the great King It now foreshewes again and doth declare That God is coming cruel Herod fear Good Men rejoyce your Redemption drawes near The fifth month after the Starre disappeared Charles died of a bloody flux The third was seen in the yeare 1577. in November and which the following yeare vanished Jannuary the 26 Mestlinus placeth this in the sphere of Venus Tycho writes that the head was 308 Germain miles diameter Dantzick was then besieged and 1578 the Warre of Moscovia began It was supposed to portend the Death of great Men. In that yeare Thuan. l. 65. after a desperate sight in Africa Sebastian King of Portugall died and Melchus Chorisius King of Morisco Trigitana whom he came to subdue And Mahomet that caused the Warre was drown'd 8000 Christians were slain and as many taken Captives allmost all the Nobility of Portugal fell into the hands of the Mores That was done in one day Portingal came ne●t under the Government of Philip. Then in 1604 about the beginning of October a fourth new Starr appeared in the 17. degree of Sagittarius and was from the Ecliptick but 37 minutes Astronomers say it was between Saturn and the 8. Sphere yet that seems absurd Keckerman in his consultation concerning the Starre in the year 1604. Thes. 53. Also because it had its own proper motion distinct from the Sphere of Saturn and the fixed Starrs and the Starrs move in and with their Orbs but that had none Crabbius saith directly that it was from the Center of the Earth 22267636 miles and from the superficies of the Earth 22266777 miles disput de Comet Thes And hence he concludes it was greater than the Earth 91 times and hence he proves it was above Saturn being from the Earth 1007250 miles It shined full four Months and after that was to be seen from the 28 of November with Saturn from the 29. with Sol and from the 13 of December with Mercury in Conjunctions and with Mercury Mars Sol in oppositions the May following which was supposed to p●rtend great consultations confederacies and changes in France Spain the Low Countries England Thuan. lib. 131. But the opposition that fell out on the 6 of June was held to be Ominous and men conjectured that this Starr would cause Warrs and calamities to many Countries and chiefly to Germany in point of Religion An excellent Mathematician Keplerus writ concerning it and who was no whit guilty of Astrologicall superstition by the testimony of Thuanus See him I call these apparitions Starrs not that I am ignorant that they are referred to Comets but because I find that in the Skye they are placed amongst the second moveables and are call'd celestiall which is not agreeing to Planets and I think it more fit to call them Starrs than by naming them Comets to overthrow the doctrine of Meteors received from the Antients CHAP. VIII Of Astrologicall Praedictions COncerning Astrologicall Praedictions many men have many minds Some magnifie them others reject them as idle vanities It is certain that natural actions as the changes of dayes night● yeares seasons because they have determinate causes in the position of the Starrs may be foretold by them Yet because the matter of the elements is mutable and flitting many particular causes overthrow general causes and many Starrs in both motions are yet unknown and some of them somtimes are opposite to the others forces also most experienced Artists are few and lastly there is a vast distance in placing the beginning and ends of the Houses and proprieties and therefore it is no wonder if error creep in Bartholin de caelo And if we observe particular and individuall actions the errour will be the greater for beside the generall influence of the Starrs there is a special influence which ariseth from the speciall complexion The indisposition of the matter hinders the good influence of Heaven and the goodnesse of the temper derived from the Parents keeps off the bad influence We know that Jacob and Esau were born at the same time in respect of the Heavens position yet was their fortune most different In civil actions the Starrs have nothing to do It is an elegant saying of Bodinus Lib. 4. de Repub. Cap 3. There is but one Rule saith he of all Philosophers even of those that idly dispute of what is done in the Heavens that a wiseman is not under the affection and power of the Starrs but only those who like

beasts are ruled by their appetites and desires and will not be subject to reason and good lawes whom Solomon the Master of wisdome threatned sharply with punishment of the rack yet many have adventured to make triall The Caldeans by mens actions collected the day of a mans Birth and from the day of a mans Birth the fortune of his whole life And that men should not reject them they boasted they had spent 470 thousand yeares in the experience of this Art And so bold they were that they vaunted that it was a thing as necessary to be known how the position of the Starrs and the force of the Heavens were when a man would build a house or make sow or put on his Cloths as to know how they were disposed when Children were new born Lucius Tarutius Firmianus by the acts of Romulus his Life and Death found that he was born in the first yeare of the second Olympiad the 23 day of the Month Peucer de divinat sect de Astrolog and born in the 21 day of the month Toth about Sun rising And hence he found out the first day that Rome was built and that it began when the Moon was in Libra the Sun with Mercury and Venus in Taurus Jupiter in Pisces and Saturn with Mars in Scorpio To this purpose we may refer him who by the first day of Jannuary would foretell all events If that a Rain-bow in the Sky appeare God is well pleas'd with man they need not fear If burning Meteors from the Heavens shine Of great long during heats they are the signe If Thunder Rore or Rivers overflow This foreshews Tempests as all seamen know But if the Earth be stird and seem to quake This showes Religion will be brought to 'th stake If Rivers freez it then portends great joy Each woman shall conceive and beare a Boy Mayol Colloq 1. Canicular Of such this is true These Mathematitians by a false interpretation concerning the Starrs and by their lyes cast a mist before those that are light and foollish witted for their own advantage Valer. Maxim l. We have examples of their fraud in Nicetas Chronias otherwise a prudent Historiographer In our times saith he the Emperours do nothing but by advice of Astrologers and they make choice of dayes and nights to do their businesse as the Starrs shall dictate unto them Therefore Alexius the Emperour desired long to know when he might seasonably return to Blacherna at last the day and houre were chosen according to the Starrs He returned and that so happily that the Earth opened very deep before him and he escaped but his Son in law Alexius and many of his Nobles fell into the pit and were hurt and one Eunuchus that was a favorite perished That of Manuel is more ridiculous when he was Emperour they of Sicily and Italy had possessed themselves of the Sea neere Constantinople he had somtimes sent out a Fleet but with ill successe Wherefore the Mathematicians were consulted to assigne a more prosperous time Constantinus a famous man prepares himself but he was once more called back again because the Prince had found that the inquiry was not so certainly and wisely made as it ought to be and there had been some errour The Scheme was therefore set once more and Constantinus was sent forth on the day chosen He was scarce got to Sea but he and all his forces were taken Lips in monit polit A brave art yet I wonder since I read of some that were seldome frustrate of their ends Nigidius Figulus foretold to Augustus that he should be Emperour Xiphilinus Thrasyllus foresaw the Empire of Tiberius and his own danger when he was on the Tower with the Prince and should have been cast down headlong Sueton. in Octavio Largius Proculus gave notice of the day that Domitian should dye Ascletarius foretold the kind and being required of him to answer what kind of death he himself should dye he said he should be eaten with Doggs and so it was For though Domitian to disprove him commanded that he should be burnt and he was then burning yet a tempest rose suddenly and put out the fire The spectators ran away and the Doggs came and devoured him Sueton. in Domitian Josephus that wrote the Antiquities of the Jews saith that he foretold to the Emperour Vespasian and to his Son Titus that they should be Emperours We know it was so Petrus Leontius a Physitian of Spoletanum foresaid that he himself was in danger of drowning And he was found afterwards drownd in a pit Jovius Elog. 35. The Arch-Bishop of Pisa consulted Astrologers concerning his destiny they told he should be hanged Annal. Florentin It seemed incredible when he was in so great honour yet it proved to be true For in the sedition of Pope Sixtus the fourth in a sudden uprore he was hanged Richardus Cervinus had foretold to his son Marcellus that he should come to great dignity in the Church Hence he conceiving hope of it when he was invited by his Mother Cassandra Benna to marry refused it stoutly saying He would not with the bands of Matrimony bind himself from a greater fortune that the Stars foreshew'd unto him living single and unmarried Thuan. l. 15. It so came to passe Lucius Gauricus delivered this in his Book of Nativities Which Book and it is a very wonderfull thing saith Thuan. l. 1. was published at Venice three years by Curtius Trojanus before Cervinus was proclaimed Pope This was that Pope who when the Reader as the manner is read the Scriptures or Writings of the Fathers at dinner time said He could not perceive how those that held so high a Place could provide for their own salvation These are Examples of Predictions made good by the Events Lipsius l. 1. Monitor ascribes some to inspiration Delrius refers some to compacts with the Devill l. 4. Disquisit Magic cap. 3. quaest 2. Certain it is that God sometimes suffers them for a punishment to those that are so bold and that they are true but by accident onely See Delrius who handles this Argument largely The End of the First Classis Of the Writings of Wonders in Nature The Second Classis Wherein are contained the Wonders of the Elements WHat is the chief thing in humane affairs Not to fill the Seas with Ships nor to set up standards on the shores of the red Sea not where Land is wanting to wander in the Ocean to injure other men and seek out unknown places but to see all with the mind and than which there is no greater victory to overcome our vices Seneca Natur. quaest l. 3. Praef. CHAP. I. Of Fire Artic. 1. Of the Wonderful beginning of Fire FIre was a long time unknown to the Antients especially if you respect them who in the utmost borders of Egypt dwelt by the Sea side Plin. histor Natural l. 16. c. 40. When Eudoxus found it they were so pleased with it that they would have put it in

light which shines to men in the night not that it is put out in the day by the Sun beams but that the medium being enlightned admits of the more forcible species the lesser and weaker is carried through the medium unperceived Scalig. exerc 6.2 Historians observe that they have been seen in the day-time and not without some token In Commodus his times they were seen a whole day some were drawn forth at length as though they were fastned in the Ayre The slaughter of the Parthians followed civill warrs and the killing of five Emperours in one year The same thing was seen in the raign of Constantius from Sun rising till noon about Sun set the Sun first appeared with crooked horns and then but halfe some suppose it was an Eclipse Cardanus saw two at Millan l. 14. de varietat rer c. 70. One Anno 1511 and the French were driven out of Italy another 1535 and the death of Francis Sfor●ia followed and because he died childless the Prince was changed Charls took the Government Lastly the 9th of June this yeare there was one seen in England before noon when a solemn thanksgiving was made to God for the birth of the Prince of Wales we were certified that some French men saw the same at Diep the same time There is a wonderfull matter in their motion Besides their own which is made from North to South upon the poles of Aries and Libra they are said to be drawn by the 9th sphere from west to east Hence it comes that they are all moved from their places Braheus saith in a hundred yeares they are drawn back one degree 25 minuts Meto who florished in the 130th yeare after Thales observed the Starr of Aries to be in the Equinoctiall Timochares that it gain'd two degrees Hipparchus four and nine minuts Ptolomy 6 and 40 minuts Albategnius 18 and 12 minuts Alphonsus 23 and 48 minutes Vernerus 26 and 54 minutes Bodinus 28 and 20 minuts The bright one in the utmost tayle of the little dog which is for the pole Starr Hipparchus observed to be 12 degrees distant from the pole of the world we see it but almost three now adays Cardan saith that the heads of the motions of this Orbe will be not only in contrary places in the year 1800 but the motion will be contrary also and he collects from thence that there will be strange alterations in the Christian religion de varietat rer l. 2. c. 3. CHAP. IV. Of the Five Planets THe wandring Stars are called Planets The Ancients accounted them to be seven Those of our times have added four about Jupiter and no fewer about Saturn Each of them hath its own sphere its nodes epicycle and its aequant Their motion is more free than the rest sometimes they are present with mortals sometimes they depart from them Hence arise the names of Aux and Absis Peregaeum and Apogaeum amongst Astronomers But so great is the difference that Saturn requires 30 years Jupiter 12 Mars 2 Venus 360 dayes and Mercury as many Venus is a Planet by her sirnames that stands in aemulation with the Sun and Moon For rising before the Sun she is called Lucifer like another Sun hastening the day again shining in the West she is called Vesper or the Evening Star as prolonging the light and standing in place of the Moon Plin. l. 2. c. 9. The cause of their wandring motion some ascribe to the Sun who either by its beams sets them forward or removes them on one side o● departing from them lets them remain in their own places Extraordinary influences Medicaments Baths Phlebotomy Plantings choice of businesse change of the Ayr are by some tyed to the hour of their position It is observed that the Plague growes fierce about Wittenburg when Saturn moves in Leo or Sagittarius and abate● by the accesse of Mars the same thing is threatned to them at Norimberg by the signs of Gemini or Sagittarius Those that Mars and Saturn being in the angles assayle with a quartile aspect are short-lived if they passe their Infancy it will be difficult for them to attain the flower of youth their conjunction increaseth their force If Mars and Venus are in conjunction when one is born the concupiscible appetite is contaminated more if it be in Capricorn and Mercury be present By the concurrence of Mars Mercury and the Moon men have subtile wits Peucerus l. de divinat s. de Astrologia But this is a lesser conjunction That is a great Conjunction which is made by Saturn and Jupiter one happened in the seventy year and 200 dayes The signs of the Zodiack are run through that at the beginning of the first meeting there may be a conjunction of the Planets the Learned called it a revolution Alsted in thesauro Chronologico There are seven reckoned since the World was made and constant observation hath proved that none of them ever came without some notable alteration All things were heroicall in the first conjunction at the second men despised Noah's preaching at the third there were great pressures in Egypt The fourth was 17 years after when Rome began to be built the fifth was in the 26th year of Christ. The Bishops of Rome pretended the Donation of Pipin and Constantine when the sixth was The seventh was in the sign of Sagittarius in the year I was born in 1603. the last was in Leo 1623. what this shall produce God knowes The City of Rome about the 800th year under its fiery sight was thought to be renewed At the beginning of that happened the dispersing of the Jews what if about the end of it the calling of them again may be CHAP. V. Of the Sun Artic. 1. Of the Greatnesse and Unity of the Sun EPicurus thought the Sun to be an accidentall Globe and fire but an earthly grosse Body Anaximander thought it was red-hot Iron the Peruvians think it a GOD and so did Aurelianus a Prince of old May the gods do it and the Sun the created god in Vopisco Porphyry writes that it was adored in the East under the name of Mytra in his Comment de Nymph cultu And Macrobius shews l. 1. Saturn cap. 17. That all the gods of the Gentiles were extended to the Sun After him Cluverius Polyhistor in Germ. antiqua So great reverence was there toward it in the minds of the Gentiles It is with us the Principall Planet and the great Luminary It is greater than the Earth 167 times and it is distant from the Earth in its Apogaeum 1012868 miles Kecherm in his Astronomy It is but one and where is there room for more in so great a magnitude yet there are more also That is but one of which we speak the rest are but figures and draughts of this one beautifull Sun The Philosophers call them Parelia they have alwaies some future signification as we frequently observe and find it In 1514. there were 3. seen in each there was a bloody

sword The Reformation followed So many were seen in Helvetia in 1528 a wonderfull Famine was the sequel of it In 1532. at Venice they were seen with two Rainbowes opposed to the Sun one presently vanished but the other was seen for two hours Cardan l. 14. de varietat Rer. cap. 70. The Suns themselves were transparent the greater was Southward the lesse Northward increasing In the year 1314. before the War of Lodowick of Bavaria and Frederick of Austria more Suns were seen they signified the dissentions of the Electors and their falling to sides Peucer in Meteorol Before these troubles we saw it a Comet with a fatall tail followed Because the Empire of Nero had the same beginnings the future event might easily be foreknown Artic. 2. Of the Suns light and Eclips THe Thalmudists hold that the light of the Sun was seven times greater in the Creation but was lost afterwards We see it very great and ruling almost every where For the Sun-beams enlighten and enliven all things Cardan maintains that by the force of it the Southern parts are pressed down lower but whether it be so every one may judge And though at Rhodes or Syracuse there never be a day that the Sun is not seen in some parts of it Plin l. 1. Cap. 62. yet it is certain that the Suns light is often intercepted When Constantine was blind the Sun did not shine for 17 dayes In Plinies time ●e was often 12. dayes in Leo's time 4. dayes So never seen that Marriners lost their Course Maiol Colloq 1. But this was only a Clouding An Eclips is somwhat more when the Suns beams are turned away from by interposing of the Moon Barbarians understand not this whence Columbus foretelling the Moons Eclips won the favour of the Indians It was a Capital crime in Plath's days to maintain that the Moon could hold the Sun beams from us Alexander Aphrodis Problem 46. Some thought the Devills were the cause and therefore ran to assist it with lighted Torches Archelaus was so ignorant that the day the Eclips of the Sun was he shut up the Court and shaved his sonne as the custome was in time of adversity and of mourning Senec. l. 5. de benefic C. 6. The Eclipse of the Sun happens in the new Moon or in the Conjunction nor real but appearing so when Sun Moon and our eyes are in the same right line It it be totall it is in a moment in respect of the parts It was so when Scipio fought and overcome Hannibal at Carthage Zonaras Tom. 2. Nicephorus sayth the same happened at Augustus's death Somtimes in five yeares some are seen Maiolus thinks they produced Warrs Famines and Deaths of Popes It seemes to be certain that both of them may be Eclips'd twice in six Months and in five Months either of them and that the Suns light may be twice taken from one Country in the period of seven Months Peucer in Astrolog Some are of opinion their operation begins afterwards I dispute not but this is certaine they never appeare but they foreshew somthing When in the year 3343 an Eclips was seen the most corrupt state of the Kingdome of the Jews appeared In the yeare 3350. began the 70 yeares captivity In 3360 the Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar About the Eclips in 1619 Stars were seen at noon-day and the Warre of Peloponesus began with the Athenians In the yeare 360 the Sun was Eclipsed untill noon-day and also in 592. What followed Phocas confirmed the Popes supremacy 622 wicked Mahomet sowed his mischief Alsted in Thesaur Chronol In 812 before the Death of Charls the great a Spot of a black had appeared for seven dayes witnesse Eginbartus It seems to intimate say some the darkning of the Gospel In 1415 the 7. of June so horrible was the Eclipse of the Sun that birds fell to the Earth At this time John Hus was burned in the Councell of Constance the 6. of July That was supernaturall at our Saviours passion It was a totall Eclips at a full Moon and lasted three houres Dionysius said of it Either the God of nature suffers or the frame of the World dissolves He afterwards consulting with the Philosophers built an Altar to the unknown God and was converted by St. Pauls Preaching Tertullian in Apologetico saith it was laid up amongst the publike Acts of Rome but forbidden to be published Also there is a notable use of Eclipses amongst Chronologers especially of those which with certain circumstances of time Yeare Day Month Hour Minuts and of the distance from other Eclipses were exactly taken such as was the Eclips at Arbelia in C●rtius or Peloponesus in Thucydides at Cambisia in Ptolomy Powel in his Consilio Chronologico For there are certain bounds and Characters of times fastned in the Heavens hence Calvisius commends Scaligers Chronology because he hath observed Phainomena and Eclipses allmost according to the years of the World out of the Tables of the Heavenly motions and are fitted to the same Hence the Calyppic period comprehended in 76 yeares in which time all conjunctions of the Planets new Moons and full Moons and Eclipses returne to the same moment of time See the famous Chronologer Pavellus treating accurately of these things I hasten to other matters Art 3. Of the Suns Motion THe Mahumetans fain that the Sun is carried with Horses and sets in the Sea and well washed rises again Daily experience sheweth us a double motion we see it rise every day and set again and every yeare it makes an Oval figure passing to North and South Yet so right under the Ecliptick that it swarves not a hair from it The complement of the motion in the Zodiack varieth with many Hipparchus assignes to it 365 days Ours 6 houres lesse Tebitius saith that there want nine minutes of the 6 houres Henricus Mechiniensis hath written that all those shall err perpetually who observe Eclipses by the Tables of Ptolomy or Albategnius Bodin 5. Theatri Naturae It is the vulgar tenent to assigne 365 days and 6 hours In that oblique course we observe the Sun to be nearer the earth whilst he passeth through the Southern signs and to be further off in the Northern That is finished in 178 dayes 21 hours and 12 minuts This requires 186 dayes 8 hours 12 minutes But because the distanc● of the Eccentrick is variable from the centre of the World therefore Melancthon and Origanus write that the Sun is nearer to us now than in Ptolomies dayes by 9900 miles but Copernicus and Stoflerus cast it to bee 26660 miles Alsted in Theoria Planetarum Scaliger dislikes this Exerc. 99. sect 2. Nor is it probable saith Bodin l. 5. Theat in so great variety of distance that the knowledge of Eclipses could be so exactly preserved The Scripture tells us that the Sun went backward miraculously in Ezechiahs dayes as was known by the shadow on the Diall The History of Josuah witnesseth that it stood still and

violently that in one night it buds all over with a noyse so that the whole Tree will be covered with flowers Pliny l. 16. c. 25. CHAP. XXX Of Napellus NApellus kills with every part but chiefly the root For held in the hand till it wax hot it will destroy you It is certain that some shepherds that used the stalk for a spit to rost birds dyed of it Mathiolus Com. in l. 4. Dioscor c. 73. confirms this venomous quality of it by many examples I shall adde one One dram of Napellus was given to a Thief that was 27 years old He drank it down and said it tasted like pepper Most grievous symptoms followed for he vomited often something green as Leeks He felt a thing like a ball about his Navell it came upwards and sent a cold vapour to his head then he became stupified as if he had a palsie that laid hold on his left arm and leg that he could scarce stir the top of his hand all motion being lost in the other parts By and by this force of the disease forsook his left side which became sound and seized on his right side and wrought the like effects there He said That all the veins of his body were grown cold He had giddinesse in his head and his brain was so often disturb'd that he said it seem'd to him like boyling water He had Convulsions in his Eyes and Mouth and a very sharp pain in his Mandibles wherefore he often held those parts with his hands fearing they would fall off His eyes appeared outwardly swoln his face wan lips black and his belly was seen to swell like a Tympany His Arteries beat strongly and his mind was diversly troubled as the symptoms increased For sometimes he thought he should die and presently he hoped to live sometimes he spake rationally and sometimes he doted sometimes he wept and sometimes he sang He affirmed that in all this time he was thrice blind and thrice in an agony of death but his tongue was firm never troubled with any symptome Thus far Mathiolus But all these symptomes by giving him Bezars stone vanished in seven hours CHAP. XXXI Of Nyctegretum Granum Nubiae Nutmegs and Olive Trees NYctegretum was admired by Democritus amongst a few things it is hot as fire and hath thorny leafs nor doth it rise from the ground It must be dug up after the vernal Equinoctial and dryed by the Moon-light for 30 dayes and then it will shine in the night Plin. l. 21. c. 11. It is also called Chenomychon because Geese are afraid at the sight of it In Nubia which is Aethiopia by Aegypt there is a grain that swallowed will kill living Creatures A tenth part of it will kill them in a quarter of an hour Scalig. Exerc. 153. s. 11. In Banda an Island of the Molucco's the Nutmeg growes and it is covered with a cup for a shell when 't is ripe it is all covered over Under the first covering the shell is not presently that covers the kernel but a thick skin which the Arabians call Macin The Olive-Tree if it be cropped at the first budding by a Goat growes so barren that it will never bear by any means but if there be any other cause the certain cure is to lay open their roots to the Winter cold Plin. l. 7. c. 14. The Olive and the Oak so disagree that one planted by the other will shortly die The Lees of oyl mingled with Lime if walls be plaistered with it and the roofs they not onely drop down all adventitious humours that they contract but neither Moth nor Spiders will endure them Mathiol in Dioscor It flowereth in July the flowers coming forth by clusters From whence grow first green berries and they are pale as they grow ripe then they become a full purple colour and lastly black They are pulled in November and December then are they laid in pavements till they become wrinkled then are they put in under a milstone and are pressed out with presses pouring scalding water on and so they yield their oyl The wood of the Tree burns as well green as dry At Megoris a wild Olive Tree stood long in the Market-place to which they had fastned the Arms of a valiant man but the bark grew over it and hid them for many years That Tree was fatall to the Cities ruine as the Oracle foretold when a Tree should bear arms for it so fell out when the Tree was cut down spurs and helmets being found within it Plin. l. 16. c. 29. The Olive Tree lasts 200 years Plin. l. 16. c. 44. CHAP. XXXII Of the Palm-Tree THey say that the female Palm-Trees will bring forth nothing without the Males which is confirmed when a wood growes up of its own accord so about the Males many females will grow enclining toward them and wagging their boughes But the male with branches standing up as it were hairy doth marry them by the blowing on them and by standing near them on the same ground Plin. l. 13. c. 4. When the Male is cut up the females are in widowhood and are barren Hence in Egypt they so plant them that the wind may carry the dust from the Male to the Female but if they be far off they bind them together with a cord Pontanus reports that two Palm-Trees one set at Brundusium the other at Hydruntum were barren till they were grown up to look one upon the other and though it were so great a distance yet they both did bear fruit Dalechamp ad lib. cit Poets write thus of them A Tree there grew in large Brundusium Land A Tree in Idumaea much desir'd And in Hydruntum Woods one rare did stand Like Male and Female 't is to be admir'd On the same ground they did not grow but wide Asunder and they both unfruitful stood They many leaves did bear nothing beside At last they grew so high above the wood That of each other they enjoy'd the light Then they grew fruitful like to Man and Wife Each in the other seem'd to take delight And to be partners each of th' others life Cardanus reports that in Data a City of Numidia there was a Palm-Tree the fruit whereof unlesse the boughes of the flourishing male were mingled with the boughes of the female the fruit was never ripe but were lean with a great stone in them and by no help could they be kept from consuming but if any leaf or rind of the male were present then they would grow ripe Philo. l. 1. de vita Mosis saith that the vital force of it is not in the roots but in the top of the stock as in the heart and in the middle of the boughes that it is guarded about with all as with Halberdiers There is a kind of Palm-Tree growes in India out of the stock whereof the boughes being for that purpose cut in the moneth of August a liquor like wine runs forth that the Inhabitants receive in vessels