there is not a tree not so much as the very Vine that sheddeth leaues CHAP. XXII ¶ The nature of such leaues as fall from trees and what leaues they be that change colour ALl trees without the range of those before rehearsed for to reckon them vp by name particularly were a long and tedious piece of work do lose their leaues in winter And verily this hath bin found and obserued by experience that no leaues doe fade and wither but such as be thinne broad and soft As for such as fall not from the tree they be commonly thick skinned hard and narrow and therefore it is a false principle and position held by some That no trees shed their leaues which haue in them a fatty sap or oleous humiditie for who could euer perceiue any such thing in the Mast-holme a drier tree there is not and yet it holdeth alwaies green Timaeus the great Astrologer and Mathematician is of opinion that the Sun being in the signe Scorpio he causeth leaues to fall by a certain venomous and poysoned infection of the aire proceeding from the influence of that maligne constellation But if that were true we may wel and iustly maruell why the same cause should not be effectuall likewise in all other trees Moreouer we see that most trees do let fall their leaues in Autumne some are longer ere they shed continuing green vntill winter be come Neither is the timely or slow fall of the leafe long of the early or late budding for wee see some that burgen and shoot out their spring with the first and yet with the last shed their leaues and become naked as namely the Almond trees Ashes and Elders And contrariwise the Mulberry tree putteth forth leaues with the latest and is one of them that soonest sheddeth them again But the cause hereof lies much in the nature of the soile for the trees that grow vpon a leane dry and hungry ground do sooner cast leafe than others also old trees become bare before yonger and many of them also lose their leaues before their fruit be fully ripe for in the Fig tree that commeth and beaâ—…th late in the winter Pyrry and Pomegranate a man shall see in the later end of the yere fruit only and no leaues vpon the tree Now as touching those trees that continue euer greene you must not think that they keep still the same leaues for as new come the old wither fal away which hapneth commonly in mid-Iune about the Summer Sunne-stead For the most part the leaues in euery kind of tree do hold one and the same colour and continue vniform saue those of the Poplar Ivy and Croton which wee said was called also Cici iâ—… est Ricinus or Palma Christi CHAP. XXIII ¶ Three sorts of Poplar and what leaues they be that change their shape and figure OF Poplars there be found three sundry kinds to wit the white the blacke and that which is named Lybica or the Poplar of Guynee this hath least leaues and those of all other blackest but mow commendable they are for the fungous meazles as it were that come forth thereof As for the white Poplar leafe the leaues when they be yong are as round as if they were drawn with a paire of compasses like vnto those of Citron before named but as they grow elder they run out into certain angles or corners Contrariwise the Ivy leaues at the first be cornered and afterwards become round All Poplar leaues are full of downe as for the white Poplar which is fuller of leaues than the rest the said downe flieth away in the aire like to mossie chats or Thistle-downe The leaues of Pomegranats and Almond trees stand much vpon the red colour But very strange it is and wonderfull which hapneth to the Elme Tillet or Linden the Oliue tree Aspe and Sallow or Willow for their leaues after Midsummer turn about vpside downe in such sort as there is not a more certaine argument that the Sun is entred Cancer and returneth from the South point or Summer Tropicke than to see those leaues so turned CHAP. XXIIII ¶ What leaues they be that vse to turne euery yeare Of Palme or Date tree leaues how they are to be ordered and vsed Also certain wonderfull obseruations about leaues THere is a certain general and vniuersal diuersitie difference obserued in the very leaf for commonly the vpper side which is from the ground is of greene grasse colour more smooth also polished The outside or nether part of the leaf hath in it certain strings sinues or veins brawns and ioynts bearing out like as in the back part of a mans hand but the inside cuts or lines in maner of the palme of ones hand The leaues of the oliue are on the vpper part whiter and lesse smooth and likewise of the Ivy. But the leaues of all trees for most part euery day do turn and open to the Sunne as desirous to haue the inner side warmed therewith The outward or nether side toward the ground of all leaues hath a certaine hoary downe more or lesse here in Italy but in other countries so much there is of it that it serueth the turn for wooll and cotton In the East parts of the world they make good cordage and strong ropes of date tree leaues as we haue said before and the same are better serue longer within than without With vs these Date leaues are pulled from the tree in the Spring whiles they are whole and entire for the better be they which are not clouen or diuided Being thus plucked they are laid a drying within house foure daies together After that they be spred abroad and displaied open to the Sun and left without dores to take all weathers both day and night and to be bleached vntil they be dry and white which done they be sliued and slit for cord-work But to come again to other leaues the broadest are vpon the Fig-tree the Vine and the Plane the narrowest vpon the Myrtle Pomegranat and oliue as for those of the Pine and cedar they be hairy the Holly leaues and all the kindes of Holme be set with sharpe prickes As for the Iuniper in stead of leafe it hath a very pointed thorne The Cypresse and Tamariske carrie fleshie leaues those of the Alder be most thick of all other The Reed and the Willow haue long leaues the Date tree hath them double The leaues of the Peare tree are round but those of the Apple tree are pointed of the Ivie cornered of the Plane tree diuided into certaine incisions of the Pitch tree and the Fir cut in after the maner of comb-teeth of the wild hard Oke waued and indented round about the edges of the brier and bramble sharpe like thornes all the skin ouer Of some they be stinging and biting as of Nettles of others ready to pricke like pins or needles as of the Pine the Pitch tree the Larch the Firre the Cedar and all the
wound as Sanicle is a vulnerary herbe and Machaon was a vulnerarie Physitian THE NINETEENTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS The Proeme TReated we haue in the former booke of the stars and signes aboue which giue vs intelligence as well of the seasons as the disposition of the weather to come and that in plaine and easie maner by so evident and vndoubted demonstrations also as may content the meane capacitie of the vnskilfull and ignorant And verily if we will rightly weigh and consider the thing we shal find and vnderstand that our countrey farmes and villages stand vs in good stead to know the inclination of the heauens and stars as the skill of Astronomy serueth our turnes for good husbandry These points now being well and throughly learned many haue bin of opinion That the knowledge of gardens and the care thereto belonging should by good right follow next Howbeit I for my part am of thismind that there be other matters concerning Agriculture deserue to be handled before we leape thus soon to gardening And here I cannot chuse but maruell much at some men who making such profession of learning and namely in the skill and science of Agriculture as they haue done yea and seeking thereby to win all their credit and name of erudition and literature haue notwithstanding omitted many things requisit thereunto without any mention made or one word spoken of so many herbes and simples which either come vp of themselues or grow by meanes of mans hand considering that the most part of them are in greater price and reputation yea and in more vse and request far for the maintenance of this our life than either corne or Pulse or any fruits of the earth whatsoeuer And to begin first at those that are known commodities and so notorious as that the vse thereof not only reacheth all ouer the maine and continent but extendeth also to the very sâ—…as and ouer spreadeth them What say we to Line or Flax so commonly sowed as it is yet may it not be ranged either among the fruits of the field or herbs of the garden But what region I pray you or part of the earth is without it and what is there so necessary for this life of ours in all respects Againe is there any thing in the whole world more wonderfull and miraculous than that there shouldbe an herb found of this vertue and property as to bring Egypt and Italy together insomuch as Galerius Lord Deputy in Egypt vnder the Romans was knowne to set saile from the firth of Messina in the straits of Sicily and in seuen daies to arriue at Alexandria Babilius also Gouernor there likewise in six and that by the means of the said herb Moreouer what say you to this which was seen no longer since than the summer past when Valerius Marianus a Senator of Rome late Lord Pretour embarked and tooke ship at Puteoli and in nine daies sailed to the said Alexandria and yet he had but a very mild and still wind to helpe him in that voiage Is not this a strange and soueraigne herb think you that in a seuen-nights space can fetch Gades from as far as the straits of Gilbretar or Hercules pillars into the harbor of Ostia in Italy can shew I say the kingdome of Catalogne in Spaine before the said port-towne in foure daies Prouince in three and Barbary in two for C. Flaccus lieutenant vnder Vibius Crispus the Pro-consull did as much I speake of and that with no great forewind but a most gentle and milde gale Oh the audacious boldnesse of this world so rash so full of sin and wickednesse that a man should sow and cherish any such thing as might receiue and swallow the Windes stormes and tempests as if the float and tide alone were not sufficient to carrie so proud a creature But now are wee growne moreouer to this passe that sailes bigger than the Shippes themselues will not serue our turnes For albeit one mast be sufficient to carrie the biggest crosse-yard that can be deuised yet are not wee content with a single maine saile thereupon vnlesse we set vp Saile vpon Saile top and top-gallant vnlesse I say we haue for esailes and sprit-sailes in the Prow misnes also hoised vp and displaied in the Poupe besides other trinkets and more cloath still and all to set vs more forward vpon our death and to hasten our end Finally is there ought againe so admirable as that of so small a graine as is the Line-seed there should grow that which is able to carry to and fro in a moment this round globe of the earth the same being so slender a stalke as it is and not growing high from the ground considering withall that twisted it is not entire and whole in the stem but before it can be occupied it must be watered dried braked tew-tawed and with much labâ—…r driuen and reduced in the end to be as soft and tender as wooll and all to do violence to Nature and Mankinde most audaciously euen in the highest degree in such sort as a man is not able to proceed so far in execration as is due vnto this inuention The first deuiser whereof I haue inueighed against in conuenient place elsewhere and not without desert as who could not be content that a man should die vpon the land but hee must perish vpon the sea to feed Haddocks there without the honour of sepulture In the booke but next before this I gaue warning and aduertised men That for to enioy corne and other victuals necessarie for this life in suffisance and plenty we should beware of winde and raine and now behold man is so wicked and vngratious his wit so inuentiue that he will be sowing tending and plucking that with his own hand that calls for nothing else at sea but winde and neuer rests till Browning be come See moreouer how well this vnhappy hand of his speeds for there is not a plant again commeth vp sooner or thriueth faster than this Flax. And to conclude that we may know how Nature her self is nothing wel pleasing therwith and that it groweth maugre her will it burnes the field wherein it is sowed it eateth out the heart of the ground and maketh it worse where-euer it comes this is all the good it doth vpon a land CHAP. I. ¶ The maner of sowing Line or Flax the sundry kindes thereof the order how to dresse it Also of Napkins and other Naperie Of Flax and Linnen that will not burne in the fire And when the Theatres or Shew-places at Rome were first encourtained LIne-seed loueth grauelly or sandie grounds passing wel and commonly is sowed with one tilth and no more yet is there nothing maketh more haste to be aboue ground or sooner commeth to maturitie Being sowne in Spring it is pluckt in Summer See how injurious it is stil to the earth euen this way also Wel say that the Aegyptians in some
precordiall parts Myrrhis which some call Smyrrhiza others Myrrha is passing like vnto Hemlocke in stalke leaues and floure only it is smaller and slenderer and hath no ill grace and vnpleasant tast to be eaten with meats Taken in wine it hasteneth the monthly course of womens fleurs if they bee too slow and helpeth them in labour to speedy deliuerance It is said moreouer that in time of a plague it is wholsom to drink it for feare of infection A supping or broth made of it helpeth those who are in a Phthysicke or consumption This good property it hath besides to stir vp a quick appetite to meat It doth extinguish and kill the venome inflicted by the sting or pricke of the venomous spiders Phalangia The juice drawn out of this herb after it hath lien infused or soked three daies together in water healeth any sore breaking out either in face or head Finally Onobrychis carieth leaues resembling Lentils but that they are somewhat longer it beareth also a red floure but resteth vpon a small and slender root It groweth about springs and fountains Being dried and reduced into a floure or pouder it maketh an end of the strangury so it be drunk in a cup of white wine well strewed and spiced therwith It stoppeth a lask To conclude the juice therof causeth them to sweat freely who are annointed all ouer with it CHAP. XVII ¶ The medicinable vertues of Coriacesia Callicia and Menais with three and twentie other herbes which some hold to be Magicall Moreouer of Considia and Aproxis besides some other which are reuiued and in request againe hauing been long time out of vse TO discharge and acquit my selfe of the promise which I made of strange and wonderfull herbs I cannot chuse but in this place write a little of those which the Magitians make such reckoning of For can there be any more admirable than they And in very truth Democritus and Pythagoras following the tracts of the said wise men and Magitians were the first Philosophers who in this part of the world set those herbs on foot and brought them into a name And to begin with Coriacesia and Callicia Pythagoras affirmeth That these two herbes will cause water to gather into an yce I find no mention at all in any other authors of these hearbes neither doth he report more properties of them The same author writes of an herb called Menais known also by the name of Corinthas the juice whereof by his saying if it be sodden in water presently cureth the sting of serpents if the place be fomented with the said decoction He affirmeth moreouer that if the said juice or liquor be poured vpon the grasse whosoeuer fortuneth to go thereupon and touch it with the sole of the foot or otherwise chance to be but dashed or sprinkled therewith shall die therupon remedilesse and no way there is to escape the mischiefe A monstrous thing to report that this juice should be so rank a venome as it is vnlesse it be vsed against poison The felfe same Pythagoras speaketh yet of another herb which hee calleth Aproxis the root whereof is of this nature to catch fire a farre off like for all the world to Naphtha concerning which I haue written somwhat already in my discourse as touching the wonders of Nature and he reporteth moreouer That if a man or woman happen to be sicke of any disease at what time as this Aproxis is in the floure although he or she be throughly cured of it yet shall they haue a grudging or minding thereof as often as it falleth to floure again yeare by yeare And of this opinion he is besides That Frumenty corne Hemlock and Violets are of the same nature and property I am not ignorant that this booke of his wherein these strange reports are recorded some haue ascribed vnto Cleomporus a renowned Physitian but the currant fame or speech holdeth stil so constantly time out of mind that we must needs beleeue Pythagoras to be the author of the said booke True it is indeed that the name of Pythagoras might giue authority and credit vnto other mens books attributed to him if haply any other had laboured and trauelled in compiling some worke which himselfe judged worthy of such a man as he was but that Cleomporus should so do who had set forth other books in his owne name who would euer beleeue No man doubteth verily but that the book intituled Chirocineta was of Democritus his making and yet therein be found more monstrous things by a hundred fold than those which Pythagoras hath deliuered in that worke of his And to say a truth setting Pythagoras aside there was not a Philosopher so much addicted to the schoole and profession of these Magitians as was Democritus In the first place he telleth vs of an herb called Aglaophotis worthy to be admired wondred of men by reason of that most beautifull colour which it had and for that it grew among the quarries of marble in Arabia confining vpon the coasts of the realme of Persia therefore it was also named Marmaritis And he affirmeth that the Sages or VVise men of Persia called Magi vsed this herb when they were minded to coniure and raise vp spirits He writeth moreouer That in a country of India inhabited by the Tardistiles there is another herb named Achâ—…menis growing without leafe and in colour resembling Amber of the root of which herb there be certain Trochisks made whereof they cause malefactors and suspected persons to drink some quantity with wine in the day time to the end they should confesse the truth for in the night following they shall be so haunted with spirits and tormented with sundry fansies and horrible visions that they shal be driuen perforce to tel all and acknowledge the fact for which they are troubled brought in question The same writer calleth this plant Hippophobas because Mares of all other creatures are most fearfull and wary of it Furthermore he reporteth That 30 Schoenes from the riuer Choaspes in Persia there groweth an herb named Theombrotion which for the manifold and sundry colours that it hath resembleth the painted taile of a Peacocke and it casteth withall a most sweet and odoriferous sent This herb saith he the Kings of Persia vse in their meats drinks and this opinion they haue of it That it preserueth their bodies from all infirmities and diseases yea and keepeth their head so staied and setled that they shall neuer be troubled in mind and out of their right wits in such sort that for the powerfull maiestie of this plant it is also called Semnion He proceedeth moreouer to another knowne by the name Adamantis growing onely in Armenia and Cappadocia which if it be brought neare vnto Lions they will lie all along vpon their backs and yawne with their mouths as wide as euer they can The reason of the name is this because it cannot possibly be beaten into pouder He goeth on
that groweth it runneth creepeth within the earth by many knots or ioints in the root from which as also from the branches and top-sprigs trailing aboue-ground it putteth forth new roots and spreadeth into many branches In all other parts of the world the leaues of this grasse grow slender and sharp pointed toward the end only vpon the mount Pernassus wherupon it is called Gramen Pernassi it brancheth thicker than in other places and resembleth in some sort Ivie bearing a white floure and the same odoriferous There is not a grasse in the field whereon horses take more delight to feed than this whether it be greene as it groweth or dry and made into hay especially if it be giuen them somewhat sprinckled with water Moreouer it is said that the inhabitants about the foresaid mount Pernassus do draw a juice out of this grasse vsed much to increase plenty of milk for sweet and pleasant it is but in other parts of the world in stead therof they vse the decoction of the common grasse for to conglutinat wounds and yet the very herb it selfe in substance will do as much if it be but stamped and so applied and besides a good defensatiue it is to keep any place that is cut or hurt from inflammation To the said decoction some put wine and hony others adde a third part in proportion of Frankincense Pepper and Myrrhe and then set all ouer the fire againe and boile it a second time in a pan of brasse which composition they vse as a medicine for the tooth-ach and watering eies occasioned by the flux of humors thither The root sodden in wine appeaseth the wrings torments of the guts openeth the conduits of the vrine and giueth it passage besides it healeth the vlcers of the bladder yea it breaketh the stone But the seed is more diureticall and with greater force driueth downe vrine than the root And yet it stoppeth a laske and staieth vomit A peculiar vertue it hath against the sting of dragons or serpents Moreouer some there be who giue direction in the cure of the kings euil and other flat impostumes called Pani to take nine knots or ioints of a root of this grasse and if they cannot find one root with so many ioints to take two or three roots vntill they haue the foresaid number which done to enwrap or fold the same in vnwashed or greasie wooll which is black with this charge by the way that the party who gathered the said roots be fasting and then to goe vnto the house of the patient that is to be cured waiting a time when hee is from home and be ready at his returne to receiue him with these words three times pronounced Iejunus ieiuno medicamentum do i. I being yet fasting giue thee a medicine also whiles thou art fasting and with that to bind the foresaid knots roots vnto the parts affected and so continue this course for three daies together Furthermore that kind of grasse which hath seuen ioints in the root neither more nor lesse is singular for the head ach and worketh great effects if the Patient carrieth it tied fast about him Some Physitians do prescribe for the intollerable pain of the bladder to take the decoction of this grasse boyled in wine vnto the consumption of one halfe and giue it to drinke vnto the Patient presently vpon the comming out of the baine or hot-house Touching the grasse which by reason of the pricks that it beares is named Aculeatum there be three sorts of it the first is that which ordinarily hath fiue such prickes in the head or top thereof and thereupon they call it Penta Dactylon i. the fiue finger graise these prickes when they be wound together they vse to put vp into the nosthrils and draw them downe again for to make the nose bleed The second is like to Sengreen or Housleek singular good it is for the whitflaws and excrescences or risings vp of the flesh about the naile roots if it be incorporat into a liniment with hogs grease and this grasse they call Dactylus because it is a medicine for the fingers The third kind named likewise Dactylos but smaller than the other groweth vpon old decaied wals or tyle houses this is of a caustick burning nature good to represse the canker in running and corrosiue vlcers Generally a chaplet made of the herbe Gramen or Dogs-grasse and worn vpon the head stancheth bleeding at the nose The Gramen that groweth along the high waies in the country about Babylon is said to kill camels that grase vpon it Fenigreeke commeth not behind the other herbs before specified in credit and account for the vertues which it hath the Greeks call it Telus and Carphos some name it Buceras and Aegoceras for that the seed resembleth little hornes we in Latine tearme it Silicia or Siliqua The manner of sowing it I haue declared in due place sufficiently The vertues thereof is to dry mollifie and resolue the juice drawne out of it after the decoction is right soueraigne for many infirmities and diseases incident to women and namely in the naturall parts whether the matrice haue a schirre in it and be hard or swolne or whether the necke thereof be drawne too streight and narrow for which purposes it is to be vsed by way of somentation incession or bath also by infusion or injection with the metrenchyte Very proper it is to extenuat the scurf or scales like dandruffe appearing in the visage being sodden and applied together with sal-nitre it helpeth the disease of the spleen The like effect it hath with vineger and beeing boyled therin it is good for the liuer for such women as haue painful trauel in child-birth be hardly deliuered Diocles appointed Fenigreek seed to the quantity of one acetable to be giuen in nine cyaths of wine cuit for three draughts with this direction that the woman first should take one third part of this drink and then go to a hot bath and whiles she were sweating therein to drink one halfe of that which was left and presently after she is out of the bain sup off the rest And he saith there is not the like medicine to be found in this case when all others will take no effect The floure or meale of Fenigreek seed boiled in mead or honied water together with barly or Lineseed is singular for the paine of the matrice either applied to the share in maner of a cataplasme or put vp into the naturall parts as a pessary according as the abouenamed Dioâ—…les saith who was wont likewise to cure the lepry or S. Magnus euil to clense mundifie the skin of freckles pimples with a liniment made with the foresaid floure incorporat with the like quantity of brim stone with this charge to prepare the skin by rubbing it with salnitre before the said ointment were vsed and then to annoint it oftentimes in a day Theodorus vsed to
was much forked diuided into branches wherwith folk vsed to kil fishes But among al other herbs of name Peucedanum is much talked of and commended principally that which groweth in Arcadie next to it most account is made of that in Samothrace a slender stalk it carrieth and a long resembling the stem of Fennell neere vnto the ground it is replenished well with leaues the root is black thick full of sap and of a strong and vnpleasant smell it delighteth to come vp and grow among shady mountains The proper time to dig it out of the ground is in the later end of Autumne the tenderest roots and those that run deepest downe into the earth are most commendable The manner is to cut these roots ouerthwart into certaine cantels or pieces of foure fingers in length with kniues made of bone whereout there issueth a juice which ought to be dried kept in the shade but the party who hath the cutting of them had need first to annoint his head all ouer and his nosthrils with oile rosat for feare of the gid and least he should fall into a dizzinesse or swimming of the braine There is another juice or liquor found in this plant lying fast within the stems therof which they yeeld forth after incision made in them The best juice is knowne by these marks It carieth the consistence of honey the colour is red the smell strong and yet pleasant and in the mouth it is very hot and stinging Much vse there is of it in many medicines as also of the root and decoction thereof but the juice is of most operation which being dissolued with bitter almonds or rue people vse to drink against the poison of serpents in case the body be annointed all ouer with oile it preserueth them safe against their stings CHAP. X. ¶ Of ground Elder or Wallwoort Of Mullen or Taper wort Of the Aconit called Thelyphonos Of remedies against the pricke of Scorpions the venome of Hedge-toads the biting of mad Dogs and generally against all poysons THe smoke or perfume also of VValwort a common herb and knowne to euery man chaseth and putteth to flight any serpents The juice of Polemonia is a proper defensatiue especially against scorpions if one haue it tied about him or hanging at his neck likewise it resisteth the prick of the spiders Phalangia and any other of these venomous vermins of the smaller sort Aristolochia hath a singular vertue contrary vnto serpents so hath Agaricke if foure oboli thereof be drunke in as many cyaths of some artificiall or compound aromatized wine Vervaine is a soueraigne herb also against the venomous spider Phalangium being taken in wine or oxycrat i. vineger and water so is Cinquefoile and the yellow Carrot That herb which the Latines call Verbascum i. Lungwort or Hightaper is named in Greek Phlomos Two special kinds there be of it the one is whiter which you must take for the male the other black that may go for the female There is a third sort also but it is found no where but in the wild woods The leaues of all the former be broader than those of the Colewort and hairy withal they beare a main vpright stem a cubit in height with the vantage the seed is black and of no vse in Physicke a single root they haue of a finger thicknes These grow also vpon plains and champian grounds The wild kinde beareth leaues resembling sauge the branches be of a wooddy substance the same grow high There be moreouer of this kind two other herbs named Phlomides both of them hairy their leaues be round and they grow but low A third sort there is be sides named by some Lychnitis and by others Thryallis it sheweth 3 leaues or foure at the most and those be thick fat good to make wyks or matches for lights It is said that if figs be kept in the leaues of that which I named the female they will not rot To distinguish these herbs into seuerall kinds is a needlesse peece of work considering they agree all in the same effects their root together with rue is to be drunk in water against the poyson of scorpions true it is that the drinke is very bitter but the effect that it worketh maketh amends There is an herbe called by some Thelyphonon by others Scorpion for the resemblance that the root hath to the Scorpion and yet if Scorpions be but touched therwith they will die thereupon no maruell therefore if there be an ordinary drinke made of it against their poison and here commeth to my mind that which I haue heard namely that if a dead scorpion be rubbed with the white Ellebore root it wil reuiue and quicken again The said Thelyphonon hath such a spightful nature against the four-footed beasts of the female sex that if the root be laid to their shap or naturall place it killeth them and if the leafe which is like vnto the Cyclamin or Sowbread leafe aboue named be applied in that maner they will not liue one day to an end This herb is parted and diuided into knots or joints taking pleasure to grow in coole and shady places To conclude and knit vp these remedies against scorpions the juice of Betonie and of Plantaine likewise is a singular remedie for their poison Moreouer Frogs such especially as keep in bushes and hedges and be called in Latine Rubetae i. toads are not without their venom I my self haue seen these vaunting Montebanks calling themselues Psylli as comming from the race of those people Psylli who feared no kind of poison I haue seen them I say in a brauery because they would seem to surpasse all others of that profession to eat those toads baked red hot between 2 platters but what became of them they caught their bane by it and died more suddenly than if they had bin stung by the Aspis but what is the help for this rank poison surely the herb Phrynion drunk in wine Some cal it Neuras others Poterion pretty flours it beareth the roots be many in number full of strings like vnto sinews and the same of a sweet pleasant sent Likewise Alisura is counted another remedy in this case an herb it is called by some Damosorium by others Liron the leaues might be taken for Planta in but that they be narrower more iagged and plaited bending also toward the ground for otherwise ribbed they be and full of veins as like as may be to Plantain As for the stalk it is likewise one and no more plain and slender of a cub it in heigth in the head wherof it hath knobs roots growing many and thick together and those but small like vnto those of the blacke Ellebore but they be hot and biting of a sweet and odoriferous smell and of a fatty substance withall it groweth ordinarily in watery and moist places And yet there is a second kind of it which commeth vp in woods of a more
therewith annointed it cleanseth and cleareth them but it causeth them to weepe and water like as smoke doth whereupon it tooke the name Capnos in Greek If the haire of the eie-lids be once pulled forth and then the edges or brims be annointed therewith it will keep them for euer comming vp againe Acorus hath leaues like to the Flour-de-lis but that they be only narrower growing to a longer stele or taile the roots be black not so full of veins nor grained otherwise they agree well with the Ireos root hot biting at the tongues end To smel vnto they are not vnpleasant and being taken inwardly they do gently moue rifting and cause the stomack to breake winde vpward The best Acoros roots be those which come from Pontus then they of Galatia and in a third rank are they to be set which are brought out of Candy Howbeit the principall and the greatest plenty are those esteemed which grow in the region Colchis neere to the riuer Phasis and generally in what countrey soeuer they that come vp in watery grounds be chiefe the fresher that the roots be and more newly drawn the stronger sent and lesse pleasant taste they haue with them than after they haue bin long kept aboue ground Those of Candy be whiter than the other of Pontus They vse to cut them into gobbets as big as a mans finger and then hang them within bags or pouches of leather a drying in the shade I find in certain writers that the root of Oxymyrsine is called Acaros and therfore some alluding to the name of Acoros chuse rather to call this plant Acaron the wild Well the root of Acorus is of great operation and effect to heat and extenuat and therefore the juice thereof taken in drinke is singular against catarracts or any accidents of the eies that cause dimnesse Soueraigne likewise it is taken to be against the venome of serpents Cotyled on named in Latine Vmbilicus Veneris is a pretty little herb hauing a tender and a smal stem a leafe thick fatty growing hollow like to the concauity wherin the huckle-bone turneth and therupon it took the foresaid name in Greek It groweth by the sea side and in rocky or stony grounds of a liuely green colour and the root round much like to an Oliue The juice is thought to cure the eies Another kind there is of Cotyledon with grosse and sattie leaues likewise but broader than the former Toward the root they grow thicker which they seem to compasse and inclose as it were an eie A most harsh vnpleasant tast it hath the stem is high but very slender This herb hath the same properties which the Flour-de-lis Of Sengreen or Housleek which the Greeks call Aizoon there be two kinds The greater is ordinarily planted in earthen pans or vessels set out before the windows of houses which some name Buphthalmon others Zoophthalmon and Stergethron because it is thought so good in loue drinks or amorous medicines others again giue it the name Hypogeson for that it is seen to grow vnder the eaues of houses There are also who loue to term it Ambrosia Amerimnos Here in Italy they call it Sedum the greater Oculus also and Digitellus For the second kinde is somewhat lesse which the Grecians distinguish by the name Erithales or Trithales because it beareth floures thrice in the yeare others Chrysothales and some again Isoetes But both the one and the other they call Aizoon because they be alwaies fresh and green according to which name in Greek some giue it the Latine name Sempervivum The greater kind beareth a stem a cubit high and more and the same of the thicknesse of a mans thumb with the better The leaues in the head or top whereof be like vnto a tongue fleshy and fat full of juice a good inch broad some bending downe and coping toward the earth others standing vpright but so as if a man mark their round circle or compasse wherein they lie couched he shal obserue the very proportion of an eie The lesse Sengreen or Iubarb groweth vpon walls and specially such as be ruinat and broken down likewise vpon the tiles of house-roofs This herb is tufted with leaues from the very root euen to the top of the branches The leaues be narrow and sharp pointed and full of juice The stalk groweth a good hand breadth or span high The root is not medicinable nor of any vse Much like to this is that herb which the Greeks call Andrachne Agria i. wilde Purcellane the Italians Illecebra The leaues be but small to speake of how be it broader than those of the herb before named and shorter toward the top It groweth vpon rocks and stony places folke vse to gather it for to eat All these last rehearsed haue the same operation for they be exceeding cold and a stringent withall Good they be to stay the rheum that salleth into the eies and causeth them to water whether the leaues be applied to them or the juice in manner of a liniment moreouer they clense and mundifie the vlcers of the eies theâ—… do also incarnat heale and skin them vp singular good besides to loose and open the eie-lids when they are glued and closed vp with viscous gum The same do allay the head-ache if either the temples be annointed with the iuice therof or the leaues be applied to them Moreouer they mortifie or kil the poyson inflicted by the prick of the venoâ—…ous spiders Phalangia but the greater Sengreene hath this peculiar vertue to resist the deadly poison of the herb Aconitum Furthermore it is sayd that whosoeuer carry it about them shal not be stung by scorpions All the kinds of them are proper remedies for the pain in the ears Like as the iuice of Henbane also if it be applied moderatly of Achillea and the best Centaury of Plantaine and Harstrang together with oile rosat and Opium finally the juice of Acorns or Galangale vsed with Roses is much commended in that case But this would be noted that the manner of preparing of all these juices is to heat them first then to conuey or infuse them into the ear by a pipe for the purpose called an Orenchyte Semblably the herb Vmbilicus Veneris or Cotyledon is much commended for mundifying the ears when they run with filthy matter especially if it be tempered with deere sewet and namely of a Stag or Hind and so instilled hot The iuice of the Walwort root clarified and strained through a fine linnen cloth and soon after dried hardened in the Sun healeth the swelling impostumations vnder the ears if as need requireth it be dissolued in oile of Roses and so applied hot The like effect in that case hath Veruain Plantain Sideritis also being incorporat in old Hogs grease After the same manner Aristolochia together with Cyperus healeth the stinking and ilfauored vlcer of the nose called Noli-me-tangere The
runneth onely in the Spring The lake Sinnaus in Asia is infected with the wormewood growing about it and there of it tasteth At Colophon in the vault or caue of Apollo Clarius there is a gutter or trench standing full of water they that drinke of it shall prophesie and foretell strange things like Oracles but they liue the shorter time for it Riuers running backward euen our age hath seen in the later yeres of Prince Nero as we haue related in the acts of his life Now that all Springs are colder in Summer than Winter who knoweth not as also these wonderous workes of Nature That brasse and lead in the masse or lumpe sinke downe and are drowned but if they be driuen out into thin plates they flote and swim aloft and let the weight be all one yet some things settle to the bottome others againe glide aboue Moreouer that heauie burdens and lodes be stirred and remoued with more ease in water Likewise that the stone Thyrreus be it neuer so big doth swim whole and intire breake it once into pieces and it sinketh As also that bodies newly dead fall downe to the bottome of the water but if they be swollen once they rise vp againe Ouer and besides that empty vessels are not so easily drawne forth of the water as those that be full that raine water for salt pits is better and more profitable than all other and that salt cannot be made vnlesse fresh water be mingled withall that sea-water is longer before it congeale but sooner made hot and set a seething That in Winter the sea is hoter and in Autumne more brackish and salt And that all seas are made calme and still with oile and therefore the Diuers vnder the water doe spirt and sprinkle it abroad with their mouthes because it dulceth and allaieth the vnpleasant nature thereof and carrieth a light with it That no snowes fall where the sea is deep And whereas all water runneth downeward by nature yet Springs leape vp euen at the very foot of Aetna which burneth of a light fire so farre forth as that for fiftie yea and an hundred miles the waulming round bals and flakes of fire cast out sand and ashes CHAP. CIIII. ¶ The maruailes of fire and water iointly together and of Maltha NOw let vs relate some strange wonders of fire also which is the fourth element of Nature But first out of waters In a citie of Comagene named Samosatis there is a pond yeelding forth a kinde of slimie mud called Maltha which will burne cleare When it meeteth with any thing solide and hard it sticketh to it like glew also if it be touched it followeth them that free from it By this meanes the townesmen defended their walls when Lucullus gaue the assault and his souldiers fried and burned in their owne armours Cast water vpon it and yet it will burne Experience hath taught That earth onely will quench it CHAP. CV ¶ Of Naphtha OF the like nature is Naphtha for so is it called about Babylonia and in the Austacenes countrey in Parthia and it runneth in manner of liquid Bitumen Great affinitie there is betweene the fire and it for fire is ready to leap vnto it immediatly if it be any thing neere it Thus they say Media burnt her husbands concubine by reason that her guirland annointed therewith was caught by the fire after she approched neere to the altars with purpose to sacrifice CHAP. CVI. ¶ Of places continually burning BVt amongst the wonderfull mountaines the hill Aetna burneth alwaies in the nights and for so long continuance of time yeeldeth sufficient matter to maintaine those fires in winter it is full of snow and couereth the ashes cast vp with frosts Neither in it alone doth Nature tyranize and shew her cruelty threatning as she doth a general consuming of the whole earth by fire For in Phoselis the hil Chimaera likewise burneth and that with a continuall fire night and day Ctesias of Gnidos writeth that the fire therof is inflamed and set a burning with water but quenched with earth In the same Lycia the mountaines Hephaestij being once touched and kindled with a flaming torch do so burne out that the very stones of the riuers yea and the sand in waters are on fire withall and the same fire is maintained with raine They report also that if a man make a furrow with a staffe that is set on fire by them there follow gutters as it were of fire In the Bactrians countrey the top of the hill Cophantus burneth euery night Amongst the Medians also and the Caestian nation the same mountaines burneth but principally in the very confines of Persis At Susis verily in a place called the white tower out of fifteene chimnies or tunnels the fire issueth and the greatest of them euen in the day time carrieth fire There is a plaine about Babylonia in manner of a fish poole which for the quantity of an acre of ground burneth likewise In like sort neere the mountaine Hesperius in Aethyopia the fields in the night time do glitter and shine like stars The like is to be seene in the territorie of the Megapolitanes although the field there within-forth be pleasant and not burning the boughes and leaues of the thicke groue aboue it And neere vnto a warme Spring the hollow burning furnace called Crater Nymphaei alwaies portendeth some fearefull misfortunes to the Apolloniates the neighbours thereby as Theoponpus hath reported It increaseth with showers of raine and casteth out Bitumen to be compared with that fountaine or water of Styx that is not to be tasted otherwise weaker than all Bitumen besides But who would maruell at these things in the mids of the sea Hiera one of the Aetolian Islands neere to Italy burned together with the sea for certaine daies together during the time of the allies war vntill a solemne embassage of the Senat made expiation therefore But that which burneth with the greatest fire of all other is a certaine hill of the Aethyopians Thoeet Ochema and sendeth out most parching flames in the hottest Sun-shine daies Lo in how many places with sundry fires Nature burneth the earth CHAP. CVII ¶ Wonders of fires by themselues MOreouer since the Nature of this onely element of fire is to be so fruitfull to breed it selfe to grow infinitely of the least sparks what may be thought will be the end of so many funerall fires of the earth what a nature is that which feedeth the most greedy voracitie in the whole world without losse of it selfe Put thereto the infinit number of stars the mighty great Sun moreouer the fires in mens bodies those that are inbred in some stones the attrition also of certain woods one against another yea and those within clouds the verie original of lightnings Surely it exceedeth all miracles that any one day should passe not al the world be set on a light burning fire since that the hollow firy glasses also set opposit against
but of a couetous mind for very gain And by this and such wittie deuises he gathered great reuenues for he it was that inuented the hanging baines and pooles to bathe in aloft vpon the top of an house and thus when he had set out his manour house for the better sale he would make good merchandise of them and sell them againe for commoditie and gaine He was the first man that brought the Lucrine Oysters into name and credit for their excellent taste For so it is that the same kinds of fishes in one place are better than in another As the Pikes in the riuer Tiberis which are taken between the two bridges the Turbot of Rauenna the Lamprey in Sicilie the Elops at Rhodes and so forth of other sorts of fishes for I do not meane here to make a bill of all the dainty fish to serue the kitchin There was no talk then of English oisters when Orata brought those of the Lucrine lake into request for as yet the Brittish coasts were not ours which indeed haue the best oisters of all other But afterwards it was thought it would quit the cost and pay for the pains to fetch oisters from the furthest part of Italy euen as far as Brundisium And because there should grow no quarrell nor controuersie arise whether these or the former had the more delicate and pleasant taste it was of late deuised that the hungrie oisters which in the long cariage from Brundise were almost famished should be fed with the rest in the Lucrine Lake and so taste alike In those very daies but somwhat before Orata Licinius Murena deuised pools and stews for to keep and feed other fishes whose example noblemen followed and did the like after them namely Philip and Hortensius Lucullus cut through a mountain neere vnto Naples for this purpose namely to let in an arm of the sea into his fish pooles the doing whereof cost him more mony than the house it selfe which he there had built Hereupon Pompey the great gaue him the name of Roman Xerxes in his long robe The fishes of that poole of his after his death were sold for thirty hundred thousand Sesterces i. three milions of Sesterces CHAP. LV. ¶ Who invented the stewes for Lampreyes CAius Hirtius was the man by himselfe that before all others deuised a pond to keep Lampreys in He it was that lent Caesar Dictator for to furnish his feasts and great suppers during the time of his triumph 600 Lampreys to be paied againe by weight and tale in the same kind for sel them he would not right out for any mony nor exchange them for other commodities A house he had for his pleasure in the country and but a very little one yet the ponds and fishes about it sold the house for foure milions of Sesterces In processe of time folk grew to haue a loue and cast a fancy to some one seuerall fish aboue the rest For the excellent Orator Hortensius had an house at Bauli vpon the side that lieth to Baiae a fish-pond to it belonging and he took such an affection to one Lamprey in that poole that when it was dead by report he could not hold but weep for loue of it Within the same poole belonging to the said house Antonia the wife of Drusus vnto whom they fell by inheritance had so great a liking to another Lamprey that she could find in heart to decke it and to hang a paire of golden earings about the guils thereof And surely for the nouelty of this strange sight and the name that went thereof many folke had a desire to see Bauli and for nothing els CHAP. LVI ¶ The stewes of Winkles and who first was the deuiser FVlvius Hirpinus was the first inuentor of warrens as it were for Winkles which he caused to be made within the territory of Tarquinij a little before the ciuil war with Pompey the great And those had their distinct partitions for sundry sorts of them that the white which came from the parts about Reate should be kept apart by themselues the Illyrian and those were chiefe for greatnesse alone by their selues the Africans which were most fruitfull in one seuerall and the Solitanes simply the best of all the rest in another Nay more than that he had a deuise in his head to feed them fat namely with a certain paste made of cuit wheat meale and many other such like to the end forsooth that the gluttons table might be serued plentifully with home-fed franked great Winkles also And in time men grew to take such a pride and glory in this artificial feat and namely in striuing who should haue the biggest that in the end one of their shels ordinarily would containe 80 measures called Quadrants if M. Varro say true who is mine Author CHAP. LVII ¶ Of Land-fishes THeophrastus also telleth strange wonders of certain kinds of fishes which are about Babylon where there be many places subject to the inundations of Euphrates and other riuers and wherein the water standeth after that the riuers are returned within their bankes in which the fish remain in certain holes caues Some of them saith he vse to issue forth aland for food and releefe going vpon their fins in lieu of feet and wagging their tailes euer as they go And if any chase them or come to take them they will retire back into their ditches aforesaid and there make head and stand against them They are headed like to the sea Frog made in other parts as Gudgeons and guilled in manner of other fishes Moreouer that about Heraclea and Cromna and namely neere the riuer Lycus in many other quarters of the kingdom of Pontus there is one kind aboue the rest that euer haunteth riuers sides and the vtmost edges of the water making her selfe holes vnder the banks and within the land wherin she liueth yea euen when the banks are drie and the riuers gathered into narrow channels By reason whereof they are digged forth of the earth and as they say that find them aliue they be as may appeare by mouing and stirring of their bodies Neere vnto the aboue said Heraclea the riuer Lycus when it is falne and the water ebbe there be fishes breed of the egges and spawne left vpon the mud and sand who in seeking for their food do stir and pant with their little guils which they vse to do when they want no water but euen then when as the riuer is full Which is the reason also that yeeles liue a long time after they be taken forth of the water He affirmeth moreouer that the egs of fishes lying vpon the dry land will come to their maturity and perfection and namely those of the Tortoises Also that in the same country of Pontus there be taken fishes vpon the yce and gudgeons especially which shew not that they be aliue but by their stirring and leaping when they come to be sodden in hot caudrons
Hereof may some reason yet be rendred although the thing be strange and wonderful The same author auoucheth that in Paphlagonia there be digged out of the ground certaine land fishes that be excellent good meat and most delicate but they be found in dry places remote from the riuer whither no waters flow wherby they are forced to make the deeper trenches for to come by them Himself maruelleth how they should engender without the help of moisture Howbeit hee supposeth that there is a certain minerall and naturall force therin such as we see to sweat out in pits forasmuch as diuers of them haue fishes found within them Whatsoeuer it is surely lesse wonderfull this is considering how the Moldwarps liue a creature naturally keeping vnder the ground vnlesse haply we would say that fishes were of the same nature that earth wormes be of CHAP. LVIII ¶ Of the mice of Nilus BVt the inundation of Nilus cleareth all these matters the ouerflowing whereof is so admirable and so far passeth all other wonders that we may well beleeue these things For when as this riuer falleth and returneth againe into his channell a man may find vpon the mud yong Mice halfe made proceeding from the generatiue vertue of water and earth together hauing one part of their body liuing already but the rest as yet mishapen and no better than the very earth CHAP. LIX ¶ Of the fish Anthias and how he is taken I Thinke it not meet to conceale that which I perceiue many do beleeue hold as touching the fish Anthias We haue in our Cosmographie made mention of the Isles Cheldoniae in Asia scituate in a sea full of rocks vnder the promontory of Taurus among which are found great store of these fishes and much fishing there is for them but they are suddenly taken and euer after one sort For when the time serueth there goeth forth a fisher in a smal boat or barge for certain daies together a pretty way into the sea clad alwaies in apparel of one and the same colour at one houre and to the same place stil where he casteth forth a bait for the fish but the fish Anthias is so craftie and warie that whatsoeuer is thrown forth he suspecteth it euermore that it is a means to surprise him He feareth therefore and distrusteth and as he feareth so is he as wario vntill at length after much practise often vsing this deuise of flinging meat into one place one aboue the rest groweth so hardy and bold as to bite at it for now by this time he is grown acquainted with the maner thereof and secure The fisher takes good mark of this one fish making sure reckoning that he wil bring more thither and be the means that he shall speâ—…d his hand in the end And that is no hard matter for him to do because for certain daies together that fish none but he dare aduenture to come alone vnto the bait At length this hardy captaine meets with some other companions and by little little he commeth euery day better accompanied than other vntil in the end he brings with him infinite troups and squadrons together so as now the eldest of them all as crafty as they be be so well vsed to know the fisher that they will snatch meat out of his hands Then hee espying his time putteth forth an hook with the bait somwhat beyond his fingers ends flieth and seizeth vpon them more truly then catcheth them and speedily with a quick nimble hand whippes them out of the water within the shadow of the ship for feare least the rest should perceiue giueth them one after another to his companion within who euer as they be snatcht vp latcheth them in a course twillie or couering keeps them suâ—…e enough from strugling or squeaking that they should not driue the rest away The speciall thing that helpeth this game and pretty sport is to know the captain from the rest who brought his fellows to this feast to take heed in any hand that he be not twitcht vp and caught And therfore the fisher spareth him that he may flie and goe to some other flock for to train them to the like banket Thus you see the maner of fishing for these Anthae Now it is reported moreouer that one fisher vpon a time of spightfull minde to do his fellow a shrewd turn laid wait for the said captain fish the leader of the rest for he was very wel known from all others and so caught him but when the foresaid fisher espied him in the market to be sold and knew it was he taking himself misused wronged brought his action of the case against the other and sued him for the dammage and in the end condemned him Mutianus saith moreouer That the plaintife was awarded to haue for recompence 10 pounds of the defendant The same fishes if they chance to see one of their fellows caught with an hook by report with their sharp fins which they haue vpon their backe like sawes cut the line in two for he that hangeth at it will of purpose stretch it out streight that it may be cut a sunder more easily But the Sargots haue another trick for that for he that finds himselfe taken fretteth the line in twaine whereto the hooke hangeth against a hard rocke CHAP. LX. ¶ Of the Sea fishes called Starres OVer and besides all these I see that some deep clerks and great Philosphers haue made a wonder at the Star in the sea And verily it is no other than a very little fish made like a star as we see it painted A soft flesh it hath within but without forth an hard brawnie skin Men say it is so fierie hot that whatsoeuer it toucheth in the sea it burneth and look what meat it receiueth it makes a hand with it digesteth it presently What proofe there is herof and how men should come to the knowledge and experience of thus much I cannot readily set downe I would thinke that rather more memorable and worthy to be recorded whereof we haue daily experience CHAP. XLI ¶ Of the Dactyli and their wonderfull qualities OF the shell fish kind are the Dactyli so called of the likenesse of mens nailes which they resemble The nature of this fish is to shine by themselues in the darke night when all other light is taken away The more moisture they haue within them the more light they giue insomuch as they shine in mens mouths as they 〈◊〉 chawing of them they shine in their hands vpon the floore on their garments if any drops 〈◊〉 their fattie liquor chance to fall by so as it appeareth that doubtlesse it is the very iuice humor of the fish which is of that nature which we do so wonder at in the whole body CHAP. LXII ¶ Of the enmitie and amitie which is between fishes and other water beasts SVch concord there is in some and such discord in others as is
impeached But some men there be which haue their tongues so at commandement and so artificially they can handle it and their throat together that they are able to counterfeit the singing of all birds and the voice of any other creature that one cannot know and discerne them asunder As touching Taste which is the judgement of meats and drinks to wit What smack and tallage they haue all other liuing creatures find it at the tip of their tongue only but man tasteth as wel with the pallat or roofe of his mouth The spungeous kernels which in men be called Tonsillae or the Almands are in swine named the Glandules That which betweene them hangeth downe from the inmost part and roofe of the mouth by the name of the Vvula is to be found in man onely Vnder it there is a little tongue which the Greekes call Epiglossis at the root of the other and the same is not to be found in any creature that laieth egs A twofold vse it hath lying as it doth between the two pipes Whereof that which beareth more outward and is called The rough Arterie or the Windpipe reacheth vnto the lungs and heart And as a man doth eat and swallow downe his meat this foresaid little flap doth couer it for feare lest as the spirit breath and voice passeth that way the meat or drink if it should go wrong to the other conduit or passage might indanger a man and put him to great trouble The other is more inward called properly the Gullet or the Wezand by which we swallow down both meat and drink and it goeth to the stomacke first and so to the belly This also the said flap doth couer by turns to wit as a man doth either speake or draw his breath lest that which is already passed into the stomacke should come vp againe or be cast vp vnseasonably and thereby impeach a man in his speech the Windpipe consisteth of a gristly and fleshie tunicle the Wezand of a membranous or sinewie substance and flesh together There is no creature hauing a necke indeed but it hath also both these pipes Wel may they haue a gorge or throat in whom there is found but the gullet only but nape of neck behind they can haue none As for those vpon whom Nature hath bestowed a neck they may with ease turn their head about too and fro euery way to looke about them because it is composed of many spondyles or turning round bones tied and fastened one vnto another by ioints and knots The Lion only together with the Wolfe and the Hyaena haue this necke bone of one entire and straight peece and therefore stiffe that it cannot turne Otherwise it is annexed to the chine and the chine to the loines This Chine likewise is a bony substance but made round and long and fistulous within to giue passage to the marrow of the backe which descendeth from the brain Learned men are of opinion That this marrow is of the same nature that the braine is and they ground vpon this experience That if the thin and tender skin that incloseth it be cut through a man cannot possibly liue but dieth immediatly All creatures that be long legged haue likewise in proportion as long necks So haue also water-fouls although their legs be but short But contrariwise yee shall not see any birds with long necks that haue hooked tallons Men onely and Swine are troubled with the swelling bunch in their throats which many times is occasioned by corrupt water that they drinke The vpper part or top of the Wezand is called the Gorge or the gullet the nether part or the extremitie thereof is the Stomacke There is another fleshie concauitie of this name vnder the windpipe annexed to the chine-bone long it is and wide made in fashion of a bottle flagon or rather a gourd Those that haue no gullet are also without a stomack a necke and a wezand as fishes for their mouths and bellies meet The sea Tortoise hath neither tongue nor teeth with the edge of his muffle so sharpe it is he is able well enough to chew all his victuals Vnder the Arterie or wind-pipe is the mouth of the stomacke of a callous or gristly substance thicke toothed with prickles in manner or a bramble for the better dispatching of the meat and these notches or plaits grow smaller and smaller as they approch neerer to the belly so as the vtmost roughnesse thereof in the end is like vnto a Smiths file Now are we come to the Heart which in all other liuing creatures is scituate in the very midst of the brest in man only it lies beneath the left pap made in maner of a peare with the pointed and smaller end beareth out forward Fishes alone haue it lying with the point vpward to the mouth It is generally receiued and held that it is the first principall part which is formed in the mothers wombe next vnto it the braine and the eies last of all And as these be the first that die so the Heart is last In it no doubt is the most plenty of heat which is the cause of life Surely it euer moueth and panteth like as it were another liuing creature by it selfe couered it is within-forth with a very soft yet a strong tunicle that enwrappeth it defended it is besides with a strong mure of ribs and the brest bone together as being it selfe the principall â—…tresse and castle which giues life to all the rest It contains within it certaine ventricles and hollow reâ—…s as the chiefe lodgings of the life and bloud which is the treasure of life These in greater beasts are 3 in number none there is without two This is the very seat of the mind and soule From this fountain there do issue 2 great vessels master-veins or arteries which are diuided into branches being spred as wel to the fore-part as the back parts of the body into smaller veins dominister vitall bloud to all the members of the body This is the only principall part of the body that cannot abide to be sick or languish with any infirmity this lingereth not in continuall pain no sooner is it offended but death insueth presently When all other parts are corrupt and dead the Heart alone continueth aliue All liuing creatures that haue an hard 〈◊〉 heâ—…t are supposed to be brutish those that haue small Hearts be taken for hardy and valiant 〈◊〉 â—…riwise they are reputed for timorous and fearfull which haue great Hearts And the biggest Heart in proportion of the body haue Mice Hares Asses Deere Panthers Weasels Hyâ—…es in one word all creatures either by nature fearefull or vpon feare hurtful In Paphlagonia Partridges haue two Hearts In the Hearts of Horses Kine Buls and Oxen are otherâ—…hiles bones found The Heart in a man groweth yerely two drams in weight vntill it be 50 yeares of age and from that time forward it decreaseth from yere to
that of their beards if the haire be cut it grows not again at the cut end but springs from the root It growes apace in some sicknesses and most of all in the consumption of the lungs and in old age yea and vpon the bodies of the dead In lecherous persons the haire of their head browes and eie-lids with which they came into the world doe fall more early than in others but those that spring afterward grow sooner again if they be cut and shauen The wooll and haire that foure footed beasts do beare is more course and thick by age but it comes not in such plenty as before And such haue alwaies their backe well couered with haire and wooll but their bellies bare Of Kine and Ox hides sodden there is made glew but the Bulls hide hath no fellow for that purpose Man only of all males hath euident paps in his breasts other creatures haue little nipples only in shew of teats Neither hath all females teats in their brests but only such as are able to suckle their yong none that lay egs haue paps nor any haue milk vnles they bring forth their yong liuing and yet of all fowles I must except the Bat alone As for the ilfauored Scritchowles called Stryges I think they be but tales that go of them namely That they will giue milk out of their brests to yong infants True it is all men agree in this That the manner was in old time to vse in cursing and execration the terme of Strix but what bird it should be I suppose no man as yet knoweth CHAP. XL. ¶ Notable obseruations in liuing Creatures as touching their paps SHee Asses are much pained with the ache of their vdders when they haue foled and therefore after six moneths they will not giue them any more sucke whereas mares doe suckle their colts a whole yeare almost Those beasts which be whole hoofed and haue not aboue two yong at once haue all of them two paps and no more and those in no other place else but between their hinder legs Such as be clouen footed and horned likewise haue them in that place but Kine haue foure teats Ewes Goats but two apiece Such beasts as be very fruitful and bring many yong and likewise whose feet are parted into toes these haue many nipples or teat heads all along their belly disposed and set in a double course as namely Sowes of which those of the better sort haue 12 the common sort but tenne Also Bitches after the same maner Some beasts haue 4 teats in the mids of their belly as Panthers some twain and no more as the Lionesse The Elephant alone hath twaine vnder his shoulders or legs before and those not euident in the breast part but short thereof and lying hidden as it were within the arm-pits And generally none that haue their feet diuided into toes haue vdders behinde vnder their hin legs A Sow at euery farrow giues the formost nipples to those pigs that come first and so in order as they be farrowed and those teats be they that are next to her throat and highest Euery pig knowes the own pap and will take it and no other when it comes first into the world and thereof it is nourished If a pig be taken from the sow the milk of that pap wil dry vp presently or returne backe and the pap it selfe fall flat to the belly Also if it chance that but one sucking pig be left that pap alone wil do the part and let down milke which Nature first appointed for that one pig She Beares haue foure paps apiece Dolphins haue no more but two teats and nipples in the bottom of their belly and those not very apparant to the eye nor streit and direct but lying somwhat aside and byas and no beast besides giueth sucke as it runneth but she To conclude Whales Wirlepooles and Seales nourish their yong with their vdder and teats CHAP. XLI ¶ Of Milke and of what milke Cheese cannot be made THe milk that comes from a woman before she hath gon 7 months with child is not good but from that time forward it is wholsome because the infant may liue and do well after that terme Many are so frim and free of milke that all their breasts are strut and full thereof euen as far as to their arm-holes Camels giue milke vntill they be great with yong again and their milke is thought to be most sweet and pleasant in tast if to one measure thereof you put three of water A Cow hath no milke ordinarily before she hath calued The first milke that she giueth downe is called Beestins which vnlesse it be delayed with some water will soon turn to be as hard as a pumish stone She Asses are not so soon with yong but they haue milke in their vdders but if they go in good and battle pasture it is not good their yong foles should suck their milke in two daies after for the very tast thereof is enough to kil them and this disease that comes of Beestins is called Colostratio The milk that those giue which haue teeth in both chawes is not good to make cheese of because it will not cruddle Camels milke of all others is thinnest and Mares milke next to it Asses milk is holden for to be thickest and therefore they vse it in stead of renning to turn milke and gather curds thereof It is thought also to be very good for to make womens skin faire and white Certes the Empresse Poppaea wife to Domitius Nero had alwaies wheresoeuer she went 500 she Asses milch in her train and in their milke she bathed and washed her whole body as in an ordinary bain supposing that thereby her skin was not only whiter but also more neat smooth and void of riuels All sorts of milke will thicken with fire and turne into whey with cold Cowes milke maketh more cheese than Goats milk by twice as much almost although you take no more of the one than the other The milke of those that haue aboue foure paps is naught for cheese but theirs is better that haue but twain The rennet of an hind-calfe or Leveret and a Kid is much commended But especially of a Leveret or Rabbet which also is medicinable for the flux of the belly a thing to be obserued in them alone of all creatures that are toothed in both chawes A wonder it is that barbarous nations liuing of milke haue for so many hundred yeares either not knowne or else not regarded the benefit of cheese and yet they vsed to thicken their milk into a kind of pleasant soure curd in manner of a Sellibub and to charn butter thereof which is the skum and cream of milke much thicker than that which is called whey To conclude I may not let passe That Butter hath the vertue and properties of oile insomuch as forrein and barbarous nations do anoint their children therewith as we also do ours CHAP. XLII ¶ Cheeses of
countrey neare vnto the Troglodites who by mutuall marriages are linked together in great affinity And in very truth the Aethiopians buy vp all the Cinamon they can of their neighbours and transport it into other strange countries ouer the vast Ocean in smal punts or boats neither ruled with helme and rudder nor directed to and fro with ores ne yet caried with sailes or any such meanes of navigation one man alone shall see you there in a boat armed and furnished with boldnesse only in stead of all to hasard himself and his goods in the surging sea These fellowes of all times of the yeare take the dead of the winter and then to chuse they will venter to crosse the seas for their voyage when the Southeast winds are aloft blow lustily These winds set them forward in a streight and direct course thorough the gulfes and after they haue doubled the point of Argeste and coasted along bring them into the famous port or hauen-towne of the Gebanites called Ocila And albeit this voiage be long dangerous for the merchants hardly can return in fiue yeres and many of them miscarie by the way yet by report they are nothing dismaied and daunted therwith but willingly aduenture still And being at Ocila what thinke you doe they exchange for and wherewith fraight they their vessels back againe homeward euen with glasses vessels of copper and brasse fine cloth buckles claspes and pincers bracelets and carcanets with pendant jewels so as a man would verily thinke that this trafficke were maintained and the voiages enterprised vnder the credit for the pleasure of womankind especially Now as touching the plant that bears Cinamon the tallest is not aboue 2 cubis high aboue ground nor the lowest vnder one hand-breadth or 4 inches in compasse about 4 fingers thicke immediatly from the earth it putteth forth twigs and is full of branches of six fingers length but it looketh as if it were drie and withered whiles it is greene it yeelds no smell at all and the leaf resembleth Origan it loues drought for in rainie weather it is lesse fruitfull and yet it is of this nature To be cut as a coppis It will grow verily in plaines but gladly it would lodge among the thickest rough of bushes greeues briers that are to be found so as men haue much adoe to come by it and to gather it but neuer is cut or cropped without especiall permission of a certtaine god which they take to be Iupiter and this patron of the Cinamon tree they call Assabinus To obtaine leaue and license so to do they are glad to sacrifice the inwards of 44 Kine or Oxen Goats also and Rams and when they haue all done yet permitted they be not to go about this businesse either before the Sun rising or after his setting Now when these twigs and branches be cut the Sacrificer or Priest diuides and parts them with a jauelin and sets by one portion for the god abouesaid the rest doth the merchant put vp and bestow in paniers for the purpose This manner of diuision is otherwise reported namely That the whole heap is cast into three parts whereof the sunne hath one for his share but they draw lots first for euery one of these trees seueral bundles or parcels of Cinnamon sticks and that which falleth to the Sun is let alone and left behind but of the own accord it catcheth a light fire and burneth The best Cinamon is thought to be that which growes about the slenderest sticks for the length of an hand bredth from the vpper end The second sort in goodnesse is that which is next it and somwhat lower but it beareth not full so much as an hand bredth and so consequently in order by degrees downward for the worst and of least price is that which is neerest the root because there is least barke the chiefe thing required in Cinamon which is the cause that the twigs in the tree top are preferred before the rest for that in them there is most barke As for the very wood it selfe which is called Xylocinamonum there is no reckoning made of it because of the acrimonie and sharpenesse that it hath resembling Origan A pound thereof is worth 20 deniers Of Cinamon there be according to some two kinds to wit the whiter and the blacker In times past the white was in more request but now adaies the black is most set by yea and that of diuers colours is better esteemed than the white But the truest marke indeed to chuse the best is to see that it be not tough and that it crumble not quickely if one piece be rubbed against another That which is tender and hath besides a white bark is not regarded at all but condemned for the worst Moreouer this is to be noted that the King onely of the Gebanites setteth the price and sale of Cinamon he it is that selleth it in open market according as it is by him taxed In old time a pound of it was sould for 1000 deniers and this price afterward rose higher by one halfe by reason that the forrests of Cinamon were as men say burnt by the barbarous Troglodites their neighbors in their furious wrath Now why it should be so deare no man certainly knows whether it were through the great rich merchants who ingrossed all into their hands by way of monopoly or by some other casualtie and chance of fire aforesaid But true it is and well knowne by that we find in diuers writers That there be such hot Southerne windes blowing in those parts that in Summer many times they set the woods on fire Vespasian Augustus the Emperor was the first that dedicated in the Temples of the Capitoll and goddesse Peace garlands and chaplets of Cinamon enclosed within fine polished gold In that temple which the Empresse Augusta caused to be built in the palace vpon Mount Palatine for the honor of Augustus Caesar late Emperor her husband I haue my self seen a Cinamon root of great weight set in a cup of gold which yearely did put forth certain drops which congealed into hard grains That monument remained there to be seen vntill the Temple and all was consumed by fire As concerning Casia or Canell a plant it is which groweth neer to the plains from whence the Cinamon comes but it loueth to liue vpon mountaines and beareth a bigger and rounder wood in the branches than the Cinamon and hath a thin rinde or skin more truly than a bark the slenderer that the same is and lighter the more reckoning is made of it clean contrary to the Cinamon This shrub that beareth Casia groweth to the height of 3 cubits and 3 colours it carieth for when it comes vp first for a foot from the root it is white then as it shooteth halfe a foot higher it waxeth red but as it riseth farther it is blackish and this part is held for the best and so the next to it in a degree
all other the thinnest hauing but one kernel within which they call Gigarton and the same very small and a man shall not find a bunch without one or two passing great grapes aboue the rest there is also a kind of black Aminean grape which some name Syriaca likewise the grape of Spain which of the base and common kinds carries the greatest credit and is most commended As touching both vines and grapes that run and traile vpon frames there be those which are called Escariae good only for to eat and namely those which haue grains or stones like to Ivie berries as well white as black Grapes resembling great dugs named therupon Bumasti both black and white are carried vpon frames in like sort But al this while we haue not spoken of the Aegyptian and Rhodian grapes ne yet of the Ounce-grapes whereof euery one weighes a good ounce and thereupon tooke that name Item the grape Pucina the blackest of all others the Stephanitis also wherein Nature hath seemed to disport her selfe for the leaues run among the grapes in manner of a garland plaited with them Moreouer the market-grapes called Forenses they grow and are ripe with the soonest vendible at the very first sight and sold with the best and most easie to be carried from market to market But contrariwise the ash-coloured grape Cinerea the silk-russet grape Ravuscula the asse-hued grape Asinisca please not the eie but are presently reiected and yet the Fox-tailed grape Alopecis for that it resembles Rainards taile is not so displeasant nor so much discommended as the former About a cape or crest of the hill Ida which they call Phalacra there is a vine named Alexandrina smal of growth and puts forth branches of a cubit in length the grapes be black as big as beans the pepin or kernell within soft tender and exceeding small the bunches are crooked full of grapes passing sweet and finally the leaues little round and not cut or iagged at all Within these seuen yeres last past about Alba Eluia a city in Languedock or the prouince of Narbon there was found a vine which in one day both floured and shed her floures by which meanes most secured it was from all dangers of the weather They call it Narbonica or the vine of Languedock and now it is commonly planted all that prouince ouer and euery man desireth to store his vineyard therewith CHAP. IIII. ¶ Notable considerations about the husbandrie and ordering of Vineyards THat noble and worthy Cato the first of that name renowned among other dignities for his honorable triumph and the incorrupt administration of his Censorship and yet more famous and renowned to posterity for his singular knowledge and learning and namely for the good precepts and ordinances tending to all vertues and commendable parts which he left in memory for the people of Rome principally touching agriculture as he was by the common voice and generall accord of that age wherein he liued reputed for an excellent husbandman and one who in that profession had neither peere nor second that came neere vnto him This Cato I say hath in his workes made mention but of a few kinds of vines and yet some of them already be growne out of knowledge so as their verie names are quite forgotten Yet neuerthelesse his opinion and judgement would be set downe in particular as it may be gathered out of his whole treatise to the end that we might both know in euery kind of vine which were of most account in his daies to wit in the 600 yere after the foundation of Rome about the time that Carthage and Corinth were forced and woon when he departed this life and also learn how much we haue profited and proceeded in good husbandry and agriculture from his death vnto this present day namely for the space of 230 yeares As concerning vines and grapes therefore thus much hath Cato deliuered in writing and in this manner following All places or grounds quoth he exposed to the Sun-shine and which in other regards shall be found good for to plant vineyards in see they bee employed for the lesse Aminean for both the Eugenian Vines and the smaller Heluine Item In euery tract that is more grosse thicke and mistie looke that you set the greater Aminean or the Murgentine the Apician also and the Lucane Vine All other vines and the common mingled sort especially will agree well enough with any ground The right keeping of grapes is in a small thinne wine of the second running The grapes Duracinae and the greater Amineans are good to be hanged or else dried before a blacke-smithes forge and so they may be well preserued and goe for Raisins of the Sun Loe what the precepts of Cato be neither are there any of this argument more antient left vnto vs written in the Latine tongue Whereby we may see that we liue not long after the very first rudiments and beginnings of knowledge in these matters But by the way the Amineans last named Varro calleth Scantians And in very truth few there be euen in this our age who haue left any rules in forme of Art as touching the absolute skill in this behalfe Yet such as they be and how few soeuer we must not leaue them behinde but so much the rather take them with vs to the end it may be knowne what reward profit they met with who trauelled in this point of husbandry reward I say and profit which in euery thing is all in all To begin therefore with Acilius Sihenelus or Stelenus a mean commoner of Rome descended from the race of Libertines or Slaues newly infranchised he attained to the highest glory and greatest name of all others for hauing in the whole world not aboue 60 acres of land lâ—…ing all in vineyards within the territory of Nomentum he plaied the good husband so well therâ—…n that he sold them again at the price of 400000 Sesterces There went a great bruit and fame likewise of one Verulenus Aegialus in his time a man but of base condition by birth and no better than the former namely come of the stocke of freed-men who by his labor husbandry greatly inriched a domain or liuing at Liternum in Campaine and the more renowned he was by occasion of the fauour of so many men affectionate vnto Africanus whose very place of exile he held in his hands and occupied so well for vnto Scipio the aboue said Liternum appertained But the greatest voice and speech of men was of Rhemnius Palaemon who otherwise by profession was a famous and renowned Grammarian for that he by the means and helpe of the foresaid Sthenelus bought a ferme within these twenty yeares for 600000 Sesterces in the same territorie of Nomentum about ten miles distant from Rome lying somewhat out of the high way Now is it well knowne farre and neare of what price and account all such fermes are and how cheape such ware is lying so neere to the
Pine-apples or nuts which cleaue and open vpon the tree bee called Zamiae and well may they be so named for vnlesse they be plucked they hurt and corrupt the rest The only trees that bear no fruit at all that is to say not so much as seed are these the Tamariske good for nothing but to make Beesoms of the Poplar Alder Atinian Elme and the Alaternus which hath leaues resembling the Holme and partly the Oliue As for such trees which neither at any tâ—…me are set or planted nor yet beare fruit they bee holden for vnfortunate accursed and condemned in such sort as there is no vse of them in any sacrifice or religious seruice Cremutius writeth That the Almond tree whereon ladie Phyllis hanged her selfe had neuer after greene leaues on it Such trees as yeeld gum after they haue put forth their bud do cleaue and open howbeit the gum that issueth out neuer commeth to any thicknesse vntill the fruit thereof be gathered Yong trees commonly beare not so long as they shoot and grow The Date tree the fig tree the Almond tree the Apple tree and the Pyrrie do soonest of all other let their fruit fall before it be fully ripe Semblably the Pomegranat tree which is so tender besides that with euery thicke and heauie dew white frost and foggie time she wil be bitten shed the blossom which is the cause that folk vse to bend the boughs thereof downeward to the ground that both dew and time may sooner fall off which lights vpon them and otherwise would ouer-load and hurt them The Pyrrie and the Almond tree cannot abide close and cloudie weather especially if the wind be Southerly although no raine do fall for in such daies if they chance to blossom they not only shed their flowre but lose their fruit new knit But the Sallow or Withie tree is of all others most ticklish and soonest forgoes the seed or chats that it beareth before it commeth to any ripenes for which cause called it is of Homer Loose-fruit or Spill-fruit Howbeit the age ensuing naught as it was hath interpreted that Epithet of his in another sense according to the wicked experience they had of it whereby it was found that the seed therof causeth barrainesse in women and hindreth conception But in this regard Nature hath well done also to preuent this mischiefe and inconuenience in that she hath not been very carefull to preserue the seed and yet for the maintenance of the whole kind she hath endued it with this gift To grow very quickly if a man do pricke into the ground but a cutting or twig thereof And yet by report there is one Willow in Candie and namely about the very descent of Iupiters caue which is wont ordinarily to carie the graine or seed thereof vntill it be full ripe and then is it of a rough and writhen shape of a wooden and hard substance and withall of the bignesse of a cich pease Moreouer some trees there be that proue barraine and fruitlesse by the occasion of the imperfection of the soile and territorie where they grow and namely in the Isle Paros there is a whole wood or coppise that vsually is lopt and cut but it neuer beareth any fruit The Peach trees in the Island Rhodos blossome only and otherwise are fruitlesse Ouer and besides this difference of trees that some be fruitfull and others barraine ariseth of the sexe also for commonly the males beare not howsoeuer some affirme cleane contrary and say They are the male only that be fruitfull and the female barren Furthermore it falleth out many times that trees be fruitlesse either because they grow too thick one by another or else are ouercharged and too ranke with boughes and branches but of such as do beare some bring forth their fruit both at the sides and also at the very tips and ends of their branches as the Peare tree Pomegranate tree Figge tree and Myrtle As for others they are of the nature of corne and pulse for the one grows in the eare or spike alone the other by the sides not otherwise The Date tree onely as hath been said before containeth fruit within certain pellicles and the same hangeth down in clusters after the manner of grapes Other trees beare their fruit vnder the leafe for their safeguard and defence except the Fig tree which hath her Figs aboue the leaf because it is so large and ouershadowie Moreouer the leafe of the fig tree commeth forth after the Figge One notable thing is reported of a kind of figge-trees in Cilicia Cyprus and Hellas to wit that they haue this propertie singular by themselues To bring forth their perfect Figs vnder leafe and their greene abortiue Figs that come to no proofe after the leafe The Fig tree beareth moreouer certain hastie Figs which the Athenians call Prodromos i. vant-courriers or forerunners because they be long ripe before others The Laconian Figge trees bring the fairest and greatest Figs. CHAP. XXVII ¶ Of trees that be are twice and thrice in one yeare Also what trees soonest wax old and of their ages IN the same countries aboue-named there be Figge trees also that beare Figges twice in one yeare And in the Island Cea the wild Figge trees beare thrice in the same yeare for the second increase is put forth on the first and the third vpon the second and by this third fruit the Figges of the tame Figge tree receiue their maturitie by way of caprification and those wild greene Figges of theirs come forth aboue the leafe Moreouer there be some Pyrries and Apple trees that bring forth fruit twice a yeare as also there be others of the hastie kind which do beare both Peares and Apples betimes in the yeare There is a kinde of Crab tree â—…lso or Wilding that in like manner beareth twice a yeare and the later fruit is ripe presently after the midst of September especially in places lying well vpon the Sun As touching Vines there be of them also that after a sort beare three times in the yeare which thereupon men call Insanas i. The mad or foolish vines for whiles some of the grapes be ripe others begin to swel and wax big and a third sort againe are but then in the flower M. Varro writeth That in Smyrna by the sea side there was a vine that bare fruit twice a yeare as also an Apple tree in the territorie of Consentia But this is an ordinary thing throughout all the countrey about Tacapa in Africa and neuer is it seen otherwise there so fertile is the soile but thereof will wee write more at large hereafter in another place As for the Cypresse trees they faile not but come with fruit thrice in one yeare and their berries be gathered in Ianuarie May and September and all of a diuers bignesse one from the other Ouer and besides the very trees themselues are not laden with fruit after one and the same manner for the Arbut
the same which at first was Helix and clasped trees in tract of time changed the leafe and became a very Iuie tree but fouly they are deceiued and disproued plainly they may be by this That of the said clasping Iuie Helix there be many kinds and three principall aboue the rest The first of grasse greene colour which groweth most common the second with a white leafe and the third called also the Thracian Iuie which hath leaues of diuers colours The foresaid greene Iuie is fuller of leaues and those finer and set in better order than in others whereas the contrary is to be seen in the white kind also in the third sort with variety of colours some haue smaller and thinner leaues couched likewise in good order and thicker growing whereas in the middle kind no such thing may be obserued Ouer and besides the leaues of Iuie are bigger or lesse spotted also and marked in which regard one differeth from another Among the white Iuies some be whiter than other The green Iuie groweth most of all others in length the white killeth trees for by sucking and soking al the sap and moisture out of them it feedeth and thriueth so wel it selfe that it becommeth in the end as big as a tree A man may know an Iuie being come to his perfection by these signes the leaues are very big and large withal the tree putteth forth yong shoots straight whereas in others they be crooked and bend inward the berries also stand in their clusters directly vpright Moreouer whereas the branches of all other Iuies be made like vnto roots this hath boughes strong and sturdy aboue the rest and next vnto it the black kind howbeit this property hath the white Iuie by it self that amid the leaues it putteth forth armes that clasp and embrace the tree round on euery side which it doth vpon walls likewise although it cannot so well compasse them And hereupon it is that although it be cut asunder in many places yet it continueth and liueth stil and looke how many such arms it hath so many heads likewise of roots are to be seen whereby it maintaineth it selfe safe and sound and is besides of that force as to suck and choke the trees that it claspeth Furthermore there is great diuersity in the fruit as well of the white as the black Iuie As for the rest the berries of them are so exceeding bitter as no bird wil touch them And yet there is one kind more of Iuy which is very stiffe and standeth alone of it selfe without any prop to beare it vp and this of all others only is therupon called Cissos or Iuie indeed Contrariwise Chamaecissos i. ground Iuie is neuer knowne but to creep along the ground CHAP. XXXV ¶ Of the Bind-weed or Iuie called Smilax LIke vnto Iuie is that plant which they call Smilax or rough Bind-weed It came first out of Cilicia howbeit more commonly it is to be seen in Greece it putteth forth stalks set thicke with ioints or knots and those thrust out many thornie branches The leafe resembleth Iuie and the same is small and nothing cornered from a little stele that it hath it sendeth forth certain pretty tendrils to clasp and wind about the floure is white and smelleth like to a Lilly it beareth clusters comming nearer to those grapes of the wild vine Labrusca than to the berries of Iuie red of color wherof the bigger contain within them 3 kernels or pepins apiece the smaller but one and those be hard and black withall This Smilax is not vsed in any sacrifices or diuine seruice of the gods nor serueth for garlands and chaplets for that it is held to be dolefull and ominous or of an vnlucky presage by occasion of a certain yong lady or Damosell of that name who for the loue of the young gallant and knight Crocus was turned into this shrub or plant retaining still her name which the ignorant people not knowing but taking it for a kind of Iuie stick not to make coronets therof profaning by that means many times their high feasts and sacred solemnities and yet who woteth not with what chaplets Poets are crowned and what garlands prince Bacchus or Silenus vsed to weare Of this Smilax are made certain manuell writing tables And this property moreouer hath the wood thereof That if a man hold it close to his eare he shall heare it to giue a pretty sound But to return againe to the Iuie indeed it hath by report a strange and wonderful vertue to trie wines whether they be delaied with water or no for make a cup of Iuie wood and put wine thereinto all the wine will soke and run through but the water if any be mingled therewith will tarry behind CHAP. XXXVI ¶ Of Reeds Canes and other water shrubs IN this discourse touching plants that loue cold places it wil not be amisse to treat of those that grow in waters Among which the Reeds and Canes may be raunged in the first place for necessarie they be in time both of war and peace they haue their vse besides and are accepted among the delightsom pleasures of this world Moreouer in the Northern regions the people vse therewith to couer and thatch their houses and this kind of roofe will last many ages if it be laid with a thick coat euen vpon high and stately houses In other parts also of the world they are woont with it to make their arch-roufes and hanging floores of most sleight worke As for Canes particularly and those of Aegypt by name which haue a certaine resemblance of the Papyr-reed in Nilus they serue for writing Paper Howbeit those of Gnidos and which grow in Asia along the lake or meere of Anaia be held for the best As for ours heere in Italy they are of a more spungeous substance and gristly matter apt to sucke and drinke vp any liquour The same within-forth is full of holes and concauities but conuerted aloft into a fine wooddy rind and in time becommeth drie fast and hard Apt it is to cleaue and the clifts euermore carry with them a very sharp edge and besides it is full of ioints Now this woodie substance being thus distinctly parted by knots runneth alwaies euen and smooth growing smaller and smaller vntill it proue sharpe pointed in the top with a head consisting of a good thicke downe or plume which serueth also to right good purposes for either in stead of feathers they vse to stuffe beds therewith in common Innes or when it is growne hard and hath a slimie callositie about it they in Picardie and those Nether-lands do stampe it and therewith calfret or calke the ioints of their ships betweene the ribs and plankes and herein it hath no fellow for it taketh faster hold than any glue and for filling vp any rifts and chinks no solder so strong no pitch so sure and trustie Of Reeds the Easterlings make their shafts and archers they be that fight their battels and
this reason men doe alleadge because it soonest turnes and dulles the axe edge Of a hote nature also are the Mulberrie tree the Lawrell and the Yvie and in one word all those that serue to strike fire with This experiment was first found out by spies that goe between camp and camp by sheepheards also in the field for hauing not flint euermore readie at hand to smite and kindle fire withall they make shift for to rub and grate one wood against another and by this attrition there fly out sparkles which lighting vpon some tinder made either of drie rotten touchwood or of bunts and withered leaues very quickly catch fire and burne not out And for this intent there is nothing better than to strike the Yviewood with the Bay In this case also the wilde Vine I mean not Labrusca is much commended and it climbeth and runneth vpon trees in manner of Yuie The trees that grow in waterie grounds be coldest of all others but such be toughest and therefore best to make bucklers targuets the wood whereof if it be cut comes quickly together and closes vp the gash againe and in that regard much adoe there is to pierce it thorough with any weapon whatsoeuer And of this sort are Fig trees Willowes Lindens Bitch Elder Ash and Poplar Of all these the Fig tree and the Willow be lightest and therefore fittest for that purpose These trees last rehearsed be good for caskets and fossers wicker baskets also and prettie paniers which be made of winding twigs Their wood besides is faire white streight also and easie to be grauen The plane wood is soft and gentle but moist withall and so is the Alder. Eleme likewise Ash Mulberry and Cherry-tree wood is pliable but drier and more ponderous The Elme of all kinds of wood will keep streight and stiffe best and not warp at all because it twines and casts not it is passing good for hinges and hooks for sawne bords for ledges in dores and gates so as this regard be had of exchange that the vpper end of the bord that grew toward the head of the tree be fitted to the nether hinge or hooke of the dore and contrariwise the butt end serue the higher The Date tree and the Corke haue a soft and tender wood The Apple tree Peare tree and Maple haue as sad and massie but brittle it is like as all wood that goeth with a crosse and frisled grain And look what tree soeuer is naturally hard and tough the wild and the male of the same kind haue their wood more churlish than otherwise it is in the rest Semblably those that beare no fruit are of a faster and firmer wood than the fruitful vnlesse it be that that the males be bearers and the female barren of which sort are the Cypresse and Cornell trees The wood of Cypresse Cedar Ebene Lotus Box Yewgh Iuniper and the Oliue both sauage and gentle is neuer worme-eaten ne yet rotteth for age As for all other trees long it is before these decay to wit the Larch the Oke the Corke tree Chestnut and Walnut tree The Cedar Cypresse and Oliue wood neuer doth chinke or cleaue of it self vnlesse it be by some accident It is commonly thought that the Box the Ebene the Cypresse and the Cedar wood is euerlasting and will neuer be done An euident proofe thereof as touching all these sorts of timber by the judgment and choise of so many men was to be seene in that famous temple of Diana in Ephesus for al Asia set to their helping hand and contributed toward that work which in foure hundred yeres and not before they brought to an end finished The beames rafters and spars that went to the making of the roufe were by the generall voice of the whole world of Cedar timber As touching the statue or image it selfe of the goddesse Diana it is not certainly known of what wood it was all writers saue only Mutianus report that it was of Ebene As for him a man who had been thrice Consull of Rome and one of the last who vpon their owne sight of the said thing wrate therof auoucheth that it was made of Vine wood and that howsoeuer the temple was ruined and rebuilt againe no lesse than seuen times yet the foresaid image was neuer altered nor changed Who saith moreouer that Canetias chose that wood for the best for so he named the workman that cut and carued it And I much maruel therat considering that by his saying this image was of greater antiquity than that of lady Minerua much more than of prince Bacchus He addes moreouer and saith that this statue was embauâ—…ed within by reason of the precious oile of Spiknard which was distilled into it at many holes by means of which medicinable liquor the wood was nourished and the joints held close and fast together whereat I canot chuse but maruell again very much that considering the statue was so small it should haue any peece or joint at all Now as touching the leaues of the dores belonging to this temple they were by his report of Cypresse wood and continued still fresh and new to the eye notwithstanding it is foure hundred yeares well neare since they were made Where by the way this is to be noted that these dores stood foure yeres glewed in the claue And verily this wood was chosen for that purpose because among other properties the Cypresse alone hath the gift to looke alwaies shining and polished and neuer loseth the glosse and beauty And for to proue this we need not to goe farre Looke but vpon the emage of Vejouis in the Capitol made of Cypresse wood doth it not endure still faire and trim and yet was it dedicated and consecrated in that temple in the yeare after the foundation of Rome 551. A famous and memorable temple there is of Apollo at Vtica where the beames and maine peeces of timber made of Numidian Cedars remaine as whole and entire as at the first day when they were set vp which was when the citie was first founded by which computation they haue continued alreadie 1188 yeares Moreouer it is said that at Saguntum a citie of Spaine there is a temple of Diana still standing a little beneath the citie and yet as king Borchus mine Author saith 200 yeares before the ruine and destruction of Troy the same men that brought the image of the said Diana from the Island Zacynthus founded the temple aboue said For the antiquity and religion whereof Anniball made some conscience to demolish it and would not once touch it and therein are to be seen at this day the beames and rafters of Iuniper sound and good But aboue all other memorable is the temple of the said goddesse Diana in Aulis which was built many hundred yeres before the Trojane war but what kind of timber was emploied about the Carpentrie thereof is not well knowne Howbeit this we may boldly resolue vpon that the more
blossome and fruit This is a generall thing obserued That al trees will thriue and prosper better yea and grow sooner to perfection if the shoots and suckers that put out at the root as also other water twigs be rid away so that al the nourishment may be turned to the principall stocke only The work of Nature in sending out these sprigs taught vs the feat to couch and lay sets in the ground by way of propagation and euen after the same manner briers and brambles doe of themselues put forth a new off-spring for growing as they do smal and slender and withal running vp to be very tall they cannot chuse but bend and lean to the ground where they lay their heads againe and take fresh root of their owne accord without mans hands and no doubt ouergrow they would and couer the whole face of the earth were they not repressed and withstood by good husbandrie The consideration whereof maketh me to enter into this conceit That men were made by Nature for no other end but to tend and look vnto the earth See yet what a commodious deuice we haue learned by so wicked and detestable a thing as this bramble is namely to lay slips in the ground and quick-sets with the root Of the same nature is the Yuie also euen to grow and get new root as it creepeth and climbeth And by Catoes saying not onely the Vine but Fig trees Oliues also wil grow increase of cuttings couched in the ground likewise Pomegranate trees all kinds of Apple-trees Baies Plum-trees Myrtles Filberds Hazels of Praeneste yea Plane-trees Now be there two waies to increase trees by way of propagation or enterring their twigs The first is to force a branch of a tree as it grows downe to the ground so to couch it within a trench foure foot square euery way after two yeares to cut it atow where it bent from the tree and after three yeares end to transplant it But if a man list to haue such plants or young trees to beare longer the best way were to burie the said branches at the first within would either in paniers or earthen vessels that when they are once rooted they might be remoued all whole and entire in them and so replanted The second is a more curious and wanton deuise than this namely to procure roots to grow on the very tree by carrying and conveighing branches either through earthen pots or oisier baskets full of earth thrust close to the said branches and by this means the branches feeling comfort of the warme earth enclosing them on euery side are easily intreated to take root euen among Apples and other fruits in the head of the tree for surely by this meanes we desire to haue roots to chuse growing vpon the very top So audacious are men and of such monstrous spirits to make one tree grow vpon another far from the ground beneath Thus in like manner as before at 2 yeares end the said impes or branches that haue taken root be cut off and carried away in the foresaid pots or paniers thither where they shall grow As for the Sauine an hearb or plant it is that wil take if it bee in this sort couched in the ground also a sprig if it be slipped off cleane from the stocke will come again and root Folke say that if a man take wine lees or an old bricke out of the wal broken small and either pour the one or lay the other about the root it wil prosper and come forward wonderfully In like manner may Rosemarie be set as the Sauine either by couching it or slipping off a branch from it for neither of them both hath any seed To conclude the hearb or shrub Oleander may be set of any impe and so grow or else come of seed CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of encreasing trees by seed the manner of graffing one in another how the fine deuise of inoculation by way of scutcheon and emplaister was deuised NAture not willing to conceal any thing from man hath also taught him to engraffe trees with their seed and graine For oftentimes it happeneth that birds being hungrie haue greedily gobled vp seed and fruit whole and sound which after they haue moistened in their gorge and tempered it also with the warmth and natural heat of their stomack they send forth and squirt out again when they meute together with their dung that giueth vnto it a vertue of fecunditie and so lay it vpon the soft beds of tree leaues which many a time the winds catch and driue into some clifts and cranies of the barke by meanes whereof wee haue seene a Cherrie tree vpon a Willow a Plane tree vpon a Lawrell a Lawrell vpon a Cherrie trre and at one time Berries and fruits of diuerse sorts and sundry colors hanging at one and the same tree It is said moreouer that the Chough or Daw hath giuen occasion herof by laying vp for store seeds and other fruit in creuises and holes of trees which afterwards sprouted and grew From hence came the manner of inoculation or graffing in the scutcheon namely to cut out a parcel of the barke of that tree which is to be graffed with a sharp knife made in manner of a shomakers nall blade and then to enclose within the said concauity the eie or seed taken out of another tree with the said instrument And in old time verily this was the only maner of inoculation vsed in fig-trees and apple trees Virgil teaches vs to open a concauity in the knot or joint of a bud that driueth out the barke and within it to enclose the gem or bud taken out of another tree And thus much for the graffing that Nature hath shewed But there is another way of graffing which casualtie and chance hath taught And to say a truth this Maister hath shewed well neer more experiments now daily practised than Nature her selfe Now the manner of it came by this occasion A certain diligent painfull husbandman minding to mound and empale his cottage round about with a fence of an hedge to the end that the stakes should nor rot laid a sill vnder them of Iuie wood but such was the vitall force of the said Iuie that it took hold fast of the stakes and clasped them hard insomuch as by the life therof they also came to liue and euident it was to the eye that the log of Iuie vnderneath was as good as the earth to giue life and nourishment vnto the stakes afore-said To come then vnto our graffing which we haue learned by this occasion first the head or vpper part of the stock must be sawed off very euen and then pared smooth with a sharp gardenhook or cutting-knife which don there offers vnto vs a two-fold way to perform the rest of the worke The first is to set the graffe or Sion between the barke and the wood for in old time truly men were afraid at first to cleaue the stocke but
said graffe remain bound vntill such time as it haue put forth shoots two foot long and then the foresaid bands to be cut in sunder that they may burnish in thicknes and at ease accordingly The season which they haue allowed for to graffe vines is from the Equinoctial in Autumne vnto the time that they begin to bud forth Generally all trees that are tame and gentle may wel be graffed into stocks and roots of the wild which by nature are dryer contrariwise grasse the wild and sauage kind vpon the other you shal haue all degenerate and become wild Touching other points belonging to the seat of graffing all dependeth vpon the goodnesse or malignitie of the sky and weather In sum a dry season is good for all trees graffed in this maner and say that the drought were excessiue there is a good remedie for it namely to take certain earthen pots of ashes and to let water distill through them softly by little and little to the root of the stock As for inoculation it loueth small dewes otherwhiles to refresh both stock scutcheon and Oilet CHAP. XVI ¶ Of Emplastration or graffing with the Scutcheon THe manner of graffing by way of emplaistre or scutcheon may seeme also to haue come from inoculation and this deuise agreeth best with those trees that haue thick barks as namely Fig trees To goe therefore artificially to worke the mother stocke or tree to be graffed must be well rid and clensed from the branches all about the place where you mean to practise this feat because they should not suck the sap from thence and chuse the nearest and frimmest part which seems most fresh and liuely then cut forth a scutcheon of the barke but be careful that your instrument pierce no farther than the bark nor enter into the quick wood which done take from another tree the like scutcheon of the bark sauing the eye or bud thereon and set it in the place of the other but so equall this must be to the place and so close ioyned and vnited to it that a man may see no token at all or apparance in the ioynt of any wound or skar made to the end that presently they may concorporat that no humor of the sap may issue forth nor so much as any wind get between and yet to make sure work the better way is to lute it well and close with clay and then to bind it fast This deuice of graffing thus with the scutcheon was but lately found out by their saying that fauor all new and modern inuentions howbeit I find that the antient Greeks haue written thereof yea and Cato also our own Countryman who ordained to graffe both Oliue and Fig tree in that order and as he was a man verie diligent and curious in all things that he tooke in hand he hath set downe the iust measure and proportion of the scutcheon for he would haue the barks both the one and the other to be cut out with a chisell foure fingers long and three in bredth and so to close vp all in manner aforesaid that they might grow together and then to be dawbed ouer with that mortar of his making aforesaid after which maner Apple trees also may be graffed Some there be who haue intermingled and comprehended vnder this kinde of graffing with the scutcheon that deuise of making in the side a cleft and namely in vines for they take forth a little square piece with the bark and then set in an impe very hard close on that side where it is plain and euen to the very marow or pith Certes neere to Thuliae in the Tyburtines country I haue seen a tree graffed all these waies abouesaid and the same laden with all manner of fruits one bough bearing Nuts another berries here hung Grapes there Figs in one part you should see Peares in another Pomegranats and to conclude no kind of Apple or other fruit but there it was to be found mary this tree liued not long Howbeit let vs vse what diligence we can yet neuer shal we able with all our experiments to attain vnto the depth of Natures secrets For some Trees there be that come vp of themselues and by no art and industry of man wil be made to grow such also loue ordinarily to be in wild forests and in rough desarts where they prosper well wheras the Plane tree wil beare all manner of graffing best of any other and next vnto it the wild and hard Oke but both the one and the other corrupt and mar the tast of what fruit soeuer is graffed thereupon Some trees there be that refuse not to be ingraffed vpon any stock and what way soeuer they be graffed it skils not as fig trees and Pomgranat trees As for the Vine it will not beare the scutcheon neither any Tree besides that hath a thin barke or which doth pill and rift no nor such as be dry or haue small store of sap within them can away with inoculation Howbeit this maner of graffing is most fruitfull of all other and next vnto it that which is done by way of scutcheon or emplastre yet trees so graffed be of all others most tender and feeble as also such as rest and stay vpon the bark only are with the least wind that is soonest displanted and laid along on the ground The surest and strongest way therefore is to graffe imps vpon the head of a stocke yea and more plentifull by far than to sow them of seed or plant them otherwise CHAP. XVII ¶ An historie shewing the example and proofe hereof IN this discourse and question concerning grafts I cannot passe ouer the rare obseruation of one example practised by Corellius a Knight of Rome borne at Ateste This Gentleman of Rome in a ferme that he had within the territorie of Naples chanced to graffe a Chestnut with an imp cut from the same tree This graft tooke and bare faire Chestnuts and pleasant to the tast which of him took their name After the decease of this gentleman his heire who had bin somtime his bondslaue and by him infranchised graffed the foresaid Corellian Chestnut tree a second time and certainly between them both was this difference The former Corellian bare the more plenty but the nuts of the other twice graffed were the better As for other sorts of graffing or planting mans wit hath deuised by obseruing that which hath fallen out by chance thus are we taught to set broken boughs into the ground when we saw how stakes pitched into the earth tooke root Many trees are planted after that maner and especially the Fig tree which will grow any way saue only of a little cutting but best of all if a man take a good big branch thereof sharpen it at the end in manner of a stake and so thrust it deepe into the ground leauing a small head aboue the ground and the same couered ouer with sand The Pomegranate likewise and the Myrtles are set
Figge tree hath gotten some strength and is growne to sufficient bignesse for to beare a graffe which ordinarily is at three yeares end or at the vtmost when it is fiue yeares old the head thereof must be cut or sawed off and then the branch or bough of the Oliue beforesaid being well clensed and made neat and the head end thereof as is beforesaid thwited and scraped sharpe howbeit not yet cut from the mother stocke must bee set fast in the shanke of the Figge-tree where it must bee kept well and surely tied with bands for feare that thus beeing forced and graffed arch-wise it start and flurt not out againe and returne vnto the owne Thus beeing of a mixt and meane nature betweene a branch or bough growing still vnto the Tree and yet laied in the ground to take new root and an Impe or Sion graffed for the space of three yeares it is suffered to feed and grow indifferently betweene two mothers or rather by the meanes thereof two motherstocks are growne and vnited together But in the fourth yeare it is cut wholly from the owne mother and is become altogether an adopted child to the Fig-tree wherein it is incorporat A pretty deuise I assure you to make a Fig tree beare Oliues the secret whereof is not knowne to euery man but I my selfe do conceiue and see the reason of it well enough Moreouer the same regard and consideration aboue rehearsed as touching the nature of grounds whether they be hot cold moist or dry hath shewed vs also the manner of digging furrows and ditches For in watery places it will not be good to make them either deep or large whereas contrariwise in a hot and dry soile they would be of great capacity both to receiue and also to hold store of water And verily this is a good point of husbandry for to preserue not only yong plants but old trees also for in hot countries men vse in Summer time to raise hillocks and banks about their roots and couer them all therewith for feare lest the extreme heat of the Sun should scoreh and burne them But in other parts the manner is to dig away the earth and to lay the roots bare and let in the wind to blow vpon them The same men also in winter doe banke the roots about and thereby preserue them from the frost Contrariwise others in the winter open the ground for to admit moisture to quench their thirst But in what ground soeuer it be where such husbandry is requisit the way of clensing tree roots and ridding the earth from them is to dig a trench three foot round about And yet this must not be don in medows forasmuch as for the loue of the Sun and of moisture the roots of trees run ebbe vnder the face of the earth And thus much verily may suffice in generall for the planting and graffing of all those trees that are to beare fruit CHAP. XX. ¶ Of Willow and Osier plots of places where reeds and Canes are nourished also of other trees that be vsually cut for poles props and stakes IT remaineth now to speake of those trees which are planted and nourished for others and for Vines especially to which purpose their wood is vsually lopped to serue the turne Among which Willowes and Oisiers are the chiefe and to be placed in the formost rank and ordinarily they loue to grow in moist and watery grounds Now for the better ordering of the Oisier the place would be well digged before and laid soft two foot and a halfe deep and then planted with little twigs or cuttings of a foot and a halfe in length and those prickt in or else stored with good big sets which the fuller and rounder they be in hand so much better they are for to grow and sooner will they proue to be trees Betweene the one and the other there ought to be a space of six foot When they are come to three yeares growth the manner is to keepe them downe with cutting that they stand not aboue ground more than two foot to the end that they might spread the better in bredth when time serues be lopped shred more easily without the help of ladder for the Withie or Osier is of this nature that the nearer it groweth to the ground the better head it beareth These trees also as wel as others require as men say to haue the ground digged laid light about them euery yere in the month of April And thus much for the planting and ordering of Oisier willowes which must be emploied in binding and winding As for the other willow which affoordeth big boughs for poles perches and props those may be set likewise of twigs and cuttings and trenched in the ground after the same manner These lightly euery fourth yere will yeeld good poles or staues for that purpose would they then be ordinarily cut and lopped If these trees become old their boughs by propagation may still maintain and replenish the place to wit by couching them within the ground after they haue lien soone yeare and taken root by cutting them clean from the stocke-father An Oisier plat of one acre stored thus will yeeld twigs sufficient for windings and bindings to serue a vineyard of fiue and twenty acres To the same purpose men are wont to plant the white poplar or Aspe in manner following First a piece of ground or a quarter must be digged and made hollow two foot deep and therin ought to be laid cuttings of a foot and a half in length after they haue had two daies drying but so as they stand one from another a foot and a handbreadth be couered ouer with mould two cubits thick As touching canes and reeds they loue to grow in places more wet and waterish than either the Willows and Oisiers aboue said oâ—… the Poplars Men vse to plant their bulbous roots which some call their oilets or eies in a trench of a span depth and those two foot and an halfe asunder These reeds do multiplie and increase of themselues if a plot be once planted with them after the old plants be extirped destroied And surely this is found now adaies to be the better and the more profitable way euen to commit all to Nature rather than to gueld and weed them out where they seem to grow ouer thick as the practise was in old time for the maner of their roots is to creepe one within another and to be so interlaced continually as if they were twisted together The fit and proper time to plant and set these canes or reeds is a little before the calends of March to wit before the oilets or eies aboue said begin to swell They grow vntill mid-winter at which time they wax hard which is a signe that they haue done growing and this is the only season also for to cut them Likewise the ground would be digged about them as often as vines The order of planting them is two
manner of waies for either the roots be laid ouertwhart or acrosse and but shallow within the ground and look how many eies there be in the root so many plants wil spring aboue the earth or els they be pitched down right within a graue or trench of a foot depth so as there be two eies or buds vnder the ground the third aboue but close and meet with it but this caueat is to be giuen that the head thereof may bend forward toward the earth for feare that it drinke in any dew which might stand and settle vpon it This also is obserued that they be cut euer in the wane of the Moone as also before that they are imploied about Vineyards for to beare vp vines they would haue a whole yeares drying for such are more profitable than the greene The best staies to beare vp Vines are made of the Chestnut tree for why the wood is gentle and tractable tough withall and induring long besides it hath this property that cut it when you list it will spring againe more plentifully than any willowes It loueth to grow in a gentle and sandy ground but principally if the same stand vpon a moist grauell or a hot earth full of little pebbles and namely where there is good store of such soft stones as will soone crumble into grit neither makes it any matter how much the place be shadowed nor how cold and exposed to the Northern winds for such it liketh well enough yea although it be the side or hanging of an hill as bleake and cold as may be But contrariwise it may not abide the red French earth the chalkie or marle ground nor in one word any that is battle or fruitfull Set it is of a Nut as we haue before said but it commeth not vp vnlesse there be fiue in a heape piled together and those of the fairest biggest sort Moreouer the plot wherin you mean to haue Chestnuts grow must be ouvertly broken vp aloft from between Nouember and Februarie in which time the Nuts vse to be loose and to fall of themselues from the tree and spring vnderneath finding the ground light and hollow vnder them Betwixt each heape set in manner aforesaid there ought to be a foot space euery way and the trench wherein they be set of a span depth out of this plot as out of a seminary and nource-garden these yong plants are to be translated into another and then they must be set two foot asunder Howbeit they ought to be aboue two yeres old first before they be remoued and replanted Moreouer a man may increase Chestnut-trees by propagation to wit by couching and trenching the branches therof as they grow to the mother and there is not another tree againe that sooner taketh that way than it doth for the root thereof being laid bare the whole branch must bee interred along in the trench made for the purpose leauing out the end only aboue ground Thus shall you haue one tree spring from it and another from the root Howbeit planted in this wise it loueth not to be transplanted it cannot lodge elsewhere but dreadeth and hateth all change of soile and therefore such plots of ground as do affoord coppises of Chest-nut trees are stored with plants comming of marrons or nut-kernels rather than quicke-sets or plants set with the root For the ordering and dressing of them there is no other labour required than the others before rehearsed namely for the two first yeares inseing to dig the ground loose about their roots and to proine or cut away the superfluous twigs for euer after they will shift well enough manure themselues by reason that their owne shade will kill those superfluous water-shoots that spring out either from the root or the sides of the tree A coppise of these trees is cut ordinarily within euery seuenth yere and one acre of them will yeeld props enough for to serue a vineyard of twenty acres for besides that one pole of them will abide to be clouen and make two props apeece they will last very well vntill the next fall of the wood or coppis be past Moreouer the Mast-tree called Esculus is planted and commeth vp in like sort howbeit passing vntoward and vnwilling they are to grow and therefore they stand ten yeres at least before they be cut and lopped Set Acorns of this tree Esculus whersoeuer you please they wil surely take and come vp but the trench must be a span deep and the Acornes two foot asunder And foure times a yeare are they to be lightly * raked and clensed from weeds A forke or prop made of this wood lasteth very well and rotteth not and in very truth the more that the tree it selfe is cut and mangled the better it springeth and putteth forth new shoots Ouer and besides these trees abouenamed there be others that vse to be cut and lopped for Vine props and staies to wit the Ash the Bay tree the Peach and Hazell tree yea and the Apple tree but these are all of them lateward and slow of growth neither will they indure so well without rotting if they stand any time in the ground and much lesse will they abide any weâ—… But on the othe side the Elder tree of all others is most firme for to make poles and stakes of It wil grow of sions and imps euen as the Poplar As for the Cypresse tree we haue of it spoken sufficiently already CHAP. XXI ¶ The manner and skill of husbanding and dressing Vineyards NOw that we haue treated sufficiently of the instruments furniture and tackling as it were belonging to Vineyards it remaineth to speake of the nature of vines and to deliuer with especiall regard the manuring and dressing them According therefore as wee may see in Vines and some other trees which haue within them a spungeous matter and light substance their twigs and branches do containe a kind of marrow or pith inclosed between certain knots or ioints wherewith their stalkes are diuided and parted As for the fistulous concauities they are but short all of them and toward the top shorter and shorter but euermore betweene two knots they inclose the ioints aforesaid Now this marow this vegetatiue and vitall substance I say call it whether you wil runneth forward stil on end al the length of the hollow kex or pipe so long as it findeth no resistance by the way but meeting once with a ioint or hard knot which maketh head vpon it not suffering the same to passe forward it beeing driuen backe returneth downward howbeit in that reuerberation breaketh out vnder those knots and putteth foorth certaine wings or pinnions like arme-pits whereas the buds or leaues doe come but alwaies in alternatiue course one of this side another of that after the maner of reeds canes and fennellgeant as hath bin shewed before in such wise that if one wing â—…ise forth at the bottome of the lower knot on the right hand another
edge vpward fetch vp the eies budding out beneath thus by pruning although they seem to do hurt and wrong vnto them yet they draw them to shoot out the longer by the meanes for in good faith the more profitable way it is thus to vse acquaint it with bearing branches lustily and far better and easier is it besides to cut away these yong imps as the vine lieth fast joined to the frame vntill such time as a man think it be strong enough of the wood Oâ—…hers there are who in no case would haue a vine touched or medled witâ—…all the next yeare after that it is remooued into the vine-yard noâ—… yet to feele the edge oâ—… the cutting â—…ooke vntill it haue fiue yeres ouer the head mary then they agree it should be pruned guelded of all the wood it hath saue only three burgeons You shal haue some againe that will indeed cut them the very next yere after they be replanted but so as they may win euery yere three or foure ioints and when they be foure yeres old and not before they giue them liâ—…erty to climbe vpon the frame But this I assure you is the next way to make the vine fructifie slowly and late besides it causeth it to seem scortched and full of knots yea and to grow like a dwarfe or wreckling The best simply is to suffer the stocke or mother to bee strong first and afterwards let the branches and yong imps hardly be as forward and audacious as they will Neither is it safe trusting 〈◊〉 which is full of cicatrices or skarres a thing that proceeds of great errour and an vnskilfull hand for surely all such branches grow of hurts or wounds and spring not one jot from the mother stock indeed for all the while that shee gathereth strength her whole vertue remaineth within her but when she is suffered to grow and fructifie she goeth throughly to worke and emploieth her forces full and whole to bring forth that which yeerely shee conceiued for Nature produceth nothing by halfes nor by peece-meale but is deliuered of all at once Well then after that a vine is once full grown and strong enough let it presently run vpon perches or be led in a traile vpon a frame but in case it bee yet with the weakest let it be cut againe and take vp her lodging hardly beneath vnder the very frame for in this point the question is not what Age but what Strength it hath for that is it which must rule all And verily great folly and rashnesse it were to put a vine to it and let her haue the will to grow ranke before she be as big full as a mans thumbe The next yere after that it is gotten to the frame there would be saued and let to grow one or two branches according to the strength and ability of the mother let the same the yere following also be preserued nourished and permitted to grow on end vnlesse her feeblenesse be against it but when the third yeare is come and not afore be bold to giue her the head with two branches more and neuer let her goe but with foure at the most In one word hold a vine downe as much as you can neuer cocker and cherish her but rather represse her fruitfulnesse for of this nature is the vine Rather than her life she would be alwaies bearing neither taketh she such pleasure to liue long as to beare much and therefore the more you take away of her ranke and superfluous wood the better will she imploy her radicall sap and moisture to fructifie and yeeld good store of grapes yet by her good will she would be euer putting forth branches for new plants rather than busie in bearing fruit for well woteth she that fruit will fall and is but transitory Thus to her owne vndoing and ouerthrow while shee thinketh to spread and gaine more ground shee spends her strength her selfe and all Howbeit in this case the nature of the soile will guide a man and advise him well in a lean and hungry ground although the vine be strong enough you ought to keep it downe with cutting that it may make abode vnder the head of the traile and frame aboue and howsoeuer she may haue some hope that her young branches may get vp to the top as being at the very point to mount aboue it and so neare as that they reach therevnto yet let her stay there and proceed no farther suffer her not I say to lay her head thereupon and couch vpon the traile nor wantonly to spread and run on at her â—…ase In this manner I say hold her head in with the bridle that she may in the end chuse rather to grow big in body strong withall than to shoot forth branches about her euery way far and neare The same branch now that is kept short of the frame ought to haue two or three buds to burgen at and to bring forth more wood in time and then let it be drawne and trained close vnto the traile and tied fast thereto that it might seeme to beare vpon it and be supported thereby and not to hang loosely thereupon Being thus bound to the frame it must likewise be tied anon three buds or joints off for by this means also the wood is reclaimed and repressed from running out in length beyond all measure and the burgeons in the way between will come thicker shoot vpon heigth to furnish the husbandman with store of new sets and sions for the next yeare The very top end in no wise must be tied Certes this property and qualitie hath the vine That what part soeuer of it is dejected and driuen downward or els bound and tied fast the same ordinarily beareth fruit and principally in that very place where it is bowed and bent in manner of an arch As for the other parts which be backeward and neerer to the old maine stocke they send out store of new branches indeed full of wood but otherwise fruitlesse that yeare by reason I suppose verily of the spirit or vegetatiue life and that marrow or pith where of wee speake before which findeth many stops and lets in the way How be it these new shoots thus putting forth will yeeld fruit the next yere Thus there offer vnto vs two kinds of vine branches for that which springeth out of the hard and old wood and promiseth for that yeare following nothing but sprigs and twigs onely is called Pampinarium whereas that which commeth more forward beyond the cup or cicatrice and beareth shew of grapes is named Fructuarium As for another springing from a yeare-old branch it is left alwaies for a breeder and kept short vnder the frame as also that which they terme Custos i. the Keeper or Watch a young branch this is and no longer than it may well carry three buds which the next yeare is like to beare wood and repaire all in case the old vine stocke should miscarry and
both lighter and also more massie and richer ground for our ordinary wheat In a low and wet piece of ground it is good to sow the red wheat Adoreum rather than the common wheat Triticum but both it and barley will sort well with a soile of a middle temperature The hills yeeld a firm fast and strong kind of wheat but the grain is but smal And to conclude the best kinds of wheat to wit Far and Siligo challenge for their lot to bee seated in a chalky soile and therwith alwaies wet and soked in water CHAP. XVIII ¶ Of strange prodigies and wonders obserued in corne the knowledge and skill of earing and tilling the ground also diuers sorts of plough-shares ALbeit I haue in the title of this chapter purposed to write of prodigies seen in corne yet to my knowledge there neuer happened but once the like wonder and portenteous sight to this which I shall tell and which befell in the time that P. Aelius and Cn. Cornelius were Consuls of Rome that very yeare wherein Annibal with his whole armie was defeated and vanquished for then by report there was corne grew vpon trees But forasmuch as I haue discoursed at large of the sundry kinds as well of corn as of ground I will proceed now forward and come to the manner of ploughing the earth after I haue first set downe before all things els how easie the husbandrie is in Egypt for there the riuer Nilus seruing in stead of a good plough man beginneth to swel and ouerflow as we haue before rehearsed at the first new Moone after the Summer Sunstead Hee beginneth faire and softly and so increaseth more and more by little and little but all the while that the Sun passeth vnder the signe Leo he higheth apace vntill he be risen to his ful heigth being entered once into Virgo his fury slaketh then decreaseth he as fast vntill hee be fallen againe into his wonted channell which ordinarily happeneth by the time that the Sun is in Libra Now this is obserued That if he rise not plumb aboue 12 cubits high the people are sure to haue a famine of corn that yere the like also do they make account of in case he passe the gage of sixteen cubits for the higher that he is risen the longer it is again ere he be fully fallen by which time the Seednesse is past and men cannot sow the ground in due season It hath bin generally receiued for a truth That presently vpon the departure of this deluge and ouerflowing of Nilus they were woont to cast their seed-corne vpon the floten ground and presently let in their swine after for to trample it with their feet into the earth whiles it was soft and drenched And verily for mine owne part I beleeue wel they vsed so to do in old time for euen now adaies also much more ado they make not about it Howbeit this is certaine that first they cast their seed vpon the slime and mud so soone as the riuer is downe which commonly falleth out in the very beginning of Nouember which done they go ouer it with the plough and giue it a light tilth so as it may be couered only and lie vnder a small furrow Some few there be that afterwards fall aweeding which point of husbandry they call Botanismos but the most part after they haue once sowed and turned their seed into the ground neuer after make a step into field to see how their corne groweth vntil they go once for all with syth on neck or sickle in hand namely at the end of March for then they fall to reaping and cutting it downe so as by the moneth of May they sing in Egypt Haruest in and all is done for that yeare As touching this corne gathered in Base Egypt the straw is neuer a cubit long the reason is because the seed lieth very ebbe and hath no other nutriment than from the mud and slime aforesaid for vnder it is nothing but sand and grauell But those that inhabit higher vp into the countrey namely about Thebais they be far better prouided for corne because Egypt indeed for the most part lyeth low vpon marais ground Toward Babylon likewise and Seleucia where the riuers Euphrates and Tigris doe swell ouer their banks and water the country the same husbandry is practised but to better effect and greater profit by reason that the people may let in the water at sluces and floud-gates more or lesse with their owne hands according as they list themselues Also in Syria they haue their small ploughs for the nones to take a shallow stitch and make light worke whereas in many places here with vs in Italy eight oxen are little enough to euery plough and to go away withall they must laborat it till they blow and pant again It is an old said Saw and may goe for an Oracle to be practised in all parts of husbandry but in this point of ploughing especially Bee ruled by the nature of euery countrey and see what each ground will abide To come now vnto our ploughes Of Shares there be many sorts first there is that instrument called a culter which serueth to make way before cutting and cleauing the hard and thick ground as it goeth before it be broken vp and turned atoneside this sheweth by the slits and incisions that it maketh as it were by a true line drawn how the furrows shal go after which commeth the broad bit of the ploughshare indeed lying flat-wise and in earing casteth vp all before it and cleareth the furrow A second sort there is commonly vsed in many places and it is no more but a bar of yron pointed sharpe in manner of a beak-head or stem of a ship and it may be called a Rostle And when the ground is not stubborn but gentle to be wrought there is a third kind vsed which is nothing but a piece of yron not reaching all ouer the plough head and shooing it to the full but turning vp like a snout with a small point sharp at the end This neb is somewhat broader in a fourth kinde of shares but as it is broader in blade and trenchant withall so it is sharper also at the end insomuch that both with the point forward the edges of the sides it not only pierces the ground before it poinctant like a sword but also cutteth the roots of weeds which it incountreth a deuise inuented not long since in Rhoetia As for the Gaules they set too besides certain smal roundles or wheels a plough thus shod harnaised they call in their language Planarati the head of their share is broad fashioned like vnto the bit of a spade and thus they sow their grounds for the most part new broken vp and not tilled nor eared before And for that their plough-shares be large and broad so much the easier turn they vp good turfs of earth and make broad furrows Presently after the plough they
hearbe Dictamnus 210. k cure themselues with craifishes ibid. Harts and Hinds are cured by the Artichoke 211. c Harts See Stags 214. g. h Hastie apples See Apples Mustea Hasell nuts See Filbards Haulme See Straw Hawkes 272 f. their kinds 274. k. where they breed on the ground ibid. l Hawkes and men catch birds together 274. m and part the prey equally ibid. of Haire 332. i k Haires and stones engender in mens bladders 344. g Haires out of a thicke skin are grosse and hard 347. a they grow long vpon Horses and Lions ibid. swallowing downe of an Haire the death of Fabius a Roman Senatour 159. e Haires of Connies long on their cheekes ibid. Hairie men more lecherous than others ibid. Haires come not sometime without the helpe of art 347. b Haire of the head in men groweth most ib. it groweth not at the cut end but from the root ibid. Haire groweth vpon dead bodies 347. b Hairie beasts except the Asse and the sheepe are troubled with lice 329. b Haires white 232. h H E Heads adorned with crests tufts and combes 331. a Heads cut from the bodie licked vp their owne bloud 242. h. Heart in man and beast how it is scituate and made also to what vse it serueth 340. g. h Heart of fishes pointeth vp to the mouth ibid Heart first formed in the mothers wombe 340. a. it dieth last ibid. h. it panteth like a liuing creature by it selfe ibid. h. the treasure of life ibid. the seat of the mind and soule 340. h Heart cannot abide paine ibid. paine of it bringeth present death ibid. Hearts they that haue little are valiant ibid. Heart of a man how much it groweth yearely 340. f. how long it groweth ibid. when and how much it decreaseth ibid. Hearts of some men all hairie 340. i Hearts hairie shew strange and valorous men ibid. Heauen full of pourtraits 2. g Heauen and World all one 1. c Heauen in the motion thereof an harmonie 2. h Heauen called Coelum and why ibid. Heauen diuided into sixteene parts by the Tuscanes 7. a See more in World Hebre riuer 53. b Heouba her tombe and name thereof 79. a Hedgehogs how they engender 302. l Hedysmata 381. d Helix of three sorts 481. a Helix a kinde of Yuie 480. k Hellenes whence they tooke their name 76. h the three names Homer gaue vnto them ibid. Helena a Meteor so called 18. l Heliotropium turning alwaies with the Sunne 20. h Hellespontias the name of a wind 23. b. the time of it ibid. Hellespont sometime a land 40. l Helix a kinde of Willow or Oysier 485. i Heliotropium the hearbe a direction vnto the Husbandman 593. f Hemeris a kinde of Oke 459. b Heneti from whence the Uenetians 175. b house-Hens seeme religious 292. m Hens or Pullets great layers 298. i Hens bring vp Ducklings 299. e Hens which be kindly 300. g grig-Hens ibid. b Hens and Puslein first crammed 297. a Hens fat how they are knowne ibid. b Hephaestij mountaines in Lycia 47. c Hepsema what it is 416. l Hercules pillars 48. i Hercules his altar 96. l Hermotinus Clazomenius his ghost 184. 〈◊〉 Hercules his sphere the planet Mars so called 6. g Hercules Rusticellus who so called 166. l Hercynia forrest 455. e. the wonderfull trees that are there growing 455. f Marcus Herennius a Counsellor struck with lightening in a cleare day 25. f Hermaphrodites See Androgini Hermines See Menuver Heroum what it is 273. f Herophilus a renowned interpreter of Physicke 345. b Herons of three sorts 301. l. they engender with great paine ibid. and lay with as much ibid. Hesperius a mountain in Aethyopia 47. c Hexametre verse who first deuised 189. c H I Hiera an Island of Aetolia neere Italy And the burning thereof 47. d Hiera Island 40. g Hierapolis citie 104. l Himantipus what kind of birds 295. d Himilco his nauigation 33. a Hinds their nature and manner of breeding 213. d Hinds and stags how they engender 302. m Hinuti what they be 224. h Hinus what it is ibid. i Hippanis a riuer in Pontus it bringeth downe bladders 330. l. wherein it enclosed the flie Hemerobion ibid. Hipparchus his Ephemerides what they contained 8. l his inuention conceruing the Eclipse of the Sunne and Moone 9. d Hipparchus his opinion of the stars his praise and opinion of the soule 16. e. he sindeth out a new starre rising in his time 16. m Hipparchus 49. c Hippaee a kinde of crabsish 252. l Hippaeus a kinde of Comet 15. f Hippocrates honoured like Hercules 17 h. he foretold of a pestilence ibid. Hippocentaur borne in Thessalie 157. f Hippomanes what it is 222. k Hippophestar good to purge the body for the falling sickenesse 496. k Hippoglottian 452. m Hippuri a sort of Lobstars 245. b Hirpiae certain families wherein they be all witches 155. c 155. e. Hispalis a Colonie 52. h Hiues of Lanterne hornes 318. k driuing of Hiues 317. b. what must be left for the Bees ibid. H O Holmes three at Tiber very old 458. l a Holme tree of a wonderfull age 495. b a Holme tree of a monstrous bignesse 496. h a Mast-Holme tree of two sorts 458. l Holothuria fishes of the nature of plants 264. g Holydaies vnto Uulcan 48. g Homers Ilias couched within a nut-shell 167. b thicke Hony nothing commendable 317. b thin Hony will not thicken ibid. Hony engendreth in the aire 317. b. when it is engendred ibid. of what mater ibid. how it is corrupted ibid. it is diuerse according to the tokens of good hony ibid. regions 316. h a Honey-combe eight foot long ibid. i Honey-combes best about Sunne-stead in Summer 316. i Honey when it is most gathered 317. a Honey in some sort hurtfull for Bees 321. d Hondearia a kind of Plums 436. m Honey apples See apples Melimela Honey who made first 188. l Hornes of great bignesse 331. f How they stand and to what vse they are put ibid. d. e what beasts haue hornes 331. b Hornes of sundry shapes ibid. Hornets whether they haue stings or no. 322. k Horologies how deuised 191. b. c. d Horses wild 200. g Riuer-Horse his description and properties 209. f inuented Phlebotomie or bloud-letting 210. i Horse of Caesar Dictatour 221. a Horse entombed by Augustus Caesar. ibid. Horses entombed at Agragentum 221. a a Horse loued by Semiramis ibid. a Horse reuengeth his masters death 221. b Horse furniture and harneis who first inuented 189. c Horses loath to couer their dams ibid. Horse-fight who first deuised 189. c Horces of seruice vsed to daunce to Musicke 221. 〈◊〉 their kind affections to their masters ib. their docilitie ibid. their perceiuance ibid. d. desiring of praise ibid. e. their age 222. h. their breeding ibid. Horses where they be worth a taelent of gold 148. h Horses subiect to many diseases 222. m Horses age how it is knowne after their shedding of teeth 358. i. Horses and men alone haue teeth
hearbs be not all commendable in one and the same respect For of some the goodnesse lieth only in their bulbous and round root of others contrariwise in their head aloft There be of them that haue no part good but their stem or maister stalk and there are for them againe the leaues wherof be only eaten Now a man shall haue amongst them those that are wholesome meat both leafe and stalke In some the seed or graine in other the outward pil or rind alone of the root is in request And as there be that tast well in the skin or cartilage and gristly substance without-forth so there are that haue either their pulpous carnosity within or else their fleshy coat aboue as daintie All the goodnes of many of them lieth hidden within the earth and of as many again aboue the ground and yet some there be that are al one as good within as without Some traine along and run by the ground growing on end stil as they creep as Gourds and Cucumbers And yet the same as well as they loue to be neere the earth yet are led lpon trailes and hang thereon yea and be knowne for to rampevpon trees How beit much weightier and better nourished be they that keepe beneath As for the Cucumber it is the cartilage substance of the fruit thereof that delighteth and pleaseth our tast for of all fruits this propertie it alone hath that the vtmost rind which it beareth groweth to a very wood when it is once ripe Within the earth lie hidden and are kept all Winter Raddishes Nauews Turneps or Rapes Elecampane also after another sort so doe Skirworts and Parseneps or Wypes Moreouer this I would aduertise the Reader that when I tearme some hearbes Ferulacea I meane such as resemble in stalke Dil or the great Mallowes For some writers doe report That in Arabia there be a kind of Mallowes which after they haue grown six or seuen months come to be in the nature of pretie trees insomuch as their stalks streightwaies serue in stead of walking staues But what should I stand vpon this In Mauritania by report of trauellers neer the frith or arme of the sea adjoining to Lixos the head citie of Fez where somtimes as folke say were the hort-yards and gardens of the Hesperides not aboue halfe a quarter of a mile from the maine ocean hard vnto the chappell of Hercules farre more ancient than that temple of his which is in the Island Calis there groweth a Mallow that is a very tree indeed in height it is twentie foot and in bodie bigger and thicker than any man can fadome In this kind I meane for the raunge the Hempe likewise And as I purpose to tearme such Ferulacea so there bee some others that I will call Carnosa such as resemble the riuer or fresh-water Spunges which commonly are seene vpon ouer-floten medowes where the water standeth For as touching the fungous substance or calliositie of some plants I haue alreadie spoken thereof in the Treatise of Wood and Trees and of their nature Likewise in our late discourse of another sort of Mushroomes and Toad-stooles CHAP. V. ¶ Garden plants their natures kinds and seuerall histories OF the cartilage and pulpous kind such I meane onely wherof there is nothing good but that which is aboue the ground I reckon the Cucumber a fruit that Tiberius the Emperor much loued and affected for he tooke such a wondrous delight and pleasure therein that there was not a day went ouer his head but he had them serued vp to his table The beds and gardens wherein they grew were such as went vpon frames to be remooued euery way with wheeles and in winter during the cold and frosty daies they could draw them backe into certaine high couert buildings exposed to the Sun and there house them vnder roufe Moreouer I find in some ancient Greek writers that their seed ought to lie 2 daies in steepe or infused in honied milke before they be prickt or set into the ground for by that meanes the Cucumbers will be the sweeter and more pleasant The nature of them is to grow in what forme and fashion soeuer that a man would haue them Throughout all Italy green they be of colour and least of any others in the out-prouinces they be as fair and great and those either of a yellow color like wax and citrons or els blacke In Affrick or Barbary men take delight to haue the greatest plenty of them wheras in Moesia they lay for to haue them passing big and huge Now when they exceed in greatnes they be called Pepones is Melons or Pompons Let a man eat them alone they will lie raw and greene in the stomacke a whole day and neuer be digested howbeit with meats they are not vnwholsom and yet for the most part swim they will aloft and ride vpon a mans stomacke A wonderfull thing in their nature they cannot abide oile in any wise but water they loue well insomuch as if they be cut off or fallen from the place where they grew they wind and creep therinto if it be but a little way off contrariwise flie they will as fast from oile if a man set it by them and in case any thing be in their way to let them or that they hang still vpon their plant a man shall perceiue how they wil turn vp and crook to shun auoid it This amitie to the one and enmity to the other may be seene euen in one nights space for if a man set vnder them 4 fingers off where they grow a vessel with water ouer-night he shal see by the morning that they wil come downe to it contrariwise let oile stand the like distance from them shrink they wil from it and hook vpward Marke another experiment in the cucumber If when it hath don flouring you enter the knot of the fruit into a long cane or trunk it will grow vo a wonderfull length But behold a very straunge and new fashion of them in Campaine for there you shall haue abundance of them come vp in forme of a Quince And as I heare say one of them chanced so to grow first at a very venture but after from the seed of it came a whol race and progeny of the like which therupon they cal Melopepones as a man would say the quince pompions or Cucumbers These neuer hang on high but go low by the ground and gather round in form of a globe A strange case it is of this kind for ouer and besides their shape their color and sauor different from the rest they are no sooner ripe but presently they fall from the stele or taile wherto they grew notwithstanding they hang not hollow from the ground where their owne poise might weigh them downe Columella tells of a pretie deuise that he hath of his own how to keep of them fresh all the yere long chuse quoth he the biggest bramble you can meet with among a thousand
on it bestow his seed with muck and mould heaped thereupon the roots will grow so big as to fill vp the said hole full Howbeit in briefe Radishes are best nourished and maintained in salt grounds and therfore with such kind of brakish waters they vse to be watered which is the reason that in Aegypt there are the sweetest and daintiest Radishes in the world for that they are bedewed and sprinckled with Nitre And verily it is thought that they will lose all their bitternes whatsoeuer if they be corned or seasoned with salt yea and become as if they were sodden and condite for be they boiled once they proue sweet and serue to be eaten in stead of Nauewes And yet Phisicians giue counsell and prescribe That they should be eaten raw in a morning with salt when a man is fasting for to gather into the stomack the sharp humors and excrements that charge the belly entrails and thus taken they are of opinion that it is a good preparatiue to vomit and to open the passages well for to auoid those superfluities They giue out also That the juice of Radish roots is singular good and necessarie for the midriffe and the praecordiall parts about the heart and namely that nothing else but it was able to cure a Phtisicke or vlcer of the lungs wich had setled deep and taken to the heart The experiment and proofe whereof was found and seen in Aegypt by occasion that KK there caused dead bodies to be cut vp and anotomies to be made for to search out the maladies whereof men died It is reported that the Greeks as they be otherwise vaine in al their actions so highly preferred the Radishes before other meats in regard of theigo od nourishment that wheras in an oblation out of the garden-fruits to be offered vnto Apollo in his temple at Delphos they dedicated the Beet in siluer and the Rape or Turnep in lead they presented a Radish in beaten gold A man may know hereby that Manius Curius the great General of the Romane armie was not that countreyman borne whom the Samnite Embassadors when they brought to him a great present of gold vpon condition to surcease arms which he meant to refuse and not accept at their hands found rosting of a Rape or Turnep root at the chimney fire according as we find in the Annals and Chronicles of the Roman history To come again vnto our Radishes Moschian the Greek writer so highly esteemed this root that he compiled one whole booke of the Radish and nothing els Indeed Radishes are thought excellent good with meats in Winter time howbeit they alwaies wear and marre their teeth who eat of them and yet I assure you they wil polish Iuorie which is nothing els but the Elephants tooth Between a Vine and a Radish there is by nature a secret enmitie and exceeding great hatred in somuch as if Radishes be sowed neere vnto her she will writh and turne away sensibly from them Touching other sorts of cartilage or pulpous plants in the garden wherof I haue before spoken they be all giuen to run much to pith and to be of a more woodie substance A man would maruell therefore that they should all tast so strong and sharpe as they doe Of which there is one kind of wild Parsnep growing of it selfe which in Greek is called Staphylinas A second sort is set of a plant with the root and sowed of seed either in the prime of spring or els in Autumne howsoeuer Hyginus would haue them to be put into the ground in Februarie August September and October and that the plot where they are to grow should be digged and delued very deep This root beginneth to be good at the first yeres end but better it is if it be two yeres old howbeit both the one and the other is counted wholsommer in Autumn than at any other season of the yeare especially boiled and serued vp betweene two platters and yet dresse them so well as you can they will not be rid of that strong ranke and churlish smacke which it hath As for Hibiscum it differeth from the Parsnip aforesaid onely in this That it is more slender and smaller rejected altogether from the table and condemned for no good meat howbeit medicinable and vsed much by the Physitian A fourth kind there is beside resembling also the Parsnip which our countreymen the Latines name the French Parsnip but the Greekes Daucus i. the yellow Douke or Carot which they haue subdiuided into foure speciall sorts The Skirwirt root or white Parsnip which indeed would be written among other Physicke plants was likewise in great name and credit by the meane of the foresaid Emperour Tyberius who was very earnest to haue them yearely brought out of Germanie and euer he would cal for them at his own table And indeed about Gelduba a castle situat vpon the riuer Rhene in Germanie there was an excellent kind of them that grew to be passing faire from whence he was serued whereby it appeareth that this plant loueth cold regions well These roots haue a string in manner of a pith or sinew running all the length thereof which the cooke vseth to take forth after they be sodden yet for all that there remaineth still in them a great deale of bitternesse howbeit being wel tempered delaied with a sauce of mead or honyed wine and so eaten with it euen the same bitternesse turneth to a good and pleasant tast The greater Parsnip Pastinaca hath the like nerue or string aforesaid such only I mean as are a yere old The right season to sow the Skirwirt or Parsnip Siser is in these moneths to wit Februarie March Aprill Aegust September and October The Elecampane hath a root shorter than the Skirwirts or Parsnips aforesaid but more musculous and fuller as it were of brawn bitterer also in which regards if it be taken simply alone it is aduerse and contrarie to the stomack but joined confected with some sweet things among it is very holsom And many deuises haue bin practised with it to take away that harsh and vntoward bitternesse which it hath wherby it is become toothsome and pleasant enough for some there be who stamp it drie and so reduce it into a pouder then they mix it with some sweet liquid syrrup and being thus tempered serue it vp Others seeth it in water and vinegre mingled together and so keepe it condite Infused also it is many waies and afterwards either preserued in cuit or incorporat with hony in manner of a conserue or els with dried Raisons of the Sun or last of all with faire and fat Dates Moreouer diuers there be who after another sort make a confection therof namely with Quinces with Soruises or Plums mixing therwith one while Pepper another while Thym. And I assure you this root thus confected as is aforesaid is singular good for faintings and especially quickneth the dulnes and defect
may easily take them with his hand yea and if one stay a little he shall see them fall asleep therewith Finally there is another kind of sauage or wild Garlick called Vrsinum i. Beare Garlicke the head whereof is very small the blade or leaues great and large and the sauor or sent mild and gentle in comparison of the rest CHAP. VII ¶ In how many daies euery herbe that is sowed will come vp and appeare aboue ground The nature of seedes The manner of sowing any of them Which they be whereof there is but one single kind and which haue many sorts AMong all the herbes sowne in a garden these come vp soonest to wit Basill Beets Navews or Turneps and Rocket for by the third day the seed will breake and spurt Dill seed will chit within foure daies Lectuce in fiue Radish in sixe Cucumbers and gourds in a seuen-night but the Cucumber first Cresses and Mustard seed in fiue daies Beets in six by Summer time and by winter in ten Orach in eight daies Onions in 19 or 20 at the farthest Chibols in ten or twelue at the most Coriander seed is more stubborne and will not shew so soone Sauerie and Origan seed lieth thirty daies ere it come but of all others Parsley seed is latest ere it spring for when it commeth vp soonest it is forty daies first but for the most part it lieth fifty daies before it appeare Something there is also in the age of the seed for the newer that the seed is either of Leeks or Chibols Cucumbers gourds the more hast it maketh to be aboue ground contrariwise Parsely Beets garden Cresses Sauery Origan and Coriander grow sooner of old seed But the Beet seed hath a strange and wonderful quality aboue the rest for it wil not come vp all in one and the same yeare But some in the first others in the second and the rest in the third And therfore sow as much seed as you will yet shall you haue it grow but indifferently There be herbs which wil grow and beare but one yere and no more and there be other again which will continue many yeares together as for example Parsely Porret Chibbols For sow these but once in a garden they will beare from yere to yere from the same root or els sow themselues The most part of herbs do beare round seed in some the seeds are long in few broad and flat in manner of a leafe as in Orach You shall haue seed also narrow chamfered like a gutter tile as that of Cumin Moreouer there is a difference in colour for some seeds be white others black in hardnesse also and softnesse for some be harder or softer than others Some seeds at euery branch of the plant are contained within cods or bladders as we may see in Raddish Senuie and Turneps or Rapes The seeds of Parsely Coriander Dill Fenell Cumen grow naked bare But that of the Bleet the Beet Orach and Basil is inclosed in a huske or hull Lectuce seed lieth within a downe As touching Basill aforesaid nothing fructifieth more than it to the end that it may come vp in more plenty abundance they say it should be sowed with maledictions and ill words for the more that it is cursed the better it wil speed and prosper yea and when it is sowed the mould of the bed must be parted and rammed down in manner of a pauement And more particularly they that sow Cumin pray to God that it may neuer come vp Such seeds as lie within an husk hardly come to be dry and ripe therin but Basil seed especially and Gith or Nigella Romana But they must be all throughly dried before they be seedow and fruitfull This is generall in all herbs throughout that they wil thriue and grow the better if their seede bee sowed by heapes one vpon another than scattering And certainly both Leeks seed is sown Garlick cloues set in that wise namely bound vp tied together in some clouts or ragges wherein they be lapped As for Parsely seed against it should be sown there would be an hole made with a little wooden dibil or pin therin it must be put with some dung after it Furthermore all garden herbs come vp either of seed and cloues set or els of slips pulsed from the mother-plant Some grow of seeds and sprigs both as Rue Origan Basil for euen this herb also last named will abide cutting when it is come to be one handbreadth or a span high and those cuttings will grow if they be planted There be that are maintained by root and seed both as Onions garlick and those which haue bulbous roots likewise all such as when they haue born yerely leaue a root behind them stil in strength vertue Of such as grow of roots replanted their roots continue long branch much as we may see in the bulbs in Chibbols sea onions Others put out branches sufficient but not from the head or root as Parsely and Beets All herbs for the most part do spring shute again if their stalke be cut off vnlesse it be those that haue a smooth stem And this is most seen in Basil Raddish Lectuce the stems wherof are cut for many purposes And as for Lectuce men hold that the later spring thereof when the first is gon is the sweeter Certainly Raddishes eat the more pleasantly if their leaues be cropt off before the master stem or spire be growne big And this also we obserue in Rapes or Turneps for if you strip them also from their leaues couer them ouer head with earth yet will they grow all winter and continue till Summer following Touching Basill Sorrel red Porret or Bleets garden Cresses Rocket Orach Coriander they are all of one sort singular in their kind for sow them where you wil they be the same stil neither are they better in one place than in another It is a common receiued opinion that Rue wil grow the better if it be filched out of another mans garden and it is as ordinary a saying that stollen Bees wil thriue worst Some hearbes there be which come without sowing or setting as wild Mint Nep Endiue and Peniroial But howsoeuer there be but one single kind of those before rehearsed yet on the contrary side there be many sorts of others which wee haue already spoken of and will write more hereafter and principally of Ach or Parsely CHAP. VIII ¶ Of Garden herbes which serue for to season our meats their diuers natures their sundry kinds and seuer all histories related to the number of 36. FOr that kind of Ach which groweth of it selfe in moist grounds with one leafe and is not rough but smooth and plaine is called in Greeke Heleoselinon i. Smallach Again there is another sort with more leaues resembling Smallach aforesaid but that it commeth vp in drie places and this the Greeks named Hipposelinon i. Alisanders A third there
cankers in the mouth and the smelling of the gums likewise it assuageth the tooth-ache The iuice of it being well sodden cureth the sores of the Amygdales if the mouth throat be washed therwith And some put to this collution a little pouder of the stone Murra And no maruell for the very chewing only thereof doth fasten the teeth that be loose in the head It doth mitigate the inconuenience of crudity and indigestion it strengtheneth the voyce and putteth by thirst A cataplasme made therewith hauing gal-nuts and line-seed among of equal quantity allayeth the pains and cricks in the nape or chine of the neck Tempered with hony white fullers clay it is singular for the accidents that befall to womens breasts The seed taken with honey is very wholsome for such as be short winded Eaten in sallads it strengtheneth the stomack If it be laid as a cataplasme to the belly and Hypochondrial region it allaieth the heat of ardent and burning feauers yea in other cases the very chewing of it cooleth the heat of the guts and entrails It staieth vomits eaten in vineger or taken in drink with cumin it is good for the bloudy flix and other inward imposthumes and filthy sores Being first sodden and then eaten it is singular for those that strain hard vpon the stoole and notwithstanding many prouocations and profers deliuer nothing And whether it be taken in meat or drinke it is a soueraigne thing for the falling sicknesse For a shift or immoderat course of womens termes it is giuen with great successe the quantity of one acetable measure in wine cuit A liniment made with it and salt is good for the hot gout S. Anthonies fire The juice if it be drunken helpeth the reins and the bladder It expelleth wormes and such like vermine out of the belly A good mitigatiue it is of pain if it be applied as a cataplasme to wounds with oile and Barly groats It mollifieth the stiffenesse and hardnes of the sinews Metrodorus in his book intituled the Abridgement or Breuiary of those roots that are to be cut vp or gathered gaue counsell to giue this herb to women newly laid vpon child-birth for the immoderate and excessiue purgation that many times followeth them It cooleth the heat of lust and represseth dreames of wantonnesse I know my selfe a grand signior in Spain father vnto a great personage and one who had bin aduanced to the dignity of a Pretour who carried euer about him a root of this Peplium hanging at his neck by a lace or smal thred that for the intollerable pains of the Vuvla wherto he was subiect and neuer would he leaue it off but when he went into the stoue or bayne whereby he found such ease that he was neuer troubled afterward with the said disease Moreouer I haue read in some writers That if the head be annointed or well rubbed therewith a man shall not for a yeare together find any inconuenience of a rheum distilling from the brain howbeit it is thought that the vse thereof wil make the eyes dim Concerning Coriander there is none found growing wild of it selfe without sowing by the hand But certaine it is that the very best commeth out of Egypt a speciall and peculiar vertue it hath against one kind of serpent or venomous worm which they call Amphisbaena for that it seemeth to haue an head at both ends whether it be inwardly taken in drinke or outwardly applied It healeth also other wounds It cureth the night-foes or chilblans the red angry pimples also if it be but only stamped and layd too There is not a swelling or apostemation gathering to an head but a cataplasme made with it with hony and Raisins either resolueth them or quickly bringeth to maturation If it be no more but stamped with vineger it easeth the pushes and biles that breed commonly in the ordinary emunctories Three graines of Coriander seed some prescribe to be eaten before the accesse or fit of a tertian ague or more than three to bee rubbed vpon the forehead Others there are who thinke that to the same effect they are to bee laid vnder the bolster and pillow where the patient lieth before the Sun rise and then shall he be sure to misse his fit and be warished for that feuer Indeed Coriander whiles it is green is of great force to coole the heat of agues A cataplasme thereof made with Honey or Raisins healeth vlcers also that be corrosiue and eat deep into the flesh In like manner so prepared it is very good for the priuy members for burns and scaldings for carbuncles and for the eares With womans milk it helps the eyes that water continually The seed drunkin water staieth the flux of the belly guts yea and in case of those violent euacuations vpward downward through the rage of cholerick humors being taken in drinke with Rue it setleth and knitteth the body againe If the seed of it be drunke with sallet oile and the juice of a Pomgranat it chaseth forth worms out of the entrails Xenocrates telleth a strange thing if it be true namely That if a wo man drinke one onely grain or seed of Coriander her menstruall flux will stay one day if twain they will hold vp two daies and proportionably looke how many seeds she drinketh so many daies shal she go cleare and see no token of them M. Varro was of opinion That if flesh meat were poudered or corned with Coriander grosse beaten together with vineger it would keepe sweet and it were all the Summer long As for Orach there is a wild kind of it growing of the owne accord a very weed it is and no better vtterly condemned by Pythagoras as if it bred the Dropsie ingendered the Iaundise brought folk to look ill and pale and were exceeding hard of digestion and so far hee was out of conceit with it that he thought nothing would like wel prosper no not in a garden where this grew neere but that it would sensibly decay and fade Dionysius and Diocles approoue this judgement of Pythagoras and say moreouer that most diseases are bred therby Nay they would not haue it to be put into the pot to be sodden vnlesse it had bin washed before in many waters These Physitians hold that it is a very enemy to the stomack ingendring pimples frectles and whelks But I muse and maruell much why Solon of Smyrna should write that it hath much ado to grow and come vp in Italy As for Hippocrates he is not so far fallen out with it for with it and Beets he maketh a decoction to be injected by the Metrenchyte to asswage the inflammation in the matrice the natural parts of women Lycus of Naples was wont to giue it to drink as a counterpoyson against the green flies Cantharides And he thought that a very good liniment might be made thereof either raw or sodden to lay vnto biles pushes fellons a breeding and all
in the Sea-onion Squilla first sheweth the stalk and then afterwards the floure breaketh out of it The same Squilla floureth thrice in the yeare as I haue said heretofore shewing thereby the three seasons of seednes In the range of these bulbous and onion-rooted plants some place the root of Cyperus that is to say of Gladiolus i. Petie-gladen Flags or Sword-wort this is a sweet root and being sodden or baked with bread it giueth it a more pleasant tast besides it mendeth the weight of bread wel if it be wrought kneaded with it in dough Not vnlike to it is that herbe which they call Thesion but that the root is harsh and vnpleasant Al others of the same kind differ in leafe the Asphodell hath long and narrow leaues Squilla is broad leafed and may be handled without offence wheras the Gladen leafe is like a sword blade indeed and keen-edged according to the name both in Greek and Latine The Asphodell seed is good to be eaten if it be parched or fried so is the bulbous root of it also but this should be rosted vnder the embers then eaten with salt and oile Ouer and besides if it be stamped with figs it is an excellent dish and this indeed according to Hesiodus is the only way to dresse it Moreouer it is said that Asphodels planted before the gates of any ferme house in the countrey preserue the place from all charms and sorceries Homer also the Poet hath made mention of the Asphodell The root resembleth Navews of a mean bignesse and there is not another root with more heads for oftentimes a man shal see 80 bulbs clustred in a bunch together Theophrastus and all Greeke writers almost and namely Pythagoras the chiefe prince of Philosophers describe this plant to haue a stem of of one cubit in length yea and oftentimes of two with leaues like to wild Porret and the sayd stem they called Anthericon but the root i. those bulbs resembling onions Asphodelas but our countrymen haue named in Latin the stem Albucus but the root Hastula Regia This is the name also of the stalk full of grains or berries and thereof they would make two kinds the male and the female Well the stem of the Asphodell then is commonly a cubit long large and big clean and smooth Of this herb Mago hath written and ordained that it should be cut down in the going out of March and entrance of Aprill namely after it hath don flouring and before that the seed be swelled and grown to any bignesse then vpon the fourth day after when the said stems are slit and clouen they must be laid abroad to drie in the Sunne when they be dried they ought to be made vp into knitchets or handfuls He saith moreouer that the Greeks name that herb Pistana which we cal in Latin Sagitta growing in marishes and moores among other fenny weeds This also would he haue to be cut downe and gathered betweene the Ides of May and the end of the month of October then to be pilled and so to be dried by little and little with the moderat heat of the Sun The same author giueth order likewise that the other kind of Gladiolus which they call Cypiros which also is an herbe growing about lakes and meeres any time within Iuly should be cut downe to the very root and the third day after to be dried in the Sun vntill it looke white but euery day that it lieth abroad it must be brought into the house before the Sun go downe because all herbs growing vpon marish grounds take harm by dewes in the night CHAP. XVIII ¶ Of Rushes six kinds and of Cyperus their medicinable vertues Of Cypirus and the sweet Rush Scoenanth MAgo writing of the Rush commonly called Mariscon saith That for to twist and weaue into mats it ought to be gathered out of the marish ground where it groweth in Iune vntill mid-Iuly As for the drying of it the same order must be obserued in all points as we haue set downe before in the discourse of other marais weeds Hee maketh a second kinde of water Rushes which I find to be called the sea Rusn and of the Greekes Oxyschoenon i. the sharp Rush which also is subdiuided into three other sorts for there is the barren rush called also the male in Greek Oxys the female Rush bearing a black seed which they call Melancranis This is thicker than the other fuller also of branches and tufts And the third more than it which is named Holoschoenus Of all these Melancranis commeth vp of the own seed without any other kinds intermingled with it but Oxys and Holoschoenus grow both together out of one turfe Of all others the great Rush Holoschoenus is best for to be wrought in mats and such like implements about an house because it is soft and fleshy it beareth a fruit hanging clustering together in maner of fish spawn As for that rush which we called the male it groweth of it selfe by reason that his top fasteneth in the ground and so taketh root by way of propagation but Melancranis soweth her owne selfe and commeth vp of feed for otherwise their race would perish considering the roots of them all euery yere do die These Rushes are vsed to make leaps and weels for fishers at sea fine dainty wicker vessels also candle-wick matches especially the marow or pith within which is so great especially about the foot of the Alps reaching to the sea-side that when a Rush is slit there is found in the belly a pith almost an inch broad by the rule And in Egypt there be found Rushes so big that they will serue to make sieues rangers and vans In such sort that the Egyptians can finde no matter for that purpose better Some there be that would haue the triangled or three square rush Cyperus to be a seuerall kind by it selfe This Cyperus many there be that cannot distinguish from Cypirus by reason of the great affinity of their two names but I mean to put a difference betweene them both for Cypirus is the Petie-glader or Sword-grasse as I haue before shewed with a bulbous or onion root the best of which kind groweth in the Island of Crete next to it in goodnesse is that of the Isle Naxos and in a third degree is to placed that of Phoenice and indeed that of Crete or Candy in whitenesse and odor commeth neere to Nard The Naxian Cypirus hath a quicker sent the Phoenician Cypirus smelleth but a little as for that in Egypt it hath no sauor at all for there also groweth Cypirus But now to come vnto the properties thereof it hath vertue to discusse and resolue hard swellings in the body For now my purpose is to speake of their medicinable vertues forasmuch as there is great vse in Physicke as well of such aromaticall simples as odoriferous floures As touching Cypirus therefore I professe verily that I will follow
drink the same with salt and hony mixed therwith but the said decoction if it be made with an hogs foot with a hen capon or cock boiled withal is the wholsomer Some Physitians were of opinion That for to purge the body both Mercuries as wel the male as the female are to be giuen either boiled alone by themselues or els with Mallows they clense the brest parts and euacuat choler but they hurt the stomacke Touching all the other properties of Mercury I will write in place conuenient As Chiron the Centaure found out the medicinable vertues of certaine herbes so we are beholden to his scholler Achilles for one which is singular to heale wounds and of his name is called Achilleos This is that wound-herb wherewith by report he cured prince Telephus Some haue thought that hee deuised first the rust of brasse or verdegreece which is so excellent for salues and plasters therfore you shall see Achilles commonly painted scraping off the rust of his speare head with his sword into the wound of the said Telephus Others say that he tooke both the said rust or verdegreece and also the herb Achilleos to worke his cure Some would haue this Achillea to be Panaces Heracleon and others Sideritis we in Latine call it Millefolia An herb it is growing with a stalk or stem to the height of a cubit spreading into many branches clad from the very root vp to the top with leaues smaller than those of Fenell Others confesse indeed that this herb is singular good for wounds but the true Achilleos say they hath a blewish stalk a foot high no more bare and naked without any branches at all howbeit finely deckt and garnished on euery side with round leaues standing one by one in excellent order and making a faire sight There be again who describe it with a foursquare stem bearing heads in the top in manner of Horehound and leaued like vnto an Oke And this they say is of that efficacy that it wil conglutinat vnite sinews again if they were cut quite a sunder Moreouer you shall haue some who take it for Achillea that kinde of Sideritis growing vpon mud walls which if it be brused or stamped yeeldeth a stinking sent Moreouer there is another going vnder the name Achilleos like to this last described but that the leaues be whiter and fattier the little stalks or sprigs more tender it groweth in vineyards Last of al there is one more called Achilleos which riseth vp to the height of 2 cubits bearing pretty fine slender branches and those three square leaues resembling Fearn hanging by a long stele the seed is much like to that of the Beet In one word they be al of them most excellent for healing wounds And as for that especially which hath the largest leaues our countrimen in Latine haue called it Scopa Regia And the same is holden to be good for to heale the Squinancy or Gargle in swine In the same age wherin Achilles liued prince Teucer also gaue the first name and credit to one speciall herb called after him Teucrion which some nominat Hemionium this plant putteth forth little stalks in maner of rushes or bents and spreadeth low the leaues be small it loueth to grow in rough and vntoiled places a hard and vnpleasant sauor it hath in tast it neuer floureth and seed it hath none Soueraigne it is for the swolne and hard spleene the knowledge of which property came by this occasion as it is credibly and constantly reported It fortuned on a time when the inwards of a beast killed for sacrifice were cast vpon the ground where this herb grew it took hold of the spleen or milt and claue fast vnto it so as in the end it was seen to haue consumed and wasted it clean hereupon some there be that call it Splenion i. Spleenwort and there goeth a common speech of it That if swine doe eat the root of this herbe they shall be found without a milt when they are opened Some there be who take for Teucrium and by that name do call another herb full of branches in manner of hyssop leafed like vnto beans and they giue order that it should be gathered whiles it is in floure as if they made no doubt but that it would floure The best kind of this herb they hold to be that which commeth from the mountains of Cilicia and Pisidia Who hath not heard of Melampus that famous diuinor and prophet he it was of whom one of the Ellebores tooke the name and was called Melampodion and yet some therebe who attribute the finding of that herb vnto a shepheard or heardman of that name who obseruing wel that his she goats feeding therupon fell a scouring gaue their milk vnto the daughters of king Proetus whereby they were cured of their furious melancholy and brought again to their right wits This herb then being of so excellent operation it shall not be amisse to discourse at once of all the kinds of Ellebore whereof this maketh one And to begin withal two principal sorts there be of it namely the white and the black which distinction of colour most writers would haue to be meant and vnderstood of the roots only and no part else others there be who would haue the root of the blacke Ellebore to be fashioned like vnto those of the Plane-tree but that they be smaller and of a more darke duskish green diuided also into more jags and cuts but those of the white Ellebore to resemble the yong Beet new appearing aboue the ground saue onely that they be of a more blackish colour and along the back part of their concauitie inclining to red Both the one and the other bringeth forth a stalke in fashion like the Ferula or Fenel-geant a span or good hand-breadth high and the same consisteth of certain tunicles or skins folded one within another in manner of bulbous plants rising from the like root and the said root is full of strings or fringes as is the head of an onion The blacke Ellebore is a very poison to horses kine oxen and swine for it killeth them and therefore naturally these beasts beware how they eat of it whereas confidently they feed vpon the white The right season of gathering the Ellebores is in haruest time Great store thereof groweth vpon the hill Oeta but the best is that which is found in one only place therof neere about Pyra The black Ellebore commeth vp euery where but the best is in Helicon a mountaine much renowned and praised for other herbs beside it wherewith it is well furnished As touching the white that of the mount Oeta is counted the principall in a second degree is the white Ellebore of Pontus in the third place is to be ranged that which commeth from Elaea which they say groweth among vines in the fourth and last place for goodnesse is that of the mount Pernassus which is sophisticated with the
Euphorbium The same being grown thick and hard if a man break it resembleth gum Ammoniacke Tast it neuer so little at the tongues end it setteth all the mouth on a fire and so continueth it a long time hot but more by fits vntill in the end it parcheth and drieth the chaws and throat also far within CHAP. VIII ¶ Of Plantain Buglosse and Borrage Of Cynoglossa or Hounds tongue Of Buphthalmus i. Oxe eie or Many-weed Of Scythica Hippice and Ischaemon Of Vettonica and Cantabrica Of * Consiligo and Hiberis Of Celendine the great Canaria and Elaphoboscos Of Dictamnum Aristolochie or Hertwort That fish are delighted so much therwith that they will make hast vnto it and be soon taken Also the medicinable vertues of those herbs aboue named THemison a famous Physitian set forth a whole booke of the herbe Way-bred or Plantaine wherein he highly praiseth it and challengeth to himselfe the honor of first finding it out notwithstanding it be a triuiall and common herb trodden vnder euery mans foot Two kinds of it be found the one which is the lesser hath also narrower leaues and inclining more to a blackish green resembling for all the world sheepe * or lambs tongues the stalke is cornered bending downward to the ground it growes ordinarily in medows The other is greater with leaues enclosed as it were within certain ribs resembling the sides of our body which being in number seuen gaue occasion to some herbarists for to call it Heptapleuron as a man would say the seuen ribbed herb The stem of this Plantain riseth to a cubit in height much like to that of the Naphew That which groweth in moist and waterie places is of greater vertue than the other Of wonderfull power and efficacy it is by the astringent quality that it hath for to dry and condensate any part of the body and serueth many times in stead of a cautery or searing yron And there is nothing in the world comparable vnto it in staying of fluxes and destillations which the Creeks call Rheumatismes To Plantain may be ioined the herb * Buglossos so called for that the leafe is like an Oxe tongue This herb hath one speciall property aboue the rest that if it be put into a cup of wine it cheareth the heart and maketh them that drink it pleasant and merry whereupon it is called Euphrosynon Vnto this for affinity of name it were good to annex Cynoglossos i. Hounds tongue for the resemblance that the leaues haue to a dogs tongue a proper herb for vinet-works and knots in gardens It is commonly said That the root of that Cynoglossos which putteth forth 3 stems or stalks and those bearing seed if it be giuen to drink cureth tertian agues but the root of that which hath foure is as good for the Quartains Another * Cynoglossos there is like to it which carrieth small burs the root whereof being drunke in water is a singular counterpoison against the venome of toads and serpents An herb there is with flours like vnto oxe eies wherupon it took the name in Greek * Buphthalmos the leaues resemble Fennel it groweth about town sides it shutteth forth stalkes from the root plentifully which being boiled are good to be eaten Some there be who call it Cachla This herb made into a salue with wax resolueth all * schirrous and hard swellings Other plants there be which beare the names not of men but of whole nations which first found them and their vertues out And to begin withall beholden we are to Scythia for that which is called Scythica It groweth notwitstanding in Boeotia and is exceeding sweet in tast Also there is another of that name singular good for the cramps called by the Greeks Spasmata An excellent property it hath besides for that whosoeuer holds it in their mouth shall for the time be neither hungry nor thirsty Of the same operation there is another herb among the Scythians or Tartars called Hippice because it workes the like effect in horses keeping them from hunger and thirst And if it be true that is reported the Scythians with these herbs wil endure without meat or drink for twelue daies together Touching the herbe Ischaemon the Thracians first found out the rare vertue that it hath in stanching bloud according as the very name implies For say they it wil stop the flux of bloud running and gushing out of a veine not only opened but also if it were â—…ut through It coucheth and creepeth low by the ground and is like vnto Millet but that the leaues be rough and hairy The manner is to stuffe the nosthrils therewith for to stay the bleeding at nose And that which groweth in Italy stancheth bloud if it be but hanged about the neck or tied to any part of the body The people in Spaine named Vettones were the first authors of that herb which is called in France * Vettonica in Italy Serratula and by the Greeks Cestron or Psychotrophon Surely an excellent herb this is and aboue all other simples most worthy of praise It commeth forth of the ground and riseth vp with a cornered stalke to the heigh of two cubits spreading from the very root leaues of the bignesse of Sorrell cut in the edges or toothed in manner of a saw with floures of a purple color growing in a spike seed correspondent therto The leaues dried and brought into pouder be good for very many vses There is a wine and vineger made or condite rather with Betony soueraign for to strengthen the stomack and clarifie the eiesight This glorious prerogatiue hath Betony that look about what house soeuer it is set or sowed the same is thought to be in the protection of the gods and safe enough for committing any offence which may deserue their vengeance and need any expiation or propitiatory sacrifice In the same Spain groweth * Cantabrica lately found by the people Cantabri and no longer since than in the daies of Augustus Caesar. This herb is to be seen euery where rising vp with a benty or rushy stalk a foot high vpon which you may behold small long floures like to cups or beakers wherein lie enclosed very small seeds Certes to speak the truth of Spain it hath bin alwaies a nation curious in seeking after simples And euen at this day in their great feasts where they meet to make merry Sans-nombre they haue a certain wassell or Bragat which goeth round about the table made of honied wine or sweet mead with a hundred distinct herbs in it and they are persuaded that it is the most pleasant and wholsomest drinke that can be deuised yet there is not one amongst them all who knoweth precisely what speciall herbs there be in all that number in this only they be all perfect that there go a hundred seuerall kinds therto according as the name doth import In our age we remember well that there was an hero discouered
again and verily there came Physitians and Chirurgions out of Egypt a countrey apt to breed the like diseases and where they be common such as professed only the skill in this kind of cure who filled their purses well and mightily enriched them selues by their practise at Rome for well known it is that Maâ—…lius Cornutus late L. Pretor and lieutenant general for the state in the prouince of Guienne or Aquitane in France dealt with one of these Egyptian leeches for to be cured of this disease and agreed to pay him 200000 Sesterces for his paine And thus much of Mentagra Moreouer what a wonderfull thing is this obserued in these new kind of maladies that many times contrary to the course of other sicknesses they come together in troupes that some of them should all on a sudden light vpon a particular country that they should take to one certaine member of mans body assaile those of such an age and no other haue a spight to persons of this or that quality and spare the rest as if they made choice some to plague young children others elder folk some to punish none but the rich and mighty others to be doing with the poore and needy In our Annals or Chronicles we find vpon record That while Lucius Paulus and Q. Marcius were Censors of Rome the pestilent carbuncle a disease appropriat to Prouance and Languedoc in France came first into Italy Of which maladie there died within the compasse of one yeare about that very time when I compiled this worke and history of mine two noble men of Rome and late Consuls to wit Iulius Rufus and Q. Lecanius Bassus of which two the former was cut for it by the counsell of vnskilfull Physitians and by that means lost his life As for the other hauing it vpon the thumb of his left hand he chanced to pricke it himselfe with a needle and although the wound was so small that hardly it could be seene and discerned yet it cost him his life This carbuncle riseth ordinarily in the most hidden and secret parts of the body and for the most part vnder the tongue it is hard and red in manner of the swelling veines called in Latine Varices and yet in the head it looketh blackish the skin also about it seemeth swe rt and dead it stretcheth the skinne and the flesh in some sort stiffe but without any great swelling no paine at all no itching no other symptome but sleepe wherewith it so possesseth the Patients that in three daies it will make an end of them Otherwhiles it causeth the party to fall into a quiuering and shaking as it were for cold and raiseth certaine blisters or angry pimples round about it and verie seldome causeth an Agúe but looke in whomsoeuer it taketh to the stomacke or throat it quickely dispatcheth and maketh an end of them As touching the white leprosie called Elephantiasis according as I haue before shewed it was not seen in Italie before the time of Pompey the Great This disease also began for the most part in the face and namely it tooke the nose first where it put forth a little specke or pimple no bigger than a small Lentill but soone after as it spread farther and ran ouer the whole body a man should perceiue the skin to be painted and spotted with diuers and sundry colors the same vneuen bearing out higher in one place than another thicke here but thin there and hard euery where rough also like as if a scurfe or scab ouerran it vntil in the end it would grow to be blackish bearing downe the flesh flat to the bones whiles the fingers of the hands and toes of the feet were puffed vp and swelled againe A peculiar malady is this and naturall to the Egyptians but look when any of their kings fell into it wo worth the subjects and poore people for then were the tubs and bathing vessels wherein they sat in the bain filled with mens bloud for their cure But surely this disease continued not long in Italy before it was quite extinguished like as another before it and in old time Gemursa which began between the toes and so long agoe it is since any haue bin troubled therwith that the very name also is forgotten and grown out of vse Where by the way this is to be noted as a strange and wonderfull thing That some of our diseases should haue an end and lose their course for euer and others againe continue still as for example the cholique passion which came among vs no longer agoe than in the daies of Tiberius Caesar the Emperor and the first that euer felt it was the prince himselfe whereupon arose no small question throughout the whole city of Rome for when as the said Emperour published a certain proclamation wherein he excused himself for not comming abroad to manage the affaires of the State because he was sick of the cholique the Senat and people reading this strange name of an vnknowne maladie entred into a deep discourse with themselues what to thinke and make of it But what should we say of all these kinde of diseases and what an anger and displeasure of the gods is this thus to plague and punish vs Was it not enough to haue sent amongst men into the world a certaine number of maladies otherwise and those not so few as three hundred but we must be in feare and danger still euery day of new and yet see as many as there be of them comming by the hand of God yet men thorow their owne excesse and disorders bring as many more vpon themselues and be causes still of farther troubles miseries Well thus you see by that which I haue written in the former bookes what was the old Physicke in times past namely consisting of the simples onely found in dame Natures garden and how she alone at the first and for a long time was our Physitian and furnished vs with remedies for all diseases CHAP. II. ¶ The praise of Hippocrates and other Physitians meere Simplests HIppocrates verily had this honor aboue all men That he was the first who wrote with most perspicuity of Physicke and reduced the precepts and rules thereof into the bodie of an art howbeit in all his bookes wee find no other receits but herbes Semblably the writings of Diocles the Carystian were no lesse stored with the like medicines and yet a famous Physitian he was and both in time and reputation next and second to Hippocrates Praxagoras also and Chrysippus yea and after them Erasistratus held on the same course As for Herophylus although he was the first that went more exquisitly to work and brought in a more subtill and fine method of Physick yet none esteemed better of simples than hee But surely practise and experience which as in all things else is found to be most effectuall so in the profession of Physick especially began in his daies by little and little to slake
or 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
hath a round root and the same yellowish and senting much of the earth the stem is foure cornered of a mean height small and slender and the floure much like to that of Basill Found it is ordinarily in stony grounds The root of this hearb drunk in mead to the weight of 2 deniers doth euacuat downward by the belly both cholericke and also flegmatick humors The seed causeth troublesome and vnquiet dreams if one drinke a dram therof in wine Fumiterre also consumeth and dispatcheth the kings-euill Polypodium which wee cal in Latine Filicula because it is like vnto Fearn purgeth choler The root which is only medicinable and in vse is ful of hairs of a greenish colour within as big commonly as a mans little finger full of hollow concauities it is representing those holes that the fishes called Polypi haue about their feet or clees sweetish it is in tast and groweth either vpon rocks or else at the foot of old trees After that this root hath bin wel soked in water they vse to presse the iuice forth of it or the same may be shred minced smal strewed among pothearbs either of Beers or Mallows yea and put into the pot with them or els tempered in some salt sauce or sodden in broth a fine medicine and a safe gently loosing the belly though the patient were in an ague it doth euacuat choler and flegme both but somwhat offensiue it is to the stomack The pouder of it dried conueighed vp into the nosthrils consumeth the ill-fauoured sore within called Polypus or Noli-me-tangere It floureth but seedeth not Moreouer Scammonie also ouerturns and hurteth the stomack vnlesse two drams of Aloe be put vnto as many oboli of it for then it purgeth choler and sendeth it down by the belly Now this Scammonie is the juice of a certain herb called likewise Scammonea which brancheth and tufteth immediatly from the root the leaues be fat white and made triangle wise the root thick moist and in handling wil make ones stomack to rise and be ready to heaue It loueth to grow in battle grounds and those of a white leere About the rising of the great Dog-star they vse to make an hollow trough in the root as it groweth to the end that all the moisture thereof may fall and gather into it which liquor beeing dried in the Sun is wrought and made into bals or trochisks The root it selfe also is commonly dried or at leastwise the rind thereof In regard of the countrey where it groweth that is commended most which comweth from Colophon Mysia and Priene but if you respect the form and look of it chuse that which is neat and clean resembling as neare as possibly may be strong Oxe glue spungeous or fistulous full of holes or passing small pipes If you go by other qualities take that which wil soon dissolue or melt which also hath a strong and stinking smel clammy and gummy turning into a whitish liquor like milk if you taste it at the tongues end exceeding light in the hand and when it is resolued growing to a whitish colour And yet this property you shall see in that Scammonie which is sophisticate and that yw is may soone be done for do but take the meale or floure of Eruile and the iuice of the sea Tithymal such is that commonly which commeth from Iudaea it wil counterfeit the right Scammony but such stuffe as this offendeth the throat and is ready to choke or strangle as many as vse it Howbeit this may be soon found by the very tast only for the Tithymall setteth the tongue in a heat as if it were a bulb root and is not good to purge whether a man take it fasting or full As for the true and sincere Scammony they were wont to exhibit it for a purgation euen simply by it self alone in a draught of mead with some salt and the dose was four oboli But it was found to do the deed best and most effectually taken with Aloe so that the patient when it began once to worke took a prety draught of sweet honied wine Furthermore the root if it be boiled in vineger to the consistence of hony maketh a singular liniment for to annoint the leptosie yea and in case of head-ach it is found good to annoint the head with it oile together As for the Tithymall aforesaid our countrymen here in Italy some call it Lactaria as one would say the Milke herb other Lactuca caprina i. Goats Lectuce It is commonly said that with the milke or juice of these Tithymals a man may write vpon the skinne of the body for draw any letters therewith and strew ashes or dust thereupon when they be drie they will appeare very legible And this is a tricke practised by those that make court vnto other mens wiues their mistresses deliuering their minds secretly vnto them by this means which they dare not set down in paper or missiue letters Many kinds there be of these Tithymals The first is known by the addition of Characias which also is called the male Tithymall the branches be of a finger thicknes red riueled 5 or 6 in number running vp to the height of a cubit and leaued they be immediatly from the root which hang downward inclining to the earth but in the top it hath an hairy tuft or head in manner of rushes This groweth in rough places and rocks by the seas side The seed together with the hairy bush that it hath they vse commonly to gather in Autumn which after it be dried in the Sun they stamp and then lay vp against their need As for the iuice men draw it about the time that Quinces begin to ripen and gather a downe about them for then they breake the sprigges and tender crops of the plant out of which there issueth the iuice or milk which they receiue either in Eruile floure or els vpon figs that it may dry with them together Now it is sufficient to let fiue drops fall vpon euery such fig for this opinion they haue that looke how many drops light vpon a fig so many stooles shall hee haue who taketh that fig in a dropsie to purge waterish humors But in the gathering of this iuice or liquour great heed must be taken that no drop of it touch the eyes There is a iuice also pressed out of the leaues being bruised and stamped but not so effectuall as the former The decoction of the branches also is vsed to the same purpose And the seed being sodden serueth to the making of certaine pils confected with hony which are highly commended for purgatiues the same seed enclosed within wax is good to be put into hollow teeth when they ake in which case also a collution made of the root boiled in wine or oile is singular good if they be washed therewith With the iuice of this herb there is a liniment made for tettars and ringworms and some
for the most part into three or foure grains or branches the same is white odoriferous and hot in the mouth it loueth to grow vpon rockes and stonie grounds lying pleasantly vpon the Sun The infusion of this root in wine is good to be drunke for the paine and other diseases of the matrice but of the said root there ought to be taken three ounces stamped and the same to steepe a day and night in 3 sextars of wine for to make the infusion aboue-named This portion also serues to send down the after-birth if it stay behind The seed of this herbe drieth vp milke if it be drunke in wine or mead Cirsion commeth vp with a slender stalke two cubits high and seemeth to be made 3 cornered triangle-wise the same is beset round about with prickie leaues howbeit the said prickes are but tender and soft The leaues in forme resemble an oxe tongue or the herb Langue-deboeufe but that they be smaller and somewhat white in the top whereof there put forth purple buttons or little heads which in the end turne to a plume like thistle down Some writers hold that this herb or the root onely bound vnto the swelling veines called Varices doth allay the paine thereof Crataeogonos spindleth in the head like vnto the eare of wheat and out of one single root ye shall haue many shoots to spring and rise vp into blade and straw and those also ful of ioints It gladly groweth in coole and shadowie places the seed resembleth the grain of the Millet which is very sharp and biting at the tongues end If a man his wife before they company together carnally drink before supper for 40 daies together the weight of three oboli of this seed either in wine or as many cyaths of water they shall haue a man childe betweene them as some say There is another Crataeogonos called also Thelygonos the difference from the other may soon be known by the mildnesse in taste Some authors affirm that if women vse to drinke the floures of Crataeogonos they shal within 40 daies conceiue with child But as well the one as the other applied with hony do heale old vlcers they incarnat and fill vp the hollow concauities of fistulous sores and such parts as do mislike and want nourishment they cause to gather flesh and fill the skin again foule and filthy vlcers they mundifie the flat biles and risings called Pani they rarifie and discusse gouts of the feet they mitigat generally all impostumations in womens brests specially they resolue and assuage Theophrastus would haue a kind of tree to be called Crataegonos or Crataeogon which here in Italy they call Aquifolia Crocodilion doth in shape resemble the thistly herbe or Artichoke called the blacke Chamaeleon the root is long and thicke in all parts alike of an hard and vnpleasant smel it groweth ordinarily in sandy or grauelly grounds If one drinke of it they say it will set the nose a bleeding and send out a deale of thicke and grosse bloud that the spleene will diminish and weare away by that means As touching Testiculus Canis or Dogs-stones which the Greeks cal Cynosorchis others simply Orchis it hath leaues like vnto those of the oliue soft tender they are and about halfe a foot long and therfore no maruell if they lie spred vpon the ground the root is bulbous and growing long-wise in a double ranke or two together the one aboue which is the harder the other vnder it and that is the softer when they be sodden folke vse to eat them after the manner of other bulbs and lightly a man shall find them growing in vineyards Of these two roots if a man eat the bigger it is said that he shal beget boies and if the woman eat the smaller she shal conceiue a maiden childe In Thessalie men vse for to drinke in goats milke the softer of these roots to make themselues lustie for the act of generation but the harder when they would coole the heat of lust whereby we may see that they be contrarie and one hindereth the operation of the other Chrysolachanon commeth vp like a Lettuce and commonly groweth in plots of ground set with Pines the vertue of this herbe is to heale wounds of the sinewes thought they were cut quite asunder if it be presently laied too There is another kinde of Chrysolachanon bearing floures of a golden colour and leafed like vnto the Beet when it is boiled folke vse to eat it in stead of meat and it looseneth the belly as well as Beets Coleworts and such like and if it be true that is reported whosoeuer beare this hearbe tied fast about any place of their bodies which is euer in their eie so as they may see the same continually it wil cure them of the jaundise Touching this hearb Chrysolachanum well I wot that I haue not written sufficiently that men might know it by this description and yet could I neuer meet with any author who hath said more or described it better This verily hath been the fault and ouersight euen of our moderne Herbarists of late daies To write sleightly of those herbes and simples which they themselues knew and were acquainted with as if forsooth they had been knowne to euery man setting downe onely their names and no more which is euen as much as to tell vs a tale and say that with the rennet or rundles of the earth one might stay a laske or giue free passage to the vrine in the strangury so it be drunke in wine or water As for Cucubalum they write of it That if the leaues bee stamped with vineger they heale the stings of serpents and scorpions Some of them cal this herb by another name Strumus and others giue it the Greeke name Strychnos and black berries they say it hath The iuice thereof taken to the quantity of one cyath with twice as much honied wine is soueraigne for the loins or small of the back likewise it easeth the head-ache if together with oile of roses it bee distilled vpon the head by way of embrochation The herb it selfe in substance made into a liniment healeth the wens called the kings euill Concerning the fresh water Spunge for so I may more truly terme it than either mosse or herbe so thicke of shag haires it is and fistulous withal it groweth ordinarily within the riuers that issue from the root of the Alpes and is named in Latine * Conferua for that it is good to conglutinat in manner of a souder Certes I my selfe know a poore labourer who as he was lopping a tall tree fell from the top down to the ground and was so pitiously bruised thereby that vnneth he had any sound bone in all his body that was vnbroken and in very truth lapped he was all ouer with this mosse or spunge call it whether you will and the same was kept euermore moist and wet with sprinckling his owne
long shanke of a swine they gape alwaies toward the coast which is cleare and neuer doe they hunt for their food but they yawne at least a foot wide Teeth there bee growing round about the edges of a shell and those stand thicke together and when they shut or close their shels the foresaid teeth run one betweene another in manner of a combe In stead of a callositie within they haue a great lumpe of flesh As for the fish Hyaena I my selfe haue seen one of them taken in the Island Aenaria which vsed to put forth and draw in his head at his pleasure Thus much of Fishes worth the naming For besides these I am not ignorant that there be other base excrements that the sea voideth and purgeth which I hold to be very vnfit and not worthy to be ranged among Fishes and liuing creatures but rather to be reckoned as Kilpes Reike and other sea weeds THE XXXIII BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS Of Mettals and Minerals and their natures The Proem NOw is it time to enter into the discourse of the Mettals and Minerals the very riches and precious treasure of the World which men so curiously and carefully seeke after as that they sticke not to search into the very bowels of the earth by all the meanes they can deuise for some you shall haue to enrich themselues for to dig into the ground for mines of gold and siluer base mettall Electrum Copper and Brasse others againe vpon a desire of daintie delights and brauerie to lay for gems and precious stones for such Minerals I say which may serue partly to adorne their fingers and partly to set out the walls of sumptuous buildings with costly colours rich marble and porphyries Lastly there bee many who maintaine rash quarrels and audacious attempts spare for no labour to get yron and steele and esteeming it better than gold for cruell warres and bloudie murthers In summe there is not a vaine in the whole earth but wee prie and search into it we follow it also so farre as it goeth Thus hauing vndermined the poore ground wee liue and goe alost vpon it as ouer hollow vaults and arches vnder our feet and yet we would seeme to wonder that otherwhiles she cleaueth asunder into wide and gaping chinkes or else trembleth and quaketh againe and wee will not see how these be apparant signes of the wrath of this our blessed mother which we bring and force from her to expresse the indignation that she taketh for this wrong and misusage We descend into her intrailes we goe downe as far as to the seat and habitation of the infernall spirits and all to meet with rich treasure as if the earth were not fruitfull ynough and beneficiall vnto vs in the vpper part thereof where the permitteth vs to walke and tread vpon her Howbeit in all this paines that wee take to ransacke the mines therof the least matter of all other is to seeke for any thing that concerneth Physick and the regiment of our health For among so many masters as there be of mines where is there one that would be at such expence of digging in regard of any medicines And yet I must needs say that as the earth otherwise is no niggard but bounteous and liberall readie also and easily entreated to bring forth all things good and profitable for vs so in this behalfe she hath furnished vs sufficiently with wholesome drougs and medicinable simples growing aboue and fit for our hand without need of digging deepe for the matter But the things that shee hath hidden and plunged as it were into the bottome those be they that presse vs downe those driue and send vs to the diuell in hell euen those dead creatures I say which haue no life nor doe grow at all In such sort as to consider the thing aright and not to captivat our spirits to such base matters How farre thinke wee will couetous minded men pierce and enter ino earth or when will they make an end of these mines hollowing the ground as they doe in all ages from time to time and making it void and emptie Oh how innocent a life how happy and blessed nay how pleasant a life might we lead if we coueted nothing else but that which is aboue the ground and in one word if we stood contented with that which is ready at hand and euen about vs. But now not sufficed with the gold which we fetch out of the mines we must seeke for the greene earth Borras also which lieth hard by yea and giue it a name respectiue vnto gold whereby it might be thought more deare and pretious For why we thought not the inuention and finding out of gold alone to be enough for to infect and corrupt our hearts vnlesse we made great account also of that vile and base minerall which is the very ordure of gold and no better Men vpon a couetous mind would needs seeke for siluer and not satisfied therwith thought good withall to find out Minerall vermilion deuising meanes how to vse that kind of red earth Oh the monstrous inuentions of mans wit What a number of waies haue we found to enhaunce the price and value of euery thing for painters of the one side with their artificiall painting and enameling the grauers on the other side with their curious cutting and chasing haue made both gold and siluer the dearer by their workemanship such is the audacitie of man that hee hath learned to counterfeit Nature yea and is so bold as to challenge her in her workes And wherein is the art and cunning of these artificers so much seene as in the workemanship of such pourtraitures vpon their gold and siluer plate which might incite and prouoke men to all kind of vices for in processe of time we tooke pleasure to haue our drinking boles and goblets engrauen all ouer with those workes which represent lust and want onnesse and our delight was to drinke out of such beastly cups which might put vs in mind of sinfull and filthy lecherie but afterwards these cups also were cast aside and laid away men began to make but base account of them gold and siluer was so plentifull and common that we had too much thereof What did we then Forsooth we digged into the same earth for Cassidonie and Crystall and we loued to haue our cups and other vessels of such brittle minerals and the more precious we held them as they were more subject to breaking so as now adaies hee is thought to haue his house most richly furnished who hath his cupbourds best stored with this ticklish ware and the most glorious shew that we can make of excesse and superfluitie is this To haue that which the least knocke may breake and being once broken the pieces thereof might be worth nothing Neither is this all for stay we cannot here we are not yet at cost enough vnlesse we may drinke out of a
more strong and violent smell the better men take it to be such also is pure clear and brittle withal or easie to crumble mundificatiue it is and astrir gent heating also and exceeding corrosiue and the principal vertue that it hath is to fret and putrifie whatsoeuer it worketh vpon in a liniment with vineger it causeth the haire to come vp thicke againe in places despoiled thereof by any disease It entreth iuto collyries or eie-salues reduced into a lohoch with hony it clenseth the throat and maketh a cleare shrill and loud voice eaten by way of a bole with turpentine it is a gentle and pleasant medicine for those that be short-winded and troubled with the cough a perfume also made with it and Cedar together is good in the same cases so that the smoke be receiued vp at the mouth As for Arsenicke it is of the same stuffe that which is best of this kind resembleth burnished gold in colour the paler kind inclining to the colour of Sandaracha is thought to be the worse A third sort there is of a middle and medled color compounded as it were of gold and Sandaracha These two later kinds be skaly aloft as for the first which is dry and pure it is ful of small veins running here and there whereby it is apt to cleaue as the veine goeth Of the same operation is Arsenicke as the rest but that it is more hot and biting in which regard it is vsed in potentiall cauteries and depilatories it taketh away the carnosities and apostemations about the nailes of the fingers the superfluous flesh also within the nosthrils the bigs that hang forth of the fundament and in one word it eateth away any excrescence whatsoeuer To conclude much better it is and more powerfull in operation in case it be calcined in a new earthen pan where it must torrifie so long vntill it change the colour THE XXXV BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS The Proem THe discourse of Mines and Metalls wherein principally consisteth the wealth of the world of other Mineralls also growing to them with the Natures Operations and effects of them all is an argument so knit and annexed to Physicke that the handling thereof which I haue alreadie well-neare performed not onely discouereth a world of wholesome medicines profitable for the life and health of man but also inferreth a number of hidden secrets couched within the Apothecaries shops yea and openeth the way vnto the curious Art and subtill deuises of Grauers Painters and Diers inducing me withall to take them also before me and to treat thereof accordingly which when I haue done there remaineth yet for mee a new worke to take in hand namely to write of sandry kinds of Earth and Stone and those linked together carying with them a longer traine by far than the former minerals Concerning which other authors and the Greeke writers especially haue so particularized that of each one of them they haue written many volumes For mine owne part I mean not to follow their steps but by way of compendious breuitie to proceed as I haue begun and yet to omit nothing that is necessary profitable and pertinent to Nature CHAP. I. ¶ The honour of flat picture in old time TO begin then with that which remaineth as touching Picture and Painting this would be knowne That in times past it was reputed a noble and excellent art in those daies I meane when Kings and whole Sates made account thereof and when those onely were thought innobled and immortallized whom Painters vouchsafed to commend by their workmanship to posterity But now the marble and porphyrit stones haue put painting clean down the gold also laid vpon them hath woon all credit from painters colours gold I say wherewith not only plain and entire walls are richly guilded all ouer but also the polished works of marble engrauen vpon them after the manner of inlaid work and marquetage of diuers pieces resembling men beasts and floures and all things else for in these daies contented we are not with plaine squares and tables of marble nor with the riches of mighty mountains coucht vnder couert laid within our bed-chambers in that sort as they grew but come we are now to paint-stones Deuised this was first in the daies of Claudius Caesar but when Nero came to be Emperor the inuention was taken vp to giue those colours to stones in their superficiall outside which they had not of their own to make them spotted which naturally were of one simple colour that by the helpe of mans hand the Numidian red porphyrit should be set out with white spots in eg-fashion the Sinadian grey marble distinguished with marks and strakes of purple as if our delicate wantons shewed thereby how they could haue wished the stones to grow Thus would they seem to correct the works of Nature to supply the wants of mountains and quarries and to make amends for the hils clouen in sunder for gold and hewed in pieces for marble And what is the end of all this prodigious prodigality and wastfull superfluity but that the fire when it commeth may consume in one houre a world of wealth CHAP. II. ¶ The estimation and account that was made of Images in times past represented by liuely pictures THe manner was in antient time to continue and perpetuat the memorial of men by drawing their pourtraitures in liuely colours as like to their proportion and shape as possibly could be but this custome is growne now altogether out of vse in stead whereof wee haue shields and scutcheons set vp of brasse we haue faces of siluer in them without any liuely distinction of one from another and as for our sesterces the heads vpon them otherwhiles bee changed one for another which hath giuen occasion long since of many a jest and libel spred abroad in rime and sung in euery street Insomuch as all men now adaies are more desirous to haue the rich matter seene that goeth to the making of images than to be knowne by their own personage and visage as it is and yet euery man delighteth to haue his cabinet and closet well furnished with antique painted tables the statues images of other men they think it enough to honor and adore whiles they themselues measuring worship by wealth thinking nothing honorable that is not sumptuous and costly see not how by this meanes they giue occasion to their heires for to break open their counters and make spoile of all or els before that day come entice a thiefe to be hooking or twitching them away with gins and snares Considering then that no man careth for a liuely picture all the monuments that they leaue vnto their heires are images rather of their monies than resemblances of themselues Howbeit these great men take pleasure to haue their owne wrestling places and halls of exercise yea and the roomes where they are annointed beautified and
fresh and as if they were but newly made considering the places where they be so ruinat and vncouered ouer head Semblably at Lanuvium there remaine yet two pictures of lady Atalanta and queen Helena close one to the other painted naked by one and the same hand both of them are for beauty incomparable and yet a man may discerne the one of them to be a maiden for her modest and chaste countenance which pictures notwithstanding the ruins of the temple where they stand are not a whit disfigured or defaced Of late daies Pontius lieutenant vnder C. Caligula the Emperor did what he could to haue remoued them out of the place and carried them away whole and entire vpon a wanton affection and lustfull fancy that he cast vnto them but the plastre or porget of the wall whereupon they were painted was of that temper that would not abide to be stirred At Caere there continue certaine pictures of greater antiquity than those which I haue named And verily whosoeuer shall well view and peruse the rare workemanship therein will confesse that no art in the world grew sooner to the height of absolute perfection than it considering that during the state of Troy no man knew what painting was CHAP. IIII. Of Romanes that were excellent Painters When the art of painting came first into credit and estimation at Rome What Romans they were that exhibited the pourtraits of their owne victories in pictures And about what time painted tables made by strangers in forreine parts were accepted and in great request at Rome AMongst the Romanes also this Art grew betimes into reputation as may appeare by the Fabij a most noble and honourable house in Rome who of this science were syrnamed Pictores i. Painters the first who was intituled with that addition painted with his own hand the temple of Salus and this was in the 450 yeare after the foundation of our city which painting continued in our age euen vnto the time of Claudius Caesar the Emperor in whose daies the temple it selfe with the painting was consumed with fire Next after this the workmanship of Pacuvius the Poet who likewise painted the chappell of Hercules in the beast-market at Rome was highly esteemed and gaue much credit to the art This Pacuvius was Ennius the Poets sisters sonne and being as he was a famous Tragaedian besides and of great name vpon the stage the excellency of his spirit that way much commended at Rome his handy-work and painting aforesaid After him I doe not finde that any person of worth and quality tooke pensill in hand and practised painting vnlesse haply a man would nominat Turpilius a gentleman of Rome in our time and a Venetian born of whose workemanship there be many faire parcels of paynting extant at this day in Verona and yet this Turpilius was altogether left-handed and painted therewith a thing that I doe not heare any man did before him As for Aterius Labeo a noble man of Rome late Lord Pretour and who otherwise had been vice-consull in Gallia Narbonensis or Languedoc who liued to a very great age and died not long since he practised painting and all his delight and glory that he tooke was in fine and smal works of a little compasse howbeit he was but laughed at and scorned for that quality and in his time the handicraft grew to be base and contemptible Yet I thinke it not amisse to put downe for the better credit of painters a notable consultation held by certaine right honourable personages as touching the Art and their resolution in the end And this was the case Q. Paedius the little nephew of Q. Paedius who had bin Consull in his time and entred Rome in triumph him I mean whom C. Caesar Dictator made co-heire with Augustus hapned to be born dumb and Messala the great Oratour out of whose house the grandmother of this child was descended being carefull how the boy should be brought vp after mature aduise and deliberation thought good that hee should by signes and imitation be trained vp in the art of painting which counsell of his was approoued also by Augustus Caesar. And in truth this yong gentleman being apt therto profited maruellous much therein and died in his youth But the principall credit that painters attained vnto at Rome was as I take it by the means of M. Valerius Maximus first syrnamed Messala who beeing one of the grand-seigmeurs of Rome was the first that proposed to the view of all the world and set vp at a side of the stately hall or court Hostilia one picture in a table wherein hee caused to be painted that battel in Sicily wherein himselfe had defeated the Carthaginians and K. Hiero which happened in the yeare from the foundation of Rome 490. The like also I must needs say did L. Scipio and hung vp a painted table in the Capitol temple containing his victory and conquest of Asia whereupon he was syrnamed Asiaticus But as it is said Africanus although hee were his owne brother was highly displeased therewith and good cause he had to be angry and offended because in that battell his own son was taken prisoner by the enemy The like offence was taken also by Scipio Aemilianus against Lucius Hostilius Mancinus who was the first that entred perforce the city of Carthage for that hee had caused to bee set vp in the market place of Rome a faire painted table wherein was liuely drawne the strong scituation of Carthage and the warlike means vsed in the assaulting and winning of it together with all the particulars and circumstances thereof which Mancinus himselfe in person sitting by the said picture desciphered from point to point vnto the people that came to behold it by which courtesie of his hee woon the hearts of the people insomuch as at the next election of Magistrates his popularitie gained him a Consulship In the publicke plaies which Claudius Pulcher exhibited at Rome the painted clothes about the stage and Theatre which represented building brought this art into great admiration for the workmanship was so artificiall and liuely that the very rauens in the aire deceiued with the likenesse of houses flew thither apace for to settle thereupon supposing verily there had been tiles and crests indeed And thus much concerning Painters craft exercised in Rome To come now to forrain pictures Lu. Mummius syrnamed Achaicus for his conquest of Asia was the first man at Rome who made open shew of painted tables wrought by strangers and caused them to be of price and estimation for when as in the port-sale of all the bootie and pillage gotten in that victorie king Attalus had brought one of them wrought by the hand of Aristides containing the picture only of god Bacchus which was to cost him six thousand Sesterces Mummius wondering at the price supposing that this table had some speciall and secret propertie in it more than himselfe knew of brake the bargain called for the picture
too much for why there is some good vse thereof in Physicke But I must tell you againe our women regard not that one whit that is not it wherfore they take so great a liking to Ambre True it is that a collar of Ambre beads worne about the neck of yong infants is a singular preseruatiue to them against secret poyson a countercharme for witchcraft and sorcerie Callistratus saith That such collars are very good for all ages and namely to preserue as many as weare them against fantasticall illusions and frights that driue folke out of their wits yea and Amber whether it be taken in drinke or hung about one cures the difficulty of voiding vrin This Callistratus brought in a new name to distinguish yellow Ambre from the rest calling it Chryselectrum which is as much to say as gold Ambre And in very truth this Amber is of a most louely and beautifull colour in a morning This property it hath besides by it selfe that it will catch fire exceeding quickly for if it be neer it you shal see it will soon be of a light fire He saith of this yellow Amber that if it be worn about the neck in a collar it cures feauers and healeth the diseases of the mouth throat and jawes reduced into pouder and tempered with hony and oile of roses it is soueraign for the infirmities of the ears Stamped together with the best Attick hony it makes a singular eie-salue for to help a dim sight puluerized and the pouder thereof taken simply alone or els drunk in water with masticke is soueraign for the maladies of the stomacke Furthermore Amber is very proper to falsifie many pretious stones which are commended for their perspicuity and transparent clearenesse but specially to counterfeit Amethysts by reason that I haue already said it is capable of any tincture that a man would giue it The froward peeuishnes of some Authors who haue written of Lyncurium enforceth me to speak of it immediatly after Amber for say that it be not Electrum or Amber as some would haue it yet they stand stiffely in this that it is a pretious stone mary they hold that it commeth from the vrine of an Once by reason that this wild beast so soon as it hath pissed couereth it with earth vpon a spight and enuie to man that he should haue no good therby They affirme moreouer That the Once stone or Lyncurium is of the same colour that Ambre ardent which resembleth the fire that it serueth well to be engrauen neither by their saying doth it catch at leaues only and strawes but thin plates also of brasse and yron and of this opinion was Dimocles and Theophrastus For mine own part I hold all to be mee re vntruths neither do I think that in our age there hath been a man who euer saw any pretious stone of that name Whateuer also is written as touching the vertues medicinable of Lyncurium I take them to be no better than fables namely that if it be giuen in drink it wil send out the stone of the bladder if it be drunk in wine it will cure the jaundise presently or if it be but carried about one it wil do the deed but ynough of such fantasticall dreames and lying vanities and time it is now to treat of those precious stones wherof there is no doubt made at al and to begin with those that by al mens confession are most rich and of highest price In which discourse I wil not prosecute this theame only but also for to aduance the knowledge of posterity in those things that may profit this life I meane eftsoones to haue a fling at Magicians for their abhominable lies and monstrous vanities for in nothing so much haue they ouerpassed themselues as in the reports of gems pretious stones exceeding the tearms and limits of Physick whiles vnder a color of faire and pleasing medicines they hold vs with a tale of their prodigious effects and incredible CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of Diamants and their sundry kinds Their vertues and properties medicinable Of Pearles THe Diamant carieth the greatest price not only among pretious stones but also aboue aâ—… things els in the world neither was it knowne for a long time what a Diamant was vnlesse it were by some kings and princes and those but very few The only stone it is that we find in mines of mettal Very seldome it is and thought a miracle to meet with a diamant in a veine of gold yet it seemes as though it should grow no where but in gold The writers of antient time were of opinion that it was to be had in the mines only of Aethiopia and namely between the temple of Mercurie and the Island Meroë affirming moreouer that the fairest Diamant that euer was found exceeded not in bignesse a Cucumber seed whereunto also it was not vnlike in color But in these daies there be known six sorts of Diamants The Indian is not engendred in mines of gold but hath a great affinitie with Crystall and groweth much after that manner for in transparent and cleere color it differeth not at all neither yet otherwhiles in the smooth sides and faces which it carrieth between six angles pointed sharpe at one end in manner of a top or els two contrary waies lozengewise a wonderful thing to consider as if the flat ends of two tops were set and joined together and for bignesse it hath bin knowne of the quantity of an Hazel-nut or Filbard kernill The Diamants of Arabia be much like to the Indian only they are lesse they grow also after the same order As for the rest they are of a more pale and yellow color testifying out of what country and nation they come for they breed not but in mines of gold and those the most excellent of all others The triall of these Diamants is vpon a smiths Anuill for strike as hard as you will with an hammer vpon the point of a Diamant you shall see how it scorneth all blowes and rather than it will seeme to relent first flieth the hammer that smiteth in pieces and the very anuill it selfe vnderneath cleaueth in twaine Wonderful and inenarrable is the hardnesse of a Diamant besides it hath a nature to conquer the fury of fire nay you shall neuer make it hot doe what you can for this vntameable vertue that it hath the Greekes haue giuen it the name Adamas One of these kinds the said Greekes call Cenchron for that it is as big ordinarily as the millet seed a second sort they name Macedonicum found in the mine of gold neer Philippi and this is that Diamant which for quantity is compared to the Cucumber seed After these there is the Cyprian Diamant so called because it is found in the Isle Cyprus it enclineth much to the color of brasse but in cases of Physick as I will shew anon most effectual Next to which I must raunge the Diamant Sideritis which shines as bright
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 he was in his gate slow and heauy and in his wit as dull and blockish howbeit in his time vndergrowne he was and his voice changed to be great and at three yeares end died suddenly of a generall crampe or contraction of all the parts of his body It is not long since I saw my selfe the like in all respects sauing that vndergoing aforesaid in a son of one Cornelius Tacitus a Roman knight and a procurator or general receiuer and Treasurer for the State in Gaule Belgique such the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Ectirapelos wee in Latine haue no name for them CHAP. XVI ¶ Certaine notable obseruations in bodies of men and women WE see tried by experience that take measure of a man from the sole of the foot vp to the crowne of the head so far it is between the ends of his two middle and longest fingers when he stretcheth out his armes and hands to the full As also that some men and women be stronger of the right side than of the left others againe that be as strong of one as the other and there be that are altogether left handed and best with that hand but that is seldome or neuer seen in women Moreouer men weigh heauier than women and in euerie kind of creature dead bodies be more heauy than the quicke and the same parties sleeping weigh more than waking Finally obserued it is that the dead corps of a man floteth on the water with the face vpward but contrariwise women swim groueling as if Nature had prouided to saue their honesty and couer their shame euen when they are dead CHAP. XVIII ¶ Examples of diuers extraordinarie cases in mans body WE haue heard that some mens bones are sollid and massie and so do liue without any marrow in them you may know them by these signes they neuer feele thirst nor put forth any sweat and yet we know that a man may conquer and master his thirst if hee list for so a gentleman of Rome one Iulius Viator descended from the race of the Vocontians our allies being falne into a kind of dropsie between the skin and the flesh during his minority and nonage and forbidden by the Physicions to drink so accustomed himselfe to obserue their direction that naturally he could abide it insomuch that all his old age euen to his dying day he forbare his drink Others also haue bin able to command and ouer-rule their nature in many cases and breake themselues of diuers things CHAP. XIX ¶ Strange natures and properties of diuers persons IT is said that Crassus grand father to that Crassus who was slaine in Parthia was neuer known to laugh all his life time and thereupon was called Agelastus and contrariwise many haue bin found that neuer wept Also that sage and renowned wise man Socrates was seene alwaies to carry one and the self-same countenance neuer more merry and cheerefull nor more solemne and vnquiet at one time than at another But this obstinate constancy and firm cariage of the mind turneth now and then in the end into a certain rigour and austerity of nature so hard and inflexible that it cannot be ruled and in very truth despoileth men of all affections and such are called of the Greekes Apathes who had the experience of many such and that which is a maruellous matter those especially that were the great pillars of philosophy and deep learned Clerks namely Diogenes the Cinicke Pyrrho Heraclitus and Timo and as for him he was so far gone in his humor that he seemed professedly to hate all mankind But these were examples of a corrupt peruerse froward nature As for other things there be sundry notable obseruations in many as in Antonia the wife of Drusus who as it was well knowne neuer spit in Pomponius the poet one that had sometimes bin Consull who neuer belched But as for such as naturally haue their bones not hollow but whole and solid they be very rare and seldom seene and called they are in Latine Cornei i. hard as horne CHAP. XX. ¶ Of bodily strength and swiftnesse VArro in his treatise of prodigious and extraordinary strength maketh report of one Tritanus a man that of body was but little and lean withall how beit of incomparable strength much renowned in the fence schoole and namely in handling the Samnites weapons wearing their manner of armor and performing their feats and masteries of great name He maketh mention also of a sonne of his a souldier that serued vnder Pompeius the Great who had all ouer his body yea and throughout his armes and hands some sinewes running streight out in length others crossing ouerthwart lattise-wise and he saith moreouer of him that when an enemie out of the camp gaue him defiance and challenged him to a combat he would neither put on defensiue harnesse ne yet arme his right hand with offensiue weapon but with naked hand made meanes to foile and ouercome him and in the end when hee had caught hold of him brought him away perforce into his own camp with one finger Iunius Valens a captaine pensioner or centurion of the gard-souldiers about Augustus Caesar was woont alone to beare vp a charriot laden with certain hogsheads or a butt of wine vntill it was discharged thereof the wine drawne out also his manner was with one hand to stay a coach against all the force of the horses striuing and straining to the contrary and to perform other wonderfull masteries which are to be seen engrauen vpon his tombe and therefore qd Varro being called Hercules Rusticellus he tooke vp his mule vpon his back and carried him away Fusius Saluius hauing two hundred pound weights at his feet and as many in his hands and twise as much vpon his shoulders went withall vp a paire of staires or a ladder My selfe haue seene one named Athanatus do wonderfull strange matters in the open shew and face of the world namely to walke his stations vpon the stage with a cuirace of lead weighing 500 pound booted besides with a pair of buskins or greiues about his legges that came to as much in weight As for Milo the great wrestler of Crotone when he stood firm vpon his feet there was not a man could make him stir one foot if he held a pomegranat fast within his hand no man was able to stretch a finger of his and force it out at length It was counted a great matter that Philippides ran 1140 stadia to wit from Athens to Lacedaemon in two daies vntill Lanisis a courtier of Lacedaemon and Philonides footman to Alexander the great ran between Sicyone and Olis in one day 1200 stadia But now verily at this day we see some in the grand cirque able to indure in one day the running of 160 miles And but a while agoe we are not ignorant that when Fonteius Vipsanus were Consuls a yong boy but 9 yeres old between noon and euening ran 75 miles And verily a man
drie as that which will not thicken at all Also which is the grossest bloud and heauiest which the lightest and thinnest and last of all what creatures liuing haue no bloud at all THose that haue much bloud and the same fat and grosse are angrie and chollericke The bloud of males is commonly blacker than that of females yea and more in youth than in old age and the same in the bottome and lower part setleth fatter and grosser than aboue In bloud consists a great portion and treasure of life When it is let out it caries with it much vitall spirit howbeit sencelesse it is and hath no feeling The strongest creatures bee they which haue the thickest bloud but the wisest those that haue thinnest the more fearefull that haue least but dull and blockish altogether which haue none at all Buls bloud of all other soonest congealeth and waxeth hard and therefore poison it is to be drunke especially The bloud of Bores red and fallow Deere Roe-buckes and all Buffles will not thicken Asses bloud is most fatty and grosse and contrarily mans bloud is thinnest finest Those beasts which haue more than 4 feet are bloudlesse Those that be fat haue small store of bloud because it is spent in fatnesse Man only bleeds at the nose some at one nosthrill alone others at both and some againe void bloud downward by the Hemorrhoids Many there be that cast vp bloud at certaine times ordinarie by the mouth as not long since Macrinus Viscus late pretor of Rome and vsually euerie yeare Volusius Saturninus Prouost of the citie who notwithstanding liued vntill hee was aboue fourescore and ten yeres old Bloud is the only thing in the body that increases presently For so we see that beasts killed for sacrifice wil bleed most freshly in greater abundance if they dranke a little before Those creatures that lie hidden in the earth at certaine times as we haue said before haue no bloud in all that while vnlesse it be some few and those very smal drops gathered about their hearts A wonderfull worke of Nature that it should be so as also that in a man it should alter and change euer and anon so as it doth vpon euery small occasion and the force and strength thereof varie not only for defect and want of matter to disperse abroad but also for euery little motion and passion of the minde as shame anger and feare For one while it sheweth pale another whiles red more or lesse in much varietie of degrees In case of anger it wil shew one color of shame and bashfulnesse appearing in another In feare doubtlesse it retires and flies backe in such sort as a man knowes not what is become of it so as many in that fit haue ben stabbed and run thorough and yet bleed not at all one drop but this suddaine change of colour happens to men only For in other creatures which as we haue said do alter their hue it is an outward colour that they take from the reflection of certain places neer vnto them man alone hath this change from within himselfe To conclude all maladies and death especially consume the bloud CHAP. XXXIX ¶ Whether in Bloud resteth the soueraignetie or no Also of the nature of Skin of Haires and the Paps SOmâ—… measure not the finenesse of spirit and wit by the puritie of bloud but suppose that creatures are brutish more or lesse according as their Skin is thicker or thinner and as the other couertures of their bodie be either grosse and hard or thin and tender as we see for example in Oisters and Tortoises They affirme moreouer that the thick hide in Kine Oxen and the hard bristles in Swine impeach the entrance of subtile aire and fine spirit into their bodies in such wise that nothing can pierce and passe through which is pure and fine as it should be And hereto they bring men also as a proofe who are thicke skinned and more brawnie for to be more grosse of sence and vnderstanding as who would say that Crocodiles were not very wittie and industrious yet their skin is hard enough And as for the Riuer-horse his hide is so thicke that thereof jauelines and speares are turned and yet so industrious is that beast that in some case he is his owne Physician and he hath taught vs to open a veine and let bloud The Elephants skin is so tough and hard that therof be made targuets and shields of so good proofe that is is impossible to pierce them thorough and yet they are thought to be of all four-footed beasts most ingenious and wittie Wherefore conclude we may that the skin it selfe is sencelesse and hath no fellowship at all with the vnderstanding and especially that of the head and whersoeuer it is of it selfe naked and without flesh be sure if it be wounded impossible it is to consolidate the wound and namely in the eie lids and bals of the cheekes All creatures that bring forth their young quicke are hairie those that lay egs haue either feathers as birds skales as fishes or else be couered with shels as Tortoises or last of all haue a plaine skin and no more as Serpents The quils of all feathers be hollow Cut them they will grow no more plucke them they will come againe Insects flie with thin and brittle pellicles or membranes The sea Swallowes haue them euermore moist and drenched in the sea As for the Bat he is afraid to wet them and therfore flies about housen his wings besides are diuided into joints The haires that grow forth of a thick skin are commonly hard grosse but euermore thinner and finer in the females In horses and mares they grow at length vpon their mains Lions also haue them long about their shoulders and foreparts Connies haue long haires about their checkes yea and within-forth as also in the soles of their feet and so hath the Hares according to the opinion of Trogus who thereby collecteth that hairy men likewise are more letcherous than other The hairiest creature of all other is the Hare In mankind only there grows haire about the priuy parts and whosoeuer wants it man or woman is holden for barren not apt for generation Haires in men and women are not all of one sort for some they bring with them into the world others come vp and grow afterwards Those they haue from their mothers womb do not lightly fall and shed and least of all in women Yet shal ye haue some women to shed the haire of the head by occasion of sicklinesse as also other women to haue a kinde of down vpon their face namely when their monethly fleurs do stay vpon them In some men the later kind of haires to wit of the beard c. wil not come of their own accord without the help of Art Four-footed beasts shed their haire yerely and haue it grow again Mens haire of their heads groweth most and next to it