THE HISTORIE OF FOVRE-FOOTED BEASTES Describing the true and liuely figure of euery Beast with a discourse of their seuerall Names Conditions Kindes Vertues both naturall and medicinall Countries of their breed their loue and hate to Mankinde and the wonderfull worke of God in their Creation Preseruation and Destruction Necessary for all Diuines and Students because the story of euery Beast is amplified with Narrations out of Scriptures Fathers Phylosophers Physitians and Poets wherein are declared diuers Hyerogliphicks Emblems Epigrams and other good Histories Collected out of all the Volumes of CONRADVS GESNER and all other Writers to this present day By EDWARD TOPSELL The Gorgon LONDON Printed by William Iaggard 1607. TO THE REVEREND AND RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL RICHARD NEILE D. of DIVINITY Deane of Westminster Maister of the SAVOY and Clearke of the King his most excellent Maiesties Closet all felicity Temporall Spirituall and Eternall THe Library of English Bookes and Catalogue of writers Right Worthy and Learned DEANE my most respected PATRON haue growne to the height not onely of a iust number but almost innumerable and no maruell for God himself hath in all ages preserued lerning in the next place to life for as life is the Ministeriall Gouernor and moouer in this world so is learning the Ministeriall Gouernor and moouer in life As an Interpretor in a strange Country is necessary for a traueller that is ignorant of Languages or else he should perish so is knowledge and learning to vs poore Pilgrims in this our Perigrination out of Paradice vnto Paradice whereby confused BABELS tongues are againe reduced to their significant Dialects not in the builders of BABELL to further and finish an earthly Tower but in the builders of IERVSALEM to bring them all to their owne Countrey Which they seeke and to the desired rest of soules Literae obstetrices artium quarum beneficio ab interitur vndicantur As life is different and diuers according to the spirit wherein it is seated and by which it is norished as with a current so also is Learning acording to the tast vse and practise of rules Canons and Authors from whom as from a Fountaine it taketh both beginning and encrease euen as the spirit of a Serpent is much quicker then the spirit of an Oxe and the Learning of Aristotle and Pliny more liuely and light some then the knowledge of other obscure Philosophers vnworthy to be named which either through enuie or Non proficiencye durst neuer write Si cum hac exceptione detur sapientia vt illam inclusam teneaÌ„ nec enuntiem reijciam Nullius boni sine socio iucunda est possessio And therfore I say with Petrus Blesen Scientiarum generosa possessio in plures dispersa non perditur distributa per partes minorationis detrimentum non sentit sed eo diuturnius perpetuata senescit quo publicata foecundius se diffundit The greatest men stored with all helpes of Learning Nature Fortune were the first writers who as they did excel other men in posessions wordly dignity so they manifested their Vertues and Woorth in the aedition of excellent parts of knowledge either for the delight or profit of the world according to the Poets profession Aut prodesse volunt aut delectari poetae Aut simul iucunda idonea dicere vitae Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci Lectorem delectando pariterque monendo Yet now of late daies this custome hath bin almost discontinued to the infinite preiudice of sacred inuiolable Learning and Science for Turpis sepe fama datur minoribus as Ausonius wrote in his time for indeed the reason is pregnant Haud facile emergunt quorum virtutibus obstat Res angusta domi But yet the great Rectour or Chauncellor of all the Academyes in the world Iesus Christ In whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge the Maister of that Colledge wherâ—in he was but a Seruant or Steward That was learned in all the learning of the Egyptians I meane Moses the first writer the first Author the first câ—â—mender of knowledge and the first ordainer of a lawfull Common-wealth and ruler of Church and state hath not leaft our age without some monuments of great Princes Earls Lords and Knights for the Ornament and honour of learning who for generall and particular causes and benefits haue added their names to the society of writers and divulged their workes in print which are likely to be remembred to the worlds end Such are our most temperate Iust VVise and Learned King and Soueraigne The Right Noble and Honourable Earle of Surrey long ago departed out of this earthly Horizon The now liuing Earles of Dorset Northampton Salisbury and many Knights Sir Phillip Sidney Sir George Moore Sir Richard Bartlett Sir Frauncis Hastinges and others But of Aarons and such as sit at the Helme of the Church or are woorthily aduaunced for their knowledge in learning and state I meane both Bishops and Doctors almost innumerable of all whom I can sâ—y no more if I were woorthy to say any thing then apply vnto them particularly that which was said of one of the greatest schollers and Diuines that euer England had Bish Iuel Dic obsecro sancta Posteritas nec enim mihi fas est dicere tantum De tantis tacitum aut tantos audire iuuabit Then why should I presume being euery way the least and meanest of all other now the third time to publish any part of my conceiued studies for the age present and succeeding and so to haue my name inrolled amongst the benefactors and Authors of Learning Non omnia grandior aetas Quae fugiamus habet seris venit vsus ab annis Alas sir I haue neuer abounded in any thing except want and labor and I thanke God that one of these hath bin prepared to feed the other therefore I wil not stand vpon any mans obiections who like Horses as it is in the fable being led empty wel fed and without burden do scorne the laden Asse adding misery to his loade til his backe was broke and then was al laid vpon the pampred disdainfull Horse euen so these proud displeasing spirits are eased by the labors of vs that beare their burthens and if they content not themselues with ease but wil also sit in the seat of the scornful let them remeÌ„ber that when our backs be broke they must take vp the carriage But pardon me I beseech you if by way of Preface I open my hart vnto your Wor who is better able then ten thousand of the Momusses and more charitably generous in receiuing such gifts with the right hande as these are although they were giuen vvith the left for seeing I haue chosen you the patron of this worke I vvil breefely declare and open my mind vnto you concerning the whole Volume sparing any other praises of your demerits then those vvhich by Martiall are ascribed to Regulus vvhich I vvill vvithout flattery or
a cow is more forcible in operation then all other beastes gals whatsoeuer The gall of an Oxe mixed with hony draweth out any thorne or point of a needle or other Iron thing out of the flesh where it sticketh Likewise it being mingled with alome and Myrrhe as thicke as hony it cureth those euils which creepe and annoy the priuy partes laying vpon it afterward Beetes sod in Wine It will not suffer the Kings euil to grow or spread it selfe if it be laied vpon it at the beginning The hands washed in an oxes gall and water are made white how blacke soeuer they were before time and if pur-blind eyes be annoynted with the gal of a blacke cow one may read any writing the more plainely there is in the gal of an oxe a certaine little stone like a ring which the Phylosophers cal Alcheron and some Guers and Nassatum which being beaten and held to ones Nose it cleareth the eyes and maketh that no humour do distil to annoy them and if one take thereof the quantity of a lintell seed with the iuyce of Beetes it is profitable against the falling euil If one be deafe or thicke of hearing take the gal of an oxe and the vrine of a Goate or the gall of a Goose likewise it easeth the head-ache in an Ague and applyed to the temples prouoketh sleepe and if the breasts of a woman be annoynted therwith it keepes her milke from curdling The melt of an oxe is eaten in hony for easing the paynes of the melt in a man and with the skin that a calfe cast out of his dammes belly the vlcers in the face are taken away and if twenty heads of Garlicke be beaten in an oxes bladder with a pinte of vineger and layed to the backe it will cure the melt It is likewise giuen against the Spleene and the cholicke made like a plaster and layed to the nauell til one sweat The vrine of an Oxe causeth a cold stomacke to recouer and I haue seen that the vrine of a cow taken in Gargarizing did cure intollerable vlcers in the mouth When the bee hath tasted of the flower of the corne-tree she presently dyeth by loosenesse of the belly except she tast the vrine of a man or an Oxe There are likewise many vses of the dung of Oxen made in Physicke whereof authors are full but especially against the goute plastering the sicke member therewith whot and newly made and against the Dropsie making a plaster thereof with Barley meale and a little Brimston aspersed to couer the belly of a man And thus much for the natural properties of this kind now we will briefely proceed to the morall The morral and external vse of Oxen both for labour other industry The morall vses of this beast both in labour and other things doth declare the dignity and high account our forefathers made heereof both in vintage haruest plowing carriage drawing sacrificing and making Leagues of truce and peace in somuch as that if this fayled al tilage and vintage must in many places of the world be vtterly put down and in truth neither the Foules of the aire nor the Horsse for the battaile nor the Swine and Dogges could haue no sustenance but by the labor of Oxen for although in some places they haue Mules or Cammels or Elephants which help them in this labour yet can there not be in any Nation a neglect of Oxen Varro and their reuerence was so great that in auncient time when an offendor was to be fined in his cattel as al amerciaments were in those daies the Iudge might not name an Oxe vntil he had first named a Sheepe and they fined a smal offence at two sheepe and not vnder and the greatest offence criminal at thirty oxen and not aboue which were redeemed by giuing for euery oxe an hundred Asses and ten for euery sheepe It is some question among the ancients who did first ioyne Oxen together for plowing Heraclides some affirming that Aristeus first learned it of the Nymphs in the Island Co and Diodorus affirmeth that Dionisius Sonne of Iupiter and Ceres or Proserpina did first of al inuent the plow Some attribute it to Briges the Athenian other to Triptolemus Osiris Habides a King of Spaine and Virgill affirmeth most constantly that it was Ceres as appearreth by this verse Prima Ceres ferro mortales vertere terram Instituit c. Whereunto agreeth Sernius but I rather encline to Iosephus Lactantius and Eusebius who affirme that long before ceres was borne or Osiris or Hercules or any of the residue their was a practise of plowing both among the Haebrewes and the Egyptians and therefore as the God of plowing called by the Romaines Iugatinus because of yoaking Oxen was a fond aberration from the truth so are the residue of their inuentions about the first man that tilled with Oxen seeing that it is saide of Cain and Noah Augustinus that they were husbandmen and tilled the earth The Athenians had three seuerall plow-feastes which they obserued yearely one in Scirus the other in Rharia and the thirde vnder Pelintus and they called their marriage feasts plow-seasons because then they endeuored by the seed of man to multiply the world in procreation of children as they did by the plow to encrease food in the earth The Graecians had a kind of writing called Boustraphedon which beganne turned and ended as the Oxen doe in plowing a furrow continuing from the left hande to the right and from the right hand to the left againe which no man could read but hee that turned the Paper or table at euery lines end It is also certaine that in auncient time the leagues of truce and peace were written in an Oxes hide as appeareth by that peace which was made by Tarquinius betwixt the Romaines and the Gabij the which was hanged vp in the Temple of Iupiter as Dionisius and Pompeius Sextus affirme in the likenesse of a buckler or shield and the chiefe heads of that peace remained legible in that hide vnto their time and therefore the ancients called the Oxes hide a shield in regard that by that conclusion of peace they were defended from the wars of the Gabij And there were certaine people called Homolotti by Herodotus who were woont to strike vp their leagues of peace after Warre and contention by cutting an Oxe into smal peeces which were deuided among the people that were to be vnited in token of an inseperable vnion There be that affirme that a Teame or yoake of Oxen taking six or eight to the Teame will plow euery yeare or rather euery season a hyde of ground that is as some account 20. Mansa or in English and German account 30. Acres which hath gotten the name Iugera from this occasion as Eustathius and varinus report A History When Sychaeus the husband of Dido who was Daughter of Agenor and sister to Pigmalion wandered too and fro in the world with
already are manifested to accompany a mad Dog and that more often in Summer then in winter Albertus Albert. Liber Aetius When a Foxe feeleth himselfe sicke nature hath taught him to eate the gum of Pine-trees wherewithall he is not onely cured but also receiueth length of daies They are also vexed with the falling away of their haire called therefore Alopecia because Foxes are most commonly vexed therewith and as we see in plantes that some of them drye and consume through want of moysture to feede them other are suffocated and choaked by aboundance and as it were drowned in humidity so it happeneth in haire which groweth out of the body of beastes and the heades of men no otherwise then plants out of the earth and are therefore to be nourished by humours which if they faile and waxe drye the haire also shorteneth with them and as it were rotteth away in length but if they abound and ouerflowe then do they loosen the rootes of the haire and cause them to fall off totally This disease is called Alopecia and the other Ophiasis because it is not generall but only particular in one member or part of the body or head there it windeth or indenteth like a Serpents figure Mychaell Ferus affirmeth that sometime the liuer of the Foxe inflameth and then it is not cured but by the vlcerous blood flowing to the skin and that euill blood causeth the Alopecia or falling away of the haire for which cause as is already said a Foxes skin is little worth that is taken in the summer time The length of the life of a Foxe is not certainely knowen yet as Stumpsius and others affirme The length of their life it is longer then the life of a Dog If the vrine of a Foxe fall vpon the grasse or other Herbs it drieth and killeth them and the earth remaineth barren euer afterward The sauour of a Foxe is more strong then of any other vulgar beast he stincketh at Nose and taile Varinus for which cause Martiall calleth it Olidam Vulpem an Olent or smelling beast Hic olidam clamosus ages in retia vulpem Touching the hunting or taking of Foxes I approue the opinion of Xenophon who auoucheth The hunting and taking of Foxes leporum capturam venatico studia quam vulpium digniorem that is the Hunting of the Hare is a more noble game or pastime then the hunting of the Foxe This beast is more fearefull of a Dogge then a Hare for the onely barking of Dogges causeth him to rise many times from his denne or lodgings out of the earth or from the middle of bushes Aelianus briars and brambles wherein he hid himselfe and for his hunting this is to be obserued Oppianus that as in hunting of a Hart it hath beene already related the Hunter must driue the beast with the winde because it hindereth his refrigeration so in hunting of a Foxe he driue him againe the winde and then he preuenteth all his crafty and subtill agitations and diuises for it stayeth his speede in running and also keepeth his sauour fresh alway in the Nose of the Dogs that follow him Dellisarius for the Dogges that kill a Fox must be swifte stronge and quicke sented and it is not good to put on a few at once but a good company together for be assured the Foxe will not loose his owne blood till hee hazzard some of his enemies and with his taile which he windeth euery way doth hee delude the hunters when the Dogs are pressed neere vnto him and are ready to bite him Textâ—r he striketh his taile betwixt his Legs and with his owne vrine wetteth the same and so instantly striketh it into the dogs mouths whereof when they haue tasted so many of them as it touched will commonly leaue off and follow no farther Their teeth are exceeding sharp and therefore they feare not to assault or contend with beasts exceeding their stature strength and quantity Somtime he leapeth vp into a tree and there standeth to be seene and bayed at by the Dogs and Hunters Oppianus like as a Champion in some fort or Castle and although fire be cast at him yet will he not discend down among the dogs yea he endureth to be beaten and pierced with Hunters speares but at length being compelled to forsake his holde and giue ouer to his enemies downe he leapeth falling vpon the crew of barking Dogs like a flash of lightning and where he layeth hold there he neuer looseth teeth or aswageth wrath til other dogs haue torne his limbs and driuen breath out of his body If at any time he take the earth then with Terriour dogges they ferret him out of his den againe In some places they take vpon them to take him with nets which sildome proueth because with his teeth he teareth them in pieces yet by Calentius this deuise is allowed in this verse Et laqueo Vulpes decipe casse foïnas But this must be wrought vnder the earth in the caues dennes or furrowes made of pur-which is to be performed two manner of waies one by placing the gin in some perch of Wood so as that assoone as the beast is taken by the Necke it may presently fly vp and hang him for otherwise with his teeth hee will sheare it asunder and escape away aliue or else that neere the place where the rope is fastened to slippe vppon the heade of the Foxe there bee placed some thicke collor or brace so as hee can neuer bite it asunder The French haue a kind of Ginne to take them by the Legges which they call Hausepied and I haue heard of some which haue found the Foxes Legge in the same Gin A noble instance of a Foxes coragâ— bitten off with his owne teeth from his body rather putting himselfe to that torment with his owne teeth then to expect the mercy of the Hunter and so went away vppon three feet and other haue counterfeited themselues dead restraining their breath and winking not stirring any member when they saw the Hunter come to take them out of the Ginne The subtlery of a Fox take in a snare who comming and taking his Legge forth not suspecting any life in them so soone as the Foxe perceiueth himselfe free away hee went and neuer gaue thankes for his deliuerance for this cause Blondus saith truely that onely wise and olde Hunters are fit to take Foxes for they haue so many deuises to beguile men and deliuer themselus that it is hard to know when he is safely taken vntill he be throughly dead They also vse to set vp Ginnes for them bayted with Chickens in Busnes and Hedges but if the setter be not at hand so soone as the Foxe is insnared it is daungerous but that the beast will deliuer it selfe In some places againe they set vp an iron toyle hauing in it a ring for the foxe to thrust in his head and through that sharpe pikes at
the farther end whereof is placed a piece of flesh so that when the hungry foxe commeth to bite at the meate and thrusteth in his head the pikes sticke fast in his necke and he ineuitably insnared Moreouer as the harmefulnesse of this beast hath troubled many so also they haue deuised moe engins to deceiue and take him for this cause there is another pollicy to kill him by a bowe full bent with a sharpe arrow and so tenderly placed as is a trap for a Mouse and assoone as euer the foxe treadeth thereon presently the arrow is discharged into his owne bowels by the waight of his foote Againe for the killing of this beast they vse this sleight they take of Bacon-grease or Bacon as much as ones hand and rost the same a little and therewith annoint their shoesoles and then take the Liuer of a Hogge cut in pieces and as they come out of the wood where the beast lodgeth they must scatter the said pieces in their foote-steps and drawe the carcasse of a dead Cat after them the sauour whereof will prouoke the beast to follow the foot-steps then haue they a cunning Archer or handler of a Gunne who obserueth and watcheth in secret till the Beast come within his reach and so giueth him his great deadly wound But if the Fox be in the earth and they haue found his denne then they take this course to worke him out They take a long thing like a Bee-hiue and open at one end and yron wiers at the other like a grate and at the open end is set a little doore to fall downe vppon the mouth and to inclose the Fox when he entereth in by touching of a small rod that supporteth that doore This frame is set to the Foxes dens mouth and all the other passages watched and stopped The Fox hauing a desire to go forth seeing light by the wiers misdeemeth no harme and entereth into the hiue which is wrought close into the mouth of his den and being entered into it the rodde turneth the dore fast at the lower end or entraunce and so the fox is intrapped to be disposed of at the will of the taker The beast â—s 〈◊〉 â—miesf 〈◊〉 Foxes are annoied with many enemies and to beginne with the least the small flies and called gnats do much trouble and infect them against whome the foxe vseth this policie He taketh a mouthful of straw or soft hay or haire and so goeth into the water dipping his hinder parts by litle and litle then the flies betake themselues to his heade which he keepeth out of water which the fox feeling dippeth or diueth also the same vnder water to his mouth Albertus wherein he holdeth the hay as aforesaid whereunto the flies runneth for sanctuary or dry refuge which the fox perceiuing suddenly casteth it out of his mouth and runneth out of the water by this meanes easing himselfe of al those enemies In like manner as al beasts are his enemies and hee friend and louing to none so with strength courage and policie he dealeth with euery one not onely against the beastes of the land but also against the monsters of the sea When he findeth a neast of waspes in the earth or in other places as in Trees he laieth his taile to the hole and so gathereth into it a great many of them which he presently dasheth against the Wall or Tree or stones adioyning and so destroyeth them and thus he continueth vntill he haue killed them al and so maketh himselfe execute to their heapes of hony Gillius His manner is when he perceiueth or seeth a flocke of foule to flye in the aire to rowle himselfe in red earth making his skin to looke bloody and lie vpon his backe winking with his eie and holding in his breath as if he were dead which thing the birds namely Crows Rauens and such like obseruing because of the hatred of his person they for ioy alight triumph at his ouerthrow and this the fox indureth for a good season till oportunity seruing his turne and some of the fowle come neare his snowt then suddenly hee catcheth some one of them in his mouth feeding vpon him like a liuing and not a dead foxe and so doth deuoure and eate him as the Leopard doth deuoure and eate Apes and the Sea-frog other little fishes In like sort he deceiueth the Hedgehogge for when the hedghog perceiueth the foxe comming to him he rowleth himselfe togither like a foote-ball and so nothing appeareth outward exeept his prickles which the fox cannot indure to take into his mouth and then the crafty fox to compasse his desire licketh gently the face and snowt of the Hedgehogge by that meanes bringing him to vnfold himselfe againe and to stand vpon his legs which being done he instantly deuoureth or else poisoneth the beast with the vrine that he rendereth vpon the Hedgehogges face and at other times hee goeth to the waters and with his taile draweth fishes to the brimme of the Riuer and when that he obserueth a good booty hee casteth the Fishes cleane out of the water vppon the dry lande and then devoureth them All kinds of Hawkes are enemies to foxes and foxes to them because they liue vppon Carrion and so in the prouince of Vla. Auicen saw a fox and a Crow fight together a longe season and the Crow with his talentes so bee gripling the foxes mouth that he coulde not barke and in the meane time she beat and picked his head with her bill vntil he bled againe The Eagles fight with foxes and kil them and Olaus Magnus affirmeth that in the Northern Regions they lay Egges and hatch their young in those skinnes which they themselus haue stripped off from foxes and other beasts The Kites Vultures and wolues are enemies to foxes because they are al flesh-deuouring-creaturs but the fox which hath so many enemies by strength or subtilties ouer commeth al Whereupon Persius calleth a subtill man a Foxe saying Astutam vapido seruas sub pectore vulpem The medicinall vses of this beast are these first as Pliny and Marcellus affirme a Fox sod in water till nothing of the Foxe be left whole except the bones The medicines arising out of Foxes and the Legges or other parts of a gouty body washed and daily bathed therein it shall driue away all paine and griefe strengthning the defectiue and weake members so also it cureth all the shrinking vp and paines in the sinnewes and Galen attributeth the same vertue to an Hyaena sod in Oyle and the lame person bathed therein for it hath such power to euacuate and draw forth whatsoeuer euill humour aboundeth in the body of man Sextus that it leaueth nothing hurtfull behinde Neuerthelesse such bodies are soone againe replenished through euill dyet and relapsed into the same disease againe The Fox may be boyled in fresh or salt water with annise and time and with his skin on whole and not slit or
the same in this sort Take of Pitch and rosen of each one pound of tar halfe a pinte boile these things altogether in a pot and when it is somwhat cooled take a sticke with a wollen clout bound fast to the end thereof and dip it into this charge and couer or daube al the shoulder therewith That done clap thereunto a pounde of Floxe of such colour as the Horse is or as nigh vnto the same as may be euery other day clense both the woundes and rowels and put them in againe continuing thus to do the space of fifteene daies Then take them out and heale vp the wounds with two taints of Flax dipt in Turpentine and hogs grease molten together renewing the same euery day once vntil the wounds be whole But let the charge lye stil vntill it fal away of it selfe and let the horse run to grasse vntill he hath had a frost or two Of the wrinching of the shoulder THis commeth sometime by a fal and sometime by turning too suddenly in some in euen ground or by rash running out of some doore or by some stripe of another horse or by some sudden stop in passing a Cariere you shal perceiue it in his going by trailing his legs vpon the ground so close vnto himselfe as hee can possible The cure according to Martin is thus Let him blood the quantity of three pintes on the breast in the palat vaine receiuing the blood in a pot and thereunto put first a quart of strong vineger and halfe a doozen broken egges shelles and all and so much wheat-flower as will thicken all that liquor That done put thereunto bole Armony beaten into fine powder one pounde Sanguis Draconis two ounces and mingle them altogether so as the flower may not be perceiued and if it be too stiffe you may make it more liquid or soft with a little vineger Then with your hand daube al the shoulder from the mane downward and betwixt the fore-bowels all against the haire and let not the horse depart out of that place vntill the charge be surely fastned vnto the skin That done carry him into the stable and tie him vp to the racke and suffer him not to lie down al that day and giue him a little meat dieting him moderatly the space of fifteen daies during which time he may not stir out of his place but onely to lye downe and euery day once refresh the shoulder point with this charge laying still new vpon the olde and at the fifteene daies end lead him abroad to see how he goeth and if he be somewhat amended then let him rest without trauelling the space of one month and that shal bring his shoulder to perfection But if he be neuer the better for this that is done than it shal be needeful to rowell him with a leather rowell vpon the shoulder point and to keepe him rowelled the space of fifteene daies renewing the rowel and clensing the wound euery other day and then walke him vp and downe faire and softly and turne him alwaies on the contrary side to the sore and when hee goeth vpright pul out the rowell and heale the wound with a taint of flax dipt in Turpentine and hogs greace molten together And if al this will not serue then it shal be needful to draw him checker wise with a hot iron ouer all the shoulder point and also make him to draw in a plough euery day two houres at the least to settle his ioynts for the space of three weekes or a month and if any thing wil help him these two last remedies wil help him and make him to go vpright againe Of splaiting in the shoulder THis commeth by some dangerous sliding or slipping wherby the shoulder parteth from the breast and so leaues an open rift not in the skin but in the flesh and filme next vnder the skin and so he halteth is not able to goe you shal perceiue it by trailing his legge after him in his going The cure according to Martin is thus First put a paire of strait pasternes on his fore-feet keeping him stil in the stable without disquieting him Then take of Dialthea one pound of sallet-oyle one pinte of oyle de bayes halfe a pound of fresh butter halfe a pound melt al these things together in a pipkin and annoint the grieued place therwith and also round about the inside of the shoulder and within two or three daies after both that place and all the shoulder besides wil swel Then either prick him with a lancet or fleame in al the swelling places or else with some other sharp hot iron the head whereof would be an inch long to the intent that the corruption may run out and vse to annoint it stil with the same ointment But if you see that it wil not go away but swel stil and gather to a head then lance it where the swelling doth gather most and is soft vnder the finger then taint it with flax dipt in this ointment take of Turpentine and of hogs grease of each two ounces and melt them together renewing the taint twice a day vntil it be whole Of the shoulder pight THis is when the shoulder point or pitch of the shoulder is displased Blundevile which griefe is called of the Italians Spallato and it commeth by reason of some great fal forward rush or straine The signes be these That shoulder point wil sticke out further then his fellow and the Horse will halt right downe The cure according to Martin is thus First make him to swim in a deepe water vp and down a doozen turnes and that shal make the ioynt to returne in his place Then make two tough pins of ashen wood as much as your little finger sharp at the points each one fiue inches long that done slit the skin an inch aboue the point and an inch beneath the point of the shoulder and thrust in one of the pins from aboue downward so as both ends may equally stick without the skin And if the pin of wood wil-not easily passe through you may make it way first with an iron pin That done make other two holes crosse to the first holes so as the other pin may crosse the first pin right in the midst with a right crosse and the first pin would be somewhat flat in the midest to the intent that the other being round may passe the better without stop and close the iuster together Then take a peece of a little line somwhat bigger then a whipcord and at one end make a loope which being put ouer one of the pins ends wind the rest of the line good straite about the pins ends so as it may lye betwixt the pins ends and the skin and fasten the last end with a pack needle and a pack thread vnto the rest of the cord so as it may not slip and to do well both the prickes and the cord would be first annointed with a little
bee in the stiffle then the horse in his going wil cast the stiffle ioynt outward and the bone on the inside wil be farre bigger than the other If the griefe bee in the hough then it is by meanes of some Spauen or some other hurt apparant to the eie And the like may be said of the ham wherein may be seene the Selander or such like apparant sorance causing the horse to halt If the griefe be eyther in the leg pasterne or foot then you shal finde it by such signes as haue bin taught you before And therefore let vs now speake of those sorances that are properly incident to the hinder legs Of the String-halt THe String-hault is a disease that maketh a horse twitch vp his legge sodenly and so hault much it commeth sometimes naturally and sometimes causually by means of some great cold whereby the sinnewes are strained the best cure thereof is to dig a pit in some dunghil Markham as deepe as the horse is hie and set the horse in couer him with warme dung and so let him stande the space of two houres then take him out and make him cleane and then bath him al ouer with Traine-oile made warme and it wil help him Of a horse that is hipped or hurt in the hippes THe horse is said to be hipt when the hip-bone is remooued out of his right place which griefe is called of the Italians Mal del ancha It cummeth most commonly by some great stripe or straine slipping sliding or falling The signes be these The horse wil halt and in his going he wil go sideling and the sore hip wil fal lower than the other and the flesh in processe of time will consume cleane away And if it be suffred to run so long it wil neuer be restored vnto his prestine estate The best way as Martin sayth to make him go vpright is to charge his hip and backe with Pitch and Rozen molten togither and laid on warme and then some flox of his owne colour to be clapped vppon the same and so let him run to grasse vntil he go vpright But the sore hip wil neuer rise againe so high as the other If the horse be not hipped but onely hurt in the hip and that newly then first take of oile de Bay of Dialthea of Nerual of Swines-greace melt them altogither stirring them continually vntil they be throughly mingled togither and annoint the sore place against the haire with this ointment euery day once the space of a fortnight and make the ointment to sinke wel into the flesh by holding a hot broad barre ouer the place annointed weauing your hand too and fro vntil the ointment be entred into the skin And if at the fortnights end you see that the horse amendeth no whitte for this then slit a hole downward in his skin and an inch beneath the hip-bone making the hole so wide as you may easily thruste in a rowel with your finger and then with a little broade slice or yron losen the skin from the flesh aboue the bone and round about the same so broad as the rowel may lye flat and plaine betwixt the skin and the flesh which rowel would be made of soft Calues-leather with a hole in the midst like a ring hauing a thred tied vnto it to pul it out when you would clense the hole and if the rowel be rowled about with flax fasttied on anointed with thointment vnder written it wil draw so much the more and thrust in the rowel first double and then spred it abroad with your finger That done tainr it with a good long taint of flax or tow dipt in a little Turpentine and hogs-greace molten togither and made warme and cleanse the hole and the rowel euery day once and also renew the taint euery day for the space of a fornight And before you dresse him cause him euery day to be ledde vp and downe a foot pace a quarter of an houre to make the humors come downe and at the fortnights end pul out the rowel and heale vp the wound with the same salue making the taint euery day lesser and lesser vntil it be whole And so soone as it is whole draw with a hot yron crosse lines of eight or nine inches long right ouer the hip-bone so as the rowelled place may bee in the very midst thereof and burne him no deeper but so as the skin may looke yellow and then charge al that place and ouer al his buttocks with this charge Take of pitch one pound of Rozen halfe a pounde of Tarre halfe a pinte Boile them together and then being good and warme spred it on with a clout tied in a riuen sticke and then clap on a few flockes of the horses colour And if it be in Summer let the horse runne to grasse a while for the more he trauelleth at his owne wil the better it is for him Of stiffling and hurts in the stiffle THe horse is said to be stiffled when the stiffling bone is remoued from the place but if it be not remoued nor loosened and yet the horse halteth by meanes of some griefe there then we say that the horse is hurt in the stiffle and not stiffled The stiffle commeth by means of some blow or some great straine slipping or sliding The signes be these If he be stiffled the one bone wil sticke out farther than the other and is apparant to the eie Martin woulde haue you to cure the stiffle in al points like vnto the shoulder-pight sauing that the pins need not bee so long because the stifling place is not so broad as the shoulder and standing in the stable let him haue a pasterne with a Ring on his forelegge and thereunto fasten a cord which cord must go about his necke and let it be so much strained as it may bring his forelegge more forward than the other to keepe the bone from starting out But if the horse bee but hurt in the stiffle with some stripe or straine then the bone wil not stand out but perhaps the place may be swollen The cure according to Martin is thus First annoint the place with the ointment mentioned before euery day once the space of a fortnight and if the horse amend not with this then rowel him with a hearen rowel or else with a quil and let the neather hole be somwhat before the sore place and clense the hole euery daye by turning the rowel continuing stil to annoint the place with the ointment aforesaid and that wil make him whole Of foundering behind THis happes most commonly when a horse is very fat and hath his greace moulten within him which is soone done with euery little heate You shal perceiue it by his going for he wil be afraide to set his hinder feet to the grounde and he wil bee so weake behind as he wil stand quiuering and shaking and couet alwaies to lie downe The cure according to Martin is thus First
ointment made of old Lard Sope and gray Salt for that will eat out the coare and cause it to rot and so fall out of the one accord Of the Canker called of the Italian Il Canero A Canker is a filthy creeping vlcer fretting and gnawing the flesh in gret breadth In the beginning it is knotty much like a Farcine Blundevile and spreadeth it selfe into diuers places and being exulcerated gathereth togither in length into a wound or sore This proceedeth of a melancholy and filthy blood ingendered in the body which if it be mixt with Salt humors it causeth the more painefull and greeuous exulceration and sometime it commeth of some filthy wound that is not cleanly kept the corrupt matter whereof cankereth other clean parts of the body It is easie to be knowne by the description before The cure whereof according to Martin is thus Frst let him blood in those vaines that be next the sore and take inough of him Then take of Alum halfe a pound of greene Coporas and of white Coporas of each one quarterne and a good handfull of Salt boile all these things togither in faire running water from a pottle to a quart And this water being warme wash the sore with a cloath and then sprinkle thereon the powder of vnslecked lime continuing so to do euery day once the space of fifteen daies and if you see that the lime do not mortifie the ranke flesh and keepe it from spreading any further then take of blacke Sope halfe a pounde of Quicke-siluer halfe an ounce and beate them together in a pot vntill the Quicke-siluer be so well mingled with the Sope as you can perceiue none of the Quicke-siluer in it And with an yron slice after that you haue washed the sore with the stronge water aforesaide couer the wound with this ointment continuing thus to do euery day once vntill the Canker leaue spreading abroad And if it leaue spreading and that you see the ranke flesh is mortified and that the edges begin to gather a skin then after the washing dresse it with the lime as before continuing so to vntil it be whole And in the dressing suffer no filth that commeth out of the sore to remaine vppon any whole place about but wipe it cleane away or else wash it away with warme water And let the horse during this cure be as thinly dieted as may be and thoroughly exercised Of the Fistula called of the Italians Fistula A Fistula is a deepe hollowe crooking vlcer and for the most part springes of maligne humors ingendered in some wound sore or canker not throughly healed It is easie to know by the description before The cure according to Martin is thus Firste search the depth of it with a quill or with some other instrument of lead that may be bowed euery way meet for the purpose For vnlesse you find the bottome of it it wil be very hard to cure And hauing found the bottome if it be in such a place as you may boldely cut and make the way open with a launcet or rasor then make a slit right against the bottome so as you may thruste in your finger to feele whether there be any bone or gristle perished or spungy or loose flesh which must be gotten out and then taint it with a taint of flaxe dipt in this ointment Take of hony a quarterne and of Verdigrease one ounce beaten into powder Boile them together vntill it looke redde stirring it continually least it runne ouer and being luke warme dresse the taint wherewith and bolster the taint with a bolster of flax And if it be in such a place as the taint cannot conueniently be kept in with a band then fasten on each side of the hole two ends of Shoomakers thread right ouer the bolster to keepe in the taint which ends may hang there as two laces to tye and vntie at your pleasure renewing the taint euery day once vntill the sore leaue mattering And then make the taint euery day lesser and lesser vntill it be whole And close it vp in the end by sprinckling thereon a little slect lime But if the Fistula be in such a place as a man can neither cut right against the bottome or nigh the same then there is no remedy but to poure in some strong water through some quill or such like thing so as it may goe to the very bottome and dry vp all the filthy matter dressing him so twice a day vntill the horse be whole Of an Aubury THis is a great spungy Wart full of blood called of the Italians Moro or Selfo which may grow in any place of the body and it hath a root like a Cocks stone The cure according to Martin is thus Tie it with a thred so hard as you can pull it the thred will eate by little and little in such sort as within seauen or eight daies it will fall away by it selfe And if it be so flat as you can binde nothing about it then take it away with a sharpe hotte yron cutting it round about and so deepe as you may leaue none of the root behind and dry it with Verdigreace Russius saith that if it grow in a place full of sinnewes so as it cannot be conueniently cut away with a hot yron then it is good to eat out the core with the powder of Resalgar and then to stop the hole with flax dipt in the white of an Egge for a day or two and lastly to drie it vp with the powder of vnslect lime and hony as before is taught Of Wounds VVOunds commeth by meanes of some stripe or pricke and they are properly called wounds when some whole part is cut or broken For a wound according to the Phisitians is defined to be a solution diuision or parting of the whole For if there be no solution or parting then methinkes it ought rather to be called a bruse then a wound And therfore wounds are most commonly made with sharpe or piercing weapons and bruses with blunt weapons Notwithstanding if by such blunt weapons anie part of the whole be euidently broken then it ought to be called a wound as wel as the other Of wounds some be shallow and some be deepe and hollow Againe some chance in the fleshy partes and some in the bonye and sinnewie places And those that chaunce in the fleshy parts though they be verie deepe yet they be not so dangerous as the other and therefore we will speak first of the most dangerous If a horse haue a wound newly made either in his heade or in any other place that is full of sinnewes bones or gristles first Martin would haue you to wash the wounde well with white wine warmed That done to search the bottome of the wound with some instrument meete for the purpose suffering it to take as little winde in the meane while as may be Then hauing found the depth stop the hole close with a clout vntill your salue be
three yolkes of egges and a little Saffron and taint it with that ointment renewing it euery day once vntill the wound be whole Of burning with Lime or any other fiery thing MArtin saith First wash away the Lime if there bee any with warme water Then kill the fire with oyle and Water beaten together dressing him so euery daye vntill it be all raw and then annoint it with hogs grease and strew thereupon the powder of slecked lime dressing him so euery day once vntill it be whole Of the biting of a mad Dog IF a Horse be bitten with a mad dog the venom of his teeth will not onely paine him extreamely but also infect all his blood and make him to dye mad The cure according to the old writers is thus Take of Goats dung of flesh that hath laide long in salt and of the herbe Ebulus called of some Danewort of each halfe a pound and xl walnuts Stamp all these things together and lay thereof vnto the sore and this will sucke out the venom and heale the wound It is good also to giue the Horse Treacle and Wine to drinke yea and some would haue the sore place to be fiered with a hot iron Of hurts by tuskes of a Boare IF a horse be hurt with the tuske of a Boare lay Vitriol and Coporas thereunto and the powder of a dogs head being burned but let the tong be first pulled out and cast away To heale the biting or stinging of Serpents LAurentius Russius saith Take a good quantity of the herb called Sanicula stamp it and distemper it with the milke of a Cowe that is all of one colour and giue him that to drinke and that will heale him Another medicine for the same purpose MAke a plaister of Onions hony and salt stampt and mingled together and lay that to the sore place and giue the horse wine and treacle to drink Absirtus would haue you to giue him white Pepper Rue and Time to drinke with wine Of drinking of horseleaches IF a Horse chance to drinke horseleaches they will continually sucke his bloud and kill him The remedy according to Absirtus is to poure oyle into the Horses mouth which will make them to fall away and kill them Of swallowing downe hens dung IF a horse swallow downe hens dung in his hay it will fret his guts and make him to void filthy matter at the fundament For remedy whereof Absirtus would haue you to giue him drinke made of smallage seede wine and hony and to walke him throughly vpon it that he may empty his belly Of Lice and how to kill them THey be like Geese Lice but somewhat bigger they will breede most about the eares necke and taile and ouer all the body They come of pouerty Blundevile and the horse will bee alwaies rubbing and scratching and will eate his meate and not prosper withall and with rubbing he will breake all his mane and taile The cure according to Martin is thus Annoint the place with sope and quicksiluer well mingled together and to a pound of sope put halfe an ounce of quicksiluer Of Lousinesse THere be Horsses that will be Lousie and it commeth of pouerty cold and il keeping Markham and it is oftnest amongst young horses and most men take little heed vnto it and yet they will dye thereon the cure is to wash them three mornings together in Stau-aker and warme water How to saue horsses from the stinging of flies in Summer ANnoint the Horsses coat with oyle and Bay berries mingled together or tie to the headstall of his collar a sponge dipt in strong vineger or sprinkle the stable with water wherein hearb Grace hath bin laid in steepe or perfume the stable with Iuie or with Calomint or with Gith burned in a pan of coles Of bones being broken out of ioynt FEw or none of our Ferrers do intermeddle with any such griefes but do refer it ouer to the bone setter whose practised hand I must needes confesse to be needful in such businesse Notwithstanding for that it belongeth to the Ferrers art and also for that the old writers do make some mention therof I thought good not to passe it ouer altogither with silence Albeit they speake odlye of fractures in the legs beneath the knee For they make little mention or none of bones aboue the knee taking them to be incurable vnlesse it be a rib or such like If a bone then be broken in the leg it is easie to perceiue by feeling the roughnesse and inequality of the place grieued one part being higher then another the cure whereof according to Absirtus and Hierocles is in this sorte First put the bone againe into his right place That done wrap it about with vnwasht wooll binding it fast to the leg with a small linnen roller soked before in Oyle and vineger mingled together And let that roller be laid on as euen as is possible and vpon that lay againe more wooll dipt in oyle and vineger and then splent it with three splents binding them fast at both ends with a thong and let the horses leg be kept straight and right out the space of forty daies and let not the bonds be loosened aboue 3. times in twenty daies vnlesse it shrinke and so require to be new drest and bound again But faile not euery day once to poure on the sore place through the splentes oyle and vineger mingled together And at the forty daies end if you perceiue that the broken place be sowdered together again with some hard knob or gristle then loosen the bonds so as the horse may go faire and softly vsing from that time forth to annoint the place with some soft greace or ointment Of broken bones I Haue not for mine owne part had any great experience in broken bones of a Horse because it chanceth seldom Markham and when it doth chance what through the horses brutish vnrulinesse and the immoderate maner of the act it is almost held incurable yet for the little experience I haue I haue not found for this purpose any thing so soueraine or absolut good as oyle of Mandrag which applyed conglutinateth and bindeth together any thing especially bones being either shiuered or broken Of bones out of ioynt IF a Horses knee or shoulder be clean out of ioynt and no bone broken Martin saith the readiest way is Blundevile to bind all the foure legs together in such sort as hath bin taught before in the chap. of incording and then to hoise the Horsse somewhat from the ground with his heeles vpward so shal the weight and peise of his body cause the ioynt to shoot in again into the right place for by this means he pleasured not long since a friend and neighbor of his who going with his cart from S. Alboâ—s towards his owne house his Thiller fell and put his shoulder cleane out of ioynt so as he was neither able to rise nor being holpen vp could stand on
his Legs to which mischance Martin being called made no more adoe but taking his friendes Cart-rope bound the horses legs all 4. together and with a leuer being staid vpon the Cart-wheele they putting their shoulders to the other end hoised vp the horse clean from the ground the peise of whose body made the bone to returne into his right place with such a loude kâ—ack or crack as it might he heard a great way off and the Horse immediatly had the vse of his leg so as he drew in the cart and went also safe home without complaining thereof euer after Certaine receipts of plaisters very good for broken bones taken out of the old Authors writing of horse-leach-craft TAke of Spuma argenti of vineger of each one pound of Sallet-oyle halfe a pound of Amoniacum and Turpentine of each 3. three ounces of waxe of Rozen of each two ounces of Bitumen of Pitch of Vardigrease of each halfe a pound Boile the vineger oile and Spuma argenti together vntill it wax thick then put thereunto the Pitch which being molten take the pot from the fire and put in the Bitumen without stirring it at al and that being also molten then put in al the rest set the pot again to the fire and let them boile al together vntil they bee all vnited in one That done straine it and make it in a plaister forme and this is called Hierocles plaister Another receit for broken bones TAke of liquid Pitch one pound of wax two ounces of the purest finest part of Frankincense one ounce of Amoniacum foure ounces of dry Roses and of Galbanum of each one ounce of vineger two pints Boile first the vineger and Pitch together then put in the Amoniacum dissolued first in vineger and after that al the rest of the aforesaid drugs and after they haue boyled together and be vnited in one straine it and make it plaister-wise and this is called Emplastrum flauum that is to say the yellow plaister An ointment for broken bones TAke of old Sallet-oile a quart and put therunto of hogs-grease of Spuma nitri of each one pound and let them boile together vntil it begin to buble aboue let this ointment be very warm when you vse it Hitherto of al the diseases belonging to a horse Now therefore my promise was made vnto you to speake of those things wherein the cure of al diseases do consist that is to say in letting bloud in taking vp of veines in purging and in giuing the fire yea and also order it selfe bindeth me to treat of the said things presently and first of letting blood In how many veines a horse may be let bloud and to what end AS touching the order time of the yeare Moone and day and other circumstances belonging to letting of blood we haue sufficiently spoken already in the keepers office in the 22. chap. It resteth therefore here to shew you what veines should be opened when the horse is sick of any disease according to Vegetius opinion But first I will rehearse vnto you once again in how many veines a horse may be let blood and the rather for that I followe Vegetius A Horse then may bee let blood in the two Temple vaines Item in the two eie vaines which are easie to finde in the face of the horse somewhat beneath the eies Item in the two pallat veines of the mouth In the two necke vaines Item in the two plat vaines which bee in the breast Item in the two forethigh vaines Item in the foure shakell vaines before Item in the two toe vains before Item in the two side veines which may bee otherwise called flancke veines Item in the taile veine Item in the two haunch veines Item in the two hough veines Item in the foure shakell veines behinde Item in the two toe veines behind so that by this accout a horse may be let blood in 3â— veines All which veines are easie inough to know because that euery one lyeth in a little gutter which by feeling softly with your finger you shall finde immediatly And Vegetius saith that if a Horse be pained with any griefe in his head as with ach heauinesse frenzy falling euill or such like then it is good to let him blood in the temple veines with a fleame If his eies be waterish blodshotten or grieued with pin web or hawe then it is good to strike the eie veine with a fleame If he haue any heauinesse or wearinesse of body or bee diseased in the throat with the strangullion quinzy or swelling of the artires either within or without then it is good to let him bloud in the mouth in the palat veines with a Cornet If he be vexed with an Ague or with any other disease vniuersally hurting his body then let him bloud in the necke vaines If his griefe be in the lungs liuer or in any other inward member then let him blood in the breast veines which we called before the palat veines If he be grieued in the shoulder then let him blood in the forethigh veins aboue the knee with a lancet and that very warily because that place is full of sinnewes and if he be grieued in his ioynts then let him bloud in the shakell veines and that warily because that place is also full of sinnewes And if he be foiled on his forefeet by foundering or otherwise then let him blood in the toe veins making way first with your drawer or cornet in the hoofe to come to the veine If he bee diseased in the kidnies reines backe or belly then let him bloud in the flancke veines and in his taile if he hath any griefe in his hips or houghs then let him blood in the hip or hough veines and if his hinder legs ioynts or feete be grieued then let him blood in the shakell veines and toe veines as is aforesaid The order of taking vp vaines and wherefore it is good â—â—â—ndevile THe order obserued by Martin is in this sort First if the Horsse be very curst and shrewd then cast him vppon a dunghill or some straw then hauing found the veine that you would take vp marke well that part of the skinne which couereth the veine and pull that somewhat a side from the veine with your left thumb to the intent you may slit it with a Rasor without touching the veine And cut not no deeper then onely through the skinne and that longste wise as the veine goeth and not aboue an inch long That done take away your Thumbe and the skinne will returne againe into his place right ouer the veine as it was before Then with a cornet vncouer the vaine and make it vp and heing bare thrust the cornet vnderneath it and raise it vp so as you may put a shoomakers thread vnderneath somewhat higher then the cornet to knit the vaine when time is And if your cornet had a hole in the small end to put in the thread it should be the easlier done
which dare onely meete lions when other Horsses dare not abide the sight of lyons other being on foote do set the Nets Three of them being placed in the snares remaine to vnderprop the Nets with staies and stakes one in the middle all the rest in both the bendinges or turninges of the same so that he which is in the middle can heare both the other at the farther endes some setting round about in warlike manner holding pitchy fire-brands in their right hands and bucklers in their left for with those they make a very great noyse and clamor and with shewing their fire-brandes put the wilde beastes in an incredible feare Therefore when all the Horse-men being spred abroade inuade the beastes and and the footemen likewise doe follow with a great noise the lyons being terrified with the crying out of the hunters not daring to resist giue place and aswell for feare of fire as of the men they runne into the nets and are taken like as fishes in the night time by fire are compelled and driuen into the nets of the fishers The third The third manner of hunting is done with lesser labour that is foure strong men armed with shields and fortified all ouer with thonges of leather and hauing helmets vpon their heades that onely their eyes noses and lips may appeare with the brandishing of their firebrands rustle in vpon the lyon lying in his den he not bearing this indignation with a gaping and open-wide mouth the lightning or burning of his eyes being inflamed breaketh foorth into a great roaring and with such celeritie rustleth vpon them as if it were some storme and tempest they with a firme and constant courage abide that brunt and in the meane while that he coueteth to catch any of them in his teeth or clawes another of them prouoking him behinde doth smite him and with a loude noise or clamour doth vexe him then the lyon in hast leauing the first which he had taken in his mouth turneth backe his mouth vnto the hinder each of them in seuerall parts doe vex him but he breathing foorth warlike strength runneth here and there this man he leaueth that hee snatcheth vp on high at the length being broken with long labour and wearied foaming in his mouth he lyeth downe straight vpon the ground and now being very quiet they binde him and take him from the earth as if he were a Ramme I doe also finde that lions are intricated in snares or traps bound vnto some poste or pile nigh vnto some narrow place by which they were wont to passe But Pliny saith that in times past it was a very hard and difficult manner to catch lyons and that the chiefest catching of them was in ditches In the mountaine Zaronius in Affricke the strongest men doe continuall hunt lyons the best of which being taken they send them vnto the King of Fesse and the King ordereth his hunting in this manner in a very spacious fielde there are little hutches built of that height as a man may stand vpright in them euery one of these is shut with a little gate and within standeth an armed man the lyon being raysed and forced to that place the dores being open then the lyon seeing the dores open runneth with great force which being shut againe hee is prouoked to anger Afterward they bring a Bull to combate with him where beginneth a cruell fight in which if the Bull shall kill the Lyon the honour of that day is finished but if the Lyon ouercome him all the armed men which in number are almost twelue come foorth to fight against the lyon Some of them hauing boare speares of sixe cubits long but if the armed men shall seeme to ouercome the Lyon the King commaundeth the number to be diminished and if on the contrarie Leo Afer the armed men be ouercome the King with his Nobles sitting in an high place to see the hunting kill the Lyon with Crosse-bowes but it commeth often times to passe that euery one of them is slaine before the lyon The reward of those which combate with the lyon is ten golden Crownes together with a new garment neither are any admitted vnto this fight except they are of a most praegnant and vailorous strength and borne in the mountaine Zalag but those which doe first of all prouoke and giue on-set to the lyons are borne in the mountaine Zaronius To conclude this discourse of the hunting of lyons If it fortune that hee be followed with men and dogges Pliny yet in the plaine fieldes hee neuer mendeth his pace as some writers affirme oftentimes turning about and looking vpon his pursuers as it were to dare their approchment and to giue defiance vnto all their pretences yet hauing gotten the thickets he looketh to his safetie with his best celeritie and speede so wisely tempeering his feare before his foes that it may seeme a boldnesse and so politiquely when he thinketh no eye seeth him no longer dissembleth with himselfe but runneth away like a fearefull Hart Aristotle Albertus or Hare laying downe his eares and striking his taile betwixt his legges like a curre-dogge seldome times looking behind him but most irefully vpon those that come before him especially if he receaue from them any wound wherevnto Horace alluded saying Quid vt nouerca me intueris aut vt petita ferro bellua In his course he spareth no beast that he meeteth but falleth vpon it like a mad-dogge except swine for he is afraid of their bristles and if a man doe not attempt to wounde him he will snatch at him and ouerthrow him but doe him little harme according to these verses of Ouid Corpora magnanima satis est prostrasse leoni Pugna suum finem cum iacet hostis habet He obserueth most vigilantly the hand that woundeth him and laboureth to take reuenge for the euill turne and so it remaineth in his minde till opportunitie send him his aduersaries head as may appeare by this story following When Iuba King of Moores the father of him which when he was a child was brought in triumphe trauailed through the wildernesse with an army of soudiers to represse certaine rebels in one part of his dominion which had shaken off his gouernement and to settle them againe in their first allegiance There was a noble yoong souldier in his traine of the race of the nobilitie and not only very strong but also well experienced in hunting and by the way he with other of his fellowes met with a Lion at whom he presently cast a dart and gaue him a sore wound but not mortall after the wound receaued the lyon went away guiltie of his hurt and the yoong men did not prosecute him but went forward on their iourney After a whole yeare the King returned homeward the same way and his company that he carried with him among whom was this yoong gallant that wounded the lyon The lion hauing recouered his hurt and hauing his denne neere
feet Cardanus with her feete she diggeth and with her nose casteth awaye the earth and therefore such earth is called in Germany mal werff and in England Mole-hill and she loueth the fieldes especially meddowes and Gardens where the ground is soft for it is admirable with what celerity she casteth vp the earth They haue fiue toes with clawes vpon each forefoot and foure vpon each foote beehind according to Albertus but by diligent inspection you shall find fiue behind also for there is one very little and recurued backward which a man slightly and negligently looking vpon would take to be nothing The palme of the forefeet is broad like a mans hand and hath a hollow in it if it be put togither like a fist and the toes or fingers with the nailes are greater then any other beast of that quantity And to the end that he might be wel armed to digge the forepart of her forelegges consist of two solide and sound bones which are fastned to her shoulders and her clawes spread abroad not bending downewarde and this is peculiar to this beast not competible to any other but in her hinder legges boeth before and behind they are like a Mouses except in the part beneath the knee which consisteth but of one bone which is also forked and twisted The taile is short and hairy And thus much for the anatomy and seuerall parts the places of their abode They liue as we haue saide in the earth and therfore Cardan saith that there is no creature which hath blood and breath that liueth so long togithervnder the earth and that the earth doth not hinder their exspiration and inspiration for which cause they keepe it hollow aboue them that at no time they may want breath although they doe not heaue in two or three daies but I rather beleeue when they heaue they doe it more for meate then for breath for by digging and remoouing the earth they take Wormes and hunt after victuals When the wormes are followed by Molds for by digging and heauing they foreknow their owne perdition they flie to the superficies and very toppe of the earth the silly beast knowing that the Molde their aduersary dare not followe them into the light so that their wit in flying their enemy is greater then in turning againe when they are troade vpon They loue also to eat Toads and Frogges for Albertus saith he saw a great Toade whose legge a Mole helde fast in the earth and that the Toade made an exceeding great noise crying out for hir life during the time that the Molde did bite hir And therefore Toads and frogs do eat dead Moles They eat also the root of herbs and plants for which cause they are called by Oppianus poiophagi Herbiuorae herbe-eaters In the month of Iuly they come abroad out of the earth Enemies to Moles I thinke to seeke meate at that time when wormes be scanty They are hunted by Weasels and wilde Cats for they will follow them into their holes and take them but the Cats do not eate them whereas wee haue said alreadye that they haue an vnderstanding of mens speech when they heare them talke of them Vnderstanding of Moles I may adde thereunto a story of their vnderstanding thus related by Gillius in his own experience and knowledge When I had saith he put downe into the earth an earthen pot made of purpose with a narrow mouth to take Moles it fortuned that within shorte space as a blind Mole came along shee fell into it and could not get forth againe but lay therein whyning one of her fellowes which followed her seeing his mate taken heaued vp the earth aboue the pot with her nose cast in so much til she had raised vp her companion to the brim and was ready to come forth by which in that blind creature confined to darknesse doth not onely appeare a wonderfull worke of almighty God that endoweth them with skill to defend and wisely to prouide for their owne safety but also planted in them such a naturall and mutuall loue one to another which is so much the more admirable considering their beginning or creation as we haue shewed already Because by their continuall heauing and laboring for meate they doe much harme to Gardens and other places of their aboad and therefore in the husband-mans and house-wifes common-wealth it is an acceptable labor to take and destroy them Taking of Moles For which cause it is good to obserue their passages and marke the times of their comming to labor which being perceiued they are easily turned out of the earth with a spade and this was the first and most common way Some haue placed a boord full of pikes which they fasten vppon a small sticke in the mole-hil or passage and when the mole commeth to heaue vp the earth by touching the sticke she bringeth down the pikes and sharp nailed board vpon her owne body and back Other take a Wyar or yron and make it to haue a very sharp point which being fastened to a staffe and put into the earth where the Moles passage is they bend and so set vp that when the Mole commeth along the pike runneth into her and killeth her The Graecians saith Palladius did destroy and driue away their Moles by this inuention they tooke a great Nut or any other kind of fruit of that quantity receipte and solidity wherein they included chaffe Brimstone and Wax then did they stop al the breathing places of the Moles except one at the mouth wherein they set this deuise on fire so as the smoke was driuen inwarde wherewithall they filled the hole and the place of their walkes and so stopping it the Moles were either killed or driuen away Also Paxamus sheweth another meanes to driue away and take Molles If you take white Hellebor and the rindes of wilde Mercury instead of Hemlocke and dry them and beate them to poulder afterward sifte them and mixe them with meale and with Milke beaten with the white of an Egge and so make it into little morsels or bals Paramus and lay them in the Mole-hole and passages it will kill them if they eate thereof as they will certainely doe Many vse to kill both Moles and Emmets with the froath of new Oyle And to conclude by setting an earthen pot in the earth and Brimstone burning therein it will certainely driue them for euer from that place Vnto which I may adde a superstitious conceite of an obscure Author who writeth that if you whet a mowing syth in a fielde or meddow vpon the feast day of Christs natiuity commonly called Christmas day all the molles that are within the hearing thereof will certainly for euer forsake that fielde meddow or Garden With the skinnes of moles are purses made for the rough and soft haire Vse 〈◊〉 theyr seueral parts and also blacke russet colour is very delectable Pliny hath a strange saying which is this
of them in the top of a high mountaine in ITALY And Sylnaticus calleth this mouse Mus Suring or Sucsinus and calleth it a counter poyson to Wolfe-bane and that God might shew thus much vnto men he causeth it to liue vpon the rootes in testimony of his naturall vertue destroying poyson and venimous hearbâ— THE INDIAN MOVSE AND DIVERS other kinds of mice according to their Countries I Do finde that diuers times mice do take their names from regions wherein they enhabite which happeneth two maner of waies one because the forme of their bodies will somewhat vary the other because not onely in shape but also in witte they haue some thinges in them common to mice ouer and aboue the mice of our countreies Mice of the Last therefore we will breefely comprehend al their surnames of whatsoeuer regions they are in one order or Alphabet In the Oriental parts of the worlde there are great mice as ALEXANDER writeth of the quantity of Foxes who do harme both men and beasts and although they cannot by their biting kil any man yet do they much grieue and molest them Americâ—s Vespucius writeth that he found in an ysland of the sea being distant from Vlisbona a thousand leagues very great mice Egyptian mice The haire of the AEGYPTIAN mice is verye hard and for the most part like a Hedgehogges and there are also some which walk bolt vpright vpon two feet for they haue the hinder legs longer and their fore legges shorter their procreation is also manifold and they do likewise sit vpon their buttockes and they vse their forefeet as hands But Herodotus affirmeth these mice to be of AFFRICKE and not of AEGYPT amongst the AFFRICAN or CARTHAGENIAN pastures saith he in AFFRICKE towards the Orient there are three kinds of mice of the which some are called Bipedall or Two-footed some in the CARTHAGENIAN language Zetzeries which is as much in our language as hils some Hedg-hogges Cyrenean mice There are more kinds of mice in the CYRENAICAN region some which haue broad foreheads some sharpe some which haue pricking haire in the manner of Hedge-hogs It is reported that in CYRENE there are diuers kinds of mice both in colour and shape Pliny and that some of them haue as broad a countenance as a Cat some haue sharpe bristles and beare the forme and countenance of a viper which the inhabitants call Echenetae but improperly as it appeareth by the words of Aristotle in his booke of wonders Herodotus also affirmeth the like of those Mice to be in shape and colour like Vipers but Pliny and Aristotle doe both disallow it and say that in those iuice there is nothing common to vipers but onely to hedge-hogges as concerning their sharpe bristles There are also some Mice in Egypt which doe violently rush vpon pastures and corne of which things Aelianus speaketh saying in this manner when it beginneth first to raine in Egypt the Mice are wont to be borne in very small bubbles which wandring far and neare through all the fieldes doe affect the corne with great calumitie by gnawing and cutting a sunder with their teeth the blades thereof and wasting the heapes of that which is made in bundles doe bring great paines and businesse vnto the Egyptians by which it comes to passe that they endeuor all maner of waies to make snares for them by setting of Mice-trapes and to repell them from their inclosures and by ditches and burning fires to driue them quite away but the Mice as they will not come vnto the traps for as much as they are apt to leape they both goe ouer the hedges and leape ouer the ditches But the Egyptians being frustrated of all hope by their labours all subtill inuentionâ— and pollicies being left as it were of no efficacie they betake themselues humbly to pray to their Gods to remooue that calamitie from them Whereat the Mice by some feare of a diuine anger euen as it were in battell aray of obseruing a squadron order A wonder in the Egyption Mice doe depart into a certaine mountaine The least of all these in age doe stand in the first order but the greatest and eldest doe lead the last troupes compelling those which are weary to follow them But if in their iourney the least or yoongest do chaunce through trauaile to waxe weary all those which follow as the manner is in wars doe likewise stand still Aelianus and when the first begin to goe forward the rest doe continually follow them It is also reported that the Mice which inhabite the Sea doe obserue the same order and custome The Africane Mice doe vsually die as soone as euer they take any drinke but this is commonly proper vnto all mice as Ephesius affirmeth where it is written Medicine by african mice aboue concercerning the poysoning of mice Mice but especially those of Affricke hauing their skinnes pulled off boyled with oyle and salt and then taken in meate doth very effectually cure those which are troubled with any paines or diseases in the lunges or lights The same doth also easily helpe those which are molested with corrupt and bloody spettings with retchings The kindes of Affrican mice are diuers some are two footed Pliny some haue haire like vnto hedge-hogges some faces of the breadth of a Weasell but some call these mice Cirenacian some Egyptian as I haue before declared The Arabian Mice In Arabia there are certaine mice much bigger then Dormice whose former legges are of the quantitie of a hand breadth and the hinder of the quantitie of the ioynt to the ende of the finger I doe vnderstand them to be so short that nothing thereof may seeme to appeare without the body except the space of the ioynts of the finger as it is in Martinets It is said that the garments of the Armenians are vsually wouen with mice which are bred in the same countrey The armenian Mice or diuersly docked with the shape of the same creature The Author writeth that Pliny maketh mention of the Armenian mouse but I haue reade no such thing therefore he doth perchaunce take the Armenian mouse for the Shrew In Cappadocia there is a kinde of mouse which some call a Squirrell Aelianus writing of the Caspian mice Of the Caspian mouse Amyntas saith he in his booke entituled De mansionibus which he doth so inscribe saith that in Caspia there doe come an infinite multitude of mice which without any feare doe swim in the flouds which haue great and violent currentes and holding one another by their tailes in their mouthes as it is likewise reported of Wolues haue a sure and stable passage ouer the water But when they passe ouer any tillage of the earth they fell the corne and climing vp into trees doe eate the fruite thereof and breake the boughes which when the Caspians cannot resist they doe by this meanes endeuour to restraine their turbulent incursions for they remooue
as long as he would A third Hystory of a Vnicornes horne I heare that in the former yeare which was from the yeare of our Lord 1553. when Vercella was ouerthrown by the French there was broght from that treasure vnto the King of France a very great Vnicorns horne the price wherof was valued at fourscore thousand Duckets Paulus Poaeius describeth an Vnicorne in this manner Another description of the Vnicorn That he is a beast in shape much like a young Horse of a dusty colour with a maned necke a hayry beard and a forehead armed with a horne of the quantity of two cubits being seperated with pale tops or spires which is reported by the smoothnes and yuorie whitenesse thereof to haue the wonderfull power of dissoluing and speedy expelling of all venome or poison whatsoeuer For his horne being put into the water driueth away the poison that hee may drinke without harme if any venomous beast shall drinke therein before him This cannot be taken from the Beast being aliue forasmuch as he canot possible be taken by any deceit yet it is vsually seene that the horne is found in the desarts as it happeneth in Harts who cast off their olde horne thorough the inconueniences of old age which they leaue vnto the Hunters Nature renewing an other vnto them The horne of this beast being put vpon the Table of Kinges and set amongst their iunkets and bankets doeth bewray the venome if there be any suche therein by a certaine sweat which commeth ouer it Concerning these hornes there were two seene which were two cubits in length of the thicknesse of a mans Arme the first at Venice which the Senate afterwards sent for a gift vnto Solyman the Turkish Emperor the other being almost of the same quantity and placed in a Syluer piller with a shorte or cutted paint which Clement the Pope or Bishop of Rome being come vnto Marssels broght vnto Frācis the King for an excellent gift Furthermore concerning the vertue of such a gifte I will not speake more of this beast then that which diuulged fame doeth perswade the beleeuers Petrus Bellonius writeth that he knewe the tooth of some certaine Beast in time past sold for the horne of a Vnicorne Of adulterated Vnicorns horns what beast may be signified by this speech I know not neither any of the French men which do liue amongst vs and so a smal peece of the same being adulterated sold sometimes for 300. Duckets But if the horne shal be true and not counterfait it doth notwithstanding seeme to be of that creature which the Auncientes called by the name of an Vnicorne especially Aelianus who only ascribeth to the same this wonderfull force against poyson and most grieuous diseases for he maketh not this horne white as ours doth seeme but outwardly red inwardly white and in the middest or secrettest part only blacke But it cannot bee denied that this our Vnicornes horne was taken from some liuing wilde Beast For their are found in Europe to the number of twenty of these hornes pure and so many broken two of the which are showne in the treasury of Saint Markes church at Venice I heard that the other was of late sent vnto the Emperor of the Turkes for a gift by the Venetians both of them about the length of six cubits the one part which is lowest being thicker and the other thinner that which is thicker exceedeth not the thicknesse of three inches iust which is also attributed vnto the horne of the Indian Asse but the other notes of the same are wanting I doe also know that which the King of England possesseth to be wreathed inspires euen as that is accounted in the Church of S. Dennis then which they suppose none greater in the world and I neuer saw any thing in any creatures more worthy praise then this horn The substance is made by nature not Art wherin al the marks are found which the true horne requireth And forsomuch as it is somewhat hollowe about the measure of a foot which goeth out of the head the bone growing from the same is comprehended I coniecture that it neuer falleth as neither the hornes of a Muskcat a wilde Goat and an Ibex do but the hornes of these beasts do yearely fall off namely the Bucke the Hart Field-goat and Camelopardall It is of so great a length that the tallest man can scarsely touch the top thereof for it doth fully equall seuen great feet It weigheth thirteen pounds with their assize being only weighed by the gesse of the hande it seemeth much heauier The figure doth plainely signifie a wax candle being folded a wreathed within it selfe beeing farre more thicker from one part and making it selfe by little and little lesse towards the point the thickest part thereof cannot be shut within ones hand it is the compasse of fiue fingers by the circumference if it bee measured with a thred it is three fingers and a span That part which is next vnto the heade hath no sharpenesse the other are of a polished smoothnes The splents of the spire are smooth and not deep being for the most part like vnto the wreathing turnings of Snailes or the reuolutions or windings of Wood-bine about any wood But they proceed from the right hande toward the left from the beginning of the horne euen vnto the very ende The colour is not altogether white being a long time somewhat obscured But by the weight it is an easie thinge to coniecture that this beast which can beare so great burden in his head in the quantity of his body can bee little lesse then a great Oxe There are found oftentimes in Polonia certaine hornes which some men gesse to be of the Vnicorns by a doubble Argument First because they are found seuerall Of the Vnicornes horns found in Polonia neuer by twaines which as yet is heard although sometimes they may be found with the scull and bones of the rest of the body furthermore because their strength or vertue is approued against great and most grieuous diseases concerning which thing Antonius Schnebergerus a Phisitian of great learning amongst the Sarmatians and an excellent obseruer of nature writ vnto me some fiue yeare past to see some of these hornes hauing sent them by the labour of my very good friend Ioachinnus Rhaeticus a most excellent phisitian in Sarmatia and incomparable in the mathematick Artes in this age The first of these hornes saith hee I sawe being of the length of my fadome with a duskishe or darkish colour the point there of being exceeding sharpe and smooth The compasse about the root of the horne did exceed six spans The outside was plaine with no turnings of spires the substance easie to be crummed the figure crooked the colour exceeding white within which if it be drunk in wine doth draw ouer it selfe a dark colour Eight such diuisions were ioyned to the same as you shall see in the greater part which I send
but that part is not of the horn but either the entrance of the pallat or some other things as I coniecture This horne was found vnder the earth not deeper then a foote in a solitary and high place as betweene two hils through which a riuer runneth by Countri'men that were digging to lay the foundation of a house But the horne was smitten with an Axe and seuered into very smal peeces but that Noble and excelent man Ioannes Frikasz in whose field the horne was founde being distaunt from Cracouia two miles by all diligence he could least that the small peeces should be cast abroad tooke deliberate heed that they should be taken out of the earth From the roote to the top it was all round and smooth but touching it with ones toongue it cleaueth fast vnto it the tooth was as big as a man could gripe in his hand being in the vpper or outward part bony or hollow within white in the middle and toward the end somewhat reddish But there was found all the beast as by the greatnesse of his bones might easily be perceived being bigger in quantity then a horse It is most certaine that it was a Foure-footed-beast by the bones of the shoulders thighes and ribs But if this Horne were the tooth of an Elephant as some doe suppose you would maruaile why two which I haue heard were neuer found together But the teeth or rather hornes of Elephants are neither so crooked that they might come almost to halfe a circle as they did The strength of this horne a penny weight thereof being put in wine or water of Borrage healeth old Feuers as also Tertian or quarterne Agues of three yeares continuance and cureth many diseases in mens bodies as asswaging the paine of the belly and making of those to vomit who can by no meanes ease their stomackes Hitherto shal suffice to haue spoken concerning one of those foure hornes which I saw The other was like vnto this but lesse pure for the colour was outwardly most blacke inwardly most white being found in the Riuer The third and fourth most hard so that a man would thinke it were by the touching thereof stone or iron being solide euen vnto the point for I haue not seene them wholly but the part of one to the length of a cubit of the other to the length of halfe a cubit with a darke colour being almost of the same thicknesse as the two former But for as much as the two former haue no riftes or chinkes in them these haue by their longitude being like hearbs bending or wreathing in their stalkes There was another found in a certaine field so much appearing out of the earth that the rude or country sort did thinke it to be some pile or stake Many also are cured and freed from shaking feauers by the medicinall force of these the cause whereof I suppose to be this because the former are softer for as much as one of them will lye in the Water for so long a time but the other vnder the earth being scarce well hid I afterwardes saw a fi lt like vnto the first none of them being straight or direct vppe but also crooked some almost vnto a halfe a circle Hitherto Schnebergerus who also addeth this That there are more of these to be found in Polonia and therefore for the most part to bee contemned There are moreouer found in Heluetia some of these hornes one in the riuer Arula against the Towne of Bruga the other in the last yeare in the riuer of Birsa but it was broken euen as the third with that famous Earle of the Cymbrians William Warner in a tower neare vnto the Citty Rottauit who gaue vnto Gesner a good peece thereof who found another peece as he was a fishing at Birsa in the riuer And it is no great maruaile that they are found there where through length of time they are broken into small pieces and carried by the force of the waters into diuers places But it is most diligently to be obserued whether they are found in the earth as also to be knowne whether that great horne be of this beast which hangs alone in the great temple at Argentaur by the piller for it hath hanged there many yeares before as now it-appeareth for that doth plainely seeme the same magnitude thicknesse and figure which Schnebergerus hath described in his own horne that we haue allowed before for wild oxen The ancients haue attributed singuler hornes to the Vnicorne whom some haue cald by other names as it is said and furthermore to the Orix a wilde beast vnknowne in our age except I be deceiued which Aristotle and Pliny call a Vnicorne Aelianus a Quadrucorne Oppianus doth not expresse it but he seemeth to make it a two horned beast Simeon Sethi doth also write that the Musk-cat or Goat at which bringeth forth Muske hath one horne Certaine later writers as Scaliger reporteth say that there is a certaine Oxe in Ethiopia which hath one Horne comming out in the middest of his forehead greater then the length of a foot bending vpwardes the point being wreathed ouerthwart and they haue red haire whereby we gather that the horne of all Vnicornes is not pure But the reason why these hornes are more found in Polonia then in any other place I cannot well ghesse whether from thence we shall suspect them to be of certaine Vries which at this day abide in the woods of Sarmatia in times past there were many more which haue liued both in greater and larger woods neither were they killed with so often Hunting some whereof it is most like haue come to great age as appeareth by their great stately hornes which things we leaue to be considered of others I suppose that the Apothe caries neuer haue the true horne of a Vnicorne but that some doe sell a kinde of false adulterated Horne other the fragments of this great and vnknowne Horne of which we haue spoken and not onely of the horne but also of the bones of the head some of which are so affected by longanimity of time that you may take a threefold substance in them although it be broken by a certain distance one being for the most part whitish and pale the other whiter and softer the third stony and most white I heare that in the new Ilands there was a Horne bought in the name of a Vnicornes horne being much praised for expelling of poyson which what it is I haue not as yet examited but it is to bee inquired whether it bee a Rhynocerots or not for both the auncient and late Writers doe mingle this with the Vnicorne I doe verily coniecture that the same strength is pertinent to both the Hornes And thus much shall suffice concerning the true Vnicornes horne and the Vertues arising there from In this place now we will proceed to the residue of the history reseruing other vses of this horne to the proper medicines These Beasts are very