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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05102	The third volume of the French academie contayning a notable description of the whole world, and of all the principall parts and contents thereof: as namely, of angels both good and euill: of the celestiall spheres, their order and number: of the fixed stars and planets; their light, motion, and influence: of the fower elements, and all things in them, or of them consisting: and first of firie, airie, and watrie meteors or impressions of comets, thunders, lightnings, raines, snow, haile, rainebowes, windes, dewes, frosts, earthquakes, &c. ingendered aboue, in, and vnder the middle or cloudie region of the aire. And likewise of fowles, fishes, beasts, serpents, trees with their fruits and gum; shrubs, herbes, spices, drugs, minerals, precious stones, and other particulars most worthie of all men to be knowen and considered. Written in French by that famous and learned gentleman Peter de la Primaudaye Esquier, Lord of the same place, and of Barree: and Englished by R. Dolman.; Academie françoise. Part 3. English	La Primaudaye, Pierre de, b. ca. 1545.; Dolman, R. (Richard)	1601 (1601)	STC 15240; ESTC S108305	398,876	456

The powder therof dried doth consolidate greene wounds if they be washed before with wine wherein rosemarie hath beene sodden and then the powder be strowed on afterwards The flowers thereof confected in sugar are good for all things aforesaide particularly against cold passions of the hart against maladies of the breast and against the plague The decoction of rosemarie made in water and taken in drinke doth heale the iaundise So likewise doth the seede being drunke with pepper and white wine In the plague time it is good to perfume the house with this plant for the fume thereof driueth away ill aires Cammomill also groweth abundantly amongst corne Of Cammomill and in the fieldes bearing yellow flowers enuironed with whitish leaues and is of a strong sauour But to mollifie resolue rarifie and loosen this plant is of singular operation And in this respect no medicine is better for wearie folkes then a bath of cammomill The leaues beaten and put into white wine make a profitable drinke to heale quotidian and quartan agues the decoction thereof drunke healeth paines in the side and so doth the water distilled of the flowers which flowers being gathered without leaues beaten in a morter formed with oile into trochisks afterwardes dissolued againe in oyle if they bee therewith rubbed and chafed which are troubled with feuers from the crowne of the head to the foote and that they presently goe into bed to sweate they shall be holpen bicause of the abundant heate that goeth out of their bodie Cammomill is especially good to dissolue feuers that are without inflammation of any chiefe intraile principally those which proceede from cholericke humors and thicknes of the skin Being taken in drinke or the fume thereof receiued in at the fundament it is a great helpe to voide vrine and grauell Of the Lillie The lillie is likewise very woorthie of consideration It beareth long leaues euer greene smooth and iuicie it hath a stalke of two cubits high round straight euen thicke and strong all clad with leaues from the bottome to the top At the top of the stalke growe three or fower little branches out of which issue small long heads of the colour of the herbe which in time become faire lillies of exquisite whitenesse crossed on the outside and the ends turned outwards round about At the bottome of the flower growe certaine yellow stalks as it were dustie on the vpper side of the fashion of toongs out of the midst of which groweth one long one hauing a round head of the colour of the herbe There is no flower so high and it surpasseth in beautie all other whitenesse Now for the vertue of this plant The leaues thereof are good beeing applied against the biting of serpents beeing boiled they heale burnings and confected in vineger are good for wounds water distilled of the flowers are profitable for women that are deliuered of childe with great difficulty and voideth out the after-burden beeing mixed with saffron and Cinamon The oile drawne out of those flowers is good against all cold diseases of the sinewes as cramps and palsies and to mollifie all stiffenes in the ioynts and all hard-swollen kernelles Lillies long time steeped in oile beeing applied hot do ripen hot impostumes without paine and do breake them especially such as are in the ioints And the bodie of the roots hath the same propertie For beeing boiled and braied with oile of roses they ripen impostumes and beeing braied with hony they heale cut and lame sinewes clense the head of scabs and clarifie the visage and make it smooth The seede of Lillies also taken in drink serueth against the bitings of serpents And the water that is distilled of the flowers in a limbeck doth take wrinkles out of womens faces and doth beautifie them very much Of Baulme Baulme is a very odoriferous plant and smelleth much like a Citron the stalke and leaues thereof are somewhat rough and many stalkes issue out of the roote The property of it is to reioyce the heart to comfort cold and moist stomacks to helpe digestion to euacuate the stoppings of the conduits of the braine to heale feeblenes and faintnes of hart to fortifie it being weake especially if the weakenes bee such that it oftentimes breaketh ones sleepe in the night moreouer this hearb staieth the panting of the hart driueth away cares and sad imaginations which proceede either from the melancholie humor or from fleame combust It hath also a laxatiue vertue not so feeble but that it clenseth and purgeth the spirits and bloud of the hart and arteries from all melancholie vapors which it cannot do to the other parts of the bodie The leaues thereof taken in drinke or outwardly applied are good against stingings of the Tarantula of Scorpions and against the biting of dogs and it is good to bath such wounds with the decoction thereof Beeing mixed with salt they are profitable against the kings euill and mundifie vlcers and beeing applied do asswage the paine of gowts They are vsed in clysters against the flux Also the leaues taken in drinke with niter are very good for them that are stopped by eating toad stooles or mushrums and in loch for them that are troubled with shrinking vp of the bellie and breath with such difficulty that they cannot do it except they stand vpright Grasse Of Dogs-tooth or Dogs-tooth is one of the commonest herbs in the field yea euen in leane grounds The branches thereof ly a long vpon the earth and are full of knots out of which and out of the top it often sendeth new rootes The leaues are very small and pointed it is maruailous in propertie For the decoction thereof taken in drinke healeth wringing in the bellie and hard making of water and breaketh the stone and grauell in the bladder The root braied and applied searcheth wounds And the iuice of the decoction thereof may bee vsed to the same effect which the herb also doth beeing beaten and keepeth wounds from all inflammation if to the decoction thereof bee put a little wine or hony and the third part of so much Pepper Myrrh Franckincense and be made to boile afterwards againe in some copper vessell it is a singular remedy for the tooth-ach and the rheume which falleth into the eies Grasse also that hath seuen spaces betwixt the knots is very good for the headach beeing bound about it It likewise stauncheth bleeding at nose The seede thereof doth greatly prouoke vrine and bindeth the bellie and staieth vomiting It is speciall good against byting of Dragons There is found in some places of Germany a certaine kinde of grasse which is tilled with as great care as other corne or pulse because the people vseth the seede thereof in their meats which seede they call Mama and they seeth it in pottage with fat meate and finde it as good as Rice It is smaller then millet and very white But it must bee beaten in a morter to vnhuske it Of

that the vapors attaine to Reasons of those who say that the comet● are scituate in heauen And therefore the comets beeing seene there higher then the place of the vapors it necessarily followeth that they are not there ingendred neither yet in the highest of the pure aire called Aether considering that there is no matter which may be kindled But if any one alledge that the combustible humor is rauished and attracted thither by the power of the stars though that this place be higher then the common place of vapors wee may answere that forsomuch as wee behold many comets to continue more then two months and some three that this their long continuance may bee an impediment thereto because that the totall masse of the earth would not be sufficient for such an inflammation For fire is not perpetually fedde with one onely matter but requireth a new supply And seeing that these comets haue for the most part a beard or a taile and are seated in an higher place then the aire a man cannot iudge them to bee lesse then the Moone And it seemeth impossible that so much matter should be consumed as might maintaine this huge flame for three moneths Moreouer there is a meanes to know whether the comet be in the region of the aire or else be ingēdred in heauen For if it be quicker in motion from west to east thē the moone is thē of necessity must the place of the comet be vnder the lowest sphere but if it be more slow Comets mooued with three motions then without doubt it is bred in heauen Now it is common to all comets to be mooued with three motions namely with the first from east to west in the space of fower twentie houres like all the stars with the second from west to east almost in like space of time with the planet Venus For a comet which appeered the two and twentieth day of September 1532. and ended the third day of December proceeded as Fracastorius writeth in 71. daies from the fift part of Virgo to the eight part of Scorpio Which maketh manifest that it could not be vnder the Moone for then it should haue beene more swiftly mooued then this planet which retrogradeth thirteenth parts of the Zodiacke in fower and twentie howers according to the ordinarie course of the first motion and the comet had proceeded but 63. degrees in 71. daies But for the third motion peculiar to all comets which is considered according to the latitude it is such and so great that if the foresaid Author be not deceiued one is now mooued with incredible speed towards the North and another in an instant towards the South Which commeth to passe when the comets are neere to any of the Poles for then a little varietie of place conferred to the Zodiacke doth greatly change the latitude Besides it is to be noted that the beard of euerie comet doth directly stretch out that way which is opposite to the Sunne and when it setteth the same taile is straight Eastward As the like may be daily seene in the darke part of the Moone Moreouer the comet doth most vsually accompanie the Sunne and appeereth not but at euen-tide at the shutting vp of the day Which giueth vs to vnderstād What a comet properly●● that a comet is a globe placed in heauen which being inlightned by the Sunne doth plainely appeere and when his rayes passe farther they shew like the fashion of a bread or of a tayle Whereupon it appeereth that this flaming globe may be made in the midst of the spheres if the generation thereof be in them or else we must say and that seemeth true that the heauen is full of many stars not verie massie which the aire being drie and attenuated do present themselues to our sight For Venus hirselfe is sometimes seene in broad day which none can say to be newly engendred Of the prodigies which are attributed to comets Then through this drines of the aire it commonly happeneth that the seas are much turmoiled with tempests and that great blustring windes doe follow thereupon and that Monarches great Princes who are most drie through cold watchings or else through abundance of hot and delicate meates and of strong wine do thereupon die So likewise the drie and attenuated aire causeth the waters to diminish fishes to die and scarcitie of victuals which oftentimes stirreth vp seditions and the chaunge of lawes and finally the subuersion of states All which things I say doe seeme in some sort to proceed through the great tenuitie and drines of the aire thereof the comet then appeering may be a signe token but not the cause But if we wil meditate vpō these things like christians we will say that what naturall causes soeuer Naturalists and Astrologers can render concerning comets signes and woonders which appeere sometimes in heauen that they should be so often vnto vs like so many trumpets heraulds and fore-runners of the Iustice of God to aduertise men that they remaine not buried in their filth and sinnes but returne to the infinite goodnes of God who reacheth out his hand and calleth to vs through such signes to change our life and leaue our execrable vices to the ende that through his mercie we may obtaine pardon for our faults Of diuers kinds of comets But let vs likewise note that although sundry sorts of comets are seene yet the Greekes call them properly stars that haue a sanguine bush of haire and are bristled at the top And those which haue vnder them a long beard made like haires they call Pogonies Plinie reporteth of sundrie other sorts and saith that the shortest time that euer comet was seene to appeare hath beene seuen daies Hist nat lib. 2. and the longest time eightie He maketh mention also of one which seemed terrible about the clime of Egypt and Ethiopia For it was flaming and wreathed round like a serpent hauing a very hideous and dreadfull aspect so that one would haue said that it had rather beene a knot of fire then a starre Afterward this author concludeth his speech with the opinion that many haue as is abouesaid that comets are perpetuall and that they haue a proper and peculiar motion saying also that none can see them except they be very far distant from the sunne in such sort that they may not be couered with his beames And yet the opinion of Aristotle is cleane contrarie thereto and so are a great number of other philosophers who affirme that comets are composed of a certaine fire and of an humor which it lighteth on by chance for which cause they are subiect to resolution But we will proceede no farther in this argument nor yet concerning the situation of them whether they be vnder the spheres or amongst them but will pursue our purpose concerning things vndoubtedly engendred in the highest elements as namely the cloudes The discourse whereof ARAM I referre to you

is one of the most gentle medicines and least annoying that may be amongst laxatiue remedies But it is euerie where so common that none esteeme of it It is not only laxatiue but doth also fortifie the interiour members bindeth their veines which are too loose as also those of the stomacke and of the liuer and healeth feuers that proceed by choler or through stoppings It euacuateth the cholerike humour verie much in vrine the seed thereof is bitter and somewhat sharpe and it is somewhat more hot then the herbe that is temperate so that the whole plant is purifying penetratiue opening and laxatiue And because of the cold and stiptick qualitie thereof it bindeth restrayneth and fortifieth It doth gently loosen the belly it purgeth choler and burning humours Wherefore it is good against the meazels against cankers and all infections of the skin and other maladies which doe proceed from oppilations the iuice thereof cleereth the sight causeth teares to issue euen as smoke or fume doth whereof it seemeth to haue taken name Angelica is a most excellent plant Of Angelica and verie worthie to bee here described It is aboue a cubit in height it produceth a knottie stalke crested and full of pits the leaues thereof are long and indented round about the flowers white growing in bunches out of which springeth a little graine and smooth like a lentill The roote is as thicke as a reddish diuided into many branches sharpe in taste and sweete in smell Also there are sundry sorts thereof for one kinde is set in gardens another sort is wild and another groweth in watrie places All this plant is hot and drie in the second degree full or to the beginning of the third Wherefore it is opening attenuating and resoluing It is singular against poysons so that taken in drinke or often chewed it preserueth from the plague being taken alone it attenuateth flegmaticke and clammie humours And so doth the decoction of the roote thereof which doth readily heale the cough that comes through cold for it causeth one to spit out and voide all clammie fleame The same decoction receiued in wine or water healeth vlcers in the interior members dissolueth clotted blood and fortifieth the stomacke The roote beaten to powder is soueraigne against fainting of the hart other passions thereof It is singular against bitings of mad venimous beasts being laid thereupon with Rue or taken inwardly for which cause many of our moderne phisitions imploy it in their counterpoisons preseruatiues There is giuen halfe a dram of the root with a dram of treacle and the distilled water hereof to such as haue the plague who are constrained to sweat and seuen howers after to resume this drink and by this onely counterpoison some haue beene holpen This roote chewed and put into holow teeth asswageth the paine of them It also sweetneth the breath Whosoeuer shall hold a little peece thereof in his mouth or in the morning drinke two spoonefuls of wine wherein it hath beene steeped hee shall not easily bee infected with euill aire all day after The leaues thereof with the leaues of Rue and honie applied in a cataplasme heale the bitings of madde-dogs and stingings of serpents And being laide vpon his head that is sicke of an ague it attracteth to it selfe much of the heate of the ague Of Maidenhaire Maidenhaire also is a very exquisite plant much like vnto ferne but with smaller leaues set in order heere and there one ouer against another in fine smal branches sharpe in taste black and shining It is temperate in heate and coldenes and therefore it drieth purifieth and resolueth It is good to cause one spit and voide out of the breast and lungs all grosse and clammy humors It staieth the fluxe of the belly resolueth the kings euill and other tumors and being taken in drinke is singular for hardnes of water when one can make it but drop by drop it breaketh the stone The decoction also thereof is good for them that draw their breath with paine and is profitable for the spleene and against the iaundise And the herbe thereof being laid vpon the bitings of serpents is a singular remedie therefore To open also the infusion thereof made in parsley water or in endiue water or in broth of blacke chich-pease or in a little goats-milke is very good and adding sugar thereto it healeth inflammations of the side doth greatly prouoke vrine Briefly all the vertues that Phisitions attribute to Venus-haires called commonly Capilli Veneris agree with Maiden-haire Now AMANA let vs heare you choose out other plants for the subiect of your discourse Of Rheubarb Licorice Aloes Sene Saffron and Centurie Chapter 78. AMANA SIth that it is not our purpose to write an entire Historie concerning simples but onely to consider of the most excellent in their effects me seemeth that it is sufficient for vs so to make way to another matter to adde to our precedent discourses that which I intend nowe to speake concerning some singular plants amongst which I preferre Rheubarb to the first place which is very plentifull in all India The leaues of it are commonly two foote long broad aboue and so growing narrower towards the stalke Of Rheubarb and the excellent virtue thereof hauing a certaine cotton or as it were haire round about it as is cōmonly seene in the herb called in French Bouillon blane The stalk therof is but a foote high or little more and is all greene like the leaues In the middle thereof groweth out a very small branch hauing certaine flowers about it that enuiron it which are like vnto purple violets saue in colour onely which is different being white and blew of sharpe smell and very vnpleasant to their nose that smell thereat The roote is very deepe in the ground of a foote and an halfe long and as thicke as a mans arme some more some lesse and out of it there do many small ones sprout which before the great one be cut are digged vp with the principall to the end that it may more easily be cleft in peeces It is on the outside of an ashie colour and full of yellowish iuice while it is fresh and greene and so clammie that in touching thereof it causeth the fingers to sticke togither Now this roote is an excellent medicine gentle and without danger wherein many singularities requisite in a laxatiue simple are comprised And Rheubarb is best while it is greene of a blackish colour somewhat enclining to a redde and heauie although it be of a rare bodie and which being broken is mixed with red and skie colour within and being chewed waxeth as yellow as Saffron Besides it purgeth choler and flegme it clenseth and fortifieth the stomacke and liuer and healeth the paines and prickings of them It clarifieth the bloud openeth and healeth all maladies that proceed of stoppings as the iaundise the dropsie swelling of the spleene and long feauers It is good

of it one is called great Centurie and the other is lesser Centurie The great hath leaues like a walnut tree long greene like Colewoorts indented about a stalke of two or three cubits high The flower thereof is blew and the roote verie big full of iuice sharp with astriction and sweetnes The lesser sore hath leaues like rue a square stalke somewhat more then a span long the flowers thereof are red inclining to purple and the root is small smooth and bitter in taste For their properties the vertue of great Centurie consisteth in the roote thereof which serueth for ruptures conuulsions difficultie in breathing old coughes pleurisies and spitting of blood It is also giuen to them that are sicke of the dropsie of the iaundise and are pained in their liuer being either steeped in wine or beaten to powder and drunke Of the lesser Galen hath composed an whole booke which he dedicated to his friend Papias concerning the great and admirable vertues therein For it purgeth choler and fleame for which cause the decoction thereof is good against tertian feuers which also and the iuice thereof helpeth stoppings and hardnes of the liuer and spleene Being drunke likewise to the waight of a dram with honie or laid vpon the nauell it auoideth wormes out of the belly The leaues of this herbe wherein and in the flowers thereof lyeth all the vertue being applied fresh to great wounds search them and heales vp old vlcers But now changing our talke let vs leaue phisicke plants and say somwhat concerning those more excellent ones which particularly serue for the nouriture of Man Of Wheate Rie Barley and Oates and of Rice and Millet Chap. 79. ARAM. AMongsts herbs and plants wherewith men are fed and nourished the chiefe degree is by good right assigned to wheat as to that graine whereof the best bread is made which onely with water may very well suffice for the mainteinance of our life hauing many properties also in the vse of phisick Now according to the diuersitie of places wherein it groweth people do name it and one sort differeth from another but wee will heere speake of that which is most common amongst vs. All wheat hath many verie small roots Of Wheat and of the forme and fertilitie thereof but one leafe and many buds which may diuide themselues into sundry branches All the winter time it is an herb but the weather waxing milder there springeth out of the midst thereof a small stalk which after three or foure knots or ioints beareth an eare not by and by seene but is hidden within a case The stalke beeing made the flower bloometh some foure or fiue daies after and about so long endureth That past the graine swelleth and ripeneth in forty daies or sooner as the climate is in heat The fertility of this plant is meruailous as wee behold by daily experience For there are some places in Italie especially in the territory of Sienna about the sea coasts where there hath beene seene to grow out of one only graine foure and twenty eares of corne and that one bushell of seede hath yeelded an hundred The best wheat should bee hard to breake massiue waightie of the colour of gold cleere smooth kept three moneths ripe faire and growing in a fat soile to be the fitter to make better bread of And the meale also must not be too much ground neither yet too fresh nor too long kept before it be vsed for if it be too much ground it maketh bread as if it were of branne that which is too fresh doth yet retaine therein some heat of the mill-stone and that which is kept too long will be spoyled either by dust or by mouldines or will else haue some bad smell Now besides the common vse of wheat the manner how to make it in drinke is verie notable which drinke serueth insteed of wine in those countries where the vine cannot fructifie Beere For there they take wheat and sometimes barley rie or oates euerie one apart or else two or three sorts of these graines or else all mingled togither and steepe them in fountaine water or in water of the cleanest and cleerest riuer that may be chosen or else for better in a decoction or wourt of hops and this is done for so long time till the graine begin to breake then is it dried in the sunne being drie it is beaten or else ground afterwards sodden in water in which it hath first beene steeped for the space of three or fower howers putting thereto a good quantitie of the flowers of hops and skimming the decoction or wourt verie well that done it is powred out and put in vessels for the purpose This drinke is called Beere And they which will haue it verie pleasant to the taste after it is made doe cast into the vessels sugar cinamom and cloues and then stirre it verie much Some doe put cockle into the composition of beere the more to sharpen the taste And sith we are entred into this speech we will here note that wheat doth easily conuert into cockle chiefly when the weather is rainie and cold Of Cockle for it commeth of corne corrupted by too much moisture or that hath beene too much wet by continuall raines in winter It springeth first out of the ground hauing a long leafe fat rough with a slenderer stalk then that of wheat at the top whereof there is a long eare hauing on all sides little sharpe cods or huskes out of which three or fower graines grow together being couered with a verie hard barke The bread that hath much thereof in it doth dizzie and hurt the head so that they which eat thereof do commonly fall into a sound sleep and their head is much troubled It annoyeth the eies and dimmeth the sight Some also do make * As some thinke wafer-cakes Amylum of wheat which serueth for many things They take verie cleane wheat of three moneths olde which they wet fiue times a day and as often by night if it be possible being well soaked and steeped they powre the water away not shaking it to the ende that the thick and that which is like creame may not runne out with the water After that it is verie wel mollified and the water changed it must be sifted that the bran which swimmeth at top thereof may bee done away and then must it be kneaded verie hard together casting fresh water stil vpon it And so it must be laid in panniers or dossers to drie and then vpon new tiles to be parched in the sun with as much speed as may be for if it remaine neuer so little a while moist it waxeth sowre The best is that which is white fresh light and smooth It hath power to mollifie in sharpe and rough things and is good against rheumes that fall into the eies Being taken in drinke it restraineth spitting of blood and asswageth the sorenes of the throat Next after Wheat Rie is in

gouernment their witte is no lesse admirable then their worke as is recorded to haue beene obserued by Aristomachus Solensis who delighted himselfe for 58. yeere togither to nourish diligently these little animals so much he loued them neuer applying himselfe to any other thing By which kinde of meanes it was knowne that in the day time the Bees ward and watch at the gate as in a campe and rest in the night till such time as one amongst them being as Sentinell wakeneth them with two or three sounds as it were of a trumpet Then all of them assemble to see if it be faire weather for they can iudge of the winds and of the raine and in foule weather they bouge not but if the weather be faire and calme all goe to worke Some bring in their feete that which they haue drawne out of flowers others beare water in their mouth and some againe helping them with a smal haire do lade themselues with drops of water ouer all their body The yoonger sort go foorth to do these things and the older trauell within the hiues where their offices are appointed them For some build others polish this brings in matter that victuals another water and all of them haue all things common and obserue equalitie in meate and worke They watch who are idle and chastise and punish them euen sometimes by death First they make their combes and waxe whereof they builde their lodgings After they be lodged they consider how to multiplie themselues and last of all they make their honie And they haue this wittie industrie to mixe in the matter wherewith they first besmeare or ouercast their hiues the iuice of the most bitter herbes they can finde to the end to put such small beasts or flies out of taste that woulde sucke thereof euen as if they had beene informed that their worke was sought after In briefe all their manner of life order and policie is euery way admirable But what may wee say particularly concerning their hony and wax Of Honie the vse whereof is so commodious and profitable to man It is certaine that these industrious creatures know how to choose and gather a kinde of dew which falleth from heauen at the rising of certaine stars especially in the dog-daies vpon the leaues of plants whereof they make hony And the best is that which is of a deepe yealow colour and hath a pleasant smell beeing pure and neat shining euery where and sweete in tast beeing also of a meane substance betweene liquid and thick In vertue it hath the propertie to hinder corruption and rottennes and therefore some make gargarismes thereof to clense and mundifie the vlcers of the mouth It preserueth life especially in those that are of cold complexion so we behold that the Bee which is a feeble and tender creature liueth nine or ten yeeres because shee is nourished by honie It is abstersiue opening and attracteth humours Beeing in time applied to any part of the bodie which is bruised by some blow or fall it is a singular remedy to heale any such bruise if so bee the skinne bee not broken And the wax which is made of the combes taken out of the hiues Of Wax after that they haue beene well pressed and that all the hony hath been drained out is likewise of singular vtility for men The best should be very yealow sweete fatte light pure close euen neat and clensed from all filth It is of meane quality betwixt hot cold moist and dry things and is of a grosse and clammie substance retaining an hot and resolutiue vertue which also aboundeth in hony It is ministred in drinke against Dysenterias but aboue all it is profitable in the composition of ointments which are made for wounds Of Silke-wormes Now let vs speake of Silkewormes which next to Bees merit most admiration amongst all insect beasts This worme is first bredde of another worme of the same kinde which hath hornes for thereof cōmeth a snaile which afterwards produceth the silke worme called Bombyx and by some Necydalus which is like to a butterflie and laieth egs through the copulation of the male and female out of which egges in the end those wormes creepe who by so maruailous industrie do make vs our silke that in a short time is drawne out of their mouth by a small threed which afterward is weaued with such wondrous art that therein is nothing broken false or vneuen but euery whit perfect from the beginning to the end of euery bottome or clewe beeing one fastened to another And that which maketh their labour seeme more wondrous is that these creatures are without flesh bloud or bones without vaines sinewes or arteries without scales or any intrailes as also outwardly they are seene to bee without teeth nailes prickles or bristles haire eies or eares and yet in lesse then fortie daies how small soeuer they bee when they are engendred they become thick and great hauing the benefit of eating and sleepe and they cast their skin foure times And then their body beginneth to glister oftentimes shewing the skeane of silke which is in their bellie which if they must make white they haue their head as white as siluer if the silke must bee yealow their head wil bee like gold if greene or tawny their head will beare the signe thereof Then do they seeke where to fasten it and so weaue their silke in order till such time as they haue performed their worke which doth not onely serue for clothing for men but for a singular remedie also to comfort a sick-hart to reioice it and recreate sadde and melancholie spirits as wee may acknowledge by that excellent confection called of Phisitions Alkermes which for the most part compounded of the decoction and infusion of silke in the iuice of kermes beeing drunke is a soueraigne medicine against faintnes and syncopes But hauing already said enough concerning Insect beasts for the subiect of our discourse wee will consequently speake of some perfect beasts according as wee shall make choise of as of the most worthy to enrich our present worke to the end as wee haue decreed that the creator may bee glorified whereof ARAM you must now entreate Of the Dog and of the Horse Chapter 83. ARAM. AMongst perfect beasts the Dog and Horse do by good right deserue the first and chiefe degree aswell because of their admirable sense as also because of the vtility pleasure and commodity which they bring to man Concerning these creatures Carda in 10. lib. de subt then shall our present discourse intreat and first of the dog which as many authors affirme tooke his originall from the woolfe being tamed by the industrie of man Now there are many sorts of dogs all which we may comprehend vnder two kinds the one is of them which are to keepe house and the other to chase withall Of the house-dogge The house-dogge ought to be of grosse and bigge bodie being square set and

rather short then long his head great his throate wide thicke lips bigge hanging eares his eies blew and blacke burning and sparkling his necke thicke and short his brest large and rough his shoulders broad legs thicke and hairy and a short and thicke taile which is a signe of force for the long and small taile noteth swiftnes his pawe and nailes great his barking high bigge and fearefull aboue all vigilant and very watchfull not running heere and there but staied and more slowe then hastie Hunting hounds are of sundrie sorts Of Dogs for the chase They which are swift are either white or browne or gray or blacke And the white are best for they are well winded quicke fierce wil not leaue the chase for any heat whatsoeuer neither will breake off for the prease of hunters nor for the noise and cry of men and they obserue change better then any other kinde of hound and are more certaine but they feare the water somewhat especially in winter-time If they bee cleane white or spotted with red they are the better The browne doth second them and are of a great courage forward quicke and fierce fearing neither water nor cold but they cannot endure heate and are not so easie to gouerne as the white The graie are not so quicke and furious as the rest neither yet the blacke who are commonly the biggest bodied Yet there are good dogs of all haires and colours but to choose a faire and good hound indeed these signes must be obserued His head must be meanly thick more long then flat his nosthrils wide and open eares broad and reasonable thicke crooked reines thicke loines bigge and large hanches faire thighes the right hamme-ioint well knit the taile thicke neere to the raines and the rest small to the end the haire vnder his bellie rough a thicke legge and the pawe of his foote drie and like to the pawe of a foxe great nailes as high behinde as before and the dogge must be short and crooked but the bitch must bee long For open nosthrils declare the dogge to be well winded crooked raines and straight hams signifie quicknes the taile thicke neere to the raines long and small to the end denote strength and force in the raines and that the hound is well breathed haire rough vnder the belly declareth that he is painefull fearing neither water nor colde a thicke legge foxes foote and great nailes demonstrate that he is not heauie footed and that he is strong in members to runne long without tiring Besides houndes there be grey-hounds bloud hounds water-spaniels tumblers and mungrels all which are of diuers kindes but our meaning is not to set downe an entire narration thereof considering that it is not necessarie for that purpose which we haue decreed in our discourses Wherefore we will content our selues to note in generall that there is no beast of greater sense and loue nor more docible then the dog For there be few things fit for the pleasure of man but may he easily taught to this kinde of creatures especially in all points concerning hunting Also histories abound with testimonies of their knowledge and loue towards those that nourish them Plinie reporteth of a dog Hist nat lib. 8. c. 40. which defended his master being assayled by theeues till such time as they had slaine him and that after his death the dog would not leaue his bodie but kept it both from the birds and from other wilde beasts that would haue deuoured it That another dog also knowing one amongst a troupe of people that had slaine his master flew vpon him and bit him with such furie that the murtherer was constrained to confesse the cause of the dogs rage reuealing his owne misdeed Now speak we of the horse Of the Horse which of al beasts is most profitable for man and is full of meeknes and docilitie He is praised in seuen and twentie conditions of which he seemeth to take three of the woman to wit yoong age meeknes of maners and beawtie three of the lion courage force and to be tall before not bowing in the midst nor higher before then behinde three of the Eagle a good eie a little head and to beare his head straight and aloft three of the oxe the foote great thighes moderately thicke and short and strong ioints three of the hart quicknes deliuernes to runne and leape well and lightnes three of the asse strong hoofes an hard skin and a strong and able backe three of the foxe a faire taile agilitie and a faire skinne three of the goose to eate well and quicke and to digest it to haue full bowels and in his pace his feete equally distant without enterfiering and three which are proper to himselfe a quicke and easie pace liuelines promptnes and gallantnes of hart and readines to obey the bridle and spurre without being slow therein If then we will know when an horse is perfectly faire That which is required in a fa●●e Horse we must first note that he haue a small head a gallant and faire forehead drie and cleane flesh great and blacke eies and standing out short sharpe and straight eares little drie and thinne lips and not vneuen a wide throat big open and red nosthrils his neck neither too short nor too long but meane loftie not too fat and crooked like an arch and vault with a fine curled long maine also that he haue a large breast soft and bearing out like that of a doue big boned legs but leane and drie of flesh straight high and euen from the foote to the knee thicke long fat sinewie and fleshie thighes but yet answerable to his buttockes sides and flanks high heeles thicke and short ioints and not close to the hoofe which must be hard high round blacke and hollow he must also haue the backe short not bunched nor high like an asses back but euen not too high nor too low broad long great straight and well flesht shoulders a smooth strong massiue thicke and as it were a double crupper a short taile of bone smal strong long haired which he must beare close betwixt his thighes a large and round flanke full sides and long aboue the belly which must be round small and well set vnder the sides that must be broad and long with a little distance from the hinder part to the ioint of the haunch and with small and equall cods How an Horse is good Moreouer he must haue to be good a stately pace a deliuer trot a swift gallop a light course a bounding and sudden leap an assured and readie pace quicke at hand and prompt to turne euerie way to recule backe and to runne suddenly forward not stamping or ratling with his bit nor kicking against the spur but conforming himselfe to the will of his master without starting or being afraid of any thing that he seeth heareth or feeleth not flinging and kicking amongst other horses In a word that horse

may rightfully say that we our selues are nourished by catter-pillers grasse-hoppers and such other vermin considering that we eate those beasts that deuoure them and doe liue vpon them Let vs but onely note the meate which Turkie-cockes and other common foules whom we so carefully bring vp for vs to feede vpon do most seeke after Certainely there is no beast which eateth more vncleanely and filthie meate for they spare neither serpents nor toads and yet we esteeme of their flesh egs and chickens as of verie good and delicate meat This is in truth a maruellous kinde of naturall chimistrie and inimitable art Excellent chimistrie in the nature of beasts so to sublimate that which of it selfe is poison and would prooue so to man that hauing passed through the limbeck and fire of a small creature it is not onely purged thereby from al annoyance but doth also sustaine life and serue afterwards for holesome nouriture to man And do we not behold that the nightingall and the wood-sparrow are fat with eating venemous spiders which serue both for meat and a medicine to them Plinie hath written that deere and quailes do feede vpon poyson Hist nat lib. 10. c. 72. Lib. 11. c. 53. and yet euerie one knoweth that their flesh is a delicious kinde of meate But what another woonder is this which the same author declareth that there be certaine beasts which are not venemous of themselues and yet are dangerous meat when they haue eaten any venemous beast or herbe For in the mountaines of Pamphilia and of Cilicia the bores that haue eaten Salamanders are verie venemous in such sort as they poyson those who eate of their flesh and yet they themselues can conuert such poyson to their owne nourishment What reason can we giue of so excellent a secret in the nature of beasts I haue neuer yet learned any reason of the Philosophers Let vs then stay at the admirable effects of the prouidence of God who in those beasts which we doe commonly eate for our sustenance doth performe this maruellous chimistrie whereof wee but now spake and who causeth the force of poysons to be spent in the deserts to the small hurt of man to the end that his omnipotencie bountie and benignitie may be declared in all things towards vs. Of the naturall amitie and enimitie of beasts Moreouer haue we not also worthie matter whereby to giue glorie to his name in that he hath created the beasts so different in nature with a naturall and secret amitie and enimitie which they do greatly beare one towards another For it is verie certaine that God maketh all this serue to the profit and commoditie of men in so much as there is a kinde of amitie commonly in priuate and tame beasts towards such as they are all seruing him who hath bin established for their master and that enimitie doth rather remaine amongst wilde beasts as also in tame beasts towards the wilde In such sort as many sauage beasts which doe nothing but harme haue by this meanes many of their owne kinde their aduersaries to make head against them and to resist them in whatsoeuer they would doe But wee may especially woonder in that the most mightie great and strong beasts yea the most furious and cruell are commonly put in feare by the smallest and most weake For what is an hog in regard of an Elephant or a cocke in respect of a lion there seemeth to be no comparison betwixt them And yet the onely voice and grunting of an hog maketh the Elephant afraide and the lion is not onely seized with feare at the crowing of the cocke but is much troubled when he seeth him but set vp his crest Also there are verie little beasts who doe not onely put verie great and cruell ones in feare but do also kill them as the Ichneumon which is a little rat of India doth kill the great and cruell crocodile a most dangerous serpent cleauing and piercing his belly after it is secretly entred thereinto thorough the mouth of this beast which is able to deuoure men and yet striketh no feare into this feeble creature Hist nat lib. ● c. 24. Which as Plinie recordeth hath another warre against the Aspis ouer whom it remayneth victorious by this meane It doth manie times wallowe and tumble in the dirt and as many times doth dry it selfe in the sun then feeling it selfe sufficiently armed with slime it assaileth the aspis alwaies holding vp the taile against him to receiue the blowes thereupon which the serpent shall strike wherewith hee can in no wise offend the bodie of the Ichneumon in the meane space it picketh out some such fit place to strike him through the throat that hee therewith dieth and presently after it doth prepare it selfe as before to fight with another In this discourse wee may behold a perfect image of humaine things considering that we cannot be ignorant how that it commeth oftentimes to passe that God abateth the most mightie and strong tyrants by the most lowlie and abiect persons and kings princes and high-esteemed people by meane and very lowe-esteemed men And let vs also note that although the amitie and enmitie amongst liuing creatures proceedeth from a certaine instinct of nature so disposed by the creator and the causes whereof are either hidden or hardly knowne that neuerthelesse the best reason and most certaine which may bee alleadged concerning those examples which wee haue here touched is that God would declare vnto vs in them how hee doth mock at the pride and arrogancie of men and at all their puissance and force For if hee bestowe so much power vpon little beasts as to affright yea euen to slay the most furious and that hee can ouerthrowe and destroy the most stout and valiant amongst men by their owne selues how much more should hee astonish them if with his almightie hand hee should beate downe their pride and punish their sins in his ire Though the people saith the prophet rage and murmur Psal 2. though kings band themselues and princes bee assembled togither against the Lord yet hee that dwelleth in the heauens shall laugh the Lord shall haue them in derision also they shall perish in the way when his wrath shall suddainely burne Now concerning that which particularly respecteth the amitie betwixt priuate and domesticall beasts and their hate towards those that are wilde although that the neerest cause be very euident as that they do loue one another because they are nourished togither and receiue no domage one from another hating the wildenes of those who desire to deuoure them yet must wee passe farther and acknowledge another more remote and yet most certaine cause therein which is a naturall instinct to conserue and multiplie their owne kinde for the vtility and seruice of man according as the bountie and benignitie of our God hath by his admirable prouidence disposed of their nature whereupon let vs heare you ARAM plot out the

equall power there is engendred so delicate and perfect a mixture of indissoluble vnion composing an accord so faithfully that there is made thereby an incorruptible paste which is permanent to all eternity in the excellencie and goodnes thereof Wherefore gold cannot bee vanquished by iniurie of time and of antiquitie neither can containe in it selfe nor support any excrescence and superfluitie of rust For though it bee put into the water or fire and there remaine for any long space of time yet is it neuer stained neither doth accept any other quality but that which is naturall nor yet doth faile any whit which is the particular priuiledge that it hath aboue other mettalles For they are all subiect to alteration and therefore change and corrupt for a small matter and accept a good or bad qualitie in their originall or end But gold is incorruptible and therefore not subiect to such mutations yea though it bee drawne out in so small wire that it be as fine as threeds in a spiders web and though it be buried in most piercing medicaments as are sublimatum and verdegrease salt and vineger that it remaine two thousand yeeres therein it will not for all that bee corrupted but contrarywise the more refined but all gold hath not one selfe same perfection for their mines and sources are different in goodnes Sometimes also gold is counterfait sophisticate and falsified through the infidelitie or auarice of those who mingle it and multiplie it with other mixtures of mettals of lesse value and lesse pure then it is But pure and refined gold is alwaies perfect by nature in all those qualities which wee haue already touched How gold is found And it is found in diuers manners to wit mixed with sand as in Bohemia on the shore-side amongst the waters neere to Goldebourgh and Risegronde and amongst the stones in mountaines as in Calecut and in the Indies But the first generation thereof is at the top of mountaines in the highest places because that the sun doth there more easily purifie that which retaineth too much earthines in it And when the raine and torrents do flowe downe the mountaines they carry the gold downe with them to the foote thereof where it is gathered amongst the sand or else in waters neere thereunto whither it is driuen by violence of the flouds except perhaps the ground open with those raines and the gold doe there stick as it oftentimes chaunceth And that which is alwaies found in the entrance of the mine is not the finest but the farther you goe the finer and purer it is of better waight and greater value That then which is found in waters and riuers is fished for and is in forme of little graines and in rocks and mountaines it is taken out by deluing and digging Three sorts of gold-mines And therefore there are holden to bee three sorts of gold mines For some are called pendent some iacent and others oblique and running The pendent are those which are found in the superficies of mountaines and haue the earth vnder them They which are iacent or lie are belowe in the fielde and plaine ground carried thither by torrents and stormes of raine And the other that are oblique haue a crosse course whether it bee in that which hangeth or lieth all whereof is driuen by flouds into the next riuers for which cause there are riuers throughout all the world the sand whereof seemeth to bee of azure and gold hauing indeede pure and fine graines of good gold How gold is taken out of mines Now according as the mines are so are there diuers meanes vsed to take out the mettall For in those places which are dry without water they which are expert in the veine of mines hauing true knowledge what may be in that place do cause it to be digged eight or ten foote deepe and as many foote long and broad and as they proceede in their worke they still wash the earth that is digged vp continuing so till such time as they finde the gold which is sometimes so deepe that they are driuen to set vp arches of wood ouer them that the earth may not ouerwhelm them And when the mines are pendent along the mountaines the difficultie is then more great wherefore they also set vp engines to defend them from dangers which are there verie imminent For some to wit those that dig into the rocke are quite hidden therein euen as those that cut stone are within a quarrie others creepe scrambling vp the sharpe rockes with a basket at their backes seeking out the earth of the mine to carrie it to the water others wash the same earth in a sieue by meanes whereof the gold is separated remayning in the sieue after that the earth is runne out by little and little Moreouer out of these mines there issueth a stinking breath or damp which doth oftentimes choake and kill them that worke therein being not able to indure so bad an aire some also are drowned by waters which suddenly gush out of those places where they haue digged when they thinke not of any such thing quickly ouerwhelming them before they can make signe to those that are aboue to helpe them Againe these miserable poore soules are oftentimes affrighted by euill spirits who inhabite in great numbers in those hollow and solitarie places as many haue experimented to their great hurt For sometimes it happeneth that these diuels tumble great stones and whole rockes vpon them throw downe their engines ouerturne their ladders breake their cordage and doe a thousand other mischiefes whereby men are oftentimes slaine Concerning riuers wherein the graines and sands of gold are found the dangers are not so great therein but the paine is no lesse For if the riuer be little the Indians vse to emptie and let it out till it be dry and then take off the bottome thereof and wash it as beforesaid and if the water be verie great they turne it out of the channell which done they goe to gather the gold in the midst of the riuer betwixt the stones and great pibbles so that sometimes there commeth greater profit by this fishing then by washing the digged earth to separate the gold But howsoeuer yet is there great paines alwaies vsed to obtaine the riches of this mettall so much coueted by men and whereof the abuse is verie great as we may in some sort touch after that we haue spoken of other mettals which shall serue AMANA for the subiect of your discourse Of Siluer Amber Iron Lead Brasse and Copper Chap. 94. AMANA THE most noble amongst mettals next to gold is siluer for although that copper in colour and lead in waight do neerest approch vnto gold yet in tenuitie of substance in purenes and fastnes Of siluer siluer is so like vnto it that good siluer may be rightly said to be imperfect gold in substance failing in colour and that by succession of time it is sometimes changed