he was in his gate slow and heauy and in his wit as dull and blockish howbeit in his time vndergrowne he was and his voice changed to be great and at three yeares end died suddenly of a generall crampe or contraction of all the parts of his body It is not long since I saw my selfe the like in all respects sauing that vndergoing aforesaid in a son of one Cornelius Tacitus a Roman knight and a procurator or general receiuer and Treasurer for the State in Gaule Belgique such the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Ectirapelos wee in Latine haue no name for them CHAP. XVI ¶ Certaine notable obseruations in bodies of men and women WE see tried by experience that take measure of a man from the sole of the foot vp to the crowne of the head so far it is between the ends of his two middle and longest fingers when he stretcheth out his armes and hands to the full As also that some men and women be stronger of the right side than of the left others againe that be as strong of one as the other and there be that are altogether left handed and best with that hand but that is seldome or neuer seen in women Moreouer men weigh heauier than women and in euerie kind of creature dead bodies be more heauy than the quicke and the same parties sleeping weigh more than waking Finally obserued it is that the dead corps of a man floteth on the water with the face vpward but contrariwise women swim groueling as if Nature had prouided to saue their honesty and couer their shame euen when they are dead CHAP. XVIII ¶ Examples of diuers extraordinarie cases in mans body WE haue heard that some mens bones are sollid and massie and so do liue without any marrow in them you may know them by these signes they neuer feele thirst nor put forth any sweat and yet we know that a man may conquer and master his thirst if hee list for so a gentleman of Rome one Iulius Viator descended from the race of the Vocontians our allies being falne into a kind of dropsie between the skin and the flesh during his minority and nonage and forbidden by the Physicions to drink so accustomed himselfe to obserue their direction that naturally he could abide it insomuch that all his old age euen to his dying day he forbare his drink Others also haue bin able to command and ouer-rule their nature in many cases and breake themselues of diuers things CHAP. XIX ¶ Strange natures and properties of diuers persons IT is said that Crassus grand father to that Crassus who was slaine in Parthia was neuer known to laugh all his life time and thereupon was called Agelastus and contrariwise many haue bin found that neuer wept Also that sage and renowned wise man Socrates was seene alwaies to carry one and the self-same countenance neuer more merry and cheerefull nor more solemne and vnquiet at one time than at another But this obstinate constancy and firm cariage of the mind turneth now and then in the end into a certain rigour and austerity of nature so hard and inflexible that it cannot be ruled and in very truth despoileth men of all affections and such are called of the Greekes Apathes who had the experience of many such and that which is a maruellous matter those especially that were the great pillars of philosophy and deep learned Clerks namely Diogenes the Cinicke Pyrrho Heraclitus and Timo and as for him he was so far gone in his humor that he seemed professedly to hate all mankind But these were examples of a corrupt peruerse froward nature As for other things there be sundry notable obseruations in many as in Antonia the wife of Drusus who as it was well knowne neuer spit in Pomponius the poet one that had sometimes bin Consull who neuer belched But as for such as naturally haue their bones not hollow but whole and solid they be very rare and seldom seene and called they are in Latine Cornei i. hard as horne CHAP. XX. ¶ Of bodily strength and swiftnesse VArro in his treatise of prodigious and extraordinary strength maketh report of one Tritanus a man that of body was but little and lean withall how beit of incomparable strength much renowned in the fence schoole and namely in handling the Samnites weapons wearing their manner of armor and performing their feats and masteries of great name He maketh mention also of a sonne of his a souldier that serued vnder Pompeius the Great who had all ouer his body yea and throughout his armes and hands some sinewes running streight out in length others crossing ouerthwart lattise-wise and he saith moreouer of him that when an enemie out of the camp gaue him defiance and challenged him to a combat he would neither put on defensiue harnesse ne yet arme his right hand with offensiue weapon but with naked hand made meanes to foile and ouercome him and in the end when hee had caught hold of him brought him away perforce into his own camp with one finger Iunius Valens a captaine pensioner or centurion of the gard-souldiers about Augustus Caesar was woont alone to beare vp a charriot laden with certain hogsheads or a butt of wine vntill it was discharged thereof the wine drawne out also his manner was with one hand to stay a coach against all the force of the horses striuing and straining to the contrary and to perform other wonderfull masteries which are to be seen engrauen vpon his tombe and therefore qd Varro being called Hercules Rusticellus he tooke vp his mule vpon his back and carried him away Fusius Saluius hauing two hundred pound weights at his feet and as many in his hands and twise as much vpon his shoulders went withall vp a paire of staires or a ladder My selfe haue seene one named Athanatus do wonderfull strange matters in the open shew and face of the world namely to walke his stations vpon the stage with a cuirace of lead weighing 500 pound booted besides with a pair of buskins or greiues about his legges that came to as much in weight As for Milo the great wrestler of Crotone when he stood firm vpon his feet there was not a man could make him stir one foot if he held a pomegranat fast within his hand no man was able to stretch a finger of his and force it out at length It was counted a great matter that Philippides ran 1140 stadia to wit from Athens to Lacedaemon in two daies vntill Lanisis a courtier of Lacedaemon and Philonides footman to Alexander the great ran between Sicyone and Olis in one day 1200 stadia But now verily at this day we see some in the grand cirque able to indure in one day the running of 160 miles And but a while agoe we are not ignorant that when Fonteius Vipsanus were Consuls a yong boy but 9 yeres old between noon and euening ran 75 miles And verily a man
sundry sorts AT Rome the only place that hath best meanes neere at hand to judge of the fruits and commodities of all nations in the world the cheeses which come out of the prouinces of Nemausium and from the villages of Laeso and Baux are highly praised for the best but they last not long their commendation is for the present season while they be greene and new There are brought good cheeses from two coasts of the Alps which greatly praise the pasture thereabout Also dainty cheeses are made in Dalmatia from whence we haue passing good and namely from Drinaldi Moreouer the prouince of Ceutronia sends vs excellent cheese from Vatusium But the great store and plenty of cheese commeth from the Apennine mountain which yeeldeth vs the Cebane cheese out of Liguria which is very fine meate notwithstanding it be made most of ews milk Also out of Vmbria we haue good cheese from the dairies along the riuer Aesio Howbeit in the confines between Tuscane and Liguria the monstrous great cheeses are made and namely about Luca for one of them weigheth a thousand pounds Next to these in goodnesse be those that are made neer the city of Rome about Vestinum but from out of the Saeditian territory and the plains thereabout there come cheese that passe all the rest As for cheeses made of goats milke they are not to be defrauded of their due praise especially when they they are fresh and new made and if besides they may haue a little drinesse in smoke which giueth both a good lustre and also a pretty tast to them for such cheeses be made within the very city of Rome and go beyond all others As for the cheeses made in France they taste like a medicine and haue an aromatical relish with them For outlandish cheeses beyond-sea the Bithynian carry the best name That there is a certain tarter or salter if by nothing els may wel be known by the tast of the cheese made thereof for there is none but the older they are the more saltish they be yet such are well known to recouer their fresh taste again if they be soked in Thyme vinegre Some report that Zoroastres liued in the desart wildernesse 20 yeares with cheese the which was so well tempered that it seemed nothing old for it neither moulded nor yet bred vermin CHAP. XLIII ¶ The difference between the members of Man and other Creatures OF liuing creatures vpon the land Man alone is two footed He only hath a cannell bone and shoulders armes also to embrace whereas others haue shoulders only fore-legs to rest vpon In all creatures that haue hands they be fleshy within-forth only for the back part consists of skin and sinewes Some men there be with six fingers to one hand Wee haue heard that M. Curiatius a Nobleman of Rome had two daughters so handed whereupon they were called Sedigitae Also there was a man named Volcatius who was an excellent poet and had six fingers to an hand whereupon he was named Sedigitus Euery finger of a mans hand hath three joints the thumbe twaine and it bendeth and boweth full opposite to all the rest of the fingers and yet by it selfe it stretcheth awry from the others and is thicker than the rest of the fingers The little finger is equall in length to the thumbe the fore-finger and the fifth or ring finger are iust of one size betweene which the middle finger is the longest Those foure footed beasts that liue of rauine and prey haue fiue toes to their fore-feet whereas others haue but foure Lions Wolues and Dogs and some few others haue likewise 5 toes or pawes in their hin-feet and one like a spur which beares forth behind and hangs down from the pastern bone of the foot All other smaller beasts haue fiue to a foot The armes of all men be not of a iust and euen measure for it is well known That there was a Thracian sword-Fencer named Studiosus belonging to the fence-schoole of C. Caligula the Emperour whose right arme was longer than the left Certaine beasts without reason vse the ministery of their fore-feet in stead of hands and as they sit on their rumpe reach meat therewith to their mouth as squirils CHAP. XLIV ¶ The resemblance that Apes haue to men AS for all the race and kind of Apes they resemble the proportion of men perfectly in the face nose eares and eye-lids which eye-lids these creatures alone of all foure-footed haue vnder their eyes as well as aboue nay they haue paps and nipples in their brests as women armes also and legs bending contrarie waies euen as ours doe Nailes they haue also and fingers like to vs with the middle finger longer than the rest as ours be A little they differ from vs in the feet for somewhat long they are like as their hands be and the sole of their foot is answerable to the palm of their hand Thumbs and great toes they haue moreouer with joints directly like a man And setting aside the member of generation and that only in the he Ape all inward parts are the very same that ours as if they were made iust by one patterne CHAP. XLV ¶ Of Nailes NAiles are taken and reputed for the extremities and vtmost ends of the sinewes and ye shall finde them in as many as haue fingers and toes But in Apes they are channelled halfe round like a gutter tile whereas in man they be flat and broad When one is dead they will grow In rauenous creatures hooked they be and bowing inward in dogs right and strait saue only that which in most of them crooks from behind their legs like a spur All creatures that haue the fashion of a foot haue toes therto except an Elephant And yet he seems to haue an appearance of fiue in number but they are not diuided asunder or if they be they are not distinct one from another but very sleightly and like rather to houfs than nails the forefeet also are bigger than the hinder In the hin-feet they haue short ioints The elephant bends his hams inward as doth a man whereas all other liuing creatures bow the ioints of their hinder legs otherwise than of the former For such as ingender and breed yong aliue bend their knees before them but the ioint of their hough behind clean backward Mens knees and elbowes bow contrary one to the other so do Beares and all the sort of Apes which is the cause they be not so swift of foot as others Foure footed beasts as many as lay eggs as the Crocodile and Lizards haue their knees before bending backward but those behind bowing forward and yet their legs be crooked like a mans thumbe In like sort they that haue many feet vnlesse it be the hin feet of all in as many as do skip and hop for they all be straight Birds after the manner of foure footed beasts doe bow their wings forward but the ioint of their legges backeward
In the knees of men there is generally reposed a certaine religious reuerence obserued euen in all nations of the world for humble suppliants creep and crouch to the knees of their superiors their knees they touch to their knees they reach forth their hands their knees I say they worship and adore as religiously as the very altars of the gods and for good reason haply they do so because it is commonly receiued That in them there lies much vital strength For in the very ioint and knitting of both knees on either side thereof before there are two emptie bladders as it were like a paire of cheeks which hollownesse and concauitie if it be wounded and pierced through causeth as present death as if the throat were cut In other parts likewise of the body we vse a certain religious ceremonie for as our maner is to offer the backe part of the right hand to be kissed so we put it forth and giue it as well in testimonie of faith and fidelitie It was an antient fashion in Greece when they would make court and with great respect tender a supplication to some great personage to touch the chin In the tender lappet of the eare is supposed to rest the seat of remembrance which we vse to touch when we mean to take one to beare witnesse of an arrest or other thing done and to depose the same in the face of the court Moreouer behind the right eare likewise is the proper place of Nemesis which goddesse could neuer yet find a Latine name so much as in the very Capitol and that place are we wont to touch with the fourth finger which is next the least in token of repentance when we haue let fal some word rashly and would craue pardon of the gods therefore The crooked and swelling veins in the legs man alone hath and women very seldome Oppius writes that C. Marius who had bin Consul of Rome 7 times endured without sitting down for the matter to haue those veins taken forth of his legs a thing that neuer any was known to abide before him All foure-footed beasts begin to go ordinarily on the right hand and vse to ly downe on the right side others go as they list Lions and Camels only haue this propertie by themselues to keep pace in their march foot by foot that is to say they neuer set their left foot before their right nor ouer-reach with it but let it gently come short of it and follow after Men women haue the greatest feet in proportion of all creatures but females vsually in euery kind haue lesse slenderer feet than males Men and women only haue calues in their legs and their legs full of flesh Howbeit we reade in some writers That there was one man in Aegypt had no calfe at all to his legs but was legged like a crane Man alone hath palmes of his hands broad flat soles to his feet and yet some there be who that way are deformed and disfigured And thereupon it came that diuers came to be sirnamed Planci i. flat footed Plauti i. splay footed Scauri i. with their ancles standing ouermuch out Pausi i. broad footed Like as of their mis-shapen legs some haue bin named Vari i. wry legged others Vatiae and Vatinij i. bow-legged which imperfections beasts also are subiect vnto Whole hoofed are all they that beare not horns in regard wherof they be armed with houfe in stead of that offensiue weapon and such as they be haue no ancle bones but all clouen footed haue those bones Howbeit all that haue toes want ancles and in a word there is not one hath them in the fore-feet Camels haue ancles like to Kine and Oxen but somewhat lesse for indeed they be clouen footed although the partition be very little and hardy discerned vnder the foot but seemeth flesh all ouer the sole as Beares also which is the cause that if they trauaile farre vnshod their feet are surbated and the beasts will tire CHAP. XLVI ¶ A discourse of beasts houfes THe Houfes of Horses Mules Asses and such like beasts of carriage onely if they be pared and cut will grow againe In some parts of Sclauonia the Swine are not clouen-footed but whole hoofed All horned beasts in manner be clouen-footed but no beast beares two hornes and hath withall the houfe of one entire peece The Indian Asse hath onely one horne The wild Goat also called Oryx is clouen houfed and yet hath but one horne The Indian Asse moreouer of all the whole houfed beasts alone hath the pasterne or ankle-bones As for Swine a mungreâ—…l kind they are thought to be of both in regard of those bones and thereupon are reputed filthy and acursed They that haue thought that a man had such are soon conuinced As for the Once he indeed alone of all those whose feet are diuided into toes hath that which somewhat resembles a pasterne bone So hath a Lion also but that it is more crooked and winding As for the streight pasterne bone indeed it beareth out with a bellie in the joynt of the foot and in that hollow concauitie wherein the said bone turnes it is tied by ligaments CHAP. XLVII ¶ Of Birds feet and their Clawes or Tallons OF Fowles some haue their feet diuided into clees and toes others be broad and flat footed and some are betweene both which haue indeed their toes parted and distinct and yet their feet be broad between But of all them that haue foure toes to a foot to wit 3 in the forepart and one behind at the heele in manner of a spurre howbeit this one is wanting in some that are long legged The Wrinecke or Hickway with some few others haue two before and other two behind The same bird putteth out a tongue of great length like to serpents It turneth the necke about and looketh backward great clawes it hath like those of Choughes Some bigger birds haue in their legs one other shanke-bone more than ordinarie None that haue crooked tallons be long legged All that staulke with long shankes as they fly stretch out their legges in length to their tailes but such as be short legged draw them vp to the midst of their belly They that say No bird is without feet affirme also That Martinets haue feet like as also the swift Swallow called Oce and the sea Swallow Drepanis And yet such birds come so little abroad that they be seldome seen To conclude there haue been now os late Serpents knowne flat-footed like Geese CHAP. XLVIII ¶ Of the feet of Insects ALl Insects hauing hard eies haue their fore-legges longer than the rest to the end that otherwhiles they might with them scoure their eies as we see some flies doe but those whose hinder-legs are longest vse to skip and hop as Locusts Howbeit all of them haue six legs apeece Some Spiders there be that haue two ouer and aboue the ordinarie and those be very long and euery leg hath
for vlcers ruptures and bruises whether it be that one hath tumbled head-long from some high downfal or that he hath bin crushed by the ouerthrow of some waggon or chariot It fortuned that a Page of Pericles a prince of the Atheniens whom he loued intirely hauing climed vp to the top of the lanterne or spire of a temple which the said prince built in the castle or citadell of Athens fel downe from thence who was cured by the means of this herb reuealed vnto Pericles in his sleep by the goddesse Minerva whereupon it tooke the name first of Parthenium and is consecrat vnto the said goddesse this is that Page whose molten statue is to be seen at this day made of brasse this is I say that noble and famous image called Splaâ—…hnoptes CHAP. XVIII ¶ Of Chamaeleon the hearbe the sundry kindes thereof and the vertues medicinable COncerning Chamaeleon some there be who name it Ixias whereof be two kinds the whiter hath the rougher leaues it creepeth close by the ground and setteth vp stiffe prickles in manner of an Vrchin the root is sweet in tast but of a most strong sent In some places it ingendreth a white kind of gum or clammie glew vnder the wings or arm-pits as it were of the leaues after the same manner as Frankincense is said to breed but especially about the rising of the Dog-star for that it is like to a kind of birdlime it is called Ixia our women vse this instead of Mastick And the reason why this herb is named Chamaeleon is by occasion of the variable leaues which it beareth for according to the nature of the soile where it groweth it changeth hew whereby in one place you shall haue it blacke in another green here you shall see it look blew and there yellow and euermore altering the color Of which Chamaeleons the white cureth such as are in a dropsie if the root be boiled and the juice thereof taken to the quantity of a dram in sweet wine cuit The measure of one acetable of the same juice if one drink in a green harsh wine made of the hedge vnripe grape wherein certain bunches of Origanum haue lien infused it is thought to be a singular remedy to kill the worms that breed in the guts It auaileth much also to help those who pisse with difficulty and yet this juice being giuen to dogs or swine in barly groats killeth them If there be water and oile mingled therto it draweth rats and mice to it but it is their bane vnlesse presently they drinke water Some prescribe for to cut the root thereof into thin roundles and to keep them enfiled vp or hanging by a string and then to seeth them for to be eaten against the flux of humours which the Greekes name Rheumatismes Of the black kind some hath named that the male which hath the purple floure and the female with the violet colour They all grow vp with one stem and no more and the same is a cubit high and a finger thick The roots are good to heale ringworms tettars and such like wild fires if they be sodden together with brimstone and Bitumen but if the said root be chewed in the mouth or a collution be made therwith sodden in vineger it fastens the teeth which shake and be loose in the head The juice of this root healeth the scab or mange in four-footed beasts Herewith also folke vse to kill the ticks that breed in dogges but it stoppeth the wind of heifers and yong steers in maner of a squinancy and therefore of some it is called Vlophonon and Cynozolon in regard of the strong and stinking smell that it hath These Chamaeleons do beare a certain viscous gumme most proper for vlcers And the roots of all the sort of them as well blacke as white are singular against the poison of serpents CHAP. XIX ¶ Of Coronopus or Harts-horne with the medicinable vertues thereof COronopus is an herb bearing long leaues and those clouen into certain fissures and knags and howsoeuer it groweth wild yet otherwhiles it is set and sowne in gardens for the excellency of the root which being rosted vnder the ashes is soueraign for the flux weaknesse of the stomacke CHAP. XX. ¶ Of Orchanet or Alkanet as well the right as the bastard and their properties in Physicke THe root of Orchanet is much vsed about medicines of the thicknesse it is of a finger it wil rend and cleaue in manner of the papyr reed and it coloreth the hands of as many as handle it with a red and bloudy colour it prepareth wooll and woollen cloth for to take rich and deep colours If it be incorporat into the form of a cerot it healeth vlcers especially in old men as also places that be burnt It cannot be resolued in water but it is oile that must dissolue it and verily this is a good experiment of that which is true and nothing sophisticat A dram thereof giuen in wine to drink is singular good for the pain in the kidnies but in case the Patient haue a feuer vpon him then it ought to be taken in the decoction of Balanos In like manner is it to be vsed in the opilations or obstructions of the liuer of the spleen and in the Iaundise A liniment made of it and vineger cureth the leprosie and the red pimples arising in the face The leaues stamped with hony and meale vntill they be incorporat together and so applied as a cataplasme are thought to be good for dislocations but if they be taken inwardly to the quantity of two drams in honied wine they bind and knit the belly The root boiled in water is said to kill fleas Another herb there is much like vnto it and thereupon called Pseudanchusa i. bastard Orchanet of some but of others Enchusa or Doris and many other names it hath besides More full of downe or hairy mosse it is and lesse fatty but the leaues are smaller more ranke and feeble The root yeeldeth no oleous substance but a reddish juice wherin it differeth from the right Anchusa or Orchanet The leaues or feed being taken in drinke is a most effectual counterpoison against serpents The substance of the leaues being applied to the places which bee stung are soueraigne for to cure and heale them vp The very herb it selfe chaseth away all poison of serpents There is a drink made therof commended highly for the chine or ridge-bone of the back The Magitians do prescribe the leaues to be bound vnto some part of the Patient against a tertian ague with this charge That they be gathered with the left hand that in the gathering the party or patient for whose sake they are gotten be named CHAP. XXI ¶ Of Onochiles Anthemis Lotos and Lotometra of Turnsoll-Tricoccus of Adiantum and Callitrichon ANother herb there is particularly named Onochiles which some call Anchusa others Arcebion or Onochelis some Rhexias and many Enchusa a small herb this is it
midst of the palm of that hand which gaue the stroke the party immediatly that was smitten shall be eased from pain and take no harm thereby And verily we find this to be so by experiments oftentimes made vpon the bodies of fourfooted beasts for let them be swaied in the back or hipped by some stripe giuen them with stone or cudgel do no more then but spit into that hand which did the deed streightwaies they will goe vpright again vpon all foure Contrariwise some there be who before they either strike or discharge any thing from them against another after the same manner first spit into the bal of their hands and so they make account to do a greater displeasure to hurt more dangerously But this we may assure our selues that there is not a better thing in the world for to kil tettars ringworms the foule leprie than to rub and wet them continually with our owne fasting spittle likewise to annoint therewith euery morning our eies keepeth them from being bleared also cankerous sores are cured with the root of Sowbread which we call the earth-apple if the same be wrought into a salue with our fasting spittle Moreouer if a man haue a cricke and ach in the nape of his neck let him take the spittle of a man that is fasting some in his right hand and there with anoint the ham of his right leg and the rest with his left and do the like to the left leg and thereupon hee shall find ease If an earwig or such like vermin be gotten into the eare make no more ado but spit into the same and it will come forth anon Among countercharms preseruatiues against sorcerie these be reckoned namely that a man spit vpon his own vrine as soon as he hath deliuered it out of his body likewise to spit into the shooe that serueth his right foot before he put it on in a morning also whensoeuer he goeth ouer or passe by a place where sometime he was in danger to remember that he spit vpon it Marcion of Smyrna who wrote a Treatise of the vertues and effects of simples reporteth that the Scolopendres of the sea will burst in sunder if one spit vpon them and so will hedge toads and other venomous frogs Ophilius writeth that spittle wil do the like by serpents if one spit into their mouths as they gape As for the learned Salpe shee saith that if one perceiue any member or part of the body be asleep and benummed there is not a better thing to recouer the sence thereof than to spit into the bosome or to touch the vpper eielids with fasting spittle Now if we beleeue these things to be true we may as well giue credit to all that which followeth Wee see it is an ordinary thing that if a stranger come in place where a babe lieth in the cradle or look vpon the said infant whiles it is asleep the nource vseth to spit thrice although I am not ignorant that there is a religious opinion of this sillable Mu that it is able to defend such yong sucklings as also of the foolish puppet Fascinus both which are of power to put back any witchcraft from them and returne the mischiefe vpon the eie-biting witch And since I am light vpon this name I must let you vnderstand that this Fascinus is holden to be a god forsooth the gardian keeper not of infants only but of great captains and braue generals of the field who hath diuine seruice done to him at Rome among other gods and that by the vestall Nuns for the manner was to hang this ridiculous puppet vnder the chariots of noble victorers riding in triumph not onely to defend them by a medicinable power against the venome of enuious and spightfull tongues but also to returne all enuie vpon them bid as it were to take it among them the like vertue is in the tongue beseeching fortune to bee propitious and fauorable vnto them Fortune I say who ordinarily commeth after to whip and punish them as the scourge and tormentresse of glory and honour Ouer and besides the tooth of a man especially when he is mad is reckoned to be as dangerous and pernicious a biting as any other The excrement found in mans ears called ear wax is thought in this case to be soueraigne and let no man maruell thereof considering how it will heale the sting of Scorpions and serpents also if it be applied to the place presently but it is the better and more effectuall if it be taken out of the Patients own ears who is thus wounded and in that sort it healeth also the whitflaws and impostumations that breed about the naile roots Moreouer take a mans or womans tooth and stamp it into pouder it is thought good for the sting of a serpent The haire of yong boy-children which is first clipped off is held to be a singular remedy for to assuage the painful fits of the gout if the same be tied fast about the foot that is grieued generally their haire so long as they be vnder 14 yeres of age easeth the said anguish if it be applied vnto the place Likewise the hair of a mans head cureth the biting of a mad dog if it be laid to the place with vineger it healeth also the wounds in the head applied with oile or wine But if it were plucked from his head whiles he hangeth vpon the gallows then is it soueraign for the quartan ague but we may chuse whether we will beleeue it or no. Certainly the haire of the head burnt to ashes is known to be very good for a cancerous vlcer If a woman take the first tooth that a yong child cast set it in a bracelet and so weare it continually about her wrest it will preserue her from the pains grieuances of her matrice and naturall parts Tie the great Toe and that which is next vnto it together you shall see how it will allay any risings tumors in the share Bind gently the two middle fingers of the right hand with a linnen thred marke of what force this remedy is to represse the rheum falling into the eies and how it wil keep them from being bleared If all be true that is commonly said the stone that one hath voided thrust out of the body easeth all others that be pained with the stone if the same be kept fast tied to the share also it doth mitigat the griefe of the liuer and procureth speedy deliuerance to women in trauel with child Granius affirmed moreouer that in all these cases it would do the better if one were cut for it that it were taken forth of the bladder by way of incision If a woman be neere her time and looks euery day to fal to labour cry out let the man come by whom she is with child and after he hath vngirt himselfe gird her about the middle with his own girdle and vnloose the
any golden rings in vse and request about the time of the Trojane war for sure I am that the Poet Homer maketh no mention of them at all who otherwise speaketh of the brauery and rich attire of those times And when he talketh of writing tablets sent ordinarily in stead of letters missiue when he writeth of cloths and apparels bestowed in chists and coffers when he telleth vs of vessels as well gold as siluer plate he saith they were all bound and trussed fast with some sure knot and not sealed vp with any mark of a ring as the order is in these daies Moreouer when he reporteth of any challenge made by the enemy to single fight and sheweth how the captains fel to cast their seuerall lots for the choise of them which should performe the combat this was neuer done by the signet of rings but by some other especiall marks that euery one made Also when he taketh occasion to speak of the workmanship of the gods he rehearseth buckles clasps and buttons of gold other jewels and ornaments also belonging to the attire of women as eare-rings and such like of their making which at the beginning were commonly made but he speaketh not one word of golden rings And verily in my conceit whosoeuer began first to weare these rings did it couertly by little and little putting them vpon the fingers of the left hand the better to hide them as if they were ashamed to haue them openly seene whereas if they might haue auowed the honouring of their fingers by that ornament they should haue shewed them at the first vpon the right hand Now if any man object and say that the wearing them on the right hand might be some impeachment to a soldier for vsing his offensiue weapon which he beareth in that hand I alledge again that the hinderance was more in the left hand which serueth to hold and manage the targuet or buckler defensiue I reade in the same Poet Homer aforesaid that men vsed to plait bind vp the tresses of their haire with gold and therefore I wot not well whether men or women first began the manner of such braiding the locks of the haire As touching gold laid vp for treasure little was there of it at Rome for a long time for surely when the city was taken sacked by the Gauls and that the Romans were to buy redeem their peace for a sum of mony there could not be made in all Rome aboue one thousand pound weight of gold Neither am I ignorant that in the third Consulship of Cn. Pompeius there was embezeled and stolne 2000 pound weight of gold out of the throne or shrine of Iupiter within the Capitoll which had bin there bestowed and laid vp by Camillus whereupon many men haue thought that there was 2000 pound weight of gold gathered for the ransome of the city But surely looke what ouerplus and surcrease there was aboue the foresaid weight of one thousand pound it was of the very booty and pillage of the French and taken out of the temples and chappels in that part of the city whereof they were masters Moreouer that the Gaules themselues were wont to goe to the wars brauely set out and inriched with gold it appeareth by this one example of Torquatus who slew a Gaule in combat and tooke from him a massie collar of gold Apparant it is therefore that all the gold as well that of the Gaules as that which came from the temples abouesaid amounted to the said sum and no higher to the light and knowledge whereof we come by meanes of reuelation from Augurie which gaue vs to vnderstand that Iupiter Capitolinus had rendered againe the foresaid sum in duple proportions And here by the way there commeth to my remembrance another thing not impertinent to this place considering I am to treat againe of rings when the sexton or keeper of this cell was apprehended and the question demanded What was become of the treasure aforesaid of 2000 pound which Iupiter had in custody and which now was out of the way and gone Hee tooke the stone that was in the collar of his ring which he ware crackt it between his teeth and presently dyed therupon wherby the truth was not bewraied and reuealed as touching the theefe that robbed the said treasure Wel reckon the most that can be surely there was not aboue 2000 pound weight of gold to be had in Rome when the city was lost which was in the 364 yere after the first foundation therof at what time as appeareth by the rols of the Subsidie booke there were in Rome to the number of 152580 free citizens And what was 2000 pound in proportion to such a multitude of people Three hundred and seuen yeres after when the temple of the Capitoll was on fire all the gold to be found therein as also in al the other chappels and shrines arose to thirteen thousand pound weight which C. Marius the yonger seized vpon and conueied away to the city Praeneste And all the same was recouered againe and brought backe againe by Sylla his enemy who vnder that title carried it in triumph besides seuen thousand pound weight of siluer which he raised out of the spoile of Marius And yet neuerthelesse the day before hee had caused to be carried in a pompe of triumph fifteene thousand pound weight of gold and one hundred and fifteene thousand pound of siluer which came of the rest of the pillage gotten by that victorie of his But to returne againe vnto our discourse of gold rings I doe not read that they were ordinarily vsed before the daies of Cn. Flavius the sonne of Annius This Flavius beeing otherwise a man of mean and base parentage as whose grandsire by the fathers side had bin no better than a slaue infranchised howbeit hauing a pregnant wit of his own brought vp daily vnder a good schoolmaster Appius Claudius sirnamed the Blind whom he serued as his Scribe Clerke or Secretarie he grew into inward credit and fauor with his master that for his better aduancement he opened vnto him the whole course of dayes pleadable and not pleadable exhorting and persuading him withal to publish that secret and mysterie to the view knowledge of the whole city which the said Flavius after much conference and consultation had with Appius did and effected accordingly wherupon he became so gratious with the whole body of the people who were alwaies before wont to hang euery day vpon the lips of some few of the chief principal Senators for to haue the information and knowledge of the said daies that in the end a bil promulged by him passed by generall assent of them all for to be created Aedile Curule together Q. Annicius of Praeneste who not many years before had bin a professed enemy and born armes against the Romanes without any regard had in this election either of C. Petilius or Domitius who were nobly born had
very memoriall of him in these very terms calling his excesse that way Patinarum paludes i. platters as broad as pools And verily saith he that platter of Vitellius came nothing behind another which Cassius Seuerus reproched Asprenas withall whom he accused bitterly and said that the poison of that one platter had killed an 130 persons who had tasted thereof Furthermore there are certaine townes that are in good account by reason onely of this vessell made therein and namely Rhegium and Cumae The priests of Cybele the mother of the gods who are called Galli vse to gueld themselues with a sheard of Samian earth and they be of opinion that if it be done with any thing els they shall die thereof if we may beleeue M. Caelius who whetted that tongue of his which shortly after was in that sort to be cut out against Vitellius which turned to his great reproch and infamie for that himselfe euen then railed vpon Vitellius in so bad termes and lost his tongue for his labour But to conclude what is it that Art and the wit of man hath not deuised for there is a means found to make a strong kind of mortar or cement by the broken sheards of potters vessell if the same be ground into powder and tempered with lime and the ordering of it in this manner causeth it to be more firme and last the longer and such they call Signina And hereby also men haue found out certain durable pauements of that kind CHAP. XIII ¶ The varietie of sundry kinds of earth of the dust or sand of Puteoli and of other sorts of earth which will harden as a stone OVer besides the cement aboue named there be other percels that the earth it self doth affoord fit to be laid in pauing worke for who can sufficiently wonder at this namely That the worst part of it which thereupon is callled dust and sand as it were the very excrement thereof should be of that nature vpon the side of the hills of Puteoli as being opposed against the waues of the sea and continually drenched drowned therwith should become a stone so compact and vnited together as it were into a rock that it scorneth all the violence of the surging billows which are not able to vndermine and pierce the same but hardeneth euery day more than other euen as if it were tempered with the strong cement of Cumes Of the same property is the earth within the country about Cyzicum onely this is the difference that not the dust or sand there but the earth it selfe cut out into what parcels you will in case it be drenched in the sea water a certaine time is taken forth againe a very hard stone The same by report happeneth about the citie Cassandria as also about Gnidos in a fountaine of fresh water wherein if earth do lye within the space of eight moneths it will turne to be a stone Certes all the way as a man goeth from Oropus as farre as to Aulis what ground soeuer is beaten vpon by the water changeth into rockes and stones There is found also in Nilus a certaine sand whereof the finest part differeth not much from that of Puteoli before said not in regard that it is so strong as to breake the force of the sea-water to beat back the waues but to subdue and crush the bodies of our yong gentlemen and therefore serueth well in the publicke place of wrestling for those that be giuen to such exercises and for this purpose verily was it brought from thence by sea to Patrobius a slaue lately infranchised by Nero the Emperor I reade also that Leonatus Cratus and Meleager who were great captains vnder Alexander the Great and followed his court were wont to haue this sand carried with them with other baggage belonging to the camp But I mean not to write any more of this argument no more verily than of the vse of earth in those places where our youth annoint their bodies against they should wrestle wherein our youths addict themselues so much to the exercise of the body that they haue spoiled themselues otherwise and lost the vigor of the mind CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of mudwalls of Bricke walls and the order and manner of making them WHat shall we say See we not in Africke and Spaine both certain walls of earth which they cal Formacei of the forme and frame that is made of planks and boords of each side between which a man may say they are rather infarced stuffed vp than otherwise laid and reared orderly but I assure you the earth thus infarced continueth a world of yeres and perisheth not checking the violence of raine winde and fire no mortar and cement so stiffe and strong There are yet to be seene in diuers parts of Spaine the watch-towers of Anniball the high turrets and sconces also reared vpon the tops of hils made all of earth and hereof we haue our turfes which naturally are so proper not only for the rampiers and fortifications of a camp but also for wharfs banks and buttresses to breake the violence and inundation of riuers As for the manner of making walls by dawbing windings and hurdles with mud and clay also of rearing them otherwhiles with vnbaked bricke who is so ignorant that he knoweth it not howbeit for to make good brickes they ought not to be made of any soile that is full of sand and grauell much lesse then of that which standeth much vpon grit stones but of a greyish marle or whitish chalkie clay or at leastwise a reddish earth but in case wee bee forced to vse that which is giuen to be sandy yet we must chuse that kind of sand which is tough and strong The best season to make these bricks or tyles is in the spring time for in the mids of Summer they will cleaue and be full of chinkes but if you would haue good brickes for building they ought to be two yeares old at the least Now the batter or lome that goeth to the making of them ought to be well steeped and soked in water before it be fashioned into bricke or tyle Brickes are made of three sizes the ordinarie bricke that we vse is called Didoron which carrieth in length one foot and a halfe and in breadth a foot a second sort is named Tetradoron i. three foot long and the third Pentadoron of three foot and nine inches in length for the Greeks in old time called the span or space of the hand from the thumbe to the little fingers end stretched out Doron which is the reason that gifts and rewards be called in their language Dora for that they were presented by the hand You see therefore how according to the length that they carrie either of foure or fiue spans they haue their denomination of Tetradora or Pentadora for the breadth is one and the same in them all to wit one foot ouer Now there beeing this difference in the size in Greece the
CHAP. XXI ¶ Of the foure kindes of the Aegle-stone Aëtius of the stone Callimus of the stones Samnus and Arabus and of Pumish stones THe Aegle-stones called Aëtites be much renowned in regard of the very name they carry found they are in Aegles nests as I haue shewed already in my tenth book it is said that they be two together to wit the male and female also that without them the Aegles cannot hatch which is the reason that they neuer haue but two young Aegles at one airie Of this Aegle-stone there be foure kinds for one sort thereof is bred in Africk and is very small soft containing within it as it were in a wombe a certaine clay which is sweet pleasant and white the stone it selfe is brittle and apt to crumble and this is thought to be the female sex The second which is taken for the male groweth in Arabia hard this is and resembleth a gall-nut in fashion and the same otherwhile is of a reddish colour hauing inclosed within the belly thereof another hard stone The third is found in the Island Cypros for colour much like to those that be engendred in Africke otherwise bigger and made more flat and broad than they The rest be vsually round in manner of a globe This hath also within the wombe a sweet sand and other small grauelly stones but it selfe is so tender that a man may crumble it betwixt his fingers The fourth kind is named Taphiusius for that it is bred neere vnto the cape Leucas in a place neere Taphiusa on the right hand as men saile from the said Taphiusa toward Leucas there is found of it in riuers but the same is white and round within the belly of it there is another stone called Callimus and there is not a thing more tender than it But to come to the properties of these Aegle-stones They are commended as singular for women with childe or four-footed beasts that are with yong for being hung about their necks or otherwise tied vnto any part within the skin of a beast sacrificed they will cause them to go out their full time but remoued they must not be but at the very time of deliuerance for otherwise the very wombe or matrice would slip out withall and vnlesse they be remoued then they shall neuer be deliuered Within the same Isle Samos wherin we praised the goldsmiths earth Tripoly there is a stone likewise called Samius very good to burnish and polish gold the same serueth also in physicke together with milk for vlcers of the eies beeing applied in manner aforesaid and in that sort it cureth also their weeping and watring which hath continued a long time the same being taken in drinke helpeth the infirmitie and other accidents of the stomack it cureth the dizzinesse of the head restoreth those to their right sences again who be troubled in their brain Some are of opinion that it is wholsome to be giuen to those that are subject to the falling sicknesse or difficulty of making water besides it is one of the ingredients that go to the making of those medicines which be called Acopa for to know whether it be good see that it be passing white and heauy withall It is said that if a woman weare it hanging or tied about her it will keep her from vntimely slips of her abortiue fruit and withall containe the matrice though it were giuen to fall downe too low Touching the stone Arabus like it is to yvorie a proper thing for dentifrices if it be calcined and reduced to pouder a peculiar property it hath besides to cure the haemorrhoids beeing applied thereto in lint so that there be fine linnen clothes laid afterwards thereupon I must not ouerpasse in silence the treatise of pumish stones and their nature I am not ignorant that in architecture and masonrie they vse to call by the name of Pumices or Pumishes those hollowed stones or bricks as if they were eaten into which hang downe from those vaulted buildings which they call Musea to represent a caue or hollow vault artificially made But to speake more properly of those Pumishes which are vsed by women for to smooth and slicke their skin yea and by your leaue by men also in these daies also for to pollish books as Catullus saith the best of them are found in Melos Scyros and the Islands of Aetolia and those ought to be very white and according to their proportion exceeding light the same should bee also as spungious as is possible and dry without easie to be beaten to pouder in the rubbing between the fingers not apt to yeeld from them any sand As for their medicinable vertues they do extenuat and dry after 3 calcinings so that regard be had in the torrifying that it be done with cleane charcoles that burn cleare and that they be euery time quenched with white wine which done they are to be washed like to Cadmia or the Calamine stone and being dried again they would be laied vp in some dry place which is in any wise dank or giuen to gather mouldinesse The pouder of this stone is commended principally in medicines for the eies for a gentle mundificatiue it is and clenseth the vlcers and sores incident to them it doth incarnate hollow skars maketh them euen with the rest about them Some after the third burning suffer them to coole of themselues and not by quenching and chuse rather to beat them afterwards with some sprinckling of wine among they enter likewise into those emollitiue or lenitiue plastres which are deuised for the sores of the head or vlcers in the priuities The best dentifrices for to cleanse or whiten the teeth be made of the pumish Theophrastus writeth that great drunkards who drink for a wager vse to take the pouder of the pumish stone before-hand for then they may nay they must quaffe lustily indeed for vnlesse they be filled with drinke they are indangered by the foresaid pouder To conclude he saith that so exceeding refrigeratiue it is that if new wine do work or purge neuer so much cast but a little pumish stone into it you shall see it giue ouer immediatly CHAP. XXII ¶ Of stones which be good for Apothecaries to make their mortars of of soft stones of the glasse-stone of flints and the shining stone Phengites of whetstones and grindstones of other stones that serue in building which resist the violence of fire and tempests OVr antient writers in old time were carefull to finde stones fit for mortars and not onely to serue Apothecaries for to beat and puluerize their drugs or painters to grinde their colours but the cooks also in the kitchin for to pouder their spices and in very truth they preferred the Ephesian marble before all others and next to it that of Thebais in high Aegypt which I called before Pyrrhopoecilon though some there be that name it Psaronium in a third degree they place a kinde of Chalazius named Chrysites
we are vnthankfull as though shee serued not mans turne for all dainties not for contumely and reproch to be misused Cast she is into the sea or else to let in peeres and frithes eaten away with water With yron tooles with wood fire stone burdens of corne tormented she is euery houre and all this much more to content our pleasures and wanton delights than to serue vs with naturall food and necessary nourishment And yet these misusages which she abideth aboue and in her outward skin may seeme in some sort tolerable But we not satisfied therewith pierce deeper and enter into her very bowels we search into the veines of gold and siluer we mine and dig for copper and lead mettals And for to seek out gemmes and some little stones we sinke pits deep within the ground Thus we plucke the very heart-strings out of her and all to weare on our finger one gemme or precious stone to fulfill our pleasure and desire How many hands are worne with digging and deluing that one ioynt of our finger might shine again Surely if there were any diuels or infernall spirits beneath ere this time verily these mines for to feed couetousnes and riot would haue brought them vp aboue ground Maruell we then if she hath brought forth some things hurtfull and noisome But sauage beasts I well thinke ward and saue her they keepe sacrilegious hands from doing her iniurie Nay ywis it is nothing so Dig we not amongst dragons and serpents and togethet with veines of gold handle we not the roots of poisoned and venomous herbes howbeit this goddesse we finde the better appaied and lesse discontented for all this misusage for that the end and issue of all this wealth tends to wickednesse to murder and wars and her whom we drench with our bloud we couer also with vnburied bones Which neuerthelesse as if she did reprooue and reproch vs for this rage and furie of ours she her selfe couereth in the end and hideth close euen the wicked parts of mortall men Among other imputions of an vnthankfull minde I may well count this also That we be ignorant of her nature CHAP. LXIIII. ¶ Of the forme of the earth THe first and principall thing that offereth it selfe to be considered is her figure in which by a generall consent we doe all agree For surely we speake and say nothing more commonly than the round ball of the earth and confesse that it is a globe enclosed within 2 poles But yet the forme is not of a perfect and absolute roundle considering so great heigth of hills and such plaines of downs howbeit if the compasse therof might be taken by lines the ends of those lines would meet iust in circuit and proue the figure of a iust circle And this the very consideration of naturall reason doth force and conuince although there were not those causes which we alledged about the heauen For in it the hollow bending conuexitie boweth and beareth vpon it selfe and euery way resteth vpon the centre thereof which is that of the earth But this being solid and close compact ariseth still like as if it swelled stretching and growing forth The heauen bendeth and inclineth toward the centre but the earth goeth from the centre whiles the world with continnall volubilitie and turning about it driueth the huge and excessiue globe thereof into the forme of a round ball CHAP. LXV ¶ Of the Antipodes whether there be any such Also of the roundnesse of water MVch adoe there is here and great debate betweene learned men and contrariwise those of the leaud and ignorant multitude for they hold that men are ouerspread on all parts vpon the earth and stand one against another foot to foot also that the Zenith or point of the heauen is euen and alike vnto all and in what part soeuer men be they go still and tread after the same manner in the middest But the common sort aske the question and demand How it happeneth that they opposite iust against vs fall not into Heauen as if there were not a reason also ready That the Antipodes againe shall maruell why we fell not downe Now there is reason that commeth betweene carrying a probabilitie with it euen to the multitude were it neuer so blockish and vnapt to learne That in an vneuen and vnequall Globe of the Earth with many ascents and degrees as if the figure thereof resembled a Pine-apple yet neuerthelesse it may be well enough inhabited all ouer in euery place But what good doth all this when another wonder as great as it ariseth namely That it selfe hangeth and yet falleth not together with vs as if the power of that Spirit especially which is enclosed in the World were doubted or that any thing could fall especially when nature is repugnant thereto and affordeth no place whither to fall for like as there is no seat of Fire but in fire of Water but in water of Aire and Spirit but in aire euen so there is no roome for Earth but in earth seeing all the Elements besides are ready to put it backe from them Howbeit wonderfull it remaineth still How it should become a Globe considering so great flatnesse of Plaines and Seas Of which doubtfull opinion Dicaearchus a right learned man as any other is a fauourer who to satisfie the curious endeauours of Kings and Princes had a charge and commission to leuell and take measure of mountaines of which he said that Pelion the highest was a mile and a halfe high by the plumbe rule and collected thereby that it was nothing at all to speake of in comparison of the vniuersall rotunditie of the whole But surely in my conceit this was but an vncertaine guesse of his since that I am not ignorant that certaine tops of the Alpes for a long tract together arise not vnder fiftie miles in heigth But this is it that troubles the vulgar sort most of all if they should be forced to beleeue that the forme of water also gathers round in the top And yet there is nothing in the whole world more euident to the sight for the drops euery where not onely as they hang appeare like little round bals but also if the light vpon dust or rest vpon the hairy downe of leaues we see they keep a perfect and exquisite roundnes Also in cups that are filled brim full the middle part in the top swell most Which thing considering the thinnes of the humour and the softnes thereof setling flat vpon it selfe are sooner found out by reason than by the eie Nay this is a thing more wonderfull that when cups are filled to the ful put neuer so little more liquor thereto the ouerplus will run ouer all about but contrariwise it falleth out if you put in any solid weights yea and it were to the weight of twenty deniers or French crowns in a cup. Forsooth the reason is this for that these things receiued within lift vp the liquor aloft to the top but poured
pearles And yet they as orient as they be waxe yellow with age become riueled and looke dead without any liuely vigor so as that commendable orient lustre so much sought for of our great lords and costly dames continueth but in their youth and decaieth with yeares When they be old they will proue thicke and grosse in the very shels and sticke fast vnto their sides so as they cannot be parted from them vnlesse they be filed asunder These haue no more but one faire face and on that side are round for the backe part is flat and plaine and hereupon such are called Tympania as one would say Bell bearles We see daily of these shells which serue as boxes to carrie sweet perfumes and precious ointments and most commendable they are for this gift that in them there be pearls of this sort naturally growing together like twins The pearle is soft and tender so long as it is in the water take it forth once and preseutly it hardeneth As touching the shell that is the mother of Pearle assoon as it perceiueth and feeleth a mans hand within it by and by she shutteth and b that means hideth and couereth her riches within for well woteth she that therefore she is sought for But let the fisher looke well to his fingers for if she catch his hand between off it goeth so trenchant and sharp an edge she carrieth that is able to cut it quite a two And verily this is a just punishment for the theefe and none more albeit she be furnished and armed with other means of reuenge For they keep for the most part about craggie rocks and are there found and if they be in the deepe accompanied lightly they are with curst Sea-dogs And yet all this will not serue to skar men away from fishing after rhem for why our dames and gentlewomen must haue their eares behanged with them there is no remedie Some say that these mother-pearles haue their kings and captaines as Bees haue that as they haue their swarmes led by a master Bee so euery troup and companie of these haue one speciall great and old one to conduct it and such commonly haue a singular dexteritie and wonderfull gift to preuent and auoid all daungers These they be that the dyvers after pearles are most carefull to come by for if they be once caught the rest scatter asunder and be soone taken vp within the nets When they be thus gotten it is said that they be put vp into earthen pots and well couered with salt and when the salt hath eaten and consumed all the flesh wiihin then certaine kernels that were within their bodies and those be the very pearles fall down and settle to the bottome of those pots There is no doubt but with much vse they will weare yea and change colour thorough negligence if they be not well looked vnto Their chief reputation consisteth in these fiue properties namely if they be orient white great round smooth and weightie Qualities I may tell you not easily to be found all in one insomuch as it is impossible to find out two perfitly sorted together in all these points And hereupon it is that our dainties and delicates here at Rome haue deuised this name for them and call them Vnions as a man would say Singular and by themselues alone For surely the Greeks haue no such tearmes for them neither know they how to cal them nor yet the Barbarians who found them first out otherwise than Margaritâ—… In the very whitenesse it selfe there is a great difference among them That which is found in the red sea is the clearer and more orient As for the Indian pearle it resembleth the skales and plates of the stone called Specularis howsoeuer otherwise it passeth all others in greatnesse The most commendation that they haue is in their colour namely if they may be truly called Exaluminati i orient and cleare as Alume They that be goodly great ones are commendable in their degree As for those that are long and pointed vpward growing downeward broader and broader like a peare or after the manner of Alabaster boxes full and round in the bottome they be called Elenchi Our dames take a great pride in a brauerie to haue these not only hang dangling at their fingers but also two or three of them together pendant at their eares And names they haue forsooth newly deuised for them when they serue their turne in this their wanton excesse and superfluitie of roiot for when they knocke one against another as they hang at their eares or fingers they call them Crotalia i. Cymbals as if they tooke delight to heare the sound of their pearles ratling together Now adayes also it is growne to this passe that meane women and poore mens wiues affect to weare them because they would be thought rich and a by-word it is amongst them That a faire pearle at a womans eare is as good in the street where she goeth as an huisher to make way for that euery one will giue such the place Nay our gentlewomen are come now to weare them vpon their feet and not at their shoo latchets only but also vpon their startops and fine buskins which they garnish all ouer with pearle For it wil not suffice nor serue their turne to carie pearles about them but they must tread vpon pearles goe among pearles and walke as it were on a pauement of pearles Pearles were wont to be found in our seas of Italie but they were small ruddie in certain little shell fishes which they call Myae but more plenty of such were taken vp in the streights of Bosphorus neere Constantinople Howbeit in Acarnania there is a little Cochle called Pinna i. a Nacre which engendreth such Whereby it may appeare that there be more than one sort of Mother-pearles For king Iuba likewise hath left in writing that in Arabia there is a kind of shell fish like vnto a Scallop saue that it is not chamfered but thick and rough like a sea Vrcheon which beares Pearles within the very flesh of the fish like vnto haile stones But now adaies there be no such mother-pearles come to our coasts Neither be there found in Acarnania any of value and reputation For why they are all in manner without proportion neither round nor weighty and of a marble colour They rather about the cape of Actium are better and yet they be but little ones like as they also which are taken in the coasts of Mauritania Alexander Polyhistor and Sudines are of opinion that they will age and in the end lose their colour That they bee sollid and not hollow within is euident by this that with no fall they will breake But they be not alwaies found in the middest of the flesh within the mother-pearles but here there somtime in one place and somtime in another Verily I haue seene of them about the brim and edges of the shell as if they were readie to goe forth
and in some 4 in others fiue together Vnto this day few of them haue been knowne to weigh aboue halfe an ounce and one scriptule In Brittaine it is certain that some do grow but they be small dim of colour and nothing orient For Iulius Caesar late Emperour of famous memorie doth not dissimule that the cuirace or breast-plate which he dedicated to Venus mother within her temple was made of English pearles I my selfe haue seen Lollia Paulina late wife and after widdow to Caius Caligula the emperor when she was dressed and set out not in stately wise nor of purpose for some great solemnity but only when she was to go to a wedding supper or rather vnto a feast when the assurance was made great persons they were not that made the said feast I haue seen her I say so beset and bedeckt all ouer with hemeraulds and pearles disposed in rewes ranks and courses one by another round about the attire of her head her cawle her borders her peruk of hair her bondgrace and chaplet at her ears pendant about her neck in a carcanet vpon her wrest in bracelets on her fingers in rings that she glittered shon again like the sun as she went The value of these ornaments she esteemed and rated at 400 hundred thousand Sestertij and offered openly to proue it out of hand by her bookes of accounts of reckonings Yet were not these jewels the gifts and presents of the prodigall prince her husband but the 〈◊〉 and ornaments from her owne house fallen to her by way of inheritance from her grandfather which he had gotten together euen by the robbing and spoiling of whole prouinces See what the issue and end was of those extortions and outrageous exactions of his this was it That M. Lollius slandered and defamed for receiuing bribes presents of the kings in the East and being out of fauor with C. Caesar sonne of Augustus and hauing lost his amitie dranke a cup of poison and preuented his iudiciall triall that forsooth his neece Lollia all to be hanged with jewels of 400 hundred thousand Sestertij should be seene glittering and looked at of euery man by candle-light all a supper time If a man would now of the one side reckon what great treasure either Curius or Fabricius carried in the pompe of their triumphs let him cast a proffer and imagine what their shews were what their seruice at the table was and on the other side make an estimate of Lollia one only woman the dowager of an Emperor in what glory she sitteth at the bourd would not he wish rather that they had been pulled out of their chariots and neuer triumphed than that by their victories the state of Rome should haue grown to this wastfull excesse intollerable pride And yet this is not the greatest example that can be produced of an excessiue riot and prodigalitie Two only pearles there were together the fairest and richest that euer haue beene knowne in the world and those possessed at one time by Cleopatra the last queen of Aegypt which came into her hands by means of the great kings of the East and were left vnto her by descent This princesse when M. Antonius had strained himselfe to doe her all the pleasure he possibly could had feasted her day by day most sumptuously spared for no cost in the hight of her pride and wanton brauerie as being a noble curtezan and a queene withall began to debase the expence and prouision of Antonie and made no reckoning of all his costly fare When he thereat demanded againe how it was possible to goe beyond this magnificence of his she answered againe that she would spend vpon him at one supper 100 hundred thousand Sestertij Antonie who would needs know how that might bee for he thought it was impossible laid a great wager with her about it and shee bound it againe and made it good The morrow after when this was to be tried and the wager either to be won or lost Cleopatra made Antonie a supper because she would not make default and let the day appointed to passe which was sumptuous and roial ynough how beit there was no extraordinarie seruice seene vpon the board whereat Antonius laughed her to scorne and by way of mockerie required to see a bill with the account of the particulars She again said that whatsoeuer had been serued vp alreadie was but the ouerplus aboue the rate proportion in question affirming still that she would yet in that supper make vp the full summe that she was seazed at yea her selfe alone would eat aboue that reckoning and her owne supper should cost 600 hundred thousand Sestertij and with that commanded the second seruice to be brought in The seruitors that waited at her trencher as they had in charge before set before her one only crewet of sharpe vineger the strength whereof is able to resolue pearles Now she had at her eares hanging these two most precious pearles the singular and only jewels of the world and euen Natures wonder As Antonie looked wistly vpon her and expected what shee would doe shee tooke one of them from her eare steeped it in the vineger and so soon as it was liquified dranke it off And as shee was about to doe the like to the other L. Plancius the iudge of that wager laid fast hold vpon it with his hand and pronounced withal That Antonie had lost the wager Whereat the man fell into a passion of anger There was an end of one pearle but the fame of the fellow thereof may goe with it for after that this braue queen the winner of so great a wager was taken prisoner and depriued of her roiall estate that other pearle was cut in twaine that in memoriall of that one halfe supper of theirs it should remaine vnto posteritie hanging at both the eares of Venus at Rome in the temple of Pantheon And yet as prodigall as these were they shall not go away with the prize in this kinde but shall lose the name of the chiefe and principall in superfluitie of expence For long before their time Clodius the sonne of Aesope the Tragedian Poet the only heire of his father who died exceeding wealthie practised the semblable in two pearles of great price so that Antonie needeth not to be ouer proud of his Triumuirate seeing that he hath to match him in all his magnificence one little better than a stage-plaier who vpon no wager at all laid and that was more princely and done like a king but only in a brauerie and to know what tast pearles had mortified them in venegre and drunke them vp And finding them to content his pallat wondrous well because he would not haue all the pleasure by himselfe and know the goodnesse thereof alone he gaue to euery guest at his table one pearle apeece to drinke in like manner Fenestella writeth that after Alexandria was conquered and brought vnder
Hereof may some reason yet be rendred although the thing be strange and wonderful The same author auoucheth that in Paphlagonia there be digged out of the ground certaine land fishes that be excellent good meat and most delicate but they be found in dry places remote from the riuer whither no waters flow wherby they are forced to make the deeper trenches for to come by them Himself maruelleth how they should engender without the help of moisture Howbeit hee supposeth that there is a certain minerall and naturall force therin such as we see to sweat out in pits forasmuch as diuers of them haue fishes found within them Whatsoeuer it is surely lesse wonderfull this is considering how the Moldwarps liue a creature naturally keeping vnder the ground vnlesse haply we would say that fishes were of the same nature that earth wormes be of CHAP. LVIII ¶ Of the mice of Nilus BVt the inundation of Nilus cleareth all these matters the ouerflowing whereof is so admirable and so far passeth all other wonders that we may well beleeue these things For when as this riuer falleth and returneth againe into his channell a man may find vpon the mud yong Mice halfe made proceeding from the generatiue vertue of water and earth together hauing one part of their body liuing already but the rest as yet mishapen and no better than the very earth CHAP. LIX ¶ Of the fish Anthias and how he is taken I Thinke it not meet to conceale that which I perceiue many do beleeue hold as touching the fish Anthias We haue in our Cosmographie made mention of the Isles Cheldoniae in Asia scituate in a sea full of rocks vnder the promontory of Taurus among which are found great store of these fishes and much fishing there is for them but they are suddenly taken and euer after one sort For when the time serueth there goeth forth a fisher in a smal boat or barge for certain daies together a pretty way into the sea clad alwaies in apparel of one and the same colour at one houre and to the same place stil where he casteth forth a bait for the fish but the fish Anthias is so craftie and warie that whatsoeuer is thrown forth he suspecteth it euermore that it is a means to surprise him He feareth therefore and distrusteth and as he feareth so is he as wario vntill at length after much practise often vsing this deuise of flinging meat into one place one aboue the rest groweth so hardy and bold as to bite at it for now by this time he is grown acquainted with the maner thereof and secure The fisher takes good mark of this one fish making sure reckoning that he wil bring more thither and be the means that he shall speâ—…d his hand in the end And that is no hard matter for him to do because for certain daies together that fish none but he dare aduenture to come alone vnto the bait At length this hardy captaine meets with some other companions and by little little he commeth euery day better accompanied than other vntil in the end he brings with him infinite troups and squadrons together so as now the eldest of them all as crafty as they be be so well vsed to know the fisher that they will snatch meat out of his hands Then hee espying his time putteth forth an hook with the bait somwhat beyond his fingers ends flieth and seizeth vpon them more truly then catcheth them and speedily with a quick nimble hand whippes them out of the water within the shadow of the ship for feare least the rest should perceiue giueth them one after another to his companion within who euer as they be snatcht vp latcheth them in a course twillie or couering keeps them suâ—…e enough from strugling or squeaking that they should not driue the rest away The speciall thing that helpeth this game and pretty sport is to know the captain from the rest who brought his fellows to this feast to take heed in any hand that he be not twitcht vp and caught And therfore the fisher spareth him that he may flie and goe to some other flock for to train them to the like banket Thus you see the maner of fishing for these Anthae Now it is reported moreouer that one fisher vpon a time of spightfull minde to do his fellow a shrewd turn laid wait for the said captain fish the leader of the rest for he was very wel known from all others and so caught him but when the foresaid fisher espied him in the market to be sold and knew it was he taking himself misused wronged brought his action of the case against the other and sued him for the dammage and in the end condemned him Mutianus saith moreouer That the plaintife was awarded to haue for recompence 10 pounds of the defendant The same fishes if they chance to see one of their fellows caught with an hook by report with their sharp fins which they haue vpon their backe like sawes cut the line in two for he that hangeth at it will of purpose stretch it out streight that it may be cut a sunder more easily But the Sargots haue another trick for that for he that finds himselfe taken fretteth the line in twaine whereto the hooke hangeth against a hard rocke CHAP. LX. ¶ Of the Sea fishes called Starres OVer and besides all these I see that some deep clerks and great Philosphers haue made a wonder at the Star in the sea And verily it is no other than a very little fish made like a star as we see it painted A soft flesh it hath within but without forth an hard brawnie skin Men say it is so fierie hot that whatsoeuer it toucheth in the sea it burneth and look what meat it receiueth it makes a hand with it digesteth it presently What proofe there is herof and how men should come to the knowledge and experience of thus much I cannot readily set downe I would thinke that rather more memorable and worthy to be recorded whereof we haue daily experience CHAP. XLI ¶ Of the Dactyli and their wonderfull qualities OF the shell fish kind are the Dactyli so called of the likenesse of mens nailes which they resemble The nature of this fish is to shine by themselues in the darke night when all other light is taken away The more moisture they haue within them the more light they giue insomuch as they shine in mens mouths as they 〈◊〉 chawing of them they shine in their hands vpon the floore on their garments if any drops 〈◊〉 their fattie liquor chance to fall by so as it appeareth that doubtlesse it is the very iuice humor of the fish which is of that nature which we do so wonder at in the whole body CHAP. LXII ¶ Of the enmitie and amitie which is between fishes and other water beasts SVch concord there is in some and such discord in others as is
the waters the great Scallops make a certaine noise as they shoot out of the water But soft fishes and such as lie couered with a crust or shell neither vtter voice nor yet yeeld sound As for other fishes although they be without lungs and pipes yet are they not quite mute but deliuer a certaine sound Howbeit they that would maintaine that fishes are dumbe indeed doe cauill and say that such a noise commeth of crashing and grinding their teeth together But what will they say then to the water-Goat the riuer Bore which in the riuer Achelous do euidently grunt as also others wherof we haue spoken Againe such as lay egs do hisse and Serpents draw their hissing out in length The Tortoise hisses likewise but after a broken manner with staies and rests between Frogs keep a croaking after their kind as hath been said before and yet a man may seem well to doubt therof how it should be considering that the noise which they make comes but from their teeth and mouth outward and is not framed in their breast or stomacke Howbeit in them there is great difference by occasion of the nature of diuers countries For in Macedonie by report they are mute and there also the Swine be dumbe As for birds the least euermore be most full of chirping chaunting and singing and most of all about the treading time Some of them keepe a singing when they fight as Quailes others when they goe to fight as Partridges and some again after victorie as cocks And they haue a crowing by themselues differing from the cackling of hens whereas in other birds you canot discerne the male from the female by the singing as we see in Nightingales Some sing all the yeare long others at certaine times as we haue more at large declared in the particular treatise of each bird The Elephant he sends out at his very mouth somwhat short of his muffle a certaine sâ—…nd like to sneesing but thorough that muffle or trunke of his he sounds as it were out of a trumpet Kine only of females haue a bigger voice than Buls for in euery kind else the female hath a smaller voice than the males like as we see in mankind the gelded Eunuchs As an infant is comming into the world it is not heard to crie all the while that it is in the birth before it be fully born When it is a yeare old it begins to prattle and talke but not before King Croesus had a sonne who lying swoddled in his cradle spake by that time he was 6 months old but this was a prodigious signe and presaged the finall ruine of that kingdome Those children that begin with their tongue betime are later ere they find their feet The voice in man or woman beginneth to change and waxe greater at 14 yeares old The same in old age growes again to be smaller and in no other creature doth it more often alter Moreouer as touching the Voice there be strange and wonderfull matters reported and those worth the rehearsal in this place For first and foremost we do see That vpon the skaffold or stage in publick Theatres if the floore be strowed ouer well and thicke with saw-dust or sand the voice of the actors will be drowned and lost yea and remain stil aboue the skaffold if it were there buried also where there be hollow and vneuen wals round about or emptie drie-fats and tuns set the voice will be taken vp in them and passe no farther But the same voice betweene two wals directly set one by another runs apace yea and through a vault it may be heard from the one end to the other be the sound neuer so low prouided that all be smooth and euen between and nothing to hinder the passage thereof To speake yet somwhat more of the Voice In it doth rest a great part of the countenance and visage of man wherby he is discerned and knowne For we know a man by hearing his voice before we see him euen as well as if our eies were fixed vpon him And see how many men and women there are in the world so many sundrie voices there bee for each one hath a seuerall voice as well as a face by himself And hereof arises that varietie of nations that diuersitie of languages all the world through From hence come so many tunes in song so many notes in Musick as there bee But aboue all the greatest thing to be noted in Voice is this That wheras the vtterance of our mind therby doth distinguish vs from brute and wild beasts the same euen among men maketh as great a difference betweene one and another as the other is betweene man and beast CHAP. LII ¶ Of the excrescence and superfluitie of some members Also the discourse and sayings of Aristotle as touching mans life LOoke what part is more than ordinarie by nature in any liuing creature the same â—…erues to no vse As for example the sixt finger in a mans hand is euermore superfluous and therefore fit for nothing It was thought good in Aegâ—…pt once to nourish and keep a monstrous man who had foure eies wherof two stood in the backe part of his head behind but surely he saw neuer a whit with them I wonder verily thâ—…t Aristotle not only beleeued but also sticked not to set downe in writing that there were certaine signes in mans bodie whereby we might foreknow whether he were long liued or no. Which albeit I take to be but vanities not rashly to bee vttered without good aduisement because I would not haue men amused and busily occupied in searching Prognostications in themselues as touching their owne life yet will I touch the same and deliuer them in some sort since so great a clerk as Aristotle was held them for Resolutions and thought them worth the penning He putteth downe therefore as signes of short life thin teeth long fingers a leaden hew many lines in the palme of the hand with crosse bars or short cuts Contrariwise he saith That those who are Lute backed thicke shouldered and bending forward who also in one hand haue two long life lines and aboue 32 teeth in their head and besides are wel hanged and haue large eares bee long liued And as far as I can guesse he requires not that all these signes should concurre and meet together for to signifie as is beforesaid but as I suppose his meaning is that euery one of them by it selfe is significatiue and sufficient Surely these Physiognomers Chiromantines or Palmestrie as friuolous and foolish as they be yet now adaies are in credite and euery man is full of them Trogus a most graue and renowmed Author among vs is of opinion moreouer That there is judgment to be giuen not only of mens complexions but also of their conditions by their very sight countenance and surely I think it not amisse to set downe his very words A large and broad forehead saith he is a token of a
geld them as little as you can keep them with a good head rather if need require lay them along on the ground and two yeares after cut them hard to the root If it be a yong vine attend vntill it be of strength sufficient then will it be time and not afore to prune it If haply the vineyard be bare and naked of vines and that they grow but thin here and there make furrowes and trenches between and therein plant new quicksets but rid the weeds well from about those Trencheâ—… for ouershadowing them be euer also digging and delving Then if it be an old vineyard so drage and pulse for prouender if it be a lean and light ground sow nothing that bears grain or corn Be sure that ye lay about the heads of the said quickesets dung chaffe refuse of grapes pressed and such like mullock When the vine beginneth to put out leaues and look green fall to disburgeoning So long as the Vines be yong and tender tie them surely in many places for feare lest the wood or stalk therof do break asunder But when a vine hath gotten head to perch aloft vpon a single traile gently binde the tender burgeons and branches thereof extend and stretch them out and lay them streit Now when they stand once vpright and are able to beare themselues mark when the grapes begin to change colour bind them wel and sure below As for graffing of vines there are two seasons of the yeare meet therefore the one in the spring the other when the vine doth floure and this is held for the best If you purpose to translate an old stock of a vine into another place and there to replant it cut off the first thick arm only leauing behind two buds and no more In taking of it vp be carefull that you do it with such dexteritie as that you race not nor wound the root This done look how it grew before so set it now either in trench or furrow couch it wel and close and couer it throughly with good mould After the same manner as is beforesaid vnderset and prop it vp bind it turn and winde it but aboue all be euery while digging about it As touching the drage called Ocymum the which Cato wills to be sowed in a vineyard it is a kind of forage or prouender for horses which the Latines in old time named Pabulum it commeth vp very speedily and groweth fast and besides can well away with shadowie places CHAP. XXIII ¶ Of Trees ranged in rewes for to support Vines IT remaineth now in this discourse and treatise of Vines to write of the manner of trees planted of purpose for to serue their turn And here I canot chuse but cal to mind first how this point of husbandry hath bin iudged naught and altogether condemned by the two Sarsennae both father and sonne but contrariwise held for good and highly commended by Scrofa whereas all three were reputed the most antient writers and skilfullest in this kind next to Cato And yet Scrofa as great a patron as he is thereof alloweth not this deuice in any clymate else but only in Italy Howbeit gon this hath for currant many yeares past and time out of mind That the best and most dainty Wines came of those grapes onely which grew vpon such Hautâ—…ins or trees beforesaid Yea and it was thought generally that the higher a Vine climbed vpon these trees the better grapes it bare and yeelded more commendable wine and againe the lower that those trees were the greater plenty followed both of the one the other By which a man may see how materiall it is to raise Vines on high and haue grapes growing in the top of trees In which regard choise also is to bee made of trees for this purpose And here first and formost is presented vnto vs the Elme and yet I must except that kind of it which is called Atinia by reason that it is ouermuch charged with boughes and leaues and therewith too full of shade Next vnto it may be ranged the blacke Poplar euen for the same cause because it is noâ—… leaued nor branched so thick Many men there be that refuse not the Ash the Fig tree yea and the Oliue so that it stand not ouer thicke with boughs and make too much shade As for the setting planting and ordering of these trees in general we haue sufficiently and to the full treated heretofore But now for this speciall and peculiar vse that they be put vnto this would bee considered That Vines which are to be wedded to these trees must in no wise feele the edge of the cutting hooke before they be three yeares old full After which time this regard ought to be had that euery second branch or arme thereof is to be spared and likewise each other yeare and no oftener they are in this wise to bee pruned and by that they are six yeres old it is good time to joine them in marriage vnto their husbands aforesaid In Piemont Lombardie and those parts of Italy beyond the riuer Po they vse for this purpose to plant their grounds with these trees ouer and besides those aforenamed to wit the Cornell the Opiet or Wich-hazell the Teil or Linden the wild Ash Ornus the Carpin Carme or Horn-beame and the Oke About Venice and all that tract the Willowes serue the turne and none else by reason that the whole soken standeth so much vpon water As touching the Elme named in the first place it must be kept plaine and bare and the great water-boughs vnderneath shread vntill you come to the middest of the tree or thereabout and then the rest ought to bee arraunged and digested into good order whereupon the Vine may climb as it were vpon staires or ladder rounds and lightly none of these trees vpward be aboue twentie foot high Now in case it be a high ground vpon an hil and drie they are permitted to branch and shut out their armes within eight foot of the ground But in plaines and low moist grounds they begin not to fork before they bear twelue foot Howbeit let the place be what it wil the flat of the tree from whence the boughs begin to diuide ought to regard the south sun And the said branches immediatly from their project must rise somewhat vpright in maner of fingers standing forth from the palm of ones hand among which the smal sprigs must eâ—…tsoons be barbed as it were shauen clean off for feare they do not ouershadow the Vine branches As touching the space or distance between one tree another the ordinarie proportion is that afront and behind in case the ground be erable it beare fortie foot but aflanke or on the side twentie Marie if it be not well tilled and husbanded so much wil serue euery way to wit twentie foot and no more Commonly euery one of these trees maintaineth tenne Vines at the foot therof and a bad husband he is who hath
drie things the twelfth part of a setarius which was twenty ounces whereby it appeareth that a cyath was one ounce one half ounce one dram and one scruple it may goe with vs for foure ordinarie spoonfulls Cubit a measure from the elbow to the middle finger stretched out at length which went ordinarily for 24 fingers bredth or 18 inches which is one foot and a halfe yet Pliny in one place maketh mention of a shorter cubit namely from the elbow to the end of the fist or knuckles when the fingers be drawn in close to the hand Cutanean eruptions be such wheales pushes or scabs as do breake out of the skin and disfigure it D DEbilitie i. weaknesse or feeblenesse Decoction a liquor wherin things haue bin sodden Decretorie daies be such as in a sicknesse shew some chaunge or alteration in the patient either for good or bad Defensatiue in medicines taken inwardly are such as resist venom or pestilent humor in outward applications such as defend the sore or place affected from the flux or fall of humors thither Denarius a coin of siluer in Rome and in other countries of gold the same that Drachma Attica i. a dram in weight which is vij d. ob of our mony and the piece in gold answereth neere to a full French Crowne in poise it goeth for a dram Dentifrices are meanes in Physicke to preserue the teeth and make them white and faire Depilatorie are those medicines which either fetch off the haire or hinder it from comming vp againe at all or at leastwise from growing thicke They were called in Greek and Latine both Psâ—…lothra Desiccatiue i. drying Digestiues be those medicines which taken inwardly helpe concoction of meate or humors or applied without vnto a sore doe comfort the place and make way for speedie healing Dislocations when the bones be either out of ioynt or else displaced to Disopilate i. to open to Dissipate i. to scatter and dispatch Distortion crookednesse or turning awry vnnaturally Diureticall such things as prouoke vrine Dose i. that weight or quantitie of any medicine that may be giuen either conueniently or without danger to the patient Dram the eight part of an ounce which is the weight of a Roman denier or Denarius Dysenterie is properly the exulceration or sore in the guts whereupon ensueth besides the painefull wrings of the belly a flux also of bloud at the siege and therefore it is vsually taken for the bloudy flix E EClogues See Eidyls Electuaries be medicinable compositions or confections to be taken inwardly made of choise drugs either to purge humors to strengthen the principall parts or to withstand any infirmitie for which they are made The substance is betweene a syrrup and a Conserue but more inclining to the consistence of conserues Eidylls or Eidyllia be small poemes or pamphlets written by Poets such as Theocritus in Greeke compiled and much like vnto the Pastorals or Eclogues of Virgill in Latine Embrochation is a deuise that physitians haue for to foment the head or any other part with a liquor falling from aloft vpon it in maner of rain whereupon it took the name in Greeke Embroche and hath found none yet in Latine vnlesse we should vse Superfusio Emollitiues medicines that do soften any hard swelling Empiricks were those physitians who without any regard either of the cause in a disease or the constitution and nature of the Patient went to worke with those medicines whereof they had experience in others fall it out as it would Empirick books of Diodorus contained receits approoued and found effectuall by experience Emunctories be those kernelly places in the body by which the principall and noble parts doe void their superfluities or such things as offend to wit vnder the ears for the brain the arm-pits for the heart and the share for the liuer c. Emplastration in the Hortyard is grafting by inocelation with a scutcheon in Physicke the applying of a salue or plastre Epilepsie i. the falling sicknesse Errhines be deuises made like tents sharper at one end than the other to bee put vp into the nose either to cure some vlcer there or to draw downe and void humors out of the head or to prouoke sneesing c. Eschare is that crust which ariseth vpon a cauterie either actuall or potentiall as also the roufe or scab that groweth vpon a sore Euacuation i. Voidance and riddance of any thing out of the bodie by vomite purging bleeding sweating c. Excalfactorie i. Heating or chaufing Excoriation i. fretting the skin off when a part is made raw a way to exulceration Excresence i. ouergrowing vnnaturally of any thing in mans bodie Exoticall i. forraine and brought from other countries Exorcismes i. coniurations by certain charmes and spels Exorcists they that practised such Exorcisms To Expectorat i. to rid and discharge out of the breast by coughing or reaching Expiatorie were sacrifices or oblations for to make satisfaction and atonement Exiccatiue See Desiccatiue Extenuat i. to make thin Exulceration i. a sorenesse of any part inward or outward when not onely the skin is off but the humor doth fret deeper still Exulceratiue be such things as are apt to eat into the flesh and make an vlcer F Fermentation i. an equall mixture of things working as it were together a tearme borrowed from the leuaine which disperseth it selfe into the whole masse or lumpe of dough Filaments bee the small strings that hang to a root like threads or haires which some call the beard of the root and in resemblance thereof other things growing likewise bee so called Fissures clifts or chaps whether it bee in the hands feet lips or fundament Flatuosities i. windinesse gathered within the bodie Flora the goddesse of floures among the Painims Fomentations properly be deuises for to be applied vnto any affected part either to comfort and cherish it or allay the paine or els to open the poores to make way for ointments and plastres If they be liquid things they are laid too by the means of bladders spunges or such like if drie within bags or quilts Fractures i. bones broken Frictions or Frications rubbings of the bodie vpward or downeward gently or otherwise as the cause requireth Frontall the forme of an outward medicine applied vnto the forehead to allay paine to procure sleepe c. Fukes i. paintings to beautify the face in outward appearance They are called at this day complexions whereas they bee cleane contrarie for the complexion is naturall and these altogether artificiall Fumosities bee vapours steaming vp into the head troubling the braine Fungous i. of an hollow and light substance like to Fusses or Mushromes G GArga rismes bee collutions of the mouth and parts toward the throat either to draw downe and purge humours out of the head or to represse and restraine their flux or to mundifie and heale any sore there growing Gargarising or Gargling is the action of vsing a liquor to the said purpose Gestation an exercise of
reckoning aboue other herbs for I reade in antient Histories That Cornelius Cethegus at what time as he was chosen Consul with Quintius Flaminius presently vpon the said election gaue a largesse to the people of new wine aromatized with Rue The fig-tree and Rue are in a great league amitie insomuch as this herbe sow and set it when and where you will in no place prospereth better than vnder that tree for planted it may be of a slip or sprig Now if the same be put into a bean which hath a hole pierced or bored through it will do far better by reason that the bean clasping the set close and vniting thereunto her own sap and moisture cherisheth it therewith and makes it come apace moreouer it will propagat and set it owne selfe for let the top of any of her branches be bent downeward so as it may but touch the ground it will presently take root Of the same nature it is that Basill but that Rue is somwhat later ere it come vp groweth not so fast When Rue is come to be of any strength there is vntoward sarcling and weeding of it for if it be handled it will raise blisters vpon a mans fingers vnlesse the hands be well gloued or defensed with oile The leaues also of Rue are kept and preserued beeing made vp into little knitches or bunches Now as touching Ach or Parsley the manner is to sow it immediatly after the spring Equinox in March but the seed would be first brused beaten a little in a mortar for some are persuaded that by this means it groweth thicker and more crispe or curled which it will doe likewise in case after a bed be sowed therewith it be troden vpon with mens feet or beaten downe with a roller or cylinder This peculiar property hath Parsley that it will change the colour It was an antient custome in Achaia to do honour vnto this hearbe by crowning those that went away with victory and wan the prize in the solemne tourneys and sacred games Nemei with a chaplet of Parsly As for Mint men vse to set it at the same time of a young plant so soone as they see it is spurt and come vp but if it haue not sprung yet they let not to plant the spurns of the root knotted into an head within the ground in manner of the Spongiae in Sperage before said This herb taketh no great ioy in moist grounds All Summer it looketh greene and fresh but in winter it hath a hempen hew A wild kind there is of Mint named in Latin Mentastrum which will increase by propagation or couching in the ground as well as vine branches and so willing it is to take that it makes no matter which end of a slip be set downeward for at the wrong end it wil come as well as at the other Mint in the Greeke tongue hath changed the old name by occasion of the sweet smel that it carieth whereas before time it was called Mintha whereof we in Latine deriued our name Mentha A pleasant herb this is and delectable to smel vnto insomuch as you shal not see a husbandmans bourd in the country but all the meats from one end to the other be seasoned with mints If it be once set or sown haue taken to a ground it will continue there a long time It resembleth much the herb Peny-roiall the nature wherof as I haue often shewed is to blow her floures again vpon the shortest day of the yere euen as it hangeth prickt vpon flesh in the butchery Much after one sort are kept and preserued for sauce as if they were of the same kind Mint Peni-roiall and Nep but aboue all to a weake and peeuish stomack Cumin agreeth most and is the best to get an appetite It hath a qualitie to grow with root very eb and scarsely taketh any hold of the earth coueting to be aloft In hot grounds and such especially as be rotten mellow it would be sown in the mids of the spring There is a second sort therof growing wild which some call Cumin Rustick others Thebaick which being bruised or beaten into pouder and drunk in water is singular good for the pain of the stomack The best Cumin in our part of the world which is Europe commeth from Carpetania for otherwise the greatest name goeth of that in Aethyopia and Africk And yet some here be who prefer the Cumin of Egypt before all But Alisanders which some Greekes call Hipposelium others Smyrneum is of a strange and wonderfull nature aboue all other herbes for it wil grow of the very liquor or juice issuing forth of the stalk It may be set also of a root and indeed they that gather the foresaid juice vse to say that it hath the very tast and rellish of Myrrhe by Theophrastus his saying it came first of Myrrh set into the ground The old writers ordained that Alisanders should be set or sowed in stony grounds without tending or looking to neer to some mud wall But now in our daies it is planted in places digged delued ouer once or twice yea and at any time from the blowing of the western wind Fauonius in Februarie vntill the later Aequinox in September be past Capers likewise are set sowed in dry places specially but the bed must be digged in some low ground and laid hollow inuironed round about with banks and those raised with a groundsell of stone worke otherwise it would be ranging abroad and ouerspread whole fields make the ground barren and vnfruitfull It flourisheth in Summer and continueth green vntil the occultation or setting of the Brood-hen star Virgiliae and sandy ground is most familiar and agreeable to it Touching the defects and imperfections of that kinde which groweth beyond sea I haue said enough among the shrubs and plants that be strangers The Caraway also is a stranger as may appeare by the name of Caria the natiue countrey therof it beareth one of the principal seeds that commeth into the kitchen It careth not much where it is sown or planted for it will grow in any ground as well as the Alisanders beforenamed howbeit the best commeth out of Caria the next to it in goodnes we haue from Phrygia As for Loueach or Liuish it is by nature wild and sauage and loueth alone to grow of it self among the mountains of Liguria whereof it commeth to haue the name Ligusticum as being the naturall place best agreeing to the nature of it Set or sowed it may be in any place wheresoeuer howbeit this that is thus ordred by mans hand hath not the like vertue as the other although it be in tast more pleasant some call it Panax or Panace howbeit Creteuas a Greeke writer calleth the wild Origan or Cunila Bubula by that name But all others in manner attribute the name of Conyza or Conyzoides to Cunilago i. Fleabane Mullet and of Thymbra i. winter
within the guts Boiled in vinegre it is singular for the cankers or exulcerations within the mouth howbeit all authors doe accord that they bee not good for the stomacke Touching Louage which some call Panax i is holesome for the stomack Likewise a proper medicine it is for convulsions and ventosities To conclude there are some who name it Cunila Bubula as I haue before noted but they be deceiued CHAP. XVI ¶ Of the wilde Origan Cunila Bubula of the Bastard Marjoram named Gallinacea Cunila or Hâ—…racleoticum Origanum of the tender Cunilago of Rosemarie of Garden Sauorie or Cunila and that of the mountaines OVer and besides the garden Sauorie there be many kinds of Cunila known in Physicke and first that which is called Bubula and hath seed like to Peniroiall being either chewed in the mouth or applied outwardly it is a good wound-hearb so that it be not remooued but euery fiue daies Taken in wine it is singular against the poisonous sting of serpents in case the hearbe it selfe be stamped and laid withall vpon the sore place and verily it is an ordinarie thing to rub therewith welland throughly the wounds that they make Semblably the Tortoises against the time that they should fight with Serpents vse this hearbe in manner of a defensatiue take themselues wel armed against their enemie which is the reason that some giue it the name of Panax Being dried it assuageth the pain of tumors and cures the accidents that befall to the priuie members of men or if the leaues be but stamped they haue the like effect And in one word the operation thereof is excellent and wonderfull if it be vsed in wine Another Cunila or Sauorie there is which our countreymen call in Latine Gallinacea the Greekes name it Origanum Heracleoticum If it be braied and salt joined thereto it is soueraigne for the eyes it helpeth the cough also and correcteth all faults of the liuer If a thicke grewell or sew be made thereof together with floure oile and vinegre so tempered as it may be supped it cureth the pleurisie or paines of the sides but aboue all it is singular for the stinging of Serpents A third kind there is which the Greeks tearme the male but we in Latin Cunilago a stinking smell it hath with it a woodie hard root and a rough leafe but it is generally said that the operations thereof be more effectuall than of any other kind It is verily thought that if a man cast an handfull thereof from him into any part of the house al the moths and such like vermin will gather about it But to come to particulars It hath a singular power against Scorpions if it be taken with water vinegre Also if a man or woman take 3 leaues thereof and rub his bodie thoroughly with it and oile together there is not a Serpent so hardie as dare approch neare such a bodie so perfumed Contrariwise the Cunila which is named Mollis idest Soft hath leaues and branches more hairie than the former and those sharpe pointed like prickes This hearbe if a man rub betweene his fingers resembleth honey in smell and will sticke fast too in manner of honny Another sort there is of Cunila which we for the smell that it hath of Frankincense call Libanotis But both these the one as well as the other taken in wine or vinegre cureth the biting and sting of Serpents If they be bruised or stamped into pouder and so put into water they kill all the fleas in the place where the said water is cast or spinckled As for the garden Sauorie it also hath many good properties The juice thereof with oyle of roses distilled into the ears is very comfortable vnto them The hearb it selfe taken in drink helpeth those who are stung with venomous Serpents This Sauorie oftentimes doth degenerat into a bastard kind named Mountain Sauory Like it is to wild running Thyme and is effectuall also against the poyson of serpents It prouoketh vrin and purgeth women newly deliuered if haply they haue not sufficient voidance Singular it is for to help digestion and stirreth vp appetit to meat wonderfully In summe as well the gentle Sauorie as the wild is passing wholesome for crudities in the stomacke if one spice his morning draught therewith fasting It is vsed also to very good purpose in dislocations and members out of joynt with barley meale water and vigre it is excellent for the stinging of waspes and such like pricks As touching the other kinds of Libanotis or Rosemarie write I will more fully in due place CHAP. XVII ¶ Of Piperitis and Origanum of Onitis-Prasium of Tragoriganum and Heraclium of Lepidium and Gith or Melanthium of Annise PIperitis or Calecut Pepper-wort which before we called Siliquastrum beeing taken in drinke is very good for the falling sicknesse Castor hath described it after another manner namely to be an herb rising vp with a long red stem thicke set with joynts or little knees bearing leaues resembling those of Lawrel with white seed and the same smal carying with it the tast of Pepper The vertues of which hearb be these To help the gumbs and teeth to make a sweet breath and withstand soure and stinking belches Origan or Orgament which in tast as we haue said resembleth * Sauery hath many kinds all medicinable for there is one one sort therof sirnamed Onitis or Prasion not vnlike to hyssope a peculiar propertie this hearb hath being drunke in warme water to quiet the gnawings in the stomacke and to concoct the crudities there but taken in white wine to cure the venomous pricks of Spiders and Scorpions The same applied outwardly with oile and vinegre vpon wooll is singular good for dislocations disjointures spraines contutions and bruises As for Tragoriganum it is more like vnto wild creeping Thyme it hath vertue to prouoke vrin to discusse and resolue all tumors or swellings And more particularly most effectuall it is for them that haue drunke the gum of Chamelaeon called Ixia also against the Vipers sting besides for the stomacke that belcheth soure and for the midriffe and precordiall parts It is an approued medicine for the cough the phrensie and inflammation of the lungs being with honey reduced into the forme of a Lohoch for to be sucked downe leisurely Touching the Origan named Heracleum or Heracleoticum the same also is diuided into three sorts For the first is of a blacker more duskish green with broader leaues also than the rest and besides is glutinous and will cleaue to ones fingers A second sort hath smaller leaues softer it is more tender in hand not vnlike to Majoram and this kind some would rather call Prasium The third hath leaues of a mean bignes between the other two not so large as the one nor so slender as the other but not so forcible in operation as either of them both but to return againe to our former Origanum the best
a perfect wine without appearance of any grape at all nor so much as of Must which ordinarily is the rudiment of wine All Pomgranats as wel sweet as tart are clad with a very hard coat rough rind And verily the coat which the sour kind hath is much vsed and in great request and namely the Curriers know full well how to dresse their skins therwith and this is the cause that the Physitians name it in Latine Malicorium And they would bear vs in hand That the same doth prouoke vrine as also that the decoction therof in vineger with gal-nuts among doth confirm and keep the teeth fast which do shake and are loose in the head Women with child and giuen to longing after a strange and vnreasonable manner finde much good and contentment hereby for no sooner tast they of it but the childe doth stir and sprunt in their wombe The Pomgranat diuided into quarters or parcels and laid to steepe and infuse in raine water for three daies or thereabout yeeldeth a good and wholsome drinke for them to take actually cold who are troubled with loosenesse of the body occasioned by a flux from the stomacke and with casting and reaching vp bloud Of the tart and soure Pomgranat there is a singular composition which the Greeks call Stomatice for that it is a most soueraigne medidine for the infirmities incident to the mouth and yet it is as wholsom for the accidents of the nosthrils and ears as also for the dimnesse of the eies for the trouble some ouergrowing turning vp of the skin and flesh about the roots of the nailes for the genitoirs or priuie members for corrosiue vlcers which they cal Nomae and for the proud flesh and all excrescences in sores Against the poison or venom of the sea-hare there is an excellent composition made with Pom granats in this manner take the grains or kernels of Pomgranates being despoiled and turned out of their outward rind or skin stampe them well and presse out their iuice and liquor from them seeth the same vntil a third part be consumed together with Safron Roch-allom Myrth and the best Attick hony of each halfe a pound Others do compound and prepare a medicine after another sort in this wise they take and pun many soure Pomgranats and draw out of them a juice which they seeth in a new cauldron or pot of brasse neuer vsed before to the thicknesse of honey this they vse in all infirmities of the fundament and priuy parts for al griefs and maladies which be cured with the medicinable juice Lycium with this they clense ears that run with filthy matter restraine all violent fluxes of humors newly begun and especially taking a course to the eies and rid away the red pimples and spots that arise in any part of the body Whosoeuer carieth in his hand a branch of the Pomgranat tree shall soone chase away any serpents The pill or rind of a soure Pomgranate boiled in wine and so applied cureth kibes A Pomgranat stamped and then sodden in three Hemines of wine vntill one remain is a singular remedy for the torments of the Collick and driueth wormes out of the belly A Pomgranate torrified in an ouen within a new earthen vessell neuer occupied before well stopped and couered with a lid and so being calcined and drunk in wine staieth the flux of the belly and assuageth the wrings in the guts The first knitting of this fruit when the tree begins to floure is called by the Greeks Cytinus Of which there be obserued strange properties approued by the experience of many men for if any person man or woman vnbraced vnlaced vnpointed and vnbuttoned with girdle loose hose vngartered shooes vnbuckled and hauing not so much as a ring about any singer come and gather one of these tender bnds or knots with 2 fingers only to wit the thumb and the fourth ring-ring-finger of the left hand and after this ceremony performed proceed forward to another namely to touch lightly with the same bud the compas of the eies round about as if the priest should sacre or hallow them and withal when this is don coueigh the same into the mouth and swallow it down whole so as a tooth touch it not there goeth an opinion That he or she for certain shal feele no impediment or infirmity of the eyes that year throughout The same knots or yong Pomgranats if they be dried and beaten to pouder are very good to keepe downe all excrescences of ranke flesh and be wholesome for the gummes and teeth moreouer the very juice drawn out of them after they be sodden do fasten the teeth in the head although they were loose and ready to fall out before The very yong Pomgranats themselues alone newly knit and making shew vpon the tree if they be stamped to the form of a liniment are singular for any corrosiue vlcers such as tend to putrifaction Likewise they be excellent good in that sort prepared and applied for the inflammation of the eies of the entrailes and in manner for all those occasions wherein the outward rinds and pils do serue And here before that I proceed any farther I canot sufficiently admire and wonder at the careful industry and diligence of our antients before time which they imploied in the consideration of Natures workes searching as they did into euery secret and left nothing behind them vnassaied and vntried in somuch as they took regard of those little pretty floures appearing vpon these knots or buds before said such I meane as break forth and spring before the Pomgranat it selfe is formed and maketh any appearance which smal blossoms as I said before are called Balaustia For euen these as little as they be our ancestors haue found by their experiments to be aduerse vnto scorpions And true it is that being taken in drinke they do restraine the extraordinary flux of womens fleurs they heale the cankers and sores in the mouth the diseases of the Tonsils or Amygdales and of the Vvula they do helpe the spitting and reaching vp of bloud they cure the feeblenesse both of belly and stomack with the fluxes thereupon insuing they are singular besides for the grieuances of the priuy members and for all running vlcers spreading in any part of the body whatsoeuer Moreouer they made proofe of the said floures dried and this high magistery they found That being beaten to pouder they cured those of the bloudie flix who lay at the very point of death on that disease as also that there was not a better thing in the world to stay any lask or flux of the belly Nay they staid not here so inuentiue were our forefathers nor thought much to make trial of the very kernels or stones within their grains to see if they could meet with any goodnesse therein for to deliuer vnto posterity and the age following And in good faith they found That euen those as contemptible
and verily there came Physitians and Chirurgions out of Egypt a countrey apt to breed the like diseases and where they be common such as professed only the skill in this kind of cure who filled their purses well and mightily enriched them selues by their practise at Rome for well known it is that Maâ—…lius Cornutus late L. Pretor and lieutenant general for the state in the prouince of Guienne or Aquitane in France dealt with one of these Egyptian leeches for to be cured of this disease and agreed to pay him 200000 Sesterces for his paine And thus much of Mentagra Moreouer what a wonderfull thing is this obserued in these new kind of maladies that many times contrary to the course of other sicknesses they come together in troupes that some of them should all on a sudden light vpon a particular country that they should take to one certaine member of mans body assaile those of such an age and no other haue a spight to persons of this or that quality and spare the rest as if they made choice some to plague young children others elder folk some to punish none but the rich and mighty others to be doing with the poore and needy In our Annals or Chronicles we find vpon record That while Lucius Paulus and Q. Marcius were Censors of Rome the pestilent carbuncle a disease appropriat to Prouance and Languedoc in France came first into Italy Of which maladie there died within the compasse of one yeare about that very time when I compiled this worke and history of mine two noble men of Rome and late Consuls to wit Iulius Rufus and Q. Lecanius Bassus of which two the former was cut for it by the counsell of vnskilfull Physitians and by that means lost his life As for the other hauing it vpon the thumb of his left hand he chanced to pricke it himselfe with a needle and although the wound was so small that hardly it could be seene and discerned yet it cost him his life This carbuncle riseth ordinarily in the most hidden and secret parts of the body and for the most part vnder the tongue it is hard and red in manner of the swelling veines called in Latine Varices and yet in the head it looketh blackish the skin also about it seemeth swe rt and dead it stretcheth the skinne and the flesh in some sort stiffe but without any great swelling no paine at all no itching no other symptome but sleepe wherewith it so possesseth the Patients that in three daies it will make an end of them Otherwhiles it causeth the party to fall into a quiuering and shaking as it were for cold and raiseth certaine blisters or angry pimples round about it and verie seldome causeth an Agúe but looke in whomsoeuer it taketh to the stomacke or throat it quickely dispatcheth and maketh an end of them As touching the white leprosie called Elephantiasis according as I haue before shewed it was not seen in Italie before the time of Pompey the Great This disease also began for the most part in the face and namely it tooke the nose first where it put forth a little specke or pimple no bigger than a small Lentill but soone after as it spread farther and ran ouer the whole body a man should perceiue the skin to be painted and spotted with diuers and sundry colors the same vneuen bearing out higher in one place than another thicke here but thin there and hard euery where rough also like as if a scurfe or scab ouerran it vntil in the end it would grow to be blackish bearing downe the flesh flat to the bones whiles the fingers of the hands and toes of the feet were puffed vp and swelled againe A peculiar malady is this and naturall to the Egyptians but look when any of their kings fell into it wo worth the subjects and poore people for then were the tubs and bathing vessels wherein they sat in the bain filled with mens bloud for their cure But surely this disease continued not long in Italy before it was quite extinguished like as another before it and in old time Gemursa which began between the toes and so long agoe it is since any haue bin troubled therwith that the very name also is forgotten and grown out of vse Where by the way this is to be noted as a strange and wonderfull thing That some of our diseases should haue an end and lose their course for euer and others againe continue still as for example the cholique passion which came among vs no longer agoe than in the daies of Tiberius Caesar the Emperor and the first that euer felt it was the prince himselfe whereupon arose no small question throughout the whole city of Rome for when as the said Emperour published a certain proclamation wherein he excused himself for not comming abroad to manage the affaires of the State because he was sick of the cholique the Senat and people reading this strange name of an vnknowne maladie entred into a deep discourse with themselues what to thinke and make of it But what should we say of all these kinde of diseases and what an anger and displeasure of the gods is this thus to plague and punish vs Was it not enough to haue sent amongst men into the world a certaine number of maladies otherwise and those not so few as three hundred but we must be in feare and danger still euery day of new and yet see as many as there be of them comming by the hand of God yet men thorow their owne excesse and disorders bring as many more vpon themselues and be causes still of farther troubles miseries Well thus you see by that which I haue written in the former bookes what was the old Physicke in times past namely consisting of the simples onely found in dame Natures garden and how she alone at the first and for a long time was our Physitian and furnished vs with remedies for all diseases CHAP. II. ¶ The praise of Hippocrates and other Physitians meere Simplests HIppocrates verily had this honor aboue all men That he was the first who wrote with most perspicuity of Physicke and reduced the precepts and rules thereof into the bodie of an art howbeit in all his bookes wee find no other receits but herbes Semblably the writings of Diocles the Carystian were no lesse stored with the like medicines and yet a famous Physitian he was and both in time and reputation next and second to Hippocrates Praxagoras also and Chrysippus yea and after them Erasistratus held on the same course As for Herophylus although he was the first that went more exquisitly to work and brought in a more subtill and fine method of Physick yet none esteemed better of simples than hee But surely practise and experience which as in all things else is found to be most effectuall so in the profession of Physick especially began in his daies by little and little to slake vntil
Finally to wash the mouth with wine before one goeth to bed for a sweet breath likewise so soon as he is vp betimes with cold water against the tooth-ach so as he do it three or fiue times together or at least-wise obseruing such an odde number as also to bath the eies in a morning with Oxycrat i with vineger and water mingled together to preserue them for being bleared are singular and approoued experiments CHAP. V. ¶ Obseruations as touching Diet and the manner of our feeding for the regiment of Health LIke to the former rules is this also as touching our Diet That it be not too precise but so as we may feed indifferently of all viands and acquaint our bodies with variety of meats which is obserued to be the best way to maintain our health and in very truth Hippocrates saith That to eat but one meale a day i to forbeare dinners is a diet that will drie vp a mans body within and bring them soon to age and decay But this aphorism of his he pronounced as a Physitian to reclaim vs from that hungry and sparing diet and not as a patron and maintainer of full feeding and gourmandise for I assure you a temperat and moderate vse of our meats is the wholsomest thing that is for our bodily health But L. Lucullus was so strict herein that hee suffered himselfe to be ordered and ouer-ruled by his owne seruant who would not let him eat but as he thought good in such sort that it was no small disgrace vnto him in his later daies thus to make his man his master and to be gouerned by him rather than by his own selfe for was it not think you an approbrious and shamefull sight to see a slaue and no better to put his lords hands from a dish of meat beeing an aged gentleman as he was and who in times past had rode in triumph to gage him thus I say and keep him short though hee were set amongst great states at a roiall feast within the capitoll of Rome CHAP. VI. ¶ Of Sneezing the vse of Venerie and other means which concerne mans health SNeezing dischargeth the heauinesse of the head and easeth the pose or rheum that stuffeth the nose and it is commonly said That if one lay his mouth to the nosthrils of a mouse or rat and touch the same it wil do as much To sneeze also is a ready way to be rid of the yex or hicquet And Varro giueth counsell to scrape a branch of a Date tree with one hand after another by turnes for to stay the said hicquet But most Physitians giue direction in this case to shift a ring from the left hand to the longest finger of the right or to plunge both hands into very hot water Theophrastus saith that old men doe sneeze with more paine and difficulty than others As touching carnall knowledge of man and woman Democritus vtterly condemned it and why so Because quoth he in that act one man goeth out of another And to say a truth the lesse one vseth it the better it is for body and mind both and yet onr professed wrestlers runners and such gamsters at feats of actiuity when they feele themselues heauy or dul reuiue and recouer their liuely spirits again by keeping company with women Also this exercise clenseth the brest and helpeth the voice which being sometime before cleare and neat was now become hoarse and rusty Moreouer the temperat sports of Venus easeth the pain of the reins and loins mundifie and quicken the eiesight and be singular good for such as be troubled in mind and giuen ouermuch to melancholy Moreouer it is held for witchcraft to sit by women in trauell or neare vnto a Patient who hath a medicine either giuen inwardly or applied vnto him with hand in hand crosse-fingered one between another the experience whereof was well seene by report when lady Alcmena was in labour to be deliuered of Hercules And the worse is this peece of sorcery in case the party hold the hands thus joined a-crosse one finger within another about one or both knees Also to sit crosse-legged with the ham of one leg riding aloft vpon the knee of the other and that by turns shifting from knee to knee And in very truth our ancestors time out of mind haue expresly forbidden in all councels of State held by princes potentats and Generals of the field to sit hand in hand or crosse-legged for an opinion they haue That this manner of gesture hindereth the proceeding and issue of any act in hand or consulted vpon They gaue out likewise a strait prohibition That no person present at any solemnity of sacrifices or vows making should sit or stand crosse-legged or hand in hand in manner aforesaid As for veiling bonnet before great rulers and magistrats or within their sight Varro saith it was a fashion at first not commanded for any reuerence or honour thereby to be done vnto gouernors but for healths sake and namely that mens heads might be more firm hardy by that ordinary vse and custome of being bare When a mote or any thing els is falne into one eie it is good to shut the other hard If there be water gotten into the right eare the maner is to jump and hop with the left leg bending and inclining the head toward the right shoulder semblably if the like happen to the left eare to do the contrary If one be falne into a fit of coughing the way to stay it is to let the next fellow spit vpon his forehead If the uvula be falne it will vp again if the Patient suffer another to bite the haire in the crown of his head and so to pull him vp plumb from the ground Hath the neck a crick or a pain lying behind what better remedy than to rub the hams Be the hams pained do the like by the nape of the neck say the cramp take either feet or legs plucking stretching the sinewes when one is in bed the next way to be vsed is to set the feet vpon the floore or the ground where the bed standeth or put case the crampe take the left side then be sure with the right hand to catch hold of the great toe of the left foot and contrariwise if the cramp come to the right leg do the like by the right foot If the body fall a shaking and quiuering for cold or if one bleed excessiuely at the nosthrils it is passing good to bind strait and hard the extreame parts to wit hands and legs yea and to plucke the eares also It falleth out oftentimes that one cannot lie dry nor hold his water but it commeth from him euer and anone what is then to be done mary tie the foreskin of his yard with a linnen thred or a papyr rush withall binde his thighs about in the middle If the mouth of the stomacke be ready to turne and will neither receiue nor
dim the eies than to burne and calcine a viper aliue in a new earthen pot neuer occupied before putting thereto of the juice of fenell the measure of one cyath and some corns or crums of Olibanum or frank incense and this medicine is commonly called Echion Moreouer There is a collyrie or speciall eie-salue made of a viper suffered to putrifie in a pot of earth so as the grubs or worms that come of the said carrion be stamped and incorporat in Saffron Some burn a viper with salt in an earthen pot and they are of opinion that whosoeuer do lick the same salt or let it melt at the tongues end it clarifieth the eies and that they shall keep the stomacke and all the body besides in good temper yea and liue long by that meanes They vse to giue also of this salt vnto sheepe when they are not well at ease and it is thought to be very wholsome for their health yea it entereth into many antidotes counterpoisons deuised against the venome of serpents Some there be who vse to eat vipers ordinarily at their table for to preserue their eiesight But for meat they prepare order them in this wise first so soon as they haue killed a viper they giue order to put salt into the mouth vntill such time as it hath sucked out the venomous humor that lieth at the root of the teeth and dissolued or consumed it afterwards when they haue cut away to the bredth of foure fingers from vnder the top of the head and withall taken forth the intrails and garbage out of the belly they seeth the rest of the body in water or oile together with oile and dill seed and this flesh either they eat out of hand thus dressed or els working it with some paste they reduce the same into trosches that they may be preserued for their vse at sundry times As touching the broth that is made of this decoction ouer besides that it is good in those cases before specified this quality it hath namely to rid and clense both the head and all the body besides of lice yea and to kill the itch that runnes aloft in the skin The ashes of a vipers head calcined are by themselues very effectuall without any thing els but principally in clearing the sight if the eies be annointed therwith in some conuenient liquor so is the grease also of the viper As for their gal I dare not be so bold as to approue that which others confidently haue aduised prescribed because as I haue already shewed the venome of serpents is nothing els but their gall The grease of a snake mixed with verdegreece healeth any part of the eye that is broken but the slough or old skin which they cast off in the spring doth clarifie the eie-sight if the eies bee gently rubbed therewith The gal of an Hulat likewise is highly commended for the white pearles the cataracts and thick films which trouble the sight the fat also of the said bird is as much praised for the clearing of the same Moreouer it is said that the gall of that Eagle which I said heretofore to proue and trie her yong birds vseth to force them for to looke directly vpon the Sunne mingled with the best hony of Athens serueth to annoint the eies for the webs filmes cataracts which trouble the eiesight Of the same operation is the gall of a Vulture or Geire incorporat with the juice of Porret and a little hony The like vertue also there is in the gall of a cock or capon for the pin and web and for the pearle in the eie if the same be dissolued in water yea and for the cataract especially if the said Cock or Capon be all white The dung likewise of cocks and capons I mean that part only thereof which is ruddy and browne they say is singular good for those that be pore-blind or short sighted such also as see not wel but about noon tide They commend moreouer the gal of an hen but the fat especially for the little blisters or spots that otherwise arise in the apple of the eie in regard of which vertue many there bee that cram them fat and for no cause els But if there be put thereto the pouder of the red bloud-stone Haematites and the yellow saffron-coloured Schistos it is wonderfull how much better it will bee for that purpose yea and to heale the tunicles of the eies that be broken Moreouer Hennes dung as much only of it I meane as is white many vse to keep in old oile within certaine boxes of horne for to cure the white pearles that grow in the apple of the eye And since I am entered thus farre into the dung of Pullaine I must aduertise you what is reported of Peacockes That they doe eat and swallow downe againe the same dung which themselues haue meuted for very enuie that they haue vnto mankind knowing by a secret instinct of Nature how good it is for many vses Furthermore it is an opinion commonly receiued that all the race of Faulcons if they be boiled in oile Rosat are soueraigne for any accidents of the eies whatsoeuer if they be bathed with that decoction Semblably it is said that their dung reduced into ashes and incorporat in the best hony of Athens is very good therefore as also the liuer of a Glede or Kite is much commended in those cases Pigeons dung tempered in vineger cureth the fistulaes which are between the lachrymall corners of the eies and the nose and otherwise is singular for the white pearls and the cicatrices or films growing in the eies Goose dung and duckes bloud be both of them very soueraigne for to soake out the blacke bloud in the eies occasioned by some contusion or bruise with this regard that they be afterwards annointed with Hyssope and Honey The gall of a Partridge mixed with honey of each a like weight mightily cleareth the eiesight so doth the gal of a fallow Deere applied simply alone without any mixture or addition at all But these galls ought to be kept in a siluer box say they who ground vpon the authority of Hippocrates for their warrant Partridge egs sodden with honey in a brasen pan or posnet do cure the vlcers in the eies and take away the red pearls arising in the blacke thereof The bloud of Pigeons Turtledoues Stockdoues or Coists Partridges is passing good for bloud-shotten eies But they say that the bloud of the cocke Pigeons is better for this purpose than that of the female Now for to fit this cure they must be let bloud in the vein vnder the wing or pinion because that bloud is hotter and therefore by so much the better But when the eies bee dressed with this bloud it would not be forgotten that there be a thin bolster boiled in honey laid aloft yea and a lock of greasie wooll vpon it which had bin soaked either in oile or
precious stones Our cups otherwise chased engraued and embossed in gold must be set out with hemeraulds besides to maintaine drunkennesse to make a quarrell to carouse and quaffe we must hold in our hand and set to our mouth the riches of India So as to conclude our golden plate comes behind pretious stones and pearles and we count it but an accessarie and dependant which may be spared CHAP. I. ¶ When mines of gold grew first into request The beginning of gold rings The quantitie of gold in treasure among our ancestors in old time Of the Cavallerie and Gentrie of the Romanes The priuiledge of wearing golden Rings OH that the vse of gold were cleane gone Would God it could possibly be quite abolished among men setting them as it doth into such a cursed and excessâ—…iue thirst after it if I may vse the words of most renowmed writers a thing that the best men haue alwaies reproched and railed at and the onely meanes found out for the ruine and ouerthrow of mankinde What a blessed world was that and much more happier than this wherein wee liue at what time as in all the dealings betweene men there was no coine handled but their whole trafficke stood vpon bartering and exchanging ware for ware and one commoditie for another according as the practise was in the time of the Trojane war as Homer a writer of good credit doth testifie And in that manner as I take it began first the commerce of negotiation among men for the maintenance of their society and liuing together for so he reporteth That some bought that which they stood in need of for Boeufes hides others for yron or such commodities as they had gotten in bootie from their enemies And yet I must needs say that euen Homer himself esteemed gold of great price as may appeare by the aestimat that he made thereof in comparison of brasse when he saith That Glaucus exchanged his golden armour worth 100 oxen for the brasen harne is of Diomedes which was valued but at nine Boeufs according to which manner practised in those daies euen at Rome also as may appeare by the old records there were no other penalties and fines imposed vpon those that transgressed the lawes but such as consisted in Boeufes and Muttons and vnder that name passed all the amercements that were leuied Well a bad example and president gaue he vnto the world who first deuised to weare rings vpon the fingers but who he was that did this harm vnto mankind it appeareth not for certaine vpon any record For as touching the reports that go of Prometheus I hold them all but fabulous tales and yet in all the antient pictures and portraitures of him he is to be seen by a generall consent of antiquity with a ring of yron howbeit I suppose that they represented thereby his bonds and his imprisonment rather than any custome that he had to weare a ring as an ornament vpon his finger And verily concerning the ring of K. Midas which if the collet were turned about toward the palm of the hand caused them to go inuisible that so wore it is there any man thinke you that judgeth it not more fabulous than the other of Prometheus But to come more particularly vnto gold the greatest credit and authority that it got was by wearing it in rings vpon the fingers and those only and altogether vpon the left hand And yet this was no fashion at first among the Romans whose manner was to vse no other but of yron to shew that they were good souldiers skilfull and expert in feats of arms Whether the antient kings of Rome were wont to haue gold rings vpon their fingers I am not able to say for certaine Sure it is that the statue of king Romulus in the Capitoll hath none Neither is there any to be seen in the other statues of the Roman kings saue only of Numa and Servius Tullius no nor in that of Lucius Brutus Whereat I maruel much and especially at the two Tarquines kings of Rome considering that they were descended of the Greeks from whence came vp the first vsage of these gold rings howsoeuer yet at this day in Lacedaemon there be none worne but of yron Howbeit this is recorded and known for a truth That Tarquinius Priscus the first of all the Tarquins honoured a sonne of his with a brooch or tablet of gold pendant at his neck for that whiles he was vnder 16 yeares of age and as yet in his Praetexta hee had killed an enemy in plain fight And thereupon was taken vp the manner first which also continued afterward to hang that ornament about the necks of those gentlemens sonnes who were men at armes and serued in the wars on horse-backe in token of knighthood and cheualrie whereas other mens sonnes ware a riband onely And therefore great maruell I haue at the statue of the said prince king Tarquine surnamed Priscus that it should be without a ring on his finger And yet besides all this I reade that there hath been some variance and difference in old time about the naming of rings The Greekes imposed a name deriued from the finger and called it Dactylios The Latines here with vs in old time named it Vngulus but afterwards as well we as the Greeks termed it Symbolum Certes long it was first as appeareth evidently by the Chronicles ere the very Senators of Rome had rings of gold For plaine it is that the State allowed and gaue rings only to certain especial lieutenants when they were to go in embassage to forrein nations and in mine opinion it was for their credit and countenance for that the most honorable personages in strange countries were distinguisht from others by that ornament And verily no person of what degree soeuer was wont to weare rings but such as had receiued them first from the common-wealth vpon that occasion so it serued them ordinarily in triumph as a token and testimoniall of their vertue and valour For otherwise he that triumphed in Rome although there was a Tuscan coronet al decked with spangles of gold born vp behind and held ouer his head had no better than a ring of yron vpon his finger no more than the slaue at his back who haply carried the said Tuscan chaplet For certainly in that maner triumphed C. Marius ouer K. Iugurtha and as the Cronicles do shew receiued not a golden ring nor tooke vpon him to weare it before his third Consulship And euen those also who from the State had golden rings giuen them in regard of embassage aforesaid neuer vsed them but when they came abroad into open place for within dores they might ware none but of yron which is the reason that euen at this day the wedding ring which the bridegroom sendeth as a token of espousals to his bride is of yron simply without any stone set in it Neither so farre as I can finde by reading were there
as an enemy vnto the Romanes In regard of which demerit the Thurines honoured the said Aelius with a statue of brasse and represented to him a coronet of gold The same Thurines also caused another statue to be made in the honour of Fabricius for raising the siege that inuested and beleaguered their citie By occasion of which succour and reliefe giuen vnto strangers and aliens it came to passe in processe of time that forrein states and cities shrouded themselues ordinarily vnder the protection of some great men at Rome and in deuotion to them honoured such as their lords and masters by statues and all other means euen as their bounden vassels At length there grew such disorder and confusion of these statues that we had them pell mell at Rome without any choise or regard at all insomuch as it this day they are no fewer than three statues of Anniball to be seene at Rome in three seuerall places of that citie within the walls whereof he was the onely enemy euer knowne to haue launced his jauelin CHAP. VII ¶ Of the Brasse-founders in old time The inestimable prices of molten Images Of the most renowned Colosses and gyant-like Images in Rome THat the art of Founderie or casting mettals for Images hath been very antique practised also and professen in Italie as well as in other countries time out of mind may be euidently proued by the statue of Hercules which K. Evander consecrated to the honour of him in that very place by folks saying which now is the beast market in Rome This image is called at this day Hercules triumphalis and at euery triumph is richly clad in triumphant habit The image likewise of Ianus with two faces dedicated by K. Numa testified no lesse and honoured he is no lesse than a god as by whom the times of war and peace be distinctly knowne Moreouer the fingers of his hand are in that sort fashioned and formed as they represent the number of 365 which are the daies of the whole yere by which notification of the yere he sheweth sufficiently that he is the god and patron of time and ages The images also which are knowne commonly by the name of Thuscanica which are so dispearsed abroad in all parts of the world who will euer doubt but that they were commonly made in Tuscan I would haue thought verily that these Thuscanica had beene the images of the gods and no other but that Metrodorus Scepsius who for the immortall hatred that he bare against the Romans had his surname giuen him reproches the Romanes among other imputations That they had forced and sacked the towne Volsinij for the loue of two thousand pretty images in brasse which were therein Considering then that the inuention of making such molten images hath been so antique in Italie I cannot chuse but much maruaile that the idols and images of the gods in times past dedicated in churches and chappels were either of wood or potters earth rather than of brasse vntill the conquest of Asia from whence to say a truth first arose and proceeded all our excesse and superfluitie As touching the first deuise and originall of casting by moulds and forming the liuely similitudes of any thing expressely to the patterne I shall haue fitter and better occasion to write thereof in my treatile of the art of Pottery which the Greeks call Plastice for of more antiquity I take it to be than this feat of Founderie yet this craft and cunning so flourished in times past and brought for art such excellent pieces of worke and for number so infinit that if I should put down the greater part of them it would require many volumes for to comprehend them all what man is able During the time that M. Scaurus was Aedile there were three thousand molten images shewed vpon the stage when he exhibited his plaies notwithstanding this theatre of his was made not to continue any time but to serue for the present Mummius after the conquest of Achaia brought in with him so many of these images that hee filled the citie therewith and no corner was free and yet when he departed this life died he left not behind him a competent portion for to bestow his daughter in marriage And this I write not to accuse and condemne so braue a man but rather to excuse and commend him for how can I otherwise doe The two Luculli stored Rome with a number of these images Mutianus a man who of late daies had been twice Consull reporteth That there be yet within Rhodes three thousand such images and verily it is thought that in Athens Olympia and Delphi there remaine no fewer to be seen What man liuing is able to particularize them all and say a man should come to the perfect knowledge of them what good can he reape therby or what vse may he make therof Howbeit one would take some delight and pleasure lightly to touch the principall pieces of workemanship in this kind and namely those that be of marke and note for some special singularitie aboue the rest as also to name therewith the renowmed artificers in times past who wrought euery one of them a number of pieces the exquâ—…it and curious workmanship wherof no man is able to vnfold and vtter as they deserue since that Lysippus by report made in his time six hundred and ten so full of art so excallent and perfect all as there is not one of them but sufficient it were to immortalize his name And how was it knowne that hee made such a number just It appeared plaine after his decease by a coffer that he had wherein he treasured vp his gold and which was then broken open by his heire for the manner of Lysippus was whensoeuer he tooke mony for the workemanship of any piece that went out of his hands to lay by in the said coffer one denier of gold and so by the number of those deniers it was knowne how many pieces of worke he made Incredible it is to what height of perfection this art grew vnto first by the successe of the art which was so vendible and high prised afterwards by the audaciousnesse of the artificer who ventured to make so huge and monstrous works What good speed this art had may appeare by an example which I will set downe of an image deuised to expresse the likenesse neither of god nor man and a dogg it was in brasse which many a man hath seene in our time in a chappell of Iuno within the Capitoll temple before it was burnt now last by the Vitellians This dog was made licking his owne wound but how artificially it was wrought and how liuely it expressed the proportion feature of a dog indeed to the wonder of all those that beholding it could not discerne the same from a liuing creature is apparant not only by this That it was thought worthy to stand in that place and to be dedicated to that goddesse but also
any forfeitures exigents executions and extents whatsoeuer than to part with their Venus And to say a truth good reason they had so to do for that one image of Praxiteles his making was their chiefe credit innobled their city and drew resort from all parts thither This Venus was shrined in a little chappell by her selfe within a tabernacle but of purpose so deuised that it might be set open on all sides for to be seen and viewed all and whole on euery part wherewith the goddesse her selfe as men were verily persuaded was well enough pleased and shewed her contentment therein to al commers for looke vpon her as one would amiable shee was and admirable euery way It is reported that a wretched fellow was inamoured of this Venus and hauing lurked one night secretly within the chappell behaued himselfe so and came so neere vnto the image that he left behind him a marke of his leaud loue and beastly lust the spot of which pollution appeared afterward vpon the body In the same Gnidos there be diuers other pieces more of Marble wrought by excellent workmen to wit one god Bacchus made by Brixiades and another by Scopas of whose handiworke there is Minerua also yet there goeth no speech nor voice of any but onely of Venus abouesaid than which there cannot be a greater argument to prooue the excellencie of Praxiteles his work they all seem but foils to giue a lustre to his Venus Of his making there is the picture of Cupid also that Cicero reproched Verres with the same for whose sake there is such resort and pilgrimage to Thespiae which standeth now shrined within the Schooles of Octauia He made also another Cupid all naked for them of Parium a city within Propontis howbeit in the nature of a colony gouerned by the Roman lawes and owing seruice to their high court comparable it was vnto Venus at Tenedos as wel for beauty and excellency of workmanship as for the like abuse and villanie done vnto it for one Alchidas a Rhodian loued this Cupid and a shamefull thing to speake defiled both himselfe and it like a most filthy and profaine villaine Moreouer at Rome there be diuers pieces of Praxiteles his making to wit Flora Triptolemus and Ceres within the gardens of Servilius the images of Good-aduenture and Good-fortune both which are in the Capitoll also the religious women of the order of Bacchus to wit the furious Maenades which also they name Thyades also the holy nuns or votaries called Caryatides and Silenus standing amongst the Monuments and Bookes within the Librarie of Asinius Pollio together with Apollo and Neptune Thus much may suffice to haue beene spoken of Praxiteles Praxiteles left behind him a son named Cephissodorus who was his fathers heire euery way as well of his excellent and singular cunning as his worldly goods of his handy worke there is to be seene at Pergamus a couple of little boies clipping embracing and kissing one another a most dainty and exquisit piece of worke and much spoken of and highly praised a man that saw them would verily beleeue and say they dented with their fingers into a bodie of flesh rather than a statue of marble At Rome there be images that came out of his hand to wit Latona within the temple vpon mount Palatine Venus within the librarie or monuments of Asinius Pollio Aesculapius and Diana in the temple of Iuno standing within the pourpris or quadrant of Octavias galleries Scopas followeth these in order of narration but striueth to match them in praise of worthy workemanship hee engraued and wrought the images of Venus Pothos and Phaëton which three be honored among the Samothracians in all ceremonious deuotion as right holy saints likewise of Apollo which standeth within mount Palatine of the fierie goddesse Vesta sitting in a chaire accompanied with two hand-maidens set vpon the ground of each hand of her which are to be seene within the gardens of Seruilius like vnto which there be other such Damosels and Lady Vesta remaining within the monuments or Librarie of Asinius before said where also there is one Canephoros to wit a virgine bearing vpon her head a flasket of holy reliques all of Scopas his making But of all that euer he wrought there is most account made of those images which are in the chappell of Cneus Domitius within the cirque of Flaminius to wit Neptune himselfe and dame Thetis and her sonne Achilles the Sea-nymphs or Meere-maides also called Nereides mounted vpon Dolphins Whales and mightie Sea-horses called Hippocampi and sitting vpon them moreouer the sea trumpeters Tritones with all the quire and traine attending vpon sir Phorcus a Sea-god and the mighty fishes called Pristes besides many other monsters of the sea all wrought by one the same hand so curiously that if he had sitten about the making of them al his life time and done nothing at all els a man would haue thought it worke enough and a great deed But moreouer and besides these aboue rehearsed and many more which wee are not come to the knowledge of we haue here with vs at Rome the image of Mars made gyant like after the manner of a colosse yet sitting within the temple of Brutus Callaicus which stands close vnto the said cirque in the way as men goe from thence to the gate Labicana In the same place there is moreouer another Venus naked and wrought by the hands of Scopas which seemeth to goe beyond that other Venus of Gnidos that Praxiteles made which image alone were able no doubt to giue name to any other citie where it should stand and to innoble the place But at Rome verily there bee so many pieces besides and those so stately and sumptuous withall that they obscure and darken it as it were in some sort Moreouer the exceeding great affaires and the busie negotiations whereof there is such a multitude and a world as it were in that Citie withdraw all men from the contemplation and beholding of such things bee they neuer so singular for to say a truth it belongeth rather to idle persons to look and gaze vpon these matters and fitter for a place where there is little or no stirring but all quiet and silent which was the cause that no man knoweth who was the workeman that made the images of Venus which Vespasian the Emperour dedicated in the rampars and building of his temple of Peace and yet if it stood any where else than at Rome it might seeme nothing inferiour in name to the antient workes of old time As little certaintie there is likewise of that image wrought in marble which represents dame Niobe ready to die together with all her sweet children and standeth in the temple of Apollo syrnamed Sosianus whether Scopas or Praxiteles made it no more than father Ianus which Augustus Caesar brought out of Egypt and dedicated in his owne temple is known on t of whose shop it came notwithstanding now
thereof 428. i Raspts why called in Latine Rubus Idaeus 197. a the medicinable vertues that it hath 197. a Rats and mice how to be killed 124 h. 128 l. 195 f Rat of Indic See Ichneumon Rauens thought to be ill at ease all Summer long 355. a Raw places how to be skinned 565 f. See Galls R E Reate waters medicinable 403. c Red gum in children how to be cured 127 c. 306 i. 307 b Reeds and canes seruing in Physicke 450 i Refrigeratiue or cooling medecins 46 g. 47 e. 67 c. 103 e 120 k. 131 e. 136 g. 142 h. 147 a. 155 d. 167 b 189. d. 192. h. 305. a. 221. e. 223. d. 236. g. 237. e 250 g. 259. c. 287. b. 290. g. 473 d. 474. h. 475. a. 511. f 529. f. 560. i. 591. e. the Regard of the eie in some cases of men held to the venomous 298. i Reins in the backe pained how to be eased 37. a. e. 40. k 42. h. 53. b. 70. h. 175. b. 283. a. 304. l. 305. c. 329. e. Reins with what medicins they be purged 77 e. 104 l 126 l. 443 a. for the infirmities of the Reins comfortable medicins 148k 171 c. 181 f. 182 g. 206 i. 248 h. 275 c. 290 i. 252 b Reits or Sea-weeds medicinable 276. g. 437. e. as good as treacle ib. sundry kinds going vnder the name of Alga ib. they serue the dyer for a sure colour ibid. Relapse in agues how to be preuented 391 d a Remedy for all diseases 357 a Remeus a writer 462. l Remora a fish See Echeneis Rennet of Fawne or Hind-calfe is most aduerse to serpents 321. f Repercussiue medecines 139. a. 158. g. 174. l. 278. c 284. h. 290. g. 424. g. Reseda what herbe 289. e. the vertues thereof ibid. Resolutiue medicines See Discussiue Restauratiues for them that be falne away 41. c. 127. e 130. i. 134. h. 136. g. 139. d. 155. d. 162. m. 167. c. 171. c 181 d. 259 b. 318 g. 413 c. 446 i. Restharrow an herbe 98. l. the description ibid. R H Rhacoma 289. b. what root ib. the description ibid. Rhagion a kind of spider 360. i. the description ibid. the manner of pricke or sting ib Rham what kind of bramble 197 b. their seuerall kinds and the description ib. the medicinable vertues ib. Rhapeion an herbe See Leontopetalon Rhaphanos Agria what herbe 253 b the clarified juice thereof is medicinable 253. c the dose ibid. Rhaponticke See Centaurie the great Rhetoricke a gainfull profession in old time 470. h Rheumatisms what they be and how cured 124. h. 133 c 223. c. 310. l. Rheums or distillations how to be dried and staied 43. a. c 44 h. 53 e. 55 b d. 66 g. 70 k. 72 h. 141 a b. 149 a 153. f. 159. f. 161 c. 172. k. 177 d. 197. d. 224 l 236 i. 249 f. 281 e. 287 b. 303 e. 309 d. 370 m 380 m. 412 k. 414 h. 437 c. 443 a. 519 c. 531 c 360 h. Rheumes thin how to be thickened 194. i spitting Rheums how to be staied 183 e. 239 e Rheume into the eyes how to be cured See Eies watering Rhexias what herbe 25 b. the description ibid. Rhinochisia 278. l Rhodites a pretious stone 630. m Rhododaphne See Oleandre Rhododendron See Oleander neither of them both hath a name in Latine 192. g Rhodope a famous harlot built one of the Pyramides 578 g Rhodora what herbe 205. d Rhoeas what Poppie 31. a. how it differeth from Anemone 109. d Rholus one of the architects that built the Labyrinth in Lemnos 579. c Rhopalos an herbe See Nenuphar Rhus a shrub haeth no Latin name 193 g. the description ib. the medicinable vertues that it hath ibid. why it is called the Curriers shrub ibid. Rhyparographus See Pyreicus R I Ribwort See Plantaine Ricinus an herbe 161 a. the seed berries and oyle thereof what properties it hath in Physicke and otherwise ibid. Ricini in Mulberrie trees what they be 170. i Riding on horsebacke in what cases good 303. d Rings of gold worne at first vpon the left hand 455 b the reason thereof 456. g Rings of yron vsed by Romans and Lacedaemonians 455. b Rings vpon the fingers a bad example 455. a the Rings of Giges 455 b. Ring diuersly named 455 d Rings of gold to whom allowed first at Rome ibid. how vsed 455. e wedding Rings of yron ibid. golden Rings not knowne in Homers time ibid. f a law for wearing of Rings 460. h when Rings were worne ordinarily at Rome 456. m Rings worne at Rome by Senatours onely as a badge of their honourable place 457. c when they were worne more ordinarily by Senatours Gentlemen and Commons 457. c three modij of Rings at the battaile of Cannae ibid. a Ring caused the quarrell betweene Drusus and Coepio from whence arose the Marsians warre ibid. ancient Scnatours wearing Rings of yron only 457. f Rings with signets to seale 458. g Rings set with pretious stones ibid. Rings massie sealing without a stone 458. h Rings first put vpon the fourth finger of the left hand ibid. an order or regularitie set downe by Tiberius as touching the vse of Rings vpon the fingers and whereupon 460. h the ceremonie of laying a Ring vpon the table before sitting downe to meat for what purpose 297. d Ring with a signet or signe manuell vpon what finger worne in Rome 458 k. the cause and occasion of much mischiefe ibid. l. vsed for assurance in contracts ibid. it began by occasion of vsurie ibid. Ringworms by what remedies they be killed 36 g. 49 e 124 h. 128 g. 139 a. 146 k. 158 m. 172 i. 187 e 194 h. 252 h. 265 d. 285 a. 300 i. 307 c. 413 b 419 b. Riparis what Swallowes 378 i Risings in share and other emunctories how to be repressed or resolued 122. g. 126. l. 137. b. See more in Groine Pushes and Pani Riuels or wrinckles in the skin of womens faces how to be laid euen and smooth 38. l. 103. b. 127. d. 150. h. 161. b 171. d. 184. h. 268. k. 319. e. 327. c. 416. b. 437 c d 439 a. 441 a. Riuer waters 406. l what Riuers ordinarily haue bad waters 406. l what Riuers yeeld wholesome waters ibid. Riuers at all times not of like tast 410. i the water of the same Riuer not at all times alike wholesome 410. i Riuer fresh turning to be salt 411. b Riuers of salt where 414. l. m R O hearb-Robart See Geranium against robbing how to be secured 315. d Rocket the herbe good in a salâ—…d with Lectuce 29. a the medicinable vertues thereof 55. e why called by the Greekes Euzomos 55. f Rocking a good meanes to procure sleepe 303 e. good also for health ibid. Romans a second Sun-shining to the world 269. e Romans in an ill name for couetousnesse 463. c Romeadmirable for stately aedifices 581. d. c Roofe of sores how to be taken off 141. d. 448. h Roots of diuers kinds 19.