he was for being one of those three in the Triumvirate yoked and matched with wicked companions and most dangerous members to the weal publique and this galled him the more that in this fellowship the Roman empire was not equally and indifferently parted among them three but Antonie went away with the greatest share by odds Also his ill fortune was in the battell before Philippos to fall sicke to take his flight and for three daies diseased as he was to lurke and lie hidden within a marish whereupon as Agrippa and Mecoenas confesse he grew into a kinde of dropsie so as his belly and sides were puffed vp and swelled with a waterish humor gotten and spred betwixt the flesh and the skin Furthermore he suffered shipwrecke in Sicily and there likewise he was glad to skulk within a caue in the ground What should I say how when he was put to flight at sea and the whole power of his enemies at his heeles he besought Proculeius in that great danger to rid him out of his life how he was perplexed for the quarrels and contentions at Perusium in what feare and agonie hee was in the battell of Actium a towne of Albanie as also for the issue of the Pannonian warre for the fall of a bridge and a towne both So many mutinies among his soldiers so many dangerous diseases the iealousie and suspition that he had euermore of Marcellus the reproch shame he sustained for confining and banishing Agrippa his life so many times laid for by poison and other secret traines the death of his children suspected to haue bin by indirect meanes the double sorrow and grief of heart thereby and not altogether for his childelesse estate The adulterie of his owne daughter and her purpose of taking his life away detected and published to the World the reprochfull departure and slipping aside of Nero the sonnè of his Wife another adulterie commited by one of his owne Neeces Ouer and aboue all this thus many more crosses and troubles comming one in the necke of another namely want of pay for his souldiers the rebellion of Sclauonia the mustering of slaues and bond seruants to make vp his army for want of other able youths to leuy vnto the warres Pestilence in Rome Citie famin and drought vniuersally throughout Italy and that which more is a deliberat purpose and resolution of his to famish and pine himselfe to death hauing to that end fasted 4 dayes and 4 nights and in that time receiued into his body the greater part of his owne death Besides the ouerthrow and rout of Varius his forces the foule staine and blemish to the touch of his honor and maiestie very neere the putting away of Posthumius Agrippa after his adoption and the misse that he had of him after his banishment then the suspition that hee conceiued of Fabius for disclosing his secrets adde hereto the opinion and conceit be tooke of his owne wife and Tiberius which surpassed all his other cares To conclude that god and he who I wot not whether obtained heauen or deserued it more departed this life and left behinde him as heire to the crowne his enemies sonne CHAP. XLVI ¶ Whom the gods iudge most happy I Cannot ouerpasse in this discourse and consideration the Oracles of Delphos deliuered from that heauenly god to chastise and represse as it were the folly and vanitie of men and two there be which giue answer to the point in question after this manner First that Phedius who but a while before died in the seruice of his countrey was most happy Moreouer Gyges the most puissant king in those daies of all the earth sent a second time to know of the Oracle who was the happiest man next him and answer was made That Aglaus Psophidius was happier than the former Now this Aglaus was a good honest man well stept in yeares dwelling in a very narrow corner of Arcadia where he had a little house and land of his own sufficient with the yearely commodities thereof to maintaine him plentifully with ease out of which hee neuer went but employed himselfe in the tillage and husbandry thereof to make the best benefit he could in such sort that as it appeared by that course of life as he coueted least so he felt as little trouble and aduersitie while he liued CHAP. XLVII ¶ Who was canonised a god here vpon earth liuing BY the ordinance and appointment of the same Oracle as also by the ascent and approbation of Iupiter the soueraigne god Euthymus the famous wrestler who alwaies wan the best prize at Olympia saue once was reputed and consecrated a god whiles he liued and knew thereof born he was at Locri in Italy where one statue of his as also another at Olympia were both in one day stricken with lightning whereat I see Callimachus wondred as if nothing else were worthy admiration and gaue order that he should be sacrificed vnto as a god which was performed accordingly both whiles he liued and after hee was dead A thing that I maruell more at than any thing else That the gods were therewith contented and would permit such a dishonour to their maiestie CHAP. XLVIII ¶ Of the longest liues THe terme and length of mans life is vncertaine not only by reason of the diuersity of climats but also because Historians haue deliuered such varietie of mens ages and euerie man by himselfe hath a seuerall time limited vnto him at the very day of his birth Hesiod the first writer as I take it who hath treated of this argument and yet like a Poet in his fabulous discourse touching the age of man saith forsooth that a crow liues nine times as long as we and harts or stags 4 times as long as hee but Rauens thrice as long as they As for his other reports touching the Nymphs and the bird Phoenix they are more like poeticall tales than true relations Anacreon the Poet maketh mention that Arganthonius king of the Tartessians liued 150 yeares and Cynaras likewise King of the Cyprians ten yeares longer Theopompus affirmeth that Epimenides the Gnossian died when he was 157 yeares old Hellanicus hath written That amongst the Epians in Aetolia there be some that continue full two hundred years and with him accordeth Damases adding moreouer that there was one Pictoreus among them a man of exceeding stature mighty and strong withall who liuedthree hundred yeares Ephorus testifieth that ordinarily the kings of Arcadia were 300 yeares old ere they died Alexander Cornelius writeth of one Dando a Sclauonian who liued 500 yeres Xenophon in his treatise of old age makes mention of a King of the Latines or as some say ouer a people vpon the sea coasts who liued 600 yeares and because he had not lied loud enough already he goes on still and saith that his son came to 800. All these strange reports proceed from the ignorance of the times past and for want of knowledge how they made their account for some
to make another fire hard by of dry vine cuttings and such like sticks and so he was burnt bare and naked as he was CHAP. LIIII ¶ Of Buriall or Sepulture TO burne the bodies of the dead hath bin no antient custome among the Romans the maner was in old time to inter them But after they were giuen once to vnderstand that the corses of men slain in the wars afar off and buried in those parts were taken forth of the earth again ordained it was to burne them And yet many families kept them still to the old guise and ceremonie of committing their dead to the earth as namely the house of the Cornelij whereof there was not one by report burned before L. Sylla the Dictator and he willed it expressely and prouided for it before hand for feare himselfe should be so serued as C. Marius was whose corps he caused to be digged vp after it was buried Now in Latine he is said to be Sepultus that is bestowed or buried any way it makes no matter how but humatus properly who is interred only or committed to the earth CHAP. LV. ¶ Of the Ghosts or spirits of men departed AFter men are buried great diuersitie there is in opinion what is become of their souls ghosts wandering some this way and others that But this is generally held that in what estate they were before men were born in the same they remain when they are dead For neither body nor soule hath any more sence after our dying day than they had before the day of our natiuitie But such is the folly vanitie of men that it extendeth stil euen to the future time yea and in the very time of death flattereth it selfe with fond imaginations and dreaming of I know not what life after this for some attribute immortality to the soule others deuise a certain transfiguration therof there be again who suppose that the ghosts sequestred from the body haue sense whereupon they do them honour and worship making a god of him that is not so much as a man As if the maner of mens breathing differed from that in other liuing creatures or as if there were not to be found many other things in the World that liue much longer than men and yet no man iudgeth in them the like immortality But shew me what is the substance and body as it were of the soule by it selfe what kind of matter is it apart from the body where lieth her cogitation that she hath how is her seeing how is her hearing performed what toucheth she nay what doth she at al How is she emploied or if there be in her none of all this what goodnesse can there be without the same But I would know where shee setleth and hath her abiding place after her departure from the body and what an infinit multitude of souls like shadows would there be in so many ages as well past as to come now surely these be but fantastical foolish and childish toies deuised by men that would faâ—…ne liue alwaies and neuer make an end The like foolery there is in preseruing the bodies of dead men the vanity of Democritus is no lesse who promised a resurrection thereof and yet himself could neuer rise again And what a folly is this of all follies to think in a mischief that death should be the way to a second life what repose and rest should euer men haue that are borne of a woman if their soules should remain in heauen aboue with sence whiles their shadows tarried beneath among the infernall wights Certes these sweet inducements and pleasing persuasions this foolish credulitie and light beliefe marreth the benefit of the best gift of Nature to wit Death it doubleth besides the paine of a man that is to die if he happen to thinke and consider what shall betide him the time to come For if it be sweet and pleasant to liue what pleasure and contentment can one haue that hath once liued and now doth not But how much more ease and greater securitie were it for each man to beleeue himselfe in this point to gather reasons and to ground his resolution and assurance vpon the experience that he had before hee was borne CHAP. LVI ¶ The first inuenters of diuers things BEfore we depart from this discourse of mens nature me thinks it were meet and conuenient to shew their sundry inuentions and what each man hath deuised in this world In the first place prince Bacchus brought vp buying and selling he it was also that deuised the diadem that royall ensigne and ornament and the manner of triumph Dame Ceres was the first that shewed the way of sowing corne whereas before-time men liued of mast She taught also how to grind corne to knead dough and make bread thereof in the land of Attica Italy and Sicily for which benefit to mankind reputed she was a goddesse She it was that beganne to make lawes howsoeuer others haue thought that Rhadamanthus was the first law giuer As for Letters I am of opinion that they were in Assyria from the beginning time out of mind but some thinke and namely Gellius that they were deuised by Mercurie in Aegypt but others say they came first from Syria True it is that Cadmus brought with him into Greece from Phoenice to the number of sixteen vnto which Palamedes in the time of the Troian war added foure more in these characters following 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And after him Simonides Melicus came with other foure to wit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the force of all which letters we acknowledge and see euidently expressed in our Latine Alphabet Aristotle is rather of mind that there were 18 letters in the Greeke Alphabet from the beginning namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that the other two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and and X. were set to by Epicharmus and not by Palamedes Anticlides writeth That one in Egypt named Menon was the inuentor of letters fifteene yeares before the time of Phoroneus the most antient king of Greece and he goeth about to proue the same by antient records and monuments out of histories Contrariwise Epigenes an author as renowned and of as good credit as any other sheweth That among the Babylonians there were found Ephemerides containing the obseruation of the stars for 720 yeares written in bricks and tiles and they that speake of least to wit Berosus and Critodemus report the like for 480 yeares Whereby it appeareth euidently that letters were alwaies in vse time out of mind The first that brought the Alphabet into Latium or Italy were the Pelasgians Euryalus and Hyperbius two brethren at Athens caused the first bricke and tile-kils yea and houses thereof to be made whereas before their time men dwelt in holes and caues within the ground Gellius is of opinion that Doxius the sonne of Coelus deuised the first houses that were made of earth and cley taking his patterne from Swallowes and Martins nests Cecrops
they be accepted 450. i. k Plants of peares and apple trees how to be nourished ibid. Platanistae fishes in the riuer Ganges 143. b Plato how he was honoured of Denis the tyrant 171. f Platter of Aesope 297. d Platycerotes a sort of stags why so called 331. c Plagues accounted gods 53. d Plaines of Rosea the very fat of Italy 504 g Plenty of corne among oliue trees in Boetica 515. c Plinic confesseth himselfe beholden to former writers 10. k Plotia a reed 483. c Plough who first deuised 189. a L. Plotius found by the smell of a pretious ointment 384. l Plumgeons what birds 296. h Aegyptian Plumtree 391. a Plums of sundry sorts 436. m asse Plums 437. a purple Plums ibid. wheat Plums or wax Plums ibid. nut Plums ibid. apple Plums 437. b almond Plums ibid. damascen Plums 437. b P O Poetry who inuented 189. f Polenta how it was made 561. c Pogoniae a kinde of Comets 15. 〈◊〉 Poisons food to serue creatures 307. a Poisoning deuised by man onely 548. k Polâ—…s two where supposed to be 84. i Polydorus his tombe 78. h Polypes or Pourcuttles 250. h 251. a Polypi how they liue 251. a. one of them robbed the fishers ibid. b. of a theeuing Polype a wonderfull example 251. d Pollen fine floure 564. h Polybius his search into Africke and opinion concerning the description thereof 91. c Polymita what kinde of cloaths 228. i Pomecitrons why called Medica 437. f Pomegranats how to be kept 440. i. k Pomegranats approppiat to the territory of Carthage 398. h diuerse kindes ibid. Pomegranate rindes 398 i Pomegranate floures ibid. Cn. Pompeius praised 168. l. 169. a Cn. Pompeius no purchaser of his neighbours lana 555. a hated for his crueltie to Elephants 196. i Pompeius magnus why so called 169. a. compared to Alexander and Hercules ibid. b Pompey subdued 876 townes of Spaine 169. b how he came to be called Magnus ibâ—…d Pompey dis inscription on the temple of Minerua ibiâ—… d his deeds ibâ—…d Pompili certaine fishes 244. h Pome-poires or Peare-apples See apples Melapia Ponticke nuts See Filberds Pontus the Islands thereof 85. b Poplars their diuerse kindes 470 h Poplar wood good timber but for often lopping 490. 〈◊〉 white Poplar mosse 379. d Poppie-worke cloth 228. h Poppies both wilde and tame when to be sowne 589 c. d their medicinable vertues ibid. Poppaea wife to Nero how shee bathed her body 348. i Popular gouernement who first erected 189. a Popularia a kinde of Abricocts 436. l Porkepines their description and nature 215. e Porphyrio what manner of bird and how hee drinketh 295. d. another Porphyrio 296. k Porpuisses fishes 241. a K. Porsena raised vp lightning by coniuration 26. k Porcius Cato his commendable parts 169. f. deinceps Posidonius the Mathematician 14. l Posidonius honoured of Pompeius 172. h Pottery whose deuise 188. l a Poulter cunning in egs 299. e Pourcuttle a fish 247. e Poyson of Scorpions is white 325. a Poyson of serpents proceedeth from the gall 341. e P R Praecordia the vpmost inwards of man 342. i they be a defence to the heart ibid. Praesages of fortune by the teeth 164. l Praesage by fishes 244. l Praesages by the setling of Bees 519. d Praesages by weaning of spiders 324. i Praesages by slight of Herons 334. g. hy lightenings sneesings stumbling with the foot 4. l Praestar the name of a blast and the nature thereof 25. a Praetextae garments when deuised 228. h Praeuarication what it is in Husbandry 379 c a word borrowed by lawyers ibid. Prason 401. d Praxitales his grauen image 175. d Price of Isocrates his oration 151. f Priests of Cybele their manner 352. h Principles about Husbandry 555. a. b Priests fishes two hundred cubits long 235. c Procella a storme 25. b Procyon what starre 597. b Prochyta Island 61. c in Prodigies who were first skilfull 189. d Prodromi what figs. 474. k Prodromi so called are the Northeast winds and why 23. d. Prognostications of weather and wind 610. l Prognostications by the eyebrowes 354. l Prognostication by the eyes ibid. Prognostication of weather and other future things by dumbo beasts 211. e Prohibitory what bird 277. c Promontory Nymphaeum 48. g Promontory Saturnes cape 53. d Promontory Taurus 268. l Propagation of trees two waies helped 516. g Propolis the third foundation of the worke of Bees 313. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what it is 585. d Protropum what it is 487. d Prusias K. of Bithynians his son was borne hauing a bone 〈◊〉 in stead of a gum in the vpper iaw 164. i Prose writing and speaking who inuented first 189. f P S Pseudonardus 364. k Psyllians named of king Psyllus 154. k Psyllians venomous by nature ibid. Psyllians how they make triall of their wiues chastitie ib. their bodies kill serpents ibid. P T Ptaeambati people which haue a dog to their king 147. c Ptisana how it is made 561. 〈◊〉 highly commended ibid. Phthongus Mercurie his tune 14 l P V Publius Catienus Philotimus burned himselfe for loue of his master 174. k Publius Rutilius died suddenly 134. i Puffe apples 438. l Pulmentaria 563. b Pulpa in trees what it is 486. k Pulse what it is 557. c. 558. i. how it is rooted 557. e Pulse of all sorts how it groweth 558. l Pulse called in Latine Legumina and why 576. m Pulse of the arteries bewraieth hidden diseases 345. d Pulse what kinde of leafe they haue 558. m. long in blowing and not at once 559. a Purple fishes 258. g Purple colour from whence it commeth ibid. h Puteal Libonis 443. d Puttockes See Kites Purple fishes of two sorts Purpura and Buccinum 258. l their difference ibid. Purples Pelagiae Taeniense a kinde 259. a P Y Pyannets what kinde of birds 285. d they remooue their nests 289. g Pygargi a kinde of goats 231. d Pygargos a kinde of Aegle 271. c Pygmaei Spythamei a people in India three handfuls high 156. i. their warre with cranes ibid. k Pyraeum an Athenian hauen by the retiring of the sea left drie land 39. 〈◊〉 Pyromantie whose deuise 189. d Pyrosachne a plant 398. k Pyrrhaeum the forrest burnt and reuiued 463. b King Pyrrhus his great toe and other parts medicinable 155. d. Pyrrhus bearing twice a yeare 474. m Pyrrhus K. of Epirus intended to ioyne by a bridge Greece vnto Italy 64. g Pyrrocorax what bird 296. h Pythagoras first found out the nature of Uenus planet and when 6. 〈◊〉 Pythagoras found out the distance betweene the earth and the Moone 14. 〈◊〉 Pythius of Massiles a writer 43. c Pyxacanthus Chironius 36. Q V QVadrant for an husbandman 609. c Quailes flie by troups 282. l Quailes how they helpe themselues by flying 283. a. 〈◊〉 they â—…eed vpon white Ellebore seed ibid. they be subiect to the falling sickenesse ibid. foure Quarters principall in Rome 551. a Quickenesse of spirit examples thereof 168. i Quicke creatures come
say Suffetia a Votary or Vestall Nun should haue her image made of brasse and this speciall prerogatiue besides that she might set it vp in what place she would her self which addition or branch of the decree implieth no lesse honor than the grant it selfe of a Statue to a woman What her desert might be in consideration whereof she was thus honoured I will set downe word for word as I finde it written in the Chronicles namely For that she had conferred frankely vpon the people of Rome a piece of medow ground lying vnder the Riuer Tybre which was her owne Free-land I finde moreouer vpon record That the Statues of Pythagoras and Alcibiades were set vp in the cornered nouke of the Comitium at Rome that by direction from the Oracle of Apollo Pythius vnto which the Senate sent of purpose to know the issue of the Samnites warre which was then in hand from whence they had this answere that if they looked to speed well in their affaires they should take order to erect two statues of brasse in the most frequented place of the city of Rome the one in the honour of the most valiant man and the other in the honour of the wisest person of all the Greekish Nation which Images remained there vntill such time as Sylla the Dictatour built his stately hall or pallace in the same place But I maruell very much that those sage fathers the Senatours of Rome at that time being preferred either for wisedome Pythagoras before Socrates considering that the said Socrates by the very same Oracle of Apollo was judged the wisest man not of Greeks onely but of all others in the world or in regard of valour Alcibiades before so many hardie Captaines in Greece but most of all I muse that in both respects as well of wisedome as vertue they set any one before Themistocles Now if a man be desirous to know the reason of these Columnes and Pillars which supported those Statues aforesaid it was to signifie That such persons were now aduanced and lifted vp aboue all other mortall men which also is meant by the triumphant Arches a new inuention and deuised but of late daies yet both it and all other such honourable testimonies began first with the Greekes But amongst many and sundry statues which they granted and allowed vnto such as they affected and liked of I suppose there was neuer man had more than Phalerius Demetrius at Athens for the Athenians honoured him with three hundred and threescore and yet soone after they brake them all to peeces euen before one ful yeare went ouer their heads that is to say a few daies more than there were Images Moreouer all the tribes or wards of Rome set vp a statue in euery street of the city as I haue said before in the honor of Marius Gratidianus and those they ouerthrew euery one against the comming in of Scylla As touching statues and Images on foot I doubt not but they haue beene for a long time greatly esteemed at Rome Howbeit those on horse-backe were very antient and that which more is this honour they did communicat also vnto women as well as men as may appeare yet at this day by the statue of Claelia sitting on horse-backe as if shee could not haue beene honored sufficiently by making her statue in the habit of a Damosell or Ladie of Rome in a side gowne And yet neither the Chaste dame Lucretia nor the valiant Brutus who chased the kings and all their race out of Rome and for whose sake and in whose quarrell the said Cloelia was deliuered as an Hostage among others neuer attayned vnto that honour And I doe verily beleeue that this Statue of hers and that of Horatius Cocles were the first that publique authoritie ordayned for before time King Tarquinius Priscus caused both his owne Statue and also Sibyllats to be made like as the other kings before him and after as may be presumed by all likelihood and probabilitie And yet Piso saith that the other damosels and young gentlewomen her fellow hostages after they were set free and sent home safe againe by king Porsena for the honour that he meant vnto Cloelia in consideration onely of her rare and singular vertue caused the said statue or image of hers to be cast in brasse and erected But Annius Faecialis another antiquarie or heralt at armes of Rome reporteth this storie otherwise for he writeth That the statue of a woman sitting on horsebacke which standeth ouer-against the temple of Iupiter Stator and hard at the gate or entry of king Tarquinius the Proud his Pallace was of ladie Valeria daughter vnto Valerius the Consull surnamed Publicola who saith moreouer that shee it was alone who escaped from her fellowes and swam ouer the riuer Tiberis whereas the rest of the virgins which had been sent as pledges vnto king Porsena were murdred all by the secret traines and indirect meanes of Tarquin the Proud L. Piso moreouer hath left in writing that in the yeare when M. Aemilius and C. Popilius the second time were Consuls the Censors for the time being P. Cornelius Scipio and M. Popilias caused all the images and statues of those who had been head magistrates that stood about the Forum of Rome to be taken downe permitting those onely to stand which had beene erected and set vp either by grant from the people or warrant and decree of the Senat. As for that statue which Sp. Cassius him I meane who ambitiously sought to be a king caused to be erected for his owne selfe before the church of the goddesse Tellus the Censors not only pulled it down but also took order that it should be melted And this no doubt did those wise and prouident fathers to cut off all means euen in such things as these that might feed the ambitious spirit of men There be yet extant certaine declamations of Cato who being Censor cried out against the vain-glorie and pride of certaine Romane Ladies who suffered their own images to be set vp in the prouinces abroad yet with all his exclamations he could not represse their ambition but that their statues must be erected euen in Rome also as for example Cornelia the daughter of the former Scipio Africanus and mother to the two Gracchi whose statue was made sitting and this singularitie it had besides from all others That her shooes were pourtraied open and loose without any strings or latchets at all This image of hers was set vp in the great gallery or publick walking-place of Metellus but now it is to be seen among the stately workes and buildings of Octavia Moreouer by allowance and permission of the state there haue been statues set vp in Rome in publicke place by strangers as namely for C. Aelius a Tribune or Prouost of the commons for that he published and enacted a law That Stennius Statillius a Lucan who twice had invaded and ouer-run in hostile manner the Territory of Thurium should be
notwithstanding now it be guilded all ouer semblably there standeth in the courtly pallace of Octauia the image of Cupid holding a thunderbolt or lightning in his hand ready to shoot but it is a question who was the maker of him And yet this is affirmed That the same Cupid was made by the liuely patterne of Alcibiades who at that age was held to be the fairest youth that the earth did beare In the same place and namely in the schoole or gallerie of learned men there be many more images highly commended and yet no man knoweth who wrought them As for example four that resemble Satyres of which one seemeth to carry on his shoulders prince Bacchus arraied like a girle in a side coat or gown another likewise beareth yong Bacchus in the same order clad in the robe of his mother Semelle the third maketh as though he would stil the one Bacchus crying like a childe the fourth offereth the other a cup of drink to allay his thirst furthermore there be two images in habit and form foeminine representing gales of wind these seem to make sail with their owne clothes As doubtfull also it is who made the images within the railed inclosure in Mars field named Septa which do represent Olympus Pan Chiron and Achilles and yet so excellent pieces they be that men esteeme them worthy to be kept safe satisfaction to be made with no lesse than their death vnder whose hands and custody they should miscarrie But to returne againe vnto Scopas he had concurrents in his time and those that thought themselues as good workmen as himselfe to wit Bryaxis Timotheus and Leochares of whom I must write jointly together because they joined all foure in the grauing and cutting of the stately monument Mausoleum This Mausoleum was the renowned tombe or sepulchre of Mausolus a petty king of Caria which the worthy lady Artemisia somtime his queene and now his widow caused to be erected for the said prince her husband who died in the second yeare of the hundredth Olympias and verily so sumptuous a thing it was so curiously wrought by these artificers especially that it is reckoned one of those matchlesse monuments which are called the seuen Wonders of the world from North to South it carrieth in length 63 foot the two fronts East and West make the bredth which is not all out so large so as the whole circuit about may containe foure hundred and eleuen foot it is raised in heigth fiue and twenty cubits and inuironed with sixe and thirty columnes on the East side Scopas did cut Bryaxes chose the North end that front which regardeth the South fell to Timotheus and Leochares engraued at the west side but Queene Artemisia who caused this rich sepulchre to be made for the honour and in the memoriall of her husband late deceased hapned her selfe to depart this life before it was fully finished howbeit these noble artificers whom she had set aworke would not giue ouer when she was dead and gone but followed on still and brought it to a finall end as making this account that it would be a glorious monument to all posterity both of themselues and also of their cunning and in truth at this day it is hard to judge by their handyworke who did best There was a fifth workman also came in to them for aboue the side wall or wing of the tombe there was a Pyramis founded which from the very battlements of the said wal was carried to the heigth of the building vnderneath it the same grew smaller still as the worke arose higher and from that heigth at euery degree which in the whole were 24 was narrowed and taken in vntill at last it ended in a pointed broch in the top whereof there is pitched a coach with foure horse swrought curiously in marble and this was the worke of Pythis for his part So that reckoning this charriot with the sharp spire the Pyramis vnder it vnto the battlements and the body of the sepulchre founded vpon the bare ground the whole worke arose to an 140 foot in heigth But to come to some particular works of Timotheus beforesaid his hand wrought that statue of Diana in marble which standeth at Rome in the chappell of Apollo scituate in mount Palatine and yet the head belonging thereto which now this image carrieth Aulanius Evander set vnto it in place of the former As touching Menestratus men haue in high admiration Hercules of his making as also Hecate which standeth in a chappell at Ephesus behinde the great temple of Diana the sextons or wardens of which chappell giue warning vnto those that come to see it that they looke not too long vpon it for dazling and hurting their eyes the lustre of the Marble is so radiant and resplendent I cannot range in a lower degree vnto these the three Charites or Graces which are to bee seen in the Basse court before the Citadell of Athens the which Socrates made I meane not that Socrates whom I reckoned among painters although some thinke he was the same man As for Myro whom I commended for a singular imageur in brasse there is in marble of his portraying and ingrauing an old woman drunken which he made for them of Smyrna a piece of worke as much esteemed and spoken of as any other And here I cannot but thinke of Pollio Asinius who as he was a man of a stirring spirit and quick conceit delighted to haue his librarie and monuments to be inriched with such antiquities as these for among them a man shall see the Centaurs carry behind them vpon their croup the Nymphs which Archesitas wrought the Muses named Thespiades of Cleomenes his cutting Oceanus and Iupiter done by the hand of Eutochus the statues on horse back resembling women called Hippiades which Stephanus wrought joint Images of Mercurie and Cupid called Hermerotes the workmanship of Tauriscus I meane not the grauer of whom I spake before but another Tauriscus of Tralleis Iupiter syrnamed Xenius or Hospitalis which came out of the hands of Pamphilus an apprentice to Praxiteles as for the braue piece of worke to wit Zetus Amphion Dirce the Bull and the bond wherewith Dirce was tied all in one entier stone which was brought from Rhodes to Rome it was done by Apollonius and Tauriscus these men made question of themselues who should be their fathers professing in plaine termes that Menocrates was taken and supposed their father but indeed Artemidorus begat them and was their father by nature in the same place among other monuments the statue of father Bacchus made by Eutychides is much commended Moreouer neare vnto the gallerie of Octauia there is the Image of Apollo wrought by Phyliscus the Rhodian and hee standeth in a chappell of his owne Item Latona Diana the nine Muâ—…es and another Apollo naked As for that Apollo who in the same temple holdeth in his hand a harp Timarchides was the workman of it but
Celsus Nigidius Trebius Niger Pomponius Mela Manlius Sura Forreine writers King Iuba Polybius Onesicritus Isidorus Antipater Aristotle Demetrius the naturall Philosopher Democritus Theophrastus Euanthes Agrippa who wrote of the Olympionicae Hiero King Attalus King Philometer Ctesias Duris Philistus Architus Philarchus Amphilocus the Athenian Anaxipolis the Thasian Apollodorus of Lemnos Aristophanes the Milesian Antigonus the Cymaean Agathocless of Chyos Apollonicus of Pergamus Aristander of Athens Bacchus the Milesian Bion of Soli Chaereas the Athenian Diodorus of Pyreaeum Dio the Colophonian Epigenes of Rhodes Evagon of Thassus Euphranius the Athenian Hegesias of Maronea Menander of Pyreaeum Menander also of Heraclea Menecrates the Poet Androcian who wrote of Agriculture or Husbandry Aeschrion who likewise wrote of that argument Dionysius who translated Mago Diophanes who collected an Epitome or Breuiarie out of Dionisius King Archelaus and Nicander ¶ IN THE NINTH BOOKE ARE CONTAIned the Stories and Natures of Fishes and water-creatures Chap. 1. The nature of water-creatures 2. The reason why the creatures of the sea are of all other biggest 3. The monstrous beasts of the Indian sea 4. The greatest fishes and beasts in euerie part of the Ocean 5. Of Tritones Nereides and sea Elephants their shapes and formes 6. Of great Whales called Balaenae and Oreae 7. Whether fishes doe take and deliuer their breath whether they sleepe or no 8. Of Dolphins and their wonderfull properties 9. Of the Tursiones 10. Of the sea Tortoises and how they bee taken 11. Who first deuised to sliue the Tortoise shels into leaues 12. The skins and shels of the sea creatures the diuision of them into their seuerall kinds 13. Of the Seale or sea-Calfe 14. Of fishes smooth and without haire how they spawn and breed and how many sorts there be of them 15. The names and natures of many fishes 16. The presages by fishes and their variety 17. Of the Mullet and other fishes That the same fishes are not in request in all places 18. Of the Barble the sea Rauen Coracinus of Stockfish and Salmon 19. Of the Exoecetus Calamaries Lampreies c. 20. The diuision of fishes by the shapes of their bodies 21. Of Eeles 22. The manner of taking them in the lake Benacus 23. The nature of the Lamprey 24. Of flat and broad fishes 25. Of the stay-ship Echeneis and his wonderfull nature 26. The changeable nature of fishes 27. Of the fish called the Lanterne and the sea Dragon 28. Of fishes wanting bloud 29. Of the Pourcuttle the Cuttle fish the Calamarie and the fish called the Sayler or Mariner 30. The fish Ozaena and Nauplius also of Lobsters 31. Of Crabs Sea Porkespines and of the greater sort named Echinometrae 32. Of Wilkes Cockles and shell sishes 33. Of Scallops Porcellanes of the shell fish Murex and other such 34. The riches and treasures of the sea 35. Of Pearles how they be engendred and where also how they be found 36. The nature of the Purple fish and the Burrets or Murices 37. How many kinds there be of purple fishes 38. How the purple fishes be taken 39. When purple was first worne in the city of Rome 40. The price of purple clothes at Rome 41. The dying of the Amethyst colour of the Skarlet in grain and the light Skarlet Hysginus 42. Of the fish called the Nacre and his guide or keeper Pinnoteres also the intelligence of fishes and water creatures 43. Of Scolopendres sea Foxes and the fishes Glani 44. Of the fish called the sea Ram. 45. Of those things which haue a third nature beeing neither liuing creatures ne yet plants to wit of sea Nettles and Spunges 46. Of Houndfishes or sea dogs 47. Of sea fishes that haue stony shels of those that haue no sence at all of other nastie and filthie creatures 48. Of sea fishes venomous 49. The diseases incident to fishes 50. The admirall generation of Fishes 51. Item Another discourse of their generation and what fishes they bee which doe lay egges 52. The matrices or wombes of fishes 53. What fishes liue longest 54. Of Oyster pits and who did first deuise them 55. Who first inuented stewes and ponds to feed Lampreies in 56. The stewes and ponds for other shell Fishes and who brought them vp first to be vsed 57. Of fishes that haunt the land 58. The rats of Nilus 59. Of the fish called Anthias and how hee is taken 60. Of the sea starres 61. Of the fishes Dactyli and their admirable properties 62. What fishes do entertain amitie one with another and which be euer at warre In summe this Booke containeth stories notable things and obseruations to the number of 650 collected Out of Latine Authors Turanius Graccula Trogus Mecaenas Alfius Flavus Cornelius Nepos Laberius the writer of merry Epigrams Fabianus Fenestella Mutianus Aelius Stilo Statius Sebosus Melissus Seneca Cicero Macer Aemylius Messana Corvinus Trebius Niger and Nigidius Out of Forreine Writers Aristotle king Archelaus Callimachus Democritus Theophrastus Thrasyllus Hegesidemus of Cythnos and Alexander Polyhistor ¶ IN THE TENTH BOOKE ARE CONTAIned the natures and stories of Foules and flying creatures Chap. 1. The nature of Foules 2. Of the Phoenix 3. Of Aegles 4. When the Romane legions vsed the Aegle standard and other ensignes Also with what creatures Aegles maintaine fight 5. A strange and wonderfull case as touching an Aegle 6. Of the Vultures or Geires 7. Of the foule Sangualis 8. Of Faulcons and Hawkes 9. Of the Cuckow which is killed by birds of her owne kind 10. Of Kites or Puttockes 11. A diuision of birds into generall kinds 12. Of vnluckie and ominous birds the Crow the Rauen and the Like-owle 13. Of the foule that carieth fire in her mouth 14. Of the bird Clivina 15. Of many birds vnknowne 16. Of foules that flie by night 17. Of Howlets 18. Of the Wood-pecker 19. Of birds which haue clawes and crooked tallons 20. Of Peacockes and who killed them first for to be serued at the table 21. Of Cockes how they be cut of a dunghill cocke that spake 22. Of Geese who first deuised to make a daintie dish of the Goose liuer the grauie or fat of Geese called Comagenum 23. Of Cranes Storkes Swans strange foules of outlandish countries of Quailes and the bird Glotis 24. Of Swallowes and Martins of Blackbirds Thrushes and Merles of Sterlings Turtle-doues and Quoists or Ring-doues 25. Of birds that tarie with vs all the yere long of birds that be for halfe a yeare onely and others that remaine but three moneths 26. Maruellous stories of birds 27. Of birds called Seleucides 28. Of the foule Ibis 29. What birds will not abide in all places which they be that change both hew and voice also of Nightingales 30. Of Merles or Ousels 31. The time wherein birds breed lay and sit 32. Of the birds Halciones the nauigable daies that they doe shew of the Sea-guls and Cormorants 33. The industry and subtilty of birds in building their neasts of the
bee in request at Rome 12. Obseruations of wine set downe by king Romulus 13. The ancient vsage of wine and the wines of old time 14. Of cellars for wine and the wine Opiminianum 15. Caesars liberalitie in wine and when first there were foure sorts of wine set downe 16. Of artificiall or set wines 17. Of Hydromell and Oxymell 18. Prodigious and strange kinds of wine 19. What wines might not be vsed in sacrifices and with what sorts new wines are sophisticated 20. Sundry sorts of Pitch and Rosin of the manner of sophisticating new wines of vinegre and winelees 21. Of wine cellars 22. Of auoiding drunkennesse In summe it containeth notable matters histories and obseruations 510 gathered out of Latine Authors Cornelius Valerius Virgil Celsus Cato Censorius Sarsennaes both father and sonne Scropha Varro Decimus Syllanus Fabius Pictor Trogus Hyginus Flaccus Verrius Graecinus Iulius Accius Columella Massurius Sabinus Fenestella Tergilla M. Actius Plautus Fabius Dorsennus Scaevola Aelius Atteius Capito Cotta Messalinus L. Piso Pompeius Lenaeus Fabianus Sextius Niger and Vibius Rufus Forreine Authours Hesiodus Theophrastus Aristotle Democritus king Attalus K. Philometer Architas Xenophon Amphilochus the Athenian Anaxipolis the Thasian Apollodorus the Lemnian Aristophanes the Milesian Antigonus the Cymaean Agathocles the Chian Apollonius of Pergamus Aristander of Athâ—… and likewise Batrys the Athenian Bacchius the Milesian Bion of Soli Chereas the Athenian aâ—… Cheristus likewise of Athens Diodorus of Priene Dio the Colophonian Epigenes the Rhodian Evagoras the Thasian Euphron of Athens Androcion Aescrion and Lysimachus who wrote al three of Agriculture Dionysius who translated Mago Diophanes who brought Dionysius into an Epitome Asclepiades the Physitian Onesicritus and king Iuba ¶ THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE TREATETH OF the nature of Trees fruitfull and planted in Hort-yards Chap. 1. The nature of fruitfull trees 2. Of the oyle of Olives 3. The nature of the Olive yong Olive trees 4. The nature of the oile Olive 5. The manner of husbanding Olive rowes 6. How to keepe Olives and make oile therof 7. Of artificiall oile 8. Of the dregs or Oliue cake being pressed 9. Of fruits of trees good to eat their seuerall kinds and natures 10. Of Pine nuts foure kinds 11. Of the Quince 12. Of Peaches foure sorts 13. Of Plums eleuen kindes 14. Sundry kindes of Apples and namely nine and twentie sorts 15. Of Peares and Wardens of sundrie strange deuises to graffe trees 16. Of preseruing and keeping Apples such like fruits 17. The manner how to keepe Quinces Pomgranats Peares Wardens Soruises and Grapes 18. Of Figs nine and twentie sorts 19. Of the wild Figtree of caprification or the manner how to bring Figgs to maturitie by the meanes of certaine flies 20. Of Medlars and three sorts of them 21. Foure kinds of Soruoises 22. Of the Walnut 23. Of Chestnuts eight kinds 24. Of Charobs called Siliquae of Apples of Mulberies of Graines Pippins and Kernils within the fruits also of berries 25. Of Cherries eight sorts 26. Of the Corneill fruit and Lentisk 27. Sundry sorts of juices and odours 28. Of the juices in fruits and trees of colors smells and the natures of diuerse fruits also the singularities and commendations of them 29. Of the Myrtle eleuen kinds thereof 30. Of the Lawrell or Bay-tree thirteene sorts of it In summe there be comprised in this booke of notable matters stories and obseruations 520 collected out of Latine Authours Fenestella Fabianus Virgill Cornelius Valerianus Celsus Cato Censorius Sarsennae both father and sonne Scropha Mar. Varro D. Syllanus Fabius Pictor Trogus Hyginus Flaccus Verrius Graecinus Atticus Iulius Sabinus Tergilla Cotta Messalinus Columella L. Piso Pompeius Lenaeus M. Accius Plautius Fabius Dorsenus Scaeuola Aelius Atteius Capito Sextus Niger and Vibius Rufus Forreine writers Hesiodus Aristotle Democritus king Hiero Architas king Philometor king Attalus Xenophon Amphilochus the Athenian Anaxipolis the Thasian Apollodorus of Lemnos Aristophanes the Milesian Antigonus the Cymaean Agathocles of Chios Apollodorus of Pergamus Aristander the Athenian Bacchus the Milesian Bion of Soli Chaereas of Athens and Charistus likewise the Athenian Diodorus of Priene Dion the Colophonian Epigenes the Rhodian Evagoras the Thasian Euphronius the Athenian Androcion and Aeschrion who writ both of Husbandry Dionysius that translated the books of Mago and Dionysius the Epitomist who brought them all into a Breuiarie Asclepiades and Erasistratus both Physitians Comiades who wrate as touching the confectures of wine Aristomachus Hicesius who both treated of the same matter Themison the Physition Onesicritus and king Iuba ¶ IN THE SIXTEENTH BOOKE ARE CONtained the natures of wild trees Chap. 1. Countries wherein no trees doe grow miraculous wonders of trees in the North countries 2. Of the great forrest Hircynia 3. Trees that beare mast 4. Of the Ciuick guirland and who in old time were adorned and honoured with chaplets of tree leaues 5. Of Mast thirteene kinds 6. Of Beech Mast and other sorts of Mast of Coale and the feeding of Hogs 7. Of Gals and how many things besides Mast and Acornes Mast trees do beare 8. Of Cachrys and of the Skarlet graine also of Agaricke and Corke 9. Of what trees the barke is in vsage 10. Of shindles to couer houses of the Pine-tree and the wild Pine of the Fir Pitch-tree of the Larch-tree of the Torch-tree Toeda aad the Eugh-tree 11. The manner of making sundrie sorts of Pitch and Taâ—… how the virgin pitch called Cedrium is made of the thicke stone pitch how it is made and the waies to boile rosin 12. Of the ship pitch called Zopissa of Sapium and those trees that yeeld timber good for building 13 Of the Ash tree foure kinds 14. Of the Teil or Linden tree two seuerall sorts thereof 15. Ten diuerse sorts of Maples 16. Of the knot in Maple called Bruscus and Molluscum of a kind of Fisticke tree called Staphylodendron of Box tree three sorts 17. Of the Elme foure kinds 18. The nature of trees according to their scituation and places where they grow 19. A generall diuision of trees 20. What trees neuer shed their leaues quite of the Oleander tree called Rhododendron 21. Againe what trees lose not their leaues but shew alwaies greene which be they that shed their leaues in part In what countries no trees at all doe lose their leaues 22. The nature of those trees which let fall their leaues and which haue leaues of sundry colours 23. Three sorts of Asps or Poplers of what trees the leaues do alter their for me and fashion 24. What leaues vse to turne euerie yeere the manner how to order the leaues of Date trees and to vse them Also strange and admirable things as touching leaues 25. The order and course that Nature holdeth in plants the blossomes of trees their manner of conception blouming budding and bearing fruit and in what order they put out floures 26. Of the Corneil tree the right season wherin euerie tree beareth fruit what trees bee fruitlesse and therefore
and Acacia 13. Of the common and wild thistle of Ery sisceptrum of the thorne or thystle Appendix of Pyxacanthum or the Barbarie tree of Paliurus of the Holly of the Eugh tree and other bushes with their vertues in Physicke 14. Of the sweet Brier or Eglantine of the Respâ—…ce bush of the white bramble Rhamnus of Lycium of Sarcocolla of the composition named Oporice and all their medicines 15. Of Germander of Perwinke or Lowrie of 〈◊〉 or Oliuell of Chamaesyce of ground yvie of Lauander Cotton of Ampeloprasos or Vine Porret of Stachys or wild Sauge of Clinopodium or Horse-time of Cudweed of Perwinke of Aegypt and their properties 16. Of Wake-Robin of Dragonwort or Serpentine of the garden the greater Dragon-wort of Arisaron of yarrow and Millefoile of bastard Nauew of Myrrhis and Onobrychis with their vertues 17. Of Coriacesia Callicia and Menais with three and twentie other hearbes and their properties which are held by some to serue in Magick Of Considia and Aproxis with others that reduce and reuiue loue againe 18. Of Eriphia Lanaria and water Yarrow with their vertues 19. Of the herbes that growe vpon the head of statues and Images of the hearbes that come out of riuers of the herbe called Lingua simply i. the tongue of herbes growing within sieues and vpon dnnghils of Rhodora of the herbe Impia i. the child before the parents of the herbe Pecten veneris of Nodia of Cleiuers or Goose Erith of Burs of Tordile of Dent de chien or Quiches of Dactylus and Fenigreek with their vertues In summe herein are comprised medicines stories and obseruations a thousand foure hundred and eighteene collected out of Latine Authors C. Volgius Pompeius Lenaeus Sextius Niger and Iulius Bassus who wrate both in Greeke Antonius Castor M. Varro Cornelius Celsus and Fabius Forreine Writers Theophrastus Apollodorus Democritus Orpheus Pythagoras Mago Menander the author of the booke Biochresta Nicander Homer Hesiodus Museus Sophocles and Anaxilaus Physitians Mnestheus Callimachus Phanias the naturall Philosopher Simo Timaristus Hippocrates Chrysippus Diocles Ophion Heraclides Hicesius Dionysius Apollodorus of Cittia Apollodorus the Tarentine Praxagoras Plistonicus Medius Dieuchus Cleophantus Philistio Asclepiades Cratevas Petronius Diodotus Iolla Erasistratus Diagoras Andreas Mnesicles Epicharmus Damion Sosimenes Theopolemus Solon Lycus Metrodorus Olympias the Midwife of Thebes Phyllinus Petreius Miction Glaucia and Xenocrates ¶ IN THE XXV BOOKE ARE CONTAINED the natures of hearbes and weeds that come vp of themselues The reputation that hearbes haue been of When they began first to be vsed Chap. 1. The properties and natures of wild herbes growing of their owne accord 2. What Authours haue written in Latine of the nature and vse of hearbes When the knowledge of simples began first to be practised at Rome What Greeke Authours first wrote of herbes the inuention and finding out of sundry hearbes the Physicke of old time What is the cause that Simples are not so much in request and vse for Physicke as in old time The medicinable vertues of the Eglantine and Serpentary or Dragon 3. Of a certaine venomous fountaine in Almaine the vertues and properties of the herbe Britannica what diseases cause the greatest paines 4. Of Moly of Dodecatheos of Paeonium named otherwise Pentorobus and Glycyside of Panace or Asclepios of Heraclium of Panace Chironeum of Panace Centaureum or Pharnaceum of Heraclium Siderium of Henbane 5. Of the herbe Mercurie female of Parthenium of Hermu-Poea or rather Mercurie of Yarow of Panace Heracleum of Sideritis of Millefoile of Scopa regio of Hemionium Teucrium Splenium Melampodium or blacke Ellebore and how many kinds there be of them The medicinable vertues of blacke and white Ellebore when Ellebore is to be giuen how it is to be taken to whom it is not to be giuen also that it killeth Mice and Rats 6. Of Mithridatium of Scordotis or Scordium of Polemonia otherwise called Philetaeria or Chiliodynama of Eupatorie or Agrimonie of great Centaurie otherwise called Chironium of the lesse Centaurie or Libadium called Fel Terrae i. the gall of the Earth Of Triorches and their vertues 7. Of Clymenus Gentian Lysimachia and Parthenius or Motherwort Mugwort Ambrose Nenuphar Heraclium and Euphorbia with all their vertues medicinable 8. Of Plantaine Buglosse Hounds tongue Oxe-eye or May weed of Scythica Hippice and Ischaemon of Betonie Cantabrica Settarwort of Dittander or Hiberis of Celendine the greater Celendine the lesse or Pilewort of Canaria of Elaphoboscos of Dictamnum of Aristolochia or Hartwort how fishes will come to it for loue of bait and so are soone caught The counterpoysons against stinging of serpents by these herbes abouenamed 9. Of Argemonia of Agaricke Echium Henbane Vervaine Blattaria Lemonia Cinquefoile Carot Persalata the Clot Burre Swines bread or Cyclaminus Harstrang all very good for the sting of serpents 10. Of Danewort or Walwort of Mullin of Thelyphonon Remedies against the sting of Scorpions the biting of Toades and mad Dogs and generally against all poysons 11. Receits and remedies against head-ach and diseases of the head 12. Of Centaurie Celendine Panace and Henbane and Euphorbium all soueraigne medicines for the eies 13. Of Pimpernell or Corchorus of Mandragoras or Circeium of Henbane of Crethmoagrion of Molybdaena of Fumiterre of Galengale of Floure de lis of Cotyledon or Vmbilicus Veneris of Housleeke or Sengreene of Pourcellane of Groundswell of Ephemerum of great Tazill of Crow-foot which affourd medicines against the infirmities and diseases of the eyes eares nosthrils teeth and mouth In summe this Booke doth yeeld of medicines stories and obseruations a thousand two hundred ninetie and two Latine Authours cited M. Varro C. Volgius Pompeius Lenaeus Sextius Niger and Iulius Bassus who both wrote in Greeke Antonius Castor and Cornelius Celsus Forreine Writers Theophrastus Apollodorus Democritus king Iuba Orpheus Pythagoras Mago Menander who wrote Biochresta Nicander Homer Hesiodus Musaeus Sophocles Xanthus and Anaxilaus Physitians Mnestheus Callimachus Phanias the naturall Philosopher Timaristus Simus Hippocrates Chrysippus Diocles Ophion Heraclides Hicesius Dionysius Apollodorus the Tarentine Praxagoras Plistonicus Medius Dieuches Cleophantus Philistio Asclepiades Cratevas Iolla Erasistratus Diagoras Andreas Mnesicles Epicharmus Damion Theopolemus Metrodorus Solon Lycus Olympias the midwife of Thebes Phyllinus Petreius Miction Glaucias and Xenocrates ¶ IN THE XXVI BOOKE ARE CONTAIned the medicines for the parts of mans bodie Chap. 1. Of new maladies and namely of Lichenes what they be and when they began to raign in Italie first Of the Carbuncle of the white Morphew or Leprosie called Elephantiasis and of the Collicke 2. The praise of Hippocrates 3. Of the new practise in Physicke of the Physician Asclepiades and by what meanes hee abolished the old manner of practise and set vp a new 4. The superstitious follie of Magicke is derided Also a discourse touching the foule tettar called Lichenes the remedie thereof and also the infirmities of the throat and chawes 5. Receits and remedies against the kings euil also for
a planet and bones broken 17. Against Melancholic and those whose braines bee troubled with fansies the lethargie dropsie wild fire or tetter and the paines or ach of the sinewes apt remedies 18. To staunch bloud to cure vlcers or old sores cankers and scabs 19. Medicines appropriat to womens diseases 20. Strange and wondrous things obserued in sundry beasts In summe here be reported medicines stories and obseruations to the number of a hundred eightie and fiue Latine Authours alledged M. Varro L. Piso Fabianus Verres Antias Verrius Flaccus Cato Censorius Servius Sulpitius Licinius Macer Celsus Massurius Sextius Niger who wrate in Greeke Bythus the Dyrrhachian Ophilius the Physitian and Granius the Physitian Forreine Writers Democritus Apollodorus who wrate a book entituled Myrsis Miletus Artemon Sextilius Antaeus Homer Thcophrastus Lysimachus Attalus Xenocrates who wrote a booke called Diophros and Archelaus likewise that wrote such another Demetrius Sotira Elephantis Salpe and Olympias of Thebes fiue women and midwines Diotimus Iolla Miction of Smyrna Aeschines the Physician Hippocrates Aristotle Metrodorus Icacidas the Physitian Hesiodus Dialcon Caecilius Bion the authour of the booke Peri Dynamaean Anaxilaus and king Iuba ¶ IN THE XXIX BOOKE ARE CONTAINED medicines from other liuing creatures Chap. 1. The first beginning and originall of the Art of Physicke when Physicians began first to visit Patients lying sicke in their beds the first Physitians that practised the cure of sick persons by frictions ointments baths hot-houses c. Of Chrysippus and Erasi stratus their course and manner of practise of Empiricke Physicke of Herophilus and other famous Physitians how often the Art and state of Physicke hath altered the first professed Physician at Rome when it was that hee practised what opinion the ancient Romans had of Physicians finally the imperfection and faults in that Art 2. The medicinable vertues and properties obserued in wooll 3. The nature of eggs and the vertues thereof good in Physicke 4. Remedies in Physicke receiued from doggs and other creatures that are not tame but wild also from foules and namely against the stings of the venomous spiders Phalangia 5. Of the Ostrich greace and the vertues therof of a mad dog also remedies had from him a lizard geese doues and weasils 6. Medicines against the falling of the haire and to make it grow againe to kill nits to recouer the haire of the eye-lids to cure the dimnesse and rednesse and generally all diseases and accidents of the eyes as also the swellings and inflammations in the kernils vnder the eares In sum there be medicines and other things worth obseruation in this booke to the number of fiue hundred twentie and one Latine Authors alledged M. Varro L. Piso Verrius Flaccus Antias Nigidius Cassius Hemina Cicero Plautus Celsus Sextius Niger who wrote in Greeke Caecilius the Physician Metellus Scipio Ovid the Poet and Licinius Macer Forteine Authours Philopater Homerus Aristotle Orpheus Democritus Anaxilaus Physitians Botrys Apollodorus Archidemus Anaxilaus Ariston Xenocrates Diodorus Chrysippus the Philosopher Horus Nicander Apollonius of Pytane ¶ IN THE XXX BOOKE ARE CONTAINED medicines for liuing creatures such as were not obserued in the former Booke Chap. 1. The beginning of the black Science Art magicke when it began who practised it first and who were they that brought it into request and reputation Also the rest of the medicines taken from beasts 2. Sundrie kinds of Magicke the execrable and cursed parts plaid by Nero and of Magicians 3. Of Wants or Mouldwarps of liuing creatures as well tame as sauage which affourd remedies and those are digested in order according to the diseases 4. How to make the breath sweet against mols and spots disfiguring the face remedies for to cure the diseases of the throat and chaws 5. Against the Kings euill and namely when the swelling is broken and doth run to ease the pain of the shoulders the heart and the parts about it 6. For the diseases of the lungs and liver also to cure the casting and reiection of bloud vpward 7. Remedies for the bloudie flix and generally for all diseases of the bellie and the guts 8. For the gravell and stone for paines of the bladder for swelling of the stones and the groine of apostems or swellings in the kirnels and emunctories 9. Against the gout of the feet and paines of other ioynts 10. Remedies against many diseases that hold the whole bodie 11. Against the jaundise the phrensie fevers and dropsie 12. Against the wild fire carbuncles fellons or vncoms burnes scaldings and shrinking of the sinews 13. To staunch bloud to allay swellings in wounds also to cure vlcers greene wounds and other maladies diverse remedies all taken from liuing creatures 14. To cure womens secret maladies and to helpe conception 15. Many receits and remedies huddled together one with another 16. Certaine miraculous things obserued in beasts In summe this booke sheweth vnto vs medicines and memorable obseruations 54. Latine Authors cited M. Varro Nigidius M. Cicero Sextius Niger who wrate in Greeke and Licinius Macer Forreine Writers Eudoxus Aristotle Hermippus Homer Apion Orphens Democritus and Anaxilaus Physicians Botrys Horus Apollidorus Menander Archimedes Ariston Xenocrates Diodorus Chrysippus Nicander Apollonius Pitanaeus ¶ THE XXXI BOOKE SHEWETH MEDICINES gathered from fishes and water creatures also it deliuereth vnto vs strange and wonderfull things as touching the Waters Chap. 1. Admirable matter obserued in the waters 2. The difference of waters 3. The nature and qualitie of waters how to know good and wholesome waters from them that be naught 4. The reason of some waters that spring on a suddain so likewise cease and giue ouer 5. Many historicall obseruations of waters 6. The manner of water conduits and how to draw them from their heads when and how waters are to bee vsed which naturally are medicinable how farre forth navigation or sailing vpon the salt water is good for the health medicines made of sea water 7. Divers kinds of salt the preparing and making thereof together with the vertues medicinable of salt and other considerations thereto belonging 8. Of the fish Scamber or the Mackrell of fish pickle of Alex a kind of brine or fish sauce 9. The nature of Salt and the medicines made of it 10. Sundrie sorts of Nitre the handling and preparation thereof the medicines and obseruation to it pertaining 11. The nature of Spunges This booke comprehendeth medicines and notable obseruations 266. Latine Authours alledged M Varro Cassius of Parma Cicero Mutius Cor. Celsus Trogus Ovid Polybius and Sornatius Forreine Writers Callimachus Ctesias Eudicus Theophrastus Eudoxus Theopompus Polyclitus Iuba Lycus Apion Epigenes Pelops Apelles Democritus Thrasillus Nicander Memander the Comicall Poet Attalus Sallustius Dionysius Andreas Nicreatus Hippocrates Anaxilaus ¶ IN THE XXXII BOOKE ARE CONTAINED other medicines behind from fishes and water creatures Chap. 1. Of the fish Echeneis his wonderfull propertie of the Torpedo and the Sea-hare maruellous things reported of the red sea 2. The naturall industrie
vpon the tumour that beareth aloft aboue the edges theymust needs glide off and run by The same is the reason why the land cannot be seen by them that stand vpon the hatches of the ship but very plainly at the same time from the top of the masts Also as a ship goeth a far off from the land if any thing that shineth and giueth light be fastened to the top-gallant it seemeth from the land side to goe downe and sinke into the sea by little and little vntill at last it be hidden clean Last of all the very Ocean which we confesse to be the vtmost and farthest bound enuironing the whole globe by what other figure else could it hold together and not fall downe since there is no other banke beyond it to keepe it in And euen this also is as great a wonder how it commeth to passe although the sea grow to be round that the vtmost edge thereof falleth not downe Against which if the seas were euen flat and plaine and of that forme as they seem to be the Greeke Philosophers to their own great ioy and glory do conclude and proue by Geometricall subtill demonstration that it cannot possibly be that the waters should fall For seeing that waters run naturally from aloft to the lower parts and that all men confesse that this is their nature and no man doubteth that the water of the sea came euer in any shore so far as the deuexitie would haue suffered doubtlesse it appeares that the lower a thing is the neerer it is to the centre and that all the lines which from thence are sent out to the next waters are shorter than those which from the first waters reach to the vtmost extremitie of the sea Hereupon the whole water from euery part thereof bends to the centre and therfore falls not away because it inclines naturally to the inner parts And this we must beleeue that Nature the work-mistresse framed and ordained so to the end that the earth being dry could not by it selfe alone without some moisture keepe any consistence and the water likewise could not abide and stay vnlesse the earth vpheld it in which regard they were mutually to embrace one another and so be vnited whiles the one opened all the creeks and nouks and the other ran wholly into the other by means of secret veins within without and aboue like ligaments to claspe it yea and so break out at the vtmost tops of hils whether being partly caried by a spirit and partly expressed forth by the ponderositie of the earth it mounteth as it were in pipes and so far is it from danger of falling away that it leapeth vp to the highest and loftiest things that be By which reason it is euident also why the seas swell not and grow notwithstanding so many riuers daily run into them CHAP. LXXVj ¶ How the matter is vnited and knit to the earth THe earth therefore in his whole globe is in the midst thereof hemmed in by the sea running round about it And this need not to be sought out by reason and argument for it is knowne already by good proofe and experience CHAP. LXXVij ¶ Nauigation vpon the sea and great Riuers FRom Gades and Hercules pillars the West sea is at this day nauigable and sailed all ouer euen the whole compasse of Spaine and France But the North Ocean was for the most part disconered vnder the conduct of Augustus Caesar of famous memorie who with a fleet compassed all Germanie and brought it about as far as to the cape of the Cimbrians and so from thence hauing kenned and viewed the vast and wide sea or else taken notice thereof by report he passed to the Scythian Clymat and those cold coasts frozen and abounding with too much moisture For which cause there is no likelihood that in those parts the seas are at an end whereas there is such excessiue wet that all stands with water And neere vnto it from the East out of the Indian sea that whole part vnder the same clyme of the world which bendeth vnder the Caspian sea was sailed throughout by the Macedonian armies when Seleuchus and Antiochus reigned who would needs haue it so that Seleuchus and Antiochus should beare their names About the Caspian sea also many coasts and shores of the Ocean haue bin discouered and by piece-meale rather than all whole at once the North of one side or other hath been sailed or rowed ouer But yet to put all out of coniecture there is a great argument collected out of the Mere Maeotis whether it be a gulfe and arme of that Ocean as I know many haue beleeued or an ouerflowing of the same and diuided from it by a narrow piece of the continent In another side of Gades from the same West a great part of the South or Meridian gulfe round about Mauritania is at this day sailed And the greater part verily of it like as of the East also the victories of Alexander the Great viewed and compassed on euery side euen as farre as vnto the Arabian Gulfe Wherein when Caius Caesar the sonne of Augustus warred in those parts the marks and tokens by report were seen remaining after the Spaniards shipwracke Hanno likewise in the time that Carthage flourished in puissance sailed round about from Gades to the vtmost bounds and lands end of Arabia and set downe that his voyage in writing Like as also Himilco was at the same time sent out in a voyage to discouer the vtter coasts of Europe Moreouer Cornelius Nepos writeth that in his time one Eudoxius a great sailer at what time he fled from King Lathyrus departed out of the Arabian gulfe and held on his course as far as Gades Yea and Coelius Antipater long before him reporteth that he saw the man who had sailed out of Spain to Aethiopia for traffique of merchandise The same Nepos maketh report as touching the compassing about of the North That vnto Qu. Metellus Celer Colleague to C. Afranius in the Consulship but at that time Proconsull in Gaule certain Indians were giuen by a King of the Sueuians who as they failed out of India for traffick as merchants were driuen by tempests and cast vpon Germanie Thus the seas flowing on all sides about this globe of the earth diuided and cut into parcels bereaue vs of a part of the world so as neither from thence hither nor from hence thither there is a thorow-faire and passage The contemplation whereof seruing fit to discouer and open the vanitie of men seemes to require and challenge of me that I should proiect to the view of the eye how great all this is whatsoeuer it be and wherein there is nothing sufficient to satisfie and content the seuerall appetite of each man CHAP. LXViij ¶ What portion of the earth is habitable NOw first and formost me thinks men make this reckoning of the earth as if it were the iust halfe of the globe and that no portion of it
vineyards and famous for drunkennesse proceeding of strong wine and the liquor of the grape commended so highly in all countries and as they were wont to say in old time there was the exceeding strife between father Liber and dame Ceres From hence the Setine and Cecubine countries spread forth and to them ioine the Falerne and Caline Then arise the mountaines Massici Gaurani and Surrentine There the Laborium Champaine fields lie along vnder their feet and the good wheat haruest to make fine frumentie for dainties at the table The sea-coasts here are watered with hot fountaines and among other commodities throughout all the sea they beare the name for the rich purple shell fish and other excellent fishes In no place is there better or more kind oyle pressed out of the Oliue And in this delightsome pleasure of mankind the Oscians Grecians Vmbrians Tuscanes and Campanes haue striued who could yeeld best In the skirt and edge thereof is the riuer Sauo Vulturnum the town and riuer both Liturnum and Cumo inhabited by Chalcidians Misenum the hauen Bajae Baule the pooles Lucrinus and Auernus neer vnto which was somtime the town Cimmerium Then Puteoli called also the Colonie Dicaearchia After that the plaines Phlegraei and the meere or fenne Acherusia neere to Cumes And vpon the very strond by the sea side Naples a citie also of the Chalcidians the same that Parthenope so called of the tombe of a Sirene or Meeremaid Herculanium Pompeij and where not farre off the mountaine Vesuvius ouerlooketh and the riuer Sernus runneth vnder the territory of Nuceria and within nine miles of the sea Nuceria it selfe Surrentum with the promontory of Minerua the seat sometime of the Meermaids From the cape Circeij lies the sea open for saile 78 miles This is counted the first region of Italy next Tibris according to the description of Augustus Within it are these Colonies Capua so called of the Champane country Aquinum Suessa Venafrum Sora Teanum named withall Sidicinum and Nola the Townes be Abellinum Aricia Alba Longa Acerrani Allifani Atinates Aletrinates Anagnini Atellani Asulani Arpinates Auximates Auellani Alfaterni and they who of the Latine Hernick and Albicane territories are surnamed accordingly Bouillae Calatiae Casinum Calenum Capitulum Cernetum Cernetani who be called also Mariani Corani descended from Dardanus the Trojane Cubulterini Castrimonienses Cingulani Fabienses and in the mount Albane Foro populienses Out of the Falarne territory Frusinates Ferentinates Freginates Faraterni the old Fabraterni the new Ficolenses Fricolenses Foro-Appi Forentani Gabini Interramnates Succasani called also Lirinates Ilionenses Lauinij Norbani Nementani Prenestini whose citie was in times past named Stephanus Priuernates Setini Signini Suessulani Telini Trebutini surnamed Balinienses Tribani Tusculani Verulani Veliterni Vlubrenses Vluernates and aboue also Rome her self the other name whereof to vtter is counted in the secret misteries of ceremonies an impious and vnlawfull thing which after that it was abolished and so faithfully obserued to right good purpose and for the safetie thereof Valerius Soranus blurted out and soone after abid the smart for it I think it not amisse nor impertinent to insert there in this very place an example of the ancient religion instituted especially for this Silence for the goddesse Angerona whose holiday is solemnly kept with sacrifices the â—…2 day before the Kalends of Ianuary is represented by an Image hauing her mouth fast sealed and tied vp This citie of Rome had 3 gates when Romulus left it or rather foure if we beleeue the most men that write thereof The wals thereof when the two Vespacians Emperors and Censors both to wit the Father and Titus his son took the measure which was in the yere after the foundation of it 828 were in circuit 13 miles and almost a quarter It containeth within it seuen Mountaines and is diuided in 14 regions and 265 crosse streets or carfours called Compita Larium The measure of the same equall space of ground running from the gilden piller Milliarium erected at the head or top of the Rom. Forum to euery gate which are at this day 37 in number so ye reckon once the 12 gates alwaies open and ouerpasse 7 of the old which are no more extant maketh 30 miles 3 quarters and better by a straight line but if the measure be taken from the same Milliarium before-said through the suburbs to the vtmost ends of the houses and take withall the Castra Praetoria and the pourprise of all the streets it comes to somewhat aboue 70 miles whereunto if a man put the height of the houses hee may conceiue verily by it a worthy estimate of the excellency thereof and confesse that the statelinesse of no citie in the world could be comparable to it Enclosed it is and fenced on the East-side with the bank or rampier of Tarquinius the Proud a wonderfull piece of worke as any other and as excellent as the best for he raised it full as high as the wals in that side where the aduenue to it was most open and plaine In other parts defended it was and fortified with exceeding high wals or else steepe and craggy hils but only whereas there are buildings lye out abroad and make as it were many petty cities In that first region of Italy there were besides first for Latium these faire townes of marke Satricum Pometia Scaptia Pitulum Politorium Tellene Tifata Caemina Ficana Crustumerium Ameriola Medullia Corniculum Saturnia where now Rome standeth Antipolis which now is Ianiculum in one part of Rome Antemnae Camerium Collatiae Amiternum Norbe Sulmo and with these the States that were wont to receiue a dole of flesh in mount Albane to wit Albenses Albani Aesolani Acienses Abolani Bubetani Bolani Casuetani Coriolani Fidenates Foretij Hortenses Latinenses Longulani Manates Marales Mutucumenses Munienses Numinienses Olliculani Octulani Pedani Pollustini Querquetulani Sicani Sisolenses Tolerienses Tu tienses Vimitellarij Velienses Venetulani Vicellenses Thus yee see how of the old Latium there be 53 States perished and cleane gone without any token left behinde Moreouer in the Campaine countrey the towne Stabiae continued vnto the time that Cn. Pompeius and L. Carbo were Consuls euen vntill the last day of Aprill vpon which day L. Silla a lieutenant in the-Allies war destroyed it vtterly which now at this day is turned into graunges and ferme-houses There is decaied also there and come to finall ruine Taurania There be also some little relikes left of Casilinum lying at the point of the last gaspe Moreouer Antias writes that Apiolaea towne of the Latines was woon by L. Tarquinius the King with the Pillage whereof he began to found the Capitoll From Surrentum to the riuer Silarus the Picentine countrey lay for the space of 30 miles reowmed for the Tuscanes goodly temple built by Iason in the honor of Iuno Argiva Within it stood the townes Salernum and Picentia At Silarus the third region of Italy
Dionysius sent thither of purpose from Philadelphus haue made relation of the forces which those nations are able to raise and maintain And yet further diligence is to be imploied stil in this behalfe considering they wrote of things there so diuers one from another and incredible withall They that accompanied Alexander the great in his Indian voiage haue testified in their writings that in one quarter of India which he conquered there were of towns 500 in number and not one lesse than the city Cos of seuerall nations nine Also that India was a third part of the whole earth the same so wel inhabited that the people in it were innumerable And this they said beleeue mee not without good apparance of reason for the Indians were in manner the onely men of all others that neuer went out of their own country Moreouer it is said That from the time of Bacchus vnto Alexander the Great there reigned ouer them sucessiuely 154 kings for the space of 5402 yeres between and 3 moneths ouer As for the riuers in that country they be of a wonderfull bignes And reported it is that Alexander sailed euery day at the least 600 stadia vpon the riuer Indus and yet in lesse than fiue moneths and some few daies ouer he could not come vnto the end of that riuer and lesse it is than Ganges by the confession of all men Furthermore Seneca a Latine writer assaied to write certain commentaries of India wherein he hath made report of 60 Riuers therein and of nations 120 lacking twaine As great a labour it were to reckon vp number the mountains that be in it As for the hils Imaus Emodisus Paropamisus as parts all and members of Caucasus but one vpon another and conioine together And being past them yee go downe into a mighty large plain country like to Aegypt It remaineth now to shew the continent and firm land of this great country and for the more euident demonstration let vs follow the steps of Alexander the great and his Historiographers Diogneus and Beton who set down all the geasts and iournies of that prince haue left in writing That from the Caspian ports vnto the city Hecatompylos which is in Parthia there are as many miles as we haue set down already From thence to Alexandria in the Ariane country which city the same king founded 562 miles from whence to Prophthasia in the Dranganes land 199 miles so forward to the capitoll towne of the Arachosians 515 miles From thence to Orthospanum 250 miles last of all from it to the city of Alexandria in Opianum 50 miles In some copies these numbers are found to vary and differ But to return to this foresaid city scituat it is at the very foot of Caucasus From which to the riuer Chepta and Pencolaitis a town of the Indians are counted 227 miles From thence to the riuer Indus the towne Tapila 60 miles and so onward to the noble and famous riuer Hidaspes 120 miles from which to Hypasis a riuer of no lesse account than the other 4900 or 3900. And there an end of Alexanders voiage howbeit he passed ouer the riuer and on the other side of the bank he erected certaine altars and pillers and there dedicated them The letters also of the king himselfe sent back into Greece do cary the like certificate of his iournies and agree iust herewith The other parts of the country were discouered surueied by Seleucus Nicator namely from thence to Hesudrus 168 miles to the riuer Ioames as much some copies adde 5 miles more therto from thence to Ganges 112 miles to Rhodapha 119 some say that between them two it is no lesse than 325 miles From it to Calinipaxa a great town 167 miles an half others say 265. And so the confluent of the riuers Iomanes Ganges where both meet together 225 miles many put therto 13 miles more from thence to the town Palibotta 425 miles so to the mouth of Ganges where he falleth into the sea 638 miles As for the nations which it pains me not to name from the mountains Emodi the principal cape of them Imaus which signifies in that country language ful of snow they be these the Isari Cosyri Izgi and vpon the very mountains the Ghisiotosagi also the Brachmanae a name common to many nations among whom are the Maccocalingae Of riuers besides there are Pinnas Cainas the later of which twain runneth into Ganges both are nauigable The people called Calingae coast hard vpon the sea But the Mandei Malli among whom is the mountain Mallus are aboue them higher in the country And to conclude then you come to Ganges the farthest bound and point of all that tract India CHAP. XVIII ¶ The riuer Ganges MAny haue bin of opinion so haue written that the spring of Ganges is vncertain like as that also of Nilus and that he swelleth ouerfloweth and watereth all the countries whereby he passeth in the same sort that Nilus doth Others again haue said that it issueth out of the mountains of Scythia how into it there run 19 other great riuers of which ouer and aboue those beforenamed certain are nauigable namely Canucha Vama Erranoboa Cosaogus and Sonus There be also that report that Ganges presently ariseth to a great bignesse of his owne sources and springs and so breaketh forth with great noise and violence as running downe with a fal ouer craggy and stony rocks and when he is once come into the flat plains and euen country that he taketh vp his lodging in a certain lake and then out of it carrieth a mild and gentle stream 8 miles broad where it is narrowest and 100 stadia ouer for the most part but 160 where he is largest but in no place vnder 20 paces deep i. a 100 foot CHAP. XIX ¶ The nation of India beyond the riuer Nilus WHen ye are ouer Ganges the first region vpon the coast that you set foot into is that of the Gandaridae and the Calingae called Parthalis The king of this countrey hath in ordinance for his wars 80000 foot 1000 horse and 700 Elephants ready vpon an houres warning to march As for the other nations of the Indians that liue in the champion plaine countries there be diuers states of them of more ciuility than the mountainers Some apply themselues to tillage and husbandry others set their minds vpon martiall feats one sort of them practise merchants trade transporting their owne commodities into other countries and bringing in forrein merchandise into their own As for the nobility and gentry those also that are the richest and mightiest among them they manage the affaires of State and Commonweale and sit in place of justice or els follow the court and sit in counsell with the king A fit estate there is besides in great request namely of Philosophers Religions giuen wholly to the study of wisdom learning and these make
profession of voluntary death and verily when they are disposed to die at any time they make a great funerall fire cast themselues into it and so end their daies Besides all these one thing there is among them halfe brutish and of exceeding toile and trauell and yet it is that which partly maintaineth all the other estates abouesaid namely the practise of hunting chasing and taming Elephants And in very truth with them they plow their ground vpon them they ride vp down with these beasts are they best acquainted they serue in the wars for maintenance of their liberty and defence of their frontiers against all inuasion of enemies In the choise of them for war-seruice they regard and consider their strength their age and bignesse of body But to leaue them An Island there is within the riuer Ganges between two arms thereof of great largenesse and capacity which receiueth one nation by it selfe apart from others named it is Modogalica Beyond it are seated the Modubians and Molindians where standeth the stately city Molinda scituat in a plentiful and rich soile-Moreouer the Galmodroesians Pretians Calissae Sasuri Fassalae Colubae Orxulae Abali and Taluctae The king of these countries hath in ordinary for his wars 50000 foot 3000 horse and 400 Elephants Then you enter into a country of a more puissant valiant nation to wit the Andarians planted with many villages well peopled and moreouer with 30 great townes fortified with strong walls towers and bastiles These find and maintain prest ready to serue the king in his wars an Infantery of 100000 foot a Cauallery of 2000 horse and 100 Elephants besides wel appointed Of all the regions of India the Dardanian country is most rich in gold mines and the Selian in siluer But aboue all the nations of India thorowout and not of this tract and quarter only the Prasij far exceed in puissance wealth and reputation where the most famous rich and magnificent city Palibotria stands whereof some haue named the people about it yea and all the nation generally beyond Ganges Palibotrians their king keeps continually in pay 600000 foot men and 30000 horsemen and 9000 Elephants euery day in the yere whereby you may soon guesse the mighty power wealth of this prince Beyond Palibotria more within the firme land inhabit the Monedes and Suari where standeth the mountain Maleus and there for six moneths space the shadowes in winter time fal Northward and in summer season go into the South The pole Arcticke starres in all that tract are seen but once in the yere and that no longer than for 15 daies as Beton reporteth But Megasthenes writeth that this is vsuall in other parts of India The Antarctique or South pole the Indians call Dromosa As for the riuer Iomanes which runs into Ganges it trauerseth through the Palibotrians country and passeth between the townes Methora and Cyrisoborca Beyond the riuer Ganges in that quarter and clymate which lieth Southward the people are caught with the Sun and begin to be blackish but yet not all out so sun-burnt and blacke indeed as the Aethyopians and Moores And it seemeth that the neerer they approch to the riuer Indus the deeper coloured they are and tanned with the Sun for you are not so soone past the Prasians country but presently you are vpon Indus and among the mountaines of this tract the Pygmaeans by report do keepe Artemidorus writeth that betweene these two riuers there is a distance of 21 miles CHAP. XX. ¶ The riuer Indus THe great riuer Indus which the natiue people call Sandus issueth out of a part or dependance of the hill Caucasus which is called Paropamisus hee takes his course and runs full against the Sun rising and makes 19 riuers more to lose their names which he takes in vnto him among which the principall are these Hydaspis one bringing with him 4 more and Cantabra another accompanied with 3 besides Moreouer of such as are of themselues nauigable without the help of others Acesines and Hypasis And yet for all their additions the riuer of Indus such a sober and modest course as it were his waters keepe is in no place either aboue 50 stadia ouer or 15 paces i. 75 foot or 12 fathom and halfe deep This riuer incloseth within two branches of it a right great Island named Prasiane and another that is lesse called Patale As for himselfe they that haue written the least of him say he beareth vessels for 1240 miles and turning with the course of the Sun keepeth him company Westward vntill hee is discharged into the Ocean The measure of the sea coast from Ganges vnto him I wil expresse generally and in grosse as I find it written albeit there is no agreement at all of Authors touching this point From the mouth of Ganges where he entreth into the sea vnto the cape Caliugon and the towne Dandagula are counted 725 miles from thence to Tropina 1225 miles Then to the promontorie Perimula where stands the chiefe mart or towne of merchandise in all India they reckon 750 miles from which to the towne aboue-said Patale within the Isle 620 miles The mountainers inhabiting betwixt it and Iomanes are the Cesti and Celiboni wilde and sauage people next to them the Megallae whose king hath in ordinary prest for seruice 500 Elephants of foot and horse a great number but vncertaine it is how many sometime more somtime fewer As for the Chryseans Parasangians and Asangians they are full of the wilde and cruell Tygers they are able to arme 30000 foot and 800 horse and to set out with furniture 300 Elephants This country is on three sides enuironed and inclosed with a raunge of high mountaines all desart and full of wildernesse for 625 miles and of one side confined with the riuer Indus Beneath those wilde hills you enter among the Dari Surae then you come againe to waste desarts for 188 miles compassed about for the most part with great bars and banks of sand like as the Islands with the sea Vnder these desart forrests you shall meet with the Maltecores Cingians Marobians Rarungians Moruntes Masuae and Pangungae Now for those who inhabit the mountains which in a continuall raunge without interruption stand vpon the coasts of the Ocean they are free States and subiect to no Prince and many fair townes and cities they hold among these cliffes and craggy hills Then come you to the Naraeans inclosed within the highest mountaine of all the Indian hills Capitalia On the other side of this mountaine great store there is all ouer it of gold and siluer mines wherein the Inhabitants do dig Then you enter vpon the kingdom of Oratura whose king indeed hath but ten Elephants in all howbeit a great power of footmen And so forward to the Varetates who vnder their King keepe no Elephants at all for his seruice trusting vpon their Cauallery and Fanterie wherein they are strong Next to them the Odomboerians
Hercules was the onely god whom they worshipped Their king was alwaies chosen by the voices of the people wherein they had these regards that hee were aged milde and childlesse but in case he should beget children afterward then hee was deposed from his regall dignitie to the end that the kingdome should not in processe of time bee hereditary and held by succession but by election onely This king being thus chosen and inuested hath thirtie other gouernours assigned vnto him by the people neither can any person be condemned to death vnlesse he be cast by the more part of them and pluralitie of voices and thus condemned as he is yet may he appeale vnto the people Then are there 70 judges deputed to sit vpon his cause and if it happen that they assoile and quit this party condemned then those 30 who condemned him are displaced from their state and dignity with a most bitter and sharpe rebuke and for euer after as disgraced persons liue in shame and infamie As for the king arraied he is in aparrell as prince Bacchus went in old time but the subiects and common people are clad in the habit of Arabians If it fortune that the king offend death is his punishment howbeit no man taketh in hand to doe execution All men turne away their faces from him and deigne him not a looke nor a word But to do him to death in the end they appoint a solemne day of hunting right pleasant and agreeable vnto Tygres and Elephants before which beasts they expose their king and so he is presently by them deuoured Moreouer in that Island good husbands they are for their ground and till the same most diligently Vines haue they no vse of at all for all sorts of fruits otherwise they haue abundance They take also a great pleasure and delight in fishing and especially in taking of tortoisses and so great they are found there that one of their shels will serue to couer an house and so the inhabitants doe imploy them in stead of roufes They count an hundred yeeres no long life there that is the ordinary time of their age Thus much we haue learned and knowne as touching Taprobane It remaineth now to say somewhat of those foure Satrapies or prouinces which we did put off vnto this place Of them therefore as followeth CHAP. XXIII ¶ Capissene Carmania BEyond those nations that confine hard vpon the riuer Indus as yee turn toward the mountaines yee enter vpon the realme of Capissaene wherein sometime stood the citie Capissa which Cyrus the king caused to be rased At this day there standeth the citie Arachosia with a riuer also of that name in the country Arachosia which citie some haue called Cophe founded by queene Semiramis There likewise is to be seen the riuer Hermandus which runneth by Abeste a city of the Aracosians The next that confront Aracosia Southward toward part of the Arachotes are the Gedrosi and on the Northside the Paropamisades As for the towne Cartana named afterwards Tetragonius scituate it is at the foot of the mountaine Caucasus This country lies ouer-against the Bactrians then you come to the principall towne therof Alexandria named so of king Alexander the founder thereof vpon the marches whereof are the Syndrari Dangulae Porapiani Cantaces and Maci. Moreouer vpon the hill Caucasus standeth the towne Cadrusi built likewise by the said Alexander On this side all these regions lieth the coast of the riuer Indus Then followes the region of the Arianes all scorched and senged with the parching heate of the Sunne and inuironed about with desarts howbeit many shadowie vallies lie between to allay the exceeding heat Well peopled it is about the two riuers especially Tonderos and Arosapes Therein stands the citie Artaccana Being past it the riuer Arius runneth vnder the city Alexandria built by Alexander the Great The towne containes in compasse 30 stadia Then come you to Artacabane a citie as it is much more ancient so it is also fairer by sar which by Antiochus the king was walled the second time and enlarged to 50 stadia The next in order is the nation of the Dorisci The riuers Pharnacotis and Ophradus Prophtasia a towne in Zarasparia The Drangae Argetae Zarangae and Gedrusij Townes moreouer Peucolais and Lymphorta After you are past their territory you enter into the desarts of the Mithoricanes and so to the riuer Mauain and the nation of the Augutturi The riuer Borru the people called Vrbi the nauigable riuer Ponamus which passeth through the marches of the Pandanes Ouer and besides the riuer Ceberon within the country of the Sorates which in the mouth thereof where it falleth into the sea makes many baies and harbours As you go farther you come vpon the towne Candigramma with the riuer Cophes into which there runne other riuers that carry vessels to wit Sadarus Paraspus and Sodinus As for the country Daritus some would haue it to be a part of Ariana and they set down the measure of them both together to be in length 1950 miles in breadth lesse by half than India Others haue set down that the country of the Gedrusians and Scyrians may contain 183 miles Being passed which quarters you enter into the region of the Ichthyophagi surnamed Oritae or mountainers who haue a proper language by themselues and speake not in the Indian tongue which reaches on full for 200 miles And beyond it you meet with the people of the Arbians who likewise continue for other 200 miles As for those Ichthyophagi before-named Alexander by an expresse edict for bad them all to feed on fish Being past them you are in the desarts and beyond them you come into Carmania Persis and Arabia But before that we treat distinctly of these countries I thinke it meet to set downe what Onesicritus who hauing the conduct of a fleet vnder Alexander the great sailed from off India about the Southerly coasts of Persis reports according to those intelligences which came lately from king Iuba In like maner those voiages of ours for these yeeres past performed by which euen at this day we are guided Howbeit in the reports made by Onesicritus and Nearchus of their nauigations we finde neither the distance ne yet the names of the seueral resting places after euery daies iournie And to begin with the citie Xylenepolis built by Alexander from which they entred first into their voiage it is not put down by them either in what place it is scituate nor vpon what riuer Yet these particulars following are by them reported worth remembrance to wit that in this voyage Nearchus founded a towne in those parts that the riuer Nabrus runs thereby and is able to beare great vessels ouer-against which there is an Island 70 stadia within the sea Moreouer that Leonatus caused Alexandria to be built in the frontiers of that region by direction and commandement from king Alexander where the riuer Argenus enters into the sea and
kings seat another besides of good importance called Sabe But for them that would make a voiage to the Indians the most commodious place to set forward is Ocelis for from thence and with the West wind called Hypalus they haue a passage of forty daies sailing to the first towne of merchandise in India called Muziris Howbeit a port this is not greatly in request for the daunger of pirates and rouers which keep ordinarily about a place called Hydrae and besides that it is not richly stored and furnished with merchandise And more than so the harborough is farre from the town so as they must charge and dischrge their wares to and fro in little boats At the time when I wrot this story the king that reigned there was named Celebothras But another hauen there is more commodious belonging to the Necanidians which they cal Becare the kings name at this present is Pandion not far off is another town of merchandise within the firme land called Madusa As for that region from whence they transport pepper in small punts or troughes made of one peece of wood it is named Corona And yet of all these nations hauens and towns there is not a name found in any of the former writers By which it appeareth that there hath been great change and alteration in these places But to come again to India our merchants returne from thence back in the beginning of our month December which the Aegiptians cal Tybis or at farthest before the sixt day of the Aegyptians month Machiris and that is before the Ides of Ianuary and by this reckoning they may passe to and fro and make return within the compasse of one yere Now when they saile from India they haue the Northeast wind Vulturnus with them and when they be entered once into the red sea the South or Southwest Now wil we return to our purposed discourse as touching Carmania The coast wherof after the reckoning of Niccarchus may take in circuit 12050 miles From the first marches thereof to the riuer Sabis is counted 100 miles From whence all the way as far as to the riuer Andaius the country is rich and plenteous for in it are vineyards and corne fields wel husbanded This whole tract is called Amuzia The chiefe townes of Carmania be Zetis and Alexandria Vpon the marches of this realme the sea breaks into the land in two armes which our countrymen call the red sea and the Greekes Erythraeum of a king named Erythras or as some thinke because the sea by reason of the reflection and beating of the Sun beams seemes of a reddish colour There be that suppose this rednesse is occasioned of the sand and ground which is red and others againe that the very water is of the own nature so coloured CHAP. XXIV ¶ The Persian and Arabian gulfes THis red sea is diuided into two armes that from the East is named the Persian gulfe being in compasse 2500 miles by the computation of Eratosthenes Ouer against this gulfe in Arabia which lieth in length 1200 miles on the other side another arme there is of it called the Arabian gulfe which runs into the Ocean Azanius The mouth of the Persian gulfe where it maketh entrance is 5 miles ouer and some haue made it but 4 from which to the farthest point thereof take a direct and straight measure by a line and for certaine it is that it containeth 1225 miles and is fashioned directly like a mans head One sichritus and Nearchus write That from the riuer Indus to the Persian gulfe and so from thence to Babylon by the meeres and fens of the riuer Euphrates it is 2500 miles In an angle of Carmania inhabit the Chelonophagi i. such as feed vpon the flesh of Tortoises and the shells of them serue for roofes to couer their cottages They inhabit all that coast along the riuer Arbis euen to the very cape rough they are hairy all their body ouer but their heads and weare no garment but fish skins CHAP. XXV ¶ The Island Cassandrus and the kingdomes vnder the Parthians WHen you are past this tract of the Chelonophagi directly toward India there lieth fifty miles within the sea the Island Cassandrus by report all desart and not inhabited and neere to it with a little arme of the sea between another Island called Stois wherein pearles are good chaffer and yeeld gainfull trafficke But to returne againe to Carmania when you are beyond the vtmost cape thereof you enter presently vpon the Armozei who ioyn vpon the Carmanians But some say that the Arbij are between both and that their coast may containe in the whole 402 miles There are to be seen the port or hauen of the Macedonians and the altars or columnes which Alexander erected vpon the very promontorie and vtmost cape Where also be the riuers Saganos Daras and Salsos Beyond which is the cape Themisceas and the Isle Aphrodisias well peopled Then beginneth the realme of Persis which extendeth to the riuer Oroatus that diuides it from Elymais Ouer-against the coasts of Persis these Islands be discouered Philos Cassandra and Aratia with an exceeding high mountaine in it and this Isle is held consecrated to Neptune The very kingdome of Persis Westward hath the coasts lying out in length 450 miles The people are rich and giuen to royall and superfluous expence in all things and long since are become subiect to the Parthians carying their name And seeing we are come to speake of them we will briefly now mention their dominion and empire the Parthians haue in all 18 realmes vnder them for so they termed all their prouinces as they lie diuided about the two seas as wee haue before said namely the red sea Southward and the Hircane sea toward the North. Of which eleuen that lie aboue in the countrey and are called the higher Prouinces they take their beginning at the confines and marches of Armenia and the coasts of the Caspians on the one side and reach to the Scythians whom they confront of the other side with whom they conuerse and keepe company together as Equalls The other seuen are called the base or lower Realmes As for the Parthians their land was alwaies counted to ly at the foot and descent of those mountains wherof we haue so often spoken which do enuirone and enclose all those nations It confineth Eastward vpon the Arij and Southward vpon Carmania and the Arians on the West side it butteth vpon the Pratites â—…nd Modes and on the North boundeth vpon the realm of Hircania compassed round about with deserts and mountaines The vtmost nations of the Parthians before yee come to those desarts be called Nomades and their cheife townes seated toward the West are Islaris and Calliope whereof we haue written before but toward the Northeast Europum and Southeast Mania In the heart and midland standeth the citie Hecatompylos as also Arsacia And there likewise the noble region of Nysaea in Parthyerum together with the
the Greeke writers who from time to time in this behalfe haue been more diligent in penning and more curious in searching after antiquities CHAP. II. ¶ Of the Scythians and the diuersitie of other nations THat there bee Scythians yea and many kindes of them that feed ordinarily of mans flesh wee haue shewed alreadie in our former discourses A report haply that would be thought incredible if we did not consider and thinke withall how in the very middle and heart of the world euen in Sicily and Italy here hard by there haue beene such monsters of men namely the Cyclopes and Lystrigones nay if we were not credibly informed that euen of late daies and go no farther than to the other side of the Alpes there be those that kill men for sacrifice after the maner of those Scythian people that wants not much of chewing and eating their flesh Moreouer neere vnto those Scythians that inhabit toward the pole Articke and not far from that climate which is vnder the very rising of the North-east wind and about that famous caue or whole out of which that wind is said to issue which place they call Ges-clithron i. the cloister or key of the earth the Arimaspians by report do dwel who as we haue said before are known by this marke for hauing one eie only in the mids of their forehead and these maintain war ordinarily about the mettall mines of gold especially with griffons a kind of wilde beasts that flie and vse to fetch gold out of the veines of those mines as commonly it is receiued which sauage beasts as many authors haue recorded and namely Herodotus Aristeus the Proconnesian two writers of greatest name striue as eagerly to keepe and hold those golden mines as the Arimaspians to disseize them therof and to get away the gold from them Aboue those are other Scythians called Anthropophagi where is a countrie named Abarimon within a certain vaile of the mountain Imaus wherin are found sauage wild men liuing and conuersing vsually among the bruit beasts who haue their feet growing backward turned behind the calues of their legs how beit they run most swiftly These kinde of men can endure to liue in no other aire nor in any clime else than their own which is the reason that they cannot be drawne to come vnto other kings that border vpon them nor could be brought vnto Alexander the great as Beton hath reported the marshall of that princes campe who also put downe his gests and iournies in writing The former Anthropophagi or eaters of mans flesh whom we haue placed about the North-pole ten daies iournie by land aboue the riuer Borysthenes vse to drink out of the skuls of mens heads and to weare the scalpes haire al in stead of mandellions or stomachers before their breasts according as Isogonus the Nicean witnesses The same writer affirmeth moreouer That in Albanie there be a sort of people borne with eies like owles whereof the sight is fire red who from their childhood are grey headed and can see better by night than day He reporteth also that tenne daies iourny beyond Borysthenes the Sauramates neuer eat but one meale of meat in three daies Crates of Pergamus saith That in Hellespont about Parium there was a kind of men whom he nameth Ophiogenes that if one were stung with a serpent with touching only will ease the paine and if they doe but lay their hands vpon the wound are wont to draw forth all the venome out of the body And Varro testifies that euen at this day there be some there who warish cure the stinging of serpents with their spittle but there are but few such as he saith Agatharcides writes that in Affrick the Psyllians so called of king Psyllus from whose race they were descended and whose sepulchre or tombe is at this day present to be seene in a part of the greater Syrtes could do the like These men had naturally that in their own bodies which like a deadly bane and poyson would kill al serpents for the very aire sent that breathed from them was able to stupifie and strike them starke dead And by this means they vsed to try the chastitie and honestie of their wiues For so soon as they were deliuered of children their manner was to expose and present the silly babes new borne vnto the most fell and cruell serpents they could find for if they were not right but gotten in adultery the said serpents would not auoid fly from them This nation verily in generall hath been defeated killed vp in manner all by the Nasamones who now inhabit those parts wherein they dwelt howbeit a kind remains still of them descended from those that made shift away and fled or else were not present at the said bloudy battell but there are very few of them at this day left The Marsians in Italy at this present continue with the like naturall vertue against serpents whom being reputed for to haue descended from ladie Circes son the people in this regard do highly esteem are verily persuaded that they haue in them the same facultie by kinde And what great wonder is this considering that all men carry about them that which is poyson to serpents for if it be true that is reported they will no better abide the touching with mans spittle than scalding water cast vpon them but if it happen to light within their chawes or mouth especially if it come from a man that is fasting it is present death Beyond those Nasamones and their neighbours confining vpon them the Machlyes there be found ordinarily Hermaphrodites called Androgyni of a double nature and resembling both sexes male and female who haue carnal knowledge one of another interchangeably by turns as Calliphanes reports Aristotle saith moreouer that on the right side of their breast they haue a little teat or nipple like a man but on the left they haue a full pap or dug like a woman In the same Affricke both Isogonus and Nymphodorus doe auouch there be certain houses and families of sorcerers who if they chance to blesse praise and speak good words bewitch presently withall insomuch as sheepe therewith die trees wither and infants pine and winder away Isogonus adds furthermore That such like there be among the Triballians and Illyrians who with their very eiesight can witch yea and kil those whom they look wistly vpon any long time especially if they be angred and that their eies bewray their anger and more subiect to this daunger be men growne than children vnder fourteene yeares of age This also is in them more notable and to be obserued that in either ere they haue two sights or apples Of this kind and property as Apollonides mine author saith there be certaine women in Scythia named Bithyae Philarchus witnesseth That in Pontus also the whole race of the Thibians and many others besides haue the same quality doe the like and known
their whole life Some neuer go their full time with their children and such women if peraduenture by helpe of physicke or other good means and choice keeping they ouercome this infirmitie bring daughters ordinarily and no other The Emperor Augustus among other singularities that he had by himselfe during his life saw ere he died the nephew of his neece that is to say his progenie to the fourth degree of lineall discent and that was M. Scyllanus who hapned to be borne the same yeare that he departed out of this world He hauing been Consull and afterward Lord Gouernor of Asia was poysoned by prince Nero to the end that he might thereby attaine to the empire Qu. Metellus Macedonicus left behind him six children and by them eleuen nephewes but daughters in law and sons in law and of all such as called him father seuen In the Chronicles of Augustus Caesars acts for his time we finde vpon record that in his twelfth Consulship when L. Sylla was his companion and collegue in gouernment vpon the eleuenth day of Aprill C. Crispinus Helarus a gentleman of Fesulae came with solemne pompe into the Capitoll attended vpon with his nine children seuen sons and two daughters with 27 Nephewes the sonnes of his children and 29 nephewes more once remoued who were his sons nephewes and twelue Neeces besides that were his childrens daughters and with all these solemnly sacrificed CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of the same matter more at large A Woman commonly is past childe-bearing after 50 yeares of her age And for the most part their monthly termes stay at forty As for men it is cleare and wel knowne that king Massinissa when he was aboue 86 yeres old begat a son whom he called Methymathmas Cato Censorius that famous Censor begat another vpon the daughter of Salonius his vassal when hee was past 80 yeares of age And hereof it commeth that the race which came of his other children were surnamed Liciniani but the off-spring of this last sonne Salonini from whom Cato Vticensis who slew himselfe at Vtica is lineally descended Moreouer it is not long since that dame Cornelia of the house and linage of the Scipio's bare vnto Lu. Saturninus her husband who died whiles he was Prouost of the city of Rome a son named Volusius Saturninus and who afterwards liued to be Consull who was begotten when his father was 62 yeares old with the better To conclude there haue beene amongst meaner persons very many knowne to haue gotten children after fourscore and fiue CHAP. XV. ¶ Of Womens monethly sicknesse OF all liuing creatures a woman hath a flux of bloud euery moneth and hereupon it is that in her wombe onely there are found a false conception called Mola i. a Moone-calfe that is to say a lump of flesh without shape without life and so hard withal that vneth a knife will enter and pierce it either with edge or point Howbeit a kinde of mouing it hath and staieth the course of her moneths and sometime after the manner of a childe indeed it costeth the woman her life otherwhiles it waxeth in her belly as she groweth and ageth with her now and then also it slippeth and falleth from her with a laske and loosenesse of the guts Such a thing breeds likewise in the bellies of men vpon the hardnesse of liuer or spleen which the Physitions call Scirrhus i. an hard wedge and cake vnder their short-ribs And such an one had Oppius Cato a nobleman of Rome late Pretour But to come againe to women hardly can there be found a thing more monstrous than is that flux course of theirs For if during the time of their sicknes they happen to approch or go ouer a vessel of wine be it neuer so new it wil presently soure if they touch any standing corne in the field it wil wither and come to no good Also let them in this estate handle graffes they will die vpon it the herbes and young buds in a garden if they do but passe by will catch a blast and burne away to nothing Sit they vpon or vnder trees whiles they are in this case the fruit which hangeth vpon them will fall Do they but see themselues in a looking glasse the cleare brightnesse thereof turneth into dimnesse vpon their very sight Look they vpon a sword knife or any edged toole bee it neuer so bright it waxeth duskish so doth also the liuely hue of yvorie The very bees in the hiue die Yron steele presently take rust yea and brasse likewise with a filthy strong and poisoned stink if they lay but hand thereupon If dogs chance to taste of womens fleures they run mad therewith and if they bite any thing afterwards they leaue behinde them such a venome that the wounds are incureable nay the very clammy slime Bitumen which at certaine times of the yere floteth and swimmeth vpon the lake of Sodom called Asphaltites in Iury which otherwise of the owne nature is pliable enough soft and gentle and ready to follow what way a man would haue it cannot be parted and diuided asunder for by reason of the viscositie it cleaueth and sticketh like glue and hangeth all together pluck as much as a man will at it but only by a thred that is stained with this venomous bloud euen the silly Pismires the least creatures of all others hath a perceiuance sence of this poison as they say for they cast aside will no more come to that corn which they haue found by tast to be infected with this poison This malady so venomous and hurtful as it is followeth a woman stil euery 30 daies and at 3 moneths end if it stay so long it commeth in great abundance And as there be some women that haue it oftner than once a month so there are others again that neuer see ought of it But such lightly are barren and never bring children For in very deed it is the materiall substance of generation and the mans seed serueth in stead of a runnet to gather it round into a curd which afterwards in processe of time quickneth and grows to the form of a body which is the cause that if women with childe haue this flux of the moneths their children are not long liued or else they proue feeble sickly and full of filthie humours as Nigidius writeth CHAP. XVI ¶ In like manner of births and infants in the mothers wombe THe same Nigidius is of opinion that a womans milke nource to her owne child giuing it sucke will not corrupt and be naught for the babe if she conceiue againe by the same man to whom she brought the former childe Also it is held that in the beginning end of the foresaid menstruall fleures a woman is very apt to conceiue Moreouer it is commonly receiued for an infallible argument in women that they are fruitfull and with childe if when they annoint their eies with their owne spittle as with a medicine the same appeare
reckoned the Summer for one yeare and the Winter for another There were againe that reckoned euery quarter for a yeare as the Arcadians whose yeare was but three moneths Ye shall haue some and namely the Egyptians that count euery change or new Moon for a yeare and therefore no maruell if some of them are said to liue 1000 yeares But to passe from these vncertainties to things confessed and doubtlesse Held it is in maner for a certain truth that Arganthinus King of Calis reigned full 80 yeares and it is thought he was 40 yeares old when he came vnto the crowne And as vndoubted true it is that Masanissa ware the crown 60 yeares As also that Gorgias the Sicilian liued vntill he was 108 yeares old As for Q. Fabius Maximus a Roman hee continued Augure 63 yeares M. Perpenna and of late daies L. Volusius Saturninus out liued all those Senators which sate in councell with them when they were Consuls and whose opinions they were wont to aske As for Perpenna when hee died hee left but 7 of those Senators aliue whom he had either chosen or re-elected in his Censorship and he liued himselfe 98 yeares Where by the way one thing commeth into my mind worth the noting That one Lustrum or 5 yeares space there was and neuer but one in which there died not a Roman Senator and that was from the time that Flaccus and Albinus the Censors finished their suruey solemnly purged the city after the order to the comming in of the next new Censors being from the foundation of Rome 579 yeres M. Valerius Corvinus liued 100 yeares complete between his first and sixt Consulate were 46 yeares he tooke his seat vpon the yuorie chaire of estate and was created a magistrate Curule 21 times and no man else so often Metellus the Pontifie or soueraigne priest liued full as long as he To come now to women Liuia the wife of Rutilius liued 97 yeares with the better Statilia a noble lady of Rome in the time of Claudius the Emperor was knowne to be 99 yeares of age Ciceroes wife Terentia out-liued her husband vntill she was 103 yeres old Clodia wife to Ofilius went beyond her and saw 115 yeres yet she had in her youth 15 children Luceia a common vice in a play followed the stage and acted thereupon 100 yeares Such another vice that plaid the foole made sport between whiles in interludes named Galaria Copiola was brought again roact her feats vpon the stage when Cn. Pompeius and Q. Sulpitius were Consuls at the solemne plaies vowed for the health of Aug. Caesar the Emperor in the 104 yere of her age the first time that euer she entred the stage to shew proofe of her skil in that profession was 91 yeres before and then she was brought thither by M. Pomponius an Aedile of the Commons in the yere that C. Marius and Cn. Carbo were Consuls And once again Pompeius the Great at the solemne dedication of his stately Theatre trained the old woman to the stage for to make a shew to the wonder of the world Moreouer Asconius Paedianus is mine Author that one Samula liued 110 yeares and therefore I maruell the lesse that one Stephanio who was the first of the long robe that brought dancing and footing vpon the stage plaid his part danced in both the Secular plaies as well those that were set out by Augustus late Emperor as which Claudius exhibited in his 4 Consulate considering that between the one and the other there were but 63 yeares and yet liued Stephanio many a day after Mutianus witnesseth that in Tempsis for so is the crest or pitch of the mountain Tmolus called folke liued ordinarily 150 yeares At that age T. Fullonius of Bononia entred his name into the Subsidie book at the time that Cl. Caesar held the generall tax and that he was so old indeed appeared truly as wel vpon record in the registers office by conferring and laying together seueral paiments by him made from time to time as also by certain things he had seen and known done in his life time for the Emperor had a speciall care and regard that way to find out the truth CHAP. XLIX Of diuers Horoscopes or Natiuities of men THis point would require the conference and aduice of Astrologers for Epigenes saith it is not possible for a man to liue 122 yeres and Berosus is of opinion that one cannot passe 117. The proportion and reckoning holdeth still for good which Petosiris and Nesepsos calculated and grounded vpon their Quadrant which they call Tetartemorion that is to say the compasse in the Zodiaque of three signes Orientall which determine of the life or death of men according to which account it is euident that in the tract or clymat of Italy men may reach to 126 yeares The aboue-named Astrologers affirmed that a man could not possibly passe the space of 90 degrees from the Ascendent or erection of his natiuitie which they call Anaphoras and that euen this course through the degrees of three signes is many times interrupted and cut short either by the opposition and encounter of some wicked planets or by the maligne aspects of them or the Sun On the other side Asclepiades and his sect affirme that the length of our life proceedeth from the influence of the fixed stars but as touching the vtmost terme thereof they set downe nothing definitiuely mary thus much they say That the fewer sort of men liue any long time for that the greatest number by far haue their natiuitie incident and liable to the dangerous houres and time either of the moones occurrence as in her Quadrature Opposition and Sextile aspect or of daies according to the number of seuen or nine which are daily and nightly marked and obserued whereupon ensueth the rule of the dangerous graduall yeares called Clymactericke and such as are in that wise borne lightly liue not aboue 54 yeares And here we may see by the doubtfulnesse and incertitude of this science of Astrologie how vncertain this whole matter is which we haue in hand Moreouer wee found the contrarie by experience and many examples and namely in the last taxation numbring and review of the prouinces subiect to Rome within Italy that was taken vnder the Caesars Vespasians the father and the sonne both Emperors and Censors And here we need not to search euery corner and to ransacke euery place very narrowly we will onely giue instance and set downe the examples of the one moity thereof namely that tract which lieth betweene Apennine and the Po. At Parma three men were found that liued sixe score yeares at Brixels one that liued 125 yeares at Plaisance one elder by a yeare at Faventia there was one woman 132 yeares old at Bononie L. Terentius the sonne of Marcus and at Ariminum M. Aponius reckoned each of them 150 yeares Tertulla was knowne to be 137 yeares old About Plaisance there is a towne scituate vpon the hills
when the Lionesse hath done a fault that way she either goeth to a riuer and washeth away the strong and ranke sauor of the Pard or else keepeth aloofe and followeth the Lion afar off that he may not catch the said smell I see it is commonly held that the Lionesse brings forth yong but once in her life for that her whelps in her kinling teare her belly with their nailes and make themselues roome that way Aristotle writeth otherwise a man whom I cannot name but with great honour and reuerence and whom in the historie and report of these matters I meane for the most part to follow And in very truth King Alexander the Great of an ardent desire that he had to know the natures of all liuing creatures gaue this charge to Aristotle a man singularly accomplished with all kinds of science and learning to search into this matter and to set down the same in writing and to this effect commanded certaine thousands of men one or other throughout all the tract as well of Asia as Greece to giue their attendance and obey him to wit all Hunters Falconers Fowlers and Fishers that liued by those professions Item all Forresters Park-keepers and Wariners all such as had the keeping of heards and flockes of cattell of bee-hiues fish-pooles stewes and ponds as also those that kept vp fowle tame or wild in mew those that fed poultry in barton or coup to the end that he should be ignorant of nothing in this behalfe but be aduertised by them according to his Commission of all things in the world By his conference with them he collected so much as thereof hee compiled those excellent bookes de Animalibus i. of Liuing creatures to the number almost of 50. Which being couched by me in a narrow roome and briefe summary with addition also of some things which he neuer knew I beseech the Readers to take in good worth and for the discouerie and knowledge of all Natures works which that most noble and famous King that euer was desired so much to know to make a short start abroad with me and in a briefe discourse by mine own pains and diligence digested to see all To return now vnto our former matter That great philosopher Aristotle therefore reporteth That the Lionesse at her first litter bringeth forth fiue whelps and euery yeare after fewer by one and when she commeth to bring but one alone she giueth ouer and is barren Her whelps at the first are without shape like small gobbets of flesh no bigger than weesels When they are six moneths old they can hardly go and for the two first they stir not at all Lions there be also in Europe only between the riuers Achelous and Nestus and these verily be far stronger than those of Africke or Syria Moreouer there are two kinds of Lions the one short wel trussed and compact with more crisp and curled mains but these are timerous and cowards to them that haue long and plain haire for those passe not for any wounds whatsoeuer The Lions lift vp a leg when they pisse as dogs do and moreouer they haue a strong and stinking breath their very body also smelleth rank Seldom they drink and eate but each other day and if at any time they feed til they be full they wil abstain from meat three daies after In their feeding whatsoeuer they can swallow without chewing downe it goes whole and if they finde their gorge and stomacke too full and not able indeed to receiue according to their greedy appetite they thrust their pawes down their throats and with their crooked clees fetch out some of it again to the end they should not be heauy and slow vpon their fulnesse if haply they be put to find their feet and fly Mine Author Aristotle saith moreouer That they liue very long and hee proueth it by this argument That many of them are found toothlesse for very age Polybius who accompanied Scipio Aemylianus in his voiage of Africke reporteth of them That when they be growne aged they will prey vpon a man the reason is because their strength will not hold out to pursue in chase any other wild beasts then they come about the cities and good towns of Africke lying in wait for their prey if any folk come abroad and for that cause he saith that while hee was with Scipio hee saw some of them crucified and hanged vp to the end that vpon the sight of them other Lions should take example and be skarred from doing the like mischiefe The Lion alone of all wilde beasts is gentle to those that humble themselues vnto him and will not touch any such vpon their submission but spareth what creature soeuer lieth prostrate before him As fell and furious as he is otherwhiles yet he dischargeth his rage vpon men before he sets vpon women and neuer preyeth on babes vnlesse it be for extreme hunger They are verily persuaded in Lybia that they haue a certain vnderstanding when any man doth pray or intreat them for any thing I haue heard it reported for a truth by a captiue woman of Getulia which being fled was brought home again to her master that she had pacified the violent fury of many Lions within the woods and forrests by faire language and gentle speech and namely that for to escape their rage shee hath been so hardy as to say she was a silly woman a banished fugitiue a sickly feeble weak creature an humble suiter and lowly suppliant to him the noblest of all other liuing creatures the Soueraigne and commander of all the rest and that she was too base and vnworthy for his glorious Maiestie to prey vpon her Many and diuers opinions are currant according to the sundry occurrences that haue hapned or the inuentions that mens wits haue deuised as touching this matter namely that sauage beasts are dulced and appeased by good words and faire speech as also that fell serpents may be trained and fetched out of their holes by charmes yea and by certaine coniurations and menaces restrained and kept vnder for a punishment but whether it be true or no I see it is not yet by any man set downe or determined To come againe to our Lions the signe of their intent and disposition is their taile like as in horses their eares for these two marks and tokens certainly hath Nature giuen to the most couragious beasts of all others to know their affections by for when the Lion stirs not his taile he is in a good mood gentle mild pleasantly disposed and as if he were willing to be plaied withall but in that fit he is seldome seen for lightly he is alwaies angry At the first when he entreth into his choler he beateth the ground with his taile when he groweth into greater heats he flappeth and jerketh his flanks and sides withall as it were to quicken himselfe and stir vp his angry humour His maine strength lieth in his brest hee maketh not a
both kinds and not accompany together vnlesse they tasted the milk and sucked the damme when they were yong of that kinde which they would couer And for this purpose they vse to steale away either the yong Asse foles and set them in the dark to the teats of the Mare or els the yong colts to suck of the she Asse For there is a kind of Mule also that comes of a stone horse and a female Asse but of all others they be vntoward and vnruly and so slow withall that it is vnpossible to bring them to any good seruice and much more as all things else if they be far in age when they ingender If when a she Asse hath taken the horse and be sped there come an Asse and couer her againe she will cast her fruit vntimely and lose all but it is not so if an horse couer her after an Asse It is noted found by experience that seuen daies after an Asse hath foled is the best time to put the male vnto her and then soonest will she be sped as also that the he Asses being wearie with trauel wil better couer the femals than otherwise being resty That Asse is held for barren which is not couered nor conceiueth before she haue cast her sucking or foles teeth whereby the age is known as also she that standeth not to the first couering but loseth it In old time they vsed to call those Hinuli which were begotten betweene a horse and an Asse and contrariwise Mules such as were ingendred of an Asse and a Mare Moreouer this is obserued that if two beasts of diuers kindes ingender they bring forth one of a third sort and resembling none of the parents also that such begotten in this maner what kind of creatures soeuer they be are themselues barren and fruitles vnable either to beare or beget yong And this is the cause that she mules neuer breed We finde verily in our Chronicles that oft times Mules brought forth yong foles but it was alwaies taken for a monstrous and prodigious signe And yet Theophrastus saith that in Cappadocia ordinarily they do beare and bring forth foles but they are a kind by themselues Mules are broken of their flinging and wincing if they vse often to drinke wine It is found written in many Greeke authors that if an he Mule couer a Mare there is ingendred that which the Latins call Hinnus that is to say a little Mule Between Mares and wild Asses made tame there is ingendred a kind of Mules very swift in running and exceeding hard hoofed lanke and slender of bodie but fierce and couragious and vnneth or hardly to be broken But the Mule that comes of a wild Asse and a female tame Asse passeth all the rest As for wild asses the very best floure of them be in Phrygia and Lycaonia In Africke the flesh of their foles is held for excellent good meat and such they cal Lalisiones It appeares in the Chronicles of Athens That a mule liued 80 yeares And reported thus much there is of it That when they built the temple within the citadel thereof this old Mule being for age able to do nothing els would yet accompanie other Mules that laboured and caried stones thither and if any were ready to fall vnder their lode would seeme to relieue and hold them vp and as it were incourage them to his power insomuch as the people tooke so great delight and pleasure therein that they made a decree and took order that no corn-masters that bought and sold graine should beat this mule from their ranging siues when they clensed or winnowed their corne but that he might eat vnder them CHAP. XLV ¶ Of Buls Kine and Oxen. THe Boeufs of India are as high by report as Camels and foure foot broad they are betwixt the horns In our part of the world those that come out of Epirus are most commended and beare the greatest price aboue all others and namely those which they say are of the race breed of king Pyrrhus who that way was very curious For this prince because he would haue a principall good breed would not suffer the Buls to come vnto the kine and season them before they were both foure yeares old Mighty big they were therefore and so they continue of that kind vnto this day How beit now when they be but heifers of one yeare or two yeres at the most which is more tolerable they are let go to the fellow and breed Buls may wel ingender and serue kine when they be 4 yeares old and one of them is able all the yeare long to goe with ten kine and serue their turne They say moreouer that a Bull after he hath leapt a Cow and done his kind if he go his way toward the right hand he hath gotten an oxe calfe but contrariwise a cow calfe if he take the left hand Kine commonly take at their first seasoning but if it chance that they misse and stand not to it the 20 day after they seeke the fellow and goe a bulling againe In the tenth moneth they calue and whatsoeuer falleth before that terme never proueth nor commeth to good Some write That they calue iust vpon the last day of the tenth moneth complete Seldome bring they forth two calues at a time Their seasoning time commonly continueth 30 daies namely from the rising of the Dolphin starre vnto the day before the Nones of Ianuarie howbeit some there be that go to fellow in Autumne Certes in those countries where the people liue altogether of milke they order the matter so that their kine calue at all times so as they are not without their food of fresh milke all the yeare long Bulls willingly leape not aboue two kine at most in one day Boeufes alone of all liuing Creatures can grase going backeward and verily among the Gamarants they neuer feed otherwise Kine liue not aboue 15 yeares at the vtmost bulls and oxen come to 20 they be at their â—…ll strength when they are 5 yeres old It is said that they will grow fat if they be bathed with lot water or if a man slit their hide and with a reed or pipe blow wind betweene the flesh and the skin euen into their intrals Kine Buls and Oxen are not to be despised as vnkindely although they look but ilfauoredly and be not so faire to the eie for in the Alpes the least of bodie are the best milch kine and the best laboring oxen are they which are yoked by the head and not the neck In Syria they haue no dewlaps at all hanging vnder the necke but bunches standing vp on their backs in stead thereof They of Caria also a country of Asia are ilfauored to sight hauing betweene their neckes and shoulders a tumor or swelling hanging ouer besides their horns are loose and as it were out of joint and yet by report they are passing good of deed and labor most stoutly Furthermore it is generally held
touching the generation of Bees and how they multiply and increase much dispute there hath bin among the learned and a nice question this is For first and foremost bees were neuer seen to ingender one with another and therfore most men haue bin of opinion that yong bees must needs be made of floures fitly and hand somely laid together and composed according to Natures lore Others say that one master Bee which is the king in euery swarme doth beget them all and that he forsooth is the only male bigger also than the rest and more strong because he should not faint and faile in the action for without such an one we see there is no breed and him all the other bees attend vpon not as their leader and captain but as the female follow the male Certes this were a good coniectural opinion and sounding to a truth but that the breed of these Drone-bees aforesaid doth checke and ouerthrow it cleare for what reason is there that one and the same maner of procreation should bring forth some perfect others vnperfect The former opinion yet might seeme more probable but for another difficulty and inconuenience that crosseth it too for otherwhiles in the vtmost edges and sides of the combs there are seen to breed the bigger kind of bees which chase and driue the others away and this vermin is called Oestrus i. the gad-bee or horse flie Now if those little wormes or grubs from whence the bees come were made of floures which they themselues formed and brought into fashion how commeth this gad-bee and whereof is he made This is certaine that bees couvy and sit as hens do and that which is after a sort by them hatched seemeth at the first to be a little white grub or magot lying crosse ouerthwart the hony and so fast sticking thereto as if it seemed to feed thereupon The king that shall be at the very first is yellow and of the colour of hony as if he were made of the most choice and excellent floure of all the rest nothing like to a grub as the other but presently hath wings The rest of the multitude when they begin to take some shape are called Nymphae like as the Drones at the beginning be termed Sirenes or Cephenes If a man take their heads from either sort before they be winged it is a most pleasant and excellent meat for the old dams In processe of time as they grow bigger the old bees distill and drop meat into their mouths as they sit vpon them then they keep most humming as some thinke for to set combs into an heat which is requisit and necessarie for the hatching of them and thus they continue till the little pellicles or membranes be broken within which euery one lieth by it selfe as egs and then they break forth all together and shew themselues accomplished bees The manner and experiment hereof was seene vpon a time in a ferme neere vnto Rome belonging to a nobleman of Rome who somtime had bin Consul for he caused his hiues to be made of lanterne horns that a man might see through into them These yong worms be 45 daies before they come to their perfection There is found in some combs a certain bitter thing and hard like to wax which the Latines call Clerus This is as it were the abortiue and vntimely fruit of the bees to wit when either by maladie or idlenesse or rather vpon some barrennesse and vnfruitfull disposition by nature bees are not able to bring the same to perfection As for the yong bees they are not so soon abroad but they begin to labor with their mothers and are trained by them to learn how to gather hony This yong people haue a yong king also vnto whom they make court and whom they follow And many such kings are bred at first for feare lest they should want but when the bees are grown big they all agree with one accord and voice to kill those that be most vntoward among them for feare they should make diuisions factions and siding to parts These kings be of two sorts those that are red all ouer be better than the black or partie-coloured All the race of them be very faire and goodly to see to and twice as big as the rest their wings shorter their legs streight in their port and manner of march more stately carryin in their front a white star like a diadem or coronet far brighter also and more neat they bâ—… than the common sort CHAP. XVII ¶ The regiment of Bees and their gouernment WHat shall a man now dispute about Hercules whether there was but one of that name or many Likewise as touching the Sepulchre of Prince Bacchus where and which it is As also trouble his head in many other such like antiquities buried by long continuance of time For behold in one small matter that is daily seene in our countrey houses in a thing annexed to our fermes and whereof there is such store all Authors who haue written of Agricultâ—…e are not yet resolued namely Whether the king of Bees alone hath no sting and is armed only with majestie or whether Nature hath bestowed a sting vpon him and denied him only the vse thereof For certaine it is that this great commander ouer the rest doth nothing with his sting yet a wonder it is to see how they all are readie to obey him When hee marches abroad the whole armie goes forth likewise then they assemble together and enuiron him round about they are of his guard so close they keep vnited together that they wil not suffer him once to be seen At other times when all his people are busie in labor himselfe as a right good captaine ouerseeth their workes goes about from one to another encouraging them in wel doing and exhorting them to plie their businesse himselfe only exempt from all other trauell pains taking About his person he hath a certaine guard euer attendant he hath his Lictors officers alwaies in readinesse in token of majestie and princely port He neuer sets forward but when the whole swarme is prest likewise to goe forth and in truth long time before a man may perceiue that they be about a voiage and expedition for many daies together there is an extraordinarie humming and noise within whiles they prepare to dislodge trussing vp as it were their bag and baggage and expecting only a faire day of remoue And suppose that the king haue in some battaile lost one of his wings yet will not his hoast forsake him and flie When they be in march each one desires and striues to be next the prince as taking a joy and pride to be seene of him how lustily they performe their deuoir If he begin to be wearie they support him with their shoulders if he be tired indeed and faint outright they cary him full and whole If any one of their owne companie chance to faile for very wearinesse and
waxes old and loses the strength Of late daies there was an herbe found in Thracia the leaues wherof differ in nothing from the Indian Nard As for the grape of Amomum which now is in vse and much occupied some say it groweth vpon a wilde vine in India Others haue thought that it commeth from a shrubbe like Myrtle carieth not aboue a hand-bredth or 4 inches in height Plucked it is together with the root and gently must be laid and couched in bunches by handfuls for if great heed be not taken it will soone burst and breake The best Amomum and most commendable is that which carrieth leaues like to those of the Pomegranate without riuels and wrinckles and besides of a red colour The next in goodnesse is that which is pale The greene or grasse coloured is not all out so good but the worst of all is white and that colour comes by age and long keeping a pound of these grapes intire and whole in the cluster is worth 60 Roman deniers But if they be crumbled and broken it will cost but 48. This Amomum groweth likewise in a part of Armenia named Otene also in the kingdomes of Media and Pontus It is sophisticated with the leaues of the Pomgranate and with some other liquid gum besides that it may hang vnited together and roll round into the forme of grapes Now as touching that which is called Amomis it is lesse full of veins and nothing so sweet smelling but harder than Amomum whereby it appeareth that it is either a diuers plant from it or els if it be the same it is gathered before it be full ripe Cardamomum is like to these aboue rehearsed both in name and also in making and ferme but it bears a longer graine for seed The maner also of gathering and cutting it downe in Arabia is the same Foure kinds there be of it The first is most green and fatty withal hauing foure sharp corners and if a man rub it between his fingers he shal find it very tough and stubborne and this is most esteemed of all the other The next to it is somwhat reddish but inclining to a whitish colour A third sort is shorter lesser and blacker than the rest Howbeit the worst is that which hath sundry colours is pliable and gentle in the rubbing and smelleth but a little The true Cardamomum ought to come neare in resemblance to Costus And it grows in Media A pound of the best will cost 12 deniers The great affinitie or kinred rather in name that Cinnamon hath with these spices before rehearsed might induce me to write therof in one suit euen in this place but that more meet it is to shew first the riches of Arabia and to set down the causes why that country should be syrnamed Happy and Blessed Wee will begin therefore with the chiefe commodities thereof namely Frankincense and Myrrhe and yet Myrrhe is found as wel in the Troglodites country as in Arabia CHAP. XIV ¶ Of Happy Arabia that yeeldeth plenty of Frankincense THere is no region in the whole world that bringeth forth frankincense but Arabia and yet is it not to be found in al parts therof but in that quarter only of the Atramites Now these Atramites inhabit the very heart of Arabia and are a county of the Sabaei The capitall city of the whole kingdom is called Sabota seated vpon a high mountain from whence vnto Saba the only country that yeelds such plenty of the said incense it is about 8 daies journey As for Saba which in the Greek tongue signifieth a secret mysterie it regards the Sunne rising in Summer or the North-East enclosed on euery side with rockes inaccessible and on the right hand it is defended with high cliffes and crags that beare into the sea The soile of this territorie by report is reddish inclining to white The forrests that carry these Incense treesly in length 20 Schaenes and beare in bredth half as much Now that which we cal Schaenus according to the calculation of Eratosthenes contains forty stadia that is to say fiue miles how soeuer some haue allowed but 32 stadia to euery Schaenus The quarter wherein these trees grow is full of high hills howbeit go down into the plains and valley beneath you shall haue plenty of the same trees which come vp of their own accord and were neuer planted The earth is fat and standeth much vpon a strong clay as all writers do agree Few Springs are there to be found and those that be are full of Nitre There is another tract by it selfe confronting this country wherein the Minaeans do inhabit and through them there is a narrow passage whereby the frankincense is transported into other parts These were their first neighbours that did traffique with them for their Incense and found a vent for it and euen so they doe still at this day whereupon the frankincense it selfe is called of their name Minaeum Setting these people of the Sabeans aside there be no Arabians that see an Incense tree from one end of the yere to another neither are all these permitted to haue a sight of those trees For the common voice is that there be not aboue 3000 families which can claime and challenge by right of succession that priuiledge to gather incense And therefore all the race of them is called Sacred and Holy for looke when they go about either cutting and slitting the trees or gathering the Incense they must not that day come neere a woman to know her carnally nay they must not be at any funerals nor approch a dead corps for being polluted By which religion and ceremonious obseruation the price is raised and the incense is the dearer Some say these people haue equall liberty in common to go into these Woods for their commodities when they will but others affirme that they be diuided into companies and take their turns by yeares As concerning the very tree I could neuer know yet the perfect description of it We haue waged warres in Arabia and our Roman armie haue entred a great way into that country C. Caesar the adopted son of Augustus wan great honour and glory from thence and yet verily to my knowledge there was neuer any Latine Author that hath put down in writing the form and fashion of the tree that carrieth incense As for the Greeke Writers their bookes doe vary and differ in that point Some giue out that it hath leaues like to a Peare tree only they be somewhat lesse and when they come forth they be of a grasse green colour Others say that they resemble the Lentiske tree and are somwhat reddish There be again who write that it is the very Terebints and none else that giueth the Frankincense of which opinion king Antigonus was who had one of these shrubs brought vnto him King Iuba in those books which he wrot and sent to C. Caesar son to the Emperor Augustus who was inflamed with an ardent desire to
hands long agoe the which I saw in the house of Pomponius Secundus a noble citizen of Rome and a renowmed Poet almost two hundred yeares after their death As for the writings of Cicero of Augustus late Emperour of famous memorie and of Virgill we daily see and handle them by the meanes of Paper so good and durable CHAP. XIII ¶ Of the bookes of Numa WE find many examples in stories which very directly and mightily do testifie against M. Varro as touching Papers For Cassius Hemina a most faithfull and ancient writer in the fourth booke of his Annales hath reported That one Cn. Terentius a scribe or publicke Notarie as he digged and delued in a ground which he had neare to Ianiculum light vpon a chist where in lay the bodie of Numa sometime king of Rome In the same also were found the bookes of the said king And as he affirmeth this happened in that yeare when Pub. Cornelius the sonne of Lucius surnamed Cethegus and M. Boebius sonne of Quintus surnamed Pamphilus were Consuls of Rome betweene which time and the raigne of Numa by just computation are reckoned 535 yeres He saith moreouer That those books were made of the Paper abouenamed The greater wonder it was how such kind of books should last sâ—… long especially within the earth and not putrifie The thing therefore being so strange and in manner miraculous that Paper should continue all that time I think it not amisse to set down the very words of Hemina likew I se as he deliuers them The world made a wonder quoth he how these books could possibly endure so many yeres but the party who found them yeelded this reason That within the said coffer about the mids of it there was a stone foure-square lapped all about and bound euery way with waxe candles in manner of a serecloth vpon which stone the foresaid books were laid and therefore it was as he supposed that they did not rot Moreouer the books also were embaulmed with the rosin or oile of Cedar which might be a good reason in his conceit that the moths came not to them Now these bookes contained the Philosophie and doctrine of Pythagoras and for that they treated of that Philosophical argument burnt they were by order from Q. Petilius the Pretor for that time being The same storie in effect doth C. Piso Censorinus a man who had been Censor report in the first book of his commentaries howbeit he setteth downe their number withall and saith they were fourteene in all whereof seuen treated of the Pontificall law and matters of religion and as many discoursed of Pythagoras his Philosophie But Tuditanus in the thirteeneth booke of the Annales affirmeth That they were the decretals only of Numa and contained his ordinances As for Varro himselfe he writeth in the fift booke of Humane Antiquities that they were in all but twelue And Antias in his second booke reporteth That two of them were written in Latine and contained the Pontificial diuinitie and church-matters and other twaine penned in Greeke were full of precepts in Philosophie He also affirmes in his third booke for what cause the said books by vertue of a publick decree were consumed with fire But all Historiographers agree in this That one of the Sibyls brought vnto Tarquinius the proud three books of which two were burnt by her owne selfe and the third likewise perished with fire together with the Capitol during the troubles of Sylla Ouer and besides Mutianus a man who had been thrice Consul of Rome hath left on record that of late while he was lord gouernor or Lycia he read in a certain temple an Epistle written by prince Sarpedon in Paper and bearing date from Troy And I wonder the rather at this if so be that when Homer liued and wrate his Poeme there was no land of Aegypt as now there is or why in case there was such vse of Paper then himself should write that in the very same Lycia Bellerophon had writing tables giuen him to deliuer as touching his owne death and not rather letters missiue wrot in Paper Wel howeuer that be this is certaine that there is a scarsitie otherwhiles of Paper also as well as of other commodities and this cane or reed Papyrus doth many times faile For not long since euen in the daies of Tiberius the Emperor in a dearth and want of Paper there were commissioners deputed and appointed by the Senat of Rome for the dispensing and distribution of it among the people otherwise there had been a great mutinie and tumult at Rome about Paper CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of the trees in Aethiopia AS touching Aethiopia and namely that quarter which confineth vpon Aegypt it hath in manner no trees at all of any name saue those that beare wooll or cotton concerning the nature of which trees we haue sufficiently spoken in the description of the Indians and of Arabia and yet in very truth the cotton that is brought from these trees in Aethiopia comes neerer to wool than any thing els howeuer the trees be otherwise like to the rest of that kinde and the burse or cod wherin this woollie substance lyes is greater and as big as a Pomegranat Besides these there be Date trees also like to such as we haue before described As touching other trees and especially the odoriferous woods within the Isles that lie vpon Aethiopia round about we haue said enough in the treatise of those Islands CHAP. XV. ¶ Of the trees growing in mount Atlas of Citron tables of the commendable perfections and contrariwise of the defaults thereof THe mountaine Atlas by report hath a wood in it of peculiar trees that elsewhere grow not wherof we haue already written The Mores that border vpon it are stored with abundance of Citron trees from whence commeth that excessiue expense and superfluitie about Citron tables made thereof And our dames and wiues at home by way of reuenge vse to twit vs their husbands therwith when we would seem to find fault with the costly pearls that they do weare There is at this day to be seen a board of Citron wood belonging sometimes to M. Tullius Cicero which cost him ten thousand Sesterces a strange matter considering hee was no rich man but more wonderfull if we call to mind the seueritie of that age wherein hee liued Much speech there is besides of Gallus Asinius his table sold for eleuen thousand Sesterces Moreouer there are two other which K. Iuba sold the one was prised at 15000 Sesterces and the other held little vnder Not long since there was one of them chanced to be burnt and it came with other houshold stuff but from the cottages in Mauritania which cost 140000 Sesterces a good round summe of money and the price of a faire lordship if a man would be at the cost to purchase lands so deer But the fairest and largest table of Citron wood that to this day hath beene seene came from Ptolomaee king of Mauritania
is the term whereby is signified the alteration of new Must into wine To hinder therfore that it work not as naturally it will they haue no sooner tunned or filled it out of the Vat but immediatly they dousse the vessels full of new Must in the water and let them there continue till mid-December be past and that the weather be setled to frost and cold and likewise the time expired of the working within the said vessells Moreouer there is another kind of wine naturally sweet which in Prouance and Languedoc is called Dulce i. sweet namely in the territorie of the Vocontians For this purpose they let the grapes hang a long while vpon the Vine but first they wryth the steele that the bunch hangs to Some make incision into the very Vine branch as far as to the pith and marrow within to diuert the moisture that feeds the grape others lay the clusters a drying vpon tile-houses and all this is done with the grapes of the Vine Heluenaca There be that range in a ranke of these sweet wines that which they cal Diacyton For which effect they drie the grapes against the Sun howbeit in a place well enclosed for 7 daies together vpon hardles 7 foot likewise from the ground in the night season they saue them from all dewes and so on the eight day they tread them in the wine presse and thus they draw forth a wine of an excellent sauor and tast both A kind of these sweet wines is that which they name Melitites in manner of a Braget Meade or Metheglin Howbeit different it is from the mead or honied wine which the Latines call Mulsum made of old wine that is hard and a little honie whereas the foresaid Melitites consists of 5 gallons of new tart wine still in the verdure whereto is added one gallon of honie and a cyath of salt and so boiled all together But I must not forget to place among these sundry kinds of drinke the liquor Protropum for so some call new wine running it self from the grapes before they be troden and pressed But to haue this good and so to serue the turne so soon as it is put vp into proper vessells for the purpose it must be suffered to work and afterwards to reboile and work againe for fortie daies space the Summer following euen from the very beginning of the dog daies and so forwards CHAP. X. ¶ Of weake and second Wines three kinds THe second wines which the Greeks call Deuteriae Cato and we Romans name Lora cannot properly and truly be called Wines being made of the skins and seeds of grapes steeped in water howbeit reckoned they are among course houshold wines for the hines and meinie to drinke And three kinds there be of them For somtime to the tenth part of the new wine that hath beene pressed out they put the like quantity of water and suffer the foresaid refuse of the grapes to soke therin a day and a night which done they presse it forth againe A second sort there is which the Greeks were wont to make in this manner They take a third part of water in proportion of the wine that was pressed forth and after a second pressing they seeth it to the wasting of the third part The third is that which is pressed out of the wine lees and this Cato cals Phoecatum i Wine of lees But none of these wines or drinks will endure aboue one yeare CHAP. XI ¶ What neat wines began of late to be in request in Italie IN this treatise of wines I cannot omit this obseruation That whereas all the good wines properly so called and known in the whole world may be reduced in fourscore kinds or therabouts two parts of three in this number may well be counted wines of Italie which in this regard farre surpasseth all other nations And hereupon ariseth another thing more deepely to be noted That these good wines were not so rife nor in such credit from the beginning as now they be CHAP. XII ¶ Obseruations touching wine TO say a truth Wines began to grow in reputation at Rome about sixe hundred yeares after the foundation thereof and not before For king Romulus vsed milk when he sacrificed to the gods and not wine as may appeare by the cerimonial constitutions by him ordained as touching religion which euen at this day be in force and are obserued And king Numa his successor made this law Posthumia in his later daies Let no man besprinckle the funer all fire with wine Which edict no man doubteth but he published and enacted in regard of the great want and scarsitie of wine in those daies Also by the same Act he expressely did prohibite to offer in sacrifice to the gods any wine comming of a Vine plant that had not beene cut and pruned intending by this deuise and pretence of religion to enforce men to prune their Vines who otherwise would set their minds on husbandrie only and plowing ground for corne and be slow enough in hazarding themselues for to climbe trees whereunto Vines were planted M. Varro writeth That Mezentius the king of Tuscane aided the Rutilians of Ardea in their warres against the Latines for no other hire and wage but the wine and the vines which then were in the territorie of Latium CHAP. XIII ¶ Of the ancient vsage of wine and the wines in old time IN ancient time women at Rome were not permitted to drink any wine We read moreouer in the Chronicles That Egnatius Mecennius killed his owne wife with a cudgell for that hee tooke her drinking wine out of a tun and yet he was cleared by Romulus and acquit of the murder Fabius Pictor in his Annales reports That a certaine Romane dame a woman of good worship was by her owne kinsfolke famished and pined to death for opening a cupbord wherin the keis of the wine-sellar lay And Cato doth record that hereupon arose the manner and custome That kisfolk should kisse women when they met them to know by their breath whether they smelled of Temetum for so they vsed in those daies to tearme Wine and thereof drunkennesse was called in Latine Temulentia Cn. Domitius a judge in Rome in the like case pronounced sentence judicially against a woman defendant in this forme That it seemed she had drunke more wine without her husbands knowledge than was needfull for the preseruation of her health and therefore afterward definitiuely That she should lose the benefit of her dowrie Certes the Romanes for a long time made great spare of wine L. Papyrius lord Generall of the Romane armie when he was at the point to joyne battell with the Samnites made no other vow but this That he would offer vnto Iupiter a little cup or goblet of wine in case he atchieued the victorie and woon the field Ouer and besides we find in histories that among donatiues and presents certaine sextars or quarts of milke haue beene many times giuen but neuer
this reason men doe alleadge because it soonest turnes and dulles the axe edge Of a hote nature also are the Mulberrie tree the Lawrell and the Yvie and in one word all those that serue to strike fire with This experiment was first found out by spies that goe between camp and camp by sheepheards also in the field for hauing not flint euermore readie at hand to smite and kindle fire withall they make shift for to rub and grate one wood against another and by this attrition there fly out sparkles which lighting vpon some tinder made either of drie rotten touchwood or of bunts and withered leaues very quickly catch fire and burne not out And for this intent there is nothing better than to strike the Yviewood with the Bay In this case also the wilde Vine I mean not Labrusca is much commended and it climbeth and runneth vpon trees in manner of Yuie The trees that grow in waterie grounds be coldest of all others but such be toughest and therefore best to make bucklers targuets the wood whereof if it be cut comes quickly together and closes vp the gash againe and in that regard much adoe there is to pierce it thorough with any weapon whatsoeuer And of this sort are Fig trees Willowes Lindens Bitch Elder Ash and Poplar Of all these the Fig tree and the Willow be lightest and therefore fittest for that purpose These trees last rehearsed be good for caskets and fossers wicker baskets also and prettie paniers which be made of winding twigs Their wood besides is faire white streight also and easie to be grauen The plane wood is soft and gentle but moist withall and so is the Alder. Eleme likewise Ash Mulberry and Cherry-tree wood is pliable but drier and more ponderous The Elme of all kinds of wood will keep streight and stiffe best and not warp at all because it twines and casts not it is passing good for hinges and hooks for sawne bords for ledges in dores and gates so as this regard be had of exchange that the vpper end of the bord that grew toward the head of the tree be fitted to the nether hinge or hooke of the dore and contrariwise the butt end serue the higher The Date tree and the Corke haue a soft and tender wood The Apple tree Peare tree and Maple haue as sad and massie but brittle it is like as all wood that goeth with a crosse and frisled grain And look what tree soeuer is naturally hard and tough the wild and the male of the same kind haue their wood more churlish than otherwise it is in the rest Semblably those that beare no fruit are of a faster and firmer wood than the fruitful vnlesse it be that that the males be bearers and the female barren of which sort are the Cypresse and Cornell trees The wood of Cypresse Cedar Ebene Lotus Box Yewgh Iuniper and the Oliue both sauage and gentle is neuer worme-eaten ne yet rotteth for age As for all other trees long it is before these decay to wit the Larch the Oke the Corke tree Chestnut and Walnut tree The Cedar Cypresse and Oliue wood neuer doth chinke or cleaue of it self vnlesse it be by some accident It is commonly thought that the Box the Ebene the Cypresse and the Cedar wood is euerlasting and will neuer be done An euident proofe thereof as touching all these sorts of timber by the judgment and choise of so many men was to be seene in that famous temple of Diana in Ephesus for al Asia set to their helping hand and contributed toward that work which in foure hundred yeres and not before they brought to an end finished The beames rafters and spars that went to the making of the roufe were by the generall voice of the whole world of Cedar timber As touching the statue or image it selfe of the goddesse Diana it is not certainly known of what wood it was all writers saue only Mutianus report that it was of Ebene As for him a man who had been thrice Consull of Rome and one of the last who vpon their owne sight of the said thing wrate therof auoucheth that it was made of Vine wood and that howsoeuer the temple was ruined and rebuilt againe no lesse than seuen times yet the foresaid image was neuer altered nor changed Who saith moreouer that Canetias chose that wood for the best for so he named the workman that cut and carued it And I much maruel therat considering that by his saying this image was of greater antiquity than that of lady Minerua much more than of prince Bacchus He addes moreouer and saith that this statue was embauâ—…ed within by reason of the precious oile of Spiknard which was distilled into it at many holes by means of which medicinable liquor the wood was nourished and the joints held close and fast together whereat I canot chuse but maruell again very much that considering the statue was so small it should haue any peece or joint at all Now as touching the leaues of the dores belonging to this temple they were by his report of Cypresse wood and continued still fresh and new to the eye notwithstanding it is foure hundred yeares well neare since they were made Where by the way this is to be noted that these dores stood foure yeres glewed in the claue And verily this wood was chosen for that purpose because among other properties the Cypresse alone hath the gift to looke alwaies shining and polished and neuer loseth the glosse and beauty And for to proue this we need not to goe farre Looke but vpon the emage of Vejouis in the Capitol made of Cypresse wood doth it not endure still faire and trim and yet was it dedicated and consecrated in that temple in the yeare after the foundation of Rome 551. A famous and memorable temple there is of Apollo at Vtica where the beames and maine peeces of timber made of Numidian Cedars remaine as whole and entire as at the first day when they were set vp which was when the citie was first founded by which computation they haue continued alreadie 1188 yeares Moreouer it is said that at Saguntum a citie of Spaine there is a temple of Diana still standing a little beneath the citie and yet as king Borchus mine Author saith 200 yeares before the ruine and destruction of Troy the same men that brought the image of the said Diana from the Island Zacynthus founded the temple aboue said For the antiquity and religion whereof Anniball made some conscience to demolish it and would not once touch it and therein are to be seen at this day the beames and rafters of Iuniper sound and good But aboue all other memorable is the temple of the said goddesse Diana in Aulis which was built many hundred yeres before the Trojane war but what kind of timber was emploied about the Carpentrie thereof is not well knowne Howbeit this we may boldly resolue vpon that the more
the gods with an oblation of corne yea and to offer prayers and supplications vnto them by no other means than cakes made of salt and meal yea and as Hemina mine author saith for to induce the people of Rome the better vnto it he allowed them to parch their corne in their sacrifices for that corne thus partched was supposed to be a more wholsome food by which meanes this one thing insued in the end that no corne was counted pure and good nor fit to be vsed in diuine seruice but that which was thus baked or partched He also instituted the feast Fornacalia to wit certaine holy-daies for the parching and baking of corne as also another as religiously obserued called Terminalia namely for the bounds and limits of lands for these and such like gods as then they worshipped most as also the goddesse Seia so called a serendo i. of sowing corne and setting plants and Segesta which name they gaue her a segetibus i. of corn fields whose images we at this day do see in the grand Cirque or Shew-place at Rome A third goddesse there is among them whom to name and inuocate within-house they might not with safe conscience Lastly so religious and ceremonious they were in old time that they would not so much as taste of new corne or wine before the Priests had taken a sey of the first fruits CHAP. III. ¶ Of Iugerum and Actus Of the antient Lawes ordained for Cattell in old time How often and at what time Corne and victuals were exceeding cheape at Rome What noble and famous persons addicted themselues wholly to Husbandrie and Tillage AN Acre or Arpen of ground called in Latine Iugerum was as much as might be eared vp or ploughed in one day with a yoke of Oxen. And Actus in Latine is a Land or so much just as two Oxen are driuen and occupied in whiles they plough in one tract without any rest This contained by the old time 120 foot in length and being doubled in length made the Acre or Iugerum abouesaid In antient time of the old Romans the greatest Present that could be giuen to captains and souldiers who had borne themselues valiantly in the seruice of their countrey was as much ground as they could haue eared or broken vp in one day And it was thought a great reward to receiue at the hands of the people of Rome halfe a pint or a pint at the vtmost of corn Moreouer in so great request was corn and Husbandry that the first and chiefe houses in Rome took their syrnames from thence and namely the Pilumni who deuised first the pestill to bray corne withall in their mils and backhouses also the family of the Pisenes who tooke their name a pisendo i. of stamping or pounding corne in a mortar The Fabij in like manner the Lentuli and the Ciceroes each one according to the seuerall pulse that they skilled best to set or sow Moreouer to the house of the Iunij they gaue the syrname of Bubulcus by occasion of one of their ancestors who knew passing well how to vse and order oxen Ouer besides all this that you may know what regard was had of corn among other sacred and holy ceremonies there was nothing reputed more religious than the bond of Confarration in knitting vp of mariages assurance making of the chiefe priests yea the manner of the new wedded brides was to carry openly before them a wheaten cake In times past the Magistrates called Censors iudged it a trespasse worthy of great rebuke to be an il husband that is to say to be carelesse and negligent in tilling the ground And as Cato reporteth if men called one by the name of a good husbandman they were thought to haue praised commended him in the highest degree hereupon also it came that rich and substantiall men were termed in Latine Locupletes as one would say Loci-pleni i. wel landed And as for the very word Pecunia in Latine which signifieth money it took the name of Pecus i. cattell And euen at this day as appeareth in the Registers of the Censors and the accounts of the city Chamber all their rents reuenues and customes growing vnto the people of Rome are called Pascua for that a long time the whole domaine of Rome stood vpon pasturage and nothing els The penalties and fines also which offendants were put to pay were raised of nothing else but of Kine Oxen and Sheep where by the way I cannot conceale from you the fauorable regard that the antient lawes and ordinances of Rome had whereby it was expressely forbidden That no Iudge who had power to enioine or impose any paine and amercement should name the fine of an Oxe vnlesse he had passed that of a Sheep first The solemne games and plaies also in the honour of Kine and oxen they who frequented them called Bubetij Moreouer king Seruius at the first when hee made brazen coine stamped the peeces with the portraiture of Sheepe Kine and Oxen. By the lawes of the twelue Tables all persons whatsoeuer aboue foureteen yeares of age were forbidden vnder pain of death either by stealth to feed their cattell in the night time vpon any corn-field of another mans ploughed and sown or to cut the same downe by syth or sickle at such a time and in that manner By the same laws also ordained it was That whosoeuer was attaint or conuicted thereupon should be hanged by the head and strangled for satisfaction of the goddesse Ceres and in one word to be more grieuously punished than in case of man-slaughter But if the offender were vnder that age beforesaid the same law prouided that hee should be whipped at the discretion of the Pretor or Lord chiefe Iustice for the time beeing or if this punishment were remitted by the partie who sustained the domage then hee should satisfie vnto him for the trespasse as a slaue and pay double for the losse according as honest and indifferent men valued it Furthermore in antient time the distinction of States and degrees in the city of Rome both for wealth and worship was according to their lands and not otherwise Insomuch as those citizens were reputed for chiefe and principall who were possessed of Land and liuing in the Countrey and these made the State called the Rusticke Tribes in Rome whereas contrariwise the other estate reputed the meaner in degree was named the Vrbane Tribes consisting of Artisans and such like as were not landed persons into which if a man were transferred from any of the rest it was thought a great shame and disgrace as if he were reproched for idlenesse negligence in husbandry And hereupon these foure Tribes alone took name of those foure principall parts or quarters of the city wherein they were seated to wit Suburrana Palatina Collina and Exquilina Ouer and besides vpon faires and market daies the Rustick Tribes vsually visited the city vpon which daies therefore no publick assemblies of the
from the red wheat Far it ought to be sowne very thicke with Vetches otherwhiles mingled among In Africke the same mixture is made of Barley All these are good onely for prouender and beasts forage as also a bastard kind of Vetches called Cracca which pigeons loue so well that if they be fed once therewith they will neuer leaue the place where they tasted it nor flie far from thence In time past our ancestors had a kind of fodder or prouender which Cate called Ocymum wherewith they vsed to stay the gurrie in kine and oxen This forrage was made of beane stalks cut downe greene as it stood before it was iointed and codded But Sura Manlius taketh this dredge to be another thing saying that in old time they vsed to put vnto ten Modij of beanes two of Vetches and as many of Eruile and so were wont to blend al together and sow them in an acre of ground at the fall of the leafe and saith he it would be the better balimong if there were some Greek Otes mingled withall such as neuer shed the seed out of the haw this manner of dredge was called vsually Ocymum and was woont to be sowne for a kind of forrage to serue kine and Oxen. Varro saith that it tooke that name because it commeth vp so speedily as being deriued from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth Quicke or Swift As for the grasse or herbe Medica a kind of Clauer or Trefoile the Greekes held it in old time for a meere stranger as being brought into Greece from Media during the Persian warres which king Darius leuied against Greece howbeit an excellent Simple it is and worthie to be written of in the first place And to begin withal this singular property it hath That with once sowing it continueth aboue thirty yeares without any need of renewing Like it is to Clauer or three leaued grasse both in lease and stalke but that the stemme is parted by knots and ioints Moreouer as it riseth higher and runneth vp in the stalke the leaues grow narrower of this herb alone and of Cytisus Amphilochus compiled one whole book howbeit he wrote of them both confusedly The ground wherein it is to be sowed after it is well rid of stones and clensed must be broken vp and well tilled in the fall of the leafe Soone after it needeth to haue another fallow and be harrowed withall and then couered with hardles this would be done two or three times fiue daies between and therewith it ought to be throughly dunged This herb requireth a sound dry ground and yet such as is full of succulent moisture within or else where water is neere at hand to command The ground being thus prepared ought to be sowed in the moneth of May following for otherwise the frost would take it and marre all Moreouer requisite it is that it be sowed very thick so as euery place be taken vp therewith thereby to exclude all other weeds and giue them no roome there to grow To this effect therefore euery acre will take 20 Modij or pecks of seed But take heed withall that it be not burnt so soon as it is put into the ground therfore immediatly it must be couered with mould If the soile be moist and giuen to bear other grasse the seed is soon ouergrown and choked and then al wil run to grasse turn to be a medow which grasse or coich when you see begin to ouerrun the ground it must be all weeded out presently an inch deepe within the ground and by hand rather than any weeding-hooke or thistle spade Now when this hearbe Medica or Clauer grasse begins once to floure cut it down and so oftenas it floureth againe downe with it Thus you may haue six mathes in one yere or four at the least You must neuer let it spindle and beare seed for better is it to take it thus in the growth while it is but young and greene grasse for three yeares together and the forrage or fodder is most profitable Sowne I say it must be in the Spring and weeded for the first three yeares The green sourd afterwards ought to be pared away with hookes and spades close to the ground for by this meanes you shall be sure that all other weeds will die and this hearbe take no harme by it for that by this time it is deepely rooted If the weeds do get head and ouercome it the onely remedie is by the plough to turne vp the ground ouer and ouer so many times vntill all other roots be killed Moreouer heed must be taken that of this herbage or fodder beasts do not eat their fil for feare you be driuen of necessitie to let them bloud and take downe their rankenesse The greener that it is the more profit commeth thereof for it drieth branch after branch vntil at length it will crumble like dust or powder and then is it good for nothing As touching Cytisus i. the Shrub Trifolie which is a singular kind of pasturage passes al the rest I haue written at ful in my discourse of shrubs For now at this present I am to prosecure and goe through the treatise of other sorts of corne and their nature if I had once written somewhat in one part thereof as touching the accidents and imperfections that happen among them CHAP. XVII ¶ The faults incident to corne and their remedies Also what corne is respectiue to this or that soile for to be sowne therein THe first and principall defect obserued in bread-corne and Wheat especially is when it doth degenerate and turne into Otes and not only it but Barley also doth the like Semblably Otes otherwhiles serue the turne in stead of bread corne as wee may see in some countries of Almaine where they do vsually sow it and commonly they haue no other pottage there than Oatmeale gruell which they call Abremouz The foresaid defect and imperfection is occasioned chiefely by the moist soile or ouerwet weather Another cause there followeth also thereupon proceeding from the feeblenesse and weaknesse of the seed namely when it lieth long sobbing in the ground before it come vp and hereto may be referred the faultines of the seed otherwise namely if it were worm-eaten or otherwise rotten at the time of sowing and verily no sooner appeareth it aboue ground but the foresaid change or bastardie may be seene whereby it doth appeare that the cause is in the root A second defect or imperfection there is also incident to corn which hath some neer resemblance to the Otes aforesaid namely when the graine being formed and newly come to the iust proportion of bignesse howbeit not yet full and ripe before that it is firm and hard is smitten with a noisome blast and so like an abortiue fruit decaieth and windereth away within the eare in such sort as there is no substance left therein but appeareth void and emptie Now these aduerse and malignant
320. g. bees after they haue stung be no better than drones ibid. k. drone bees are biggest 315. a. they take vp least lodgings ibid. Of bees worke three foundations 313. b. whom they will sting 320. k. bees are often sicke 320. m. bees sorrow for their dead king 321. a. bees performe a solemnitie of exercise ibid. e. they liue not aboue seuen yeares ibid. how they ere repaired 322. g. bees will not touch a dead carkasse ibid. i. bees onely make their owne meat 328. i Beetles haue no sting 326. k. they are remedies for children ibid. they are delighted in roses 355. e Bellerophon his letters in tables 394. l of the Belly 342. k Bellies that be fattest cause grossenesse of capacitie ibid. l Belus inuentor of Astronomie 136 h Ben or Behen 374. f. a nut onely for sweet ointments ib. Benacus a lake in Italy 248. g Beotia riuer 51. f Berenice haire a starre 34. l Berries different 447. f Besbicus Island sometimes ioined to Bithinia 40. i B I Bills giuen to birds in stead of mouthes and their vse 336. l. m. Biaeon a kinde of wine medicinable 416. i Bieuers gueld themselues 212. m. where they breed their nature 213 a Birch tree described and how it is emploied 468. i Bird-gaâ—…ders 281. b Birdâ—…me how it was made 497. a Birds singing when they ordinarily doe breed 287. c. birds very few haue gawles in the liuers 341. f. birds hatched with their taâ—…les forward 272. e. birds hauing neither veâ—…es nor arâ—…es 345. c. birds with hooked talons prey all 278. k. birds how they translate their egges from place to place hauing no hooked tallons 289. a. birds differ 〈◊〉 from another in flight and gate 291. f. birds how they drinke 295. c. birds of diuers feedings ibid. 〈◊〉 birds singing alter their notes 285. e. new birds 296. k. birds there be none without feet 351. d. birds language how to be vnderstood 296. l. birds of prey least fruitfull 297. f. birds that lay most ibid. birds how they engender 298. g. birds how they differ in laying and couving ibid. i. 300. k. birds small be fruitfull 301. d. blackbirds counterfeiting mans speech 293. d. blackebirds are gone for a time 284. g. blackebirds change both hew and tune ibid. Births strange for number for defects and superfluitie 164. h. i. Births of children vncertaine 158. k Birth at seuen months liue also at the eleuenth ib. A child legitimat borne within thirteene months after the supposed father deceased 159. a Bisontus or Boeufos of Germanie 199. f Bissextile yeare 585. b Bitches differ in their litters 303. c. bitches engender with Tigres 219. e. with wolues ib. how long they goe with young 220. h. their whelpes blind ibid. h. i Bithyae Women witches who haue a double sight in their eie 155. a Biting if a mad dog cured by Eglantine 220. k Bitumen comparable to the water of Styx 47. d Bitumen a strange slime 163. e B L Bladder where it is placed 343. f. bladder nut tree 467. c. bladder onely there found where is lungs and bloud 343. f. of the bladder in man and beast 343. f. bladder being wounded cannot be cured 344. g Blasted corne 574. i Blasts how they be occasioned 574. l m. blasts suddaine their names and nature 24. k Blattae flies are nourished in darkenesse 326. m Blazing starres See comets Volusius Saturnius how hee vsed to bleed 346. h Blossoming time of trees how long it lasteth 473. b Bloud apples 438. l. bloud ained See Raine bloud fat and grosse breedeth anger and choller 345. f. of bloud a discourse ibid. bloud of males blacker than of females ib. bloud containeth a great portion and treasure of life 346. g. it is without sence and feeling ibid. bloud that is thinnest causeth strength in creatures ibid. bloud that is thinnest maketh men wise ibid where it is but little maketh men fearefull ib. bloud of bulls soonest congealeth ib. it is poison to be drunke ibid. bloud of Asses most fattie and grosse ib. bloud of man thinnest and best ibid. bloud is but little in those that be fat ib. bloud cast vp by many at the mouth ib. h. bloud quicliest encreaseth of all parts of the body ib. bloud changeth with anger and furie ibid. in Blouming time raine hurtfull to corne 574. k B O Boae mightie great serpents 199. e. why so called ib. Bodies of men and women different beside the distinct parts of sex 165. e Boats of one entire piece of wood 490. g Boetica so called of Boetis 51. c Boeufes of India 224. k. bred by king Pyrrhus ibid. l. their manner of engendring and breeding ibid. of feeding 224. a. when they are to bee drawne and yoked ibid. b. sufficient for sacrifice ibid. e. knowne to speake ibid. Bolides flaming launces in the skie 17. b Bombyceae reeds or canes 484. g Bombycina garments of silke 322. m Bombyly the greater kinde of Bombyces 322. l Bombyx a flie breeding in Assyria ibid their hard neasts ibid. how they engender ibid. of Bones 345. a Bonasus what manner of beast and his properties 200. h Bondwoman brought forth a serpent 157. f Bones of Asses legs sound shrill 345 a. bones in some men without marrow 165. f. bones sometime found in the hearts of beasts 340. i Bore his owne Physitian 210. m. bore serued whole vnto the bourd 230. l Bore as wind 23. a Borystenes riuer 154. i Bosphori the streights Thracius and Cimmerius 117. f. why so called 115. a. Bosphori sometime land 40. l Botanismos what it is 577. a Boulters and Raungers 567. c Box tree wood commended in the root most 467. c. box tree serueth for arbours ibid. of box tree three kindes ibid. c. where it delighteth to grow ibid. d. the nature of the floure and wood ibid. box tree beareth varietie of fruits 476. g B R Brake see Ferne. Braine of a Date tree 386. m Brambles of three sorts 485. e. with a blacke berry with a rose and a red berry ibid. f. the bramble Idaea which is Raspis ibid. Brance what corne 559. d people Branded with hot yrons 116. h Brasse where first found 80. m. brasse-founders the first 188. k. brasse forges and furnaces who deuised ibid. k. Brawne of wilde bores in great request 230. l Braines the coldest part of mans body 332. m. they are without bloud or veines ibid. by seething they waxe hard 333. a. without flesh bloud filth or ordure ibid. braines the fort and castle of the sences ibid. braines and eies die first 340. g. of braines and the braine-pan 332. l. m. Bread of sundry sorts according to the meat eaten therewith 566. l. bread Parthicke or water-bread 567. a Breadth of the earth 48. i Breath of Lions stinketh 255. a. breath of beares pestilen 〈◊〉 and deadly ibid. breath of men by what meanes it is insected ibid. b. breath of man shall returne into the aire ibid. it is corrupted by much drinking of wine ib. breath of Elephants
sort may be excused for sowing it as they doe and making saile-cloath thereof in regard of the necessarie traffique they haue into Arabia and India for to fetch in the commodities of those countries what need or reason I pray you hath France so to do Can the Gauls be sorted in the same range with the Egyptians Whether would they go Is it not sufficient that they see the mightie mountaines standing iust between them and the Miditerranean sea Will not this serue to keepe them from Nauigation that on the huge Ocean side they can discouer nothing but the vast Elements of Water and Aire together Howbeit for all this restraint the Cadurci Caletes Rutene and Bituriges the Morini also who are supposed to be the farthest people inhabiting our Continent yea and thoroughout all parts of Fraunce they weaue Line and make Sailes thereof And now adayes also the Flemmings and Hollanders dwelling beyond the Rhene I meane those antient Enemies to the State of our Empire doe the like insomuch as the women there cannot deuise to go more rich and costly in their apparell than to weare fine Linnen The obseruation whereof putteth me in mind of a thing that M. Varro doth report of the whole Race and Familie of the Serrani in which House this Order was precisely kept That there was not a woman amongst them knowne to weare any Linnen about her no not so much as in a smocke next her bare skinne Now in Germanie the spinners and weauers of Linnen doe all their worke in shrouds caues and vaults buried as it were vnder the ground so do they also in Italy and that part of Lombardie that lieth between the Poand Ticinus to wit in the Countrey Aliana where after the Setabines in Castile which is the best there is very fine workemanship of Linnen cloath and may deserue the third place for goodnesse thoroughout all Europe For the Retovines bordering hard vpon the foresaid Allianes and the Faventines who inhabit the broad port-way Aemilia are to be ranged in a second degree and next to the Setabines for the fine Linnen which they make And in very truth this Fauentine cloth is alwaies far whiter than the Allian which is ordinarily brown when it is new wouen and before it be bleached Like as the Retovine is exceeding fine thick wouen withall and besides not inferior in whitenesse to the Fauentine howbeit no nap or down it carieth a thing which as there be some who do greatly praise and like so there be others again discommend and dislike as much As touching the thred it selfe that they make of their Flax it is more euen if euener may be than that which the Spider spinneth so neruous also and strong withall that if a man list to make triall thereof with his teeth it will giue a twang and ring again like a Lute-string and therefore it carrieth a double price to other As touching the Spanish Flax and namely that which Aragon and Cartalogna doth yeeld it is passing faire and white by reason of a certain brook or running water passing vnder Tarracon wherein it is watered the nature whereof is to giue it a singular brightnesse aboue the rest Wonderous fine it is and runneth into a dainty small thred for there first was deuised the fine Cypres or Lawne and the curtains thereof It is not long ago since out of the same parts of high Spaine there was brought into Italy the flax of Zoela most commodious meet for hunters to make great nets and toile A maritime city this Zoela is in Gallitia scituat neere the ocean There is excellent good Line also to be found at Cumes in Campaine within Italy which serueth very well for snares and small nets to take fishes and to catch birds with The same also yeeldeth matter and stuffe for the great cord-nets abouesaid for wote wel this that Flax fitteth our turns as well to snare and intrap all other beasts as it doth to indanger our own selues vpon the sea But of all others the toile made of Cumes flaxen cords are so strong that the wild bore falling into it wil be caught and no maruell for these kind of nets will checke the very edge of a sword or such like weapon I my selfe haue seene so fine and small a thred that a whole net knit thereof together with the cords and strings called Courants running along the edges to draw it in and let it out would passe all through the ring of a mans finger I haue known one man also carry so many of them easily as would go about compasse a whole forest But this is not the greatest wonder of them for more than so euery one of these threds that went to the making of the mashes was twisted 150 double and euen of late daies Iulius Lupus who died Lord Deputy or Gouernor of Egypt had such This may well seem a maruell incredible to those who neither knew nor saw the net-worke Habergeon or Curet of Amasis a king somtime of Egypt which was shewed of late daies within the temple of Minerua in the Isle of the Rhodians euery thred whereof carried a twist 365 double Certes Mutianus a man of good credit as who had bin thrice confull of Rome hath related so much at Rome vpon his owne knowledge for wheras there remained yet certaine small reliques and little pieces therof it was his hap of late to meet with some of them and by his owne triall to find that true which hac bin reported by others And verily great pittie it is that such an excellent rich and rare peece of work as it was should thus come to nothing by mens iniurious handling of it raueling out the threds as they haue don for to see the proose of the thing But to returne againe to our flax of Italy That which groweth in the Pelignians countrey is at this day in great account and request how beit none vse it but the Fullers There is not a whiter flax to be found indeed resembling wool nearer than this flax Like as for quilts ticks and mattrasses the flax of the Cadurei in France had no fellow for surely the inuention therof as also of flox to stuffe them with came out of France As for vs here in Italy euen as our maner was in old time te lie and sleep vpon straw-beds chaffy couches so at this day wee vse to call our pailers still by the name of Stramenta The Line or flax of Egypt is nothing strong howbeit the people there do raise exceeding great gaine and profit thereof And foure distinct kinds thereof are knowne according to the names of the sundry countries where they grow to wit Taniticum Pelusiacum Buticum and Tentyriticum Moreouer in the higher parts of Egypt which bend toward Arabia there groweth a certaine shrub or bush carrying cotton which some call Gossypium others Xylon and the linnen therof made they therefore cal Xylina This plant
wholsome to the belly than the other but the meale as wel of the one as the other doth heale the running sores scales of the head howbeit the wild better than the rest Moreouer these ciches are taken to be good for the falling sicknesse the swellings of the liuer and the sting of Serpents They procure womens termes and prouoke vrine and especially the grain it selfe rather than the leafe The same are singular for tettars and ring-worms for inflammations of the cods for the jaundise dropsie But all the sort of them be hurtfull to the bladder and kidnies especially if they be exulcerat For gangrenes and those morimall vlcers called Cacoethe they be better in case they bee tempered with honey Some there be who for to be ridde of all kinde of Warts take as many Cich-pease as there be warts and with euery one of them touch a wart and that vpon the first day after the change of the Moon which done they tie the foresaid Pease or Ciches in a little linnen â—…ag and fling them away backward behind them and they are persuaded that the warts will be gone by this means But our Latine Physitians are of opinion That the blacke ciches which be called Ram-ciches should be well and throughly sodden in water and salt of which decoction they prescribe vnto the patient for to drinke two cyaths in difficulty of making water for to expell the stone and rid away the jaundise Their leaues and stalks of straw being sodden in water ouer a good fire yeeld a decoction which beeing vsed as hot as may be suffered doth mollifie the callosities hardnesse growing about the feet so doth a liniment also made of the very substance it selfe stamped and applied hot The Columbine ciches sodden in water are thought to lessen and shorten the shaking fits in tertian and quartan agues The black cich-pease being beaten to pouder with halfe the quantity of gall-nuts and incorporat with sweet wine cuit called Passum and so applied cureth the vlcers of the eyes As touching Eruile somewhat I haue said already touching the properties thereof when I made mention of it among other kinds of pulse And indeed the old writers haue attributed as great power vertue vnto it as to the Colewort Being laid to with vineger it cureth the hurts that come by the sting of serpents or the teeth of man crocodile There be writers of approued authority who assirm for certain That if a man doe eat Eruile fasting euery day it will diminish and wast the swelling of the spleen The meale of Eruile as Varro reporteth taketh away the spots and moles of any part of the body And in truth this pulse is singular to represse corrosiue and eating vlcers but aboue all it is most effectuall in the sores of womens brests applied with wine it breaketh carbuncles Being torrified and incorporat with hony and reduced into an electuarie or bole and so taken as much as an hazell nut it amendeth the suppression or difficulty of voiding vrine dissolueth ventosities openeth obstructions and helpeth other accidents of the liuer the prouocations and proffers to the stoole without doing any thing reuiueth those parts that mislike and feele no benefit or nutriment of meat which they cal in Greek Atropha In like manner it cureth shingles ring-worms and tettars if it be first sodden in vineger so applied and not remoued vntil the fourth day If it be laid too with hony it keepeth biles from suppuration A fomentation made with the decoction thereof in water helps kibed heels the itch And it is generally thought That if a man drink it euery day next his heart vpon an empty stomack it will make the whole body looke with a better and more liuely colour Contrariwise the common opinion is That it is not good to be eaten ordinarily as meat for it moueth to vomit troubleth the belly lieth heauy vpon the stomack and fumeth vp into the head it breedeth ache and heauinesse in the knees But if it haue lien many daies in steepe after that imbibition of water it becommeth more mild and is a most wholsom prouender for horse and oxen The green cods of Eruile before they waxe hard if they be stamped with their stalkes and leaues together do colour and die the hairs of the head blacke As touching wild Lupines they be inferior to those which come of seed in all respects but only in biternesse And verily there is not a thing more commendable wholsome and light of digestion than white Lupines if they be eaten dry They are brought to be sweet and pleasant by hot ashes or scalding water Beeing eaten at meales vsually they make a fresh colour and chearfull countenance Bitter Lupines are very good against the sting of the Aspides Dry Lupins husked clensed from their skins applied to black mortified vlcers ful of dead flesh with a linnen cloth between reduce them to a liuely colour and to quick flesh again The same sodden in vineger discusse the kings euill and the swelling kernels impostumations behind the ears The broth or collature of them being sodden with Rue and Pepper may be giuen safely although it were in an ague to those that bee vnder thirty yeares of age for to expell the wormes in the belly As for young children who haue the wormes it is good to lay Lupines to their bellie whiles they be fasting All others are to take them torrified either by way of drink in a kind of wine cuit or els in electuary after the maner of a lohoch The same do giue an edge to the stomacke and quicken the appetite to meat The meale or pouder of Lupines wrought with vineger into a dough or paste and so reduced into a liniment and vsed in a bain or stouve represseth and keepeth down all wheales and itching pimples which are ready to breake forth and of it selfe is sufficient to drie vp vlcers It bringeth to the natiue and liuely colour al places blacke and blew with stripes Medled with Barly groats it assuageth all inflammations For the weaknesse of the huckle bone the haunch and loins the wilde Lupines are counted more effectual than the other A fomentation with the decoction of these wild Lupins maketh the skin more smooth and beautifull taking away all spots and freckles But if the same or garden Lupines be boiled to the height and consistence of hony they do clense the skin from black morphew and the leprosie These also if they be applied as a cataplasme do break carbuncles bring down or els ripen the swelling kernels named the kings euil and other biles and botches which of their nature be long ere they gather to head Boiled in vineger they reduce places cicatrized to their naturall colour and make them look faire white again But if they be throughly sodden in rain water of the collature that passeth from them there is made an abstersiue and scouring lie in manner of sope most excellent for
mixe with Fenigreek a fourth part of the seed of garden cresses wel clensed to temper them in the strongest vineger that he could come by which he took to be an excellent medicine for the leprosie Damion ordained to make a drink with half an acetable of Fenigreek seed put into 9 cyaths of cuit or sheere water and so to giue it so prouoking of womens fleurs no man doubts but the decoction of Fenigreeke is most wholsome for the matrice and the exulceration of the guts like as the seed it self is excellent for the ioints precordial parts about the heart But in case it be boiled with Mallows it is good for the matrice guts so there be put to the said decoction some honied wine then giuen in drink for euen the very vapor or fume of the said decoction doth much good to those parts Also the decoction of Fenigreeke seed rectifieth the stinking rank smel of the arm-pits if they be washed therewith The floure made of Fenigreeke seed incorporat with nitre wine quickly clenseth the head of scurfe scales dandruffe But boiled in hydromell i. honyed water and brought into a liniment with hogs grease it cureth the swelling and inflammation of the members seruing to generation likewise it is singular for the broad and flat apostems called Pani the swelling kernels and inflammations behinde the ears the gout as well of the feet as of the hands and other ioints also the putrifaction of the flesh ready to depart from the bone and being incorporat in vineger it helpeth dislocations being boiled in vineger and hony only it serueth as a good liniment for the spleen and tempered with wine it clenseth or mundifieth cancerous sores but put thereto hony it healeth them throughly in a short time The said floure of Fenigreeke seed taken in a broth or supping is an approued remedy for an vlcer within the brest and any inueterat cough but it asketh long seething euen vntill it haue lost the bitternesse and afterwards hony is put thereto and then it is a singular grewell for the infirmities before said Thus you see what may be said of those hearbes which are in comparison but of a mean account it remaineth now to discourse of those which are of more account and estimation than the rest THE TVVENTY FIFTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS CHAP. I. ¶ The nature and properties of Hearbs growing wild and of their owne accord WHen I consider the excellency of such hearbes whereof now I am to treat and which the earth seemeth to haue brought forth onely for the vse of Physick I cannot chuse but grow withall into a wonderfull admiration of the great industry and careful diligence of our Antients before-time who haue made experiments of all things and left nothing vntried neither reserued they afterwards this hidden knowledge to themselues nor concealed ought but were willing to communicate the same vnto posteritie for their good and benefit but we contrariwise in these daies are desirous to keep secret and to suppresse the labors of other men yea and to defraud the world of those commodities which haue been purchased by the sweat of other mens browes for verily we see it is an ordinary course that such as haue attained to some knowledge envie that little skil vnto their neighbours and to keepe all forsooth to themselues and teach none their cunning they thinke the onely way to winne a great name and opinion of some deepe and profound learning And so far be we off from deuising new inuentions and imparting the same to the generall profit of mankinde that for this long time men of great wit and high conceit haue studied and practised to compasse this one point That the good deeds of their Ancestours might with themselues die and be buried for euer But certes wee see and know that the seueral inuentions of some one thing or other haue caused diuers men in old time to be canonized as gods in such sort as their memoriall hath beene eternized by the names euen of hearbes which they found out so thanke full was the age insuing as to recognize and acknowledge a benefit from them receiued and by this meanes in some measure to make recompence This care and industrie of theirs if it had beene imployed in Domesticall Plants neere home which either for pleasure and delight or else for the Kitchin and Table are set and sowed could not haue beene so rare and wonderfull but they spared not to climbe vp the top of high mountaines and to rocks vnaccessible to trauell through blind and vnpeopled desarts to search euery veine and corner of the earth all to find and know the vertues of herbs of what operation the root was for what diseases the leaues were to be vsed yea and to make wholsom medicines for mans health of those simples which the very four-footed beasts of the field neuer fed vpon nor once touched CHAP. II. ¶ The Latine Authors who haue written of herbs and their natures At what time the knowledge of Simples began to be practised and proffssed in Rome The first Greeke writers who trauelâ—…d â—…n this Argument The inuention of herbs The antient Physicke and the manner of curing diseasâ—…s in old time What is the cause that Simples are not now so much vsed for remedies of diseases as they haue bin Finally of the sweet Brier or Eglantine and the herb Dragons with their medicinable vertues WE Romans haue bin more slack and negligent in this behalfe than was beseeming vs considering how otherwise there was not a nation in the world more apprehenâ—… of all vertues and things profitable to this life than ours For to say a truth M. Caâ—…o that famous clerke and great professor so well seen in all good Arts and Sciences was the first and for a long time the only author who wrate of Simples and howsoeuer he handled that argument but briefly and summarily yet he omitted not the leech-craft belonging also to kine and oxen Long after him C. Valgius a noble gentleman of Rome a man of approued literature compiled a treatise of Simples which he left vnperfect howbeit he dedicated the book to â—…ugustus Caesar the Emperor as may appeare by a preface by him begun wherein after a religious and ceremonious manner of supplication he seemeth to beseech the said prince That it might please his Majesty especially to â—…ure all the maladies of mankind And before his time the only man among our Latines as far as euer I could find who wrot of Simples was Pomâ—… us â—…aeus the vassall or freed man of Pompey the Great And this was the first time that the knowledge of this kind of learning was set on foot and professed at Rome For Mithridates the most mightie and puissant king in that age whose fortune notwithstanding was to be vanquished and subdued by Pompey was well knowne vnto the world not only by the fame that went
also are of this nature that they be able to cure and ease such as are stung already either by touching only or else by a medicinable sucking of the place of which kind are the Psylli and Marsi those also in the Island Cyprus whom they call Ophugenes and of this race and house there came an Embassador out of the said Island whose name was Exagon who by the commandement of the Consuls was put into a great tun or pipe wherein were many serpents for to make an experiment and trial of the truth and in very deed the said serpents licked his body in all parts gently with their tongues as if they had bin little dogs to the great wonder of them who beheld the manner of it A man shall know those of this family if any of them remain at this day by this signe that they breath a strong and stinking sent from them especially in the Spring season Now these people beforenamed had not only a gift to cure folk with their spittle but their very sweat also had a medicinable vertue against the sting of serpents For as touching those men who are born and bred in Tentyrus an Island lying within the riuer Nilus so terrible they be vnto the Crocodiles that they wil not abide so much as their voice but flie from them so soon as they heare it Moreouer it is knowne for certaine that all the sort of these people who haue their bodies thus priuiledged by that secret antipathie in nature between them serpents are able to ease those who are stung if they do but come in place where they be like as a wound will be more angry and sore if they come neare who at any time before haue been hurt by sting of serpent or tooth of mad dog such also carry about with them in their bodies so venomous a quality that their onely presence is enough to marre the egs that a brood-hen sits vpon and make them all addle yea and to driue ewes and other cattell to cast their yong before the time such a virulent property remaineth still behind in their bodies who haue bin once stung and bitten that notwithstanding they be cured thereof yet venomous they are now and hurtfull to others who beforetime were poisoned themselues But the only way to remedy this inconuenience is to cause them to wash their hands before they enter into the roome where the patients lie and with the same water to besprinckle and wash them who are to be cured Againe this is to be obserued that whosoeuer at any time haue bin pricked with a scorpion shal neuer afterwards be stung by hornets waspes or bees A strange thing this is no doubt howbeit no great wonder vnto them who know that a garment or cloth which had bin vsed at funerals wil neuer be afterwards moth eaten and how that serpents hardly can be plucked out of their holes vnlesse it be by the left hand CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of certaine Sorceries and the properties of a mans spittle Also against Magitians THe inuentions of Pithagoras as touching numbers beare a great stroke in these matters and lightly misse not but principally in this That the said Philosopher would giue judgment by the vowels contained in the proper name of any person concerning their fortunes for in case the vowels were in number odde he pronounced that if the party euer proued lame of a lim lost an eie or met with any such like accidents the same should happen vpon the right side of the body but contrariwise if the number of vowels were euen then these infirmities should befall the left side Furthermore it is commonly said that if one take a stone dart or instrument of shot wherewith a man hath killed these three liuing creatures a man a wilde Bore and a Bear one after another that with one single stroke to euery one of them and fling the same clean ouer an house where there is a woman in hard trauell of child-birth so as it light on the other side without touching any part thereof the woman shal presently be deliueed More reason there is that a light jauelin or Pertuisan should do this feat which had bin drawn forth of a mans body so as it neuer touched the ground after for do but bring this murdering jauelin into the place where a woman is in labor it wil forthwith procure her deliuerance Orpheus and Archelaus do write much after the same maner of arrows pulled out of men bodies namely that if care be had that they touch not the earth then be laid vnder the bed where man or woman lieth they wil cause the parties to be enamored vpon them that bestowed the said arrows there and these authors report moreouer that the venison of any wild beast killed with the same weapon which was the death of a man before is singular to cure the falling sicknesse As some men there be whose bodies all throughout be medicinable so there be others who haue certain parts onely of the same vertue according as I haue written already concerning the thumbe of king Pyrrhus In the citie Elis also the inhabitants were wont to shew as a wonderfull monument the rib of Pelops which they auouched to be all of Iuory And euen at this day many there are who make great scruple to shaue or clip the haire growing in any molle or wert vpon the face As touching the fasting spittle specially of man or woman I haue shewed already how it is a soueraigne preseruatiue against the poison of serpents But that is not all for in many other cases it is found by daily experience to be of great operation and to worke effectually For first and formost if we see any surprised with the falling sicknesse we spit vpon them and by that means we are persuaded that we our selues auoid the contagion of the said disease Item an ordinary thing it is with vs to put by the danger of witch-craft by spitting in the eies of a witch so do we also when we meet with one that limpeth and is lame of the right leg Likewise when we craue pardon of the gods for some audacious and presumptuous praiers that wee make we vse to spit euen into our bosoms Semblably for to fortifie the operation of any medicines the manner is to pronounce withal a charm or exorcisme three times ouer and to spit vpon the ground as often and so we doubt not but it will do the cure and not faile Also when we perceiue a fellon or such like vncom sore a breeding the first thing that we doe is to marke it three times with our fasting spittle I will tell you of a strange effect and whereof it is no hard matter yw is to make the triall If one man hath hurt another either by reaching him a blow neare at hand or by letting flie somwhat at him farther off repent him when he hath so done let him presently spit just in
them shels and all into a plaister or liniment but especially such as be found sticking to the roots of shrubs and bushes The ashes of the serpent Aspis calcined are likewise very good for this disease if they be incorporat with buls tallow so applied Some vse snakes grease and oil together also a liniment made with the ashes of snakes burnt tempered either with oil or wax Moreouer it is thought that the middle part of a snake after the head and taile both be cut away is very wholsome meat for those who haue the kings euill or to drink their ashes being in the same manner prepared and burnt in a new earthen pot neuer occupied mary if the said snakes chanced to be killed between two cart-tracts where the wheeles went the medicine will look much more effectually Some giue counsell to apply vnto the affected place Crickets digged out of the earth with the mould and al that commeth vp Also to apply Pigeons dung only without any thing els or at the most to temper it with Barley meale or Oatmeale in vinegre Likewise to make a liniment of a Moldwarps ashes incorporat with hony Some there be who take the liuer of a Moule crush and bruise it between their hands working it into a liniment and lay the same to the sore and there let it drie on the place and wash it not off in three daies And they affirme That the right foot af a Moule is a singular remedie for this disease Others catch some of them cut off their heads stampe them with the mould that they haue wrought and cast vp aboue ground reduce them into certain trochisks which they keep in a box or pot of tinne and vse them by way of application to all tumors and impostumes which the Greeks call Apostemata and especially those that rise in the necke but then they forbid the patient to eat porke or any swines flesh during the cure Moreouer there is a kind of earth-beetles called tauri i. Buls which name they took of the little hornes that they carry for otherwise in colour they resemble tickes some tearme them Pedunculos terrae earth lice These also worke vnder the ground like wants and cast vp mould which serueth in a liniment for the Kings euil such like swelling as also for the gout in the feet but it must not be washed off in three daies space Howbeit this is to be noted that this medicine must be renued euery year for the said mould wil continue no longer in vertue than one year In sum there be attributed to these beetles all those medicinable properties which I haue assigned vnto the crickets called Grylli Moreouer some there be who vse in manner and cases aforesaid the mould which ants do cast vp Others for the Kings euil take iust as many mads or earthworms in number as there be wens gathered and knotted together and bind the same fast vnto them letting them to drie vpon the place and they are persuaded that the said wens will drie away and consume together with them There be again who get a Viper about the rising of the Dog star cut off the head and taile as I said before of snakes and the middle part betweene they burne the ashes that come thereof they giue afterwards to be drunke for three weeks together euery day as much as may be comprehended and taken vp at three fingers ends and thus they cure and heale the kings euill Moreouer there be some that hang a Viper by a linnen thread fast tied somewhat vnder the head so long till she be strangled and dead and with that thread bind the soresaid wens or Kings euill promising vnto their patients assured remedie by this meanes They vse also the Sowes called Multipedae and incorporat the same with a fourth part in proportion to them of true Turpentine and they be of opinion That this ointment or salue is sufficient to cure any impostumes whatsoeuer As touching the paines that lie in the shoulders there is a proper medicine made in forme a liniment with the ashes of a Weazill tempered with wax which easeth the same To keepe young boies from hauing any haire growing on their face that they may seem alwaies young it is good to annoint their cheekes and chin with Ants egges Also the marchants or hucksters that buy yong slaues to sell them againe for gaine vse to hinder the growth of hair as well of the visage as in the armeholes and vpon the share that they may be taken for young youths still by annointing those parts with the bloud that commeth from lambs when they be libbed which ointment doth good also to the armpits for to take away the ranke and rammish smell thereof but first the haire there growing ought to be pulled vp by the roots Now that I am come to speake of the precordiall region of the body know this That by this one word Praecordia I meane the inwards or entrailes in man or woman called in Latine Exta whensoeuer then there shall be pain felt in these parts or any of them apply thereto a yong sucking whelpe and keepe it hard huggled to the place doubtlesse the said griefe will passe away from the part to the puppie it selfe as men say and this hath been found true by experience in one of those whelpes ripped and opened aliue and the said bowels taken forth for looke what part in man or woman was grieued the very same was seene infected thereupon in the puppie And such whelpes thus vsed for the curing and taking vpon them our maladies were wont to be enterred with great reuerence and ceremoniall deuotion As touching the pretty little dogs that our daintie dames make so much of called Melitaei in Latine if they be euer and anon kept close vnto the stomacke they ease the paine therof And in very truth a man shall perceiue such little ones to be sicke yea and many times to die thereupon whereby it is euident that our maladies passe from vs to them CHAP. VI. ¶ Of the diseases incident to the lights and liuer Of those that vse to cast and reach vp bloud at the mouth MIce are very good for the infirmities of the lungs especially those of Barbarie if they be first flaied then sodden in oile and salt and so giuen to the patient for to eat Thus prepared and vsed they cure them that either spit purulent and filthy matter or else reach vp shere bloud But a dish of meat made of snailes with shels is most excellent for the stomacke But for the better ordering and dressing of them first they ought to siver ouer the fire and take a few waulmes till they be parboiled without touching or medling one jot with their body afterwards they must be broiled vpon the coales without putting any thing in the world vnto them and then to be serued vp in wine and fish pickle or brine called Garum and so eaten But the best
were of the said temple the tast wil turn to be waterish again Polyclitus writeth of a certaine fountaine of Cilicia neere vnto the citie Soli which yeeldeth an vnction or oleus water that serueth in stead of oile Theophrastus reports the same of another fountain in Aethyopia which hath the like quality And Lycus saith That among the Indians there is a fountaine the water whereof is vsed in lampes to maintaine light And the like is reported of an â—…ther water about Ecbatanâ—… the capitall citie of Media Theopompus writeth That neere to Scotusa in Macedonie there is a lake the water wherof is soueraign for the healing of wounds Moreouer king Iuba hath left in writing That in the Troglodites country there is a lake for the hurtful water that it beareth called the Mad lake which thrice a day becommeth bitter and salt and as many times for it turneth to be fresh and sweet which course it keeps also in the night season breeding otherwise white serpents twenty cubits long of which it is crawling full The same Prince mine author reports That in Arabia there is a spring boiling out of the ground with such a force that it scorneth and checketh any thing that is throwne into it and canot be kept downe with any weight whatsoeuer Theophrastus maketh mention of the fountain Marsyas in Phrygia neere vnto the town Celaenae which casteth vp great stones And not farre from it be two other springs Claeon and Gelon so called by the Greeks for the contrary effects which they worke At Cizicum there is a fountain of Cupid and whosoeuer drinke of the water thereof shall lay aside and forget all affection of loue as Mutianus doth both report and beleeue At Cranon there is a hot spring and yet not so boyling as many others be the water thereof if it be put into a bottle or flaggon of wine will maintain the heat thereof for three daies together that it shall drinke hot In Germany beyond the riuer Rhene there be waters so hot that whosoeuer drinketh therof shall sensibly find the heat in his body 3 daies after The springs that yeeld this water be called Mattiaci This peculiar property besides hath this water that about the edges and brims thereof there engender pumish stones Mow if any man suppose some of these strange reports to be incredible let him learne know that in no part of the world Nature hath shewed more admirable works than in this element of Water And albeit in the beginning of this mine historie I haue written in ample manner of many a wonder obserued in the waters yet somewhat remaineth still to be related For Ctesias saith That the Indians haue a lake or poole wherin nothing will swim but all sinks to the bottome And Coelius also our countryman auoucheth That the leaues which fall into the lake Avernus will settle downeward and not flote aboue And Varro auoucheth moreouer That what birds soeuer flie ouer it or approch the aire and breath thereof they will die presently Contrariwise in Apuscidamus a lake of Affrick nothing goes down but all swims aloft The like doth Appion report of Phinthia a fountain in Sicilie as also of a lake in Media and namely the pit or well of Saturne The fountaine Limyra is wont ordinarily to change his seat and to passe into places adjoyning but neuer for nought presaging alwaies thereby some strange accident to ensue And wonderfull it is that the fishes therein should follow and do the like Now when this water is thus remoued the inhabitants of the country desirous to know the issue of things to come repaire thither as to an Oracle and seek to be resolued by the foresaid fishes and therwith offer to them some meat if they come vnto it and swim away with all it is a good token this they take for an affirmatiue answer as if they said Yea to their demands but in case they refuse the meat and flirt it away with their tailes they collect the contrary and this is their flat nay There is a riuer in Bithynia called Olachas running close to Briazus which is the name both of a temple and also of the god therein honoured the water whereof will discouer and detect a perjured person for if he that drinketh thereof feele as it were a burning fire within his body take him for a false forsworne villaine Furthermore in Cantabria or Biscay the fountains of the riuer Tamaricus are endued with a secret vertue to presage and foretell future euents and three heads or sources there be of them eight foot distant one from another they meet all at length in one channell and maintaine the great and mighty riuer Tamaricus Howbeit twelue times euery day yea and otherwhiles twenty times they are dry and haue no shew at all or appearance of water notwithstanding there be another fountain or well neere to them that yeeldeth plenty of water and neuer giueth ouer running And this is held for an ominous and fearefull presage if when folke are desirous to see them they seeme not to run at all as it was seene of late daies by Lartius Licinius sometime lord Pretour and afterwards Lieutenant Generall vnder the Consuls For within a seuen-night after a great misfortune happened vnto him In Iurie there is a riuer which euery Sabbath day is dry Thus much of waters medicinable and miraculous and yet not simply hurtfull Contrariwise there be others of as wonderfull a nature but dangerous they are and deadly withall Ctesias writeth That there is a fountaine in Armenia breeding and bringing forth black Fishes wherupon as many as feed are sure to die for it immediatly I haue heard the like reported of such dangerous fishes about the head of the riuer Danubius vntill a man come to a fountaine which presently dischargeth it selfe into the channell of the said riuer for beneath that place such fishes go not nor enter lower into the riuer And hereupon the fountaine is by the generall voice of people taken to be the very source and head of Danubius aforesaid The selfe-same accident as touching fish is reported by a poole in Lydia called the poole of the nymphs In Arcadia neere vnto the riuer Pheneus there floweth a water out the rockes called Styx which is present death to as many as drink thereof as heretofore I haue shewed And Theophrastus saith moreouer that in this water there be certaine small fishes a thing that a man shall neuer see in any other venomous fountains and those likewise are as deadly as the water Thâ—…opompus writeth That in Thrasia there be waters about the place called Chropsos which kill those that drinke thereof And Lycus maketh report of another fountaine in the Leontines countrey wherof as many as drink die within three daies Varro hath left in writing That neare to the hill Soracte there is a fountaine foure foot large which at the rising of the Sunne ouerfloweth like boyling water but the birds that haue
vpon the middle finger But this finger now adayes is excepted onely and spared whereas all the rest be sped and charged with them yea and euery joint by themselues must haue some lesser rings and gemmals to fit them Some will haue the little finger loden with 3 rings others content themselues with one and no more vpon it wherewith they vse to seale vp the signet that is to signe ordinarily for this signe manuel I may tell you the manner was to lay vp safe among other rare and pretious things this might not come abroad euerie day as beeing a jewell that deserued not to be misused by handling commonly but to be taken forth out of the cabinet or secret closet neuer but when need required so that whosoeuer weareth one ring and no more vpon the least finger hee giueth the world to vnderstand that he hath a secret cabinet at home stored with some speciall things more costly and pretious than ordinarie Now as some there bee that take a pride and pleasure to haue heauy rings vpon their fingers and to make a shew how massiue and weighty they are so others againe are so fine and delicat as they thinke it a paine to weare more than one Some hold it good for sauing of the stone or collet if the Ring should chance to fall to haue the round hoope or compasse thereof wrought hollow or enchased within yea and the same filled vp with some lighter matter than is gold that it may fall the softer You shall haue many that vse to carry poyson hidden within the collet vnder the stone like as Demosthenes did that renowned Prince of Greeke Orators so as their rings serue for no other vse or purpose but to carry their owne death about them Finally the greatest mischiefes that are practised by our mighty men in these dayes are for the most part performed by the meanes of rings and signets O the innocence of the old world what a heauenly life led men in those dayes when as there was no vse at all of seale and signet But now we are faine to seale vp our ambries and hogsheads with our signets for feare we be robbed and beguiled of our meat and drinke This is the good that commeth of our legions and troupes of slaues which we must haue waiting and following at our heeles this commoditie we haue by our traine and retinue of strangers that wee keepe in our houses insomuch as wee are driuen to haue our Controllers and Remembrancers to tell vs the names of our Seruants and people about vs they are so many It was otherwise ywis by our ancestors and fore-fathers daies who had no more but one yeoman or groome apiece and those of the linage and name of their Lords and Masters as may appeare by the ordinary names of Marci-pores and Luci-pores and these had all their victuals and diet ordinarily at their masters bourd And therefore there was no great need to keep safely any thing vnder lockand key from such houshold seruitors wheras now adayes the cater goeth to the market to prouide cates and viands for to be stollen and carried away as soon as they come home and no remedy there is against it for no seale will serue to make sure either such lurchers themselues for filching or keep the very locks and keies safe and whole that lead to the prouision And why an easie matter it is to plucke the rings from their lord and maisters fingers that are oppressed with dead sleep or when they lie a dying And verily we hold in these daies a seale to be the best assurance in contracts that may be but I wot not how long it is since that custom first came vp And yet if we consider the fashions and manners of strange Nations we may peraduenture find how these signets came into such credit and authoritie and namely by the History of Polycrates the Tyrant or King of the Isle Samos who hauing cast into the sea a ring which he loued and esteemed aboue all other jewels met with the same againe by meanes of a fish which was taken in the belly whereof the said ring was found Now this king was put to death about the two hundred and thirtieth yeare after the foundation of our citie Howbeit the ordinarie vse of these signets as I suppose by all reason and likelihood began together with vsurie for proofe whereof marke how still at this day vpon any stipulation and bargaine paroll made off goes the ring presently to confirme and seale the same The which custome no doubt came from old time when there was no earnest nor gods-pennie more ready at hand than a signet So as we may conclude assuredly and affirme That amongst vs here at Rome when the vse of money and coyne was taken vp soone after came the wearing of rings in place But as touching the deuise and inuention of mony I will write anone more at large And now to return againe to my discourse of rings after they began once to bee in any request there were none at Rome vnder the degree of a knight or gentleman that carried rings on their fingers insomuch as a man might know a gentleman from a commoner by his ring like as a Senator was distinguisht from the Gentlemen wearing rings by his coat embroidered with broad gards and studs of purple Howbeit long it was before this distinction was obserued for I find that the publicke criers wore ordinarily such coats likewise embroidered as Senators do as appeareth by the father of L. Aelius Stilo syrnamed vpon that occasion Praeconimus because his father had bin a publicke Crier Certes these rings certified the middle degree inserted between the Commons and the Nobles and that name which in times past horses of seruice gaue to men of armes and gentlemen of Rome the same now adaies sheweth men of worth and those who are of such and such reuenues But long it is not since this disorder and confusion begun For when as Augustus Caesar late Emperour of happy memory ordained decuries of Iudges in criminal matters the greater part of them consisted of those who wore no other rings but of yron and those were simply called Iudges and not Knights or Men of armes for this name continued still appropriat to the troups of those gentlemen who serued vpon horses allowed by the Senat. Moreouer at the first there were no more but foure decuries of Iudges and hardly might there be found in each of those decuries a bare thousand for as yet those of our prouinces might not be admitted to this estate to sit and judge vpon criminall causes and euen at this day precisely obserued it hath bin That none but antient citizens might be Iudges for neuer any that came newly to their free burgeoisie were taken into this order and degree CHAP. II. ¶ Of the Decuries or Chamber of Iudges vpon record at Rome How often the name and title of the Romane
out vnto the souldiers their wages and their very pay thereupon was called Stipendiam from whence commeth Stipend a word commonly receiued According to which manner and custome all buyings and sellings at this day which passe with warrantise are vsually performed by interposition of the ballance which fer ueth to testifie the realitie of the contract and bargaine on both parts Touching brasse mony Servius Tullius a king of Rome caused it first to be coined with a stampe for before his daies they vsed it at Rome rude in the masse or lumpe as Remeus mine author doth testifie And what was the marke imprinted thereupon euen a sheepe which in Latine they call Pecus and from thence proceedeth the word Pecunia that signifieth mony And note here by the way that during the reigne of that king the best man in all Rome was valewed to be worth in goods not aboue 110000 Asses in brasse and at this rate were assessed the principall houses of the city in the kings bookes and this was counted the first Classis Afterwards in the 485 yere from the foundation of the city when Q. Ogulnius and C. Fabius were Consuls fiue yeares before the first Punicke warre they began to stampe siluer mony at Rome and three seuerall pieces were coined At what time ordained it was That the Denarius or Denier should goe for tenne Asses or pounds of brasse mony the halfe Denier Quinarius should be currant for fiue and the Sesterce reckoned worth two and a halfe Now for as much as during the first Punick war against the Carthaginians the ctiy was growne much behind hand and farre indebted so as they were not able to goe through the charges which they were to defray agreed it was and ordained to raise the worth of the brasen mony by diminishing the poise wheras therfore the Asse weighed a pound of twelue ounces they made the Asse of two ounces By which deuise the Commonwealth gained fiue parts in six and the Fisque or city chamber by that means was soone acquit of all debts But if you would know what was the marke of this new brasen Asse of the one side it was stamped with a two faced Ianus on the other side with the beake-head of a ship armed with brasen pikes Other smaller pieces there were according to that proportion to wit Trientes the third part of an Asse and Quadrantes the fourth which had the print of punts or small boats vpon them As for the piece Quadrans it was before time called Triuncis because it weighed three ounces Howbeit in processe of time when Anniball pressed hard vpon the city and put them to an exigent for mony to maintaine the wars against him driuen they were to their shifts and forced when Q. Fabius was Dictator to bring downe the foresaid Asse of two ounces vnto one Yea and enected it was That the siluer denier which went before time for ten Asses should be worth sixteene the halfe Denier or Quinare eight and the Sesterce foure and by this means the State gained the one halfe full And yet I must except the mony paied to souldiers for their wages for a Denier vnto them was neuer reckoned aboue ten Asses As for the siluer Deniers stamped they were with the pourtraiture of coches drawne with two horses or foure horses whereupon they were called Bigati and Quadrigati Within a while after there passed an act promulged by Papyrius by vertue whereof the Asses weighed not aboue halfe an ounce Then came Livius Drusus in place who being one of the Prouosts or Tribunes of the commons brought in base money and delaied the siluer with one eight part of brasse Touching that piece of coine which now is called Victoriatus stamped it was by an Act proposed by Clodius for before his time those pieces of mony were brought out of Sclauonia and reckoned as merchandise and stamped it is with the image of Victorie of which it tooke that name Concerning gold coined into mony it came vp threescore and two yeres after the stamping of siluer pieces and a scriptule of gold was taxed and valued at twenty sesterces which ariseth in euery pound according to the worth of sesterces as they were rated in those daies to nine hundred Sesterces But afterwards it was thought good to cast and stampe pieces of gold after the proportion of fiftie to a pound And those the Emperors by little and little diminished stil in poise till at length Nero brought them downe to the lowest and caused them to be coined after the rate of fiue and fiftie pieces to the pound In summe the very source and originall of all auarice proceedeth from this mony and coine deuised first by lone and vsurie and continued still by such idle persons that put forth their mony to worke for them whiles they sit still and find the sweetnes of the gaine comming in so easily But this greedy desire of hauing more still is growne after an outragious manner to be excessiue and no more to be named couetousnesse but rather insatiable hunger after gold insomuch as Septimuleius an inward and familiar friend of C. Gracchus forgat all bonds of amitie and hauing cut off his friends head vpon promise to haue the weight of it in gold brought the same vnto Opimius howbeit he poured molten lead into the mouth thereof to make it more heauie and so together with this parricide and vnnaturall murtherer cousened also beguiled the Commonweale But to speak no more of any particular citizen of Rome the whole name of the Romanes hath beene infamous among forraine nations for auarice and corruption in this kind as may appeare by the conceit that king Mithridates had of them who caused Aquilius a Generall of theirs whose hap was to fall into his hands for to drinke molten gold See what couetousnesse brings home with it in the end Now when I behold and consider no more but these strange names of our vessell in plate which are newly deuised in Greek from time to time according as the siluer is either double or parcell gilt or the gold enclosed and bound within worke I am ashamed of it and the rather for that in regard of these deuised names and daintie toies such plate as well of beaten gold as guilded only should be so vendible and sell so deare especially knowing as we do full well the good order that Spartacus held in his campe expressely commanding that no man should haue any plate of gold or siluer A great reproch to vs Romans that our fugitiues banished persons should shew a more nobler spirit than we our selues Messala the great Oratour hath left in writing That M. Antonius vsed to discharge all the ordure and filthy excrements of the body into vessels of gold yea and allowed Cleopatra likewise to do the same by her monthly superfluities most shamefully Noted it was among forrein Nations for excessiue licentiousnesse and that in the highest degree that K. Philip of Macedony
writers feasted the whole army of that mighty monarch and those were 788000 men promising ouer and aboue fiue moneths pay for them all and corne for so long to serue the whole campe if of fiue sons that he had of his owne the king would spare him but one to beare him company in his old age and not prest him for to serue in the wars Certes a man that heareth thus much of this Pythius might compare him with that rich Croesus king of Lydia But what folly and madnesse in the diuels name is this to hunger and thirst so much in this life after that which either is common to base slaues and may fall vnto them or els wherof kings themselues can find no end And thus much of gathering good and heaping riches together To come now to the scattering thereof I finde in the Chronicles That in the yeare wherein Sp. Posthumius and Qu. Martius were Consuls they began at Rome to make largesses and to fling money abroad to the common people And at that time such plenty of coine there was stirring at Rome that the City bestowed by a generall contribution vpon Lu. Scipio as much as bare out his charges in exhibiting the solemne games and plaies vnto the people As for that purse which was made for the funerals of Agrippa Menenius wherin euery man put his sextant i. the sixt part of an As I take it to haue been no Largesse but a beneuolence to testifie how the people honoured Agrippa and a supply of meere necessitie considering how poore the man died CHAP. XI ¶ Of the superfluitie and frugality both of men in times past touching plate and siluer vessels Of beds and tables of siluer Also when there were deuised chargers and platters of Siluer to be made of huge capacity beyond all measure THe world is giuen to so much inconstancy as touching siluer plate that a wonder it is to see the nature of men how variable they be in the fashion and making of such vessel for no workmanship wil please them long One while we must haue our plate out of Furnius his shop another while we will be furnished from Clodius and againe in a new fit none wil content vs but of Gratius his making for our cupboords of plate tables forsooth must beare the name of such and such Goldsmiths shops Moreouer when the toy takes vs in the head al our delight is in chased and embossed plate or els so carued engrauen and deep cut in as it is rough againe in the hand wrought in imagery or floure-work as if the painter had drawne them And now adaies we are growne to this passe that our dishes are set vpon the table borne vp with feet and supporters to sustaine the viands and meat therein but in any wise their sides must be pared very neere for herein I may tell you lieth a great matter and the more that the sides and edges hath lost by the file the richer is the plate esteemed to be As touching the vessell seruing in the kitchen did Calvus the noble Oratour complaine in his time that it was of siluer Why wee in these dayes doe more than so for wee haue deuised that our coaches should bee all siluer and these curiously wrought and engrauen And within the remembrance of man euen in this age Poppaea the Empresse wife to Nero the Emperour was knowne to cause her Ferrers ordinarily to shooe her coach-horses and other palfreis for her saddle such especially as shee set store by and counted more daintie than the rest with cleane gold To what excesse and prodigalitie is the world now grown to Scipio Africanius the second of that name when hee dyed left no more vnto his Heire in Siluer Plate and Coine than two and thirtie pound weight and yet this worthie Knight when hee rode in triumph for the conquest of the Carthaginians shewed in that solemne pompe and brought into the chamber of Rome as much treasure as amounted to foure thousand foure hundred and seuenty pounds weight of siluer a thousand times old This was all the treasure in siluer that the whole state of Carthage was able to make in those daies Carthage I say that great and proud city which pretended a title to the Empire of the world and maintained the same against Rome and yet see in this age there is as much laid out in our cupboords of plate and furniture of our tables The same Africanus afterwards vpon the winning and finall ruine of Numantia gaue among his souldiers in a triumph 17000 pound weight of siluer O braue souldiers and worthy so noble a captain who stood contented with such a reward A brother of this Scipio syrnamed Allobrogius was the first knowne to haue in plate one thousand pound weight but Liuius Drusus whiles he was but Tribune or Prouost of the comminalty had in siluer vessell as much as weighed eleuen thousand pounds Now if I should tell you that the Romane Censors vpon a time disgraced yea and degraded an antient captain and one who in his time had rode in triumph only for that he had in plate fiue pound weight it would be taken in these daies for a meere tale and vaine fable as also that Catus Aaelius in his Consulship was found sitting at dinner served with earthen vessell of potters worke when the Embassadors of the Aetolians came vnto him that he refused also siluer plate presented to him for the furniture of his boord and to his dying day had neuer in siluer more than two drinking cups which Lusius Paulus his wiues father bestowed vpon him after the defeiture of K. Perseus in regard of his valiant seruice wehold it now for no lesse than an vntruth and incredible And here I call to minde a merry conceited speech that I haue read in the chronicles of certain Carthaginian Embassadors who said that no men in the world had more good fellowship in their houses and liued more friendly together than the Romanes for why when they feasted one another say they the same siluer plate went round about amongst them all from one to another without change But howsoeuer this frugality whereof I speak may seeme strange and fabulous to the world wherein we liue certes wee all know this to be true and no fable that Pompeius Paulinus the son of a Roman knight or man of armes borne at Arles was not only banished out of the country and nation where his father was borne but confined also to the marches of most sauage and barbarous people and exposed to their cruelty only for this That he had in his campe to the euil example of the army as much siluer plate as weighed 12 pounds But long ago it is since the fashion came vp at Rome that our dames had their beds couered all ouer with siluer yea and some dining rooms with tables laid with the same which inuention came first as it is reported from Caruilius Pollio a
gentleman or knight of Rome who deuised to garnish his bourds with siluer not couering them full and whole throughout with plates thereof nor after the manner of Deliacke workemanship but onely by parcels and according to the Punicke or Carthaginian fashion The same Pollio made beds and tables of gold but not long after those siluer beds and boords came to the order of those in the Isle Delos But all this sumptuositie was punished sufficiently and expiat by the ciuill warre of Sylla for a little before those troubles this excesse and these superfluities came vp as also about the same time men fel to make great chargers platters of siluer weighing one hundred pound a piece of which there were at Rome as it is well knowne when the said warre beganne to the number of fiue hundred and aboue which was the cause that many a man fell into the danger of proscription and confiscation for that their rich plate set their enemies teeth on water who for the loue and desire thereof practised by all cunning meanes their vtter vndoing Certes our Historians heretofore who attributed this cursed and vnhappie ciuill warre betweene Sylla and Marius vnto such superfluities and vices of those times which reigned so rife might be ashamed and blush to say so for our age hath been more hardy and hath proceeded farther without any such feare of punishment from aboue No longer since than in the daies of Claudius the Emperour Drusillanus a slaue of his syrnamed Rotundus the Seneschol or Treasurer vnder him in high Spaine had a siluer charger of fiue hundred pound weight for the working whereof there was a forge framed beforehand of set purpose and the same was accompanied and attended with eight more of a smaller size weighing 50 pound a piece Now would I gladly know if it might please you how many of his fellowes such slaues I meane as himselfe there must be to carry the said vessell and serue it vp to the table or what guests they mought bee who were to be seruâ—…â—…ith such huge plate Cornelius Nepos writeth that before the victorie of the sayd Sylla 〈◊〉 defeated Marius two dining tables and no more there were throughout Rome all of siluer Fenestella saith that in his time and he died the last yere of the reigne of Tyberius Caesar the Emperor men began at Rome to bestow siluer vpon their cupboords and side liuery tables euen then also by his saying Tortoise worke came in request and was much vsed Howbeit somwhat before his daies he writeth that those cupboords were of wood round and solid of one entire piece and not much bigger than the tables whereupon men eat their meat but when hee was a young boy they were foure square and of many peeces joyned together and then they began to be couered ouer with thin boords or painels either of maple or citron wood Soone after they fel to lay siluer plates vpon them at the corners only and along the joints where the planks were set together but by the time that he was come to be a well grown yong man they were at their drinking mazers or round-bottome dishes like balances whereupon they were called Staterae also at those platters which in old time were named Magides Howbeit men rested not contented to haue furnished themselues with plenty of siluer in their plaine plate and about their houses vnlesse the curious workmanship also thereof were more costly than the mettall and matter it selfe But lest this superfluity should be imputed vnto vs in these daies be it knowne that such curiosity was crept into the world long ago for C. Gracchus had in the furniture of his house certain vessels of siluer called Dolphins which cost him at the gold-smiths hand 5000 sesterces a pound an exceeding price for the fashion and workmanship considering L. Crassus the Orator had two pots artificially engrauen by the hand of Mentor that cunning workman the fashion and making whereof cost 100 sesterces a pound and yet he confessed and protested that hee was abashed to vse them and durst not for shame bring them abroad Moreouer knowne it is that he had in his cabinet pieces of plate which to be bought and sold were worth euery pound 6000 sesterces Briefly the conquest and reducing of Asia vnder our Empire was the first occasion that brought into Italy such wastfull excesse for L. Scipio shewed in triumph of siluer plate intailed and ingrauen 400 thousand and 50 pounds weight besides vessells of gold amounting to the weight of 100 thousand pound and this was in the yere from the foundation of Rome 565. But the free donation and bestowing of the said Asia vpon the city of Rome which fell vnto the Romans by the death of K. Attalus who in his last will and testament ordained them his full heires did most hurt vnto our state and this succession which our Antients injoyed by vertue of that gift did greater dammage to the integrity of manners and brought more corruption into our city than the former victory atchieued by force of armes for from that time forward men grew to be shamelesse and without regard of modesty euery mans fingers itched to be tempering with the treasure of K. Attalus and to buy the same at any price sold in open port-sale to them that would giue most which hapned in the 626 yere after the foundation of the city for in 56 yeres which was the meane space between the foresaid subduing of Asia and this feoffement of K. Attalus our city was well nuzzled and trained not onely in the admiration of such puissant forrein kings and princes but also in some affectionat loue to their wealth and riches About which middle time between namely in the 608 yere reckoning from the first founding of Rome when Achaia was likewise brought vnder our obedience and subjection this victory also was a mighty means to bring vs also out of al good order and to set vs forward to imbrace superfluities and to ouerthrow al honesty and vertue for now were brought in the stately statues and proud painted tables that we should want no inticing delights but that all the pride and pleasure of the world might be found at Rome Finally the ruin of Carthage was the rising of superfluitie with vs as if the Destinies had so appointed that at one the same time we should haue both wil to imbrace vice also power liberty withal to perform sin so that in regard of our times and the enormities thereof we may justifie yea and honor any of our ancestors who seemed before to offend in this behalfe for as it is said C. Marius after he had defeited the Cimbrians contented himselfe to drink in a woodden godet and tankerd after the example of father Bacchus C. Marius I say who of a good husbandman in the country about Arpinum of a common and ordinary souldier came to be a braue captaine and commander in the field CHAP. XII
adorned with the pourtraitures of noble champions they delight also to haue the face of Epicurus in euery chamber of the house yea and to carry the same about them vpon their rings wheresoeuer they go in the remembrance and honour of his natiuitie they doe offer sacrifice euery 20 day of the Moone and these moneth-mindes they keep as holy-daies duly which thereupon they call Icades and none so much as they who will not abide to be knowne another day by any liuely image drawne whiles they be aliue Thus it is come to passe that whiles artificers play them and sit still for want of worke noble arts by the means are decaied and perished But I maruel nothing hereat for thus it is verily and no otherwise when we haue no respect or care in the world to leaue good deeds behind vs as the Images of our minds we do neglect the liuely portraitures and similitudes also of our bodies In our forefathers daies ywis it was otherwise their hals and stately courts were not set out with images and pourtraitures after this sort there were not in them to be seene any statues or images wrought by artisan strangers none of brasse they had none of marble their Oratories Chappels were furnished with their own and their ancestors pourtraitures in wax and those liuely and expressely representing their visages these were set out and disposed in order these were the images that attended the funerals of any that was to be interred out of that stock linage Thus alwaies as any gentleman died a man should see a goodly traine of all those which were liuing of that house accompanying the corps causing also the images of their predecessors to march ranke by ranke in order according to their seuerall descents in which solemne shew the whole generation that euer was of that family represented by these images is there present ready to performe that last duty and honour to their kinsman Moreouer wheresoeuer these images stood within the ora tory and chappell before said there were lines drawne from them vpon the wall directing to the seuerall titles and inscriptions which contained their stile their dignities and honors c. As for their studies and counting houses full they were of books records and rols testifying all acts done executed by them both at home abroad during the time they were in place to beare office of state Ouer and besides those images within house resembling the bodily shape countenance there were others also without dores to wit about the portals and gates of the house which were the testimonies of braue minds valiant hearts there hung fixed the spoiles conquered and taken from the enemies which notwithstanding any sale or alienation it was not lawfull for the purchaser to pluck down in such sort as the house it self triumphed still and retained the former dignity notwithstanding it had a new lord and master and verily this was to the master and owner a great spur to valour and vertue considering that if he were not in heart courage answerable to his predecessor he could neuer come in at the gates but the house was ready to reproch and vpbraid him daily for entering into the triumph of another Extant there is vpon record an Oration or act of Messala a great Orator in his time wherin vpon a great indignation he expressely forbad that there should be intermingled one image that came from another house of the Leuini among those of his owne name and linage for feare of confounding the race of his family and ancestors The like occasion moued and inforced old Messala to put forth and publish those bookes which he had made of the descents and pedigrees of the Roman houses for that vpon a time as he passed through the gallerie belonging to Scipio Africanus his house he beheld therein his stile augmented by the addition of Salutio for that was one of his syrnames which fel vnto him by the last wil and testament of a certain rich man so called who adopted him for his owne son as being greatly discontented in his minde that so base a name as that to the shame and dishonor of the Africans should creepe into the noble family of the Scipio's But if I may speak without offence of these two Messalae it should in my conceit be some token of a noble spirit and good mind that loueth and imbraceth vertue to entitle his owne name although vntruely to the armes and images of others so long as they be noble and renowned and I hold it a greater credit so to doe than to demeane our selues so vnworthily as that no man should desire any of our armes or images And seeing that I am so far entered into this theam I must not passe ouer one new deuise and inuention come vp of late namely to dedicat and set vp in libraries the statues in gold or siluer or at leastwise in brasse of those diuine and heauenly men whose immortall spirits do speak still and euer shall in those places where their bookes are And although it bee vnpossible to recouer the true and liuely pourtraits of many of them yet we forbeare not for all that to deuise one Image or other to represent their face and personage though we are sure it be nothing like them and the want therof doth breed and kindle in vs a great desire and longing to know what visage that might bee indeed which was neuer deliuered vnto vs as it appeareth by the statue of Homer Certes in my opinion there can be no greater argument of the felicity happinesse of any man than to haue all the world euermore desirous to know What kinde of person hee was whiles he liued This inuention of erecting libraries especially here at Rome came from Asinius Pollio who by dedicating his Bibliotheque containing all the bookes that euer were written was the first that made the wits and workes of learned men a publique matter and a benefit to a Commonweale But whether the kings of Alexandria in Egypt or of Pergamus began this enterprise before who vpon a certain emulation and strife one with another went in hand to make their stately and sumptuous libraries I am not able to auouch for certain But to returne againe to our flat images and pictures that men in old time delighted much therein yea and were carried away with an ardent and extraordinary affection to them may appeare by the testimony not only of Atticus that great friend of Cicero's who set forth a book intituled A Treatise of painted images but also of M. Varro who in all his volumes whereof hee wrote a great number vpon a most thankfull and bountifull mind that he carried deuised to insert not onely the names of 700 famous and notable persons but also in some sort to set down their physiognomy resemblance of their visage not willing as it might seem that their remembrance should perish but desirous to preserue
enginers who vndertooke the weighing vp this Obeliske ouer the young prince for feare of hurting him would induce them also to be the more heedfull to preserue the stone Certes this Obelisk was a piece of work so admirable that when Cambyses had woon the city where it stood by assault and put all within to fire and sword and burnt all before him as far as to the very foundation vnderpinning of the obelisk commanded expresly to quench the fire and so in a kind of reuerence yet vnto a masse and pile of stone spared it who had no regard at all of the city besides Other Obeliskes there be twaine the one erected by K. Smarres the other by Eâ—…aphius both without characters and the same are 48 cubits in height apiece At Alexandria K. Ptolomaeus syrnamed Philadelphus set vp another obelisk 80 cubits high the which king Nectabis had caused to be hewed out of the quarry plaine without any work but much more difficultie there was in carying it from the quarry setting it vpright than there had bin labor in the hewing some write that Satyrus a great architect enginer conueied it to Alexandria by means of flat bottoms or sleds But â—…alixenus saith that one Phaenix did the deed who caused a trench to be cut from the riuer Nilus and to be carried with water as far as to the place where the obelisk lay along then he deuised two broad barges prepared well fraught with smal squares of the same stone a foot euery way to the double poise or weight of the Obelisk it selfe in proportion by reason whereof the vessels hauing their full load might come vnder the Obelisk iust as it lay hollow ouerthwart the head of the fosse with either end resting vpon the banks which done he began to discharge the vessels vnderneath to throw out the stones were with they were laden by meanes whereof as they were lightened they rose vp higher and higher to the very Obelisk and receiued the charge ordained for them He writes moreouer that there were six other like to it hewed out of the same mountain the workmen who cut and squared them had fifty talents for a reward But the foresaid Obelisk was afterwards by the abouenamed king erected in the hauen of Arsinoë in testimonie of loue to Arsinoë his wife and sister both But for that it did hurt to the ship-docke there one Maximus a gouernor of Egypt vnder the Romans remoued it from thence into the market place of the said city cutting off the top of it intending to put a filiall thereupon gilded which afterwards was forelet and forgotten Two Obelisks more there were in the hauen of Alexandria neere to the temple of Caesar which were hewed out of the rocke by Mesphees king of Egypt being 42 cubits high But aboue all other difficulties it passeth what a do there was to transport them by sea to Rome and verily the ships prepared of purpose therefore were passing faire and wonderfull to see to As for one of the said ships which brought the former Obelisk Augustus Caesar the Emperor of famous memorie had dedicated it vnto the harbor or hauen of Puteoli there to remain for euer as a miracle to behold but it fortuned to be consumed with fire the other wherein C. Caesar had transported the second Obeliske into the riuer after it had bin kept safe for certaine yeares together to be seen for that it was the most admirable Carrick that euer had bin known to flote vpon the sea Claudius Caesar late Emperour of Rome caused it to be brought to Ostia where for the safetie and securitie of the hauen he sunk it and thereupon as a sure foundation he raised certaine piles or bastions like turrets or sconces with the sand of Puteoli which being done a new care and trouble there was to bring the Obeliske vp the riuer Tiberis to Rome Which being effected it appeared well by that experiment that vpon the riuer Tiberis a vessel draweth as much water full as Nilus As touching the said Obelisk which Augustus Caesar late Emperor erected in the great shew-place or cirque at Rome it was first â—…ut out of the rock by Semneserteus King of Egypt in the time of whose reign Pythagoras soiourned in Egypt the same contains 125 foot nine inches besides the foot or base of the said stone As for the other standing in Mars field being 9 foot lower than it hewed and squared it was by commandement from Sesostris K. of Egypt In the characters ingrauen in both of them a man may see all the philosophie and religion of the Egyptians for they contain the interpretation of nature CHAP. X. ¶ Of that Obelisk at Rome which standeth in Mars field and serueth for a Gnomon ANd as for that Obelisk which standeth in Mars field Augustus Caesar deuised a wonderfull means that it should serue to mark out the noontide with the length of day and night according to the shadowes that the Sun doth yeeld by it for hee placed vnderneath at the foot of the said Obelisk according to the bignes and length therof a pauement of broad stone wherein a man might know the sixt houre or mid-day at Rome when the shadow was equall to the Obelisk and how by little and little according to certain rules which are lines of brasse inlaid within the said stone the daies do increase or decrease A thing no doubt worth the knowledge and an inuention proceeding from a pregnant wit Manlius a renowned Mathematician Astronomer put vnto the top of the said Obelisk a gilded ball in such sort that all the shadow which it gaue fell vpon the Obeliske and this cast other shadowes more or lesse different from the head or top of the Obeliske aforesaid The reason whereof they say was vnderstood from the sundry shadowes that a mans head yeelds But surely for these thirty yeares past or thereabout the vse of this quadrant aforesaid hath not been found true and what the reason of it should be I know not whether the course of the Sun in it self be not the same that hertofore or be altered by some disposition of the heauens or whether the whole earth be somwhat remoued from the true centre in the midst of the world which I heare say is found to be so in other places or that it proceed by occasion of the earth quakes which haue shaken the city of Rome and so haply wrested the Gnomon from the old place or lastly whether by reason of many inundations of Tyber this huge and weighty Obelisk hath setled and sunk down lower and yet it is said the foundation was laid as deep vnder ground as the obelisk it selfe is aboue ground CHAP. XI ¶ Of the third Obelisk in the Vaticane THere is a third Obelisk at Rome standing within the cirque or shew-place of the two Emperors C. Caligula and Nero and this is the only Obeliske known to haue bin broken in the rearing This
was hewn and erected in Egypt by Nuncoreus the son of Sesostris which Nuncoreus caused another to be set vp of 100 cubits high and consecrated it vnto the Sun after hee had recouered his sight vpon blindnesse being so aduertised by the Oracle which remaines at this day CHAP. XII ¶ Of the Egyptian Pyramides and of Sphinx HAuing thus discoursed of the Obelisks it were good to say somwhat of the Pyramids also in Egypt a thing I assure you that bewraieth the foolish vain-glory of the Kings in that countrey who abounding with wealth knew not what to doe with their money but spent it in such idle and needlesse vanities And verily most writers doe report That the principall motiues which induced them to build these Pyramides was partly to keepe the Common people from idlenes partly also because they would not haue much treasure lying by them lest either their heirs apparant or other ambitious persons who aspired to be highest should take occasion thereby to play false and practise treasons Certes a man may obserue the great follies of those princes herein That they began many of these Pyramides and left them vnfinished as may appeare by the tokens remaining thereof One of them there is within the territory vnder the jurisdiction of Arsinoe two within the prouince that lieth to the gouernment of Memphis not far from the Labyrinth whereof also I purpose to speake there are other twaine likewise in the place where sometimes was the lake Moeris which was nothing else but a mighty huge fort intrenched by mans hand in manner of a mote or poole but the Aegyptians among many other memorable and wonderfull works wrought by their princes speake much of these two Pyramides the mighty spires and steeples whereof by their saying do arise out of the very water As for the other three which are so famous throughout the world as indeed they are notable marks to be kenned a far off by sailers and directions for their course these are scituat in the marches of Affrick vpon a craggy and barren mountaine betweene the city Memphis and a certaine Island or diuision of Nilus which as I haue said before was called Delta within foure miles of Nilus and six from Memphis where there standeth a village hard vnto it named Busiris wherein there be certaine fellows that ordinarily vse to clime vp to the top of them Ouer against the sayd Pyramides there is a monstrous rocke called Sphinx much more admirable than the Pyramides and forsooth the peisants that inhabit the countrey esteemed it no lesse than some diuine power and god of the fields and forrests within it the opinion goeth that the body of K. Amasis was intombed they would bear vs in hand that the rock was brought thither all and whole as it is but surely it is a meere crag growing naturally out of the ground howbeit wrought also with mans hand polished and very smooth and slippery The compasse of this rocks head resembling thus a monster taken about the front or as it were the forehead containeth one hundred and two foot the length or heigth 143 foot the heigth from the belly to the top of the crowne in the head ariseth to 62 foot But of all these Pyramides the biggest doth consist of the stone hewed out of the Arabicke quarries it is said that in the building of it there were 366000 men kept at worke twentie yeares together and all three were in making threescore and eighteene yeares and foure moneths The writers who haue made mention of these Pyramides were Herodotus Euhemerus Duris the Samian Aristagoras Dionysius Artemidorus Alexander Polyhistor Butorides Antisthenes Demetrius Demoteles and Apion but as many as haue written hereof yet a man cannot know certainly and say This Pyramis was built by this king a most just punishment that the name and authors of so monstrous vanity should be buried in perpetuall obliuion but some of these Historiographers haue reported that there were a thousand and eight hundred talents laid out only for raddish garlicke and onions during the building of these Pyramides The largest of them taketh vp eight acres of ground at the foot foure square it is made and euery face or side thereof equall containing from angle to angle eight hundred fourescore and three foot and at the top fiue and twenty the second made likewise foure cornered is on euery side euen and comprehendeth from corner to corner seuen hundred thirty and seuen foot the third is lesse than the former two but far more beautifull to behold built of Aethiopian stones it carrieth at the foot in each face betweene foure angles three hundred threescore and three foot And yet of all these huge monuments there remaine no tokens of any houses built no apparence of frames and engins requisit for such monstrous buildings a man shall find all about them far and neare faire sand and small red grauell much like vnto Lentill seed such as is to be found in the most part of Affricke A man seeing all so cleane and euen would wonder at them how they came thither but the greatest difficultie moouing question and maruell is this What meanes were vsed to carry so high as well such mightie masses of hewen squared stone as the filling rubbish and mortar that went thereto for some are of opinion that there were deuised mounts of salt and nitre heaped vp together higher and higher as the worke arose and was brought vp which being finished were demolished and so washed away by the inundation of the riuer Nilus others thinke that there were bridges reared with bricks made of clay which after the worke was brought to an end were distributed abroad and imploied in building of priuat houses for they hold that Nilus could neuer reach thither lying as it doth so low vnder them when it is at the highest for to wash away the heapâ—… and mounts aboue-said Within the greatest Pyramis there is a pit 86 cubits deep and thither some thinke the riuer was let in As touching the heigth of these Pyramides such like how the measure should be taken Thales Milesius deuised the meanes namely by taking just length of a shadow when it is meet and euen with the bodie that casteth it These were the wonderfull Pyramides of Egypt whereof the world speaketh so much But to conclude this argument That no man should need to maruell any more of these huge workes that kings haue built let him know thus much that one of them the least I must needs say but the fairest and most commended for workmanship was built at the cost and charges of one Rhodope a very strumpet this Rhodope was a bondslaue together with Aesope a Philosopher in his kind and writer of morall fables with whom she serued vnder one master in the same house the greater wonder it is therefore and more miraculous than all I haue said before that euer she should bee able to get such wealth by playing the harlot Ouer and
thereof the sumptuous and superfluous expences in vessels made of it The first inuention of Cassidoine vessels and the excesse that way the nature and properties of those Cassidoins And what vntruths the writers in old time haue deliuered as touching Amber TO the end that it may appeare more euidently what the triumph of Pompey wrought in this respect I will put downe word forword what I find vpon record in the registers that beare witnesse of the acts which passed during those triumphs In the third triumph therefore which was decreed vnto him for that he had scoured the seas of pyrats and rouers reduced Natolia and the kingdome of Pontus vnder the dominion of the Romans defeated kings and nations according as I haue declared in the seuenth booke of this my history he entred Rome the last day of September in the yere when M. Piso and M. Messala were Consuls on which day there was carried before him in shew a chesse-boord with all the men and the same bourd was made of two precious stones and yet it was 2. foot broad and 4 foot long and lest any man should doubt hereof and thinke it incredible considering no jems at this day come neare thereto in bignesse know he That in this triumph hee shewed a golden Moone weighing thirtie pounds three dining-tables also of gold other vessell likewise of massie gold and precious stones as much as would garnish nine cup-boords three images of beaten gold representing Minerva Mars and Apollo coronets made of stones to the number of three and thirtie a mountaine made of gold foure square wherein a man might see red deare lyons fruit-trees of all sorts and the whole mountaine inuironed and compassed all about with a vine of gold moreouer an oratorie or closet consisting of pearle in the top or louver whereof there was a clocke or horologe Hee caused also to be borne before him in a pompous shew his owne image made of pearles the pourtraiture I say of that Cn. Pompeius whom regall majestie and ornaments would haue better beseemed and that good face and venerable visage so highly honoured among all nations was now all of pearls as if that manly countenance and seueritie of his had beene vanquished and riotous excesse and superfluitie had triumphed ouer him rather than hee ouer it O Pompey ô Magnus how could this title and syrname Le-grand haue continued among those nations if thou hadst in thy first victorie triumphed after this manner What Magnus were there no means else but to seek out pearles things so prodigal superfluous and deuised for women and which it had not beseemed Pompey once to weare about him and therewith to pourtray and counterfeit thy manly visage And was this the way indeed to haue thy selfe seeme precious doth not that pourtraiture come nearer vnto thee and resemble thy person farre liker which thou didst cause to be erected vpon the top of the Piraenean hils Certes a foule shame and ignominious reproch it was to be shewed in this maner nay to say more truly a wonderfull prodegie it was presaging the heauie ire of the gods for so men were to beleeue and euidently to conceiue therby that euen then and so long before the head of Pompey made of orient pearle euen the richest of the Leuant should be so presented without a bodie But setting this aside how manlike was all the rest of his triumph and how answerable to himselfe For first and foremost giuen freely by him vnto the chamber of the citie there were a thousand talents secondly vpon his leutenants and treasures of the campe who had performed so good seruice in defending the sea-coasts he bestowed two thousand Sestertia apiece thirdly to euery souldiour who accompanied him in that voiage he allowed fiftie Sestertia Well this superfluitie yet of Pompeies triumph serued in some sort to excuse Caius Caligula the Emperour and to make his delicacie and excesse to be more tollerable who ouer and besides all other effeminat tricks and womanly deuises wherof he was full vsed to draw vpon his legs little buskins or starlups made of pearle Pompeies precedent I say in some measure justified Nero the Emperour who made of rich and faire great pearles the scepters and maces the visors also and maskes which players vsed vpon the stage yea and the very bed-roumes which went with him as hee trauailed by the way So as wee seeme now to haue lost that vantage and right which we had to find fault with drinking-cups enriched with pearls yea and much other houshold stuffe and implements garnished therewith since that wheresoeuer we go from one end of the house to the other we seem to passe through rings or such jewels at leastwise which were wont to beautifie our fingers only for is there any superfluitie els but in regard and comparison hereof it may seeme more tollerable and lesse offensiue But to return vnto the triumph of Pompey this victory of his brought into Rome first our cups and other vessels of Cassidoine and Pompey himselfe was the first who that very day of his triumph presented vnto Iupiter Capitolinus six such cups and presently from that time forward men also began to haue a mind vnto them in cupbourds counting tables yea and in vessell for the kitchin and to serue vp meat in and verily from day to day the excesse herein hath so far ouergrowne that one great Cassidoine cup hath been sold for fourescore sesterces but a faire and large one it was and would containe well three sextars id est halfe a wine gallon There are not many yeres past since that a noble man who had been Consull of Rome vsed to drinke out of this cup and notwithstanding that in pledging vpon a time a lady whom he fancied he bit out a piece of the brim thereof which her sweet lips touched yet this injurie done to it rather made it more esteemed and valued at a higher price neither is there at this day a cup of Cassidoine more pretious or dearer than the same But as touching other excesse of this personage and namely how much he consumed and deuoured in superfluities of this kind a may may estimat by the multitude of such Cassidoin vessell found in his cabinet after his death which Nero Domitius tooke away perforce from his children and in truth such a number there were of them that being set out to the shew they were sufficient to furnish and take vp a peculiar theatre which of purpose he caused to be made beyond the Tyber in the gardens there and enough it was for Nero to behold the said theatre replenished with people at the plaies which he exhibited there in honor of his wife the Empresse Poppaea after one child-bed of hers where among other musicians he sung voluntary vpon the stage before the plaies began I saw him there my selfe to make shew of many broken pieces of one cup which he caused to be gathered together full charily as I take
it to exhibit a spectacle wherat the world should lament and cry out in detestation of Fortune no lesse ywis than if they had bin the bones and reliques of king Alexander the Great his corps to be laid solemnly in his sepulchre and herein he pleased himselfe not a little Titus Petronius late Consull of Rome when he lay at the point of death called for a faire broad-mouthed cup of Cassidoine which had cost him before-time three hundred thousand sesterces and presently brake it in pieces in hatred and despight of Nero for feare lest the same prince might haue seazed vpon it after his disease and therewith furnished his own bourd But Nero himselfe as it became an Emperour indeed went beyond all others in this kind of excesse who bought one drinking cup that stood him in three hundred thousand festerces a memorable matter no doubt that an Emperour a father and patron of his country should drink in a cup so deare But before I proceed any farther it is to be noted that we haue these rich Cassidoine vessels called in Latine Murrâ—…ina from out of the Leuant for found they be in many places of the East parts and those otherwise not greatly renowned but most within the kingdom of Parthia howbeit the principall come from out of Carmania The stone whereof these vessels be made is thought to be a certaine humour thickened and baked as it were within the ground by the naturall heat thereof In no place shali a man meet with any of these stones larger than small tablements of pillars or counting-bourds and seldome are they so thicke as to serue for such a drinking cup as I haue spoken of already resplendant they are in some sort but that brightnesse is not pearcing and to say a truth it may be called rather a polishing glosse or lustre than a radiant and transparent clearenesse but that which maketh them so much esteemed is the variety of colours for in these stones a man shall perceiue certaine vains or spots which as they be turned about resemble diuers colours enclining partly to purple and partly to white he shall see them aâ—…o of a third colour composed of them both resembling the flame of fire Thus they passe from one to another as a man holdeth them in so much as their purple seemeth to stand much vpon white and their milkie white to beare as much vpon the purple Some esteemed those Cassidoine or Murrhene stones richest which represent as it were certain reuerberations of sundry colours meeting all together about their edges and extremities such as we obserue in rainbowes others are delighted with cerataine fattie spots appearing in them and no account is made of them which shew either pale or transparent in any part of them for these be reckoned great faults and blemishes In like maner if there be seene in the Cassidoine any spots like corns or graines of salt if it containe resemblances of werts although they beare not vp but lie flat as they doe many times in our bodies finally the Cassidoine stones are commended in some sort also for the smell that they do yeeld As touching Crystall it proceedeth of a contrary cause namely of cold for a liquor it is congealed by extream frost in maner of yce and for the proofe hereof you shal find crystal in no place els but where the winter snow is frozen hard so as we may boldly say it is very yce and nothing els whereupon the Greeks haue giuen it the right name Crystallos i. Yce We haue this crystall likewise out of the East-parts but there is none better than that which India sends to vs. Ingendred it is also in Asia and namely about Alabanda Ortosia and the mountains adioyning but in request it is not no more than that which is found in Cyprus howbeit there is excellent crystall within Europe and namely vpon the crests of the Alps. King Iuba writeth that in a certaine Island lying beyond the red sea ouer-against Arabia named Neron there growes crystall as also in another thereby which yeeldeth the Topase pretious stone where Pythagoras lieutenant or gouernour vnder king Ptolome digged forth a piece which carried a cubit in length Cornelius Bocchus affirmeth that in Portugall vpon certaine exceeding high mountaines where they sinke pits for the leuell of the water there be found great crystal quarters or masses of a wonderfull weight But maruellous is that which Xenocrates the Ephesian reporteth namely that in Asia and Cyprus there be pieces of crystall turned vp with the very plough so ebb it lierh within the ground an incredible thing considering that before-time no man beleeued that euer it could be found in any place standing vpon an earthly substance but onely among cliffes and craggs It soundeth yet more like a truth which the same Xenocrates writeth namely that oftentimes it is carried down the streame running from the mountains As for Sudines hee saith confidently that crystall is not engendred but in places exposed onely to the South and verily this is most true for you shall neuer meet with it in waterish countries lying Northerly be the climat neuer so cold no though the riuers be frozen to an yce euen to the very bottome Wee must conclude therefore of necessitie that certaine coelestiall humours to wit of raine and some small snow together do concurre to the making of crystall and here upon it comes that impatient it is of heat and vnlesse it be for to drinke water or other liquor actually cold it is altogether reiected but strange it is that it should grow as it doth six angled neither is it an easie matter to assigne a sound reason thereof the rather for that the points be not all of one fashion and the sides betweene each corner are so absolute euen and smooth as no lapidarie in the world with all his skil can polish any stone so plain The greatest most weightie piece of crystal that euer I could see was that which Livia Augusta the Empresse dedicated in the Capitoll which weighed about fiftie pounds Xenocrates mine authour aboue-named affirmeth that there was seene a vessell of crystall as much as an Amphore and some besides him doe say that there haue beene brought out of India crystall glasses containing foure sextars a piece Thus much I dare my selfe auouch that crystall groweth within certaine rockes vpon the Alps and those so steep and inaccessible that for the most part they are constrained to hang by ropes that shall get it forth They that be skilfull and well experienced therein go by diuers markes and signes which direct them to places where there is cristall and where also they can discerne good from bad for this you must think there be many imperfections and faults therein as namely when it is rough or rugged in hand rustie like yron cloudie and full of speekes otherwhiles there is a secret hidden fistulous vlcer as it were within there lieth
and leaue them behinde for the hunters seeing themselues in danger of death for them In the Opall there be obserued also diuers blemishes and imperfections as wel as in other stones namely if the colour resemble the floure of that herb which is called Heliotropium i. Turnsole also if it look like crystal or haile likewise if there be a spot comming between in maner of a grain or kernel of salt if it be rough in handling or if there be certain small pricks or spots represented to the eies neither is there any pretious stone that the Indians can counterfeit so well by the meanes of glasse as this insomuch as hardly a man shall discerne the naturall Opal from the false when they haue done withall But the only triall is by the Sun for if a man hold an Opall betwixt his thumbe and finger against the beams of the Sun if it be a counterfeit he shall find those diuers colours which shewed therein to run all into one and the same transparent colour and so to rest in the body of the stone whereas the brightnesse of the true Opal eftsoons changeth and sends forth the lustre to and fro more and lesse yea and the glittering of the light shineth also vpon the fingers This gem for the rare and incomparable beauty and grace that is in it most Writers haue called Paederos There is also another kind of Opalos apart by it self according to the opinion of some who say it is called by the Indians Sangenon It is said that that there be Opals in Egypt and in Arabia like as in the kingdom also of Pontus but such of all other beare the lowest price In Galatia likewise and in the Isles Thrasos and Cyprus for albeit they haue the louely beautie of the Opalus yet their lustre is nothing so liuely and lightsome and seldome shal you meet with any of them that is not rugged their chief colours stand much vpon brasse and purple the fresh verdure of the green Emeraud is away which the true Opal doth participate This is generally held that they are more commendable which be shadowed as it were with the colour of wine than delaied with the clearnesse of water Thus far forth haue I written of gemmes and pretious stones which be esteemed principall and most rich according to the decree generally set downe and pronounced by our nice and costly dames for we may conclude vpon this point more certainely going by their sentence than grounding vpon the iudgement of men for men kings especially and great men make the price of each gem according to their seuerall fancies Claudius Caesar the Emperour made no reckoning of any but the Emeraud and the Sardonyx and these ordinarily he wore vpon his fingers but Scipio Africanus as saith Demostratus tooke a liking to the Sardonyx before him and was the first Roman that vsed it and euer since this gem hath bin in great request at Rome in regard of which credit I will raunge it next to the Opall In old time the Sardonyx as may appeare by the very name was taken for the pretious stone which seemed to be a Cornalline vpon white that is to say as if the ground vnder a mans naile were flesh and both together transparent and cleare and in very truth the Sardonyx of India is such according to Ismentas Demostratus Zenathemis and Sotacus As for these two last named they verily doe name all the rest that are not cleare and shew not through them Blind Sardonyches such as the Arabian be and these haue carried away the name of Onyx without any mention or apparence at all of the Sarda or Cornalline and these stones haue begun of late to be knowne and distinguished by their sundry colours for some of them haue their ground blacke or much vpon azure and the naile of a mans hand for it hath bin generally thought and beleeued that such hath a tincture of white and yet not without a shew of purple as if the said white enclined to a vermillion or Amethyst Zenathemis writeth that these stones were not set by among the Indians notwithstanding otherwise they were so large and bigg as thereof they made ordinarily sword handles and dagger hafts and no maruaile for certaine it is that in those parts land flouds comming downe with a streame from the hils haue discouered such and brought them to light He saith also that they were at the beginning highly accepted of in those parts for that there is not in maner a stone engrauen that will imprint the seale vpon wax cleanly without plucking the wax away but it and through our persuasions the Indians also grew into a good conceit of them and tooke pleasure in wearing the same and verily the common people of India make holes through them and so weare them enfiled as carkans and collars about their neckes only And hereupon it commeth that those are taken to be Indian Sardonyches or Cornallines which be thus bored through As for the Arabicke excellent they are thought to be which are environed with a white circle and the same very bright and most slender neither doth this circle shine in the concauitie or in the fall of the gem but glittereth onely in the very bosses and besides the very ground thereof is most blacke True it is that the ground of these Sardoins is found in the Indian stones to resemble wax or horne yea within the white circle in so much as there is a resemblace in some some sort of a rainbow by means of certain cloudie vapors seeming to proceed from them and verily the superficiall face of this stone is redder than the shels of Lobsters As touching those that be in colour like to hony or lees for this is taken to be an imperfection and fault in Cornallies they be all rejected likewise if the white circle that girdeth it about spread and do not gather round and compact together semblably it is counted a great blemish in this gem if it haue a veine of any other colour but that which is naturall growing out of square for the nature of this stone is such like as of al things els not to abide any strange thing to disturbe the seat therof There be also Armeniacke Cornallines which in all respects else are to be liked but for the pale circle that claspeth them By occasion of this stone Sardonyx I am put in mind for the names sake to write of the gem Onyx also for notwithstanding there be a stone so called in Carmania which is the Cassidoin yet there goeth also a gem vnder that name Sudines saith that the pretious stone Onyx hath a white in it resembling the naile of a mans finger it hath likewise quoth hee the colour of a Chrysolith otherwise called a Topase of a Cornalline also and a Iasper Zenathemis affirmeth that the Indian Onyx is of diuers and sundry colours to wit of a fiery red a blacke a horne grey hauing also otherwhiles certaine
rather the water of the sea about the shore Capnites as some think is a kind of stone by it selfe beset with many wreaths and those seeming to smoke as I haue said already in due place the naturall place of it is Cappadocia and Phrygia in some sort it is like yvory As touching Callainae it is commonly said that they be found alwaies many joined together Catochites is a stone proper to the Island Corsica in bignes it exceedeth ordinary precious stones a wonderfull stone if all be true that is reported thereof and namely That if a man lay his hand thereupon it will hold it fast in maner of a glewie gum Catopyrites groweth in Cappadocia Cepites or Cepocapites is a white stone and the veins therein seem to meet together in knots and so white and cleare withall that it may serue as a mirrour to shew ones face Ceramites in colour resembleth an earthen pot As for Cinaediae they be found in the braine of a fish named Cinaedus white they be and of a long fashion and of a wonderfull nature if wee may beleeue that which is reported of the euent which they signifie and namely that according as they bee cleare or troubled in colour they do presage either storms or calm at sea Cerites is like to wax and Circos vnto wreaths or circles Corsoides is made in maner of a gray peruke of haire Corallo-achates vnto a Corall set with gold spots Corallis to Vermillon and is ingendred in India and Syene Craterites hath a colour betweene the Chrysolith and the base gold Electrum of an exceeding hard substance Crocallis doth represent a cherry Cyssites is engendred about Coptos and is of a white color it seemeth as it were to be with childe for somthing stirs and ratleth within the belly if it be shaken Calcophonos is a blacke stone if a man strike vpon it he shall perceiue it to ring like a piece of brasse and the Magitians would persuade those that play in Tragoedies to carry it about them continually As for the stone Chelidonia there be two sorts of it in colour they do both resemble the Swallow and of one side which is purple you shal see black spots intermingled here and there among Chelonia is no more but the very eie of an Indian Tortoise of a most strange nature by the Magitians saying and working great wonders but they will lie most monstrously for they would promise and assure vs That after one hath well rinsed or washed his mouth with hony and then lay it vpon the tongue hee shall presently haue the spirit of prophesie and be able to foretell of future things all a day long either in the full or change of the Moon but if this be practised in the wane of the Moon he shall haue this gift but onely before the Sunne-rising vpon other daies namely while the moone is croissant from six of the clock or sun-rising six houres after Moreouer there be certaine stones called Chelonitides because they be like to Tortoises by which these Magitians would seeme to tell vs by way of prophesie and reuelation many things for to allay tempests and stormes but especially the stone of this kinde which hath golden drops or spots in it if together with a flie called a beetle it be cast into a pan of seething water it will auert tempests that approch Chlorites is a stone of a grasse green colour according as the name doth import and by the saying of Magitians it is found in the gesier of the bird called Motacilla or Wagtaile yea and is ingendred together with the said bird They giue direction forsooth as their manner is to inchase or inclose it with a piece of yron and then it will doe wonders Choaspites taketh that name of the riuer Choaspes green it is and resplendent like burnished gold Chrysolampis is found in Aethyopia all the day long of a pale colour but by night it glowes in manner of a cole of fire Chrysopis is so like to gold as a man would take it for no other The stones called Cepionides grow in Aeolis about Atarne a little village now but somtimes a great town they haue many colours and be transparent sometimes in manner of glasse otherwhiles like Crystall or the lasper such also as be not cleare through but foule and thick within are notwithstanding so pure and neat without that they will represent a man or womans visage as wel as a mirroir or looking glasse Daphnias is a stone whereof Zoroastres writeth and namely that it is good against the falling sicknesse Diadochus is like to Berill Diphris is of two kinds the white and the black the male and the female where in may be perceiued very distinctly those members that distinguish the sex by reason of a certain line or vein of the stone Dionysias is a blacke stone and hard withall hauing certain red spots interming led if it be stamped in water it giueth the tast of wine and is thought to withstand drunkennesse Draconites or Dracontia is a stone ingendred in the brains of serpents but vnlesse it be cut out whiles they be aliue namely after their heads be chopt off it neuer grows to the nature of a precious stone for of an inbred malice and enuie that this creature hath to man if perceiuing it selfe to languish and draw on toward death it killeth the vertue of the said stone and therefore they take these serpents whiles they be asleepe and off with their heads Sotacus who wrote that he saw one of these stones in a kings hand reports that they who go to seek these stones vse to ride in a coach drawn with two steeds and when they haue esp ed a dragon or serpent cast in their way certain medicinable drugs to bring them asleep and so haue means and leisure to cut off their heads white they are naturally transparent for impossible it is by any art to polish them neither doth the lapidary lay his hand to them Encardia is a precious stone named also Cardiscae one sort there is of them wherein a man may perceiue the shape of an heart to beare out a second likewise there is so called of a greene colour and the same doth represent also the forme of an heart the third sheweth the heart only black for all the rest is white Enorchis is a faire white stone the same being diuided the fragments thereof do resemble a mans genetoirs whereof it took that name As touching Exhebenus the stone Zoroastres saith that it is most beautifull and white and therewith goldsmiths vse to burnish and polish their gold As for Eristalis being of it self a white stone seemes as a man holdeth it to wax red Erotylos which some cal Amphicome others Hieromnemon is commended much by Democritus for sundry experiments in prophesying and foretelling fortunes Eumeces groweth in the Bactrians country like to a flint being laied vnder a mans head lying asleep vpon his bed it representeth
by visions and dreams in the night all that hee is desirous to know euen as well as an oracle As for Eumetres the Assyrians call it the stone or gem of Belus the most sacred god among them whom they honor with greatest deuotion as green it is as a leeke and serueth very much in their superstitious inuocations sacrifices and exorcisms Eupetalos hath foure colors to wit of azur fire vermilion and an apple Eureos is like the stone of an oliue chamfered in manner of winkle shels but very white it is not Eurotias seemeth to haue a certain mouldines that couers the black vnderneath Eusebes seemeth to be that kind of stone whereof by report was made the feat in Hercules temple at Tyros where the gods were wont to appear and shew themselues Mereouer any precious stone is called Epimelas when being of it selfe white it is ouercast with a blacke colour aloft The gem Galaxias some call Galactites like vnto those last before-named but that it hath certain veins either white or of a bloud color running between As for Galactites indeed it is as white as milk and therupon it took that name Many there be who call the same stone Leucas Leucographias Synnephites which if it be bruised yeeldeth a liquor resembling milk both in color and tast in truth it is said that it breeds store of milke in nources that giue suck also that if it be hung about the necks of infants it causeth saliuation but being held in the mouth it melteth presently Moreouer they say that it hurteth memory and causeth obliuion this stone commeth from the riuer Achelous Some there be who call that Emeraud Galactires which seemeth as it were to be bound about with white veins Galaicos is much like to Argyrodamus but that it is somewhat souler commonly they are found by two or three together As for Gasidanes we haue it from the Medians in colour it resembleth blades of corne and seemes beset here and there with floures it groweth also about Arbelae this gem is said likewise to be conceiued with young and by shaking to bewray and confesse a child within the wombe and it doth conceiue euery three moneths Glossi-petra resembleth a mans tongue and groweth not vpon the ground but in the eclipse of the Moone falleth from heauen and is thought by the magitians to be very necessary for pandors and those that court faire women but we haue no reason to beleeue it considering what vaine promises they haue made otherwaies of it for they beare vs in hand that it doth appease winds Gorgonia is nothing els but Coral the name Gorgonia groweth vpon this occasion That it turneth to be as hard as a stone it assuageth the trouble of the sea and maketh it calme the magitians also affirme that it preserueth from lightning and terrible whirlewinds As vaine they be also in warranting so much of the hearbe Guniane namely that it will worke reuenge and punishment vpon our enemies The pretious stone Heliotropium is found in Aethiopia Affricke and Cyprus the ground thereof is a deepe green in maner of a leeke but the same is garnished with veins of bloud the reason of the name Heliotropium is this For that if it be throwne into a pale of water it changeth the raies of the Sun by way of reuerberation into a bloudie colour especially that which commeth out of Aethiopia the same being without the water doth represent the body of the Sun like vnto a mirroir and if there be an eclipse of the Sun a man may perceiue easily in this stone how the moone goeth vnder it and obscureth the light but most impudent and palpable is the vanity of magitians in their reports of this stone for they let not to say that if a man carrie it about him together with the herbe Heliotropium and besides mumble certaine charmes or prayers he shall goe inuisible Semblably Hephaestites is of the nature of a looking-glasse for although it be reddish or of an orenge colour yet it sheweth ones face in it the meanes to know this stone whether it be right or no is this in case being but into scalding water it presently cooleth it or if in the Sun it wil set on fire any dry wood or such like fewel this stone is found growing vpon the hill Corycus Horminodes is a stone so called in regard of the greene colour that it hath resembling the herbe Clarie for otherwhiles it is white and sometime againe blacke yea and pale now and then howbeit hooped about it is with a circle of golden colour Hexecontalithos for bignesse is but small and yet for the number of colours that it hath it got this name found it is in the region of the Troglodytes Hieracites changeth colour all whole alternatiuely by turns it seemeth to be blackish among kites feathers Hamnites resembleth the spawne of fishes and yet some of them be found as it were composed of nitre and otherwise it is exceeding hard The pretious stone called Hammons-horne is reckoned among the most sacred gems of Aethyopia of a gold colour it is and sheweth the forme of a rams horne the magicians promise that by the vertue of this stone there will appeare dreames in the night which represent things to come Hormesion is thought to be one of the loueliest gems that a man can see for a certaine fiery colour it hath and the same spreadeth forth beams of gold and alwaies carrieth with it in the edges a white and pleasant light Hyenia tooke the name of the Hyens eie sound they are in them when they be assailed and killed and if we may giue credit to Magitians words if these stones be put vnder a mans tongue hee shall presently prophesie of things to come The bloud-stone Haematites is found in Aethiopia principally those be simply the best of al others howbeit there are of them likewise in Arabia and Affrick in colour it is like vnto bloud and so called a stone that I must not ouerpasse in silence in regard of my promise that I made to reproue the vanities and illusions of these impudent barbarous magicians who deceiue the world with their impostures for Zachalias the Babylonian in those books which he wrote to king Mithridates attributeth vnto gems all the destinies and fortunes that be incident vnto man and particularly touching these bloud-stones not contented to haue graced them with medicinable vertues respectiue to the eies and the liuer he ordained it to be giuen vnto those for to haue about them who carry any Petition to a king or great prince for it would speed and further the suit also in case of law matters it giueth good issue and sentence on their side yea and in wars victory ouer enemies There is another of that kinde called by the Indians Henui but the Greekes name it Xanthos of a whitish colour it is vpon a ground of a yellow tawnie The stones called Idaei Dactyli be found
lawes in Rome to represse that excesse 563 b d. grauers cutters and caruers in Marble who were the first 564 h. grauing in Marble as ancient as the reckoning of yeares by Olympiades ibid. l Marble of Paros white 565 b Marble spotted 571. b. of sundry sorts ibid. Marble pillers and columnes in building of temples why at first vsed ibid. men of Chios built therewith the walls of their citie 571. c. the scoffe of M. Cicero vnto them by that occasion ibid. d Marble slit into thin plates whose inuention 571. d who seeled the wals of his house first with Marble at Rome 571. e. who built his house first at Rome vpon Marble pillers ibid. f K. Mausolus first garnished his pallace with marble of Proconnesus 571. d Marble Lucullian whereupon it tooke the name 572. g. it is blacke ibid. where it groweth ibid. Marble stone slit and sawed after what manner ibid. h Marble of sundrie kindes 573. a Marble of Lacedaemon esteemed best ibid. Marble Augustum and Tiberium why so called 573. b how they differ ibid. Marble serpentine ibid. the medicinable vertues thereof ib. Marble of Memphis with the medicinable properties 573 c Marble Coraliticum where it is found and the nature of it 574. i. Marble Alabandicum why so called ibid. it will melt and drinking glasses be made thereof ibid. Marble Thebaicke 574 i. the vertues that it hath ibid. k Marble Syenites why so called 574 k. it is named also Pyrrhopoecilos ibid. it serued for long Obeliske ibid. Marble gray or Sinadian Marble 522. i Marble doth liue and grow in the quarrey 586. i Marchesin or Marquesit stone See Cadmia and Pyrites Marcion of Smyrna a writer of hearbes 300. k Marcipores what they were 459 a C. Marius Censorinus how rich he died 479 e. f Q Marcius Tremellius his statue in a gowne for what desert 491. e Marigolds and their floures compared with Violets 85. e Mariscon a kinde of rishi 106. k C. Marius dranke ordinarily out of a wooden tankard after the example of Bacchus 482. l Markes remaining after the cauterie or searing-yron how to be taken away 377. f Marmaridius a Magician 372. i Marrow of what vertue it is 320. m what Marrow is best ib. how to be ordered and prepared ib. Marsians people resisting all poyson 95. a. b Marsians descended from Circe 210. l. they cure the sting of serpents by touching or sucking onely ibid. Martia a water seruing Rome 408. g. most cold and holesome ibid. from whence it commeth ibid. who conueied it to Rome and maintained it ibid. how it tooke that name 585. d Q. Martius Rex his wonderfull workes performed during his Pretourship 585. d Mascellin mettall of gold siluer and brasse 487. q. c Maspetum what it is 8. l Massaris 146 g. a wilde Vine ibid. 147. c. how employed ibid. Massurius a writer of Histories 320. k Thistle-Masticke what it is 98. i Masticke the gum of the Lentiske tree and the medicinable vertues 182. l. 184. h Matrice pained and vexed with throwes what remedies for it 39 f. 53 b 66 k. 106. i m. 121. f. 186 k. 198 m 207 d. 266 l. 267 b. f. 268 g. 279 a. 283 a. 308 g. 339 c 340. g. Matrice puffed vp swelled and hard how to be assuaged and mollified 72 l. 103 c. 111 c. f. 162 k. 180 l. 183. d 186 g. 339 c. f. 340 g. 352 i. 396 h. 397 a. Matrice enflamed and impostumat how to be cured 55 e 59 d. 71 b. 267 d. 303 a. 350 g. 351 a. Matrice sore and exulcerat how to be healed 140 i. 159. d 161 c. 175 a. 267 d. 340 g m. Matrice ouermoist and slipperie how to be helped 340 l Matrice drawne in and contracted how to be remedied 303. a. Matrice peruerted fallen downe or displaced how to be reduced and settled againe 303 a. 339 b. 340 h. 396. h 557 f. 591 b. See more in Mother Matrice obstructed and vncleane how to be opened clensed and mundified 43. b. c. 55. d. 57. c. 62. k. 77. b. 101. d 168. i. 180. l. 268. g. 340. k. 104. i. 121. f. 133. e. 158. h 175. b. 182. g. 187. d. 192. l. 266. l 267. c. d. 271. d. for the infirmities of the Matrice in generall comfortable medicines 102. h. k. 108. k. 109. b. c. 111. d. 119. d 121. e. 154. g. 173. a. 175. a. 179. f. 181. b. 183. e. 193. b 196. g. 207. c. 267. f. 271. d. 313. c. 318. h. 339. d. 340. i. l 395. c. 448. i. 449. b. 589. b. Maturatiue medicines 76. k. 103. c. 139. a. 183. d. 303. a 556. l. Mattiaci what springs 404. h Maur-hils corruptly called Moul-hils what they be 397. d Mausoleum the renowmed tombe erected by queene Artemisia for king Mausolus her husband 568. i. the description thereof and the workemen ibid. M E Mead or honied water See Hydromell one Meale a day no good diet 304. h Mechopanes a painter full of curious workemanship 548. m Mecoenas Messius held his peace voluntarily for three years space 305. d Mecoenas signed with the print of a Frog 601. f Mecon a kinde of wild Poppie 69. c Meconis a Lectuce why so called 24. i Meconites a pretious stone 628. i Meconium whaet it is 68. i remedie against Meconium 160 k Meconium Aphrodes an hearbe 257 f Mecontum what kinde of medicine to make a woman fruitfull 303. b Medea a pretious stone 628. i. by whom found ibid. Medea queene of Colchis a famous witch 210. k Medion an hearbe with the description 285. e Medius a writer in Physicke 39. e Medlers the fruit and their medicinable vertues 171. b Megabizus what he is 548. i Meges a Chirurgian 439. c Mel-frugum See Panicke Melamphyllon what hearbe 129. c Melampodium what hearbe and of whom it tooke that name 217. b Melamprasium 278. g Melampus a famous Diuinor or Prophet 217. a Melancholie the disease what remedies are appropriat for it 46. i. 50. l. 72. k. 107. e. 140. h. 157. a. 219. d. 283. a 304. l. 316 g. 318. g. 336. h. Melancholie the humour what medicines doe purge 111. f 188. g. 235 f. 412. m. Melandrium what hearbe 248. g Melanthemon what hearbe 125. d Melas a fountaine the water whereof maketh sheepe white 403. c. Melas a cutter in marble of great antiquitie 564. k Melichloros a pretious stone 630. m Melichrus a pretious stone ibid. Mililot an hearbe 90 g. why called Sertula-Campana the description thereof ibid. the vertues medicinable 106. l Melinum a Painters white colour 528. k. why so called 529. d. how it is gotten ibid. the vse in Physicke and the price ibid. Melitaei what dogs 380. h Melites a pretious stone 630. m Melities a kinde of Honied wine 136. m. the properties it hath 137. a Melitites a stone why so called 589. b. the vertues that it hath ibid. Melons their meat and medicinable properties 37. c Melopepones what they be 14. k Melothron what plant 149. c Membranes wounded