before the Image of Minerva CHAP. XV. Of the Amphisbaena THat the Amphisbaena that is a smaller kinde of Serpent which moveth forward and backward hath two heads or one at either extreame was affirmed first by Nicander and after by many others by the Author of the book de Theriaca ad Pisonem ascribed unto Galen more plainly Pliny Geminum habet caput tanquam parum esset uno ore effundi venenum but Aelian most confidently who referring the conceit of Chimera and Hydra unto fables hath set downe this as an undeniable truth Whereunto while men assent and can beleeve a bicipitous conformation in any continued species they admit a gemination of principall parts which is not naturally discovered in any animall true it is that other parts in animals are not equall for some make their progression with many legs even to the number of an hundred as Juli Scolopendâ—ae or such as are termed centipedes some flye with two wings as birds and many insests some with foure as all farinaceous or mealy winged animals as Butter-flies and Moths all vaginipennous or sheathwinged insects as Beetles and Dorrs some have three Testicles as Aristotle speakes of the Buzzard and some have foure stomacks as horned and ruminating animals but for the principall parts the liver heart and especially the braine regularly it is but one in any kinde or species whatsoever And were there any such species or naturall kinde of animall it would be hard to make good those six positions of body which according to the three dimensions are ascribed unto every animall that is infra supra ante retro dextrorsum sinistrorsum for if as it is determined that be the anterior and upper part wherein the sences are placed and that the posterior and lower part which is opposite thereunto there is no inferiour or former part in this animall for the senses being placed at both extreames doe make both ends anteriour which is impossible the termes being Relative which mutually subsist and are not without each other and therefore this duplicity was ill contrived to place one head at both extreames and had beene more tolerable to have setled three or foure at one and therefore also Poets have been more reasonable then Philosophers and Geryon or Cerberus lesse monstrous then Amphisbaena Againe if any such thing there were it were not to be obtruded by the name of Amphisbaena or as an animall of one denomination for properly that animall is not one but multiplicious or many which hath a duplicity or gemination of principle parts and this doth Aristotle define when he affirmeth a monster is to be esteemed one or many according to its principle which he conceived the heart whence he derived the originall of Nerves and thereto ascribe many acts which Physitians assigne unto the braine and therefore if it cannot be called one which hath a duplicity of hearts in his sence it cannot receive that appellation with a plurality of heads in ours And this the practise of Christians hath acknowledged who have baptized these geminous births and double connascencies with severall names as conceiving in them a distinction of soules upon the devided execution of their functions that is while one wept the other laughing while one was silent the other speaking while one awaked the other sleeping as is declared by three remarkable examples in Petrach Vincentius and the Scottish history of Buchanan It is not denyed there have beene bicipitous Serpents with the head at each extreme for an example hereof we finde in Aristotle and in the like forme in Aldrovand wee meet with the Icon of a Lizzard which double formations do often happen unto multiparous generations more especially that of Serpents whose conceptions being numerous and their Eggs in chaines or links together which sometime conjoyne and inoculate into each other they may unite into various shapes and come out in mixed formations but these are monstrous productions and beside the intention of Nature and the statutes of generation neither begotten of like parents nor begetting the like againe but irregularly produced do stand as Anomalies and make up the Quae genus in the generall booke of Nature which being the shifts and forced pieces rather then the genuine and proper effects they afford us no illation nor is it reasonable to conclude from a monstrosity unto a species or from accidentall effects unto the regular workes of Nature Lastly the ground of the conceit was the figure of this animall and motion oft times both wayes for described it is to bee like a worme and so equally framed at both extremes that at an ordinary distance it is no easie matter to determine which is the head and therefore some observing them to move both wayes have given the appellation of heads unto both extreames which is no proper and warrantable denomination for many animals with one head do ordinarily performe both different and contrary motions Crabs move sideling Lobsters will swim swiftly backward Wormes and Leeches wil move both wayes and so will most of those animals whose bodies consist of round and annulary fibers and move by undulation that is like the waves of the Sea the one protruding the other by inversion whereof they make a backward motion Upon the same ground hath arisen the same mistake concerning the Scolopendra or hundred footed insect as is delivered by Rhodiginus from the scholiast of Nicander Dicitur à Nicandro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est dicepalus aut biceps fictum vero quoniam retrorsum ut scribit Aristoteles arrepit observed by Aldrovandus but most plainly by Muffetus who thus concludeth upon the text of Nicander Tamen pace tanti authoris dixerim unicum illi duntaxat caput licet pari facilitate prorsum capite retrorsum ducente cauda incedat quod Nicandro aliisque imposuisse dubito that is under favour of so great an Author the Scolopendra hath but one head although with equall facility it moveth forward and backward which I suspect deceived Nicander and others CHAP. XVI Of the Viper THat the young Vipers force their way through the bowels of their Dam or that the female Viper in the act of generation biâ—es off the head of the male in revenge whereof the young ones eate through the womb and belly of the female is a very ancient tradition in this sence entertained in the Hieroglyphicks of the Aegyptians affirmed by Herodotus Nicander Pliny Plutarch Aelian Jeâ—ome Basil Isidore and seems to be countenanced by Aristotle and his scholler Theophrastus from hence is commonly assigned the reason why the Romans punished parricides by drowning them in a sack with a Viper and so perhaps upon the same opinion the men of Melita when they saw a viper upon the hand of Paul said presently without conceit of any other sin No doubt this man is a murtherer whom though he have escaped the Sea yet venâ—geance suffereth him not to live that is he is now paid in his own way the
conclude from the position of the antecedent unto the position of the consequent or from the â—emotion of the consequent to the remotion of the antecedent This is usually committed when in connexed propositions the termes adhere contingently This is frequent in Oratorie illations and thus the Pharisees because he conversed with Publicans and sinneâ—s accused the holinesse of Christ. But if this fallacy be largely taken it is committed in any virious illation offending the rules of good consequence and so it may be very large and comprehend all false illations against the setled laws of Logick but the most usuall consequences are fâ—om particulars from â—egatives and from affirmative conclusions in the 〈…〉 wherein indeed offences are most frequent and their discoveries noâ— difficult CHAP. V. Of Credulity and Supinity A Third cause of common Errors is the Credulity of men that is an easie assent to what is obtruded or a believing at first eare what is delivered by others this is a weaknesse in the understanding without examination assenting unto things which from their natures and causes doe carry no perswasion whereby men often swallow falsities for truths dubiosities for certainties fesibilities for possibilities and things impossible as possibilities themselves Which though a weaknesse of the Intellect and most discoverable in vulgar heads yet hath it sometime fallen upon wiser braines and great advancers of truth Thus many wise Athenians so far forgot their Philosophy and the nature of humane production that they descended unto beliefes the originall of their Nation was from the Earth and had no other beginning then from the seminality and wombe of their great Mother Thus is it not without wonder how those learned Arabicks so tamely delivered up their beliefe unto the absurdities of the Alcoran How the noble Geber Avicenna and Almanzor should rest satisfied in the nature and causes of earthquakes delivered from the doctrine of their Prophet that is from the motion of a great Bull upon whose hornes all the earth is poised How their faiths could decline so low as to concede their generations in heaven to be made by the smell of a citron or that the felicity of their Paradise should consist in a Jubile of conjunction that is a coition of one act prolonged unto fifty years Thus is it almost beyond wonder how the beliefe of reasonable creatures should ever submit unto Idolatry and the credulity of those men scarce credible without presumption of a second fall who could believe a Deity in the worke of their owne hands For although in that ancient and diffused adoration of Idolls unto the Priests and subtiler heads the worship perhaps might be symbolicall and as those Images some way related unto their deities yet was the Idolatry direct and downe-right in the people whose credulity is illimitable who may be made believe that any thing is God and may be made believe there is no God at all And as Credulity is the cause of Error so incredulity oftentimes of not enjoying truth and that not only an obstinate incredulity whereby wee will not acknowledge assent unto what is reasonably inferred but any Academicall reservaâ—ion in matters of easie truth or rather scepticall infidelity against the evidence of reason and sense For these are conceptions befalling wise men as absurd as the apprehensions of fooles and the credulity of the people which promiscuously swallow any thing For this is not only derogatory unto the wisdome of God who hath proposed the world unto our knowledge and thereby the notion of himselfe but also detractory unto the intellect and sense of man expressedly disposed for that inquisition And therefore hoc tantum scio quod nâ—hil scâ—o is not to be received in an absolute sense but is comparatively expressed unto the number of things whereof our knowledge is ignorant nor will it acquit the insatisfaction of those which quarrell with all things oâ— dispute of matters concerning whose verities we have conviction from reason or decision from the inerrable and requisite conditions of sense And therefore if any man shall affirme the earth doth move and will not bâ—lieve with us it standeth still because he hath probable reasons for it and I no infallible sense nor reason against it I will not quarrell with his assertion but if like Zeno he shall walke about and yet deny there is any motion in nature â—urely it had been happy he had been born in Antyâ—era and is only fit to converse with their melancholies who having a conceit that they are dead cannot be convicted into the society of the living The fourth is a supinity or neglect of enquiry even in matters whereof we doubt rather beleeving as we say then going to see or doâ—bting with ease and gratis then beleeving with difficulty or purchase whereby either by a temperamentall inactivity we are unready to put in execution the suggestions or dictates of reason or by a content and acquiescence in every species of truth we embrace the shadow thereof or so much as may palliate its just and substantiall acquirements Had our forefathers sat downe in these resolutions or had their curiosities been sedentary who pursued the knowledge of things through all the corners of nature the face of tâ—uth had been obscure unto us whose lustre in some part their industries have revealed Certainly the sweat of their labours was not salt unto them and they took delight in the dust of their endeavours Fâ—r questionlesse in knowledge there is no slâ—nder difficulty and truth which wise men say doth lye in a well is not recoverable but by â—xâ—ntlation It were some extenuation of the curse if in sudore vulâ—us tul were confineable unto corporall exercitations and there still remained a Paradise or unthorny place of knowledge but now our undeâ—standings being eclipsed as well as our tempers infirmed we must betake our selves to wayes of reparation and depend upon the illumination of our endeavours for thus we may in some measure repaire our primarie ruins and build our selves men againe And though the attempts of some have been precipitous and their enquiries so audacious as to come within command of the flaming swords and lost themselves in attempts above humanity yet have the inquiries of most defected by the way and tyred within the sober circumference of knowledge And this is the reason why some have transcribed any thing and although they cannot but doubt thereof yet neither make experiment by sence or enquiry by reason but live in doubts of things whose satisfaction is in their owne power which is indeed the inexcusable part of our ignorance and may perhaps fill up the charge of the last day For not obeying the dictates of reason and neglecting the cryes of truth we faile not onely in the trust of our undertakings but in the intention of man it selfe which although more veniall unto ordinary constitutions and such as are not framed beyond the capacity of beaten notions yet will it inexcusably condemne some men
in thâ—s opinion is worse then in the last that is not to receive figures for realities but expect a verity in Apologues and beleeve as serious â—ffiâ—mations confessed and studied fables Againe if this were true and that the Bever in chase make some divulsion of parts as that which we call Castoreum yet are not these parts avelled to be termed Testicles or stones for these cods or follicles are sound in both sexes though somewhat more protuberant in the male tâ—ere is hereto no deâ—ivation of the seminall parts nor any passage from hence unto the vessels of ejâ—culations some perforations onely in the part it selfe through which the humor included doth exudate as may be observed in such as are fresh and not much dryed with age and lastly the Testicles properly so called are of a lesser magnitude and seaâ—ed inwardly upon the loynes and therefore it were not only a fruitlesse attempt but impossible act to euâ—uchate or castrate themselves and might bee an hazardous practise of Arte if at all attempted by otheâ—s Now all this is confirmed from the experimentall testimony of five very memorable Authors Bellonius Gesnerus Amatus Rondeletius and Mâ—â—hiolus who receivng the hint hereof from Rondeletius in the Anatomie of two Bevers did finde all true that had been delivered by him whose words are these in his learned book de Piscibus Fibri in inguâ—nibus geminos tumores habent utrinqueunicum ovi â—nserini magnitudine inter hos est mentula in mâ—ribus in foeminis pudâ—ndum hi tumores testes non sunt sed folliculi member anâ conâ—ecti in quorâ— medio singuli sunt meatus è quâ—bus exudat liquor pinguis cerosus quem ipse Castor saepe admoto ore lambit â—xugâ—t pâ—stea veluti oleo corporis paâ—tes oblinit Hos tumores testes non eâ—sâ— hinc mâ—ixime collâ—gitur quod ab illis nulla est ad mentulam via neque ductus quo humor in mentulae meâ—tum derivetur foâ— as emittâ—tur praeâ—erea quod â—estes â—nâ—us reperiâ—ntur eosdem tumores Moscho animali in esse puto è quibus odoratum illud pus emanat then which words there can be none plainer nor more evidently discover the improprietie of this appellation that which is included in the cod or visible bagge about the groine being not the Testicle or any spermaticall part but rather a collection of some superfluous matter deflowing from the body espâ—cially the parts of nutrition as unto their proper emunctories and as it doth in Musck and Civet cats though in a different and offensive odour proceeding partly from i'ts food that being especially fish whereof this humor may be a garous excretion or a raucide and olidous separation Most therefore of the Modernes before Rondeletius and all the Antients excepting Sestius have misunderstood this part as conceiving Castoreum for the Testicles of the Bever as Dioscorides Galen Aegineta Aetius and others have pleased to name it The Egyptians also â—ailed in the ground of their Hieroglyphick when they expressed the punishment of adultery by the Bever depriving himself of his testicles which was amongst them the penalty of such incontinencie Nor is Aeâ—â—us perhaps too strictly to be observed when he prescribeth the 〈◊〉 of the Oâ—ter or River-dog as succedaneous unto Castoreum but â—â—ost inexcusable of all is Plinie who having before him in one place 〈◊〉 experiment of Sestius against it sets downe in another that the Bevers of Pontus bite off their testicles and in the same place affirâ—â—th the like of the Hyena Now the ground of this mistake might be the resemblance and situation of these tumors about those parts wherein we observe the testicles in other animalls which notwithstanding is no well founded illation for the testicles are defined by their office and not determined by place or situation they having one office in all but different seats in many for beside that no serpent or fishes oviparous have any stones at all that neither biped nor quadruped oviparous have any exteriorly or prominent in the groyne some also that are viviparous contain these parts within as beside this animall the Elephant and the Hedge-hog If any therefore shall terme these testicles intending metaphorically and in no strict acception his language is tolerable and offends our ears no more then the Tropicall names of plants when we read in Herballs in the severall kindes of Orchis of Dogs Fox and Goat-stones but if he insist thereon and maintaine a propriety in this language our discourse hath overthrowne his assertion nor will Logicke permit his illation That is from things alike to conclude a thing the same and from an accidentall convenience that is a similitude in place or figure to infer a specificall congruity or substantiall concurrence in nature CHAP. V. Of the Badger THâ—t a Brock or Badger hath his legs of one side shorter then of the other though an opinion perhaps not very ancient is yet very generall received not only by theorists and unexperienced beleevers but assented unto by most who have the opportunity to behold and hunt them dayly which notwithstanding upon enquiry I finde repugnant unto the three determinators of truth Authority Sense and Reason For first Albertus mâ—gnus speaks dubiously confessing he could not confirme the veâ—ity hereof but Aldrovand affirmeth plainly there can be no such inequality observed and for my own part upon indifferent enquiry I cannot discover this difference although the regardible side be defined and the brevity by most imputed unto the left Againe it seems no easie affront unto reason and generally repugnant unto the course of nature for if we survey the totall set of animals we may in their legs or organs of progression obseâ—ve an equality of length and parity of numeration that is not any to have an odde leg or the supporters and movers of one side not exactly answered by the other although the hinder may be unequall unto the fore and middle legs as in Frogs Locusts and Grafhoppers or both unto the middle as in some beetles and spiders as is determined by Aristotle de incessu animalium perfect and viviparous quadrupeds so standing in their position of pronenesse that the opposite joynts of neighbour legs consist in the same plaine and a line deâ—cending from their navell intersects at right angles the axis of the earth It happeneth often I confesse that a Lobster hath the chely or great claw of one side longer then the other but this is not properly their leg but a part of apprehension and whereby they hold or seize upon their prey for in them the legs and proper parts of progression are inverted backward and stand in a position opposiâ—e unto these Lastly the monstrosity is ill contrived and with some disadvantage the shortnesse being affixed unto the legs of one side which might have been more tolerably placed upon the thwart or Diagoniall movers for the progression of quadrupeds being performed per Diametrum that is the crosse legs
moving or resting together so that two are alwayes in motion and two in station at the same time the brevity had been more tolerable in the crosse legs for then the motion and station had beene performed by equall legs whereas herein they are both performed by unequall organs and the imperfection becomes discoverable at every hand CHAP. VI. Of the Beare THat a Bear brings forth her young informous and unshapen which she fashioneth after by licking them over is an opinion not only vulgar and common with us at present but hath been of old delivered by ancient Writers upon this foundation it was a Hieroglyphicke amon the Aegyptians Aristotle seems to countenance it Solinus Plinie and Aelian directly affirme it and Ovid smoothly delivereth it Nec catulus partu quem reddidit ursa recenti Sed male viva caro est lambendo mater in artus Ducit in formam qualem cupit ipsa reducit Which opinion notwithstanding is not only repugnant unto the sense of every one that shall with diligence enquire into it but the exact and deliberate experiment of three authenticke Philosophers the first of Mathiolus in his Comment on Dioscorides whose words are to this effect In the valley of Anania about Trent in a Beare which the Hunters eventerated I beheld the young ones with all their parts distinct and not without shape as many conceive giving more credit unto Aristotle and Plinie then experience and their proper senses Of the same assurance was Julius Scaliger in his Exercitations Vrsam faetus informes potius ejicere qu 〈◊〉 parere si vera dicunt quos postea linctu effingat Quid hujusce fabulae authoribâ—s fidei habendum ex hac historia cognosces In nostris Alpibus venatores faetam ursam cepere dissecta eafae tus plane formatus intus inventus est and lastly Aldrovandus who from the testimony of his owne eyes affirmeth that in the cabinet of the Senate of Bononia there was preserved in a glasse a Cub dissected out of a Beare perfectly formed and compleat in every part It is moreover injurious unto reason and much impugneth the course and providence of nature to conceive a birth should be ordained before there is a formation for the conformation of parts is necessarily required not only unto the prerequisites and previous conditions of birth as motion and animation but also unto the parturition or very birth it selfe wherein not only the Dam but the younglings play their parts and the cause and act of exclusion proceedeth from them both for the exclusion of animals is not meerly passive like that of egges nor the totall action of delivery to be imputed unto the mother but the first attempt beginneth from the Infant which at the accomplished period attempteth to change his mansion and strugling to come forth dilacerates and breaks those parts which restrained him before Beside what few take notice of men hereby doe in a high measure vilifie the workes of God imputing that unto the tongue of a beast which is the strangest artifice in all the acts of nature that is the formation of the Infant in the womb not only in mankind but all viviparous animals whatsoever wherin the plastick or formative faculty from matter appearing homogeneous and of a similary substance erecteth bones membranes veynes and arâ—eries and out of these contriveth every part in number place and figure according to the law of its species which is so far from being fashioned by any outward agent that once omitted or perverted by a slip of the inward Phidias it is not reducible by any other whatsoever and therefore mirè me plasmaverunt manus tuae though it originally respected the generation of man yet is it applyable unto that of other animalls who entring the wombe in indistinct and simple materialls returne with distinction of parts and the perfect breath of life he that shall consider these alterations without must needs conceive there have been strange operations within which to behold it were a spectacle almost worth ones being a sight beyond all except that man had been created first and might have seen the shew of five dayes after Now as the opinion is repugnant both unto sense and reason so hath it probably been occasioned from some slight ground in either thus in regard the cub comes forth involved in the Chorion a thick and tough membrane obscuring the formation and which the Dam doth after bite and teaâ—e asunder the beholder at first sight conceives it a rude and informous lumpe of flesh and imputes the ensuing shape unto the mouthing of the Dam which addeth nothing thereunto but onely drawes the curtaine and takes away that vaile which conceded the piece before and thus have some endeavoured to enforce the same from reason that is the small and slender time of the Beares gestation or going with her young which lasting but few dayes a month some say the exclusion becomes precipitous and the young ones consequently informous according to that of Solinus Trigesimus dies uterum liberat ursae unde evenit ut praecipitata faecunditaâ— informes creet partus but this will overthrow the generall method of nature in the works of generation for therein the conformation is not only antecedent but proportionall unto the exclusion and if the period of the birth be short the terme of conformation will be as sudden also there may I confesse from this narrow time of gestation ensue a minority or smalnesse in the exclusion but this however inferreth no informity and it still receiveth the name of a naturall and legitimate birth whereas if we affirme a totall informity it cannot admit so forward a terme as an Abortment for that supposeth conformation and so wee must call this constant and intended act of nature a slip an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or effluxion that is an exclusion before conformaâ—ion before the birth can beare the name of the parent or be so much as properly called an Embryon CHAP. VII Of the Basilisk MAny opinions are passant concerning the Basiliske or little king of Serpents commonly called the Cockatrice some affirming others denying most doubting the relations made hereof what therefore in these incertainties we may more surely determine that such an animall there is if we evade not the testimony of Scripture and humane Writers we cannot safely deny So is it said Psal 91. Super aspidem Basiliscum ambulabis wherein the vulgar Translation retaineth the word of the Septuagint using in other places the Latine expression Regulus as Proverb 23. Mordebit ut coluber sicut Regulus venena diffundet and Jeremy 8. Ecce ego mittam vobis serpentes Regulos c. That is as ouâ—s translate it Behold I will send Serpents Cockatrices among you which will not be charmed and they shall bite you and as for humane Authors or such as have discoursed of animals or poysons it is to be found almost in all as Dioscorides Galen Pliny Soliâ—us Aelian Aetius Avicen Ardoynus
are these Deejus vitae longitudine fabulantur neque enim aut gestatio aut incrementum hinnulorum ejusmodi sunt ut praestent argumentum longaevi animalis that is fables are raised concerning the vivassity of Deere for neither are their gestation or increment such as may afford an argument of long life and these saith Scaliger are good mediums conjunctively taken that is not one without the other For of animalls viviparous such as live long goe long with young and attaine but slowly to their maturitie and stature so the Horse that liveth about thirty arriveth unto his stature about six years and remaineth above nine moneths in the wombe so the Camell that liveth unto fifty goeth with young no lesse then ten moneths and ceaseth not to grow before seaven and so the Elephant that liveth an hundred beareth iâ—'s young above a yeare and arriveth unto perfection at twenty on the contrary the Sheep and Goat which live but eight or ten yeares goe but five moneths and attaine to their perfection at two yeares and the like is observable in Cats Hares and Conies and so the Deere that endureth the wombe but eight moneths and is compleat at six yeares from the course of nature wee cannot expect to live an hundred nor in any proportionall allowance much more then thirty as having already passed two generall motions observable in all animations that is it 's beginning and encrease and having but two more to runne thorow that is it 's state and declination which are proportionally set out by nature in every kinde and naturally proceeding admit of inference from each other The other ground that brings it's long life into suspition is the immoderate salacity and almost unparalleld excesse of venerie which every September may be observed in this Animall and is supposed to shorten the lives of Cockes Partridges and Sparrowes certainely a confessed and undeniable enemie unto longaeuitie and that not onely as a signe in the complexionall desire and impetuositie but also as a cause in the frequent act or iterated performance thereof For though we consent not with that Philosopher who thinks a spermaticall emission unto the waight of one dragme is aequivalent unto the effusion of sixtie ounces of blood yet considering the resolution and languor ensuing that act in some the extenuation and marcour in others and the visible acceleration it maketh of age in most wee cannot but thinke it much abridgeth our dayes although we also concede that this exclusion is naturall that nature it selfe will finde a way hereto without either act or object And although it be placed among the sixe non naturals that is such as neither naturally constitutive nor meerly destructive doe preserve or destroy according unto circumstance yet do we sensibly observe an impotencie or totall privation thereof prolongeth life and they live longest in every kinde that exercise it not at all and this is true not onely in Eunuches by nature but spadoes by Art For castrated animals in every species are longer lived then they which retaine their virilities For the generation of bodies is not effected as some conceive of soules that is by Irradiation or answerably unto the propagation of light without its proper diminution but therein a transmission is made materially from some parts and Ideally from every one and the propagation of one is in a strict acception some minoration of another and therefore also that axiome in Philosophy that the generation of one thing is the corruption of another although it be substantially true concerning the forme and matter is also dispositively verified in the efficient or producer As for more sensible arguments and such as relate unto experiment from these we have also reason to doubt its age and presumed vivacity for where long life is naturall the markes of age are late and when they appear the journey unto death cannot be long Now the age of a Deere as Aristotle long agoe observed is best conjectured by the view or the hornes and teeth from the hornes there is a particular and annuall account unto six yeares they arising first plaine and so successively branching after which the judgement of their yeares by particular markes becomes uncertaine but when they grow old they grow lesse branched and first doe lose their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or propugnacula that is their brow Antlers or lowest furcations next the head which Aristotle saith the young ones use in fight and the old as needles have them not at all The same may be also collected from the losse of their Teeth whereof in old age they have few or none before in either jaw Now these are infallible markes of age and when they appeare wee must confesse a declination which notwithstanding as men informe us in England where observations may well be made will happen between twenty and thirty As for the bone or rather induration of the roots of the arterial veyn and great artery which is thought to be found only in the heart of an old Deere and therefore becomes more precious in its rarity it is often found in Deere much under thirty and wee have knowne some affirme they have found it in one of halfe that age and therefore in that account of Plinie of a Deere with a collar about his necke put on by Alexander the Great and taken alive a hundred years after with other relations of this nature we much suspect imposture or mistake and if we grant their verity they are but single relations and very rare contingencies in individualls not affording a regular diduction upon the species For though Uâ—ysses his Dog lived unto twenty two and the Athenian Mule unto fourscore we doe not measure their dayes by those yeares or usually say they live thus long nor can the three hundred years of John of times or Nestor overthrow the assertion of Moses or afford a reasonable encouragement beyond his septuagenary determination The ground and authority of this conceit was first Hieroglyphicall the Egyptians expressing longaevitie by this animall but upon what uncertainties and also convincible falâ—ities they often erected such emblems we have elsewhere delivered and if that were true which Aristotle delivers of his time and Plinie was not afraid to take up long after the Aegyptians could make but weake observations herein for though it be said that Aeneas feasted his followers with Venison yet Aristotle affiâ—ms that neither Deer nor Boar were to be found in Africa and how far they miscounted the lives and duration of Animals is evident from their conceit of the Crow which they presume to live five hundred yeares and from the lives of Hawkes which as Aelian delivereth the Aegyptians doe reckon no lesse then at seven hundred The second which led the conceit unto the Grecians and probâ—bly descended from the Aegyptians was Poeticall and that was a passage of Hâ—siod thus rendred by Ausonius Ter binos deciesque novem super exit in annâ—s Iusta senes centum
nothing diffused from the Testicles an Horse or Bull may generate after castration that is from the stock and remainder of seminall matter already prepared and stored up in the Prostates or glandules of generation Thirdly although wee should concede a right and left in Nature yet in this common and received account we may aberre from the proper acception mistaking one side for another calling that in man and other animals the right which is the left and that the left which is the right and that in some things right and left which is not properly either For first the right and left are nor defined by Philosophers according to common acception that is respectively from one man unto another or any constant site in each as though that should bee the right in one which upon confront or facing stands a thwaâ—t or diagonially unto the other but were distinguished according to the activitie and predominant locomotion upon either side Thus Aristole in his excellent Tract de Incessu animâ—lium ascribeth six positions unto animals answering the three dimensions which he dâ—termineth not by site or position unto the heavens but by their faculties and functions and these are Imum summum Ante Retro Dextra Sinâ—slra that is the superiour part where the aliment is received that the lower extreme where it is last expelled so hee termeth a man a plant inverted for hee supposeth the root of a tree the head or upper paâ—t thereof whereby it â—eceiveth it aliment although therewith it respects the Center of the earth but with the other the Zenith and this position is answerable unto longitude Those parts are anterior and measure profunditie where the senses especially the eyes are placed and those posterior which are opposite hereunto The dextrous and sinistrous parts of the body make up the Latitude and are not certain and inalterable like the other for thâ—â—â—aith hee is the right side from whence the motion of the body beginneth that is the active or moving side but that the sinister which is the weaker or more quiescent part of the same determination were the Platonicks and Pythagoriaâ—s before him who conceiving the heavens an animated body named the East the right or dextrous part from whence began their motion and thus the Greeks from wence the Latines have borrowed their appellation have named this hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denominating it not from the site but office from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 capio that is the hand w ch receiveth or is usually implied in that action Now upon these grounds we are most commonly mistaken defining that by situation which they determined by motion and give the terme of right hand to that which doth not properly admit â—t For fiâ—st many in their infancy are sinistrously disposed and divers continue all their life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is left handed and have but weak and imperfect use of the right now unto these that hand is properly the right and not the other estemed so by situation Thus may Aristotle bee made out when hee affirmeth the right claw of Crabbes and Lobsters is biggest if we take the right for the most vigorous side and not regard the relative situation for the one is generally bigger then the other yet not alwayes upon the same side so may it bâ—e verified what is delivered by Scaliger in his Comment that Palsies do oftnest happen upon the left side if understood in this sense the most vigorous part protâ—cting it selfe and protruding the matter upon the wâ—aker and lesse resistive side and thus the Law of Common-Weales that cut off the right hand of Malefactors if Philosophically executed is impartiall otherwise the amputation not equally punisheth all Some ar◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is ambidexterous or right-handed on both sides which happeneth only unto strong and Athleticall bodies whose heat and spirits are able to afford an ability unto both and therefore Hippocrates saith that women are not ambidexterous that is not so often as men for some are found which indifferently make use of both and so may Aristotle say that only man is Ambidexter of this constitution was Asteropaeus in Homer and Parthenopeus the Theban Captaine in Statius and of the same doe some conceivâ— our Father Adam to have been as being perfectly framed and in a constitution admitting least defect Now in these men the right hand is on both sides and that which is the opposite to the one is not the left unto the other Againe some are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Galen hath expressed that is Ambilevous or left handed on both sides such as with agility and vigour have not the use of either who are not gymâ—astically composed nor actively use those parts now in these there is no right hand of this constitution are many women and some men who though they accustome themselves unto either hand do dexteâ—ously make use of neither and therefore although the Politicall advise of Aristotle bee very good that men should accustom themselves to the command of either hand yet cannot thâ— execution or performance thereof be generall for though there bee many found that can use both yet will there divers remaine that can strenuously make use of neither Lastly these lateralities in man are not onely fallible if relatively determined unto each others but made in reference unto the heavens and quarters of the Globe for those parts are not capable of these conditions in themselves nor with any certainty respectively derived from us nor we from them againe And first in regard of their proper nature the heavens admit not these sinister and dexter respects there being in them no diversitie or difference but a simplicity of parts and equiformity in motion continually succeeding each other so that from what point soever we compute the account will be common unto the whole circularity and therefore though it be plausible it is not fundamentall what is delivered by Solinus That man was therefore a Microcosmâ— or little world because the dimensions of his positions were answerablâ— unto the greater for as in the heavens the distance of the North and Southerne pole which are esteemed the supâ—riour and inferiour poyntâ— is equall unto thâ— space between thâ— East and West accounted the dextrous and sinistrous parts thereof so is it also in man for the extent of his fathome or distance betwixt the extremity of the fingerâ— of either hand upon expansion is equall unto the space between the soalâ— of the foot and the crowne but this doth but petionarily inferre a dextrality in the heavens and we may as reasonably conclude a right an left laterallity in the Ark or navall edifice of Noah for the length thereof was thirty cubits the bredth fifty and the heigth or profundity thirty which well agreeth unto the proportion of man whose length that is a perpendicular from the vertix unto the soal of the foot is â—extuple unto his breadth or a right line drawne from the