it into Pannonia and so from thence vnto vs through our prouinces of Istria and Venice for from Pannonia the Venetians first who confine next vpon the marches thereof and whom the Greekes call Heneti receiued it by way of merchandise in the maritime port townes along the Adriatick sea and so by that means brought it into name and request which ordinary traffick may be the reason which gaue occasion to the foresaid tale that runes of the Po and the Poplars about it that should weep Amber And euen at this day the country dames of Lumbardie and those parts beyond the Po vse to weare faire carkanets collers of Amber-beads to adorne themselues especially and in some sort for the health also of their bodies for persuaded they are that it withstands the inflammation of the Amygdales other accidents of the throat and chawes for that the people of that country are subject to poghes vnder their throat about those fleshie parts neere vnto it by reason of sundry kinds of waters which breed those infirmities The foresaid coast of Germany is almost six hundred miles from Carnuntum in Pannonia and yet of late daies much frequented by merchants from all quarters Certes a Gentleman of Rome discouered those parts by occasion that he was sent thither by commission from Iulianus who had the charge vnder Nero for furnishing of the solemne plaies and sights of sword-fencers to buy vp good store of amber This gentleman I say surueied diligently al those coasts saw the maner of the whole traffick for that commodity yea brought into Rome such plenty thereof that the great nets and cordage which for defence of the outstanding and open gallerie within the Theatre were opposed against the wild beasts there to be baited and to fight were buttoned set out with Amber the armour likewise the bieres other furniture for burial of those fencers which should happen there to be killed yea in one word all the apparel and prouision for one day to the setting out of those pastimes and disports stood most of Amber The greatest piece of Amber that he brought ouer weighed 13 pounds Moreouer it is held for certain That it is to be found among the Indians Archelaus who sometime reigned as king in Cappadocia writeth That from thence it is brought rude and vnclean with pieces of bark sticking within it but the way to scoure and pollish it is to seeth it in the grease of a sow that suckleth pigs That it doth destil and drop at the first very clear liquid it is euident by this argument for that a man may see diuers things within to wit Pismires Gnats and Lizards which no doubt were entangled and stuck within it when it was green and fresh and so remained enclosed within as it waxed harder Many kinds there be of amber The white is most redolent and smels best but neither that nor yet those pieces which are coloured like wax be of any price The high coloured Amber namely that which is of a deepe yellow enclining to red is much more esteemed and the rather if it be cleare and transparant prouided alwaies that the glittering thereof be not too ardent Commendable it is in Amber and sheweth it to be rich if it represent fire in some sort but it must not be too too fiery But the excellent Amber is that which is called Falernum for the colour which it carrieth resembling the wine Falernnm and the same is clear and transparant with a gay lustre that pleaseth contenteth the eie very wel And yet some therebe who delight more in that Amber which lookes with a mild yellow like to boiled and clarified hony But this I am to giue you to vnderstand That there may be giuen vnto Amber what tincture or colour a man will but commonly they vse therto the suet of Kids and the root of Orchanet and no maruaile since that some haue deuised also to enrich it with a purple die To come vnto the properties that Amber hath if it be well rubbed and chaufed between the fingers the potentiall facultie that lies within is set on work and brought into actuall operation wherby you shall see it to draw chaffe strawes dry leaues yea and thin rinds of the Linden or Tillet tree after the same sort as the loadstone draweth yron Moreouer take the shauings scraped from Amber and put them into lamp-oile they will burne and maintaine light both longer and also more cleare than weekes or matches made of the very tire and best of flax As touching the estimation that our delicates and wantons make thereof Some there be who for their pleasure will giue more for a puppet or image made of Amber to the likenes and proportion of man or woman be it neuer so little than for the liuely and lusty body indeed of a tal man and valiant souldior But what should I say to such Certainly they deserue to be wel chastised for their peruers iudgment one rebuke is not sufficient Yet can I hold better with them who take pleasure in other things me thinks they haue some reason therof for Corinth vessell there is good cause that a man should set his mind therupon in regard of the singular temper of the brasse with some proportion of siluer and gold in pieces of mettall ingrauen enchased and embossed the curious art and the witty deuise seen vpon the worke may well rauish the spirit of the buyer and draw him on to giue a round price Touching rhe cups made of Cassidonie and Crystal I haue shewed already wherein lies their grace and what may enamour a chapman and cause him to bid well and offer frankly for them Faire pearles and goodly vniones are commended for that our braue dames enrich their borders therewith and set out theattire of their heads gems and pretious stones adorne and beautifie our fingers in sum there is no superfluitie that we haue but grounded it is either vpon some colourable vse that wee may pretend or els vpon some gallant shew that it makes As for this Amber I see nothing in the world to commend it only it is a mind that folk haue to take affection to it they know not wherfore euen of a delicat and foolish wantonnesse And in truth Nero Domitius among many other fooleries and gauds wherein he shewed what a monster he was in his life proceeded so far that he made a sonnet in praise of the hair of the Empresse Poppaea his wife which he compared to Amber and as I remember in one staffe of his dittie he tearmed them Succina i. Ambre and from that time our dainty dames and fine ladies haue begun to set their mind vpon this colour and haue placed it in the third ranke of rich tincture whereby we may see there is no superfluity and disorder in the world but it hath a pretence or cloake of some pretious name or other And yet I will not disgrace Amber
besides but because they be found elsewhere and knowne to be better in other places than in Arabia I will treat of them in their course and ranke when it commeth And yet Arabia it selfe as fruitfull and happy as it is in this behalfe is wondrous eager in seeking after forreine spices and sendeth for them into strange countries So soone are men glutted and haue their fill of their owne and so greedy and desirous be they of other countries commodities They send therfore as far as the Helymaeans for a tree named Bruta like to a spreding cypres hauing boughes couered with a whitish bark casting a pleasant smelling perfume when it burneth and highly commended in the chronicles and historie of Claudius Caesar for strange vertues and wonderfull properties For he writeth That the Parthians vse to put the leaues therof in their drinke for to giue it a good tast and odoriferous smell The odour thereof resembleth the Caedar very much and the perfume is a singular remedie against the stinking and noisome fumes of other wood It groweth beyond the great channell of the riuer Tigris called Pasitigris vpon the mount Zagrus neare vnto the citie Citaca They send moreouer to the Carmanians for another tree called Strobos and all to make sweet perfumes but first they infuse the wood thereof in Date-wine and then burn it This is an excellent perfume for it wil fill the whole house rising vp to the chambers aloft to the arched seelings of the roufe and returning downe againe to the very floore and ground beneath most pleasantly But it stuffes a mans head howbeit without any paine or ach at all With this perfume they procure sleep to sick persons And for the traffick of this commodity the merchants meet at the citie Carras where they keep an ordinarie faire or mart and from thence they went customably to Gabba twentie daies journey off where they were wont to haue a vent for their merchandise and to make returne and so forward into Palestine of Syria But afterwards as K. Iuba saith they began to go to Charace and to the kingdom of the Parthians for the same purpose For mine owne part I thinke rather with Herodotus That the Arabians transported these odours and spices to the Persians first before that they went therewith either into Syria or Aegypt and I ground vpon the testimonie of Herodotus who affirmeth That the Arabians paid euery yeare vnto the KK of Persia the weight of a talent in Frank incense for tribute Out of Syria they bring back Storax with the acrimonie and hot smell wherof being burnt vpon their herths they put by and driue away the loathsomnesse of their own odors wherewith they are cloyed for the Arabians vse no other fuell at all for their fires but sweet wood As for the Sabaeans they seeth their meats in the kitchin some with the wood of the Incense tree and others with that of Myrrhe insomuch as both in citie and country their houses be full of thesmoke and smell thereof as if it came from the sacrifice vpon the altars For to qualifie therfore this ordinarie sent of Myrrhe and Frank incense wherewith they are stuffed they perfume their houses with Storax which they burne in Goats skins Loe how there is no pleasure whatsoeuer but breedes lothsomnesse if a man continue long to it The same Storax they vse to burn for the chasing away of Serpents which in those forests of sweet trees are most rife common CHAP. XVIII ¶ Of the felicitie of Arabia NEither Cinamon nor Casia do grow in Arabia and yet is it named Happie vnworthie countrey as it is for that surname in that it taketh it selfe beholden to the gods aboue therefore whereas indeed they haue greater cause to thanke the infernal spirits beneath For what hath made Arabia blessed rich and happie but the superfluous expense thnt men be at in funerals employing those sweet odors to burne the bodies of the dead which they knew by good right were due vnto the gods And verily it is constantly affirmed by them who are acquainted well with the world and know what belongeth to these matters That there commeth not so much Incense of one whole yeares increase in Saba as the Emperor Nero spent in one day when he burnt the corps of his wife Poppea Cast then how many funerals euery yeare after were made throughout the world what heaps of odors haue been bestowed in the honor of dead bodies wheras they offer vnto the gods by crums and graines only And yet when as men made supplication to them with the oblation of a little cake made with salt and meale and no more they were no lesse propitious and merciful nay they were more gratious and fauourable a great deale as may appeare by histories But to returne againe to Arabia the sea enricheth it more than the land by occasion of the orient pearles that it yeeldeth and sendeth vnto vs. And surely our pleasures our delights and our women together are so costly vnto vs that there is not a yeare goeth ouer our heads but what in pearles perfumes and silkes India the Seres and that demy-Island of Arabia stands vs at the least in an hundred millions of Sesterces and so much fetch they from vs in good money within the compasse of our Empire But of al this masse of Spice and Odors how much I pray you commeth to the seruice of the coelestiall gods in comparison of that which is burnt at funerals to the spirits infernall CHAP. XIX ¶ Of Cinamon and the wood thereof called Xylocinnamomum Also of Canell or Casia FAbulous antiquitie and the prince of lyers Herodotus haue reported That in that tract where Bacchus was nourished Cinamon and Canell either fell from the nests of certaine fowles and principally of the Phoenix thorough the weight of the venison and flesh which they had preyed vpon and brought thither whereas they builded in high rockes and trees or else was driuen and beaten downe by arrowes headed with lead Also that Canell or Casia was gotten from about certaine marishes guarded and kept with a kind of cruell Bats armed with terrible and dreadfull tallons and with certain flying Pen-dragons And all these deuises were inuented only to enhaunce the price of these drugs And this tale is told another way namely That in those parts where Canell and Cinamon grow which is a country in manner of demy-Island much enuironed with the sea by the reflection of the beames of the Noon-sun a world of odoriferous smells is cast from thence in such sort that a man may feele the sent at one time of all the aromaticall drugs as it were met together and sending a most fragrant and pleasant sauour far and neare and that Alexander the Great sailing with his fleet by the very smell alone discouered Arabia a great way into the maine sea Lies all both the one and the other for Cinamone or Cinamon call it whether you will groweth in Aethiopia a
an Island distant Northward from Britaine six daies sailing Yea and some affirme the same of Mona an Island distant from Camalodunum a towne of Britaine about 200 miles CHAP. LXXVI ¶ Of Dials and Quadrants THis cunning and skill of shadowes named Gnonomice Anaximines the Milesian the disciple of Anaximander aboue named inuented and hee was the first also that shewed in Lacedemon the Horologe or Dial which they call Sciotericon CHAP. LXXVII ¶ How the dayes are obserued THe very day it selfe men haue after diuers manners obserued The Babylonians count for day all the time betweene two Sun-risings the Athenians betweene the settings The Vmbrians from noone to noone But all the common sort euery where from day light vntill it be darke The Roman Priests and those that haue defined and set out a ciuil day likewise the Egyptians and Hipparchus from midnight to midnight That the spaces or lights are greater or lesse betwixt Sun risings neere the Sunsteds than the equinoctials it appeareth by this that the position of the Zodiake about the middle parts therof is more oblique and crooked but toward the Sunsted more streight and direct CHAP. LXXViij ¶ The reason of the varietie and difference of sundry Countries and Nations HEreunto we must ioyne such things as are linked to celestiall causes For doubtlesse it is that the Aethiopians by reason of the Sunnes vicinitie are scorched and tanned with the heate thereof like to them that be adust and burnt hauing their beards and bush of haire curled Also that in the contrarie Clime of the world to it in the frozen and icie regions the people haue white skins haire growing long downeward and yellow but are fierce and cruell by reason of the rigorous cold aire howbeit the one as well as the other in this mutabilitie are dull and grosse and the very legs do argue the temperature for in the Aethiopians the iuice or bloud is drawne vpward againe by the naturall heate But among the nations Septentrionall the same is driuen to the inferior parts by reason of moisture apt to fall downward Here breed noisome and hurtfull wilde beasts but there be ingendred creatures of sundry and diuers shapes especially birds Tall they are of bodily stature as well in one part as the other in the hot regions by the occasionall motion of fire in the other by the moist nourishment But in the midst of the earth there is an wholesome mixture from both sides the whole Tract is fertill and fruitfull for all things the habit of mens bodies of a mean and indifferent constitution the colour also shewing a great temperature The fashions and manners of the people are ciuill and gentle their sences cleare and lightsome their wits pregnant and capable of all things within the compasse of Nature they also beare soueraigne rule and sway empires and monarchies which those vttermost nations neuer had Yet true it is that euen they who are out of the temperate Zones may not abide to be subiect nor accomodate themselues to these for such is their sauage and brutish nature that it vrgeth them to liue solitarie by themselues CHAP. LXXiX ¶ Of Earthquakes THe Babylonians were of this opinion that earthquakes and gaping chinks and all other accidents of that nature are occasioned by the power and influence of the planets but of those three only to which they attribute lightnings and by this means namely as they keepe their course with the Sun or meet with him and especially when this concurrence is about the quadratures of the heauen And surely if it be true which is reported of Anaximander the Milesian naturall Philosopher his prescience and foreknowledge of things was excellent and worthy of immortalitie who as it is said forewarned the Lacedemonians to looke wel to their city and dwelling houses for that there was an earthquake toward which hapned accordingly when not only their whole city was shaken and fell downe but also a great part of the mountain Taygetus which bare out like to the poupe of a ship broken as it were from the rest came down too wholly couering the foresaid ruines There is reported another shrewd guesse of Pherecydes who was Pythagoras his master and the same likewise diuine and propheticall he by drawing water out of a pit both foresaw and also foretold an earthquake there Which if they be true how far off I pray you may such men seeme to be from God euen while they liue here on earth But as for these things verily I leaue it free for euery man to weigh and deeme of them according to their owne iudgement and for mine owne part I suppose that without all doubt the windes are the cause thereof For neuer beginneth the earth to quake but when the sea is still and the weather so calme withall that the birds in their flying cannot houer and hang in the aire by reason that all the spirit and winde which should beare them vp is withdrawne from them ne yet at any time but after the windes are laid namely when the blast is pent and hidden within the veines and hollow caues of the earth Neither is this shaking in the earth any other thing than is thunder in the cloud nor the gaping chinke thereof ought else but like the clift whereout the lightning breaketh when the spirit inclosed within strugleth and stirreth to go forth at libertie CHAP. LXXX ¶ Of the gaping chinks of the earth AFter many and sundry sorts the earth therefore is shaken and thereupon ensue wondrous effects in one place the walls of cities are laid along in another they be swallowed vp in a deepe and wide chawne here are cast vp mighty heaps of earth there are let out Riuers of water yea and somtimes fire doth breathe forth and hot springs issue abroad in another place the course and chanell of riuers is turned clean away and forced backward There goeth before and commeth with it a terrible noise one while a rumbling more like the loowing and bellowing of beasts otherwhiles it resembles a mans voice or else the clattering and rustling of armor and weapons beating one vpon another according to the qualitie of the matter that catcheth and receiueth the noise or the fashion either of the hollow cranes within or the cranny by which it passeth whiles in a narrow way it taketh on with a more slender and whistling noise and the same keepeth an hoarse din in winding and crooked caues rebounding againe in hard passages roaring in moist places wauing and floting in standing waters boiling and chasing against solid things And therefore a noise is often heard without any earthquake and neuer at any time shaketh it simply after one and the same manner but trembles and waggeth to and fro As for the gaping chink sometimes it remaineth wide open and sheweth what it hath swallowed vp otherwhiles it closeth vp the mouth and hideth all and the earth is knit together so againe as there remaine no marks and tokens to be
Gedrosians Persians Carmanes and Elimaeans Parthyene Aria Susiane Mesopotomia Seleucia syrnamed Babylonia Arabia so far as Petrae inclusiuely Coele-Syria Pelusium in Egypt the low Low-countries which are called the tract of Alexandria the maritine coasts of Africk all the towns of Cyrenaica Thapsus Adrumetum Clupea Carthage Vtica both Hippoes Numidia both realmes of Mauritania the Atlanticke sea and Hercules pillars In all the circumference of this climat and parellele at noon tide vpon an Equinoctiall day the stile in the diall which they call Gnomon 7 foot long casteth a shadow not aboue 4 foot The longest night or day in this climate is 14 houres and contrariwise the shortest ten The second circle or parallele line beginneth at the Indians Occidentall and passeth through the mids of Parthia Persepolis the hithermost parts of Persis in respect of Rome the hither coast of Arabia Iudaea and the borders neere vnto the mountaine Libanus Vnder the same are contained also Babylon Idumaea Samaria Hierusalem Ascalon Ioppe Caesarea Phoenice Ptolemais Sydon Tyrus Berytrus Botrys Tripolis Byblus Antiochia Laodicea Seleucia the Sea coasts of Cilicia Cyprus the South part of Candy Lilyboeum in Sicilia the North parts of Africke and Numidia The Gnomon in a diall vpon the Equinoctiall day 35 foot of length maketh a shadow 24 foot long The longest day or night is 14 houres Equinoctial and the fift part of an houre The third circle beginneth at the Indians next vnto the mountaine Imaus and goeth by the Caspian gates or streights hard by Media Cataonia Cappadocia Taurus Amanus Issus the Cilician straits Soli Tarsus Cyprus Pisidia Syde in Pamphilia Lycaonia Patara in Lycia Xanthus Caunus Rhodus Cous Halicarnassus Gnidus Doris Chius Delus the mids of the Cyclades Gytthium Malea Argos Laconia Elis Olympia Messene Peloponnesus Syracusa Catine the mids of Sicily the South part of Sardinia Cardei and Gades In this clime the Gnomon of 100 inches yeeldeth a shadow of 77 inches The longest day hath Equinoctiall houres 14 an halfe with a 30 part ouer Vnder the fourth circle or parallele lye they that are on the other side of Imaus the South parts of Cappadocia Galatia Mysia Sardis Smyrna Sipylus the mountaine Tmolus in Lydia Caria Ionia Trallis Colophon Ephesus Miletus Samos Chios the Icarian sea the Isles Cyclades lying Northward Athens Megara Corinth Sicyon Achaea Patrae Isthmos Epirus the North parts of Sicily Narbonensis Gallia toward the East the maritime parts of Spaine beyond new Carthage and so into the West To a Gnomon of 21 foot the shadowes answer of 17 foot The longest day is fourteen Aequinoctiall houres and two third parts of an houre The 5 diuision containeth vnder it from the entrance of the Caspian sea Bactra Iberia Armenia Mysia Phrygia Hellespontus Troas Tenedus Abydus Scepsis Ilium the hill Ida Cyzicum Lampsacum Sinope Anisum Heraclea in Pontus Paphlagonia Lemnus Imbrus Thasus Cassandria Thessalia Macedonia Larissa Amphipolis Thessalonice Pella Edessa Beraea Pharsaliae Carystum Euboea Boeotia Chalcis Delphi Acarnania Aetolia Apollonia Brundisium Tarentum Thurij Locri Rhegium Lucani Naples Puteoli the Tuscan sea Corsica the Baleare Isles the middle of Spain A Gnomon of 7 foot giueth shadow six foot The longest day is 15 Aequinoctiall houres The sixt paralell compriseth the city of Rome and containeth withall the Caspian nations Caucasus the North parts of Armenia Apollonia vpon Rhindacus Nicomedia Nicaea Chalcedon Bizantium Lysimachia Cherrhonesus the gulfe Melane Abdera Samothracia Maronea Aenus Bessica the midland parts of Thracia Poeonia the Illyrians Dyrrhachium Canusium the vtmost coasts of Apulia Campania Hetruria Pisae Luna Luca Genua Liguria Antipolis Massilia Narbon Tarracon the middle of Spain called Tarraconensis so through Lusitania To a Gnomon of 9 foot the shadow is answerable 8 foot The longest day hath 15 Aequinoctiall houres and the 9 part of an houre or the fift as Nigidius is of opinion The 7 diuision begins at the other coast of the Caspian sea and falls vpon Callatis Bosphorus Borysthenes Tomos the backe parts of Thracia the Tribals country the rest of Illyricum the Adriaticke sea Aquileia Altinum Venice Viceria Patavium Verona Cremona Ravenna Ancona Picenum Marsi Peligni Sabini Vmbria Ariminium Bononia Placentia Mediolanum and all beyond Apenninum also ouer the Alps Aquitane in Gaule Vienna Pyraeneum and Celtiberia The Gnomon of 35 foot casteth a shadow 36 foot in length yet so as in some part of the Venetian territorie the shadow is equall to the Gnomon The longest day is 15 Aequinoctiall houres and three fift parts of an houre Hitherto haue we reported the labors in this point of antient Geographers and what they haue reported But the most diligent and exactest modern Writers that followed haue assigned the rest of the earth not yet specified to three other sections or climats The first from Tanais through the lake Moetis and the Sarmatians vnto Borysthenes and so by the Dakes and a part of Germany containing therein France and the coasts of the Ocean where the day is 16 houres long A second through the Hyperboreans and Britain where the day is 17 houres long Last of all is the Scythian paralell from the Rhiphaean hills into Thule wherein as we said it is day and night continually by turnes for sixe moneths The same writers haue set downe two paralell circles before those points where the other began and which we set downe The one through the Islands Meroe and Ptolemais vpon the red sea built for the hunting of Elephants where the longest daies are but 12 houres and an halfe the second passing through Syrene in Aegypt where the day hath 13 houres And the same authors haue put to euery one of the other circles euen to the very last half an houre more to the daies length than the old Geographers Thus much of the Earth THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS The Proeme THus as you see we haue in the former books sufficiently treated of the vniuersall world of the Lands Regions Nations Seas Islands and renowned Cities therein contained It remaines now to discourse of the liuing creatures comprised within the same and their natures a point doubtlesse that would require as deepe a speculation as any part else thereof whatsoeuer if so be the spirit and minde of man were able to comprehend and compasse all things in the world And to make a good entrance into this treatise and history me thinkes of right we ought to begin at Man for whose sake it should seeme that Nature made and produced all other creatures besides though this great fauour of hers so bountifull and beneficiall in that respect hath cost them full deare Insomuch as it is hard to iudge whether in so doing she hath done the part of a kinde mother or a hard and cruell step-Dame For first and formost of all other liuing creatures man she hath brought forth all naked and cloathed him with the good and riches of others To all the
there be that bring all their children like to themselues and others againe as like to their husbands and some like neither the one nor the other You shall haue Women bring all their daughters like to their fathers and contrariwise their sonnes like to themselues The same is notable and yet vndoubted true of one Nicaeus a famous Wrestler of Constantinople hauing to his mother a woman begotten in adulterie by an Aethiopian and yet with white skin nothing different from other women of that countrey was himselfe black and resembled his grandsire the Aethiopian abouesayd Certes the cogitations and discourses of the minde make much for these similitudes and resemblances whereof we speake and so likewise many other accidents and occurrent obiects are thought to be very strong and effectuall therin whether they come in sight hearing and calling to remembrance or imaginations only conceiued and deeply apprehended in the very act of generation or the instant of conception The wandring cogitation also and quicke spirit either of father or mother flying to and fro all on a sudden from one thing to another at the same time is supposed to be one cause of this impression that maketh either the foresaid vniforme likenesse or confusion and varietie And hereupon it commeth and no maruell it is that men are more vnlike one another than other Creatures for the nimble motions of the spirit the quicke thoughts the agilitie of the minde the varietie of discourse in our wits imprinteth diuers formes and many marks of sundry cogitations whereas the imaginatiue facultie of other liuing creatures is immoueable alwaies continueth in one in all it is alike and the same still in euery one which causeth them alwaies to engender like to themselues each one in their seuerall kindes Artenon a mean man amongst the Commons was so like in all points to Antiochus King of Syria that Laodicea the Queen after that Antiochus her husband was killed serued her owne turne by the said Artenon and made him play the part of Antiochus vntill she had by his meanes as in the Kings person recommended whom she would and made ouer the kingdome and crown in succession and reuersion to whom she thought good Vibius a poore commoner of Rome and Publicius one newly of a bondslaue made a free-man were both of them so like vnto Pompey the Great that hardly the one could be discerned from the other so liuely did they represent that good visage of his so full of honestie so fully expressed they and resembled the singular maiestie of that countenance which appeared in Pompeius his forehead The like cause it was that gaue his father also the syrname of Menogenes his Cooke albeit he was syrnamed already Strabo for his squint eyes but hee would needs beare the name of a defect and infirmitie euen in his bond-seruant for the loue he had vnto him by reason of his likenesse So was one of the Scipio's also syrnamed Serapius vpon the like occasion after the name of one Serapia who was but a base slaue of his and no better than his swine heard or dealer in buying and selling of swine Another Scipio after him of the same house came to be syrnamed Salutio because a certaine jester of that name was like vnto him After the same manner one Spinter a player of the second place or part and Pamphilus another player of the third part or in the third place gaue their names to Lentulus and Metellus who both were Consuls together in one yeare for that they resembled them so truly And certes mee thinkes this fell out very vntowardly and was but a ridiculous pageant and a very vnseemly shew vpon a stage to see both Consuls liuely represented there at once in the persons of these two players Contrariwise Rubrious the stage player was sirnamed Plancus because he was so like to Plancus the Orator Againe Burbuleius and Menogenes both players of Enterludes resembled Curio the father or the elder and Messala Censorius for all he had been Censor that the one could not shift and auoid the syrname of Burbulcius and the other of Monogenes There was in Sicily a certaine fisherman who resembled in all parts Suria the Pro-consull not only in visage and feature of the face but also in mowing with his mouth when hee spake in drawing his tongue short and in his huddle and thicke speech Cassius Seuerus that famous orator was reproched for being so like vnto Mirmillo a drouer or keeper of kine and oxen Toranius a merchant slaue-seller sold vnto M. Antonius now one of the two great Triumvirs two most beautiful and sweet faced boyes for twins so likewere they one to the other albeit the one was borne in Asia and the other beyond the Alps. But when Antony afterwards came to know the same and that this fraud and cousenage was bewraied and detected by the language speech of the boyes he fell into a furious fit of choler and all to berated the foresaid Toranius And when among other challenges he charged him with the high price he made him pay for they cost him two hundred Sesterces as for twins when they were none such the wily merchant being his craftsmaster answered That it was the cause why he held them so deare and sold them at so deare a rate for quoth he it is no maruell at all that two brethren twins that lay both together in one belly do resemble one the other but that there should be any found borne as these were in diuers countries so like in all respects as they he held it for a most rare and wonderfull thing This answer of his was deliuered in so good time and so fitly to the purpose that Antonie the great man who neuer was well but when he outlawed citisens of Rome and did confiscat their goods he I say that erewhile was all enraged and set vpon reuiling and reprochfull termes was not only appeased but also contented so with his bargaine that he prised those two boies as much as any thing else in all his wealth CHAP. XIII ¶ The cause and manner of generation SOme bodies there be by a secret of nature so disagreeing that they are vnfit for generation one with another And yet as barren as they be so coupled together fruitfull they are enough being ioyned with others Such were Augustus the Emperor and his wife Liuia In like manner some men there be as well as women that can skill of getting and breeding none but daughters and others there be againe that are good at none but sonnes and many times it falleth out that folke haue sonnes and daughters both but they by turnes this yeare a son the next yeare a daughter in order So Cornelia the mother of the Gracchi who for twelue child-beds kept this course duly and Agrippina the wife of Caesar Germanicus for nine euer changing from the male to the female Some women are barren all their youth and others again beare but once in
short life As for diseases they are so innumerable that Pherecydes of the Island Syros died of a great quantity of Lice that came crawling out of his body Some are knowne to be neuer free from the Ague as C. Mecoenas The same man for three yeares before hee died neuer laid his eies together for sleepe a minute of an houre Antipater Sidonius the Poet once a yeare during his life had an ague fit vpon his birth day he liued for all that to be an old man and vpon the day of his natiuitie died in such a fit CHAP. LII ¶ Of such as were carried forth vpon the Biers to be buried and reuiued againe AViola one that had bin Consull came again to himselfe when he was cast or put into the funerall fire to be burnt but because the flame was so strong that no man could come neere to recouer him he was burnt quicke The like accident befell to Lu. Lamia Pretor lately before As for C. Aelius Tubero that he was brought aliue again from the like fire after he had bin Pretor of Rome both Messala Rufus and many besides constantly affirme See how it goeth with mortall men see I say our vncertaine state and condition and how we are born exposed and subiect to these and such like occasions of fortune insomueh as in the case of man there is no assurance at all no not in his death We reade in Chronicles that the ghost of Hermotimus Clazomenius was woont vsually to abandon his body for a time and wandering vp and downe into far countries vsed to bring him newes from remote places of such things as could not possibly be knowne vnlesse it had bin present there and all the while his body lay as halfe dead in a trance This manner it continued so long vntill the Cantharidae who were his mortall enemies tooke his body vpon a time in that extasie and burnt it to ashes and by that means disappointed his poore soule when it came backe againe of that sheath as it were or â—…ase where she meant to bestow her selfe Moreouer we finde in records that the spirit or ghost of Aristaeas in the Island Proconnesus was seen euidently to fly out of his mouth in forme of a Rauen and many a like tale followeth thereupon For surely I take it to be no better than a fable which is in like manner reported of Epimenides the Gnosian namely that when he was a boy he being for heate and trauell in his iourney all wearie laid him downe in a certain caue where he slept 57 yeares At length he wakened as it were vpon the next morning and wondred at such a sudden change of euery thing he saw in the world as if hee had taken but one nights sleepe Hereupon forsooth in as many daies after as he slept yeares he waxed old Howbeit he liued in all 175 yeares But to returne to our former discourse women of all others by reason of their sex are most subiect to this danger to be reputed for dead when there is life in them and namely because of the disease of the matrice called the rising of the Mother which if it be brought againe and setled streight in the place they soone recouer and take breath againe Not impertinent to this treatise is that notable and elegant booke among the Greeks compiled by Heraclides where he writeth of a woman that for a seuen-night lay for dead and fetched not her breath sensibly who in the end was raised againe to life Moreouer Varro reporteth that vpon a time when the twenty deputy Commissioners were diuiding lands in the territory of Capua there was one there carried forth vpon his bier to be burnt and came home again vpon his feet Also that the like hapned at Aquinum Likewise that in Rome one Corfidius who had maried his owne Aunt by the mothers side after he had taken order for his funeralls and set out a certaine allowance therefore seemed to yeeld vp his ghost and die howbeit hee reuiued againe and it was his chance to carry him forth indeed vnto buriall who had prouided the furniture before for his funerall This Varro writeth besides of other miraculous matters which verily are worth the rehearsall at large One of them is this Two brethren there were by birth and calling gentlemen of Rome whereof the elder named Corfidius hapned in all appearance to die and when his last will and testament was once opened and published the yonger brother who was his heire was very busie and ready to set forward his funerall In the mean time the man who seemed dead fell to clap one hand against another and therewith raised the seruants in the house when they were come about him he recounted vnto them that he was come from his yonger brother who had recommended his daughter to his tuition and guardenage and moreouer had shewed and declared vnto him in what place he had secretly hidden certain gold vnder the ground without the priuity of any man requesting him withal to imploy that funerall prouision which he had prepared for him about his own buriall and sepulture As he was relating this matter his brothers seruitors came in great hast to this elder brothers house and brought word their master was departed this life and the treasure before-said was found in the place accordingly And verily there is nothing more common in our daily speech than of these diuinations but they are not to be weighed in equall ballance with these nor to be reported or credited all so confidently forsomuch as for the most part they are meere lies as we will proue by one notable example In the Sicilian voiage it fortuned that Gabienus one of the brauest seruitors that Caesar had at sea was taken prisoner by Sex Pompeius and by commandement from him his head was stricken off in a maner and scarce hung to the neck by the skin and so lay he all day long vpon the sands in the shore When it grew toward euening and that a great companie were flocked about him he fetched a great groane and requested that Pompetus would come vnto him or at leastwise send some one of his deare familiars that were neere vnto him And why Come I am quoth he from the infernal spirits beneath and haue a message to deliuer vnto him Then Pompey sent diuers of his friends to the man vnto whom Gabienus related in this maner That the infernall gods were well pleased with the iust quarrell and cause of Pompey and therefore he should haue as good issue therof as he could wish This quoth he was I charged and commanded to deliuer And for a better proofe of the truth in effect so soon as I haue done mine errand I shall forthwith yeeld vp the ghost And so it hapned indeed Histories also make mention of them that haue appeared after they were committed to earth But our purpose is to write of Natures works and not to prosecute such miraculous end prodigious matters
stil while she goes after these hides whereof she fed she was by the billows of the sea cast aflote on the shore so as her back was to be seene a great deale aboue the water much like to the bottome or keele of a ship turned vpside downe Then the Emperour commanded to draw great nets and cords with many folds along the mouth of the hauen on euery side behind the fish himselfe accompanied with certaine Pretorian cohorts for to shew a pleasant sight vnto the people of Rome came against this monstrous fish and out of many hoies and barks the souldiers launced darts and jauelines thicke And one of them I saw my selfe sunke downe right with the abundance of water that this monstrous fish spouted and filled it withall The Whales called Balenae haue a certaine mouth or great hole in their forehead and therefore as they swim aflore aloft on the water they send vpon high as it were with a mighty strong breath a great quantity of water when they list like stormes of raine CHAP. VII ¶ Whether fish do breath and sleep or no. ALl writers are fully resolued in this That the Whales abouesaid as well the Balaenae as the Orcae and some few other fishes bred nourished in the sea which among other inward bowels haue lights doe breath For otherwise it were not possible that either they or any other beast without lights or lungs should blow and they that be of this opinion suppose likewise that no fishes hauing guils do draw in and deliuer their wind again to and fro nor many other kinds besides although they want the foresaid gils Among others I see that Aristotle was of that mind and by many profound and learned reasons persuaded induced many more to hold the same For mine owne part if I should speake frankely what I think I professe that I am not of their judgment For why Nature if she be so disposed may giue in steed of light some other organs and instruments of breath to this creature one to that another like as many other creaturs haue another kind of moist humor in lieu of blood And who would maruel that this vitall spirit should pierce within the waters considering thatâ—…he seeth euidently how it riseth againe and is deliuered from thence also how the aire entreth euen into the earth which is the grosest hardest of al the elements As we may perceiue by this good argument that some creatures which albeit they be alwaies couered within the ground yet liue and breath neuerthelesse and namely the Wants or Mold-warpes Moreouer I haue diuers pregnant effectuall reasons inducing me to beleeue that all water creatures breathe each one after their maner as Nature hath ordained First and principally I haue obserued oftentimes by experience That fishes evidently breath and pant for wind after a sort in the great heat of Summer as also that they yawne and gape when the weather is calme the sea still And they themselues also who hold the contrarie confesse plainly that fishes doe sleepe And if that be true How I pray you can they sleep if they take not their wind Moreouer whence come those bubbles which continually are breathed forth from vnder the water and what shall we say to those shell fishes which wax and decay in substance â—…f bodie according to the effect of the Moones encrease or decrease But aboue all fishes haue hearing and smelling and no doubt both these senses are performed and maintained by the benefit and matter of the aire for what is smell and sent but the verie aire either infected with a bad or perfumed with a good sauour How beit I leaue euery man free to his own opinion as touching these points But to returne againe to our purpose this is certaine that neither the Whales called Balaenae nor the Dolphins haue any guills and yet do both these fishes breathe at certaine pipes and conduits as it were reaching downe into their lights from the forehead in rhe Balaenes and in the Dolphins from the backe Furthermore the Sea-calues or Seales which the Latines call Phocae doe both breath and sleepe vpon the drie land So do the sea Tortoises also whereof we will write more anon CHAP. VIII ¶ Of Dolphins THe swiftest of al other liuing creatures whatsoeuer not of sea-fish only is the Dolphin quicker than the flying fowle swifter than the arrow shot out of a bow And but that this fish is mouthed far beneath his snout and in manner towards the mids of his belly there were not a fish could escape from him so light and nimble he is But nature in great prouidence fore-seeing so much hath giuen these fishes some let hinderance for vnlesse they turned vpright much vpon their backe catch they can no other fish and euen therein appeareth most of all their wonderfull swiftnesse and agilitie For when the Dolphins are driuen for very hunger to course and pursue other fishes down into the bottom of the sea and therby are forced a long while to hold their breath for to take their wind again they lance themselues aloft from vnder the water as if they were shot out of a bow and with such a force they spring vp again that many times they mount ouer the very sailes and mastes of ships This is to be noted in them that for the most part they sort themselues by couples like man and wife They are with yong nine moneths and in the tenth bring forth their little ones and lightly in Summer time and otherwhiles they haue two little dolphins at once They suckle them at their teats like as the whales or the Balaenes do yea so long as their little ones are so yong that they be feeble they carry them too and fro about them nay when they are growne to be good big ones yet they beare them companie still a long time so kind and louing be they to their young Young Dolphins come very speedily to their growth for in ten yeres they are thought to haue their full bignes but they liue thirtie yeres as hath bin known by the experience and triall in many of them that had their taile cut for a marke when they were yong and let go again They lie close euery yere for the space of thirty daies about the rising of the Dog-starre but it is strange how they be hidden for no man knowes how and in very deed a wonder it were if they could not breath vnder the water Their manner is to breake forth of the sea and come aland and why they should so do it is not known for presently assoon as they touch the dry ground they die and so much the sooner for that their pipe or conduit aboue-said incontinently closeth vp and is stopped Their tongue stirreth within their heads contrary to the nature of all other creatures liuing in the waters the same is short and broad fashioned like vnto that of a swine Their voice resembleth the
with a Garland of Roses vpon his head was by authoritie of the Senate committed to prison and was not enlarged before the end of the warre P. Munatius hauing taken from the head of Marsyas a Chaplet of floures and set it vpon his owne and thereupon being commaunded to ward by the Triumvirs called vnto the Tribunes of the Commons for their lawful fauour and protection but they opposed not themselues against this proceeding but deemed him worthie of this chastisement See the disclipine and seueritie at Rome and compare it with the loosenes of the Athenians where yong youths ordinarily followed reuils and bankets and yet in the forenoon would seeme to frequent the schooles of Philosophers to learne good instructions of vertuous life With vs verily we haue no example of disorder in this behalf namely for the abuse of garlands but only the daughter of Augustus Caesar late Emperor and cannonised as a god at Rome who complaineth of her in some letters of his yet extant that with grone and griefe of heart to be giuen to such riot and licentious loosenesse that night by night the would seem to adorn with Guirlands the statue and image of Marsyas the Minstrell We do not read in Chronicles that the people honoured in old time any other with a Coronet of floures but onely Scipio sirnamed Serapio for the neere resemblance that he had to his baily or seruant so called who dealt vnder him in buying and selling of Swine in which regard he was wonderous well beloued of the commons in his â—…ribuneship as bearing himself worthy of the famous and noble house of the Scipioes sirnamed Africani Howbeit as well descended and beloued as he was yet when hee died he left not behind him in goods sufficient to defray the charges of his funerals the people therfore made a collection and contributed by the poll euery man one As and so took order by a generall expence that he should be honourably enterred and as his corpes was carried in the streets to his funeral fire they flung floures vpon his bere out of euery window all the way In those daies the maner was to honor the gods with chaplets of floures and namely those that were counted patrones and protectours as well of cities and countries as of priuat families to adorne and beautifie therewith the tombs and sepulchres of those that were departed as also to pacific their ghosts and other infernall spirits farther than thus there was no vse of such Guirlands allowed Now of all those Chaplets most account was made of them wherein the floures were platted We find moreouer That the Sacrificers or Priests of Mars called Salij were wont in their solemnities feasts which were very sumptuous to weare Coronets of sundry floures sowed together But afterwards Chaplets of Roses were only in credit and reputation vntill that in processe of time the world grew to such superfluitie and sumptuous expence that no Guirlands would please men but of the meer precious and aromaticall leaf Malabathrum and not content therewith soone after there must be Chaplets fet as far as from India yea and beyond the Indians those wrought with needle work and the richest coronet was that thought to be which consisted of the leaues of Nard or els made of fine silke out of the Seres country and those of sundry colors perfumed besides al wet with costly and odoriferous ointments Further than thus they could not proceed and so our dainty wanton dames rest contented hithereto and vse no other Chaplets at this day As for the Greekes verily they haue written also seuerall Treatises concerning floures and Garlands and namely Mnestheus and Callimachus two renowmed Physicians haue compiled bookes of those Chaplets that be hurtfull to the braine and cause head-ach For euen herin also lieth some part of the preseruation of our health considering that perfumes do refresh our spirits especially when we are set at table to drinke liberally and to make merrie whiles the subtile odour of flours pierceth to the braine secretly ere we be aware Where by the way I cannot chuse but remember the deuise of Queene Cleopatra full of fine wit and as wicked and mischieuous withall For at what time as Antonie prepared the expidition and journey of Actium against Augustus and stood in some doubt of jealousie of the said Queen for al the fair shew that she made of gratifying him and doing him all pleasure he was at his taster would neither eat nor drink at her table without assay made Cleopatra seeing how timorous he was and minding yet to make good sport and game at his needlesse feare and foolish curiositie caused a Chaplet to be made for M. Antonius hauing before dipped all the tips and edges of the flowres that went to it in a strong and rank poison and being thus prepared set it vpon the head of the said Antonie Now when they had sitten at meat a good while and drunk themselues merrie the Queen began to make a motion and challenge to Antonie for to drink each of them their chaplets and withall began vnto him in a cup of wine seasoned and spiced as it were with those floures which she ware her owne self Oh the shrewd vnhappy wit of a woman when she is so disposed who would euer haue misdoubted any danger of hidden mischiefe herein Well M. Antonie yeelded to pledge her off goeth his owne Guirland and with the floures minced small dresseth his own cup. Now when he was about to set it to his head Cleopatra presently put her hand betweene and staied him from drinking and withall vttered these words My deare heart and best beloued Antonie now see what she is whome so much thou dost dread and stand in feare of that for thy security there must wait at thy cup and trencher extraordinarie tasters a straunge and new fashion ywis and a curiosity more nice than needfull lo how I am not to seek of means and opportunities to compasse thy death if I could find in my heart to liue without thee Which said she called for a prisoner immediately out of the goale whom she caused to drink off the wine which Antonie had prepared for himselfe No sooner was the goblet from his lips againe but the poor wretch died presently in the place but to come again to the Physicians who haue written of floures besides those abouenamed Theophrastus among the Greekes hath taken this argument in hand As for our countreymen some haue entituled their bookes Anthologicon but none of them all so farre as euer I could find wrote any Treatise concerning floures Neither is it any part of my meaning at this present to make Nosegaies or plat any Chaplets for that were a friuolous and vaine peece of work but as touching floures themselues I purpose to discourse so much as I think and find to be memorable and worth the penning But before I enter into this Treatise I am to aduertise the
handle and declare the qualitie of Hydromel or honied water so neere a dependant thereto Of which there be two kinds the one is fresh and new made in hast vpon occasion and presently vsed the other is kept and preserued As touching the former Hydromel if it be made as it should be of dispumed and clarified hony it is of singular vse in that exquisit spary diet fit for sick persons and namely in meats of light digestion such as is a thin gruell made of naked frumenty washed in many waters also to be ioyned in restoratiues for to recouer the Patients strength much enseebled Moreouer good it is for the mouth and the stomacke to mitigat the fretting humors setled and bedded therin to cool the extremity of heat for I find in good authors that to ease and mollifie the belly it is better to be giuen cold than otherwise aâ—… also that it is a proper and conuenient drink for those who chil and quake for cold likewise for such as be heartlesse haue smal or no courage at all whom those writers cal Micropsychos Moreouer there is a reason rendred full of infinite subtiltie and the same fathered first vpon Cato Why the same things feel not alwaies bitter or sweet alike in euery mans tast for he saith that this diuersitie proceedeth from those little motes or bodies that go to the making of all things whiles some of them be smooth others rough rugged some cornered others round in sum according as they be more or lesse respectiue and agreeable to the nature of each man this is the cause that those persons who are ouer-wearied or exceeding thirsty be more cholerick and prone to anger Good reason therefore that such asperity of the spirit or rather indeed of the vital breath should be dulced and appeased by the vse of some sweet and pleasant liquor which may lenifie the passage and mollifie the conduits of the said spirit that they do not cut race and interrupt it going in out in drawing or deliuering the wind And in very truth euerie man may find by experience in his own self how meat and drink doth moderat and appease anger sorrow heauinesse and any passion or perturbation of the mind whatsoeuer And therefore those things would be obserued which make not onely to the nourishment and health of the body but also serue for to rectifie and reform the maners and demeanor of the mind Now to return again vnto our Hydromel or honied water very good by report it is for the cough and being taken warm it prouoketh to vomit put oile thereto and it is singular against the poison of Ceruse or white lead A countre-poison also it is and a preseruatiue to such as haue eaten Henbane and Dwale especially taken with asses milk as I haue obserued hertofore Instilled into the ears or poured into the fistulous sores of the secret parts it is thought to be excellent Incorporat with the crums of soft bread and reduced into the form of a pessarie and so put vp it is singular for the infirmities of the natural parts of women and being applied accordingly it taketh down all sudden swellings occasioned by windines cureth dislocations and in one word mitigateth all pains Thus much of Hydromel new made for our moderne physitians haue vtterly condemned the vse of that which is kept vntil it be stale And this they generally hold That it is not so harmlesse as water nor so solid and powerfull in operation as wine Howbeit let it be long kept it turneth into the nature of wine and as all writers do accord then is it most hurtfull to the stomack and contrary to the sinewes As for honied wine the best and most wholsome is alwayes that which is made of the oldest wine that is hard and indeed with it you shall haue it to incorporat very easily which it will neuer do with any that is new sweet and being made of green harsh or austere wine it doth not fill and charge the stomacke no more it doth being made of boiled honey and ingendreth lesse ventosities which is an vsual thing with hony This honey bringeth them to appetite of meat who haue lost their stomack Taken actually cold in many it loosneth the belly but being hot it stayeth and bindeth the same The honied wine is very nutritiue and breedeth good flesh Many haue held out a long time fresh and lusty in their old age with the nourishment of honied wine alone without any other food whereof we haue one notable example of Pollio Romilus who being aboue an hundred yeres old bare his age passing well whereat the Emperour Augustus of famous memorie maruelled much and being vpon a time lodged as a guest in his house he demanded of him what means he vsed most so to maintaine that fresh vigour both of body and mind to whom Pollio answered By vsing honied wine within and oile without Varro saith that the yellow jaundise was called a Kings disease or a sicknesse for a King because it was cured ordinarily with this honied wine called Mulse As touching another kind of honied wine named Melitites how it is made of Must or new wine hony together I haue declared sufficiently in my treatise of wines But I suppose there hath bin none of this sort confected these hundred yeares past and aboue for that it was found to be a drink which bred ventosities in the stomacke and other inward parts Howbeit the manner was in old time to prescribe it for to bee giuen in agues to make the bodie soluble prouided alwaies that it had the due age also to those who lay of the gout to such likewise as had weake and feeble sinews and to women who abstained altogether from meere wine Next after Honey the treatise of Wax which is correspondent to the nature of honey by good order followeth Corcerning the originall working and framing thereof the goodnesse the seueral kinds according to diuers countries I haue written in conuenient place This is generally obserued that al sorts of wax be emollitiue heating and incarnatiue but the newer and fresher they are the better they are thought to be Wax taken inwardly in a supping or broth is singular for the bloudy flix and exulceration of the guts so be the very honey-combes giuen in a gruell made of frumenty first parched and dried at the fire Contrarie it is to the nature of milk for take ten grains of wax made in smal pills of the bignesse of millet corns in some conuenient lipuor they will not suffer the milke to cruddle in the stomacke If there be a rising or swelling in the share the present remedie is to sticke a plastre of white wax vpon the groine Moreouer to reckon vp and decipher the sundry vses that wax is put vnto in matters of Physicke as it is mixed with other things it is no more possible for a Physician than to particularize of other simples and
still and beareth vs in hand that in the realme Ariana there is found the herbe Arianis of the colour of fire The inhabitants of that country vse to gather it when the Sun is in the signe Leo and they affirme that if it do but touch any wood besmeared and rubbed ouer with oile it will set the same a burning on a light fire What should I write of the plant Therionarca which whensoeuer it beginneth to come vp and rise out of the ground all the wilde beasts will lie benummed and as it were dead neither can they be raised or recouered again vntill they be sprinkled with the vrine of Hyaena The herb Aethiopis by his report groweth in Meroe for which cause it is called also Merois In leafe it resembleth Lectuce and being drunk in mead or honied water there is not such a remedy againe for the dropsie Ouer and besides he speaketh of the plant Ophiusa found in a country of the same Aethyopia named Elephantine of a leaden hue it is and hideous to see to whosoeuer drinke thereof shal be so frighted with the terrors and menaces of serpents represented vnto their eies that for very feare they shall lay violent hands on themselues and therefore church robbers are inforced to drink it How beit if a man take after it a draught of Date wine he shall not be troubled with any such fearfull visions and illusions Moreouer there is found saith Democritus the herbe Thalassegle about the riuer Indus and thereupon is knowne by another name Potamantis which if men or women take in drink transporteth their sences so far out of the way that they shall imagine they see strange sights As for Theangelis which by his saying groweth vpon mount Libanon in Syria and vpon Dicte a mountain in Candy also about Babylon and Susis in Persia if the wise Phylosophers whom they term Magi drinke of that herb they shal incontinently haue the spirit of prophesie and foretell things to come There is besides in the region called Bactriana about the riuer Borysthenes another strange plant named Gelotophyllis which by his report if one do drink with Myrrh and wine it will cause many fantasticall apparitions and the party shal therupon fal into a fit of laughter without ceasing and intermission and neuer giue ouer vnlesse it be with a draught of Date wine wherein were tempered the kernels of Pine nuts together with pepper and honey Touching the herb of good fellowship Syssitieteris found in Persis it tooke that name because it maketh them exceeding mery who are met together at a feast They call the same herb likewise Protomedia for that it is so highly esteemed among kings and princes And another name it hath besides to wit Acasignete because it commeth vp alone no other herbs neere vnto it yea and one more yet namely Dionysonymphas because wine and it sort so well together and make as it were a good mariage The same Democritus talketh also of Helianthe an herb leaued like to the Myrtle growing in the country Themiscyra and the mountains of Cilicia coasting a long the sea And he giues out that if it be boiled with Lions grease and then together with Safron and Date wine reduced into an ointment the forefaid Magi and the Persian kings therewith annoint themselues to seem thereby more pleasant and amiable to the people which is the reason that the same herb is called Heliocallis Ouer and besides he maketh mention of Hermesias for so he termeth not an herb but a certain composition singular for the getting of children which shall proue faire and of good nature besides Made it is of Pine nut kernels stamped and incorporat with hony Myrrh Safron and Date wine with an addition afterwards of the hearbe Theombrotium and milke and this confection he prescribeth to be drunk by the man a little before the very act of generation but by women vpon their conception yea and after their deliuery all the while they be nources and giue suck and in so doing they may be assured those children of theirs thus gotten bred and reared shall be passing faire and well fauoured of an excellent spirit and courage and in one word euery way good Of all these herbes before specified he setteth down also the very names which the said Magi call them by Thus much for the Magicke herbes found in Democritus his booke Apollodorus one of his disciples and followers comes in with his two herbs to the other before named The one he calleth Aeschynomaene because it draweth in the leaues if one come neare vnto it with the hand the other Crocis which if the venomous spiders Phalangia do but touch they will die vpon it Cratevas writeth of an herb called Oenotheris which being put in wine if any sauage beasts be sprinckled therewith they will become tame gentle and tractable A famous Grammarian of late daies made mention of another herb Anacampseros of this vertue That if a man touched a woman therewith were she departed from him in all the hatred that might be she should come again and loue him entirely The same benefit also should the woman find therby in winning the loue of a man This may suffice for the present to haue written of these wonderfull Magick herbes considering that I meane to discourse more at large of them and their superstition in a more conuenient place CHAP. XVIII ¶ Of Eriphia Lanaria and Stratiotis with the medicines which they yeeld MAny writers haue made mention of Eriphia This herb hath within the straw of the stem a certain flie like a beetle running vp and down and by that meanes making a noise like vnto a yong kid whereupon it took the foresaid name There is not a better thing in the world for the voice than this herb as folk say The herb Lanaria giuen to ewes in a morning when they are fasting causeth their vdders to strout with milk Lactoris likewise is a common herb and as well known by reason that it is so full of milk which causeth vomit if one tast thereof neuer so little Some there be who say that the herb which they cal Militaris is all one with this Lactoris others would haue it to be very like vnto it and that it should haue that name because there is not a wound made with sword or edged weapon but it healeth it within fiue daies in case it be applied thereto with oile Semblably the Greek writers make great reckoning of their Stratiotes but this hearl 〈◊〉 groweth onely in Egypt and namely in floten grounds where the riuer Nilus hath ouerflowed and like it is vnto Sengreen or Housleek but that it hath bigger leaues It is exceeding refrigeratiue and a great healer of green wounds being made into a liniment with vineger moreouer it cureth S. Anthonies fire and all apostumes which are broken and run matter if it be taken in drinke with the male Frankincense it is wonderfull to see
Langwort and indeed so like as oftentimes one is taken for the other howbeit the leaues be not altogether so white and more little branches it putteth forth bearing likewise a pale yellow floure cast this herb or strew it in any place all the moths there about will gather to it whereupon at Rome they call it Blattaria The herbe Lemonium yeeldeth a white juice much like vnto milke which will harden and grow together in manner of a gum and it groweth in moist places The weight of one denarius giuen in wine is a singular preseruatiue against the dangerous sting of serpents As for Cinque soile or fiue leaued grasse there is not one but knoweth it so common it is and commendable besides for the strawberries which it beareth The Greeks call it Pentapetes Chamaezelon or Pentaphyllon the Latines Quinquefolium The root when it is new digged looketh red but as it beginneth to drie aboue ground so it waxeth black and becommeth also cornered It tooke the common naâ—…e both in Greeke and Latine of the number of leaues which it beareth This herb herein is of great affinitie with the vine that they both bud spring leafe and shed the same together It is vsed also about purging blessing of the house against naughtie spirits or inchantments As for Sparganium an herb so called by the Greeks the root thereof is good to be giuen in white wine against venomous serpents Of Carrots Petronius Diodotus hath set downe 4 seueral kinds But what need I to go through them all foure seeing they may be reduced well enough into twaine and doe require no other distinctions The best and most approued Carrots be those of Candy the next to which in goodnesse come out of Achaia But generally in what countrey soeuer they grow the better be such as come vp in the sounder and drier grounds As touching the Candy Carot it resembleth fennel but that the leaues stand more vpon the white they be smaller also and hairy withall The stem groweth vpright a foot high and hath a root odoriferous to smell vnto and of a most pleasant tast this ioieth in stony places exposed to the South quarter of the world As for the other Carots of a wild nature In what countrey grow they not you shall finde them vpon earthie bankes and hils you shall haue them about high waies but neuer shal a man meet with them in a leane and hungry ground they loue a battle and fat soile their leaues come neare to the Coriander their stem ariseth to a cubit heigth bearing round heads three ordinarily and otherwhiles more the root is of a wooddy substance and being once dried it serueth to no purpose The seed of this kind is like vnto Cumin but of the former to Millet grain white quick and sharp and they be all odoriferous and hot in the mouth The seed of the second is more aegre and biting than the former and therefore ought to be taken in lesse quantitie As for the third kind if we list to make so many it is much like to the wild Parsnep called in Greek Staphylinos and in Latine Pastinaca Erratica the same beareth a seed somwhat long in form and a sweet root All the sort of these Dauci or Carots are safe enough from the bit of four-footed beasts both winter summer vnlesse it be after they haue cast their abortiue fruit before-time for then they seek therto to be clensed of their gleane Of all Carots the seeds be vsed only but that of Candie affordeth the root also which is sweet but both the seed of the one sort and the root of the other be most appropriat remedies against serpents a dram weight in wine is a sufficient dose at a time which also may be giuen in a drench to foure-footed beasts that be stung by them Touching the herb Therionarca I mean not that which the Magitians vse it groweth also in this part of the world here with vs in Italy many branches it putteth forth and springs thick with diuers shoots from the root the leaues be of a light green and the floure of a red-rose colour it killeth serpents outright besides it hath this property That if it be brought neere vnto any wild beast whatsoeuer it benummeth their sences whereupon it took that name Persolata which the Greek writers call Arcion there is not one but knoweth large leaues it hath and bigger than the very Gourds more hairy blacker also and thicker a white root and a great this root taken in wine to the weight of two deniers Roman is good likewise against the venom of serpents In like manner the root of Cyclaminus or Sow-bread is as effectual against them all leaues it hath somewhat resembling those of Ivy but that they be of a more duskish and sad greene smaller also and without corners wherein a man may perceiue certaine whitish specks The stem is little and hollow within the flours of a purple colour the root broad so as a man would take it to be a Turnep and couered ouer with a black rind it groweth in shadowy places Our countrymen here in Italy call it in Latine Tuber terrae that is to say The knur or bunch of the ground Sowne and planted it would be in euery garden about an house if so be it be true that is reported of it namely that wheresoeuer it groweth it is as good as a countercharm against al witchcraft and sorceries which kind of defensatiue is called properly Amuletum Moreouer this root they say if it be put into a cup of wine turneth the brain presently and maketh as many drunk as drink therof For the better keeping and preseruing of this root it must be ordered after the manner of Squilla or Sea-onion roots i. cut into thinne slices or roundles then dried and so laid vp the same also is vsually sodden to the consistence or thickenesse of hony As good as this root is in those former respects yet it is not without some venomous quality for it is commonly said That if a woman with child chance to step ouer it shee will fall presently to labour before her time and lose the fruit of her wombe A second kind of Cyclaminus or Swine bread I finde syrnamed by the Greekes Cissanthemos growing with stems full of knots or joints hollow within and good for nothing far different from the former winding and clasping about trees bearing berries much like to those of Ivy but they are soft a white floure faire and louely to see too but a needlesse root for any goodnesse in it the berries that it beareth be only in vse and those are of a sharp and biting tast yet they be viscous and clammy to the tongue these being dried in the shadow and stamped are afterwards reduced into certain bals or trosches My self haue seen a third kind also of Cyclaminos carying the name besides of Chamaecissos which brought forth but one only leafe the root
vntil in the end al their Physicke proued nothing but words and bibble babbles for beleeue me his schollers and disciples thought it more for their ease and pleasure to sit close in the schooles and heare their doctours out of the chaire discourse of the points of Physicke than to go a simpling into the desarts and forrests to seeke and gather herbs at all seasons of the yere some at one time and some at another CHAP. III. ¶ Of the new practise in Physicke of Asclepiades the Physitian and what course he tooke to alter and abolish the old Physicke for to bring in the new WHat cunning means soeuer these new Physitians could deuise to ouerthrow the antient manner of working by simples yet it maintained still the remnants of the former credit built surely vpon the vndoubted grounds of long experience and so it continued till the daies of Pompey the Great at what time Asclepiades a great Oratour and professor of Rhetoricke went in hand to peruert and reiect the same for seeing that he gained not by the said Art sufficiently was not like to arise by pleading causes at the bar to that wealth which he desired as he was a man otherwise of a prompt wit and quick spirit he resolued to giue ouer the law and suddenly applied himselfe to a new course of Physick This man hauing no skill at all and as little practice considering he neither was well studied in the Theoricke part of this science nor furnished with knowledge of remedies which required continuall inspection vse of simples wrought so with his smooth and flowing tongue and by his daily premeditat orations gained so much that he withdrew mens mindes from the opinion they had of former practise and ouerthrew all In which discourses of his reducing all Physick to the first and primitiue causes he made it a meere coniecturall Art bearing men in hand that there were but fiue principall remedies which serued indifferently for all diseases to wit in Diet Abstinence in meat Forbearing wine otherwhiles Rubbing of the body Walking and the Exercise of gestations In sum so far he preuailed with his eloquent speech that euery man was willing to giue eare applause to his words for being ready enough to beleeue those things for true which were most easie and seeing withall that whatsoeuer he commended to them was in each mans power to perform he had the general voice of them so as by this new doctrine of his he drew al the world into a singular admiration of him as of a man sent descended from heauen aboue to cure their griefs and maladies Moreouer a wonderfull dexterity and artificiall grace he had to follow mens humors and content their appetites in promising and allowing the sick to drink wine in giuing them eftsoons cold water when he saw his time and all to gratifie his patients Now for that Herophylus before him had the honor of being the first Physitian who searched into the causes of maladies and because Cleophantus had the name among the Antients for bringing wine into request and setting out the vertues thereof this man for his part also desirous to grow into credit reputation by some new inuention of his own brought vp first the allowing of cold water beforesaid to sick persons as M. Varro doth report took pleasure to be called the Cold-water Physitian He had besides other pretty deuises to flatter please his patients one while causing them to haue hanging litters or beds like cradles by the mouing rocking whereof too and fro he might either bring them asleep or ease the pains of their sicknes otherwhiles ordaining the vse of bains a thing that he knew folk were most desirous of besides many other fine conceits very plausible in hearing and agreeable to mans nature And to the end that no man might think this so great alteration and change in the practise of Physick to haue bin a blind course and a matter of smal consequence one thing aboue the rest that woon himfelfe a great fame and gaue no lesse credit and authority to his profession was this that meeting vpon a time by chance with one he knew not carried forth as a dead corse in a biere for to be burned he caused the body to be carried home from the funerall fire and restored the man to health again Certes this one thing wee that are Romanes may be well ashamed of and take in great indignation That such an old fellow as he comming out of Greece the vainest nation vnder the sun beginning as he did of nothing should only for to inrich himself lead the whole world in a string and on a sudden set down rules and orders for the health of mankind notwithstanding many that came after him repealed as it were and annulled those lawes of his And verily many helps had Asclepiades which much fauored his opinion and new Physick namely the manner of curing diseases in those daies which was exceeding rude troublesome painfull such adoe there was in lapping and couering the sicke with a deale of cloaths and causing them to sweat by all meanes possible such a worke they made sometime in chafing and frying their bodies against a good fire but euery foot in bringing them abroad into the hot Sunne which hardly could be found within a shadie and close citie as Rome was In lieu whereof not onely there but throughout all Italy which now commanded the whole World and might haue what it list hee followed mens humours in approouing the artificiall baines and vaulted stouves and hot houses which then were newly come vp and vsed excessiuely in euery place by his approbation Moreouer he found means to alter the painefull curing of some maladies and namely of the Squinancie in the healing whereof other Physitians before him went to worke with a certain instrument which they thrust down into the throat He condemned also worthily that dog-physick which was in those daies so ordinarâ—… that if one ailed neuer so little by and by he must cast and vomit He blamed also the vse of purgatiue potions as contrary and offensiue to the stomack wherein he had great reason and truth on his side for to speake truely such drinks are by most Physitians forbidden considering our chiefe care and drift is in all the course of our physick to vse those means which be comfortable and wholsom for the stomack CHAP. IIII. ¶ The foolish superstition of Art-Magicke which here is derided Of the tettar called Lichen remedies proper for it and the diseases of the throat ABoue all other things the superstitious vanities of Magitians made much to the establishing of Asclepiades his new Physicke for they in the heigth of their vanity attributed so strange and incredible operations to some simples that it was enough to discredit the vertues of them all First they vaunted much of Aethyopus an hearbe which by their saying if it were but cast into any great riuer
natural Finally to wash the mouth with wine before one goeth to bed for a sweet breath likewise so soon as he is vp betimes with cold water against the tooth-ach so as he do it three or fiue times together or at least-wise obseruing such an odde number as also to bath the eies in a morning with Oxycrat i with vineger and water mingled together to preserue them for being bleared are singular and approoued experiments CHAP. V. ¶ Obseruations as touching Diet and the manner of our feeding for the regiment of Health LIke to the former rules is this also as touching our Diet That it be not too precise but so as we may feed indifferently of all viands and acquaint our bodies with variety of meats which is obserued to be the best way to maintain our health and in very truth Hippocrates saith That to eat but one meale a day i to forbeare dinners is a diet that will drie vp a mans body within and bring them soon to age and decay But this aphorism of his he pronounced as a Physitian to reclaim vs from that hungry and sparing diet and not as a patron and maintainer of full feeding and gourmandise for I assure you a temperat and moderate vse of our meats is the wholsomest thing that is for our bodily health But L. Lucullus was so strict herein that hee suffered himselfe to be ordered and ouer-ruled by his owne seruant who would not let him eat but as he thought good in such sort that it was no small disgrace vnto him in his later daies thus to make his man his master and to be gouerned by him rather than by his own selfe for was it not think you an approbrious and shamefull sight to see a slaue and no better to put his lords hands from a dish of meat beeing an aged gentleman as he was and who in times past had rode in triumph to gage him thus I say and keep him short though hee were set amongst great states at a roiall feast within the capitoll of Rome CHAP. VI. ¶ Of Sneezing the vse of Venerie and other means which concerne mans health SNeezing dischargeth the heauinesse of the head and easeth the pose or rheum that stuffeth the nose and it is commonly said That if one lay his mouth to the nosthrils of a mouse or rat and touch the same it wil do as much To sneeze also is a ready way to be rid of the yex or hicquet And Varro giueth counsell to scrape a branch of a Date tree with one hand after another by turnes for to stay the said hicquet But most Physitians giue direction in this case to shift a ring from the left hand to the longest finger of the right or to plunge both hands into very hot water Theophrastus saith that old men doe sneeze with more paine and difficulty than others As touching carnall knowledge of man and woman Democritus vtterly condemned it and why so Because quoth he in that act one man goeth out of another And to say a truth the lesse one vseth it the better it is for body and mind both and yet onr professed wrestlers runners and such gamsters at feats of actiuity when they feele themselues heauy or dul reuiue and recouer their liuely spirits again by keeping company with women Also this exercise clenseth the brest and helpeth the voice which being sometime before cleare and neat was now become hoarse and rusty Moreouer the temperat sports of Venus easeth the pain of the reins and loins mundifie and quicken the eiesight and be singular good for such as be troubled in mind and giuen ouermuch to melancholy Moreouer it is held for witchcraft to sit by women in trauell or neare vnto a Patient who hath a medicine either giuen inwardly or applied vnto him with hand in hand crosse-fingered one between another the experience whereof was well seene by report when lady Alcmena was in labour to be deliuered of Hercules And the worse is this peece of sorcery in case the party hold the hands thus joined a-crosse one finger within another about one or both knees Also to sit crosse-legged with the ham of one leg riding aloft vpon the knee of the other and that by turns shifting from knee to knee And in very truth our ancestors time out of mind haue expresly forbidden in all councels of State held by princes potentats and Generals of the field to sit hand in hand or crosse-legged for an opinion they haue That this manner of gesture hindereth the proceeding and issue of any act in hand or consulted vpon They gaue out likewise a strait prohibition That no person present at any solemnity of sacrifices or vows making should sit or stand crosse-legged or hand in hand in manner aforesaid As for veiling bonnet before great rulers and magistrats or within their sight Varro saith it was a fashion at first not commanded for any reuerence or honour thereby to be done vnto gouernors but for healths sake and namely that mens heads might be more firm hardy by that ordinary vse and custome of being bare When a mote or any thing els is falne into one eie it is good to shut the other hard If there be water gotten into the right eare the maner is to jump and hop with the left leg bending and inclining the head toward the right shoulder semblably if the like happen to the left eare to do the contrary If one be falne into a fit of coughing the way to stay it is to let the next fellow spit vpon his forehead If the uvula be falne it will vp again if the Patient suffer another to bite the haire in the crown of his head and so to pull him vp plumb from the ground Hath the neck a crick or a pain lying behind what better remedy than to rub the hams Be the hams pained do the like by the nape of the neck say the cramp take either feet or legs plucking stretching the sinewes when one is in bed the next way to be vsed is to set the feet vpon the floore or the ground where the bed standeth or put case the crampe take the left side then be sure with the right hand to catch hold of the great toe of the left foot and contrariwise if the cramp come to the right leg do the like by the right foot If the body fall a shaking and quiuering for cold or if one bleed excessiuely at the nosthrils it is passing good to bind strait and hard the extreame parts to wit hands and legs yea and to plucke the eares also It falleth out oftentimes that one cannot lie dry nor hold his water but it commeth from him euer and anone what is then to be done mary tie the foreskin of his yard with a linnen thred or a papyr rush withall binde his thighs about in the middle If the mouth of the stomacke be ready to turne and will neither
the said wal-lice and the bloud of a Tortoise together also to chase away serpents with the smoak or perfume of them likewise if any beast which hath swallowed down horse-leeches do take them in drink they will either kill them or driue them out yea and in what part soeuer they are settled and sticke fast they will remoue them and make them to fall off And yet some there be who vse this nastie and stinking creature in eie-salues for they incorporat them in salt womans milk and therwith annoint their eies yea and drop them into the eares with honey and oile rosat mingled together Others there be who vse to burne these punaises or wal-lice such especially as be of a wild kind and breed vpon Mallowes and incorporat their ashes in oile of Roses and instill them into the eares Touching other medicinable properties which they attribute vnto them namely for impostumes and botches that are broken and run for the Quartan agne and many more maladies although they giue direction to swallow them down in an egge or else enclosed within wax or a beane I hold them for lies and therefore not worthy to be related in sadnesse Marie I will not say but there is some probabilitie and apparence of reason why they should put them in those medicines which are ordained for the lethargie for surely they are knowne to be very proper against that drow sines which is occasioned by the venome of the Aspis to which effect seuen of them be ordinarily giuen in a cyath of water or but foure if the patient be a child In case of strangurie also when a man pisseth dropmeale they vse to put wall-lice into a syring and so conueigh them into the passage of the yard See the goodnesse and industrie of dame Nature the mother of all how she hath produced nothing in the world but to good purpose and with great reason And yet here is not all that they report of these lice called punaises For they say that whosoeuer carie two of them in a bracelet about his left arme within a lock of wooll but the same forsooth must be stollen from some shepheard he shall be secured against those agues that come ordinarily in the night season but say their fits vse to returne by day time then the said punices ought to be lapped in a reddish clout of a carnation colour Contrariwise the worme called Scolopendra is an enemie vnto these wall-lice and killeth them As for the Aspides look whomsoeuer they haue stung they die vpon it with a kind of deadly sleepinesse and benummednesse in all their lims and to say a truth of all serpents that creep vpon the ground they are most mortall and their wounds least curable Their venome if it enter once so farre that it come to bloud or doe but touch a greene wound there is no remedie but present death marie if it light vpon an old sore the danger is not so speedie nor the force so quick Otherwise let the same be taken in drinke to what quantitie soeuer it is harmelesse and doth no hurt at all for setting aside that sencelesse drowsinesse wich it inflicteth putrifaction and infection it causeth none which is the reason that the flesh of those beasts which die of their sting is meat good enough I would pause and make some stay in reporting a remedie that these Aspides do yeeld but that I haue my warrant from M. Varro whom I know to haue deliuered the same euen when he was fourescore yeeres old and eight namely That there is not in the world so good a thing to cure the bitings of the Aspides as to giue the party who is wounded thereby some of their vrine to drinke To come now vnto the Basiliske whom all other serpents do flie from and are affraid of albeit he killeth them with his very breath and smel that passeth from him yea and by report if he do but set his eie on a man it is enough to take away his life yet the Magicians set great store by his bloud and tell wonders thereof and namely that being of it selfe as blacke and as thick congealed as pitch yet when it is washed and dissolued it looketh more cleare and pure than Cinnabaris Vnto it they attribute strange and admirable effects For whosoeuer say they carie it about them shall gratious with princes or great potentats yea and at their hands obtaine a grant of all their petitions they shall find fauour with the gods aboue and speed in all their praiers remedie they shall haue of all diseases and no sorcerie or witchcraft shall take hold of them And some of them there be who call it the bloud of Saturne As for Dragons they haue no venome in them And if it be true that our Magicians say if a Dragons head be laid vnder the threshold of a dore after due worship and adoration of the gods with praiers supplications vnto them for their fauourable grace that house shall surely be fortunat The eies of a Dragon preserued drie pulverised and incorporat with hony into a liniment cause by their saying those who be annointed all ouer therewith to sleepe securely without any dread of night-night-spirits though otherwise they were fearfull timerous by nature Moreouer if we may beleeue them the fat growing about the heart of a Dragon lapped within a peece of a Buckes or Does skin and so tied fast to the arme with the nerues or sinues of a red Deere is very auaileable and assurerh a man good successe in all sutes of law The first spondyle or turning joint in the chine of a Dragon doth promise an easie and fauourable accesse vnto the presence of princes great states The teeth of a Dragon lapped within the skin of a roe buck or wild Goat and so bound fast with the sinewes of a Stag or Hind do mitigat the rigor of great lords and potentats causing them to incline to their petitions and requests who present themselues before them But aboue all other receits one composition there is which bewraieth the impudent and lying humor of these Magicians who promise vndoubted and infallible victory to those that haue it about them and this it is Take say they the taile and head both of a Dragon the haire growing vpon the forehead of a Lion with a little also of his marrow the froth moreouer that an Horse fometh at the mouth who hath woon the victory and prise in running a race and the nailes besides of a dogs feet bind all these together with a piece of leather made of a red Deere skin with the sinues partly of a Stag and partly of a fallow Deere one with another in alternatiue course carrie this about you and it will worke wonders Impostures all and loud lies And verily it is as gratious a deed to discouer and lay abroad these impudencies of theirs as to shew the remedies for the sting of serpents considering how these deuices
by experience to be of great efficacie in fetching off werts if they bee annointed therewith A second sort there is which they call Myloecon because ordinarily it haunteth about mils and bake-houses and there breedeth these by the report of Musa and Pycton two famous Physitians being bruised after their heads were gone and applied to a body infected with the leprosie cured the same perfectly They of a third kind besides that they be otherwise ill favoured enough carry a lothsome and odious smell with them they are sharp rumped and pin buttockt also howbeit being incorporate with the oile of pitch called Pisselaeon they haue healed those vlcers which were thought Nunquam sana and incurable Also within 21. daies after this plastre laid too it hath been knowne to cure the swelling wens called the Kings evill the botcâ—…es or biles named Pani wounds contusions bruises morimals scabs and fellons but then their feet and wings were plucked off and cast away I make no doubt or question but that some of vs are so dainty and fine eared that our stomacke riseth at the hearing onely of such medicines and yet I assure you Diodorus a renowned Physitian reporteth That he hath giuen these foure flies inwardly with rosin and hony for the jaundise and to those that were so strait winded that they could not draw their breath but sitting vpright See what libertie and power ouer vs these Physitians haue who to practise and trie conclusions vpon our bodies may exhibite vnto their Patients what they list bee it neuer so homely so it goe vnder the name of a medicine Howbeit some of the more ciuile sort and who carried with them a better regard of man-hood and humanitie thought it better and a more cleanely kinde of Physicke to reserue in boxes of horne the ashes of them burnt for the vses aboue named Others also would beat them after they were dried into pouder and minister them in manner of a clystre unto those that were Orthopnoicke and Rheumaticke Certes it is well knowne and confessed that a liniment made of them will draw forth prickes thorns spils and whatsoeuer sticketh fast within the flesh Moreouer the honey wherein Bees were extinct and killed is soueraigne for the diseases of the eares As for the impostumes and swellings arising behinde the eares called Pacotides Pigeons dung applied thereunto either alone by it selfe or with barly meale and oatmeale driueth them backe or keepeth them down Also the liuer or brains of an Owle being resolued in some conuenient liquor and applied accordingly cureth the accidents of the lap of the eare and the foresaid impostumations so doth a liniment made of the wormes called Sowes together with the third part of rosin and lastly the cricquets aboue rehearsed either reduced into a liniment or else bound to whole as they be are good in these cases Thus much concerning those maladies aboue specified it remaineth now to proceed vnto other diseases and the medicinable receits respectiue vnto them drawne either from the same creatures or els from others of that kinde whereof I purpose to treat and discourse in the next booke ensuing THE THIRTIETH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS The Proem CHAP. I. ¶ The originall and beginning of Art Magicke When it first began and who were the Inventors of it By whom it was practised and aduanced Also other Receits or medicines drawne from Beasts THe folly and vanitie of Art Magicke I haue oftentimes already taxed and confuted sufficiently in my former books when and wheresoeuer iust occasion and fit opportunitie was offered and still my purpose and intention is to discouer and lay open the abuse thereof in some few points behind And yet I must needs say the argument is such asdeserueth a large and ample discourse if there were but this only to enduce me That notwithstanding it be of all arts fullest of fraud deceit and cousenage yet neuer was there any throughout the whole world either with like credit professed or so long time vpheld maintained Now if a man consider the thing well no marnell it is that it hath continued thus in so great request and authoritie for it is the onely Science which seemeth to comprise in it selfe three professions besides which haue the command and rule of mans minde aboue any other whatsoeuer For to begin withall no man doubteth but that Magicke tooke root first and proceeded from physicke vnder the pretence of maintaining health curing and preuenting diseases things plausible to the world crept and insinuated farther into the heart of man with a deepe conceit of some high and diuine matter therein more than ordinarie and in comparison thereof all other physicke was but basely accounted And hauing thus made way and entrance the better to fortifie it selfe and to giue a goodly colour and lustre to those faire and flattering promises of things which our nature is most giuen to hearken after on goeth the habit also cloke of religion a point I may tel you that euen in these days holdeth captiuate the spirit of man and draweth away with it a grearer part of the world and nothing so much But not content with this successe and good proceeding to gather more strength and win a greater name she interming led with medicinable receits Religious ceremonies the skill of Astrologie and arts Mathematical presuming vpon this That all men by nature are very curious and desirous to know their future fortunes and what shal betide them hereafter persuading themselues that all such foreknowledge depends on the course and influence of the stars which giue the truest and most certain light of things to come Being thus wholly possessed of men and hauing their sences and vnderstanding by this meanes fast enough bound with three sure chaines no maruell if this art grew in processe of time to such an head that it was and is at this day reputed by most nations of the earth for the paragon chief of al sciences insomuch as the mighty kings and monarchs of the Levant are altogether ruled thereby And verily there is no question at all but that in those East parts and namely in the realme of Persia it found first footing and was inuented and practised there by Zoroastres as all writers in one accord agree But whether there was but that one Zoroastres or more afterward of that name it is not yet so certainly resolued vpon by all Aurhors for Eudoxus who held art Magicke to be of all professions philosophicall and learned disciplines the most excellent and profitable science hath recorded that this Zoroastres to whom is ascribed the inuention therof liued and flourished 6000 yeares before the death of Plato And of his minde is Aristotle also Howbeit Hermippus whowrot of that art most exquisitely and commented vpon the Poëme of Zoroastres containing a hundred thousand verses twenty times told of his making and made besides a Repertorie or Index to euery
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