head applyed doth cure for where the wound The helpe is also made as in Telephus sence Harmd by Larissus speare by it was cured found And Guil. Varignana saith deuide or cut a serpent and lay it vpon the place and it will mittigate the anguish and paine The seede of Thraspi and of Tithimal which is a kind of spurge is greatlie vsed for this Aut Tithimallus atrox vulnus quae tuta pervngat Some besides these doe put the roote of black Hellebor into the wound because it draweth out the poyson as I by mine owne experience can testifie saith Matthiolus There be also sundry Antidotes and preseruatiues which are taken inwardly that are very effectuall against the bytings of serpents and venomous beasts as namely that which is called Theriaca Andromachi or Methridate the like compositious Galen in his booke De Theriaca ad Pisonem preferreth Theriaca Andromachi before all other medicines either simple or compound for virulent wounds because it performeth that effect for which it is ministred For it was neuer as yet heard that euer any one perrished of any venomous hurt or byting who without any delay foorth-with dranke this medicine and if any man had taken it before he receiued any such dangerous hurt if he were set vppon and assailed by any poysonous creature it hath not lightlie been heard that hee hath dyed of the same There be many Antidotes described by the Ancients which they set downe to be admirable for these passions As for example that which Auicenna termeth Theriaca mirabilis whose composition is as followeth Take of Opium and of Myrrhe of eyther of them a dramme Pepper one dramme and a halfe the roote of Aristolechia longa and Rotunda of each of them three drammes Wine two drammes make them vp with Hony Rocket water so much as is sufficient for an Electuarie the quantitie to giue is foure scruples relented in some fit and conuenient decoction King Antiochus surnamed Magnus had a kinde of Theriaoa which hee vsed against all poysons which is described of Pliny in his 20 booke and last chapter in this wise Take of Wild-time Opopanax and the herbe called Gromell of each a like much two drammes Trifolie one dramme of the seedes of Dill Fennell Smallage Anise and Ameos of euery one alike sixe drammes of the meale of Orebus twelue drammes all these beeing powned and finely searsed must with wine a sufficient quantitie be made into Trochisces whereof euery one must weigh one dramme giue thereof one dram at a time in a draught of wine There is another Antidote and preseruatiue against any poyson described by Paulus Aegineta much like vnto this which is thus Take of Bryonie Opopanax of the roote of Iris Illirica and of the roote of Rosemarie and of Ginger of each of these three drammes of Aristolochia fiue drammes of the best Turpentine of wilde Rue of each three drams of the meale of Orobus two drammes make them into Torchisches with Wine euerie one weighing one scruple and a halfe or two scruples to be giuen also in wine Galen in his second booke De antidotis chapter 49. discourseth of a certaine Theriacall medicament called Zopyria antidotus so taking the name of one Zopyrus which was notable against all poysons bytings of venomous creeping creatures This Zopyrus in his Letters written vnto Mithridates sollicited him very much that he would make some experiment of his Antidote which as he put him in mind he might easily doe by causing any one that was alreadie condemned to die to drinke downe some poyson afore-hand then to take the Antidote or els first to receiue the Antidote after that to drinke some poyson And put him in remembrance to try it also in those that were wounded any maner of way by Serpents or those that were hurt by arrowes or Darts annoynted or poysoned by any destroying venime So all things being dispatched according to his praemonition the man notwithstanding the strength of the poyson was preserued safe sound by this alexipharmaticall medicine of Zopyrus Matthiolus in his Praeface vpon the sixth booke of Dioscorides entreating of Antidotes and preseruatiues from poyson saith that at length after long studie and trauaile he had found out an Antidote whose vertue was wonderfull and worthy admiration and it is a certaine quintessence extracted from many simples which hee setteth downe in the same place He saith it is of such force and efficacie that the quantitie of foure drammes being taken either by it selfe or with the like quantitie of some sweet-senting Wine or els with some distilled water which hath some naturall propertie to strengthen the hart if that anie person hath either been wounded or strooken of any venomous liuing thing that the patients life be therewith in danger so that he hath lost the vse of his tongue seeing for the most part all his other sences yet for all that by taking this his Quintessence it will recouer and raise him as it were out of a dead sleepe from sicknes to health to the great astonishment and admiration of the standers by They that desire to know the composition of this rare preseruatiue let them read it in the Author himselfe for it is too long and tedious to describe it at this time There be besides these compounds many simple Medicines which beeing taken inwardly doe performe the same effect as namelie the Thistle where-vppon Serenus hath these verses following Carduus et nondum doctis fullonibus aptus Ex illo radix tepido potatur in amni That is to say The roote of Teasill young for Fullers yet vnfit Drunke in warme-water venome out doth spit That Thistle which Qu. Serenus heere vnderstandeth is properly that plant which of the Greekes is called Scolymos Yet it is taken somtimes for other prickly plants of the same kind as for both the Chamaeleons Dipsacos or Labram veneris Spina alba Eryngium and some other But Dioscorides attributeth the chiefest vertue against poysons to the Thistles called Chamaeleon albus and to the Sea-thistle called Eryngium marinum which some call Sea-hull or Huluer for in his third booke and ninth chapter entreating of Chamaeleon albus hee saith thus The roote of it taken with Wine inwardly is as good as Treacle against any venime and in the 21 chapter of the same booke Eryngium is saith he taken to good purpose with some wine against the byting of venomous creatures or any poyson inwatdly taken And the same Serenus adscribeth the same vertue to the Harts curd or rennet as followeth Cervino ex foetu commixta coagula vino Sumantur quae res membris agit atra venena In English thus Wine mixt with rennet taken from a Hart So drunk doth venom from the members part He meaneth a young Hart beeing killed in the Dammes belly as Pliny affirmeth also the same in his 8. booke and 30 chapter in these words The chiefest remedie against the byting of Serpents is made of the
from their furious malice The vertue of Mallowes and of Althea called Marsh-mallowe is notable against the prickings of Waspes For the softest and most emollient herbe is applyed as a contrary to a watlike and hurtfull creature whose iuyce beeing annoynted with oyle eyther abateth the rage of vvaspes or so blunteth and dulleth theyr sting that the paine is not very sharpe or byting Pliny lib 21. capit 171. And of the same mind is Auicen Waspes saith he will not come neere any man if he be annoynted with oyle and the iuyce of Mallowes For as a soft aunswere doth frangere iram and as the Graecians haue a saying Edus Megiston estin orges pharmakon logos So also in naturall Philosophy we see that hard thinges are quailed and their edge euen taken off with soft and suppling as yron with a fine small and soft feather the Adamant stone with blood and the stinge of vvaspes Hornets and Bees with oyle and Mallowes What is softer then a Caterpiller and yet if Aetius credite be of sufficience the same beeing beaten with oyle and annoynted vppon any part preserueth the same from the woundes and stinges of vvaspes And of the same vertue is the herbe called Balme being stamped and mixed with oyle The same symptomes or accidents doe follow the stinging of Waspes as of Bees but farre more painefull and of longer continuance to vvit rednesse intollerable paine Apostumes And if any be strooken of the Orenge or yellow coloured vvaspes especially in a sinowie or some sensible part there will followe a convulsion weakenes of the kees swounding yea sometimes death as before I haue touched Against the stingings of vvaspes diuers medicines are prescribed by Phisitions but I will speake of such onely as I haue made proofe of and such as are confirmed by long experience Gilbert the Englishman saith that vvaspes beeing bruised and applyed to the place affected doe cure their owne wounds very strangely The same vertue peraduenture not onely the Scorpion but the greater part of Insects haue if any one would make any dilligent tryall thereof If a man be stinged of any venomous vvaspes which is easily knowne by the blewnes of the place madnes rauing and fainting of the partie and coldnesse of the hands and feete after you haue giuen him inwardly some Alexipharmacall medicine the place agrieued must be launched or rather opened with a Cauterie so beeing thus enlarged and opened the venome must be well sucked out and the paring or shauing of that earth wherein the waspes build their nests must be wrought kneaded with Vineger and so applyed like a Cataplasme A plaister also made of VVillow-leaues Mallowes and the combe of waspes is verie medicinable for the same as by the counsell of Haly Abbas I haue experimented The English-Northerne-men doe prepare most excellent emplaister woorth gold against all stinges of waspes onely of that earth whereof their Ouens are made hauing vineger and the heads of Flyes commixed therewith Let the place be very well rubbed with the iuyce of Citrulls withall let the partie that is pained drinke of the seed of Margerom beaten to powder the quantity of two drammes or thus Take of the iuyce of Margerom two ounces of Bole Armony two drammes with the iuyce of vnripe Grapes so much as is sufficient make an emplaister Another Annoynt the place with the iuyce of Purcelane Beetes or sweet Wine and Oyle of Roses or with Cowes bloud or with the seedes of the Spirting or wilde Cucumber called Nolime tangere beaten with some VVine Thus farre Galen Barly Meale wrought vp with Vineger and the Milke or iuyce of a Fig-tree brine or Sea water are excellent for these griefes as Dioscorides lib. 8. Cap. 20. writeth if the wound be often fomented bathed or soked with any of them To drinke giue two drammes of the young and tender leaues of Bayes with harsh wine and if the part affected bee onely annointed with any of these they are much auaileable In like sort the decoction of Marsh-mallowes drunke with Vineger and water are much commended and outwardly salt with Calues fat Oyle of Bayes draweth out the poyson of VVaspes The leaues of Marsh-mallow as Aetius saith beeing bruised and applyed doe performe the same The iuyce of Rue or Balme about the quantity of two or three ounces drunke with wine and the leaues being chewed and laid on with Hony and Salt or with Vineger and Pitch do help much VVater-cresses Rosemarie with Barly meale and water with vineger sod together the iuyce of Iuy leaues Marigolds the bloud of an Owle all these are very affectuall against the stinging of waspes as Pliny lib. 31. Cap. 9. telleth vs. The buds of the wilde Palme-tree Endiue with the root and wilde Timbe being applyed playsterwise doe helpe the stinging of VVaspes After the vemine is drawne out by sucking the place effected must bee put into hot water the space of an houre and then suddenly they must be thrust into Vineger and brine and forthwith the paine will bee asswaged the tumour cease and the malice of the venemous humor cleane extinguished Rhazes saith that the leaues of Night-shade or of Sengreene do very much good in this case And in like sort Bole Armony with vineger and Champhire and nuts beaten with a little vineger and Castoreum Also take the Combe with Honny applying to the place and hold the grieued place neere the fire immediatly and laying vnder them a few ashes binde them hard forth-with the paine will bee swaged Serapio saith that Sauorie or Cresses applyed and the seed thereof taken in drinke and the iuyce of the lesser Centory mixt with wine are very meete to bee vsed in these griefes he also commendeth for the same purpose the leaues of Basill the Herb called Mercury and Mandrakes with Vineger Ardoynus is of opinion that if you take a little round ball of Snow and put it into the fundament the paine will cease especially that which proceedeth by waspes Let the place be annoynted with Vineger and Champhire or often fomented and bathed with snow-Snow-water Take of Opium of the seed of Henbane and Champhire of each alike much and incorporate them with Rose water or the iuyce of VVillowes and laie it vppon the wounded place applying on the top of it a linnē cloth first throughly wetted in wine Iohannes Mesue who of some is called Euangelist a medicoram prescribeth this receipt of the iuyce of Sisimbrium two drammes and a halfe and with the iuyce of Tartcitrons make a potion The iuyce also of Spina Arabica and of Margerom are nothing inferiour to these forementioned Aaron would in this griefe haue water Lintells called by some Duckes meat to be stamped with vineger and after to be applyed Constantine assureth vs that Alcama tempered with Barley meale and vineger and so bound to the place as also Nuts leaues of vvall-nuts and Bleetes are very profitable in this passion Item
and drunke with Wine Remedies of Diophantes against the bytings of Phalangies Take of Astrologe or hartwort 4. drams of Pelletorie of Spaine as much Pepper 2. drams Opium one dram make thereof Trochisces to the quantity of a Beane take two of them in a good draught of pure Wine Another more excellent Take of the seedes of wilde Rue Rocket-seede Styrax Sulphur viuum of either alike much sixe drammes of Castoreum two drammes commix them to make Trochisces as before with the bloud of a Creuish The dose is one scruple and a halfe in Wine Another Take of Myrrhe Castoreum and Styrax of either one dram Opium two drammes of Galbanum three drammes Smallage-seedes and Annise-seedes of either alike two ounces and a halfe Pepper thirty graines make them vppe with Wine so much as is sufficient Another Take of Myrrhe fiue ounces of Spiknard sixe drammes of the the flower of Iuncus Rotundus two drammes and a halfe Cassia foure drams Cynamon three drammes white Pepper one dramme and a halfe Frankinsence one dramme and halfe a scruple Costus one dramme make them vp with Atticke Hony The dose is the quantity of a Hasell-Nut to be taken either in Mulse or water Remedies out of Apollodorus TAke of wilde Comin two ounces and a halfe the bloud of a Sea-Tortoyce foure drammes the rennet of a Fawne or Hare three drammes the bloud of a Kid foure drams make them vp with the best Wine and reserue it to your vse The dose is the quantity of an Oliue in a draught of the best and purest Wine Another Take of the seedes of Trifolium Bituminosum of round Astrologe the seeds of wilde Rew the seedes of Ervum dryed in the Sunne of each alike 6. drams worke them with Wine and make Trochisces thereof euery one of them weighing foure drams The dose is one Trochisce Read more in Galan in his second booke De Antid where any man may finde many for the same purpose which he had gathered and selected from diuers Authours Out of Aetius and Paulus Aegeneta TAke of Sulphur Viuum and of Galbanum of either foure drammes of bitter Almonds excorticated one dramme of the Gumme called Benzoin foure drammes temper them in Wine and after their Maceration worke them vp with some Hony to be taken inwardly Being thus prepared it may likewise be applyed outwardly Another Take of Ameos two drammes roots of Floure-deluce one dram or else of Saint Iohns-wort or Trifolium Bituminosum drinke them out of Wine Or take of Annise-seedes wilde Carrets Comin Nigella Romana Pepper and Agaricke of either one dramme and drinke them Or take the leaues of the Cipres-tree or the Nuts beaten in Wine and three quarters of a pinte of the best Oyle and giue it to drinke And to this end they doe prescribe Bay-berries Scorpion-grasse wilde-Timbe Calamint Chamepytis either to be taken by themselues alone or with Rew and Pepper Asclepiades vsed these that follow Take of the seedes of Angelica and Calamint of eyther alike much and powned together to bee taken in sixe ounces of Wine oftentimes in a day Another Take of Benzoin the seedes of the wilde-Carret of dry Mintes and Spicknard a little quantity temper them vp with Vineger The dose is one dramme with pure water and Vineger mixed together about fiue or sixe ounces Another more excellent Take Garlicke and eate it and a bath made of the same with Wine and likewise al those Medicines which doe heale the bytings of Vipers are notable in these cases Paulus Aegineta commendendeth all these very highly and so dooth hee the seedes of Agnus Castus or the leaues of the White-Popler Out of Nicander TAke of the purest Turpentine that distilleth out of the Pine-tree and eate or drink it for this is a very effectuall medicine which as Bellonius reporteth he hath found to be true by experience Out of Auicenna THE fruite of the Mirtle-tree Doronicum Masticke Assa Faetida Dedder or With-wind and his root the Nut of India and white Bdellium drunke with wine Take of the rootes of Aristolochie rootes of Floure-deluce of Spicke Pellitory of Spaine the seedes of the wilde Carrot blacke Hellebor Commin the rootes of the true Daffadill of the fruite of the Carob-tree the leaues of Dates toppes of Pomgranates Cynamon of the iuyce of Rue Crai-fishes Styrax Opium and Carpobalsamum of eyther alike one ounce all of these being powdered make thereof Trochisces the weight of one dramme or foure scruples which is their dose Take also in Wine the decoction of the seedes of Trifolium Bituminosum Cipres-Nuts and the seedes of Smallage Besides let him drinke the graynes or fruite of the Pine-tree Comin of Aethiopia the leaues and rinde of the Plane-tree the seedes of Siler Montanum blacke and wilde Cicers the seeds of Nigella Sothern-wood and Dill Astrologe or Hartwort the fruite of the Tamariske tree for all these are very effectuall to cure the hurtes that come by byting of any venomous Spyder The iuyce also of wilde Lettice and of Houselike is excellent The decoction of Cypres Nuts beeing boyled especially with Cynamon the broath of Crai-fishes and of Goose-flesh and likewise the decoction of the rootes of Asparagus in Wine and water Another Take of Astrologe and Comin of each three drammes to be drunk in warme water an excellent and approoued antidote Take of the seeds of Git or Nigella tenne drammes Comin-seede Dancus-seede or wilde-Carret of either fiue drammes Spiknard Bay-berries round Aristolochie Carpobalsamum Cynamon roots of Gentian seedes of the Mountaine Siler and Smallage of euery one alike two drams make a confection with Hony The dose is the quantity of a Nut with old Wine A confection of Assa Take of Assa Faetida Myrrhe and leaues of Rue of euery one alike quantity temper them together with Hony The common is one dram or two at the most in Wine Certaine other selected Medicines out of Absyrtus Albucasis Lullus Rhazes and Ponzettus TAke of white Pepper thirty graynes drinke it often in a draught of old Wine Giue also the Hearbe Tymbe in Wine Absyrtus Let him drinke after it a Spoonefull of Wine distilled with Balme Lullus Take of dry Revv of Costus Horsemint Pelletory of Spayne Cardamomum of each alike of Assa Faetida a fourth part Honny so much as is sufficient commixe them The dose is the quantity of a Hasell Nut in drinke Albucasis The brayne of a Hen drunke vvith a little Pepper out of sweet Wine or Vineger and Water myxed together A notable Treacle or Antidote against the bytings of Phalangies or venomous Spyders Take of Tartarum six drammes of yellovv Sulphur eyght drammes Rue-seedes three drammes Castoreum and Rocket-seede of eyther tvvo drammes vvith the bloud of a Sea-Tortoyce make an Opiate The dose is tvvo drammes to bee taken in Wine Another Take of Pellitory of Spaine and the roote of the round Aristolochie of each one part of White Pepper halfe a part Horehouud foure parts temper them vp vvith Honny the dose that
this serpent is hissing although it be verie seldome heard And it is said that when Craesus vndertooke to wage vvarre with Cyrus the suburbes of Sardis vvere all filled with Adders which vvere deuoured aftervvard by horses in the pastures Whereat the King and people vvere not a little moued But the Priestes after consultation with the Oracle tolde them that it signified howe strangers should deuoite the people of that Cittie because that Adders were bred in those coastes therefore they tooke them to signifie naturall inhabitants and because horses came from other Countries therefore strangers as Cyrus and his souldiours should be thereby signified And this is to be noted that the enemies of this serpent are the same that are common to other and the Hart aboue all other beasts of the earth Yet this Serpent saith S. Ambrose will kill a Lyon runne away from a Hart. ¶ The Medicines arising out of this beast are briefely these The water wherein an Adder is preserued aliue is a remedy against the poyson of a Toade Also Adders or Vipers included in a pot with the scrapings of Vines and therein burnt to ashes do help the vvennes or Kings-euill And Pliny also affirmeth that if a man which hunteth Crocodils beate about him any part of the fatte of an Adder or the gall mixed vvith the herbe Potamigiton he cannot be hurt by that beast Serpents and Adders especially deafe Adders signifie vntepentant wicked men and also discord as the Poet describeth it vvhen Alecto sent a Serpent Snake or Adder to moue cōtention in the familie of Amata Libro 7. Aenead And thus much for the Adder OF THE AMMODYTE THis Serpent I call after the Greeke name Ammodytes an Ammodyte It is also found to be called Ammodyta and Cenchrias or rather Centrias or Centrites because of the hardnes of their tayles vvhich are also clouen on the vpper side The Italians call it Aspido del corno because it hath vpon the vpper chap a hard warte like a horne The head of this Serpent is longer greater then a Vipers head and her chappes vvider besides the late expressed difference vpon the vpper lippe and yet it may well be termed a kind of Viper It is Immanis fera a fierce wilde beast in length not aboue a cubite hauing diuers blacke spots vpon the skinne and certaine appearances of strakes or small lines vpon the backe The colour of the other parts is euer like the sand wherin it keepeth maketh abode according to these verses of Lucan Concolor exustis atque indiscretus arenis Ammodytes In English thus The Ammodyte indiscreete on the Land Doth hold the colour of the burning sand The Countries most of all annoyed with these Serpents are Lybia Italy and Illiria especially about Gortinium and the Mountaines of Lampidia Their harmes are not inferiour to the stinging and poyson of Aspes for Matthiolus writeth that hee hath knovvne some to die thereof vvithin three houres after the wound receiued And if they doe not dye within short time then doth the blood issue forth in abundant maner out of the hurt and the wound swelleth Afterward all is turned into matter and then followeth dulnes in the head and distraction in the mind they liue long which endure it three dayes and it was neuer knowne that any liued aboue seauen dayes this also beeing obserued that those that be hurt by a femall doe dye soonest For together with their byting they infuse a vehement payne which causeth swelling and the sore to runne I find the cure hereof in Aetius to be thus first of all Triacle must be giuen to the sicke person to drinke and also layd vpon the wound also drawing or attractiue playsters and such poultesses which are fit for running vlcers But first before the playsters scarifie all the places about the hurt and bind the vpper parts hard then launce the sore a little with a Pen-knife and let him drinke sweete water with Rungwort Gourdes Castoreum and Cassia Auicen prescribeth in the cure of these Serpents venorn Castoreum Cinnamon the roote of Centory of each two ounces with Wine and the roote of long Hartwort of Assoasier the iuyce of the roote Gentian And for emplaister Hony sod and dryed and so pounded the rootes of Pomgranats and Centory the seede of Flaxe and Lettuce and wilde Rew And so I conclude with Doctor Gesner Percussus ab Ammodyte festinet ad remedium sine quo nemo affugere He which is hurt by an Ammodyte let him make hast for a remedy without which neuer man escaped death OF THE ARGES AND ARGOLAE THere is mention in Galen and Hippocrates of a Serpent called Arges Now Arges signifieth in Greeke white swift idle ill mannered of this Serpent Hippocrates telleth this story There was saith he a young man drunke which lay asleepe vpon his backe in a certain house gaping Into this mans mouth entered a serpent called Arges the young man perceiuing it in his mouth striued to speake and cry but could not and so suddenly gnashing his teeth deuoured and swallowed downe the Serpent After which he was put to intollerable paines his hands stretching quiuering like as a mans that is hanged or strangled and in this sort he cast himselfe vp and downe and dyed It seemeth therefore that this Serpent hath his name from the sudden destruction he bringeth to the creatures it smiteth and therefore in auncient time we read that Mercury was called Argiphon for killing of Serpents THe Argolae are onely mentioned by Suidas for he saith that Alexander brought them to Alexandria from Arges cast them into the riuer to expell and deuour the Aspes where they continued a long time till the bones of the Prophet Ieremy were brought out of Egypt vnto Alexandria which slew them as the same Author writeth And thus much of these two kindes of Serpents OF ASPES IN Hebrewe as appeareth Deut. 32. the Aspe is called Pethen in Psal 58. Akschub in Isa 59. and Ier. 8. Zipheoni an Aspe or a Cockatrice worse then a Serpent The Arabians Hasyos and Hascos the Greekes Aspis the Italians Aspe and Aspide the Spaniardes Biuora the French Vnaspic the Germans Ein sclang genannt and the Latines Aspis About the notation or deriuation of this word there is some difference among Writers Aristophanes deriueth it from Alpha an intensiue Particle and Spizo which signifieth to extend either by reason of his sharpe-shrill hissing or for the length of his body Others deriue Aspis from Hios which signifieth venome or poyson therefore saith the Scripture The poyson of Aspes because that is a predominant poison The Latines call it Aspis quod venenum aspergit morsu bycause it sprinkleth abroad his poyson when it biteth Besides we read of Aspis a Buckler an Island in the Lycian Sea a Mountaine in Affrike and there is fashion of camping Souldiours in the fielde called Aspides The Epithets declaring the nature of this pestiferous Serpent are
thought if it be mixed with some sweet composition that it hath power to cure a quotidian Ague If the toong of Chamaelion be hung ouer an obliuious and forgetfull person it is thought to haue power to restore his memory The Chamaelion from the head to the tayle hath but one Nerue which beeing taken out and hung about the necke of him that holdeth his head awry or backeward it cureth him The other parts haue the same operation as the parts of the Hyaena the Sea-calfe If a Chamaelion be sod in an earthen pot and consumed till the waterbe as thicke as oile then after such seething take the bones out and put them in a place where the Sunne neuer commeth then if you see a man in the fit of the falling sicknesse turne him vppon his belly and annoynt his backe from the Os sacrum to the ridge bone and it will presently deliuer him from the fit but after seuen times vsing it will perfectly cure him The Oyle thus made must be kept in a Boxe This medicine following is a present remedy agaynst the gowt Take the head and feet of a Chamaeleon cut offalso the outward partes of the knees and feete and then keepe by themselues those parts that is to say the partes of the right legge by themselues and the partes of the left Legge by themselues then touch the Nayle of the Chamaeleon with your Thumbe and right finger of your hand dipping the tips of your fingers of the right hand in the bloud of the right foote of the beast and so likewise the fingers of the left hand in the bloud of the left foote then include those parts in two little Pipes and so let the sicke person carry the right partes in the right hand and the left parts in the left hand vntill he be cured and this must bee remembred that hee must touch euery morning about the Sun rising the said Chamaeleon yet liuing and lapped in a Linnen cloth with those parts that are oppressed with the Gout The like superstitious and magicall deuises are these that follow as they are recorded by Pliny and Democritus The head and thraot being set on fire with wood of Oake they beleeue to be good against Thunder and raine and so also the Liuer burned on a Tyle If the right eye be taken out of it aliue and applyed to the whitenes of the eyes in Goats Milke it is thought to cure the same The tongue bound to a woman with child preserueth her from danger in child-byrth if the same tongue be taken from the beast aliue it is thought it foresheweth the euent of iudgement The heart wrapped in blacke Wooll of the first shearing by wearing it cureth a quartane Ague the right claw of the forefeet bound to the left arme with the skinne of his cheekes is good against robberies and terrours of the night and the right pap against all feares If the left foote be scorched in a furnace with the Herb Chamaeleon and afterward putting a litle ointment to it made into little Pasties so being carryed about in a wooden boxe it maketh the party to go invisible The right shoulder maketh a man to preuaile against his aduersaries if they doe but tread vpon the Nerues cast down vpō the earth But the left shoulder they consecrate the same to monsterous dreames as if that thereby a man might dreame what hee would in his owne person and effect the like in others With the right foote are all paulsies resolued and with the left foote all Lethargies the Wine wherein one side of a Chamaeleon hath beene steeped sprinkled vppon the head cureth the ach thereof If Swines Grease be mingled with the powder of the left foote or Thigh and a mans foote be annoynted therewith it bringeth the gout by putting the Gall into fire they driue away Serpentes and into Water they draw together Weasels it pulleth off hayre from the body so also doth the Liuer with the Lightes of of a Toade likewise the Liuer dissolueth amorous inchantments Melancholy men are cured by drinking the iuyce of a Chamaeleon out of a Chamaeleons skin They also say that the Intrals and dung of this beast washed in the vrine of an Ape and hung vp at our enemies gates causeth reconciliation With the taile they bring Serpentes asleepe and stay the flowing of the flouds and Waters the same mingled with Ceder and Myrrhe bound to two rods of Palme and strucke vpon water causeth all thinges that are contained in the same water to appeare but I would to GOD that such Magitians were well beaten with Róddes of stronger wood vntill they forsooke these magicall fooleries And thus much for the story of the Chamaeleon OF THE COCKATRICE THis Beast is called by the Graecians Baziliscos and by the Latine Regulus because he seemeth to be the King of serpents not for his magnitude or greatnesse For there are many Serpents bigger then he as there be many Foure-footed-beastes bigger then the Lyon but because of his stately pace and magnanimious mind for hee creepeth not on the earth like other Serpents but goeth halfe vpright for which occasion all other Serpentes auoyde his sight And it seemeth nature hath ordained him for that purpose for beside the strength of his poyson which is vncurable he hath a certaine combe or Corronet vppon his head as shall be shewed in due place It is also cald Sibilus as we read in Isidorus Sibilus enim occidit antequam mordeat vel exurat The Cockatrice killeth before it burneth The Hebrewes call it Pethen and Curman also Zaphna and Zaphnaini The Chalde Armene Harmene and also Carmene The Aegyptians Vreus the Germans Ein Ertz Schlengle the French Vn Basilic The Spaniards and Italians Basilisco There is some question amongest Writers about the generation of this Serpent for some and those very many and learned affirme him to be brought forth of a Cockes egge For they say that when a Cock groweth old he layeth a certaine egge without any shell in stead whereof it is couered with a very thicke skinne which is able to withstand the greatest force of an easie blow or fall They say moreouer that this Egge is layd onely in the Summer-time about the beginning of Dogge-dayes being not long as a Hens Egge but round and orbiculer Sometimes of a dusty sometimes of a Boxie sometimes of a yellowish muddy colour which Egge is generated of the putrified seed of the Cocke and afterward set vpon by a Snake or a Toad bringeth forth the Cockatrice being halfe a foot in length the hinder part like a Snake the former partlike a Cooke because of a treble combe on his forehead But the vulger opinion of Europe is that the Egge is nourished by a Toad and not by a Snake howbeit in better experience it is found that the Cocke doth sit on that egge himselfe whereof Leuinus Lemnius in his twelth booke of the hidden miracles of nature hath this
Toades both of the earth and of the water are venomous although it be held that the toades of the earth are more poysonfull then the toades of the water except those Toades of the water which doe receiue infection or poyson from the water for some waters are venomous But the toades of the Land which doe descend into the Marshes and so liue in both elements are most venomous and the hotter the Country is the more full are they of poyson The Women-witches of auncient time which killed by poysoning did much vse Toades in their confections which caused the Poet in his verses to write as followeth Occurrit Matrona potens quae molle Calenum Porrectura viro miscet sciente rubetam Which may be englished thus There came a rich Matron who mixed Calen wine With poyson of Toades to kill her spouse ô deadly crime And againe in another place Funus promittere patris nec volo nec possum Ranarum in viscera nunquam inspexi In English thus I can nor will of Fathers death a promise make For of Toades poyson I neuer yet a view did take When an Aspe hath eaten a Toade their byting is incurable and the Beares of Pamphylia and Sylitia beeing killed by men after that they haue eaten Salamanders or toades doe poyson their eaters We haue said already that a toade hath two liuers although both of them are corrupted yet the one of them is said to be full of poyson and the other to resist poyson The byting of a Toade although it be sildome yet it is venomous and causeth the body to swell and to breake eyther by Impostumation or otherwise against which is to be applyed common Antidotes as womens milke Triacle rootes of Seaholme and such other things The spettle also of Toades is venomous for if it fall vpon a man it causeth all his hayre to fall off from his head against this euill Parâ—â—elsus prescribeth a plaister of earth mixed with the spettle of a man The common-people doe call that humour which commeth out of the buttocks of a Toade when she swelleth the vrine of a Toade and a man moystned with the same bepissed with a Toade but the best remedy for this euill is the 〈◊〉 of a woman 〈◊〉 as it resembleth the poyson in colour so doth it resist it in nature The bodies of toades â—…and so drunke in Wine after they be beaten to powder are a most strong poyson against which and all other such poyson of Toades it is good to take Plantine and blacke Hollybore Sea-crabs dryed to powder and drunke the stalkes of dogges-tongue the powder of the right-horne of a Hart the melt spleene and hart of a Toade Also certaine fishes called Shell-crabbes the blood of the Sea-Torteyse mixed with wine Cummin and the rennet of a Hare Also the blood of a Torteyse of the Land mixed with Barley-meale the quintessence of Triacle oyle of Scorpions all these things are very pretions against the poyson of Serpents and Toades We haue promised in the story of the Frogge to expresse in this place such remedies as the learned Phisitians haue obserued for the cure of the poyson of Frogges First therefore the poyson of the Frogge causeth swelling in the body depelleth the colour 〈◊〉 eth difficultie of breathing maketh the breath strong and an involuntary profusion of seede with a generall dulnes and restines of body for remedy whereof let the partie be inforced to vomit by drinking sweet-wine and two drams of the powder of the roote of Reedes or Cypresse Also he must be inforced to walking and running besides daily washing But if a Feauer follow the poyson or burning in the extremities let the vomit be of water and oyle or wine and pitch or let him drinke the blood of a Sea-Torteyse mixed with Cummine and the rennet of a Hare or els sweat in a Furnace or hote-house a long time besides many other such like remedies which euery Phisitian both by experience and reading is able to minister in cases of necessitie and therefore I will spare my further paines from expressing them in this place and passe on to the medicinall vertues of the Toade and so conclude this history We haue shewed already that the Toade is a cold creature and therefore the same sod in water and the body annoynted there-with causeth hayre to fall off from the members so annoynted There is a medicine much commended against the Gowte which is this Take sixe pound of the rootes of Wilde-cucumber sixe pound of sweet oyle of the marrow of Harts Turpentine and Waxe of eyther sixe ounces and sixe Toades aliue the which Toades must be bored through the foote and hanged by a thred in the oyle vntill they grow yellow then take them out of the oyle by the threds and put into the said oyle the slyced roote of Cucumber and there let it seeth vntill all the vertue be left in the oyle Afterwards melt the Waxe and Turpentine and then put them altogether in a glasse so vse them morning and euening against the Gowte Sciatica and paines of the sinewes it hath beene seene that they which haue lyen long sicke haue beene cured thereof and growne perfectly wel able to walke Some haue added vnto this medicine oyle of Saffron Opobalsamum blood of Torteyses oyle of Sabyne Swynes-greace Quicksiluer oyle of Bayes For the scabbes of horses they take a Toade killed in wine and water and so sodde in a brazen vessell and afterwards annoynt the horse with the liquour thereof It is also saide that Toades dryed in smoake or any peece of them carried about one in a lynnen-cloath doe stay the bleeding at the nose And this Fredericke the Duke of Saxonie was wont to practise in this maner he had euer a Toade pierced through with a peece of wood which Toade was dried in the smoake or shadow this he roled in a lynnen cloth and when hee came to a man bleeding at the nose he caused him to hold it fast in his hand vntill it waxed hote and then would the blood be stayed Whereof the Phisitians could neuer giue any reason except horrour and feare constrained the blood to runne into his proper place through feare of a beast so contrary to humane nature The powder also of a toade is said to haue the same vertue according to this verse Buffâ— vstus sistit naturae dote cruorem In English thus A Toade that is burned to Ashes and dust Stayes bleeding by gift of Nature iust The skinne of a Toade and shell of a Torteyse either burned or dryed to powder cureth the Fistulaes Some adde heere-vnto the roote of Laurell and henne-dunge salt oyle of Mallowes The eyes of the Toade are receiued in oyntment against the wormes of the belly And thus much shal suffice to haue spoken of the history of the toade forgs OF THE GREENE SERPENT IN Valois there are certaine Greene-serpents which of their colour are called Grunling and I take
And as when Saffron by Corycians skeeth Is prest and in his colour on them all appeare So all his parts sent forth a poyson redde In steed of blood Nay all in blood went round Blood was his teares all passages of it were spedde For out of mouth and eares did blood abound Blood was his sweat each part his veyne out-bleedes And all the body blood that one wound feedes The cure of this Serpent in the opinion of the Auncients was thought impossible as writeth Dioscorides and thereof they complaine very much vsing onely common remedies as scarification vstions sharpe meates and such thinges as are already remembered in the cure of the Dipsas But besides these they vse Vine-leaues first brused and then sod with Hony they take also the head of this Serpent and burne it to powder and so drinke it or els Garlicke with oyle of Flower-deluce they giue them also to eate Reisins of the Sunne And besides they resist the eruption of the blood with plaisters layde to the place bitten made of Vine-leaues and hony or the leaues of Purslaine and Barley-meale But before theyr vrine turne bloody let them eate much Garlick stamped mixed with oyle to cause them to vomit and drinke wine delayed with water then let the wound be washed with cold water and the bladder continually fomented with hot Spunges Some doe make the cure of it like the cure of the Viper and they prescribe them to eate hardegges with Salt-fish and besides the seed of Radish the iuyce of Poppy with the rootes of Lilly also Daffadill and Rew Trefolie Cassia Oponax Cinamon in potion and to conclude the flowers and buds of the bush are very profitable against the byting of the Haemorrhe and so I end the history of this Serpent OF THE HORNED SERPENT THis Serpent because of his hornes although it be a kinde of Viper is called in Greeke Kerastes and from thence commeth the Latine word Cerastes and the Arabian Cerust and Cerustes It is called also in Latine Ceristalis Cristalis Sirtalis and Tristalis All which are corrupted wordes deriued from Cerastes or else from one another and therefore I thinke it not fit to stand vpon them The Hebrewes call it Schephiphon the Italians Cerastes the Germans Engehurnte schlang the French Vn Ceraste vn serpent cornu that is a horned Serpent and therefore I haue so called it in English imitating herein both the French and Germans I will not stand about the difference of Authors whether this Serpent be to be referred to the Aspes or to the Vipers for it is not a poynt materiall and therefore I will proceede to the description of his nature that by his whole history the Reader may choose whether he wil account him a subordinate kind vnto others or els a principall of himselfe It is an Affrican Serpent bredde in the Lybian sandie-seas places not inhabited by men for the huge mountaines of sands are so often mooued by the windes that it is not onelie impossible for men to dwell there but also very dangerous perrillous to trauell through them for that many times whole troopes of men and cattell are in an instant ouerwhelmed and buried in those sands And this is a wonderfull worke of God that those places which are least habitable for man are most of all anoyed with the most dangerous byting Serpents It is also said that once these Horned-serpents departed out of Lybia into Egppt where they depopulated all the Country Their habitation is neere the high-waies in the sands and vnder Cart-wheeles and when they goe they make both a sound with their motion and also a furrow in the earth according to the saying of Nicander Ex ijs alter echis velocibus obuia spinis Recto terga tibi prolixus tramite ducit Sed medio diffusius hic cerastes se corpore voluit Curuum errans per iter resonantibus aspera squamis Qualiter aequoreo longissima gurgite nauis Quam violentus agit nunc huc nunc Aphricus illuc Pellitur et laterum gemebunda fragore suorum Extra sulcandas sinuose fluctuat vndas Which may be englished thus Of these the Viper with swift bones thee meetes Trayling her backe in path direct and straite The Cerast more diffused in way thee greets With crooked turning on scales make sounds full great Like as a ship tossed by the Westerne wind Sounds a far off mooued now here now there So that by noyse of shrilling sides we find His furrowes turned in Seas and water sphere The quantity of this horned-serpent is not great it exceedeth not two cubits in lengthe the colour of the body is branded like sande yet mingled with another pale white colour as is to be seene in a Hares skinne Vpon the head there are two Hornes and sometimes 4. for which occasion it hath receiued the name Cerastes with these hornes they deceiue Birdes for when they are an hungry they couer their bodies in Sand and onely leaue their hornes vncouered to moue aboue the earth which when the Birds see taking them to be Wormes they light vpon them and so are deuoured by the Serpent The teeth of this Serpent are like the teeth of a Viper they stand equall and not crooked In stead of a back-bone they haue a gristle throughout their body which maketh them more flexible apt to bend euery way for indeed they are more flexible then any other serpent They haue certaine red strakes crosse theyr backe like a Crocodile of the earth and the skins of such as are bred in Aegypt are very soft stretching like a Cheuerell-gloue both in length breadth as it did appeare by a certaine skinne taken off from one being dead for beeing stuffed with Hay it shewed much greater then it was being aliue but in other Countries the skins are not so I haue heard this History of three of these Serpents brought out of Turky and giuen to a Noble man of Venice aliue who preserued them aliue in a great glasse made of purpose vpon sand in that glasse nere the fire The description as it here followeth was takē by Iohn Faltoner an English traueller saying They were three in number whereof one was thrice so bigge as the other two and that was a Female and she was said to be theyr Mother she had layd at that time in the sandes foure or fiue egges about the bignesse of Pigeons egges She was in length three foote but in breadth or quantity almost so big as a mans Arme her head was flat and broad as two fingers the apple of the eye blacke all the other part being white Out of her eye-lids grew two hornes but they were short ones and those were truely Hornes and not flesh The necke compared with the body was very long and small all the vpper part of the skinne was couered with scales of ash-colour and yet mixed vvith blacke The tayle is as it were brown whē it was stretched out And this was the
grinding and gnashing theyr teeth together that they were blasted benummed or suddenly depriued of all their liues and senses c. But here this pusillanimous and sordidous minded man Harpalion seemed to bee disgraced by his resembling to a poore Worme being peraduenture a man of so small estimation and vile condition as that no greater comparison seemed to fit him It seemeth he was a man but of a faynt courage and very weake withall because striking and thrusting with his speare or I aucling at the Shield or Target of Atrides he was not able to strike it through But although this famous Poet doth so much seeme to extenuate and debase a weake Worme yet others haue left vs in theyr writings such commendations of their singular vse and necessity for the recouery of mans health then which no earthy thing is more pretious haue so nobilitated the worth of these poore contemptible Creatures as I thinke nature as yet hath scarce giuen any other simple Medicine or experience found out by tract of time nor knowledge of Plantes by long study hath reueyled nor Paracelsus by the distillations of his Limbeck hath made knowne to the world any secret endued with so many vertues and excellent properties against so many diseases and for proofe heereof it shall not beside the purpose to examine and describe the rarest and most probable that are recorded amongst the learned Earth-Wormes doe mollifie conglutinate appease paine and by their terrestriall and withall waterish humidity they do contemper any affected part orderly and measurably moderating any excesse whatsoeuer The powder of Wormes is thus prepared They vse to take the greatest Earth-Wormes that can bee found and to wrappe them in Mosse suffering them there to remayne for a certaine time thereby the better to purge and clense them from that clammy and filthy slimynesse which outwardly cleaueth to their bodies When all this is done they presse hard the hinder part of their bodies neere to the taile squising out thereby their excrements that no impurity so neere as is possible may be retayned in them Thirdly they vse to put them into a pot or some fit vessell with some white-wine a little Salt and streyning them gently betweene the fingers they first of all cast away that Wine and then doe they poure more wine to them after the washing of the wormes they must also take away some of the Wine for it must not all be poured away as some would haue it and this must so often bee done and renewed vntill the Wine be passing cleare without any filth or drossinesse for by this way their slymy ielly and glutinous euill quality is cleare lost and spent Being thus prepared they are to be dryed by little little in an ouen so long till they may be brought to powder which being beaten and searsed it is to be kept in a Glasse-vessell farre from the fire by it selfe A dramme of this powder being commixed with the iuyce of Marigoldes cureth the Epelipsie with some sweet wne as Muscadell Bastard or the Metheglin of the Welchmen It helpeth the Dropsie With white-wine and Myrrhe the Iaurdise with New-Wine or Hydromell the Stone Vlcers of the Reynes and Bladder It stayeth also the loosenesse of the belly helpeth barrennesse and expelleth the Secondine it asswageth the paine of the haunch or hippe by some the Sciatica it openeth obstructions of the Liuer dryueth away Tertian-Agues expelleth all Wormes that are bred in the Guts being giuen and taken with the decoction or distilled Water of Germander Worme-wood Sothern-wood Gâ—rlicke ScorduÌ„ Centory and such like The decoction of Wormes made with the iuyce of Knot-grasse or Comfery Salomons Seale or Sarasius compound cureth the disease teramed by Physitians Diabetes vvhen one cannot holde his Water but that it runneth from him without slay or as fast as hee drinketh A Glister likewise made of the decoction of Earth-Wormes and also taken accordingly doth maruellously asswage appease the paine of the Hemorrhoids There bee some that giue the decoction of Earth-Wormes to those persons that haue any congealed or clotted bloud in theyr bodyes and that with happy successe The vertue of Earth-Wormes is exceedingly set foorth both by the Graecians Arabians to encrease Milke in womens breasts Hieronimus Mercurialis a learned Physitian of Italy aduiseth Nurses to vse this confection following in case they want Milk alwaies prouided that there be not a Feuer ioyned withall Take of the Kernels of the fruite of the Pine-tree sweete Almonds of each alike one ounce Seedes of Fennell Parsely and rapes of eyther alike one dram of the powder of Earth-Wormes washed in wine two drams with Suger so much as is sufficient to be giuen the quantity of a dramme or two in the Morning and after it drink some small Wine or Capon-broath boyled with Rape-seedes and Leekes Against the tooth-ach the same powder of Earth-Wormes is prooued singular being decocted in Oyle dropped a little at once into the eare on the same side the paine is as Pliny witnesseth or a little of it put into the contrary eare will performe the same effect as Dioscorides testifyeth And thus far of Earth-Wormes taken into the body and of their manifolde vertues according to the euidence and testimony of Dioscorides Galen Aetius Paulus Aegeneta Myrepsus Pliny and daily experience which goeth beyond the precepts of al skilfull Maisters for this is the Schole-Mystris of all Artes as Manilius in his second Booke hath written Per varios vsus artem experientia fecit Exemplo monstrante viam In English thus Experience teacheth art by vse of things When as example plainest way forth brings Being also beaten to powder and outwardly applyed they doe close and solder vppe wouudes and conglutinate sinnewes that are cut and consolidating them againe in the space of seuen dayes and to performe this cure the better Democritus aduiseth to keepe them in Honny The ashes of Earth-Wormes duely prepared cleanseth Soâ—dious stinking and rotten Vlcers consuming and wasting away their hard lippes or Callons edges if it be tempered with Tarre and Simblian Hony as Pliny affirmeth Dioscerides saith that the Hony of Sicilia was taken for that of Simblia in his time Their ashes likewise draweth out Darts or Arrowes shot into the body or any other matter that sticketh in the flesh if they be tempered with Oyle of Roses and so applyed to the place affected The powder also cureth Kibes in the heeles and Chilblaynes on the handes as Marcellus testifieth for hurts that happen to the sinnewes wheÌ„ they are cut in peeces Quintus Serenus hath these verses Profuerit terrae Lumbricos indere tritos Quets vetus rancens sociari axungia Debet It is good saith hee to apply to sinnewes that are dissected The powder of Earth-Wormes mixed and wrought vp with old Rammish and vnsauery Barrowes Grease to be put into the griefe Marcellus Empiricus Besides the powder of Earth-Wormes and Axunger addeth further Grounswell and the
tender toppes of the Boxe-tree with Olibanum all these being made vp and tempered together to make an Emplaster he counselleth to bee applyed to sinnewes that are layed open cut asunder or that haue receiued any puncture or suffer any payne or aking whatsoeuer Pliny saith that there cannot be a better Medicine found out for broken bones then Earth-worms and field Mice dryed puluerised and so mixed together with Oyle of Roses to be layde in the forme of an emplaster vpon the part fractured Yea to asswage and appease paine both in the ioynts in the sinnewes of Horses there hath not been found out a more notable Medicine as we may well perceiue by the writinges both of Russius Absyrtus and Didymus whereupon Cardan hath obserued that all paynes whatsoeuer may bee mitigated by their apt vsing Carolus Clusius sayth that the Indians doe make an excellent vnguent of Earth-Wormes agaynst the disease called Erysipelas beeing a swelling full of heat and rednesse with paine round about commonly called S. Anthonies fyre And thus it is prepared They first take Earth-Wormes aliue feeding them eyther with the leaues of Moeza or else with fine Meale vntill by this meanes they grow fat afterwards boyling them in an earthen vessell remembring euer to scumme the same they doe strayne them boyling them yet againe to the consistance almost of an emplaster which if it be rightly prepared is of a yellow-collour And this Medicine may well be vsed for any burning or scalding My purpose is not to vouch all those authorities I might concerning the admirable Nature and vertue of Earth-Wormes for so I thinke I might alledge sixe hundreth more which is not meete to be inserted in this place I will therefore now passe to their qualities and medicinall vses for irrationall creatures Pelagonius much commendeth Earth-VVormes as an excellent Medicine for the bots or VVormes that are in Horses and in the bodyes of Oxen and Kine affirming that the best way is to put them aliue into their Nosthrils although without question it were farre better to conueigh them into their mawes by the meanes of some horne Tardinus aduiseth to giue the powder of Earth-VVormes with some hot flesh to Hawkes vvhen they cannot exonerate nature or how Faulkners tearme it I know not For that sayth he will loosen their bellies Moles doe also feede full sauerly vpon them and if they fall a digging it is strange to see with what sudden hast and speede then poore VVormes vvill issue out of the ground In like sort Hogges and Swyne as Varro writeth by their turning vp the mudde and rooting in the earth with their snouts do by this meanes dig vp the Wormes that they may eate them Albertus Magnus saith that Toades doe feede vpon Wormes Bellonius saith that Lizards and Tarentinus that the Sea-fish called Gryff or Grample doth greedily deuour theÌ„ and finally experience it selfe witnesseth that Frogs Eeles Gudgeons Carpes Breames Roches and Trowts doe satisfie their hungry guts by feeding vppon them Aristotle in his eyght booke De Nat. Animal Chap. 3. describeth a certaine Bird that liueth in the waters which Gaza interpreteth Capella though the Phylosopher calleth it Aix and some haue called it Vdhelius that liueth for the most part vpon wormes yea Thrushes Robin-redbreasts Munmurderers and Bramblings Hens Chaffinches Gnat-snappers Bull-finches and all sorts of Crowes will feede vppon them and therefore it is that there bee more Crowes in England then in any other Country in the world respecting the greatnesse because here the soyle being moyst and fat there is aboundance of Earth-wormes seruing for their food as Polydorus Virgilius in his first booke of the History of England which he dedicated to King Henry the eyght hath excellently deliuered The people of India if wee will credit Monardus doe make of these Wormes diuers iuncats as we doe Tarts Marchpanes Wafers and Cheese-cakes to eate in stead of other daynties And the Inhabitants of west India do deuour them raw as Francis Lopez testifieth The people of Europe in no place that euer I heard or read of can endure them to be set on their Tables but for medicinall vses onely they desire them Plautus vseth in stead of a prouerb this that followeth Nunc ab transenna hic turdus Lubricum petit It is an allegorie taken and borrowed from a ginne or snare wherewith Birdes are ta 〈…〉 by which Chrysalus the bondman bringing certain Letters to Nicobolus an old man â—…th and giueth warning that the weake old man was by the reading of the letter no otherwise ensnared intangled deceiued then some birds are taken by subtile and crafty sleights For Transenna is nothing but a deceitfull cord stretched out to take Birdes especially Thrushes or Mauisses withall and Wormes is there proper foode which vvhile they endeuour to entrappe they themselues are deceiued and taken Surely I should not thinke that those Fishers and Anglers to be very wise who to take Wormes vse to poure Lye or water into the earth wherein Hemp Sothern-wood Centery Worme-wood or veruen haue bin long soked or any other strange moysture causing them by this meane to issue forth out of the earth for the Earth Wormes by this kind of dealing being made more bitter vnsauory and vnpleasant no fishes will once touch or tast them but rather seeke to auoyde them But contrary-wise if they will let them lie a whole day in VVheat Meale putting a little Hony to it and then bayte their hookes with them they will be so sweete pleasant and delectable as that the vnwary Fish will sooner bite at it then at Ambrosia the very meat of the Gods Earth-Wormes doe also much good to men seruing them to great vse in that they do prognosticate and fore-tell rainy weather by their sodaine breaking or issuing forth of the ground and if none appeare aboue ground ouer-night it is a great signe it will be calme and fayre weather the next day The ancient people of the world haue euer obserued this as a generall rule that if Wormes pierce through the earth violently in hast by heaps as if they had bored it thorow with some little Auger or Piercer they tooke for it an infallible token of Raine shortly after to fall For the Earth being as it were embrued distayned made moyst and mooued with an imperceptible motion partly by South-wind partly also a vaporous ayre it yeeldeth an easie passage for round VVormes to wind out of the inward places of the earth to giue vnto them moyst food and to Minister store of fat Iuyces or fattish Ielly wherewith they are altogether delighted Some there be found that will fashion and frame Iron after such a manner as that they will bring it to the hardnesse of any steele after this order following They take of Earth-VVormes two parts of Raddish-roots one part after they are bruized together the water is put into a Limbecke to be distïlled or else take of the distilled water of VVormes l. iij.
of the iuyce of Raddish l. j. mixe them together for Iron beeing often quenched in this water will grow exceeding hard Another Take of Earth-wormes l. ij destill them in a Limbecke with an easie and gentle fire temper your yron in this destilled water Another Take of Goates blood so much as you please adding to it a little common salt then bury them in the earth in a pot well glased and luted for thirtie dayes together Then destill after this the same blood in Balneo to this destilled liquor adde so much of the destilled water of Earth-worms Another Take of Earth-wormes of the rootes of Apple-trees of Rapes of each a like-much destill them apart by themselues and in equall portions of this water so destilled and afterwards equally mixed quench your yron in it as is said before Antonynus Gallus It shall not be impertinent to our matter we handle to adde a word or two concerning those wormes that are found and doe breede in the snow which Theophanes in Strabo calleth Oripas but because it may seeme very strange incredible to think that any wormes breede and liue onely in the snow you shall heare what the Auncients haue committed to writing and especially Strabo his opinion concerning this poynt It is saith hee receiued amongst the greater number of men that in the snow there are certaine clots or hard lumpes that are very hollow which waxing hard and thicke doe containe the best vvater as it were in a certaine coate and that in this case or purse there doe breede vvormes Theophanes calleth them Oripas and Apollonides Vermes Aristotle saith that liuing creatures will breede also euen in those things that are not subiect to putrefaction as for example in the fire and snow which of all thinges in the world one would take neuer to be apt to putrefie and yet in old snowe Wormes will be bred Old snow that hath lyen long will looke some-what dunne or of a dullish white colour and therefore the snow-wormes are of the same hiew and likewise rough hairie But those snow-wormes which are found to breed when the ayre is somwhat warme are great and white in colour and all these snow-wormes will hardly stirre or mooue from place to place And Pliny is of the same iudgement and the Authour of that booke which is intituled De Plantis falsely fathered vpon Aristotle Yet some there be that denying all these authorities and reiecting whatsoeuer can be obiected for confirmation thereof to the contrarie doe stoutly maintaine by diuers reasons that creatures can breede in the snow because that in snow there is no heate and where no quickning heate is there can be no production of any liuing thing Againe Aristotle writeth that nothing will come of Ise because it is as hee saith most cold and heere-vpon they inferre that in all reason nothing likewise can take his beginning from snow neither is it credible that husbandmen would so often wish for snow in Winter to destroy and consume wormes and other little vermine that els would prooue so hurtfull to their corne and other fruites of the earth And if any wormes be found in the snow it followeth not straightwaies that therein they first receiue theyr beginning but rather that they first come out of the earth and are afterwards seene to be wrapped vp and lye on heapes in the snow But by their leaues these reasons are very weake and may readily be aunswered thus that whereas they maintaine that nothing can breede in the snow because it is voyd of any heate at all herein they build vpon a false ground For if wee will adhibite credite to Auerrhoes there is nothing compounded and made of the three Elements that is absolutely without heate And Aristotle in his fift booke De Generatione Animalium telleth vs precisely that there is no moysture without heate His wordes are Ouden hugron aneu thermou Now snow is a compact and fast congealed substance and some-what moyst for although it proceedeth by congelation which is nothing els but a kind of exsiccation yet notwithstanding the matter whereof it first commeth is a vapour whose nature is moyst and with little adoe may be turned into water I must needes say that congelation is a kind of exsiccation but yet not simply for exsiccation is when as humidity goeth away it putteth forth any matter but in snovv there is no humiditie that is drawne out but it is rather wrapped in and enclosed more strongly and as it were bounded round Furthermore Aristotle in his first booke of his Meteors saith that Snow is Nubes congelata a clowde congelated or thickned together and that in snow there is much heate And in his fift booke De Generatione Animalium he further addeth that the whitenes of the snow is caused by the ayre that the ayre is hot and moist and the snow is white where-vpon we conclude that snow is not so cold as some would beare vs in hand I well hold that nothing will take his originall from Ise inregard of his excessiue coldnes but yet snow is nothing nie so cold as that So then all the hinderance and let is found to exceede of cold which is nothing so effectuall or forceable as in Ise the cold beeing prooued to be farre lesser there can nothing be alleadged to the contrary but that it may putrefie Now in that snow is such an enemie to wormes and many other small creatures as that for the most part it destroyeth them yet it followeth not that the reason of Aristotle is quite ouer-throwne because as wee daily see that those creatures which liue in the ayre will for the most part be suffocate and dye in the water and contrariwise those that liue in the water cannot endure the ayre Yet here-vppon it followeth not that if they be choked in the water that none at all will liue in the water and the same reason is to be alleadged concerning the ayre Therefore it is no maruell if those wormes that first breede in the earth and liue in the earth be killed by the snow yet it necessarily followeth not that no liuing creature can take his first beeing either from or in the snow But if it can as Aristotle witnesseth it is so farre vnlikely that the same snow should be the destroyer of that it first was bred of as I thinke rather it cannot liue seperately but of necessitie in the same snow no otherwise then fishes can liue without water from which they first sprung and had theyr beginning And to this opinion leaneth Theophrastus in his first booke De Causis Plantarū whose words be these Apanta gar phainet ai ta zoa kai ta phuta kai diamenonta kai genomena en tois oikeiois capois For all creatures saith he whatsoeuer seeme both plants to remaine and to be generated and bred in their owne due and proper places And after this he addeth and vrgeth a little further Aparthe men hupo