Fig tree called Aegiptiaca which in Wood and fruit bearing is like the other but in effect and manner of working is contrarie both to this kind and to all other for it being throwen into the water it straight waye discendeth and séeketh to the bottom and that which is most to be maruelled at after that it hath bene so a long time drowned and hath euerie parte or poore full of water at which it should séeme to be more ponderous it then ariseth vp againe to the waters top and so kéepeth â—uerlie and aboue the waters highest superficie and swimmeth as Saint Augustine sayth â–ª as all other kinds of Timber do aboue Of the Fir tree THe Fir tree sayth Theophrast hath this one maner and custome peculiarly to himselfe that being cut eyther hindred or hurt by any storme or tempest in the left side of his stalk which kinde of stalke it hath both light and smooth it by and by taketh hart a grasse and groweth round about and garland like a little beneath his top which some call leaping about other some the daunsing of the rounde It is in colour somewhat black to féele to hard aboue measure Whereof the standing Cups of Arcadie were wont to be made And this furder it hath peculiarly that cutting the boughes without shill or hurting the toppe it forthwith dyeth Of Firse FIrse or Gorse is a most sharpe and thornie kinde of Herbe growing in Woodes Forrests Desarts and in such grounds as be most weedie It is saide to prick and wound the féete of him that passeth by and catching holde of some part of a man soone pierceth to the quick The common sort call this daungerous· herbe Of the Frankinsence tree THe Frankinsence tree is verie plentifull in boughes giuing In leafe it is like to our Peare Sauing that it is much more small It is in colour as gréene as Rue in rinde barke as soft as Laurell The trée it selfe hath ere nowe bene called Libanos in Gréeke Dendrilibanos his Gum or teare Libanotos of Galen Euripedes again coÌ„trariwise vsed Libanon for the teare and Libanotos for the tree It is so fabled with the Gréekes that it had his name of a yong man and the same an Assirian whose name was Libanos who afterward was turned into this kinde of trée whome certaine enuious persons slue perceiuing him so serious in worshipping the Gods For the which their malice being not long after acquited and reuenged it was afterwards and hitherto is holden in opinion that there was no better nor more acceptable sacrifice to the Gods than Frankinsence offered vp There is a certaine Manna of this Frankinsence which Plinie will haue to be the purest of this his humors drops wrung forth by great pressing There is also a certain smoke in this swéete and pleasant after that it be burned as there is also of Mirrhe Of Fumitorie FVmitorie of the Epyptians is called Lynx of the Gréekes Kapnos with the Latines Fumus terre the earth his fume or smell It is a bushie or shrublike Herbe like to Coreander his flower white or more like Ashie colour Diascorides sayth it letteth the hayres of the eye liddes being pluckt away to grow again annointed and layde with Gum. It is in his best working then when as it is greene Of Garlick GArlick hath his name of his strong and vnpleasant smell bicause it smelleth saith Isidore so strongly and with that so lothsomly that it taketh away â—ereaueth for a time the good and swéete smell of all other things The best that it hath is that it is good of encrease For euerie and eche coate of his those I call coates which are as it were on both their sides behemmed and parted and are as it were in seuerall corners of the house but yet in house and so by that meanes all one set in the Gardaine or otherwhere will soone come vp and much prosper Which thing the Onyon as Aristotle sayth haltetâ— in for that is set onely by whole heades so commeth vp or else not Of Ginger GInger â–ª in Gréeke is called Zingiâ—eris it groweth in Arabic his growth is by manye and infinite small 〈◊〉 in smell and â—auour not much vnlyke to Pepper Choose fayth Diâ—scorides of the 〈◊〉 hereof 〈◊〉 Take them for the best and principal which haue not bene â—aton neither gnâ—wen with woâ—mes for they haue their wormes also as al other rootes haue Of Gladiolus or Sworde herbe GLadiolus his form and proportion of leafe is like to Sedge his flower yealow in a maner like to the flower Deluce some call it Arion some Sword point or edge toole other some cuttle haft The Romaynes as before It groweth for the most part in the fielde It hath a double roote one placed setled within an another This his roote sayth Diascorides being taken in wine prouoketh and stirreth vp to Venerie Of Grasse GRasse of some is called Asyphylion They of Affrick call it Eball the Egyptians Anuphi the Romaines Cattailes meate His growth as what it is also is verie wel knoweÌ„ of all men Herein lurcketh the Serpent and hydeth him selfe safely With this all beastes and Cattell of the field do liue It helpeth and remedieth saith Diascorides all hinderances and stops to vrine There is a kinde of grasse in Babilon whiche is like Cane or Reede which being tasted or eaten of killeth the Cattaile and it groweth by the highe way sides on euerie side as they iourney In the Hill Parnasus there groweth another kinde of grasse more thicke and ranke than the other of better size for it beareth a leafe like Iuie In Cilicia there is a kinde of Grasse which is called Heracha and of the Egiptians Apap which groweth in hedges about walles and Uines whose leafe is like Mercuries Herbe and as full of Briestles Of Grunswell GRunswell in Gréeke Ereigeton it groweth vpon walles and Tileshads and is hoarelike to an olde mans bearde It hath a duskie flower Diascorides sayth that his stalke being boyled in water and afterwards druncke with wine doth ease the sore grief of the stomack Of the Gilofer THe Gilofer is called Gariophilus hys flower of al other flowers is most swéete in smell There be many kinds of Gilofers although but one name for theÌ„ all There is also a tree of yâ— name called GeuÌ„ of othersome Benet which hath fruit in tast like the Peppercorn Of Hares foote HAres foote of some Hares commyn It groweth in Gardaine Alyes And is as Diascorides saith a singular Medicine to kepe and defend the inward bowels from swelling Of Henbane HEnbane hath the name to be a cause of madnesse or furie Isidore sayth that it killeth and bindeth the spirites The Herbe it selfe hath a top or small heade In olde time vpon the Crowne or Myter of the high Priest stoode a flower right vp on the top not much vnlike this Hearbe about a finger in heigth supereminent vnderneath this in the lower part of the garland or Myter
his vent or course of flowing Of Enidros ENidros is meane or small in bignesse continually sweating or dropping neither doth it for all this melt away or is lessened of the which the Lapidare hath this note and tune as followeth Perpetui fletus lacrimis distillat Enidros qui velut ex pleni Fontis scaturigine manat Distilling drops and teares full oft That Enidros the Stone doth drop Which as out of a Fountaine full Doth alwayes runne and neuer stop And here question might be moued why it doth not vanish or wax lesse through such dayly flowing The aunswere is for that his vertue or working doth bind and thicken the aire that which is next to it and so bringeth it to his owne nature part by part in his order OfGagates GAgates is of the precious sort also which was first found in Sicilie in a certain floud called Gagatus of the which it tooke his name although that in Britannie it is a good geast somewhat common as Isidore saith It hath two kindes the one russet in colour and the other black this last easie to be fiered and as smokie as Frankinsence It being left in the place where Serpents bréede driueth them cleane away And Diascorides saith that this being put into the drink of a Maide or Uirgin will easilye giue you iudgement whether that she be a true and right Mayde yea or no. For saith he after that she hath drunke of this and doth not anone after make water but can continue then take hir and estéeme hir a pure Uirgin and contrariwise if she doe not continue and stay herein some season iudge of hir otherwise OfGalactites GAlactites is a stone in colour ashie in taste verie swéete pleasant which being pressed or grouned yeeldeth and giueth a certaine Milkie and watrish humor as saith Isidore This being kept in close and shutte vp in the mouth desturbeth and letteth the minde Furder it being bound to a Womans thigh causeth easie deliuerance in childe bed Ofthe Gem. I Must needes before I iourney any further or hasten to other somewhat speake of the Gem for that we haue beene occasioned and shall be hereafter to vse it as the generaltie or notion of the name and stock in these kindes It is called a Gem saith Isid. for that it shyneth and is smooth as the Gum. This hath his best beautifying in the varietie and interplacing of colours it is called precious for that it is rare all things that be rare are precious Neither is it to be marueiled why eche Gem is precious sith that al and singuler are not without their diuine vertue Of Gemmes some are found in the earthes vaines are digged vp with Metalles some are cast vp to lande and brought thither from the Sea his bottom and their place of generation is vnknowen other some are bred and found in the bodies bellies of Foules Fishes Creatures Beasts of the earth Serpents and such as creepe myraculously by God prouident nature in their maner of working tasked But in this kinde as in al others we must take heed of Sophistication for to discerne iudge truely the right Gem from the counterfayted is the significatioÌ„ of a most cunning man It hath bene séene that in stead of a Smaragde some haue had sophistred and counterfayted Glasse Wherfore let not colours deceiue thée aswell gréene to eiesight is the Glasse as the Smaragde thou must take héede as the Poet â—iddeth much colouring is there and many deceiâ—es Of Gelacia GElacia is a Gem verie white hauing the figure or shew likewise the bignesse quaÌ„titie of an Hailestone and is of such excessiue coldenesse that by no meanes of fire had and applied thereto it becommeth whoâ—e Of Geratites GEratites is a kinde of stone black but his vertue excéedeth and is aboue his colour If any man carrie this in his mouth close he may tell what euerie man thinketh of him as sayth the Lapidare It also maketh amiable and bringeth him into others fauour that hath it about him Of Golde GOlde is the heade of all other Mettalles and is in the chiefest degrée that Nature instituted Mettals by ripenesse and perfection at the last to come vnto but euen as by stoppes and lets partly by such imbecilitie as is within vs and about vs partly by enuious cleane contrarie disposition of the Ayre and Planets in their Orbes fighting and striuing with vs somewhile anone against vs we be many of vs cut off before we come to olde age the last degrée of Nature so that we can not attaine to this last through such our hinderances and impediments so there is order and wayes to order in al Mettals from the first to the last from the most vile and base to the most precious richest which kinde of order and degrée euerie Mettal although it were of the rawest and basest sort should attain to in his due time were it not for impediments and hinderances either of colde and barraine ground or for lack of the Sunne his purifying and ripening or for infection of rustie and copperous Mineralles being nigh neighbour to them or for such other stoppes whereby they stoppe and stay and so become grosse for lacke of their naturall and first growth and tidinesse in ripening Isido sayth that it is called Golde of the Ayre for that that the Ayre being stroked shimmereth the more It is naturall to all Mettalles that they shine and looke bright especially being moued and helden in the light The Hebrewes call this Mettall Ophar the Gréekes Chrusos Aristotle sayth in his fourth booke of Meteores that this kinde as all the rest procedeth and is compound of Brimstone the verie subtillest and red and Quicksiluer also as subtile but white and this last verie smallie and proportionally Amongst al Mettals there is none more solide more compact then this is and therefore it being put into the fornace doth not euaporate as other thinges doe neyther doth it léese of hys waight It is more duâ—tile easie to be brought to what poynt you will then any of the other For vpon a Stith with a Mallet it is brought into most thin leafe or plate without rupture or breaking There is nothing to looke to so beautifull as this neyther is their any thing so pure The Phisitions say that it comforteth and expelleth all superfluities in the bodie and is effectuous against the Leprosie Likewise his leafe buried in wine maketh it auaylable against diseases consumption of the Splene and other perturbations Melancholike Likewise Incision or Adustion done with an Instrument of Golde is better than of any other Mettal or matter for it kepeth the place of vstion frée and cleare from yll smelling and rancoring There is also a certaine vaine of the earth or whether a man might call it a kinde of stone easily digged vp and broken hauing the verie looke and face of Golde and of some is the stone Arsenick is wrought as I thinke of
liberall whereas nowe they be rawe should haue bene much more absolute perseuerance of euery thing his cause now small should then haue bene more amplified But now let vs heare in eche Plant his principalitie the mindes of other men what is found in them worthye marking And the first in our Alphabet shall be the Almond tree Farewell The seconde Booke of the Aegemonie treating of Plants as of Herbes Trees and Shrubs perticulerly and Alphabetically Of the Almond tree THe Almonde tree in Greeke is called Amygdalè in Latine Nux longa a long and straight forth kinde of Nutte Of this Aristotle hath these wordes The Almond tree sayth he requireth much attendance and diligence to be kept from endamaging and hurt whilest it is tender and yong It prospereth not vnlesse it be set in good ground in the which it yeldeth much fruite It dyeth and fadeth away whereas ouermuch â—old aboundeth Wherefore his best liking is in those Countries whereas heate raigneth It yéeldeth two seuerall kindes of fruite the one vsed to meate the other onely to medicine Diascorides sayth that if the Fox happeneth to eate and digest of this kinde of fruite he by and by dyeth except he licketh in water in the present place and that immediatlye It may peraduenture so be for that which is holsome and good for one kind oftetimes is hurtfull for another The same Author sayth also that that Almond tree which is most swéete of taste if it be once bitten or gnawen of Cattell it by and by looseth his goodnesse and becommeth most bitter and sower Of the Alder tree THe Alder tree which by corrupt and accustomed kinde of speaking they commonly call the Elder is of verie barraine and vnfruitefull nature as Theophrast witnesseth this is his onelie best and the chiefest thing he hath in that he groweth straight vp in bodie and is in his Wood and inwarde Marie very soft His growth sayth he is in moyst and watrie places and else no where Of Aloes ALoes is a precious Wood which groweth in Indie a Wood of most swéete smell verie medicinable Cardane saith it hath a great leafe and grosse verie fat whereout distilleth that kinde of Gum that is most odoriferous It is taken also with Phisitions for an Herbe which is most sharpe bitter which groweth in Indie and Persia. Of Aegraton or good old Herb. AGeraton hath one and the selfe same name both with the Gréekes and Latines and is a small shrub verie full of yong shoutes and slips It is like Origan or Marigolde hath his flower alike coloured as saith Diascorides It may be thought that it hath that name for that it preserueth a great time without losse of his vertue or not being otherwise hindered by sicknesse and age Of Agarick AGarick as sayth Diascorides hath both Male and Female and is in efficacie or effect such that it maye be applyed to all sicknesses such as the sick person must paciently abide whether that it be vsed with water or wine in which sort it is most commonly ministred Of Agrimonie AGrimonie of Mesues is named Maudlen the Latine worde is Eupatorium It is a short shrub of no great or iust height It hath his leafe parted as it were fiue portioned The decoction hereof saith Diascorides or his poulder dried is an excellent remedie against the oppilacion of the Liuer Splene by reason of fleume and is taken either the Herbe it selfe alone or else sodden among with Wine Of Annet or Dill. ANnet or Dill is an Herbe whose seede as Diascorides sayth may be kept by the space of thrée whole yeares next after it is gathered without losse in any point of his operation Of Anise ANise hath the like vertue that Dill hath but in sauour and tast it is more pleasant and sweete It commendeth vnto vs the good breath and swéete and bewraieth the coÌ„trarie Of the Apple tree THe Apple tree is of good sounde bodie of wrinckled barck and in outward Cote very full of knots In flowers at the spring time verie beautifull in swéetenesse of fruite in the Autumne almost not comparable in fruit and encrease verie wonderfull and vnder this one name it hath infinite kindes Plinie sayth that vnlesse it be often cropped and rid of superfluous and troublesome boughes it will soone war barraine and leaue off fruit bearing The same Author sayth also that the fruites hereof must be gathered in faire weather vnlesse that they being laid vp with outward plentie of accidentall and airie humor doe by and by rot he monisheth also that they be gathered before they be full ripe for their better goodnesse than being preserued Of Artichoke ARtichoke the wilde most commenly called the Thistle is an Herbe wrought and fashioned on euerie side in maner of a sting or Spearelike and hath in the top of his stalke or stem a certaine heade wherein his seede lyeth It flourisheth and liketh best in those places that be least frequented or nothing looked to Of the Balme tree THe Balme tree is rather a kinde of shrub then a Trée and may well be counted of that house for his lowe and humile kinde of growth for it heightneth neuer aboue two cubites The Timber hereof is called in Gréeke Xulobalsamon his fruite or séede Karpobalsamon the iuice is called Vpobalsamon bicause the bark of this Tree must first be stricken and hewen with Iron wedges before it yeeldeth any fruit whereby it being so wounded by and by droppeth and distilleth a certaine humor in a maner tearlike which humor thus issued through the coldenesse or other affection of the Aire about it drieth to a kinde of Gum. Plinie preferreth this his smell before all smelles But herein good heed must be taken least we match and march with the greeke Sophister And the same Plinie sayth as also Theophrast doth that it onely groweth in a certaine Dale and Ualie of Siria which Ualie hath his whole compasse in a maner in two onely Groaues and hath bene the possession of long time of two sundrie and seuerall Princes Whereof the greater was supposed to be in contents .xx. Akers and the other lesse Of Barley BArley in his excessiue Drought differreth from all other our kindes of graine and is called in Latine HordiuÌ„ as if you would say Aridum hard and drie It is neuer sowen but vpon such kind of earth as is drie Plinie saith that amongst all other kindes of corne this is last sowne with the first reaped that which also experience with vs here at home teacheth Of the Beach tree THe Beach saith Theophrast groweth only in rough places and most commonly vpon hilles It hath many and sundrie kinds of some accoumpted foure of othersome fiue In name all one but in fruit bearing euerie one disagréeing One of his kinds beareth a swéete Mast or Acorne as the Oke or Chestnut doth and of some is taken for the Oke It is called of the Greekes Phage bycause in the former time men liued
forme which they haue and is called Vrsus as Isidor reporteth quod ortos digerat lanbendo for that by often licking she bringeth euerie parte in them to an order The best in all the whole kinde is as we find for that she can play the Phisition for hir selfe for she being crased and distempered within hir bodie vseth hir claw for a spade and diggeth vp Emmets or Ants out of the ground which being taken she immediatlye recouereth Of the Beuer. THe Beuer saith Plinie liueth and is found in the I le of Pontus and is one of those sorts which are called doubtfull for often exchaunge had in place where they liue for they liue one while altogither vpon the earth and do accompanie other brute beasts those which sâ—ray abrode are foure footed another while they are conuersaÌ„t in the waters and liue the fishes and serpents life When they are huÌ„ted they espying the Huntesman earnestly pursuing them least through such occasion they should be letted in their flight the Male is reported to bite off his owne stones and to gelde himselfe and by that meanes becommeth very swift He hath his taile not much vnlike the fishe and the residue of his bodie not much vnlike to the Otter Of the Boare THe Boare saith Isidore in Latine vocable or word is called Aper a feritate of fiercenesse or wildenesse chaunge of the Letter P. had into the letter F. of the Latines he is eftsoones called Verres for his great streÌ„gth He being gelt sayth Plinie Auicen becommeth so much the more fierce and wilde whereas all other Creatures liuing waxe thereby the more milâ—e His armourie is a sort of strong â—ushes or tuskes and sharpe His vse is to kéepe a good while in his mouth the stalke or sedge of Barley such as is sharpe to enter to the skin kéeping it of purpose to file sharpen his tushes which if it will not he hunteth after the Herbe Organnie of some called wilde Maioram which he vseth as a Whetstone to whet his téeth withall Aristotle in his sixt booke de Animalibus sayth that the Boare at such time as he hath yong is most cruell and fierce insomuch that he can not abide any man to come nigh him but is maruellously vexed with him Of the Bull. THe Bull is the hée Bullock not gelt or hauing lost his parts to generation Plinie sayth in his .viij. booke that his noble courage is in his looke in his frowning countnance or forehead Aristo sayth that he hath his Liuer round in a maner like to a man his liuer And is fed alone before such time as the Male Female doe conioyne but afterward at that time he féedeth and associateth in selfe him pasture with the Bullock They are said to striue one with another for the Female which they best like and after much strife and warring had who so first tireth and is wearie is counted vanquished the other the vanquisher forthwith runneth to the Female and leapeth vp vpon hir back and so satisfieth his desired lust Of the Bugle or wilde Oxe THe Bugle or the wilde Oxe is said to be so wilde that his necke by no meanes can be brought vnder the yoke And is called Bubalus for nigh resemblance to our Oxe In Affrick they are verie plentifull he is of great strength and force almost not to be tamed but only with an Iron ring put through his Nostrils or Snowte wherewith they leade him whither they list There is another kinde of wilde Oxe which the Philosophers call Aptaleo but nothing so huge or great but hath hornes much greater very sharpe also wherewith he heweth downe trées and thrusting vp his hornes sometimes vp to the boughes of the Trées entending to reach foode thereby doth now then with force of his hornes had sticke fast by them in the Tree wherewith he being chafed and vexed howleth out aloude whose horrible crie the Huntesman hauing once hard runneth with fast foote thither whereas he is snared and so commeth by him and else by no other meanes and so sleaeth him There is also another kinde of wilde Oxe or Bull called of Aristotle Plinie Bonasus a little shorter than our Bull but more thickly set and hath his Mane like to our Horse His flesh is Uenesonlike for the which he is so often hunted And in the game time he vseth this knack or propertie he runneth vntill he be wearie and in his flight taking and course he flingeth forth and befowleth behinde both of his vrine and dung euen whole furlongs long after him and with such annoiance wearieth the Courser or Huntesman Of Barbell the fish BArbill is called the beard fish for that on both sides of hir Mouth she hath finnes like to a hairie beard In Greeke she is called Trigla with the Germanes Ein Berb Of this kinde Oppiane singeth thus Accipiunt Triglae trino cognomina partu The Barbill for hir oft increase Trigla by name is called Thrise in the yeare she giueth yong herein all kindes excelled Aristotle in his fift Booke de Historia animalia affirmeth that this kinde bringeth forth yong thrise in the yeare Of Calamarie the fish CAlamarie the fish of many Authors called Loligo hath his head betwene his hinder parts and his bellie and hath two bones the one like to a knife the other like to a quill she is like the Cuttle but that she is a little longer and in that they differ also for that the Cuttle sheweth and poureth out a black kinde of bloud in all hir feare and disturbance this Calamarie vomiteth a good red pure bloud Of the Cammell THe Cammell by Gréeke word is called Kâ—mae his signification for the moste part is lowlinesse and submission And well had the Cammell this name for that at euery burthen laide vpon him to ease the labourer he lyeth downe suffering him to lay it on euen as he will There are two kindes of Cammels one which is onely in Arabie which hath two kibes in his back the other in many other countries al plain in his back His vse is to iourney no further at one time than he hath bene before vsed accustomed to at another neither to cary heauier burthen at another time then he before hath carried They liue some of them .50 yeres and some of them .100 They can be without water the space of foure whole dayes and haue their best delight in drinking then when as by foote they trouble the water Aristotle sayth that there is in the Cammels a certaine honest care to kéepe themselues within their boundes For they thinke it vnnaturall and a most haynous offence to haue adoe with their Dam. There was in a certaine Citie saith he the Mother or Dam of a yong and lustie Cammell all couered ouer with a cloth with whome the yong one being incensed vnwittingly attempted and assayed generation who or it were long thrâ—ugh ruffling of the cloth by certaine notes espying that it was
that it vrgeth alwayes vpon one and the same place Aristotle saith that the Moth sucketh out of the Garment all humor and leaueth it marueilously drie Of the Mouse THe Mouse after Isid. is counted the smallest liuing beast and is named Mus quasi humus earth or earthie It hath his growth at the full Moone as other and sundrie kindes haue It is for his bignes a verie rauenour or gréedigut and for a little meate is often soone entrapped It smelleth his vittailes a farre off and commeth the sooner to them by smell Of the Mule THe Mule of the Latine word Mola which signifieth grinding at the Mill tooke his first name For he being put into the Mill is there where he should be He is engendred of a Mare and an Asse as of an Horse and an Asse also is engendred the Mulet Plinie sayth that the Asse and the Mare doe neuer couet copulation together except they haue bene from their youth forth accustomed and brought vp togither And be fed with the selfe same meate as Milke and such others Aristotle sayth that the more the Mule drinketh water the more his meate doth him good Of the Nightrauen or Nightcrow THe Nightrauen or Crowe is of the same maner of life that the Owle is for that she onely commeth abrode in the darke night fleing the daylight and Sunne There is a certaine Shrickowle or Owlet which when she crieth she shricketh and is thought to be one of this kinde Whereof Lucane speaketh thus Quodque strepens Bubo quod Strix nocturna queruÌ„tur That that the Owle by noyse doth make and howling voice doth feare That doth the shricking Strix and shrill with note vnpleasant to heare Of the Nightingale THe Nightingale was named first of good melodiâ— louing or for hauing delight to frame and sing a pleasaunt and swéete note With hir pleasaunt tune she playeth euery day before the Sunne his arising a fit of mirth and is verie melodious to welcome the sunne as it were a Bridegrome coÌ„ming She is called in Gréeke Aaedoon of aei and adoo which is to sing continually she is one of those also which doe prognosticate as Aratus saith In histories we read that many Caesars or Emperours especially those which were of the yongest sort haue had Nightingales Starlings or Stares that haue béene well instructed and taught both in the Gréeke Latine tongue As there was also a Crowe in Rome which being framed and taught to that purpose euerie morning would flie to the Court Hostilia ouer the riuer Tyberis to salute Garmanicus Caligula the Emperour his Father and Drusus Emperour also then next after the whole body of Rome This Crow is saide to be Apolloes bird As the Eagle Iupiters the Crane Palamedes the Kings fisher Thetis the mother of Achillis Merthes also the King of Egypt hadde a Crow so taught and instructed that whither soeuer he had bidden him go eyther to carie or to fetch letters he was not ignorant whither to flie by that meanes did his maisters message spéedily But to retourne to the Nightingale from whence we first came Plinie saith that in the spring time she most coÌ„monly bringeth forth sixt egges and to the intent that hir griefe in traueiling should not be sore or great she passeth awaie most of the night with pleasant songs Whole fiftene dayes at the spring time or at the budding forth of leaues she continually singeth This kinde doth often striue betwene themselues and being almost dead yet to the verie ende he will rather want of his breath then leaue off his song This bird sang as Histories make mention in Stesichorus mouth he being an Infant or child euen as Bées flue aboute Platoes mouth he being on sléepe in the Cradell and left there some part of there Hony and as the selfe same kind also sat without hurting him vpon Ambrose hys mouth he being a child And as vpon rich Midas the Phrigian he being yong Pismiers filled his mouth with wheat whereof euery one of these such like haue their hid signification Of the Onocentaure THe Onocentaure is a Beast monstrous halfe a Bull halfe an Asse Onos in Gréeke is translated into our speache an Asse But some Philosophers thinke that he is in bodie halfe a man and halfe an Asse For from the Nauell vpward say they it hath the figure of a Man and downewarde to the foote it resembleth an Asse Of this opinion is Plinie These and such like monsters are nothing else but Natures dalying and shewing howe she can varie and alter things in their kind as we may plainely sée in the Hippocentaure in the Faune Satire which Indie bréedeth It is fabled with the Poets that Ixion Iunoes Secretary prouoked hir to Uenery which thing Iupiter vnderstanding made by and by a certaine Cloud to appeare like Iuno to his eyes with whom he being incensed in lecherous loue nothing supposing but that it was Iuno bespent his séede vpon the Cloude and therevpon were ingendred those Monsters which are called Centauri otherwise Genitauri quod ex aura sint geniti Of Orix ORix is a small beast and watrie of that Nature that the Dormouse is for he lyketh the better through good nourishment and long sléepe All winter long he snorteth and is as he were deade but in Sommer awaketh and taketh life againe Of the Owle THe Owle is called the dastardly Bird she is of such slouth and sluggishnesse she hath feathers inough to flie abrode day and night But the sluggarde sleepeth all day long most commonly it liueth in olde Sepulchres and in Housen or Barnes not often frequented and in cauernes or holes of stone walles of which thing Ouid hath these verses Faedaque sic volucris venturi nuncia luctus Ignauus Bubo dirum mortalibas omen That filthie Birde and Messenger of sorrowes ill to come The sluggish Owle hath bene to man most often daunger some For if in the Citie in the daytime they had espied hir they gathered hereof some sorrow to come The I le of Crete is voyde of this kinde They are dedicated to Minerua There is also a Shrickowle which is alwayes helden vnluckie Of this kinde one sat vpon Pyrrhus his Speare he marching forward in battaile ray toward the Grecians armie portended and foreshewed sinister and yll fortune This kind as the abouesaide is hated of all other birdes against whome she vseth a verie craftie kinde of warring For if the companie of small birds be manie she lieth groueling fighteth with hir feete and couereth hir selfe all ouer with hir Bill and Clawes Plinie saith that the Bussard or Kite rescueth him oftentimes thorowe a certaine naturall agréement or truice had betwéene them Nigidius witnesseth with Plinie that this kinde lurâ—keth and sléepeth lx dayes throughout Winter and hath nine voices or soundes These be verie plentifull in Athens Insomuch that they haue brought forth their Prouerbe Noctuas Athenas mittere In Grammaticall sense to sende ouer Owles to