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
with blew and is found in Germanie There is another of this founde in Spaine firelike and like to a flame his sufferaigntie is that being safely and chastly borne aboute a man kepeth him safe and preserueth him from Thunder and Lightnings likewise the house wherin he is and is otherwise effectuous to bring a man in swéete sléepe Of the Corall THe Corall groweth in the red Sea and so long as it is and hath his being in the waters it is a kinde of Wood but by and by after that it is taken forth of the water and cōmeth into the ayre and his reach it hardeneth and becommeth a stone His boughes vnder the water are espied white and tender and being by chaunce through holdefast Nets in part or parcell brought to lande chaunge also their colour and become red and for their feeling are as hard stones Isidore in his .xvj. booke The Mages reporte that it resisteth Lightninges Therefore euen as much worth and of estimation as is the precious Margaret that that cōmeth from Indie so much worth and in estimatiō likewise is the Coral with them of Indie Hereof are said to be two onely kindes the one red the other white this last is neuer found in bignesse in length more than halfe a foote that other often bigger and longer They say that it is of power to rid vs from all diuelishe dreames and pieuish fantasies Of the Cornellis THe Cornellis is one of those sortes that be somewhat rare also but not so precious and is in colour red almost like to the Corall It being hoong about the neck or worne vpon the finger is said in all kinds of reasoning and disputation to appease the partie that weareth it and to kéepe him from childish brawlings Of the Carbuncle THe Carbuncle is a stone very precious so called for that like to a fierie cole it giueth light but especially in the night season it so warreth with the pupill or the eiesight that it sheweth manifolde reflexions It hath as some say .xij. kindes but those most precious that come nigh the Carbuncles nature it is found in Libia Of the Cristall THe Cristall is one of those stones that shyneth in euerie part and is in colour warrie Isidore saith that it is nothing else then a cōgeled Ise by continuance frosen whole yeares It groweth in Asia and Cyprus and especially vpon the Alpes and highe Mountaines of the North Pole It engendreth not so much of the waters coldenesse as of the earthinesse mixt withall His propertie is to abide nothing in qualitie contrarie to it selfe therefore it is delighted onely with colde Of the Chrusopasse THe Chrusopasse is a Stone of Ethiope which in the day light shimmereth not but in his qualitie lieth hid In the night time when darcknesse ariseth it then bewrayeth his owne and peculier qualitie In the night time it is flamelike in the day time yelow or wan Of the Diamond THe Diamond is one of those that be counted something precious it is in colour almost Christallike but somewhat more resplendishing and is as good if it be of any bignesse as a looking glasse Iorach calleth it an other eie such certaintie truth giueth it in things done in his presence Of the Dionise THe Dionise is black or rather browne all bestrowed with bloudie strokes or vaines It being put faith Isidore in Wines maketh them fragrant or wel smelling and is thought with his smel or sauour to remedie dronkennesse Of Dracontides DRacontides as his name also mentioneth is plucked forth of the heade or braine of a Dragon which onely is in bright and fierie colour as sayth Isidore as long as it is come by the Dragon being aliue wherfore the Mages skilled in this point cut it forth out of the Dragon his braine he being by meanes cast in to sleepe The moste bolde and aduenterous men are said to seeke out the lurking holes of the Dragon and whilest that the Dragon is from home these men bestrew his Lodge with certaine Graine which being receiued of the Dragon bringeth him into a deade sleepe And whilest they haue thus brought their purpose to passe they rippe in sunder the noddle of his head to take forth the Gem and after that sow it vp againe and so depart Of Dradocos DRadocos is a kinde of stone verie pale yet as shimmering withall as the Berill It is saide to bring to a man feare of Diuels and other straunge thoughts fantasticall It being applyed and layde vpon a dead man looseth his operatiue vertue Wherefore they call it the holy stone for that wheras Death frequenteth or taketh it vtterly abhorreth Of Echites EChites is a stone both of Indie and Persia which in the shore and Sea banckes of the Ocean in the verie bosome of the Indian and Persian Sea it is found it is in colour Uiolet like And there is a paire of them Male Female and be most commonly found both togither in the Eagles nest without the which the Eagle can not bring forth hir yong and therfore kepeth them as most necessarie in this behalfe alwaies in hir Nest. These stones bound to a womās bodie being with childe do hasten childe birth And Iorach saith that if any man haue these or one of these and put it vnder that mans meate or trencher that he suspecteth to be in fault of any thing If that he be guiltie he shall not be able through this to swallowe downe his meate If not saith he he may Of Efestides EFestides is in colour and Phisiognomie verie shamefast and childish which béeing had and caried about the stomack or heart kepeth a man safe from all perill and endamaging Diascorides sayth that if it be helden against the Sunne beames that then it is verie firie but being throwne into the water it leaueth boyling by little and little waxeth very colde Of Elutropia ELutropia is a Gemme in colour gréene or grassie in part coloured and bespotted with Purple speckes bloud coloured vaines This is a maruellous Iugler for it wil cause things obiect to be presented to our eies as it listeth It being put into a Basan of water chaungeth to a mans eiesight the Sunne his beames and giueth them a contrarie colour Being also mooued and beaten in the ayre maketh to appeare a bloudie Sunne and darkneth the ayre in maner of an Eclipse and therefore it is called Eloutropia as you would say the Sunne his enimie There is of this name also a certaine Hearbe which Enchaunters Witches haue oftentimes vsed and doe vse as also that aboue said whereby they haue mocked and deluded many which by meanes and working of enchauntmēt haue so dazeled the beholders eies that they haue gone by them inuisibly Of Ematites EMatites is a stone somewhat ruddie somewhat sanguine found both in Affrick in Indie and in Arabie so named for that it resolueth chaungeth oft into a bloudie colour and is called of some stench bloud for that it stoppeth
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
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
his Dam came down and ceased therein before he had his full lust and biting hir most cruelly through extreeme anger slue hir The like example of honestie obseruing he rendreth there of a certaine mans Horse Of the Cameloparde THe Cameloparde hath the very head of a Cammell the necke like our Horse and feete like the Bugle or wilde Oxe He breedeth in Ethiope he is bespotted stayned dyuersely with diuers colours in a maner like the Libard Of the Cameleon TThe Cameleon is a small kinde of beast whose bodie is such that with easie conuersion it chaungeth into all colours a few onely excepted Auicen sayth that it is all one with Stellio or Cosin germane to the Lysarde for that he hath on his backe light spots like stars And for that feare that it is naturally in and the paucitie or rarenesse of bloud he hath so often and so diuers transfiguration in colour It is verie commonly sayd with the olde versifiers and those also which would be estéemed Philosophers that the Cameleon liueth onely by ayre as the Moule doth by the earth alone The Héering by the water the Salamander by the fire And these be their verses wherein they shew this purpose Quatuor ex Puris vitam ducunt Elementis Cameleon Talpa Maris Halec Salamandra Terra cibat Talpam flamme Pascunt Salamandram Vnda fit Halecibus cibus aer Cameleonti These fower Elements giue foode to fower things eche other The Herring Moule and Cameleon and eke the Salamander With earth the Moule is said to feede â–ª with flame the Salamander And water is the Herrings meate the Cameleons the ayer Of the bird Caladrius THe Caladrius sayth Aristotle is of milkie colour without any black spot whose naturall propertie is this that when as any man is grieuously payned with sicknesse or disease if there be any hope of recouerie in the partie so diseased she hath alwayes a cheerefull looke towardes him if there be no amendment that it can perceiue it is of very sad looke and countenaunce neuer giuing him cherefull looke or once looking at all that way Of the Carpe THe Carpe is a kinde of fish well knowne of vs she is arayed in all hir whole bodie with hir coate of fence that is stiffe seales of meane indifferent bignesse insomuch that there hath bene found of this kinde some waying ten pound she is of very soft fâ—esh phlegmatike with the Germanes it is called Karpff Erasmus called it in Latine Carpa when as other called it Carpio Of the Cat. THe Cat in Latin is called Catus as if you woulde say Cautus warie or wise In Gréeke she is named Galiootes with the Germaines Kaiz She is to the Mouse a continuall enimie verie like to the Lyon in tooth and clawe and vseth to pastime or play with the Mouse ere she deuoureth hir She is in hir trade and maner of liuing very shamefast alwayes louing clenlinesse There is also a kind hereof called the wild Cat which of all things is annoyed with the smell of Rue and the Almond leafe and is driuen away with that sooner then with any other thing Of the Crab. THe Crab in Gréeke is called Kakrinos in the Germanes language Krebs with the Frenchmen Crabe Plinie vsed this Latine worde Cancer for a generall or coÌ„mon name for all such as haue weare shaled garments The Crabs saith Lonicer haue a porcion of venome and that occult or hid comming from their taile in the middle of their backes by line or thréede which kinde of matter pulled out before they are sodden leaueth the whole altogither pure and without corrupting Of the Serpent Cerastes CErastes the Serpent hath on both sides of his heade as it were the hornes of a Ram bending vpward and wreathen all about He lurketh sayth Isidore in the high grasse wherin nothing can be espied of him sauing onelye his hornes which thing the small Birdes of the field espying wéening to find as in all other dead bodies their hornes wormes meate alone for their appetite and desire they being busie and pickling on them not knowing this Serpent his deceipt hid are caught of him with a sodaine twining of himselfe about them and are so sodainely snared The like wiles he vseth with horse and man to lie as though he were deade or secretlye as though there were none such yet whilest they vnawares tread vpon him he twineth about either them and so stingeth them Of the Coccatrise THe Coccatrise by his Gréeke name should séeme to haue bene sometime reckened the Prince in his kinde for he is reported to be the king of all other Serpents For al things lyuing whatsoeuer they be comming into fight with him flie back He is so poysonous that he killeth with his breath There is no birde that escapeth him that commeth in his dent but she is his owne yet Nature for this thing hath well prouided For they vse to seeke for the Weasell which will haue this kind of serpent tamed The greatest stature that it is of is not aboue .xij. inches or there about Of the Crocodile THe Crocodile is called yelow Snake for that he is in colour most Saffron like Isidore in his .xij. booke He is one of those kinds which alwayes keepe not in one and the same place or which are not pleased long with Elements alike One while he is coÌ„uersant vpon the earth another while in the waters He is of such hard skin that being stroke in the back or bodie with violent stroke of stone or Iron sâ—ing estéemeth it not a Rush. In the night time he harboureth in the waters in the day time he liueth vpon the earth Aristotle sayth that the Crocodile alone amongst all other Creatures liuing moueth the vpper lip and keepeth the neather lip vnmoueable contrarie to all other herein It is a most glotonous serpent and a verie rauener who when he is farced full lyeth all long by the Banckes side belching and panting as though he woulde burst Wherevpon saith Tullie when he is in this case and so farre gone a certaine little small birde called of vs the Wren or Kinges birde of the Gréekes Trochylos flieth towarde him and often assayeth or he can come by his purpose to go into his throte or intrailes but is repelled so long as he is awake but falling once on sléepe and opening his iawes as he vseth being on sleepe the Wren goeth into his throte and being within there a certaine time by flickring and mouing causeth his throte to itche wherewith he being delighted at the last falleth on sound sléepe The Bird perceyuing this goeth further to his heart and pecketh at it with hir bill and at the last gnaweth it out and so féedeth hir selfe full and escapeth away The like thing is read of Enidros the Serpent which creepeth in the grasse of Nilus who being eaten downe quicke of the Crocodile gnaweth his heart out in sunder within and so killeth him Of Chelidros the Serpent CHelidros the
done she vomiteth it forth againe and falleth to fresh bloud anew Of the fish Lucius LVcius of many men is called the Macrell The Germaines call it Ein Macrell The Latins Luciê° by the figure Antiphrasis which is when a word hath a contrarie signification They say that this fish kéepeth alwaies at the verie bottome of the waters so auoyding as it were all cleare light whither when as the fishermen by night saile with firebrand torch so that they espie it they amazed there at and astonyed in their flight are so caught Of the Lamprey THe Lamprey in Gréeke is called Muraina with the Germanes Ein Bricken there is of this kinde two sorts both differing in colour For the one is blacke in colour died among with ashie spots the other is white hauing black spots She swimmeth all whole in flexible sort and all alike bending hir bodie aboue the land she creepeth no other wise then our serpents doe The best of this stock or kind are those that be called Flutae in Greke Plootai good saylers or fluites for that they kéeping alwayes at the waters highest can not be drowned Antonia Drusus wife had such delight in a Lamprey that she dressed and arayed hir all ouer with golde Ringes and the same beset aboute with precious Stones Likewise Crassus by surname the rich so loued a Lamprey of his owne bringing vp that when she dyed he lamented sore and bestowed also great cost of hir burying And wheÌ„ as he was laughed to scorne of Lucius Domitius for so doing he gaue him this aunswere Thou marueylest sayth he why I so bewaile this Fishes death But I marueile more at him that hauing had the losse of thrée Wyues neuer yet for ought that I could sée bewayled it This Domitius is reported to haue poysoned thrée Wiues for hope that he had of rewarde or greater riches thereby Of the Leoparde THe Leoparde is a very tiraunte aduouterous also in his kinde as saith Plinie The Lionnesse and Leoparde hauing coniunction togither or the Lion and Libardesse bring forth a third kinde euen as the Horse and Asse or hée Horse and Mare doe The Female saith Aristotle is more cruell than the Male his colour is bespotted about his vpper parte of bodie and his féete also and taile are all alike to the Lion in outwarde shew But in the head they haue their difference In bodye he is lesse than the Lion And by that meanes he is euen with the Lion and not behinde him in reuenging as Homer witnesseth He hath his cabbage in the yearth with two contrary wayes vndermined to enter into it or to run out of it at his pleasure verie wide at the comming in but as narrow and straight about the mid cabbage whether his enimie the Lion running sometimes after him and a pace at the first coÌ„ming in thither is narrowly pent Insomuch that he cannot neyther get forward nor backwarde That seing the Leoparde he running a pace out at the furder hole and commeth to that wheras the Lion first ran in and hauing him hard pent his back towardes him bighteth scratchet him with tooth and Nayle And so by art the Leoparde getteth the victory and not by strength The same Leopard also saith Plinie séeketh after the broode of the wild gote entending therewith to recouer his health Of Lynx the beast LYnx in face is like to the Lion in bodie bespotted like the Panther his vrine is of that set or nature that it turneth by and by into a precious stone which we before called Ligurius He so enuieth man and would that he should not be the better for this that he hideth and couereth his vrine with dust yearth to the intent that no man should find it but Plinie saith it is so much the better in his effect working Of the Lyon THe Lyon in his greeke vocable and worde is interpreted King he is reported to be the King ouer all other beastes There are diuers of this kind â–ª they only differing in their Mane eyther long or short His strength is in his hed His vertue in his heart he sléepeth as the Hare doth with eielids vnshut When he awaketh forth out of sléepe he rubbeth out the print of his bodie and steps least the huntesman espying them should easily finde him out He is verie gentle to man neuer hurteth him vnlesse he be greatly iniuried by him or that he is throughly an huÌ„gry He knoweth sayth Plinie when the Lyonesse hath played him false play and hath played the Aduoutresse with the Libard by a certaine rammish smel or sweate which ariseth of them both Yet if she washeth hir selfe throughly she may deceyue him Aristotle sayth that the Lionesse at the first birth or broode bringeth forth most of hir yong then after that she lesseneth euerie broode one For at the first she bringeth forth fiue at the second time foure at the thirde time thrée at the fourth time two at the fift one and euer after that she is sterill and barraine Of their remembrance of a good turne I néede not speake or howe they haue done man a good turne one for another As that which had a thorne in hir Claw being holpen of one named Androdus eased thereof euen when as he through enuie was deliuered vp to be punished throweÌ„ into hir Denne that Lionesse that he eased so before did then well remember him As also I néede not to speak how God oftentimes brideleth in all beastes deuouring whatsoeuer to shew his pleasure and possibilitie what he can doe and worke by meanes of these There was a fierce hungrie Lyon let loose to Darius the Martyr which not onely hurt him not but also preserued him from the crueltie of other brute beastes As likewise Daniell scaped scotchfrée by Gods prouidence turning the fierce countenaunce of that Lion that his enimies had thought would haue soone deuoured him into a fawning and chearefull looke not once hauing power to hurt him Hamo a Carthagien borne is first reported to haue tamed the Lion Memnonides or the Birdes of Aegypt MEmnonides or the Birdes of Aegypt are named of the place where Memnon the Sonne of Thiton which came to the aide and rescewing of the Troians died and is buried They are saide to flie by companies out of Aegypt to olde Troie to Memnon his Sepulchre and to be onely his memoriall and are therefore called of some the Troian Memnonides as Isidore recordeth in his .xij. Booke Euerie fift yeare they flie to Troie and flie about Priam his Pallace and that two whole dayes space the thirde day they make battaile betwene themselues and doe torment and slea one another with their sharpe nayles beck Of the Moth. THe Moth is our Garment worme and by his latine worde is called Tinea holdefast for it biding in one place in the Garment neuer leaueth it til it be gnawen and eaten forth thorow Isidore saith it mought be named Pertinax peruerse for