this In the ranke of these most memorable workes of man I may well raunge the mountaine that was digged through by the same Claudius Caesar for to void away the water out of the lough or meere Fucinus although this work was left vnfinished for hatred of his successour which I assure you cost an incredible and inenarrable sum of mony besides the infinit toil and labour of a multitude of workemen and labourers so many yeres together as well to force the water which came vpon the pioners from vnder the ground with deuise of engines and windles vp to the top of the hill whereas it stood vpon meere earth as to cut and hâ—…w through hard regs and rockes of flint and all this by candlelight within the earth in such sort that vnlesse a man had bin there to haue seene the manner of it vnpossible it is either to conceiue in mind or expresse with tongue the difficultie of the enterprise As for the peere and hauen at Ostia because I would make an end once of these matters I will not say a word thereof nor of the waies and passages cut through the mountaines ne yet of the mighty piles and damns to exclude the Tuscane sea for the Lucrine lake with so many rampiers and bridges made of such infinit cost Howbeit among many other miraculous things in Aegypt one thing more I will relate out of mine author Papyrius Fabianus a great learned Naturalist namely That marble doth grow daily in the quarries and in very truth the farmers of those quarries and such as ordinarily do labour and dig out stone do affirme no lesse who vpon their experience doe assure vs that looke what holes and caues be made in those rockes and mountaines the same will gather againe and fill vp in time which if it be true good hope there is that so long as marbles do liue excesse in building will neuer die CHAP. XVI ¶ The sundry kinds of the Load-stone and the medicines thereto depending NOw that I am to passe from marbles to the singular admirable natures of other stones who doubts but the Magnet or Loadstone will present it self in the first place for is there any thing more wonderfull and wherein Nature hath more trauelled to shew her power than in it True it is that to rockes and stones she had giuen voice as I haue already shewed whereby they are able to answer a man nay they are ready to gainsay and multiply words vpon him But is that all what is there to our seeming more dull than the stiffe and hard stone And yet behold Nature hath bestowed vpon it sence yea hands also with the vse thereof What can we deuise more stubborne and rebellious in the own kind than the hard yron yet it yeelds and will abide to be ordered for loe it is willing to be drawne by the load stone a maruellous matter that this mettall which tameth and conquereth all things els should run toward I wot not what and the nearer that it approcheth standeth still as if it were arrested and suffereth it selfe to be held therwith nay it claspeth and clungeth to it and will not away And hereupon it is that some call the load-stone Sideritis others Heracleos As for the name Magnes that it hath it tooke it as Nicander saith of the first inuentor and deuiser thereof who found it by his saying vpon the mountaine Ida for now it is to be had in all other countries like as in Spaine also and by report a neat-heard he was who as he kept his beasts vpon the foresaid mountaine might perceiue as he went vp and downe both the hob nailes which were in his shooes and also the yron picke or graine of his staffe to sticke vnto the said stone Moreouer Sotacus ascribeth and setteth downe fiue sundry kinds of the load-stone the first which commeth out of Aethyopia the second from that Magnesia which confineth vpon Macedonie and namely on the right hand as you go from thence toward the lake Boebeis the third is found in Echium a town of Boeotia the fourth about Alexandria in the region of Troas and the fift in Magnesia a country in Asia Minor The principall difference obserued in these stones consists in the sex for some be male others female the next lieth in the colour As for those which are brought out of Macedonie and Magnesia they be partly red and partly blacke The Boeotian loadstone standeth more vpon red than black contrariwise that of Troas is black and of the female sex in which regard it is not of that vertue that others be But the worst of all comes from Magnesia in Natolia and the same is white neither doth it draw yron as the rest but resembles the pumish stone In sum this is found by experience That the blewer any of these loadstones be the better they are and more powerful And the Ethyopian is simply the best insomuch as it is worth the weight in siluer found it is in Zimiri for so they cal the sandy region of Ethyopia which country yeeldeth also the sanguine load-stone called Haematites which both in color resembleth bloud and also if it be bruised yeeldeth a bloudy humour yea and otherwhiles that which is like to saffron As for the property of drawing yron this bloud-stone Haematides is nothing like to the loadstone indeed But if you would know and try the true Ethyopian Magnet it is of power to draw to it any of the other sorts of loadstones This is a generall vertue in them all more or lesse according to that portion of strength which Nature hath indued them withal That they are very good to put into those medicines which are prepared for the eies but principally they do represse the vehement flux of humors that fall into them beeing calcined and beaten into pouder they do heale any burne or scald To conclude there is another mountaine in the same Ehyopia and not far from the said Zimiris which breedeth the stone Theamedes that will abide no yron but rejecteth and driueth the same from it But of both these natures as well the one as the other I haue written oftentimes already CHAP. XVII ¶ Of certaine stones which will quickly consume the bodies that be laid therein Of others againe that preserue them a long time Of the stone called Assius and the medicinable properties thereof WIthin the Isle Scyros there is a stone by report which so long as it is whole sound will swim and flote vpon the water breake the same into small pieces it will sink Near vnto Assos a city in Troas there is found in the quarries a certaine stone called Sarcophagus which runneth in a direct veine and is apt to be clouen and so cut out of the rocke by flakes The reason of that name is this because that within the space of forty daies it is knowne for certaine to consume the bodies of the dead which are bestowed therein skin
odoriferous any wood is the more durable also it is and euerlasting Next to these trees aboue rehearsed the wood of the Mulberrie tree is most commended which in tract of time as it growes to be old waxes also blacke Moreouer some kinds of wood as they be more lasting than other so they continue better being emploied in one kind of work than they do in another The Elme timber will well abide the aire and the wind The wild Oke Robur loueth to stand within the ground and the common Oke is good in the water let it bee vsed aboue ground to take the aire and the weather it will cast warpe and cleaue too bad The Larch wood agreeth passing wel with water works and so doth the black Alder. As for the Oke Robur it will corrupt and rot in the sea The Beech will doe well in water and the Walnut tree likewise but to stand within the earth they are principall good and haue no fellow And for the Iuniper it will hold the owne being laid vnder ground but for building aboue in the open aire it is excellent good The Beech and the Cerus wood rot quickly The smal Oke called Esculus canot abide the water The Cherrie tree wood is firme and fast the Elme and the Ash are tough how beit they will soone settle downward and sag being charged with any weight but bend they will before they break and in case before they were fallen they stood a while in the wood after they had a kerfe round about for their superfluous moisture to run out vntill they were well dried they would be the better and sure in building It is commonly said that the Larch wood if it be put into ships at sea is subject to wormes like as al other kinds of wood vnlesse it be the wild and tame Oliue For to conclude some timber is more readie to corrupt and be marred in the sea and others againe vpon the land CHAP. XLI ¶ Of wormes that breed in wood OF vermine that eat into wood there be 4 kinds The first are called in Latine Teredines a very great head they haue for the proportion of the body and with their teeth they gnaw These are found only in ships at sea and indeed properly none other be Teredines A second sort there be and those are land wormes or mothes named Tineae But a third kind resembling gnats the Greeks tearme by the name of Thripes In the fourth place bee the little wormes whereof some are bred of the putrified humor and corruption in the very timber like as others againe engender in trees of a worme called Cerastes for hauing gnawne and eaten so much that he hath roume enough to turne him about within the hole which he first made hee engendreth this other worm Now some wood there is so bitter that none of these wermin will breed in it as the Cypresse others likewise so hard that they cannot eat into it as the Box. It is a generall opinion that if the Firre be barked about the budding times at such an age of the Moon as hath been before said it will neuer putrifie in the water Reported it is by those that accompanied Alexander the great in his voiage into the East that in the Isle Tylos lying within the red sea there be certain trees that serue for timber to build ships the which were known to continue two hundred yeares and being drowned in the sea were found with the wood nothing at all perished They affirmed moreouer that in the same Island there grew little plants or shrubs no thicker than would wel serue for walking staues to cary in a mans hand the wood whereof was massie and ponderous striped also and spotted in manner of a Tygres skin but so brittle withall that if it chanced to fall vpon a thing harder than it selfe it would breake into fitters like glasse CHAP. XLII ¶ Of timber good for Architecture and Carpentrie what wood will serue for this or that worke and which is the strongest and surest timber for roufes of building WEe haue here in Italie wood and timber that will cleaue of it selfe For which cause our Maister Carpenters giue order to besmeare them with beasts dung and so to lie a drying that the wind and piercing aire should not hurt them The joists and plankes made of Firre and Larch are very strong to beare a great weight although they bee laid in length ouerthwart Contrariwise the Rafters made of the wild Oke Robur and Oliue wood wil bend yeeld vnder their load whereas the other named before do resist mainly withstand neither will they easily break vnlesse they haue much wrong nay sooner do they rot than faile otherwise in strength The Date-tree wood also is tough and strong for it yeeldeth not but curbeth the contrarie way The Poplar setteth and bendeth downeward whereas the Date-tree contrariwise rises vpward archwise The Pine and the Cypres are not subject either to rottennesse or worme-eating The Walnut tree wood soone bendeth and is saddle-backt as it lieth for thereof also they often vse to make beames and rafters but before that it breaketh it will giue wâ—…ing by a cracke which saued many a mans life in the Island Antandros at what time as being within the common baines they were skared with the crack that the floore gaue and ran forth speedily before all fell Pines Pitch trees and Allar are very good for to make pumps and conduit-pipes to conuey water and for this purpose their wood is boared hollow lying buried vnder the ground they will continue many a yeare sound and good let them bee vncouered without any mould and lie aboue ground they will quickly decay But if water also stand aboue the wood a wonder it is to see how they will harden therewith and endure Firre or Deale wood is of all other surest and strongest for roufes aboue head the same also is passing good for dore leaues for bolts and barres also in all seelings and wainscot or whatsoeuer it bee whether Greekish Campaine or Sicilian it is best and maketh very faire worke A man shall see the fine shauings thereof run alwaies round and winding like the tendrills of a vine as the Ioyner runneth ouer the painels and quarters with his plainer Moreouer the timber of it is commendable for coaches and chariots and there is not a wood that makes a better and stronger joynt with glew than it doth insomuch as the sound plank will sooner cleaue in any other place than in the joynt where it was glewed CHAP. XLIII ¶ Of glewing timber of rent clouen and sawen painell GReat cunning there is in making strong glew and in the feat of joyning with it as well in regard of seelings and wainscot made of thin bourd and painell as of marquetry other inlaid workes and for this purpose Ioyners doe chuse the mistresse threadie grain that is most streight which some call the Fertill veine because ordinarily it breedeth others
thereof is to seeth it wel vntil the one halfe be consumed Now if a man desire to know the vertue and commoditie of cold water first it ordinarily stancheth any flux of bloud if it be cast vpon the place Also if one be not able to endure the heate in a bain or hot-house the best way to auoid this inconuenience is to hold in his mouth cold Water all the while Moreouer many a man hath found by a verie familiar experience that the coldest water in the mouth is not alwaies the coldest in the hand And contrariwise when it is exceeding cold without to be felt it is not so sensibly cold within to be drunk Of all Waters in the world that which wee call here in Rome Martia carrieth the greatest name by the generall voice of the whole City in regard both of coldnesse and wholesomnesse And verily we may esteeme this water for one of the greatest gifts that the gods haue bestowed vpon our city In times past it was called Auffeia and the very fountaine from whence it commeth Piconia The head or source thereof ariseth at the foot of the vtmost mountains of the Pelignians it runneth through the Marsians country and passing through the lake Fucinus it tendeth no doubt euen then directly toward Rome but anon it is swallowed vp within a hole vnder the ground so as it is no more seen vntill it shew it selfe again in the territorie of the Tiburtines from which place it is conueyed vnder vaults and so carried through to Rome by arch-worke for the space of nine miles The first that began to bring this water to the city was Ancus Martius one of the Roman Kings Afterwards Qu. * Martius Rex in his Pretorship finished the said worke and when in processe of time it was fallen to decay M. Agrippa repaired it againe who also brought the water named Virgo to the city which hath her head eight miles from Rome in a certaine nouke or by-corner about two miles turning from the great port way leading to Praeneste Neere vnto it runneth the riuer Herculaneus but this water keepeth stil behinde as though it fled from it whereupon it tooke the name Virgo Compare these two riuers together which are conueyed to Rome you shall see the difference beforesaid as touching the coldnesse of waters for looke how cold Virgo is to the hand so much is Martia in the mouth But long ago haue wee of Rome lost the pleasure and commoditie of these two Rills through the ambition and auarice of some great men who haue turned away these waters from the City where they yeelded a publique benefit to the Commonwealth and deriued them for their priuat delight and profit into their owne mannors and houses in the country for to water their gcrdens and serue to other vses And here in this place I thinke it not impertinent to adioine to this present treatise the maner and skill of searching and finding out waters And first to speake in general terms springs ordinarily be found in Vallies in the pitch or crest of some little hill where it hath a fall and descent or else at the foot of great mountaines Many are of opinion That in any tract whatsoeuer that side or coast which regardeth the North is giuen to haue water in it And verily it were not amisse to shew how Nature disporteth her selfe and worketh variably in this behalfe First a man shall neuer see it raine on the South side of the mountaines in Hyrcania which is the reason that on that part onely which lieth to the North they are giuen to beare wood and be full of forrests But Olympus Ossa Pernassus Apenninus and the Alpes be replenished with Woods on all sides and are furnished with their Springs and Riuers euerie where In some countries the hills be greene and watered on the South side onely As for example in Candy the mountaines called Albi so that there is no heed to be taken by this for the rule holdeth not alwayes But to come now vnto particulars Looke where you see growing Rushes Reeds or the Herbe whereof I made relation before be sure you shall find water vnderneath Item Wheresoeuer you finde Froggs lying in any place vpon their breasts make account of good store of water there As for the wilde and wandering Sallow the Aller tree Agnus-Castus or Yvie they come vp many times of their owne accords in some low grounds where there is a setling or stay of raine water fallen from higher places insomuch as they that goe by these signes to finde some Spring may soone be deceiued A surer aime yet by farre is a mist or exhalation which a man may discouer a farre off a little before the Sunne rising And for to espie it the better some there be who get vp into an high place and lay themselues grouelong with their chinnes touching the ground and by that meanes discerneth where any such smoke or vapor doth arise There is also another speciall means besides to find out Waters but knowne it is vnto those onely who be skilfull and expert in this feat For they that are guided by this direction to Water goe forth in the hottest season of the yeare and about the noone-tide of the day to marke the reuerberation of the Sunne beames in any place for if this repercussion and rebounding appeare moist and namely when the face of the earth looketh dry and thirstie they then make nodoubt but to finde Water there But they had need to looke so intentiuely and earnestly that oftentimes their eyes ake and be pained withall For auoiding which trouble and inconuenience some betake themselues to other experiments and namely they dig a trench or ditch fiue foot deep within the ground the mouth wherof they couer all ouer with earthen vessels of potters worke vnbaked or els with a barbars brasen bason well enhuiled and withall a lamp burning ouer all which they make a little arch-work of leaues and boughs and mould thereupon Now if they come within a while after to this place and either see the earthen pots broken or wet or perceiue a dew or sweat standing vpon the brasse or finde the lamp aforesaid gon out and yet no want of oile to maintaine light or if they feele a lock of wool which they hung within the trench to be moist they assure themselues they shall find water if they sink the pit deeper Some there be who for better assurance hereof make a fire in the place and burne it throughly for then the vessels aforesaid if they proue to be wet giue a more infallible hope of a spring Moreouer the very leire it selfe of the soile if it be spotted with white specks or be altogether of a reddish bright colour promiseth spring water to be vnderneath for if the ground look black lightly the water wil soon fail if there be any spring there found If you chance to light vpon a vein of potters clay or chalk
runneth onely in the Spring The lake Sinnaus in Asia is infected with the wormewood growing about it and there of it tasteth At Colophon in the vault or caue of Apollo Clarius there is a gutter or trench standing full of water they that drinke of it shall prophesie and foretell strange things like Oracles but they liue the shorter time for it Riuers running backward euen our age hath seen in the later yeres of Prince Nero as we haue related in the acts of his life Now that all Springs are colder in Summer than Winter who knoweth not as also these wonderous workes of Nature That brasse and lead in the masse or lumpe sinke downe and are drowned but if they be driuen out into thin plates they flote and swim aloft and let the weight be all one yet some things settle to the bottome others againe glide aboue Moreouer that heauie burdens and lodes be stirred and remoued with more ease in water Likewise that the stone Thyrreus be it neuer so big doth swim whole and intire breake it once into pieces and it sinketh As also that bodies newly dead fall downe to the bottome of the water but if they be swollen once they rise vp againe Ouer and besides that empty vessels are not so easily drawne forth of the water as those that be full that raine water for salt pits is better and more profitable than all other and that salt cannot be made vnlesse fresh water be mingled withall that sea-water is longer before it congeale but sooner made hot and set a seething That in Winter the sea is hoter and in Autumne more brackish and salt And that all seas are made calme and still with oile and therefore the Diuers vnder the water doe spirt and sprinkle it abroad with their mouthes because it dulceth and allaieth the vnpleasant nature thereof and carrieth a light with it That no snowes fall where the sea is deep And whereas all water runneth downeward by nature yet Springs leape vp euen at the very foot of Aetna which burneth of a light fire so farre forth as that for fiftie yea and an hundred miles the waulming round bals and flakes of fire cast out sand and ashes CHAP. CIIII. ¶ The maruailes of fire and water iointly together and of Maltha NOw let vs relate some strange wonders of fire also which is the fourth element of Nature But first out of waters In a citie of Comagene named Samosatis there is a pond yeelding forth a kinde of slimie mud called Maltha which will burne cleare When it meeteth with any thing solide and hard it sticketh to it like glew also if it be touched it followeth them that free from it By this meanes the townesmen defended their walls when Lucullus gaue the assault and his souldiers fried and burned in their owne armours Cast water vpon it and yet it will burne Experience hath taught That earth onely will quench it CHAP. CV ¶ Of Naphtha OF the like nature is Naphtha for so is it called about Babylonia and in the Austacenes countrey in Parthia and it runneth in manner of liquid Bitumen Great affinitie there is betweene the fire and it for fire is ready to leap vnto it immediatly if it be any thing neere it Thus they say Media burnt her husbands concubine by reason that her guirland annointed therewith was caught by the fire after she approched neere to the altars with purpose to sacrifice CHAP. CVI. ¶ Of places continually burning BVt amongst the wonderfull mountaines the hill Aetna burneth alwaies in the nights and for so long continuance of time yeeldeth sufficient matter to maintaine those fires in winter it is full of snow and couereth the ashes cast vp with frosts Neither in it alone doth Nature tyranize and shew her cruelty threatning as she doth a general consuming of the whole earth by fire For in Phoselis the hil Chimaera likewise burneth and that with a continuall fire night and day Ctesias of Gnidos writeth that the fire therof is inflamed and set a burning with water but quenched with earth In the same Lycia the mountaines Hephaestij being once touched and kindled with a flaming torch do so burne out that the very stones of the riuers yea and the sand in waters are on fire withall and the same fire is maintained with raine They report also that if a man make a furrow with a staffe that is set on fire by them there follow gutters as it were of fire In the Bactrians countrey the top of the hill Cophantus burneth euery night Amongst the Medians also and the Caestian nation the same mountaines burneth but principally in the very confines of Persis At Susis verily in a place called the white tower out of fifteene chimnies or tunnels the fire issueth and the greatest of them euen in the day time carrieth fire There is a plaine about Babylonia in manner of a fish poole which for the quantity of an acre of ground burneth likewise In like sort neere the mountaine Hesperius in Aethyopia the fields in the night time do glitter and shine like stars The like is to be seene in the territorie of the Megapolitanes although the field there within-forth be pleasant and not burning the boughes and leaues of the thicke groue aboue it And neere vnto a warme Spring the hollow burning furnace called Crater Nymphaei alwaies portendeth some fearefull misfortunes to the Apolloniates the neighbours thereby as Theoponpus hath reported It increaseth with showers of raine and casteth out Bitumen to be compared with that fountaine or water of Styx that is not to be tasted otherwise weaker than all Bitumen besides But who would maruell at these things in the mids of the sea Hiera one of the Aetolian Islands neere to Italy burned together with the sea for certaine daies together during the time of the allies war vntill a solemne embassage of the Senat made expiation therefore But that which burneth with the greatest fire of all other is a certaine hill of the Aethyopians Thoeet Ochema and sendeth out most parching flames in the hottest Sun-shine daies Lo in how many places with sundry fires Nature burneth the earth CHAP. CVII ¶ Wonders of fires by themselues MOreouer since the Nature of this onely element of fire is to be so fruitfull to breed it selfe to grow infinitely of the least sparks what may be thought will be the end of so many funerall fires of the earth what a nature is that which feedeth the most greedy voracitie in the whole world without losse of it selfe Put thereto the infinit number of stars the mighty great Sun moreouer the fires in mens bodies those that are inbred in some stones the attrition also of certain woods one against another yea and those within clouds the verie original of lightnings Surely it exceedeth all miracles that any one day should passe not al the world be set on a light burning fire since that the hollow firy glasses also set opposit against
Spythamaei are reported to be called they are so for that they are but a cubit or three shaftments or spannes high that is to say three times nine inches The clime wherein they dwel is very wholsome the aire healthy and euer like to the temperature of the Spring by reason that the mountains are on the North side of them beare off all cold blasts And these prety people Homer also hath reported to be much troubled anoied by cranes The speech goeth that in the Spring time they set out all of them in battell aray mounted vpon the backe of rammes and goats armed with bowes and arrowes and so downe to the sea side they march where they make foule worke among the egges yong cranelings newly hatched which they destroy without all pitty Thus for three months this their journy and expedition continueth and then they make an end of their valiant seruice for otherwise if they should continue any longer they were neuer able to withstand the new flights of this foule grown to some strength and bignesse As for their houses and cottages made they are of clay or mud fouls feathers and birds egge shels Howbeit Aristotle writes That these Pygmaeans liue in hollow caues holes vnder the ground For all other matters he reports the same that all the rest Isogonus saith that certain Indians named Cyrni liue a hundred and fortie yeares The like he thinketh of the Aethyopian Macrobij and the Seres as also of them that dwell on the mount A thos and of these last rehearsed the reason verily is rendred to be thus because they feed of vipers flesh therefore is it that neither lice breed in their heads nor other vermine in their cloths for to hurt annoy their bodies Onesicritus affirmeth That in those parts of India where there are no shadowes to be seene the men are fiue cubits of stature and two hand breadths ouer that they liue 130 yeares and neuerage for all that and seem old but die then as if they were in their middle and settled age Crates of Pergamus nameth those Indians who liue aboue an hundred yeare Gymnetes but others there be and those not a few that call them Macrobij Ctesias saith there is a race or kinred of the Indians named Pandore inhabiting certaine vallies who liue two hundred years in their youthfull time the haire of their head is white but as they grow to age waxeth black Contrariwise others there be neer neighbours to the Macrobij who exceed not fortie years and their women beare but once in their life time And this also is auouched by Agatharcides who affirmeth moreouer that all their feeding is vpon locusts and that they are very quicke and swift of foot Clitarchus and Megasthenes both name them Mandri and thinke they haue 300 villages in their countrey Moreouer that the women bring forth children at seuen yeares of age and wax old at forty Artemidorus affirmes that in the Island Taprobana the people liue exceeding long without any malady or infirmitie of the body Duris maketh report That certaine Indians ingender with beasts of which generation are bred certaine monstrous mungrels halfe beasts and halfe men Also that the Calingian women of India conceiue with childe at fiue yeares of age and liue not aboue eight In another tract of that countrey there be certaine men with long shagged tailes most swift and light of foot and some againe that with their eares couer their whole body The Orites are neighbours to the Indians diuided onely from them by the riuer Arbis who are acquainted with no other meate but fish which they split and slice into pieces with their nailes and rost them against the Sun and then make bread thereof as Clitarchus reporteth Crates of Pergamus saith likewise that the Troglodites aboue Ethyopia be swifter than horses and that some Aethiopians are aboue eight cubites high and these are a kinde of Ethiopian Nomades called Syrbotae as he saith dwelling along the riuer Astapus toward the North pole As for the nation called Menismini they dwel from the Ocean sea twenty dayes iourney who liue of the milke of certain beasts that we cal Cynocephales hauing heads and snouts like dogs And whole heards and flocks of the females they keepe and feed killing the male of them all saue onely to serue for maintenance of the breed In the desarts of Africke ye shall meet oftentimes with Fairies appearing in the shape of men and women but they vanish soone away like fantasticall delusions See how Nature is disposed for the nones to deuise full wittily in this and such like pastimes to play with mankinde thereby not only to make her self merry but to set vs a wondring at such strange miracles And I assure you thus dayly and hourely in a manner playeth she her part that to recount euery one of her sports by themselues no man is able with all his wit and memory Let it suffice therfore to testifie and declare her power that we haue set downe those prodigious and strange workes of hers shewed in whole nations and then go forward to discourse of some particulars approued and knowne in man CHAP. III. ¶ Of prodigious and monstrous births THat women may bring forth three at one birth appeares euidently by the example of the three twins Horatij and Curiatij But to go aboue that number is reputed and commonly spoken to be monstrous and to portend some mishap but only in Egypt where women are more than ordinary fruitfull by drinking of Nilus water which is supposed to help generation Of late yeres and no longer since than in the later end of the reigne of Aug. Caesar at Ostia there was a woman a Commoners wife deliuered at one birth of two boies as many girles but this was a most prodigious token and portended no doubt the famine that ensued soone after In Peloponnesus there is sound one woman that brought forth at foure births 20 Children and the greater part of them all did well and liued Tregus saith that in Egypt it is an ordinarie thing for a woman to haue seuen at a birth It falleth out moreouer that there come into the world children of both sexes whom wee call Hermophrodites In old time they were knowne by the name of Androgyni and reputed then for prodigious wonders how soeuer now men take delight and pleasure in them Pompey the great in his Theatre which hee adorned and beautified with singular ornaments and rare deuices of antique worke as wel for the admirable subiect and argument thereof as the most curious and exquisit hand of cunning and skilfull artificers among other images and pourtracts there set vp represented one Eutiche a Woman of Tralleis who after she had in her life time borne thirty births her corps was caried out by twenty of her children to the funerall fire to be burnt according to the maner of that countrey As for Alcippe she was deliuered of an Elephant
or crier pronounced noon when standing at the hall or chamber of the councell he beheld the Sun in that wise betweene the pulpit called Rostra and the Grecostasis which was a place where forrein embassadours gaue their attendance but when that the same sun inclined downeward from the columne named Moenia to the common gaole or prison then he gaue warning of the last quarter of the day and so pronounced But this obseruation would serue but vpon cleere daies when the sun shined and yet there was no other means to know how the day went vntill the first Punicke war Fabius Vestalis writeth that L. Papyrius Cursor 12 yeres before the war with Pyrrhus was the first that for to do the Romans a pleasure set vp a sun-dyall to know what it was a clocke vpon the temple of Quirinus at the dedication thereof when his father had vowed it before him Howbeit mine aurhor sheweth not either the reason of the making of that diall or the workman ne yet from whence it was brought nor in what writer he found it so written M. Varro reporteth that the first diall was set vp in the common market place vpon a columne neere the foresaid Rostra in the time of the first Punicke war by M. Valerius Messala the Consull presently after the taking of Catana in Sicily from whence it was brought thirty yeares after the report that goeth of the foresaid quadrant and diall of Papyrius namely in the yeare after the foundation of the city 477. And albeit the strokes and lines of this Horologe or diall agreed not fit with the houres yet were the people ruled and went by it for an hundred yeares saue one euen vntill Q. Martius Philippus who together with L. Paulus was Censor set another by it framed made more exquisitly according to Art And this piece of work among other good acts done by the Censor during his office was highly accepted of the people as a singular gift of his Yet for all this if it were a close and cloudy day wherein the Sun shone not out men knew not what it was a clocke certainly and thus it continued fiue yeres more Then at last Scipio Nasica being Censor with Laenas made the deuise first to diuide the houres both of day and night equally by water distilling and dropping out one vessell into another And this manner of Horologe or water-clocke he dedicated in the end within house and that was in the 595 yere from the building of Rome Thus you see how long it was that the people of Rome could not certainly tell how the day passed Thus much concerning the Nature of man let vs returne now to discourse of other liuing creatures and first of land-beasts THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS CHAP. I. ¶ Of landbeasts The praise of Elephants their wit and vnderstanding PAsse we now to treat of other liuing creatures and first of land-beasts among which the Elephant is the greatest and commeth neerest in wit and capacitie to men for they vnderstand the language of that country wherin they are bred they do whatsoeuer they are commanded they remember what duties they be taught and withall take a pleasure and delight both in loue and also in glory nay more than all this they embrace goodnesse honestie prudence and equitie rare qualities I may tel you to be found in men and withal haue in religious reuerence with a kinde of deuotion not only the stars and planets but the sun and moon they also worship And in very truth writers there be who report thus much of them That when the new moon beginneth to appeare fresh and bright they come downe by whole heards to a certaine riuer named Amelus in the desarts and forests of Mauritania where after that they are washed and solemnly purified by sprinckling and dashing themselues all ouer with the water haue saluted and adored after their manner that planet they returne again into the woods chases carrying before them their yong calues that be wearied and tired Moreouer they are thought to haue a sense and vnderstanding of religion conscience in others for when they are to passe the seas into another country they wil not embarke before they be induced thereto by anoath of their gouernors and rulers That they shall returne again and seene there haue bin diuers of them being enfeebled by sicknesse for as big and huge as they be subject they are to grievous maladies to lie vpon their backs casting and flinging herbes vp toward heauen as if they had procured and set the earth to pray for them Now for their docility and aptnesse to learne any thing the king they adore they kneele before him and offer vnto him garlands and chaplets of floures and green herbes To conclude the lesser sort of them which they call Bastards serue the Indians in good stead to eare and plough their ground CHAP. II. ¶ When Elephants were put to draw first THe first time that euer they were knowne to draw at Rome was in the triumph of Pompey the Great after he had subdued Africke for then were two of them put in geeres to his triumphant chariot But long before that it is said that Father Bacchus hauing conquered India did the like when he triumphed for his conquest Howbeit in that triumph of Pompey Procilius affirmeth That coupled as they were two in one yoke they could not possibly go in at the gates of Rome In the late solemnity of tournois sword-fight at the sharp which Germanicus Caesar exhibited to gratifie the people the elephants were seen to shew pastime with leaping keeping a stir as if they danced after a rude and disorderly manner A common thing it was among them to fling weapons darts in the aire so strongly that the winds had no power against them to flourish also before hand yea and to encounter and meet together in fight like sword-fencers and to make good sport in a kinde of Moriske dance and afterwards to go on ropes and cords to carry foure together one of them laid at ease in a litter resembling the maner of women newly brought a bed last of all some of them were so nimble and well practised that they would enter into an hall or dining place where the tables were set full of guests and passe among them so gently and daintily weighing as it were their feet in their going so as they would not hurt or touch any of the company as they were drinking CHAP. III. ¶ The docilitie of Elephants THis is knowne for certaine that vpon a time there was an Elephant among the rest not so good of capacity to take out his lessons and learn that which was taught him and being beaten and beaten again for that blockish and dull head of his was found studying and conning those feats in the night which he had bin learning in the day time But one of the greatest wonders of them was
put vp another bill vnto the people and granted it was That for the solemnitie of the games Circenses they might be brought ouer Soaurus was the first man who in his Aedileship exhibited a shew vnto the people of 150 Luzernes together After him Pompey the Great brought forth 410. The Emperor Augustus 420 who also in the yere that Q. Tubero and Fabius Maximus were Consuls together vpon the 4 day before the Nones of May at the dedication of the Theatre of Marcellus was the first of all others that shewed a tame Tyger within a cage but the Emperor Claudius foure at once CHAP. XVIII ¶ Of the Tyger and his nature of Camels Chamelopardales and when they were first seen at Rome TYgers are bred in Hircania and India this beast is most dreadfull for incomparable swiftnesse and most of all seen it is in the taking of her yong for her litter whereof there is a great number by the hunters is stolne and caried away at once vpon a most swift horse for the purpose lying in wait to espy when the dam is abroad and shifteth this booty from one fresh horse to another riding away vpon the spur as hard as they can But when the Tygresse comes and finds her den nest empty for the male Tygre hath no care nor regard at all of the yong she runs on end after her yong ones following those that caried them away by the sent of their horse footing They perceiuing the Tygresse to approch by the noise she maketh let fall or cast from them one of her whelps vp she taketh it in her mouth and away she runneth toward her den swifter for the burthen that she carrieth And presently she setteth out again followeth the quest after her fawnes and ouertaketh the Hunter that had them away Thus runneth she to and fro vntill she see that they be embarqued and gone and then for very anger that she hath not sped of her purpose shee rageth vpon the shore and the sands for the losse of her Fawnes As for Camels they are nourished in the Levant or East parts among other heards of great cattell two kindes there be of them the Bactrians and the Arabick differing herein that the Bactrians haue two bunches vpon their backs the other but one apiece there but they haue another in their brest wherupon they rest and ly Both sorts want the vpper row of teeth in their mouthes like as bulls and kine In those parts from whence they come they serue all to carry packs like labouring horses and are put to seruice also in the wars and are backed of horsmen their swiftnesse is comparable to that of horses they grow to a iust measure and exceed not a certaine ordinary strength The Camell in his trauelling will not goe a iot farther than his ordinary iourney nether will hee carry more than his accustomed and vsuall load Naturally they doe hate horses They can abide to be foure daies together without drinke and when they drinke or meet with water they fil their skin full enough to serue both for the time past and to come but before they drinke they must trample with their feet to raise mud and sand and so trouble the water otherwise they take no pleasure in drinking They liue commonly fifty yeares and some of them an hundred These creatures also otherwhile fall to be mad so much as it is Moreouer they haue a deuice to splay euen the very females to make them fit for the warres for if they be not couered they become the stronger and more couragious Two other kinds of beasts there be that resemble in some sort the Camels the one is called of the Aethiopians the Nabis necked like an horse for leg and hoofe not vnlike the boeufe headed directly like a Camell beset with white spots vpon a red ground whereupon it taketh the name of Camelopardalus and the first time that it was seen at Rome was in the games Circenses set out by Caesar Dictator Since which time he comes now and then to Rome to be looked vpon more for sight than for any wild nature that hee hath whereupon some call her the sauage Sheepe CHAP. XIX ¶ Of the Chaus and Cephus THe Hinde-wolfe which some call Chaus and the Gaules were wont to name Rhaphius resembling in some sort a Wolfe with Leopards spots were shewed first in the solemnitie of the games and plaies exhibited by Cn. Poâ—…npeius the Great He also brought out of Aethyopia other beasts named Cephi i. Semivulpes whose forefeet were like to mens hands and the hinde feet and legs like those of a man He was neuer seen afterward at Rome CHAP. XX. ¶ Of the Rhinoceros IN the same solemnities of Pompey as many times else was shewed a Rhinoceros with one horne and no more and the same in his snout or muzzle This is a second enemy by nature the Elephant hee fileth that horne of his against hard stones making it sharpe against he should fight and in his conflict with the Elephant he layes principally at his belly knowing it to be more tender than the rest He is full as long as he his legs are much shorter and of the box colour CHAP. XXI ¶ Lynces or Onces and Marmozets or Apes called Sphinges of Crocutes Monkies English boeufes Leococrutes Eale Aethiopian bulls the Mantichore and Lycornes of the serpents called Catoblepes and the Basiliske ONces are common so are Marmozets with a browne duskish haire hauing dugs in their brest Aethiopia breedeth them like as many other monstrous beasts to wit horses with wings and armed with hornes which they cal Pegasi Also the Crocutes a kind of mastiue dogs ingendred betwixt a dog and a Wolfe these are able to crash with their teeth all they can come by and a thing is no sooner downe their swallow and got into their stomacke but presently they digest it Moreouer the Cercopitheci i. Monkies with black heads otherwise haired like Asses differing from other Apes in their cry The Indians haue certain boeufs with one horne and others with 3. Also the Leocrocuta a most swift beast as big almost as an he Asse legged like an Hart with a necke taile and brest of a Lion headed like these grayes or Badgers with a clouen foot in twaine the slit of his mouth reacheth to his eares in stead of teeth an entire whole bone They report that this beast feigneth a mans voice They haue also among them another beast named Eale for bignes equall to the riuer-horse tailed like an Elephant either black or reddish tawny of colour his mandibles or chawes resemble those of the Bore he hath hornes aboue a cubit long which he can stir or moue as he list for being in fight he can set them both or one of them as he will himselfe altering them euery way one while streight forward to offend otherwhiles bending byas as he hath reason to nort or push toward or auoid an enemie But the most fell and cruell
any time he casteth it away from him for that it is of no force and vertue vnlesse it be taken from him whiles he liues He goeth to rut in the whole yere not aboue twelue dayes When he is very hungry and can get no other prey he feedeth vpon the earth In the case of presages and fore-tokens of things to come this is obserued That if men see a wolfe abroad cut his way and turne to their right hand it is good but if his mouth be full when he doth so there is not a better signe or more lucky in the world againe There be of this kind that are called Hart-wolues such as we said that Pompey shewed in the grand Cirque brought out of Fraunce This beast they say be he neuer so hungry when hee is eating if he chaunce to look backe forgetteth his meat slinketh away and seeketh for some other prey CHAP. XXIII ¶ Of Serpents AS touching serpents we see it ordinary that for the most part they are of the colour of the earth wherein they lie hid and an infinite number of sorts there be of them The serpent Cerastes hath many times foure small hornes standing out double with mouing whereof she amuseth the birds and traineth them vnto her for to catch them hiding all the rest of her body Amphisbaena hath two heads as it were namely one at the taile as if she were not hurtfull enough to cast her poyson at one mouth only Some are scaled others spotted and painted but generally the venom of them all is deadly There be of them that from the boughes of trees shoot and launce themselues in such manner as that we are not onely to take heed of serpents as they go and glide vpon the ground but also to looke vnto them that fly as a dart or arrow sent out of an engin The Aspides swell about the necke when they purpose to sting and no remedie is there for them that are stung and bitten by them vnlesse the wounded parts be cut off presently This pestilent creature as venomous as he is hath one point yet of vnderstanding or affection rather you shall not see them wandring abroad but two and two together male and female as if they were yoked together and unneth or not at all can they liue alone without their mate so that if one of them be killed it is incredible how the other seeks to be reuenged it pursueth the murderer and knoweth him again among a number of people be they neuer so many him it courseth and layeth for his life notwithstanding what difficulties soe-euer he breaketh through all be it neuer so far thither and nothing may impeach this reuenging humor vnlesse some riuer be between to keep it backe or that the party make speed to escape away in great haste And I assure you I am not able to say whether Nature hath bin more free and prodigall in sending among vs such noisome things or giuing vs remedies againe for them For to begin withall she hath afforded to this creature but a darke sight and dim eyes and those not placed in the forepart of the head to see forward and directly but set in the very temples And hereof it is that these serpents are raised oftner by their hearing than sight CHAP. XXIV ¶ Of the Rat of India called Ichneumon BEsides the foresaid infirmitie there is mortall war between them and the Ichneumones or Rats of India A beast this is well knowne to the Aspis in this regard especially that it is bred likewise in the same Aegypt The manner of this Ichneumon is to wallow oft times within the mud and then to dry it selfe against the Sun and when he hath thus armed himself as it were with many coats hardned in this manner he goeth forth to combat with the Aspis In fight he sets vp his taile and whips about turning his taile to the enemie and therein latcheth and receiueth all the strokes of the Aspis and taketh no harme thereby and so long he maintaineth a defensiue battell vntill he espy a time turning his head a to-side that hee may catch the Aspis by the throat and throtle it And not content thus to haue vanquished this enemie he addresseth himselfe to the conflict with another as hurtful euery way dangerous as the former CHAP. XXV ¶ Of the Crocodile Scinke and Riuer-Horse THe riuer Nilus nourisheth the Crocodile a venomous creature foure footed as dangerous on water as land This beast alone of all other that keepe the land hath no vse of a tongue he only moueth the vpper jaw or mandible wherewith he biteth hard and otherwise terrible he is by reason of the course and ranke of his teeth which close one within another as if two combes grew together Ordinarily he is aboue eighteene cubits in length The female layeth egs as big as geese do and sitteth euer vpon them out of the water for a certaine naturall foreknowledge she hath how far the riuer Nilus will that yeare rise when he is at the highest and without it will shee be sure to sit There is not another creature againe in the world that of a smaller beginning groweth to a bigger quantity His feet be armed with claws for offence and his skin so hard that it will abide any injury whatsoeuer and not be pierced All the day time the Crocodile keepeth vpon the land but he passeth the night in the water and in good regard of the season he doth the one and the other When he hath filled his belly with fishes he lieth to sleep vpon the sands in the shore and for that he is a great and greedie deuourer somewhat of the meat sticketh euermore between his teeth In regard whereof commeth the wren a little bird called there Trochilos and the king of birds in Italy and shee for her victuals sake hoppeth first about his mouth falleth to pecking or picking it with her little neb or bill and so forward to the teeth which he cleanseth and all to make him gap Then getteth shee within his mouth which he openeth the wider by reason that he taketh so great delight in this her scraping and scouring of his teeth and chaws Now when he is lulled as it were fast asleep with this pleasure and contentment of his the rat of India or Ichneumon abouesaid spieth his vantage and seeing him lye thus broad gaping whippeth into his mouth and shooteth himselfe downe his throat as quicke as an arrow and then gnaweth his bowels eateth an hole through his belly and so killeth him Within the riuer Nilus there breeds another Serpent called Scincos like in forme and proportion somewhat to the Crocodile but not all so big as the Ichneumon the flesh whereof serveth for a singular Antidote or countre-poison as also for to prouoke the heat ' of lust in men But to returne againe to the Crocodile the mischiefe that he doth is so great that Nature is not content to haue giuen him one mortal
pittifull groning of a man they are saddle-backed their snout is camoise and flat turning vp And this is the cause that all of them after a wonderfull sort know the name Simo and take great pleasure that men should so call them The Dolphin is a creature that carries a louing affection not only vnto man but also to musicke delighted he is with harmony in song but especially with the sound of the water instrument or such kind of pipes Of a man he is nothing affraid neither auoides from him as a stranger but of himselfe meeteth their ships plaieth and disportes himselfe and fetcheth a thousand friskes and gamboles before them He will swim along by the mariners as it were for a wager who should make way most speedily and alwaies outgoeth them saile they with neuer so good a fore-wind In the daies of Augustus Caesar the Emperour there was a Dolphin entred the gulfe or poole Lucrinus which loued wondrous well a certain boy a poore mans son who vsing to goe euery day to schoole from Baianum to Puteoli was woont also about noone-tide to stay at the water side and to call vnto the Dolphin Simo Simo and many times would giue him fragments of bread which of purpose he euer brought with him and by this meanes allured the Dolphin to come ordinarily vnto him at his call I would make scruple and bash to insert this tale in my storie and to tell it out but that Mecenas Fabianus Flauius Alfius and many others haue set it downe for a truth in their chronicles Well in processe of time at what houre soeuer of the day this boy lured for him called Simo were the Dolphin neuer so close hidden in any secret and blind corner out he would and come abroad yea and skud amaine to this lad and taking bread and other victuals at his hand would gently offer him his back to mount vpon and then downe went the sharpe pointed prickles of his fins which he would put vp as it were within a sheath for fear of hurting the boy Thus when he had him once on his back he would carry him ouer the broad arme of the sea as farre as Puteoli to schoole and in like manner conuey him backe again home and thus he continued for many yeeres rogether so long as the child liued But when the boy was fallen sicke dead yet the Dolphin gaue not ouer his haunt but vsually came to the wonted place missing the lad seemed to be heauie and mourne againe vntill for very griefe sorrow as it is doubtles to be presumed he also was found dead vpon the shore Another Dolphin there was not many yeeres since vpon the coast of Affricke neere to the citie Hippo called also Diarrhytus which in like manner would take meat at a mans hand suffer himselfe gently to be handled play with them that swom and bathed in the sea and carrie on his backe whosoeuer would get vpon it Now it fell out so that Flauianus the Proconsull or lieutenant Generall in Affrick vnder the Romans perfumed and besmeered this Dolphin vpon a time with a sweet ointment but the fish as it should seem smelling this new strange smel fell to be drow sie and sleepie and hulled to and fro with the waues as if it had bin halfe dead and as though some iniurie had bin offered vnto him went his way and kept aloufe and would not conuerse any more for certaine moneths with men as before-time Howbeit in the end he came again to Hippo to the great wonder astonishment of all that saw him But the wrongs that some great persons and lords did vnto the citizens of Hippo such I mean as vsed to come for to see this sight and namely the hard measure offered to those townesmen who to their great cost gaue them entertainement caused the men of Hippo to kill the poore Dolphin The like is reported in the citie Iassos long before this time for there was seene a Dolphin many a day to affect a certaine boy so as he would come vnto him wheresoeuer he chanced to espy him But whiles at one time aboue the rest he followed egerly after the lad going toward the towne he shot himselfe vpon the dry sands before he was aware and died forthwith In regard hereof Alexander the Great ordained that the said young boy should afterwards be the chiefe priest and sacrificer to Neptune in Babylon collecting by the singular fancie that this Dolphin cast vnto him That it was a great signe of the speciall loue of that god of the sea vnto him and that he would be good and gracious to men for his sake Egesidemus writeth that in the same Iassus there was another boy named Hermias who hauing vsed likewise to ride vpon a Dolphin ouer the sea chanced at the last in a sodaine storme to be ouer-whelmed with waues as he sat vpon his backe and so died and was brought backe dead by the Dolphin who confessing as it were that he was the cause of his death would neuer retire againe into the sea but launced himselfe vpon the sands and there died on the drie land The semblable happened at Naupactum by the report of Theophrastus But there is no end of examples in this kinde for the Amphilochians and Tarentines testifie as much as touching Dolphins which haue bin enamoured of little boies which induceth me the rather to beleeue the tale that goes of Arion This Arion being a notable musition plaier of the harpe chanced to fall into the hands of certain mariners in the ship where he was who supposing that he had good store of mony about him which he had gotten with his instrument were in hand to kill him and cast him ouer boord for the said monie and so to intercept all his gaines he seeing himselfe at their deuotion and mercie besought them in the best manner that he could deuise to suffer him yet before he died to play one fit of mirth with his harpe which they granted at his musicke and sound of harpe a number of Dolphins came flocking about him which done they turned him ouer shipbord into the sea where one of the Dolphins tooke him vpon his backe and carried him safe to the bay of Taenarus To conclude and knit vp this matter In Languedoc within the prouince of Narbon and in the territorie of Naemausium there is a standing poole or dead water called Laterra wherein men and Dolphins together vse to fish for at one certain time of the yeare an infinite number of fishes called Mullets taking the vantage of the tide when the water doth ebbe at câ—…tain narrow weares and passages with great force break forth of the said poole into the sea and by reason of that violence no nets can be set and pitched against them strong enough to abide and beare their huge weight and the streame of the water rogether if so be men were not cunning and craftie to wait and espie
liue of muscles cockles and such small shell-fishes for their mouths are so hard that they be able to crush and break stones therewith Their manner is to goe aland where among the grasse they lay egges as bigge as birds egs to the number commonly of a hundred When they haue so done they hide them within the earth in some little hole or gutter sure enough from any place where the water commeth they couer them with mould beat it hard downe with their brest and so pat it smooth and in the night time sit vpon them they couvie a whole yeare before they hatch Some say that the looking wistly vpon their egs with their eies serueth in stead of sitting The female flieth from the male and will not abide to engender vntill such time as he pricke her behind and sticke somewhat in her taile for running away from him so fast The Troglodites haue among them certaine Tortoises with broad hornes like the pegs in a Lute or Harpe and the same will wagge and stirre so as in swimming they helpe themselues therewith and are guided and directed by them And this kind of Tortoise is called Celtium of exceeding great bignesse but rare to be found and hard to come by for their exceeding sharpe prickes like rockes among which they keepe fright the Chelonophagi who delight to feed vpon them that they dare not search after them And the Troglodites vnto whom these Tortoises vse to swim adore them as holy and sacred things There be also land Tortoises called thereupon in the workes that are made of them in pannell wise Chersinae found in the deserts and wildernesse of Affrick and principally in that part which is drie and full of sands and they are thought to liue on nothing else but the moist dew And in very truth no other liuing creature there breedeth besides them CHAP. XI ¶ Who first deuised the cleauing of Tortoise shells into thin plates like pannell THe first man that inuented the cutting of Tortoise shells into thin plates therewith to seele beds tables cupbords and presses was Carbilius Pollio a man very ingenious and inuentiue of of such toies seruing to riot and superfluous expense CHAP. XII ¶ A diuision of water beasts into their seuerall kindes THe creatures that breed and liue in the water be not all couered and clad alike for some haue a skin ouer them and the same hairie as the Seales and Water horses Others haue but a bare skin as the Dolphins There be again that haue a shell like a barke as the Tortoises and in others the shell is as hard as the flint and such be the oysters muscles cockles and winkles Some be couered ouer with crusts or hard pills as the locusts others haue besides them sharpe prickles as the vrchins Some be scaled as fishes others are rough coated as the Soles and with their skins folke vse to polish and smooth wood and yuorie Some haue a tender and soft skin as Lampreys others none at all as the Pourcuttle or Pourcontrell CHAP. XIII ¶ Of the Sea-â—…alfe or Seale THe great Whales called Pristis and Balaena bring forth their young aliue and perfect liuing creatures likewise all those that are couered with haire as the Sea-calfe or Seale She calueth on the drie land as other cattell and whensoeuer she calues she gleans afterwards as kine do The female is tied and lined to the male like as bitches to dogges she neuer bringeth more than two at once and she giueth milke at her dugs and paps to her young Shee bringeth them to the sea not before they be twelue daies old and â—…en she traines and acquainteth them to swim and keepe the water ordinarily These Seales be hardly killed vnlesse a man dash out their braines In their sleepe they seeme to low or blea and thereupon they be called Sea-calues Docible they be apt to learn whatsoeuer is taught them They will salute folke with a kind of countenance and regard also with a voice such as it is resembling a certain rude and rumbling noise If a man cal them by their name they wil turn again and in their language answere There is no liuing creature sleepeth more soundly than they The fins which they vse to swim withall in the sea serue their turnes in stead of feeâ—… to go vpon when they be on land Their skins after they be flaied from their bodies retaine still a proprietie and nature of the seas for euer as the water doth ebbe they are more rugged and the haires or bristles stand vp Moreouer their right finnes or legs are thought to haue a power and vertue to proâ—…ke sleep if they be laid vnder ones beds head CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of fishes that be without haire how they breed and how many sorts there be of them OF such creatures as want haire two only there be that bring forth their young with life and namely the Dolphin and the Viper Of fishes properly so called there be 74 kinds besides those that haue rough crustie skins which I count not wherof there be 30 sorts Of euery one of them in particular we will speake else-where and at another time for now we are to treat of the natures of the chiefe and principall CHAP. XV. ¶ Of the names and natures of many fishes THe Tunies are exceeding great fishes we haue seene some of them to weigh 15 talents and the taile to be 2 cubits broad and a span In some fresh riuers also there be fish found full as bigge and namely the riuer-Whale called Silurus in Nilus the Lax in the Rhene the Attilus in the Po. This fish growes so fat with ease lying still that otherwhiles it weigheth 1000 pounds and being taken with a great hooke fastened and linked to a chaine cannot be drawne forth of the riuer but with certaine yokes of oxen And yet as big as he is there is one little fish in comparison of him called Clupea that killeth him for vpon a maruellous desire that he hath to a certain vein that he hath within his iawes he bites it in sunder with his teeth and so dispatcheth the forenamed great fish Attilus As for the Silurus a cut-throat he is where soeuer he goeth a great deuourer and maketh foule worke for no liuing creatures come amisse vnto him he setteth vp all indifferently The very horses oftentimes as they swim he deuoures and specially in Moenus a riuer of Germany neere to Lisboa or Erlisbornis Moreouer in the riuer Donow there is taken the Mario a fish much like to a ruffe or Porpuis Also in the riuer Borysthenes there is found a fish by report exceeding great with no chine nor bone at all betweene and yet the meat thereof is passing sweet and pleasant Within Ganges a riuer of India there be fishes snouted and tailed as Dolphins 15 cubits long which they call Platanistae And Statius Sebosus reports as strange a thing besides namely that in the said riuer there be certain wormes or serpents
first out of that sea and with them stored the whole coast of our seas betweene Ostia and Campania Order was taken by straight inhibitions for the first fiue yeares to kill none that were put into those seas but if any were taken that they should be cast in againe In processe of time many of them came to be found and taken vp all along the coast of Italy whereas before they were not to be had in those parts See how gluttonie and the desire to please a dainty tooth hath deuised means forsooth to sow fish to transplant them as it were so to store the sea with strange breed so that now we need no more maruell that forraine birds and foules fet out of far countries haue their airies at Rome and breed there Next to those fishes aboue named the table is serued with a kinde of Lamprels or Elepouts like to sea Lampreis which are bred in certain lakes about the Alps and namely in that of Rhoetia called Brigantinus a strange thing it is that they should be so like in proportion to those of the sea Of all other fishes of any good account the Barbell is next both in request and also in plenty Great in quantity they are not for hardly shall you find any of them weigh aboue two pound neither wil they feed grow in stews and ponds They are bred only in the Northern sea and neuer shall you see them in the coast of the West Ocean Moreouer of this Fish there be sundry sorts And they liue all of Reits and Seawds of Oysters of the fat mud of the flesh of other Fishes They haue all of them 2 beards as it were hanging down euidently from their nether jaw The worst of all this kind is that which is called Lutarius this fish hath another named Sargus that willingly euermore beareth him company for whiles hee is rooting into the mud wherof he taketh his name then commeth the Sargus and deuoures the food that is raised therewith Neither are the Barbels much accepted that keep neere the shore and in the riuer within land But the best simply are those that tast like vnto the shel-fish Conchylium Fenestella gaue them the name Mulli of certaine moyles or fine shooes which in colour they do resemble They cast spawn thrice in one yere at the least for so often their young Fry is seen Our great belligods say that a Barbell when he is dying changeth his hue and turneth into an hundred colours the proofe and experience whereof may be seen if he be put into a glasse for through it it is a prety sport to see how he altereth and changeth his skales beeing ready to die one way into a pale and wan colour otherwhiles into a reddish hue one after another for many times together M. Apicius who was a man of all others most inuentiue and wonderful for his witty deuises to maintain riot and excesse thought it was a singular way to stide and kill these Barbels in a certain pickle called the Roman Allies sauce see how euen such a thing as that hath found a syrname for sooth a proper addition And he also went about to prouoke men to deuise a certain manger or broth made of their liuers like to that dripping or grauie called Alec that commeth of Fishes when they pine and corrupt For surely it is more easie for me to say who set men a work that way first than set down who woon the best game in the end and was the greatest glutton Asturius Celer a man of great calling and high place who sometime had bin Consull shewed his prodigalitie in this Fish it was when C. Caligula was Emperor for he gaue for one Barbell eight thousand Sesterces Certes the consideration hereof rauisheth my mind and carrieth it away to behold wonder at those who in their reproofs of gluttonie and gourmandise complained that a cooke carried a greater price in the market than a good horse of seruice For now adaies a cooke will cost as much as the charge of a triumph and one Fish as deare as a cook And to conclude no man is better esteemed and regarded more than he that hath the most cunning cast to wast the goods consume the substance of his lord and master CHAP. XVIII ¶ Of the Barbil the fish Coracinus Stock-fish and Salmon LIcinius Mutianus reporteth That in the red sea there was taken a Barbell that weighed 80 pounds Oh what a price would he haue borne among our gluttons here with vs What would he haue cost our prodigall spend thrifts if hee had bin taken vpon our coasts neere Rome Moreouer this is the nature of fish that some are chiefe in one place and some in another As for example the Coracinus in Egypt carieth the name for the best fish At Gades in Spain the Doree or Goldfish called Zeus and Faber About the Isle Ebusus the Stock-fish is much called for whereas in other places it is counted but a base muddy and filthy fish and which no where else they know how to seeth perfectly vnlesse it be first well beaten with cudgels In the country of Aquitaine or Guienne in France the riuer Salmon passeth all other sea Salmons whatsoeuer Of fish some haue many folds of guils some single others double At these guils they deliuer again and put forth the water that they take in at the mouth You may know when fish be old by their hard scales and yet all fishes are not scaled alike There be two lakes in Italy at the foot of the Alps named Larius and Verbanus wherein fishes are to be seen euery yeare at the rising of the star Vergiliae thicke of scales and the same sharp pointed like to the tongues of buckles wherwith horsemen or men at arms do fasten their greiues and neuer els but about that moneth do they appeare CHAP. XIX ¶ Of the fish Exocoetus THe Arcadians make wonderous great account of their Exocoetus so called for that hee goeth abroad and taketh vp his lodging on the dry land to sleep This fish by report about the coast Clitorius hath a kind of voice and yet is without guils And of some he is named Adonis But besides him the sea Tortoises also called Mures Marini the Polypes Lampreies vse to go forth to land Moreouer in the riuers of India there is one certaine fish doth so but it leaps back again into the water for whereas many other fishes passe out of the sea into riuers and lakes there is great and euident reason thereof namely for that they are in more safetie there both to cast their spawn vnder the wind where the water is not so rough and full of waues and also to bring forth their little ones because there be no great fishes to deuour them That these dumb creatures should haue the sence herof thus to know these causes and obserue duly their times is very strange and wonderfull if a man would sound the
depth thereof but more he would maruell to consider how few men there be that know which is the best season for fishing while the Sun passeth through the signe Pisces CHAP. XX. ¶ A diuision of fishes according to the forme and shape of their bodies OF sea fishes some be plain and flat as Byrts or Turbots Solds Plaice Flounders And these differ from the Turbots onely in the making of their body for in a Turbot the right side turns vpward and in a Plaice the left Others again be long and round as the Lamprey and Congre And hereupon it is that they haue a difference in their fins which Nature hath giuen to fish in stead of feet None haue aboue foure some two some three others none at all Only in the lake Fucinus there is a fish which in swimming vseth 8 fins All that be long and slipperie as Eeles and Congres haue ordinarily two in all and no more Lampries haue none to swim with ne yet perfect guils all of this kind winde and wriggle with their bodies within the water and so erche forward like as serpents doe vpon the earth They creepe also when they are vpon dry land and therefore such liue longer than the rest out of the water Also of the foresaid flat fishes some haue no finnes as the puffin or fork-fish for their bredth serueth them sufficiently to beare them vp and to swim And amongst those that are counted soft the Pourcuttell hath no fins for his feet standeth him in stead of fins to swim with CHAP. XXI ¶ Of Yeeles YEeles liue 8 yeares And if the North wind blow they abide aliue without water 6 daies but not so long in a Southern wind But yet in Winter time they may not endure to be in a little water nor if it be thick and muddy wherupon about the rising of the star Virgiliae they be commonly taken for that the riuers about that time vse to be troubled Their feeding most commonly is in the night Of all fish they alone if they be dead flote not aboue the water CHAP. XXII ¶ The manner of taking them in the lake Benacus THere is a lake in Italy called Benacus within the territorie of Verona through which the riuer Mincius runs at the issue whereof euerie yere about the moneth of October when the Autumne star Arcturus ariseth whereby as it euidently appeareth the lake is troubled as it were with a winter storme and tempest a man shall see rolling amongst the waues a wonderfull number of these Yeels wound tangled one within another insomuch as in the leapweeles and weernets deuised for the nonce to catch them in this riuer there be found somtime a thousand of them wrapped together in one ball CHAP. XXIII ¶ Of the Lamprey THe Lamprey spawneth at all times of the yeare whereas all other fishes are deliuered of their yong at one certain season or other The egs or spawne grow to a great passe exceeding soon If they chance to slip out of the water to dry land the common sort is of opinion that they ingender with serpents The male or milter of this kinde Aristotle calls Myrus And herein is the difference that the spawner properly called Muraena is of sundry colors and withall but weake but the Mylter or Myrus is of one hue withall very strong hauing teeth standing without his mouth In the North parts of France all the Lampreis haue in their right jaw seuen spots resembling the seuen stars about the North pole called Charlemaines Waine They be of a yellow colour and glitter like gold so long as the Lampreies be aliue but with their life they vanish away and be no more seene after they be dead Vedius Pollio a gentleman of Rome by calling and one of the great fauorits and followers of Augustus Caesar deuised experiments of cruelty by means of this creature for hee caused certain slaues condemned to die to be put into the stewes where these Lampreies or Muraenes were kept to be eaten and deuoured by them not for that there were not wilde beasts ynow vpon the land for this feat but because he tooke pleasure to behold a man torne and pluckt in pieces all at once which pleasant sight he could not see by any other beast vpon the land It is said if they taste vineger of all things they become inraged and mad They haue a very thin and tender skinne contrariwise Yeels haue as thick tough And Verrius writeth that boyes vnder 17 yeres of age were wont to be swinged and whipped with Yeeles skinnes and therefore they were freed from all other mulct and punishment CHAP. XXIV ¶ Of flat and broad Fishes OF flat and broad fishes there is another sort which in lieu of a chine or backe bone haue a gristle As the Ray or Skait the Puffin like vnto it the Maids or Thornbacke and the Crampfish moreouer those which the Greekes haue termed by the names of their sea Cow their Dog-fish their Aegle and Frog of the sea In this rank are to be ranged the Squali also albeit they are not so flat and broad All this kind in general Aristotle hath called in Greek Selache and he was the first that gaue them that name we in Latine cannot distinguish them vnlesse we call them all Cartilaginea that is to say Gristly fish But all the sort of them that deuoure flesh are such and their manner is to feed lying backward like as we obserued in the dolphins And wheras other fishes cast spawn which resemble knots of egs these gristly fishes only as also those great ones which we call Cete i. Whales bring forth their yong aliue And yet I must except one kind of them which they call Rana i. sea Frogs CHAP. XXV ¶ Of Echeneis i. the Stay-ship THere is a very little fish keeping vsually about rocks named Echeneis it is thought that if it settle and stick to the keele of a ship vnder water it goeth the slower by that means whereupon it was so called and for that cause also it hath but a bad name in matters of loue for inchanting as it were both men and women and bereauing them of their heat and affection that way as also in law cases for delay of issues and iudicial trials But both these imputations and slanders it recompenseth again with one good vertue and commendable quality that it hath for in great bellied women if it be applied outwardly it stayeth the dangerous flux of the womb and holds the child vnto the full time of birth howbeit it is not allowed for meat to be eaten Aristotle thinketh that it hath a number of feet the fins stand so thick one by another As for the shell fish Murex Mutianus saith it is broader than the Purple hauing a mouth neither rough nor round ne yet with a beck pointed cornered-wise but plain and euen hauing a shell on both sides winding and turning inward These fishes chanced vpon a time to cleaue
Hypenemia i. wind-egs CHAP. LIX ¶ Of the Peacocke and Geese THe Pea-hen falls to lay and breed after she is 3 yeres old In the first yere she begins with one or two egs the yeare following she riseth to foure or fiue in the rest shee reacheth to twelue and no more When she layeth her manner is to rest two or three dayes betweene euery egge And thrice a yeare she keepeth this order namely if her egges be taken from her and put vnder hens to be fitten vpon for why the Peacocks wil break them if they can meet with them because they canot misse and spare the Peahens company while they are broody and sitting which is the cause they are wont to lay by night or in some secret 〈◊〉 out of the way and that from an high place where they perch and then vnlesse there be good heed taken that the eggs be latched in some soft bed vnderneath they are soone broken One Peacock is sufficient to go with fiue wiues for when there is but twain the villaine is so lecherous with ouermuch treading he hindereth their laying and marreth the knot of eggs ingendred within them The Peahen hatcheth in 28 daies or in thirty at the farthest Ganders and Geese ingender together in the very water Geese lay ordinarily in the spring or if they were troden about mid-winter then ye shall haue them lay after the Winter Sunne-stead some forty daies or very neere They haue vsually two laiters in the yeare namely if hens hatched their former egs The most that they hatch at one sitting is sixteene and the fewest seuen If a man steale their egs from them they lay still and neuer giue ouer till they be readie to burst with laying No birds egs but their own will they hatch The most profitable way is to set them vpon nine or eleuen The females only sit and that for the space of 30 daies vnlesse it be warme weather and then they will haue done by 25. If one of their Goslings be stung neuer so little with a nettle it will die of it Their owne greedy feeding also is their bane for one while they will eat vntill they burst again another whiles kill themselues with straining their own selues for if they chance to catch hold of a root with their bill they will bite and pul so hard for to haue it that many times they breake their owne neckes withall before they leaue their hold Against the stinging of nettles the remedie is that so soone as they be hathed there be some nettie roots laid vnder their nest of straw CHAP. LX. ¶ Of Herons and Bittours and the best way to keepe egâ—… long OF Herons be three sorts Leucon Asterias and Pellon these last ingender with much paine and difficultie as for the males verily they cry againe for anguish and the bloud starts out of their eies in the act of treading And with as much ado and trouble do the females lay after they be knit with eg The Egle and the most part of the greater fouls sit 30 daies whereas the lesse continue but 20 as the Kite and the Hawk The Kite vsually hatcheth but one at a time and neuer aboue three but that kind called Aegolios somtimes foure The Rauen also now and then fiue and those cooue as many daies While the female crow sits the male feeds her The Piot ordinarily brings forth nine Piannets the fig-pecker Melancoryphus aboue 20 but euermore an od one and there is not a bird that goeth therein aboue her Lo how Nature is willing to multiply the race of little birds The yong Swallowes are at the first blind and so are all such as are hatched many in number Wind-egs which we call Hypenemia come either by the mutuall treading of hens one another by an imaginarie conceit of the male or else by dust And such egs not only Doues doe bring but house Hens also Partridges Peahens Geese and Brants or the female Barganders Now these egs are barren as it were and neuer proue birds lesse than others not so pleasant in taste and besides more moist Some are of opinion that the wind will ingender them for which cause also they are called Zephyria i. West-wind egs And verily such egs are seen only in the spring when that wind blows Addle egs which some called Cynosura are they that chill vpon the rest when the hen is gone and giueth ouer sitting Egs steeped in strong vineger will come to be so soft that they will passe and be drawn through the ring of a mans finger The best way to keep egges is in beane meale or floure and during winter in chaffe but for summer time in bran It is thought if they lie in salt their substance will waste and consume to nothing within the shell CHAP. LXI ¶ What Bird alone bringeth forth a liuing creature and feedeth it with milke THe Rere-mouse or Bat alone of all creatures that fly bringeth forth yong aliue and none but she of that kind hath wings made of panniclcs or thin skins She is the only bird that suckleth her little ones with her paps and giues them milk and those she wil carry about her two at once embracing them as she flieth It is said also that she hath no more but one ioynt of the hanch without any in the knee or feet and that they take greatest delight to feed vpon gnats CHAP. LXII ¶ Of Vipers their manner of generation and bringing forth yong and what land beasts do lay egges MOreouer among creatures of the land serpents lay egs whereof as yet we haue not written As they ingender together they clip and embrace and so intangled they be and inwrapped one about the other that a man who saw them would think they were one serpent with two heads In the very act of generation the male Viper thrusteth his head into the mouth of the female which she for the pleasure and delectation that she hath gnaweth and biteth off No land creature els but she hath egs within her belly of one colour and soft like as fishes haue Now after three daies they be quicke and then come forth as they be hatched but no more than one at once euery day and 20 commonly she hath When she is deliuered of the first the rest impatient of so long delay eat through their dams sides and kil her As for other serpents they lay their egs linked and chained together and so sit vpon them on the land but they hatch them not vntill the yeare following Crocodiles sit by turnes the male as well as the female But I thinke it good to treat also of the generation of other land creatures CHAP. LXIII ¶ The generation of liuing creatures vpon the land OF all liuing creatures two footed a woman onely bringeth forth her yong quicke Men and women both and none but they repent at first the losse of their maidenhead A very presage no doubt of a life to ensue full of
posterity But thus it is no doubt and it cannot otherwise be Our Aegles and standerds bribed hired and corrupted with this so good a reward haue therefore in recompense conquered the whole world Vnder such colors and pretences indeed we deceiue our selues and cloak the vice and ryot of our times and thus hauing so good a reason as this to induce and draw vs on we may not sticke to haue precious baulmes vpon our heads so it be vnder our sallats and mourrons To say for certainty and precisely when this enormity entered first into Rome and began there to raigne I am not able Sure it is as appeareth vpon record That after the subduing of K. Antiocus and the conquest of Asia which was about the 565 yeare from the foundation of Rome P. Licinius Crassus and L. Iulius Caesar the Censors published an edict prohibiting and forbidding to sell any forreine or strange ointments within Rome for so they termed these sweet mixtures and compositions But beleeue me now adaies some there be so wanton and delicat that there is no wine or other drinke good with them nor will go downe their throat vnlesse it be spiced and aromatized with these baulms and so little passe they for the bitternesse of these odours and smels that they are well content to wast and spend a deale therof without and within behind and before aboue and beneath to enioy the perfume thereof in all parts of the body Well knowne it is that L. Plotius brother to L. Plancus a man of great credit and authority as hauing bin twice Consul and Censor besides being outlawed and proclaimed a banished person by the decree of the * Trium virs was discouered within a certaine caue at Salernum where he lay close hidden and sure enough otherwise by the very smel onely of a precious ointment that he had about him and so by that meanes besides the shame and disgrace that he receiued thus to detect himselfe and be found of his enemies the rigor of the act and arrest that passed against him was executed and performed vpon his body And who would euer pitty such persons not iudge them worthy to come to so bad an end but to conclude all this discourse there is not a country in the world that yeelds such plenty and varietie of drugges fit for these compositions as Egypt and next to it Campaine in Italy may carry the name for the store of roses there growing CHAP. IIII. ¶ Of Dates and Date trees their nature and seuerall kinds THe land of Iury is as much renowned or rather more for the abundance of Palms or Date trees which it affourdeth the discourse whereof we will now enter into True it is and it cannot be denied verily that there be of them found in Europe and namely euery where in Italy but such be all of them barren Also in the maritime parts and sea-coasts of Spaine ye shall meet with Palmes that beare Dates but they are buttart and vnpleasant and indeed neuer come to their maturity and ripenesse Those of Africk I must needs say bring forth a sweet and pleasant fruit but it will not last and soon is gone whereas contrariwise in the East parts the people make wine thereof and in some countries they vse it for bread yea the very bruit and four-footed beasts do ordinarily feed of Dates and therefore we hold and conclude that Dates may be truly called forrein fruits and their Trees meere strangers in this part of the world For in Italy a man shal not find so much as one Palm tree that comes vp of it selfe without it be set or planted by mans hand neither in any other region whatsoeuer vnlesse it lie vnder some hot climat but to beare fruit ye shal neuer know it in any country if the same be not extreme ardent and scortching Date trees loue a light and sandy ground and specially for the most part if it stand much vpon a veine of Nitre besides And yet contented will they be to grow by sâ—…e riuer side where they may haue as it were one foot in the water and be euer drinking 〈◊〉 the yere long especially in a drie season Some thinke that dung is as contrary and hurtfull vnto them as to some kind of Citron trees in Assyria vnlesse it be mingled tempered with water or the trees planted neere to some running riuer Moreouer many kinds there be of Date trees and the first are smal and exceed not the bignesse of shrubs these in some parts are barren and in others fruitful they shute out little short branches round about but very full of leaues the which in most places serue in stead of parget rough-cast to defend wals of houses against the weather and drifts of rain Howbeit a second sort there be that are much taller and whole forrests stand only vpon those trees they put forth leaues sharp pointed and they grow round about disposed one close vnto another in manner of comb-teeth and these must of necessitie be taken for wild and no better and they loue here and there as it falleth out to be intermingled among those of the tamer kind as if they tooke I wot not what pleasure in their company The rest growing in the East parts be streight round and tall enuironed about the body with circles or houps made of the very barke it selfe and they are of the thickenesse of a mans thumbe set in order one aboue another like steps greeces neere together in such sort that the people of the East may easily climbe them by the means of the said barke which serueth not onely for a vestiment to the tree but also for staires to him that would mount vp so that it is a wonder to see how nimbly a man will run vp to the top These Date trees beare all their branches toward the head and their fruit comes not forth among the leaues as in other trees but hangeth to certaine branches and twigs of the owne between the boughes like clusters of grapes insomuch as it resembleth partly the nature of a grape and partly of an apple The leaues made in forme of a knife blade sharp toward the point slit as it were and clouen in the edge along both sides make shew at the first of certain faire and beautifull gems and now they serue in stead of cords and to bind vines together also being diuided and sliued into flakes they are good to plait for hats and light bongraces for the head against the heat of the Sunne Moreouer all learned men who are deeply studied in the secrets of Nature be of opinion do teach vs That in all trees and plants nay rather in all things that proceed out of the earth euen in the very herbs there are both sexes Let it suffice therefore to haue spoken thus much once for all in this place But there is no tree whatsoeuer in which this distinction of male and female appeareth more than in Palme-trees
therfore those that loue to eat it wil cut and take it away yet the tree wil liue neuerthelesse a thing that ye shall not lightly see in any others of that kinde As for those Date trees which haue broader leaues the same soft and pliable very good to make windings to bind vines and such like they be named by the Greeks Chamaeropes great abundance there is of them in Creta but more in Sicily The wood of Date trees yeelds coles that in the burning will keep fire long how beit a dead flame it is that they make and nothing quicke As touching those that be fruitfull some beare Dates with a short stone or kernell within others with a longer these are more soft those be harder Some carry a kernell of a bony substance like the Moon Croissant which many are wont to polish with some tooth and in a kind of religion are persuaded that it is good against witchcraft is of vertue to procure womens loue Some of these stones be clad and couered with many skins or pellicles others with fewer ye shal haue in this Date those tunicles thick grosse in that thinner and more fine In sum if a man would search into them particularly hee should find fifty sundry sorts of Dates saue one with seuerall strange and barbarous names and as many different wines made of them But the principall and most excellent of all the rest syrnamed Roiall Dates for that they were reserued for the kings owne mouth of Persia were knowne to grow no where els but in Babylon and in one hortyard or park only of a Bagous for so they vse to call their eunuches or gelded persons and such in times past reigned as KK ouer them and this park was euermore annexed to the crowne and went with the royal Scepter as a chiefe demaine of the Empire and passed from one Prince to another by succession But in the South-countries and meridionall parts of the world the Dates syrnamed Sâ—…agri are highly commended aboue all others and most esteemed and next to them those which be called Margarides are in account and good request these be short white and round more like in form to berries and little buttons than to mast-fruit and Dates indeed whereupon they took their name of Pearls which they do resemble It is reported that in the city Chora there is one of these trees that bears Dates like to Pearles as also another that carries the Dates Syagri I my selfe verily haue heard strange things of this kind of tree and namely in regard of the bird Phoenix which is supposed to haue taken that name of this Date tree called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for it was assured to me that the said bird died with that tree and reuiued of it selfe as the tree sprung againe Now at the very time that I wrote this History of Natures works I saw the same tree with fruit vpon it the Date that it bears is great hard rough in handling and in tast resembling some harsh and wild fruit far different from other kinds of Dates in such sort as I wondred not at the name of Syagros so like it tasted to the flesh and venison of a wild Bore in the forrest that comes to our board In a fourth rank of Dates for goodnesse are to be ranged those which they call Sandalides for the resemblance of slippers or pantofles which they vsed in old time named Sandalio But in these daies they be as rare as otherwise pleasant so that within the bounds of Aethyopia a wonderfull matter there be not aboue fiue of them to be found After the Sandalides the Dates Caryotae are in greatest request for they be not only good to eat but also a wine is made of their iuice which they yeeld in great abundance for all the people of the East make their speciall drink thereof But true it is that this kind of wine is hurtful to the head and therfore the Greeks gaue it that name Now as these countries aboue said doe affoord plenty of Date trees and the same fruitfull enough so Iury alone carries the name and the praise for goodnesse of Dates and not all Iury neither but the territory about Iericho especially and yet I must needs say that there be gathered very good Dates in the vales of Iury which be named Archelais Phaselis Liuias And these Dates of Iury haue this special property aboue all others To be full of a fat white liquor resembling milk which hath a certaine taste of wine and is exceeding sweet and pleasant withall like honey The drier kind of these Dates be those that tooke name of one Nicolas and were called Nicolai passing faire and great they be aboue all others by far for foure of them laid in a rank one at the end of another will make a cubit in length Other Dates there be not so faire to the eie as these Caryotae but surely for pleasant tast they may be well their sisters like as they be called thereupon Adelphides And a third kind there be of the same Caryotae which they commonly call Pateton ouer full they are of liquor and so drunke as a man would say with their own iuice that they burst euen as they hang vpon the tree their mother yeelding their wine in that manner of their owne accord as if they were troden with mens feet in a wine-presse and thereupon they got that name Another kind there is yet by it selfe of those Dates that be drier than the rest and they bee very long and slender yea and otherwhiles not streight but bending and crooked As for those which we dedicate to holy vses and namely when we sacrifice and offer oblations to the gods the Iews a nation aboue all others noted for contempt and mockery of the gods their worship and diuine seruice do name Chydaei i. vile and of no price The Dates in Egypt called Thebaides as also those in Arabia be all ouer-drie and withered poore leane and thin Parched as they be continually with the heat of the sun a man would deem they were couered with a crust or shell rather than with a skin or pill Go further into Aethiopia there they be so dry that they will soon crumble into pouder like meale and indeed they make thereof their bread when it is tempered and wrought with water These Dates be round and bigger than a good apple and they grow vpon a plant or shrub which spreads branches of a cubit length and the Greeks call them Cycae They hang 3 yeres before they be ripe and euermore you shall see vpon the tree Dates ripe when others come new forth green and small As for the Dates of Thebais in high Egypt so soon as they be gathered presently they are put vp into barrels whiles their naturall heat is in them for if that course were not taken with them it would soon exhale and vanish away yet will they decay and rot if they be
Daucus or yellow Carot Sauge Panace Acorus or Galangal Conyza or Cunilago Thyme Mandragoras and Squinanth More such wines there were yet which the Greeks called Scyzinum Itaeomelis and Lectispagites but as they be growne now out of vse so the manner of making is vnknown As touching wines made of trees shrubs their maner was to seeth the berries of the green wood of both the Cedars the Cypres the Bay Iuniper Terebinth Pine Calamus and Lentisk in new wine In like maner the very substance of Chamelaea Chamaepithys and Germander Last of all the floures also of the said plants serue to make wines namely by putting into a gallon of new wine in the vat the weight of ten deniers or drams of the floures CHAP. XVII ¶ Of Hydromel and Oxymel i. Honied water and Honied vineger THere is a wine called Hydromel made of water and hony onely but to haue it the better some do prescribe rain water and the same kept fiue yeares for that purpose Others who are more wise and skilfull herein do take raine water newly fallen and presently seethe it vntill a third part be boiled away then they put therto a third part also of old hony in proportion to it and so let them stand together in the Sun for forty daies together from the rising of the Dog-star Others after they haue remained thus mingled and incorporate together ten daies put it vp reserue it close stopped for their vse and this is called Hydromel which being come to some age hath the very tast of wine no place affords better than Phrygia Moreouer Vineger was wont to be tempered with hony See how curious men haue bin to try conclusions in euery thing which they called Oxymel and that in this manner Recipe of hony ten pounds or pints of old vineger fiue pints of sea salt one pound of rain water fiue Sextares i. a gallon within one quart boile them al together at a soft fire vntil they haue had ten plawes or walmes which done poure them out of one vessell into another and so let the liquor stand and settle a long time vntil it be stale All these wines compositions thus brued Themison an Author highly renowned hath condemned and forbidden expressey to be vsed And to say a very truth it seems that the vse of them was neuer but in case of necessity vnlesse a man would beleeue and say that Ipocras spiced wines those that be compounded of ointments are Natures work or that she brought forth plants and trees to no other end but that men should drink them down the throat Howbeit the knowledge surely of such experiments be pleasant and delectable vnto men of great wit and high conceit whose noble spirits cannot be at rest but euer inuentiue and searching into all secrets Now to conclude this point certain it is and past all question that none of all these compositions vnles it be those which come to their perfection by age and long time will last one yeare full out nay most of them will not keep good one moneth to an end CHAP. XVIII ¶ Certaine strange and wonderfull sorts of wine WIne also hath prodigious and miraculous effects for by report in Arabia there is a wine made which being drunk will cause barren women to beare children and contrariwise driue men into madnes But in Achaia principally about Carynia the wine makes women fall into vntimely trauell nay if a woman great with childe do eat but the verie grapes they will slip the fruit of their wombe before their time and yet both grape and wine differ not in tast from others They that drinke the wine comming from the cape Troezen ate thought vnable for generation It is reported that the Thasiens do make two kinds of wine of contrarie operations the one procures sleep the other causeth watching Among them there is a vine called Theriace the grape whereof as also the wine cureth the stings and biting of serpents as it were a most especiall Treacle As for the vine Libanios it carrieth the odour and smell of Frankincense and therefore is vsed in sacrifices to the gods But contrariwise another named Aspendios is vtterly condemned for that purpose and no wine thereof is imployed at the altar they say also that no fowle will touch the grapes thereof There is a kind of grape in Egypt which they call Thasia exceeding sweet it is and looseth the belly But contrariwise there be in Lycia that binde as much and cause costiuenesse The grapes Ecbolides in Egypt if they be eaten cause women with child to be deliuered before their time Some wines there be that as they lie in the very cellar will turn and proue soure about the rising of the Dog-star but afterward wil recouer their verdure and become quick and fresh again In like maner there be wines which vpon the sea will change howbeit the agitation thereof causeth those Wines which endure it to the end to seem twice as old as they be indeed CHAP. XIX ¶ What Wines they be that may not be vsed in sacrifices and what waies there are to sophisticate new wines FOrasmuch as our life stands much vpon religion and diuine seruice wee are to vnderstand That it is held vnlawfull to offer vnto the gods before sacrifice the Wine of any vine that hath not bin cut and pruned or that hath bin smitten or blasted with lightening or standing neere to a jebbit or tree whereon a man hath hanged dead or the grapes whereof haue bin troden by men whose legs or feet haue been wounded neither is that wine allowable for this purpose which hath bin pressed and run from the refuse of grape stones and skins once bruised and crushed in the presse or last of all if the grapes haue bin filed by any ordure or dung fallen from aboue thereupon Moreouer Greeke Wines are reiected from this holy vse because they haue water in them Furthermore the vine it self is holden good to be eaten namely when the burgens and tendrils be first sodden and afterwards preserued and kept in vineger brine or pickle Ouer and besides it were very meet and conuenient to speake also concerning the manner of preparing and ordering of wine seeing that the Greeks haue trauailed in that point seuerally and reduced the rules belonging therto into the form of an Art and namely Euphronius Aristomachus Coniades Hicesias are therein great professors The Africans vse to mitigate and allay the tartnesse of their wines with plastre yea and in some parts of their country with lime The Greeks contrariwise do fortifie and quicken them with clay with pouder of marble with salt or sea water and in some places of Italy they vse to the same effect the shauings and scrapings of stone-pitch Also it is an ordinary thing in Italy and the prouinces thereto confining for to condite their new wines to season them with rosin yea and in some places they mingle therewith the lees of
cherished mankind in that rude wild age and poore infancie of the world but that I am forced to break the course of mine history and preuented with a deep study and admiration arising from the truth and ground of experience to consider What maner of life it might be to liue without any trees or shrubs at all growing out of the earth CHAP. I. ¶ Of Nations that haue no Trees nor Plants among them Of wonderfull trees in the Northerly regions WEe haue shewed heretofore that in the East parts verily toward the maine Ocean there be many countries in that estate to wit altogether destitute of trees In the North also I my selfe haue seene the people called Cauchi as well the greater as the lesse for so they be distinguished where there is no shew or mention at all of any tree whatsoeuer For a mightie great compasse their Country lieth so vnder the Ocean and subiect to the tide that twice in a day night by turns the sea ouer floweth a mighty deale of ground when it is floud and leaues all dry again at the ebbe return of the water insomuch as a man can hardly tell what to make of the outward face of the earth in those parts so doubtfull it is between sea and land The poore silly people that inhabit those parts either keep together on such high hils as Nature hath afforded here and there in the plain or els raise mounts with their own labor and handy work like to Tribunals cast vp and reared with turf in a camp aboue the height of the sea at any spring tide when the floud is highest and thereupon they set their cabbins and cottages Thus dwelling as they do they seeme when it is high water that all the plain is ouerspread with the sea round about as if they were in little barks floting in the midst of the sea againe at a low water when the sea is gone looke vpon them you would take them for such as had suffered shipwracke hauing their vessels cast away and left lying ato-side amid the sands for ye shall see the poore wretches fishing about their cottages and following after the fishes as they go away with the water they haue not a four-footed beast among them neither inioy they any benefit of milk as their neighbour nations do nay they are destitute of all means to chase wild beasts and hunt for venison in as much as there is neither tree nor bush to giue them harbor nor any neare vnto them by a great way Sea-weeds or Reike rushes and reeds growing vpon the washes and meers serue them to twist for cords to make their fishing nets with These poore souls and silly creatures are faine to gather a slimy kinde of fatty mud or oase with their very hands which they drie against the wind rather than the Sun and with that earth for want of other fuell they make fire to seeth their meat such as it is and heat the inward parts of their body ready to be starke and stiffe againe with the chilling North winde No other drink haue they but rain water which they saue in certain ditches after a shower and those they dig at the very entry of their cottages And yet see this people ss wretched and miserable a case as they be in if they were subdued at this day by the people of Rome would say and none sooner than they that they liued in slauerie But true it is that Fortune spareth many men to let them liue still in paine and misery Thus much as touching want of woods and trees On the other side as wonderfull it is to see the mighty forrests at hand thereby which ouerspread all the rest of Germany and are so big that they yeeld both cooling and shade to the whole countrey yea the very tallest woods of all the rest are a little way vp higher in the countrey and not farre from the Cauchi abouesaid and especially those that grow about the two great loughes or lakes in that tract Vpon the banks wherof as also vpon the sea-coasts there are to be seene thick rows of big Okes that loue their seat passing wel and thriue vpon it in growth exceeding much which trees happening to be either vndermined by the waues and billowes of the sea vnder them eating within their roots or chased with tempestuous winds beating from aboue carry away with them into the sea in manner of Islands a great part of the Continent which their roots doe claspe and embrace wherewith being counterpoised and ballaised they stand vpright floting and making saile as it were amid the waues by the means of their mighty armes which serue in stead of tackling And many a time verily such Okes haue frighted our fleets and armadoes at sea and especially in the night season when as they seemed to come directly against their proes standing at anker as if of purpose they were driuen vpon them by the waues of the sea insomuch as the sailers passengers within hauing no other means to escape them were put to their shifts and forced for to addresse themselues and range a nauall battell in order and all against trees as their very enemies CHAP. II. ¶ Of the huge and great Forest Hercynia IN the same North climat is the mighty forrest Hercynia A huge and large wood this is stored with tall and big Okes that neuer to this day were topt or lopt It is supposed they haue been euer since the creation of the world and in regard of their eternall immortality surmounting all miracles besides whatsoeuer And to let passe all other reports which happely would be thought incredible this is knowne for certain That the roots of the trees there run and spread so far within the ground that they encounter and meet one another in which resistance they swell and rise vpward yea and raise vp mounts of earth with them to a good height in many places or where as the earth followes not a man shal see the bare roots embowed arch-wise and mounting aloft as high as the very boughes which roots are so interlaced or els rub one against the other striuing as it were not to giue place that they make a shew of great portailes or gates standing open so wide that a whole troupe or squadron of horsmen may ride vpright vnder them in ordinance of battell CHAP. III. ¶ Of trees bearing Mast. MAst tres they were all for the most part which the Romanes euer so highly honoured and held in best account CHAP. IV. ¶ Of the Ciuicke garland and who were honoured with chaplets of Tree-leaues FRom Mast trees and the Oke especially came the Ciuicke coronets And in very truth these were the most honorable badges and ornaments that could possibly be giuen vnto souldiers and men of war in regard of their vertue and man-hood yea and now for a good while our Emperors haue had this chaplet granted vnto them in token and testimony of clemency euer
In Italy men hold the Elmes about Atinum to be the tallest and of those they prefer them which grow in dry grounds and haue no water comming to them before those by riuers sides A second sort of them which are not all out so great they call the French Elmes The third kinde be the Italian Elmes thicker growne with leaues than the rest and those proceeding in greater number from one stem In the fourth place be ranged the wilde Elmes The Atinian Elmes aboue said beare no Samara for so they cal the seed or grain of the Elme All the kind of them are planted of sets taken from the roots whereas others come of seeds CHAP. XVIII ¶ The nature of trees as touching the place where they grow HAuing thus discoursed in particular of the most famous and noble trees that are I think it not amisse to say somewhat of their natures in generall And first to beginne with the mountain high countries the Cedar the Larch and the Torch-tree loue to grow among the hills like as all the rest that ingender rosin semblably the Holly the Box tree the Mast-Holme the Iuniper the Terebinth the Poplar the wilde Ash Ornus the Cornell tree and the Carpin Vpon the great hill Apennine there is a shrub named Cotinus with a red or purple wood most excellent for in-laid works in Marquetry As for Firs the wild hard okes Robora Chestnut trees Lindens Mast-holmes and Cornell trees they can away with hills and vallies indifferently The Maple the Ash the Seruis tree the Linden and the cherry tree delight in the mountains neere to waters Lightly a man shall not see vpon any hills Plum trees Pomegranat trees wild Oliues Walnut trees Mulberry trees and Elders And yet the Cornel tree the Hasel the common Oke the wild Ash the Maple the ordinary Ash the Beech and the Carpin are many times found to come downe into the plaines like as the Elme the Apple tree the Peare tree the Bay tree the Myrtle the Bloud shrubs the Holme and the Broome which naturally is so good for to dry clothes do as often climbe vp the mountains The Servis tree gladly groweth in cold places so doth the Birch and more willingly of the twaine This is a tree which is meere French and came first out of France it sheweth wonderfull white and hath as fine and small branches or twigs which are so terrible to the offenders as wherewith the Magistrates rods are made for to execute justice And yet the wood of this tree is passing good for hoopes so pliable it is and easie to bend the twigs thereof serue also for to make paniers and baskets In France they vse to boile the wood and thereof draw a glutinous and clammy slime in maner of Bitumen In the same quarters there loueth to grow for company the white thorn which in old time they were wont to burne for torches at weddings and it was thought to be the most fortunate and lucky light that could be deuised because as Massurius reporteth the Romane shepheards and heardmen who rauished the Sabine maidens were furnished euery one with a branch thereof to make them torches But now adaies the Carpine and Hazel are commonly vsed for such nuptial lights The Cypres walnut Chestnut trees and the Laburnum cannot in any wise abide waters This last named is a tree proper to the Alps not commonly known the wood thereof is hard and white it beares a blossom of a cubit long but Bees will not settle vpon it The plant likewise called Iovis Barba so handsom to be cut in arbors and garden works which groweth so thicke and round withall full of leaues and those of a siluer colour hates waterie places Contrariwise Willows Alders Poplars and Osiars the Privet which is so good for to make dice will not grow well and prosper but in moist grounds Also the Vacinia or Whortles set and sowed in Italy for the Fowlers to catch birds withall but in France for the purple colour wherewith they vse to die clothes for their seruants and slaues To conclude this is a generall rule What trees soeuer will grow indifferently as well vpon hills as plaines arise to be taller bigger and carry a fairer head to see to in the low champion grounds but timber is better and caries a more beautifull grain vpon the mountaines except only Apple trees and Pyrries CHAP. XIX ¶ A diuision of Trees according to their generall kinds MOreouer some trees lose their leaues others continue alwaies green And yet there is another difference of trees before this and whereupon this dependeth For trees there be which are altogether wild and sauage there be again which are more gentle and ciuil and these names me thinks are very apt to distinguish them Those trees therefore which are so kind and familiar vnto vs as to serue our turns either with their fruit which they bear or shade which they yeeld or any other vertue or property that they haue may be very aptly and fitly be called ciuill and domesticall CHAP. XX. ¶ Of Trees that neuer shed their leaues also of Rhododendron AMong these trees and plants which are of the gentle kind the Olive the Lawrel the Date tree Myrtle Cypres Pines Ivy and the Oleander lose not their leaues As for the Oleander although it be called the Sabine herb yet it commeth from the Greeks as may appeare by the name Rhododendron Some haue called it Nerion others Rhododaphne it continueth alwaies green leafed beareth floures like roses and brancheth very thicke Hurtfull it is and no better than poison to Horses Asses Mules Goats and Sheepe and yet vnto man it serueth for a countrepoyson and cureth the venom of serpents CHAP. XXI ¶ What trees shed not their leaues at all which they be that lose them but in part and in what countries all trees are euer greene OF the wild sort the Fir the Larch the wilde Pine the Iuniper the Cedar the Terebinth the Box tree the Mast-holme the Holly the Cork tree the Yew and the Tamariske be green all the yeare long Of a middle nature between these two kinds aboue named are the Adrachne in Greece and the Arbut or Strawberry tree in all countries for these lose the leaues of their waterboughs but are euer green in the head Among the shrubs kind also there is a certain bramble and Cane or Reed which is neuer without leaues In the territorie of Thurium in Calabria where somtime stood the city Sybaris within the prospect from the said Citie there was an Oke aboue the rest to be seen alwaies green and ful of leaues and neuer began to bud new before Midsummer where by the way I maruel not a little that the Greek writers deliuered thus much of that tree in writing and our countrymen afterwards haue not written a word thereof But true it is that great power there is in the clymat insomuch as about Memphis in Egypt and Elephantine in the territorie of Thebais
tooth-ach by reason of the hot and caustick quality that it hath like to Senuie or Mustard-seed As touching the Reed-plots about the Orchomenian lake I must needs write more exactly considering in what admiration they were in times past for in the first place they called that Cane which was the thicker and more strong Characias but the thinner and more slender Plotia And this verily was wont to be found swimming in the Islands that floted in the said lake whereas the other grew alwaies firme vpon the bankes and edges thereof how farre soeuer it spred and flowed abroad A third sort also there is of Canes which they called Auleticon for that it serueth to make flutes and pipes of but this commonly grew but euery ninth yeare for the said lake also kept that time just and increased not aboue that terme but if at any time it chanced to passe that time and to continue full two yeres together more than ordinary it was holden for a prodigious and fearfull signe The which was noted at Châ—…ronia in that vnfortunate battell wherein the Athenians were ouerthrowne and defeated and many times else is obserued to happen about Lebadia namely when the Riuer Cephisus ariseth so high that he swelleth ouer his bankes and is discharged into the said lake Now during that ninth yeare whiles the inundation of the lake continueth these Canes prooue so bigge and strong withall that they serue for hawking poles and sowlers pearches and then the Greeks call them Zeugitae Contrariwise if the water hold not so long but do fal and return back within the yere then the Reeds be small and slender named Bombyciae Howbeit the femals of this kind haue a broader and whiter leafe little or no down at all vpon them and then they are known by a pretty name and called Spadones as one would say guelded Of these Reeds were made the instruments for the excellent close musick within-house wherein I cannot passe with silence what a wonderfull deale of paines and care they tooke to fit them for their tune and make them to accord insomuch as we are not to be blamed but born withall if now adaies we chuse rather to haue our pipes and hautboies of siluer And in truth to the time of Antigenes that excellent minstrell and plaier vpon the pipe all the while that there was no vse but of the plain musick and single instrument the right time of cutting down gathering these Reeds for this purpose was about September when the signe Arcturus is in force then were they to haue a seasoning and preparation for certaine yeares before they would serue the turne yea and then also much ado there was with them and long practise and exercise they asked before they could be brought into frame and good tune so as a man might wel say that the very pipes were to be taught their sound and note by meanes of certaine tongues or quills that struck and pressed one vpon another and all to giue contentment and shew pleasure vnto the people assembled at Theatres according as those times required But after that musicke came once to be compound and that men sung and plaied in parts with more varietie and delight they began to gather these Reeds before mid-Iune and in three yeares space they had their perfection and grew to their proofe then were those tongues or holes made more wide and open for to quauer and change the note the better and of such are the flutes and pipes made which be vsed at this day But in those times men were persuaded that there was a great difference in the parts of any Reeds for to serue these or those instruments in such sort as that ioint which was next vnto the root they held to be meeter for the Base pipe that was fitted for the left hand and contrariwise for the Treble of the right hand those knots that were toward the head top of the Reed Howbeit of all others by many degrees were those preferred which grew in the riuer Cephisus Now adaies the hautboies that the Tuscans play vpon at their sacrifices be of Box-wood but the pipes vsed in plaies for pleasure only are made of the Lotos of Asses shank-bones and of siluer The best Faulconers Reeds wherewith they vse to chase foules came from Panhormus but the Canes for angle-rods that fishers occupie are brought out of Africk from Abaris The Italian Reeds Canes be fittest for to make perches to lay ouer frames props for to beare vp vines Finally as touching the setting of Reedes Cato would haue them to bee planted in moist grounds after they haue bin first delued laid hollow with a spade prouided alwaies that the oelets stand 3 foot asunder and that there be wilde Sparages among whereof come the tender crops for sallads for those like well and sort together with the Canes CHAP. XXXVII ¶ Of the Willow or Sallow eight kinds thereof and what trees besides the Willow are good for bindings Also of Briers and Brambles MOreouer after the opinion of the said Cato it is good to plant Withies also about riuer sides and neere to Reeds for surely there is not more profit arising from any other tree of the waters than from it howsoeuer the Poplars are well liked and loued of the vines and do nourish the good wines of Caecubum howsoeuer the Alders serue in stead of rampiers and strong fences against the inundation and ouerflowing of riuers withstanding their forcible eruptions howsoeuer they stand in the waters as mures and wals to fortifie the banks or rather as sentinels to watch and ward in the borders of country farms and being cut down to the root do multiply the rather and put forth many shoots and imps as heires to succeed And to bigin withall of Sallowes there be many kinds for some there be that in the head beare perches of a great length to prop and make trails for vines to run vpon and the rind or skin as it were pilled from the wood is as good as a belt or thong to binde or gird any thing withall Others againe there are and namely the red Willowes which carry twigs and rods that are pliable and gentle to wind as a man would haue them fit also for buildings Ye shal haue of these Osiers some that are very fine passing slender wherof are wrought prety baskets and many other dainty deuises others also that are more tough and strong good to make paniers hampers and a thousand other necessary implements for country houses and to fit the husbandmen Being pilled they are the fairer and whiter more smooth also and gentle in hand whereby they are excellent good for the more delicate sort of such wicker ware and better far than stubborn leather but principally for leaning chairs wherein a man or woman may gently take a nap sitting at ease and repose most sweetly A willow the more that it is cut or lopt the better spring will it shoot
of the Frenchmen the tamis raunger for course bread as also the fine floure boulter for manchet made both of linnen cloth the Spaniards inuented In Aegypt they made them of Papyr reed and rushes But now that we are entred so far into this matter as touching corne I thinke it not amisse before I proceed any farther to speak with the first of the frumentie called Alica and the manner thereof being as it is so excellent and wholsome to be eaten and which no doubt throughout all Italy bears the name for the very best of all corne whatsoeuer No question but there is made thereof in Aegypt howbeit nothing to the other In Italy many places there be where it is to be had as namely in the territories of Verona and Pisae but that of Campain carieth the price and praise aboue all the rest a champion or plaine countrey this is for the space of forty miles lying as a vale vnder the hils and mountaines subject to watery clouds and tempestuous winds The soile of this whole tract to speake directly of the nature thereof and defer no longer is light and dustie if a man respect the vpper coat thereof but vnderneath it drinks in much moisture whereunto apt it is by reason of certain fistulous porosities therin like a pumish stone in which regard the mountaines commanding these plaines ill neighbors otherwhiles do it much good and mend the soile very well for many a sound showre which ordinarie falleth from the hills passeth and runneth through it as it were a colander by means wherof the ground standeth not drenched and soked with water but is thereby more pliable easie to be tilled Now this soile hauing thus receiued store of water doth not yeeld it vp again boiling out at any springs but keepeth and cherisheth it still within as it were the radical and nutritiue humor concocting the same to a very good temperature All the yere long a man shall see it sown and standing with corn one or other for the same ground bears one crop of Panick and two of the red wheat Far it neuer resteth but beareth somwhat for say that some lands lye fallow between-while and are not sowed with corn they yeeld roses in the spring of themselues naturally and those far sweeter than the garden roses so fruitful is it and canot abide to be idle and do nothing Herupon arose the prouerb of this land of Campaine That greater store is there to be found of sweet perfumes and odoriferous ointments than of simple oyle in other countries whatsoeuer And looke how much this tract of Campaine surpasseth all other lands in goodnesse and fertility so much excelleth one quarter therof called in Latin Laboriae and by the Greeks Phlegraeum all the rest and goeth beyond it selfe This plain aforesaid named Laboriae is confined on both sides with the great causeis or high waies raised by the Consuls and thereupon called Consulares the one goeth from Puteoli the other from Cumes and lead both to Capua But to come againe vnto our Frumentie Alica made it is of the graine Zea which before we tearmed by the generall name of Seed This corne for to make Frumenty is to be pound in a wodden morter when it should be cleansed from the huske for if a man beat in one of stone the hardnesse thereof would bruise and breake it The best way of cleansing and husking it is with a pestill such as bondslaues and prisoners do vse to stamp withall and to work by task for their punishment in the forepart therof it hath a circle of yron made in fashion of a round Box wherewith after the corne is drawn naked out of the husk the very same instrument serueth again to stamp and bruise the white marrow and floure thereof within And thus by this means there be three sorts of Alica or Fourmentie aforesaid The finest which is the best the meane which is the second and the greatest or grossest which the Greekes call Aphaerema When all this is done yet haue they not that whitenesse of their owne for which cause they are so much esteemd as namely those that are come nowadays from Alexandria which are taken to be the best and to excell all other And therfore there is chalk a wonderfull thing to be spoken mingled afterwards and incorporate therwith and so by that means the Frumenty becomes white and tender withall Now this chalke or plastre is found between Puteoli and Naples in a little hill which thereupon is called Leuco-gaeon i. white earth And in truth when Augustus Caesar late Emperor of Rome erected a colonie at Capua and peopled it with Roman citizens he assigned vnto the Neapolitanes by vertue of a decree now extant an yerely rent or pension of twentie thousand deniers to be paid out of his owne treasure in regard of the chalk which came from the hill aforesaid being within their territorie and siegnorie He rendereth also a reason inducing him thus to do Because the inhabitants of Capua alleadged that they could not make good Alica or Frumenty without that mineral of chalke In the same hil there is also found a Brimstone mine and out of the veines thereof fountaines springing called Oraxi the water whereof is singular good to cleer the eies to cure and heale green wounds and to fasten the teeth that are loose in ones head As touching a bastard kind of Frumenty it is made verily for the most part of a Speltor Zea in Affrick which there doth degenerat and grow out of kind The ears that it carieth are broader and blacker than the other and the straw is but short They vse to cleanse and huske it by stamping or braying it together with sand and for all that deuise much ado they haue to fetch off the huls and huskes wherein the graine lieth enclosed now when it is thus cleansed and naked it is not past halfe as much in measure as it was before Which done there is a fourth part of plastre strewed mingled among and when al is together they sift it down through a meal sieue That which remaineth behind and passeth not through is the grossest part thereof and is called in Latine Exceptitia That which was thus searced is driuen againe through a narrower and finer sieue and those groats that tarie in the ranger the call Secundaria In like manner doe they a third time searcing it through so fine a sieue that nothing can passe but the very small sand and pouder and this last kind of Frumenty gurts they name Cribraria Another way there is besides in all places practised to sophisticat and counterfeit the right Frumenty groats indeed They chuse out of our common Wheat the fairest fullest and whitest grains which beeing half sodden in an earthen pot they lay out afterwards in the Sun till they be as drie as they were at first which don they lightly sprinckle some water ouer then bruise them in a quearn mill Fairer Frumentie groats
b. their bonie substance or heart ibid. their fat or flesh ibid. i. their marrow sinewes bloud and veines 487. c. d Trees of what age best for timber 488. g Trees deliuered of a birth of harneis 489. b Trees growing in the sea 402. g. h Trees ouerthrowne by tides ibid. Trees male distinguished from the female by the ax 463. c Trees distinguished according to the places where they loue to grow 468. g. h Trees some sauage others ciuile ibid. m Trees that lose not their leaues 469. a Trees greene alwaies in the head shead leaues in the water boughes ibid. no Tree about Memphis in Aegypt sheadeth leaues 469. e Trees that bud though they blossome not 472. g what Trees haue three springs or buddings in the yeare ib. i Trees how they bud blossome and beare 472. l. 473. a. b Trees bearing no fruit at all ibid. c Trees vnfortunate and accursed ibid. f Trees soonest forgoing their blossome and shedding their fruit 374. g Trees fruitlesse by occasion of the soile ibid. i Trees male whether they beare not ibid. Trees of sbortest life 495. c a Tree fish 236. g Trebius honoured for bringing down the corn market 551c Trenches and ditches for Vines how to be made 529. a Tribes Rusticke in Rome 550. m Tribes Vrbanae 551. a Trichna a fisb 244. i Trimenon wheat what it is 561. b Triticum 563. a Trixis See Ricinus Tritanus a man of extraordinaris strength 166. k. his sonne ibid. Triticum 561 b Tritons fishes discouered at Lisbon 236. h. what they are ibid. how they breed 241. d Troas 109. c Trochos a fish 266. i Troglodytes people aboue Aethiopia swifter than horses 157. b. eight cubits high ibid. Troupes of horsemen hidden vnder the boughs of a figtree 155. d. T V Tuberes of two sorts 438. g Tuberes what fruit 437. f. when they and Iuiubes were brought into Italie 438. g Turneps how where and when to be sown 571. a. b Tullus Hostilius first ware therobe Pretexta 260. h Tullus Hostilius killed with lightening and why 26. k Tunies their historie 242. m Tunie fishes readie to ouerturne a ship 235. c Turbo the name of a blast 25. a Turbot a kinde of fish 247. d Tuscanes their opinion of lightning 26. g Turners craft whose inuention 188. l T W Twins dangerous to the mother if they bee of both sexes 158. i. T Y Tympania a kinde of pearles 255. b Typhe 563. a Tyriamethyst a double purple colour 261. a Tyrus the description thereof 102. g Typhon the name of a whirlepuffe 24. l. how mariners may preuent the danger thereof ibid. Tyrannicall rule who first practised 189. a V A VAlour sundrie examples thereof 170. h Ualerius Antias a writer 48. g Valeria vnfortunate to the place whither shee was carried 164. i. Varietie of mens speech and shape is wonderfull 153. d Vappa what it is 424. k Vari who they be called properly 350. k Varices i. swelling veines more ordinarie in men than in women 350. k V B Vbians fat their ground with any kinde of earth 506. k V E Vedius Pollio his pastime to see lampries deuour men 248. i of Ueins and Arteries 345. c Veine in timber called Fertile 493. c Veine in trees what it is 486. k Vetouis in the Capitoll 491. d Venetians from whence 115. d Venus Cluacina 451. a. Venus Murtea or Myrtea ibid. c Venus planet her nature motioÌ„ excellencie names 6. h. i her motion making two stations 10. i. why shee neuer departeth from theÌ„ Sun more than 46 degrees 12. h her colour 13. c Venerium Cicer kinde of pease 570 g Vergiliae starres in the taile of Taurus 20. k. called the garment hanging out at the brokers shop 〈◊〉 k Vermin as lice c. in sea as well as in land 264 g Vermin hurtfull to trees 5â—…0 m Veruectum what it is 578 m Verulenus Aegialus a siâ—…gular good husband man 411. c Vespasian Augustus his praise 4. g. In his Corsuship either Sun nor Moone seene in twelue daies 9. e Vesper the starre why Venus so called 6. i Vespertinus rising or setting of fixed starres 587. d Vetches when to be sowne 572. i. not chargeable ibid. h V I Viatores what officers at Rome 552. h Vinalia a festiuall holiday 600. g Vine the nature thereof 530. h Vine planting and pruning who first practised 188. m Vine-sets doe temper the hot ground Carbunculus 503. b Vine hath the sense of smelling 542. l Vine turneth away from the Radish and Lawrell ibid. Vines of fiue sorts 528. i Vines take most harme in blouming time by raine 540. m erected vpon trees beare latest 536. h. wedded to â—…rees when to be cui 535. b. hoâ—… many may be reared to one tree ibid. when such are to be cut 535. b. when vines are to be pruned 533 h Vine leaues to be cleansed once in the spring ibâ—…d Vine frames and trailes how they ought to be made 5â—…2 k Vine bearing before the seuenth yeare dieth 531. e Vines to be repressed und not cockered 531. e Vine frames of what best 530. h Vines to be set in a drie day 529. b Vine hateth all pot-hearbes or woorts ibid. Vines in what order to be planted 529. c Vine trees how they be killed ibid. Vines how many in an acre 530. c. ought to be prured once a yeare 546. g Vines full of cicatrices not to be trusted 530 h Vines yeelding a double vintage yearely 581 e they die with much bearing 475. d Vines the elder beare the better wine but the younger more plentie 47â—… c Vines bearing thrice a yeare ibid. a Vines their diseases 540. i Vine in the Forum at Rome 444. g Vine Heluenaca 408. k. of two kindes ib. very plentifull ib. Vine Arca. ibid it loueth not Italie ib. is neuer blasted ib. Vine Spionia or Spinea 408. l Vine Basilica ibid. h Vine Venicula ibid. m Vine Apiana why so called 407. 〈◊〉 Vines Stacula Sirculus Numisiana 408. m Vine Murgentina 409. a Vine Pompeiana ibid. Vine Maerica ibid. Vine Tudernis 409. b Vine Florentia ibid. Vine Talpana ibid. why so called 409. c Vine Etesiaca 409. b. why so called ibid. c Vine Conseminia 409. b Vine Irtiola 409. c. Vine Pumula ibid. d Vine Bananica 409. d Vine Gaurania ibid. Vine Falerna ibid. Vine Tarentine ibid. Vine Duracina 409. f Vine Ambrosiaca ibid. Vine Orthampelos ibid. Vines Dactylides 410. g. why so called ibid. Vines Columbine ibid. Vine Tripedanea ibid. Vine Rhetian ibid. Vine Alexandrina 410. k Vine Narbonica ibid. Vine Scantiana 411. b Vines Fundane 414. i Vines Taurominitane 414. k Vine Theriace 423. a Vines Libanios Aspendros ibid. Vine compluviata what it is 528. l Vine sets how they may grow without their marrow or pith 528. h. how they beare grapes without kernels ibid. their distance one from another 527. c. full of ioynts fruitlesse 527. b Vintage time 605. e rules seruing for Vintage time ibid. e. f wild Vine Labrusca the roots
b Wine Myrtidanum ibid. Wine of Beterrae 414. l. of Tarentum 414. l. of Servitium ibid. of Consentia ibid. of Tempsa ibid. of Bavia ibid. of Lucania ibid. Wine of Thurium 415. a Wine of Lagaria ib. brought into credit by Messala ibid. Wine of Trebellia ibid. of Cauliâ—… ibid. Wine Trebulane ibid. Trifoline ibid. Wine of Pompeij ibid. Wines of Spaine 415. a Wine of Laletatane ibid. of Tarracon of Arragon of Laurâ—…ne ibid. Wines of the Balear Islands ibid. Wine of Thasos 415. 〈◊〉 of Chios ibid. Wine Ariusium ibid. Wine of Lesbos ibid. of Clazomene ibid. of mount Tmolus ibid. of Sicyone Cypresse Telmessus Tripolis Berytus Tyrus Sebennys 415. f Wine Hippodamantian ibid. Cantharites ibid. Gnidian ibid. Wines of Catacecanment 416. g. of Petra ibid. of Mycone ibid. Wine Mesogites 416. g of Ephesus ibid. of Apamea ibid. Wine Protagium ibid. Wines of Pontus Naspercenites Oroeoticke Oeâ—…ates of Leucas of Ambracia of Peparethus 416. g. h Wine Leucochrum 416. i Wine Tethalassomenum ibid. Wine Thalassites 416. k. why so called ibid. Wine Greekish 416. k Wine Scyzinum Itaeomelis Lectispagites 422. g Wines of garden hearbes 421. b of Radish 421. c. of Sparage ibid. of Savorie ibid. of Maioram ibid. of Origan ibid. of Smallach seed ibid. of Southernwood ibid. of wild Mints ibid. of Rue ibid. of Nep or Calaminth ibid. of running Thyme ibid. of Horehound ibid. Wine of Navews 421. c Wine Squilliticke ibid. Wines of floures 421 c Wine rosat how it is made 421. d Wine of Celticke spikenard ibid. Wine Ipocras or aromatized ibid. after what sort ibid. Wines condite or Pepper wines 421. e Wine Nectarites why so called ibid. how it is made of Elecampane ibid. worme-wood Wine ibid. hyssope Wine 421. f ellebore Wine ibid. Scammonite Wine ibid. Winkles or Sea-snailes what fishes 253. c. of sundry sorts ibid. e. what Winter we shall haue knowne by Bruma according to Democritus 589. f Witchcraft by praising and eye-biting 155. a Wiâ—… 〈◊〉 examples thereof 171. b 〈◊〉 tree called Spilfruit 474. h. it groweth quickly if it be pricked onely into the ground ibid. Withies or willowes where they loue to grow 484. l exceeding commodious ibid. compared with poplers and â—…lders ibid. W O Women bearing but once in their life time 156. m Women seldome left handed 165. e Women with a double apple in their eie witches 155. b bearing children at seauen yeares of age 157. a. at fiue yeares ibid. how many they may beare at one burthen naturally 157. d Women in Aegypt more fruitfull than others and the reason ibid. Womens monethly sickenesse 163. c. the strange effects thereof ibid. d. e. they stay commonly at fourtie yeares of age 163. a a Woman deliuered at once of two boies and two girles 157. d. it presaged famine ibid. Women many times lie for dead and whereupon 184. k a Woman deliuered of twenty children at four births 157. e Wood most massie and which swimmeth not 490. g Wood seruing to strike fire ibid. k Woods of sundrie natures and for diuerse vses 490. k. l. 493. d. e. f. Wood-wormes foure sorts 492. h Wood breeding no worme 492. i Wood how it is preserued from cleauing 492. l Wood of diuerse natures ibid. World what it is 1. c. euerlasting and infinit 1. c. vnmeasurable 1. d Worlds not innumerable 1. d. of a round forme 1. f World visible a haemisphere 2. g it turneth round in foure and twentie houres 2. g whether in turning it make an audable sound or harmonie 2. h. whether the bodie thereof be all smooth 2. h World certaine and yet vncertain 1. c. containing all things within it selfe ibid. World and heauen all one 1. b World why called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Mundus in Latine 2. k. the geometricall dimension 14. l Wormes hurtfull to standing corne 544. k X XEnophilus liued an hundred and fiftie yeares without sickenesse 183. b Xiphiae a kinde of Comets â—…5 〈◊〉 Xylocinnamon 373. a Xylobalsamum 377. b. the price of it 378. h Y YEels the manner of their engendring 265. d Yeels their nature 247. f. their life ibid. how they be taken in Benacus 248. g of great length 235. c Yeeles-skins vsed to ierke boys 249. k Yeeles dead onely flote not aboue the waters 247. f Yeeres diuersly reckoned 181. a Yeere diuided into twelue moneths 7. b Yoking oxen who first began 189. a Yron and steele who found first 188. k Yron-smith forge who first vsed 188. l Z ZOroastres laughed the first day that he was borne he liued in a wildernesse 20 yeares with cheese 349. b Zodiacke a circle in heauen 2. k. the deuisers of all the parts thereof 5. 〈◊〉 THE HISTORIE OF THE WORLD Commonly called THE NATVRAL HISTORIE OF C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS Translated into English by PHILEMON HOLLAND Doctor of Physicke The second Tombe PLINIVS PINGIT VTRVMQUE TIBI ΜΑΚΡΟΚΟΣΜΟΣ ΜΙΚΡΟΚΟΣΜΟΣ LONDON Printed by Adam Islip 1634. TO THE READER FOr as much as this second Tome treateth most of Physicke and the tearms belonging thereto as wel concerning diseases as medicines be for the most part either borowed from the Greek or such as the vnlearned be not acquainted with which partly vpon ne cessity I was forced and partly for varietie induced to vse I could not content my selfe to let them passe without some explanation for since my purpose especially is to profit and pleasure the most ignorant for whose sake Plinie also himselfe as hee professeth compiled this worke I would not be so iniurious vnto them as to interrupt their reading with obscuritie of phrase when the matter otherwise is most familiar In regard whereof I thought good to prefix a briefe Catalogue of such words of Art as euer and anon shall offer themselues in these discourses that insue with the explanation thereto annexed and the same deliuered as plainly as I could possibly deuise for the capacity of the meanest In the handling whereof so I may satisfie my countrymen that know no other Language but English I shall thinke my paines and labour well bestowed and lesse feare the censure of those that haply expect some deeper learning for euer still the verse of that Comicall Poet resoundeth from the stage in mine eares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Speake with lesse shew of learning so it be with more perspecuitie Vale. A briefe Catalogue of the words of Art with the Explanation thereof A ABort or Abortiue fruit is an vntimely birth Abstersiue i. scouring cleansing or wiping away such as the Greekes call Smectica and they enter into sope washing balls Accesse i. a fit whether it be of an Ague falling sicknesse or any such diseases as returne at times Acetabulum or Acetable a measure among the Romans of liquour especially but yet of dry things also the same that oxybaphon in Greeke and for that as both words do import they vsed to dip their meats in vinegre out of such it may wel go for a saucer with vs for it
steep it in sea water for that is best or els in fresh for want of the other After this watering it must be dried in the Sun and then steeped in water a second time but if a man haue vrgent occasion to vse it presently out of hand he must put it in a great tub or bathing vessel let it soke there in hot water a time Now if when it is dried againe it be stiffe and will stand alone they take it for a sure signe that it is sufficiently watered and hath that which it should haue This is a very neere and ready way saueth them much labour Thus being prepared one of these two waies it ought to be brayed and beaten before it will serue the turne and then no cordage in the world is better than that which is made of it nor lasteth so well within the water and the sea especially for it will neuer be done For drie worke I confesse and out of the water the gables ropes wrought of hemp are better but Spart made into cordage will liue receiue nourishment within the water drinking now the full as it were to make amends for that thirst which it had in the natiue place where it first grew Of this nature is Spart besides that if the ropes made thereof be worne and with much occupying out of repaire a little thing will mend and refresh them yea and make them as good as euer they were for how old soeuer it be yet will it be wrought very well again with some new among A wonderfull thing it is to consider and look into the nature of this herb and namely how much it is vsed in all countries what in cables and other ship-tacking what in ropes for Masons and Carpenters and in a thousand necessities of this our life And yet seel the place which furnisheth all this store lying along the coast of new Carthage we shal find to be within the compasse of thirty miles in bredth lesse somewhat in length And verily if it were fetched farther off within the main the cariage would not quit for the cost and expences The Greekes in old time emploied their rishes in drawing of ropes as may appeare by the very word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth with them a rish and a rope But afteâ—…ards they vse their cordage of Date tree leaues the thin barks of the Linden or Tillet tree from whence verily like and probable it is That the Carthaginians borowed both their vse of Spartum and maner also of dressing it Theophrastus writeth That there is a bulbous plant with a root like an Onion-head growing about the banks of riuers between the vtmost rind whereof and that part within which is good to be eaten there is a certain cotton or woolly substance whereof folke vse to make woollen sockes and some such slight peeces of apparell But he neither named the countrey where they be made nor sets downe any other particularities more than this That the said plant they called Eriophoron i. Bearing wooll so far as euer I could find in any copies comming to my hand And albeit Theophrastus was otherwise a diligent and curious writer of plants and searched deep into the nature of simples foure hundred and ninety yeres before my time yet hath he made no mention at all of Spart a thing that I haue obserued and noted in him once already before now Whereby euident it is that the manner of dressing and vsing Spart came vp after his daies And since we are entred into a discourse of the wonders of Nature I will follow on still and continue the same wherein this may be one of the greatest That a thing should liue and grow as a plant without root Looke but to those Mushroomes or Toad-stooles which are called in Latin Tubera out of the ground they grow compassed about on euery side with the earth with out root without any filaments or so much as small strings beards resembling a root wherevpon they should rest the place where they breed doth not swel or bear vp one jot nay it shews no chink or creuasse at all out of which they should issue and to conclude they seem not once to stick and cleaue to the ground whereupon they stand A certaine barke or pill they seem to haue which encloseth them such as to speake plainely we cannot say is earth indeed nor any thing else but a very brawnie skin or callositie of the earth These breed commonly in drie and sandie grounds in rough places full of shrubs and bushes and lightly in none else Oftentimes they exceed the quantity of good big Quinces euen such as weigh a pound Two sorts there be of them Some be full of sand and grit and such plague folkes teeth in the eating others bee clean and their meat is pure without any such thing among They differ also in color for there be of them that are red ye shall haue those also that seem blacke and yet are white within But the best simply are those that come out of Africk or Barbarie To determin resolutely whether they grow still from day to day as other plants or whether this imperfection of the earth for better I know not how to call it commeth at one instant to that full growth that euer it will haue also whether they liue or no I suppose it is a difficult and hard matter surely this is certaine that their putrifaction is much after the manner of wood and they rot both alike Many yeres past there are not since Lartius Licinius sometimes lord Pretor and gouernour vnder the Romans in the prouince of Spain chanced of my knowledge while he was there at Carthage in biting one of these Mushroms to meet with a siluer Roman denier within it that turned the edge againe of some of his fore teeth and set them awry Whereby a man may perceiue manifestly that they be a certaine excresence of the very earth gathering into a round forme as all other things that grow naturally of themselues and come neither by setting nor sowing CHAP. III. ¶ Of the excrescence named Misy and of other such like Puffes and Mushroms Of those flat Fusses and broad Toad-stooles called Pezici Of the plant or hearbe Laserpitium Of Magydaris Of Madder Of Sope-weed or the Fullers hearbe Radicula WIthin the prouince of Cyrenaica in Affricke there is found the like excrescence called Misv passing sweet pleasant as well in regard of the smell as the tast more pulpous also fuller of carnositie than the rest likewise another of that nature in Thracia called Ceraunium As touching al the sorts of Mushroms Toad-stooles Puffes Fusbals or Fusses these particulars following are obserued First it is known for certain that if the autumn be much disposed to rain and withal the aire be troubled and disquieted with many thunders during that season there wil be good store of such Mushromes c.
the pricky branches therof which being burnt and reduced into ashes and incorporate with honey into a liniment maketh haire to come againe where it was shed by any infirmity But seeing I am fallen into the mention of Spain it commeth to my mind what I my selfe knew and saw in the same prouince within the lands and domaines belonging to an host of mine namely a certaine plant or herb there lately found called Dracunculus which carried a main stem or stalk an inch or thumb thick beset with spots of sundry colors resembling those of vipers and serpents and I was told that it was a singular remedy against the sting or biting of any serpents This Dracunculus differeth from another herb of that name wherof I spake in the book going next before for this hath a distinct form from that and besides another strange and wonderful property namely to shew two foot or thereabout aboue ground in the Spring time when serpents first doe cast their sloughes or skins the same is no more seen at the very time that serpents also retire into their holes and take vp their Winter harbor within the ground Let this plant be gone once into the earth and hidden you shal not see a Snake Adder or any other serpent stirring abroad VVherby we may see what a kind and tender mother Nature is vnto vs if there were nothing els to testifie her loue in giuing vs warning beforehand of danger and pointing vnto vs the very time when wee are to be afraid and to take heed of serpents CHAP. III. ¶ Of a certain venomous fount aine in Germany of the hearb Britannica What diseases they be that put men to the greatest paine SO vnfortunat is our condition and so much exposed are we to manifold calamities that the earth is not pestered with wicked beasts only for to doe vs harme but also there be otherwhiles venomous waters and pestilent tracts to work vs more wo and misery In that voiage or expedition which prince Caesar Germanicus made into Germany after he had passed ouer the riuer Rhene and had giuen order to aduance forward with his army he incamped vpon the sea-coasts along Friseland where there was to be found but one spring of fresh water and the same so dangerous that whosoeuer drunk of that water within two yeres lost all their teeth and were besides so feeble and loose iointed in their knees that vnneth they were able to stand These diseases the Physitians termed Stomacace and Sceletyrbe as one would say the malady of the mouth and palsie of the legs Yet they found a remedy for these infirmities and that was a certain herb called Britannica which is very medicinable not only for the accidents of the sinews and mouth but also for the squinancy and stinging of serpents It hath leaues growing somwhat long and those inclining to a brownish or dark greene colour and the root is blacke out of which as also from the leaues there is a juice drawne or pressed The floures by a peculiar name be called Vibones which being gathered before any thunder be heard and so eaten do assure and secure the parties altogether from that infirmity The Frisians neere vnto whom we lay incamped shewed our men this herb But I muse much and wonder what should be the reason of that name vnlesse the Frisians bordering vpon the narrow race of the ocean which lieth only between them England called in those daies Britanica should therupon for the neighborhead propinquity of that Island giue it the name Britannica For certain it is that it took not that name because there grew such plenty therof in that country of England that it should be transported ouer from thence to our camp for as yet that Island was not wholly subiect to vs and reduced vnder the Roman seignorie For an ordinary thing it was in old time practised by those that found out any herbs to affect the adoption as it were of the same to call them by their own names wherein verily men took no small contentment according as I purpose to shew by the example of certain kings and princes whose names liue and continue yet in their herbs so honorable a thing it was thought in those daies to find and it were but an hearbe that might do good vnto man Whereas in this age wherein we now liue I doubt not but there bee some who will mock vs for the pains taken in that behalfe and think vs very simple for writing thus as we do of Simples so base and contemptible in the eies of our fine fooles and delicate persons are euen the best things that serue for the benefit common vtility of mankind howbeit for all that good reason it is and meet that the authors and inuentors of them as many as can be found should be named and praised with the best yea and that the operations effects of such herbs should be digested and reduced into some method according as they be appropriat to euery kind of disease In the meditation whereof I cannot chuse nor contain my selfe but deplore and pity the poore estate and miserable case of man who ouer and besides the manifold accidents and casualties which may befall vnto him is otherwise subject to many thousands of maladies which we haue much ado to deuise names for euery houre of the day happening as they do and whereof no man can account himselfe free but euery one is for his part to feare them Of these diseases so infinit as they be in number to determine precisely and distinctly which be most grieuous might seem meere folly considering that euery one who is sicke for the present imagineth his owne sicknes to be worst fullest of anguish And yet our forefathers haue giuen their judgement in this case and by experience haue found That the most extreme pain torment that a man can indure by any disease is the Strangury or pissing drop-meale occasioned by the stone or grauell in the bladder The next is the griefe and anguish of the stomak and the third Head-ach for setting these three maladies aside lightly there are no pains that can kill a man or woman so soon And here by the way I cannot for mine owne part but maruell much at the Greeks who haue published in their writings venomous and pestilent herbs as well as those that be good and wholsome And yet there is an appearance and shew of reason why some poisons should be knowne for otherwhiles it falleth out that men liue in such extremity as better it were to die than so to lie in anguish and torment insomuch as death is the best port and harbor of refuge that they haue Certes Marcus Varro reporteth of one Servius Clodius a gentleman or knight of Rome who for the extreame pain of the gout was forced to annoint his legs and feet all ouer with a narcotick or cold poison whereby hee so mortified the spirits of
was much forked diuided into branches wherwith folk vsed to kil fishes But among al other herbs of name Peucedanum is much talked of and commended principally that which groweth in Arcadie next to it most account is made of that in Samothrace a slender stalk it carrieth and a long resembling the stem of Fennell neere vnto the ground it is replenished well with leaues the root is black thick full of sap and of a strong and vnpleasant smell it delighteth to come vp and grow among shady mountains The proper time to dig it out of the ground is in the later end of Autumne the tenderest roots and those that run deepest downe into the earth are most commendable The manner is to cut these roots ouerthwart into certaine cantels or pieces of foure fingers in length with kniues made of bone whereout there issueth a juice which ought to be dried kept in the shade but the party who hath the cutting of them had need first to annoint his head all ouer and his nosthrils with oile rosat for feare of the gid and least he should fall into a dizzinesse or swimming of the braine There is another juice or liquor found in this plant lying fast within the stems therof which they yeeld forth after incision made in them The best juice is knowne by these marks It carieth the consistence of honey the colour is red the smell strong and yet pleasant and in the mouth it is very hot and stinging Much vse there is of it in many medicines as also of the root and decoction thereof but the juice is of most operation which being dissolued with bitter almonds or rue people vse to drink against the poison of serpents in case the body be annointed all ouer with oile it preserueth them safe against their stings CHAP. X. ¶ Of ground Elder or Wallwoort Of Mullen or Taper wort Of the Aconit called Thelyphonos Of remedies against the pricke of Scorpions the venome of Hedge-toads the biting of mad Dogs and generally against all poysons THe smoke or perfume also of VValwort a common herb and knowne to euery man chaseth and putteth to flight any serpents The juice of Polemonia is a proper defensatiue especially against scorpions if one haue it tied about him or hanging at his neck likewise it resisteth the prick of the spiders Phalangia and any other of these venomous vermins of the smaller sort Aristolochia hath a singular vertue contrary vnto serpents so hath Agaricke if foure oboli thereof be drunke in as many cyaths of some artificiall or compound aromatized wine Vervaine is a soueraigne herb also against the venomous spider Phalangium being taken in wine or oxycrat i. vineger and water so is Cinquefoile and the yellow Carrot That herb which the Latines call Verbascum i. Lungwort or Hightaper is named in Greek Phlomos Two special kinds there be of it the one is whiter which you must take for the male the other black that may go for the female There is a third sort also but it is found no where but in the wild woods The leaues of all the former be broader than those of the Colewort and hairy withal they beare a main vpright stem a cubit in height with the vantage the seed is black and of no vse in Physicke a single root they haue of a finger thicknes These grow also vpon plains and champian grounds The wild kinde beareth leaues resembling sauge the branches be of a wooddy substance the same grow high There be moreouer of this kind two other herbs named Phlomides both of them hairy their leaues be round and they grow but low A third sort there is be sides named by some Lychnitis and by others Thryallis it sheweth 3 leaues or foure at the most and those be thick fat good to make wyks or matches for lights It is said that if figs be kept in the leaues of that which I named the female they will not rot To distinguish these herbs into seuerall kinds is a needlesse peece of work considering they agree all in the same effects their root together with rue is to be drunk in water against the poyson of scorpions true it is that the drinke is very bitter but the effect that it worketh maketh amends There is an herbe called by some Thelyphonon by others Scorpion for the resemblance that the root hath to the Scorpion and yet if Scorpions be but touched therwith they will die thereupon no maruell therefore if there be an ordinary drinke made of it against their poison and here commeth to my mind that which I haue heard namely that if a dead scorpion be rubbed with the white Ellebore root it wil reuiue and quicken again The said Thelyphonon hath such a spightful nature against the four-footed beasts of the female sex that if the root be laid to their shap or naturall place it killeth them and if the leafe which is like vnto the Cyclamin or Sowbread leafe aboue named be applied in that maner they will not liue one day to an end This herb is parted and diuided into knots or joints taking pleasure to grow in coole and shady places To conclude and knit vp these remedies against scorpions the juice of Betonie and of Plantaine likewise is a singular remedie for their poison Moreouer Frogs such especially as keep in bushes and hedges and be called in Latine Rubetae i. toads are not without their venom I my self haue seen these vaunting Montebanks calling themselues Psylli as comming from the race of those people Psylli who feared no kind of poison I haue seen them I say in a brauery because they would seem to surpasse all others of that profession to eat those toads baked red hot between 2 platters but what became of them they caught their bane by it and died more suddenly than if they had bin stung by the Aspis but what is the help for this rank poison surely the herb Phrynion drunk in wine Some cal it Neuras others Poterion pretty flours it beareth the roots be many in number full of strings like vnto sinews and the same of a sweet pleasant sent Likewise Alisura is counted another remedy in this case an herb it is called by some Damosorium by others Liron the leaues might be taken for Planta in but that they be narrower more iagged and plaited bending also toward the ground for otherwise ribbed they be and full of veins as like as may be to Plantain As for the stalk it is likewise one and no more plain and slender of a cub it in heigth in the head wherof it hath knobs roots growing many and thick together and those but small like vnto those of the blacke Ellebore but they be hot and biting of a sweet and odoriferous smell and of a fatty substance withall it groweth ordinarily in watery and moist places And yet there is a second kind of it which commeth vp in woods of a more
strong but the root and fruit do smell the stronger The apples of the white when they be ripe the maner is todry in the shadow but the juice drawn out of them is permitted to stand in the Sun for to gather and harden In like sort the juice of the root whether it be bruised and stamped or sodden in grosse red wine to the consumption of a third part The leaues moreouer of Mandrage are commonly kept and condite in a kind of pickle or salt brine for otherwise the juice of them whiles they be fresh and green is pestiferous and a very poison And yet order them so wel as you can hurtfull they be euery way the only smell of them stuffeth the head and breedeth the murre and the pose Howbeit in some countries they venture to eat the apples or fruit thereof but those that know not how to dresse and order them aright lo se the vse of their tongue thereby and proue dumbe for the time surprised and ouertaken with the exceeding strong sauor that they haue And verily if they be so bold as to take a great quantity therof in drinke they are sure to die for it Yet it may be vsed safely enough for to procure sleep if there be a good regard had in the dose that it be answerable in proportion to the strength and complexion of the patient one cyath thereof is thought to be a moderat and sufficient draught Also it is an ordinary thing to drink it against the poison of serpents likewise before the cutting or cauterizing pricking or launcing of any member to take away the sence and feeling of such extreme cures And sufficient it is in some bodies to cast them into a sleep with the smel of Mandrage against the time of such Chirurgery There be that drink it in lieu of Ellebore for to purge the body of melancholick humors taking two oboles therof in honied wine Howbeit Ellebore is stronger in operation for to euacuat black choler out of the body and to prouoke vomit As touching Hemlock it is also a ranke poison witnesse the publicke ordinance and law of the Athenians wherby malefactors who haue deserued to die were forced to drink that odious potion of Hemlock Howbeit many good vertues hath this herb and would not be reiected and cast aside for the sundry vses therof in Physicke The seed is euery way hurtfull and venomous As for the stems and stalks many there be that do eat it both green also boiled or stewed between two platters Light these stems be as kexes and full of ioints like Reeds and Canes of a darke gray or sullen colour rising vp many times aboue two cubits high and toward the top they spread and branch The leaues in some sort resemble Coriander but that they be more tender and a strong stinking smell they haue with them The seed is thicker and grosser than that of the Annise The root likewise hollow and of novse in Physicke The leaues and seed are exceeding refrigeratiue which if they haue gotten the mastery and vpper hand of any that hath taken them so as there is no way but one without help they shal feele themselues begin to wax cold in their extream or outward parts so to die inward howbeit there is a remedy euen then before the cold haue taken to the vital parts namely to take a good draught of wine which may set the body in a heat and chaufe it again mary if they drinke it with wine there are no meanes in the world to saue their liues There is a juice pressed out of the leaues and floures both together for that is the right reason namely whiles it is in flour the which is pressed out of that seed stamped being afterwards dried in the Sun and made into bals or trosches kils them that take it inwardly by congealing cluttering their bloud for this is a second venomous and deadly quality that it hath which is the cause that whosoeuer die by this means there appear certain spots or specks in their bodies after they be dead And yet there is a vse of this juice to dissolue hot and biting medicines therin in stead of water moreouer there is made of it a very conuenient cataplasme to be applied vnto the stomack for to coole the extreame heat thereof But the principal vertue that it hath is to represse and stay the flux of hot humors into the eies in summer time and to assuage their pains if they be annointed therewith It entreth besides into collyries or medicines deuised to ease pain and verily there is no rheumatick flux in any part of the body but it stoppeth it The leaues also of Hemlocke doe keepe downe all tumors appease paines and cure watering eies Anaxilaus mine Author saith That if a pure maiden doe in her virginity annoint her brests with this juice her dugs will neuer grow afterwards but continue still in the same state True it is indeed that beeing kept vnto the paps of women in child-bed it drieth vp their milk as also extinguisheth naturall seed if the cods and share be annointed therwith What remedies they should vse to saue themselues who are adiudged by law to drink it I for my part-purpose not to set down The strongest Hemlocke and of speediest operation is that which growes about Susa in the confines of Parthia Next to it for fearful working is that which commeth out of Laconica Candy and Natolia In Greece the Hemlocke of Megara is counted the quickest and then that of Attica Crestmarine or Sampier called the wild Crethmos riddeth the eies of the gummy viscous water that sticketh in them if it be applied thereto and if it be made into a cataplasme with fried Barly meale it assuageth also their swelling There groweth commonly an herbe named in Greeke Molybdaena that is to say in Latine Plumbago euen vpon euery corne land in lease resembling the Dock or Sorrell with a thicke root and the same rough and pricky Let one chew this herb first in his mouth then eftsoons lick with his tongue the eie it consumeth and taketh away the Plumbum which is a kinde of disease or infirmity incident to the eies As touching the first Capnos which in Latine is commonly called Pedes Gallinarei i. hens feet it groweth about decaied wals and ruinat buildings among rubbish in hedges the branches be very smal spread loosely or scattering the floure of a purple colour the leaues green the juice wherof discusseth the dimnesse and thicknesse about the eies and clarifieth the sight and therefore it is vsually put into eie-salues There is another herb of the same name like in effect but different in form from it which doth branch thicke and is of a tender substance the leaues for shape resembling Coriander and those of a wan or ashie colour but it beareth a purple floure it groweth in Gardens Hort-yards and Barly-lands If the eies be
verily there haue been memorable examples knowne of strange accidents insuing both waies namely as often as either the vnlucky foules by their vntoward noise haue disturbed and done hurt or if at any time there haue bin error committed in the prescript prayer exorcisme for by this means it falleth out oftentimes that all on a sudden as the beast standeth there in place to be sacrificed the master veine in the liuer named the head thereof is found missing among other entrails and the heart likewise wanting or contrariwise both these to be double and appeare twain for one And euen at this day there remaineth a most notable precedent and example to all posterity in that prescript forme of exorcisme whereby the two Decij both the father and sonne betooke themselues to all the hellish furies and fiends infernall moreouer the imprecation of the vestall Nun Tuccia when shee was put to proue her virginity continueth extant vpon record by vertue of which charme she carried water in a sive without shedding one drop which happened in the yeare after the foundation of Rome city 609. And verily no longer ago than of late time in our own age we saw two Graecians to wit a man and a woman yea and some of other nations with whom in those daies wee maintained warres buried quicke within the beast-market in Rome in which maner of sacrifice whosoeuer readeth the prayer or exorcisme that is vsed and which the VVarden or Principall of the colledge of the Quindecemvirs is woont to reade and pronounce to the exorcist he would no doubt confesse that such charmes and execrations be of great importance and namely seeing they haue bin all approoved and found effectuall by the experience and euents obserued for the space of eight hundred and thirtie yeares As for our vestall virgins in these our daies we are certainely persuaded and beleeue that by the vertue of certaine spels and charmes which they haue they be able to arrest and stay any fugitiue slaue for running one foot farther prouided alwaies that they be not gone already without the pourprise and precinct of the city wals Now if this be receiued once as an vndoubted and confessed truth and if we admit that the gods do heare some praiers or be moued by any words then surely we may resolue at once of these conjectures and conclude affirmatiuely of the maine question Certes our ancestors from time to time haue euermore beleeued and deliuered such principle yea and that which of all other seemeth most incredible they haue affirmed constantly That by the power of such charmes and conjurations Thunder and Lightening might be fetched downe from aboue as I haue formerly shewed L. Piso reporteth in the first booke of his Annals or yearely Chronicles That Tullus Hostilius king of Rome was stricken dead with Lightening for that when hee went in hand to call Iupiter downe out of heauen by vertue of a sacrifice which king Numa was woont to vse in that case hee had not obserued exactly all the exorcismes and ceremoniall words contained in those bookes of king Numa but swarued somwhat from them And many other writers do testifie that by the power of words and osses the destinies and prodigies of great importance presaged to one place haue bin cleane altered and transferred to another as it was like to haue happened to the Romanes at what time as they laied the foundation of Iupiters Temple vpon the mount or rocke Tarpeius For when they digged there for the foundation of the said Temple and chanced to finde within the ground a mans head the Senate of Rome sent certaine Embassadours of purpose to the Sages and VVisards of Tuscane to know the signification of this strange sight and miraculous occurrent VVhereof Olenus Calenus who was reputed the most famous diuinor and prophet of all the Tuscanes hauing some intelligence and foreseeing the great felicity and happinesse that it imported and presaged intended by subtill interrogatiue to translate the benefit thereof to his owne native countrey of Tuscane Hauing therefore first with a staffe set out and described as it were the modell and forme of a Temple vpon the ground which lay before him hee came about the Roman Embassadors beforesaid and questioned with them in this wilie manner Is it so Romans as you say and are these your words indeed There must be a Temple here of Iupiter that most gracions and mighty god we haue light here vpon a mans head Vnto which interrogation of his the said Roman Embassadours according to the instructions which they had receiued beforehand from the VVisard or Diuinors sonne answered in this manner No not here in this very place but at Rome we say the head was found And verily our antient Chronicles doe all of them most constantly affirm that had they not been thus forewarned and taught what to say but had simply answered Yea here we haue found a head c. The fortune of the Roman State and Empire had gone quite away to the Tuscans and been established among them The same had like to haue happened a second time as we may see in the Records and Monuments of old date when as a certain chariot with foure horses made of clay and prepared for to be set vpon the louver or lantern of the said temple chanced as it lay baking in the furnace to grow into an extraordinary bignesse For the foresaid Wise men of Tuscan being asked what the said prodigy should betoken practised the like as Olenus did but the Romans being wise wary in their words saued and retained the same fortune still for the behoofe of Rome which was presaged vnto them by that happy foretoken These examples may suffice to shew prooue euidently that the vertues and significations of these signes and presages do lie in our own power and are no otherwise of force and effect but according as euery one of them is so taken and accepted True it is and held for an vndoubted principle in the Augures discipline learning That neither cursed execrations ominous and vnlucky birds nor any other presage by their flight singing and feeding can touch those persons who take no heed of them and do protest plainly that they regard them not what businesse soeuer they go about and be entering into a greater gift than which and testimony of the diuine indulgence and fauor of the gods to vs we cannot haue thus to subiect their secrets to our puissance Moreouer in the laws and ordinances of the 12 tables here at Rome are not in one place these very words to be found Qui fruges occentassit i. whosoeuer shall enchant or fore-speake any corne or fruits of the earth and in another place Quimalum carmen iâ—…cantassit i. What person soeuer vseth pernicious charmes to the hurt or mischiefe of any creature Ouer and besides Verrius Flaccus doth affirm vpon the credit of certain Authors which be alleadgeth and beleeueth That the first thing
receiue nor hold any thing it is good to presse hard and straine the feet together or els to thrust both hands into hot water To come now vnto our speech and exercise of the tongue in many cases and for diuers causes it is wholsom to speak but little I haue head say that Mecaenas Messius inioined himselfe three yeres silence and during that time neuer spake word for that in a fit of a convulsion or crampe he had beforetime cast vp bloud In case any thing be ready to fall or rush violently against vs and that we be in danger of some stroke say that we be climbing vp hill or turned downe backward or lying along there is not the like meanes againe to preserue our bodies as to hold our winde and this inuention we had from a bruit and dumbe beast according as I haue shewed before Moreouer it is said that to stick down a spike or yron naile in that very place where a man or womans head lay during the fit of the falling sicknesse at the very first time that hee or she fell secureth the party that so doth for euer being troubled with that disease Also it is holden for a singular thing to mitigat the intollerable torments of the reins loins and bladder to pisse with the body bending forward and groueling in the bathing tubs within the baines As for greene wounds it is wonderfull how soon they will be healed in case they be bound vp and tied with a Hercules knot and verily it is thought that to knit our girdles which we weare about vs euery day with such a knot hath a great vertue in it by reason that Hercules first deuised the same Demetrius in a treatise that he compiled as touching the number of foure affirmeth that it is of great efficacy and he alledgeth reasons why it is not good to prescribe in any medicine to be drunke the quantitie of foure sextars or foure cyaths To rub the ears behind is supposed to be very good for them that are giuen to be bleare-eied like as to rub the forehead forweeping or watering eies Concerning the signs of life death which may be found in man this is one That so long as the Patients eie is so cleare that a man may see himselfe in the apple of it wee are not to despaire of life As for the Vrine of mankind diuers authors haue treated of it who as I find haue not onely set downe their reasons in nature as touching the vertue thereof but also haue bin very ceremonious and superstitious in handling that argument yea and they haue written distinctly of the seuerall kinds of vrine digested into certain principal heads And among other things I remember that they set down the vrine of men that are vnable for generation to be singular good by way of injection to make women fruitfull But to speak of such remedies as we may be bold to name with honesty the vrine of yong children who be not yet vndergrowne nor 14 yeres of age is good against the venomous humor of the Aspides or Adders which the Greeks name Ptyades for that they spit their poison vpon the eies and faces of men and women Also the same is held to be singular for the pearle the cataract the filmes the pin and web in the eies like as for the eie-lids also and the accidents happening vnto them Being incorporate with the floure of Eruile it is good for sun-burnings sodden also with bolled leeks to the consumption of the one halfe in a new earthen pot which was neuer occupied it is excellent to mundifie the eares that run with matter or that haue any worms or vermin within them and verily a stouph made with the vapour of this decoction bringeth downe the desired sicknesse of women Dame Salpe ordaineth to foment the eies with the said decoction for to fortifie the sight and to strengthen them that they fal not out of the head she appointeth to make a liniment with it and the white of an egge but principally if it be of an ostrich and therewith to annoint the skin that hath bin tanned and burnt in the Sun for the space of two houres together with it a man may wash away any blots or blurs of ink Mans vrine is much commended for the gout in the feet as wee may see by Fullers who neuer be goutie because ordinarily their feet are in mens vrine Stale chamber-lie or vrin long kept and incorporat together with the ashes of oister shels cureth the red-gomb in yong infants and generally in all running vlcers the same so prepared serueth in a liniment for eating cankers burns and scalds the swelling piles the chaps and rifts in the seat and feet also for the sting of serpents The most expert and skilfull midwiues haue pronounced all with one resolution that for to kill an itch in any part of the body to heale a scald head to scoure away dandruffe and scurfe in the head or beard and to cure the corroding vlcers in any place but in the priuy members especially there is not a liquor more effectuall than vrine with a little sal-nitre put thereto But surely euery mans own water if I may for reuerence of manhood so say is simply best and namely if the Patient that is bitten with a dog do straightways bath the place therewith or in case there be any prick of vrchin hedghog or such like spill sticking in the flesh to apply the same thereto in spunges or wooll and so let it lie on But say it was a mad dog that bit the Patient or that he be stung with a serpent it is good to temper it with ashes and lay it vnto the sore For as touching the vertue thereof against Scolopendres it is wonderfull what is reported namely That whosoeuer be hurt by them if they doe wet the crown of their heads but with one drop of their own vrine it will presently cure the same so as they shall feele no more pain nor harm thereby Ouer and besides by the speculation of our vrine we are able to giue iudgement and pronounce of health and sicknesse for if the first water made in a morning be white and cleare and the next after it higher coloured and inclining to a deep yellow the former sheweth that concoction was then begun and the second is a signe that digestion is now perfect A red vrine is naught but the black is worst of all likewise if it be ful of bubbles and froth aloft and be withal of a grosse and thick subsistence the same is but a bad water If the Hypostasis or Sediment which setleth heauy to the botom be white it signifieth that there is some pain and grieuance like to insue about the joints or principall parts within the body Doth an vrine look greenish it betokeneth some obstruction or disease already in the noble bowels and inwards is it of a pale hew it saith that choler aboundeth in that
prince of Romane Eloquence loe here thy Groue in place How greene it is where planted first it was to grow apace And Vetus now who holds thy house Faire Academie hight Spares for no cost but it maintains and keeps in better plight Of late also fresh fountains here brake forth out of the ground Most wholesome for to bath sore eies which earst were neuer found These helpfull springs the Soile no doubt presenting to our view To Cicero her ancient lord hath done this honour due That since his books throughout the world are read by many a wight More waters still may cleare their eyes and cure decaying sight In the same tract of Campaine and namely toward Sinuessa there be other fountains called Sinuessan waters which haue the name not only to cure men of lunacie and madnes but also to make barrain women fruitfull and apt to conceiue In the Island Aenaria there is a spring which helpeth those that be troubled with the stone and grauell like as another water which they call Acidula within 4 miles of Teanum in the Sidicins country and the same is actually cold also there is another of that kind about Stabij called by the name of Dimidia like as in the territory of Venafrum that which proceeded from the source Acidulus and gaue name to the foresaid water Acidula The same effect they find who drink of the lake Velinus for it breakes the stone Moreouer M. Varro maketh mention of such another fountain in Syria at the foot of the mountaine Taurus So doth Callimachus report the foresaid operation of the riuer Gallus in Phrygia howbeit they that take of this water must keep a measure for otherwise it distracts their vnderstanding driues them besides their right wits which accident hapneth to those saith Ctesias who drink of the red fountain for so it is called in Aethiopia as touching the waters neer Rome called Albulae they are known to heale wounds these waters are neither hot nor cold but those which go vnder the name of Cutiliae in the Sabins country are exceeding cold by a certain mordication that they haue seem to suck out the humors superfluous excrements of the body being otherwise most agreeable for the stomacke sinewes and generally for all parts There is a fountain at Thespiae a city in Boeotia which doth great pleasure to women that would fain haue children for no sooner drinke they of the water but they are ready to conceiue and of this propertie is the riuer Elatus in Arcadia In which region also the Spring Linus yeeldeth water which if a woman with child do drink she shall go out her full time not be in danger to slip an vnperfect birth Contrariwise the riuer Aphrodisium in Pyrrhaea causeth barrennesse The lake or meere Alphion is medicinable and cures the foule Morphew Varro mine author makes mention of one Titius a man of good worth and sometime lord Praetour who was so bewraied painted all ouer his face with spots of Morphew that he looked like an image made of spotted marble Cydnus a riuer of Cilicia hath a vertue to cure the gout as appeareth by a letter written from Cassius the Parmezan vnto M. Antonius Contrariwise the waters about Troezen are so bad that all the inhabitants are thereby subject to the gout and other diseases of the feet There is a citie in Gaule named Tungri much renowned for a noble fountaine which runneth at many pipes a smacke it hath resembling the rust of yron howbeit this tast is not perceiued but at the end loose only This water is purgatiue driues away tertian agues expels the stone and cureth the Symptomes attending thereupon Set this water ouer the fire or neare to it you shall see it thick and troubled but at the last it looketh red Between Puteoli and Naples there be certain wels called Leucogaei the water wherof cureth the infirmitie of the eies and healeth wounds Cicero in his booke entituled Admiranda i. Wonders among other admirable things hath ranged the moores or fens of Reate for that the water issuing from them hath naturally a propertie from all others to harden the houfes of horses feet Eudicus reporteth That in the territorie of Hestiaea a citie in Thessalie there be two springs the one named Ceron of which as many sheepe as drinke proue black the other Melas the water wherof maketh black sheep turn white let them drink of both waters mingled together they will proue flecked and of diues colours Theophrastus writeth That the riuer Crathis in the Thuriaus countrie causeth both kine and sheep as many as drink thereof to looke white whereas the water of Sybaris giueth them a black hew And by his saying this difference in operation is seene also vpon the people that vse to drink of them for as many as take to the riuer Sybaris become blacker harder and withall of a more curled hair than others contrariwise the drinking of Crathis causeth them to look white to be more soft skinned their bush of haire to grow at length Semblably in Macedony they that would haue any cattell to grow white bring them to drinke at Aliacmon the riuer but as many as desire they should be brown or black driue them to water at Axius The same Theophrastus hath left in writing That in some places there is no other thing bred or growing but brown and duskish insomuch as not only the cattel is all of that lere but also the corne on the ground other fruits of the earth as among the Messapians Also at Lusae a city of Arcadia there is a certain wel wherin there keep ordinarily land-mice As for the riuer Aleos which passes through Erythrae it makes them to grow hairie all their bodies ouer as many as drink therof In Boeotia likewise near to the temple of the god Trophonius hard by the riuer Orchomenas there be two fountains the one helps memory the other causeth obliuion wherupon they took their names In Cilicia hard at the town Crescum there runs a riuer called Nus by the saying of M. Varro whosoeuer drink therof shall find their wits more quicke and themselues of better conceit than before But in the Isle Chios there is a spring which causeth as many as vse the water to be dull and heauie of spirit At Zamae in Affrick the water of a certain fountain makes a cleare shrill voice Let a man drink of the lake Clitorius he shall take a misliking and loathing of wine saith M. Varro And yet Eudoxus Theopompus report That the water of the fountains beforesaid make them drunk that vse it Mutianus affirmes That out of the fountain vnder the temple of father Bacchus within the Isle Andros at certaine times of the yere for 7 daies together there runneth nothing but wine insomuch as they call it the wine of god Bacchus howbeit remoue the said water out of the prospect and view as it
were of the said temple the tast wil turn to be waterish again Polyclitus writeth of a certaine fountaine of Cilicia neere vnto the citie Soli which yeeldeth an vnction or oleus water that serueth in stead of oile Theophrastus reports the same of another fountain in Aethyopia which hath the like quality And Lycus saith That among the Indians there is a fountaine the water whereof is vsed in lampes to maintaine light And the like is reported of an â—…ther water about Ecbatanâ—… the capitall citie of Media Theopompus writeth That neere to Scotusa in Macedonie there is a lake the water wherof is soueraign for the healing of wounds Moreouer king Iuba hath left in writing That in the Troglodites country there is a lake for the hurtful water that it beareth called the Mad lake which thrice a day becommeth bitter and salt and as many times for it turneth to be fresh and sweet which course it keeps also in the night season breeding otherwise white serpents twenty cubits long of which it is crawling full The same Prince mine author reports That in Arabia there is a spring boiling out of the ground with such a force that it scorneth and checketh any thing that is throwne into it and canot be kept downe with any weight whatsoeuer Theophrastus maketh mention of the fountain Marsyas in Phrygia neere vnto the town Celaenae which casteth vp great stones And not farre from it be two other springs Claeon and Gelon so called by the Greeks for the contrary effects which they worke At Cizicum there is a fountain of Cupid and whosoeuer drinke of the water thereof shall lay aside and forget all affection of loue as Mutianus doth both report and beleeue At Cranon there is a hot spring and yet not so boyling as many others be the water thereof if it be put into a bottle or flaggon of wine will maintain the heat thereof for three daies together that it shall drinke hot In Germany beyond the riuer Rhene there be waters so hot that whosoeuer drinketh therof shall sensibly find the heat in his body 3 daies after The springs that yeeld this water be called Mattiaci This peculiar property besides hath this water that about the edges and brims thereof there engender pumish stones Mow if any man suppose some of these strange reports to be incredible let him learne know that in no part of the world Nature hath shewed more admirable works than in this element of Water And albeit in the beginning of this mine historie I haue written in ample manner of many a wonder obserued in the waters yet somewhat remaineth still to be related For Ctesias saith That the Indians haue a lake or poole wherin nothing will swim but all sinks to the bottome And Coelius also our countryman auoucheth That the leaues which fall into the lake Avernus will settle downeward and not flote aboue And Varro auoucheth moreouer That what birds soeuer flie ouer it or approch the aire and breath thereof they will die presently Contrariwise in Apuscidamus a lake of Affrick nothing goes down but all swims aloft The like doth Appion report of Phinthia a fountain in Sicilie as also of a lake in Media and namely the pit or well of Saturne The fountaine Limyra is wont ordinarily to change his seat and to passe into places adjoyning but neuer for nought presaging alwaies thereby some strange accident to ensue And wonderfull it is that the fishes therein should follow and do the like Now when this water is thus remoued the inhabitants of the country desirous to know the issue of things to come repaire thither as to an Oracle and seek to be resolued by the foresaid fishes and therwith offer to them some meat if they come vnto it and swim away with all it is a good token this they take for an affirmatiue answer as if they said Yea to their demands but in case they refuse the meat and flirt it away with their tailes they collect the contrary and this is their flat nay There is a riuer in Bithynia called Olachas running close to Briazus which is the name both of a temple and also of the god therein honoured the water whereof will discouer and detect a perjured person for if he that drinketh thereof feele as it were a burning fire within his body take him for a false forsworne villaine Furthermore in Cantabria or Biscay the fountains of the riuer Tamaricus are endued with a secret vertue to presage and foretell future euents and three heads or sources there be of them eight foot distant one from another they meet all at length in one channell and maintaine the great and mighty riuer Tamaricus Howbeit twelue times euery day yea and otherwhiles twenty times they are dry and haue no shew at all or appearance of water notwithstanding there be another fountain or well neere to them that yeeldeth plenty of water and neuer giueth ouer running And this is held for an ominous and fearefull presage if when folke are desirous to see them they seeme not to run at all as it was seene of late daies by Lartius Licinius sometime lord Pretour and afterwards Lieutenant Generall vnder the Consuls For within a seuen-night after a great misfortune happened vnto him In Iurie there is a riuer which euery Sabbath day is dry Thus much of waters medicinable and miraculous and yet not simply hurtfull Contrariwise there be others of as wonderfull a nature but dangerous they are and deadly withall Ctesias writeth That there is a fountaine in Armenia breeding and bringing forth black Fishes wherupon as many as feed are sure to die for it immediatly I haue heard the like reported of such dangerous fishes about the head of the riuer Danubius vntill a man come to a fountaine which presently dischargeth it selfe into the channell of the said riuer for beneath that place such fishes go not nor enter lower into the riuer And hereupon the fountaine is by the generall voice of people taken to be the very source and head of Danubius aforesaid The selfe-same accident as touching fish is reported by a poole in Lydia called the poole of the nymphs In Arcadia neere vnto the riuer Pheneus there floweth a water out the rockes called Styx which is present death to as many as drink thereof as heretofore I haue shewed And Theophrastus saith moreouer that in this water there be certaine small fishes a thing that a man shall neuer see in any other venomous fountains and those likewise are as deadly as the water Thâ—…opompus writeth That in Thrasia there be waters about the place called Chropsos which kill those that drinke thereof And Lycus maketh report of another fountaine in the Leontines countrey wherof as many as drink die within three daies Varro hath left in writing That neare to the hill Soracte there is a fountaine foure foot large which at the rising of the Sunne ouerfloweth like boyling water but the birds that haue
make account you shall meet with no spring there sink as deep as you will and therfore workmen when they come to it giue ouer presently For a great regard they haue to obserue the change of euery coat as I may so say of the earth as they dig to wit from the black delfe vntil they meet by degrees with the veins aforesaid Furthermore it is to be noted that the water which is found in cley grounds is alwaies sweet and potable like as that which a stony and gritty soile doth yeeld is commonly colder than any other and such a kinde of ground also is allowable for the proofe of good waters for it ingendreth sweet and wholsome water light also of digestion and pure withal by reason that as it passeth by a soft grit as it were through a strainer all the grossenesse thereof it leaueth behind sticking thereto As for thicke sand grauell it affordeth small and slender springs and those not durable besides the water wil quickly gather mud Ground giuen to beare pibbles or the grosser sort of grauell giue vs no security that the springs therein wil hold all the yeare long howbeit the water is very good pleasant The hard and compact grauell called the male grauel and the land which seemeth ful of black and burnt carbuncle stones bringeth forth wholsome waters and the sources be sure and perdurable But red stones yeeld the best simply and those that we may be sure will neuer giue ouer and faile And therefore when wee shall perceiue the foot of a mountaine standing vpon such stone or vpon flint wee may boldly reckon of wholesome and euerlasting springs and this gift they haue beside to be passing cold Moreouer in digging and sinking pits marke this for an assured and infallible signe that you approch vnto water namely if the earth appeare and shew moist more and more still as you go lower and lower also if the spade enter more willingly and goe downe with ease and facilitie When pioners haue wrought deepe vnder the ground and then chance to meet with a veine of brimstone or alume the dampe will stop their breath and kill them presently if they take not the better heed and therefore to foresee and preuent this danger they vse to let downe into the pit a candle or lampe burning for if it goe out they may be sure it hath met with the dampe Therefore if pits be subiect to the rising of such vapours cunning and expert workemen make on either side of such pits both on the right hand and the left certaine out-casts tunnels or venting holes to receiue those hurtfull and dangerous vapours whereby they may evaporat and breathe forth another way Otherwhiles it falls out that the aire which they meet with in digging very low doth offend the pioners albeit there be no brimstone nor alume neere but the ready meanes to amend the some and auoid the danger is to make winde and fresh aire with continuall agitation of some linnen cloathes Now when the pit is sunke and digged as far as to the water the bottome must be layd and the lowest sides of the wall reared of stone simply without any mortar made of lime and sand for feare lest the veines of the source be stopped Some waters there are which in the verie prime and beginning of the spring are of this nature That they grow to be exceeding cold namely such as haue their source or spring lying but ebb for they are maintained only of winter rain Others againe begin to be cold at the rising of the Dog-starre And verily we may see the experience both of the one and the other about Pella the capitall city of Macedonie for the water of the meere or marrish there before the towne in the beginning of Summer is cold and afterward when the weather is at the hotest the spring water in the higher parts of the Citie is so extreame cold that it is readie to bee frozen The semblable happeneth in Chios where there is the same reason of the hauen and towne it selfe At Athens the great and famous fountain named Enneacrunos in a rainy or stormy summer is colder than the pit water or wel in Iupiters garden within that city and yet the said Well water if it be a dry season will stand with an ice at Midsummer CHAP. IV. ¶ The reason of certaine Waters that appeare and be hid againe suddenly BVt aboue all others the waters of pits or wels be ordinarily most cold about the retreat or occultation of Arcturus yea and many times they faile in the mids of summer and all of them in maner grow very low for the space of foure daies at the time of the setting of the foresaid star Many there be which haue little or no water in them all winter long and namely about the hil Olympus where it is spring first ere the waters return and find the way into their pits And verily in Sicilia about the cities Messana and Mylae during winter the springs are altogether dry but in summer time they run ouer the brinks of their Wels and pits maintaining pretty riuers At Apollonia a city in Pontus there is a fen neere the sea side which in Summer only ouerfloweth and especially about the rising of the great Dog-star mary if the summer be colder than ordinarie it is not so free and plentifull of water Some Springs haue this qualitie with them to be drier for shoures and raine water as for example in the territorie of Narnia a city in the duchy of Spoleto which M. Cicero hath not forgot to insert among other admirable things in his treatise of Wonders for of this territorie hee writeth in these tearmes That in a drought it was durty and in rainy weather dusty Moreouer this is to be noted That all waters are ordinarily more sweet in winter than in summer but in autumn least of all and in a dry season lesse than at other times Neither are the riuer waters most times of like taste by reason of the great difference that is in their chanels for commonly the water is such as the earth soil through which it passeth and doth participat the qualitie and tast of those herbs always which it passeth and runneth by No maruell therefore if the water of one and the selfe-same riuer be found in one place more vnwholsome and dangerous than in another It falls out many times that the brooks and rills which enter into great riuers do alter their water in the very taste as we may see by experience in the famous riuer Borysthenes insomuch as such great riuers be ouercome with the influence of such riuerets and either their owne taste is delaied by them or clean drowned and lost And some riuers there be which change by occasion of rain the proofe wherof was thrice seen in Bosphorus when by reason of the fall of some salt shoures the flouds that ouerflowed the fields destroyed
it allaieth the wrings and grindings of the belly yea and staieth the violent motions of cholericke humors working vpward and downward Those that be once chaufed and set into an heat with sea water shall not so easily feele cold againe When womens paps are ouergrowne and so exceeding great that they meet and kisse one another there is not a better thing to take them downe than to bath in a tub of sea-water the same also may serue to amend the griefe of the bowels and precordiall parts yea and to restore those that be exceeding leane and worn away The fumes and vapors of this water boiling together with vineger are soueraign for those that be hard of hearing or troubled with the head-ach Sea water hath this especiall property that of all things it scoureth away rust of yron soonest The scab that annoieth sheepe it healeth and maketh their wooll more soft and delicat But what meane I to say thus much of sea water knowing as I do full well that for those who dwell far vp into the maine and inhabit the inland parts all this may seem needlesse and superfluous And yet there hath bin means deuised to make artificiall sea-water wherewith euery man may serue his own turn when he will In which inuention one wonderfull thing is to be seen namely if a man put more than one sextar of salt to foure of water the nature of the water will be so soone ouercome that salt shall not dissolue nor melt therein but if you mingle one sextar of salt just with foure sextars of water you shall haue a brine as strong as the saltest water that is in the sea but to haue a kind most mild brine it is thought sufficient to temper the foresaid measure of water with 8 cyaths of salt and this water thus proportioned is very proper for to heat the sinewes without any fretting of the skin at all There is a certain compound sea water kept in manner of a Syrrupe which they call Thalassomeli made of Sea-water hony and raine water of each a like quantity Now the foresaid sea-water they fetch for this purpose out of the very deep and this composition they put vp in earthen vessels well pitched or varnished and reserue it for their vse An excellent purgatiue this is for besides that it clenseth the stomacke without any hurt or offence therof the tast and smell both are very pleasant and delectable As touching the mead called Hydromell it consisted in times past of rain water well purified and hony a drink ordained and allowed onely to sick and feeble persons when they called for wine as being thought lesse hurtfull to be drunke howbeit rejected it hath bin these many yeares and condemned for by experience it was found at length to haue the same discommodities that wine but farre short it was of the good and wholesome qualities of wine Moreouer forasmuch as sea-faring men and saylers be many times at a fault for fresh water and thereby much distressed I think it good to shew the means how to be prouided for the supply of this defect First and foremost therefore if they spread and display abroad certaine fleeces of wooll round about a ship the same will receiue and drinke in the vapours of the Sea and become moist and wet withall presse or wring them well you shall haue water fresh enough Item let downe into the sea within small nets certain pellets of wax that be hollow or any other void and empty vessels wel closed luted they will gather within them water that is fresh and potable for we may see the experience hereof vpon the land take sea-water let it run through cley it will become sweet and fresh But to proceed vnto the other medicinable properties of water let there be any dislocation in man or beast by the swimming in water it matters not of what kind it be the bones wil very quickly and with great ease be reduced into joint againe It falleth out many times that trauellers be in feare and danger of some sicknesse by change of waters and such especially as they know not the nature and quality of To preuent this inconuenience they drink the water cold which they doubt and suspect so soone as euer they be come out of the baine for then they shall find it presently As touching the mosse which is found in the water soueraigne it is for the gout in case it be applied outwardly mix oile thereto and reduce it into the forme of a cataplasme or liniment it easeth the paine and taketh down the swelling of the feet about the ankles The fome froth that floteth aboue the water causeth warts to flie off if they be well rubbed therewith The very sand likewise vpon the sea shore especially that which is small and fine the same burnt as it were with the heat of the Sun is a soueraigne remedy to dry vp the watery humors in a dropsie if the body be couered al ouer therewith and to that purpose it serueth also for rheums and catarrhs Thus much may suffice concerning water it self it remaineth now to treat of such things as the water yeeldeth In which discourse begin I wil as my order and manner hath bin in all the rest with those matters which be chiefe and principall and namely salt and spunges CHAP. VII ¶ The sundry kinds of salt the making thereof the vertues medicinable of salt and diuers other considerations respectiue thereto SAlt is either artificiall or naturall and both the one and the other is to be considered in many and diuers sorts which may be reduced all into 2 causes for salt commeth either of an humor congealed or els dried In the gulfe or lake of Tarentum the salt is made of the sea water dried by the heat of the summer Sun for then you shall see the whole poole converted into a masse of salt and verily the water there is otherwise very low ebbe and not aboue knee high The like is to be seen in Sicily within a lake called Cocanicus as also in another neare to Gelas but in these the brims sides only about the banks wax dry and turn into salt like as in the salt-pits about Phrygia and Cappadocia But at Aspenchum there is more plenty of salt gathered within the poole there for you shall haue the same turn into salt euen the one halfe to the very mids In which lake there is one strange and wonderful thing besides for look how much salt a man taketh out of it in the day so much ordinarily will gather againe by night All the salt of this sort is small and not growne together in lumpes Now there is another kinde of salt which of the owne accord commeth of sea-water and it is no more but the fome or froth which is left behind sticking to the edges of the banks or to rocks Both the one the other become thick and hard in manner and form
of a candied dew howbeit that which is found in the rocks is more quicke and biting than the other There is besides of salt naturall a third distinct sort from the former for in the Bactrians country there be two great and huge lakes which naturally do cast vp a mighty quantity of salt the one lieth toward the Scythians and the other bendeth to the Arians country like as neere to Citium a city in the Isle Cypros and about Memphis in Aegypt they draw forth salt out of lakes and afterwards dry the same in the sun Moreouer there be certain riuers which beare salt and the same congealed aloft in their vpper part in manner of yce and yet the water runneth vnderneath and keepeth the course wel enough As for example about the sluces and straits of the mount Caspius and thereupon they be called the Riuers of salt as also in other riuers of Armenia and about the Mardians countrey Moreouer Oxus and Othus two riuers passing through the region Bactriana carry ordinarily downe with them in their streame great peeces and fragments of salt which fall from the mountaines adjoining vnto them There are besides in Barbary other lakes and those verily thicke and troubled which ingender and beare salt But what will you say if there bee certaine Fountaines of hote Waters which breed Salt And yet such bee the Baynes or Springs called Pagasaei Thus far forth haue I proceeded in those kinds of salt which come of waters naturally There are besides certain hils also which are giuen by nature to bring forth salt and such is the mountain Oromenus among the Indians wherein they vse to hew salt as out of a quarry of stone and yet the same groweth still insomuch as the kings of that country make a greater reuenue by far out of it than either by their mines of gold or the pearles which those coasts do yeeld Furthermore it is euident that in Cappadocia there is salt Minerall digged out of the earth and it appeareth plainly that it is a salt humor congealed within And verily they vse to cut it out of the ground after the maner of glasse stone in lumps and those exceeding heauy which the peasants commonly call crums of salt At Carrhae a city of Arabia all the walls thereof as also the housen of the inhabitants be reared built of hard stones and the same be laid by Masons worke and the joints closed and soudered by no other morter but plain water K. Ptolomaeus at what time as he incamped about Pelusium a city of Egypt and cast vp a trench to fortifie the same found such a mine or quarrey of salt as these which was a president to others afterward to sinke pits betweene Aegypt and Arabia euen in the waste and dry quarters where vnder the delfe of sand they met with salt After which manner also they practised to dig in the desart dry sands of Africk and found more as they went euen as far as to the Temple and Oracle of Iupiter Ammon And verily they might perceiue this salt to grow in the night season according to the course of the Moone As for all the tract and country of Cyrenae famous it is and much spoken of for the salt Ammoniacum so called by reason that it is found vnder the sands In colour and lustre it resembleth that Alume de Plume which the Greeks call Schistos It groweth in long lumps or pieces and those not transparent the tast is vnpleasant howbeit this salt is of good vse in Physicke The clearest thereof is taken for the best especially when it wil cleaue directly into streight flakes A strange and wonderfull nature it hath if it be right for so long as it lyeth vnder ground within the mine it is passing light in hand and may be easily welded take it forth once and lay it abroad aboue ground a man would not beleeue or imagine how exceeding heauy it is But surely the reason thereof is evident for the moist vapors contained within those mines where it lieth beare vp the said pieces of salt and are a great ease to those that deale therwith much like as the water helpeth much to the stirring and managing of any thing within it be it neuer so weighty Well this Ammoniacke salt is corrupted and sophisticate as well with the pit salt of Sicily called Cocanicus as also with that of Cypresse which is wonderfull like vnto it Moreouer neare Egelasta a city in high Spaine there is a kind of sal-gem or Minerall salt digged the peeces or lumps wherof are so cleare as a man may in a maner see through them and this hath of long time bin in great request and of such name as the Physitians giue vnto it the price and praise aboue all other kinds But here is to be noted that all places where salt is found are euer barren and will beare no good thing els And thus much may bee said concerning salt that commeth of the own accord As touching salt artificiall made by mans hand there be many kinds thereof Our common salt and whereof we haue greatest store is wrought in this manner first they let into their pits a quantity of sea-water suffering fresh water to run into it by certain gutters for to bee mingled therewith for to help it to congeale whereto a good shower of raine auaileth very much but aboue all the Sun shining therupon for otherwise it wil neuer dry harden About Vtica in Barbary they vse to pile vp great heaps of salt in manner of Mounts which after that they bee hardened and seasoned in the Sun and Moone scorne all raine and foule weather neither will they dissolue insomuch as folke haue enough to doe for to break and enter in with pick-axes Howbeit in Candy the Salt is made in the like pits but of Sea-water onely without letting in any fresh water at all Semblably in Aegypt the Sea it selfe ouerfloweth the ground which as I take it is already soked and drenched with the water of Nilus and by that means their Salt is made After the same manner they make salt also out of certain wels which are discharged into their Salt-pits And verily in Babylon the first gathering or thickening of the water in their salt-pits is a certain liquid Bitumen or Petroleum an oleous substance which they vse in their lamps as we do oile and when the same is scummed off they find pure salt vnderneath Likewise in Cappadocia they do conuey and let in water out of certain wels and fountaines into their Salt-pits In Chaonia there be certaine Springs of saltish water which the people of that countrey doe boile and when it is cooled againe it turneth into Salt but it is but dull and weak in effect and besides nothing white In France and Germany the maner is when they would make salt to cast sea-water into the fire as the wood burneth In some parts of Spain there be
mountain that is thus vndermined perceiues the earth when it begins to chink and cleaue menacing by that token a ruin thereof anon Whereupon presently he giues a signe either by a loud cry or some great knock that the pioners vnderneath may haue warning thereby to get them speedily out of the mines and runneth himselfe apacedown from the hil as fast as his legs will giue him leaue Then all at once on a sudden the mountain cleaueth in sunder and making a long chink fals downe with such a noise and crack as is beyond the conceit of mans vnderstanding with so mighty a puf and blast of wind besides as it is incredible Wherat these miners pioners are nothing troubled but as if they had done some doughty deed and atchieued a noble victorie they stand with ioy to behold the ruin of Natures workes which they haue thus forced And when they haue all don yet are they not sure of gold neither knew they all the whiles that they labored and vndermined that there was any at all within the hill the hope only that they conceiued of the thing which they so greatly desired was a sufficient motiue to induce them to enterprise and endure so great dangers yea to go through withall and see an end And yet I cannot wel say that here is all for there is another labor behind as painfull euery way as the other and withall of greater cost and charges than the rest namely to wash the breach of this mountaine that is thus clouen rent and laid open with a currant for which purpose they are driuen many times to seek for water a hundred miles off from the crests of some other hils and to bring the same in a continued channel and stream all the way along vnto it These Riuers or furrows thus deuised and conueyed the Latines expresse by the name of Corrugi a word as I take it deriued à Corrivando i. of drawing many springs and rils together into one head chanel And herein consisteth a new piece of worke as laborious as any that belongs to mines For the leuel of the ground must be so taken aforehand that the water may haue the due descent currant when it is to run and therefore it ought to be drawn from the sources springing out of the highest mountains in which conueiance regard would be had as well of the vallies as the rising of the ground between which requireth otherwhiles that the waters be commanded by canels and pipes to ascend that the carriage thereof be not interrupted but one piece of the work answer to another Otherwhiles it falleth out that they meet with hard rockes and crags by the way which do impeach the course of the water and those are hewed through and forced by strength of mans hand to make room for the hollow troughs of wood to lie in that carrie the foresaid water But a strange sight it is to see the fellow that hath the cutting of these rockes how he hangeth by cables and ropes between heauen and earth a man that beheld him afar off would say it were some flying spirit or winged diuell of the aire These that thus hang for the most part take the leuel forward and set out by lines the way by which they would haue the water to passe for no treading out is there of the ground nor so much as a place for a mans foot to rest vpon Thus you see what ado there is And these good fellowes whiles they bee aloft search with the hands and pluck forth the earth before them to see whether it be firme and fast able to beare the trunks or troughs for the water or otherwise loose and brittle which defect of the earth they call Vrium for the auoiding whereof the fountainers feare neither rocks nor stones to make passage for their pipes or trunks aforesaid Now when they haue thus brought the water to the edge brow of the hils where these mines of gold should be from whence as from an head there is to be a fall thereof to serue their purpose they dig certaine square pooles to receiue the water 200 foot euery way and the same ten foot deep in which they leaue fiue seuerall sluces or passages for the deliuerie of water into the mines and those commonly three foot square When the said pools stand full as high as their banks they draw vp the floud-gates and no sooner are the stopples driuen and shaken out but the water gusheth forth amaine with such a force and carrieth so violent a streame therewith that it rolleth downe with it any stones be they neuer so big lying in the way And yet are we not come to an end of the toile for there remaineth a new piece of work to do in the plaine beneath Certain hollow ditches are to bee digged for to receiue the fall of the water both from the pooles that are aboue and the mines also These trenches the Greekes tearme Agogae as a man would say Conduits and those are to be paued by degrees one vnder another Besides there is a kinde of shrub or bush named Vlex like to Rosemarie but that it is more rough and prickely and the same is there planted because it is apt to catch and hold whatsoeuer pieces of gold do passe beside The sides moreouer of these canals or trenches are kept in with planks and bourds and the same borne vpon arches pendant through steep places that by this means the canale may haue passage and void away at length out of the land into the sea Lowhat a worke it is to search out and meet with gold and verily by this means Spaine is grown mightily in wealth and ful of treasure In the former work also of sinking pits for gold an infinit deale of labour there is to lade out the water that riseth vpon the workemen for feare it choke vp the pits for to preuent which inconuenience they deriue it by other drains As touching the gold gotten by cleauing and opening mountains which kind of work I called Artugia it needeth no trying by the bloome-smithie for fine it is naturally pure of it selfe and found there be whole lumps and masses of this kind and in this manner In pits likewise ve shal haue such pieces weying otherwhiles ten pounds and more These grosse and massie pieces of gold the Spaniards call Palacrae or Palacranae but if they be but small they haue a prety name for them and that is Baluces But to come again to the shrub or plant Vlex whereof I spake before after it is once dried they burn it and the ashes that come thereof they wash ouer turfs of greene grasse that the substance of gold may rest and settle therupon Some writers haue reported that the countries of Asturia Gallaecia and Lusitania were wont to yeeld euery yere 20000 pound weight of good gold gotten after this sort yet so as they all doe attribute the
forward and anotherwhile to start and cast himself backward by turns The same workman inuented a deuise of yong lads youths vaulting and mounting on horseback Cheraeas expressed in brasse the liuely pourtraitures of K. Alexander the Great and king Philip his father Ctesalaus represented in the same mettal one of these Doryphori which were of K. Darius his guard bearing a speare or pertuisane also one of those warlick women Amasons wounded And Demetrius woon great credit by making Lysimache in brasse who had beene the Priestresse of Minerva and exercised that ministerie threescore and foure yeares And this artisane made also the image of Minerua surnamed Musica vpon this deuise For that the dragons or serpents which serue in stead of haires vpon her Gorgon or Meduases head wrought in her targuet would ring and resound againe if one strucke the strings of an Harpe or Citron neer to them And the same imageur made the liuely pourtraiture of Sarmenes riding on horseback for that he was the first that wrote of horsemanship Daedalus moreouer who is ranged among the excellent founders imageurs of old time deuised in brasse two boies rubbing scraping and currying the sweat from their bodies in the baine And Dinomenes was the workman who cast in brasse the full proportion and similitude of Protesilaus and of Pythodemus the famous wrestler Alexander otherwise called Paris was of Euphranor his making The excellent art and workmanship wherof was seen in this that it represented vnto the eie all at once a iudge between the goddesses the louer of Helena and yet the murtherer of Achilles The image of that Minerua at Rome which is called Catuliana came out of this mans shop and it it the same which was dedicated and set vp beneath the Capitoll by Quintus Luctatius Catulus whereupon it tooke that name Moreouer the image that signifieth good lucke or happie successe carying in the right hand a boule or drinking cup in the left an eare of corne and a Poppy head was his handie worke Like as the princesse or ladie Latona newly deliuered of Apollo and Diana holding these her two babes in her armes and this is that Latona which you see in the church of Concordia in Rome He made besides many chariots drawne as well with foure as two horses as also a key-bearer or Cliduchus of incomparable beautie Semblably two other statues resembling Vertue and Vice both which were of an extraordinary stature and bignes gyant-like in manner of Colosses He made besides a woman ministring and yet worshiping withall Item King Alexander the Great and King Philip his father riding both in chariots drawne with foure horses Eutychides a renowned imageur represented the riuer Eurotas in brasse and many men that saw this worke were wont to say That the water ran not so cleare in that riuer as art and cunning did appeare in this workemanship Hegyas the imageur made Minerva and King Pyrrhus which be much praised for the art of the maker likewise boies practising to ride on horsebacke the images also of Castor and Pollux which stand before the temple of thundring Iupiter in Rome In the colonie or city Parium there is an excellent statue of Hercules the handy worke of Isidorus Buthyreus the Lycian was taught his cunning by Myron who among many other pieces beseeming the apprentise of such a master deuised in brasse to represent a boy blowing at a fire halfe out and he it was that cast in the same mettall the famous Argonautes in that voyage to Colchos Leocras made the Aegle that rauished Ganymede and flew away with him but so artificially as if she knowing what a fine dainty boy she had in charge and to whom she caried him clasped the child so tenderly that shee forbare with her tallons to pierce through the very cloths The boy Autolicos also winning the prize in all games and feats of actiuitie was of his making for whose sake Xenophon wrote his booke entituled Symposion likewise that noble image of Iupiter in the Capitoll of Rome suramed Thundering which is commended aboue all others as also Apollo with a crowne or diademe Lyciscus counterfeited Lago a boy who in maner of a page or lacquey seemed to be double diligent after a flattering and deceitfull sort performed nothing but eie-seruice Lycus also made another boy blowing the coales for to maintain fire Menechmus deuised to cast in brasse a calfe turning vp the neck head at the man that settteth his knee vpon his sides and keepes his body down This Menechmus was a singular imageur and himself wrote a book as concerning his own art Naucides was iudged to be an excellent workman by the making of Mercury of a discobole or coiter as also for counterfeiting in brasse one that was a sacrificing or killing a ram Naucerus woon credit by making of a wrestler puffing blowing for wind Nicerates had the name for the curious workmanship of Aesculapius and Hygia which are to be seen at Rome within the temple of Concord Porymachus got great reputation by a coach drawn with four steeds ruled by Alcibiades the coachman all of his making Policles was the maker of that noble piece of work that goeth vnder the name of Hermaphroditus Pyrrhus counterfeited in brasse another Hygia Minerua And Phoenix who learned his art of Lysippus liuely counterfeited the famous wrestler Epitherses Stipax the Cyprian got himselfe a name by an image resembling one Splanchnoptes This was a prety boy or page belonging to Pericles surnamed Olympius whom Stipax made frying rosting the inwards of a beast at the fire puffing and blowing therat with his mouth full of breath and wind for to make it burne Silanion did cast the similitude of Apollodorus in brasse who likewise was himselfe a founder and imageur but of all other most curious and precise in his art he neuer thought a thing of his owne making well done and no man censured his worke so hardly as himselfe many a time when he had finished an excellent piece of work he would in a mislike vnto it pash it in pieces and neuer stood contented and satisfied with any thing when it was all done how ful of art soeuer it was and therfore he was surnamed Mad Which furious passion of his when Silanion aforesaid would expresse he made not the man himselfe alone of brasse but the very image of Anger and Wrath also with him in habit of a woman Ouer and besides the noble Achilles was of his making a piece of worke well accepted and much talked of Of his doing is Epistates teaching men how to wrestle and exercise other feats of actiuitie As for Srâ—…ongylion he made one of the Amazons which for an excellent fine and proper leg that she had they call Eucnemos and in that regard Nero the Emperour set so great store by this image that it was carried ordinarily wheresoeuer he went This artificer made likewise another brasen image resembling a faire
king Tarquinius Priscus sent for one Turianus to no other purpose in the world but to agree with him for to make the image of Iupiter in earth to set it vp in the capitoll for surely no better he was than made of clay and that by the hand of a porter which was the reason that they vsed to colour him ouer with vermillon yea and the charriots with foure horses which stood vpon the lanterne of the said temple were of no other stuffe concerning which I haue spoken in many places The same Turianus also made the image of Hercules which at this day retaineth still in the city that name which testifieth what matter he is made of Lo what kind of images there were in those daies made in the honour of the gods by our ancestors for the most excellent neither haue we cause to be ashamed of those our noble progenitors who worshipped such and no other As for siluer and gold they made no reckoning therof either about themselues or the very gods whom they worshipped and verily euen at this day there continue still in most places such images of earth As for the festiers and lanterns of temples there be many of them both within the city of Rome and also in diuers burrough townes vnder the Empire which for curious workmanship as it were chased and ingrauen are admirable and for continuance of time more lasting and durable than our louvers of gold and for any harme they do lesse subject I am sure to injurie Certes in these daies notwithstanding the infinit wealth and riches that we are growne vnto yet in all our diuine seruice and solemne sacrifices there is no assay giuen or tast made to the gods out of Cassidoine or cristallbols but only in earthen cups If a man consider those things aright weigh them duly in particular he shall find the bounty and goodnesse of the earth to be inenarrable though he should not reckon her benefits that she hath bestowed vpon mankind in yeelding vs so many sorts of corne wine apples and such like fruits herbs shrubs bushes trees medicinable drugs mettals and mineralls which I haue already treated of for euen in these works of earth and pottery which we are glutted with they be so vsuall and ordinary how beneficiall is the earth vnto vs in yeelding vs conduit pipes for to conuey water into our bains tyles flat yet hooked and made with crochets at one end to hang vpon the sides of the roofe chamfered for to lie in gutters to shoot off water curbed for crests to clasp the ridge on both sides brickes to lie in wals afront for building and those otherwhiles to serue as binders in parpine-worke with a face on both sides to say nothing of the vessels that be turned with the wheele and wrought round yea and great tuns and pipes of earth deuised to contain wine and water also In regard of which stone and earthen vessels K. Numa ordained at Rome a seuenth confraternitie of potters Ouer and besides many men there haue bin of good worth and reputation who would not be burnt to ashes in a funerall fire after they were dead but chose rather to haue their bodies bestowed entire within coffins of earth lying among leaues of myrtle oliue and blacke poplar after the Pythagorean fashion in which manner M. Varro tooke order for to be interred And if we looke abroad into the world most Nations vnder heauen do vse these earthen vessels and euen still those that be made of Samian earth and come from that Isle are much commended for to eat our meats out of and to be serued to the bourd and Eretum here in Italy retaineth yet the name for such vessell but for drinking-cups onely Surrentum Asia and Pollentia within Italy Saguntum in Spaine and Pergamus in Asia be in credit at Tralleis also a city in Sclauonia and Modenna to goe no farther than Lombardie in Italy there is made much faire vessell of earth appropriat vnto those places for euen in this respect some nations are innobled and growne into name This earthen ware is of that price besides that it is thought a commodity worth the transporting too and fro ouer land sea by way of merchandise But if we speak of that kind that is wrought by turners craft with the wheele the daintiest vessels come from Erythrae And in very truth such may the earth be that much art and fine workmanship is shewed therein in testimony whereof there be two stone vessels or earthen call them whether you wil within the principal temple of that city to be seen at this day thought worthy to be consecrated there in regard of their clean worke and their thinnesse besides which a master and his prentise wrought in a strife and contention whether of them could driue his earth thinnest howeuer it be they of the Island Cos are most commended for the fairest vessels of earth and yet those of Hadria beare the name to be more durable and of a more fast and firme constitution And since I am entred thus far I will obserue vnto you some examples of seueritie not impertinent to this discourse I find vpon record That Q. Ceponius was condemned and fined for an ambitious man onely for this because hee had sent an earth amphor of wine as a present vnto one who was to giue him his voice when he stood for an office And that you may certainly know that vessels of earth haue in some sort been in request among riotous gluttons and wastfull spend thrists listen what Fenestella saith as touching this point the greatest exceeding quoth he and gaudiest fare at a feast was serued vp in three platters and was called Tripatinum the one was of Lampreys the second of Pikes the third of the fish Myxon whereby it may appeare that euen in those daies men began at Rome to grow out of order and to giue themselues to riot and superfluity yet were not they so bad but we may prefer them euen before the Philosophers of Greece for it is written that in the sale of Aristotles goods which his heirs made after his decease there were sold 60 platters which were wont ordinarily to go about the house As for that one platter of Aesop the plaier in tragoedies which cost six hundred thousand sesterces I doubt not but their stomackes rise thereat when they reade thereof in my treatise as touching birds But this is nothing I assure you to that charger of Vitellius who whiles he was Emperor caused one to be made and finished that cost a million of sesterces for the making wherof there was a furnace built of purpose in the field the which I rather note because they should see the monstrous excesse in these daies that vessels of earth should be more costly than of Cassidonie Alluding to this monstrous platter Mutianus in his second Consulship when he ripped vp in a publicke speech the whole life of Vitellius now dead vpbraided
the manner is to imploy the smaller sort in their priuat buildings but the bigger serueth for greater publicke workes At Pitana in Asia and in Massia and Calentum cities of low Spaine the bricks that be made after they are once dried will not sinke in the water but flote aloft for of a spungeous and hollow earth they be made resembling the nature of the pumish stone which is very good for this purpose when it may be wrought The Greeks haue alwaies preferred the walls of bricke before any others vnlesse it be in those places where they had flint at hand to build withall for surely such brick wals if they be made plump vpright wrought by line and leuell so as they neither hang nor batter be euerlasting therfore such bricks serue for wals of cities and publick works their roial pallaces likewise be built therewith After this sort was that part of the wall at Athens laid and reared which regards the mount Hymettus so they built also at Patrae the temples of Iupiter Hercules although all the columns pillars and architraues round about them were of ashler stone thus was the pallace of K. Attalus built at Tralle is likwise that of K. Croesus at Sardis which afterward was conuerted to their Senat-house named Gerusia likewise the sumptuous and stately house of king Mausolus at Halicarnassus which goodly aedifices continue at this day Wee read in the Chronicles that Muraena and Varro when they were the high Aediles at Rome caused the outmost coat which was ouercast of the brick-wals of Lacedaemon to be cut out whole and entire and to bee set and enclosed within certaine frames or cases of wood and so to be translated from thence to Rome for to adorne and beautifie the publicke hall for elections of Magistrates called Comitium and all for the excellent painting vpon that parget The workmanship therein although it were excellent and wonderfull in it selfe yet being thus remoued and brought so far safe it was esteemed more admirable Moreouer here within Italy the walls of Aretine and Meuania be made all of bricke mary at Rome they dare not build their houses with this kind of bricke because a wall bearing in thicknesse but one foot and an halfe wil not sustain aboue one single story for the order of the city permitted not the common wals and those which were outmost to be thicker than a foot and an halfe neither wil the partition wals within abide that thicknes but are made after another sort CHAP. XV. ¶ Of Brimstone and Alume with their seuerall kinds also their medicinable properties HAuing spoken sufficiently of Bricks it remaineth that I should proceed to other kinds of earth wherein the nature of sulphur or brimstone is most wonderfull being able as it is to tame and consume the most things that be in the world it is ingendred within the Islands Aeoliae which lie between Italy and Sicily those I meane which as I haue said before doe alwaies burne by reason thereof Howbeit the best sulphur is that which commeth from the Isle Melos There is found thereof likewise in Italy within the territory about Naples and Capua and namely in the hills called Leucogaei that which is digged out of the mines is fined and brought to perfection by fire Of brimstone there be foure kinds to wit Sulphurvif or Quickebrimstone which the Greeks call Apyron because it neuer came into the fire the same is found solid of it selfe i. by whole pieces and in masse which their Physitians doe vse and none but it for all the other kindes consist of a certaine liquid substance and being boiled in oile are made vp and confected to their consistence whereas the sulphur vif is digged out of the mine such as we see that is to say transparent cleere and greenish The second kind is named Gleba good onely for Tuckers and Fullers The third sort also yeeldeth but one vse and no more and that is for tincture of wooll by reason that the smoke and perfume thereof wil bring it to be white and soft and this brimstone they call Egula As for the fourth kinde it serueth most of all for matches and wieks As touching the nature of Brimstone so forcible it is that if it be cast into the fire the verie smell and steeme thereof will driue those in the place into a fit of the falling sicknesse if they be subject thereunto As for Anaxilaus he would commonly make sport withall at a seast and set all the guests into a merriment for his manner was to set it a burning within a cup of new earth ouer a chafing dish of coales and to carry it about the table where they were at supper and in very truth the reuerberation of the flame would make all that were neere it to looke pale and wan after a most fearefull manner like as if there were as many grisly ghosts or dead mens faces And to come more neere to the properties that it hath respectiue vnto Physicke it healeth mightily and is a maturatiue it doth resolue withall and discusse any gathering of impostumes in which regard it entereth ordinarily into such plasters that bee discussiue and emollitiue A cataplasme made with it incorporate with grease or sewet and so applyed vnto the loynes and regions of the Kidnies doth wonderfully assuage the paine and griefe in those places being tempered with turpentine it riddeth away the foule tettars called Lichenes that arise in the face yea and cleanseth the leprosie The Greekes haue a pretty name for it and call it Harpacticon for the speedy remouing and snatching it from the place where it is applied for eftsoones it ought to be taken away The same reduced into a lohoch or liquid Electuarie is good to be licked and let downe softly towards the lungs in case of shortnesse and difficultie of winde in which sort it serueth for them that spit and reach out of the breast by coughing filthie matter and soueraigne it is for those that be stung with scorpions Take sulphur-vif mix it with sal-nitre grind the same together with vinegre it maketh a singular good liniment for to scoure the foule morphew let the same be tempered and prepared with vineger of Sandaracha it killeth the nits that breed in the eie-lids Moreouer brimstone is imployed ceremoniously in hallowing of houses for many are of opinion that the perfume and burning thereof will keep out all inchantments yea and driue away foule fiends and euill spirits that doe haunt a place The strength of Sulphur is euidently perceiued felt in the springs of hot waters that boile from a vain of it neither is there in all the world a thing that sooner catcheth fire wherby it is apparant that it doth participat much of that element Thunderbolts lightnings in like manner do sent strongly of brimstone the very flashes and leames thereof stand much vpon the nature of sulphur and yeeld the like light Thus much shall suffice as touching
was hewn and erected in Egypt by Nuncoreus the son of Sesostris which Nuncoreus caused another to be set vp of 100 cubits high and consecrated it vnto the Sun after hee had recouered his sight vpon blindnesse being so aduertised by the Oracle which remaines at this day CHAP. XII ¶ Of the Egyptian Pyramides and of Sphinx HAuing thus discoursed of the Obelisks it were good to say somwhat of the Pyramids also in Egypt a thing I assure you that bewraieth the foolish vain-glory of the Kings in that countrey who abounding with wealth knew not what to doe with their money but spent it in such idle and needlesse vanities And verily most writers doe report That the principall motiues which induced them to build these Pyramides was partly to keepe the Common people from idlenes partly also because they would not haue much treasure lying by them lest either their heirs apparant or other ambitious persons who aspired to be highest should take occasion thereby to play false and practise treasons Certes a man may obserue the great follies of those princes herein That they began many of these Pyramides and left them vnfinished as may appeare by the tokens remaining thereof One of them there is within the territory vnder the jurisdiction of Arsinoe two within the prouince that lieth to the gouernment of Memphis not far from the Labyrinth whereof also I purpose to speake there are other twaine likewise in the place where sometimes was the lake Moeris which was nothing else but a mighty huge fort intrenched by mans hand in manner of a mote or poole but the Aegyptians among many other memorable and wonderfull works wrought by their princes speake much of these two Pyramides the mighty spires and steeples whereof by their saying do arise out of the very water As for the other three which are so famous throughout the world as indeed they are notable marks to be kenned a far off by sailers and directions for their course these are scituat in the marches of Affrick vpon a craggy and barren mountaine betweene the city Memphis and a certaine Island or diuision of Nilus which as I haue said before was called Delta within foure miles of Nilus and six from Memphis where there standeth a village hard vnto it named Busiris wherein there be certaine fellows that ordinarily vse to clime vp to the top of them Ouer against the sayd Pyramides there is a monstrous rocke called Sphinx much more admirable than the Pyramides and forsooth the peisants that inhabit the countrey esteemed it no lesse than some diuine power and god of the fields and forrests within it the opinion goeth that the body of K. Amasis was intombed they would bear vs in hand that the rock was brought thither all and whole as it is but surely it is a meere crag growing naturally out of the ground howbeit wrought also with mans hand polished and very smooth and slippery The compasse of this rocks head resembling thus a monster taken about the front or as it were the forehead containeth one hundred and two foot the length or heigth 143 foot the heigth from the belly to the top of the crowne in the head ariseth to 62 foot But of all these Pyramides the biggest doth consist of the stone hewed out of the Arabicke quarries it is said that in the building of it there were 366000 men kept at worke twentie yeares together and all three were in making threescore and eighteene yeares and foure moneths The writers who haue made mention of these Pyramides were Herodotus Euhemerus Duris the Samian Aristagoras Dionysius Artemidorus Alexander Polyhistor Butorides Antisthenes Demetrius Demoteles and Apion but as many as haue written hereof yet a man cannot know certainly and say This Pyramis was built by this king a most just punishment that the name and authors of so monstrous vanity should be buried in perpetuall obliuion but some of these Historiographers haue reported that there were a thousand and eight hundred talents laid out only for raddish garlicke and onions during the building of these Pyramides The largest of them taketh vp eight acres of ground at the foot foure square it is made and euery face or side thereof equall containing from angle to angle eight hundred fourescore and three foot and at the top fiue and twenty the second made likewise foure cornered is on euery side euen and comprehendeth from corner to corner seuen hundred thirty and seuen foot the third is lesse than the former two but far more beautifull to behold built of Aethiopian stones it carrieth at the foot in each face betweene foure angles three hundred threescore and three foot And yet of all these huge monuments there remaine no tokens of any houses built no apparence of frames and engins requisit for such monstrous buildings a man shall find all about them far and neare faire sand and small red grauell much like vnto Lentill seed such as is to be found in the most part of Affricke A man seeing all so cleane and euen would wonder at them how they came thither but the greatest difficultie moouing question and maruell is this What meanes were vsed to carry so high as well such mightie masses of hewen squared stone as the filling rubbish and mortar that went thereto for some are of opinion that there were deuised mounts of salt and nitre heaped vp together higher and higher as the worke arose and was brought vp which being finished were demolished and so washed away by the inundation of the riuer Nilus others thinke that there were bridges reared with bricks made of clay which after the worke was brought to an end were distributed abroad and imploied in building of priuat houses for they hold that Nilus could neuer reach thither lying as it doth so low vnder them when it is at the highest for to wash away the heapâ—… and mounts aboue-said Within the greatest Pyramis there is a pit 86 cubits deep and thither some thinke the riuer was let in As touching the heigth of these Pyramides such like how the measure should be taken Thales Milesius deuised the meanes namely by taking just length of a shadow when it is meet and euen with the bodie that casteth it These were the wonderfull Pyramides of Egypt whereof the world speaketh so much But to conclude this argument That no man should need to maruell any more of these huge workes that kings haue built let him know thus much that one of them the least I must needs say but the fairest and most commended for workmanship was built at the cost and charges of one Rhodope a very strumpet this Rhodope was a bondslaue together with Aesope a Philosopher in his kind and writer of morall fables with whom she serued vnder one master in the same house the greater wonder it is therefore and more miraculous than all I haue said before that euer she should bee able to get such wealth by playing the harlot Ouer and
we haue said all that we can the follie of the blind bold people of Rome went beyond al who trusted such a ticklish frame durst sit there in a seat so moueable Loe where a man might haue seen the body of that people which is commander and ruler of the whole earth the conquerour of the world the disposer of kingdomes and realmesat their pleasure the deuiser of countries and nations at their wil the giuer of lawes to forreinstates the vicegerent of the immortall gods vnder heauen and representing their image vnto all mankind hanging in the air within a frame at the mercy of one only hook rejoicing and ready to clap hands at their owne danger What a cheape market of mens liues was here toward What was the losse at Cannae to this hâ—…ard that they should complaine so much as they do of Cannae How neere vnto a mischiefe were they which might haue happened hereby in the turning of a hand Certes when there is newes come of a city swallowed vp by a wide chinke and opening of the earth all men generally in a publicke commiseration doe grieue thereat and there is not one but his heart doth earne and yet behold the vniuersall state and people of Rome as if they were put into a couple of barkes supported between heauen and earth and sitting at the deuotion only of two pins or hookes And what spectacle do they behold a number of fencers trying it out with vnrebated swords nay ywis but euen themselues rather entered into a most desperat fight and at the point to break their necks euery mothers son if the scaffold failed neuer so little the frame went out of joint Now surely by this proofe Curio had gotten a good hand ouer the people of Rome no Tribunes of the Commons with all their Orations could do more from that time forward he might make account to be so gracious as to lead all the tribes after him in any suits and haue them hanging in the air at his pleafure What a mighty man with them might he be thinke you preaching vnto them from the Rostra What would not he dare to propose hauing audience in that publick place before them who could persuade them thus as he did to sit vpon such turning and ticklish Theatres And in truth if we wil consider this pageant vpright we must needs confesse may be bold to say that Curio had all the people of Rome to perform a braue skirmish and combat indeed to honor and solemnize the funerals of his father before his tombe And yet here is not all for he was at his change and variety of magnificent shewes and when he perceiued once that the hookes of his frames were stretched ynough and began to be out of order hee kept them still close together round in forme of a perfect Amphitheatre and the very last day of his funeral solemnities vpon two stages just in the middest he represented wrestlers and other champions to performe their devoire and then all on a suddaine causing the said stages to be disjointed and hailed one from another a contrary way he brought forth the same day the fencers and sword players who had woon the prize and with that shew made an end of all See what Curio was able to do And yet was he neither king nor Kesar he was not so much as a generall or commander of an army nay he was not named for any great rich man as whose principall state depended vpon this That when the great men of the city Caesar and Pompey were skuffling together by the eares he knew well how to fish in a troubled water But to leaue Curio such as he was with their foolish and idle expences let vs come to the miraculous workes that Q. Marcius Rex performed and that to some good purpose which if we consider esteeme aright passe all the other before rehearsed This gentleman when he was Pretor hauing commandement commission both from the Senat to repaire the conduits to the waters of Appia Anio and Tepula which serued Rome did not that only but also conueighed a new water into the city which of his owne name he called Martia and notwithstanding that he was to pierce certaine mountains make trenches quite through them vnder the ground for to bring the water thither from the Spring yet he perfourmed all within the time of his Pretourship As for Agrippa whiles he was Aedile besides the conduits from all other fountaines which he scoured repaired and caused to keep their currant he brought another of his own to the city which is known by the name of Virgo he made seuen hundred pooles for receit of waters a hundred and siue conduits yeelding water at rockes and spoutes besides a hundred and thirtie conduit heads in the fields and the most of them built strongly with vaults and adorned right stately Moreouer vpon these workes of his he erected statues images to the number of three hundred partly of brasse and partly of marble besides foure hundred pillars of marble and all within the compasse of one yeare And if wee may beleeue his owne speech discoursing of the acts done by him during his Aedileship hee addeth moreouer and saith That the plaies and games which he exhibited that yeare for to doe the people pleasure continued threescore daies together wanting one that he caused a hundred threescore and ten baines or stouves to be made within the city wherein people of all sorts and degrees might bathe and sweat of free cost and not pay a denier the which remain at this day and haue brought with them an infinit number of others But of all the conduits that euer were before this time that which was last begun by C. Caligula Caesar and finished by Claudius Caesar his successour passeth for sumptuousnesse for they commanded the waters from the two fountains Curtius Caeruleus whose heads were 40 miles off and these they carried before them with such a force and to such an height that they mounted vp to the top of the highest hils of Rome and serued them that dwelt therupon This work cost three hundred millions of sesterces Certes if a man would well and truly consider the abundance of water that is brought therby and how many places it serues as well publicke as priuat in baines stewes and fishpooles for kitchins and other houses of office for pipes and little riuerets to water gardens as well about the citie as in manors and houses of pleasure in the fields neere the city ouer and besides what a mighty way these waters be brought the number of arches that of necessitie must be built of purpose for to conueigh them the mountaines that be pierced and mined through to giue way together with the vallies that are raised and made euen and leuell with other ground he will confesse that there was neuer any desseine in the whole world enterprised and effected more admirable than
be so ruinat is this for that the mortar being robbed of the due proportion of lime hath not that binding as it ought and so the walls built therewith are not sodred accordingly Also this would be obserued that mortar the elder that it is the better it is found for building Moreouer in the old laws which prouide for the perpetuitie of houses in antient time we find it expressely set down that the vndertaker to build a house at a certain price shall vse no mortar vnder three yeres of age and this was the reason that in those daies a man should not see any rough-cast or parget to rise or chawne ill fauouredly as now they do and in truth vnlesse there be laid vpon wals three coats or couches as it were of mortar made with sand and lime and two courses ouer them of other mortar made of marble grit and lime tempered together the wals will not be permanent nor otherwise faire and resplendent as they ought to be and look where wals be dampish and giuen to sweat a certaine salt humor or sal-petre it were very well to lay a ground vnderneath of mortar made of the pouder of potsheards and lime wrought together In Greece they haue a cast by themselues to temper and beat in mortars the mortar made of lime and sand wherewith they meane to parget and couer their walls with a great woodden pestill As for the mortar made of marble-grit and lime together the true marke to know whether it haue making sufficient for building is this namely if it will not sticke to the shouell that worketh it but wil come out of the heap neat and clean but contrariwise in whiting and fret work the lime being soked and wet in water ought to cleaue fast like glew neither ought it to be tempred with water but in the grosse masse or lumpe At Elis there standeth a temple consecrated to the honour of Minerva wherein Panneus the brother of Phidias vsed a parget as they say which he tempered with milk and saffron together and therefore at this day if a man wet his thumb with spittle and rub it against the wall he shall perceiue both the smell and tast of saffron to remaine still As touching pillars in any building the thicker they stand one to another the bigger grosser they seem to be Our architects and masons make foure sorts of them for they say that such pillars as beare in compasse or thicknesse toward the foot as much as commeth to the sixt part of the height be called Dorique those that carry but a ninth part are Ionique such as haue a seuenth part be Tuscanique And as for the Corinthian pillars their proportion is answerable to the Ionique onely this is the difference that the Chapters of the Corinthian pillars arise in height to as much as the compasse at the base taketh vp in which regard they seem more slender than others As for the height of the Ionick chapter it is just the third part of the thicknes The proportion ordinarily in old time for the height of pillars was answerable to the third part of the bredth of the temple In the temple of Diana at Ephesus the inuention was first practised to pitch the footstall of pillars vpon a quadrant or square below and to set chapiters vpon their heads And as touching the proportion it was thought sufficient in the beginning if a columne contained in compasse or thicknesse the eight part of the height also that the square of the quadrant vnder the base should containe halfe the thicknesse of the pillar finally that the pillars should be smaller by one seuenth part in the head than at the foot Ouer and besides these pillars there be others also of the Atticke fashion and those be made with foure corners and the sides are equall CHAP. XXIIII ¶ The medicinable properties of Lime Also as touching the Maltha vsed in old time and of Plastre MVch vse there is of Lime also euen in Physick but then there must be chosen that which is quick and vnqueint Such lime is caustick discussiue and extractiue the same also is proper to represse corrosiue vlcers that begin to spread and run far If the said lime bee tempered with vineger and oile of roses it maketh an excellent healing plastre which will skin vp a sore clean The same if it be incorporat with swines grease or liquid rosin and hony together serues also to set bones in ioint the same composition is likwise good for the kings euil Concerning Maltha it was wont to be made of quick and new lime for they took the Lime-stone and quenched it in wine which done presently they punned it with swines grease and figs hereof they made ordinarily two couches and being thus tempered and laid it was thought to be the fastest whitening that could be deuised and in hardnesse to exceed a stone But looke whatsoeuer is to bepargetted with this Maltha or morter thus prepared ought first to be rubbed throughly with a size of oile Of neare affinity to lime is plastre whereof be many kinds for there is a kind of plastre artificiall and namely in Syria and about Thurium made of stone calcined in manner of lime and there is of it that is digged out of the ground naturally as namely in the Isle Cyprus and about the Perrhoebians Neare Thymphaea a city in Aetolia it lieth very ebbe and as it were euen with the ground as for the stone that is to be burnt for it the same ought to be not vnlike to the stone Alabastrites or at leastwise to that which stands much vpon marble In Syria they chuse for this purpose the hardest and they burne the same with cow dung that it may the sooner bee calcined But the best plastre of all other is known by experience to be made of the Talc or the glasse stone aforesaid or at leastwise of such as haue the like flakes as Talc Plastre must be wrought and driuen presently whiles it is wet and will run for nothing in the world wil so soon thicken and dry and yet when it hath bin vsed already it may be beaten again to pouder serue the turn in new workes Plaster serueth passing wel to white wals or seeling also for to make little images in fretwork to set forth houses yea and the brows of pillars and wals to cast off rain To conclude I may not forget that which befell to C. Proculeius a great fauorit and follower of Augustus Caesar who in an extreame fit of the paine of the stomacke dranke plastre and so killed himselfe wilfully CHAP. XXV ¶ Sundry kindes of paued floores and when at first they began to be vsed at Rome Of open terraces paued Of Greekish pauements And the first inuention of arched or embowed roofes THe deuise of paued floores arose first from the Greeks who made them with great art and curiously in regard of the painting in sundry colours which they bestowed
therupon but these braue painted floors were put downe when pauements made of stone and quarrels came in place the most famous workman in this kind was one Sosus who at Pergamus wrought that rich pauement in the common hall which they cal Asaroton oecon garnished with bricks or small tiles enealed with sundry colours and he deuised that the worke vpon this pauement should resemble the crums and scraps that fel from the table and such like stuffe as commonly is swept away as if they were left stil by negligence vpon the pauement Among the rest wonderfull was his handiworke there in pourtraying a Doue drinking which was so liuely expressed as if the shadow of her head had dimmed the brightnesse of the water there should a man haue seen other Pigeons sitting vpon the brim of the water tankard pruning themselues with their bils and disporting in the Sunshine The old paued floors which now also are much vsed especially vnder roofe and couvert howsoeuer they came from barbarous countries were in Italy first patted and beaten downe with heauie rammers as we may collect by the verie name it selfe Pauement which comes of Pavire i. to ram downe hard As for the manner of pauing with smal tiles or quarrels ingrauen the first that euerwas seen at Rome was made within the temple of Iupiter Capitolinum and not before the third Punicke war begun But ere the Cimbrian wars began such pauements were much taken vp in Rome and men tooke great delight and pleasure therein as may appeare sufficiently by that common verse out of Lucilius the Poët Ante Pavimenta aeta emblemata vermiculata c. Before the Pauements checker-wrought in painted Marquettry c. As touching open galleries and terraces they were deuised by the Greeks who were wont to couer their houses with such And in truth where the country is warme such deuises doe well howbeit they are dangerous and deceitfull where there is store of rain and frost But for to make a terrace so paued necessary it is first to lay two courses of boords or plankes vnderneath and those crosse and ouerthwart one the other the ends of which planks or boords ought to be nailed to the end they should not twine or cast atoside which done take of new rubbish two third parts and put thereto one third part of shards stamped to pouder then with other old rubbish mix two fiue parts of lime and herewith lay a couch of a foot thicknesse and be sure to ram it hard together Ouer which there must be laid a coator course of mortar six fingers bredth thick and vpon this middle couch broad square pauing tiles or quarrels and the same ought to enter at least two fingers deep into the said bed of mortar Now for that this floore or pauement must rise higher in the top this proportion is to be obserued that in euery ten foot it gain an inch and a halfe After which the pauement thus laid is to be plained and polished diligently with some hard stone and aboue al regard would be had that the planks or boorded floor were made of oke As for such as do cast or twine any way they be thought naught Moreouer it were better to lay a course of flint or chaffe between it and the lime to the end that the said lime might not haue so much force to hurt the bourd vnderneath Requisit also it were to put vnderneath round pebbles among After the like maner be the spiked pauements made of flat tiles shards And here I must not forget one kind of pauing more which is called Grecanicke the manner wherof is thus The Greeks after they haue well rammed a floore which they mean to paue lay therupon a pauement of rubbish or else broken tile shards and then vpon it a couch of charcoale well beaten and driuen close together with sand lime and small cindres well mixed together which done they do lay their pauing stuffe to the thicknesse of halfe a foot but so euen as the rule and souare will giue it and this is thought to be a true earthen paued floore of the best making But if the same be smoothed also with a hard slicke stone the whole pauement wil seem all black as for those pauements called Lithostrata which be made of diuers coloured squares couched in works the inuention began by Syllaes time who vsed thereto small quarrels or tiles at Preneste within the temple of Fortune which pauement remaines to be seen at this day But in processe of time pauements were driuen out of ground-floores and passed vp into chambers and those were seeled ouer head with glasse which also is but a new inuention of late deuised for Agrippa verily in those baines which he caused to be made at Rome annealed all the potterie worke that there was and enamelled the same with diuers colours whereas all others be adorned only with whiting no doubt he would neuer haue forgotten to haue arched them ouer with glasse if the inuention had bin practised before or if from the wals partitions of glasse which Scaurus made vpon his stage as I said before any one had proceeded also to roofe chambers therwith But since I am fallen vpon the mention of glasse it shall not be impertinent to discourse somewhat of the nature thereof CHAP. XXVI ¶ The first inuention of glasse and the manner of making it Of a kind of Glasse called Obsidianum Also of sundry kindes of Glasse and those of many formes THere is one part of Syria called Phoenice bordering vpon Iurie which at the foot of the mount Carmell hath a meere named Cendeuia out of which the riuer Belus is thought to spring and within fiue miles space falleth into the sea near vnto the colony Ptolemais This riuer runneth but slowly and seemeth a dead or dormant water vnwholesome for drinke howbeit vsed in many sacred ceremonies with great deuotion full of mud it is and the same very deepe ere a man shall meet with the firm ground and vnlesse it be at some spring tide when the sea floweth vp high into the riuer it neuer sheweth sand in the bottom but then by occasion of the surging waues which not only stir the water but also cast vp scoure away the grosse mud the sand is rolled too and fro and being cast vp sheweth very bright and cleare as if it were purified by the waues of the sea and in truth men hold opinion That by the mordacity and astringent quality of the salt water the sands become good which before serued to no purpose The coast along this riuer which sheweth this kind of sand is not aboue halfe a mile in all and yet for many a hundred yeare it hath furnished all places with matter sufficient to make glasse As touching which deuise the common voice and fame rnnneth that there arriued sometimes certain merchants in a ship laden with nitre in the mouth of this riuer being landed minded to seeth their
engrauer 483 e. sundry peeces of his handy-worke ibid. Acro who was the first Empericke Physician that euer was 344. h Acrocorios a kinde of Bulbe 19 a Act of generation how it is helped 130 h. 131 a 132 g. See more in Venus how it is hindered 58. k 59 d. 187 a. 190 h. 221 d. 256 l. See more in Venus L. Actius the Poet. 490. l L. Actius being of low stature caused his statue to be made tall ibid. Actius Nauius the Augur 491 b Actius Nauius his statue erected vpon a Columne at Rome ibid. A D Adad the Assyrian god 630. h Adad-Nephros a pretious stone ibid. Adamantis a magicall hearbe 203. c. why so called ibid. the strange vertues and properties thereof ibid. A arca See Calamochnus Adarce what it is 74 l. the vertues and properties that it hath ibid. Adders tongue See Lingulaca Aditiales Epulae or Adijciales what feasts they be 355. c Admiranda the title to a booke of M. Ciceroes 403. b Adonis garden 91. c Adonium a floure ibid. in Adoration of the gods what gesture obserued 297. e Adulterie how a woman shall loath and detest 434. k A E Aegilops a kinde of bulbe 19. b Aegilops an hearbe 235. a. the qualitie that the seed hath 99. c. Aegilops what vlcer ibid. Aegina an Island famous for brasse founders 488. h in great name for the branchworke of brasen candlestickes there made ibid. k Aegipt stored with good hearbes 96. l. what they be ib. 97. b Aegypt famous for singular hearbes and commended therefore by Homer 210. l Aegiptian beane 111. c. the vertues ibid. Aegiptilla a pretious stone 625. a. the description ib. Aegles why they hatch but two at one airie 590. k Aegle stone See Aëtites Aegophthalmus a pretious stone 630. i Aegolethron an hearbe 94 h. why so called ibid. Aegonichon See Greimile Aegypios a kinde of Vulture or Geere 365. d Aera Militum what 486. i Aerarium the treasurie of Rome why so called ibid. l Aerarij Tribuni what officers in Rome ibid. Aëroïdes a kinde of Berill 613. d Aerosum what gold 472. g Aechines a Physitian af Athens 301. e Aeschynomene a magicall hearbe 204. i. why so called ib. the strange qualitie that it hath ibid. Aesope the player his earthen platter 554. g Aesope the Philosopher 578 g. a bondslaue together with Rhodope the harlot ibid. Aeëtites a pretious stone why so called 396. l. 590. k. foure kindes thereof ibid. male and female ibid. their description ibid. the vertues of them all ibid. m Aeëtites a pretious stone 630. i Aethiopis a magicall hearbe 244 g. the incredible effects thereof ibid. from whence we haue it 269. d the description of it 271. c. the roots medicinable ibid. d A F Africa the word is a spell in Africke 297. d A G Agaricke what it is 227 d. male and female ibid. d e the ill qualitie that the male hath ibid. Agath a pretious stone 623 d. why called Achates ibid. the sundry names that it hath ibid. Indian Agaths represent the forme of many things within them 623 f the Agath serueth well to grind drougs into fine powder 623 f. diuerse kindes of Agaths 624. g the chiefe grace of an Agath ibid. incredible wonders reported of the Agath by Magicians 623 h. Agath of King Pyrrhus with the nine Muses and Apollo therein naturally 601 a b Agathocles a Physician and writer 131. e Agelades a famous Imageur in brasse 497 e. hee taught Polycletus ibid. his workes ibid. he taught Myro 498. h Ageraton an hearbe 271. d. the description ibid. why so called and the vertues ibid. Aglaophotis a magicall hearbe 203 a. why so called ibid. why named Marmaritis ibid. vsed in coniuring and raising spirits ibid. b Agnels how to be cured 38 i. See more in Cornes Agnus Castus a tree 257. c Agogae what conduits they be 468. m Agoracritus an Imageur in Marble 565 d. beloued exceedingly by his master Phidias ibid. Agrimonie an hearbe 220 k. why called Eupatoria ibid. the description ibid. the vertues ibid. l Agrion a kinde of Nitre 420. h Agrippa Menenius enterred at the common charges of the Romane Citizens 480. i M. Agrippa how he cured the gout with vinegre 156. k his admirable workes during the yeare of his Aedileship 585 e. how he conueighed seuen riuers vnder Rome 582. h Agues what medicines they do require 137. a. See more in Feuers A I Aire of sea water wherefore good 412. k Aire which is good to recouer strength after long sicknesse 181. d. change of Aire for what diseases good 303. c A L Alabastrum See Stimmi Alabastrites what kinde of stone 574. g. what vses it serued for ibid. the degrees thereof in goodnesse ibid. h Alabastrites a pretious stone 624 i. the place where it is found ibid. the description and vertue ibid. Alabastrites a kinde of Emeraud 613. a Albicratense a goldmine in France yeelding the best ore with a 36 part of siluer and no more 469. c Albi hils in Candie 408. k Albucum what it is 100 g Albulae what waters about Rome 402. m Alcamenes a fine Imageur and engrauer in brasse and marble 501 a. his workes ibid. 565. d Alcaea an hearbe 249. b Alcaea an hearbe 272 k. the description ibid. l Alcaeus a Poet and writer 131. a Alcibiades honoured with a statue at Rome 492. i. reputed the hardest wariour ibid. Alcibiades most beautiful in his youth childhood 568. g Alcibion an hearbe 275. e. the vertues ibid. Alcimachus a feat painter 549 c. his workemanship ibid. Alcisthene a woman and a paintresse 551. a Alcmena hardly deliuered of Hercules 304 m. the cause thereof ibid. Alcon the Imageur 514. g. he made Hercules of yron and steele ibid. Alcontes a rich Chirurgian 348. g. well fleeced by Claudius Caesar ibid. Alder tree what vertues it hath in Physicke 189. â— Alectoriae pretious stones 624. i. why so called ib. the vertues ib. why Milo the wrestler caried it about him ibid. Ale an old drinke 145 b. what nourishment it yeelds 152. g Alectorolophos an hearbe 275. c. the description and vertues ibid. Alâ—…x wâ—…at kinde of sauce 418 g. how made ibid. the vertue and vse thereof in Physicke ibid. i Aleos a riâ—…er of a strange nature 403. d Alexander otherwise called Paris excellently wrought in brasse by Euphraner resembling a iudge a louer and a murderer 502. g K. Alexander the great vsed to visit Apelles the painter his shop 538. m. he gaue away his concubine faire Campaspe to Apelles 539. a. a conqueror of his owne affections ib. b Alexipharmaca what medicines they be 106. h Aliacmon a riuer 403. d Alica what it is 139. c. compared with Ptisane 140. k See Frumentâ—…e Alincon described 128. l. m. two kindes thereof and their vertues 129. a Alisanders an bearbe 24. g. how strangely it groweth 30. g the vertues thereof 54. i. See Hipposelinum Alisma what hearbe 231. a. the names that it hath ibid. the description ibid. the
and Vines cannot agree together 176. g. Couleworts may not abide either Origan or Cyclamine ib. Countercharmes or preseruatiues against sorcerie witchcraft enchantment and Magicke 149 c. 195 e. 229 d 300 k. 306 m. 310 h. 313 b. f. 320 k. 322 m. 357 a 364 g. 387 a b. 430 g. 431 e. 433 f. 370 i. 515 e f 589 a. 609 a. 619 e. Counterpoisons 38 k. 39 a c. 45 e. 56 l. 59 b. 71 e. 107 c 144 i. 160 k. 164 i. 169 c. 172 h k. 174 m. 186 i 190 m. 192 g. 193 c. 200 l. 202 l. 215 c. 227 b 233 b. 246 g. 270 i. k 288 i. 306 m. 314 g. 316 l. 321 c 323 a b c d. 356 g. 364. g. 631 a c e. 433 e. 434 g i l 435 b. 437 d. 529 b. 610 m. poisons how they become Counterpoisons and the manner of their working 270. h C R Crabfishes 435 d. their vertues medicinable ibid. enemies they be to serpents 435 e. 436 i Crambe the best kinde of Couleworts 48 k for Crampe in feet or legs a remedie 305 b for Cramps in generall conuenient medicines 40 k. 41. d. e 44 k. 46 i. 48 g. 49 e. 50 h k. 52 k. 50 e. 60 l. 61 a 63 a. 64 k. 67 d. 72 l. 74 i. 75 b. 77 〈◊〉 102 g. 104 h 108 k. 119 d. 123 a. 128 i m. 129 b c f. 134 l. 150 g 154 g. 191 c. 162 h. 167 f. 168 g. 179 f. 180 g. 182 l 183 e. 186 k. 191 c. 193 c. 194 k. 198 i. 199 c. 219 d 226 l. 248 h. 259 c. 262 l. 264 g. 275 e. 283 a e 289 c e. 290 i. 312 i. 313 c. 320 g. 354 l. 422 m. 431 a 432 i. 442 g. 599 c. Crapula a mixture in headie wine 153. f. why so called ibid. M. Crassus the richest Romane that euer was but onely Sylla Dictatour 479 d. his apothâ—…gme ibid. his lands what they were ibid. surnamed Optimus for his wealth 479 e. his couetousnesse ibid. Crataegon an hearbe 279. e Crataeogonum what hearbe 257. d Crataeogonos an hearbe 279. b. the description and vertues ibid. e second kinde caelled Thelygonos ibid. Craterites a pretious stone 625. d Craterus a cunning painter and Comaedian both 549. e Crateuas a renowmed Physician 129 b. hee wrot of hearbs and set them forth in colours 210. g Crathis a riuer 403 c. the water of strange operation ibid. Creifishes of the riuer how medicinable they be 435. c Creifish head drieth vermine out of a garden 32. l Cresses an hearbe 29. a. why called Nasturtium ibid. it helpeth the wit and vnderstanding ibid. 56. g. two kindes of it and their properties ibid. which be best ibid. k Crestmarine an hearbe See Sampier Crickets much esteemed by Magicians 370 h. the reason wherefore ibid. the manner of hunting and catching them ibid. Cricke in the nape or pole of the necke how to be eased 70. g See more in Crampe Criers publicke at Rome warerich coats embrodered and studded with purple like as Senatours 459. d Crinas of Marsiles a famous Physician 345. a. by what meanes he woon credit 345. a. b. a great Mathematician and Astrologer ibid. a ceremonious obseruer of daies and houres 345 b. a man of exceeding wealth ibid. Crista Galli what hearbe 275. c Crocallis a pretious stone 625. d Crocias a pretious stone 630. m Crocinum a sweet ointment 105. b Crocis a magicall hearbe 204. k. the strange qualities thereof ibid. Crocodiles skared away by the voice onely of the Tentyrians 299. a against the Crocodiles bitt what remedies 158 h. 315. a 418 k. 419 e. 434 h. Crocodiles affourd medicines from sundry parts of their bodie ibid. two kindes of them ibid. one kinde liuing both in land and water ibid. a second liueth onely vpon the land ibid. i. his dung is sweet and medicinable ibid. the reason why ibid. Crocodile good meat all saue head and feet ibid. m Crocodilea what it is ibid. k how to be chosen ibid. how it is sopâ—…isticated ibid. l. the vertues thereof ibid. k. l Crocodilian an hearbe 279 c. the description and vertue ibid. Crocomagma what it is and the vse thereof 105 b Crâ—…sus rich in gold 464. h Cronius a cutter in pretious stones 501. d Crow-foot what hearbe 239. c. the sundry kindes ib. their description ibid. d. why it is called Sâ—…rumea ibid. e Crudana what veine it is of siluer 472. m Crudities in the stomack how to be digested 64 h. 66 i. 67 e See Indigistion and Digestion Crushes how to be cured 350. i. See Bruses Chrystall 454. i. how it is engendred 604 i. why so called ibid. whereupon found ibid. how to be vsed ibid. l. it groweth naturally six cornered ibid. one peece of Crystall weighing fiftie pound 604. l Crystall vessels of what capacitie ibid m the imperfâ—…ctions and blemishes in Crystall 605. a a Crystall glasse once broken cannot be reunited ibid. c Crystalls without fault and blemish be called 〈◊〉 ib. b Crystallion See 〈◊〉 C T Ctesias a writer 404. i. his opinion as touching Amber 906. l Ctesidamus a painter 549. d Ctesilas a fine Imageur 501. c. his curious workemanship ibid. Ctesilaus a famous Imageur 501. e. his workes ibid. Ctesilochus a painter 549. d. his picture of Iupiter in trauell with Bacchus c. ibid. C V Cuckowes meat an hearbe See Oxys Cucubalum an hearbe 280. g. sundry names that it hath ibid. the vertues ibid. Cucumbers of the garden a commendable meat 13. d much affected by Tiberius the Emperour 14. g. how preserued growing vpon the ground all Winter ibid. Cucumbers without seed 14. l. how to be preserued 15. f Cucumber seed how to be prepared and set in the ground 14. h. when to be sowne or set 15. a Cucumbers how they grow and in what forme 14. h. they loue water and hate oyle ibid. h. i how Cucumber plants may be kept fresh all the yeare long 14. l. Cucumbers a delicate sallad 37. d of Cucumbers three kindes 14 l. how they bloume or floure 15. c Cucumbers wild 35. e. f. the fruit ibid. where they best do grow 36. k root of wild Cucumber for what it is good ibid. g Cucumber Serpentine or wandring Cucumber 36 m. the decoction thereof and the vertue ibid. Cudwort an hearbe 258. l. 283. b Cuit what medicinable properties it hath 148. k Cuit called Sapa the nature thereof 157. c Cumfrie of the rooke an hearbe 275. d Cumin an hearbe 61. c. the description and vertues ibid. where it loueth to grow and when to be sowne 29. f. good to procure appetite ibid. Cumin seed how to be sowne 23. d what Cumin is best 30. g Cumin causeth palenesse of colour 61. d Cumin Ethiopicke ibid. f. the properties of it ibid. Cumin of Affricke 62. g. the vertues thereof ibid. Cumin wild and the vertues 248. h Cunila what hearbe 30. i Cunila Bubula 63. b. why called Panax ibid. c vsed by Tortoises as a defensitiue against
lawes in Rome to represse that excesse 563 b d. grauers cutters and caruers in Marble who were the first 564 h. grauing in Marble as ancient as the reckoning of yeares by Olympiades ibid. l Marble of Paros white 565 b Marble spotted 571. b. of sundry sorts ibid. Marble pillers and columnes in building of temples why at first vsed ibid. men of Chios built therewith the walls of their citie 571. c. the scoffe of M. Cicero vnto them by that occasion ibid. d Marble slit into thin plates whose inuention 571. d who seeled the wals of his house first with Marble at Rome 571. e. who built his house first at Rome vpon Marble pillers ibid. f K. Mausolus first garnished his pallace with marble of Proconnesus 571. d Marble Lucullian whereupon it tooke the name 572. g. it is blacke ibid. where it groweth ibid. Marble stone slit and sawed after what manner ibid. h Marble of sundrie kindes 573. a Marble of Lacedaemon esteemed best ibid. Marble Augustum and Tiberium why so called 573. b how they differ ibid. Marble serpentine ibid. the medicinable vertues thereof ib. Marble of Memphis with the medicinable properties 573 c Marble Coraliticum where it is found and the nature of it 574. i. Marble Alabandicum why so called ibid. it will melt and drinking glasses be made thereof ibid. Marble Thebaicke 574 i. the vertues that it hath ibid. k Marble Syenites why so called 574 k. it is named also Pyrrhopoecilos ibid. it serued for long Obeliske ibid. Marble gray or Sinadian Marble 522. i Marble doth liue and grow in the quarrey 586. i Marchesin or Marquesit stone See Cadmia and Pyrites Marcion of Smyrna a writer of hearbes 300. k Marcipores what they were 459 a C. Marius Censorinus how rich he died 479 e. f Q Marcius Tremellius his statue in a gowne for what desert 491. e Marigolds and their floures compared with Violets 85. e Mariscon a kinde of rishi 106. k C. Marius dranke ordinarily out of a wooden tankard after the example of Bacchus 482. l Markes remaining after the cauterie or searing-yron how to be taken away 377. f Marmaridius a Magician 372. i Marrow of what vertue it is 320. m what Marrow is best ib. how to be ordered and prepared ib. Marsians people resisting all poyson 95. a. b Marsians descended from Circe 210. l. they cure the sting of serpents by touching or sucking onely ibid. Martia a water seruing Rome 408. g. most cold and holesome ibid. from whence it commeth ibid. who conueied it to Rome and maintained it ibid. how it tooke that name 585. d Q. Martius Rex his wonderfull workes performed during his Pretourship 585. d Mascellin mettall of gold siluer and brasse 487. q. c Maspetum what it is 8. l Massaris 146 g. a wilde Vine ibid. 147. c. how employed ibid. Massurius a writer of Histories 320. k Thistle-Masticke what it is 98. i Masticke the gum of the Lentiske tree and the medicinable vertues 182. l. 184. h Matrice pained and vexed with throwes what remedies for it 39 f. 53 b 66 k. 106. i m. 121. f. 186 k. 198 m 207 d. 266 l. 267 b. f. 268 g. 279 a. 283 a. 308 g. 339 c 340. g. Matrice puffed vp swelled and hard how to be assuaged and mollified 72 l. 103 c. 111 c. f. 162 k. 180 l. 183. d 186 g. 339 c. f. 340 g. 352 i. 396 h. 397 a. Matrice enflamed and impostumat how to be cured 55 e 59 d. 71 b. 267 d. 303 a. 350 g. 351 a. Matrice sore and exulcerat how to be healed 140 i. 159. d 161 c. 175 a. 267 d. 340 g m. Matrice ouermoist and slipperie how to be helped 340 l Matrice drawne in and contracted how to be remedied 303. a. Matrice peruerted fallen downe or displaced how to be reduced and settled againe 303 a. 339 b. 340 h. 396. h 557 f. 591 b. See more in Mother Matrice obstructed and vncleane how to be opened clensed and mundified 43. b. c. 55. d. 57. c. 62. k. 77. b. 101. d 168. i. 180. l. 268. g. 340. k. 104. i. 121. f. 133. e. 158. h 175. b. 182. g. 187. d. 192. l. 266. l 267. c. d. 271. d. for the infirmities of the Matrice in generall comfortable medicines 102. h. k. 108. k. 109. b. c. 111. d. 119. d 121. e. 154. g. 173. a. 175. a. 179. f. 181. b. 183. e. 193. b 196. g. 207. c. 267. f. 271. d. 313. c. 318. h. 339. d. 340. i. l 395. c. 448. i. 449. b. 589. b. Maturatiue medicines 76. k. 103. c. 139. a. 183. d. 303. a 556. l. Mattiaci what springs 404. h Maur-hils corruptly called Moul-hils what they be 397. d Mausoleum the renowmed tombe erected by queene Artemisia for king Mausolus her husband 568. i. the description thereof and the workemen ibid. M E Mead or honied water See Hydromell one Meale a day no good diet 304. h Mechopanes a painter full of curious workemanship 548. m Mecoenas Messius held his peace voluntarily for three years space 305. d Mecoenas signed with the print of a Frog 601. f Mecon a kinde of wild Poppie 69. c Meconis a Lectuce why so called 24. i Meconites a pretious stone 628. i Meconium whaet it is 68. i remedie against Meconium 160 k Meconium Aphrodes an hearbe 257 f Mecontum what kinde of medicine to make a woman fruitfull 303. b Medea a pretious stone 628. i. by whom found ibid. Medea queene of Colchis a famous witch 210. k Medion an hearbe with the description 285. e Medius a writer in Physicke 39. e Medlers the fruit and their medicinable vertues 171. b Megabizus what he is 548. i Meges a Chirurgian 439. c Mel-frugum See Panicke Melamphyllon what hearbe 129. c Melampodium what hearbe and of whom it tooke that name 217. b Melamprasium 278. g Melampus a famous Diuinor or Prophet 217. a Melancholie the disease what remedies are appropriat for it 46. i. 50. l. 72. k. 107. e. 140. h. 157. a. 219. d. 283. a 304. l. 316 g. 318. g. 336. h. Melancholie the humour what medicines doe purge 111. f 188. g. 235 f. 412. m. Melandrium what hearbe 248. g Melanthemon what hearbe 125. d Melas a fountaine the water whereof maketh sheepe white 403. c. Melas a cutter in marble of great antiquitie 564. k Melichloros a pretious stone 630. m Melichrus a pretious stone ibid. Mililot an hearbe 90 g. why called Sertula-Campana the description thereof ibid. the vertues medicinable 106. l Melinum a Painters white colour 528. k. why so called 529. d. how it is gotten ibid. the vse in Physicke and the price ibid. Melitaei what dogs 380. h Melites a pretious stone 630. m Melities a kinde of Honied wine 136. m. the properties it hath 137. a Melitites a stone why so called 589. b. the vertues that it hath ibid. Melons their meat and medicinable properties 37. c Melopepones what they be 14. k Melothron what plant 149. c Membranes wounded
by Vespasian the Emperour a stately piece of worke 581. f Temple of Fortuna Sera built by Nero the Emperor all of Phengites stone 592. m Tephria what kind of Marble 573 c Tephritis a pretious stone 629. f. the description ibid. Tepula a water seruing Rome 585. d Terebinth or Terpontine tree what medicinable vertues it hath 181. c Terpentine rosin is the best 182. k. good to nourish the body and make it fat ibid. l Terra Sigillata or Lemnia 529 a. it was sealed in old time and thereupon called Sphragis ib. the medicinable vertues thereof 529. a Terraces whose inuention 596. i for Tertian agues what remedies are conuenient 70. l 112 g. 122. k. 125 a. 126. k. l. 205. b. 223. d. 260. h. k 287. c. d. 302. h. 309. e. 310. i. 391. c. 403. b. 424. i 446. i. Testiculus Canis an hearb 279. d. the description ib. a double root it hath like to dog stones ib. the different vertue and operation of these roots ib. Tetheae what fishes 442. k. their description and vertues medicinable 443. c. d Tetradoron what kind of bricke 555. d Tetragnathium a kind of Phalangium or venomous spider 360. k. the manner of their pricke and the accidents ensuing thereupon ibid. Tetters called Lichenes disfiguring the face how cured 156. g. 173. a. 183. c. 192. 〈◊〉 244. l m. 245 a. b. 377. c. e 556. l. 557. d. 560 h. for other tettars meet remedies 36. g. 45 c. 49. e. 52. i. 56. k 72. g. 75. b. 103. b. 124. h. 128. k. 142. l. 143. c. 144. l 146. i. 157. c. 166 l. m. 168. k. 169 a. 172 i. 187 e 252. h. 300. i. 413. b. 419. b. Teuca queene of the Illyrians put Romane embassadours to death 491. f Teucer a famous grauer 484 g Teucria an hearb 247. b. a speciall hearb for the liuer ib. Teucrion an hearb why so called 216. l. the description and vertues ibid. m T H Thalassegle what hearbe 203. e. why called Potamantis ib. the strange effects thereof ibid. Thalassomeli a syrrup how to be made 413. d. e. the singular vertues thereof ibid. Thalietrum or Thalictrum an hearbe 291. a. the description and vertue ibid. Thapsia an hearbe the root whereof is medicinable 245. b. Theamides contrary in nature to the Loadstone and reieteth yron 587. c Theangelis a magicall hearbe and the vertues thereof 203. f. Theatre of M. Scaurus a most wonderfull and sumptuous piece of worke 583. e. with the description thereof ib. Thebais salt for what infirmities good 419. b Thebes a city in Aegipt built hollow vpon vaults 580. h it had about it an hundred gates ibid. Thelygonum what hearbe 257. d. the vertues that it hath 268. h Thelyphonon what hearbe 230. l. the description ib. l. m the reason of the name ib. Thelypteris a kind of Fearne 281. d Themison a professour in Physicke 344. i. he wrote a Treatise in praise of Plantaine 223. b scholler to Asclepiades ib. he reiected his masters Physicke and brought in new 344. i Theodorus a writer in Physicke 52. i Theodorus a most curious and fine Imageur and grauer in brasse 503. a. he cast his owne image and a coach c. most artificially ibid. Theodorus one of the Architects that built the Labyrinth in Lemnos 579. c Theodorus a painter for what pictures hee was famous 550. h. i. Theombrotion a magicall hearbe described 203. c the nature thereof ibid. Theomenes his opinion as touching Amber 606. l Theon a painter and his workes 550. i Theophrastus his opinion of Amber 606. k Theophrastus wrote of floures and hearbes 82. l Theriace a kind of grape 148. i. the medicinable vertues thereof ibid. Theriaci what trosches 397. e. f. how they be made ib. their vse in preseruatiue antidots ib. Therionarca a magicall herbe the strange effects thereof 203. d. Therionarca another herbe described 229. c the reason of the name and the effects that it hath ib. Theseus a picture of Euphranor his doing compared with another that Parasius made 547. d Thesium what hearbe 127. e Thesmophoria what feasts 187. b Thespiades the nine Muses wrought in brasse by Euthicratis 500. g Thespiades also engrauen in marble 570. g Thessalie practised Magicke whereupon Magicians were called Thessalians 377. i Thessalica a comedie of Menander detecting the vanities of Magicke 372. m Thessalus a Physician 344. l when he flourished ibid. he altered the Physicke of his predecessors 344. m he inveâ—…ghed openly against them ib. he entituled himselfe vpon his tombe Iatronices 345. a Theudactylos a pretious stone 930. h Theutalis an herbe 287. a Thiatis what moneth in Aegipt 286. g against Thirstinesse appropriat remedies 43. b. 51. e. 60. h. i 67. b. 70. g. 73. a. 120. h. 129. b. 171. c. 275. e 624. g. Tâ—…laspi or Thlaspe what herbe 291 a of two kinds ibid. their description ib. why so called ibid. Thorne Arabian the medicinable vertues that it hath 194. i. Thracia a pretious stone of three kinds 629. f Thracian stone soonest burneth by the meanes of water 472. h. Thrasillus a writer in Physicke 435. d Three-leafe grasse See Trefoile and Clauer a fish bone slicking in the Throat how to be remoued 302. l 328. k. Throat swelled how to be assuaged 158. i Throat sore and exulcerat how to be healed 418. h. 328. i 378. g. 589. b. 609. b. for Throat infirmities generall remedies 41. f. 59. e. 74. k 120. h. 123. c. 157. b. 180. l. 245. b. 246 i. 317. a 328. i. Thryallis what herbe 230. k Thumbe of of K. Pyrrhus medicinable 295. f Thumbe hending downward a signe of approbation 297. d Thurtanus a famous potter 553 a he made the Image in the Capitoll of Iupiter in clay ib. Thunderbolts do sent or smell of brimstone 557. a Thuscanica what petie images 494. g Rome full of them ibid. h. i Thyme of Attica is best and therfore the hony from thence is chiefe 90. k. l Thyme of two kinds ibid. k when it floureth and how ib. 107. c. d by it is knowne what a yere will be of hony ibid. the description and nature of Thyme 90. k the vertues 107. d running Thyme 75. d why it is called Serpyllum ib. wild Thyme where and how it groweth 31. c. d the properties that it hath 75. d Thymbraeum what herbe 233. e. the vertue ibid. Thysselium what herbe 233. e. the vertue ibid. Thystles and their sundry kinds 98. g. h Thystles wild of two sorts 78. l Thystles forbidden to be eaten by Roman Commoners 11. d T I Tiberius Caesar a grim sir yet delighted in pictures 527. f See Tyberius Tiâ—…r of Flax 4. i. k Tikes in dogs how to be killed 124. i Tikes highly esteemed by Magicians 387. b. c their fooleries in the vse of Tikes ibid. Timagoras an antient painter 537. d Timaeus a naturall Philosopher 666. i Timanthes an excellent painter 536. k. famous for the picture of Iphigenia in Aulides ib. a man of fine conceit ib. Timarete a