poysoned if it be but touched with his horn it takes away the poysonous quality it was a Custome in old time among rich men to have drinking Cups made of the Unicorns horn and when at any time they drank they used to have a piece of the horn in the Cup for it is very much commended by Physicians now having explained the properties of the Unicorn we will next consider what we may learn from it 1. Nazianzen in his 13 Orations compares the Philosopher and the Unicorn together for 1. As the Unicorn loveth solitude so he who addicts himself wholly to good learning desires nothing so much as privacy and retiredness 2. As the Unicorn loveth to be on the high Mountains so wise men ought to despise and sleight these worldly things as below them 3. As the Unicorn hateth any slavery or servitude so the true Philosopher should be servant to none nor should he dwell as it were in another mans brains taking up and changing his opinions on anothers judgment 2. I suppose that that in the Psalms is unknown to few Psal 22. 22. where Christ being compassed about with most cruel Enemies makes sad complaints as of their cruel usage and compares them to Lyons and Unicorns saying in the fore-cited place Save me from the Lyons mouth from the horns of the Unicorn by which we are to understand more especially the cruelty of those who Crucified our Saviour although it may not unfitly be applyed to all the Enemies of the Gospel for 1. As the Unicorn is a very cruel Creatâ—re so the Enemies of Christ were strong and cruel 2. As it is strong and vigorous so are the Enemies of the Church 3. As it is very difficult to be taken and when taken as difficult to tame it which Job Chap. 39. 9. seems to hint to us saying Will the Unicorn be willing to serve thee or abide by thy Crib Canst thou binde the Unicorn with his band in the fâ—rrow c. so the Enemies of Christ are implacable 4. As the Unicorn loveth to dwell in solitary places never keeping company with any other Creature thus the Enemies of Christ will by no means be reduced to the society of the Church but do still go on in enmity and hatred against it 3. In other places of Scripture the Church and Jewish state is compared to a Unicorn so Num. 23. 22. it is said that God brought them oâ—t of Egypt he hath the strength of a Unicorn and the very same words are there used Nâ—mb 24. 8. like to which we have Deut. 33. 17. His horns are like the horns of a Unicorn with them he will push the people together to the ends of the Earth so the Family of Joseph is compared to the horns of a Unicorn so David Psal 75. prayeâ— that his K â—gdom might be exalted as the horns of a Unicorn and in general we may reâ—emâ—le this to the Church and so to all holy and pious men that ever have or shall be in the World and without doubt the horn is an Emblem of power and strength as also of defence which we may liken to the true knowledge of God and to his presence aid and assistance and then we may learn 1. As the Unicorns horn is so high by which he defends himself against all injâ—ries so the Churches wellfare and safety consists in the knowledge and love of God 2. And as his horn is an excellent Antidote against all poyson so the knowleâ—ge and love of God is an excellent remedy against all vice 3. As the chief thing that Huntsmen regard in a Unicorn is his horâ— so it is most certain that the main reason of the Churches sufferings is as I may so speak her horn i. e. her great confidence and affiance in God 4. As it is very difficult to take the Unicorn alive and when she is hunted taketh great care of â—eâ— horn thus the Church ought in the midst of all her afflictions to take great heed lest she loâ—e her horn i. e. her knowledge and love of God these heads of inferences might be further inlarged I shall add a story which I have read in the third Book of Philip's Declamationes where he saith that he saw the Church pictured like to a Unicorn standing one half of which only appeared but immediately it appeared in his full proportion about whom stood divers beasts as the Elephant Panther c. making a great noise about him the Unicorn in the mean while standing undauntedly He addeth there â—hat the Church hath in this World sometimes prosperity and sometimes adversity but alwayes hath great Enemies which she at last overcometh by the way here we may take notice that oftentimes states and Kingdoms are called by the name of horns for as horns are of no use at all but only to defend the body so Kings and Princes unless they defend the Church are useless 4. Also Christ himself and his Kingdom are not unfitly compared to an Unicorns horn for although we have it not expresly mentioned in the Bible yet we read in the Book of Numbers that when Balaam was to bless Israel he taketh many similitudes from the Unicorn from whence we may learn 1. That as the Unicorn is an invincible Creature thus the Church shall prevail against the gates of Hell moreover as the Unicorn with his horn doth overcome all other Creatures thus we by this horn of Christ do overcome all the temptations of Sathan and of wicked men and as his horn is a Sovereign remedy against poyson so the Kingdom of Christ is the horn of Salvation in which sin is destroyed death is abolished and overcome and everlasting life promised to all Believers and as the Unicorn spareth the Female as being the weaker thus Christ loveth and cherisheth those that are of a contrite heart to conclude as the Unicorn pursueth any one that goeth about to ensnare him thus Christ doth by his horn as it were oppose all that set themselves against his Gospel insomuch that to all Eternity they shall find nothing but severe punishments and torments inexpressible and intolerable CHAP. XII Of the Horse THe Americans never saw this Creature till about a hundred years since and therefore when they saw a man on Horse-back they thought the man and the Horse to be one individual Creature which made them much afraid of it this being the Creature that Conquered the Indians so that the Spaniards if they could not bring Horses the Indians overcame them this is a very useful and necessary Creature to man and that not only for war but also for Journeying concerning his usefulness in war we have it set down at large in Job chap. 39. 22 23. c. Hast thou given the Horse strength hast thou cloathed his neck with Thunder Canst thou make him afraid as a Grass-hopper The glory of his Nostrils is terrible he paweth in the Valley and rejoyceth in his strength he goeth out to meet the armed men he
dance and run with their Masters on their backs into their Enemies Camp 5. They are the most leacherous Creatures in the World man onely excepted they are mad when in the Act and will bite any Horse that cometh nigh them but the Mares are more leacherous than the Horses it is fabulous that is reported of the Mares in Portugal who are reported by drawing in the wind to have a kind of false conception as Hens oftentimes lay windy Eggs but what they bring forth never liveth long those that would satisfie themselves further in this point may read more in the third Book of Georgicks like to that fabulous report I have read of the Tygers conceiving with the wind but so great is the leachery of the Horse that he will copulate witâ— the Mare that foaled him Aristotle in his History of Animals lib. 9. Chap. 47. saith that the King of Scythia's Horse was compelled to copulaâ—e with the Mare that cast him she being covered over with cloaths that he could not see her but yet notwithstanding after he perceived it he ran away and threw himself down headlong from a high place Herodotus in his third Book relateth this story that after the Death of Cambyses it was so agreed upon among the Nobles that the next day seven Noblemen should be drawn into the City with Horses and that his Horse that neighed first should be made King that night one of Darius his Servants took a Mare and tyed her to a post and there let her stand and after a while brought Darius his Horse to her which he was to ride upon the next day Darius his Horse coming by that place remembring the Mare that stood there the day before neighed upon which Darius was made King Mares cast their Foals standing which no other Beasts do the Mare hath a great love for her Foal for she will dye if they be taken away from her and if it chance that the Dam dyeth some other Mare taketh care of the Foal 7. After they have cast their Foal it is a long time before she is proud again 8. The Horse is a fickle and unconstant Creature not caring much for company unless in the time of Copulation and then no Creatures love it more there is no leader or Captain as it were among Hâ—râ—eâ— as there is among Oxen and other Creaurâ—s 9. As Oxen delight to feed upon the Hills Horâ—es on the contrary delight to feed upon a plain where they are most serviceable in time of VVar e caâ—â—oâ— endure to go in boggy ground and therefore Campanus we read in Livye's History advised â—â—e â—nemy to go into some Moorish place the Hoâ—se taketh great delight in washing himself and tâ—erefâ—re will oftentimes lye down in the water wâ—en â—e drinketh he muddeth the water with his â—eet but the Ox loveth to drink in clear water the reason of which may be because he seeth his shadow the better in it when Bucephalus was brought to Philip of Macedon he began to rage as if he were mad Alexander though he was but a young man came to him and turned him to the Sun for if he perceived the shadow of any one it made him startle and immediately the Horse was very gentle to the great admiration of his Father great care is to be had that tame Fowl be not fed â—igh Horses for oftentimes they scatter tâ—eir feathers among their meat which breedeth diseases in them 10. Horses and Sheep are liable to as many diseases as man is wild Horses being often troubled with the Gout and those that â—re kept up in the Stable with the Iliack passion the Cramp they sometimes are stopped in their Ureters so that they make water with a great deal of difficulty which theâ— will do with a great deal of ease if they are brought to a place where there is Sheeps dung they have â—een oftentimes observed at the snuff a candle to cast their foal as it sometimes happeâ—eth to women in the like case Some constand purge their Horses once every year it is bad fâ— Horses to stand nigh Hogs and as bad to have theâ— Stalls nigh any stinking Ditch a Horse as he groweth old so he groweth hoary as Aristotle saith 11. A Horse is a very laborious Creature especially if he be well fed Jovius in his fourth Book saith that the Italians laughed at the Germans for cutting off their Horse tayls but â—et he commendeth them because it maketh Horses fatter for that nourishment which goeth into the tayl after it is cut off serveth to nourish the body thâ—â— Philip Camerarius lib. 1. Chap. 36. saith tâ—at in a certain war between Maximilian and the Venetians the Germanes had the Manes and Tayls of their Horses cut off which as some are of opinion maketh them stronger and better for service I have read in Paâ—lus Vinetus how that the Tartars used to dock their Horses Tayls that so they might not hit their Rider with them but some do not so well allow of it VVe then may see the falshood of that report that a Horse is fiercer when he hath no Trappings on when we see that Horses are delighted in colours and are proâ—d when they have Trappings on and since the Horse is so useful as we have seen already to all Countreyes it is a punishmeâ—t to those people that eâ—t Horse flesh as the Tartars who account the guts of Horses the greatest ornament 12. They exceedingly hate Bears Camels and Elephants as Herodotus in his first Book and 7. Chap. giveth instances of more at large 13. Horses and Dogs are true and constant to their Masters unless they grow mad which love is greatly increased by making much of them no better way to make a Horse mild and gentle than to forbear striking of him as much as you can for he will do that by fair means which he will not do with the Spur and VVhip these are the several properties of the Horse we come now according to our method to draw some corrolaries from him we might compare him to Souldiers but I shall speak to that place Zach. 1. 8. I saw by night and behold a man riding upon a red Horse and he stood among the Myrtle trees that were in thâ— bottom and behind him were red Horses speckled and white then said I O my Lord what are these and the Angel that talked with me said I will shew thee what these be and the man that stood among the Myrtle Trees answered and said these are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the Earth To this agreeth that of the Prophet Habakkâ—k Chap. 3. 8. That thou didst ride upon thy Horses and thy Chariots of Salvation in which places the Apostles and all Ministers are compared to Horses on whom Christ rideth through the Earth to the eternal salvation of the VVorld many gooâ— inferences might be drawn from the Nature of this Animal I shall mention but few of them 1. As Horses
which they intend to preach and not to speak what comes next 10. As Camels have not all their gall in one place but it runs through their veins so Ministers ought not easily to be provoked to anger 2. We come now to speak of that place Levit. 11. 4. in which the Jews were forbid to eat the Camel because it cheweth the Cud but did not divide the hoof therefore it was unclean The reason of which is this the flesh of a Camel is not unclean or noxious of it self nor is it said it shall be un clean to all but only to the Jews So again if they touched any thing that was unclean they were to remain unclean untill the Evening but not for ever therefore we see that all things are good with respect to the time and place so that by these prohibited meats God would signifie unto us that chewing the Cud is an Emblem of purity and dividing the Hoof an Emblem of modesty for those Creatures which chew the Cud are fed with purer meat than those which do not and those Creatures which part the Hoof are not so fierce as those which do not That which the Jews were to learn from those Creatures which chew'd the Cud and divided the Hoof was this that they ought diligently to meditate and consider of those divine truths which at any time they heard and from the gentleness of those Creatures to learn mildness and courteousness towards all Luther in the beginning of his book of directions for reading of the Fathers useth this metaphor that those Fathers only are to be chose which favour of the spirit So Lactantius followeth the metaphor well in his fourth Book Chap. 18. Concerning the prohibition of eating Hogs flesh So God had respect to this in all their sacrifices as Galatinus in his history of the Jews lib. 11. Chap. 9. saith that those Creatures which were sacrificed did figuratively signifie unto them several Vices and the mortification of those Vices and partly Vertues so the firstlings of the Sheep which Abel offered up to God and the Paschal Lamb signified the suffering of the Messias So Kids and Goats signified unto them the mortification of the sins of the flesh by repentance as also the impurity and the filthiness of every sinner By the Bull was signified pride by the Calf wantonness by the Goat and Sparrow unconstancy Contrarily by the Sheep was signified gentleness by the Lamb innocency by the Ox fury by the Turtle-Dove Chastity by Pigeons which flye in Companies and have no Gall is signified Charity thus Galatinus 3. Concerning the Garment of John the Baptist which St. Matth. saith was made of Camels hair whence ariseth two enquiries 1. as to the Matter and 2. as to the Form of it 1. As to the Matter of it we must know that the word which we translate a Camel signifies in Greek a Cable-Rope therefore 1. Some think that his Garment was made of Camels hair as our hair Cloath is made of Goats hair which Garment was formerly a sign of Repentance and did suit with him who was a preacher of Repentance Philip was of the opinion that John Baptists Garments were made partly of Camels hair and partly of Flax as amongst us we have some stuffs which are half silk which the Jews were not to wear as appears Deut. 22. 11. So that in this respect also that kind of Garment 〈◊〉 very well suit with him who was to preach the abolishing of the Law and the Conversion of Jews and Gentiles to one Lord and also to signifie tâ—at the Priest hood of the New Testament did not consist in Garments Some think that it was woven with thick flax like to our Cotton therefore the Monks of the Order of St. John imitate him to this day by such a Garment but I am apt to believe that it was made only of Camels hair 2. Concerning the fashion of it some do enquire what the reason is that Elias whom John mentioneth is said to be a hairy man and girt with a girdle of leather about his loyns 2 King 1. 8. which was the better to defend him from the extremity of the weather he being a man that was often in the open Air and in the Wilderness and therefore John the Baptist would have his Garment like the Garment of Elias and therefore Limners now adayes do not well in representing John wrapt in a Camels skin which makes him look more like a Satyr than a Man So Heb. 11. 37. we read that the Christians wandred up and down in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins the benefit of which was only to keep them from cold as we see in the example of Elias CHAP. VI. Of the Lyon THe Lyon is a fierce and intractable Creâ—ture but yet famous because it hath the shadows of many Vertues which we may learn partly from the properryes of his body and of his soul Those which belong to his body are these 1. His bones are so firm and solid that they are scarcely perceived to have any cavity in them and yet they are but very small and therefore it is that his Neck is so stiff and hard that many have thought that it had no joynts but was one continued bone 2. The strength of a Lyon is so great that he can at once break all the bones of a mans body therefore it is that we find in holy writ What is stronger than a Lyon Judg. 14. 18. And so Solomon saith that a Lyon is the strongest of Creatures Pro. 30. 30. Hence comes the proverb as good vex a Lyon Thus Gen. 49. v. 9. 't is said Judah is a Lyons Whelp he stooped down he couched as a Lyon and as an old Lyon by which is signified to us the great strength of the Jews who although they have oftentimes been worsted yet there have been some branches left of them even untill Christs time So Numb 24. 9. he concludes he lay dewâ— as a Lyon and as a great Lyon who shall stir him up 3. As the Lyon is the King so it is the hotteâ—st of all Creatures and therefore he soon digesteh his prey he is also a greedy and devouring Creature and oftentimes eats his prey without chewing which he vomiting up eats it again 4. By reason of his great heat he breeds much choler and therefore in the Summer time he is continually troubled with a quartane feaver 5. Sometimes having eaten too much he is forced to abstain from meat for two or three dayes and afterwards for some time to eat but once every other day which afterwards makes him follow the prey with more greediness 6. His dung is very dry and hard so that he easeth nature with a great deal of difficulty He makes his water as a Dog doth with one leg lift up which comes from him with a great deal of difficulty 7. He hath short eye-lids but yet very great eyes and that is the reason that he is so troubled with the Gnats which flye
flead off There are three things especially to name no more in which the Persian Monarchy and a Bear are alike 1. As a Bear doth exceedingly love and delight in Honey which by the scent they find out so the Persians are meer gluttons and Epicures wholly given to delight and pleasure being prodigal in Cloaths and no less in the furniture of their Houses it being common among them to have golden Tables and Beds of the same neither do they come behind hand in lust and uncleanness for Cambyses defloured his own Sisters and Herodotus reports of them in his fifth Book that it was a Custom among them at any feast or banquet for every one to bring in his Concubine 2. As Bears are often troubled with sore Eyes so the Persians had very little skill or insight in Military affairs so Herodotus lib. 7. affirms that Xerxes brought an Army into the field consisting of almost an incredible number yet he could not subdue the Graecian Monarchy so likewise the Persians when they fought against Hellespont where a vast Army of the Persians were easily overcome by Alexander the Great as the Reader may see more at large in Q. Curtius 3. As Bears are observed to have very weak heads several of them at Rome having been killed with a small blow on the ear so the Persians giveing themselves wholly up to lust and pleasure did destroy the natural strength and vigour of their bodies which was the reason of that ill success which we read they had in all their wars Herodotus lib. 3. tells us that after a war seeing the heads of many Egyptians and Persians he observed the heads of the Persians to be softer whenas the heads of the Egyptians were much harder and firmer they wasting their strength in lust and lasciviousness there are several things I have observed in the nature of a Bear which may not unfitly be compared to a Scholastical and Philosophical life for instance the Bears at first when young are very deformed Creatures untill she by licking them hath brought them into shape thus it is most commonly amongst Scholars the first thing they put out is not so polite and well digested as the next is and then secondly as the Bear hath a great love and affection to her young ones thus we see that Scholars do set a high price and value upon the first fruits of their study Thirdly as the Bear is so good at climbing of Trees thus learned men should make it their chiefest business to seek those things that are above Again as a Bear loveth Caves and Dens thus Scholaos love retiredness and secrecy moreover as the Bear when he is tyed to a stake will still be walking round it thus the Scholar delighteth to be in his study and among his Books spending all his time there Again as Bears love honey thus learned men cannot endure to spend their time in reading of dull Books but in those Books wherein they find something of sweetness the reading of which is their chief business for eating and drinking that is a thing they do by the by as the Bear that doth not drink as the Dog nor sup up his water as other Creatures do but doth as it were bite up the water when he drinketh And as the Bear loveth Musick so do Philosophers who are like to this Creature for passion and revenge and as these Creatures are deformed oftentimes troubled with bad eyes having but weak heads thus it is most commonly with Scholars who are oftentimes troubled with the same distempers who oftentimes are seduced with the pomps of this World and blinded with the vanities thereof as they say that Bears if you hold but a bright silver Basin before their eyes they cannot see Albertus telleth us of certain white Bears which are Amphibious and live both in the Air and Water I have read that Heliogabalus sent several Bears into the Room where were several of his guests whom he had made drunk I need not speak of those men that have been turned into Bears which as it seldom happeneth in Physicks yet it is often seen as to their Morals some being more like Bears than men as others are like Swine CHAP. VIII Of the Panther or Leopard THe Panther or Libbard is called in Low-Dutch Lin Panterthier which is also called in Dutch Panther the Female is called a Libbard or Panther it is a Creature which is found in Asia the Males are as big as a Calf the Females as big as a Beagle it is a fierce and crafty Creature his skin being full of little spots 1. He is very fierce and especially aims at a mans eyes as Basil saith in these words I have seen and partly heard as a thing most certain that the Panther of all Creatures is the greatest enemy to man some have shewed him the picture of a man which with a great deal of rage he hath tore to pieces which is an evident argument of his hatred to man thus we may plainly see what an Enemy Satan is to God by that enmity which he shews to man which is his Image thus far St. Basil 2. As he is fierce so he is very swift and nimble thus Osonins in his History of Portugal lib. 9. reports that the King of Portugal sent forth a Panther which was somewhat tamed who notwithstanding when he was let loose into the fields or woods did with a wonderful eagerness destroy several beasts which were in the field as Harts c. A further instance of their swiftness we have Hab. 1. 8. God saith he would bring the Chaldeans upon them whose Horses should be swifter than Leopards 3. It hath a very beautiful skin spotted with divers Colours the spots are like an eye so that his skin looks as if it were full of eyes the spots are blacker in the Male than in the Female to which the Prophet alludes Jer. 13. 23. saying Can the Leopard change his spots 4. It is very crafty and subtle and hath a very deformed head insomuch that it frightens all other Creatures as all other Creatures hate a Cat or any thing like it but the rest of her body is very beautiful and comely which is the reason why she hideth her head between her legs it is observed that she is most cruel to any beautiful Creature thus Jer. 5. 6. The Wolf of the Evenings shall spoyl them and the Leopards shall watch over their Cities every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces For he oftentimes feigneth himself dead or fast asleep or elfe she hideth her self that so she may better take other Creatures for her prey 5. Of all Creatures the Panther hath a most fragrant and pleasant smell by which means he draweth other Creatures to him and so maketh a prey of them thus Aristotle in his Problems Sect. 23. Quest 4. enquireth into the reason why a Panther of all other Creatures should smell the sweetest Some learned men tell us that it
common among them to lye with their own Mothers From his loyns came four Kings viz. Antipater in Macedonia Antigonus in Asia Seleucus in Syria and Ptolomeâ— in Egypt 5. As the Leopard is a fierce and cruel Creature thus Alexander he overcame and destroyed all his Enemies he never sat down before a City but he took it although he hath fought with the Enemy when they have been Armed and his Souldiers unarmed yet he got the Victory many times he hath fought alone himself and scaled the walls himself 6. As this is a most crafty subtle Creature so Alexander by his policy overcame many wise and grave Seniors he had a quick and ready wit he having an extream love to all learned men 7. As the Leopard is full of spots but beautiful ones so there were in Alexander many vertues together for he was like Achilles and like Agamemnon for chastity for piety like Diomede and like Cyrus for Magnanimity and for a quick wit like Themistocles and for learning like his Father but whatsoever we have said of him or can say of him is less than he deserveth 8. As the Leopard is a furious Creature and cannot be taken but by wine thus Alexander is said to have loved wine extraordinarily and when he was drunk he was guilty of many enormous crimes he often drunk so much that he slept three dayes together he would often appoint drinking matches giving large rewards to them that overcame when he was drunk he set that famous City Persepolis on fire and killed his dear friend Clitus when he was in drink at which he grieved so much that it had almost killed him he once made a feast to which he invited 9000. guests and to every one he gave a golden plate so that he who once overcame the whole world and was most chast and continent at last could not overcome his voluptuousness and gluttony Q. Curtius in his tenth Book goeth about to excuse him for this we may also learn from what we have read of this beast to apply them to several other noble men who being destitute of divine grace although at first were famous for many noble and Heroick actions and would stick at no dangers yet at last lost all this and came to sad and tragical ends Hercules was in some things very like to a Leopard destroying all Thieves and Robbers at last being overcome with his own lust and passions he gave himself wholly up to Women one of which knocked him on the head with a Slipper thus Themistocles who overcame all the Persians and kept all Greece under him yet in his old age he was so leacherous that he was drawn into the Market-place by four Women instead of Mules moreover now I will compare this Leopard to the Devil as St. Basil did for 1. As the Leopard is so crafty and subtle so we cannot express the malice and subtilty of this common enemy 2. Thus the Devil as the Leopard hath a most fragrant scent sometimes transformeth himself into an Angel of light and as the Leopard hideth himself feigning himself to be dead or asleep the easier to ensnare his prey so the Devil oftentimes covereth his temptations with fallacies and deceits the better to take the simple and as the Leopard with a great deal of eagerness leapeth upon his prey so the Devil is never sluggish nor slothful in tempting of us but he doth as he is a roaring Lyon snatch away the wicked finally as the Leopard never changeth his spots so he will not leave off deceiving mankind nay by so many years experience as he hath had he is much craftier and now in these later ages he is more fierce and cruel by how much the nearer he seeth his Judgment coming and therefore we ought alwayes to implore the Son of God that he would restrain and confound this cruel Creature but so much for the Leopard CHAP. IX Of the Tyger ARistotle in his ninth Book of his History of Animals Chap. 29. saith that in Asia are found more cruel beasts in Europe stronger and valianter but that in Africa there are beasts of stranger shapes and therefore this Creatute being found only in Asia is more fierce and cruel as for the Etymology of the word Tyger is an Armenian word and signifieth in that tongue an Arrow hence it was that in ancient times there was a River called by the same name because it ran so swiftly 1. This Creature is found most commonly in Hircania being generated only there hence Virgil in the second Book of his Aeniods calleth them Hircanian Tygers 1. It is like a great Horse for the bigness of it 3. It is a very swift beast and almost incredible whence in former times it was called an Arrow 4. It is as strong as swift therefore it is said to be stronger than an Elephant 5. His skin is all over spotted and therefore this heast is what the Peacock is among Birds most comely and beautiful 6. It hath such a fragrant scent that it cometh not behind any other Creature 7. By reason of its swiftness and fierceness it is very difficult to be taken but especially when it is grown to any bigness therefore Huntsmen use this stratagem for the taking of them They take notice what time she bringeth forth in and where as also when she goeth to take her prey as soon â—s she is gone one rideth on Horse-back and taâ—eth away all her young ones and bringeth them away with all speed as soon as ever she is returned from her prey she knoweth by the scent which way the Hunter is gone and doth pursue him with all speed but when the Huntsman seeth him not far from him he letteth one of them fall this she taketh and carryeth to her Den and cometh again and he droppeth another she carryeth that to her Den she overtaketh him again and again so often that he has scarce one left Or else he doth thus if he intendeth to take them all then goeth another way to work that is thus he goeth to the Den and taketh all her young ones away with him but when he perceiveth that the Tyger doth pursue him he setteth down a great Looking-glass in the way and one of her young ones by it as soon as the Tyger cometh to the glass she wondreth to see her self in the glass she seeing the resemblance of the young one that lyeth by it in the glass thinking that to be another striveth with a great deal of eagerness to get that out of the glass in the mean while the Huntsman rideth aâ—ay with all the rest and carryeth them aboard the Dam standing upon the shoar roareth out and rageth for madness 8. The Males have no love at all for their young ones but when the Huntsman cometh will fly away but the Females are so careful of them that they will lose their lives for them 9. There are a certain people of India which are said at this day to find Tygers
not pass by one another neither of them would go back to give the other way so that one of them lyeth down and the other goeth over his back which should be an example to us of love and unity and when once our private interest doth meet with the publick so that one of them must go back as it were let the one give place to the other to prevent all contention and divisions an instance of which we have in Jonathen who though possibly was as strong as David yet he would not stand to contend or resist him knowing that he was chosen of God but gave place to him I might further inlarge this but let this suffice Moreover It is very patient and content with a little the Buck-goat most commonly goeth the foremost of the flock like as the Bell-wether goeth out and cometh in the first of the flock and they as some have observed are prouder than the rest because of the small difference that there is between him and the rest according to the Proverb Vacua vasa plus tinniunt i. e. Empty vessels sound loudest Philip Melancthon was often heard to say that Every fool was proud and that Every proud man was a fool and the word in the Germane-tongue which signifies a proud man viz. Stolt's is by some derived from the Latine word Stultus which signifies a fool according to those Verses which some say that John Gerson Chancellor of Paris made Vidi ego vesicam medico tur gescere flatu Quae pisis sonuit quatuor impositis Hanc puer unus acu pupugit displosa repente Vilis absque sono flaccida detumuit That Verse is known of proud men Capra nondum peperit hoedus ludit in tectis He was like that flatterer who applauded one for asking this Question Which was the greatest Fool he that went to milk a he-Goat or he that went to fill a sieve they being both alike foolish and ridiculous The Wild Goat is called the Roe Buck or Fallow-Dear it is called also the Ibex or Eveck the Oryx or the American Wild Goat the she-Goat is very quick-sighted her crye is weak but very shrill which the hunts-men do imitate shaking the leaves of trees the noise of which bringeth them out of their denns to which may be added that Verse of Martial Pendentem summa capram de rupe vidâ—res Casuram speres decipit illa canes The Fallow-Deer differeth from the wild Goat in this that the horns of the Fallow Deer have not so many branches in them as the wild Goat the horns of the one bending forward but the other bending backwards The Ibex or Eveck is a kind of Goat found chiefly in the Alps something bigger than the he-Goat having very large horns by which when she leapeth down from a rock she keepeth her self from the stones she is very swift and when at any time hunted if she hath no way to escape she runneth upon the hunts-man tumbleth him down so escaping the Oryx or wild Goat in Africa differeth from all the rest in that his hairs turn towards his head they are exceeding fierce oftentimes killing Lions and Tygers and is never satisfied but with the death of whatsoever assaulteth it and although all the kinds of this creature are very good at leaping yet the Eveck hath his name from an Hebrew root which signifieth to leap he alwaies liveth upon Rocks and Mountains which are so cold that the snow lyeth there all the year long for unless they did dwell in those places which are very cold they would grow blind they are very nimble and climb any thing if they can but set their claws in and thus we have spoken to the several properties of the Goat from which creature the Holy Scripture borroweth many similitudes two of which I shall only speak to here the place in the Canticles where Christ is compared to the Goat or Hind I have spoken already to in the Chap. of the Hart it is very well known the comparing of wicked men to Goats at the last day by which are meant all lustful lascivious men who shall then receive their reward Levit. 15. 16. the Scape Goat is there spoken of which was to be offered for the sins of the people and that was to be done only by the High-Priest once a year Christ our High-Priest offered up himself once for us and went into the Sanctum Sanctorum and by his miracles did testifie that he was the Son of God while one Goat was offering up they laid the sins and transgressions of the people upon the head of another Goat which was done thus Aaron laid his hands upon the head of the wild Goat which afterwards was sent into the wilderness by which was signified unto us that Christ was to suffer without the City thus we read Heb. ult that they lead Christ without the Gates of the City he was nailed to the Cr ss so that he could not see the City and thence was the custome of placing Pictures with their faces to the West in Churches 2. The Kingdome of Alexander the Great is compared to a he-Goat Dan. 8. 5. and as he was considering behold a he-Goat came from the West on the face of the whole earth and touched not the ground and the Goat had a notable horn between his eyes and he came to the Ram that had two horns and was moved with choler against him and smote the Ram and broke his two horns the Grecians here are compared to Goats and Alexander to the he-Goat because he was to be born of the Greeks the Grecians because of their nimbleness and sagacity are well compared to Goats but it informeth us thus much of them likewise that they were unstable and fleeting as they used to say that the Romanes spake from their hearts but the Greeks from the teeth outward as the he-Goat is more swift and hasty powerful and lustful than the Ram so was Alexander the Great who overcame the Ram the King of Persia by his great horn his great prudence and valour he touched not the ground as he went for he flew breaking the two horns of the Ram viz. Media and Persia but when this he-Goat was grown too big his great horn was broken that is he did not dye in his old age but in the flower of his age which is signified in these words his horns were broken that day in which Alexander was born he set the most famous Temple of Asia on fire viz. that of Ephesus and therefore the Magicians prophesied that the Incendiary of Asia was born that day of his broken horn arose four other horns i. e. the four Successors of Alexander of which we spake at large Chap. 8. Further Alexander when he was 23 years old went to Jerusalem where he sacrificed and heard this prophesie concerning himself read and explain'd with a great deal of joy the History is worth the reading at large in Josephus Book 11. There is another pretty
Story which we may read in Herodotus Lib. 2. of a question that arose between the Egyptians and the Phrygians concerning their priority which King Psammetychus undertook to decide thus He commanded two infants to be brought up by a Shepherd amongst the Sheep and commanded him that no one should speak a word to them and that they should suck a Goat which accordingly was done the Shepherd was to observe the first word that they spake at a certain time the Shepherd opening the door both of them being hand in hand cryed out Beccus which they often repeated this was told to the King he enquired what that word signified in any language and they found after long search that it signified bread among the Phrygians and so ever after the Egyptians acknowledged the Phrygians to be the more ancient Nation although Weken signifieth Bread and Becket signifieth a Baker and the Phrygians did use the Germane Tongue as Historians tell us yet no doubt but they expressed that inarticulate sound which they heard from the Sheep for there is no tongue or language that is natural to any one but all are to be learned the Hebrew tongue is not natural to the Jew for if a Jew be born in Germany France or Spain he will speak the language of the Countrey where he is born and will as soon learn Hebrew there by the help of a Master without which he cannot attain it in his own Countrey as his own Countrey but this by the way CHAP. XXIV Of the Ape THis is a very known creature very much like the Monkey the Ape hath a large Tail but the Monkey hath none at all this being the only thing almost wherein they differ this creature very much resembleth the Marmoset which is like an Ape very apish and never staying long in one place Vesalius and Columbus two famous Anatomists tell us that Galen had more skill in the anatomie of an Ape than of a Man But now I shall speak to the nature of an Ape properly so called 1. He is very like a man in several parts of his body he hath a very ill-favoured face his nose is almost flat to his face which is full of many wrinkles his eares are movable he liveth on the tops of Mountains and Trees and in the holes of Rocks 2. As he is very like to man in several parts of his body so he doth strive to imitate mens actions but very foolishly and not at all like those actions which he seemeth to imitate he will learn any childish action quickly as to play upon the pipe sometimes he will act the part of a Carter at another time he will look a childs head crack nuts c. he will play wlth dogs and little children and if care be not taken will kill them so Aelian reporteth of an Ape who seeing a Nurse washing a little infant he in the Nurses absence strippeth the child and washeth it with hot water and so scalded the child to death 4. The foolish imitation of the Ape often proveth his own ruine for he hath a very strong body and cannot be taken by force but by some wile or trap the hunts-man when he seeth an Ape goeth before him and pulls off his shooes and combs his head and washes his face and so goes his way leaving a vessel full of mud behind him the Ape coming to wash himself as the hunts-man did and daubing himself with the mud the dirt getteth into his eyes that he cannot see and he leaves also shooes of lead behind him which wheâ— he hath tyed on he cannot stir the hunts-men when they go to take him carry a looking-glass tyed to their head with many ropes hanging upon it which when they go away they leave behind them which the Ape tyeth on when they are gone the hunts-men seeing this catch hold of the ropes and so take him 5. He loveth himself very much and is very sensible when any one praiseth him and loveth to see himself in a glass There is no creature loveth her young ones so well as the Ape and with a great deal of joy he will shew them to all in the house he is alwaies hugging and making much of them although they be the most deformed creatures of all others GOD hath given them dugs in their breast not as other creatures whence it is that they can feed them in their bosome they love their young so much that oftentimes by too much imbracing they kill them when he is put to flight at any time he carryeth one of his young ones at his back and the other before him he carryeth that on his back that he loveth best in any great danger she is fain to let go that which she holdeth in her claws while the other that she hath the least love for remaineth safe upon her back which representeth to us those Parents that have too great a love for some children while they neglect the others but yet we often see that those that they love least prove the best when the other come to ruine an example of which we have in our first Parents which bare a greater affection to Cain than they had to Abel yet notwithstanding Cain and his whole posterity were rejected in the deluge when as the other was received into God's favour and saved Moreover the male hath so great a love for his young ones that if he seeth one of them look as if it were not kindly used by her damm he will correct her for it 6. The ridiculousness of his actions is no less than the deformity of his body for he will not only imitate the actions of men but is very unlucky and mischievous wheresoever he biteth any one it is very dangerous and hard to be cured he is so wild that he can hardly be kept in with chains and though he be tamed yet he is soon as wild again as ever 7. He will eat any thing be it never so filthy he will eat lice with a great deal of delight and loveth to crack nuts but especially he loveth apples and wine and will drink so long of it untill he is so drunk that he cannot stand 8. There is a great antipathy between the Ape and the Lion the Ape being a crafty subtil creature but the Lion as we said Cap. 6. hateth all manner of craftyness the antipathy between the Lion and the Ape is further seen in this that if the Lion be sick of any disease he can no waies be cured but by eating of the flesh of an Ape Aelian saith that among the Indians no Apes that are red are suffered to come into their Cities because they are so lustful and lascivious insomuch that they oftentimes assault the women They will know their Masters where they are long kept and will remember any injury that is done unto them but will as long feign their anger untill they have a fit opportunity to revenge it an Ape is an Ape though cloathed