swelling of the Spleene He writeth also further that if a man catch a Spyder as she is glyding and descending downe-wards by her thred and so being crushed in the hand then applied to the nauell that the belly will be prouoked to the stoole but beeing taken as shee is ascending and applyed after the same former manner that any loosenes or fluxe is stayed and restrayned thereby The same Pliny also writeth that if a man take a Spyder and lay it vppon a fellon prouided that the sick patient may not know so much that within the space onely of three dayes that terrible and painefull griefe will be cleane taken away And besides he affirmeth that if the head and feete of a spyder be cast away and the rest of the body rubbed and bruised that it will thoroughly remedie the swelling in the fundament proceeding of inflamation If any be vexed with store of lyce and doe vse a suffumigation made onely with Spyders it will cause them all to fall and come away neither will there afterwards any moe breede in that place The fat of a Goose tempered and mixed with a Spyder and oyle of Roses together beeing vsed as an oyntment vpon the breasts preserueth them safelie as that no milke will coagulate or curdle in them after any birth Anonymus Yea that same knotty scourge of rich men the scorne of Phisitians I meane the Gowte which as some learned men hold can by no meanes be remedied yet feeleth mitigation and diminution of paine and curation also onely by the presence of a Spyder if it be taken aliue and her hinder legges cut off and afterward inclosed in a purse made of the hyde of a Stag. Moreouer we see which all other medicines can neuer doe that all they are freed for the most part both from the Gowte in the legges and hands where the spyders are most found where they are most busie in working framing their ingenious deuised webs Doubtlesse this is a rare miracle of nature a wonderfull vertue that is in this contemptible little creature or rather esteemed to be so vile abiect and of no estimation Rich men were happy indeede if they knew how to make vse of their owne good Antonius Pius was wont to say that the sharpe words wittie sayings quirkes subtilties of Sophisters were like vnto Spyders webbes that containe in them much cunning Art and artificiall conceit but had little other good besides If any one be newly dangerously wounded and that the miserable partie feareth a bleeding to death what is a more noble medicine or more ready at hand then a thicke Spyders webbe to bynde hard vpon the wound to stay the inordinate effusion of blood Questionlesse if we were as diligent and greedy to search out the true properties and vertues of our owne domesticall remedies which we would buy of others so deerely we would not enforce our selues with such eager pursute after those of forraine Countries as though things fetcht farre off were better then our owne neere at hand or as though nothing were good wholesome vnlesse it came frō Egypt Arabia or India Surely vnlesse there were some wild worme in our brames or that we were bewitched and possessed with some Furie we would not so farre be in loue with forraine wares or be so much besotted as to seeke for greedy new phisicke and phisicall meanes considering that one poore Spyders webbe will doe more good for the stanching of blood the curation of vlcers the hindering of sanies slyme or slough to grow in any sore to abate and quench inflamations to conglutinate and consolidate wounds more then a cart-loade of Bole fetcht out of Armenia Sorcocolla Sandaracha or that earth vvhich is so much nobilitated by the impresse of a seale and therefore called Terra Sigillata the clay of Samos the durt of Germany or the loame of Lemnos For a cobwebbe adstringeth refrigerateth soldereth ioyneth and closeth vppe wounds not suffering any rotten or filthy matter to remaine long in them And in regard of these excellent vertues and qualities it quickly cureth bleedings at the nose the Haemorrhoides and other bloodie-fluxes whether of the opening of the mouthes of the veines their opertions breakings or any other bloody euacuation that too much aboundeth beeing either giuen by it selfe alone in some Wine eyther inwardlie or outwardly or commixed with the Blood-stone Crocus Martis and other the like remedies fit for the same intentions The cobwebbe is also an ingredient into an vnguent which is made by Phisitians against the disease called Serpego and beeing bound to the swellings of the fundament if there be inflamation ioyned withall it consumeth them without any paine as Marcellus Empiricus testifieth It likewise cureth the watering or dropping of the eyes as Pliny reporteth and beeing applyed with oyle it consolidateth the wounds of the ioynts and some for the same intent vse the ashes of cobwebbes with fine Meale and White-vvine mixed together Some Surgeons there be that cure Warts in this manner They take a Spyders-web roling the same vppe on a round heape like a ball and laying it vppon the wart they then set fire on it and so burne it to ashes and by this way and order the vvarts are eradicated that they neuer after grow againe Marcellus Empiricus taketh Spyders webbes that are found in the Cypresse-tree mixing them with other conuenient remedies so giuing them to a podagricall person for the asswaging of his paine Against the paine of a hollovv tooth Gallen in his first booke De Compos medicum secundum loca much commendeth by the testimony of Archigenes the egges of Spyders beeing tempered and mixed with Oleum Nardinum and so a little of it beeing put into the tooth In like sort Kiramides giueth Spyders egges for the curation of a Tertian-Ague Where-vpon we conclude with Gallen in his booke to Piso that Nature as yet neuer brought foorth any thing so vile meane and contemptible in outward shew but that it hath manifold and most excellent necessary vses if we would shew a greater diligence and not be so squeamish as to refuse those wholesome medicines which are easie to be had and without great charges and trauaile acquired I will adde therefore this one note before I end this discourse that Apes Marmosets or Monkies the Serpents called Lizards the Stellion which is likewise a venomous beast like vnto a Lizard hauing spots in his necke like vnto starres Waspes and the little beast called Ichneumon Swallowes Sparrowes the little Titmouse and Hedge-sparrowes doe often feede full sauourlie vppon Spyders Besides if the Nightingale the Prince of all singing-byrds doe eate any Spyders shee is cleane freed and healed of all diseases vvhatsoeuer In the dayes of Alexander the Great there dwelled in the Cittie of Alexandria a certaine young mayde which from her youth vp was fed and nourished onely with eating of Spyders and for the same cause the King was premonished not to come neere
Some make three Kings differing in colour as black red and diuers coloured Menecratés saith that those who are of sundry colours are the worser but in case they haue diuersity of colour with some blacknes they are esteemed the better He that is elected Monarch Caesar and captaine generall of the whole swarme is euer of a tall personable and heroycall stature being twice so high as the rest his wings shorter his legs streight brawny and strong his gate pace manner of walking is more lofty stately and vpright of a venerable countenance and in his forehead there is a certaine red spot or mark with a Diadem for he far differeth from the populer and inferiour sort in his comelinesse beauty and honor The Prince of Philosophers confoundeth the sexe of Bees but the greatest company of learned Writers do distinguish them whereof they make the feminine sort to be the greater Others againe will haue them the lesser with a sting but the sounder sort in my iudgment will neither know nor acknowledge any other males besides their Dukes and princes who are more able handsome greater and stronger then any of the rest who stay euer at home and very seldome vnlesse with the whole Swarme they stir out of doores as those whom nature had pointed out to be the fittest to be stander-bearers and to carry ancients in the camp of Venus and euer to be ready at the elbowes of their loues to do them right Experience teaching vs that these do sit on egges and after the manner of birdes do carefully cherish and make much of their young after the thin membram or skin wherein they are enclosed is broken The difference of their age is knovvne by the forme state and habite of their bodies For the young Bees haue very thinne and trembling winges but they that are a yeare old as they that are two or three yeares of age are very trimme gay bright-shining and in very good plight and liking of the colour of Oyle But those that haue reached to seauen yeares haue layed away all their flatnesse and smoothnesse neither can any man afterwards either by the figure and quality of their bodies or skinnes iudge or discerne certainely their age as wee say by experience in Horses For the elder sort of them are rough hard thinne and leane scragges staruelinges lothsome to touch and to looke vpon somewhat long nothing but skinne and bone yet very notorious and goodly too see to in regard of their grauity hoarenes and aunciency But as they be in forme and shape nothing so excellent so yet in experience and industrie they farre outstrippe the younger sort as those whom time hath made more learned and length of dayes ioyned with vse hath sufficiently instructed and brought vp in the Art or trade of hony-making The place likewise altereth one whiles their forme and sometimes againe their nature as their sexe and age do both For in the Islands of Molucea there be Bees very like to winged Pismires but somewhat lesser then the greater Bees as Maximilian Transiluanus in an Epistle of his written to the Byshop of Salspurge at large relateth it Andrew Theuet in his Booke that he wrote of the new-found World Cap. 51. amongst other matters reporteth that he did see a company of Flies or Hony-bees about a tree named Vhebehason which then was greene with the which these Hony-bees do liue and nourish themselues of the which trees there were a great number in a hole that was in the tree wherein they made Hony and Waxe There is two kindes of the Hony-bees one kind are as great as ours the which commeth not onely but of good smelling flowers also their Hony is very good but their Waxe not so yellow as ours There is another kinde halfe so great as the others their hony is better then the others and the wilde men name them Hira They liue not with the others food which to my iudgment maketh their VVaxe to be as black as coales and they make great plenty specially neare to the Riuer Vasses and of Plate The Bees called Chalcoides which are of the colour of Brasse and somewhat long which are said to liue in the Island of Creta are implacable great fighters and quarrellers excelling all others in their stinges and more cruell then any others so that with their stinges they haue chased the inhabitants out of their Citties the remainder of which Bees do remaine and make their hony-combs as Aelianus saith in the Mountaine Ida. Thus much of the differences of Bees now it remaineth to discourse of the Politike Ethicall and oeconomicke vertues and properties of them Bees are gouerned and doe liue vnder a Monarchy and not vnder a tyrannicall state admitting and receiuing their King not by succession or casting of lots but by respectiue aduise considerate iudgement and prudent election and although they willingly submit their neckes vnder a kingly gouernment yet notwithstanding they still keepe their ancient liberties and priuiledges because of a certaine prerogatiue they maintaine in giuing their voyces and opinions and their King being deeply bound to them by an oath they exceedingly honor and loue The King as he is of a more eminent stature and goodly corporature as before wee haue touched then the rest so likewise which is singular in a King he excelleth in mildnesse and temperatenesse of behauiour For he hath a sting but maketh it not an instrument of reuenge which is the cause that many haue thought their king neuer to haue had any For these are the lavves of Nature not written with Letters but euen imprinted and engrauen in theyr conditions and manners and they are very flovv to punish offenders because they haue the greatest and Soueraigne povver in their hands And although they seeme to bee slacke in reuenging and punishing priuate iniuries yet for all that they neuer suffer rebellious persons refractorious obstinate and such as will not bee ruled to escape without punishment but vvith their pricking stinges they greeuously wound and torment so dispatching them quickly They are so studious of peace that neither vvillingly nor vnvvillingly they vvill giue any cause of offence or displeasure VVho therefore vvould not greatly be displeased vvith and hate extreamely those Dionysian Tyrants in Sicilia Clearchus in Heraclea and Apollodorus the Theefe Pieler and spoyler of the Cassandrines And vvho would not detest the vngratiousnes of those levvd clavv-backes and Trencher-parasites and flatterers of Kings vvhich dare impudently maintaine that that a Monarchy is nothing else but a certaine way and rule for the accomplishing of the will in vsing their authority as they list and a science or skilfull trade to haue wherewith to liue pleasantly in all sensuall and worldly pleasure which ought to be far from a good Prince who whilest he would seem to be a man he shew himselfe to be farre worser then these little poore-winged-creatures And as their order and course of life is farre
Their panch which is the greatest part of all their trunke is gray And so they vp and downe the pond made newly Frogs do play Whatsoeuer the wisedome of Frogs is according to the vnderstanding of the Poets this is certain that they signifie impudent contentious persons for this cause there is a pretty fiction in hel betwixt the two Poets Erupides Aesculus for the ending of which cotrouersie Bacchus was sent downe to take the worthyest of them out of Hell into Heauen and as he went ouer Charones Ferry he heard nothing but the croaking of Frogges for such contentious spirits doe best befitte Hell And thus much shall suffice to haue spoken of the wisedome of Frogs Their common enimies are the Weasels Poule-cats and Ferrets for these do gather them together and lay of them great heapes within their dens whereupon they feede in Winter The Hearne also and Bittor is a common destroyer of Frogges and so likewise are some kind of Kites The Night-Birds Gimus and Gimeta the Water-Snake at whose presence in token of extreame terrour the Frogge setteth vppe her voyce in lamentable manner The Moles are also enemies to Frogs it is further said that if a burning Candle be set by the water side during the croaking of Frogs it will make them hold their peace Men do also take Frogs for they were wont to baite a hooke with a little red wooll or a peece of red cloth also the gall of a Goat put into a vessell and set in the earth will quickly draw vnto it all the Frogs that be neare it as if it were vnto them a very gratefull thing And thus much shal suffice to haue spoken of the enemies of frogs Now in the next place we are to consider the seuerall Vses both naturall Medicinall and Magicall which men do make of Frogs And first of all the Greene Frogs and some of the yellow which liue in flouds Riuers Lakes and Fish-pooles are eaten by men although in ancient time they were not eaten but onely for Physicke for the broth wherein they were sod the flesh also was thought to haue vertue in it to cure thē which were strucken by any venomous-creeping-beast especially mixed with Salt and Oyle but since that time Aetius discommendeth the eating of Frogs prouing that some of them are venomous and that by eating thereof extream vomits hath followed and they can neuer be good except when they are newly taken their skins diligently flayed off and those also out of pure running waters and not out of muddy stinking puddles and therefore aduiseth to forbeare in plenty of other meate this wanton eating of Frogs as thinges perilous to life and health and those Frogs also which are most white when the skin is taken off are most dangerous fullest of venom according to the cousell of Fiera saying vltima sed nostros non accessura lebetes Noluimus succi est pluuij limosa maligni Ni saliat putris ranae parabatiter Irata est ad huc rauca coaxat aquis In English thus We will not dresse a Frog vnlesse the last of all to eate Because the iuyce thereof is muddy and of raine vncleane Except it go on earth prepared way to leape For angry it euer is and hath hoarse voyce amid the streame They which vse to eate frogs fall to haue a colour like Lead and the hotter the countries are the more venomous are the Frogs in colder Countries as in Germany they are not so harmefull especially after the spring of the yeare and their time of copulation passed Besides with the flesh of frogs they were wont in ancient time to baite their hookes wherewithall they did take Purple Fishes and they did burne the young Frogs putting the powder thereof into a Cat whose bowels was taken out then rosting the Cat after she was rosted they annointed her all ouer with Hony then laide her by a wood side by the odour and sauour whereof all the Wolues and Foxes lodging in the said Wood were allured to come vnto it and then the hunters lying ready in wait did take destroy kill them When Frogs do croak about their vsuall custome either more often or more shrill then they were wont to do they do foreshew raine and tempestuous weather Wherefore Tully saith in his first book of Diuination who is it that can suspect or once thinke that the little Frogge should know thus much but there is in them an admirable vnderstanding nature constant and open to it selfe but more secrets obscure to the knowledge of men and therefore speaking to the Frogs he citeth these verses Vos quoque signa videtis aquai dulcis alumnae Cum clamore paratis inanes fundere voces Absurdoque sono fontes stagna cietis In English thus And you O water-birds which dwell in streames so sweet Do see the signes whereby the weather is foretold Your crying voyces wherewith the waters are repleate Vaine sounds absurdly mouing pooles and fountaines cold And thus much for the naturall vse of Frogs Now followeth Magicall It is said that if a man take the tongue of a Water-Frog and laie it vpon the head of one that is asleep he shall speake in his sleep reueile the secrets of his hart but if he will know the secrets of a woman then must hee cut it out of the Frog aliue and turne the Frog away againe making certaine Charactars vpon the Frogs tongue and so lay the same vppon the panting of a womans hart and let him aske her what questions he will she shall answer vnto him all the truth reueale all the secret faults that euer she hath committed Now if this magicall foolery were true we had more need of Frogs then of Iustices of Peace or Magistrates in the common-wealth But to proceede a little further and to detect the vanity of these men they also say that the staffe wherewith all a Frog is strucke our of a Snakes mouth laide vpon a woman in trauaile shall cause an easie deliuerance and if a man cut off a foot of a frog as he swims in the water and binde the same to one that hath the gout it will cure him And this is as true as a shoulder of Mutton worne in ones Hat healeth the tooth-ach Some againe doe write that if a Woman take a Frogge and spit three times in her mouth she shall not conceiue with Childe that yeare Also if Dogges eate the Pottage wherein a Frogge hath beene sodde it maketh him dumbe and cannot barke And if a man cast a sodde Frogge at a Dogge vvhich is ready to assault him it will make him runne away I thinke as fast an olde hungry Horse from a bottle of Hay These and such like vanities haue the Auncient Heathens ignorant of GOD firmely beleeued till eyther experience disapprooued theyr inuentions or the sincere knovvledge of Religion in lightening theyr darkenesse made them to forsake theyr former vaine errours vvhich
of time wherein their rage sheweth it selfe by byting and when not but also the difference of place and region for that they byte in some Countries and not in other When they haue bitten there followeth a vehement payne and sâ—abbe vppon the place for the cure whereof there must be taken a decoction of Frogges and the broth must be drunke and the flesh applyed to the sore or else other common remedies against the poyson prescribed in the Treatise following The poyson hereof is great and not inferiour to the poyson of any other Serpent for sometimes by creeping vpon Apple-trees it infecteth and poysoneth all the fruite so that those which eate the same dye and languish they know not whereof and if the heele of a man doe but touch any small part or portion of the spettle of a Salamander it maketh all the hayre of the body to fall of The poyson it selfe is not cold as some haue thought but hote like to the poyson of Cantharides and therefore to be cured by the same meanes as by vomits Glysters Ephemeron and such like Onely Swyne doe eate Salamanders without harme or damage for there is in them a kinde of resistance in nature and yet if man or dogge doe chaunce to eate of that Swyne that hath eaten a Salamander it hath beene obserued that they perrished by the same And this poyson spreadeth it selfe the further when it is dead because it is strengthened by putrefaction and wine or water wherin one of these lyeth dead is empoysoned made mortall thereby to others But in our dayes Salamanders are not so venomous if there be any credite in Brasauolus howbeit I haue heard and read that if at this day a Salamander gâ—… heape of corne she so infecteth it that whatsoeuer eateth of that Corne dyetl sit were of poyson and the Kine of Helueria which are sucked by Salamanders doe euer after remaine barren and without milke and sometime also they dye of that euill And as Arnoldus writeth it casteth forth a certaine mattery white humour like milke out of the mouth wherevpon if a man or any other liuing creature doe but tread he is poysoned thereby and at the least all the hayre of their body falleth off and in like sort they inâ—ect herbes plants of the earth by theyr poyson Sometimes it happeneth that beasts or men haue swallowed Salamanders and then the tongue is inflamed and all the body falleth into grieuous torment by cold corruption and putrefaction part after part and also paines in the fundament in the stomack likewise dropsies and impostumation in the belly crampe of the guttes and relention of vrine For the cure whereof they giue sweete water Calamynts Saint Iohns-wort â—od with the shells Pine-apples leafes of Cypresse Galbanus and hony or Rozen Ammoniacke and Styrax New cow-milke the meale made of flax-seede with sweete water sweet wine and oyle to cause vomits Scammony a decoction of Calamints and figges fatte Baâ—on or hogges-flesh and also the egges of a Torteyse with the flesh thereof besides infinite other remedies ordained by the goodnesse of Almighty God as Phisitians knowe by their owne studie and daily experiments And therefore I hold it sufficient for mee to haue lightly touched them referring those that are desirous to know more vnto the learned collection of Carromus Out of the Salamander it selfe arise also some medicines for it hath a septick power to eate and corrode to take away hayres and the powder thereof cureth cornes and hardnes in the feete The hart tyed to the wrist in a blacke skinne taketh away a quartane-Ague and also Kiradides writeth that being bound vnto a womans thigh it stayeth her monthlie flowers and keepeth her barren But this is worthily reproued for vntruth and therefore I will not commend it to the Reader And thus much for the Salamander OF THE SCORPION SCorpios in Greeke is attributed both to the Scorpion of the Land and of the Sea although some-times for difference sake the scorpions of the earth be called Scorpios chersaios The deriuation is manifold according to some Writers either of Scorpizein ton+'ion that is dispersing his poyson or of Sckanoos erpein because the motion of it is oblique inconstant and vncertaine like as the flame of fire beaten with a small wind The Graecians also vse for a Scorpion Blestas because it casteth poyson octopos from the number of his eight feete And in Ethyopia there is a kind of Scorpion which the Greeks call Sybritae The Latines doe vse indifferently Scorpius Seorpio nepa Cancer also vinula and Geptaria as we find in Ponzettus The Arabians haue many words as Harrab Acrob Achrach and Satoracon Hacparab algerarat algeterat and algenat and alkatareti for little Scorpions which draw their tayles after them Howbeit among these names also Algarat signifieth that little kind of scorpions Algararat the Scorpion with bunches on his backe The Hebrewes according to the opinion of some call a Scorpion Acchabim The Italians Scurtigicio and Scorpione terrestre The French Vn scorpion the Spanyards Alacram alacrani which name they haue also giuen to an Iland in the west-Indies subiect to their dominion In Castilia it is called Escorpion and in Germany Ein scorpion The Countries which breed Scorpions are these that follow in Egypt neere the Citty Coptus are many very great and pestilent stinging Scorpions who kill as soone as they smite Also Ethyopia and Numidia abound with Scorpions especially the latter wherin as writeth Leo Affric are euery yeere found very many that die of their wounds Tenas one of the Cyclades Ilands is called Ophiessa because it yeeldes many Serpents and Scorpions Also in that part of Mauritania which is neere the vvest are Scorpions with wings and without wings likewise in Iberia Caria Lybia And it is also said that once there were many Scorpions brought into India into that part of the Country where the Rhicophagi dwell By the way betwixt Susis in Persia and Media there were wont to abound Scorpions vnder euery stone and turffe for which cause when the King of Persia was wont to goe into Media he gaue commaundement vnto his people to scoure the way by vsing all meanes to kill them giuing gifts to them that killed the greatest number of Scorpions There is an auncient towne in Affricke called Pescara wherein the abundance of Scorpions do so much harme that they driue away the inhabitants all the Sommer-time euery yeere vntill Nouember following And in like sort Diodorus declareth of many other places vtterly forsaken to auoyd the multitude of Scorpions as namely one part of Arabia and the region of India about Arrhatan or the riuer Estumenus likewise neere the Cynamolgi in Ethyopia There is also a Citty called Alabanda standing betwixt two hills or mountaines like as a chest turned inward which Apollonius calleth Cistam inuersam Scorpionibus plenam a chest turned inward full of Scorpions In an Island of
further the hearb outwardly applyed is much commended of Turneiser Beate and stampe Hearb-agrace with Garlicke and some Oyle and apply it outwardly Celsus There bee but a fevv particular cures for the bytings of Spyders that Physitions mention yet some they doe although the generall bee most effectuall Pliny against the byting of the Formicarion or Pismire-like Phalangie that hath a red head commendeth much another Phalangie of the same kind onely to be shewed to the wounded patient to looke vpon and to be kept for the same purpose though the Spyder be found dead Also a young Weasell dryed and the belly thereof stuffed with Coriander-seede and so kept till it be very old and stale and drunke in wine being first beaten to powder is likewise good for the same intention There is a certaine little beast called Ichneumon of some it is called Mus Pharaonis Pharoes Mouse and for the enmity vnto Serpents it is called Ophiomorchus as Bellonius reporteth being bruised and applyed to the byting of any Waspe-like Phalangie doth vtterly take away the vemone of them It often entereth and searcheth out the seats and holes of venomous Spiders and Phalangies and if it finde any of them shee haleth and tuggeth them cleane away as a Pismire doth a small graine of Corne and if the Phalangie offer any resistaunce the Ichneumon sparing no labour pulleth her the contrary way and by this struggling and striuing sometimes it so falleth out that the Ichneumon is wearied and then she breatheth a little and gathering new strength and courage setteth againe vpon the Phalangie with a fresh assault and woundeth her many times so that at length she carieth her to her owne lodging there to be deuoured If the Tarantula haue hurt any one the best remedy is to styrre and exercise the body continually without any intermission whereas in all hurtes that are caused by any other Spyders rest and quietnesse are the best meanes as Celsus affirmeth But their Antidote is Musicke and singing Christophorus de Honestis counselleth to take forth with Theriaca Andromachi without any delay He also aduiseth to take Butter tempered vvith Hony and the roote of Saffron in Wine His propper Bezoar saith he or the greene Berries or seedes of the Lentiske-tree Ponzettus in his booke De venenis aduiseth to take ten graynes of the Lentisk-tree in Milke or an ounce and a halfe of the iuyce of Mull-berry-leaues In the encrease of the griefe he cureth them with Agaricke or the White Vine and after much sweating they are to be comforted and refreshed or strengthened with colde Medicines as with the Water of Poppy and the like Meruâ—a saith they are to be remedied with the stone of Musicall Instruments dauncing singing and colours concerning the three former I will not contend but howe they should receiue any part of helpe or health from vewing of any colours I doe not well vnderstand considering that the eye-sight of all those that are bitten of a Tarantula is quite taken away or they see but obscurely as being mightily deceiued in their obiects Andreas Matthiolus in his Commentaries vppon the sixth booke of Dioscorides Chap. 40. reporteth a verie strange story of a cerraine Hermit his olde friende and acquaintance dwelling neere vnto Rome who cured all those who were bitten or hurt of any venomous Wormes or Serpents which in this last place I will insert although some may say that it is needlesse and belongeth not at all to this discourse in hand or else will not beleeue it For when as any of the Inhabitants in those parts were wounded of any poysonous Serpent by a Messenger forthwith fignified the same to the old Hermit who by and by demaunded of the Messenger whether he could be content to take or drinke any Medicine in the stead of the sicke patient which if the other assented too promising to take it the Hermit commaunded him without any further delay to pull off his right foot shoe and to set his foote on the earth drawing a line round about the foot with his knife then he willed him to take away his foote and within the space of the line so marked he writ or engraued these words following Caro Caruze sanum reduce reputata sanum Emanuel paracletus Then immediatly he pared away the earth with the same whittle so that all the Characters were quite defaced putting rhe same earth into a little earthen vessell full of Water letting it there so long remaine vntil the earth sunke to the bottome Lastly he strayned the water with a peece of the Messengers shirt or some other Linnen that hee wore next to his skin and being signed with the signe of the crosse gaue it him to drinke but surely saith Matthiolus it was marueylous strange and a wonderfull thing to consider how that the wounded patient was perfectly healed euen at that very houre and moment of time that the Messenger tooke the aforesaide potion of the Hermit as it is plainely knowne vnto my selfe and to all the people that dwell round about in that Territory or Shire And thus much of this heremiticall curation by the way Now will I come into my path againe A man may find a great sort both of these and the like remedies both in Pliny Dioscorides and other concerning the hurts of Spiders but I thinke I haue beene a little to tedious and you may imagine that I do nothing but Ta arachina hiphainein Aranearum telas texere That is In a friuolous matter and of small moment spend infinite and curious labour so that I had more neede to craue pardon for my long discourse about this subiect wherein though many things may want to the satisfaction of an afflicted searching head yet I am sure here is inough to warrant the discharge of my good will to repell the censure of the scrupulous Nunc imus ad illam Artificem mens nostra cui est conformis Arachnem Quae medio tenerae residens in stamine telae Quà ferit eurus atrox trepidat volitantibus auris Tangitur veresono vagus illi byssus ab aestro In English thus Vnto Arachne skilfull mistrisse let vs come To whom conformed seemes the mind of man She sits in middest of web her tender feet vpon Whiles she is tost with Eastwind now and than She trembleth at the noyse of ratling winds As when the humming Fly hard wagging finds OF THE TAME OR HOVSE Spyder ARistotle that diligent searcher and seeker out of Nature and naturall causes termeth this kind of Spyder a very gallant excellent wise creature King Salomon himselfe at whose high wisedome all succeeding ages haue and will admire amongst those foure small creatures which in wisedome doe out-strippe the greatest Phylosophers reckoneth the Spyder for one dwelling as he saith in Kings courts and there deuising and weauing his inimitable webbe The Poets fayne that the Spyder called Arachne was in times past a mayden of Lydia who beeing instructed of Minerua in the cunning
made of the Oyle pressed out of vvilde Radish the rootes of Dragonwort the iuyce of Daffodill the braine of a Hare the leaues of Sabine sprigges of Bay some other few things there-vnto added As soone as they haue taken them they instantly all to spette vpon their heads for by reason of a secret antipathy in Nature they grow very dull thereby and lay aside the force and rage of venome for the spettle of a Man is of a cleane contrarie operation to their poyson And when afterward they make ostentation heereof in the Market or publique Stage they suffer them to bite their owne flesh but first of all they offer thē a peece of hard flesh where-vppon they bite to clense their teeth from all spawne and spume of venome or els sometime pull forth the little bagges of poyson which inhaere in their chaps and vnder their tongues so as they are neuer more repleate or filled againe And by this deceit they deceiue the world where euer they come giuing foorth that they are of the linage of Saint Paule who cast a Viper off from his hands as wee reade in the holie Scripture It was an inuention of auncient time among the wise Magitians to make a pipe of the skinnes of Cats legges and there-withall to driue away Serpents by which it appeareth that the soueraigntie of Man ouer Serpents was giuen by GOD at the beginning and was not lost but continued after the fall of man although the hand that should rule be much weaker and practised by the most barbarous of the world necessitie of defence forcing a violence and hatred betwixt the Serpent and the Womans seede For this cause we reade of the seauen daughters of Atlas whereof one was called Hyas whose dailie exercise was hunting of venomous Beastes and from her the Hyades had their denomination And for a conclusion of this Argument I will adde this one storie more out of Aelianus When Thonis the King of Egypt had receiued of Menelaus Helen to be safely kept whiles he trauailed through Aethiopia it hapned that the King fell in loue with her beautie and oftentimes endeuoured by violence to rauish her then it is also said that Helen to turne away the Kings vnlawfull lust opened all the matter to Polydamna the wife of Thonis who instantly fearing her owne estate least that in time to come faire Helen should depriue her of her husbands loue banished her into the Iland of Pharus which was full of all manner of Serpents and yet taking pittie on her for her simplicitie gaue her a certaine herbe whereby she droue away all Serpents For it is said when the Serpents and venomous beasts doe but smell the same herbe they instantly hide their heads in the earth Helen comming into that Island planted the same there and was therefore called by the inhabitants after her owne Name Helenium which the skilfull Herborists at this day affirme to grow in Pharus Vnto this discourse of the taming of Serpents I may adde yet more strange things if any thing be strange in the nature of this World And those are some histories of the familiaritie of Men Women and Serpents Alexander was thought to bee begotten of a Serpent for it is said that one a time there was found a great Serpent vppon his Mother Olympia as shee was sleeping and some say for the honour both of the Mother and the Sonne that this Serpent was Iupiter turned into the likenesse of a Serpent as wee reade he changed himselfe into many other shapes And the like story vnto this is alledged of Scipio Affricanus his mother who long time remained barren without the fruite of the wombe insomuch as that P Scipio her husband vtterly dispaired of posteritie It hapned one day as she was in her bed her husband beeing absent there came a great Snake and lay beside her euen in the presence of the seruants and familie who beeing mightily astonished thereat cryed out with loude voyces for feare whereat the woman awaked and the Snake slidde away inuisibly P Scipio hearing this report at his returne home went to the Wisards to vnderstand the secret or signification of this prodigie who making a sacrifice gaue aunswere that it betokened prolification or birth of children and therevpon followed the birth of Scipio Affricanus We reade also in Plutarch of certaine Serpents louers of young Virgins who after they were taken and insnared shewed all manner of lustfull vitious amorous gestures of vncleanenes and carnalitie and by name there was one that was in loue with one Aetolia a Virgin who did accustome to come vnto her in the night time slyding gentlie all ouer her body neuer harming her but as one glad of such acquaintance tarried with her in that dalliance till the morning and then would depart away of his owne accorde the which thing beeing made manifest vnto the Guardians and Tutours of the Virgin they remoued her vnto another Towne The Serpent missing his Loue sought her vppe and downe three or foure dayes and at last mette her by chance and then hee saluted her not as he was wont with fawning and gentle slyding but fiercely assaulted her with grimme and austere countenaunce flying to her hands and binding them with the spire of his bodie fast to her sides did softly with his tayle beate vpon her backer parts Whereby was collected some token of his chastisement vnto her who had wronged such a Louer with her wilfull absence and disappointment It is also reported by Aelianus that Egemon in his verses writeth of one Aleua a Thessalian who feeding his Oxen in Thessaly neere the Fountaine Haemonius there fell in loue with him a Serpent of exceeding bignesse and quantitie and the same would come vnto him and softly licke his face and golden haire without dooing him any manner of hurt at all These and such like thinges doe euidently prooue that Serpents are not onely involuntarilie tamed by Men but also willingly keepe quarter with them yeelding to the first ordinance of the Creatour that made them subiects vassals to men And thus much shall suffice to haue spoken in this place concerning the first creation of Serpents Of the naturall Generation of SERPENTS and their seuerall Originalls IT beeing thus cleered that Serpents were at the beginning created by GOD and are ruled by Men it now followeth that wee should in the next place talk of the matter of their beginning and the meanes of their continuance euer since their Creation First therefore it is most plaine in Genesis that the Earth by the vertue of the Word of GOD did produce all Creeping things and among them Serpents but since that time they haue engendered both naturally and also prodigiously As concerning their constitution it is held to be most cold aboue all other liuing Creatures and therefore Pliny writeth that they haue neither heate nor bloode nor sweat Heere-vnto subscribeth Galen and Rasis yet Auicen
of learning doe not sticke to affirme that they can render a true reason euen by their owne wits of all the causes in nature though neuer so obscure hid and difficult Flyes and dogges doe farre otherwise whose impudencie is such that hauing no regard of times persons or places they will not giue place or be disioyned Yea the Massagets as Herodotus writeth hauing their quiuer of arrowes on their carts they dealt with their vviues very vnseasonably and though all men beheld it yet they most impudently contemned it And that which is worser this beastly fashion is crept amongst the vsurpers or at least professors of the Christian name who shame not openly to kisse and embrace yea euen to play meddle with filthy whores brothelly queanes Bees surely will cōdemne these kind of people of bestiall impudency and wanton shamelesnesse or causing them to blush if they haue any grace will teach them repentance Neither are they altogether such creatures as cannot endure or away with musicke which is the princesse of delights and the delight of Princes as many vnlearned people cannot but are exceedingly delighted with tune in any harmony wherein is no iarring so the same be simple and vnaffected And although they haue not the skill to daunce according to due time order and proportion in Musicke as they say Elephants can yet doe they make swifter or slovver theyr flight according to the Trumpettors mind who with his sharpe and shrill sound causeth them to bestirre themselues more speedily but beating slowly and not so loude vpon his brasen instrument maketh them more slow and to take more leysure Neither hath Nature made thē onely the most ingenious of all liuing creatures but by discipline hath made them tame and tractable For they doe not onely know the hand and voyce of the honyman or him that hath the charge and ordering of the same but they also suffer him to do what liketh him best which euery man must needes confesse to be an argument of a generous and noble disposition thus to vnder-goe the rule of their ouer-seers and Surveiors but the hand and discipline of a stranger they will by no meanes endure As for oeconomicall vertues they excell also and namely for moderate frugalitie and temperance not profusely and prodigally wasting and deuouring the great store of hony which they gathered in the Sommer season but they sustaine themselues therwith in winter and that very sparingly And so whilst they feede vppon few meates and those of the purest sort they purchase long life the reward of sobrietie Neither are they so higgardlie and sordidous minded but when as they haue gathered more hony then their number can well spend they communicate and impart some very liberally amongst the Drones As for their clenlinesse these may be certaine Arguments that they neuer exonerate nature within their hiues except constrained thereto by some sicknes foule weather for some vrgent necessity that they conuay away the dead carkasses that they touch no rotten nor stinking flesh or any other thing no herbe that is withered nor no ill-senting or decayed flovvers They kill not their enemies within their hiues they drinke none but running water and that which is throughly defecated they will not dwell in houses impure foule sluttish blacke or full of any feculent or dreggy refuse and the excrementes of the labourers and sickly they gather on a heape without their pauilions and assoone as their leasure serueth it is carried cleane away Concerning their temperance and chastity although it hath beene partly touched before yet this I will adde that it is wonderfull what some men haue obserued For whereas all other creatures doe couple in the open sight of men the Elephant onely excepted and Waspes likewise not much differing in kind do the same yet Bees were neuer yet seene so to ioyne together but either within their hiues very modestly they apply themselues to that businesse or else abroad do it without any witnesses And they are no lesse valiant then modest and temperate Dum corpora bello obiectant pulchramque petunt per vulner a mortem Their war is either ciuill or forraine Of the former there be diuers causes that is to say the multitude of their Dukes or Captaines lying in waight to betray both King and kingdome scarsity of vittaile straightnes of place and roome corruption of manners and idlenesse For if they haue no Dukes then is it expedient as otherwhiles it happeneth they stay the ouerplus least the number of them growing to great either violence might be offered to the King or the commons drawne to some sedition They kill them most of all when as they haue no great store of young Bees to plant any new colonies ouerthrowing and spoyling withall their hony-combs if they haue any They execute also Theeues and Drones so often as they haue not roome inough to do their busines in for they hold the more inward part of the Hiue so taking from thē at one time both their hony-combs and meat The scarsity and lacke of Hony causeth them also to be at deadly feude so that the short Bees do encounter the long with might and maine In the which bicketing if the short be Conquerors it will be an excellent Swarme but if fortune smile on the long Bees side they liue idlely making neuer any good Honny Whosoeuer getteth the day they are so giuen to rapine and reuenge as they take no prisoners nor leaue any place to mercy but commit all to the sword Now concerning their forren warres I must say that they giue place to no other liuing creature either in fortitude or hardy venturing and if either men Foure-footed-beasts Birds or Waspes do either hinder disquiet or kill any of them so that they be not well contented agaynst all these they oppose themselues very stoutly according to their power wounding them They hate extreamely adulterous persons and such men as bee smeared with any oyntment those that haue curled or crisped haire as also all vnfaithfull and base raskally people and all those that weare any red clothes of the colour of bloud as contrarywise they loue and reuerence exceedingly their Maisters Keepers Tutors Defenders and Maintainers so that sitting vpon their hands they doe rather tickle and licke them in sporting wise then either wound or hurt them though neuer so little with their sting Yea these men may safely without any touch of hurt and without any couering to their hands gather together the Swarmes in a very hot Summer yea handle place them in order heap vp together sit or stand before their Hiues and with a sticke take cleane away Drones Theeues Waspes and Hornets If any Souldier looseth his sting in fight like one that had his Sword or Speare taken from him he presently is discouraged and dispaireth not liuing long through extreamity or griefe Going forth into the fielde to fight they stay till the watchword be giuen which being done they flocke in
by the sides of their Cells as Waspes and Bees we need not doubt but that they doe all other matter after their manner and if they couple together they doe it by night as Cats do or else in some secret corner that Argus with his hundreth eyes can neuer espye it Hornets gather meate not from floures but for the most part they liue vppon flesh whereby it commeth to passe that you shall often finde them euen in the very dunghills or other ordure They also proule after great Flyes and hunt after small Byrdes which when they haue caught into their clutches after the manner of hungry Hawkes they first wound them in the head then cutting it asunder or parting it from the shoulders carrying the rest of the body with them they betake themselues to their accustomed flyght The greater sort of them dye in the hard winter because they store not themselues sufficiently aforehand with any sustenaunce as Bees doe but make their prouision but from hand to mouth as hunger enforceth them as Aristotle enformeth vs. In like sort Landius hath well obserued that Hornets both day and night keepe watch and Ward besides the Hiues of Bees and so getting vpon the poore Bees backs they vse them in stead of a waggon or carry age for when the silly Bee laboureth to be discharged of his cruell Sytter the Hornet when he hath sucked out all his iuyce and cleane bereft him of all his moysture vigour and strength like an vnthankefull Guest and the most ingratefull of all winged creatures he spareth not to kill and to eate vp his fosterate and chiefe maintainer They feede also vppon all sweete delicious and pleasant thinges and such as are not vntoothsome and bitter and the Indian Hornets are so rauenous and of such an insasiate gluttony as Ouidius reporteth that they fly vpon Oyle Butter greasie Cookes all sorts of sharpe sawce vsed with meates and all moyst and liquid thinges not sparing the very Napkins and Table clothes and other linnen that is any way soyled which they do filthily contaminate with the excrements of their belly with their Viscous laying of their egges But as they get their liuing by robbery and purloining of that which others by the sweat of their browes by their owne proper wits and inuention and without the ayde helpe of any do take great paines for so againe they want not a reuenge to punish a prouost Marshall to execute them for their wrongfull dealings tearmed of some a Gray Broch or Badger who in the full of the Moone maketh forcible entrance into their holes or lurking places destroying and turning topsie-turuy in a trice their whole stocke famile and linage with all their houshold stuffe and possessions Neither do they onely minister foode to this passing profitable and fat beast but they serue in stead of good Almanackes to country people to foretell tempests and change of weather as Hayle Raine and Snow for if they flye about in greater numbers and bee oftner seene about any place then vsually they are wont it is a signe of heate and fayre weather the next day But if about twilight they are obserued to enter often their nestes as though they would hide themselues you must the next day expect raine wind or some stormy troublesome or boysterous season whereupon Auienus hath these verses Sic crabronum rauca agmina si volitare Fine sub Autumni conspexeris athere longo Iam vespertinos primos cum commouet ortus Virgilius pelago dices instare procellam In English thus So if the buzzing troupes of Hornets hoarse to flye In spatious ayre bout Autumnes end you see When Virgill starre the euenings lampe espie Then from the Sea some stormy tempest sure shall be Furthermore since it is most certaine that those remedies which do heale the stingings of Waspes do also help those wounds and griefes which hornets by their cruell stinging cause yet notwithwanding as Aggregator hath pronounced the Zabor is the Bezoar or proper antidote of his owne hurt if he be oftentimes applyed with Vineger and Water Oyle and Cow-dung tempered together In like sort all manner of soiles and earths that are myry and muddy are much commended in this case such as Bacchus applyed to bald Selenus who was wounded with Hornets when longing for a little Hony he iogged shaked their nests thinking he had lighted vpon some Bees Hony which Ouid most elegantly 3. Fastocum hath described in these verses Millia crabronum coëunt vertice nud◠Spicula defigunt oraque prima notant Ille cadit praeceps calce feritur aselli Inclamatque socios anxiliumque vocat Concurrunt Satyri turgentiaque ora parentis Rident percusso claudicat ille genu Ridet ipse Deus limumque inducere monstras Hic paret monitis linit ora luto In English thus Of Hornets thousands on his head full bare And on his face their poysond speares sticke fast Then headlong downe he fell and Asses foot him smote Whiles he for help his voyce to fellowes cast The Satyres flocke came runne apace and did deride Their sires swellen mouth whiles Asse had made him lame The God himselfe did laugh yet shewed an earth to hide The wound which he receiued and so did heale the same If any one be desirous of moe medicines against the perillous and transpeircing stinging of these horne-mad Hornets he shall finde store of them digested together in the History of Waspes for their remedies are common belonging as well to the one as to the other there being no other difference but this that here they must be giuen in a greater measure or quantity and their vse ought longer to be continued And let this suffice to to haue spoken thus much of such insectes or Cut-wasted vermine as are winged and liue in companies and routes together Now will I make choyce to describe such as are winged and liue solitarily least I should seem to lose my selfe in this troublesome and vast Ocean of Physicall contemplation ⧠OF CANTHARIDES or Spanish Flyes THis kinde of Cut-wast is called of the Graecians Kantharis and among the Latines it changeth not his name Of the Frenchmen Cantaride Of the Italians Cantarella Of the Spaniards Cubillo Of the Germans Grüne Kefer Goldkaefer Amongst the Belgies or Netherlanders it is tearmed Spaensche Vlieghe and of vs English-men Cantharides and Spanish Flyes I haue seene two sorts of Cantharides the one great and the other small Of the greater sort some are thicke and long bodyed which are found among wheat and these are thicke grosse and vnwieldy like vnto Beetles they are also of sundry colours and changeable hew with Golden streekes or lines crossing their winges and these are best to bee vsed in Physicke They of the other lesser kind are leane and thinne scragges and staruelings broad hairy heauy and sluggish and for physicall vses little worth The greater sort also are not alwaies of a glistering green
all the liuing creatures in the water draweth a certaine thin bright skinne from his fore-head ouer his eyes where-withall hee couereth his sight and this I take to be the onely cause of his dimme sight in the waters The head of this beast is very broade and his snoute like a Swynes When hee eateth or byteth he neuer mooueth his neather or vnder chappe Whereof Aristotle giueth this reason that seeing Nature hath giuen him so short feete as that they are not able to hold or to take the prey therefore the mouth is framed instead of feete so as it may more vehemently strike and wound and also more speedily mooue and turne after the prey and this is better done by the vpper thē the nether chap. But it is likely that hee was not deceiued although he speaketh of Crocodilus Marinus a crocodile of the sea vvheras there is no Crocodile of the Sea but rather some other monster like a Crocodile in the sea and such peraduenture Albertus saw and there-vpon inconsideratly affirmed that all Crocodiles moue theyr vnder-chapps except the Tenchea But the learned Vessalius prooueth it to be otherwise because that the nether chappe is so conioyned and fastned to the bones of the temples that it is not possible for to be moued And therfore the Crocodile onely among all other liuing creatures moueth the vpper-chap and holdeth the vnder-chap vnmoueable The second wonder vnto this is that the Crocodile hath no tongue nor so much as any appearance of a tongue But then the question is how it commeth to distinguish the sapours and tast of his meate Where-vnto Aristotle aunswereth that this Crocodile is such a rauening beast that his meate tarrieth not in his mouth but is carryed into his stomacke like as other water-beasts and therefore they discerne sapours and rellish theyr meate more speedily thē other for the water or humour falleth so fast into their mouthes that they cannot stand long vppon the tast or distaste of their meate But yet some make question of this and they aunswere that most men are deceiued heerein for whiles they looke for his tongue vpon his nether-chap as it is in all other beasts and find none they conclude him to want that part but they should consider that the tongue cleaueth to the moueable part and as in other beasts the nether-chap is the seate of the tongue because of the motion so in this the tongue cleaueth to the vpper-chappe because that it is moueable and yet not visible as in other and therefore is very hardly discerned For all this I rather conclude with the former Authours that seeing it liueth both in the waters and on the land and therefore it resembleth a fish and a beast as it resembleth a beast locum obtinet lingua it hath a place for a tongue but as it resembleth a fish Elinguis est it is without a tongue It hath great teeth standing out all of them stand out before visibly when the mouth is shut and fewer behind And whereas Aristotle writeth that there is no liuing creature which hath both dentes prominentes serratos that is standing out and deuided like a saw yet the Crocodile hath both These teeth are white long sharpe a little crooked and hollow their quantity well resembling the residue of the proportion of the body and some say that a crocodile hath three rowes of teeth like the Lion of Chius like the Whale but this is not an approoued opinion because they haue no more then 60. teeth They haue also 60. ioynts or bones in the back which are also tied together with so many nerues The opening of his mouth reacheth to the place of his eares and there be some Crocodiles in Ganges which haue a kind of little horne vpō their noses or snout The melt is very small this somesay is onely in them that bring forth egges their stones are inward cleaue to their loynes The taile is of the same length that the whole body hath and the same is also rough armed with hard skin vpon the vpper part the sides but beneath it is smooth tender It hath finnes vpō the tayle by the benefit wherof it swimmeth as also by the help of the feete The feet are like a Beares except that they are couered with scales in stead of haire their nailes are very sharp strong for if it had a thumbe as well as it hath feet the strength thereof would ouer-turne a ship It is doubtful whether it hath any place of excrement except the mouth And thus much for the seuerall parts of the Crocodile The knowledge also of the naturall actions inclinations of Crocodiles is requisite to be handled in the next place because that actions folow the members as sounds do instruments First therfore although Aristotle for the most part speaking of a Crocodile calleth it aquatilis fluuiatilis yet it is not to confine it to the waters riuers as though it neuer came out of thē like fishes but onely to note that particuler kind which differeth frō them of the earth for it is certaine that it liueth in both elements namely earth water for the time that it abideth in the water it also taketh ayre not the humour or moistnes of the water yet can they not want either humor of the water or respiration of the ayre and for the day time it abideth on the land in the night in the water because in the day the earth is hoter then the water in the night the water warmer then the earth while it liueth on the land it is so delighted with the sun-shine lieth therein so immoueable that a man would take it to be stark dead The eyes of a Crocodile as we haue said are dull blind in the water yet they appeare bright to others for this cause whē the Egyptians wil signifie the sun-rising they picture a Crocodile in the water looking vpward to the earth when they will signifie the west they picture a Crocodile diuing into the water and so for the most part the crocodile lyeth vpon the banks that he may either diue into the water with speed or ascend to the earth to take his prey By reason of the shortnes of his feet his pace is very slow therefore it is not only easie to escape from him by flight but also if a man do but turne aside wind out of the direct way his body is so vnable to bend it selfe that hee can neither wind nor turne after it Whē they go vnder the earth into their caues like to all other foure-footed egge-breeding serpents as namely Lizards Stellions Torteises they haue all their legs ioyned to their sides which are so retorted as they may bend to either side for the necessity of couering their egges but when they are abroad and goe bearing vp all their bodies then they bend only outward
very greedily for they say it hath in it a refrigeratiue power And there be some which by certaine inchaunting verses doe tame Dragons and rydeth vpon their necks as a man would ride vpon a horse guiding and gouerning them with a bridle Now because we haue already shewed that some dragons haue winges least it should seeme vncredible as the foolish world is apt to beleeue no more then they see I haue therefore thought good to adde in this place a particuler relation of the testimonies of sundry Learned-men concerning these winged Serpents or dragons First of all Megastenes writeth that in India there be certaine flying Serpents which hurt not in the day but in the night time and these do render or make a kind of vrine by the touching whereof all the parts of mortall creatures doe rotte away And there is a Mountaine which deuideth asunder the Kingdome of Narsing a from Alabaris wherein be many winged-serpents sitting vpon trees which they say poyson men with their breath There be many pestilent winged-serpents which come out of Arabia euery yeere by troupes into Egypt these are destroyed by a certaine Black-bird called Ibis who fighteth with thē in the defence of that Country where she liueth so that there lye great heapes of them many times destroyed vpon the earth by these Birds whose bodies may be there visibly seene to haue both wings and legges and their bones beeing of great quantitie and stature remaine vnconsumed for many yeeres after These kinde of Serpents or Dragons couet to keepe about the Trees of Frankinsence which grow in Arabia and when they are driuen away frō thence with the fume or smoake of Stirax then they flie as is afore-said into Egypt and this is to be considered that if it were not for this Stirax all that Country would be consumed with Dragons Neither haue wee in Europe onely heard of Dragons and neuer seene them but also euen in our own Country there haue by the testimonie of sundry Writers diuers been discouered and killed And first of all there was a Dragon or Winged-serpent brought vnto Frauncis the French-King when hee lay at Sancton by a certaine Country-man who had slaine the same Serpent himselfe with a Spade when it sette vppon him in the fields to kill him And this thing was witnessed by many Learned credible men which saw the same and they thought it was not bredde in that Country but rather driuen by the winde thither from some forraine Nation For Fraunce was neuer knowne to breede any such Monsters Among the Pyrenes also there is a cruell kinde of Serpent not past foure foote long and as thicke as a mans arme out of whose sides growe winges much like vnto gristles Gesner also saith that in the yeere of our Lord 1543. there came many Serpents both with wings and legs into the parts of Germany neere Stiria who did bite wound many men incurably Cardan also describeth certaine serpents with wings which hee saw at Parris whose dead bodies were in the hands of Gulielmus Musicus hee saith that they had two legges and small winges so that they could scarce flie the head was little and like to the head of a Serpent their colour bright and without haire or feathers the quantitie of that which was greatest did not exceede the bignes of a Cony and it is saide they vvere brought out of India Besides a further confirmation of these beastes there haue beene noted in all ages for it is written in the Romaine Chronicles the times of their apparision and manifestation When the Riuer of Tiber ouer-flowed aboue the bankes then were many Serpents discouered and many Dragons as in the time of Mauritius the Emperour at what time a dragon came along by the Citty of Rome vpon the waters in the sight of all men and so passed to the Sea after which prodigie there followed a great mortall pestilence In the yeere 1499. the twenty sixe day of May there came a dragon to the Citty of Lucerne which came out of the Lake through Rusa downe along the Riuer many people of all sorts beholding the same There haue beene also Dragons many times seene in Germanie flying in the ayre at mid-day and signifying great and fearefull fiers to follow as it happened neere to the Cittie called Niderburge neere to the shore of the Rhyne in a maruailous cleere sun-shine day there came a dragon three times successiuely together in one day did hang in the ayre ouer a Towne called Sanctogoarin and shaking his tayle ouer that Towne euery time it appeared visibly in the sight of many of the inhabitants and afterwards it came to passe that the said towne was three times burned with fire to the great harme and vndooing of all the people dwelling in the same for they were not able to make any resistance to quench the fire with all the might Art and power that they could raise And it was further obserued that about that time there were many dragons seene washing themselues in a certaine Fountaine or Well neere the towne and if any of the people did by chaunce drinke of the water of that Well theyr bellyes did instantly begin to swell and they died as if they had beene poysoned Where-vpon it was publiquely decreed that the said well should be filled vp with stones to the intent that neuer any man should afterwards be poisoned with that water and so a memory thereof was continued and these thinges are written by Iustinus Goblerus in an Epistle to Gesner affirming that hee did not write fayned things but such things as were true and as he had learned from men of great honestly and credite whose eyes did see and behold both the dragons and the mishaps that followed by fire When the body of Cleomines was crucified and hung vpon the Crosse it is reported by them that were the watch-men about it that there came a dragon and did wind it selfe about his body and with his head couered the face of the dead King oftentimes licking the same and not suffering any bird to come neere and touch the carkasse For vvhich cause there began to be a reuerent opinion of diuinitie attributed to the King vntill such time as wise and prudent men studious of the truth found out the true cause hereof For they say that as Bees are generated out of the body of Oxen and Drones of horses and Hornets of Asses so doe the bodyes of men ingender out of their marrow a Serpent and for this cause the Auncients were moued to consecrate the dragon to noble-spirited men and therefore there was a monument kept of the first Affricanus because that vnder an Oliue planted with his owne hand a dragon was said to preserue his ghost But I will not mingle fables and truth together and therefore I will reserue the morrall discourse of this beast vnto another place and this which I haue written may be sufficient to satisfie
the fall The Gryffins are likewise said to fight with the dragons and ouer-come them The Panther also is an enemy vnto the Dragons and driueth them many times into theyr dennes There is a little bird called Captilus by eating of which the dragon refresheth himselfe when he is wearied in hunting of other beasts And to conclude he is an enemy vnto all kinde of Beastes both wilde and tame as may appeare by these verses of Lucan where he saith Arment aque tota secuti Rumpit is ingentes amplexi verbere Tauros Nec tutus spacio est Elephas Which may be englished thus And following close the Heards in fielde Great Bulls with force of might And Elephants are made to yeelde By dragons valiant sprite In the next place I will passe vnto the poyson and venome of dragons omitting all poeticall discourses about the worshipping and transmutation of dragons from one kind to another such as are the haires of Orpheus or the teeth of the dragon which Cadmus slew into Armed-men and such like fables which haue no shew nor apparance of truth but are onely the inuentions of men to vtter those things in obscure termes which they were afraid to doe in plaine speeches It is a question whether dragons haue any venom or poyson in them for it is thought that he hurteth more by the wound of his teeth then by his poyson Yet in Deuteron 22. Moses speaketh of them as if they had poyson saying Their wine is as the poyson of dragons and the cruell venome of Aspes So also Heliodorus speaketh of certaine weapons dipped in the poyson of dragons For which cause wee are to consider that they wanting poyson in themselues become venomous two maner of wayes First by the place wherin they liue for in the hoter Countries they are more apt to doe harme then in the colder and more temperate which caused the Poet in his verses to write of them in this manner following Vos quoque qui cunct is innoxi numina terris Serpitis aurato nitidifulgore Dracones Pestiferos ardens facit Affrica Ducit is altam Aëra cum pennis c. Which may be englished in this manner You shining Dragons creeping on the earth Which fiery Affrick yeeldes with skinne like gold Yet pestilent by hote infecting breath Mounted with wings in th' ayre we doe behold So that which is spoken of the poyson of Dragons infecting the ayre wherein they liue is to be vnderstood of the Metâ—or called Draco volans a Fire-drake which doth manie times destroy the fruites of the earth seeming to be a certaine burning fire in the ayre sometime on the Sea and sometime on the Land whereof I haue heard this credible storie from men of good worth and reputation happening about some twelue yeeres agoe vpon the Westerne-Seas vpon the Coastes of England which because it is well worthy to be kept in rememberance of all posteritie and containeth in it a notable worke of God I haue thought good to sette it downe in this place There was an olde Fisher-man which with his two hyred seruaunts went forth to take fish according to his accustomed manner and occupation and hauing layd theyr nettes watched them earnestly to finde the bootie they came for and so they continued in theyr labour vntill mid-night or there abouts taking nothing At the last there came by them a Fire-drake at the sight whereof the old-man beganne to be much troubled and afrayde telling his seruaunts that those sights sildome pretended any good and therefore prayed God to turne away all euill from them and withall willed his seruaunts to take vp their Nettes least they did all repent it afterward for he said he had knowne much euill follow such apparitions The young men his seruaunts comforted him telling him there was no cause of feare and that they had already committed themselues into the handes of Almightie GOD vnder whose protection they would tarry vntil they had taken some fish the old man rested contented with their confidence and rather yeelded vnto them then was perswaded by them A little while after the fire-drake came againe and compassed round about the boate and ranne ouer the Nettes so that new fâ—ares and more violent passions then before possessed both the old-man and his seruaunts Wherefore they then resolued to tarie no longer but hasted to take vp their nettes and to be gone And taking vppe theyr Nettes at one place they did hang so fast as without breaking they could not pull them out of the water wherâ—fore they sette theyr Grabbe-hookes vnto them to loose them for the day before they remembred that a Shippe was cast away in the same place and therefore they thought that it might be the Nettes were hanged vppon some of the tacklings thereof and therein they were not much deceiued for it happened that finding the place where-vppon the Net did stay they pulled and found some difficultie to remoue it but at last they pulled it vp and found it to be a chayre of beaten gold At the sight hereof their spirits were a little reuiued because they had attayned so rich a bootie and yet like men burdened with wealth especially the old-man conceiued newe feares and wished hee were on Land least some storme should fall and lay both it and them the second time in the bottome of the Sea So great is the impression of feare and the naturall presage of euill in men that knowe but little in things to come that many times they proue true Prophets of their owne destruction although they haue little reason till the moment of perrill come vppon them and so it fell out accordingly in this old-man for whilst hee feared death by stormes and tempests on the Sea it came vpon him but by another way and meanes For behold the deuill entred into the harts of his two seruants they conspired together to kill the old-man their Maister that so betweene themselues they might be owners of that great rich chayre the value whereof as they conceiued might make them Gentlemen and maintaine them in some other Country all the dayes of their life For such was the resolution that they conceiued vpon the present that it would not be safe for them to retuâ—ne home againe afâ—er the fact committed least they should be apprehended for murder as they iustlie deserued theyr maister beeing so made away by them The deuill that had put this wicked motion into their mindes gaue them likewise prespanâ—nt opportunitie to put the same in execution depriuing them of all grace pitty and pietie still thrusting them forward to performe the same So that not giuing him any warning of his death one of them in most sauage and cruell manner dashed out his braines and the other speedily cast him into the Sea And thus the feare of this old-man conceiued without all reason except superstition for the sight of a fire-drake came vpon him in a more bloody manner then hee expected but life suspected itselfe and
into two parts which taile becommeth their hinder Legs wherefore the Aegyptians when they would describe a man that cannot moue himselfe and afterwardes recouereth his motion they decypher him by a frog hauing his hinder legges The heads of these young Gyrini which we call in English Horse-nailes because they resemble a Horse-naile in their similitude whose head is great and the other part small for with his taile he swimmeth After May they grow to haue feete and if before that time they bee taken out of the water they dye then they beginne to haue foure feete And first of all they are of a blacke colour and round and heereof came the Prouetbe Rana Gyrina sapientior wiser then a Horse-naile because through the roudndnesse and rolubility of his body it turneth it selfe with wonderfull celerity which way soeuer it pleaseth These young ones are also called by the Graecians Moluridae Brutichoi and Batrachida but the Latines haue no name for it except Ranunculus or Rana Nascens And it is to be remembred that one frogge layeth an innumerable company of Egges which cleaue together in the water in the middle whereof she her selfe lodgeth And thus much may suffice for the ordinary procreation of frogges by generation out of Egges In the next place I must also shew how they are likewise ingendered out of the dust of the earth by warme aestiue and Summer shevvers whose life is short and there is no vse of them Aelianus saith that as he trauailed out of Italy into Naples he saw diuers frogges by the way neere Putoli whose forepart and head did mooue and creepe but their hinder part was vnformed and like to the slyme of the earth which caused Ouid to write thus Semina limus habet virides generantia Ranas Et generat truncas pedibus eodem corpore saepe Altera pars viuit rudis est pars altera tellus That is to say Durt hath his seede ingendring Frogs full greene Yet so as feetlesse without Legs on earth they lye So as a wonder vnto Passengers is seene One part hath life the other earth full dead is nye And of these Frogs it is that Pliny was to be vnderstood when he saith that Frogs in the Winter time are resolued into slyme and in the Summer they recouer their life and substaunce againe It is certaine also that sometime it raineth frogs as may appeare by Philarchus and Lembus for Lembus writeth thus Once about Dardania and Paeonia it rained frogs in such plentifull measure or rather prodigious manner that all the houses and high-waies were filled with them and the inhabitants did first of all kill them but afterwards perceiuing no benifit thereby they shut their doores against them and stopped vp all their lights to exclude thē out of their houses leauing no passage open so much as a frog might creepe into and yet notwithstanding all this diligence their meat seething on the fire or set on the table could not be free from thē but continually they found frogs in it so as at last they were inforced to forsake that Countrey It was likewise reported that certaine Indians people of Arabia were inforced to forsake their countries through the multitude of frogs Cardan seemeth to find a reason in nature for this raining of frogges the which for the better satisfaction of the Reader I will here expresse as followeth Fiunt haec omnia ventorum ira and so forward in his 16. booke De subtilitate that is to say these prodigious raines of frogs and Mice little Fishes and stones and such like thinges is not to be wondered at for it commeth to passe by the rage of the winds in the tops of the Mountaines or the vppermost part of the Seas which many times taketh vp the dust of the earth congealeth them into stones in the ayre which afterwards fall downe in raine so also doth it take vp frogs and fishes who beeing aboue in theayre must needes fall downe againe Sometimes also it taketh vp the egges of frogs and fishes which beeing kept aloft in the ayre among the Whirle-windes and stormes of shewers doe there engender and bring forth young ones which afterwards fall downe vpon the earth there being no poole for them in the ayre These and such like reasons are approued among the learned for naturall causes of the prodigious raining of frogs But we read in holy Scripture among the plagues of Aegypt that frogges were sent by GOD to annoy them and therefore whatsoeuer is the materiall cause it is most certaine that the wrath of GOD and his almighty hand is the making or efficient cause and for the worthinesse of that deuine story how God maketh and taketh away frogs I will expresse it as it is left by the Holy-ghost in Cap. 8. Exod. verse 5. Also the Lord saide vnto Moses say thou vnto Aaron stretch out thy hand with thy rodde vpon the streames vpon the Riuers and vpon the ponds and cause frogs to come vpon the land of Egypt ver 6. Then Aaron stretched out his hand vpon the waters of Egypt and the frogs came vp couered the land of Egypt verse 7. And the Sorcerers did likewise with their Sorceries and brought frogs vp vpon the land of Aegypt Verse 8. Then Pharao called for Moses Aaron and said pray ye vnto the Lord that he may take away the frogs from mee and from my people and I will let the people goe that they may doe sacrifice to the Lord verse 9. And Moses saide vnto Pharao concerning me commaund when I shall pray for thee and thy seruants and for thy people to destroy the frogges from thee and from thy houses that they may remaine in the Riuer onely verse 10. Then he said tomorrow he answered be it as thou hast said that thou mayst know that there is none like the Lord our GOD. verse 11. So the frogges shall depart from thee and from thy houses from thy people and from thy Seruants onely they shall remaine in the Riuer verse 12. Then Moses Aaron went out from Pharao Moses cryed vnto the Lord concerning the frogs which he had sent vnto Pharao ver 13. And the Lord did according to the saying of Moses so the frogs dyed in the houses and in the Townes and in the fieldes ver 14. And they gathered them together by heapes and the land stanke of them c. And this was the second plague of Aegypt wherein the Lord turned all the fishes into Frogges as the booke of wisedome saith and the Frogs abounded in the Kinges chamber and notwithstanding this great iudgement of God for the present Pharao would not let the people goe and afterwardes that blind superstitious Nation became worshippers of Frogges as Philastrias writeth thinking by this deuotion or rather wickodnesse in this obseruant manner to pacifie the wrath of God choosing their owne wayes before the word of Almighty God But vain is that worship which is inuented without