many great and most learned men haue reuerenced the history of Creatures the rest of which I haue thought good to impart vnto the Reader in the beginning of my work which I will seuerally propose neither did it becomme to be more large in a dedication beeing made vnto the principallest men of our Commonwealth And because the greatnesse of the Booke before it be read of any man may seeme to blame me to be too tedious I will excuse it before I intreat of anything Therefore first of all it is no maruaile though it be a great volume in which I haue laboured to insert with diligent study the writings of all men concerning all Foure-footed-liuing-beasts and also the sayings of old and later Philosophers Physitians Gramarians Poets Hystorians and lastly of all kind of Authors not onely of those which haue set foorth their workes in Latine or Greeke but of euery one also which haue set downe their works in Germany France Italy and England And most diligently of the sayings of those which haue written something of purpose concerning liuing creatures but with the lesser care of other which haue onely in the meane time remembred some sayings of the same as Hystorians and Poets I haue put down also many proper obseruations and haue gathred togither many things nowe and then by asking questions without reproach of any man learned or vnlearned Cittizens or strangers Hunters Fishers Fawkconers Shepheards and all kind of men Also I haue not knowne any thing out of the writings of learned men of many Nations which they haue giuen to me but I haue expressed the same The formes also of euery liuing creature in this work haue increased the volume but chiefely the first Book which is al Foure-footed-beastes liuing alike hath out of measure increased it because this kind of liuing creature may be more familiarly known and more profitable to man chiefly to those of our Nation or Countrie And also many haue written little and reasonable bookes of each of them as the horse-leaches of horses in Greeke and Latine and the later writers in other languages and so forth Also many haue declared diuers things concerning Dogges and the brÃngers vp also of cattle and heards of Beasts Goats Sheepe and Sowes haue pronounced many countrey obseruations both in Greeke and Latine Some man may happen to say that I ought not to make a Hystory out of all Bookes but onely from the best but I will not despise the writings of any man seeing there is made no book so bad from whence there cannot be some good sentence gathered out if any man do applie his wit thereto Therefore although I haue not ouer-skipped anie kind of writer yet I did it not rashly for I haue pickt out no few obseruations of good moment from barbarous and obscure writers in diuers languages so that I would not be iudged a negligent person to giue credit to euery thing nor arrogant or vnmoddest to despise the studies or labors of any man Those things truely which I thought were false or any way absurd I either altogether omitted them or so placed as I may conuict them or if at any time I haue not done it it was either thorough lacke of knowledge or for some other cause which fault I thinke is very seldome committed except it be in those thinges which doe belong to Physicke where we haue related very often many things both false and sâ—perstitious as happily an Amulet or preseruative against enchauntment is and many other things which are of the same kind that the good sayinges of learned men may be easily knowne of the name of the Authour and as much of euery thing as shall be thought worthy to be beleeued let the Reader iudge for I do not promise my owne Authority euery where but am satisfied to recite the words and sentences of other writers Wherefore I haue beene very diligent least at any time I should omit the name of an Authour although it were in small matters and also those which were commonly knowne because there should remaine no doubt or scruple of any thing The words also and sayings of euery Author shal be compact together if any man should be desirous to imitate or follow them Therefore I haue been more copious that I might not onely profit in the knowledge of words but also haue sufficiently ministred a worke or writing of words and speeches for those which are desirous either to dispute or write an Oration either in Greeke or Latine But it could not be done more commodiously that all things might bee written purely in Latine seeing that I haue recited almost in the same words certaine things taken out of those which were rude or barbarous chiefely because if any thing should be obscure or doubtfull but the rest which were written of them I haue altered to a moderate vse of the Latine tongue not because I could not doe it better but rather because such an elocution doth seeme to adorne such Authors But those sentences which I haue writ or coppied out of good and Latine Authors I haue not altered any thing of them And truely of my owne stile or manner of writing I can say no other then this that I haue had a great care although I could not pronounce it eligantly and wisely nor after the imitation of the auncient writers notwithstanding I haue pronounced it competently and plainely in Latine Neyther was it ydlenesse to frame such a stile or manner of writing seeing that I was most of al busied in those things as wel mutable as innumerable and in a manner I haue written those things which if they had beene gathered together I had put to presse many yeares before The cause why I did neglect it was the feare least any thing shoulde be left out and not verie much to seeke more matter but for the most part the inscription was the cause and the order and care that I had least any thing should be repeated in vain Moreouer also because that the Argument did not require a graue or excellent maner of stile or speech but a manifest and meane style and most commonly a Gramarian that is to say fit for interpretation For I would not onely recite the words of the Authors but oftentimes also where it was needefull I did adde thereto the exposition or declaration so that this volume may not onely be a history of liuing creatures but also an exposition of the place of al those which haue written something of liuing creatures For those which do vndertake to make any booke must chiefely beware of two things that the words and meaning of the Authour be declared and put together like places of the rest the latter whereof I haue accomplished in this worke by great labour because the sayings both of other Authours as wel as of one concerning the same matter in diuers places are compiled together and it would be a matter of lesse value to declare in more words the
Rasis which was called Ceroma wherewithall Wrastlers and Prize-players were anointed but when a foolish and heauy man was annoynted they said ironically Bos ad ceroma Againe the folly of this beast appearerh by another Greeke prouerbe which saith that An Oxe raiseth dust which blindeth his owne eyes to signifie that foolish and indiscrete men stirre vp the occasion of their owne harmes The manifold Epithets giuen this beast in Greeke and Latine by sundry authors doe demonstratiuely shew the manifold conditions of this beast as that it is called a Plower Wilde an earth tiller brazen footed by reason of his hard hoofes Cerebrons more brayne then wit horned stubborne horne-striking hard rough vntamed deuourer of grasse yoake-bearer fearefull ouertamed drudges vvry-faced slovv and ill fauored vvith many other such notes of their nature ordination and condition There remaine yet of this discourse of Oxen tvvo other necessary Tractats The naturall vses of the seueral parts of Oxen. the one naturall the other morral That vvhich is natural contayns the seueral vses of their particular parts first for their flesh which is held singular for norishment for which cause after their labour which bringeth leannesse they vse to put them by for sagination or as it is sayd in English for feeding which in all countries hath a seuerall manner or custom How to fattē cattaile Sotion affirmeth that if you giue your cattell when they come fresh from their pasture Cabbage leaues beaten small with some sharpe vineger poured among them and afterward chaffe winowed in a siefe and mingled with branne for fiue daies together it will much fatten and encrease their flesh and the sixth day ground barley encreasing the quantity by little and little for sixe dayes together Now the best time to feede them in the Winter is about the cock-crowing and afterward in the morning twy-light and soone after that let them drinke in the Summer let them haue their first meate in the morning and their second seruice at noone and then drinke after that second meate or eating and their third meate before euening againe and so let them drinke the second time It is also to be obserued that their water in winter time be warmed and in the Summer time colder And while they feede you must often wash the roofe and sides of their mouth for therein will grow certaine Wormes which will annoy the beast and hinder his eating and after the washing rubbe his tongue wel with salt If therefore they be carefully regarded they wil grow very fat especially if they be not ouer aged or very young at the time of their feeding for by reason of age their teeth grow loose and fall out and in youth they cannot exceede in fatnesse bycause of their groweth aboue all heighfers and barren Kye will exceed in fatnesse for Varro affirmeth that he saw a field Mouse bring forth young ones in the fat of a cowe hauing eaten into her body she being aliue the selfe same thing is reported of a Sow in Arcadia A strange report of a fat Cow if true Kye will also grow fat when they are with calfe especially in the middest of that time The Turks vse in their greatest feastes and Marriages to rost or seeth an Oxe whole putting in the oxes belly a whole Sovv and in the Sowes belly a Goose and in the Gooses belly an Egge to note forth their plenty in great and small things but the best flesh is of a young oxe and the worst of an olde one for it begetteth an ill iuyce or concoction especially if they which eate it be troubled vvith a cough or reumy fleame or if the party be in a consumption or for a woman that hath vlcers in her belly the tongue of an oxe or cow salted and slit asunder is accompted a very delicate dishe vvhich the priestes of Mercury sayd did belong to them bycause they vvere the seruants of speech and hovvsoeuer in al sacrifices the beasts tongue vvas refused as a prophane member yet these priests made choise thereof vnder colour of sacrifice to feede their dainty stomacks The hornes of oxen by art of man are made very flexible and straight whereof are made combes hasts for kniues and the ancients haue vsed them for cups to drinke in and for this cause was Bacchus painted with hornes and Crater was taken for a cup which is deriued of Kera a horne In like manner the first Trumpets were made of hornes as Virgill alludeth vnto this sentence Rauco strepuerunt cornua cantu and now a daies it is become familier for the carriage of Gun-pouder in warre It is reported by some husbandmen that if seede be cast into the earth out of an Oxes horne called in old time cerasbola by reason of a certaine coldnesse it well neuer spring vp well out of the earth at the least not so well as when it is sowed with the hand of man Their skinne is vsed for shooes Garments and Gumme because of a spongy matter therein contayned also to make Gun-pouder and it is vsed in nauigation when a shot hath pierced the sides of the ship presently they clap a raw Oxe hyde to the mouth of the breach which instantly keepeth the Water from entring in likewise they were wont to make Bucklers or shieldes of the hides of Oxen and Bugils and the seuen-folded or doubled shield of Aiax was nothing else but a shield made of an Oxe hyde so many times layed one piece vpon another which caused Homer to call it Sacos heptaboeion Of the teeth of Oxen I know no other vse but scraping and making Paper smooth with them their gall being sprinkled among seede which is to be sowen maketh it come vppe quickly and killeth field-mise that tast of it and it is the bayne or poyson of those creatures so that they will not come neere to it no not in bread if they discerne it and birds if they eate corne touched with an Oxes gall put into hot water first of all and the lees of Wyne they wax thereby astonished likewise Emmets will not come vppon those places where there remaineth any sauour of this gall and for this cause they anoynt heerewith the rootes of trees The dung of Oxen is beneficiall to Bees if the Hyue bee annoynted therewith for it killeth Spiders Gnats and drone-bees and if good heede be not taken it will worke the like effect vpon the Bees themselues for this cause they vse to smother or burne this kinde of dung vnder the mouthes of the Hiues in the spring time which so displayeth and disperseth all the little enemy-bees in Bee-hiues that they neuer breed againe There is a prouerbe of the stable of Angia which Angia was so rich in cattell that he defiled the countrey with their dung whereupon that prouerbe grew when Hercules came vnto him he promised him a part of his countrey to purge that stable which was not clensed by the yearely labour of 3000.
among Shepheards They vse also to couer their throat and necke with large broad collars pricked throgh with nailes for else if the wilde beast bite them in those places the dogge is easily killed varro Fronto Ths loue of dogs to the cattell they attend but being bitten at any other place he quickly auoideth the wound The loue of such to the cattel they keepe is very great especially to sheep for when Publius Aufidius Pontianus bought certaine flockes of Sheepe in the farthest part of Vmbria and brought Shepherds with him to driue them home with whome the dogs went along vnto Heraclea and the Metapontine coasts where the drouers left the cattell the dogs for loue of the Sheepe yet continued and attended them without regard of any man and forraged in the fields for Rats and Mice to eat vntill at length they grew weary and leane and so returned back againe vnto Vmbria alone without the conduct of men to their first maisters being many daies iourney from them It is good to keep many of these together at the least two for euery flock that so when one of them is hurt or sick the herd be not destitute it is also good to haue these male and female yet some vse to geld these thinking that for this cause they will the more vigilantly attend the flocke howbeit I cannot assent hereunto because they are too gentle and lesse eager when they want their stones They are to be taken from their dam at two moneths old and not before and it is not good to giue them hot meate for that will encrease in them madnes neither must they tast any of the dead carkasses of the Cattell lest that cause them to fal vpon the liuing for when once they haue taken a smatch of their blood or flesh you shal sildom reclaim theÌ„ from that deuouring appetite The vnderstanding of these Shepherds dogs is very great especially in England for the Shepherds wil there leaue their dogs alone with the flocks and they are taught by custome to keepe the sheep within the compasse of their pasture and discern betwixt grasse and corn for when they see the sheep fall vpon the corne they run and driue them away from that forbidden fruit of their own acord and they likewise keep very safely their maisters garments victuals from all annoyance vntill their return Ther is in Xenophon a complaint of the sheep to the shepherds concerning these dogs we maruel said the sheep at thee that seeing we yeeld thee milk lambs and cheese wherupon thou feedest A pretty fable of the Sheep the Dogge neuertheles thou giuest vnto vs nothing but that which groweth out of the earth which we gather by our own industry and whereas the dog doth none of al these him thou feedest with thine own hand bred from thine own trencher the dog hearing this complaint of the sheep replyed that his reward at the shepherds hand was iust and no more then he deserved for saide hee I looke vnto you and watch you from the rauening Wolfe and pilfering theefe so as if once I forsake you then it will not bee safe for you to walke in your pastures for perrill of death whereunto the sheepe yeelded and not replyed to the reasonable answer of so vnreasonable a beast and this complaint you must remember was vttered when Sheepe could speake as well as men or else it noteth the foolish murmuring of some vulgar persons against the chiefe ministers of state that are liberally rewarded by the princes owne hands for their watchfull custody of the common-wealth and thus much for the shepheards Dogge OF THE VILLAGE DOGGE or house-keeper THis village Dogge ought to be fatter and bigger then the Shepheards Dog of an elegant square and strong body being blacke coloured The colour of this Dog and great mouthed or barking bigly that so he may the more terrifie the Theefe both by day and night for in the night the beast may seize vpon the robber before he discerne his blacke skinne and therefore a spotted branded party-coloured Dogge is not approued His head ought to be the greatest part of his body hauing great eares hanging downe and blacke eies in his head a broade breast thicke necke large shoulders strong Legs a rough haire short taile and great nailes his disposition must not be to fierce nor yet to familiar for so he will fawne vpon the theife as well as his maisters friend Yet is it good that sometime he rise against the house-hold seruantes and alway against strangers and such they must be as can wind a stranger a farre off and descry him to his maister by barking as by a watch-word and setting vpon him when he approcheth neere if he be prouoked Blondus commendeth in this kinde such as sleepe with one eie open and the other shut Of marriners dogs on shipboard so as any small noyse or stirre wake and raise him It is not good to keepe many of these curst Dogs together and them fewe which bee kept must bee tyed vppe in the day time that so they may be more vigilant in the night when they are let loose There are of this kind which Marriners take with them to Sea to preserue their goodes on ship-board they chose them of the greatest bodyes and lowdest voice like the Croatian Dog resembling a Wolfe in haire and bignesse and such as are very watchful according to the saying of the Poet. Exagitant lar turba Dianiae fures Peruigilant que lares peruigilant que canes Vegetius And such also they nourish in Towers and Temples in Towers that so they may descry the approching enemy when the Souldiers are asleepe for which cause Dogs seene in sleepe Aâ—temdorus signifie the carefull and watchfull wife seruants or Souldiers which foresee dangers and preserue publique and priuate good There was in Italy a Temple of Pallas wherein were reserued the axes instruments and armour of Diomedes and his colleages Aristotle â—râ—ldus 〈◊〉 keepers 〈…〉 Dâ—â—â— Chriso the which temple was kept by Dogges whose nature was as the Authour saith that when Graecians came to that Temple they would fawne vpon them as if they knew them but if any other countrey men came they shewed themselues Wild fierce and angry against them The like thing is reported of a Temple of vulcan in Aetna wherein was preserued a perpetuall and vnquencheable fire for the watching whereof were Dogges designed who would fawne and gently flatter vpon all those which came chastly and religiously to worship there leading them into the Temple like the familiars of their God but vpon wicked and euill disposed leude persons they barked and raged if once they endeauored so much has to enter either the Wood or temple but the true cause hereof was the imposture of some impure and deceiteful vnclean diabolical spirits 〈…〉 And by the like instinct Scipio Affricanus was wont to enter into the Capital and commaund
labour for all these are enemies to her foaling and cause abortement Likewise they must not haue too much meate nor too little but onely a temperate dyet and softe lodging their better ordering is elegantly described in Virgill in these verses Non illas grauibus quisquamiug a ducere plaustras Non saltu superare viam sit passus acri Carpere prata fuga sluuiosque innare rapaces Saltibus in vacuis pascant plena secundum Flumina viridissima gramine ripa Spleuncaeque tegant sacra procubet vmbra This is most certaine that if a Woman in her flowers touch a mare with foale or sometimes doe but see her it causeth to cast her foale if that purgation be the first after her virginity Orus In like manner if they smell of the snuffe of a candle or eat bucke-mast or Gartian The Egyptians when they wil describe a woman suffering abortement they picture a Mare treading vpon a Wolfe for if a Mare kicke at a Wolfe or tread where a Wolfe hath troad shee casteth her foale If an asse couer a Mare which a horsse hath formerly filled there followeth abortment but if a horsse couer a Mare which an Asse hath formerly filled there followeth no abortment because the horsses seed is hotter then the Asses If a Mare be sicke of abortment or foaling Pollipody mingled with warme water giuen hir in a horne is a present remedy The Scythians when they perceiue their Mares to be quicke with foale Aristotle The time of their going with young they ride vpon them holding opinion that thereby they cast forth their foales with lesse paine and difficulty They carry their young one in their wombes as hath beene already said twelue moneths but sometimes they come at eleuen moneths and ten daies and those are commonly males for the males are sooner perfected in the womb then the females and commonly the females are foaled at twelue months or ten daies and those which tary longer are vnprofitable and not worth education A Mare is most easily deliuered of her young among other beasts and beareth most commonly but one at a time yet it hath been seen that twins hath proceeded from her At the time of her deliuery shee hath lesse purgation of blood then so great a molde of body can affoorde and when she hath foaled Aristotle shee deuoureth her seconds and also a thing that cleaueth to her foales fore-heade being a piece of blacke flesh called Hippomanes neither doth shee suffer her young one to sucke vntill she haue eaten that for by smelling thereunto the young and old horsses or other of that kind would fal mad and this thing haue the imposters of the world vsed for a Phyltre or amorous cuppe to draw Women to loue them Virgill speaketh thus of it Quaeritur nascentis Equi de fronte reuulsus Et matris praereptus amor And againe Hinc demiem Hippomanes vero quod nomine dicunt Pastores Lentum distillat ab inguine virus Hippomanes quod saepe malae legere nouercae Miscueruntque herbas non innoxia verba This poison made into a candle Anaxilaus saith in the burning thereof there shall bee a presentation of many monstrous horsse-heads There is verie great poison contained in this Hippomanes for the Arcadian Phormis made a horsse of brasse at Olympia and put Hipomanes into the same and if the horsses at any time had seene this brazen horsse they weare so farre inraged with lust that no halters or bands could hold them but breaking all runne and leaped vpon the said brazen horsse and although it wanted a taile yet wold they forsake any beautiful Mare and runne to couer it neither when they came vnto it and found it by their heeles to be sounding and hard brasse woulde they despaire of copulation but more and more with noise of mouth rage and endeuor of body labor to leape vpon the same althogh the slippery brasse gaue them no admission or stay of abod vpon the backe of that substance neither could they be drawne from the saide brazen Image vntil by the great strength and cruel stripes of the riders they were forcibly driuen away Some thinke this little peece of flesh to cleaue to the fore-head others to the loynes and many to the genitals but howsoeuer it is an vnspeakeable part of Gods prouidence to make the Mares belly a sepulchre for that poison for if it should remaine in the males as in the females the whole race of horsses would vtterly perish and be destroied throgh rage of lust for which cause the keepers and breeders of horses do diligently obserue the time of their Mares-foaling and instantly cut off the same from the Colte reseruing it in the hoofe a Mare to procure the Stallions to carnal copulation and the Colt from which they cut this piece of flesh they sacrificed it for it is manifest faith Elianus that the Mare will neuer loue that foale from whence shee hath not eaten and consumed this peece of flesh And this poison is not onely powerful in brute beasts but also in reasonable men for if at any time by chance or ignorantly they tast heereof they likewise fall to be so madde and praecipitate in luste raging both with gestures and voice that they caste their lustfull eyes vppon euerie kind of Women attempting wheresoeuer they meet them to rauish or ingender with them and besides because of this oppression of their minde their body consumeth and vadeth away for three daies after the Colt is foaled hee can hardly touch the ground with his head It is not good to touch them for they are harmed by often handling onely it is profitable that it be suffered with the damme in some warme and large stable so as neither it be vexed with cold nor in daunger to be oppressed by the Mare thorough want of roome Also their hooues must be looked vnto least their dung sticking vnto them burne them afterward when it waxeth stronger turne him out into the field with his damme least the Mare ouer-mourne her selfe for want of hir foale for such beasts loue their young ones exceedingly After three daies let the Mare bee exercised and rid vppe and downe but with such a pace as the foale may follow her for that shall amend and encrease her milke If the Colt haue soft hooues it will make him runne more speedily vppon the hard ground or else lay little stones vnder their feet for by such meanes their hooues are hardned and if that preuaile not take swines grease and brimstone neuer burned and the stalkes of Garlicke bruzed and mingled all together and therewithall anoint the hooues The mountaines also are good for the breeding of Colts for two causes first for that in those places their hooues are hardned and secondly by their continual ascending and discending their bodies are better prepared for induring of labour And thus much may suffice for the educating and nursing of foales For their weaning obserue
that which our Ferrers cal the yellowes The signs wherof according to Martin be these The Horse will bee faint and sweat as hee standeth in the stable and forsake his meat and his eies and the inside of his lips and all his mouth within will be yellow The cure whereof according to him is in this sort Let him bloode in the Necke vaine a good quantity and then giue him this drinke take of white wine of Ale a quart and put thereunto of Saffron turmericke of each halfe an ounce and the iuyce that is wroong out of a handfull of Celendine and being lukewarme giue it the Horse to drinke and keepe him warme the space of three or foure daies giuing him warme water with a little bran in it Of the Yellowes THe yellowes is a general disease in horsses and differ nothing from the yellow-iandise in men it is mortall and many horses die thereof the signes to know it is thus Markham pull downe the lids of the horsses eies and the white of the eie will bee yellow the inside of his lips wil be yellow and gums the cure followeth First let him bloode in the palat of the mouth that he may suck vp the same then giue him this drink take of strong Ale a quart of the greene ordure of Geese strained three or foure spoonefuls of the iuyce of Salendine as much of saffron halfe an ounce mix these together and being warme giue it the horse to drinke Of the euill habit of the body and of the dropsie AS touching the drines and consumption of the flesh without any apparant cause why Blundevile called of the Physitians as I said before Atrophia I know not what to say more then I haue already before in the chap. of consumption of the flesh and therefore resort thither And as for the euil habit of the body which is to be euil colored heauy dul of no force strength nor liuelines commeth not for lack of nutriment but for lack of good nutriment for that the blood is corrupted with flegme choler or melancholy proceeding either fro the spleene or else through weakenesse of the stomach or Liuer causing euill digestion or it may come by foule feeding yea also for lacke of moderate exercise The euill habit of the body is next cosin to the dropsie whereof though our Ferrers haue had no experience yet because mine old Authors writing of horselcach-craft do speak much thereof I thinke it good heere briefely to shew you their experience therein that is to say how to know it and also how to cure it But sith none of them do shew the cause whereof it proceedes I thinke it meete first therefore to declare vnto you the causes therof according to the doctrin of the learned Physitians which in mans body do make three kinds of dropsies calling the first Anasarca the second Ascites and the third Timpanias Anasarca is an vniuersall swelling of the body through the aboundance of water lying betwixt the skin and the flesh and differeth not from the disease last mentioned called Cachexia that is to say euill habit of the bloode sauing that the body is more swoln in this then in Cachexia albeit they proceede both of like causes as of coldnesse and weakenesse of the liuer or by meanes that the hart spleene stomack and other members seruing to digestion by grieued or diseased Ascites is a swelling in the couering of the belly called of the Physitians Abdomen comprehending both the skin the fat eight muscles and the filme or panicle called Peritoneum through the aboundance of some whayish humor entred into the same which besides the causes before alledged proceedeth most chiefely by means that some of the vessels within be broken or rather cracked out of the which though the blood being somewhat grosse cannot yssue forth yet the whayish humor being subtil may run out into the belly like water distilling through a cracked pot Timpanias called of vs commonly the Timpany is a swelling of the aforesaid couering of the belly through the aboundance of wind entred into the same which wind is ingendered of crudity and euill digestion and whilest it aboundeth in the stomach or other intrals finding no yssue out it breaketh in violently through the smal cundits among the panicles of the aforesaid couering not without great paine to the patient and so by tossing to and fro windeth at length into the space of the couering it selfe But surely such wind cannot be altogether void of moisture Notwithstanding the body swelleth not so much with this kinde of dropsie as with the other kind called Ascites The signs of the dropsie is shortnes of breath swelling of the body euil colour lothing of meat and great desire to drinke especially in the dropsie called Ascites in which also the belly wil sound like a bottle halfe ful of water but in the Timpanie it wil sound like a Tabar But now though mine authors make not so many kinds of dropsies yet they say al generally that a horse is much subiect to the dropsie The signs according to Absirtus and Hierocles be these His belly legs and stones wil be swollen but his back buttocks and flanks wil be dryed and shrunke vp to the very bones Moreouer the vaines of his face and temples and also the vaines vnder his tong wil be so hidden as you cannot see them and if you thrust your finger hard against his body you shal leaue the print therof behind for the flesh lacking natural heat wil not returne again to his place and when the horselyeth down he spreadeth himselfe abroad not being able to he round together on his belly and the haire of his back by rubbing wil fal away Pelagonius in shewing the signs of the dropsie not much differing from the Physitians first recited seemeth to make two kinds therof calling the one the Timpany which for difference sake may be called in English the wind dropsie and the other the water dropsie Notwithstanding both haue one cure so farre as I can perceiue which is in this sort Let him bee warme couered and walked a good while together in the sun to prouoke sweat and let all his body be wel and often rubbed alongst the haire let him seed vpon Colworts smallâ—ge and Elming boughs and of al other thinges that may loosen the belly or prouoke vrin and let his common meat be grasse if it may be gotten if not then hay sprinkled with water and Nytrum It is good also to giue him a kinde of pulse called Cich steeped a day and a night in water and then taken out and laid so as the water may drop away from it Pelagonius would haue him to drink Parsly stampt with wine or the root of the herb called 〈◊〉 Latin Panax with wine But if the swelling of the belly wil not decrease for al this then slit a litle hole vnder his belly a handful behind the nauil put into that hole a hollow reed
feet Cardanus with her feete she diggeth and with her nose casteth awaye the earth and therefore such earth is called in Germany mal werff and in England Mole-hill and she loueth the fieldes especially meddowes and Gardens where the ground is soft for it is admirable with what celerity she casteth vp the earth They haue fiue toes with clawes vpon each forefoot and foure vpon each foote beehind according to Albertus but by diligent inspection you shall find fiue behind also for there is one very little and recurued backward which a man slightly and negligently looking vpon would take to be nothing The palme of the forefeet is broad like a mans hand and hath a hollow in it if it be put togither like a fist and the toes or fingers with the nailes are greater then any other beast of that quantity And to the end that he might be wel armed to digge the forepart of her forelegges consist of two solide and sound bones which are fastned to her shoulders and her clawes spread abroad not bending downewarde and this is peculiar to this beast not competible to any other but in her hinder legges boeth before and behind they are like a Mouses except in the part beneath the knee which consisteth but of one bone which is also forked and twisted The taile is short and hairy And thus much for the anatomy and seuerall parts the places of their abode They liue as we haue saide in the earth and therfore Cardan saith that there is no creature which hath blood and breath that liueth so long togithervnder the earth and that the earth doth not hinder their exspiration and inspiration for which cause they keepe it hollow aboue them that at no time they may want breath although they doe not heaue in two or three daies but I rather beleeue when they heaue they doe it more for meate then for breath for by digging and remoouing the earth they take Wormes and hunt after victuals When the wormes are followed by Molds for by digging and heauing they foreknow their owne perdition they flie to the superficies and very toppe of the earth the silly beast knowing that the Molde their aduersary dare not followe them into the light so that their wit in flying their enemy is greater then in turning againe when they are troade vpon They loue also to eat Toads and Frogges for Albertus saith he saw a great Toade whose legge a Mole helde fast in the earth and that the Toade made an exceeding great noise crying out for hir life during the time that the Molde did bite hir And therefore Toads and frogs do eat dead Moles They eat also the root of herbs and plants for which cause they are called by Oppianus poiophagi Herbiuorae herbe-eaters In the month of Iuly they come abroad out of the earth Enemies to Moles I thinke to seeke meate at that time when wormes be scanty They are hunted by Weasels and wilde Cats for they will follow them into their holes and take them but the Cats do not eate them whereas wee haue said alreadye that they haue an vnderstanding of mens speech when they heare them talke of them Vnderstanding of Moles I may adde thereunto a story of their vnderstanding thus related by Gillius in his own experience and knowledge When I had saith he put downe into the earth an earthen pot made of purpose with a narrow mouth to take Moles it fortuned that within shorte space as a blind Mole came along shee fell into it and could not get forth againe but lay therein whyning one of her fellowes which followed her seeing his mate taken heaued vp the earth aboue the pot with her nose cast in so much til she had raised vp her companion to the brim and was ready to come forth by which in that blind creature confined to darknesse doth not onely appeare a wonderfull worke of almighty God that endoweth them with skill to defend and wisely to prouide for their owne safety but also planted in them such a naturall and mutuall loue one to another which is so much the more admirable considering their beginning or creation as we haue shewed already Because by their continuall heauing and laboring for meate they doe much harme to Gardens and other places of their aboad and therefore in the husband-mans and house-wifes common-wealth it is an acceptable labor to take and destroy them Taking of Moles For which cause it is good to obserue their passages and marke the times of their comming to labor which being perceiued they are easily turned out of the earth with a spade and this was the first and most common way Some haue placed a boord full of pikes which they fasten vppon a small sticke in the mole-hil or passage and when the mole commeth to heaue vp the earth by touching the sticke she bringeth down the pikes and sharp nailed board vpon her owne body and back Other take a Wyar or yron and make it to haue a very sharp point which being fastened to a staffe and put into the earth where the Moles passage is they bend and so set vp that when the Mole commeth along the pike runneth into her and killeth her The Graecians saith Palladius did destroy and driue away their Moles by this inuention they tooke a great Nut or any other kind of fruit of that quantity receipte and solidity wherein they included chaffe Brimstone and Wax then did they stop al the breathing places of the Moles except one at the mouth wherein they set this deuise on fire so as the smoke was driuen inwarde wherewithall they filled the hole and the place of their walkes and so stopping it the Moles were either killed or driuen away Also Paxamus sheweth another meanes to driue away and take Molles If you take white Hellebor and the rindes of wilde Mercury instead of Hemlocke and dry them and beate them to poulder afterward sifte them and mixe them with meale and with Milke beaten with the white of an Egge and so make it into little morsels or bals Paramus and lay them in the Mole-hole and passages it will kill them if they eate thereof as they will certainely doe Many vse to kill both Moles and Emmets with the froath of new Oyle And to conclude by setting an earthen pot in the earth and Brimstone burning therein it will certainely driue them for euer from that place Vnto which I may adde a superstitious conceite of an obscure Author who writeth that if you whet a mowing syth in a fielde or meddow vpon the feast day of Christs natiuity commonly called Christmas day all the molles that are within the hearing thereof will certainly for euer forsake that fielde meddow or Garden With the skinnes of moles are purses made for the rough and soft haire Vse 〈◊〉 theyr seueral parts and also blacke russet colour is very delectable Pliny hath a strange saying which is this
but naturally through their food or their drinke or the operation of the aire The Lauoditian wooll is also celebrated not onely for the softnesse of it but for the colour for that it is as blacke as any Rauen and yet there are some there of other colours and for this cause the Spanish wooll is commended especially Turditania and Coraxi as Strabo writeth for hee saith the glasse of the wooll was not onely beautifull for the purity of the blacke but also it will spin out into so thin a thread as was admirable and therefore in his time they sold a ram of that countrey for a tallent I may speake also of the wooll of Parma and Altinum whereof Martiall made this disticon Velleribus primis apulia Parma secundis Nobilis altinum tertia laudat ouis We may also read how for the ornament of wooll there haue bin diuers colours inuented by art and the colours haue giuen names to the wool as Simatulis lana wooll of Sea-water-colour some colour taken from an Amethist stone some from brightnesse or clearnesse some from Saffron some from Roses from Mirtles from Nuts from Almonds from Waxe from the Crow as Colorcoraxicus and from the purple fish as from the Colassiue or the Tyrean whereof Virgill writeth thus Hae quoque non cura nobis leuiore tuendae Nec minor vsus erit quamuis Milesia magno Vellera mutentur tyries in cocta rubores From hence commeth the chalke colour the Lettice colour the Loote-tree-root the red colour the Azure colour and the star-colour There is an Hearb called Fullers-herb which doth soften wooll and make it apt to take colour and whereas generally there are but two colours black and white that are simple the ancients not knoing how to die wool did paint it on the outside for the triumphing garments in Homer wore painted garments The Phrigian garments were colours wrought with needle-worke and there was one Attalus a King in Asia which did first of all inuent the weauing of wooll and gold together whereupon came the name of Vestis Attalica for a garment of cloath of gold The Babilonians and the Alexandrians loued diuersity of colours in their garments also and therefore Mettellus Scipto made a law of death against all such as should buy a Babilonish garment that was carpets or beddes to eate vpon for eight hundered Cesterses The shearing of cloth or garments made of shorne cloth did first of all begin in the daies of S. Augustine as Fenistella writeth The garments like poppies had the original before the time of Lucilius the Poet as he maketh mention in Tarquatus There was a fashion in ancient time among the Romans that adistaffe with wooll vpon it The lasting of wooll was carried after virgins when they were going to be married the reason therof was this as Varro writeth for that there was one Tanaquilis or Cayea cecilia whose distaffe and wooll had endured in the Temple of Sangi many hundered yeares and that Seruius Tullus made him a cloke of that wooll which he neuer vsed but in the temple of Fortune and that that garment afterwards continued fiue 500 60. years being neither consumed by moaths nor yet growing thread-bare to the great admiration of all which either saw it or heard of it And thus much I thought good to adde in this place concerning the diuersity of wooll distinguished naturally according to seuerall regions or else artificially after sundry tinctures Likewise of the mixing and mingling of Wooll one with another and diuersities of garmentes and lastly of the lasting and enduring of wooll and garments for it ought to be no wonder vnto a reasonable man that a wollen garment not eaten by mothes nor worne out by vse should last many hundered yeares for seeing it is not of any cold or earthly nature but hot and dry there is good cause why it should remaine long without putrification and thus much instead of many things for the wooll of sheepe As we haue heard of the manifold vse of the Wooll of Sheepe so may we say very much of the skins of Sheep for garments and other vses and therefore when the wool is detracted and pulled off from them The vsâ— of â—â—â—ep-skins they are applyed to Buskins Brest-plates Shooes Gloues Stomachers and other vses for they are also dyed and changed by tincture into other colours also when the wool is taken off from them they dresse them very smooth and stretch them verye thin whereof is made writing parchment such as is commonly vsed at this day in England and I haue knowne it practised at Tocetour called once Tripontium in the county of Northampton and if any part of it will not stretch but remaine stiffe and thicke thereof they make writing tables whereon they write with a pensil of iron or Brasse and afterward deface and race it out againe with a spunge or linnen cloath Here of also I mean the skins of sheep commeth the coueringes of bookes and if at any time they be hard stubborne and stiffe then they soften it with the sheepes-sewet or tallow The bones of Sheep haue also their vse and employment for the hafting of knifes The Rhaetians of the vrine of sheep do make a kind of counterfeit of Nitre And Russius saith that if a man would change any part of his Horses haire as on the forehead take away the black haires and put them into white let him take a linnen cloth and wet it in boyling milk of sheep and put it so whot vpon the place that he would haue changed so oftentimes together til the haire come off with a little rubbing afterward let him wet the same cloth in cold sheeps milke and lay it to the place two or three daies together and the haire will arise very white thus saith he and there are certain flyes or mothes which are very hurtfull to gardens if a man hang vp the panch of a sheepe and leaue for them a passage or hole into it they will all forsake the flowers and hearbs and gather into that ventrickle which being done two or three times together make a quit riddance of all their hurts if you please to make an end of them Ruellius The Swallowes take off from the backes of Sheepe flockes of Wooll wherewithal the prouident Birds do make their nestes to lodge their young ones after they bee hatched With the dung of Sheepe they compasse and fat the earth Of the dung of sheepe it beeing excellent and aboue all other dung necessary for the benifit and encrease of Corne except Pigeons and Hens dung which is whotter and the sandy land is fittest be amended with Sheeps dung also piants and trees if you mingle therewith ashes Now we are to proceed to the gentle disposition of Sheep and to expresse their inward quallities and morall vses The inward qualities of sheepe and their moral vses Hermolaus and first of all considering the innocency of this beast I maruaile
be no appearance of these vpon their tongue then the chap-man or buyer pulleth of a bristle from the backe and if blood follow it is certaine that the Beast is infected and also such cannot well stand vppon theyr hinder legs Their taile is very round For remedy hereof diuers daies before their killing they put into their wash or swill some ashes especially of Hasell trees But in France and Germany it is not lawfull to sel such a Hogge and therefore the poore people do onely eat them Howbeit they cannot but engender euill humours and naughty blood in the body The rootes of the bramble called Ramme beaten to powder and cast into the holes where swine vse to bath themselues do keepe them cleare from many of these diseases and for this cause also in ancient time they gaue them Horse-flesh sodden and Toads sodden in water to drinke the broath of them The Burre pulled out of the earth without yron is good also for them if it be stamped and put into milk and so giuen them in their wash They giue their Hogges heere in Englande red-lead red-Oker and in some places red-loame or earth And Pliny saith that he or she which gathereth the aforesaid Burre must say this charme Haec est herba argemon Quam minerua reperit Suibas his remedium Qui de illa gustauerint At this daie there is great-praise of Maiden-haire for the recouery of swine also holy Thistle and the root of Gunhan and Harts tongue Of leannesse or pyning SOmetime the whole heard of swine falleth into leannes and so forsake their meat yea although they be brought forth into the fielde to feede yet as if they were drunke or weary they lie downe and sleepe all the day long For cure whereof they must be closely shutte vp into a warme place and made to fast one whole day from meat and water and then giue them the roots of wilde Cucumber beaten to powder and mixed with Water let them drinke it and afterward giue them beanes pulse or any drie meat to eat and lastlie warme water to procure vomit as in men whereby their stomackes are emptyed of al thinges both good and bad and this remedy is prescribed against all incertaine diseases the cause whereof cannot be discerned and some in such cases doe cut off the tops of the tailes or their eares for there is no other vse of letting these beastes bloode in theyr vaines Of the Pestilence THese beasts are also subiect to the Pestilence by reason of earth-quakes sudden infections in the aire and in such affection the beast hath sometime certaine bunches or swellings about the necke then let them be seperated and giue them to drinke in water the roots of Daffadill Quatit agros tussis anhela sues Ac faucibus angit obesis tempore pestis Some giue them night shade of the wood which hath great stalkes like cherry twiggs the leaues to be eaten by them against all their hot diseases and also burned snailes or Pepper-woort of the Garden or Lactuca foetida cut in peeces sodden in water and put into their meate Of the Ague IN auncient time Varro saith that when a man bought a Hogge he couenaunted with the seller that it was free from sicknes from danger that he might buy it lawfully that it had no maunge or Ague The signes of an Ague in this beast are these WHen they stop suddenly standing stil and turning their heads about fal downe as it were by a Megrim then you must diligently marke their heads which way they turne them that you may let them bloode on the contrary eare and likewise vnder their taile some two fingers from their buttockes where you shall finde a large veine fitted for that purpose which first of all we must beat with a rodde or peece of wood that by the often striking it may be made to swell and afterwardes open the saide veine with a knife the blood being taken away their taile must be bound vp with Osier or Elme twigges and then the swine must be kept in the house a day or two being fed with Barly meale and receiuing warme water to drinke as much as they will Of the Crampe VVHen swine fall from a great heat into a sudden colde which hapneth when in their trauel they suddenly lie downe through wearinesse they fall to haue the Crampe by a painefull convulsion of their members and the best remedye thereof is for to driue them vp and downe till they wax warme againe and as hot as they were before and then let them bee kept warme stil and coole at great leisure as a horsse doth by walking otherwise they perish vnrecouerably like Calues which neuer liue after they once haue the crampe Of Lice THey are many times so infested and annoied with lice that their skinne is eaten and gnawne through thereby for remedy whereof some annoint them with a confection made of Cream Butter and a great deale of salt Others again annoint them after they haue washed them all ouer with the Leeze of wine and in England commonly the country people vse staues-aker red-Oaker and grease Of the Lefragey BY reason that they are giuen much to sleepe in the summer time they fall into Lethargies and die of the same the remedy whereof is to keepe them from sleepe and to Wake them whensoeuer you finde them asleepe Of the head-aches THis disease is cald by the Graecians Scotomia and Kraura and by Albertus Fraretis herewith all swine are many times infected and their eares fall downe their eies are also deiected by reason of many cold humors gathered together in their head whereof they die in multitudes as they do of the pestilence and this sickenesse is fatal vnto them if they be not holpen within three or foure daies The remedie whereof if their be anie at al is to hold Wine to their Nostrils first making them to smel thereof and then rubbing it hard with it and some giue them also the roots of white Thistle cut smal and beaten into their meat but if it fall out that in this paine they loose one of their eies it is a signe that the beast wil die by and by after as Pliny and Aristotle write Of the gargarisme This disease is called by the Latins Raucelo and by the Graecians Brancos which is a swelling about their chaps ioyned with Feauer and Head-ach spredding it selfe all ouer the throat like as the squinancy doth in a man and many times it begetteth that also in the swine which may be knowne by the often moouing of their feet and then they dy with in three daies for the beast cannot eat being so affected and the disease creepeth by little and little to the liuer which when it hath touched it the beast dieth because it putrifieth as it passeth For remedy hereof giue vnto the beast those things which a man receiueth against the squinancy and also let him blood in the root of his tongue I mean in
Water spanniel 170 The Fisher 171 The Sheapheards Dog 172 The Mastiue or Bandog 173 The Butchers Dog 174 Curs of all sorts 177 E. Eale 190 Elephant 190 Elkâ— 211 F. Ferret 217 Fitch or Pool-cat 219 Foxe 220 Crucigeran Foxe 222 G. Gennet Kat. 228 Goates Goates vulgar 230 Mambrine Goats 235 Deere-Goates 143 Wilde Goat 144 Kyd. 147 Gulon 161 Gorgon 162 H. Hare 164 Hedghog 177 Horse Horse vulgar 281 Stallions and Mares 295 Hunting Horses 321 Running or race Horses 322 Geldings 324 Carreering Horses 324 Packe Horses 325 Wilde Horses 325 Hippelaphus 236 Sea Horse 328 Hyaena Hyaena vulgar 436 Papio or Dabuh 439 Crocuta 440 Mantichora 441 I. Ibex 445 Ichneumon or Pharoes Mouse 449 L. Lamia or Phayrye 452 Lyon 454 Linx 488 M. Marten or Marder 495 Mole 498 Mice Vulgar Mouse 503 Rat. 519 Water Rat. 520 Aâ—pine Mouse 521 Dormouse 526 Hamster Mouse 529 Norician Mouse 532 Pontique Mouse 532 Flying Mouse 533 Shrew or Erd Shrew 534 Wilde field Mouse 542 Wood Mouse 544 Hasell Mouse 545 Lascett Mouse 546 Sorex 546 Indian Mouse 548 Muske cat 551 Mule 556 N. Neades 567 Ounce 568 Orynx 570 The Otter 571 P. Panther 575 Poephages 587 Porcupine 588 Reiner or Ranger Rhinocerot 595 S. Su and Subus 660 Arabian Sheepe 600 Ramme 631 Weather Sheepe 638 Lambe 640 Musmon 642 Strepsiceros 655 Squirrell 657 â—etulian Squirrell 659 Vulgar Swyne 562 Wilde Boare 694 T Tatus 705 Tiger 707 V Vnicorne 711 Vre-Oxe 721 Libian Vre-Oxe 724 Indian Vre-Oxe 744 W Weasell 725 Wolfe 734 Sea Wolfe 746 Z Zebell or Saball 75â— Zibet or Ciuet cat 756 Another Alphabeticall Table directing the Reader to the story of euery Beast A. AFfrican Bugill 59 Alborach 32 Alpine Mouse 521 Antalope 1 Ape vulgar 2 Arabyan Sheepe 600 Asse 20 Axis 32 B Baboun 10 Badger Brocke or Gray 33 Beare 55 Beare ape 19 Beauer 44 Befi 29 Bison 50 Bloud-Hound 150 Bonassus 53 Buffe 56 Bugle 57 Bull. 61 Burdones 29 Butchers Dog 174 C. Cacus 91 Calse 88 Callitriche 8 Camels 93 Camelopardall 100 Campe. 102 Carreering Horses 324 Cat. 102 Cow 71 Colus 108 Cony 109 Crucigeran Foxe 222 Crocuta 440 Curs of all sorts 177 D. Dabuh or Papio 439 Deere-Goates 143 Dictyes 136 Dogges 137 Dormouse 526 E. Eale 190 Elephant 190 Elke 211 F. Fallow Deere 113 Ferret 217 Fieldmouse 542 Fisher dog 171 Fitch or Pool-cat 219 Flyeng Mouse 533 Foxe 220 Foxe-ape 19 G. Gasehound 167 Gennet Kat. 228 Geldings 324 Greyhound 144 Ginnus 29 Goates vulgar 230 Gorgon 162 Gulon 161 H. Hare 164 Harier 165 Hart and Hinde 121 Hamster mouse 529 Hasell mouse 547 Hedghog 177 Hinnus 29 Hippelaphus 236 Horse vulgar 281 Hound 149 Hunting Horses 321 Hyaena vulgar 436 I. Ibex 44â— Ichneumon 449 Innus 29 Indian Asse 32 Indian Pig cony 112 Indian mouse 548 Indian Vre-Oxe 724 K Kidde 147 L. Lambe 641 Lamia or Phayrye 452 Lascet Mouse 546 The Leymmer 168 Lyon 454 Linx 488 Lybian Vre-Oxe 724 M. Mungrels 154 Mambrine Goats 235 Mantichora 441 Martenor Marder 495 Martine Ape 7 Mares see Stallions Mannus Mannulus 29 Mastiue dog 173 Maelitaean Dogs 161 Mimick or Getulian Dog 161 Mole 498 Monster 15 Mouse Vulgar 503 Mule 556 Munkey 6 Musk-cat 551 Musmon 642 N Neades 567 Noruegian mouse 532 Noruegian Ape 16 O Oryx 570 Otter 571 Ounce 568 P Packe Horses 325 Pan Ape 16 Panther 575 Poephagus 587 Pontique Mouse 532 Pocuspine 885 R Ramme 631 Rat. 519 Reyner or Ranger 612 Rhinoceros 595 Roe Bucke 114 Running or race Horses 322 S Ape Sagoin 18 Satyre Ape 13 Sphinx 17 Scythian Asses 31 Scotian Bugle 52 Sea Horse 328 Sea Wolfe 759 Setter Dog 169 Sheapheards Dog 172 Shrew mouse 534 Sheepe 598 Sorex 546 Spanniel 153 Squirrels 657 Stallions and Mares 295 Strepsiceros 655 Swyne 562 Tartarine 12 Tatus 705 Terriar 165 Tyger 707 Theeuish Dog 169 Tumbler 168 V. Vnicorne 711 Vre Oxe 721 W. Water spanniel 170 Water rat Weasell 725 wilde Bore 694 Wilde cat 107 Wilde Goat 144 Wilde Horse 325 wilde mice 544 wilde field-mice 542 Woodmouse 545 VVolfe 734 Z. Zebell or Sable 755 Zibet or Ciuet Kat. 756 FINIS THE HISTORIE OF FOVRE FOOTED BEASTES THE ANTALOPE THE Antalope called in Latine Calopus and of the Graecians Analopos or Aptolos Of this Beast there is no mention made among the auncient Writers except Suidas and the Epistle of Alexander vnto Aristotle interpreted by Cornelius Nepotius They are bred in India and Syria The contrey of their abod and Breed neere the Riuer Euphrates and delight much to drinke of the cold water thereof Their bodie is like the body of a Roe and they haue hornes growing forth of the crowne of their head which are very long and sharpe so that Alexander affirmed they pierced through the sheeldes of his Souldiers and fought with them very irefully at which time his company slew as he trauelled to India eight thousand fiue hundred and fifty which great slaughter may be the occasion why they are so rare and sildome seene to this day by cause thereby the breeders and meanes of their continuance which consisted in their multitude were weakened and destroyed Their hornes are great and made like a saw and they with them can cut asunder the braunches of Osier or small trees whereby it commeth to passe that many times their necks are taken in the twists of the falling boughes whereat the Beast with repining cry bewrayeth himselfe to the Hunters and so is taken The vertues of this Beast are vnknowne and therefore Suidas sayth an Antalope is but good in parte OF THE APE AN Ape called in Latine Simia and sometimes Simim and Simiolus Cycero Claudian Martial Horace of the Greeke word Simos Viz signifieng the flatnesse of the Nostrils for so are an Apes and called of the Haebrewes Koph and plurally Kophin as is by S. Ierom translated 1 King 10.22 From whence it may be probably coniectured came the Latine words Cepi Cephi for Apes that haue tailes Of the name Sometimes they are called of the Haebrewes Bogiah and of the Chaldees Kophin The Italians Samada Maionio Bertuccia and a Munkey Gatto Maimone The auncient Graecians Pithecos and the later Mimon and Arkobizanes by reason of his imitation The Moores Bugia the Spaniards Mona or Ximio the French Singe the Germaines Aff the Flemishe Simme or Schimmekell the Illirians Opieze and generally they are held for a subtill ironical ridiculous and vnprofitable Beast The smal vse of apes whose flesh is not good for meate as a sheepe neither his backe for burthen as an Asses nor yet commodious to keepe a house like a Dog but of the Graecians termed Gelotopoion made for laughter * Athanaeus Anacharsis the Philosopher being at a banquet wherein diuers iesters were brought in to make them merry yet neuer laughed among the residue at length was brought in an Ape Apes made for laughter at the sight whereof hee laughed hartily and being
Bohemians Nedwed the Polontans Vuluuer and the attributes of this beast are many among authors both Greeke and Latine Epithites of the beare as Aemonian beares armed filthy deformed cruell dreadfull fierce greedy Callidonian Erymanthean bloody heauy night-ranging lybican menacing Numidian Ossaean headlong rauening rigide and terrible beare all which serue to set forth the nature heereof as shall be afterward in particular discoursed First Of the kind of Beares Agricola Albertus therefore concerning seuerall kinds of beares it is obserued that there is in generall two a greater and a lesser and these lesser are more apt to clime trees then the other neither do they euer grow to so great a stature as the other Besides there are Beares which are called Amphibia because they liue both on the land and in the sea hunting and catching fish like an Otter or Beauer and these are white coloured In the Ocean Islands toward the North there are bears of a great stature fierce and cruell who with their forefeet do breake vp the hardest congealed yse on the sea or other great Waters and draw out of those holes great aboundance of fishes Olâ—uis and so in other frozen seas are many such like hauing blacke clawes liuing for the most part vpon the seas except tempestuous weather driue them to the land In the Easterne parts of India there is a beast in proportion of body verie like a Beare yet indued with no other quality of that kind being neither so wild nor rauenous nor strong and it is called a Formicarian Beare A Formicarian Beare Cardanus for God hath so prouided that whereas that countrey is aboundantly annoyed with the Emmets or Ants that beast doth so prey and feede vpon them that by the strength and vertuous humour of his tongue the sillie poore inhabitants are exceedingly relieued from their greeuious and daungerous numbers Beares are bred in many countries as in the Heluetian alpine region where they are so strong and full of courage Countrey of breed that they can teare in pieces both Oxen and Horsses for which cause the inhabitants study by all means to take them Likewise there are Beares in Persia which doe rauen beyond all measure and all other so also the beares of Nâ—midia Marcellinus which are of a more elegant forme and composition then the residue Profuit ergo nihil misero quod communius vrsos Figebat Numidas Albena nudus arena And wheras Pliny affirmeth that there are no beares in Affrick he mistook that country for Creet and so some say that in that Island be no Wolues vipers or other such venemous creatures whereof the Poets giue a vaine reason because Iupiter was borne there but we know also that there be no beares bred in England In the countrey of Arabia from the promontory Dira to the South are beares which liue vpon eating of flesh Volaterranâ— being of a yellowish colour which do farre excel all other bears both in actiuity or swiftnes and in quantity of body Among the Roxolani and Lituanians are beares which being tamed are presents for princes Aristotle in his wonders reporteth a secret in the natures of Beares that there are white beares in Misia which being eagerly hunted do send forth such a breath that putrifieth immediately the flesh of the Dogges and whatsoeuer other beast commeth within the sauour thereof it maketh the flesh of them not fit to be eaten but if either men or dogs approach or come nigh them they vomit forth such aboundance of Plegme that either the hunters are thereby choaked or blinded Thracia also breedeth white Beares and the King of Aethiopia in his Haebrew Epistle which he wrote to the Bishop of Rome affirmeth that there are Beares in his countrey In Musconia are Beares both of a snow white yellow and dusky colour and it hath bene seene that the Noble womens chariots drawne by six horsses haue beene couered with the skinnes of white beares from the pasterne to the head and as all other creatures doe bring forth some white and some blacke so also do Beares who in generall doe breede and bring forth their young in all cold countries some of a dusky and some of a browne blacke colour A Beare is of a most venereous and lustfull disposition Lust of beare for night and day the females with most ardent inflamed desires doe prouoke the males to copulation and for this cause at that time they are most-fierce and angry Phillippus Cosseus of Constance did most confidently tell mee that in the Mountaines of Sauoy a Beare carried a young maide into his denne by violence Gillius A History where in venereous manner he had the carnall vse of her body and while he kept her in his denne he dailye went foorth and brought her home the best Apples and other fruites he coulde get presenting them vnto her for her meat in very amorous sort but alwaies when hee went to forrage hee rouled a huge great stone vppon the mouth of his denne that the Virgin shoulde not escape away at length her parentes with long search founde their little Daughter in the Beares den who deliuered her from that sauage and beastuall captiuity Time of their copulation The time of their copulation is in the beginning of winter althogh sometime in Summer but such young ones seldome liue yet most commonly in February or Ianuary The manner of their copulation is like to a mans the male mouing himselfe vpon the belly of the female which lyeth on the earth flat vpon the backe and either embraceth other with their forefeet they remaine verie long time in that act inasmuch as if they were verie fat at their first entrance they disioine not themselues againe till they he made leane Immediately after they haue conceiued they betake themselues to their dennes Pliny where they without meate grow very fat especially the males onely by sucking their fore-feet When they enter into their denne they conuey themselues in backward a secret that so they may put out their footsteps from the sight of the hunters The males giue great honor to the females great with young during the time of their secrecie so that Honor to the female although they lie togither in one caue yet doe they part it by a diuision or small ditch in the midst neither of them touching the other The nature of all of them is to auoid cold and therfore in the winter time do they hide themselues chusing rather to suffer famine then cold auoiding of cold lying for the most part three or foure moneths togither and neuer see the light whereby their guts grow so empty that they are almost closed vp and sticke togither When they first enter into their denne they betake themselues to quiet and rest sleeping without any awaking for the first fourteene daies so that it is thought an easie stroke cannot awake them But how long the females go
qualities remedies and miraculous operation therof wherfore they must be verie warily and skilfully taken foorth for there is in a little skin compassing them about a certaine sweet humor called Humor Melleus and with that they must be cut out the vtter skin being cut asunder to make the more easie entrance and the Apothecaries vse to take all the fat about them which they put into the oyle of the Castoreum and sell it vnto fisher men to make baite for fishes The females haue stones or Castoreum as well as the males but very small ones Now you must take great heed to the choise of your Beauer and then to the stones which must grow from one roote conioyned otherwise they are not precious and the beast must neither be a young one nor one very old but in the meane betwixt both being in vigour and perfection of strength The Beauers of Spaine yeeld not such vertuous castoreum as they of Pontus and therefore if it be possible Hermolaus The corrupting of Castoreum take a Pontique Beauer next one of Gallatia and lastly of Affrique Some do corrupt them putting into their skinne gumme and Ammomacke with blood other take the raines of the beast and so make the castoreum very big which in it selfe is but small This beast hath two bladders which I remember not are in any other liuing creature and you must beware that none of these be ioyned with the castoreum You may know if it be mingled with Ammoniacke by the tast for although the colour be like yet is the sauour different Platearius sheweth that some adulterate castoreum by taking of his skinne or some cod newly taken forth of another beast filling it with blood sinnewes and the pouder of castoreum that so it may not want his strong smell or sauour other fill it with earth and blood other with blood rozen gumme sinnewes and pepper to make it tast sharp but this is a falsification discernable and of this sort is the castoreum that is sold at Venice as Brasouala affirmeth and the most of them sold at this day are bigger then the true castoreum for the iust waight of the right stones is not aboue twelue ounces and a halfe one of them being bigger then the other being sixe fingers bredth long and foure in breadth Now the substance contained in the bag is yellowish solid like waâ— and sticking like glew not sharp and cracking betwixt the teeth as the counterfait is These stones are of a strong and stinking sauour such as is not in any other but not rotten and sharpe as Grammarians affirme yet I haue smelled of it dried which was not vnpleasaunt and things once seasoned with the sauour thereof will euer tast of it although they haue not touched it but lie couered with it in the same boxe or pot and therefore the castoreum of Persia is counterfeit which hath no such smell for if a man smell to the right castoreum it will draw blood out of his nose After it is taken forth from the beast it must be hung vp in some place to be dried in the shadow and when it is dry it is soft and white it will continue in strength sixe yeares and some say seuen the Persians affirme that their castoreum will hold his vertue ten years which is as false as the matter they speake of is counterfait Archigenes wrote a whole booke of the vertue of this castoreum whereunto they may resort that require an exact and full declaration of all his medicinall operations it shall onely be our purpose to touch some generall heads and not to enter into a particular discouery thereof Being so dried as is declared it must be warily vsed for it falleth out heerein as in other medicinall subiects that ignorance turneth a curing herbe or substance into a venemous and destructiue quality therefore we will first of all set downe the daungers to be auoyded and afterward some particular cures that come by the right vse of it Therefore it must be vnderstood that there is poyson in it not naturally but by accident as may be in any other good and wholsome matter and that especially in the smell or sauor therof The dangers in the vse of Castoreum Seruius whereunto if a woman with childe doe smell it vvill kill the child vnborne and cause abortement for a vvomans womb is like a creature nourished with good sauors and destroyed with euill therefore burning of fethers shoo-soles wollen clothes pitch Galbanum gumme onions and garlike is noysome to them It may be corrupted not onely as is before declared but also if it be shut vp close without vent into pure aner when it is hanged vp to be dried or if the bag be kept moyst so that it cannot dry and it is true as Auicen saith that if it be vsed being so corrupted it killeth within a daies space driuing one into madnesse making the sicke person continually to hold forth his tongue and infecting him with a feuer by inflaming the bodie loosing the continuitie of the partes through sharp vapours arising from the stomack and for a proofe that it will inflame if you take a little of it mingled with oyle and rubbe vpon any part of the bodie or vpon your naile you shall feele it But there is also a remedie for it being corrupted namelie Asses milke mingled with some sharpe sirrop of Citron or if need require drinke a dram of Philons Antidot at the most or take butter and sweet water which will cause vomit and vomit therewith so long as you feele the sauour of the stone and afterward take sirrop of Limmons or citrons some affirme vpon experience that two penny waight of Coriander-seed scorched in the fire is a present remedy for this euill And it is more straunge that seeing it is in greatest strength when the sauor is hottest which is very displeasing to a mans nature in outward appearance yet doeth it neuer harme a man taken inwardly being pure and rightly compounded if the person be without a feuer for in that case onely it doeth hurte inwardly otherwise apply it to a moist body lacking refrigeration or to a colde body wanting excalfaction or to a colde and moist body you shall perceiue an euident commodity thereby if there bee no feuer and yet it hath profited many where the feuer hath not bene ouerhot as in extasies and lethargies ministred with white pepper and mellicrate and with Rose cakes laid to the necke or head The same vertues it hath being outwardly applied and mingled with oyle if the bodies be in any heate and purely without oile if the body be cold for in heating it holdeth the thirde degree and in drying the second The maner how it is to be ministred is in drink for the most part the sweet lickor being taken from it and the little skinnes appearing therein clensed away and so it hath among many other these operations following Drunke with vineger
he will dig the earth and with the hindmost fight like a horse setting on his blowes with great force and redoubling them againe if his obiect remoue not His voice is like the voice of an oxe when he is chased he runneth forth right Albertus The manner of his sight sildome winding or turning and when he is angred he runneth into the Water wherein he couereth himselfe all ouer except his mouth to coole the heate of his blood Nature of their breeding places Pet. crscent for this beast can neither endure outward cold nor inward heate for which cause they breede not but in hot countries and being at liberty are sildome from the waters They are very tame so that children may ride on their backes but on a suddaine they will runne into the Waters and so many times indaunger the childrens liues Of their yōg ones milk Their loue to their young ones is very great they alway giue milke from their copulation to their caluing neither will they suffer a calfe of another kinde whom they discerne by their smell to sucke their milke but beate it away if it be put vnto them wherefore their keepers do in such case annoynt the calfe with Bugils excrement and then she will admit her suckling Albertus Their strength in labor They are very strong and will draw more at once then two horsses wherefore they are tamed for seruice and will draw Waggons and plowes and carry burdens also but they are not very fit for carts yet when they doe draw they carry also great burthens or loads tyed to their backs with ropes and wantyghtes Pet. crescent At the first setting forward they bend their Legges very much but afterward they goe vpright and being ouerloden they will fall to the earth from which they cannot be raised by any stripes vntill their load or carriage be lessened There is no great account made of their hides although they bee very thicke Vse of theyr hydes Bellonius Solinus reporteth that the old Britons made boates of osier twigs or reedes couering them round with Bugils skinnes and sayled in them and the inhabitants of the kingdome of a Caraiani make them bucklers and shields of Bugils skinnes which they vse in Warres the flesh is not good for meate which caused baptista Fiera to make this poem Bubalus hinc abeat neue intret prandia nostra Non edat hunc quisquam sub iugo semper eat For they ingender melancholy and haue no good tast being raw they are not vnpleasant to behold but sod or rosted they shew a deformed substance The milke of this beast maketh very hard cheese which tasteth like earth The medicines made of this beast are not many with the hornes or hoofes they make rings to weare against the cramp The physick made out of Bugils and it hath been beleeued but without reason that if a man or a woman weare rings made of the hornes and hoofes of a bugill in the time of carnall copulation that they will naturally fly off from their fingers whereas this secret was wont to be attributed to rings of Chrisolyts or Smaragde stones To conclude some teach husbandmen to burne the hornes or dung of their bugils on the windye side of their corne and plants to keepe them from cankers and blasting and thus much of the vulgar bugill called bubalus recentiorum whose beginning in this part of the world is vnknowne although in Italy and other parts of Europe they are now bred and fostered OF THE AFFRICAN BVGILL BEllonius reporteth that he saw in Cair a small beast which was in all things like a little Oxe of a beautifull body full of flesh well and neately limmed which he could take for no other then the Affrican Oxe or Bugill of the old Graecians which was brought out of the kingdome of Asamia vnto the citty Cair It was old and not so big as a Hart but greater then a Roe The country of this beast he neuer in all his life tooke more pleasure to behold a beast then in viewing the excellent beauty of euery part in this creature His haire was yellowish glistering as if it had beene combed and trimmed by the art of a Barber vnder his belly it was somewhat more red and taunty then vpon his backe His feete in all thinges like a vulgar Bugils his Legges short and strong the necke short and thicke whereon the dewe-laps of his crest did scarce appeare His head like an Oxes and his hornes growing out of the crowne of his head blacke long and bending like a halfe Moone whereof he hath no vse to defend himselfe or annoy another by reason their points turne inward His eares like a cowes and shoulder blades standing vp a little aboue the ridge very strongly His taile to the knees like a camelopardals from whence hangeth some few blacke haires twice so great as the haires in a horsses tayle His voice was like an Oxes but not so strong and loude to conclude therefore for his discription if a man conceiue in his mind a little yellovv neate Oxe with smooth haire strong members and high hornes aboue his head like a halfe Moone his minde cannot erre from the true and perfect shape of this beast There was such a one to be seene of late at Florence vnder the name of an Indian Oxe sauing his head was greater and longer his hornes not high nor bending together but standing vpright and a little wreathing into spires aboue their roote and the hinder part of the back much lower then the shoulders but it may be the obseruer of this beast fayled and tooke not the true discription of it This creature or Affrican Bugill must be vnderstood to be a Wilde beast The nature of this beast and not of a tame kind although Bellonius expresseth not so much Leo in his discription of Affrique relateth a discourse of a certaine beast called Laut or Daut who is lesse then an Oxe but of more elegant feature in his Legs white hornes blacke nailes which is so swift that no beast can outrunne it except a Barbary horse it is taken most easily in the Summer time with the skinne thereof they make targets and shieldes which cannot be pierced by any Weapon except Gunshot for which cause they fell them very deare which is coniectured to be the Bugill that Bellonius describeth although it bee not iust of the same colour which may vary in this beast as well as in any other and I haue a certaine Manuscript without the authors name that affirmeth there be bugils in Lybia in likenes resembling a Hart and an Oxe but much lesser and that these beasts are neuer taken asleepe which causeth an opinion that they neuer sleepe and that there is another Bugill beyond the Alpes neere the Ryuer Rhene which is very fierce and of a white Colour There is a horne in the towne-house of Argentine foure Romane cubits long Of a
Oxen of the Northerne Ocean Islands of Germany do grow so fat that they are indangered to die thereby The most common foode for oxen is the same that is already specified in the former discourse of kie namely three leaued grasse clauer grasse all greene herbs Hay beans Vetches Chaffe and in some places Barley and Straw There is also a monethly dyet or food giuen to oxen for in Ianuary and February they giue them vetches and Lupines bruised in water among chaffe or pease so bruised and mingled and where is want of such pulse they may giue them pressinges of Grapes dryed and clensed which is not turned into wine and mingle them with chaffe for the cattell to eate but the Grapes themselues are much better before the pressing with their small twigges or leaues because they are both meat and drinke and will fat an oxe very speedily The like may be added of Boughes of Laurell helme and other leaues and also nuts and Acornes but if they be not wearied and fed with Acornes till they loath them they will fall into scabs In March and Aprill giue them hay and from April vnto Iune giue them grasse and such greene meat as may be found abroad Afterward all the Summer and Autumne they may be satisfied with the leaues of Elme bay holme and especially that kinde of oake which is without prickles and therefore they cannot abide Iuniper In Nouember and December while the seede time lasteth they must haue as much giuen them as they can desire either of the forenamed food or else of some better if neede require for it must be principally regarded that the cartell fal not into leannesse in the winter time for leanes is the mother of many sicknesses in cattel and their vtter ouerthrow and therefore the benefits by their full feeding are many as may appeare by that coÌ„mon prouerbe Bos ad acervum that is an oxe to a whole heape to signifie such men as liue in all plenty and aboundance The like care must bee had of their drinke for the Neat-heard must diligently looke vnto their drinke that it may be alway cleare and it is reported of the riuers Crathis and Sibaris that the cattell which drinke of their water doe turne white whatsoeuer colour they had in former times The time of Oxens age They will liue in strength and perfection twelue yeares and their whole life is for the most part but twenty Kie liue not so long the meanes to know their age is by their teeth and their horn for it is obserued that their teeth grow black in their age and their horns waxe more circled as they grow in yeares although I dare not affirme that euery circle betokeneth a yeares groweth as some haue written yet I am assured the smooth horne sheweth a young beast Moreouer although kie will endure much cold and heat both in Winter and Summer yet must you haue more regard to your Oxen and therefore it is required that they in the Winter cold weather be kept dry and housed in stals which must be of conuenient quantity so as euery oxe may be lodged vppon straw the flooer made higher vnder their forefeete then their hinder so as their vrine may passe away and not stand to hurt their hoofes and there be also allowed for the standing and lodging of euery Oxe eight foot in bredth and a length answerable The like regard must be had to theyr maunger and rack whereof the staues must not stand aboue one foot or rather lesse from one another that so they may not draw out their meat and stampe it vnderfoot But all the diet and foode that the wit of man can ordaine will do them no manner of good if regard be not had to their bodily health the medâ—ins to preserue an Oxe in strength and preseruation of strength for which cause they must receiue an ordinary medicine euery quarter of the yeare that is in the end of the spring Summer Autumne and Winter which in some places is thus made and giuen in potion they take oâ— Cypres and Lupine-leaues an equal quantity beat them small then set them in water in the open ayre a day and a night and afterward giue vnto euery one for three dayes togither warmed as much as a wine pint Paxamus In other places they giue them to prevent sicknes a raw Egge a handfull of salte in a pint of wine and other put into the meat of oxen the foame of newe oyle mingled with water first a little at once vntill they be accustomed vnto it and afterward more and this they do euery fourth or fift day Cato reciteth a certaine vowe or prayer which the olde idolatrous Romanes were woont to make for the health of their cattell Vowes and superstitious medicins for the cure of Cattel to Siluanus Mars which was on this manner First they take three pound of greene wheat and of Larde 4. poundes and foure pound and a halfe of fleshy sinnewes and three pintes and a halfe of wine then put them into earthen pots with hony put in the wine by it self and this they did yearely but no woman might knowe how it is made or be present at the time of the preparation and it being made must be presently consumed by fire Vnto this ridiculous and superstitious ydle inuention seruing more to expresse the folly of man then to benefit either man or beast I may adde that kind of sacrifice made for beasts which Pliny calleth Daps that was made in the spring time when the peare-tree did blossome the maner whereof was thus They did offer to Iupiter Dapalis a bowle of wine on the same daye the heard-men and heards make their sacrifice saying in this manner O Iupiter Dapales I offer vnto thee this cup of wine in the behalfe of my selfe family and cattell if thou wilt perform that vnto them which belongeth to thee be good to this wine beneath be good to this my sacrifice Afterward the party washed his handes and then dranke the wine saying O Iupiter Dapales be good to this my sacrifice be good to this inferiour wine and if thou wilt giue part therof to Vesta the sacrifice being ended he took Millet-seed Lentils oxipanum and garlick Thus farre Cato wherewith if any reader be offended let him remember to pitty such poore remedies and commend his cattell to the true God that saueth man and beast The Druides of the Gauls called a certain hearb growing in moyst places Samolum which being gathered by the left hand of them that were fastinge they gaue it for an Antidot to oxen and swine And Galen telleth of another superstitious cure for oxen when a man tooke the horne of a Hart and layed it vppon the chappell of Pan and set vpon it a burning candle which must not be forgotten but alway thought vppon in the day time The discouery of â—he sicknes of Cattel and the perticuâ—â—r cure thereof calling vppon holy Demusaris
generation And if the wound be ouermuch giuen to bleede lay vpon it ashes with the spume of siluer which is apt to stanch bloud in all green wounds and that day let him not drinke and eate but a very little meate Pallaâ—tus souon Collâ—mella for three daies after giue him greene tops or grasse soft and easie to chewe and at the third daies end annoynt the wound with liquid pitch ashes and a little oyle which will sooner cure the scar and keepe the flies from stinging or harming it If at any time a cow cast her calfe you may put vnto her another calfe that hath not sucke ynough from his owne Damme and they vse in some countries to giue their calues Wheate-branne and barley-meale and tender meate Varro especially regarding that they drinke morning and euening Let them not lye together in the night with their Danime but asunder vntill their sucking time and then immediately separate them againe vnlesse the cow be well fed when the calfe sucketh Food for Calues hir ordinary foode will yeald no great trybute of Milke and for this cause you must beginne to giue the calfe greene meate betimes Afterward being weaned you may suffer those young ones to feed with their Dams in the Autumne which were calued in the spring Then in the next place you must regard the taming of the beast being ready for labour which is expressed in the former treatise of an Oxe Sacrifices of Calues The auncients called Victoria by the name of the Goddesse Vitula bycause they sacrificed vnto hir calues which was termed a Vitulation and this was vsuall for victory and plenty as is to bee seene at large in Giraldus Macrobius Nonius Ouid and Virgill but the heathens had this knowledge that their Gods would not accept at their hands a lame calfe for a sacrifice Pliny Coelius although it were broght to the altar and if the taile of the calfe did not touch the ioyntes of his hinder legs they did not receiue him for sacrifice And it is said of Aemilius Paulus when he was to goe against the Macedonians hee sacrificed to the Moone in her declination eleuen calfes Iosephus A wonder It is very strange that a calfe being ready to be sacrificed at the Temple of Ierusalem brought forth a Lambe which was one foreshewing signe of Ierusalems destruction But Aristole declareth that in his time there was a calfe that had the head of a child Monsters of calues and in Luceria a Towne of Heluetia was there a calfe which in his hinder parts was a Hart. Nioivillagag When Charles the fifth went with his Armye into Affrique and ariued at Larghera a Noble citty of Sardinia there happened an exceeding great wonder for an Oxe â—rought forth a calfe with two heades and the Woman that did owe the Oxe presented the calfe to the Emperor and since that time I haue seene the picture of a more strange beast calued at Bonna in the Bishopricke of Colen which had two heades one of them in the side not bigger then a Hares head and two bodies ioyned together whereof the hinder partes were smooth and bald but the taile blacke and hayrie it had also seauen feete whereof one had three hoofes this Monster liued a little while and was brought forth in An 1552. the 16. day of May to the wonder and admiration of all them who either knew the truth or had seene the picture Butchers are wont to buy calues for to kill and sell their flesh for in all creatures the flesh of the young ones are much better then the elder The flesh of calues because they are moyst and soft and therefore wil digest and concocte more easie and for this cause Kids Lambes and Calues are not out of season in any time of the yeare and are good from fifteene daies to two monthes old being ornaments to the Tables of great Noble men which caused Fiera to make this Distichon Assiduos habeant vitulum tua prandia in vsus cui madida sapida iuncta tepore caro est And principally the Germanes vse the chawtherne the head and the feete for the beginning of their meales and the other parts either roasted or baked and sometime sod in broath and then buttered spiced and sauced and eaten with Onyons Pliny Of the medicines The Medicines arising from this beast are the same that come from other his fires before spoken off and especially the flesh of a calfe doeth keepe the flesh of a new wound if it be applyed thereunto from swelling and being sodden it is precious against the bitings of a mans teeth and when a mad Dogge hath bitten a man or a beast they vse to pare the wound to the quicke and hauing sodden veale mingled with the sewet and heele they lay some to the wound Marcellus and make the patient drinke of the broath and the same broath is Soueraigne against all the bitings of Serpentes The hornes of a Calfe sodde soft are good against all intoxicate poyson and especially Hemlock The poulder of a Calues thigh drunke in Womans Milke cureth all filthy running vlcers Pliny and out of the braine of a calfe they make an oyntment to loosen the hardnesse of the belly Nicander The marrow softneth all the ioyntes driueth away the bunches arising in the body hauing an operation to soften fill dry and heate Take Oyle Waxe rust and the marrow of a Calfe against all bounches in the face and calues marrow with an equll quantity of whay Rasis Oyle Rose-cake and an Egge do soften the hardnesse of the cheekes and eye-lids Marcellus being laied to for a playster and the same mixed with Cumin and infused into the eares healeth the paines of them and also easeth the vlcers in the mouth The marrow with the sewet composed together cureth all vlcers and corruptions in the secrets of Men and Women The fat pounded with salt cureth the louzye euill Pliny and likewise the vlcerous sores in the head The same mixed with the fat of a Goose Marcellus and the iuyce of Basill or wild Cumyn and infused into the eares helpeth deafenesse and paines thereof The fat taken out of the thigh of a Calfe and sod in three porringers of water and supped vp is good for them that haue the flux and the dung of a calfe fryed in a pan layed to the buttocks and secrets doth wonderfully cure the bloody flixe Leonellus also layed to the raines prouoketh vrine and sod with rue cureth all the inflamations in the seate of a man or woman The sewet of a calfe with nitre aswageth the swelling of the cods pliny being applied to them like a plaister and the sewet alone doth cure the pieling of the Nayles The liuer with sage leaues cut together and pressed to a liquor being drunke easeth the paine in the small of the belly The gall mingled with poulder of a Harts horne and the
hath two vdders Aristotle Pliny which haue foure speanes depending from them like a Cowes His genital part is confected and standeth vpon a sinnew insomuch as there of may a stringe be made for the bending of the strongest bow The tayle is like the taile of an Asse hangging down to their knees they haue knees in euery leg hauing in their former legs 3 bones in the hinder foure They haue an ancle like an Oxes and very small buttockes for the proportion of their great body their foot is clouen but so that in the vnder part it hath but two Fissures or cleftes opening the breadth of a finger and in the vpper part foure Fissures or cleftes opening a little and hauing a little thing growing in them like as is in the foot of a Goose The foot it selfe is fleshy like a Beares and therefore they are shod with leather when they trauaile least the gauling of their feet cause them to tyre Auicenna affirmeth that he had seene Camels with whole feet like a Horsses but their feet although fleshy are so tyed together with little lunges that they neuer weare and their manner of going or pace is like a Lyons so walking as the left foot neuer outgoeth the right whereas all other beasts change the setting forward of their feet and leane vpon their left feet while they remoue their right but these alter step after step so as the left foot behind followeth the right before and the hinder foote followeth the lefte before Those Camels which are conceiued by Bores are the strongest and fall not so quickly in to the myre as other although his load be twice so heauy Camels loue grasse called Schoennanthi and especially Barley which they eat vp wonderfull greedily vntill all be in their stomach The food of Camels and then will they chewe thereupon all the night long so that the greatnesse of their belly to lodge their meat in before concoction is better then the benefite of their vpper teeth because he can ruminate and chaw it so often as he pleaseth There is a certaine herbe which hath a seede like a mirtle seed that is poyson to wormes Siluaticus and this seede is foode for Cammels wherewith they grow fatte It is therefore called Camell-thorne and Astergar in the Aarabian toung In the prouince of Aden both Sheepe Oxen Horses and Camels eate a kinde of fish and them better being drie and stale Paul venet Philostratus Calius then new and fresh by reason the immoderate heat in that region burneth vp all pasture and fruites neither is there any beast which is so easily fed as a Camell They will not drink of cleare or cleane water but of muddy and slimie and therefore they stamp in it with their feete Their drinke must not be cleare They will indure thirst for three or foure dayes together but when they come to drink they suck in aboue measure recompensing their former thirst and prouiding against that which is to come and of all kinds the Bactrians are least trobled with thirst They stale from one side to another otherwise then any other beasts doe this beast is very hot by nature and therfore wanton and full of sport and wrath braying most fearfully when they are angred They engender like Elephants and Tigers that is the female lying or sitting on the ground which the male imbraceth like other males and continue in copulation awhole day together Their procreation When they are to ingender they goe vnto the secretst places they can finde herein excelling in modesty the ancient Massagetes who were not ashamed to lie with their wiues in the open field and publique view of one another wher as bruite beasts by instinct of nature make the procreation of their kinde to be a most secret-shamefull-honest action At the time therefore of their lust they are most vnruely and fierce yeilding to none no not to their owne keepers the best time of their copulation is in September for in Arabia they begin to ingender in the third yeare of their age and so within ten or eleuen moneths after she is deliuered of young being neuer aboue one at a time for twins come not in her greate belly so she goeth a yeare before she conceiue againe although her young be seperated or weaned before which time they doe not commonly Caelius Auicen Vnto their former modesty for their copulation we may adde another deuine instinct and most true obseruation about the same for the male will neuer couer his mother or his sister wherfore it is sincerely reported that when a certaine Camel-keeper desirous to trie this secret hauing the male sonne to a female which he also kepte he so couered the female-mother-Camell in all parts of her body except her secrets that nothing coulde be seene of her and so brought her lustfull son to couer her which according to his present rage he perfourmed As soone as he had done it his maister and owner pulled away the maske or disguise from the damme in the presence of the sonne whereby he instantly perceiued his keepers fraud in making him vnnaturally to haue copulation with his owne mother In reuenge whereof he ranne vppon him and taking him in his mouth lift him vp into the ayre presently letting him fall with noise and cry vnderneath his murdring and manquelling feete where with vnappeasable wrath and bloud desiring lyuor he pressed and trode to pieces the incest marriage-causer twixt him and his dearest mother and yet not herewith satisfied like some reasonable creature depriued of heauenly grace and caried with deadly reuenge against such vncleannes being perswaded that the gilt of such an offence could neuer receiue sufficient expiation by the death of the first deuiser except the beguiled party sufferd also som smart of penalty adiudged himselfe to death and no longer worthy to liue by natures benifite which had so violated the wombe that first conceiued him and therfore running to and fro as it were to finde out a hangman for himselfe at last found a sleepy rocke from whence he leaped downe to end his life and although he could not preuent his offence yet he thought it best to cleanse away his mothers adultery with the sacrifice of that bloud which was first conceiued in that wombe wherein hee had defiled These camels are kept in heards and are as swift as horses according to the measure of their strength not onely because of their nimblenesse but also because their strides and reach doth gather in more ground for which cause they are vsed by the Indians for race The pace agility of camels when they goe to fetch the golde which is said to be kept by the Formicae Lions which are not much bigger then Foxes Herodotus yet many times doe these Lions ouertake the camels in course and teare the riders in pieces They haue bene also vsed for battell or warre by the Arabians in the Persian warre but
the crowne of her head that it is a presage of raine and if the backe of a cat be thinne the beast is of no courage or value They loue fire and warme places whereby it falleth out that they often burne their coates Their copulation They desire to lie soft and in the time of their lust commonly called cat-wralling they are wilde and fierce especially the males whoe at that time except they be gelded will not keepe the house at which time they haue a peculiar direfull voyce The maner of their copulation is this the Female lyeth downe and the Male standeth and their females are aboue measure desirous of procreation for which cause they prouoke the male and if he yeeld not to their lust they beate and claw him but it is onely for loue of young and not for lust Aristotle the meale is most libidinous and therefore seeing the female will neuer more engender with him during the time hir young ones sucke hee killeth and eateth them if he meet with them to prouoke the female to copulation with him againe Aelianus for when she is depriued of her young she seeketh out the male of her own accord for which the female most warily keepeth them from his sight During the time of copulation the female continually cryeth whereof the Writers giue a double cause one because she is pinched with the talants or clawes of the male in the time of his lustfull rage and thother because his seed is so fiery whot that it almost burneth the females place of conception When they haue litered or as we commonly say kittened they rage against Dogges and will suffer none to come neere their young ones The best to keep are such as are littered in March Choyse of young Cats they go with young fifty daies and the females liue not aboue sixe or seuen yeares the males liue longer especially if they be gelt or libbed the reason of their short life is their rauening of meate which corrupteth within them They cannot abide the sauour of oyntments but fall madde thereby Gillius Caelius alu Mundellâ— Their diseases they are sometimes infected with the falling euill but are cured with Gobium It is needelesse to spend any time about her louing nature to man how she flattereth by rubbing her skinne against ones Legges how she whurleth with her voyce hauing as many tunes as turnes for she hath one voice to beg and to complain another to testifie her delight pleasure another among hir own kind by flattring by hissing by puffing by spitting insomuch as some haue thought that they haue a peculiar intelligible language among themselues Therefore how she beggeth playeth leapeth looketh catcheth tosseth with her foote riseth vp to strings held ouer her head sometime creeping sometimes lying on the back playing with one foot somtime on the bely snatching now with mouth anon with foot aprehending greedily any thing saue the hand of a man with diuers such gestical actions it is needelesse to stand vpon insomuch as Coelius was wont to say The hurt that commeth by the familiarity of a cat that being free from his Studies and more vrgent waighty affaires he was not ashamed to play and sport himselfe with his Cat and verily it may well be called an idle mans pastime As this beast hath beene familiarly nourished of many so haue they payed deare for their loue being requiret with the losse of their health and sometime of their life for their friendship and worthily because they which loue any beasts in a high mesure haue so much the lesse charity vnto man Therefore it must be considered what harmes and perils come vnto men by this beast It is most certaine that the breath and sauour of cats consume the radicall humour and destroy the lungs Ahynzoar and therefore they which keepe their cats with them in their beds haue the aire corrupted and fall into feuer hectickes and consumptions Alex benidict There was a certaine company off Monkes much giuen to nourish and play with Cattes whereby they were so infected that within a short space none of them were able either to say reade pray or sing in all the monastery and therefore also they are dangerous in the time of pestilence for they are not onely apt to bring home venomous infection but to poyson a man with very looking vpon him wherefore there is in some men a naturall dislike and abhorring of cats their natures being so composed that not onely when they see them but being neere them and vnseene and hid of purpose they fall into passions fretting sweating pulling off their hats and trembling fearefully as I haue knowne many in Germany the reason whereof is because the constellation which threatneth their bodies which is peculiar to euery man worketh by the presence and offence of these creatures and therefore they haue cryed out to take away the Cats The like may be sayd of the flesh of cats â—â— cats flesh which can sildome be free from poyson by reason of their daily foode eating Rats and Mice Wrens and other birds which feede on poyson and aboue all the braine of a cat is most venomous for it being aboue measure dry Ponzettus Alexander stoppeth the animall spirits that they cannot passe into the ventricle by reason whereof memory faileth and the infected person falleth into a phrenzy The cure wherof may he this take of the Water of sweete Marioram with Terra lemnia the waite of a groate mingled together and drinke it twice in a month putting good store of spices into all your meate to recreate the spirits withall let him drinke pure Wine wherein put the seede of Diamoschu But a cat doth as much harme with her venemous teeth therefore to cure her biting they prescribe a good diet sometime taking Hony turpentine and Oyle of Roses melt together and laied to the wound with Centory sometime they wash the wound with the vrine of a man and lay to it the braines of some other beast and pure wine mingled both together Mathaeolus The haire also of a cat being eaten vnawares stoppeth the artery and causeth suffocation and I haue heard that when a child hath gotten the haire of a cat into his mouth it hath so clouen stucke to the place that it could not be gotten off again and hath in that place bred either the wens or the kings euill to conclude this point it appeareth that this is a dangerous beast that therfore as for necessity we are constrained to nourish them for the suppressing of small vermine so with a wary and discret eie we must auoyde their harmes making more account of their vse then of their persons In Spaine and Gallia Narbon they eate cats but first of al take away their head and taile and hang the prepared flesh a night or two in the open cold aire to exhale the sauour and poyson from it finding the flesh thereof
that these are greater and stronger then Harts Agricola Of their strength and colour their vpper part of the backe being blacke and the neather neere the belly not White as in a Hart but rather blackish but about his genitals very blacke I haue seene the hornes to haue seauen spires or braunches growing out of one of them being palmed at the top These are like to those which are called Achaeines in Greeke by reason of their paine and sorrow and Kummerer in Germane by cause they liue in continuall sorrow for their young ones while they are not able to runne out of their dennes belike fearing by some instinct of nature A secret in their paâ—sion least their tender and weake age should betray them to the hunters before they be able to runne away THE FIGVRE OF ANOTHER Tragelaphus or Deere-goate expressed by BELLONIVS THere is another Tragelaphus saith he whereof I finde no name among the French it wanteth a beard The description of his seuerall parts and the Haire thereof resembleth an Ibex-goate whose description followeth afterward among Goates the hornes heereof are like a Goats but more crooked and bending compassing behinde as a Rammes doe which he neuer looseth His face Nose and eares are like a sheepes the skinne of his Cods being very thicke and hanging downe His Legs are white like a sheepes his taile white his haires are so long about his necke and stomacke that you would thinke it were bearded His haire on the shoulders and brest blacke and it hath two gray spots on his flanks on either side the Nostriles are blacke the beake or face White so also is the belly beneath but the description heereof seemeth rather to agree with a Pygargus or Musmon of which I shall speake afterward Either sexe loose euery yeare their hoofes and Harts doe their Hornes that nature may shew their resemblance in their feet to a Hart as he doth in their head to a Goat His eare is short like a Goats but his eie genitall stones and taile like a Harts though somwhat shorter The hornes like a Rammes crooked and distinguished in the middle by a blacke line all their length which is two Roman feete and one finger and in compasse at the roote one foot one palme and a halfe standing one from another where they differ most not aboue one foote three palmes one finger and a halfe The rugged circles going about them toward the top are bunchy and toward the bottom or roote they are low with beaten notches or impressions Their quantity in length and breadth They are not at the top distant one point from another aboue one foote and a palme The length of their face from the Crowne to the tip of the Nose one foote and three fingers the breadth in the forehead where it is broadest two palmes and one finger The height of this beast not aboue three foote and a halfe except where his mane standeth and the whole length heere of from the crown of the head to the taile is foure feet and a halfe and two fingers It hath onely teeth beneath on the neather chap and those in number not aboue sixe neither did I obserue any defect in them It cheweth the cud like other clouen-footed beasts The Nostrils are blacke from whom the vpper lip is deuided by a long perpendicular line It is a gentle pleasant and wanton beast in the disposition Of the description of this beast rather resembling a Goate then a Hart desiring the steepest and slipperyest places whereon it leapeth and from whence it is reptored that it doth cast downe it selfe headlong vpon the hornes naturally that by them it may breake the violence of his fall or leape and then stayeth his body vpon the sore-knees It will runne apace but it is most excellent in leaping for by leaping it ascendeth the highest Mountaines and rockes The females are greater then the males but not in Horne or Haire it eateth Grasse Oates Cheasâ—ill Hay and Bread they bring forth twinnes euery time and this we call in England a Barbary-Deere Thus farre Doctor Cay OF THE HART AND HINDE THe male of this beast is called in Haebrew Ajal Deut. 14. The names of a Hart. and the Arabians doe also retaine that word in their translations the Persians cal him Geuazen the Septuagints Elaphos the Graecians at this day Laphe Pelaphe and Saint Ierom for the Latins Ceruus the Chaldees Aielah the Italians Ceruo the Spaniards Cieruo the French Cerf the Germans Hirtz of Hirs and Hirsch the Plimmings Hert the Polonians Gelen the Illirians Ielijelij The female or Hinde likewise termed in Haebrew Aial and sometime Alia and Aielet The names of a Hinde the Latines and Italians Cerua the Spaniards Cierua the Germans Hinde and Hindin and the Germans more speciallye Hin and Wilprecht the French Biche and the Polonians Lanij The young faunes or calfes of this Beast they call in Latine Hinnuli the Graecians Anebros the Haebrewes Ofer the Germans Hindcalb The nams of a hinde-calfe Also it is not to be forgotten that they haue diuers other names to dinstinguish their yeares and countries as for example when they begin to haue hornes which appeare in the second yeare of their age like Bodkins without braunches which are in Latine called Subulae Aristotle Pliny Oâ— Spittards Subulous they are also cald Subulones for the similitude they haue with bodkins and the Germans cal such an one Spirzhirtz which in English is called a Spittard and the Italians corbiati but the french haue no proper name for this beast that I can learn vntil he be a three yearing and then they call him ein Gabler which in Latine are called Furcarij And indeed I was once of this opinion that these Subulones were only two-yearing Harts vntil I consulted with a Sauoyen of Segusium Of Brocardes who did assure me from the mouths of men traind vp in hunting wild beasts from their youth that there are a kind of Subulones which they call also Brocardi with straight and vnforked hornes except one branch in the mountaine of Iura neare the lake Lemanus and that these also do liue among other Hartes for there was seene neere a monastry called the Roman Monasterie by certaine hunters in the yeare 1553. a vulgar Hart with branched hornes and his female and likewise with a Subulon or Brocarde which when in pursuit he was constrained to leape from rocke to rock to get to the Water he brake his legge and so was taken These Brocards are as great in quantity as other vulgar Hartes The quantity of Brocards but their bodies are leaner and they swifter in course Of their horns They haue but one braunch growing out of the stem of their horne which is not bigger then a mans finger and for this cause in the rutting time when they ioyne with their females they easily ouercome the vulgar Hart with his branched and forked hornes The
some hange vpon his priuy parts biting him with mortall rage to ouerthrow their foe The poore Hart being thus oppressed with a multitude and pricked with venemous pains assayeth to runne away but all in vaine their cold earthy bodyes and winding tailes both ouercharge his strength and hinder his pace he then in a rage with his teeth feete and horne assaileth his enemies whose speares are already entred into his body tearing some of them in pieces and beating other asunder they neuer the lesse like men knowing that now they must dye rather then giue ouer and yeald to their pittilesse enemy cleaue fast and keepe the hold of their teeth vpon his body although their other partes be mortally wounded and nothing left but their heades and therefore will dye together with their foe seeing if they were asunder no compassion can delay or mitigate their naturall vnappeaseable hatred The Hart thus hauing eased himselfe by the slaughter of some like an Elephant at the sight of their blood be stirreth himselfe more busily in the eager battaile and therfore treadeth some vnder foote in the blood of their fellowes others he pursueth with tooth and horne vntill he see them all destroyed and whereas the heads hang fast in his skinne for auoyding and pulling them forth by a deuine naturall instinct he flieth or runneth to the Waters where he findeth sea-crabs and of them he maketh a medicine whereby he shaketh off the Serpents heades cureth their woundes and auoideth all their poyson this valiant courage is in Harts against Serpents wheras they are naturally affraid of Hares and Conies and will not fight with them It is no lesse strange that Harts will eate Serpents but the reason is Etymologus Varinus for medicine and cure for sometimes the pores of his body are dulled and shut vp sometimes the worms of his belly doe asend into the roofe of his mouth while he cheweth his cud and there cleaue fast for remedy whereof the Hart thus affected runneth about to seeke for Serpents for his deuouring of a Serpent is a cure of this Malady Isidorus Pliny saith that when the Hart is olde and preceiueth that his strength decayeth his haire change and his hornes drye aboue custome that then for the renewing of his strength he first deuoureth a Serpent and afterward runneth to some Fountaine of water and there drinketh which causeth an alteration in the whole body both changing the haire and horne and the Writer of the Glosse vppon the 42. Psalme which beginneth Like as the Hart desireth the Water springes so longeth my soule after God confirmeth this opinion Vincentius Belluacensis affirmeth that Harts eate Serpents for to cure the dimnesse of their eye-sight But for the ending of this question we must consider that there are two kinds of Harts one which by the drawing forth of a Serpent out of her hole The seuerall kinds of harts doth presently kill her by stamping hir vnder feet this eateth that Serpent and runneth to springing Water after that he feeleth the poyson to make his body swell and then by drinking doth vomit forth the poyson and in the meane time looseth both haire and horne yet the Monkes of Mesaen affirme that the Hart thus poysoned doeth onely couer her body in the cold water and not drinke thereof for that were exitiall vnto her but she sendeth forth certaine teares which are turned into a stone called Bezahar of which shal be more said heereafter The other kind of Harts when hee findeth a Serpent killeth it and doeth not eate it and immediately after the victory returneth to feede in the Mountaines Harts are opposed by Wolues The enemy beastes to Harts for many Wolues together doth ouercome a Hart and therefore it is but a fable of Strabo that the Wolues and harts liue tame together in the Woodes of the Veneti These kind of Wolues are called Thoes and they especially feare these Wolues when they haue lost their hornes and feede onely in the night season Vincentius which caused Ouid to write thus Visa fugit nymphe veluti perterrita fuluum Cerua lupum c. They are afraid also of the first and second kinde of Eagles for with their winges they raise much dust about the Harts Albertus and then they being halfe blind the Eagles pal out their eies or else so beate their feathers about their faces that they hinder their sight and cause them to fall downe headlong from the Mountaines Aristotle Of the feare of harts they feare also the ganning of Foxes and the Lynxes doe likewise lye in waite to hurt them These are aboue al other fourefooted Beastes both ingenious and fearefull who although they haue large hornes yet their defence against other foure-footed Beastes is to runne away For this cause in auncient time a fugitiue Boy or seruant was called a Hart and if he ran away twice Cantharion which Cantharion was a Spartan fugitiue that first ran to the enemy and afterward from them came backe againe to Sparta Câ—â—â—tus Nebendiâ—us And Martiall thus descibeth Alchaeus who being ouercome by Phillip King of Macedon ran away like a Hart Trux spiritus ille philippi Ceruorum cursu praepete lapsus abit The epithets of a Hart. The Epithets expressing the qualities of this Beast are many as nimble or agile winged or swift-paced ful of yeares quick-footed horned wandering fearefull flying fugitiue A kind of audaâ—ions harts Schneberg light wood-hunter wilde and liuely There are of them very audations for they will set vpon men as they trauaile through the Woods and it is obserued that the wrathfull Hart hath few bunches on his horne neither is it so long as others but bunched at the roote Pliny yet all of them being pressed with dogs or other wilde beasts will flye vnto a man for succor It is reported by Phillip Melauchton that in Locha a towne of Saxony there was a Hart which before rutting time would euery yeare leape ouer the Walles and runne ouer rocks and Mountaines The subtilty of a Hart their instruction and vse and yet returne home againe vntill the time that Duke Fredericke dyed and then the Hart went forth but neuer returned againe The male when he feeleth himselfe fat liueth solitary and secret because he knoweth the weight of his body will easily betray him to the hunters if he be hunted and pursued The female commonly calueth neere the high wayes of purpose to auoyde noysome beasts to her young one who doe more auoide the sight of man then her selfe Also it is reported that Mithredates had a Bull Aristotle a Horsse and a Hart for his guard beside men who would not be bribed to suffer Traytors to kill him being a sleepe Moreouer it is saide of Ptolaemeus Philadelphe that hauing a hinde calfe giuen vnto him he brought it vp so familiarly tame and accustomed it to words Isidorus The seuerall kinds of harts a secret against
will a Dogs and a lambes Aelianus thinketh that Dogges haue reason The reason of Dogges vse logick in their hunting for they will cast about for the game as a disputant doth for the truth as if they should say either the Hare is gone on the left hand or on the right hand or straight forward but not on the left or right hand and therefore straight forward Whereupon he runneth foorth right after the true and infallible fooote-steps of the Hare There was a Dogge in Affrica in a ship which in the absence of the Mariners came to a pitcher of oyle to eate some of it and the mouth of the pot being too narrow for his head to enter in because the pot was not full he deuised to cast flint stones into the vessel whereby the Oyle rose to the top of the pitcher and so he eate thereof his fill giuing euident testimony thereby that he discerned by nature that heauy thinges will sinke downe and light thinges will rise vp and flye aloft There is a Nation of people in Ethiopia called Nubae which haue a Dogge in such admirable estimation that they giue vnto him the honor of their King Solinus Aelianus Pliny Giraldus The honor done to dogs for they haue no other king but he If he faune they take him for well pleased if he barke or fly vpon them they take him for angry and by his gestures and moouings they coniecture his meaning for the gouerment of their state giuing as ready obedience to his significations as they can to any liuely speaking Prince of the world for which cause the Egyptians also picture a Dogge with a kings robe to signifie a magistrate Those people of Egypt also obserue in their religious processions and gesticulations dumble-idle-gods to carry about with them two Dogs one Hawke and one Ibis and these they cal foure leters by the two Dogs they signifie the two Hoemishpheres which continually watch and goe ouer our heads by the Hawke the sunne for the Hawke is a whot creature and liueth vpon destruction by the Ibis the face of the Moone for they compare the blacke feathers in this bird to hir darke part and the white to her light Other by the Dogges do vnderstand the two Tropicks which are as it were the two porters of the sunne for the South and North by the Hawke they vnderstand the equinoctiall or burning line because she flyeth high by the Ibis the Zodiacke and indeede those painters which could moste aritificially decipher a Dog as Nicias were greatly reuerenced among the Egyptians The like folly or impious beastlinesse was that of Galba who forsooke the presidents of his predecessors in stamping their coine with their owne image and imprinted thereupon his sealing ring Coelius left him by his forefathers wherein was engrauen a dog bending vpon his female I know not for what cause the starre in the midst of heauen whereunto the sunne commeth about the Calends of Iuly was tearmed Canis a Dogge and the whole time of the appearance of that starre which is about thirty daies should bee called Dog daies but onely because then the heate of the Sunne dooth torment the bodyes of men twice so much as at other times whereupon they attribute that to the starre which they call Sirius which rather is to be attributed to the Sun during that time euery yeare Others fable Varinus that there is another starre close to him called Orion who was an excellent hunter and after his death was placed among the starres and the starre Canis beside him was his hunting dogge but by this starre called of the Egyptians Solachin and of the Graecians Astrocynon Hesychius Arnobius commeth that Egyptian Cynicke yeare which is accomplished but once in a 1460. yeares Vnto this starre were offered many sacrifices of Dogges in auncient time whereof there can be no cause in the World as Ouid well noteth in these verses Pro cane sidereo canis hic imponitur arae Et quare fiat nil nisi nomen habet As among the Carians whereupon came the prouerbe of Caricum Sacrificium for they sacrified a Dog in stead of a Goate Pliny and the young Puppyes or Whelpes were also accounted among the most auaileable sacrifices for the pacifing of their idoll Gods The Romans and Graecians had also a custom to sacrifice a Dog in their Lycaan and Lupercall feastes which were kept for the honor of Pan who defended their flocks from the Wolfe Plutarch and this was performed in February yearely either because that the Dogs were enimies to Wolues or else for that by their barking they draw them away in the night time from their Citty or else because they reckoned that a dogge was a pleasing beast to Pan who was the keeper of Goats so also the Graecians did offer a dog to Hecata who hath three heads one of a Horse another of a dogge and the third head in the midst of a wilde man and the Romans to Genetha for the safe custody and welfare of all their houshold affayres Their houshold Gods called Lares were pictured and declared to the people sitting in Dogs-skinnes and Dogges sitting beside them eyther because they thereby signified their duty to defend the house and houshold or else as Dogges are terrors to theeues and euill beasts so these by their assistance were the punishers of wicked and euill persons or rather that these Lares were wicked spirits pryeng into the affayres of euery priuate houshold Pâ—stus Coelius whom God vsed as executioners of his wrathful displeasure vpon godlesse men There were Dogges sacred in the Temple of Aesculapius because he was nourished by their milke and Iupiter himselfe was called Cynegetes that is a Dogge-leader because he taught the Arcadians first of all to hunt away noysome beasts by the helpe of Dogges so also they sacrificed a Dogge to Mars because of the boldnesse of that creature To conclude such was the vnmemorable vanity of the Heathens in theyr goddes and sacrifices as it rather deserueth perpetuall obliuion then remembrance Arnobius Gyraldus for they ioyned the shapes of men and Beastes togither saith Arnobius to make Goddes Omnigenumque deum monstra latrator Anubis such were theyr Cynocephali Ophiocephali Anubis Hecata that is as much to say as halfe men halfe Dogges halfe Serpents but generally all Monsters and for the many imaginary virtues the ancients haue dreamed to be in Dogs they also in many places haue giuen vnto them solemne funerals in their hallowed Coemiteries after they were dead they ceased not to magnifie them as Alexander Of dishonor and ignobility of Dogs which built a City for the honor of a Dog All this notwithstanding many learned and wise men in al ages haue rekconed a Dogge but a base and an impudent creature for the Flamen Dialis of Iupiter in Rome was commaunded to abstaine from touching of Dogges for the same reason that they were prohibited not permitted to
enter into the castle of Athens Isle of Delos bycause of their publique and shamelesse copulation and also that no man might be terrified by their presence from supplication in the temples The foolishnesse of a Dogge appeareth in this that when a stone or other thing is cast at him he followeth the stone and neglecteth the hand that threw it according to the saying of the Poet Marcellus Arripit vt lapidem catulus morsuque fatigat Nec precussori mutua damna facit Sic plerique sinunt reros clabier hostes Et quos nulla grauant noxia dente petant Likewise men of impudent wits shamlesse behauiors in taking and eating meat were called Cynicks for which cause Athenaeus speaketh vnto Cynicks in this sort You do not O Cynici leade abstinent and frugall liues but resemble Dogges and whereas this foure-footed beast differeth from other creatures in foure things Porphyrius you only follow him in his viler and baser qualities that is in barking and license of railing in voracity and nudity without all commendation of men The impudency of a Dogge is eminent in all cases to be vnderstood Homer Horace for which cause that audatious Aristogiton sonne of Cidimachus was called a Dogge and the furies of ancient time were figured by blacke Dogges and a Dog was called Erinnis Cerberus himselfe with his three heads signified the multiplicity of Diuels that is a Lyons a Wolfes and a fawning Dogges one for the earth another for the Water and the thirde for the aire for which cause Hercules in slaying Cerberus is said to haue ouercome all temptation vice and wickednesse for so did his three heads signifie other by the three heads vnderstand the three times by the Lyon the time present by the wolfe the time past and by the fawning Dog the time to come It is deliuered by authors that the roote of Oliander or else a Dogs tooth bound about the arme do restraine the fury and rage of a Dogge also there is a certain litle bone in the left side of a Toade called Apocynon for the vertue it hath in it against the violence of a Dogge It is reported by Pliny that if a liue Rat be put into the pottage of Dogges after they haue eaten thereof they will neuer barke any more and Aelianus affirmeth so much of the Weasils taile cut off from him aliue and carried about a man also if one carry about him a Dogges hart or Lyuer Constantius or the skinne wherin Puppies lye in their dams belly called the Secundine the like effect or operation is attributed to them against the violence of dogs There is a little blacke stone in Nylus about the bignesse of a Beane at first sight whereof a dog wil run away Such as these I saw at Lyons in France which they called Sea-beanes Stobaeus and they prescribed them to be hanged about a Nurses necke to encrease her milke but to conclude the discourse of the basenesse of a Dogge those two prouerbes of holy Scripture one of our Sauiour Mat. 7. Giue not that which is holy to Dogs and the other of Saint Peter 2. Epistle Cap. 2. the Dogge is returned to the vomit doe sufficiently conuince that they are emblems of vile cursed rayling and filthy men The vse of their parts which esteeme not holy things but eate vp againe their owne vomits The skinnes of Dogges are dressed for gloues and close Bootes the which are vsed by such as haue vlcerous and swelling Legges or Limbes for by them the aflicted place receiueth a double reliefe first it resisteth the influent humors and secondly Blondus it is not exasperated with Woollen The Turkes colour their Dogs tailes withred and it is a custom of Hunters to take Dogges and tie them in the Woods vnto trees by their stones for by crying they prouoke the Panther to come vnto them It is not to be doubted but that the flesh of dogges is vsed for meate in many places although the opinion of Rasis be true and consonant to reason that all deuouring Creatures as Dogges Foxes and Wolues haue no good flesh for meate bycause they engender melancholy and yet Galen thinketh that it is like to the flesh of a Hare especially young Whelpes were held amonge the Romanes a delicate meate and were vsed by their priestes and amonge Whelpes they attrybuted most vertue to their flesh which were eaten before they did see Oppianus The flesh of Dogs eaten for by them came no euill humor at al as is often set down in Plautus Instaurionâ— Peter Martir and Scaliger doe affirme of Cozumella and Lucatana and other Islands of the new World that the people there doe eate a kind of Dogge which cannot barke These Dogges are vile to looke vpon like young Kyds The inhabitants of Corsica which are fierce angry Wilde cruell audatious dissemblers actiue and strong do also seede vpon Dogges both wilde and tame and it is thought that their meate is a little furtherance to their inclination for such is the naturall disposition of Dogs and Sciltbergerus in the booke of peregrinations affirmeth also that the Tartarians in Ibissibur doe after the same manner feede vpon the flesh of Dogges from hence it commeth that men resemling a Dog in a plaine forhead and narrow are said to be foolish in a smooth and stretched out flatterers those which haue great voyces like a Ban-dog are strong they which raile much like often barking Dogges are of a doggish angry disposition He which hath a great head like a Dog is witty Admantius hee which hath a little head like an Asses is blockish they which haue fiery eyes like Dogs are impudent and shamelesse Thinne lips with narrow folding corners in Dogs is a token of generosity and in men of magnanimity they whose lippes hange ouer their canine teeth are also adiudged raylers and virulent speakers and as Carnarius obserueth vaine glorious braggarts A wide mouth betokeneth a cruell madde and wicked disposition a sharpe nose an angry mind as a round blunt and solide Nose signifieth a Lyons stomach and worthinesse A sharpe chin vaine babling and wantonnesse they which are small in their girting steade about their Ioynes doe much loue hunting Stobaeus in his wicked discourse or dispraise of women affirmeth that the curst sharp smart curious daynty clamorous implacable and wanton-rowling-eyed Women were deriued from Dogges and Hesiode to amend the matter saith when Iupiter had fashioned man out of the earth he commaunded Mercury to infuse into him a Canine minde and a clamorous inclination but the Prouerbe of Salomon Cap. 30. concludeth the excellency of a Dog saying There be three things which goe pleasantly and the fourth ordereth his pace aright The Lyon which is the strongest among Beastes and feareth not the sight of any body Munsterus a hunting Dog strong in his loynes a Goate and a King against whom there is no rysing vp by all which is deciphered a good
The vertue of smelling called in Latine Sagacitas is attributed to these as to the former hunting Hound of whom we will first of all discourse and for the qualities of this sence which maketh the Beast admirable Plautus seemeth to be of opinion that it receiued this title from some Magitians or sage wisards called Sagae for this he saith in Cureull What smelling or sagacity in Dogs is speaking of this beast Canem hanc esse quidem Magis par fuit nasum aedepoll sagax habet It is also attributed to Mise not for smelling but for the sence of their palate or tast and also to Geese In a Dogge it is that sence which searcheth out and descryeth the roustes fourmes and lodgings of Wilde Beasts as appeareth in this verse of Liuius Andronicus Cumprimis fida canum vis Dirige odoriesquos ad certa cubilia canes And for this cause it hath his proper Epithets as Odora canum vise promissa canum vis naribus acres vtilis Pincianus called this kind Plaudi for so did Festus before him and the Germans Spurhund and Leidthund Iaghund because their eares are long thin and hanging down and they differ not from vulgar dogs in any other outward proportion except onely in their cry or barking voice The nature of these is being set on by the voice and Words of their leader to cast about for the sitting of the Beast and so hauing found it with continuall cry to follow after it till it be wearied without changing for any other so that sometime the hunters themselues take vp the beast at least wise the hounds sildome faile to kil it They sildome barke Bellâ—sariâ— except in their hunting chase and then they follow their game throgh woods thickets thornes and other difficult places being alway obedient and attentiue to their leaders voice so as they may not goe forward when he forbiddeth nor yet remayne neere to the Hunters whereunto they are framed by Art and discipline rather then by any naturall instinct The White Houndes are said to be the quickest-sented and surest nosed and therefore best for the Hare the blacke ones for the Boare and the red ones for the Hart and Roe but heereunto I cannot agree because their colour especially of the two later are too like the game they hunt although there can be nothing certaine collected of their colour yet is the blacke hound harder and better able to endure cold then the other which is white In Italy they make account of the spotted one especially white and yellowish for they are quicker nosed they must be kept tyed vp till they hunt yet so as they be let loose now and then a little to ease their bellies for it is necessary that their kennell be kept sweete and dry It is questionable how to discerne a hound of excellent sence yet as Blondus saith the square and flat Nose is the best signe and index thereof likewise a small head The choyce of a hound of the best nose hauing all his Legs of equall length his brest not deeper then the belly and his backe plaine to his taile his eies quicke his eares long hanging but sometime stand vp his taile nimble and the beake of his Nose alway to the earth and especially such as are most silent or bark least There are some of that nature who when they haue found the beast they will stand still vntill their Hunter come to whom in silence by their face eie and taile Zenophon Omni bonus Oppianus they shew their game Now you are to obserue the diuers and variable disposition of Houndes in their findidg out the beast some when they haue found the footesteps goe forward without any voice or other shew of eare or taile Againe another sort when they haue found the footings of the beast pricke vp their eare a little but either barke or wag their tailes other will wag their taile but not moue their eares other again wring their faces and draw their skins through ouer much intention like sorrowfull persons and so follow the sent holding the taile immoueable There be some againe which do none of these but wander vp and down barking about the surest markes and confounding their own foot steps with the beastes they hunt or else forsake the way and so runne backe againe to the first heade but when they see the Hare they tremble and are affraid not daring to come neare her except she runne away first these with the other which hinder the cunning labors of their colleagues trusting to their feet and running before their betters deface the best marke or else hunt counter as they terme it take vp any false scent for the truth or which is more reprehensible neuer forsake the high waies and yet haue not learned to hold their peace vnto these also you may adde those which cannot discerne the footings or prickings of the Hare yet will they runne speedily when they see her or else at the beginning set forth very hot and afterward tyre and giue ouer lazily all these are not to be admitted into the kennell of good hounds But the good and aproued hounds on the contrary when they haue found the Hare make shew therof to the hunter by running more speedily and with gesture of head eyes ears and taile winding to the Hares muse neuer giue ouer prosecution with a gallant noise no not returning to their leaders least they loose aduantage these haue good and hard feet and are of stately stomacks not giuing ouer for any hate and feare not the rockes or other mountaine places as the Poet expresseth Quae laus prima canum quibus est audacia praeceps Quae nunc elatis rimantur naribus auras Et perdunt clamore feram domiunque vocando Insequitur tumulosque â—anis camposque per omnes Venandi sagax virtus viresque sequendi Et nunc demisso quaerunt vestigia rostro Increpitant quem si collatis effugit armis Noster in arte labor positus spes omnius in illa c. And therefore also it is good oftentimes to lead the hounds to the mountaines for exercise of their feet when you haue no Hare or other beast And whereas the nature of this Hare is sometimes to leape and make headings sometime to tread sofâ—ly without any great impression in the earth or sometimes to lie downe and euer to leape or iumpe out and in to hir owne forme or sitting the poore hound is so much the more busied and troubled to retaine the small sauour of her footings which she leaueth behind her for this cause also it is to be noted that the hound must be holpe noâ— onely with the voyce â—he best 〈◊〉 oâ— hunting eye and hand of the hunter but also with a seasonable time for in frosty weather the sauour congealeth and freezeth with the earth so as you cannot hunt with any certainty vntil a thaw thereof or till the sunne arise Likewise if raine fall
much as it seemeth worthely and wisely written by Aelianus in his sixt Booke and xxxix Chapter To enthumaticon kai dialecticon to be as it were naturally instylled into these kinde of dogges For they will not pause or breath from their pursute vntil such time as they be apprehended and taken which committed the fact The owners of such houndes vse to keepe them in close and darke channels in the day time and let them loose at liberty in the night season to the intent that they might with more courage and boldnesse practise to follow the fellon in the euening and solitary hours of darkenesse when such ill disposed varlots are principally purposed to play their impudent pageants and imprudent pranks These hounds vpon whom this present portion of our treatise runneth when they are to follow such fellowes as we haue before rehearsed vse not that liberty to raunge at will which they haue otherwise when they are in game except vpon necessary occasion whereon dependeth an vrgent and effectuall perswasion when such purloyners make speedy way in flight but being restrained and drawne backe from running at randon with the leame the end whereof the owner holding in his hand is led guyded and directed with such swiftnesse and slownesse whether he goe on foote or whether he ride on horsebacke as he himselfe in heart would wish for the more easie apprehension of these venturous varlots In the borders of England and Scotland the often and accustomed stealing of cattell so procuring these kind of Dogges are very much vsed and they are taught and trayned vp first of all to hunt cattel as well of the smaller as of the greater grouth and afterwardes that quality relinquished and lefte they are learned to pursue such pestilent persons as plant their pleasure in such practises of purloyning as we haue already declared Of this kind there is none that taketh the Water naturally except it please you so to suppose of them which follow the Otter which sometimes haunt the land and sometime vseth the water And yet neuertheles al the kind of them boyling and broyling with greedy desire of the prey which by swimming passeth through ryuer and flood plunge amyds the water and passe the streame with their pawes But this property proceedeth from an earnest desire wherewith they be inflamed rather then from any inclination issuyng from the ordinance and appointment of nature And albeit some of this sort in English be called Brache in Scottish Rache the cause herof resteth in the she-sex and not in the generall kind For we English men call Bitches belonging to the hunting kind of Dogs by the tearme aboue mentioned To be short it is proper to the nature of houndes some to keepe silence in hunting vntill such time as there is game offered Other some so soone as they smell out the place where the beast lurketh to bewray it immediately by their importunate barking notwithstanding it be far many furlongs of cowching close in his cabbin And these Dogs the younger they be the more wantonly barke they and the more liberally yet oftentimes without necessity so that in them by reason of their young yeares and want of practise small certainty is to be reposed For continuance of time and experience in game ministreth to these hounds not onely cunning in running but also as in the rest an assured foresight what is to be done principally being acquainted with their maisters watchwords either in reuoking or imboldening them to serue the game Of the Dogges called the Gasehound in Latine Agasaeus THis kinde of Dog which pursueth by the eye preuaileth little or neuer a whit by any benefite of the nose that is by smelling but excelleth in perspicuity and sharpenesse of sight altogether by the vertue whereof being singuler and notable it hunteth the Foxe and the Hare This Dogge will choose and separate any beast from among a great flocke or heard and such a one will it take by election as is not lancke leane and hollow but well spred smooth full fat and round it followes by direction of the eye-sight which indeede is cleere constant and not vncertaine if a beast be wounded go astray the dog seeketh after it by the steadfastnes of the eie if it chance peraduenture to returne and be mingled with the residue of the flocke this Dog spyeth it out by the vertue of his eye leauing the rest of the cattell vntouched and after he hath set sure sight vpon it he seperateth it from among the company and hauing so done neuer ceaseth vntill he haue wearyed the Beast to death Our countrey men cal this Dog Agasaeum A gase-hound because the beames of his sight are so stedfastly setled and vnmoueably fastned These Dogs are much and vsually occupied in the Northern parts of England more then in the Southern parts in feeldy lands rather then in bushy and woody places horsemen vse them more then footmen to the intent that they might prouoke their horses to a swift gallop wherewith they are more delighted then with the prey it selfe that they might acustome their horse to leap ouer hedges and ditches without stop or stumble without harme or hazard without doubt or danger and to escape with safegard of life And to the end that the riders themselues when necessity so constrained and the feare of further mischiefe inforced might saue themselues vndamnified and preuent each perillous tempest by preparing speedy flight or else by swift pursute made vpon their enimies might both ouertake them encounter with them and make a slaughter of them accordingly But if it fortune so at any time that this dog take a wrong way the maister making some vsuall signe and familiar token hee returneth forthwith taketh the right and ready trace begining his chase afresh with a cleare voice and a swift foot followeth the game with as much corage and nimblenes as he did at the first Of the Dogge called the Grey-hound in Latine Leporarius WE haue another kind of dog which for his incredible swiftnes is called Leporarius a Grey-hound because the principall seruice of them dependeth and consisteth in starting and hunting the Hare which Dogs likewise are indued with no lesse strength then lightnes in maintenance of the game in seruing the chase in taking the Bucke the Hart the Doe the Fox and other beasts of semblable kind ordaind for the game of hunting But more or lesse each one according to the measure and proportion of their desire and as might and hability of their bodies will permit and suffer For it is a spare and bare kind of Dog of flesh but not of bone some are of a greater sort and some of a lesser some are smooth skinned and some are curled the bigger therefore are appointed to hunt the bigger Beasts and the smaller serue to hunt the smaller accordingly The nature of the Dogges I finde to be wonderfull by the testimony of all histories For as Iohn Froisart the
lye a certaine humour commeth foorth like a gall Wherefore Aelianus sayth he hath his gall in his maw-gutte which is so full of sinewes that one would thinke he had foure bellies in this receiueth he his meate hauing no other receptacle for it his intralles are like vnto a Swines but much greater His Liuer foure times so greate as an Oxes and so all the residue excepte the Melte he hath two pappes a little beside his breast vnder his shoulders and not betweene his hinder legges or loynes they are very small and cannot be seene on the side Aristotle The reasons hereof are giuen first that he hath but two pappes because he bringeth forth but one at a time and they stand vnder his shoulders like an Apes because hee hath no hoofes but distinct feet like a mannes and also bicause from the breaste floweth more aboundance of milke The genitall parte is like a Horses but lesser then the proportion of his bodie affoordeth the stones are not outwardly seene because they cleaue to his raines But the Female hath her genitall betwixte her thighes the forlegges are much longer then the hinder legges and the feet be greater His legges are of equall quantity both aboue and beneathe the knees and it hath anckle bones verie lowe The articles doe not ascende so high as in other creatures but kept low neere the earth He bendeth his hinder legs like a mans when he sitteth but by reason of his great waight hee is not able to bend on both sides together 〈◊〉 Gillâ—â—s but either leaneth to the right hand or to the left and so sleepeth It is false that they haue no ioynts or articles in their legs for when they please they can vse bend and moue them but after they grow old they vse not to lie downe or straine them by reason of their great weight but take their rest leaning to a tree and if they did not bend their legs they could neuer go any ordinary and stayed pace Their feet are round like a horsses but so as they reach from the middle euery way two spans length and are as broad as a bushell hauing fiue distinct toes vpon each foot the which toes are very little clouen to the intent that the foot may be stronger and yet parted that when he treadeth vppon soft grounde the weyght of his body presse not downe the legge to deepe Hee hath no nailes vpon his toes his taile is like an Oxes taile hauing a little haire at the end and the residue thereof peeled and without haire He hath not any bristly hairs to couer his back and thus much for their seuerall parts and their vses their inward natural parts There is not any creature so capable of vnderstanding as an Elephant and therefore it is requisite to tarry somewhat the longer in expressing the seuerall properties and naturall qualities thereof which sundry and variable inclinations cannot choose but bring great delight to the reader They haue a wonderfull loue to their owne Countrey so as although they be neuer so well delighted with diuers meats and ioyes in other places yet in memory thereof they send forth teares Aelianus Tzetzes The Places of their abod and they loue also the waters riuers and marishes so as they are not vnfitly called Riparij such as liue by the riuers sides although they cannot swim by reason of their great and heauy bodies vntill they be taught Also they neuer liue solitary but in great flocks except they be sicke or watch their yong ones and for either of these they remaine aduenturous vnto death Pliny the eldest leadeth the herd and the second driueth them forward if they meet any man they giue him way and goe out of his sight Leo Afer Their voice is called by the word Barrire that is to bray and thereupon the Elephants themselus are called Barri Festus Philomelae avthor for his voice commeth out of his mouth and nostrils togither like as when a man speaketh breathing wherefore Aristotle calleth it rawcity or hoarsnes like the low sound of a Trumpet this sound is verie terrible in battailes as shall be afterward declared They liue vpon the fruits of plants and rootes and with their truncks and heads ouerthrow the tops of trees The meat of wilde Eleph Pliny Solinus and eat the boughes and bodies of them and many times vpon the leaues of trees he deuoureth Chamaeleons whereby he is poisoned and dieth if hee eat not immediately a wilde Oliue They eat earth often without harme but if they eat it sildome it is hurtfull and procureth paine in their bâ—lâ—ies so also they eat stones They are so louing to their fellowes that they will not eat their meat alone but hauing found a prey they go and inuite the residue to their feastes and cheere more like to reasonable ciuill men Aelianus Hermolaus then vnreasonable brute beasts There are certaine noble melons in Aethiopia which the Elephants being sharpe-smelling-beastes do winde a great way off and by the conduct of their noses come to those Gardens of Melons and there eat and deuour them When they are tamed they will eate Barlie either whole or grounde of whole at one time is giuen them nine Macedonian Bushels but of meale six and of drinke eyther wine or water thirty Macedonian pintes at a time that is fourteen gallons but this is obserued that they drinke not wine except in warre when they are to fight but water at all times whereof they will not tast except it be muddy and not cleare for they auoid cleare water Aelianus Simocratus A secret Pliny loathing to see their owne shaddow therein and therefore when the Indians are to passe the water with their Elephants they choose darke and cloudy nightes wherein the moone affordeth no light If they perceiue but a mouse run ouer their meat they will not eat thereof for there is in them a great hatred of this creature Also they wil eat dryed Figges Grapes Onions Bulrushes Palmes and Iuy leaues There is a Region in India called Phalacrus A secret in a countrey of India which signifieth Balde because of an herbe growing therein which causeth euery liuing thing that eateth therof to loose both horn and haire and therefore no man can be more industrious or warie to auoide those places then is an Elephant and to beare euery greene thing growing in that place when he passeth thorough it Aelianus It will forbeare drinke eight daies together and drinke wine to drunkennesse like an Ape It is delighted aboue measure with sweet sauours oyntments and smelling flowers for which cause their keepes will in the Summer time lead them into the medowes of flowers where they of themselues will by the quicknes of their smelling Their loue to sweet flowers Aelianus chuse out and gather the sweetest flowers and put them into a basket if their keeper haue any which being filled like daintie and neat men they
already are manifested to accompany a mad Dog and that more often in Summer then in winter Albertus Albert. Liber Aetius When a Foxe feeleth himselfe sicke nature hath taught him to eate the gum of Pine-trees wherewithall he is not onely cured but also receiueth length of daies They are also vexed with the falling away of their haire called therefore Alopecia because Foxes are most commonly vexed therewith and as we see in plantes that some of them drye and consume through want of moysture to feede them other are suffocated and choaked by aboundance and as it were drowned in humidity so it happeneth in haire which groweth out of the body of beastes and the heades of men no otherwise then plants out of the earth and are therefore to be nourished by humours which if they faile and waxe drye the haire also shorteneth with them and as it were rotteth away in length but if they abound and ouerflowe then do they loosen the rootes of the haire and cause them to fall off totally This disease is called Alopecia and the other Ophiasis because it is not generall but only particular in one member or part of the body or head there it windeth or indenteth like a Serpents figure Mychaell Ferus affirmeth that sometime the liuer of the Foxe inflameth and then it is not cured but by the vlcerous blood flowing to the skin and that euill blood causeth the Alopecia or falling away of the haire for which cause as is already said a Foxes skin is little worth that is taken in the summer time The length of the life of a Foxe is not certainely knowen yet as Stumpsius and others affirme The length of their life it is longer then the life of a Dog If the vrine of a Foxe fall vpon the grasse or other Herbs it drieth and killeth them and the earth remaineth barren euer afterward The sauour of a Foxe is more strong then of any other vulgar beast he stincketh at Nose and taile Varinus for which cause Martiall calleth it Olidam Vulpem an Olent or smelling beast Hic olidam clamosus ages in retia vulpem Touching the hunting or taking of Foxes I approue the opinion of Xenophon who auoucheth The hunting and taking of Foxes leporum capturam venatico studia quam vulpium digniorem that is the Hunting of the Hare is a more noble game or pastime then the hunting of the Foxe This beast is more fearefull of a Dogge then a Hare for the onely barking of Dogges causeth him to rise many times from his denne or lodgings out of the earth or from the middle of bushes Aelianus briars and brambles wherein he hid himselfe and for his hunting this is to be obserued Oppianus that as in hunting of a Hart it hath beene already related the Hunter must driue the beast with the winde because it hindereth his refrigeration so in hunting of a Foxe he driue him againe the winde and then he preuenteth all his crafty and subtill agitations and diuises for it stayeth his speede in running and also keepeth his sauour fresh alway in the Nose of the Dogs that follow him Dellisarius for the Dogges that kill a Fox must be swifte stronge and quicke sented and it is not good to put on a few at once but a good company together for be assured the Foxe will not loose his owne blood till hee hazzard some of his enemies and with his taile which he windeth euery way doth hee delude the hunters when the Dogs are pressed neere vnto him and are ready to bite him Textâ—r he striketh his taile betwixt his Legs and with his owne vrine wetteth the same and so instantly striketh it into the dogs mouths whereof when they haue tasted so many of them as it touched will commonly leaue off and follow no farther Their teeth are exceeding sharp and therefore they feare not to assault or contend with beasts exceeding their stature strength and quantity Somtime he leapeth vp into a tree and there standeth to be seene and bayed at by the Dogs and Hunters Oppianus like as a Champion in some fort or Castle and although fire be cast at him yet will he not discend down among the dogs yea he endureth to be beaten and pierced with Hunters speares but at length being compelled to forsake his holde and giue ouer to his enemies downe he leapeth falling vpon the crew of barking Dogs like a flash of lightning and where he layeth hold there he neuer looseth teeth or aswageth wrath til other dogs haue torne his limbs and driuen breath out of his body If at any time he take the earth then with Terriour dogges they ferret him out of his den againe In some places they take vpon them to take him with nets which sildome proueth because with his teeth he teareth them in pieces yet by Calentius this deuise is allowed in this verse Et laqueo Vulpes decipe casse foïnas But this must be wrought vnder the earth in the caues dennes or furrowes made of pur-which is to be performed two manner of waies one by placing the gin in some perch of Wood so as that assoone as the beast is taken by the Necke it may presently fly vp and hang him for otherwise with his teeth hee will sheare it asunder and escape away aliue or else that neere the place where the rope is fastened to slippe vppon the heade of the Foxe there bee placed some thicke collor or brace so as hee can neuer bite it asunder The French haue a kind of Ginne to take them by the Legges which they call Hausepied and I haue heard of some which haue found the Foxes Legge in the same Gin A noble instance of a Foxes coragâ— bitten off with his owne teeth from his body rather putting himselfe to that torment with his owne teeth then to expect the mercy of the Hunter and so went away vppon three feet and other haue counterfeited themselues dead restraining their breath and winking not stirring any member when they saw the Hunter come to take them out of the Ginne The subtlery of a Fox take in a snare who comming and taking his Legge forth not suspecting any life in them so soone as the Foxe perceiueth himselfe free away hee went and neuer gaue thankes for his deliuerance for this cause Blondus saith truely that onely wise and olde Hunters are fit to take Foxes for they haue so many deuises to beguile men and deliuer themselus that it is hard to know when he is safely taken vntill he be throughly dead They also vse to set vp Ginnes for them bayted with Chickens in Busnes and Hedges but if the setter be not at hand so soone as the Foxe is insnared it is daungerous but that the beast will deliuer it selfe In some places againe they set vp an iron toyle hauing in it a ring for the foxe to thrust in his head and through that sharpe pikes at
â—ellonius especially the marishes or land neere the waters for the steepe rocky mountaines they cannot endure Isidorus And these Cardan taketh for to be of the Weasill kind because the forme and disposition thereof especially to the tame and Domesticall Weasill and in Spaine they are cald Foinai Vincentius â—â—linac being blacke and ash-coloured distinguished and variably interlined with many spots Of the skinne The skinne smelt sweetly and somewhat like to a Mosk-cat and from Lyons in France they are brought into Germany three or foure of them being sold for a Noble It is very probable that it is a little kind of Panther or Leopard for there is a little Panther which hath such spots and besides of such a stature and harmeles disposition whose skin in olde time was pretiously vsed for Garments and the sauor thereof was very pleasant and therfore I superseed any further discourse heereof till we come to the declaration of the greater beast OF THE GOAT Male and Female The seueral names THe male or great Goat-Bucke is called in Haebrew Atud and the lesser Seir and Zeir The Chaldee translateth it Gen 13. Teias-iâ—ij and Numb 15 Ize the Arabians Teus and Maez the Persians Asteban and Busan the Graecian Tragos of deuouring or rauening in meat according to the verse Tragus ab Edendo quod grana fracta pane Also Chimaron and Enarchan the Latines Hircus and somtime Caper which word properly signifieth a gelded-goat as Martiall vseth it in this verse Dum iugulas hircum factus es ipse Caper The Italians Beccho the Germaines Bock and for distinction sake Geissbocke and Reechbock and Booeck the Spaniards Cabron the French Bouc the Illyrians Kozell The reason of the Latine word Hircus is deriued of Hirtus signifying rough by reason of the roughnes of their bodies And it is further to be vnderstoode that the generall kind of goats which the Latines distinguish by Hircus Capra and Hoedus that is by their sex or by their age the Haebrewes cal them singularly Ez and plurally Izim Numb 15 for a goat of a yeare old you shall read Izbethsch neth The Chaldee vseth also the general word Oza the Arabian Schaah the Persian Buz and whereas Leuit 16 Seir is put for Caper a gelded goate there the Chaldee rendereth it Zephirah the Arabians Atud and the Persian Buzgalaie And in the same chapter you shal read Azazel which Dauid Kimhi rendereth for the name of a mountaine nere Sinai where goats vse to feede and lodge and the Septuagints translate it Apopompaion signifying emission or sending away and for this cause I suppose that when the scape-goaâ— was by the priest sent out of the Temple hee went to that mountaine and therefore the word Azazel seemeth to be compounded of Ez a goat Azal Iuit that is he went for the scape-goat went carried away the euil The Graecians cal the female goat Aix which seemeth to be deriued of Ez the Haebrew word The Arabians Dakh and Metaham as I find in Autcen the Saracens An se the Italians Artumnus Peccho changing B. from the male into P. and the Spaniards Capron the French Cheure or Chieure the Germaines Geiss the Illyrians Koza and the Tuscanes at this day call a female goat Zebei And this may suffice for the names of both male and female Their nature is to be declared seuerally except in those thinges wherein they agree without difference and first of all the male is rightly termed Dux maritus Caprarum the guide and husband of the females and therefore Virgill saith of him not improperly Vir gregis ipse Caper The heeâ—goat is the husband of the flock and except in his genitals and horns he differeth not in any proportion or substance from the female His hornes are longer and stronger then are the females Their seuerall partt and therefore vpon prouocation he striketh through an ordinary peece of armor or shield at one blow his force and the sharpenes of his hornes are so pregâ—able He hath many attributes among the learned as left-sided aged The epithets of Goats greedy bearded swift long legged horne-bearer captaine of the flocke heauy rough hoarse-voiced rugged vnarmed vncleane strong-smelling lecherous bristleâ— wanderer vile wanton sharpe stinking two-horned and such like whereby his nature and qualities are so deciphered as it needeth no long treatise of explication There is no beast that is more prone and giuen to lust then is a Goate The venerious disposition of Goats for he ioyneth in copulation before all other beastes Seuen daies after it is yeaned and kiddened it beginneth and yealdeth seede although without proofe And seuen monthes old it engendereth to procreation and for this cause that it beginneth so soone it endeth at 5. yeares Aelianus and after that time is reckoned vnable to accomplish that worke of nature When the Egyptians wil describe fecundity or ability of generation they do it by picturing of a male Goate That which is most strange and horrible among other beastes is ordinary and common among these for in them scarce the Brother ioyneth with the Sister and a Camell can neuer he brought to couer his dam but among these the young ones being males Columella couer their mothers euen while they sucke hir milke If they be fat they are lesse venerous then being macilent or leane Herodotus declareth that in his time a Goat of Mendesia in Egypt had carnal copulation with a woman in the open sight of men and afterward was led about to be seene When they desire copulation they haue a proper voyce wherewithall as it seemeth they prouoke the female to loue This is called in Italy Biccari Biccarie which the Venetians apply to al lecherous companions as commonly as a prouerb and this they neuer vse but at that time By reason of his lust his eies sink deepe into the corners of their holes called Eirqui and Apuleius with other Grammarians do deriue the word Hircus wherby this beast is called from that disposition By drinking salt water they are made desirous and apt to procreation At that time they fight mutually one with another for their females and it is a terme among the late writers to call those men Hirci-Goats which are contented to permit other men to lye with their Wiues in publique before their owne faces for gaine Coelius because they imagine that such is the property of Goates But I know not with what reason they are moued heereunto for there is a memorable story to the contrary In Sibaris there was a young manne called Crathis which being not able to retaine lust but forsaken of God and giuen ouer to a reprobate sence A memorable story of the punishment of buggery committed buggery with a female Goate the which thing the maister Goate beheld and looked vpon and dissembled concealing his mind and iealousie for the pollution of his female Afterward finding the said young man a
vse of their seueral parts is singular and firste of al to beginne with their skinne the people of Sardinia as saith Nymphiderus nourish goates for their skinnes whereof they make 〈◊〉 garments being dressed with the haire vpon them and they affirme strange virtue in them namely that they heat their bodies in the Winter and coole them in the summer and the haires growing vppon those skinnes are a cubit long therefore the man that weareth them in Winter time turneth the hary side next to his bodie and so is warmed by it and in Summer the raw side and so the haire keepeth the sunne from piercing his skin and violence of heat And this also is vsuall in Sueuia where the women weare garments of Goats haire in the winter and also make their childrens coats thereof according to Virgils saying in Moreto Suidaâ— Varâ—â—us Et cinctus villosae tegmine Caprae For this cause the Merchants buy them rough in those parts of Sauoy neer Geneua and their choyse is of the young ones which die naturally or are kild or els such as were not aboue 2. years old The Tirians in the Persian war wore vpon their backes goat-skins In auncient time they made hereof Diphtera that was a kind of parchment wheron they wrote on both sides 〈◊〉 and had the name in Greeke from that vse which Hermolaus by a metaphorical allusion called Opistographi From the vse of these in garments came the apellation of harlots to be cald Pellices and a whores bag was called Penula-Scortea such a one is vsed by pilgrims which go to visit the church of Saint Iames of Calec and such Carriers or foote-poastes had wont to vse in their iournies which caused Martiall to write thus Ingrediare viam coelo licet vsque sereno An subitas nusquam scortea depit aquas The Sandals which men were wont to weare on their feete in the East Countries were also made of Goats skins and there was a custome in Athens that men for honour of Bacchus did dance vpon certain bottels made of Goats skins and ful of wind the which were placed in the middest of the Theatre and the dauncer was to vse but one Leg to the intent that he might often fall from the slippery bottels and make the people sport wherevnto Virgill alluded this saying Plinyus Mollibus in pratis vnctos saliere pro vtres There is also a Ladanum tree in Carmania by the cutting of the barke whereof there yssueth forth a certaine gumme which they take and preserue in a Goats skin their vse in war wherein the Souldiers were wont to lie all winter and therefore we read that Claudius the Emperour had giuen him thirty tents of Goats skinnes for his Souldiers attendant vpon the iudges and the Marriners also by these defended themselues from the violence of stormes vpon the sea and so I leaue this part of the beast with remembrance of that which is written in holy scripture Heb. 11. that the people of God in ancient times did fly away from the rage of persecution being apparelled or rather meanely disguised in goat skins being charitably holped by the beastes that were cruelly put to death by wretched men In the next place the milke of Goats commeth to be considered for that also hath bin is and wil be of great account for Butter and Cheese which the writers call Tyropoeia The milke of Goates and Virgill celebrateth the singular commendation both of the Woll and of the milke in these verses Haec quoque non cura nobis leuiore tuenda Nec minor vsus erit quamuis Milesia magno Vellera mutentur Tyrios incocta rubores Deusior hinc soboles hinc largi copia lactis Quo magis exhausto spumauerit vbere mulctra Laeta magis pressis manabunt flumina manonis Nec minus interca barbas incanaque menta Cyniphij tondent hirei setasque comantes Vsus in Castrorum miseris velamina nautis Therfore their milk is profitable for Butter although inferior to a Cows yet equall to a sheepes and the heardsmen giue their goats salt before they be deliuered of their young To increase Goats milke Albertus for this maketh them abound in milke Others with Goats milke preserue their Wine from corruption by sowrenes first they put into their wine the twentyeth part so much as is of the Wine and so let it stand in the same vessell couered three or foure daies A secret in the milke of Goates Myrepsus afterward they turne it into a sweet and fresh vessell and so it remaineth preserued from all annoyance of sourenesse Cheeses made of Goats milke were wont to be called Velabrenses Casei because among the Romans they were made at Velabrum and that with smoke whereupon Martial made this Distichon Non quemcunque focum nec fumum caseus omnem Sed velabrensem qui bibit ipse sapit Aristotle and Iulius Pollux doe commend the Sicilian Cheese which was made of sheepe and Goats milke together and by Athaeneus it is called Caseus Tromilicus and by Simonides Stromilius In Rhaetia of Heluetia there are excellent Cheeses made of Goates milke and cow-mile mixed together The milke also of a Goat mixed to a womans milke is best for the nourishment of man because it is not too fat Hermolaus yet Galen saith if it be eaten without Hony water and salt it curdleth in the belly of a man like a cheese and strangleth him and being so vsed it purgeth the belly from thence came the fiction of the Poets that Iupiter was noursed by a Goate and that afterward in his warre against the Titanes or Giants he slew that Goate by the counsell of Themis and wore her skin for an armour and so hauing obtained victory placed the Goate among the stars wherupon she was called Aixourania a heauenly Goate and so Germanicus Caesar made this verse vpon him and Iupiter himselfe was called Agiochus Illa putatur Agioâ—hus Nutrix esse Iouis si vere Iupiter infans Vbera Cretae mulssit fidissima Caprae Sydere quae claro gratum testatur alumnum The flesh of male Goats is not wholsome for mans body but the flesh of a female in the spring and fall of the leafe Of the flesh of Goats by reason of the good nourishment may be eaten without danger They are worse then bul-beefe because they are sharper in concoction and hotter wherefore if they disgest not well they increase melancholy The liuer of a Goat being eaten doth bring the falling sicknesse yet being salted a good space and then sodde with Vine braunches or other such broad leaues to keepe them asunder and some wine poured into the water when they are almost sod they become very sweet and delicate meate and therefore the Athenians praised the Lacedemonians that in their feast which they called Copidae they slew a Goat and held it for a deuine meat Also Clitomachus an Academicke of Carthage relateth of a certaine Thebane
day whereupon he added action to his intent and filled his fielde with a thousand goates but the euent fell out otherwaies then he expected for in short time the multitude infected one another and so he lost both milke and flesh whereby it is apparant that it is not safe to feed great flocks of these cattell together In Indian in the Region Coitha the inhabitants giue their milch-goates dried fishes to eate but their ordinary foode is leaues tender braunches and boughes of trees and also bushes or brambles whereupon Virgill wrot in this mauner Pascuntur vero siluas summa Lycaei morentesque rubos amantes arctua dumos They loue to feede on the Mountaines better then in the vallies and greene fieldes alwaies striuing to licke vp the yuie or green plants or to climbe vpon trees cropping off with their teeth all maner wild herbs and if they be restrained and inclosed in fields then they doe the like to the plants that they find there wherefore there was an auncient law among the Romans when a man let out his ground to farme he should alwaies condition and except with the farmer that he should not breede any Goate in his ground for their teeth are enemies to all tender plantes their teeth are also exitiable to a tree and Pliny and Varro affirme that the Goate by licking the Oliue tree maketh it barren for which cause in ancient time A Goate was not sacrifized to Minerua to whom the Olyue was sacred There is no creature that feedeth vpon such diuersity of meat as Goats for which cause they are elegantly brought in by Eupolis the olde Poet bragging of theyr belly cheare wherein they number vp aboue fiue and twenty seueral things different in name nature and tast and for this cause Eustathius defended by strong argument against Disarius that men and cattell which feede vpon diuers things haue lesse health then those beasts which eate one kind of fruite alone They loue Tameriske Alderne Elme-tree assarabacke and a tree called Alaternus which neuer beareth fruit but only leaues also three leaued-grasse yuie the hearbe Lada which groweth no where but in Arabia whereby it commeth to passe that many times the haire of Goats is found in the gumbe called Ladanum for the peoples greedy desire of the gumbe causeth them to wipe the iuyce from the Goates beard For the increase of milke in them giue them Cinquefoyle fiue daies together before they drinke or else binde Dittany to their bellies or as Lacuna translateth the words out of Affricâ—nus you may lay milke to their bellies belike by rubbing it thereupon The wild Goats of Creete Aristotle eate dittany aforesaid against the stroks of Darts and Serapion auoucheth by the experience of Galen that goats by licking the leaues of Tamariske loose their gall and likewise that he saw them licking Serpents which had newly lost their skins and the euent therof was that their age neuer turned or changed into whitenesse or other externall signes thereof Also it is deliuered by good obseruation that if they eate or drinke out of vessels of Tamariske Constantinus they shal neuer haue any Spleen if any one of them eate Sea-holly the residue of the flocke stand still and will not goe â—orward till the meate be out of his mouth The Grammarians say that Chimâ—ra was killed by Bellerophon the son of Glaucus in the Mountain Lycius Aelianus and the reason heereof is that the Poets fained Chimaera to bee composed of a Lyon a Dragon and a Goate and in that mountaine all those three were kept and fed for in the top were Lions in the middle were Goats and also at the foot thereof Serpents If they suffer heate or cold they are much endaungered for such is their nature that they auoide all extremity and the females with younge are most of al molested with cold If they haue conceiued in the Wynter then many abortementes or casting their young followeth In like sort it hapneth if they eate Walnuts and not to their full vnripe therefore either they must be suffered to eate of them to saciety or else they are not to be permitted to them Dioscorides If at any time they eate Scammony Hellebore Lesseron or Mercury they are much troubled in their stomach and loose their milke especially the white Hellebor The publicans in the prouince of Cyrene haue all the gouernment of the pastures Pliny and therfore they permit not Benzwine to grow in their country finding thereby greate gaine and if at any time their sheepe or goats meete with any braunch thereof they eate it geedily but the sheepe immediatly fall to sleepe and the goates to Neezing Agolethros and Sabine are poyson to Goates The Herbe called in Greeke Rhododendron and may be englished Rose-tree is poyson goates and yet the same helpeth a man against the vemon of Serpents The prickle or spindle tree called also Euonimus which groweth in the Mount Occynius calâ—ed Ordyno about the bignesse of a pine-apple-tree hauing soft leaues like the same and it buddeâ—h in September and the flower is like to a white violet flower this killeth Goates except they be purged with black Hellebor imediately after they haue eaten thereof Horus The Egyptians when they wil describe a man deuouring sheepe or Goats they picture the herbe Curilago or Conyza because it also killeth them Also as Clodrysippus affirmeth they auoide Cumin for it maketh them mad or bringeth vpon them lethargies and such like infirmities He auoydeth also the spettle of man for it is hurtfull to him and to the Sea-fish Scolopendra and yet he eateth many venemous herbes and groweth fat thereby Aelianus and this also may be added that Goats grow fat when they are with young but by drinking of Honey they are weakened and indaungered of death Concerning their drinke it is necessary for a skilfull Goat-herd to obserue the nature of the beast and the best time and place of their watering according to the saying of Virgill Iâ—beâ— frondeâ—tia Capris Arbâ—ta sufficere fluuios prebere rerentes In the Summer they are to be watered twice a day and at other times once onely in the afternoone but it is reported of the Goats of Cephalenia Aristotle Myndius that they drinke not euery daie like other goats but onely once or twice in six moneths and therefore they turne themselues to the winde or cold aire of the sea and by gawning Aelianus sucke into their mouths or bellies that which serueth them instead of water When the sun declineth they lie and looke not vpon one another but on the contrary and they which lodge in the fields take vppe their rest among their acquaintance But if they be vsed to fold or house they remember it and repaire thither of their owne accord which thing caused the Poet to write in this maner Atque ipsae memores redeâ—ntin tecta suosque Ducunt graundâ— superaut vix vbere limen Concerning
their stables or houses to lodge in for their defence against the colde the diligent heard-man must obserue that nothing must be layed vnder the Goat to lie vpon and it is best to make his stable vpon stones or some such hard flower and the same must bee kept and turned drie euery day from annoyance of their dung for that hurteth their heads It is good to set the window of their stable to the Sun and from the wind Columella according to the counsell of Virgill Et stabula a ventis hyberno opponere soli Ad medium conuersa diem cum frigidus olim Iam cadit extremoque irrorat Aquarius anno Although goats be stronger then sheepe yet they are neuer so found for in buying and selling of them he was neuer accounted a wise man that either hoped to buy or promised to sell without fault It was sufficient in open market places when and where goats wer to be sold to promise Hodie capras recte esse bibere posse eas licite habere that is that the day of their sale they were well and could drinke and they were his owne and it was lawfull for him to haue them But farther no man was vrged for Archelaus sayth they are euer febricitante because their breath is whotter and their copulation more fiery and therefore their heardmen must not be vnprouided of good and sufficient medicine to helpe them and not onely against their naturall diseases but also their continual horn-wounds which they giue one another by their often fightings and also when they aspire to climb vpon steepe and cragy pointed rockes or trees they often fall and are wounded in such cases they haue no such Physitian as their keeper whose bagge and box must be as an Apothecaries shoppe to yeelde continuall remedies to all their agreeuances The best meanes to preserue them in health next to a good diet and warme lodging is to plant Alysson neere to their stabling houses And their continuall ague spoken of before is profitable to their body for when it departeth and leaueth them presently they perish and die Sheepe and Goats haue a natural foresight of the pestilence or murrain Florentinus of earthquakes and of wholesome temperate Weather and of aboundance and store of fruites but neither of both shall bee euer infested by the pestilence if you giue them the power of a Storkes Ventricle or mawe one spoonfull therof in Water euery day Quintilius And whereas all other kind of Cattell when they are sicke consume and pule away by little and little onely Goates perish suddenly insomuch as all that are sicke are vnrecouerable and the other of the flocke must be instantly let blood and separated before the infection ouerspread all and the reason of their sudden death is because of their aboundance of foode which ministerth speedy flaxe for the fire of their disease to burne At such times they must not feede all the day long but onely thrice or foure times a day be led forth to grasse and brought in againe to their stables If any other sicknesse annoy them they are to be cured with reede and the rootes of white Thorne beate together with yron Pestles and mingled with raine Water and so giuen to the Cattell to be drunke but if this medicine helpe not then either sell them away or else kill them and salt them till you minde to eate them Goates are not troubled with Lice or Nits but onely with Tickes There is a certaine Wine called Melampodion the report is that one Melampos a shepherd had it reuealed vnto him to cure the madnesse of a Goates it is made of blacke Ellebor and goats milke Goats are also molested and subiect to the falling sicknesse and this is knowne by their voyce and cold most braines Coelius and therefore the Roman priests were commaunded too abstaine from touching such beasts They are also troubled with the gowt the Female-goate easeth the paine of her eyes by pricking them vpon a Bul-rush and the Male-goate by pricking them vpon a Thorne and so pituitous matter followeth the pricke whereby the sight is recouered without any harme done to the Apple Aelianus and from hence it is supposed that the Physitians learned their Parakeutesis pricking of soâ—e eies with a needle The Females neuer winke in their sleepe being heerein like the Roe-buckes There are certaine birds called Capri-mulgi because of their sucking of Goates and when these or any of them haue sucked a Goate she presently falleth blinde If at any time she be troubled with the Dropsie Pliny an yssue must be made vnder her shoulder and when the humour is auoyded stop vp the hole with liquid pitch They drinke the seede of Seselis to make them haue an easie deliuerance of their younge and for that cause Columella prescribeth a pinte of sod corne and Wine to be infused into their throates in that extremity their other maladies being like vnto sheepe we will reserue their description and cure to that History Probus These Goates haue in auncient times beene vsed for sacrifices not onely by the Soueraigne commaunde of almightye God but also by the practise of Heathen people for their perfect sacrifice which consisted of a Ram a goate a Hog and a Bull was called Hecatombe and Tryttis The reason why Swine and goates were sacrificed among the heathen was because the Swine dig vp the earth with their Noses and rooted out the Corne they were sacrificed to Ceres and the Goates spoile the Vines by biting for which cause they sacrificed him to Bacchus that so the drunken God might bee pacified with the bloode of that Beaste whose hallowed grapes hee had deuoured Whereuppon the Poet Wryteth thus Sus dederat poenas exemplo territus horum Palmite debueras abstinuisse Caper Quem spectans aliquis dentes in vite permentem Talia non tacito dicta dolore dedit Rode caper vitem tamen hinc cum stabis adaras In tua quod spargi cornua possit erit When they sacrificed a goate in Graecia they tried him by giuing him Pease or cold water to drinke which if he refused they also refused him for sacrifice but if he tasted it they tooke and offered him Martiall hauing seene or rather heard of a Countrey priest sacrifising a goate and being assisted by a Countrey man when the beast was slaine the priest commaunded the poore countrey man to cutte off the stones Teter vt immunda carnis abiret odar to let the vnwholsome vapour of the vncleane flesh out of the body Afterward the priest being busie about the sacrifice and stooping downe to the carkeise of the beast his coddes appeared behinde him betwixt his legges the which when the countrey man saw hee suddenly cut them off with his sharpe knife thinking that the auncient ceremony of fasting required this to be done whereupon Martiall wrot this Epigram Sic modo qui Tuscus fueras nunc Gallus aruspeae Dum ingulas
which drinke the blood of this goat comming hot out of his body immediately after the wound giuen against that sicknes The fat milke of a wilde goat mingled together haue cured one long sick of the Ptisick The wilde goats of Creet being wounded with poysoned Dartes runne presently and eate of the hearbe Dittani by the vertue and iuice whereof they not onely auoid the arrow which sticketh in their skin but also death and cure the poyson OF THE KYD. HAuing formerly discoursed of seuerall kindes of Goates Of the name now it followeth that we should also intreat of the Kid which is the yssue of a Goat and first of the seuerall names therof It is called in Haebrew Egedi which because it signifieth also a Lambe they put vnto it Haissim and the plurall masculine is Gedaijm and the feminine Gedioth Gen. 35. where the Caldean translation hath Gadeia the Persian Bus-kahale or else Cahali busan for the Persians render Cahale for Sheter in Haebrew Busan for Issim The Septuagints render Erifon and vulgarly at this day the Grecians cal him Eriphoi but the truth is that Eriphoi are kids of three or foure months old and after that time vntill their procreation Varinus they are called Chimaroi the Latines cal him Hoedi ab edendo from eating as Isidorus saith for then their flesh is tender and fat and the tast therof pleasant The Italians call it Cauretto or Capretto and Ciauerello the Rhetians which speak Italian Vlzol the Spaniardes Cabrito the French Chereru the Germans Gitse or Kitslain the Polonians Koziel It was a question whether nature would finish her parts vpon a young one out of the dams belly wherefore a triall was made vpon a kid which neuer saw his dam for vpon a season a dissexion was made vpon a Female-goate great with young and out of her belly was her young one taken aliue so as it could neuer see the mother the same kid was put into a house where were many boales full of wine oyle milke and Hony and other lyquid thinges there also lay beside him diuers kindes of fruits both of the vine of corne and of plants at last this kid was seene to arise and stand vpon his feete and as if somebody had told him that his Legges were made to walke vpon he shooke off all that moistnesse which he brought with him out of his mothers belly afterwardes he scratched his side with his foote and then went and smelled at all the former vessels and at last comming to the milke-boule he supped and licked thereof which when the behoulders saw they all cryed out that Hipocrates rule was most true Animalium naturas esse indoctas that is to say the natures of creatures are not formed by Art but of their owne inclination There is nothing more wanton then a Kid whereupon Ouid made this verse Splendidior vitro tenero lasciuior hoedo They often iumpe and leape among themselues and then they promise faire weather Aelianuâ— but if they keep continually with the flocks and depart not from their mothers or continually sucke and licke vp their meat also they for-shew a storm and therfore they must be gathered to their folds according to the Poets saying si sine fine modoque Pabula delbent cum tutas vesper adire Compellat caulas monstrabunt ad fore nimbos If Geese swallow the haires of Kids or Goats they die thereof Kids are not to be separated from their Dammes Aâ—atolius Varro or weaned till they be three months old at which time they may be ioyned to the flockes they are nourished when they are young after the same manner as they be at a year old except that they must be more narrowly looked vnto least their lasciuiousnesse ouerthrow their age and besides their Milk you must giue vnto them three leaued-grasse Palladius Iuy and the toppes of lentiles tender leaues or small twigges of trees and whereas commonly they are brought forth in twinnes it is best to choose out the strongest headed kid for the flock and to sel the other away to the Butchers Out of the rennet of the Calues or Kids is the Coagulation There was a certaine law as appeareth by Baifyus in the bookes of the ciuill Lawyers that shooes should be made of the skinnes of Kids as appeared by auncient Marble monuments at Rome which thing Martiall approueth in his verses to Phebus shewing how time altereth al things and that the skins of kids which were wont to couer bald heads are not put vpon bare legs the verses are these that follow Oedina tibi pelle Contegenti Nudae tempore verticemque caluae Fefliue tibi phebe dixit ille Qui dixit câ—put esse calciatum Albertus Out of the hide of a Kid is made good glue and in the time of Cicero they stuffed beddes with Kids haire their flesh hath been much esteemed for delicate meat for that cause dressed and trimmed sundry waies the best Kids for meate haue been said to come from Melos or Vmbratia or Viburtinum which neuer tasted grasse but haue more milke in them then blood according to the saying of Iuuenall De viburtino veniet pinguissimus agro Hoedulus toto grege mollior nescius herbae Hâ—c dum ausus virgas humilis mordere falicti For this cause they may safely be eaten all the yeare long while they sucke both of men of temperate and whot constitution Arnoldus for they are lesse hurtfull then the Rammes and doe easily disgest and nourish temperately for they engender thinne and moyst blood and also helpe all whot and temperate bodies and they are at the best when as they are neither too olde that is aboue sixe monthes nor two younge that is vnder two monethes The red or sandy coloured are the best yet is their flesh hurtfull to the Collicke Simeon Sethi affirmeth that if a man eate a kids liuer before he drinke in the morning he shal not be ouer drunke that day Celtus also prescribeth it in the sickenesse of the Holy-fire They are wholesome sod roasted or baked but the ribs are best sodde Platina teacheth one way whereby it was dressed in his time for a delicate dishe they tooke some fielde Herbes and fat broath twoe Whites of an Egge well beaten together with twoo heades of Garlike a little Saffron and a little Pepper with the Kiddes flesh put all together into a dish rosted before at the fire vpon a spitte with Parsely Rosemary and Lawrel leaues and so serud out with that sauce and set it on the table but if they did not eate it before it was colde it weakened the eyeâ—sight and raised vp venerial lust The bloode also of a Kid was made into a bludding and giuen to be eaten of them which haue the bloody-flixe They haue also deuised to dresse a Kidde whot and to fill his belly with Spices and other good things likewise it is sod in Milke with Lawrell with diuers other
and therefore it is most strong in operation to scatter dissolue and resolue more then a sheep Dioscorides It cureth all fissures in the lippes mixed with Goose-greace Rozen Pitch and the marrow of a Hart. Also if one be troubled with swellings in his Temples or in his Legges let him vse of this sewet halfe a pound and a pound of Capons-greace mixed therewith and spreading it vpon a cloth like a seare-cloth let him apply it to the sore and it shall help mightily Marcellus Also when the necke of an Oxe swelleth it hath been prooued for a golden remedy to take and annoint it with Goates-greace liquid Pitch the marrowe of a Bugle or Oxe and olde Oyle and may as well be called Tetrapharmacum as that of Galen made of Wax Rozen Columella Pitch and Goates-sewet Also if the blood be fallen into Oxens Legges it must be let forth or else it will breed the mange and therefore first of all the place must be cut with a knife and then rubbed with clouts wet in salt and oile and last of all annointed with old sewet and Goats-greace Rasis Two ounces of this Goates-greace and a pinte of greene Oyle mixed together and melted in a potte and infused into one that hath the bloody-flixe cureth him speedily when the whot dung or fime of a Goate is mixed with Saffron and applyed to the gouty members Hydropicke it worketh vpon them a strange cure and some ad heerunto the stalks of Iuy beaten Mustard-seed and the flower of wilde Cucumber The Lyuer of this beast layed vppon a man that hath beene bitten by a mad Dogge causeth him neuer to be afrayd of Water the same being sodde yealdeth a certaine lyquor Galen and sore eyes being annointed with that liquor within twelue times recouer and drunke in sharpe Wine and layed to the Nauell stayeth the fluxe also sod in Wine no scumme or froth being taken off from it but permitted to ioine with it helpeth the bloody-flixe Myrepsus The entralles of a Goate eaten are profitable against the falling sicknesse The Gall killeth the Leprosie al swellings and Botches in such bodyes and being mingled with Cheese Quicksiluer and powder of sponge and made as thicke as hony taketh away the spots and burles in the face It also rooteth out and consumeth dead flesh in a wound and also mingled with bran and the vrine of a Bull cureth the scurffe in the head Actius also teacheth women how to conceiue with childe if she dip a purple cloth in Goats-blood and apply it to her Nauell seuen daies and afterwarde lie with a man in the prime and encrease of the Moone the gall of a wilde Goat is commended priuately for the helpe of them that are purblind and for all whitenes and vlcers in the eies and when the haires which trouble the eyes be pulled vp if the place be anoynted with the gall of goates the haire will neuer growe any more The melt being sod helpeth the Flix and the Spleene taken hot out out of the beastes belly and applied to the Spleene of a man doeth within short time ease it of all paine if afterward it be hanged vppe in any fume or smoake to be dryed Albertus and Rasis say Marcellus that if a man eat two Goats stones and presently lye with his wife she shall bring foorth a male childe but if he eate but one then shall the child haue but one stone The fyme decocted with Honny and layed to vlcers and swellinges dissolueth or draweth them and mingled with Vineger is most profitably vsed to take away blacke spottes in the face And if hee which is sicke of the falling euill doe eate thereof fifteene pilles or little Balles it shall procure vnto him much ease If it bee mingled with Mouse-dunge Galen toasted at the fire and sprinkled with Honney and so annointed vppon balde places where you woulde haue the hayre to growe againe and mingled with Vineger wherein a sea-onion hath bin stâ—eped and bound to the forehead or temples asswageth the pain of the brain-pan The pastorall Carthaginians to the intent that the humour flowing out at their Childrens noses may neuer hurt them burne a vaine in the crowne of the head with Wooll when they are foure yeare old and thereby they conceiue that they are kept and conserued in perpetuall good health and if when they burne their children they fell into a crampe they eased them presently by casting vppon them the vrine of goates Herodotus When a man is thicke of hearing mingle together the gall of an Oxe and the vrine of a Goate and infused into the eares although there bee in them a verye mattery substance Galen prescribeth this potion to euacuate that Water which lyeth betwixt the skinne by Vrine if one drinke Hysope Water and the vrine of a goat Likewise it helpeth the Dropsie and the duste of an Elephauntes tooth drunke in this goates Vrine it dissolueth the stone in the reynes and bladder without all fearefull perill and daunger The medicines arising out of the female goat are these we find that the Female-goat Pliny and the land toad being sodden together are cures of singular woorth for the diseases of all liuing foure-footed-beasts The Magi or wisemen say that the right eie of a greene liuing Lizard being taken out and his hedforthwith strok off and put in a goats skin is of a great force against quartan Agues The ashes of a goats hide besmeared ouer with oile Pliny taketh away the spots in the face The same ashes made of a goates hide recouereth the blisters and gals of the feet The shauiug of the Goates skinne Marcellus being rubbed with pummicestone and mixed with Vineger Pliny is an excellent approued good remedy for the smal pox If a woman bleed ouermuch at the nose Marcellus let her breasts be bound with a thong made of a goats skinne The same being sodden with the haire on it the iuyce being soked vppe Marcellus staieth the belly It is not good for those that haue the falling sicknesse to sleepe or lie in a goates skinne if at any time the passion mooueth them to it Pliny yet it is hurtfull for their heade by reason of the ranke smell and not for any other particuler priuat cause Goats haires being burnt do appease all yssues of blood Coelius Aureliaenus which being mixed with Vineger they are good to staunch the bleeding at nose and you may blow in their nostrils goats haires burnt and whole and also myrrhe mixed with goats haires so burnt Aesculapius Sextus The same also burned and mingled with pitch and Vineger helpeth the bleeding at nose Gallen and being put in the nose they stir vp lethargies Marcellus Sextus Pliny The sauor of the Goats horne or of the haire doth the like Goats dung in sweet water doth expell the stone in the body so doth the ashes of Goats haire
christians offering sacrifice to nothing but their bellies The church forsaketh them the spirit accurseth them the ciuell world abhorreth them the Lord condemneth them the diuill expecteth them and the fire of hell it selfe is prepared for them and all such deuourers of Gods good creatures to helpe c. To helpe their disgestion for although the Hiena and Gulon and some other monsters are subiect to this gluttonie yet are ther many creatures more in the world who although they be beastes and lacke reason yet can they not by any famine stripes or prouocations be drawne to exceede their naturall appetites or measure in eating or drinking There are of these beastes two kindes The kinds of Gulons distinguished by coulour one blacke and the other like a Wolfe they seldome kill a man or any liue beastes but feede vpon carrion and dead carkasses as is before saide yet sometimes when they are hungry they prey vpon beastes as horses and such like and then they subtlely ascend vp into a tree and when they see a beast vnder the same they leape downe vpon him and destroy him A Beare is afraid to meete them and vnable to match them by reason of their sharpe teeth This beast is tamed and nourished in the courts of Princes for no other cause then for an example of incredible voracitie When he hath filled his belly if he can find no trees growing so neare together as by sliding betwixte them hee may expell his excrements then taketh he an Alder-tree and with his forefeete rendeth the same asunder and passeth through the middest of it for the cause aforesaid When they are wilde men kill them with bowes and guns for no other cause than for their skins which are pretious and profitable for they are white spotted changeably interlined like diuers flowers for which cause the greatest princes and richest nobles vse them in garments in the Winter time The skinnes of Gulons such are the kinges of Polonia Sweue-land Goatland and the princes of Germany neither is there any skinne which will sooner take a colour or more constantly retaine it The outward appearance of the saide skinne is like to adamaskt garment and besides this outward part there is no other memorable thing woorthy obseruation in this rauenous beast and therefore in Germany it is called a foure-footed Vulture OF THE GORGON or strange Lybian Beast AMong the manifold and diuers sorts of Beasts which are bred in Affricke it is thought that the Gorgon is brought foorth in that countrey It is a feareful and terrible beast to behold it hath high and thicke eie-lids The country and description eies not very great but much like an Oxes or Bugils but all fiery-bloudy which neyther looke directly forwarde nor yet vpwards but continuallye downe to the earth and therefore are called in Greeke Catobleponta From the crowne of their head downe to their nose they haue a long hanging mane which maketh them to look fearefully It eateth deaâ—ly and poysonfull hearbs and if at any time he see a Bull or other creature whereof he is afraid he presently causeth his mane to stand vpright and being so lifted vp opening his lips and gaping wide sendeth forth of his throat a certaine sharpe and horrible breath which infecteth and poysoneth the air aboue his head so that all liuing creatures which draw in the breath of that aire are greeuously afflicted thereby loosing both voyce and sight they fall into leathall and deadly convulsions It is bred in Hesperia and Lybia The Poets haue a fiction that the Gorgones were the Daughters of Medusa and Phorcynis Aelianus and are called Steingo and by Hesiodus Stheno and Euryale inhabiting the Gorgadian Ilands in the Aethiopick Ocean ouer against the gardens of Hesperia Medusa is said to haue the haires of his head to be liuing Serpentes against whom Perseus fought and cut off his hed for which cause he was placed in heauen on the North side of the Zodiacke aboue the Waggon and on the left hand holding the Gorgons head The truth is that there were certain Amozonian women in Affricke diuers from the Scithians against whom Perseus made Warre and the captaine of those women was called Medusa whom Perseus ouerthrew and cut off her head and from thence came the Poets fiction discribing it with Snakes growing out of it as is aforesaid These Gorgons are bred in that countrey and haue such haire about their heads as not onely exceedeth all other beastes but also poysoneth when he standeth vpright Pliny calleth this beast Catablepon because it continually looketh downeward and saith that all the parts of it are but smal excepting the head which is very heauy and exceedeth the proportion of his body which is neuer lifted vp but all liuing creatures die that see his eies By which there ariseth a question whether the poison which he sendeth foorth proceede from his breath or from his eyes Wherupon it is more probable that like the Cockatrice he killeth by seeing then by the breath of his mouth which is not competible to any other beasts in the world Besides when the Souldiors of Marias followed Iugurtha they sawe one of these Gorgons and supposing it was some sheepe bending the head continually to the earth and mouing slowly they set vpon him with their swordes whereat the Beast disdaining suddenly discouered his eies setting his haire vpright at the sight whereof the Souldiors fel downe dead Marius hearing thereof sent other souldiers to kill the beaste but they likewise died as the former At last the inhabitauntes of the countrey tolde the Captaine the poyson of this beasts nature and that if he were not killed vpon a sodaine with the onely sight of his eies he sent death into his hunters then did the Captaine lay an ambush of souldiers for him who slew him so dainely with their speares and brought him to the Emperour whereupon Marius sent his skinne to Rome which was hung vp in the Temple of Hercules wherein the people were feasted after the triumphes by which it is apparant that they kill with their eies and not with their breath So that the fable of Seruius which reporteth that in the furthest place of Atlas these Gorgons are bredde and that they haue but one eie a peece is not to be belieued excepte he meane as elsewhere he confesseth that there were certaine maides which were sisters called Gorgons and were so beautyfull that all young men were amazed to beholde them Whereupon it was saide that they were turned into stones meaning that their loue bereft them of their witte and sence They were called the daughters of Cetus and three of them were made Nimphes which were called Pephredo Enyo and the third Dinon so called a Geraldus saith because they were olde women so soone as they were borne whereunto was assigned one eie and one tooth But to omit these fables it is certaine that sharpe poisoned sightes are called Gorgon Blepen and therefore we will
with their stones they lose a great part of their heat excepting extreame necessity but out of the pallat bloode may bee let euery moneth and stallions when they are kept from mares if the vaine of their mouthes bee opened fal into blindnes although it is no good part of husbandry to let them bleed that yeare wherein they admit copulation for the vacuation of blood and seede is a dubble charge to nature But the Organicall vaine of the necke is the best letting of blood both in stoned and gelded horsses The later leaches make incision in the great vaine called Fontanella and in Inen Thymus or Iugulis The eies of a horsse are grey or glassy and it is reported by Augustus that his eies were much more brighter then other mens resembling horsses these eies see perfectly in the night yet their colour varieth as it doth in men according to the caprine and glazie humor And sometimes it falleth out that one and the same horsse hath two eies of distinct colours When the eies of a horsse hang outward he is called Exophthalmos Such faire eies are best for Bucephalus the horsse of Alexander had such eies but when the eies hang inward they are called Coeloph-Thalmoi and the Parthians count them the best horsses Coelius whose eies are of diuers colours and are therefore called Heteroph Thalmoi because the breed of that horsse was said to take the beginning from the Parthians and the reason why the people loued these horsses was because they were fearefull and apt to run away in warres The eares of a horsse are tokens and notes of his stomacke as a taile is to a Lyon Aristotle his teeth are changed yet they grow close together like a mans It is a hard thing for a Horsse to haue a good mouth except his stallion teeth bee pulled out for when he is chafed or heated he cannot be helde backe by his rider but disdaineth the bridle wherefore after they be three yeare and a halfe old those teeth ought to be pulled forth In old age a horses teeth grow whiter but in other creatures blacker A mare hath two vdders betwixt her thighes yet bringeth foorth but one at a time many of the Mares haue no paps at al but only they which are like their dammes In the heart of a Horsse there is a little bone like as in an Oxe and a Mule he hath no gall like Mules and Asses and other whole-footed-beastes howsoeuer some say it lyeth in his belly and others that it cleaueth to his liuer or to the gut-colon The smal guts of a horse lie neare that gut that so oneside of his belly may bee free and full of passage and from hence it commeth that the best Horsses when they runne or trauel hard haue a noyse or rumbling in their belly The hip-bone of a horsse is called by some the Haunch as the Arabians say the taile because therwith he driueth away flies is called Muscarium it ought to be long and ful of haires The legges are called Gambae of Campo signifying treading the hooues of a horsse ought neither to be high nor very low neither ought the horsse to rest vpon his ancles and those horsses which haue straight bones in the Articles of their hinder knees set harde on the grounde and weary the ryder but where the bones are short in the same places as they are in Dogges there the horsse also breaketh and woundeth one legge with another and therefore such horsses are called Cynopodae They haue also quicke flesh in their hooues and their hooues are sometimes called hornes vppon which for their better trauel men haue deuised to fasten yron plates or shooes This hoof ought to be hard and hollow that the Beast may not bee offended when he goeth vppon stones they ought not to be white nor broade but alwaies kept moist that so they may trauel the better hauing strong feet hard and sound hooues for which cause the Graecians call them Eupodes Forasmuch as it is requisite for euery man to prouide him horsses of the best race The Horses of diuers notions and their kinds are diuers in most places of the world so the coursers of horsses do many times beguil the simpler sort of buyers by lying and deceiptful affirmation of the wrong countries of the best horsses which thinge bringeth a confusion for there are as many kinds of horsses as nations I will therefore declare seuerally the countries breeding the horsses for the Region and aire maketh in them much alteration that so the reader may in a short view see a muster of horsses made of all nations The wildernes of Arcauania Oppianus and Etolia is as fit for feeding of horsses as Thessalie The horsses of the Greekes Armenians and Troians are fit for war of the Greekish I wil speake more afterward Alexandria was wont to take great delight in horsses and combats of horsses Apolonius Horses with hornes and winges Appolonius writeth Lib. 5. Aethiopia as it is reported breedeth horsses hauing wings and horns Varro commendeth the Apulian horsses and Volatteranus writeth that they and the horsses of Rosea are most fit for warre he meaneth aboue all the horsses of Italy There haue bene very fruitful pastures in Arcadia for cattell especially for breeding horsses and Asses that are Stallions for the procreation of Mules and the breed of the Arcadian horses excelleth The same man prefereth the horsses of Thessalia the Grekish horsses for they are sound of their feete and heade but not of comely buttockes they haue their backe bone whole Ruellius great and short The latter two I might haue referred to the whole body of the horsse Absyrtus The horsses of Armenia are very necessary and conuenient for war for they and the Capadocians do breed of the Parthian horsses sauing their heads are somewhat bigger Of the Hackney or common horsses I wil say more afterward where I touch the difference of horsses and of their pace The Barbarian horsses are the same as the Lybian horsses Vegetius commendeth the horsses of Toringa and Burgundia after them of Vonusci Brittaine breedeth little horsses amblers Of horsses that are celebrate of the Calpian mountaine See in the Spanish The horsses of Cappadocia and Armenia haue their breed of the Parthians but their heades are bigger and are of a most famous nobilitie for that country before any other land Vegetius is most commodious for the nourishing of horsses according to the verses of Nemesian Cappadocumque not as referat generosa propago Armata palmas nuper grex omnis auorum The Cappadocians do pay to the Persians euery yeare beside siluer a thousand and fiue hundred Horsses c. The Medes haue the doble of these and they Sir-name the Cappadocians horsses famous and swift for he saith that whiles these are young they are accounted weake by reason of their young teeth and their body feeding on milke but the older they grow Strabo so
this rule first seperate them from their dams twentyfoure houres togither in the next morning let them be admitted to sucke their belly full and then remoued to be neuer more suckled atv. moneths old begin to teach them to eat bread or hay and at a yeare old giue them barly and bran and at two yeares old weane them vtterly Of handling taming or breaking of Horsses THey which are appointed to breake horsses are called by the Graecians Eporedicae Hipodami and Hipocomi the Latins Equisones Arulatores and Cociones in Italian Io Cozone Absyrtus is of opinion that foales are to be vsed to hand and to be begun to be tamed at eighteene moneths old not to be backed but onely tied by the heade in a halter to a racke or maunger so that it may not be terrified for any extraordinary noise for which cause they vse them to brakes but the best time is at three yeares old as Crescetiensis teacheth in many chapters wherefore when they begin to be handled let him touch the rough partes of his bodie as the mane and other places wherein the horsse taketh delight to be handled neither let him bee ouer seaueare and Tyrannous and seeke to ouercome the beast by stripes but as Cicero saith by faire meanes or by hunger and famine Some haue vsed to handle them sucking and to hange vp in their presence bits and bridles that so by the sight and hearing the gingling thereof in their eares they might grow more familiar And when they came to hand to lay vpon their backes a litle boy flat on his belly and afterward to make him sit vpon him formally holding him by the head and this they do at three yeare old but commit him to no labor vntill he be foure yeare old yet domesticall and small horsses for ordinarie vse are tamed at two yeare olde and the best time for the effecting heereof is in the moneth of March. It is also good in riding of a young horsse to light often and to get vp againe then let him bring him home and vse him to the stable the bottome whereof is good to be paued with round stones or else planks of oake strewing litter vpon it when he lieth down that so he may lie soft and stand hard It is also good to be regarded that the plankes bee so laid as the vrine may continually run off from them hauing a little close ditch to receiue it that so the horsses feet may not be hurt thereby and a good maister of horsses must oftentimes go into his stable that so he may obserue the vsage of this beast The manger also ought to be kept continually cleane for the receiuing of his prouender that so no filth or noisome thing be mingled therewith there ought also to be partitions in it that so euery beast may eat his owne allowance for greedy horsses do not onely speedily rauen vp their owne meat but also rob their fellowes Others againe haue such weake stomackes that they are offended with the breath of their fellowes and will not eate except they eat alone The racke also is to be placed according to their stature that so their throat may not be too much extended by reaching high nor their eyes or head troubled because it is placed too low There ought also to be much light in the stable least the beast accustomed to darkenesse be offended at the Sunne light and winke ouer much being not able to indure the beams when he is led abroad but yet the stable must be warme and not hot for althogh heat do preseru fatnes yet it bringeth indisgestion and hurteth a horsses nature therefore in the Winter time the stable must be so ordered as the beast may not be offended or fall into diseases by ouermuch heat or suddaine cold Vegetius In the Summer time let them lodge both night and day in the open aire This also in stabling of your horsses must be auoided namely the sties of Swine for the stinke the breath the gruntling of hogs is abhominable for horsses and nature hath framed no simpathie or concorde betwixte the noble and couragious spirite of a horsse and the beastlie sluggish condition of a Swine Remoue also far awaie from your horsses stables all kind of fowle which were woont to haunt those places to gather vp the remnant-graines of their prouender leauing behind them their little fethers which if the horsse licke vp in his meat sticke in his throat or else their excrements which procureth the loosenes of his bellie It must also be regarded that the stable must be kept neat sweet and cleane Camerarius so as in absence of the horsse it may notly like a place for swine The instruments also and implements thereof such as are the horsse cloathes the curri-combes the mane-combes saddles and bridles be disposed and hung vp in order behind the horsse so as it maie neither trouble him eating or lieng nor yet giue him occasion to gnaw eat and deuour them to their owne damage or hurt for such is the nature of some wanton horsses to pul assunder and destroie whatsoeuer they can reach They are therefore oftentimes to be exercised and backed and principally to bee kept in a good diet for want of food deiecteth the spirit of the noblest horsse and also maketh the meane horsse to be of no vse but on the contrary a good diet doth not onelie make a meane horsse to be seruicable but also continue the worth and value of the best which thing Poets considered when they fained that Arion the horsse of Neptune and some others were made by Ceres the Goddesse of corne which any meane witted man may intetpret to signifie that by abundance of prouender the nature of horsses was so farre aduanced aboue ordinary that like the sonnes of the Gods they perform incredible things whether therefore they eat chaffe or hay or grasse or graine according to the diuersities of countries let it be wholesome cleane fresh and sweet without dust grauel mustines or euill smell In the morning giue them barley or prouender a little at a time in distinct or seueral portions twice or thrice one after another so as he may chew and eke disgest it thoroghly otherwise if he rauen it in as he wil do hauing much at a time he rendreth it in his dung whole and not disgested About three houres after he hath eaten his prouender giue him a little of hay and three houres after that his dinners allowance of graine as in the morning and afterwards about two or three a clock hay againe and then some drink last of all giue him his allowance of prouender for Supper with a bottle or two of hay which ought to be more plentiful than the former seruings yet these rules are not to be vnderstood as though they might not be altered for the times prefixed may be preuented if ocasion require Their best prouender is oats and barley yet barly ingendreth the
for the ease of man Therefore before you goe to Horssebacke first stroke your Horsse and make much of him with gentle words or other conuenient sound which the Horsse vnderstandeth and so will he stand more willingly til you be on his backe for this thing there is in Plutarch an excellent story of Alexander the great when Bucephalus was first of all presented to his father King Phillip by a Thassalian called Phillonix For when the King was perswaded to go forth into the fielde to try the qualities of this beast which was so highly cōmended for rare partes and valued at such a price as none but a King might yealde for him then the Horsse beganne to snort and kicke and to admit no man to come vnto him within the length of the rains but kept aloft like a wild and vntamed Horsse yealding no obedience to voice or other signes of the riders whereat the King fel exceeding angry and bid them lead away the vnruly and vntamed Horse Alexander being present complained of the ignorance and fearefulnesse of the riders and that they were the cause why such a generous and gallant beast was no better manned At the hearing wherof King Phillip smiled and yet so carried himselfe as though he had not heard the words of his Sonne vntill Alexander repeated his saying the second time whereunto his father replyed what sir Boy will you make your selfe more skilfull then these old cunning riders will you lay on them an imputation of feare and ignorance yes said Alexander I will aduenture to handle this Horsse better then any other yea but saide Phillip what punishment then wilt thou vndergoe if thou faile and performe not what thou hast said What punishment said Alexander why I will giue them the price of the Horsse Whereat the King laughed and strok vp the Wager and so had Alexander the raines of the Horsse deliuered to him who presently turned him about against the Sun-rising that so he might not bee terrified with the shaddow of the beholders and so led him vp and downe softly two or three turnes and at last wan the Horsse to hand which he gently stroked and applauded and when he had gotten perfect intelligence and vnderstanding of the Horsses stomacke he cast off his cloake and addressed himselfe to mount on his backe so holding the raines and bearing his hand and whole body as he did not checke or pinch the Horsses mouth so he inclined him first of al to lay away his stirred and angry minde and afterward paced him to and fro gently which the Horsse indured At last he put Spurs vnto him and made him runne leap carrier and curuet to the terror at the first of all the beholders afterward to their singular admiration and praise of himselfe which caused the company or traine to applaude this fact and forced the old man his father to send forth teares for ioy and when Alexander desended from his Horsse hee could not containe himselfe but he must needes goe kisse and embrace such a Sonne whereby it is manifest that when a man is to ride on a generous spirited Horsse hoshal bend him to endure the burthen by gentlenesse and familiarity so as the beast may still know and loue his rider Likewise when the maister mounteth it is requisit that the seruant be on the other side of the horsse to hold the stirrop for so shall he get vp more surely and set himselfe mor softly Some Horsses are taught to bend their knees to take vp their aged and sick Maisters Xenophon that so they may be the lesse offended in ascending to their backs and this custom saith Pollux did first of al begin among the Persians The ancient Germans were so singularly exercised in Horsmanship that standing vpon the ground and holding a Speare of launce in their handes they mounted without other stirrop or vantage vppon their Horsses backs and not onely when they were ordinarily attired in common garments but then also when they were armed tho Iulius Caesar take from them all glory of chiualry yet now adaies the inuention of Saddles with stirrops is most easie both for Horsse and Horsseman being then better the Pelethronian inuention time When the Rider is in his Saddle and is well seated he must not sit as in a Chaire or chariot bended together but rather keepe his body vpright onely bowing outwardly his knees for so shal he be better able to defend himselfe or offend his aduersary for he must rather seeme to stand then to sit on horsebacke The Rider or maister of Horsses must spare his Horsse in the heate of Summer about Dog daies and in the colde of Winter Russius and neuer at any time to ride past the twylight of the euening The Horsse being empty is more prone to make water then being full and therefore must not be hindered in that desire and alway after his staling ride him not too fast vntil his nerues which were extended to let forth the vrine be contracted setled and drawne together againe If in the winter time a horsse be to passe ouer a foord of water which wil ascend vp aboue his belly let him stale first of al Absirtus least he fall into the strangury and also be a little eased of his loade There is no beast that reioyseth more in celerity and swiftnesse then a horse because so soone as he is turned out of hand he instantly runneth away speedily and doth walke softly as at other times and this is a pleasure to them except when they are prouoked aboue their desires and the counsel of Xenophon when you are to ride fast or for a wager is this bend the vpper part of the body forward stretching out the hand that carrieth the raines now drawing it in and then letting it at length againe and therefore it is good in such cases to vse short raines and if the Horsse in his course stretch forth the raines of his owne accorde then is it a signe of an vnskilfull Rider or of a weake and tireable horsse Pollux Adde not Spurs but in great necessity but guide and prouoke him with voice and riding rod for quick and good metled Horsses are by the Spur made fierce and gentle natured beastes made sluggards like Asses which by often beating seem to neglect and dispise stripes You must also shorten and lengthen your iournies and times of ridings so as they may neither be certaine to the beast nor yet ouer long and specially after a long iourney take a shorter if you ride vpon the same horsse First of all let him be vsed to plaine and equal waies and if he be to leape or goe vppe◠hill it was a precept of the old Graecians that then the Rider must lay the raines in his necke If the Horsse at any time be either more fierce or sluggish then ordinary he may be holp by these meanes Wildenesse and fiercenesse of Horsses is like to anger and rage
this practise and according to the vain humors of men was not a little proud heerof and for his loue to Plato would needs in the Academy shew him and his schollers his skill and therefore ioyning his horsses and chariot togither made many courses with such an euen and delineat proportion that his horses and wheeles neuer wandered a hair bredth from the circle or place limited but alway kept the same road and footsteps whereat euery one marueiled but Plato reproued the dubble diligence and vaine practise of the man saying to him in this manner It cannot be that a man which hath trauelled and laboured so much in an art or skil of no worth or vse in the common wealth that euer he can addict his mind to graue serious and profitable businesse for while he applyeth all his parts and powers of body and soule to this he is the lesse able and more vnapt to those thinges which are alone more worthy of admiration The ancient custome was to vse other mens horsses in this combate and therefore in the funerall of Patroclus Homer bringeth in Menelaus vsing the horsse of Agamemnon There were foure seuerall places wherein these games of horsses and chariots were wont to bee obserued and kept and they were called after these places Olympia Pythia Nemea and Isthmia and of all these the Olympiads were the cheefe whereof all stories are full for they were celebrated in Olympus euery fifte yeare inclusiuelie that is after the end of euery fourth yeare The writers of Chronicles do agree that the games of Olympus were first instituted by Hercules in the 2752. yeare of the world beginning the worlde from Noahs flood and they beginne to record and number the first Olympiad to be about the 3185. yeare of the world about seuenteene yeare before the building of Rome There were of these Olympiads 328. and the last of these by computation or account fell abovt the yeare of our Lord 534. after the birth of Iesus Christ the blessed Sauior of the world The perfection of these games began the twenty fiue Olympiad at what time Pagondas the Theban was pronounced victor for then were swift horsses brought into the games and were called Teleioi that is perfect in agility and growth and these are called by Pindarus Monampycia afterwarde came in Synoris with two horsses and in succession both Colts Mares and Mules their courses are thus expressed by Virgill Ergo animos aevumque notabis Et quis cuique dolor victo quae gloria palmae Nonne vides cum praecipiti certamine campum Corripuere runt que effusum carcere currus Cum spes arrectae inuenum exultantiaque haurit Corda pauor pulsans illi instant verbere torto Et proni dant lora volat viferuidus axis Iamque humiles iamque elati sublime videntur Aera per vacuum ferri atque assurgere in auras Nec mora nec requies vt fuluae nimbus arenae Tollitur humescunt spumis flatuque sequentum Tantus amor laudum tantae est victoria curae Sin ad bella magis studium turmasque feroces Aut Alphaea rotis prelabi flumina Pisae Et Iouis in luco currus agitare volantes Primus equi labor est animos atque arma videre Bellantum lituosque pati tractuque gementem Ferre rotam stabulo frenos audire sonantes And Horace expresseth it in this maner Sunt quos curriculo paluerem Olympicum Collegisse iuuat metaque farindis Euitata rotis palmaque nobilis Terrarum dominos euehit ad deos Women were wont to be excluded from these games vntill Cynisca the daughter of Archidamus king of the Spartans first of all other women nourished and trained horsses for these currule and Charyot games and when she brought her horsses to Olympus she obtaind the prize therfore her horses wer consecrated to Iupiter Olympus and their figures remained in brasse in his Temple Pliny It is also said that Echerates a Thessalian ouercame in the Olympian games with a Mare great with foale And it is also reported that Miltiades the son of Cimon Stesagora one of the tenne captaines of Athens ran away from Pisistratus the Tyrante and in the time of his absence he was twice victor at Olympus by foure Mares the first time he bestowed the glory vpon his cozen German Miltiades his mothers brothers sonne and the second time he tooke it to himselfe for which cause he was slaine by the sons of Pisistratus his Mares were also buried ouer against him with an inscription that they had won four games in Olympus so that it appeared hee ranne diuers times and neuer missed victory At Athens they obserued these courses with horsses in honor of Theseus and called the place of the running Hippodromus The Latines call it Stadium and Curriculum and it was appointed in some plain valley according to the prouerbe Equus in planiciem in the middest whereof was a building called Circus whereon the beholders stood to looke vpon the pastime and there were also places to containe the horsses and Chariots till they were turned out to run called Carceres according to the verses of Silius Sic vbi prosiluit piceo de carcere preceps Ante suos it victor Equus And Horace also Vt cum carceribus missos rapit vngula currus Instat equis auriga suos vincetibus illum Preteritum temnens exstremos inter Enutom And heereof came the pouerbe A carceribus ad calcem signifieng from the beginning of the race to the latter end Eurithonius inuented a chariot called Harma and was the firste that euer ran in Olympus with foure horsses in the same of whom Virgill writeth thus Primus Erichthonius currus quataeior ausis Iungere Equos rapidisque insistere victor And from hence came the tearme Quadriga for a chariot with foure horsses There was a chariot in Athens drawne by one horsse and the games thereof were called Polemysteriâ— Likewise at Rome in the Consuall-feasts celebrated for the honour of Neptune they ran with horsses both ioynd and single There were likewise games at Rome called Aequitia and Equiria celebrated euery yeare the twelfth of the calenders of May wherein after the horsses they coursed Foxes tyed to peeces of wood set on fire this is called in Latine also Tarneamentum and in Italian by Scoppa Hagiostra and in French Formierim There is also a playe with horsses for children cald Troya first inuented by Ascantus when he besieged Alba by him broght and taught to the Romaines of which Virgill speaketh saying Incedunt pueri pariterque ante ora parentum Frenatis lucent in equis Cornea bina ferunt praefixa hastilia ferro Pars laeues humero pharetras Tres equitum numero turmae ternique vagantur Ductores pueri bisseni quenque secuti Signum clamore paratis Aepytides longe dedit insonuitque flagello Olli discurrere pares atque agmina terni Diductus soluere choris rursusque vocati Conuertere vias infestaque tela tulere Inde alios
and full of bunches like Harts no where smooth but in the tops of the speers and where the vaines run to carry nutriment to their whole length which is couered with a hairye skin they are not so rough at the beginning or at the first prosses specially in the for part as they are in the second for that onely is full of wrinckles from the bottom to the middle they growe straight but from thence they are a little recurued they haue onely three speers or prosses the two lower turne awry but the vppermost groweth vpright to heauen yet sometimes it falleth out as the keepers of the saide beast affirmed that either by sicknes or else through want of food the left horn hath but two branches In length they are one Roman foot and a halfe and one finger and a halfe in bredth at the roote two Roman palmes The top of one of the hornes is distant from the top of the other three Roman feet and three fingers and the lower speere of one horne is distant from the lower of the other two Roman feet measured from the roots in substance and collor they are like to Harts hornes they waied together with the dry broken spongy-bone of the forehead fiue pound and a halfe and halfe an ounce I meane sixteene ounces to the pound they fall off euery yeare in the month of Aprill like to Harts and they are not hollow The bredth of their fore-heads betwixt the hornes is two Roman palmes and a halfe the top of the crown betwixt the horns is hollow on the hinder part and in that siecel lieth the brain which discendeth downe to the middle region of the eies Theyr teeth are like Harts and inwardly in their cheekes they grow like furrowes bigger then in a Horsse the tooth rising out sharp aboue the throat as it should seeme that none of his meate should fall thereinto vnbruised This beast in his young age is of a mouse or Asse colour but in his elder age it is more yellowish especially in the extreame partes of his body the haire smooth but most of all on his legges but vnder his belly in the inner part of his knee the top of his Neck breast shoulders and back-bone not so smooth In heigth it was about 22. handfuls and three fingers being much swifter then any horse the female beareth euery yeare as the keeper said in Norway two at a time but in England it brought forth but one The flesh of it is blacke and the fibere broad like an Oxes but being dressed like harts flesh and baked in an Ouen it tasted much sweeter It eateth commonly grasse but in england seldome after the fashion of horsses which forbeare hay when they may haue bread but leaues rindes of trees bread and Oats are most acceptable vnto it It reacheth naturally thirty hand breadths high but if any thing be higher which it doth affect it standeth vp vpon the hinder legs and with the forelegs there imbraseth or leaneth to the tree and with his mouth biteth off his desire It drinketh water and also English Ale in great plenty yet without drunkennesse and there were that gaue it wine but if it drinke plentifully it became drunk It is a most pleasant creature being tamed but being wilde is very fierce and an enemy to mankind persecuting men not only when he seeth them by the eie but also by the sagacity of his nose following by foote more certainly then any horse for which cause they which kept them neare the high waies did euery yeare cut off their hornes with a saw It setteth both vpon horse and foot-men trampling and treading them vnder foot whom he did ouermatch when he smelleth a man before hee seeth him hee vttereth a voice like the gruntling of a Swine being without his female it doth most naturally affect a woman thrusting out his genital which is like a Harts as if it discernd sexes In Norway they cal it an Elke or Elend but it is plaine they are deceiued in so calling it because it hath not the legges of an Elke which neuer bend nor yet the hornes as by conference may appeare Muchlesse can I beleeue it to be the Hippardius because the female wanteth hornes and the head is like a Mules but yet it may be that it is a kind of Elke for the hornes are not alwaies alike or rather the Elke is a kind of Horsse-hart which Aristotle calleth Arrochosius of Arracotos a region of Assya and heerein I leaue euery man to his iudgment referring the reader vnto the former discourses of a Elke and the Tragelaphus OF THE SEA-HORSE THe Sea-horsse called in Greeke Hippotomos and in Latine Equus Fluuiatilis It is a most vgly and filthy beast so called because in his voice and mane he resembleth a Horsse but in his head an Oxe or a Calfe in the residue of his body a Swine for which cause some Graecians call him somtimes a Sea-horsse and sometimes a Sea-oxe which thing hath moued many learned men in our time to affirme that a Sea-horsse was neuer seene whereunto I would easily subscribe saith Bellonias were it not that the auncient figures of a Sea-horsse altogether resembled that which is heere expressed and was lately to bee seene at Constantinople from whom this picture was taken It liueth for the most part in Nilus yet is it of a doubtful life for it brings forth and breedeth on the land and by the proportion of the Legges it seemeth rather to bee made for going then for swimming for in the night time it eateth both Hay and frutes forraging into corne fieldes and deuouring whatsoeuer commeth in the way And therefore I thought it fit to be inserted into this story As for the Sea-calfe which commeth sometimes to land onely to take sleepe I did not iudge it to belong to this discourse because it feedeth onely in the waters This picture was taken out the Colossus In the Vatican at Rome representing the Riuer Nylus and eating of a Crocadile and thus I reserue the farther discourse of this beast vnto the History of Fishes adding only thus much that it ought to be no wonder to consider such monsters to come out of the Sea which resemble horsses in their heads seeing therein are also creatures like vnto Grapes and swords The Orsean Indians do hunt a beast with one horne hauing the body of a Horsse and the head of a Hart. The Aethiopians likewise haue a beast in the necke like vnto a Horsse and the feet and legs like vnto an Oxe The Rhinocephalus hath a necke like a Horsse and also the other parts of his body but it is said to breath out aire which killeth men Pausanias writeth that in the Temple of Gabales there is the picture of a Horsse which from his breast backwards is like a whale Lampsacenus writeth that in the Scythian Ocean ther are Ilands wherein the people are called Hippopodes hauing the bodyes of men but the feete of Horsses and
the Lamya heereafter to be declared hath the feete of a Horsse but in other things the members of a Goat and thus much for the seuerall kinds of Horsses both for them that are properly so called and also for any other which like bastards retaine any resemblance of nature with this Noble and profitable kind of beast Of the diet of Horsses and their length of life HAuing thus discoursed of the kinds of horsses and their seueral accidents and vses both for War and peace pleasure and necessity now likewise it followeth that we should proceed to their dyet and manner of feeding wherein wee are first of all to consider that the naturall constitution of a Horsse is whot and temperate Whot because of his Leuity Russius and Velocity and length of life temperate because he is docible pleasant and gentle towardes his maister and keeper He therefore that will keepe Horsses must prouide for them aboundance of meate for all other cattell may be pinched without any great danger only horses can endure no penury Varro saith that in feeding of Horsses we must consider three things first of all what foode the country wherein wee liue doth yeald secondly when it must be giuen thirdly by whom but specially the place of feeding Horsses is to be considered for although Goates can liue in the Mountaines better then in the greene fields yet Horsses liue better in the greene fieldes then they can in the Mountaines For which cause when we chuse pasture for horsses we must see that it be fat such as groweth in meddowes that in the winter time it may be sunny in the summer it may be open and cold neither so soft vnder foot but that the Horsses hoofes may feele some hardnesse for horses Mules and Asses do loue wel greene grasse and fruits yet principally they grow fat with drinking When they are in the stables let them haue dry hay Palladius A Mare when shee hath foaled giue herbarly and generally at all times in the Winter season Bullimung or a mixture of al kinds of graine is fit for them in the house according to these verses of Nemetian Inde vbi pubentes calamos durauerit aestas Lactentesque vrens herbas siccauerit omnem Mensibus humorem culmisque armarit aristas Ordea tum paleasque leues praebere memento Puluere quin etiam puras secernere fruges Cura sit atque toros manibus percurrere equorum Gaudeat vt plausu sonipes letumque relaxet Corpus altores rapiat per viscera succos Id curent famuli comitumque animosa iuuentus We haue shewed already that they must haue straw or litter to lie vpon and Pollux doth set downe the kinds of meates for Horsses as Barly Hay or French wheat rise and hay for hard and dry meat is fittest for Horsses because it doth not fill them with wind but al green meat is the lesse aproued by reason of inflamation Three-leaud-grasse is also good for horsses especially if they be young for chaffe hay grasse and Oats are their natural and pleasing foode and although grasse be moist yet in the young age of a Horsse he delights in moist meates for they stretch out his belly and encrease his growth but when he is elder then ought he to be nourished with dryer foode as chaffe barly Oates and such things For although chaffe by reason of their drynes make not a Horsse fat yet doe they preserue him in perfect strength for al hard things which are disolued with difficulty do retaine their force of nutriment longer but softer meats do not so therefore the best diet or habitude for Horsses is to retaine the meane betwixt fatnesse and leannes For fatnesse ministreth many humors to the nourishment of sicknesse and leannesse diminisheth naturall strength maketh the body deformed In some countries they giue their horsses vine branches in the Autumne to moue their bellies and increase their strength The hearb Medica which aboundeth in Media is very nourishable to Horsses but the first stalkes are refused saith Aristotle the residue being watered with stincking Water Mathaeolus Dioscorides is most commodious In Italy they fat their horsses with Trifoley in Calabria with Sulla or Arthritica and the Thrasians neare the Riuer Strymon with a greene Thistle In the spring time giue your younger Horsses Bullimung for many daies together for that will not onely make them fat but also purge their bellies for this purgation is most necessary for Horsses which is called soyling and ought to continue ten daies together without any other meat giuing them the eleuenth day a little Barly and so forward to the fourteeneth after which day continue them in that diet ten daies longer and then bring them forth to exercise a little and when as they sweat annoint them with Oyle and if the weather bee colde keepe a fire in the stable And you must remember when the Horsse beginneth to purge that he be kept from Barley and drinke and giue him greene meat or Bullimumg wherof that is best that groweth neare the Sea side But if the Horsse goe to soile in Aprill after fiue daies bring him forth and wash him all ouer with Water then wiping his haire from all wet and filth and loose haires poure vpon him Wine and Oyle pressing it smooth vppon his backe downe to his skinne so let him be wiped all ouer againe and carried into the stable to be dieted with Masline or Bullimung as before except he be troubled with the Glaunders and then he must not feed on it in the daye time least through the heate of the Sunne he fall into the Mange or into madnesse It is also requisite that while we feede our Horsses with green Corne they be let blood in the vaines of the breast and also cutte in the roofe of their mouths that so those places being emptied which were stuffed with corruption the vacuety may be replenished with better blood a Horsse thus dieted shall not onely liue in more health and free from sicknesse but also be more stronge to vndergoe his labour With the blood that commeth out of him mingled with Niter Vineger and Oyle you shall annoint him all ouer if so be he bee subiect to the Glaunders or to the Mange and then keepe him in the stable fiue daies together suffering no curri-combe to come vpon him vntill the sixt day feeding him in the meane time with greene Corne or Bullimung and then bring him forth againe washing him al ouer with water and rubbing him with a hard whisp vntill the humor or moistures be wholy wiped off and he fed as before fourteene daies together If you please not to keep him in the stable then in the spring time turne him out in some meddow or greene pasture and there let him feed at his owne pleasure for it hath bin often proued that such a dyet hath recouered many sicke Horsses It is reported of the Horotae and Gedrusij and men of Freeseland the Macedonians
that country haue liberty to tast thereof that day because of a battaile which once they obtained for the great Cam. The property of this milke is to loosen the belly and because it is thin and hath no fat in it therefore it easily discendeth and doeth not curdle in the stomacke and it is sayde that the Scythians can keep it twelue daies togither therwithal satisfying their hunger quenching their thirst and thus much shall satisfie for the naturall discourses of horsses heereafter followeth the morrall The morrall discourse of Horsses concerning fictions pictures and other deuises ANd first of al for the morral dignity of horsses ther is a celestiall constellation called Hippos according to these verses of Arratus thus translated Huic Equus ille iubam quatiens fulgore micanti Summum contingit caput aluo stellaque tungens vna The Latines call this starre Pegasus and they say that hee is the sonne of Neptune and Gorgon Medusa with striking his foot vpon a Rock in Hellicon a mountaine of Baeotia opened a fountaine which after his name was called Hippocrene Others tell the tale in this sort at what time Bellerophon came to Praetus the sonne of Abas the king of the Argiues Antia the kinges wife fell in loue with her ghuest and making it knowne vnto him promised him halfe hir husbands kingdome if he woulde lie with her but he like an honest man abhorring so foule a fact vtterly refused to accomplish the desire and dishonesty of the lustfull Queene wherupon shee being affraid least he should disclose it vnto the king preuented him by her owne complaint enforming the king that he would haue rauished her when the king heard this accusation because he loued Bellerophon wel would not giue punishment himselfe but sent him to Schenoâ—eas the father of Queen Antia that he in defence of his daughters chastity might take reuenge vpon him who presently cast him to Chimaera which at that time depopulated all the coast of Lycia but Bellerophon by the helpe of the horsse Pegasus did both ouercome and auoide the monster and being weary of his life perceiuing that there was no good nor truth vpon the earth determined to forsake the world and flye to heauen who comming neare to Heauen casting downe his eies to the earth trembled to see how farre hee was distant from it and so his heart fainting for feare fell downe backewarde and perished but his horsse kept on his flight to heauen and was there placed among the stars by Iupiter Euripides telleth the tale otherwise for hee saith that Chiron the Centaure had a Daughter nourished in the mountaine Pelius which was called Theas and afterward Hippe because of her exceeding hunting on horsse backe shee was perswaded by Aeolus the sonn of Hellen a Nephew of Iupiters to let him lie with her wherupon she conceiued with child and when the time of her deliuerance cam she fled from her father into the woods for feare the losse of her virginity should be knowne vnto him but hee followed her to see what was the cause of his Daughters departure whereupon shee desired of the Goddes that her father might not see her in trauaile her prayer was graunted and shee after her deliuery was turned into a mare and placed amongst the stars Others say that shee was a prophetesse and because she reuealed the counsels of the Goddes was therefore metamorphized in that shape in the place aforesaid Others say that because shee gaue ouer to worship Diana she lost her first presence but to returne to the first tale of Bellerophon who after the death of Chimaera growing proud for his valor attempted to fly to heauen but Iupiter trobled his horsse with a fury and so he shook off his rider who perished in the field Alecus apo tese alese because of his error and Pegasus was placed in heauen But to come nearer to the description of the poetical horsse Albertus Magnus and some others say that it is a beast bred in Aethiopia hauing the head and feete of a horsse but horned and wings much greater then the winges of an Eagle which he not doth lift vp into the aire like a bird but onely stretcheth them out when he runneth whereby his only presence is terrible to all creatures vnto whom he is enemy but especially to men but for the truth heereof although Pliny and some others seeme to affirme as much yet will I set downe nothing for trueth and certainety because as the poets call euery swifte horsse volutres and Alipedes so the errour of that figure hath rather giuen occasion to the framing of this newe Monster Pegasus then anye other reasonable Aligory Likewise I knowe no cause why the poets shoulde faine that Ceres was turned into a Mare and hidde hir selfe in the heards of Oncius Neptune falling in loue with her followed her to those fields and perceiuing that hee was deceiued turned himselfe also into a horsse and so had to doe with her whereat Ceres was greeuously offended and fell into a very great fury for which cause shee was called Erinnis yet afterwardes shee washed her selfe in the Riuer Ladon laying aside al her rage and fury at the fulnes of time she brought foorth Arion And the Arcadians also had a certaine Denne wherein they had a great remembrance of this rauishment of Ceres sitting in a Denne wherein they say she hidde hir selfe from all creatures and whereunto they offer diuine worship They picture her in a colts skinne sitting like a woman in all parts with a long garment downe to her ancles but the head of a horsse with the pictures of many Dragons and other such wilde beasts holding in one of her hands a Dolphin and in the other a Doue By all which it is not easie for euery man to knowe and conceiue their meaning that plenty of food signified by Ceres doth not only maintaine men Fowls Beasts and Fishes but also the immoderate vse therof draweth men to inordinate lust and concupisence and that the Goddes of the Heathen were more rather to be accounted beastes then men Diana also among the Arcadians was called Eurippa for the finding out of those Mares which Vlysses had lost which Vlysses erected a statue for Neptune the greate Ryder and they say that Hippolitus being torne in pieces by Horsses through the loue of Diana and skill of Aesculapius by the vertue of certaine Hearbes hee was restored vnto life againe Whereupon Iupiter being sore vexed and angry with Aesculapius for such an inuention deluding as it were the fury of the Goddes killed him with lightning and thrust him downe to hell because no wretched man woulde feare death if such deuises might take place which fact Virgil describeth in these verses At Triuia Hippolitum secretis alma recondit Sedibus nymphae Aegeriae nemorique relegat Solus vbi in siluis Italis ignobilius aeuum Exigerit versoque vbi nomine virbius esset Vnde etiam Triuiae templo lucisque sacratis
Cornipedes arcentur equi quod litore currum Et iuuenem Monstris pauidi effudere marinis The Poets also do attribute vnto the night blacke horsses and vnto the day white Homer saith that the names of the day-horsses are Lampus Phaethon to the moon they ascribe two horsses one blacke and another white the reason of these inuentions for the day and the night is to signifie their speedy course or reuolution by the swiftnes of horsses and of the darkenes of the night by the blacke horsses and the light of the day by the white and the Moone which for the most part is hidde and couered with earth Textor both encreasing and decreasing they had the same reason to signifie her shadowed part by a black horse and her bright part by a white one The like fixtion they had of Hâ—câ—te whom Ausonias calleth Tergemina because shee is described with the heade of a Horsse Heltodorus a Dogge and a wilde Man the horsse on the right hand the Dogge on the left hand and the wilde man in the middle whereby they declared how vulgar illiterate and vnciuilized men do participate in their conditions the labors and enuy of brute beasts We may also read in the Annales of Tacitus that in his time there was a Temple raised to Equestriall fortune that is for the honor of them which managed horsses to their owne profit and the good of their countrey and that Fuluius the Praetor in Spaine because he obtained a victory against the Celtiberians by the valiant diligence of his horssemen was the first that builded that temple Likewise there was another temple in Baeotis for the same cause dedicated vnto Hercules Coelius The auncient Pagans call the Godde of Horsses Hâ—ppona as the Godde of Oxen Bâ—bona It is also apparant that many Nations vse to Sacrifice horsses for at Sâ—lentinuma horsse was cast aliue into the fyre and offered to Iupiter Likewise the Lâ—cedemonians sacrifyced a horse to the winds Gyraldus at Rome also they sacrificed a horse to Mars therof cam the terme of Equus October which was sacrificed euery yeare in October in Campus Martius This horsse was often taken out of a chariot which was a Conqueror in race stood on the right hand assone as he was killed som one caried his taile to a place called Regia and for his head there was a continuall combate betwixt the inhabitants of the streetes Suburra and Sâ—câ—auia which of them should possesse it for the Suburans would haue fastened it to the wal of Regia and the Sacrauiens to the Tower Mamillia The reason why they sacrifyced a horse some haue coniecturd because the Romans were the off spring of the Troyans and they being deceiued by a horsse their posterity made that Sacrifice for punishment of horsses but it is more reasonable that because they Sacrificed a conquering horsse 〈◊〉 they did it onely for the honour of Mars the god of victorie or els because they would signifie that flying awaie in battell was to be punished by the example of sacrificing of a swift horsse The Carmani did also worship Mars and because they had no horsses to vse in warre they were forced to vse Asses for which cause they Sacrificed an Asse vnto him There is another fable amongst the Poets that the Methimnaeans were commaunded by the Oracle to cast a Virgin into the Seâ— to Neptune which they performd now there was a yong man whose name was Ennallus which was in loue with the said Virgin and seeing hir in â—he Waters swum after her to saue her but both of them were couered with the waters of the Sea yet after a certaine space Ennallus returned backe again and brought newes that the virgin liued among the pharies of the Sea and that he after that he had kept Neptunes horses by the helpe of a great waue escaped awaie by swimming for the poets fain that Neptunes chariot was drawn by horsses of the sea acording to these verses of Gilius Non aliter quotiens perlabitur aequora curru Extremamque petit Phaebaea cubilia Tethyn Fraenatis neptunus equis They also faine that the Sunne is drawne with two swift white Horsses Idolatry by the pictures of Horsses from whence came that abhomination that the Kings of Iudaea had erected Horsses and Chariots in honor of the Sunne which were set at the entrance of the Temple of the Lord which Horsses were destroyed by Iosias as we reade in holy Scripture Munster And the manner of their abhomination was that when they did worship to the Sunne they roade vpon those Horsses from the entrance of the Temple to the chamber of Nethan-melech The Persians also sacrificed a Horsse to Apollo according to these verses of Ouid Placat equum Persis radij hyperiona cinctus Ne detur sceleri victima tarda deo And for this cause the Masagetes sacrificed a horsse the swiftest of all Beasts vnto the sun the swiftest of all the Gods Philostratus also recordeth that Palamedes gaue charge to the Graecians to sacrifice to the Sunne rising a white horsse The Rhodians in honor of the Sun did cast yearly away into the Sea the Chariots dedicated to the Sunne in imagination that the Sunne was carried about the World in a Chariot drawen by sixe Horsses As the Army of the Persians did proceede forward on their iournie The ceremony of the Persians going to war the fire which they did call holy and eternall was lifted vp on Siluer alters Presently after this there followed the Wise-men and after those wise-men came 165. young men being cloathed with as many red little-garments as there are daies in the year Instantly vpon the same came the holy Chariots of Iupiter which was drawne by white Horsses after which with a resplendant magnitude the Horsse of the Sun was seene to appeare for so it was called and this was the manner of their sacrifice Coelius The King of Indians also as is said when the daies began to waxe long he descended downe to the Riuer Indus and thereunto sacrificed black Horsses and Buls for the Buls in ancient time were consecrated to the riuers and horsses also were throwne therinto aliue Varrmus as the Troians did into Xanthus The Veneti which worshiped Diomedes with singuler honor did sacrifice to him a whit horsse when the Thebanes made war on the Lacedaemonians Strabo it is said that Caedasus apeared in a vision to Pelapidas one of the Thebane Captaines and told him that now the Lacedaemonians were a Laeuctra and would take vengance vpon the Thebanes and their Daughters Whereupon Pelapidas to auert that mischiefe caused a young foale to be gallantly attired and the day before they ioyned battel to be led to a Sepulcher of their virgins and ther to be killed and sacrificed The Thessalians obserued this custome at their marriges and nuptial sacrifices the man tooke a Horsse of War armed and furnished which he led into the
taken into Troy except the gates were pulled downe and this they placed hard to the wals of Troy Sinon the counterfet runagat being then within the wals among the Troyans perswaded them to pull downe their wals and pul in that wooden horsse affirming that if they could get it Pallas would stand so friendly to them that the Graecians should neuer be able to mooue warre against them wherefore they pull downe their gates and part of their wall and by that meanes do bring the horsse into the citty while the Troyans were thus reuelling and making merry with themselues and not thinking of any harme might ensue vpon them the leaders of the Graecian army who by deceit all this while kept themselues close hid euer since which time the Graecians are tearmed of all nations deceitfull on a suddaine rose out of their lurking places and so going forward inuaded the citty being destitute of any defence and by this meanes subdewed it Others are of opinion that the poets fiction of the Troyan horsse was no other but this that there was a mountaine neare Troy called Equus and by aduantage thereof Troy was taken whereunto Virgill seemeth to alude saying Instar montis Equum diuina Palladis arte Aedificant For they saie that Pallas and Epeus made the horsse and therefore I coniecture that the Troian horsse was nothing else but an engine of war like vnto that which is called Aries For Pausanias saith that Epeus was the inuenter thereof And Higintas saith that the Troyan horsse was Machina oppugnatoira a deuise of war to ouerthrow the wals Of this horsse there was a brazen image at Athens in Acropolis with this inscription Chaeridemus Fuangeli filius caelenenatus dicauit When Alexander looked vpon his own picture at Ephesus which Apelles had drawne with all his skill the king did not commend it according to the worth thereof It fortuned that a horsse was brought into the roome who presentlie neighed at the picture of Alexanders horsse smelling vnto it as to a liuing horsse where at Apelles spake thus to the king Ho men Hippos eoice sou graphicoteros Cata polu That is to say the horsse is a better discerner of truth then you There was one Phormis which went from Maenalus in Arcadia into Scicilia to serue Gelon the Sonne of Dinomenes vnder whom and his brother Hiero he arose to great estate of wealth and therefore he gaue many guifts to Apollo at Delphos and made two brazen horsses with their riders at Olympia setting Dionisius the Graecian vpon one and Simon Egenenta vpon the other Aemilius Censorinus a cruel Tirant in Scicilia bestowed great gifts vpon such as could inuent new kind of Torments there was one Aruntius Paterculus hoping to receiue from him some great reward made a brazen horsse and presented it to the Tirant to include therein such as he should condemne to death at the receipt whereof Aemilius which was neuer iust before first of all put the author into it that he might take experience how cursed a thing it was to minister vnto crueltie Apelles also painted Clytus on horsse-backe hastening to war and his armour bearer reaching his helmet vnto him so liuely that other dumb beasts were affraid of his horsse And excellent was the skil of Nealces who had so pictured a horsse foaming that the beholders were wont to take their handkerchefs to wipe it from his mouth and thus much for the morrall vses of horsses Of the seuerall diseases of Horsses and their cures SEeing in this discourse I haue principally aymed at the pleasure delight and profitte of Englishmen I haue thought good to discource of the diseases of horsses and their cures in the words of our owne countrymen M. Blundevile and M. Markham whose works of these matters are to be recorded like the Illiads of Homer in many places and seuerall Monumentes to the the entent that enuy or Barbarisme may neuer be able to burie them in obliuion or neglect to root them out of the world without the losse of other memorable labors Wherefore good Reader for the ensuing Tractate of diseases and cure compiled by them after that I had read ouer the labors of C. Gesner and compared it with them finding nothing of substance in him which is not more materially perspicuously profitably and familiarly either extracted or expressed by them in a method most fitting this Hystory I haue thoght good to follow theÌ„ in the description of the disease and the remedy first according to time declaring them in the words of M. Blund and afterwards in the words of M. Markam methodically one after the other in the same place wherwithal I trust the liuing authors will not be displeased that so you may with one labour examin both and I hope that neither they nor any of their friends or Schollers shall receiue any iuste cause of offence by adding this part of their studies to our labors neither their bookes imprinted be any way disgraced or hindered but rather reuiued renobled and honoured To beginne therefore saith Maister Blundeuill after the discourse of the nature of a horsse followeth those things which are against nature the knowledge whereof is as need fully profitable as the other Things against nature be those whereby the heathfull estate of a horsse-body is decayed which are in number three That is the causes the sicknes and the accidentes of the two first in order and the other promiscuously as neede requireth Of causes and kinds thereof THe causes of sickenes be vnnaturall affects or euill dispositions preceding sicknesse and prouoking the same which of themselues do not hinder the actions of the bodye but by meanes of sicknesse comming betwixt Blundevile Of causes some be called internal and some Externall Internall be those that breede within the body of the beast as euill iuice Externall be those that chance outwardly to the body as heat cold or the stinging of a Serpent and such like In knowing the cause of euery disease consisteth the chiefe skill of the Ferrer For vnlesse he knoweth the cause of the disease it is impossible for him to cure it wel and skilfully And therefore I wish al Ferrers to be diligent in seeking to know the causes of all diseases as wel in the parts similer as instrumentall and to know whether such causes be simple or compound for as they be simple or compound so do they engender simple or compound diseases Of sicknesse what it is and how many generall kinds there be also with what order the diseases of Horsses are heerein declared And finally of the foure times belonging to euery sicknesse SIcknes is an euill affect contrary to nature hindring of it selfe some action of the body Of sickenes there be three generall kindes whereof the firste consisteth in the parts simyler the second in the parts instrumental and the third in both parts togither The first kind is called of the Latines Intemperâ—es that is to say euill temperature which is
Let him bloode aboundantly in the necke vaines and within fiue daies after let him blood againe in the temple vaines and let him stand in a warme and darke stable and annoint al his body with comfortable ointments and his head and eares with Oyle of Bay and liquid Pitch or Tar mingled together And also put some therof into his eares and and then make a Biggen for him of some soft warm skin as of a sheepes skin or els of canuas stuffed vnderneath with woll and make him this purging drink Take of Radish roots two ounces of the root of the herb called in Latine Panax or Panaces and of Scammony of each one ounce beate al these things together and boile them in a quart of Hony and at sundry times as you shal see it needefull giue him a good spoonefull or two of this in a quart of Ale lukewarme whereunto would be put three or foure spoonefuls of oyle It is good also to blow the powder of Motherwort or of Pyrethrum vp into his nostrils and if the disease do continue stil for al this then it shal be needeful to pearse the skinne of his forehead in diuers places with a hot iron and to let out the humors oppressing his braine of the night Mare THis is a disease oppressing either man or beast in the night season when he sleepeth so as he cannot drawe his breath and is called of the Latines Incubus It commeth of a continual crudity or raw digestion of the stomach from whence grosse vapors ascending vp into the head do oppresse the braine and al the sensitiue powers so as they cannot do their office in giuing perfect feeling and mouing to the body And if this disease chancing often to a man be not cured in time it may perhaps grow to a worse mischiefe as to the faling euil madnesse or Apopelexy But I could neuer learne that Horses were subiect to this disease neither by relation nor yet by reading but only in an old English writer who sheweth neither cause nor signes how to know when a horsse hath it but onely teacheth how to cure it with a fond foolish charme which because it may perhaps make you gentle Reader to laugh as wel as it did me for recreation sake I will heere rehearse it Take a flint stone that hath a hole of his owne kinde and hang it ouer him and write in a bill In nomine patris c. Saint George our Ladies Knight He walked day so did he night Vntill he her found He her beate and he her bound Till truely her troath she him plight That she would not come within the night There as saint George our Ladies knight Named was three times saint George And hang this scripture ouer him and let him alone with such proper charmes as this is the false Friers in times past were wont to charme the mony out of plaine folks purses Of the Apoplexy THe Apoplexy is a disease depriuing all the whole body of sense and mouing And if it depriue but part of the body then it is called of the Latines by the Greeke name Paralysis in our tongue a palsie It proceedes of cold grosse and tough humors Blundevile oppressing the braine all at once which may breed partly of crudities and raw digestion and partly by meanes of some hurt in the head taken by a fall stripe or otherwise As touching Apoplexy few or none writing of horsleach-craft do make any mention thereof but of the Palsie Vegetius writeth in this manner A Horsse saith he may haue the palsie as wel as a man which is knowne by these signes He will go grouelling and sideling like a Crab carrying his necke awry as if it were broken and goeth crookedly with his legs beating his head against the wals and yet forsaketh not his meate nor drink and his prouender seemeth moist and wet The cure Let him blood in the temple vaine on the contrary side of the wrying of his necke and annoint his necke with comfortable ointment and splent it with splents of wood to make it stand right and let him stand in a warme stable and giue him such drinks as are recited in the next chapter following But if all this profiteth not then draw his necke with a hot yron on the contrary side that is to say on the whole side from the neather part of the eare downe to the shoulders and draw also a good long strike on his temple on that side and on the other temple make him a little star in this sort * and from his raines to his mid backe draw little lines in a manner of a ragged staffe and that will heale him Of the Crampe or convulsion of the sinnewes and Muscles A Conuulsion or crampe is a forceable and painefull contraction or drawing together of the sinnewes and Muscles which doe happen sometime through the whole body and sometime but in one part or member only And according as the body may be diuersely drawne so do the Physitians and also mine Authors that write of horse-leach craft giue it diuers names For if the body be drawne forward then they call it in Greeke Emprosthotonos in Latine Tensio ad anteriora And if the body be drawne backe it is called in Greeke Opisthotonos in Latine Tensio ad pesteriora But if the body be starke and straite bowing neither forward nor backward then it is called simply in Greeke Tetanos in Latine Distensio or Rigor which names also are applied to the like conuulsions of the necke Notwithstanding Vegetius writing of this diease inâ—ituleth his chapters de Roborosis a strange terme and not to be found againe in any other Aâ—thor A conuulsion as I said before may chance as well to one part or member of the body as to the whole body as to the eie to the skin of the forehead to the rootes of the toâ—gue to the iawes to the lips to the arme hand or Legge that is to say whensoeuer the sinnew or muscle seruing to the moouing of that part is euill affected or grieued Of which conuulsions though ther be many diuers causes yet Hippocrates bringeth them all into two that is to say into fulnesse and emptinesse for when a conuulsion proceedeth either of some inflamation of superfluous eating or drinking or for lacke of due purgation or of ouermuch rest and lacke of exercise all such causes are to be referred to repleâ—ion or fulnesse But if a conuulsion come by means of ouermuch purging or bleeding or much watching extreame labor long fasting or by wounding or pricking of the sinnewes then al such causes are to be referred vnto emptinesse And if the conuulsion proceede of fulnesse it chanceth suddenly and all at once but if of emptynesse then it commeth by little and little and leisurely Besides these kindes of conuulsions there is also chancing many times in a mans singers Legges and toes another kind of conuulsion which may bee called a windye conuulsion for that it proceedes of
some grosse or tough vapor entred into the braunches of the sinnewes which maketh them to swell like a Lute string in moyst weather which though it be very painefull for the time yet it may bee soone driuen away by chafing or rubbing the member grieued with a warme cloath And this kind of conuulsion or cramp chanceth also many times to a Horsses hinder Legs standing in the stable For I haue seene some my selfe that haue had one of their hinder Legges drawne vp with the crampe almost to the belly so stiffe and hard as no man hath beene able to stir it neither could the Horsse himselfe set it0 down to the ground of a long season which I think might be soone remedied first by continuall chafing fretting or rubbing his Legs with a good wispe and then by tying vp the other hinder Legge or else the forelegge on the fore side when by he should be forced to set down the pained Leg. Thus far I haue discoursed of the conuulsion of sinnewes and of the causes therof according to the opinions of the learned Physitians Now I wil briefly shew you the causes signes and cure thereof according to the doctrine of mine Authors that write of horseleach-craft Absirtus saith that this disease doeth come either by driuing the Horsse into a sweate when he halteth or for that he hath troden vpon some naile or by taking cold after iournying and sweating in Winter season whereby his lippes are clung together or by long lying and rest after sweating whereby the sinnewes of his forelegges be nummed or by hauing some stripe of his priuy members or by long trauelling in the colde Mountaines where snowe and Ise doth abound For Theomnestus Writeth that comming out of Paonia with the King and his army and passing ouer the Mountaines to goe into Italy there fell such aboundance of snow as not onely many Souldiers dyed sitting still on their horses backs with their Weapons in their handes being so starke and stiffe and cleauing so fast to their Saddles as they cold not easily be pulled out of them but also diuers horsses in their going were so nummed as they could not bow their legs yea and some were found sâ—arke dead standing stil on their feete and few Horsses or none escaped at that time free from this conuulsion of sinnewes insomuch that Theomnestus his owne Horsse which he loued dearely was sore vexed therewith The signes to know whether a Horsse bee troubled with the conuulsion in the sinnewes or not bee these His head and necke will be so stiffe and starke as hee can bow it no manner of way his eares wil stand right vp and his eies will be hollow in his head and the fleshy parts therof in the great corners will be turned backward his lips will be clung fast together so as hee cannot open his mouth and his tongue so nummed as he can neither eate nor drinke his backbone and taile wil be so stiffe as he cannot moue it one way nor other and his Legs so stiffe as they will not bow and being layed hee is not able to rise and specially on his hinder Legges but falleth downe on his buttockes like a Dogge when hee sitteth on the ground and by meanes of the conuulsion in his backe his bladder also for neighbourhoode sake suffereth whereby the Horsse cannot stale but with great paine The cure Put him into a sweat either by burying him all saue the head in some warme dunghill or if he be a horsse of price cary him into a hot house where is no smoak and let him sweat there Then annoint all his body heade necke legges and all with oyle of Cypres and oile of Bay mingled together Or else with one of these ointments Take of Hogs-greace two pound of Turpentine halfe a pound of Pepper beaten in powder one dramme of new Wax one pound of olde Oyle two pound boile all these together and being made very warme annoint all his body therewith Or els with this ointment Take of new wax one pound of Turpentine foure ounces of oile de Bay as much of Opopanax two ounces of Deeres sewet and oile of Storar of each three ounces melt al these together and annoint all his body therewith It is good also to bath his head with the decoction of Fitches or els of Lupines and make him this drink Take xx graines of long Pepper finely beaten into powder of Cedar two ounces of Nitre one ounce of Lacerpitium as much as a Beane and mingle all these together with a sufficient quantity of white Wine and giue him thereof to drinke a quart euery Morning and Euening for the space of three or foure daies or else this drink Take of Opopanax two ounces of Storar three ounces of Gentian three ounces of Manna Succâ—rie three ounces of Myr one scruple of long Pepper two scruples giue him this with old Wine or make him a drinke of Lacerpitium Cumin Annis seed Fenegreeke Bay berries and old oyle In old time they were wont to let him bloode in the Temples which Absirtus doth not alow saying that it will cause the sinnewes of his lips to dry vp so as the horsse being not able to moue them shall pine for hunger As touching his diet giue him at the first warm mashes and such soft meat as he may easily get down and wet haie bringing him to harder food by little and little And in any case let him be kept very warme and ridden or walked once a day to exercise his legges and lims Theomnestus cured his horsse as he saieth by placing him in a warm stable and by making a cleer fire without any smoak round about him and the horsse not being able to open his iawes of himselfe hee caused his mouth to be opened and put therein sops dipt in a confection called Entrigon conditum and also annointed al his bodie with a medicine or ointment called Acopum the making whereof herafter followeth dissolued in Cypres oile which made him to fal into a sweat and being before halfe dead and more brought him againe to his feeling and mouing so as he did rise and eat his meat Of the Crampe or convulsions of the Sinnewes or Muscles A Convulsion or cramp is a forcible drawing together of the sinnewes sometimes vniuersally ouer the whole body as I haue seene one horsse in my life time and sometimes but in one part or member as I haue knowne and helpt diuers These convulsions haue two grounds namely either natural or els accidental natural as proceeding of cold windie humours ingendred in the body and dispersed into those partes worke there the effects of greeuance Accidental is by wounding or pricking the sinnews of which immediatly ensueth a convulsion If it be naturall and the disease generally dispersed then the cure is thus dig a great deep hole in some old dunghil there bury him all saue the head so he may sweate there for the space of two houres at the least then take
good to lay the white of an Egge or to wash them with the iuice of Selidonye Another of blood-shotten eies or any other sore eie comming of rume of other humor FOr any sore eye make this water take of the water of Eye-bright of Rosewater Markham and Malmesey of each three spoonefuls of Cloues 6. or seauen beaten to fine powder of the iuice of Houselicke two spoonefuls mix all these togither and wash the horsses eies therewith once a day and it will recouer him Of dimnesse of sight and also for the pin and web or any other spot in the eie IF the horsse be dim of sight or hath any pearle growing in his eie or thin film couering the ball of his eie than Russius would haue you take of pomis stone of Tartarum and of sal Gemma of each like weight Blundevile and being beaten into very fine powder to blow a little of that in his eie continuing so to do euerie daie once or twice vntill he be whole Martin saith that hee alwaies vsed to blow a little sandiuoire into the eie once a day which simple he affirmeth to be of such force as it will breake any pearle or web in short space and make the eie very cleare and faire Russius amongst a number of other medicines praiseth most al the powder of a blacke flint stone Of the Pin and Web and other dimnesse Markham FOr to cure the Pinne Web Peatle Fylme or other dimnesse vse this meanes following Take of Sandiuere the powder of burnt Allom and the powder of black Flint-stone of each like quantity and once a day blow a little thereof into the horsses eye and it will weare away such imperfect matter and make the eie cleere Of the Haw called of the Italians Il vnghia de gli occhi THis is a gristle couering sometime more then one halfe of the eie It proceedeth of grosse and tough humours Blundevile discending out of the heade which Haw as Martin saith would be cut away in this sort First pull both the eyelids open with two seuerall threds stitched with a needle to either of the lids Then catch holde of the Haw with another needle and thred and pull it out so far as you may cutte it round the bredth of a penny and leaue the blacke behind For by cutting away too much of the fat and blacke of the eie the horsse many times becommeth blear eied And the haw being clean taken away squirt a littie white wine or beere into his eie Another of the Haw A Haw is a grosse grissell growing vnder the eye of a horsse and couering more then one halfe of his sight Markham which if he bee suffered will in short time perrish the eie the cure is thus Lay your thumbe vnder his eie in the very hollow then with your finger pull downe the lid and with a sharpe needle and thred take hold of the haw and plucking it out with a sharpe knife cut it away the compasse of a penny or more that done wash the eie with a little Beere Of Lunaticke eies VEgetius writeth De oculo lunatico but he sheweth neither cause nor signes thereof but onely saith that the old men tearmed it so Blundevile because it maketh the eie sometime to looke as though it were couered with white and sometime cleare Martin saith that the horsse that hath this disease is blind at certain times of the Moone insomuch that he seeth almost nothing at all during that time and then his eyes will look yellowish yea and somewhat reddish which disease according to Martin is to be cured in this sort First vse the plaister mentioned before in the chapter of waterish or weeping eies in such order as is there prescribed and then with a sharpe knife make two slittes on both sides of his head an inch long somewhat towardes the nose a handfull beneath the eies not touching the vaine and with a cornet loosen the skinne vpward the breadth of a groat and thrust therein a round peece of leather as broad as a two penny peece with a hole in the middest to keepe the whole open and looke to it once a day that the matter may not be stopped but continually run the space of ten daies then take the leather out and heale the wound with a little flax dipt in the salue heere following Take of Turpentine of hony of wax of each like quantity and boile them togither which being a little warmed wil be liquid to serue your purpose and take not away the plaisters from the temples vntil they fal away of themselues which being fallen then with a smal hot drawinge yron make a starre in the midst of each Temple vaine where the plaister did lie Which star would haue a hole in the middest made with the button end of your drawing yron Another of lunaticke or moone eies Markham OF these Lunaticke eyes I haue knowne diuers they are blinde at certaine times of the Moone they are very redde fiery and full of filme they come with ouer-riding and extraordinary heat and fury the cure of them is thus Lay vppon the Temples of his head a plaister of Pitch Rozen and Mastick molten togither very exceeding hot then with a little round yron made for the purpose burne three or foure holes an inch or more vnderneath his eies and annoint those holes euery day with Hogges greace then put it in his eies euery day with a little Hony and in short time he wil recouer his sight Of the Canker in the eie THis commeth of a ranke and corrupt blood discending from the head into the eie The signes You shall see red pimples some small and some great both within and without vpon the eye-lids and al the eye will looke redde Blundevile and be full of corrupt matter The cure according to Martin is thus Firste let him blood on that side the necke that the eie is greeued the quantity of a pottle Then take of Rochalum of greene Coporas of each half a pound of white Coporas one ounce and boile them in three pints of running water vntill the halfe be consumed then take it from the fire and once a day wash his eie with this water being made luke warme with a fine linnen cloath and clense the eie therewith so oft as it may look raw continuing thus to do euery day vntill it be whole Of diseases incident to the eares and poll of the head and first of an Impostume in the eare IMpostumes breed either by reason of some blow or brusing or els of euil humors congealed in the eare by some extream colde the signes bee apparant by the burning and painefull swelling of the eare and part thereabout The cure according to Martin is in this sort First ripe the impostume with this plaister Take of Lineseed beaten into powder of wheat Flower of each halfe a pint of hony a pint of Hogges greace or barrowes greace one pound
wil eat through the gristle of the nose It commeth of corrupt blood or else of sharp humors ingendered by meanes of some extreame cold The signes be these He wil bleede at the nose and al the flesh within wil be raw and filthy stinking sauours and matter wil come out at the nose The cure according to Martin is thus Take of green Coporas of Allum of each one pound of white Coporas one quarterne and boile these in a pottle of running water vntil a pint be consumed then take it off and put thereunto halfe a pinte of hony then cause his head to be holden vp with a drinking staffe squirt into his nostrils with a squirt of brasse or rather of Elder some of this water being lukewarme three or foure times one after another but betwixt euery squirting giue him liberty to hold downe his head and to blow out the filthy matter for otherwise perhaps you may choke him And after this it shal be good also without holding vp his head any more to wash and rub his Nostrils with a fine cloute bound to a white sticks end and wet in the water aforesaid and serue him thus once a day vntill he be whole Of bleeding at the nose I Haue seen Horsses my selfe that haue bled at the nose which haue had neither sore nor vlcer in their Nose and therefore I cannot choose but say with the Physitians that it commeth by means that the vaine which endeth in that place is either opened broken or settered It is opened many times by meanes that blood aboundeth too much or for thaâ— it is too fine or too subtill and so pierceth through the vaine Againe it may be broâ—â—â— by some violent strain cut or blow And finally it may bee fretted or gnawn through by the sharpnesse of the blood or else of some other humor contained therein As touching the cure Martin saith it is good to take a pinte of red Wine and to put therein a quartern of Bole Armeny beaten into fine powder and being made lukewarm to poure the one halfe therof the first day into his nostril that bleedeth causing his head to bee holden vp so as the liquor may not fal out and the next day to giue him the other halfe But 〈◊〉 â—his preuaileth not then I for my part would cause him to be let blood in the brest vaine 〈…〉 same side that he bleedeth at seueral times then take of Frankencense one ounce of Aloes halfe an ounce and beate them into powder and mingle them throughly with the whites of egges vntil it be so thick as hony and with soft Hares haire thrust it vp into his nostrill filling the hole so full as it cannot fall out or else fil his Nostrils ful of Asses dung or Hogs dung for either of them is excellent good to restraine any fluxe of blood Of the bleeding at the nose or to staunch Fluxe of blood in any sort I Haue knowne many Horsses in great danger by bleeding Markham and I haue tryed diuers remedies for the fame yet haue I not found any more certaine then this take a spooneful or two of his blood and put it in a Sawcer and set it vpon a chafingdish of coles â—et it boile til it be al dryed vp into powder then take that powder and if hee bleede at the â—e with a Cane or quil blow the same vp into his Nostrils if his bleeding come of any 〈◊〉 or other accident then into the wounde put the same powder which is a present â—â—edy New Horse-dung or earth is a present remedy applyed to the bleeding place 〈◊〉 are Sage leaues bruised and put into the wound Blundevile Of the diseases in the mouth and first of the bloudy rifts or chops in the palat of the mouth THis disease is called of the Italians Palatina which as Laurentius Russius saith commeth by eating hay or prouender that is full of pricking seedes which by continual pricking fretting the furrowes of the mouth do cause them to rankle and to bleed corrupt and stinking matter which you shal quickly remedy as Martin saith by washing first the sore places with vineger and salt and then by annointing the same with hony Of the bladders in a Horsses mouth which our old Ferrers were wont to cal the Gigs The Italians call them Froncelle THese be litle soft swellings or rather pustuls with blacke heads growing in the inside of his lips next vnto the great iaw-teeth which are so painful vnto the horse as they make him to let his meat fal out of his mouth or at the least to keepe it in his mouth vnchawed whereby the horsse prospereth not Russius saith that they come either by eating too much cold grasse or else pricking dusty and filthy prouender The cure wherof according to Martin is in this sort Slit them with a launcet and thrust out all the corruption and then wash the sore places with a little vineger and salt or els with Alum water Of the bladders in a Horse mouth Markham SOme Horsses will haue bladders like paps growing in the inside of their lips next to their great teeth which are much painful the cure whereof is thus Take a sharp paire of shears and clip them away close to the gum and then wash the sore place with running water Allum and hony boiled together til it he whole Of the Lampasse THe Lampasse called of the Italians Lampascus proceedeth of the aboundance of blood resorting to the first furrow of the mouth I meane that which is next vnto the vpper foreteeth causing the said furrow to swell so high as the Horsses teeth so as he cannot chew his meate but is forced to let it fall out of his mouth The remedy is to cut al the superfluous flesh away with a crooked hot iron made of purpose which euery Smith can do Another of the Lampasse THe Lampasse is a thick spungy flesh growing ouer a horsses vpper teeth hindering the coniunction of his chaps â—arkham in such sort that hee can hardly eat the cure is as followeth Cut all that naughty flesh away with a hot yron and then rub the sore well with salt which the most ignorant Smith can do sufficiently Of the Canker in the mouth THis disease as Martin saith is a rawnesse of the mouth and tongue which is full of blisters â—lundevile so as he cannot eat his meate Which proceedes of some vnnaturall heate comming from the stomach For the cure whereof take of Allum halfe a pound of Hony a quarter of a pinte of columbine leaues of Sage leaues of each a handfull boile al these together in three pints of water vntill a pinte be consumed and wash the sore places therewith so as it may bleede continuing so to do euery day once vntill it be whole Another of the Canker in the mouth THis disease proceedeth of diuers causes as of vnnaturall heat of the stomach of foule feeding Markham or of the
none of mine Authors Martin nor anie other Ferrer in these daies that I knowe haue intermedled with anie kind of bursting but onely with that wherein the gut falleth downe into the cod leauing all the rest apart I wil onely talke of this and that according to Martins experience which I assure you differeth not much from the precepts of the old writers But first you shal vnderstand that the gut bursten and flanke bursten doth proceed both of one cause that is to say by meanes that the skinne called before Peritoneum is either sore strained or else broken either by some stripe of another horse or els by some strain in leaping ouer an hedge ditch or pale or otherwise yea and many times in passing a carier through the carelesnes of the rider stoping the horse sodenly without giuing warning wherby the horse is forced to cast his hinder legs abroad so straineth or bursteth the skin aforesaid by meanes whereof the gut falleth downe into the cod The signes be these The horse will forsake his meat and stand shoring and leanning alwaies on that side that he is hurt and on that side if you search with your hande betwixt the stone and the thigh vpward to the body and somewhat aboue the stone you shall find the gut it selfe big and hard in the feeling whereas on the other side you shal find no such thing The cure according to Martin is thus Bring the horse into some house or place that hath ouer head a strong balk or beame going ouerthwart and strew that place thicke with strawe then put on foure pasternes with foure ringes on his feete and then fasten the one end of a long rope to one of those Ringes then thread all the other rings with the loose end of the Rope and so drawe all his foure feete togither and cast him on the straw That done cast the rope ouer the baulke and hoise the horse so as he may lye flatte on his backe with his legs vpward without struggling Then bath his stones well with warme Water and Butter molten togither and the stones being somewhat warme and wel mollified raise them vp from the body with both your hands being closed by the fingers fast togither and holding the stones in your hands in such manner worke downe the gut into the body of the horse by striking it downward continually with your two thumbs one labouring immediately after another vntill you perceiue that side of the stone to bee so so smal as the other and hauing so discorded that is to say returnd the gut into his right place take a list of two fingers broad throughly annointed with fresh butter and tie his stones both togither with the same so nigh as may bee not ouer hard but so as you may put your finger betwixt That done take the horse quietly down and lead him faire and softly into the stable whereas he must stand warme and not be stirred for the space of 3. weekes But forget not the next day after his discording to vnloosen the list and to take it away and as wel at that time as euery day once or twice after to cast a dish or two of cold water vp into his cods and that wil cause him to shrinke vppe his stones and thereby restraine the gut from falling downe and at the three weekes end be sure it were not amisse to geld the stone on that side away so shall he neuer be encorded againe on that side But let him not eat much nor drinke much and let his drinke be alwayes warme Of the botch in the graines of a horse IF a horse be full of humours and then suddenly laboured the humours will resort into the weakest parts and there gather together and breede a botch and especially in the hinder parts betwixt the thighes not farre from the cods The signes be these The hinder legges wil be al swollen and especially from the houghes vpwarde and if you feele with your hand you shal find a great kind of swelling and if it be round and hard it wil gather to a head The cure according to Martin is thus First ripe it with a plaister take of Wheat-flower of Turpentine and of hony of each like quantity stirring it together to make a stiffe plaister and with a cloth lay it vnto the sore renewing it euery day once vntil it breake or waxe soft and then launce it as the matter may runne downeward Then taint it with Turpentine and Hogges greace moulten togither renewing it euery daye once vntil it be whole Of the diseases incident to the wombe of a Mare and specially of barrennesse IT seemeth by some writers that the wombe of a Mare is subiect to certaine diseases though not so many as the wombe of a Woman as to ascent descent falling out convulsion barrennesse aborsment yea Aristotle and others do not let to write that menstrual blood doth naturally void from the Mare as from the Woman though it bee so little in quantity as it cannot be well perceiued But sith none of mine Authors haue written thereof to any purpose nor any Ferrer of this time that I knowe haue had any experience in such matters I wil passe them all ouer with silence sauing barrennes whereof I promised before in his due place to declare vnto you the causes and such kind of cure for the same as the old writers haue taught A Mare then may be barren through the vntemperatenesse of the wombe or matrix aswell for that it is too hot and fiery or else to cold and moist or too dry or else too short or too narrow or hauing the necke thereof turned awry or by meanes of some obstruction or stopping in the matrix or for that the mare is too fat or too leane and many times mares goe barren for that they be not well horsed Wel the cure of barrennesse that commeth through the fault of the matrixe or wombe according to the old writers is thus Take a good handful of Leekes stamp them in a morter with halfe a glasseful of wine then put thereunto twelue Flies called of the Apothecaries Cantharides of diuers colours if they may be gotten then straine altogether with a sufficient quantity of water to serue the mare therewith two daies together by powring the same into her nature with a horn or glister-pipe made of purpose and at the end of three daies next following offer the horse vnto her that should couer her and immediately after that she is couered wash her nature twice together with cold water Another receipt for the same purpose TAke of Nitrum of sparrowes dung and Turpentine of each a like quantitye well wrought together and made like a suppository and put that into her nature and it wil cause her to desire the horse and also to conceiue Hippocrates saith that it is good also to put a nettle into the horses mouth that should couer her Of the Itch Scabbe and manginesse in the taile and falling
of the Horse and the hurt it selfe will shew The cure according to Martin is thus Pull off the shooe and pare the foote and with a drawer vncouer the hole making the mouth so broade as a two penny peece then tacke on the shooe againe That done stop it by powring into the hole Turpentine and Hogs-greace molten together and lay some flaxe or Towe vpon it and then stop all the Horsses foote with Horse-dung or rather with Cow-dung if you can get it and splent it either with stickes or else with an old shooe sole so as the stopping may abide in renewing it euery day once vntill it be whole and let the Horsse come in no wet If this be not well cured or looked to in time it will cause the hooue to breake aboue and to loosen round about and perhaps to fall cleane away But if you see that it begins to break aboue then make a greater yssue beneath by opening the hole wider and taking more of the sole away that the flesh may haue the more liberty Then take of bole Armony halfe a quarterne Beane-flower and two Egges Beate them and mingle them well together and make a plaister thereof vpon Towe and lay it round about the cronet bind it fast on and so let it remaine the space of two daies and then renew it againe not failing so to do euery two daies vntill you see it waxe hard and firme aboue For this plaister being restrictiue will force the humors to resort all downeward which must be drawne out with Turpentin and Hogs greace as before vntill it leaue mattering and then dry it vp with burnt Alum beaten to powder and strowed vpon it with a little Flaxe laid againe vpon that continuing so to do euery day once vntil it be hardened and let not the Horse come in any wet vntil he be whole Of accloyd or prickt ACcloyd is a hurt that commeth of shooing when a Smith driueth a Naile in the quicke â—â—rkham which will make him to halt and the cure is to take off the shoo and to cut the hoofe away to lay the sore bare then lay to it wax Turpentine and Deere-sewet which wil heale it Of the Figge IF a Horse hauing receiued any hurt as before is said by nail bone splent or stone or otherwise in the sole of his foot and not be well dressed and perfectly cured there will grow in that place a certaine superfluous piece of flesh like a Figge and it will haue little grains in it like a fig and therefore is rightly called of the Italians Vn fico that is to say a fig. The cure whereof according to Martin is thus Cutte it cleane away with a hot iron and keepe the flesh downe with Turpentine hogs greace and a little wax laid on with Towe or flax and stop the hole hard that the flesh rise not renewing it once a day vntil it be whole Of a Retreat THis is the pricking of a naile not wel driuen in the shooing and therefore pulled out againe by the Smith and is called of the Italians Tratta messa The cause of the pricking may be partly the rash driuing of the Smith and partly the weakenes of the naile or the hollownes of the naile in the shank For if it be too weake the point many times bendethawry into the quicke when it should go right forth It slatteth and shiuereth in the driuing into two parts wherof one part raceth the quick in pulling out or else perhaps breaketh cleane assunder and so remaineth stil behind and this kinde of pricking is worse than the cloyeng because it wil ranckle worse by reason of the flaw of yron remaining in the flesh The signes bee these If the Smith that driueth such a naile be so lewd as he wil not looke vnto it before the horse depart then there is no way to know it but by the halting of the horse and serching the hooue first with a hammer by knocking vpon euery clinging For when you knock vpon that naile where the greefe is The horse wil shrinke vp his foote And if that wil not seru then pinch or gripe the hooue with a paire of pinsons round about vntil you haue found the place greeued The cure according to Martin is thus First pul off the shooe and then open the place greeued with a butter or drawer so as you may perceiue by feeling or seeing whether there be any peece of naile or not if there be to pul it out and to stop the hole with Turpentine Waxâ— and Sheepes sewet moulten together and so poured hot into the hole and then lay a little Towe vppon it and clap on the shooe againe renewing it thus euery day vntil it be whole during which time let not the horse come in any wet and it must be so stopped though it be but prickt without any peece of naile remaining And if for lack of loking to it in time this retreat cause the houe to break aboue then cure it with the plaister restrictiue in such order as is mentioned in the laste place sauing one before this Of Cloying CLoying is the pricking of a whole naile called of the Italians Inchiodatura passinge through the quicke and remaining stil in the same and is clenched as other nailes be and so causeth the horse to halt The greeued place is knowne by searching with the hammer and pinsons as is before said If the horse halt immediately then pul off his shooe and open the hole vntil it begin to bleed and stop it with the ointment aforesaid in the same page of the Retreat and clap on the shooe againe and the hooue may be so good and the harme so little as you may trauel him immediately vppon it but if it bee ranckled then renew the stopping euery day once let him come in no wet vntil it bee whole Of loosening the hooue THis is a parting of the hooue from the cronet called of the Italians Dissolatura del vnghia which if it be round about it commeth by meanes of foundering if in part then by the anguish caused by the pricking of the canel naile piercing the sole of the foot or by some quitterbone Retreat Grauelling or Cloying or such like thing The signes be these When it is loosened by foundering then it will breake first in the fore-part of the Cronet right a-against the toes because the humor doth couet alwaies to descend towards the toe Againe when the pricking of a canel naile or such like cankered thing is the cause then the hooue wil loosen round about equally euen at the first But when it proceedeth of any of the other hurts last mentioned then the hooue wil breake right aboue the place that is offended and most commonly wil proceed no further The cure according to Martin is thus First of which soeuer of these causes it proceeds be sure to open the hoofe in the sole of the foot so as the humor may haue free passage downeward
Mantuan Est in eis Pietas Crocodili astutia Hyaenae And the female is far more subtill then the male and therefore more seldome taken for they are afraid of their own company It was constantly affirmed that among eleuen Hyaenes there was found but one female it hath beene beleeued in ancient time that there is in this beast a magicall or enchanting power for they write that about what creature soeuer he goeth round three times it shall stand stone-still and not be able to mooue out of the place and if Dogs do but come within the compasse of their shaddow and touch it they presently loose their voice and that this she dooth most naturally in the ful moone Aelianus philes for although the swiftnesse or other opportunity of the Dogges helpeth them to fly away from her yet if she can but cast her shadow vpon them she easily obtaineth her prey She can also counterfeit a mans voice vomit cough and whistle by which meanes in the night time she commeth to houses or foldes where Dogs are lodged and so making as though she vomited or else whistling draweth the Dogs out of doors to her and deuoureth them Solinus Aelianus Likewise her nature is if she find a man or a Dog on sleepe she considereth whether shee or he haue the greater body if she then she falleth on him and either with her weight or some secret worke of nature by stretching her body vpon him killeth him or maketh him sencelesse whereby without resistance she eateth off his hands but if she find her body to be shorter or lesser then his then she taketh her heeles and flyeth away If a man meet with this beast he must not set vpon it on the right hand but on the lefte for it hath bin often seene that when in hast it did run by the Hunter on the right hand he presently fel off from his horse sencelesse and therefore they that secure themselues from this beast must be carefull to receiue him on the left side that so hee may with more facility be taken especially saith Pliny if the cords wherein he is to be ensnared be fastned with seuen knots Aelianus reporteth of them that one of these comming to a man asleep in a sheep-coat by laying her left hand or forefoote to his mouth made or cast him into a dead-sleep and afterward digged about him such a hole like a graue as shee couered all his body ouer with the earth except his throat and head whereupon she sat vntill she suffocated and stifled him yet Philes attributeth this to her right foote The like is attributed to a Sea-calfe and the fish Hyaena and therefore the old Magicians by reason of this exanimating property did not a little glory in these beasts as if they had beene taught by them to exercise diabolicall and praestigious incantations wherby they depriued men of sence motion and reason They are great enemies to men and for this cause Solinus reporteth of them that by secret accustoming themselues to houses or yardes where Carpenters or such mechanicks worke they learne to call their names and so will come being an hungred and call one of them with a distinct and articulate voyce whereby he causeth the man many times to forsake his worke and goe to see the person calling him but the subtill Hyaena goeth farther off and so by calling allureth him from helpe of company Textor and afterward when she seeth time deuoureth him and for this cause hir proper Epithite is Aemula vocis Voyce counter-fayter Aelinaus Their enmitie with other beasts Orus There is also great hatred betwixt a Pardall and this beast for if after death their skins be mingled together the haire falleth off from the Pardals skinne but not from the Hyaenaes and therfore when the Egyptians describe a superiour man ouercome by an inferiour they picture these two skinnes and so greatly are they afraide of Hyaenaes that they runne from all beasts creatures and places whereon any part of their skinne is fastened And Aelianus saith that the Ibis bird which liueth vpon serpents is killed by the gall of an Hyaena He that will go safely through the mountaines or places of this beasts aboade Rasis Albertus say The naturall vse of their skinnes Palladius Rasis Plutarch that hee must carry in his hand a roote of Coloquintida It is also beleeued that if a man compasse his ground about with the skinne of a Crocodile an Hyaena or a sea-Calfe and hang it vp in the gates or gaps thereof the fruites enclosed shall not be molested with haile or lightning And for this cause Mariners were wont to couer the tops of their sailes with the skinnes of this beast or of the Sea-calfe and Horus sayth that a man clothed with this skinne may passe without feare or daunger through the middest of his enemies for which occasion the Egyptians doe picture the skin of an Hyaena to signifie fearelesse audacitie Neither haue the Magitians any reason to ascribe this to any praestigious enchauntment seeing that a figge tree also is neuer oppressed with haile nor lightning And the true cause thereof is assigned by the Philosophers to be the bitternesse of it for the influence of the heauens hath no destructiue operation vppon bitter but vppon sweete things Coelius and there is nothing sweete in a figge tree but onely the fruite Also Collumella writeth that if a man put three bushels of seede graine into the skinne of this beast and afterward sowe the same without all controuersie it will arise with much encrease Gentian worne in an Hyaenaes skin seuen daies in steede of an amulet is very soueraigne against the biting of mad dogges And likewise if a man hold the tongue of an Hyaena in his hand there is no dogge that dareth to seize vpon him The skinne of the forehead or the bloud of this beast resisteth all kind of witchcraft and incantation Likewise Pliny writeth that the haires layed to womens lips maketh them amorous And so great is the vanitie of the Magicians that they are not ashamed to affirme that by the tooth of the vpper iaw of this beast on the right side bound vnto a mans arme or any part thereof he shall neuer be molested with dart or arrow Likewise they say that by the genital of this beast and the article of the backe-bone which is called Atlantios with the skinne cleauing vnto it preserued in a house keepeth the family in continuall concord and aboue al other if a man carry about him the smallest and extreame gut of his intrailes he shal not onely be deliuerd from the Tyrany of the higher powers Actuarius Zoroastres but also foreknow the successe and euent of his petitions and sutes in Law If his left foot and nailes be bound vp together in a Linnen bagge and so fastned vnto the right arme of a man he shal neuer forget whatsoeuer he hath heard or knoweth And if he cut
compelletd her to declare the whole truth which was that she was a Phairy and that she purposed to vse the companie of Menippus and feede him fat with all manner of pleasures to the entent that afterward she might eate vp and deuour his body for all their kinde loue was but onely to feede vpon beautifull yong men These and such like stories and opinions there are of Phairies which in my iudgement arise from the praestigious apparitions of Deuils whose delight is to deceiue and beguile the minds of men with errour The true definition of Phairies contrary to the truth of holye Scripture which doeth no where make mention of such inchaunting creatures and therefore if any such be we will holde them the workes of the Deuill and not of God or rather I beleeue that as Poets call Harlots by the name of Charibdis which deuoureth and swalloweth whole shippes and Nauies aluding to the insatiable gulph of the Sea so the Lamiae are but poeticall alligories of beautifull Harlottes who after they haue had their lust by men doe many times deuour and make them away as we read of Diomedes daughters and for this cause also Harlots are called Lupae shee-Wolues and Lepores Hares To leaue therefore these fables Their names and description and come to the true description of the Lamia we haue in hand In the foure and thirty chapter of Esay we do find this beast called Lilith in the Haebrew and translated by the auncients ' Lamia which is there threatned to possesse Babell Likewise in the fourth chapter of the Lamentations where it is said in our English translation that the Dragons lay forth their brests in Haebrew they are called Eihaâ—â—â— which by the confession of the best interpreters cannot signifie Dragons but rather sea-calues being a generall word for strange wilde beasts Howbeit the matter being wel examined it shall appeare that it must needes be this Lamia because of her great breastes which are not competible either to the Dragon or Sea-calues so then we wil take it for graunted by the testimony of holy Scripture that there is such a beast as this Crisostomus Dion also writeth that there are such beasts in some part of Libia hauing a Womans face and very beautifull also very large and comely shapes on their breasts such as cannot bee counterfeited by the art of any painter hauing a very excellent colour in their fore parts without wings and no other voice but hissing like Dragons they are the swiftest of foote of all earthly beasts so as none can escape them by running for by their celerity they compasse their prey of beastes and by their fraud they ouerthrow men For when as they see a man they lay open their breastes and by the beauty thereof entice them to come neare to conference and so hauing them within their compasse they deuoure and kill them vnto the same things subscribe Coelius and Giraldus adding also that there is a certaine crooked place in Libia neare the Sea-shore full of sand like to a sandy Sea and all the neighbor places thereunto are deserts If it fortune at any time that through shipwrack men come there on shore these beasts watch vppon them deuouring them all which either endeuour to trauell on the land or else to returne backe againe to Sea adding also that when they see a man they stand stone still and stir not til he come vnto them looking down vpon their breasts or to the ground whereupon some haue thought they seeing them at the first sight haue such a desire to come neare them that they are drawne into their compasse by a certaine naturall magicall witch-crafte but I cannot approue their opinions either in this or in that wherein they describe him with horsses feet and hinder parts of a serpent but yet I graunt that he doth not onely kill by biting but also by poysoning feeding vpon the carcasse which hee hath deuourd His stones are very filthy and great and smel like a Sea-calues for so Aristophnies writing of Cleon a Corior and lustfull man compareth him to a Lamia in the greatnesse and filthinesse of his stones the hinder parts of this beast are like vnto a Goate his fore legs like a Beares his vpper parts to a woman the body scaled all ouer like a Dragon as some haue affirmed by the obseruation of their bodies when Probus the Emperor brought them forth into publike spectacle also it is reported of them that they deuoure their own young ones and therefore they deriue their name Lamia of Laniando and thus much for this beast OF THE LYON BEing now come to the discourse of the Lyon iustly stiled by all writers the King of beastes I cannot chuse but remember that prettie fable of Esope concerning the societie and honor due vnto this beast For saith he the Lyon Asse and the Fox entered league and friendship together and foraged abroad to seeke conuenient booties at last hauing found one and taken the same the Lyon commanded the Asse to make deuision thereof the silly Asse regarding nothing but societie and friendship and not honor and dignitie parted the same into three equall shares one for the Lyon an other for the Fox and the third for himselfe Whereat the Lyon disdaining because hee had made him equall vnto the residue presently fell vpon him and toare him in peeces then bidding the Fox to make the deuision the craftie Fox deuided the prey into two parts assigning vnto the Lyon almost the whole bootie and reseruing to himselfe a very small portion which being allowed by the Lyon he asked him who taught him to make such a partition marry quoth the Fox the calamitie of the Asse whom you lately toare in peeces In like manner I would be loath to be so simple in sharing out the discourse of the Lyon as to make it equall with the treatise of the beasts lately handled but rather according to the dignitie thereof to expresse the whole nature in a large and copious tractate For such is the rage of illiterate or else enuious men that they would censure me with as great seueritie if I should herein like an Asse forget my selfe if I were in their power as the Lyon did his colleague for one foolish partition And therefore as when Lisimacus the sonne of Agathocles being cast by Alexander to a Lyon to be destroyed because he had giuen poyson to Calistines the Philosopher that was for the ending of his miserie who was included by the said Alexander in a caue to be famished to death vpon some sleight displeasure the said Lisimacus being so cast vnto the Lyon did not like a cowardly person offer himselfe to his teeth but when the Lyon came gaping at him to deuoure him hauing wrapped his arme in his linnen garment held him fast by the tongue vntill he stopped his breath and slew him for which cause he was euer afterwards the more loued and honored of Alexander hauing at the time
thereupon seeing the lion did bestride him standing ouer his vpper partes his handes being at some liberty drew out his longe Barbarian knife and thrust the same twice or thrice into the lions flanke which the lion endured neuer hurting the man but supposing the woundes came some other way and would not forsake her booty to looke about for the meanes whereby shee was harmed At last finding her selfe sicke her bowels being cut asunder within her for in all hot bodies wounds work presently she departed away from the man about some two yards distance and there lay downe and dyed The wretch being thus deliuered from the iawes of death you must thinke made no small brags thereof in the court notwithstanding he was more beholding to the good nature of the lion which doth not kill to eate except he be hungry then to his owne wit strength or vallour The Male Lyon doeth not feede with the Female but either of them a-part by themselues Their foode and eating They eate rawe flesh for which cause the Graecians call them Omesteres Omoboroi and Omophagoi the younge ones themselues cannot longe bee fed with Milke Albertus because they are whot and dry being at libertie they neuer want meate and yet they eate nothing but that which they take in hunting and they hunt not but once a day at the most Auicen and eate euery second day whatsoeuer they leaue of their meate they returne not to it againe to eate it afterwardes whereof some assigned the cause to bee in the meate because they can endure nothing which is vnsweete stale or stinking but in my opinion they do it throgh the pride of their naturs resembling in al things a Princely maiesty and therefore scorne to haue one dish twice presented to their own table But tame Lyons being constrained through hunger will eate dead bodies and also cakes made of meale and hony as may appeare by that tame Lyon which came to Appollonius and was sayd to haue the soule in it of Amasis King of Egypt which story is related by Philostratus in this manner There was saith he a certaine man which in a leame led vp and downe a tame Lyon like a Dogge whethersoeuer he would and the Lyon was not onely gentle to his leader but to all other persons that met him by which meanes the man got much gaines and therefore visited many Regions and Citties not sparing to enter into the temples at the time of sacrifising because he had neuer shed blood but was cleare from slaughter neither licked vp the blood of the beastes nor once touched the flesh cut in pieces for the holy altar but did eate vpon Cakes made with meale and hony also bread Gourds and sod flesh and now and then at customary times did drinke wine As Appollonius satte in a Temple hee came vnto him in more humble manner lying downe at his feete and looking vp into his face then euer he did to any as if he had some speciall supplycation vnto him and the people thought he did it for hope of some reward at the commaund and for the gaine of his maister At last Appolonius looked vppon the lyon and tolde the people that the lyon did entreat him to signifie vnto them what hee was and wherewithall hee was possessed namely that he had in him the soule of a man that is to say of Amasis a King of Egypt who raigned in the prouince of Sai At which words the Lyon sighed deepely and mourned forth a lamentable roaring and gnashing his teeth together and crying with aboundance of teares whereat Appollonius stroked the beast and made much of him telling the people that his opinion was forasmuch as the soul of a K. had entred into such a kingly beast he iudged it altogether vnfit that the beast should go about and beg his liuing and therfore they should do well to send him to Leontopolis there to be nourished in the Temple The Egyptians agreed thereunto and made sacrifice to Amasis adorning the beast with Chaines Bracelets and branches so sending him to the inner Egypt the priestes singing before him all the way their idolatrous Hymnes Anthems but of the transfiguration of men into Lions we shall say more afterwardes onely this story I rehearsed in this place to shew the food of tame and enclosed lyons The substance of such transfigurations I hold to be either poetical or else diabolicall The foode therefore of lyons is most commonly of meeke and gentle beasts for they will not eate Wolues or Beares or such beastes as liue vpon rauening because they begette in them melancholy they eate their meate very greedily and deuoure many thinges whole without chewing but then they fast afterwards two or three daies together neuer eating vntill the former be digested but when they fast that day they drink and the next day they eate for they seldome eate and drinke both in one day Aelianus philes and if any sticke in his stomacke which he cannot digest because it is ouercharged then doth he thrust down his Nailes into his throate and by straining his stomacke pulleth it out again The selfe same thing he doth when he is hunted vpon a full belly and also it must not be forgotten that althought he come not twice to one carcasse yet hauing eaten his belly full at his departure by a wilfull breathing vpon the residue he so corrupteth it Solinus that neuer after any beast will tast thereof for so great is the poyson of his breath that it putrifieth the flesh and also in his owne body after it is sodainely rypped vppe the intrals stinke abhominably Pliny Aristotle The reasons whereof I take to be their great voracitie which cannot but corrupt in their stomacke and also the seldome emptying of their belly for they vtter their excrements not aboue once in three daies and then also it is exceeding dry like a dogges stinking abhominably and sending forth much winde and because their vrine smelleth strongly which also they render like a dogge holding vp one of their legges They neuer make water but first of all they smell to the tree I meane the male Lion They fall vpon some creatures for desire of meate and especially when they are old and not able to hunt they goe to townes and villages to the stables of Oxen and foldes of sheepe and sometimes to men and deuour them wherefore they neuer eate hearbes but when they are sicke Polybius affirmeth that he saw them besiege and compasse about many Citties of Affricke and therefore the people tooke and hanged them vp vpon crosses and gallowses by the high waies to the terror of others Wherefore as they excell in strength and courage so also they doe in crueltie The crueltie of Lions Leo Afer Philes Herodotus deuouring both men and beastes setting vpon troupes of horsemen depopulating the flockes and heards of cattell carrying some aliue to their yoonge ones killing fiue or sixe at
one time and whatsoeuer they lay holde on they carry it away in their mouth although it be as bigge as a Camell for they loue Camels flesh exceedingly And therefore the Lions that set vpon the Camels of Xerxes neither medled with the men The hatred of Lyons and their seuerall enemies Oxen nor victuales but onely the Camels so that it seemeth no meate is so acceptable vnto them They hate aboue measure the wilde Asses and hunt and kill them according to the saying of the wise man Leonum venatio onager◠the wilde Asse is the game of Lions Ecclus 13. They hate also the Thoes and fight with them for their meate because both of them liue vpon flesh of whom Gratius writeth Thoes commisses clarissima fama leones Et subiere asto paruis domuere lacertis They eate also Apes but more for Phisicke then for nourishment they set vpon Oxen vsing their owne strength very prudently for when they come to a stall or heard they terrifie all Aelianus that they may take one They eate also yonge Elephants as we haue shewed before in the storie of Elephants and so terrible is the roaring of the lyon that he terrifieth all other beastes but being at his prey it is said he maketh a circle with his taile either in the snowe or in the dust and that all beastes included within the compasse of that circle when they come into it presently know it dare not for their liues passe ouer it beleeue this who that list It is also said Ambrosius that when the beastes doe heare his voice all of them doe keepe their standing and dare not stirre a foote which assertion wanteth not good reason for by terrour and dread they stand amazed And the writer of the Glosse vpon the Prophet Amos vpon these words of the Prophet Nunquid rugiet leo in saltu nisi habuerit praedam Will the lion roare except he haue a pray Leo saith he Tum famem patitur si videt praedam dat rugitum quo audito ferae stant fixo gradu stupefactae that is to say the lion when he is hungry and seeth his prey roareth and then all the wilde beastes stand still amazed The drinke of Lions They drinke but little and also seldome as we haue said alreadie and therefore Cyrus praising good souldiers in Xenophon vseth these words Vos famem habetis pro obsonio hydroposian de raon toon Leontoon pherete that is to say hunger is your shambles and you are more patient of thirst then lions The terrours of Lions and means wherby they perish although you drinke water Notwithstanding this great valliancie of lions yet haue they their terrors enemies and calamities not only by men but also by beasts ouer whom they claime a soueraigntie We haue shewed already in the storie of dogges that the great dogs in India and Hircania doe kill lyons and forsake other beastes to combat with them There is a Tigre also called Lauzani which in many places is twice as bigge as a lion that killeth them and despiseth the huge quantity of Elephants Martiall also writeth that he saw a tame Tiger deuoure a wilde lion A serpent or snake doth easily kill a lion whereof Ambrosius writeth very elegantly Eximia leonis pulchritudo per comantes ceruicis toros excutitur cum subito a serpente os pectore tenus attollitur itaque Coluber ceruū fugit sed leonē interficit The splendant beautie of a lion in his long curled mane is quickly abated and allayed when the Serpent doth but lift vp his head to his brest for such is the ordinance of God that the snake which runneth from a fearefull Hart should without all feare kill a couragious lyon and the writer of Saint Marcellus life Alla O men dracon c. How much more will he feare a great Dragon against whom he hath not power to lift vp his taile and Aristotle writeth that the lyon is afraid of the Swine and Rasis affirmeth as much of the Mouse Plinius Ambrose The Cocke also both seene and heard for his voice and combe is a terror to the lion and Basiliske and the lyon runneth from him when he seeth him especially from a white cocke and the reason hereof is because they are both partakers of the Sunnes qualities in a high degree and therefore the greater body feareth the lesser because there is a more eminent and predominant sunny propertie in the Cocke then in the Lion Animalia solaria Lucretius describeth this terrour notably affirming that in the morning when the Cocke croweth the Lions betake themselues to flight because there are certaine seedes in the body of Cockes which when they are sent and appeare to the eyes of Lions they vexe their pupils and apples and make them against nature become gentle and quiet the verses are these Quinetiam gallum nocte explaudentibus alis Auroram clara consuetam voce vocare Quem nequeunt rapidi contra constare leones Inque tueri ita continuo meminere fugari Nimirum quia sunt gallorum in corpore quaed am Semina quae quum sint oculis immissa leonum Pupillas intersodiunt acremque dolorem Praebent vt nequeant contra durare feroces We haue spoken already of the Leontophonus how she rendreth a vrine which poysoneth the Lion the noyses of wheeles and chariots doe also terrifie them according to the saying of Seneca Leonipauida sunt ad leuissimos strepitus pectora The high stomacke of a Lyon is afraid of a little strange noice Anthologius hath an excellent Epigram of one of Cybels Priests who trauailing in the mountaines by reason of frost cold and snow was driuen into a Lions den and at night when the Lion returned he scarred him away by the sound of a bell The like also shall be afterward declared of Wolues in their story They are also afraid of fire Ardentesque faces quas quamuis saeuiat horret For as they are inwardly filled with naturall fire for which cause by the Egyptians they were dedicated to Vulcan so are they the more afraide of all outward fire Aelianus and so suspitious is he of his welfare that if he tread vpon the rinde or barke of Oke or the leaues of Osyer he trembleth and standeth amazed And Democritus affirmeth that there is a certaine herbe growing no where but in Armenia and Cappadocia which being layed to a Lion Plinius maketh him to fall presently vpon his backe and lye vpward without stirring and gaping with the whole breadth of his mouth the reason whereof Pliny saith is because it cannot be bruised There is no beast more desirous of copulation then a lionesse Leo Afer Their lust of copulation and for this cause the males oftentimes fall forth for sometimes eight ten or twelue males follow one lionesse like so many dogges one fault bitch for indeede their naturall constitution is so hotte that at all times of the yeare both
six hundred great Lyons among them there were three hundred fiftie maned Lyons Also he instituted hunting of Lyons at Rome Plutarcke wherein were slaine fiue hundred Caesar when he was Dictator presented in spectacle foure hundred Lyons Quintus Scaevola caused Lyons to fight one with an other But Marcus Antonius Pliny in the ciuill warre after the battaile of Pharsalia did first of all cause Lyons to be yoaked and draw the Chariot of triumphes wherein he himselfe sate with one Citheris a Iester which thing was not done without shew and obseruations of a prodigeous and monsterous action and especially in those times wherein it was interpreted that as the noble spirits of those Lyons were so much abased and vassalaged insteede of horses to draw a chariot they being in nature the King of beasts so it was feared that the auncient nobilitie of Rome the graue Senators and gallant Gentlemen commaunders of the whole common-wealth should in time to come through ciuill wars and pride of the people be depriued of all honor and brought down to the basest offices of the whole state Antoninus Pius nourished a hundred lions Domician the Emperor called for Acillius Gabrio the consull into Albania about the time that the games were celebrated for the prosperity of youth and young men which were called Iuuenalia to fight with a great lyon and Acillius comming wisely into the combat did easily kil him In ancient time when lions could not be tamed they did discerne them by their teeth and nailes and so taking as it were the sting and poyson from the serpent and the Weapons wherein consisteth all their strength they were without all perill sent into the publike assemblies at the time of their generall meetings and great feasts Martiall hath an excellent Epigram of the great lion before exhibited in publike spectacle by Domitian wondering that the Masilian and Ausonian shepherds were so afraid of this lion made as great a noise and murmvr about his presence as if he had bin a heard of lions and therefore he commendeth the Libian country for breeding such a beast and withall expresseth the ioy of the shephards for his death as are showne in these verses following Auditur quantum Massyla per auia murmur Innumero quoties sylua leo ne furit Pallidus attonitos ad plena mapalia pastor Cum reuocat tauros sine mente pecus Tantus in Ausonia fremuit modo terror arena Quis non esse gregem crederet vnus erat Sed cuius tremerent ipsi quodque iura leones Cui diadema daret marmore picta Nomas O quantum per colla decus quem sparsit honorem Aurea lunatae cum stetit vnda iubae Grandia quam decuit latum venabula pectus Quantaque de magna gaudia morte tulit Vnde tuis Libie tam felix gloria syluis A Cybeles nunquid venerat ille iugis An magis Herculeo Germanice misit ab astro Hanc tibi vel frater vel pater ipse feram We haue shewed already that Lions although neuer so well tamed become wilde againe Tame Lyons become wild againe and that through hunger which breaketh through stone Walles according to the common prouerb and therefore maketh them to destroy whatsoeuer commeth in their way according to these verses of Virgill Impastus ceu plena leu per ouilia turbans Suadet enim vesana fames manditque trahitque Molle pecus mutumque metu fremet ore creuento Such a one was the Lyon of Borsius Duke of Ferrara who being in his caue would deuore Buls Beares and Boares but with a Hare or little whelp he would play and doe them no harme at last leauing al his tamable nature he destroyed a young wench who oftentimes came vnto him to combe and stroke his mane and also to bring him meat and flowers vpon who Stroza made these two verses Sustulit ingratus cui quondam plurima debens Pectendasque iubas fera colla dabat The like vnto this also was that tame lyon that Martiall speaketh of who returning to his first nature destroyed two young children and therefore he saith iustly that his cruelty exceedeth the cruelty of war the Epigram is this Verbera securi solitus leo ferre magistri Insertamque pati blandus in ora manum Dedidicit pacem subito feritate reuersa Quanta neâ— in libicis debuit esse iugis Nam duo de tenera puerilia corpora turba Sanguineam rastris que renouabat humum Seuus infoelix furiali dente peremit Martia non vidit maius arena nefas Hauing thus spoken of the taming and taking lions it also now followeth to entreat of the length of their life The length of a Lyons life and their diseases and the diseases that are incident vnto them with their seuerall cures first therefore it is held that they liue very long as threescore or fourescore yeares for it hath beene seene that when a lion hath bin taken aliue and in his taking receiued some wound wherby he became lame or lost some of his teeth yet did he liue many yeares also it is found that some haue bin taken without teeth which were all fallen out of theyr head through age and Aelianus saith that a lion and a Dolphin doe both consume away through multitude of years The sicknesses wherwithal they are anoid are not very many but those which they haue are continual for the most part their intrals or inward partes are neuer sound but subiect to corruption as may appear by their spittle also by their biting Albertus and scratching of their nailes for a man lightly touched by them at sometimes is as much poysoned as by the biting of a mad dog also by reason of his extreame hot nature euery each other day he suffereth one sicknes or other at which time he lyeth prostrate vpon the earth roaring not al the day long but at certain houres and in his wrath he is consumed through the heat inclosed in his own body Cardan And in his best estate he is afflicted with a quartan Ague euen then when he seemeth to bee in health and except this disease did restraine his violence and mallice by weakning of his body he would be farre more hurtful to mankind then he is and this is to be vnderstood in the summer time he falleth into this disease sometimes at the sight of a man is cured by the bloud of dogs according to Albertus and Physioligus when he feeleth himselfe sick throgh aboundance of meat he faleth a vomiting either by the strength of nature or else helpeth himselfe by eating a kind of grasse or green corne in the blade or else rapes and if none of these preuaile then he fasteth and eateth no more till he find ease or else if hee can meete with an Ape he deuoureth and eateth his flesh and this is the principall remedy and medicine which hee receiueth against all his diseases both in
thereof it is blacke The price of a Lynxes skin These skinnes are sold for three Nobles a peece and sometime for six and sometimes for lesse according to the quantity of the skinne and countrey wherein it is sold And vnto this description do Bellonius and Bonarus agree For Bellonius at Constantinople saw two Lynxes Countries of Lynxes much like vnto cats and Bonarus had oftentimes seene them hunted in Moschouia Littuania Pollonia Hungaria and Germany But he commendeth aboue al other the Linxes of Scotland and Swesia as most beautifull hauing Triangular spots vpon theyr skinnes But the Indian and Affrican Linxes he saith haue round spots sharpe-bristly-short-haire and full of spots on all parts of their body and therefore they are not so delicate as the Linxes of Europe which with good cause he coniectureth to be the Linxe that Pliny speaketh of and not vnlike to that which is bred in Italy There are Linxes in diuers countries as in the for named Russia Littuania Pollonia Hungary Germany Scotland so also they are most abundant in Scandinavia in Swesia so also about Hyelsus and Helsyngia likewise in all the Regions vpon the Alpes and in Sylua Martia they are also very plentiful in Aethiopia in France and Italy about the riuer Padus and in the Island Carpathus and thus hauing discoursed of their country and proportion whereby their differences and kindes may bee discerned we will leaue euery one of them to their particular and proceed to the treatise and description of their general natures There is no great difference betwixt their outward shapes and proportion for both the smaller and the greater haue bright eies diuers coloured skins a little head Their outward shape and seueral partes a nimble and cheareful face and Albertus saith that their body is longer then the body of a Wolfe but their legges shorter mistaking the Linxe for the Thoes Their eyes stande forth of their heads very far their tongue like the toong of a Serpent and Textor affirmeth that they haue pappes or vdders in their Breastes but surely hee taketh Linxe for Sphinx Their meat goeth into the belly straight through the maw without staying and therein is a note of their insatiable voracity for none but insatiable beasts or birds are so affected as in birds the Cormorant It hath no ankle bone but a thing like vnto it the nails are very long as you may see in two of the former pictures but hee hideth them within his skin til he be angry ready to fight or climbe or otherwise affected as you may see by the picture of the Linx taken in the Tower of London The inward proportion and anatomy of their bodies is like vnto a mans and therefore Galen giueth this lesson to students in Phisicke Praestat simiarum homini quam similimarum artus dessicare cum te in exemplo exercere institues sin ea non detuo aliquam ei proximam delegito aut si nulla omnino Simia reperiatur Cynocephalum vel Satyrum vel Lincem summatim ea omnia quibus artuum extrema indigitos quinque discreta sunt That is to say It is good to discect those bodies which are likest to a man when one would instruct himselfe in anatomy and if he cannot find an Ape let him take a Baboone a Satyre or a Linx and generally any creature the extremity of whose sinnewes and ioynts are diuided into fiue fingers or toes There be some that haue thought that Panthers Pardals Linxes or Tygers hadde bin all of the kind of cats because of a mutuall resemblance in the greatnesse and strength of their nailes in the distinction of their skinnes which are partye coloured and faire hauing also a round head a short face a long taile a nimble body a wilde mind and gette their meat by hunting but heerein I leaue euery man to his owne best liking and opinion for when we haue done our best to expresse their natures and seuerall properties it shal be ydle to spend time about disputation to what ranke or order euery beast ought to be referred For euery one that readeth our story and seeth our pictures may either bee satisfied The 〈…〉 or els amend our labour The Linx therefore biteth most cruelly and deepe and therefore is accounted Rap aâ— animal instar lupi sed callidius a Beast as rauening as a wolfe but more crafty they get vp into trees and from them leape downe vppon very great beastes and destroy them beeing enemies both to men and beasts and at their pleasure according to necessity set vppon both the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 They are taken somtimes in Germany in the dutchy of Wertinberg and that it was once credibly affirmed one of them leaped downe from a tree vppon a countrey man as he passed vnder the same tree but being weary and hauing an axe on his necke he receiued her on the sharp edge thereof and so killed her otherwise she woulde soone haue killed him 〈◊〉 meat or foode They liue in the mountaines also where they are killed by poison or else hunted by armed men on horse-back and included with multitudes for their hunting is perilous and therefore they must be inclosed with great company Some take them with ditches as we heard before Lyons were taken others in snares or ginnes laide vppon the rockes and stones and whensoeuer they are hunted with Dogs they run directly to the woods or to the next trees wherein they are killed by gun-shot In the Summer time they are very weake and liue among the Rockes neuer strayinge farre from their owne lodging hurting no man vntill the autumn They hunt wilde goats whom they follow from Rocke to rocke leaping as fast or faster then the Goates They hunt also wilde cats and Hares and some other little beasts but the greatest Linxes hunt Hartes and Asses Olaâ—â— mag and their manner is as wee haue saide already to get vp into trees and there to ly in waite for their prey vntill they espy it vnder the boughes and then suddenly leape into the necke thereof whether it be a man or a great Beast wherein they fix their clawes so fast that no violence can shake them off but with the sharpenesse of their teeth bite into the scull and eate out the braines to the vtter destruction of the man or beaste whomsoeuer they light vpon but if it be a small beast they eate the whole body thereof and not onely the braines A singular note of forgetfulnesse Yet this is a wonderfull secret in their nature that although they belong afflicted with hunger yet when they eate their meate if they heare any noise or any other chaunce cause them to turne about from their meat out of the sight of it they forgette their prey notwithstanding theyr hunger Pliny and goe to seeke another bootey neuer remembring that which they had before them Solinus nor yet returne backe againe to eate thereof The voice of this beast
that some such like humor may issue out of them not onely by accident but through affinity of nature and condensate into a stone which the people finding couered in the sand vnder the trees and through their former perswasion might easily take it for the stone ingendred by the vrine of the Linx Hermolaus also writeth this of the Lycurium that it groweth in a certaine stone and that it is a kind of Mushrom 〈…〉 out of 〈◊〉 or Padstoole which is cut off yearely and that another groweth in the roome of it a part of the roote or foot being left in the stone groweth as hard as a flint and thus doth the stone encrease with a naturall fecundity which admirable thing saith he I could neuer be brought to beleeue vntill I did eate thereof in myne owne house Euax as is recyted by Syluaticus saith that the vrine of the Linx domi seruatus generat optimos sungos supra se quotanis reserued at home in ones house bringeth forth euery yeare the best Mushroms This is also called lapis Litzi and lapis prasius which is deuided into three kindes that is Iaspis Armeniâ—cus and lapis phrigius called also Belemintes wherewithall the Chirurgians of Prussia and Pomerania cure greene wounds and the Phisitians breake the stone in the bladder But the true Lyncurium which is extant at this day and currant among the Apothecaries is as light as the Pummis-stone and as big as filleth a mans fist being of a blackish colour or of a russet the russet is more solide sandy and fat and being bruised or eaten tasteth like earth both kinds are couered with little white skins and there is apparant in them a spungy tenatious substance and this I take to be the Mushrom whereof Hermolaus speaketh And by the little stones and small skinnes it may be coniectured to be corpus heterogones interracoalescens A Hetrogenian body encreasing in the earth wherewithall it hath no affinity There was another stone of the vrine of a Linx to be seen in Sauoy the substance wherof was clearely christal the forme of it was triangular the hardnes so as you might strike fire with it and the colour partly white and partly like wine mingled with water so that I will conclude that the vrine of a Linx may engender a stone though not in such manner as is before saide For the Arabian Iorath affirmeth that with in seauen daies after the rendring it turneth into a stone but it is not the Lyncurius property so called for that is the Amber or gum before spoken of although catacrestically so called And if it be true that there bee certaine Mushroms neare the red-sea which by the heat of the sunne are hardned into stones then also it may follow very naturally that those stones may produce Mushroms againe for both the dissolution and the constitution of things are thought to be grounded vpon the same principles And thus much shal suffice for the vrine of the Linx and the stone made thereof The skins of Linxes are most pretious vsed in the garments of the greatest estates both Lords Vses of theyr seueâ—â—â— parts Pâ—â—rus Kings and Emperors as we haue shewed before and for that cause are sold very deare The clawes of this beast especially of the right foote which hee vseth instead of a hand are eâ—cluded in siluer and sold for nobles a peece and for Amulets to bee worne against the falling sicknesse The loue of these beasts to their young ones is very great like as the Pardals Lions and Tygers The king of Tartaria hath tame Linxes which he vseth in hunting instead of dogs The ancient Pagans dedicated this beast to Bacchus feigning that when he triumphed in his chariot of vine branches hee was drawne by Tygers and Linxes Lynxes tamed And therefore Virgill saith Quid Lynces Bacchi variae And Ouid Dicta racemifero Lyncas dedit India Baccho Al the nailes of a Linx being burned with the skin beaten into powder and giuen in drink will very much cohibite and restraine abhominable lechery in men the medcines of the Lynx it will also restraine the lust in women being sprinkled vpon them and also very effectually and spedily take away either itch or scurfe in man or womans body The vrin of this beast is accounted very medicinable for those which are troubled with the strangury or running of the raines The same is also very good and wholesome for the curing of any paine or griefe in the wind-pipe or throat Pliny Bonarus Baro doth affirme that the nailes of Linxes which are in their country are had in great estimation and price amongst their piers or noble men for there is a very certaine opinion amongst them that those nailes being put vpon the yeard of either horse or beast whose vrine is kept backe or restrained will in very short space cause them to void it without any griefe at al. He reporteth also that their nailes doe there wax white and that they include them all in siluer and do commend them for an excellent remedy against the cramp if they be worne peraduenture because they are bending and crooked by which perswasion ther are some superstitious men which hang certain rootes which are crooked and knotty about them against the crampe There are likewise some which do ascertaine that these nailes are good and ready helpes for the sorenes of the vnula which is in Horses mouthes and for that cause there are many horsemen which carry them continually about them The Linxe or wolfe which is begotten of a wolfe and a Hinde the Musk-cat Arnoldus the weasell and al such other like beasts do more hurt men by their biting teeth-wounds then by poison There was a certaine hunter as Collinus reporteth which told him that the flesh of a Linx being sod in some whot pottage or broth and afterwardes eaten would be a very good and wholesome medicine for the expelling of the Ague or quartan feauer and that the bones of the same beast being brent and pounded into powder would be a very excellent remedy for the curing of wounds which are old and stale and ful of putrifaction as also the Fistulaes which grow in the thighes or hips of men Of the Marder Martell or Marten THis beast is called in the Hebrew Oach or as some say Zijm amongst the Arabians Eastoz or rather Kacheobeon The seueral names or Kachineon in Latine Martes the Germans Marder or Marter like the english the Italians Marta Martore or Martorello the French Mardre or Foyne the Spaniards Marta the Illirians and Polonians Kuna and some later Latins vse these words Marta Martarus Marturus and Marturellus the reason or etimoligy of this Latin worde is taken from Martia which signifieth Martial because this beast in warlike hostill manner destroyeth her aduersaries two kinds of Martens and liueth vpon the prey of hens birds and Mice The Germans deuide these into two kinds which they
with Lard in small peeces with Auri pigment killeth Wolues and mice Croscentiensis and in some countries for the better dispersing of the poyson set drinke beside the same whereof as soone as they tast they swel and die but I haue seen them die without drinking at all Mice and wolues if they tast of the wilde Rose and drinke after it doe not not onely dye but also fall into madnesse and bite their fellows communicating the quality of the disease to euery one they bite Flesh cut into little peeces fryed with butter in a frying pan Cardon and afterwards when it is colde adde halfe so much soft pitch thereto and mingle t together rowling vp the flesh in the pitch then distribute it vpon little boords and set it in the place and places whereunto the mice do much resort and water beside it and when that they haue tasted of it a little they are so eagerly a thirst that they drinke and dye The like I may say of Rats-bane Quicke-siluer Sublimate and Precipitate and diuers other thinges and thus much may suffice for the ketching taking and killing of myce whereunto I may adde the vse of their members and parts not medicinall but naturall although I haue touched it heeretoforein part The Scythians were woont to be clad with the skinnes of mice and Wolues and it is obserued that when mice cry and screeketh aboue their ordinary custome it presageth an alteration and change of the Weather and thus much shall suffice for their naturall discourse Hauing thus discoursed of the nature of the vulgar mouse The morrall story of mice I may also adde the morral vse thereof as I find it recorded among learned writers deliuered eyther in Historie or in prouerbe It is reported of Glaucus the sonne of Minos and Pasiphae that while he followed a mouse to take her he fel into a vessel of hony but after Polyades the prophet by laying an herb on him raised him againe to life Hatto an Arch Bysh of Metz in the frontiers of Germany was destroyed by mise or as other say by Rats Tzetzes but the words of Textor are Hatto Archiepiscopus Moguntinus à muribus fertur deuoratus And the error may proceed because that Mus is a generall word for the Rat and mouse and therefore they which haue thought it an vnreasonable thinge that so small beastes should destroy so mighty a prince haue rather attributed it to the Rats then to the mice but they ought to haue rememberd that it was an extraordinary iudgement of God to punish a cruell couetous wretch and that therefore it was as easie for him to make the little mouse his instrument as the great Rat for we read that Herod was deuourd by worms and other haue beene eaten vp with lyce Adrian the Pope was strangled by a flye and therefore Hatto an Archbishop might aswel perish through the afflicting hand of God by a multitude of mice Heliogabalus that wretch among other his monstrous desires and Tyrannicall commaundes Lampridius affirmeth that vpon a time he commaunded that there should bee brought vnto him ten thousand mice aliue a thousand weasils and a thousand Sorices or wilde fielde-mice so base were his thoughts that while he should haue attended his Emperiall calling and hearkened to the suits and complaints of poore distressed subiects he was busied in killing of mice and therefore in ancient time a mouse-killer was taken for an opprobrious speech for a base sluggish and idle companion The like is reported of a Moscouian Emperour who to afflict his people and to gather money from them commanded the Cittizens of Musco to bring him a pecke full of fleas whereunto the people answered that if they could take so many yet could not they keepe them together from leaping away And mice haue beene brought into publique spectacle because at Lauinium they gnawed asunder the shields of siluer and it was afterward iudged a prodigie for there followed the Marsicke war When the Scythians vnderstoode that Darius with his great army stoode in neede of vittailes they sent vnto him a Prouant-master with these presents or gifts a birde a mouse a frog and fiue darts At the receipte whereof the Persians wondered what should be meant thereby and demaunded of the messenger the meaning of the mystery But the Ambassador answered he knew not any signification of his presents but onely receiued charge to deliuer them and make hast backe againe and to bid the Persians if they were wise to lay their wits together to know and vnderstand the meaning thereof When the Persians heard him say so they fell to consultation Darius gaue his opinion that the mouse signified the earth Herodotus the frog the waters the bird horses and the darts warlike furniture and strength of forces and that the Scythians by sending all these vnto them yeelded that the Persians should be Lords of their land sea horses and themselues and that therefore they ought to be of good courage But one Gobrias a graue Councellor who was one of the seuen that slew the Magi or Wizards aunswered otherwise for his coniecture was more true for said he O persae nisi effecti vt aues subuoletis in coelum aut vt mures subeatis terram aut vt ranae insiliatis in paludes non remeabitis vnde venistis his sagittis confecti O ye Persians except ye become like birds to flye vp into heauen or like mice to creepe into the earth or like frogs to leap into the waters you shall not returne back againe vnto the place from whence you came and so indeede it came to passe We reade 1. Sam. 5. that when the Arke of God was taken by the Philistimes and they kept it in their Temple at Hazzah the hand of the Lord fell vppon their Princes and hee smote them with Emrods in the bottome of their belly that is God punished them with mice for he afflicted their bodies and the fruites of the earth for which cause Cap. 6. they aduise with themselues to send back againe the Arke of the Lord with a present of Golden Mice Ouid Homer and Orpheus call Apollo Smyntheus for the Cretians in auncient time called Mice Smynthae Now the fained cause thereof is thus related by Aelianus There was one Crinis which was a Priest of Apollo who neglected his dayly sacrifice for the which through aboundance of mice he was depriued of the fruites of the earth for they deuoured all At which losse Apollo himselfe was moued and taking pittie of the miserie appeared to one Horda a Neate-heard commaunding him to tell Crinis that all the cause of that penury was for that he had omitted his accustomed sacrifice and that it was his duetie to offer them againe diligently or else it would be farre worse afterward Crinis vpon the admonition amended the fault and immediatly Apollo killed all the deuouring Mice with his darts whereuppon he was called Smyntheus Other againe
much delighted to eate hornets or horseflies also they feede vpon wilde Sagapen of the meddow and seeded Cabages and while they are wilde in the Mountaines they neuer drink the reason is as I suppose because in the summer time they eate moist greene herbs and in all the winter time they sleepe Towards the feast of Saint Michaell the Arch-angell and of Gallus they enter into their caues and as Pliny saith they first of all carry prouision of Hay Entrance into their caues and greene Hearbes into their denne to rest vpon wherein their wit and vnderstanding is to be admired for like Beauers one of them falleth on the back and the residue loade his belly with the carriage and when they haue laid vpon him sufficient he girteth it fast by taking his tayle in his mouth and so the residew draw him to the caue but I cannot affirme certainely whether this be a truth or a falsehood For there is no reason that leadeth the Author thereunto but that some of them haue beene found bald on the backe But this is certaine when the Snow begins to couer the Mountaines then doe they enter into their dennes and shut vp close the passages with Stickes Grasse and earth both so hard and so thicke that it is easier to breake the solide ground then the mouthes of their Caues and so being safely encluded both from the feare of the Hunters from Raine Snow and cold there they liue vntill the Spring without all manner of meate and drinke gathered round together like a Hedghogge sleeping continually and therefore the people inhabiting the Alpes haue a common prouerbe Their continual sleepe al the winter time to expresse a drowsie and sleepy fellow in the German tongue thus Er musse synzyt geschlaffen haben wie ein murmelthier in Latine thus Necesse habet certum dormiendo tempus consumere instar muris Alpini He must needes sleepe a little like the Mouse of the Alpes They sleepe also when they be tamed but it hath beene found by experience that when a tame one hath beene taken asleepe and layd in a warme barrell vpon Hay the mouth being shutte and closed to keepe out Raine and Snow at the opening thereof it was found dead and the reason was because it lacked breath and therefore this is most wonderfull that in the Mountaines notwithstanding the close stopping of the mouth of their caues yet they should not bee depriued of refrigeration that is fresh ayre for expiration and respiration But this is to be considered that after they haue beene long tamed they sleepe not so much as when they are wild for I thinke that their continuall eating of rawe and greene Hearbes ingendereth in them so many humors as cannot bee dispersed without along continuing sleepe but afterwardes when they are dieted with such meate as is prouided for the nourishment of man they are eased of the cause and so the effect ceaseth During the time that they sleepe they grow very fat and they are not awaked very easily Growing fat with sleepe except with the heat of the sun or fire or a hot-house Now the manner of their taking while they are wilde is thus In the summer time when they goe in and out of their caues they are taken with snares set at the mouth thereof but in the Winter time when they goe not abroad The taking of these beasts then also are the inhabitants forced to another deuise for then in the summer time they sette vp certaine pillers or perches neare the mouth of their denne whereby they may be dyrected when the snow doth couer the mountaines For the Pillers or poles stand vp aboue the snow although the snow bee very deepe Then come the inhabitants vpon round pieces of wood in the middest of the winter fastned to their shooe-soles ouer the deepe snow with their pyoners and diggers and cast away the snow from the den and so dig vp the earth and not onely take the beastes but carry them away sleeping and while they dig they diligently obserue the frame and maner of the stopping of the Mouses den For if it be long and deepe it is a signe of a long and a hard winter but if it be shallow and thin of the contrary so comming vpon them as we haue saide they take them and carry them away asleepe finding alwaies an odde number among them and they diligently obserue that whilest they dig there bee no great noise or that they bring not their fire too near thē For as Stumpsius saith Experrecti enim capinon possunt nam vt cunque strenue fodiat venator ipsi fodiendo simul retrocedunt pedibus quam effoderint terram reijciendo fossorem impediunt That is to say If they bee once awaked they can neuer be taken for howsoeuer the Hunter dig neuer so manfully yet they together with him dig inward into the mountaines and cast the earth backward with their feete to hinder his worke Being taken as we haue saide they grow very tame and especially in the presence of their keepers Their taming condicions in the house before whom they will play and sport and take Lice out of their heads with their forefeet like an Ape Insomuch as there is no beast that was euer wild in this part of the world that becommeth so tame and familiar to man as they yet doe they alwaies liue in the hatred of dogges and oftentimes bite them deepely hauing them at any aduantage especially in the presence of men where the dogs dare not resist nor defend themselues When they are wilde they are also killed asleepe by putting of a knife into their throate whereat their forefeete stirre a little but they dye before they can bee awaked Their blood is saued in a vessell and afterwards the Mouse it selfe is dressed in hot scalding water like a pig The sauing vse of their flesh and the haire thereof plucked off and then do they appeare bald and white next to that they bowell them and take out their intrals afterwards put in the bloud againe into their bellies and so seeth them or else salt them and hang them vp in smoake and being dressed after they are dryed they are commonly eaten in the Alpine regions with Rapes and Cabiges and their flesh is very fat not a fluxible or loose fat like the fat of Lambes but a solide fat like the fat of Hogs and Oxen. And the flesh hereof is commended to be profitable for women with child and also for all windinesse and gripings in the belly not onely the flesh to be eaten in meate but also the fat to be annointed vpon the belly or Nauel And for this cause it is vsed to procure sleepe and to strengthen decaied and weake sinnewes the flesh is alwaies better salted then fresh because the salt drieth vp the ouermuch humidity and also amendeth the grauity and ranknesse of the sauour but whether it be salt or whether it fresh it
one 2. Arnoldus It is a rauening beast feygning it selfe to be gentle and tame but being touched it biteth deepe Aâ—iaâ—us and poisoneth deadly It beareth a cruell minde desiring to hurt any thing neither is there any creature that it loueth or it loueth him because it is feared of al. The cats as we haue saide do hunt it and kil it but they eat not them for if they do they consume away in time They annoy Vines and are sildom taken except in cold they frequent Oxe-dung and in the winter time repaire to howses gardens and stables where they are taken and killed If they fall into a cart-road they die and canot get forth againe as Marcellus Nicander and Pliny affirme And the reason is giuen by Philes for being in the same it is so amazd and trembleth as if it were in bands And for this cause some of the ancients haue prescribd the earth of a cart-road to be laid to the biting of this mouse for a remedie therof They go very slowely they are fraudulent and take their prey by deceipt Many times they gnaw the Oxes hooues in the stable They loue the rotten flesh of Rauens and therefore in France when they haue killed a Rauen they keepe it till it stinketh and then cast it in the places where the Shrew-mice hanteth whereunto they gather in so great number that you may kil them with shovels The Egyptians vpon the former opinion of holines do bury them when they die And thus much for the description of this beast The succeeding discourse toucheth the medicines arising out of this beast also the cure of hir venemous bitings Marcellus The medicines of the Shrew The Shrew which falling by chaunce into a Cart-roade or tracke doth die vpon the same being burned and afterwards beaten or dissolued into dust and mingled with goose greace being rubbed or annointed vpon those which are troubled with the swelling in the fundament comming by the cause of some inflamation doth bring vnto them a wonderfull and most admirable cure and remedie The Shrew being slaine or killed hanging so that neither then nor afterwards she may touch the ground doth helpe those which are grieued and pained in their bodies Pliny with sores called fellons or biles which doth paine them with a great inflammation so that it be three times inuironed or compassed about the partie so troubled The Shrew which dyeth in the furrow of a cart-wheele being found and rowled in potters clay or a linnen cloth or in Crimson or scarlet-wollen-cloth and three times marked about the impostumes Pliny which will suddenly swell in any mans body will very speedily and effectually helpe and cure the same The taile of a Shrew being cut off and burned and afterwards beaten into dust and applied or annointed vpon the sore of any man which came by the biting of a greedy and rauenous dogge will in very short space make them both whole and sound so that the taile be cut from the shrew when she is aliue not when she is dead for then it hath neither good operation nor efficacy in it The former hoofes of a horse being scraped Hippocrates and the same fragmentes or scantlinges thereof being beaten in the duste or earth which hath been digged vp by a Shrew in foure measures of water powred downe the mouth of a horse which is troubled with any paine or wringing in his bowles will soon giue him both helpe and remedie The Shrew being either applyed in drinke or put in the maner and forme of a plaister or hanged vpon the sore which he hath bitten is the most excellentest and most medicinable cure for the helping and healing thereof A preseruatiue against poison would be an excellent remedy that neither man nor any other liuing creature should be bitten if they should leaue or would want that superstition called an enchantment against poison being hanged about the necke whereof we will speake more in the curing of the bites of this beast That the biting of a Shrew is venomous and of the reason of healing in this kind In Italy the biting of a Shrew is accounted for a very strong poyson and that except there be some medicine very speedily applyed for the curing and healing thereof Pliny the party so bitten will dye These Shrewes are truely so venemous and full of poyson that being slaine or killed by Cats whose nature is to kill whatsoeuer Mice they take they will not offer to touch or eate the least part of them But the biting of a female Shrew is most obnoxious and hurtfull when she is great with young but most dangerous of all when she biteth any one which is great with young either a woman or any other beast whatsoeuer her self being also with young Marcellus for then it will hardly be cured If a Shrew shall bite any creature while she is great with young the pushes or biles will in time be broke which they make and will come vnto a very great and malignant wound and sore If the Shrew do also bite any creature during the time she is with young Dioscorides she will presently leape off notwithstanding shee biteth more dangerous There is nothing which doth more apparantly explane and shew the biting of a Shrew then a certaine vehement paine and griefe in the creature which is so bitten as also a pricking ouer the whole body with an inflamation or burning heate going round about the place Auicenna and a fiery rednesse therein in which a blacke push or like swelling with a watery matter and filthy corruption doth arise and all the partes of the body which doe ioyne vnto it seeme blacke and blue with the marueilous great paine anguish and griefe which ariseth and proceedeth from the same When the push or bile which commeth by the occasion of a Shrew cleaueth or is broken their proceedeth and yssueth forth a kinde of white flesh hauing a certaine rinde or skinne vppon it and sometime there appeareth in them a certaine burning and sometimes the same is eaten in and falleth out but in the beginning there is a most filthy greene corruption and matter which floweth in the same afterward it is putryfied Dioscorides and eaten in and then the flesh falleth forth the wringings also of the inward partes the difficulty of voiding of the vrine and a cold corrupted sweate doth follow and accompany the same But Auicenna affirmeth that in what place soeuer this beast shal bite the sores thereof with great anguish will pant or beate and that in euery hole wherein his venomous teeth haue entred there will a certaine fiery rednesse appeare the skinne whereof being broken there will come a very white and matery sore which will breed much paine and trouble in all the partes of the body for the most part The sores or woundes which are made also by this beast are very manifestly knowen by the markes of the fore-teeth standing
in England at the first sight he seemed to applaud his comming looking cheerefully vppon him and wagging his taile presently he fell downe on his belly as it were to inuite the Dogge to com neare him by his submission lastly he got close vnto him creeping as though hee would play with him putting out one of his feete as Cats do when they play wherewithall the great Dogge grew secure and began nothing to mistrust the Beast at length when the Ounce saw his opportunity he suddenly leaped vpon his Necke and tooke him by the throate and pulled it out after he had killed him with his Nailes he opened the Dogges breast and taking out his heart did eate it before all the people in most cruell manner thus far Docter Cay speaketh of the Ounce and beside him no other Author that I know The gall of this beast is deadly poyson it hateth all creatures and destroyeth them especially men and therefore it may wel be said to be possessed with some euill spirit It loueth none but his owne kind And thus much for the Ounce OF THE ORYX. THis Beast in Pliny and Oppianus is called Orynx and Oryx and my coniecture is that his name is deriued from Oryssein which signifieth to digge Saint Ierom and the Septuagints for Theo. Deut. 14. Isa 51. translate Orix but Dauid Kimhi and the better learned men interpret it a wilde Oxe But the Haebrew Dischon may in my opinion bee so translated yet heerein I referre it to the learned Reader It is certaine that it is of the kinde of wilde Goates by the description of it differing in nothinge but this that the haire groweth auerie not like other beasts falling backeward to his hinder partes but forward toward his head and so also it is affirmed of the Aethiopian Bul which some saye is the Rhinocerot They are bred both in Lybia and Egypt and either of both countries yedeth testimony of their rare and proper qualities In quantity it resembleth a Roe hauing a beard vnder his chinne His colour white or pale like milke his mouth blacke and some spots vpon his cheekes his backe-bone reaching to his head being double broad and fat his horne standing vpright blacke and so sharpe that they cannot bee blunted against brasse or yron but pierce through it readily Aristotle and Pliny were of opinion that this beast was Bisulcus and Vnicornis that is clouen-footed and with one horne The original of their opinion came from the wilde-one-horned-goat whereof Schnebergerus a late writer writeth thus Certum est minineque dubium in Carpatho monte versus Russiam Transyluaniamque reperirifer as similes omnino rupicapris excâ—pto quod vnicum cornu ex media fronte enascitur nigrum dorso inflexum simile omnino rupicaprarum cornibus that is to say It is without al controuersie that there are wilde beasts in the mountaine Carpathus towards Russia and Transyluania very like to wilde goates except that they haue but one horne growing out of the middle of their heads which is blacke and bending backward like the hornes of wild goats But the true Oryx is described before out of Oppianus and it differeth from that of Pliny both in stature and hornes Aelianus saith that the Orix hath foure hornes but he speaketh of the Indian Orix whereof there are some yearely presented to their king and it may be both there and else-where diuersity of regions do breede diuersity of stature colour haire and hornes Simion Cethi affirmeth of the Muskat that it hath one horne and it is not vnlikely that he hath seene such an one and that the Orix may be of that kind But concerning their hornes it is related by Herodotus Pollux and Laur Valla that there were made instruments of musicke out of them such as are Citherns or Lutes vppon whose bellies the Musitians played their musicke by striking them with their hands and that those beasts were as great as Oxen and al this may be true notwithstanding wee haue shewed alreadie that they are as big as Roes for Plinie speaking that by relation or by sight it is likelie that he had seene a young one There be also Sea-beasts called Oryges and Orcae and there is in Egipt an ORIX which at the rising of Canis Syrius or the little Dogge is perpetually sorrowful and for this cause the LYBIANS do mock the EGYPTIANS for that they fable the same day that the little Dog-star riseth their ORIX speaketh But on the contrarie themselues acknowledge that as often as the said starre ariseth with the sunne al their goates turne to the East and looke vpon it and this obseruation of the Goates is as certaine as anie rule of the Astronomers The LYBIANS affirme more that they doe presage great store of raine Plutarch Elianus and change of weather The Egyptians also say that when the Moone commeth neare to the East they looke very intentiuely vpon her as vpon their sufferaign Goddesse and make a great noise and yet they say they doe it not for her loue but for her hate which appeareth by knocking their Legges against the ground and fastening their eies vpon the earth like them which are angry at the Moones appearance And the selfe same thing they do at the rising of the Sunne For which cause the auncient Kings had an obseruer or one to tell them the time of the day sitting vpon one of these beasts whereby very accurately they perceiued the sun rysing and this they did by turning their taile against it and emptying their bellies for which cause by an Orix the Egyptians discipher an impure or Godlesse wretch for seeing that all creatures are nourished by the Sunne and Moone and therefore ought to reioyce at their appearing onely this filthy wretch disdaineth and scorneth them The reason why they reioyce at the little Dogge-starre is because their bodies doe perceiue an euident alteration of the time of the yeare that cold weather and raine are ouerpassed and that the vapors of the warm Sun are now descending vpon the earth to cloth it withall manner of greene and pleasant hearbs and flowers There is another kind of Orix which according to Columella was wont to be impaled among Deere and Harts the flesh whereof was eaten and vsed for the commodity of his Maister This was impatient of cold It grew til it was foure yeares old and afterwardes through age decreased and lost all naturall vigor But to returne to the Orix entended from which we haue digressed their Horns whereof we late spake are not onely stronge and sharpe like the Horne of the Vnicorne and the Rhinocerot but also solide not hollow like the hornes of Harts The courage and inward disposition of this beast is both fearefull cruell and valiant I meane fearefull to men and beastes but fearelesse in it selfe For saith my Author Neque enim canis latratum timet neque apri efferuescentem feritatem neque tauri mugitum refugit neque Pantherarum tristem vocem neque
Panther for in the presence of the Hyaena the Pardall dareth not resist and that which is more admirable Pliny if there be a peece of an Hyaenaes skinne about either man or beast Orus the Panther will neuer touch it if their skins after they be dead be hung vp in the presence of one another the haire will fall of from the Panther and therefore when the Egyptians would signifie how a superiour was ouercome by a superiour they picture those two skinnes The terâ—or of Panthers Pliny Rasis Aesculapius If any thing be annointed with broath wherein a Cocke hath beene sodden neither Panthers nor Lyons will euer touch it especially if there be mixed with it the iuce of Garlike Leopards are afraid of a certaine tree called Leopardi arbor Leopards-tree Panthers are also afraid of the scull of a dead man and runne from the sight thereof yet it is reported that two yeare before the death of Francis King of France two Leopards a male and a female were let escape in France into the Woods either by the negligence or the malice of their keepers that is a male and a female and about Orleance tore in peeces many men and Women at last they came and killed a bride which was that day to haue beene married and afterward there were found many carkases of Women destroyed by them of which they had eaten nothing but onely their breastes Such like thinges I might expresse many in this place whereby the vengeance of almighty God against mankind for many sins might seeme to be executed by the raging ministery of wilde sauage and vngentle beastes For this cause we read in auncient time how the Senatours of Rome gaue lawes of punishment against them that should bring any Panthers into Italy Lawes against Panthers especially any Affrican beastes and the first that gaue dispensation against those lawes was Cneius Aufidius the peoples Tribune who permitted them for the sake of the Circensian games and then Scaurus in the office of his aedility brought also in an hundred and fifty After him Pompey the great four hundered and ten and lastly Augustus that euer remembred and renowned Emperor foure hundred and twenty Thus lawes which were first made by great men and good Senators for the safety of the common-wealth became of no great valew because as great or greater then the lawmakers had a purpose to aduance themselues by the practise of those things which law had iustly forbidden for if those decrees had stood effectuall as the victorious Champions had loste that part of their vaine tryumphes so many people had afterward beene preserued aliue who by the cruelty of these beasts were either torne in peeces or else receiued mortall wounds It was not in vaine that the blessed martyr of Iesus Christ Ignatius who was afterwards torne in peeces by wilde beastes at Rome did write thus in his epistle to the Roman christians concerning his handling by the Roman Souldiers as he was brought prisoner out of Syria to Rome A Siria Romam vsque cum bestijs depugno per terram mare die nocteque vinctus cum decem Leopardis hoc est cum militari custodia qui ex beneficijs deteriores fiunt From Syria saith he to Rome I haue fought with beastes beeing night and day held in bondage by ten Leopards I meane ten Souldious who notwithstanding many benifits I bestowed vpon them yet do they vse me worse and worse and thus much for the cruelty of Panthers and Leopards We haue shewed already how they become tame and are vsed in hunting The nature of tamed Panthers vnto which discourse somewhat out of the place I will adde a true narration of two Panthers or Leopards nourished in France for the king whereof one was of the bignesse of a great Calfe and the other of a great Dogge and that on a day the lesser was brought forth for the King to behold how tame and tractable he was and that he would ride behinde his keeper vppon a cloath or pillow being tyed in a chaine and if a Hare had beene let loose in his presence and he turnâ—d down to her within a few iumpes or leapes he would attain and take her When the keeper was to take vp the Leopard againe he did come to him backeward least if he should see his face he should leape vpon him and wound him for as we haue said they are angry being chafed and are ready to flye into the Hunters face therefore he turneth his face away from him and betwixt his Legges reacheth him a peece of bread or flesh and so he gently taketh him into his chaine and callar againe leading him away to his house and assoone as the man was mounted the beast also knew his seate and leaped vp after him And the same party also related that when as a Lyon was turned forth to a Bull the Lyon very quietly without stirring lay downe and did no harme or offer any violence or combate with the Bull but afterward when as the two Leopardes were turned forth to the same Bull they instantly ran and tooke the Bull by the throate and without all doubt they had strangled and pulled out his throate had not their keepers which had long chaines tyed about their Neckes in their handes restrained and pulled them off againe By this may be coniectured how great is the rage of the wild and vntamed Leopards and Panthers seeing the tame and gentle are so cruell and therefore the Lord in the prophets did most wisely compare the siedge of the Assirians abovt Ierusalem to a Leopard watching at the gates of the Citty to destroy all that came out thereat The taking of Panthers Hauing thus discoursed of the nature partes kindnesse loue and hatred of these beastes in generall it now followeth to expresse the best meanes to auoide and destroy them that so we may not onely know our enimy but also learne the way to ouermatch and curbe him There is a kind of Henbane which is called Pardalianches or Libbard bane which the inhabitants of Pharnacus Dioscorides and the mount Ida were wont to lay in the Mountaines for the destoying of Leopards Pardals and Panthers This Hearbe is not much known at this day yet I take it to be the same which groweth in many places of France and Sauoy and it is called Tora by the roote thereof beaten to powder and stopped vp in flesh not only beastes but also Wolues and Swine as wilde Boares are destroyed if they tast thereof when the beast perceiueth himselfe poysoned presently he seeketh for mans dung for without that he cannot bee deliuered wherefore the Hunters do also place neere vnto it some vessell of it hanging in a tree with the mouth or way open that leadeth into it wherinto the greedy beast leapeth and being in cannot get forth againe but rather dyeth with hunger Pliny Aristotle or else is taken and killed or else the vessell is
sheep To begin with the food Their diet doth not much differ from Goats and yet they haue some things peculiar which must now be expressed It is good therefore that their pastures and feeding places looke toward the sun setting and that they be not driuen ouer far or put to too much labour for this cause the good sheapheard may safely feed his sheep late in the euening but not suffer them to go early abroad in the morning They eat all maner of hearbs and plants and sometimes kill them with their bitings so as they neuer grow more The best is to giue them alwaies greene meate and to feede them vpon land falowed or plowed to be sowne with corne and although by feeding them in fat pastures they come to haue a softer wooll or haire according to the nature of their food yet because they are of a moyst temperament it is better to feede them vpon the salt and short pasture for by such a dyet they both better liue in health and also beare more pretious wooll In dry pastures they are more healthy then in the fenny and this is the cause why it is most wholesome for them to keepe in plowed groundes wherein they meete with many sweet and pleasant hearbs or else in vpland medowes because all moysture breedeth in them rottennesse he must avoid the woods and shadowy places euen as he doth the fens for if the sun come not vpon the sheepes food it is as hurtful vnto him as if he picked it out of the waters and the shepheard must not thinke that there is any meate so gratefull vnto his cattle but that vse and continuance wil make them to loath it wherefore he must prouide this remedy namely to giue them salt oftentimes in the summer when they returne from feeding and if he do but lay it in certaine troughs in the folds of their own accord they wil licke thereof and it will encrease in them great appetite In the winter time when they are kept within doores they must be fed with the softest hay such as is cut down in the autumne for that which is riper is lesse nourishable to them In some countries they lay vp for them leaues especially green Ewe leaus or Elme three-leaued-grasse sowed-vines and chaffe or pease when other things faile where there are store of vines they gather their leaues for sheep to eat thereof without al danger and very greedily and I may say as much of the Oliue both wild and planted diuers such other plants all which haue more vertue in them to fat and raise your beasts if they be aspersed with any salt humor and for this cause the sea wormwood excelleth all other hearbs or food to make fat sheep And Myndius writeth that in Pontus the sheep grow exceeding fat by the most bitter and vulgar wormwood Beanes encrease their milke and also three-leaued-grasse for that is most nourishable to the Ewes with young And it is obserued for the fault which in latin is called Luxuria segetum and in English rankenesse of corne there is no better remedy then to turne in your sheep in May when the ground is hard if not before for the sheep loueth wel to crop such stalks and also the corne will thriue neuer the worse for in some places they eat it down twice and in the country about Babilon thrice by reason of the great fertility thereabouts and if they should not do so Pliny it would turn or run al into stalke and idle vnprofitable leaues The same extasie is reported to follow sheep when they haue eaten Eryngia that we haue expressed already in the history of goats namely that they all stand still and haue no power to goe out of their pastures til their keeper come and take it out of their mouths It is reported that they are much delighted with the herb called Laserpitium which first purgeth them and then doth fat them exceedingly It is therefore reported that in S. Cyrene there hath bin none of this found for many yeares because the publicans that hier the pastures are enimies to sheepe For at the first eating thereof the sheep wil sleep and the goat wil fal a neezing In India and especially in the region of the Prasians it raineth many times a dew like liquid hony falling vppon the hearbs and grasse of the earth wherefore the shepheards lead their flocks vnto those places wherwithal their cattle are much delighted and such as is the food they eat such also is the tast of the milke they render neither neede they to mingle honny with their milk as the Graecians are constrained to do for the sweetenesse of that liquor saueth them of that charge Such a kind of dew the Haebrewes call Manna the Graecians Aeromelos and Drosomelos The Germaines Himmelhung and in English Honny-dew but if this bee eaten vpon the herbs in the month of May it is very hurtful vnto them We haue shewed already that in some parts of Affricke and Ethiopia their sheepe eate flesh and drinke milke and it is apparent by Philostratus that when Apollonius trauailed towardes India in the region Pegades inhabited by the Orite they fed their sheepe with fishes and so also they doe among the Carmanian Indians which do inhabit the Sea-coastes and this is as ordinary with them as in Caria to feed their sheep with figs because they want grasse in that country and therefore the flesh of the sheep do tast of fish when it is eaten euen as the flesh of sea-soules The people of that country are called Ichthyophagi that is fish-eaters Likewise the sheepe of Lydia and Masidonia their sheepe grow fat with eating of fishes Aenius also writeth of certain fishes about the bignesse of Frogs which are given vnto sheep to be eaten Aâ—eanus In Arabia in the prouince of Adeâ— their Oxen Camels and sheep eate fishes after they be dryed for they care not for them when they be green the like I might say of many other places generally it must be the care of the shepard to auoid all thorny and stony places for the feeding of his sheep according to the precept of Virgill Si tibi lamitium curae primum aspera sylua Lappaeque tribulique absint Because the same thing as he writeth maketh them bald and oftentimes scratcheth their skin asunder his words are these Scabras oues reddit cum tonsis illotus Ad hesit sudor hir suti secuerunt corpora Vepres Although a sheep be neuer so sound and not much subiect to the pestilence yet must the shepard regard to feede it in choice places for the fat fields breed straight and tall sheep the hils and short pastures broad and square sheepe the woods and Mountaine places small and slender sheep but the best places of all are the new plowed grounds Although Virgil prescribeth his shephard to feed his flock in the morning according to the maner of the country wherein he liued for the middle part
of the day was ouer hot and not fit for cattel to eat in yet other nations especially Germany and England and these Northern parts of the world may not do so The whole cunning of shephards is excellently described The discription of a sheapheardes eare out of Virgil. for the ordering of their sheepe in these verses following Ergo omni studio glaciem ventosque niuales Quo minus est illis curae mortalis egestas Auertes victumque feres virgea laetus Pabula nec tota claudes foenilia bruma At vero Zephyris cum laeta vocantibus aestas In saltus vtrumque gregem oues capras atque in pascua Mittes Carpamus dum mane novum dum gramina canent Luciferi primo cam sydere frigida rura Inde vbi quarta sitim cali collegerit hora Et ros in tenera pecori gratissimus herba est Ad puteos aut alta greges ad stagna iubeto Et cantu querulae rumpent arbusta cicadae Aestibus at medijs vmbrosam exquirere vallem Currentem ilignis potare canalibus vndam Ingentes tendatramos aut sicubi nigrum Sicubi magna Iouis antiquo robore quercus Tum tenues dare rursus aquas pascere rursus Ilicibus crebris sacra nemus accubet vmbra Temperat saltus reficit iam roscida luna Solis ad occasum cum frigidus aera vesper Littoraque halcyonen resonant acanthida dumi When they returne from their feeding the shepheard must regard that he put them not into the foldes hot and if the time of the yeare bee ouer hot let them not bee driuen to pastures a far off but feed them in those which are neare and adiacent to their folds that so they may easily haue recourse vnto the shaddow they ought not also to bee turned out clustering altogether but disperced abroad by little and little neither must they bee milked while they are hot vntil they be cold a little so likewise in the morning let them be milked so soone as day appeareth and the little Lambs be turned out vnto thē which were shut from them But if their appeare vpon the grasse Spiders-webs or cob-webs which beare vp little drops of water then they must not be suffered to feede in those places for feare of poisoning and in times of heate and raine driue them to the hiest hils or pastures which do most of all lie open to the winds for there shall the cattle feed most temperately They must auoid all sandy places and in the month of Aprill May Iune and Iuly they must not be suffered to feed ouermuch but in October September and Nouember let them haue their full that so they may grow the stronger against the winter time The Romans had a speciall regard to chuse some places for the summering of their sheepe and some place for their wintering for if they summered them in Apulia they wintered them in Samnius and therefore Varro saith the flockes of Apulia betimes in the morning in the summer season are lead forth to feeding because the dewy grasse of the morning is much better then that which is dry in the middle of the day and about noone when the season groweth hot they lead them to shaddowey trees and rocks vntill the coole aire of the euening begin to returne at which time they driue them to their pasture againe and cause them to feed towards the sun rising for this is a general rule among the shepehards Quod mane ad solis occasum vespere ad solis ortum pascantur oues That is That in the morning they feede their sheep towards the sun setting and in the euening towardes the sun rising and the reason of it is Quia infermissimum peccori caput auerso sole passe cogendum Because the head of sheepe is most weake therefore it ought to be fed turned from the sun In the hot countries a little before the sun setting they water their sheep and then lead them to their pasture againe for at that time the sweetenesse seemeth to be renewed in the grasse and this they do after the autumnall equinoctium It is good to feede them in corne fields after haruest and that for two causes First because they are exceedingly filled with such hearbs as they find after the plough and also they tread downe the stubble and dung the land whereby it becommeth more fruitfull against the next year There is nothing that maketh a sheep grow more fat then drinke and therefore we read in holy scripture how Iacob watered his Sheep and the Daughters of Iethro their sheep at what time Moyses came vnto them therefore it is best oftentimes to mingle their water with salt according to these verses At cui lactis amor cytisum lotosque frequentes Ipse manu salsasque ferat praesepibus herbas Hinc amant fluvios magis magis vbera tendunt Et salis occultum referunt in lacte saporem There bee many that trouble themselues about this question namely The reason why the sheepe of England do not drinke for what cause the sheep of England do neuer thirst except they see the water and then also seldom drink yet haue no more sheep in England then are in any other country of the world Insomuch as we thinke it a prodigious thing that sheepe should drinke but the true cause why our English sheepe drinke not is for there is so much dew on the grasse that they neede no other water and therefore Aristotle was deceiued who thinketh that the Northern sheep had mor neede of water then the Southern In Spaine those sheep bear the best fleeces of wooll that drinke least In the Iland of Sephalene as we haue shewed in the story of the Goate all their cattle for want of water do draw in the could aire but in the hotter countries euery day once at the least about 9. or ten at clocke in the morning they water their sheepe and so great is the operation of drinke in sheepe that diuers Authors do reporte wonders thereof as Valerius Maximus and Theophrastus who affirme that in Macidonia when they will haue their sheep bring forth white Lambs they lead them to the riuer Aliatmon and when they will haue them to bring forth black Lambs to the riuer Axius as we haue shewed already It is also reported that the riuer Scamander doth make all the sheep to be yellow that drinke thereof Likewise there are two Riuers in Antandria which turne sheepe from blacke to white and white to blacke and the like I might adde of the Riuer Thrases of the two Riuers of Beotia al which things do not come to passe by miracle but also by the power of nature as may appeare by the History of Iacob when he serued his father in law Laban For after that he had couenanted with Laban to receaue for his stipend all the spotted sheepe the Scripture saith in this manner Then Iacob tooke rods of greene Poplar and of Hayesell
and of the Chesnut tree and pilled white strakes in them and made the white appeare in the rods Then he put the rods which he had pilled into the gutters and watering troughes when the sheepe came to drinke before the sheepe and the sheepe were in heate before the rods and afterwards brought foorth yoong of partie colour and with small and great spots And Iacob parted these Lambes and turned the faces of the flocke towards these partie-coloured Lambes and all manner of blacke among the sheepe of Laban so he put his owne flockes by themselues and put them not with Labans flocke And in euery Ramming time of the stronger sheepe Iacob layed the rods before the eyes of the sheepe in the gutters that they might conceaue before the rods but when the sheepe were feeble he put them not in and so the feebler were Labans and the stronger were Iacobs Vpon this action of the Patriarke Iacob it is cleare by testimony of holy Scripture that diuers colours layed before sheepe at the time of their carnall copulation doe cause them to bring forth such colours as they see with their eyes for such is the force of a naturall impression as we reade in stories that faire women by the sight of Blackamores haue conceaued and brought forth blacke children and on the contrary blacke and deformed women haue conceaued faire and beautifull children whereof there could be no other reason giuen in nature but their onely cogitation of and vpon faire beautifull men or blacke and deformed Moores at the time of their carnall copulation So that I would not haue it seeme incredible to the wise and discrete Reader to heare that the power of water should change the the colour of sheepe for it being once granted that nature can bring forth diuers coloured lambs being holpen by artificial means I see no cause but diuersitie of waters may wholy alter the colour of the elder as well as whited sticks ingender a colour in the yoonger And thus much shall suffice to haue spoken concerning the Summering of sheepe For their Wintering I will say more when I come to entreate of their stabling or housing Of the copulation of sheepe Now then it followeth in the next place to discourse of copulation or procreation for there are diuers good rules necessary obseruations whereby the skilfull shepheard must be directed which he ought to obserue for the better encrease of his flocke First of all therefore it is cleare that Goates will engender at a yeare old and sometime sheepe also follow that season but there is a difference betwixt the lambes so engendered the other that are begotten by the elder therefore at two yeare old they may more safely be suffered to engender and so continue till they be fiue yeare old and all their lambs be preserued for breeding but after fiue yeare old their strength and naturall vertue decreaseth so that then neither the damme nor the lambe is worthy the nourishing except for the knife for that which is borne and bred of an old decayed substance will also resemble the qualities of his sires There be some that allow not the lambe that is yeaned before the parents be foure yeare olde and so they giue them foure yeares to engender and breede namely till they be eight yeare olde but after eight yeares they vtterly cast them off and this opinion may haue some good reason according to the qualitie of the region wherein they liue for the sooner they begin to beare yoong the sooner they giue ouer and herein they differ not from Cowes who if they breede not till they be foure yeare olde may continue the longer and for this cause I will expresse the testimony of Albertus who writeth thus Oues parere vsque ad annum octauum possunt si bene curentur vel in vndecimum facultas pariendi protrahitur quod tempus est tota fere vita oues in quibusdam tamen terris marinis vbi sicca salsa habent pascua viuunt per vigintie annos pariunt That is to say sheepe may breede vntill they be eight yeare olde if they be well kept vntill they be eleauen which time is for the most part the length of their daies although in some countries vpon the Sea costes they liue till they be twenty yeare old and all that time breed yoong ones because they feede vpon dry and salt pastures and therefore Aristotle also saith that they bring forth yoong ones all the time of their life The time of their copulation as Pliny and Varro write is from May 'till about the middle of August and their meaning is for the Sheepe of those hot countries For in England and other places the Shepheardes protract the time of their copulation and keepe the Rammes and Ewes asunder till September or October because they would not haue their Lambes to fall in the cold Winter season but in the spring and warme weather and this is obserued by the auncient Shepards that if the strongest Sheepe doe first of all begin to engender and couple one with another Aristotle Albertus that it betokeneth a very happy and fortunate yeare to the flocke but on the contrary if the younger and weaker Sheepe bee first of all stirred vp to lust and the elder be backward and slow it presageth a pestilent and rotten yeare They which drinke salt Water are more prone to copulation then others Helpes for the copulation of sheep and commonly at the third or fourth time the female is filled by the Male. There is a great similitude and likenesse betwixt Sheep and Goates First for their copulation because they couple together at the same time Secondly for the time they beare their young which is fiue months or a hundred and fifty daies also many times they bring forth twins like Goates and the Rams must be alwaie so admitted as the Lambes may fall in the spring of the yeare when all things grow sweete and greene and when all is performed then must the Males be seperated from the females againe that so all the time they goe with young they may go quietly without harme In their conception they are hindered if they bee ouer fat for it is with them as it is among Mares and Horsses some are barren by nature and others by accident as by ouer much leanenesse or ouermuch fatnesse Plutarch maketh mention of an ancient custome among the Graecians that they were wont to driue their Sheepe to the habitation of Agenor to be couered by his Rammes And I know not whether he relate it as a story or as a Prouerbe to signifie a fruitefull and happy Ramming time I rather encline to the latter because he himselfe saith in the same place that Agenor was a wise and skilfull King Maister of many flockes whose breede of Sheepe was accounted the best of all that Nation and therefore either they sent their females to be couered by his Rammes or else they
their yeaning whereby the flesh becommeth so temperate sweet and sauoury as any other flesh in the worlde and if they passe a yeare then do they vse to knit them and so in time their stones depriued of nourishment from the body by reason of knitting do drie and consume away or vtterly fall off whereby the whole flesh of the beast is made very seasonable and wholesome It is granted by al that when they are young that is to say a yeare old their flesh is very wholesome fit for norishment of mans nature but that they increase much phlegme which euil is alaied by eating Viniger and drinking wine vnto it In many places they salt their Muttens when they are killed and so eat them out of the pickle or else roast them in the smoake like Bacon Within the territory of HELVETIA there is a publicke law whereby the Butchers are forbidden to buy any forren sheep after the feast of Saint Iames that is the fiue and twentie day of Iuly for although that after that time they grow fat yet is their flesh then lesse wholesome and their fatte more hurtful then that which is gotten in the springe of the yeare It were needlesse for me to set downe the diuision of a deade sheepe into his quarters shoulders legges loines rackes heades and purtinances for that they are commonly knowne and the relation of them can minister smal learning to the reader but euery part hath his vse euen the blood that is taken from him when his throat is cut hath his peculiar vse for the norishment of man and aboue al other thinges the fat of his loines commonly called his sewet wherein it excelleth al other beasts whatsoeuer for their reines are couered al ouer with fat of their milk Their is no lesse vse of their milke not onely for young but for old persons and aswel for the rich to beautifie their tables as for the poore to serue their hungry appetites and there be some people in Affricke that haue no corne in al their country and therefore insteede of bread their common food is milke the goodnesse whereof is thus expressed by Fierra Quod praestat Caprae post Oues inde boues Euermore the milke of an Ewe is best that is newest and thickest and that which commeth from a blacke Sheepe is preferred before that which is milked from a white and generally there is no beast whereof we eate but the milke thereof is good and nourishable therefore the milke of sheepe is preferred in the second place and there is no cause that it is put in the second place but for the fatnesse thereof otherwise it deserued the first for as the fatnesse maketh it lesse pleasant to the palate and stomack of man yet is it more pretious for making of Cheese and we haue shewed already that in some places as in the Island Erythrea the milk of a Sheep yeildeth no whaie and that they can make no cheese therof but by mingling abundance of water with it they make abundance of cheese in the Apenine hils and in Lyguria the Cheese of Sicilia is made of Goates and sheepes milke and generally Cheese made of sheepes milke is the better the more new it is The nature of a sheepe is to giue milke eight moneths togither and in Italy they make Butter also of the milke of sheepe al the Summer time vnto the feast of Saint Michaell they milke them twice a day but after that vntil they coople with their Rammes they milke them but once a day the faults of cheeses made of their milke is either because they are ouer dry or hollow and full of eyes and holes or else clammy like burd-lime the last proceedeth from the want of pressing the second through ouermuch salt and the third by ouermuch drying in the Sun And thus much shal suffice to haue spoken of those things in sheep which are fit to be eaten In the next place we come to discourse of their wool and of the shearing or clipping of sheepe for although their flesh be pretious yet it is not comparable in value of their fleeces for that when they are once dead they yeild no more profit but while they liue they are shoarne once or twice a yeare for in Egypt they are shoarne twice a year and also in some parts of Spaine And it appeareth that in auncient times there were great feastes at their sheepe-shearings as is apparant in the holy scripture in many places and especially by the History of Absalon who after he had once conceiued malice against his Brother Ammon he found no opportunity to execute the same vntill his sheepe shearing-feast at which time in the presence of all his brethren the kings sons euen at dinner when no man suspected harme then did Absalon giue a signe to his wicked Seruants to take away his life which they performed according to their maisters malice It appeareth by the wordes of Pliny who writeth thus Oues non vbique tondentur durat quibusdam in Locis vellendimos qui etiam nunc vellunt ante triduo ieiunas habent quo languida minus radices lanae retinent That is Sheepe are not euery where shoarne for yet vnto this time in many places they do commonly obserue the old custome of pulling the wooll off from the sheepes backe and they which doe now pull the wooll and not sheare it do alwaies cause their sheepe to fast three daies before that so being made weake the roots of the wooll may not sticke so fast but come off more easily And indeed I am confirmed in this opinion by the Latine word Vellus which signifieth a fleece which can bee deriued from no other Radixe or Theame nor admit any other manner or kinde of notation then A â—ellendo that is from pulling Cato also in his booke of Originalles writeth thus Palatini collis Romae altera pars velleia appellata fuit à vellenda lana ante Hetruscam tonsuram incolis monstratam That is to say There was one part of the hill Palatine at Rome which was called Velleia from the pulling of wooll for it was their custome there to pull their wooll before the inhabitauntes learned the Hitrutian manner of shearing sheep by which testimony we see euidently the great torment that the poore sheepe were put vnto when they lost theyr fleeces before the inuention of shearing for it is certaine by the auncient pictures and statues of men that there was no vse of shearing either haire or wooll from men or sheepe But the haire of men grew rude and in length like womens and sheepe neuer lost their fleeces but by pulling off and therefore Varro writeth that foure hundred and fifty yeares after the building of Rome there was no Barber or sheep-shearer in al Italy and that Publius Ticinius Menas was the first that euer brought in that custome among the Romans for which there was a monument erected in writing in the publicke place at Ardea
from whence the Gortynian Cretian custome proceeded which caused adulterers for their punishment to ride throughout the whole Citty crowned with Wooll except that so they might signifie his tender and delicate effeminacy and therefore as some are crowned with gold in token of vertue and valiant acts so vice especially the wantonesse of the flesh deserueth to be crowned with wooll for the loosenesse and beastlinesse thereof not because such a crowne was a sufficient punishment for an opprobry and continuall badge of ignomny euen as forgerers and periured persons ride with papers on their heads vpon bare horse backs and so forth By the behauiour of Sheepe at their rutting or ramming time the Sheapheardes obserue tempests Aratus raines and change of weather If they be very lustfull and leape often vpon their females but if they be slow and backward then is the poore naked man glad for that thereby hee conceiueth hope of a gentle Winter and temperare weather Also if in the ende of Autumne they stampe vppon the grounde with their feete it betokeneth hard weather colde Winter much Frost and Snow about the time of the first rysing of the Pleiades or seauen Starres Which thing is thus poetically expressed by Aâ—ienus Si denique terram Lanigerae fodiant caput aut tendantur in arcton Cum madidus per marmora turbida condit Pleiadas occasus cum brumae in frigora ceâ—it Frugifer Autumnus ruet aethra concitus Imber Concerning the simplicity of sheep I must say more and also of their innocency yet the simplicity thereof is such and so much that it may well be termed folly or Animal ineptissimum for Aristotle writeth thus of it Repit in deserta sine causa hyeme obstante ipsum saepe egreditur stabulo occupatum à niue nisi pastor compulerit abire non vult sed perit desistens nisi mares à pastore ducantur ita enim reliquum grex sequitur That is Without cause it wandereth into desert places and in the winter time when the aire is filled with cold windes and the earth hardened with hoare frostes then it forsaketh and goeth out of his warme coate or stable and being in the cold Snow there it will tarry and perish were it not for the care of the sheapheard for he taketh one of the Rams by the hornes and draweth him in a doores then do all the residue follow after They are also very obedient to the voice and cal of the sheapheards and to the barking and cry of their Dogs and no lesse is their loue one toward another euery way commendable for one of them pittieth and sorroweth for the harme of another and when the heate of Sunne offendeth them Albertus writeth that one of them interposeth his body to shaddow the other Their dam oâ— Ewe loueth her Lambe and knoweth it by smelling to the hinder partes and if at any time â—he dam do not loue or make reckoning of her young one they giue hir the Hearbe Penny woâ—t or Water-wall to drinke in water and then as the Scholiast affirmeth natural affection increaseth in hir Of the foolishnesse of sheep ther was an Emblem to signifie by a man riding vpon a golden fleece one ruled by his seruant or wife Tranat aquas residens pretioso in vellere Phryxus Et flauam impauidus per mare scandit ouem Ecquid id est vir sensu hebeti sed diuite gaza Coningis aut serui quem regit arbitrium And therefore Aristophanes reprouing the stolidity of the Athenians calleth them sheepe And Origen writing vpon Leuiticus saith OuiuÌ„ immolatio affectuum stultorum irrationabilium correctio The sacrificing and killing of sheep is nothing else but the correction of our foolish and vnreasonable affections We haue shewed already in the story of the goat of a Goat that nourished a Wolues Whelpes which in the end did destroy her and the selfe same is ascribed also to a sheep They obserue great loue and concord with Goats and liue in flocks together Loue and hatred of sheep and for this cause it happeneth that moe goates are destryed by Wolues then sheepe for that the Goates forsake their fellowes and straggle abroad for food but the sheepe very sildome Aristotle and it is obserued that if a Wolfe kill a sheepe and afterwardes any garments be made of the wooll of that sheepe they easily and more speedily breed Lice and vermin then any other and also procure itch in the bodies of them that weare them whereof Cardan giueth this reason Haud mirum videri debet ouis pellem a lupo dilantatae pruritum mouere nam ob vehementem metam tum etiam ob contrariam naturam mali afficitur et si mori enim vltimuÌ„ sit supplicium mag is tamen afficitur corpus in vno quam in altero genere metuit homo magis in mari fluctuans quam coram hostibus It ought not saith he moue any man to wonder that the wooll of a sheep torne asunder by a wolfe should beget and breed itch for that affection ariseth from both from the vehemency of the feare before it bee dead through the sight and sence of the wolfe and also by reason of a contrary nature that it is oppressed and deuoured by and although death be the last punishment yet we see diuers affections follow dead carkases after death and as a man is more afraid of the sea when he is in perrill of death therein then of the face of his enemy so is it in this case betwixt the Sheepe and the wolfe The same Cardan affirmeth that sheepe are afraid of wolues euen after death for the Wooll of a sheepes skinne will fall of in the presence of a Wolfe Vnto this subscribeth Oppianus or rather Albertus receiued it from Oppianus and furthermore it is said that if the strings of a Sheepes and Wolues guts be fastened to one and the same instrument they will neuer make good Harmony and furthemore if a drumme be made of a Sheeps skinne and another of the Wolues skinne the drum of the Sheepes skinne will iarre and sound vnpleasantly in the presence of the Wolues skin but of these things I haue no certaine grounds onely I say that there may be naturall reason from the substance and matter both of one and other why this accident may chance without discorde and hatred of each other but from the difference and solidity of the matter as for example the guts of a wolfe are strong and hard and wil abide greater strain then the guts of a sheep if therefore the musitian will straine the one like the other it must needes fly asunder likewise the skin will giue a deeper and lowder sound vpon a drum by reason of the substance then a sheepes and so some may ignorantly ascribe that difference to an antipathy in nature for as a Candle in the presence of a great Torch or fire giueth lesse light to they eye so doth a drum made of a Sheepes
with Rammes hornes and translated that ramme into the zodiacke among the starres that when the Sunne should passe through that sign all the creatures of the world should be fresh green and liuely for the same cause that he had deliuered him and his host from perishing by thirst and made him the Captaine of all the residue of the signes for that he was an able and wise leader of souldiors Other againe tell the tale somewhat different for they say at what time Bacchus ruled Egipt there came to him one Ammon a great rich man in Affrica giuing to Bacchus great store of wealth and cattell to procure fauour vnto him and that he might be reckoned an inuenter of some things for requitall whereof Bacchus gaue him the land of Thebes in Egypt to keepe his sheepe and cattell and afterward for that inuention he was pictured with rams hornes on his heade for remembrance that he brought the first sheepe into Egypt and Bacchus also placed the signe of the ram in heauen These and such like fictions there are about all the signes of heauen but the truer obseruation and reason wee haue shewed before out of the Egyptians learning and therefore I will cease from any farther prosecution of these fables Dydimus Aristotle They ought to be two yeare old at least before you suffer them to ioyne in copulation with the Ewes for two moneths before to bee seperat and fed more plentifully then at other times that so at their returne they may more eagerly and perfectly fill the Ews and then also before copulation at the time that they are permitted in some Contries they giue them barly and mixe Onions with their meat and feede them with the hearbe Salomons seale for all these are vertuous to stirre vp and increase their nature And likewise one kind of the Satyrium and salt water as we haue said in the discourse afore going Now at the time of their copulation they haue a peculiar voice to draw and allure their females differing from the common bleating wherof the poet speaketh Bloterat hincaries pia balat ouis This beast may continue in copulation and be preserued for the generation of lambes till he be eight yeare olde and it is their nature the elder they bee to seeke out for their fellowes the elder Ewes or females forsaking the younger by a kind of naturall wisedome Now concerning the time of their admission to copulation althogh we haue touched it in the former Treatise yet we must adde somewhat more in this place In some places they suffer them in April The best tim of copulatioÌ„ some in Iune that so they may be past daunger before winter and be brought forth in the Autumne when the grasse after haruest is sweet but the best is in Octob for then the winter wil be ouerpassed before the lamb comforth of his dams belly Great is the rage of these beasts at their copulation for they fight irefuly til one of them haue the victory for this cause Arrietare among the writers is a word to expresse singular violence as may apeare by these verses Arietat in portas duros obijce postes Their rage in Ramming â—ime and Siluis of Dioxippus Arietat in primos obijcitque immania membra And so Seneca in his booke of Anger Magno imperatori aretequamacies inter se arietarent cox exiluit and indeed great is the violence of rams for it is reported that many times in Rhatia to try their violence they hold betwixt the fighting of rams a sticke or bat of Corne-tree which in a bout or two they vtterly diminish and bruse in peeces There is a knowne fable in Abstenius of the wolfe that found a coople of rammes and told them that he must haue one of them to his dinner and bad â—hem agree betwixt themselues to whose lot that death should happen for one of them must die the two rams agreede togither that the wolfe should stand in the middle of the close and that they twain should part one into one corner and the other into the other corner of the field and so com running to the wolfe he that came last should loose his life to the wolues mercy the wolfe agreed to this their deuice and chose his standing while the rams consented with their hornes when they came vpon him to make him sure inough from hurting any more sheepe forth therfore went the rams each of them vnto his quarter one into the East and the other into the west the wolâ—e standing ioyfully in the midst laughing at the rams destruction then began the two rams to set forward with all their violence one of them so attending and obseruing the other as that they might both meet togither vpon the wolfe and so they did with vengeance to their enimy for hauing him betwixt their horns they crushed his ribs in pieces and he fel down without stomack to rams flesh This inuention althogh it haue another morrall yet it is material to be inserted in this place to shew the violence of rams and from this came so many warlike inuentions called Arietes wherwithal they push down the wals of citties Martial and warlike inueÌ„tions called Rammes as the Readers may see in Vitruuius Valturnis and Ammianus for they say that the warlike ram was made of wood couered ouer with shels of Torteyses to the intent it should not be burned when it was set to a wall and it was also couered with the skins of sacke-cloath by rowes artificially contriued within the same was a beame which was pointed with a crooked yron and therefore called a ram or rather because the front was so hard that it ouerthrew wals when by the violent strength of men it was forced vpon them and wheras it was shaped ouer with Tortoise shels it was for the true resemblaÌ„ce it bare therewith for like as a Torteise doth sometime put forth his head and again somtime pull it in so also doth the ram sometime put forth the sickle and sometime pul it in and hide it within the frame so that by this engine they did not ouerturn the wals but also they caused the stones to flie vpon the enimies liue thunder-bolts striking them downe on euery side and wounding with their fal or stroke like the blowes of an armed man and against these forces there were counter-forces deuised on the part of the besieged for because the greatnes thereof was such as it could not be moued without singular note and ostentation it gaue the besieged time to oppose against it their instruments of war for their safegard such were called Culcitrae Laquei Lupi ferrum made like a paire of tongs wherby as Polyaenus writeth many times it came to passe that when the wall was ouerthrowne the enimies durst not enter saying Cerle hostes sponte ab obsessis destructa moenia metuentes ingredi in vrbem non audebant And thus much for the force of rams both their
are killed they call the skins of slaughter-Lambs The best are brought out of Italy and Apulia and al those parts which are beyond Rome Narbon and Spaine yeald plentiful store of black Lambs and their skins are sold by Marchants and white skins are plentifull in England Their flesh is nourishable and conuenient for foode but yet inferior to weather mutton for that it containeth more moysture then heate To conclude this discourse of the Lambe the greatest honour thereof is for that it pleased God to call his blessed Son our Sauiour by the name of a Lamb in the old Testament a Lambe for sacrifice in the new Testament styled by Iohn Baptist the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world There is a prouerb in Greek Arneia soi lelaleken agnus tibi locutus est A Lamb hath spoken this vnto you and it was a prouerbiall speech to expresse a diuine reuelation of some businesse that men cannot attaine vnto by ordinary and common meanes because either it is concealed or else it concerneth thinges to come For it is reported by Suidas that once in Egypt there was a Lambe that spake with a mans voice vppon the Crowne of his head was a regall Serpent hauing Winges which was foure cubits long and this Lambe spake of diuers future euents The like is said of another Lamb that spake with a mans voice at what time Romulus and Remus were borne and from these miraculous euents came that common prouerb and so for this story I will conclude with the verse of Valerius Aspena nunc pauidos contra ruit agna leones There is in Moscouia nere volga a certaine beast of the quantity and forme of a little Lamb the people call it Boranz and it is reported by Sigismundus in his description of Moscouia that it is generated out of the earth like a reptile creature without seede with dam without copulation thus liueth a litle while and neuer stirreth far from the place it is bred in I mean it is not able to moue it selfe but eateth vp al the grasse green things that it can reach and when it can find no more then it dyeth OF THE MVSMON I Haue thought good to reserue this beast to this place for that it is a kind of sheepe and therefore of natural right and linage belongeth to this story for it is not vnlike a sheepe except in the wooll which may rather seeme to be the haire of a Goate Pliny and this is the same which the auncients did cal Vmbricae oues Vmbriam sheepe for that howsoeuer in haire it diffreth from sheepe yet in simplicity and other inward giftes it commeth nearer to the sheepe Strabo calleth it Musmo yet the Latines call it Mussimon This beast by Cato is cald an Asse and somtimes a Ram and sometimes a Musmon The picture which heere wee haue expressed is taken from the sight of the beast at Caen in Normandy and was afterward figured by Theodorus Beza Munster in his description of Sardinia remembreth this beast but he saith that it is speckled whereat I do not much wonder seeing that he confesseth that he hath al that he wrote thereof by the Narration of others Some say it is a horse or a mule of which race there are 2. kinds in Spaine called by the Latines Astuxcones for they are very small but I do not wonder thereat seeing that those little horses or Mules are called Musimones because they are brought out of those Countries where the true Musmones which we may interpret Wilde sheepe or wilde goats are bred and norished There are of these Musmons in Sardinia Spaine and Corsica and they are said to be gotten betwixt a Ram and a goat as the Cinirus betwixt a Buck-goat and an Ewe The forme of this beast is much like a Ram sauing that his brest is more rough and hairy his hornes do grow from his heade like vulgar Rams but bend backward onely to his eares they are exceeding swift of foot so as in their celerity they are comparable to the swiftest beast The people of those countries wherein they are bred do vse their skins for brest-plates Pliny maketh mention of a beast which he called Ophion and he saith hee found the remembrance of it in the Graecian books but he thinketh that in his time there was none of them to be founde in the worlde heerein he speaketh like a man that did not knowe GOD for it is not to be thought that hee which created so many kindes of beasts at the beginning and conserued of euery kind two male and female at the generall deluge would not afterward permit them to be destroyed till the worldes end nor then neither for seeing it is apparant by holy scriptures that after the world ended al Creatures and beasts shall remain vpon the earth as the monuments of the first six daies works of Almighty God for the farther manifestation of his glory wisedome and goodnes it is an vnreasonable thing to imagine that any of them shall perish in general in this world The Tardinians call these beasts Mufflo and Erim Mufflo which may easily bee deriued from Ophion therefore I cannot but consent vnto them that the auncient Ophion is the Musmon being in quantity betwixt a Hart and a sheepe or Goate in haire resembling a Hart this beast at this day is not found but in Sardinia It frequenteth the steepest mountaines and therefore liueth on greene grasse and such other hearbes The flesh thereof is very good for meat and for that cause the inhabitantes seeke after it to take it Hector Boethius in his description of the Hebredian Islandes saith that there is a Beast not much vnlike to a sheep but his hair betwixt a goats and a sheeps being very wild neuer found or taken but by hunting and diligent inquisition The name of the Island is Hiethae and the reason of that name is from this breed of sheep called Hierth in the Vulgar toong yet those sheep agree with the Musmon in al things but their tails for he saith that they haue long tailes reaching downe to the ground and this name commeth from the Germaine word Herd a flocke and thereof Hirt commeth for all sheepe in generall Now followeth the conclusion of their story with there medicinall Vertues The medicines of the Sheepe in generall The bodies of such as are beaten and haue vpon them the appearance of the stripes being put into the warme skins of sheepe when they are newly puld off from their backs Galen eateth away the outward paine and appearance if it continue on a day and a night If you seeth togither a good season the skin of the feet and of the snowt of an Oxe or a sheep till they be made like glow and then taken forth of the pot and dried in the windie aire is by Siluius commended against the burstnes of the belly The blood of sheepe drunke is profitable against the falling sicknesse
the suffocation of the womb and all other diseases incident vnto the secret parts and also helpeth places in the body being burnt by fire The fat of a ram being mingled with red Arsenicke and annointed vppon any scaull or scab the same being afterward pared or scraped doth perfectly heale it It doth also being mixed with Allum helpe those which are troubled with kibes or chilblanes in their heeles The sewet of a ram mingled with the powder of a pumise stone and salt of each a like quantity Sextus is said to heale fellons and inflammations in the body The lunges of smal cattel but especially of a ram doth restore chaps or scarts in the body to their right collour The same vertue hath the fat of a ram being mingled with Nitre The gal of a ram mingled with his own sewet Marcellus is very good and profitable for those to vse who are troubled with the gout or swelling in the ioynts The horne of a ram being burned and the dust of the same mixed with oyle and so pounded together being often anointed vpon a shauen head doth cause the haire to frisle and curle A comb being made of the left horn of a ram and combed vpon the head doth take away all paine vpon the left part thereof if likewise there be paine in the right side of the head the right horne of a ram doth cure it For the curing of the losse of one wits springing from the imperfection of the braine take the head of a ram neuer giuen to venery being chopped off at one blow the hornes being onely taken away and seeth it whole with the skin and the wooll in water then hauing opened it take out the braines and adde vnto them these kinds of spices Cinamon Ginger Mace and Cloues of each one halfe an ounce these being beaten to powder mingle them with the braines in an earthen platter diligently tempering of them by a burning cole not very big for feare of burning which might easily be done but there must great care be had that it be not too much dryed but that it might be so boyled that it be no more dryed then a calfes braines being prepared for meate It shall be sufficiently boiled when you shall wel mingle them at the fire then keep it hid and for three daies giue it daiely to the sick person fasting so that he may abstain from meat and drinke two houres after It may be taken in bread or in an Egge or in whatsoeuer the sicke party hath a desire vnto but there must be regard that he be not in a cleare place and that hee vse this forty daies space which they are wont to vse whose blould is with drawne or fled away and let him abstaine from wine assayng his head There are those which are holpen in a short space some in sixe or eight weekes by this Medicine being receiued But it is conuenient that it be required for three months Marcellus and then it will haue the more power therein The lunges of a Ramme while they are hot applyed vnto woundes wherein the flesh doeth to much encrease doth both represse and make it equal The lungs of smal cattel but especially of Rams being cut in smal pieces applyed whiles they are hot vnto bruised places do very speedily cure them and reduce them to the right collour The same doth cure the feete of such as are pinched through the straightnesse of their shooes The lunges of a Ram applyed vnto kibed heeles or broken vlcers in the feet doth quite expell away the paine notwithstanding the exceeding a chor pricking thereof One drop of the liquor which is boyled out of a Rams lungs put vpon the small nailes vpon the hand doth quite expell them The like operation hath it to expell Wartes being annointed thereupon The corrupt bloud of the lungs of a Ram vnroasted doth hele all paines in the priuy members of man or woman as also expell warts in any place of the body Sextus The iuyce of the lungs of a ram while they are roasted vpon a Gridiron being receiued doth by the vnction thereof purge and driue away the little blacke warts which are wont to grow in the haire or priuy parts of any man The liquor which distilleth from the lunges of a ram being boiled Aesculapius doth heale Tertian Agues and the disease of the raines which grow therein The lungs of a Lamb or ram being burned and the dust thereof mingled with oile or being applyed raw doe heale the sorenesse of kibes and are accounted very profitable to be bound vnto vlcers The lungs of a ram being pulled forth and bound hot vnto the head of any one that is frenzy wil presently help him Against the pestilent disease of sheepe take the belly of a ram and boile it in wine then being mixed with Water giue it to the sheepe to drinke and it wil bring present remedy The gall of a ram is very good for the healing of those which are troubled with any pains in the eares comming by the casualty of cold The gal of a ram mingled with his owne sewet doth ease those which are troubled with the gout The gall of a Weather mingled with the wool and placed vpon the nauell of young children Marcellus doth make them loose in their bellies The stones of an old ram being beaten in halfe a penny waight of water or in 3. quarters of a pint of Asses milk are reported to be very profitable for those which are troubled with the falling sicknesse The stones of a ram being drunke in water to the waight of three halfe pence cureth the same disease The dust of the inward parts of a rams thighs being lapped in rags or clouts washed very exactly before with womens milk doth heale the vlcers or runnings of old sores Pliny The dust of the hoofe of a ram mingled with hony doth heale the bitings of a Shrew The dung of Weathers mingled with vineger and fashioned in the forme of a plaister doth expel black spots in the body and taketh away al hard bunches arising in the flesh The same being applyed in the like manner cureth S. Anthonies fire and healeth burned places The filâ—h or sweat which groweth between the thighs of a ram being mingled with Mirrhe and the Hearbe called Hart-wort and drunke of each an equal parte is accounted a very excellent remedy for those which are troubled with the Kings euill Sextus But Pliny commendeth the filth of rams eares mingled with Myrrhe to be a more effectuall and speedily remedy against the said disease The medicines of the Lamb. The best remedy for bitings of Serpents is this presently after the wound to applie some little creatures to the same Aetius being cut in small peeces and laid hot vnto it as cocks Goats Lambes and young pigges for they expell the poison and much ease the paines thereof An ounce of Lambes blood being fresh before that it doth
the softest thereof is digested in his belly the other commeth forth whole in his dung which the Hogge licketh vp and is therewithal fatned And it is to bee remembred that swine gelded or splaied doe sooner fatten then anie other To conclude they loue the dung of men and the reason thereof is because the seat of their lust is in their liuer which is very broade and insatiable and there is nothinge that hath a duller sence of smelling then this Beaste and therefore it is not offended with any carrion or stinking smel but with sweete and pleasant ointments as wee shall shew afterwardes Concerning their generation or copulation Of the copulâ—tion and bâ—eed of Swine it is to be noted that a Bore or male swine wil not remaine of validity and good for breed past three yeare old by the opinion of all the auncient for such as he engendereth after that age are but weake and not profitable to be kept and nourished At eight moneths olde he beginneth to leape the female and it is good to keepe him close from other of his kinde for two moneths before and to feede him with Barly raw but the sow with Barly sodden One Bore is sufficient for ten Sowes if once he heare the voice of his female desiring the Bore he will not eate vntil hee be admitted and so he wil continue pining and indeed hee wil suffer the female to haue al that can bee and groweth leane to fatten her for which cause Homer like a wise husbandman prescribeth that the male and female Swine be kept assunder till the time of their copulation They continue long in the act of copulation and the reason thereof is because his lust is not hot nor yet proceeding from heat yet is his seed verie plentiful They in the time of their copulation are angry outragious fighting with one another very irefully and for that purpose they vse to harden their ribs by rubbing them voluntarily vppon Trees They choose for the most part the morning for copulation but if he be fat and young he can endure it in euery part of the yeare day but when he is leane and weake or old he is not able to satisfie his females lust for which cause she many times sinketh vnderneath him and yet he filleth her while she lyeth on the ground both of them on their buttocks together They engender oftentimes in one yeare the reason whereof is to be ascribed to their meat or some extraordinary heat which is a coÌ„mon thing to al that liue familiarly among men and yet the wilde swine couple and bring forth but once in the yeare because they are seldome filled with meat endure much paine to get and much cold for Venus in men and beasts is a companion of satiety and therefore they onely bring forth in the springe time and warme weather and it is obserued that in what night soeuer a wilde Hogge or sow farroweth there will be no storme or raine There bee many causes why the tame domesticall Hogs bring forth and engender more often then the wilde first because they are fed with ease secondly because they liue togither without fear by society are more often prouoked to lust on the otherside the wilde swine come sildome together and are often hungrey for which cause they are more dull and lesse venereous yea many times they haue but one stone for which cause they are called by Aristotle and the ancient Graecians Chlunes and Monorcheis The times of a â—ows boâ—â—g But concerning the sow she beginneth to suffer the Bore at eight moneths of age although according to the diuersity of regions and aire they differ in this time of their copulation for some begin at foure moneths and other againe tary till they be a yeare old and this is no maruell for euen the male which engendereth before he be a yeare olde begetteth but weake tender and vnprofitable Pigges The best time of their admission is from the Calends of February vnto the Vernall Equinoctiall for so it hapneth that they bring forth the young in the summer time for foure months she goeth with young and it is good that the pigges be farrowed before haruest which you purpose to keepe al the yeare for store After that you perceiue that the sowes haue conceiued then seperate them from the bores least by the raging lust of their prouoking they be troubled and endangered to abortment There be some that say a sow may beare young till she be seauen yeare olde but I will not striue about that whereof euery poore swineheard may giue ful satisfaction At a yeare olde a sow may do well if shee be couered by the bore in the month of February But if they begin not to beare til they be twenty moneths old or two yeares they wil not onely bring foorth the stronger but also beare the longer time euen to the seauenth yeare and at that time it is good to let them go to riuers fennes or miery places for euen as a man is delighted in washing or bathing so doth swine in filthy wallowing in the mire therein is their rest ioy and repose Albertus reporteth that in some places of Germany a sow hath bin found to beare young eight years and in other till they were fifteen years old but after fifteene yeare it was neuer seene that a sow brought foorth younge pigges If the sowe bee fatte she is alwaies the lesse prone to conceiue with young whether shee be young or old When first of all they beginne to seeke the Bore they leape vpon other swine and in processe cast foorthe a certaine purgation called Apria which is the same in a sow which Hippomanes is in a mare then they also leaue their heard-fellowes which kind of behauior or action the Latines call by a peculiar Verb Subare and that is applied to Harlottes and wanton Women by Horace Iamque subando Tecta cubilia tectaque rumpit We in English call it Boaring because she neuer resteth to shew her desire till she come to a bore and therefore when an olde Woman lusteth after a man being past lust by all natural possibility she is cald Anus subans And the beast is so delighted with this pleasure of carnal copulation that many times she falleth asleepe in that action and if the male be young or dull Plinius then wil the female leap vpon him and prouoketh him yea in her rage she sâ—tteth manie times vpon men and Women especially if that they doe weare any white Garments but this rage of lust is abated if their Apria and priuy place be wet and moistned with Vineger They haue their proper voices and cries for this time of their boaring which the bore or male vnderstandeth presently They are filled at one copulation and yet for their better safegarde and to preserue them from abortment it is good to suffer the bore to couer hir twice or thrice and more ouer if she conceiue not
care of my Swyne as other men of greater cattell For what is there whereunto swine are not profitable who tilleth land and keepeth not hogs and who hath not heard our fathers say that he is an idle ill husband vvhich hangs vp all his prouision in the shambles and liueth rather vpon the Butchers then vpon his ovvne ground Thus far Tremellius Another part of a good Svvinehard is to looke to the gelding of his Svvyne and splaying of the females for if all bee suffered to procreate and engender it is more danger that Swine would in short time eate vp men rather then men Swine The Latins call such a Hogge gelded Macalis and Porcastrus that is Porcus castratus the Germans ein barg or Boetz from whence seemeth to be deriued our English Barrow-hog for so wee call a gelded-male-hog and a female Basse Pliny The best time therefore to geld them is in the old Moone or as we say in the waine of the Moone but Hesiod prescribeth that an Oxe and a Boare should be gelded in the second quarter and first day thereof and Aristotle is of opinion that is skilleth not what age a Boare be when hee is libbed but it is cleare by the best experienced among these beasts there are two times of gelding them one in the spring and the other in the Autumne and this is to be done after a double manner First by making two incisions or wounds vpon his stones out of which holes the stones are to be pressed forth The second way is more perillous yet more cleanely for first of all at one wounde or incision they take out one stone then that being forth with their knyfe they cut the small skin which parteth the stones in the cod and so presse foorth the second stone at the first wound afterward applyeng to it ordinary medicines such as we will describe in the treatise of their diseases And the opinion of Varo is that it is good to lib them at halfe a yeare old or at a yeare old or at three or foure yeare old for their better fatting but best at a yeare and not vnder halfe a yeare When the stones are taken forth of an old Bore suppose two or three or foure yeare old they are called by the Latins Polimenta because with them they polished and smoothed garments The female also is gelt or splayed although she often bore pigs whereof they open the side neere her loines and take away from her Apria and receptacles of the Boares seede â—â—sâ—us which being sewed vp againe in short time is enclosed in fat this they do by hanging them vp by their forelegs and first of all they which do it most commodiously must cause them to fast two daies before and then hauing cut it they sew vp and close fast againe the wound or incision and this is doone in the same place of the female that the stones are to be taken out in the male as Aristotle writeth but rather it appeareth by good examination and proofe that it is to be cut out on the right against the bone called os sacrum Abenzoor And the onely cause of this Sow-gelding is for their better growth and fatning which in some Countries they vse being forced thereunto through their penury want of food but whereas is plenty of food there they neuer know it and the inuenters hereof were the Graecians whose custome was to cut out the whole matrix And thus much for the libbing gelding and splaying of Swine The nature of this beast â—â—â—manius Pliny This beast is a most vnpure and vncleane beast and rauening and therefore we vse not improperly to cal Obscoene and filthy men or women by the name of Swyne or Sowes They which haue foreheads eyelids lips mouth or Necke like Swyne are accounted foolish wicked and wrathful al their sences their smelling excepted are dull because they haue no articles in their hearts but haue thicke blood and some say that the acutenesse and ripenesse of the soule standeth not in the thicknesse of the blood but in the couer and skin of the body and that those beasts which haue the thickest skins are accounted the most blockish farthest from reason but those which haue the thinnest softest are the quickest of vnderstanding an example whereof is apparant in the Oyster Oxe and Ape They haue a maruaylous vnderstanding of the voyce of their feeder and as ardent desire to come at his call through often custome of meat whereupon lyeth this excellent story When certaine pyrates in the Tirrhene sea had entred a Hauen and went on land Aelianus they came to a Swines stye and drew out thereof diuers Swine and so carried them on shipboard and loosing their Anckers and tacklings doe depart and saile away The Swine heardes seeing the pirats commit this robbery and not being able to deliuer and rescue their cattel because they wanted both company strength sufferd the theeues in silence to ship carry away their cattle at last when they saw the Theeues rowing out of the port and lanching into the deepe then they lift vp their voyces and with their accustomed cries or cals called vpoÌ„ their Swine to come to their meat assoone as the swine heard the same they presently gat to the right side of the vessell or barke and there flocking togither the ship being vnequally ballanced or loden ouerturned al into the sea and so the pirats were iustly drowned in reward of the theft and the stolne Swine swam safely backe again to their maisters and keepers The nature of this beast is to delight in the most filthy and noysome places for no other cause as I think but because of their dul sences Their voice is cald Grunnitus gruntling Sordida sus pascens ruris gramina grunnit which is a terrible voice to one that is not accustomed therunto for euen the Elephants are afraid thereof especially when one of them is hurt or hanged fast or bitten then all the residue as it were in compassion condoling his misery run to him and cry with him and this voice is very common in swine at all hands to cry except he be carried with his head vpwards towards heauen then it is affirmed he neuer cryeth the reason wherof is giuen by Aphrodisien because it is alwaie acustomed to looke downward and therefore when it is forced to look vpward it is suddenly appaled and afraid held with admiration of the goodly space aboue him in the heauens like one astonished holdeth his peace some say that then the artery of his voice is pressed and so he cannot cry alowd There is a fish in the riuer Achelous which gruntleth like a hog whereof Iuuenal speaketh saying Et quam remigibus grunnisse Elpenor a porcis And this voice of swine is by Caecilius attributed to drunken men The milke of Swine is very thicke and therefore cannot make whay like a sheepes howbeit it suddenly coagulateth and
thought good to remember here although it be somewhat out of place Inter caesariae discrimina saeua Dianae Fixisset grauidam cum leuis hacta suem Exiliet partus misere de vulnere matris O lucinae ferox hoc peperisset fuit Anseus the father of Agapener was killed by the Calidonian Boare as we haue said already Carmon was slain by a boare in the Mountaine Tmolus There was one Attas a Syrian and another an Arcadian and both these were slaine by Boares as Plutarch writeth in the life of Sertorius It is reported of one Attes a Phrygian that as he kept his Sheepe he did continually sing songes in commendation of the mother of the Gods for which cause she loued him honored him and often appeared vnto him wherein Iupiter fell to be offended and therefore sent a Boare to kill Attes Rea after his death lamented him and caused him to be buried honorably The Phrygians in his remembrance did euery yeare in the spring time lament and bewaile him Adonis also the Lemon of Venus is fayned of the Poets to be killed by a Boare and yet Macrobius saith that it is an alegory of the sunne the Winter for Adonis signifieth the Sunne and the Boare the Winter for as the Boare is a roughe and sharpe beaste lyuing in moyst cold places couered with frost doth properly liue vpon winter fruits as Acornes so he is the fitter emblem for Winter that is a deuourer of the Sunnes heat and warmth both which fall away by death from all liuing creatures When Tuthras a King of Myssia went to hunt in the Mountaine Thrasillus he started a huge great Boare which he and his gaurd followed and hunted vnto the Temple of Diana Orthosia wherinto the Boare entered for sanctuary The poore Beast seeing the Hunters at hand cryed out with the voyce of a man Parce ô rex pecudi deae O King spare Dianayes Boare but the King being nothing at all moued therewith slew him in the Temple which wickednesse the Gods could not endure and therefore first of all she restored the Boare to life and afterwardes afflicted the King with madnesse who was therefore driuen into the Mountaines and there liued like a beast When Lysippe his mother knew heereof she went to him into the Woodes and carried Cyranius the prophet who instructed him to pacifie the Gods by a sacrifice of Oxen which when it was performed the King recouered againe his right minde and so his mother in remembrance thereof built there a Chappell to Diana and set thereupon the picture of a Boare in Gold with a mans mouth There was also a custome in ancient time for champions and their fathers brethren and kindred to sweare by a Boare cut in peeces And thus much for the naturall and morrall story of the Boare which I will conclude with those verses of Horace describing the prodigious habitation of Boares in the waters and Dolphins in the woods as if one had changed with another Delphinum syluis appingit fluctibus aprum Qui variare cupit rem prodigialiter vnam The medicines of the wilde swine There are declared a Mâ—things concerning the remedies of Goats but a larger and more ample power shal be shewn of a wild beast of the same kind Also the same regard shal be had concerning the remedies of a tame Sow and a wild Boare yea of all other tame and wilde beasts that is that the same or things like to either of them may be ended differing onely according to more or lesse because the same parts of wilde beasts liuing are lesse moist colde then those that are tame That which we repeat heere concerning the common remedies of a bore and sow tamed in some of the parts of them to wit the blood the braine the cheeke bone the lungs or lights the liuer the gall the anckle bone the hoofe the dung and vrine is not in the sow repeated before The braines of a bore taken with blood is very much commended against the bitings of serpents Againe the braines and blood of a boare doeth helpe those that feare the comming of carbuncles The lard and fat of a bore being sodden and bound fast together doth with a wonderfull celerity make firme those bones that are broken The fat of abore mingled with hony and Rozin is very much commended against the bitinges of Serpents The fat of a wild Bore mingled with the fat of the lungs or lights doth very much profit those which haue their feet broken or brused by any mischance The fat of a Bore being mixed with oile of Roses is very good for those that are troubled with blisters or pushes it being annointed thereupon The braines of a Bore is very profitable for carbuncles and the paines of a mans yard The braines of a Boare being brused very small in hony and put thereto doth wonderfully make it sound The braines of a Bore sodden drunke in Wine doth ease all the paines and greefes There are more thinges spoken concerning the remedies of the braine in the medicines of the sowe The ashes of the cheeke-bone of a Boare doeth cure those vlcers which doe encrease bigger by little and little Also the same thing doth make firme those bones that are broken The lungs or lights of a Bore mixed with hony and put vpon the feet after the manner of a mollyfieng emplaister they shall bee freed from all exulcerations Dioscorides also doth commend the lungs or lightes of Sowes lambes and Beares The liuer of a Bore being new killed and scorched by a fire and beaten to powder and so being taken in wine is an especiall remedie against the bitings of Serpents and Dogges The liuer of a Bore being olde and drunken in wine with rue it is very much commended against the bitings of serpents The Fibres of the liuer of a bore and those especially which are nearest to the enteraunce of the gall and liuer being taken in Vineger or rather wine is much profitable against the bitings of Serpents The liuer of a bore is good to reuiue those whose spirits are drousie The liuer of a bore doth much profit being stopped in the eares for those that are trobled with Apostumes or any running sores therein The liuer of a bore being new killed and drunken in wine is very effectual against the loosenesse of the belly There are certaine little stones in the liuer of a bore as there is in a common or vulgar sow or at leastwise like vnto little stones and they are also white which being sodden and taken in wine are very effectuall against the disease of the stone Thou shalt read many more thinges concerning the remedies of the liuer of a bore in the medicines of the sow The gall of a bore is very much commended for Wennes or swellings in the necke The gall of a bore being mingled with Rosin and Waxe doth cure those vlcers which do encrease bigger and bigger The gall of a bore and Lambes milke
but that part is not of the horn but either the entrance of the pallat or some other things as I coniecture This horne was found vnder the earth not deeper then a foote in a solitary and high place as betweene two hils through which a riuer runneth by Countri'men that were digging to lay the foundation of a house But the horne was smitten with an Axe and seuered into very smal peeces but that Noble and excelent man Ioannes Frikasz in whose field the horne was founde being distaunt from Cracouia two miles by all diligence he could least that the small peeces should be cast abroad tooke deliberate heed that they should be taken out of the earth From the roote to the top it was all round and smooth but touching it with ones toongue it cleaueth fast vnto it the tooth was as big as a man could gripe in his hand being in the vpper or outward part bony or hollow within white in the middle and toward the end somewhat reddish But there was found all the beast as by the greatnesse of his bones might easily be perceived being bigger in quantity then a horse It is most certaine that it was a Foure-footed-beast by the bones of the shoulders thighes and ribs But if this Horne were the tooth of an Elephant as some doe suppose you would maruaile why two which I haue heard were neuer found together But the teeth or rather hornes of Elephants are neither so crooked that they might come almost to halfe a circle as they did The strength of this horne a penny weight thereof being put in wine or water of Borrage healeth old Feuers as also Tertian or quarterne Agues of three yeares continuance and cureth many diseases in mens bodies as asswaging the paine of the belly and making of those to vomit who can by no meanes ease their stomackes Hitherto shal suffice to haue spoken concerning one of those foure hornes which I saw The other was like vnto this but lesse pure for the colour was outwardly most blacke inwardly most white being found in the Riuer The third and fourth most hard so that a man would thinke it were by the touching thereof stone or iron being solide euen vnto the point for I haue not seene them wholly but the part of one to the length of a cubit of the other to the length of halfe a cubit with a darke colour being almost of the same thicknesse as the two former But for as much as the two former haue no riftes or chinkes in them these haue by their longitude being like hearbs bending or wreathing in their stalkes There was another found in a certaine field so much appearing out of the earth that the rude or country sort did thinke it to be some pile or stake Many also are cured and freed from shaking feauers by the medicinall force of these the cause whereof I suppose to be this because the former are softer for as much as one of them will lye in the Water for so long a time but the other vnder the earth being scarce well hid I afterwardes saw a fi lt like vnto the first none of them being straight or direct vppe but also crooked some almost vnto a halfe a circle Hitherto Schnebergerus who also addeth this That there are more of these to be found in Polonia and therefore for the most part to bee contemned There are moreouer found in Heluetia some of these hornes one in the riuer Arula against the Towne of Bruga the other in the last yeare in the riuer of Birsa but it was broken euen as the third with that famous Earle of the Cymbrians William Warner in a tower neare vnto the Citty Rottauit who gaue vnto Gesner a good peece thereof who found another peece as he was a fishing at Birsa in the riuer And it is no great maruaile that they are found there where through length of time they are broken into small pieces and carried by the force of the waters into diuers places But it is most diligently to be obserued whether they are found in the earth as also to be knowne whether that great horne be of this beast which hangs alone in the great temple at Argentaur by the piller for it hath hanged there many yeares before as now it-appeareth for that doth plainely seeme the same magnitude thicknesse and figure which Schnebergerus hath described in his own horne that we haue allowed before for wild oxen The ancients haue attributed singuler hornes to the Vnicorne whom some haue cald by other names as it is said and furthermore to the Orix a wilde beast vnknowne in our age except I be deceiued which Aristotle and Pliny call a Vnicorne Aelianus a Quadrucorne Oppianus doth not expresse it but he seemeth to make it a two horned beast Simeon Sethi doth also write that the Musk-cat or Goat at which bringeth forth Muske hath one horne Certaine later writers as Scaliger reporteth say that there is a certaine Oxe in Ethiopia which hath one Horne comming out in the middest of his forehead greater then the length of a foot bending vpwardes the point being wreathed ouerthwart and they haue red haire whereby we gather that the horne of all Vnicornes is not pure But the reason why these hornes are more found in Polonia then in any other place I cannot well ghesse whether from thence we shall suspect them to be of certaine Vries which at this day abide in the woods of Sarmatia in times past there were many more which haue liued both in greater and larger woods neither were they killed with so often Hunting some whereof it is most like haue come to great age as appeareth by their great stately hornes which things we leaue to be considered of others I suppose that the Apothe caries neuer haue the true horne of a Vnicorne but that some doe sell a kinde of false adulterated Horne other the fragments of this great and vnknowne Horne of which we haue spoken and not onely of the horne but also of the bones of the head some of which are so affected by longanimity of time that you may take a threefold substance in them although it be broken by a certain distance one being for the most part whitish and pale the other whiter and softer the third stony and most white I heare that in the new Ilands there was a Horne bought in the name of a Vnicornes horne being much praised for expelling of poyson which what it is I haue not as yet examited but it is to bee inquired whether it bee a Rhynocerots or not for both the auncient and late Writers doe mingle this with the Vnicorne I doe verily coniecture that the same strength is pertinent to both the Hornes And thus much shall suffice concerning the true Vnicornes horne and the Vertues arising there from In this place now we will proceed to the residue of the history reseruing other vses of this horne to the proper medicines These Beasts are very
weake creatures but there are also wild common wolues who lie in waite to destroy their heards of cattell and flocks of sheep against whom the people of the country do ordaine general huntings taking more care to destroy the young ones then the old that so the breeders and hope of continuance may be taken away And some also do keepe of the whelps aliue shutting of them vp close and taming them especially females who afterwards engender with dogs whose Whelpes are the most excellent keepers of flocks and the most enimies to wolues of all other Wolues are â—oâ— wilde dogges There be some haue thought that Dogs and Wolues are one kind namely that vulgar Dogs are tame Wolues and rauening wolues are wilde dogs But Scaliger hath learnedly confuted this opinion shewing that they are two distinct kinds not ioyned together in nature nor in any naturall action except by constraint for he saith that there are diuers wilde dogs are not wolues and so haue continued for many yeares in a hill cald Mountfalcon altogether refusing the society and seruice of men yea sometimes killing and eating them and they haue neither the face nor the voyce nor the stature nor the condicions of wolues for in their greatest extremity of hunger they neuer set vpon flocks of sheep so that it is vnreasonable to affirme that wolues are wilde dogs although it must needs be confessed The voyces of wolues that in outward proportion they are very like vnto them Some haue thought that wolues cannot bark but that is false as Albertus writeth vpon his owne knowledge the voice of wolues is called Vulatus howling according to these verses Ast lupus ipse vlulat frendet agrestis aper And againe Per noctem resonare lupis vlulantibus vrbes It should seeme that the word Vlulatus which the Germans translate Heulen the French Hurler and we in English howling is deriued either from the imitation of the beasts voice or from a night whooping Bird called Vlula I will not contend but leaue the Reader to either of both for it may be that it commeth from the Greek word Ololeuzein which signifieth to mourne and howle after a lamentable manner and so indeed wolues doe neuer howle but when they are oppressed with famin And thus I leaue the discourse of their voyce with the annotation of Seruius Vlulare canum est furiare To howle is the voyce of dogs and furies Although there be great difference of colours in wolues as already I haue shewed yet most commonly they are gray and hoary that is white mixed with other colours and therefore the Graecians in imitation therof do cal their twie-light which is betwixt day and night as it were participating of black and white Licophos wolfe-light because the vpper side of the wolues haire is browne and the neather part white It is said that the shaggy haire of a wolfe is full of virmin and wormes and it may well be for it hath beene proued that the skin of a sheep which was killed by a wolfe breedeth wormes The braines of a wolfe do decrease and encrease with the Moon and their eies are yellow black and very bright sending forth beames like fire The seueral partes carrying in them apparant tokens of wrath and mallice and for this cause it is said they see better in the night then in the day being herein vnlike vnto men that see better in the day then in the night for reason giueth light to their eyes and appetite to beasts and therfore of ancient time the wolfe was dedicated to the Sun for the quicknesse of his seeing sence and because he seeth far And such as is the quicknesse of his sence in seeing such also it is in smelling Coelius Stumpsius for it is reported that in time of hunger by the benefit of the wind hee smelleth his prey a mile and a halfe or two mile off for their teeth they are called Charcharodontes that is sawed yet they are smooth sharp and vnequall and therefore bite deepe as we haue shewed already for this cause the sharpest bits of horses are called Lupata All beasts that are deuourers of flesh doe open their mouths wide that they may bite more strongly and especially the wolfe The necke of a wolfe standeth on a straight bone that canot well bend therefore like the Hyaena when he would looke backwards he must turne round about the same necke is short which argueth a trecherous nature It is saide that if the heart of a wolfe be kept dry it rendreth a most fragrant or sweet smelling sauor The liuer of a VVolfe is like to a horses hoofe and in the blather there is found a certaine stone cald Syrites being in colour like Saffron or Honny yet inwardly containe certaine weake shining stars this is not the stone called Syriacus or Indiacus which is desired for the vertue of it against the stone in the blather The forefeet haue fiue distinct towes and the hinder feet but 4. because the forefeet serue in stead of hands in Lyons dogs wolues and Panthers VVe haue spoken already of their celerity in running and therefore they are not compared to Lions which go foot by foot but vnto the swiftest Dogs It is sayd they will swim and go into the water two by two euery one hanging vpon anothers taile which they take in their mouthes and therefore they are compared to the daies of the yeare which do successiuely follow one another being therfore called Lucabas For by this successiue swimming they are better strengthned against impression of the flouds and not lost in the waters by any ouerflowing waues or billowes The meat voracity of Wolues Great is the voracity of this beast for they are so insatiable that they deuoure haire and bones with the fleshe which they eat for which cause they render it whole againe in their excrements and therefore they neuer grow fat It was well sayd of a learned man Lupus vorat potius quam commedit carnes pauco vtitur potu That is A wolfe is rather to rauen then to eat his meat VVhen they are hungry they rage much although they be nourished tame yet can they not abide any man to look vpon them while they eat when they are once satisfied Aelianus Philes they endure hunger a great time for their bellies standeth out their tongue swelleth their mouth is stopped for when they haue droue away their hunger with aboundance of meate they are vnto men and beasts as meeke as lambs til they be hungry again neither are they moued to rapine though they go through a flock of sheep but in short time after their bellies and tongue are calling for more meat and then saith mine Author In antiquaÌ„ frigraÌ„ redit iterumque lupus existit That is They returne to their former conditions and become as rauening as they were before Neither ought this to seem strange vnto any man for the like things are formerly reported
encreaseth into a great tree but where it is imperfect and venomous there it neuer groweth tall nor bringeth forth any great stocke There are certain litle Fishes called by the Graecians Lycos and by the Latanists blenni which we may english wolfe-Fishes these the Hunters vse to take wolues in this maner when they haue taken a great many of them aliue they put them into some tub or great morter 〈◊〉 ther kil them by bruising them to pieces afterwards they make a fire of coles in the mountains where the wolues hant putting into the same some of these fishes mixed with blood and peeces of mutton and so leauing it to haue the sauour thereof carryed euery way with the winde they go and hide themselues whilst that in the mean time the Wolues inraged with the sauour of this fire seeke too and fro to finde it because of the smell the fire before they come is quenched or goeth out naturally and the Wolues by the smoke therof especially by tasting of the flesh blood and fish which there they find do fall into a drowsie dead sleepe which when the Hunters do perceiue they come vpon them and cut their throats The Armenians do poison them with blacke fishes some do take a cat pulling off her skin taking out the bowels they put into her belly the powder of Frogges this cat is boiled a little vpon coles and by a man drawne vp and down in the mountaines where wolues do hant now if the Wolues do chance to meet with the traine of this cat they instantly followe after him inraged without all feare of man to attaine it therefore he which draweth the catte is accompanied with another hunter armed with a a Gun Pistoll or Cross bow that at the appearaunce of the Wolfe and before his approach to the traine he may destroy and kill him Poysyning of Wolues I will not discourse of Wolfe-bane commonly called Aconitum in Latine wherwithall both men beasts are intoxicated and especially Wolues but referring the Reader to the long discourse of Conradus Gesner in his History of the Wolf I will onely remember in this place an Epigram of Ausonius wherein he pleasantly relateth a story of an adulterated women desiring to make away her iealous husband and that with speed and vehemency gaue him a drinke of Wolfe-bane and Quick-siluer mingled together eyther of both single are poison but compounded are a purgation the Epigram is this that followeth Toxica zelotypo dedit vxor mecha marito Nec satis ad mortem credidit esse datum Miscuit argenti letalia pondera viui Cogeret vt celerem vis geminata necem Diuidat haec si quis faciunt discreta venenum Antidotum sumet qui sociata bibet Ergo inter sese dum noxia pocula certant Cessit letalis noxa salutiferae Protinus vacuos alui petiere recessus Lubrica deiectis qua via nota cibis Concerning the enimies of Wolues there is no doubt but that such a rauening beast hath fewe friendes for except in the time of copulation wherein they mingle sometime with dogges The enimies of Wolues and sometime with Leopards and sometime with other beastes all Beastes both great and small do auoyd their society and fellowship for it cannot be safe for strangers to liue with them in any league or amity seeing in their extremity they deuour one another for this cause in some of the inferiour beasts their hatred lasteth after death as many Authors haue obserued for if a sheepe skinne be hanged vp with a Wolues skin the Wool falleth off from it and if an instrument be stringed with stringes made of both these beasts the one will giue no sounde in the presence of the other but of this matter we haue spoken in the story of the sheep shewing the opinion of the best learned concerning the truth heereof The Rauens are in perpetuall enmity with Wolues and the Antiphathy of their natures is so violent that it is reported by Philes and Aelianus that if a rauen eat of the carcasse of a beast which the wolfe hath kild or formerly tasted of she presently dyeth There are certaine wilde Onions called Scille and some say the sea-Onion because the roote hath the similitude of an Onion of all other thinges this is hatefull to a wolfe and therefore the Arabians say that by treading on it his legge falleth into a crampe whereby his whole body many times endureth insufferable torments for the crampe increaseth into convulsions for which cause it is worthy to be obserued how vnspeakle the Lord is in all his workes for whereas the wolfe is an enemy to the fox and the Turtle he hath giuen secret instinct and knowledge both to this beast and Foule of the vertuâ—us operation of this hearbe against the rauening wolfe for in their absence from their neâ—â—s they leaue this Onion in the mouth thereof as a sure gard to keepe their young ones from the wolfe There are certaine Eagles in Tartaria which are tamed who doo of their owne accord being set on by men aduenture vpon wolues and so vex them with their talants that a man with no labor or difficulty may kil the beast for this cause the wolues do greatly feare them and auoid them And thereupon came the common prouerb Lupus fugit aquilam And thus much shall suffice to haue spoken in general concerning their taking Now we will proceed to the other parts of their History and first of al of their carnal copulation They ingender in the same manner as dogs and Sea-calues do Their Copulation procreation and therefore in the middle of their copulation they cleaue together against their wil. It is obserued that they begin to engender immediately after Christmasse and this rage of their lust lasteth but twelue daies whereupon there was wont to go a fabulous tale or reason that the cause why al of them conceiued in the twelue daies after Christmas was for that Latona so many daies togither wandered in the shape of a shee wolfe in the mountaines Hyperborei for for feare of Iuno in which likenes shee was brought to Delus but this fable is confuted by Plutarch rehearsing the words of Antipater in his booke of beastes for he saith when the Oakes that beare Acornes do begin to cast their flowers or blossoms then the wolues by eating thereof do open their wombes for where there is no plenty of Acornes there the yong ones die in the damâ— belly and therefore such countries wherein there are no store of Oakes are freed from wolues and this he saith is the true cause why they conceiue but once a yeare and that onely in the xii daies of Christmas for those Okes flower but once a year namely in the spring time at which season the wolues bring forth their yong ones For the time that they go with young and the number of whelps they agree with dogs that is they beare their young nine weeks and
rust or vennome of some bit or snaffell vndiscretly lookt vnto the cure is thus Wash the sore place with strong vineger made thick with the powder of Allum two or three daies together euery time vntil it bleede which will kill the poyson and vigor of the exulcerated matter then make this water take of running water a quart of Allum foure ounces of Hony foure or fiue spoonefuls of Wood-bineleaues of Sage-leaues and of Collombine-leaues of each halfe a handful boile al these together til one halfe be consumed then take it off and euery day with the water warmed wash the sore vntil it be whole Of the heat in the mouth and lips SOmetime the heat that commeth out of the stomach breedeth no Canker but maketh the mouth hot and causeth the horse to forsake his meat The cure wherof Blundevile as Martin saith is in this sort First turne vp his vpperlip and iagge it lightly with a launcet so as it may bleede and then wash both that and al his mouth and tongue with Vineger and salt Of the tongue being hurt with the bit or otherwise IF the tongue be cut or hurt any manner of way Martin saith it is good first to wash it with Allum water and then to take the leaues of black Bramble and to chop them togither small with a little lard that done to binde it vp in a little clout making it round like a ball then hauing dipt the round end in hony rub the tongue therewith continuing so to do once a day vntil it be whole Of the Barbles or Paps vnderneath the tongue THese be two little paps called of the Italians Barbole growing naturally as I thinke in euery Horsses mouth vnderneath the tongue in the neather iawes which if they shoot of any length Russius saith that they wil hinder the Horsses feeding and therefore he and Martin also would haue them to be clipt away with a paire of sheeres and that don the Horsses mouth to be washed with vineger and salt Of the paine in the teeth and gums of the Wolfes teeth and Iaw-teeth A Horse may haue paine in his teeth partly by discent of humors from his head down into his teeth and gums which is to be perceiued by the ranknesse and swelling of the gums and partly hauing two extraordinary teeth called the wolfes teeth which be two little teeth growing in the vpper iawes next vnto the great grinding teeth which are so paineful to the Horse as he cannot endure to chaw his meat but is forced either to let it fal out of his mouth or else to keepe it stil halfe chawed whereby the Horse prospereth not but waxerh leane and poore and he wil do the like also when his vpper Iaw-teeth be so far growne as they ouerhang the neather Iaw-teeth and therewith be so sharp as in mouing his iawes they cut and race the insides of his cheeks euen as they were raced with a knife And first as touching the cure of the paine in the teeth that commeth by meanes of some distillation Vegetius saith it is good to rub al the outside of his gums with fine chalke and strong vineger mingled together or else after that you haue washed the gums with vineger to strew on them of Pomegranate piles But methinkes that besides this it were not amisse to stop the temple vains with the plaister before mentioned in the chapter of weeping and waterish eies The cure of the Wolfes teeth and of the iaw-teeth according to Martin is in this sort First cause the horsse head to be tyed vp to some rafter or post and his mouth to be opened with a cord so wide as you may easily see euery part thereof Then take a round strong iron toole half a yard long and made at the one end in al points like vnto the Carpenters gouge wherewith he maketh his holes to be bored with a wimble or augor with your left hand set the edge of your toole at the foot of the wolfs teeth on the outside of the iaw turning the hollow side of the toole downward holding your hand steadily so as the toole may not slip from the foresaid tooth then hauing a mallet in your right hand strike vpon the head of the toole one pretty blow and therwith you shal loosen the tooth and cause it to bend inward then staying the midst of your toole vpon the horses neather iaw wrinch the tooth outward with the inside or hollow side of the toole and thrust it clean out of his head Blundevile that done serue the other Wolfes tooth on the other side in like manner and fill vp the empty places with salt finely braied But if the vpper iawe-teeth do also ouerhang the neather teeth so cut the inside of his mouth as is aforesaid then keeping his mouth stil open take your toole and mallet and pare al those teeth shorter running alongst them euen from the first vnto the last turning the hollow side of your toole towards the teeth so shal not the toole cut the inside of his cheekes and the backe or round side being turned toward the foresaid checkes and that doone wash all his mouth with vineger and salt and let him go Why the diseases in the necke withers and backe be declared heere before the diseases in the throate HAuing hitherto spoken of the diseases incident to a horsses head and to al the parts thereof natural order requireth that we shold now discend into the throat as a part next adiacent to the mouth But forasmuch as the diseases in the throate haue not onely afinity with the head but also with the lungs and other inward parts which are many times grieued by meanes of distillation comming from the head and through the throat I wil speake of the diseases incident to the necke withers and backe of a Horsse to the intent that when I come to talke of such diseases as rheumes and distillations doe cause I may discourse of them orderly without interruption Of the Cricke in the necke BEcause a Cricke is no other thing but a kind of conuulsion and for that we haue spoken sufficiently bofore of al kinds thereof in the chapter of conuulsion I purpose not heere therefore to trouble you with many wordes but onely shewe you Russius opinion and also Martins experience therein The cricke then called of the Italians Scima or Luterdo according to Russius and according to Martin is when the Horsse cannot turne his neck any maner of way but hold it stil right forth insomuch as he cannot take his meate from the ground but by times and that very slowly Russius saith it commeth by meanes of some great weight laid on the horsses shoulders or else by ouermuch drying vp of the sinnewes of the necke The cure whereof according to Martin is in his sort Draw him with a hot iron from the root of the eare on both sides of the necke through the midst of the same euen down to the breast