other Creatures EVer since the Devil entered into the Serpent it became hateful to all or the most part of the beasts of the field so that it may as truly be verified of the Serpent as it was of Esau that the hands of all Men and Beasts are against them except very few for they are strangers to all and finde very few or no friends Yet it is reported that the Serpent and the Fox will live peaceably together in one cave or lodging There is a story not unpleasant of a Man that found a Serpent enclosed betwixt two stones and at the intreaty of the Serpent he loosed him out of danger and did him no harm The Serpent being released and free from death in stead of other recompence for so good a turn told the Man that he had been therein a long time inclosed and was very hungry and therefore was forced against his will to make the best of his fortune and therefore must needs eat the Man and bad him prepare himself for death The Man astonished at this motion replyed to the Serpent that he hoped he would not deal so with him having delivered him from death now to put his deliverer to death and said moreover that he would not be the Judge of his own case but refer the same to the next they found and the Serpent also yeelded to that judgement being assured that no creature would quit the Man lest he should cast his own life into peril Forth then they went and met with an Ass to whom the Man told the difference betwixt him and the Serpent how kindely he saved the Serpents life and how unkindely he again would take away his life And then the Serpent bade the Ass consider what judgement he gave and for whom he spake The Ass adjudged it lawful for the Serpent to kill the Man Lo now said the Serpent make you ready for the matter is judged against you and withall began to make force at him with mouth and sting But the Man said that he would not take this Asses deree for reasonable and therefore prayed the Serpent to tarry yet a little longer and try once more the next Beast they met withall and the Serpent thinking himself sure of the booty yeelded thereunto Then forth they passed again and shortly after met with a Fox to whom the Man related his case and the benefit he had done to the Serpent The Serpent again confessed he released him but withall denyed his case to be as the Man had said so desperate but only he entrapped himself the better to compass a booty The Fox having heard them both desirous to end the matter for the Mans benefit would needs go with them both to the place where the Serpent was inclosed and so all parties consented And when the Fox came thither he bade the Serpent go into the same place again that so he might the better judge of the whole matter The Serpent went in again betwixt the stones and was so inclosed as he was before for he could not stir neither backward nor forward Then the Fox asked the Man if this were the Serpents case from which he had delivered him The Man answered yea in all points Then he bade the Serpent come out again as he said he could without the help of the Man But the Serpent called the Man to help him again Nay said the Fox I found you two at variance because of your discharge from this place and seeing now you are as you were before and the Man as he was before your enlargement my sentence is that when you come forth of that place you are in then shall you eat the Man and if he will let you forth again I will never pity him By this fable is shewed that Foxes love not Serpents so well as they love Men and yet they never love Men but they are afraid suspitious and willing to forsake their familiarity Some say there is a kinde of love betwixt Serpents and Cats whereof I finde this story in Ponzettus There were certain Monks who all of them fell sick upon a sudden and the Physitians could not tell how or whence this sickness came except from some secret poyson At last one of the servants of the Abbey saw the Cat which was daily fed at the Monks table to play with a Serpent and thereby it was conjectured that the Serpent having in his sport lost or left some poyson upon the Cats skin the Monks by stroking of the Cat were infected therewith And the cause why the Cat was not harmed thereby was for that she received the poyson from the sport and not from the anger of the Serpent And this thing surely is not so marvellous seeing that little Mice and Rats do also play with Serpents and herein Politicians play the Serpents who hold correspondence and peace both with the Cat and the Mouse that is with two sworn and natural enemies together The like peace and league they are also said to keep with Eeles as may more plainly appear by this following History of a certain Monk called Rodolphus a Will Monachus Capellensis There was as this Monk affirmeth one of his fellow Monks which did often tell him that being a little boy and using to sport himself by the water side he hapned to catch an Eele which he attempted for his own pleasure to carry to another water and by the way as he went he passed through a Wood at which time when he was within the Wood the Eele began to hiss and cry mainly at the hearing whereof there gathered together very many Serpents round about him insomuch that he was afraid and set down his basket fast pinned and ran away afterward he came again and sought for his basket but he found not the Eele therein wherefore it was supposed that the Serpents delivered the same Eele out of the basket by some sleight of nature the only doubt is whether Eeles do hiss or not seeing they are fishes and Omnes pisces muti all fishes are mute or dumb But for answer to this objection it is most certain that Eeles have a voyce as all they know which use fishing in the night for I my self have not only heard such a voyce in the night time in Rivers and other waters where Eeles abounded but have had it confirmed by divers other of greater practise and experience in fishing The reason whereof may be their manner of generation for they engender not by spawn as other fishes but of the slime of the earth or water and differ not from Serpents in their external form except in their colour and therefore may be said to partake with Fishes and Serpents in both their natures that is having a voyce like a Serpent ' and a substance like a Fish Such is their confederacy with living Creatures and with no more that I ever read or heard of But moreover it is said that they love some Plants or Herbs above measure as the
being about fourteen or twenty dayes old and some have devised a cruel delicate meat which is to cut the young ones out of the dams belly and so to dresse and eat them but I trust there is no man among Christians so inhumanely gluttonous as once to devise or approve the sweetness of so foul a dish but the tame ones are not so good for in Spain they will not eat of a tame Cony because every creature doth partake in tast of the air wherein he liveth and therefore tame Conies which are kept in a close and unsweet air by reason of their own excrements cannot tast so well or be so wholesome as those which run wilde in the mountains and fields free from all infection of evill air They love above all places the rocks and make Dens in the earth and whereas it is said Psal 104 that the stony rocks are for the Cony it is not to be understood as if the feet of the Cony could pierce into the rock as into the earth and that she diggeth her hole therein as in looser ground but that finding among the rocks holes already framed to her hand or else some light earth mingled therewith she more willingly entreth thereinto as being more free from rain and floods then in lower and softer ground for this cause they love also the hils and lower grounds and woods where are no rocks as in England which is not a rocky Countrey but wheresoever she is forced to live there she diggeth her holes wherein for the day time she abideth but morning and evening cometh out from thence and sitteth at the mouth thereof In their copulation they engender like Elephants Tygres and Linxes that is the male leapeth on the back of the female their privie parts being so sramed to meet one another behind because the females do render their urine backward their secrets and the seed of the male are very smal They begin to breed in some Countries being but six moneths old but in England at a year old and so continue bearing every moneth at the least seven times in one year if they litter in March but in the Winter they do not engender at all and therefore the Authors say of these and Hares that they abound in procreation by reason whereof a little store will serve to encrease a great borough Their young being littered are blind and see not till they be nine dayes old and their dam hath no suck for them till she hath been six or seven hours with the male at the least for six hours after she cannot suckle them greatly desiring to go to the Buck and if she be not permitted presently she is so far displeased that she will not be so inclined again for 14 daies after I have been also credibly informed by one that kept tame Conies that he had Does which littered three at a time and within fourteen daies after they littered four more Their ordinary number in one litter is five and sometimes nine but never above and I have seen that when a Doe hath had nine in her belly two or three of them have perished and been oppressed in the womb by suffocation The males will kill the young ones if they come at them like as the Bore cats and therefore the female doth also avoid it carefully covering the nest or litter with gravell or earth that so they may not be discovered there are also some of their females very unnatural not caring for their yong ones but suffer them to perish both because they never provide a warm litter or nest for them as also because they forsake them being littered or else devour them For the remedy of this evill he that loveth to keep them for his profit must take them before they be delivered and pull off the hair or flesh underneath their belly and so put it upon their nest that when the young one cometh forth it may not perish for cold and so the dam will be taught by experience of pain to do the like her self Thus far Thomas Gypâ—on an English Poysician For Conies you may give them Vine-leaves Fruits Herbs Grasse Bran Oatmel Mallows the parings of Apples likewise Cabbages Apples themselves and Lettuce and I my self gave to a Cony blew Wolfe-bane which she did presently eat without hurt but Gallingale and blind Nettle they will not eat In the Winter they will eat Hay Oats and Chaffe being given to them thrice a day when they eat Greenes they must not drink at all for if they do it is hazzard but they will incur the Dropsie and at other times they must for the same cause drink but little and that little must be alway fresh It is also dangerous to handle their young ones in the absence of the dam for her jealousie will easily perceive it which causeth her so to disdain them that either she biteth forsaketh or killeth them Foxes will of their own accord hunt both Hares and Conies to kill and eat them Touching their medicinall properties it is to be observed that the brain of Conies hath been eaten for a good Antidote against poison so also the Hart which is hard to be digested hath the same operation that is in treacle There is also an approved medicine for the Squinancy or Quinsie take a live Cony and burn her in an earthen pot to powder then take a spoonful of that powder in a draught of wine and drink the most part thereof and rub your throat with the residue and it shall cure with speed and ease as Marcellus saith The fat is good against the stopping of the bladder and difficulty of urine being anointed at a fire upon the hairy place of the secrets as Alex. Benedictus affirms Other things I omit concerning this beast because as it is vulgar the benefits thereof are commonly known Of the Indian little PIG-CONY I Received the picture of this beast from a certain Noble-man my loving friend in Paris whose parts it is not needfull to describe seeing the image it self is perspicuous and easie to be observed The quantity of this beast doth not exceed the quantity of a vulgar Cony but rather the body is shorter yet fuller as also I observed by those two which that noble and learned Physician Joh. Munzingerus sent me It hath two little low ears round and almost pild without hair having also short legs five claws upon one foot behind and six before teeth like a mouse but no tail and the colour variable I have seen of them all white and all yellow and also different from both those their voice is much like the voice of a Pig and they eat all kinds of Herbs Fruits Oats and Bread and some give them water to drink but I have nourished some divers moneths together and never given them any water but yet I gave them moist food as Herbs Apples Rapes and such like or else they would incur the Dropsie Their
do sufficiently convince that they are emblems of vile cursed rayling and filthy men which esteem not holy things but eat up again their own vomits The skins of Dogs are dressed for Gloves and close Boots the which are used by such as have Ulcerous and swelling Legs or Limbs for by them the afflicted place receiveth a double relief first it resisteth the influent humors and secondly it is not exasperated with Woollen The Turkes colour their Dogs tails with red and it is a custom of Hunters to take Dogs and tie them in the Woods unto trees by their stones for by crying they provoke the Panther to come unto them It is not to be doubted but that the flesh of Dogs is used for meat in many places although the opinion of Rasis be true and consonant to reason that all devouring creatures as Dogs Foxes and Wolves have no good flesh for meat because they engender melancholy and yet Galen thinketh that it is like to the flesh of a Hare especially young Whelpes were held among the Romans a delicate meat and were used by their Priests and among Whelpes they attributed most virtue to their flesh which were eaten before they did see for by them came no evill humor at all as is often set down in Plautus Peter Martyr and Scaliger do affirm of Cozumella and Lucatana and other Islands of the new World that the people there do eat a kind of Dog which cannot bark These Dogs are vile to look upon like young Kids The inhabitants of Corsica which are fierce angry wilde cruell audacious dissemblers active and strong do also feed upon Dogs both wilde and tame and it is thought that their meat is a little furtherance to their inclination for such is the natural disposition of Dogs And Sciltbergerus in the Book of Peregrinations affirmeth also that the Tartarians in Ibissibur do after the same manner feed upon the flesh of Dogs from hence it cometh that men resembling a Dog in a plain forehead and narrow are said to be foolish in a smooth and stretched out flatterers those which have great voices like a Ban-dog are strong they which rail much like often barking Dogs are of a doggish angry disposition He that hath a great head like a Dog is witty he which hath a little head like an Asses is blockish they which have fiery eyes like Dogs are impudent and shameless thin lips with narrow folding corners in Dogs is a token of generosity and in men of magnanimity they whose teeth hang over their canine teeth are also adjudged railers and virulent speakers and as Carnarius observeth vain glorious braggarts A wide mouth betokeneth a cruell mad and wicked disposition a sharpe nose an angry minde as a round blunt and solid Nose signifieth a Lions stomach and worthiness A sharpe chin vain babling and wantonness they which are small in their girting stead about their loins do much love hunting Stobaeus in his wicked discourse or dispraise of Women affirmeth that the curst sharp smart curious dainty clamorous implacable and wanton-rowling-eyed Women were derived from Dogs and Hesiode to amend the matter saith when Jupiter had fashioned Man out of the earth he commanded Mercury to infuse into him a Canine minde and a clamorous inclination but the Proverb of Solomon Chap. 30. concludeth the excellency of a Dog saying There be three things which go pleasantly and the fourth ordereth his pace aright The Lion which is the strongest among beast and feareth not the sight of any body a hunting Dog strong in his loins a Goat and a King against whom there is no rising up by all which is deciphered a good King for the Lion riseth not against beasts except he be provoked the Dog riseth not against his friends but wilde beasts and the He-goat goeth before his flock like a guide and keeper Of the GRAY-HOUND with a narration of all strong and great hunting DOGS AMong the divers kinds of hunting Dogs the Gray-hound or Grecian Dog called Thereuticos or Elatica by reason of his swiftness strength and sagacity to follow and devour wilde beast of great stature deserveth the first place for such are the conditions of this Dog as Plato hath observed that he is reasonably sented to finde out speedy and quick of foot to follow and fierce and strong to take and overcome and yet silent coming upon his prey at unawares according to the observation of Gratius Sic Canis illa suos taciturna supervenit hostes Like the Dogs of Acarnania which set upon their game by stealth Of these are the greatest Dogs of the world which in this place are briefly to be remembred These have large bodies little heads beaked noses but flat broad faces above their eyes long necks but great next to their bodies fiery eyes broad backs and most generous stomachs both against all wilde beasts and men also Their rage is so great against their prey that sometimes for wrath they lose their eye-sight They will not only set upon Buls Boars and such like beasts but also upon Lions which Mantuan noteth in this verse Et truculentus Helor certare leonibus auâ—lens The greatest dogs of this kind are in India Scythia and Hircania and among the Scythians they joyn them with Asses in yoak for ordinary labour The Dogs of India are conceived by Tygres for the Indians will take divers females or Bitches and fasten them to trees in woods where Tygres abide whereunto the greedy ravening Tyger cometh and instantly devoureth some one or two of them if his lust do not restrain him and then being so filled with meat which thing Tygers feldom meet withall presently he burneth in lust and so limeth the living Bitches who are apt to conceive by him which being performed he retireth to some secret place and in the mean time the Indians take away the Bitches of whom come these valorous Dogs which retain the stomach and courage of their father but the shape and proportion of their mother yet do they not keep any of the first or second litter for fear of their Tygrian stomachs but make them away and reserve the third litter Of this kinde were the Dogs given to Alexander by the King of Albania when he was going into India and presented by an Indian whom Alexander admired and being desirous to try what vertue was contained in so great a body caused a Bore and a Hart to be turned out to him and when he would not so much as stir at them he turned Bears unto him which likewise he disdained and rose not from his kennel wherewithal the King being moved commanded the heavy and dull Beast for so he termed him to be hanged up his keeper the Indian informed the King that the Dog respected not such Beasts but if he would turn out unto him a Lyon he should see what he would do Immediately a Lyon was put unto him at the first sight whereof he
and draw the carcasse of a dead Cat after them the savour whereof will provoke the beast to follow the foot-steps then have they a cunning Archer or handler of a Gun who observeth and watcheth in secret till the beast come within his reach and so giveth him his great and deadly wound But if the Fox be in the earth and they have found his den then they take this course to work him out They take a long thing like a Bee-hive and open at one end and iron wiers at the other like a grate and at the open end is set a little door to fall down upon the mouth and to inclose the Fox when he entreth in by touching of a small rod that supporteth that door This frame is set to the Foxes dens mouth and all the other passages watched and stopped The Fox having a desire to go forth and seeing light by the wiers misdeemeth no harm and entreth into the hive which is wrought close into the mouth of his den and being entred into it the rod turneth the door fast at the lower end or entrance and so the Fox is intrapped to be disposed of at the will of the taker Foxes are annoyed with many enemies and to begin with the least the small flies called Gnats do much trouble and infect them against whom the Fox useth this policy He taketh a mouthful of straw or soft hay or hair and so goeth into the water dipping his hinder parts by little and little then the flies betake themselves to his head which be keepeth out of the water which the Fox feeling dippeth or diveth also the same under water to his mouth wherein he holdeth the hay as aforesaid whereunto the flies runne for sanctuary or dry refuge which the Fox perceiving suddenly casteth it out of his mouth and runneth out of the water by this means easing himself of all those enemies In like manner as all beasts are his enemies and he friend and loving to none so with strength courage and policy he dealeth with every one not only against the beasts of the Land but also against the monsters of the Sea When he findeth a nest of Waspes in the earth or in other places as in trees he layeth his tail to the hole and so gathereth into it a great many of them which he presently dasheth against the wall or tree or stones adjoyning and so destroyeth them and thus he continueth untill he have killed them all and so maketh himself executor to their heaps of hony His manner is when he perceiveth or seeth a flock of fowl to flie in the air to rowl himself in red earth making his skin to look bloody and lie upon his back winking with his eye and holding in his breath as if he were dead which thing the birds namely Crows Ravens and such like observing because of the hatred of his person they for joy alight and triumph at his overthrow and this the Fox endureth for a good season till opportunity serving his turn and some of the fowl come neer his snowt then suddenly he catcheth some one of them in his mouth feeding upon him like a living and not a dead Fox and so doth devour and eat him as the Leopard doth devour and eat Apes and the Sea frog other little fishes In like sort he deceiveth the Hedge-hog for when the Hedge-hog perceiveth the Fox coming to him he rowleth himself together like a foot-ball and so nothing appeareth outward except his prickles which the Fox cannot indure to take into his mouth and then the cunning Fox to compasse his desire licketh gently the face and snowt of the Hedge-hog by that means bringing him to unfold himself again and to stand upon his legs which being done he instantly devoureth or else poisoneth the beast with the urine that he rendereth upon the Hedge-hogs face and at other times he goeth to the waters and with his tail draweth fishes to the brim of the River and when that he observeth a good booty he casteth the Fishes clean out of the water upon the dry land and then devoureth them All kindes of Hawkes are enemies to Foxes and Foxes to them because they live upon Carrion and so in the Province of Vla Avicen saw a Fox and a Crow fight together a long season and the Crow with his talons so be-gripling the Foxes mouth that he could not bark and in the mean time she beat and picked his head with her bill untill he bled again The Eagles fight with Foxes and kill them and Olaus Magnus affirmeth that in the Northern Regions they lay Egges and hatch their young in those skins which they themselves have stripped off from Foxes and other beasts The Kites Vultures and Wolves are Enemies to Foxes because they are all flesh-devouring creatures but the Fox which hath so many enemies by strength or subtilties overcometh all Whereupon Persius calleth a subtil man a Fox saying Astutam vapido servas sub pectore vulpem The medicinal uses of this beast are these First as Pliny and Marcellus affirm a Fox sod in water till nothing of the Fox be left whole except the bones and the legs or other parts of a gowty body washed and daily bathed therein it shall drive away all pain and grief strengthning the defective and weak members so also it cureth all the shrinking up and pains in the sinews and Galen attributeth the same virtue to an Hyaena sod in Oil and the lame person bathed therein for it hath such power to evacuate and draw forth whatsoever evill humour aboundeth in the body of man that it leaveth nothing hurtful behind Neverthelesse such bodies are soon again replenished through evill diet and relapsed into the same disease again The Fox may be boyled in fresh or salt water with Annise and Thyme and with his skin on whole and not slit or else his head cut off there being added to the decoction two pintes of Oil. The flesh of a Fox sod and layed to a sore bitten by a Sea-hare it cureth and healeth the same The Foxes skin as is already said is profitable against all moist Fluxes in the skin of the body and also the Gowt and cold in the sinews The ashes of Foxes flesh burnt and drunk in wine is profitable against the shortness of breath and stoppings of the Liver The bloud of a Fox dissected and taken forth of his urine alive and so drunk breaketh the stone in the bladder or else as Myrepsus saith kill the Fox and take the bloud and drink a cupful thereof and afterward with the same wash the genital parts and within an hour the stone shall be voided the same virtue is in it being dryed and drunk in Wine with Sugar Oxycraton and Foxes blood infused into the Nostrils of a lethargick Horse cureth him The fat is next to a Buls and a Swines so as the fat or lard of Swine may be used for the fat of
apprehended by the legionary Souldiers to whom he told his long life and habitation with the Lion and how he ran away from his Master a Senator of Rome which when they understood they also sent him home again to Rome to the Senator And being received by his master he was guilty of so great and foul faults that he was condemned to death and the manner of his death was to be torn in pieces of Wild beasts Now there were at Rome in those days many great fearful cruell and ravening beasts and among them many Lions it fortuned also that shortly after the taking of the man the aforesaid Lybian Lion with whom he lived long seeking abroad for his companion and man-man-friend was taken and brought to Rome and there put among the residue who was the most fierce grim fearful and savage above all other in the company and the eyes of men were more fastened upon him then all other beside When Androcles was brought forth to his execution and cast in among these savage beasts this Lion at the first sight looking stedfastly upon him stood still a little and then came toward him softly and gently smelling to him like a Dog and wagging his tail the poor examinate and forlorn man not looking for any thing but present death trembled and was scarce able to stand upright in the presence of such a beast not once thinking upon the Lion that had nourished him so long but the Beast Accepti beneficii memore mindful of former friendship licked gently his hands and legs and so went round about him touching his body and so the man began to know him and both of them to congratulate each other in that their imprisoned occurrence and to signifie to all the beholders their former acquaintance and conversation the man by stroking and kissing the Lion and the Lion by falling down prostrate at the mans feet In the mean time a Pardall came with open mouth to devour the man but the Lion rose up against her and defended his old friend and she being instant the Lion toar her in pieces to the great admiration of the beholders as it could not otherwise chuse Then Caesar which had caused those spectacles sent for the man and asked him the cause of that so rare and prodigious an event who incontinently told him the story before expressed The rumor whereof was quickly spred abroad among the people and tables of writing were made of the whole matter and finally all men agreed that it was fit that both the man and the Lion should be pardoned and restored to liberty and afterward saith Appion all the people and beholders of that comedy were â—suters to the Senat for the accomplishment thereof and so the man was pardoned and the Lion was given unto him for a reward or suffrage who led him up and down the streets in a learn or slip Androcles receiving money and the Lion adorned with flowers and garlands and all men that saw or met them said Hic est Leo hospes hominis hic est homo medicus leonis Here goeth the Lion which was this Mans Host and here is the man which was this Lions Physitian Seneca also in his book De beneficiio out of Gellius writeth so much of another Lion and indeed there is no man or other Beast more fixed and constant in their love and friendship or more ready to revenge the breach of amity and kindeness then is a Lion as appeareth by this story of Eudemus who writeth of a certain young man that he nourished together many years a Dog a Bear and a Lion who lived in perfect peace and concord without breach snarling or appearance of anger On a day as the Bear and Dog played together and biting one another gently it happened that the Dog fastened his teeth in sport deeper then the Bear cold digest and therefore presently he fell upon him and with his claws toar out the soft part of his belly whereof he presently dyed the Lion sitting by and seeing this cruelty and breach of love amity and concord among them that had so long lived together fell to be inflamedito revenge that perfidie and like a true king of Beasts measured the same measure to the Bear as he had done to the Dog and served him with the same sauce tearing him instantly in pieces There is also in the lise of S. Jerome a story of a Lion that was cured by him as you have read before the Lion was by Elpis and that the Beast in gratitude of that good turn did ever afterward follow the Asse which brought him home his carriage and provision through the woods till at last the Lion being asleep the Asse was stolen away for sorrow whereof the Lion put himself in the Asses stead to bear burthens as he did within short time after he found out the Asse in the theeves stable and brought him home again but I am of Erasmus minde concerning this story that the Author thereof took upon him to write wonders and not truth The Kings of Egypt and Syria did keep tame Lions to accompany them into their wars which were led about their own bodies for their guard and custody against all peril and invasion It is also very pertinent to this place to express the clemency of these Beasts towards the Martyn and servants of Jesus Christ both men and women that so we may observe the performance and accomplishment of that Prophesie Psal 91. They should walke upon the Aspe and the Cockatrice and softly tread upon the Lion and the Dragon This we are not to attribute to the nature of Lions but rather to the over-ruling hand of our and their Creator who in remembrance of his o 〈…〉 promise and advancement of his own glory stoppeth the mouth of Lions and restraineth all violence both of living creatures and elements yet I will not impose any necessity of believing these stories upon the Reader for I my self report them not for truth but because they are written When S. Anthony went about to make a grave for the interring of the carkass of Paul the first Anaccorite and wanted a shovel or spade to turn up the earth there came two Lions and with their claws opened the earth so wide and deep that they performed therein the office of a good grave-maker The Prophet Daniel was cast unto the Lions to whom according to the Babylonian story was given for their diet every day two condemned men and two sheep and yet by power of the Almighty whom he served the Angel of the Lord came down and stopt the Lions mouths so that in extremity of hunger they never so much as made force at him but sate quietly at his feet like so many little Dogs by which means he escaped all peril and torments of death Eleutherius being cast to the Lions at the command of Adrian the Emperor and Prisca a Noble Virgin at the command
near the way and place of his harm perceiving a return of the Army went furiously among them and found out the man whose hand had wounded him and could not by any help of his associates be stayed from a revenge but tore the young souldier in pieces and departed away safe for the residue seeing his rage ran all away thinking him to be some Devil in the likeness of a Lion After the taking of Lions it followeth that we should intreat of their taming and first of all they which are tamed in their infancy while they are whelps are most meek and gentle full of sport and play especially being filled with meat so that without danger a stranger may meet with them but being hungry they return again to their own nature for as it is true which Seneca saith Leonibus manus magister inserit osculatur Tigrim suus custos that is to say The Master of a Lion may put his hand in his mouth and the Keeper of a Tyger may kiss him yet is it also to be feared Tigres Leonesque nunquam feritatem exuunt aliquando submittunt cum minime expectaveris torvitas maligna redibit Lions and Tygers do never leave off their wildeness although sometimes they yeeld and seem to be submiss yet upon a sudden when a man expecteth not their malignant wrath breaketh forth and they are exasperated Wherefore after they grow to be old it is impossible to make them utterly tame yet we read in divers stories of tame Lions whether made so from their littering or else constrained by the Art of man such are these which follow Hanno had a certain Lion which in his expeditions of war carryed his baggage and for that cause the Carthaginians condemned him to banishment for said they Male credi libertas ei cui in tantum cessit etiam seritas It is not safe to trust such a man with the government of the Common-wealth who by wit policy or strength was able to overcome and utterly to alter the wilde nature of a Lion for they thought he would prove a Tyrant that could bring the Lion to such meekness as to wait on him at Table to lick his face with his tongue to smooth his hand on his back and to live in his presence like a little Dog The Indians tame Lions and Elephants and set them to plough Onomarchus the Tyrant of Cattana had Lions with whom he did ordinarily converse In the Countrey of Elymis there was a Temple of Adonis wherein were kept many tame Lions which were so far from wildeness and fierceness that they would imbrace and salute the people that came in there to offer Also if any one called them to give them meat they would take it gently and depart from them with quietness Likewise in the Kingdom of Fes in a plain called Adecsen there are certain Forrests wherein live tame and gentle Lions which if a man meet he may drive away with a small stick or wand without receiving any harm And in another region of Africk the Lions are so tame that they come daily into Cities and go from one street to another gathering and eating bones from whose presence neither women nor children run away Likewise in many parts of India they have Lions so tame that they lead them up and down in learns and accustom them to the hunting of Boars Bulls and wilde Asses like Dogs for their noses are as well fitted for that purpose as the best Hounds as we have shewed before of the King of Tartary And the best means of taming them is the rule of Apollonius which he said was the precept of Phareotes which is that they be neither handled too roughly nor too mildely for if they be beaten with stripes they grow over stubborn and if they be kept in continual flatteries and used over kindely they grow over proud For they held opinion that by an equal commixtion of threatning and fair speaking or gentle usage by which means they are more easily brought to good desired conditions and this wisdom the Ancients did not only use in the taming of Lions but also in restraining of Tyrants putting it as a bridle to their mouths and a hook in their nostrils to restrain them from fury and madness Albertus saith that the best way to tame Lions is to bring up with them a little Dog and oftentimes to beat the same Dog in their presence by which discipline the Lion is made more tractable to the will of his Keeper It is said of Heliogabalus that he nourished many tame Lions and Tygers and other such noisome beasts calling himself their great mother and when he had made any of his friends drunk in the night time he shut them up together who quickly fell asleep through the heaviness of their heads who being so asleep he turned in amongst them some of his foresaid children both Lions Bears Tygers and such like at whose presence in the morning his drunken friends grew so amazed that oft-times some of them fell dead for fear and to conclude there is a story in a certain Epigram of a Lion wandering abroad in the night time for the avoiding of frost and cold came into a fold of Goats at the sight whereof the Goat-heards were much afraid calling in question not only the lives of the flock but also their own because every one of them thought himself bound to fight unto death in defence hereof whereupon according to the manner of men in extremity they all made their prayers desiring God to be delivered from the Lion and according to their wishes so it came to pass for after the Lion had lodged in the warm fold of Goats a whole night he departed in the morning without doing any harm to man or beast wherefore I take this Lion to be of the tame kinde and as in all beasts there are differences both of natures and inclinations as we may see in Dogs some of them being more apt after the manners of men and to be ruled by them then others so also I see no reason but that in the fierce and royal nature of Lions some of them should be more inclinable to obedience subjection and submission whereunto being once won they never afterwards utterly shake off their vassasage and yoke of them which overcome them From hence it came that there were so many spectacles at Rome as first of all Lucius Sylla in the office of his aedility or oversight of the Temple brought into the Roman circle or ring one hundred great maned Lions loose which always before that time were turned in bound or muffled And King Bochus sent so many valiant Archers and Dart-casters to fight with them and destroy them After him Pompey the great in the same place brought in a combate consisting of six hundred great Lions and among them there were three hundred fifty maned Lions Also he instituted hunting of Lions at Rome wherein were slain five hundred
alive they put them into some tub or great mortar and there kill them by bruising them to pieces afterwards they make a fire of coals in the Mountains where the VVolfs haunt putting into the same some of these fishes mixed with bloud and pieces of Mutton and so leaving it to have the savour thereof carryed every way with the winde they go and hide themselves whilest that in the mean time the VVolfs enraged with the savour of this fire seek to and fro to finde it because of the smell the fire before they come is quenched or goeth out naturally and the VVolfs by the smoak thereof especially by tasting of the flesh bloud and fish which there they finde do fall into a drowsie dead sleep which when the Hunters do perceive they come upon them and cut their throats The Armenians do poyson them with black fishes and some do take a cat pulling off her skin taking out the bowels they put into her belly the powder of Frogs this Cat is boyled a little upon coals and by a man drawn up and down in the Mountains where VVolfs do haunt now if the VVolfs do chance to meet with the train of this Cat they instantly follow after him inraged without all fear of man to attain it therefore he which draweth the Cat is accompanyed with another Hunter armed with a Gun Pistol or Cross-bow that at the appearance of the VVolf and before his approach to the train he may destroy and kill him I will not discourse of VVolf bane commonly called Aconitum in Latine wherewithall both men and beasts are intoxicated and especially VVolfs but referring the Reader to the long discourse of Conradus Gesner in his History of the VVolf I will only remember in this place an Epigram of Ausonius wherein he pleasantly relateth a story of an adulterated woman desiring to make away her jealous husband and that with speed and vehemency gave him a drink of VVolf-bane and Quick-silver mingled together either of both single are poyson but compounded are a purgation the Epigram is this that followeth Toxica zelotypo dedit uxor moecha marito Nec satis ad mortem credidit esse datum Miscuit argenti letalia pondera vivi Cogeret ut celerem vis geminata necem Dividat haec si quis faciunt discreta venenum Antidotum sumet qui sociata bibet Ergo inter sese dum noxia pocula certant Cessit letalis noxa salutiferae Protinus vacuos alvi petiere recessus Lubrica dejectis qua vita nota cibis Concerning the enemies of Wolfs there is no doubt but that such a ravening beast hath few friends for except in the time of copulation wherein they mingle sometime with Dogs and some-time with Leopards and sometime with other beasts all beasts both great and small do avoid their society and fellowship for it cannot be safe for strangers to live with them in any league or amity seeing in their extremity they devour one another for this cause in some of the inferiour beasts their hatred lasteth after death as many Authors have observed for if a Sheep skin be hanged up with a Wolfs skin the wool falleth off from it and if an instrument be stringed with strings made of both these beasts the one will give no sound in the presence of the other but of this matter we have spoken in the story of the sheep shewing the opinion of the best learned concerning the truth hereof The Ravens are in perpetual enmity with Wolfs and the antipathy of their natures is so violent that it is reported by Philes and Aelianus that if a Raven eat of the carcase of a beast which the Wolf hath killed or formerly tasted of she presently dyeth There are certain wilde Onions called Scillae and some say the Sea-Onion because the root hath the similitude of an Onion of all other things this is hateful to a Wolf and therefore the Arabians say that by treading on it his leg falleth into a cramp whereby his whole body many times endureth insufferable torments for the Cramp increaseth into Convulsions for which cause it is worthy to be observed how unspeakable the Lord is in all his works for whereas the VVolf is an enemy to the Fox and the Turtle he hath given secret instinct and knowledge both to this Beast and Fowl of the vertuous operation of this herb against the ravening VVolf for in their absence from their nests they leave this Onion in the mouth thereof as a sure gard to keep their young ones from the VVolf There are certain Eagles in Tartaria which are tamed who do of their own accord being set on by men adventure upon VVolves and so vex them with their talons that a man with no labour or difficulty may kill the beast and for this cause the VVolves greatly fear them and avoid them and thereupon came the common proverb Lupus fugit aquilam And thus much shall suffice to have spoken in general concerning their taking Now we will proceed to the other parts of their History and first of all of their carnal copulation They engender in the same manner as Dogs and Sea-calves do and therefore in the middle of their copulation they cleave together against their will It is observed that they begin to engender immediately after Christmass and this rage of their lust lasteth but twelve days whereupon there was wont to go a fabulous tale or reason that the cause why all of them conceived in the twelve days after Christmass was for that Latona so many days together wandered in the shape of a she VVolf in the Mountains Hyperborei for fear of Juno in which likeness she was brought to Delus but this fable is confuted by Plutarch rehearsing the words of Antipater in his Book of Beasts for he saith when the Oaks that bear Acorns do begin to cast their flowers or blossomes then the VVolves by eating thereof do open their wombs for where there is no plenty of Acorns there the young ones dye in the dams belly and therefore such Countries where there is no store of Oaks are freed from VVolves and this he saith is the true cause why they conceive but once a year and that only in the twelve days of Christmass for those Oaks flower but once a year namely in the Spring time at which season the VVolves bring forth their young ones For the time that they go with young and the number of whelps they agree with Dogs that is they bear their young nine weeks and bring forth many blinde whelps at a time according to the manner of those that have many claws on their feet Their legs are without Articles and therefore they are not able to go at the time of their littering and there is a vulgar opinion that a she VVolf doth never in all her life bring forth above nine at a time whereof the last which she bringeth forth in her old age is a Dog through weakness and
where the Inhabitants abhor and condemn the worship of Crocodiles for when they take any of them they hang them up and beat them to death notwithstanding their tears and cryings and afterwards they eat them but the reason of their hatred is because Typhon their ancient enemy was clothed with a Crocodiles shape Others also say the reason of their hatred is because a Crocodile took away and devoured the daughter of Psamnites and therefore they enjoyned all their posterity to hate Crocodiles To conclude this discourse of Crocodiles inclination even the Egyptians themselves account a Crocodile a savage and cruel murthering Beast as may appear by their Hieroglyphicks for when they will decipher a mad man they picture a Crocodile who being put from his desired prey by forcible resistance he presently rageth against himself And they are often taught by lamentable experience what fraud and malice to mankinde liveth in these Beasts for they cover themselves under willows and green hollow banks till some people come to the Waters side to draw and fetch water and then suddenly or ever they be aware they are taken and drawn into the water And also for this purpose because he knoweth that he is not able to over-take a man in his course or chase he taketh a great deal of water in his mouth and casteth it in the path-wayes so that when they endevour to run from the Crocodile they fall down in the slippery path and are over-taken and destroyed by him The common proverb also Crocodili lachrymae the Crocodiles tears justifieth the treacherous nature of this Beast for there are not many brute Beasts that can weep but such is the nature of the Crocodile that to get a man within his danger he will sob sigh and weep as though he were in extremity but suddenly he destroyeth him Others say that the Crocodile weepeth after he hath devoured a man Howsoever it be it noteth the wretched nature of hypocritical hearts which before-hand will with faigned tears endevour to do mischief or else after they have done it be outwardly sorry as Judas was for the betraying of Christ before he went and hanged himself The males of this kinde do love their females above all measure yea even to jealousie as may appear by this one History of P. Martyr About the time that he was in those countries there were certain Mariners which saw two Crocodiles together in carnal copulation upon the sands neer the River from which the water was lately fallen into a certain Island of Nilus the greedy Mariners forsook their ship and be took themselves to a long boat and with great shouting hollowing and crying made towards them in very couragious manner the male at the first assault fell amazed and greatly terrified ran away as fast as he could into the waters leaving his female lying upon her back for when they ingender the male turneth her upon her back for by reason of the shortnesse of her legs she cannot do it her self so the Mariners finding her upon her back and not able to turn over her self they easily slew her and took her away with them Soon after the male returned to the place to seek his female but nor finding her and perceiving bloud upon the sand conjectured truly that she was slain wherefore he presently cast himself into the River of Nilus again and in his rage swam stoutly against the stream untill he over-took the ship wherein his dead female was which he presently set upon lifting up himself and catching hold on the fides would certainly have entered the same had not the Mariners with all their force battered his head and hands with clubs and staves until he was wearyed and forced to give over his enterprise and so with great sighing and sobbing departed from them By which relation it is most clear what natural affection they bear one to another and how they choose out their fellows as it were fit wives and husbands for procreation And it is no wonder if they make much of one another for besides themselves they have few friends in the world except the Bird Trochilus and Swine of whom I can say little except this that followeth As for the little Bird Trochilus it affecteth and followeth them for the benefit of his own belly for while the Crocodile greedily eateth there sticketh fast in his teeth some part of his prey which troubleth him very much and many times ingendereth Worms then the Beast to help himself taketh land and lyeth gaping against the Sun-beams westward the Bird perceiving it flyeth to the jaws of the Beast and there first with a kinde of tickling-scratching procureth as it were licence of the Crocodile to pull forth the Worms and so eateth them all out and clenseth the teeth throughly for which cause the Beast is content to permit the Bird to go into his mouth But when all is clensed the ingrateful Crocodile endevoureth suddenly to shut his chaps together upon the Bird and to devour his friend like a cursed wretch which maketh no reckoning of friendship but the turn served requiteth good with evill But Nature hath armed this little Bird with sharp thorns upon her head so that while the Crocodile endevoureth to shut his chaps and close his mouth upon it those sharp thorns prick him into his palate so that full sore against his unkinde nature he letteth her flye safe away But whereas there be many kindes of Trochili which are greedy of these Worms or clensings of the Crocodiles some of them which have not thorns on their heads pay for it for there being not offence to let the closing of the Crocodiles mouth they must needs be devoured and therefore this enforced amity betwixt him and the Crocodile is only to be understood of the Cledororynchus as it is called by Hermolaus There be some that affirm that he destroyeth all without exception that thus come into his mouth and othersome say he destroyeth none but when he feeleth his mouth sufficiently clensed he waggeth his upper chap as it were to give warning of avoidance and in favour of the good turn to let the bird flie away at his own pleasure Howbeit the other and the former narration is more likely to be true and more constantly affirmed by all good Authors except Plutarch And Leo Afric saith that it was the constant and confident report of all Africa that the Crocodile devoureth all for their love and kindenesse except the Cledororynchi which they cannot by reason of the thorns upon their head That there is an amity and natural concord betwixt Swine and Crocodiles is also gathered because they only among all other living four-footed Beasts do without danger dwell feed and inhabit upon the banks of Nilus even in the midst of Crocodiles and therefore it is probable that they are friends in nature But oh how small a sum of friends hath this Beast and how unworthy of love among all creatures
and to go away with him Pindus also being no less glad of the company of the Dragon did daily give unto him the greatest part of his hunting as a deserved price and ransome of his life and conquest of such a Beast Neither was he unrequited for it for Fortuâ—e so favoured his game that whether he hunted fowls of the air or beasts of the earth he still obtained and never missed So that his fame for hunting procured him more love and honor then ever could the Imperial Crown of his Countrey For all young men desired to follow him admiring his goodly personage and strength the Virgins and Maids falling in love contended among themselves who should marry him the wives forsaking their husbands contrary to all womanly modesty rather desired his company then the society of their husbands or to be preferred among the number of the Goddesses Only his Brethren inraged against him sought all means to kill and destroy him Therefore they watched all opportunities lying in continual ambush where he hunted to accomplish their accursed enterprise which at last they obtained for as he followed the game they enclosed him in a narrow straight neer to a Rivers side where he had no means to avoid their hands they and their company being many and he alone wherefore they drew out their swords and slew him When he saw no remedy but death he cryed out aloud for help whose voyce soon came to the ears of the watchful Dragon for no Beast heareth or seeth better out he cometh from his den and finding the murtherers standing about the dead body he presently surprized and killed them so revenging the quarrel of Pindus and then fell upon the dead body of his friend never forsaking the custody thereof until the neighbours adjoyning to the place taking knowledge of the fact came to bury the bodies But when they came and saw the Dragon among them they were afraid and durst not come neer but stood afar off consulting what to do till at last they perceived that the Dragon began to take knowledge of their fear who with an admirable curtesie of nature perceiving their mourning and lamentation for their dead friend and withall their abstinence from approaching to execute his exequies or funerals began to think that he might be the cause of this their terror and far standing off from the dead bodies wherefore he departed taking his farewell of the body which he loved and so gave them leave by his absence to bestow upon him an honourable burial which they performed accordingly and the River adjoyning was named by the name of Pindus-death By which story may appear that these savage Dragons are made loving and tame to men by good turns and benefits bestowed upon them for there is no nature which may not be overcome by kindenesse And yet I may not leave this matter thus nor from these two examples alone conclude the practise and possibility of love betwixt Men and Dragons I will therefore add some three or four examples more There was a Dragon the lover of Aetholis as Plutarch writeth who came unto her every night and did her body no harm but gently sliding over her played with her till morning then also would he depart away assoon as light appeared that he might not be espyed The Maidens friends came to the knowledge hereof and so removed her far away to the intent the Dragon might come no more at her and thus they remained asunder a great while the Dragon earnestly seeking for the Maiden wandered far and neer to finde her out At last he met with her and not saluting her gently as he was wont flew upon her binding her hands down with the spire of his body hissing softly in her face and beating gently with his tail her back-parts as it were taking a moderate revenge upon her for the neglect of his love by her long absence Another like story unto this is reported by Aelianus of a great Dragon which loved a fair Woman beloved also of a fair Man the Woman oftentimes did sleep with this Dragon but not so willingly as with the Man wherefore she forsook the habitation of her place for a month and went away where the Dragon could not find her thinking that her absence might quench his desire But he came often to the place where he was wont to meet with the woman and not finding her returned quietly back again and came again another time at last he grew suspicious and like a lover failing in his expectation grew very sorrowful and so continued till the month was exspired every night visiting the accustomed place At last the woman returned and the Dragon presently met with her and in an amorous fashion full of suspicion and jealousie winding about her body did beat her as you have heard in the former story and this saith Aelianus happened in Judea in the days of Hered the King There was a little Dragon-whelp bred in Arcadia and brought up familiarly with a little boy from his infancy until the Boy became a young Man and the Dragon also became of great stature so that one of them loved another so well as Man and Beast could love together or rather two play-fellows from the Cradle At last the friends of the Boy seeing the Dragon grow so great in so short a space began to be suspicious of him whereupon they took the bed wherein the Boy and the Dragon were lodged and carryed the same into a far remote place of Woods and Wildernesse and there set down the bed with the Boy and the Dragon together The boy after a little while returned and came home again to his friends the Dragon wandered up and down in the Woods feeding upon herbs and poyson according to his nature and never more cared for the habitation of men but rested contented with a solitary life In the length of time it came to passe that the boy grew to be a perfect man and the Dragon also remained in the Wood and although absent one from the other yet mutually loving as well as ever It hapned that this young man travelled through that place where the Dragon was lodged and fell among theeves when the young man saw their swords about his ears he cryed out and the Dragons den being not far off his cry came to the Dragons ears who instantly knowing the voyce of his play-fellow answered the same with another at whose hissing the theeves grew afraid and began to run away but their legs could not carry them so fast as to escape the Dragons teeth and claws for he came speedily to release his friend and all the theeves that he could find he put to cruel death then did he accompany his friend out of the place of peril and returned back again to his den neither remembering wrath for that he was exposed to the Wildernesse and there left by his play-fellow nor yet like perverse men forsaking their old friend in danger They
fasting or newly wounded Manardus But the Scorpions in the Island Ferrata which is one of the fortunate Islands and Coptum in Aegypt cause great pain and their Venome is mortal In Castile a Countrey of Spain the countrey folk oft-times whilest they plough up the ground do finde innumerable Scorpions clustered together like Pismires where they lye hid all the winter Matthiolus The colder Countreys have no Scorpions as Gascony England Ireland Scotland Denmark and great part of Germany or if there be any there they are not venomous Aelian reports a wonderful thing concerning the Priests of Isis which in Copto a City of Egypt where there are abundance of deadly Scorpions they can tread upon them and cast them on the ground and yet receive no harm by them Also Psylli a people of Africa cannot be hurt not stung by Scorpions For when they come to any venomous creature it presently becomes stupid as if it were charmed or struck dead that it cannot move Also all their Hogs but not the black ones for if they be stung they die presently are free from their stings Lastly a Scorpion nor any other venomous beast doth not hurt a Stellio an Ascalabotes a Crab a Hawk as Galen ad Pisonem and our friend Gesner have observed They live by eating the ground and in some places they feed on Herbs Lizards Blinde-worms Whurls Beetles and all poysonous beasts Aelian But he that shall tread on the excrements will have his feet blistered The Hens Ibis Vipers eat abundantly of them whence Aristotle cals the Viper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And they are not more fit for their food than they are a remedy for us For being laid to their own wounds they made they cure them as is generally known Also a Scorpion bruised resists the poyson of a Stellio Pliny Some bruise them and drink them in Wine casting away their tails Others lay them on burning coles and perfume the wound and then strew the Scorpions ashes upon it Some binde them to the wound being bruised with salt Linseed and Marsh-mallowes Against the Stone Lanfrancus his powder Take 20. live Scorpions close them in a pot with a narrow mouth and with a soft fire burn them to ashes which is a wonderful remedy against the Stone A Scorpion torrified and burnt to ashes and taken with bread breaks the Stone of the bladder Author ad Pisonem Three Scorpions closed in a new earthen pot and covering it with a cover well luted with a fire made of Vine branches bring them to ashes in an oven the Dose is 6 grains with syrup de quinque radicibus it wonderfully drives forth stones of the kidneys New Authors exceedingly commend the ashes of Scorpions amongst the remedies against the Stone and the oyl of them injected into the bladder and anointed outwardly Alexand. Benedictus Aggregator and Leonellus Faventinus out of Galen Eupor 3 teach us to burn three small Scorpions and to give their ashes in syrup or a decoction or some confection proper for it to break the Stone And lib. 2. he bids us to mingle them with fat being calcined and so to exhibit them because otherwise the Patients would abhor the eating of them wherefore they may be given without suspicion That Medicament of Abolaus that Arnoldus praiseth so much is made of the ashes of Scorpions as you may see in 2. Breviarii cap. 18. as also the admirable syrup of the King of France against the stone which is described in the same Book and Chapter Rondeletius capite de calculo in his practise maintains that a Scorpion is cold and therefore to drive out the Stone we must use the compound and not the simple oyl of Scorpions Matthiolus teacheth to make that compound oyl Commentar pag. 1407. 20. But before him Luminare Maius made that after this manner Take round Birthwort roots of Gentian Ciperus Barks of Capers of each j. ounce oyl of bitter Almonds j. Kist let them stand in the sun 30 daies then add to it 15 Scorpions and shutting the vessel again very close set them in the sun so many daies as before Then strain the oyl and keep it for your use Others prepare it thus Take old Oyl as much as you please put as many Scorpions into it as you can take in July for then are they most venomous and fittest for this remedy add to them white Dittany leaves of Wormwood Betony Vervain Rosemary of each j. handful set them a sunning for a long time then distil them in balneo in a Limbeck It is called St. Bernards Oyl It powerfully provokes urine Anointed on the groin it is prevalent against the bitings of Scorpions how venomous soever It drives out worms miraculously Brassavolus Of Oyl of Scorpions and Vipers tongues is made a most excellent remedy against the plague as Crinitus testifies 1. 7. Manardus saith that Oyl of Scorpions is now made with old Oyl adding many medicaments thereto commended against poysons and it is admirable in the plague and against all venome I know a man that having only this remedy made no reckoning of the greatest plague and had not only preserved himself but his servants also whom he sent to visit people that were sick of the plague and I know very many that escaped only by anointing themselves having drank the most deadly poysons So sayes Manardus A liniment of Scorpions against the plague and all poysons is described by Fumanellus lib. de cur pest cap. 12. A Scorpion is good also against a wound given by a Viper saith Galen l. de simpl Samonicus commends them highly against pains in the eyes in these verses If that some grievous pain perplex thy sight Wool wet in oyl is good bound on all night Carry about thee a live Scorpions eye Ashes of Coleworts if thou do apply With bruised Frankincense Goats milk and Wine One night will prove this remedy divine If any one troubled with the Jaundies take Scorpions bruised in Wine and Honey Galen saith he shall quickly finde help Kiranides against a Quartain ague Quotidian or Tertian prescribes a Scorpion put into a glass of Oyl about the wane of the Moon and kept there and with this Oyl anoint the whole body on the joynts and the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands very well before the coming of the Ague Plinius secundus saith that a Quartan Ague as the Magicians report will be cured in three daies by a Scorpions four last joynts of his tail together with the gristle of his eâ—â— so wrapt up in a black cloth that the sick parent may neither perceive the Scorpion that is applied nor him that bound it on But let these superstitions pass and we shall speak something of Antidotes against Scorpions First therefore of Prophylacticks Magicians deny that a Scorpion can pass over if he be compassed in with a branch of Turnsole and the herb laid upon him kils him Pliny A smoke made with Brimstone Galbanum
as well as a Serpents but surely that old Serpent knew very well better then all they which speak the contrary that he could not have so fit a subject in all the World as the shape wit and cunning of a Serpent And that this came not into the Serpent at that time when the Devil framed his tongue to speak may appear by the precept of our Saviour Christ where he saith Be wise as Serpents be innocent as Doves For if there had not been naturally some extraordinary faculty of understanding in this beast as there is of meekness in a Dove his wisdome would never have sent us to a Serpent possest with a Devil but rather to some other ingenious Beast whereof there were great store in the World And therefore I conclude that subtilty and prudence came not to the Serpent as speaking into Balaams Ass but rather by nature or creation And yet concerning this last sentence of our most blessed Saviour I cannot but express the words of Tzetzes who writeth thus upon it Servate capita vestra quemadmodum Serpens qui insidiis petitus vapulansque ad mortem omnimodò caput suum abscondit sicves à â—tyrannis impiis cruciati caput servate mihi fidem vestram ne Deum neget is usque ad ipsam mortem That is it is as much as if our Saviour Christ should say Even as when a Serpent is set upon and stroken by all the means she can she hideth her head and exposeth all her other parts to blows reserving that sound so you when you are persecuted by Tyrants preserve your head that is your faith and deny not your God to death And this thing is affirmed by all Writers both divine and humane which have ever touched this point that above all the parts of the body the Serpent preserveth his For Pliny saith that if his body be cut off but two fingers length from his head he will go away as if he had no harm at all and live longer Paulus Fagius writing upon Genesis saith It is the opinion of some Hebrews that the Serpent at the beginning did go upright and was indued with all the affections of men but this Jewish fable is not worthy to be confuted because humane affection cannot proceed but from a reasonable foul which to ascribe to the Serpent were blasphemous and absurd Besides that then the soul might die and that God had created such a soul otherwise then by breathing into the body the breath of life Serpents have many Epithets given unto them as illiberal perfidious treacherous venomous poysonful stinging implacable surious savage merciless devourer and such like And indeed the holy Writers by a Serpent do understand implacable fury For they are immitissimum animalium genus a most ungentle and barbarous kinde of all creatures as may appear by the rage of a little Snake one of the least of Serpents kinde for when he perceiveth that he is hurt or wounded he never ceaseth casting out his poyson until he have done harm or die for madness Two things I finde to be notable in Serpents the first is proper to their kinde the second is common to them with Swine Rats and Mice First they are above measure kinde not only to their young ones but also to their Egges For Funckius confidently sweareth that at Lostorfium he saw a Serpents Egge taken and cast into a hot furnace and when it began to fry in the same whether by natural instinct or by smell thereof the old Serpent came and would have run into the fire to fetch it out but that he and other strangers hindered her by killing her And so likewise if in a Wood one of them be set on fire all the Serpents that are within the savour thereof or within the hearing of the hissing will instantly gather unto it even as beasts when they hear one another roar And so great is their love one toward another as Pliny and Textor write that it was a vulgar saying Serpentium morsus non petit Serpentes one Serpent will not bite another And Juvenal writeth Sed jam Serpentum major concordia Scilicet quam hominum inter se That is to say Better do Serpents with Serpents accord Then Man with Man who should be their Lord. I cannot conceal a most memorable History as ever was any in the World of a fight betwixt the Serpents of the Land and the Water This History is taken out of a Book of Schiltbergerus a Bavarian who knew the same as he writeth while he was a captive in Turky his words are these Is the Kingdom called Genycke there is a City called Sampson about which while I was prisoner with Baiazeta King of Turkes there pitched or arrived an innumerable company of Land and Water Serpents compassing the said City a mile about The Land-serpents came out of the woods of Trienick which are great and many and the water Serpents came out of the bordering Set. These were nine days together assembling in that place and for fear of them there was not any that durst go out of the City although it was not observed that they hurt any man or living creature thereabouts Wherefore the Prince also commanded that no man should trouble them or do them any harm wisely judging that such an accident came not but by Divine miracle and that also to siguifie some notable event Upon the tenth day these two valiant Troops joyned battel early in the morning before the Sun-rising so continuing in fight until the Sun-set at which time the Prince with some Horse-men went out of the City to see the battel and it appeared to him and his associates that the Water Serpents gave place to the Land Serpents So the Prince and his company returned into the City again and the next day went forth again but found not a Serpent alive for there were slain above eight thousand all which he caused presently to be covered with earth in ditches and afterward declared the whole matter to Baiazeta by Letters after he had gotten that City whereat the great Turk rejoyced for he thereby interpreted happiness to himself But I have been too long in this first and proper affection of Serpents namely their mutual concord and this example of the Land and Water Serpents doth not break the common promised rule because it is to be understood of Serpents that live in the same element The second property is to presage Pestilence rottenness of air famine floods and ruine of those places wherein they are commorant and have their abiding so do they know to chuse a good air and fore-know fertility of fruits earth-quakes and great tempests When Helice was destroyed five days before the Serpents Snakes Rats Mice and Weasels departed all out thereof being wiser then Men that misdeeming no harm although they saw and wondered at these removals yet stood it out to their own utter ruine overthrow and destruction Of the friendship and enmity which Serpents keep with