tumors whatsoeuer Semblably that if S. Anthonies fire were annointed therewith being incorporat with hony vineger and nitre or if it were applied vnto the gouty parts there would ensue great easement Moreouer in case the nailes be grown crooked vneuen rugged it is said that it wil cause one to cast them without any vlcer and sore at all Some there be who prescribe an electuary made with the seed of Orach and hony to be giuen for the Iaundise also if the windpipes be hoarse with some fell or sharp rheume falling downe vpon them or if the Amygdales on either side of the throat be amisse it is very good to rub those parts therewith They affirme moreouer That a simple decoction of it alone moueth the body downward but with Mallows or Lentils prouoketh vpward and causeth vomit Finally to conclude with the wild Orach it is vsed much to colour the haire black and for the other aboue named purposes as well as that of the gardens CHAP. XXI ¶ Of the common Mallow Of the Mallow Malope Of the Marish Mallow or Altaea Of the common Docke the soure Docke or Sorrell of the water Docke of the tall Docke called Patience and lastly of that Docke with the long root called Bulapathum ORaches were not so much discommended but on the contrary side Mallows be as highly praised as wel that of the garden as the wild Two kinds there be of the garden mallows distinguished both by the largenesse of their leaues The greater of those that grow in gardens the Greekes call Malopum the other is supposed to be named Malachum for that it doth mollifie and soften the belly Of the wild sort that which carrieth a broad leafe and white roots is called Althaea and of some Aristalthaea for the excellent vertues that it hath in Physick This property haue Mallows To inrich and fatten any ground whersoeuer they be sown or set But this marish Mallow Althaea is more effectuall than the rest against all wounds by sharp pricks or thornes and principally against the sting of Scorpions Waspes and such like as also the biting of the Hardishrew mouse Nay whosoeuer be throughly rubbed or annointed before hand with any Mallow whatsoeuer stamped with oyle or do but carry it about them they shall not be stung or bitten at all As for the leafe of Mallowes if it be laid vpon a Scorpion it will be streightwaies benummed Moreouer good counterpoisons they be all a liniment made of them being raw together with nitre draweth forth all pricks or stings remaining within the flesh but if leafe and root be sodden together and so drunk it represseth the poison of the venomous fish called the sea-Hare but some say it must be cast vp and vomited againe or else it doth no good Certes strange and wonderfull things be spoken as touching the operation of Mallows ouer and aboue those already rehearsed But this passeth all the rest That if a man or woman sup off a smal draught though it were no more but half a cyath euery day of the juice of any mallow it skills not which he shall be free from all diseases and liue in perfect health True it is that if they be putrified and resolued in chamber-lie they will heale all the scurfe running scalls in the head but if they be tempered with hony a collution made thereof cureth the cankers of the mouth and a lauature represseth all tettars ringwormes any such wild fire running vpon the skin A decoction of the root clenseth the head of dandruffe if it be washed therwith setteth the teeth fast that were loose Take the root of that mallow which riseth vp with one only stem prick the gums therwith about the tooth pained do this I say till the ach be gone The same root reduced into a liniment with the fasting spittle of man or woman and applied accordingly resolues the Kings euil dispatcheth the swelling kernels behind the ears and discusseth biles and pushes without any breaking of the skin or making vlcer The seed of mallows if it be taken in thick wine deliuereth the patient from phlegmatick humors from the rheume and the heauing of the stomack making offer to cast and cannot The root wrapped fast and tied within a lock of blacke wooll preuenteth the euill accidents that may befall vnto womens brests The same sodden in milk taken after a sippling sort in manner of a supping for fiue daies together cureth the cough And yet Sextius Niger saith they be hurtfull to the stomack And Olympias of Thebes affirmeth That if women vse it with goose grease they shall not go their full time with childe Others do write That if women take an handfull of Mallow leaues in oyle and wine they shall be throughly purged in their due times This is known for a truth and resolued by all that write or make profession of Physicke That a woman in labour if she sit vpon Mallows strewed vnder her stoole shal be deliuered with greater speed and expedition but then must they be taken away presently after that she is laied for feare that the very matrice follow after the child An ordinary practice it is of sage and discreet midwiues to giue vnto women in trauell fasting a small pint of the juice of Mallows sodden in wine yet those that cannot contain but shed their naturall seed are inioined to take mallow seed brused and so to bind it to their arme Moreouer so good and fauorable naturally be mallows to the game of loue as if they grew for nothing els insomuch as Xenocrates doth affirme That if the seed of that Mallow which runneth vp in one stalk be reduced into pouder and strewed vpon that part of a woman which Nature hath hidden she will be so wood after the company of a man as she will neuer be satisfied nor contented with embracing The like effect saith he there wil ensue if three roots thereof be bound neere to the place of Nature Also that a decoction of Mallows ministred by way of clyster is a singular injection to cure the bloudy flixe or exulceration of the guts as also the extraordinary and bootlesse desire to the seege In like manner a fomentation thereof is very good for other accidents befalling to the seat or tuil The juice of Mallows is giuen warm the quantity of three cyaths to melancholick persons that be troubled in mind and of foure to those that be stark mad indeed and besides themselues A whole hemina of the juice drawne and pressed from mallows boyled is giuen at one time to those that be subject to the falling sicknesse The same being reduced into a liniment is to good purpose applied warm vnto those who are troubled with the stone and grauell with winde cholique and ventosities with the cramp also or crick that doth draw their necks backward The leaues being sodden in oyle are layd with good successe in manner of a cataplasme vpon the hot fretting
gather as it were a compleat hody of arts and sciences which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that are either altogether vnknowne or become doubtfull through the ouermuch curiositie of fine wits again other matters are deciphered in such long discourses that they are tedious to the readers insomuch as they loath and abhor them A difficult enterprise it is therfore to make old stuffe new to giue authoritie credit to nouelties to polish and smooth that which is worne and out of vse to set a glosse and lustre vpon that which is dim and darke to grace countenance things disdained to procure beleefe to matters doubtful in one word to reduce nature to all and al to their own nature And verily to giue the attempt only and shew a desire to effect such a desseigne as this although the same be not brought about and compassed were a braue and magnificent enterprise Certes of this spirit am I that those learned men and great students who making no stay but breaking through al difficulties haue preferred the profit of posteritie before the tickling and pleasure of itching eares in these daies which I may protest that I haue aimed at not in this worke only but also in other of my bookes alreadie and I professe that I wonder much at T. Livius otherwise a most renowned famous writer who in a preface to one of his books of the Roman history which hee cōpiled from the foundation of Rome thus protested That hee had gotten glorie ynough by his former writing and might sit still now take his ease but that his mind was so restlesse and so ill could abide repose that contrariwise it was fed and nourished with trauel nothing else But surely me thinks in finishing those Chronicles he should in dutie haue respected the glory of that people which had conquered the World and aduanced the honour of the Romane name rather than displaied his owne praise and commendation Ywis his demerit had beene the greater to haue continued his story as he did for loue of the subiect matter and not for his priuat pleasure to haue I say performed that peece of worke more to gratifie the state of Rome than to content his owne minde and affection As touching my selfe forasmuch as Domitius Piso saith That bookes ought to be treasuries store houses indeed and not bare and simple writings I may be bold to say and averre That in 36 bookes I haue comprised 20000 things all worthie of regard consideration which I haue recollected out of 2000 volumes or therabout that I haue diligently read and yet very few of them there be that men learned otherwise and studious dare meddle withall for the deepe matter and hidden secrets therein contained and those written by 100 seuerall elect and approued authors besides a world of other matters which either were vnknowne to our forefathers and former writers or else afterward inuented by their posteritie And yet I nothing doubt that many things there be which either surpasse our knowledge or else our memorie hath ouerslipt for men we are and men emploied in many affaires Moreouer considered it would be that these studies wee follow at vacant times and stolne houres that is to say by night season onely to the end that you may know how wee to accomplish this haue neglected no time which was due vnto your seruice The daies we wholly employ and spend in attendance about your person we sleepe onely to satisfie nature euen as much as our health requireth and no more contenting our selves with this reward That whiles wee study and muse as Varro saith vpon these things in our closet we gaine so many houres to our life for surely we liue then only when we watch and be awake Considering now those occasions those lets and hinderances aboue-named I had no reason to presume or promise much but in that you haue emboldened me to dedicate my bookes vnto you your selfe performeth whatsoeuer in me is wanting not that I trust vpon the goodnesse and worth of the worke so much as that by this means it will be better esteemed and shew more vendible for many things there be that seeme right deare and be holden for pretious only because they are consecrate to some sacred temples As for vs verily we haue written of you all your father Vespasian your selfe and your brother Domitian in a large volume which wee compiled touching the historie of our times beginning there where Aufidius Bassus ended Now if you demand and aske me Where that historie is I answer that finished it was long since and by this time is iustified and approued true by your deeds otherwise I was determined to leaue it vnto my heire and giue order that it should be published after my death lest in my life time I might haue bin thought to haue curried fauour of those whose acts I seemed to pen with flatterie beyond all truth And therfore in this action I do both them a great fauour who haply were minded before me to put forth the like Chronicle and the posteritie also which shall come after who I make reckning and know will enter into the lists with vs like as we haue done with our predecessors A sufficient argument of this my good mind frank hart that way you shal haue by this That in the front of these books now in hand I haue set down the very names of those writers whose help I haue vsed in the compiling of thē for I haue euer bin of this opinion That it is the part of an honest minded man one that is ful of grace modesty to confesse frank ly by whom he hath profited gottē any good not as many of those vnthankful persons haue done whom I haue alledged for my authors For to tell you a plain truth know thus much from me that in conferring thē together about this worke of mine I haue met with some of our moderne writers who word for word haue exemplified copied out whole books of old authors and neuer vouchsafed so much as the naming of them but haue taken their labors trauels to themselues And this they haue not done in that courage and spirit to imitate yea to match them as Virgil did Homer much lesse haue they shewed that simplicitie and apert proceeding of Cicero who in his bookes of Policie and Common-weale professeth himselfe to hold with Plato in his Consolatorie Epistle written to his daughter confesseth and saith plainely thus I follow Crantor and Panaetius likewise in his Treatise concerning Offices Which worthy monuments of his as you know well deserue not onely to be seene handled and read daily but also to be learned by heart euery word Certes I hold it for a point of a base and seruile mind and wherein there is no goodnesse at al to chuse rather to be surprised and taken in theft than to bring home borrowed good or to repay a due debt
crier pronounced noon when standing at the hall or chamber of the councell he beheld the Sun in that wise betweene the pulpit called Rostra and the Grecostasis which was a place where forrein embassadours gaue their attendance but when that the same sun inclined downeward from the columne named Moenia to the common gaole or prison then he gaue warning of the last quarter of the day and so pronounced But this obseruation would serue but vpon cleere daies when the sun shined and yet there was no other means to know how the day went vntill the first Punicke war Fabius Vestalis writeth that L. Papyrius Cursor 12 yeres before the war with Pyrrhus was the first that for to do the Romans a pleasure set vp a sun-dyall to know what it was a clocke vpon the temple of Quirinus at the dedication thereof when his father had vowed it before him Howbeit mine aurhor sheweth not either the reason of the making of that diall or the workman ne yet from whence it was brought nor in what writer he found it so written M. Varro reporteth that the first diall was set vp in the common market place vpon a columne neere the foresaid Rostra in the time of the first Punicke war by M. Valerius Messala the Consull presently after the taking of Catana in Sicily from whence it was brought thirty yeares after the report that goeth of the foresaid quadrant and diall of Papyrius namely in the yeare after the foundation of the city 477. And albeit the strokes and lines of this Horologe or diall agreed not fit with the houres yet were the people ruled and went by it for an hundred yeares saue one euen vntill Q. Martius Philippus who together with L. Paulus was Censor set another by it framed made more exquisitly according to Art And this piece of work among other good acts done by the Censor during his office was highly accepted of the people as a singular gift of his Yet for all this if it were a close and cloudy day wherein the Sun shone not out men knew not what it was a clocke certainly and thus it continued fiue yeres more Then at last Scipio Nasica being Censor with Laenas made the deuise first to diuide the houres both of day and night equally by water distilling and dropping out one vessell into another And this manner of Horologe or water-clocke he dedicated in the end within house and that was in the 595 yere from the building of Rome Thus you see how long it was that the people of Rome could not certainly tell how the day passed Thus much concerning the Nature of man let vs returne now to discourse of other liuing creatures and first of land-beasts THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS CHAP. I. ¶ Of landbeasts The praise of Elephants their wit and vnderstanding PAsse we now to treat of other liuing creatures and first of land-beasts among which the Elephant is the greatest and commeth neerest in wit and capacitie to men for they vnderstand the language of that country wherin they are bred they do whatsoeuer they are commanded they remember what duties they be taught and withall take a pleasure and delight both in loue and also in glory nay more than all this they embrace goodnesse honestie prudence and equitie rare qualities I may tel you to be found in men and withal haue in religious reuerence with a kinde of deuotion not only the stars and planets but the sun and moon they also worship And in very truth writers there be who report thus much of them That when the new moon beginneth to appeare fresh and bright they come downe by whole heards to a certaine riuer named Amelus in the desarts and forests of Mauritania where after that they are washed and solemnly purified by sprinckling and dashing themselues all ouer with the water haue saluted and adored after their manner that planet they returne again into the woods chases carrying before them their yong calues that be wearied and tired Moreouer they are thought to haue a sense and vnderstanding of religion conscience in others for when they are to passe the seas into another country they wil not embarke before they be induced thereto by anoath of their gouernors and rulers That they shall returne again and seene there haue bin diuers of them being enfeebled by sicknesse for as big and huge as they be subject they are to grievous maladies to lie vpon their backs casting and flinging herbes vp toward heauen as if they had procured and set the earth to pray for them Now for their docility and aptnesse to learne any thing the king they adore they kneele before him and offer vnto him garlands and chaplets of floures and green herbes To conclude the lesser sort of them which they call Bastards serue the Indians in good stead to eare and plough their ground CHAP. II. ¶ When Elephants were put to draw first THe first time that euer they were knowne to draw at Rome was in the triumph of Pompey the Great after he had subdued Africke for then were two of them put in geeres to his triumphant chariot But long before that it is said that Father Bacchus hauing conquered India did the like when he triumphed for his conquest Howbeit in that triumph of Pompey Procilius affirmeth That coupled as they were two in one yoke they could not possibly go in at the gates of Rome In the late solemnity of tournois sword-fight at the sharp which Germanicus Caesar exhibited to gratifie the people the elephants were seen to shew pastime with leaping keeping a stir as if they danced after a rude and disorderly manner A common thing it was among them to fling weapons darts in the aire so strongly that the winds had no power against them to flourish also before hand yea and to encounter and meet together in fight like sword-fencers and to make good sport in a kinde of Moriske dance and afterwards to go on ropes and cords to carry foure together one of them laid at ease in a litter resembling the maner of women newly brought a bed last of all some of them were so nimble and well practised that they would enter into an hall or dining place where the tables were set full of guests and passe among them so gently and daintily weighing as it were their feet in their going so as they would not hurt or touch any of the company as they were drinking CHAP. III. ¶ The docilitie of Elephants THis is knowne for certaine that vpon a time there was an Elephant among the rest not so good of capacity to take out his lessons and learn that which was taught him and being beaten and beaten again for that blockish and dull head of his was found studying and conning those feats in the night which he had bin learning in the day time But one of the greatest wonders of them was
the Lionesse hath done a fault that way she either goeth to a riuer and washeth away the strong and ranke sauor of the Pard or else keepeth aloofe and followeth the Lion afar off that he may not catch the said smell I see it is commonly held that the Lionesse brings forth yong but once in her life for that her whelps in her kinling teare her belly with their nailes and make themselues roome that way Aristotle writeth otherwise a man whom I cannot name but with great honour and reuerence and whom in the historie and report of these matters I meane for the most part to follow And in very truth King Alexander the Great of an ardent desire that he had to know the natures of all liuing creatures gaue this charge to Aristotle a man singularly accomplished with all kinds of science and learning to search into this matter and to set down the same in writing and to this effect commanded certaine thousands of men one or other throughout all the tract as well of Asia as Greece to giue their attendance and obey him to wit all Hunters Falconers Fowlers and Fishers that liued by those professions Item all Forresters Park-keepers and Wariners all such as had the keeping of heards and flockes of cattell of bee-hiues fish-pooles stewes and ponds as also those that kept vp fowle tame or wild in mew those that fed poultry in barton or coup to the end that he should be ignorant of nothing in this behalfe but be aduertised by them according to his Commission of all things in the world By his conference with them he collected so much as thereof hee compiled those excellent bookes de Animalibus i. of Liuing creatures to the number almost of 50. Which being couched by me in a narrow roome and briefe summary with addition also of some things which he neuer knew I beseech the Readers to take in good worth and for the discouerie and knowledge of all Natures works which that most noble and famous King that euer was desired so much to know to make a short start abroad with me and in a briefe discourse by mine own pains and diligence digested to see all To return now vnto our former matter That great philosopher Aristotle therefore reporteth That the Lionesse at her first litter bringeth forth fiue whelps and euery yeare after fewer by one and when she commeth to bring but one alone she giueth ouer and is barren Her whelps at the first are without shape like small gobbets of flesh no bigger than weesels When they are six moneths old they can hardly go and for the two first they stir not at all Lions there be also in Europe only between the riuers Achelous and Nestus and these verily be far stronger than those of Africke or Syria Moreouer there are two kinds of Lions the one short wel trussed and compact with more crisp and curled mains but these are timerous and cowards to them that haue long and plain haire for those passe not for any wounds whatsoeuer The Lions lift vp a leg when they pisse as dogs do and moreouer they haue a strong and stinking breath their very body also smelleth rank Seldom they drink and eate but each other day and if at any time they feed til they be full they wil abstain from meat three daies after In their feeding whatsoeuer they can swallow without chewing downe it goes whole and if they finde their gorge and stomacke too full and not able indeed to receiue according to their greedy appetite they thrust their pawes down their throats and with their crooked clees fetch out some of it again to the end they should not be heauy and slow vpon their fulnesse if haply they be put to find their feet and fly Mine Author Aristotle saith moreouer That they liue very long and hee proueth it by this argument That many of them are found toothlesse for very age Polybius who accompanied Scipio Aemylianus in his voiage of Africke reporteth of them That when they be growne aged they will prey vpon a man the reason is because their strength will not hold out to pursue in chase any other wild beasts then they come about the cities and good towns of Africke lying in wait for their prey if any folk come abroad and for that cause he saith that while hee was with Scipio hee saw some of them crucified and hanged vp to the end that vpon the sight of them other Lions should take example and be skarred from doing the like mischiefe The Lion alone of all wilde beasts is gentle to those that humble themselues vnto him and will not touch any such vpon their submission but spareth what creature soeuer lieth prostrate before him As fell and furious as he is otherwhiles yet he dischargeth his rage vpon men before he sets vpon women and neuer preyeth on babes vnlesse it be for extreme hunger They are verily persuaded in Lybia that they haue a certain vnderstanding when any man doth pray or intreat them for any thing I haue heard it reported for a truth by a captiue woman of Getulia which being fled was brought home again to her master that she had pacified the violent fury of many Lions within the woods and forrests by faire language and gentle speech and namely that for to escape their rage shee hath been so hardy as to say she was a silly woman a banished fugitiue a sickly feeble weak creature an humble suiter and lowly suppliant to him the noblest of all other liuing creatures the Soueraigne and commander of all the rest and that she was too base and vnworthy for his glorious Maiestie to prey vpon her Many and diuers opinions are currant according to the sundry occurrences that haue hapned or the inuentions that mens wits haue deuised as touching this matter namely that sauage beasts are dulced and appeased by good words and faire speech as also that fell serpents may be trained and fetched out of their holes by charmes yea and by certaine coniurations and menaces restrained and kept vnder for a punishment but whether it be true or no I see it is not yet by any man set downe or determined To come againe to our Lions the signe of their intent and disposition is their taile like as in horses their eares for these two marks and tokens certainly hath Nature giuen to the most couragious beasts of all others to know their affections by for when the Lion stirs not his taile he is in a good mood gentle mild pleasantly disposed and as if he were willing to be plaied withall but in that fit he is seldome seen for lightly he is alwaies angry At the first when he entreth into his choler he beateth the ground with his taile when he groweth into greater heats he flappeth and jerketh his flanks and sides withall as it were to quicken himselfe and stir vp his angry humour His maine strength lieth in his brest hee maketh not a
three joynts As for some sea-fishes we haue said before that they haue eight legs namely Many feet Pourcuttles Cuttles Calamaries and Crabfishes and those moue their fore-clees like armes a contrary way but their feet either they turne round or else fetch them crooked atone side and a man shall not see any liuing creature againe al round but they As for others they haue two feet to guide them and lead the way but Crabs onely haue foure There be Insects besides vpon the land that exceed this number of feet and then they haue no fewer than twelue as the most sort of wormes yea and some of them reach to an hundred No creature whatsoeuer hath an odde foot As touching the legs of those which bee whole houfed they be all full as long when they first come into the world as euer they will be well may they shoot out bigger and burnish afterward but to speake truly and properly they grow no more in length And therefore when they be yong sucking foles a man shall see them scratch the haire with the hinder feet which as they wax elder and bigger they are not able to do because their legges thriue only in outward compasse and not in length Which also is the cause that when they be new foled they cannot feed themselues but kneeling vntill such time as their neckes be come to their full growth and just proportion CHAP. XLIX ¶ Os Dwarfes and genitall parts THere are no liuing creatures in the world euen the very fowles of the aire not excepted but in each kind there be dwarfs to be found As for those males which haue their instruments of generation behind we haue sufficiently spoken In Wolues Foxes Weesils and Ferrits those genitall members be of a bonie substance and of them there be soueraigne medicines made for to cure the stone and grauell in mans bodie engendred The Beares pisle also becommeth as hard as an horn men say so soone as his breath is out of his bodie As for Camels pisles they vse in the East countries to make their best bow strings therof which they account to be the surest of all others Moreouer and besides the genitall parts put a difference between nation and nation also between one religion and another for the priests of Cybele the great mother of the gods vse to cut off their owne members and to gueld themselues without danger of death On the contrarie side some few women there be monstrous that way and in that part resemble men like as we see there are Hermaphrodites furnished with the members of both sexe In the daies of Nero the Emperor the like accident was seen and neuer before in some foure-footed beasts For he in very truth exhibited a shew of certaine mares that were of the nature of those Hermaphrodites found in the territorie of Treuiers in France and they drew together in his owne coach And verily a strange and wondrous sight this was To see the great monarch of the world sit in a charriot drawne by such monstrous beasts As touching the stones of Rams Buckes and greater beasts they hang dangling downe between their legs but in Bores they be thrust together knit vp short close to the bellie Dolphines haue these parts very long and the same lying hidden within the bottom of their bellies In Elephants likewise they be close and hidden In as many creatures as doe lay egges the stones sticke hard to their loines within the bodie and such be euer most quicke of dispatch in the act of generation and soone haue done the feat Fishes and Serpents haue none at all but in stead therof there be two strings or veines reach from their kidnies to their genitall member The * Buzzard a kind or Hawke is prouided of three stones A man hath his cods sometime bruised and broken either by some extraordinarie accident or naturally and such as be thus burst are counted but halfe men and of a middle nature betweene Hermaphrodites and guelded persons To conclude in all liuing creatures whatsoeuer the males be stronger than the females setting aside the race of Panthers and Beares CHAP. L. ¶ Of Tailes THere is not a liuing creature excepting men and Apes take as well those that bring forth their yong aliue as others that lay egges only but is furnished with a taile for the necessarie vse of their bodies Such as be otherwise rough-haired and bristly yet haue naked tailes as Swine those that be long shagged and rugged haue very little and short skuts as Beares but as many as haue long side haires be likewise long tailed as Horses If Lizards or Serpents haue their tailes cut off from their bodies they will grow againe In fishes they serue in good stead as rudders and helmes to direct them in their swimming yeathey fit their turnes as well as oares to set them forward as they stirre them to this or that hand There be Lizards found with double tailes Kine and Oxen haue the longest rumpe for their tailes of any other beasts yea and the same at the end hath the greatest tuft and bush of haire Asses haue the said docke or rumpe longer than horses and yet all such beasts either for saddle or packe haue it set forth with long haires Lions tailes are fashioned in the very tip thereof like vnto Kine or Oxen and Rats but Panthers are not after the same manner tailed Foxes and Wolues haue shag tailes like sheep but that they be longer Swine carie their tailes turned and twined round And Dogs that be of curres kind and good for nothing carrie their tailes close vnderneath their bellies CHAP. LI. ¶ Of Voices Aristotle of opinion That no liuing creature hath any voice but such only as are furnished with lungs and wind-pipes that is to say which breath and draw their wind and therefore he holdeth that the noise which we heare come from Insects is no voice at all but a very sound occasioned by the aire that gets within them and so being enclosed yeelds a certaine noise and resoundeth againe And thus it is quoth he that some keep a humming or buzzing as Bees others make a cricking with a certain long traine as the Grashoppers for euident it is and wel known that the aire entring into those pipes if I may so term them vnder their breast and meeting with a certaine pellicle or thin skin beates vpon it within and so sets it a stirring by which attrition that shril sound commeth Again it is as apparent that in others and namely Flies and Bees the buzzing which we heare begins and ends euer with their flying For no doubt that sound commeth not of any wind that these little creatures either draw or deliuer but of the aire which they hold inclosed within and the beating of their wings together As for Locusts it is generally beleeued receiued that they make that sound with clapping of their feathers and wings and thighs together In like manner among fishes in
he contained in long and flat according to the forme and figure of the seed which they hold Pease by themselues haue a long round cod in forme of a Cylinder The Pulse called Phasâ—…oli i. Kidney Beans vse to be eaten cod and al together These may be set or sowne in what ground you list from the Ides of October to the Calends of Nouember Finally all kinds of Pulse so soone as they begin to ripen are to be gathered or plucked hastily for stay neuer so little they leape out of their cods and shed and being once fallen they lie hidden in the ground like as the Lupine also CHAP. XIII ¶ Of Rapes or Neuewes of Amiternium Turneps NOw let vs proceed and passe to other matters and yet in this discourse it were meet to write somwhat as touching Rapes or Nauews The Latin writers our countreymen haue slightly passed by and touched them only by the way The Greeks haue treated of them somwhat more diligently and yet among pot-hearbes and worts growing in gardens whereas indeed according to good order they would be spoken of immediatly after Corne or Beanes at least wise considering there is not a plant of more or better vse than is the Rape or Nauew First and formost they grow not only for beasts of the earth and the Foules of the aire but also for men For all kinds of Pullen about a Farme-house in the countrey doe feed vpon the feed thereof as much as of any thing else especially if they be boiled first in water As for four-footed beasts they eat the leaues thereof with great delight and wax fat therewith Last of al men also take as great pleasure and delight in eating the leaues and heads of Rapes or Nauewes in their season as they do of young Coly-flories Cabbages or any tender crops of hearbs whatsoeuer yea when they are faded flaggie and dead in the Barn they are esteemed better than being fresh and green As for Rapes or Nauewes they will keep long and last al Winter both within the ground where they grew and being well wintered they will continue afterwards out of the earth lying abroad euen almost till new come so as they yeeld men great comfort to withstand hunger and famin In Piemont Lombardie those countries beyond the Po the people make the most account of gaine by gathering Rapes next to wine vintage and corne haruest It is not choise and daintie of the ground where it will grow for lightly it wil prosper where nothing els can be sowed In foggy mists hard frosts and other cold weather it thriues passing wel and grows to a wonderfull bignes I haue seene one of their roots weigh aboue fortie pounds As touching the handling and dressing of them for our table there be many waies and deuises to commend and set them out Preserued they may be till new come specially condite with sharp and biting Senuie or Mustard seed Moreouer our Cooks know how to giue them six other colours besides their owne which is pure and naturall they haue the cast to set euen a purple hew vpon them And to say a truth there is no kind of viands besides that being thus painted colored hath the like grace The Greeke writers haue diuided them by the sexe and therby made two principal kinds therof to wit the male and the female Nay more than that out of one and the same seed according as it is sowed they can make male or female whether they please For if they sow thicke and chuse therto a hard and churlish ground it will proue of the male kind Also the smaller that the seed is the better it is esteemed But of al Rapes male or female three especiall sorts there be no more For some roots spread flat and broad others are knit round like a ball the third sort that runs downe into the ground with a long root in manner of a Raddish they cal the wild Rape or Nauew this bears a rough lease and ful of angles or corners the juice that it yeelds is sharp hote and biting which being gathered in haruest time reserued mundisieth the eies and cleareth the sight especially being tempered with brest-milke If the weather be cold they are thought not only to thriue in bignesse of the root but also to prooue the sweeter whereas contrariwise in a warm season they run vp all to stalke and leafe The best simply are those that grow in the Nursine territory For they are sold by the weight and euery pound is worth a Roman Sesterce yea and otherwhiles twaine if there be any scarcity of them Next to these in goodnes be those that come out of Algidum Thus much of Rapes Navews As for the Turneps of Amiternum they be in a manner of the same nature that the Rapes aforesaid cold they loue as well Sown they are before the Calends of March foure quarts of their seed will take vp a whole acre of ground The best Husbandmen and such as are more exquisite in their practise of Agriculture giue order That the ground for Turneps should haue fiue tilthes whereas Rapes or Nauewes are content with foure but both the one and the other had need of a soile well inriched with dung or compost By their sayings also Rapes will prosper the better and come vp thicker if they be sowed in their huls chaffe and all together Moreouer they would haue the seeds-man to be naked when he sowes them and in sowing to protest that this which he doth is for himselfe and his neighbors and withall to pray as he goeth The proper season for the seednesse of them both is between the feasts of the two gods to wit Neptune and Vulcan To conclude there is a subtill and curious obseruation that many go by and do hold namely this To marke how many daies old the Moon was when the first snow sel the winter next before for if a man do sow Rapes or Turneps within the foresaid compasse of that time the moon being so many daies old they will come to be wondrous great and increase exceedingly Men vse to sow them also in the Spring but then they make choise of moist and hot grounds CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of Lupines AFter Rapes and Turneps the Lupines haue greatest vse and serue to be raunged next for that they indifferently serue both men and also all foure footed beasts that be houfed either whole or clouen Now for that the stalke is very shittle in mowing and therefore flyeth from the edge of the syth the onely remedie therefore that the mower may catch it is to goe to worke presently after a good shower And verily there is not a plant growing vpon the earth I meane of such as are sowne of seed more admirable than the Lupine in regard of the great amity and sympathie betweene the earth and it Looke how the Sun keepeth his course in our Horizon aboue so doth it turne and go withall insomuch as the
called Stachys hath a resemblance also to Porret but that the leaues be longer and more in number it yeeldeth a pleasant smell and the leaues be of a pale colour inclining somwhat to yellow The nature of this plant is to moue the monethly purgation of women As for Clinopodium called otherwise Cleonicion Zopyron Ocymoeides like it is to running wilde Thyme and full of branches growing vp a span or handfull high at the least It groweth in stony places with a spoky tuft of floures shewing in a round compasse and for all the world resembleth the feet or pillers that beare vp a table or bed This herb taken in drinke is good for convulsions ruptures stranguries and serpents stings So is the syrrup or juleb that is made thereof by way of decoction Thus much of those herbs which in name carry a shew and resemblance of trees It remaineth now to write of some other herbs which I must needs say are of no great name and reckoning howbeit such as be indued with wonderfull vertues As for the famous and notable herbs indeed I will reserue the treatise of them for the books following And first I meet with that which we in Italy call Centunculus but the Greekes Clematis with leaues pointed like the beak of a bird or resembling the cape of a cloke growing close to the ground in toiled corn fields This herbe is most effectuall and singular aboue all other for to stay a laske if it be drunk in some red or green hard wine The same beaten into pouder and taken to the weight of one denier Roman in fiue cyaths of Oxymell or hot water stancheth bleeding and yet in that sort it is of great effect to fetch away the after-birth of women lately deliuered But there be other herbes among the Greeke writers going vnder the name of Clematides and namely one which some cal Echites others Lagines and there are besides who name it Pety Scammonie and in very truth branches it hath a foot long full of leaues and not vnlike vnto those of Scammonie but that the leaues be more black or duskish and smaller This herbe is found as well in vineyards as corne lands People vse to eat this herb with oile and salt as they do Beets Coles and other such pot-herbs and so eaten it maketh the body soluble And yet neuerthelesse those who be troubled with the bloudy flix are wont to take it in some astringent wine with Lineseed and find it to work with good successe The leaues applied to the eies with parched Barly groats do restraine the waterish humors which fall thither so there be a fine linnen cloth wet between The same applied in a pultesse to the wens called the kings euil bring them first to suppuration and afterwards hauing hogs grease put thereto heale them throughly Incorporat with green oile Oliue they ease the hemorrhoids and with honey helpe those that be in a Phthisicke or Consumption If nources eat them with their meat they shall haue good store of milke in their breasts And if they annoint therewith the heads of their young infants the haire will come the thicker A collution made with them and vineger assuageth the tooth-ache if the mouth be washed therewith To conclude it stirreth vp to fleshly lust There is besides another kind of Clematis known by the name of the Aegyptian Clematis howsoeuer some call it Daphnoeides others Polygonoeides Leaued it is like the Lawrel saue that the leaues be long and thin But against all serpents and especially the Aspides it is a soueraigne counterpoison if it be drunk in vineger Aegypt bringeth forth this herb in great abundance CHAP. XVI ¶ Of Aron Dracunculus or Dracontium Of Aris. Of Millefoile Of another hearbe of that name Of Pseudobunium Of Myrrhis and Onobrichis with their medicinable vertues THere is a great difference betweene * Aron of which herbe I haue written amongst those with bulbous roots and * Dracontium although writers be at some variance about this point for some haue affirmed that they be both one Howbeit Glaucias hath distinguished them in that the one groweth wild and the other is planted and hee pronounceth and calleth Dragon the sauage Aron others are of opinion that there is no other difference between them but that the onion root is called Aron and the stem of the same herb Dracontium whereas indeed there is no likenesse at all between the one and the other if so be that Dracontium of the Greeks be the same that we call Dracunculus in Latine For Aros hath a black root growing broad flat and round yea and far greater insomuch as it is a good handful but the root of Dracunculus is somwhat red and the same wrythed and folded round in manner of a Dragon wherupon it took that name Nay the very Greeks themselues haue made an exceeding great difference between Dragon and Wake-Robin for they affirme That the seed of Dragon is hot and biting and besides of such a virulent and stinking smell that the very sent thereof is enough to driue a woman great with childe to trauell before her time and to slip an vntimely birth Contrariwise they haue wonderfully commended Aron for first and foremost they preferre the female of this kind as a principall meat before the male which is harder to be chewed and longer ere it be concocted and digested moreouer they affirm That as well the one as the other doth expectorat the fleam gathered in the chest and whether it be dried and brought into pouder and so the drink spiced withall or otherwise taken in form of a lohoch or electuary it prouoketh both vrine and also womens monthly termes Drunke with oxymell it mundifieth and comforteth the stomacke and Physitians haue giuen it in Ewes milke for the exulceration of the guts rosted vnder the embers they haue prescribed it to be taken with oil for the cough Some haue sodden it in milke and giuen the decoction thereof to be drunke in that case They haue appointed it also to be boiled and then applied accordingly to watery eies for to represse the violence of rheum likewise vnto places black and blew with stripes as also for the inflammation of the amygdales also they haue giuen direction to inject the same with oile by way of clystre as an excellent remedy for the Hemorrhoids and to applie it in a liniment with hony for to take away the pimples and freckles of the skin Cleophantus hath giuen it the praise of an excellent antidote or counterpoison prescribing also the vse thereof for the pleurisie and inflammation of the lungs in the same manner as in case of the cough he appointed likewise to beat the seed into pouder being mixed either with common oile or oile rosat to drop it into the eares for to assuage the pain Dieuches ordained to take and temper it with meale and so to worke it into a paste to giue
parts Myrrhis which some call Smyrrhiza others Myrrha is passing like vnto Hemlocke in stalke leaues and floure only it is smaller and slenderer and hath no ill grace and vnpleasant tast to be eaten with meats Taken in wine it hasteneth the monthly course of womens fleurs if they bee too slow and helpeth them in labour to speedy deliuerance It is said moreouer that in time of a plague it is wholsom to drink it for feare of infection A supping or broth made of it helpeth those who are in a Phthysicke or consumption This good property it hath besides to stir vp a quick appetite to meat It doth extinguish and kill the venome inflicted by the sting or pricke of the venomous spiders Phalangia The juice drawn out of this herb after it hath lien infused or soked three daies together in water healeth any sore breaking out either in face or head Finally Onobrychis carieth leaues resembling Lentils but that they are somewhat longer it beareth also a red floure but resteth vpon a small and slender root It groweth about springs and fountains Being dried and reduced into a floure or pouder it maketh an end of the strangury so it be drunk in a cup of white wine well strewed and spiced therwith It stoppeth a lask To conclude the juice therof causeth them to sweat freely who are annointed all ouer with it CHAP. XVII ¶ The medicinable vertues of Coriacesia Callicia and Menais with three and twentie other herbes which some hold to be Magicall Moreouer of Considia and Aproxis besides some other which are reuiued and in request againe hauing been long time out of vse TO discharge and acquit my selfe of the promise which I made of strange and wonderfull herbs I cannot chuse but in this place write a little of those which the Magitians make such reckoning of For can there be any more admirable than they And in very truth Democritus and Pythagoras following the tracts of the said wise men and Magitians were the first Philosophers who in this part of the world set those herbs on foot and brought them into a name And to begin with Coriacesia and Callicia Pythagoras affirmeth That these two herbes will cause water to gather into an yce I find no mention at all in any other authors of these hearbes neither doth he report more properties of them The same author writes of an herb called Menais known also by the name of Corinthas the juice whereof by his saying if it be sodden in water presently cureth the sting of serpents if the place be fomented with the said decoction He affirmeth moreouer that if the said juice or liquor be poured vpon the grasse whosoeuer fortuneth to go thereupon and touch it with the sole of the foot or otherwise chance to be but dashed or sprinkled therewith shall die therupon remedilesse and no way there is to escape the mischiefe A monstrous thing to report that this juice should be so rank a venome as it is vnlesse it be vsed against poison The felfe same Pythagoras speaketh yet of another herb which hee calleth Aproxis the root whereof is of this nature to catch fire a farre off like for all the world to Naphtha concerning which I haue written somwhat already in my discourse as touching the wonders of Nature and he reporteth moreouer That if a man or woman happen to be sicke of any disease at what time as this Aproxis is in the floure although he or she be throughly cured of it yet shall they haue a grudging or minding thereof as often as it falleth to floure again yeare by yeare And of this opinion he is besides That Frumenty corne Hemlock and Violets are of the same nature and property I am not ignorant that this booke of his wherein these strange reports are recorded some haue ascribed vnto Cleomporus a renowned Physitian but the currant fame or speech holdeth stil so constantly time out of mind that we must needs beleeue Pythagoras to be the author of the said booke True it is indeed that the name of Pythagoras might giue authority and credit vnto other mens books attributed to him if haply any other had laboured and trauelled in compiling some worke which himselfe judged worthy of such a man as he was but that Cleomporus should so do who had set forth other books in his owne name who would euer beleeue No man doubteth verily but that the book intituled Chirocineta was of Democritus his making and yet therein be found more monstrous things by a hundred fold than those which Pythagoras hath deliuered in that worke of his And to say a truth setting Pythagoras aside there was not a Philosopher so much addicted to the schoole and profession of these Magitians as was Democritus In the first place he telleth vs of an herb called Aglaophotis worthy to be admired wondred of men by reason of that most beautifull colour which it had and for that it grew among the quarries of marble in Arabia confining vpon the coasts of the realme of Persia therefore it was also named Marmaritis And he affirmeth that the Sages or VVise men of Persia called Magi vsed this herb when they were minded to coniure and raise vp spirits He writeth moreouer That in a country of India inhabited by the Tardistiles there is another herb named Achâ—…menis growing without leafe and in colour resembling Amber of the root of which herb there be certain Trochisks made whereof they cause malefactors and suspected persons to drink some quantity with wine in the day time to the end they should confesse the truth for in the night following they shall be so haunted with spirits and tormented with sundry fansies and horrible visions that they shal be driuen perforce to tel all and acknowledge the fact for which they are troubled brought in question The same writer calleth this plant Hippophobas because Mares of all other creatures are most fearfull and wary of it Furthermore he reporteth That 30 Schoenes from the riuer Choaspes in Persia there groweth an herb named Theombrotion which for the manifold and sundry colours that it hath resembleth the painted taile of a Peacocke and it casteth withall a most sweet and odoriferous sent This herb saith he the Kings of Persia vse in their meats drinks and this opinion they haue of it That it preserueth their bodies from all infirmities and diseases yea and keepeth their head so staied and setled that they shall neuer be troubled in mind and out of their right wits in such sort that for the powerfull maiestie of this plant it is also called Semnion He proceedeth moreouer to another knowne by the name Adamantis growing onely in Armenia and Cappadocia which if it be brought neare vnto Lions they will lie all along vpon their backs and yawne with their mouths as wide as euer they can The reason of the name is this because it cannot possibly be beaten into pouder He goeth on still
him but also by good proofe and euident arguments to haue bin of all other before his time a prince most addicted to the publick benefit of all mankind for the only man he was who deuised to drinke poison euery day hauing taken his preseruatiues before to the end that by the ordinary vse and continuall custome thereof it might be familiar vnto his nature and harmlesse The first he was also who deuised sundry kinds of antidotes or counterpoisons wherof one retaineth his name to this day he it was also and none but he as men think who first mingled in the said antidotes and preseruatiues the bloud of Ducks bred in his own realme of Pontus for that they fed and liued there of poisons and venoâ—…ous hearbs Vnto him that famous and renowned professor in Physicke Asclepiades dedicated his books now extant for this Physitian being solicited to repaire vnto him from Rome sent the rules of Physick digested into order and set downe in writing instead of comming himselfe And Mithridates it was as it is for certaine knowne wâ—…o alone of all men that euer were could speake two and twentie languages perfectly so as for the space of six and fiftie yeares for so long he reigned of all those Nations which were vnder his dominion there neuer came one man to his court but he communed and parled with him in his own tongue without any truchman or interpreter for the matter This noble Prince amongst many other singular gifts that he had testifying his magnanimitie and incompatable wit addicted himselfe particularly to the earnest studie of Physicke and because he would be exquisite and singular therein he had intelligencers from all parts of his dominions and those took vp no small part of the whole world who vpon their knowledge exhibited vnto him the particular natures and properties of euery simple by which means he had a cabinet full of an infinit number of receits and secrets set down together with their operations effectâ—… which he kept in his said closet and left behind him with other rich treasure of his But Pompey the Great hauing vnder his hands the whole spoile of this mighty Prince meeting in that saccage with those notes abouesaid gaue commandement vnto his vassall or infranchised seruant the abouenamed Lenaeus an excellent linguist most learned grammarian to translate the same into the Latine tongue for which act of Pompey the whole world was no lesse beholden vnto him than the common-wealth of Rome for the foresaid victorie Ouer besides these what Greeke authors haue trauelled in Physicke I haue declared heretofore in conuenient place And among the rest Euax a King of the Arabians wrote a booke as touching the vertues and operations of Simples which he sent vnto the Emperour Nero Crateuas likewise Dionysius also and Metrodorus wrote of the same Argument after a most pleasant and plausible manner I must needs say yet so as a man could picke nothing almost out of all their writings but an infinit difficultie of the thing for they painted euery herb in their colors and vnder their pourtraicts they couched and subscribed their seueral natures effects But what certainty could there be therin pictures you know are deceitfull also in representing such a number of colours and especially expressing the liuely hew of Hearbs according to their nature as they grow no maruell if they that limned and drew them out did fail and degenerat from the first pattern and originall Besides they came far short of the mark setting out hearbs as they did at one only season to wit either in their floure or in seed time for they change and alter their form and shape euerie quarter of the yeare Hereof it came that all the rest labored to describe their forms colours by words only Some without any description at all of their figure or colour contented themselues for the most part with setting downe their bare names and thought it sufficient to demonstrat and shew their power and vertue afterwards to whosoeuer were desirous to seeke after the same and verily the knowledge thereof is no hard matter to attain vnto For mine own part it hath bin my good hap to see growing in the plant all these medicinable herbs excepting very few by the meanes of Antonius Castor a right learned and most renowned Physitian in our daies who had a pretty garden of his own well stored with simples of sundry sorts which hee maintained and cherished for his owne pleasure and his friends who vsed to come and see his plot as indeed it was worthy the sight this Physitian was then aboue a hundred yeres old in all his life neuer found what sicknesse meant neither for all this age of his was his wit decaied or memory any whit impaired but continued as fresh still as if he had bin a yong man But to proceed forward with our discourse Certes we shall not find a thing againe which our Ancestors so much admired and were more rauished withall than the knowledge of simples True it is I confesse that the inuention of the Ephemerides to fore-know thereby not onely the day night with the â—…clypses of Sun Moon but also the very hours is antient howbeit the most part of the common people haue bin and are of this opinion receiued by tradition from their forefathers That all the same is done by inchantments thatby the means of some sorceries and herbs together both Sun and Moone may be charmed and inforced both to lose and recouer their light to doe which feat women are thought to be more skilfull and meet than men And to say a truth what a number of fabulous miracles are reported to haue beene wrought by Medea queen of Colchis and other women and especially by Circe our famous witch here in Italy who for her singular skil that way was canonized a goddesse And from hence it came I suppose that Aeschylus a most antient Poet made report of Italy to be furnished with herbes of mighty operation and many others haue spoken much of the mountaine Circeios bearing her name wherein the said Lady somtime dwelt kept her residence And for a notable proof of her singular skil in that kind the same knowledge in some measure continueth vnto this day in the Marsians a nation descended from a son of hers who are well knowne to haue a naturall power by themselues to tame and conquer all serpents and not to be subiect to any danger from them As for Homer verily the father and prince of all learning learned men and the best author that we haue of antiquities howsoeuer otherwise he was addicted to extoll and magnifie dame Circe yet he attributeth vnto Egypt the glory and name for good herbs yea though in his time there was not that base Egypt watered as now it is with Nilus for afterwards it grew by the mud left there by the inundation of the said riuer Truly this Poet
lease it resembleth water Mints but that the branches be greater Moreouer this setled and deep persuasion men haue of Candy that what Simples soeuer grow there they be infi nitly better than all others of the same kind whatsoeuer Next vnto which Island there goeth a great name and opinion of the mountain Pernassus for excellent herbes howsoeuer otherwise mount Pelius in Thessaly the hil Telechrius in Euboea and generally al Arcadia the country of Laconica throughout be renowned much for plenty of good simples And yet the Arcadians verily vse no other Physicke but milke onely and that about the spring at what time all herbs there be in their best verdure and fullest of sap so as the vdders of beasts be their Physi tians yeelding them medicines out of their pastures But aboue all they vse to drink cow milk for that those kind of cattell feed indifferently in manner of all kind of herbs Certes of what power and efficacy herbs are and namely what effects they may work euen by the milk of four-footed beasts grasing and pasturing thereupon appeareth manifestly by two notable examples which I will report vnto you About Abdera and along the street or high way called Diomedes causey there lie certain pastures wherein all the horses that feed become inraged stark wood thereby Semblably the herbage belonging to Potniae a towne in Magnesia driueth Asses to a kind of madnesse Leauing now those herbts which took their appellations of beasts let vs proceed to others Among which Aristolochia deserueth to be ranged with the best and principal an herb which seemeth to haue had that name giuen it by great bellied women for that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our Countreymen of Italy call this herbe in Latine Malum terrae which is as much to say as the Apple of the earth and they do make foure kinds thereof The first hath a round root swelling and bunching out leaues resembling the Mallow and partly those of Iuy but that they be of a more browne and duskish colour and withall softer in the hand The second Aristolochia or Birthwort is taken to be the male and hath a root as thicke as a good Baston or staffe growing longwise to the length of foure fingers The third which by some is called Clematis by others Aristolochis of Candy hath a root exceeding long and slender like to that of a young Vine and this is reputed of all others for the best and most effectuall The roots of them all be of a Box colour the stalks small and the floures purple They beare little prety berries much like to capers But it is the root alone which is medicinable A fourth kinde there is also which they call Pistolochia smaller and slenderer than the last before named Clematis A root it hath diuided into many fibers or strings growing thick one by another to the thicknesse of big and well growne rushes whereupon some haue giuen it the name of Polyrrhizon All the sort of these Aristolochies yeeld an aromaticall odour but the long and smaller root is that which is most pleasant to smell vnto for it hath a fleshie rind and is one of the principall ingredients which enter into those odoriferous perfumes and ointments which stand most vpon Nard these Birth-woorts delight all of them to grow vpon plaines and battle grounds The right season to digge or draw them out of the earth as in haruest time and then after they be rid and scaled as it were from the earth or mould sticking vnto them they vse to lay them vp safe Howbeit the best simply are those which come out of Pontus And take this for a generall rule That in euery kind the weightiest is alwaies most medicinable The round rooted Aristolochie hath a speciall property against the poison of serpents Yet there goeth the greatest name of the long for this excellent qualitie if it be true that is reported thereof namely that if a woman newly conceiued with childe applie the root thereof to her naturall parts within a morcell of raw boeufe it will cause her to breed and forme in her wombe a man childe Our Fishers heere by in Campaine doe tearme the round root The poyson of the earth In very truth I haue seene them with mine owne eyes to stampe the said root and incorporat it with lime into a paste and so to cast it into the sea in small pellets or gobbets for to catch fishes and I assure you they will skud amaine and make haste to this bait and be very eager of bit but no sooner haue they tasted thereof but they will turne vp their bellies and lie floating aloft vpon the water starke dead As for that Aristolochie which for the manifold rootes that it hath is called Polyrrhizos it is thought to be soueraigne for convulsions or crampes contusions or bruises for such also as haue fallen from some steepe and high place if the root be drunke in water Likewise the seed of this kinde is supposed singular good for the pleurisie and to corroborate strengthen and heat weake and distempered sinewes The same likewise may be reckoned for a Satyrion It remaineth now to knit vp this discourse with a rehearsall of all the operations and effects of the plants before named To begin then with the most dangerous accident of al other to wit the sting of serpents these hearbes following are very medicinable and effectuall in that case namely Brittannica and the roots of all the kinds of Panaces taken in wine The floure seed besides of Chironium especially if it be drunk or otherwise applied as a liniment with wine and oile Also the wild Origan or Marjeram called Cunila Bubula hath a singular property by it self that way like as Polomonia otherwise called Philetoeria if one take 4 drams weight of the root in wine Semblably Teucrion Sideritis Scordotis giuen in wine But more particularly against snakes aders the like the said herbs be right soueraign either inwardly taken or outwardly applied vpon the wound be it in juice substance of leafe or decoction it skilleth not whether for which purpose a dram weight of the root of great Centaurie drunk in three cyaths of white wine is excellent as for Gentian it serueth properly against snakes if it be taken to the poise of two drams with Pepper and Rue in 6 cyaths of wine green or dry it makes no matter Touch herbe Willow or Lysimachia serpents cannot abide the very smell thereof but flie from it If any body chance to be stung alreadie by them there is not a better medicine than to giue Celendine in drinke But of Betonie aboue all the rest there is made a most soueraigne salue to be laied vnto the place that is stung And such a contrarietie in nature of Antipathie there is by folks report between them and this herb that if the leaues thereof be strewed in a circle round about them the serpents within wil neuer
Finally to wash the mouth with wine before one goeth to bed for a sweet breath likewise so soon as he is vp betimes with cold water against the tooth-ach so as he do it three or fiue times together or at least-wise obseruing such an odde number as also to bath the eies in a morning with Oxycrat i with vineger and water mingled together to preserue them for being bleared are singular and approoued experiments CHAP. V. ¶ Obseruations as touching Diet and the manner of our feeding for the regiment of Health LIke to the former rules is this also as touching our Diet That it be not too precise but so as we may feed indifferently of all viands and acquaint our bodies with variety of meats which is obserued to be the best way to maintain our health and in very truth Hippocrates saith That to eat but one meale a day i to forbeare dinners is a diet that will drie vp a mans body within and bring them soon to age and decay But this aphorism of his he pronounced as a Physitian to reclaim vs from that hungry and sparing diet and not as a patron and maintainer of full feeding and gourmandise for I assure you a temperat and moderate vse of our meats is the wholsomest thing that is for our bodily health But L. Lucullus was so strict herein that hee suffered himselfe to be ordered and ouer-ruled by his owne seruant who would not let him eat but as he thought good in such sort that it was no small disgrace vnto him in his later daies thus to make his man his master and to be gouerned by him rather than by his own selfe for was it not think you an approbrious and shamefull sight to see a slaue and no better to put his lords hands from a dish of meat beeing an aged gentleman as he was and who in times past had rode in triumph to gage him thus I say and keep him short though hee were set amongst great states at a roiall feast within the capitoll of Rome CHAP. VI. ¶ Of Sneezing the vse of Venerie and other means which concerne mans health SNeezing dischargeth the heauinesse of the head and easeth the pose or rheum that stuffeth the nose and it is commonly said That if one lay his mouth to the nosthrils of a mouse or rat and touch the same it wil do as much To sneeze also is a ready way to be rid of the yex or hicquet And Varro giueth counsell to scrape a branch of a Date tree with one hand after another by turnes for to stay the said hicquet But most Physitians giue direction in this case to shift a ring from the left hand to the longest finger of the right or to plunge both hands into very hot water Theophrastus saith that old men doe sneeze with more paine and difficulty than others As touching carnall knowledge of man and woman Democritus vtterly condemned it and why so Because quoth he in that act one man goeth out of another And to say a truth the lesse one vseth it the better it is for body and mind both and yet onr professed wrestlers runners and such gamsters at feats of actiuity when they feele themselues heauy or dul reuiue and recouer their liuely spirits again by keeping company with women Also this exercise clenseth the brest and helpeth the voice which being sometime before cleare and neat was now become hoarse and rusty Moreouer the temperat sports of Venus easeth the pain of the reins and loins mundifie and quicken the eiesight and be singular good for such as be troubled in mind and giuen ouermuch to melancholy Moreouer it is held for witchcraft to sit by women in trauell or neare vnto a Patient who hath a medicine either giuen inwardly or applied vnto him with hand in hand crosse-fingered one between another the experience whereof was well seene by report when lady Alcmena was in labour to be deliuered of Hercules And the worse is this peece of sorcery in case the party hold the hands thus joined a-crosse one finger within another about one or both knees Also to sit crosse-legged with the ham of one leg riding aloft vpon the knee of the other and that by turns shifting from knee to knee And in very truth our ancestors time out of mind haue expresly forbidden in all councels of State held by princes potentats and Generals of the field to sit hand in hand or crosse-legged for an opinion they haue That this manner of gesture hindereth the proceeding and issue of any act in hand or consulted vpon They gaue out likewise a strait prohibition That no person present at any solemnity of sacrifices or vows making should sit or stand crosse-legged or hand in hand in manner aforesaid As for veiling bonnet before great rulers and magistrats or within their sight Varro saith it was a fashion at first not commanded for any reuerence or honour thereby to be done vnto gouernors but for healths sake and namely that mens heads might be more firm hardy by that ordinary vse and custome of being bare When a mote or any thing els is falne into one eie it is good to shut the other hard If there be water gotten into the right eare the maner is to jump and hop with the left leg bending and inclining the head toward the right shoulder semblably if the like happen to the left eare to do the contrary If one be falne into a fit of coughing the way to stay it is to let the next fellow spit vpon his forehead If the uvula be falne it will vp again if the Patient suffer another to bite the haire in the crown of his head and so to pull him vp plumb from the ground Hath the neck a crick or a pain lying behind what better remedy than to rub the hams Be the hams pained do the like by the nape of the neck say the cramp take either feet or legs plucking stretching the sinewes when one is in bed the next way to be vsed is to set the feet vpon the floore or the ground where the bed standeth or put case the crampe take the left side then be sure with the right hand to catch hold of the great toe of the left foot and contrariwise if the cramp come to the right leg do the like by the right foot If the body fall a shaking and quiuering for cold or if one bleed excessiuely at the nosthrils it is passing good to bind strait and hard the extreame parts to wit hands and legs yea and to plucke the eares also It falleth out oftentimes that one cannot lie dry nor hold his water but it commeth from him euer and anone what is then to be done mary tie the foreskin of his yard with a linnen thred or a papyr rush withall binde his thighs about in the middle If the mouth of the stomacke be ready to turne and will neither receiue nor
whatsoeuer as well those of the sea as riuers beeing dissolued in oile and tempered in honey is soueraigne for to cleare the eyes and of the like effect is Castoreum applied with hony The gal of the fish Callionymus healeth the cicatrices or scars that ouergrow the skin about them and the same eateth consumeth the excrescence of superfluous flesh in the corners of the eies And verily there is not a fish that hath more gall than it as testifieth Menander the Poet in his comedies the same fish is otherwise called Vranoscopus by reason of the eies which he hath in the vppermost part of his head Semblably the gall of the black fish Coracinus quickneth the eie-sight Also the gall of the reddish seascorpions mixt with old wine or the best hony of Athens serueth to discusse the filmes of the eies like to breed a cataract and thrice must the eies be annointed therewith letting a day goe euer betweene The same cure serueth likewise to take away the pearle in the eie As for Barbels it is commonly said that if one do feed ordinarily vpon them hee shall sensibly feele his eies to decay and wax dim thereby The sea-hare it selfe verily is venomous but the ashes keep the disorderly and hurtfull haires of the eie-lids from growing any more if they be once pluckt vp by the roots and for this purpose the least of this kind are the best In like manner the little Scallops kept in salt and stampt together with the rosine or oile of cedar the small frogs likewise which vsually they call Diopetes and Calamitae haue the like effect to hinder the comming vp of hairs in the eielids after they be once pulled vp in case their bloud be tempered with the gum of the vine-tree and therewith the edges of the said eie-lids be annointed The swelling and rednesse of the eies is by nothing better delaied and discussed than by a liniment made of a cuttle bone puluerized and mixt with womans milk And in very truth the said cuttle bone simply by it selfe cureth the asperity and roughnesse of the said eie-lids But to worke this cure the chirurgion vseth to turne vp the said eie-lids and to apply therto the medicine which he suffereth not to stay there long but taketh it away within a while he annointeth the place also with oile rosat and ouer night laieth thereto white-bread crums with brest milke for to assuage the paine The self-same shell or couer of the cuttle-fish beaten to pouder and brought into a liniment with vineger cureth those who can see neuer a whit towards night The ashes of the sayd cuttle-bone draw forth the scales or films which grow in the eies the same incorporat with hony heale the skars of the eies but tempered with salt or brasse-ore of each one dram they rid away the pin and web growing in the eie the same help horses of the haw that offendeth their eies Some say moreouer that the little bones within the cuttle if they bee stamped to powder heale the eie-lids of any sore or accident befalling vnto them The sea-vrchins flesh applied with vineger taketh away the accidents of the eies called Epinyctides The Magitians giue direction to burne the same with vipers skins and frogs and to spice the drink with the ashes that come thereof assuring those who vse to drink the same that they shall haue a very cleare sight â—…A fish there is named Ichthyocolla which hath a glewish skin and the very glue that is made thereof is likewise called Ichthyocolla The same glue taketh away the night-foes commonly named in Greek Epinyctides Some affirm That the said glue Ichthyocolla is made of the belly and not of the skin of the said fish like as Buls glue This fish glue is thought to be best that is brought out of Pontus the same also is white without any veines strings or scales and verie quickly melteth and resolueth Now the same ought first to be cut or shred small and then to lie infused or in steep a whole day and a night in water or vineger which done to be punned and beaten with the pebbles found about the sea-shore that the same may the sooner melt and dissolue This glue thus ordered is held to be soueraigne for the head ach and a good thing to enter into those medicines or compositions which are deuised to smooth the skin rid away the wrinkles Take the right eie of a frog lap it within a piece of selfe russet cloth such as is made of black wooll as it came in the fleece from the sheep and hang it about the neck it cureth the right eie if it be inflamed or bleared And if the left eie be so affected do the like by the contrary eie of the said frog c. Now if it were possible to pluck out these eies as the frog is ingendering it would heale also the white cicatrices or scars in the eie if it were hung about the necke of the patient in like sort within an egge-shel The rest of the frogs flesh applied to the eie sucketh out and consumeth the bloud that is congealed vnder the tunicles of the eie and lies there black and blew They affirme moreouer That the eies of a crab or craifish being hanged about the neck are a soueraigne remedy for bleared eies A little frog there is delighting to liue most among grasse in reed plots mute the same is and neuer croaketh green also of colour if kine or oxen chance to swallow one of them down with their grasse it causeth them to swell in the belly as if they were dew blown And yet they say that if the slime or moisture wherewith their bodies be charged outwardly be scraped off with the edge of some penknife it cleareth the sight if the eies be annointed therewith As for the flesh it selfe they lay it vpon the eies for to mitigat their pain Furthermore some there are who take 15 frogs pricke them with a rish draw the same through them that they may hang thereto which done they put them in a new earthen pot and the humour or moisture that passeth from them in this manner they temper with the juice or liquor which in manner of a gum issueth out of the white wine Brionie wherewith they keep the eielids from hauing any haires growing vpon them But first they pluck vp those disorderly haires which grew there to offend and hurt the eies with a fine needle point drop the foresaid liquor into the very places where the haires were fetched out by the roots Meges the Chyrurgian deuised another depilatory for to hinder the growing of hairs made of frogs which he killed in vineger and permitted them therin to putrfiie and resolue into moisture and for this purpose his manner was to take many fresh frogs euen as they were ingendred in any rain that fel during the Autumne The same depilatory effect the ashes of Horse-leeches are supposed to haue if
they vse with a paire of sizzers to clip them at the very mouth as they be sucking and then shall you see the bloud spring out as it were at the cocke of a conduit and so by little and little as they die they will gather in their heads and the same will fall off and not tarrie behind to do hurt These horsleeches naturally are enemies to Punaises in so much as their perfume killeth them Furthermore the ashes of Beuers skins burnt and calcined together with tar stancheth bloud gushing out of the nose if the same be tempered mingled wel with the juice of porret The shels of cuttles applied to the body with water draw forth arrow heads pricks or spils that sticke deepe within the flesh so doth any saltfish if the fleshie side be laid therto yea and fresh-water creifishes haue the same effect likewise the flesh of the fresh water Silurus for this fish breedeth in other riuers besides Nilus applied to the place either fresh or salted it makes no matter worke with the same successe The ashes of the same fish and the fat be of the same operation and very attractiue As for the ashes of their ridge-bone and prickie finnes they are taken to bee as good as Spodium and are vsed in stead thereof As touching those vlcers which be corrosiue as also the excrescence of proud flesh growing in such sores there is not a better thing to represse and keepe them downe than the ashes of Cackerels or the fish Silurus aforesaid The heads of salted Perches be singular good for cancerous vlcers and the more effectually they will work in case there be salt mingled with their ashes and together with knopped Majoram or Sauorie and oile be incorporat into a liniment The ashes of the Sea-crab burnt and calcined with lead represse cancerous sores and for this purpose sufficient it were to take the ashes only of the riuer creifish medled with hony and lint but some chuse rather to mingle alume and hony with the said ashes As for the eating sores called in Greeke Phagedaenae they may be healed well with the fish Silurus kept vntill it be dried and so together with red orpiment reduced into a pouder Likewise morimals and other consuming cankers and those sores which be filthy and growing to putrefaction are commonly healed with the old squares of the Tunie fish Now if there chance to be wormes and vermine breed in the said vlcers the only means to cleanse them is with the gall of frogs But the hollow sores commonly knowne by the name of Fistuloes are enlarged kept open yea and brought to drines with tents made of saltfish conueied into them within fine linnen rags and within a day or two at most they will rid away all the callositie together with the dead and putrified flesh within the sores yea and represse the eating and corrosiue humor in them if they be wrought into the forme of a salue or emplaster and so applied To mundifie vlcers there is not a fitter thing than stockfish made into a tent with fine lint of rags and so put into the sore Of the same effect are the ashes of the sea-vrchins skin The pieces of the fish Coracinus salted discusse and resolue the hotapostems named carbuncles if they be applied so doe the ashes of the Barble salted and calcined Some vse the ashes of the head of the said fish onely with hony or els the very flesh of Coracinus The ashes of murrets tempered with oile delay take down any swelling The gall likewise of the Sea-scorpion taketh off the roufe of sores and bringeth skars that ouergrow the flesh vnto the leuell of the other skin The liuer of the fish Glanus causeth werts to fall off if they be rubbed withall Also the ashes of Cackerell heads do the like if they be tempered with garlick but for the thyme werts particularly they vse them raw the gall likewise of the reddish sea scorpion and the small sea fish Smarides punned and brought into a liniment do the like The grosse pickle sauce called Alex if it be made through hot cures the raggednesse of nails the ashes also which come of Cackerell heads do extenuat and make them fine The fish Glauciscus eaten in the own broth causeth women to haue store of milke so doe the small fishes called Smarides taken with ptisan or barley gruell or els boiled with fennell and in case they haue sore brests the ashes of Burrets or Purple shells incorporat with honey doe heale effectually A liniment made of Sea crabs or fresh-water Creifishes takes away the offensiue haires that grow about womens nipples or breast heads the fleshie substance also of the Burrets applied to them work the same effect A liniment made of the fish called a Skate will not suffer womens paps to grow big A candle-weike or match made of lint and greased al ouer with the oile or fat of a dolphin and so set a burning yeeldeth a smoake which will raise women againe lying as it were in a trance and dead vpon a fit of the mother the same do Macquerels putrified in vinegre The ashes either of Pearch or Cackerel heads tempered and incorporat with salt sauerie and oile serue for all the accidents of the matrice and more particularly in a perfume bring down the after-birth Semblably the fat of a Seale or Sea-calfe conueighed by meanes of fire in a perfume vp into the nosthrils of a woman lying halfe dead vpon the rising and suffocation of the matrice bringeth her to her selfe againe so doth it also if with the rennet of the same Seale it be put vp in wooll after the manner of a pessarie into the priuie parts The ashes of the Sea-fish called Pulmo applied conueniently to the region of the matrice and kept fast thereto purgeth women passing well of their monethly fleurs of the same operation are Sea-vrchins stamped aliue and drunk in some sweet wine but the riuer Creifishes likewise punned and taken in wine do contrariwise stay the immoderat flux thereof Likewise it is said that a sussumigation of the fish Silurus especially that which breedeth in Africa causeth women to haue more speedie and easie deliuerance in childbirth as also that Crabfishes drinke in water doe stop the excessiue ouerflowing of their monethly terms whereas with hyssop they set them a going and purge them away Say that the infant sticke in the birth and by reason of painfull labour be in danger of suffocation let the mother drinke the same in like manner there will present help ensue Women with child vse also either to eat them fresh or drink them dried that they may go out their full time and not slip an abortiue fruit Hippocrates vseth the same and prescribeth vnto women for the bringing down of their sicknesse and likewise to thrust out the infant dead in their wombs to drinke them in honied wine with fiue dock roots stamped together with â—…e and soot and in very truth sodden
beneath and as the one is an excrement cast vp from a matter whiles it is purging it selfe so the other is the refuse or grounds thereof after it is purged and setled Howbeit many there bee who make but two kindes of this fome or litharge the one * Steresitis as it were solid and massiue the other * Peumene as one would say puffed vp and full of wind As for the third named Molybdaena they reckon as a thing by it selfe to be treated of in the discourse or chapter of lead Now the litharge abouesaid ought for the vse that it is emploied about for to be prepared in this manner first the lumps aforesaid are to be broken into small pieces as big as Hasel nuts and set ouer the fire againe thus when it is once red hot by the blast of bellows to the end that the coles and cinders might be separated one from another there is wine or vineger cast vpon it both to wash also withall to quench the same Now if it be Argyritis to the end it may look the whiter they vse to break it to the bignes of beans and giue order to seeth it in water within an earthen pot putting thereto wheat and barly lapped within pieces of new linnen cloth and suffer them to boil therwith till they burst which done for six dayes together they put it in mortars washing it thrice euery day in cold water and in the end with hot and so at length put to euery pound of the said Litharge the weight of one Obolus of Sal-gem The last day of all they put it vp into a pot or vessel of lead Some there be who seeth it with blanched beans and husked barly and after that dry it in the sun others think it better to seeth it with beans and white wool vntill such time as it colour the wooll no more black then they put thereto Sal-gem changing eft soones the water and dry it for the space of forty daies together in the hottest season of the Summer There be again who think it best to seeth it in water within a swines belly and when they haue taken it forth rub it wel with sal-nitre and pun it in mortars as before with salt Ye shall haue them that neuer bestow seething of it but only beat it with salt and then put water thereto and wash it Well thus prepared as is beforesaid it serueth for collyries and eie-salues in a liniment also to take away the foule cicatrices or scars the pimples and specks likewise that mar the beauty of women yea our dames wash the haire of their head withall to make it clean and pure And in very truth Litharge is of power to dry mollifie coole and attemper to clense also to incarnat vlcers and to asswage or mitigate any tumors Being reduced into the vnguents or plaisters aforesaid and namely with an addition of rue myrtles and vineger it is singular for S. Anthonies fire Semblably being incorporat with oile of myrtles and wax into a cerot it healeth kibed heeles CHAP. VII ¶ Of Vermilion and of what estimation it was among the old Romans the first inuention thereof Of Cinnabaris the vse thereof in Pictures and in Physicke The sundry sorts of Minium or Vermilion and how it is to be ordered to serue painters THere is found also in siluer mines a mineral called Minium i. Vermilion which is a colour at this day of great price and estimation like as it was in old time for the antient Romans made exceeding great acount of it not only for pictures but also for diuers sacred holy vses And verily Verrius alledgeth and rehearseth many authors whose credit ought not to be disproued who affirm That the maner was in times past to paint the very face of Iupiters image on high and festiual daies with Vermilion as also that the valiant captains who rode in triumphant maner into Rome had in former times their bodies coloured all ouer therewith after which manner they say noble Camillus entred the city in triumph And euen to this day according to that antient and religious custom ordinary it is to colour all the vnguents that are vseâ—… in a festiuall supper at a solemne triumph with Vermilion And no one thing doe the Censors giue charge and order for to be done at their entrance into office before the painting of Iupiters visage with Minium The cause and motiue that should induce our ancestors to this ceremony I maruel much at and canot imagin what it should be True it is and well known that in these daies the Aethiopians in generall set much store by this colour and haue it in great request insomuch as not onely the Princes and great Lords of those countries haue their bodies stained throughout therewith but also the images of their gods are â—…ainted with no other colour in which regard I am moued to discourse more curiously and at large of all particulars that may concerne it Thcophrastus saith that 90 years before Praxibulus was established chiefe ruler of the Athenians which falls out iust vpon the 249 yere after the foundation of our city of Rome Callias the Athenian was the first that deuised the vse of Vermilion and brought the liâ—…ely colour thereof into name for finding a kinde of red earth or sandy grit in the mines of siluer and hoping that by circulation there might be gold extracted out of it he tried what he could do by fire and so by that means brought it vnto that fresh and pleasant â—…e that it hath which was the first original of Vermilion Hee saith moreouer That euen in those daies there was found Minium in Spain but the same was hard and full of gritty sand Likewise among the Colchi in a certaine â—…ock inaccessible by reason whereof the people of the country were constrained by shooting at it to shake and driue it down howbeit the same was but a bastard Minium But the best simply saith he was gotten in the territorie of the Cilbians somewhat higher in the country than Ephesus in sum That the said Minium or Vermilion is a certaine sandy earth of a deepe scarlet colour which was prepared in this order first they pun and beat it into pouder and then washed it being thus puluerised Afterwards that which setled in the bottom they washed a second time In which artificiall handling of Minium this difference there is that some make perfect Vermilion of it with the first washing others thinke the Vermilion of that making to be too pale and weake in colour and therefore hold that of the second washing to be best And verily I wonder not that this colour was so highly esteemed for euen beforetime during the state of Troy the red earth called Rubrica was in great request as appeareth by the testimony of Homer who being otherwise spary enough in speaking of pictures colours yet commends the ships painted therwith The Greeks call our Minium by
otherwhiles of sparkles running to fro Enhydros is euermore absolutely smooth and white containing within a certain liquor that moueth too and fro if a man shake it as he may perceiue in egges Polytrix is a greene stone bedecked with fine veines in manner of the haire of ones head but by report it will make the haire to shed off as many as carry it about them Of a Lions skin Leontios beareth the name like as Pardalios of a Panther The golden color in the Topaze gaue it the name Chrysolith so the grasse green of a Leeke was occasion of the name Chrysoprasos and of hony was deuised the colour and name Melichrus although there be many kinds of it As for Melichloros it is of two colours partly yellow and partly resembling hony Crocias is yellow as Saffron and Polia sheweth a certaine greynesse in manner of Spart As for Spartopolios the blacke it sheweth like gtistly veins to the other but much harder Rhodites took name of the Rose Melites of the apple the colour wherof it shews Chalcites of brasse and Sycites of a fig. I see no proportion or reason at all between the stone Borsycites and that name this stone is blacke and branching and the leaues are whiâ—…e or red like bloud no more than I do in Gemites which representeth as it were engrauen in the stone white hands clasped one within another As for Ananchitis it is said That spirits may be raised by it in the skill of Hydromantie like as by Synochitis the ghosts which are raised may be kept aboue still What should I speake of the white Dendritis which if it be buried in the ground vnder a tree that is to be fallen the edge of the axe that heweth it will not turne or wax blunt There be a number of other and those in nature more prodigious than the rest for which the Barbarians haue deuised strange names professing to vs that they were stones indeed for mine owne part it shall suffice that I haue disproued their lies in these abouenamed CHAP. XII ¶ Of new stones and those naturall Of such as be counterfeit and artificiall Of diuers formes and shapes of gems THere grow still precious stones vnlooked for euery day that bee new and haue no names such as that in Lampsacus where one was found in the gold mines so faire and beautifull that it was thought a present worth sending to K. Alexander the Great as Theophrastus writeth As touching the stones Cochlides which now are most common they seeme rather artificial than natural and verily it is said That in Arabia there be found of them huge masses which are sodden in hony 7 daies and nights together continually by which means after that all the earthy and grosse refuse of this stone is taken away the stone it selfe remaineth pure and fine and then comming vnder the lapidaries hand they be diuided into sundry veines and reduced into drawne or inlaid worke of Marquetage as he will himselfe And herein is seen the cunning of the cutter for that it is so vendible euery mans mony In old time they were made of that bignesse that the KK of the East had their horses set out therewith not only in their front stals but also in the pendants of their caparisons And verily al other precious stones being decocted in hony look faire and neat with a pleasant lustre but principally the Corsicks which abhor all things els that are more eager than hony Moreouer this is to be noted that our lapidaries haue a tearme for those stones which are of diuers colors and they call them Physes as if they had not another vsuall name for them this they do in the subtilty of their wit to make them seem more wonderful by these strange words of art as if they would venditat them for their very wonders of Natures worke whereas indeed there be an infinit number of names deuised all by the vain Greeks who knew not how to make an end which I purpose not to rehearse and verily after I had discoursed of the noble and rich stones I contented my selfe in some sort to specifie those of a baser degree such I mean as were more rare than others to distinguish them that were most worthy to be treated of But this eft soons would be remembred that one the self-same stone changeth the name according to the sundry spots marks werts that arise in them according also to the manifold lines drawn in them the diuers veins running between and the variety of colors therein obserued It remains now to set downe some generall obseruations indifferent to all sorts of gems and that after the opinion of the best approoued and experienced authors in this kind Any stones that be either hollow sunk in or bearing out in bosse or belly be nothing so good as those which cary an euen and leuell table The long fashioned gems are most esteemed next to them such as be formed like to lintil seed after them those that be round in manner of a targuet and as for such as be made with many faces angled they be of al other least accounted of To discern a fine true stone from a false and counterfeit is very difficult forasmuch as there is an inuention io transform true gems into the counterfeit of another kind And in truth men haue deuised to make Sardonches by setting and glewing together the gems named Ceraunia that so artificially that it is vnpossible to see therein mans hand so handsomly are couched the black taken from this the white from that the vermilion red from another according as the richnes of the stone doth require all those in their kind most approued Moreouer there be in my hands certain books of authors extant whom I wil not nominate for all the good in the world wherein is deciphered the manner and means how to giue the tincture of an Emeraud to a Crystall how to sophisticat other transparent gems namely how to make a Sardonyx of a Cornalline in one word to transform one stone into another to say a truth there is not any fraud or deceit in the world turneth to greater gain and profit than this CHAP. XIII ¶ The way how to make proofe of fine precious stones LEt other writers teach how to deceiue the world by counterfeiting gems for mine own part I will take a contrary course and shew the means how to find out false stones that be thus sophisticat for surely wanton and prodigall though men and women bee in the excessiue wearing of these jewels yet meet it is they should be armed and instructed against such cousiners And albeit I haue already touched somwhat respectiuely as I treated of the chiefe principall gems yet I wil adde somwhat more to the rest first and formost therfore this is obserued That all stones which be transparent ought to haue their triall in a morning betimes or at the farthest if