herewith had it in stead of breade This kinde as Plinie sayth is after a sort hairie Lockt almost growing out of fashion It is nothing solide or massie but much porouse and therfore of the lesse endurance as saith the same Author Of this kinde of Wood being brent to Asshes is made Glasse Arte herein playing the workesman Of Beete BEete is a Gardain Herbe and in good plentie with vs. Therof are said to be two kinds the one white and the other black both medicinable Aristotle saith that vpō his roote as vpō any stock any yong set or slip maye be set and graft and through the roote his good liking in growth may be brought from his owne nature into naturall parentage with the Trée Of Bearefoote BEarefoote is an Herbe whote and moyst in the first degree as the Phisitions say and is vsed of them as a remedie to the Splene and to giue the vitall and liuing sprites more easie and loose passage Of the Beane THe Beane sayth Theophrast hast his maner of growth thus His roote is thick and grosse somewhat more déepely set than the Réede his is In the length it is indifferent somtime foure Cubites high ▪ It giueth fruite by maner of Celler one onely in one part of his Huske It is in his chiefest brauerie and liketh best being sowne in moyst grounds and especially in the Fennes and such like It is also said somtime through the rancour of groūds to come vp vnsowne The Pithagorians condemned it as y◠which was not méete to meat For sayd they it dulleth and maketh grosse ech sense and spirite It also causeth and exciteth vp in sléepe horrible dreames Varro thought it was forbid for that as he sayd the soules of the deade were therein placed Of Betonie BEtonie is a water Herbe which for his singular colde worcking and growth also in colde Countries and places is called in Greeke Psikotrophae It remedieth sayth Diascorides the consumed Gall. Of Birdes tongue BIrdes tongue is an Herbe whose chiefest working is to prouoke Uenerie and causeth most ranck séede It figureth the tongue of a Birde whereof it hath his name Of Borage BOrage the best that it hath as Isid. sayth is as I finde to engender good bloud eyther sodden among other things or else taken raw by it selfe Of Bindweede BIndweede of some Withweede is an herb verie noysome or hurtfull to the other fruits of the Gardaine It hindreth their growth and troubleth them with the inwrapping and circumplication about the other their stem or stalk Of the Blackberie tree THe Blackberie tree is after his sort bushy ▪ bearing that fruite that eftsoones refresheth the shepheirde he being in the field and often contenteth his lust This his Leafe or couering is said of Diascorides to destroy and kill Serpents Of the Bremble THe Bremble of some is called Bucephalus of other some the water Bremble It is of two sortes one the field Bremble which most commonly groweth in waters and the other Gardaine Bremble or swéete Bremble which hath a verie good smell They of Thrace and those which dwell about the floud Strimon féede their horse with the greene growing Herbe or Leafe of the Bremble and are said to be marueylous fat therewith Of Britānick or English Herb. BRitannick or English Herbe hath the very looke of the greatest Sorrell but in colour a little more black somewhat Mossie or Mealie The best saith Diascorides that is founde in this Herbe is his iuice verie wholesome and profitable to many things Of Brome BRome is a Shrub which of some is called Mirica for the bitternesse of his tast It groweth in stonie and barraine ground and in such places wheras no culture or care of groūd tilling is had And his onely presence is a thorow signe or euident token of barraine and dry ground It hath his boughes flourishing as well in the Winter tide as in the Sommer His flower yealow and Cod blacke both of noysome smell and of bitter taste Yet in working sayth Diascorides it is verie wonderfull For his Leafe or flower being sodden and boyled among with running water brideleth and kepeth away swelling of the Splene It helpeth the tothache and stencheth the flowing of the bloudie Flix Of the Bulrush THe Bulrush hath one kinde which of some is called Sonnes brow The Romaynes call it Sea Bulrish or Manuad And it hath two kindes one which hath a square top or crowne verie blunt withall and the other is rather Spearelike and sharpe topped This last saith Diascor intermedled with drinke bringeth on fast and sound sleepe Of the Burre THe Burre of the Gréekes is called Philanthros mannes friend for that it coueteth to catch holde and to cleaue vpon man his Garment holding fast by such kinde of roughnesse as it hath Of Cammock CAmmock sayth Theophrast is an Herbe throughly beset with Prickle and is one of those that continue but for one yeare or for the Spring time Sommer and Autumne and so fade away His leafe is like Rue It groweth in such ground as is tilled especially where as Corne or such like graine is most rancke It is plucked vp by his roote then when as the earth through the Sunne beames is feruently hote or else not In some place for hindring staying the Husbandman it is called Rest harrow in Cambredge shire Whine Of Cammomill CAmmomill is an Herbe vsed of Phisitions to purge the head and to emptie it of superfluous humor and other grosse matter Auicen sayth that there is three kindes hereof One which hath a Saffron flower another whose flower is as it were Purple coloured the thirde is white This hath that laudable preheminence for that the more it is trod and kept vnder the more a great deale and the better it commeth vp and prospereth Of Capers CApers or the fruit which is called Capparis is so deriued from the Gréeke name for that it hath a round head in the top of his stem His best liking is in dry stonie groūds and is called of the Phisitions the purging Herbe of some it is called Doggues Bremble of other some Doggues Apple of other Hares heart The Mages call it Pentheron Of Casia CAsia is one of those sorts which haue their preheminence and are had in price for their odoriferous and pleasant smell Which sayth Plinie hath thrée kindes in no point one coloured like to another For the first is white the seconde red the thirde almost blacke The first is of least value for that it soone rotteth and is consumed and eaten of Wormes The best is tried thus by sauour or smell tast and colour It groweth in Arabia His stalke or bodie sayth Theophrast is somewhat grosse or superfluous representing therein strikes small and long not much vnlike to Sinewes It hath a barke and rinde but most difficult to be pared away It is cut in the bignesse and length of two fingers or a little more and that onely about the vppermost and most tender twigges
and is after sowed vp being so cut whilest it is fresh and greene with some strong binding the binding most commonly being of an Oxe his hide The true Casia we haue not neyther the true Cynamon Of the Cedar tree THe Cedar tree is in Leafe like to the Cyprouse his Wood is counted precious and is long endurable for that it neyther harboreth Moth nor Worme Wherof for this such his goodnesse the Pillars and Beames of Princes Houses and Pallaces likewise of Temples are made hereof It groweth in Affrick Crete Siria and especially vpon the Mount Libanus Rabanus sayth that it is the verie Ladie and Queene of Trées Theophrast sayth that it is of marueilous highe growth verie light straight vp about the bodie without wem or knot And aboue al places saith he that beareth the freshest and is of gréenest leaâ— that is in Corâ—ica From thence is brought that swéete Poulder which is called Cedria which they vse to bestrewe vpon Garments vpon bookes such like to preserue them from worme eating Of Cerfolie CErfolie is an Herbe in operation and working in a maner fiery His best is saith Diascorides in that that it being wrought tempered with Uirgins Waxe remedieth all kinde of swelling Of Cetewale CEtewale is an Herbe whose roote the Phisitions vse to gather in Sommer and béeing then dried indureth in good case thre whole yeares next after Of Centorie CEntorie is called the bitter Herbe for that it is most bitter in tast some call it the gal of the earth his working was first knowne by Chiron the Centaure who vsed it first in Medicine Of Celedonie CEledonie is an Herbe which beareth a Saffron coloured flower whose flower also gathered and helde in the hande dyeth and stayneth the gatherers hande Plinie sayth it is then in his best lust when as the Swallow abydeth and buildeth amongst vs and serueth the Swallow as the same Plinie and Aristotle also doe witnesse to great vse and purpose For say they if at any time by any mischaunce or fortune hir yong be hurt or perilled in their eiesight the dam goeth to this Herbe presseth forth his iuice which being so done she annoynteth it about their eyes and so restoreth them to the better and their former state and case againe Of the Cherie tree THe Cherie tree sayth Theophrast heightneth and matcheth with any in that poynt what so euer It somtime reacheth sayth he to 24. Cubites his leafe is like to the Medlar sauing that in handling of it it is somewhat more rough His flower is white which hauing gotten full ripenesse becoÌ„meth bloud red Of the Cinamon THe Cinamon shouteth forth out of a yong set or spring in bignesse about two Cubits It groweth in Indie and Arabia as Theophrast mentioneth and is called Cinamon for that it hath his top as it were folded or plaited It is of ashie and duskie colour his Leafe is like to wilde Maioram It neuer smelleth till it be throughly drie It groweth amongst Briers and verie hard Rocks and is gathered with much paine and difficultie In Fables we find that this fruit is found in the Phoenix Nest. Theophrast sayth that is of the best goodnesse which is next to the twiggs and top and that is lesse good which is next to the roote Of the Ciprous tree THe Ciprous tree is so named of the Gréekes as Isidore saith for that in his growth and especially beneath about his roote it figureth the Pine Apple tree or that figure which the Geomitricians call Conus It is singuler in swéete smell And for this purpose they were wont in olde time to burie their dead with the Wood hereof hereby thinking to kéepe vnder and to suppresse all ill smelles and sauours of dead Carcasses Of Cokkell COkkell is an vnprofitable Herbe or rather to giue him his right name a hurtfull wéede which will alwayes be medling with the pure Wheate and doeth often choke it vp and hindreth his growth So that the old Prouerbe is herein verified the ill wéede ouercroppeth the good corne Of Coltes foote COltes foote of some is called Bethicon of the Egyptians Suartha His leaf is like to the I uie leafe It ariseth from the roote direct and straight vp Of Coriander COriander hath his name common with vs and the Gréekes For it séemeth to be so called Apo tou koriou of plentie of séede Which séede being taken in sweete wine prouoketh a man to much venerie But this being after this sort drunke without moderation or reason in so taking it causeth Phrensie and madnesse Of the Chestnut tree THe Chestnut tree is a verie tough wood and so massie or sound that it maye be the principall Beame in all buildings It is so fertile and ranke in yong shoote and slippe besides this in budding and giuing of flowre that being once cut or hacked in pieces will be the better for that and bud so much the more It is called Castanea in Latine quasi Castraria à Castrando bicause it is so often lopped or gelt or bicause it is first opened before it is rosted in the fier Some saye that those kinde of Coles wherewith the Smith mollifieth and worketh his Iron are made with this Of Chastlambe CHastlambe or Agnus castus hath yâ— flowre and séede that being digested of vs openeth forthwith the poores of the bodie consumeth and drieth vp that naturall moysture within Diascorides sayeth that with so working it maketh men chaste Of Crowtoe CRowtoe of some is called Vacinium in Greeke Iacynthos It hath a leaf like to Porret a handfull in height in bredth it is lesse or more small than a Maidens finger His colour is greene as the preciâ—us stone is of yâ— name his top is full of Purple flowers His roote circle-like or round It being drunken saith Diasco with Wine purgeth the Gall of his superfluousnesse Of this Herbe .ij. sundrie fables haue sprong vp with the Poets One that it was first a Boy entierly beloued of Apollo whome he at a time by a certaine mischaunce slew which thing done in his furie lesse that with his death his memorie should also die he turned him into this kind of Herbe or Plant. Another is that it sprang vp of Aiax bloud the most valiant Captain that euer the Greekes had And for the remembraunce of so worthie a Knight or rather Princelie and Heroicall person the Gods are said to haue giuen to this Herbe two vaynes figuring and euidently shewing these two Letters A. and I. with vs it is commonly named as we said before Crowtoe Of Crowfoote CRowfoote of some is called Astrion The Romanes in their phrase of speach call it bloudie leafe It spreadeth sayth Diascorides all abrode vpon the earth rather than by anye meanes it should heighthen His leafe is cut about or bepinked It beareth yelowe flowers called Goldknops and wheresoeuer it groweth whosoeuer list to dig vnder and about it shall neuer finde his roote without great store of humor and water
forme which they haue and is called Vrsus as Isidor reporteth quod ortos digerat lanbendo for that by often licking she bringeth euerie parte in them to an order The best in all the whole kinde is as we find for that she can play the Phisition for hir selfe for she being crased and distempered within hir bodie vseth hir claw for a spade and diggeth vp Emmets or Ants out of the ground which being taken she immediatlye recouereth Of the Beuer. THe Beuer saith Plinie liueth and is found in the I le of Pontus and is one of those sorts which are called doubtfull for often exchaunge had in place where they liue for they liue one while altogither vpon the earth and do accompanie other brute beasts those which sâ—ray abrode are foure footed another while they are conuersaÌ„t in the waters and liue the fishes and serpents life When they are huÌ„ted they espying the Huntesman earnestly pursuing them least through such occasion they should be letted in their flight the Male is reported to bite off his owne stones and to gelde himselfe and by that meanes becommeth very swift He hath his taile not much vnlike the fishe and the residue of his bodie not much vnlike to the Otter Of the Boare THe Boare saith Isidore in Latine vocable or word is called Aper a feritate of fiercenesse or wildenesse chaunge of the Letter P. had into the letter F. of the Latines he is eftsoones called Verres for his great streÌ„gth He being gelt sayth Plinie Auicen becommeth so much the more fierce and wilde whereas all other Creatures liuing waxe thereby the more milâ—e His armourie is a sort of strong â—ushes or tuskes and sharpe His vse is to kéepe a good while in his mouth the stalke or sedge of Barley such as is sharpe to enter to the skin kéeping it of purpose to file sharpen his tushes which if it will not he hunteth after the Herbe Organnie of some called wilde Maioram which he vseth as a Whetstone to whet his téeth withall Aristotle in his sixt booke de Animalibus sayth that the Boare at such time as he hath yong is most cruell and fierce insomuch that he can not abide any man to come nigh him but is maruellously vexed with him Of the Bull. THe Bull is the hée Bullock not gelt or hauing lost his parts to generation Plinie sayth in his .viij. booke that his noble courage is in his looke in his frowning countnance or forehead Aristo sayth that he hath his Liuer round in a maner like to a man his liuer And is fed alone before such time as the Male Female doe conioyne but afterward at that time he féedeth and associateth in selfe him pasture with the Bullock They are said to striue one with another for the Female which they best like and after much strife and warring had who so first tireth and is wearie is counted vanquished the other the vanquisher forthwith runneth to the Female and leapeth vp vpon hir back and so satisfieth his desired lust Of the Bugle or wilde Oxe THe Bugle or the wilde Oxe is said to be so wilde that his necke by no meanes can be brought vnder the yoke And is called Bubalus for nigh resemblance to our Oxe In Affrick they are verie plentifull he is of great strength and force almost not to be tamed but only with an Iron ring put through his Nostrils or Snowte wherewith they leade him whither they list There is another kinde of wilde Oxe which the Philosophers call Aptaleo but nothing so huge or great but hath hornes much greater very sharpe also wherewith he heweth downe trées and thrusting vp his hornes sometimes vp to the boughes of the Trées entending to reach foode thereby doth now then with force of his hornes had sticke fast by them in the Tree wherewith he being chafed and vexed howleth out aloude whose horrible crie the Huntesman hauing once hard runneth with fast foote thither whereas he is snared and so commeth by him and else by no other meanes and so sleaeth him There is also another kinde of wilde Oxe or Bull called of Aristotle Plinie Bonasus a little shorter than our Bull but more thickly set and hath his Mane like to our Horse His flesh is Uenesonlike for the which he is so often hunted And in the game time he vseth this knack or propertie he runneth vntill he be wearie and in his flight taking and course he flingeth forth and befowleth behinde both of his vrine and dung euen whole furlongs long after him and with such annoiance wearieth the Courser or Huntesman Of Barbell the fish BArbill is called the beard fish for that on both sides of hir Mouth she hath finnes like to a hairie beard In Greeke she is called Trigla with the Germanes Ein Berb Of this kinde Oppiane singeth thus Accipiunt Triglae trino cognomina partu The Barbill for hir oft increase Trigla by name is called Thrise in the yeare she giueth yong herein all kindes excelled Aristotle in his fift Booke de Historia animalia affirmeth that this kinde bringeth forth yong thrise in the yeare Of Calamarie the fish CAlamarie the fish of many Authors called Loligo hath his head betwene his hinder parts and his bellie and hath two bones the one like to a knife the other like to a quill she is like the Cuttle but that she is a little longer and in that they differ also for that the Cuttle sheweth and poureth out a black kinde of bloud in all hir feare and disturbance this Calamarie vomiteth a good red pure bloud Of the Cammell THe Cammell by Gréeke word is called Kâ—mae his signification for the moste part is lowlinesse and submission And well had the Cammell this name for that at euery burthen laide vpon him to ease the labourer he lyeth downe suffering him to lay it on euen as he will There are two kindes of Cammels one which is onely in Arabie which hath two kibes in his back the other in many other countries al plain in his back His vse is to iourney no further at one time than he hath bene before vsed accustomed to at another neither to cary heauier burthen at another time then he before hath carried They liue some of them .50 yeres and some of them .100 They can be without water the space of foure whole dayes and haue their best delight in drinking then when as by foote they trouble the water Aristotle sayth that there is in the Cammels a certaine honest care to kéepe themselues within their boundes For they thinke it vnnaturall and a most haynous offence to haue adoe with their Dam. There was in a certaine Citie saith he the Mother or Dam of a yong and lustie Cammell all couered ouer with a cloth with whome the yong one being incensed vnwittingly attempted and assayed generation who or it were long thrâ—ugh ruffling of the cloth by certaine notes espying that it was
his Dam came down and ceased therein before he had his full lust and biting hir most cruelly through extreeme anger slue hir The like example of honestie obseruing he rendreth there of a certaine mans Horse Of the Cameloparde THe Cameloparde hath the very head of a Cammell the necke like our Horse and feete like the Bugle or wilde Oxe He breedeth in Ethiope he is bespotted stayned dyuersely with diuers colours in a maner like the Libard Of the Cameleon TThe Cameleon is a small kinde of beast whose bodie is such that with easie conuersion it chaungeth into all colours a few onely excepted Auicen sayth that it is all one with Stellio or Cosin germane to the Lysarde for that he hath on his backe light spots like stars And for that feare that it is naturally in and the paucitie or rarenesse of bloud he hath so often and so diuers transfiguration in colour It is verie commonly sayd with the olde versifiers and those also which would be estéemed Philosophers that the Cameleon liueth onely by ayre as the Moule doth by the earth alone The Héering by the water the Salamander by the fire And these be their verses wherein they shew this purpose Quatuor ex Puris vitam ducunt Elementis Cameleon Talpa Maris Halec Salamandra Terra cibat Talpam flamme Pascunt Salamandram Vnda fit Halecibus cibus aer Cameleonti These fower Elements giue foode to fower things eche other The Herring Moule and Cameleon and eke the Salamander With earth the Moule is said to feede â–ª with flame the Salamander And water is the Herrings meate the Cameleons the ayer Of the bird Caladrius THe Caladrius sayth Aristotle is of milkie colour without any black spot whose naturall propertie is this that when as any man is grieuously payned with sicknesse or disease if there be any hope of recouerie in the partie so diseased she hath alwayes a cheerefull looke towardes him if there be no amendment that it can perceiue it is of very sad looke and countenaunce neuer giuing him cherefull looke or once looking at all that way Of the Carpe THe Carpe is a kinde of fish well knowne of vs she is arayed in all hir whole bodie with hir coate of fence that is stiffe seales of meane indifferent bignesse insomuch that there hath bene found of this kinde some waying ten pound she is of very soft fâ—esh phlegmatike with the Germanes it is called Karpff Erasmus called it in Latine Carpa when as other called it Carpio Of the Cat. THe Cat in Latin is called Catus as if you woulde say Cautus warie or wise In Gréeke she is named Galiootes with the Germaines Kaiz She is to the Mouse a continuall enimie verie like to the Lyon in tooth and clawe and vseth to pastime or play with the Mouse ere she deuoureth hir She is in hir trade and maner of liuing very shamefast alwayes louing clenlinesse There is also a kind hereof called the wild Cat which of all things is annoyed with the smell of Rue and the Almond leafe and is driuen away with that sooner then with any other thing Of the Crab. THe Crab in Gréeke is called Kakrinos in the Germanes language Krebs with the Frenchmen Crabe Plinie vsed this Latine worde Cancer for a generall or coÌ„mon name for all such as haue weare shaled garments The Crabs saith Lonicer haue a porcion of venome and that occult or hid comming from their taile in the middle of their backes by line or thréede which kinde of matter pulled out before they are sodden leaueth the whole altogither pure and without corrupting Of the Serpent Cerastes CErastes the Serpent hath on both sides of his heade as it were the hornes of a Ram bending vpward and wreathen all about He lurketh sayth Isidore in the high grasse wherin nothing can be espied of him sauing onelye his hornes which thing the small Birdes of the field espying wéening to find as in all other dead bodies their hornes wormes meate alone for their appetite and desire they being busie and pickling on them not knowing this Serpent his deceipt hid are caught of him with a sodaine twining of himselfe about them and are so sodainely snared The like wiles he vseth with horse and man to lie as though he were deade or secretlye as though there were none such yet whilest they vnawares tread vpon him he twineth about either them and so stingeth them Of the Coccatrise THe Coccatrise by his Gréeke name should séeme to haue bene sometime reckened the Prince in his kinde for he is reported to be the king of all other Serpents For al things lyuing whatsoeuer they be comming into fight with him flie back He is so poysonous that he killeth with his breath There is no birde that escapeth him that commeth in his dent but she is his owne yet Nature for this thing hath well prouided For they vse to seeke for the Weasell which will haue this kind of serpent tamed The greatest stature that it is of is not aboue .xij. inches or there about Of the Crocodile THe Crocodile is called yelow Snake for that he is in colour most Saffron like Isidore in his .xij. booke He is one of those kinds which alwayes keepe not in one and the same place or which are not pleased long with Elements alike One while he is coÌ„uersant vpon the earth another while in the waters He is of such hard skin that being stroke in the back or bodie with violent stroke of stone or Iron sâ—ing estéemeth it not a Rush. In the night time he harboureth in the waters in the day time he liueth vpon the earth Aristotle sayth that the Crocodile alone amongst all other Creatures liuing moueth the vpper lip and keepeth the neather lip vnmoueable contrarie to all other herein It is a most glotonous serpent and a verie rauener who when he is farced full lyeth all long by the Banckes side belching and panting as though he woulde burst Wherevpon saith Tullie when he is in this case and so farre gone a certaine little small birde called of vs the Wren or Kinges birde of the Gréekes Trochylos flieth towarde him and often assayeth or he can come by his purpose to go into his throte or intrailes but is repelled so long as he is awake but falling once on sléepe and opening his iawes as he vseth being on sleepe the Wren goeth into his throte and being within there a certaine time by flickring and mouing causeth his throte to itche wherewith he being delighted at the last falleth on sound sléepe The Bird perceyuing this goeth further to his heart and pecketh at it with hir bill and at the last gnaweth it out and so féedeth hir selfe full and escapeth away The like thing is read of Enidros the Serpent which creepeth in the grasse of Nilus who being eaten downe quicke of the Crocodile gnaweth his heart out in sunder within and so killeth him Of Chelidros the Serpent CHelidros the
of excéeding great body his tushes are of Iuerie his becke is holpen with that snowt that helpeth him euen as our hand doth The Medes and Persians vse to carie in their warfare their Casteles and other preparaunce on the Elephants backe he is of good memorie and long mindfull of a good tourne Plinie saith that amongest all the beastes of of the wild forrest he is most mans frind Insomuch that if a mans iourney lieth so that he must nedes through the Forrest least he himself so moÌ„strous huge should first feare him he goeth a little a side out of his way furder if the Dragon should assault the man he goeth forwith and warreth with the Dragon kéepeth him off from the man so that whilst these two be at strife the man passeth away Aristotle saith that this kind is without his Gall therefore it may be that he is so quiet and peasible Solinus saith that they séeme to haue some skill in the art of Astronomie and play the Phisicion his part euerie moneth in purgation taking purging themselues for after euery new Moone they hauke after the cleare riuers so wash off all filthinesse such as may cumber the body After that they bathe them this being so done they go again al frollike to their woonted pastures And to the intent that their youth should kéepe good rule and not go at royat they haue them with them such care haue they ouer them They haue a meruelous and most honest shamefastnesse in the acte of generation Therfore when the time commeth that this must nedes be done the Female witting the Male his pleasure goeth straying before towardes the deserts of the East seketh the most secret place where that their intent may be done and ended closely The Male he anone hasteneth after before their méeting or coniunction had togither they are busied awhile in seking out the herb Mandrage which the Female taketh and receiueth to make hir of more fertill nature and pregnant and the Male also eateth of it to procure a more earnest desire Of al things that it standeth in feare of it is most afraide of the sily Mouse which fretteth him then most when as hée is tied to the Maunger and cannot away Of Ephemera the fish EPhemera is a fish which ariseth in the Sea water euen as the Bubble doth where as much raine is Whome Iorach in his Booke de Animalibus reporteth after thrée houres of the day to die Of the Falcon. THe Falcon is a bird of haughtie stomacke matching with birdes a great deale bigger and mightier then him selfe stryking at them both with foote and breast Of the Faune THe Faune or Hind Calf is called Hinnulus for that at his Dammes becke or nod they are ready to come home from straying riotting abrode in the Parckes or Groaues Of the Fesaunt THe Fesaunt hath yet no other name then it had first of the place whereas it was first founde and that is reported to be an Iland in Grece called Phasea from whence it was first fetched as this Distichon sheweth Argiua primo sum transportata carina ante mihi notum nil nisi phasis erat By Argolike ship I first was brought and shewde to other landes Before that time I knewe no place but the Iland Phasis sandes Of the Flecke THe Fleck saith Isidore goeth with rowling foote and hath often anfractes or turnings He is naturally subtile and hath many fetches to deceiue one For when he lacketh meate and wote not how to come by it he hath this craft or wile He lyeth all along with euerie lim of bodie stretched out very quietly euen as though he were deade The sielye Birdes espying this and weening thereby to haue a great pray flie to his Carcasse and are verie busie about repasting He as they are vnawares of him sodainely snatcheth vp with his Pawes certaine of them and so pleasureth himselfe and stencheth his hunger Of the Frog THe Frog saith Aristotle liueth quietly all the time of cold weather and neuer stirreth abrode vntil time of coite or coniunction And then by croking voice he allureth the Female stirreth hir to Uenerie There are Frogs called Seafrogs of whome Tullie speaketh after this sort They ouercouer themselues wyth sand a knack vsed of them to beguile the little Fishes and as they come by them they step out and catch them and so swallow them vp Of the Flie. THe Flie in Latine is called Musca It hath his name of the earth euen as the Mouse hath This kinde saith Isidore being drowned in the water after one houres space quickneth and reuiueth Aristotle sayth that they are engendred of the earthes dung proporcionably digested and ordered There meat and drinke is filth and they of themselues are nothing else but filth Of the Gnat. THe Gnat was firste called Culex of hir sting wherewith she sucketh out bloud she hath in hir mouth a Cundite or pype in a maner like a thorne or prick wherewith she soone pierceth to the flesh commeth by our bloud Of the Gylthead THe Gylthead is a noble kinde of fish and onely for a Gentlemans tooth The Latines call it after their vocable or word golden fish as also the Gréekes Chrusophrus say they is the golden fishe so called for that his head representeth the right colour of Gold The Germanes call it Ein Gold forn the Frenchmen Truitte Aelianus sayth that it is at continuall strife with the Dolphin Of the Goshauke THe Goshauke is a Birde of farre better stomack than claw and is called Accipiter of a certaine greedie desire she hath to catch the other small Birdes She is verie extreme and sore towards hir yong For after that they be once feathered and are able to flie abroade she hath them forth with hir and beateth them in the ayre with hir winges and is somewhat rigorous to make them séeke their meat alone And so by sharpe vsage they haue no ioy to tarie with their Dam but euerie one goeth his way and prouideth best for himselfe Of the Grashopper THe Grashopper of some is called the Cricket it hath his name of his shrill sharpe voice He vseth to go backward and loueth to dig and bore in the harde earth and mortered places He is heard most in the night time Isidore sayth that the little Aunt or Emite hunteth him he not séeing it for his long haire hanging downe which followeth him into his Lodge and to espie him the more clearely bloweth away the dust as he goeth so comming neare him claspeth him aboute in his armes and at the last stingeth him to death and so commeth by his pray Of the Gotebuck THe Gotebucke is verie wanton or lasciuious verye much giuen to Uenerie and alwaies prone to it minding coniunction whose eyes for insaciate lust thereof turneth in his head and lie as it were but in one onely angle or corner of his browe Hée is of such excessiue whoâ—e nature
therefore hath this proper and peculiar to it selfe that it doth not gather togither in maner of curd or waxeth thick vnlesse it be intermedled with his fellow like acquaintaunce Brimstone Therevpon Aristotle proueth that Quicksiluer Brimstone are the Elements that is to say the Matere and cause of beginning in all thinges liquable or those which melt which are cōmonly called Mettals Quicksiluer doth much breath forth and euaporate whose breath or fume doth greatly hurt those whome it apprehendeth For it bringeth to a man the Palsie and vndoeth and looseneth within him his Sinewes and Ioyntes Without this notwithstanding there could be no mixture neyther in Golde in Siluer nor yet in any other Mettall Siluer therefore hath these qualities peculiarly It is cleare it is shrill of sound easily ductile a marueilous preseruer of swéete balmes the Iaspers friend and with whome the Iasper better agreeth than with Gold It is also medicinable for his offall or dust remedieth wounds Further it taking earth rustieth but being newe rubbed ouer with Sande and Salte commeth to his olde colour againe Isidore saith that there is thrée kinds of Siluer Golde Brasse and of other Mettals That which is grauen or by any wyse seased vppon that which is wrought and that which is not wrought that which is sealed or coyned as is Money or goth for Money that which is wrought and made otherwise as is Uessell or Plate that which is vnwrought is called a lumpe or bar of raw Mettall of some a wedge of Mettall Of the Smaradge THe Smaradge hath his name of his excellent and fresh gréene colour For euerye thing that is grassie gréene is properly called in Gréeke Smaron It passeth both the leafe and bough of any Trée or plant in this his colour and in this poynt alone triumpheth neyther is the Sunne by his Sunne beames any let or hinderance to this his shew There is no greater refection to the eies than the sight of this It being polished and dressed sheweth a man his liuely Image wherevpon the valiant Caesar had no greater delight than in looking on this to sée his Warriours fight and to behold in the Smaragde which of them went best to worke and was moste actiue Isidore sayth that there be .xij. kindes hereof but the moste noble is found in Scithia the next in Bactria This stone sayth Cardane serueth to deuination and to tell of a certaintie things to come or otherwise For that that shall come to passe it will neuer let it sincke or slip out of minde and that that shall not it easily suffereth the minde to forget Of Sol. SOL the Precious stone is in colour like to the Sunne and is called Sol for that it giueth reflexions of Sunne beames euen as the Sunne doth Of Tin TIn after his Greeke name is called a deuider and distinguisher of one thing from another for all adulterous and counterfayted Mettals it doth betray and setteth them seuerally asunder It also discerneth Brasse Lead from Gold Siluer Tin being rarely powred vppon Brasen Uesselles maketh their sauour more pleasant and bridleth kepeth vnder the poysonous rust Aristotle sayth in his fourth booke of Meteores that it is compound of Quicksiluer indifferent good but of very base Brimstone and therfore this kinde of Mettall is nothing proporcionably mixt but al out of square compound for the which it looketh so raw and hath Siluer his verie colour but not his goodnesse Cardane saith that Tin descrieth and reueleth if any poyson be hid for both it hisseth and cracketh if it be so and also sheweth thin stripes in maner like to a bow I haue séene it my selfe when as this kinde of Mettall being molten in the pit and but a sponefull of water being cast into it hath floushed and leapt vp to the top of the house but a whole Potfull of Béere or Ale being cast in it hath not once moued but laughed by and by The cause I may giue that that Cardane doth applying it to all Mettals onely Golde excepted for sayth he all other onely Golde excepted are fertile and fat And being thus laffe at their like and refuse the residue And thus much of Tin Of Talchum TAlchum the stone is like to Glasse hauing as it were about it Hilles and Edges naturally set in it This being dronken sayth Cardane in quantitie as big as a Walnut doth marueylously ease and remedie paynes in the bowels OfTaraxippus TAraxippus the stone as the name giueth doth signifie the Horse his trouble and disquietnesse It is in colour verie fierie and it so shimmereth especially by night that the horse casting his eyes that way espieth his like with a fearefull looke whereat he stampeth and stareth Cardane him selfe recordeth what as concerning this purpose befell in his presence and companie three yeares before he wrote his booke de Subtilitate I was sayth he in Ianua whereas I supped with the worthie and renowmed man Francis Duarde the Emperours Lieutenaunt when as I had supped it rayned great showres I was readie to put on my Cloke my Hat and such Uestures so to defend me from these showres This Duarde perceyuing I should be wet or I got home as he is verie ciuile and curteous lent me certaine of the best Horse he had and of his men as many to accompanie me There was also present with me and who should also go my way Lodwick Ferrare Preparance was made we tooke our Horse and so departed As we should go by a certaine way hard by a certaine fornace we saw in the verie walles therof a fierie colour as it were of quick and burning Coales which thing the Horse hauing espied would no furder but drew backward wrastled with vs to haue gone back so that we could not rule them We at the length fearing displeasure such as might befall to vs for feare of more daunger alighted hauing some there to stay them went our selues nighe approched to the Fornace whither when we came we might espie a fierie colour but nothing burning or on fire which also cōsidering what this should be at the last perceiued wel inough that it was this Taraxippe that had so feared vs and our Horse and so departing being thus deceyued we rid another way Of the Topaze THe Topaze as Plinie sayth is a Gem of grassie colour although that in Germanie it is found like to Golde It was first found in Arabie in a certaine Ilande there whereas the people Troglodite such as liue by Snakes flesh and other Serpents being compelled thorow verie extreeme hunger and they also beeing on the water or Sea driuē thither by tempest and so both weared and hungrie digging vp the Rootes of certaine Hearbes by hap and chaūce pulled vp this This Iland afterwards was sought of Mariners and Marchants and was ransaked where as they founde hauing had of them knowledge hereof their best Marchandise After that for those peoples sake by whome they had so wonne and
like as in Camomill Of Cresses CResses wyth the Egyptians are called Moth. The Romanes call theÌ„ Nasturcia This kinde being drunken sayeth Dias much auaileth and is a certaine remedie against serpeÌ„ts The Persians vsed it as the best Sallet that they had in al their feasting and banquetting It auaileth much to memory whereof ariseth this Prouerbe Eate wel of the Cresses Of the Cucumber THe Cucumber after Plinie groweth both in the Gardaine and in the fielde It is of those sort sayeth Isidore as also Theophrast that chaunge their leafe and stalke often Of Cinkfolie CInkfolie or fiue leaued grasse of some is called Pentadactylon or Asphalton The Mages call it Ibis claw or naile some cal it Mercuries fingar His leafe is like to Mynt and hewen or hacked toothlike in maner of Saw His flowre is yelow and somwhat pale withall It groweth in moyst and watrie places It is ministred often of the Phisitions with Lusters and Purgations Of Daffadill DAffadill some call Anthericon the Romanes Kings spare It is in his stalke verie thinne and light and beareth his flower in his top it is of plentifull roote It being ministred medicine like remedieth the Serpentes sting Of Dictamus DIctamus is an Herbe which groweth in Crete and is very wonderfull in losening vnbinding the straights of the bodie Tullie gathereth this to be true by the maner of the Deare or Harte who being stricken in the riâ— with anye Dart or Arrowe so that it sticketh hard fast they streight wayes hunt after and hasten to the water bankes of the Fâ—n where this Herbe groweth and finding this eateth it as a present remedie to haue thereby helpe in such a distresse which Herbe being once eaten they shake out the Dart or Arrow out of their ribbes as they list Of Dill. DIll some call Anis The Egyptians Arachis The Mages after their tongue Dogs head or Houndes locke The Arabians Mercuries broode The Romanes as before Anis Diascorides saith that it hindreth and hurteth the good eiesight being often taken and is a hinderance to issue Of Dragaunce DRagaunce is an Herbe so called for that it is bespotted and is specked in his colour much like to a Snake representing the verie Uiper or Dragon which Herbe the Uiper it selfe standeth in dreade of Of some it is called Colubyne for it hath hys flower Purple coloured it is also clouen and sharpe as the Serpents tongue is It is blacke in the midst of his flower This sayth Diascorides hauing his roote dried and beaten all to pouder confect also with water of Roses beautifieth and cleareth the foule face as being with other things handled helpeth otherwise Of Dragon DRagon the greater and the lesse The greater of some is called Aron Isaron Iaron c. The Romanes call it Serpentarie Thys groweth only in shadowie places and such as be hedged so kept away froÌ„ the Sunnes heate which thing it cannot abide The lesser hath white spots and those little his stalke straight vp and his length about .ij. Cubits Of Dwale DWale is called in Gréek Struchnon Ypnoticon in English sâ—éeple Dwale It is a kinde of shrub sayth Diase which groweth nigh to the Sea verie abundant and plentifull in yong shootes It is maruellously effectuous to bring a man on sound and fast sléepe There is another kind of the self same name which is called mad Dwale Which being druÌ„keÌ„ sheweth woÌ„ders by a certaine false shewe of imagination Of the Elme THe Elme is a trée whose wood or timber is yelow verie sinowie strong It is called of some all heart It is vsed and occupied principally about magnificall or beautifull gates It is then best of all riuen clouen and cut in sunder when it is moyst and gréene and wyth more difficultie being once drie Theophrast sayth that it is in his kinde verie barraine It only beareth a certaine Grape but nothing else It is one of those kinds that putrifie and bréede wormes Of Esele ESele of some is taken for Eiebright this hath his leafe verie thinne and plaine It is not of so fresh a grâ—ene colour or of like looke as many other Plants be but this it hath aboue them for it being pressed doth giue a very daintie and most medicinable iuice or humor not much vnlike to milke Diascor sayth it purgeth fleume and other such superfluities of like nature Of the Elder tree THe Elder â–ª saith Isid. is verie soft in handling and of verie small heigth or growth Hereof are made certain kinds of instruments and especially a kinde of Symphonie whiche the common sort call a Pipe the learned and more ciuil kinde of men name it a Dulcimer As the abouesaid Author witnesseth in that his tractate of Musicall instrumentes It hath boughes thicke and groâ—se verie plaine and well compact with all in his outward appearance But within they are verie hollow and haue nothing else but a soft Marie which is commonly called their pith Plinie sayth that if the middle Barke or Rinde be pared or cut somewhat more toward the vpper part of his stocke or bodie than towards the nether part or contrariwise so it will afterwards augmeÌ„t either vpward or downeward with spreading forth of his armes or braunches after that sort Of Fenkell FEnkell is an Herbe of the Gardaine and fielde common to them both but not so coÌ„mon as effectuous The Latine worde signifieth that it should be sharper of the eiesight Diascorides also sayth that the iuice of this Herbes roote quickneth the eyes It is called of the Gréekes Marathron Plinie as also Isidore in his .xvij. booke saith that the verie Serpents if nothing else did were sufficient to Noble to cause this kinde to be well reckened of for that through the onely taste or eating hereof they shake off many sicknesses and thereby keepe away or of from them weake olde age Of the Fig tree THe Fig tree is of no high growth neither nice in bodie but grossely set and thick all his Wood not so plaine as wrethed wrinckled the colour of his Leafe and Rinde somewhat more wan or pale his flower Medlerlike It is called Ficus in Latine à fecuÌ„ditate as some say for such fertilitie as it hath and increase for so soone as his fruites those that be all of one time in growth begin once to ripen and are pulled or plucked therefro it straight wayes with no lesse aboundance shooteth forth other It hath that humor as it is said that is like womans milke It hath also that vnctuous and Oylie nature in tast and smell so vnpleasant to the Bull that there is no better bit or Bridle to stay and quiet him then to bring him to the Fig tree whereas he may haue but onely sent and smell hereof and being neuer so fierce is forthwith tamed It hath diuerse appellations and names of diuers Regions Countreys There is one kinde saith Theophrast in Indie which euen from his boughes or braunches giueth yearely roote There is another
Fig tree called Aegiptiaca which in Wood and fruit bearing is like the other but in effect and manner of working is contrarie both to this kind and to all other for it being throwen into the water it straight waye discendeth and séeketh to the bottom and that which is most to be maruelled at after that it hath bene so a long time drowned and hath euerie parte or poore full of water at which it should séeme to be more ponderous it then ariseth vp againe to the waters top and so kéepeth â—uerlie and aboue the waters highest superficie and swimmeth as Saint Augustine sayth â–ª as all other kinds of Timber do aboue Of the Fir tree THe Fir tree sayth Theophrast hath this one maner and custome peculiarly to himselfe that being cut eyther hindred or hurt by any storme or tempest in the left side of his stalk which kinde of stalke it hath both light and smooth it by and by taketh hart a grasse and groweth round about and garland like a little beneath his top which some call leaping about other some the daunsing of the rounde It is in colour somewhat black to féele to hard aboue measure Whereof the standing Cups of Arcadie were wont to be made And this furder it hath peculiarly that cutting the boughes without shill or hurting the toppe it forthwith dyeth Of Firse FIrse or Gorse is a most sharpe and thornie kinde of Herbe growing in Woodes Forrests Desarts and in such grounds as be most weedie It is saide to prick and wound the féete of him that passeth by and catching holde of some part of a man soone pierceth to the quick The common sort call this daungerous· herbe Of the Frankinsence tree THe Frankinsence tree is verie plentifull in boughes giuing In leafe it is like to our Peare Sauing that it is much more small It is in colour as gréene as Rue in rinde barke as soft as Laurell The trée it selfe hath ere nowe bene called Libanos in Gréeke Dendrilibanos his Gum or teare Libanotos of Galen Euripedes again coÌ„trariwise vsed Libanon for the teare and Libanotos for the tree It is so fabled with the Gréekes that it had his name of a yong man and the same an Assirian whose name was Libanos who afterward was turned into this kinde of trée whome certaine enuious persons slue perceiuing him so serious in worshipping the Gods For the which their malice being not long after acquited and reuenged it was afterwards and hitherto is holden in opinion that there was no better nor more acceptable sacrifice to the Gods than Frankinsence offered vp There is a certaine Manna of this Frankinsence which Plinie will haue to be the purest of this his humors drops wrung forth by great pressing There is also a certain smoke in this swéete and pleasant after that it be burned as there is also of Mirrhe Of Fumitorie FVmitorie of the Epyptians is called Lynx of the Gréekes Kapnos with the Latines Fumus terre the earth his fume or smell It is a bushie or shrublike Herbe like to Coreander his flower white or more like Ashie colour Diascorides sayth it letteth the hayres of the eye liddes being pluckt away to grow again annointed and layde with Gum. It is in his best working then when as it is greene Of Garlick GArlick hath his name of his strong and vnpleasant smell bicause it smelleth saith Isidore so strongly and with that so lothsomly that it taketh away â—ereaueth for a time the good and swéete smell of all other things The best that it hath is that it is good of encrease For euerie and eche coate of his those I call coates which are as it were on both their sides behemmed and parted and are as it were in seuerall corners of the house but yet in house and so by that meanes all one set in the Gardaine or otherwhere will soone come vp and much prosper Which thing the Onyon as Aristotle sayth haltetâ— in for that is set onely by whole heades so commeth vp or else not Of Ginger GInger â–ª in Gréeke is called Zingiâ—eris it groweth in Arabic his growth is by manye and infinite small 〈◊〉 in smell and â—auour not much vnlyke to Pepper Choose fayth Diâ—scorides of the 〈◊〉 hereof 〈◊〉 Take them for the best and principal which haue not bene â—aton neither gnâ—wen with woâ—mes for they haue their wormes also as al other rootes haue Of Gladiolus or Sworde herbe GLadiolus his form and proportion of leafe is like to Sedge his flower yealow in a maner like to the flower Deluce some call it Arion some Sword point or edge toole other some cuttle haft The Romaynes as before It groweth for the most part in the fielde It hath a double roote one placed setled within an another This his roote sayth Diascorides being taken in wine prouoketh and stirreth vp to Venerie Of Grasse GRasse of some is called Asyphylion They of Affrick call it Eball the Egyptians Anuphi the Romaines Cattailes meate His growth as what it is also is verie wel knoweÌ„ of all men Herein lurcketh the Serpent and hydeth him selfe safely With this all beastes and Cattell of the field do liue It helpeth and remedieth saith Diascorides all hinderances and stops to vrine There is a kinde of grasse in Babilon whiche is like Cane or Reede which being tasted or eaten of killeth the Cattaile and it groweth by the highe way sides on euerie side as they iourney In the Hill Parnasus there groweth another kinde of grasse more thicke and ranke than the other of better size for it beareth a leafe like Iuie In Cilicia there is a kinde of Grasse which is called Heracha and of the Egiptians Apap which groweth in hedges about walles and Uines whose leafe is like Mercuries Herbe and as full of Briestles Of Grunswell GRunswell in Gréeke Ereigeton it groweth vpon walles and Tileshads and is hoarelike to an olde mans bearde It hath a duskie flower Diascorides sayth that his stalke being boyled in water and afterwards druncke with wine doth ease the sore grief of the stomack Of the Gilofer THe Gilofer is called Gariophilus hys flower of al other flowers is most swéete in smell There be many kinds of Gilofers although but one name for theÌ„ all There is also a tree of yâ— name called GeuÌ„ of othersome Benet which hath fruit in tast like the Peppercorn Of Hares foote HAres foote of some Hares commyn It groweth in Gardaine Alyes And is as Diascorides saith a singular Medicine to kepe and defend the inward bowels from swelling Of Henbane HEnbane hath the name to be a cause of madnesse or furie Isidore sayth that it killeth and bindeth the spirites The Herbe it selfe hath a top or small heade In olde time vpon the Crowne or Myter of the high Priest stoode a flower right vp on the top not much vnlike this Hearbe about a finger in heigth supereminent vnderneath this in the lower part of the garland or Myter
round about his Temple or Forehed there was a golden circle in thrée sortes ordered and set vpon the which stoode with yealow flowers from one side to another We must gather that something was figured hereby and that the high Priest or Bishops were not on this wise ordred for nought Of Horse taile HOrsetaile but more commonlye with vs called Catâ—es taile of the Greekes Hippyris of the Mages Saturnes foode It groweth in waterie places and those softlye dighted and banked about It creepeth vp by stalke aloft and reacheth ouer his neighbours head coueting and preasing as much as it may to be the higher In his top it figureth a taile to looke to And thereof had it his name His roote is tough and verie harde Diasc sayeth that it is a sore hinder and that it stencheth eruption of bloud Of Houselike HOuselike in Gréeke is called Acizoon as you would say always aliue It is alwaies gréene and well liking and for his endurance is resembled to Ambrosia for his colour to the Marigolde for his roundset or figure to the Bullocks â—ie Insomuch that the Romaines call it Iupiters eie It hath a fruitfull leafe in the bignes of a mans thumbe in the end therof it is sharpe or like a tongue It is giuen to drinke sayth Diascorides against the biting of the greatest kinde of Spider and that kinde principallye which hath the moste ioâ—ntes as some be thrise iointed There is another of this name but it is lesse and is called Acizoon to Mikron or with the Romanes Vitalis herba or Semperuiua Semgréene It groweth vpon Walles and tiled housen and is many wayes medicinable Diaâ—corides Of Humlocke HVmlock in Gréeke is called Koneion With the Egyptians Apemphi in Latine Cicuâ—a It hath his stalk and stem like Fennell His flower is white His séede like Anise seede but more white It is one of those kinds of Plantes which destroye and kill as soone almost as it is taken Wherewith as we reade Socrates the good Philosopher died forthwith after that he had bene once caused and compelled of malicious Iudges to take yâ— Cup wherin the iuice hereof was poured and so to drink it off Diascorides sayth it killeth through extréeme colde vanquishing and extinguishing all naturall heate Of the Herbe Iacinct IAcinct is an Herbe hauing a purple flowre It tooke his name of a certaine noble childe which among the Syrtes in a Pasture there was found dead So the child his funeral gaue name to this Herbe His colour is properlye Aerie bespotted among with Purple and red It hath a certaine flaxe lyke Snowe Of these iij. colours were the Priestes robes of as we read in the old law Of Isope ISope is an Herbe of meane growth but of much vertue and principallye in purging the Lungs Wherefore in the olde law sayeth Isidor by a bunch of Isope they would be besprinkled with the bloude of Lambes which would be counted and reckened cleane Of the Iuniper tree THe Iuniper tree is so called of similitude and likenesse to the fire Pyr in Gréeke signifieth the fire or as some thinke it is so called for that in his maner of growing it is like that figure which the Geometricians cal Pyramis we may say sharpely topped Or as other some say it is so named for his good and long maner of retayning and keeping fier insomuche that if Coales of fire be raked vp and inwrapped with the Ashes hereof they continue as they saye vnextinguished by the space of a whole yeare It groweth sayth Diascorides in stony and desart places Pliniâ— sayth that the onely shadow of this sleath and killeth Serpents and therefore his fruit is reckned to be a remedie against poyson Of Iupiters beard IVpiters Beard called of the Gréekes Chrysokome as you would say Goldilocks It is hairie like Isope Diascorides sayth it is taken in Wine eftsoones to purge Of Iuie IVie sayth Isidore is so called for that it créepeth all about and cleaueth fast to the trée some say as it may be also that it was so called for that at the first it was giuen to the Kid and Déere as nourishment meate For Haedera is the Latine word and we may fetch it as it were word out of word Haedera quasi Haedis data It is plentifull in giuing Milke wherewith the Kids were more full of Milke It is a token and signe with the Philosophers of colde and moyst earth Of the Kastainy THe Kastainy is a tree of good high growth so called as Isidore witnesseth for that it must be often lopped or gelt For this so soone as it is cut downe by and by as it were a faire greene groue spreadeth abrode and beareth infinite blossomes and buddeth wonderfullye His fruite hangeth betwéene leafe and leafe and that double or by couples in maner of a man his priuities Of the Laurell tree THe Laurell tree hath bene from the beginning the verie seignorie and badge of all such as haue gotten amongst men the name of honor dignitie and praise Insomuch that in olde time as also in many places now or not long since the Garlands Crownes of Emperours hardie Captaines valiant Souldiers and such like were made hereof With them of the olde time it was called Laudea afterwardes the letter d through an other custome had his chaunge into the letter r and is nowe called Laurea as many other wordes of like sorte of the which is Meridies for Medidies and the like The Gréekes named it Daphnis for that it is alwayes freshe and neuer leaseth his grâ—ene colour Aristotle sayeth that this kinde of trée whereas other and those infinite are is neuer hurt by thunder and lightning Of Laus tibi LAus tibi or white Daffadill in Greeke is called Narkissos It hath his leafe like an Onyon His stalke yelow within his skinne and hollow Diascorides sayth that it ioyneth togither those sinewes which are cut being adhibited and vsed plaister like Of Lettice LEttice sayeth Isidor is so sayde for that it being eateÌ„ hath that humor which 〈◊〉 soone conuerted into milke and to the woman it encreaseth milke abundantlye To the man he sayth it is cause or prouokement to Uenerie There is both field Lettise and Gardain Lettise Diascorides sayth that it putteth away all hinderances of sound sléepe Of the Leeke THe Leeke hath his time of lustinesse and youth and his time also of age euen as man hath For the first yeare it bestoweth all care and trauell in growth and nourishment to his owne perfection and ripening then the next yeare following that that he can he reserueth and bestoweth vpon séede to the preseruation of his kinde Of Laburnum LAburnum is a tree growing vppon the Mountaines called the Alpes whose wood is white hard and hath his flower one Cubite in length so noysome that no Bée will touch it This groweth in hard and drie places and hateth moysture or water Of Libardbaine LIbardbaine of the Gréekes is called Akâ—niton it hath leaues like
hath a milkie kinde of iuyce or humor many a time séene at the Leafe his ende It hath Graines within his fruite as the Fig trée hath But this to be most merueiled at for that it neuer ripeneth vntill it be stroken with an Iron instrument Of the Thorne tree THe Thorn tree is armed about with Dart and sting And therefore Isidore will haue it named Spina quasi speculis septa as you would say befenced with sting It is vsed with vs as for his best worthinesse to enclose and to be a defence and a partour of our neighbour his ground and ours Of Terebull TErebull is the Leafe of an Herb in Indie which swimmeth about in Pooles Ditches without any roote that is séene Those of Mauritania and of Greece call it Malabathrum Whereof commeth a most precious and swéete Oyle Cardane sayth that it so cōforteth a man that the verie Leafe being taken then when as a man is in griefe and vexation either of minde or of bodie it staieth or quieteth him yea although he be in a swoune or dying Of Tragion TRagion saith Diascorides onely Crete Cicilie bringeth forth It hath his bough séede and leafe like to the Mastix tree but not altogither so great It floweth and distilleth that humor that is like gumme With this as with Dictamus whereof we spake before the Goates Deere of Crete being once woūded helpe and remedie themselues and then especially if it be by Arrowe or Dart sticking fast in their Ribs they so loosen it by this harts tongue or Cetract And Diascorides sayth that al haruest time his leaues smel rammishly in maner like the Goate and this groweth vpon the hilles and loftie places There is an herbe also of this name which some call Scorpion the Romaines and Gréekes Tragos Of the tree of Paradise THe trée of Paradise saith Cardane is of short life for the second yeare his bodie drieth vp and waxeth barraine It beareth fruit like a cluster of Grapes but in bignesse of an Apple It is couered with a yelow coate his leafe is very long broad for the which it is of so short life for that which is great and grosse hath néede of great humour that also which goeth to much at riot or else it by and by dieth Of Trifolie TRifolie or three leaued Herbe as the word or name may be general to all such as haue onely but three Leaues so is there a certaine fruit or Herbe so properly called Of some it is called short vine of the Egyptians Epaphu It is of swéete smell It groweth sayth Diascorides in a shadowie and darke place His flower is purpled Circlelike his séede droncken in Wine is much medicinable Of Turbit TVrbit whose Leafe is like the Laurell groweth in Aegypt and is not the same which men think they receyue at the Apothecaries hands It is giuen to purge fleume It is said being drunken in Uiniger to remedie the byting and stinging of the Aspis for the which there are but fewe remedies Of Wake Robin WAke Robin the Syrians call Lupha It is leaued in figure like the Dragon In his stalke it is purpled It giueth a sharpe set stomacke inough to digest and to satisfie Natures desire being once taken Of Walwort Walwort the Gréekes cal Symphyton whose heygth is commonly two cubites his leafe is rifted like Buglosse his roote and nether shewe black but within very white and oylie It helpeth and putteth away bloud spitting Of wild borage WIlde Borage or Alcibiadiō is that herb that Alcibiades vsed to paint his face with The Latins cal it Alcibiacū it hath his leafe white is wrought like Orchanet his best is sayth Diascorides for that it helpeth ach and anguish of the Lungs Of wilde Rue WIlde Rue or woodsage in Latine Polimonion It hath smal stalkes saith Diascorides in a maner like a birdes Fether his leafe is a little bigger than our Rue It hath a tuft which is full of black séedes They say that if it be applied to any part of a man No Scorpion can sting or wounde him or if she doth it can not hurt him Of Veruen VEruen of some after their language is called Holy Herbe The Mages call it Iunoes teare or Mercuries moyste bloud The Romaines Cockes combe It groweth only in the waters and is thought to be that Herbe which in Greeke is called Peristeon bicause the Doues being in companie and in their flight séeke after their foode at this Herbe Of the Violet THe Violet is in two kindes white purpled His best goodnesse is in a sweete kind of smel especially that Violet which groweth as we saide before in Cirena Some say that there is a kinde of Violet lyke Honie Looke howe much the more effectuous or good in working this his flowre is so much the more it is saide to holde downe his head and to bow and bende his bodie downward to the earth Of Wintergreene WIntergreene of the Mages is called Wolues heart so to translate it The Sirians call it Merida The Frenchmen Iuniper The Latines after theirlanguage black Lingwort or the earths leafe it is like to our Béete His seede sayth Diasc taken in wine helpeth the grief of the inward bowels Of Woodbinde WOodbinde of the Mages is called Venus haire Of the Egyptians Tucon It is a humile and weake kinde of shrub and hath his leafe sayeth Diascorides one set a good way off from another It twineth like a thréede or line about other herbes and fruits and is a hinderaunce to their prosperitie and growth They say that if it be drunken .xxxvj. dayes togither it causeth a barraine and vnfruitfull nature further it helpeth the Feuer intermedled with Oyle Of Woodherbe WOodherbe after the Latin translating in Greeke Kaetaphysis it hath a leafe lyke Crowfoote and groweth about in the groaues and fieldes as plentifully as thick as grasse It being stamped saith Diascorides and mixt with the brawne of anie thing liuing remedieth cureth Ulcers and Biles It is also said that if it be brought home whilest it is fresh and bestrewed about the house to prohibit and let the Flées of their engendring Of the Willow tree THe Willow tree in Latin is called Salix a Saliendo for his swift skipping and comming vp The best prayse that it hath giuen him is for that the more he is powled and cut downe the better a greate deale he prospereth His second praise is for ministring oftentimes meate to the Cattaile Of the Yewe tree THe Yewe tree in Greke is called Smilax the Romaines call it Taxus It is in bignesse of leafe like the Firre trée Diascorides saieth that it first grue in Carbonia a part of Italie and Spaine It hath that secret maner of working that whosoeuer sitteth or lyeth on sleepe vnder it keatcheth no good thereby for oftentimes hurt hath come thereby and somtimes also death It was tolde vs of it saith Diascorides that we should auoide it by a certaine friende
Serpent or of some in Gréek Chersidros is in placebeing one of those kindes which be doubtfull For it is now abiding vpon the earth now in the waters This saith Isidore maketh the earth smell well or to haue good breathing there where as it créepeth as Virgill describeth in these verses Seu terga expirant spumantia virus Seu terra fumat teter quá labitur anguis In question is it whether that The fomie flesh and rancored Sell Of Chelidros that poysonous Snake Should giue such odoriferous smell Or that the earth by which this Snake Doth slide and glaunce along Should giue to the nose obiect so swete Or minister scent so strong Isidore sayth that it goeth straight out in lim and bodie and findeth thereby a maruellous great ease whereas if he should bowe hymselfe he should straine and hurt him selfe Of Cencris THe very like in this behalfe that Chelidros doth the same doth Cencris as Lucane reporteth of him thus Et semper recto lapsurus limite Cencris As Chelidros so Cencris doth in eake alike their sort â–ª By stretching forth their bodie both in gliding finde comfort Of the Caddesse or Choffe THe Caddesse was first called Monecula and is now called Monedula bicause it in finding money and golde hideth it And vpon this Tullie in his Oration had for Valerius Flaccus hitteth him home with the like Non tibi plus pecuniae est committendum quam Monedulae I would commit mony to thy custodie no more than I would to a Dawes Of the Crane THe Crane by proper name should be called whisperer or flackerer as Lucane hath of hir thus Et turbata petit dispersis litora pennis In raging waues of the Seas streame the Crane by flacking wings Hath pleasure passing all delight in this than in all things Their flight is on highe espying therby what land they were best to take by his voyce they are all ruled which is their guide or leader whose voyce waxing hoarse another straight wayes taketh his rowme In the night time they haue their watch euerie one of theÌ„ nightly by course and whosoeuer playeth the watch man least he should sleepe hath a prouiso he holdeth fast in his clawes little stones which in their falling from him straight wayes awaketh him The other by his paine taking sléepe quietly and take their rest Aristotle by obseruauncy had much commendeth their flight beyond the Sea It is done with such cunning and ease Of the Cokow THe Cokow in Greke is called Kokkux with the Germanes â–ª Gauch in the French tong Cocou and is of ashie colour and in bignesse as big as our Doue building hir nest most often in the Sallowes In the spring time she commeth abrode and or ere Dog dayes arise she is gone and hidden Aelianus calleth hir the wilie bird or aduouteresse for that she most commonlye hatcheth hir yong in the Larkes Nest or Siskins which Siskin is not much vnlike to the Goldfinch whose yong or broode she knoweth to be bred and borne in colour bignesse most like to hir owne and therefore she is the bolder so to presume whose Nestes if she séeth good store or plentie of Egges she destroyeth certaine of them and in their place and number recompenseth and maketh them good with hir owne Of the Cuttle THe Cuttle is in colour verie white but she hath hir finne black she is called Sepia of a certaine rotten humor that she hath of the Gréekes she is called Saepedoon for that she aboundeth in black bloud as it were ynck with the which when as she perceyueth any deceites wrought she defendeth hir self with dispersing it abroade in all the whole waters And the water being so fouled she goeth and hydeth hir selfe The Germanes call this Ein Blackfisch the Frenchmen Seche Of the Deere THe Deere the Latines call Dama â–ª of some the fallow Deere is called Damula Isidore thinketh that it is so called as by deriuing it also we may knowe for that it fléeth from our hands not knowing how to defend it selfe but onely through flight In stead of his weapon he sheweth vs his héeles as Marciall in a maner witnesseth thus reporting of the Dere the Bore and the Hart. Dente tenet Aper defendunt cornua Ceruum Pâ—ofugit é medio Damula c. By tooth and tuske the Bore catch holde and hornes defend the Hart The Deere being chaste all about with this hath his hearts smart Of the Dragon THe Dragon is the heade and chiefest of all other Serpents and flieth from his Den or Caue in the earth his holownesse vp to the top of the brode ayre and of Drágon in Gréeke is englished flight Plinie saith that betweene the Dragon and the Elephant there is a naturall warre Insomuch that the Dragon enrowleth twineth about the Elephant with his taile and the Elephant againe with his Snoute vsed as his hande supplanteth beareth downe the Dragon The Dragon with twining about him holdeth fast and with his might somewhat bendeth backwarde the head and shoulders of the Elephant which being so sore grieued with such waight falleth downe to the ground and in the fal the Dragon hath the worse for that he falleth to the ground first and is therewithall slaine but that other scapeth not scotfrée for with one anothers holde and rushing to the ground the Elephant also is broused and often withall slaine Againe they striue togither after this sort The Elephant espying him sitting on the loft of a trée runneth as fast as he can with full but to that trée hoping thereby to shake downe the Dragon and to giue him a deadly fall but in that he doth not after the wyseâ—t sort for him selfe For the Dragon so falling oftentimes lighteth on his necke or shoulders and agrieueth him as with byting at his Nostrelles and pecking at his eies and somtime he dazeleth him and goeth behinde at his back and sucketh out of his bloud so that if he shaketh him not off betimes by suche wasting of bloud as he will make thereby he is quickly enféebled he falleth downe heauily with the Dragon also holding aboute him and are killed both with so heauie and burdenous a fall Of the Dromedarie THe Dromedarie or that other kind of CaÌ„mell that hath two Kybes or Bunches on his back is of lesse stature then the other Cammell is but more swift in passage of the which propertie he borowed his name Dromos in Gréeke is swift in course or running He will go 100. Myles and mo in one day They are gelt sayth Auicen in their youth least they should be therby more slow or hindered in their iourneying and also least they should being at ripe age prouoked to Uenerie as they iourney slack it oftentimes draw backwarde till that they haue had their lust It is such a kinde saith Plinie as is not couetouse of varietie or dainties For after that it hath had neuer so long a iourney it is well content with grasse and the
done she vomiteth it forth againe and falleth to fresh bloud anew Of the fish Lucius LVcius of many men is called the Macrell The Germaines call it Ein Macrell The Latins Luciê° by the figure Antiphrasis which is when a word hath a contrarie signification They say that this fish kéepeth alwaies at the verie bottome of the waters so auoyding as it were all cleare light whither when as the fishermen by night saile with firebrand torch so that they espie it they amazed there at and astonyed in their flight are so caught Of the Lamprey THe Lamprey in Gréeke is called Muraina with the Germanes Ein Bricken there is of this kinde two sorts both differing in colour For the one is blacke in colour died among with ashie spots the other is white hauing black spots She swimmeth all whole in flexible sort and all alike bending hir bodie aboue the land she creepeth no other wise then our serpents doe The best of this stock or kind are those that be called Flutae in Greke Plootai good saylers or fluites for that they kéeping alwayes at the waters highest can not be drowned Antonia Drusus wife had such delight in a Lamprey that she dressed and arayed hir all ouer with golde Ringes and the same beset aboute with precious Stones Likewise Crassus by surname the rich so loued a Lamprey of his owne bringing vp that when she dyed he lamented sore and bestowed also great cost of hir burying And wheÌ„ as he was laughed to scorne of Lucius Domitius for so doing he gaue him this aunswere Thou marueylest sayth he why I so bewaile this Fishes death But I marueile more at him that hauing had the losse of thrée Wyues neuer yet for ought that I could sée bewayled it This Domitius is reported to haue poysoned thrée Wiues for hope that he had of rewarde or greater riches thereby Of the Leoparde THe Leoparde is a very tiraunte aduouterous also in his kinde as saith Plinie The Lionnesse and Leoparde hauing coniunction togither or the Lion and Libardesse bring forth a third kinde euen as the Horse and Asse or hée Horse and Mare doe The Female saith Aristotle is more cruell than the Male his colour is bespotted about his vpper parte of bodie and his féete also and taile are all alike to the Lion in outwarde shew But in the head they haue their difference In bodye he is lesse than the Lion And by that meanes he is euen with the Lion and not behinde him in reuenging as Homer witnesseth He hath his cabbage in the yearth with two contrary wayes vndermined to enter into it or to run out of it at his pleasure verie wide at the comming in but as narrow and straight about the mid cabbage whether his enimie the Lion running sometimes after him and a pace at the first coÌ„ming in thither is narrowly pent Insomuch that he cannot neyther get forward nor backwarde That seing the Leoparde he running a pace out at the furder hole and commeth to that wheras the Lion first ran in and hauing him hard pent his back towardes him bighteth scratchet him with tooth and Nayle And so by art the Leoparde getteth the victory and not by strength The same Leopard also saith Plinie séeketh after the broode of the wild gote entending therewith to recouer his health Of Lynx the beast LYnx in face is like to the Lion in bodie bespotted like the Panther his vrine is of that set or nature that it turneth by and by into a precious stone which we before called Ligurius He so enuieth man and would that he should not be the better for this that he hideth and couereth his vrine with dust yearth to the intent that no man should find it but Plinie saith it is so much the better in his effect working Of the Lyon THe Lyon in his greeke vocable and worde is interpreted King he is reported to be the King ouer all other beastes There are diuers of this kind â–ª they only differing in their Mane eyther long or short His strength is in his hed His vertue in his heart he sléepeth as the Hare doth with eielids vnshut When he awaketh forth out of sléepe he rubbeth out the print of his bodie and steps least the huntesman espying them should easily finde him out He is verie gentle to man neuer hurteth him vnlesse he be greatly iniuried by him or that he is throughly an huÌ„gry He knoweth sayth Plinie when the Lyonesse hath played him false play and hath played the Aduoutresse with the Libard by a certaine rammish smel or sweate which ariseth of them both Yet if she washeth hir selfe throughly she may deceyue him Aristotle sayth that the Lionesse at the first birth or broode bringeth forth most of hir yong then after that she lesseneth euerie broode one For at the first she bringeth forth fiue at the second time foure at the thirde time thrée at the fourth time two at the fift one and euer after that she is sterill and barraine Of their remembrance of a good turne I néede not speake or howe they haue done man a good turne one for another As that which had a thorne in hir Claw being holpen of one named Androdus eased thereof euen when as he through enuie was deliuered vp to be punished throweÌ„ into hir Denne that Lionesse that he eased so before did then well remember him As also I néede not to speak how God oftentimes brideleth in all beastes deuouring whatsoeuer to shew his pleasure and possibilitie what he can doe and worke by meanes of these There was a fierce hungrie Lyon let loose to Darius the Martyr which not onely hurt him not but also preserued him from the crueltie of other brute beastes As likewise Daniell scaped scotchfrée by Gods prouidence turning the fierce countenaunce of that Lion that his enimies had thought would haue soone deuoured him into a fawning and chearefull looke not once hauing power to hurt him Hamo a Carthagien borne is first reported to haue tamed the Lion Memnonides or the Birdes of Aegypt MEmnonides or the Birdes of Aegypt are named of the place where Memnon the Sonne of Thiton which came to the aide and rescewing of the Troians died and is buried They are saide to flie by companies out of Aegypt to olde Troie to Memnon his Sepulchre and to be onely his memoriall and are therefore called of some the Troian Memnonides as Isidore recordeth in his .xij. Booke Euerie fift yeare they flie to Troie and flie about Priam his Pallace and that two whole dayes space the thirde day they make battaile betwene themselues and doe torment and slea one another with their sharpe nayles beck Of the Moth. THe Moth is our Garment worme and by his latine worde is called Tinea holdefast for it biding in one place in the Garment neuer leaueth it til it be gnawen and eaten forth thorow Isidore saith it mought be named Pertinax peruerse for
Athens In Tropicall sense ment of such as bestow largely vpon them that haue no néede and much after that that we say to cast water into the Tems Of the Panther THe Panther is euerie liuing Creatures friend except onely the Dragon whome he hateth dâ—adly He is in his colour bespotted and in euerie part of his skin or hide he sheweth as it were eies He loueth excéedingly all other kindes such as be like him as the Leopard c. The Female neuer beareth yong but once in hir time for all The reason is for that she neuer ioieth at the first birth or brood wherof she being mindefull euer after with what paine she brought forth neuer séeketh more after it Plinie to this giueth another reason all beastes saith he of sharpe Clawes or Nayles doe neuer bring forth often The Panther his smell or breath to all things liuing except the Dragon is most delectable and pleasant Insomuch that all the other follow after hir moued with that hir scent So that by that meanes when as she is throughly hungrie she coÌ„meth by some of them to hir pray The Dragon flieth back and can not away with hir smell Plinie writeth that a Panther fawned vpon the father of one Philenus a Philosopher that he should helpe hir out with hir yong that were fallen into a mirie Lake or Pit In the former féete they haue fiue toes but in their hinder féete foure onely Of the Partrich THe Partrich is called the fleting birde neuer setled or stayed vpon one thing Therefore oftentimes in that which he goeth about he loseth his labour For he taking away other Birdes their Egges and bringing them vp as his owne doth not for all this greatly profite himselfe thereby for so soone as those yong can heare but their owne and Natiue Dams note they leaue their Stepmother or Nurses foode by and by The Male destroyeth his owne Egges often least that the Females care in hatching them vp or sitting on them shoulde hinder him from Uenerie vsing he is so lasciuious The seauenth day also after their hatching he banisheth them and thrusteth them out of his Nest. He is consecrated to Iupiter the Goddesse Latona and Appollo his father He purgeth himselfe with Lawrell Beotia is without these Of the Parret THe Parret hath all hir whole bodie gréene sauing that onely about hir necke she hath a Coller or Chaine naturally wrought like to Sinople or Uermelon Indie hath of this kinde such as will counterfaite redily a mans speach what wordes they heare those commonly they pronounce There haue bene found of these that haue saluted Emperours giue them Wine and they will be wanton inough they are as hard in their head as in their Beak or Bill When they learne to speak they must be beaten with an Iron Rod or else they feele it not Plinie saith that in a certaine Wood called Gagandes this kinde was first founde of all other Foules she and the Turtle Doue haue greatest friendship Of the Peacock THe Pecock had his name first with vs of the selfsame note that he himselfe singeth dayly whose flesh is so hard that it cannot easily be sod or rosted His iolly brauerie in him selfe is through setting vp his fethers aloft and at his espying in himself so many gaie colours but hauing his fill at the length with so goodly a shew in his vpper partes casting his looke towardes his base feete seing himselfe therein deformed forgetteth by and by all the former conceite of pride and thereby is brought to acknowledge himselfe He is saide to be Iunoes birde The Female coÌ„ceiueth not vntill she be thrée yeares olde at what time she then beginneth to be so araied in colours There is noted in this kind both selfloue â–ª as in hir former propertie enuie also for that she will rather hide away hir dung than that man should haue profit thereby being many waies medicinable Hortentius the Orator killed first the Pecocke that was tasted whither that he was meate meete for a man yea or no. And there is also a report that Alexander the great seing once a Pecock in Indie so meruailed at that sight that by a commaundement giuen he charged that no man in paine of death shoulde slea or kill so faire a bird The Doue and the Pecocke are verye great friendes Of the Perwincle THe Perwincles in Gréeke are called Kokliai wherof some be of the Sea other of flouds others of the yearth They are alwaies clothed with one and the same shale The Poets call this and the Snaile also Domiporte that is their house cariour And this is the fable that they father vpon them When Iupiter hadde bidden all creatures thinges liuing to a feast or banquet these kindes of all other made no apperaunce Iupiter therfore demaundeth the cause or reason of their absence who gaue him this aunswere Quae domus cara eadem domus optima Which is that house or mantion place which is most estemed that we recken the best At the which aunswere Iupiter being stirred he coÌ„maunded them to their owne house or lodge as to perpetuall prison and that whither soeuer they went they shoulde carye their House and Home with them vpon their backes Of Phaenix the bird Phaenix is a bird of Arabie of marueilous long life she liueth aboue six hundereth and sixtie yeares and at the last being werie of hir life goeth to the groaues there and gathereth small slippes and twigs of such kinde of trées as be both extreme whot odoriferous withal as is Cinomon and such like and so bestreweth hir nest coÌ„monly made in the highest firre trées next to the Sunne and flying thither lieth voluntarily in hir nest abiding both the burning of the spice Sunne and therewith is consumed to ashes And of those ashes animated by the Sunne and other Planets ariseth another Phaenix which maintaineth and continueth the kind from time to time Some haue the opinion that no man euer â—aw hir eate She is consecrated to Sol Plinie sayth that there was one of these brought into the Citye of Rome when Claudius was Censor The yeare of the Citie .800 Of the Pellican THe Pellican is a bird in Egypt dwelling amongst the deserts of Nilus She is saide of Ierome to reuiue those of hir yong which in hir absence haue had their bloud sucked of Serpentes whervpon they died And she reuiueth them by wounding hir selfe and pouring into them certaine of hir owne bloud and so within thrée dayes they which were so dead reuiue quicken againe Volateranus saith that that is the Pellicane which Pline calleth Platea coÌ„monly the Shoueler but other do not herein agrée This Platea is a birde which flieth to the shelfishes of the water and eateth hir fill of them which being made verie teÌ„der through heate in hir belly she vomiteth them vp againe that after the shell being once opened she may come by their meate with more ease Of the Pearch THe Pearch
in Gréeke is called Perkae with the Germanes Ein Bersig with the Frenchmen Perche some think that it is called Parca by Antiphrasis signifying another thing then the worde sheweth For with whome soeuer she is angrie she woundeth him with hir â—innes or if she can not come by him they are sure to haue it that are next to hir There is hereof both Male and Female But they haue their difference for the Male hath his â—innes red the Female hath not so Lonicer sayth that when as the fish Lucius is hurte or sore wounded of any other kinde and can not helpe hir selfe she seeketh out the Pearch which so soone as she sées him she toucheth and suppleth his woundes and so is she healed It is a fishe of verie tender meate or flesh As Ausonius recordeth of hir thus Nec te delitias mensarum Parca silébo Amongst the kindes of delicate meates the Perch I would haue spred Whose flesh so soft and morsell sweete in all feastes is the hed Of the Puttock THe Puttock sayth Isidore got his name of his soft flight Miluus sayth he is quasi mollis soft of flight It is one of the rauenous sort making hauock of the small birds Tullie in his second booke De natura Deorum saith that the Puttock and the Rauen or Crowe be at naturall enmitie togither Insomuch that one of them when they may come by them breaketh anothers Egges Aelianus thinketh that the Male in this kinde is seldome or neuer séene Insomuch that the Female stretching hirselfe along and conuersant toward the East and south conceiueth so bringeth forth yong They also beare a continuall hatred to the Fox Of the Pye THe Pie is reckned Mars his bird It had his Latin name first of Pycus Saturnes sonne which in his prophesying and soothsaying vsed this birde as Ouid witnesseth By Gréeke name he is called the Okes griefe for that with his Bill he pecketh maketh hollow the Oke with such daylie accustoming In one and the selfe same day he chaungeth his tune Of Rhinoceros RHinoceros in Gréeke is interpreted horned beast or Monoceron and is englished the Vnicorne Plinie in his .viij. booke saith that his Horne is set aboue his nostrils His continuall strife is with the Elephant vseth to defend himself thus WheÌ„ he seeith his enimie come he whetteth his Horne against sharpe stones then setteth on and in his fight wardeth and foyneth at the Elephant his bellye the most tender part that he hath and so riddeth him Of Rinatrix the Serpent RInatrix is a Serpent which with enuenoming poysoneth the water so that into what cleare Fountaine or Riuer he swimmeth he infecteth it as Lucane witnesseth Rinatrix violator Aquae c. The Rinatrix of Serpents kinde and the poysonous Snake With intermedling doth infect eche Pond and euerie Lake Of the Salamander THe Salamander as Plinie saith is like the Lyzard in face and countenaunce He infecteth the fruites of Trees and corrupteth the waters so that whosoeuer drinketh thereof dyeth by and by He liueth onely in the fire and is nothing hurt through the fire his flame Of the Salmon THe Riuer Rhenus and Rhodanus in this kinde doe alone excell The fishe it selfe is big and fat His meate or flesh is red in tast verie swéete the Germanes call it Ein Salmen The Frenchmen Saulmon Plinie in his .ix. booke and .xviij. Chapter preferreth hir before all those Sea fishes which accustome to Aquitania the floud which are many and great and reckned daintie Of the Scorpion THe Scorpion is a Serpent of the earth stinging deadly with his taile and of some is called flatering worme for faire face shewed and friendly countenaunce But if any man come neare hir behinde she payéth him home Plinie sayth that it bringeth forth yong sometime seauen at once whereof the Dam eateth vp fiue of them but the other the wisest of them get about their Mothers backe and buttocks and so bite hir This kind sleaeth his parents and hath onelye care to reuenge their Brothers quarrell and in that point Nature well prouided that their should be no great multiplying in so perilous a stocke and kind Orion when as he had made that boast that the earth shoulde bring forth no suche Monster but he would kill it the earth it selfe cast vp such a ScorpioÌ„ as slue him in the presence of the people with most sharpe sting Of the Silkeworme THe Silkeworme is the Trée or his braunches worme by whose web weauing silkes are made She is called Bombix for that she leaueth nothing in hir bellie but emptie ayer whilest she is about spinning of hir thréede Of the Sole THe Sole Varro calleth Lingulaca for his great sound The Frenchemen Sole It is a kinde of fish all plaine of verie soft meate or flesh and easie to digest Of the Sow THe Sow is called Sus of wrooting vp the clots of the yearth with hir beake or snoute She beareth saith Plinie somtime foure somtime fiue at once sometime moe but cannot bring them all wel vp and therefore eateth vp some of them it hath bene sene that she hath eaten vp all hir broode saue onely the oldest whome she most entierly loueth and him shée féedeth most often giueth him or hir the best teate As Aristotle saith Of the Shoueler THe Shoueler is called Platalea sayth Tullie he getteth his meate with flight had to those birds that déeuing downe to the waters to ketch fish drowne themselues or if any come out with any pray he méeteth them presseth their heades till they let go that which they haue caught Of the Sparrow THe Sparrow is called Passer a Paruitate of small or little quantitie Tullie in his Diuination saith that they should be in those kindes that are noted to prognosticate for saith he that kinde of diuination which is marked by euent or animaduersion is not naturall but artificiall of these some be perceiued to be done by sodain coniecture as Calcas with Homer which through a certaine number of smal Sparrowes prophesied and diuined before of the Citie of Troie his siege It is in his kinde very lasciuious and rioting It flieth in his extremity alwaies to man for helpe Seuerus the Abbat had a Sparrow that for feare came flying to rescue him into his handes was glad to take meate at his hands he reaching it him Of Stellio STellio the starred and speckled beast saith Plinie liueth most by the dew of Heauen and spirite of the earth And all his best iolytie is in counâ—erfayting colours yet for all that is venemous Of the Swallow THe Swallow saith Aristo in his sixe booke de Animalibê° maketh hir nest bréedeth twise in the yeare and that is done so artificially as man cannot deuise to better it Isidore saith that he is so named for eating his meate as he flieth about in the ayre or for often turning and retire had to one and the same place Aristotle saith in the same
A greene Forest or a naturall Historie Wherein may bee seene first the most sufferaigne Vertues in all the whole kinde of Stones Mettals next of Plants as of Herbes Trees Shrubs Lastly of Brute Beastes Foules Fishes creeping wormes Serpents and that Alphabetically so that a Table shall not neede Compiled by Iohn Maplet M. of Arte and student in Cambridge entending hereby that God might especially be glorified and the people furdered Anno. 1567. Imprinted at London by Henry Denham To the Right Honourable Lord Lord Thomas Earle of Sussex Viscont Fitzwalter Lorde of Egremont and of Burnell Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter Iustice of the Forrestes Chases from Trent Southward and Captaine of the Gentlemen Pensioners of the house of the Queene our Soueraigne Ladie BAthyllus he of Samos moste honorable Lord was one whiche the Poet Anacreon sang alwayes of minding him in euery song for a certaine conceipt of worthinesse which he thought was in him Likewise Ligurinus was alwayes one at the ende of Horace his pen and mouth And as a report goeth and many Romaine Histories shew the same Numa Seruius are by Poets commended vp to the Orbes of the Firmament or Skie where they saye they liue as they list whose bread is Nectar and drink Ambrosia a sugred and confect kinde of Wine which is serued oute in a faire Goblet or Cuppe by a faire waiting Boy named Ganimedes These Poets figured hereby most Honorable Lord that any of the nine Muses whatsoeuer kinde of Harpe they vsed it should be strung and tuned so that it mought reach to Diatesseron the onely note of Noble mens commendation And so doe I gather it is best vsed I herevpon nowe wishe that although Anacreon be gone I had yet his Harpe for then would I now set and tune it many Notes higher than euer could he in the prayse of Bathyllus or Horace in the testimonie of Ligurius For I would vse it to recognize and regester the memoriall of Yours such absolute Vertues But sith this Harpe is denied me and the verie Instrument which I nowe sound of is not as I would it were my intent notwithstanding and not my possibilitie is to be considered Yet rather then I should haue shewed nothing at al of better testomonie of my good will towards your Honor this shall suffise me vntill hereafter I may do better to vse so simple a sound And if so be I could worthilye coÌ„mende you as those Poets did Numa and Seruius to highe Olympus you should surely by such our meanes come by some of their Iuncketts that they haue But this would I rather be done by message had to and fro from these which way Hercules vsed with Hyla Thiodamant his Sonne Apollo with Hyacinth Diana with Hyppolitus then that you enioying the presence of those our Countrie should lacke you such hir ornament and beautifying Therfore for their better remembrance of you I will do so much at the least as to signifie vnto them your cognisance the faire bright Starre which besides that hath his hid signification But to leaue these and although Typhis and Iason be bolde yet I hope moste Honourable Lorde I haue not theirs but Vatienus his face Whose simple Treatise of mine when I was excited to bestow it of your Lordship I straight wayes gathered with my selfe that you were not Licinius the Emperour which was malicious toward the learned neither yet Britannion an vtter enimie to the mother Science and hir daughter Discipline neyther yet Valentinian but rather contrariwise Iulius Caesar excelling both in Martiall prowesse and also serious after the inquisition of good Discipline or else Iulianus or Marcus Aurelius Which small gift of mine if your Lordshippe take in good worth I shall be encouraged after a while to enrich these and to attempt muche greater and better hereafter so soone as I shall attain to a little more ripenesse And thus ceasing to trouble your Lordshippe any more I make an end desiring GOD to blesse you in all his giftes both ghostly and bodilye and to continue you in long life and true Honour to his glory the helpe and assistance of others and your owne and endlesse comfort Amen Your Honors humble Orator Iohn Maplet The Preface to the Reader WHatsoeuer things sayth Cardane are of Natures tempering and dighting either in the earth his closet or entrayles or within the water being all voide of fâ—ling and mouing may well bee deuided and sorted into these foure kinds Earthes Liquors or Iuices Stones Mettalles Earthes saith Diascorides in his fift booke as also the same Author abouesaide haue their difference eyther in colour in smell in sauour or else otherwise in other their vse purposes Proper or pertinent to earths are many sundrie kindes and sorts as those which either are in house with them and fare as they fare as Sande which Isidore nameth the lightest carth as others or those which are neuer absent from the earth but are intermedled with the water as Alume which of some is called the â—arth his salt as salt it selfe and such like In earthes are diuers dispositions and farre diuers effects which thing Diascorides pursueth aboundantly there are also reckned diuers names of diuers kindes as that of Eretria a famous Citie in the I le of Eubea hath his sett and disposition of colour and shew ashie like and is in his kinde in operation a sore binder besides this marueilously colde And that that is plentifull in Chium in Eubea also for there is of this name besides this two more one a Citie of Caria and another in Rhodes by Triopia in effect and working is farre otherwise which being aplied or vsed in medicine drieth vp and burneth The like dissent is in porcions of ground with diuers Inhabitants of opposite quarters Climates which by commoÌ„ name they cal earthes as in Samia is a most tough earth like to that natural Lime which is called Bitumen But let vs come to Brimstone which is the father of Mettals as Mercurie or Quicksiluer their Mother Brimstone saith Harmolaus in Greeke is called Theion Isidore will haue it called Sulphur for that it soone renneth on fire It groweth as they both agree in the yâ—es of Aeolia betweene Sicilie Italie that is best that groweth in Melus a towne of Thessalie which Nicius the Althenien captaine wanne by famishing the inhabitaunts Further it groweth within the Hilles of Neopolitane companions of those which be called Leucogei Harmolous saith that there be foure kindes heareof The first which is called Apuron liue Alume this is solide and most massey almost on clottes which kind onely Phisicions vse The second which is called Bolus a lumpe like mettall The third is called Egula vsed commonly of Fullers to make their wull and yarne whight The fourth which is called Cauton which they vse in the wicke of Lampes of Oyle Candels Thus much of this Quicksiluer in Greeke is called ydrargyros it is as
Cardane saith a certaine water made thick not by heate bycause it is not hardened neither by colde for then should it be eyther in the stone his kinde or else in the mettals but with most thinne and pure yearthy parte Whereby it commeth to passe that it is so heauie so cold so bright and cleare so liquide or renning It is rather mingled or tempered after a certaine sorte that his owne then congeled or compound for as much as it is both liquide and fluxible The reason he sheweth why this kinde as is also the water are in figure round for that they refuse in their felowship drought or any mixture of yearth It sercheth seketh to the very bottom of ech thing It is for his rawe mixture of some called metal Inconcret And as it is with yse which dissolueth then when it vanisheth away and doth not vanish till it be dissolued in like sorte doth this but more principally all metalles which doe endure well till that they be molten Dioscorides saith that this Quicksiluer is most found in siluer quarries or mines is then â—ound wheÌ„ Siluer is digged vp some wil haue it founde in Mines by it selfe It is best of all preserued and kept in those vessels that be of Glasse of Leaâ—e or of Tin and Siluer All other matter of whatsoeuer kinde it is of it eateth through â—loweth forth It is a deadly drincke ouerlading breaking in sunder the inwarde partes with his waight in remedie wherof many haue taken forthwith Wine and Wormewood and haue bene holpen But nowe to the second part of our first former deuision Liquores or Iuices be Oyles Wines and whatsoeuer else is watrie or of the water aire They be called Liquores for eyther being actually moistened or else by powre possibilitie ¶ But now let vs speake somewhat ingenerallye as we haue of the other two of stones which supplied in our first deuision the third rometh Of Stones some be more base and common other some more Precious and rare but the common Stone hath his name and vocable if I may so say hurtfoote for that it is in mouing from place to place iourneying the footes pain and griefe The common stone hath almost infinit kinds which offer themselues euerie where and therefore to speake of them particularly or in seuerall sort it were both tedious and without delight We mought therefore so haue sorted Stones that wee mought haue made some of them both base and common other some base but not yet common lastly of all some neither base nor common but altogither rare and precious Of the first sort are all these that are so plentifull with vs and without estimation of the seconde sort is the Pumelse concrete of froth as Isidore witnesseth verie colde of nature and in working so colde as he sayeth that it beeing cast into a Hoggeshead of Wine and continuing there a while taketh from the Wine his natural heate Of the last and chiefest sorte are all such as are of greatest price for mens estimation spent on them called Gems or Iewels as is that which they call Dionysius stone in spots ruddie and be speckled round about as that of Phrygia in colour wanne in waight heauie in vertue hid and secret as that of Arabie as white as Iuorie without spot or specke as likewise the Sanguinarie which in Greeke is called Amatites which being well chafed and rubbed bleedeth After this sort it hath pleased Dame Nature thus to dally in eche kinde thereby to shewe hir cunning But now let vs go to the last part of our deuision Mettalles and those of the mettalick sort sayth Cardane lie close for the most parâ—e in Mountaines in maner like to the braunch or body of a tree and are nothing else but the earth 's hid occult Plants hauing their roote their stock or body their bough leaues be in all these partes proportionally dispersed further he sayth that both Stones and Mettals haue these foure partes as those that be necessarie to their â—eeing and increase a Roote Barcke substance and vaines The Stone his Roote sayeth he is eyther some other Stone out of the which it groweth or else the earth the Mettals Roote is eyther Mettal or some thing Meâ—allick Their rinde or barck saith he doth differ manifestly froÌ„ the rest of their substance both in outward place and hardnesse Their vaines doe appeare manifestly But thus much shall suffise vs to haue spoken of the whole as concerning diuision Now let vs come nigh eche of them and especially touch the best of them leauing the rest forasmuch as it is our purpose not to seeke in all things what may be saide of all but espeically and principallye to see what is in them especiall and principall And therefore we were about to haue named this our Booke the Aegemonie of Natures threâ— middle Daughters For that in them all that is sought forth than the which there is nothing better nothing more excellent in all the whole kinde For such is yâ— Greeke word Aegemonia as if you would say Principatus The best and chiefest of the whole Those other two that is yearthes and Liquores we purposedly omit onely couetouse to bestowe and employ in this first Booke but as briefly as we can and in order as chaunceth our trauaile and diligence in inquisition after Stones and Mettals not that which I would but that which I may for my poore skill knowledge not to teach or shew the learned howe in this point Nature hath wrought for that were as the prouerb is the Sow to Minerua But to record repeate in maner of Storie with the residue of men simple plaine And I cannot tell how it may somewhat helpe those that be learned also If they shall espie and consider but the effect and proofe of these I therefore desire a Reader not learned but vnskilfull yet rather learned then immoderate For the one wil be an impudent rayler the other although hee findeth fault yet shal a man haue him reasonable able herein to stay himselfe Thus much of this Preface nowe to the residue of our matter Farewell Our Chiefest Authors herein Aelianus Agricola Aristotle Albertus Magnus Auicen Ausonius Cardane Cicero Diascorides Harmolaus Barbarê° Isidore Iorach Laurentius Lippius Lonicer Lucane Mantuan Oppian Ouid. Plinâ—e Ruellius Remigius Solinus Theophrast Volateranus with others Psalme 104. O Lord howe meruellous are thy woorkes in wisedome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches A pleasaunt Discourse with the chiefe kindes particularlye of Precious Stones Plants Beastes Foules after the order of the Alphabet neuer heretofore in Print The first Booke Of the Adamant Stone THe Adamant is a Stone of Inde small and rare in colour like to Iron â–ª but in cleare reâ—lection and representation of image more Christall like It is founde in bignesse of a Walnut and neuer aboue It yeeldeth or giueth place to nothing neither