The seuenth Booke trea­teth of man.

THe world hath brought foorth many things, of the which man is almost the least. Hée hath clothed the Beastes, Birdes, Fishes and Trées, with skinnes, feathers, scales, barke, and otherwise. But man cō ­meth foorth all naked ready to wéepe, and lightly before fourtie dayes, he doeth not laugh: he that ought to raigne ouer the beastes on the earth, is at the beginning weaker then any, he knoweth nothing without hée be taught, nei­ther to speake nor to goe; and naturally doeth nothing but wéepe.

Naturally the beastes séeke their liuing, flie from their enemy, swimme, with many other things giuen them of nature. The Lyons doe not warre betwéene themselues, the Serpents doe not bite one another, but men studie howe to destroy one another by warres, and dissentions.

Men neuer lightly in all points resemble one like ano­ther in their faces, the which commeth by the diuersitie of the cogitations of their parentes, the which maketh their [Page]similitudes so farre vnlike: and therefore the brute beastes that haue no such varieties in their thoughtes, engender none but their like.

Men there are called Arimaspi, that haue but one eye in their forehead, which incessantly warre against the Gris­sons about mettals, and they finde in the ground golde and other mettalls. Those that are toward y^e end of the West, drinke in dead mens sculles.

In Albania, some haue their eyes yellowe, that cōmeth to them in their youth, & they sée better by night then by day.

In Affrica in some places there are a great multitude of Serpentes, whose properties they vse for the triall of their wyues chiefly, after this sort.

If the husbandes will haue probation of the honestie of their wiues: they will present their children before the Serpentes, which will stye awaye if that the children bée egitimate, but if that the Serpents remaine and feare not, then are they bastardes.

When they are bitten with Serpents, they put their spittle vpon the place for to heale it, specially their fasting spittle, for the Serpēt feareth mans spittle as hote water.

In India there are hye men, and also marueilous hye beastes, as for a witnesse there are Dogges as great as Asses, trées as hye as an Archer can scarce shoote to the top, and vnder the shadowe of one Figge trée, may a hundreth horses stande, because of the fertilitie of the lande, the tem­perance of the ayre, and the aboundance of waters, there are men fiue cubites in height, the which neuer vse to spit, nor are troubled with the paine of head, eyes or téeth, and are seldome sicke.

Others there are in the Mountaines, with heads like Dogs. In a part of India the women neuer beare children but once, whose children waxe straight way olde.

And others called Sciopedae y^t haue their féete so broade that when they are layde, they couer them therewith from the heate of the Sunne, and they be very swift in running.

Some toward the East haue no heads, but haue eyes in their shoulders, and others called Epithamai Pigmei, that are of one yarde hye.

In the farther part of India towards the East neare to the Riuer of Gangis, there is a people clad with leaues, that liue by smelling, they neuer eate nor drinke in their iour­neies, they beare floures and rootes to smell at, and they are easely killed by filthy smelles and sauours.

There are little men called Pigmei, among which the highest passe not the height of two cubites, hauing a whol­some aire and pleasant countrey where they dwell, the which men are molested with Cranes, as writeth Homer, therefore it is no maruell though often times they are ca­ried away with those Cranes.

In the spring time the Pigmei assemble together moun­ted vpon Shéepe and Goates, armed with dartes and ar­rowes, for to descende downe to the sea, and for the space of thrée monethes, consume and breake the Cranes Egges, and kil the yong ones, otherwise they would so multiplie, that those little men should neuer rest in quiet.

Some there are in the valleys called Pandore, that liue two hundreth yéeres, in their youth hauing white haire, in age their haires become blacke.

There is a people that liueth but fourtie yéeres, whose wiues doe bring foorth children at the age of seuen yéeres.

There are people that haue long hairie tailes grow­ing. These things and others hath nature made moustru­ous, for our examples.

Among the womē there are diuers childings, some haue had sixe children, some eight, and some nine, and sometime children of diuers kindes, which are called Hermaphro­dites, which are both man and woman.

There hath bene that haue had in their life time thirtie Children, and among the maruailes of the worlde, a childe being new borne did enter againe into his mothers wōbe, in the Citie of Saguntra.

And it is no fable nor tale, to haue séene women and maydes transformed into men. The females are sooner engendred then the Male, and become soonest olde, the Fe­males doe moue in their mothers wombe, most on the left side, and the males on the right side.

And Plinie reciteth to haue séene a maide, on the night of her marriage, to be naturally transformed into a man, and incontinent her beard to growe, and shée to be married a­gaine to a woman.

If that a woman bring foorth two children at one bur­then, lightly there is short life, either to the mother, or to one of her children, and if they be both Males, or Females, then are they lightly of a short life.

Among the women there is no certaine time prefixed of their trauailings with childe, for some bée deliuered in seuen moneths, some in eight, and most commonly in nyne moneths. Also sometime at ten and eleuen moneths.

Before the seuenth moneth the childe hath no life, the tenth day after shée hath conceiued. Paine in the head, a shadowe or mist before the eyes, no taste nor relisse in meates, and a vndigesting stomacke, are signes of concep­tion. That woman that bringeth foorth a Male childe, hath better colour, and easier deliuerance.

Miserable is the condition of man. For the Princes by this meanes haue their originall, and are subiect to For­tune, and hath nature as others.

We reade of a Romaine Prince that died in the mor­ning in pulling on his hose, an other died with the stinging or biting of a Grape, an other was choaked with a haire, in eating of Milke.

Scipio Affricanus was the first called Caesar, for that (Cae­sus fuit matris Vterus) his mothers wombe was opened, for him to passe out.

Of those that are cripple, lame, and conterfeite of na­ture, commeth whole limmed and perfect children, in their members: and sometimes of perfect and wel proportioned [Page]people commeth lame and vnperfect children.

A woman doeth not beare children after fiftie yéeres, there are many that ceasse at fourtie.

As touching men, we reade truely of a Prince, which at the age of foure score and sixe yéeres begate a childe.

When Cato was borne, his father was foure score yéeres olde.

Vnto children their téeth come commonly at seuen mo­nethes, the seuenth yéere they renue, for then their téeth fall, and there commeth to them others, and some are borne with téeth. And if that a dead bodie be burned, the téeth will neuer burne but remaine whole. Vnto some their téeth faile them at middle age, commonly a man hath thir­tie two téeth, and hée that hath more, is estéemed to be the longer liuer.

Zoroastes did laugh that day hée was borne, yea that with the very force of laughing he did reiecte the hand that was vpon his head, for the placing and fashioning of his head, and setling of his braines.

A man is as long from the foote to the head, as the ex­tending or spreading abroade of his armes, counting from the great fingers.

Men doe way more then women, the dead bodies way more then the liuing, and those that are a sléepe, way more then they that are awake.

Some liue without marow in their bones, and there­fore they neuer thirst, and for this cause women drinke lesse then men: and such doe neuer sweate.

It is recited of Crassus the Senatour, that he did neuer laugh. Socrates the great clarke, was neuer séene mery nor ioyfull, nor angry at one time more then at an other, and therefore mens complexions are diuers.

In Rome hath bene seene a Princesse called Antonia Drusi neuer to spitte, Pomponius neuer to belke. The strength of men hath bene great, and more in one than an­other. It is read of one that with one hande did holde a [Page]Chariot, that thrée horses could not make to goe for wards nor remoue.

Hercules, did carrie his great Mule on his backe.

Fusius Saluius did beare two hundreth on his féete, two hundreth in his hands, and two hundreth on his shoulders, so being loden or charged with sixe hundreth waight, went vpon a ladder.

Plinie writeth to haue séene one named Athanatus, to haue a iacke on his backe waying fiue hundreth waight, going to aplay with shooes on his féete waying fifty pound waight a piece.

Milo set his foote in a place, from which place, there was no man able to make him goe backe or remoue. If that he helde a staffe in his hand, there was no man able to take it away or writhe it out of his fist.

For running there hath bene many light and nimble men, that would runne a thousand a hundreth & thréescore furlongs a day and more.

Also there are some that haue their sight very singuler.

We reade of a man called Strabo, of the countrey of Si­cilia, that is toward the East, to recken and count the ships that parted from Carthage for to enter into the South sea.

Cicero did recite that he did sée the Iliades of Homer in verse written, being included in a Nut shell, so small were the figures.

Marmecides made a Cart, or Wagon so litle, that a flye did couer it. And he made a ship that a Bée might couer it with both her winges.

For a trueth there haue bene people y^t haue heard bat­tailes and fighting fiftie Leagues of, for they haue counted the time and houres of the assaultes. The memorie hath bene very singuler to some.

Cyrus King of Persie, had the memorie to know and call euery one of his armie by their names.

Methridates the king did talke one day to his people, in two & twentie languages without stutting or stammering.

Others léese their memorie by fantastes, or otherwise haue forgotten their vnderstanding.

Messalla the Orator, did forget by grieuous sicknesse his sciences yea his owne name (in such sort) that hée knewe not from whence he was.

Marueilous was y^e memorie of Iulius Cesar, the which named to foure Scribes or writers at one time, and in the meane time, he read, writ, and heard, and if he had no other affaires, he would name to seuen. He fought 52. battailes.

And Marcellus 40. Cesar in his battailes is reputed to haue slaine of his enemies 1192. thousand men.

Pompeus did spoile and take from the Pirates, and sea robbers, against whome he was sent by the Romaines 876, ships. Moreouer Cesar had this constancie, that the letters that Scipio did sende him for to betray Pompeus, hee cast into the fire, without reading them.

Cato was accused to the Senatours 42. times, and al­waies absolued. Sicinus dictator of Rome sustained sixe score battayles: he had fiue and fourtie woundes before, and not one behinde. Sergius was a worthie warrier, he deliuered Cremona from the siege, kept Placentia, tooke in Fraunce twelue Castels and Townes. He had his right hand cut off, and he made one of Iron, with the which he fought foure battailes.

Pitifull things are found worthy of memorie, thorowe all partes, among the which, it commeth to my remem­brance, of a woman taken in Rome, for to dye for offence, and being put into straight Prison there to be famished, her daughter had licence of the Iailer to goe sée her euery day, but she was searched for feare least shée should bring her mother foode.

In the ende it was founde, that euery day shée did giue her mother sucke with her breastes, and for to satissie her, she came daily.

The Senators hauing intelligence thereof, did pardon y^e mother for the vertue that was in the daughter, & did ap­point [Page]them a liuing during their liues. Marueilous are the operations of humaine creatures, among others onely of paintings, that doe resemble the liuing so neere, that there resteth nothing but the speach.

The king Attallus bought a table or picture of a Pain­ter, which cost a hundreth Markes. Caesar bought two for eight hundreth Markes.

Mans age hath bene reputed great among the ancients, which doe name Princes and Kings to haue liued eight hundreth yéeres, and a thousand yéeres, but it is by the va­rietie of yéeres, for so me make the Sommer a yéere, and the Winter another yéere, and others make thrée moneths a yéere, as the Arcadians, and you must not stay nor iudge things by the constellation of the firmament.

For in one present houre many are borne as well ser­uants as maisters, Kings and Magistrates, whose For­tunes are all diuers and contrarie.

Many examples we haue of sicknesses. Publius Corne­lius Rufus, in dreaming to haue lost his sight, became blinde and lost his sight. Some there are that liue but till middle age, and others that die in their youth, and nature doeth giue a man nothing better then short life.

To liue long the senses & vnderstanding become blunt, the whole members féele dolour, the sight, the hearing, and the going faile, the téeth also, and the instrumēts of meats: therefore age is but paine, and there is a time prefixed to liue.

We reade no better example then of Zenophilus the Musitian, that liued a hundreth and fiue yéeres without sicknesse. The signes of death, are to laugh in the furor and griefe of the maladie or sicknesse, to be busie in folding or doubling the clothes of his bedde with his handes, to voyde from one in sléeping behinde, a fearefull looke, with other things, and therefore séeing that by experience we sée innumerable signes of death, therefore there is no certain­tie. Sicknesses are diuers both to olde and yong.

Sirius died by the multitude of Serpentes procéeding from his body.

Some haue had an Ague all their life time. Mecaenas was seuen yéeres in the ende of his dayes without sléepe.

Antipater liued long without sickenesse, sauing that euery yéere on that day that he was borne, he had the ague.

We reade of one that liued 157. yéeres, that slept in his age 57. yéeres, and wakened as though he had slept but one houre. Others that haue returned a foote from their graue, when they were borne to be buried.

Pompeus caused a mans head to bée smitten off, which when it was layde againe to the body, did speake an houre, both to the maister of the house, and to many others of the house. Death bringeth repentance. Some die for ioy: men in the hearing of ioyfull newes, of victories, and women to sée their children.

The father of Iulius Caesar died in putting on his hose, and felte before no harme. Some in drinking, some in wri­ting, and others in diuers maners as we daily sée by expe­rience. Aunciently the vse was among the Romaines to bury the dead, but for the often battailes of the Romaines, that had all the worlde in their subiection, they vse to burne the dead.

Among men Liber Pater found first the meanes to sell and buy, also Diademes for kings, and for triumphes.

The Lady Ceres founde the meanes to sowe corne, and to grinde it, and therefore she was called a Goddesse. For before they vsed Acornes.

The Assirians founde first the meane to write letters, but the inuention hath bene since y^e beginning of the world.

Two brethren in Athens founde first the meanes to make houses and bricks.

Gellius Doxius inuented lathing and loming of walles, for before they had Caues and holes in the grounde, and they tooke example of the Swalowes, which do make their neastes.

Cynira sonne to Agriope, foūd out mettal of copper, brasse, & of lead, he made first many hāmers therewith. Danaus was the first in Grecia y^t made welles, & digged for water. Thra­son made the first walles & towers. The Lidians found the means to dresse woolls. Arachneus found y^e meanes to make Linnen, & Cāuas. The Egyptians y^e art of medicine. Lydius to mingle & tēper mettals together. Erichtonus found siluer. Cadmeus gold in y^e moūtaine of Pangy. The Ciclopiās were the first workers of small Iron worke. Corebus y^e Athenian made earthē pots. Theodore y^e Samyan made y^e first keyes. Palamides y^e measures & waights. Phrigies y^e charrets & wa­gons. Penius the first trader for Marchandise. Aristeus to make oyle and hony. Briges of Athens did first yoke Oxen to Cart and Plough. The Lacedemonians founde Har­nesse, and habilimēts for warre, Laūces, Spears, swords, Bucklers, &c. Cares y^e Bowe & Arrowes. The Phenitians y^e crosse bowes. Belerophons first moūted vpō horses. Palami­des in y^e warre betwéene the Grekes & the Troyans, found y^e order of Stādarts, signes, penuōs, streamers, to giue war­ning & to kéepe watch. Iason did first sayle on y^e Sea in long Ships, or Galleys. Before y^e time there were made little ones of wood, & hydes: & since that time some haue added to thē masts, sayles, cabels, tackelings, & many other things, that we sée by y^e experience to be necessarie. The first Dials were made at Rome w^e water, according to y^e course of the Sunne, & since they are reduced to houses & Churches, as it is séen at this present, which was very agreable to y^e Ro­maines. Finally, among al y^e knowledge y^e man hath (Plinie) thinketh this to be the chiefest point, for man to know him selfe, of what estate soeuer he be.

The eight booke treateth of beastes that are on the Earth.

IN the Earth there is no beast greater then the Ele­phant, they haue knowledge to vnderstande their Coun­trey speache, they haue obedience and vnderstande their dueties and charges, they neuer passe the Sea tyll [Page]that their master or gouernour doth promise to bring them home againe, they knéele down for to be loden; & carrie the Ladies litters in feare, prudence & equitie: their téeth are of Iuorie, w^e their other bones there are made goodly woorks, they are full of clemencie, & if they chaunce to finde a man strayed out of his way, they knowe it, and will leade him through y^e Forrest into his way: but if they finde a cōpany of men séeking to chase thē, then naturally they know their enemies, as other beasts do. The Females neuer haue but one yong in their liues, they liue 200. & 300. yéers, they loue the shallow & cleare waters, for because of their greatnesse they can not swim, they eate stones & earth, they feare cold, they will cast to y^e ground w^t their fronts or foreheads, trées for to eate y^e fruit. Among y^e beasts they hate Mire, & Rats, and they will not féede where as they haue runne & tasted. They increase in y^e borders of Affrica, & the greatest in In­dia, where as there are Dragons so puissant y^t they sight to the Elephāts. They are tanied by famine, & when they are tamed, they cary Castels on their backs in stead of saddles, wherin there may stād six or eight mē, & toward y^e East thei make in thē the most part of their battails, although y^t they being wounded or hurt do retire. There were Elephāts at Rome, but they were slaine w^t shot, for the Romains would not nourish thē, nor giue them to Princes. The Ethiopians make thē their venison, & they kill thē w^t shooting & casting darts, which they cast on thē standing in trées, where y^e E­lephants vse to passe, or els they take thē in holes or caues in the earth couered aboue, they neuer lie down, but sléepe leaning against great trées, & they y^t knowe their repaire, wil sawe y^e trée so far, y^t when they come to rest thē against the trée, it breaketh, & they fal downe, then they kil thē, (for being once down, they cā neuer rise again.) The blood of E­lephāts is very cold, & therefore y^e Dragōs & Serpents in y^e countrey do assemble vnder their eares & on their bodies, & sucke from them so much blood, that they therewith die.

Dragons there are in Ethiopia, of ten fadoms long, and [Page]in India, there haue bene founde Serpentes of a hundreth foote long, and some will flye in the ayre to catch birdes in flying.

In Affrica there are a great number of wilde horses, and in Asia great Asses like vnto Mares, but for their long eares. So writeth Aristotle the wise, which was appoin­ted by Alexander the great, to describe the diuersitie and nature of beastes.

The Lyon is ful of noblenesse & clemencie, the Lionesse for the first time bringeth forth fiue, the next yéere after foure, then thrée, and when she bringeth but one, then shée ceasseth. The yong ones are two moneths without mo­uing, and sixe moneths before they can goe, they doe sooner assaile men then women, and neuer yong children, vnlesse it be for great famine.

In their age they loue and followe men, when that they can no more séeke their pray, and they liue till their téeth fall out. By their clemencie they demaunde nothing of those that prostrate them selues before them, and their yre is mitigate by prayers, as we haue séene by the experience of women that name them selues strangers, and poore va­gabondes, but they are fierce to those that striue against them, their taile doeth demonstrate their amitie and furor, as doeth the eares of horses. When they are chased they neuer hide them, they knowe and pursue among others those that hurt them.

The female if that her yong ones are taken, closeth her eyes against those that chase them, to the end that she feare not their weapons.

Hanus was the first that daunted or tamed their fierce­nesse, and they are taken in holes that are made of purpose in the grounde. In Syria they are all blacke.

The Panthers are also full of clemencie. Wée reade that if the Female méete a man strayed or lost in the woodes, that fléeth for feare of her, shée will compasse him mouing w^t her taile, shewing vnto him a signe of amitie & [Page]loue, and after that hee is assured, she will leade him into a caue or hole, where as are fallen her yong ones by mis­fortune, which the man pulleth out, and then she tumbletly and playeth before him to giue him thankes.

The Tygres are very light and nimble, therefore those that steale their yong ones, as soone as the female findeth them lost, she smelleth their way and runneth after them, and when she is spied of those that haue their yong ones, they let one of them fall, the which shée taketh vp, and ca­rieth it to her repayre, and in the meane time, they escape with the rest, and bring them to their shippes.

Camels they are driuen to pasture toward the East as we doe shéepe.

Wilde Dogs haue handes and féete almost like men.

In the North part there are marueilous swift beastes, which haue the vpper lippe so long, that when they will féede they goe backwarde.

The Wolfe before he be séene, will easely drawe from a man his breath, they couple not with the females, but xij. dayes in the yéere. There are wilde Wolues, which in eating of their pray, if they turne once about, forget their pray, and goe againe to séeke another.

Among the Serpents the Bassalicke doeth infect and kil people with his looke.

There are innumerable kindes of others, whereof some haue double heads at both endes, for to cast venime. For the biting of an Aspis, there is no remedy but to cutte that that he hath touched.

The Cocodrils are ingēdred in Nylle, a Riuer of Egypt which haue foure féete, the skinne very hard, and they haue no mouing but the vpper lippe, and they make as many egges as Géese, and they haue sharpe clawes for their de­fence, in the day they remaine on the earth, and the night in the waters, whē they open their throte in sléeping, there are little birdes called Trochilos that will picke and clense their téeth, in the which they take great delight.

The Stork doeth shew the maner how to take glisters, for by her nature she filleth her necke with water, and be­hind with her beacke, maketh infusion into her belly for to clense her.

And many other beastes naturally knowe the herbes that for them are most proper.

The Swallow knoweth howe to finde an herbe called Chelidonia, which serueth for her yong ones, when their eyes are endamaged.

Of little beastes we finde Cities destroyed and people driuen away. In Spayne with Conies. In Thessaly with Moles. In Fraunce with Frogs. In Affricke with Lo­custes. In the Ile of Ciclados with Rats. In Italy with Serpentes. In Ethiopia with Scorpions.

Hyena is said to be a beast of double nature, Male and Female, they will hearken at the Cottes of shepheards, & learne the proper name that a man is called by, and calling him, when the man is come forth, they will straightway kill him, and they will call Dogges. They are founde in Affrica, which is the cause of so many wilde Asses, that they ingender, the Males doe correcte the yong ones by biting, they will cut the trées along the Riuers, as with a knife, they haue tayles like to fishes.

Déere that are oppressed with Dogges, if they can finde no water for their refuge, then they retire to man: the Fe­male beare eight wéekes, and oftentimes two, and for to bring them foorth, they séeke secret places, not néere the hye wayes accustomed by men.

The Hinde teacheth her yong ones to runne, to feare, and to leape, the Males that haue left the Females, haue their mussell blacke, when they knowe them selues heauy, they séeke secret places, they will stande still to heare the cry of the Dogs, they runne with the winde, to take away the smell of the trase, they reioyce to heare whistling, and to heare a noyse of singing.

Moreouer the Hart is simple, and all things are to him [Page]marueilous, if that he see a man with a bowe, or a crosse bowe, he looketh more on them, then on the mā, the Males haue hornes, and in the spring time they cast their hornes, that day that they léese their hornes, they hide them selues as all astonied & sorowfull, as they that haue lost their ar­mours.

It is sayde that the right horne can not bee founde, for that they hide them in the ground. At the burning of the hornes, the Serpents flye away: their hornes grow till they be thrée score yéeres old, and the said time passed, there commeth vp others like, and thē they neuer fall after that: there is no knowledge of their age, but their age is knowē, by their téeth, they being without hornes féede in the night and when their hornes beginne to come, they will butte and runne against the trées, they liue a hundreth yéeres, they neuer haue the Feuer or Ague, and therefore some dames alwayes delight to breake their fast with Venison, by the which meanes they haue liued a hundreth yéeres without hauing the Ague.

Camelion liueth not but by the ayre, and chaungeth his colour according to the thing he toucheth, sauing white and redde, they ingender in Affrica, and in India.

The Beares doe ioyne with the Females, in the be­ginning of Winter, not as other foure footed beastes doe, for the Male and the Female lye downe embracing, and after that they doe retire in sundry caues, and the Female doeth bring forth her yong ones within thirty dayes, and most cōmonly bringeth fiue, which haue the skinne white, deformed without haire, and eyes, and there appeareth but their clawes, in licking of them they are figured.

There is nothing so little of man, as to sée the Beare bring foorth her yong, she hideth her foure monethes, and the Male fourtie dayes, they couche or lye vppon soft leaues, and the first fourtéene dayes they sléepe so soūdly, y^t you shall scarce waken them with strokes, then they fatten much, and their fatte or grease is conuenable to many [Page]medicines, also to kéepe haire from sheading.

They being weakened for the most part stande vp, and liue with the licking of their fore féete, they warme their yong against their breasts, they haue little blood about the heart, and lesse in the body, they haue little eyes, and as fe­ble or weake heads as the Lyon hath strong, therefore they defend their heades with their fore féete, when they fall and leape from the Rockes, or when they are bayted with Dogges. The Dogges among all other beastes that vnto vs are common, are most faithfull.

We haue true histories of men that haue bene defen­ded from théeues by their Dogges, others haue fought to reuenge their maisters death, and constrained the murthe­rer to confesse the déede.

Two hundreth Dogs did rescue by force the king Gara­mantus, being taken by the hands of his enemies.

Many people haue assembled Dogges together for the warre. We reade of Dogges that haue cast them selues into the fire, when in times past their maisters body haue bene burned.

We reade also of a Dog of Nicomedes the king of By­thinia, to haue almost torne the Quéene in pieces, for that she played familiarly with the king, the Dog thinking it had bene for harme.

A Senatour of Rome, was defended by his Dogge on a night, retourning to his house, from the handes of those, that would haue put him to death.

At Rome a prisoners Dogge would neuer depart from the prison doore, and when his maister was dead, he would eate nothing, and when bread was giuen him he brought it to his maisters mouth. The same Dog was séene open­ly to holde vp his maisters body being cast into the Riuer of Tyber. They know their maister, and vnderstand his voyce, aboue all other beastes they doe best knowe a mans voyce, and their names, they doe remember the wayes and iourneyes be they neuer so farre off, and there is noue of so [Page]long a memorie (except man.) In their chase they haue great diligence, specially houndes.

In India they tie proude Bitches to trées, and the Ty­gres do couer them, by the which meanes, commeth fierce and cruell Dogges.

The king of Albania did giue to Alexander the great, a Dogge of marueilous highnesse, which would take Lyons and Elephants. The Females haue whelpes thrée times a yéere lightly, and they carrie them two monethes, they are borne blinde, they can not see till seuen dayes after they be whelped: If she bring but one whelpe, it séeth not till the ninth day, the better whelpe is that that the Bitch bringeth out first, or that that seeth last.

Horses are faithfull, and full of great knowledge, for they knowe their maisters, and they that attende on them. Many are singuler in their doings, the Males liue till fifty yéeres, and the females lesse, at sixe yéeres the males grow no more, and the females but fiue yéeres. Among the beastes they haue least fertilitie.

The most egrest and fiercest Horses, put their nose mus­sell déepest in the water to drinke, and haue almost as many diseases as men. Asses there hath bene bought for foure hundreth Crownes.

In Acaia they are much requested to haue Mules. They feare colde, the Males are very slowe in their worke, they doe beare as doe Mares, and in thirtie mo­neths the yong ones are ready to helpe them selues. After they are horsed they must be constrained to runne, or else they would reiect the séede by making water.

The females beare all their life, which is thirty yéeres, they be afrayde to wette their féete, and they neuer drinke but in small and shallowe waters, where they are accusto­med to drinke drie footed, the Females doe hide themselues when they bring foorth, in darke places, that they bee not séene of men, they will not passe the bridges when the Sunne shineth in the water, it is marueil that they runne [Page]not mad for thirst, for he that dayly chaungeth their water or Riuer accustomed to drinke at, must constraine them perforce to drinke.

The little Mule is ingendred of the Asse and of the Mare. The Mules that commeth of a Horse and of a she Asse, are beastes full of strength and labour.

The Asse that couereth the Mare bringeth forth afore her time, if she before haue retained the horse, but not else, the seuenth day the females shoulde bée filled, after their foale is borne, the Males fatigated of labour, doeth sooner replenish the Females.

Some of them are not like to their Syres, and the Mule of her nature is barren, sauing that in Capadocia they beare, by force of drinking wine, often times y^e Mules ceasse from casting or striking.

The Athenians knowing for a trueth a Mule to haue done seruice fourescore yéers, did ordaine, that in the fields none should desturbe him, neither in y^e corne nor otherwise.

The Oren liue twentie yéeres, and the Kine common­ly fiftene yéeres, at fiue yéers they haue takē their strength: it is said that to wash them with warme water they will fatten, the strength of the Bull is at thrée yéeres: for to make them drawe, it is good to yoke them with a drawing Ore, for he will teach the other.

In times past among the Romaines, it was estéemed as great offence to kill an Ore, or to steale one, (because of their ploughes,) as it was to kill a man.

The Bull requiring combat, sheweth magnanimitie of courage and gentilitie, he turneth the head, lifteth vp the cares, remaineth on his foreféete, and maketh the dust to die with his hinder féete.

At Rome hath bene séene an Ore speake. The Ore of Egypt hath a kyrnell called Apis vnder his tongue, and a white spotte on the right side, which groweth as the hornes of the Moone. The nature of shéepe is that they liue not aboue nine or tenne yéeres, the Males couple with the Fe­males [Page]in the middest of May, till the middest of August, the Females beare a hundreth and fiftie dayes.

The Ram if the right genitorie be bounde, maketh all Females, and if the left be bound in the season, maketh all Males. If ye looke vnder the Tuppe or Rammes tongue, he doeth ingender Lambes of the colour that the vaynes are, if they be of diuers colours, he ingendreth Lambes of diuers sortes.

Also the mutation of waters, doeth varefie the colour of Lambes, also the windes. It is esteemed not good to cut or gelde Lambes before fiue monethes, and commonly the Females bring forth not aboue foure Lambes.

Goates conceiue commonly two kiddes, and sometime foure, they beare fiue monethes as doe shéepe, they become barren with fatnesse, & they ingender not before the fourth yéere, they conceiue in Nouember, for to bée deliuered in March, when the trées beginne to budde: the Goate fea­reth cold, euery one of these beasts haue not hornes, but the milke of those that haue no hornes, is fatter then those that haue, and those that haue hornes, their age is knowen by the knots in their horns, they aspire through the eares, and not by their nose, and they are neuer without Feuers or Agues, because of the heate of their bodies, which ma­keth them much subiect to lechery, they sée as well by night as by day, they haue all deardes on their chinne, if one of them be taken or driuen, all the rest will marueile thereat, if they croppe or bite a yong trée, it dieth, and if they lick an Oliue trée, it will drie away.

Among the swine the Sowe doth farrowe two times a yéere, and sometime they haue twentie Pigges, but they cannot nourish so many: the tenth day y^e Pigges haue téeth: in once knowing the Bore they are filled, but they double it for feare not to haue retained.

Some thinke that if they léese an eye that they wil soone die, otherwise they liue til fiftéene or twenty yéeres, y^e most fattest haue least milke, they willingly wallowe in y^e durt [Page]and myre, and couch most on the left side, they fatten in six dayes, they know their maisters house, and defend one an other, for if that one cry, all the rest will runne thither.

Among the wilde Bores, the male hath great payne to acquaint him with the Female, and she hath great dolour to make her yong ones: they are borne with téeth, and are blacke.

In Arabia they can not liue, neither wilde nor yet tame.

Apes doe approch much to the sense of man, and their kinde is, to haue no tayles, these kinde of beastes, are much affectioned to their yong ones, they kepe them or holde thē alwayes betwéene their armes or legges, before their breastes, whereby many times they kill them: they haue beard on their chinne. And some in Ethiopia haue tailes, that can liue no where els.

Of Hares there are diuers kindes, in the hie Moun­taines, there are white ones, & in Winter they liue with snowe. It is said that a Hare is as olde as there are pur­gings or voydings in her belly, they haue both kindes, and ingender one with another, and the Hare alone is meate vnto men, beastes and foules, and therefore hée is euer in feare, and goeth more by night then by day.

Conies are of another kinde, the Males haue great de­sire to eate the yong ones when they are borne, but the Fe­male hideth them, and they make great multiplication.

Many sortes of beastes there are on the earth, that doe mingle one kinde with another.

Among the beasts, Origes haue the haire long alwayes, tending towards the head, and of other beastes the haire tendeth towardes the tayle.

Mice are ingendred on the earth. We reade that when Hanibal had besieged a Towne, a Mouse was sold for two hundreth Crownes, the seller died for famine, & the buyer did escape the hunger. The old Mice are nourished of the yong ones, by great clemencie.

In Affrica there is neither Déere, wilde Bores, Goates, [Page]nor Beares. In other places neither Wolues, nor Foxes. In some places there are no Hares, in other places no Co­nies. And in other places there is great diuersitie of beastes, that are not in other places.

The Scorpions or Serpents doe sooner hurt strangers, then the Countrey inhabitantes.

The ninth Booke treateth of Water beastes, and of Fishes.

IN the Sea there are many great beastes, aswell as on earth for the moisture thereof, and because it is more lar­ger and bigger. Also there is many monsters and di­uersitie in many fishes, for they couple in many kindes, and there is the similitude of all kinde of beastes on the earth, and rather more.

Whales are the most greatest and grossest beastes in the Sea, there are of two hundreth yardes long. In many places there are rib bones of Whales of twenty yardes.

Alexāder the great was afrayed to méete them, least his Nauy should haue perished. In the Sea there are Eeles thrée hundreth foote long.

In the night there commeth many fishes out of the Sea, that wil eate the corne in the fields, & after returne againe.

There is in the Sea Mermaides that haue bene séene, and some that haue the shape of men, and their voyce like vnto mens voice, hauing the body of mans shape, and the lower parts scaled like fishes, with a taile.

And there are Wolues, Horses, Asses, Hogges & other sea beastes, as on the earth. If the fishes aspire and respire as other beastes, there are diuers opinions.

Plinie doeth beléeue that the most part sléepeth & respi­reth, except those that haue no liuer, and in stéede of blood haue humor.

The Dolphin is the most swiftest fish in the Sea, and most hardest to be taken: euery one foloweth his like, they [Page]haue yong in ten monethes in Sommer, and nourish them as doe the Whales, the olde ones carry the yong ones, and there is alwayes a great Dolphin, that followeth the little one, they haue the tongue mouing like a Hog.

Aboue the nature of other fishes, they loue yong childrē, and the sounde of Instruments, they liue three hundreth yéeres, and they haue their greatnesse at tenne yéeres, they reioyce when one calleth them Symon, and they loue hu­maine voyce.

Many examples are both séene and reade of little chil­dren, that they haue caried by Sea on their backes and brought backe againe without doing them any harme.

Shell fishes are so great in some places, that with their shelles they couer their houses.

The beastes of the Sea haue diuers clothings, some are couered with leather, and with haire, as the Sea calfe, some onely with leather as the Dolphins, others with great thicke and harde shelles, other softer shelles, as Oy­sters, Cockles, and Muscles, that haue no heads, others with sharpe prickles, as the Ecchinus called the Sea Por­cupen, others with scales, as Carpes and many other fish, others with rough skinnes with the which they shaue fine wood and Iuory, some with soft skinnes, and others that haue none.

The Sea calfe which is clothed with skinne and haire, they ioyne Male and Female together as Dogges, and they neuer haue but two at a burthen, they nourish their yong ones with their pappes or tettes, and are deliuered on the lande, and within twelue dayes after they bring thē to the Sea.

The Sea calfe, is more grieued and more constrained to sléepe then any other beast, and therfore their skinne put on a mans head, doeth prouoke him to sléepe.

Great is the diuersitie of beastes, in some there is nei­ther bone nor thorne, and of many kindes there is no male.

Among the fishes the Females are greater then the [Page]Males, there are some that haue their scales tending to­wards their heads, cleane cōtrarie to the nature of others.

Some there are that goe alwayes to sléepe vpon the drie lande.

The Whale maketh her yong ones aliue without egs.

Eeles liue commōly eight yéere, they will liue six daies without water, specially when the winde is at West, and lesse with other windes.

In Winter they couet déepe and cleare waters, and swimme in the bottome, they féede in the night, and they of all other fishes, slote not aboue water when that they are dead. In the Lake of Verone they are taken by thou­sandes. Some kinde of fishes rendreth their yong ones aliue, others that flye by the Sea, as the Sea swallowe.

Some make egges and couer or sit on them, as doe the foules in the ayre, so doeth the Sea kite, a foule called Lu­cerna, of the propertie of his name, séeketh y^e maine Seas, whose tongue shineth or glistereth, as may well be séene in a faire and calme night.

The Dragon of the Sea, as soone as she is taken and brought to land, she maketh incōtinently an entery or hole in the sande, that shée might be lost. Some fishes haue no blood, and haue their heads in their bellies betwéene their féete, & with their feete they cast meate into their mouths.

The Sea Locusts hide them selues for the space of fiue monethes, and swimme in the spring time, they battaile betwéene themselues with their hornes.

If they be put aliue into hote water for to séeth, they will be tender.

The Sea Creuices liue in Rockes and stony places, & there are very great ones.

In Sommer and in the Spring they fatten, and in the full Moone, and they augment & diminish with the Moone, they are of a long life, & they haue all eight féete. The Fe­males haue the first foote folded or double, and the Males single, and they créepe as much backward as forward.

Cockles haue two little hornes wherewith they féele the way, for they haue no eyes.

The fishes ioyne Male and Female, ioyning their bel­lies, then the female rūneth or swimmeth away, touching with her mussell the belly of the Male, and the Males eate the Females Egges, for if all the Egges should profite, the Sea, Riuers, and Pondes, would be filled with fish, there would be such an innumerable multitude.

The Sea Mouse maketh her Egges on the lande, and couereth them with earth, and thirtie dayes after doeth vncouer them, and bringeth her yong ones into the Sea.

Some fish liue thrée score yéere, as by the experience of markes put on them. Some fishes there are that liue on the lande, when that in Sommer, the Riuers and poudes are dried vp, and some will goe feede in the corne, and on the lande, tarying for the water, and such is the nature of some, to liue on the earth with wormes.

There are certaine fishes with sharpe prickles on their backes, that will cut the line of fishers Nettes.

Other fishes that are called Sea starres, doe burne o­ther fishes by their great heate.

In the Sea there is warre among the fishes as among the foule in the aire, for one féedeth not with another.

The tenth Booke treateth of the Foules of the Ayre.

IN Affrica and Ethiopia, there are birdes that are cal­led Struthiocameli, as hie as a man on horsebacke, which doe not forsake the earth, but runne faster then horses.

The Phenix liueth in Arabia, I say not that hée is a­lone, but neuer man sawe him eate, he liueth sixe hundreth yéeres, and in his age maketh a Nest of the braunches of spice trées, wherein he dieth, and of his bones commeth a worme, the which afterwarde natarally becommeth a Phenix. He is as great as an Eagle, the feathers about [Page]his necke are of the colour of golde, the taile yellowe, and the surplus like to Azure.

Eagles there are of sixe kindes, some liue with their pray on the earth, other in the water, that fishe with one foote, they haue the knowledge to take Whelkes, and other shelled fish vp into the ayre, & then let them fall, to breake their shelles, for to haue the fish, they cause their yong ones to looke vp into the Sunne beames, and cast those out of the Neast that will not beholde the Sunne, as bastards: they die in their age, because that their vpper bill doth growe so long that they can not eate, they fight against Déere and a­gainst the Dragons, and in flying they cast dust that they take vp on the lande, in the eyes of Crowes & other beastes for to blinde them.

The Cuckoe resembleth to y^e colour of the wood Doue, they are killed of others of their kinde, they change their voyce, and come in the spring time, and doe alwayes bring vp their yong ones in other birdes nestes, specially in the nestes of stock Doues, she neuer lightly maketh aboue one egge, and very seldome two, because she knoweth that shée is hated of all other birdes. They thinke them selues very fayre, and dispraise others, and there is no flesh swéeter thē theirs.

The Kite is alwayes a reuenging foule: it séemeth by the remouing of their taile, that they that haue learned to guide or gouerne the ships by the Helme, haue learned by her. Crowes will breake or cracke nuttes, with often letting them fall in flying.

The Rauens ingender by the mouth, as some suppose, as doe Doues: it is an euill token or signe when that they cry as though they were choked.

The night Owles doe defend them selues from other foules, with their bill and clawes, because they are hated they flye in the night, in winter they sléepe two monethes, and they haue nine maner of voyces.

Among the flying beasts, some haue fingers and nailes, [Page]and other flatte & brode féete, as Géese, Duckes, Swannes, and others liuing for the most part in the waters.

The proud Pecocke spreadeth abrode his feathers, spe­cially against the Sunne, to make them shine, & then put­teth them down together: his taile shedeth as the leaues on trées, and commeth againe with the spring, when he hath no taile, he doeth hyde him selfe as ashamed, at thrée yéeres his tayle beginneth to colour, and liueth xxv. yéeres, his féete are fowle, and his voyce fearefull.

The Cocke knoweth the starres, & when the day daw­neth he riseth, and goeth to rest when the Sunne is sette, by his crowing hée giueth warning of the houres in the night, and waketh those that goe to their labour, he is king of beasts that are in y^e house of his bignesse, & fighteth with his spurres: if he haue the masterie, he will sing or crow, if hée be vanquished, hée hydeth him selfe: hée is stoute in his going, and maketh the Lyon afrayde: hée beholdeth the Sunne more then any other birde: if he be kerued or gelded, he will not crowe, being kerued he will soone waxe fatte. The Goose kepeth y^e Romains Capitol, it hath bene recited of a Goose that hath followed his maister from Swecia, to Rome: their feathers are pluckt twice a yéere, with Goose grease is made many good oyntments.

Cranes they flie hie, they doe elect one whome they fol­lowe, there are among them Sergeantes, which make thē kéepe order in their assemblies, in the night they sléepe the head vnder their wing, and one legge vnder their feathers, and sustaine them selues with the other. Those that are appointed to make watche, holde a stone in one of their clawes, for to waken those that sléepe, when he letteth the stone fall into the water.

The Storkes goe their wayes in the Sommer, and none knoweth whether, nor from whence they come, aswel as Cranes, the one commeth in Sommer, and the other in winter, they assemble for to take their flight, but no man euer sawe their congregatiōs, for that is done in the night, [Page]without noyse. They assemble in Asia at a certaine day, & he that is last come, is killed and torne in pieces, and then they take their flight. The Swannes eate Serpents, and therefore there is as great paine to kill them, as to kill a man, the yong ones doe nourish the olde.

The Quailes come by night, and in daunger of mari­ners when they aproche the lande, because of their great multitude. In time of raine, or of a great winde, they neuer passe the Seas, in winter they cast their feathers, so doeth the Turtle.

Swalowes liue with flesh, they are so swift, and turne so suddainly, that no other foules can get them for to féede on, and they will féede in flying.

Swallowes tarie but halfe a yéere, some chaunge their voyces, and their feathers mount euery yéere. The Iay lo­ueth to steale Gold and Siluer. In some places there are no Partriges. In Rhodes there are no Eagles.

At Rome in the house of Hercules, there entreth neither Dogge, nor flyes.

And so it is, that in many places there is great diuersi­tie of birdes.

Along the Sea coastes in some places there are birdes that liue with fish, and euery one of them maketh seuen Nestes, and in euery Nest yong ones, but their Nestes are so harde, that they can scarce be broken, and there is no way into the Nestes but one little hole for the Dame to come in and out, and their Nestes are of Thornes, that are ranged one against another, with earth and feathers, and they are seldome séene. There are Swallowes of diuers kindes, there are some called Marlions y^e make their nests six foote in the ground. Birdes haue marueilous great in­dustrie, and knowledge in making their Nestes, with fea­thers, earth, and chaffe, haire, wooll, mosse, and such like.

Also they carry water to temper it, and to fortifie it, by the which meanes their yong ones are sure and safe against the raine, the dames doe clense and make cleane the nestes [Page]from ordure, when their little ones are yong, and when they become great, they force them to come foorth of their nestes for to be cleane.

And in India, some foules seeke Hares skinnes to make their nestes.

The Partridge so maketh her nest, that the wilde beastes can not finde them, and where she layeth her Egs she hatcheth not her yong, fearing that her oft frequenta­tion should be knowen.

The Female for the intemperancie of lust of the Male, séeketh to deceiue him, because if she be vpon the nest, hée will breake her Egges. The Males doe fight, for the Fe­males. At the cry or singing of the Female, the Male run­neth so blinded, that he will sometimes strike against the foulers head, he is so much subiect to imbicilitie, more then any other birde.

The Female when she heareth any approch her yong ones, she faineth to haue her winges broken, that shée can not flye, and cryeth that she may be heard, for to retire the people and Dogges, to the ende they finde not their nestes, and she flyeth a farre of from her little ones, and they liue, by common estimation, till sixtene yéeres.

The Doues are chaste and leaue not their dwelling or remaining place, if they are not without makes, they doe suspect adulterie: by this meanes they quarrell with their throte, and fight with their bill, thē they flatter with their féete. The Male is as carefull toward the yong ones, as the Female: at the first they bring their yong of the salt of the earth, for to temper their appetite, and they conceiue by the bill. The Pigeons and Turtles drinke as doe hor­ses, without often pulling their bill out of the water when they drinke: they liue about eight yéeres, but the wilde Doues liue thirtie yéeres.

The Sparrow liueth not aboue a yéere, and the Female liueth somewhat more, because of the frequentation that they haue together.

Birdes flie in diuers kindes, some go, some leape, some runne, and some cast their féete forewarde before they flye, as Cranes and Sorkes, and there are none but Drakes, that flye bolt vpward at the first leape, others aduance thē before they flye. Some haue no féete, and haue no rest but in their nest.

Hennes haue vnderstanding, and when they haue laide an Egge, they cackle and make a noyse.

The Cardnelis doth those things, that shée is comman­ded.

The Popingay can speake humaine speach, they come from the Indians, they haue their head as hard as their bill, they liue most commonly with Acornes, and they speake best that haue fiue clawes on their féete, they are taught se­cretly where as there is no other noyses but the teachers.

Crowes haue bene séene speake, and call noble men by their names, specially one in Rome, which by that meanes was solemnely buried.

It is easier to tame a Lyon, an Eliphant, or any other great beast or foule, then to tame a Mouse or a Swallow.

Strabo was the first that did cage birdes, which before had libertie in the Sky: he taught the way to fatten Ca­pons, with meale and milke.

Among the birdes many haue foure féete, and some lay many egges, some foure, and some two. They ioyne toge­ther in two maners, the Cranes, with their height. And Hennes and other Females the Cockes tread them down. Some egges, and the most part are white, others coloured, and others red, as the egges of Fesantes: and all kinde of egges within are of two colours, white and red.

Egges of fishes are round, and they haue no white, she Egges of feathered foules liuing on the water are rounde, and of others long: the yong ones come out of the shell at the round ende.

Horace saith that the longest egs haue the best sauour, & that Hen is best and most tenderest, that laieth round egs,

Some birdes ingender at all times, as Hennes that lay euery day an egge, some two at a time, and some so many that therewith they dye.

In some places Doues ingender ten times in a yéere.

In Egypt the Turtle twice a yéer, and other birdes but once a yéere.

As touching Egges, there is a red droppe in the mid­dest of the yolke, the which maketh the birdes harte, and it is the first formed, and of the white is formed the body, and within the Egge the head is greater then the body, and li­ueth with the surplus of the yolke: the twenty day he hath life and crieth within the Egge, and then the feathers be­ginne to come.

The yong one in the Egge lieth after this sort, it hath the head vnder the right foote, and the right wing vpon the head, and they growe on their féete, contrary to the nature of other beastes.

Ye ought not to giue a Henne aboue xxv. Egges to coue on, and those Chickens that are hatched about the begin­ning of the yéere, are the best.

For to sette Hennes to broode, take egges of ten dayes olde, for they are better then older, or more fresher, and ye ought to put odde: when the Henne hath coued foure dayes, in looking on them in the Sunne, ye shall knowe whether they be good or no, or in puting them in warme water, for the good Egge will sinke to the bottome, and those that are putrified and naught, will flotte and swimme. If the eggs are neuer so little craised y^e are sette, they wil neuer proue.

It is best to set Hennes to coue in the newe Moone, for if they are set in the wane of the Moone, or at the full, they will profite little. When the weather is hote, Chickens will come within one and twenty dayes, and if it be colde, not til fiue and twenty dayes. If it thunder the egs that are coued wil be lost, & also at the voice of the Rite or Puttock.

The remedy against the thunder, is to put a naile in the Hennes nest, or els of the earth of a Cart whéele.

It hath bene recited of a Cock, which after the Hennes death hath atchieued couing, and by this meanes to ceasse from crowing.

The Ducke meruaileth at the first to sée her Duck­lins, but after most carefully she calleth them together, and lamenteth if she sée them drowned in the water, and some there are that can make Chickens come in warme water, as well as if the Egge were coued.

The pip commeth lightly vnto pullaine, betwéene har­uest and the vintage: for a remedy therefore, it is good to let them hunger, and to giue them little meate, or to giue them to eate Garlike and butter.

Doues they lay two egges, and if they lay thrée they will hatche but twaine, they bring foorth a Male and a Fe­male, the Male first, and two dayes after the Female.

The Male is hatched in the day time, and the Female in the night, the yong Pigeons come foorth of the shell twē ­ty dayes after they are hatched, and the Female layeth egges within fiue dayes after that she hath knowen the Male. In sommer oftentimes they haue yong ones thrice in two monethes, for if the weather be hote, they conceiue in eightene dayes, and therefore in the nest is found many times egges and yong ones. And Pigeons conceiue at fiue moneths.

The Pecock at the age of thrée yéers bringeth forth yōg ones, the first yéere one, & euery yéere after she increaseth, the Male breaketh the egs to haue the Female at his plea­sure, & therefore she hideth her egs, and for one Male, shée hath fiue Females: in thirty dayes shée bringeth forth her yong ones. Géese conceiue in the water, they make their egs in the Spring: it is necessary to giue them nine or ele­uen egs to coue, at xxv. or xxx, dayes they are hatched, com­monly Swannes or such like, coue thirty dayes, the female Crowe olone coueth, and the Male féedeth her in the nest.

The Bat hath the members and wings as feathers, she bringeth two yōg ones, the which she nourisheth with the [Page]milke of her breasts.

Vipers do winde one about another in conceiuing, that they séeme to be but one Serpent, & the Female conceiueth by sucking the Males head, which shée putteth into hers.

Some Serpentes make her egges on the grounde, and then couereth them with earth, and the next yéere after bringeth foorth their yong ones.

Men are more proner to lust and fornication in Win­ter then in Sommer, and women more in Sommer then in Winter.

Beastes haue societie, and knowe when the Female will haue the Male.

Among the foure footed beastes, their smelling bringeth the operation of lecherie.

The greater the beastes are, the fewer yong they bring foorth, and the longer they beare them.

All beastes are replenished with the Male at one time though they bring neuer so many, and the yong ones lie in the females belly the ioyntes or knées against the belly.

But a yong Childe in the mothers Wombe hath his face betwéene his knées, and is like a Citie.

Rattes and Mice doe ingender by licking one another, and it hath bene séen that one hath made six score, so it com­meth to passe that by this meanes there are so many both in the fieldes, and in mens houses.

The Salamander in touching the fire doeth quench it as if it were Ise, and notwithstanding that she casteth by the mouth, which is like mike, if it touch any part of a man, the haire of his skinne will fall away, they grow as the Eagle in the water, and among them there is neither Male nor Female, and they neuer conceiue nor make egges nor yet haue yong.

Mans sense is perfect, but in séeing, the Eagle doth sur­mount him.

The Vulture to smell, and the Mole to heare, what so­euer is on the earth.

Fishes doeth both smell and sée, and yet haue neither eare nor hole in the head.

Some fishes get their pray with their téeth, others with their féete, and others with sucking and licking according to their nature.

Some liue by sucking of venime, as Serpentes, and Spiders, that haue neither blood nor heate, nor sweate, and to them néedeth no meates.

Wolues doe often times liue with earth.

Beastes doe fatten with drinking, and therefore salt for them is necessary.

Those beastes that haue their téeth close, doe lappe as Dogges in their drinking, and they that holde their téeth together doe sowpe hume as doe Oxen and Horses.

The Beare in drinking séemeth to bite the water.

In Affrica wilde beastes drinke not in the Sommer for default of water, and there are certaine beastes that neuer drinke, and yet they haue alwayes thirst within the body.

There is that haue a bladder full of liquor, in drinking thereof one shall endure long without thirst.

Birdes haue both amitie and warre amōg them selues as well as beastes on the earth.

One robbeth from the other their nestes, yong ones, Egges and meate.

All beastes hauing hart will sléepe, boeth on the earth and in the water.

A childe newe borne (to let him sléepe long) is to him nourishment, as he growes to age he sléepeth lesse, and yong children dreame in their sléeping.

The eleuenth Booke treateth of little Beastes.

NAture hath made more meruailes, and hath giuen more sense and vnderstanding to little beasts, wor­thy of more greather memorie then the great. They haue no blood, but in stéede of blood haue humiditie and moisture in the body, which maketh them giue both sound and voyce, to aspire and respire, they haue neither heart nor liuer, but only certaine bowels, and haue eyes & other sentemēts and féelings, their head moueth not with­out the body, vnlesse it be pulled off.

Among the which, the good flies or hony Bées haue sense, and labour for the publike profite, they haue among them Princes, and conductours of their counsell, and maner how to behaue them selues in their frequentations. In the win­ter they are hiddē, for that they can not resist the Snowes, windes, and frostes, they make hony and waxe, when they goe to their worke they neuer léese no time.

First they wype or rubbe their Hiue with things that are bitter, as the Gumme of trées, and other things for to take the taste from other beastes of the swéetnesse of their hony: after ward they make their chambers or dwellings, then they make their yong ones without corruption, and after that they make their hony and waxe, of floures, and prouide foode for winter, otherwise bitter meate full of hu­mor seperated from hony.

On nights in their voyage, when they are from their wonted place to rest, they lye their belly vpward, to kéepe their wings from the dewe. The maner of their workes is to remaine some of them at the gate or doore of their Hyue there to kéepe watch, as the custome is of a Castle: in the night they rest till the morning, except those that are ap­pointed to watch, of the which one of them in the morning goeth about making a sound or noyse, as it were a Trūpet, [Page]and then euery one departeth and flieth away if the day be faire, otherwise they continue in their house, & they knowe the disposition of times, the yong ones goe or flie abroade into the fieldes, & the old ones remaine to make the worke, or to deuide the roomes within. Some bring the flowers to the entrie of their place, others doe discharge it, & carieth it in, others bring water in their throte for to temper or giue moisture to their workes, and they deuide their offices.

Some do garnish, some pollishe, some sucke, and others make ready soode of that which is brought in, for they liue together, and doe not seperate, to the end, that equally their foode be deuided: they make double alleyes or pathes, some to come in at, and some to goe foorth by: the most hony is in the highest roome.

If there chaunce to rise a great winde whylest they are in the fieldes, then they flie close to the grounde along the hedges, and they take a little stone or earth to bée more waightier, to the ende the winde beare them not away, and lode their floures in their fore féete against their breastes.

Those that are appointed maisters or ouerséers of their house, will chastice those that are negligent and slow.

They neuer file nor make filth in their Hiue they are so cleane. In the night their watch being set, they retire into their lodging, and make a murmuring or noyse, still diminishing till that one maketh the last sound or Trūpet, flying in the midst of them, and then they ceasse off all till the morning. First they make their common houses, and then the house of their king or Captaine whome they doe elect and choose.

Among these good flyes, there are others more greater without sting, which serue at the workes, and to chafe or warme the yong ones betwéene their féete, and they are straightly corrected, and if they faile, without any remissiō.

These make their king a faire house, pinacled like a Castle, seperated from other houses.

The lodgings of the cōmon sort, haue six rowmes or cor­ners [Page]for the worke of their sixe féete, and they make them in close, darke, or raynie dayes, and at such times they fill the vpper Celles with hony, and in a faire and cléere day, they goe to the fieldes.

The maner how the yong ones are borne, there is great difficultie, for they neuer couer one another. There was a Romaine that made a hiue of cléere lanterne hornes for to sée their works, & it séemeth that they make little wormes, that become flyes, and before that they haue feathers, there is nothing that the dame desireth more to eate, when their heads are pulled of.

Their king is chosen in euery swarme or company, and they choose him that is greatest: he is knowen, for he hath a spot in the forehead. If he goe or flye to the fieldes: the others followe him as his garde, and he goeth not out of the Hiue, vnlesse that all the rest doe followe.

If he haue a wing broken or perished, hée goeth not out of the Hiue, he onely taketh no paines, but admonisheth them of their worke. If by aduise of counsell he commeth forth, euery one putteth their paine to serue him, and will carry him if he be wearie. If he haue a sting, yet he vseth it not. When they intend to depart and leaue the hiue, certaine dayes before, they murmure and make a noyse, and flye their way by tempests.

Oftentimes they be at strife for their bondes & floures, or if one Hiue haue no foode, they will spoyle another, and their king doth defende them.

If there wante vittailes, they kill or driue away those flyes that haue no sting. If their sting be once broken, they are tamed or faint hearted, as a gelded body, and can profite no more, such haue places a part for to retire them.

They hate shéepe, for they can scarce get out of their wooll. Also they hate Crabbs or Creuices, and if there be any sodden néere to their place, the smell of them will make them die.

They haue many diseases, and if any of them die, they [Page]bring him out of their rowmes, and cast him out of their Hiue as making of funeralles.

If their King die, they do more, for then they make such dolor and sorowe, that they doe nothing. By this and by to much taking off of their hony, they die often times.

They haue sense and vnderstanding to heare, and doe reioyce, and at the sound of a Basan they will assemble.

When their worke is finished they flie abroade, then returne to their Hyue or house. Their age is seuen yéeres, they neuer touch any Carion, as Crowes Kites, and other flyes doe. Their hony commeth as it were a sweate from heauen, spittle from the starres, or liquor from the ayre, when in the spring time the saide moisture falleth on the leaues and the Dew, and the Bées receiueth it, and carieth it into their Hyue.

The hony at y^e first is as cleare as water, it boyleth like newe wine, and purgeth, the twentie day it fatteneth, then it hardneth, and casteth a little skinne like a scumme, there is wayes how to get the hony, for want of foode causeth the Bées to disperse and flye their wayes, or die, and to great abundance maketh them vnprofitable, for they labour no more then is necessary or néedefull, & therefore the twelfth part is their portion that they ought to leaue them.

Of hony is made many medicinable things, seruing to eche one. Some leaue the tenth part, and if it be not full but almost emptie, ye ought not to touch it.

That hony that cleaueth together or thréedeth, is not good, but when incontinently it breaketh in taking of it, it is a good signe.

Also the good smelling hony that hath a colour like gold, and swéete in the tast, is a signe of goodnesse. The wilde hony is not so good as the other.

Spiders or Spinners haue within them such fertilitie, that they spinne beginning in the middest, and they make thréedes very subtill. They make their yong ones like wormes.

Scorpions towards the East are very venemous, and they make little wormes like Egges, of which commeth their yong ones, but in Italy they doe little harme. They byte or sting with their tayle.

Locustes or Grashoppers make egges, they goe on the ground with their clawes. The Parthians do eate them.

Also Ants make egges, of the which growe their yong ones: and as the good flyes doe congregate their workes, so they hide their soode in y^t earth, for to liue with in the win­ter. They haue knowledge how to deuide y^t great graine Acorne, and they drye them that are wet in the Sommer, they worke by night in the full Moone, one commeth to an other for their burthens, and it séemeth that in them is mu­tuall loue in the diligence of their worke.

Among other beasts they burie one another when they are dead.

The Butterflie commeth of a little worme in thrée dayes, she groweth also of wood wherein is humiditie.

There are beastes full of blood that die so soone as they are full, for behinde they haue no issue, they are ingendred vnder Oxen, and some time on Doggess.

In Cypres there growe in the furnaces, of flies great flying flies, called Piralis or Piransta, that die when they are out of the fire. And some there are called Hemorobios, that die that day that they take life. Dead flies if they be hidden or buried in ashes, will reuine. All beastes haue their hornes hollow sauing at the very end, except the Deere.

Asses in India haue one horne. Mā alone hath his eares vnmoueable. Hares sléepe with their eyes opē, so do many men which the Greekes call Corybantia.

The eyes of yong Swallowes will come againe, if they be pulled out.

The eyes of man principally doth shewe loue, furor, folly, and wisedome.

Great eyes signifie small witte or discretion. The heart liueth first, and dieth last.

A man hath eight ribbes on a side, the Hog ten, the Ser­pent thirtie. Among foules the Batte hath téeth and no other. Man groweth till he be xxi. yéeres olde. Blood pre­serueth the life of euery person: that being gone: no remedy but death. They that haue the thickest and fattest blood, are the strongest. They that haue it most fine and cleare, are the wisest. They that haue least are fearefull.

The blood of an Asse is most fattest. The blood of a Bull will soone waxe hard. The blood of Déere and Goates is not thicke nor hardneth not.

Man alone will chaunge his colour euen in a moment. The man that is hairie, is inclined to fleshly lust.

If a mās haire doth not grow nor his beard, it is a signe that he is barrē, so is the woman y^t hath no haire growing on her body.

The haire of a mans beard commeth not as the grasse in the field that is mowed, but it proceedeth from the roote.

There is no Male that hath any appearance of breastes but man: a woman hath two in her stomacke, the Cowe hath foure in her belly, Goates & Shéepe two, the Sowes ten, and some twelue. Euery Pigge knoweth the dugge that they haue bene nourished with.

Whales, and Sea calues nourish their yong ones with milke of their breastes.

A womans milke is vnprofitable before the seuen moneths. A Cowe hath no milke before shée hath had a calfe. The Asse hath milke when she beginneth to beare. And to let the yōg Asse take the dammes milke before two dayes, is daungerous.

Certaine Dames of Rome did bathe thē-selues in Asses milke, for it maketh their skinne smooth and white.

Milke of Goates is worse to make chéese thē the milke of Kyne. The milke of beasts hauing aboue foure breasts, is vnprofitable to make chéese, and that of two breastes is better.

The chiefest and best chéeses are made in Italy.

Zoroastes liued twentie yéeres with chéese without fée­ling age.

Man hath two féete of one length and measure, and two armes with two handes. The thombe and the little finger are of one measure, the other two also of a measure, & that in the middest is longer. Euery finger hath thrée ioynts, and they shut or bowe inward & not outwarde, the thombe hath but two that bowe in like maner.

The Ape is the beast that most approcheth the fashion of féete, hands, nose, and eares to man, for with the foreféete he fedeth, and hath the bowels like to mans.

At thrée yéeres man hath taken halfe his growth of height. He hath the knées and armes contrary in bowing, the one forwarde the other backwarde.

Beastes that ingender their like, bowe their knées backwarde, and those that make egges, forewarde. Nai­les growe vnto eche one, yea vnto dead men as well as their beardes.

Birdes that haue clawes and one at the héele, stretche their féete toward their tayle in flying.

All beastes haue féete in number equall. Flyes haue sire and so haue Locustes or Grashoppers that leape, be­cause that their hinder féete are long.

The genitors of Wolues, Fores, and Rammes are of bone. Bores haue them ioyning, and Shepe haue them hanging.

The tale of fishes serueth to conduct them, & so it doeth to other beastes, and all haue tayles except man and the Ape. Those beastes haue voyce that haue lunges and ar­tiers. Others make but a sounde or noyse, and murmure inwarde.

A Childe neuer rendreth voyce till he be wholly out of the mothers wombe. They that sonest speake latest goe.

The voyces of men are diuers, as well as their simili­tudes and likenesse, and we vnderstand them before we sée them. The voyce of men is more grauer then the voyce of [Page]women. Members that growe out of time are vnprofita­ble, as the sixt finger.

There was one that had two eyes behind the head, but he sawe nothing. It is a vaine thing saieth Aristotle to iudge any person by signes. Often-times commeth iudge­ments of short life, that is to wit, few téeth, very long fin­gers, colour like to lead, and other things.

The contrary signes of long life is to crooke the shoul­ders, on one hand two strikes alōg, to haue more then xxxij. téeth, great eares.

Great fore heads signifieth a stoute and manly courage, little forehead, lightnesse, a round forehead, wrath. If the browes be straight it signifieth imbecilitie. If they bende towards the nose, hastinesse. If they bende towards the chéekes, signifieth a mocking person. If they bende wholy toward the eyes, malice and enuy. Long eyes signifie ma­lice. The greatnesse of the eares signifieth a foolish babler. The breath of a Beare is naught, and worse a Lions.

The Serpent flieth the breath of the Elephant, and the burning of Hartes horne.

The hony Bées oyle being cast on them, dye. The Sci­thians in their warres, temper their Dartes heads in hu­maine blood, and in Vipers poyson, and if they strike any therewith, there is no remedy but death.

The best foode for man is to eate but of one meate at one time or meale, the accumulating of sauours is pestiferous, and Wine maketh a smelling or stinking breath, if it bée not tempered. With great difficultie shall a man digest that which is taken gréedely, excessiuely, or hastily.

There is more paine in the stomacke to digest in Som­mer, then in Winter, and in age more then in youth.

The vomitings that are made after excesse, maketh the body colde, are hurtfull to the eyes and téeth.

A mans body groweth and wareth grosse, to vse swéete things, fatte meates, and good drinkes. A man may easely liue seuen dayes without drinke.

Butter asswageth hunger and thirst: neuerthelesse things excessiuely taken are hurtfull, & therefore it is good to deminish that away which hurteth.

The twelfth Booke treateth of sweete smelling Trees.

TRées haue life which they take of the earth. There are many straunge trées in diuers countreies, which vnto some are vnknowen.

In some places they water fine trées at the foote with wine, the which profiteth much the rootes.

The Parthians which haue trées bearing wooll, of the which is made fine Cottō cloth, as it is said, haue a trée bea­ring Apples, but y^e fruit is not to bée eaten, but they haue a meruailous smell, so haue the barkes, the which being in your Chest among your apparell, casteth a swéete sauour or smell: and this trée hath alwayes fruite, some growing, some dying, and some ready to gather, and the graftes of this trée will take in no other countrey.

In India there is both wood & trées that will not burne in the fire. There hath also béene séene a Figge trée of a great height, the braunches of the same trée to spreade sixty paces, and it hath leaues so brode, that the Sunne beames can not by any meanes enter betwéene, and therefore the fruite of this trée can not dye, but the shadowe of the same is very delectable.

There is also in the Indias, Apple trées which haue the leaues thrée cubites long, and two brode, bearing such great fruit, that foure men can scarce eate one Apple. The trées name is Pala, the Apples name Aripa.

Pepper groweth on little trées as doeth Ienuper.

In the Indias it is sometimes mingled with Ienuper berries of that Countrey, which haue some strength, but no such taste: it groweth almost white, but for to last it is dryed in the smoke, which causeth it to be blacke, and with [Page]the shrubbes of the same trée dryed in the Sunne, is made long Pepper.

There are other trées which in the morning after the dewe, rendereth a certaine kinde of hony.

In Arabia there are trées which neuer cast their leaues. Others that haue their floures, that beginneth in the mor­ning at the Sunne rising to open, and at hye noone they are opened, & after noone they beginne to close, and so re­maine all night till the morning, and the Paysauntes of that countrey say that the trée sleepeth.

There is the trée of Nardas, the which casteth a meruai­lous sweete smell or odour.

And in Arabia of Trées growe Frankencense, and Myrre. Frankensence groweth in a Forrest of Arabia, in a fruitfull grounde, full of Fountaines pertaining to diuers persons.

It is a hanging matter among them to steale any thing.

The men do purifie them-selues, and abstaine from wo­men for a certaine space, to take or gather the Franken­sence, otherwise they can not profite.

On this side the Sea it is mingled with a kinde of Ro­sen which is like, but the difference is knowen by the co­lour, by the breaking, and by the fire, for Frankensence will sooner burne, and is sooner broken with your téeth.

Also there is in those woodes of Arabia, trees bearing Myrre, and the Masticke.

The Sabians burne no other wood, wherefore they are weary of their smell.

In the Sea of Arabia groweth the Margets and other precious stones.

Synamon is the barke of a little trée, which groweth in great quantitie in base Ethiopia, in ful places among the bushes, the best is that of the highest branches, the worst is that that is nearest to the roote. When there is any dewe in the Sommer it is gathered by great difficultie.

The trée hath no smell whē it is gréene, & it is gathered [Page]from the Sunne rising, to the Sunne setting.

The shippes remaine sixe monethes for their: fraught. That that is caried into this countrey of Ethiopia to sell them, is Glasses, vessels of Copper, and Brasse, Wollen cloth, and Linnen.

The worst barke or pelle, is that that is soft and white.

Baulme groweth onely in the prouince of Iuda, in two Gardens of the Kings, the one cōtaining about ten Akers, the other lesse, and it commeth of little trees not foure foote long, growing after the maner of a Vine, it resembleth and is neare to the taste of Wine, red in colour and fatte, the fruite is cutte with a knife of glasse, stone, or bone, for the braunche dieth to be cut with Iron, and it is cutte to take away the superfluities, then in the season the barke is onely cutte, and then commeth out the sweate by small droppes. This experience is true, that if any of it be spilt vpon any apparell, it will neuer staine.

There is daunger in Wormes, for they will marre the trée. Alexander the great in a Sommers day filled a little Viall of one trée.

Ginger groweth in the earth, and is rootes.

The thirteenth Booke treateth of straunge trees.

THe swéete oyntments, perfumes, and smellings, are made of these trées. Some for the pleasure of others buye them deare, for they that carry them, haue not the smell & pleasure, but it is for the smell of others, which is great vanitie.

Palmes are in diuers kindes, and there are none fruit­full but toward the East, for they make wines: and as in trées and leaues there are Male and Female, so there is also in these.

The Male buddeth within the roote, and the Female outwarde.

They beare euery yéere Apples, and when the trée is cut the roote casteth againe.

The Cedar groweth in Siria, of which commeth the so­ueraigne roote. That that flourisheth beareth no fruite, & that that fructifieth beareth no floore, and the wood lasteth perpetually.

The Figge trées in Egypt are like to Mulbery trées, the fruite commeth foure times a yéere, against the woode and not against the braunches.

There are many vnknowen trées, specially those that haue the good Gum. There are made Cordes or Ropes of this trée.

At Rome haue béene founde bookes of Philosophie in a Sepulchre betwéene two stones couered with Cedar wood that had laine there fiue hundreth thirtie fiue yéeres with­out harme, for the Cedar neuer rotteth, and there is no wood so good to make workes.

There are Cedar trées so hie, that ye can not sée the toppes, and so great that there was presented to Tiberius Caesar, a table that was foure foote large, & sixty foote long.

Lotten or Celtis is a trée in Affrica, the fruite of which is so swéete that it healeth all paines in the belly, and out of that fruite being brused or prest, commeth wine that will not continue aboue ten dayes.

Pomegranets there are of diuers kindes, swéete, sower, and winish. The pell of the sower ones, are good and best to tanne skinnes, and the floures are good for Dyars.

The Thorn that is called Royal, groweth in one day, and kepeth wyne from being naught.

Citisus is a singular trée, the wood is good to all beastes, as well Shéepe as others. If [...]e sodden in water, it ren­dreth to Nources that drinke it, plenty of milke, and ma­keth the children more sure and more greater, and maketh Hennes to lay egges. Vpon the floure of this trée a flye will neuer sitte.

Many other straunge trées there are in the Sea, that [Page]will breake like glasse, & others that are as hard as stones, and many other trées that are in the Ilandes of the Sea, which we haue not here, and which vnto vs are also vn­knowen.

The foureteenth Booke treateth of Trees and fruitfull Plantes.

IN times past men were wonte to haue many pleasant trées, of the which nowe there is no mention, for euery one studieth couetousnesse.

The Wine groweth of wilde plantes, and among all other plantes it is the principallest fruite, and there are many kindes, and euery yéere it must be cut, or else other­wise it would compasse a whole Towne.

Wine is the blood of the Earth, it being taken within a mans body is hote, and without it is colde, it is bothe com­fortable and profitable to a man, if it be taken measurably, otherwise it is very hurtfull.

Alexander the great did vanquishe the whole worlde, and yet could not so well kéepe him selfe, but was ouercome with the force of Wine.

Wines is not permitted to the wiues of Rome.

We reade that King Romulus did pardon and forgiue a Senatour of Rome called Ignatius Mecenius, which had kil­led his wife with a Clubbe, for that she was founde drin­king wine out of a tunne.

And therefore Cato did ordaine that women and may­dens should be kissed of their parents and kinsfolke, to the ende they should knowe whether they did smell of Wine or no.

Marcus Varo writeth of a Consull which neuer made banquet, nor had at his table more at one time then at an other, for feare of to much drinking.

In times past at Rome the price was set on wine, to the ende that little should be drunke, but since Caesar made [Page]great banquettes, which gaue occasion to make prouision at Rome for all kinde of wines. Wine alone serueth to make medicines.

There is wine made of Peares, Apples, and of other trées, which they vse toward the East.

Some make Wine of hearbes, of water and hony sod­den, which in Wales is called Metheglyn, that will laste fiue yéeres, or with Hony and Vineger, which is called Oximell.

The small wines ought to touch the ground for to bee the better kept, but not the good. The flower of white wine is good, and that of red is naught. By drunkennesse men reueale their secrets, and make debates.

The fifteenth Booke treateth of Trees bearing fruite.

THe Oliue trée groweth not neare the Sea, nor in places to hote nor to colde: they must bée cut like Vines. The Oliue oyle is of a better sauour when the Oliues beginne to ripe, but there is not so much when they beginne to be black, but that is the time to take them, and of their ripenesse. There is more paine to make Oyle then wine.

The Oliue hath stone, oyle and flesh, the gréene are bit­ter, by drying they become lesse though y^t the heate is cause of oyle. The liquor of the Oliue is the oyle, but it lasteth not as doth wine, for it is best the first yéere.

Some there are that tary til the Oliues fall from trées, for it hurteth the trées againe the yéere following, to bée cut, broken, or smitten.

Oliues before they are rype will be kept with salte, af­ter that they haue bene in hote water.

If the Oliue be not cleane, it is washed and dried, thrée or foure dayes and seasoned with salt.

There is Oyle made of many things, of Nuttes, of [Page]Acornes, of small graines, of swéete smelling trées, of Gumme that serueth for medecines, of Almonds, Ches­nuttes, and diuers other things, according to the Coun­treies. Apples and Peares ought to be kept in a drie and colde place, and for them the North winde is good and no o­ther wyndes, when the weather is faire, they should be put on hay, seperated one from another for to take the ayre, and they ought to be gathered before the full Moone.

Nuttes make a sound or ratling in falling, when they are rype, and among other fruites they are parted in foure within, with a little skinne betwéene both. They will kéepe gréene, being put in earthen pottes, in the earth, and with them is made good Oyles.

Chestnuttes, are a kinde of maste, and it is meruaile that nature hath so closed them in shelles.

Mulberies stayne a bodies fingers, and they are of thrée colours, at the first they are white, after that become redde, and when they are ripe then they are blacke.

Cheries will kéepe dried with the Sunne, as Oliues. There are many relessings in fruites, as swéete, waterish, sower, bitter, gréene, salt, brackish, fatte, and diuers others, amōg the which there are that haue many tastes together.

The Wynes are swéete and sower, pricking. Milke is swéete and fatte, but there are thrée principall Elementes, without sauour and without smell, as water, fire, and the ayre. The Laurell is dedicated to triumphes, and Empe­rours beare thereof on their heads, principally because it kéepeth the persons from thunder.

The sixtenth Booke treateth of wylde trees.

THe Acornes commeth of Oke trées of diuers sortes, for some there are better then others, and in time of famine y^e good Acornes dried may be grinded to make bread. Acornes be most swéetest when that they are [Page]newe, and roasted in the imbers.

The Oke is beste for to builde withall, either houses or shippes, because it will longest last.

If an Oke trée be smitten with the thunder, it beareth fewe Acornes or none, and is so bitter, that no beaste will eate thereof but Hogges, and when they are very hungry.

The Béeche trée, beareth a kinde of maste the whiche reioyceth the Hogges being fedde with them, their flesh is soone sodden, and very profitable for the stomacke.

Taxus is a trée like vnto a Pyne trée.

In Arcadia it is so venemous that no beast dare sléepe vnder the shadowe of it, nor eate thereof.

The Cuppes that are made of this wood, to put Wine in, are venemous.

It is said that the venime of this wood ceasseth, when there is nayled therein a nayle of brasse.

An Eshe trée, the leaues thereof is mortiferous to Mares, but it hurteth not the beastes that shadowe vnder it, to drinke the liquor of it, is good against the biting of Serpents, for neuer Serpent resteth vnder the shadowe thereof, and he that will compasse a Serpent about a fire with the leaues of this trée, the Serpent will rather take the fire then escape through those leaues.

The Tilia of some called the Teybe, hath Male and Fe­male, for the Female alone beareth floures and séede. The iuyce of the barke and leaues is swéete, but no beast will eate of the fruite, betwéene the barke and the wood there are many little thinne pelles or skinnes, with the which are made Ropes.

The Maple if it were so great and so high as the Ce­dar, should be preferred because of his propernesse.

With this trée is made Tables being of a blackishe colour.

The Boxe trée spreadeth very large and thicke, and is very proper because of his shadow.

There are certaine wilde trées, that neuer léese their [Page]leafe, as the Cedar, the Ieniper, the Holly trée, and others.

The Ieniper for his leafe hath a sharp pricke or thorne.

There are certaine places in Egypt whereas some trées will not growe.

Other trées there are that leaue their leaues sooner then the reste, and the difference thereof commeth, for that their fruite is sooner rype then others: but Almond trées, the Esshe, and others, haue their fruite with the first, and cast their leaues with the laste.

The Mulberie trée bringeth her fruite late, and falleth her leaues with the first.

The trées after the maner of beastes doe conceiue in Ianuarie with the winde, some sooner then others, and af­ter a straight winde, beginneth the floures to appeare, and nourish the fruite.

Vines in some places beareth twice a yéere. The rootes are diuers according to the diuersitie of trées.

Esculus as writeth Virgil is a trée, that hath such pro­funditie or déepenesse in the earth, as it hath aboue the ground in height.

The Ciper trée is flowe in growing without the ground be fat and fertile, then it spreadeth very large and long. And thus to conclude, I finish this abstract, till further occasion shall serue, geuing God moste hartie thankes for these his benefites and giftes geuen for the vse of mankinde. To whome be all honour and praise for euer and euer A­men.