¶Of the Lāme. Cap. ꝑmo.

IN the begīnynge we haue the Lāme because he is the moste mekest beste leuinge for it offēdeth nobody / and all that he hathe on him is gode / y^e fles / she for to eate the skynne to make parthemēt or ledder the donge for [...] the felde / the clawes & hornes be mede cinable / he dredeth the wolfe sore / & he knoweth his dāme best be her bleting though she be amonge many shepe.

¶Of the Rāme or weddr Ca. iij^o.

YSydorus sayth that the rāme or wedder is the lodysman of other shepe / and he is the male or man of the oye and is stronger than the other shepe / & he is also called a wedder because of a worme that he hath in his hede / & whan that begīneth for to stirre than wyll he tucke and feght / and he fereth naturally the thonder as other shepe dothe. For whan a shepe is with frute hering the thonder she casteth her frute and bryngeth it dede to the worlde. and the wedder in the tyme that he be spryngeth the oye than is it in the ty­me of loue amonge the shepe / and the Rāme or wedder wyl feght boldly for theyr wyues one with another.

¶ysaac sayth that y^e weder / y^e bucke / & other suche lyke bestes haue eche by thēselfe an indifferēt foūd of their voyce in callynge of their wyues in y^e ty / me of engendrīge & loue / & they y^t drynke than salte water / thei be wackened or styred to engendrynge soner than other be before their tyme comynge. & whan y^e olde wethers begyn to engē der before y^e yonge wethers / & that the yonge kepe their due tyme y^t is a good signe in that yere / but whā the yonge begynne before the olde that is a tokē of tocomȳge morayne or dethe amonge the shepe

Esculapius saith. Whan an oliphant seeth a ramme or wether / he is therof afrayde and gothe from hym

¶Of the bore. ca. iiij.

THe Bore is an angry and an on tame beste & is very curst whan he companyeth with the sowe / for the wylde bores whan they accōpany thē with theyr females than be they euer redy for to fight / and they make their skinnes harde / for they rōne to rubbe theȳ against the trees and than to lay in foule dirt and myre the which they late drye on them & that maketh their skinnes very harde / and bothe the bores be moche lyke of cōdicions / & whan they mete comonly they wyll feght yf they be in cōpany of theyr females / so longe tyl that the one or bothe of them be slayne / and the wylde bore is comō ly blake and he stiketh with his longe croked tethe as harde and sharpe as it were yron. And if the bore be hu [...]ted on the morninge or he haue pissed / thā is he lightely wery / but if he haue pyssed or he be hūted or whyle he is on hū tinge / than wyll he nat lightely be ta / ken. Also thoughe he be wery he wyll nat lightely yelde hym but setteth hȳ on his hinder loynes to defende him agaynst the hūter / but he shal nat come be the hunter to hurte hym nor to byte hym tyll he be first wounded himselfe of the hunter / and without the hunter geue hym a dethes wounde / without doubt he wyll put the hunter in ieoꝑdye of his lyfe except he be nigh to a tre that he may clȳme vpon for his socour The bore hereth better on the right syde than any beste.

¶Of the asse. ca. v.

THe asse is a rude dull beste & of lytel understāding / onclne & slouthfull / & he hathe a crosse vpon his backe & there is he wekest / but on his hinder partes he is stronge / he hathe a great hede and longe eares & he loueth this­tellis better than any other mete but he hath a lothly crye / and thoug he ha­ue gone a waye oftentymes yet he cā nat fynde it agayn / nor he wyll nat exchewe the way for nothinge that me­teth

hym / and he engendreth with his female whan he is .xxx. moneths olde She bereth her yonges a hole yere. & the asse is colde of nature / and he can abyde no colde / Therfore be nat the As­ses cast in no colde londes or contrees. The asse is very sone afrayde / and he hathe no gall / and he eteth grasse and other erbes of the groūde / and the mo­re water that he drīketh the better fo­de hathe he of his mete / the a [...]the oftentymes a disease named [...] / & moche ordour rōneth out of his [...] / & it fell on his lightes he shold dye of it.

¶Of the Achame. ca. vi.

AChame is a beste as grete as an hert / and contrary the nature of all other bestes he hathe his gall in his eare / and it is a cursed angry beste.

¶Alches is a beste that is in the forest of Hircinia and is very moche lyke a gote / but it is somwhat bygger and it hathe croked iagged hornes / and they haue no ioyntes in theyr legges as other bestes haue / and whan the hūters wyll haue that beste they folowe him be the fote stepe to knowe where he resteth be night / for he standeth and slepeth agaynst a tre / and they lowse the tre be the rote and so dygge it vp or ellis they sawe it a sonder / for he slepeth fast and leneth sore againste the trees wherwith he is oftentymes deceyued and falleth to the grounde / and so they take hym or ellis they sholde neuer take him for he is to dangerous to come by / and he is to swyft in cōnynge / but whan he is downe he can nat ryle.

¶Of the anabula. ca. vij.

ANabula is a beste in Ethiope & it hath a necke lyke a man & fete lyke a horse / legged lyke an oxe / heded lyke a kamell / & hath a goodly shinynge skyn mixed w^t whyte spottes the whiche conforteth the sight / & it is right d [...] re solde. Aptalos is another beste lyke a litell gote very stinkinge & no mā may come nigh hym / & his hornes be sharpe & croked lyke a sicle & [...]aged like a sawe / & whan this beste hath thurst he gothe to the ryuer of Eufrates and whan it hath dronke than it goth to a felde where as moche brosshe & bramles be & ther he playeth & waloweth so long that he i [...] that brusshe is warred so that he can nat aryse / & than he geueth a lowde crye / and the hunters he rynge him come incontynent and kyl him / & his hornes be so sharpe & strōge that he ouerthroweth therwith grete trees to the grounde. Aucinor is a beste lyke a yonge graihoūde and hathe better vndestādinge whan it is yonge than whan it is olde.

¶Of afferatos. ca. viij.

AFferatos be springynge and flyenge lytell serpentes that hyde them in the trees / and whan ther commeth any bodye be those trees on the wayes / than they flye out with theyr venymous stinges and they be red of coloure & they be so meruelously hote of nature that whosoeuer be hurte w^t them must nedis dye / for the bytt is so venymous that it rōneth thorugh all the body & the cure of it is like as of the serpentt vipera. Affudius and Sabryne be ij. gray serpētis and blacke vnd their hede w^t white spottes / & they [Page] haue a slouthfull pase / and their hole y^t they byde in is blacke of their / fowle venym / of their bitt or stinge is on tempered all a mans body / for of all y^e places of the body y^e blode spryngeth out the bely sweleth / the brethe shorteneth y^e speche fayleth / y^e lymes retcheth out & styffeneth / the memory or onderstandynge is lost / the tethe fall out / & the ꝑsone dyeth And this serpentis cure is lyke the cura of the vipera.

Of the Amphibena Ca. ix

AMphibena is a serpent y^t hath a hede a bouen and another at the tayle / and it goeth w^t bothe the he / des togyger / and his body tourned & woūde lyke a cable / and it taketh gret though for her eggis for alway whā the one hede slepith y^e other wakeneth ¶Armena is a serpent / and his operacyon is moche lyke to the basiliscus For this serpēt kylleth nat only with his bytt or stynge but also w^t his sight and eke with his bast or blowyng [...] for whoso hereth this serpēt blowe must nedys dye / and whate beste that he cometh by can lyue no lenger and it is about y^e length of .iij. quarters of a yarde / & for this stronge venyn is no cure nor helpe / but some say that there is helpe therto that shold be w^t popy sede and castoreū / that is the stoues of a beuer. et [...]et.

Of Aspis. Ca. x.

THe Aspis is a venymous best or serpēt / the whiche kyleth a man at the fyrst bit / and it is somwhat lasse than the serpent vipera And there be many maner of Aspis / as Dypsa / Ypnalis Prester / & Seps. Aspis is a grene serpent and hathe very longe tethe lyke a bore / & this serpētis abydynge is in drye places where as there commeth no water /

[Page]¶ [...] who so is bitten of this serpēt aspis chaūge thier colours & war defe & haue gret colde / their hed swelleth & thir iyen swell & thei waxe very slepy & to the venymoꝰ bitte or stinge of this serpēt is no remedi but make a plaster of lyme hony / & oyie. It is often taken with enchantemētis or sorcerye & tho­rugh the strength of this enchantmēt he is sone wa [...]e of it / & layeth his one [...]er to the grounde & stoppeth the other with his tayle / & he is sore desired for a precious stone that is in his hede / and thrugh thenchantement this serpent is obedient vnto man / & without any bytinge or venym castinge they be ta­ken and entreated as a man lyst with out any payne.

¶ [...]. ca. xi.

THe spȳner or spyder is so named because it spinneth a gret dele of wel [...]e or threde / & it worketh alway / & whan it hathe all done with a blast of wynde it tereth asonder and all the labour is lost that it hath do / & the spider hathe many fete at the leste vi. or viij. & it sitteh ī the myddes of the webbe redy to take suche flyes & vermyn as cometh in it / & their moistour they sucke & therby they loue / whan they engender the female lieth vnder with her bely vpward / & they lay egges & of those egges come yonge spynners the whi­che spynne incontinent.

Of the Oyster baer. ca. xij

BAer is a maner of an oyster named in latin vngula aromatica and it is of the oysters that the pur / pre and silke is died wyth / and they be founde in the londe of ynde / in the water that spicanardus groweth in / and this oyster hath a swete smeell because he etteth of that swete spyce spicanardus / and they betake in the somer seasō whā y^e wat is somwhat gone / & they befounde in theyr shellys wher as they hyde them in.

Of the bonnacon. ca. xiij.

BOnnacon is a beste / and bred in the londe of frigia and hath a hede lyke a bull / and a hangynge mane like a hors / & it hath on the hede so croked hornes that it can with them do no harme & his here is lyke woll & of colour redde / & it is legged lyke an oxe & hath a swete flesshe for to eat / and therfore he is oftentymes chased & hū ted. & whan the hunters come nyghe hym thā casteth he vpō them his dirt or donge well .iiij. steppes from hym. and what so euer it light vpon y^t burneth / and they be moche lyke a wilde howe / and whan the female hath yonge than a great many of these bestes gader togyder & make so moch donge that it semeth a wall wherin she is closed and there she layeth very warme.

Of the oxce. ca. xiiij.

THe oxce is a cōpanable beste & amonge his cōpani he is very meke / & alwaye he seketh his felowe that was wont to go in the plowghe wyth hym / and whan he fyndeth nat his felow / than cryeth he wyth a lowde voyce makyng gret mone / as it were one y^t wolde make a mourninge cōplaynt A bull lyueth .xv· yere. and a oxce .xx. yere ¶Isaac sayth that an oxce flessh [Page] is the dryest flesshe amonge all other / & his blode is nat holsom to be eten for it wyll nat lightly disieste▪ & therfore it fedeth sore & it maketh euyll hūoures & bredeth melācoly / & they melancoli­cus that eat moche suche metes be like to suffer many diseases as to gete an harde mylte / the febris quartayn the dropcy / mangines / lepry. &c̄. Oꝑatio ¶The gal of an oxe with Nitro & Ethimolea mēgyd togeder & therwith the hede wasshed destroyeth the wormes in y^e here. Diascorides saith / y^e mylke of the kowe heleth the fresshe woūdes in the mouthe. The donge or dirt of y^e oxe is gode to be layde vpon the stinge of a bee or waspe. The sepiū of an oxe w^t gose grese & pith of Ochimi / heleth the cliftes in the lyps or on the mouth the mary of an oxe right legge before brayed & mengyd with his blode / de­storyeth the euyl heres on the browes & we lyddes. The gall of an oxe with y^e stale of a gote or bucke / heleth them y^t here euyll. Powder of the oxe anclow brēt and rubbed on the tethe maketh thē fast that sholde fall out with payn The mylt of the oxe medled with hony is good for the mylt. Nota the mylke of a kowe is good for an impostumed mawe / the mangye or scabbed hādes shalbe heled with fresshe oxe blode / for that dryeth lightely / & the next daye it must be wasshed af with lye. The oxe gall ī a mānes eare with a silken cloth heleth the pypynge & rynginge in the eare / The oxe downge or dyrte layde vpon a rude impostume or byle / cau­seth it to breke. Oxe downge brent to asshes & that blowen in the nose staū ­cheth the blode. Also thesame asshes tē ­pered with butt & made plasterwyse and so layde to the beh [...] excedith many other medecynes for the dropsy. The lyuer of the oxe brēt to powder & that dronken w^tale / bier / or wyne / is gode for the flixe or flode of the blode. The oxe bones brēt to asshes & that rubbed vpon the tethe that be weyke maketh them to stande fast.

¶Of the bombex. ca. xv.

BOmbex is a worme that spȳnes sylke & the first substance that sylke cōmeth of & it is fed with the leues of mourbery trees & whan it hath begon to worke than wyll it ete nomore it taketh so great plesure in working. And it maketh yelow woll or silke / the which becōmeth whyte with wasshīg & thāne it taketh what colour so euer a man wyl. & whan this worme hath all wrought than resteth hym & that must be kept all the wynter / tyll that the wedder be warme agayne / thāne [Page] must they be holden betwene some bodyes handes or nygh their bodyes in their bosomes tyll that the nature of those sedes chaungeth.

¶Of borax. ca. xvi.

BOrax is a maner of a tode that hathe a stone in his hede / & whan this stone is goten out the whyle that the tode dothe lyue / than hathe the stone in hymselfe a fygure of an iye / but if it be taken out whan the tode is ded than hathe the venym taken awaye that iye and enpayred the stone This tode / whan that it is stered or meued thāne swelleth it of his owne venym or poyson. And they feght against the spyders and the tode is ouercomen of the spyder because the spider stingeth hym alway and that he can nat gete the spyder / he sw [...]lleth for anger that he bursteth / and the byt of this tode is so venymous that it is nat lightely to be holpen or cured and with rewe thei be slayn / & they may nat se the bright­nes of the son̄e / & be night they couyte to be in the fote wayes or pathes / and where the people trede. also thei may nat smell the blossom of y^e vynes som­tyme they be a cubyte of lēgth / of these be many in spayne.

¶Of the tode. ca. xvij.

THe tode is a poyson worme or [...] ­myn & is be kowen of euery man and of a fowle worme it is one of the moste coldest / and it hathe his harte in his throte / therfor it can nat lightly be kylled except it be thrust in the throte / And some saye that they be bred of the fowle humours of therthe / y^e tode hath a poyson pestilent syght and defynge and he eteth erthe be mesure & weght [Page] forasmoche as the tode may take in .i of his fore fete / that is his mete all that day / the tode fereth that the erth shall fayle hym / & therfore ouer night he taketh his pawe or fore full because y^t he sholde nat mysse to haue erth ynough for to ete the next daye. Sotyme they feght w^t spyders and other serpentis & if he be bitten of any other venymoꝰ serpētis than eteth he an erbe named plātago or plantayn and therwith he helith him selfe / & he eteth gladly sage but the roote of it is his dethe. A tode stone found in the hede of the tode and borne about a naturall creature / sub­dueth many venymes and poysons. A tode brent to asshes and those asshes abydinge vpon the grounde / of those asshes engendereth very many yong and quicke [...]obes.

¶Of the buffell. ca. xxviij.

A Bufell is a beste moche lyke an oxe / but he is greter & hyer than an oxe & hathe blacke here and croked hornes / a longe necke / a grete hede / & lenelȳmes / with a smalle tayle & hū ­ble to loke on / but whan he is made angry than dothe he grete scathe / & he is very profitable vnto man and dothe gret laboure / and he wyll nat be ledde without a rynge thrugh his nose / and strynges tyed to the same to lede hym with and so ye shall haue hym where ye lyst. Also the Buffell wyll haue no gretter charge or burdē than he may well bere / for yf he be ouerladē he wyl fall to the grounde & for betīges or strokes he wyll nat ryse tyll that he be on loden or discharged.

¶Of the zubro. Cap. xix. [Page]

ZVbro is of the maner of a wylde bull & is very stronge of xv. cubytes of length / & he is very swyft as it apereth be him / for the dounge that he purgeth from behynde he receiueth it agayn vpon his hornes / and with his dounge he blyndeth the houndes that chace him and maketh them so wery and seke that they be neuer gode after & his here is browne & almoste blacke and hathe out of mesure gret hornes thre cubitus brode or more / and in the contre that they be in / the ryche peple make somtyme vessellys of these hor­nes to be serued with at their table / & what so euer mete hym whether it be man or hoūde he ouerthroweth them and taketh theim vp vpon his hornes & tosseth them vnto deth / & these bestis be moste in the londe of bohemya.

¶Of the buprestis Ca. xx.

BVprestis is a lytell worme moch in the londe of Italy haūtinge in pastures wher as kyne grase & what kowe or oxe that eteth of him as sone as he cōmeth at the gall their guttes & belly brestith a sonder.

¶Of blata. Cap. xxi.

BLata prouideth hym be night because he may se no light & destroieth the bees / & he staineth any mānes handes that taketh him vp. Bibiois also a lytell flye that groweth or is en­gendred of new wyne.

¶Of the gote. ca. xxij.

THe gote is a [...] with a [...] it hathe longe sharphornes / and it eteth the lytel branches and barkes of trees and they do gret scathe to the trees / & they pasture gladly on hye hylles or moūtaynes & in lowe valayes / & whan they ete or licke any honey thei dye therof / & of venymous herbes it leueth / whan it hathe yonges or eteth a­ny salte than shall it haue mylke plenteously / the gote be daye light cannat well se / but towardes night it seeth vere sharpe.

¶Of the stone bucke. ca. xx.iij.

THe stone Bucke is a beste lyke a buck / & it is a wyld gote & it hath small hornes / & it dwelleth in hye moū taines / & it seeth very sharpe and very farre / & whan it seeth any body come nigh hȳ / than it casteth hȳ selfe downe from the hyl & falleth vpon his hornes withouten harme / & suche be many in the ylonde of Crete / & if it fele hymself hurte with any arowe or quarell of y^e hūters / thā seketh it an herbe named Pulegiū. & therof it eteth / & as sone as it hathe eten therof the arowe or quarell fleeth out of it agayne / and it wyll nat lightly be taken / for it is to quicke in ronnynge and lepinge.

Of the dogge. ca. xxiiij.

THe dogge is an unclenly beste y^t eteth so moche that he vomyteth it out & eteth it vp agayn [...] / it is lightly angry and byteth gladly straūge dogges / he barketh moche / he [...] his [...] name well / he is hered [...] & a slonth [...] ­dy he loueth his mast soste vnder his f [...] [...] right sore [...] lerned to many games / & be night he kepeth the house. Ther be many hoū ­des y^t for the loue of theyr maister they wyll rōne in their owne deth & whan the dogge is seke / he seketh grasse or o­ther erbes / & that he eteth and heleth himselfe so / and there be many maner of dogges or hoūdes to hawke & hunt as grayhoūdes / braches spanyellis or suche other to hunt hert and hynde / & other bestes of chace & venery. &c. and suche be named gentyll hoūdes. The birthe hath mylke .v. or vij. dayes or the litter her whelpes / and that milke is thicker thā any other mylke except swynes mylke or hares mylke.

Of the Catte ca. xxv.

THe catte is a beste y^t seeth sharpe and she byteth sore / and scratcheth right perylously / & is principall ennemye to rattis & myce / & her colour is of nature graye / and the cause y^t they be other wyse colowred that cōmethe through chaunge of mete as it is well marked by the house catte for they be selden colored lyke the wylde tatte. & their flesshe is bothe nesshe & sosfte

[Page] ¶Of Caccus. Ca. xxvi.

CAccus is a monster in the londe of Archade that bloweth w^t his brethe fyry flambes out of his mouth and hathe brestelis specyally whan it is angry euyn lyke a bore / This monster bydeth in great cauis by y^e ryuere of Tyber / and whā there pasture any oxen or kyne or other bestes nere by hym he pulleth them to the grownde and slepeth them wyth in his caue or dēne / and within his body his brethe is warme as other bestis because it goeth through many places of his body.

Of the kamell. Cap. xxvij.

THe Kamell is a lothly beste / and hathe an hyllocke vpō his backe & he hath a longe necke & a slouth full pace / and he is veri soste vnder his fote whyche greueth hym right sore whā he gothe on an harde waye / and whā he shalbe loden he must beknocked on his legs & than he kneleth to be lodē or ellis he shold be to hy / & whan he is angry he gryndeth his tethe merue / lously / it leuith an hondred yere & it eteth gladly barly & drinketh troubled water / and it may endure thurst four dayes & than it drinketh very moche. But the dromodary is another beste lyke the Kamell and it hathe two hyl lockes vpon his backe like a sadel and is very swyft in rōnynge.

The kamell hathe his yarde of gene / racion hanginge out behynde hym / & therfore it egendreth with his female cōtrary to all other bestes and turned tayle to tayle and byde so fastened all the holedaye / and though the kamell be [...]nclenly and fowle in his workes / yet he is very clen [...]y towardes his dame as it hathe ben proued in a great lordes court that there was ones a kamell disposed to the workes of nature & to her was brought one of her owne yonges and her hede was wonde in a cloute because that her yonge sholde nat knowe her / Thus engenderynge nat knowynge eche other they were left togeder tyll their tyme was fulfilled and the daye past / than was the fe / males hede onbownde and the yong seinge that he had engenderyd with his dāme / he dyd make grete heuines & mourninge maners as one beinge sore ashamed of the dede & bote of his yarde or member & so slewe hymselfe whiche to vs is a grete ensample.

¶Of the cameleon. ca. xxviij

CAmeleon is a beste y^t is very fer / full bothe of mā & all other bestis & therfor his skȳn is of diuers colours & what colours y^t it seeth / therof it get / teth coloure lightely / & that cōmeth because he hathe lytell blodes he is very lene / & many of these be in the londe of Asya / And it is clawed lyke a byrde & nat lyke all other bestis.

Of the Camelopardus. Ca. xxix.

CAmelopardus is a beste legged & foted lyke an oxe / necked lyke an horse and heded lyke a kamell / it hath a red shinynge coloured skynne with whyte spottes therin & they be moche in Ethyope / & it is as meke as a lāme.

¶Of Capriolus. ca. xxx.

CApriolus is in maner lyke a gote in the londe of ynde & thei ben so swifte of rōnynge that they can nat be taken / but somtyme it is shot & whan it is hurt than it eteth hertis pulegiū and heleth himselfe for therwith the arowe falleth out agayne. ¶In y^e moū taynes of ynde be gotes y^t ete wel smellynge erbis & aromatick spices & they haue lytel holes betwene their clawes wherī they gader a maer of moistnes & that ouer groweth w^t a lytell skynne & than it becometh a maner of a byle / & so it rypeneth & than it itchet so sore y^t he rubbeth it tyll it falleth of / & that is counted for muske & of great valure.

¶Of the beuer. ca. xxxi.

THe beuer is a beste longe & smal lyke a dogge & hathe sharpe teth & a goodly skīne / the blacker the richer his tayle may nat be longe out of the water / for it is of natur like a fisshe / in som places cristē peple ete it in y^e lente it is fat & nere a cubyte of lengthe / his hynder fete be lyke y^e fete of a gose / therfor his nature is to be with his hynd fete in y^e water & his fore fet on y^e londe ¶The wyse maisters wryte y^t the Beuers gether them togeder in a gret cō ­pany & go to the forest & hewe downe moche wode with their tethe & than amonge them they chose out one & cast him on his backe & betwene his foure fete they lay asmoche wode as they cā drawe with him away / & of this wode they bylde their holes or dennes very strongly / & this wrōge they do to none but to them that for age haue so blont tethe that they can hewe no wode / or ellis to one that is of late come straūgely to their company / and of him they make their carte / the hūters that hunt them knowe them wel that haue dra­wen the carte / for they haue but lytell here an their backe / & therfore they let them go oftentymes agayne / and of y^e trees that they hewe they ete the bar­kes and leues / and the sourer they be the leuer they ete them. Whan the hū ters foloweth them sore / thā they byte of their stones & than the hūter taketh vp those stones & kepeth them worthely for they be of grete vertue / & than y^e hunter taketh the lasse regarde of thē If there come another hunter that fo­loweth him sharply / than wyl he ryse on his hynder fete shewynge that his stones be gone all redy / & so he escapes their daungeour.

¶Of the Chama. ca. xxxij.

CHama is lyke a wolfe / But it is full of whyte spottes ouer all his body / & it is in Ethyope / he is vnderstā ded moche lyke a dogge / & lyke a dogge may be lerned to all maner of games.

¶Of the beste calopus. ca. xxxiij.

CAlapus is a beste moch haūting about the water of Eufrates because of the coldnes of that water that it therof may drinke alwaye whan it is thursty / & it is bolde and also swyfte in rōnynge that the hūters can nat take him with no hoūdes / & it hath longe hornes carued lyke a sawe wherwith it striketh great trees downe to y^e groū de / & than cōmeth he amōge the tough grene busshes & thinketh to stryke thē also with his hornes to the grounde / but therin he is warred so that he can nouther out nor in but bydeth therin hāginge / & whan he feleth that he can nat out / for very pure anger he gryndeth his tethe togeder w^t so grete force that he is herde very farre of / and thei that here him come & take hym / there or ellis they sholde nat take him lightely for no maner of wayes.

¶Of the herte. ca. xxxiiij.

[Page]THe hert is a beste right swyft in rōninge / it hathe longe sharpe tyned hornes / his hornes growe from .ij yere to vi. but than there growe no more tyndes on his hornes / but they wexe bygger and fall out / in his hede he hath a worme that vexeth hī dayly The hert reioyseth in pypīge and synginge / and foloweth gladly the noyse therof / the whiche oftentimes costeth him his lyfe / & he fereth sore the songe of the frogge / and whāne she wyll cast her faune she seketh a very secrete place for drede of the hunters. ¶Nota the hert feghteth gladly ayenst them that folowe or chace him / but if he be ouer come / he mekeneth hym lowly to his persecutour and it leueth longe.

¶Of the beste zelio. ca. xxxv.

ZElio is a beste as grete as a wolfe and it is mortall enemy bothe to man and beste for it woroweth al that it cōmeth by / & it foloweth bothe man and beste be the sounde of their voyce it barketh lyke a dogge / wherwith it deceiueth many one and it ouercom­meth all maner of dogges / and it commeth of the beste Hyena and the Ape / and it abydeth gladly in places wheras people be buryed / And it eteth the cadauers or wormes.

¶Of the serpent cecula. ca. xxxvi.

CEcula is a lytell blynde serpent / and Celydros is a serpent y^t abydeth in watery groūde & gothe alway vpright for [...] bowed it sholde [...] and Chenchris is a suche lyke serpent that may nother bowe nor turne but goeth alway streght forthe.

¶Of the serpent Cerastes. ca. xxxvij.

CErastes is a serpēt that vij. hor / nes on his hede / of the whiche hornes in tymes past was wont to be made haftes of knyues belonginge to emperours tables for their grete vertue for whan there came any venym to y^e table than the kniues heftes dyd swet & of the venym was knowlege / & this serpent geteth his mete be subtyll menes / for he layeth in the sande as yf he were dede and hydeth so moste parte of all his body / & the fowles and bestes that se hym weneth that he be dede & thynke to eat of him & so he taketh thē & that is his mete / and agaynst his bit is gode to be dronke in wine the sede of Raphani.

¶Of the cephos. ca. xxxviij.

CEphos is a wonderfull monster in the londe of Ethyope the whiche hathe fete before lyke the very hā des of a man & he hath thē behīde lyke [Page] the fete of a man / & this monster hathe bene sene in the palays of Pompeyus at Rome / & it is heded & mouthed lyke a blode hoūde. ¶Centrocota is a beste bodyed lyke an asse / brested & legged lyke a lyon / & it hathe a wyde gapynge mouthe from the one ere to the other & it foloweth man be the voyce.

¶Of the Cirogrillus. ca. xxxix.

IT is a beste full of bristellis & pyn­nes lyke an vrchen & facyoned lyke a swyne / nothinge bolde / but it wyl geue a dedly bitte.

¶Of the Cicade. ca. xl.

That is a worme of the erth / & som dwell in howses ī warme places and desyre the hytte of the fyre / & some flye in the felde / & they sucke the dewe of the grasse / and they singe wel & thei make their holes in the groūde wher as thei haue yōges. There be Cicades that grow only of the cockes spe [...]yll or moystnes & those be many in Ytalye.

¶Of Cicotrocea. ca. xli.

IT is a beste that foloweth gladly the voice of man & it closeth neuer his iyen & some say that they be engē dred of a wolfe and a dogge.

¶Of Critecus. ca. xlij.

A Meruelous beste is critecus the whiche dwelleth in the erth & is of diuers and many maner of colours on the hede and he hath a redde backe [Page] and a whyte bely / and his here may nat be p [...]u [...]ked out for the skynne wolde go withall / & it is coloured moche lyke a cony / & it hath none eares but it hathe eare holes / and it is curst & byteth paryllously sore

Of the Adder. Cap. xliij.

THe Adder layeth gladly in y^e sonne beames / and it crepeth somtyme thrugh a very strayte hole and so strepith his skyn of and reneweth hȳ It is as lōge as an ele / it glydeth on y^e grownde & it geueth venymous blastes / and trobeleth them that come in his waye / & styngeth them venemously / it flyeth frome the herte & kylleth the lyon The skyne that it strepyth of dressed in a decoctiō with oyle is very good in y^e eares as testefyeth phisiolꝰ.

Of the Cocodrillus. Cap. xliiij.

COcodrillus is a best w^t .iiij. fete. & lyueth both in water & on londe and it is .xxiiij. cubitus of length. and it hath an harde skynne & great tethe lyke a sawe / and it hath great clawes by nycht is it in y^e water / and by daye is it on erthe / and it hathe eggis gretter than a gose vpon y^e grownde / and

the male & female kepeth it eche his tyme / & there is no beste made of so smale substance y^t becometh so great and it is very gluttysshe / and whā it is full it goeth to the border of the water and there it layeth down / and thā cometh a byrde named y^e wrēne and flyckereth so longe aboute his mouthe y^t he geteth in / & than this lytell byrde scratcheth hym ī his throte y^t it easeth hym so moche y^t he falleth therwith in slepe and whan this byrde parceyueth y^t this beste is in slepe / it decendeth in to the bely & byteth it so sharply thrugh as yf it were shot thorow w^t an arow for his bely is in maner as softe as slyme / and therefore he is so hurte in the water of y^e fysshes that haue harde fȳ nes / and whan it fyndeth a man it killeth hym / and than it cryeth whan it beholdeth y^e man / but yet it eteth hym as Plinius sayth ¶This cocodrillus eteth gladly an herbe w^t brode leuys where as a lytell serpent is hidden in whiche is his mortall ennemy / & this [Page] lytell e [...]pent dothe wentell & tourne hym selfe in slymye grownde to begyle cocodrillus & cōmeth to hym & slepereth throughe betwene his tethe & so descēdeth down in to his bely & tereth a sonder all cocodryllus entrayles & his bely also / & this serpent hath so harde askīne y^t it is nat well possible to cutte it a sonder w^t a sworde. ¶Plinius sayth That y^e donge of cocodryllus is moche sett by where as he hanteth of olde women in y^t contrey for they make an oyntmēt therof to anoynt their face therwith for thā they seme to be yonge lusty wenches as longe as that oyntment is fresshe.

Of the Coney. Cap. xlv.

THe coney is a lytel beste dwellynge in an hole of the erthe / & thore as he vseth he encreaseth very moche and ther fore he is profitable for man for he casteth oftentymes in the yere

¶Of the Dāma. Cap. xlvi.

DAmma is a beste lyke [...] hath longe sharpe streight / and smothe hornes & it is very swyfte ī rō ninge / & the flesshe of it is colde & drye in the operaciō & there be many of thē in Arabia.

[Page] Of the Damula. cap. xlvij

DAmula is a wilde gote & is very weke & can nat helpe hȳ withe no strengh but only w^t swyft rōning / & it fleeth sore from y^e sight of man / & it is gladly amonge y^e mōtayns / & whan it is hurte w^t an arowe thā it eteth an herbe named tragōteon / & therwith y^e arouwe falleth than out

Of the Dragon. cap / xlviij.

THe Dragō is y^e grettest of all ser / pentes & bestes / as Ysidorꝰ sayth in Inde & in Ethyope be many / & he groweth tyll he be .xxvi. cubites of lēgthe & more / & whā he is come to his ful age or strength thā lyueth he longe w^t out mete / but whā he beginneth to ete he is nat lightely suffysed. Augusti. y^e dragon dwelleth in depe caues of the grounde / and whan he feleth any reyne cōmynge out of the ayre than commeth he out of his caue or dēne & fleethe in to the ayre & bethe [...] ī the ayre in suche wyse that it semeth to be a gret tempest in y^e ayre & his wȳges be of a great quātyte accordynge to his body & they be facyoned lyke y^e winges of a backe y^e flyeth in the twy lyght / & where as y^e dragon abideth there is y^e ayre darke & full of venymous corrupcion.

Of the Draconcopedes. cap. xlviij.

DRaconcope [...]es be mighty great serpentis y^t haue vysages fayre and bryght lyke maydens or gentyll women / and some holdē that they be [Page]

of those serpētis or suche lyke as Eua was begyled w^t of the deuyll for Beda sayth that y^e serpent hath a maydenly visage / therfore the deuyll shewed vn [...] suche a fayre visage to thentent that he the soner sholde begile her and come to his purpose / & the body of this serpent was couered w^t the leues and smale brāches of the tre / & this serpēt was very wyse or subtyle / but y^t come nat of hym selfe for the deuyll was in it & he spake thrugh that serpent / lyke as Balaās asse spake thrugh y^e angel

Of the Gray. cap. l.

THe Gray is a fatt beste w^t a brode backe and short leggis / & they be shorter on the lefte syde than on the righte syde and thei byteth very sore & is of the moc [...]nes of the fox / & is slowe in ronninge to gete his mete

Of the Dypsa. Cap. li.

DIpsa is a maner of a serpēt / and it is very lytell / but it stingeth man / & whan it hath so done incōtinēt it is enflambed w^t so great hete & thurste that it must nedys drinke / & so it rō neth to the water / & th̄ere it drinketh tyll it breste asonder / and it is aboute a spanne of lengthe

Of the Oromeda. cap. lij.

ORomeda is a maner of a smale camell / & is very swyfte in rōnȳ ge & in goīge for it hath bene proued y^t it rōneth an hondred myle vpō a day ¶Damula is a nother wilde beste & is also in rōninge very swyft / & it is lyke an hynde / & it is nat lyghtely to be tamed / & therfore it is nat coūted fore no [Page]

beste of the chase.

Of the Ydra· cap. liij

YDra is a serpent or dragon with many hedis / and whā any body feghteth agaynste it and stryketh one of the hedis of incōtinente there spryngethe thre other hedis for it / but some thȳke it but a fable / & he that is venymed with this dragon may be holpen with kowe donge

Of the Horse. cap. liiij.

THe Horse is a beste y^t engendreth in all places of the world / & amō ge all colours. y^e blacke is best. y^e browne baye next / & the white thirde / but al other colours be taken for worse. Aristoteles sayth. That y^e horse & y^e mare haue more desyre to theyr engendrīg than ony other bestes on erth / for it is wryttē that no beste after that it hath receyued y^e nature of frute wyll haue adoe more w^t his male or female / saue only y^e womā and y^e mare / & the horse may make y^e generaciō tyl he be .xxxv. [Page] yere olde / and y^e mare may bere here frute tyll she be .xl. yere of age agaynst the natuere of all other bestes / the horse hath whyte tethe in his age / and he hathe no gall.

capitulo. lv.

THe Olyphant is a gret beste that lightely wyll be tamed and he is hūbler than any other beste / and me­keneth himselfe lowlyer thāne any o­ther beste and becōmeth subiect very lyghtely / and he is cōmonly lerned to do reuerens to kynges and noble princys / & who so hurteth or greueth hym that wyll he remember / and reuenge it in longe tyme after / and put him in ieꝑdy y^t greued him / these bestes ware wont to do gode sruice in tyme of war for they be so stronge that they maye fell downe gret stone walles / and they may bere a meruelous great weight Whan the male wyll engender with the female than do they go togeder towardes the Orient partyes as farre as they can / And there they fynde an­herbe named Mandragora and therof they ere bothe / but the female eteth first / and whan they haue eten therof than they come by eche other and en­gendreth be the way of nature & whā she shall cast her yonge than gothe she to a great water & casteth it therupon for feare of the dragon that is hir ennemye & wayteth to destroy her and her yong also for the whiche cause thother neuer departeth frome her tyll she be quite of her burden / the Olyphant ly­ueth iij.c. yere. & hathe no ioyntes in his legges wherfore he cāne nouther bowe nor knele / and he hath a rounde fote lyke an apple / wherfore whan he resteth him he leneth to a great strong tree and so reposeth hym and slepeth on his fete standīge because that his legges be so stiffe and will nat bowe / & the hūters y^t wyl haue hym do marke the tre that he resteth to / & whan he is gone thēs / than they get a saw & sawe [Page] a sonder & leueth it so stāding / & y^e next tyme that he cometh for to rest hym & leneth to the tree / downe cometh y^e tre and he togeder / and than he can nat a rise so incontinent he is taken

¶Nota It is wryten also that whan the hūters come for to stryke him they be agreed / before honde that y^e one shal stryke hym & the other defende hym / & haue a boxe or other vessell & therin is red colour or wyne / and that he y^t is y^e defendour is all bespylt or sprinked w^t the same as yf he hath shede his blode for the [...]liphāte / & whā the oliphāt spyeth that y^e last man hath shed his blode for hym he foloweth hym mekly & is trewe & obedient vnto hym in all his besynes vnto the deth / and wyll nat folowe the other hunter whiche is vnto vs wrec [...]ed [...]reatures a worthy ēsample for oure lernyng / wherfore late vs thinke in our myndes that we be the Olyphantes an thinke in our hertes what loue this onresonable beste sheweth vnto man for hys goode wylle y^t he hath redemed hȳ / whiche was but a fayned mater / what oughte we syn­full [...]reatures to thinke y^t the very son of god is descended frome his godhed and hath taken vpon hym the nature of man for to feght agaynste the firste hunter that chased vs that was oure mortall ennemye the deuill of hell. O lorde god there thou sheddest thy most precyous blode for oure redemp [...]ion & losed vs from the bādes of euerlastin­ge dampnacion / where fore gyue vs grace thate we maye obserue and kepe thy preceptis and commandementes / and that we may humble our self to laude and thanke the fore thy gloryous woundes and passyon that thou suffreddest and for thy moste precious blode that thou sheddest for the redemcyon of all mankinde

Of the Enthires. cap. lvi.

ENchires is a beste lyke a Gulle. and hathe in his necke veri long here lyke the mane of an horse necke. [Page] & hath great hornes mightely armed for to feght / and he hath a short tayle his skinne is very herde / & his flesshe is swete. & whā it is hūted it feghteth agaynst the hūters / & it casteth his dō ge & voydeth it well .iiij. strydes from hym for very purefear / & it semeth y^t it is thesame beste that bonnacon speketh of before

Of the Enidros. cap. lvij.

A Litell beste is Enidros. & it is moche in y^e water of Nilus. & where soeuer it fyndeth that serpēt cocodryllus before named slepīge. ther it doth wentylle & turne hym selfe in slypery myre & than it slippeth betwene the teth of cocodrillus & so descendeth in to the bely of cocodrillus & there terith it a sonder all y^e intrayls & guttes of his bely & so sleeth it y^e cocodrillus. ¶Enitra is a lytell beste / & of thē be many ī germania / & they make grete holes in y^e erth / & they gathre in the somer that y^t they lyue by in y^e winter / the female is alway fatte & the male lene / for she is euer etynge & he is so gredy & so sparinge y^t he thȳketh that he shall neuer haue ynoughe & also he hydeth from his female al his mete as moch as he can because she shold nat eat of it but she is wilye y^t she maketh a hole comȳ ge from another waye to stele his mete priuily that he dothe nate knowe of it & so desceyueth him & eteth his mete and that is y^e cause that he is so lene

Cirogrillus. cap. lviij.

CIrogrillus & erinatius is all one & it is a lytelle beste lyke a pigge & his skynne is rownde aboute full of sharpe pinnes saue only onder his bely that no man may come nygh hym & it is moche lyke an vrchen / but whā it is layde in luke warme water than it is so glad that it stretcheth hym selfe a brode ¶Ermyne is a lytell best lyke mustela / & in the wȳter on all the partyes of his body he is withe saue only on y^e back and it eteth flesshe and parsecuteth the myse very sore.

Of Edus. cap. lix. [Page]

Of Edus. Cap. lix.

EDus is a lytel gote / & whan it is yonge it is fatt / & his fleesshe is of good sauour & in y^e wanȳge of y^e mone is goode geldynge of thē lyke y^e calues

Emorois. Cap. lx.

Emorois is a serpent that sweteth blode / & he that of hym is bittyn or stynged bledeth hymselfe to dethe

Echele. Cap. lxi.

EChele is a lytell worme & som name it ī englisshe a leche / & it is in water moche / & it sucketh gladly y^e blode of man & beste / & it bydeth cleuynge vnto y^e place y^t it sucketh tyl it be ful & than it falleth of / but what tyme of the day y^t it be the blode [...]ācheth nat light [...]ely tyll the sonne be sette whā it hath sucked. ¶A caterpiller is a worme of dyuers colours / & it hath many fete / & it is of halfe fynger length or more / or lasse / & they brede of stynkȳge mystes vpō y^e trees & destroy y^e trees & frutes therof / & some take y^e asshes of a fygge tre y^t hath bene burned & strewe it vpō those erbes or trees and therwith destroye them.

[Page] ¶Falena. ca. lxij.

FAlena is a beste that hathe naturally Pryde in man or woman and wyll vpon that quarell feght to y^e dethe & if he wyn̄e man and ouercom him thā tereth he him asonder for his pryde ¶Fiber is moche in the londe of Ponte / and is a beste lyke the beuer but it is somwhat lasse / and his stones may nat be of but he must dye / and it hathe thesame power that the beuer hathe / and whan this beste byteth a­ny body it letteth nat go his holde tyl it here the bone cracke a sonder.

¶The Antes or pismers. ca. lxiij.

ANtees or pismers be very lytell wormes and they be very wyse / they make their holes in the grounde ande bere the erth out / and they make a narowe entre into their hole & make grete prouision to leue vpon all y^e yere after / the ante deuideth euery corne or or grayn that he geteth in thre partis that he caryeth into his hole / because it sholde nat shote and waxe grene in his hole or dēne / these antes cary eche other out of their holes whan they be dede / and bury them.

¶The grete myris. ca. lxiiij.

THe grete Myris as it is saide be in Ethyope and they be in quan­tite as gret mastifes and they be foted lyke a lyon and they cast the golde out of the golden sande and [...] nobody dare come by it. In ynde be myris as gret as oxen and they be very daūgerous to come by / and they be also be the golden mynes / & they haue four fete with croked clawes / and they wyll tere any man a s [...]nder / but they do nat byte or hurt other bestes lightely / and for to mynisshe the syn̄ne of co­uetyse there be so many of them to ke­pe this gold that no man can com [...] be it / but Iohn̄ mandeuyll testfieth that these antes or myris may nat abyde the here of the son̄e therfor wha [...] [...] fele the here thei ron̄e to their caues or dennes and in the mene tyme cometh men sittinge on dromodaris and cary asmoche of this golde awaye by stelth as they may but they be in great ieoꝑdye. Also they gete this golde be poli­ [...]ye / as thirs / They kepe a mare with hir yonge fole very hōgry / and lay on her two dossers we [...] festened vnto her [Page] body & dryue her out towarde y^e place where as this golde is / but the fole bydeth at home tyll they wyll haue the mare home agayne / And these antes haue a propertye that they may se no emptye holes / wherfore whan they se these emptye baskettes vpon the maris backe / they fyll it full of pure golde for they purifye it very well / and whā the owner of the mare dothe thynke that it is tyme than he taketh the fole and bringeth it out / and incōtinent it begin [...] to ney & crye after the dāme and whan she hereth her yonge she cō ­meth home as fast as she can / and in suche maner they gete the golde.

Capitulo. lxv.

A Furet is a beste longe and small and it is almoste all whyte of colour and it bryngeth the conys out of their holes whan it fyndeth them.

¶Nota Furo is a beste that hathe many fete / and it seketh and fyndeth ma­ny conys in their holes and killeth thē and so eteth them be stelth.

capitulo. lxvi.

GAla is a lytell beste & very bolde / and it feghteth agaīst diuers ser­pētis and eteth gladly myse / & the ser­pent that it feghteth with eteth gladly myse also / & whan it hathe ouercomen the serpent than it eteth it [...] & by by it e­teteh rewe the whiche is contrarye to all maner of serpentis. ¶A genet is somwhat bigger than a foxe / & it is co­loured betwene a redde and a blacke and it is meke and hūble / and it seketh his mete be the ryeurs syde.

capitulo. lxvij.

GAmeleon is a beste with ij. wynges & foure fete hauinge an hede lyke an adder & a longe wronge tayle lyke a dragon and bereth gere on his backe lyke woll & the clohhe that ther­of is made can nat burne / & whā this beste of his ennemye is slayne / than it sleeth his ennemye also / for he eteth of it also & therof he dyeth in cōtinent.

capitulo. lxviij. [Page]

GAsella is a beste lyke an hert and it hath hornes lyke a sawe [...] it hathe .ij. longe tethe lyke a bore stādinge out / & they bringe furthe the well smellynge muske / and thei be moche in the londe of tombase / & also at Senys / but that of Tombase is moche better than that of Senis for they of Tombase ete moche Spicanarde & many other co­stely spyces but they of Senys ete but other simple herbes. ¶Nota the nature of Gasella dryueth somtyme blode outwardes as if it were an im­postume laing betwene skīne & flesshe & whā it is rype thys beste rōneth to a tre & rubbeth it a sonder & than that corupcyon falleth to the grounde which is very trewe muske that noble pryncis couyt it moste / & therfore the more people do auēture their lyfe for to gete it some be strengthe & som be wyles.

capitulo. lxix.

GLandosa is a serpent right daungerous for what it biteth it rotes in cōtinent & stinketh meruelously he that tredeth on this serpent all the sole of his fote shall fall out / & the surgeon that visyteth the same shall lese all the skīne of his handes. ¶Gnatrix is a serpent that enuenymeth all maner of waters that it cōmeth in.

Capitulo. lxx.

A Worme there is named grillus whiche worme hathe many fete and wandereth alway / and it perseth the erthe / & it eteth the antes in the erthe and it is moche lyke a greshope / & it cōmeth of the great corrupcyons of the trees.

Capitulo. lxxi.

HEricius is lyke an vrchen full of sharpe pryckels / whan he feleth ought than he rolleth himself togeder lyke a fote ball / and it hathe all the condicyons of an vrchen and of hym the wolfe is sore a frayde.

capitulo. lxxij.

HIena is a beste as gret as a wolf & hathe a mane lyke a horse / & it begileth the shepardes & hoūdes with his barkīge in suche maner that they

thynke it is a dogge also / & so with his deseytfull barkinge he cometh so nigh to man and beste that he taketh theim in his clawes and with his tethe he tereth them a sonder / & than he maketh grat caues or holes in the erthe and caryeth those dede bodyes [...] carcases therin / and therof he eteth gladly tyl he may nomore.

capitulo. lxxiij.

[Page]HIstrix is a beste in Ethyope and in ytalie y^t hathe longe sharp bristels on his backe / & is strong bothe on water & on londe & is lightely angry / and he that foloweth him than / he sho­teth his bristellys at the pursuer whether it be man or beste.

capitulo. lxxiiij.

THe Bucke or male of the gote doeth gladly feght w^t his strong hornes / and is alway redy to the onclene lust of the flesshe / and his flesshe is nat gode to be eten / & it stinketh sore.

Capitulo. lxxv.

HImnulus is the yonge [...]fawne of an hert / & it is swift in rōning & the dāme hideth it as nigh as she can whyles it is yonge / and she lerneth it to springe ouer dyches & hedges / & if it be gelded whyle it is yong than it shal bere no hornes / if it bere his first horne or it be gelded / than shall it neuer cast his horne after.

capitulo. lxxvi.

IAculus is a flienge serpent and it climeth vpon the trees / and there it hydeth him / and what man or beste that cōmeth forby it he falleth downe from the tre vpon them & killeth them out of hande / and what it meteth whā it fleeth it killeth it.

[Page]

¶Nota. Ipnalis is a serpent the whiche is Ebbe vnto the serpēt A [...]is and who so euer of him be bitten falleth in continent to the ground on slepe / and so they dye very softly & withoutē any maner of feare.

capitulo. lxxvij.

ICinus is a beste on the erthe full of sharpe pines rounde about his body saue only vnder his bely / and it is lyke a yonge pygge.

Capitulo. lxxviij.

LAcertus is a serpent with foure fete and it hathe a splayde tonge and it is somwhat hery / her yōges do brest out of theim to the nomber of xi. and in Ynde those Serpentis become four and twenty fote longe.

capitulo. lxxix.

LAmya is a great beste and very cursed of nature / for be night it cōmeth out of the forest and it entreth in y^e gardens & there breketh asonder [Page] all maer of erbis & trees / & who so commeth̄ to dryue hym frome thens he biteth fersly / of the whiche they can nat lyghtely be heled / and some saye that they won̄de their yonges or euer they geue them sucke. ¶Nota Lausamyn is Also angrye beste y^t none other be­ste may be fre for it / for it maketh the prince of all bestes afrayde / that is the lyon / but they hurt nat eche other / but what soeuer other bestes get / this lau­zamyn taketh it from them.

Capitulo. lxxx.

THe lyon is a noble beste for he is prynce of all other bestes / & he is strong & mighty & of very noble corage / the he / hathe longe curled here and croked clawes & maketh his wa [...] bac­warde out / yet he lifteth his legge like a dogge & whā he openeth his mouthe there out cōmeth a swete sauour / & he slepeth with open iyen / he hath v. clawes in his fore fete / & but four ī his hinder fete / his tethe be sharpe as a sawe / and all his bones be very harde / & lytell mary therin / & whan he is chased he rōneth fast before and trayleth his brode tayle after him vpon the groūd and so stryketh out the steppys of his fete that he therby sholde nat be foūde The female bringeth forth at her first warpinge or litteringe .v. yonges / at the next tyme foure / than thre / than .ij and at the last time but one. and after that she bydeth euer barayn. & whan she hathe littered hir yonges / they be dede and so byde tyll the thirde daye / and than cometh the dāme with hir familye and there they make so great a crye / that thrugh the soūde of it they become leuinge and be afrayde / and the lyon fereth the mouse.

capitulo. lxxxi.

LEopardus or the leoparde is engendred of the lyonesse and of y^e beste pardus his coloure is pale redde with blacke spottys ouer al his bodye [Page]

and the Female is stronger than the male of them / and it is a beste felle out of mesure / and somtyme it is tamed & lerned to the chace and thei that lede it must be prouided of some quicke beste by them for whan he is in his hete and fayle of his enterpryse he will put his leder in gret iepardy of his lyfe / wherfor they carye a quicke lāme with thē to geue him in tyme of nede y^t he may sucke the blode and ete the flesshe to abate his corage vpon that. This beste is lyke the lyon in all the partes of his bodye / but he is nat so great nor he is nat so stronge.

¶Leonthophonus. ca. lxxxij.

LEonthophonus is a lytell beste that hathe his name of the lyon for it is to the lyon a great ennemy / for whan it fortuneth to be taken and thā brent to asshes / and those asshes layde or strewed vpon a pece of flesshe & layd in the way wher as the lyon shall pas yf he ete of it / be it neuer so lytell than must he nedis dye. And therfore Pli­nius nameth it the morall enemye of

the lyon because that of it he must suf­fer dethe. Nota lentrocuta is a beste asmoche as an asse / and it is moche lyke a lyon saue on his backe behynde & that is lyke an hert / & it hathe a wyde mouthe frome the one eare to thother / & it is meruelous swift in ronnynge & thei be moche in the londe of ynde / and they folowe gladly the sownde or spe­che of man.

¶The hare. ca. lxxxiii.

[Page] Capitulo. lxxxiij.

THe hare is a beste that is swift in rōnynge & alwaye full of feare & drede & exchewinge / it hathe longe eares / & his hinder legges be lōger than his fore legges / & it hath bothe mēbres for as now it [...]s the male and as than it is the female / & alwayes the lippes be waggynge vp and downe.

capitulo. lxxxiiij.

LEuithan is a dragō that fleeth in the ayre / it gothe on groūde & swȳmeth in the water / & feghteth oftē tymes agaynste the whale fisshe / & all the fisshes in the see that se this batayl come in continent and sitt vpon y^e taile of the whale / and than if the whale be ouercome of the dragon than eteth the dragons all those smale fisshes / but yf he can nat ouercome him / than wyl he blowe poison or venȳ vpon the whale but he defendeth himselfe w^t blowinge of water agayne vpon the dradragon & so preserueth him & all his felowes.

Capitulo. lxxxv.

LAnificus is a worme y^t maketh silke & it is longe & full of spottes and hathe many fete / this worme maketh out of his wōbe y^t the silke is spōne of / & he eteth the leues of the more bery tree / the which mete is chaūged in his wombe vnto the naturall wolle that the silke is spōne of / and it maketh his wolle on a lytell strigge in maner like a spyndell / And whan it is full / thāne it gothe out about in a wonderfull maner / and thys worme whiche was before a creping worme with many fete hathe nowe wynges for to flee. And after that cōmeth bothe male & female [Page] to geder .iij. dayes longe in the operation of loue / & than dyeth the he. And within a wyle after y^e she layeth innumerabli many eggis vpō a fayre white or redde clothe y^t is layde vnd her of them that wille haue the profite & thā dyeth she & than those egges be layde away in fayre clowtes ī a warme place where as y^e winter can do no scathe to thē / & whan the maye beginneth to ware warme than be they layde out in the warme sonne tyll they gette y^e nature of the worme & so gets lyfe. Lymar is a worme bred of the nature of slyme & is in maner as a snayle

Cap. lxxxvi.

COūpted is the Lintworme as of the kynred of y^e wolf / but it hath vpō his bake mani spottes like y^e beste pardus / & he is so sharpe sighted that he seeth throughout a mānes body & is fast & solidū And he hath a tong like a serpent but it is moche greater in suche quātite that he casteth it about his necke / & hath clouē fete w^t gret clawes & his pisse baketh in y^e sonne and that becommeth a ryche stone

Cap. lxxxvij.

THe haye sprynger is a beste w^t .iiij. fete hauynge a greate hede / & they be gode to be eten / and there be many aboute Iherusalē of the bignes of a conye. but they haysprygers that we haue be grashoppis & nat like those by Iherusalem. the whyche we knowe richt well.

Cap. lxxxviij

THe Wolfe is a gredy grypynge beeste and full of falshede. and so­me saye that it is a wilde dogge for he [Page] is lyke a dogge / & he howleth but he harketh nat lyke a dogge / & he is very bold / & whō he eteth thā he fylleth him selfe w^t so moche mete that he hath̄ no hunger in .iij. dayes after If any beste pisse where as he hathe pist the whyle y^e his pisse be warm y^e other beste shall neuer be frutefull afer / and the wolfe eteth no thynge but flesshe

Cap. lxxxix.

A Lytell beste is Inter moche like y^e wesyll of quātite & coloure / his body is wythe / his wolle is as softe as downe / his hede is dūne & blacke This beste woneth by y^e water and lyueth of the fisshes & it may lyfe longe vnd water / & it is so gredi to gete his mete y^t it gadereth so moche fisshe y^t it layth by him & rotteth in his erthe & the stē / che therof īf etteth y^e ayrether rownde aboute & somtimes it is taken of y^e fysshers & tamed & thā they lerne it to fysshe in this maner. y^e fisshes casteth his nette at y^e one syde of y^e water & this lytell beste is set in at the other syde & he dryueth y^e fysshes ī to y^e nette & helpeth his maister

Cap. xc

Lombricus

is a worm that bredeth in y^e bowellis of man / as hali saythe / they growe of fijlthy & rotten flemis in y^e inner partes of man / they may nat come of y^e blode or redde colera / for w^t redde colera & hard sharpnes vtterli & drily doth fle this worme / & yonge chylderē be oftentymes dyseased with thys worme in y^e frutefull season of y^e yere of moche ethinge therof

[Page] capitulo. .xci.

A Beste is Licaon of the kinred of y^e wolf but it is longer bodyed & it hath shorte legges & on his necke he hath longe here facioned lyke mones of diuers & many coloures / and in the winter he is rough hered & in y^e sōmer smothe & these bestes be moche in the partyes of Orient Lintiscus is a beste made be y^e engendringe of y^e she wolfe & the dogge. & it is of bothe natures.

Capitulo. xcij.

Maricomorion is a beste in orient y^t is seldē sene. he is asmoche as a lyon / tayled lyke a scorpiō / fased / iyed & eared like a man / & rōneth like a herte / & wher it may fynde a mā it tereth hym a sonder and eteth him.

Capitulo. xciij.

WEsell is a lytell beste & whan it hath younges it is dayli be thē to fede thē / & caryeth thē from place to place because they sholde nat be foūde & it dwelleth in hilles and holes & it slepeth very longe And whā it will feght agaynste the basiliscus thā it armeth him w^t wilde rewe / and if she finde hir ionges dede than maketh she thē quicke agayn through y^e vertue of this be / knowē herbe rewe. & y^e pope Clemēs saith that this best receyueth through hir mouth & casteth her li [...]t thrugh her eares. this beste persecuteth the serꝑē tis & sleeth y^e basiliscꝰ but thā he dyeth also.

Cap. .xciiij.

[Page]Mamometꝰ or marmoset is a maner of an ape the whice is braw­ne on his bake & whyte ond his beli / & w^t a herys taile & his necke is as thick as his hede therfore whā he is taken he is bownde aboute the myddell vnd the beli aboue the backe. & it hath a face moche lyke a man but it is blacke & without here / & alwaye there is strife be [...]wene this beste & y^e ape & daily they feght agaynst eche other ¶Māticora is a great beste & very hery & hath fete lyke a lyon. his face iyen & steres like a man & a red coloure / & it hathe a tayle lyke a scorpion.

capitulo. xcv.

A Marter is a beste as moch as a catte but it is longer & hath .iiij. fete / & it is whyte vnder the bely & the necke and hath shorter clawes than a catte / and they be of ij. maners / that is to vnderstande foynes and marteres but the marters be better yet bothe y^e furres be ryche and costely. and they be but selden stylle / and somtyme they be tamed.

Capitulo. xcvi.

MElo is a beste lyke a gray wyth harde here & hath .iiij. fete wyth his clawes welle armed & is as great as a foxe. but Melosus is a very dangerous great beste & hath mighty longe tuskes / & it dothe great harme vn / to man / yet it feareth the innocēcie of the yōge childrē & rōneth away from their voyce. ¶Monocheron is a beste that hath a body like an hors / a hede lyke an herte / a tayle like an hogge / and fete like an oliphaunt / & it hath a sharpe horne in the middes of his forhede & that horne is black and of .ij. cubites of lenghte and it will nat latt him selfe be taken quicke.

Cap. xcvij.

[Page]MIgale is a lytell beste lesse than a wesell & it is gredi to his mete / it is also fals & subtyll / for that it eteth it geteth w^t great subtylte / whan it seeth a beste it sprīgeth to it & grypeth it by y^e coddis till it haue ouercome y^e beste.

Cap. xcviij.

A Muylis goten of an asse & born of a mare / & hath longe eares lyke an asse & cryeth lyke an asse / & hath a crosse ouer his sholders / & lytell fete lyke an asse. & alle the other partes of his bo [...]y is lyke a horse The muylesse or female hath neuer yonge or fole for the nature y^t they come of is cold out of mesure

Cap. xcix.

A Lytelle beste is the Mows and eteth gladly bred or othere thynges made of corne or such as mā eteth and it is veri diligent to gete his leuinge wherfore it biteth many an harde thing a sonder to passe through to gete his mete / and it is veri moyste of nature / therfore yf it drinke moche it dyeth therof. In Orient be myse as great as foxes / and they be of that nature that they will kyll a man In Arabia be great myse also / & theyr fore fete be as brode as the palme of a mannes han / de and theyr hinder fete be as smale as a finger ende▪

cap. c.i.

THe mouse hounter or catte is an onclene beste & a poyson ennemy to all myse / and whan she hath goten she playeth therwith / but yet she eteth it / & y^e catte hath lōge here on her mouthe / and whan her heres be gone than hathe she no boldnes / and she is gladli in a warme place / and she licketh her forefete & wassheth therwith har face.

Cap. c.ij [Page]

MVlripes is a worm with many fete & maketh himselfe as roūde as a bowle whan it is stired yet it hath a longe body & it lyueth a whyle after that his hede is of.

capitulo. C.iij.

NEpa is a the serpent the whiche whan she is with her felowe en­gēdring she byteth of his hede & sleeth him & she is slain again in y^e deliuerīg of hir yōges / for whan hir time is com than her yonges bite the inner partis of hir body asonder / & than they burst out and therof she dyeth.

capitulo. C.iiij.

NEomon is the same that sinulus is & it hathe bristels on his body & it can deuyde gode mete from poy­soned mete be the smell / & this beste ꝑ­secuteth the serpentis / & whan it feghteth w^t the serpent aspis / than it lifteth his tayle vp & stryketh aspis greuously whan he waiteth leste for the stroke & so he is deceyue.

ca. C.v.

ONager is a wylde asse / vpon the xv. day of marche he cryeth xij. times in y^e daye / & as many in y^e night & therby it is knowen that it is Equinoxiū / than is day & night a lyke lōge In ynde he cryeth euery houre in the day. The wylde asse is as gret as one of our asses & it is a perylous beste / & it hathe a horne in his forhede y^t is very harde and sharpe and the houe vnder [Page] his fote is meruelously harde & he striketh therw^t right perylously.

Cap. C.vi·

YChneumō is y^e fornamed serpēte Neomō & it feghteth w^t mani serpentes & specialli w^t aspis as before is rehersed. Aristoti. sayth / y^e he feghteth nat gladli w^t y^e serpēt hascos w^tout more help for he fereth y^e biting of hascos & therfore he rōneth to a water & descē deth to y^e botom & wēteleth in mudde / & geteh there helpe and than cometh with his company & feghteth wyth the serpent ha [...]cos

The .C.vij.

ORafflus is a best hauinge many colours & the forparte of hys bo / dy is veri hye ī suche maner y^t he may reche w^t his hede .xx· cubites but y^e hinder part of hym is very lowe / & it is foted & cayleth lyke an herte. ¶Onocē tijaurus is a beste & monster hauinge a hede lyke an asse / & all the other par / tes of the body is lyke a man / & whā it beginneth to crye thā it semeth that it wil speke but it cā nat / & he throweth stones or libertes w^t great strength at thē that folowe hym for to take hym. Adellinꝰ sayth that this beste was nat made at the beginīge whan all other bestes ware created of god but y^t they comme of a meruelous commixcyon and straunge generacion.

Cap. C.viij.

A Beste is Orix lyke a gote hauinge a berde vnd the chȳne / & they be moche in y^e londe of Affrike / ther as lytell watere is or none wherfore this beste suffreth great thurste. For it is fon̄d y^t the morderes of getulia layd & hao no water for to drinke / & they gate [Page] this beste & shifted to get a drope of his vryne & slaked therw^t their thurst / & it may suffer no maner of colde.

Cap. C.ix.

PAnthera is a frende to all bestes [...] very fayre / & the she is strongest & hathe but ones yōges in her lyfe / & he that hūtith him layth flesshe in his waye & poison theron & he eteth it wherwith he is dece [...]ued of y^e hūters but than he seketh the dirtte of man & that he eteth wherby he is saued if he fynde it.

Cap. C.x.

PApro is a beste lyke a foxe / of the which ther be many be y^e cite of Cesariū whan one crieth they crye al & whan one of them is dede thei gader rounde about it & make a meruelous howle or crye as if they dyd complain their felowe that they haue lost / & som saye that they rōne gladly in the gra­ues of dede bodies / and therof thei ete and this Beste is engendered on the foxe be a wolfe.

Cap. C.xi.

PAntheon is a beste to whom nature hathe geuen grea [...] beautye and brightnes / and it hath a purpure coloure shynynge very bright as if it were a sterre with his glishteringe beames / and whan it is dede / than it is redde of coloure / and it is as great as a great mastyfe dogge / and his bones be very harde and his Senewes can nat lightly be broken

Cap. C.xij. [Page]

PArandrus is in Ethiope a beste as gret as an oxe & hath a hed loke [...] coloure lyke the bere / & is a beste y^t is e­uer afrayde of what thynge so euer it se & therof it taket y^e coloure wherof it be whether it be whyt / blacke / or rede but his owne propre coloure is as before is specyfied

Cap. C.xiij.

PIlosus is a beste like a man on y^e vper partes / & y^e neder partyes lyke a beste / and it hath a grimme face with .ij. hornes / And this beste was taken in oriente & brought in Alexan / dria and ther it dyed and was salted & sent to the emperour Frederyke at Cō stan [...]iynople

To the Franche kīg of late yeres was sē te a best of this ma­ner of shape. it hath a hede like a dogge & all the othere partes of the body lyke a man / and it hath mannis condicyōs & it ete mete y^t was [...] handes & sate an a table w^t mānes maners whan he was angred no mā durste cōme nygh hym / & hys mēbre was greater for his proporcyon than y^e bo / dy required ¶Pyrolꝰ is a lytell beste that gadreth nuttis in the somer to lyue on in y^e wyntere & it hydeth thē in a holowe tre.. ¶Putorius is a beste y^t stynketh sore and specially whan it is angry / & hathe lyke the graye shorter leggis on the one syde than on y^e other and it breketh the wallis fetcheth out rockis hēnes and chekens and killeth them / and the firste that it dothe it byteth the hedes of.

Capitulo. c.xiiij. [Page]

PEgasus is a mighty gret beste & it is in the londe of Ethiope & is formed lyke an horse w^t winges grett than an egle / & it hath gret hornes in [...] hathe a grete bodye & it rōneth very swiftely through helpe of his wīges / & it eteth moche & persecuteth other bestes very sore / but it ꝑsecuteth man moste of all.

Capitulo. Cxv.

A Beste there is named Pigardꝰ horned & berded lyke a gote / somwhat smaller than an hert & is like the beste hircocernus / but nat so gret / & is euer in y^e wode rōninge very swifte.

capitulo. C.xvi.

PIgmeis be men & women & but one cubite longe dwellinge in y^e mountaynes of ynde / they be full growen at their third yere & at their seuē yere they be olde / & they gader them in may a grete cōpany toged & arme them in theyr best maner / and thā go they tothe water syde & where so euer they fynde any cranes nestis they breke

all the egges & kyll all the yonges y^e [...] cranes do them many displeasures & feght with them oftentymes & do thē gret scathe / but these folke couer their houses w^t the cranes feders & egshels.

capitulo. Cxvij.

[Page] capitulo. C.xvij.

THe fole is the chidle of an hors or mare and it sucketh long his dā mes tetis. Aristotell saithe that in the forhede of the fool is founde a thinge y^t is named venesiciū / and the dāme li [...] keth it of / and some folke do shere it of for som sorcers do their cure therwith & the pace that it hathe in his youthe / the same it kepeth gladly in his age.

ca. C.xviij.

FLees be bred or they growe out of filthy corners in houses / and it is a litell blake worme and it byteth sore whā it is warme or ayenst rayn / and specyally more be nyght than be daye / whan one wyll take them / they spring awaye.

Capitulo. C.xix.

ALous is a worme w^t many fete & it cōmeth out of the filthi and on [...] atendaūce they come [...]ut of the flesshe thr [...]ugh the skȳne or swet holes.

¶To withdryue them / The best is for to wasshe the oftētimes and to chaūge oftentymes clene lynen.

[Page] Cap. C.xx.

AN hogge is an vnclene beste for it taketh plesure to laye in foule dirte & it whineth sore / whā an hoge is slayne than all the other hoges there about [...]rye & whyne very sore rōninge togeder on a hepe as if they had compassion on others dethe / & as an hoge is of flesshe & blode / so is man / for mannes flesshe hath bene bought & eten in stede of porke tyl it hapened ones that the fyngers were founde.

cap. C.xxi.

PAder is a serpēt ī germania as gret & thicke as a mānes arme on the backe it is grene & vnder y^e bely like golde / & is so venymoꝰ in blowīge that yf a man hewe a branche from a tre & helde it before this serpēt is mouthe / through his venymous blaste the barke of it shall rōne vp ī grete blisters full of venym / but and ye hold or set a bright sworde before him he wyl clym vp to the poynt of it & kylle himselfe / & though this worme stinge a man on y^e fote or ellis where / the venym wil clim vpwardes to the hart & than must he dye / but the best remedye is for a man y^t is so stinged / to be hanged vp by the heles / than this poyson wil ronne vpwarde & ther as this poyson festeneth must a pere of flesshe be cut out & heled agayn. Parias is a serpent that goth vpright makīge a for ough in his way ¶Nota. Prestes and aspis be moche lyke of one condicyon.

Cap. C.xxij.

THe frogge dwelleth in moist places / & some amonge redis & lowe trees / & they be small & grene and can nat crye. And in august y^e froges can nat open their mouthes for nothinge

Cap. C.xxiij.

RAngiser is a beste in the londe of Swedia & norway & it is like an hert / but it is greater & very swifte in ronnynge & hath iij. maner of hornes & eche be hīselfe / but ther be ij. fulcom­ly growē of v. cubites of heght w^t xxv. brāches / in middell of the hede they be flat / & on y^e sides & before they be sharp wherw^t they feght against their enne­myes Norsula is a beste greter than a wesyll / red on the backe & whyte on the bely / it dwelleth in the erthe & dōgeth euer in one place whiche smelleth lyke muske but it hathe nat the vertue. Nor it hathe nat suche a strengthe as muscus hathe.

cap. C.xxiiij.

THe ratte is lyke a mouse / but she is bigger / & there be ij. maner of ratis / a house or londe ratte or a water ratte & some say their tailes be poison & whan they be hote & rōne assau [...] / thā do they great s [...]athe to all thinges ther as they be / & specyally yf their vryne fell on any bare place of a mānes body / it shold ete it to the bone & neuer be [...] cause it bi [...] many thinges a sonder ¶Albertus saith make a smoke ī your house of the leste houe of a moyle & all the rattes shall rōne awaye.

cap. C.xxv.

[Page]REgulus is y^e kynge of all serpentis & hath feders & wynges with whyte spottis on his body / & is a fote & an halfe of length / he sleeth the fowles & y^e people w^t his sight & w^t his blastes & dwelleth vpon drye sandye places. Nota. Iareth saith / he y^t seeth or hereth regulus blowe he waxeth by & by full of dropsy & dyeth. & herof we shall speke more benethe of basiliscus.

Cap. C.xxvi.

REynocheron is a beste y^t hathe a necke lyke a horse & through all his body it is fyrye & flambye & whan it bloweth w^t his brethe vpō any man it is so hote that he must dye ¶Monocheron y^t is a vnicorne for it hath but one horne standinge in his forhede & it is so sharp y^t what so euer it touchet w^t his horn it tereth it a sonder or rōneth it thrugh / & it is a beste w^t iiij. fete feringe nothere yron nor stele / & it feghteth oftentymes agaynst y^e oliphant & thursteth hym in y^e beli w^t his sharpe horne & so ouercōmeth hym.

Of the Rutela. cap. C.xxvij

THe Rutela is lyke a spiner & cat [...] maners / some be rede and rdwnce / some be wythe w^t rownde belyes / some be roughe and hery / some be blacke some be lyke waspis / and some be called Egipciaca. and theyr bytinge is very venymous and therof cōmeth great payne in the hede and causeth the parsone so stynged to be very slepye / and than commeth the dethe The bath and tyna w^tdryueth y^e paynes of y^e stygne for whan the place stygned is wet w^t tina than the payne w^tdraweth / & whā it is taken of than the payne dothe cō ­me agayne therfore it must be alway bathed.

Cap. C.xxviij.

AVenymous beste is Rubetum and is of the maner of a Frogge This Rubetum is very medecinable for many thynges / but he casteth his [Page] vertu from him whan he wil & taketh it agayne whan he wyll / but alwaye it kepeth his venym by him.

cap. .xxix.

SAlamādra is a venymous beste [...] a hoge & mired with the face of an ape & it lyueth in the fyre / & it quēcheth the flambe / and it bereth a maner of woll lyke a dōne colour / wherof diuers thinges be wouē y^t neuer can be brent / but whā they be fowle than they be cast in the fyre to be clensed / this beste is lene and it hathe but lytell blode.

Cap. c.xxx.

LIke an adder there is a serpent and it is named Suara / whan it is olde it waxeth blynde / and than it ronneth against a walle towards the east lokinge vpon the vprysing of the sōne and therby it geteth sight again Stello is also a maner of an adder the whiche hathe a dedly venym and it is false & subtile it hateth mā sore / it hath a longe tayle and a smale hede.

Cap. c.xxxi.

SAlpiga is a serpent that is selden sene / the same is named also Scitalis and is of many diuers coloures vpon his backe / and is very fatte / it is so hote of nature that in the wynt he casteth his skȳne of. ¶Seps is a lytel serpent & is so full of venȳ that he poysoneth nat only the flesshe of man but also the bone. The man that of him is stinged consumeth & melteth to dethe through the great poyson.

cap. c.xxxij.

[...] Dypsa as before is specified ¶Spuēs is a serpēt that with his spewynge or spetyll sleeth them that it falleth on / & this serpēt is about .ij. cubites of lengthe & it styngeth a man to deth or it le / ue of. ¶Syraus be serpent is in Arabye with wynges and they ronne faster than an horse / & some saye that they flye also / & who so of theym is bittē or stȳged dieth or he fele any payne

Cap. c.xxxiij.

SCorpio is a beste semynge hūble hauinge a meke regarde or loke. but in his tayle he hathe a venimous styngue & therwith dothe gret harme vnto man whāne he regardeth hym leste. it lyueth of y^e erth / & in may & august it layeth eggys or a substāce lyke eggis but they be wormes / & y^e moder wille somtyme ete thē but they hange behinde her on her leggis & fete & so saue them selfe. ¶A black hoge y^t is strickē of this worme must nedys dye. & o / ne of another coloure may escape but nat alway /

ca. c.xxxiiij.

ACnbite longe is y^t serpent Seta & it is a white / & bothe endes be a lyke thicke at hede and tayle / & it crepeth withe bothe the endes. & this serpēt is engendred of a veymous wat & who drīketh of this wat shall become [Page] mad & raue / & so ende his lyse w^t payn. Sardina is nat rekened amonge the serpētis [...] but Solisuga sardis crepeth in the grasse / & wher it lihgtneth vpon there it bringeth a sekenes.

Cap. c.xxxv.

SPoliator colubri is a worme with agoldē colour & though it be smal & weke yet it can ouercom a snake for whan it seeth the snake lay in y^e sonne than it crepeth vp at the tayle & so to y^e hed / but than he claweth him softly be the hede / & or he be ware he festneth so harde in his hede that y^e snake with al his might can nat shake him of / & this worme sleeth him & than eteth his fyll of him. This worme is lyke vnto the sterre / for it shyneth moste be night & it cōmeth neuer forthe but whan it is a great rayne abydynge fayre wedder this worme quencheth the fyre lyke a plate afyce / and yf a mannes body be touched or meued with y^e donge of this beste or worme / all the here of his body shall fall out.

Cap. c..xxxvi

Talpa y^e moll is a litell blake blind beste that cōmeth of the erth / & it hathe a soft skȳne y^t is hery / & it liueth of the wormes in the groūde / but whā it suffreth grete hunger than it eteth. erthe

[Page] Cap. c.xxxvij.

A Bull is a stronge beste & humble & companable amonge other bestes & he feghteth sore with the hornes & because he is strōge of all the partis of his body / therfore he is sett to y^e ploghe for to labour like an horse.

Cap. c.xxxviij

TArandus is a best as grat as an oxe & hath a hede lyke an hert w^t braunched hornes & the skinne of hys backe is so hard that some men make breste plates of it / & it hathe the coloure of all maner of flores of the trees and erbes there as he haūteth or hydeth hī selfe & therfore he can nate lightely be fownden of the place that he is in.

Cap. c.xxxix.

IT is a gray taxus as befor hath ben spoken of & his left legges be shorter than his right / therfore he can nat rēne swiftli except he be in a foroughe & his her is hard & coloured bothe [...] and he standeth vpright vpon his hinder fete and defendeth hymselfe w^t his tethe and forfete agaynst y^e howndes and y^e foxe begyleth hī also / for whā he hath made his hole and is ones out of the way the fore commeth and layeth his donge in y^e entre of his hole / & whā the gray cōmeth agayn he may nat a­byde y^e stenche & than he leueth his hole & the foxe bydeth in possescyon

Cap. c.xl.

A B [...]e is tragelaphus & lyke [...] hert & it hath a berd lyke a gote & they be by y^e wat phesin. ¶Trogodita is a beste y^t hath longe croked horne cōminge ouer his face or mouth y^e whiche lettethe hym of his mete / but whā he wyll ete than he setteth hys necke awry and so eteth with grete payne.

Cap. c.lxi.

A Wode worm is tere do that is nothinge stronge nor grete / & engē dred of corrupcion of the ayre / & it is betwene the barke & the tree & ther it do the oftentymes grete scathe & specialli whan the wode is hewen in on sesonable tyme or that the tre where plāted at a full mone.

Ca. c.xlij.

THe Motte bredethe amonge clothes tyll that they haue byten it a sonder / & it is a maniable worm and yet it hydeth him in y^e clothe that it can scantly be sene / & it bredethe gladly in clothes that haue ben ī an euyll ayre or in a rayn or myst & so layde vp with out hanging in the sonne or other swete ayre after.

Cap. c.xliij.

TIrus is a serpēt be the cite [...] rico and persecuteth sore the fowles and their egges and eteth them / & of this serpēt is made gode tryacle for all maner of venymes / som saye that before the passion of our sauiour criste this serpent had no vertue / but whan our sauyour was crucifyed as it fortuned there laye one be the way nat far frome the crosse / so one toke it vp and cast it at the crosse / and there it abode hangynge on the one syde of our lorde & euer syns all those serpētis Tygris haue had the fornamed vertu against all maner of other poysones / But yet agaynst his owne poyson he dothe no remedy at all.

Cap. c.xliiij.

TIgris is a very meruelous cur­sey beste and it hathe many spottes / and it is meruelous swift and full of rauynge / and whan his yonges be taken frome him / than he foloweth y^e hunter but his yonges be taken from him euery yere comonly.

Cap. c.xlv.

[Page]A Maner of serpent is Tortuca y^t hath no venym of all the tyme y^t he lyueth / but after his dethe as Ambrosiꝰ sayth. If any man trede on his kidney w^t his bare fete he sholde there by be empoysoned / & it is .ij. fote longe & it hath a hede lyke a tode / & a tayle lyke a scorpion. & .ij. herde sheliys on his body so that it ran nat lightely be slayne with harde strokis / & it layth egges like an hēne / but they may nat be eten & these that be spoken of be in y^e water but there be on the erth some also that hath no venym & they be eten of man ¶Tarāte is a smale serpent & who so he stīgeth shall haue great payne / and excepte triacle hym he must dye in the payne

Cap. c.xlvi.

VIpera is a serpent that hathe a smothe brode hede / a litell smale necke & a short tayle / & they betakē of them that make medecines towardes the ende of maye. In y^e winter [...] he Vipera out of his hele or denne & rubbeth his iyen agaynste a fenell st [...]ke & therwith she geteth bright iyen / The vryne of a man spylt vpon the bitte or stīgne of vipera is very medecinable

Cap. c.xlvij.

VRus is a wilde bulle and he is so stronge thate he thrusteth greet trees to y^e groūde / and will bere an armed man away vpon his hornes and they be moche in the montaynes [Page] ¶Heliuandus saith that in the great wylde forestis of Germania be suche bulles and thei be somwhat lesse than an oliphant and they be very stronge and swifte in rōnynge and spare nouther man nor beste and they that wyll haue theym make great pittes in the groūd and couer them with thin gere & whan they go ouer these pittes they fall in thē & than the hūters sle them.

ca. c.xlviij.

VRsus the bere is a fell beste & his body is of euyll shape / they lay al the winter still hidden / & than he layth still sucking of his fote wherof he waxeth so wonders fatt that he can nat almost go / and the beres take eche other in their armes or leges like men and women & slepe all the first fortnight.

ca. c.xlxix.

VNcia is an angry beste / & lyke a dogge / but lōger bodied / & is to hī his mete y^t he [...]eteth he [...] on a [...] it [...]hāgeth it on a b [...]aūthe & so eteth it / if man fortune of them to be bitten whan they rōne assaute / thā com many myse about him & pisse on it / & than at y^e last he must dye.

[Page] Capitulo. c.l.

VVlpis / y^e foxe is a fals wily beste & hathe moche here with a grete tayle / some say that he neuer maketh his hole hīselfe / but possessith the holes of the graye as before is specified in y^e forty chapt. The hūters desyre more the skynne than flesshe.

capitulo. c.li

THe Vnycorne is a stronge beste and can nat lightely be taken be no meaners / but yet some say y^t they y^e hūte him set maydēs in the place that they hunt in / & in the chasinge whan it seeth the mayde / to her it rōneth and layeth the hede in the maydens lappe forgetinge all y^e chase / & than come the hunters and take her without endred for she slepis in the maydens lappe for ioye of her virginite / And whan it wakeneth and fyndeth himselfe taken of the hunters than dyeth this beste for very great pride / and the horne of htis beste is four fote longe and is very costely & is a preseruacyon for many maner of poysons.

Cap. c.lij.

THe ape is a beste hauinge many liknesses vnto man / hauīge her brestis before contrary to all other bestes & hath handes & fete to ocopye like man or womā but his nature is w^t the face dounwardes & mānes towardes heuen / the ape is euer going from one place to another. ¶Plinius saith that in Inde be apes that be all whyte. & y^e ape plaieth gladly with yonge chylderen / but if he sawe his tyme he wolde wory them. It hath also a natural vnderstādinge & they dwell in hye trees & they that wyll take thē bringe yong children to the wode wher y^e apes be & put shone on their fete & make thē fast in presens of the apes y^t be on y^e trees & than put thē of & leue them there & go a syde / & thā cōmeth the apes downe & put on those shone & so they be taken.