a proclamation for prohibiting the transportation of frames for kniting and making of silk-stockings, and other wearing neccessaries james r. england and wales. sovereign ( - : james ii) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing j estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a proclamation for prohibiting the transportation of frames for kniting and making of silk-stockings, and other wearing neccessaries james r. england and wales. sovereign ( - : james ii) james ii, king of england, - . sheet ([ ] p.) printed by charles bill, henry hills, and thomas newcomb ..., london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. broadside. at head of title: by the king, a proclamation. at end of text: given at our court at whitehall the twenty fourth day of october . created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a 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each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng silk industry -- great britain -- law and legislation. broadsides - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion j r diev et mon droit honi soit qvi mal y pense royal blazon or coat of arms by the king , a proclamation for prohibiting the transportation of frames for knitting and making of silk-stockings , and other wearing necessaries . james r. vvhereas a very useful and profitable invention was lately found out , for the better and more speédy making and knitting of silk-stockings , and other vvearing necessaries , in a frame , whereby great quantities are wrought off in a little time , his majesties own dominions abundantly supplied , and the rest exported into foreign nations , to the increase of his majesties customs , and the improvement of trade and commerce : and whereas our dearly beloved brother , for the better encouragement of those who use the said art and mystery , was graciously pleased to incorporate them by his royal charter , by the name of master , vvardens and assistants of the society of frame-work-knitters of his majesties cities of london and westminster , and of the kingdom of england and dominion of wales ; and upon the humble petition of the said master , vvardens and assistants , representing to him the great mischiefs and irreparable damage which would inevitably fall upon his subjects by the loss of so great a trade and mystery , by reason that several merchant-strangers and foreigners were labouring to purchase frames to convey them to some secret places near the sea-coast , for their better and more easie transportation , his said majesty , by his royal proclamation , bearing date the fifteénth day of january in the seventeénth year of his reign , did strictly prohibit the transportation of the said new invented frames , or any parcel thereof beyond the seas ; and vve being informed thereof by the humble petition of the said master , vvardens and assistants , praying that vve would be graciously pleased , for preservation of so considerable a trade and mystery within this our kingdom , to issue forth our royal proclamation for the same purposes ; vve , by the advice of our privy council , have thought fit to declare our royal vvill and pleasure to be , and vve do hereby streightly charge and command all and every of our subjects , as well natives as foreigners , that they presume not to transport or cause to be transported any of the said new invented frames , or any pieces or parcels of frames , nor to be aiding or assisting to any person or persons who shall endeavour to transport the same , as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perils . and , for the better hindrance and prevention of the transportation of such frames , and pieces or parcels of frames , vve do further hereby streightly charge and command , that no frames or pieces or parcels of frames , shall be bought , sold , or removed by any person or persons whatsoever , from place to place , without information thereof be first given to the master , vvardens and assistants of the said company of frame-work knitters , or any three of them , or their deputies , to the intent they may take cognizance where and in whose hands they be . and , that our vvill and pleasure herein declared , may be the better observed and executed , vve do further streightly charge and command all customers , comptrollers , searchers , vvaiters , and other officers and ministers whatsoever , attending in any of our ports , that they do from time to time cause diligent and strict search and enquiry to be made for all such frames , and pieces and parcels of frames , as shall be endeavoured to be transported , and the same to seize and detein , under pain of forfeiting their respective places and imployments , in case they should be found negligent or remiss in the execution of these our commands . and vve do further charge and command all mayors , sheriffs , iustices of the peace , constables , and all other officers , civil and military whatsoever , that they be aiding and assisting from time to time unto the said master , vvardens , and assistants , or their deputies , in the searching for all such frames , and pieces and parcels of such frames , as shall be endeavoured to be transported , or shall be brought unto any place near the sea coasts , with intention to transport the same , or shall be removed from place to place contrary to our pleasure herein before declared , and in causing the same to be seized and deteined : and that they do from time to time certifie unto the lords of our privy council , the names of all such persons whom they shall find to be offenders against this our proclamation , to the end that there may be such further proceédings against them , as shall be agreéable to the utmost severity of the law in such cases . given at our court at whitehall the twenty fourth day of october . in the second year of our reign . god save the king . london , printed by charles bill , henry hills , and thomas newcomb , printers to the kings most excellent majesty . . virgo triumphans, or, virginia in generall, but the south part therof in particular including the fertile carolana, and the no lesse excellent island of roanoak, richly and experimentally valued : humbly presented as the auspice of a beginning yeare, to the parliament of england, and councell of state / by edward williams, gent. williams, edward, fl. . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing w ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing w estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) virgo triumphans, or, virginia in generall, but the south part therof in particular including the fertile carolana, and the no lesse excellent island of roanoak, richly and experimentally valued : humbly presented as the auspice of a beginning yeare, to the parliament of england, and councell of state / by edward williams, gent. williams, edward, fl. . ferrar, john, d. . [ ], p. printed by thomas harper, for john stephenson, and are to be sold at his shop ..., london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. the material for this work was communicated to williams by john farrer or ferrar. cf. "to the reader." eng silkworms -- early works to . north carolina -- description and travel -- early works to . south carolina -- description and travel -- early works to . virginia -- description and travel -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . roanoke island (n.c.) a r (wing w ). civilwar no virgo triumphans: or, virginia in generall, but the south part therof in particular: including the fertile carolana, and the no lesse excell williams, edward f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virgo trivmphan● or , virginia in generall , but the south part therof in particular : including the fertile carolana , and the no lesse excellent island of roanoak , richly and experimentally valued . humbly presented as the auspice of a beginning yeare , to the parliament of england , and councell of state . by edvvard williams , gent. london , printed by thomas harper , for john stephenson , and are to be sold at his shop on ludgate-hill , at the signe of the sunne , . to the supreme authority of this nation , the parliament of england . right honorable : this dedication in it selfe unworthy the honour of an addresse to your grandeurs , and of a foile too dead i●●h●ddow to approach neere your most vigorous luster , reposes it selfe yet upon a confidence that in imitation of that god ( of whom you are in power the proper representatives ) who vouchsafed graciously to accept a p●ore paire of turtles from those whose abilities could not ascend t● a more rich oblation , you will be pleased to cast a favourable aspect upo● this humble offering , as proceeding from a gratefull cleere and sincere intention , whose desire being strong●y passionate to present your hono●rs with something more worthy the auspice of a beginning yeare , is circumscribed by a narrownesse of abilities and fortunes . and indeed my lownesse had prompted me to have found out a more humble patron for this treatise ; but since the interest of that nation you have so happily restored to its just and native liberty is the principall ayme intended in it , since the publick acknowledgement of the world unites in this common testimony , that god hath subscribed to all your heroick and christian undertakings with his own broad seal of victory● with his owne field word , go on and prosper : led you through the red sea of bloud into the land of canaan , into the harvest and vintage of israel , since pharoah and his mighty ones have been swallowed up in the rapid current in the hideous cataracts of their ambit●ous opposition ; and have by loud and convincing testimonies ( testimonies attracting the admiration of your friends , and confounding the malice of your enemies ) made it a blessed object of your consideration , that the preservation and fixure requires a bl●ssing no lesse sublime , and a vert●e no less● ex●l●●d , then the acquisiti●n and tenure of conquests , m●de good in the 〈◊〉 christ●ndome by vindicating the english honour up●n the brittish ocean with a ●u●ssant navy , a formidable subject of ●●●●●ment to the forraine enemies of your sion , by a strong winged prosecution of the irish assassinates , a spacious lettred example to teach english mutineers what they may expect by the re● sentence of justice upon irish rebells : all indeavours holding forth the way to improve the interest of this nation , are improperly addressed to any other then your selves , who as you have been the unexampled instruments of our unpinion● liberty , ought to be the sole iudges of whatsoever may relate to our future felicity . we should have suspected the sincerity of history in its delineation of the majesty which sat upon that august , and venerable roman senats , after having made the land tremble under the terrour of their armies , the sea to labour under the burthen of their numerous navies , after having delivered all power oppressing the universall liberty to the revenging beak of their victorious eagles● and minted the governments of the world by the rom●n standard ; had not the concentrici●y of your undertakings had not the homogeniousnesse of your actions and felici●y , vindicated and asserted the honour of antiquity , and raysed your reputations upon so high a wing of glory , that posterity will be los● in the same mist of jealousie and incredulity of your owne augustnesse , yet for ever want the revivall of such examples the restauration of such presidents to confirme them . and to the end you may in all things either parallell or transcend that romane greatnesse , of which you are the inimitable exemplary , who inriched the heart and strengthned the armes of their dominions by dispersing colonies in all angles of their empire , your pious care hath already layd a most signall foundation by inviting incouragemen● to undertakers of that nature : in the pursuit whereof let me beg the liberty in this paper , under your honours patronage to publish the many pressing and convincing reasons which have and may induce you to prosecute a designe of such universall concernment . . it will disburthen this nation of many indigent persons , who having formerly perhaps enjoyed a fulnesse of abused or ●orfeyted plenty , & at the present reduced to an inequality of such subsistence , are commonly prompted to their own● and other me●s ruine by making the high way●s ( which should be as publike and inviolable a sanctuary as the most sacred places ) an ambuscado to innocent travellers , by which interruption of passages , there is commonly occasioned a decay and disincouragement of commerce , and dayly examples informe us , that prisons at present are almost as full of crimi●all as indebted persons . . it will take off all parish charges , in providing for destitute minors and orphans , whereof there are at presen● a burthensome multitude , wherby the parishes so freed , m●y with greater alacrity and ability , part with c●ntributory moneys to maintaine , recrui●e , and incourage your armies and navies . . those orphans so provided for may by gods blessings upon their labours become happy and wealthy instruments , advantagious to the place of their nativity in particular , and their whole nation in generall . whereas the condition of their birth and the usuall way of exposing them● makes them capable of no more gainfull calling then that of day-labourers , or which is more frequent hereditary beggers . . the republick in its present constitution abounding with so dangerous a number of male contents , who commonly like shrubs under high and spreading cedars , imagine the spacious height of others to be the cause of their owne lownesse , may by this means be honourably secured , and such men removing their discontents with their persons , will have a brave and ample theater to make their merits and abilities emergent , and a large field to fow and reape the fruit of all their honest industrious and publick intentions . . it will to admiration increase the number of ships and sea-men , ( the brazen wall of this nation ) all materialls to advance navigation , being abundantly to be furnished out of those countries , and the more ingenious passengers by conference and disputation with the k●owing mariner , will take a great delight , satisfaction , and ambition , to attaine to the theory of that knowledge , while the lesse capable being accustomed and assigned to an usuall part in the toyle thereof , and instructed by the ordinary seaman , will bee brought to a good readinesse therein and speedy perfection . . all materialls for shipping , as timber , cordage , sailes , iron , brasse , ordnance of both mettals , and what ever else we are necessitated ●o supply our wants with out of the e●sterne countries , who make it not unusuall to take advantages of their neighbours necessitie , a●d often times upon a pretence of difference or misintelligence betwixt us , embrace an occ●sion to over-rate or over-custome their commodities , or ( a reall quarrell widening ) sell it to other nations from whence we are forced to supply our selves at a second or third market . . it will give us the liberty of storing a great pa●t of europe with a larger plenty of incomparably better fish , then the holander hath found meanes to furnish it withall , and will make us in no long tract of time , if industriously prosecuted , equall , if not transcend him in that his most benificiall staple . . it will be to this common wealth a standing and plentifull magazine of wheat , rice , coleseed , r●peseed , flax , cotton , salt , pot-ashes , sope-ashes , sugars , wines , silke , olives , and what ever single is the staple of other nations , shall be found in this joyntly collected . . it will furnish us with rich furrs , buffs , hides , tallow , biefe , pork , &c. the growth and increase of cattell i● this nation , receiving a grand interuption and stop , by killing commonly very hopefull yong breed to furnish our markets , or store our shipping , meerly occasioned by want of ground to feed th●m , whereas those provinces afford such a large proportion of rich ground , that neither the increase of this or the succeeding age can in any reasonable probability overfeed the moiety . . by it many of your honours reformadoes and disbanded souldiers being dismist with the payment of such part of their arrears as your owne judgement ( guided by the rule of your immense disbursements ) shall thinke a convenient recompence , by transporting themselves thither may change their desperate fortunes into a happy ●ertainty of condition , and a contented livelyhood , which will be a means not only to disburden this republick ( as before ) but to remove all those clamors usualy disturbing your publick consultations , and to win upon them by your bounty to invert all those fearfull imprecations , with which they would ( as much as in them lies ) unblesse your proceedings , into a joyfull and fervent concurrence of prayers to the almighty to shoure downe blessings upon your heads , who , next under him , are the glorious and visible instruments of their increasing happinesse . . it will be a generous and moving incouragement to all industrious and publick spirits , to imploy those parts with which god and nature hath blessed them in the discovery of such happy inventions as may drive on hopefull designs with a lesser number of hands then is usually assigned to them , which issues of the brain are legitimate and geniall to beginning plantations , where the greatest want is that of people : but for our own or other popular kingdoms where we are commonly overprest with a greater multitude of labourer● then imployers , by much lesse acceptable , since our indigent people look upon such engins meerly as monoppolies to engrosse their livelihood . it will adde a very considerable increase to the revenue of your honours own customs , and i shal assume the liberty in all humility to offer up to your more advised deliberation by way of supplement to your incomes , whether such malefactors as the letter of the law doo●s to death , yet leaves a latitude for extent of mercy in the bosome of the judges , whose release oftentimes proves not only ruinous to them so discharged , since not seldome they returne to their vomit , but pernicious to the common-wealth reinvaded by their insolencies and disorders , might not be made instrumentally serviceable to the state , if ( as it is frequent in other countrey● , where they are condemned to the gallies ) by way of reparation for their crime , they were sentenced to serve a quantity of years according to the nature of their offences , which expired , they should enjoy all immunities with others , and by this course be reduced and accustomed to a regular course of life . of these a thousand transported and employed by an understanding improver , would by their labour advance an income of forty thousand pounds sterling per annum , at the least , and so proportionably according to their number . that all these , and many inestim●ble benefits may have their rise , increase , and perfection from the south parts o● virginia , a country unquestionably our own , devolved to us by a just title , and discovered by john cabot at the english expences who found out and tooke seisure , together with the voluntary submission of the natives to the english obedience of all that continent from cape florida northward , the excellent temper of the aire , the large proportion of ground , the incredible richnesse of soile , the admirable abundance of minerals , vegetables , medicinall drugs , timber , scituation , no lesse proper for all european commodities , then all those staples which entitle china , persia , and other the more opulent provinces of the east to their wealth , reputation , and greatnes ( besides the most christian of all improvements , the converting many thousands of the natives ) i● agreed upon by all who have ever viewed the country : to which the judgement of the most incomparable ralegh may be a convincing assertion , whose preferring of that country before either the north of virginia or new-england , though it may sufficiently command my submission and acquiescence ; yet for more particular satisfaction be pleased to accept these reasons for such praelation . . the apparent danger all the colonies may be in if this be not possessed by the english , to prevent the spaniard , who already hath seated himself on the north of florida , and on the back of virginia in , where he is already possessed of rich silver mines , and will no doubt vomit his fury and malice upon the neighbour plantations , if a prehabitation anticipate not his intentions , which backt with your authority , he understands too much of your power , and is too sadly acquainted with your admirable successes and generous resolutions , not to sit downe by any affronts offered to those under the wings of your protection , to attempt any thing against such who are immediately your owne colony , lest thereby he administers matter of a fire , to which his own fortunes in the indies must be a fewel , and himselfe raked up in its ashes . . but the south of virginia having a contiguous ledge of at the least one hundred ilands , and in the middest of those the incomparable roanoak , the most of them at the same distance from the continent that the i le of wight is from hampshire , all of hazardous accesse to forrainers , and affording a secure convenience from surprizall by the natives , will if possessed and protected by your power , be as an inoffensive nursery to receive an infant colony , till by an occasion of strength and number , we may poure our selves from thence upon the mayneland , as our ancestors the saxons from the isle of tanet into brittaine . . it dispences a moderate equality of heat and cold between the two violent extreams thereof in barbadoes and new england . it will admit of all things producible in any other part of the world , lying in the same parallel with china , persia , japan , cochinchina , candia , cyprus , sicily , the southern parts of greece , spain , italy , and the opposite regions of africa . . it hath besides all timber for shipping , the best and reddest cedars● and cypresse trees that may be found in any countrey . . and lastly , the planting of this collony will open a most compendious passage to the discovery of those more opulent kingdomes of china , cochinchina , cathaya , japan , the phillipines , summatra , and all those beauteous and opulent provinces of the east indies , which beyond dispute lye open to those seas which wash the south-west parts of virginia , through whose bosome all those most precious commodities which enable the chinesie , cathayan , persian , and indostant empires , may more conveniently , speedily , with more security and lesse expences be transported thence from spawhawn , of other remoter provinces to gombroon , by a long dangerous and expensive caravane , and from thence to surat , where when arrived the doubling of the line , calentures , scurvies , with a long train of diseases and famine attend its transportation into our owne countrey . . whereas by expandeing our selves to both sides and seas of virginia , our commerce to those noble nations lies open in short and pleasant voyages to the encouragement , enriching and delight of the s●amen , and personal adventurers , who will share in the delicacies and profits of those kingdoms , without participating in the miseries attending our present voyages thither . the cargason being easily conveyed , by much the greater part of the way , through navigable rivers , and from the eastern shore of virginia in a month , or at the largest six weekes time into england . and by this meanes the hollander , spanyard , and portugall , who ( by the supine negligence of this nation , and its merchant adventurers ) do with insufferable insolence lord over us in both the indies , when they shall to the unknitting of their joints perceive by your nursing care ●ver the infancy of your colonies , that they are arrived under your au●pice , to cover both the seas with numerous navies , and your honours eye of indulgence and providence waking to their security , will be content laying aside all other passions to wave future affronts and injuries , or fall ● deserved sacrifice to your offended justice . and that this addresse may appear the more seasonable , i have ( without any privity or relation to his person ) taken leave to intimate to your honours , that there is a gentleman whom the publick reputation and testimony of those who have the happines to know him render of excellent abilities , integrity , and a never shaken affection to your cause● in all its crisis and dangers● through which god with a clew of successe hath been your conduct ) who hath already undertaken for the transportation of some men thither , and only waits for your honours approbation and authority , the world taking notice , hopes and encouragement from thence , that as this colony is like to be the eldest of your legitimate daughters in that nature , so by your indulgence she shall have the happynesse not to be the yongest in your affection . may that god who hath begirt your house with a grove of lawrell , continue the advance of those victories till the whole nation be crowned with olives : may no sin , no ingratitude of ours divert his protecting ●and from us , his assistant arme from you : may the generations to come in admiration of your vertue and gratitude for their by you● derived happines , make every heart your monument , wherein to embalme your memory whilst the histories of all nations and times enrich their annals with your names as the most serious and triumphant part of all examples and transactions . and lastly may your owne thankfulnes to him from whom these dispensations of mercy have distilled like the dew of hermon upon your ●eads and borders , so continue in your bosoms , that when you shal be ripe for translation , he whose instruments you are , may welcom you with the approbation of , well done good and faithfull servant , which are the undisguised wishes of your honours most humble , obedient , and faithful servant . ed. williams . to the conservers and enlargers of the liberties of this nation , the lord president , and counsell of state . my lords : there is the same nearenesse of relation betwixt your lordships and the parliament of england , which is betwixt the sunne and sun-beames . they from their illustrious luminary dispensing . you disposing those bounties of warmth and animation , which have enriched the common-wealth with all the ornaments of verdure , repullulation and beauty , which at present she is in production of , and by the blessing of the sun of righteousnes ( guiding and fortifying your virtuall and healthfull influences ) may arrive to an absolute perfection , and be perpetuated to their happinesse , to your glory . this introduction which acknowledges so much of your power and greatnes , may make people admire why a treatise of this meanes for form and delivery , a presenter of such inconsiderablenes for parts and fortunes , should presume to cast themselves upon your lordships protection . but my lords , such disincouragements cannot direct any who know humility , and a condescending clemency are the ordinary attendants upon your extraordinary virtues , which take into their patronage the restauration of the publick liberty , and the felicity of nations . the scope of it is the publick benefit of a nation ; to whom should it be dedicated , but to its supporters , to its atlantes , to those who designe the aggrandissement of it in their counsels , perfectionate that designe by their armies ? it were impatriotisme not to publish it , sacriledge to addresse it to any other . it is an indeleble brand to the high-nam'd policy of the . henry , who gave away as rich provinces as any the eye of the world views to spain from england , out of avarice , incredulity or contempt ( or indeed all of them together ) of columbus his motion and condition . your lordships move in too high a sphere of prudence and circumspection to become his seconds in that his heresie of wisdom . and who knows but providence has reserved the present opportunity to your times , that under his conduct and auspice you might be designed his glorious instruments of promoving a worke which carries in its bosome the advancement of the gospel , by reduci●g the natives , in its forehead the enlargement of the english greatnesse by extending its empire . my lords , the parliament of this nation , and your selves ( like the twins of hipocrates ) having an inviolable correspondence of teares and smiles , of di●asters and blessings of life and death together , the threads of both your humane emergencies twisted and wound up in the same bottome , makes it impiety to divide the apprecation of blessings . all which may be fitly and mutually added is , that your living persons and posthume counsels may be had in just reverence and due estim●tion : that you may shine like luminaries in our english hemisphere , while the sun compleats his dayly , the moone her nightly circles , till a totall dissolution of nature usher in the great day appointed for a generall audit ; where when an account is to be given of humane actions , may the memory of your owne illustrious generous , and christian undertakings be a cordi●ll to your consciences , the justice and publick conducement of them , a reproach to others , who have abused equall talents of parts and power , and the divine approbation of their sincerity , a conviction to all those who know not how to be gratefull for their owne , or the generall happinesse . and these as they ought to be the publick exorations of all truly english ; so in particular are they the devout wishes of , my lords , your most humble and faithfull servant , edvvard williams . to the reader . it is not out of any particular vanity , to publish my many imperfections in print , nor am i to my best selfe understanding , infected with the disease which domineers in this scribling age , if the publicke benefit of the nation , to which by the condition of our birth , we ow a particular duty , had not bee●e the cleere and uninteressed center of my intentions , i should be too sensible of my owne weakne●se , to expose my selfe to the pity of the wise , the criticisme of the capricious , or the laughter of the ignorant ; and above all to be fastened by the ●ares upon a post , to beg a six penny contribution to buy me , to the trouble of their eyes and patience . ill bookes having the same unhappinesse which followes bloud-shot eyes , the very inspection of whom oftentimes contracts the disease alwayes a kind of abhorrency to the beholder . but my aymes are more publicke : he which reads this● shall discover the beauties of a long neglected virgin the incomparable roanoake , and the adja●ent excellencies of carolana , a country whom god and nature has indulged with blessings incommunicable to any other region . heere you may take view of an island and maine , fertile to admiration , and ( which is more admirable in workes of this nature ) nothing but incorrupted truth in her discovery . it shewes a way to the wealthy to improve their riches , to the necessitous and such as have lost their old , the meanes to erect new fortunes : in a word , it delivers an expedient to this common wealth , how it may shake off the disease growing upon her poverty and decay of trading . nothing but hands and hea●ts wanting to make this country a magazine of all things to the nation , a sanctuary to the afflicted , a treasure to the indigent , and an inimaginable revenue to the adventurers , all grounded upon those never-fayling foundations of reason and experience . neither doe i appropriate the honour ( if any due ) of being the sole author of this tractate , the whole substance of it full of good wishes and generall intentions , was communicated to me by a gentleman of merit and quality , upon perusall o● which , i found an obligation upon m● not to b●ry those advantages which may arise to our ●ountry by keeping it lockt up in silence : the gentl●mans nam● whose permission i obtayned to make it publicke , is mr. john farrer of g●ding in huntingdonshire , a persō of quality & fortunes , who has made good his affections to that incomparable co●ntry , by hazarding a considerable s●mme towards the advancing of the first plantation , and is yet so good a patriot to be ready i● promoving any good designe in the southerne parts of the ( there ) unequald countrey . nor is there heere inserted any thing but what my owne experience of the place , and a publike consent of uninterested authors and people , will subscribe to ; there is little of mine in this , but the language , and some few additionall collections● the substance is entirely the gentlemans above mentioned , which i thought fit to declare , that the reader may ascribe and owe what ever is materially good to him ; what is lesse acceptable or unskilfull in the contrivement , to the imperfections of edvvard williams . virginia in generall , but particularly carolana , which comprehends roanoak , and the southerne parts of virginia richly valued . the scituation and climate of virginia is the subject of every map , to which i shall refer the ●uriosity of those who desire more particular information . yet to shew that nature regards this ornament of the new world with a more indulgent eye then she hath cast upon many other countreys , whatever china , persia , iapan , cyprus , can●y , sicily , greece , the sou●h of italy , spaine , and the opposite parts of africa , to all which she is parallel , may boast of , will be p●oduced in this happy countrey . the sam● boun●y of summer , the same milde remission of winter , with a more virgin and unexhausted soyle being materiall a●guments to shew that modesty and truth receive no diminution by the comparison . nor is the present wildnesse of it without a particular beauty , being all over a naturall grove of o●kes , pines , cedars , cipresse , mulberry , chestnut , laurell , sassafras , cherry , plum-trees , and vines , all of so delectable an aspect , that the melanchollyest eye in the world cannot looke upon it without contentm●nt , nor content himsefe without admiration . no shrubs or u●derwoods choake up your passage , and in its season your foot can hardly direct it selfe where it will not be died in the bloud of large and delicious strawberries : the rivers which every way glide in deepe and navigable chan●els , betwixt the brests of this uberous countrey , and contribute to its conveniency beauty and fertility , labour with the multitude of their fi●hy inhabitants in greater variety of species , and of a more incomparable delicacy in tast and sweetnesse then whatever the european sea can boast of : sturgeon of ten feet , drummes of sixe in length ; conger , e●les , trout , salmon , bret , mul●et , cod , herings , perch , lampreyes , and what ever else can be desired to the satisfaction of the most voluptuous wishes . nor is the land any lesse provided of native flesh , elkes bigger then oxen , whose hide is admirable buffe , flesh excellent , and may be made , if kept domesticke , as usefull for draught and carriage , as oxen. deere in a numerous abundance , and delicate venison , racoones , hares , conyes , bevers , squirrell , beares , all of a delightfull nourishment for food , and their furres rich , warme , and convenient for clothing and merchandise . that no part of this happy country may bee ungratefull to the industrious , the ayre it selfe is often clouded with flights of pigeo●s , partridges , blackbirds , thrushes , dottrels , cranes , hernes , swans , geese , brants , duckes , widgeons , oxeyes , infinites of wilde turkeyes , which have beene knowne to weigh fifty pound weight , ordinarily forty . and the native corne of the country maiz , is so gratefull to the planter , that it returneth him his entrusted seed with the increase of or hu●dred interest , so facilely planted , that one man in hours may prepare as much ground , and set such a quantity of corne , that he may be secure from want of bread all the yeere following , though he should have never so large an appetite to consume it , and have nothing else to live upon . nor is it above three , or at the mo●t foure months intervall betwixt the time of planting and gathering : plan●ed in march , april , or may , it is ready for the barne in june , july , and august ; and of this by a provident management , you may have yeerely three or foure harvests . the stalk bruised yields a juice as big as rice , pleasant as sugar , and the green ears boyled in such juice is comparable in agreeablenesse to the palats to what ever our pease , sp●ragus , or hartichoke , hath eyther for satisfaction or delicacy . nor is the corne difficult in preservation , for in six or seven yeares there is scarce any sensibility of its corruption . but lest our p●lats should have so much of curiosity as to dislike what ever is not native to our owne country , and wheat is justly esteeme● more proper this happy ●oyle , though at the first too rich to receive it , after it hath contributed to your wealth by diminution of its owne richnesse , in three or foure crops of rice , flax , indian corne , coleseed , or rapeseed , will receive the english wheat with a gratefull retribution of thirty for one increase , every acre sowed with wheat will produce six , seven , or eight quarter of the graine intrusted . and though mr. bullocke be pleased to under-rate at it halfe the crowne the bushell , which in the canaries ●ill yeeld ten and twelve shillings , and in spaine eight , yet even in that proportion you are recompenced with six , seven , or eight pound the acre , of which two men by a discreet division of their time , will plow , reape , and in at the least acres . which though it may appeare a matter of admiration , yet i shall easily make it apparant by the following narration , in which such is the exactnesse of the ayre in this country , that you may have five successive harvests of the same grain in different seasons . for though a man and a boy with much ease may plow an acre every day , the ground being pliable of a rich blacke and tender mold , and no frosts or snowes , no usuall droughts or raines to hinder the going of the plow , yet i shall allow a month for the plowing of twelve acres , and thus plowing in september , october , november , december , and january , you may have your severall harvests in june , july , august , and september , which may easily bee inned by the same hands the labour not falling in a glut upon them , but the corne ripening according to its severall seasons . and thus by two mens labours onely you have a gratefull returne of at the least three hundred and sixty quarters of wheat , which will at that under rate formerly mentioned , viz s . d . yeeld so many pounds sterling : nor is there such difficulty in the threshing , as may be at first sigh't suspected , since it may easily be tread out with oxen , as it is usuall in italy and other countries . the first wheat being reaped , if you desire a croppe of barley , the same land plowed in iuly , will returne its ripe increase in september , so that from one and the same piece of ground you may have the benefit of two different harvests . but the rice ( for production of which this countrey is no lesse proper then those lands which have the greatest reputation of fertility ) sowed , ●eelds a greater encrease with the same labour acres of this plowed if valued but at s . d . the bushell , will yeeld l . all done by two men and a teame of oxen , who may by other labour in the intervall betwixt the committing the seed to ground , and its ripening , fall upon cole●seed or rape-seed , infinitely rich commodities with the same facility . the objection , that the countrey is overgrowne with woods , and consequently not in many yeares to bee penetrable for the plough , c●●●ies a great feeblenesse with it . for there are an immense quantity of indian fields cleared already to our hand by the natives , which till wee grow over populous may every way be abundantly sufficient , but that the very clearing of ground carries an extraordinary benefit with it , i wil make apparent by these following reasons . . if wee consider the benefit of pot-ashes growne from ten to fifty pound the tunne , within these twenty yeares , and in all probability likely to encrease by reason of interdicting trade betwixt us and the muscovite , from whence we used to supply our selves ; we shall finde the employment of that very staple will raise a considerable summe of money , and no man so imployed can ( if industrious ) make his labour lesse then one hundred pound , per annum : for if wee consider that those who labour about this in england give twelve pence the bushell for ashes , if wee consider to how many severall parts of the countrey they are compelled to send man and horse before they can procure any quantity to fall to worke upon● if wee consider some of the thriftiest , and wise , and understanding men , fell wood on purpose for this commodity , and yet notwithstanding this brigade of difficulties finde their adventures and labours answered with a large returne of profit , wee who have all these things , already at our owne doore without cost , may with a confidence grounded upon reason expect an advantage much greater , and a clearer profi● . nor can wee admit in discretion , that a large qu●ntity of those should not finde a speedy market , since the decay of tymber is a defect growne universall in europe , and the commodity such a necessary s●aple , that no civill nation can be conveniently without it . nor are pipestaves and clapboard a despicable commodity , of which one man may with ease make fifteene thousand yearely , which in the countrey it selfe are sold for l . in the canaries for twenty pound the thousand , and by this meanes the labour of one man will yeeld him l . per annum , at the lowest market . if all this be not sufficient to remove the incumbrance of woods , the saw mill may be taken into consideration , which is in every respect highly beneficiall by this timber for building houses , and shipping may be more speedily prepared , and in greater quantity by the labour of two or three men , then by a hundred hands after the usuall manner of sawing . the plankes of walnut-trees for tables or cubbords , cedar and cypresse , for chests , cabinets , and the adorning magnificent buildings , thus prepared will be easily transported into england , and sold at a very considerable value . but that in which there will be an extraordinary use of our woods is the iron mills , which if once erected will be an undecaying staple , and of this forty servants will by their labour raise to the adventurer foure thousand pound yearely : which may easily be apprehended if wee consider the deerenesse of wood in england , where notwithstanding this great clog of difficulty , the master of the mill gaines so much yearely , that he cannot but reckon himselfe a provident saver . neither does virginia yeeld to any other province whatsoever in excellency and plenty of this oare : and i cannot promise to my selfe any other then extraordinary successe and gaine , if this noble and usefull staple be but vigourously followed . and indeed it had long ere this growne to a full perfection , if the treachery of the indians had not crushed it in the beginning , and the backwardnesse of the virginia merchants to reerect it , hindred that countrey from the benefit arising from that universall staple . but to shew something further , what use may be made of woods besides the forementioned wallnut oyle , at the least a fourth part of the trees in viginia being of that species , is an excellent staple , and very gainefull to the industrious labourer . nor is it a contemptible profit that may be made of woods , if by boaring holes in divers trees , of whose vertues wee are yet ignorant , and collecting the juce thereof , a scrutiny be made which are fit for medicinall liquor and balsomes ; which for gummes , perfumes , and dyes , and heere i may justly take occasion to complaine of our owne sloth and indulgence , if compared to the laborious spanyard , who by this very practice have found out many excellent druggs , paints , and colours , meerely by bru●zing and grinding woods , probably convenient for such experimen●s : which if boyled , and a white peece of cloth s●eeped in the boyling liquor● will by its tincture discover what colour it is capable to give , and if many should faile in the tryall , yet does it not fall under the probability , but that divers noble and usefull mysteries of nature may be discovered by some such perforations and scrutinies . nor are the many berries commonly of an excellent collour and lustre unfit for such experiments ; since the labour is little or nothing , and the issue if succesfull of remarkable advantage . and this the spanyard hath experimented to the encrease of gaine and reputation ; and above this is so signally curi●us and industrious , that he hath disco●ered many rare and delightfull colours , not onely by the meanes before mentioned , but by bruizing and boyling divers fish-shells , the brightnesse and variety of colours giving him a just reason to pursue such curious examens . the french relations of their voyages to canada , tell us , that the indians and themselves falling into a contagious disease , of which phisitians could give no reason or remedy , they were all in a short space restored to their health meerely by drinking water , in which saxifrage was infused and boyld , which was then discovered to them by the natives , and wee justly entertaine beliefe that many excellent medicines either for conservation of nature in her vigour or restauration in her decadence may be communicated unto us , if projection of this stampe be so much incouraged by hopes of reward or honour , as to be put in practice . by this improvement of woods , the ground comming to bee cleared , wee have a soile fit to produce what ever is excellent in nature , the vine and olive which naturally simpathize together , will thrive beyond beliefe , nor need it be any interruption to tillage , since the vintage and harvest alwayes fall but in different reasons . that wild vines runne naturally over virginia , ocular experience declares who delighting in the neighbourhood of their beloloved mulberry-trees inseparable associates over all that countrey , and of which in this their wildnesse wines have beene made , of these wines if transplanted and cultivated , there can be made no doubt but a rich and generous wine would be produced : but if wee set the greeke cyprian candian or calabrian grape , those countries lying parallell with this , there neede not be made the smallest question● but it would be a staple which would enrich this countrey to the envy of france and spaine , and furnish the northerne parts of europe , and china it selfe where they plant it not , ( of which more heereafter ) with the noblest wine in the world , and at no excessive prices . and from this staple 't is not unworthy of our most serious con●ideration , what an occasion of wealth would flow upon this nation : virginia when well peopled being able to match spaine in that his soveraigne revenue , and the state by addition to their customes for exportation thereof according to the mode of france and spaine , would in no short time be sensible of this most inestimable benefit : to which if wee joyne the profits of our olives● wee may ( gods favourable hand blessi●g our industry ) be the happiest nation in europe . nor need wee be at that charge for caske under which spain● labours , where ever wee cast our eyes upon this fortunate countrey wee may finde timber proper for it . for the advance of which noble staple , i should propose that the greeke , and other rich vines , being procured from the countries to which they are geniall , every planter in that countrey might be enjoyned to keepe a constant nursery , to the end when the ground is cleared , that they may be fit for removal , and the vineyard speedily planted . further that some greeke , and other vignerous might be hired out of those countries to instruct us in the labour , and lest their envy , pride , or jealousie of being layd aside when their mysterie is discovered , may make them too reserved in communicating their knowledge , they may be assured , besides the continuance of their pension of a share in the profits of every mans vintage , which will the more easily perswade them to be liberall and faithfull in their instructions , since the publick advance of this designe cannot miscarry without a sensible losse to their particular interest . that before their going over a generall consultation may be had whith them what ground is proper , what season fit , what prevention of casualties by bleeding or splitting , what way to preserve or restore wine when vesseld , which species of wine is fittest for transportation over , or retention in the countrey , which for duration , which for present spending : it being in experience manifest that some wines refine themselves by purge upon the sea , others by the same meanes suffer an evaporation of their spirits , joyne to this that some wines collect strength and richnesse , others contract feeblenesse and sowernesse by seniority . these consultations drawne to a head by some able person , and published to be sent over in severall copies to virginia , by the inspection of which people might arrive at such competent knowledge in the mystery , that the reservation or jealousies of those vignerons , could not but be presen●ly● perceived and prevented . but from hence no occasion should bee derived to breake or fall short of any contract made with those vignerons , who are to be exactly dealt with in performance of articles , every way made good unto them , with all just respects to win upon them , and the non-performance of this hath beene the originall cause why virginia at this day doeth not abound with that excellent commodity . those contracted with as hired servants for that imployment , by what miscariage i know not , having promise broken with them , and compelled to labour in the quality of slaves , could not but expresse their resentment of it , and had a good colour of justice to conceale their knowledge , in recompence of the hard measure offered them , which occasioned the laying aside of that noble staple , the diligent prosecution whereof , had by this time brought virginia to an absolute perfection in it , and to a great degree of happinesse and wealth which would attend it . and had this beene as happily followed as it was prudently intended● that excellent country had not hung downe its desolate head in so languishing a condition as the disr●spect cast upon her , till of late yeares had reduced her to . nor had the poore planter ( who usually spends all the profits of his labour in forraigne wines ) been impoverished by the want of it : but with delight might have shaded himselfe under his vine , reaped the benefit of it in autumne , and buried all the memory and sense of his past labours in a cheerfull rejoycing by his owne harth with the issue of his owne vineyard . and from hence might barbadoes , st. christophers , and all our islands in the indies , have richer , better , and by much cheaper , wines transported to them from a place much neerer in distance then spain or the canaries ) and which doubles the benefit such intercourse together , would draw them to an association in power as well as communication of staples . were this brought to a just perfection no other nation could upon a quarrell betwixt us , and spaine , and france , reape a benefit by selling us their wine at a third market . and what wee vend now for it ( that being made native to us ) might be returned in bullion , to the apparent enriching of the common-wealth , and the impoverishing of our enemies , or at the least friends deservedly suspected . all authours of agriculture unanimously consent that neither arable pasture , meadow , or any other grounds are so benigne genuine , or proper for planting vines in , as those cleared lands are , wherein not shrubs , but tall trees were standing . and wee must want a parallell in any part of the world to compare with virginia for tall and goodly timber-trees cleared of all under woods , to which when cleared your vines may be remov●d ( the very removeall of them , as indeed of all other , giving an addition to their perfection ( the excellency of transplantation being more particularly insisted upon heereafter . ) but in the clearing of these woods it will be a saving of labour , and a delight to the vine , besides other profits following to leave the mulberry trees standing there , being such a happy correspondence together such a mutuall love ingrafted in them by nature , that wee well may conclude with this axiome , that the same nature joynes all her excellencies together by an association of simpathies . nor does she wave that her happy order in incomparable virginia , where the soile and climate that fits the one , is equally amiable to the other , their loves and hates happily according , what the one shunnes , the other flies from , what the one affects , challenges the others embraces , and were not this soile and climate most geniall and proper nature her selfe ( whose production● are never uselesse ) would never have crowned the virgin brow of this unexampled countrey , with such a universall plenty of them , or with such a voluntary league have united them every where together . virginia compared to persia . but to illustrate this with another argument : let us compare this felicity-teeming virginia , as it is scituated from degrees of latitude to ● with other countries , ●eated in the same degrees which opens us a method of observing what commodities nations so planted abound with , which found wee shall discover in this excellent virgin a disposition ingrafted by nature to be mother of all those excellencies , and to be equall ( if not superio● ) as well in all their noble staples , as in nea●enesse to their particular enricher the perpetually auspicious sunne . and this to whom virginia owes the publication and po●tract of her incomparable beauty ; mr. harri●t the noble mathematician delivers us by a happy instance in finding out for her ● noble sister of the same latitude , the most glorious persia , innobled as much by thi● comparison as in her empire . and those who have travelled and viewed persia ; unanimously relate wonders of her admirable fertility in all sorts of graine and fruits , with an unexpressible abund●nce of silke and wines : in which this her rich-bosomed sister claimes an equality in her plenty of mulberries , silke , and gums , vines , maiz , rice , and all sorts of graine : onely as a fuller-dowryed sister she merits a priority in fertility , pleasure , health , and temperature , a virgin countrey , so preserved by nature out of a desire to show mankinde fallen into the old age of the creation , what a brow of fertili●y and beauty she was adorned with when the world was vigorous and youthfull , and she her selfe was unwounded with the plough-shares , and unweakened by her numerous futur● teemings . another eye●witnesse of this victorious empire , delivers to memory that go●●●●● in a province of that countrey , is so incomparably fruitfull , that dearths are never knowne , nor famine ever suspected in it● th●t in one onely city called e●y● there is such an inestimable store of silke , that there might be bought in one day in that city as much silke as will lode three thousand camells . and he is little conversant with experience or history , who is ignorant that the abundance of silke native to that countrey and climate , is almost the sole staple of that mighty empire , by which never tobe exhausted treasure of silkes the sinewes and vitalls of the persian empire , the sophy to the generall good of christendome , keepes both the hornes of the ottoman moone from compleating their ambitious circle . and if the english east-india company of merchants were not wrong-byassed by the factions and sinister ambition of some men in authority amongst them , a great part of that wealthy staple might be transported into england , and by that meanes dispersed over all parts of europe to the enriching and honour of this nation . the digression upon this parallell hath diverted me from ampliation upon the publick benefit , which may devolve into this republick by the olive , which being genuine to the vine , will by a happy consent of nature indisputably flourish in a vast abundance , and by a transportation into the warmer regions , where the heate or scarcity of cattle causeth a like indigence of butter , will be a staple of inestimable value , and of no smaller conducement to our owne shipping , into those provinces neere the equinox , or in those voyages where the doubling of the line either putrifies , or makes it of a taste little pleasing or agreeable to the palate . virginia compared to china . but to leave persia and descend to a more wealthy and powerful parallell , the richest and mightiest empire in the world , lies in the same latitude and climate with our fortunate virginia ; namely china , divided from it only by the southsea , and ( which will bee a part of another discourse ) not of any long distance from it , agreeing with it in multitude of staples . china is stored with an infinite number of mulberry trees to feede silkewormes with , and vends silke in such a vast proportion , that in one onely city lempo , which some call liempo , the portugeses , have with no small admiration , observed that one hundred and sixty thousand pound weight of silk hath beene caried out in one shippe in the onely space of three moneths . into camb●la the chiefe city of tartary ( as authors of great repute and credit , and one who was personally there , reports ) there comes ●very day from china , a thousand waggons laden with silke . nor is china lesse happy in its multitude of navigable rivers , in its wonderfull fertility of all sorts of graine , maiz , rice , &c. of which it receiveth every yeere three or fo●re most plentifull harvests . rivers stored with an incredible quantity of fish and fowle , enriched a●d ennobled with numerous mines of gold , silver , brasse , iron , and other mettalls , quicksilver , nitre , all●m , pretious stones , p●arles , muske , cotton , sugars , rubarb , china root , vast proportions of flax , furres extraordinary rich . to this happinesse of soile and situation , they associate an equall felicity of parts and industry , by which they pretermit not one span of ground which they assign not to particular and profitable uses , and by an ingenious division of the ground according to the quality of the soyle , designe the drier part for wheat and barly , that which is more visited with an improving moysture , to rice and sug●r ; ascents and mountaines to grov●s of pines and chestnuts , betweene which are planted maiz panicle , and all kinde of pulse . in other proper places are mulberry groves , gardens● orchards , flax , and in a word no spot of ground misimployed from its proper advantage . and that virginia is parallell in neerenesse of staples , as well as neighbourhood to the sunne , to that celebrated empire , what multitudes of fish to satisfie the most voluptuous of wishes , can china glory in which virginia may not in justice boast of ? what fowles can she make ostentation of , in which virginia can be esteemed inferiour ? can china , insolent with her prosperity , solely lay clayme to a more singular honour for her affluence in maiz and other grain , for the maintenance and luxury of her plenty-wanton inhabitants , without an open injury to her equall , to her mayden sister , to our incomparable virginia ? are her mulberries springing from a voluntary bounty of nature lesse numerous or usefull then those to which china hath added all the assistance which could be expected from advantages of transplantation , or an industrious people ? if china will descend to particulars , to compare quantity and quality of fish and fowle , let her shew us turkies of pound weight , let her instance an example of one hundred and fifty fowle , to reward the labour of three charges of shot and powder , let her publish a president so worthy of admiration ( and which will not admit beliefe in those bosomes where the eye cannot be witnesse of the action ) of five thousand fish taken at one draught neere cape charls , at the entry into ches●peak bay , and which swells the wonder greater , not one fish under the measure of two feet in length . what fleets come yeerely upon the coasts of new found land , and new england for fish , with an incredible returne ? yet t is a most assured truth , that if they would make experiment upon the south of cape cod , and from thence to the coast of this happy countrey , they would find fish of a greater delicacy , and as full handed plenty , which though foraigners know not , yet if our owne planters would make use of it , would yield them a revenue which cannot admit of any diminution , whilest there are ebbes and flouds , rivers feed and receive the ocean , or nature fayles in ( the elementall originall of all things ) waters . there wants nothing but industrious spirits and incouragement , to make a rich staple of this commodity ; and would the virginians but make salt pits , in which they have a greater convenience of tides ( that part of the universe by reason of a full influence of the moone upon the almost limitlesse atlantick causing the most sp●cious fluxes and refluxes , that any shore of the other divisions in the world is sensible of ) to leave their pits full of salt-water , and more friendly and warme sunbeames to concoct it into salt , then rochel , or any parts of europe . yet notwithstanding these advantages which prefer virginia before rochel , the french king rayses a large proportion of his revenues out of that st●ple yearly , with which he supplyes a great part of christendome . and if from this staple the miserable french can procure a subsistence , some of them a comfortable livelyhood , notwithstanding all the private oppressions of their grinding landlords , the publick tallies , subsidies , aides , imposts , and other hard titles of authorized rapine . what shall wee imagine the freeborne english in a countrey where he owes no rent to any but to god and nature , where he has land to satisfie his desires in its extent , his wishes in its fertility , where free-quarter is a word onely understood by report , may expect of profit and content both in this staple of salt , in that of wines made in those countries , where either the spanish insolence and exactions , the french extortions , or the turkish imperiall robberies , though in the highest degrees of exorbitance , are not of force so to disincourage the inhabitants from attendance upon the vineyard , which notwithstanding all those horse-leach●● of imposition , returnes them such a profit as make them keepe ● middle path betweene the ●scent of riches , and precipice of poverty . nor would it be such a long intervall ( salt being first made ) betwixt the undertaking of this fishing , and the bringing it to perfection ; for if every servant were enjoyned to practise rowing , to be taught to handle sailes , and trimme a vessell , a worke easily practised , and suddainely learned , the pleasantnesse of weather in fishing season , the delicacy of the fish , of which they usually feede themselves with the best , the encouragement of some share in the profit , and their understanding what their owne benefit may bee when their freedome gives them an equallity , will make them willing and able fisher-men and seamen . to adde further to this , if wee consider the abundance , largenesse , and peculiar excellency of the s●urgeon in that countrey , it will not fall into the least of scruples , but that one species will bee of an invaluable profit to the buyer , or if wee repeate to our thoughts the singular plenty of herrings and mackarell , in goodnesse and greatnesse much exceeding what ever of that kinde these our seas produce , a very ordinary understanding may at the first inspection perceive that it will be no great difficulty to out-labour and out-vye the hollander in that his almost onely staple : which wee may also sell at a cheaper market then in common estimation ; if wee revolve the salt to be our owne , which they buy from france , or fetch from the isle of may , and that the very fraight of passengers ( of which allured by this improvement , and the publick approbation , there will be constant multitudes ) in our owne shippes will at the least defray fourths of the charges . i should not unwillingly heare ( though i dispaire ever to know it for a certainety ) that china did exceede us in fishing ; for were it granted , wee should not imagine those wa●ry inhabitants so circumscribed and limited to one part of the ocean especially the same climate and latitude , inviting them as not to visit our opposite shore of southwest virginia in as great variety and plenty . and to the more curious and able persons i shall offer what singular object it were of variety and plenty , if they would take the advantage of some tides and seasons , when the resort of fish is greatest to stoppe the returne of them out of some creeke perpetually flowing with salt by sl●ces , or such other invention : heere would those great ones generate and produce till even they laboured with their owne multitude , if permitted to increase two or three yeares , who might with very small charge be maintained , and yearely render to the proprie●●r an ocean of fish in a narrow confine of water . nor were it unworthy the labour to make an experiment whether the s●urgion himselfe might not receive a kinde of domestication in that narrow circumscript●on , especially if wee let it descend into our thoughts , that ( by small perforations in the sluces he perpet●ally admits a renovation and change of salt water ) he may receive the same benefit of liberty , namely variety of water , which he delights in when unconfined , and admitting the originall breeder not to thrive well by such imprisoning , yet customes ascending as high as nature in the breed , would make that familiar to them , which peradventure might have been offensive to the first spawner , and should they delight ( as in some seasons of the yeare fishes doe vary their resorts ) at any time in fresh water ; a large pond digged neare having either springs to fe●●e it , or raines to fill it , might by communication of a sluce receive both them and salmon , when they s●eke after the freshes . and that fishes may be unwilded , and become domestick , history will sufficiently informe us , wherein are delivered reports of some who growne more particularly intelligent , were distinguisht by names , and understood themselves so called : and mar●iall in one of his epigrams to caes●r , ( i meane domitia● ) tells the prince speaking of fishes so instructed , quid quod nomen habe●t & ad magistri nomen quisque sui venit citatus ? and further , manumque lambit , a thing , which though a poet , and con●equently bold , ev●n to untruths , yet he durst never have obtruded upon caesar , whom himselfe makes a party in the experiment . and to adde something to what hath formerly beene delivered of balsomes and colours , why from the livers and most unctuous parts of those more delicate fishes , may not curiosity finde a means to extract an oyle ; which ( if it be not medicinall , though i am enclined by severall reasons to bel●ene the affirmative ) may notwithstanding artificially distilled after its first extraction prove a delic●cy for the tables of princes and great ones , especially for sauces , and other confections which luxury hath found out for the irritation of dull and retreating appetites . but i cannot believe it to be deprived of its particular virtue in physicall operations , and the industrious conclusions of our ancestors have by such probations discovered many rich mysteries of nature ; whilst wee either glutted with our owne plenty of receipts , or out of a too fond a reverence wee pay to antiquity acquiesce in their prescriptions , as in the ne plus ultra , the hercules pillars of wisedome , beyond which there were no passage , or else feare every innovation brings inconveniences in his traine , which opinion if it had possessed those our ancestors , the world had continued in ignorance , and must for ever have layne sick of an incurable folly in the fooles hospitalls . for what concernes the flax of china , that wee may not lose the smallest circumstance of parallell with virginia , nature her selfe hath enriched this her bosome favourite with a voluntary plant , which by art , industry , and transplantation may be multiplyed and improved to a degree of as plentifull , but more excellent nature : which because of its accession to the quallity of silke , wee entitle silke grasse : of this queene elizabeth had a substantiall and rich peece of grograine made and presented to her . of this mr. porey in his discovery of the great river chamonoak , to the south of iames river delivers a relation of infinite quantity , covering the surface of a vast forest of pine-trees , being . miles in length . it had beene wished that the injun●tion given to every planter to set so many thousand plants of this kinde had been effectually prosecuted : the intermission whereof hath beene a prejudice not easily imaginable : nor is it yet too late to effect it , and in all probability by transplantation it may thrive beyond comparison larger , and the skinne of it growne more tender and delicate , may arrive to some equality with the labour of the silke-worme , if it be managed by such rules of nature best sute with its production . for hempe there is a naturall kinde of hempe , a species of flagg in that countrey , from which being boyled you may strippe a long and fine skinne , not onely proper for cordage● but the ●iner sort singularly usefull for linnen ; of this two hundred weight hath beene sent into e●gland , of which hath beene made excellent cordage , and very good linnen . this , by observation of the soile it growes in , and transplanted into grounds of like , but richer property , would together with tht silke-grasse make a staple of admirable returne and profit ; provided every planter had an injunction for this , as well as the former to sow or set a convenient proportion , to which his owne profit ( quickned with the imposition of a mulct in case of neglect ) would easily invite him . and by this meanes would virginia not onely furnish her owne people , but supply other nations with stuffes and linnen . to the brasse of china , wee shall oppose the virginian copper ( or gold , for yet it is doubtfull ) for by a concurrent relation of all the ●ndians , justified to severall english of quality , particularly to the earle of southampton in mr. poryes narrative , to sir william berkely , all seconding mr. heriots report , that within ten dayes west toward the setting of the sunne , the natives of that countrey gathered a kinde of a red sand falling with a streame issuing from a mountaine , which being washed in a sive , and set upon the fire speedily , melts and becomes some copper , which they shew us , but as they say much softer . we shall only suppose it to be copper , contrary to the opinion of divers knowing men , who apprehend it for a richer metall ; but melting with such ease two parts in five turning to a solid metall , the other three parts being peradventure not any thing of the oare , but onely such rubbidge , as joyned to the oare in rouling , and this falling meerely from the superficies of the mountaine , yet a rich copper ; what eye enlightned with the smallest beame of reason , will not conclude it for an extraordintry accession of wealth to this countrey ? and why may not the intralls of this minerall be gold , since the skinne and crust of it is copper ? nature her selfe oftentimes dealing after the mode of divers great men , delighting to lay an unregarded outside over her richest linings . to proceed in contin●ation of our compa●ison with china , if it abound more in visible silver ( of which with our abundance of staples may quickly put us into a ●ondition of entring into completion with ) yet cannot virginia in all probabili●y be destitute of that metall : for besides divers conjectures grounded upon naturall circumstances : mr. gage in his relation of the indies , as●ures us that the spanyards have found out a rich silver mine on the back side of florida westward , in degrees of latitude , and the farther they extend their search northward , the more rich and pure the mines discovered improve themselves . nor shall wee plead inferiority in pearles with china or persia , since mr. heriot assures us of a large quantity of pearles found amongst the natives , spoyled by their ignorance in boring of them , and defacing their orientall lustre , by exposing them to the fire . these were found amongst the indians at roanoak , and the relations of the natives on all hands unanimously concur that the south and west of this opulent countrey was stored with such abundance and variety , that the indians used to make and adorne babies with them : and one of the english had collected a bracelet of very orientall pearle , to the number of five thousand , which were all lost in the returne to england . if china suppose a merit of precedency in muske , virginia may justly oppose them with her musk rat , or muscassus , which in all probability cannot but be the same ; for it is a tradition received into the number of truths , that the confection of their muske in that countrey is bruizing and burying a certaine creature to putrefaction , of which this odour is effected , and it is very open to conjecture that this musk-rat or muscassus , whose flesh and skinne are extraordinary redolent and durant , and of which there is an infinite plenty , by such order may be brought to the same perfection . neither is it so improbable that this odour should proceed from putrefaction , which is naturally an abhorrence to the nosthrill : for if you apply too neare to the substance of the muske , there is an occult subolency of such a putrefactive originall . neither are all excretions of nature in themselves offensive to the sense of smelling , for the fluxe of the civet-ca● is accounted amongst our most soveraigne perfumes : and this experimented will be a staple of noble use , and no lesse benefit . nor shall wee yeeld the laurell of preeminence in richnesse of furres to china , if the furres of beavers , otters , martines , and above all black foxes ( which are upon some part of this continent ) may pretend any title to richnesse : and yet have wee beene hitherto so supinely negligent to permit the dutch and the french to carry away most of this pretious commodity , to trade in our rivers , under-sell us , and which discovers either an ●mplacable malice or insatiable avarice , trade with those indians ( of whom wee have no reason to nourish any great confidence ) for muskets and powder . to conclude , what ever else china may presume to boast of : whether nitre , allum , quicksilver , rhubarb , and china root , of which some wee have already discovered : if wee consider the parallell in latitude , the equality of temperate climate , the parity in soile , and its fertility , the similitude in brave navigable rivers , the unanimous congruity and consent in divers knowne commodities , wee shall have an ample basis to ground conjectures upon , that what ever singularity of nature that nation may imagine her selfe victorious over others , will be found equall in this garden of the world , this aemulous rivall of china , virginia : and the chineses may with as great justice deny the europeans the benefit of both eyes , as boast that they precede in any thing except antiquity of habitation and a long experienced industry , this great luminary of the new world virginia . what ever other commodities , the novelty of inhabiting this amorous virgin hath made it appeare defective in , as sugar , indigo , cotton , ginger , and other advantageous staples , wee shall appeale to all who have seene this unexampled countrey ; ( we meane roanoak , and the more southerne parts , and those countries towards the fertile mangoack ) whether it be guilty of any contrariety , distemper , or extremity , which might hinder their production . the sunne , which in other countreys makes his visit in flames and droughts , heere casts his auspicious beames , and by an innocent and complementall warmth , courts the bosome of this his particular favourite , hastening and disposing its wombe for ripe productions , which salute him in an absolute perfection . winter snowes , frosts , and other excesses , are heere only remembred , never known . the purling springs and wanton rivers every where kissing the happy soyle into a perpetuall verdure , into an unwearied fertility : no obstructions in your expectations , attempt and hope them , prosecute and enjoy them . nor have we in design to lay any imputation upon the barbadoes , which already aboundeth to admiration , with the staples last mentioned , yet it will become our charity to wish the country as healthfull , as it is fruitfull ; that it may answer the expectation and merit of its most industrious and publicke spi●ited planters● who have given a brave example to all , by the effects of their industry and unwearied constancy . from a thing almost lost to memory , ( at the least to reputation ) they have raysed the honour of that island , to be a subject of admiration for wealth and staple , and that so little a circumference of ground should be able to vent the value of two hundred and fifty thousand pound yeerely , as so●e merchants have maintayned , not only addes to the weight and measure of their just estimation , but increases the favourable wishes of all ●overs of industry , that they had a larger proportion of ground to improve upon . and if an invincible sloth doth not possesse us in virginia , ( wee meane the south ) why should not wee rayse an equall or greater profit upon as fertile and convenient a soile ? especially if we consider the populousnesse of the place , has so raysed the price of land there , which we have heere gratis , where number of inhabitants doe so little take from our abundance , that they adde to our wealth , security and plenty , and the sole meanes to increase and improve upon staples . we have made it apparant that what ev●r china hath of st●ple or delicacy , is produced or producible in this above-example virgin . but to shew that even china her selfe must in some t●i●gs giv● plac● to this more happy mayden , te●ra sigillata , or lemnia , ( as peculiar an income to the grand signiors treasury , as that of salt is to the french kings ) and of which china can no way boast , is native to this cou●trey ; vin●s are eyther not naturall , neglected , or not understood by the chineses , but in this incomparable soyle the grape presents it selfe every where to your delighted prospect . and what shadow can there be of scruple that wines well cultivated , and issuing from a rich grape , will not be as commodious a staple to that voluptuous and gluttonous nation , who wanton away their wealth in banquets , as the wines of france and spai● are to the more northerne and lesse abstenious nations of europe ? there needs no objection be made against this staple ; for the southw●st part of virginia being once discovered , the sea laid open and that passage compleat in all its numbers , the pleasure of the commerce , the richnesse of returnes , and the extraordinary quicknes of the profit , will invite so m●ny to come over and plant that commodious quarter of virginia , that as we shall never labour with too numerous a multitude of inhabitants , so we shall not have any great occasion to complaine of the pa●city of planters . nor is tobacco in those indian seas ( especially cured as in virginia , and of that strength and excellency ) a commodity of inconfiderable commerce , particularly if wee call to minde what gayne there is by the exchange for indian commodities , so that any ordinary understanding may comprehend that although tobacco should yeeld but three pence the pound in india , yet by way of barter with those nations where the returne quadruples the value in england , the gaynes gotten by it might be very considerable . but if we may beleeve printed relations ( and the person delivering it so cleerely , is , in my opinion , worthy of all credit ) tobacco from surat to moco yeeld ten for one profit , returned in eastridge feathers to england you have six to one profit ; but this is for those planters who are so infected with that disease of the countrey , that they cannot admit of any other staple , though more gainefull and lesse laborious . yet is not tobacco without its vertues : for the spaniard hath found out , besides the use of it in smoke , ( or the smoky use ) that the juice thereof ( when greene ) applyed to any wound cut , sore , and without any distinction , whether greene , festered , or cankered , will heale it speedily , and almost miraculously ; the leafe bruised or stamped , and applied to any bite or sting of a venemous quality , to any wound made by a poysoned arrow , the green leafe heated in hot ashes , and layd upon any part of the body afflicted with aches , will worke effects answerable to the most powerfull operations of nature . the benefit and part of the silke-worme mystery treated of . but to show to the world that wee may equall the best of the westerne kingdomes in this noble mystery of nature the silke-g worme : that france and italy are much below this mignon of glory and profit , the universally advantageous virginia , wee shall ●pon those in●●llible demonstrations of nature , make evident , having the clew of truth , reason , and modesty to direct us . it will not be denied by any , whose forehead is not too brazen , that no countrey is so proper for adventitious as its owne native commodities● the seeds of things suffer a deterioration by changing the propriety of that soile which was geniall to them , and the exact order of nature suffers a diminution , if wee imagine any other climate or region more proper for the perfection of any thing , then where it is originally produced . t●lli●r aff●rmes that this mystery of the silke-worme hath not been experimented in europe above a thousand yeares , being transmitted to our climate out of the asiatick world , in so much that italy hath not beene above yeares enriched with this industrious creature , france received it from italy , and it is observed , that the warmer the region , by so much larger and stronger encrease and texture receive they from the labour of this admirable and naturall weaver . france being of a colder temper then italy , their wo●mes are weaker , in the more northerne part of that kingdome from one ounce of seed they profit five or sixe pound of silke increase , worth at the least ● os . per pound , in languedock , and the warmer provinces the same quantity is increased to , , or l . but in brescia , of calabria seede , they use usually to make eleaven or twelve pound of silke from the same originall proportion . the poore people in both those kingdomes buy their mulberry leaves to feede this profitable and industrious spinner , and the very charge of those leaves amounts to a full halfe of all other their expences . the nobility of italy and france ( the grand duke of tuscany himselfe , descending into a part of this profit ) make up a considerable part of their revenue from their trees , the leaves of every one b●ing valued according to their goodnesse and quality , from five shillings to twenty and upwards , so that divers make an income of three , four , five , sometimes a thousand pounds per annum from the sole profit of their mulberry trees . the grand duke from the sale of his , rayses an income communibus annis , of sixty thousand duca●s , yet divers gentlemen in italy make a larger increase of profit , by setting out their mulberry trees to necessitous people , for halfe the gaine arising from the worme so fed . those poore contribute their seed , employ their labour , and are at all expences in bringing the silke to perfection ; yet notwithstanding when completed , the gentleman who sets out his trees , divides the moyety of the entire profit , for the hire of his leaves only , y●t are these people , ma●gre this difficulty , comfortable gayners . and the same tellier is bold to affirme , that non obstante the disagreeablenesse of the country to that worme , in the kingdome of france from the sole revenue now of silke , arises a greater intrade then from their corne , oyle and woad put together , which grow in that kingdome in vast proportions . and another french author affirmeth , that the benefit of the silke-worme , ( of which france hath had no triall till within these fifty yeeres ) ariseth to four millions per annum , ste●ling , and this he pretends to have all circumstances of truth and certainty , drawne from an exact computation to confirme it . if france ( an almost improper countrey for this improvement ) can rayse within the verge of fifty yeeres , so large and numerous a revenue , what shall we imagine italy ( a warmer region , and by much more convenient , although not altogether native for this inriching creature ) may meerely upon this staple returne in their treasury , having besides the advantage of climate , a hundred and fifty yeeres precedency in the mystery , and their seed more s●rong , better fed , and lesse subject to diseases and casualties ? but virginia a countrey which nature hath no lesse particul●●ly assigned for the production , food , and perfection of this creature then persia or china stored naturally with infinites of mulberry-trees , some so large that the leaves thereof have by frenchmen beene esteemed worth l● in which the indigenall and naturall worme hath beene found as bigge as wallnuts , and thriving , in the south thereof in admirable plenty and excellence ; if this mystery were but duly followed , and industriously promoved , might be a magazine for all the westerne world , and singly in her selfe outvy france , spaine , and italy , in all their advantages collected . heere the leaves are onely sold by nature , who requires no other satisfaction then industry to make use of her bounty . timber to erect their fabricks is provided , and costs no more then preparing a benevolent sunne , and a serene sky● contributing their indulgence to its perfection . no n●rrow assignation of ground ( richer then the most fertile france or italy can pretend to , or boast of ) to plant those trees on , if not neare enough to the setled plantations ; in briefe , all the conveniences imaginable to assist and advance this to the noblest commerce in the world , if neglect and sloth make us not ingratefull to our selves , and nature , by abusing our selves , by not using her bounty . to further this happy designe , let us d●scend into an unequall comparison : let us compare our most incomparable virginia , where the mulberry and the worme are aboriginall to italy , where they are onely adventitious : let us imagine our owne worme of that strength and greatnesse onely equall to those of brescia and italy , where the usuall of come from sixe ounces of seede is , o● at least pound weight of silke , and adhearing to this parallell ; let us see the apparency in the profit● a man and a boy , if their hands be not sleeping in their pockets , will feede as many wormes as come of sixe or eight ounces of seed till they be past their foure first sicknesses , and within some dayes of spinning : indeed the last dayes require a more extraordinary diligence and attendance , a more frequent and carefull feeding , because in that time they conceive , gather , and store up the disposing matter from whence the silke comes , which by an incomprehensible mystery of nature , they after as it were vomit out of their mouthes , and spinne out of their bowells . at this more particular season , there is a necessity of adding the labour of three or foure helpes more ( to which women or children are as proper as men ) which is an inconsiderable accession considering the gaine arising from it . that you may know the reason why women , children , lame and impotent persons are as ●itting to attend the last fourteene dayes , as men , will appeare by their labour , which is nothing but to feede them within doores , cleanse , dry and perfume their lodgings , with some strengthning● but not overstrong odour . and as one skilfull in this noble mystery is sufficient for the employing , overseeing , and directing hundreds under him , so ( the skill being rather experimentally to be taught , then built upon long and ambiguous precepts ) he may bee able to perfect all those under him , within the five or six weeekes time of their imployment in the full understanding the mystery . and the better to incourage both the teacher and learner of the mystery , the master should be invited by reward to be liberall in communicating his knowledge , and those under his instruction encouraged by arguments of honour and profit proposed to the best proficient , would disperse seeds of emulation and diligence , since every one would imploy himselfe seriously to engrosse and appropriate to himselfe the reputation and advantage in the victory . and in boyes and children , disputations frequently set on foot , with some slight distinction of merit , would make all that are ingeniously disposed , quicken their observation and diligence , to gaine the credit of prelation . though to take off all disincouragement or despayre , from those lesse apprehensive and docible , in this noble and gainefull trade of silke , there is no such absolute necessity layd upon them to be supersticiously and precisely curious in observing the booke rules , and written precepts , that upon the omission or unpunctuall observation of any of those precepts in hatching , lodging , feeding , and tending of the silke-wormes , wee should imagine such minute deviations might occasion an improsperity or generall failing : for wee will admit something may be wanting either in materialls , accommodation , or precisenesse of knowledge ; yet may the worke ( a higher and irresistible cause not interrupting it ) prosper and succeede , notwithstanding such defect , to the great contentment and gaine of them which keepe them . let us imagine it to be granted that the indigency of the person improving the incommodiousnesse of the place , or want of house-roome , which the bookes exactly tye us to , be in many things preterr●gular ( though such a supposition may fall upon any other part of the world more justly then virginia , where all materialls and conveniency answer our exactest wishes ) yet will dayly examples confirme us , that in languedoc , provence , and other parts of france , and as many in spaine and italy , amongst the common sort of that exaction tyred people , that one poore low-rooft cottage , and one roome in it is all the house extent they have to take their sleepe in , dresse their miserable dyet , and serve themselves of for use and retirement ; yet does this industrious creature ( such are the blessings with which god rewards the sweat of industry ) thrive as happily ( and sometimes answer labour with a greater fellcity ) as tho●e which the curiosity of richer persons fit with all commodiousnesse of chamber feeding , and attending , which is a speaking enco●ragement that no man should despaire , but reposing a cheerefull confidence in the blessing of the almighty , with this resolution , that what ever meanes , what ever curiosity , art , or precept , may contribute towards the preparing and fa●ilitation of a worke , yet the end , the event must depend on his eternall goodnesse to crowne it , and all our labours projected with never so great a talent of humane wisdome and experience , must conclude with this never failing truth : that except the lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it● except the lord keepe the city , the watchman watches but in vaine . wee must therefore lift up our hearts and eyes with thankefullnesse unto the hills , unto the mountaine of israel , and rock of david , from whence those streames of blessings must acknowledge their sole , their originall fountaine , which may serve as an admonition , that neither the whole , nor any part of the worke should be begunne without applying our devotions to him : let it therefore be the morning omen to the worke , and the evening auspice , lord prosper the worke of our hands , prosper good lord our handy workes . after the reposall of this confidence in god ; let him apply himselfe with his greatest industry and ability , with this comfort and assurance , that he cannot but make a considerable returne : though wee should be much injurious to art ( the noble right hand and midwife to nature ) if wee should deny a more promising probability of a riper and fuller gaine the more curious and observant he is in following all the approved experiments , rules , directions , and precepts thereunto belonging . but the chiefest aime and intention of those rules are to illustrate the perfection of this art , and to informe your knowledge , and better your future experience and preventionall care , if any misadventure arrive , or miscarriage in the silke-wormes , or if they prosper not equally this yeare with the last ; for by inspection upon them you may understand the cause and reason of such misadventure , and with it the remedy ; and this also takes away all dispaire or disincouragement for men , commonly men till they are convinced in the naturall cause of a disaster or failing attribute , all such mischances to nature , or else impute the non-thriving to their owne misfortune by a ridiculous opinion that they are not ordained to be fortunate in this or that mystery , so freequently does fortune incurre the blame of humane neglect or ignorance . besides wee are to imprint in our knowledge , that no rules c●n have so much of generality and exactnesse , which will not admit of deviations arising from some particular and variable circumstances . wee must not therefore conforme the nature of the climate to our rules , but our rules to it , in which wee must resume to your deliberation how , and in what one climate differs from another , how the constitution of this yeare varies from the next , or the precedent , the immediocrities of heate , cold , drought , and moisture , serenity , or mists , &c. the manner of their lodgings , the quality of the winde to be admitted or excluded : to ●emper a season inclining to a preternaturall coolenesse with an artificiall heate , to refresh and infrigidate the aire in times of immoderate heate , by admitting the cooling aire and windes proceeding from a cooler quarter , and this to be observed with a more particular care ; when they spinne their silke , that creature then being very obnoxious to be stifled with too much heat . there must be likewise a providentiall regard in a moist season , that the mulberry leaves be carefully dryed after their gathering , before they be administred for food to the silke-worme : but if the season pertake more of drought it will be wisedome to let the leaves lye and shade a little after their gathering , that they may have them coole and refreshing , and in seasons of temperature and continued droughts , it may be very requisite to water the roots of the mulberry-tree , which will be a refreshing to the leaves , and this is usually practised in spaine ; especially if the mulberry-tree be seated in a hot or dry ground , which otherwise must not be so prescribed without particular caution . nor is it below our consideration to weigh the condition of the place in which the mulberry is planted , if in a sower foule or wet soile to collect what inconvenience that food may bring unto your worme , and therefore if your necessity will admit it to avoyd such wholly , if not to use them with such qualifications as may make them l●ast offensive . after having regard to the nature of the ground your tree receives ●ts juce from , the quality of the season , in which you gather them ; it falls next to your consideration to compare the kinde and nature of the tree , together with the kinde and nature of their seed , worme , and silke , and directing your selfe by an exact observation of particular circumstances , so to make exceptions , and to order every thing with judgement and discretion thereafter , that your bookes and experience may by that meanes walke hand in hand together . but time and observations will affoord you many experiments , out of which perhaps some more rules of art may be framed , in divers particulars , more consenting to the country and climate of virginia . which finding , after good triall thereupon made , it will become the reputation of a good patriot in generall , and a good master of a family in particular , to digest them into such a regular order and method , that the publication thereof may be a common benefit to all , and a private memoriall to particulars . for since in persia and china it does not fall under likelihood , that they can oblige themselves to observe all particulars in its strictest limitation , where such an infinite quantity of silke passeth through the hands of the people , it is very agreeable to reason that in a climate of the same nature and parallell , namely virginia , there may be rules found out of far l●sse brevity● and more pertinency , then have yet been considered or published . and yet where all these rules are curiously observed , they make not on●ly in spaine and italy , but in the colder parts of france a far greater gaine ( the quantity of adventure and time considered ) by thus chargeably fe●ding of silk-wormes , then by any other commodity whatsoever . but to avoid that inconvenience of fetching leaves a far off , or attending the growth of your owne mulberries , or that necessity which makes the poorer sort of our owne miserable people to lodge them in that roome which is their kitchin , their chamber , their all . with what ease and conveniency may there be a house set up in the middle of a grove of mulberries , naturally growing , where the silkewormes , in a dry cabinet of boords , after the maner of sicily , may be kept ( described more largely in the bookes which treat of this silkeworme , then can bee expected in this paper ) set up with stones in it , in case the countrey and season require it , eyther to correct the ill sents , or ( if so be they are seated in cold● moyst , or shady places , of which your owne sense and experience will quickly acqu●int you ) to give the ayre a temper and qualification , which if not prevented , may destroy your worke by killing the silkeworme . and this lodge built for them , the season of the yeere will invite your selfe and family ( i meane such part of your family as you assigne to this worke ) to lodge there also , the time being at the most but six weekes , and for the first moneth , one third of your family will be sufficient to feed them , but the last . dayes ; the other . thirds will be requisit that the wormes may bee more often and plentifully fed● the well feeding at that time contributing much to their strength and perfection , and consequently to the improving your expected silke , both in quantity and quality . that all may be invited and courted to this undertaking , in this glorious countrey , nature hath left us destitute of no materialls . to erect these slight silken lodgings , will be no more expences , then your labour ; nor is that any greater , then to cut out some posts and studdes , fit them , and set them up● then to cleave and saw out small quarters , rafters , plankes , pales , and boards , to make and set up the sides of the house , in stead of more substantiall walls , and to cover the roofe in stead of tile . for the effecting of all which with the le●ser trouble , that countrey affords abundance of woods , which will runne out , slit , and cleave into long lengths and br●adths , which by the directnesse of the ground will rive in a manner , as if they had beene sawen for the worke . all which must be so close layd , joyned , and nayled together , the one still lapt over the other , that no winde or raine may penetrate therein to offend that labo●rious creature , and this may easily be prevented , if such chinkes and open places as you shall discover bee stopped up with lome , clay , and lime , of which materialls in those countreyes you will finde no want . and to this purpose the indian mats , and the like things may be made good use of in this way , which will be sure to keepe out winde and perhaps raine : but to these things your owne inventions , pro re nata , will abundantly furnish you with matter of preventing casualties : nor will it bee unseasonable to repeat the extraordinary convenience of saw-mills , which in this case will be in a high degree serviceable to you , and of this the whole colony will be beneficially sensible in boards , ●lankes , housing , silk-worm-lodgings , timber , shipping , and all particular kinde of uses . and this once erected , with what speed may such a house be clapped up together , with a few nailes ●ne lopping over another , either long like a bowling-alley , that the functions of the family may be distinct , and no offensive heat or sent disturbe the worme in his curious operations . or being in doubt of surprisall , some families going into the woods together may equally joyne together , and those woodden houses ( still observing that the roomes where the wormes are may be set end and end together , that so the kitchins and their lodgings may be still the two extreames ) may be cast into the forme of a fort which pall●sadoed , and your house sentinelled by halfe a dozen of good dogges , wil be a sufficient defence against all the natives of the countrey . and this may be in case they worke not in common , which if by compact they agree upon , the lodging for the wormes may be cast in the middle of such a circle , the timber houses round about shading them from over much heat , wind or moisture , and the necessary fires there made , will throughly cleere the ayre of all vapours and mists which may disorder this innocent spinner . the silke harvest ready , and the encrease brought to a just estimation : the cohabitors may according to the agreement made betwixt them , returne with their dividends , and this removall into the woods will have the same nature of content which the citizens take in a time of vacation and city wearinesse ●citizens being never so weary as when they have no worke ) to visit the delights of the countrey , though with different ends ; since these in their voyages of pleasure expend , the other both save and encrease their stock and treasure . these boards ( the worke ended ) being taken downe are serviceable for seaven yeares together , and easily erected or renewed . i am not altogether of advice , that the indians be hired to assist you in these remoter workes , as sensible how apt they and the divell t●eir tutor may be to embrace an occasion of being treacherous ; but if they could be brought to worke by parties ( well watched and spyes amongst themselves set over them ) in the middest of our most populous plantatio●s , with their wives and childr●n , who will easily runne through this curious , but not heavy labour and may be sufficient pawnes for the indian fidelity , if cunningly divided , they would be very serviceable in this kinde for a small reward , and peradventure might be made great use of for this worke heereafter by undertaking it themselves , which may be manifested for these reasons . . first , the indian is naturally curious and very ingenious , which they shew in all their works and imitations : the only thing that frights them from bringing any work to perfection , is the labour attending it . . but to feed his curiosity , there is nothing in the world more proper then this curious atome of nature the silkeworme : to see this untaught artist spin out his transparent bowels , labour such a monument out of his owne intralls , as may be the shame , the blush of artists , such a robe that solomon in all his glory might con●esse the meannesse of his apparell , in relation to the workemen , c●nnot but bring them to admiration ; and that those spi●i●s whose t●oughts are of a higher wing then ordinary , may bee convinced of a divine power of the hand of god in the creation : which gaynd upon him , it will not be impossible to drive him to an acknowledgement of redemption , if private ends or any other respect then that to gods glory , possesse not those who should cover a multitude of sinnes , by winning a soule to his creator , and forcing him from the jawes of his destroyer . . in this curiosity there is little or no labour ( a thing which they abhorre ) their women and children will bee sufficient to goe through with it : and if they could but be brought to it , our t●ade with them for silke would be of greater consequence , then all their furs or other commodities put together . . by this meanes it were possible to fasten cloaths upon them , which if once it were effected , that which mr. bullocke excellent patly calls , the universall not of nature . ambition would cement them to a more orderly course of life , and one still striving to outvie the other in bravery of habits : there would be no labour under heaven like this , to reduce them to civility , the toyle thereof being inconsiderable● and the profit great to him in respect of his now trifling merchandise : and to us by trading with them , might bee returned for ● . the pound at the most in commodities . . by this means would he be brought to plant great quantities of mulberry trees round about his plantation , which according to hi● constant inconstancy , evermore shifting , would necessarily , our ●wne numbers increasing , fall into our hands and possession , or if he should against the tide of his nature abide by them , yet a very inconsiderable trifle would buy the propriety from him . . the silkeworme harvest lighting at such a season of the year , wherein he by improvidence hath wasted all his bread-corne , at which time he usually retires into the woods to seeke a thinne s●bsistence , by the allurement of this great profit he would undoubtedly s●ay at his plantation , and allow us a share in his increase of silke , for such provision of maiz as would maintaine him , and this would be a large accession of profit to the english . . admitting virginia in its whole extent from cape henry southward ( as a worke so easily compassed , and such profit ensuing thereupon , especially to the weroances or reguli● who have many wives , slaves , and children , would hardly faile from being a universall labour ) to containe in all thirty thousand people , of which the fourth part or more men , if this staple be followed by them , and our vigilance preventing any traffick of other nations with them , it will yeeld the colony of course a trade with them worth cleare a hundred thousand pound per annum . neither doe i comprehend a sufficient reason why in so happy a climate as that of virginia ; there may not be a double silke harvest : this i am sure of , that there are secrets in nature of retardation as well as acceleration of springs , and both being industriously brough● to the experiment , the acceleration ante●eeding the first spring , and the retardation postvening the latter by three weekes , ( which may easily be effected by election and distinction of ground to plant in ) and at the latter end of the harvest the seeds being disposed and ripened for production , will without doubt produce an effect answerable to the most inestimable profit intended by it . that the election of ground may doe this , wee may see by freequent examples betwixt things well cultivated , and that which is never transplanted from its first wildnesse , and there are many presidents round about us , where in one and the same towne● one and the same fruit have oftentimes three weekes distance of time betwixt their unequ●ll maturity ; the naturall warmenesse or coldnes of the ground occasioning the advance or procrastination of fruits according to its severall disposition . nor can such a course be any interruption to harvest or vintage , both comming much after the season of the silke-worme , though i should ( in submission to better judgement ) conceive that with transplantation of trees ( such as they would have come later then ordinary , for that purpose being loosed from the ground neare upon the as●●nt of their sap would spring for that season according to ●heir expectation later then is usuall , and the next yeare its novelty of ground having made it wanton will come much earlier , and more improved then those whose fixure to the place of its first pullulation keepes it selfe to its former constancy , and by this meanes the later harvest would not be at the most three weekes time a●ter the ( usuall ) income of the first . and without doubt the chineses and persian could not vend such vast quantities of silke , with which they fa●shion so huge a part of the world with one single harvest , which though wee are at present ignorant of , yet what should discourage us from delivering such conjectures to a tryall , since the examen of it is not without probability , nor the discovery without an extraordinary certainety of profit ? those who will object that notwithstanding ● years practice italy hath not discovered this mystery , or if discovered , found it destitute of successe , may be pleased to receive this answer : that there is an immense disproportion betwixt the happyest region of italy , and the south of the excellent virginia . italy ( and that annually ) is subject much to inclemency of winters , in respect of our more temperate maiden , where snows and black swans are alike prodigies ; the cold there is rather like a phletomy to tame the plethorick abundance of springs , then dead it : nor are the springs of italy so early as ours in that climate , and the mulberry shooting forth later then all other t●ees by much , may by this meanes of transplantation and heat of soile , be equall with the first , and by that early apparence give day-light to this and other more abstruse magnalia . i have ins●sted so much the longer upon this mystery of the silk-worme , because ( if it were handled by a better pen , judgement , and ability ) it is every way noble and sublime , so much worthy the knowledge , not onely for the benefit ( which is extraordinary rich how ever ) but for the admiration of nature , who hath ab●eviated all the volum● of her other miracl●s into this her little , but exact epitome , like that artist who contracted the whole body of iliads and odysses into a nutshell . besides what wee have sayd of silke wee shall find the indian profitable to himselfe , and as in the staple of wines , of which when he has received the whole knowledge , wee cannot make the least tittle of doubt , but he will with all eagernesse prosecute it : first , because it concernes his belly , to which no people unde● heaven are more indulgent ; and secondly , his wife and children who plant his corne may take the charge of the vineyard with not much more labour . but that which turnes to our advantage is , that the indian communicating the knowledge of the grape to his neighbours , and they transmitting it all along as far as new spain , will stir up the spanish jealousie to interdict all viti-culture amongst them , and as far as the extent of his power can fathome to prosecute severely all such natives as shall make it a subject of their industry to the prejudice of spaine . this must of necessity make strong combinations and leagues against the spanish tyranny , which though they are not of themselves able to shake off , yet will the spanyard feare to extend himselfe further ( except in such strength as at present his condition denies him ) knowing the indians untinguishable thirst of revenge , and his laying hold of all opportunities to put it in execution , with all the powers of his understanding cruelty and malice . and thus shall the spanyard in case he attempts our supplantation be constantly discovered by the siding indian , and if there be a necessity to prevent his malice , by turning his designe upon his owne head , infinite occasion of intelligence may wee have from the enraged native , how to attaque him in his strongest security , where either the distance or impassability of the way will make him confident and carelesse . further use may be made of the native in fishing after pearle , to which if wee allure him by a constant trade with him for them , his owne profit will quickly enlighten his desire of more , and that desire quicken his industry . that virginia affordes multitude of pearles , mr. lane is sufficient to give publick information , where he tells us a relation delivered to him of a weroance , who had so great quantity of pearle , and did so ordinarily take the same , as that not onely his owne skinnes that he weareth , and the better sort of his gentlemen and followers are set with the sayd pearle ; but also his beds and houses are garnished with them , and that he hath such quantity of them that it is wonder to see : these are mr. lanes words exactly . nor is there any difficulty in the discovery of this , or ingrossing the trade ; especially since wee are the masters of the countrey , and if any other nation should attempt to partake in the benefit of our trade , the strength of virginia is at present such as may repell by violence , all forraigne incroachments upon their trade and livelyhood . the indians unanimously consent that twenty two mil●s beyond the falls , is a rocke of chrystall , and this they evidence by their a●rowes very many whereof are headed with it . and that dayes journey from thence , is a rocke or hill of silver oare . beyond which , over a ledge of hills , by a concurrent relation of all the indians , is the sea , which can be no other but that sea which washes the shore of china , &c. that this report of a great sea southwest beyond the mountains , cannot have the least of fiction or confederacy , since all the indians from canada to florida , doe unjarringly agree in the relation , is obvious to the meanest apprehension . the discovery whereof , if we fall upon it by degrees , will bee a worke of no long time or difficulty , but the unexpressible profit and glory of the action , will rayse the noble head of this above example countrey to such a high zenith of wealth , power , and lustre , that it will be reputed a very remarkable degree of felicity to any nation which shall reach to such a verticall point of glory , as to bee reputed but our second in these most noble considerations . by this meanes what wealth can there be in those richest provinces of the world , in those countries which nature created for h●r cabinets of excellency , which we shall not discover ? what discover without a power of appropriation ? what opulency do●s china teeme with which shall not be made our owne by the midwifry , by the juno lucina of this virtuall passage ? this by a happy transmigration , by an innocent magick will convert that countrey , ( which by a swelling denomination , yet without not some preten●e of reason its natives call by a title signifying all under heaven ) into our maid of admiration and envy virginia . her silke-worm shall spinne for carolana , her cloth of gold be weaved for roanoak . the english name shall keepe company with the sunne , and those nations who owe him a particular adoration shall honour it as the next thing sacred . the e●sterne nations oppressed with the slavery of those ill●strious horseleeches their princes , will come under our shadow , and by a thicke repayre to our most glorious and happy mayden , live with us in that liberty , which nature in their creation intended to the noblest of his creatures mankind . and by this recourse all those curiosities of art , in which those easterne nations transcend europe , will bee conveyed to us with their persons . cattell and horse in which they abound , will bee sold to us for nothing , for european trifles , whilest the more necessary stapl●s of this our westerne world , will be sold at advantages not convenient to be mentioned . the voyage short , easie , rich , and pleasant . no doubling of the line , no calentures , s●urvies , or other long passage diseases , to affright or distast the laborious seaman : whereas now the enfeebling and destroying of mariners is almost an unavoidable consequence of those long and dangerous , rather circumferences● then voyages . but lest we should sing a paean before a victory , it will not bee unworthy our labour to discourse what meanes m●y be used in this discov●ry . which if it should misse in its prosecution , ( for which fayling there is not the least shadow of probability ) yet might carry a vast profit to recompence all your paynes and expences . that it must not bee attempted at the first heat , but must have more recourses then one to the fire of a triall , will bee made apparent by these reasons . first , the inconveniency or non feysibility of carrying so much provision as will serve the discoverers , whose number , in my opinion , cannot bee lower then two hundred , if wee let slide into our deliberation the many unknowne nations , through whose territories we are to make our passage , and which by common estimation , are much more numerous in the inland , then marine countreyes . next admit wee undertake and compasse it with such a number , yet the discovery not being capable of secresie amongst such a multitude of undertakers , the publick resentment of such a felicity approaching , not suffering people to be silent ; wee should have this arrive to the spanyards knowledge , who will roule all stones under heaven to dispossesse or prepossesse , and indeed the danger his peru , chili and philippines , by such seating , may lie obnoxious to , will adde spurres to his inclination to prevent us , which till wee bee in in a condition to resist , may be effected with our absolute ruine . the safest way therefore is , by degrees to steale upon the design , and take our way thither , by ceasing of places of advantage , very frequently found in that contry , which we may progressionaly fortifie at every twenty or five and twenty miles distance , and to these places we may constantly ●end supplies of victu●lls and ammunition , not only for the men there garrisond , but for our owne reception and maint●nance in the discovery : and these men standing continu●lly upon their guard , may ( i meane those most rem●te ) by conference with the indians , discover with much ease , of what distance , what accesse , what harbours , what frequentation , and by what people the neighbour sea consists of ; to take with them exemplars of all mineralls , drugges , dies , colours , birds and beasts , drawne ●o the life in colours , which ( by an invitation of reward ) will be a surer meanes of discovery , ( if any such be ) then by multitudes of people , whose number commonly ( as in the ●x●mple of fernando soto in florida ) hastens no other discovery , but that of unavoydable famine , and being usually , either through nec●ssity , or a disordred maner of living irregular and ●ngoverned , fright the inhabitants from all commerce and conference or else make them join in a confederacy to abuse and remove them by telling their unwelcome company , golden lies , and miracles of countreys farther distant , where they are likely to find small satisfaction for their covetousnes or hunger . reason and experience will cond●mne us of folly , if wee should refuse to profit by commendable examp●es , though proc●eding from enemies or friends suspected : it will be therefore an incitement irreproveable to commend to our owne imitation the custome which the industrious spanyard practiseth in his designe of discoveries : every one of the associates carry a little horne abou● their necks in such journeys , by which meanes if the errour of the night or thickenesse of the woods occasion any separation betw●x● them , or an ambuscado of enemies make the passage doubtfull , by winding of that horne , p●esently notice is given to the rest , who upon receiving the sound give the ●irst winder notice of their residence , to which they may repaire , or testifie their apprehension and readinesse to prevent all hostile stratagems . the same indefatigable nation in their passage over rivers , presently make themselves light canoas after the indian mode , with which entring themselves and swimming their horses ( whose heads they keepe above water by a coller fastened to the boat ) they overcome difficulties of currents , which to any other but those seem● insuperable , and indeed their labour in this kinde show them of admirable resolution and constancy . though wee may entertaine grounds of hope and confidence , that this discovery of the south sea may be made without any tedious land-journey , since it is certaine that from the great confluence of waters in the gulfe of st. laurence , foure mighty rivers receive their sourse , the first whereof pouring it selfe north into canada , another running eastward into the sea called hunsons river , the third running westward into the maine are already discovered , but the fourth upon which wee have reason to fixe high expectation be●ding southward to florida , washes all the backside of virginia , and may in all probability discharge it selfe into the south ocean , which if it suit with our conjectures , virginia will have by that meanes a double accession of security and convenience . for our security it will be a naturall bar betwixt us and the jealous spanyard , who if he shou●d injustly continue the possession of ou● florida , which is indisputably english ; yet thus dividided from us by a vast river full of ●slands , and places convenient to command the channell fortified and maintained by our nation , he is too full of providence and caution to attaque us , if once in so good a posture . for the conveniency which sufficiently speakes it selfe the ease of transportation by water , and all in our owne chanell , the saving of land charges , and probability of a more speedy passage , are prespicuous arguments to commend it . and to confirme the probabilities of this passage by the lake the more strongly , the indians of canada confessed to iames cartier that it is but a moneths sayling , from thence to go to a land where cynanon and cloves are gathered . others told the same person , that from the place where they left their pinnace , there is a river which goeth south-west , from whence there is a whole moneths sayling to go to a certaine land , where there is neither ice no● snow seene , where the inhabitants doe continually war one against the other , where there is great store of orenges , almonds , nuts , and apples , with many other sorts of fruits . what ever beliefe other men bestow upon this relation , i know not ; but tru●ly in such a generall concordance of reports , where there can b● no roome left for confederacy or designe , to be perswaded of the truth therein , cannot have any vitious tincture of facility or credulity . but it is time to remit these high and noble atchievements to the prosecution of those who have more power and ability , who may give such a discovery the honour of their names , and transfer a perpetuall illustrious memory to posterity , we shall onely suppose it faisible and hope the effects will answer such supposition . which if it should faile , why may not virginia in her future felicity of silke be a new china and persia to europe ? why may not all the spicery of the east flourish with an equall successe in this our most justly tempered climate ? already can virginia boast of cinamon , which if transplanted might not be inferiour unto any ? why may not the cloves perfume virginia with as aromatick redolency as the philipine gardens . our aire is more serene , better tempered then theirs , nor have we any more sense of winter to hinder the ascent of sap then the moluccians , if it be any thing more harsh in cold , yet is it but a check to a peradventure too forward spring . what multitude of flowers have our late gardens in england seen non native to this soyle or climate ? fruits thought solely proper to italy and spaine flourish here to the envy of those count●ies , who see often times the colonies in a happier degree of prosperity then the mother , for fruit and flowers . but these designements must be the daughters of time , curiosity and industry , to whom away may be made passab●● , and easie , by that uncabinetting and deciphring of nature , garden philosophy , what harsh disposition in the world will not be lenified and refined by these curious conclusions ? dioclesian could postpose the science of governing mankinde to the knowledge of managing his scions , to see those plants grow up , which his own laureld hand had set , watred and attended● and accordingly flourish , was in a manner the production of so many children , who in this have the advantage , that their florescence is not subject to selfe-deprivation , give them but an acceptable ground● a bounteous aire , and an arriding sunne and they answer the most exact desires of the setter or ingrafter ; but children , let them have all the auxiliares of a full fortune , warmth of education , and heat of encouragement , by some private disease of the genius , by some secret malignity in nature , or its right hand custome , seldome or neuer thrive according to the wishes of the parent , they are either too ranke with insolence , too much parched with rashnesse , or withered with infamy and luxury , that those which planted them instead of delight in that which they esteemed their masterpeece , have nothing but a spring of indignation , or an autumn of melancholly to answer their expectation , and are so far from contentment at their groweth that they would have reckoned it amongst the smiles of their fortunes , that no warmth of theirs had contributed to their production , no indulgence to their continuance and education . these allu●ements are for those whose delights onely are interested and denoted to this retired activity ; but those who looke further will finde ( that which is rarely or never contingent to other contentments ) this pleasure to be attended with an inestimable p●ofit , and one of the most certaine returnes in nature : but this fertility-labouring countrey , especial●y in its southerne beauties , in its roanoak excellencies , like to a princesse , all compos'd of bounty , suffers no addresse to be made unsatisfied . gentle winters to court your seed , warme springs to marry them to perfect masculine ripenesse , nothing but ingratitude and indiligence to delay or divert its liberality , hitherto ( like those confined virgins in a barbarous seraglio ) it hath suffered the imputation or injury of sterility by a non-complacency in its savage amourists , the abundance of perfection having put them into a satiety or incapacicy of enjoyment . the truth of this being abundantly manifest , an apparent profit and delight inviting the able and industrious ; necessity must be the next argument to those whose poverty can pleade no excuse for their indiligence ; yet this laborious necessity is not so ingratefull as in england , and in other more thick-peopled countries , what ever you sweat for in this bounteous region , is crowned with a recompence amazing your expectation ; such things as make poverty and life wearisome , contempt of , or impossibility of any melioration to their condition are things heere never charged upon honest indigence , or denyed to a commendable industry , nor can they palliate their sleepe and sloth with a pretence of wanting materialls to worke upon , or plead that such things as should employ them must be first had out of england , since there is enough abundantly and naturally in that unpresidented countrey to employ their industry , to enrich their labour . though silke●grasse is unquestionably a staple which will bee neighbour to the profit of the silke-worme , though the naturall hempe-flagge may be a merchandize in time equal to english flax , though the sarsaparilla be an extraordinary vendible commodity , though pipestaves be so beneficiall● , that with not many drops an extraordinary workeman may make his labour worth sixty pounds per annum . though he has fish there , and in such abundance that the attending diligently upon two seasons , onely returnes him a reward of one hundred pound sterling in sturgion , salmon , herings , mackrell : pot-ashes a rich and never decaying staple , &c. yet since against this an objection may be made what course they may take for their provisionall subsistence . those who apprehend such doubts will be pleased to receive this answer , in which if they are sensible of reason they cannot faile to receive satisfaction . there is no man will ever be denyed the loane of corne for his house-spending , and seed till the harvest ; if he be a single man he may prepare as much ground if cleared , and set as large quantitie of corne for his owne spending and repayment of what borrowed , in two dayes space as will abundantly suffice him twelve moneths . admit there be no cleared ground , yet if he but unbarke the trees one foot round after the indian mode to prevent the shade occasioned by the leaves , which such unbarking quite destroyes , the corne ( set betwixr those trees ) will thrive and prosper exceedingly , and their greund thus prepared will last seaven or more yeares successively , and this worke cannot last him above five dayes at the longest . if he have a family , his wife and children will be able to beare part in that labour , and many others . for provision of flesh , if he can use his peece he may , even at his labour in the woods , have opportunity of killing venison , hares , wild-foule ( in their season innumerable ) and fish , of which the r●vers are all times plentifully furnished , and of great delic●cy ; if in all this abundance he is yet apprehensive of famine , wee shall refer him to the number of those who are afraid to be starved for meat in a cooks shop . besides what a small summe of money will buy your cattell , and swine in virginia ? whose feeding co●ts them nothing but thankes to god , who has spread that superficies of that noble ●ountrey with perpetuall friut and verdure . poultry in infinite variety and plenty , the forbearance of whose encrease for a small terme of years will make them so numerous , that they may alwayes have a full table . the w●st indie potatoe ( by much more delicate and large then what wee have heere growing● besides that it is a food excellently delicious and strongly nourishing , fixes himselfe wherever planted , with such an irradicable fertility , that being set it eternally grows : of this an extraordinary pleasing and strong drinke may bee composed . nor is the maiz l●sse commendable for bread then malting , of both which in its use it ●ffordeth a peculiar goodnesse and convenience : and i am much to learne how a poore man can in justice complaine of want , when he is as it were besieged with such plenty : this for provision may abundantly satisfie , but if he can be content to forbeare debauches and profusenesse for t●e first three yeares he may by any of the meanes aforesaid arrive to such a condition of ●hriving . that he may allow himselfe a large latitude of expences ( that first three yeares once expired ) without much empairing his fortun●s . but since all men either by constitution of age , oppression of yeares , or different education , are unable o● improper for the fi●●●et or hatchet , i shall offer them a way which may be lesse laborious and peradventure more gainefull ; yet before i descend to this , i must take leave by digression to enlarge something which i have already hinted on , nam●ly the benefit of transplantation . the removing and transposition of wild plants , doth with an ●xperimented happinesse wonderfully mitigate and engentile their 〈◊〉 noble nat●●e ; whether ( as an a●thour delivers it very elegantly ) it be by reason that the nature of plants , as of men , is desirous of novelty and peregrination , or because that at their parting from their former grounds they leave there that ranke wildnesse virulency and ill quality from the forest , where is first rooted the grate●ull novelty and allurement of a well cultivated s●yle makes it receive a new by exiling it from the old savagenesse and indomestication of its first seat and nature . since then the removing of wild plants addes so much to their improvement and melioration confirmed by naturall reason and unerring experience : why may not the diligent labour by removeall and transposing this excellent staple of silke grasse , make it thrive equally in greatnesse and goodnesse , there needes no more art to be used then th●t of comparing the soile ( transplantations int● worse grounds being naturally improsperous ) and though there appeare now somewhat of trouble ( though nothing of lab●ur ) in peeling the silky skinne of , yet that it may be broken as flaxe or cleared by some instrument ( the commodity richly rewarding the nobility of any invention ) to this purpose ; time and further experience will no doubt to the publick enriching of the colony and this nation make apparent . in this any one which is not sworne a servant to ease and sloth , may with a small toile reape a considerable profit . next , what will n●t those vines produce if well husbanded after their transplantation , and in this most delightfull labour the gain is so appareut that almost the blindest judgement may perceive it . orenges , lemons , pine-aples , plantanes , peaches , apricocks , peares , aples , in a word all sort of excellent fruits will grow there in full perfection ; you may sleepe whilst they are growing , after their setting or engrafting , there needes no more labour but your prayers , that they may prosper , and now and then an eye to prevent their casualties , wounds or diseases . sugars , indigos , cotton , and ginger , require a greater industry ; but if wee consider the difference betwixt the two climates of barbadoes and virginia , the immoderate heate of the first and the exact temper of the other , the labour though it may require as frequent handling , yet is by much lesse toylesome . in a word , if a man be yet timerous of a thriving condition in this countrey ; i shall with his pardon believe him , distrustfull of gods providence ; or if he be so vitiously disposed as to hope after a land where he may enjoy an undisturbed plenty without the sweat of his browes , the maps are so extreamely d●ficient in the description of such a countrey , that i must desire him to looke for a new world and kingdome , for such an easie accommodation . if any make an objection why this countrey stored with all these riches , furnished with all these staples , hath so long held downe her head in the lownesse of a desperate condition ? why being capable to crowne her browes with garlands of roses and plenty , she sate desolate amongst the willowes of neglect and poverty ? let them but recall their memory , how by the prevailency of g●ndamore the co●poration w●s dissolved , their patent cancelled , to which if wee adde the cooperation of the indian treachery in their first massacre , they will cease their wonder at its languishing condition● and convert it to a full admiration , how that colony could ever raise her endangered head out of those gulfes of distraction , in which the gold of spaine , the disincouragement of the court , the discontent of the better sort of planters , and the desperate negligence of the more inconsiderable had in humane opinion irrecoverably involved her . but the incomparable virgin hath raised her dejected head , cleared her enclouded reputation , and now like the eld●st daughter of nature expresseth a priority in her dowry ; her browes encircled with opul●ncy to be believed by no other tri●ll , but that of expeperience , her unwounded wombe full ●f all those treasuries which indeere provinces to respect of glory , and may with as great justice as any countrey the sunne honours with his eye-beames , ●ntitle her selfe to an affinity with eden , to an absolute perfection above all but paradize . and this those gentlemen to whom she vouchsaf●s the honour of her embraces , when by the blessings of god upon their labou●s s●ted with the beauty of their cornefield , they shall retire into their groves checkered with vines , olives , mirtles , from thence dilate themselves into their walkes covered in a manner , paved with orenges and lemmons , whence surfeited with variety , they incline to repose in their gardens upon nothing lesse perfumed then rose● and gilly-flowers . when they shall see their numerous heards wanton with the luxury of their pasture , confesse a narrowne●se in their barnes to receive their corne , in bosomes to expresse fully their thank●fulnesse to the almighty authour of these blessings , will ch●arefully confesse : whilst the incomparable roanoak like a queene of the ocean , encircled with an hundred attendant islands , and the most majestick carolana shall in such an ample and noble gratitude by her improvement repay her adventurers and creditors with an interest so far transcending the principall . a valuation of the commodities growing and to be had in virginia : valued in the year , . and since those times improved in all more or lesse , in some ⅓ , in others ½ , in many double , and in some treble . iron , ten pounds the tun . silke coddes , two shillings six pence the pound . raw silk , s . d . the pound , now at s . and . per pound . silke grasse to be used for cordage , d . the pound : but we hope it will serve for many better uses , and so yeeld a far greater r●te , wherof there can never be too much planted . of this q. elizabeth had a silke gowne made . hemp , from s . to s . the hundred , flax , from s , to s . the hundred . cordage , from s . to s . the hundred . cotton wooll , d . the pound . hard pitch , s . the hundred . tarre , s . the hundred . turpentine , s . the hundred . rozen , s . the hundred . madde● crop , ●s . the hundred : course madder , s . the hundred . woad , from s . to the hundred . annice seeds , s . the hundred . powder sugar , panels , muscavadoes an● whites , s● . and l . the hundred . s●urgeon , and caveare , as it is in goodnesse . salt , s . the weight . mastick , s . the pound . salsa perilla wild , l . the hundred . salsa perilla domestick , l . the hundred . red earth allenagra , s . the hundred . red allum , called carthagena a●lum , s . the hundred . roach allum , called romish allum , s . the hundred . berry graine , ●s . d the pound : the powder of graine , s . the pound : it groweth on trees like holly berries . masts for shipping , from s . to l . a peece . pot-ashes , from s . the hundred , to . now . and s . the hundred . sope-ashes , from s . to s . the hundred . clapboord watered , s . the hundred . pipe staves , l . the thousand . rape-seed oyle , l . the tun , the cakes of it feed kine fat in the winter . oyle of walnuts , l . the tun . linseed oyle● l . the tun . saffron , s . the pound . honey , s . the gallon . waxe , l . the hundred . shomacke , s . the hundred , whereof great plenty in virginia , and good quantity will be vented in england . fustick yong , s . the hundred . fustick old , s . the hundred , according to the sample . sweet gums , roots , woods , berries for dies and drugs , send of all sorts as much as you can , every sort by it sel●e , there being great quantities of those things in virginia , which after proof made , may be heere valued to their worth . and particularly , we have great hope of the pocoon root , that it will prove better then madder . sables , from s . the payre , to s . a payre . otter skin● , from s . to s . a piece . l●zernes , from s . to a piece . martins the best , s . a piece . wild ca●s , ● d . a piece . fox skins , ●d . a piece . muske rats skins , s . a dozen : the cods of them will serve 〈◊〉 good perfumes . bever skins that are full growne , in season , are worth s . a piece . bever skins , not in season , to allow two skins for one , and of the lesser , three for one . old bever skins in mantles , gloves or cap● , the more worne , the better , so they be full of fur , the pound weight is s . the new bevers skins are not to bee bought by the pound , because they are thicke and heavy leather , and not so good for use as the old . pearles of all sorts that ye can find : ambergreece as much as you can get : cristall rocke : send as much as you can , and any sort of minerall stones , or earth that weighs very heavy . preserve the walnut trees to make oile of , & cut them not down● so also preserve your mulberry and chestnut trees very carefully . in the month of june , bore holes in divers sorts of trees , wherby you shall see what gums they yield , and let them bee well dried in the sun every day , and send them home in very dry caske . finis . virginia's discovery of silke-vvorms, with their benefit and the implanting of mulberry trees : also the dressing and keeping of vines, for the rich trade of making wines there : together with the making of the saw-mill, very usefull in virginia, for cutting of timber and clapbord, to build with-all, and its conversion to other as profitable uses. williams, edward, fl. . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing w ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing w estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) virginia's discovery of silke-vvorms, with their benefit and the implanting of mulberry trees : also the dressing and keeping of vines, for the rich trade of making wines there : together with the making of the saw-mill, very usefull in virginia, for cutting of timber and clapbord, to build with-all, and its conversion to other as profitable uses. williams, edward, fl. . [ ], , [ ] p. : ill. printed by t.h. for john stephenson ..., london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. attributed to edward williams. cf. nuc pre- . the second part of the author's virginia, more especially the south part thereof ... [ d ed.] eng silkworms -- early works to . viticulture. wine and wine making -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . a r (wing w ). civilwar no virginia's discovery of silke-vvormes, with their benefit. and the implanting of mulberry trees. also the dressing and keeping of vines, for williams, edward f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virginia's discovery of silke-vvormes , with their benefit . and the implanting of mulberry trees . also the dressing and keeping of vines , for the rich trade of making wines there . together with the making of the saw-mill , very usefull in virginia , for cutting of timber and clapbord , to build withall , and its conversion to other as profitable uses . london , printed by t. h. for iohn s●ephenson , at the signe of the sun , below ludgate . . to all the virginia merchants , adventurers , and planters . gentlemen : the unhappinesse to be amongst the lowest of men , for parts and fortune , cannot hinder mee from the satisfaction which i receive in my selfe , that none is possessed with a more eager passion of contributing towards the advancing virginia to that degree of felicity which the bounty of nature , richnesse of soyle , and temperature of climate designed her to : and were my power but of as strong a wing as my inclinations and desires , that above-example countrey should be placed in such a zenith of stability , wealth , and glory , that it should behold all the other nationall happinesses of the world in a sphere beneath her ; and her merchants adventurers and planters , like so many load-starres to conduct mankinde into an innocent ocean of unfathom'd wealth of unrocky prosperity . no countrey under the sunne is lesse ingratefull then virginia , if she be but justly courted , but to complement a virgin for her affection by breathing smoake in her nostrils , to expresse our civilities by vapour ; and for all that vast dowry of spaciousnesse , wealth , bounty of aire , and plenty of provisions , to proffer her a joynture of tobacco , is a complement indistinguishable from incivill rudenesse . what riches may not the silke-worme , vine , olive , and almond afford us ? by these noble undertakings wee contract china two thousand leagues nearer to us , and are not troubled though spaine and italy were remooved five thousand more distant from us : and if wee could not satisfie the implacable curiosity of our senses without the easterne spices , it i● without dispute , that what every orient hath of aromatick , ●ould grow without any deterioration in this incomparable countrey . yet if , by some occult propriety of nature , these spices , and gummes should not prosper with that successe in the countrey ●o which they are onely adoptive , as where they are naturall : the south sea flowing upon the skirts of this gloriously appa●relled virgin , would not onely furnish us , but ( through our meanes ) all the westerne worl● with whatever the philippines and china have in ●heir brow , or bosome : which that it may be discovered , a publique incouragement from the merchan●s here , and the colony ●here , would awaken all spirits which have any scintillation of honour , or industry , to undertake the imployment , effect it undertaken , and by the effect raise an unperishable structure for their owne glory , perpetuated by the publique felicity . the grea●est defect that colony can with consent complaine of , is their want of shipping , and the greatest with which others finde ●hemselves perplexed , is the want of industry to build them . if virginia had not as stately timber as any other region wha●soe●er : is it had no● a soyle naturally inviting them to improve her in iron for gunnes , anchors , and other conveniences ; in hempe for cordage , flax for canvase , and pine trees for mast : this defect might be allowed for reall : but where all these concenter , it is as unreasonable to complaine , as for a man seated at a table covered with excellent provision , to accuse his fortune for suffering him to perish wi●h hunger , because his meat is not digested in his stomack , wi●hout putting his hands and teeth to labour . i could cordially wish that there were such quantity of cleared ground in virginia , that every one at his fi●st arrivall might ●ix upon the plough , that the so much discoursed of s●aples of wheat and rye , might be brought to an absolute ripenesse of per●ection : but to imagin● so many millions of trees of a facile removall , or that old planters knowing the benefit thence arising , should part with them to o●hers , and seeke new uncleared grounds for themselves , were meerely to dreame of impossibilities . but the vine , almond , and olive , may be set where the tree is onely barked about to hinder it from leaving ; besides if ●here were a necessi●y to have absolutely cleared grounds , ( ●hich reason it selfe cannot imagine , ) yet foure acres of ground so cleared ●or the vine , will re●urne ( by much ) more profi● , and l●sse trouble , then twenty acres of wheat , at such ra●es as they are prized in the common estimation . but since ●his profi● reverts to the purse wi●hout the toyle of ●radica●ing trees , as great em●lument , as if the ground were al●oge●her treel●sse , to what purpose should we court sweat and affl●ction ? or increase our miseries wi●hout any addition to ou● happin●sse ? gen●lemen , he happinesse o● this n●tion depends upon your co●stancy and prosperi●y , i● you seriously erect these staples , wee shall be free ●rom the imperious usurpations of forraigne princes upon your estates , and shipping , from the rapine of pirates upon your lives or liberties . the decayed number of our shipping may be resupplyed by encouragement of carpenters of all nations , to make use of those materialls which the inimitable liberality of this countrey gratefully presents you with : all staples ( diffusively spread in other regions ) will meet here united , and we shall arrive to that degree of happinesse , to make our intrade by much exceed our exportations : for the compleating of which , if such an inconsiderable , and lost thing as my selfe , could be any way instrumentall , i should as cheerfully hazard my life in the employment , as i now subscribe my selfe , your ready , faithfull , and most humble servant , ed. williams . the discovery of silke-wormes ; with their benefit , and implanting of mulberry trees . the mulberry tree , yielding the sole food of this exellent worme , must first bee provided for , whereof there are myriads dispers● in the wide continent of virginia , which may bee collected by transplanting , grafting , or nursering . for transplantation there are infinite advantages both of well-growne and springing mulberry trees , which may with much facility be removed , and with great felicity thrive upon such a removall , of which experience can afford frequent examples . the grafts must bee chosen from excellent good plants which expresse a large fertility , and bee something large of themselves , by which election there will bee a greater certainety of the goodness● , and a more speedy expectation of g●owth in those grafts , which thrive better when grafted one upon another , then upon the chesnut , apple-tree , elme , white ●ople● , or any other , which if they are not mortally opposite , are however praeternaturall to the silke●worme . the nu●series have so much of tediousnesse and difficulty , that i shall hardly advise to put it in practic● ; yet to those who have a stronger ●●●dulity then my reason ca● perswade mee to● i shall offer the ●ol●●xpedient of effecting it , if that may bee ca●led aptly an exp●●●●●● , which hath so little of expedi●ion in it . let ●h● 〈…〉 to make a nursery , observe , and gather such 〈…〉 will suit with his necessity● of the ripest fruit growing upon those trees which beare the fairest and roundest leaves : these thus gathered , you must wash in two or three waters , pressing them with your hands , by which meanes you shall fi●de the expressed seede in the botto●e of the water : i ●cced● more to the sowing of the mulberries whole without such expression , how ever , either the mulberry entire , or the seede may bee sowed after the manner following . a b●d of fa● earth being digged , husbanded , and the mo●ld brought into a small powder● must have strait rowes or lines in furrowes● all ha●fe a foot equally distant every furrow two inches deepe , and f●u●e broad , this distance may bee something larger that an in●ervall may bee made to the weeder in the weeding of such things ●s may hinder the mulberries growth by participating in its aliment . a great care must bee had to water it often for the first yeare , i● the weather b● dry , the succeeding yeare you may pul up and transplant your mulberry trees int● another ground more at large , viz. at two or three f●●● distance , which must bee not retransplanted till the growth arise to some six inches in the circumference● at which bignesse you m●y remove them to the ground designed for their constant fixation , leaving betwixt each tree a distance of sixteene or twenty foot , that the too muc●●i●inity may not make the extending branches mutually inconvenience either by exclusion of a full sunne , or wound themselves by intertangence of one another● in such warme countries as that of virginia , the root must bee preserved coole and moy●t , by a deeper implantation then is usuall in colder regions . for the election of your plants or sciens you may take notice of two families , or races , of mulberry trees , the black , and the white , discordant in wood , leafe , and fruit ; onely having this in common to spring later then other trees , as never emitti●g their leaves till all apprehension of cold is vanished , the black mulberry is not subdivided into any other species having the wood solid and strong , the leafe large , and rud● in the handling , the fruit black , great● and acceptable to the palate : b●t there are three app●rently di●ferent species in the white , distinguishe● onely by the colour of the fr●it , namely , white , black , and red : yet is this fruit by much lesse gratefull to the palate then that of the black mulberry . no other distinction besides , the colour of the fruit discernes them one from the other , the leaves of all three being of the same meane greatnesse of the same smooth feeling , the wood of the same internall yellownesse , almost as firme as that of the black mulberry . but the silke taking his quality from the leafe make us lay a●ide the black mulberry tree , since the bottomes from thence are too grosse and heavy , whereas the white mulberry makes silke fine and light , to temper which many feed the wormes with two ●orts of meats by dictinction of times , viz● at the beginning with white leaves , that the silke may bee fine , in the closing , with black to fortifie it , and make it weigh : yet this though it have an appearance of reason ●t the first inspection , rarely answers the expectation , the very alteration of the meate as from that which is more delicate , to that which is more grosse , being disagreable to the nature of the worme , who must shew that diminution in the quality of his silkes which hee feeles in the impairing of his n●triment . others make a contrary application of leaves by a more ( imaginative solid foundation● ) which is to begin their dieting with black , and conclude with white ; which cannot succeed better , for the black having disposed the matter of the silke , the white leaves after administred have no power to alter that seminall disposition . wee shall therefore fixe upon it as a principle of nature , not to vary the nourishment of this industrio●s creature . if wee begin with the black mulberry , the continuance of it will bee necessary . if the ground you possesse bee already planted with black mulberries , it is so much losse of time and expences to replant white : but if wee are to commence a thing de novo , every mans reason leading him to chuse the most profitable , and common exp●rience telling us that the white antecede the black ones so incredibly in the poynt of maturation , that six years of growth advance not so much the latter as two the first ; it were an act declaring bethlem for dic●ator , not to prefer the most speedy and profitable before the tedious and improper commodity . besides which em●lument the branches which by that speedy shoot they bring forth will bee usefull for propagation of that tree to infinite numbers . there is yet experimentall election amongst the white mulberries . some affirming that the leaves of those trees which emit the white fruit are fittest to bee assigned for this nourishment , which they fortifie by this reason ; that pullen and swine doe most delight in the white , and never eate the red and black but by constraint , a conjecture not altog●ther irrefragable ; for why may it not bee controverted that pullen and swine being a greedy generation , may rather ballance that which is most grosse and fulsome , as b●st adapted for their palate , then that which is nice , and subtle , and best according to the delicate tendernesse of this creature ? others who have their owne experience to fortifie their ass●rtion , commend the white mulberry bearing the black fruit , the colour demonstrating a better concoction in the fruit , and consequently in the leafe then the others . but ( which wee must bee extreamely curious in ) wee must expell from our yard all muberry trees bearing leaves too much indented , which , besides that it is an apparent signe of small subsistence and ●ncompleated nature , is more defective in quantity and quality of nourishment , then that which is lesse interruptedly circular : yet this may easily bee remedied● if you inoculate such tr●es in the bud , or eseuch●on , having neede of such freedome ; the profit thence arising being very con●iderable for this kinde of nourishment : for by this course that inconsiderable quantity of worthless and famelick leaves receives a happy melioration into an abundant plenty of substantiall and nutritive nature . nor is this transmutation improper , for any other orchard plants which will succeede to yo●r most advantagious expectation , and all indomestick and wild trees may by this bee made capable of a most happy cultivation . this infranchizing may bee practised to the answer of your desires in mulb●rries of all ages : in the older , on their new shoots of the antecedent yeare then lopped ; in the yonger upon the smallest trees of the nursery . but to graft these trees in the first season , th●t their growth will permit it● is most opportune and profitable● for by this meanes your groves of mulberry will bee in●irely delivered from all apprehension of jejune sterility , or insub●tantiall deficiency● nor can ever you feare a want of supply , if you constantly maintaine a nursery of such graf●s , not f●om the seede , but from the shoots and branches of your best trees thus propagated to an unperishable infinity by couching them in the ground , and the trees encreasing by their reimplanting are constantly furnished with leaves of an excellent sweetnesse and greatnesse , exquisitely abundant in nourishment , and consequently exempt from all the inconveniencies which walke hand in hand with ●n ingratefull wildnesse . having described what trees , grafts , and nurseries are best conducent to our mystery ; let us next dilate of their most proper soyle , and best order in planting . the best soyle and order for planting the mulberry . for the soyle it must bee chosen in particular much like that of the vines , inclining rather to dry then moyst , light then heavy , sandy then ●layie ; for those which opinionate themselves that a f●t ground is inconvenient t● mulberries● as supplying leaves of too grosse and unsubtile aliment ; the objection is pritty , but under pardon scarcely solid , neither am i capable of any reason to the contrary , why a rich soyle should not emit the growing tree● with a greater maturation and bignesse , then a leane plantation , where the tender plants are even starved with the sparenesse of distributive moysture and aliment : yet to prevent the too grosse substance of the leafe after the tree by the advantage of a rich nourishment , hath arrived to a competent greatnesse ; the order which wee shall prescribe in their planting will admit the plough amongst them , where cultivation will easily take off the soyle from all exuberancy of fullsome ranknesse . the soyle which is full of springs , lakes , rivers , or ( which is worst of all ) marshes , is particularly to be avoyded . the manner of implanting them would require a distance of foure fathomes or more , which in virginia where wee labour not under a penury of ground , may bee something more spaciously enlarged● the reasons why this extent of distance are : first , the intermixture of spreading branches , where by their contingency they violate and mutually wound themselves will bee avoyded . next , the sunne hath a more unimpeached immi●●ion and distrib●tion 〈◊〉 his beames , with which this tree is most particularly delighted . lastly , this largenesse of intervalls permits a free passage for the plough , to take off all luxuriancy of ranknesse , which t●o much inspissate● the leafes , which must feede this admirable creature . but of such graines as may with least impairement bee sowen under the mulberry trees , oats and pease are the most proper , which during the collection of the leaves may with very small detriment bee trodden upon ( the season commonly falling in april and may , when their blades are backward ) nay the very compressure of the earth makes them afterwards arise more strongly . i approve much more of interplanting the vine ; but ( which i conceive the most convenient for virginia i● ) the setting of the indian potato hath the most inestimable benefit ; the potato having such a happy multiplica●ion of and in it selfe , that whilst there is but a string of the root left behinde in the earth , the species will bee renewed . besides the excellency of the food , whether for man , or ( where such a vast abundance may soone introduce a satiety ) cattle will bring alone with it an inestimable advantage ; whereas corne may too strongly impoverish a ground , and the vine it selfe when it comes to its ripest excellency , will want the compleat comfort of the sunne beames to give fruit a well concocted maturity , the mulberry like an ambitio●s grandee , e●grossing all that favour to himselfe by his prevalency of height and greatnesse . nor should wee bee too curious to plant the trees one over against the other exactly opposite ; but still observing for beauties ●ake to set them in a right line ) rather one against the intervall of the other , that so the sunne may have no interposition from any angle , to warme , comfort , and enrich this tree , which aides the production of so many incomprehensible miracles . the order for collection of the leaves . the order to bee observed for collecting the leaves should bee precisely insisted upon , that the trees may bee of longer and flourishing duration , and the food of a more curious and unsoyled nourishment : it is a truth not to bee denyed , that the disleaving of trees is extreamely prejudiciall , and in some irrecoverably deadly ; the reason is their extraordinary scorching , by being left without any shade of protection : but the mulberry being ( as it were ) destined to this worke which it naturally supporteth , more inprejudicially endures this temper of disleaving then any other trees whatsoever . but for the obviation of this inconvenience , it will bee absolutely necessary for our master of the silkeworme , to have such a proportionable number of trees , that the halfe may alternately repose unpluckt every second yeare . this diligently put into practice will make your trees continue verdant and vigorous for many generations . to gather them with both hands leafe after leafe , is confessedly the most proper , but yet withall the most expencefull ; for the multitude of hands which such a circumstantiall labour would exact . the other way of gathering them with stripping them from the branches , is without doubt extreamely n●cent to the tree , and worm : to the tree by unbarking , wounding , and perishing its branches . nor is it lesse detrimentall to the worme seeing this disorderly collection corrupts and sullies the leaves , which this delicate nice creature perceiving , either rejects them , or sickens upon their reception by bruising the leaves , and expressing that which is the life of its substance , the juice , and this commonly with unwasht hands , which leave the ill odour unremoveable upon them . the removall of these inconveniences is easily effected by following the course they practice in some parts of spaine , which is by clipping the leaves from the branches with a sharpe instrument , like a taylors sheares ; by this way you disleave many stalkes at once , which falling into a cleane sheete spread under that tree for the purpose , seperating afterwards the leaves also , such as are sound from unsound , such as peradventure have much of the stalke , from those which are nothing but leafe , ( the stalke being hurtfull to this tender creature ) and administred to them the sunny side of the leafe upward is the most commendable practise of gathering and feeding that hath hitherto been delivered . the leaves of the old mulberry are to bee much prefer'd before those which are not come to an absolute perfection ; the age of perfection in the mulberry , we reckon to be accomplished in seven or eight yeares , as to soundnesse of nourishment ; not that they grow not after , but by that time it is growne powerfull to conc●ct such succulency as might before over master it . the trees disleaved must by a diligent hand be pruned immediatly after the last collection ; what ever is broken , wounded , or made unprofitable must bee carefully cut off . the extreames of all the branches must be top'd a little with a sharpe pruning knife , which is an invitation to nature to send forth the next yeare more vigorously . but whether it be in gathering the leaves , or pruning the trees , it must bee our principall care that they be intirely beared● the omission of which , by not taking all the leaves off , turnes back the liberallity of the repeating spring . this observation hath been grounded upon practise , made so successefull by experience , that it hath been found , that trees after such culture and disleaving , have within a month attired themselves with such a new border of leaves , that the former imbalding them hath been imperceptible . which induces me to believe a former assertion , that it is possible to have a second silke harvest by this meanes , and why not equall with the first , i know not , since the seed is more youthfull and vigorous then that of the yeare preceding growne feeble by its continuance . the raines if they fall about the time this noble creature drawes unto her perfection and period , is by much more strangely prejudiciall , then when they are in the greatest of their feeding , the wet leaves occasioning them many desperate diseases : the usuall way of prevention is to have a provision of leaves before hand , when there is any jealousie of rainy weather ; but this provision must be laid in a cleane dry place which is fresh aired , and th●t w● may remove all dangers of contracting too much heat , to be turned o●ten , which course , although the raine should not oppr●sse us , yet is it of great conveniency , not so much out of apprehension ●o be necessitated● as for the quality of the food , it being much better after fourteen or fifteen houres resting in a place cleane and drie , then when fresh from the tree . but if you are surprized by an unexpected season of wet , take those mulberries which you intend to ●op the next yeare , ( and the mulberry would be lop'd every ten or twelve yeare , which revives and strengthens the tree with a new youth ) and ●ut their branches which hung up in a drie corner , either of your house or barne , or any other coverture in airy places , will soone have their leaves drie , better condition'd , and of more efficacy then any leaves set to a fire , which is too suddaine , or to winnowing by a winde artificiall and unnaturall . the mulberries chiefe profit consisting in the leafe , we must be carefull to lose nothing of this revenue ; which considered , wee should delay the disheading or lopping of them till the wormes have done feeding , which would be about the latter end of may , or the beginning of iune● and alt●ough by the disbranching of them in such a season , we cannot expect such l●rge returning shoots as those which were cut in february or march , the distance of time being materiall in their growth , yet the profit of the leaves being double , very well answer such in●quality . the mulberry being of so ●ranke and plyable a disposition● that notwithstanding its amp●●ation in unseasonable moone and w●ather , no injuries shall hinder him from regermination . yet are not these advantag●s ( no necessity obstructing them ) to be omitted by any which are not enemies to their owne profit . the mulberries in the increase of the moone pou●ed , or lopt , bring forth their young shoots long without spread●ng bra●ches ; in the wane short , with many little branches crossi●g the principall . to reco●cile this ( the election of the time being i● our power ) the mulberries seated in leane grou●ds , are ●ost properly disheaded in the new moone : those whic● are pl●nted in ●ich ground , in the last quarter ; so will those in the leane soyle emit shoots as long as the barrenn●ss● of the place will afford them : and those of the fa●●er , th●ough the benefit of thei● seat , co●veniently ●●gaine that which they would not easi●y have done , cu● in the inc●●ase● fo● those aspi●ing branches , we●e they not r●st●ai●●d by the counte● shoots who participate with them in nou●●●hme●t would by reason of thei● unweldy length , be fo●ced to b●nd downew●●ds to the deforming of the tree f●om the shape of a muiberry into that of a palme-tree , which is not to bee feared in the rest , by reason of the leanenesse of the ground , forbidding all abundance of shooting : wee have provided for the feeding of this little and great artificer , let us now expresse an equall care in his lodging . the lodging of the silke wormes . t is a vanity to expect emolument from this mysterious creature , if wee sort him not with a lodging proper and agreeable to his nature , who c●n with no lesse disprofit bee ill accommodated in his habitation , then in his nourishment ; who to show a particular affinity with the noblest of creatures , man , makes his affection of habitation equall to his . spaciousnesse , pleasure , healthfu●lness , distance from off●nsive vapours , damps and humidities , warmth in the extreames ●f colds , coolenesse in the extreames of warmth . wh●t ever wee naturally desire and abhorre , does this creature by the prosperity or i●f●licity of his labou●● show a most experimentall r●s●ntment ●f his ●tation there●ore ●ust bee i● the meane twixt the top and bottom● of a foundation , the first being too much obnoxious to h●ats or wi●des , the second to colds and d●mps . the platforme ther●fore of your building his station must be so contrived , as to have his basis three or foure foot above the g●ound , nor ascending within an e●●●ll distanc● of the til●s . a fab●ick ( saith de serres ) of seven fathome in length , three in breadth , and two in height , will entertaine with ease the worm●s enlivened from ten ounces of seed : this pr●portion may be raised acco●ding to your seed . in virgin●a these may be of very sudden erection ; nature hath furni●h●d ●hat excellent countrey with materials , to invite all who have the desire to attempt it . th●t the aire a●d winde ( if coole and dry ) may have free passage to refresh these laborious spinners , who near upon the perfection of their worke are upo● the point of stifling● ( the season , and th●●bund●●ce of 〈◊〉 silke wherewith they are filled , both coop●rating ther●u●to ) w●e must h●ve windowes opening to all angles to receive u●susp●●ted inf●igi●●tions in extreamiti●s of heat , and wa●m●ng transpiratio●s in immod●●ate colds ; y●t with this proviso , that these windowes bee fit not onely to receive any favourable aire , but to expell all noxious vapou●s ; and because this creature loveth any thing that is white and luminous , it will sort excellently well with his disposition and safety , to p●rget or plaster the inside of the house very well and smooth , bo●h to satisfie the eye and preserve him from the danger of rats , which cannot clime up such a wall , though a principall care ought to bee used that the severall stations on which they are lodged , bee remote from all fixures to walls , which might give rats and mice advantage . to build the s●affolds containing these wormes : many pillers of carpenters worke di●ectly squared , shall bee pe●pendicularly erected , from the ground to the seeling , to support the tables which crossing the pillars upon little joynts sixteene inches di●tant one from the other ( exc●pt that from the g●ound which must bee inches . ) upon these tables doe wee l●y our wormes● but their boards must not bee equall in breadth , ev●ry table as it exceeds in height , being to bee narrower then the next below by foure inches , and the highest approaching the ●eeling to bee narrowest of all . this pyramidicall forme is of most beau●y and safety to the wormes ; when wandring upon the edges from one end of the scaffold to another , seeking a fit place ●o ●omi● their ●ilke , they fall in such a precipice from the higher scaffold to the ground , that they break themselves in pieces : but by this means fal●ing but from one scaffold to another , the smallnesse of the distance contributes to their preservation . the breadth of the most low●st table shall bee limited even to this proportion , that easily of one side a man with his hand may reach the middle to a●tend the wormes ; as for the ascending scaffolds their continuall diminution makes the serving of them of greater easinesse . a roome of any capacity will admit severall of these scaffolds ( distinct from the wall for reason before recited of rats ) and also that the attender may come on either side of the scaffold , such space being alwayes to bee left betweene their position . these scaffo●ds must bee made of an unsuspected fi●menesse , to prev●nt the falling downe of a●y ●art of it , or the whole either by the ladder which the keeper ascends , or the weight of the worms themselves , when once growne great and hea●y . to ascend these sc●ffolds , some make boards about the● , ●s it were by galleries● others have their getting up to them by little staires appropriated to this ; others by formes . i approve of none more co●venient then a light ladder which fits all , and poss●sses but one place . the timber fitt●st to employ in the tablure of this scaffolding is usually firre or such light wood : in virginia● i apprehend none fitter then cedar or cypresse , because o● their delicious odours . wee h●ve already spoken of such meanes as may refresh the overheated worme ; r●sts now to d●liver an experiment to wa●me the aire , this creature b●ing no l●s●e enemy to cold in the beginning of his apprentissage , then to hea●e when ●ee is ready to goe out ●f this w●●ld m●st●r workeman . aft●r ●aving built your house for worm● ; let there be a hole pierced through your wall , where you must make an oven , the mou●h whereof must be on the o●● side of the hous● then before you make it off , take pots like flower pots , but such a● will indure the fire● and lay them with the mouth side of these pots tending inwards towards the house● and the bottome within the oven , lay these ●●u● sidelong at an equall distance● and work● up the oven with the po●● incorporate ther●unto . this done you may make a fire in the oven , which by the benefit of the pots conv●y●s a●l the heate to you without any inconvenience of smoake . to make this heate the more agreeable to the wo●mes , and to keepe the house in a temperate and inoffensive warmth , you may put into these 〈◊〉 branches of rosemary , time , roses , juniper , &c. this figure ●heweth the order for ●●nking the t●bl●s on ●●e se●ffolds , to lay the l●aves on , for feeding the wormes . this figure sheweth how to place the rods , betweene the tables , for the wormes to climbe up , and spin their silke . this figure representeth the engine , to wind off the silk from the cods , w●●h furnaces and cawlderns necessary thereto . t●●● f●●ure ●our●ra●●s the cods , with the butterflie● come forth of them , ●o l●y ●heir e●g● upon black s●●g● , chamlet , ●ammy , or such like ●●●ffe , as in this treatise is shewed . the election and use of the seed of the silke-worme . there is a great deale of reason , that we should be curious in the election of ou●●eed ; and t is not more poetick then philosophick , that of horace : est in juvencis est in equis patrum , virsu● nec imbellem feroces progenerant aquilam columbae . what can we expect of generosity in that which has a disposition to degenerate before produced : of all the seeds proper for the vivifying this animall , there is none more exc●llent , as yet a●rived to our knowledge , then that of spaine : this de serres●ffirmeth , though he seeme to be in a kinde of haesitation , whether that of calabria march not in a higher degree of reputation , as yielding more abundance , and of equall hardn●sse with the cod of spaine ; yet this is certaine in nature and reason , that seed transported in●o other colder regions , can no way lay claime to a parity of ●hriving with that continued in its owne climate ; and i doubt not but if the south of virginia , where the silke-worme is a●o●iginally native , were duely inquired after , the seed of that would have a particular excellency , to which all the europaean na●ions must give the glory , the right hand of preheminence . but leaving this to the scrutiny which shall be made by time , and experience , we must grant the prim● opinion to the sp●nish , which however it thrive in france for foure yeares● yet afterwa●ds it degenerates extreamely , so that it must every foure yeares be renew'd , for within that circle it suffe●s a m●nif●st d●clension in goodnesse . comming from spaine it is of a dark taw●y colour , after certaine generations , gray . to prove whether the seed b● dead or not , you must expe●iment it upon your naile , that which breaks in cr●cking , c●sting forth ●umor and moisture , you may ●ssuredly ●steem for good , the other is to be rejected . the smalln●s●● of the sp●nish se●d incr●as●s the number of wormes , for which it deserves ● p●rticular p●ae●ation . no seed of above a yeare old is any fu●ther profitable , till you put them to ha●ch , you may preserve them in boxes thrust amongst wo●llen cl●athes in a trunke or chest , and let the chamber where such trunkes or chests are , be now and then aired with a fire , to the intent they being rather warme then cold , may be praedisposed for a hasty production when the season of the yeare shall invite you to put into practise . to imbibe or steep the seed of silke-wormes in the most generous wine you can procure , is an experiment that hath alwayes answered with a happy successe ; for this not onely discriminates betwixt the good and bad , ( the good alwaies subsiding , and the other floating ) but addes legitimation and strength to the approved ones , making them come forth free and fortified , and causeth them to hatch almost all at one time . after the good are taken out , they must be set to drie in the sunne , or before the fire , layd upon very clean paper , covered with white linnen , or smooth paper , lest the ●eat might bring it prejudice . the vivification of the seed . the spring being come , and the mulberries budding , it will be seasonable to put them to hatching , which ( all other wayes ●mitted , as the keeping them in a boxe , in ones pocket , between a womans brea●●s , &c. ) sorts b●● with reason and convenience , performed thus , viz. that the seed removed from its first vessell , shall b● committed into a box lined with cotton , over which you must put a white paper , which must seperate the seed from the cotton , then cover the seeds ( being not above halfe an inch thick ) with a little bed of sow , over which tow you are to lay a paper pierced very thick with small holes , much about the bignes●e of the tag of a point ; over this paper you shall lay some mulberry leaves . and this is the preparative to hatch them . to bring them forth , lay your boxe so prepared between two pillowes , which moderately warmed with a pan every two houres , and after the first three and foure dayes visiting the box at every such warming , to the end to seperate such as you shall see hatched , who will not faile to creep through the tow , and pierced paper to the mulberry leaves , to which they will cleave : which to remove , you must draw them out of the boxe by taking hold of the mulberry leaves with a needle , and removing them and the wormes adherent into a bigger boxe or si●ve ; with paper at the bottomes , distinguish those of a hasty production from those of a more slow , that the worke may arise more equall . these thus brought forth must by gradations be accustomed to indure the coolenesse of the spring , diminishing dayly something from his accidentall warmnesse : the first foure daies let them in the sieve covered with cleane linnen continue upon the bed , the curtaines closely drawne , then removed into a warme chamber , close from all penetrations , layd upon ranks close together , that they may give and receive mutuall warmth , allowing them a larger proportion of roome , as they increase in bo●y . but the most assured way to preserve the wormes untill their second change in warmth and security from vermine , dust , or other hostilities of nature , is by a great presse or cubbord made with many stages , pargetted or pasted for the agreeablenesse of the odout with oxe dung , made of firre , or mats , and to draw out at will seperately , equally distant foure inches , compassed round about with linnen tackt to the doores , with paper w●ndowes on the sides and formost doore , to admit or exclude aire after the exigency of the occa●ion ; and h●ere vacant places being left at first to enlarge them , as they increase in growth may they bee distinguished according to the dates of their first appearance upon the mulberry , rejecting all that seed , which is not enlivened before the fifth day● as unprofitable for working by confu●ion of times , and uselesse by their weaknesse . foure times doth this excellent artist change his skinne , which is the cause of his so many sicknesses . the first sicknesse arriving within eight dayes from the beginning of his life , is knowne by these symptomes ; the head growes bigge and white , and hee ●●des himselfe under the leaves : to administer any food were needlesse ; but that they are not all sick at one instant , so that some must bee given to nourish th●m which have not arrived to , or past over their sicknesse , which you shall know by their change of colour and creeping upon fresh leaves . the second sicknesse arising within eight dayes , or thereabouts , ●rom thence is knowne by the same accidentalls , and must have the s●me appl●cations , onely now they would bee removed into new , cleane , and more spacious places : the third is in all like the two o●her , though something more dangerous ; heere you must carefully prevent the accession of all cold ayres whatsoever : it may happen that some of these wormes may grow yellow , which is almost incurable in themselves , and deadly contagious to all the rest ; th●se must bee carefully selected from the rest and ejected . remove , enlarge & cleanse as before . eight or ten dayes after appears the . change or sicknes● & now the recovered wor●● being increased to their full growth , must be removed , enlarged , & cleansed , as before . at appoynted houres morning and evening must this worme bee f●d from their hatching to their fi●st change or sickness● ; from the second chang● to the third or fourth , they must bee fed three times the day at the l●●st , taking this for an assured max●me , that after the recovery from their last siknesse , the very cloying of them with leaves even to the satiety of their ●ppetite , accelerates th●● to the perfection of their taske ; for these curious v●ssells will the sooner discharge themselves of their precious inclosed substance , by how much they are the sooner replenished . nor is there any p●odigall improvidence in this ; for it hath beene observed that worm●s have eaten neare as much in eight dayes when more sparingly distributed , as in foure when liberally handed to them ; so that by such wary disp●nsa●ion they save no leaves , and lose foure dayes in point of time . but a particular eye of care must bee had to the quality of the leav●s you feede with . no goodn●sse of a selected tree being capable to secure it selfe against ●ccidentall diseases arising from the unnaturalinesse of se●sons , whe●ein by extreames of drought or moisture mildewes , heat drops , and other distempers , all the leaves oftentimes becomming yellowish , spotted , or speckled , declare the nature of that food highly unwholesome and pernicicus : such as grow out of the ●unne in the interior umbragious parts of thick trees are almost as dangerous : nor are the leaves of the second spring which shoot afresh on trees already disleaved of lesse guilt , through the inequality of their ages . one banquet of those gives the last repast that your wormes shall have neede of , a ●iuxe thence arising killing them , and easing you of further trouble , if you ●●count it so to be vigilant over your own● pro●it . the most agreeable to all wormes is to bee fed with leaves of their owne age , and by this the feeble creatur● shall meete with tender leaves , then growne strong with leaves , fu●l growne correspondent to bo●h their complexions . the fault of the wet leaves may bee corrected by patience , attending the serener season ; but of dry leaves you ought at no time ( if you regard your owne profi● with a sober p●ovidence ) to bee unprovided , and the way how to prep●re hath beene already delivered in this treatise . t●●s● preciou● creatures exact no great expence or laborious care during the first three or foure weekes , being satisfied with little , as most agreeeble to the tendern●ss● and smalln●●s● of bodies , and are very w●ll entertained with the leaves of the ●uccours or other branches , from whence for the profit of the tree one should n●c●s●●rily cu● th●m . at the beginning we go to gather leaves with h●nkerchiefs , then with little baskets , la●tly with sacks & maunds , as growing to a bignesse to require it , and a p●rfection to discern it . that the gathere●s of these leav●s sho●ld handle them with pure and washt hands , wee have already decla●ed absolutely necessary : but the governour of these chast and magnificent ●reatures must bee master of an exact purity . the smell of tobacco is deadly to them : let his observance forbeare it : let him have a watchfull eye , that none of an offensive smell approach them ; all ill breathings upon them● whether contracted by fu●some foode or nature make this innocently noble creature expresse her resentment by her owne death , or sicknesse let him pu●ifie the rankn●sse of his owne breath ( when fasting ) with good wine ere he approach them , with the odour whereof the worme is highly cherish●d . let the lodging be swept ev●ry day , and pr●served so by sp●inkling the flou●e with vinegar , and afterwards strawing it with lav●nder , spike , rosemary , time , and such like of well comforting odours . to these we may sometimes adde a perfume composed of frankincense , benioin , storax , and other quickning aromaticks burned in the lodging . let the tables be often made cleane and shifted , by often , i meane eve●y ●●●rd o● fourth day at the furth●st , at which time the litter begins to bee offensive to this curio●s natured creature ; especially with the increase of the heate , let his diligence increase , that no uncleanesse ( at that time more then ordinary maligne ) cut him from the benefit of his labours . the litter must not bee taken away by degrees to the trouble of our curious creature , but all at once ; which may bee effected , if you leave at the end of each scaffold an empty station to place the adjoyning wormes on , whose left station being made cleane is fitted for the next neighbourhood , and thus may all bee removed and shifted by degrees , and a vacant table at the other end of the scaffold r●maines to begin againe ( as afore ) within two , three , or foure dayes at the longest . and thus without carrying far , the wormes shall bee removed with ease and security , not once laying the finger upon their tender bodies ; for giving them fres● leaves at the time of their replacing , the worme will fasten to the leafe , and the leafe may bee removed with his precious burthen , with no lesse safety then convenience . it will bee requisite to dispose the tables in such a fashion that they may bee seperately taken from the scaffold like tills out of drawers ; for this the easiest and lesse nocent way of cleansing , as preventing the falling of any stench upon the lower tables● and by which they are more suddenly discharged of their filth and ordure , meerely by striking them gently on the floore , which done , let them bee swept and brushed perfectly well ; let the tables on which you put your wormes after their first sicknesse bee sprinkled with vinegar or wine , then rubbed over with sweete hearbes to delight and encourage them to labour . some have made tryall , which hath succe●ded happily of the smell of garlick and onions to refresh them ; i dare not absolutely assent to this experiment ; but it is cleare as sunne-shine , that the worme not onely rejoyces in agreeable odours , but is succoured thereby in his greatest maladies : of which we now intend to discourse . the causes of extraordinary maladies in wormes , and their c●re . the extreames of colds and heates , the too sparing , or too abundant administration of victualls in their severall ages , and a maligne disposition of the leaves are the principle causes of all extraordinary maladies which afflict this creature . if the inclemency of cold hath benummed or diseased this innocent artist , the stove or oven formerly mentioned will recover it ( the stopping of all windowes , and other admi●sories of aire cooperating : ) to the greater complement of the cure , let the lodging bee perfumed with redolent gummes , with wine , strong vinegar , or aqua vitae● if on the contrary , the torrid violence of heate have wasted the strength of this suddaine and excellent spinner : the fresh aire admitted at the doores and windowes some brave artificiall fannes or ventalls to raise this breath , if too little , or at the last the exposing them upon their t●bles out of their lodgings to enjoy an uncontrouled and liberall communion of the aire , some halfe an houre before s●nne rising are the proper meanes of their recovery . those which by a wastfull liberality of their keeper in the tendernesse of their age have injured themselves with over feeding , must bee cured by a two dayes abstin●nce , and for some two succeeding dayes di●ted with a moderation . those who famished by the negligence of their keeper are almost languishing to death , must bee restored by giving them meate in slender proportion , but frequently repeated , by such a dyet regaining their forfeited appetite . those which by having fed on yellow spotted , or too yong leav●s have contracted a fluxe , and f●om thence a jaundice and spotted colour , accompanied with black bruisings , must upon the first inspection bee immediately removed into seperate chambers , that the change of ayre and dyet may labour for their almost desperate cure , and to prevent a contagion , which from thence would universally domineere . but s●ch wormes which as ●n accession to this last disease you should behold bathed on the belly by a certain humour flowing in that part of their bodies , are as incurable , good for nothing but to repast your poultry . indeed excepting this last inexpugnable malady perfumes and change of chambers are generally conducing to overcome all diseases and to res●ore a new health and vigour . but this noble creature is by nature sufficiently priviledged from these diseases , if the unskilfullnesse or negligence of the keeper did not violate this priviledge , and by that violation increase his owne trouble . nor is this care of the keeper to bee onely limited to the day , the night too must require a part of his vigilance ; mice and rats then take advantage , and grieved that any creature should labour for man without their participation or obstruction devoure them by troop●s , and the cat her selfe enters in●o a league with these her usuall prey● to prey upon these poore things , whose in●ocency and excellency makes them the more obnoxious to their cruell avarice . to remedy this , the house must not bee without contin●all lampes , bells , and other vaine terr●u●s to aff●ight them : the keeper himselfe also , or his depu●y must frequently walke round about his little army . and le●t the oyle ( which occasions divers indispositions , if it fall ●ut in a drop upon these nice artists ) might bee p●ejudiciall , the lamp●s should bee aff●●●d on the wall , and the portable lig●ts with which hee visits his curious charge of waxe , tallow , firre tree , or any other of innoxious , but illuminative substance . these things well observed , within se●ven or eight dayes at the most , succeeding their four●h and last exuviall sickness● ; the wormes dispose themselves to pay the exp●nce of their diet. t● make prepa●ation for them , there must bee accommodations of ●ods necessary for these wormes ●o c●me up to vomit their silke , and fasten their w●bs by . to ass●mble these wormes ( the terme assigned to this worke ) the most proper matters are rosemary , cutting of vines sho●ts , of chestn●ts , o●es osiers , sallow●s , elmes ashes , and in gen●rall of all flexible shrubs , not having a●y disagreeing od●ur . the feet of these rods ●v●n●d for the better fixure shall bee joyned at inches distant to the table below , and the tops of them ●rched together at that above . w●ich epitomall amphitheater is maste● of as much beauty a● those of the caesars in the great●●t volume of their lustre and magnificence ; the ●pper part of the arch must bee plenti●ully interwoven with sprigs of lavender , spike , thyme , and shrubs delectable to the smell . by this intermixture the wormes shall have ample satisfaction to their restlesse curio●ity , where firmly to fasten their rich matter , having an election of such delectation of perfumes , & variety of shoots : but these twigs must by no means be green , the moisture extreamly offending the cattell , and not suddenly withering , if the aire be moyst . the wormes being removed to these amphitheatrall trophies , you may easily discover their gratefull inclination to spinne , by their bignesse of body , brightn●sse , and clearenesse of belly and neck , neglect of meat , and irregular wandring through the troope ; and a little after to fulfill these promises they ascend their branche● to vomit , or rather spinne out their silky substance . here you must diminish their ordinary , dayly , for they will in short time have united themselves to those shoots or twigs , quite forsaking the table . those wormes which clime not before the others union to the branches , are of a latter hatching ; and to prevent all ●nseasonable intertextures in generall , to the retarding and perishing of the whole worke , must be assembled two other tables arched as these , that they may worke together at one time . the knowledge ( when these wormes have perfected their cod● or bottoms ) may be obtained by an eare that is but the leastwaies curious , these creatures making both a pleasant humming in feeding and continuing it in fashioning their bottoms , give that noise and their compleated worke over both together . that which falls next is the propagation of the seed to be preserved till the next harvest . the propagation of the silke-worme seed . happy creature , which livest onely to doe mankinde service , and dyest when thou hast accomplished it ! miracle of n●ture ! a worme shut up in his owne monument , breakes through his silky grave , transformed into a butterflye ! employes ten dayes to erect himselfe a sepulchre , and an equall proportion of time to leave it ! disimprisoning himselfe from his owne interment , by perforation of his bottome , he returnes to the view of mankinde in the figure of a butterflye , with wings , as if he had already tryumph'd over his mortality ; which done , he and his co-triumphall females , coupling together perpetuate their species by dissolution of their bodies ; and that which compleats the miracle , may arise from the long abstinence of this living three and twenty dayes imprisoned without any sustenance or fruition of that which he takes a particular delight in , day light . removing your branches from the tables , and your silke-balls or bottomes from the branches dayes after the worke is perfected , the balls are then to be made election of , for such seed as you wil preserve for the year following . bono●ill , & de serres do both agree that there should be proportioned balls for one ounce of seed , he balls male and female ( the description of which hereafter . ) but whereas bon●●ill is of opinion that a hundred double or trebble bottomes which two or three wormes have spunne and made up in common , will produce so many wormes as bottom● : i demand his pardon if i accede rather to the judgement of de serres : for from every double or triple bottome there come● forth but one butterflye , though it hath more within : the reason is , it being not probable that they should be all ripe together , that which is most mature by perforation of the balls , exposes the other to the assault of the aire , which giving them cold , they dye imperfect . to distinguish the sexes . the male of the worme , when grown great , is knowne from the female , by a wrinkled head , and a great appearance of eyes ; the female hath the head round without any such appearance . in the bottomes of balls the male is knowne , as having work'd himselfe into a bottome , long , slender , and by much sharper at one end then the other : the bottomes of the female are bigger , softer , round at one end , halfe poynted at the other . the sex in those butterflyes is thus distinguished : the male is lesser of body then the female , stirring the wings more often and more strongly . selecting then two hundred bottomes ( male & female included in the number ) you must passe a thread through the first and outward downe , called the sleave of the ball ( using a wary hand that you pierce not into the silke , lest the cold getting in you should quite abortive your wormes ) of which you must make severall connexions composed of an equall number of both sexes ; these ( to prevent rats and mice ) must be hang'd upon some hooke in a chamber of middle temper , but something inclining to coolenesse , yet however not subject to moysture , that the butterflyes may come out with the more facility , having pierced through their confinement , though nature her selfe infuses in them disposed applications to finde out their opposite sexes , it will be necessary to couple such as yet are disjoyned : all which , after you shall perceive them in conjuncture , must bee set either upon say , piropus , tammey , chamlet , the backside of old velvet , ( in generall vpon any stuffe which has no woolly downe , wherein the graine may be lost , or where it may get betweene the threads , as is linnen ) hang'd upon the wall close by their balls , or in defect of such stuffe , take walnut-tree leaves one handfull , or more as you shall see occasion , tye them by dozens backsides together , hang them at severall nailes or pinnes , and set the coupled buterflies thereon . take the chamlet , or other stuffes , receiving the seed , and rub it gently between your hands , and the seed will come out with great facility . the principall time of the butterflyes issuing out from the cod , is in the morning about eight of the clock : the seed collected must be put into a boxe very cleane pasted with paper , to exclude all aire or dust , kept in a chest in a drye temperate place where it may be preserved till the spring following , avoyding to make any continuall fires in such chambers , lest the warmth untimely hatch the wormes , which being brought forth at such a season must perish for want of food . the spaniard takes commonly the double and triple balls for seed , not that he conceites every double ball should produce two butterflyes , or which is a conceit of more fondnesse , male and female ; but because the multiplicity of creatures spinning their silk in common , make the worke so confused that they cannot well winde it off , which makes them be put in the ranke of the pierced ones for sleave , and i must ingeniously acknowledge my self to accede to his opinion ; for these double and triple balls are not unapt for this purpose , since they commonly , as de serres observes , come rather from a lustinesse and supplenesse of the worme , then any naturall debility : which sure are so much fitter to bee culled out , that the best balls may bee made into silke , which will easily winde , and the seede of these which is fully as proper for seed , but lesse apt for silke : neither doe i know why they should not bee preferred , since the spanish seed proceeding from these double and triple balls carries a particular preheminence above the rest ; which if wee shall make use of , the use is the same with others , except that they must bee clipped at the smaller end with the poynt of a paire of scissors , with a regard that you cut not cleane through the bottome , which would by admission of wind destroy the worm , and this they doe that the butterflies , if more then one , may finde an easie passage ; the best bottomes ( if you will preserve them ) for graine , are great , hard , weighty , and of carnation or flesh colour . the balls preserved for seed being made choice of , the next thing wee are to fall upon is , how to winde off the bottomes designed for silke : which would bee of much more advantage for purity and plenty of silke , and facility of labour , if they could immediately bee wound off . the silke so freshly taken unwinding without any losse or violence : but this delayed , the gumme , by which the worme fastens her threads becomming dry , doth so harden the bottome , that without difficulty and losse , the winding cannot bee accomplished . this expeditious winding prevents the enclosed worme of her full metamorphose into a butterflye , and the bottome from perforation : but then where shall wee finde so many workemen if the designe were generall , as could in seven or eight dayes winde off so many millions of bottomes ? not excluding therefore such as can have that conveniency , the next best course to kill the butterflyes in those bottomes which wee cannot winde off , is by exposing and laying them in the sunne , the heate of which in its owne worke stifles this creature : but let this bee two or three dayes successively ( not all at one exposure , lest your silke be burned instead of stifling its spinner ) two houres before , and two houres afternoone each day respectively . let the bottomes , spread upon sheets , be turned often , that the heate may destroy equally , no one excepted from this sharpe insolation ; but this must not bee done with a rude hand , which instead of turning them may bruise the worme , the slimy matter of whose body , being thus bruised , is very prejudiciall both for staining the silke , and gluing it so together , that no artist can ever unwinde them . removing them ther●fore oftentimes during such sunning with a gentle hand , wrap them thus warmed in sheets , and let them lye in a fr●sh dry chamber . but if the sunne should faile , an oven of such moderate heate a● is usuall after two houres drawing the bread , or heated to such a degree of wa●mth ( laying it over with boards , and the bottomes in sacks upon those boards , there remaining each time an houre and a halfe , repeating it till your experience by opening the most suspected bottome finde the inclosed worme consumed ) will bee of equall operation . but that which is the best and least practised course is this : take your bottomes , and fill such a furnace or copper as your brewers use , halfe full of water : within three fingers breadth of this boyling water , lay a lid or planke or board within the copper , bored through as thick with holes as a cullender , and so fit to the side of the furnace , that it by no meanes may sinke into the water : upon this cover lay a thin carpet of darnix or the like , and upon the carpet the silke bottomes , which must bee often stirred , with care not to use too much violence . the mouth of the copper , except when you stir the bottomes , must bee constantly covered , that the heate may smother the wo●mes : your wormes being dead , lay your bottomes in some roome , where there is aire to dry their moysture . this is an assured ( though not vulgar ) experiment , and by it your silke becomes as easie in the winding , and as pure in colour and substance , as if it had beene spunne the same moment the worme had given it perfection . to wind●●ff the silke fr●m the cod , or b●ttome . the winding off the ●ilke from the cod or bottome , is thus effected : fill a caldron full of very faire water● and s●t it upon a furnace , heate it to such a degree that the wate● becomes bubbled , as though there were small pearles in the middle , being ready to seeth ; then cast in your cods ' or bottomes , still stirring them up and downe with broom● or other small bushes , if yo● shall see that the heate is not capable to make your bottomes winde , augment your fire , otherwise abate it . the bottomes winding the threads will take hold of the broome or brushes ; draw those threads so affixed the length of halfe a yard and more out with your fingers , till all the grossenesse of the bottome bee wound off , which cutting off and laying aside , take all the threads of your bottomes united into one and according to the bignesse of thread you intend to make ( as whether sowing or stitching ) chose the number , not letting the other threads fall into the water againe , which must bee reserved to succeede ) which you must runne through an wyer ring , appoynted for to ranke the threads which ( as you shall see in the draught or picture , ) must be fastened upon the fore part of a piece of wood set directly upon a forme before the round or circle , which wee call a bobin , in the top of which piece in a little space that there is , are fastned two bobin● , distant from one another two fingers ; from this wyer ●ing the thread must bee drawne and crossed upon the bobins , whose onely use there is to twist the silke through a ring which is fastned in the middest of a staffe ; above the bobins you must continue the draught of your thread ; this staffe which moves with the wheele is called a lincet set a crosse beneath the wheeles , from that ring you must fasten your thread upon the wheele it selfe , which must bee still turned till the skeyne of silke bee wound up , the representation see in the next figure . observe , when any thread disconti●ues , his bottome being wound off , to repaire your number from another bottome , this you shall perceive when your full number of bottomes stir not altogether . bee sure that you artificially cut the knots which will bee in your threads , that your silke may bee more pure and uniforme . those which cast gumme arabick in the water under pretence to make the silke winde more p●re and glossey , are but impostours , it being a meere cheate to make the silke weigh the heavier . basins , or caldrons , wherein you p●t your bottoms to winde , if of lead re●tore the silke more pure then those of copper , this mettall being subject to a rubiginous quality , from which lead is wh●ly exe●pt . let the wheeles be large for the better speeding of the worke , that two skeines may be wound off together . that the fire of the furnace may be pure , and without smoake , let it be made of charcoale . the difficulty of their winding may be mollified by sope , put in the basin or caldron ; the old cods or bottoms hardened by time , will have the naturall gumme which glues their threads dissolved , and the silke come off much more easie . those bottomes of silke preserved for seed , and pierced by the butterflyes , may be made of good use , if washing them in water you throwe them into a caldron ready to boyle , with sope in it , which must be dissolved before the bottomes are cast in : thus let them boyle a quarter of an houre , or thereabouts , which done , take them out , wash them in cleane water and d●ye them● being dyed you must beat them with a round st●ffe of a good bignesse upon a stone or some block which is better , which will make them become white , and smooth as wooll . the way to spinne them after is this . they must with the fingers be pul'd one from one another , and opened as wooll uses to be in such preparations , let it then bee put on a distaffe and spunne as small as you can , or please . treatise of the vine . that the use of the vine is really intended by nature for virginia , those infinite s●ore of grapes which crowne the forehead of that happy country are so many speaking testimonies : but what fate hath hitheto diverted our english there inhabiting from the publick undertaking a commodity of so inestimable benefit , i doe not say for a publick staple ( though it would bee as rich as any other one species of traffick whatsoever ) but even from private vineyards , where they might sit under their owne vine , drinke of their owne grapes , satisfie even the most irregular desire of their , voluptuous appetites , and all this de suo , without entring into the merchants book●s for wines , peradventure adulterate , without paying the sweat of their browes for the exudation of the grape , i dare not determinately judge , lest i might bee forced to ascribe it either to a strange nonchalency or sluggishnesse to their owne prof●● , or which is worse an inveterate contempt of all other wayes of improvement ( of what ever returne ) in comparison of fume of tobacco . but that they may not bee ignorant of the profit of the vine , they will bee pleased to know that the vine requires ( once planted ) little more labour then the hoppe . to attend upon foure acrees of hops is the ordinary undertaking of one man in england , who besides this , neglects not many other labours . if one man in virginia bee not sufficient to doe as much as another in england , ● shall either imagine him to bee lame or idle ; nor let them o●j●ct to me the heat of the countrey ; if the mid-dayes be hotter , the mornings are much colder , and the labourer in virginia hath this advantage of being full of bread to ●atie●y , whereas oftentimes the hireling in england having a family to feed , and sometimes no imployment , comes to worke with a famish'd body , and courage , lives meerly de die in diem , with as little hopes of ever changing the copy of his fortune , as renewing the lease of his cottage with his landlord : those are but leane encouragements . in virginia the meanest servant ( if he have any spirit ) is still in expectation of improving his condition , and without any presumption may cherish his hopes , which promise him ( his time expired ) a present happinesse and future possibility of a fortune equall , if not outgoing his master , the encouragement being greater , the care lesse , and his provisionall subsistence by much better : why the laborer in virginia should not ●e ( i do not say superiour ) but equall in strength of body and resolution of minde , to the miserable day-hireling in england , needs an oedipus to unriddle . by this i hope it granted , that the virginian may without any extraordinary efforts of sweat and spirits , labour equally with those of england , and upon this accompt i shall assigne a vignard of four acres to his tillage , an easie taske ; let us compute the profit with the labour , and see what may be the proceed of this ●●●portion well husbanded . that an acre of vines in virginia ( when once growne to perfection ) will yield an equall increase to a common acre of vines in france , there being as great a difference between the soyles as the acres , and much greater ) will i believe be denyed by none , who pretend to modes●y or reason : yet the acre of vines in france , one with another , very few excepted , will yield yearely ten or twelve muyds of wine , a measure containing seventy two gallons ( a very famous frenchman liebault , is my author : ) what the common acre , or arpent , is in france , the same man informes us : an arpent ( the common arpent or acre of france ) is pole in the square , the pole being longer then ours by eighteen inches ; so that one french acre yields three tun of wine and upwards ; our acre being near upon pole more , we doubt not of profit equall . the excellent virginia will pardon me , if for dilucidation of an argument , i make her pure and unexhausted browes descend to weare a gyrlond of fertility equall to that laborious and over-teeming mother , the french kingdome , nay to her common vineyards : yet let us compute the profit arising from the foure acres , being but one mans labour , we shall finde the product even by that estimate , to be twelve tunne of wine , as the recompence of his particular toyle : let us imagine this but at ten pounds the tunne , and the profits of this single person amounts to pounds per annum . here they will object the dearenesse or difficulty of caske ; but this objection must be made by those who know not virginia , where there is such an excellent convenience , and abundance of peculiarly proper timber , that the winter will afford the other labourers together with our vigneron leasure , to cleave pipe-staves sufficient for private use of caske , and to sell to the publique ; one man ( during that little season ) being easily able to make foure thousand . but our acre being a third part bigger , the soyle ½ better , why we may not promise to ou● selves this profit , is an incredulity in england , w●rth a b●and of misunderstanding , in spaine would deserve the inquisition , what soyle is most proper for the vine . hee which will goe to p●ant the vine without the twinne co●sideration of the qualyty of the soyle , and the disposition of the aire , hath much affinity with him who goes to sea without lead or compasse : the one seldome attaines his port , nor the other his harvest . the quality of the ground whereon the vine thrives best , is a fine small mo●ld , of a subsistance rather inclining to a gentle lightnesse , then a churlish stubbornesse : they which would not have it to be very fat , are ignorant that while the vine is yong , the soyle where you plant may be imployed to other tillage , and by such expence of its native richnesse , reduced to that which they commend so highly , mediocrity . but if the fitnesse of the ground transmit a rich and never-failing sap into the nascent vine , making it grow speedy and strongly , if the vine participate of this fatnesse , which it may be they call grossenesse , as desiring to have it more subtile , there is small question to be made , but that this wine so imbodied and fortified by nature , must have extraordinary spirits to preserve it , and that age will have resined all that grossenesse into more pure and noble spirits ; that if transported , the sea will contribute to its melioration : whereas this wine which they call subtile and delicate spirits , if either preserved long or transported far , will with so much applauded subtilty and delicacy lose all his spirits by age and evaporation . scruple therefore at the richnesse of your ground no more then at the ranknesse of your purse ; t is in your power to correct either if there were necessity : let it have the qualities of gentle , easie , fine and light , to be stirred , seated ( if possible ) on the decline of a hill , not neare to any marish ground , nor having any springs gliding through it ; these marish grounds you must avoyd as you would doe levell in a valley . and the reason is , that the vine growing in these parts has a crude and ●ndige●ted bloud , quickly soures , and has neither strength to commend or preserve it , and the frosts in the winter time sinking to his ro●ts , by the moyst passage of his scituation , kills it ; the grapes plumpe and breake , and when as an additionall judgement to your inj●dicious election , a rainy yeare comes to afflict , the kernells breake out , the true juice of the grape accompanying it , and though it fall out that the grape swell againe , yet let not your expectation swell upon it , for instead of good wine proceeding from thence , you will receive nothing but viny water . the gentle , easie , fine , and light ground being the best , does not so wholly arrogate all excellency , as to deny an accession , a neighbourhood of goodnesse to other soyles . the gravelly ground yieldeth wine of a great delicacy , but a small quantity ; besides the infant plants are in danger of being wash'd away in any extraordinary surfeit of raines , such grounds being not able to give them a deep rooting . the like may be said of sandy ground which notwithstanding in some places especially where it is of a nitrous substance , will not yield the palme to any ground o● whatever richnesse ; other grounds may have an enforced richnesse , but because usually all such enfatning compost consists of dung and urine , which spoyle the purity of the vine : if my advice were of any weight , they should never be used for vintage , till necessity commanded my obedience . for the disposition of the aire , as particularly whether inclining to a meridian , or oblique to the south , south-east , or south-west ; if we contemplate the nature of the vine , that it by instinct , prefers places rather hot then cold , drye then moyst ; that it ●areth stormes and tempests , it affecteth a gentle breathing winde , or a serene calme ; we may presently collect that it is neither to be placed open to the north , north-east● nor ( in virginia especially ) to that nursery of storms , the north-west quarters , nor up●n the tops of hills , where it lyes equally assailable to all : the deare place then for the vines imbraces , is a descent , towards , not in a valley ( except never subject to inundation● ) that being sheltred f●om the more blustring domine●rers in the aire , it lye open to the south , south-west , south-east , or any part of the east and west , within the south quarter , for such a gratefull mansion , and acceptable soyle assigned him , doubt not , but he will returne you a rent which shall s●tisfie your most unbounded wishes . but le●t the eye in the option of your vineyard , may impose upon you , considering that every gr●und hath some arcane quali●y which the sight is not able to discover : to make a most certaine experiment , let me propose this way of examen . make a pit in the ground ( where your intentions are to plant ) two foot deep , take a clod of the earth so cast up , powder it , and infuse it in a glasse full of cleare raine-water , do your best to incorporate it with the water by frequent agitation and mixture : let it repose till the subsided earth have made his perfect residence and settlement in the bottome , and the water recovered her native clearenesse ; taste the water , and arrest your judgement upon this , that such a tast as the water delivers to your pallate , will that earth transmit to your wine : if of an inoff●nsive or acceptable relish , you may confidently promise your selfe a wine pure , and consequently ( if the soyle be rich very noble , nor is a salt taste an ill argument : but if it be a bitter aluminous , or su●hury gust , this place is not fit for your planting , you lose your wine and your labour . but virginia has a more certaine assurance ; god and nature have pointed them a soyle ou● with their owne finger ; let them therefore fix their eyes upon those places where either the vine or mulberry grow conjoyn'd , or seperate , and let them assure themselves of the excellency of the soyle , a diffi●ence in this being an affront to nature : yet this caution is to be used that though valleyes are marshy places● may sometime have them by nature , yet their florescence would be much more excellent and healthfull if removed to such a ground as formerly we have made choice of . to make election of plants . curiosity about the choise of your vine plants will commend your husbandry ; let the vine therefore from whence you take your plant be of as little pith as may be , such unpithy vines being both fruitfull and fortified by nature , bearing a remarkable abundance of substantiall grapes and strongly resists the violence of the weather , and of this fertility and firmenesse will your plant also participate . let not the vine you meane to plant from , be above the middle of his strength , or age , and observe ab●ut september th●se which are most laden with grapes , fullest of eyes in their branches , and have been least wounded by the unseasonablenesse of weather . take not a vine growing on a south side to transplant him to a northerne : and set this downe for a principle in nature , that all plants removed to a better scituation and soyle , answer your largest hopes , by their fruitfulnesse : but transplanted to a worse , assure your selfe that without an extraordinary cultivation , there cannot be the least probability of its thriving . let your plant ( if you may with conveniency ) immediatly be planted after its seperation from its originall ; for while it yet retaines any vitall vigour , it will the sooner apply it selfe to the desire of life and nourishment . if your necessity will not admit of this festination , wrap it tenderly in its owne earth ; and when your leisure will permit you to plant it , let it soake some foure or five dayes in water , and ( if possible ) running water : this immerging is a very strong preparative to its sudden taking root . if you apprehend a necessity of keeping him long or transporting him , ( imagine it the cyprian or calabrian grape thus to bee transportable into virginia , ) put him into a close barrell fil'd up with earth ; and that no aire may mortifie him , let both ends of the plant be put into onions or garlick , or ( which is better ) made up with wax , and now and then watred , but not more then to keep the earth from resolving into a dry dust ; for too much moysture might ( instead of preserving him ) make him fructifie , and your plant would become all root . wee have already spoken how we must chuse , but not what we must make choice of : let your plants therefore be of those which grow between the highest and lowest , ( the lowest having too much of earthy juice , and the high●st too little ) let them bee round , smooth , and firme● having many eyes , and about one foot and a halfe of old wood cut off with the new . the manner , and way to ●lan● vines . human curiosity plungeth us in so many unnecessary toils , that it would almost take a person off from necessary labour : look into columella , the countrey farme , the du●ch husbandry and all those supercilious writer● , and you shall see them stand upon such impertinent puntillos ; one while the dependance upon starres benights a man , another while the ground which should produce this or that , must be cast after this forme , or else it will be barren in spight of the bounty of the divine providence . not enumerating therefore all their wayes of planting , i dare lay my life that if the vine were but set on foot in virginia , the ground prepared for it as they doe their tobacco there , by a right line , holes made instead of their hillocks , but larger , deeper , and at greater distance , that there might something grow betwixt them which might be inoffensive to it by nature , and cleare it from being choak'd with weedes , or something drawing a contrary juice , ( peradventure onions and garlick ) or something requiring small nourishment , ( as lupins ) which turn'd into the earth againe ( distance of five foot being left for a plough , with caution not to come too neare the roots , which must be bared with a stowe , the plough running first the length , and then the traverse of those rowes , which therefore must bee lineally straight ) would both fatten the earth , and cultivate the vine all at one moment . yet submitting my selfe to judgements of greater experience then my modesty or natu●e can ever hope for , i shall deliver the severall way of planting the vine , with as much brevity as the matter , and my first resolution rather to contract then inlarge , will permit mee . the first preparing of the earth to receive the vine must bee done in spring or summer , where the ground you digge or cast must bee cleansed from all manner of superfluities whatsoever ; n●mely , roots , weedes , stones , &c. this digging must bee severall times repeated , that the earth by alternate changing its place of top and bottome may bee throughly tempred , the dry refreshed , and the moyst qualified : thus cleansed , cast in into many ●urrowes ( the sides whereof the french call chevaliers or guides , because it should guide you in the planting ) the depth of eighteene inch●s or more ; let the mould cast up above , bee so disposed , that ●t may answer to the depth below . note that these furrowes in a sandy , 〈◊〉 , or wet ground must not bee so hollow as in that which is rough and crabbed : in the bottome of the first you may put stones about the bignes●e of an ordinary brick ( but round ) not bigger , which in the heate of summer refreshes , in violence of raine opens a passage to the water , that it dwell not at the root to rot it . the best season for planting of vines is in october , the moone increasing , the furrowes must bee made in august , that the exposed earth may have time of digestive preparation . if your plant have roots , you must when you plant it cut them of● all , except it bee newly gathered , if it bee a slip or cut , which though it bee not so swift of growth the first yeare , yet is of much longer continuance , you must soake it in water , if it bee possible in running water five or six dayes . hee which plants the vine , the ground thus prepared , and haveing a line with him , that hee may observe a just evennesse and streightnesse , both in the row , and to the opposite plant , that so every foure may make a regular quadrangle , must bow his plant , the bigger end forward one foot into the earth of the ditch , letting first some of the mould from the sides fall into it ; let him tread upon the mould the better to fixe the plant , and with his hand ( the foot still pressing upon that part of the plant which is inearthed ) gently raise or bow the top of the plant that it may grow erect : this done , let him cast some more mould on it , to the thicknesse of six inches , and cut the top of the plant , so as not to leave above three knots or joynts above the earth : let him proceede in planting of the rest , observing the prescribed order : some set two plants together in this order , that if one shou●d faile , the other might recompence the default . if you will have your vine to grow without stakes or props , cut it so , that you let it no : increase above two or three joynts in the yeare , which will make it to stand firme against all stormes , i● but naturally violent . it will bee extreame ill husbandry to plant vines of different kindes or qualities together , such diversity there is in their season of ripenesse ; some preventing your expectation by the suddainenesse of their maturity , others deceiving it by their late ripenesse . wee have spoken of the planting , let us now handle the culture and dresse of it , that his fertility may in some measure requi●e the labour of his impl●nting . the manner of dressing the vine . mid may will bee a season which will best informe you , whether your plants have taken so good root , that it expresses a verdure and germination in his branches ; when therefore the shoot is able to indure dressing , let it bee cut within two or three knots of the old wood , and if any other slips spring from the root , cut them away ( with care however that it wound not the root , or the maine stock , which are wonderfully offended by the too neare approach of any toole that is edged ) that the whole strength of the vine may unite into one common stock or pillar , to support and convey the sap into the permitted branches , of which you may not let any flourish the first yeare of its growth . it is observed , that to cut the vine in the decrease of the moone , makes the fleshy part of the grape of a more substantiall grossenesse and feeding , and is a peculiar remedy for those vines which are given to bee over-ranke with wood : let it bee the care of the vigneron to remoove all obstructions of weedes which uninvited participate of the vines nourishment : the surest way to kill which , is , to turne them in towards the earth , which is not onely a destruction to the thiefe of its moysture , but a r●stitution of the robbery● for the weedes so inverted enrich the ground to the great encouragement of the vine , and the no lesse profit of the vine dressers . let your knife with which you cut your vine bee very sharpe , and let your vine bee cut sloping at one cut , if possible , and not far from the old wood , that the growth of the vine may the more speedily cover the wound . the vines must bee dressed or husbanded ●hree times the yeare , the first culture of it must bee in march , at which time you are to digge about the root three quarters of a foot deep , or thereabouts : the next season must be in april , wherein you must digge about the roote , within a third of the former depth , then you must also prune it by cutting all the branches , and leaving some three knobs or joynts of the new wood in your vine of the first yeares growth , and cutting off all dead or superfluous branch●s of the old , whose permitted branches must also bee pruned , lest they should spend that aliment decreed for the grape in elongation of the branches , all succors also must bee plucked away . in august the like course is to bee used in the wine of the precedent autumne leaving two or three joynts or knobs of new wood : againe the old ones may bee onely digged , if at that time , and at all other times you perceive any dead or wounded branches , you must cut them off something further then the mortification or hurt extends ; and in all prunings let no vine bee cut in the knob or joynt , but in the space betwixt ; there following usually nothing but absolute and irremediable decaying , where they are cut in the articula● knitting● if in aprils dressing , the vine h●ve no branched but onely budded , which is most usuall ( but more especially in march ) you must nip the bud off with your fingers , to the end that the juice which would ascend to hasten the germination , may bee stopped to strengthen and engrosse the store . the third yeare the vine will beare you grapes in these countries , but i am confident that in virginia it wou●d beare at the second ; and this my confidence is grounded upon the hasty perfection all things receive in virginia● by much prec●ding all our neighbour countries . the p●ac●tree arrives not to that viri●ity of growth in eight yeares , in th●s● r●gions , which it obtaines at foure there . the like is verified in apples and cherries : and if it be que●tioned how such men which peradventure b●ing in a necessity , are not able to attend two yea●es for a retu●ne , shall in the meane while subsist : it is easi●y answered● that the intervalls betwixt the dressings of the vines will ●fford space enough for a reasonable crop of tobacco ; and ther● is much mo●e labour in looking to . plants of tobacco then the like number of vines , especially if the intersp●ces be pl●ughed , and ●ow●d with turnips or lupines , which both add● to the fatnesse and unwilding of the ground , and choake up all weeds and grasse which might afflict it . contrariwise , tobacco will admit nothing in the vacant s●aces , and must be perpetually weeded . further , though other vine-masters prescribe the digging about the roots of their plant in august● which is the busie s●●son of inning the tobacco , yet i am driven by divers reasons to wish such culture om●tted at that time of the yeare , since it layes the root by so much the nearer to a violently torrid su● which is so far from cherishing of it , that it burnes it ; by whic● meanes his c●op of tobacco need not at all to be neglected : but these vines steale into such perfection by that time ●hey are arrived at fou●e yeares growth , that twenty thousand plants of tobacco , though sold at pence per pound , ( a great rate in virginia ) will not returne you a like profit , which though it m●y be something sp●ringly believed , yet may be made apparent . for admitting our vines by th●t time of foot high , by their so often cutting of the shoots , nourished u●to a stock strong enough to support it self ; of b●anch●s , by the like tillage , equall in vigour , yield but a gallon of wine per pi●ce , yet here is tun of wine yearely , for yeares together , ( so long will the vine thus husband●d , last fruitfull , and vigorous , if planted with the slip rather then the root ) without any interruption but that which sets bounds and limit to all things , the divine providence in his dispensation of seasons . of the d●seases of vines , and their remedy . before we can justifie our expectations of a good harvest , we must providently foresee and prevent ( as much as in us lies ) such casualties as may make our hope abortive ; let us therefore cast our eye upon such diseases which m●y make the vine unfruitfull , or after the fruit produced , destroy its desired fertility . to prevent the frost from benumming , or absolutely destroying your vines , let there be layd up in divers places heaps of drye du●g , with an i●term●xture of ch●ff● and straw , and when you conjecture the appro●ch of the fro●t , set this combustible stuffe on fire , and the smoake arising from thence will so temper and qu●lifie the aire that your vine for that season will be secured from d●m●n●ge : yet if ( before you have applyed this preventive remedy ) the fruit of your vine be destroyed , cut it off very short , and the strength continuing in the rem●inder will so fortifie it , that the next yeare it will recompence you double in the quantity of your fruit ; for what it hath been rob'd of by the present . to provide against the blasting of your vine : when you perceive it upon the point of budding , cut it as late as may be ; for this late cutting it will make your vine something later● and by consequence , bloss●me or flower at such time as the sunne is ascended to his greatest degree of heat and fervor . to breake off such mists and fogs as are already gathered in the aire , and give probable menaces to fall upon your vines , you must apply your selfe to this remedy : let a smoake round about your vineyard be made with go●ts du●g , kindled and set on fire . such fogges as have outstripped your care and already fallen upon , and endammaged your v●nes , must have the malignity of their vapors taken off , or at least asswaged by irrigation of vines , with the water in which the leaves or roots of wilde cucumbers , or coloquintida have been layd some time to infuse : this must be applied immediatly after the mists . some are of an opinion that bay-trees ( which by the way are dangerously sociable to the vine ) planted round , but not too near the vineyard , wil priviledge the vine from this di●taster , by attracting all the ill disposed mallice of those fogs ●nto it selfe . this till experimented will hardly be worthy beliefe . it is an opinion no way contradicted , that fertility is restored to a vine become barren , if humane urine kept a long while stale , to make it the more salt and ranke , be dropt by degrees upon the vine stock , which must immediately after be laid about with dung and earth mixt together : the season for the application of this cure must be in autumne . another way i should conceive to be altogether as effectuall , namely , to leave it nothing but the stock , bare the roots , and lay there either acornes , chesnuts , or rotted straw ; and if the bignesse of the root will permit it , to cleave it a little way , and to thrust into the ●issure a piece of vine wood , cut small for the purpose ; it being certaine that trees themselves sometimes groane under the sicknesse of being hide-bound : vines are perceived to want moisture , when their leaves turne of a deep red colour : this disease is cured by watring them with sea-water , or stale urine . the bleeding of the vine . the vine sometimes is troubled with an extraordinary efflux , or emanation of its juice ; some call it the weeping , others the ble●ding of the vine , and this disease is commonly so violent , that if not stopped it leaves the vine without blood and life . the remedy is to breake the barke of the vine upon the body thereof , and to anoynt the wound with oyle boyled to the half , or else with the lees of wine not salted ; this done , let it bee watered with vinegar , which by how much the stronger it may bee , is so much more effect●all . the scattering vine . the vine sometimes is oppressed with an unretentive scattering dis●ase , as unable to maintaine the fruit sh●e hath produced , which shee therefore discharges , and let● fall from her ; the symptomes by which you are to judge of this disease , are an unnaturall palenes●e and drynesse of the leaves , the branch it selfe l●nguid , broad , and of a more pithy softn●sse then usuall . the cure to this , is to rub ashes beaten and mixed with strong vinegar abou● the foot of the vine , and to water all tha● is round about the stock : quaer● , whether fissures in the barke made with a sharpe knife some fixe inches long may not bee an additionall receit to the former prescription . the tree peradventure having contracted this malady by too close imprisonment in the barke , being in a manner hide bound● ; how ever the foregoing medicine cannot in this case but sort to better effect , if the tree and barke joyntly be rubbed over then the barke onely , unlesse this medicine could give a relaxation to the barke , which i have no faith in . the vine too full of branches , or luxur●ant . the v●ne expending it selfe too wastfully in overmany branches , must bee cut very short . if this overcome not that luxury , the usuall remedy is , let it bee bared at the roots , and river gravell layd round about the stock , together with a few ashes or else some stones . the reason i apprehend not , except it bee to check its fertility● which i conceive may more prosperously bee effected , if onely the branches being cut , and the stock low , you suffer that exubrancy to waste it selfe in adding more corpulency to the stock , which will of it selfe bee a sufficient spender to restraine and confine the former liberality of juice . the withering vine . if the grapes languish and dry away as they hang upon the vine , before you apply a remedy you must cast away all that are already affected with this contagion ; then water the rest with vinegar , in which ashes of vine branches have beene infused● the most assured remedy is to water the root of the vine , from whence the disease cometh with the stalest urine ; the former remedy being something irregular , as if it were easily feisible to remove a malady by application to the effects , without considering the efficient . the rotting of grapes upon the vine . there are of vines whose fruit putrifie upon the branches before they come to maturity : this disease is remedied by laying old ashes to their root , or gravell , or barley meale mixed with the seed of purcellane about the body ; quaere , whether this disease proceed from a plethorick rankn●sse or em●ciate debility : if from rankenesse all application of ashes hurt it : the symptomes of rankenesse are , when a tree lavishes his moysture into too many branches , which may make him neglect to feede the fruit , as unable to maintaine two spenders ; and i am confident the naturall remedy for this is to bare him ( as much as possible ) of wood , that it may divert the nourishment to the grape ; if from debility , which you shall perceive by a flaccid palenes in the leaves , the same remedy which wee prescribed to the withering vine , vi● . to water the root with urine of a long stalenesse , will bee the most proper . the biting of the cow or oxe . indeede the best way to prevent this disease , is to have your ground either well paled or quicksetted , or both : but that the biting or breathing of kine may not endamage the vine ( which ●●rdly recovers af●er such wound or infection ) water the f●●t stock of your vine with such water as the tanners have used in dressing and mollifying their raw hides , and you may promise your selfe to bee secured from them , they as mortally hating such sents , as the vine abhors their bite or breathing . against caterpillars . the opinion is● that caterpillars and other noysome , though little vermine , will not molest the bud or leafe of the vine , if the hooke or hedgebill wherewith you prune and cut off the superfluous branches of the vine be anoynted over with the blood of a male goat , or the fat of an asse , or of a beare ; or with the oyle wherein catterpillars or brayed garlick have beene boyled , or if you anoynt and rub them with the purse or sheath of a badgers stones , after your hooke has beene ground : these are curious rather then apparently approved medicines , and for their reason i must demurre to give it , quaere , whether the oyle wherein catterpillars or brayed garlick have beene boyled well , rubbed about the stock of the tree , may not make those reptilia ab●or the a●cending , or whether the ●uce of rew so applyed , have not the like vertue . the driving locu●ts from the vine is done by fumigation , as either fi●ing of old oxe dung , galbanum , old shooe soles , harts-●orne , womens haire ; but that which they propose las● , i conceive to bee the best , namely , to plant pionie neare them . to prevent pismires . pismires , who divers times fret in sunder the wood of the vine , even to the very marrow , will not at all approach it , if you anoynt and rub the slock with the dung of kine , or grease of asses . the bay-tree , hasell-tree , and col●worts beare a particular enmity to t●e vine , and expresse it by effects when pl●nted neare ; this i cannot believe to bee out of any magicall antipathy , but rather that these ( as the plum-tree ) are great and strong succors of juice , and happily drawing of the same , by which the vine is more particularly nourished , of which being cheated , it is no wonder if she expresse a decadency . the manner of the vintage . and now wee are come to that which is most acceptable to mankinde , the successefull fruit of his labours reaped in his vintage , which wee must not of a naturall g●eedinesse precipitate , till the grapes bee of such a kindely ripeness● of age , that to let them continue on the vine longer were to lose them ; this ripenesse is visibly understood by a mutation in the branch and grape ; in the branch you shall perceive a manifest mutation by an incline to rednesse in the grape ; if it bee white it alters towards a yellow , if red towards a black colour ; nor are the ta●te and touch les●e discerners of such full maturity ; for if they bee sweete in taste , and the liquor of a glutinous substance , cleaving to the finger ; wee may conclude that both they , and the time to gather them are of full ripenesse . there are also other signes , if the kernell expressed out of the grape betweene your fi●gers , come out cleane , and altogether seperate from the flesh or pulpe of the vine , if after such expression ( gently performed ) the grape diminish nothing from his bignesse , &c. these all , or the most of them concurring , prepare for your harvest . yet in virginia , where the harvest is more abundant then the labourers , to prevent a glut of worke flowing upon few hands , and consequently not possible to bee throughly equalled : it will no● bee amisse to use both anticipation by accelerating nature with artificiall meanes in some , and retardation by arresting the speede of growth in others , to accelerate ashes layd to the foot of vines , and those vines planted to something more advantage of an am●rous sunne , will make them antecede the others , at the least by their advance of foureteen● d●yes ; the other in their naturall course following that spice after , and the others more particularly retarded ( which may bee easily effected by the pruning of them later then the rest just upon their prep●rative to b●d ; which arresting the sap m●kes it afterwards ( though later ) returne with a greater abundance ) staying foureteene dayes later , there will be● compleately sixe weekes time 〈…〉 gathering in of your vintage . and by this meanes you 〈…〉 vineyard tilled or manured every third yeare all over , which 〈…〉 no ingratefull accession to its duration in fertility and 〈◊〉 : those of the most forward ripenesse this year , being retarded the next , and those of the naturall maturation husbanded in that manner , the next winter . the fittest season to gather them must bee in a serene unclouded sky ( the grapes having any raine or dew upon them when gathered , losing much of their perfect strength and goodn●sse ; ) for the wine made of grapes throughly dryed in their collection , hath a greater priviledge of force and continuance : but before this collection bee attempted , all things fitting to receive y●u● vintage must bee prepared in cleanlinesse and order , viz. baskets , caske , and fatts strongly hooped , tubs great and small , stands , pre●●es , &c. and all scoured , washed , and furnished with their necessary instruments and conveniencies . the grape gatherer must distinguish and seperate the leane , green , sower , withered , or rotten grapes , from those which are of absolute ripenesse and soundnesse . that the wine by such an uncomely confusion or mixture may not bee lesse pure , sprightly , and healthfull , then it was intended by nature , such inconfiderate gatherers are sayd to bee of the divells sending , to spoyle gods provisions . nor should they con●usedly mixe good with good , if of different quality , as to mingle that which is strong and rich , with which is small , but delicate . they prescribe that the grapes so gathered should bee left in the ground at least a day or two , and that ●ncovered , provided it raine not , by which meanes , say they , they will become much better , since the sunne , dew , and earth , by this exposure taking from them what ever they have of bad unprofitable moysture , refine and purifie them . a cou●se as far as my span of reason can extend , so far from this promise of refining and purifying , that it absolutely tends to their corruption . have they wanted the sunne and dew when upon the stalke ? could not the same sunne and dew which enripened them , refine and purifie them there ? as for the earths meliorating them , if melioration bee understood by putr●faction , 't is easily granted ; apples that lye on the ground are so meliorated , that is to say rotted , and shall the grape a more delicate and tender fruit avoyd it ? this is by way of digression , but it is necessary● for without this caution a modest man which re●des with an obedient judgement any booke● of these men , taking the authour for an {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , subscribes to it , observes the prescription , and gaines a doctrine of future providence , by the losse of his present vintage . but after the grapes have rema●ned a day or two in the house , it will bee time to put them into the f●tt to bee trodden out equally . those which tread the grapes should before they go into the fatt have their feete and legges washed extreamely , and themselves covered with a shirt as well ●s drawers , that their sweat may not mixe with the wine , and that nothing in the act of eating fall from their mouths into it , they must bee punctuall in abstaining from eating of the grapes , while they are at this their labour . surely this way of treading the grape is derived from some abstenious man , who devised this stratagem under a pretence of expediting the worke ; but indeede to deter men from drinking that which is so uncomely prepared . i know they will alledge that by tre●ding it flowes more naturally , and withall more pure forth , then that which is pressed ; but withall give mee leave , say that the very presse it selfe if it bee not too violently and greedily laboured , makes it glide forth altogether as naturally and purely , and which is more with greater equality ; for in the presse , all the grapes feele the impultion at once , and if the owner bee not too covetous to bring the drosse and gros●e parts of the grape to a second squeezing● and mixing with the fi●st● without dispute the wine so expressed is altogether as good and strong as that which is trodden , but i am certaine much mor● clea●ly . the wine ( however● being expressed must be poured , drosse , huskes , and all , into a fat to worke or boyle in , which it must doe for the space of foure and twenty houres at the least , if you will h●ve it fine , delicate , and subtile ; but if you desire to have it strong and noble , let it worke in the fat foure or five dayes , with a covering over it , that so the vapour thereof may not exhale , or his force waste it selfe . the fat , or tub prepared , must have immediatly before his reception of the wine , a little bunch of vine branches laid before the tap-hole , which ( that it may not heave up with the wine ) must be kept downe with a cleane stone or brick , or which is better and l●s●e off●nsive , a ring of lead wound about it : this when you draw the wine will hinder the huskes or grapes from comming out with the liquor . your fat must not be full by halfe a foot or more , that the wine may have the more space to boyle or worke in . your wine in vessel'd must not be filled up to the bung , nor the bung closed , that the wine may have the greater liberty of despumation , and rejecting whatever it findes reluctant to its owne nature . every day you must fill up what is expurged , and something more , till you ●inde the wine throughly appea●ed , and discharged of whatever might be obstructive to its generosity : nor must this caske be in the cellar , but either in the open aire , or in some b●rne where it has a liberall respiration ; besides the defects in caske cannot be so easily discovered when the wine is in the cell●r , ●s in open places . when it is so throughly settled , that it hath given over all appetite or signe of boyling , you may have it committed to your cellar , which should stand upon the north here , ( in virginia upon the north-west as the coolest and driest angle ) paved wit● gravell or drye earth , which is lesse subject to moysture or ex●dations then brick , or especially stone , absolutely remote and unmo●ested by any ill odours of stables , sinkes , bathes , marshy places , &c. neither should it have any thing shut up or kept in it , which have any sent of acrimony or harshnesse , as cheese , garlick , onions , oyles , ( trane , neatsfoot , linseed , and others , not the salade-oyle ) it being observed , that nothing is more open or obnoxious to contagion then wine , especially when new . your vessells must be so rank'd in order that they touch not one another , by this meanes to leave a liberty of sight to foresee a misfortune , or prevent it when happened . they must be so close stopped in the bung with clay , that not the least irreption of aire may be capable to taint it , to which it is very subject . to cause new wine to bee quickly purged , put ( after this proportion in the rest : ) to quarts of new wine , halfe a pint of strong vinegar , and within the space of three dayes it will bee fined . to preserve must or new wine all the yeare , take that vine which voluntary distilleth from the grape ; before is suffer the presse , and put it into a vessell pitch'd within and without the same day : let the vessell be halfe full , and very well stop'd with plaster above ; and thus the new wine will continue a long while in his sweetnesse . but to adde to this experiment and the continuance of the wine , you must hinder it from working , which you may well doe , if you put the vessell into some well or river , there to remaine thirty dayes ; for not having boyled it will continue alwayes sweet , and is preserved by the heat of the pitch . others prefer the burying of this vessell in moist gravell : and ( which in my opinion is the best ) others cover the vessell first with the drosse of the wine presse , then heap upon it moyst gravell ; by which meanes , something interposing betwixt the extraordinary moysture and cold of the gravell , which might have some influxe upon the wine , your must preserved in an excellent meane of temper . to know if there be any water in the wine . the malice of servants sometimes swallowing downe their masters wine , and fearing to be discovered if the quantity be diminished , or the basenesse of the dealer to impose upon the merchant , makes both of them adulterate it with water , which not being discernable to the eye , may be made familiar to your knowledge by this experiment : take a withered rush , immerge it in the wine ; after a small space draw it out againe : if the wine have been thus bastarded , you shall perceive the water cleaving to it . otherwise , take raw and wilde peares , cutting , and cleansing them in the midst , or in lieu of them , mulberries , cast them into the wine , if they float , the wine is neat and cleare from such sophistication ; if they subside there is water in it . some doe anoint a reed , a piece of wood , or paper , hay , or some other little bundle of herbs , or strawes with oyle , which if they drye , put into the wine● and after draw them out , if the wine have been embased with water , drops thereof will gather unto the oyl● . another sure tryall is to cast un●laked lime into the wine ; if there be any adulteration , the lime dissolves , if the wine be undevirginated , the lime collects thereby a harder cementation . others take of the wine , and inject it into a frying-pan wherein there is boyling oyle , and the wine ( if depured ) declares it with a loud noise , and frequent bubbles . to make another tryall , lay an egge into the wine , the egge descending , manifests the abuse , not descending , the wine is as the grape bled it . to seperate wine from water . but as the miserable man in the pit desir●d his friend not to question how he fell in , but to advise how he should get out : we will not be satisfied that there is water in the wine , but how it may be sepe●ated from it ; which if we may believe the deliverers of it , who have published it to the world in their names , you must put into the vessell of wine melted allum , then stop the mouth of the vessell with a spunge drenched in oyle , which done , turne the mouth of the vessell so stopped , downewards , and the water onely will come forth , leaving the wine pure : the reason of this i cannot give , and have onely read ( not seen ) the expeririment . the way to correct ●ver much waterishnesse in wine . if gluts of raine have made the yeare so unseasonable , that the grape hath contracted a watry quality to the diminution of his winy goodnesse : or if it fall ou● that after the time of gathering them , there fall such store of raine , that the grapes instead of dewes are too much wetted ; ( such is the profit of exposing the gathered clusters into the open aire for houres ) the remedy is to tread them quickly , and finding the wine weake , by tasting it after it hath been put into the vessell , and begun to boyle there , it must presently be changed , and drawne out into another vessell , for so the watr● parts that are in it will stay behinde in the bottome , yet the wine standing still charged , will be totally corrected , if you put to every fifteen quarts of wine , a pint and a halfe of salt . to make wine of an acceptable odour . if you will perfume your wine with a gratefull odour , by which the braine may be strengthened , as well as the heart exalted : take a few myrtle-berries dry , bray them , and put them into a little barrell of wine ; let it so rest , close stopped , ten dayes afterwards use it at pleasure . the like effect will follow , if you take the blossoms of the grapes ( those especially which growe upon the shrubby vines ) when the vine is in flower , and cast them into the wine , the brimmes of the wine-vessell being rub'd over with the leaves of the pine and cypresse tree , and this will give it a fragrancy delightfully odorate : or which is of equall facility , you may hang an orenge , or pomecitron , ( being of a convenient greatnesse ) and prick it full of cloaves , and that in such sort as it may not touch the wine , shut up in all these applications , the vessell very close . if this like you not , take the simples of such matter as you would have your wine to smell of , infuse them in aqua vitae , the infusion may be repeated by percolation of the old herbs , and addition of new , till it have gotten a full and absolute perfection of th●se odours you desire , then poure the aqua vitae ( the herbs ●trained from it ) into the vessell of wine . to make cute . you may make the boyled wine called cute , if you boyle new wine that is good , lovely , and very sweet untill the third part thereof bee consumed ; when it is growne cold put it into a vessell and use it . but to make this cute , that it may continue all the yeare , gather your grapes whole , and let them lye spread three dayes in the sunne , on the fourth about noone tread them . the liquour or sweet wine which shal runne out into the fatt before the dro●●ey substance come under the presse , must bee boyled one third as before ; then to every nineteene quarts of wine adde an ounce of irees or corne flag well brayed , straine this wine without the lees , which being done , it will continue sweet , firme , and wholesome . to cause troubled wines to settle . to cause troubled wines , and such as are full of lees to settle , poure into thirty quarts of wine , halfe a pint of the lees of oyle boyled , till the third part bee wasted , and the wines will immedi●tely returne to their former settlement . otherwise , which is better and more easie , cast into the wine-vessell the whites of six or seven egges , and stirre them together very well with a stick . to know whether the wine will keepe long . the knowledge whether the wine will continue long or not in a good condition , is thus made apparent : when your wine is tunned up , you must within some time after change it into another vessell , leaving the lees behinde in the first ; which you must diligently stop from taking any vent whatsoever ; after some time you may looke into the lees with carefull animad version , whether they change or contract any ill sent or not , or whether they breed any gnats , or other such creatures ; if you espye none of these mutations or corrupt generation , repose your selfe with all confidence that your wine will continue pure to the longest : but t●●se symptomes discovered , will bee so many admonitions to dispose of that wine with the soonest , which is already by nature inclined to ●urne bad and corrupt ; others take a pipe of elder , or such other wood as may bee hollowed through , with which they receive the sent of the lees , and by them informe themselves how the wine is conditioned . a good pallate will divine of wines by the taste , namely that if the new wine bee sharpe and quick , they repose confidence in its goodnesse and continuance ; but if flat and heavy , then they expect nothing but the contrary to good qualities : againe , if the new wine ( when put into the vessells ) be fat and gl●wy , the sign is prosperous ; but if contrariwise , it be thinne and weake , it is ●n argument that it will easily be turned , to keepe wine at all times . to effect this , you may cast roch-allum ( very finely powdred ) into the , vessell which you meane to put your new wine in , or bay salt very finely powdred : or pibble stones , and little flints taken out of some brooke , or which will retaine the spirits of the wine from evaporating ; more certainly salade oyle , so much as will cover the superficies of the wine . to make that wine sh●l not flowre . vvine will have no flower , if you put into it the flowers of the vine , gathered , and dryed , or the meale of fetches , changing the wine into another vess●ll , when the meale or flowers are settled downe to the bottome . to prepare physicall wines . neither is this digression impertinent ; physitians are not so frequent in virginia , as in padua , or london , and were there more , yet the vast space of ground , those people take up in their scattred dwellings , makes the addresses to them very difficult : that therefore they may ( in absence of the physitian ) have some common remedies for common diseases ; i have thought fit to give them this accompt of medicinall wines out of lie●ault , all of them of excellent virtues , and easie preparations : the first shall be to make wines of wormewood . to which effect , take of sea-wormewood , or in default of that , common wormewood , especially that which hath the small stalke , and short leaves , eight drammes ; stamp them , and binde them in a cloath which is not woven too thick , cast it into the vessell , pouring new wine upon it , making this accompt , that to every three pints of wine there must bee eight drams of wormewood ; continue this proportion in the filling of your vessell , which you must leave with the vent open , that the wine fall not a new to boyling . the use of this wine is good for the paine of the stomack and liver , and to kill wormes . to make wine of horehound . this wine being very soveraigne for the cough , must bee made in the time of vintage , to which purpose you must gather of the crops and tender stalkes of horehound , of that ●specially which growes in leane untilled places ; afterwards cause them to bee dryed in the sunne , make them up into bundles , tying them with a ru●h , sinke them in the vessell to quarts of new wine ; you must put eight pound of horehound to boyle therewith , after the wine is settled the horehound must bee taken out , and the wine stopt very diligently . the wine of anise and dill very good against the difficulty of the urine : the wine of peares against the flux of the belly ; the wine of bayes against the ach and wringings of the belly ; the wine of asarum bace●●r against the j●undise , dropsies , and tertian agues ; the wine of sage against p●ines and weakenesse of the sinewes , are all made as the wine of wormewood . to make wine of betony . take betony , the leaves and seedes about one pound , put it into twenty quarts of wine , and at the expi●atio● of the seven moneth , change the wine into new vessells . this most excellent wine aswageth the paine of the reines , breaketh the stone , and healeth the jaundise . to make the wine of hysop . take the leaves of hysop well stamped , tye them fast in a very fine cloth , and cast about one pound of them into twenty quarts of new wine ; this wine is peculiarly excellent against the diseases of the lungs , an old cough , and shortnesse of breath . wine of pomgranates , made of pomgranates that are scarce ripe , being throughly bruized , and put into a vessell of thick red wine , serveth of singular use against the fluxe of the belly : to which end also serve the wines made of services , mulberries , and quinces . the ancients had a very high opinion of treacle wine , from consideration of its extraordinary vertue in asswaging and healing the bitings of serpents , and other venemous beasts . nor had the vine solely this virtue in its grape , but in the leaves also stamped and applyed unto the grieved part . this vine is thus prepared : cleave three or foure fingers breadth of the plant you intend to set , take out the pith , and replenish the vacant part with treacle , afterwards set the cloven part covered and wrapt in paper . thus vines may bee made soporiferous , if you prepare them in the same manner with opium , as before with treacle , laxative by preparing it with some soluble purge . by this meanes you may have wine to taste like the greeke calabrian frontignac , or any other noble for its excellency ; if the lees purified and preserved bee inserted into the pith of the branch , aromatick , if to these lees you adde compounds of cynamon cassia , cloves , o● what ever shall bee most agreeable to the nostrill and pallate . to remedy wines inclining to corrupt ; and first of wine beginning to soure : if you perceive wine beginning to waxe soure , put into the bottome of your vessell a pot of water well stopt , close the vessell , yet so as at a vent hole to receive and transmit a little aire : the third day draw out the pot , and you shall s●e a noble experiment of attraction , for the water will be stinking● and the wine sound & neat . at what time , and by what accidents wine is most apt to corrupt , with its remedy . the season when wines are subject to turne or bee troubled , is about the summer sol●tice , viz. the . of june , at the same time that the vine emits her blossome ; nor then alone , but sometimes about the dog-dayes● by reason of the variety of heates : generally the wine is in some sort of commotion , when a constant s●uth winde disturbes the aire , whether it bee in winter or summer , in great and continued raines also , and windes in earthquakes or mighty thunders . to keepe them f●om turning is by the injection of pan salt , when they boyle or worke , or else o● the seed of smallage , barley-bran , the leaves of bay-trees , or of fennell seed brayed with the ashes of the vine brayed . the like effect have almonds cast into the wine● or the ashes of the oake● the meale of the ●hite fetch both defends the wine from turning , and keepeth it in his soundnesse . allum broken in pieces the same , the worst application is of brimstone , lime , plaister , &c. to r●cover the wine when turned , must bee effected either by changing the vessell , by beaten pepper ; or take whites of egges , beate them very well , and take the froth from thence arising of them , poure them into the vessell , which you must immediately roule after its infusion : or else take twelve kernells of old walnuts ( the virginian walnut i conceive exceeding proper ) rost them under the ashes , and while they ●re yet hot , draw a thread through them , hang them in t●● wine , where they must bee till the wine ( which will not fail ) recover its former colour . if the wine become troubled , either the kernels of pine apples , or peaches , or the whites of egges , and a little salt will not faile to cleare and refine it : others take halfe a pound of allum , as much sugar , make a very small powder thereof , and cast it into the vessell . to helpe wine that beginnes to wast and die . if you by manifest symptomes apprehend your wine suddenly inclining to degenerate and corrupt , this course is prescribed : if it bee clarre● , take the yelke of an egge , if white , the white adde to it three ounces of cleare bright stones taken out of a running river , make them into a small powder , together with two ounces of salt , mingle all together , and ( the wine shifted into another vessell neat and cleane , not tainted with any smell beforehand ) cast in this compound ; mingle it with the wine five or sixe times the day , untill three or foure dayes bee past . this remedy is not prescribed when wine is absolutely spoy●ed , for then it would bee applyed to no purpose ; but that the carefull master should by his observation of it to such a disposition , prevent it by this experiment . to restore wine growne musty , unto his former purity . cast into the vessell cowes milke salted● some ( but to the infinite unhealthfullnesse of him that drinkes it ) attempt this restauration with allum , lime , and brimstone , a more undangerous way is to infuse in it juniper-berries , and irees roots : yet if the wine should continue this ill senting qu●lity , by having taken winde : let it bee rouled too and againe to awaken the spirits thereof , that they may the better disperse the strength of its infu●ion : afterwards set it againe upon his cantling , replenish the vessel and shut it close to prevent winde for the future . to preserve wines from sowring , may bee performed by your disposing of your vessell in a place that is very coole and dry ( the vessels being very well filled and well stopped ) to prevent as well the emission of the spirits , by which the wine continues vigorous , as the admission of aire . but in regard all men are not the masters of such opportune conveniencies , being fo●ced sometimes to make uses of places obnoxious to heate , and drawing one vessell a long time , cannot hinder the secret invasions of aire ; yet if you perceive in time that your vine begines to harbour an acid or soure quality , you shall preserve it from falling into a full degree of sourenesse ; if you take a good piece of l●rd , wrap it well in a linnen cloath , tye it to a small cord , and let it downe by the bunghole into the middle of the wine , still letting it lower as the wine decreaseth . some advise , and not without a great apparence of reason , to put into the vessell , oyle olive , or salade , in such quantity , that it may onely cover the sup●rficies of the wine : which oyle when the wine is drawne off from the lees , may bee seperated from them , and preserved . to take away the waterishnesse and crude moisture of the wine , put into the vessell the leaves of the pomgranate-tree , though in my opinion such wine being easily knowne in the fatt , when first trodden , should be corrected by boyling , as afore . the remedy against venemous beasts falling into the wine , as adders● rats , &c. is , so soone as the dead body is found , to burne it and cast the ashes into the same vessell , s●irring it about with a wooden stick : others give advice to put hot bread into the vessel which will attract all the venemous qualities to it selfe , and cleare the wine . of the olive . the vine and olive being such delightfull associates as to expresse a mutuall emulation for the glory of fertility when planted together . this treatise shall not divide them , they are both exhilaratives , the vine rejoyces the heart , the olive glads the countenance ; and that virginia may expresse the delight she affords to mankinde by being reinforced with this second sister of laughter , the olive ; this discourse particularly designed to her improvement , showes its planting and culture when planted . the olive tree , though it delight in a rich fat ground ; yet if he have a warme aire , and a south , or south-east wind to refresh him , will in all places testifie a bounteous gratitude for its scituation in an almost unlaboured for fertility : yet to prepare a place for this rich plant to prosper on , his prosperity being no small part of your owne , you must digge the pits where you intend to plant them , a yeare before such implanting ; in this pit burne some straw , or which is better castings of vine or brambles ( but no part of oake , there being such a particular enmity betwixt this tree , and the oake , that the olive not onely refuses its neighbourhood , but dies if planted in the place where the oake has beene rooted up ) or you may leave it to the sunne and raine , which will without such adustion exhale and purifie all infectious vapours : the place being provided to plant upon , we must next select our plant. select your plants from the shoots or branches of those olive trees which are yong , faire , and fertile : let them bee in thicknesse the circumference of an ordinary wr●st , in length eighteene inches ; plant it the bigger end downewards into the earth , prepared as before , and ramme the mould , mingled with dung and ashes close about it : let it be digged every yeare in autumne . the time to plant it is in april or may , it must not be transplanted for the first five yeares , nor the boughs cut or pruned till it have attained eight . graft it not but upon it selfe , so will it beare fruit better in the species and number ; in its transplantation you must take up as much of the soyle with its roots , as you can possible , and when you reset it , give it the like scitu●tion for coast and quarter that it had before . olives are intended for two uses when gathered ; either to be● served up at the table in collation , or to make oyle of the largest sort of olive , is most proper for the table , the lesser more particularly convenient for oyle : they must bee gathered with the least offence to the tree that may bee , the bruising of the branches with poles as some use it in striking downe the fruit , makes the tree barren : the best way therefore is to ascend the tree by a ladder , in faire weather ( not so much for conveniency of the gatherer ; as for the profit comming from the olive , which is not to bee taken from the tree , but when it is exceeding dry ) and pulling them with your hand put them into a wicker basket , which you shall have carryed up with you to that purpose . those olives you inten● to preserve or pickle , must not have that full ripenesse which is requisite for those you purpose to make oyle of . the olive● whic● you keepe for banquets must be full of flesh , firme , fast , large , and ovall ; if you will pickle them , put them into an earthen pot , and cover them with salt brine or verjuice , or else with honey , vinegar , oyle and salt smally beaten . if you intend to keepe them long , by changing your salt brine constantly every two or three moneths , you may effect it . for the olives whereof you are to expresse your oyle , you must gather no more at one time then what may be made into oyle that day , and the day following : before you bring them to the presse let them be spred upon hurdles , well pick'd , and cul'd ; let the hurdles not be too thick set with twigs , that the lees and watry humor of the olive ( which if ●xpressed with oyle would make it extreame full of faeculency , and corrupts it both in the nostrill and palate ) may expend , waste it selfe , and drop through ; some therefore that this malignant humor may have a full defluxion before they bring the fruit to the presse , make a high and well-raised floore , with provision of partitions to keep every dayes gathering seperate ; ( which is , if your abundance be such that your presse is not able to discharge you of them dayly ) the bottome of these partitions must be paved with a decline descent , that the moistnesse of the olives may flow away , and be received into gutters or little channels there provided for their transfluxe . the olives being thus prepared for the presse , and the presse readily provided of all things necessary , viz. of fats , v●ssels to receive your severall oyles , scoopes to draw , and empty out the oyle , covers great and small , spunges , pots to carry out the oyle , tyed about by bands or cords of hemp , or broome-barke ; the mill-stones , oyle-mills , pressers , and all other instruments serving thereunto being very well cleansed , and the aire having been before as well heated by a plentifull fire ; ( if it be not warme enough by its naturall scituation ) for the assistance of heat makes all oyly liquors resolve and runne more gently and freely , whereas cold astringes , and detaines it . this presse-house therefore should be so seated , that it may enjoy a full admission and benefit of the south sunne , that we may stand in need of very little fire , if any at all , such heat being no more assistant to the expression , then accessary to the corruption of the oyle . carry your olives thus cleansed to the presse , under which put thē whole in new willow baskets ( the willow adding a beauteous and innocent color to the oyl ; ) the willow also something staving off the rude strokes of the presse , that the olives may be bruised with as little violence , and as much leisure as possible : nor would it be inconvenient if their skin and fl●sh were a little broken at the first with a milstone , so set , that it should not breake the kernels , which would utterly spoyle the olive , taking them from the mill thus prepar'd : let them be stronglier bruised in the presse , and put foure pound of salt to every bushell of olives . the oyle which comes first is by much the best , and the●efore called virgin oyle : the second which comes with more violent expression is fitter for liniments then the table : but the last , which is extorted from the drosse , and stones , is of no use but for lampes ; or such sordid employment . the tuns and vessels wherein the oyle is to be put , must be well dressed with pitch and gumme , made very clean with warme lees , and carefully dryed with a spunge , into which you may powre your oyle within thirty dayes after the expression of it , so much time being necessarily allowed for the settling the lees , which by that will have grounded upon the bottome . the cellars where the vess●ls of oyle are to be conse●ved , must be in a place of constant drynesse and coldnesse , heat and moysture being corrupters of the oyle ; provide ther●fore a cellar on the north coast of your house : and for the better and more neat preservation of your liquor , poure it ●ather into glasse vessels or earthen pots , which ( if they be made capacio●s ) are far more convenient then the pitcht retainers we formerly spoke of . accidents befalling oyle● with their remedies : and first to rec●ver frozen oyle . if ( in the time of winter ) oyle doth freeze together with his lees , you must put into it twice boyled salt , which dissolves and clears your oyle from all further apprehension of danger ; nor need you entertaine a jealousie that it will be salt , since unctuous matters ( and especially oyle ) have seldome any relish of it . to keepe oyle from becommimg ranke . vvhen the oyle begins to change from his first purity of taste to a disposed rankenesse ; the r●medy is to melt an equall proportion of wax and oyle together , to which you are to mingle salt fried in oyle before ; this you must poure into the vessel , which composition above the prevention of it , when beginning to grow ranke , effects an entire restitution to its simple purenesse , when already affected . anniseeds cast into the vessell by a particular attraction , performe the same operation . to purifie troubled oyle . some are of advice , that the applying it to the fire or sun recleares it . others , if the vessell be strong , ca●t into it boyling water : how these remedies agree with their former assertions , ( wherein they declare heat so unnaturall to oyle ) is beyond my reconciling : i for my part , should rather make an experiment of vineger , which being cast into the oyle by degrees , hath such a penetrating and inquirent faculty over all the parts , that it would without doubt recompose it . to recover oyle corrupted in the sent. to performe this , take green olives , pound them , free them from their stones , and cast them into the oyle : or else cast the crums of barley bread mixed with corne salt : otherwise , infuse in your oyle the flowers of melilot : or else hang in the vessell a handfull of the herb coriander , and if you finde the putrifying quality yet unexpelled , cast in divers times of the same herbe , and which is better , change his vessell ; this ill odour others drive away thus : they take grapes , pick out their kernells , stampe them , and with salt make them into a lumpe or lumpes , which you must cast into the vessell , and after ten dayes faile not to change it : which must necessarily be done after the application of any remedy to oyle growne ranke and putrified , the vessell still impairing what the remedy recovers . wee have done with the oyle olive , after the manner of whose expression may bee extorted any unctuous matter of fruits , plants , or seeds● namely , wal●uts , filberds , almonds ( both sweete and bitter ) nutmegs , the kernells of peaches , pine-apples , abricots , cherries , plums , pistach●s , the seede of line , rape , cole , mustard , hempe , poppy , henbane , the seeds or pipins of apples , pears , cucumbers , gourds , melons , and other such like : but that wee may give the reader a more cleare dilucidation of the manner of preparation , wee shall briefely discover the method used in the expression of oyle from almond and nutmegs , which will easily make him apprehend all the rest ; the particu●ar reason which perswades mee to introduce the example of almonds , is b●caus● i have purposed b●fo●e i finish this concluding treatise , to discou●se particularly of the pla●●●ng the almond . whose oyle i●●o bee taken inwa●ds , is to bee thus expressed . pill the almonds after they have steeped some time in warme water , pound them in a mortar of stone or marble with a wooden pestle , make them up in little lumpes or loaves , which you may kne●d with your hands against the vapour of warme water , or put them in a glasse ves●ell of a large content● for some foure or five houres : ( let the seate and glasse bee so contrived , that it may rather bee above the water to receive the vapour on its sides and bottome , then in it ) the almond being thus mollified by the disposition of the moisture , must bee put into a haire cloth or hempen bag , and laid in a presse , whose bottome must be wel heated , hollow , and bending downewards to give the better delabency for the oyle thus expressed , you may bake the drossy part of the almonds under the ashes , which in time of necessity will serve for bread , of plenty for a dainty and fatning food to your poultry . this oyle is of soveraigne , excellency to mitigate and remove the throwes and gripes of women newly delivered , and to aswage the paines of the colli●k or reines , taking it in two ounces of white wine , or one of aqua vit● ; the line , cole , rape● wallnut , and other need not these curiou● preparations , and their cakes are of unmatchable nourishment to fatten kine and other cattle . oyle of nutmegs . oyle of nutmeg ( which in the south part of virginia not subject to any inconveniences of cold would undoubtedly flourish ) is thus made : bray them with a wooden stamper , afterwards presse them out , the plankes being very well heated ; to extract it more rich , divide them into little heapes , and steepe them three da●es in very good wine , after dry them in the shaddow of the sunne two whole dayes , then heate them reasonably in a frying pan upon the fire , sprinkling them with rose-wa●er , and presently presse them . this i judge conveniently sufficient for oyles : let us descend to the planting of the almond-tree , which as it hath a peculiar excellency , so without dispute returnes as ample profit . of the almond tree . though the almond tree delight particularly in gravelly places , of which virginia is too rich to afford a conveniency ; yet there is no dispute , but if the mould wherein you plant them bee mingled with oyster-shels , or ●●ch like , of which there is to bee found inexhaustible quantities , they will have a greater virtue then gravell to the quickning and ingerminating of this tree ; having the perplexed hardne●●e of gravell and unctuousnesse of marle united . the soyle thus prescribed ; let the seat of your almond be in a hot place fully exposed to the south or south-west , and it will not onely flourish to your expectation , but its fruit will bee excellently qualified , and in vast abundance : it groweth very well of the stone , which because it cannot bee procured new should be kept close in a vessell of earth ; to be transported , set i● as you would your peach ; it thrives very well too of the branch o● scien , which must bee cut from the top of the tree , and planted as the olive , the earth rammed very hard about it , and prepared as before , both the stone and the scien should bee steeped for the space of twelve or foure and twenty houres in homed w●ter ; the best season to set or plant it in virginia , is in october and november . this tree will bee of admirable use there , in regard that both that and the olive will hinder no undergrowing corne ; let neither this tree nor your olive grow above ten foot in the stock , and in this as in olives , if you see any branch aspiring higher then his neighbours , represse such ambition by cutting him off , o●herwise hee will divert all the sap of the tree into his owne body● an● leave his fellowes in a starving and perishing condition ; amongst which if you maintaine equality , they will altogether consent in gratitude to returne you a plentifull harvest . the barren almond tree will become fruitfull if you lay o●en his roots in winter , or else if you pierce some part of the stock close to the earth , and put through the hole a wedge of oake , watering it about with stale urine . the bitter almond will bee capable of bul●oration , if you lay round about his bared root swines dung tempered with urine , casting afterwards much mould upon it , this must bee practised yearly , till hee bee perfectly reclaimed , you will finde the same effect if you bore a hole in the stock of the tree , and put therein a wedge wrapped about with cloth dipped in hony . beasts by brousing and cropping of the first and tender branches , change the nature of sweet almonds into bitter almonds , are gathered when their huskes through the heate of the sunne begin to divide ; ( i should therefore advise that those made choice of to set , may bee taken before such exact ripenesse , that the heate of the sunne may not exhale their generating vigour ) if when you have beaten them downe you shell them altogether , and wash them in brine , they will become white , and bee preserved a long time ; cautionarily that you dry them in the sunne ; their repository or granaries must have good open admissories for an unmoist aire , and lye upon that coast that is most open to the north-west , being the driest winde in that country . the medicinall excellency of almonds , is , that they are good for those which are troubled with a clammy fleame in their throat , with weake lungs , and such as are subject to the gravell in the reines or difficulty of urine , they are great restorers to nature , and fortifie the parts tending to generation ; nor is it onely beneficiall in its fruit , for the gumme also of the almond tree arrests the spitting of blood . of the fig tree . the fig tree groweth with an unusuall celerity , as beginning to beare the second yeare from his planting , and is of that nature , that during a moneth or five weekes when grapes are ripe and good to eate , the figge also is at that season dayly mature , and fit for the pallate , it may bee planted as the vine , and effects the same soile ; such as have roots grow sooner , but without doubt the branches continue longer ; the order you observe in planting the vine adheare too in this , and it will prosper . the fittest season to plant it is in october , and the succeeding moneth to the . or twentieth : you shall cause them in planting the better to take root , if you loosen the barque , or which is better bruise it gently at the nether end of the stemme about halfe a foot . to cause them to bee fertile , and bring forth fruits remarkable for fullnesse and verdure , put to his root rich mould beaten and tempered with the setlings of oyle olive , and mans dung , or which i like better then this stercoration if it have already a benine soyle , crop the tops and ends of the branches when they first spring . to reclaime a wild fig-tree , water him at the roots with wine and oyle mixed together . if you make a composition of an equall quantity of salt brine and water bestow this irrigation in a small trench round about the body of the tree , your figges are prevented from unripe fallings . to have ea●ly figs , water the tree with oyle and pigions dung , if your ambition be not only to have the earliest , but the latest , take away the fi●st buds , when they are about the bigne●se of a beane . to keepe or preserve them , lay them in a pot of honey full and well stopped , but so that they neither touch the sides of the pot , nor one another . or take an ●arthen pot ( the figs being put in ) stop it close , and immerge this vess●ll to another full of wine , no taint or corruption will possesse your figges so inclosed , while the wine retains his goodn●sse . the plant steeped in brine , or the end thrust into a sea onion , becomes much more fruitfull when planted . this fruit is of great vertue in making the belly soluble in abundance of nourishment and provocation of sweat , dryed and mingled with the flower of linseed or fenugreeke , it resolveth and killeth all impostumes , and hard tumours , in decoctions it assists much in driving away of the co●gh , and difficulty of breath , which last vertue the fruit also expresseth very happily , if steeped in aqua vitae , the night precedent , and taken every morning during the dominion of this disease after you , the milke of the fig-tree dropt into the eare killeth the wormes in it , the leaves of the fig-tree rubbed doe provoke the hemorrhoides : the juice of figs is of equall felicity in opening them , which to increase his excellency amends all roughnesse , ill conditioned scabs small pocks , purples , freckles , ringwormes , and other ●ye●sad blemishes of the face or body therewith anointed , being first tempered with the flower of parched barley , a little cotten wool dipped in this juice , and layd upon the aking tooth asswageth the paine . of the pomeganate tree . the pomegranate tree , which may be planted either from the branch or succour , is one of the most absolute encouragers of an idle person in the world ; provided , it be exempt from the intemperate operation of the cold , neither the torrid heat of the sun , nor the barrennesse of the soyle , shal make him forgoe his glorious rubies ; no culture or dressing is required by it : yet if it be set in a rich soyle , it will be sure to make an advantage of it to his owne flourishing , and your profit : the wine thereof ( for it affordeth wine as wel as excellency of fruit ) may be made after this manner● take the ripe kernels , freed and cleansed from their skins , put them into the presse , and exact the wine , keep it in vess●ls till it is fully fined from all working , which finished , distribute such a quantity of oyle as may float over all the top of the vessel , and this preserves it from sowring or corruption . the pomegranate apple put in a pot of new earth , well covered , and luted with clay , and set into an oven so long , till the fruit may be resolved into powder , is of very princely vertue ; for ( taking the weight of half a crown thereof in red wine ) it miraculously stops the bloudy flux . it is also good in divers diseases of women , which ( because they are more arcanely peculiar to that sex ) i shal forbear to speak of . of the quince tree . the quince tree groweth much sooner from the root then branches : it delighteth in a soyle of a moyst and cold nature , and would therefore be planted towards the more umbragious and coole corners of your garden . the garden , or reclaimed quince , beareth two sorts of fruits , to which curiosity hath assigned sexes , and they are called the quince and quincesse ; the male , which is the quince , is of a more wrinkled , drye , redolent f●uit , and golden colour then the quincesse . if you graft the male upon the female , or e convers● , the quinces thence proceeding will be tender , and may be eaten raw , which without such an hermaphroditisme must of necessity have beene prepared , to which nature , rather then to eate it , crude hath de●igned it . the use of marmalade , and its preparation is so publickly known , that it is unnecessary to repeate it . it is not enough to enjoy the delight of these fruits for the summer onely : the winter too in reason should claime a part of our summer contentments , which cannot bee better expedited then by ●●ying such f●uits as are capable of a refaction , and agreeable when dryed , the principall whereof are the vine or g●ape , the fig , the peach , and abricot . how to dry grapes , that they may bee kept . your grapes being at their just ripenesse , select the fairest out of your vineyard , for such quantity as you shall use , let them lye thin spread while you prepare a lye for them , made of faire water and ashes , proceeding onely from the cuttings of the vine without any other mixture of wood whatsoever : seeth this lye till you have made a strong and clea●e liquor , then taking or straining away the ashes , put the liquor into a cleane caldron , set it againe over the fire till it bee ready to seeth ; then tying the stalkes of your grapes with thread , and fastening the thread to such sticks and in such order bunch by bunch , as chandlers use to dip their candles , which dip them into this lye foure or five severall times : which done , let them dry in the sunne , either so hanging on their sticks , o● which is better upon lattices or hurdles of rods , or the like , untill they bee conveniently dry ; then barrell them , pressing them very hard and flat in the vessell , others dry them upon such lattices or hurdles without steeping them even as they come from the vine , and peradventure more successefully . how to drie ●igges . let them ( as the grape ) bee gathered very ripe ; then lay and spread them upon hurdles or lattices of reeds or osier joyned together , with rifts or vacancies betwixt the covering of those osiers , that the aire transpiring through those voyd spaces may assist the sunne in the drying them ; but you must bee cautious that during their exposure to the open aire no raine or dew incommodate them : when they are dry barrell with the same poise of pressure used to the grapes . others take a bigge reed or cane of two or three foot in length , boring little holes all the length of it , through which they put little sticks of two foot extent , being the small and ●harpe upon which they thread the figs , till they are very full of them , and so hang the cane in the sunne , which dryed they barrell up using the same course as before . how to dry peaches a●d abricots of all sorts . vvhen they are very ripe , pare off the upper skin , cleave them into foure quarters , dry them as you did your figs , barrell them and keepe them for the winter . the manner how you shall prepare them to eate is this ; provide an earthen pot , and after you have washed your peaches in faire water , put them into the pot with as much wine as will cover the peaches , then seeth them halfe a quarter of an houre . they may be● made ready without boyling thus ; let them infuse three or fo●re dayes in wine , ( which way they are much better ) put to them beaten cynamon , and thus they will last a moneth in the wine , eaten every morning they are very wholesome , and provoke a good appetite . the fittest seasons for sowing of seeds . to prescribe rules according to our climate , to tha● of virginia , may have much of affection , but without all peradventures , little of wisdome . wee must therefore seeke for a nearer correspondence in parallells . having therefore seene some letters of an ancient date written by frenchmen , then employed in virginia● to their intrusters , wherein they conf●ss● that of all the provinces of france : none came so neare to that noble countrey , as lang●edock and provenc● , two of the eyes of that kin●dome , abounding withall the d●lights and delicacy that italy can pretend to , or spaine boast of ; i could not but apprehend that their times of sation and insition , of planting and replanting , might in some measure correspond with that place where the english are now seated , and having seene a regular di●tribution of the moneths and seasons in the yeare for sowing , grafting● and other offices belonging to the industrious lovers of agriculture ; i should both unsatisfie my owne conscience● and disoblige that countrey , and its christian inhabitants● if i did not publish it with the same resentment of affection i received it ; not that any should bee so pinioned to these precepts , that neither weather , inconveniency , or want of opportunity should make him recede from the punctuall observation of them : but i speake it out of a very strong confidence that the observations of the seasons according to these prescriptions will sort well with virginia in generall , and the planters in particular , to whom it is intended , and indeed it is as exact a directory as any yet published . i am not ignorant that criticks will laugh at this ; much good doe it them , and why so many moneths for the same seed ? why so many repetitions ? my exceptionist forgets that wee not onely covet to have things early , but their continuance : will it offend him that wee have artichokes in may ? and july both ? because wee may have cabbage , lettuse in april , shall wee bee forbidden to have any in may : the principall scope of this directer was to show how long such and such seedes might bee continued to bee sowen , and in what moneth and moone , if hee apprehend it not ; i can send him to no moneth , but that of june , nor moone , but that of midsommer . he that will sow seed , must know that , some may be sowen at all times of the moneth and moone , as , asparagus , colewort of all sorts , spinage , lettuse , parsnips , reddis● . other● would be sowed in a certaine moneth and moone , as there must bee sowen in february , the moone being — new spike garlike borage buglo●se cheruse coriander gourd● water cre●ses m●jorane palma chri●●ī flower gentl● white poppy pu●stane radish rocket rosemary sorrell double marigold thyme . full anise violet● blites skirworts white succory fennell parsley . old holy thistle cole cabbage white cole green col● cucumber● harts-horn● sampier diers graine spinage cabbage-lettu●● melon● onion● larkes-heel● burnet le●kes● so● in march the moone being , new garlick borage chervile coriander gourds m●jorane white poppy pursl●ine radish sorr●ll double marigold th●me violets . full anise bleets skirworts succory ●●nn●ll apples of love marvellous apples . old artichoke● ba●il thi●●le● bl●ss●d this●le cole cab●age white cole greene cole ci●rons cu●u●bers hart● horne sa●pire dier● graine spinage gilly flower● ●y●sop ca●●age let●use melon● onyon● fl●wer 〈◊〉 burnet leeke● savory . so● in april the moon being new majoran● flower ge●●●e thyme violet● . full apples of love marvellous appl●s . old artichokes cabbage cole citrons harts-horn● sampire gilly flowers . in may in the old of the moon blessed thi●●le● in june the moone new go●rds radishes . old melons cucumbers . in july the moone ●●ll white ●●cc●ry old cabbage let●u●e . in august the moone being full white s●●●ory● herbes growing of seedes that are sowne may bee transplanted ●t all times , except chervils , arrage , spinage , and persely , which are nothing worth when they are transplanted ; ever observed that such transplantation bee in a moist , rainy weather , otherwise they must bee very diligently watered . you may take notice that the choise and age of seedes is double , in chusing them you are to regard that they bee ripe , full , heavy , firme , grosse , and of a good colour , not falling to powder through rottennesse or bruises . some grow bettter of new seedes , as leeks , cucumbers . others grow better of old seeds , as coriander , persley , savory , beets , origanum , cre●ses , spinage , poppey . further observe , that you must preserve from cold , lettuses , artichokes , basill , cabbage cole , diers graine , melons , fifteene dayes after they put forth from the earth . make account that seedes thrive and prosper much better , when they are sowen upon such dayes as are betweene the extreames of cold and heate , then in hot , cold or dry dayes . bee pleased to remember , that seedes must bee gathered in faire weather , in the wane of the moone . they must be kept some in boxes of wood , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . bagges of leather , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . ve●●els of earth , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . others , as onions , in their huske . chibols , in their huske . leek●● in their huske . to do regularly , w● s●ould plant in the last of the moone● gather grafts in the last but one of the moone● graft two dayes after the change of the moone● an explication of the saw-mill , an engine , wherewith force of a wheele in the water , to cut timber with great speed . this engine is very common in norway and mountaines of sweden , wherewith they cut great quantity of deal-bords ; which engine is very necessary to be in a great towne or forrest , to cut timber , whether into planks or otherwise . this heer is not altogether like those of norway : for they make the piece of timber approch the sawes on certaine wheels with teeth ; but because of reparations which those toothd wheeles are often subject unto , i will omit that use : and in stead thereof , put two weights , about . or . pound weight a piece , whereof one is marked a. the other b. the cords wherewith the sayd weights doe hang , to be fastned at the end of the . peeces of moving wood , which slide on two other peeces of fixed wood , by the meanes of certaine small pulleys , which should be within the house , and so the sayd weights should alwayes draw the sayd peeces of moving wood , which advancing alway towards the sawes rising and falling , shall quickly be cut into . . or . peeces , as you shall please to put on saws , and placed at what distance you will have for the thicknesse of the planks or bords ye will cut : and when a peece is cut , then let one with a lever turne a rowler , wherto shall be fastned a strong co●d which shall bring backe the sayd peece of wood , and lift again the weights : and after put aside the peece already cut , to take againe the sawes against another peece of wood . which once done , the ingenious artist may easily convert the same to an instrument of threshing wheat , breaking of hempe or flax , and other as profitable uses . finis . at the court at whitehall, june the sixth, . present the kings most excellent majesty his royal highness the duke of york ... mr speaker. whereas by the late address of both houses of parliament, his majesty was humbly desired by his own example to encourage the constant wearing of the manufactures of his own kingdoms and dominions, ... orders in council. - - england and wales. sovereign ( - : charles ii) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : , : ) at the court at whitehall, june the sixth, . present the kings most excellent majesty his royal highness the duke of york ... mr speaker. whereas by the late address of both houses of parliament, his majesty was humbly desired by his own example to encourage the constant wearing of the manufactures of his own kingdoms and dominions, ... orders in council. - - england and wales. sovereign ( - : charles ii) charles ii, king of england, - . england and wales. privy council. sheet ([ ] p.). printed by the assigns of john bill and christopher barker, printers to the kings most excellent majesty, london : . title from caption title and first lines of text. steele notation: ex- that custom-; arms . identified as wing c a on reel (number cancelled in wing (cd-rom)). reproduction of the original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng silk industry -- england -- early works to . restraint of trade -- england -- early works to . great britain -- history -- charles ii, - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion c r diev et mon droit honi soit qvi mal y pense royal blazon or coat of arms at the court at whitehall , june the sixth , . present the kings most excellent majesty his royal highness the duke of york lord chancellour lord treasurer lord privy seal duke of lauderdale duke of ormond earl of ogle lord chamberlain earl of bridgwater earle of bathe earle of carlisle earl of craven earl of arlington earl of carbery viscount halifax lord maynard lord newport lord berkeley lord holles m r secretary coventry m r chancellour of the exchequer m r chancellour of the dutchy master of the ordnance sir thomas osborne m r speaker . whereas by the late address of both houses of parliament , his majesty was humbly desired by his own example to encourage the constant wearing of the manufactures of his own kingdoms and dominions , and to discountenance such persons , men or women in his majesties court , as should wear any manufactures made in forreign countreys ; and that pursuant hereunto his majesty had graciously declared , that he would not onely do it by his own example , but would discountenance all other persons that should wear forreign manufactures ; and that his majesty had given order to the lord treasurer , to direct the commissioners of the customs , to cause all goods of forreign manufacture prohibited by law , to be seized , at what port , or on whose account soever they shall be imported into this kingdom , and that his lordship shall grant no warrant for the release of them . and whereas upon the petition of the silk weavers of london , presented to his majesty in council , setting forth , that they have attained to great skill in contriving and making of silks and stuffs , figured and plain , and that if due encouragement were given to them , and to several other manual trades , by prohibiting the importation of forreign manufactures , they should increase and flourish . his majesty was pleased to declare , and accordingly then gave order to the master of his robes , that he should not prepare for his majesties use in his wearing apparel , any kind of silks or stuffs wrought out of his own dominions , nor any ribons , gloves , hatts , or other things for his wearing , which were manufactured beyond the seas , unless as hereafter excepted . and likewise that the lord chamberlain of his majesties houshold should take care , and give due order , that no person or persons should presume to come into his majesties presence , wearing any of the things aforesaid , being of forreign manufacture , nor any other whatever , unless as followeth ; namely , the lace commonly called point de venice , which may be worn by any until the first day of may next ( and no longer ) as also linen , and calicoes , and such other wearing things as by our own trade are imported from the east indies . to the end therefore that these his majesties commands and orders may be publickly taken notice of , and the more exactly obeyed , it is this day further ordered by his majesty in council , that the right honourable the lord treasurer do renew his orders to the commissioners of the customs , that they direct the seizure and confiscation of all manner of forreign wearing manufactures that are prohibited by law ; and to cause his majesties part thereof to be publickly burnt ; that so the petitioners , his majesties subjects , may find all due encouragement and advantage in the prosecution of their several trades and callings ; and this order is to be printed and affixed in all the ports and custom-houses of england . robert southwell . london , printed by the assigns of john bill and christopher barker , printers to the kings most excellent majesty . . the reformed common-wealth of bees. presented in severall letters and observations to sammuel hartlib esq. with the reformed virginian silk-worm. containing many excellent and choice secrets, experiments, and discoveries for attaining of national and private profits and riches. hartlib, samuel, d. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing h estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) the reformed common-wealth of bees. presented in severall letters and observations to sammuel hartlib esq. with the reformed virginian silk-worm. containing many excellent and choice secrets, experiments, and discoveries for attaining of national and private profits and riches. hartlib, samuel, d. . hartlib, samuel, d. . reformed virginian silk-worm. [ ], , [ ], p. : ill. printed for giles calvert at the black-spread-eagle at the west-end of pauls, london, : . the reformed virginian silk-worm, has a separate dated t.p. and pagination. annotation on thomason copy: "may. .". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng bees -- early works to . silkworms -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - tcp staff (michigan) text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the reformed common-wealth of bees . presented in severall letters and observations to sammuel hartlib esq. with the reformed virginian silk-worm . containing many excellent and choice secrets , experiments , and discoveries for attaining of national and private profits and riches . london , printed for giles calvert at the black-spread-eagle at the west-end of pauls , . the summary of the sections in the following epistolary treatise of bees . . the testimony of an ancient writer of husbandry , of an incredible revenue , , which hath been raised from keeping of bees . pag. . . . an extract of a letter , containing several observations upon the fore-alledged testimony . pag. . . an experiment of the generation of bees , practised by that great husbandman of cornwal m. carew of anthony . p. . . . dr. arnold boats observations upon the experiment of the generation of bees . pag. . . the new bee-hive , or a discourse for the right making of bee-hives , shewing their materials , proportion , ordering , and placing : and lastly , their vse and benefit . left for a farwel to his native country , by that zealous , publick-hearted and learned gentleman , thomas brown dr. in divinity , and of the civil laws . . . . . . . . a quere upon the description of dr. brown's new-invented bee-hive . pag. . . a letter discovering a new kind of excellent food for bees . pag. , . an extract of a letter concerning this new kind of food for bees , pag , . . . an other extract of a letter upon the same subject . pag. . . how anis may be got to grow in england . pag. . . a translate of a letter written in high-dutch , communicating , a secret for the better ordering and prserving of bees , practised beyond the seas . pag. . . . . . another description of the said secret. pag. . . a philosophical letter , treating of many other secreets , and experiments for general riches and profits , besides these arising from bees . pag. . . an enlargment of the philosophical-letter , explaining more fully divers of those more desirable passages for general riches and profits , with the reasons why no more is discovered at this time . pag. . . a very cheap way , how to keep a stock of bees all winter long . pag. . . a notable and approved experiment for improving of bees . p. . . . a copy of a letter written by mr. william mew , minister at eastlington in glocestershire to mr. nathaniel angelo fellow of eaton colledg pag. . . . a copy of mr. hartlibs letter to that worthy minister at eastlington mr. william mew . pag. . . . . . an extract of mr. mew's answer to mr. hartlib's letter , pag. . . . . . a letter concerning that pleasant and profitable invention of a transparent bee-hive , written by that much accomplish't and very ingenious gentleman , mr. christ. wren fellow of all-souls colledg in oxford . with the figure and description of the transparant bee-hive . pag. . . . considerations upon the letter from oxford . pag. . . . some remarkable observations , concerning the swarming of bees together , with a short description of a bee-hive made of glass . pag. . . . . a singular observation . concerning bee-hives , and buck-wheat , made by mr. thomas babington in his travels into germany . pap. . . . how to make good greek or other wines out of hony. p. . . . a receipt to make a pure mead that shall tast like wine . p. . . an other way to make a most pleasant and wine-like mead. pag. . . the common-wealth of bees , represented by mr. gerrard malynes , by way of a digression in his great book called , lex mercatoria , or , the ancient-law merchant . p. . . . . . a catalogue of some writers of bees extant in english. pag. . some of the grosser errata . pag. .r. . lin . . for etner r. enter , p. .l . .f . bees r. beef p. .l. .r . sprout & corn , p. . l. .f . infused r. misused . l. .f . excise r. excess , p. .l. .r.ly both open , l. .f . fourty r. four p. .l. .f . sceptile r. reptile , p. . l. . f. in the fire r. in the a●re , p. .l. .f . diccretick r. diuretick , p. .l. . & . r . cochineel . p. .l. .r . empyreuma , p. .l. .r . amazed , l. .f . macarates r. macerated . p. .l. .r . make its combes , p. .l. . r. to ergon , l. .r . parerga . p. .l. .f . woods r. weeds , l. .f . woods r. weeds , p. .l. .f . dury r. durus . some vvriters of bees extant in english. the feminine monarchy , or the history of bees . shewing their admirable nature and properties ; their generation and colonies ; their government , loyalty , art , industry ; enemies , wars , magnanimity , &c. together with the right ordering of them from time to time , and the sweet profit arising thereof . written out of experience by charles butler , magd. plat. in trucul . act. . sc. . pluris est oculatus testis unus , quam auriti decem . oxford , printed by william turner , for the author . . a book promised by henry gurnay , gentleman . wherein is shewed what great losse cometh to the common-wealth , by the neglect , carelesness and ignorance in the keeping of more store of bees , and the right ordering them to most profit , partly shewed in , that some man having a score of shepes , and his next neighbour not any , or happily , not three in that town of an hundred housholds as many more : and that some country is very plentiful thereof , and the next every way as apt for that commodity , yet very scarce thereof ; and yet the air and the year equally indifferent to all alike , the common errour being to ascribe a greater luck in these kinds to some men more than to others , which is onely through an unskilfulness therein . the ordering of bees . or the tru . history of managing them from time to time , with their honey and wax , shewing their nature and breed . as also what trees , plants and hearbs are good for them , and namely what are hurtful : together with the extraordinary profit arising from them , &c. set forth in a dialogue , resolving all doubts whatsoever . by the late unparallell'd experience , of john levets , gent. london , printed by thom. harper , for john harison , . a treatise concerning the right use and ordering of bees . newly made and set forth , according to the authors own experience : ( which by any heretofore hath not been done ) by edmund southern gent. imprinted at london by thomas orwin , for thomas woodcock , dwelling in pauls church-yard , at the sign of the black bear. . a discourse or history of bees . shewing their nature and vsage , and the great profit of them . written by richard remnant . london , printed by robert young , for thomas slater , dwelling in duck-lane at the white swan . . finis . the reformed common-vvealth of bees , presented in severall letters to samuel hartlib esquire . the testimony of an ancient writer of husbandry , of an incredible revenue , which hath been raised from keeping of bees . varro de re rustica , lib. . c. . de fructu ; authorem habeo non soluno qui alvearia sua locata habet quotannis quinis millibus pondo mellis , sed etiam h●nc varronem nostrum quem audivi dice item , duos milites se habuisse in hispania fratres vejamos , ex agro falisco locupletes , quibus cum a patre relicta esset parva villa , & agellus non sa●e major jug●ro uno , h●s circum villam totam alvearium facisse , & hortum habuisse ac reliquum thymo , & cythiso obsevisse & apiastro ; hos nunquam minus , ut peroeque d●cerent , dena millia sextertia ex melle recipere esse solitos in english thus . concerning the profit of bees , i have not onely a witnesse , who saith , that he lets out his bees for five thousand pounds of honey by the yeer , but also our friend varro here , whom i have heard say , that he had with him in spain two souldiers , brethren , and rich , to whom their father left a small country house , and a little field , in truth , not greater than one acre , and that round about the house they made a place to keep bees , and a garden , and planted the rest with thyme , cytisus and bawme , and were w●nt to receive yearly for honey , reckoning one year with another , never lesse than ten thousand sesterces , which being in the time of the consuls ( before the caesars ) makes of our mony eighty three pound six shillings eight pence . an extract of a letter containing new observations upon the fore-alledged testimony . the distinction introduced by the gr●mmarians betwixt sestertii and s●stertia , is not alwayes observed by classical authors : and so in varro's words — denae millia sestertia — signifieth no more than — de●i●s milla num●●i sest●rtii — that is in english mony , reckoning the sestert●us at two pence sterling , ( id quod praeter prop●er ●st verum ●jus preti●m ) about four-score and three pound sterling , a very fair yearly revenue to be got out of one acre of ground , and therefore well worth the while , to be alledged by varro , for to encourage men by this example to the keeping of bees . if i were sure to get so much by it , i would soon turn a bee-keeper , which i have a great mind to doe however before i dye ; and therefore pray as many secrets concerning these pretty creatures , as possible you can attain unto ; and for your reward , i promise you a good proportion of honey and wax out of my first crop. an experiment of the generation of bees , practised by that great husbandman of cornwell , old mr. carew of anthony . take a calf , or rather a sturk ( or steer ) of a year old , about the latter end of aprill , bury it eight or ten dayes , till it begin to putrifie and corrupt ; then take it forth of the earth , and opening it , lay it under some hedge , or wall , where it may ●e most subject to the sun , by the heat whereof it will ( a great part of it ) turn into maggets , which ( without any other care ) will live upon the remainder of the corruption . after a while , when they begin to have wings , the whole putrified carcasse would be carried to a place prepared , where the hives stand ready , to which , being perfumed with honey and sweet hearbs , the maggets ( after they have received their wings ) will resort . the gentleman in cornwell , that practised this experiment , used hogsheads , or bigger wine casks , instead of hives , and the practise of the bee being to spend the first part of the summer in filling the upper part of the cask , and so still to work downwards : the gentlemans usuall custome was ( through a door in the upper part of the cask ) to take out what honey he wanted , without any disturbance to the bees , whose work and abode then was in the lower part of the cask . dr. arnold boate's observations upon the experiment of the generation of bees . i did ever think that the generation of bees out of the carcass of a dead calf , given us by divers of the ancients , but most amply and elegantly by virgil in the fourth book of his georgicks , had been a fiction , but am glad to find the contrary by your letter , which confirmed the same out of modern and english experience . and i would as little have thought , that bees would have wrought in such vast hives as hogsheads , whereas some of the ancients give us a caveat , even of the ordinary hives , not to make them too large — ne apes anima despondeante ex desperatione implendi , — least bees should be discouraged out of a despair to fill them . the new bee-hive : or a discourse for the right making of bee-hives , shewing their materials , proportion , ordering , and placing ; and lastly their use and benefit . left for a farewell to his native country , by that zealous publick-hearted and learned gentleman thomas brown dr. in divinity , and of the civill law. it is clear from many good authors , that the ancients made a constant revenue of their bees without killing them at any time , and that this so profitable government of bees is now utterly lost , is too much apparent from the common practise of all nations at this day , who generally kill the bees to take the honey . if by any conjecture or comparing one thing with another , we may be able to find out a meanes to preserve bees , and yet receive a constant and liberall benefit by them , is the subject of this following discourse . although the history of bees hath been largely handled , even to curiosity , yet the principal part of it , concerning their preservation , so as to raise a constant revenue by them , hath not been so clearly set down , as the importance thereof deserveth , seeing that hereupon dependeth the whole businesse of a bee-master ; f●r from the multitude of bees commeth the great increase of honey , and the plenty of honey is the chief meanes to increase your bees , which we shall easily and certainly doe , if we rightly understand and practise the naturall way of ordering them . this task at your intreaty i have adventured upon , whether i have performed it so fully and clearly as i seem to my self to understand it , the successe will judge . for the preserving of bees then , it is of absolute necessity , that they be abundantly provided of food , which in summer your garden and the neighbouring fields must afford , for the winter they will furnish themselves ; also that they be largely , conveniently , and cleanly housed , which two things rightly practised will perform what we desire . i take it for a certain truth , that bees doe never forsake the place of their breeding , so long as it is cleanly and large enough for them , and that accordingly in greatest company they prosper best , as frequent experience proveth , in such places , where they have chosen themselves dwellings in the bodies of great hollow trees , in which have been found combs full of honey wrought down six or eight foot long , as also between the beames and floonings of houses with the like increase , which in all probability could not be done by the labour of any one swarm , though of the greatest numbers , so that of necessity there must have been the increase of some yeares bees , to bring together so great a masse of honey , and it is truly observed , that the old and young bees doe live quietly in the same hive , as did the families in the old world , renewing themselves from year to year . if i shall shew you the way to accomplish this , i have done what i undertook ; upon these two maximes lieth the foundation of all i have to say , that bees will not leave their place of breeding , but for want of room , or some annoiance by noise or ill smells : that in all their workings they move downwards , if the place hinder them not . according to these two rules , your onely care is , to make your hives of such a fashion , as doth naturally and necessarily agree with , and help forward this design , and this can be no other than flat , as well at the top , as at the bottome , both ends of an equall breadth to a hair , in all the hives you make , so that they may be easily set one upon another , as many as you shall see necessary for your purpose , though in some places they make them square of four boards , yet because the round figure is the most perfect . i rather choose it . for the right making of your hives , i shall shew you their materials , proportion , ordering and placing ; and lastly their use and benefit . you may make them , and that will be the best , of such empty cask , as hath had in it honey , muskadine , canarie , or malaga wine , according as you have opportunitie , because these vessels , being already so well seasoned , will not easily loose their savour , and will the better invite the bees , both to come , and to remain in them . for their proportion i would have a. b. every hive to contain a just bushell within the work , the breadth of it to be a third part more than the height , that so it may stand the surer headed , but at one end , which must be c. the upper part of it , in the midst of that head , a round hole d. three or four inches wide , made very smooth , the hives a. b. must be all of a widenesse from the top to the bottome , otherwise the combs will not come out without breaking ; six e. broad hoops will be sufficient , two in the midst , and two at each end , the lowest hoop must be set a large inch from the end of the vessell , leaving so much of it bare , which part must be exceeding smooth and strong , which bare place f. should be covered with a very thin hoop of iron or brasse for its greater strength , and on the fore side of it , three in the midst for the great bees , and six smaller on each side for the lesser , for there , and there onely it may receive offence , the uppermost hoop must be somewhat stronger and broader than the rest by a full inch , and so set on that it may stand out a full inch further than the end of the vessell , thereby leaving sufficient and fit space to set the lower part f. of another vessel fast into it as into a box , so close , that no air can come in , that it may not be moved . and because bees cannot conveniently work in such a void space without some support for their combs , the fittest that i can think on , may be made in imitation of such frames , as gardiners use for their gillifloures , composed of three or four very small hoops , and as many side posts of fir , with some crosse barres at the top , and in the middle to stay the combs , and that these may not be shaken nor moved , in the bare space at the bottom of the vessell , bore two holes , one opposite to the other , through the vessell and the frame , and so fasten them together . and for the more easie and safe removing of your hives , either to see in what estate they be , or to take away such as be full of honey and empty of bees , you must set upon every hive two g. such iron handles as are usually upon bushels , and so you may command them at your pleasure . and for the great hole d. in the top of the hive , you must make a cover h. with a shoulder and a handle , to stop it so close , that no air may come in . your hives a. b. being thus i. c. d. e. k. g. h. made , you must order them as followeth . i will suppose you have at least a. one hive of old bees , at the beginning of the year , take b. one of your new hives , and sweeten both it and the frame very curiously , and fasten them together , set this hive b. where you mean your bees shall stand , leaving the hole d. at the top open , then take a. your old hive of bees , and cut away the skirts of it , as much as conveniently you may , to the very combs , the neerer the better , and make a new door to it , and set it upon b. the new hive , within the compasse of e. the hoop . and because in the bees working down into the lower hive , it is probable that the combs of the two hives will hang together , and so be troublesome to part them , to prevent this inconvenience , lay a false bottom , with a hole in it , upon the top of the lower hive , close to the top of the lower hive , and make it fast . your hives being thus placed , your bees , either for the sweetnesse in the new hive b. or for want of room in the old , will make all haste to work down into b. the new , and so in a short time leave a. the old full of honey and empty of bees , both the old stock , and their increase , going down , working and abiding in b. the new hive , whereby you shall have opportunity , when you see it most convenient , to take away the upper hive full of honey , without the least trouble to the bees , or to your self . when you have taken away a. the upper hive , set on the cover h. upon the hole in the lower hive b. so close that no air may come in , and then set another new empty hive , and a false bottom upon it , as before , sweetned and prepared under it , expecting a fit time when the upper hive shall be full● and the bees gone down into this b. b. lower hive , to take it away as you did the former , and so from time to time as long as the gathering season lasteth , but not towards winter . if your bees increase plentifully , it will be necessary to have three hives one upon another , that so the bees may have room enough for themselves and their swarmes , if you see cause , you may adventure to four , but never higher , which number when you have happily attained , you shall set a new hive well prepared and sweetned , as neer i. the mouth of the lowest hive , as you can conveniently , putting into it some honey-comb , or other sweet things , and raising it on the side half an inch or more , that the bees walking up and down may find a new dwelling ready for them , and at their next swa●ming goe into that hive , and so make it the beginning of a new store . the use and benefit of all that hath been said is , that your bees shall alwayes be provided of a sweet dwelling , large enough for themselves and their increase , and whereby they shall easily be kept together , also of such plenty of food , that when others starve they shall be alwayes strong , both summer and winter , whereby in all probability , by gods blessing , and your own moderate care , you shall have multitudes of bees , and consequently abundance of honey . a the first upper hive . b the second , or the first lower hive . b b the third , or the second lower hive . c the upper bottome . e the hoops . f the lower end of the hive . g the handler on the hives . h the cover for the great hole in the upper hive . i the mouths of the hives . d the great hole in the upper bottome . a querie upon the description of dr. brown's new invented bee-hive . vvhether the square figure may not prove the best , in that there may better be placed a bill or drawer in the bottome of the hive , into which ( being drawn forth ) there may from time to time be food laid for any particular hive , without any disturbance to or from the rest of the hives , where every particular hive may ( if occasion require ) shut up and feed by it self , which in the ordering of bees may prove many times of good concernment . a letter discovering a new kind of excellent food for bees . sir , being much indebted to you for the gift of your legacie , and other choice pieces , and understanding that you are about another of the like nature , which you intend to publish . i thought good in the mean time ( till occasion prompt some other meanes to serve you ) to impart unto you this notable secret , which i had from an old germane captain concerning bees , that by long experience the planting of anise neer them proved the best meanes for multiplying and keeping of them , as also for their breeding of great store of honey . that the hearb being taken , and the inside of the hives rubbed therewith , causeth great multitudes of bees to etner , and become close retainers to those hives , which ought to be placed directly against the sun , so that the sun beames fall just into the orifices of them . that the feeding upon this plant will cause each stock to engender and thrust out three young ones in one year , within which space they doe else not nse to doe so above once . that against the time of their thrusting forth , other hives ought to be placed next to those from whence they thrust forth , which , as also the way leading to the orifices , are to be rubbed with the anise in such sort , that the juyce of the hearb may come forth and stick thereunto , and the young stocks that come forth from the old , will certainly enter into those , and not repair any where else . but in case that upon the neglect any be swarved forth , and settled unto some tree , the fault may be amended by rubbing the inside of the new hive with anise , and holding it on the top of a long pearch unto the bees , who will enter thereinto of themselves as soon as they scent the sweetnesse of the anise . the abovesaid captain related , that a baron in austria so thrived by this secret , that he furnished many countries with honey and wax , and thereby abundantly increaseth his wealth and revenue . this i thought to hand unto the publick by your meanes , resting sir , your most affectionate to serve you f. h. sir , i pray pardon the rudenesse of my language , and to surrogate that which may better abide the touch-stone of publick view . for my being continually called upon will not give me leave to doe it better . an extract of a letter concerning this new kind of food for bees . about the secret concerning bees , on which you desire my judgement , i can say nothing else , but that it must be referred to experience , whereby if it be confirmed ( as indeed i doe think that very likely ) i shall be extreamly beholding to you for it , and i may chance to make great use of it one day , beseeching you heartily , that when ever any of the like shall come to your hands , you would be pleased to impart the same unto me . another extract of a letter upon the same subject . most of those authors that write of the nature and government of bees , of whom i have the matter of a dozen here , name sundry hearbs , to which the bees have a particular liking , and divers others , that are good in sundry respects to be neer the hives , but not one of them all doth name anise , in either of those two classes , as my inquiry ( for which i had no time when i wrote to you about that matter first ) hath taught me ; so as that secret which you imparted unto me concerning the same ( a most excellent one indeed if confirmed by sure experience ) is altogether new , and not borrowed from ancient writers , as you may see hereby . how anise may be got to grow in england , is taught in that excellent book , called , the garden of eden , as followeth . sowe english annise-seeds , when the moon is at the full , in february , or any time between the full and the change : if frosts will not suffer you to take the full moon , hatch them into the ground with a rake stricken thick upon them ; then strew new horse-dung thinly upon the ground , to defend the seeds from the frost . — these will ripen about bartholemew-tide ; then respecting the moon , as before , sowe again , and these seeds will be ripe sooner than those which were sown in february . these seeds will also come up well , being self sown , onely break up the ground about them when they begin to ripen . that ground which you would sowe in february , break up about michaelmas ; let it lie and crumble all the winter , then when you mean to sowe , stir it up again , that it may be mellow , for the mellower the better . a black rich mellow ground is best , and they like well in a rich dunged ground . proved by s. a translate of a letter written in high-dutch , communicating a secret for the better ordering and preserving of bees , practised beyond the seas . sir , i give you many thanks for that direction about bees , but i cannot perceive , how by that way we may prevent their swarming , or the trouble of hiving them . nor doth that way avoid the vulgar errour of destroying the best bees for their honey . to remedy all these and many other inconveniences , i have formerly sought an unusuall way , and in practise have found it good and profitable . i caused hives of glasse to be made , and covered them with wood ; in which covers i made windowes to be opened when i list , which served me for the better considering of their nature , but afforded me no help in the foresaid inconvenience , for such i account them , though i see your man be of a contrary opinion , speaking of often swarming , as a thing very advantageous . it is true , the more swarmes you have , the greater is the number of hives in your bee-garden , but the stocks are so much the weaker , especially every metropolitan stock , out of which his three or four swarmes issued : which consideration gave occasion to that precept , given heretofore by experienced bee-masters , not to suffer any stock to swarm above twice in a year , but rather to prevent it , by giving the bees more room , which is done by setting the bee-hive some inches higher from the bench or stool upon which they stand . that swarming weakeneth the first stocks , is manifest to any one that considereth , that for the production and breeding of the young bees , there is in every hive a great number of attendants , somewhat larger than the bees ( we call them drones ) which are fed by the labours of the bees , as long as they prepare for swarming ; but as soon as the bees resolve to send-out no more colonies , they fall upon the drones and kill them . the young bees are also kept idle till their general be ready , and the whole army be fit to march out all together for a new plantation . the oftner that such swarmes issue out of a stock of bees , the more is the dammage and charge that it suffers from these drones and young bees : all which cost and charges are spared in my way , so that my bees never intending to swarme , had so much the more provision for bad weather and winter , and did so much the sooner set their young ones to work for themselves , and to earn their own meat , as having no pretence to be kept idle , secondly , in the common way it is so hard to keep bees from flying away in swarming time , that the most diligent watchers of them doe now and then lose a swarm : but in my way of ordering them such watching is unnecessary ; for my bees never fly away , because i prevent all occasions of swarming : by which meanes they are also kept from breeding of drones , and new master-bees , or generals ; and their young bees , as soon as they can fly , are set to work among their elders . thirdly , i never needed to kill any of my bees , and yet i could share with them in the honey . it was not unusuall with me to make a whole barrel of honey and wax out of one stock or hive . and besides all these conveniences , my bees were farre better secured and defended from excessive heat and cold , from vermine , theeves , and all other their troublers and enemies . they had also this accommodation , that when they were laden they went downward , but clambered upward when they were unladen , whereas the contrary is necessary in the common-way . i make no question , but that by this time you long to hear what course i took with them ; nor shall i be nice in communicating it , though it cost me above two hundred rix dollers . but if you were here , i could farre more easily shew it , than i can now find words to expresse it well in writing especially thus in a letter . my bee-hives did not stand upright after the usual manner , but lay upon two long poles or railes within my house , in a garret , close under the roof , where the bees could creep in and out under the tiles . the close end of the hive touched the tiles of the roof . in the upper part of each hive i did cut a hole for the bees to goe in and out . the wide end of the hive commonly stands clapt down upon some plank , but in mine it was shut up with a bottom made of straw , pinned to it on every side with wooden skewets . and by the like meanes i could adjoyn straw-hoops of what breadth i pleased , and so lengthen any of my hives as often as need was , so that they never swarmed , though their number increased so much , that by several additions a hive became two or three yards long . the way of taking their honey from them was thus ; i unpinned the wide end of a hive , and by burning linnen rags i smoaked up the bees thence toward the close end of the hive ; and then i might freely take away the prolongers or additional hoops one after another , till i thought the bees could not well spare any more honey . this slight description may make it seem a small matter to those that consider not , that all the aforesaid conveniences will undoubtedly follow it . hereafter i may perhaps expresse it more fully , when i have more leisure to write ; especially if my affairs would permit me to come to you to confer at large of this , &c. another authors description of the said secret. a a common bee-hive . b a prolonger to lengthen or eeke out the hive withall . c a hole cut in the upper end of the hive a. d a bottom or dore to shut up the hive , whether it be single as a , or lengthened as a b b. e the wooden pins in b and d for the joyning of them to the ends of a or b. sir , i here send you the description of my long bee-hives expressed in picture : wherein ( a ) is a common bee-hive , not standing , as the usuall manner is , but laid along upon one side . in the upper part of the hive i cut a round or four cornerd hole , through which the bees may passe in and out , here marked with c. in the placing of the hive you may turn that hole downward if you will , but i turn it alwayes upward , that the bees , when they are laden , may rather goe downward than upward . besides , if i turn it not upwards i cannot well set it close to any hole , left for the bees entrance , under the tiles in the roof of a garret , which is a farre surer way than after the usuall manner , to leave them in a garden , exposed to theeves , vermin , and distempers of weather . where the roof is inconvenient , i use to make a hole in the upright wall of a garret , and set the hive close up against the wall , with a hole in its head precisely answering to that hole in the wall . the open end i shut up with a bottom made of straw , as you see represented at d , which may be opened easily , and yet shuts close and firm by the help of those wooden pins here marked with e. when i perceive that my bees have neer filled their hive , i take off that shutter d , and set on a prolonger , like the hive , but that it hath no head , such as are here marked with b , and then shut it up , as before , with that straw door d. thus i may add as many continuators as i please , shutting close up to one another , alwayes closing the last with d whensoever i intend to take some hony from the bees , i provide linnen rags , wherewith i make a smoak , and let it into the hive , by pulling away the door d , from whence the bees are driven by the smoak toward their small entrance c , so that i may safely take away as many prolongers as i think good , and put a fresh one in the place , shutting it up with the door d. a phylosophicall letter , treating of many other secrets and experiments for generall riches and profits , be sides those arising from bees . in pursuance of your request , and performance of my promise , i shall , according to what i may , indeavour to answer your desire , knowing your sincere zeal for , and care of the publick . truly sir , i should very hardly have entred the stage , had it not been out of that inclination i have to serve you , who neglecting all private interests , doe wholly spend your self in labouring to profit others , who how f●r they may take notice of your pious and sincere endeavours herein i know not , but confidently perswade my self , that your labour will not be lost as to future ages , who will assuredly take notice of your pains and care , and will esteem your labour accordingly . i have read several pieces , by your self published , both lately and formerly , and those discovering , not onely divine and spiritual , but also humane and temporal mysteries . as to the first sort of your discoveries , i hope there is none so unprincipled in christianity , but must and will confesse , that by such talent improving servants much will redound to the advantage of the lord the creditor , and for the edification of many in the wayes of righteousnesse . but as to the later , perhaps the ignorance or perversenesse of the times may impute that to folly , which the ripest of the imputers could hardly equall with solid and reall wisdom , yet you may resolve , that the time will be , when your undertakings herein will more earnestly be prized , for i perswade my self , and that not without good ground , that it is not now long before the time shall come , when ingenuities of all kind shall more and more flourish , when the envy of artists shall cease , who shall not then be jealous , least oth●rs with a dry finger should attain to such things by bare reading , which they in finding out have tryed so many wearisome experiments , which in mine opinion is ( though i confesse god by this meanes doth keep obscured , that which he in his justice judges the ungrateful world at present unworthy of ) but a meer humane conceit , and full of fleshly fragility , for considering the many ripe wits which are in the world , if a man , who hath attained to any measure of reall discovery , should as freely impart the same to such , of whose sincerity he is assured , and withall such , who with himself are daily searchers into the secrets of nature , i am confident , that by this joynt improvement of their utmost ability , more in some few yeares would be found out , then by any one single man could be attained , though he should live to a very great age . therefore sir , i cannot but judicially honour your desires of vindicating what ever excellent you can meet with , from the dark cloud of obscurity , that so the publick may by this meanes reap the fruit of that se●d , being thus scattered , which , if stifled under a clod , would have been for ever unuseful . besides many other useful pieces , those which more neerly concern us here in england , are your two books of husbandry , the one shewing us our defects here in england , the other the braband husbandry , which with gods blessing i hope will redound to the filling of our pastures with cattle , our gardens with all sorts of roots and hearbs , our garners with store of grain , to the wonderful good of this place . next your design for plenty , in the universal planting of fruit trees , to which two i hear you are adding a third treatise concerning bees . these three treatises concern our good and welfare so neerly , that i can but wish them as happily embraced , as ominously offered . for indeed if they were put in practise , the advantage which the common-wealth would reap therein , is beyond estimation : for first of all the plenty of food would soon cheer the mind of those , who through the scarcity thereof , and other necessities , are now likely to ●amish , of which the overplus w●uld not onely provide cloths , the other staffe of life , which necessitie craveth , but also produce several staple commodities , by the which conveniency , yea , superfluity it self would be maintained among tho●●w●● for prese●● are destitute of necessaries . ●or to give you a tast herein , i● lands were improved for hay and root● , as the brabant husbandry doth cheifly insinu●te , that which at p●esent is wa●t , and of little value , would yeild both roots for mans nourishment , and hay for fodder for cattel● by which a double benefit would arise : first , the increase of cattel● and with them of butter , cheese , bees , &c. secondly , land by this improvement would be brought to be of farre gr●ater value for the like , or any other imployment for future . to these adde the oyle , which the seeds of roots would produce , if in qu●ntity sown . and then the roots themselves , with gra●●es , turnip-tops , and the like method , as in the l●rge epistle is taught , with the hay , would be enough ( if not to spare ) to feed cattel that are to be fatted , milch-cowes , and labouring beasts , so would the pastures be the lesse burdened , onely with sheep and other dry kine ; nor should we be so driven in cold weather for the keeping of cattel , which by this meanes would not onely be in good plight , but even fat in the midst of winter : then the abundance of all sort of grain , which would be in these nations with the fruits and honey , would be cast upon us as a superfluous inriching , as if the bounty of the most high were not content to make us happy , but of all other nations most wealthy : for besides the making of bread and beer out of grain , upon which account it is a thing prized of most nations that are civilized , and the ordinary and known use of fruits , i know , and that upon most infallible grounds , that by the abundance of these we might better our being , beyond what at first thoughts can be apprehended . leaving then all known mechanical uses of these commodities , with the value of them on that account , as they are ( in specie ) i shall hint some other applications of them , without considerable charge or trouble , by which meanes a most incredible advantage may redound to him , who hath opportunity , leisure , and list to experiment . and first as to the making of wines : and secondly of strong waters , or spirits ; of which how much is imported into this nation annua●ly , it is beyond my reach to compute . whereas , if instead of having these brought into ●● we were able , besides our own store , to export the like , or farre greater quantity , none will deny , but that this art would indeed b● ( as to the benefit from it redounding ) inv●l●●●le . i say then , and can demonstrate , that out of all graines which are of a mealy substance , as also out of all seeds of the like nature ( not oyly ) may be made excellent strong waters , or aqua vitae ; as also out of all fruits , plums , berries , or roots ; that out of berries , fruits and roots is more mild , but by grain mal●ed and honey it may be quickned . there are of inferior sort of graines , as rye , oates , pease , and the like , which handled as barly , untill it sprout corn , need not then for this work be dryed , but beaten and moisted with its own liquor , and soundly fermented , and will so yeild a monstrous increase . out of one bushel of good pease , i know , will come of spirit , at the least two gallons or more , which will be as strong as the strongest annise-seed-water usually sold in london : this i know is the least , and is done without malting . now to these adde your drossie honey , that , to wit , which comes not forth without squeezing the combs , and you shall encrease your quantity abundantly ; so then by the meanes of honey , graines and fruits , we shall not need so much to fetch canary or malago wines from the spanish territories , nor white or rhenish wines from the french and germane coast , so to inrich them with our commodities , for which we receive but a pallate-pleasing iuyce , which nature craves not for necessity , nay the greatest part thereof is infused in sinful superfluity , bearing the greater price , because farre fetcht ; whereas the nations , with whom wine is made , use farre lesse of it than we who buy it at rack rates , so that it is a prov●●b hispa●us rarò ebrius , the spaniard is seldome 〈◊〉 . the more is 〈◊〉 both our sin and shame , who oft abuse 〈…〉 to drunkennesse ; whereas if it were once 〈…〉 ( as it s easily so to be made ) a domestick commodity , no ma● then would want it for his necessary use , and by the reason of its commonnesse , the price of it would be brought farre lower , and by c●nsequence the request it finds among the sipping gallants of our time would abate ; so that this benefit at least would redound , that besides the moderation which would ensue of that excise in drinking ( which now alas to our shame is in use among us ) we should be able to send forth in considerable quantity that very commodity , the import whereof doth stand this nation , now yearly , in an incomputable sum of money , besides the support of several families by the use of them in specie , which alone were enough to make the abundance thereof to us , not onely acceptable , but also desirable , as for the use of spirits i need not to mention them , since utterance , i suppose , presents it self yearly to this nation of as much as it can spare , and more , i suppose , could be vended , if it might be had . yet one thing i may speak as to that particular : it is known , that fish is no small part of the traffique of this nation , besides that which is used among our selves for our own spending ; of which ( especially cod-fish the principal merchantable fish that is sold ) is taken at the banks of new-found land , and new england . now what quantities of spirits are spent among the fishing companies in new and old england ? i suppose many know better than i can inform them , who for the most part are supplied with dutch or french brandy , those nations eating , as it were , the bread out of our mouths , by which meanes the wages of the painful fisherman is , for the most part , at the winding up pocketted by strangers , whereas if we were able to furnish the same commodity at like or lower price , it would be to us no small annual profit , since , in such like trade , the fisherman consumes , for the most part , one half of his yearly earnings . but i shall leave the managing of commodities to those who are conversant in such employments , at present bounding my self with this , ne sutor ul●ra crepida●n : it is enough for me to shew how commodities may be raised , and those domestick , with inconsiderable paines and trouble , but for the improvement of them , it is good i should leave that task to such , who professedly take upon them the charge of such matters . but while i thus swerve from my professed theme , which is to give you ( according to that observation that i have taken ) an account of bees ; give me leave to hint one thing , which ( in my opinion ) is the master-piece of whatsoever you have waded in . i cannot say that you are the author of it , since i have read many overtures made of and concerning that subject , by others , yet i know that your self are none of the least drivers on of that design , namely , the advancing of credit , so as to make bills currant in payment , to the wonderful encrease of trading , to which i may also adde your office of publique addresse , both which enterprizes ( if not unseasonable mercies at present ) i hope the lord will give this nation to enjoy , but as concerning our present matter , which at this time i chiefly intend , namely , concerning bees , i understand from you , that your chief desire to be informed concerning them , is first , how they may be engendred ? secondly , how encreased ? and thirdly , how inriched with wax and honey ? for the first , the truth is , i have read in some authors of their engendering out of dead kine , fermented with the falling dew . some think , that out of any kind of beast bees may be produced , and doe conclude , that the bees which bestowed their honey on the carcasse of the lion , slain by samson , were of this nature , and bred out of that savage creature ; yet must i confesse , that i never yet saw the experiment of bees engendred in or from any dead carcasse , though i have known several sorts of dead creatures both open , and covered with leaves , lightly exposed to the continual dewes , yet never could i take notice of any such procreation . and that out of kine , either strangled , or otherwise dying , and so lying abroad , exposed to the influence of the heavens , bees naturally will not spring , i am induced : for that in the summer islands , where i was born , i never yet saw one bee , except those of a kind called humble bees , where notwithstanding , to my knowledge , divers cattle both younger and older , have ( perishing by mischance , as it oft falls out there , that the very heat of the noon . sun in summer kills cattle if not removed into the shade ) lyen in the open fields till they have rotted , and have not a night scarce wanted the dew , in which maggots and wormes have bred , but no bees , which if they were so to be bred , i suppose would in lesse than fourty yeares have been seen in those islands , in which i never saw any , though i was naturally a great observer of insects there , where i noted waspes , but no honey making bees . nor is it to be thought , that the climate is averse to the generation of insects , which it there produceth of other kinds as plentifully , if not more than many other places , in which bees are , also my ingendred curiosity was so great , that i took the pain to observe and collect the generation of several insects , with their various mutations from kind to kind , sparing no diligent travel that might benefit me herein . for so soon as i began to read a little in philosophy , i took great content in these contemplations , which after in new england i as carefully noted . in the summer islands i found , that in rain-water kept in wooden troughs ( especially where the sun at some time of the day shineth on it ) there would in time gather a sedimen of muddy matter to the bottome , black and slimy , out of which would breed at the bottom , crawling long ill-favoured wormes , with many feet : these wormes growing bigger and bigger would swim and play together , and engender sexually , till at last growing more slow , they would at length lose almost all motion , at last coming to the top of the water , would by the legs hang neer the superficies , where in few dayes , opening the back , out of them proceeds a fly , which crawling out of the water , is for a day or two tender , after able to fly , which fly , after a time casting its skin , becomes another creeping insect , with out wings , and of it proceeds another fly , farre different from the former . so in the ground , i have often under stones or tufts of grasse found tender wormes , which are naturally in time of their own accord incrusted , and so lying a space , at length break , out of which comes a great butter-fly , which layeth her eggs on the orange tender leaves , where the dew hatcheth them into wormes , which live on the leaves , and if touched send forth long red hornes ; these at length , hanging to the n●●●r part of a bough , are incrusted , and after a long death turning the same kind of butterfly , which before came out of the earth . another sort of wormes , ingendred by the 〈…〉 ences in the earth , being incrusted , proves a singing 〈…〉 after its season , cleaving to a tree , casteth its skin , and of a ●ly becometh a creeping sceptile , and so liveth a long time , till about the season of the year when that fly cometh again . this creeping thing on some tree or other for a time is almost without motion , at last bursting insunder in the back , out of it comes the like singing fly as came before out of the first worm , which was bred in the earth . many such like generations of wormes in the earth , and of crawling creatures in the waters , which after turn into flies , and so again into other husky wormes without motion , and from them to other flying insects . i might speak largely , were it not besides my proposed intent and scope at present . a third very anomalous generation , which i have noted , is of a sort of stinging flies out of rotten trees : these , in the summer islands , i have observed out of the rotting palmeto , and in new england i have seen the same in rotten poplar and birch : in which a man may at one time see some , like to a tender spermatical milk , enclosed in a most tender skin , others like to a white maggot , with a little motion , others now almost shaped like a fly , others full formed , and able to crawle , others ready to come forth , and in a short time after to fly . the generations of beetles , dorres , &c. i have also diligently enquired into , and find , that under stone hedges , where dunghils are usually made of rubbish , they doe chiefly proceed , which some sort of sea shell-fish , buried in the earth , doe also produce the same in kind and fashion with the former . yet , as i said , i never yet could experimentally find any rise of bees from putrefaction , though by me , for curiosity sake , oft attempted , and that with the bloud , also with the flesh of kine , such as by accident perishing , i could procure part of them for tryall sake ; this i have kept , some openly exposed to the dew , others covered with rubbish ( as for the generation of other insects ) other while defended with green leaves and straw , and so buried in the earth , others covered with earth immediately without any defence from the same , in which variety of operations , as i had variety of successe , at various seasons of the year , so never did the event answer the end , for which i imployed this industriou●●nquiry . if any gentleman , that hath on his own experien●e tried this manner of production of bees , please to impa●t ●is 〈◊〉 , ● shall be unto him really thankful , and requi●e 〈…〉 perhaps with as acceptable a discovery 〈…〉 my opinion , is , as it were , natures recreation , 〈…〉 the f●acid ferment of putrifying bodies doth 〈…〉 there is singular and rare variety , so they are int●eded 〈◊〉 blessings or scourges to man. the bee , the silk-wor● , the cochmeel , how greatly profitable to mankind they have been i need not repeat , nay most insects of a shelly or scaly nature , being very excellent in medicinal qualities . i think then , that our sloth is very great , in that we neglect the inquiry into this particular . i shall a little touch , and perhaps not impertinently here . in the summer islands there is a sort of spider , that is very large , and of admirable gay colours , yellowish , blackish , greenish , and reddish , so intermixed , that it makes the creature very delectable to look on ; these in great multitudes are there , who live abroad in the open fields , spinning their webbs from tree to tree of a vast bignesse , to catch flies in , on the which they prey : their webbs are yellow , and most pure silk , of which one maid for tryall knit a pair of gloves , which prove in wearing no whit inferiour to the best silk of the silk-worm . now if these spiders were so kept , as an ingenions man might easily invent , they by feeding kept in good plight , might be made to spin quantity enough , for as much as in few houres they will spin a large web , if their old one be taken away , else they mind onely their prey . but the triall of what may be done in this , i leave to others who may have opportunity ; this i onely insert here to shew , that not the silk-worm onely yeeldeth silk , which is common to this spider with them , and that of the spider nothing in●eriour to the silk , which the worm spinneth . again the cochmeel , which is so rich a commodity , cometh out of a fruit called the indian fig or prickled pear , which as yet none of our nation have attempted to make , which is the cause that die is so scarce , although in all the summer islands the tree bearing that fruit is most plentifull , and the generation of that ins●ct as easie as may be , if but attempted with ingenuity the leaf is of a thick slimy nature , the fruit full of seeds and ●loudred , very wholsome , and hath this property , that it passeth strait to the urine retaining it● colour , and is rejected by urine is red well nigh as it was taken in . this same fruit is not of the like tincture with the insects proceeding from it , but give a colour almost like to brasil●tto wood , which in the fire in a few dayes perisheth . but the insect ●ngendred of this fruit is of a most permanent tincture , i for curiosity examined other vegetables which were of tincture , and found them all to yeeld insects of the like tincture , with that out of which they were procreated . in particular , and with much curiosity , i examined shoomake berries , wh●ch have a red out-side , like to the furre of v●lvet , in small red graines , but the inner kernel not answering the out-side in colour , i found the insects not considerably tincted red , yet in medicinall operations by farre surpassing the virtue of the bare berries , for they had a peculiar diccretick quality . there is a berry also groweth in great quantity , both in the summer islands and in new england , which makes me to con●eive , that it would also grow here : it is with them of the summer islands commonly called redweed , the virtue of it is purgative upwards and downwards strongly , the berry is as red as the prickled pear , and gives much the like tincture . this berry i intended to prepare for medicinal uses● but by occasion my design in that being frustrated , i assayed to see what manner of insects it would yeeld , and there came forth first wormes , which growing husky , with small bumps where the head or upper part lay ( which is easily distinguished in such insects ) i perceived thereby it would produce a fly , which accordingly it did , which was of the bignesse of the cochmeel fly , but a little longer , which grew by the same matter , out of which they were engendred , to a considerable bignesse , when i taking them out , in a gentle heat in a close gl●sse , killed them , and dryed them , and though i have oft assayed the cochmeel for curiosity sake , yet i could not find this , as to the point of tincture , any whit inferiour to that insect , and as to medicinal virtue aequi valent , if not exceeding the other . and i am co●fi●●nt ( though that i have not tryed ) that out of brasil●●to like insects of the same excellent tincture may be produced , knowing experimentally , that out of any wood-berry may , by an anin anta 〈◊〉 f●rmentation ( if i may so speak ) be produced● first a small wor● , 〈◊〉 growing hig●er groweth husky , and at last becomes a 〈…〉 suffered to grow till it have waxed a little , 〈…〉 the tincture of the concrete whence it ●a● produced , which then being graduated beyond its own nature , leav●●h its d●e in grain . i have been the longer upon these kind of insects , desiring , at least , with as much brevity as i can , to give hints of what rare secrets are in nature attainable : so that if any desire the way to fix a faling colour , consider if that c●lour will hold untill the compound may receive a ferment ( f●r fermentation openeth the body ) a●ter which thou shalt cause it to engender insects , which is an easie art : these insects will give thee the tincture of its original concrete , which will hold in grain . now as to medicinal virtues of insects i might be very large , but i shall willingly passe them over ; onely this i shall say , being desirous to try what might be done upon this account , i took blood , and pouring the water from the clodds of them , by putrefaction i had great maggots , with moisture , which consuming the moisture grew in quantity , and were in a manner dry , these i washed clean , killed them , and bruised them , and of them had in a second putrefaction other lesse maggots , somewhat differing from the other , and with a tolerable smell to the other ; these being grown to their greatest , i washed again , killed , and so putrified them , and this a third and a fourth time i repeated , then i took them , and having first washed them , digested them ( being bruised ) for six weeks , and distilling them , had a water and a yellow coloured oyle , of the most exquisite penetrating resolving vertue that ever i knew , which i yet call oleum lumbricorum verum , attempting the same with livers of beasts it succeeded in like manner . but now to return to the history of bees , to wit , their propagation ; it is known , that if they have good hives , with convenient shelter , and sufficient store of meat , they will encrease sufficiently . so then the main matter is to know how bees may best be stored with honey . first of all , if your design of planting of fruit trees take effect , that alone would mightily encrease bees , it is not to be credited what one orchard will afford to that purpose . but because the time of the blossoming of fruit trees lasts not long , there would be found out some fit meanes for to nourish them in the later moneths of the year ; it being a proverb , that a swarm of bees in may is worth a cow and a bottle o● hay , whereas a swarm in july is not worth a fly. for it is evident , that the dew which falls on the floures is that which bees suck ; though iuly , august , september , and part of october , are for the heat of weather , as seasonable for bees to work in as may , yet in them they enrich themselves but little , because of the scarcity of flours , blossomes , honeysuckles , and the like , which at that season of the year are rare . your letter to me ( in which is the transcript of part of an epistle ) to this end , commending the planting of anise , doth seem very rational ; first in that anise yeilds an innumerable company of small floures ( as also sweet fennel ) which if gathered in a morning , the dew on the flowers is very pleasant . the like also is on parsly , carroots , in their flouring , but not so pleasant or grateful to the bees as anise or fennel , in regard of the sweet scent which they carry , which alone is very alluring to them . for in dew it self is a sweet sacharine salt , which yet bees doe not so much desire , unlesse it have a ●ermentall odour , which it acquires within the concavity of sweet floures , as of thime , rosemary , anise , or fennel , &c. yea , experience it self shewes , that by the ferment of these the dew is transmuted , and obtaines a sweetnesse many degrees passing bare dew , yea , and a consistence also , as appeares in manna , the reniabin , and the like , the falling of which i have oft and diligently noted , and find it to be materially nothing but dew , which falling on some things becomes inspissated : yet cannot i but respect the making of honey , as a thing peculiar to bees , and although according to the proverb ( & mel sibi parant vespae ) yet in my opinion there is worthily a great difference to be acknowledged between honey and other inspissated sweetnesses , so that neither manna , nor any such falling congealed sweetnesse , hath the like nature as honey , which in its analysis more easily is apparent . i oft have with a clean linnen gathered the sweetnesse of the tops of fennel , and wringing it out of the linnen , have tryed if or no it had the parts of honey , but found in them a great difference , by which i learned , that bees out of the falling dew , by a peculiar fermenting virtue , doe really transmute what they suck into honey . also that flowers within th●m contain a ●erment , by which the dew that falls in them is ●nverted into a thicker su●stance , and sweet , yet f●rmally disting●ished from honey , which the bees allured , both by the smell and tast , doe greedily resort to and suck , and of it load themselves , out of which they doe separate a more fat substance , which they also transmute into wax , with a formal transmutation . for as much as wax formally differs from all fatnesse in the world , so then the dew , which being collected from any floures , will scarce yeild a twentieth part of caput mortuum , being by the bees suckt and d●gested into honey , then ( if distilled ) will yeild neer a third part in a coal , and the liquor that di●tils will be part coloured , with an exquisite sharp taste , and a faetor of empyreum , which in the other is not so to be found . by which it appeares , that the bee finds not his honey made before-hand , but transmutes that which was not honey into honey , by a peculiar gift of the creator . so by this it may be gathered , that anise in all probability will perform what is promised of it in regard of its fragrant scent , which is so acceptable to that working insect . for i remember , when once upon an experiment , i was digesting a thing w●th oyle of an●se seeds in the sun , neer an orchard , in which were many hives , the bees did swarm exceedingly to the scent , but that which was digesting being of an intoxicating nature , the bees were with it amuzed , and so by the hot sun killed out-right , and i am confident , had i continued my digestions any considerable time , i had soon unstock nigh a dozen of hives , so allu●ing is the ●ragancy of that scent to that creature . yea i have observed , that it is common to them with waspes , to be exceedingly drawn with any eminent sweet odour . adde to the fragrancy of smell the excellent swee●ning ●erment , which from anise or fennel floures is communicated to the dew , so that to suck such clusters of floures in a morning is almost as pleasant as to suck a honey-combe for taste . but the third and main excellency in anise , is the long duration of the flouring time , which may be continued four or five moneths , sowing anise at several times , for it is the floure onely of it , which the bees suck on . yea , and though sown at once , yet of anise , fennel , and the like , the nature is not as apples , to floure at a peculiar time , for as much as at one time a man shall sind both the floure tender , and the seed neer to its full growth , so that this hearb will afford a durable supply to the painful bee , the seed it self being also a very good commodity . but yet there is another way by which bees may be stored most plentifully , and that is by molossoes of sugar , raisins , macarates , with water , and the like . there was a gentleman , who having a late swarm of bees giv●n him , which was so 〈…〉 could not be thought possible for to live out the wi●ter , did 〈◊〉 my ●irection make a mixture of a pint of molossoes with three parts of rain-water , to which he put in a little meal , and sprinkled in●● some few floures : the mixture being set neer unto the bees , they flockt to it , and carried it into their hives , and so would in lesse than a day empty a shallow broad dish , by which meanes they , before full three weeks were out , were so over glutted with hon●y , that by the next spring they were drowned with it , and in that hive was found no lesse than thirty pound weight of the honey and wax . the molossoes was not that which the sugar-refiners leave , for i know not what an enemy the lime alcali that is in it may be to bees , but the first molossoes . now i should for my part rather rake the refuse honey which is got by squeezing the combes , and also the combes washings , which i would sprinkle with a little meal and anise seeds small beaten , the one to keep them from drowning in it , the other for scent , and this , i am assured , will feed bees excellently , and for one pound they will return four : this i know ; the water best for this purpose is that of rain , which hath in it a sweet salt. and that no man may wonder at this , consider how that honey originally is but dew , which is but little different from rain : for as a milch cow drinking soundly of water , doth actually give the more milk , which milk is farre different from water , yet multiplied by it even to sense , so naturally doth the bee transmute what it sucks into honey , insom●ch that if the bee be but allured with the fragancie of the scent , and never so small taste of sweetnesse to suck up material water , yet that it will as well make into honey , as if it were a substance thicker of consistence . and as for the wax , of which the combes is made , i cannot perswade my self that it is the gum of the stalkes of flou●es and tender leaves ( in a microscope to be discerned ) which the bee gathering together , doth of it make combes : for it is evident , that bees doe suck out o● severall things , nay , almost out of innumerable simples of all whi●h they make ( as but one honey ) so but one wax . in russia and m●s●o●y ( i am informed , that ) the bees gather out of the weepings of pine , firre , spruce and deal trees ( which are onely therebinth ) abundance , both of honey and wax , which yet is the same in kind with ours in england , whence i conclude , that bees doe make ( as their honey , so ) their wax , out of that which before was not wax , otherwise it would be a very heterogeneal body ; since the weeping gum of each thing is variated , and followeth the property of that vegetable to which it belongs . besides , there is a vast difference between gummes ( of which some are wholly liquable in water , others partly ) and wax , as also betwixt it and rosin of any sort , likewise its peculiar specifick odour is not common to any other thing with it self . no marvel then , if bees may be sed with their own honey , mixed with three times its quantity of rain water , and out of it they should again make wax and new honey , since like to this is a cows making out of simple water blood , milk , and urine , of which blood and milk come but little ( if ought ) short of the proportionate ●o●dus of honey . nor is the smalnesse of the creature to be accused as if in consistent for so great a task , since god hath made each thing sufficient to its destinated end ; yea , and the same creature with a contemptible stroke of its revenging sting ( which is not much thicker than one of the pores of the cutis is wide ) can swell and inflame our body so beyond its own dimensions , that a prick in the face ( to my knowledge ) hath made one to be for more than a day blind , his eyes being swell'd up , and his face twice as big as before . now to resume , what in the beginning i touched , of the excellencie of honey , it is good to eat , both pleasant and wholsome , in chirurgery and medicine of excellent force , and inriched with a rare quintessence . but besides , by help of it and grain , may be made most excellent wine , nothing i●feriour to the rich●st canary or greek wines , and by the mixture of it with the iuyce of fruits , the best fr●nch or rhenish wines may be paralell'd , if not surpass●d . nor will any of the specifick odour , either of the h●ney , or of the corn , after a threefold fermentation remain . it also will yeild a most excellent aqua vitae , yea it will help such things , which ( by reason of their too much propensity to souring , and slownesse to a working fermentation ) would yeild spirits but sparingly , to ferment exceedingly , and so to yeeld their spirit copiously , as , to wit , many berries , roots : &c. it also will by its addition make as excellent vinegar out of cider , as any france yeilds , without exception . lastly , any wine which is neer pricking may by its h●lp be recovered , brought to a new fermentation , inriched with a new body , which before , being almost worn out , was hungry and l●an , and so made as rasie , pleasant and durable as ever , provided it be not already sour . if these qualities be not sufficient to commend it , i shall add no more . thus sir , i have briefly , and yet in a large epistolical discourse , endeavoured to satisfie you what i can , as to this subject . i confesse my self to have been not very free in this thing , not for that i would not be ready in a greater matter to be serviceable to you and the publick for good ; but truly , i am one of those , who are farre more willing to learn than to ●ssay to teach : the world is now full of books , of which if a good choice were made , one tenth part of the chief being cull'd out , i should willingly passe my suffrage , that the other nine patts should be corrected by the fire , among which this epistle of mine should , by my vote , passe for company . for verily sir , sithence nothing is to a man more pretions than time , it is requisite , that those things which consume that most precious and irrecovocable jewel ( when once lost ) should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; yet i doe assure you , these things ( though perhaps comparatively , many of them but trivial ) i speak not opini●bly , but what i know , and that experimentally ; yet must i confesse , that the subject , lying not altogether in the sphere of my most serious contemplations , perhaps hath not been handled as it might have been , by another more conversant therein , since mellification , respects the work and labour of this insect , not its physical virtues ; i then , whose chief station is among natural things , to examine their analytical phylosophy , and to discover their qualities , as applicable to the art of medicine , together with their parts in composition , their graduations in vertue , their extraction of the craseis in them contained , their various transmutations , alterities and applications . this , i say , being my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and other speculations ( among which this of bees , most applicable to a rural life , from which my profession is in a manner alienated ) coming in but as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , serving for recreation and pleasure , no marvel if sleightnesse in its handling by me should be found ; yet as it is i hope you will accept it , as proceeding from a mind devoted to serve you ; i wish therefore , that it were more worthy your acceptance ; yet as it is i humbly offer it to you , as an acknowledgement of what i desire to perform , and an earnest of what i may hereafter , and that shortly , send forth after this , in case these my first fruits be acceptable . there are herein couched many hints of divers useful experiments , which are not altogether ungroundedly intruded into this epistle , as having dependance some way or other on the proposed subject , which i inserted the rather , that by such touches , which concern things within my own sphere , i might qualifie the sleight texture which is spun concerning the propounded theme , which is , as i said , an enquiry rather of my spare houres for recreation , then any part of my task . i pray a●cept what ever it is , as coming from him , who would have bestow it as freely , if of farre greater value : i shall now no further trouble you , but pray the lord , who is the fountain of all blessing , so to order all your wayes and endeavours , that they may be a blessing to all those , to whom you devote your self , to serve by all your pious publique atchievements ; this is , and shall be the prayer of him , who is most affectionately your unfeigned servan● g. s. an enlargement of the sore-going philosophicall letter , explaining more fully divers of those desirable passages for general riches and prosits : with the reasons why no more is discovered at this time . i received yours of admonitory annotations from my last letter touching bees , in which my scope and intent being to speak concerning mellification , in reference to yours sent to me , concerning the use of anise in the keeping of bees ; many other things fell in accidentally , in which if i were the more brief , it is the more venial , since it was not directly , but onely collaterally agreeing with the propounded scope of that discourse . i shal● therefore , having perused those annotations , return you a larger account of the things therein contained , which i hope will be sufficiently satisfactory to any ingenious spirit . the first answer ( so it is called ) doth seem to desire in that epistle an open candidness , and a candid openness : in that i conceive i was not onely open , but also plain , and i doe not know what i should have added , as to the matter proposed , and not have exceeded the bounds of an epistle , and therefore i really intended what i said , and did conceive my apertnesse a candid testimony o● my intentions . now as to the second answer , to my confident assertion of the fec●b●l●ty of aqua vitae out of grain unmalted , &c. and the producing of wine out of fruit and also grain , equal to spanish and french wines , by the meanes of honey , i conceive , that what was written is sufficiently full and plain . for to write a receipt is a thing both ●●●●●sh , and not so convenient . for first , a man who doth try many experiments , doth not observe so nicely all the circumstances , as if he were to improve the same for profit , onely takes notice what is the effect of his experiments in general . now it is certa●n , that the quantity of matter , and the quality of operation on the matter , may differ but little as to ap●arency , and yet work a plain distinct effect . besides there is not any one mechanick , which hath its basis on phyloso●hy , in which there are not many errors , into which an artist , that hath been long versed in the practique , may hap to fall , and he may thank gray-headed experience for teaching him to amend his errors , and for some casu●● disasters no remedy yet hath be●n ●ound , either totally and infall●bly to p●event , or to amend the same , as i● malting , brewing , tanning . sope-boyling , &c. which ● might instance in , is need required , and time would permit . so then , though i know that out of such materials such a product ma● be , yet i knew withall , that my sel● have in my experiments o●● b●en frustrated , even in those things which before i had done , which 〈◊〉 could not on so few trials know to what cause direc●ly to asc●●be . now 〈◊〉 things b●●me found by casualty , i can hardly hit the same thing ●gai● , ●●en ● assay it ( d●●industria ) without sometimes various errors , it would be not an edifying , but rather a stumbling cou●se , to la● down a receipt , and in so many words to relate my own enchei●●a in its particularities , would be tedious , and not so us●ful , for i know , that he who tries many fortuitous experiments , not to seek for any pa●ticular thing , before proposed to himself , but rather to see what will proceed from such and such things so ordered , it is to be conceived , that what he attaines to is by the farthest way about , which to him , in those accidental trials , proves the nearest way home . but if this were to be further proved upon the account of profit , another course must be taken , of doing in greater quantity , and the easiest and shortest method is desired . therefore i , like a traveller , did intend onely a relation of things fecible , which i have my self again proved , and on my reputation affirm , both possibly and easie in nature ; and this i did to shew the good which might accrew to the publique by the prosecution of your design , both in storing the land with corn , fruits and honey . i added the meanes or key , both for the one and other , namely , by reiterated fermentation , and so writing , i wrote to such , who in some measure understood phylosophy , who weighing the effect with its causes , might not streight condemn my candour , in case he for once or twice should prove unsuccessful , whereas a receipt is every mans meat , and to such who lesse understand nature , what receipt can be full enough . for he who writes , measures other mens understanding partly by his own , and what he understands fully and scientifically , he presupposeth another will understand sufficiently , and therefore leaves out many circumstances which are not so necessary , or may be otherwise , or such which he presupposes ( praecognita ) or what a small insight into practique phylosophy may dictate . my meaning is , that in as much as those experiments were not so reiterated , as a tanners making his liquor , i could not possibly throw the receipts into the mouth of every one that could but gape . for what i try in a gallon , if i should prescribe in that quantity , my receipt would be contemptible , if i should analogize by proportion , my doctrine might be uncertain , in the particular which is most certain in the general . my work is to hint to the ingenuous what may be done , and let it be sufficient that ( fide bona ) i deliver what is really true in nature , and adde the onely meanes , which is by reiterate fermentation . but yet to adde what light i can to him , who would attempt this , i shall , so farre as in me is , discover things more punctually first as to aqua vitae , let pease be taken and steeped in as much water as will cover them , till they swell and corn , and be so ordered as barley is for the malting , onely with this difference , that for this work if they sprout twice as much as barley doth in making malt it is the better : these pease thus sprouted if beaten small , which is easily done they being so tender , put into a vessel , and stopt with a bung and a r●g as usually , these will ferment , and after two , or three , or four moneths , if distilled , will really perform what i promised . the water that soaked them , it is good to save , either for the soaking of fresh , or for putting on them , being beaten , which else require some quantity of water to be added to them , but not much , and the like may be done in all other grain , which the addition of refuse honey will advance ( as to quantity of spirit ) exceedingly . thus may a spirit of aqua vitae be made out of any green growing thing , of which the leaves being fermented , will yeild a small quantity of such a spirit . so roots , berries and seeds , which are not oyly , yea and those which are oyly , whose fatnesse is essential , that is , which may be distilled over in an alembick with water , will afford some more , some lesse of aqua vitae . let me adde , that the spirit which is made out of grain not dryed into malt , is more pleasant than the other . now give me leave to adde my opinion , and what i would try further in this case . i would often stir the matter in fermentation , that is , once a day , during the first twenty dayes , and for the first week , when it begins to work , give it a small vent , which to me seemes a wa● of bettering the fermentation , and by consequent of augmenting and meliorating the spirit . but in this i leave every man to his own ●ngeny , and should be glad to have these my experiments ripened for the good of many . now as to vinification , let me for a ground lay this down for a position , that the vegetable spirit in all hearbs , trees , plants , and fruits , berries , and also seeds , ( not of a grosse oyly nature ) is vinous , but in grain and fruit more especially of the later , of which the grape is but one species . now in both , the rule to distinguish the copiousnesse of this vertue is the sweetnesse ; for by how much the more of that , by so much the more of the vinous spirit . now honey is a vegetable magistery , in part perfected by the specifick virtue of the flour , &c. on which the dew falling , is made sweeter than of it self it was , ( yet formally distinguished from honey , which i have oft proved by disti●l●tion ) but is compleated by the peerlesse virtue of the bee , which doth transmute that sweetnesse into a new creature , which is honey . this therefore , by reason of its eminent sweetnesse , is rich of that vinous spirit fore-mentioned , and may therefore be preferred to either grain or fruit ; for example ; let the tryall be made with about a gallon of honey , despume it , and adde to it about an equall part of water , or three parts of water to two of honey● ferment it with a treble fermentation ; and after six moneths this will be farre richer , both in tast and smell , than any wine that comes from any of the spanish territories , and that by farre . but as the price of good honey goes now , to have a quart of wine in its materials to cost a shilling or sixteen pence , which is the price of good honey , would be a dear rate ; by which it may appear , what the benefit of your present design of inriching us with store of honey may be ; for i say , what i have tried , that wine made of honey alone without any other thing , thrice fermented as it ought to be , gives a drink more like a celestial nectar then a terrestrial wine , both for taste and odour . but graines gives a more austere wine , and alone much resembled a fyall wine , which is done thus . take as much malt as a cask will hold fill it with scalding hot water , that the water be no more than the cask will hold after it is full of malt ; let it soak so for a day and night , then presse it out exquisitely , as wines are pressed , then put it into a vessel , and with yest bring it to work , which by every day moving with a rod , and covering it with cloths , and not giving it much vent , will be continued at least six or seven dayes , so much the better if the vessel be so big beyond what it containes , as that it work not over , and the vent that is left be small● but the bung so closed , as that it may be opened and shut daily for to stir the matter soundly , and when the ferment is ceased , with new yest bring it to a second , and so to a third fermentation , observing the same method as in the first , then close it well , and set it in a cool cellar for about four moneths , in which time it acquires the natural properties of wine , and may be accordingly handled . now by this that hath so plainly been set down , any ingenious man may , by the addition of honey in a various proportion , make what distinction of wine he pleaseth , and the same with the juyce of fruits , with this di●●erence , that fruits doe yeild a wine neerer to rhenish and french then to spanish wines . now as to the spider which i mentioned , i was not then so principled in p●ylosophy , when i lived in those islands , as to observe every observeable thing , but since have hea●d of a maid , who of that silk hath ( for tryal sake ) spun and knit a pair of gloves , which prove no whit inferior or lesse durable than the best silk , whether then they may be transported hither or no , i know not , but if not , yet in the p●antation , where they are naturally ( being under this government ) i presume they might with ingenuity be made p●ofi●able ; first , since they multiply so abundantly : secondly , live in the open fields , not annoyed with weather : thirdly , give silk so copiously , for out of one large spider , in a day , one may draw at the least two drachins of silk , if they have an intire web they s●end little after it is made , but if fed fat , they may be taken in ones hand , without danger to ones self , or dammage to the creature , and one may out of its body wind a good ball of yellow silk daily , which being washed is white enough . fourthly , they will feed on flies , or any blood of beast cloddered exceedingly , and all their nourishment may be forced out in silk , which they as naturally make in their tail ( which is a great bag , like a pigeons egge in bignesse ) as bees doe honey . now if the silk-worm that is so tender , may be so improved , being so hard to feed , and must be kept in houses , much more these spiders , which are so hardy ; and will feed on any trumpery ( and who knowes what they may ●e brought to eat , i my self have fed them with pieces of figs ) may , in my opinion , be brought to singular profit , which● if kept in an open wicker cage in the open air , may be fed at pleasure , and robbed of their silk at least every day , and that not a small quantity at a time . i perswade my self , that one large spider of this sort , would yeild more silk in a summer than six silk-wormes , and that may render them worth the keeping , their silk being full as good as any . yet they may doe as well here as the silk-worm , for ought i know , being by ten fold more hardy than any silk-worm , and flies are a sufficient food for them , which how easily taken i need not mention . as to the india fig , the usuall name of it is the prickled pear , so known in that place , and as to the transportation of it hither , here to grow , it is enough it growes there , being an english plantation , or the fruit it self may , without the tree , be yearly brought over at rates reasonable enough , if first any ingenious man ( whom it may concern ) should , for trial sake , send for a small parcel , and upon tryal find it advantageous . i for my part procured of the fruit for my experiment , and found the generation of that infect out of it , which way i recommend to any that desires further resolution in that point . now as to the generation of ●nsects , i shall give my usuall encheiria , though i need not , having particularly set down the same work , how it is performed out of the blood and livers of beasts , which were enough to any , who by the length of hercules foot , could calculate the proportion of his whole body . vegetables of tincture are either hearbs , woods , or fruits , as berries , &c. as for hearbs , i dry them ( ●● dry they yeild the best tincture ) otherwise stamp them , and let them dry , till they will suffer no juyce to run from them , ( this in the sun or in a proportionable heat ) or if dryed , i infuse them with water in a heat about twenty four houres , then vapour away the water , till the dissolution be as thick a● sirrup ( but for this use strain them not from the feces ) this masse i take and put it into an earthen or wooden vessel , with some straw or something , and bottom ( that it lie not too close ) and so i proportion the quantity to the pot , that the air may come about , and into the masse , ( yet not too much ) then i set this vessel in a ditch or pit made in the earth in a shady place , and put about it some wet leaves , or such putrifying rubbish , and over it a board , and on that some straw or the like , and so it produces , first a shelly husky worm , and then a fly of the tincture of the concrete , but durable , and somewhat more advanced . berries i stamp and boyle them , or evaporate them to the consistence of a rob : and then use them as the other . woods i infuse in water , being pulverised , and boyle out their tincture , and then evaporate the water to such a consistence as the other , and use them in the like way . the flies will play about the sides of the vessel and surface of the matter , which taken , are killed in a warm pan or stove , and dryed , and so kept . thus out of a red berry , of which i spake in my former letter , i made an insect no whit inferiour to the best cochmeel , and i suppose i have added sufficient to the information of the weakest capacity . as for my history of one who did so feed bees , as i spake of in my first letter , the gentleman is at present both out of london , england , and this life , being lately dead . now what concernes the doctrine of fermentations , on which depends the unfolding of the mystery of mellification , and making wax , i have reserved that for another place and time , since being prolixe and phylosophical , it doth require a peculiar treatise , and i falling on it here , found it too abstruse to be briefly handled , lest brief instances , which i should be forced to bring , should beget a thousand scruples and new questions . as for the practique of it , this dilemma answers all : either it will , or it will not ; if it will , then farre more bees may be kept , if out of ( not honey ) they make honey , and out of ( not wax ) they make wax , by an actual transmutation , which i experimentally affirm : if not , then fewer can be kept , if they must seek their wax out of the gummosity of some floures , as some fondly imagine , since wax formally differs from any fatness under heaven . one half houres attendance in a day on a late swarm of bees in iuly or august , will put all out of question to any other that shall try it , as it hath been experimentally put out of controversie to me . but to lay down the phylosophy of the thing will maime a large treatise , which i have in latine composed ( de fermentis ) which i shall be unwilling to dismember , and send part of it out lamely in an english dresse . lastly , as to the meeting of wines , it is done the same way as new are made . viz by dissolving honey in some quantity of it self , and warming it so as it lose not the spirit ( which is to be therefore done in a close vessel ) then put to the vessel of wine , and by yest ( or otherwise ) let it be brought to a thorough working ( as at its first making ) s●●t recovers both life , taste , body and goodnesse , and may then be preserved as if it never had inclined to p●cking . sir , ● hope this will be a full illustration of my former letter , so as that no man shall be able to ●●s●re greater candidnesse . i commit you , in these your pious en●●●vours of the publique good , to his protection● who will undoubtedly at present blesse you in this your enterprise , and hereafter requite the ungratefulnesse of men to you , on this account , with a ple●teous reward . i am , sir , your most affectionately devoted to serve you g. s. a very cheap way to keep a stock of bees all winterlong . tostes of bread sopped in strong ale , and put into a bee-hive , is very good and cheap food for bees , of which they will not leave one crum remaining . it will be fit sometime to lay some dry meal or flo●er of beane● , which dry meal is given them sometimes as ●ey or corn is to conies , or upland pasture to sheep in times of great rain , to prevent the rott , and such diseases , as will necessarily follow from continual moist food . by this meanes you may feed a whole hive of bees for eighteen pence or two shillings all the winterlong . q. whether any other flower or meal will not serve ? and whether it would not be the sweeter , and therefore the better , if the corn ( whether beanes or any other ) were well maulted ? another notable and approved experiment for improving of bees . take an handful of melissa ( that is an hearb which we commonly call baume . ) one drachm of camphire . half a drachm of musk dissolved in rose-water . as much yellow bees-wax as is sufficient . oil of roses as much . stamp the baume and the camphire very well , and put them into the waz , melted with the oyle of roses , and so make it up into a masse ; let it cool before you put in the musk , for otherwise the heat will fume away most of the scent of it . take of this masse as much as an haselnut , and cleave it within your bee-hive . it will much increase the number of your bees , not onely by provoking them to multiplication , but also by enticing many strange bees to come thither , and abide there . you shall also find , both in honey and wax , three times more profit than otherwise you should have had . a coppy of a letter , written by mr. william mewe minister at easlington in glocester-shire , to mr. nathaniel angelo fellow of eaton colledge . sir , being made known to you , i could wish it had been by a better character than a bee-master . t is true , since i left the hot service of the city , i have an apiary in the country , wherein i found profit enough : but i considered , that wax and honey was not all the benefit which god afforded from that creature ; he that sends us to the ant , gives us leave to observe the same and better qualities in the bee ; i observed many rarities in their work and government , by mine own experience upon buttlers observations : but when he told me of a gentleman , in plinies time , that endeavoured to make their works transparent ( but , as he thought , improbable ) i tryed , and finished that essay , to the satisfaction of my self and others . the invention is a fancie that suits with the nature of that creature , they are much taken with their grandeiur , and double their tasks with delight ; i took fourteen quarts out of one of the transparent hives , double their quantity of others , they quickly paid me the charges , with their profit , and doubled it with pleasure ; i can take a strict account of their work , and thereby guesse how the rest prosper . every time i view them ( whilst their work lasts ) i have aliquid novi ( something new ) which must needs be more pleasing than the sight of a fountain , which affords but water , running in the same manner . this honey diversly placed with diversity of combs , whereof i have observed six fill'd in six dayes , of so many quarts , but it was in the time of a mill-dew . if you desire the model or description , i shall give the same to you that i did to dr. wilkins , warden of waddham , who hath , with great curiosity , set up one in his garden , and , as i hear , is setting up another with augmentations : i intended it at first for an hyerogliphick of labour , upon which a gentleman bestowed a statue of that form to crown it , which in three yeares standing yeilded to the injuries of the wind , weather and sun , which being repaird now leaves at the bottom of the pedestal , with this inscription , non amissus sed submissus ( the emblem of our calling ) instead thereof are erected at the top three trygonal dyals , over them three weather-glasses , with a clepsydra to shew the hour when the sun shines not , over that a cock , that will speak the winds seat at mid-night , upon which is bestowed a saphigue to satisfie the latine or english reader , thus ; has apes dury labor hic coronans occidit , sole , & b●rea maligno quos vigil gallus capit & superstes , clepsidra monstrat . labour held this , till storm'd ( alas ) by weather , wind , and sun he was ; all which are wacht , as here they passe , by diall , weather-cock and glasse . thus farre have i denied my self to gratifie your friendship , which i hope will give the grains of allowance , and concealment to a suddain paper , which i could not deny to the bearer of a letter from you ; but if you please to take a sheet and napkin with me for some time , we shall discourse of this , and better matters . mr. hartlib is a gentleman , whom i know not , but by your worthy report , i never saw his works , but shall get them as soon as i can , if in the mean time he shall visit me in person , or by letter , with questions within my sphere , i am a flint that give fire at the first stroke ; i like them well that veiw magnalia dei in minimis , if every man of my ability , through the land , cherished so many hives as i doe , it would be in our common-wealths way per annum , which is lost by negligence or ignorance of the use of that creature . when i see you , i shall offer more to your consideration than is fitting to be written ; the lord furnish you and me with ability , and fidelity , in our calling , for 't is no great honour ( saith plutarch ) to be excellent out of that . easlington this th of september . . true friend , your faithful servant , will. mevve . a coppy mr. hartlib's letter to that worthy minister , at easlington , mr. will. mewe . sir , i am willing to confesse my fault ( if it be a fault ) that my worthy friend mr. angelo took notice of you , as an excellent bee-master : for knowing you by your other better characters , which are so publique , that none can be ignorant thereof , who hath heard of your name , i gave him notice of your rare industry ( a thing not so publiquely known as it deserves ) in discovering the industriousnesse of that pretty creature , and my design was to get him to write to you , so as to make some overture for me , to use freedome afterwards with you about that subject , which he having done , and you having entertained with so much alacrity , and hearty expressions , i am bound to thank you for it , and desirous to expresse my thankfulnesse with such communications , as are within the sphere of my activity of this kind , or of any other better matters of a publique nature ; and in testimony hereof , be pleased to accept of the adjoyned packet with several treatises and books , wherein also you will happily find something , which may give occasion to your ingenious spirit , to try some other conclusions of husbandry with delight and profit : for god's way 's to such as find them out are full of both ; and i am apt to believe , that when god set adam in the garden eden to keep it and dresse it , he meant to exercise his industry , as well about the discovery of the fruitfulnesse of perfect nature , which could not be without much delight to his understanding , as about the pleasantnesse of the place , which he could have by dressing increased , and made compleatly answerable to the perfection of his own imagination . for although there was nothing imperfect in nature before the curse , yet all the imaginable perfections , which the seminal properties of the earth contained , were not actually existent at the first instant ; the kinds were each distinct by themselves , without any defect , but what marriages and combinations there might be made between them , and what the effects thereof would be , when the proper agents and patients should meet , i suppose was left to his industry to try : and although we now come farre short of that knowledge , which he had in nature , and the womb , thereof , by reason of that curse is shut up unto us : yet we find by experience , that to such as are her faithful and laborious servants , and find out the seat of gods vertue in her , to trace the way of his operation , she rewards alwayes their paines both with profit and pleasure , which in your answer to my fore-named worthy friend you bear witnesse unto , when you tell him , that in your apiary in the country , you not onely found profit enough ( and what you mean by enough is left to our conjecture ) but that besides the benefit of wax and honey , you gained more delightful observations of their working , and government , then happily the ant can afford us ; which because i doe very fully believe , therefore i am an humble sutor unto you , that at some spare time you would renew to your own memory your delightful contemplation of the rare qualities of that creature , and putting them to paper , shew forth the wisdome of the creator therein , for such things should not be concealed , because they are reall demonstrations of his power , and i am perswaded , you will take it in good part , that such as love him for himself are curious to know the workmanship o● his hands , and the wayes by which the best discovery thereof is made . if then upon this account you would let some of your sparkes flie abroad amongst us , you may perhaps kindle some light more than we have , which in due time may reflect with some heat upon your self back again . for you tell us , that dr. wilkins , warden of wadham , is setting up a glasse-hive in his garden , with augmentations to that model which he received from you , which no doubt he is obliged to impart unto you , as to the father of the invention ; and if i may be so happy , as to be your schollar , both in that which is your own , and what is super-added by him , perhaps my friends and i will not be altogether unfruitful , at least we shall not be unmindful of you , but give some return of what our experiments may produce . but to doe this we must be set in the way by you ; therefore give me leave to beg a full description of your transparent hive , in the parts and dimensions thereof , and if you have any to spare ( now the season is past ) and would send one up by the carrier which comes from your parts , i shall undertake to see it sent back again unto you without your cost . if you have many glasse-hives , you will be the better able to gratifie me herein , but if you have none to spare , i shall rest satisfied with that , which you shall be pleased to afford me with your convenience . the reason wherefore in the glasse-hives the bees should double their work , and delight in their grandeiur , i conceive , by what you write , is discernable , but as yet i cannot reach it , till by your experience and sagacity the hint be given me , that i may in due time by my self , or some friends , make also a tryall thereof . but have you yet been able to make any estimate of the quantity of wax and honey , which they are able to give one year with another , seeing you speak a very big word of lt . a year , which might accrew to the nation from this little creature ? i make no doubt , but you are able to make thi , out , although it doth , i confesse , goe beyond my reach , and to raise the industrie which may be used towards the common-wealth of bees in this nation , it would be a thing worth your publique disposition to give a demonstration thereof ; for i suppose it will be grounded more upon the plenty , which your new invention doth yeild , then upon the ordinary way . but happily your experience to something also extraordinary concerning the feeding as well as the hiving of that industrious creature , will give some further addition . for no doubt there are certain hearbs which make them thrive better than others , of all which , if at your convenient time you will be as good as you●●ord , a good flint to give fire at the first stroke , you will give some of us cause here to rejoyce in your light , and i dare promise by the grace of god , your sparkes will not fall in vain , but will find good tinder , at which many candles may be lighted in due time . you see how large and free i am , but your ingenuity hath provoked me , and i aime at nothing , but what may be an advantage to the publique , and a matter of credit and due respect to be yeilded to your self , by , from my house neer charing crosse over against angel - court , the . november , . sir , your ever faithfull , and most willing friend to serve you , samuell hartlib . an extract of mr. mewe's answer to mr. hartlib's letter . worthy sir , the knocks and calls of two such unknown friends , as your self and mr. angelo , coming with such choyce books , and so much candor , exprest in too many , and two friendly letters , were enough to make the sourest hermite look out of his cell , especially if he spies the coasts clear without swords and pistols . the truth is , i am but one of many my fellow shepherds , that have taken sanctuary in our cotts , ever since the alarme was given us by the anti-pastoral party , and being likely to be stript to the bag and bottle , you cannot blame us , if we whistle away some of our sad and spare houres ( whilst shepherds are smitten , and sheep scatter'd ) to observe magnalia dei in minimis . melancholy loosers will rather play at small games than give over . when i saw god make good his threat ( solvam cingulae regum ) and break the reines of government , i observed , that this pretty bird ( whereof you write ) was true to that government , wherein god and nature had set it to serve . hereupon my pleasure began to vie with my profit , and i was willing , for once , to yeild the stakes to my pleasure . briefly sir , being sent for up amongst others of my profession , to serve the state , i left a model of this innocent phancie in past-board , which at my return ( by the care of my vertuous wife , now with god ) i found set up in the midst of my garden in plain free-stone ; in this i placed an upper and lower hive , over them a trygonal dial , over that three weather glasses , over that a water-watch topt with a weather-cock : this placed in the stead of the statue of labour , which the wind and weather had brought from top to bottom , so that it was obvious to my phantasie , to conceit this to be the hyerogliphick of their hyerarchy , whose labour was lost in their grandeiur , and brought to that low price , that any of their meanest quality might come up to it , and be taken at his word , though he bid never so meanly . i considered , that god gives us leave to make the most and best we can of those relicks of his goodness , whereof we have baffled away the better part ; as those travellers , that have benighted themselves by their frolick baitings , make much of their diversified reflections of the sun set in the clouds , and when they have almost lost his light , make pass-time with his colours . this will excuse me ( in case i fall short of that profit which you suspect i make ) that i begin and stand so long upon the pleasure , and shall now take leave to surfet you with my honey-sops , before ●light you out with my wax-tapers , and then as you like this , you may call again at my hermitage . now what concernes the profit , you tell me of a big word i should let fall , of lib. per annum , which our nation might make of them , if all of my ability would undertake to keep as many as my self ; one cipher mistaken may much alter the sum ; but grant it so as you have set it , cast it thus , i never kept twenty stalls , and usually take but half , yet doe i value my wax and honey worth twenty nobles at the least ; now if he that is valued but as the tenth part of a parish , at most , can make so much , what may the rest ? what may the county ? what the nation ? whereas you say , a place may be over stockt ( granting mill-dewes ) i deny it . had we an hundred hives for one , where there are store of oakes and maples , the place cannot be over stor'd with bees . so that if there were a statute for parish bees , as well as parish butts , and parochial appiaries design'd for those places , where observed best to thrive , i know not why a parish may not make as much honey ( as one gentleman of norfolk ) viz. li. de claro , as i heard per annum . as for your design of feeding them ( as that gentleman in italy ) i conceive it here unfeaseable , or if it were it would not quit cost ; i care not to feed them , except to save them in spring time , and strengthen them for work : hearbs and floures are but from hand to mouth , serve for bee-bread : if mill-dewes fall not , bees thrive not , for they are , with gods blessing , the antidote to that curse : as for your honest pity to that poor creature ( i shall try a conclusion this summer which may save some few stalls , but in saving ( poor stalls ) we dammage them , and ( in saving the rich ) our selves ; the middle sort are best for store , and enough for those that are not covetous , with whom they seldom thrive , because they over act their part in sparing , as carelesse persons in their neglect of keeping them . i can and shall afford you what satisfaction you please , in any useful question , that concernes the welfare of their common-wealth . as for my transparent hives , i have but two , which are not moveable , else you should willingly have them , whither you return'd them or not ; they serve onely to give me an account of the daily income , and a diary of their negotiations , whereby if i spend half an hour after dinner or supper , i know what hath been done that day ; can shew my friends the queens cells , and sometimes her person , with her retinue ; she afforded me . quarts , or neer upon , in one year , and if the rest afford ten a piece i think it a fair gain : there is not an hive to be seen about my house , nor a child stung in a year : my appiary consists of a row of little houses , two stories high , two foot apart , which i find as cheap at seven yeares end as straw hacles , and far more handsome : ( where i have bay windowes i have a set of unseen stalls ) whose room is handcomly spar'd , and their company very harmonious , especially for those that ●edge in their chambers , whether they would wake or sleep , in so much as i have heard some say ( that have there lodged ) they would give twenty pound to have and here the like at home ; the pleasure takes some , the profit others . but if either take off ( and not take up ) our hearts in minding the main , you and i may spare any farther enquiry about them . thus have i stept out of my way , to gratifie you in the exchange of ink and paper , and shall be ready so to doe in things of weightier concernment than b bs. if you shall give the stroke , 't is hard if my flint yeild not some sparks : all your subjects are marvellously well pleasing to me , but above all , your most ingenious and publique spirit makes me love and honour you ; onely i fear your sweetnesse may be abus'd by some undertakers , that are apt to promise much upon the score of hopes and fancies . but you will say , i have done enough for once to weary you , and if i find i have , i shall doe so no more , but rest , easlington in glocester-shire th of december , . sir , your endeared friend , to serve you , will mevve . a letter , concerning that pleasant and profitable invention of a transparent bee-hive , written by that much accomplish'd , and very ingenious gentleman , fellow of all-soules colledge in oxford , mr. christ. wren , with the figure and description of the said transparent bee-hive . honoured sir , you have by several hands intimated your desires to me , of having a particular description of our three-storied-bee-hive . i confesse i was not over forward to execute this command of yours ; and my reason was , because the devise not fully answering our own expectation , i thought it would be much more unsatisfactory to you : but since you please to persist in your desires , ( as mr. rawlinson told me the other day ) i can be no longer shameless to persist in my incivility , especially prompted by mine own ambition , to find any way to shew my self a servant to a person so eminent amongst the ingeniosi as your self . the description , i think , is evident enough in the paper ; i shall onely tell you what effects we find . last may ( as i remember ) we put in two swarmes together , leaving the places to goe in , open onely in the lowermost , but all the passage holes open from box to box : in the middlemost they first began their combes , then in the lowermost , before they had filled the middlemost , and so continued till they had filled both , which before they had quite finished , they began to make two little combes in the upper box , ( all this while deserted ) and continued besides , a part of a comb of the middle story an inch or two up into the upper box , filling almost the passage hole quite up , leaving themselves onely a little hole , as big as two fingers might go in , for their passage up and down : i am not very certain , whether this was not done at first when they wrought in the middle box , and whether this was not the reason , why they wrought so little in the upper box , because they stopped themselves up from an easie passage to it . the combes in the lower stories were well replenished with honey , and suddainly , but these little combes in the upper they quite defert , contrary to our expectation , which was , that they would have wrought most in the upper story , and the middlemost , in which , when they had wrought enough for their own spending , that then we might take away the uppermost from them , and so have continued still : but if we find another year , that they fill not again the uppermost , it will be all one still to take away the lowermost from them , but if that be so , then two hives will be sufficient . we must rather desire of you farther light in this business , which i presume you can afford us , from other mens observations , that have tried the like experiment , for as yet you see ours is imperfect , and we know not what to make of it . all-soules coll. febr. . . sir , i am your most obedient humble servant , christ . wren . ab . ab . ab , octogonall boxes exactly in all par , +ticulars of one shape & size , c. a hole in the top , w. ch is the same in every box. d. a cover ( the same to every hole ) turning upon a pinne . e. f. a wiar , w. ch puls the cover to close it upon occasion , ggg . holes throug w ch the ends of the wiars ap , +peare , hhh . the dores , every one to be opened or shut by litle sliders the lower dores are open , the others shut , rk.k. the vpper edges of every box , sloped away convexedly , the bottomes are likwise sloped away concauely , that any one box may fit to any of the other two , m. a litle rey made to screw on the ends of the wiars y t appeare in the holes , by that meanes to close any of the holes , in the sides behind oppo , +site to the sides hhh , are dores that open with hinges & locks about inches one way & the other● & within each a peece of cleere glasse clo , +●se semented to the inside of the box , to look in vpon occasion , each box is lined with rush matt , it standes in a case of stone that serves both as a stock & a covering to it . scale of 〈◊〉 & inchar . considerations upon the letter from oxford . sir , upon speech with mr. greatrix ( according to your desires ) i find , that the substance of what he intimated to you the other day , upon the sight of your letter from oxford , was no other than what truly my thoughts from my own reason , and the sight of dr. brown's essay upon the same subject , confirmed me in : viz. that bees , as they do naturally begin in the top of the hive and work downwards , so do they not like that that top should be more than one , or at most two stories high . for as by the judgements of all that write of bees , a valley is counted the best kind of seat for them , to the intent , that when they come heavy loaden home ( as they do often in a day ) their journey may be a descent , and consequently easie , so from the same reason ought the work within the hive to be so ordered , as to be upon as little ascent as may be , or rather upon a descent . i mean , that it be so ordered , as that the bees may go rather down than upwards within their hive . upon this ground my opinion is , that one box is ( at the beginning ) sufficient , or but two at the most . when this one ( if but one be used at first ) shall be filled , it would ( the entrance into it being first stopped , and the lower middle hole of it be left open ) be set upon another lower box , and when this second box shall be also filled , a third would be set under the two first , and when the whole body of the bees is fully gone down into the third or lowest box , then ( and not before ) may the first or upper box be taken away ; and after this manner may the upper box still be taken away from time to time , as often as the lower shall be filled , and a new empty one put under . this i have gathered from such books as i have met with , but that which from my own private judgement i offer as a futher addition is , that i could wish that the lowest box should be still so placed , as to hang down through and below the planke or seat upon which hives are ordinarily placed , so as that the bees , when they come heavy loaden home , may go downwards into it . when this lowest hive is almost full ( which might be discovered through windows left for that purpose ) than would another empty one be put into its place , and the box that is almost full so to be placed upon the empty one , as that the bees may enter by a hole in the lower part of it , and ( when it is absolutely full ) go down into the lowest box. and by this meanes the heavy loaden bees ( instead of carrying their loads three stories high , according to the oxford practise ) do still work either downwards , or very little upwards . i will conclude this subject with an observation concerning these little creatures , viz. that their king weares no sword , i mean , hath no sting of their own , nor any ianizaries , nor other meanes of safety to themselves , than the loyalty of their subjects . some remarkable observations , concerning the swarming of bees ; together with a short description of a bee-hive made of glasse . although experience tells us , that bees do naturally love to hive in woods and other places out of mens sight , and that chiefly at the time , when they send forth their numerous swarms like so many new colonies ; yet notwithstanding , they may be brought so to part with that kind of wildness , as to give men leave to observe them , and to admire nature , whose pleasure it is , in this contemptible sort of insects , to make shew of the great riches of her treasury . this is not hard to prove . for it is known , that bees , when they begin to swarm , and that the heat of the sun hath drawn them out of their hive , do fly about till their king ( whom nature hath wisely unarmed ) doth by his sitting down determine the place of their rendezvous , which they immediately take notice of , and all those huge numbers of them ( being from that time forwards to make their own fortunes , and to be their own purveyors ) do pitch their camp round about their king. presently after which , a certain kind of bees , which are commonly called scouts , are sent out to discover places for them to hive ; and till these scouts return , the whole swarm sits still to refresh themselves , being weary with flying at their first swarming . these scouts at their return rush violently in upon the swarm , and carry away to the place which they have found , some part of the swarm , together with the king , on whom depends the unity , good fortune and safety of them all . in the northern countries , as poland , lithvania and muscovie , men use to make hives for them on purpose in the woods and where such are the bees chuse them , but if they can find none such , then they hive in old , hollow and rotten trees , and that for many yeares together , till the hollow place being filled with that excellent liquor of honey , they are forced to go to some other place . so that many times those that fell wood do , when they little think of it , find in hollow trees great store of honey . it is remarkable , that most swarms , as soon as they come out , do rest themselves in some place near to their old hives , for two or three houres together , in which time , unless they have hives provided them , they forsake their former master , and betake themselves to the woods and solitary places . but if they have hives provided for them , they submit themselves to the owners of those hives , especially if their king ( which is observeable ) be shut into a little den made on purpose , and be kept there for three or four dayes together . in which time chiefly you may perceive a wonderful diligence in the bees , and that it may be the better seen by such as are curious , and admirers of nature , industry hath shewed how to make hives of glass , which may be placed in gardens , and other convenient places , and even in windowes . the manner whereof is this following . let great care be taken in the choice of the place ; for experience will shew , there lies much in that . it will be best for this purpose to chuse a window towards the sun-rising , for by this means , the bees will have their industry quickened , which from the very sun-rising will set them to work , they being creatures so intent upon their business : and besides , it will free the poor weak things from many inconveniencies . it will be otherwise , if you chuse for this purpose a place towards the west or north , for the light of the rising-sun , coming but late upon a place that is towards the west , will make the bees go late to worke , and the north with its natural sharpness will weaken and shrink up the tender bodies of those little creatures , they delighting in heat : so that the east and the south are for this purpose farre better than the other two quarters of the world . having so chosen the place , let there be made an hive of about a yard high or a little more , after this fashion . fasten four little pillars of wood in two boards , one on the top and the other at the bottom , and let the pillars be answerable to the height of your window , and let that side of the hive , which is to be towards the air , be half a yard broad , and the other side , which is to be towards your chamber , a quarter of a yard broad . in that side which is towards the air , you are to leave a slit of about two fingers breadth , for the bees to fly in and out at , and in the middle of that slit you must put a cross peice of wood , which must be very well fastened , that it slip not up and down , and so crush the honey-combes , but that it may the better bear the weight of them . in the inner side of the hive , you are to make doors about a quarter of a yard broad , and well and strongly bolted , that the bees may be kept from flying into your chamber . through these doors you are to put in your swarm , and take out your honey . and for the space between the aforesaid pillars , you may have it closed either with whole glass , or with smaller peices leaded ; or if you will have the whole hive of glasse , the glass-makers can make it for you , but you must observe the conditions before expressed . having thus prepared all things , you may place the swarms where you intend to have them in the hive , and with delight behold their work , and in a kind of rapture cry out , that the world is the great book of god , containing three leaves , viz. heaven , earth and sea , wherein there are so many characters of the wisdom of god as there are creatures . a singular observation concerning bee-hives and buck-wheat , in reference to bees , made by mr. thomas babington in his travels into germany . in k●mpen-land in germany i have seen about fourty great bee-hives , which contain , when they are full , about seventy pound weight in honey , placed near a great field sown with buck-wheat , and it was related to me of a truth by the inhabitants , that the bees did suck such ●lenty of honey out of it , that in a fortnights time the said hives were all filled there with . the said buck-wheat is a three square grain , which when it is ripe is made use of for pan-cakes , and to brew beer , and excellent good to fatten hogs with , and in blowing time of singular use for bees . how to make good greek , or other wines out of honey . as concerning the passage in my letters concerning honey , i cannot exactly give you an account of it , till i see all the discourse : thus much i remember and know by experience , that if pure honey be gently boiled in pure water , and well scummed , and afterward cooled , and then with barm or yest set to working , as we usually do beer or ale , and then put into a larger vessel for a time , and afterwards drawn into pottles , that a liquor hath , and may be made like fountain water , yet of such a fine excellent tast , and so strong , that some , who have thought themselves of very good pallats , have mistaken it for greek wine . and i question not , but sugar will do the like , but whether i seem to speak of any more ingenious clarifications , as with white of eggs , with falt of tartar , or with other things , that vintners use for their wines , or whither i refer them to glauber , who in his appendix speaketh of some ingenious fermentations and clarifications , i cannot certainly tell . but this i dare boldly say , that if any gentleman would trie experiments upon honey , sugar , yea , or any sweet things , if the sweetness be not too flashy and watry , he shall find divers things both delightful and profitable . i hope glauber , who hath promised divers things in these kinds , and i suppose is most able to accomplish them , will more clearly manifest them for the good and comfort of our northern countries . i desire to hear what other ingenious things are written of late . i think these times very fruitful , and that the great secrets , which have a long time been hid , will shortly be manifested . a receipt to make a pure mead that shall tast like wine . take one part of clarified honey , and eight parts of rain water , or other clear water , and boil them well together in a copper vessel , till half the liquor be boiled away , but while it boiles , you must take off the scum very clean , and when it hath done boiling , and begins to cool , tun it up , and it will work of it self . as soon as it hath done working , you must stop the vessel very close , and bury it under ground for three months , which will make it loose both the smell and tast of the honey and wax , and will make it tast very like wine . another way to make a most pleasant and wine-like mead. take of clarified honey twenty pound , and of clear water thirty two gallons , mingle them well together , and boil that liquor half away , and take off the scum very clean , when it hath done boiling , and begins to cool , put it into a vessel , where hath been rhenish wine before , and put to it four gallons of rhenish wine must , and let it work ; then stop the vessel very close , and bury it under ground for two months together , at the end of which draw it off the lees , and put it into another clean sweet vessel by it self , and it will be very like wine ; and if you would have it of an aromatick tast , you may put these following ingredients into the vessel at first , and let them work with the liquor , viz. of floures of elder , rosemary and majoram , each one handful , of cinnamon two ounces , of cloves six ounces , of ginger , pepper and cardamome , each two scruples , these will give the mead a most pleasant tast . the common-wealth of bees . represented by mr. gerard malynes , by way of a digression in his great book called lex mercatoria , or the antient law-merchant . let us somewhat digress from manufacture to apifacture , and ( with solomon the wise ) send the ●luggard to imitate the painful and laborious bees , for the increase of honey and wax in england , scotland and ireland , and other of his majesties dominions : and let mans help succour this apifacture , if it may be so called , as followeth . the meanes to increase honey and wax , doth properly consist in the preservation of bees , and the making of convenient skepes or bee-hives after a new invention : namely , you may make your skepes either with straw or wicker of two sorts , and to be of two peices , to take off at the crown , or near the midst of the hive ; that when they have gathered and filled up their house , and that the room is scant within , then take away the upper half , and clap on a board , or the bottom , or head of a pitch barrel , or tar barrel , or the like , having pitch on it , casting mault meal , or bean meal upon the same ; and then daube it well with clay about the skirts , and setting on with your clay mixt with some salt ; and when you have thus done , then raise it up below with so many wreythes , as you took above for the gelding of your hives before , which is very needful to make the greater plenty and increase : for making your skepes in this manner , the honey may be taken at all times ; but especially , when you do perceive by the lifting up of your skepes , that your bees are well provided for the winters provision , and that there be plenty of food yet to gather , then cap them . take a strong wyer , make it flat , and cut your combes in two , and then have a parchment in readiness to follow the wyer , to keep asunder the wax from cleaving , laying on your board with pitch and meal , as aforesaid . this to be done in summer . preservation of bees for the climate of great brittain , &c. . in march your bees do begin to breed , and then they begin to sit , let them at that time be served twice every week , because : . in aprill your bees begin to hatch , serve them in hard and rugged weather , whereby they are hindered to be abroad . . in may your bee comming forth , look to serve them until mid - may. . in iune are your bees in their strength for casting , and then there is great plenty of floures and dews to feed upon . . in iuly they are full of honey , therefore cap your first swarmes , and take up the rest for honey that you mean to take up for that year , and cap as followeth . . in august is the most breed of bees past , and you may cap likewise those you mean to keep over the year ; i mean your old stocks , for then they may forbear it . . in september the gathering of bees is past ; stop close , and if there be any that is not capable , leave them and stop close with clay and salt , and daube below with cow-dung , as the manner is . . in october begin to look whether robbers have spoiled any or not ; if it be so that they have , take away your bees as in honey time , and set up your skepes with the combs whole , to be used as hereafter followeth . . in november stop up all holes , let none pass in or out ; but if they prove weak , then take away your bees from the combs , and keep them for the second and third swarms after . . in december house your bees , if they stand cold : and in the north house all . . in ianuary turn up your bees , and throw in wort , and water , and honey twice or thrice , but let your water be warm . . in february set forth and serve all them that stand in need , with wort and honey , or honey and water , so it be warm ; and then in march look for their breeding , as is before declared no corrupt combes to be left , but the bad are to be taken forth in the spring time ( being in feeding ) and when you have thrown in one pint of warm wort , and that they are struggling with the clamminess of the wort ; then may you very well take from them any thing that doth annoy them ; which manner of dressing you may observe for many yeares during your skepe , so long as they stand to work new again . necessarie observations concerning the premisses . from the middle of aprill , until the middest of may , look diligently to thy bees ; for then are they near beginning to hatch , and do stand in need of most help , especially if the spring be cold , and the wind holding any part of the north or east ; whereby the tender buds or blossomes do perish , and the bees are driven to the blossomes of apple-trees , which is their utter overthrow and decay . helps for weak bees at all times . take water and honey mixt together made luke warm , and throw it amongst the combes , to the quantity of a pint at a time : or strong wort new run ; or unboiled wort also luke-warm , and the same two or three times at the most ; and this for the first swarm . for the second and third swarm must be given in their hives , to preserve that which they have gathered : take mulce , which is eight times so much water as honey , boiled to a quart or three pints ; set the same with dishes in their shepes , laying a few straws in the dish to keep them from drowning . wort and figs boiled will serve also . the smoak ( as it were the tobacco of bees ) wherein they delight , is cows or oxen dung , sophisticated with sweet wort ; and the marrow of the oxe or cow , being well dried : take the shepe ( which is diseased ) and set it in a meal skiffe or riddle , and then kindle a little fire with your cows dung , and set them over the smoak of the fire , and so smoak them by fits , scarce so long at every time as you can tell ten , and beware not to use this smoaking too oft , but as necessity requireth , and in gentle manner . the necessary use of honey and wax , made me to observe the premisses , wishing , that in all parishes of great brittain and ireland , all the parsons and vicars in country towns and villages , were injoyned to keep bees for their own benefit , and the general good , which they may do conveniently in the church-yards , and other places of their gardens , and some of their children or schollars may attend the same . the multiplying of bees is easie without destroying them , and creation of them is known to many , proceeding of the corruption of a heyfar , the flesh whereof is fit to ingender bees , as the flesh of horses for wasps , or that of man for lice . and to abbreviate , i do refer the desirous reader hereof to mr. hill his book of husbandry , where he speaketh of bees , with the commodity of honey and wax , and of their uses and several profits , collected out of the best learned writers , as plinius , albertus , varro , columella , palladius , aristotle , theophrastus , cardanus , guilielmus de conchis , agrippa , and others . the reformed virginian silk-worm , or , a rare and new discovery of a speedy way , and easie means , found out by a young lady in england she having made full proof thereof in may , anno . for the feeding of silk-worms in the woods , on the mulberry-tree-leaves in virginia : who after fourty dayes time , present their most rich golden-coloured silken fleece , to the instant wonderful enriching of all the planters there , requiring from them neither cost , labour , or hindrance in any of their other emploiments whatsoever . and also to the good hopes , that the indians , seeing and finding that there is neither art , skill , or pains in the thing : they will readily set upon it , being by the benefit thereof inabled to buy of the english ( in way of truck for their silk-bottoms ) all those things that they most desire . london , printed by iohn streater , for giles calvert at the black-spread-eagle at the west end of pauls , . to the reader . ingenious reader , i have in my legacy of husbandry bequeathed something unto thee concerning silk-worms , which hath wakened many to search after the means to advance that part of husbandry . but because the letter of king iames to the lords lievtenants of the severall shires of england , for the increasing of mulberry trees , and the breeding of silk-worms , for the making of silk in this nation , had not annexed unto them in that treatise the instructions tending to that purpose , and being but few , wholly out of print , and very much desired : i thought good upon the occasion of the printing of this letter to those of virginia , to publish it also for the benefit of those who shall be willing to employ themselves in this way of industry , which seemeth to be brought unto a more perfect and speedy accomplishment than heretofore hath been known either here or in france , as by the contentes of this adjoyned letter ( wherein the experiment of a vertuous lady of this nation for the breeding of silk-worms , is addressed unto the planters of virginia ) is set forth to encourage both them and others to set upon this work , to benefit themselves and the nation thereby . and truly the gentleman who doth addresse this letter to the planters of the virginian colonie is much to be commended for his affection to the publick , because he doth not conceal ( as some muck-worms do for private ends ) the advantages which may be reaped by singular industrious attempts or experiments of profit ; but desires the benefit of others , even of all , to be encreased . and it were to be wished , that every one to whom god ( from whom comes every good & perfect gift ) doth impart any rare and profitable secret of industry , would open himselfe towards his brethren , as this publick-hearted gentleman doth ; then would all hands be set a work , and every one would become instrumentall to serve himselfe and his neighbours in love , and overcome the burthen of povertie , which for want of employment and decay of trade , doth lie so heavie upon very many , whose burthens might be either born , or made easie , if all the gifts of god were made use of , for the end for which he doth bestow them , namely , to profit withall towards others , as it becommeth the members of the same christian , and human , and nationall society ; for the same rule holds in all these respects among such as understand what it is to be a good commonwealths-man in the state , as well as in the communion of saints : and to this good and generous inclination , which i wish may more and more abound in them with the grace of god , i shall leave thee and rest , thy most assured and faithfull servant , samuel hartlib . instructions for the increase and planting of mulberry-trees . what ground is fit for the mulberry-seeds , how the same is to be ordered , and in what sort the seeds are to be sowed therein . the ground which ought to be apointed for this purpose , besides the natural goodness of it , must be reasonably well dunged , and withall so situated , as that the heat of the sun may cherish it , and the nipping blasts of either the north wind or the east , may not annoy it : the choice thereof thus made ; that the seeds may the better prosper , and come up after they be sown , you shall dig it two foot deep , breaking the clods as small as may be , and afterwards you shall divide the same into severall beds of not above five foot in breadth , so that you shall not need to indanger the plants by treading upon them , when either you water or weed them . the mulberry seeds you shall lay in water for the space of hours , and after that you shall dry them again half dry , or some what more , that when you sow them they may not cleave together : thus done , you must cast them upon the foresaid beds , not altogether so thick as you use to do other garden seed , and then cover them with some fine earth ( past through a si●e ) about half an inch thick . in dry weather you shall water them every two dayes at the farthest , as likewise the plants that shall come of them ; and keep them as clean from weeds as possibly you can . the time in which you ought to sow them for your best advantage , is either in march , april , or may , when frosts are either altogether past , or at the least not so sharp , or of so long continuance , as to indanger their upspring . there is yet another way to sow them , and that is as followeth : you shall ( being directed by a strait line ) make certain furrows in the beds above mentioned , of some four fingers deep , & about a foot in distance the one from the other : after this , you shall open the earth with your hands , on either side of the aforesaid furrows , some two fingers from the bottom , and where you have so opened it , shall you sow your seeds ; and then cover them half a finger thick with the earth which before you opened . when the plants that are sprung up of the seeds , are to be removed , and how they are to be planted the first time . in the moneths of september , october , november , december , march , or april the next yeer after the seeds are sown , you may remove their plants , ( or in the moneth of ianuary , if it be not in frosty weather ) and set them in the like beds as before , and about one foot the one from the other , but first you must cut off their roots about eight inches in length , and their tops about half a foot above their roots , more or lesse , according to the strength of the said plaints , for the weaker they be the lesse tops you shall leave them . in this sort you may suffer them to remain weeding and watering them ( as need shall require ) till they be grown six foot in length above their roots , whereunto when once they have attained , you may cut their tops , and suffer them to spread , alwayes having a care to take away the many branches or succours , that may any way hinder their growth untill they be come to their full length of six foot , as aforesaid . when , and how the plants are to be removed the second time , and in what manner they are to be planted where they shall remain . in the moneths aforesaid , ( according as your plants are waxen strong ) you may remove them either into the hedges of your fields , or into any other grounds . if in hedges , you must set them foot the one from the other : if in other ground , intending to make a wood of them foot at the least . but a moneth before you do remove them , you must make the holes ( wherein you purpose to set them ) about four foot in breadth , and so deep as that their roots may be well covered , and some half a foot of loose earth left under them , having alwayes a special care so to place them , that they may receive the benefit of the sun , and not to be shadowed or over-spread by any neighbouring trees . when and how the eggs of the silk-wormes are to be hatched , and how to order the wormes that shall come of them . when the leavs of mulberry-trees begin a little to bud forth , take the eggs of your silk-worms , and lay them in a piece of say , or such like stuff , and in the day time carry them in some warm place about you , in a little safe box , but in the night either lay them in your bed or between two warm pillows , untill such time as the wormes begin to come forth : then take a piece of paper of the wideness of the said box , and having cut it full of small holes , lay it within the same upon the eggs , and upon that again some few mulbery-leaves , to which the wormes as they are hatched , will continually come . these leaves with the wormes upon them , you must still remove into other boxes , laying fresh leaves as well on those that are removed as on the paper where the eggs are ; and this is the course which must be duly kept and observed , untill such times as all the wormes be come forth of their shels , still keeping their boxes warm , as aforesaid ; but no longer about you , but untill the wormes begin to come forth , out of which boxes you may safely take them , when once they have past their second sicknesse , and feed them upon shelves of two foot in breadth , and inches one above the other . the said shelves are not to be placed in any ground-room , nor yet next unto the tiles , but in some middle room of your house which openeth upon the north and south , that you may the more conveniently give them either heat or aire , according as the time and season shall require . besides you must not make them close unto the wals , but so as you may passe about them the better to look unto the wormes , and keep them from rats and mice , which otherwise might devoure them . you must observe the times of their comming forth , and keep every one , one or two dayes hatching by themselves , that you may the better understand their severall sicknesses or sleepings , which are foure in the time of their feeding . the first commonly some twelve dayes after they are hatched , and from that time at the end of every eight dayes , according to the weather , and their good or ill usage , during which time of every sicknesse , which lasteth two or three dayes , you must feed them but very little , as onely to relieve such of them , as shall have past their sicknesse before the rest , and those that shall not fall into their sicknesse so soon . the whole time that the worms do feed , is about nine weeks , whereof untill they come unto their first sicknesse , give them young mu●bery-leaves twice every day , but few at a time ; from thence untill their second sickness , twice every day in greater quantity ; and so from their second to their third sicknesse , increasing the quantity of the leaves , according as you perceive the wormes to grow in strength , and clear of sicknesse : from the third untill their fourth sicknesse , you may give them leaves thrice every day , and the fourth being past , you may let them have so many as they will eat , alwayes having a care that you give them none , but such as are dry , and well aired upon a table or cloth , before they be laid upon them , and withall gathered so neer as may be ; at such times as either the sun or winde hath cleared them of the dew that falleth upon them . for the feeding of worms you need observe no other order then this , lay the mulberry-leaves upon them , and every two or three dayes remove them , and make clean their boxes , or shelves , unlesse in times of their sicknesse , for then they are not to be touched ; the leaves which you take from them when you give them fresh to feed upon , you must lay in some convenient place , and upon them a few new leaves , to which the worms that lay hidden in the old , will come , and then you may passe them with the said new lea●es to the rest of the worms : and now lest any thing should be omitted , which serves to perfect the discovery of so excellent a benefit , i will advise you to be very diligent in keeping clean their boxes , or shelves , as being a speciall means whereby to preserve them ; wherefore when you intend to do it , you shall remove them together with the uppermost leaves whereon they lie , unto other boxes or shelves , for with your hands you may not touch them , till they have throughly undergone their third sicknesse , and then may you passe them gently with clean hands , without doing them any harm : provided that the party that commeth neer them smell not of garlick , onions , or the like . the first five weeks of their age you must be very carefull to keep them warm , and in time of rain or cold weather , to set in the room where they remain , a pan with coals , burning in it now and then some juniper , benjamin , and such like , that yieldeth sweet smels . but afterwards unlesse in time of extraordinary cold , give them aire , and take heed of keeping them too hot , being alwayes mindfull to store the room with herbs and flowers which are delightfull and pleasing to the smell . as the wormes increase in bigness , you shall disperse them abroad upon more boards , or shelvs , and not suffer them to lie too thick together : and if you finde any of them broken , or of a yellow glistering colour inclining to sickness , cast them away , lest they infect the rest , and sort such as are not sick , the greatest and strongest by themselves , for so the lesser will prosper the better . when and how to make fit rooms for the worms to work their bottoms of silk in , and in what sort the said bottoms are to be used . as soon as by the clear amber-coloured bodies of your worms , you shall perceive them ready to give their silk , you must ( with heath made very clean , or with the branches of rosmary , the stalkes of lavender , or such lik ) make arches between the foresaid shelves . vpon the branches and sprigs whereof , the wormes will fasten themselves , and make their bottoms , which in fourteen dayes after the worm beginneth to work them , you may take away ; and those which you are minded to use , for the best silk , you must either presently winde , or kill the worms which are within them , by laying the said bottoms two or three dayes in the sun or in some oven after the bread baked therein is taken out , and the fierceness of the heat is alaid . the other bottomes which you intend to keep for seed , you must lay in some convenient warme place , untill the worms come forth , which is commonly some sixteene or twenty dayes from the beginning of their work : and as they do come forth you must put them together upon some piece of old say , grogeran , the backsid● of old velvet , or the like , made fast against some wall , or hangings in your house . there they will ingender , and the male having spent himselfe , falleth down , and in short time after dieth , as also doth the female when she hath laid her egges , which egges , when you perceive them upon the say or grogran , &c. to be of a grayish colour , you may take them off gently with a knife , and having put them into a piece of say or such like , keep them in a covered box amongst your woollen cloaths , or the like till the year following : but not in any moist room , for it is hurtfull for them , neither where there is too much heat , least the wormes should be hatched before you can have any food for them . the making of a wheel , as likewise the way to winde the said silk from the bottoms , can hardly be set down so plainly , as to be rightly understood : wherefore when time shall serve , there shall be sent into every county of this kingdom , a wheel ready made , and a man that shall instruct all such as are desirous to learn the use thereof : till when , i will commend these brief instructions to be carefully considered of all such as are willing to benefit either themselvs or their country , that being skilfull in the contemplation , they may the readier , and with less errour apply themselves to action , which painfull industry , with gods assistance , will quickly perfect . an extract of a letter from germany , concerning silk-worms , written to s. h , esquire . as for keeping of silk-worms i must confess i have spent likewise some time in the ordering and observing of them inasmuch as this very yeare ( ) i have had from them so much good silk ( and equal to that which is brought either out of persia or italy ) as have made mee two paire of stockings . and i have found by experience that they may be kept as well in germany as in other countries , and that mulberry-trees will grow in abundance upon our lands ; wherefore i have often wished that the emperour ( of germany ) would follow the most laudable example of the k. of france , who having forbidden the importation of foraigne silk into his kingdom hath thereby so much obliged the industry of the people of france , that they are come to a great perfection in this silken manufacture . but concerning the experiments of making silk out of nettles or out of flax , i never have tried either of them . only i remember that i have seene once a very fine and delicate yarne or thred , which was made purely out of nettels . i do not believe that those artist of hamburg and wolfenbuttel which you have named unto mee in your letter , will communicat their skil for a publique good , as long as they can get their own comfortable subsistance by it . a letter written by mr. ra. austen , from oxford , febr. . . imparting his experiments about silk-worms and how to wind off the silk from the bottoms , when the worms have done spinning ? concerning my experiences about silk-worms , i only say thus much . that i am fully satisfied upon good and sure grounds that the keeping of them ( store of them ) in these parts would be of very great profit , could we but get mulbery leaves sufficient to feed them . for upon my own knowledge and experience ( last yeare ) upon some thousands of them , i see what might be by more . for my great doubt and question was satisfied about the winding of the si●ke from the bottoms , when the worms have done spinning . i plainly see it is very easy , children of . or . yeares old can apprehend it , and do it . for the worms having done spinning , which is within . or . dayes of their beginning , through out-most silke is ravelled off , and the end is found immediately , which runnes on ( . or . or . or more bottoms together ) in a bason of water , a little gum drag mixed . some bottoms ( if the worms were strong and well fed ) run without breaking , scarce once or twice till all be off , and such as break , are quickly found again . the truth is , if the worms are scanted of leaves , their silk is so small , that it holds not so well as that of lusty worms . i saw many brave skains of silk wound off the last yeare , and help't to do part of it my self . now the great matter is , how to propagate mulberry-trees enough . as for the ordinary way , by boughes , we can have but few that way . i am from time to time experimenting other wayes by seed , inoculating , grafting , &c : what will be the result , as yet i know not : i doubt not , but god will in his good time bring to light and set on foot many good and worthy designes , more then are in these nations . we had need to labour to be of the like principles of that worthy person , whose paper you enclosed , patiently and humbly to waite the lords season , and to designe for god in all we go about , which will crowne our endeavours with comfort and success . a rare and new-discovered speedy way , and easie meanes of keeping of silk-worms , being thus made knowne to the colony in virginia . hearken wel you beloved planters , to what in these few lines i shall declare unto you ; and is thus sent you in print , that all of you may communicate the great and superlative good and benefit will be unto every one of you : who so is wise , will ponder these things , and give the prai●e and glory to god , the author of all good inventions , how providence having brought this to pass for ●ll your exceeding great happine●s and increase of store of wealth , with so much ea●e , so little labour , no cost unto you ; and in so short a time as fourty daies , this wealth flowes in upon you . you know i conceive desire to know it , and i am as wil●ing to impart it unto you : thus then in brief , in a plain manner , that all may understand it , the same lady , who last year sent you her books of health and wealth , ( who hath the happiness to beare the honourable name of your incomparable countrey ) continuing her sincere affections to the advancing of your welfares in all kindes ; and amongst the rest in this rich work of silk , knowing virginia to be in all respects most proper for it , ( as by a late book en● you● published by mr. williams , ) not onely in regard of the climate being the same with china , from whence the infinite quantity of silk comes , but abounding ( as it doth ) with mulberry-trees naturally growing there , and exceeding it by the silkworm-bottoms found in her woods . she hath i say this spring found out ( by the speciall blessing of god upon her intentions ) so rare , so speedy , and so costless a way and means for the feeding of silkwormes ; by the triall and experiment she so luckily made , to the admiration of all that have seen or heard of it , as a thing scarce credible ; because not heretofore thought of , nay , as it were , held impossible by such authours as have written of the ordering and feeding of silk-worms : that this her invention being thus made known unto you , her beloved friends in virginia , she is most confident , and assures herself you will all there instantly without further delay ( which will be the joy of her heart ) become great and rich masters of this noble● silk-work to all your unspeakable wealth . do but as she hath done ; follow but with good courage your cheerfull leader , and doubtless you shall finde ( what she desires you may , ) namely , great profit and pleasure in an honest imployment . this silken-mine will be to you of more benefit then a mine of silver . in the beginning of may last , when her young mulberry-tree in her garden began to put out its buds , then her silkworm-eggs began to hatch , as the nature of this wise creature is , when her food begins once to appear , she comes forth of her shell : she presently laying a mulberry-leafe upon these little crawling creatures , they came all upon it instantly ; then she carried the leafe and them upon it to the tree , upon whose leaves they made hast to be ; and there they day and night fed themselves , creeping from leafe to leafe , and branch to branch at their own liberties most pleasing to themselves ; they grew and thrived wonderfully , and surpassed in largness of body those other wormes she kept in her chamber ( she having been many a year a mistris of silkworms , and kept them by the book-rules ) this good and prosperous beginning heightened her hopes . the wormes , as their nature is , cast off or slipped out of their skins four severall times , still growing greater and greater to the singular delight and content of their mistris . about dayes thus feeding upon the leaves , they began that rare and glorious work of spinning their silk-bottomes upon the leaves and branches of the tree ; such a gallant sight to behold , it ravished the spectators , and their mistris joy was crowned with excess of happiness herein and hereby , apparently finding the incomparable felicity this would prove to her dearly beloved virginia , ( for so you must give her leave to call it , ) for she concluded , and so must all you , that this being thus effected in england , how much more with assured confidence will the wormes live , feed , and spin in virginia ? she upon serious and due consideration of this thing , gave god hearty and humble thanks . and what can any of you now wish , for more incouragement ? the full proof is made , the work ( or rather let me call it ) the pleasure is effected with so much ease , so little cost , hazard or pains , as all may admire it . 't is not the hundreth part of your care , labour , or toyl you take about your tobacco , and an hundred times ( as i may say ) all things put together more gain and profit to you then you make by tobacco , which in truth is but smoak and vapour , but this a reall-royall-solid-rich-staple commodity . and yet if you will have still smoak , so this neither will nor can hinder your labour in that , or take from you any other employment you have a minde unto . consider , consider i pray you ( beloved friends ) your incomparable happiness in this thing , and bless god for it . surely i should much wrong your judgements and patience if i should spend any more arguments to perswade you to this so great benefit to you , and should be like to him that to manifest the clear sun-shine at noon-day , brought in a candle . in a word , there 's nothing is or can be wanting but your true thankfulness to god for compleating this happy invention , and your present speedy putting it in practice . yet give me leave ; before i bid you adien , to add the incomparable joy this lady hath , who is confidently perswaded ( her daily prayers are to god for it ) that this new invented way of thus keeping silkworms on the trees ; it requiring neither skill nor pains , ( this last being the only remora , in the savages nature , which witholds them from attempting any thing of labour ) that when the indians shall behold and see you begin the business , they will with all alacrity set upon it likewise , and imitate you . and that you to incourage them ( as well you may ) do agree with them , that for every pound-weight of silk-bottoms they bring unto you , you give them ( as well it deserves ) shil . worth in any commodities they desire . and thus by the blessing of almighty god , there may be good hope of their civilizing and conversion ; so that they may be likewise great gainers both in body and soul by this thing . and if this prove so , ( gods mercies and workes being far beyond our capacities ) how much then indeed will virginia's happiness be every way raised to the height of blisse . the promise being made , that they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament , and they that turn many to righteousnesse , as the stars for ever and ever ; which the god of wisdome and power grant to you all in virginia , and so , lord , prosper this work in their hands , lord , prosper their handy-work ; good luck i wish you all in the name of the lord , amen , amen , amen . memorandum ; that you take notice , that the birds wi●l eat up the silkworms on the trees , so that care must be had ( and it 's easily prevented by severall wayes and means , as you will devi●e ) to scare away the birds ; if all fail , a boy may be set that may affright them them al away with some noise , or by nets encompa●sing the trees , and the birds will also carry the silk-bottoms off the trees , if they be let there remain ; but that 's soon pre●ented , by taking them speedily away . and this of the birds is the chief reason , that virginia abounds not with plenty of the naturall wilde silkworms , they devouring most of them : and it 's a wonder how any at all escape them , but that god preser●es some few of the race , that his power and wisdome may be seen , and the aptnesse of the countrey to invite you to the work . it will be good for you to incourage the savages , when they finde any bottoms in the woods , to bring them to you , that you may get of the race , and seed to increase it . some say , the originall silkworm is produced by the corruption of the old mu●berry-tree and leaves , by the sunne and moisture . but that none of you may want a stock to begin your silk-work , the lady aforesaid hath sent you store of silkworm-eggs to be distributed amongst you : and if you begin but with an eggs this year , they will next year be above ; for one female silk-fly will lay , , at a time , all things more and more concurring to your incouragement . now the two propositions that tend to infinite welfare , benefit , and wonderfull advantage both to england and the colony joyntly , are those that follow , they which upon no terms are to be omitted to be published and effected . first , that with all speed some kinde of coyne be sent to virginia , that may be authorized to passe there for their commerce and better trading . but whether all silver somewhat valued above its worth , or part silver and part copper , is left to the wi●e judgments in that case . but of this confidently be assured , that without some kinde of coyn or other , that colony can no way prosper or thrive , nor any staple-commodities be set up , or artificers in any kinde follow their professions : for tobacco being now their money , and that with which all commerce is driven● , and paiments made in , and passeth from man to man ; all men are set upon that thing with the neglect of all other rich and solid innumerable commodities that are in that land to be had : and till this remedy of coyne be applied , there can be no prosperity in that colony . were not the thing as apparent to all mens understandings as light is from darknesse ; i should alledge many reasons for it , but it 's so needlesse to spend time about it , as it might well be thought a great absurdity . what then remains ? but that some publique spirited patriot that would immortalize his name and honour in the procuring of this so necessary a thing to be speedily effected , wherein also as the generall good he shall do , so the benefit will be ever great to those that shall undertake the carrying over this coyne ; be it what it will be , all men know it so well what the gain will be , as there 's no need to name it in particular manner , they cannot wish for more profit then that will be to the undertakers , and the colony will with all their hearts be content with it , and esteeme them happy and thrice happy benefactours . the second thing is , that a publication be procured and sent to the colony in virginia , declaring unto them , that there shall be liberty for all men to bring from thence for the space of ten years to come , any commodity that they shall there raise , into england , custome and excize free , ( tobacco onely excepted , which may pay double custome , if so thought fit : ) and further that to what value of money such commodities shall be sold for here in england , ( being rated at the custome-house at their entry ; ) it shall be lawfull to carry out to virginia any commodities again to the same proportion & worth , custome and excize free . these two reasonable things granted ; as they shall infinitily with all speed advance the plantation , so shall they ( all things duly weighed in the scale of prudence ) be no lesse beneficiall to england , as all men that have their eyes in their heads , and english hearts in their bodies , see and apparantly know , nothing more sure and certain ; and all stable and needfull commodities brought out of all-liberall - virginia into england at a very reasonable rate and price , much cheaper then now we have them , and are fain to fetch them with great hazard from doubtfull friends , or heathen nations , to their great enriching and our own impoverishing , as to all knowing men is most apparent ; we shall be free from the usurpation of forreign princes and states in our estates , lives , liberties and shipping● and we may conclude boldly and rejoycingly , that providence hath provided this all-sufficient countrey of virginia against these times , and to these intents , that hence we may have all we want from our own brethren , our navy there increased to what number we please ; for this incomparable● land affords naturally all whate●●e belongs to the building and rigging of a navy in all compleat manner from top to toe , as may be said ; and by a safe , a sure , certain , ease , near at hand westerly disco●ery , ( part by land , and part by rivers and seas ) contract all the riches of the south-sea , the molocos , philipines , china , &c. by leagues neerer to us , without molestation by any prince or pirat , and shall not need at all to be troubled , if rushia , poland , denmark , sweden , norway , germany , yea france● spain , italy , constantinople were removed times more distant from us : for in one word , what ever these countreys afford , either necessary or superfluous , all-sufficient virginia within its limits will produce unto us . and shall there not i say then now be found a zealous patriot , that will stand up for his countrey , and procure these things to be done out of hand ? now god forbid ; i commit the businesse to god , having done what i conceive my part is , who onely have good wishes , and daily prayers to attend this enterprize , which god prosper , amen . postscript . at a friends importunity , ( the former part sent to the presse ) i am thus enforced to make this addition , and upon the great hopes that upon triall it will be found , that you may have two silk-harvests in one six moneths time ; of the eggs a second brood may be hatched in iune , and so fed by mulberry-leaves , though then it may be it must be in an house , that then for the promoting of such a good designe nothing of incouragement may be wanting , not any obstructions in the businesse , under pretence of wanting needfull housing for to feed the wormes in . thus much i will assure you , that the slightest and simplest kinde of housing or coverture ( though the books are too superstitions and ceremonious in the rules which are many that they give concerning the ordering of the worm , which are not so necessary as they pretend ; ) i assure you , you will abundantly content and satisfie this , though noble ; yet most humble creature , even with any habitation to do her work in . and to this intent i now declare unto you , ( that all excuse may be taken from you ) that the poor simple people in italy , spain , languedo●k● pr●vence , &c. do keep and feed their silk-worms in the same low earthen-floored rooms , wherein themselves lodge and do all their houshould-affairs , feeding them on shelves and on tables , giving them leaves without any more curiosity , and they thrive and prosper with them as well as in the greatest cities and stately chambers of the greatest rich mens palaces . and that in sicilie and calabria , the common silk-masters there do at time of year in the spring , set up only slight boarded houses in the fields round about the mulberry groves , and placing shelves in the inside of them , two foot one above the other to the roof , and a table all a long the mid of the room , they strowing their leaves on these shelves and table , there feed their wormes , and there they spin in the room their master lies for the space of five or six weeks time ; and they have abundance of silk without more ●do ; and a man and a boy will tend all the worms that come of six ounces of eggs , and those wormes will spin pound-weight of silk , and that but at shil . the pound , is worth ls . in ready money , a sufficient gain to allure a man to the work i tro ; but the gain by the naturall worme multiplying will farre exceed it . and i may not forget yet more all at the persian manner is to pitch up onely tents of canvas , and booths round their mulberry-woods , and there-under they strow the mulberry-tree leaves on the ground● there their wormes feed and live and spin , and do well in all kindes , the persians living also the time of fi●e weeks in the tents . thus all these examples do manifestly prove unto you , that very simple and slight housing and 〈…〉 will content the silk-worms , and they will 〈◊〉 well in them . and thus you see that very poor and slight houses in virginia will do the deed . nay rest assured that the very savages houses built but with poles arbor-wi●e , and covered top and sides with mats , will be abundantly satisfactory to the wormes , and they will thrive in them as you shall finde upon triall . and let me tell you , being desirous that you may do all things with the least cost and ●abour to you , and to invite also the savages to the work for their own gain ; do but take your reeds and small canes in virginia , and run but a strong neede and threed thorow the reeds which will hold them together , and so you may presently make shelves and tables with them as narrow and as broad as you please ; and in truth you shall finde this kinde of shelf and tab●ing to feed your worms on much better in many respects then boards : but you may make triall of the persian way also by strowing your leaves on the ground in these houses , and so feed them , and so your second brood of silk-worms may also be thus kept and nourished in this kinde of housing and coverture ; experience is the mistris of fools , saith the proverb : and it is not an unwise mans part often to make trials , though to some men they may seem impossibilities , yet rare and strange things have upon triall often been found out ; and if you would but shew the savages samples of all kinde of things , you should soon by them know more in a moneth what is in that countrey to be had then you have done these years ; and for reward they would bring in of all kindes unto you , what they have and you desire to know , so a sudden discovery may be made of all things in that land to your infinite gain . to conclude with this memento , that there are nine things that appear , are of no or small difficulty to you and the savages to enterprize , and get gain and wealth to be produced from these commodities ; i will but name them and leave them to your better judgements and thoughts . this silke , so easie , speedy , and profitable a thing . the silk-grasse naturally there growing , which to the indians the onely labour is of putting it up , and bringing it to you at such a price ; a rich commodity if known . the planting vines , small labour , little cost , long enduring . the multiplying of cunny-warrens , so easie a thing , the wool of a skin now worth pence , which is more then the body , yet the flesh is considerable meat ; the wooll is and will be very vendible for this new in●ention , not onely of these fine light hats now sold at and shil . but the spining of the wool , and making stockings of it as fine as those of silke . the increasing of abundance of bees for wax and honey , their food so plentifull in virginia , as in no land more , and if with an hatchet you do but slash your pine-trees , firre-trees , locus , and other trees , there will store of liquor come out of them , on which the bee will gather infinite store of honey and wax , as in russia and other countreys they do . the planting of sugar-canes , that being no more laborious then the indian wheat , setting it , and once set in good land they grow eight or ten years , and the indians pains will onely be to cut them yearly down , and sell them to you . that of the cotton-tree is the like for many years , gathering of the cods of woll from them , as we do roses from the rose-bushes . that of ginger soon done , the planting and the gathering of it . that of grafting your crab-trees with apples and pears for sider and perry , you knowing that a man in one day will graft an stocks , and they will grow night and day , while you eat , sleep , and play , and last years to your great gain and profit . i may not further inlarge my self for the present , these are but tastes and hints for your better wits to worke on : so with a thousand good wishes , i bid you adiew . floreat virginia . the fashion of the botome . the silke bottome of the naturall worm in virginia , found there in the woods , is ten inches about , and six inches in length to admiration : & whereas ours in europe have their sleave and loose silke on the outside ; and then in a more closer covering they intombe themselves . these rare worms , before they inclose themselves up , fill with silke the great emptinesse , and afterwards inclose themselves in the middle of it , so they have a double bottom . the loose sleave silk is all on the outside of this compass , for if that were reckoned in , the compasse of the bottom would far exceed this proportion : but this is sufficient to be the wonder of the whole world : to the glory of the creatour , and exaltation of virginia . a loving advertisement to all the ingenious gentlemen-planters in virginia now upon the designe of silk . by v. f. gentlemen , svch hath bin the singular favour of providence to you and the lady , that singe the publishing of this book ; it hath so happily lighted into the hands of divers worthy persons , being not only gentlemen-travellers of credit , & merchants of reputation ; but likewise wonderfully taken with the love of virginia , and no less zealously affected to the advancement of the silk-trade in that land , which they judge ( not of their experience and knowledge of what they have and observed in the easterly parts of the world , where abundance of silk is made ) that no part of the world is more proper for silk then al-sufficient - virginia : in regard of the excellency of the temper of the climate , which naturally produceth not onely mulberries for food ; but the silk-worme it selfe , in that wonderful greatness of the wilde silk-bottom : which as they say , the whole vniverse affords not , nor brings forth the like to their own small admiration . and that there is no greater quantities of them found or seen they conclude , it is in regard of the birds who are their natural enemies , & devoure most of them . and these gentlemen are confident , that you did not know & practise those ways and meanes , for the feeding and preservation of them , as in some far remote regions is practised by those nations , that are expert masters of silk-wormes , virginia would instantly abound with great store of silk , and surpass all those countreyes in that rich commodity , and you all become with great speed and small cost , or li●tle labour one of the happiest , wealthiest people that the world affords . and to the intent that such a blessing may not be longer wanting to you , they have out of their superlative benigne affections , and publike spirit , imparted to the lady these ensuing relations , with their earnest desires and advises , that you all in virginia may out of hand be made partakers of them . and then knowing them , you may no longer live in gross darknes and ignorance of so great a treasure that you are possessors of , and may now have and enjoy the full use and benefit of , which hitherunto hath most straingely been hidden from the eyes of body and mind ; they conceiving that the chief cause thereof hath been the pernicious smoak of tobacco , that thus hath dimmed and obscured your better intellectuals ; but when you begin to put these wayes & means in practice , they say you will bl●sse your selves ( as they do ) that you have not in this long time discovered the infinite wealth and happiness that will arise unto you out of silk . but not longer to detain from you this most precious eye-salve , for the speedy curing of your infirmity , and making you all rich ( which is your main aime in that new world ) . hearken well to these informations , which the lady earnestly desires may thus be with all speed made known to you all . the one traveller declared , that he passed a countrey where he saw those people had their silk-worms feeding on their mulberry-trees in the fields & there they live & spun their bottoms on the trees , and to protect this noble profitable creature & to defend it from the birds , they used a most slight , simple , plain invention speedily effected & of no cost or labour to them , which was certain great sheets of reeds or canes , that they hung over and about their trees , tied to certain poles that incompassed them . and in this easie manner they obtained great abundant quantities of silk , to their wonderful inriching . the sheets of reeds were joyned together by a neede and thred , running through each reed at several equal distances , and so drew them close and firm together . this for you to imitate , is in every respect to your wonderfull happiness . another of these travellers saith , that he passed a countrey where the inhabitants did make large tents or boothes all of reeds and canes , and in them placed shelves and tables made likewise of reeds , on which they fed their worms , strewing leaves on them . these tents they set up round about their mulberry-groves , and with much celerity , and no cost . a third gentleman and merchant , that lived long in the farthest parts of turkey , affirmeth , that there the inhabitants begin every spring , march , to feed their worms , and continue it till october , six moneths time : their worms hatching & re-hatching , one generation or brood succeeding the other : so that they have three harvests of silk-bottoms , in that space of time , every five or six weeks one : they feed their worms in great long barns made of reeds or canes , the walls and roofs of them , and shelves as aforesaid , and the wormes when they have done feeding , spin their bottoms upon the reedy walls and roofs ; and that they have two crops of leaves from their trees : for those trees that have their leaves pull'd off in march , april , and may , do re-leave again , and have new and fresh leaves in iune , iuly and august , wherewith they feed their latter generation or brood of wormes very profitably . and in confirmation of this , you shall know , the same hath been found true in england , that the mulberry-tree will leave twice in a summer , the lady had the experience of it , and therefore much more will it do with you , which will be a most singular advantage to you . i must not omit to add what these gentlemen farther advise , that you can never sufficiently augment the store of food for this noble creature : for store of food is the main foundation , upon whose speeding the silk-trade is to be erected : for if that be not wanting , no obstruction can be in it . for the glorious worm is so infinite in multiplication , with that celerity as is incredible , so that she will never be defective unto you : they therefore counsell , that you graft your mulberries with all care and speed upon these severall trees , upon which they will exceedingly thrive , viz. the popler , the elme , the chesnut , beech , quince , medler , fig , peare , apple , and cornell-trees . and also upon any other trees , of which upon a trial you find the worm will taste or eat their leaves . likewise that you set of your mulberry-slips as big as your thumb , about two foot long : and put them into good wel-digg'd ground in september , setting them a foot in the ground , bruising the ends of them , and watering them the next summer well , if need be : in the same manner as in kent , they set the codling-slips . that you also cause the indians to bring unto your habitations all the young mulberry-trees that are within an hundred miles of your colony . but let me acquaint you that they admire what some gentlemen planters of credit tell them ; that your brave wormes do not onely live , feed , and spin upon the mulberry-trees in the woods , but do the same upon the poplar-trees , plum-trees , and apple-trees : ● such an incouragement to the silk-trade , the world ( say they ) never yet heard of before , which must needs lift you up to a most speedy and incomparable height of wealth and riches , in a moment of time . and by your gentle patience and generosity , give me leave to propound unto you , the earnest request the lady hath to all of you ; that you please to inform her ( being also the desire of many others ) how it comes to pass that your wormes get to your severall trees , not only to the mulberry , but to others : for in no other countreys the silk-worme-flie doth use her wings to flie with : so that yours must either do it ( and so at time of yeer couple and flie to sundry trees ; and there lay their eggs which remain till spring again ) or that your trees do naturally ingender and produce the wormes ( as it is conceived , the original of them so hapned at first ) but which way soever it be , it 's rare and remarkable ; and proves virginia to be one of the most superlative countreys in all the vniverse for the silk-trade ; and none comparable unto the excellency of its naturall temper for silk . then that you also inform her all you can of the nature , actions , qualities and dispositions in all kindes of this most wonderfull creature , every way so admirable , what by any english or savage hath bin any way observed in her : when her eggs first hatch , then how long time she is feeding before she spins , upon what part of the trees she fastens her bottom ; how long she continues in her bottom before she comes out a fly , then when they couple , where they lay their eggs , upon what part of the trees ? how long they live after that time ? for these in the old world never eat after they once begin to spin : how large in bigness and compass are commonly their bottoms ? if all of one colour , or divers ? in what part of the countrey are most of them seen and found ? what do the savages call them , or know any use of them ; what birds are they that most devoure them ? ( for did they not , they would swarm all the land over in a very few yeers ) ; if any thing besides birds be hurtfull to them ? their greatness and doubleness of their bottoms are wonder●ul , none ever known to be so , which argues the strength and richness of this noble worm , her vigour and hardnes exceeds , that can endure all wethers and seasons both alive and in her eggs . a great incouragement to you all that she is not a nice curious kinde of silkworme ; but stout and robustous , that will require little care or attendance , of small cost unto you . but her food and protection is all she requires , and pays you ten thousand-fold for what you bestow on her . that you please to send of her bottoms to satisfie all men , who are like the queen of sheba , much better trust their eyes than eares ; some of their eggs likewise upon that which they lay them , and the fly ( though dead ) which will many a yeer retain her perfect form in a box : do not the wormes hatch and spin twice or thrice in a summer ? let me add one petition more , and i have done . viz. that some of your precious silk-grass may be sent the lady , who is confident upon the triall she will make of it , she will give you so pleasing an account and so profitable unto you , in making known unto you what an unknown wealth you have : she prays you ( and all is for your own gain ) to bore and cut all your trees ( a most easie thing ) and thereby you shall discover presently , what rich gums , what balsoms , what oils , and precious healthful liquours they will yield you for profit & necessity : for all men know that many kindes of trees do yield most pleasant and healthsome wines ( as i may call them ) for man to drink ; so also you will finde out all sorts of dies and colours ( instantly done ) : cut and bruise all kindes of your woods , barks , and leaves of trees , roots , berries , nuts , fruits , plants , weeds ; and but boil them in a skillet , and then put in a little piece of white woollen or linnen cloth with some allom , and you shall instantly finde and see what rich colours they will make . what is indico but a weed , so woad and madder ? what is brasil , fustick , logwood , and many more kinde of dies , but woods ? what coucheneal the rich scarlet die , but a fly , or the excrements of the indian fig-tree ? what is the new-found rich dying stuff of . l. a tun ; but of a tree that is brought from the island of liberty , neer cape florida where captain sailes plants ? and shall virginia not yield a drop of good liquour or colour ? it cannot be ; if but a triall thus easie were made . by burning of all kinde of woods and gums , you 'le soon finde by your nose what sweet perfumes they yield . and by the ponderousness or weight of earths , you may know if minerals or not ? let it be known also , if you have not waters of more than ordinary qualities ; for taste , colours , smell , weight , hotness , or coldness ? there is much depends upon them . and you shall know if they proceed out of any minerals , by taking a glass full , and putting into it a gall beaten to powder , which will turn the water into a reddish colour : and send samples of all kinde of strange earths , and of all other kinde of things without fail . and lastly , ( if it be not too much presumption to beg the favour to receive that honour from you ) which she no wayes deserves nor can hope to requite : to inform her what be the things , the wayes , the means to advance virginia's prosperity , if they may be procured and effected . if any errour be committed in telling you all this : there is hope your pardon may be obtained , seeing your onely good and benefit hath caused all this that hath been said : and the zeal of your wealth and happiness hath drawn all to this length : sirs , you have the faithful testimonies of those aforesaid worthy gentlemen , and nothing can be now wanting unto you but putting all in practice , what they have declared ; and for your good are such invitations and incouragements unto you , that more cannot be wished for . there remains nothing but humble thanks to god , and to these gentlemen your due respects , whom god hath made such instruments for your happiness , hoping their noble courteous examples will allure all other gentlemen travellers to cast into this good work some mites of their further knowledges , and every man to contribute his prayers and help to this or any other hopefull designe : seeing the consequence of them may be so good and great , not only to the english nation at home and abroad ; but to the poor savages their welfare of souls and bodies , which god grant . an other advertisement . the silk-trade , ( unlesse we will be deaf to reason and experience ) cannot be denyed the precedency of all trades that are at this day a foot , in either world : and that in regard of its great and certain gain in so small a time ; a man and a boy being able to tend as many silk-worms in two moneths space , as will yeeld you sixty pounds : which done , they leave you ten moneths free for any other imployment . in regard of its small skill , lesse pains , care and labour , no hazard , no cost or charge , ( more then a twelve-penny reel ) no troublesome tools or implements : in regard of its incredible ease and pleasure , as not requiring strength of body , of wit , of pur●e , any stock to begin with , only hands and eyes to gather leaves and feed the worms with , or protect them from the birds : if kept on the trees ( their natural mansion : ) admitting of all ages , ( for a child can do all that belongs to it ) all sexes , all qualities , ( a most fit recreation for ladies , especially being begun and ended in the two pleasantest moneths of the year , march and april . ) and all callings too ; for if saint paul made tents , who can plead exemption from tending silk-worms ? again , silk is lesse chargeable in ware-house , fraight , &c. then any other commodity , and yet none more durable , lasting , neat , vendible , nor more easely tran●portable : for fi●e hundred pounds worth of silk , fraights lesse , and takes up lesse room then ten pounds worth of tobacco . now where worms and food abound naturally , and the inhabitants are born with brains , the advancement of the silk trade must needs be proportionable : upon which double score virginia hath the advantage of any place in the yet discovered world ; i mean for worms and food , which may be thus severally demonstrated . their worms ( partly annually produced by heat and moysture as our caterpillars and other insects each spring , partly by eggs which have escaped the birds who are the greatest cause of their scarsity ( which otherwise would swarm over all the land ) devouring them when they are worms , eggs and bottoms ) exceed ours not only in strength , hardinesse and greatnesse , ( being when flyes as big as mens thumbs ) but also in the largenesse of their bottoms , which are as big as limons ; ( for mr. william wright of nansamond found of them above seven inches round ) and one of them weighs more then a score of ours ; insomuch that whereas a thousand of our worms made but one pound of silk , worth at most here s . a pound , a thousand of their natural worms will make ten pounds of silk , worth here twenty shillings the pound . and certainly they need not object or be troubled at the somewhat more coursnesse of their silk , since they from the same number of worms receive ten pounds in mony for our thirty shillings . as for their food , the virginia worms feed not only on the mulberry ( their sole food in all other parts of the world ) but also on the crab , plum , poplar ; oake , apple , cherry and pohickerry-tree leaves , with sundry other shrubs and bushēs . for proof whereof , mistresse mary ward sent over to her couzen ten bottoms taken from apple trees . esquire ferrar her kinsman likewise sent her ten more , pulled off from oaks and divers shrubs . mr laurence ward some taken from the pohickerry tree , mr wright from the cherry tree . so dr. russel and others . the objection , or rather groundlesse surmise of the worms being hurt by thunder in virginia , is sufficiently cleared , not only by the natural worms living so well , and thriving there so admirably on the trees ; but also by trial made there this spring of our worms . that ever to be honoured noble squire diggs having ( at his very great charge ) sent for two armenians out of turky skilful men , and made ten pound of silk , which had not want of eggs hindred him , would have been so many thousand pounds . nothing then wants to make virginia rival peru for wealth , more then to perswade the planters to provide themselves this winter ( to lose no more time ) of as many of the natural worms bottoms as possibly they can . they will now be found in the woods on the dis-leaved trees , though most of them are spun by the worms on the tree leaves , which falling to the ground , they perish with them ; and this is another great cause that so few bottoms are to be found . the bottoms thus gotten must be carefully kept in some long boxes till the flyes come forth , happily in february or march. for they remain in their bottoms . dayes , ours but . so that their eggs ( whereof one female will lay a spoonfull , suppose . ) lye unhatched but about nine dayes , ours nine moneths . when your worms are hatched , you may keep them either on the trees ( being assured that they will live on that kind of tree whatsoever it be from whence you took your bottoms ) and then you shall need onely to protect them from the birds ; or else in some slight kind of housing , reedy arbors , indian mansions , or what else you can devise there cheapest and speediest , and then your onely labour and care is to give them leaves , which you may either strip off , or clip from off your trees , or if you will , lop off little branches ( which may perhaps prove a good way for you : for thereby the leaves will remain the longer fresh ) and give them to your worms , who for the labour of every man and boy thus inployed only in two moneths time , will repay you with three●core pounds worth of silk . your own experience ( gentlemen ) will i hope ere this time twelv-moneth certifie you of the truth that is here set down , unlesse you shall rather chuse to hugg your own poverty , and make much of that slavery and drudgery you wear out your selves with , in toyling about that contemptible , beggarly indian weed , tobacco . the copy of esquire diggs his letter , to his much honoured freind , iohn ferrar , esquire at his house at little gidding , in huntingtonshire . from virginia , june . . sir , i have received your many and severall letters , printed papers , and quaeries ; and , would my occasions have permitted , i should ere this , have given you that due thanks you deserve , and punctually have answered all your judicious and pleasing quaeries : but i was so taken up in sending dayly for mulberry-leaves , as they are now so far scattered from my present plantation , that i could not possibly answer you expectations ; that onely difficulty made me to make but . pound weight of silk-bottomes , which i caused to be wound of . or . l. of silke in a day : sir , i doe very well approve of your last well printed paper , sent the colony for making triall of the naturall silk-worme , but such was my ill happe , that i could not this spring meet with any of those bottoms , but shall this next winter procure of them , all i can ; sir , i am now confident , i have conquered all the great feared difficulty of this rich commodity , and made its sweet easy and speedy profitt so evident to all the virginians ( and that it doth not at all hinder their too much beloved tobacco , but that they may proceed with both together ) that now i doubt not ( nor they ) but that in a short time here will be great quantities made of silke ; you in england will reape much advantage , and gaine many waies by it , ( more then most men can pet see ) and i by gods blessing the comfort and joy , in setting up so noble , so beneficiall , a staple vendible commodity . my people differ very little from the rules set down in your , mr. williams his booke , and as esquire samuell hartlib hath also directed in his advertizement of silk-worms unto us ; only in the hatching of the worms-eggs , they are more curious , of which i shall , when i have more time , give you a more particular accompt : i made . l. of seed or eggs this spring to give away to diverse planters , that are very earnest , ( seeing so great a benefit before their eyes ) to become also silk-masters , you need not feare it but that this next spring there will be divers tryalls made of the hopefull naturall worms , that you so highly prize ( and not without good cause ) and which is more , perhaps they may fall one after another and be re-hatched that we may have a double silk harvest ●n one summer ( as you have formerly hinted to us ) . pray sir will you be pleased at this time to excuse my too much brevity in this great business of so much concernment , of so much happiness to this country , and attribute it to my great hast , and much business upon the ships sudden departure , having many more dispatches to make to freinds ; but in my next , i shall make you double amends ; i pray present my service to the vertuous lady virginia : sir i daily pray for your long life , and well-fare , and now rest . sir your most humble servant , edward diggs . a way experimented by mr. farrar , to make the gummy-hard naturall virginia bottoms ( which hetherto by no art could be be prepared to unwind by reason of the gummy hardness ) to unwinde with ease , to the great advantage of the planters of the silk-trade in virginia . you must take sope-boylers lye or liquor , which is very sharp and strong , and set that in a vessel over the fire till it be warme , then put in as many of your hard gummy bottoms as you please , and let them rest in that liquor , till it be scalding-hot , and so remain half a quarter of an houre more or less , till they be so dissolved that you may take out one and find it fit to unwind ; which you must thus doe . first put the bottoms into scalding clean water , and having layen a while therein , then take them out and proceed to unwind them as the custome is . in case sope-boylers lye or liquor be not to be had , you may make a strong liquor of the ashes of any wood , with boyling water , the stronger the better , and this may and will also perform the work . and this is just as you make a lye to buck clothes withal . only note it must be very strong made . an extract out of a very ingenious gentlemans letter from dublin , concerning the reformed virginian silk-worm . i thank you for your virginian paper . me thinkes the experiment is most natnral to my apprehensions , that the worms should feed and thrive best upon the leaves growing on the trees , rather then in the houses , and that they , like other caterpillers ( of whom these are a sort ) did at first breed so , and that houses were rather an invention for expediency , but their proposition about money to be carried to virginia . i utterly dislike ; even somuch as if it were possible , i would banish money from ireland . an animadversion upon the letter from dublin . i like not the gentlemans reason why he likes the proposition concerning feeding of silk-worms upon the trees . for almost all plants , even the most rare now in use were originally ( namely since the deluge ) wild and past muster amongst weeds , & are improved to such a degree of excellency to the eye , nose or palat , by industry and home-helps and contrivances : so iohn tradeskin by lambeth , by the advantage of putting his trees , and other plants into a warm house in winter or a stow , nurses up those things faire and fragrant , which would without that help either dye or be dwarft . this is the reason why tame pigeons or conies are larger , and breed better , and oftner then wild . yet i conclude not against the thing it self ; for questionles , that the leaves have more heart , fresh and greene , then halfe withered , if the cau●e of their withering were known or considered , but i can say little to this , as having no experience , a new observation , concerning the feeding of silk-worms with lettice , imparted from dublin . i have only to present you with some observations i made concerning the feeding of silk-worms ( meeting here accidentally with a kinswoman of mine that keepes great store o● them ) whieh geuerally is beleeved only to be don , with mulberry leaves : the contrary of which is here by some praectised . viz. to feede them with lettice ; which the worms eat very readily , grow as those big as that are fed with mulberry leaves & spin as much silk : they wil also eate the hearb called dantedelyon , but whether that will so well agree with them as lettice , i have not tried , but with lettice they will thrive very well , eating nothing else all the yeare . more observations concerning the feeding of silk-worms with lettice , sir , my good cosen mr. w. sent me the letter , you wrote to him ; and the note sent you out of ireland , that intimated the happy success the gentlewoman had then in keeping silk-worms , not only on the mulberry-tree-leaves , but with lettice leaves , the thing you much desired that my daughter should have made known unto her . truly sir your singular humanity and goodness in all things more and more extends it selfe for the publique benefit of all , and i see to the particular satisfaction of your freinds , though strangers to you yet those that have daly cause more and more to honour you , as we justly do . sir , this your favour is both by my-self and daughter so much resented as it requires from us , very hearty and particular thanks to be tendered to your worth . she is a lover of rarities in these kinds , and to try conclusions upon her silk-worms , and no way envious , but much rejoyces to heare that any have had that good success with lettis as you write of , and shall her-self againe make a third triall in that kind , for she hath . yeares last past tryed her-self to have kept some with lettice leavs & so did & they thrivd as well as they kept with mulberrys , but stil when the time of spinning came they would not spin , but then dyed and this put her out of heart to try further , yet i may tell you , she perswaded a gentleman near her to keep some with lettice . daies and then fed them with mulberrys at last , and these did very well and spun as good bottoms as those wholly kept with mulberry leaves . but now she resolves upon your intimation of the experiment made in ireland to try a third time , and to give you an accompt of her success in iune next , if god permit . and now sir she presents this printed inclosed paper to your worthy judgment , if you find not it matter of consideration and reason for her to send it as a second new yeares gift to virginia , hoping that it may do good there to the planters and informe them of much truth ; and invite them to the business of silk , which god grant ; amen . this other paper of ryming lines ( for verses they deserve not the name ) yet being that what her brother a young scholar hath collected out of letters , that were sent her from virginia and given her , she also sends you to further informe you of things done , last spring . thus worthy , sir , with the due respects of both our kindest salutes , wishing you all happiness in this and the better world , i rest ever . yours in all love and service iohn ferrar . littell gidding hunting shire this . novemb. . sir , she makes bold to present you with a sample of virginia silk-grass sent her by a freind . it 's a rarity , and she hopes will delight you who have such a publique spirit to rejoyce , and further a common good ; as she hath great hopes this will prove a commodity next to the silk there , as skilfull men and artists do assure her of it , and thousands of poor people will be set a work with it , if it prove there to be in quantity . upon the most noble , virginian natural silk-worm her wonderful , various , plentiful food ; the infinite , speedy , great wealth she will produce to her protector ; ( in . days the time of her feeding ) with small labour , cost , or skill , ( learnt in an houres space by any child . ) the singular aptness of that rare superlative climate , in breeding them on so many several kinds of trees in her woods where they live● feed and spin , their mighty large , strange , double-bottoms of silk : to the admiration of this our old world ; but to the exaltation and glory of incomparable virginia , in the new. where wormes and food doe naturally abound , a gallant silken trade must there be found : virginia excells the world in both , envie nor malice can gaine say this troth . many a man the causes faine would heare , how these rare worms came first or still come there . insects produced are by heat and moisture who in strange shapes and formes do oft appeare . in spring our trees the caterpillers reare ; their trees likewise these noble creatures beare . and some proceed from eggs that scaped are from their enemies sight , which thing is rare . they feed not only on the mulberry which in our world sole food is held to be for all such precious worms of that degree : but popler , plum , crab , oake , and apple tree , yea cherry , and tree called pohickery : so on the shrubs and bushes feed full many her worms are huge whose bottoms dare with lemmons of the largest size compare . and twenty one of ours will sure poize less then one of theirs for weight and ponderousness . master william wright of nansamound found bottoms above seven inches round . and though the silk prove not all out so fine as persian , that 's no let to the designe . for since a thousand of our bottoms make but one pound of fine silk , you 'l ten pounds take from theirs . if we at thirty shillings sell our pound , for twenty they 'l afford theirs well . the paines that 's taken is alike in either but the gaines by theirs eight times greater : then , we confined are to the mulberry for food , their worms have great variety . her dainty coloured flies and large worms in length and bigness do surpass mens thumbs . whereas ours short of little fingers come . our flies come out in twenty days and lay eggs , their 's not still three hundred as they say o wondrous thing ! a worm to fast so long and then come out a painted fly so strong . nine mouths full out our eggs unhatch't remaine nine daies in spring makes theirs revive againe a planter ( i wish they had him named ) a spoonfull eggs from one fly he gained which to five hundred at least amounted loe shortly endless they must be counted . in march they first begin to live and feed in aprill they have done the silken deed the sweetest , pleasantst time in all the yeare . you to this wealth the chanting birds will cheare and ten moneths time they leave you with great ease to spend it in what profit you shall please . rare worms who feeding five and forty daies on leaves of sundry plants and shrubs repaies their keepers with fine silke which wants no strength and yet extends it selfe some miles in lenght and for the labour of a man and boy they gaine you sixty pounds which is no toy . if you from birds protect them on the trees ( their naturall mansions ) t' will them best please your paines is spar'd in giving them the leaves by which alone you gaine their silken sleaves for non-parrel virginia in her woods , brings forth as all men know these precious goods : where thousand fleeces fit for princes robes on virgin-trees shall hang in silken globes . the noble worm so hardy , strong and stout no weather ill is able them to rout . the reasons why the numbers are so small less cruell birds devoure most of them all when they are worms yea eggs or silken ball . most bottoms likewise on the leaves are spun both falling to the ground do perish soon those only found that spun are on the branch not by their care but providentiall chance which only show themselves when all is bare to find in summer any'tis most rare . if to prevent both dangers you intend a reedy-arbourwell will doe 't , you 'l find or slightest coverture in any kind the skill and paines to all each child can do : as you shall find on triall t is most true . and may in wealth compare with rich peru. and sor all tooles that appertaine thereto a twelve-peny reele is all it will cost you , no wit , no strength , no purse , no stock will need but eies and hands , the worms to guard and feed . and thus you see done is the silken deed : which brings you so great wealth with so much speed . five hundred pounds worth of rich silk , all know fraights less then ten pounds in poore tobacco silkes are no trash , no toy , nor pedlars ware ; staple , good , and ready chinke every where . twenty shillings a pound t' will yield you cleare and ships to fetch it will come flying there . queenes of the best edition need not scorne in her owne livery to serve this worm : only to give her leaves is all she craves and in reward with silk shee 'l make you brave . out of her rich belly by her mouth spun weaves it into a most curious bottom which by a reele turning with hand of man is wholly wound off most neatly againe . to feed silk-worms no caling can disdaine seeing they yeild you so much honest gaine no imployment in the world so likely to make so soone your lasie savage wealthy . for his silk bottoms in exchange shall have from english , what he so needs , begs , and craves red coats , hose , shooes , knives , they highly deeme iewes-trumps , bells , beads , all toys , no less esteeme . if all be thus the cause you now demand why hath this knowledg been thus long detain'd and but now by the ladies books inflam'd ignorance of planters so strange hath been till now ne're knew nor dreamt of this rich thing confest it is , that of 't some they have seene regardlesly , but ne're did them esteeme . which loss of wealth and honour they 'l regaine and virgins counsell follow will amaine . the happy onset they this spring have made assures them all a stately pretious trade . sir henry chichly that heroick knight affirmes ther 's not an ingenuous wight in virginia but makes all speed he can to be e're long a silken noble man. and say , colonel ludlow certifies that thence from silk great profit will arise ; yea worthy bernard that stout colonel informes the lady the work most facile and of rich silken stuffs , made shortly there he hopes that he and others shall soone weare . so major john westrope saith , silk will be a gallant designe for their brave country . thunder was that , that some men onely doubt but triall made this spring puts that feare out . in all lands where worms are kept t is wonder to heare that any were harm'd by thunder . their naturall worm proves this more truer . mr. gorge lobs that prudent old planter tel●s her that worms ne're spun silk daintier . le ts give those gentlewomen their full dues mistress garret and burbage for silk clues that colonells wife needs not farr to rove her court affords a pleasant mulberry grove : but noble diggs carries the bell away ( lass ! want of eggs made so small the essay ) his two armenians from turky sent are now most busy on his brave attempt and had he stock sufficient for next yeare ten thousand pound of silk would then appeare and to the skies his worthy deeds upreare . loe here what mistress mary ward hath sent and to her lady cosin she presents ten rare bottoms took from her apple tree that all england may it beleeve and see . her honour'd kins-man esquire f●rrar , to confirme and make the wonder greater ten more likewise hath sent her , which he found on stately oakes and shrubs that kiss the ground and doctour russell that learn'd phisitian hath with his , made a full addition . for things more slowly do affect the minde which eares do heare then those that eies do find . now from smoke virginia shall be raised and throughout the world be duly praised . ah blest be god that now in his due time this silken light apparently doth shine then come , o come with sacred lays let us sound the almightys praise i. f. to the most noble deserving esquire diggs : upon the arrivall of his two armenians out of turky into virginia . courage , brave sir : sith ayde from god is sent proceed , go on , drive forth thy great intent . a comparison between the gain and labour of tobacco and silk . tobacco requires moneths time , much care and labour , both without and within dores , and a mans crop is commonly hundred weight of tobacco , and this at two pence a pound is pound gain . silk requires six weeks time , if done in a house , and by the labour of a man and boy , in gathering leaves , and tending the worms that come of six ounces seed , there is by so many worms spun as much silk as will weigh sixty pound weight , and this but at shil . a pound , yeelds l. in ready money . tobacco , leaves a man but moneths in the year for other business . silk , leaves a man ten moneths time in the year , for any other imployments . pounds a man gaines by his crop of tobacco . pounds a man and boy gains by his crop of silk . then let all men judge which is the more gainfull . but what will be the gain and profit , by the worms feeding and spinning on the trees is more considerable , and also the naturall virginia-worms bottome exeeding ours in europe times in bigness , and in weight : what a treasure then will this be , and no labour , cost , hazard , expence of time at all , a boy onely to keep away the birds from eating the silk-worms on the trees , &c. thus learned bartas upon this noble & admirable creature . yet may i not this wonderous worm pass by , of fly ●r●'d worm , and of a worm a fly. two births , two deaths , here nature hath assign'd her , leaving a posthum● , dead-live seed behind her ; which soon transforms the fresh and tender leaves of thisbes pale tree , to those tender sleaves ( on ovall clues ) of soft smooth silken flax , which more for us then for her self she makes . o precious fleece ! which only did adorne the sacred loins of princes heretofore : but our proud age , with prodigall abuse hath so profan'd the old honorable use : that shift●rs now , that scarce have bread to eat disdain plain silk , unless it be beset with one of those brave metals , whose desire burns greedy soules with an impartiall fire . had du bartas fully known all the vertues and rarities in this incomparable creature , even a miracle in nature , he would have inlarged his poems in a more ample manner in the praise of it , to the great honour of the creatour . cui gloria , amen . homo vermis . wee all are creeping worms of th' earth , some are silk-worms great by birth , glow-worms some that shine by night , slow-worms others , apt to bite , some are muck-worms slaves to wealth , maw-worms some that wrong the health , some to the publique no good willers , cancker-worms and cater-pillers ; found about the earth wee 'r crawling , for a sorry life wee 'r sprawling , putrid stuff we suck , ●t fills us , death then sets his foot and kills us . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e the way to speedy wealth was by some hundreds ● you to remov● some mile● miles south by land , an● to attempt th● discovery of the westerly sea , on the border of vir●gin●a , and both two ve●● easily a●chie●ved , &c. the lady hat● of these sil● bottoms in h●● cabinet as jewels to co●●vince the i●●credulous , they are ten times bigg● then any in europe to a●●miration , a●● of infinite i●●couragemen● to the work . contrary ●● book rule . these eggs were purposely e●posed to ●●re , cold , w●nds , and ●ost , being aid & spaw●ed on a wall ●● a chamber , ●nd there re●ained all ●●nter long to ●●y the vertue ●f the eggs , ●c . and twice ●efore they ●●me out of ●●eir bottoms , ●●x times in ●●● . ●he seventh , ●●ey appear , ●hen come ●●t , a gallant ●●ken white●●nged fly , ● weather it ●ms hurts ●m there ; in heat and as they ●lter them●es under great ●●es as with ●●eld , but ●ther do ●m them , ● easie is a ●asse cove●● reared o● the trees ●ave them ● either of ● . for their bot●om being ten ●imes bigger ●hen ours , ●hat mighty ●reat worms ●ust they be , ●nd what in●ouragement ●● this to the ●usinesse , and ●ow much ●ore silk they ●ake then ●●rs , &c. till you can ●et and gain ●●e egg and ●●ed of your ●●turall gal●nt large silk ●orm : which ● chiefly that ●●u must en●●vout to store ●ur selves ●●th , no eggs ●mparable to ● . &c. sir francis drake was an. in a westerly sea one the back of virginia , in degrees in opposite to the head of james town in virginia and he sailed from that countrey which he called nova albion , in an open sea to the molocos and china , and so that also this way a trade may be made to those places to the back of virginia , &c. sicily . the great ga● of the silk-works in a house , how much more i● the trees , wil it be to you . the simplest and slightest houses or cove●tures will be sufficient for the wor● to feed in , a● live aud sp●n let no man doubt it , &c concerning the winding off your silk , this lady hath lent you one of the wheels , so that by it all of you may make ●he like to do ●hat work , so ●ou shall want ●othing to ●peed the work according to that is made sicille by a man and bo a most prop. imployment the lasi● indans . an history of the wonderful things of nature set forth in ten severall classes wherein are contained i. the wonders of the heavens, ii. of the elements, iii. of meteors, iv. of minerals, v. of plants, vi. of birds, vii. of four-footed beasts, viii. of insects, and things wanting blood, ix. of fishes, x. of man / written by johannes jonstonus, and now rendred into english by a person of quality. thaumatographia naturalis. english jonstonus, joannes, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) an history of the wonderful things of nature set forth in ten severall classes wherein are contained i. the wonders of the heavens, ii. of the elements, iii. of meteors, iv. of minerals, v. of plants, vi. of birds, vii. of four-footed beasts, viii. of insects, and things wanting blood, ix. of fishes, x. of man / written by johannes jonstonus, and now rendred into english by a person of quality. thaumatographia naturalis. english jonstonus, joannes, - . libavius, andreas, d. . rowland, john, m.d. [ ], , [ ] p. printed by john streater ..., and are to be sold by the booksellers of london, london : . translation of: thaumatographia naturalis. translated by john rowland. advertisement: p. [ ] at end. 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xml conversion an history of the wonderful things of nature : set forth in ten severall classes . wherein are contained i. the wonders of the heavens . ii. of the elements . iii. of meteors . iv. of minerals . v. of plants . vi. of birds . vii . of four-footed beasts . viii . of ins●cts , and things wanting blood . ix . of fishes . x. of man. written by johannes jonstonus . and now rendred into english . by a person of quality . london , printed by john streater , living in well-yard near the hospitall of st. bartholomew's the lesse , and are to be sold by the book-sellers of london , . to the most illustrious princes and lords , l. januszius radziwilius , the sole heir of the illustrious prince christopher . l. boguslaus radziwilius , the son of the most illustrious prince januszius , of most illustrious memory . to the dukes of birzae , and dubink , &c. princes of s. r. i. d. boguslaus , count in lesznum , palatinidae belzensi , &c. d. uladislaus monwid . l. b. in dorostaie , high marshall of the great dukedome of lithuania . his most gracious lords . most illustrious princes and lords , as all things have their revolutions , so hath naturall history the same chance . it was held for a goddess , and much honoured in former times ; witnesse the writings of aristotle , pliny , dioscorides , and other famous men : but now a dayes it is so despised , that it is of no esteem at all ; this mat●er needs no proving . i confesse the history of plants is adorned by many , and mineralls are made mention of ; yet i doubt whether it be entirely professed in any university or school , ( except bononia , where aldrovandus was ) . they that search out the secrets of nature , in cursory discourses , fall unfortunatly upon the thorns of subtilties and snares of questions , and do nothing but weave and unweave them with a fine thred of controversies . whence young schollers suppose themselves fit to be masters in philosophy , when they know how to quote aristotle for some things , confusedly and unreasonably for generall matters . most gracious lords , how unfit and hurtfull that is , i leave to every man to judge . as for me , what goudanus the mr. of great erasmus speaks of pliny , i dare to apply to natural history . that it is such , that who reads it not , is thought to be unlearned ; he that disdaigns to read it , is more ignorant ; and he that cannot rellish it , is most ignorant of all : and if there be any consideration had of conversation , really it is more comely and more convenient for it , and for us to know wonderfull nature , and her motions ; to learn the forces and natures of living creatures , mettals , sprouts , plants , to look into the anatomy of man , and to contemplate other rare admirable things in nature , than to rest satisfied in a few general things of motion , of the heavens , of meteors , and of the soul , ( johannes valent . andr. in jnstit . magica . ) and oft times to agitate these things againe , till we grow ridiculous . and indeed if the general principles of natural philosophy be lookt into , it will appeare they cannot consist without knowledg of history . for being that universalls are built upon particulars , illustrated , demonstrated , determined , refuted by them , how can he be skilled in philosophy , who is ignorant of history ? or how can he salve the many defects thereof , and constitute axioms that are introductive to action , and search out the forms , & c ? the same will befall him as it befell ixion , who embraced a clowd for juno the powerfull goddess , whom he intended to embrace , and so is reported to have begotten centaures and chimaera's . as for what concerns action , he shall never change any other mettal into gold , who knows not the natures of the weight , the yellow colour , of the malleablenesse , the extensivenesse , the fixt and volatile substance of them , and hath not diligently lookt into the menstruum , and seeds of minerals . he can never hope to retard old age , who hath not first the knowledge of the nature of driness , and of the depredation of the spirits upon solid bodies ; of assimilation , and alimentation . but the straightning of nature , and daily contesting with her , is the principall thing whereunto the knowledge of the same is directed . he is to me a true son of natural philosophy who knows how to augment , and multiply the winds , to produce new mettals , to make mineral waters ; artificial , of vitriol , brimstone , allum , &c. and to bring forth new plants and animals . he is a legitimate enquirer into nature , who knowes how to prolong life , keep back old age , change statures and complexions , raise the force of imagination upon any body , cure diseases hitherto uncurable , ease pains , and can hasten the times of maturity , clarification , putrefaction , concoction , and germination . i will now say nothing of natures book , wherein we may behold the supreme power , as the sun is seen in the water . for it is certain , that he is comprehended under the title of natural history , and it is farr more easy to find out his goodnesse wisdom and power , by the apparition of new starrs , the flowing of the sea about maccareo , the increase of iron in ilva , the marriage of palme trees , the flowring of mulberries , the ingenuity of elephants , the kingdom of bees , the harvest of pismires , the foresight of dolphins , and the infinite sympathies and antipathies of things created , than out of those vast discourses of the entity of materia prima , identity of motion , the measure of time , &c : which are found in albertus , thomas , scotus , fonseca , masius , ruvius toletus and others . who knows not but that the knowledge of god is the principall end of sciences ? when i had diligently considered of these things , first induced thereunto by the writings of that reverend man d. johannes andreas , my much honoured friend , i not only conceived a high love of naturall history , but i thought my self obliged to perswade young men that were studious , to do the same . but because i observed that the theoreticall part was shut up in huge volums , and the practick involved with great difficulties ; and i saw that youth that are given to idlenesse , would hate labour ; and being addicted to pleasure , would not endure difficult things ; i , imitating the sons of aesculapius , ( who allure the sick to use bitter things , use also syrups confections electuaries , &c. ) have culled out the most pleasant things , ( and if any be doubtfull , it was done to spur them on ) as much as my other occasions would suffer me , which i had in poland , being tutor to the most noble kurtzbachius de zwada : as also by my proper studies in the low countries , out of the huge volumes of pliny , ( concerning whom , i like that saying of lipsius he that calls pliny his works pandects , in my opinion shall not err ; for that man read , knew all , and shut up greece and italy in one volume ) agricola , gesner aldrovandus , libavius , mathiolus , scaliger , cardan , and many more writings , and by these my purpose was to invite with intreaty the studious youth , that labour so much in the common principles of natural philosophy , to a more serious scrutiny of nature . but , most illustrious princes and lords , when , as the manner is , i sought for a patron , i thought this work did of duty belong unto your name . for if it be considered ; the examples of solomon , alexander , mithridates , diocletian , francis the first king of france , and others , will teach you , that the knowledge of natural philosophy belongs also to princes and to great men . if you ; i confesse , the hope of poland now , and in time may be the starrs , of that country , that with the beams of their light , will vouchsafe to illuminate the church , the common-wealth , and schooles of learning . if i ; i have drawn these things forth chiefly for the good of my nation , and i study other things , if god please to lend me space to perfect my intentions . yet i deny not , but it may be i owe more to you already than i can pay . for , most illustriuos prince janusius , you were pleased at lipsia to invite me to your table , and to discourse with me . and the most illustrious lord alexander przybkowic przybkowsky , your high treasurer , thought me worthy , to have the offer of a place in your illustrious family , if occasion were . most illustrious lord , how great your noblenesse was to me , my conversation at lesna with the most learned lord michael henry , a most excellent chymist , and your hof-master ; and with the reverend mr. david ursin , a man of singular fidelity and prudence , who sojourns with you , may sufficiently witnesse . also , most illustrious lord boguslaus , your letters are sufficient testimonies , whereby you often spake to me when i lived in holland , and the good words you spake of me being absent , most lovingly when you departed from lesna . wherefore , most illustrious lords , whatsoever this small work is , i lay it down at your feet ; and you i hope will receive a small gift of a thankfull mind , with that heroick humanity that is bred in you ; and think , that i owe you much more , but i cannot give you more than i do . god grant that the majesty of arts buried in our minds , may be recall'd and brought to life again by your promoting voyce , and be restored to its former luster . as for me , if i find that you accept of these things , and that they are usefull for our students , i shall indeavour to handle these things more accurately , and to frame a compleat circle of arts and sciences in a small history , that young students may have the fruit of it , and may more happily be promoted in the course of their studies . i wish it . in the mean while , that you most illustrious lords , may live long for the glory of god , and good of your country . given at london , may old style , anno . your most illustrious highnesse and greatnesse , most bounden servant , john jonston . the contents of all the chapters and articles contained in this book . the contents of the first classis . chapter . of the world , page artic. . of the creation of the world , page artic. . of the parts of the world , and disposing of them , page artic. . of unity , figure , and soul of the world , page artic. . of the duration of the world , past , and to come . page artic. . of the hidden qualities of natural bodies . page artic. . of gods providence in the world , page chap. . of heaven , page chap. . of the stars , page article . of the force and nutriment of the stars , page artic. . of the light of the fixt stars , their magnitude and motion , page chap. . of the five lesser planets , page chap. . of the sun , page artic. . of the magnitude and unity of the sun , page artic. . of the suns light , and eclipse , page artic : . of the suns motion , page artic. . of the inequality of days and nights . page artic. . of the four parts of the year . page artic. . of the sun's shadow . page art. . of the suns influence on inferiour things . page chap. . of the moon . page artic. . of the figures and light of the moon . page artic. . of the spots and eclipse of the moon . page artic. . of the moon 's influence on these sublunary things . page chap. . of new stars . page chap. . of astrologicall praedictions . page the contents of the second classis . chap. . of fire . page artic. . of the wonderful begining of fires . page artic. . of fires in the waters ▪ page artic. . of fires under the earth . page artic. · of the beginning or subterraneall fire , page artic. . of the miracles of fires in duration , burning , and quenching , page chap. . of the ayr. page artic. . of the three regions of the ayr. page artic. . of the infection of the ayr , page artic. . of the putrefaction of the ayr. page artic. . of attraction , cooling , and penetrating of the ayr. page chap. . of the water . page artic. . of the quantity and colour of waters . page artic. . of the taste of the water . page artic. . of the smell of the water : the first and second qualities . page artic. . of the diverse running of the water . page artic. . of the change of quantity and of qualities , in waters . page artic. . of some other things admirable in waters . page artic. . of some floods or waters ; and of the universall deluge , page chap. . of the originall of fountains . page chap. . of minerall baths . page chap. . of the sea. page artic. . of navigation in the sea , page artic. . of the depth , freesing , and colours of the sea. page artic. . of the salt of the sea , page artic. . of the ebbing and flowing of the sea. page chap. . of the earth , page artic. . of the new world. page artic. . of the miracles of some countries ▪ page chap. . of islands . page artic. . of the originall and destruction of islands . page artic. . of the miracles of some islands . page chap. . of mountains . page artic. . of the qualities and quantities of mountains . page artic. . of aetna and hecla mountains . page the contents of the third classis . chapter of subterraneall exhalations , page chap. . of comets . page artic. . of the nature and quantity of comets . page artic. . what comets are a sign . page chap. . of an ignis fatuus , helena , castor and pollux . page chap. . of an ignis lambens . page chap. . of lightning , thunder , and thunder-bolts , page chap. . of winds . page artic. . of the originall of winds . page artic. . of the kinds and effects of winds , page chap. . of earth-quakes . page artic. . of the cause of earth-quakes . page artic. . of the place , time and effects of earth-quakes , page chap. . of rain , page chap. ▪ of snow and hail , page chap. . of dew , manna , and honey . page chap. . of the rainbow . page chap. . of some wonderful meteors . page the contents of the fourth classis . chapter of mineralls in general . page of marle and potters-earth . page of terra lemnia , armenia , and silesiack . page of salt , page of allum and nitre . page of calcanthum or vitriol . page of naphtha , petroleum , and maltha . page of pissasphaltum , and the wayes of embalming dead corps . page of camphir . page of amber or electrum . page of ambergreece , jet ▪ and earthy bitumen . page of corall . page brimstone and stybium . page of juices that grow into stones . page of the loadstone . page of the stones , schistos , galactites , gip , selenites , amiantus . page of stones that represent divers forms . page of the eagle stone , enhydros , the touch-stone , and the pumex stone . page of the glasse-makers stone , and the looking-glasse stone , page of the crystal , iris , and the diamond . page of the opalus , emerald , heliotropion , and topaz . page of the amethyst , hyacinth , the sardonix , and the onychile . page of the jasper , nephritick stone , and an agate . page of the ruby , the carchedonius , sandastrus , chrysolite , and some others . page of jewels found in the bodies of living creatures . page artic. . of the dragon stone , the chelonia , the cock stone and toadstone . page artic. . of the stones chelidonium , crabs eyes , snail stones , and bezar . page chap. . of gold , page chap. . of silver . page of quicksilver . page brasse and copper , page of lead , page of iron . page of fossil flesh digged up . page the contents of the fifth classis . chap. . of plants in generall , page of wormwood , wolfsbane , and snapdragon . page of aloes , lignum aloes , and camomill , page of ammi , holly , ceterach , and the strawberry-tree . page of the cane reed , asserall , and agnacath . page of the scythian lamb , the bashful plant , and amfia . page of the balsam tree , and betel . page of betonie , birch , and box. page of batat , boxera , brusathaer , and baaras . page of cachi , cacavate , cassia , our ladies thistle , and corallina . page of cinnamon and cedar . page of chamaeleon , cloves , gilloflowers , and cichory . page of saffron , cherries , cachi or ciccata . page of the cornel , cypresse and cucumbers , page of onions , celandine , hemp , and river sponge . page of hemlock , ciacompalon , and cocco . page of doronicum , dragons , olive-honey , vipers-bugloss , eryngion , euphorbium . page of elaterium , hellebor , eupatorium , emitum and fennel , page of fennel gyant and the fig-tree . page of the ash , mushrooms , and the beech. page of guajacum , and gentian , page of broom , ginger , and st. johns-wort . page of elecampane , turnsole , and hiuca . page of impia , juniper , and glassewort . page of the bay-tree , mastick-tree , and flax. page of the larch-tree , lilly , loos-strife , and the lote-tree . page of malabathrum , punic and assyrian apples , and the tree called mangueis . page of musk and mosse , page of mandragora , mallows , and the mulberry-tree . page of napellus . page of nyctegrotus , granum nubiae , nutmegs , and olive trees . page of the palm-tree , page of the plane-tree , apple-trees , and the tree called pater-noster page of pepper , plantain , pimpernel , wild tansie , herb paris , and papyr . page of the oake , rhubarb , rape-root , and rosa-solis . page of crow-foot , rue , rosemary , rose-root and rose-tree . page of scorzonera , squills , sage , scordium . page of nightshade . page of mustard , satyrium , and the greater saxifrage . page of the turpentine , and frankincense trees . page of wheat and thyme , page of tobacco . page of trifoly , teucrium , thelyphonon , yew , thapsia , and thauzargent . page of the vine . page of xaqua and zuccaro . page of other miraculous trees . page of the prodigiousnesse of some trees . page the contents of the sixth classis . chap. of the eagle . page of the hawke , page of the assalon and heron. page of the horn-owl and aluco . page of the goose , page of the kings fisher , of ducks , and the bird emme . page of barnicles . page of the owl and cormorant . page of the feldifare and goat-sucker . page of the cuckow . page of the crow . page of the rook , and chrysaethos . page of the pigeon . page of the swan . page of the stork . page of the faulcon . page of the hen and cock. page of the crane and the woodwall . page of the chough . page of the swallow . page of the osprey , the ibis , and the loxias . page of the kite . page of manucodita and gull or cormorant . page of the owl and musket , page of onocrotalus , and rhinoceros . page of the parrot . page of the phoenix and wood-pecker . page of the pie , page of the peacock . page of the pheasant and sparrow . page of the partridge . page of the ostrich . page of the scythian bird , and the castrel . page ibid ▪ of the thrush , and torquilla . page ibid. of urogallus , page of the bat. page of the vulture . page the contents of the seventh classis . chap. . of the elk and ram page of the asse . page of the boar , and the archopitecus . page of the ox. page of the buffe , bugle , and the bonasus . page of the camel. page of the goat . page of the beaver , and colus . page of the cat and coney . page ibid. of the stag. page of the dogg . page of the marmaset and the catoblepas : page of the baboon and chamaeleon . page of the crocodile . page of the horse . page of the urchin . page of the elephant . page ibid. of the dormouse , and the gulo . page of the hyaena , and the porcupine . page ibid. of the buck-goat . page of the goat call'd the evick , and the indiat rat , ichneumon . page ibid. of the lion. page of the hare . page of the wolf. page ibid. of the lizard , page of the lynx and lutra or otter . page of the mouse . page of the wesil , and the sable wesil . page of the sheep . page of the wild goat call'd oryx , and the panther or leopard . page of the frog . page of the rangifer , and rhinoceros . page of divers serpents . page of the squirril , and ape-fox . page of the ape . page ibid. of su and subus . page of the sowe . page of the mole . page of tatus and the tyger . page of the tortoise . page of the bear. page of the fox , page of the unicorn . page the contents of the eighth classis . chap. . of the kinds of things without blood , page of bees , page of spiders , page of silk-worms . page of the spanish fly , and the glo-worm . page of the grashopper , page of the crabfish , and the shell-fish breeding pearls . page of the snail , page of the gnat , page of the sea-urchin , the ephemerus , and the catterpillar , page of the pismire . page of the horsleech , and hippocampus . page of the locust , that is an insect . page of the sea-hare , the lobster , with his shell , and the calamarie . page of pearls . page of the fly , page of the nautilus or boat-like fish , page of oysters and fish with hard shells , page of the butterflye , and the polypus . page of the lowse and flea , page of the beetle and the cuttle . page of the scorpion , page of worms in wood , and the tarantula . page of worms . page article . of worms in brute beasts . page ibid. artic. . of worms in men. page artic. . of worms in plants . page artic. . of the indian worms , and the march worm . page chap. . of wasps . page the contents of the ninth classis . chap. . of hornback , sturgeon or elops , of the dace or groundling . page of the eele . page of the whale , and the barbel . page of the carp , the clupaea , and the conger . page of the dogg-fish . page of dracunculus . page of the dolphin , exocaetus and the fiatola . page of glanis and glaucus . page of the herring and huson . page ibid. of the pike and luna . page of manaty , and the whiting . page of mirus , mola , and monoceros . page of the mullet and the barbel . page of the river - powt , and lamprey . page of the perch and sea-calf . page of the scale , and the indian reversus like an eele . page of the remora , and the sea-scarus . page of the sea-serpent , and the sturgeon . page of the salmon and turdus . page of the torpedo , and the tuni● . page of the uranoscopus , and the sword-fish . page of some other wonders concerning fishes . page the contents of the tenth classis . chap. . of man in generall , page . of nourishment , page article . of the harmlesse feeding on venomous things . page article . of the eating of other unusuall meats . page artic. . of great eaters . page article . of monstrous drinkers ▪ page artic. . of some secrets concerning drunkennesse . page artic. . of bread. page artic. . of wonderfull fasting . page chap. . of concoction . page article . of the liver and spleen . page ibid. artic , . of humours in general . page article . of blood page artic. . of urine and reins . page artic. . of marrow . page article . of sweat. page article . of insensible transpiration . page chap. . of increasing page article . of gyants . page artic. . of pigmies , page chap. . of generation , page article . of seed . page artic. . of menstruous blood and milk. page artic. . of the generative parts . page artic. . of the female sex. page artic. . of the noise of the womb. page artic. . of numerous births . page artic. . of monstrous births . page artic. . of the recompence nature makes to monsters . page artic. . of nations of divers forms . page artic. . of a wonderfull antipathy between the father and the sonne . page artic. . of some wonders concerning generation . page chap. . of vitall action . page article . of the heart . page article . of the pulse . page artic. . of life and death . page artic. . of venemous infection . page chap. . of the internall and externall sense . page article . of imaginations of melancholy people . page article . of the force of imagination . page artic. . of sight and smelling . page artic. . of the face . page artic. . of dreams . page artic. . of walkers in the night ▪ page artic. . of some things observable concerning the head and the senses . page chap. . of the faculty of moving from place to place . page artic. . of the wonderful strength and agility of some people . page chap. . of the rational soul ; and principally of memory . page , scalig. l. . de plantis . i alwaies thought the compasse of wisdome to be , as it were , the treasury of our mind , into which i suppose we ought to bring all the tribute of our cogitations and inventions ; yet onely such as are honest : from whence every man may fetch for his own use without envy , or grudging . for we are all one body , and there is but one spirit of this body , which proceeding from god , watcheth for the common good. to the right honourable ▪ edvvard lord mountague , baron of kimbolton , viscount mandevill , and earl of manchester . my noble lord , this excellent history concerning the wonderfull things of nature , was written in latin ; and digested into ten classes , by a native of another countrey : who was himself indeed a wonder in nature , and might well make up the eleventh classis with the history of himself , for his generall and vast understanding in the universe , as will appear to all men that will take the pains ( so full of profit and delight ) to read his writings . in his life-time he was much conversant in england and scotland , to search out the wonderfull things in these nations . and if englishmen well weigh and consider it , they cannot but thankfully make their returns unto almighty god for it , since there is no countrey of the world that is in all things comparable to great britany it self , being adorned with so many strange and wonderfull things . i shall not need to mention the particulars ( which have furnished the author in severall classes with some varieties . ) for i fear the world will judge that i have said too much already unto your honour upon this subject ( who is far better acquainted with the wonders and rarities of these nations than my self ) and that i have betray'd my own ignorance , to offer a translation of mine , unto your honour , who is so well versed in the originall , and which cannot be parallel'd when it is made to speak any other language . but i hope your honour will excuse this attempt , because the authour was a great lover of our countrey , and therefore it was held convenient to make him a free denizon , and to speak english for the publick good , which your honour hath alwaies labour'd to advance by your honourable actions ; and i fear not , but your noblenesse will tenderly embrace what is undertaken for that end ; though this translation can adde nothing to your honour , but seeks for honour from your noble patronage . yet since it pleased god to afford me this opportunity to put your honour in remembrance of me , who was formerly a schollar at eaton colledge , and contemporary with your honour ; and that i once had the happinesse to be domestick servant unto your honour● noble father , who now rests in god , and who was then pleased to honour me so much , as to have the review , and commit to the publick view his , immortall and pious work , entituled , contemplatio mortis et immortalitatis , the fruits whereof he now enjoyes . and that his honour , for above years accepted my father to attend so near his person to do him service for his bodily health ; i knowing also how much i owe to the memory of your noble uncles , to that reverend prelate of the garter james lord bishop of winchester , and sir sidney mountague , who were both my honoured patrons ; i might be taxed with high ingratitude , if having nothing better to present your honour with than this famous authours work , ( though in a meaner dresse ) i had unadvisedly dedicated it to any other person , and overpast so fair an occasion , whereby i now expresse my due respects unto your honoured father's memory , and to all your family , and in particular to your honour , to whom i and my fathers house stand so much obliged . my humble suit is , that your honour will let passe all other considerations herein , and to regard onely the gratefull mind of him , who shall alwayes pray god to blesse your honour , and your noble family , with all blessings temporall and eternal , in him who is the fountain of all blessednesse , the lord jesus christ ; and shall remain your honours in all obedience , john rowland . of the description of naturall vvonders . the first classis . wherein are contain'd the wonders of the heavens . above there are vast spaces , and the mind is admitted into the possession of them : but so , if it bring no corporeall thing with it , if it scour off all sordid matter , and be quick agil , and seem content with what is moderate , seneca natur . quaest . l. . praefat. chap. i. of the world. article . of the creation of the world. pythagoras calls this whole consistence of bodies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and the latines from its beauty call it mundus . ocellus saith , it was from eternity , de universo aristotel . l. . phys. and some others . we affirm , that it was created at the beginning by the glorious trinity ; and by faith we understand , that the world was made . the history is in the scripture , but the perfect description in moses's works , gen. . nor can the censorious rod of galen , or of the memory of the apostles , whereof mention is made by bishop turribius , detract any thing from it . the dictates of the holy ghost cannot be false , the knowledge of god is free from errour . the eternity of cardan drawn from the salt of the sea , lib. de subtil . is as easily rejected as propounded . it is a weak proof , that all pure things were made at first ; i adde , and a false one . chrysippus apud laertium amongst the stoicks , speaks boldly : if there be any thing , that can do that , which a man with his reason cannot do , that thing is greater , stronger and wiser than man ; but a man cannot make heavenly things : therefore he that made them excells man in art , counsel , prudence and power . what therefore can that be but god ? all that is , was made of nothing , and by the word let it be made . empedocles is false , concerning the concourse of atoms ; ( of matter and quantity co-eternal ) also that is false in plutarch , that the essence and matter whereof the world was made , was not first created , but was alwayes ready for the workmaster , and was fit to be compounded and digested , and made , as far as possible it might be to his own likenesse . but nothing was with god , before he made it , that was not god himself . he it is , that calls things that are not , as though they were . hermes in pimander , the workmaster made the whole world , not by hands , but by his word . moses writes , that all things were made in six dayes ; some think this was onely for order sake , and for our instruction . augustine thinks , all things were made together in a moment . philo writes acutely of the making of the world. moses saith , the world was made in six dayes ; not that god the maker of it needed time to do it , ( for god is not onely thought to work by commanding , but by contemplating ) but because it was needfull that things should be created in some order : and this is a proper number for order ; and six amongst all numbers is fittest for generation , for it is the first perfect number after a unite , consisting of parts whereof it is made ; of three that is one half of it ; and two a third part , and one a sixth part , being of a masculine and feminine nature . as for the time , it is supposed to be autumn , as it is collected from the feast of gathering in of fruits in the end of the year , and from the moneth tisri , which answers to september , bartolin . c. ult . gener . phys. some say , the spring : ambrosius in hexametro : thence it behoved the world to begin , where there was a spring-like temper fit for all things . whence it is that the year sets forth the image of the world at first beginning , and after winter cold , and frost and mists , the clearer brightnesse of the spring shines forth more than ordinary . macianus scotus puts the lords day on the th of the calends of april . macrobius describes the generation . his words are ; in the making of the world , aries was in the middle of the heavens ; the moon in cancer ; the sun rose with leo ; virgo with mercury ; libra with venus ; mars with scorpio ; jupiter was in sagittarius ; saturn in capricorn . we shall say with firmicus , the day it was made upon , is uncertain . for the time is different in places ; nor was there any then . for all secular things began with the world. if you look at the end , it is the glory of god , and the good of man. look which way i will , i see exquisite marks of gods wisdome , goodnesse , and power . contraries are here parted , and yet coupled by bands in the mediums . hence his wisdom appears ; the actions have recourse in order ; hence appears unity : there is neither old age , nor change , nor wearinesse ; thence his power is manifest : every thing had a sufficient perfection given to it , and is content with it ; thence we see his goodnesse . they are all from god , and they tend unto god ; thence is glory . article . of the parts of the world , and the disposing of them . wee need not be over-curious for the matter of it . it contains the heaven with the stars ; the elements , meteors in the ayr , fishes in the waters , minerals in the secrets of the earth , plants , animals and man are in the upper surface . they are all materiall and corporeal things , which wise men include in it , and they are all realities . heaven is thought to be uncompounded , the elements serve for composition , meteors are imperfectly mixt ; minerals perfectly , but without life ; plants with life , but without sense ; beasts with life and sense , but without reason : man with life , sense and reason , is the compendium of all , a little world in the great world . the perfection is as great as the matter could bear ; the workmaster could give more , but the matter was not capable of it , scalig. exerc. . s. . the goodnesse is confirmed by the decree of god : gen. . vers . ult . he saw , and behold , all things were good . the manner of ordering them in this great engine , zeno in laertius amongst the philosophers hath declared ; that god at first , whilest he was alone , changed all essence by ayr into water ; and as in the birth the seed is contain'd ; so god who is the seminal cause of the world , left such a seed in the moysture , that should afford an easie and fit matter for this work ; for the generation of things afterwards . then he first produced the four elements , fire , water , ayr , earth , &c. trismegistus in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , speaks true ; there was , saith he , infinite darknesse in the deep , and the water , and an intelligible spirit were by divine vertue , existing in the chaos ; wherefore the holy light was taken away , and the elements were congealed and fastned beneath of a moyst substance , and all these embraced , and were in love with a seminall nature . and when all things were undivided , and not set in order ; they were parted ; and things that were leight , chose the uppermost place ; heavy , the lowest ; moyst , the dry land : all of them being divided by the fire , and hanging in the ayr , and carried by it . and the heaven appeared in . circles , and the gods appearing in the aspects of the stars , with all their signs , and the whole circumference was distinguished , and with the gods that are in it was circumscribed with the circumambient ayr , and carried by a moving divine spirit . and every god by his own vertue produced what he was commanded , and there were brought forth four-footed beasts , creeping things , fishes , birds , and every seminall plant : and grasse and flowers , and every herb , contain'd in themselves seeds of regeneration : and the generations of men were for the knowledge of divine things , &c. but moses sets it down most truly , gen. chap. . heaven and earth , and light , the first day are : the firmament dividing waters second were . the third , the waters parted , plants , the earth : the fourth to sun and moon and stars gives birth . the fifth gives fishes , and all kind of birds : the sixth brought cattell , all made by gods words : then man was made ; the seventh rest affords . danaeus in phys. christiana . artic. . of unity , figure , and soul of the world. democritus and empedocles supposed , that other worlds were made successively of some indivisible small seeds . hence alexander complain'd , that he had not yet conquered one . origines , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , said , they were infinite successively ; that the elementary world was made every thousand years , and the heavenly once in years . for the sabbath for the earth , and the yeare of jubilee was wont to return every th year , and every , yeares . leo hebraeus toucheth upon this opinion , dialog de amore ; where he saith , the inferior world by the opinion of the old divines is generated corrupted and renewd once in years . but because we see nothing moved in it confusedly , nor any thing set without it , whither shall we go out of it ? our desire is answered . for in the end of our cogitations , the same question alwaies returns . wherefore we say , that there is but one world , and the figure of it is plain , like to a skin stretched forth very large , saith basilius . but plato held , that it was like a circumvex , pointed with many angles . sanchumates berytius the most ancient writer of the affaires of phoenicia , said it was like to an egge , wherefore at the feasts of bacchus they religiously adored an egg , as the emblem of the world . some compare it to the greek letter Ω , in which the outward lineament represents the ocean , dalecham p. ad l. . plin. hist. c. . but that it is made like a globe , not only the name and consent amongst men that call it so , but every mans eyes can tell him ; for it is convex , and one half , look upon it which way we will. plato . of which living creatures he would have all other living creatures contain'd , he framed that of such a forme , that in that one all the rest might be contain'd . the sto●cks would have it to be a living creature , endued with sense and reason . hence grew that description by its parts . the starr , ( saith plutarch of the face of the moon ) are shining eyes in the face of the world , they run their race ; the sun is in place of the heart : as this affords blood and spirit , so that sends forth heat and light ; the world useth the earth and the sea , as a living creature doth its belly and bladder ; the moon between the sun and the earth is as the liver between the heart and belly , or some soft bowel , and attenuating its respirations by some concoction , and purgation , scatters them about . elegantly , but not true ! for the world hath no known soul ; if we ascribe any thing to it , all will be but a diffused force , common to all , and in proportion we may call it a soul. for what the soul is in bodies , the same is force diffused in the universe . combach . in phys. cap. de mundo . artic. . of the duration of the world past and to come . the duration of the world both past and to come , is sought out by many , but no certainty is proved . the aegyptians formerly boasted of years past , in their history ; the chaldaeans ; the east-indies . the aegyptians are disproved by their disagreement : one of them reported , to solon that asked him ; another to herodotus . the chaldaeans alleage that in there have been only luminaries : but the doctrine of astronomy shewes these to be trifles . if this were not , it might be ; yet diodorus in augustus his time , searched for the greatest antiquity of the aegyptians , and found scarce . calisthenes nephew to aristotle by his sister , found the chaldaeans not to be ; simplicius reports it . amongst our chronologers , the christian epoche is uncertain ; nor is there any beam so cleare , to discusse these clowds . abraham bucholzerus , with mirandula and reusnerus , saith , it was created before the said epoche yeares . buntingius , ; mercator , ; scaliger , ; beroaldus , ; broughtonus , ; pareus , ; pavellus , . hitherto scaliger hath been preferr'd , yet it is thought that pavellus hath discovered his imperfection . the uncertainty concerning its end is greater . macrobius defines it by years . orpheus by , cassander counts times . ber●sus , as seneca saith , contends that the earth shall be burnt , when all the starrs meet in cancer , and a flood should be in capricorn . amongst christians , liborovius will have it to be ; rossinus . ( libavius in declam . de comet . anni ) . cusanus , or else the space that goes before . that as after the first adam , ( they are cusanus hi● words ) the consumption of sin came in the th jubile by the waters of the flood , in the days of noah , according to philo ; so we conjecture that after the second adam , in the th jubile shall come the consumption of sin by fire . ( nancelius cites it , in analog . microcosm . cum macrocosmo . l. ult . ) augustinus and lactantius define it by yeares . alstedius holds the term to be uncertain , but it is certain , it shall not be before the yeare of christ , ( in thesauro chronolog . c. . et diatrib . de mille annis ) . a certain friend dreams of some thousands . napeirus is of one mind , copernicus of another . what shall we say to this ? it is not in man to declare these things , or to know them ; the angells know them not , nor yet the son of man. god hath kept these times in his own power . thomas speaks true , all those that undertook to determine the time of the end of the world , have been found false , and so shall all that shall undertake the same hereafter . be the time never so uncertain , yet certain it is , it shall have an end . the word of god saith it ; the heavens and the earth shall passe away . luc. . . christ , in mathew , , foreshews the forerunning signs . the stoicks set down the manner in the flood , and in the consuming by fire , and the hebrews seem to consent . for they affirm that the sea should ascend above the mountains tops cubits ( petrus comestor in nancelius ) . aristotle and plato universally deny it . it is known by the word of god to christians , that the world perished by the flood , and the burning of it , is expected . for st. peter saith , c. . and . but the heavens that now are , and the earth are reserved for the fire , at the day of judgment . but whether there shall be another world differing essentially from this , or this shall be renewd wherein we live , is a question . the apostle saith , the fashion of this world passeth away : the holy fathers , basil , eusebius , do imply an alteration ; and seneca , in his disputes . every creature shall be generated anew , and a man shall be given to the earth , that knows no wickednesse , and bred from better principles : yet he adds , their innocence shall not last longer then while they are first bred ; for wickednesse will soon break in . he differs from us , because he makes eternal innovations ; which we admit not . the censure of tatianus against the gentiles . doth any man determin god to be a body ? i think , he is without a body . do's he think the world incorruptible ? i think , it is corruptible . that it shall be burnt by degrees ? i think it shall be but once for ever . artic. . of the hidden qualities of natural bodies . i said , that natural bodies were containd in the world ; now i say that they are so ordered that they have their peculiar vertues , and in some things they are partakers . every one hath its nature , they are containd in place , measur'd by time , defined by number , they begin , they perish , they move , augment , diminish , they act , and suffer . amongst the rest hidden qualities are admirable according to which there is either consent in things , or jarring and discord ; philosophers call this sympathy and antipathy . the first and second qualities are no causes of these things ; examples of them are spred through the whole field of nature . the raging elephant growes calme if he see a ram ; and if he see a rhinoreros , he is angry . the tender flesh of sheep bitten by a wolfe , and the wooll woven also , will breed worms . cattel almost dead , and men faint , are revived by the smell of bread . pencerus de divin . sect . de astrolog . porphyrio a bird will dye if it look on a whore. woodpeckers will , with grasse , drive out wedges . a stag draws out arrows with dittany . the venome of the tarantula is driven away by the sound of musick and dancing by measure , alexander ab alexan. l. . genial . dier . many will sweat if a cat be present . quercetan in diaetetica , and make water at the sound of the harp . scalig. excerc . . s. . one was driven from a feast at the sight of apples , if we credit quercetan . a boy's lips swelled by eating of eggs , and his face was spotted with black spots . marcel . a monk , saith lusitanus , swounded at the smell of a rose . another hated bread and flesh , and lived only upon eggs . one espied an old woman at a feast and could not endure her , and when he was forced to stay , he was carried forth dead . one swounded with the combing of his hair . demohon the builder of alexandria was cold in the sun or a hot bath , and hot in the shade . the same is said , of a certain idiot that clothed himself with skins in summer , but went naked in winter . pontanus his dog would eat no cocks flesh ; but scholtzius his , would houl lamentably when the strings of a lute were wound higher . but when they were tuned as they should be , and sounded harmoniously , he was quiet . i say no more . libavius de antipathia rerum . the cause of all these things is hid ; but it is certain that the most eminent of them arise from those qualities , that both agree with their forms , and are moved by the force of them . the knowledg of secret forces appertaine to natural magick , wherein we had need of a wonderfull caution . alvernius lib. de universo writes that turnsoil will make men invisible , and that quicksilver put between two reeds will hinder witchcraft ; that rue taken away by stealth , & basil planted with a feast will grow the more abundantly , saith trievius de daemon . decep . and he adds that grains of a certain hearb cast amongst the guests at a drinking feast , will make them fight up to the eares in blood. these are fooleries , and confuted by propounding them , delrius l. . disquis . magic . c. . artic. . of gods providence in the world. god was not pleased onely to make all these things , but he would have them all under his government , and providence . hence comes the preservation of the beings and vertues of things ; and the disposing of them all after the freedom of his will , the wise ordering of all things . in this are the ends set orderly , the means to these ends are exquisitely disposed , and being disposed , are most wisely directed . this providence was so often and forcibly maintain'd by the stoicks , that they became a sport and a jest to their adversaries , who call'd this , the fatall old wife of the stoicks that foretold future things . epictetus in arrianus , speaks admirably ; what concerns the gods , some deny there is any god. some say there is , but an idle carelesse deity , that provides for nothing . there is a third sort , that maintain there is a god , and that his providence governs , yet onely in great and heavenly matters , but in no earthly thing . a fourth sort say , that he takes care for heavenly and earthly things , but in generall onely , not for particulars , and for every one severally . but there are a fifth sort , wherein ulysses and socrates , who affirm , that i cannot , o god , be hid or deceive thee in the smallest motion . there is here no place for fortune , nor for casual and needless violence , that eternal light spreads his beams every way , and at the same instant he pierceth into all the windings and depths of the heavens , earth , and seas ; nor is his divine nature onely president over all these things , but is in them all . chap. ii. of heaven . the wisemen ascribed the first place amongst bodies to the heavens ; both because it is simple , and also is set in the highest place as principall . some write , that it is of the same nature with sublunary things , and not amisse ; for the scripture writes , psal. . that it shall wax old like a garment . also the generation of new stars seems to intimate as much : all the space in these that reacheth to the fixt stars , is filled with ayr ; and it is so much the more pure , light , and hot , as it comes nearer unto them , &c. if you consider the magnitude , the heavens are the greatest body ; the earth is but a point in comparison to it . the number is but one ; yet astronomers have distinguished it into divers orbs ▪ eudoxus into . calippus into . aristotle . ptolomy : regiomontanus . the common opinion is , that there be ten ; to which if you adde the heaven of heavens , ( aquiba call'd it , the marble table of the world , maimon . l. . perplex ) . they will be eleven . the consideration of the tenth amongst them is wonderfull ; for they say , it is ten times greater than the eighth sphere , and than the earth ; and they say , that in hours it goes miles , bodin . l. . theatr. the miracles of the th are not small . the antients say , it proceeded one degree in one hundred years ; the neotericks have observed minutes . the period of its motion is years , if we credit alphonsus ; but copernicus saith , . this period is call'd , the great and platonick year . it is a wonderfull engine , and all the great works of men compared with it , are lesse than nothing . plato l. . de repub. imagined a certain spindle , as bright as a diamond , contain'd in wheels ; and he makes the heaven to hang by that , lest it should fall . but alas poor man , why so ? there is a god that supports it ; who gave it a power to stand fast at first , when he made it : yet this shall go into smoke , and shews us , that nothing is stable contain'd in this world. chap. iii. of the stars . artic. . of the force of the stars , and nutriment of them . mahomet said , that the stars hang in the ayr by golden chains : that the workmaster set them in the heavens , bright & round , we religiously acknowledge ; that they were made for signs and seasons ; all men know , that they shine and communicate their vertue to sublunary things ; which is done , by sending forth their beams : the will of man , and works of artificers , are out of this account . there is in these no mixture of new qualities ; but onely an accidentall species is induced to a body ready made . the mind is free from the elements ; if it suffer any thing , it is by the mediation of the instruments of the body , the temperament whereof mens manners easily follow . hence you may see an errour ; that the characters were formed by a certain position of the heavens , and are moved by a stronger power from the heavens . plato saith false , that the souls before they come into the bodies were made subject to some star. these are toyes , that stars are appointed for every one of us , bright stars for rich men ; little ones for poor men ; dark ones for defects ; and some for every mans condition , pliny l. . histor. natur. c. . there is not so great society between heaven and us , that for our destiny the brightnesse of the stars should be mortal . our chance is in gods hand : it is false , that jacob read his sons destinies in the tables of the heavens . more writes elegantly of one white , in an epigram : white in the stars did oft his wife behold , that she was chaste and good he all men told ; he look't to find her in the stars once more , and then he did proclaim her for a whore. but that thy wife was common , though thou see through all the stars , not one declares to thee . cleomedes in lib. de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , speaks something of the nutriment of the stars , as dalechampius cites it , and the stoicks observed the same . laertius ( in lipsius in manuduct . ad physiol . stoicam . ) saith , that these fiery stars are fed and nourished , ( the sun and moon , and the rest ) the sun by the great sea , as being the great torch , and a kind of burning endued with understanding : but the moon , by fresh waters , and such as may be drunk because it is mingled with the ayr , and is near to the earth . wherefore macrobius in somnium scipionis ascribes it to providence , that the ocean was placed under the torrid zone . that all that space which the sun and the rest of the planets and the moon wander up and down in , on this side and that side of the eccliptick , may have moysture for their nourishment . the opinion seems absurd at first ; yet ambrosius l. . hex . c. . thought so ; nor doth libavius l. . de origin . rerum , seem to deny it . lucianus saith , there shall be a common bone-fire for the world . whence shall this burning be , but that moysture must fail ? and that cannot fail , but for nutriment . yet see that you make not a combustion amongst the stars , by assuming an aetherial spirit into the nature of the stars . artic. . of the light of the fixt starrs , with their magnitude and motion . the th sphere contains the fixt starrs , and those in number numberlesse . alongtime men observed , which the phoenicians reduced to constellations . braheus added , houtmannus , about the antartick pole . bartholin . de coelo . c. . also they are of divers magnitudes , yet all greater than the earth , except the sixt magnitude . the magnitude will give you the vast distance : we see them like sparks of fire , yet astronomers reckon diameters of the earth . they have their own natural light which shines to men in the night , not that it is put out in the day by the sun beams , but that the medium being enlightned admits of the more forcible species , the lesser and weaker is carried through the medium unperceived . scalig. exerc . . . historians observe that they have been seen in the day-time , and not without some token . in commodus his times they were seen a whole day , some were drawn forth at length , as though they were fastned in the ayre . the slaughter of the parthians followed , civill warrs , and the killing of five emperours in one year . the same thing was seen in the raign of constantius , from sun rising till noon , about sun set the sun first appeared with crooked horns , and then but halfe , some suppose it was an eclipse . cardanus saw two at millan , l. . de varietat . rer . c. . one anno , and the french were driven out of italy : another , and the death of francis sfor●ia followed , and because he died childless , the prince was changed , charls took the government . lastly the th of june , this yeare there was one seen in england before noon , when a solemn thanksgiving was made to god for the birth of the prince of wales . we were certified that some french men saw the same at diep the same time . there is a wonderfull matter in their motion . besides their own , which is made from north to south upon the poles of aries and libra , they are said to be drawn by the th sphere from west to east . hence it comes that they are all moved from their places . braheus saith in a hundred yeares they are drawn back , one degree , minuts . meto , who florished in the th yeare after thales , observed the starr of aries to be in the equinoctiall . timochares , that it gain'd two degrees , hipparchus four and nine minuts , ptolomy , and minuts , albategnius , and minuts , alphonsus , and minutes , vernerus , and minutes , bodinus and minuts ; the bright one in the utmost tayle of the little dog , which is for the pole starr , hipparchus observed to be degrees distant from the pole of the world , we see it but almost three now adays . cardan saith , that the heads of the motions of this orbe will be not only in contrary places , in the year , but the motion will be contrary also , and he collects from thence that there will be strange alterations in the christian religion , de varietat . rer . l. . c. . chap. iv. of the five planets . the wandring stars are called planets . the ancients accounted them to be seven ; those of our times have added four about jupiter , and no fewer about saturn . each of them hath its own sphere , its nodes , epicycle , and its aequant . their motion is more free than the rest : sometimes they are present with mortals , sometimes they depart from them . hence arise the names of aux , and absis , peregaeum and apogaeum amongst astronomers . but so great is the difference , that saturn requires years , jupiter , mars , venus dayes , and mercury as many . venus is a planet , by her sirnames that stands in aemulation with the sun and moon . for rising before the sun , she is called lucifer , like another sun hastening the day ; again shining in the west , she is called vesper , or the evening star , as prolonging the light , and standing in place of the moon , plin. l. . c. . the cause of their wandring motion , some ascribe to the sun , who either by its beams sets them forward , or removes them on one side , o● departing from them , lets them remain in their own places . extraordinary influences , medicaments , baths , phlebotomy , plantings , choice of businesse , change of the ayr , are by some tyed to the hour of their position . it is observed , that the plague growes fierce about wittenburg , when saturn moves in leo or sagittarius , and abate● by the accesse of mars ; the same thing is threatned to them at norimberg , by the signs of gemini or sagittarius . those that mars and saturn being in the angles , assayle with a quartile aspect , are short-lived ; if they passe their infancy , it will be difficult for them to attain the flower of youth ; their conjunction increaseth their force . if mars and venus are in conjunction when one is born , the concupiscible appetite is contaminated ; more , if it be in capricorn , and mercury be present . by the concurrence of mars , mercury , and the moon , men have subtile wits , peucerus l. de divinat . s. de astrologia ▪ but this is a lesser conjunction . that is a great conjunction , which is made by saturn and jupiter ; one happened in the seventy year and dayes . the signs of the zodiack are run through , that at the beginning of the first meeting there may be a conjunction of the planets ; the learned called it a revolution , alsted . in thesauro chronologico . there are seven reckoned since the world was made , and constant observation hath proved , that none of them ever came without some notable alteration . all things were heroicall in the first conjunction ; at the second , men despised noah's preaching ; at the third , there were great pressures in egypt . the fourth was years after , when rome began to be built : the fifth was in the th year of christ. the bishops of rome pretended the donation of pipin and constantine , when the sixth was . the seventh was in the sign of sagittarius , in the year i was born in , . the last was in leo , . what this shall produce , god knowes . the city of rome about the th year under its fiery sight , was thought to be renewed . at the beginning of that , happened the dispersing of the jews ; what if about the end of it , the calling of them again may be ? chap. v. of the sun. artic. . of the greatnesse and unity of the sun. epicurus thought the sun to be an accidentall globe , and fire , but an earthly grosse body . anaximander thought it was red-hot iron , the peruvians think it a god ; and so did aurelianus a prince of old ; may the gods do it , and the sun the created god , in vopisco . porphyry writes , that it was adored in the east under the name of mytra , in his comment . de nymph . cultu . and macrobius shews , l. . saturn . cap. . that all the gods of the gentiles were extended to the sun. after him cluverius polyhistor , in germ. antiqua . so great reverence was there toward it , in the minds of the gentiles . it is with us the principall planet , and the great luminary . it is greater than the earth times ; and it is distant from the earth in its apogaeum , miles , kecherm . in his astronomy . it is but one , and where is there room for more in so great a magnitude ? yet there are more also . that is but one of which we speak , the rest are but figures and draughts of this one beautifull sun. the philosophers call them parelia , they have alwaies some future signification , as we frequently observe , and find it . in . there were . seen ; in each there was a bloody sword . the reformation followed . so , many were seen in helvetia , in : a wonderfull famine was the sequel of it . in . at venice they were seen with two rainbowes opposed to the sun ; one presently vanished , but the other was seen for two hours , cardan . l. . de varietat . rer. cap. . the suns themselves were transparent , the greater was southward , the lesse northward , increasing . in the year . before the war of lodowick of bavaria , and frederick of austria , more suns were seen : they signified the dissentions of the electors , and their falling to sides . peucer . in meteorol . before these troubles we saw it ; a comet with a fatall tail followed . because the empire of nero had the same beginnings , the future event might easily be foreknown . artic. . of the suns light , and eclips . the thalmudists hold that the light of the sun was seven times greater in the creation , but was lost afterwards . we see it very great and ruling almost every where . for the sun-beams enlighten and enliven all things . cardan maintains that by the force of it , the southern parts are pressed down lower , but whether it be so , every one may judge . and though at rhodes or syracuse there never be a day that the sun is not seen in some parts of it ; plin : l. . cap. . yet it is certain that the suns light is often intercepted . when constantine was blind , the sun did not shine for dayes . in plinies time ●e was often . dayes , in leo's time . dayes . so never seen that marriners lost their course maiol , colloq . . but this was only a clouding . an eclips is somwhat more , when the suns beams are turned away from by interposing of the moon . barbarians understand not this , whence columbus foretelling the moons eclips , won the favour of the indians . it was a capital crime in plath's days to maintain that the moon could hold the sun beams from us . alexander aphrodis . problem , . some thought the devills were the cause , and therefore ran to assist it with lighted torches . archelaus was so ignorant , that the day the eclips of the sun was , he shut up the court , and shaved his sonne , as the custome was in time of adversity and of mourning , senec. l. . de benefic . c. . the eclipse of the sun happens in the new moon , or in the conjunction , nor real , but appearing so , when sun , moon , and our eyes are in the same right line . it it be totall , it is in a moment in respect of the parts . it was so when scipio fought and overcome hannibal at carthage , zonaras , tom. . nicephorus sayth the same happened at augustus's death , somtimes in five yeares some are seen . maiolus thinks they produced warrs , famines , and deaths of popes . it seemes to be certain that both of them may be eclips'd twice in six months , and in five months , either of them : and that the suns light may be twice taken from one country in the period of seven months , peucer . in astrolog : some are of opinion their operation begins afterwards ; i dispute not , but this is certaine they never appeare , but they foreshew somthing . when in the year , an eclips was seen , the most corrupt state of the kingdome of the jews appeared . in the yeare . began the yeares captivity . in , the temple and jerusalem were destroyed by nebuchadnezzar . about the eclips in , stars were seen at noon-day , and the warre of peloponesus began with the athenians . in the yeare , the sun was eclipsed untill noon-day , and also in . what followed ? phocas confirmed the popes supremacy , , wicked mahomet , sowed his mischief . alsted in thesaur chronol : in , before the death of charls the great , a spot of a black had appeared for seven dayes , witnesse eginbartus . it seems to intimate , say some , the darkning of the gospel . in the . of june , so horrible was the eclipse of the sun , that birds fell to the earth , at this time john hus was burned in the councell of constance , the . of july , that was supernaturall at our saviours passion . it was a totall eclips at a full moon , and lasted three houres . dionysius said of it , either the god of nature suffers , or the frame of the world dissolves . he afterwards , consulting with the philosophers , built an altar to the unknown god , and was converted by st. pauls preaching . tertullian in apologetico saith , it was laid up amongst the publike acts of rome , but forbidden to be published . also there is a notable use of eclipses amongst chronologers , especially of those , which with certain circumstances of time , yeare , day , month , hour , minuts , and of the distance from other eclipses , were exactly taken , such as was the eclips at arbelia in c●rtius ; or peloponesus , in thucydides ; at cambisia , in ptolomy . powel in his consilio chronologico . for there are certain bounds and characters of times fastned in the heavens , hence calvisius commends scaligers chronology , because he hath observed phainomena , and eclipses , allmost according to the years of the world , out of the tables of the heavenly motions , and are fitted to the same . hence the calyppic period , comprehended in , yeares ; in which time all conjunctions of the planets , new moons , and full moons , and eclipses returne to the same moment of time . see the famous chronologer pavellus , treating accurately of these things . i hasten to other matters . art : . of the suns motion . the mahumetans fain that the sun is carried with horses , and sets in the sea , and well washed rises again . daily experience sheweth us a double motion , we see it rise every day , and set again : and every yeare it makes an oval figure , passing to north and south . yet so right under the ecliptick , that it swarves not a hair from it : the complement of the motion in the zodiack varieth with many . hipparchus assignes to it days . ours , houres lesse . tebitius saith that there want nine minutes of the , houres . henricus mechiniensis , hath written , that all those shall err perpetually , who observe eclipses by the tables of ptolomy , or albategnius . bodin . . theatri naturae . it is the vulgar tenent , to assigne days , and , hours . in that oblique course , we observe the sun to be nearer the earth , whilst he passeth through the southern signs , and to be further off in the northern . that is finished in , dayes , hours , and minuts . this requires , dayes , hours , , minutes . but because the distanc● of the eccentrick is variable from the centre of the world , therefore melancthon and origanus write , that the sun is nearer to us now than in ptolomies dayes , by miles , but copernicus and stoflerus cast it to bee miles . alsted in theoria planetarum . scaliger dislikes this , exerc. . sect . . nor is it probable , saith bodin . l. . theat . in so great variety of distance that the knowledge of eclipses could be so exactly preserved . the scripture tells us that the sun went backward miraculously in ezechiahs dayes , as was known by the shadow on the diall . the history of josuah witnesseth that it stood still , and made a day of , houres , justin martyr , in dialog : cum tryphon . some think the sun danceth when it riseth on easter-day , and honours our saviours resurrection in triumph . if that be so , it is necessary for it to dance a whole day , because it riseth the whole day . what ever this is , it must be ascribed to the ayre , interposed betwixt , which , about the sun rising , abounds with vapours , and if at any time , most in the spring , because the pores are open , and it sends forth more vapours , camer . cent. . memorab . p. . artic. . of the inequality of dayes and nights . when the sun comes to the horizon , the day riseth with us ; night comes when the sun departs . but because it moves obliquely , and is girt within the bounds of both tropicks , it keeps equality under the equinoctiall ; it varies which side soever it declines : yet the greater it is , the farther the countries are distant from the aequator . in arabia , a province of the new world , the dayes and nights are alwaies equall . geographers have written the same of peru , ovetan , in summa . in a country of africa called gambra , in the moneth of july , the night is no shorter than . hours ; the sun riseth suddenly without dawning . the troglodites and men of africa have but . hours to their longest day , strabo , l. . they that live under the pole of the stars in the spring-equinox ; see the sun rising ; but in the autumnall , setting , mela. l. . c. . hence it is , that they have half a year day , and then half a year night . the hollanders , at the straights vaigats , from the th . day of november , to the . day of january , have found but one continual night under the degree of . boetius , in the description of the narrow sea , vaigats . in laponia , one night lasts . moneths , and there is in that time no more light , than the moon-shine or clear twilights afford , zigler . in laponia . in the farthest part of norway the sun is not hid in the night . in another northern climate , the nights are very bright , at the summer solstice . saxo grammaticus . the day and night with us are equall , when the sun enters aries and libra ; they are longer when he is in the tropick of cancer ; shorter in capricorn . the moneth of june is said to contain the longest day , the shortest is assigned to the . of december . the more superstitious are perswaded , that strange things are seen the night before . the olive tree , and the white poplar , and the leaves of willowes are said to be driven about . macrob. l. . c. . the moisture in trees ascends upwards from out of the root . the apple-tree brings forth blossoms and unripe fruit . some strings of instruments are strook with the fingers , and the other strings sound . suetonius l. . ludicra historia . the small livers of mice are increased . the kernells that are shut up in apples are turned the contrary way . cicero , lib. . de divinat . artic. . of the four parts of the year . the motion of the sun through the zodiack makes a year . mathematicians make this to be twofold . the one is the space in which the sun goes from the spring equinox , and returns to the same again ; and it consists of dayes , five hours , first minutes , seconds . the other is from the time the sun departs from the first star in aries , and returns to the same again ; and it consists of , hours , first minutes , seconds . copernicus appointed this , and he deserved great thanks for it , of the former there are four parts , spring , summer , autumn , winter : spring and autumn make the equinoxes ; this the winter equinox , that the summer . they both happen , when the sun passeth the line . the most certain sign of the springs approach , is the butterfly , being a weak creature . pliny in histor . natural . cancer makes the summer , when the sun-beams are verticall with us . it is inflamed by the rising of the dog-star , saith pliny , l. . c. . yet it were more philosophicall to say , that when the sun repeats his journey , he raiseth hot blasts and wind ; whence our bodies partake of great heat . truly , sometimes it is extream , if we credit histories . i read in livy , l. . histor. that in the year of rome . not onely rain from heaven was wanting , but the earth also wanted its inbred moysture , that the rivers that run continually were almost dry ; that many fountains and rivers wanted water , that the cattel dyed for thirst . in the year the woods were fired with over-great heat , the fat earth took fire , and could be extinguished with no rain . mergerius . the german records report , that in , the heat was so great , that the harvest was ended ( i will use their own words ) before the feast of st. john baptist. lipsius cites it in his epistles . in the year . the wood of bohemia burnt . weeks . the danube was so dryed up , that in many places one might foord it . and what is wonderfull , there was no losse in the corn. but in . in the end of july , the lakes and waters were so hard frozen , that all the fishes dyed , and there was great scarsity of water . cardan thinks it is a mark of an over-hot summer , de varietat . rer . l. . c. . if old sheep are very much given to lust in the spring . men write , that there was so pleasant an autumn in the year , . that the roses and young branches flourished . it is our winter when the sun enters capricorn , then all things quake , are covered with snow , and bound up with ice . the sun foreshews a most bitter winter in the northern parts , when he hides himself in a red clowd , as a pillar of fire , and casts out his beams like fiery darts . that descending , it is turned into black . cardan . l. . or when things that use to be moist seem dryer , or drops dripping from houses fall more slowly . and sometimes the winter hath been excessive . chronicles say , that in . the winter was most fierce , so that in the adriatick sea the venetian factors passed over the ice with their charge of moneys . zonaras reports the like to have happened under constantine copronymus : so in the pontick sea , and the straights adjoyning . marianus scotus . in the year . of charles the great , there was a great and most bitter frost , so that the pontick sea was frozen miles in the east , where it was cubits from top to bottom . in the year . the winter was so cruel , that in brabant ▪ an infinite company of e●l●s by reason of the ice went forth of the lakes , which is a wonderfull thing , and hid themselves in hay-ricks , and perished there with extremity of cold , robertus de monte. the trees had hardly any leafs afterwards in may. sometimes the winters are so calm too . in the year . in december the peach tree budded ▪ in . in december and january , crowes and other birds hatched their eggs with young . but these divers parts of the year for length and duration comes from a divers position . they that live under the pole are 't is probable in perpetual cold ; and they are more hot that live under the equinoctiall . they under the equinoctiall have a double most pleasant winter , and a double spring . he that would know more of this may read . mayolus colloqu . de proprietat : locor . artic. . of the sun's shadow . two things chiefly are observable concerning the suns shadow , the operation and the diversity . it can hardly be said how great it is . men skill'd in the opticks have described it more acurately . it shews the reason of eclipses , the suns magnitude , the variety of eccentricks , the condition of time hath been demonstrated by it . men are taught thereby to define the climates and parallells , to prove the earth to be round , and that the earths globe stands exactly in the midst of the universe , to know the earths magnitude : &c. examples shew the diversity ; those that dwell northward between the tropick of cancer and the arctick circle , their noon-shadowes are cast northward , and to the southern people southward . they of finmarch and groenland , and that passe the degree of elevation , see the shadows run round about them : gauricus in geograph . in syene a town above alexandria , furlongs , at noon-day on the solstice , there is no shadow at all , and a pit was made to make experiment of it , and the sun shined to every part in it . pliny , l. . c. . and in india above the river hispasis , the same falls out a● the same time , as onesicritus hath recorded . in the island of merce , which is the chief of the ethiopian country , the shadows fail twice a year , and in summer they are cast southwards ; in winter toward the north. in the same , in the most famous haven of patales , the sun riseth on the right hand , the shadowes fly southward . it is lastly manifest , that in berenice a city of the troglodytes , and from thence for furlongs in the same country , in the town of ptolemais , which is built on the brink of the red sea ▪ at the first hunting of elephants , the same thing falls out . dayes before the solstice , and as many after it , and during those dayes , the shadowes are cast into the south . plin. l. . art. . of the suns influence on the inferiour world. it was easie to observe , how powerfully this eye of the world would work upon inferiour bodies by his lighter and publique motion . there is nothing in the parts of the year , or dayes , or nights , or variety of shadowes , but must be ascribed to it . when the sun ariseth , all things are enlightened ; when it sets , all are in the dark . things flourish , when he approacheth ; fade , when he departeth : these are generals , and if we respect particulars , are not much lesse . it is certain , that tempests , and seasonable weather are from the sun. about the middle of sagittarius , and the constellation of pisces by the help of stars that are in them , and rise , it blowes warm to those that are under it ; and , the humours that were frozen being melted , and the earth being watered with them , it produceth the fruitful western blasts , and stirs up the force of the pleiades and hyades in taurus , and of the kids from the north , from the south or orient that is near unto it ; and of arcturus that lyes opposite to it , which raise up southern winds , and for some dayes do water the seed sown with continual rain . peucer in astrol. when the herbs are grown and want moisture again for their just magnitude , it affords it and drawes it forth by it , coming up toward the stars of cancer . pliny takes the signs of tempests from it , l. . c. . it belongs to motion ; for scaliger saith , that men sail faster with the sun. exerc. . and pliny l. . histor. c. , writes , that the currior philonides ran from sicyon to elis , furlongs in . hours of the day , and came back again , oft-times , though it were down hill , at . a clock at night : the reason was , because he ran out with the sun , but returned against the course of the sun. chap. vi. of the moon . artic. . of the figures and light of the moon . the stoicks thought the moon to be a dark and hairy light . cleomedes supposed it was a ball , white on one side , and blew on the other . we acknowledge it to be a heavenly body , one of the two great lights that god made . sometimes there have been two , sometimes . seen , as when cn. domitius , and c. fannius were consuls , whom they called the night-suns . pliny , l. . c. . she is lesse than the earth , thirty times , or . times , if we follow copernicus . she is distant from it , german miles ; or if we credit schrechenfuchsius , whom most follow , it is , she borrowes her light from the sun. whence it comes that she hath so many aspects ; she is alwaies increasing or decaying , and sometimes she is crook'd with horns , sometimes she is equally divided ; sometimes she is crooked , sometimes full , sometimes she is suddenly wane , and the same appears suddenly again . pliny , l. . c. . the ancients adored the full moon as a type of beauty . there is a merry tale in plutarch in his symposiacks of wiseman concerning the moon decreasing , that the moon asked of her mother a coat fit for her ; and she answered , how can i do that ? for sometimes thou art a full moon , sometime a half moon , and sometimes with two horns . in biarmia she is never seen but with a full circle toward the surface of the earth , of a fiery colour , and like a cole . olaus , l. . artic. . of the spots and eclipse of the moon . the substance of the moon is spotted : if you ask the reason , wise men have said that the parts of the moon are unequally compacted . the poets thought she carryed a boy with her whom she loved , who covered his face for shame . when she is deprived of the suns light , she is eclipsed . but that is only in a diametricall opposition , when the moon hath no declination from the ecliptick , or that which is lesse then , minuts , and so it either enters the shadow of the earth , or cannot avoid it . the antients thought she might be drawn from heaven by charms , and being thrust down , she might be compelled . that she powereth forth her venome and force into the hearbs that are subject to her , which may be more succesfully used in magick arts . hence it was that they tinkled in cymballs , that the charms might not be heard . there are no eclipses of sun or moon , but there follow some changes in sublunary things . there was one in the yeare , . and darius at marathon was overthrown by the athenians with wonderfull ruine . another was , . and perseus king of the macedonians was conquered by consul aemilius , and an end was put to the kingdom of macedonia , alsted . in thesauro chronolog : some observe them superstitiously : for example , niceas of athens ( ubbo emmius tom. . vet . graec. ) being beaten at epipolas in sicilia ; when his country was in danger , he should have marched away , as demosthenes and eurymedon perswaded him : when he did march , the moon was eclipsed . many took that for an ill omen : this so moved niceas , that he said he would decree nothing , to remove his tents , untill three times , days were over , that the wizards had foreshewed . plin : l. . c. . he did it , and so wasted the forces of the athenians . to this may be referred , the ridiculous opinion of some , who think that an asse drank up the moon : for when the asse drank , the moon was seen in the water , when the asse went away , she was covered with a cloud , and could not be seen . wherefore they cast the miserable asse silenus rod on , into prison , and cut up his belly , that they might have the moon again , and they most cruelly took out his bowells . delrius , disquisit : magic : l. . quest . . in the year , , about setting , the moon was first changed into black ; then she was divided into two parts , and the one part leapt upon the other backwards , both parts were sprinkled with red . they united afterwards , and set as one moon . many confederacies followed , and the nobles , who in were confederate , opposed themselves against the king of the romans , linturius cited by wolsius in memorabil . artic. . of the moon 's influence on these sublunary things . innumerable are the operations of the moon on sublunary things . if you would run over all the field of nature , plants , animals and mens bodyes are subject to the moons government . palladius reports , ( cardan de varietat : l. . c. , ) if garlick be set when the moon is under the earth , and be pulled up again when the moon is under the earth , it will lose its strong smel . so they say that basil bruised in the new moon , and put into a new pot , at the full moon it will send forth flowers at one end ; and if it be set under the earth twice as long time , it ingenders scorpions . vines in the day time are nourished by drawing moisture to them , and in the night they increase , and grow . lillies and roses open their buttons only in the night . keckerman disp : phys : . coroll : . of all that beare head , only the onion is augmented when the moon increaseth ; when it growes new it fades , as if it hated the course of that planet . lucilius . wherefore the aegyptians at pelusium hate to eate it . gellius , lib. . c. . as for living creatures , savanarola writes that in the leap-yeare , living creatures are barren , cardan , l. c. it is observed that in the full moon all oysters , perwinkles , and all shell fish increase , and their bodies decrease with the moon . also the more industrious have found out , that the fibres of rats answer to the dayes of the moon : and that the little creature , the ant , is sensible of this planets force , and alwaies rests in the conjunction of the moon . pliny , lib. . cap. . the skins of the sea-calves and sobles are stiffe , and the haires stand upright , when the moon increaseth , and they sink down when the moon decreaseth , and grow weak , keckerman , l. c. as for mankind , if the moon come to the sun passing thorow aries or scorpio , when any one is born , it so afflicts the brain of him that is borne , that when he comes to be a young man , he shall be troubled with melancholly . things bred in the conjunction of the moon , are frequently dry , and are encumbred with a sharp heat , and have all their limbs especially affected , peucerus de divinat . they that sleep under the moon-beams , are troubled with heavinesse of their heads and defluxions . camerar . memorab . cap. . art. . for by the moon beams , the moisture of the braines of those that sleep is melted , which being restrained in the head , the internall heat being not active enough to expell it outward , it breeds catarrhs . the epileps is exasperated in the full moon . for the abundance of moysture hinders the sharpnesse of vapours , and the putrefaction that they cannot breath forth . a smaller quantity doth more easily corrupt , and the heat acting upon it , makes sharper vapours according to its proportion , libavius , tom . . singul , lib. . cap. . at the same time dropsie people are grievously tormented , and therefore they all dye almost about the full moon . truly , in march , . when we writ this , it took away that reverend man , d. martin gratianu● the superintendent of the reformed churches in the greater poland , who was the chariot and horsemen of israel . let his memory be blessed . when the moon is opposite to the sun , mad-men rage most . they that are troubled with a disease of the brain from too much plenty of brain , are choked in the full moon . hence it is that the britans on the . day of the moon whip mad folks . bodin . l. . theatr. better therefore it is to give a medicament against the epilepsie the day after , than in the opposition of the luminaries . for in the hour of conjunction the moon is calm , nor are there propensions to either side , of advantages ; the next time after it , she begins to work in the humours , and to augment them . libav . epist. . to s●hnitz●r . chap. vii . of new stars . wee have spoken of those things that ordinarily are done by nature in heaven . i will now adde some things which the right hand of god hath produced above nature . i mean new stars , which have appeared , and not being of long continuance , have shortly disappear'd again , and vanish'd from our sight . the star at our saviours birth is the chief , which ( fulgentius saith ) had no place in the firmament , nor in the ayr. it went forward with an uncertain motion , sometimes it shewed it self , and sometimes it was hid . damascenus , l. . orthodox . fidei . chalcides the platonist , speaks thus of it , upon timaeus of plato ; there is also a more holy and more venerable history that relates , that by the rising of a star that was unusual , not death and diseases were foreshewed , but the venerable descending of god , for man's salvation , and in favour of mortall things , which men testifie to have been observed by the chaldaeans , who adored god with gifts , who was newly born . whence they learned the knowledge of its apparition , is shewed in the books of balaam the southsayer , wherein are many fabulous things . the other is that which appeared in the year . this is that year , wherein that bartholmy-slaughter was acted at paris , in which ( not excluding other places ) men were slain , of honest families were oppressed in three dayes , widows and orphan children innumerable being brought to the greatest beggery or want . prisbach . in respons● . ad oration . habitam apud helvetios . the summe was so great , that the wiser sort that were no wayes addicted to the protestant side , when they were come to themselves , and considered the sad condition of things at that time , and disavowed the act , and sought out curiously the causes of it , and excuses for it , they judged that there was no such example of cruelty to be found in all antiquity ▪ should their chroni●les be searched into . thuan. l. . histor. that that appeared the th . of the ides of november , under the constellation of cassiopaea ; some men said , it was in the firmament it self amongst the heavenly spheres . it had neither tail nor hair , but like the other stars , it sent forth beams equally . the diameter of it contained the diameter of the earth . times and ½ part ; and it was greater than the earth times and ½ , it was bigger than the sun twice and / ● parts . tycho brache . part , progymnas . astronom . yet this eminency of greatnesse and light decreased afterwards by degrees , untill it vanished quite away . it had no motion , except that which it had common with the fixed stars , it alwayes held the same position to the neighbouring stars in cassiopaea . it lasted months . what was foreshewed by it , is variously determined by divers men . gemma frisius in cosmocritica , writes , that since the birth of christ there was hardly any apparition to be compared with it , whether we consider the height of the sign , or the rarity , or the long continuance of it . the britans ascribed it to the lamentable death of mary . an oxford astrologer was authour of this opinion , who by cassiopaea , the sister to king cepheus , said , that some queen in the north must be noted out by it ; and by its moneths continuance he foreshewed , ( i know not according to what calculation of the arabians , and the ascending of the star into the upper parts , ) that that northern queen after years should ascend up into heaven . the event made good his praediction . thuan. l. ▪ molerus seemed to expect a new prophet by it , in the year , , and the conquest of the gospel over all through the world. liborovius foretold , but falsly , war , in , and the banishment of the chief prince in germany , in ; the restoring of him again by the eastern countries , in , and many such like things . there is extant concerning this star a godly and excellent copy of verses of a certain famous writer , which i here set down : whether that comet without blazing tail , that shines as clear as do the fixed stars , shall in succeeding times so far prevail , as to raise dearths or plagues , or bloody wars ; god onely knowes , and after-times will shew . but if man's wit can any thing foretell , 't is not amisse to search such signs are new , and lift our minds above this place we dwell ▪ this is that star which did the wise-men bring from the east land , to bethleem , and there in david's city , born was the great king. it now foreshewes again , and doth declare , that god is coming : cruel herod fear ! good men rejoyce , your redemption drawes near . the fifth month after the starre disappeared ▪ charles died of a bloody flux . the third was seen in the yeare , . in november , and which the following yeare vanished , jannuary the , mestlinus placeth this in the sphere of venus . tycho writes that the head was germain miles diameter . dantzick was then besieged , and , the warre of moscovia began . it was supposed to portend the death of great men. in that yeare ( thuan. l. . ) after a desperate sight in africa , sebastian king of portugall died , and melchus chorisius king of morisco trigitana , whom he came to subdue . and mahomet that caused the warre was drown'd . , christians were slain , and as many taken captives , allmost all the nobility of portugal fell into the hands of the mores . that was done in one day . portingal came ne●t under the government of philip. then in , about the beginning of october , a fourth new starr appeared in the . degree of sagittarius , and was from the ecliptick , but minutes . astronomers say , it was between saturn and the . sphere ; yet that seems absurd . keckerman in his consultation concerning the starre in the year , . thes. . also because it had its own proper motion , distinct from the sphere of saturn , and the fixed starrs ; and the starrs move in and with their orbs , but that had none . crabbius saith directly , that it was from the center of the earth miles , and from the superficies of the earth , miles . disput . de comet : thes : and hence he concludes it was greater than the earth , times ; and hence he proves it was above saturn , being from the earth miles . it shined full four months : and after that was to be seen from the of november with saturn , from the . with sol , and from the of december with mercury in conjunctions ; and with mercury , mars , sol , in oppositions , the may following , which was supposed to p●rtend great consultations , confederacies , and changes in france , spain , the low countries , england . thuan. lib. . but the opposition that fell out on the , of june , was held to be ominous , and men conjectured that this starr would cause warrs and calamities to many countries , and chiefly to germany in point of religion . an excellent mathematician keplerus writ concerning it , and who was no whit guilty of astrologicall superstition , by the testimony of thuanus . see him . i call these apparitions starrs , not that i am ignorant , that they are referred to comets , but because i find that in the skye they are placed amongst the second moveables , and are call'd celestiall , which is not agreeing to planets : and i think it more fit to call them starrs , than by naming them comets , to overthrow the doctrine of meteors received from the antients . chap. viii . of astrologicall praedictions . concerning astrologicall praedictions many men have many minds . some magnifie them , others reject them as idle vanities . it is certain that natural actions , as the changes of dayes ; night● , yeares , seasons , because they have determinate causes in the position of the starrs , may be foretold by them . yet because the matter of the elements is mutable and flitting , many particular causes overthrow general causes , and many starrs in both motions are yet unknown ; and some of them somtimes are opposite to the others forces : also most experienced artists are few : and lastly there is a vast distance in placing the beginning and ends of the houses , and proprieties , and therefore it is no wonder if error creep in . bartholin de caelo . and if we observe particular and individuall actions , the errour will be the greater , for beside the generall influence of the starrs , there is a special influence which ariseth from the speciall complexion . the indisposition of the matter hinders the good influence of heaven ; and the goodnesse of the temper derived from the parents , keeps off the bad influence . we know that jacob and esau were born at the same time , in respect of the heavens position , yet was their fortune most different . in civil actions the starrs have nothing to do . it is an elegant saying of bodinus . lib. . de repub. cap , . there is but one rule , saith he , of all philosophers , even of those that idly dispute of what is done in the heavens ; that a wiseman is not under the affection and power of the starrs , but only those who like beasts are ruled by their appetites and desires , and will not be subject to reason and good lawes , whom solomon , the master of wisdome , threatned sharply with punishment of the rack : yet many have adventured to make triall . the caldeans by mens actions collected the day of a mans birth , and from the day of a mans birth , the fortune of his whole life ; and that men should not reject them , they boasted they had spent , thousand yeares in the experience of this art. and so bold they were , that they vaunted that it was a thing as necessary to be known , how the position of the starrs and the force of the heavens were , when a man would build a house , or make , sow , or put on his cloths , as to know how they were disposed when children were new born . lucius tarutius firmianus , by the acts of romulus , his life , and death , found that he was born in the first yeare of the second olympiad , the , day of the month ; peucer de divinat . sect . de astrolog : and born in the , day of the month toth , about sun rising . and hence he found out the first day that rome was built , and that it began when the moon was in libra , the sun with mercury and venus in taurus , jupiter in pisces , and saturn with mars in scorpio . to this purpose we may refer him , who by the first day of jannuary , would foretell all events . if that a rain-bow in the sky appeare , god is well pleas'd with man , they need not fear . if burning meteors from the heavens shine , of great long during heats they are the signe . if thunder rore , or rivers overflow , this foreshews tempests as all seamen know . but if the earth be stird and seem to quake , this showes religion will be brought to 'th stake . if rivers freez , it then portends great joy , each woman shall conceive and beare a boy . mayol . colloq . . canicular . of such , this is true : these mathematitians by a false interpretation concerning the starrs , and by their lyes , cast a mist before those that are light and foollish witted , for their own advantage ; valer. maxim. l. we have examples of their fraud in nicetas chronias , otherwise a prudent historiographer . in our times ( saith he ) the emperours do nothing but by advice of astrologers , and they make choice of dayes and nights to do their businesse , as the starrs shall dictate unto them . therefore alexius the emperour , desired long to know when he might seasonably return to blacherna ; at last the day and houre were chosen according to the starrs . he returned , and that so happily , that the earth opened very deep before him , and he escaped , but his son in law alexius , and many of his nobles fell into the pit , and were hurt , and one eunuchus that was a favorite perished . that of manuel is more ridiculous : when he was emperour , they of sicily and italy had possessed themselves of the sea neere constantinople ; he had somtimes sent out a fleet , but with ill successe . wherefore the mathematicians were consulted to assigne a more prosperous time ▪ constantinus a famous man prepares himself , but he was once more called back again ; because the prince had found , that the inquiry was not so certainly and wisely made as it ought to be , and there had been some errour . the scheme was therefore set once more , and constantinus was sent forth on the day chosen : he was scarce got to sea , but he and all his forces were taken ; lips. in monit . polit . a brave art ; yet i wonder , since i read of some that were seldome frustrate of their ends . nigidius figulus , foretold to augustus , that he should be emperour , ( xiphilinus ) . thrasyllus foresaw the empire of tiberius , and his own danger when he was on the tower with the prince , and should have been cast down headlong ; sueton. in octavio . largius proculus gave notice of the day that domitian should dye ; ascletarius foretold the kind : and being required of him to answer what kind of death , he himself should dye , he said he should be eaten with doggs : and so it was . for though domitian to disprove him , commanded that he should be burnt , and he was then burning , yet a tempest rose suddenly , and put out the fire . the spectators ran away , and the doggs came and devoured him , sueton. in domitian . josephus that wrote the antiquities of the jews , saith , that he foretold to the emperour vespasian , and to his son titus , that they should be emperours . we know it was so . petrus leontius , a physitian of spoletanum foresaid , that he himself was in danger of drowning . and he was found afterwards drownd in a pit , jovius , elog. . the arch-bishop of pisa consulted astrologers concerning his destiny : they told he should be hanged ; annal. florentin . it seemed incredible when he was in so great honour ; yet it proved to be true . for in the sedition of pope sixtus the fourth in a sudden uprore he was hanged . richardus cervinus had foretold to his son marcellus that he should come to great dignity in the church . hence he conceiving hope of it , when he was invited by his mother cassandra benna , to marry , refused it stoutly ; saying , he would not with the bands of matrimony bind himself from a greater fortune that the stars foreshew'd unto him , living single and unmarried : thuan. l. . it so came to passe . lucius gauricus delivered this in his book of nativities . which book , ( and it is a very wonderfull thing ) saith thuan. l. . was published at venice three years by curtius trojanus , before cervinus was proclaimed pope . this was that pope , who when the reader , as the manner is , read the scriptures , or writings of the fathers at dinner time , said , he could not perceive how those that held so high a place , could provide for their own salvation . these are examples of predictions made good by the events , lipsius , l. . monitor . ascribes some to inspiration : delrius refers some to compacts with the devill , l. . disquisit . magic . cap. . quaest . . certain it is , that god sometimes suffers them for a punishment to those that are so bold , and that they are true but by accident onely . see delrius , who handles this argument largely . the end of the first classis . of the writings of wonders in nature . the second classis . wherein are contained the wonders of the elements . what is the chief thing in humane affairs ? not to fill the seas with ships , nor , to set up standards on the shores of the red sea ; not where land is wanting , to wander in the ocean to injure other men , and seek out unknown places : but to see all with the mind ; and , than which there is no greater victory , to overcome our vices : seneca , natur. quaest . l. . praef. chap. i. of fire . artic. . of the wonderful beginning of fire . fire was a long time unknown to the antients , especially if you respect them who in the utmost borders of egypt dwelt by the sea side , plin. histor . natural . l. . c. . when eudoxus found it , they were so pleased with it , that they would have put it in their bosomes . fire , is not unknown to us . so great is the variety of it , and it is so manifold , that i know not what order to deliver it in . pliny saith it is from it self ; steel rubb'd against steel causeth fire . also the stones we call fire-stones , stricken against steel or other stones , send forth sparkles . therefore the laplanders begin their contracts of marriage with the fire and flint , scalig. exerc. . s. . for fire with them is the authour of life , and the flint is eternal , wherein the treasure never fails . it is in vain to try that in a brittle stone : for the piece falling away , that which should draw forth the ayr is lost . the rubbing of sticks one against another will fetch fire . the indians do so ; they make two sticks fast together , and put another stick between them , turning it swift like a wimble , and so they make them take fire , ovetan . l. . c. . in apulia they wrap a ca●●● i● cords , and draw them as fast as they can forward and backward , till they fire it by motion , mayolus colloq ▪ ● . the vestal nuns did the same , when their eternall fire went out , if we credit festus . in nympheus , a flame goes out of a rock , which is kindled by rain . aristotle saith , in admirand . it is not perceived untill you cast oyl upon it , and then the flame flyes upward . we find also in authours , that in the country of the sabins , and apulia , there is a stone that will fire if you annoint it , plin. l. . c. . in aricia , if a live cole fall on arable ground , the ground will burn . in a town of picenum , egnatia , if wood be laid on a certain stone , that they account holy there , it will flame presently . also a flame goes forth at the waters of scantia , but it is very weak at the going forth , and will not last long in any other matter . also at gratianopolis in dauphin , flame shines out , when you stir the burning fountain with a staff , so that straw may be kindled by it ; dalechamp . ad l. c. the fire of the mountain chimer● is kindled by water , plin. l. . c. . if you hold a glasse globe full of water in the sun , fire will rise from the repercussion of the light from the water , in the coldest frost : lactan. de ira dei , c. . sometimes also fire ariseth so suddenly in houses , that it may be thought wonderful . cardan . l. . de varietate , c. . ascribes the cause to the salt , and salt-peter that sticks to the walls of the houses . which valerius reports concerning the schollar of the vestall nun , maxima aemilia , l. . c. . that she adoring vesta , when she had laid her fine linnen veil upon the hearth , the fire that was out , shined forth again : an old wall being scraped down , he writes , that it might take fire onely by hot ashes . if you look in the bible , you shall find a wonderfull originall of fire in it , king. c. . elias when he offered sacrifice brought fire down from heaven , which consumed the sacrifice , wood , stones , dust , and water . in the book of judges , ch. . when gideon at the command of the angel had laid flesh and bread upon a stone , and poured frankincense upon them , fire came forth of the stone , and consumed them . artic. . of fires in the waters . if we will credit histories , it is most certain , that fires have been seen in the waters . pliny saith , lib. . c. . that the whole lake thrasimenus was on fire . that the sea did burn , liv. lib. . when alaricus wasted italy , and john chrysostome was driven from his bishoprick , the earth quaked , fire fell from heaven , and a wind took it , and cast it into the sea , which took fire by it , and at last went out again ; niceph. l. . c. . in the fields of babylon there is a fish-pond that burns , which is about an acre of ground , plin. lib. . c. . a stone cast into a lake near to denstadium of thuringia , when it sinks to the bottom , it hath the form of a burning arrow ; agricol . lib. . de nat . affluent . c. . in a city of comagena , called samosata , there is a lake that sends forth burning mud ; plin. l. . c. . posidonius saith , that in his time , about the summer solstice , in the morning , that between suda and the sea of evonymus , fire was seen lifted up to a wonderfull height , and to have continued so a pretty while , carried up with a continued blast and at length it sunk down . many dayes after , slime appeared , that it swam on the top of the waters , and that flames brake forth in many places , and smoaks , and soot , and at length that slime grew hard , and that the lumps grown hard , were like unto milstones . julius obsequens adds , that it dispersed a great multitude of fish , which the liparenses much feeding on , were spoiled by them , so that the islands were made wast with a new plague , strabo . l. . between , ther and therasia which are in the cyclades , flames went out of the sea , in such abundance , that is was extreme hot , and seemed to burn ; and when it had swelled by degrees , of the peices cast out , that were like to iron , an island was made , which was called hiera and automate , now it is called vulcanellus : by a very small arme of the sea , it is parted from vulcanellus . plin. l. . c. . artic. . of fire under the earth . i said that fire was also in the waters ; now i will shew that in the bowells of the earth fire is generated . when claudius nero was emperour , fire was seen to come forth of the earth , in the land of the town of colein , and it burnt the fields , villages , houses ; now because the matter of it was bituminous , and could be quenched neither by raine , nor river waters , nor by any other moisture , it was extinguished by stones and old garments . in misena a country of germany , a mountain of coles burns continually , the trenches falling down by degrees in the superficies , which if any man behold , they appear to be burning furnaces . the fire kindles any thing neere to it , at four foot distance , but not put close to it . agricol . de natur . effluent . ex terr . vesuvius , also a mountain in campania , burned , when titus vespasianus , and flavius domitianus the seventh , were consuls . first it cast out stones from the top broken open ; after that , it cast forth such flames , that two towns , herculaneum , and pompeti were set on fire ; and it sent forth such thick smoak , that it obscured the sun ; and lastly it blew forth such a quantity of ashes , that like snow it covered the neighbour country , which by force of winds was carryed into africa , aegypt , syria ; dion . cass. in histor. when the elder pliny beheld this fire , ( the younger in epistol . ad tacitum ) the smoak so stopped his sharp artery , that his breath being intercepted , he was choaked , there is also a mountain of late in campania , full of rises , from the time the fire was bred there , which burns and rores within , and sends forth smoak in many places , and very hot brooks , the shore smoaks at the foot of the mountain , the sand is hot , & the sea boyles , agricol , l. c. in the same place , there are many ditches covered with sand , into which some that have viewed these things carelesly have sunk in , and were stifled . this is in europe . in india , there are no lesse burnings by fire . in ciapotulan , a province of the kingdome of mexico , a mountain casts forth stones as big as houses , and those stones cast forth have flames of fire in them , and seem to burn , and are broke in pieces with a great noise ; petrus alvarad . ad cortesium . in the province quahutemallan , of the same country , two mountaines within two leagues one of the other , vomit out fire , and tremble , petrus hispalens . p. . c. . in peruacum also , out of the mountain nanavata , the fire flies out at many holes ; and out of one , boyling water runs , of which salt is made . in the same peruacum in the town molaha●o fire is vomited forth , and ashes is cast out for many dayes , and covers many towns. there is an island next to great java , in the middle of which land there burns a perpetuall fire odoard . barbosa . in the island del moro , there is a fire cast forth with such a noise , that it is equall to the loudest cannon , and the darknesse is like night . the ashes so abound , that houses have sunk down under them , and trees have been barren for three yeres , their boughs being lopt off , all places are fild with ashes , and living creatures destroyed with hunger and pestilence , also sweet waters have been changed into bitter . diat . jesuita . also there are concealed fires , namely there , where the waters run forth , hot , warm , or sower , or where exhalations break forth , good or bad , and where places seem adust . strab. in geograph : there is a country in asia , which is called adust , which is furlongs long , and broad , whether it should be called misia or meonia , saith strabo . in this there grows no tree but the vine that brings forth burnt wine , so excellent that none exceeds it . you may not think that those fires stay only in one straight place , for they pass many miles under ground ; agricol . l. . de nat . effl. c. . in campania , from cunae , thorough baianum , puteoli , and naples . also out of campania they seem to come as far as the islands , aenaria , vulcania , &c. hence pindarus elegantly faigned that the gigant , typ●o , being stricken with a thunder-bolt , lay buried under these places . artic. . of the original of subterraneall fire . wee will now search out the original of these fires , and what it is that kindles and nourisheth them . the poets speak fables concerning aetna , ( but of this , more in the th chapter . ) hyginius mytholog . cap. . hell , of the earth begat typhon , of a vast magnitude , and a wonderfull shape , who had dragons heads that sprang from his shoulders ; he challenged jupiter , to strive for his kingdome . jupiter hit him on the breast with a burning thunder-bolt , and having fired him , he cast mount aetna upon him , which is in sicilia , and from that time it is said to burn yet . isidor . l. . c. . ascribes it to brimstone that is kindled by the blasts of winds . justinus affirms , that it is nourished by water . bleskenius relates of hecla , that no man knowes by what fire , or what matter it burneth ; but since that brimstone is dug forth of all islandia , it should appear , that a brimstony matter was sometimes kindled there . not far from hecla are pits of brimstone , saith bertius , in islandia . that is certain , that brimstone affords nourishment for this fire under ground , and it is such as will burn in water . for in these mountains writers make mention of waters ▪ and we have shew'd , that it hath sometimes burned in the sea. but lydiat , l. de orig . font . thinks , that in the gulfs of the sea , a most violent fire is contained ; and he demonstrates this by earth-quakes . therefore the food of it cannot be dry , and like to the earth which we call dorfa ; for that is quickly consumed by fire , and is quenched by water . nor is it marle , for that will not burn , unlesse it be sulphureous and bituminous . brimstone burns indeed , but it is soon put out with water ; therefore it is bitumen ; and this seems to be the subject of it . strabo writes , that there are under this cave , fountains of water ; and pliny addes , l. . c. . that it burns with water running from bitumen . burning bitumen sends forth fire in hecla a mountain in islandia , which consumes water : the stones of rivers and the sand , burn at hephestios , a mountain of lycia , and they are bituminous . naphta is very near akin to fire , and it presently flames , pliny , l. c. wherefore we think bitumen to be the food for these fires , and they are kindled by a fiery vapour that takes fire , if but cold thrust it forth , as the clowds thrust ou● lightnings , or drives it into some narrow places , where rolling it self up and down , and seeking to come forth , it burns in the conflict , and flames ; agricol . lib. cit . artic. . of the miracles of fire in duration , burning , and in being extinguished . some fires are perpetuall . the stone asbestos , once lighted , can never be extinguished ; therefore writers say it was placed in idol temples , and the sepulchres of the dead ; solinus , c. . there was a monument once dug up , wherein was a candle that had burned above years ; when it was touched with the hands , it went to fine ashes : vives ad lib. . de civitat . dei. vives saw wicks at paris , which once lighted , were never consumed . in britany the temple of minerva had a perpetual fire ; when it consumed , it was turned into balls of stone ; solinus , c. . polyhist . the same thing is written of a certain wood near to urabia in the new-found world. there are some fires that burn not , either not at all , or in some certain matter , or else miraculously . in pythecusis , saith aristotle admirand . c. . there is a fervent and hot fire that burns not : an ash that shadowes the waters called scantiae , is alwayes green . plin. lib. . c. . in the mountain of puteoli consisting of brimstone , there is a fire comes forth , that is neither kindled nor augmented by oyl , nor wax , or any fat matter , nor is it quenched with water , or kindled , and it will not burn towe cast into it , nor can any candle be lighted by it . mayolus colloq . . he conceives it is not fire , but fiery water . near patara in lycia , flame is cast forth of a field , you shall feel the heat if you put your hands to it , but it will never burn . the parts of the ambient ayr that are cold and moist , are said to be the cause of it , that by their thinnesse entring into the fire , do hinder the burning of it . some napkins made of a kind of flax will not burn : and being durty , they are never washed ; but being cast into the fire they are made clean ; lemnius in l. . de occult . that kind growes in the deserts of india , where such is the condition of the ayr , and the quality of the earth , which causeth such a temper of the plants , that they may be spun and woven into linnen cloth. wood and planks , if they be anointed with allum ( i add , and smeared with eggs ) they will not burn , plin. l. . c. . nor will posts painted with a green colour , so you do it thick , and allom with the ashes of white lead be plentifully mingled with the paint : because the wood is thickned and hardened , the fire cannot enter . hence it was , that sylla could not fire a tower that was smeered with allom. c. caesar set fire to a castle near to po , that was built of larch-tree , and it would not burn , vitruv. l. . c. . for the larch tree is not onely free from rottennesse , nor will it resolve into coles . the cause is the compacted matter , lemnius , l. c. what shall we say of pyrrhus , on whose great joynt of his right foot , fire could not prevail ? what of zwinglius , whose heart was not touched after his body was consumed by fire , thuan. l. . histor. the salamander lives safe in the midst of the flames , if we credit pliny ; and the bottom of the cauldron is cold , when it stands in the midst of the fire , and the water boyles , the sides are red hot . yet dioscorid . writes , l. . c. . that the cauldron being cold by nature , doth for a while keep off the fire by being so near to it , but at last it burns and wastes . the reason of this is from the pyramidall figure of the fire , which ascends in a point , and the thin parts rise up first ; the thicker are cast to the sides ; keckerm : disp : . phys : coral : . in the scriptures we have examples , god appeared to moses in a flaming bush , the bush did not burn , exod. ch. . elias was taken up into heaven , with a fiery chariot and horses . the three children , cast into the fiery furnace in babylon , had not a hair touched , and they were consumed that came but near , in the apocryph : ad c. . daniel is . eugenius relates what befell an hebrew boy at constantinople . so much for burning . now for putting it out : a certain fire came forth of mount hecla , which is extinguished with towe ; that which comes forth of the mount chimaera , is put out with hay , or earth : at cullen of the ubii , with stones , or cloathes . but when charles duke of burgundy had taken the city of geldria , the ground was burnt , the grasse and roots burned , the fire could be extinguished by no art of man ; it penetrated into burgundy ; fulgosius , l. . to these i shall adde those chymicall devices of tritenhemius , whereby he procured everlasting fires , as an anonymus reports in aureo vellere , in the name of bartholmaeus korndorferus . now there are two eternal lights . the first of them is made by mingling brimstone and calcined allum , . ounces , and by subliming them , they are made flowrs . he joyned ounces and a half , to ▪ ounce of 〈…〉 vedetus like crystall ; and to these 〈…〉 bruised , and put into a h●llow glasse , he poured on the spirit of wi●● four times distilled , and making digestion ▪ and drawing that off , he poured on new , and he did this twice , thrice , or four times , untill the brimstone made hot upon plates of brasse , would run like wax without smoke . this is the food of it . afterwards the wick must be thus ordered ; the small shords of the stone asbestos , about the length of the little finger , and about half so thick , must be tyed together with white silk . the wick thus made , is sprinkled with brimstone , of the foresaid matter in a venice-glasse , and it is put under ground , and is boyled in hot sand hours , the brimstone alwaies boyling up . the wick so anointed and wet , is put into a hollow glasse , that it may a little come forth , the prepared brimstone is heap'd on , the glasse is set into hot sand , that the brimstone may melt and hold fast to the wick , then will this set on fire , burn with a continual flame : you may see the lamp in any place . this is the first eternal fire . the latter is made thus : to a pound of decrepit salt pour on strong wine vinegar ; draw it off to the consistence of oyl , put on new ▪ let it steep , distill it as before , and do this four times . infuse in this vinegar glasse of antimony finely powdered , one pound ; set the infusion in hot ashes hours in a close vessel , and draw out a red tincture ; pour off that vinegar , and pour on more , and draw it off again , repeating the labour , untill all the colour be resolved and drawn forth . coagulate the extractions to the consistence of oyl , and rectifie it in balneo till it be pure : then take the powder of antimony , out of which the rednesse was drawn , and make fine flower of it , put it into a glasse , and pour on the rectified oyl ; draw it off , and pour it on times , untill the body have drank in all its oyl , and become dry . draw out this by the spirit of wine , changed so often untill all the substance be drawn forth ; distill the menstruums collected in a venice viol , covering it with a five doubled paper , that the spirit coming forth , the incombustible ayr may remain in the bottom ; which must be used with a wick , as that of brimstone before . chap. ii. of the ayr. artic. . of the three regions of the ayr. philosophers make . regions . the region in the middle is so cold , that it is almost ready to freeze the kite , which is wont to live there in the dog dayes from noon till night , or his limbs should grow stiff by staying there too long . and in the alps there is alwaies so much snow , that in summer the passage is dangerous . they that have crept up to the tops of the mountaines of baldus , in the country of verona , feel no lesse cold in july and august , than in the coldest winter . aldrov●●●● , ornith , l. ● . c. . some think the aire to be so thin there , that a man can hardly live . augustin . de genes . ad liter , l. . c. . reports from other men , that such as go to the top of olympus , either to sacrifice , or to view the starrs , carry sponges with them wet in water , to breathe with . but from the history of the flood , and others , we may observe that some mountaines are so high , that they are above the clouds , and yet a man may live in that ayre ▪ libav . de orig . rer . l. . there is in the island zelainum , a very high mountain , and most pleasant on the top . in arabia faelix there is an extreame high mountain , and there is a town on the top of it . if we observe the force of the aire , it is notable : philosophers speak much of it . cardan saith that if it be shut up , it corrupts living creatures , and preserves dead things , but the open ayre is contrary . but examples will hardly make that good . in the navigations of the portugalls , some marriners under the equinoctiall had allmost breathed their last , though it were in the middle of the sea , and a in a most open ayre . and when we were present , saith scaliger , exercit . some italians of lipsia in the stoves were like to swound ; and you may remember from histories concerning the death of king cocal . wheat in syria laid close in mows corrupts not , but is spoild shut up in barnes ; if the windows be open , it takes no harme . artic. . of the infection of the ayre . the ayre doth not allwaies retain its own qualities , it is infected somtimes with hurtful things . they that go out of the province of peru , into chila thorow the mountains meet with a deadly ayr , and before the passengers perceive it , their limbs fall from their bodies , as apples fall from trees without any corruptions , liburius de origine rerum . in the mount of peru pariacacca , the ayr being singular , brings them that go up , in despair of their lives . it causeth vomit so violent that the blood follows , it afflicts them most that ascend from the sea , and not only man but beasts are exposed to the danger . it is held to be the highest , and most full of snow in the world , and in three or four houres a man may passe over it . in the mountains of chilium , a boy sustained himself three dayes , lying behind a multitude of carcases , so that at last he escaped safe from the venomous blasts . in a book concerning the proper causes of the elements , it is written that a wind killed the people in hadramot . the same authour reports that the same thing hapned in the time of king philip of macedo , that in a certain way between two mountaines at a set hour , what horseman soever past , he fell down ready to die . the cause was not known . the foot were in the same condition , untill one socrates by setting on high , a steel looking-glasse , beheld in both mountains two dragons casting their venomous breath one at the other ; and whatsoever this hit upon , died , liban . l. cit . but the true cause of this mischief was a mineral ayr , stuft with nitrous and other metallick spirits . such a one is found in some caves of hungary and sweden , and we know that the common saltpeter is full of spirits ; it is moved dangerously and forcibly if fire be put to it , and cast into water , it cools them much . but that bodies corrupt not , that we ascribe to cold , but it may be attributed to the spirits of cold by mixture , such as are in some thunder-bolts , for the bodies of living creatures killed by them do not easily corrupt , and they last long , unlesse some more powerfull cause coming , drive it out . artic. . of the putrefaction of the ayr. the pestilence comes from putrefaction of the ayr : which in respect of divers constitutions is divers . it is observed that there never was any at locris or croto : plin. l. . . so in that part of ethiopia , which is by the black sea. in mauritania , it ruins all . it lasted so long somtimes at tholouse , and in that province , that it continued seven years . it perseveres so long , and oftimes , amongst the northern people , and rageth so cruelly , that it depopulates whole countries ; scaliger , exercit , . it is observed in the southern parts , that it goes toward the sun setting , and scarse ever but in winter , and lasts but three months at most . in the year , it so raged at millan , that new baked bread set into the ayr but one night , was not only musty , but was full of worms , those that were well , died in , or , hours ; cardan de rer . varietat . l. . c. . in the year it destroyed at london , somtimes at constantinople ; and as many in the cities of the vandalls , all the autumne thorow . in petrarchs dayes , it was so strong in italy , that of men scarse ten remained . alsted in chronolog . but that in divers countries it works so variously on some men and severall creatures , that proceeds from the force of the active causes , and the disposition of the passive . forest. l. . observ . de febre . if the active cause from the uncleanness of the earth or water be not strong , it only affects those beasts that are disposed for such a venome ; but if it be violent , it ceazeth on mankind ; yet so that of its own nature , it would leave neither countrey , not cittie , nor village , nor town free . this layes hold on men in one place only . but if the active force be from a superiour cause , or be from the ayr , corrupted below , mankind alone are endangered by it . but if both a superiour and an inferiour cause concur , then may all living creatures be infected with the plague , yet it must be according to the disposition of their bodies . artic. . of attraction , cooling , and penetrating of the ayr. no man almost is ignorant , but that the ayr serves for the life of man ; for the branches of arteria venosa , drink in blood from the whole lungs , brought to them by the arteria venosa , and it is made more pure in them . the ayr drawn in at the mouth is mingled with the blood , and this mixture is carried to the left ventricle of the heart , to be made spirituous blood ; ludovi : du gardin anatom : c. . but being drawn in heaps it strangles , zwinger , physiol . l. . c. . for if you compasse a burning candle in the open ayr , with wine from above , you put it out ; because it cannot attract the ayr prepared on each side , by reason the wine is betwixt , and it cannot from below draw the crude and unprepared ayr. the desaphoretick force of it will appear in an egg ; when that is new , a pure spirit sweats through its shell , whilest it rosts , like unto dew . what will this do in the body of man ? it will make that full of chinks , if it be touched by a small heat : otherwise it fills and penetrates all things . it pierceth thorow a brick , and there it inflates the concocted lime , so that the quantity of it is increased till it break it . we see that the ayr entring by the pores of a baked brick , doth swell a stone that was left there for want of diligence , and is turned into lime ; and so puts it up , till the brick breaks , zwinger , phys. l. . c. . farther it is concluded by certain observation , that a wound is easie or hard to cure by reason of the ayr. in fenny grounds wounds of the head are soon cured , but ulcers of the legs are long : hence it is , that wounds of the head are light at bonnonia and paris , but wounds of the legs are deadly at avignon and rome . there the ayr is of a cold constitution , and is an enemy to the brain : here it is more hot , whereby the humours being melted , run more downwards , pa●ae●s , l. . chirurg : c. . it may be cooled wayes , by frequent ventilating of it with a fan that fresh ayr may come ; if snow and water be set about the bed ; if the walls be compassed about with willow leaves , or with linnen cloaths dipt in vinegar and rose-water , if the floor be sprinkled , and fountains made to run in the chamber ; if beds , saith avicenna , be made over a pit of water , if beds be made of camels hair , or of linnen , laying the skin under them : if the bed be strewed with herbs ; and lastly , if fragrant fruits be placed near the bed ; heurn : lib , . medic. c. . chap. iii. of the water . artic. . of the quantity and colour of waters . so much for ayr : now followes the element of water . and first we shall consider the quantity , and the colour of it . in the country of the great cham , near the city simqui , there is the river quian , which is miles broad ; and waters cities , and it is so long , that it cannot be sailed in dayes . polus writes , that he told in the haven of it ships . also in moscovia the duina is so great by the melting of the snow , that it cannot be passed over in a whole day with a well sayling ship , it is at least miles broad . jovius , a lake of genebar , the portingal●s call it january , thuan. histor . l. . is so large under capricorn , that men write , who have sailed thither , that all the ships in the world may well harbour there . as for colours , they are different in many waters . danubius is white as milk and water , which divides noricum , and windelicia from germany , agricol . de natur. effluent . the waters of the mayn , especially where it hath passed the francks , and is fallen into the rheyn , are yellowish . the fountain telephus is muddy near pat●ra , and mingled with blood . in ethiopia there are red waters , that make one mad that drinks them . at neusola in the mountain carpath●s , waters runing out of an old passage under ground , are green . at ilza , that which comes forth of the mountains of bohemia , and runs into danubius , is black . artic. . of the taste of water . there is no lesse variety of waters in their tastes : some are sweet , some taste like wine : you shall find every where , salt , allom tasted , sharp bitter waters every where . the waters of eleus , chocops , rivers , are sweet : the kings of persia drank of them , and transported them to far countries . the water of cardia in a field called albus , is sweeter then warm milk . pausanias . so is vinosa near paphlagonia ; whence so many strangers come thither to drink of it . in the bosome of the adriatick sea , where it turns to aquileia ; there are . fountains , and all of them , except one , are salt , polyb. in hist. at malta there is one , that the waters running above are very sweet , but the lower waters are brackish , aristobul : cassand . the small river exampeus is so bitter , that it taints the great river hypanis in pontus . in the lake ascanium , and some fountains about chalcis , the upper waters are sweet , and the lower taste of nitre , plin. in hist. the fountains are sowr about culma ; and because the water , though it be cold , boyls , they seem to be mad , agricol . lib. cit . in the same place there is a mineral water , which they call furious , because it boyls and roars like thunder . in cepusium at smol●icium , it not onely eats iron , but turns it into brasse . but the water about tempe in thessaly , of the river styx , can be contained in no vessel of silver , brasse , iron , but it eats through them , nothing but a hoof can hold it . artic. . of the smell of water : and of the first and second qualities . the hot baths that are distant from rhegium , the town of lepidus aemilius miles , smell of so gallant bitumen , that they seem to be mingled with camphir . there was a pit in peloponnesus near the temple of diana , whose water mingled with bitumen smelt as pleasant as the unguent cyzicenum . in hildesham there are two fountains ; the one flowes out of marble that smells like stinck of rotten eggs , and taste sweet : but if any man drinks of it fasting , he will belch , and smell like the marble pownded : the other is from brimstone , and smells like gun-powder : the water of this brook , covers with mud the stones that lie in the channel of it , scrape it off and dry it , and it is brimstone , agric. lib. cit . arethusa , a fountain of sicily , is said to smoke at a certain time . at visebad , there is a spring in the road-way , the water whereof is so hot , that you may not onely boyl eggs in it , but scall'd chicken , and hoggs ; for it will fetch off feathers or hair , if you dip them in , or pour it upon them . ptolomy comment . lib. . affirms , that at corinth there is a fountain of water , which is colder than snow . near the sea-banks at cuba , there is a river so continual , that you may sayl in it ; yet it is so hot , that you cannot touch it with your hands , martyr sum. ind. near the province tapala it runneth so hot , that one cannot passe over it , ramus . tom . . at segesta in sicily , halbesus suddenly growes hot in the middle of the river . pontus , is a river that lyes between the country of the medes and the scythians , wherein hot burning stones are rolled , yet the water it self is cold . these , if you move them up and down , will presently cool , and being sprinkled with water , they shine the more bright . lastly , near the city ethama , there is a river that is hot , but it is good to cleanse the lepers , and such as are ulcerated , leonius . also some waters swim above others . arsanias swims above tigris that is near unto it , so often as they both swell and overflow their banks ▪ peneres receiveth the river eurôta , yet it admits it not , but carrieth it a top of it like oyl for a short space , and then forsakes it , plin. hist. natural . artic. . of the diverse running of the water . it is said of pyramus , a river of cappadocia , which ariseth from fountains that break forth in the very plain ground , that it presently hides it self in a deep cave , and runs many miles under ground , and afterwards riseth a navigable river , with so great violence , that if any man put a sphear into the hole of the earth where it breaks forth again , the force of it will cast out the sphear ; strabo l. . not far from pompeiopolis in the town coricos , in the bottom of a den of wonderfull depth , a mighty river riseth with incredible force ; and when it hath ran with a great violence a short way , it sinks into the earth again , mela. l. . c. . the water marsia after it hath run along tract , from the utmost mountains of the peligni , passing through marsius and the lake fucinus , it disemboggs into a cave , then it opens it self again in tiburtina , and is brought miles with arches built up , into rome , plin. l. . c , . the sabbaticall river was wont to be empty every seventh day , and was dry ; but all the six dayes it was full of water . but that ceased when the sacrifice ceased , joseph . l. . c. . there is a certain river bocatius speaks of , every ten years , it makes a mighty noyse , by the stones striking together ; and this is suddenly in a moment , and the stones ran downwards for . dayes , and or times a day , though it be fair weather ; and after three dayes all is quiet . strabo writes of the rivers of hircania , l. . there are in the sea high shores that are prominent , and are cut forth of rocks ; but when the rivers run out of the rocks into the sea with great violence , they passe over a great space as the fall betwixt the sea and the rocks , that armies may march under the fall of the waters as under arches , and receive no hurt ▪ trochlotes in north norway makes such a noyse when it runs , that it is heard miles , olaus , l. . c. . beca in livonia runs forth of the rocks with such a fall , that it makes men deaf , ortel : in livon . t●nais , by a very long passage from scythia , falling into the lake meotis , it makes it so long and broad , that those that are ignorant of it , take it for a great mountain , boccatius . in solomon's temple there ran a spring , great in summer , small in winter ; euseb. praeparat . evangel . l. . c. . if you ask the cause , it is taken from the time. all things are wet in winter , then are the channels full ; and for want of evaporation the waters are kept in . but in summer all things are dry , and the suns heat penetrates . hence it is that they are congregated in their fountains , and run out by the ayr inforcing them . maeander is so full of windings and turnings , that it is often thought to run back again , &c. he that seeks more concerning nilus and other waters , let him read geographerrs . artic. . of the change of quantity and of qualities , in waters . this great variety in waters that i have set down , is a token of the wisdome and power of god ▪ and it is no lesse wonder , that the same waters should be so diversly changed . it is certain that they are changed . a fountain in the island tenedos alwayes from . at night till . after the summer solstice , overflowes . there is another in ●odon , that hath its name from jupiter , it fails always at noon-day ; and the river po in summer , as if it took its rest , growes dry , saith pliny . in italy , tophanus a fountain of anagnania is dry when the lake fucinus is frozen ; at other times of the year it runs with great quantity of water , agricol . l. cit . passim . the waters of the lake of babylon are red in summer . boristhenes at some times of the year seems to be died with verdigrease . the water of the fountain of the tungri is boyling hot with fire subterraneal , and is red . the waters of the river caria by neptun●s temple were sweet , and are now salt . but in thrace when georgius despota ruled , a sweet fountain grew to be bitter intolerably , and whole rivers were changed at citheron in beotia , as theophrastus writes . men report , that of the mineral waters which run by the pangaeus , a mountain of thrace , an athenian cotyle weighs in summer grains , and in winter . in the province of cyrene , the fountain of the sun is hot at midnight , afterwards it cooles by degrees ; and at sun-rising it is cold : and the higher the the sun riseth , the colder it is ; so that it is frozen at mid day : then again by degrees it growes warm , it is hot at sun-set ; and the more the sun proceeds , the hotter it becomes . the same fountain every day as it growes cold at mid-day , so it is sweet ; as it growes hot at midnight , so it growes bitter . artic. . of some other things admirable in waters . they were wonders that are passed , but greater follow . in those , it is easy to assign a cause , mixture or some such like , if you rightly consider it ; but here it is difficult , for though you may in some , yet commonly we must fly to hidden qualities . i will briefly rehearse them . some drops of a fountain of the goths powred upon the earth , cease to move , and are thickned by the ayr . the waters of cepusia in pitchers turn into a stone , those of rhaetid make people foolish ; they pull out the teeth in two years , and dissolve the ligaments of the sinews , which pliny writes to be in germany by the sea-side . those of islandia change things that are hollow into stones . tybur covers wood with stone covers . zamenfes in africa makes clear voyces . soractes when the sun riseth , runs over , as though it boyled , birds that then drink of it die . he growes temperate , who drinks of the lake clitorius ; and he forgets who drinks of a well nere the river orchomenus , sacred to the god trophonius , philarch. he proves dull of wit that drinks of a fountain in the island cea . agricola de reb . 〈…〉 terra effluent . gives a cause for it , as for the former , by reason of the bitumen . for , saith he , the seeds of wild parsnips wrapt in a linnen clout , and put into wine , as also the powder of the flowers of hermodactylus , which the turks use , being drunk with it , are the cause that it will make a man sooner and more drunk , so some kind of bitumen mixt with water , is wont to make men drunk . the horses , drinking sebaris are troubled with sneesing , whatsoever is sprinkled with it , is couloured black . clitumnus of umbria drank of , makes white oxen , and cesiphus of beotia white sheep : but a river in cappadocia makes the hair whiter , softer , and longer . in pontus , astaces waters the fields , in which mares are fed , that feed the whole countrey with black milk . the waters in gadaris make men bald , and deprive cattle ; of hair , hooffs and horns . cicero writes that in the marshes of reate , the hoofs of beasts are hardned . the hot baths at the fort of new-house , colour the silver rings of such as wash in them with a golden colour , and make gold rings more beautifull . aniger that runs out of lapithum a mountain of arcadia will nourish no fish in it , till it receive acidan , and those that go then out of it into aniger are not edible , but they in acidan are , pausanias . agrigentinum a lake of sicily will beare those things that do not swim in the waters . in aethiopia there is one so thin that it will not carry up leaves that fall from the next trees . in the lake asphalti●es a man bound hand and foot cannot sink . the cause is held to be the great quantity of salt. hieronymus florentinus , saw a bankrupt bound and cast headlong from the tower into it , and it bore him up all the night . posidonius observed that bricks in spain , made of earth , with which their silver plate is rub'd , did swim in the waters . cleon and goon were two fountains in phrygia ; either of their waters made men cry . there were two in the fortunate island ; they that tasted of one laught till they died , the other was the remedy for them . anauros of thessaly and boristhenes , send out no vapour , nor exhalation : many refer the cause of it to its mixture , others seek it other-where . agricola . l. . de effl . ex terr . c. . saith , in what part of the rivers , the channels in the fords have no veins and fibres , by that they can breath forth no exhalations . in the snows of mount caucasus , hollow clods freez , and contain good water in a membrane : there are beasts there , that drink this water , which is very good , and runs forth when the membranes are broken . strab. in geograph . nilus makes women so fruitfull that they will have , and , at one venter ; pliny in histor. there is a well of water , that makes the inhabitants of the alps to have swollen throats . lang. l. . epist. . but in field rupert neer to argentina , there is a water said to be , that makes the drinkers of it troubled with bronchocele , they seem to be infected with quicksilver : for this is an enemy to the brain and nervs , for it not only sends back flegme to the glandulous parts of the head and neck , but that which is heaped up in the head , it throws down upon the parts under it , sebizius de acidul . s. . dict . . corol. . thes . . diana , a river of sicily that runs to camerina , unlesse a chast woman draw its water , it will not mingle with wine ; solinus , c. . styx in arcadia drank of , kills presently , it penetrates and breaks all ; yet it may be contained in the horns of one kind of asse , seneca . l. . natur , c. . two rivers runs into niger , a river in africa , one is reddish , the other whitish , barrens . histor. dec . . l. . c. . if any man drink of both , he will be forced to vomit both up , but if any man drink but of one , he shall vomit leasurely , but when they are both run into niger , and a man drink them mingled , he shall have no desire to vomit . narvia is a river of lithuania ; so soon as serpents tast of the water , they give a hiss , and get away . cromer . descript . polon . l. . a fountain of sardinia , in the mediterranean , keeps the length and shortnesse of dayes , and runs accordingly . in the island of ferrum , one of the canaries , there is no water , the ayr is fiery , the ground dry , and man and beast are sad for want of water . but there is a tree , the kind is unknown , the leaves are long , narrow , and allways green . a clowd allwaies surrounds it , whereby the leaves are so moystned , that most pure liquour runs continually from it , which the inhabitants fetch , setting vessells round the tree , to take it in . bertius in descript . canariar . sea-waters if they be lukewarm , they portend tempests before two days be over , and violent winds . lemnius de occult . l. . c. . in england , nere new-castle there is a lake called myrtous , part whereof is frozen in summer . thuan. in histor. but i have done with these . authours have more , if any man desire it , especially claudius vendilinus , whom i name for honour sake , if he seek for the wonders of nilus . artic. . of some floods or waters ; and of the universall deluge . the floods were signs of gods anger , and so much the more as that was greater , and mens sins more grievous . the greatest was that we call the generall deluge , which began about the end of the year of the world , . all the bars of the channels were broken , and for dayes a vaste quantity of water was poured down . also the fountains of the great deep were cut asunder ; so that the waters increased continually for dayes , and passed above the highest mountains cubits . at length they abated by degrees ; for after dayes the tops began to appear . the inhabitants of the new world say , they had it from their ancestours . those of peru say , that all those lands lay under waters , and that men were drowned , except a few , who got into woodden vessels like ships ; and having provision sufficient , they continued there , till the waters were gone : which they knew by their dogs which they sent forth of doors ; and when the dogs came in wet , they knew they were put to swim ; but when they returned dry , that the waters were gone , august . carat . but they of mexico say , that five suns did then shine , and that the first of them perished in the waters , and men with it , and whatsoever was in the earth . these things they have described in pictures and characters from their ancestors ; giving credit to plato's flood , which was said to have hapned in the island atlantis . lupus gomara . but lydiat ascribes the cause of that universal deluge to a subterraneal fire in a hotter degree , increasing the magnitude by rarefaction , so long as it could not g●t out of its hollow places . genesis seems to demonstrate it . for the fountains of the great deep are said to be broken open ; and that a wind was sent forth after dayes , and the waters were quieted . we must understand a wind from a dry exhalation , which a subterraneous fire much increased , had most abundantly raised out of the deep of the sea , which was then thrust forth of them , and did increase the motion of the ayr that it laid hold of , together with the revolution of the heavens , and the vehemency of the firmament . but there were other miraculous deluges besides this . chap. iv. of the originall of fountains . sea by passages under the earth . the sea alone is sufficient to supply all springs ; and when we see that it no wayes increaseth by the rivers that run into it , it is apparent that they run to their fountains by secret channels . but the question is , of the manner how they ascend . socrates ascribes it to the tossing of them ; pliny to the wind , l. . c. . bodin , l. . theatr. to the weight of the earth driving forth the water ▪ scaliger , to the bulk of the sea ; others , to vapours redoubled into themselves . it is a hard matter to define all things , nor is it our purpose . but because thom : lydiat , an english man , hath written most acutely of this subject , we will set down his opinion here , contracted into a few propositions : i. the rolling of the water is not the cause of its ascending to the superficies of the earth . for there is no cause for its tossing , and wherefore then should it not at length stand levell ? ii. to be driven with the wind , is not the cause . . for it seems not to be raised in the sea by a fixed law of nature , but by way of tempest . . the channels are winding , and should carry it rather to the sides than to the superficies . . if a contrary wind cannot do so much in any water , what then can the wind do here ? also if there were any receptacles for the waters forced upwards , miners , those that dig in mines , would have found them out , as vallesius saith . iii. the weight of the earth squeesing out the water is not the cause . for the earth doth not lye upon the waters , but contrarily where the conduits are not full , the lower part is not empty , but the upper part . iv. nor the bulk of the sea. scaliger thinks that the waters being pressed in the channels by the sea lying upon them , do seek to get forth . his example is of a stone in a vessel . but two things are here assumed . . that the gravity is every where , the same as in the weight of a stone . . that a great part of the sea water is out of its place . v. nor yet vapours redoubled into themselves , and so drawing ; nor the spungy nature of the earth , nor the veins of the earth , whereby the moysture of the water may be drawn forth . for . attracting forces would be more fit for champion ground , than for mountains . . if they should attract , it were for that purpose that they might have the fruition of it , but from whence are there such rivers ? the veins of waters are no where found so full , as that reason requireth , whether it be for blood in living creatures , or for squirts . vi. the water is raised out of the caves of the earth , to the tops of mountains , as the sea is raised above the middle region of the ayr. vii . but this elevation is made by the force of heat resolving the water into vapours . aristotle himself intimates , that heat is required ; but that water may be made of a vapour , there needs no cold , but a more remisse heat . viii . the heat of the earth proceeds not from the heat of the sun , namely of the earth in its intralls . for first , it can penetrate but two yards deep , and therefore the troglodites make their caves no deeper . . in the hottest summer a woodden post , that is but one or two inches thick is not penetrated . . the entralls of the earth about or yards deep are found colder in summer then in winter . ix . the antiperistasis of the cold ayr in the superficies of the earth , is nothing to the purpose . . it is more weak than the cold of the firm earth . . what ever of the suns heat is bred within , passeth out by the pores and vanisheth . . it perisheth being besieged by both colds to which it bears no proportion . x. the heat that is in the bowells of the earth , is from a double cause . for in the parts nearest the superficies it proceeds from the sun beams , but in the bowels of the earth from other causes . that passeth out by the pores of the earth in summer , being opened by the sun , and therefore it vanisheth when as being removed from its original it is weaker ; but in winter it is bound in by the cold . xi . the heat in the bowels of the earth , is known by the heat of the waters ; but these are neither hot by the sun nor from brimstone , or quicklime in the conduits , but only from a subterraneal fire . not from the sun. for. . that cannot penetrate so far . . if it were from thence it would be most in summer . not from brimstone or quick lime , for brimstone heats not unlesse it be actually heated , and quick-lime , only then when it is resolved by water . also the vast quantity of it would be resolved in a short time , and would make a change in the channels . but it may be understood some ways , how it may be heated by a subterraneal fire . . as it is actuall , and so the channels being solid stone cannot derive it . . as it is more remote , but sends forth vapours by pipes , as in baths , so also not ; for vapours cannot have so great force as to make it boil . . that the water may run amongst the burning fire , as in bituminous channels ; but here the question may be ; why it doth not cast out the bitumen , as in samosata a city of comagenes , pliny saith , l. . c. . and , that a certain lake cast forth flaming mud , and fire came out at the waters of scantium . . the fourth way is the truth . art doth some wayes imitate nature , but in stills the water by the force of heat , is resolved into vapours , and the vapours fly upwards , to the heads , where they stick , and being removed from the violent heat , they return to water again , so also in the bowells of the earth . xii . but fountains that boyl , seem not to be of those waters that run , but that stand still : namely wells that have formerly been opened by the quakings of the earth , which it is no wonder that they are joyned to the sea. in a small island against the river timevu● ▪ pliny l. . c. . writes that there is a hot spring , that ebs and flows with the sea. in the gades it is contrary , pliny , l. . c. ● . but if any of these hot springs do run● , we must observe of them , that their channels are so scituated , that when the sea flowes , it comes unto them , or if it were come into them before , it powreth forth the more . and so the heat of the fire will be either proportionable , and the exhalation greater , or not , and so lesse . xiii , but what agricola writes of bituminous waters , and that yeeld a smell , must be ascribed to their neernesse , but it vanisheth at a farther distance . the same is observed in artificiall distilled waters , that in time the burntness of them will vanish away . xiv . but because this fire by the shaking of the earth can do much in the superficies , it can then do more in the place it is . it can therefore stop up old channels , open new ones , in divers caves of the earth , without sending forth of the matter combustible , or propagation of fire , or conflict of vapours , it can rayse new fires ; from whence new rivers may be produced , yet somtimes also it useeth to be extinguished , or sunk so deep , that it cannot send its force to the superficies . this is the opinion of lydiat , which we have set down more amply ; that being better known , it might be more exactly weighed . chap. v. of hot baths . the heat of hot baths is diversly spoken of by authours . aristotle thought it proceeded from thunder , which is false , for the force of thunder is pestilentiall , any man may know it , that beholds wine corrupt by thunder . it makes men mad or dead , but these are healthfull , as experience daily shews . also there are many places that were never touched with thunder , for that never descends above five foot . sennert . scient . natural . l. . c. . thinks it comes from two waters that are cold to be felt , but grow hot in their meeting , from repugnancy of the spirits , as we see in oyle of tartar , and spirit of vitrial , and in aquafortis and tartar , and of the butter of antimony and spirit of nitre , all which , though they are cold to the touch , yet if you mingle them , they grow hot , and so that if you suddenly powre oyle of tartar into aquafortis , wherein iron is dissolved , it will not only boyle , but the mixture will flame , which also happeneth if you pour fast the spirit of nitre into the butter of antimony . some impute it to the native heat of the earth , or to a certain hot spirit ; so that these natural spirits of exhalations heating not violently but naturally , in some places the secret channels of the earth grow hot : that this heat is communicated to the walls of those concavities , by reason whereof a sufficient and continuall heat may be communicated to the baths , even as in an oven heated , when all the flame is gone , the bread is sufficiently baked , horstius de natur . thermar : others ascribe it to subterraneall fire ; but whether it be so , may be known by what proceeded , bartholin : de aquis . farther it may be shewed by an example : mingle salt-water with clay , make of this clay or mud a ball , and hollow it within , then stop the orifice with the clay , and put in a narrow pipe into it , and put this ball to the fire ; the pipe being from the fire , when the ball waxeth hot , out of the ball by the pipe hot water will run , sennert . l. . scient . natural . c. . baths have a taste by the mixture of earths ▪ and so have things in the earth . hippocrates l. de natur . human . saith , that there is in the earth , sweet , sowr , and bitter ; and in the bowels of it there are divers faculties , and many humours , l. . de morbis . every thing drawes its nourishment from the earth in which it is . hence in ionia and peloponnesus , though the heat of the sun be very sufficient , yet silphium growes not , though it be sowed , namely , for want of such a humour as might nourish it . yet there are in that earth juices , not onely for the vaporous , but also for the moyst and solid substance . juices condensed are dissolved by waters , the moyst are mingled , earths are dissolved , and scrapings of mettals are found . the goodnesse of them differs sometimes ; because those that in summer are beray'd with the suns heat , and attenuated , are the best : in autumn they are lesse beat upon by its beams , because he is nearer to them : so in the spring . for the earth is opened , the waters are purified , the healthfull light of the sun approaches : but in the winter they are worst : for they are heavier , thicker , and more defiled with earthly exhalations . that they suffer changes , we may learn by divers examples . fallop . de therm . c. . savanarola saith , that the bath waters in the country of pisa cause great diseases in those that drink them , and the inhabitants are warn'd of it . for in march , april , and may , when they see the waters look yellow , and to be troubled , they foresee they are dangerous . alcardus of veroneus , a physitian , who writ of the cal●erian baths , saith , that the water of apponus is sometimes deadly , by the example of one galeatius a noble man , who with his son in law drank of it , and dyed . the sharp waters of alsatia are sometimes so sharp , that they cause the dysentery ; and sometimes they are feeble , and are deprived of their wonted vigour , sebizius de acidulis , diss . . s. . the causes are divers ; amongst the ordinary , a rainy , cloudy , dark , southern constitution of the ayr , too violent flowing of the sea , inundations , earthquakes . it is wonderfull that is written concerning some hot baths in germany , that they grew dry when there was a tax set upon them , camerar . horis subcis . cent . . c. . something like this , fell out in shell-fish at the sluce ; for when a kind of tribute was laid upon the collecting of them , they were no more found there ; they returned , when the tax was taken off , jacob mayer . in annal. flandriae . chap. vi. of the sea. artic. . 〈…〉 artic. . 〈…〉 and hercules pillars , about spain and france , in his dayes . but the north sea for the greatest part was passed over by the happy successe of the famous augustus . we find in velleius , that germany was surrounded by sailing so far as the promontory of the cimbri , and from thence the vast ocean was discovered ; or known by relation as far as scythia , and the parts that were frozen , by the command of tiberius . the same pliny tells us , that alexander the great extended his victories over the greatest part of the east and southern seas , unto the arabian shores ; whereby afterwards when c. caesar the son of augustus managed the businesse , the ensigns of ships were known to belong to the spaniards that had suffered shipwrack there . but when carthage flourished , 〈…〉 from the gades to the furthermost parts of arabia , and 〈…〉 writing that voyage , and hamilco at the same time was sent to discover the outward parts of europe . moreover , cornelius nepos is the author of it , in pliny , that one eudoxus in his time , when he fled from lathyrus king of aegypt , came from the arabian coasts as far as gades ; and caelius antipater long before him affirms the same , that he saw him , who sailed out of spain into aethiopia 〈…〉 merchandize . the same author writes , that the king of sweden gave freely to quint. metellus celer , pro consul of france , those indians ▪ who sailed out of india for traffiqu● , and were by tempests carried into germany . that voyage hath been attempted of late , but with extream danger of life , men being hindred continually by ice , and extream darknesse . if these things be so , then was all our world sailed about . it is further questioned whether there be any passage , through the north sea , to the kingdom of sina , and to the moluccos . jovius report● that he heard it of demetrius moschus , that duidna with many rivers entring into it , ran into the north a wonderfull way ; and that the sea was there open , so that stearing the course toward the right hand shore , ( unlesse the land be betwixt ) men might saile to cathay . those of cathay belong to the furthest parts of the east , and the parallel of thracia , and are known to the portingalls in india , when they , to buy spices , sayled to the golden chersonesus , through the countries of sina and molucco , and brought with them garments of sabell skins . petru● bertius , a man that deserved well for his learning , but ill for divinity , reports , in descrip . no● ▪ zembliae , that he saw a table described 〈…〉 the russes ▪ wherein the shores of the russes , samogetans , and ting●●eri , with the north sea , nere unto them , and some islands were ●●●ely set forth . in that the duina river was farthest west ▪ but others rivers followed towards the east , and in the first place , peisa , petcho●a , obi● , jeneseia , and peisida . therefore the passage must be open from the river obii , to peisida . the histories of ●●e russes report● , that when the moscovites and the tingesi were curious to search out countries farther toward the east , they sent out discoveries over land , who passed beyond the river obii and jeneseia so far as peisida ou● foot ▪ and there they fell amongst people , that in their habit , manners , and speech were farr different from them . there they heard the found of bells from the east , the noyse of men , the neighing of hortes ; they saw say is foure square , such as the indians use . they saw a place , in aprill and may , abounding with all sorts of flowers ▪ the duke of moscovia heard of this afterwards , and triall was made , but the duke died in the interim , and this noble designe was hindred . it is supposed that those places are nere the indies , and therefore if the river peisida can be overpassed , the passage to cathay and sinae , were not difficult . artic. . of the depth , freesing , and ●olo●ys of the sea. concerning the depth of the sea , there are many opinions ▪ burgensis saith , it is deeper than the earth 〈…〉 plin. l. ● . c. . and solinus ; c. , that in many 〈…〉 no borrow can be found . but there speak of a certain sea in the 〈…〉 , and they speak according to their days , when navigation was 〈…〉 known . priscianus , reports that julius caesar , found by his searchers furlongs ; others , give . but the english , portugalls , 〈…〉 who now a days use most navigation ▪ reckon ▪ italian miles and a time . olaus magnus , ( l. . histor. septent . c. . ) we●●es that at the sho●es of norway , it is so deep , thay not open can 〈…〉 , but that is by reason of the hollow shores , and full of cracks every where . and though there be such a wonderfull force of waters in the sea , yet certain it is that it is somtimes frozen . strabo . l. c. geograph , writes that in the mouth of maeotis , so great ice was seen , that in the place that king mithridates generall overcame the enemy in the ice , the same he passed over with his fleet. when 〈…〉 four , the sea of pontus was so frozen for a . ●●les ▪ that it 〈…〉 hard as a stone , and was above cubi●s 〈…〉 ; vintent . l. 〈…〉 but olaus , l. . c. , saith that in the north sea , they 〈…〉 and draw along their engins for warts , and ●aires 〈…〉 kept . the condition of the ice there , is very strange . being carried on the shore it presently thawes , no man furthering it , ziglerus , l. ● . . in islandra , if it be kept , it vanisheth ▪ and he affirms that some will turn to a stone . the sea hath many colours : andrea● causalius saith , that neer the inhabitants of the east-indies there is a milk 〈…〉 that is seen for miles . martyr also attests the same in his sum●l●● . that which washes the island cabaque , is somtimes green , and sometimes of the yeare , red ; for the shel-fish every where poure much blood ▪ petrus hispan . the red sea , though it be so called , because it is rinctured with red waters , yet it is not of that nature 〈…〉 for ; but the water is tainted by the shores that are neer ▪ and all the land about it is red , and next to the colour of blood : 〈…〉 . l. . c. ● . the sea useth frequently to change its colour ▪ aul●●ell , noct . at●●l . . c. ▪ gives the cause ; it is , faith he , observed by the best philosophers , that when the south wind blows , the sea is blewish , and ●●eyish , but when the north blows , it is blacker and darker , &c. when the do● days are , it is troublesome . men ascribe that to the sun , that pierceth the inward parts of the sea with its beams , and stirrs the grosse● parts , but consumes them not . but this is strange that is said , that the sea parium in the new word , is so intangled with so many green herbs , that men cannot fall in it ; the long branches of herbs , like n●ts hindring them . that sea is so like a medow , that as the waves turn , all the herbs turn with it also ; that the storms are lesse from the waves , than from the grasse . this endangers sea-men , and first columbus , ovetan . l. . c. . for the ships are held by the bendings of little branches , that they cannot turn . it is deep enough for galleys to row in , but the herbs rise from the bottom , and grow together on the top , and are hand-breadth higher sometimes . pliny , l. . c. . reports that in the red sea , woods flourish ▪ chiefly ●he laurel , and the olive , bearing olives , and if it rain , mushrom●● which , when the sun shines , are converted into a pumex-stone . the sprouts themselves , are , cubits great , and are stored with abundance of dog fish , that it is scarse safe to look out of the ship , and they will set upon the very oars oft times . the souldiers of alexander that sailed from india , reported that the boughs of trees in the sea were green , but taken out of the sea , were presently changed by the sun into dry salt . also pol●bius reports , that in the sea of ●ortingal , oakes grow , that the thynni fishes feeding on their acorns grow fat . athenaeus , l. . artic. . of the saltnesse of the sea. the works of god are wonderfull in nature , but two are most wonderfull , the saltnesse of the sea , and its flowing and ebbing . it is said , that there is an island in the southern ocean , that is water●d by a sweet sea ; which also diodorus siculus seems to testifie and assert , concerning the scythian sea , pliny l. . c. . but that is ascribed to the great running of rivers into it ; and how small is this in respect of the other sea ? yet philosophers argue concerning the saltnesse of the sea. aristotle l. . meteor . c. . calls for the nature of the sea , and efficacy of the sun , to assist him . for the sea-waters by the mixture of the ground and the shores is thicker , and the sun by its heat calls forth thinner parts , and resolves them into vapours ; which being burnt with heat , and mingled with the water , cause its saltnesse . mans body will help us in this , wherein the native heat dissolves the sweetest meats into the saltest humours ; which being collected in the reins ; is cast forth by urine . experience confirms it ; that shews us that the sea is more salt in summer than in winter , and more toward the east and south than elsewhere . lydiat likes not this opinion , but brings another ; that youth may more exactly comprehend the sense of this brave man ; we will set it down here in a few propositions . i. the vehement heat of the sun doth not boyl the sea to be salt . for , . why is not the same done in a little water in a bason ? . the same cause of saltnesse should work upon the subject ▪ with lesse resistance . ii. a hot dry , earthly exhalation carried by rain into the sea , i● not the cause of its saltnesse . for , . why is not the same done in fountains● . it is too little . . why is it not onely salt in the superficies , but in the deep . for though scaliger , exercit. . denyes that ▪ saying , that the ●●●nators have proved it to be sweet , yet patricius saith it was found otherwise in the 〈…〉 between crete and egypt , when it was very calm ; philip 〈…〉 witnesseth the same . iii. the sea is salt by the mixture of something with it . that is clear● because all tasting is o● mixt bodies . iv. that which is mingled with the sea , hath the nature of a hot and dry exhal●●ion ▪ that is apparent ▪ . because the sea is such ▪ 〈…〉 will hardly extinguish flames , and it is easily 〈…〉 that are washed in it are quickly dryed . . 〈…〉 as britanny and france hotter . v. the sea is not onely salt , but bitter : therefore it is 〈…〉 called mare , than s●●um . vi. the salt and bitternesse of the sea i● from a subterraneal 〈…〉 fire . . bitumen is perceived so bitter in taste , that it may be known to be the first subject of it . . bitumen hath great force to cause i● salt and bitter taste . the bituminous lake of palestina is so salt and bitter , that no fish is bred in it ; it scours cloaths if one wet them ▪ and shake it well out . . pliny reports , that a bituminous water tha● is also salt at babylon , is cast out of their wells into salt pi●● , and is thickned partly into bitumen , partly into salt. vii . a salt exhalation proceeding fro●●hose de●p● i● easily divided by the body of the sea. for as fine flower or 〈…〉 thing else cas● into 〈…〉 boyling liquor , is cast from the place that boyls unto other parts 〈…〉 on one side to the other , if in the middle to the circumference ▪ 〈…〉 bituminous exhalation from thence where it boyleth most , and the sea is most hot , is cast and dispell'd into the whole body of it ▪ so 〈…〉 . artic. . of the ebbing and flowing of the sea. another great miracle of nature is the ebbing and flowing of the sea , when the philosopher sought for the cause of it , h● grew desperate . possidonius in strabo l. . geograph . makes . circuits of the sea's motion . the diurnall , monethly , and yearly . the first is , when the moon is risen above the horizon but one sign of the zodiack ▪ or is gone down under the horizon , then the sea swells untill the moon comes to the midst of the heaven , 〈…〉 it above or beneath the earth . when it declines from thence ▪ the sea begins to retire untill the moon is but one sign distant from the east or west , and then it stops . pliny assents thus far to him , that the flowing of the sea begins about two equinoctiall hours after the rising or setting of the moon , and ends just so long before its setting or rising . he determines the other to be monethly , in the conjunction , when he saith , that the greatest and quickest returnings of the sea do happen about the new ▪ and full moon ; the mean , about the quarters of the moon . and marriners approve this , when they call it the living sea , by reason of the great ebbings and flowings , in the new and full moons ; but the dead sea in the half moons , because of the lesser and slower motions of it ▪ possidonius addes more ▪ that one s●leucus observed a sea , that was derived from the red sea ▪ and was different from it , that kept the monethly course of returning , namely according to the lunar moneth , which men call periodicall . for he had observed in the moon being in the equinoctiall signs , that the tides were equall , but in the solstices they were unequall both for quantity and swiftnesse , and the same inequality held in the rest , so far as any of them happened ●ear to the foresaid places . lastly , possidonius saith ▪ that he learned the yearly motions from the mariners of gades . for they say , that about the summer solstice , the ebbing and flowing of the sea increaseth much ▪ and that he conjectured the same did diminish as far as the equinoctial ; and again to increase untill winter● from 〈…〉 to decrease untill the spring equinox ● and so increase again untill the summer solstice . pliny determines the contra●● 〈…〉 reason of the equinox . but patricius witnesseth , that i● lib●●●ia in january great part of the strand● are naked , and continue dry for some dayes . the same pliny l. ● . c. . observes ▪ that in every eight years , in the moons circumvolution , the tides are called back to their first motions , and like increasings ; that is to say , the sun and moon then returning to a conjunction in the same sign and degree , wherein they were in conjunction eight years before . but for the daily tides there is a differe●●e amongst writers . in the sicilian sea 〈…〉 and flowings are twice a day , and twice in the night . 〈…〉 in the sin●s of aegeum repeats its motion . times a day , and sometimes is seen thrown down from the highest mountains , and so steep down , that no ships can be safe there , basil i● hexaemex . in england at bristoll the ebb is daily twice , and so great , that the ships that were in the sea , stand dry , and are twice on dry land , twice in the sea. pitheas massiliensis , as pliny testifies , l. . c. . writes , that it sw●lls fourscore cubits higher than britanny . in the southern part of the new world , the sea rising , flowes two leagues , ovetan summ . c. . but in a certain northern sea there i● no flowing or ebbing observed by the waves of it , petrus hispan . p. . c. . not far from cuba promontory , and by the shores of margaret island , and paria , the sea flowes naturally ▪ nor can ships by any means , though they have a prosperous gale , sayl against the floods , nor make a mile in a whole day , petrus marty●●●n sum . indiae . in the adriatick sea formerly there was wont to be a very great flowing forth , early in the morning , the sea being so advanced into the continent , that it went as far up as a strong man could run in a day , procop. l. . belli gothici , ●ut singular was that tide , and a wonder of the world , which in particular , which proceed from whirlepools , by which the waters are suckt up and spued out again by turns . it is very probable this happens in charybdis , the syrtes , and chalcydis about eubaea . this represents a true flowing , and comes from winds breaking forth of the caves of the earth , and forcing forward the waters , or to the waves running back again and sinking down . but the fourth is 〈…〉 true ebbing and flowing , which runs neither eastward nor westward , but begins from the navel of the sea , and that boyls up , and as the waters rise thus , they are powred forth toward the banks , more or lesse , as the cause is more or lesse violent ; unlesse something hinder , the cause whereof we shall seek last of all . and true it is that marriners in the straights of magellan , where the south sea is seperated from the north by a notable difference , marking diligently the tydes of both seas , have observed what they could not do in the vast ocean , namely that both seas do not begin to flow at the same time . and that it is not moved by any outward cause , not from the heavens , nor is it brought in from the east or west , but comes from the bottom of it , and boyles out from thence ; the superfluity running toward the land variously , as the swelling is great or small , the shores high or low , and the cause that moves it from the bottom upwards , weaker or stronger . this is confirmed by the nature of the water , which casts up from the bottom whatsoever it sucks in , if it be not too heavy . hence it comes to passe that all seas purge themselves in the full of the moon . not that the attraction of the moon is the cause of it , but because the wind that was in the interim collected in the hollow places under ground , strives to fly upwards , or being heaped up about the putrefactions of the sea , breaks forth . lydia● , de orig ▪ s●ntium , attributes it to subterraneal fire ; that you may know the grounds of his opinion , i will set it down in a few propositions . i. the flowing of the sea is not because of the moon , by the nearnesse of her light , and of that especially which she borrowes , which breeds exhalations , whereby the waters swell and run over . for in the full moon her light is thwart the earth , and yet there is a tide great enough . ii. the sun and moon do not by their beams cause the flowing of the sea. . when it flowes in one hemisphear , and both the luminaries are in the other , what is the cause of that ? for it hath not equall forces in both . . if sun and moon cause the flowing of the sea , wherefore elsewhere in the very ocean , and that between the torrid zone , where their power is extream , are there no tides at all , or very small ones ? iii. when we enquire concerning the flowing of the sea , we must suppose : . that there is a wonderfull plenty of water in the bosome of the earth . . that water which is in the bosome of the earth is not onely continued to it self , but to this we see , in the sea , and is joyned with it by the channels or open chaps of the earth . first , it is probable from hence , that it is a part of the same body . then , the deeps of the sea , that were never yet certainly known , are a token of it . . when two most vaste continents , on this side asia africa europe ; on that america , divide chap. vii . artic. . of the new world. and asia , by which the passage was open to other neighbouring islands , and from the island to all the continent , which was in sight , and neere to the ocean ; but in the mouth of it there was said to be a haven with a narrow entrance , &c : after this , by a wonderfull earth-quake ▪ and a continuall inundation for a day and a night , it came to passe that the earth clave asunder , and swallowed all those warlike people , and the island of atlantis was drowned in the deep . but aristotle , lib. de admirand . c. . relates , that in the sea beyond hercul●s pillars , an island was found out by the carthagenians , which had woods and rivers fit for shipping , but it was distant many days voyage . but when more carthagenians , allured by the happinesse of the place , came and dwelt amongst the inhabitants , they were condemned to death , by the commanders ; he adds , by those that sayled thither . let us also hear seneca , lib. . quaest . c. . the people that shall come after us , shall know many things we know not ; many things are reserved for after ages , when we are dead and forgotten . the world is but a very small matter , unlesse every age may have something to search for . and again , quaest . . c. ult : whence do i know , whether there may not be some commander of a great nation , now not known , that may swell with fortun 's favours , and not contain his forces within his own bounds ? whether he may not provide ships to attempt places unknown ? how do i know whether this or that wind may bring warr ? some suppose augustus extended his empire so far . marianus siculus is the authour , that there was found in the new world , old golden money with the image of augustus ; and that it was sent to rome to the pope in token of fidelity , by johannes ruffus , bishop of consentia . that is more wonderfull , that the spaniards write ; that there is a town in the province of chili , in the valley called cauten , which they name imperiola , for this cause , because in many houses , and gates , they found the spread-eagle , as we see now a dayes in the arms of the roman empire . animlanus , l. . observes somthing not unlike it , that in the obeliscks of the aegyptians there were ingraven many pictures of birds and beasts , also of the other world. what shall we say to these things ? we say they knew them , but scarse ever travelled thither . but if those relations are true that plato reports , of which tertullian also speaks , apolg. c. . and marcellinus , l. . we add farther ▪ that the praediction of seneca sounds rather of the british islands in favour of claudius . that is false which is said of augustus , we have all the acts of this noble prince ; if there be any thing buried in silence , it is some mean matter ; but novelty easily gains the name of antiquity , if there be fraud in him that forgeth it . artic. . of the miracles of some countrys . pliny relates , and we out of him . there is a famous temple at paphos dedicated to venus , into a court whereof it never rayns , pliny , l. . c. . by harpasa a town of asia , there stands a hard rock , which you may move with one finger , but thrust it with your whole body , and you cannot stirr it . there is earth in the city parasinum , within the peninsula of tauri , that cures all wounds . in the country ardanum , corn that is sowed will never grow . at the altars of martia in veii , and at tusculanum , and in the wood ciminia there are places , where things fastened into the earth cannot be drawn forth . pliny , l. . c. . in crustuminum , hay that grows there is hurtfull , but out of that place it becomes good . some earths tremble at the entrance , as in the country of the gabii not far from rome , about a acres , when men ride upon it ; and likewise at reate . in the hills of puteoli the dust is opposed against the sea waves , and being once sunk , it becomes one stone that the waters cannot stirr , and daily grows stronger ; also , if it be mingled with the caement of cumae . plin. l. . c. . such is the nature of that earth , that cut it of what bignesse you please , and sink it into the sea , it is drawn forth a stone . in a fountain of gnidium that is sweet ; in eight months time the earth turns to a stone . from oropus , as far as aulis , whatsoever earth is dipped in the sea , it becomes a stone . tilling of the ground was of old , of great esteem amongst the romans , they found one sowing , and gave him honours , whence is the surname serranus . as cincinnatus was ploughing his four acres in the vatican , which are called quintus his meadows , viator offered him the dictator ship , and , as it is reported , that he was naked , and his whole body full of dust ; to whom viator said . put on thy cloths , that i may deliver to thee , the commands of the senate and people of rome : whence , pliny , l. . c. . answers to this question , whence was it then they had so great plenty ? the rulers at that time tilled their grounds ●ith their own hands ( as it is fit to beleive ) . the earth enjoying a plow crownd with laurel , and a victorious plowman : whether it were that they managed their corn with the same care they did their wars ; and disposed of their fields with the same diligence they did their camps ; or because by honest labour , all things prosper better , because they are don more carefully . chap. viii . of the islands . artic. . of the originall and destruction of islands . islands are parts of the earth , compassed about with the sea. they have many causes of their beginnings . some came forth of the sea ; some were broke off from the continent ; some were made by matters heaped together . one was made in the aegaean sea , whilst seneca beheld it : seneca , quaest . l. . c. . he adds that another came forth of the sea in his forefathers dayes ; the sea ( saith he ) fo●●ed continually , and a smoke ascended from the deep ▪ for at last it did disclose a fire not continual , but shinning by times as light●ings do ; as oft as the heat of that was under , had vanquished the weight that lay a top : at length stones were rolled together ▪ and rocks partly untouched , which the vapour had driven forth , before they were transformed , and partly corroded , and turned to be as light as a pumex-stone , last of all appeared the top of a burnt mountain , &c. strabo l. . . geograph . writes , that between thera and therasia ▪ flames first brake forth of the sea for four days together , as if the sea burnt , then by little and little came forth an island that was twelve furlongs wide , and it was all made of fire-stones . atalanta , a city of locris that was fast and contiguous to it , was out off by a sudden violence of the sea , and was made an island by it self . o●osius , l. . c. ▪ ●nder leo the emperour , an old historian ▪ ( evagriu● l. . c. ▪ ) hath said , that at constantinople , and bithynia , there was such abundance of rain , that in the lake beana , which is not far from nicomedia , by the frequent filthy matter cast into it ▪ islands were made , thus bega● the island tyberina . for lucretia being violated , by tar●uin ▪ when brutus had given counsel to plunder the kings goods , and to cast them into tyber , an island was made . so livy , l. . histor●● ▪ by 〈…〉 some standing corn was then of wheat or barley , that was read● for the harvest , which fruit of the field , because it was unlawfull to destroy , they cut the corn down with the straw by the help of many men coming together ▪ and powred i● out of baskets into tybur , when it ra● but slowly , as it is 〈…〉 to do in the hot weather , and so the heaps of corn remained in the foards , wrap● over with mud , whence by degrees , and by other things cast in by accident , an island was made . also some islands have ceased to be , as pliny saith , lib. . c. . antissa first an island was joyned to lesbos , zephyr●● to halicarnassus , aethusa to myndus , narthecusa to parthenius promontory . hybanda was once an island of ionia , now it is furlongs from the sea. ephesus hath syrien in the mediterranean . artic. . of the miracles of some islands . as nature hath given islands , so she hath bestowed on some , singular prerogatives . there is an island in a certain lake , about the entring of nilus , that hath groves , woods , and great buildings upon it , yet they flote , and it is driven every way with the wind , mela , l. . c. . in the lake vadimonis , and cutilia , there is a dark wood , that is never seen a night and a day in the same place , plin. l. . c. . of the latter macrobius speaks ; l. . satur. c. . the pelagi found an island in the lake curilia , for there are large feilds for grasse , whether it were a continent , or the mud of the lake , it is handsomly trimmed up , and fitly joyned with twigs and trees like a vaste wood , and floats every way with the sea floods , that from hence we may credit the relation of delus , which hath high mountaines and large champion ground , yet floats on the sea. the calaminae so called , in lydia , are not only driven by the winds , but by long poles , whither one please , and many citizens escaped by that means in mithridates warr , plin : l. . c. . in the great lake tarquiniense in italy , there are two that carry woods , sometimes they are of a three square figure , sometimes round in compasse , when the winds drive them , but they are never four square . in garumna a river in spain , the island a●ros is pendulous , and lifted up with the waters increasing , mela l. . c. . also in nymphaeum there are small ones called saltuares , because in singing of a consort they move at the strokes of the musicall paces : besides these , in the fortunatae , fennel gigant growes as big as a tree , solin . c. . in madera , grapes hang down upon four branches , the skins fill'd with juice , want a kernel , they are ready to gather in march. cadamust●s , when columbus found out the island hispaniola , he mowed wheat on the of march , that was sowen in the beginning of february ; in this short time the ears grew so great , that they were as long and a big as a mans arm : each of them contain'd grains , peter martyr in sum. indiae . there are fresh melons every quarter of the year , ovetan . sum. c. . historiar . l. . c. . so great , that one man can hardly carry one upon his shoulders . grasse mowed will in five dayes grow a cubit high again . tyles , two islands in the persian gulph , the land of them exceeds all other places for this rarity , that no tree that growes there ever wants leaves , solin . c. . in the island ormutium no living creature is found , nor any fountain-water ; manna falls down with the night dew , polus l. . c. . dogs will not come into sigaron an island of arabia foelix ; put them there , and they die running mad , plin. l. . c. . in ithaca , hares brought thither from other places cannot live , aristot. histor . animal . l. . c. . ebusus , one of the baleares , hath no serpents at all , plin. l. . c. . in creta there lives no owl ; bring one thither , it will die : and in the same island there is no mischievous living creature besides the spider philangium . cyprus in former times was so impatient of graves , that it would cast forth the next night , bodies buried in the day . ericus the first danish king was brought dead to jerusalem by the winds , who was intended for the same place , saxo gram. l. . in the island cephalonia there is a river that hath on one side an infinite multitude of grashoppers , but none on the other side , aristot. histor . animal . l. . c. . in cumana an island of the new world , the cobwebs of spiders are knit so fast , that they cannot be broken , hispan . p. . c. . iron that is dug up in ilva , cannot be melted there , bertius in descript . ilvae . to conclude this , in the arm of the sea , by fortha , there is the island magotia ; in this birds build , like wild-geese , in such great multitudes , that the garrison souldiers that defend the fort bassus , feed on no other meat than fresh fish , brought in hourly by these birds ; nor do they use any other wood but the sticks to make fires , which the birds bring to build their nests . bellovadius ; and from him , thuan. in histor . chap. ix . of mountains . artic. . of the qualities and quantities of mountains . wee must suppose the mountains to have been created at the beginning in part , and part of them have been made since : onely one modern authour in italy may confirm this . there are many in the world of wonderfull height , and admirable qualities . olympus and athos are so high ; that ashes left on the top of them a whole year , are neither blown away with winds , nor washt off with rain : and such as stand on the top of vesavius , have observed the clowds that are near to be of equall height with the mountain , and some clowds to appear under them , kepler , l. . astrom . p. . what zabarel writes of the region of the ayr , c. . doth make this good , i went ( saith he ) up to the top of venus hill in paravium , and there for the whole day i had a most clear ayr ; but about the middle of the mountain i saw clowds , which were between my sight and the valleys , that i could not see them ; but in the evening when i was come down from that mountain , i found that it had rained a great shower that day at the lower par● of that mountain , yet it rained not at all on the top of it . piccolomin . de meteor . c. . saith , the same thing happened to him travelling over the alps , and apenninus . in seleucia there is a mountain next to antioch , from whose top at the fourth watch of the night the suns body might be seen ; and but turning the body about , the beams dissipating darknesse , there was day , here night to be seen , solin . c. . the walk about to the top is miles , and . miles upright . in the country of the new world , some mountains are above miles high ; some are so high , that you cannot see the valleys in three days coming down , martyr in sum. and polus l. . c. . in tenerif , which is like a pyramid , it is italian miles high , cadamustus . if you regard the qualities , some abound with great lakes , some vomit out fire ; others have other rarities worthy admiration . in mount noha of arabia felix , there is a wonderfull cistern seen for collecting of rain waters , which will serve for men . at dossrinium in sweden they are covered with such a masse of snow , even in summer also , that the balls falling from tops of houses , grow so much in the foot of them , that they overthrow the towns , olaus l. . c. . in new spain , there is a smoke that alwayes riseth out of the top of a certain mountain , and keeps round like a globe ; as it ascends no winds disperse it , and it moves as swift as an arrow , cortes . relat . . in helvetia near to lucerna there is a mountain , and in that is pilat's lake ; if you cast a stone into it , you raise tempests , and pilat is seen there every year , if you will believe it , in the habit of a judge , joachimus vadianus in mela. in the alps of spain there are mountains of salt onely : cato major saith , the more you take from them , so much more will grow to them , gellius l. . c. . in the province of cyrene , there is a rock and fountain of the suns ; when you touch it with a mans hand , a fountain riseth , and it riseth as fiercely as the sea in its fury , mela l. . c. . lastly , there are two mountains about the river indus , the nature of the one is to hold all iron , the other to refuse it ▪ therefore if there be nails in your shooes , the one rock holds your feet immoveable ; the other drives them off , pliny l. . c. . artic. . of aetna and hecla mountains . aetna is a mountain in sicilie , hanging over the city catana , and all the shore there ; pliny , mela , ptolomey , strabo , solinus mention it . the inhabitants call it now vulgarly , monte gibello . it hath two caves , whereof the one is narrow and straight like a pit putting out stones every way like two bed sides ; the stones are burnt , and of many colours , and a stony plain holds it in a narrow circumference . the other is in circumference furlongs , it goes not to the bottom of the same largenesse , but the belly of it is something narrower inwardly , so long , till in the middle of it , it is hollowed with a sit mouth to cast out what the mountain affords . smoke comes alwaies forth of those two holes ; when the sky is clear , it is most white , like a cloud ; the fires are not seen , unlesse some burning flame rise up , bembus in dialogo . cl●verius , sicil. antiq. l. . c. . found stones cast out from thence miles from it , on both sides of the city catana , by the way men go from leontini to taurominium , but especially to catana it self , at the foot of the banks by aetnae , which is the way to taurominium , where they represent a sad and formidable spectacle to travellers , of great and sharp rocks . that noyse hath been sometimes so great , that they could hear it as far as to the hills gemelli ; the sparks were so great , that they slew burning so far as catana , and wasted the town with fire : somewhiles there was such plenty of ashes driven with the winds , that they fill'd all places miles ; the smoke was so thick , that it so hindred the light , that no man could see in two dayes . at sundry times the burning of this mountain hath been after a diverse manner . anno , , on the i●es of july , about sun set , from the bottom of the mountain , suddenly a great mouth ; and a little after , two more were opened in the same ground , with that force , that out of four caves not far asunder one from the other , an infinite quantity of great stones were cast forth at once , and lifted up the low valleys , and forrests , and woods , to the height of mountaines ; for a mighty river ran out of these four gulphs , like mettals melting in the furnace , burning not only the land , it lighted upon , trees , stones , but also consuming them ; the ground it self that men before went upon , was on fire , and was sent and dispersed far and wide as foam of the sea that beats against rocks . but after that this torrent of fire had passed through many passages of the mountain , it divided it self at last into three channells , two of them ran eastward for many days , the third ran toward catana , which before it entred the borders of it , the vail of st. agatha ● sacerdotibus being cast before it , by the walls of the city , did extinguish it ; while these things were done in the lower part of the mountain , the rage was no lesse on the top of it ; whence there rose such a shour of ashes in the country of catana , that fields and mountaines were hid by it . and the north wind then blowing , plenty of them with a brimstony smell were brought as far as the island of malta , which is a miles distant from the hole . amongst the greatest torrents , that is reckoned , which hapned a little before our days , ( they are the words of bembus in his dialogue of aetna ) that ran as far as catana , and wasted great part of the city by fire , and that haven , of which virgil writes , and that great harbour where no wind could blow , near thundring aetna lyes some thing below . the torrents of aetna have so filled up the haven now , that you would say virgil committed an errour to speak of a great harbour where is none to be seen almost . anno , . on the calends of may , all sicily for dayes together began to thunder , like canon shott off frequently . the noise was heard not only at catana and neighbouring places , but at palermo , lylibeum , sacca , agrigentum , and allmost in the whole island , whereby a little earthquak arose that shook the houses . when these hideous sounds increased , on the third of the ides of may , unusuall caves were opened in aetna , out of which so great a quantity of fiery matter was cast forth , that in four dayes it went , miles , and burnt down all things it met with , and run as farr as the monastery of st. nicolas , de . arenis where , ( leaving the monastery untouched ) it invaded nivolasum , and monpelavium two towns , and allmost destroy'd them . the upper hole of the mountain , shortly after for three dayes cast out so much black ashes , that as far as consentia in calabria , the towns were filled with ashes , and they were so scattered by the winds upon the seas , that for miles distant from sicily , the ships were fowled by the ashes : afterwards aetna began to rore mightily , and as it did rore the upper top of it was broken off , and swallowed in the cave . though the fire of aetna be so terrible , yet the land there is so fruitfull that what pliny speaks of campania , l. . c. . we may say the same of the neighbouring parts , from this border begin the hil●s that beare grapes , the juyce whereof is famous in all lands , and the great contest between bacchus , noble for drunkennesse ( as the antients said ) and ceres . in that wooddy countrey there are spacious places , ( saith fazellus , rer . sic . dec . ▪ l. . c. . ) that are very fruitfull for corn , and there is so good pasture for cattle , that unlesse you let them often blood in their ears , they are in danger by plethory moreover the fluent matter that is cast forth of aetna by this fire , growes so hard , that for a good depth it changeth the surface of the ground into a stone , and when they would come at the ground they must cut the stones . for the stone being melted in the holes or caves , and cast forth , the humour that swims on the top , is black mire running down from the mountain , and when it growes together , it becomes as hard as a milstone , holding the same colour , it had when it ran , and ashes are made of the burnt stones , as of burnt wood , now as rue is nourished with wood-ashes , so it is credible that the vines flourish by the ashes of aetna . and thus far for aetna . hecla is a mountain in islandia , not farr from the sea , somtimes it casts forth flame , somtimes fiery water , after that black ashes and pumex stones in such abundance , that it darkneth the sun , yet somtimes the mountain is wonderfull quiet , especially when the west wind blows· an. . the , of november , about midnight a flame appeared in the sea by hecla , that lightned the whole island . an hour after , the island shaked , then there followed a terrible noise , that if all the guns for warr were shot off , they were nothing to this terrible noise . dithnarus bleskenius writes thus , we had thought the frame of the world would now be dissolved , and that the last day was come ( camer horar . subcis . cent . . c. . ) . it was found afterwards that the sea was gone back from that place two miles , & it was all left dry . an. , it vomited out fire with such a noise , that for miles men thought the great guns were discharged . the common people think the souls of the damned , are there tormented . georgius bruno in theatro mundi . the end of the second classis . of naturall vvonders . the third classis . wherein are the wonders of the meteors . what then ? is it better think you to perish by discontent of mind , or by thunder ? therefore rise stronger against the threatenings of heaven ; and when the world is all on fire , think that thou hast nothing to lose in so great a masse , seneca , quaest . natur . l. . c. . chap. i. of subterraneous exhalations . meteors are made of exhalations , the sun and the rest of the stars draw them forth ; and the subterraneall fire is the worker of very many of them . we shall speak nothing of them . these are some hurtfull , some safe , as may be proved by many examples . at the foot of the mountain tritulum halveatum , there are waters you must ascend by degrees ; to a place of sweating , it is in length three miles , the more you are lifted up above them , the hotter you are ; the more you descend into them , the cooler . those draw flegme from the parts , and cure distillations from the head . there is a hot bath near the hot waters that run forth of the lake agnanum ; the ditches are covered with turves of grasse , and stones being removed , a hot vapour is sent out , that makes them sweat that receive it . out of avernus a lake of campania , before agrippa had cut down the woods that covered it , and laid it open , the exhalations were so thick that came forth , that the birds were killed that flew over it . at the lake of agnanum in italy , there is a mountain , in which there is a narrow cave , it declines moderately downwards , being foot long ; if you touch the earth of it with your foot or hand , it feels hotter than the rest , it choaks any living creature that is cast in by the venomous blast , deprives them of sense and motion , though you pull it out presently ; but cast the same presently into the next lake , it is a wonder how it restores their life again , camer . cent. . mirab mem . . in the island ebusus , exhalations do so infect the ground , that if they fall upon places where serpents are , the pestilent creatures cannot endure them . in the great places of refreshment at baianum there is a ditch , the water whereof sends forth such hot vapours , that wax candles will melt , & be put on● by them ; and they are so pernicious , that men fall down dead therewith . in babylon there is a cave also , out of which riseth such a pestilent vapour , that it kills all that draw it in . also plutonium in a little hill of a mountainous country hath so moderate a mouth , that it can receive but one man , but it is wonderfull deep : it is compassed about with square pales , and that so many as would compasse in half an ac●e , which are so full of clowdy thick darknesse , that the ground can hardly be seen . the ayr hurts not those who come to the outside of the pales , as being clear from that darknesse , when the winds blow not ; if a living creature goes in , he dies immediately . bulls brought in fall down , and are drawn forth dead . lastly , at hierapolis in syria , as dio in the life of trajan writes , there is a den of a filthy and deadly smell ; what living creature sucks it in , is destroyed by it ; only eunuchs are free from the venom and hurt of it , scaliger , exerc. . sect. . chap. ii. of comets . artic. . of the nature and magnitude of comets . the original and nature of comets hath diversly troubled wise then ; nor yet was any man found that could decide the question . some think they are perpetuall , and are carried about the sun , like venus and mercury , and oft times they lye hid ; some think they are newly created , and are not in sublunary but heavenly places . democritus thought they were the soules of famous men , who when they had been vigorous many ages in the earth , make their triumphs when they die . bodine confesseth his ignorance ; yet he to this inclines , and 〈…〉 l●st they become 〈…〉 stars ; the cause . the ancients say they all vanished , and did not se● . others said they were of two sorts , false ones in the aire ; true ones , who foreshew'd things to come from the heavenly place . what ever it be , they are secret things ; and because they are in the heavens , they are so much the harder . that which shined , anno . possessed more than two signs in the heavens ; that which appeared anno , for a whole mone●h retrog●ade from libra , 〈…〉 through the whole zodiack in its motion , at first parts , then parts every day , sennert . l. . epitom . cap. . anno . there was one so great , that not onely the most light and dry vapours , but all woods and groves , be they as many as are in the whole earth , would not serve for to feed it two moneths that it shined . they are bodin's words , l. . theatr. anno , it had a very long tayl toward the north , a flame flew from it like a dragon , it drank up a river , and consumed the fruits of the ground , sennert . l. c. when attalus raigned , there was one so great , that it was stretched out exceedingly , and was equall to the milky way in the heavens , senec. quaest . natural . l. . c. . aristot. . meteorol . c. . in the time of anaxagoras , a huge great one burned dayes ; and so great a tempest of winds followed , that it brake a stone off as great as a chariot , and the whirlwind carried it aloft , and threw it into the river aegaeum in thracia , niceph. l. . c. again , in the reign of theodosius the elder , an unusuall one appeared at midnight , about lucifer , and a great multitude of stars were gathered about it , which by their mutual lustre sent out the greater light ; this was resolved into one flame , like to a two edged sword : the same day in july the spaniards report they saw it : that was fatall to them and to their ships . cardanus l. . de varietat . c. . saith , it happened either by reason of the purenesse of the ayr , or the union of light , or by reason of the darknesse of the day . artic. . of the comets signification . men say , it is a fore-runner of calamities , if we look upon the judgment ; and it is found so to be . it foreshew'd vespasian's death ; romes captivity by alaricus ; the miserable end of mauritius ; the destruction of mahomet ; the destructive diminution of the emperours of rome ; the end of charles the great ; the excursion of the tartars into silesia , and the cutting off of lugs . records say , that charles the great when he saw it , was frighted ; and reasoning with eginhartus , he said it foreshew'd the death of a prince . and when he , lest he should be sad at it , said , be not afraid at the signs in the heavens ; he replyed , we must fear none but him who created us , and the stars also : but we are bound to praise his clemency , who will vouchsafe to admonish our sluggishnesse with such signs , alsted ▪ in chronol . one was held to be fortunate , which appeared to augustus , when he prepared plays for his genitrix venus . these are his words , pliny l. . c. . the very same dayes i had my pastimes , a hairy star appeared for seven dayes in the region of heaven , which is under the north star. it rose about the th hour of the day , and was clear to be seen in all lands ; the people believed that that star signified , that caesar 's soul must be received amongst the immortall gods , upon which account that ensign was added to the image of an head , which presently was consecrated by us in the publick judicature . in the one side of an old roman penny , caesar's image was to be seen , with these letters , imp : caes : divi , . vir : r.r.c. on the other side the forepart of venus temple with a star , and caesar's statue in his robes of inauguration , and the altar where he was wont to sacrifice , make his vowes and controversies , by interpos●ng an oath , and these letters were added to it , divo jul. delchamp . add . . plin. c. . chap. iii. of an ignis fatuus , helena , castor and pollux . an ignis fatuus useth to be seen about sepulchres and gallowses , for it riseth from a birdlimy fat exhalation . it is lighted by an antiperistasis of the ayr in the night , and it is carried here and there with the ayrs motion . it seems to fly from travellers , coming toward it ; and to follow those , that run from it . the cause is in the ayr ; it is driven forward in running , and it drawes them forward ; but in flying from it , it followes , and keeps them company : hence are strangers travelling in so great danger oft times . for they thinking that it is light from towns , fall into bogs . these . following use to appear at sea. pliny l. . c. . saith , that these lights are dangerous , if they come alone , and sink the ships , and burn them if they fall to the bottoms of their vessels ; but two are successeful , and signs of a prosperous voyage ; for they by their app●oach drive away , say they , that unhappy and threatning helena . wherefore they assign that diety to castor and pollux , and call upon them at sea , making them the tutelar captains for their ships . act. . c. . cardan . de sub●ilitat . l. . of the star helena writes thus ; the star of helena is almost of the same kind , about the mast of the ship , which falling , will melt brazen vessels , a certain sign of shipwrack . for it appears onely in great tempests , and cannot be driven into the ship but by great force of winds , being a most grosse exhalation ; and burn also ; whence it signifies imminent danger . chap. iv. of ignis lambens . ignis lambens riseth from a thin and fat exhalation , and cleaves to the hairs and clothes of living creatures ; and if it be of a hotter temperament , it kindles by their sweat . virgil writes some such thing of ascanius , . aeneid . behold a shining crest , was from jülus head seen to give light , and so the harmlesse flame did feel full soft , and on his temples fed . cardanus , l. de varietat . . c. . relates to a friend of his , when he came at one a clock at night , laying down his cloak , as he was wont to do , sparks flew forth behind his hat ; but dayes after , he being accused of witchcraft , at his friends perswasion went into voluntary banishment . also when servius tullius was a little boy , and was asleep , a flame shined about his head as they saw it in the house ▪ which wonder , tanaquil , wife to tarquinius priscus admired at , and bred up servius born of a servant maid , as if he had been her son , and he was elevated to be king , by her , valer. max. l. . c. . livy l. . also one appeared on the head of l. martius , commander of two armies , as he made an oration ; the ruine of them , weakned p. and cn : scipio in spain . a boy of jena pulling off his shirr over the hinder part of his head , he wiped many sparks off with it , liban . l. . de origin . rerum . the countesse of caumantia ; whilest her hair was kemb'd in the dark , it seemed to vomit forth fire . we had ( saith scaliger , exerc : . ) a white war-horse out of calabria , he in the dark , when he was curried , seemed to sparkle . they give the cause to be refraction of light in a polished subject ; as in the dewy ayrs , the drops are as so many looking-glasses ; so in a hairy head , fat and clammy , and scaly , are hairs and scales : also in insects , some fiery matter is said to appear . in the island solebe , all the flyes every night seem to shine so gallantly , that they represent so many torches , libavius l. c. a worm is found like a star , that shines like a star in the night : ( may be it is the sea-star the chymists promise to extract light from the liquor of it ) . from the joynts of some worms in hispaniola island , a great light shines forth , and glitters like hoar frost . there are others that will give light paces , and that not from their whole body , but only from their joynts . in spain , of the new world , ●here is said to be a fly like a beetle for magnitude , with it wings in a sheath , called cocujus , whose eyes enlighten the night , that it serves for a wax candle to give light to those that walk abroad , and for a lamp in their chambers to read and write by ; and that not onely whilest they live , but after they are dead . some make themselves little ropes of those candles , and tie them to their necks , to give them light as they travel . the cause is not in ignis lambens , but it lyes in the humours of these creatures , and is done by way of repurcussion , some are thought to have some light shining within them . truly , gloworms shut up in your fist , give light if you look through a chink in the darkest night . reischius saith , that fish in their scales comprehend some fiery parts , and by that they shine . the dolphin seems to confirm this ; for it seems gilded in the night , yet is it blew on the back , green on the sides , white on the belly , reischius in margarit . philoso . chap. v. of lightning , thunder , and thunder-bolts . hee that would neerly understand the breeding of thunder must consult with chymists , for so oft as a part of salt-peter and brimstone 〈…〉 , there is made a great noise , and we shall say that thundring gold is carried with a greater force . also it is well known that if a mixture be made of niter , brimstone , quicklime , and bitumen , that it will kindle by powring on any moisture ; and so it is here , for when the brimstony and nitrous vapours in summer-time , are carried upwards , by heat of the sun , especially the southern wind being quiet , they are united and condensed by the opposite winds , and are kindled by a peculiar antiperistasis ; hence comes the sound and lightning . histories write that it hath been heard in a cleare sky . senec. natural . l. . cap. . aetna somtimes hath abounded with great fire , and hath cast out a wonderfull quantity of burning sand , the day was hid in dust , and sudden night frighted the people . they say that at that time there were great thunder claps and noises in the sky , which were made by the concourse of dry things , and not of the clouds ; for it is likely in so clear weather , that there were none . the thunder-bolt oft times is carried into the earth , because it is cast forth of the cloud with great violence , and is made of a fast and well compacted matter , yet pliny , l. . c. . saith , that it never strikes above five foot deep into the earth . the effects of it are wonderful ; vessells of water are drank up , the cover being untouched , and no other token being left : gold , brasse , silver have been melted within , and the bags no ways burnd , nor so much as the seal of wax defaced ; pliny , l. . c. . lucius scipio proved that , by gold he had in a chest of osiers . marcia a queen of the romans was thunder-stricken , when she was great with child , she had no hurt at all , only the child was killed . the cause is put in rarity and thicknesse ; that penetrates more easy , this because it penetrates with more difficulty doth more harm . aristotle , . meteorolog . c. . the wine somtimes stands stil the vessel being broken , the cause is because the heat of the thunder , thickneth the outward parts of the wine , that the wine seems to stand , as shut up in a skin ; sennert . l. . epitom . c. . but this hardnesse will not last . dayes , seneca quaest . natural . l. . c. . that is most admirable which me●rerus in comment meteorolog . reports that a certain minister was so suddenly taken away out of the sight of men , in the way that men passe from lipsia to torga , that he was never seen again . those that shall be presently striken , are so stupefied , that they neither heare the thunder , nor the greatest claps of it . that , in the german warrs , hapned to severus master of the horse , julian being emperour . first he was stiffe , and then lither , death being at hand ; pliny writes that it will not touch the bay-tree , the sea calf , the eagle ; rhodiginus adds , the fig-tree : and saith it is by reason of its bitternesse , rhodig antig , lect . l. . c. . therefore tiberius caesar , as suetonius saith in his life , fearing thunder , when the skyes were troubled , wore a crown of bays upon his head , and for this reason saith columella , when a hen sits they put bay boughs under her . therefore they were wont to make the emperours tents of sea calfs skins . and suetonius writes that augustus was so fearfull of thunder , and lightning that he allwaies carried the same with him . severus the emperour had a litter made of the same matter for the same purpose : yet vicomercatus , ad . meteoror , c. . relates that the bay tree is somtimes stricken from heaven , and conimbricense thinks this freedome it hath to be but imaginary , but only by an instinct of nature , they foreshew thunder . i need not speak much of the thunder-bolt , kept in houses , of hearb , and candles , at the m●re solemn feasts purged with holy water , and of the ringing of bells ▪ who sees not but that these things are superstitious . some of them say , ( remig. l. . daemonol . c. ) , that ringing of bells is uneffectuall and uselesse , if any one of them when it is purged , beare the name of the priests concubine . for if that sound do rarify the ayre , ( which yet spoken absolutely is false , for it neither dissipates the clouds , that are neerer to us , nor doth it fly right upwards , but in many places it comes forth obliquely by the windows , nor doth it come to the cloud ) it were better that only the great guns should be shot off , and only the greatest bells rung . constant observation shews that dogs , cats , and goats are most obnoxious to be thunder struck . hence it is that if a dog be by a man in an open field , he will be frighted and lye between his feet , cl. bortholinus casts the cause of it upon the vapours breathing forth of these creatures bodys , which as a known matter and nutriment , the vapours for thunder follow , especially if these creatures be abroad , that they may be freely carried into the open ayre ; hence it is that cats are often stricken in the entry , and who knows not that the dogs and goats smell strong ? and cats send out such plenty of vapours by their pores that some men have fainted at their being present , and the more noble horses , if they be hid in the coach , will sweat extreamly , as experience teacheth . thunder seldom hapneth in the winter . for but very few or allmost no hot exhalations are lifted up , yet curtius , l. . de alex , mentioneth that in the time of alexander , there was saith he allmost a continuall thunder , and the thunder bolts seemed to fall in divers places , then suddenly a shore of hayle was poured forth like a torrent , and force of cold froze this showre into ice , ola●s , l. ● . c. . thinke that they are more vehement in northern climates , for they kill men ; and in the kingdom of mongall in tartary they fall mingled with snow ; in brasile thunder bolts fall but seldome , but such lightnings that they seem lighter than the sun ; joseph ac. sta , anno , . in the time of marcus antoninus the philosopher , we read that the enemy was stricken with thunder at the prayers of the christian souldiers , whence the christian legion was called the thundring legion , presently ( saith the emperour of them in epist. ) as they lay upon their faces and prayed to a god i know not , a cold shower fell upon us ; but upon our enemies , hail mingled with thunder , that we found immediately that the hand of the mighty god assisted us . chap. vi. of the winds . artic. . of the originall of winds . aristot . . meteor . c. . saith , that the sun is the cause of the winds , by drawing up the moysture that is upon the surface of the earth , and by heating , doth dry the earth it self . lydiat likes not this opinion ; for the earth moystned being dryed , affords but little matter for winds . for the earth drinks in no more rain than may quench its thirst , and which it may change into a dry nature , from whence comes no exhalation of the same allowance , much goes to rain , which is no small part of it . what then shall be left for the vast winds ? wherefore , inward heat is pleaded for . and truly , in winter the earth sends forth a smoky exhalation . in the southern parts , winds arise from snow ; a breath riseth from lakes and standing pools ; and storms from the sea , though it be calm : whence is this , but that the earth breathes out vapours , which break forth through the depth of waters . the chymical instrument will shew this , which they use for bellowes , sennert . l. . epitom . c. . a globe is made of copper , that it may be fill'd with water , and then shut , a pipe with a small hole is made of one side , the glob fill'd with water is set to the fire , and the pipe for bellowes is set to another . as the globe growes hot , and the water rarifies , the ayr continually breathes forth , and serves for bellows till all the water be consumed . winds are then bred , when heat burns the moyst earth . the sun by drying openeth the pores , and the ayr helps by its motion . if it rise from the sea , the sea at firs● calm making a muttring noise , signifies that an exhalation that is matter for wind , is already then bred in the bowels of it ; some fishes sport , some fasten themselves to rocks : then the sea swelling a little , shewes that the exhalation newly bred , seeks a passage forth ; then when it fails , it shews it is come to the superficies , but in small quantity ; then the blasts breaking forth with all their force , lift up the waves before them , and cause winds and tempests . artic. . of the kinds and effects of winds . there are many kinds of winds , which were chiefly found out by navigation , and the operations of them according to the difference of their blasts and properties . the north-east wind drawes clowds to it . circeius a southern wind , hinders , that the north wind be not mingled with the smell of plants ; and the force of it is so great , that it will overthrow an armed man , and lift ships up from the water into the ayr , and carry away windmills with the stones , house and men , to some other place , pliny l. . c. . gel. l. . c. . olaus l. . c. . and . c. . there is a whirlwind that causeth such tempests to those that sail out of the country of china to jupan , that it is a miracle to escape shipwrack . in the country of st. vincent it roots up woods ; in hispaniola it will take up men and carry them a furlong . if they arise in the island of ormuth , they kill those they meet , with heat ; and they part the flesh of those that are killed from the bones , as boyling water doth . to avoid the danger , they hide themselves in the water up to the head , ovetan l. . polus l. . c. . women are wonderfully prone to lust when their privities are obvious to the south wind ; but the north wind is said to be fit for generation ; whence it is that some believe it will raise men dying with its blast , rhodigin l. . c. . & l. . c. . in lesbos at mytilene , when the south wind blowes , men are sick ; they cough when the north-west wind blowes ; the north wind makes them well again . in tercera it eats iron and stones , bertius in geograph . amongst the rest are the etesia , that are very moderate winds , every year two dayes after the rising of the dog-star they are wont to blow dayes . they temper the heat with their blast , and cool the summer , and defend us from the burthen of the hot moneths . they rise at . of the clock of the day , ( thence they are called sleepy winds , ) and they cease at night . it is likely they are bred by great heat , melting the snow that yet remains in the northern parts . it is credible , that the earth being freed from snow , and uncovered , they will blow the freer . the ancients sacrificed to the winds to please them . herodotus saith , that a temple in ilissum was built to boreas ; they call'd them at athens boreasmi , who kept the feasts of boreas . we believe p. victor , that at rome there was a temple for tempest , rhodigin : l. . c. . chap. vii . of the earth-quake . artic. . of the rising of an earthquake . the ancients believed , that the earth moved by waters fluctuating in the caves of the earth . whence they called neptune , earth-shaker and mover , gell. l. . c. . others thought , the wind in the surface of the earth returning into the hollow caves of it , did shake it . others again , that the sun kept the vapours within the ground , and they seeking passage to come forth , did wander where they could , when they found none . reason and experience are against it . there is in the west part of spain a mountain of wonderfull height , with many hollow caves , scalig. exerc. . waters fall down in them with so great noise , that they are heard five miles , yet there is no earthquake there ; nor yet is the wind or ayr that goes under , very great ; it is dispersed in the largenesse of the channels , and the diverticles it finds , going farther , it is stopt : mineral operations shew this . for they make mighty bellowes to draw the ayr , lest they should be choked for want of it . the contest of winds doth nothing , for that rather tends to the sides , or flyes upwards by its leightnesse ; and at the first hindrance , they fly from the earth like a whirlwind . it is uncertain whether the sea can stop the passages , there are seldom any such great caves by the sea ; nor can that go in at once , but it will be thrust back again : the sun cannot more easily exercise its force upon the earth , and beget an exhalation , than he can bring it forth being begotten ; for the sun beams operate no● but by resistance . whilest they heat and dry , they open the same , because exhalations ascend more strongly to that place which is neer ; one , in respect of continuity , followes another ; but howsoever they enter in , they easily come out of the earth , and more easily than they can shake it ; for in mines where the powder finds but a chink , when it is fired , it is lost labour . wherefore exhalation bred from fire under the earth , and shut up in the bowels of the earth , causeth an earthquake . and that is apparent by this . for before an earthquake , well-waters will not onely boyl , but be more troubled , and brimstony vapours come forth . from whence ? the like vapours are tossed in the bowels of the earth , pliny l. . artic. . of the place time and effects of an earth-quake . those places are subject to earth-quakes , which can easily take in wind . solid places will not admit it , sandy places mixed with lime do easily discuss it , they want receptacles for winds ▪ champion places have no caves . yet the whole earth is never shaken , for the vapours included have no proportion to the globe of the earth . if it should happen it must be ascribed to divine power , which nature would seem to challenge to her self ; if you consider the duration , it differs as the resistance is ; few vapours are sooner discussed , many last longer , and rage a greater time ; senec. natural● , l. . c. . campania trembled many dayes ; livy writes that at that time , when l. cornelia and q. minucius neer consuls ▪ the earth-quakes were so frequent , that men were weary not only of it , but of all businesse . the same author sayes that an earth-quake lasted days , others say one hath lasted two yeares , and returned again and again , livy , l. . & l. . aristot. l. . meteor . c. . plin. l. . c. . such is the condition of the effects of it , that those that hear of it , will be astonished at it , and those that see it dye . oft times it doth not devour houses , cities , or whole famelies only , but whole nations and countries : somtimes the earth falls upon them , somtimes it takes them into its deep jaws and leaves not so much whereby it may appear , that what is not now , ever was . seneca , l. . natur c. . the ground covers somtimes the most noble cities , without leaving any mark of their forme● being , when as the great hollow caves in the earth are forced and shaken with winds and fall down , oft times in the sea , a hollow pit opening drinks up the waters , on the land rivers , that both fish and shipping sink into it . on the otherside , the earth lifted up into a high tumour , hath caused mountains on land , and islands at sea , somtimes the course of rivers hath been changed , that hilly ground having been removed on that side that they formerly ran . histories are full of these calamities . the last yeare of nero , fields and olive trees , that the high way passed between , in the country of the m●rrucinum were transported to the other side . l. marcius , and sextus julius being consuls , in the country of the mutinenses , two mountains fell together with a mighty noise , plin. l. . and l. . c. . many villages were then beaten down , and cattel killed . in parthia , there is a place called ragai from the clifts , where many towns , and villages , were overwhelmed . at cajeta in italy , there is a mountain toward the south , a part whereof an earthquake so divided , that one would believe the division was made by the art of man , the sea runs under it with a great noise . agricol ▪ in reb . quae efflu ▪ ex terra . the houses of helice and bura two towns in the sinus of corinth , did appeare in the sea. in the island aenania , a town was so taken in , that there was no appearance of it left . not far from ptolemais , the waves of the sea were carried into the deep , and so lifted up themselves , that they appeared like a great mountain , and afterwards they were carryed to the land , and drownd the army of tryphon . when cneius octavius and c. scribonius were consuls , the river at velia brake down the bridges , and threw the banks of the river into the waters , drove away the stones that were in the market place ; in town and field it shook the churches , which a few days after fell down . by an earthquake , the city of lacedemon fell all down , when the mountain taygetus was broken . in the warr of mithridates , at apamaea a city of phrygia , new lakes , pools , fountains and rivers came forth , many of the old ones being suckt in , and amongst these one was salt , that put forth an infinite plenty of fish and oysters , and yet apamaea is far distant from the sea , nicolaus damascenus . during the second punick warr , there were such great earthquakes , at liguria , and the parts neer unto it , so far as the sea of tyrrhenum , that the rivers ran the contrary ways . the most wonderfull earthquake was in hereford here in england , in the year of grace , after the century , , the of the cal●nds of march at six a clock at night the earth parted in the eastern part of the county , and a mountain with a rock under it , ( first with a wonderfull noise and roaring , that the neighbour parts might hear it ) as if it had been raised out of a long sleep , lifted up it self , and ascended into an upper place , leaving its deep chamber , and it carryed with it the trees that gr●w upon it , the folds and slooks of sheep : some of the trees lay overwhelmed with the earth , others were joyned to the mountain , and grew there as well as if they had been there planted at first . it left the place from whence it came with a great pit , foot broad , and els long . the whole field was about twenty acres it overthrew a chappel in its way ; it carryed a peare tree that was planted in the church-yard from west to east , and with the same force it thrust forward high ways , paths , hedges with trees that grew in them , it made pasture ground of arable , and arable again of pasture . it rolled against the upper ground , and being driven with greater violence , it heaped it up into a high mountain ; so when it had passed up and down from saturday evening , till munday noon , it rested quiet . this is cambdens description of it . the philosophers call this kind of earthquake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to this may be referred the earthquake in apulia , anno. , it was open above miles , and overthrow great part of the city , st. severus , sarra , capreola , dragonora , procina of st. lyander ; it laid hold on , assolum , bovinium , troia , andria , tranium , foggita , campus marinus , remitium , itistonium , franca , villa , asanum , consilinum , &c : also it killed thousand men. it is certain that it brings with it not only present mischiefs , but it is a forerunner of mischiefs to follow , rome had never any earth-quake that did not foreshew , some future event● pliny , l. . c. . socrates saith it foretells of discords in religion : wherefore what the romans did of former times by appointing holydays by injunction let us do the same . they might feare lest by naming one god for an other , they might induce the people to a false religion : but we know that god , by whose power the earth is shaken . chap. viii . of rain . there is a great difference in respect of the abundance of rain , in time and other circumstances ; and very wonderfull : no lesse variety than there is in dayes ; and oft-times greater , if you respect extraordinary things . in ahab's days it rained not for . years . it never rains in cyrenica : the harvest there is onely that which for the hasty ripening of things by reason of the sun , or ayr , or winds , useth to come to passe . it is reported , that from sowing of seed it is but days to the harvest , maiolus colloq . . about uraba a city of the new world ; it rains most part of the year , and therefore the drops hang alwayes on the trees , hispal . p. . c. . it never rains in winter amongst the tartars , but oft in summer . but in the country of mexico the drops fall with such force , that they are said to kill men : if you consider the substance , it is common water , that is the matter of it ; yet examples shew , that it hath been of another kind oft times . it rained blood sometimes in borussia , thuan. l. . in the island pelagia , gold ; in lucania , iron , before the parthian war in which crassus was slain , ammian l. . it rained corn in carinthia for two hours , above two miles space , of which they made bread , thuan. l. . de anno . stones fell with rain , as big as hens eggs , wherein were pictures of mens countenances , and diadems , lintur . ad fascic . anno . ashes rained in the time of leo , which lay a little hands heighth upon the tyles , niceph. l. . c. . in the wood neuholen , they say that a great piece of iron fell out of the ayr , like to the drosse , and it weighed many pounds , so that it was too heavy to carry , and no cart could carry it , because the wayes were unpassible , agricola observ . metal . c. . in egypt it frequently rains very small drops , mice breed of them , that use to gnaw and cut the ears of corn , aelian l. . c. . also in thebais , when it rains with hail , mice are said to appear in the earth , half mud , half flesh , aelian l. . c. . but that is most wonderful , if it be not a fable , that ol●us l. . and ziglerus hath in norway , concerning the northern creatures . and from them scaliger hath it , exerc. . sect. . lemer bestiolae . there are four-footed creatures as big as field mice , of a divers coloured skin , they fall in tempests and showers ; we know not whether they come from the remote islands , or from foeculent clowds . assoon as they fall , you shall find herbs in their bowels , raw , not digested . these like locusts eat up all green things ; this plague continues till green herbs come again . they come together like swallows departing ; they either dye at the set time , or are devoured by ( lefrat ) other little beasts . we were told by our master , the famous doctor , menelaus vinsenius , doctor of physick , and professor in the university of frisia , that it rained frogs in ameland , which admits of no frogs . to conclude , in velaunium , there rained from heaven so many caterpillars in one night , that they were forced for two dayes to burn straw to kill them creeping in their houses ; all the men and women there , were hardly sufficient to perform this work , dalecha●p , ad l. . pliny , c. . sennertus thinks , that creatures that can breed of putrifaction , are bred either of some matter watred by rain , or else they lying hid in the bowels of the earth , are called forth ; but more perfect creatures , and stones come another way : yet he thinks that many of these ought to be referred to superiour causes . chap. ix . of snow and hail . in the winter there is an infinite abundance of snow with us , but there is none in the deep sea , pliny l. . c. . nor is there any such in aethiopia , alvarez . de reb . aethiop . but it is greater in the north. sometimes great trees being in the way , it all sticks upon the boughes , and the ayr stops it that it can fall no lower , making as it were a vaulted gallery . it is said to have beaten down a city , being on the top of the mountains of dofrinium , where it first was like a ball , but at last like a mighty round mountain , olaus l. . c. . and l. ● . c. . the tops of mount caucasus have scarce any lesse , for they cannot be come at in winter ; especially in cambisena the quantity is so great , that whole troops of men are overthrown by it , strabo l. . the armenians are in the same condition ; for those that passe over the mountains , are suddenly covered with clots of snow , that they cannot be seen , and that in the fierce winter ; rhodigin . l. . c. . in tartary it comes on also in summer : mighty cold , vast snowes , all ▪ are removed by the wind , hispal . p. . c. . in the same , the champion places of pamer do sustain so great cold , that it will put out the fire , for it will give no light , nor can any thing be boyled with it , polus l. . c. . in moscovia , where water runs out of a high hill , it is congealed before it touch ground , surius ad anno . in armenia they are red , which proceeds from the places that abound with minium , and by the force of its exhalations they are coloured . nor is this against reason ; for plenty of bloods yields a blood-coloured dew . homer shews that , at troy , ( when he speaks of bloody drops of dew ) that of it sprang hairy rough red creatures ; apollonius calls them worms ; theophanes , mountain worms . there is a liquour in them which the people love to drink , eustath : in homer , aristot. . anim. hail is a kin to snow , whereof we have nothing to say ▪ except of its greatnesse ; for in the time of valens it fell like stones of unusual greatnesse , at constantinople , socrates histor . eccles. l. . c. . when alaricus took the city , it was greater than stones that can be handled , and was about . pounds in weight , maiolus in ca●●cul . in france , when paschal was pope , one piece fell down that was foot long , bonsinius . at augustodanum , one foot long , broad , and foot high , segebertus . and no lesse fell in the time of bergoma ; for it was compared to an ostrich egg , and was inches about , bonsinius . they say , in the same year at bommel in gelderland there fell one stone was pounds weight , on the th of june ; sometimes the forms of it have been wonderful . anno , it had the images of men , with beards , of women with kerchers and hair . at cremona , anno , it had the sign of the crosse . but we are often deceived , and imagine what is not so . yet the works of god are wonderfull . chap. x. of dew , manna , and honey . dew comes from a thin vapour , resolved into water by the cold of the night . it is first found in the light and thick leaves and flowers of plants ; and sometimes it is scarce lift up above two cubits high . some say it was the daughter of jupiter and the moon ; for as plutarch saith , the full moon makes plenty of dew . and therefore dogs in the full moons , can sent out things by the foot worst , because the cold dew takes away the sent , that they cannot smell them ; wherefore it is hard to hunt well in the spring time . plutarch saith , that fat women were wont to gather dew with cloaths or soft skins which they used , to make them lean , ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ) christophorus vega writes , that manna is made by some little bees like thick gnats , from whom sitting by swarms upon trees , sweat as it were drops from them . sennertus l. . c. . thinks , that they are rather drawn thither by the sweetnesse of the manna , and that they make it not . the learned make a question , whether the jews manna was the same with ours ? many things agree , but in this they differ , that theirs , ground in a mill , or bruised in a mortar , was fit to make wafers . if it be not prevented , it will melt with any sun ; for an easterly sun will melt it . we read that it is used for sugar with water alone to drink , and to quench ones thirst ; amongst those shepherds that frequent the desarts of targa , scalig. exerc. . manna is of kin to to honey . this comes out of the ayr , especially at the rising of the stars ; it is made especially when the dog-star shines ; nor doth it appear before the pleia●es shine in the morning , plin. l. . c. . therefore then in the morning early the leaves of trees are bedewed with honey ; and if any in the morning be in the open ayr , they shall perceive their clothes anointed with the liquour , and their hair glewed together . this dew is afterwards collected by bees , it is altered by them in little bladders : it is put up in little cells , like pure liquor , in which afterwards it grows hot , and is concocted with natural heat . the th day it growes thick , then is it covered with a thin membrane which growes together by its frothing heat , pliny l. cit . c. . also that it is made by wasps , pliny teacheth out of aristotle . the spanish navigations confirm , that it is made of some molucca flies in trees , which are lesse than ants. lithuania and moscovia have great plenty . the story is old , concerning a country-man that fell into a hollow tree of honey , and a bear drew him forth . we have heard that concerning honey , that aristotle speaks of grated wine , for it growes so thick , that it must be shaved off to drink it . amongst the troglodites at belgada , honey is as white as snow , and hard as a stone , scaliger , exerc. . s. . it is so solid in calicut , that they carry it it in baskets . many things are preserved by honey , and many things die by it ; for the milky humour in it is not weak ; wherefore that remaining uncorrupt , corrupts others : wallnuts keep their nature in it , for by their unctuous quality they resist their peculiar humidity , but figs , peaches , pears , apples , corrupt in it , scaliger exerc. . chap. xi . of the rainbow . the poets feigned the rainbow to be daughter of thaumas . the ancients thought that she drew water by her two horns let down toward the earth . hence virgil , georgic . ver . . — and the great bowe drank — but propertius ▪ l. . why doth the purple bowe rain-water drink ? the colours are so exact , that no painter can equal them . the blew colour is said to shew that the flood is past , but the fiery colour shews that which is yet to come strabo . citant . rhodigin . albertus thinks that , and somtimes more may be made in it . when it is made at noon , we cannot see it , for no man ever saw a rain-bow beyond , miles . it is never made when the cloud ascends , but allwaies as it goes downward , for so it causeth no dew , but when it falls away rhodigin , l. . l. . c. . celius denies that it can be made by the moon beams . scaliger , exerc . . s. . approves it . in the island of st. thomas , saith he , if a showr went before , the moon will make a rain-bow , the colour of it will be like a whitish cloud . combachius , anno , in june saw such a one at oxford . but anno , , at midsummer after mighty lightning at wittenburg , sennertus , l. . epitom . c. . as for the influence , some say that plants smell the sweeter by the rainbows hanging over them , scaligor , exerc . . s. . cardanus condemns this , yet it is not to be laught at , for scaliger saw a cloud come down as low as the clift of a hill , and aristot , affirms it , of those especially that naturally send forth the sweetest flowers . if it be in the morning it shews a tempest ; but one in the evening , fair weather , as marriners and husband-men have observed . the cause of the latter is by reason of the cloud that hath unloaded it self of water ; the former is because of the plenty that was collected by the moisture of the night . these things for recreation are alleaged by scaliger , exerc. , s. . but it is no light matter to give certain reasons for things , that are uncertain . chap. xii . of some admirable meteors . those things that happen extraordinarily either in the ayre neer us , or in the higher heaven of the stars , by their continuall circumrotations , at gods command , are rankt in the number of wonders . not only of old time , but even of latter times , variety hath been observed . god and the holy angells make some of them , and the evill angells make the rest . casparus peucerus in theratoscopia . anno , , not far from oenipo●s wonderfull sights were seen . the first was a camel that was compassed round with flame , the other was a wolf vomiting fire , and hedg'd in with a ring of flame ; a lyon followed this ; and an armed man , standing in the entring of the mountain , did gently stroke his mane , and he seemed again to flatter him . these pictures were forerunners of the death of john duke of saxony and elector : first there was a tree withered and overturn'd , then there was a knight on horse-back prepared , carrying the tree with the boughs lopt off , then there was a great black crosse in a thick cloud . at length a horrible thunder bolt was seen to be cast out of it , with a wonderfull noise . anno , , the d day of july , in the town schleswich , at noon in a clear sky , lyons were seen in the ayre , coming apace from divers parts to fight . an armed knight toke their parts , shaking his spear . there lay not far from the knight a mans head without a body , wearing an emperiall crown , a little while after a bores bristly head was seen , and two dragons spitting fire . lastly there appeared the image of one most spacious city scituate by a lake , and it was beseiged with a navy and land-forces . on the top of this was a bloody crosse , by little , and little turn'd into black . there came forth an other knight on horsback , burning with a fiery colour , with an imperial crown on his head , a horse followed him that had no rider . then in a large plain there appeared two burning forts , neer to a high mountain , where there was a great eagle , that hid half his body behind the side of the mountain : there appeared some young eagls , very compleat of a white colour . also the head of a sleeping lyon crownd with a crown , and a dunghill cock with his bill beaking and digging his head , till it fell loose from his body , and vanished ; the body remaining lay visible . there were other lyons present , and by the bores head , a unicorn by degrees turning him self against the dragon ; and many other creatures of extraordinary figures , and greatnesse . the fort upon a high rock compassed in with two armies , burned ; and the whole country seemed full of many towns , forts , and villages . but presently the whole country where they stood was consumed with fire , and a most large lake overwhelmed the ruines of this vast country , nothing but the towers appearing in that place , where that great city stood before . at the bank of this great lake stood a camel as if he drank . but anno , the next day after whitsontide , these images were seen in silesia ; a bear led an army well appointed from the east ; an armed lion met him with his forces ; between both armies a most clear star appeared , presently they met and fought stoutly , that blood seemed to drop from their wounds , and their bodies to fall down dead . as they fought , an eagle flew from a high rock , and waved herself over the forces of the lion with her wings . the fight being ended , the lion shined amongst his armies ; but there was no sign of the bear ; but they were all dead carcases , where the other army stood , and very venerable old men with their grey heads stood by them . the battel ended , the lion retreated with his army to the west ; and when he was gone a little forward , a certain souldier riding on a white horse very well adorn'd , return'd from the forces to the place of the fight ; and upon that horse he set a young souldier that stood there in armour ; and accompanying him riding toward the east , he vanished with the rest of the apparitions . but what speak i of old things ? our age hath seen wonderful things , euen this year . for in . two armies were seen to fight in pomerania , the northern apparition became victor . a fiery beam followed this , mercurius gallobelgicus . but anno , in march , in misnia two armies met in the lower region of the ayr , they were so framed out of the clowd , that their faces and countenances might be seen . the lesser army got the victory , and put the greater to flight . it may be , these are fore-runners of things hereafter ; which that they may happen , we heartily wish ; and with this wish , we will conclude this third classis . oh , oh ! that it might be so . the end of the third classis . the description of wonders in nature . the fourth classis . wherein are contained the wonders of minerals . this is an argument of wealth , and thought to be true glory , to possesse that which may all presently perish . nor doth this suffice us , that we drink in a trumpet of jewels , and we interweave ou● cups with emeralds ; and we delight to hold the indies for our drunkennesse , and gold is now but an addition , plin. l. . histor. natural . in praef . chap. i. of things digged up , in generall . hitherto we spake of things elevated into the superiour world ; now we shall consider of things under the earth . which because they are brought forth by mans labour , the philosophers called them fossilia , or things dug out , including ●hem under the names of earths , juices , stones , metals . they think they are bred by subterraneal heat . others think , that they were at first created by god , and do increase by a seminal principle . and indeed , it is not against truth , that metals are made of some vapours . avicenna saith , that more than once bodies of brasse , like to arrows with forked heads , have fallen down in clear day , in persia. but in spain a masse of stone with veins of mettal fell out of the skys , lydiat de fontib . . c. . the latter is confirmed by the testimony of some writers . for the gold of corbachium in westphalia , every four year grows and springs again in heaps . in sclavonia a vein of lead every . yeares is changed into silver . a dry scale of brasse into gold , in one yeare . iron in silesia at saganum is digged a new , every tenth yeare . in sweden , red f●nny mud , laid one yeare in the open sun , becomes good iron ; the mountain of fessula in hetruria hath lead-stones , which if they be cut out , will in a short time grow again ; caesalpinus , l. . de metal . c. . relates of iron that is dug up in ilva , an island of the tyrrhene sea , that all the earth that wanted mettal , that is dug up with the iron will the next time they dig , be turned into good iron , lastly in the indies , there is the mountain oromenus , where salt is cut out , as out of quarries , and it grows again , caesalpin , l. . de metal . c. . but that is wonderfull which garzias ab horto writes of the diamant , simpl , indiae , l. . c. . the adama●ts , saith he , that lye deep in the bowells of the earth , and require many yeares to their perfection , are bred almost on the surface of the ground , and are ready in or yeares : for dig this yeare but a cubit deep in the quarrie , and you shall find diamonds ; dig there after two yeares , and you shall find diamonds again . but how that should be , it is hard to say ; yet no man can speak with more care , than nature can work , when especially she is prodigall , and sports her self in the variety of things , pliny , l. . praefat . yet it doth not seem unreasonable that the vapour should congele with a fit matter , and that which is not well concocted to put off to another time , and so to perpetuate the generation . truly the flux of veins hath somthing proportionable to vegetable nature ; and the relation of a physitian of friberg , that , in the lungs of such as use to dig in mines , their bodies being opened when they are dead , you shall find the same mettals grown hard , wherein they laboured being alive ( sennertus lib de consensu et diss . chymicorum et galenicorum ) seems to intimate as much . chap. ii. of marle and potters-earth . marle is a thick fat earth , and yet is somtimes so fluxible and white , that it seems like to marrow in the bones of living creatures . of times it is hard , and being drank it stops the veins that bleed at the mouth , and hath the same force that terra samia hath ; it is dug up in many places , especially amongst the saxons , at gossaria there are two sorts , one is ash-coloured , and the other is whiter , of which are made forms , wherein your image makers make their pictures they cast . sharp cold will divide them both into very thin plates , though the former , before the cold have seazed upon it , consists of thick crusts . potters earth is thick , soft , it is hard to come by : works are made of fat and thick matter , that the force of fire will not quickly break . of the same are made vessels that will neither drink up , nor consume liquor : wherein water that parts gold from silver is both made and kept . potters vessells have ennobled many countries : as asia , by those were made at pergamus , those that were made at tralleis . terra coa , and samia are not unknown ; and aretina is wonderfull , plin. l. . c. . noriberga sends earthen furnaces , wherein gare are and mettals are boiled . of clay digged up at the fort of rottingberg , are made purging vessels wherein alchymy is made . these being cast out of the fire with the brasse do not break , but are drawn and wound like burning glasse . agricola de illis quae essodiuntur ex terra . chap. iii. of terra lemnia , armenia , and siles●ack . terra lemnia , otherwise called sealed earth ; for diana's priest , taking it upon him for the honour of his country ▪ offering for expiation , wheat and barley , brought this into the city , soked with water , and making it like clay , he dryed it ▪ that it might be like soft wax , and when it was become so , he sealed it with the sacred seal of diana , gal. l. . simpl. now it is digged up yearly , not without superstition , the sixth day of august onely . they that dig are greeks , the pit sends forth a sweet smell . it is digged after sun-rising for . hours , and it is laid up in one lump , and it must see no light till a year be expired . then it is taken out and washt , being washt it is put into a bag ; it is mingled with hands , it is made into round cakes , and marked with the emperours seal . then it is dryed and put into a sealed cabinet ▪ and sent away to the emperour to constantinople , stephanus albacarius in epist. ad busbequium . it is good against deadly poysons . galen tryed it against the sea hare , and cantharides , and found it good . the same authour writes of it , that in a certain hill by the city of the ephestii , where no plant lives , it is dug up , the ground being as it were burnt . terra armenia was wont to be brought from that part which is adjacent to cappadocia ; galen saith , it helps difficult breathing , so that they die , whom it cures not . it is drank with wine in a thin consistence , moderately allaid , if the party have none , or but an easie feaver ; but if a strong one , with water . at this day ▪ there is a bolus toccaviensis in hungaria , it is like butter , and is good against catarrhes ; so that it is preferred before the earth of armenia ; crato in epist. sileciaca strigensis , is also preferred before terra lemnia ; sennert . scient . natural . l. . c. . johannes montanus silesius was the founder of it , who writ a book of the same ; that it is transmuted gold , by the ordination of god in his providence of nature , prepared and transmuted into a most excellent remedy , that chiefly prevails against venome , no lesse than the medicaments that are made with great cost out of the best gold of hungary . chap. iv. of salt. salt is either made , or else it growes ; it is made of salt fountains , the water whereof boyled long , at length is turned to salt . it breeds many wayes . it is dryed in the lake tarentinum , by the summer suns , and the whole lake turns to salt ; in some places it is moderated , not above knee deep . in bactria two lak●s very large , one toward the scythians ; the other toward the arii , boyl with salt : also the tops of some rivers , and condensed into salt , the rest of the river running as it were under the ice , as at the caspian mouth , that are called rivers of salt. amongst the bactrians the rivers ochus and oxus carry out of the opposite mountains sholes of salt. there are also natural salt mountains , as oxomenus in india , where it is cut out of quarries , and growes again ; and the custome of it is more to their kings , than from gold and pearls . in cappadocia it is digged out of the earth , the humour being condensed : there it is cut out like tal●um glasse . king ptolomy found some about pelusium , when he pitched his tents . by this example , afterwards between egypt and arabia , it began to be found under the sands , as in the desarts of africa , so far as the oracle of ammon . it increaseth with moon-nights , pliny . a thin salt is bred by the sea ; for when the sea flowes , it froths , and drives that froth against the shores and rocks . these are cut off , and laid upon them to dry , and in some places are turned into salt , dioscor . there is a lake of salt in sicily so bright , that , as pliny writes , you may see your face in it . that of colomeum tastes like rosted eggs ▪ when it is hard , it cracks in the fire and leaps out ; but melted , it doth not so : nor yet that which breeds in lakes that is dryed by the heat of the sun. salt of agrigentum will leap out of water , saith pliny ; torrified , it loseth little or nothing of its magnitude ; but moystned , it loseth . heaps of salt that in africa are made by utica , and like hills for height , they grow so hard by the suns heat , that no rain will melt them , and they can hardly be cut with iron . it is observed , that such who are much disposed to putrid feavers , are preserved from them by eating of salt freely with their meat , math. de sebr● pestil . also fields where it is sprinkled , become fruitful by it , as experience makes good . fat women , by the moderate use of it for to season their meats , grow fruitful : for it wipes away the moysture , and dryes the matrix that is over-moyst , that the seed may stick . also it stirs up the loins in men , and causeth erection , lemnius de occult . l. . c. . hence the aegyptians used no salt . that it helps to fruitfulnesse , mice abounding in ships , and the continual lusting of women that use much salt , is a sufficient argument . libavius tom . . singul . l. . thinks it nourisheth , and is changed into ones substance with other things : for we see that there is no body but that salt may be extracted from it . the generating of the most precious pearls in the sea , and of coral , that comes forth of rocks with boughes and branches like a tree divided , is ascribed to salt , quercetan de medic . prisc. phil. . farther ▪ being put to the mouths of such as are epileptick , it raiseth them . in swoonings , either by resolution of the spirits , or by oppression of them , do but rub the lips with it , and it is a present remedy . held in the mouth or swallowed , it hinders worms from ascending into the stomach . lastly , that it is an antidote both for hunger and thirst , the army of charles the fifth made good , at the siege of tunetum : they had dyed , had no● every one of them held a grain or two under their tongues , bicker . in praes . lib. de f●nit . const . chap. v. of allum and nitre . there are many figures of congealed allum ; allum called seissum , is the flowr of allum in clods , and is pressed together like planks ; or it flourisheth severally like grey hairs : round allum swells like bubbles , or is like a spunge , by reason of the holes in it . the liquid allum sends out of it self such a vapour that smells like fire , as stones do when they are rubb'd together to cause fire . when it is put upon burning coles , or else put into a pot and is torrified with fire burning under it , it swells into bubbles , and loseth something of its substance , plin. l. . c. . nitre in the clytae of macedonia is the best ▪ they call it calastricum , it is white , and next to salt. there is a nitrous lake , where a sweet little fountain comes forth of the middle of it , there nitre is made about the rising of the dog star for . dayes , and then it ceaseth as long ; then it swims upon it again , and then ceaseth . this is the wonder , that , the spring of water always running , the lake doth neither increase , nor run over . those dayes wherein it is made , if there fall any rain , they make the salter nitre . the northern showers make the worst , because they stir the mud too violently . it is made also of the urine of living creatures , that falls alwayes upon good and shadowy ground , ang : salic : vinc : s. . aph . . it looks white , feels cold ; it hath in it self a most red spirit , most hot and taking fire , sennert . l. . epitom . scient . natur . c. . when it is burnt , it sends out alone no savour , that sense can perceive ; but mingled with quick lime , it hath a most vehement smell . the egyptians strewed their radishes with their nitre , as we do with salt. the macedonians adde some of the calastraeum to their meal , and mould them together to make bread . the fine sands of nilus , which as it seems were nitrous , were carried by patrobius , a freeman of neson , to white their bodies with . also nitre , of which is made halinitre , is at servesta , and bernbergum , georg. agricola . that land will receive no rain above a cubit . like unto this , is that , where stone walls , both in wine-cellars and shady places that are free from showers , that use to wash it off , do so sweat ▪ as if they were sprinkled with flowr . chap. vi. of calcanthum or vitriol . the best is the roman , and hungarian , the goodnesse is tryed by rubbing your knife against it ; for if it make it look like copper , it is the best , quercetan . de capit . affect . c. . it is apparent , that in its secret qualities , it contains copper . the ancients took one dram inwardly , and kill'd their worms , and cured the venom of mushromes , sennert . l. . epit. scient . natural . c. . a little piece of the white dissolved in water , is happily used for the itching and rednesse of the eyes , platerus de dol . p. . riolanus saith , that the spirit of it is a caustick , that it will eat glasse wherein it is made . it hath antipathy with the oyl of tartar , they are both most acute and sharp . if you mingle them , the acrimony of both is lost , and the liquor becomes insipid , boethius l. . de lapid . joyned with nitre , it makes water sit to dissolve silver , minder . de vitriol . c. . chap. vii . of naphtha , petroleum , and maltha . naphtha , is the percolation of bitumen of babylon , so near akin to fire , that it will take fire at a distance , and easily be inflamed by the sun-beams . plutarch relates , that in the hollow caves of echatana , by the heat of fire , that it ●low'd as it were into a pond ; so ready to take fire , that before it came at it , it would take fire with the light of a torch , and fire the ayr that was between . the barbarians to shew this to alexander , strew'd a village with it , that was in the way to the kings lodging ; and at last putting a fire-brand near it , it flamed as if it had been all on fire . hence he addes , that naptha by some was called medea's medicament , wherewith she anointed the crown and garment of creon's daughter , and burnt her by this art . of this in persia is made a physical oyl , wherewith a dart anointed , if it be shot slowly by a weak bow , ( for with swift flying it is extinguished ) wheresoever it sticks fast , it burns ; and if any would put it out with water , it burns the more ; and there is no means to put it out , but by casting dust upon it . it is thus made : they season common oyl tainted with a certain herb : by experience of these things , and by continuance , a certain kind is made by the persians , that congealing from a matter very natural , is like to thick oyl , and they call it naptha , a barbarous name , libav . tom. . singul . l. . c. . petroleum is more liquid than naphtha ; in italy and the country of matina it distills out of a rock , white and red of a strong smell . in sicilia it swims upon fountains , which they call sicilian oyl , and they burn it for lamp oyl ; pliny commends it against the scabs of cattle . in the country of parma it runs forth white , at the village meiana ; there are . fountains there ; they gather it every , or every other day , thus ; they shake the water with brooms , and foroing the oyl into a corner , they take it with vessels . every day half a pound in the most hot and dry time of the year , baubin●n●● l. . dioscor . c. . of the red , at the mount zibethum , in the winter , they collect . ounces , in summer ounces . in the village allense , it is collected black , with a fleece and a scoop . the more water is drawn forth , the more oyl they take ; sometimes ounces . it varies as the place doth . the italian burns not in its fountain , the babylonian doth . that is wonderfull which mathiolus reports , in l. . dioscorid . c. . hercules of ferrara ● contrariis , had in his possession a pit , into which petroleum distilled ; he hired a plaisterer to stop it ; and because he could not do it without light , he let down a candle , and the petroleum took fire by it , and threw forth the plaisterer , and brake down the sides of his pit . maltha , is the straining of bitumen , mingled with mud , that is like clay . pliny speaks of it , l. ● . c. . in the city samosata ( saith he ) of comagena , there is a lake that sends forth burning mud , it sticks to any solid thing it toucheth , and it followes , when you draw from it . in joyning of walls it serves for lime , and the babylonians used it to build their walls with , vitruvius l. . c. . chap. viii . of pissaphaltum , and the wayes of embalming dead corps . pissaphaltum is bitumen that pitch is boyled with . bauhinus thinks , it is mummy of the arabians . but this is of two sorts , naturall , and artificiall , that they embalmed with , consisting of myrrhe and aloes . but of the materials , and the manner how to embalm , we shall speak of them here , as we come to fall upon them : diodorus siculus , and herodotus l. . are large concerning it . three men perform this work . the first is called a grammarian , who as the body lyes on the ground , appoints how great the incision shall be about the small guts on the left side . the other is the cutter , and he opens the side with an aethiopian stone , and then suddenly runs away ; for those that stand by detesting the fact , pursue him with stones . then follow the embalmers . one of these drawes his incision through the inside of the body , besides the heart and kidneys ; another washeth it with phoenician wine mingled with spices . lastly , they anoint the body washed with unguents of cedar , and other pretious things for . dayes . then it is delivered to the kindred that mourn for him ; the hairs of his eye-lids and eye-brows being preserved , that he may seem to be asleep . herodotus speaks of three kinds of embalming ; the first was by pulling the brains through the nostrills with a hook , and the bowels taken forth with an aethiopian stone , they cleanse it with phoenician wine , and stuffe it with spices , then they fill the fat pannicle with myrrhe , cassia and sweet odours beaten , without frankincense , and sew them in , then they salt it for dayes ; then they wash the corps , and wrap it in a linnen cloth , and smeer it with gum , and lay it into the fashion of a man made of wood . the other is , by salting it dayes , which drawes forth the inward filth . the third way is , the poor cleanse the belly with washing , then for dayes they dry it with salt , and then they lay it up . and not onely men have been so honoured , but beasts also . for some beasts were sacred to the egyptians ; and when they were dead , they covered them with a linnen cloth , and spread them with salt , striking their breasts , and howling . and to preserve the body the longer , they anointed it with oyl of ceder , and kept it in hallowed places . also they put divers idols into the brest of it . rondeletius found in the breast of one of them leaves of ancient paper , written with arabian letters , bauhin . ad l. . dioscor . c. . moreover , the french commend mummy so much , that the nobility will never be without it . they say , that francis the . alwayes carried it in his purse , fearing no accident , if he had but a little of that by him . chap. ix . of camphir . the moors write , that camphir is a gum of a tree , that spreads out its boughes so far , that men may stand under the shadow of it . they adde , that the wood is white , reedy , and hath the camphir in its spungy pith . that 's uncertain , but it is more certain , that it is made of a kind of bitumen ; thus , the indian bitumen , which springs from the native camphir , is boyled in a vessel with fire under it , the thinner parts turn into a white colour , and are carried to the cover , which gives them the form we see , when they are collected . merchants say , there is native camphir in the indies . it is so near to fire , that once fired , it will burn all out . the flame that comes from it , is bright and smells sweet . hanged in the ayr , it evaporates by degrees , the most thin parts are the cause . hence apothecaries put it in a close vessel with milium or linseed , and cover it , plater . de l. f. p. . the smell of it hinders lust ; drank , or smelled to , and carried about , it extinguisheth the seed . and because it flyes to the head ; if it carry up with it cold humours , it may cause sleep , and make men hoary before they be old . if to women , sick of the mother , or fainting of heart pains , a small cup of water be exhibited , wherein so much camphir is burned as a hazel-nut , it presently helps , heurnius l. . medic. the neotericks hold it is cold , and that it is mitigated by ambergreece ; and that the drynesse may do no hurt , oyl of violets is poured upon it . garzias ab horto saith , he learned by experience , that in inflammations of the eys it was as cold as snow . but mindererus l. de peste writes ; that when he went to visit sick persons , and had swallowed a small piece of it , he perceived nothing within him , but like a very small fire . chap. x. of amber or electrum . some think it to be the juice of trees ; but amisse . there stand no trees by the sea , that gums drop from them , falling into the sea , of which amber is made . it is more certain , that it is a thick juice of the earth . the most part is found in borussia , also in curlandia , on the part of sarmatia , but not so plentiful . it is taken in nets like fish . when the north-west or west wind blowes hard at sea , they all run to the shore , with casting nets of yarn in their hands , agricol . in l. de fossil . the winds being allayed , but the sea flowing , when the waves return back , they draw the amber from the bottom ; and an herb like pennyroyall , that growes in it . when they have taken it , they carry it to the magistrates , who give them the weight of it in salt . every moneth it is said to be sold for ten thousand german crowns . at buchania in schetland , a masse came to shore greater than a horse . the ignorant clowns used it for frankincense , hector boetius in histor . scot. precious figures are made of it ; the romans were so taken with it , that a little picture of it was more than the price of a living man , plin. histor. natural . rubb'd , it drawes straws , if it be not smeared with oyl or water . some seek the cause in a dry spirit : but , scaliger exerc. . s. . saw it draw a green lettice ▪ some in the super elementary quality : others think it comes by accident , fernel . l. . med. c. . for it hath piercing and sharp spirits , and withal glutinous and fat . being attenuated by rubbing , they wax hot , and they easily pierce into light things , as they break forth , libavius in lib. singular . when they meet with cold things , they congele ; congealed , they return toward their beginning ; for the heat is driven back by its contrary . if you make a fine powder of chaff , and iron , the amber draws forth the chaff , the loadstone the iron . in the shore at puceca , of former times , they digged up some of ash colour ; which when it was broken with iron , it drew unto it leaves that were upon the ground , and two foot from it , when they were blown up into the ayr : the white smells the best ; because of the plague , chambers are perfumed with the scrapings of it , the sent lasts for . dayes ; every thin piece of it burnt in fire , flames away . chap. xi . of ambergreece , jet , and earthy bitumen . ambergreece is a juice in asia amongst the moors . some think it growes like mushrooms , out of the earth under the sea : others say , that the cod-fish doth greedily follow after it , and kills it self by devouring it : which the fishe●s knowing , taking him in their nets when he is dead , they unbowel him , ma●hiolus in dioscor . l. . the truth is , it runs out of the fountains into the sea , and being hardned , there it is cast upon the shore . it is good for the brain , that is cold , libav . l. . singul. it may hurt the heart , unlesse the cause be cold that molests it ; namely , if the spirits be hot , and too much attenuated , heurn . l. . medic. a plaister of amber is good for bald and weak heads from a cold cause . he that carrieth it , after a little use perceiveth it not . the weaker a woman is , and the matrix moveable , the more easily is it disquieted by musk and amber , and her head will ake . infused in wine , it will make men drunk . black bitumen hardned in the sea is called jet : which the floods use to cast upon the shores of the aestyi with amber . earthen vessels that are glazed with it are not defaced , plin. l. . c. . when it is burned , it smells like brimstone . it is a wonder , that it kindleth with water , but is extinguished with oyl . it discovers the falling-sicknesse and virginity by the smell of it : drank by a virgin fasting , it causeth her to make water , dalechamp . in notis ad l. c. nicander in his theriacks calls it , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; the interpreter expounds that , jet ; which is found great , and of a pale colour o● the shore at the town of ganges in lycia . strabo saith , that creeping things fly from the sent of jet . it is called earthy bitumen , otherwise burning stone , because it will flame , and is good for iron-smiths furnaces . it is called ampelitis , because it kills little worms called caipas ; also pharmacitis , because it is good in physick : i saw it dug up in scotland . so in the jurisdiction of leids , where if it be hard , they make chapelets of it to say their prayers upon . hitherto belong the bituminous furrs , that being dryed , make the dutch fuel : also the● are dug forth in collaum , a province of peru , which monardus describes in these words : in collaum , a province of peru , there is a place all bare ; no tree nor plant growes upon it , because the earth is bituminous , out of which the indians extract a liquour good for many diseases . the way to extract it , is this , they cut the ground into turfs , and in an open place they lay it upon rods or greater ●eeds , putting vessels under it to receive it ; for by the heat of the sun this bitumen melts , then the dry turfs remain without liquor , fit to make fires . moreover , on the left hand in the shore of the sinus pucicus , not far from the monastery , there are found clots of congealed bitumen , very hard , about the bignesse of eggs. they all burn , being kindled , agricol . in l. de fossil . near these there grow pale-coloured shrubs that smell like fish , they are or hands breadths high . they have no roots , and are like little dishes ; the greeks call them lepadas , they stick to the clods . chap. xii . of corall . corall , otherwise stone-tree . it comes from a juice that is stony when it growes , under the sea water : it is a small tree green and soft , bearing berries , like the cornus tree ; in shape and magnitude , but soft and white : it presently growes hard before it is cut ; it appears all green . sometimes also the stalks of one corall tree are partly red , partly white , and partly black . in the mediterranean , they gather great quantity of it ; and those of massilia go yearly to fish for it , and draw it from the bottom of the sea with nets , dispens . chymic . l. ▪ c. . linschot . part . orient ind. c. . at the cape bon esperance , he saith , there are rocks , on which coral grows of all colours . the indians weare it because southsayers think it avoids dangers . the vulgar thinks it can preserve their children from witches . this is superstitious , but certain it is , it will quench thirst , being extreme cold . mercurial . l. . de curand . affect . tied to the neck , it drives away troublesome dreams , and stills the nightly feares of children . pansa de prorog . vitae l. . if a man weare it , it will be very red : but pale , if a woman use it . lemn , l. de occult . c. . the fuliginous spirits in a woman are the cause of it , and the faint heat in coral . in men the naturall heat is strong and evaporates . hence if coral be covered with mustard seed it waxeth red . there are other plants in the sea that come from a juyce that grows into a stone . about hercules pillars , and in the outland sea , trees grow like bay trees . in the indian sea , there are bull-rushes and reeds ; in the red sea , mushrooms ; all which being cast forth , are changed into stones . theophrastus and pliny confirm these ; to this appertains syringites , that is like a joynted straw , and the reed hollow . chap. xiii . of brimstone and stybium . brimstone is dug up in islandia by the mountain hecla , and that without fire . it is yellow that is digged out of a plain of brimstone , which in campania they call virgin-brimstone , because women paint their faces with it . it is so friendly to fire , that pieces of it laid about the wood will draw the fire to them . the greeks and romans did purifie houses with the fume of it ; put into the fire , it will by the sent discover the falling-sicknesse . anaxilaus made sport with it , carrying it about in a red hot cup with fire under it , which by repercussion made the guests look pale as if they had been dead ; plin. l. . c. . the chymists make such an effectual oyl of balsome of brimstone , that it will suffer neither live or dead bodys to corrupt ; but keeps them so safe , that no impression from the heavens , or corruption of the elements , or from their own original , can hurt them weck ▪ antidot , spec. l. . i shall say something of stybium . it hath an exceeding purgative quality , as we see by experience . mathiol . ad dioscorid , l. . c. . andreas gallus , a physitian of trent fell into an inflammation of the lungs , heart and stomack , with a wonderfull thirst , swelling of the throat , beating of the heart , and a strangling distillation allmost from the head . he took three grains of stybium with sugar rosat : first he cast up yellow choler , ounces weight , and afterwards pound weight , symptoms ceased , and he recovered his former health . georgius hendschius writes , that the same thing hapned to him in the pestilence ; also lucas contilis . senensis : taking , grains of stybium vomited up , bits of turpentine rosin , that he had swallowed . dayes before . but a parish priest of prague that was mad of melancholy , taking graines of the same , purged choler downwards , that had like scrapings of flesh mingled with it , and they appeared as great melancholly veins called varices cut into peices . chap. xiiii . of juices that grow into stones . i had allmost forgot juyces that harden like stones . nature hath wonderfully spo●ted herself in them , sometimes it hardens before it touch the ground , and somtimes when it is fallen down . both these ways are seen at amberga , where there are white pillars made by it . agricol . l. de effl . ex terra . what ever drinks it in , is made a stone , if it be but porous . hence you shall find stony fountaines ▪ and wood and bones that are dug up . when the workmen in time of warr fled into the mines of lydia , about pergamus , the entrance being shut up , they were strangled , the den was afterwards made clean , and there were found vessels of stone fill'd with a stony juyce . about the coast of elbog , there are great-firr trees , with their barks , in the cracks whereof a fire stone of a golden colour growes . about cracovia in bohemia , there are trees with boughes , out of which there are whet-stones with corners ; which was a present ▪ sent from the lords of columbratium , to ferdinand the first . hildesham hath beames laid upon heaps ; the heads of these somtimes stick forth , these being stricken with iron or with another stone , not unlike the marble at hildesham , they smell like the sent of burnt horn . there is also wood changed into a stone , and in the cracks of it there is ebony dug forth , which t●eophrastus was not ignorant of , that it lay hid scattered in the hollow o● other stones . looking glasses , rubbing cloths , garments , shoos , being brought into a quarrey in assus of troas become stones , mucianus . but stones that congele from juyce are commonly soft and brittle . in the hot baths of charls the th , many stones together are found , hollow like hives , half globe figured , so great as pea●e , they grow from the drops of the hot waters falling down . but those earthen vessells that are found in the earth ; were pi●chers for dead mens bones , because in all of them covered with lids , there were ashes , and in some rings were found , wee saw such a one in the library thoruniense . it was the fashion of the antients , as all know , to burn and lay up their ashes . in italy also some urns were found of glasse . caesar carduinus had foure found in the fields of naples : but what hapned at verona , see bertius in desc●i . agri veronen . chap. xv. of the loadstone . the loadstone is well known : the effects of it are admirable , two are special , its turning to the poles of the world , and its dawing of another loadstone and iron . as for the first , in many places it doth nor exactly respect the poles , the declination is somtimes more or lesse . this age observeth , that for degrees beyond the fortunate islands , where cosmographers have set the beginning of longitude , it concurs with the poles of the world ; toward the east it varies more : about norimberg , they count degrees , in norway , in zembla , as the dutch observed ; but one gilbertus hath found out degrees variation . whence we collect the greatest variation to be degrees . if we ask the cause , the learned are of divers opinions , some say there are certain mountains of loadstones under the poles , and they say the loadstone moves by sympathy . others write that it turns to certain starrs . others say there are in it two opposite points , whereof the one turns to the north , the other to the south . others think , that it moves toward the south , because the operation of all the planets is southward . they all seem to be deceived . how great and what kind of mountains these are , is yet unknown , and there are many mines of it in aegypt . it doth not directly point at the pole , unlesse it stand in the meridian . the point that is toward the south , is held the stronger . the work-masters gives us a notable maxime , when in the finger of the marriners chart , they rub that part of the neidle with the loadstone , wherewith it turns to the south . lastly there are opposite places , wherein the eccliptick declines from the aequator toward the north , and the planets from the east make their motions by the north. it seems most probable , sennert , l. . scient . natural . c. . that the loadstone moves toward the south pole , either only , or if it hath two motions , the greatest is southward . let it suffice what scaliger writes exerc. . nature , saith he , is at concord , and agrees with her self , she unites by an admirable order , all things above and below , that it may be one by a perpetual necessity . so that there are in things seperated not only steps , entrances , and retreats , but also minglings of those things which seem to be wholly parted . bodinus pronounceth that all the , parts of the world are equally respected by the loadstone theatr. natur . l. . for ( saith he ) the steel needle easily rubbed upon the loadstone , from that part of the loadstone that pointed north before it was cut out of the rock , if the needle be equally ballanced , the end rubbed with the loadstone will turn to the north. the same force there is to the south part , if he needle be rubbed on the south part of the loadstone . nor is the force lesse for the east or west part of the loadstone ▪ though the stone cannot turn it self to the poles of the world , but only the steel needle that is touched with it . but this i have said cannot be understood , but by experience : for if you put a peice of loadstone upon a peice of wood swimming in the water , and you apply that side of the loadstone that looked southward before it was cut out of the rock to the side of another lodstone that looked southward also , before it was hewen forth , the stone that swims will fly unto the opposite part of the vessel with water ; but if you turn the northern part of the loadstone , to the southern part of another loadstone swimming in the water , the loadstone that swims presently comes and joyns with it , so that th●● both unite by an admirable harmony of nature ; though the wood or the vessell of water be between . the same will be done , if you put only an iron needle , thrust through a quil into a vessell of water , and hold in your hand a peice of a loadstone , one side of the loadstone will drive off the needle , the other will draw it . so saith bodin . what concerns drawing : that the loadstone doth draw , is maintained of the aethiopian loadstone ; plin. l. . c. . experience hath proved it ; libavius . i , saith he , when i proved this , wiped off all dust from the loadstone , and then i scraped away some powder of its own substance , this was laid upon a paper or plank of wood , and the powder scraped from it was laid under it , the loadstone moved and attracted . the loadstone draws the loadstone , by a certain line , because there is a spirit in it like to the other , and nature enclines and is carried to its like , as much as may be . it is as certain , that it draws iron also . the hardnesse of iron gives way , and obeys ; and that matter which tames all things , runs to i know not what empty thing , and as it comes nearer it stands still , and is held and sticks in imbraceings , plin. l. . c. . the vertue of it was found out , when the nails of his shoos and top of his crook stuck fast , for the first inventor was a heyward . nor doth it draw iron on each part with the same force . the rule seems to be a right line . therefore where the vertue comes not , the ends are turned , and whilst one of them inclines to the needle , the other accidentally turns from it , and seems to reject it . the same reason serves for divers loadstones . in the midland seas of sardinia , at the foot of the mountaines that part , they bend eastward ; they say there is a loadstone that draws iron , but on the opposite part , one that drives it off , and therefore it is called theamedes , plin. l. . wherefore do we go to mountaines ? we may see it in every laboratory , if we will beleive libavius , syntagm , art. chymic . tract . . l. . c. . there are opposite parts in one and the same stone contrary to the rest : and it hath an example of sympathy and antipathy in it self ; as vipers , scorpions and venemous creatures have in themselves both their friends and their enemies . i shall set down some examples of attraction . severus milevitanus saw , when bathanarius , heretofore governour of africa , put silver under between the stone and the iron ; the iron on the top moved , and the silver was in the middle , and suffered nothing but with a most swift retrait , the man drew the stone downward , and the stone drew the iron upward . august de civitat . dei lib. . cap. in alexandria in aegypt , at the roof of the temple of serapus , there was a loadstone fastned in , which held an idol that had an iron in the head so fast , that it hung between the roof and the ground ; euseb in histor. eccles. agricola said , he saw a round looking glasse , that was three hands breadth broad , and two high ; in the concave part whereof there was a loadstone , included above , ( agricola de subter●●n ) that drew an iron boul placed at the bottom of the glasse unto it self , so that the thick body of the glasse could not hinder the force of it ; the iron globe that useth to fall down , was carried up . let us come to the cause , and inquire whence comes this force in the loadstone . each man speaks diversly , and so many men allmost so many opinions . libav . l. . de bitum ▪ c. , saith that there is a bituminous nature in the loadstone , reduced to the disposition of iron , by a similitude of sympathy and mixture , whereby the same principles grow in iron . and he adds , that there is an iron bituminous spirit common to them both , but it flows not out continually , and as strong from iron as from the loadstone , by reason of the diversity of coagulation or commis●ion ; others attribute that to the hidden forme : others alleage a mutual harmony of naturall things . there are in the great world , saith langius , l. . epist. , under the concave of the moon , some things that by a secret consent agree wonderfully together . the truth is , the loadstone is some kind of vein of iron , and iron may be generated of it : sennert . l. . epit. c. . but the loadstone loseth its attractive force , if you work it in the fire : for whilest it burns , the brimstony spirit of it flyes forth , as libav . l. . singul . thinks . we saw , saith porta ( mag. natur . l. . c. . ) with great delight , the loadstone buried in burning coles , to cast forth a blew brimstony iron kind of flame , which being dispersed , the quality of its life departed , and it lost its power to attract . it yields to the injuries of the weather , and dies with old age . the expiring of it , is hindred by oyntments rub'd upon it , and the tenacious juice of leeks ; others add , oyle of bricks . lem. l. . c. . de occult . but cardanus l. . de subtil : denyeth this . it will not lay hold on rusty iron , and much lesse on rust , scaliger exerc. . otherwise if iron-filings were buried in dust , or the iron be on the other side of the table , the spirit , as was said , is not hindred . chap. xvi . of the stones , schistos , galactites , gip , selenites , amiantos . schistos the more it shines like iron , the harder it is . in missena there are bred some knobs about the bigness of a wallnut , so hard , that laid on an anvil , they resist the strokes . agricola saw one of missena , that weighed pounds . galactites at hildesham is dug forth of a sand-pit ; yearly it increaseth from a milky and lutinous juice so that some are found as big as ones head ; they say it makes nurses full of milk that drink it in powder with water or sweet wine . all gin is hard : in saxony in the land of hildesham , it is found like to sugar ; the inhabitants of hercinium , and thuringum , burn ●hat which is hard , and grind that which is burnt ; and wetting it with water , they use it for lime : what colour soever it be , it growes white by burning . lysistratus of sy●e , brother to lysippus , was the first that made a mans picture with a face in gyp , and then poured wax melted into that form , trying thereby to make it better . a wall was made of gyp , in pieces of ash-colour , at northusia in thuringia , and the port of alg●●s , a town of mauritania caesariensis . selenites is a stone that is wont to be found at dark night when the moon increaseth ; and it represents the moon by shining in the night , and it increaseth and diminisheth with it daily . it not onely shews your face , but it will represent the image of a thing behind your back . it endures the suns heat , and winters cold , but it cannot away with rain ; for it will corrupt , if great pieces of it be exposed to rain . amianthus is made of an appropriate juice ; the fire is so far from polluting its lustre , that if it be cast in , it will shine the brighter . once lighted , it never goes out , if oyl fail not . hence it is called asbestos ; and because it is like to womens full hair , and to mens hoarinesse , it is called bostrychitis and corsoides . we saw ( saith pliny ) in banqueting places , napkins made of it , that when the filth was burnt out of them , were cleansed more with fire , than they would have been with water . it was found at the siege of athens , that things anointed with it would not burn ; under l. sylla . this stone is kembed , spun and wove , though with difficulty , because it is short : and they make not onely napkins , but table-cloaths of it ▪ and towels . also of old time they made the funeral coats for kings , which were put upon them , when they were put into great fires to be burnt , that so the ashes of their bodies being parted from the wood-ashes , might be laid up in their sepulchres . pliny saith , that this linnen hath been found to equall the price of the best pearls ; but now it is sold at mean rates . chap. xvii . of stones that represent divers forms . there are many stones representing divers forms . we will mention some here , namely , trochites , eutrochos , encrinos , enorchis , and others . trochites , is like the round head of a pillar : the round part is smooth , but each broad part hath , as it were , a kind of conveyance , from whence are lines unto the extream part of the circle . put into vinegar , it raiseth bubbles , and some are found that move from place to place . eutrochos is made of trochites not yet separated . whose trochites have eminent lines ; in that part where two of them meet , there seems to be a girdle twisted round within it . but the trochitae are so joyned , that the lines of the one enter into the furrowes of the other . encrinos , is like lillies , for when one part with corners is parted from the other , both shew like five lillies . enorchis in the shards is like testicles . in the diocesse of trevirs , when cements are digged up to repair buildings , they meet with blackish stones that represent the secrets of women , diphyis by an intercurrent line represents the genitals of both sexes . the d●ctyli of ida , in crete , of an iron colour , are like a mans thumb . there is also a stone found like a new moon , cloathed with armour of a golden colour . haephestites , represents the nature of a glasse , and in the sun it will fire dry matter . at salfelda in thuringia , there is a stone dug forth of a pit fathom deep ; it is like a firm breast , a foot and half long , three hands breadth ; on the former part where the ribs end , it is six fingers thick , on the hinder part where the whirlbones are pierced through the middle , but three ; the back-bone was empty , where it should represent the marrow . the outside of this stone was either black , or some rare colour , and the inside was like to the lapis arabicus ▪ it is supposed to be of great vertue . belemnites , is like an arrow , with a large head , and a sharp point : there is in it a kind of rift , it is clothed with golden coloured lines , and it shines naturally like a looking-glasse : it smells like filed or burnt horn , if it be rubb'd . the saxons name it by a name compounded of ephialtes , and an arrow ; and they say , if one drink it , that it is good against suppressions , and such hags in the night . chap. xviii . of the eagle stone , enhydros , the touch-stone , and the pumex stone . the eagle stone is found in divers countries ; in the country of misenus , then especially , when great rains fall . it smells like a violet , by the mosse sticking upon it . it hath in it little stones , that being loose and shaken , make a noise : they commonly stick to misenus ; some have earth with them , as at hildesham , and some gold , as those of cyprus . that which hath a little stone in its belly , as the greeks say , if it be bound to the left arm of a woman great with child , through which an artery runs from the heart , toward the ring-finger , next to the little finger , it will hold the child in the womb that is ready to miscarry ; bound to the left thigh of one in labour , it will so help her , that she shall be delivered without pain : but so soon as she is delivered , it must be taken off , that the matrix follow not . as it fell out with the wife of a citizen of valencia , francis. valeriola l. . observ . . it helped her , tyed on , to be delivered ; but not taken away , it was her death . enhydros hath water within it ; it is perfectly round , it is white and smooth , but it flotes when it is shaken . there is liquour in it like as in an egg. also liquid bitumen , sometimes that smells sweet , is found in stones shut up as in vessels . the touch-stone is that stone they prove gold by : in theophrastus's dayes they were onely found in tmolus ; but at this day in the rivers of hildesham , and gosselar . the parts of them that are found looking toward the sun , are the best for tryall ; the worst look toward the earth , those are the dryest : but these are hindred by their moysture that they cannot take the colour of gold or silver . the pumex stone is found in places that have been burnt , baked out of the earth , or stone : because it hath holes , in which the light ayr flotes ; and because it is without moysture , it burns not . they that have charge of wines put it into a vessel of boyling new wine , and it presently gives off boyling . drunkards that strive for mastery in drinking , arm themselves with the powder of it ; but unlesse they drink abundantly , they are in danger , saith theophrastus . chap. xix . of lapis vitrarius and specularis . there are three kinds of stones that will run in a burning furnace . the one is like to transparent jewels . it hath their colour , but is not so hard . of this kind is alabandicus , which melts in the fire , and is melted for glasse ; the second kind is not much unlike it , but hath not so many colours , the third kind is lapis vitrarius . this hath its proper veins also . at a●nebe●gum , in a silver mine it was found in the forme of a crosse ; at priberg like to an ape ; pieces of it are found also out of the earth : but by the running of the waters , they are polished by rubbing against some stones of their own , or of some other kind . the white stone is burnt , beaten to powder , searsed ; of that they make sand , of these they blow glasses . the river belu● at the foot of the mount carmel , rising in phoenicia , between the coloney of ptolemais and the city tyre , brings those kind of sands fit for glasse to the sea side , which being tumbled with the waves of the sea , shine , their foulness being washed off . plin. l. . c. . the report is that a ship came loaded with nitre , the merchants provided their victualls as they were dispersed here and there on the sea shore , and when they found no stones to make them tables of , these took fire , and the sea shore●sand mingled with them , thence those transparent rivers of this noble liquor began to run ; and this was the beginning of glasse . but we must not think that glasse is made of this sand only . to three parts of that they add one part of nitre , and of these melted cometh amm●-●itre . if nitre be wanting , mineral salt will supply the defect . if this , then either sea salt , or the ashes of the hearb anthyllis burnt . but when that the matter of glasse melts in the fire , it froths , and the froth is taken off with a drag : when they are forthwith hardned , they are made into white loafs , in which there is a mixt tast more salt than bitter . men report that in tiberius's days , there was a way invented to make glasse malleable , and that his whole shop was ruin'd , that the price of gold , silver , brasse and other mettles should not be brought down ; but the fame of it is more constant than certain . in our time , especially at venice , is glasse of high esteem ; we have seen some that have framed divers works of it , as bright as a candle . when nero raigned , by the art of making glasse , was found out to make small cups with two ears , they called them pinnati or pterota : one of them was sold for denarit . i referre the lapides speculares to these , because they were of a bright substance , as basilius writes , it was transparent like the ayre . the antients used it for windows , as we do glasse . nero made a temple for fortune of these stones , so that whosoever stood without was seen , though the dores were shut , the light appeared though not sent through . pancirolla , l. . de veter . deperd . chap. xx. of crystal , iris , and the diamond . concerning the originall of crystall , writers differ . pliny , l . c. , saith , that it is made by the most violent frost from snow or ice . agricola , l. . fossill . saith , it is some sap congealed by cold in the bowels of the earth . the former opinion seems to be true . for not only the name confirms it , but the place also where it is bred , for it is found in those places where the winter snows are , in such unaccessible places of the alps , that oft times they are fain to be let down with ropes to draw it to them . in asia and cyprus it is plow'd up , and carried along with the torrents . scalig. exe●c . . from the percinian rocks , which are in the extreame parts of noricum , it is pulled off from the tops of mountaines there , that are covered with no earth . somtimes there is a kind of coorse silver in it , of the colour of lead ore , and of divers weights . in india it is found so great that they make a vessel of it somtimes that will hold four sextaryes . livia augusta dedicated one in the capitol , that made a vessell that held , pounds . they are seldom found single , many of them oft times stick upon one root , somtimes rising together , and somtimes a part . they lye somtimes so fast , that it is a hard matter to pul them off . every crystall point , and the whole body of it , is with angles . it cannot be melted by heat of the sun. the extreame cold hath so frozen it , that it is not a small thing can melt it , yet can it not endure heat , bodin . l. . theatr natur. for in the hottest furnaces and great flames , it will run by continuance ; being melted , it will harden again ; and if you poure hot liquour into a crystal cup , it will break . it is thought , worn about one , to cure the vertigo ; and for that cause , men drink out of venice glasses , plater , l. . de . l. f. there are made of it , both glasses and chamber pots , such a one as pliny writes was bough by a matron that was not very rich , for h. s. c. l. m. or sestertii . pancirolla had one of so pure matter , and so transparent , that it seemed almost to be ayre , the outsides only being opposed to the view . it had an adder in it , with open mouth ready to devoure a young lamb , but he was hindred by the opposite crosse. pancirol . de veter . deperd . l. . also iris is a white jewel : if it have a sexangular forme , held against the sun beams entring in at the windows , it casts the colours of the rain-bow on the wall that is over against it . the diamond is found in many mines . the indian diamond exceeds not the kernel of a small nut , that of cenchros is no bigger than a millet seed , agricola l. . de fossil . the antients speak much of it , namely that it cannot be broken by hammers , that it takes all virtue from the loadstone ; and so resists fire , that it will never waxe hot . those of our days have found the contrary . camer . memorab . med . c. . m. . for a hammer will break it , and an iron pestle will bring it to powder . it yields to fire , and may be calcined with a long continued flame ; yet though in an hour by the fire it will lose its lustre , it will recover it again by polishing with some defect in the lustre . it hath been found , that rubbing one against the other , they have been so glew'd , that they could not easily be parted , bodin . theatr. natur. l. . it hath been seen to draw strawes when it hath been hot , garzias ab horto l. . arom . c. . it was hitherto believed , that the powder of it drank , would breed the dysentery ; but that hath been disproved . slaves have swallowed down some to hide their theft ; they sent them forth by stool whole , without any hurt to their health . cardan . ( . tract . . contrad . . ) saith , that one dram weight drank in powder , did no more harm than a piece of bread . the turkish emperour gave crowns for one . chap. xxi . of the opalus , emerald , heliotrop , and topaz . opalus is a jewel , which when you hold it downward , it hath the clear fire of the carbuncle , the shining purple of the amethyst the green sea of the emrald , and all things else shining with an incredible mixture . an emerald doth so change the ayr about it with its own tincture , that it will yield neither to candles , sun light , nor shade . hence in the water it seems greater . those that are not perfectly green , of them , are made better by wine and oyl . they are seldom so great , as that you may grave a seal upon them . yet there is one not very small at lyons in a monastery , and that which ▪ was seen at prague in the chappel of st. vencessius , it is above parts of , greater than that , bodin . l. . theatr. there is one longer at magdeburg , which is contained in part of the spire fashioned cabinet , wherein the host is carried ; some say it was the handle of the knife of otho the first . there was a jewel once found in cyprus , the one half of it was an emerald , and half a jaspir . the emerald hath wonderful vertue ; it is an enemy to poysons and bitings of venemous beasts ; and it breaks , if they overcome it . it is said , to further womens labour , tyed to the hips ; and to hinder it , laid to the belly , sennert . l. . epitom . scient . natural . c. . shut in a ring , or hanged about the neck , if it touch the naked flesh , it preserves from the apoplex , plat. l. . del f. it hath been known to break off from the fingers of the master of it that wore it , when he was dead . it cannot endure venery ; for if it touch ones body in the act , it will break ▪ albertus , the king of hungary had one that brake at that time in . pieces . heliotropium is a jewel marked with bloody veins ; cast into a vessel of water , it changeth the sun beams falling on it , by reflexion , into blood colour . out of the water it receives the sun , like a burning glasse , and you may perceive the suns eclipses by it , how the moon moves under . a topaz is not onely transparent , but also shines wonderfully ; and the brightnesse goes forth like gold : it is greater than other jewels : for thence it was , that a statue was made for arsinoa wife to ptolomaeus , philadelphus , of cubits high , and was consecrated in the temple that was call'd the golden temple . chap. xxii . of the amethyst , hyacinth , the sardonix , and the onychite . it is called an amethyst , because it comes near the colour of wine , and before it comes to it , it ends in a violet colour , plin. l. . c. . laid to the navel , first it drawes the vapours of wine to it self , and then it discusseth them ; wherefore it keeps him sober that wears it , aristotle . the hyacinth in clear weather shines the brighter ; in clowdy weather the darker . by its fast cold , it condenses , and refreshes bodies , and preserves one that wears it , from the fierce pestilence . sardonix is a jewel compounded of a sardonius and an onyx . it shews inverted like a nayl of a mans hand : the most generous roots are from a certain blackish ground , and first represent onyxes , then they are compassed with a reddish circle , from thence a round line goes about them , then at a greater distance the circle growes larger ; lastly , to all those girdles another kind of basis is placed under them . the graecians made great account of this jewel . polycrates the king of samos esteemed it so highly , that when as fortune had alwaies favour'd him , that he might try the contrary fortune , he cast his ring into the sea , wherein this stone was set . an onychites at colonia , in the temple of the . kings is broader than ones hand , agricola . the milky veins of it so run forth , that they represent two young mens heads ; the black veins so , that they represent a serpent descending from the forehead of the lower head , and a black-moors head with a black beard : but that was placed upon the mandible of the white head . two onyxes rubbed under a table , will so burn , that you cannot hold them in your hands . chap. xxiii . of the jasper , nephritick stone , and an agat . a jasper bound to the thigh , will stop the menstrual flux of blood , and all bleedings , which admit of no help otherwise . it stops bleeding at the nose , being hanged about the neck , sennert . l. . epitom . scient . natural . bound to the mouth of the stomach , and so carried all day for the falling-sicknesse ; if sweat follow , it frees from the fit , or else the sick fall , baccius de gem . pliny saith , he saw one of eleven ounces , and of that was made the picture of nero in armour , plin. l. . c. . there is found in silis one of a blew colour , that goes foot deep , and then comes a dark sandy stone , about . foot long , that hath no jasper in it , agricola l. . de fossil . from the authority of thaetilis the jew , there are found some strange kinds of it . there was a man seen in one , that had a buckler on his neck , a spear in his hand , a serpent under his feet ; it had vertue against all enemies : in another , there was a man with a bundle on his neck . it had vertue to discover all diseases , and to stop blood , lemnius de gemmis biblicis . the report is , that galen wore it on his finger . there is a green one found signed with the crosse , good to keep one from drowning . the nephritick stone is referred to the jasper , it is found onely in hispaniola , sennert . l. . inst. l. . p. . s. . c. . the superficies of it is alwayes fat , as if it were anointed with oyl . the spaniards wear them cut in divers forms . many things confirm the wonderfull vertue of it , unzer . de nephritid . l. . c. . hanged about the neck , it so breaks the stones , that they will seek for passage out of the body at both the eyes , and where they can find way . a certain merchant of lipsick testifieth this , who had such things happened to him ; and both his eyes grew red , by the salt and sharpnesse of the same . it will cure all distillations that fall from the head on the chest , saith the same merchants wife . for when she had carried one weeks , she was cured ; but the physitians could not cure her . it will cause one to make water that is stopt , as we find in the same place : but this is singular , that born about one awhile , it will cause a great tickling ; yet it ceaseth in . or . days space ; but it returns , if it be applyed again . also it causeth hollow places under the skin ; which if you break , then they send forth a very great quantity of sand . it is prepared by a singular and secret art , and one dram and a half for a dose of it so prepared , is given in parsley and juniper water : but the gravel doth hurt , if it find the stomach full . libavius . synt. art. chym. l. . c. . doubts of it , whether it doth these things by its own force , or anothers . his words are ; sometimes it happens , that nature is stimulated , by meer perswasion and belief , from some conception of the mind , which we ascribe to the object , the fancy moving first by that . but the efficacy is not alike in all , nor is their assent and belief alike , unlesse you would say , that not onely the patient is troubled with the gravell , but he must be of such a disposition also , as may admit the force of that stone . and it is found , that the nephritick stone is uneffectual to many . an agat out of a river of sicilia , hath its name from it . veins and spots do so run up and down in it , that sometime it represents a turtle ; sometimes a horn ; sometimes one small tree , , , or ; appearing like a wood. camillus of pisdura , saw once one that had as it were . trees in a plain . i● the agat of king pyrrhus there were the . muses naturally with apollo ; and the muses had their several badges . that which is of one colour , being boyled in an earthen pot full of oyl with several paints , and in two hours being made somewhat hot , will make one colour like red lead out of them all , dalechamp in plin. l. . agricola l. . fossil . plin. l. . c. . chap. xxiv . of the ruby , the carchedonius , sandastrus , chrysolite , and some others . a rubie is of an exceeding red colour ; sometime it is so great , that vessels are made of it , containing a sextarius . a carchedonius is so called , because it was found amongst the garamantes and nasamones , amongst the gravel , and was brought to carthage . it is otherwise called a granate . it is said , that when they sealed , though in the shade , the wax would melt , archelaus . it will not burn in the fire . sandastrus hath red with a golden colour , golden spots shine within , as stars in a transparent body ; the more they are , the more costly is the jewel . but because commonly it is marked with the . stars called hyades , both in their nmber and disposition , the chaldaeans were superstitious about it . the chrysolite differs in the plurality of its stars . bochus writes , he saw a spanish one of pounds weight . agricola saw a clod dug out of the mines in germany , that was made of more than chrysolites , all of them four square . the greatest was an inch broad , and fingers in length , it was too soft to polish : asyctos , made hot in the fire , contains the heat for dayes ; it is black and ponderous with red veins distinguishing it . calcophnes is black , but struck upon , it sounds like brasse ; it is said to be good for tragaedians to carry with them . catochites is a stone of corsica , wonderful , if report be true ; it holds , your hand laid upon it , like gum. the medes send gasidanes , it growes in arbelis . they say it conceives , and being shaken , you may hear the noise of the infant ; it conceives in . moneths space . chap. xxv . of jewels found in the bodies of living creatures . artic. . of the draconite , the chelonia , the cock stone and toadstone . many jewels are found in the bodies of living creatures . i will only set down some . for too reckon them all is to much for an epitomist . draconites of dracontia is made out of dragons brains , but unlesse you cut it out whilst they are alive , it will never grow hard , by reason of the malice of the creature , finding it self ready to dye . therefore men cut them out when they are asleep . sotacus , who writ , that he saw that jewel with a king , saith , that those that seek it ▪ ride in chariots , and when they spy the dragon they scatter sleepy medicaments , and so they come to cut it out . plin. l. . c. . they are transparent white , and admit of no art to polish them . cinediae are found in the brain of a fish of the same name ; they are white and somwhat long and wonderfull in effects , if it be so as men write . they foreshew the face of the sea , by their troubled or peaceable colour . chelonia is the eye of an indian tortis , most wonderfull by the invented lyes of conjurers : for they promise , that if you lay it upon your tongue with liquid honey , it will foreshew future events at the full and new moon for all day ; but when the moon decreaseth , before the sun is up , at other times from one a clock till six . moreover of draconitis , philostratus writ ; and ascribes to it as much vertue as gyges ring had ; rhodig . c. . l. . antiq . lection . alectorius is cut out of the gizard of a cock with a comb , being included with a thin skin or membrane , , yeares after he hath been gelded ; lemn . de occult . it may , be it is congealed from the excrement of seed , by force of his imbred heat , as milk grows hard in the breasts . it procures men favour , and makes them lusty . toads produce a stone ; with their own image somtimes . it never grows but in those that are very old . libav . l. . singul . in the family of lemnius there is one kept that is greater then a hazel nut . lemnius de occult . l. . c. . it is proved to dissolve tumours that rise from bitings of venomous beasts , if you rub it on often . the lapis bufonius , called grateriano , the swedes chronicles write of it , it weighed , physicall pounds , and , ounces , , drams lesse ; crasius annal , suevit . l. . p. . c. . the words are these . after the joyfull birth of our lord jesus christ , of the virgin mary , the mother of god. anno , ; after the birth of st. john , the of june , berchtholdus gratterus dwelling then at hopstach , in the afternoon went into a wood , which they call the vale of dipachia , to cut poles to make hoops for vessells . in that place he heard a hissing and a great noise by a river in that valley , and when he stood a farr off to see what the matter was , he saw an incredible heap of serpents and vipers , and toads lying twined together . as nere as he could conjecture , it was a greater quantity than a great washing tub could contain . he was frighted and durst go no neerer , yet he cut a bough , and marked the place there in the confines ; that day he came twice back , and beheld that conventicle of serpents , and he found them all , allmost together upon a heap : wherefore he left them and went home , concealing the matter for three dayes ; when he returned to the wood , he found that these water snakes were gon , and none ●f these venemous creatures were left , but only one toad that was killed , and a snake in a white glutenous humour , and thick , shining like to frog-spawn , and neere to it , that toadstone bufonius , which he catcht up , and wiped it , and carried it with him home , keeping it for some farther profit . but after that gratterus came into the town ( about a yeares since ) the stone was used successully , for man and beast , as it followes . the eldest sonne of the house of gratterians keeps this toadstone , and he will not lend it especially to strangers , under a pawn of , or a , livers . amongst the other vertues it is observed that it hath very great force against malignant tumours , that are venemous , cholerick or erisipelas , apostems , and bubos ; and for cattel that are bewitched . they are used to heat it in a bag , and to lay it hot without any thing between to the naked body , and to rub the affected place with it . they say it prevails against inchantments of witches , especially for great bellied women and children bewitched . so soon as you apply it to one bewitched , it sweats many drops . in the plague it is laid to the heart to strengthen it . it draws poyson out of the heart , and out of carbuncles and pestilent sores . it consumes , dissipates and softens all hardnesse , tumours , and varices . artic. . of the stones chelidonium , crabs eyes , snail stones , and bezar . chelidonius is so called as if it came from swallows : yet it is formed of a yellow gold coloured jasper . bound to the right arme , it is good against fantastick thoughts , from melancholy : it cures such as are lunatick and mad , and hath a peculiar vertue against diseases of the eyes , plater . also in the heads of river crabs , there are stones which steeped in most sharp vinegar , they will seem to move . quercet . in dial . s. . c. . with their powder to half a dram in white wine , the stones of the kidneys are happily driven out . henric. a bra. de calc . the snail-stone , put under the tongue , hath a great force to cause salivation . it makes the tongue moyst , and the humour fluent , and stencheth thirst , and represseth heat . bound on , it helps children to breed teeth , plin. l. . c. . a water snake casts up by vomit , a stone into the water under her , if you bind a cord to her tayle . holler . l. . de morb . inter . c. . this hath such force to consume water , that it presently drinks it up . wherefore , laid to the belly of an hydropick person , it consumes the water by degrees , plater . l. de vita . the bezar stone is found in the stomack of a hee goat ( rather of a shee goat ) in the indian mountaines . sennert l. . epitom , scient . natural . c. . somthing which hath a kind of bark , and is , as i may so say , chamford ( saith sennertus ) proceeds from a small beginning , that is oft times , straw , to which some moisture sticks like glew , and hence it is that that stone is made up as it were of many thin plates . it is great in an old , lesse in a young shee goat ; and all those plates both inward and outward are smooth and shining . rasis by experiment commends it against all venome . not only drank saith mathiol . on diascorid . l. . c. . but also bound on , so that , it may touch the naked skin of the left side , it excells all other things . abdalnarchus adds farther , the stone they call bezoar , we have now seen , with the sons of almirama keeper of the law of god : for which stone at cardubahee , at the beginning of the warrs , parted with a magnificent , and allmost kings palace . some say , that the bezar stone is nothing but the tears of the stag ; for they say , that the old ones , overgrown with age , do eat serpents , and grow young again : and for to conquer the venom , they drench themselves in a river , onely their head forth● ; and , as they stay so , a clammy humour falls from their eyes ; and being congealed by the suns heat , it becomes a stone there . it is like an acorn , and being fallen from their eyes , it is gathered up by such as attend for it . yet they are thought to be divers , scalig. exerc. . writes thus concerning the stags tears , which he held to be the dearest thing to him in his treasure of the muses ; before years a stag hath none ; after that age it growes at the corner of the eye , and thrusting forth like a bone , it growes harder than horn . the prominent part is round , very shining of a gold yellow colour , with prints of other veins . it is so smooth , that you can scarce feel it ; and it so drawes it self away , that it even seems to move . it is an excellent remedy against poysons . to those infected with the plague , it is given with a little wine , and they will sweat so , as if their whole body would melt . thus far scaliger . he that would be fully instructed , let him read bauhinus of the bezar stone . chap. xxvi . of gold. wee have done with minerals thus far . now follow metals . first , gold : this is found in its proper vein , and in stones that are of shining white ; also in the true pyrite , and sometimes in stones of iron . in spain some pieces have been found weighing above ten pound weight . it is plough'd up in galitia , justin. l. . dubravius writes , that in the mountains of the gelovienses , a masse of ten pounds was taken out of a rock ; and he saith , it was presented to king wenceslaus . in india the pismires ( which in aegypt are as great as wolves ) do carry it and keep it . in the islands of the sea of aethiopia , the plenty of it is so great , that the inhabitants have barter'd a talent for horses , plin. l. . c. . this one thing loseth nothing by fire , but the more it burns , it growes the better . yet the juyce of lemmons will abate from its weight , lemnius occult . l. . c. . and if hens limbs be mingled with melted gold , they consume it , plin. l. . c. . the heat of living creatures may work upon it , as wendlerus witnesseth in prognostic . anni . a senator of gorlicum had a fat hen , she had eaten about . books of leaf-gold beaten out with the hammer . when she was killed , it was found pure within her . in her breast . golden streaks were seen , some artificer was thought to have drawn them , schnitzerus epistol . . writes , that in the stomach of another , that was killed , some moneys were found half consumed . to this adde what zacharias à p●teo affirms in his clavis medica spagyrica , and chirurgica ; when , saith he , i studied at padua , it happened , that one of our hens , flew upon the table ; there were upon it some ornaments for women : amongst the rest a precious pearl , which hung to an ear jewel curiously made by an artificer , and it had some golden covers drawn about it , the hen swallowed this pearl with the ear-jewel ; when . or . hours were past , the pearl and jewel were mist. a certain maid thought the hen had swallowed it ; because some dayes before the said hen had swallowed one , the italians call gazetta . wherefore , the hen was killed , and presently her gisard being parted and cut , we found the pearel with the earing not yet passed into the cavity of the stomach , but contained in the orifice thereof ; extream hot , and yielding to the touch like wax , and the ornaments of it almost consumed by the heat thereof , which jewel in a short space , when it grew cold , and the heat was gon , became hard , as it was before ; the forme was spoiled , and when it was weighed with another caring like it , it wanted a third part in weight . but to return to gold. no mettal is drawn out further , or can be more divided : for one ounce of it will be hammer'd into and more leaves , of . fingers broad and long , plin. l. . c. . that it may be wire-drawn , and spun without silk , i need not approve of ; the luxury of the age is well known . pliny lived , when agrippina , as claudius , made a shew of a sea-sight , sate by him , clothed in a robe of woven gold , without any other addition . now though it consumes not in the fire , yet it is resolved chymically , and becomes so aërial , that if it be but stirred with an iron spatula , or grow hot any other way , it will presently take fire and make a great noise ; and one scruple of it shall work more forcibly than half a pound of gun-powder , crollius cited by sennert . c. . de consens . et dissens . chymicor . a few grains of it if they flye down perpendicularly , can strike through a table of wood , quercetan . the cause is , the contrariety of the spirit of nitre , and the brimstone of gold : for when as oyl or salt of tartar is poured into the solution of gold , the salt of tartar unites it self with common salt , and also with allum , and ammoniac ; and hence it is , that gold left to it self sinks to the bottom ; and if any of these salts is left with the gold , it is washed off with hot water , sennertus de consens . et dissens . chymic , et galen . c. . onely the spirit of nitre is left , which perfectly unites with the gold. if that therefore grow hot , so soon as it perceives that the sulphur of gold is there present , it opposeth it self against its enemy , and breaks forth with a mighty noise , in flame . it hath been long disputed , whether it can be made potable ; experience shews that it may . for that famous man dr. francis antony , physitian of london , brought it into a consistence like honey , and sent certain portions of it to the physitians of germany to try it , johan . vincent . finckius in enchiridio dogmatico hermetico . yet heurn . l. . aph. , thinks it hath no nutritive faculty , because between potable and solid gold , there is no difference but the liquefaction ; and if a man cannot be nourished by the pure elements he can hardly be fed with things inanimate and distilled : also it may be made , nay it was made . kelleius an english man converted one pound of quick-silver with one drop of a liquor of a deep red colour , into gold , that with one grain , he tainted , and with one he extracted about ten ounces of pure gold , sennert . de consens et diss . cap. . and what theophrastus did , is known out of neander ; it is known out of oporinus , neander in geographia , oporinus in epistolis . nicolaus mirandulanus , made an ingot of gold out of brasse , he did it also at jerusalem , and there are so many witnesses , that it were impudence to deny it . picus mirandula apollinaris did aver sincerely that he had above ways to make gold. hence was made that epitaph at rome , to the collector of gold out of lead . some think they may be changed in shape but not in substance , i see not what hinders . the forme of lead is not turned into gold ; but , that departing , this succeeds . where there is community of matter , there must be symbolization of necessity . plants have a perfect form in their kind , yet are they turned into chylus , and it is no sophistication ; the forms of things are unknown to us , we know them but by their properties ; and , when as they all inhere in that , what place is there for doubting ? yet that is difficult , and to be attempted warily . penotus was an excellent chymist ; learned men know how miserably he was deceived in his old age . his words were , if there were any man whom he could not hurt by open violence , he would perswade him to turn chymist . sennert . lib. cit . it is known to all men , that divers works are made out of gold. heliogabalus unloaded his belly in golden vessells . xerxes had a golden tree , under which he was wont to sit . a king of aegypt buried his daughter in a coat of coffin . agricola in observ . metal . in lower germany , on danubius , there were vines that had tendrels and somtimes white leaves of pure gold , alexander . the cause is assigned , that ( there ) are gold mines , and that gold grows about their roots , and being bred with it , and hardned by a secret original , whilst vines send out their branches , by a wonderfull work of nature or decree of the starrs , the gold grows out with them . alexander ab alexandro , l. . genial . dier . chap. xxvii . of silver . pure silver is dug up in many places , but especially out of two places in germany . so much was dug forth of the mine at sueberg , that it was worth rhenish nobles . that of abertham afforded nobles . about some hundreds of yeares since , the mine at friberg yeelded enough to buy all the kingdom of bohemia : agricola in praefat . in decemfossil libros ad henricum principem m●senae . wherefore prince henry , neere northusa set a great tree of silver , that he might bestow some of the leavs of it , ( which were partly silver and partly gold ) on those noble men that had gallantly discharged themselves in fighting on horsback . somtimes great lumps are dug forth . in the time of albertus the saxon , the pieces were so great , that he used them in the mines for a table , saying ; frederick the emperour is powerfull and rich , yet he hath not at this time such a table ▪ in the valley joachim , they report that there was a lump dug forth that weighed ten attick talents . nature makes it of many fashions ; sometimes like trees , sometimes like hairs . it is white , yet some hath been found green . put rude suddenly into the fire , it will leap forth : when black lead is mingled with it , it is melted in a great vessel , and part is turned into lead ore , part into lytharg : but when it burns long , it loseth something , sharp things corrode it ; divers works are made of it . amongst the tectosages there are made silver mills . an historian writes , that the buckler of barchinus asarubal weighed pounds . the history of the passion was made in pure silver ; so were hercules's labours , brought to king ferdinand . to charles the emperour a pillar made of silver . cortesius himself brought it from mexico . the price was crowns , maiolus de metallis . i saw diana with a stag and hounds made of silver , with a dial on the back-part , and there were many kinds of insects about it cast very exactly . that it stood upon , was like a table with many wheels . it ran , and their heads seemed to shake as they were turned back . india is chiefly fruitfull of silver . the mines of potossum are known . geographers will direct you , bertius in geograph . also the treasures of spain are known . they that are acquainted with it , have written , that times a hundred millions of crowns have been brought thence , boterus in hispan . descript . if there be a fifth part of silver to five of gold , it makes electrum ; of which formerly they made calices , because it would discover venom . for bows like the rainbows will run up and down in these cups with a fiery crashing , and so foreshew it two wayes . by the light it is clearer than silver , plin. l. . c. . chap. xxviii . of quicksilver . it is found pure in the trenches , when cenoble is washed with waters dropping from the veins ; for so it is collected and turned into quicksilver . the same dryed turns again to be like vermilion , very plentiful fountains run in the veins of it , and the grasse growes very green upon it , vitruvius l. . c. . for they that search for the veins of it , in a clear morning in may , they observe the clowds comming forth of the tops of the mountains , and hanging like wooll upon the grasse . it hath a marvellous sympathy with gold , plater . l. . del . f. c. . if it be in the body , it is drawn forth by drinking of gold . silver cannot be gilded without mercury . it is a wonder , that if one be anointed for the french pox , let him have a gold ring in his mouth , and with his tongue roll it up and down , the quicksilver in the body falls to the ring , it is taken out like silver , it is recovered by putting it into the fire , lemnius l. . de occult . c. . when all other things swim upon it , onely gold sinks into it . it so flyes the fire , that if it cannot go downward , it will fly upwards : and being shut in , it breaks the cover , unzer . l. de merc. c. . put into a rin● , and put to the fire , it makes it leap . bread in the oven , pease in the pot , eggs at the fire , if they be touched with a drop of it , will make men laugh by their dancing . the fire will make it fly into a vaporous smoke , but it is not dissipated . for , received and kept in a vessel , it shortly returns to quicksilver again , and loseth nothing of its weight . powred on a a plain body ▪ it moystneth not , and therefore men think it is dry . that is false ; for nature makes it round , and it is hindred from sti●king by the lead ore that surrounds it , palm . constant. de morb : contag . l. . c. . it alwayes moves . the terrestrial part is excellently well concocted , the ayr and spirits are the cause of it , for they are so shut in , that they cannot get forth ; because they strive to get out ▪ they are moved , marc. l. . c. . the use of it , is divers . the moons , when as all things are burnt by the heat of the sun , pour that into a vessel , and casting a skin upon it , they lye down upon that and cool themselves : put into the ear , and so into the brain , it causeth the falling-sicknesse . for it dissipates the animal spirits , heurn . de cap : aff . c. ●● . water wherein some quicksilver hath been infused , if it be strained and drank , wonderfully drives forth worms . midwives when women have been long in labour , for the last remedy give them a scruple of quicksilver . put into a hazel nut-shell by a hole , and so fastned in , and tyed about ones neck with a red silk , it preserves one from the plague , quercet . l. . pest . alex. . there have been so many experiments of it , that we must needs commend it before other remedies . if it hang down to touch the belly , it is singular against the cholick , plater . de dol . c. . chap. xxix . of brasse and alchimy . pure brasse is found both in its own mines , and amongst silver mines . the lumps are dug forth of divers fashions , like ic●● sickles , globes , rods . in shops where they separate brasse from silver , it is yellow and red , which they call regular ▪ duskish red they call cauldrons mettle , agric. in lib. fossil . that is softer , and may be dilated and not melted onely ; this will melt , but not be drawn : with the tincture of cadmia it will look like gold , and is called alchymy . it melts and runs in the fire , but in a great crucible it will not endure the force of the fire , nor yet put alteraatì● with things that purge silver and gold , but will be consumed wholly . it will not corrupt , and keeps other things from corruption . hence saith horace , ( a monument more lasting than brasse ) and therefore the egyptians seem to have put plates of brasse into the carcases of dead bodies . pierius in hieroglyph . testifies , that they were wont to stick sharp spears of brasse into dead bodies . camerar . ho● . subcis . cent . . c. . saw such images at venice with lauredanus . the son of lawredanus affirmed , that they were taken out of the bodies of men that were embalmed . there are divers works made of brasse . the hundred gates of babylon are celebrated in records : and that brasen cup of gallons which the lacedemonians gave to cro●sus . at florence the chappel of st. john baptist , which they call the font , hath three brazen doors gilded . the colossus of rhodes was made of the same metal , it was cubits high . fifty years after it was thrown down by an earthquake , and lay many years for a miracle , plin. l. . c. . few could fathom the thumb of it , the fingers were longer than most statues . vast caves were seen when the limbs were broken . there were within it mighty great stones : by the weight of them he ●hat made it , made it stand fast . they say it was years making of talents . it was one of the seven wonders of the world. chap. xxx . of lead . lead is of . sorts , white , ash-coloured , and black . the first is not found of its own colour , but the stones are whitish of which it is made . ceruss is made of it corroded by the steam of vineger . the ash-coloured is dug up at sneberg . when silver is boyled out of it , the fire consumes it all . of the black are made square vessels , in which salt is boyled from salt water ; from nitrous water , nitre , agricol . in observat . these filled with liquor , and set in the ayr , foreshew rain , if there be drops on the outside . there is nothing hotter than it , yet if you anoint your hands with the juice of mallowes or mercury , you may wash your hands in melted lead , so you do it quickly with swift motion , lemnius l. . de occult . c. . it is heavier than silver , yet will swim upon it being melted . it may be , the volatil parts of evaporating lead fly away by the fire ; but the silver not evaporating , sinks down , libavius l. . epist. chym. ep. ▪ it is said to increase in weight and magnitude , if it be hid in c●llars , where the ayr is troubled , so that what is put there , presently gathers rust . the leaden bands of statues that bind their feet , are sometimes found to grow , and to swell sometimes so much , that they will hang like crystal out of the stones . experience hath proved it to be unfit for medicament , fernel . lib. de lue vener . c. . for when as one by the advice of an emperick , had eaten half a pound of the powder of it with his meat in dayes , to cure the joynt gout , those things that were taken in , had a nidorous taste of lead , and what was voided by stool , looked of lead colour . yet it is found also to be for externall medicinal use . for it cools . wherefore both mortars and pessels are wont to be made of it , in which if liquors are beaten , what comes by the mixture of both is very cooling . the plates are good to lay to the loyns over-heat with venery , and against nocturnal pollutions in dreaming . calvus the orator , did prevent lust therewith , that he might preserve his strength for his study , pliny . musicians were wont to lay them upon their breasts , to sing the lowder , isidorus . nero had a plate of lead to lay upon his breast when he slept , to preserve his voice , suetonius in nerone . chap. xxxi . of iron . the mine of iron is the greatest of all mettals . on that part of cantabria which the sea passeth by , there is a mountain , high and cragged , it is incredible to speak it , it is all of iron ore ; plin. l. . c. . it is rare in india . hence they write that , pounds of iron , at the island of zabur have been bartred for , pounds of gold. pegaffetta . it was formerly found in china , called azzalum indicum , of such an excellent temper in the edg that it would cut any iron , pancirol , l. de novis repertis . digged up in sicilie , and lusatia , it grows again , and the earth and stocks of trees , as it grows , become iron . first it is like a thick liquor , and by degrees it grows hard , agricola in observat . metal . when it is boyled , it becomes moyst like water , afterwards it is broken into spunges . the more tender iron instruments , are steeped in oyle to quench them , lest they should grow too hard and brittle with water . plin. lib. citat . but in the island palmosa , it cannot be melted , & also in aethalia , strabo . l. . bertius in descript ilvae . smeared with alum and vineger it becomes like brasse . at smolnicium ( it is a town of the mount carpathum ) water is drawn out of a pit , and it is powred into pipes laid in a threefold order , and that pieces of iron in them , turn into brasse . agricol de metal . but the piece of iron that is put into the end of the pipes , is eaten by this water , that it becomes like mud ; that , afterwards boyled in a furnace becomes good brasse . it is most agreeing with all copper , that it will mingle with it in melting . the poets call these mars and venus in their fables , minder . de vitriolo . c. . aristonides , when he would expresse the fury of athamas who would throw down headlong his son clearchus , and when he had don so , the manner of his sorrow ; he mingled brasse and iron , that the rust of it shining through the brighter brasse , might expresse his shame and bashfullnesse , plin. lib. citat . plunged fiery ▪ hot in water , it becomes steel ; in vinegar , it will endure no hammering , but will sooner break than draw . hence the lacaedonians who were wont to make their coyn of iron rods , steeped them red hot in vinegar ; that , being brittle , they might never be put to any other use . plutarch in lycurgo . if you seek a reason , we say that vinegar goes into the heart of the iron ; bodin , l. . theatr : in furnaces where they make it into bars , there rise such vapours from it , when it is hammerd , that a certain powder increaseth sensibly , and multiplyes sticking to the walls . albert. mag , in lib. de animal . it is so strong that it can never be consumed by fire . in the new world there is an herb called cabuja or hentquen ; of the leavs of it , there is a reddish string , that with sand will cut iron . ovetan . histor. l. . c. . iron scales are very drying , they put it in their shoos that have sweating feet . the best iron is most white and light , and hath little branches , somtimes like to corall , somtimes bound together with very fine strings . they make bullets of it , for great guns . chap. xxxii . of fossil fl●sh . andreas libavius , a man exceedingly deserving in philosophy and physick , saith , that it was reported on the credit of the jevenses schroterori , that at the rampire of erfurd , by the port of st. andrews , upon occasion of raising the bulwark higher , that great pieces of raw flesh were dug out of ground , and that it was brawny ; much like to oxe-flesh , ( only it had no bones ) : hubnerus affirms this in epistol . ad libavium . but because those that dug it up prated that they could find it only upon thursdays , wise men began to suspect the matter , and having discovered the fraud , the deceivers were cast into prison . though fraud here may be objected ; yet it is not against reason to say with libavius , that there may be fossil flesh . most true it is that the earth , ( i add the water also ) is the mother of some living creatures , and of those imperfect ones that came by aequivocall generation ; and by the mixture of both these , clay may be made fit for the breeding of an animall principle , which somtimes becomes a perfect creature , and somtimes is deficient . as in the kinds of perfect creatures , somtimes rude lumps are bred , somtimes provided with that supplies their defect . if that be first , and yet , helps being present , it is not frustrated of its motion , it is likely that a mole of clotted blood or somthing like flesh should be made : no otherwise than as matter disposed with it for a bone , becomes a bone , which is called fossil horn. so histories relate , that shell fish have been found in the tops of the highest mountaines of sand , from marle and marble putrified : which though some think they are the reliques of the general flood , yet is it not probable , that they could last so long , by reason of the injury of time . for marble it self will at last dissolve . and if you think it absurd that a creature with blood should proceed from matter that is without blood ; i could by examples shew your absurdity . when nilus sinks down , living creatures are bred of the mud by heat of the sun , some perfect , some half perfect , sticking to the clods , diodor. sicul. a venemous frog is bred deep within the earth , where you can see no holes , when as the futures of stones are broken with wedges , agricola . of the rayning of blood and flesh there are many histories , and that came not by the sun , drawing blood from carkeises , but by changing the humour so disposed . in a ditch of the town beichelstein beneath out of a willow , stinking blood ran . at spira they say it came forth of bread . at suidnicium , a bloody fleece of snow fell down like hail . what shall i say more ? the chymists say that of satyrium , great comfrey , tutsan , bread and wine , a juyce may be made that is perfectly blood , which by due digestions may be made into substantial flesh . of brimstone boyled in linseed oyle , they make a masse like a liver . lastly the fowls in the orcades are said to be fruits of trees . you shall see it proved in the appendix of the sixth classis . wherefore we conclude with libavius , that there may be fossil flesh ; and with this discourse we will shut up this classis . setting aside those things that may be said concerning devill in mettalls , which we shall speak of in our thaumatographia pneumatica , which if god pleaseth , we intend to publish . i add one thing that i had forgot . when henry the . king of france was at bononia , there was brought to him from the east indies by an unknown person , but , as it appeared by his gesture , a barbarous fellow , a stone of a wonderfull shape and nature , for it shone with light and clearnesse exceedingly , and it seemed as if it were all on fire , and turn it which way you would , the lustre of it so enlightned the ayre with its beams , that they could hardly endure to look upon it : and this was strange in it , that it could endure no earth upon it , but if it were covered with it , it would break forth with violence of its own accord : no art of man could hold it in a narrow place , for it delighted in the spacious ayre , it was exceedingly pure and bright , no filth was upon it , it had no certain figure , but was inconstant , and changed in a moment ; and being so beautifull to behold , yet it was not safe to touch it , and those that dealt roughly with it to hold it , felt the inconvenience , as many that stod by can testify . if any part were broken off from it , by contending with it , for it was not very hard , yet the vertue of it was very usefull for many things , and the stranger said it was needfull chiefly for kings . he boasted much of the miracle , but refused to discover it , unlesse he might first receive a mighty reward . thuan saith , that he delivered these things as they were in leters of john pipin an eye witnesse of it : who in the family of a. mamorantius , m. e. professed physick , and sent his leters to antony mizaldus a famous physitian ; also , to bononia , on the day before ascension day , and saith , he leaves the matter to philosophers to discusse farther . for pipinus in his letters , neither said that the antient knew any such stone , nor do i affirm it . thuan , l. . histor. the end of the fourth classis . of naturall vvonders . the fifth classis . wherein are the wonders of plants . nature , daily breeds flowers and sents : it is evident , that men are much admonished thereby , that those things that flourish most delightfully , do soonest wither , plin. l. . histor . natural . c. . chap. i. of plants in generall . wee have seen the wonders of things without life ; now let us see the wonders of living creatures ▪ plants are first in order ; not that they are the chief , but because they have that degree in common to all living creatures . they have a vegetative soul , producing the nutritive , augmenting , and generative faculties , with all things subordinate to them . and besides , each hath a specificall form of its own being , works by it , and is distinguished from others . nature hath made up their bodies of certain parts , which philosophers call the kernel , the pith , the bark of the root , the stock , the boughes , the branches , the flowers , the fruit . as these vary , so is there very great difference in plants . the earth is their mother , their faculty was given by creation ; and because qualities are different , it is found very various in plants also . moses speaks expresly , let the earth bring forth grasse , the herb yielding seed , and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind , whose seed is in it self upon the earth . but porta ( l. . phytogn . c. . ) when he had heaped up much ground together , which was cast forth from the foundations of houses , and laid it open to the ayr ; a few dayes after , from the divers qualities of the earth , divers sorts of herbs sprang forth . he saw these things familiarly in naples climat and grounds , some of them must needs marry . the principles of male and female are mingled in them . but that which pliny writes is false , that they are begot by the west wind . they wither that fructifie most , for their nourishment is consumed ; and beyond st. thomas island , the south wind onely is said to blow , elsewhere onely two winds by courses : and it is certain , that all kinds of plants do not grow in all places . for near rome chestnuts will hardly grow : and about cimmerian bosphorus , in the city particapaeum . king mithridates and the rest of the inhabitants wanted the bay and myrtill tree in their solemnities . some new plants are found in new-found places , as tobacco lately in america , wild tobacco was found in the woods of thuringia , libavius l. . de orig . rerum . anaxagoras ascribes it to the ayr that hath in it the seeds of all things , and sends them down in showrs , and they become plants . diogenes , to the waters putrifying and mingled with the earth . others to the winds , bringing them . we ascribe them , to divine providence , which did not produce each individual plant , but disposed of the best in paradise , and left the rest without , endowing some with virtues to come forth into the light at their set times . as for their life , they live by heat in the earth , and dye with cold . theophrastus l. . de plant. c. . testifies , that some of them will spring again ; if an olive tree be burned to the root , it will grow again : some will live without the ground , as onions and garlick , which being many moneths from the earth , grow without any nutriment from thence , being fortified by much grosse humour of their own , marcel . l. . histor . medic . mir . c. . the forces of plants are wonderful . it hath been observed , that if men with wands travel where ill plants grow , the ulcers will be inflamed , and cured where the plants are healthful , mathiol . in dioscor . praefat. by touching of spleenwort , splenetick people have been helped ; and jaundy-sick , by putting celandine to their naked feet in their shooes . no man shall be troubled with blear-eyes , so long as he keeps very clean by him the root of the wild sowr dock . he shall not be troubled with the strangury any more , who quencheth in his urine the burning root of tamarisk . physitians do diversly dispose them ; the chymists teach us to know them by their signatures ; and porta of naples thinks , that it is certain , that what part of man they resemble that they are good for , sennert . de cons. chym. c. . but of these , more hereafter if god please . now let us see nature prodigall in plants , and opening her treasures , let us admire with thanksgiving . chap. ii. of wormwood , woolfsbane , and snapdragon . wormwood is in many things a wonderful plant , it is very bitter , yet the distilled water of it is sweet . hence the commentators on mesues think , that the intrinsecal parts are sweet : but the matter must be ascribed to the thinnesse of the outward parts ; for these being soluble into a vapour , being more attenuated by heat of the fire , are easily resolved , and abate of their bitternesse , mathiolus in dioscor . c. . the lye out of which the salt of it is prepared , will so benum the hands , that they almost lose their feeling , mathiol . de febrib . pest . it is credible , that if infants before they be weeks old , be anointed with the juice of wormwood on their hands and feet , that neither heat nor cold will ever trouble them during their life : and if the whole body be anointed , they shall never be scabby , guerth . in append. ad memorab . mizaldi . wolfsbane is the quickest of all venomous things ; for if it touch but the secrets of a woman , it kills her the same day . this was the poyson , that mar : coecilius objected , that calphurnius bestia killed his wives with , when they were asleep : hence it is that he so sharply declamed against him , that they dyed by his hand . yet experience teacheth , that this may be made use of for mans good , and against the bitings of scorpions , given in hot wine , the nature of it is to kill man , unlesse it find some venome in him to be destroyed . scorpions are stun'd by the touch of it ; and being astonished , shew by their palenesse that they are subdued . white hellebore helps them by its resolving touch , and wolfsbane yields to two evils , to that which is evil to it self , and to all others , pliny . but snapdragon is so contrary to them , that the sight of it stuns them : but whilest some by this amulet hope to procure princes favours , they are deceived , mathiol : in l. . dioscor . c. . chap. iii. of aloes , agallochum , and camomill . scaliger had found by above years tryal , that aloes hurts the liver , exerc. . sect. . they whose veins swell , or are opened , if they take never so little of it , it will certainly go thither ; for it will adde something of its own to open these vessels . but agallo●●um is aloes wood so excellent , that cast into water , it will not swim at all , but sinks presently ; when it is cut from the tree , the inhabitants bury it a whole year , that the bark may wither under ground , and the wood lose nothing : and they think it will never be so sweet , unlesse it first be worm-eaten , simeon sethi citante mathi●lo . camomil is so like to may-weed , that you cannot know them asunder by sight , but onely by smell . this stinks , and bound on will presently blister the skin . the flowers of camomil taken without the leaves , and beat in a mortar , and made with oyl into balls , if they be dissolved in the same oyl , and those that have feavers be anointed therewith from the crown of the head , to the soles of the feet , and be presently covered with blankets to sweat ; if they sweat plentifully , it cures them of their agues . this is nictessius aegyptius his receipt , mathiol . in dioscorid . l. . c. . chap. iv. of ammi , holly , ceterach , and the strawberry-tree . ammi , if it be the right seed that comes from alexandria , it cherisheth womens fruitfulnesse : if you drink of it a dram weight in the morning every other day , . hours before meat . yet in those dayes they must not lie with their husbands , as mathiol . in . dioscor . c. . with the flowers of holly , water congealeth ; and a stick made of it , thrown at any living creature , though it fell short by the weaknesse of him that threw it ; yet of it self it will fall nearer to him , plin. l. . ceterach growes in crete , by the river potereus , that runs between two cities enosa and cortina : it destroyes the spleen in cattel , that eat it ; thence it hath its name spleenwort ▪ in a certain place that lyes toward cortina , this spleenwort is found in great abundance ; but it is otherwise toward enosa , for there growes none . in the wrong side of the leave of it , there is found a precious powder , which being given one dram weight , with half a dram of the powder of white amber , in the juice of purslane , cures the gonorrhaea . the strawberry tree flowers in july ; the buds by a singular hanging together , are joyned in clusters at the utmost end , each of them like a long form'd myrtil berry , and as great , without leaves ; hollow , as an egge made so , with the mouth open ; when it fades , what hindred is perforated , theophrast . l. . c. . de plantis . chap. v. of the cane reed , asserall , and agnacath . in zeilam the reeds are so large , that they make boats of them severally ; also they make javelius of them : as in the kingdom of pegu , they make masts and oars of the myoparones : certain it is , that they are some of them foot about , scaliger exerc. . mathiolus writes , that in india they grow so great , that between every knot , they serve for boats to sail in lakes and rivers , for three men to sit in them . mathiol . in dioscorid . l. . c. . between the reed and the fern there is a deadly feud , and they say that a reed tied to the plough destroys all the fern that growes there . it agrees with sparagus ; for if they be sowed in reedy grounds , they increase wonderfully . mathiol , l. citat . the turks , going to battle , devoure asseral , and by that they grow merry and bold against dangers . juglers use this often on their scaffolds . they mingle a medicament with wine , that will draw their mouths together : and whom they would put a trick upon , they bid him dip his finger in and suck it ; he putting this into his mouth , cannot for pain suck it . the juglers , as if they pittied him in this case , annoint the arteries of his wrists and temples with some peculiar oyntment . when he is recovered , like one that comes from sea after shipwrack , he winds his hair and garments as if they were wet , and wrings them out , he wipes his armes , blows his nose . scaliger . exerc. . agnacath is a tree like a peare tree , and as great , allwayes with green leaves , and very clear in the outside . it makes men so lusty that it is miraculous . kin to this , is a root in the western hills of allas , the inhabitants call that part surnaga . the eating of it gives wonderfull strength for venus ▪ they say if a man make water on it , he is presently provoked . if virgins do but sit on them in the fields ; or urine upon them , the hymen is presently broken , as if they had known a man. scalig. exerc. . s. . chap. vi. of the scythian lamb , the bashfull plant , and amfi● . the scythian lamb is a plant that come 〈…〉 seed like a kernel , but not so long . the tartars call it 〈…〉 . it g●●ws like a lamb about three foot high , and is like a lamb in his feet , claws , ears , the whole head , except the horns . for horns ; it hath h●ire : is is singular like a horn , and a very thin horn covers it , the inhabitants take it off , and use it for cloathing . it is of a wonderfull sweetnesse ; blood runs forth of the wound . as long as other herbs grow about it , so long it will live . it dies , when these are gon . wolves desire it , but other beasts that feed on flesh , do not . scali●●r exerc , , sect . . the bashfull-tree draws back , if you but touch the leaves with your hand . apollodorus , scholler to democritus , discovered that amfia is a medicament amogst the iridi , of wonderfull use . they that are not used to it from their childhood , if they eat it afterwards , it kills them : also it kills those that are used to it , and then 〈…〉 it ; but hurts not those if they continue it . the women of cambaya ▪ when they would avoid punishment feed of it ; and dye without pain . the king of province fed with this from his young yeares grew so venemous , that the very flies that but suckt his skin swelled and died with it . it is thought to be opium , and the turks maslach . tthough turnheuserus herbar . l. . c. . saith , that by the secret relation of the turks , he learned that this was made of the juyce of leopards bane , yet it is nothing else , but opum , as scaliger , poterius , and johannes baptista sylvagius , interpreter for the venetians with the turkish emperour , do testify . he being demanded by bucretius , reported that the turks have two medicaments , to make them merry , afra and bongelie ; that prepared of opium : this with honey , and the leaves and seeds of hemp powdred and used frequently , this will make them undergo any dangers , for it makes them frantick ; and if they sleep , they dream of the fighting of gyants , and fires , and cities burning . chap. vii . of balsome tree , and betel . before these times , in judaea the balsom tree yielded great profit , and there was an orchard of it in two kings dominions , one of acres , the other not so many ; but now there is none to be found . it is probable that the kings of aegypt transplanted it into their own gardens , as being jealous of their greatnesse , plin. l. . c. . in grand cairo there is a garden of balsom trees , the leafe is like rue leaves alwaies green . the gum of it is gathered in the trunk of it , making incision at the upper part , with iron ; when the sun is hottest , that which remaines is not much . for a man can hardly fill a cockle shell in a whole day . theophrastus , l. . c. . de plantis . pliny writes , if it be cut with an iron , it presently dies , and therefore they that gather balsome , use glasse , stone , and bone-knives to cut the bark , and taking the juyce in wool , they collect it in little hornes . that which is indian or occidental , is brought out of the west indies into spain . it is the liquor of a tree called xilon ; the bark of it , which is thinne being cut , a clammy whitish liquor in small quantity flows forth , which the inhabitants preserve . also the boughs and roots cut into pieces , very small like chips , and boyled in a cauldron with water , when it is cold , yeilds the same . from shell-fish they collect an oyle that swims at top , that is red from black , of a most sweet smell , a sharp tast and somwhat bitter . a pound of it in spain is sold for three dudats , whereas an ounce was wont to be sold for or . bauhin . in dioscorid ▪ be●●l a lease called so from the river , which runs not far from gamba●a , it grows from a plant that is wrapt with others and wants propping● it hath neither flower nor juyce . the indians feed daily on it , when they are at leasure : for they think when it is green that it promotes venery ; it makes their lips red , and their teeth black . mathiol . l. . dioscorid . c. . it troubles their minds if they eat of it too freely , therefore the women of tarnassarum , to lament for their husbands , eat it till they grow mad , and so they run into the fire , and are burnt with them . it is sprinkled with water made of lime , from shells of fishes , and then they eat it , scaliger , exerc. . . s. . chap. viii . of betonie , birch and box. betonie is said to defend consecrated places and graves from fearfull apparitions ; and is so forcible , that it will draw forth broken bones ; bruised with a little salt , and put into the nose , it stops the bleeding of it , mathiol . in , dioscorid , c. . birch loves to grow in a cold and snowy country . the stalk pierced with a piercer sends forth abundance of most clear water , it is good to break stones in the reins and bladder , if it be long drank . mathiol . l. . c. . the ananii take of the bark of it , and wreath it , and make candles of it to burn at night , which because they abound with a pitchy fat , they burn like torches , and give the colour of rosin like pitch . in the boxwood there is a kind of narcotick force , and a sleepy sulphureous matter . that is apparent from the stinking smel of it , and the ground it delights to grow in . for it bree●● in mountaines and stony grounds , and prospers there , and drinks in a most stinking brimstone . from the rasping of it , a water is distilled like the spirit of vitriol . the greatest tooth-ach is allayed , if you dip a tooth-picker into it , and thrust it into the root of the a●ing tooth , and that so suddenly , that by miracle allmost , and by way of a charms , the pain is presently gon● que●● et . tetrad . c. ● . the flowers 〈…〉 said so to purge the blood , that if one drain thereof be giv●● with field poppy water , and blood be drawn a● hour after , it will run clear ; petreius in nosol . harm . discurs . . chap. ix . of batat , baxera , brusathaer , and baara● . batat is a root like a turnep , with a black rind , it spreads underneath , as it were by armes ; the colour of the 〈…〉 , and so it is divided into divers kinds , but the worst is the yellow . it is planted wonderfully , for it is se●mo● with the root ▪ but 〈…〉 the olive , by a slip ▪ the twig , being cut into severall parts , is 〈…〉 yet some of the rind must be left . they set it like the vine and prop it up , for the fibres of it , run about like hops ▪ in the fifth month it is ripe , scaliger , exerc . . s. . baxera● 〈…〉 a tree in the kingdom of belus , which is neere to the tartars of cathay . the root of it 〈…〉 kills one presently . the fruit of nira●und is a remedie for the mischief of it . it drives away any poyson whatsoever , scaliger . exerc. . s. . b●u●ath●er are sea-trees in the s●●us of china ▪ so great are they , that birds of wonderfull bignesse do lodge in them . they are so vast , saith scaliger , that the greatest creatures may be born up by them , and taken above ground . scalig. exerc . . s. . josephus writ of baaras . in a valley , saith he , where the city is conpassed on the north side , there is a certain lake called baaras , where there is a root called by the same name . it is of a flame colour , and about the evening , it shines like the suns beams . those that come to it , and would pul it up , cannot easily do it , but it draws from them ; nor will it st●y , untill some body powre the urine of the menstrual blood of a woman upon it . also , then if any one touch it , it is certain death , unlesse he carry the same root hanging in his hand . it is taken an other way without danger , which is this ; they dig round about it , so that very little of the root be covered with the earth , then they tye a dog to it , and he striving to follow him that tied him , pulls the root out very easily , but the dog allwaies dies , as in place of him , that should take it up : for after that , there is no fear for any man to take it up . it seems to be a fable , unlesse there be some other meaning in it . chap. x. of cachi , cacavate , cassia , our ladies thistle , and corallina . cachi is a prickly tree in malabar , they call the fruit of it ciccara ; it is like the pine-nut ; for within , the severall divisions are distinguished by membranes , as in the pomegranate . the apples are like figs in shape , and sweetnesse , without any rind : there are , and somtimes upon them ; scalig. exerc . , s. . amongst these small fruits , there is another like a chesnut , and cracks like it , when it is rosted . the fruit grows forth of the stock , as it doth on the mulberry fig-tree , between the prickles and the leaves . somtimes , which is the greater wonder , it comes forth of the root under ground , and it brings forth but one apple , but so great that it will load a strong man , maiol . col . de plant. cacavate is a tree in the province of america nicaragna , which so abhors the sun , that it must be kept allwaies in the shade , and must be covered with the shadow of some higher tree : in woody places that are wet , if it come to the sun , it perisheth . libavius de orig . rerum . cassia oft times is changeed into cinnamon . galen saw some boughs that were exceeding good and alltogether like it , and some twigs of cinnamon like to cassia : hence grew his opinion that for one part of cinnamon , two parts of choise cassia might be substituted in physicall compositions . galen de antid . l. . the twigs of it were cut in peices , and sowed up in green oxe-hides , least the wood should grow unprofitable , by worms that will breed in it . plin. l. . c. . of solutive cassia men say , that he that shall daily swallow three drams of the pulp of it before dinner , shall never be troubled with the stone nor colick , mathiol in dioscor . l. . the flowers of the milky thistle , which they call carduus mariae . platerus de vit . saith , they cured a souldier of the strangury , onely by looking upon them . corallina is of so great force against worms , that it drives them forth the same day it is taken . there was a boy that took it , and voided worms . the antients knew it hot , now they use it all over greece , lemn . occult l. . c. . chap. xi . of cinnamon and cedar . cinnamon growes in zeilam , and in one of the molucco islands , mutir . it bears no fruit . in the heat , the rind cleavs and comes off , it is pull'd off twice a year , scalig. exerc. . first it growes sweet , and the next moneth it comes to perfection . in galen's dayes it was so scarce , that no man had any but the emperour , galen l. . de antid . but even at this day there is scarce any such as galen describes , scalig. loc . cit . it holds not good for years ; for it is false , that others write , that it never growes old . i ( saith galen , loc . cit . ) observed some change in cinamon , not that was years old , but far younger , in comparison : for at the time that i made theriac for the emperour antoninus , i saw many woodden vessels wherein such cinamon was , some were laid up in the time of trajan ; others of adrian ; some in antoninus his time ; and all these in taste and smell did exceed or fall short one of another , so much as they differed in age . cedar doth bring spungy flesh to putrefaction without pain , because it is dry ; and preserves dead bodies from corruption ; for it drinks up the superfluous moys●ure in them , not medling with what is firm , mathiol . l ▪ . dioscor ▪ c. ● . it kills nits , lice ; moaths and worms bred in the ears ; ●aid on , it kills the child that is living , and drives forth the dead , theophrast . l. . c. . it corrupts the seed in copulation , and hinders procreation . it grew formerly abundantly in libanus ; now adayes it is very little there , ( rhanwolsius reckoned but trees ) . it is wonderful for height and thicknesse . the body is so great , that three men cannot fathom it . it is far greater in orchards , if it be let alone and not cut down . at utica there was the temple of apollo , where the beams of the numidian cedars lasted ; for they were laid there at the first founding of that city , that was years , plin. l. . c. . chap. xii . of chamaeleon , cloves , and cichory . the root of black chamaeleon is venomous in greece and pontus : mathiolus ascribes it to the goodnesse of the climate , where it is not so . for the peach tree was formerly deadly to the persians , but safe to the egyptians ; and cuckowpint was so mild amongst them of cyrene , that they eat it for meat like rape roots . in greece and italy they cannot eat it boyled nor raw . it kills both dogs and sows , dogs , when it is kneaded with barley meal , oyl , and water ; sows , with coleworts . if you would try whether a sick man shall live , some say he must be washed with that root for . dayes ; if he can endure it , they think he will not die . the clammy substance growing at the roots of it , is present venom ; but taken moderately , it makes sleepy persons wakeful , theophrast . l. . de plant. c. . hence the women of crete , that they may not sleep at their work , eat a little of it after supper . the clove-tree growes in the indies in some islands of the indian sea , it is like a bay-tree , with narrower and most sweet smelling leaves . cloves proceed from them , that are nothing but the beginning of the fruit . it growes of its own accord when the cloves fall down , mathiol . in l. . dioscorid . c. . it growes to perfection in . years , and lasts a hundred years . it bears fruit onely in the molucco islands . the keepers of it beat the tree with canes , covering the earth before with palm-tree coverings . for . years it yields fruit , then it growes barren , and degenerates , scalig. exerc. . s. . cichory , called wart-succory , kills warts . many by once eating one sallet of the leaves of it , have been freed . the seed doth the like , taken one dram for three dayes after supper , mathiol . in l. . c. . chap. xiii . of saffron and cherries . saffron flowrs almost for a moneth ; after the flowers , by and by come forth the leaves , that are green all the winter , not caring for the cold ; they grow dry , and fall off in the spring ; they never appear in summer , mathiol . ad l. . dioscorid . c. . it flowers when the pleiades set ; and presently with the leaf it drives out the flower . the root loves lime , it comes up by perishing ; whence those verses were made : saffron that 's bruis'd growes fairer ; be not sad , to suffer , for at last 't will make thee glad . minder . aloed . c. . it is good for shortnesse of breath , cardanus de spirat . diffic . it recovered the mother in law of caesar de comitibus , who for . moneths was so short-winded , that she was next to deaths-door . given to women in labour , it presently flyes to the matrix , so that one woman was delivered with a child , dy'd in saffron , heurn . l. . medic . c. . it is hurtful to the brain , and with much using of it , it will cause one to laugh : we have an example of a merchant who fell into such a laughter after meat , when he had eaten over-much of it , that he was ready to die . a mule-driver at pisanta , sleeping upon two little bags of saffron , dyed that night , lusitan . com. ad c. . l. . dioscor . cherry-trees cannot away with dung ; if therefore you dung their roots , they degenerate ; they prosper well if you cut off the branches of them , and bury them by the roots , that they may corrupt there . they grow without stones , if you cut the tree off when it is young , about . foot from the ground , and pick out the pith of it with an iron , clearing the stock , and bind both parts together again , mathiol . ad l. . dioscor . c. . chap. xiv . of the dog-tree , cypresse-tree , and cucumbers . the inhabitants of ida by troy say , that the male dog-tree is barren . in macedonia they are both fruitfull ; but the male brings ripe berries in summer , the female in autumn . these berries are not so good as those ; for they can hardly be eaten . bees that taste of its flower , die by a dysentery . the cypresse-tree growes naturally onely in candie ; for in what place soever the earth is digged , unlesse it be planted as it should be , it will come forth again of it self . in mount ida it growes very well and numerous , in ground that is not forced , plin. l. . c. . set in watry grounds it presently decayes , and it is kill'd by laying dung to it . the seed is as small as atoms . the pismires desire it , which is the greater wonder , that so small creatures can devour it all ; the leaves are alwaies green , and the substance is never rotten , nor breeds worms , rhodigin . l. . c. . plin. l. . c. . the image of vejovis made of this wood , remained in the fortresse from the year the city was built , . even to the dayes of rhodiginus . in arcadia at phophis there were some so tall , that they overshadowed the mountain that was next to them , dalechamp . ad loc . cit . plin. cucumbers are sometimes wonderful gr●at , that in india one man cannot carry one of them . scaliger saw one was . foot and a half long . he saith also , exerc. . that he had a dry gourd , which a man that carried it in sport , seemed to have a great log on his back ; it was hands breadth . eaten , they remain in the stomach till the next day ; for they are of a clammy and cold substance , plin. l. . c. . they so hate oyl , that if a vessel of oyl be put under them when they hang on the stalk ▪ they will turn from it , and grow crooked : they grow very tender , if the seed be steeped in milk before they be set . chap. xv. of onions , celandine , hemp , and river sponge . the onions of the ascalonitae are of a peculiar nature ; they onely are cleft from the root and barren ; nor will they grow from that part , theophr . l. . c. . therefore they are not set , but sowed with their seed , and in the spring they are transplanted with their branches . in candie also , there is a kind of them that growes thick in the root , sowed in seed ; but set , it spreads into stalks and seed ; it is sweet in taste , but hath no head . seed of elinus being put into onions , there will spring up an herb , with leaves like flax , of a sharp taste , they call it dragons . yet scaliger was deceived when he sowed it , and thought to try this miracle , scalig. exerc. . s. . they say of celandine , that swallowes lay it on the eyes of their young ones , and restore their lost sight , dioscor . l. . c. . hence , aristotle . de generat . animal . c. . saith , prick the young swallows eys , and they will see again : worn next the soles of the feet , it cures the jaundies : laid to womens breasts , is will stop the too great abundance of their terms , mathiol . ad dioscor . loc . cit . garden hemp-seed will make hens lay , and it extinguisheth mans nature eaten too largely , mathiol . ad l. . dioscor . c. . the decoction of new hemp if you presse it out strongly , and pour it on the ground , it will force the worms out of their holes , and kills worms in the ears , plin. l. . c. . river sponge is proper especially to the rivers by the alps. a pruner of trees was cured by it , that fell from a tree , and brake almost all his bones . they laid it round his body , and as oft as it grew dry , they sprinkled it with water . though they did this but seldom , yet he was quickly restored , mathiol . ad l. . dioscor . c. . chap. xvi . of hemlock , ciacompalon , and cocco . hemlock is a kind of poyson , that makes men mad , and kills them . franciscus trapollinus dyed mad with it , when his maid had put it into his pottage instead of parsley . it hath made some creatures lie for dead , and when they stood up again , they were astonished a long time , and afterwards they ran wildly up and down . scaliger writes , he never saw any man that was killed by it . starlings feed on it . from plato we collect , that the force of it may be abated , if one be moderately hot before he take the juice of it : therefore scaliger , exerc. . s. . saith , that the executioner that was to give this most deadly poyson , warned crito , that he should not suffer socrates to dispute too much , because by that agitation of the mind , he would grow hot . ciocompalon is a kind of tree in camalonga , which sends forth only , or , branches from a long stalk : the leaves are very great , for the inhabitants weare them for a cloke , against the heat of the sun and rayn . in the top of the tree it puts forth flowers like bean flowers , about , from whence grow fruit abundantly , as big as ones hand breath . it is a yearely plant. it withers after it hath brought forth . coccus is the same with tenga . it is a tree with a leaf like the palme-tree : they cover their houses with them , for they make mats of them to serve for six months , ( in china and malabar ) scalig. exerc . . s. . it brings fruit in clusters , as the palme tree doth , each hath ● nuts . when its comes forth , there is water bred in it ; it is filled with it , when it is perfect . the end of this increase is the beginning of the pith , for it grows by the thickning of it . the quantity is full three cyathi . it is very sweet . when the tree is come to the full growth , in august , they cut some of the boughs of it in the middle ▪ and leave the rest ; they cut off the top also a little . they hang a cu● to each of them , four great jugs are filled in one day . it brings fruit that continually follow one the other ; it lives , , or , yeares . chap. xvii . of doronicum , dragons , olive-honey , vipers , bugloss , eryngion , euphorhium . doronicum is poyson , that kills doggs suddenly . matthiolus gave some to his dogg , and the dogg fawned on him all the time he lived ; in seven hours he died , as of a falling sicknesse . there is a 〈…〉 of tree in the west indies neere carthagena , the fruit whereof is perfectly like a dragon , with a long neck , open mouth , nostrills lifted up , a long taile , standing on its feet , so that who sees it would think it to be a dragon . monarel . in palmyra of syria there runs forth oyle from a stock of a tree , that tasts sweet ; it is called etaeo-meli , mathiol . in l. . c. . it purgeth choler and crudities , exhibited one sextarius of it , with one hemina of water . they that take it grow stupid , but they receive no harm if they be often rowsed , that they may not sleep . dioscor . l. . c. . echion or vipers buglosse , was found by one alcibius . sleeping on the ground , a viper bit him , mathiol in l. . c. . when he rose up ; he pressed out the juyce o● the hearb with his teeth ▪ and drank it down , the rest he laid to the wound , and it cured him . nature hath made the hearb with hairs like vipers , that men might know the use of it . eryngion , if a goat take it in the mouth , the whole heard will stand still , and cannot move till you take it out . plutarch in lib. quod maxin● cum princip . disp . si philos . the smell of it passeth so quick , that it spreads like fire to what is next , and exerciseth its force upon it . suphorbium , if we believe the africans , is a prickly plant , out of the root of it the fruit comes forth of a long forme like to cucumbers , somtimes two foot long , when it is ripe it is pricked with an iron , and a clammy white liqu●r comes forth of it , which they let run into a bottle , and they keep that . scalig , exer . . s. . it purgeth the belly , but the patient will faint and sweat with a cold sweat . given , the weight of two o●boli , it cures the dropsy ; it kills one if he take three drams weight . for in , days it will corrode the stomach and the guts . mathiol . in l. . c. . chap. xviii . of elaterium , hellebour , eupatorium , emitum and fennel . elaterium lasts longest of all physicks . one had of it that was yeares old . the moysture is said to be the cause of it . for though it be cut moyst and layd in the ashes , yet for yeares it will put out a candle , if it be put to it . theophil , l. . c. . with the infusion of hellebour in the midst of winter , when the cold is greatest , many have been cured of a quartane ague . matthiolus ad l. . c. , never saith he as i remember , did we give our infusion to those had quartane agues , but at once or twice taking , by gods assistance they were cured . by the smell of dryed eupatorium , venemous creatures are driven away . hearts wounded are cured by eating this ; matthiol . ad loc cit , c. . emitus is a tree in trachimia ; if serpents come neere , and but touch it , they dye . aelian , l. . c. . also strabo saw one l. . that i will here mention , it was like a bay tree ; beasts that tast of it , grow mad , some at the mouth , and fall into an epilopse . in the kingdome of tombut which is the wilde of west aethiopia● , fennel grows so big , that they make bowes of it . scalig. exerc . . in spain , whilst it is green , the country people mowe down the stalks of it for firing . dalecamp . ad plin. l. c. ult . chap. xix . of fennel gyant and the fig-tree . fennel gyant grows in hot countries . out of the first shoots of it shepherds take out a little pith , like to the the yolk of an ege that is hard . that wrapt in a wet paper and rosted under the embers and then sprinkled with salt and pepper , tasts exceeding well and makes them busy . mathiol . ad l. . c. . they are by nature of great antipathy to lampreyes , for if they but touch them , they dye , plin. l. . c. . also they are present poyson to other beasts ; yet very pleasant food for asses . the indian fig-tree is wonderfull great . scaliger briefly describes it out of theophrastus . the fig-tree , saith he , beares small fruit ▪ it plants it self , and is spread forth with vast boughs , by the weight whereof they are so bended to the earth , that in a yeares space , they stick in and grow up with new branches , round about their parents like to arbouts : so that seven shepheards may summer under it , being shaded and fenced about with the fence of the tree . it is pleasant to behold , and from far it seems , an arched circumference . the upper boughs of it put forth very high , and in abundance like a wood from the huge bulk of the tree , that many of them make a round of paces , and they will cast a shade two furlongs . the broad leaves are like an amazonian target : wherefore covering the fruit , it will not let it grow ; it is very rare , and no bigger than a beane . scalig. exerc . . moreover carthage was destroyed by the fig-tree . for cato beareing a deadly ●ate against carthage , and being carefull to secure his posperity ; when he had cried out at every meeting of the senate , that carthage must be destroyed , he brought one day into the court , a early ripe figg , that was fetcht from carthage , & shewing it to the son a tours ; he asked them , whence they thought that fig was taken from the tree ▪ and when they all granted it was newly gathered , he replied , , dayes since was this pulled at carthage ; so neere to our walls is the enemy . they presently began the d ▪ punick warre ▪ wherein carthage was rooted out . in hyrcania there are some that each of them will beare bushells . plin. l. . c. . chap. xx. of the ash , mushrooms , and the beech. the ash is an enemy to serpents , none of them can ●ndure the shade of it , though it be late at night , plin. l. . c. . pliny saith , he proved it , that if a serpent be compassed in , with ashwood and fire , he will leap into the fire , before he will passe over the ash wood . this is the great bounty of nature , that it flowers before the serpents come forth ; nor do the leaves fall , till the serpents be gone to hide themselves . vessels made of the wood of it for use of meat and drink , help the spl●●● and the stone wonderfully , dom. zean . l. . pract . at the waters 〈…〉 out of which fire breaks forth , it did once prosper , pliny hist. l. . c. . mushrooms gro● so great in namidia , that they are thicker than quindes . in the kingdome of nanles the crust of the ground is thick , and like marble , that being covered with earth a span deep , and sprinkled with warm water , in . dayes sends forth mushromes , scalig. exerc. . s. . it is of necessity that there be some seminary vertue , out of whose bosome they may proceed ; for the water that is sprinkled on affords matter and nutriment , and also a procatarctical cause , libav . l. . epist. chym. . if they be boyled , or the juice be pressed forth and poured at the roots of trees , ( especially beech-trees ) mushroms will grow from thence in great abundance , sennert . de cons. et disp . chym. c. . in the northern parts under the pole , beech-trees are frequent of a magnetick vertue , and the mushroms that grow to them are changed into loadstones , saith olaus l. . c. . chap. xxi . of guaicum and gentian . guaicum is of great vertue against the french-pox ; in italy at first they were fearful to drink it . bread and raisins were prescribed with a moderate diet , and to live dayes in a dark chamber , and that so curiously , that they admit not of the least ayr , mathiol . in l. . c. : the errour was observed afterwards , and hens flesh was allowed , but not a drop of wine . mathiolus was the first that tryed it with successe , and others followed him , gentian , called also cruciata , is the herb of s. ladistaus a king. the report is , that the tartars drove him out of hungary , and that he fled to claudiopolis a city of da●ia ▪ there he grew acquainted with a rich man , and became his godfather . he helped him to drive out the tartars . they as they fled , threw down moneys of gold that they had plundered in the field of aradium , as a means to hinder those that pursued them . the king pray'd unto god , that they might be changed into stones ; and it was so . hence it is , that there are so many stones there . after this hungary being afflicted with a grievous plague , he obtain'd of god , that what plant an arrow shot into the ayr should fall down upon , might be a remedy for that disease . it fell upon cruciata , and by the use of that the plague was driven out of that country , camerar . centur. . memorab : s. . chap. xxii . of broom , ginger , and st. johns-wort . in stony and sandy grounds , . foot from broom , one moneth before and after the calends of june , there is a kind of broomrape found that is a cubit high ; if this be bruised , and the juice pressed forth , which is like to clear wine , and be kept in a glasse bottle stopt all the year , it is an excellent remedy against the plague . ginger is a root that creeps along with knots and joynts , the leaves are like reed leaves that wax green anew twice or thrice a year , mathiol . l. . c. . there is some difference in the taste when it is dug forth before its time to be ripe . the fit time to gather it is , when the root growes dry , otherwise it is subject to worms and rottennesse . st. johns-wort both feed and flower is wonderful to heal all wounds ; besides those in the head . some write , that the devils hate it so much , that the very smell of it drives them away . i think this superstitious . the same is reported of pellitary , especially for green wounds . if it be bruised green and bound to a wound , and taken off the third day , there will need no other medicament , mathiol . in l. . c. . chap. xxiii . of elecampane , turnsole , and hiuoa . elecampane is a yearly plant , that growes higher than a man ▪ sometimes foot in height : it growes up in . moneths after the seed is sown ; on the top of the stalk there growes a head like an artichoke , but it is rounder and broader , and it extends it self with a flower as big as a great dish , bauhin . ad lib. . dioscor . c. . sometimes the diameter of the dish is more than a foot and half ; and it is compassed about with long leaves of a golden colour , or as it were sun-beams , and the plain of it in the middle is purple colour . the seed is disposed of in the holes of the dish ; it hath a black rind and sweet substance within : so great is the abundance of it , that sometimes you shall find above a thousand in one dish : some there are , that take the tender stalks of the leaves ; and scraping away the down , they boyl them on a grid-iron , and season them with salt , oyl , and spices , and they are better tasted than artichokes . it is a wonder , that it turns with the sun east and west ; for when the sun riseth , as if it did adore the sun , it bows down the head , and it riseth with it , alwaies pointing toward the sun , and opening it self very much at the root of it , till the sun sets . turnsole kills pismires , if you stop their holes with it . if a scorpions hole be compassed about with the juice of it , he will never come forth ; but if you put in the herb , he dies , mathiol . ad l. . c. . hiuca is as great as a mans thigh , it goes about with the sun , though it be a clowdy day , and at night it is contracted as sad for the suns absence , plin. l. . c. . they break it into fine meal by rubbing it with pumex stones or whetstones ; then they put it into an hippocras bag , and pour water to it , and presse forth the juice : the liquor is deadly , but the meal that is left , is set in the sun , as they do sugar-candy ; when the meal is dry they temper it with water , and make bread of it , scalig. ex●rc . . l. . chap. xxiv . of impia , juniper . and glasse-wort . impia is thought to be a plant that no creature will taste of , and from thence it hath its name : yet bruised between two stones , it will grow hot ; and the juice of it mingled with wine and milk , is excellent against the quinsie , mathiol . in l. . c. . they that shall taste of it will never be troubled with that disease . some think that part of this herb is put into birds nests , and that keeps their young ones from being strangled when they eat so greedily . juniper is hard ; hence it is , that the wood will not corrupt in an hudnred years . therefore annibal commanded to build the temple of diana at ephesus with juniper beams , plin. l. . c. . a light cole of it covered with its own ashes , will keep fire a whole year , if we will credit the chymists . an admirable bath is made of it for the gowt thus : take . pound of juniper wood cut in pieces , boyl it in water in a great cauldron , till but a third part remain ; then pour forth the decoction with the wood into a fat : let the sick go into it , and sit there up to the navel ▪ and bathe his limbs , but he must first purge , mathiol ▪ l. . dioscor . c. . many gouty people have been made whole by this bath , that were forced to keep their beds before . the pith of it in numidia is white ; in aethiopia , black ; in lybia , purple coloured , scalig. exerc. . s. . also the african physitians raspir and use it successefully for guaicum , against the indian disease . i say by the by , that this disease was carried by the jews out of spain into africa , and cannot there be cured without a remedy . but if the patients go into numidia , or aethiopia by nigris , there the climate onely will cure them . of the ashes of kaly , salt is made this is dissolved , with powder of stones , and a kind of clammy substance swims a top to make glasse : when it is cold , it growes hard , and is called commonly axungia vitri ; being powdred , it makes the teeth wonderful clean , plater . l. . de vit. chap. xxv . of the bay-tree , mastick-tree , and flax. the bay-tree will yield fire of it self ; and if you rub the dried boughes often together , strewing powder of brimstone thereon , it will take fire , mathiol . in l. . c. . it is alwayes with green leaves ▪ and so great is the force of it , that but stick some of the boughs in the fields , and the corn will never be hurt with smut , which is the plague of corn ; for it will take hold of the leaves . at rome they held antienly , that jupiter sent it from heaven , plin. l. . c. . for an eagle from aloft let fall a white hen , into the lap of livia drusilla , ( who afterwards was called augusta , being married to caesar , whom she was espoused to ) she wondred at it , but was not afraid ; the miracle was , that she had in her beak a bay●bough that was full of bay-berries . the southsayers commanded to keep the hen , and her chickens , and to set the bay bough , and take care of it , which was done in the mannour of the caesars , that was by the river tibur , about miles from rome , in the way flaminia ; and therefore is called , ad gallinas , and it grew into a great wood . caesar afterward in triumph held a bay-bough in his hand , and had a crown of bayes on his head . amongst all trees this onely is never stricken with thunder , unlesse it be for a sign of future calamity ; no houses are thunder-stricken , as they say , where the boughs are ; therefore tiberius fearing thunder , when it did thunder , put on his lawrel crown . theophrastus writes , . de pl●nt . c. . that they are stony in the red sea. the mastick-tree beats little bladders bowed in like to horns , wherein there is contain'd a clear liquor , which with age is turned into little creatures , like to those that fly out of elm and turpentine bladders . in the island chios , of the egean sea , from the mastick tree cut , runs forth mastick : it growes in ground that is ram●d fast together , and paved , mathiol . l. . c. . if you oft-times distill linseed oyl , saith bapt. porta . l. . mag . c. . it will be so ready to take fire , that you can scarce shut it up in a vessel , but it will draw fire to it , and if the vessel be open , it is so thin , that it will fly into the ayr and evaporate , and if the light of a candle or fire touch it , the ayr will kindle , and the oyl will flame so violently at a great distance , that it is almost impossible to put it out . in the desarts of india it growes red , that will endure the fire , and be purified by it . it growes out of stones , springing , and rising upward , the hair is short ; and is therefore hard to be spun , libav . l. . c. . de bomby● . chap. xxvi . of the larch-tree , lilly , loostrife , and the lote-tree . some of the best writers say , that the larch-tree will not burn , and we alledged it before out of lemnius ; but that is found to be false . in the mountains of trent iron is made , and the furnaces are heat with larch-wood ; and no wood will better melt mettals . and if stones will burn that have a bituminous matter in them , what shall we conclude of a ros●●ous kind of wood ? lillies will hold green all the year , if when they are shut , and have not opened themselves , they be crop● , and put into new unglased pots , and kept close covered , mathiol . ex anatolio in l. . dioscor . c. . when in the mean time you take them out for your use , bring them to the sun , and by warmth of it they will open themselves . loosstrife is a notable remedy against the plague ; the country people found this plant amongst the coenomani ; bound something high upon a man , it will drive the poyson of the plague downwards , and keeping it there , will not let it rise up any more , ruel de natur . stirp . l. . c. . if oxen disagree , lay this on their yokes , and they will be quiet . the lote-tree is a va●t spreading tree full of large boughes . domitius valued . of them at a thousand sestertia , plin. l. . c. . they lasted untill such time as nero burnt the city , years . there is also an herb in egypt call'd by ●●i ' name , that when the waters of nilus go back that water'd the ground , it comes up like a bean , plin. l. . c. . the fruit of it is like a poppy head dented in , and the seeds are in it . the inhabitants putrefie the heads in heaps , then they wash them apart ; when they are dry , they bruise them , and eat them for bread . when the sun sets , these poppy heads close and are covered in leafes ▪ when the sun riseth they open , till they grow ripe , and the white flower fall off ; that bread is physical , plin. l. . c. . they that feed on it are never troubled with a dysentery nor tenasmus , nor any diseases of the belly . when it is hot , it is the most easie of digestion ; but cold , it is harder for the stomach . chap. xxvii . of malabathrum , punic and assyrian apples , and the tree called mangueis . malabathrum is a leaf of its own kind that the lakes of india produce , swimming like duckweed on the waters without any root : they gather it and stitch it through , and hang it up to dry , diosc. l. . c. . they say , that when the summer heat dryes up the waters , the dry sprigs do burn on the ground , and if this come not to passe , it growes there no more . dioscor . divides pomgranates into . heads , some are sweet , some sharp and sowr ; others are between both . they say that sharp ones will grow sweet , if hogs or mans dung be laid to the roots of the trees , and to water them oft with old urine , mathiol . l. . dioscor . c. . they are kept from corrupting a whole year , if when they are almost ripe , the branches they hang by , be woond about the tree ; or after that they are gathered , they be smeered all over with clay resolved in water , and laid some dayes in the sun. also they are dipt into scalding water , and are presently taken forth again , and laid . dayes in the sun to dry . the assyrian apple-tree bears fruit alwaies , some fall off , others coming in their places , ripening one after the other . pliny , l. . c. . saith , that people tryed to transport them for themselves , because they are so good for health , and to carry them in earthen vessels , giving place for their roots to take ayr by holes in the vessels , as all such things that must be carried far to be set and transplanted must be used , which you must remember that we may not say one thing twice . but they will not grow but amongst the medes and persians . do●dius writes , as libav . de orig . rerum . reports , than an assyrian apple , when it was cut , was found great with a young one in it , that lay in it as in the womb , and was fastned to its stalk . the question was how it grew so , and it seems there were may apples on that twig placed close together ; and the first growing but slowly , that which grew over it by abundance of matter coming to it , grew faster , and pressing with its weight on the lesser , took it into it , and so grew about it . mangueis is a tree in the country temistitan ; out of whose stock peirced , there flows a watry juyce . if any man drink too much of it , he grows drunk and stupid . the bark is good for thread , the wood for niedles , the leaves to cure diseases , and to cover houses . matol . in colloqu . de plant. chap. xxviii . of musk and mosse . musk is bred in the navel of a certaine creature ; two kinds of this creature are described : one is like a goat with one horn ; and a great body . this when it is prone to venery , with the vehemence of lust , the navel swells , and the impostume grows great by the thicker blood heaped together , r●ell . ex aetio . then it will neither eat nor drink , and roles it self often on the ground , by which rowling it presseth forth the blood that swells in the navell ; the matter pressed out , in a short time grows wonderfull sweet . scaliger writes of the other , that is in the kingdome of pegu , like a roe busk , white , from whose lower mandible , the teeth put forth equally on both sides . under the belly of it ( i set down the story out of scaliger exerc. ) the navel swells . they catch the beast , and cut off that part with the skin : and all the drops of blood that run out , when it is cut , and fall down , they are either catcht , or gathered up for good musk. when they have cut it , they set leeches on , so many and so long , till they kill it by drawing blood from it : that blood so drawn forth , being dried and made into powder , they mingle with the former in small quantities , that is very strong . one hundred part is sufficient . the sophistication is discovered , if you smel to it . that which is unmixt , will draw blood from your nose if you put it neere . there is another kind of musk called civet , it is bred in a little bladder in the testicles of a certaine creature . mathiol ad l. . c. . and growing like sweat in the testicles , is of quality moyst and hot : that put into the navel hole wonderfully cures the strangling of the matrix . there is one kind of cranes-bill that smels like musk ; especially evening and morning . the hairy mosse of the larch-tree , if it be set on fire , burns so violently , that it exceeds gun-powder . mathiol loc . cit . for they flame with a world of sparks in a darknight , and flye up toward the starrs , leaving a sweet smell behind them . gathered new , and steeped with oyle of roses , it wonderfully abates paines of the head that come from a hot cause ; it stops blood , layd upon wounds . chap. xxix . of mandragora , mallows , and the mulberry-tree . mandragora is a sleepy medicament , as experience proves , lemnius in explic . herb . biblic . c. . for when as he had negligently laid the fair and amiable fruit of it in his study , he was oppressed with drowsinesse ; but when he removed it , he grew wakefull again . the same thing hapned to the afcicans in their warre against the carthagenians . for hamilcar corrupted the wine in the vessells , and let the africans take it for spoil : when they had drank , they all fell asleep , and the carthagenians became conquerors . potyan , l. . phythagoras calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , for the roots from the middle to the bottom come forth with two forks , that it seems to have legs like men. the fruit is like an apple , not far from the root , upon the leaves lying on the ground . heidfeld . in sphing . philosoph . wherefore if it be dug up at that time , that it beares fruit , it represents a man without armes . there are also some counterfeits made of reeds , mandragora , and bryonie roots . matthiol l. . dioscor . c. . sheweth the way an impostor used to make one . they carve ( saith he ) in these the images of both men and women , sticking the graines of barley and millet in the places , where they will have haire come forth ; then making a hole in the ground , they cover it with thin sand , so long till those graines shoot forth , which will be in dayes at least . then they take them up againe , and cut the roots where the graines grow to them , with a very sharp knife , and they sit them so , that they may represent the haire of the head , the beard , and other parts that are hairy . mallows are so venereous , that the seed of that which hath but one stalk strewed on the privities , is said by xenocrates to increase lust infinitely in women . also three roots bound together are thrust up with great successe for the tenesmus and the dysentery . but it is a wonder , that water should in the open ayre grow thick by it , and white as milk. plin. l. . c. . the mulberry tree will not bud till the cold be over , yet it brings forth fruit with the first ; when it begins to bud , it buds so violently , that in one night it buds all over with a noyse , so that the whole tree will be covered with flowers . pliny , l. . c. . chap. xxx . of napellus : napellus kills with every part , but chiefly the root . for held in the hand till it wax hot , it will destroy you . it is certain , that some shepherds that used the stalk for a spit to rost birds , dyed of it . mathiolus . ( com. in l. . dioscor . c. . ) confirms this venomous quality of it by many examples . i shall adde one . one dram of napellus was given to a thief that was years old : he drank it down , and said it tasted like pepper . most grievous symptoms followed : for he vomited often something green , as leeks . he felt a thing like a ball about his navell , it came upwards , and sent a cold vapour to his head : then he became stupified as if he had a palsie that laid hold on his left arm , and leg , that he could scarce stir the top of his hand , all motion being lost in the other parts . by and by , this force of the disease forsook his left side , which became sound , and seized on his right side , and wrought the like effects there . he said , that all the veins of his body were grown cold . he had giddinesse in his head , and his brain was so often disturb'd , that he said it seem'd to him like boyling water . he had convulsions in his eyes and mouth , and a very sharp pain in his mandibles ; wherefore he often held those parts with his hands , fearing they would fall off . his eyes appeared outwardly swoln , his face wan , lips black , and his belly was seen to swell , like a tympany : his arteries beat strongly , and his mind was diversly troubled , as the symptoms increased . for sometimes he thought he should die , and presently he hoped to live ; sometimes he spake rationally , and sometimes he doted ; sometimes he wept , and sometimes he sang . he affirmed , that in all this time he was thrice blind , and thrice in an agony of death , but his tongue was firm , never troubled with any symptome . thus far mathiolus . but all these symptomes by giving him bezars stone , vanished in seven hours . chap. xxxi . of nyctegretum , granum nubiae , nutmegs , and olive trees . nyctegretum was admired by democritus , amongst a few things ; it is hot as fire , and hath thorny leafs , nor doth it rise from the ground . it must be dug up after the vernal equinoctial , and dryed by the moon-light for dayes , and then it will shine in the night , plin. l. . c. . it is also called chenomychon , because geese are afraid at the sight of it . in nubia , which is aethiopia by aegypt , there is a grain that swallowed will kill living creatures . a tenth part of it will kill them in a quarter of an hour , scalig. exerc. . s. . in banda an island of the molucco's the nutmeg growes , and it is covered with a cup for a shell , when 't is ripe it is all covered over . under the first covering the shell is not presently that covers the kernel , but a thick skin which the arabians call macin . the olive-tree if it be cropped at the first budding by a goat , growes so barren , that it will never bear by any means ; but if there be any other cause , the certain cure is , to lay open their roots to the winter cold , plin. l. . c. . the olive and the oak so disagree , that one planted by the other will shortly die . the lees of oyl mingled with lime , if walls be plaistered with it , and the roofs , they not onely drop down all adventitious humours that they contract , but neither moth nor spiders will endure them , mathiol . in dioscor . it flowereth in july , the flowers coming forth by clusters . from whence grow first green berries , and they are pale as they grow ripe ; then they become a full purple colour , and lastly black . they are pulled in november and december , then are they laid in pavements till they become wrinkled , then are they put in under a milstone , and are pressed out with presses , pouring scalding water on , and so they yield their oyl . the wood of the tree burns as well green as dry . at megoris a wild olive tree stood long in the market-place , to which they had fastned the arms of a valiant man ; but the bark grew over it , and hid them for many years . that tree was fatall to the cities ruine , as the oracle foretold , when a tree should bear arms : for it so fell out when the tree was cut down , spurs and helmets being found within it , plin. l. . c. . the olive tree lasts years , plin. l. . c. . chap. xxxii . of the palm-tree . they say that the female palm-trees will bring forth nothing without the males , which is confirmed when a wood growes up of its own accord ; so about the males , many females will grow enclining toward them , and wagging their boughes . but the male with branches standing up as it were hairy , doth marry them , by the blowing on them , and by standing near them on the same ground , plin. l. . c. . when the male is cut up , the females are in widowhood , and are barren . hence in egypt they so plant them , that the wind may carry the dust from the male to the female , but if they be far off , they bind them together with a cord pontanus reports , that two palm-trees , one set at brundusium , the other at hydruntum were barren , till they were grown up to look one upon the other , and though it were so great a distance , yet they both did bear fruit . dalechamp . ad lib. cit . poets write thus of them : a tree there grew in large brundusium land , a tree in idumaea much desir'd , and in hydruntum woods one rare did stand , like male and female , 't is to be admir'd : on the same ground they did not grow , but wide asunder , and they both unfruitful stood . they many leaves did bear , nothing beside ; at last they grew so high , above the wood , that of each other they enjoy'd the light . then they grew fruitful , like to man and wife , each in the other seem'd to take delight , and to be partners each of th' others life . cardanus reports , that in data a city of numidia , there was a palm-tree , the fruit whereof , unlesse the boughes of the flourishing male were mingled with the boughes of the female , the fruit was never ripe , but were lean with a great stone in them , and by no help could they be kept from consuming ; but if any leaf or rind of the male were present , then they would grow ripe . philo. l. . de vita mosis saith , that the vital force of it is not in the roots , but in the top of the stock , as in the heart , and in the middle of the boughes , that it is guarded about with all , as with halberdiers . there is a kind of palm-tree growes in india , out of the stock whereof , the boughes being for that purpose cut in the moneth of august , a liquor like wine runs forth , that the inhabitants receive in vessels : unlesse it be boyled , it growes sowr after . daies , mathiol . ad l. . c. . boyled , it is converted into most sweet honey , which afterwards is resolved in water , in daies it is strained forth artificially , and so clarified it will last . but the palm-trees which dioscorides calls thebaicae , in time grow so dry in the sun , that they are ground to make bread of them . thevet speaks of a palm-tree that yields wine in the promontory of aethiopia , which is the fairest sort of palm-trees for height , and for being alwaies green . they cut it . foot above the ground to draw forth the juice . they let it run into earthen vessels for their daily drink ; and to make it keep , they cast in a little salt . it is like white wine of campania in colour and substance . linschottus l. . america novae c. . reports ; that in a place of the west-indies , called st. john de portu divite , there growes a palm-tree that every moneth brings new leaves , and is loaded with cocker-nuts . pierius in hieroglyph . saith it is an emblem of the year , because this tree alone at every new moon sends forth several branches . chap. xxxiii . of the plane-tree , apple-trees , and the tree called pater-noster . of old they gave so much honour to the plane-tree at rome , that they infused the roots in wine a long time to preserve them . in the island of candie there is one that never loseth its leafs , plin. l. . c. . but there is a noted one in lycia , by the way side , that is hollow like a house , the hollow cave in it is foot wide , it hath a wooddy top , and vast boughes , like great trees ; it overshadowes the fields with its far casting shadow ; and that nothing may be wanting to the likenesse of a cave , there is a stony circumference within , that is full of mossy pumex stones : the miracle is so great , that l. matianus that was thrice consul , thought fit to divulge it to posterity , that he and . more feasted in it . if apples in winter be kept amongst grapes , they so corrupt the grapes , that they presently wither and corrupt . it is reported , that if a woman with child eat quinces , she shall be delivered of an industrious and witty child . citron apples keep garments from moths and worms ; how good they are against poyson , you may know by examples out of athenaeus . a citron apple hath cured some that were stung by vipers . they keep longer uncorrupted , if they be put into a heap of barley or millet . they cure scabs , if they be cut in the middle , and powder of brimstone be finely strewed upon them , and they be rosted in hot embers , and so the patient be rubb'd therewith . apples of sodome are fair to sight ; but touched , they fall to ashes , solin . c. . in hispaniola there is a tree called pater noster , the fruit is as great as a hasel nut : put this in boyling water , and dip a linnen or woollen cloth in it , it will be died gallantly with diversity of spots , but it corrodes with its over-great force , ovetan . l. . c. . chap. xxxiv . of pepper , plantain , pimpernel , wild tansie , herb paris , and paper . round black pepper growes upon some weak branches like tendrels , that creep up to the tops of trees by them , clinging about them . it growes like the fruit of the wild vine in clusters , flourishing close together of a green colour till it become dry ; which when it doth , ( as it doth in october ) it is gathered , and laid upon palm-tree coverlids in the open sun to torrifie , and so it becomes black and shrivelled , mathiol . l. . diosc. c. . the root of the greater plantain put in a little bag and bound with a thread near the region of the heart , preserveth a man from the plague . scholtius relates it for a certain remedy out of monavius , epist. . pimpernel was found out by prince chaba , for with this alone were cured wounded hungarians , after the battel , clus. in nomen . pannon . steeped in hot water it is approved for to cure a continual feaver . it hath so great force against the disease called hydrophobia , that whosoever shall use it betimes in the morning for some dayes , in sallets , or otherwise , after he hath been bitten , shall find no harm , fernelius . wild tansey applyed to the palms of the hands , and soles of the feet , abates the heat of any feavert , mathiol . in l. . c. . in the berries of herb paris , there is found seed , that hath great vertue against witchcraft . some grow sottish by chronicle diseases ; others by witchcraft . if these drink the seed , one dram , for . days they are cured . paper reed growes in the lakes of aegypt , or where the waters of nilus have run over , and stand still , and are not above two cubits high : the crooked root is as thick as ones arme , it hath triangular sides , it is not above ten cubits in length , it runs up spire wise , like a javelin . plin. l. . c. . the aegyptians made matter to joyne their ships together with the inside of this bulrush , cutting off the tops of the reed ; also they made sailes and shoes of it . herodot , l. . onely the priests wore those shoos , as arist. writes . they were wont to sell , and to eat the lower part , of about a cubit in length , and they were exceeding sweet , when they were torrified in an oven . this was the chief meat of the aegyptians , hence was the original of paper . dalechamp . ad l. . plin. c. . chap. xxxv . of the oake , rhubarb , rape-root , and rosa-solis . in maritania , oaks beare a long acorn that tasts sweeter and more delicate than chestnuts . scaliger exerc. . s. . the land of the shore of sinus pucicus is rocky , and the clods of earth are bituminous : there grow upon them pale shrubs , scarce a foot high . they have a kind of okes , and box-trees , but they have no root . scaliger saw one that was without knots and straight , , foot long . there were crowns offered for it . scalig. exerc. . a little above the cauchi , pliny , lib. . c. . writes that there were mighty ones , by the banks of two lakes , which being either undermined by the waters , or blown down with the wind , pull'd up great islands with them that they grew upon with their roots , and so standing equally ballanced , they sailed , being furnished with huge boughs . they oft terrified the roman navy , when as they were driven by the waves as it were of purpose , and seen by those that kept watch on the decks . there was one in the country of thurirum that never cast its leaves , yet never budded till midsummer . rheubarb grows only in china , and is brought by usebech into turkie , and so to venice ; the vertues of it are said to be notable , and they bring an example of an hydropick person , who having been in exceeding great danger , by the use of rhubarb he was cured , and lived to be a very old man. adolph . occo in scholtii epist. the same man received a mortall wound by his servant , after his disease , and the chyrurgians expected he would dye in four days , or seven at farthest : he recovered , by rhubarb , next under god. one writes thus of it , camerar . cent. . in . rhubarb is hot and dry ; the belly binds ; and opens children , women great with child may safely use it , t is good for all kinds . opens obstructions , and gives purges mild , both flegme and choler , 't is for 'th stomach good , and helps the liver , serves to clense the blood . stops spitting blood , and ruptures , and we prise this root for weak folk , and dysenteries . from the small seed of rhubarb in ● months , so great a root grows that in some places it weighs pound weight , mathiol . in l. . c. . mathiolus saw turneps in the country of anamum , that one of them weighed pounds . those that are sowed in summer , are free from worms , mingling sutt with the seed when t is sowed ; or else steep the seed a night in the juyce of the greater housleek . it hath been proved , columella . by harlem , anno . there was one dug up like a mans hand with nails and fingers exactly . i saw the picture of it at leyden with cl. bundarcius . ros solis , or sun dew , which shines under the sun like a starr with his beams , hath its name from its admirable nature for , though the sun in summer shine long and hot upon it , yet the leaves of it are almost alwaies wet , and the down of them is alwaies full of drops . and which is admirable , that moysture that is contain'd in the cups of the leaves , so soon as you touch it with your fingers , while it yet growes on the ground , or else is pulled up presently , and held in the sun beames , is drawn forth by and by into white threads like silke , which harden immediately , and so continue ever after , camerar . cent . . memorab . . chap. xxxvi . of crow-foot , rue , rose-mary , rose-root and rose-tree . crowfoot , if men eat it , will cause convulsions , and draw their mouths awry . they seem to laugh that dye with it , pausan. also salustius speaks of it : in sardinia , saith he , there grows an herb called sardea , like wild smallage : this contracts the mouths and jaws of men with pain , and kills them , as it were , laughing . rue resists venome , therefore a weasel will carry it , when he fights with a serpent . it is of a mighty greatnesse at macheruntum , joseph . l. . de bell , juddic . c. . it was as high as any fig-tree , and had remain'd from the time of herod . it is a singular remedy for the epilepsy , as a country man found by accident . camerar , cent. . memorab . . he bruised it ; and with the smell of the rue he stopt the nose of this epileptick person fallen , and presently he rose up . rosemary grows so plentifully in france that they burn it , so thick that they make tables of it . it flowers both spring and fall ▪ mathiol . l. . c. . barclay , in his icon animarum . c. . writes thus of it in england : rosemary in many countries is costly ●y the very paines is used about it to cherish it ; here it is common , and somtimes serves to make hedges for gardens . rhodium root is the most lively of all roots ; for dug out of the earth , unlesse it be laid up in very dry places , if it be planted again after many months , it will grow . it grows on the highest rocks where it hath scarse so much earth as to stick by . mathiol . l. . c. . the rosebush at carthage in spain is alwaies full of roses in winter , and was alwaies honour'd by the romans ; for they were wont to strew the leaves on their dishes of meat , and to besmear their citron tables with the juyce of them , that they might by reason of their bitternesse be free from worms . heliogabalus commanded to throw roses on his banqueting guests from the top of the room , as if it rayned roses . dalechamp in l. . c. . that is wonderfull that is related concerning revification . there was a famous physitian at cracovia , who could so curiously prepare the ashes of every part of a plant , that he would exactly preserve all the spirits of them . the ashes waxing a little hot by putting a candle to the glasse , represented a rose wide open , which you might behold growing by degrees ▪ to augment , and to be like a stalke , with leaves , flowers , and at last a double rose appeared in its full proportion ; when the candle was taken away it fell againe to ashes . rosenberg rhodolog , c. ult . the same thing allmost was done with a nettle , as quercetan testifieth in his history of the plague . for when one would appoint a remedy against the stone , at the end of autumn he pull'd a great many nettles up by the roots , of these nettles he made a lye the common way with hot water , and by strayning and filtring , he purified this lixivium , that he might at last produce salt artificially as he intended : but when he had set the lixivium all night to cool in an earthen vessel , the next day when he thought to evaporate to extract the salt ; it hapned that night , that the ayre was so cold , that all the lixivium was over frozen . when therefore in the morning he purposed to cast that lixivium out at the window , besides his expectation he saw that all the water of the lixivium was frozen , and a thousand figures there of nettles were in it , so perfect with roots leaves and stocks , and shewing so exactly , that no painter could paint them better . chap. xxxvii . of scorzonera , squills , sage , and scordium . scorzonera is no ancient plant , mathiolus first described it , l. ● . c. . it was found in catalonia by an african servant : he that found it , shew'd that it was a present remedy against the bitings of adders ; he that will escape , must drink the juice . of squills , vinegar is made , of an admirable quality , saith mathiolus , if one daily drink a little ; his jawes and mouth will never be ill , his stomach will be well , he will breathe well , see well , he will be troubled with no wind in his belly , and will be well coloured and long winded . he that useth this vinegar will digest his meat well , though he eat much : there will be no crudities in his body , not wind , nor choler , no dr●gs , nor will the urine or ordure passe away with over loosenesse , mathiol . in l. . c. . of sage they say , that it stops the flowing of the courses , if one smell to it ; and eaten by one with child , it will retain the child , and keep it lusty , mathiol . in l. . c. . hence it is that agrippa calls it , sacred . if a woman drink a hemina of the juice of it with a little salt the fourth day she hath abstain'd , and layn alone , and then lie with her husband , she will conceive . it is reported , that in coptus of egypt , after a great plague , that the women drank it , and did bear many children . in many places of asia they bear apples ; in calabria of consentia , scaliger saith , exerc , , that one did bring forth a gall of an ash-colour , and that he saw it . dead bodies are preserved by touching scordium , galen . l. . antidot . for the dead bodies of those that fell upon the scordium of crete after they were slain in the war , did corrupt least , especially on that part whence the scordium had touched them . it if it be boyl'd in wine , it is good to drink against stinging of serpents , const. de febr. pest . c. . chap. xxxviii . of nightshade . there are many kinds of nightshade : amongst these are winter cherries , the sleepy nightshade , the greater and the spungy nightshade ; they seem to have some strange things in them . halicacabum is such an enemy to vipers , that if the root be near them they die with deep sleep . vesicarium hath long leafs , white flowers , out of which come forth green round bladders , with six divisions long waies , the seed within is murry colour , as great as orobus ; in the side of it is the figure as it were of a mans heart , with a white colour . nature framed it so , that we might know it was good for the diseases of it . sleepy nightshade , tasted causeth sleep : the danes found that , by their example . for when by sueno king of norway besieged duncanus king of scotland in the town of perth ; he calling forth maccabaeus his cousin-german , began to treat of surrendring up the place , and provision , hector . boet. l. . scot. hist. the danes accepted the conditions , and took what provision they had ; but so soon as they had tasted of it , they were all so oppressed with sleep , ( for their wine and beer were infected with nightshade ) that macchabaeus vanquished them . ten of them suspecting the gifts of enemies were safe . these carried king sueno like one that was dead , in a fishers boat to the mouth of thais , and so home . the root of the greater nightshade dryed , if half a dram of it be steeped in wine seven dayes , it will so infect it , that if any one shall drink it strain'd , he can eat nothing ; let him drink vinegar and it is presently gone , but if you take it too largely , it will strangle you . franciscus calce●larius of verona was the first discovered this secret , and revealed it to others , mathiol . in l. . c. cit . of the tuberous nightshade , the root is spungy , sometimes as great as ones fist , as long as ones hand ; where the stalk riseth , many fibrous roots come forth , that are spread on the ground ; from these at the beginnining of the spring , come up other stalks , and other bulbous roots grow with them ; and it will propagate so many roots , that for one plant dug up in the winter time , bauhinus ( ad loc . cit . dioscor . ) observed , that there were above bunches belonging to it . chap. xxxix . of mustard , satyrium , and the greater saxifrage . mustard seed covered with sugar , or eat with honey for junckates is a safe experiment ; for stupidity proceeding from moisture , horst . l. . de sanit . tenend . c. . where the uvula is fallen , this sawce will draw it up presently . pythagoras esteem'd of it , because besides preserving ones health , it ascends high , into the closet of reason where the mind resides . pansa . theor. spu . de pror . vit . c. . saith thus ; i commend the infusion of this in sweet wine to all scholers , chiefly in winter time . for it heats all the body , opens the mesaraick veins , and promotes the chylus toward the liver : for there is nothing better than to have a loose belly , and that helps it self . satyrion is very good for venery , only touched . theophrastus saith , it was proved times in an indian that brought it , and times in others that touched it . cynosorchis is like to this , whose greater root is full of flatulent matter , and causeth lust , the lesser restrains it . great saxifrage growes in mount baldus coming forth of a firm hard stone , and old walls of cities , mathiol . ad l. . c. . the root sticks so fast in rocks , that it cannot be pulled out but by sharp irons : it is good to drive out stones ; by the drinking thereof abundance of stones were driven forth at once , and they were as great as beans . chap. xl. of the turpentine , and frankincense trees . turpentine trees , are one male , the other female , theophrast . l. . c. . the male is barren , the female brings forth a red fruit , as big as a lentil , which cannot be digested ; another kind of female brings forth green fruit , and it growes red afterwards ; and last of all , like the grape , as it growes ripe , it becomes black , and is as great as a bean. egisippus l. . c. . de excid . hierosol . writes , that in memphis there was a turpentine-tree , that was set at the making of the world ; and it was there in his dayes . frankincense is bred in arabia in a private place almost in the middle of the country , beyond the aramites in the land of the sabaeans . the minaei were the first that found it out ; and it is reported , that onely families have interest in it , and they keep it by succession . the people that are their neighbours call them sacred . for when they cut the tree , where the liquor runs forth , or when they gather it , they neither come at funerals nor their wives . they were wont to gather it , by cutting the bark of the tree , at the rising of the dog-star , because then it was most full of humours ; that which dropt out of the tree was received in a palm-tree covering , scaliger exerc. . it is there so cheap , that they carine ships with it instead of pitch . but of frankincense is made the best medicament for blear and red eyes . it is said to cure in one night , mathiol . ad l. . c. . dioscor . a piece of frankincense is put on a sharp point and burned , in a wax candle , then it is quenched in . ounces of rose water ; this is often done even to times , then the water must be strain'd with a clean cloth , and the corners of the eyes must be anointed with a feather dipt in it , when the sick go to bed . if rednesse and tears increase with great pain , breast-milk will cure them , if you wash them therewith . chap. xli . of wheat and thyme . there is nothing more fruitful than wheat ; for of one bushell if the ground be good , as in the country of bizacum in africa , there will come bushells , plin. l. . c. . saith , that the provider sent to augustus , that grew from one grain ( 't is hardly credible ) ears near upon : also he sent to nero strawes that sprang from one corn . the fields of leontini in sicily yield increase . in the country of the senones by the sea side , one root hath born ears , and one bushell hath sometimes afforded an hundred , mathiol . in l. . dioscor . c. . in asia beyond bactra , in a certain place theophrastus writes it growes so great , that every grain is as great as an olive stone , theophrast . l. . c. . but he addes , that in pissoris it is so strong , that he that eats too much will burst . the indian wheat hath a stalk like a cane , that hath a white pith in it , like to sugar-canes , in the top whereof it puts forth branches divided and empty . the fruit wherein the corn is shut up in thin covers , come forth of the sides of the stalk . the ear is as great as the apple of the pitch-tree , there are round about it , clear white grains within as great as pease , disposed of in . or . right lines on all sides . from the top of the cod , hang long shoots of the same colour with the corn , the indians call it malitz . it is steeped dayes in water before they sow it ; nor do they trust it , untill it be wet with rain . they reap it in months : but that which growes in eubaea is ripe in dayes , theophrast . lib. cit . thyme begins about the summer solstice ; and honey from thence is successefull for bees and bee-masters , theophrast . l. . c. ● . if it put forth , its flowers ; otherwise , the making of honey doth not succeed well , the flower perisheth if a shower fall . there runs oyl from it of a golden colour , when the herb is distilled through a bath of hot water , when it is green . it tastes like a pome citron , mathiol . in l. . dioscor . c. . chap. xlii . of tobacco . tobacco , or nicotiana from the finder of it , is called also the holy herb , the queens herb ; the herb of the holy crosse , and petum . it is well known to them that know the indian merchandise , and those that have smelt the fume of it in britany , france , and the low-countries . it is sowed when the moon increaseth , and cut down when she decreaseth . there is one kind call'd the male , with a broad leaf ; and another called the female , with a narrower leaf , but a longer stalk . the least seed of it falling of its own accord , lies safe in the coldest winter ; and the next summer , being carried into many grounds with the wind , cometh up of itself , camerar . in hort . nea●der in tobaccolog . from the seed of the male , they say the female will spring , if it fall into a ground where tobacco grew before , and that so fruitfully , that it will yearly grow up of it self . but it will not endure the cold ; but if it be well preserved , it will like citron trees continue all the year , and remain years without damage , monardus de simpl . medicam . as for the forces of it , it will cause thirst , hath an acrimonious taste , it troubles the mind , and makes head-ach , neander . they that drink it too greedily , have fallen down dead , and stupified for a whole day , benzon . l. . c. . hist. nov . orb . hence it was that king james of famous memory king of england writ misocapnos . for he supposed it weakned the bodies of his subjects . yet many famous men have written high commendations of it . the spaniards say , it resists poyson . for when the cannibals had wounded them with poyson'd darts , they cured themselves with the juice of tobacco , laying on the bruised leafs , monard . loc . cit . the catholick king made tryal of it on a dog , wounded with a venom●● weapon , and it cured him . heurnius writes , that it oures perfectly the pain of the teeth , and takes away all the dolour . his words are ; when i was vehemently pain'd with tooth-ache about a year since , i boyled tobacco in water with some camomil flowers , and i held a spoonfull of the warm decoction in my mouth . i spit it forth , and used this for two houres ▪ the pain abated : the next day ( saith he ) i went to my garden in the subburbs as i was wont to do , and bending down with my head to pull up some grasse , there ran a moysture out of my nostrills ; yellow as saffron , it smelt like tobacco , and all the pain of my teeth was gone . never did blood , nor any thing but a flegmatick matter run forth of my nose in all my life , and i never saw any deeper yellow , than what ran now out of my nostrills . that it restores the sight , see wiburgius ad schnitz . epist. . a certain maid had the pupil of her eye covered ; he with the juice of the best tobacco boyl'd to an unguent with may butter , and anointing the eye outwardly with it , the eye being shut , effected so much , that none could discern it but those that stood close by . clusius saith , that the indians use to make pills with the juice of it and cockle-shells bruised , that will stop their hunger for . dayes . it is no wonder ; for by resolving of slime that falls upon the stomachs mouth , it abates the appetite . castor durantes in an epigram describes the vertues of it , thus : an herb call'd holy crosse doth help the sight , it cures both wounds and scabs , and hath great might 'gainst scrophulous and cancerous tumours , burnings , and wild-fires , repressing humours ; it heats , it binds , resolves , and also dries , asswages pains , diseases mundisies . pains of the belly , head or teeth with ease it helps , old coughs , and many a sad disease of spleen and reins , and stomach , and more parts , as womb , sore gums , and wounds with venom'd darts are cur'd thereby , with sleep it doth refresh , and covers naked bones with perfect flesh : for breast and lungs , when that we stand in need , all other herbs tobacco doth exceed . chap. xliii . of trifoly , teucrium , thelyphonon , yew , thapsia , and thauzargent . trifoly foreshews a tempest at hand , for when it is coming it will rise up against it . it hath been observed that when this hearb hath plenty of flowers , it portends many showers and frequent inundations that year ; and a few flowers , shew drinesse . fuchs . in herb . it is called cuccow bread , either because she feeds of it , or because it comes forth about the time the cuccow sings ; seven times in a day it hath a sweet smell , and seven times in the day it loseth it but pulled up it always holds it , and when a showr is coming , it will smell so sweet that it will fill all the houses . teucrion otherwise hermion neither beares flowers nor seed . it cures the spleen , and they say it was so found out plin. l. . c. . when the entralls were thrown upon it , they report , it stuck to the spleen , and drew it empty , it is said that swine that feed on the root of it , dye without a spleen . thelyphonum hath a root like to a scorpion , and put to them it kills them ; but if you strew white hellebour upon them , they will revive again ; it is scarce credible . theophrast , l. . c. . the yew brings forth berries that are red , and like red wine ; they that eat them fall into feavers and dysenteries . cattel will dye if they eat the leaves of it , and do drivel . theophrastus writes it l. . c. . but pliny confutes it , l. . c. . it is so venemous in arcadia , that it kills such as sleep under its shadows , ovetan . sum , c. . in india it makes the eyes and mouth of such as sleep under it to swell . thapsia grows in the athenian land ▪ cattle bred there will not touch it , but strange cattle will feed on it , and there follows either a scowring or death . theophrastus , l. . c. . it grew famous by nero : for he , when he had his face bruised by his revellings in the night , he annoynted it with thapsia , wax , and frankinsence , and beyond expectation it was whole the next day . for it wonderfully takes away bruised marks . plin. l. . c. . thauzangent is a root in the western mauritania of so good smel , that a smal quantity hanged about the roof of the house will make a gallant perfume . scalig. exerc. . s. . chap. xliv . of the vine . vines are somtimes infinite great . for in campania , those that grow neere the tall poplar trees , run up by the boughs of them , with their joynts , till they come to the top , so that he that is bound to gather their grapes , is in danger of his life . plin. l. . c. . pliny saith , they will not easily corrupt . for the image of jupiter in the city populonia , remain'd there many yeares uncorrupted , and the temple of diana of ephesus , had staires to go up to the top , made of one vine of cyprus . some of them do yeeld fruit thrice a yeare . dalechampius saw it in many places ; at lyons especially , in the garden of guilet caulius . they are called mad vines . dalechamp , ad c. . s. . plin. at the end of the spring they send forth smal flowers like starrs , set about with round scrapings like silver , of a subspiceous colour ; these being fallen off like to a little starre , presently appear the clusters of grapes , lemnius in herb . bibl . c. the smell of them drives away venemous beasts ; the water that runs from the vine , when it is pruned , heals scabs . some catch it in a glasse bottle , and set it in the sun a whole yeare , in the open ayre free from rayn . at last a honey substance congeles , which is of as great vertue as balsome . for it cleanseth , fills with flesh , conglutinates , takes away spots . water distilled from the tender leaves of the vine in may , is good for women that long ; they suffer no harm , though they want it . sennert . l. . p. . c. . from grapes , wine is pressed that we drink . the vertues of it are divers as the wines are ; lemn . de occult . l. . c. . the wines of poictou make men peevish and froward ( for the vapours of it prick the braine ) but your rhenish wines are more gentle . in the country of goritium the wine is highly commended , and next to that , is the wine of pucinum and vipacum . mathiolus , when he had a long time paines of the stomach , by experience found the force of it . livia augusta , owed her yeares of her life to the wine at pucinum . plin. l. . c. . the country people that inhabite japidia , because they drink wines neere pucinum are seldom sick . galen de theriaca , saith , that the best never grows sowr ; and pliny writes that some have lasted yeares : when it is corrupted it becomes vinegar , the natural heat being resolved . it is of an excellent vertue . for it hinders tempests , and the ruine of sailers , and dissipates the ●aul●y ayre , suffering no humours to corrupt , plin. l. . c. . pearls are tu●●'d into powder by it , as we have an example from cleopatra , who objected to antony that she alone would spend at one supper a hundred thousand sestertii : and she took a pearle out of her eare , the like was not found in the east indies , and put it into a saw●●r of vinegar , and when it was dissolved she drank it up ; plin. l. . c. . aqua vitae is also made of it , which is otherwise called elixir , the golden water , the heaven of the philosophers , the quintessence , the soul of wine , the divine water , and the philosophers key . canonher . de admirand . vini . l. . c. . physitians write wonders of it , which are impossible for ignorant people . it is thin , and the best part of it will flye into the ayre , that you would wonder at it . for the heat of it , kept inwardly by help of the motion of the ayre , resolves the thin substance into a vapour . cardan . de aethere . things steeped in it , in hours lose their vertues , heurn . l. . prax . medic. it is an antidote for all things , mathiol . in dioscor . l. . and not only drank but spurted out of ones mouth into anothers face , it recalls epileptick and hystericall persons , restoring lost speech , antonius della scarparia , when he was yeares old , said , o aquavitae for years i owe my life to thee . savanarola of the art of making aquavitae simple and compound . francis the first , duke of mantua was much delighted with it : for having a cold stomach he was troubled with wind . his words are these , that he had tried all remedies , and found none so good as aquavitae , canonher loc . cit . quercetan shews an unusuall way of trying wine , in diaetetica in these words : all the gascony wines that must be transported by sea , are brought to burdeaux , there they are laid in wine-cellers for publick use , that are wonderfull long and broad , so that they may be truly called the wine-market , without the city a little way : and there they are set in close order , only a place is left between the ranks to draw wine at . the merchants that come to buy wines and are cunning , care not so much to taste the wines that are good , but they will go over all the wine-vessels , and so they can tell by treading on them which are the most spiritful wines , and lightest , and those they seal ▪ for they go lighter and nimbler on the best wines , than on the grosser and more earthly wines , for they make their passage more heavy . there be wonders of it in pliny l. . c. . in arcadia it makes women barren , and men mad . theophrast . l. . c. . in achaia it causeth abortion ; if bitches , eat grapes they cast their whelps , victor l. . c. . they that drink traezenium , lose their generative faculty . in thasias one kind causeth sleep , another makes men wake . in aegypt , the grape is sweet and purgeth the belly , in lycia it binds it . chap. xlv . of xaqua and zuccarum , or sugar . xaqua is a tree in hispaniola ; the fruit is like to poppie , and a clear white water runs forth of it , and whatsoever is sprinkled with it , grows like black , so that no washing will make it clean . in dayes it parts from the rind , of it self . ovetan summ. c. . there are two kinds of zuccarum , one from canes , another from an hearb ; there is another kind from an indian tree , called haeoscer , scalig. exerc. . but this is scarce sugar , but the thinner part of milk compacted by heat , which falling forth of the buds and roots of the leaves , thickneth into a gum . they say the fruit is like to camels testicles ; out of any part of the tree cut , milk runs forth so hot , that it is held for the best meanes to take off haire . the inhabitants make their skins smooth with this . there are two kinds of the true one is got out of canes two ways , for either it is pressed out and boyl'd to the whitenesse of sugar ; or it comes forth of it self from the reeds , like teares . from the indies formerly they sent it , so gathered with their other merchandise . that which is called sugar-candy was carried about , in reeds . histories testify , it was made naturally . for at dathecala in the indies , it is sold for merchandise . in st. thomas island , the reeds yeeld it every month. in the fifth month they are ripe , and are cut down , and are grund and pressed for the juyce : what remaines is given to fowle and hogs , and it will fat them wonderfully , and it will make them so tender and delicate , that no hens flesh can be better , for those that are sick , to feed on . another kind of sugar , sweats-out wonderfull strangely . the arabians and aegyptians call it tigala . they say a little worm doth eate the hearb ; whence sugar swells forth , and grows together in little peices . it quencheth thirst , is good for the chest , and takes away a cough . chap. xlvi . of other miracles of some trees . nature is rich ; and her riches are so various , that they not only delight our understanding but exercise our industry . truly besides what we have said , there are many wonderfull things . in the island tylos , there are trees that beare wool , and their fruit is guords , as big as quinces : these breaking when they are ripe , shew balls of down or cotton , of which they make pretious linnen garments , plin. l. . c. in great java they say there is a rare tree , whose pith is iron : it is very small , yet runs from the top to the bottom of the plant. the fruit that grows on it , is not to be pierced with iron . scaliger calls it , exerc. . s. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in the island cimbubon there is another whose leaves , fallen down upon the earth , do move and creep . it hath leaves like the mulberry-tree . they have on both sides like two little feet ; pressed , they yeeld no liquor . if you touch them , they flye from you . one of them kept , dayes in a dish lived , and moved so oft as one touched it ; scalig. exerc. , in malavar there is a plant that contracts it self , if any one puts his hand to it ; and if you pull back your hand , it recovers it self again . garzias ab horto . that which he described from costa , under the name of mimosa hortensis , put your hand to it , it withers ; take it away , it grows green again . the same authour says that there is a certain tree that is full of faire sweet flowers all night , but so soon as the sun riseth , it withers : yet whatsoever this is , it may be ascribed to the tenuity of the spirits of it . but linschot saith , there is one that is contrary to this . in virginia there is an hearb that the leaves are good silk , and they take it off like a thin shining membrane . it is two foot and a half high , the leaves are two foot long , and half a foot broad . in england , there vvas made a triall of this in weaving . for of this plant the whole web made , vvas silk and approoved for good . arioth . in verginia , in america there is the flower of granadilla , in which may be seen the instruments of christs passion , the nails , the rod , the pillar , the crown , the wounds . mejer de annat . scoticis . that libav . l. . de orig . rer . ascribes to imagination , and , saith he , a friend of mine hath a cherry-stone , upon which may be seen faces . in the northern island there are rocks of loadstone . if beeches grow upon them , they are turn'd into loadstone , olaus , l. . c. . there is also in musicanum an indian tree extreme high , the boughs of it are above cubits long , and it not only grows downwards of it self , but it fastneth in the ground of its own accord , and roots anew , and from thence arise new trees ; the boughs do thus bow down also , and cause more trees , and thus they will grow in ranks , that they will make an arbour for men to walk under . not far from malacca there is another , that hath many roots , and as they divide severally into parts , so are they of different vertues . for those parts that look toward the east are an antidote against poyson , but the parts toward the west are poyson . senar , res , p. . c. . a certain fiery root cut in pieces , if it be set right over against a burning candle , at first it makes it blink , and at last it puts it out , and that hath been often proved . biker in . proph . s. . there was a firr tree very admirable , seen in a ship , which brought it from aegypt by the command of caius the emperour . there was a foursquare obelisk set up in the vatican , and he brought four blocks of the same stone to support it . the thicknesse of that tree was as much as four men could fathom . plin. l. . c. . the root of the hearb aproxis takes fire a great way off , plin. l. . c. . from trees in india , as high as cedars or cypresse trees , and with leaves broader then palm-tree leaves , ( they are called carpi●n ) an oyle distills that is taken with wooll pressed against the trees , and you may smell it five furlongs off . in the same authour we read of the tree parebo that grows only in kings gardens ; it is as great as an olive tree , without flower or fruit ; but under the earth the roots are as thick as a mans arm . nine inches of it will draw gold , silver , brasse , stones , or any thing but amber ; but an ell of it will draw sheep and lambs . the weight of an obolus cast into water , will make it congeal ; and wine also , that you may work it in your hands like wax , yet the day after it will resolve again , libav . l. . debitum c. . this seems to be a stinking ly , if it be not well interpreted ; but surely a philosopher cannot want that interpretation : you shall find it loc . cit . chap. xlvii . of wonders of trees . some are found that bear no leafs ; and pliny l. . c. . tells us of a vine and pomegranate tree , that did bear fruit on the body or stem , not on the branches or boughes ; and of a vine that had fruit without leafs ; and of olive trees , that the berries remain'd when the leafs were fallen . we said , that an olive tree burn'd down quite , will grow again ; and in boeotia fig-trees eaten with worms will bud again , at pausania in arcadia , the oke and olive tree will grow both upon one root , dalechamp . ad loc . cit . the same at corinth , called hercules club , from a wild olive tree , took root and grew again : when xerxes came to laodicea , a plane-tree became an olive tree . a tree sank into the ground at cumanum , a strange thing , a little before the civill wars of pompey ; onely a few boughs were to be seen . at cyzicum before mithridate's siege , a fig-tree grew out of a bay-tree , when he with men , and many horse ; fought against that city , strabo l. . a green palm-tree was seen to grow up amongst the tralles in the temple of victory under caesar's statue , where the stones joyned , and it was of a great bignesse , valer. l. . c. . also at rome , in the capitol , in the head , ( some explain that to be the top of the house ) twice in the war with perseus did a palm-tree spring forth , presaging victory and triumph . when this was thrown down with tempests , in the same place a fig-tree grew up . when m. messalus , and c. cassius were censors , a. p. sulpicius being pro-consul , letters were brought from macedonia with news , that a bay-tree grew up in the stern of a galley . lastly , the year before this , in silesia a little tree in the battlements of the walls of the church was changed into a palm-tree : religion was changed after that . not without being revenged ; for the change of the species gives us hope of it . the end of the fifth classis . of miracles of nature . the sixth classis . in which are contained the wonders of birds . seneca natur. quaest . l. . c. . also those things are not out of our power , which are immoveable , or for their swiftnesse , equall to all the world , are like to things without motion . chap. . of the eagle . the eagle challengeth the first place ; nor that it is the best dish at the table , for none will eat it ; but because it is the king of birds . it is of the kind of birds of prey . the right foot of it is greater than the left ; the brain is so hot , that mingled with hemlock juice , and drank in powder , it will make one mad . it drinks not , because it seems the blood of what it preys upon , sufficeth it . but in old age , when the beak is crooked with drynesse , it preserves it self by drinking , aelian . they have been seen a cubit in largenesse , and some young one , whose wings stretched out would reach . els . the claws were bigger than a great mans fingers , and the thighes greater than a lyons . gesner saith , that was seen at a place between dreson ond mysnia : when it lyeth down it takes a stone called ae●ites , which because they grow so hot as if they boyled , doth temper their heat . when the young ones are hatcht , she holds them in her talons against the sun ; and having proved them to be legitimate , she takes them on her wings and carries them ; the strongest of them , when she hath them aloft , she lets them fall , and then she flies and meets them , and takes them up again . when they are old enough , she drives them forth of her nest and quarter . the female is so falacious , that being trod times in a day , if the male come to her again , she will run to him . it is so quick-sighted , that flying over the sea , out of mans view , it will discern the smallest fish : and as for its smell , it will flie to carcases miles distant . it roars like a bull ; but the young ones are mute , because their tongue is hindred by moisture . it is an enemy to the cranes : therefore when they fly over mount taurus from cilicia , they take stones in their mouthes , and stop their clarying , and flye over it in the night . when the sight , bill , and wings fail her , she flyes above the clowds , and there by the suns heat she recovers her sight . she when she is become extream hot , plunges into the water , then she flies to her nest , grows feavorish , casts her feathers , is fed by her young ones , and renews her self ; but sooner , if she can find serpents to feed on . chap. ii. of the hawke . the hawke is of divers magnitudes according to its sex and country . the females are the greater , because their heat is lesse , calent . in epist. it hath a great heart that enclines toward the breast with a blunt point ; the milt is so small , that it can hardly be seen , aristot. de part . animal . c. . it is full of feathers , which when it is young it casts . times . it is not very generative , for the over great heat thickneth the seed ; also the moysture of it is sent to the feathers , the tallens , and legs : yet it is so venereous , that the female will return times a day , if she be required , alb. l. . c. . she flies from carrion , and if it come to a mans carcase , it will not feed thereon . she drinks , when she can light on no prey for blood . she flyes sometimes so high , that she cannot be seen . in the ayr she will turn on her back , and stretches out her tail , back , and wings , and lyes upon them , aelian . it hath wonderful ingenuity ; the bird she takes in the evening she holds under her feet , and when the sun riseth she lets it flie away , and if she meets it again , she will never pursue it . when her eyes grow dim , she seeks for hawkwort , and rubs it , and with the juice of it she anoints her eyes , aelian l. . de anim . c. . she seems to lament the death of man , and will cast the earth on his eyes , and if he be not buried , she will throw earth to bury him . the thigh bone of it put toward gold , doth draw it to it with delight , aelian . l. . c. . pigeons so soon as they hear its noise fly away ; hens eggs , if they sit , will be spoyled ; small birds are so frighted at the sight of her , that you may take them off the hedges with your hands . the chief disease she hath is the molting of her feathers . it happens , before nilus overflowes the fields , that is , in august . when the south wind blowes they stretch forth their wings , and grow hot with the heat of the wind ; when this is wanting , they fan themselves with their wings in the warm sun. by this warmth the pores are opened , the old feathers fall , and new grow up . the aegyptians thought they lived years . chap. iii. of the assalon and heron. assalon , is called smerillus and merillus . it will so pursue larks , that it will follow them into a hot furnace , or pit of water , or to mens cloaths , cressent . l. . c. . it fights with the crowes and foxes , breaking the eggs of the one , and killing the cubs of the other . to kill herons , in england is a capital crime , wherefore there are many of them in that place . they are so continent , that they are sad dayes when they are upon venereous actions , glycas l. . animal . if they dung upon a hawk , they corrupt and burn its feathers . when a showring is coming , they flie above the clowds . they swallow shell-fish , shells and all ; but when they think their heat hath opened them , they cast them up again , and eat the fish . they lie in wait for fish very cunningly ; for they stand so against the suns beams , that their shadow may not be seen to drive them away : but the countrey men of colen say they have such force , that if they put but a foot into the water , they will draw the fish to them as with a bait . gesner writes , that he read in a german manuscript , that if their feet be distill'd by descent , and a mans hands be anointed with the oyl , they will come to ones hands that they may be taken . franciscus vallesius the first , king of france kept them so tame , that though they be wild by nature , they would come home of themselves ; some say , they sweat blood in treading , but albertus confutes that . chap. iv. of the horn-owl and aluco . a sin , or otus , and a night-crow , makes such a noise , as a man doth that is chill'd with cold ; they cry hu , hu . with his cry ; and the bird cyncramus , he leads the quails when they depart hence . he imitates those things he sees men do : also they watch fowlers standing over against them ; wherefore they seem to anoint their eyes with a kind of bird-lime , then they depart and leave it in the holes ; the otus or do●rill comes and glews his eyes together , and so is he taken . there are two kinds of aluco's , the greater , and the lesse . the greater aluco hath this property , that he winks with his eye-lid ; he hath no little ears like horns , but in place of them he hath a kind of crown-circle made of feathers that covers his whole face ; small feathers rising above his eys ; like a high ridge of a hair above the eye-lids ; and on both sides they go about by the temples , and meet under the chin , like a womans ketcher . the lesser is found in the clifts of oaks that the worms have eaten hollow . if he take any living creature he swallowes it whole ; for his throat is so wide , that he will swallow bits bigger than egs ; nor doth he eat any meat till he have plumed the feathers and hairs , and cast away the bones . chap. v. of a goose. geese in the kingdom of senega , are of divers colours . whiter than swans , and with red heads , are bred in hispaniola , cadamust . and odoricus à foro julii saith , that in the kingdom of mancum in india the superiour , they have a bone above their head as big as an egge , of a blood red colour , and a skin hanging half way under the throat . aldrovandus thinks , it is of the kinds of onocrotalus . strabo l. . geograph . saith , there are none in the south part of arabia . they live many years , albertus saith , gratalorus years . but aldrovandus writes , he should not take his oath for it . gardanus thinks it not fabulous , because their flesh is so sound . for it is known , that a wild-goose hung up for . dayes continually , would not grow tender , and cast to the dogs they would not eat it . but amongst all kind of geese , that is the most wonderful , which in scotland they call the soland goose. in descriptione scotiae , boetius writes thus of it ; above other islands , maya of d. hadrian is noble , for the reliques of him and his fellowes , who suffered martyrdom for christs sake . a fountain of most sweet water runs forth of a very high rock in the midst of the sea , a wonderful miracle of nature . the fort bass that is invincible to mans forces stands upon it , and exceeds all the rest in strangenesse . also there is a rock situate in an arm of the sea , that hath a narrow entrance , a fisherman's boat can scarce passe into it ; that hath no houses made in it by art of man ; yet is it hollow , and hath habitations as convenient in it , as if men had built them . but they are by this means the more forcible ; whatsoever is in it , is full of wonderful things ; for those birds which in our mother-tongue we call soland geese , not unlike to those which pliny calls water-eagles , dwell here in abundance , and hardly any where else . these so soon as they come at the beginning of the spring , they do bring so much wood with them to build their nests , that the inhabitants that dwell there ( nor do they repine at it ) carry away as much as serves them for fuel a whole year . they feed their young ones with the most choise fish . for if they have caught one , and they see a better swimming at the bottom of the sea , they let that fall and plunge themselves vio●●ntly into the waters to catch the other . when they have brought 〈…〉 fish to their young ones , they let men take away what they please ●●llingly , and flie again to catch more . also they let the people 〈…〉 their young ones without resistance ; whence there accrues to 〈…〉 governour of the castle a mighty revenue yearly : for pulling off their skins with the fat , they make an oyl of them of great worth . also they have a small gut that is full of oyl of great vertue , for it cures the hip and joynt gouts ; so that this bird serving for all mens use , is inferiour to none , but that he is not common to be had : so far boetius . when i was in scotland , i smelt of them , and they smelt like herrings . chap. vi. of the kings fisher , of ducks , and the bird emme . it is reported , that the kings-fishers build their nests of the hardest fish bones , and the sharpest thorns , and are seldom seen but at sea , where the waters are salt . they breed about the middle of winter . wherefore when it is a calm winter , they call it halcyon dayes , . dayes before the midst of winter , and . dayes after the midst of winter . in the first he makes his nest , in these last he breeds , plin. l. . c. . the nest is made like a pine-apple , or a glasse with a long neck , albert. it is so artificially made , that it cannot be easily cut with a sword . but aristotle saith , that if you break and bruise it with your hands , and then break it with an iron , you may easily destroy it : that the sea may not enter into it , she makes her hole of a spungy matter that will swell , and the swelling shuts up the entrance ; those that go in , do presse against it , and so presse out the water and find passage . the shee of them so loves the hee , that she is alwaies with him , and in old age carrieth him on her back ; and they both die in copulation , plutarch . de solert . animal . house ducks are known almost to all men ; those of lybia are of a middle stature , between a goose and a duck. their genitall member is so great as a finger is thick , and five times as long , and is red as blood , bellon . look on their eyes by the sun , and you shall see a black spot on the top , which is in the beaks of them , scalig. they make no noise , though they have both lungs and wind-pipe . when our country-people would keep abundance of them , let them keep two of our ducks for each of those drakes , and so they will lay abundance of eggs. but the young ducks so bred , will never procreate again , as other living creatures that are bred of divers kinds . in ancyra there are some that blow like a horn , as those that sound when horsemen march in orders , auger . they love their liberty so well , that being kept . years in a cage , and fed , if they can find opportunity they will flie away . there is such plenty of the wild ones , that they cover all the waters ; but they live no where but in warm countries . in the winter , that they may not be frozen in , by an instinct of nature , they swim circularly and on one side , they keep the waters open , and cry so lowd that they may be heard . when the cold grows too violent they flye aloft to the sea , olaus , l. . c. . the hollanders brought the bird emme from java ; it is twice as great as a swan , black and with black wings . but out of two originalls there proceed two more , as it is with the ostrich . it wants wings and a tongue ; on the top of the head , it hath a buckler as hard as a tortesse-shell , like a target . it would swallow apples as big as ones fist , and lumps of ice ; also burning coles , and all without any hurt . aldrovand . chap. vii . of barnacles . there is a bird in britanny that the english call , barnacles , and brant geese , the scotch call them clakguse ; it is lesse than a wild goose , the breast is somwhat black , the rest as●-colour . it flies as wild geese do , cries , and haunts lakes , and spoiles the corne. the learned question the original of it very much . for some say it breeds from rotten wood , some from apples , some of fruit that is like to heaps of leaves ; which when , at the time appointed , it falls into the water that is under it , it revives and becomes a living creature . it grows in the isle pomonia in scotland toward the north. and of this opinion is isidore , alexander ab alexandro , olaus magnus , gesner , boetius , and others ; contrarily albertus , and those that are of his mind , hold that they breed by copulation . the hollanders from their own experience in greenland , affirm they found some barnacles sitting on egs , and had young ones . but these things may agree together , for things bred of corruption may have eggs , and that seems also most clear that boetius hath written concerning them . that every man may perceive they are not fabulous , i shall set it down . now it remains that we speak of those geese which they call clak-geese ; and which commonly they think amisse , to be bred upon trees in these islands , of which we were for a long time very inquisitive , and have found by experience . for i think the sea between , is the greater cause of their generation than any thing else . for things are bred in the sea variously ; as we have observed . for if you throw wood into the sea , in time worms breed in it , that by degrees have a head , feet , wings ; and lastly , feathers . lastly they are as great as geese , when they are full grown , they flye upward as other birds do , using their wings to carry them through the ayre , which is as clear as day , and was seen in the yeare from the virgins conception , , many looking on . for when some of this wood was carried by the waves to the castle , pethschl●ge , in great quantity ; they that first espied it , wondred , and ran to the governour and tell him this strange news . the governour came , and bid them saw the log in sunder ; then they saw an infinite sort of living creatures that were partly worms , some not formed , others were , and were partly birds ; and some of them were callow , some had feathers . wondring at the miracle , at the governours command , they carried that log into the church of st. andrew at tira where it yet remaines full of worm holes as it was . the like to this two yeares after , was brought into tham by the tide , to bruthe castle ; many ran to see it , which again , two yeares after at leith in the harbour , all edenburgh came to see . for a great ship , that had the name and the ensigne of christopher , when it had been whole yeares at anchor in one of the hebrides ▪ was brought back hither , and drawn on land : that part of it that was alwaies under the sea , had the beames eaten through , and was full of worms of this kind , partly unformed , not yet like birds , and partly those that were perfect birds . but it may be some man will cavill at it , and say , that there is such a vertue in the boughs and stocks of trees that grow in those islands ; and that the christopher it self was made of the wood , growing in those hebrides : wherefore i shall willingly declare what i saw , yeares since . alexander gallovidianus pastor of the church of kil●y ( a man besides his great integrity ; incomparable for his care in study of wonders ) when he had pull'd forth some sea weeds , from the stalks and boughs , and likewise from the root , that grew up to the top where they joynd , he perceived some shell fish-breed : he frighted with the novelty of the matter ; presently opened them to know farther , and then he wondred far more than before . for , he saw no flesh shut up in the shells , but ( which is wonderful ) a bird : wherefore he ran presently to me whom he a long time knew , desirous to know such new things , and shew'd it me , who was not more astonished at the sight of it as i rejoyced at the occasion to see a thing so rare , and unheard of . by this , i think it is evident enough , that these are not the seeds of breeding of birds in fruits of roots of trees , but in the sea it self , which virgil and homer rightly term the father of all things . but because they saw that come to passe vvhen the apples fell from the trees that grevv on the shore into the vvaters , that by continuance of time birds appeared in them , they vvere of that opinion , that they believed the apples vvere turned into birds , &c. thus far boetius . reader thou may'st judge of it : for my part i admire at gods providence , and at the end of this classis by vvay of appendix , i shall add some thing out of the discourse of majerus concerning the tree-bird . chap. viii . of the owl and catarrhacta . the owl builds in the highest rocks , that sometimes it is hard to find her eggs ; for its young , pliny saith , comes forth by the tail out of the egg , because the eggs being reversed by weight of their heads , brings the hinder part to be fostered by the dam. it is said , that in churches she drinks up the oyl ; she not onely kills birds , but hares also . a duck hath been found in one cut open . the brain of it with goose-grease doth wonderfully joyn wounds . the catarrhacta hath a wonderful way of sitting on her eggs , if that be true that oppianus hath written . she layes sea-weed upon her eggs on a rock , and so leaves them open to the winds . hence the male catcheth those eggs he thinks sit to breed the males , and the female doth the like for the females ; then they carry them up on high with their talons , and so let them fall into the sea ; doing this often , they grow hot by motion , and the young ones are hatched . chap. ix . of the feldifare and goat-sucker . the feldifare makes her nest in the thickets ; the walls are mosse , wooll , downy herbs ; the ground-work is heath . they have six young ones , and they are so unlike their old ones , that they have scarce any mark like them ; because he flyes , he doth a little imitate the other birds notes , he catcheth those that fly to him , and is easily taken himself ; for when he sees a bird shut up in a cage , he flyes upon it to invade it . the caprimulgus goes into the folds of shepherds , and sucks the goats teats for milk ; the udder loseth its force by this injury , and the goats that are so suckt grow blind , pliny l. . c. . he sees little in the day , but is quick-sighted at night , arist. histor . l. . c. . in candie it makes such an horrible noise , that it will fright the inhabitants , bellonius . chap. x. of the cuckow . the cuckow is a bird of a very cold constitution of body , whence she is so fearful , that all the birds offend her , plin. l. . c. . she breeds in other birds nests ; especially , the woodculver's , the hedge-sparrow's , the lark , the red-breast and the nightingall . if their nests be empty , she will not turn in there , but if there be eggs , she breaks some and sucks them , and layes her own in the room ; in some nests they say she breaks them all , arist. l. . c. . the young ones hatcht and known by the bird , are said to be beaten , and to fly away to their own dam. note the goodnesse of nature ! they say she layes in those birds nests that feed on common meats ; she feeds on worms , insects , and corn. the grashoppers before the dog-dayes when they hear the cuckow sing , run upon her in troops , and they get under her wings and kill her , isidor . l. . c. . they are said to be bred of cuckow spittle . in winter she casts her feathers , and changeth her colour , arist. . histor . c. . in a mountain of greece where many cuckowes breed , it is said that a holly tree growes there , that what living creature soever sits upon it , is glewed fast as with birdlime , except the cuckow , plin. l. . c. . in what place soever you first hear the cuckow sing , if you make a circle about your right foot , and dig up that compasse of earth , no fleas will breed , wheresoever that is spread . chap. xi . of the crow . it is certain , that in the new world the crowes are white ; and alphonsus king of cicily had one . they say they grow white if the eyes be anointed with the brain or fat of a cat , and be put under a white 〈…〉 in a cold place . they flock together to a fruitful field ; but two at once , where the field is not fruitfull . he hath many notes , they say , the proper note is ●roking , which he makes , being changed with no passion or variety of weather . he longs for raw flesh , and corrupt , and that dyed of it self ; if he refuse this , it is an ill omen , as thucidides observed in the plague at athens . julius caesar moderatus ariminensis , learned by experience , that he vomits up again the bones and the small feet . hyginus denyes , that he can drink when he eath eaten figs , because then his throat is pierced thorow . he casts off his young ones if they be white ; though they write , that seven dayes after they are hatcht , they become black . cassiodorus thinks out of the psalmist , that they then live upon dew . a tame crow at erfurd took money off of the table and kept it , and did so exactly call conrade the cook when he was hungry , that you would believe it were a mans voice ; then he pricked holes in a musick-book that he found , as if he understood musick , scalig. e●erc . ● . barbarus observed , that he carried fire in his mouth when lightning fell . some think he catcheth sparks of fire , instead of pieces of flesh ▪ when exhalations take fire in lightning . he is said to live years . indeed in a city of france , corvatum , one lived years , albertus . hist. c. . a certain physitian that was famous in pliny his days , burnt two crowes to ashes taken out of the nest in the moneth of march , and being made into fine powder , gave them to people for the epilepsie ; one dram weight twice or thrice in a day , with water of the decoction of castorium . chap. xii . of the rook , and chrysaethos . in britany there is abundance of rooks , because the sea washeth it on all sides ; and in the grounds that are moyst there breed abundance of worms for their food , cardanus . ludovicus rhodiginus saw a white one , with a black head , not far from the walls of rhodigium , l. . antiq. lect . c. . he loves nuts chiefly , which if he cannot break , he lets them fall upon stones , aelian l. . c. . they do not inconsiderately couple ; for when one dyeth , the other lives single alwayes after . when storks fly beyond sea , this leads them . it is so industrious , that merthes king of egypt had one that would carry letters whither he sent him , porphyr . de abstin . ab animal . when she is slain and remains dead till she stincks , she drawes mice , if you lay her in a place where you may kill them , gesner . the chrysaethus hath a tongue like a mans , armed on both sides toward the roots with two horny hooked appendices . the length is sometimes from the beak to the clawes four hands breadth and a half , the breadth is eight when the wings are stretched out . it layes but one egg ; if it lay two , one is rotten . chap. xiii . of the pigeon . the pigeon when she layes two eggs , the one egg will bring a male , the other a female ; but because the heat is greater in the male , he is said to be first hatcht , paul. à castro . when the young ones are brought forth , she thrusts the salt earth into their mouthes , which she hath first fitted in her own , to prepare them to receive some meat , and to implant fruitfulnesse into them , and to raise their appetite , athen. . hist. c. . many things prove them to be apt to learn. one of them pecked corn out of mahomet's ear . when leyden was besieged , some of them carried letters , lipsius . the same was done at the siege of the buss. divers men use divers remedies to keep them in the dove-houses , and to allure others thither . some stir man's blood up and down in an earthen vessell for a quarter of an hour , with pease , and then anoint pigeons with it , and cast the pease to them to eat , gesner . some hang the skull of an old man in the dove-house , albertus . some hang a piece of the halter that a man was hang'd with , on rheir windows , pallad . l. . c. . pliny ( l. . c. , ) writes , that there is poyson in mans teeth that will kill young unfeather'd pigeons . we have it from the secrets of the egyptians , that such as feed on pigeons flesh will never be infected with the plague . hence in times of pestilence onely princes feed on them . cardanus prescribes them with their broth . their dung is so hot , that being fired by the sun , it hath fired houses , saith galen . the same author useth it for a hearing remedy ; and being bruised dry with the seed of cresses , some apply instead of mustard for a rubisicative . anno . there was one taken in germany with . feet , and . bellies ; it was brought to the emperour , and electors ; who all wonder'd at it . chap. xiv . of the swan . there are abundance of swans in many places . in moravia a province of scotland there is a lake called spina , it is noted for multitudes of swans . for therein there growes a certain herb whose seed they feed greedily on ; and therefore it is called swans meat . the nature of that herb is , that cast into water it will never putrifie . hence it is , that though the lake be extended about five miles , and was wont , as men remember , to abound with fish and salmons ; since that began to spring up , it hath increased by degrees , and hath made that lake fordable , and that men cannot swim in it ; nor is there any more any great fish therein , boetius in descript . scotiae . the internal constitution of swans is wonderfull , aldrovandus dissected them . the intestines were . spans and a hand breadth long ; and many of them were covered with fat inwardly , as thick as ones thumb , which served instead of a caul ; which being not intricate with many windings and turnings , but onely by a single revolution are turned back into themselves inwardly , with a middle rundle , perchance some of the nutriment might passe by nor distributed ; but nature , to help this inconvenience , hath fastened two blind guts ; a hands breadth between the anus and their beginning : the right intestine passing between , which should make amends for the windings of the guts that are deficient . the gullet is of a wonderfull structure . for the sharp artery that accompanies the wesand under it , descending to the throat , when it comes there , doth not tend directly to the lungs as in other creatures , but is elevated above the chanel bones , and is inserted into a rib of the breast-bone , or sternon . and this rib is not made of one single bone , but of two side ones , and a third from above , made for a covering to lye upon these ; and it is like a scabberd or sheath , and serves for the same use . when the artery comes to the end of it , it is bent backwards beneath like a serpent in fashion of the letter s ; and by and by it goes forth again beneath the foresaid part of this covering that was placed above it , and ascending to the middle of the channel bones , it leans upon their coupling as on a prop ; and being so upheld , it is again bent backwards like a trumpet , and going under the hollow of the thorax , before it comes to the lungs , it makes as it were another larynx , cut athwart , and with a little bone as long as this is broad , and which is covered with a thin membrane ; it represents a hollow pipe , or an organ pipe , in figure and composition , which are open in the neather part of them with the like fissure . under this larynx the artery is parted into two channels , each of which in the middle are stretched out wider , and stick forth , and are distributed , going directly to the very small lungs , that are wholly fastned to the sides behind . this is a wonderfull composition , and it serves for the breathing and voyce . for when in the bottom of lakes she seeks for her food , she needed a long neck , lest by long continuance she should be in danger to be suffocated by such an artery . and indeed whilest for half an hour almost she thrusts down her head into the water , she takes breath by that part of the artery which is open in the sheath we spake of in the breast . as for its singing , some say she sings before her death , and some deny it . oppianus saith , she sings early before sun rising ; but as she is very near her death , she sings on the sea-shores , but not so loud in her old age . the west wind , he adds , is observed by them when they sing , when they are feeble and their strength is spent . the fashion of their sharp artery seems to make good this opinion . chap. xv. of the stork . the storks of old time about fidena , neither made any nests , nor fed their young ones . also at the lake larius in italy beyond poe , a pleasant place with small trees , they are hardly seen , pliny , the author of the book of nature writes , that they neither come into , nor will inhabit a city in germany where no tythes are paid . they are travelling birds ; but it is a question whether all or not . many as if they were dead , were drawn forth in fishers nets , and these were joyned together , and had their bills thrust into their anus , together , and being hot in minerall waters they lived again . in lorenge it is certain , that it so happened , anno , as campofulgosus reports , l. . memorab . when they depart , they meet all at a set place of rendevouz , and will leave none of their company behind . it is observed , that they are seldom seen after the ides in august ; when they are costive they thrust their bills into their anus , and give themselves a clyster , that brings forth the faeces , and thence chirurgions learn'd that art . they are very chaste and gratefull . one of them in upper vesalia bade his host farewel when he departed , and when he return'd , he saluted him again . and not content with a vocall gratitude , he brought him a root of green ginger . another pickt out the eyes of one that lay with his hostesse when his host was abroad . another finding out the adultery of his mate in his absence , brought more company and tore her to pieces . the stork carries his aged parents upon his shoulders , and feeds them out of his mouth ▪ whence the word of gratitude is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , gesner . by the ●xample of 〈…〉 it is apparent , that she foreshews things future ; for he , as aeneas sylvius writes , unlesse he had seen storks from the high towers in aquileia , would have departed thence ; and supposing that to be a token of taking the city , he held on his purpose , and shortly wal● it , when he had besieged it . years . there are none in england as cl : bandarcius saith . chap. xvi . of the faulcon . a faulcon is so strong , that when he strikes a bird , he will ●ut him in two , from head to tail . a sea-swallow call'd drepanis , a little bird about lakes , when she hears the castrel , will rather let men stone her , than she will rise . she is wont to be sick of a disease the faulconers call the filandre . that is , a kind of worms not far from their reins , near to which they are wrapt up in a thin and proper membrane : they are as small as hairs , and half an ell long , it may be from their first originall ; unlesse you prevent them , they will eat up the principall parts and the heart . the gyrsaulcons are of divers kinds ; they are some white found in moscovy , norway , ireland . they are bold : if one of them be let fly at five cranes , he will follow them all till he have killed them . the food of it reserved in its cave , it will take in order . she never wets her self with water , but onely with sand . she loves the cold so well , that she will alwayes delight to stand upon ice , or upon a cold stone : sometimes untaught she is sold for nobles . there is a faulcon called ru●eus , because the spots , that are white in the rest , are red and black in this kind ; yet they seem not to be so , but when she stretcheth forth her wings . the cause of this rednesse is a feeble colour infused into the superficies of the body , and inflaming the smoaky moysture , which is put forth to breed the feathers . chap. xvii . of a hen and cock. hens in the kingdom of senega are thrice greater than ours ; there are many near to thessalonica ; some lay two eggs , that is with two yolks , which are parted by a partition , that they may not be confounded . aristot. in mirabil . reports , that some have laid ●● double ones , and to have hatcht them ; one chicken was greater than another , and at last it became a monster . in macedonia there was one hen which once laid eggs , and hatcht two young chickens at once , saith pierius l. . hieroglyph . but their eggs ▪ as also d●uer ▪ birds eggs , are first conceived above , where the partition is , where first it is seen to be faint and white , as aristot. writes ; than red and bloody ; and as it increaseth , it becomes all yellow ; but as it more increaseth , it is distinguished , so that the yellow part is inward , and the white goes outwardly about it ; when it is perfect , it is finished and comes forth of the shell , soft at first hatching , but presently it growes hard . the place of its perfection is the matrix it self into which they fall , aldrovand . l. . ornithol . some report also , that a cock layes an egge when he is . or . years old ; and they suppose it proceeds from seed putrified , or ill humours concurring together . it is thought to be round , and to be laid about the rising of the dog-star . for the expulsive faculty being then weak , is helped in an aged cock by the outward heat . with ferrans imperatus an apothecary , one was seen that was long fashioned , aldrovand . the cocks are wonderful falacious , for they will tread the hens times a day , and they have been seen to ejaculate their seed when they but saw the hen , or heard her note , aelian . there was an old law , as plutarch saith , in libro , num bruta ratione careant , that if one cock trod another , he should be burnt alive . when he finds he is too full of blood , he will scratch his comb till he fetch blood . all men know he crowes in the morning . some say the cause is , the love he hath to the sun ; some , to his venery ; others to his desire of meat . the mahumetans say , they answer a cock that crowes in heaven , keckerm : in physicis . the first reason seems something ; for he will crow when he is full also , and after copulation ; also he crowes when the hen is present ; but when he is gelt he crowes no more , plin. yet l. . c. . he saith , that , a circle of vine-twigs tied about his neck , he will not sing ; albertus saith , if his head and forehead be anointed with oyl . he is at great amity with the kings-fisher , that if they be both in the same house , and the kings-fisher dye , the cock will dye with hunger . they that have fed on fox flesh boyl'd , are free for two moneths from their treachery , boetius . as for a dung-hill cock , gesner saith , he found it in a german manuscript ; that a noble-man having tryed all remedies for pains of the collick , and finding none ; at length he drank a small cup of capons-grease unsalted , boyl'd in water . but ( saith he ) you must drink the fat that swims on the top , as hot as you can . chap. xviii . of the crane and the woodwall . the cranes travell all over the world. yet aldrovandus saith , he scarce believes that they will live willingly in all countries , l. . the aspera arteria of them is set into the flesh on both sides , at the breast-bone : whence you may hear a crane afar off . they travel , but no time is set ; yet how swiftly they fly , is manifest by the example of cyrus , who was said so to have disposed of his posts at certain stages , that when one was weary , another should proceed night and day , that they out-went the cranes that flew . when they fly , they keep a triangular sharp angled figure , that they may the easier pierce through the ayr that is against them . that crane that gathers the rest together , will correct them , as isidorus saith . when one is hoarse , another succeeds . when they light upon the earth to feed , the captain of them holds up his head to keep watch for the rest , and they feed securely . before they take rest , they appoint another sentinel , who may stand and ward with his neck stretched forth , whilest the rest are asleep , with their heads under their wings , and standing upon one leg . the captain goes about the camp , and if there be any danger , he ●laries . lest they should sleep too soundly , they stand upon one foot , and hold a stone in the other above ground , that if at any time being weary they should be oppressed with sleep , the stone falling might awaken them . they love their young ones so much , that they will fight whether shall give them their breeding . albertus saw a male●crane cast down a female and kill her , giving her eleven wounds with his bill , because she had drawn away his young ones from following of him . this fell out at colen , where tame cranes use to breed . those are fables that men relate of the battels between the pigmies and the cranes . the woodwall hangs up her nest on the boughs like a cup , that no four-footed beast can come at it . the nest is like to the fashion of a rams-stones , albert. magn. some say there is silk ●ound in it , and that rhe nest is built not far from the water , made of moss , and the cords it hangs by are horse hairs . she leaves italy , when arcturus ariseth . as she hangs down , she sleeps upon her feet , hoping for more safety thereby , plin. l. . c. . when she comes into germany , there is great hopes that winter for snow and frost is gone . chap. xix . of the chough . it is thought that the choughs feed on locusts besides corn , because the inhabitants of the island lemnos were reported to worship these birds , because they flew to destroy the locusts , plin. l. . c. . the males will rather lose their lives than part with their females . they fly at the eyes of him that holds them . the reason is rendred by nicolaus leonicus , because the eyes are shining and very moveable : and these birds are bred to allure and draw things to them . for birds are wont to pick and scratch at ones finger that is often moved about their bills , or because the eyes are such perfect looking-glasses , that the pupill that is so small will represent their image standing over against it : now when the birds see their own shape in our eyes , they , it is likely peck at them , as desirous to come to what they delight . chap. xx. of the swallow . swallowes are found almost in all countries . yet pliny saith , they will not fly right to thebes , because they are often taken there ▪ nor are they found in bizia in thracia , by reason of the wickednesse of tereus . they can endure no cold . hence claudian writes , as when cold snow and frost , like feathers , fall on trees , the winter-swallowes die withall . where they live in winter , is diversly described . it is certain , that in hollow trees lying many close together , they preserve themselves by mutual heat . but olaus mag. episcop . upsalensis , saith , that in the northern parts where men dye of cold in winter , the swallowes live in the water . though , saith he , many writers of natural histories affirm , that swallowes change their stations , that is , do go to hotter countries in winter ; yet in the northern parts , swallowes are often drawn forth by fishermen by accident , like a congealed mass , and they have united themselves together , bill to bill , foot to foot , wing to wing ; after the beginning of autumn , to go amongst the reeds , &c. when that masse is drawn forth and put into a hot-house , the swallowes are thawed by heat coming to them , and so begin to fly ; but they last but a very short time , because they are not made free , but captives , by being taken too soon . in egypt their wonderfull industry is seen : for in the mouth of heraclia in egypt they make such an impregnable mount with their nests continued together against the overflowing of wandring nilus , for a furlong in length , that it is thought no man could do as much , pliny . in the same egypt near the town coptus , they say there is an island consecrated to isis ; which that the same river may not demolish , they fence by labour , in spring-time , making firm the mouth of it with straw and stubble , for . nights together , labouring so hard , that many dye of it . their young ones are bred blind , if we believe the philosopher , and pliny : when they receive their sight but slowly , they hasten it by putting celandine upon it . their copulation is wonderful : for when the rest of birds are trod by the old ones , swallowes ▪ couple a contrary way , gesner . jacobus olivarius saith , he heard from hieronymus montuus an excellent physitian , that swallowes hearts being taken with cinnamon , and species of pills elephanginae , they will help memory . hence johannes ursinus writes , — with amomum eat their heart ; and wit and memory will gain their part . chap. xxi . of the osprey , the ibis , and the loxias . of ospreys , or sea-eagles , some are said to have one foot like an eagle , and hooked ; the other , plain like a goose , to swim withall ; that it hath also costly fat in the tail , and that he flies in the ayr , and hangs there as it were , and le ts drop some of this fat into the water , whereby the fish are astonished ; that they turn upon their backs , and so he catcheth them , as some say . ibis is a bird so loving to egypt , that it will live no where else ; so soon as it is hatcht , if it be weighed , it weighs two drams . plutarch . de avib . l. . c. . the heart is greater than is proportionable to the body . the gut is cubits long ; and that in the wain of the moon is pressed together , till the light of it increaseth again , saith gaudentius merula . the lakes in arabia send forth such multitudes of winged serpents that are of so sudden a venomous nature , that when they bite , they kill before the wound can be perceived ; these birds by a kind of foresight , are stirred up , and fly forth in troops and meet these pestilent multitudes in the ayr , before they wast their coasts , marcel . loxias , in respect of its bill , it differs from all other birds . whence aristotle thinks it is not known . it is wont to have a red breast , neck and belly , but in winter it changeth its colour . it delights in hemp-seed , dead carcases and kernels of the fir-tree , and it builds in such trees in january and february . in winter when all things are frozen , it sings , but forbears in summer . chap. xxii . of the kite . kites live almost every where , but they change their quarters , especially if they be neere . for otherwhiles they are found in hollow okes , cherishing themselves with the rotten dust . about pontus neere the sea euxinum , they are seen in such abundance in winter , that if for , days so many should fly thither , as bellonius saw in one day , they would be more then all mankind . they bring the cuckow with them on their backs , because he cannot flye so far ▪ isidore . the scripture ascribes to them the knowledge of the change of times . jerem. c. . about the dog-dayes , she flyes up to the middle region of the ayre , because it is cold , and sits there till the evening . herodot . l. . yet in lybia and the island of st. dominick , they are alwaies ; also at london , because it is not lawfull to kill them . hence amongst multitudes of people they will catch up their prey , ( any filth that the inhabitants cast forth into the city , or into the thames ) clus , l. . c. . in observat . bellon . they will take meat out of the shambles , bread out of childrens hands , and hats off of mens heads , especially when they make their nests . aelian , l. . c. . in the first yeare they persue great birds ; when they grow older , little birds ; and in the third yeare , gnats and flies . ap●leius speaks much of their sight . aristophanes calls them all-eys . they flye so high that somtimes they are out of sight , so farr that they pass through the ayre every where , and they flye so swift that they will catch any garbage thrown forth before it touch the ground . bellonius , l. . de avib , c. . somtimes they will ballance themselves in the ayre , not stirring their wings in an hour ; for , lifting up their wings a little in part , where the ayre goes under them , they receive the ayrs motion with their whole body , and so they are held up . it never sits on a pomegranat tree , nor can it endure the sight of it ; and it delights to behold an owle . burnt alive in a pot it is said to cure the falling sicknesse . chap. xxiii . of manucodiata and the cormorant . aldrovandus observed five kinds of the manucodiatae ; none of their bodies was much bigger than a swallow , and their heads were like to them . they are said to live alwaies in the ayre , and to rest firme without any , but a tonick motion ; for they want feet , and never come to the ground , but when they are dead . this is a fable ; for they could hardly sleep there , when their senses are bound up ; for all their exercise is a tonick motion . it is like to that , that there is a hole in their back in the muscles , where the female that hath a hollow belly lays her eggs . aldrovandus , who saw these manucodiatae , never found any such thing . and that is like this , that they feed on dew ; because they flye so high , that they cannot alwaies meet with dew . but that must alwaies be restored , that alwaies wasts . bellonius saith that the janissari , people of india , deck themselves with their feathers . they think that under their protection they shall be out of danger in the head of the battel . the mahumetans marmin perswaded their kings that they came from paradise , as tokens of the delights of that place . the cormorants are taken in the east to catch fish with . in a certaine city , saith odoricus à foro julii , scituate by the great river in the east , we went to see our host fish . i saw in his little ships , cormorants tied upon a perch , and he had tied their throat with a string , that they should not swallow the fish they took . in every bark , they set three great panniers , one in the middle , and at each end one ; then they let loose their cormorants , who presently caught abundance of fish , which they put into the panniers , so that in a short time they fill'd them all . then mine ●ost took off the straps from their necks , and let them fish for themselves : when they were ful● ▪ they came back to their pearches and were tied up againe , scaliger writes that the same was done at venice . they put their heads deep into the water , and perceive the change of the ayre under the waves ; and when they perceive any tempest , they flye to the land , making a 〈…〉 , isidore , l. . c. ▪ mizaldus saith , that vapours rise up from the waters that cause rainie clowds , and they cunningly observe it . the liver of them boyld , and eaten with oyle and a little salt , is so present a remedy against the biting of a mad dog ; that the sick will presently desire water , aetius . the same continued with salt , and drank with hydromel two spoonfulls , will drive forth the second 〈…〉 ▪ dioscorides . chap. xxiv . of the owl and musket . owls were formerly plentifull in athens ; in gandie , they neither breed , nor will live , brought thither . also in mountain countries of helvetia there are none . they sit close dayes in winter . they are not hurt by fasting , dayes . plin. l. . c. . eustatius says they see in the dark , when the moon is hid ▪ but hardly for want of a medium . crescent , l. . c. . yet they cannot see in the day by reason of too dry and thin substance of the humour which ●s dissipated by the fiery substance of the light . he makes a double noise , the one is tou , tou , the other noise they call howling . she is at great enmity vvith crovvs . pausanias reports , that the crovvs snatcht avvay the picture of an ovvl that vvas to be sold , and earings of gold out of ones hand , that vvere made like dates . it is commonly observed that if the ovvl forsake the woods , it signifies a barren yeare . ovvls egs given for three days in wine to drunkards , vvill make them loath it . plin. the musket , in winter sits in woods that use to be lopt , and comes not to her place till sun set . when she looks upon any thing , the black of the pupill of her eye grovvs greater then ordinary . we read of this bird in the salick lavvs , that he vvho should steal ou● , if he be taken , must pay denarii . chap. xxv . of onocrotalus , and rhinoceros . onocrotalus is from the tip of his bill , to the bottom of his feet , ten spans and more in magnitude , aldrovandus . his vvings stretched forth make ten spans ; under his lower mandibule , there is a receptacle like a bladder , as long as it , that hangs down at length . and that is so great that a very great man thrust in his leg as far as his knee , with a boot on , into his jaws , and pull'd it out again , without harme . perottus sanctius reports that a little blackmore was found in one . at mechlin there was one of , yeares old , and for some yeares he went before the camp of the emperour maximilian , as if he would determine the place for them . afterwards he was fed by an old woman at the kings cost , who was allowed for him , stivers the day , she fed him , yeares , when he was young he would somtimes fly so high into the ayre , that he seemed no greater than a swallow , gesner . also the cubit bones of his wings were covered with a membrane , out of which there arose , tendons , that were so firmely set into them , that there was no way to part them . gesner writes that he heard , he was wont to come once a yeare about lausanna by the lake lemannus . rhinoceros is a bird whereof one was kild in the ayre flying , at what time the christians conquered the turk in a sea fight . the head was about two spans , adorned with black tufts of feathers , very long , and that hung downwards . the beack is almost a span long , bent backward like a bow . a horn grows out of its forehead , and sticks to the upper part of his bill , of a great magnitude . for about the forehead it was a hands breadth . aldrovandus thinks it is , pliny his tragopanada . chap. xxvi . of the parrot . the antients knew but one kind of parrots ; but those that have seen the indies , have found above a hundred kinds , different in colour and magnitude . vesputius writes that in a country above the promontory of good hope , that hath its name from parrots , they are so high that they are a cubit and halfe long . scalig. exerc . , saith , he saw one so great , that he almost fill'd up the space of the lattice of a window : some are no bigger than a thrush , or pigeon , or sparrow . no man could hitherto paint sufficiently all its colours , they are so many . in burning aethiopia , and the farthest indies , they are all white ; in brasil , red , in calecut , they are all leek green , watchet , or purple coloured . scalig. exerc. . s. . the antients esteemed the green best . the head and beck of it are extreme hard : wherefore , when they teach him to speak , it feels not , unlesse you strike i● with a wand of iron , woodden rods will do no good , and it is dangerous to do it with iron ones . the parrot alone with the crocodile , moves his upper mandible ; also his beck , which is common to no other , where it is joyned to his neck , is open beneath under his chops . his tongue is broad like to a mans , and represents the forme of a gourd seed , the feet are like woodpickers feet . in the desert● of presbyter john , they are found with two claws . he puts his meat in his mouth like as men do . he not only cuts in sunder the almonds , but by rowling them in the hollow of his beck , and pressing and moving it with his tongue , he breaks them , and chews them as it were , and then swallows them . nature gave this bird a crooked bill like halfe a circle , it is very strong ; because she is of a clambering disposition , and hath not feathers in her taile that she can fasten into a tree , she had need of a strong beck , that she might first cast it in like a hook , and by that she might raise her body , and then take hold with her feet . they live in hot countries . in the country of parrots they are so cheap , that one may be bought for two pence : they alwaies flye by couples , and lest they should hurt their weak feet when they light upon the ground , they trust to their strong beck , and break the fall with lighting upon that . they imitate a man , they learn his words and will pronounce all almost with an articulate voyce . one was taught that would say the creed to a cardinal . scalig. exerc . . he will answer questions . henry the eight , king of england had one that fell into the sea , and cried for help , promising , pounds , but when he was pull'd forth , he bad , give a groat . if you stroke her gently , she will kisse you , scalig. exerc . . amongst mourners she will lament also . tiraquel saith , that the females do never or very seldome speak like to men. they are so simple that when a parrot cries in a tree , and the fowler sits close in the boughs of the same tree , great multitudes of them will flye thither , and suffer themselves to be easily taken . pet. martyr in decad. oceani . they are fed and grow fat on wild saffron seed , that is a purgative to men . they will hang by the heels with their heads down toward the water , and their tails upwards . they build in a high tree . they bind a branch that hangs down , with small twigs to the top , and they hang their nest upon it as round as a ball , with a little hole in it . they lay eggs fit for their bignesse . they dye by much rayn . they are sacred amongst the indians , but not so in columbus days . chap. xxvii . of the phoenix and woodpecker . claudian describes the phoenix , thus . a fiery mouth with sparkling eys , a glittring crest like sun it 'h skies ; the legs are of a tyrian dye , lightning the ayre as she doth fly . she is reported to inhabit arabia , and chiefly heliopolis a city of aegypt , where she was seen . her nest is made of spices , namely cinamon , and cassia neere to nilus ; she sits in it , and by waving her wings she kindles a fire , from her ashes a worme breeds , from that a young phoenix . oppian doth not so much as speak of the worm . men write diversly of her age . the common opinion is years ; some say , she lives years . but all this is false . the woodpickers have a sharp bill , that is hard round and strong , to pick holes in trees with . they have a long tongue that is extended to the hinder part of their head , and is wrapped up over all the crown of the head like a clue of yarn , it is exceeding sharp , and the end of it is gristly . they feed on wormes , and when they seek for them , they will so exceedingly make trees hollow , that they will throw them down . arist. l. . hist. c. . their nest is made so artificially , that the sticks put together they make it of , are better to pull a sunder with ones hands than to cut in peices with a sword . pliny reports that the young ones come forth of their eggs with the tayle first , because the weight of their heads turns the eggs upside down , and so the dam sits on their tails . they never sit on stones for fear of hurting their sharp claws . they climb unto the top like cats , and that backwards . in what tree soever they breed , no naile nor wedge can stick in it , but when it is fastned , it will fall out with a cracking of the tree , plin. l. . c. . men suppose that she hath the greater moon-light , an herb , that increaseth and diminisheth . chap xxviii . of the pie. the pie almost every hour changeth her note ; she learnes and loves to speak as men do . one at rome hearing the trumpet sound , at first was astonished , but came to her self , and did perfectly imitate the same , plutarch . if she be catcht in a snare , she will move nothing but her beck ; lest , moving her body , she should be more ensnared : when rapes are sowed , then is the time for her to moult her feathers . her feathers being pul'd off , and her guts taken out , if she be boyl'd in white wine till the wine be consumed , and the flesh part from the bones , and then she be bray'd with the broth , and so set for three days in the sun , and then applyed to the eys with a fine rag , it will cure the roughnesse , darknesse , and rednesse of the eyes , the pye that feeds on mosse , hath blew ouerthwart marks on the sides of her wings , you shall seldome see the like in any other bird , she hath a throat so wide , that she will swallow chestnuts . the pye in brasil hath a bill two hands breadth long , and one almost in breadth , measured from the bottom of the lower part , to the top of the upper part . the substance of it is very thin like a parchment ; yet bony , shining , hollow , and most capacious as the ear ; also it is dented and made up as it were with certain skales ; she feeds on pepper , but she presently casts it up again raw , and indigested . chap. xxix . of the peacock . of old peacocks were rare in europe ; when alexander saw one in india , he forbad to kill it on pain of death ; but afterwards in athenaeus his time they grew so common , that they were as ordinary as quails . in the land temistana , they lay sometimes or eggs , martyr . they are so cleanly , that when they are young , they will die if they be wet ; albert. when they want cooling , they spread their wings , and bending them forward , they cover their bodies with them , and so drive off the force of heat : but if the wind blow on their back-parts , they will open their wings a little , and so are they cooled by the wind blowing between . they are said to know when any venomous medicament is prepared , and they will fly thither and cry . aelian reports , that a peacock will seek out the root of flax as a natural amulet against witchcraft , and will carry it thrust close under one of its wings . the peacock suffers such languishing pains as children are wont to suffer when their teeth first come forth , and they are in great danger when their crest first grows out , palladius l. . de re rustica c. . when in the night they double their clanging note , it foreshews rains at hand . the cause is said to be , that by doubling of that troublesome noise , is shewed , that with heat that sharp vocal spirit breaks forth , mizaldus . their flesh will not corrupt easily . after a whole year it will not stink , onely it appears drier . antonius gigas gave a piece of the boyl'd flesh to aldrovandus in ; it was boyl'd anno ; and it was full of round holes quite through , like a sieve , out of which , if it were a little shaked , dust did fall , as rotten powder doth out of some trees ; it was salt in taste , and somewhat bitter , aldrovand . chap. xxx . of the pheasant and sparrow . in the country of curium , pheasants were so common , that the christians coming thither , bought them for two little pins apiece , martyr . l. . decad. frederick duke of saxony let fly in saxony , and forbad any man to catch them . in the places of scandinavia , they lye under the snow without meat , olaus . when they grow fat they lose their feathers . the sparrow doth so fear the hawk , that one that was pursued flew into xenocrates's arms . it is the lust fullest almost of all birds ; for it hath been seen to tread times in half an hour , scalig. it will devour venomous seeds without any hurt . some ascribe that to the smallnesse of its veins . an herb , the name whereof is not known , being put under ground in . corners of a corn-field , will drive them from the corn , pliny . others bid carry a red toad through the field by night , before it be sowed , and to be buried under ground in the middle of the field , shut up in an earthen vessel . yet , lest the corn should grow bitter , it must be dug up again before harvest . those of taprobana , when they are in the deep sea , let fly sparrowes they brought with them for that end ; and by their conduct , because they know not the use of the loadstone , they find the way home , acosta . chap. xxxi . of the partridge . in that part of the world that is called the continent , partridges have a double flesh , so apparent , that it may be discerned ; so great , that the greatest glutton cannot eat one at a meal , gonsal oviedus . their testicles in venery increase wonderfully , but there appear none in winter , aristotle , l. . hist. c. . they are so salacious , that when the females are wanting , they will couple amongst themselves , and with their young ones : when they are present , they are filled by the males with wind they send forth , also by their cry and flying upward , plin. l. . c. . aristot. l. . c. . their fruitful spirit is thought to perform that , which ephesius interprets to be a vapour ; which carries the heat arising from the generative seed of the male , and which being received through the pores of the partridge , penetrates as far as the menstruum of her . their young ones are impatient of delay , and break forth of themselves before the eggs be opened ; and making a passage in the eggs , so soon as they can put forth their heads and feet , they run away with the shell on their backs , and seek for food . odoricus de foro julii , shews us their docilenesse , and saith , that in the countries about trapezunda , which was formerly call'd pontus , he saw a man that drove partridges and more : he travelled by land , and they flew in the ayr , he brought them to a certain castle call'd thanega , that is . dayes journey from trapezunda . these partridges when the man rested , would all rest about him , as chickens about a hen ; and then he took of them as many as he pleased , and the rest he brought home again . chap. xxxii . of the ostrich . the ostrich , hath a small head like a goose , not covered with feathers , with cloven feet , aristot. . hist. he is too big to fly , yet sometimes he runs swiftly , the wind entring under his wings , and extending them like sails . it is certain he will out-run a man on horseback . he is a fruit-eater . he will swallow small pieces of bones and stones greedily , but he casts them out again ; also pieces of iron . how should he digest them , for a lion that is hotter cannot ? he makes a nest of sand , that is low and hollow , and fenceth it against the rain . she layes above eggs : yet the young ones are not all hatcht at the same time ; the eggs are very great , as big as a young childs head , weighing about pounds , they are extream hard , and the shell is like stone . the young are bred of them by heat of the sun ; some , because they saw this bird looking on them , thought the young ones to be hatcht by her eye : she is wonderfull simple ; when she hides her neck in a bush , she thinks she is all hid . chap. xxxiii . of the scythian bird , and the castrel . of the scythian bird , aristotle writes thus : there is ( saith he ) a bird that inhabites the scythian land , as great as a bustard , which produceth two young ones ; and the eggs she layes , she doth not sit upon them , but leaves them wrapt up in a hare's or fo●e'● skin , and so layes them up on a high tree . when she hunts no● , she stayes and keeps and defends them . a castrell is most loving to pigeons ; wherefore countrey men put the young castrels in earthen pots , and fence them with putting on the cover , and fastning them with gip , they place them in some corners of their dove-coats ; this makes pigeons love the place : he so frights hawks , that they fly from the sight and cry of him , columel . chap. xxxiv . of the thrush , and torquilla . thrushes were amongst the romans formerly great dainties ; for at rome they were sold for denarii ; that is , pieces of money apiece . varro , a very copious authour , saith , that out of one cage thrushes were sold at the said price ; saith he , in a farm of my aunts , in sabini miles from rome , there is a house for to keep birds , out of which alone i have known thrushes sold for . denarii apiece , that that part of the farm yielded one year sestertia , twice as much , saith he , ( speaking to axius ) as thy ground of acres yields really . the thrush of agrippina shews they will learn ; for this would imitate all mens speeches . it is a wonder , if it be true , that thrushes should be so deaf . scaliger hath a delicate copy of verses of the singing thrush . we will here set them down : sweet little thrush , little throat , abating cares with thy small note , with thy melody be so kind , to pacifie my troubled mind . and let thy warmbling breast with thousand tunes at least free me from gulphs of cares , o prince of happy ayres . little bird , king of voyce , that makes thy lord for to rejoyce when he awakes , with thy clear note , sweet little thrush , little throat . chap. xxxv . of urogallus . urogallus is found in the highest mountain tops ; in germany , and the northern parts , he most delights . encelius l. . de lapid . c. . writes of his wonderfull copulation . for the cock of this kind doth spit and vomit out his seed in the spring when they couple , and with a loud noise calls the hens , who gather up the seed was cast forth of his mouth ; and they swallow it down , and so they conceive . then the cock treads them , and ratifies as it were the seed eaten . those hens that he treads not , do bring eggs that are windy . olaus magnus writes , that in the winter , in the north , the lesser urogalli will lye hard under the snow two or three moneths . but in pontus they say in winter some birds are found , that neither boult their feathers , nor do they feel when their feathers are pluckt out , nor when they are thrust through with a spit , but onely then when they wax hot at the fire . it is hardly true . the greater grygallus is so deaf , that he cannot hear the noise of a great gun. chap. xxxvi . of the batt . plato calls the bat , a bird and no bird . valla , half a mouse . he loves caves and holes in the earth . in the hollow place● of apenni●u● , there were some thousands that lodged . it brings forth the young ones ready formed ; when they are bred , they are first like young mice , smooth and naked as young children : she suckles her young ones with her milk , and she casts them especially between the hollow places in tiles or roofs of houses . they stick so fast to her teats , that they cannot be pull'd off when she is dead . she , the second day after she hath disburden'd her self of them , flies to find food ; but in the mean time she devours the secondines . sometimes she is bred of putrid matter . frisius saith , she proceeds from a sickly excretion of the ayr ; she flyes with leather wings ; or , as isidore saith , born up with the membranes of her arms , flying winding up and down , and not far from the earth . when she is weary she hangs by her claws , the rudiments whereof they have in the middle of their wings : she will fly also with two young ones in her bosome . they eat gnats , flies , bacon . they will so eat a flitch that hangs by a beam , that they will lye in the hollow place . in hot countries they will fly at mens faces . in dariene a province of the new world , they troubled the spaniards in the night : one of them fell upon a cock and hen , and bit the cock dead , martyr . pompilius azalius saith , that in the east-indies some are so great , that they will strike men , passing by , down with their wings . the argument of this , is their carcases that lie all over the vale. the storks eggs grow barren , if a bat touch them , unlesse she take ●eed by laying plane-tree leaves in her nest : it is killed by the smell and smoke of ivy , aelian de animal . locusts will not flye over the place , where bats are hang'd on the trees that lie open . the biting of it is cured with sea-water , or other hot water , or with hot ashes , as hot as one can suffer it . strabo saith , that in borsippa a city of babylon , where they are greater than in other places , they are pickled up for food . so in st. john's island they are skinned with hot water , and they are made like chickens with their feathers pull'd off with us ; for their flesh is very white . the inhabitants of the isle of catigan in the sea del zur , do eat them . they are as great as eagles , and as good meat as hens , scalig. exerc. . s. . chap. xxxvii . of the vulter . the vulter hath filthy and terrible eyes , and a space under his throat as broad as ones hand , set about with hairs like calfs hairs , bellonius l. . observ . c. . he hunts after cattell in chyla a province of the west-indies , and that not from sun-rising till noon , but from noon till night , monard . de arom . some say , that the males are not bred , but the females conceive by the wind ; which is false : for they have been seen between worms and augusta of trevirs ●o couple , and to lay eggs ; alb. mag. they are so libidinous , that when they are kindled , if the male be absent , they will tread one the other , and conceive by a mutuall imagination of lust ; or else drawing dust by force of desire , they will lay eggs . when he wants his prey , he will draw blood from his thighs to feed on . simocatta writes , that they are great with eggs . years . he hath an excellent sight , for he will see when the sun riseth from east to west ; and when the sun sets from west to east . he will smell carrion miles , aldrovand . avicenna saith , that he sees the carcases from aloft ; but aldrovandu● writes , that the wind carries the sent of them to him . he hath an exquisite sense to perceive . he lives a hundred years . if you pick your teeth with his quill , it will make your breath sowr . a kernel of a pomegranate will kill him , plin. l. . c. . aelian . l. . c. . the end of the sixth classis . an appendix to the sixth classis : wherein some things are taken out of a treatise of michael maierus , a most famous physitian , concerning the bird that growes on trees . when one shall read ; that there is a place in the world , where geese grow on trees like apples ; perchance he will be doubtfull concerning the truth of it , and question the authour . and if any man shall say , that living creatures are bred , not onely of one , but of divers kinds , from trees and vegetables , that part will fly ; and part will not fly ; h● will have enough to do to make good what he sayes , if he would not be accounted a lyar. yet i think , it may be easily proved by what we have said already , where we have asserted , from experience , that gnats are bred in okes , and mosse of okes ; and worms are bred in other trees and vegetables ; which , though they be small creatures , yet are they reckoned in the number of living creatures , because they feel and move : yet i should not affirm the first as the words sound . for birds make their nests sometimes in trees , hedges , bryars and other vegetables ; but that they grow there like pears , is incredible . there is one of the canary islands called ferro , where is a fountain of sweet water concealed ( and there is none besides in the whole island ) in some trees by a wonderfull indulgence of nature ; the leaves do draw abundantly water out of the earth or ayr : which they drop down for the inhabitants to drink . for should they want this boon , no men nor cattell could live there ; for there are no fountains ; but the ocean or salt-water runs round about it . the great bounty of god hath afforded water to those , to whom it is denyed in other considerations . as in egypt where there never falls any rain , nilus overflowes to supply that defect ; and other countries have other gifts given them . so also is this bird afforded to the isles of the orcades , and other neighbouring places , which is found no where else . yet should any man look to find him growing on the trees , he might wander all the woods over and find none , nor yet do pyrats amongst the ferrenses find water , but are forced to leave the country for want of it , nor can they find it in the trees concerning this bird that is no fable , that very learned authors have written , making mention of it also in their other works , as hieron . card. de varietat . rer . c. . du bartas , in his weeks , the th day , and day of his week . but they all do not agree of the places and manner of its generation . munster saith , the orcades are full of these birds , gyraldus speaks of ireland , dubartus of scotland which he calls luturnen , as also mela writes . hector boetius , relates the same things of the hebrides . a french man understands it ▪ concerning any part of the hesperian sea. he saith , a certaine bird i● bred without cock or hen , but only from some vegetable , namely in scotland from the trees of that country . also ships made of the same trees , when they are in the middle of the sea , produce the same fowls . the french call them marquerolle ; it is good to eat . plutarch makes mention of the same bird , in a treatise that begins , whether an egge were first or a hen ? the scotch call them klekgues . others write of them thus . in the orcades island , and scotland , there is a tree by the sea side , and on the banks of rivers , that beares fruit not unlike to ducks , and when it is ripe it falls down into the water , and swims away alive , and becomes a bird ; if it fall on the the ground it corrupts . others call them barnacles . as also in the ●ittle theatre of the world , they are ascribed to ireland , and are thus deciphered . there are also here birds called barnacles growing by nature contrary to natures order , not unlike to ducks , but only they are lesse . for from wood of masts for ships , first comes forth some kind of gum , then with weed ( or sea grass calld'd wier ) some shell-fish sticks to those kinds of wood together with the pitch , which in time get wings and become birds , and fly or fall into the waters , and swim . i have often seen ( saith silvester ) abundance of these tree-ducks hanging on the wood , inclosed in shells till they could fly . they lay no eggs as other birds do , nor are they bred of eggs . in some places they eate these birds for fish , and not for flesh. hector boetius tells the same history of a bird , he calls cla●is . for , saith he , if you cast wood into the sea , about the hebrides , in time worms will breed in it , that eate that woodhollow , and afterwards become birds , and are like to geese , flying . hee ascribes the generation of them to the sea , called by homer and virgil , the father of all things . but these different descriptions of authors do neither agree amongst themselves , nor in all things with the truth it selfe . for the place , some say it is the orchades ; others ireland ; others the hebrides , others scotland , and all this may be true , since in the ocean between scotland and the orcades , and ireland , and the hebrides , they are said to breed in both places . for it is no small extent of place where they are , but all that compasse of the sea in the outmost bounds of scotland and ireland . for the name , there is no difference ; for divers nations use divers names . but whether that faculty be to be ascribed to the woods or trees of those countries , or to worms that breed from those trees , and are changed into shell-fish , is worth enquiry ▪ since the forementioned authours were of so various opinions . but we shall consent with none of them . for were this vertue in the wood , why should not the same kind of wood , used for masts , have the same faculty in all places ; yet that is not so , nor do ships made of that woo● produce such fowle in the middle of the sea. for who ever heard any such thing done in france , germany , or england , yet are all their havens frequented by scotch merchants , and ships from the orcades ▪ no● can this be referred to the trees , for they beare not birds but fruit of their own kind . if they be cut down and turn'd to other uses , and cast into the sea , to corrupt and grow rotten , that is , that they may dye as it were , as to their first being , and be turned into the common matter of wood ; then begins this new generation of living creatures by the influence of the heavens , and the suns heat co●operating . for how should a vegetable , produce a flying creature like a goose ? is not every tree known by its specifical fruit , whether it be good or bad ▪ againe doth not every kind of fruit , testify what tree it was bred on ● trees do not beare fish ; nor the sea , trees . hares use to be found in woods , and merry conceits in words , and not the contrary . a vegetable doth not couple with an animal , nor an animal with a vegetable , each keeps its own rank , and doth not exceed it , unlesse nature using the help of putrefaction , do produce some small living creatures in vegetables ▪ as i said before . they that think that worms may become fowls , do not in my judgment , speak what is probable . for how should a shell-fish come of a worm , yet understand me so , that what i deny of each by themselves , i would grant of all together . but because i know this not by heare-say , but i have seen above , ( almost hundreds ) of these shell-fish , and when they were opened , i have seen little young birds coming forth as out of a●● egge , with all their parts necessary for flight , and i have had them in my hands , i must not omit here to set down an exact description of them , and this it is . if perhaps some pieces of masts of ships smeer'd with pitch fall into those seas in the outmost parts of scotland , nor far from the orcades or hebrides , and lye there a long time ; they not only grow rotten and full of worms , but are covered all over with sea weeds , for of such grass there is abundance there , which cleaves to any wood easily , especially if it send forth a pitchy fatnesse as masts that are fi●re or pitch trees , and are full of pitchy rosin ; and then for ships occasions are again besmeerd with the same , namely that the sayls may suddenly be noised up and pulled down , and stay no where . now the sea breeds those weeds at the bottom neere the shore , that are longer or shorter , and these at certain times swim on the top of the water , being moved or pull'd up , as it were , by the waves . this , bred in the water , doth not easily corrupt , having much of a salt nature in it : wherefore in north holland , and many other places they make of those weeds a strong fence against the violence of the sea , so that they fetch a remedy from the disease , wherefore these weeds hanging round about the said pieces of masts insinuate themselves into the rotten places ; and in time on the other side of each grass will grow small shell-fish , which are whitish or of the colour of a mans nayls , and in forme , hollownesse , and long fashion , like to the nayle of a mans little finger ; whereof if two be joyned together that they may stick well , the upper parts being the sharpest , they take hold of the ends of the weeds , and are fast shut in the broader parts , which afterwards open , that the fruit may come out to flye . thus a thousand at least of these shell fish are fastned to the weeds at the ends , which as i said are fastned to the pitcht wood , with the other end , in such plenty , that the wood can hardly be seen : yet those weeds do hardly exceed fingers breadth in length , and are so strong as thongs of leather : somtimes they are longer , and are some-feet-long . this is the whole external description ; for you can see nothing but a piece of a mast full of rotten holes , and sea weeds thrust into them , having at the other end shell-fish , like to the nayle of a mans little finger . but if these shells be opened , those small birds appeare , like chickens in eggs , with a beck , eys , feet , wings , down of their feathers beginning , and all the other parts of callow birds . as the young birds grow , so do the shells or covers of them , as they do in all other oysters , muscles , shell-fish , snails , and the like carriers of their houses . it may be asked how they get their food ? i answer as other z●ophyta do ; partly from the sweeter part of the water , or else as shell fish that breed pearls , and oysters do , from the dew , and rayn ; partly , from the pitchy fat of the rotten wood , or the resinous substance of pitch or rosin . for these by the intermediant grass , as by umbilical veins , do yeeld nutriment to these creatures , so long as that wood is carried by the ebbing and flowing of the sea , hither and thither . for were it on the dry land , it would never bring forth the said shell fish . an example of this , we have in places neere the sea , where those shell fish are taken alwaies with black shells , sticking to wood put into the water , as also to the woodden foundations of bridges , and to ships that have been sunk . and they stick either to the wood , by some threds like to hayrs , or mosse , or else by sea weeds ; whence it is evident that some clammy moysture is afforded to shell-fish sticking to any wood whatsoever , though it be oke , but much more to firre wood , full of rosin , whereof masts of ships are made : for this wood is hotter than oke , and hath much aeriall clamminesse , and therefore takes fire suddenly and when it is wounded , while it is green , it sends forth an oily rosin , but when it is dry , it will easily corrupt under water ; but the oke will not , because it is of a cold and dry nature . it longer resists corruption , and under water grows almost as hard as a stone . if any man will consider the abundance and diversity of fish and living creaturs which are bred in the seas every where , he cannot but confesse that the element of water is wonderful fer●ill , which breeds , not only the greatest living creatures , ( as whales , whereof some , as pliny writes , l. . entred into a river of arabia , that were foot long , and foot broad ) and that in such abundance and variety that the same authour reckons up . kinds of fish in the sea only , besides th●se bred in rivers . but one would chiefly admire the great diversity and beauty of sea shell-fish ; for i remember that i saw a● ●e●terdam , anno , with peter carpenter a very famous man , above a thousand severall kinds of them , in such plenty that he had a whole chamber full of them , which he kept as the pretious treasures and miracles of nature . no doubt but these are the ensign● of natures bounty ; for they rather serve for the ornament of the world , than for mans use , wherein you may see a kind of an affected curiosity in the variety of the forms of them . hence we may conclude the great fruitfulnesse of the sea , which doth exceed the land in breeding of living creatures , and vegetable animals ▪ which the antients observing , they ascribed to neptune , who was god of the sea , great multitudes of children begotten from divers concubines ▪ call'd sea-nymphs ; amongst these , were tryton and protheus ▪ whereof he , sounding a shell-fish , is his father neptunes trumpeter ; but this , is changed into various forms , as into fire , a serpent , and such like ; clearly teaching , that the sea breeds divers forms . these causes seemed to move them who ascrib'd the generation of these birds in the orcades to the sea alone , as being the authour of fruitfulnesse , and of diversity of creatures . but how rightly they did that , shall be seen . we deny not , but that many pretty shell-fishes are bred of the sea , onely from the influence of omnipotent nature ; so that the ocean affords the place and matter of them , but not the form and the cause efficient . all the fish , except a few , are bred of the seed of other fish , naturally ; and here can be no question of these . yet we may doubt whether so many kinds of shell-fish do breed from the seed of other shell-fish . it is manifest of the foresaid bird , that it breeds neither from an egge ▪ as other birds do , nor yet from seed . whence then ? from the ocean ? or must the cause be imputed to the ocean ? not at all . for though the place be said to generate the thing placed , yet that is understood of the matrices that are the cause of generation , sine quâ non : but not the efficient cause , much lesse the formal material and final , and not concerning every generall thing containing . but to search out more exactly the nature of this wonderfull bird , we will run over those four kinds of causes , not doubting , but having searched out these as we ought ▪ what , why , and from whence it is , will easily be resolved . the efficient cause therefore of this generation , is external heat , such as the sun sends forth into sublunary bodies ; as also in the internal hea● ▪ in the matter corrupting . for without heat nature produceth no generation , but useth heat as her chief instrument , whereby homogeneous things are congregated , and heterogeneous are parted ; the parts and bowels are formed in living creatures , and are disposed in their orders and figures . in artificiall things that men make , they use divers instruments , as their hands , which may be call'd the instrument of instruments , hammers , anvils , files , sawes , wimbles , and the like . in natural things , there is onely heat as the efficien● cause ▪ and nature moves it as the artificer doth them ▪ the outward heat brings the internal into action : without which , this would be uneffectual , and shut up in the matter as dead ; as it appears in some living creatures , which when winter comes , and the outward heat fails , they are as it were asleep , and lye as dead , as swallows , frogs , flies , and such like : but so soon as the sun beams heat the water and the earth , presently these little creatures revive ; as owing their lives to the suns heat . and as the heat is greater , so is the efficacy thereof , and their flying about and crying ; as we see in flies and frogs . as for heat , the sun , the great light of the world , is the father of it ; which it sends upon all earthly creatures , enlightning and enlivening them . hence men say , that the sun and man beget a man ; namely , by the intermediate seed . otherwise it proceeds of another fashion , when without those mediums , in things are bred of putrefaction , as we said before . for when the solar or elemental heat incloseth any mixt body , wherein natural heat is included ; this is raised up by that , is moved and stirred to perform its operations ; as appears in the hatching of eggs by artificiall heat of furnaces , or natural heat of the hens . for in the yolks there is a hidden naturall heat , that is stirred by the external heat ; so that , by circulation of the elements , water is turn'd to ayr ; ayr into fire ; fire into earth ; earth into water , and the chickens limbs and entrals are formed and made by natural heat , which is the principal internal agent . the material cause in the generation of this tree-goose , is that clammy matter of the wood of firre , or the rosin and pitchy substance of it , upon which the outward suns heat doth work ; and the internal heat increased in the corrupt matter . this matter though it be small , yet may well afford the first rudiments to this embryo , which is afterwards nourished by the clammy substance of the ocean , as oysters and other shell-fish grow and increase ; for neither the hard substance of the wood , nor yet the weeds affords any matter for it ; for the one is observed to be the container , and the other the conveyer of the true matter . for as in the generation of man , neither the matrix , nor the umbilical vein do afford any matter , but are required as necessary instruments ; so must we judge here , of the wood , and the sea-weeds . some will have it , that from the worm bred in the rotten wood , there should be made some transmutation , and that the worm doth afford the first matter for this generation ; yet that opinion is false , for that worm cannot come ●orth to the end of the weeds , nor can it make shell-fish , but that must breed at the end of the weeds ; nor doth it come thither from any other place , that it can go from place to place by an animall motion , before it receive its essential form . pliny writes , that the fish pinnothe● is so cunning , that he will hide himself in the oyster ; and as he growes , he will go into such as are greater ; but to imagine any such thing of that worm that eats into the wood , is against the nature of it . but it is no doubt , but that the rosinous and pitchy matter may communicate something to the end of the weeds , which yet nature must do by a way we cannot perceive ; as nature useth in all other generations such wayes and means that we can better think and judge of by reason , than see with our eyes . for who can see how the heart in the generation of living creatures is first formed ? what fibres and veins nature useth there for her instruments ; how and by what means this is done ; and when it is done , how she disposeth of the other bowels , and makes them of a seminall and menstruall matter : there was never man yet found so quick-sighted , that he could see these things whilest they were doing ; but when they are done , reason can discern them . so no man could yet say , how this matter , that was first radical moysture in the wood , could passe to the ends of those sea weeds , and should be formed there ; yet it is plain afterwards , that so it was made . nor will that be so hard , for the matter to passe through the grasse to the end of them , as to passe without any medium . but the greater difficulty is , and most worthy to know , the formal or seminall cause of this wonderfull birth ; which since it is nor contain'd in seeds ; for here are none to be found ; it must needs enter into the matter , otherwise than in other kinds of generations . for the seeds of both sexes in living creatures which are mixt together in copulation , are as it were the sheaths and cases of the forming spermaticall faculty ; which forms the prae-existent matter of the seed or blood into an essentiall form fit for that kind , that the seeds belong unto , howsoever they are mingled or drawn forth into act . that force of nature is a blessing given to her in the creation , in the word increase ; which word was never idle , nor shall be whilest the world endures : god spake , and all that god said were made very good , containing in themselves principles to multiply their own kinds by ; because individualls must perish . the heaven with its stars shall last from the beginning to the end , and the entire elements , ayr , water , and earth . but things compounded of them , as they ●y , so they are restored again by multiplication of seed , not the same in number , but in kind ; not by external form , but by that form which is internall and essential . but since that god gave this commission for propagation to the sublunary world , and this alwaies proceeds by mediums ; though in the production of these barnacles there are no visible seeds , whereby the matter may receive its form ; wherefore it is consonant to reason and to nature , that the form must come from some other place into the matter , lest any thing should seem since the creation to be made of nothing , contrary to gods will. for nothing is the cause of it selfe , or forms it self , but only the eternal and infinite god. all other things indeed were made by him of nothing , but not by themselves , nor are they propagated of nothing , nor from themselves , but from means appointed by nature . plato sets universal ideas of every species of things subject to generation , fixed in a certain place from whence a formative force descends , to beget and make all individualls to be made . this opinion is pleasant but not true . for there can be no universal substances ( save in the conceptions of mens minds ) but only individuals , that cannot give what they have not , and what they do give , they cannot alwaies hold themselves . nature is in all things as in individuals , dispersed all over , which yet operates in each individual according to the condition that every one of them requires , which is true in all things that have seeds , for those are the very subjects and vessells that nature works upon . but the question now is , how that faculty is imprinted on the seeds , and from whence ? whether from nature ? if this be true , then of every matter she makes what she will , when as she can imprint what forme she please on any matter . and then , how can nature in this barnacle , that hath no seed visible presupposed , proceed to generation ; and in other such like things bred of meer putrefaction . as in man there is an imagination and cogitative force , which is performed by a subtile artifice of images conceived in the brai● ▪ arising first from the outward senses , and so proceeding to the inward parts of the brain , by a locall motion ; yet without any changing of the place , only by calling to remembrance things at the greatest distance , which were seen long before , or were done , or thought of ▪ so in the sun , the heavens , the fixed starrs , there is a kind of imaginative vertue ; not passive as in animals , but purely active , which by locall motion comes thence into sublutary bodies , and is communicated to certaine subjects , as to seeds of individualls . and this is the form that first begins and increaseth all generation , communicating the essence to every thing , that it shall be such a thing , and not another . this force is the first moveable , frameing its subject , as an architect , and one that frames her self a house , where to dwell , that she governs to that end that nature the artificer assigns it . that is the spermatick faculty , that resides in the body of the seed , without which this is barren and vain , nor doth promote any generation . if this by time vanish , or by breaking the container of it ; there follows no fructification , as appeares in corn , which if it grow old , or be ground to meale , it can propagate no more . or why doth this power reside in that body rather than in another , and perisheth presently afterwards ? i answer , there is no other reason to be given , than that nature rejoyceth in such means , and hath included that vertue that it cannot flye away , if it be obedient unto nature , vvhich if she would , she could have put into other subjects . it is admirable , that the animal spirits in men are contained in the nerves 〈…〉 do they flye out of them into the ayre ; and when those nerves are pressed their passage is stopped , whence astonishment or a palsey for a time s●aseth on the foot or arme , which is by and by removed by the spirits succeeding into the nerves . after the same manner , that imaginative vertue of the heavenly bodies , especially of the sun , if it passe into the individual subjects or seeds of things ▪ it naturally remaines in them at the will and pleasure of nature . but where there are no seeds , there the same vertue of the heavens is communicated to some certaine matter immediately : as , in this generation , to this fat and clammy subject , of which we spake before , as to the material cause . for there are two things in all seeds , the elementary matter , and the celestiall forme , the latter whereof may perish , the matter and externall forme remaining entire , but nothing of that was generated out of the matter , when the celestial forme is lost . matter in this generation is in time before the forme , and receives it by influence , though it be not deprived of any forme it had . i speak of the first matter , but the subsequent forme , if it do not take away the first forme , yet it perfects it . but it is a question , wherefore this formal force ( as for example ▪ in making a bird ) is not sent into every matter , or into any whatsomever , when as it is received without certaine vessells , or bodies of seeds ? i answer ; that matter , so prepared in such wood and not in another , and in such a place and not in another , supplies the place of a seminal body ; whose qualities not being in another , therefore noe other subject is capable of that formal and determinate vertue . there are examples every where of this imagination , or celestiall influence , namely in some places of the county of mansfield , where mines of brasse in a stone that may be cut , do shew forth all kinds of fishes ; and the forms of such as are in the next lake , as we may see teeth ; horns ; and lyons to perfection , formed by nature under ground in hollow caves and other places . in amber also , which by the sea waves is cast on the shores of the island , now call'd sudovia in borussa ; divers forms of flyes gnats , spiders , butterflies , frogs , lizards , and other creatures appear ; not really , but only from the imaginative faculty of the heavens imprinted in it . for if you should cut the amber or break it to find them , the places would be empty , which nature hath so sported her selfe upon ; yet are all their parts and particles so shadowed to the life , that a man would sweare , that such creatures are really included in that matter , perchance wrapt in when the gum was moyst . but it is no such matter : for there is no earthly matter , and which is not transparent , that is contain'd in those concave figures , which yet ought to be otherwise , since a corporal substance cannot vanish away , and only the forme of it remaine . moreover if any such living creatures had fallen into the gummy substance of it ▪ as into rosin or turpentine , their wings or feet that are besmeer'd would be seen so , and not extended entire , and direct , which is not so here ; but all seem entire as through a crystall glasse . farther , if that should fall from trees into the water , those trees would be known . pliny l. . c. . & , writes of amber thus , pitheus ( saith he ) discovered to the guttones , borderers on germany , an arme of the sea called mentonomon , for the space of furlongs ; from this the island abulus is a days sailing ; from thence amber is carried by the waves of the sea , and it is the purging of the sea congealed . the inhabitants use it for wood to burn , and sell it to the germanes their neighbours . timoeus beleived this , but he called the island baltia . mithridates saith , there is an island in the shores of germany , and it is called osericta that is full of a kind of cedar trees , from thence it runs to the rocks . but certaine it is , that it breeds in some islands of the north sea , and the germans call it glessum ; and therefore our country men call one of those islands , glessaria ; when germanicus caesar was there with his navy , the barbarians called it austravia . it is brought by the germans , especially into the country of pannonia : thence the venetians first , whom the geeeks call heneti , spread the fame of it , they receiving that from pannonia about the adriatick sea. that shore of germany is about miles from carnuntum of panonia , from whence it is brought , being but lately discovered . a roman knight , sent by julian to trafique for this , who took care of the fencing sports of nero caesar , passed over all those shores , where these merchandises were , and saw such abundance brought in , that the nets that were set to keep off wild beasts from the galleries , were full of knots of amber , but the weapons , and biers , and the whole provision for one day was made of amber . he brought a great weight or clot of it , that weighed , pounds . pliny . in amber , as it is transparent , that incorporeal figure doth easily appeare ; but not so in other dark bodies . nor yet in the matter of the wood we speak of ; in which not only the figure of a bird , but also a spermatick natural force to forme it , nourish , and augment it , and to preserve it in its vital functions , is implanted , as in other birds . but since it is not propagated , ex traduce , from an egg or seed , it neither leaves egg nor seed , nor gives more to another than nature gave to it . for if it lay'd eggs , that chickens might proceed from , the barnacle had been so bred her self ; but neither of these is so . for as a mule is not bred of a mule , but from the mingling of an asse and mare together , so it doth not generate a mule , but continues alwaies barren , as this bird doth . bees are bred of worms , the worms in the honey combs from honey , by a wonderfull operation of nature , though without any sensible body of seed , yet not without virtuall seed imprinted on the honey-combs by the bees , which they first had from heaven . nor is it possible , that these effectual and spiritual qualities should proceed from the pure elements , or onely by propagation ; since the matter of the seed , which is made of nutriment and blood , could be extended in infinitum without diminution of it self . for we observe , that the elements are but like dead and materiall receptacles of the formal vertues , and that the matter of the seed is dayly supplyed , and heaped up by the elements . and therefore it is necessary that the formative force , should daily flow into the formed seeds ; or , where they are wanting , into a matter prepared by nature from corruption , or other operations . from whence the form of this wonderfull creature is easily drawn , namely , that it is an imaginative vertue of the heavens , or of the sun , actively infused into a viscous matter of that wood in those places , so disposed by corruption , that it may enliven it , and promote it to be a new kind of living plant , or bird included in a shell ; which so soon as it falls into the waters may swim , and when the wings are grown , fly about . the final cause is the common ornament of the world , the variety and wonderfull works of nature , the profit of those that dwell near , and especially the providence , omnipotence , and clemency of our good and great god , all whose attributes do appear to mankind as well from this creature , as from the rest , whilest he crowns the year with his free gifts , and the whole earth with variety of creatures . so that he is far more mighty in creating and making different kinds of living creatures , than we are able to expresse them , to nominate or to know them . let it suffice us , that we have seen some part of the wonderfull works of god , and taken a view of them ▪ for it is not possible for a mortall man to be capable to apprehend them all ; yet to consider of none of them , were brutish ; and we should , so , be more like unto beasts than men. of naturall vvonders . the seventh classis . wherein are set down the wonders of four-footed creatures . seneca l. . de ira . c. . we are troubled with frivolous and vain matters . a red colour makes a bull angry , and a viper is stirred by a shadow . a picture will make bears and lions fiercer . all things that are cruell and ravening by nature are moved with vain things . the same things happen to unquiet and foolish spirits ; they are stricken with jealousie and suspition of things . chap. i. of the elk , and the ram. the elk is a four-footed beast commonly found in scandinavia ; in summer of an ash-colour almost ; in winter it turns toward black . the horns are fit for footstools , each of them is pound weight , and two foot long . his upper lip hangs out so long , that he cannot eat but going backwards . men write , that he is subject to the falling sicknesse ; and that the remedy he hath is to lift up the right claw of the hinder foot , and put it to his left ear. it holds the same vertue , if you cut it off when he goes to rut in august or september . he is commended for his swiftnesse , for he will run as much ground in one day as a horse shall in three . he is very strong ; for a strong blow with his foot will kill the hunter . the ram for six winter moneths sleeps on his left side ; but after the vernal equinoctiall , he rests on his right . aelianus hath discovered this , but the butchers deny it . in camandu a country of tartary , they are as big as asses , their tails weigh pound weight . one was seen in the court of the king of the arabians , whose tail weighed pound , vartom . cardanus ascribes that to its cold temperament , when the rest of the bones will no more be extended . lest he should be choked with his own fat , he sends down the humour unto his tail . chap. ii. of the asse . in the kingdom of persia , asses are so esteemed , that one of them is sold for pound of gold ; amongst the pigmies they are as big as our r●ms , paul venet. in egypt they amb●e so swiftly , that one will go miles a day without any hurt , scalig. exerc. . s. . she doth sparingly dip-in her mouth when she drinks . she is afraid , saith cardanus . for when she beholds the great shadow of her ears in the water , she is fearfull they will be wet . there are some found in africa that do not drink : she staleth when she seeth another stale ▪ or upon a dunghill . for nature doth stirre them up being slothfull , by the acrimony of the smell . cardan . l. . subtil . observation proves , that where an asse hath cropt a vine branch , the vine will grow more fruitfull . the monument of this matter was seen at nauplia , where an asse of stone was set up in thankfull remembrance for posterity . vadimonius writes , that there is a fruitfull orchard , in the middle whereof she was buried , aldrovand . l. . de quadr . c. . in hetruria when they have eaten hemlock they fall asleep , that they seem to be dead . the countrey-men are deceived by it , for oft-times they rise up and fright them when they have pull'd off their skins almost , mathiol . in dioscorid . sheep will run into the fold , if you pen them in an asses stall . if one be stung by a scorpion , if he sit upon on asse with his face toward the tayl , the asse will endure the pain , and not he . it is a sign of it , because she will dye farting , merula . asses milk is commended . poppaea , the wife of domitius nero , that conceived in all times , did wash her body in a bath of asses milk , thinking to stretch her skin thereby , plin. l. . c. . 〈…〉 of crete , being in a consumption , recovered by feeding on asses flesh . moreover , there are some in scythia whose horn contains stygian water , for it will pierce through iron vessels . some in 〈…〉 have one horn in their forehead : who drinks out of that , is preserved from a disease ; but if any venomous matter be drank , it is ca●t forth . they are so strong , that they will kill a horse to travell with them . also that was a wonderfull one , that was sent as a present with other gifts by the king of assyria , to ferdinand of naples ▪ for the hair was wonderfull , the body was full of streaks , of divers colours and equall lines , pontan . d● magnificent . chap. iii. of the boar , and the archopitecus . in crete there are no boars . in a great part of the new world there are some that are lesse than ours . their tails were so short , that the spaniards thought they were cut off . the fore-feet are whole , the hinder feet cloven . in some parts of scandinavia they are foot long . scaliger writes , that the petty king of salvimons , had a huge one , which would at the sound of the horn go forth to hunt with his lord and the dogs . archopitecus is a creature in america that is wonderfull ill-favour'd . the inhabitants call it ha●●t ; he is as great as a monky , his belly toucheth the ground , he hath a head and a face like a child ; and when he is taken , he sighs like to a child . three claws hang to his hinder feet , and four long ones to his fore-feet , like the great prickly bones of a carp , and with these he creeps up upon trees . his tail is . foot long . he was never found to eat mans flesh , whilest he is alive ; and they think he lives upon nothing but leaves , which in their language they call amohut . when he is tame , he will love a man , and run up upon his shoulders . thevet left him in the open ayr , yet was he never wet . chap. iv. of the ox. in one of the outermost provinces of asia , between the outmost mountains of india and cathay , oxen are bred white and black , with a horses tail , but more full of hairs , and reaching down to their feet . the hairs of them are most fine , like feathers , and as dear , venet. brought into hispaniola they will grow so much , that they are greater than elephants , petr. martyr in decad. in these parts where we write these things , guickardinus testifieth that one of them weighed above weight : we saw one at leyden that weighed , pound but ptolomaeus , had the horn of one that held , gallons . when the cows are great with young , men say they carry their young ones on their right side , though they be great with two . but they that drink of the river charadrus , not farr from the city of the patrenses , conceive for the most part only males : the same will come to passe if in time of copulation you bind the left testicle of the male with a band ; or let them couple when the north wind blows , pausan. in achaicis : and if the right , or when the south wind blows , the cows will conceive a female . the cows if they be more fruitfull in summer , are a token of a rainy winter . for a fruitfull creature cannot abound with generative humour , unlesse it be moved by a celestiall influence , albert. somtimes they are very fierce . in the yeare in rhoetia , between duria and velcuria , some of them , brought into the fields from two villages , fought so violently that , were killed before the combate could be ended . gesner de quadrup . somtimes they are puffed up with fullnesse , for the cure whereof they use a charme , nameing the swelling , in the name of the father , son , and holy-ghost . men say that pythagoras , by whispering some words at tarentum , tamed an oxe , so that he forsook bean straw , and followed a country man , and lived to be very old at tarentum , eating out of mens hands , coelius . the smok of oxe-dung will preserve bee-hives free from flies , and spiders . bullocks blood powred into a wound , will stop the bleeding . also the dry dung burnt , drunk three spoonfulls , will cure the dropsy . chap. v. of the buffe and bonasus . a buff is a creature greater than an oxe with a bunch on his back , ( two or three men may sit between his horns ) for it hath a very large forehead , and curled with haire that smels like musk. the flesh of it is most fat in summer , but it tasts of garlick that it feeds on . it is wonderfull strong , for he will take up a horse and his rider . the blood of it is redder than purple , so hot that it will make iron on the hunters speare turn every way , and in the greatest cold it will corrupt in two houres . in the scotch woods , they so abhor the company of men , that they will not touch the shrubs that men have touched , after many days ; and being taken by art , they will dye for grief , cambd. in scotia . gesner makes the bonasus to be a kind of bugle , of whom men write that he dungs extream hot when the hunter follows him ; but that happens to living creatures by running so fast . the intestines grow hot thereby , and heat raiseth winds , which being shut in , they break forth violently through a narrow place , chiefly if there fall out to be any pressing of the places by motion . also the cuttle fish gives an example , that feare will cause her to cast out her inky juyce . philip king of macedon , killed one with a dart at the foot of mount orbelus , the hornes were , handfulls , which were consecrated to hercules . chap. vi. of the camel. the camel hath a manifold belly , either because he hath a great body : or , because he eats thorny and woody substances , god hath provided for the concoction . puddle water is sweet to him ▪ nor will he drink river water , till he have troubled it with his foot . in africa when they have fasted , days , they will not eat at night , but when they have their burdens taken off , they will feed on leaves in the fields . leo afric . l. . he lives a hundred yeares , unlesse the ayre agree not with him . plin. they serve the indians to travel with , if we credit philostratus ; nor is it beyond his force , to go a thousand furlongs in one day . but that kind of camel , the africans call ragnail , will go a hundred miles a day for , days together , with a very little meat . they never couple with their dams . when as his keeper had admitted him to the dam vailed ▪ when she was discovered , he was so inraged , that she trampled on him , and threw her selfe headlong . arist. in admirand . examples shew that they are very docile : when they are longer on their journey than ordinary between aethiopia and barbary , they do not whip them forward , but they sing to them , whereby they will run so fast that men can hardly follow them . one at alcair danced at the sound of a taber , being taught by a strange art . for when he is young , he is brought into a stove , the pavement being very hot . one plays on a tabret at the dore , he because of the heat lifts up one foot : they continue this exercise , and use him to it a whole yeare , that coming in publick remembring the hot pavement , when one plays on the tabret he will lift up his feet , and seem to dance leo. aphric . in the land of gyants there is a creature that hath a head , ears , and neck like to a mule , a body like a camel , a taile like a horse , he is , foot high , and five foot long , his neck is as white as a swan . there was one brought to middleburg in zeland , anno. . it was called an indian sheep . scalig. in exerc , calls it allo. camelus . chap. vii . of the shee-goat . the report is that goats see as well by night as by day , wherefore if those that are blind in the night , eat a goats liver they will be cured . they breathe out of their eares and nostrils , if we will credit the shepherds . phi●es gives the reason , because when their nostrills are stopt , they are not hurt , aelian . when the sun sets , they lye backwards in the fields , and so they do at other times , but one with another . a goats horn laid under a sick mans head , will bring him to rest ; scraped with honey , it stops the belly flux ; burnt , it will raise people in a lethargy . in aegypt they are said to bring , young ones . the cause is the water of nilus that is drank by such as are barren and want milk . they shew the revolution of syrius . for as often as he riseth with the sun , they turn to the east and gaze upon it , plutarch . in some part of africa , they sheer them , and make cabels of their haire . those of lybia shew when rayn comes , for so soon as they come forth of their stalls , they run to feed , and presently come back to their stalls again , ael●an . those of giman●a do not drink in six moneths ; but , turning toward the sea , they receive the vapours with open mouth , and so they quench their thirst . the goat of mambrey will endure a saddle and bridle , and a rider ; he hath ears that hang down to the ground , and horns twisted below his mouth , gesner . l. . de quadrup . the wild ones in l●bia are as great as oxen ; so active , that they will leap upon the highest mountain tops ; and their limbs are so hard , that if they fall , they neither break their horns , nor hurt their heads , aelian . l. . c. . chap. viii . of the beaver and colus . the beaver is a most strong creature to bite , he will never let go his teeth that meet , before he makes the bones crack , plin. his hinder feet are like a gooses , and his fore-feet like an apes . his fat tail is covered with a scaly skin , and he useth it for a rudder when he pursues fish . he comes forth of his holes in the night ; and biting off boughs of trees about the rivers , he makes his houses with an upper loft , and when the water riseth , he lies there , albert. when they are cut asunder , they are very delightsome to see ; for one lies on his back , and hath the boughs between his leggs , he holds them fast that they may not fall down , and the others draw him by the tail to their cottage . colus is a four-footed wild beast , amongst the scythians and sarmatians , he is for greatnesse between a stag and a ram. he is white , and very swift . he drawes his drink by his nostrils into his head , and holds it for some dayes ; so that he will feed well enough in pastures where there is no water , strabo l. . sometimes they will be together ; but about easter you may see . in march they dig up an herb , by the sent whereof they stirre up venery ; when that is spent , for a day they lie as half dead , but when they taste of it once more , they are restored , gesn. chap. ix . of the cat and c●ney . the cats eyes are so good , that she will see any thing in the dark , albert. the cat by the egyptian sea is observed to change the pupils of his eye , as the sun doth alter . they are long in the morning , round at noon ; when the sun sets they are obscured , gellius . he commonly playes on his back , that he may look round about . cut off his ears , he will stay at home more , for he cannot endure the drops that fall into his ears . if a cat 's hair fall into a mans mouth , it will stick there . hence matter is heaped together , that causes a scr●fulous diseases . scaliger saith , that in the province of malabar , there are wild-cats dwelling in trees , they leap as though they flew , having no wings . they have a membrane stretched out from their fore-feet to their hinder-feet , when they rest they contract it up to their belly ; when they begin to fly , by moving their feet and thighes , they are carried and born up by stretching out and gathering in this membrane , and it is wonderfull to see them run as if they ran in the ayr. conies are abundant in the baleares , where they do the corn and the fields great harm , solin . they breed every moneth , nor are their young ones blind . they presently take buck again , so soon as they have bred , though the young ones do suck , plin. l. . the female hath not milk presently so soon as she hath brought forth , before she hath been six hours with the buck , and they have eaten some oats , gesner de quadrup . chap. x. of the stag. it is certain , that there are white stags , and does that have horns . apollonius saw them as he passed beyond paraca a city of the indies , philostrat . l. . sertorius led one about , which he feigned to have received from diana , that he took counsel with , that so he might keep his souldiers in obedience , gellius . lewis king of france took one , and when anna of britanny asked what that was , he said , that they were all such at first , and that god took them from them for their pride . their blood hath no fibres , as other creatures have , and therefore it will never grow thick . the gall is not upon the liver , but upon the intestines , or in the tail. hence it is so bitter , that dogs will not eat it , plin. in their heads they have live worms ; sometimes , and they are parted , so great as maggots in flesh . they are said to breed under the hollow of their tongue , near the vertebra , where the head joyns to the neck . if you pierce the scull bone in such as are of years , under the eye , you shall see wasps fly out , bred of the superfluous humour , if you will credit hunters ; and then he can live no longer unlesse he eat a serpent to renew himself . gesner writes , that in the basis of the heart between the lap of the greater ventricle , and the urinal vein , there is a bone found . he addes , that it is reddish from the heart blood , and melancholick ; some adde , that from a dry vapour it is turned into a bony substance . some adde further , that it is found at no other time , than between the two feasts of the blessed virgin , that is , from the middle of august to the i●es of september . the doe breeds near the pathwayes , for she thinks that she is safe from wild beasts , by reason of men passing up and down . so soon as she is delivered , she first ea●e the gleaning ▪ hence it is , that the herb seseli is her medicament in bringing forth , arist. in hist. animal . they swim over the sea like ships , the master buck leads , the rest follow . they lean their heads one upon the others back ; then the first brings up the rear , when he is weary , and would refresh himself . by nature they conquer serpents . for by strong sucking in their breath , they will draw them out of their holes , and then devoure them . after this banquet they bathe themselves , and eat crevish . then they weep , and their tears are turned to bezar stones . they die , if they drink before they have done this , gesner . chap. xi . of the dog. there are many wonderfull things in a dogg , his manner of birth ▪ quick sent , biting , docile nature , fidelity and the like . the puppies are borne blind ; the more they suck , the slower they are to see , but commonly in ; days , if they see quickly ; but , days is the longest time . some say , if one whelp be littered , he will see in , days ; if two in ten , and so it is if there be more ▪ each addeth a day of blindnesse to the time . lastly , one bred of the first litter of a bitch will see soonest . the best of the puppies is that which sees last , or which is first puppyed . albertus writes , that he saw a mastiff that first littered , then , then , at one time . he hath a sent so quick that he will never eate doggs-flesh , be it never so well seasoned to deceive him . in scotland there is a kind of them that will persue a theif , and if he passe over a river , they will swim over after him , and when they come on the other side ▪ they will hunt about to find his foot-steps , and still follow him , gesner . a mad doggs biting is wonderfull venemous and deadly . ( he runs mad about the dogg days with the tooth-ach ; he is cured if he eate hellebour with barley flower , and vomit it up again ) the pisse of a mad dogg trod upon hurts extreamly those rhat have an ulcer , and it is observed that their wounds will increase by treading on it , that were ever bitten by any dogg . they will cause hens eggs to grow addle , and cattel to miscarry . a man had a wound in his arme : that , after yeares that he was bitten , became sore again , and he died in two days . albert. fear of water first troubles such as are bitten , and , which is the greater wonder , after , years it may shew it self ; one thought , that he was cured , being washed with sea water , yet after some months by touching of the dogg-tree-wood he fell into a relapse . gesner . also in their urine , doggs heads are said to appeare . as for their docilenesse and fidelity , there are many examples . the dog of francis , marquis of mantua , would call his servants . they will draw coaches , carry burdens in ibissibur a countrey of tartary . lipsius cent. . had a dogg at lovain that would carry letters so far as brussels , ad belg. epist. . and he would bring letters back from thence . a dogge at brussels would carry money to the shambles , and fetch ●ome meat , ●e fought with other doggs upon the way , and when he was beaten , he laid hold of a peice . the dogs at rhod●s knew christians from barbarians , gabel●n ▪ histor. a certain mountebank in the time of justinian the emperour had a dogg that would take up many rings , cast down , and restore every man his own ; he would tell you by pulling them by the cloaths which was a wife , a widow , or a maid . lastly , in plutarch , there was one that would represent a man that was poysoned . we read of the wonderfull fidelity of dogg in scaliger his exercitations , i will set it down in his own words , and upon his own reputation : a courtier envying the credit of a certain friend of his , or carried away with some other malice , came suddenly upon him , and killed him , and after buried him in a place besides the way . the party slain had at the same time a hound with him , who lay a long while upon his masters grave . hunger for that time overcoming love , he returns home , and being seen without his master by some other friends , who thought the dog had been strayed from him , they bade that some meat should be given him . having let down a few morsels , he returns to the grave : which course he continued so often , that the friends of the dead began to suspect ; and at last believed that the dog sought for his master : they follow him , and coming to the place where the earth was cast up , dig into it , find the body , take it away , and cause it to be buried in another place . the solemnities ended , the dog keeps with them whom he had led to this discovery . a good while after , the murtherer comes again to the court ; the dog knows him , and begins to run at him with great cryes , and so earnestly pursueth his point upon him , that suspition begins to enter into the minds of a great many , that there was some evill in the man. the dog continuing still to vex him , the king was at last advertised of the case , who commanded that the man should be straitly examined touching the fact . he affirmeth himself innocent : the dog , when the murtherer denyed that he knew what was become of the dogs master , never left barking and bawling ; insomuch , as all that were present took the same as a disproof , that the dog made against him . well , the matter proceeded so far , that the king ordered it should be decided by a combat between the man and the dog . to make short , the dog had the day : and the combat is painted and finely set forth in the hall of a certain castle in france ; and the work wearing out with age hath sometimes been renewed by commandement from the king. it deserveth ( saith the lord de la scale ) to be set forth in pictures of brasse , that it may never perish . but to close up this discourse , we will adde hereunto that which james micyllus a learned poet hath written in praise of a dog , in good latin verses , expressed thus in our tongue : of any beast , none is more faithfull found , nor yields more pastime in house , plain , or woods ; nor keeps his masters person , or his goods with greater care , than doth the dog or hound . command : he thee obeyes most readily . strike him : he whines and falls down at thy feet . call him : he leaves his game and comes to thee with wagging tail , offring his service meek . in summers heat , he followes by thy pace : in winters cold , he never leaveth thee : in mountains wild he by thee close doth trace ; in all thy fears and dangers true i● he . thy friends he loves ; and in thy presence lives by day : by night he watcheth faithfully that thou in peace mayst sleep : he never gives good entertainment to thine enemy . course , hunt , in hills , in valleys , or in plains ; he joyes to run and stretch out every lim : to please but thee , he spareth for no pains : his hurt ( for thee ) is greatest good to him . sometimes he doth present thee with a hare , sometimes he hunts the stag , the fox , the boar , another time he baits the bull and bear , and all to make thee sport , and for no more . if so thou wilt , a collar he will wear ; and when thou list to take it off again , unto thy feet he coucheth down most fair , as if thy will were all his good and gain , in fields abroad he looks unto thy flocks , keeping them safe from wolves and other beasts : and oftentimes he bears away the knocks of some odde thief that many a fold infests . and as he is thy faithfull bodies guard , so is he good within a fort or hold against a quick surprise , to watch and ward ; and all his hire is bread musty and old ▪ canst thou then such a creature hate and spurn ? or barre him from such poor and simple food ? being so fit and faithfull for thy turn , as no beast else can do thee half such good ? chap. xii . of the ma●mase● and the catoblepas ▪ in the country of prasium , monkeys are as big as great dogs . the tail of one is five cubits long ; hair hangs down from their foreheads , and they have long beards , and an inbred tamenesse , strabo l. . there are others wonderful great , like to men . for by their legs , face , privities ; they look like countrey men , they are elsewhere all-over hairy . they love children and women , and desire to embrace them , cardanus . the common ones are well known , they have testicles of a blew and green colour . when they eat up the ears of corn , one of them lies perdue in the field , and makes an out-cry when he spies a country man , the rest fly . they so hate a crocodile , that they cannot endure to see his skin at a great distance . gyllius made tryal of it , and he observed , that they being tyed in chains , yet trembled and scowred , and would have run away through fire and water to escape . in the borders of cariai , there is a kind of them that will leap from bough to bough , as if they flew , they are enemies to boars ; for it will leap furiously upon him , and twine about him with the tail . aelian l. . saith , that the catoblepas is like the bull , and is very terrible to behold , and fierce , and with blood-shot eyes it looks downwards . it feeds on venomous herbs , and so soon as it looks on them with a countenance like a bull ; it fears , and lifts up the mane ; having lifted up this , with open lips it roars terribly , sending such a steam out of the throat , that the ayr over the head will be infected , and will make others dumb that draw it in , and causeth mortal convulsions . the souldiers of marius found it to be so ; for they supposing it had been a wild sheep : they ran at it with drawn-swords several times , but when they were killed by it , they found their errour . this wild beast was slain afterwards by the nomades that were horsemen , and they brought it to marius . chap. xiii . of the baboon and chamaeleon . a baboon is a creature with a head like a dog , but in shape like a man , he will fish cunningly ; for he will dive all day , and bring forth abundance of fish . he takes wonderfull delight to wear a garment ; he hurts no man. he understands what the indians say , he will gently feed sheep for their milks sake , plin. l. . c. . strabo , l. . two things are most wonderful in him ; that in the two equinoctials , times a day he will make water , once every hour , and doth the same at night , prec●os . johan . in epist. ad r. p. hence the egyptians have the picture of a baboon pissing upon their dials . the second is , that when the moon hath been sometimes in conjunction with the sun , and loseth her light , the male will not look nor feed , but holds down his face to the earth ; nor will the female move her eyes any way , casting withall her sperm forth . therefore are they held sacred , and fed untill this day , that by them the set time of the moons conjunction with the sun may be known by them . africa breeds chamaeleons , but india more frequently ▪ he is said to have five toes of his feet , which he stands upon opened , but he draws them in when he lies down upon round young branches . he changeth his colour oft-times , both in his eyes , his tail , and his whole body ; and he changeth like that thing he next toucheth , except red and white ; when he is dead he is pale , plin. it is certain , that sometimes he lives by the ayr. for he will suffer hunger a whole year , and taking in the ayr by gaping , and shutting his chaps , he will shew forth his great belly . some said that he turns to the sun , and drawes in the suns beams , and followes them with open mouth . from zandius we have it , that he will hunt flies : who saith , he dissected the tongue of one that was as long as ones hands breadth ; hollow , and empty , in the top was a hole with snivel in it , with which he catcht his prey , card. de subtil . alexander myndius saith , he fenceth himself against the hungry serpent , after this manner : he holdeth a bro●d and strong stalk , and turning himself under that like a buckler , he encounters the serpent . the serpent , because the stalk is broader than he can take in his mouth to bite in sunder , and the rest of the chamaeleons limbs are too hard for him to do him any harm , he labours in vain . chap. xiv . of the crocodile . the crocodiles are bred in egypt , but not all so dangerous ; the furious ones are towards the mountains , from caire to the sea they are mild ; that is because there is scarsity of fish ; but here are men that are rewarded to kill them . for whosoever kills a great crocodile , and brings it into the city , hath ten crowns out of the treasury . also when nilus runs back to its channel , the crocodiles will lye hid in the mud , watching to satisfie their hunger ; and they strike those that come , and strangle them with their tails . they strike so strongly , that one of them brake the four legs of a great beast at one blow , martyr . they lay one egge as big as a goose egg , yet from this small beginning they grow to a vast bignesse ; sometimes they are more than cubits long . in the time of psammeticus cubits ; in the time of amasis , plin. they hold their young one legitimate , if he catch up something so soon as he is hatched , aelian . their tongue sticks all fast , the reason is given by aristot. l. . de part . anim. c. . the trochilus is his guard , and the tentyritae are his enemies . he awakes him when ichneumon is like to do him hurt , and entring into his wide jaws he pulls out flesh from amongst his rows of teeth with his beak ; when he flies away , he is warned to close his upper chap , plutar. plin. . . but these swim in the river , and getting upon their backs , as if they rid , they thrust a bough into their mouths , and frighting them with their cry alone , they compell them to vomit up the bodies they had newly devoured , that they may be buried ; hence it is that there are none in their island , and the very smell of a man will make them fly away . how he fights , the history of him will shew . chap. xv. of the horse . in portugal they say , the mares conceive by the wind , varro , pliny , and solinus affirm , that the birth is fruitlesse , for their colts live not above , yeares . justinus calls these things fables . in the island hispaniola , the foals conceive in ten months after they are born , and oft times they beare twins , peter martyr . a barren mare will conceive , saith aldrovandus , if you bruise a little handfull of leeks in a mortar , and powre upon it a little cup of wine , and shall for two days cast in . spanish flies of divers colours into the matrix with water by a syringe : the next day have your horse to the mare that is lusty ; when he hath leapt her , wash the privities twice . in the province of belascia their hoofs are so hard , that they are never shod . amongst the ambes they are so swift , that they will run a hundred miles in houres . ludov. rom. l. . navig . and historians relate of such a one that was taken in the alanick warr by prince probus . in artois the governour of the fort , mellomus , had one bred , very large , and with horns : at this day is to be seen the leap he made , which was , foot . lipsius cent. . ad belg. epist . they live very long ; some have come to , yeares , and some above , yeares . albert solinus and niptus say , years . the same saith , we have observed that , in opus by name , a mare lasted to breed on , for , years . they so fear a camel that they cannot endure to see him or smell him , wherefore cyrus when he was to fight against craesus , opposed his camels against the others horses , herodot . pliny writes that if horses tread where wolves have passed , they will be benummed in their legs : and aelian adds , that if they touch the foot step of a wolfe when they are in a wagon drawing , they will stop presently as if they were frozen . the tartars love to eate their flesh , and the rich men had it rosted in their feasts in persia. the moscovites , of old time servants to the tartars , were wont to pay tribute to them in their journeys , by their duke when they demanded it , of mares milk . their sweat , causeth women with child to suffer abortion , and if knives hot be wet with it , they are so infected that the part they wound , will bleed till they dye , albert. they will weep : caesars horse wept , days before he died . cardan had a gennet that would weep abundantly , chiefly in summer . they are so docile , that alexanders bucephalus , nor caesars gennet , could be ruled by any man , except his mr. there have been seen in olandia an island of the gothick sea , that at the sound of a tabret would dance . scalig. writes of one thus , a certain mountebank led about a little horse , which would do any thing at his word , or beck ; amble , trot , run , leap , on four or two feet , drink wine , sit on his buttocks , and bring his foreseet to the cup , he would hold a bason or dish , with his legs , as if he were to be barb'd , he would lye on the ground at length , and shut his eye lids and nod . he would lift up his head at his masters beck , turn on his back , and lye to shew how women lay : this i saw , saith he , and we also , saith gaudentius merula , saw a horse of a physitian of pannonia , that stood at the dore untied till his master came forth from visiting the sick , if it were a whole day , &c. chap. xvi . of the urchin . a hedg-hogg or land urchin , is a creature with a hogs snowt , he hath most stiff bristles on his skin , that a sword can hardly cut them . volch●rus coiter , first observed that he rowls himself up like a ball , by reason of a long and broad muscle over his whole back that contracts the skin . he opens , if you poure water on his belly . for because he cannot breath , he opens and cries with a shrill note . rosenbach in indice . about the time of the vintage , he goes under the vines , and he breaks down clusters of grapes , and takes them upon his prickles , plutarch . when he is taken he pisseth on his back , and it corrupts , therefore hee never useth that mischievous way , but when he is past hopes , for they hate their imbred venom , and will not hurt themselves ; and will stay till the very last , that they will first be almost taken . chap. xvii . of the elephant . the elephant is a stranger with us , but the indians and other places have them common . the king of the palibroti had , of them ; of the siamenses , ; and of them were armed against sudden occasions : the great king of mogor had at command . vartomannus saw heards of them in mozambica . in africa there are plenty . for appianus alexandrinus writes that there were stalls for them at carthage . many strange things are spoken of them , and the most part past beleif . lipsius hath collected them in his epistle ; we shall briefly reduce all to two , that is to their body and soul. as for the first ; it is exceeding great , the greatest of all land creatures , wherefore the hebrews call him in the plural number behemoth . it is certain that of old time they carried castles of armed men into the field , and an author namelesse writes that he saw one of their teeth sold for ducats , it was spans long , and , spans thick : so heavy that he could not take it up from the ground aldrovandus . in his heart he hath a bone wonderful big , that aldrovandus writes he saw in one that was killed . aristotle maintains that he hath three stomacks . there were two found that weighed pounds , vartomannus . as for its soul , writers set down great endowments that he hath . christophorus acosta , who searched diligently the east indies writes things that are incredible of them . it is most certain , saith he , that in the kingdom of malabar they talk together , and speak with mans voice . there was , saith he , in the city cochin an elephant , who carried things to the haven , and laboured in seafaring matters : when he was weary the governour of the place did force him to draw a galley from the haven which he had begun to draw , into the sea : the elephant refused it , the governour gave him good words , and at last intreated him to do it for the king of portugal . hereupon , ( it is hardly credible ) the elephant was moved , and reported these two words clearly , hoo , hoo , which in the language of malabar is , i will , i will , and he presently drew the ship into the sea. there was another example at rome ; when tiberius was emperour , , elephants were brought into the amphitheatre , in cloaths that players use , and first thir commander divided them into several places of the circuit , as they went they went easily as if they danced , and again when he spoak , they came together and danced in a round , and they scattered their flowers and garlands , and according to the musick , they gently and in order moved their feet , and performed all things as well as the best sword players . then they ( which is a mad wonder ) as they were taught , sat down at table , did eat and drink very modestly as if they had been men . the beds to sit on were low , covered with purple , and embroidered work , the tables were furnished with divers kinds of provision in abundance , cups of gold and silver , great and small ; were set upon them , in great dishes were meat , bread , flesh , and fruit . then came in the elephants , , males , and , females , they in mens gowns these in womens cloaths . they lay themselves very decently and reverently on the beds , and so sat at table . then , when the mr. gave the sign , they put forth their snowts to the table instead of hands , and take the meat very modestly , and tast of it , no greedinesse or ravening was observed in them , none seemd to covet the greater or the better part , nor did they catch one before the other when boys that waited on them gave them the cup , and then by meanes of their trunk drank it jovially off , and they did sprinkle the remainder of the wine upon the standers by , and so made a noise as pot companions do . lipsius writes this in his own words , and it is the direct opinion of aelian . and they learn all these things so eagerly , that plutarch and pliny say , that an elephant that was somthing dull , and was often beat for not learning well , was found acting his part by moon light , and some say that elephants will learn to write and read . for pliny saith plainly from mucianus , that one of them learned to describe the greek letters , and did write in the same tongue these words . i my self ▪ writ this , and i offerd the celtick spoils . but what we may judge of them may be collected out of libavius de intellectu bestiarum . they seem also to hold a sympathy with the moon , for when the moon after conjunction begins to appeare again , they crop boughs from trees , and hold them up , and looking toward the moon , they shake them . they may 〈…〉 her diety . but i say no more . chap. xviii . of the dormouse , and gulo . the dormise sleep all the winter as round as a ball ; when they come to the calm ayr they will revive between your hands , by a warm breathing , gesner . they are strangely taken in the valley of pelnig : for the country men go forth in the night with torches , and coming near them , they blind them with the light , and so take them with their hands . they put apples on cleft sticks or forks , which the dormise love to eat the kernels of , so they can the better take them out : amongst the rhetians that speak italian , they salt up their flesh , because it is sweet and fat , and as pleasant as hogs flesh , gesner . gulo is a creature in the north parts , he feeds on carrion , till he be full like a drum ; then he goes between narrow trees , and presses his stretched belly till he unload himself , and then he crams again , michov . l. . descript . sarmat . europeae . chap. xix . of the hyaena , and the porcupine . the hyaena is a creature as big as a wolf , and hath horses hair , but harder , and it goes all over his back , aristot. in admirand . he seems to have the genitals of both sexes ; but some have onely a long line under their tail , aristot. if you take hold of the right , when he is at his venery , he becomes stupid ; but if by the left , it kills him , gillius in aelian . a portupine is like a pig at two moneths old , he hath a head like a hare , ears like a man , feet like a bear , a mane that stands up , and the forepart is hollow . two little bunches of skin grow on both sides of his mouth ; long bristles grow out of them . in summer he lies hid , but comes forth in winter : and when it is great with young , it is said to follow the bear in time , agricola de subterran . gisner refers cardanus monster to the porcupine , for he writes thus , l. . subtil . there was a creature ( saith he ) of a strange kind , which this present year , january , we saw at papia ; it was as great as fox , but the face was sowething longer , and the jawes were like to a hares , with long hair , and two very long teeth , for they stuck out as long as a mans finger , like to a squirrils teeth , the eyes were like to serpents eyes , black , and without corners . there was a cap on its head like a goats beard , but no otherwise than a peacocks tuft . the hair was like to a weasels , very fair , onely about the neck it appeared like white wooll ; the forefeet were like a badgers , the ears and hinder feet like to mens , but that the feet had nails like a bear. on the back and hinder part , there were about a hundred thorny quills like a porcupine , some of them were crooked at the point ; they stuck forth , but were not moveable , as they say the porcupine can shoot hers ; when it moved they made a noise by rusling together . the tail was like a gooses , but the feathers were pointed like thorns . if you saw nothing else , you would say it were a goose. he had feathers white and coloured , and a great eye like a goose. the tone was obscure and hoarse like the barking of a dog . it was an angry creature , yet the mountebank could easily deal with it . it hated dogs extreamly , this was a young one , and a shee . it did not drink , but eat bread dipt in water , &c. chap. xx. of the hee-goat . a goat sometimes runs so violently at one , that he will run a hole in a board , or a target : after he is months old , he begins to couple , aelian . his blood is a present remedy for the pains of the stone in the reins or bladder . for it dissolves stones that are bred , and will let no more grow , easing the pains also , aetius l. . c. . but great gesner shews how it must be prepared . when the grapes begin to grow ripe , take a new pot , and pour water into it , and boyl it untill the pot have been well cleansed , then take a hee-goat that is of ripe age , out of the herd , about . years old , and kill him , and receive the middlemost blood in the pot , leaving that blood that came first forth , and that which comes last : let the middlemost blood thicken , and as it is in the pot , break it into many pieces with a sharp reed , then expose it to the open ayr , covered with a thick net , or thin linnen cloath , or a close sieve , that it may be prepared by the sun , and become dewy ; wipe off the dew , and after two of the clock set it in the sun , taking care that no rain fall upon it . when it is well dryed , put it up diligently in a box for use ; and when the pain abates , give a spoonful of it with candie wine . this medicament is called gods-hand . chap. xxi . of the goat call'd the evick , and the indiat rat , ichneumon . the evicks in the alps are a kind of wild goats . they naturally require cold , otherwise they would grow blind . they have huge weighty horns that are reclining toward their backs ; and the elder they are , so much the greater . the old horns are with knots grown on them , and then two of them weigh above pounds . there is no rock so steep but they will leap upon it , if they can but find place to stand ; some say they will climb up a steep wall . hunters say , that when they are ready to die they will clamber up a very high rock , and leaning one horn against the rock , they will run round continually , till they have broken it , and fall down dead , gesner . ichneumon is a creature in egypt with a long tail , like to a serpents , oppian . without the chin he hath an excrescence beset with hair , when it is hot he openeth that , his mouth being shut . the country men of alexandria sell the young ones in the market ; for they bring them up to catch mice , which they will do like cats . he is an enemy to the crocodile ; for when he observes him sleeping , he rolles himself in clay , and goes into his mouth , and so into his belly , and eats his liver , and then leaps forth again , gillius in oppian : but gesner will not believe it . chap. xxii . of the lion. there is plenty of lions in the province of gingui , they are so offensive to the inhabitants , that they dare not go out of their houses by night , nor come with ships into the haven , gesner . lions bones have no marrow in them , and are so hard , that they will strike fire , aelian . they have teeth like sawes . their neck is made of one stiff bone , without any vertebra's : they have five clawes on their forefeet , and but four on the hinder feet ; the balls of their eyes are black , aristot. they are no gluttons , for they eat but once in two dayes , and drink in like manner ; for when they are crop-sick , they will abstain one day ; and when they have eaten too much , they will thrust in their clawes down their throats , and pull it out again , aristot . when they have filled themselves with the flesh of any creature , they will breathe on the remainder with open mouth ; whence it will stink so , that no creature will touch it , aelian . they sleep but little , and when they do sleep , their eyes are half open . they bring forth but once in their life , and that but one , saith herodot . hist. . the whelps littered , sleep . dayes ; the males roar , and rouze them , gellius l. . c. . they love their young ones exceedingly . in pangeum a mountain of thrace , a shee-bear had killed the lions whelps , when the lyons were absent ; and she was gon , and clamberd up a tree . the old lyons followed , but they could not get up , so they could not be revenged . the shee-lyon stay'd , and the he went into the mountains , and found a shepherd with an ax , the lyon favvnd upon him who was sore afraid , and makes him take up his ax : and taking hold of his cloths , brought him to the tree : which being cut , the bear fell down , and they tore her in peices . the lion is mild to them that yeeld . he will scarse hurt those that lye down , and when he is not hungry he will seaze on men , rather then women , but not upon children unlesse he be extream hungry . avicenna writes that if any man throw a stone or dart at the lyon , and misse him , or hurt him but little he will rather threaten him than kill him : if he do revenge , he will do no more hurt , than he received ; crantzius in saxon , l. . c. . he saith , that formerly in england a lyon could tell noble blood from base . there are tame ones : for in a plain country of the kingdom of fez , they will drive them with a staffe , and in another country of africa , they gather bones in villages , leo african . lastly those of india are so gentle , that being used to the place they will be led on hunting , aelian . marcus antonius first yoked them , they are frighted with coach wheels running round , and with the combs , and crowing of cocks , but chiefly by fire , plin. in armenia they are killed with the powder of deadly fish , aelian , and some little worms that are venemous to lyons , with the powder whereof they strew flesh for them , solin . chap. xxiii . of the hare . the country of ithaca is dangerous for hares , for bring them thither they will dye . but the baleares is a pleasant place for them : for heretofore they were there in such abundance , that the inhabitants desired souldiers to assist them against them , from augustus , pliny . the young ones are white in the alps in winter , gesn. but pausanias saw in arcadia white ones brought from lybia . he wakes with his eye lids shut , and sleeps with them unmoved , xenophon . he sees but ill , for the eys are stretched out , the eye-lids are cut short , they do not cover the pupills of the eys . albertus denies that there are of both sexes , but niptus saith , that which albertus said concerning hares was alwaies a question with me , for in hunting i observed that a hare had both a yard and testicles , and had young hares in her belly , also we observed that a hare had a matrix , and young ones in it , and did want both pis●le and testicles . rondeletius thinks , they are little bladders full of sanies ; and indeed such do hang down from the beaver , wherein castoreum is contain'd . they are said to live with dew , they use superfaetation , and bring young ones every month. when they go to their forms , they lay their young ones at least , an acre of ground asunder , lest if danger come , they should be all in hazard . then they , running about many rounds , at last leap out into their form . chap. xxiv . of the wolf. in sardinia , candie , olympus , there are no wolves . in scandia if they go too far on the frozen sea , the cold blinds them , jervand . in the mountains of doffrinium they are white , and go in troops . they eat moles , mice , &c , olaus . their necks are pressed together , so that they cannot stirre it , to look about , but they must move their whole bodies , aelian . one that is hungry will smell his prey in the night , though the wind be contrary , for half a mile , stumpfius . when they have fasted very long , and have filled themselves again , their bellies will hang down , their tongues swell , their mouth is stopped , their ravening is abated , but returns again , when they become lank as they were , aelian . they devour hair , and bones and all , and void them as they eat them , stumpf. when they are to fight in great herds , they fill their bellies with earth . when they are to passe over rivers , they joyn tails ; loaded with that weight they are not easily thrown down , and the floods can hardly carry them away , being joyned together , aelian . when they have choice , they will alwaies spare man ; they fight also with hogs , very cunningly . one told me , ( saith albertus ) that a woulf was seen to take a great piece of wood in his mouth of or pound weight , in a forrest , and did use with that to run over a great stock of a tree , then when he thought he was skilfull enough in that exercise , he hid himself , and a wild hog coming thither by reason of oates that were sowed there , and many hogs young and old with him ; he brake forth , and catched the hog , that was about the bignesse of the block , he lept behind the stock of the tree and there devoured him . they will not eat oxen , if you hang his tail at the cratch , albert. horses will tire under the rider , if they follow on the wolves footing ; if they tread on his heel , they will stand still , gillius . the skins of sheep slayn by wolves , will breed lice ; but their flesh is the sweeter , aristot. plutarch ascribes this to his breath . his words are , the flesh of a sheep that is bitten by a wolf , is made the sweeter , because the biting of the wolf makes it soft and tender ; for the breath of the wolf is so fiery , that he will melt and consume the hardest bone in his stomack . examples shew , that when he is shut in , he will do no harm : for in italy , one going into a country-mans house , the country man ran away ; but the wolf did his children no hurt , and falling into the same cave with a fox and a woman , he hurt neither , gesner . chap. xxv . of the lizzard . volatteranus writes , that there was a lizzard . cubits long brought to rome from aethiopia , by the command of a cardinal of lisbone , and the mouth of it was so wide , that a child might be put into it . lerius c. . hist. saw one in brasil , . foot long , as thick as a mans arm . if you strike it on the soal , and cut it in two pieces with a twig , neither part will dye , but it parts , and first goes , then joyns together , aelian . the green ones are friends to man , that they will gaze upon him obliquely , and follow him when he goes ; they will lick up his spittle , and childrens urine , erasmus in colloq . de amicitia . putt alive into a new earthen vessell , and boyl'd with . sextaryes of wine to one cyathus , it is excellent good for one sick of the p●hisick , if he drink of it in the morning fasting , marcell . seven of them suffocated in half a measure of oyl ▪ and set in the sun for . dayes , will so alter it , that by anointing therewith , it will cure the rose , gesn. a water lizzard , if he be angry , and as it were puffed up , will stand upright on his feet , and look terribly with open mouth on him that hurt him , and will by degrees send forth a venomous white swear , till he become all white , agricola . when he is old and cannot see , he lies by a hole in the wall , against the east , and looking toward the sun rising , he regains his sight , isidor . to conclude , 't is a wonder that aelian speaks in his history . there was ( saith he ) a man that catcht a great lizzard , and with a brazen point he put out the eyes thereof , then he put it into an earthen pot full of holes , that it might have breath , yet not come forth ; he put in also de●y earth , and an herb , whose name he mentions not : then with an iron ring , wherein the stone sogates was set , in which was cut the picture of a lizzard he made seals , and every day he blotted out one : lastly , when he took off the th . seal , and opened the p●t , i saw the lizzard , and his sight was restored . chap. xxvi . of the lynx , and lutra or otter . the lynx is said to see so clearly , that he will pierce through solid bodies ; yet too great light offends him . some say , they onely suck the blood of their prey , and never meddle with the flesh . erasmus saith , he assaults greater four-footed beasts , leaping upon them from trees , and catching them by the crown with his ●alo●s , he will tear their heads , and eat their brains , not touching the other parts ; but he will eat lesser creatures every bit . in summer they are weak , in autumn strong . they hide their pisse in heaps of sand , as theophrastus saith , and it growes as hard as a pretious stone . it is like amber in colour , and drawes things to it ; it cures pains of the kidneys , and the kings-evill . we saw one at lyons in the repositary of cl. dominus baudartius . men say , that in carpathus they burn their claws , and their skins for to be drunk effectually by men in powder , against all obscenenesse , and against too great lust in women , plin. the flesh eaten with the broth cures quartan agues , and the bones burnt cure ulcers , collinus . in the tower of london there was once a living creature that gesner refers to a lynx ; it was alwaies moving , and would never stand still , as john gaius an englishman writes ; but it would stand still at the voice of a hickeway ▪ lutra hath a dogs head , the beavers ears , a foxes legs ; but these are somewhat thicker , they are more prevalent in water than on land. the hinder parts are plain with a membrane to fence them . his cottage is near the waters , it is made of boughes that it cannot be we● . sometimes it is so full of fish , that they stink . it is so quick-sented , that he will smell fish by water that comes forth of a ●ivule● at some miles distance , and will go to the fish-ponds and destroy them . in scandinavia he is so tame , that he will bring fish out of the water to the cooks in the kitchins ; but because he is greedy of his prey , and kills too many , he is seldom used . chap. xxvii . of the mouse . amongst the allobroges the mice are white , and the inhabitants think they live by snow , scaliger . in the island of cyprus they will gnaw iron ; and in another island , gold ; therefore they are cut in pieces for mettal , aristot. in mirab . their generation is wonderfull : if they do but lick salt , some think they will conceive without copulation , aristot. a shee mouse great with young , staying some time in a vessel of millet seed ; when the vessel came to be opened , there were found mice , plin. in a part of persia , she-mice were opened that had she-mice with young ones in their bellies . they first perceive when a house will fall ; helice is an example of it ; for five dayes before it happened , the mice and serpents were seen to go away in troops , aelian ●n variis . when they fall into a vessell of water , and can hardly come forth , they lay hold one by the tail of another , and so clamber forth . elephants cannot endure the smell of them , for they will not feed on any thing that mice have touched . they will ●lye away if one be gelded , or let run away with the skin of his head pull'd off . avicenna , when they cry they foreshew tempests , they cry either because they perceive the ayre cold , or because their skin is fine , and they cannot endure to tread on the cold earth , and therefore they leap up , aratus . some think they will not be taught , yet albertus saith in upper germany , he saw a mouse hold a candle at supper time , to give light to those that sate at table when his mr. commanded him . if a mouse fall into new wine and be drown'd , put him into hot ashes , and he will recover , col●mel . . . there are many kinds of mice ; a rat is four times as big as a mouse . agricola saw one taken in the mid'st of aprill , that was white , with red eyes sticking out , and it was all hairy , and had a beard with very long haires . men say that there are none to be found at auspurg about the temple of st. huldericus , when they are lustfull they are furious , so that i● they pisse on any naked part of a man ▪ it will rot to the bones , nor will the ulcer be cured albert aquatic . they will hunt fish , and diving under water they will find some holes to come to land another way . the field-mice that breed of putrefaction have one right gut , and no more . a physitian that dissected one , observed that , gesner . when nilus runs back again , little mice are found imperfect , part of their body being alive from the mixture of earth and water , and part dead earth . in some places they come so suddedly in abundance , that they will eate up all the corn , pliny . the wood-mice steep from the ending of autumne till the spring begins , gesnerus . in norway it is called citellus , it dwells in the caves of the earth . there are found somtimes , in one hole , with abundance of small nuts . they eate them fresh , or dried in the chimney , agricola . the cricotus , or hamester , is referred to mice : his haire sticks so fast to his skin , that the skin will sooner come from the flesh , than the hairs from the skin . he will not easily be drawn out of his hole , but by scalding water . the male is false ; for when there is meat enough within , he shuts out the female . but she revengeth his falsenesse with fraud ; for possessing her self of some hole , not far from him , she will gather corn he knows not of , and live upon that , agricola . mice in the alps are as big as hares , or else betwixt a co●ey and a hare . it will foreshew a tempest with a very shrill voyce like a pipe , and that not only in the mountains , but when he is kept in the house . he hath three holes in his cave , at one he enters and comes out again , in another he rests and dwells , in the third he ●ays his excrements . when mountains are covered with snow , he hides himself in his cave , and shuts the holes : he stops in the earth so fast , and rams it in , that it is easier to dig up the earth on either side , than where it is rammed into the holes . chap xxviii . of the wesil , and the sable wesil . weesils carried into baeotia will run away : in a certaine island they will not be taken out , for if they be , they dye , albertus . there was a man that affirmed he saw a weesil passing over the river limagus , constantly leaping ; so that he never swam , but leaped upon the surface of it . it is an aegyptian hieroglyphick , for they say it ingenders by the eare , and is delivered by the mouth ; this emblem shews the nature of speech . his genitalls are bony ; and is a speciall remedy against the stone . yet , that must not , saith albertus , be understood as if it were so indeed , but only by proportion that it hath . the germans call the best sort of them zobella . this skin is of very great price : for sometimes crowns at constantinople will hardly buy a coat of them . jovius . but the nature of them is such , that laid in the sun to dry , they will consume more , than if they be worn a whole yeare . this creature whilst it lives , alwaies lurks in a shady grove , and watcheth for coneys ; they are nimble and use their taile for a helme , as squirrils do , and will leap from tree to tree . chap. xxix . of the sheep . sheep are creatures known to all . the arabian sheep have a very broad taile ; and the fatter it is , the thicker it will be : some tails weigh ten pounds , some , and it naturally grows fa● . johannes africanus saw one above pound weight ; some have seen them above pound weight . in africa , rams are bred with horns presently , and also sheep , as there are some with horns in england . albertus saw a ram that had , great horns growing on his head , and two long ones on his legs , that were like to goats horns : yet in pontus in the province of scythia they have no horns , aristot. and they have no gall ; but in the island naxus they have two , and men say the pontic wormwood is the cause of it . plin. in cold countries when the snow abounds , they lose it , but recover it again in the spring , aelian . anno , , one was given to the french king that was very fat in picardy : one of the claws , namely the inward claw of both feet , was eight inches long , the extream part of it turned upwards , and it had a horn like to wild goats , gesner . in the country of prasy , they yeeld most sweet milk ; for it rayns liquid honey that they feed on , aelian . the milk is very fat in the isle erythea , for it hath no whey , and to make cheese they temper it with abundance of fountain water . the cause is the plenty of pasture . it grows so fat and full that in days the sheep will be choked , if it be not let blood , pliny . about calimos a village of india , they smell like fish , for wanting grasse they eate fish ▪ and they that feed on fish give them dry fish to eate , arrian . when the north wind blows , males are chiefly conceived ; when the southwind , females . for such is the force of the north wind , that it will change those that yean none but females , and cause them to bring males , plin. when a noise is made they flock together ; and if , when it thundereth , one that is with lamb be left alone , she will miscarry , arist. in the orcades islands they all almost yean twins , and oft times , lambs , boetius . though their bodies be very soft , yet they are free of the plague , columella . one was seen to run mad , which a mad cow had hit with her horn. in england they rot in their bowells , if in rainy summers they feed on moyst ground , and lick the dew , gesner . in france if they eate the herb , duva , they breed black creatures in their livers , and this disease is incurable . the french in normandy call that hearb duva , that is like to the sharp dock , but the leaves are narrovver , and stand alvvaies upright , and the middle nerve is almost red , and serves for causticks , gesner . meadovv vvater drank , breeds horseleeches , shut up in bladders in the same place ; they are a finger and half long , and almost halfe as broad . chap. xxx . of the wild goat call'd oryx , and the panther or leopard . pliny reckons oryx amongst wild goats . when the moon comes to the east , it looks upon it and cryes ; and men say , that for hate thereof , it will digge up the ground with its forefeet , and will set the very balls of the eyes to the ground , and cast it up . some think it doth the same when the sun riseth ; what place soever in the desart it finds water in , it will trouble it by drinking at it , and stirs the mud , and throwes dust into it , that it may not be fit to drink . the panther smells so sweet , that it will allure all the wild beasts ; but the frowning countenance it hath , frights them ; wherefore he hides his head , and so they come and are caught . in the right shoulder they have a mark , like to the moon ; and as that increaseth , this increaseth , and decreaseth , albert. it breeds but once in the life-time , if we credit the author of the book of naturall things . when the young ones are grown in the mothers belly they will not tarry , but tear out their passage : she with pain is delivered of them , and so can never after conceive again , the parts being corrupted where the seed should stay . demetrius physicus writes of it , that one of them lay in the way waiting for a man , and suddenly appeared to him : he was frighted ▪ and began to run away , but the wild beast came and tumbled before him that was frighted , and was grieved at it . which also may be understood of a panther : for she had litt●red , and her whelps were fallen into a pit . first therefore he had cause to pity her , and not to be afraid ; and next to take care : and he was secure , as he understood the cause of her grief , and followed her , she gently laying her claws and drawing him by the garments ; and he had his life for a reward for taking out her whelps ; and she having got her young ones again , went along with him , and guarded him out of the desart , and she was jocant and merry , that it might easily appear how gratefull she was , and not to wrong him for his good deeds ; which is a rare thing in a man. they love wine , and when they are drunk they are catcht . the holy ghost likeneth alexander the great , who founded the graecian monarchy , to the leopard . you shall see the application in cl : domino conrado grasero , our master , in his isagogue of universal history , a work never can be enough commended . chap. xxxi . of the frog . frogs couple in the spring , and lay their spawn in the spring of the year following ; in the middle of it the frog lieth hid , the frogs being come forth , shew their great heads , albertus . at lutavia they catch bees when they come to drink at the water ; it is observed , that they will eat a dead mole , albert. in august their mouth is so shut , that they can neither eat nor drink , nor cry ; and you can hardly open it with your hand , or with a stick , lib. de nat . rer . their young ones are destroyed by the leaves of mullens , or nut-leaves cast into the water , aelian . if a candle lighted be set on the bank , they will leave croking , african . in geopont . their spawn is first found in march , wash your hands in it , and it will cure the itch. gesner saith it will cure the worms , whereof a fellon is a kind , if you lay it on your fingers . the egyptian frogs when they light upon a water-snake , will take a reed in their mouthes , and so they cannot be devoured , gillius . a toad burned , will breed again of his own ashes . but in dariene a province of the new world , they breed presently from the drops that fall from their slaves hands , whilest they water the pavements . martyr changeth them in summer into fleas ; he ascribeth it to the filthy muddy ayr. if you beat him with a wand , he will first cast forth his venom by his legs , and then he sweats some drops like milk . frederick duke of saxony gave one of them to hold till it grew hot ; it was first thrust through with a woodden spit , dryed in the shade , and wrapt in sarsnet ; and this was his remedy to st●nch blood . gesner makes the reason to be , cold. borax is a kind of toad , especially of a brown colour , and in hot countries is of a cubital magnitude , and sometimes carries its young on its back . in the forehead of this toad is the stone found , sometimes it is white , sometimes brown , which is best , if it have a yellow spot in the middle . some say it is onely a bone ; some say it is bred of that bird-limy froth , which toads meeting together in spring-time , do breathe into the forehead of one of the chief of them . gesner l. . de oviparis , he cannot believe that it is a stone . he that would hear more of frogs , shall ●ind it in the books of libavius , his battrachiorum , if he reads them . chap. xxxii . of rangifer , and rhinoceros . rangifer breeds in the north , specially in norway and swethland ; it is like a hart , but bigger in body , and exceeding strong . he ●ath three ranks of horns on his head , so that in each there are two , and his head seems to be set about with twigs . of these two are greater than the rest ; when they come to perfection , they are five cubit● , and have branches in them , albertus . they are milked , and will go miles a day , olaus . rhinoceros is a beast as big as an elephant , he hath one horn in his nose , and from thence he hath his name . it is moderately bent , and so sharp , that is will pierce stones and iron , aelian . his skin is very thick with skaly crusts , in colour and figure like a tortoisse shell ; it is so fast , that a dart can hardly enter it . he is an elephants enemy , when he fights with him , he whets his horn on a stone ; then putting his horn under the elephants belly , where it is softest , he rends him . he that will see examples , let him read camerarius in subcisivis horis . chap. xxxiii . of divers serpents . in the province of caraia , under the king of tartaria , some serpents are ten yards long , and ten hands broad ; some want fore-feet , but have clawes in the room of them . their eyes are as great as two small loaves . they are wonderfull good in physick . for one , bit by a mad dog , if he drink but a penny weight , presently he will be suddenly cured ; and a woman in labour , if she taste never so little thereof , will be delivered immediately , paul venetus . americus vespatius saw some in the indies that men did eat . they were as big as kids , and a yard and half long , their feet were long , armed with strong claws ; their skin was of divers colours , and nose like a serpent . from the ears to the end of the tail , a certain bristle went quite through the back , that you would think they were serpents indeed . calecut breeds the like so great as boars , and sometimes with greater heads , four feet , no venom , yet they bite dangerously , ludovic . rom. in navig . in hispaniola , called hivana , of the west-indies , there are some like to these . their back is with pricks , their heads crested , they are mute , with four feet , a lizzards tail , very sharp teeth , they are bigger than conies , they live indifferently in trees , land , or water , and will suffer hunger many dayes . anno , there appeared four-footed beasts in the borders of germany near to styria , they were like lizzards , and had wings , their biting was incurable . anno , about st. margarets day in hungary near zischa , about the river theisa , they were found in the bodies of many : they killed about men . some came out of mens mouthes , but they went in again . it is almost incredible what is reported of those places : that multitudes of them were found in piles or handfuls of wheat : and when the country men thought to burn them , there came a great many more forth , and charged them with mans voice to forbear , saying , that they were not bred naturally , but sent by god to punish men for their sins . chap. xxxiv . of the squirril , and ape-fox . the squirrils have but one blind gut , as great as a stomack , and in dissection it is alwayes found swoln with excrements , vesalius . they are said to have a bony generative part . they foresee a tempest , and opening their holes on the contrary side , they shut those places where the winds will blow , albert. when it would passe over the water for to find food , he takes the bark of a tree that is very light , and sets it on the water , sitting in it , and stears it with his tail lifted up , and so the wind carries him over , autor . lib. de natur . the ape-fox is a creature in pariana , a country of the indies . before , he is like a fox ; behind , an ape : he hath mans feet , and owls ears : under his common belly he hath another belly like a wallet ; she keeps her young in this , and it comes not forth but to suck , gillius . peter martyr decad. . l. . saith , he saw one dead , amongst such vaste trees , that . men together could not fathom round . chap. xxxv . of the ape . there are in some countries apes in abundance . posidonius saw a wood full of them in the borders of lybia . in a word , alexander saw mountains full of them in the indies . he thought when he espyed them by chance , standing upright , that an army was ready to besiege him , aelian . amongst the troglodites they have manes like lions , and the greatest are as tall as weathers , scalig. in exercit. in the indies mediterranean , they are huge bodies , and they follow civill merchandise without any offence . galen thought them the likest to mankind , amongst all creatures , for their bowels , muscles , arteries , and nerves . but vesalius saith , they are the most unlike in the muscles of the thorax , that move the arm , cubit and thigh ; and those that move the shoulders and toes ; and lastly , for the inward structure of the hand . a male was seen , whose heart had two points , albert. scaliger saw many without tails , as great as a boy of eight years old , and a male and female with their young . if the young desire any thing , the shee is admonished by the hee clinching his fist , and he will correct her with a fierce look , as being guilty of ill-using her young ones . mutianus saith , that those which have such tails , are sad when the moon is decaying , and they rejoyce and adore the new moon . he addes , that some were seen to play at chesse , for they will imitate a man unluckily ; for an ape saw a midwife wash the child , and bind him up in swathebands , and lay him in the cradle , when he spide that the child was alone , he went in at the window that was open , and took up the child and unswathed it , and washed it with scalding water till he kill'd it , aelian . he is very much afraid of a snail . erasmus saith , at rome we had an example of this . a man put a snail on his childs head , and covered it with a cap. then he brought him to the ape , who was glad and leaped on the boys shoulder to look lice , taking off his cap he saw the snail : it was strange to see how he was frighted and leapt back , and how fearfully he looked backward to see if the snail followed him . another example . we tied a snail to one end of the cord that the ape was tied with , that he could not get away , but he must look upon it ; t is wonderfull how he was frighted , only he did not dye for feare ; somtimes he strove to drive away the beast that stuck fast with his hinder feet , at last he pissed and shit all he had in his belly ; and of this fright he fell into a feaver , that we were forced to let him loose , and to give him wine mingled with water to refresh him . chap. xxxvi . of su and subus . su in patagonia , is a most monstrous beast , she takes her whelps on her back , and covers them with her tail , when the hunter follows , and so she escapes . wherefore she is caught in a pit , covered with leaves : when she is taken , she kills her young ones for madnesse , and cryes out so horridly that she frights the hunters , thevet . in descript . americae . subus is an amphibion , with two horns : he follows shoals of fish swimming in the sea : lobsters , pagri , and oculatae , are fishes that love him ; but he cares for none of their love , but makes them all his prey . chap. xxxvii . of the sow . wee shall contract briefly what is said of the sow . it is a creature we know , but it will not live in arabia , pliny . brought into hispaniola , it grows as great as a mule , martyr . in aethiopia it hath horns . in england and sclavonie , they have none . in macedonia they are mute , aelian . a sows brain is fat : when the moon decreaseth , it abateth ; the eares are full of a humour like gall . when she looks upward , she is silent ; for , looking commonly down ward , when she looks upwards , the light dants her , and her sharp artery being straightned holds in her voyce . aphrodis . somtimes , she will grow so fat , that it is miraculous . there were two ribs of a hogg sent to l. volumnius being in spain , they weighed , pound ; and from the bone to the skin was a foot and , fingers , pliny . and crescentiensis saith , that the whole hog weighed pound . there was one seen in arcadia , that the mice and rats had eaten into it , and bred there : the same happened at basil , gesner . for some creatures have fat that is insensible : and we read in pliny , that the fat was taken away from the son of l. apronius the consul , and his body was made lighter , of a burden one man could not carry . as concerning venery , sows breed often that are homebred ; but wild sows but seldom : for they have plenty of meat , and do not labour much ; these must seek for it , and wandring over the mountains , endure trouble , plutarch . both of them are so wearied with copulation , that they fall asleep , and will grunt and grow so mad , that they will rend those that come near unto them , aristotle . they will miscarry . they are friends with the crocodile , and will come to the banks of nilus without offence , calcagn . they mightily hate some kind of barley in thrace , for they do not onely forbear to eat it , but they refuse all excrements that proceed from it , aristot. in admirand· the measils is a common disease amongst them , and there is scarce any hogg that hath not three kernels . the druides make mention of a famous remedy , an herb that growes in moyst grounds ; but because they command us to gather it with the left hand , and that he that gathers it must not look back , and must lay it no where but in their trough that they drink , having first bruised it , it is superstitious . chap. xxxviii . of the mole . there is great store of moles , in boeotia in the country orchomenia , arist. in lebadia that is near unto it , there are none ; and brought from other places , they will not earth . aristotoles saith , they want eyes ; but gesner saith , their eyes are plain , and putting forth , without the skin like black spots , as great as millet seed , and fastned to their nerves . also a learned man in gesner saith , that he found young ones in one that he dissected , with great heads , and they had eyes : they delight in toads ; and albertus testifieth it by his own example : but he also knew frogs and toads to eat a dead mole . johan . averlin . consul gedanensis was cured of a fistula in the corner of his eye , by the powder of a mole that was burnt , and given him in powder to drink . chap. xxxix . of tatus and the tyger . tatus is a four-footed creature that is a stranger to us . it hath a thick covering , and a scaly shell , so that his flesh may be easily taken forth of it . i first saw this creature at st. andrews in scotland ( it is an archiepiscopall city , and there is a famous university in it ) in the place for rarities of the most noble and most courteous gentleman john arnet , protonotary for the office of the commissary in the archbishoprick of st. andrews , at whose house i lodged . but because it drawes it self into its shell , it is thought to be a kind of brasilian urchin . it is like to that which in new spain is called avitochli : it is as big as a cat , having a bill like a duck , feet like a hedge-hog , a long neck ; and men report , that it grunts like a sow . i have little to say of the tyger , unlesse i should set down the history of peter martyr , of one in dariene , an island of the new world. it did so afflict the whole island with killing people , that no man could go safe out of his house , afterwards it fell into a pit that was dug , and stuck upon sharp stakes that were fastned in the bottom , and was yet so strong , that it would break spears cast upon it , into a thousand pieces ; but in the end it was killed with stones . ledesma a spaniard saith , they boyl'd the flesh of it , and he eat part thereof , and it was as good as ox-flesh : it is a creature so swift , that oppianus compares it to the west wind . chap. xl. of the tortoise . tortoises in taprobana are so great , that one of them will weigh pound , scalig. pliny saith , that some are so great , that men may dwell under them . and between the islands , especially of the red sea , they rowe in them for boats. the sea - tortoises have no tongue , nor teeth , they break all things with the edge of their snowe . in hispaniola at what time they are given to venery , they come forth of the sea ▪ sand being cast into a deep pit , she lays . or eggs there ; when she hath laid all , she covers her eggs with sand , and returns to the sea , taking no more care for her young ones . at the time appointed they come forth , as out of an ant-hill , in great multitudes ; onely by heat of the sun , without help of the old ones , martyr . the eggs are as big as goose egs . when the head of one is cut off ▪ it doth not die presently , but sees , and will shut its eyes , if you put your hands before them ; and if you put them near , it will bite them , aelian . bellonius saw a kind of tortle brought out of turky , that the ancients knew not of . the shell of it is thin and transparent , like to the colour of a chrysolite . the turks make hafts for knives of them , they are so pretious , that they adorn them with studs of gold . there is an island in the sea found by jambolus toward the south , that brings forth little creatures , that are of admirable vertue for their blood and nature . their bodies are round and like to tortles , with two overthwart lines cutting one the other in the middle ; in the end of each of them there is an ear and an eye , so that they see with four eyes , and hear with as many ears . it hath but one belly without any gut , and what it eats runs into that . they have many feet round about , and walk both wayes . the blood is said to be of wonderfull vertue . for every body that is wounded will grow together again , if it be smeered with this blood , johan . boemus ▪ chap. xli . of the bear. in the farthest part of arabia they devour flesh , strabo l. ● . but in mysia it is otherwise ; for when they are hunted , they send forth a breath that will corrupt the flesh of the hunter ; and if they come nearer , they will cast a flegme out of their mouthes ; that kills or blinds dogs and men , aristot. in mirab . sometimes they are very great , five cubits long . there was one brought to maximilian that was as great as a large ox , vadianus . his head is so weak , that a sound blow will strike him dead , pliny . he eats his water when he drinks , and having tasted of the apples of mandragora , he recovers by licking at an ant-hill . she is said to bring forth a young one bigger than a rat , but lesse than a cat , that is both naked and unformed in its parts , gillius : and pliny , a rude masse . but one that was cut forth in polonia was sent to gesner , it was above ones finger long , and as thick as ones thumb ; the body had joynts , except the hinder feet , gesnerus . when he is fa● , he creeps into his den upon his back ▪ and so takes away his footsteps , that the hunters may not perceive them . in this den he will grow lean in dayes ; and he will keep himself alive , lying still and sneking his right foot dayes . when he perceives that his 〈…〉 is grown so empty , that it cleaves almost together , he comes forth and feeds on cuckow-pint , aelian . then there is no shew of meat left , but onely a little moysture in his belly , and some small drops of blood about his heart . theophrastus thought that , during that time , the flesh was digested , and the bear grew bigger by it . the males love women . amongst the a●●obroges one was seen , that caught a maid and carried her to his den ; and wooed her venereously , and fed her with apples growing in the woods . swidrigelus ▪ the prince of lithuania hath tryed it , that they will grow tame . for he bred up a shee-bear , which he was wont to feed by hand , and she was wont to run into the woods and come home again , and would come home into the prince his bed-chamber , volater . l. . chap. xlii . of the fox . in caspia there is such abundance of foxes , that they will go into country houses , and come into cities , aelian : and will be so tame , that they will fawn like dogs . they are very strong , in sardinia , for they will kill the fiercest rams , and young calves , munster . they are white in muscovy ; in arabia they are of an ill-favoured hair , and exceeding bold . at night they rowze one the other by barking , and seeking for their prey , they will snatch away mens very shooes , scalig. when they are to passe over frozen rivers in thracia , they will lay their ears to the ice , and so judge whether it be thick enough , plin. when they see a flock of birds flying , they will roll themselves in red clay , that they may appear like blood and they counterfeit themselves dead ; but when the birds come to sit upon them , they catch them , and eat them , herus . when they are troubled with fleas , they will take some soft straw , and dip their hinder parts into the water ; the fleas when they feel the cold water , will creep up toward their heads , and then they put their heads under water , and the fleas will leap into the straw , the foxes let go the straw , and run away . chap. xliii . of the unicorn . authors ore of divers opinions concerning the unicorn . they doubt whether there be such a creature , some affirm it and some deny it . garzias , ab horto . physitian to the kings deputy in india , observed a creature like to the description of an unicorn . it had a wonderfull horne , that he would turn somtimes on one side , somtimes on the other , and somtimes he would lift it up , and somtimes let it down . ludovicus vartomannus saith , that he saw two of them sent to the sultan at machae out of aethiopia , to mahomets tomb , they were shut up in lattises , and were not fierce . the horns of this creatures are shew'd in many places ; at the monastery of st. denys there is a whole one in a dark vault of the sanctuary , and the end of it stands in water . the water is given to drink to those that go under that hollow arch ; so soon as they have drank that , they suddenly fall into a great sweat . there is one also seen at venice , in st. marks church , and another at rome covered with a purple covering . aldrovandus writes that there was a jew at venice that boasted he had a true one , and proved it by a wonderfull example : for he laid a scorpion and spider on a table , and compassed the place in with the unicorns horn , these creatures were not able to passe out , but were killed either by the shade or the vertue of it . cardanus describes it , that it is a rare creature as big as a horse , with hair like a weasil , a head like a stag , that hath one horn growing on it , cubits long ; it stands in the middle of the forehead , and is right and strait , it is broad at the bottom ; it hath a short neck , a thin mane , lying but on one side , with small feet like a goat , &c : pliny saith , that it is a most rough creature ▪ and the rest of the body is like to a horse , the head like a stags , the feet like an elephants , the taile like a bor●s , with one black horn , sticking out of the middle of the forehead two cubits length ; what ever it be , here is cause enough to doubt of it . for first there are many kinds of unicorns described , and we know not whether they be of the same kind . in india there be oxen that have their hoofs undivided , and they have but one horn if we credit pliny , there are bulls in aonia if we beleive aelian and oppianus . there were some in the wood hercynia , if caesar be to be believed . ludovicut barthema saith , that he saw in zeilam a city of aethiopia , a kind of cows that had but one horn in their forehead , that was but a hand breadth long , and turned backwards . as for the horns , there is much sophistication in them . there was one found upon the shore of the river arula , in helvetia , nere to bruga : who shall certainly make choice of these for the unicorns horn. that which albertus saw was a hand breadth and a half thick , ten foot long , without any spirall lines , and like to a stags horn ? and a horn so thick and long , seems to appertain to a living creature as great as a great ship. aldrovandus thinks that the cup which alvarez mendosa gave to the great duke of hetruria , which he had from the king of narsinga , was rather made of one of those creatures horns which are seen in basma and macinum , countries of tartary , that are as big as elephants . the diameter of that cup was as much as both hands could hardly compasse . he that would read more of the unicorn , let him read andreas marinus , andreas baccius , and casparus bartholinus . i for a conclusion will add somthing , omitted concerning the mule. the common opinion is that the mule is barren , and if they do bring forth , it is held for a monstrous thing . yet in some countries of africa they are ordinarily with young and do bring them forth , varro . it appears by the monuments of the athenians that one lived , yeares . and they took pleasure in it , when they built a temple in the fort , that this old mule would encourage their cattel that fell down , with accompaning them , and labouring with them , wherefore they made a decree , that no men that cleansed corne should drive the mule from their sieves , plin. some write they will not kick if they drink wine . they have an excellent smell . hence those mules that are out of the way will return into the way when they smell it , and they easily are infected with the contagious force of the ayre , and fall sick of the plague , aldrovandus , l. . de quadrup . there is something in them that is death to mice ; for the fume of the hoofe of a mule will drive them from the house . columella saith , that the pain of their guts is abated by the sight of swimming ducks . cardinal ponzettus bids us to inclose one that is infected with the plague , into the belly of a mule newly slain : and marantha de simplicibus saith , he must be shut in so long , untill all the heat of the mule be vanished ; and this must be done oft times . the end of the seventh classis . of the description of naturall vvonders . the eighth classis . wherein are contained the wonders of creatures that want blood . plin. histor. natural . l. . c. . the nature of things , is no where more totally in any creature , than in the smallest creatures : and , in the contemplation of it nothing can seem superfluous . chap. i. of living creatures without blood , in generall . truly the nature of bloodlesse creatures seems to be contemptible ; and not to be compared in the least , with the shoulders of elephants that carry castles , or the necks of bulls , and their fierce casting up of things into the ayr ; nor to the manes of lions : yet is there no where a more remarkable piece of nature's workmanship ; and nature is no where total , more than in the least creatures . for in great bodies there was a sit place to work in , the matter being ductile ; but in these that are so small , and almost as nothing , what reason , what force , what unspeakable perfection is there ? where hath nature placed so many senses in the gnat ? where hath she set her eyes ? where her smelling ? where hath she made that horrid and great voyce , considering its proportion of body ? how hath she cunningly fastned the wings ? lengthned the legs ? hath disposed a hollow place instead of a belly ? and made it thirsty after blood , especially mans blood ? but by what art hath she whe●●ed the snowt of it to make it penetrate into the skin ? and since the smallnesse of it cannot be discerned , in comparison with that is very great , nature hath helped it by a twofold art , that it might be sharp to peirce , and hollow to drink with all . plin. l. . c. . aristotle reckons , kinds of bloodlesse creatures ; the soft , the hard crusty , the shell-wearing , and the insect . the soft kinds want scales , and their skin is not rough , nor with a shell , but soft as it is in men. they have no bones , no bowels . if there be any , they are like to fishes prickles , except only the polypus . plin. l. . c. . their heads are between their legs , and their bellies , they have no tongues , nature only hath given them somthing that is fleshy , to discern the pleasure of that they eate . but they have a brain , and they have that is proportionable to that part which is designed by nature for the principality of feeling . also they are of both sexes . the parts of the males are all more rough , and distinguished with various lines running between , the tayl is sharper , the passage under the throat , comes from the brain to the bottom of the pipe ; and the place it is carried to , is like to the teats . it is double that is set above in the females , and reddish little bodies are joyned to it in both sexes . they refuse salt water , they can hardly endure cold , for they are naked , and fearfull because they want blood . their eggs when they are lay'd increase as worms do , but they must needs have their vital force from the seed of the male , as fishes have . aristot. de generat . l. . c. . of those that are crusty there are two kinds , for they are all either with tails or round . their taile is evident and stretched forth : the cover of this , as it were , covers the end of their belly , and is so joyned to the lower part of their belly that it shews not at all like a taile ; scalig. exercit . . their parts are as the other parts of bloodlesse creatures . their teeth in their mouths are long and round , covered with a double covering , aristot. de part , c. . between which such things are placed , as are knit between the teeth of locusts . they want eylids , but their eyes are placed above their mouth , they are hard , and apt to move inward and outward , and obliquely . they breathe not , but casting water through a hollow pipe they are refreshed . the males have small passages for their genital parts , the females have membranous matrices cut as farr as their intestins , and in them an egge is bred . they copulate after the manner of those creatures that pisse backwards . the female brings forth a red egge covered over with a thin shelly membrane : they are otherwise called conchylia , purple shell fish , that were of old held for great dainties , that they grew into a proverb , to be the widows delights . nature hath so sported in the variety of them , in so many figures and colours , that it is hard to number them . plin. l. . c. . to explain the variety of them saith thus ▪ they are of so many figures , plain , hollow , long , like the half moon , round cut in half circles , rising in the back , smooth , rugged , dented , streaked , the top wreathed like the murex , the borders pointed , outward , or folded inward , somtimes distinguished with little lines , hairy , curled , like doggs waved like a comb , a tyle , lattice wise , or like net work , stretched out obliquely or right forth , close thickned together , open as when men clap their hands , bended backwards like to a horn. moreover , in the red sea they are of a wonderfull greatnesse , also they are found on the tops of the highest mountains , and they somtimes lye hid in the inward parts of the earth or in stones , goropius . becanus in aldrovandus saith , he hath seen some in a flint , that we use to pave the streets with , brought from bethum : there were so many shell-fish all of stone , and shut up entire in their coverings , that you would judge that flint to have been framed with great care and art of them , joyned with some cement . in the fields about the suburbs of paris , that are fruitfull with corn above , there is underneath a cave that is under great part of it , where chariots may passe . i found there a great many shells , like sea perwinkles , in a delicate order , both twisted and adorned with little knots , and so exact , that there was nothing wanting to their perfection but the living fish . i saw in england a stone cut out of the highest mountains , that was like a living perch , not the least line was wanting to make it perfect . insects have incisions either above or beneath , or else on both sides , and though it be bony or fleshy , yet they have somthing that is between both . the differences of them are many , if you note their place the quality of their body , their quantity , their food , their generation , their motion of their going . as for the place , ( we must speak somthing ) reddish hairy worms are bred in snow ; in the fire , worms called pyrausta ; in the sea water , the insect call'd micro-rinchotoros , or little nose , the sea - scotopendra , and the gnat . in fresh water there ariseth , leeches , scrophulae , strumae , cherodes ; in the earth , worms , and juli ; in minerals , not a few . in the stumps of trees , cossi , and teredines . the fig-tree breeds the worm cerastes : if an olive tree be planted where an oke is digged up , there breed frogs , and little worms , in the service-tree there are breed red hairy ones ; in the bladders of elms , psennes ; in vines , those that tully calls butyri ; in the spindle-tree , or as theophrastus calls it , tetragonia , there is yearly bred some catterpillers that dye so soon as the leaves are wasted . in the apple of a certain shrub call'd coccios there breaks forth a little living creature so soon as the fruit is ripe . there are worms found in the gnats , that tied to the neck will retain the birth , they must be taken off before delivery can be . in the leaves of night-shade there is a worm that is of a green and yellow colour , that hath a horn in the forehead , as long as ones finger . in the asphodil worms breed , that become flies , in the fashion of flowers , for when the stalk fades and withers , they eat the cover they are in and fly out : you shall find no fewer insects observable in living creatures . mans excrements are known sufficiently , especially when the sun shines on the excrements of beggerly people . we know that in aegypt worms are presently bred in mens legs . in a carp the first year a black worm is bred neer his gills . river perches breed as it were pearls , so great as tares , and each of them hath in it a slender long round worm . lastly , it is said , that in bee-hives a worm is bred . as for the parts , flies have open wings , beetles have sheath wings ; some have their belly joyn'd to their mouth , and the right intestin revolved from that . those that leap , have either their hinder legs longer , or else they lean upon their tails bended backwards . as for their generation , some are bred from animals of the same kind ; some do generate , but not of their own kind , but only worms , and those not from living creatures , but from putrefaction of moysture and drynesse . amongst those that couple , the females are commonly the biggest , the males have no feminal passages ; nor do they thrust in their member into the females , but the females into them by the lower part . this i have spoken more largely of bloodlesse creatures , because i know that their external habit hath made them contemptible . wherefore the mind of man ought to be rouzed up contemplate their worth , by the majesty of the internal nature of them , and to verse it self therein . chap. ii. concerning bees . in lithuani● and podolia there is an infinite company of bees , that the hollow parts of the earth that are dry , are filled with honey : olaus magnus saith , that great bears have fallen in and been drown'd . the fruitfulnesse of the fields causeth the plenty of them , the sweet smells , the abundance of flowers , the pleasant taste of them . adde to this the mighty woods of pine-trees , which are alwaies green , and keep the place warm , with high tops , and large boughs ; in summer they shade the bees , and in winter they hide themselves in the coverings of the pines , leo. nolan . in problem . solinus saith , that scotland breeds none ; but i know that is false : for i saw some in my host's garden at st. andrews ; and sometimes i have been much delighted with them . in africa they are rare . if you ask the cause , you shall find it is the want of those things that i spake of in sarmatia . in some parts of egypt , if you bury a bull to his horns , bees in time will breed from it , from its putrefaction . if therefore you would breed bees so , read florentinus . he bids you , as caesar constantinus relates , make you a house ten cubits high , and ten cubits broad , and the other sides equal thereunto ; let there be but one place of entring , and four windows , on each side one ; drive an ox that is fleshy and moneths old into this place , he must be very fat ; cause many young men to stand round about him , and beat him sorely , and kill him with clubs , breaking his very horns and bones ; yet they must take great heed that no blood follow . for the bees are not bred of blood : and when they strike him first , let not them run violently upon him ; then presently stop all passages in the ox , with clean pure napkins , dipt in pitch , as the mouth , the nostrills , the eyes , and all parts nature hath made for evacuation . then laying a great deal of thyme under , and the ox upon it , let them come forth of the house , and presently shut the door and the windows , and daub them with lime , that neither ayr nor wind may enter or come forth ; but the third week you must set the house wide open , and let in the light and the cold ayr , unlesse it be on that side where the wind blowes very strong . for if it fall so out , you must stop that side the wind blowes strongly on , and daub it with clay . the eleventh day after , when you open it , you shall find bees hanging abundantly in clusters together ; and of the ox that is left you shall find nothing but his horns , his bones , and his hair . they say the kings are bred of his brain , the common bees of his flesh ; also the king is bred of the spinall marrow ; but it is said , that those which breed of the brain , are the best , for strength beauty and magnitude . from hence you shall know the first change and transformation of flesh into living creatures , and as it were a conception , and generation , thus : for , opening the place , small white creatures , like to one another , and not yet perfect , nor yet living , will appear in great numbers about the ox , all immoveable , but augmenting by degrees . you shall see also the excrescence of their wings , yet unjoynted ; and you shall see bees in their proper colour , gathering together and flying about the king , but with small short wings , trembling for want of using to fly , and the weaknesse of their limbs . they will come continually , flying violently against the windows , for the desire of light . but it is best to open and shut the windows every other day , as we said . for it is to be feared , that they will change the nature of bees , or else be stifled for want of ayr. if a wing of them , or the sting be pull'd off it can never grow again ; for because this is fastned to the intestine , it pulls that out also , and so they die . they have a king , who is so much honoured by them , that he never goes forth , but they all attend him ; if he ●rre in flying , they are quick-sented to find him out ; and when he cannot fly , they carry him , aristotle . they are so chaste , that they will sting those that smell of copulation , and they stall themselves in virgins sepulchres , plutarch . for augustinus , whose sirname was gallus , saith , that at verona they crept into the sepulchre of two sisters that were virgins , they were the daughters of that famous lawyer , bartholomaeus vitalis , they went in by the chinks of the wall next an orchard , they made abundance of combs in the dead bodies of them both . the matter two years after their burial was made manifest , by the fall of thunder , without any hurt to the carcases of the bees and combs . there were some found also in the tomb of hippocrates , and it is constantly avouched , that the honey of them anointed on little blisters of childrens mouths by the sepulchre , did miraculously cure them . the inhabitants of the country of cuma do feed on them . if thou wouldst have thy beard grow quickly , anoint thy chin with the ashes of burnt bees , and mice dung , aldrovandus . chap. iii. of spiders . in the new world , as oviedus , l. . c. , relates , there are green spiders , and the web is of a golden colour , as good as silk . in cuma they weave it so strong that it will not break , but holds like silk . in hispaniola they are as big as hand-balls , and as hard as nuts . in brasil there is a very great kind of them , like to a crab , yet a fly takes him and draws him into his hold , contrary to what is used in europe ▪ cardan . l. . subtil . saith , that in the west-indies they are as big as sparrows . some write they couple backwards , and do scatter eggs in their webs , for they leap and so lay them . they are perfected in , days . scaliger , l. . de . causis plant . saith , that they breed of filth . when i somtime observed spiders egs , i found them to be , many small ones , black and blew with little spots , divided and parted one from the other : they are soft , and clammy , and if by chance any be lost , the spider diligently enquires , and she carries them back by fastning them on some thing from within , and with her beck also . i have seen also innumerable young ones come forth of one egg , so small that they could hardly be discerned ; yet so soon as they were come forth of the egg , they spun such fine webs that nothing can be more wonderfull . also i have observed under the belly of a spider that was taken , a mighty heap of eggs , so small as atoms ; they were white , and crushed with the finger , they gave a crack . they have a great faculty of feeling ; for sitting in the middle of their web , they feel a fly that toucheth it in the most remote part . hence antonius ludovicus . l. . problem . s. . problem . saith , that for that cause they lye in the middle of their nets . and being that the lines are equall from the centre , she sitting in the middle , and holding with her feet the beginnings of the threds she spun , she can easily know from all parts . they make very fine nets , and in them gnats and other little weak creatures are insnared . this is made from somthing they have without them , or from their hard skin , which being by degrees kembed and drawn like to a thred , they diminish , and they eat up their threds ; or else naturally they have a fruitfullnesse of drawing threds ; or else at a set time , the nature of their belly is corrupted , like an excrement . the woof is fastned within , and from that those fine lengths are drawn forth : we see the first to happen in silk worms , for they draw silken threds out of their own excrements , and they change their lives for a silken case , their proper substance being turn'd into a fleece , antonicus ludovicus , l. . s. . problem . . and franciscus bonzella cardinal . l. . c. . de venenis writes , that such as are bitten by a house spider , fall ill of a priapisme . and plin. l. . c. . saith that the same things happen when one is bitt by the spider phalangium . the nature of the poyson is said to be the cause of it . for though it penetrate easily ; yet the terrestiall part of it causeth flatulent humours , which being driven to the lower parts , cause erection . when they hurt the young lizzards , first they wrap them in their webs , then they bite their lips , which is a sight fit for a theatre , when it happens , plin. l. . c. . also the same authour , l. . c. , saith , that the spider doth ballance himself , to come down upon the head of a serpent that lyeth under the shade of a tree , and he so fiercely bites the serpents brain ; that he makes him to hisse , yet he can neither break the thred that hangs from aloft , nor yet run away ; and there is no end of it , till he kill him . when houses are like to fall , the spiders first fall down with their webs . plin. l. . c. . when the rivers are like to rise , they rayse their nets higher , and because they weave not in fair weather , but in foule , many spiders foreshew rayn , plin. l. . c. . the thebans , as pausanias witnesseth , in baeoticus , were ignorant of that ; for when the spiders had woven white webs about the dores of the temple of the goddesse ceres , about that time that the battle was fought at leuctra , when the macedonians assaulted them , the spiders spun all black webs , which was a sign that signified somthing far different from the former . chap. iv. of the silk-worm . zonoras saith , that the italians knew not the silk-worm before the time of justinian : in his dayes it was wittily found out and brought thither , procopius . he adds , that two monks brought silk-worm eggs from india to constantinople , and putting them into dung transformed them into worms . now sera whence they came , is a city in the farthest parts of persia , wherein there is made so much silk work , that ten thousand pounds of silk are daily given out to work-folks . also in taprobana silk is gathered from trees without any labour , as many navigations have discovered . nature hath shew'd so much art in this insect , that it is impossible to comprehend it all . much is written , and much more may be . first , it is a worm ; shut up in a bladder , it dies without any forme ; at length a winged butterfly comes forth of the case : wherfore a creeping insect is changeed into a flye by a medium that is vegetable void of sense and motion , by a strange metamorphosis . the little worm first shut out , seeks abundance of nourishment , and eating greedily what she is able , by often lifting up her head , striving as it were with a lethargy , she sleeps at length , or , days , and in the mean while casting her skin , she falls to her wonted diet again , when she hath fed , times , slept , times , and , times changed her coat ; she will eat no more , but climbs up on high upon the branches , and twigs , having discharged her belly as it should , she begins to spin some rudiments of her silken work upon the boughs , but in disordered turnings , then she shuts her self into a transparent case , and thrusts forth the fruit of her indefatigable labour , from the centre to the circumference , white wooll , yellow , and green , of an ovall figure , striving as it were with her fellows , in dayes she ends her task , and dyes within it . from this case laid under ground , a horned butterfly comes forth after ten dayes , but being neither mindfull of its wings nor food , being about to repair the losse of its short life by its fruitfulnesse of young ones , put into a soft fleece for . dayes together , but seldom for . dayes , is the male coupled to the female , and dies ; and shortly after the female widow , leaving behind her about a hundred seeds like millet seeds , she dyeth also . but because andreas libavius , a most deserving physitian , hath most accurately described this from his own observation , i thought fit to joyn his historicall observation , as an appendix to the end of this classis , for the benefit of those that search the secrets of nature . chap. v. of the spanish fly , and the glo-worm . cantharides are bred from a worm in a spungy substance , especially of the sweet-brier , but most fruitfully in the ash. if they breed in fig-trees , it is likely that the tree will die , plin , l. . their venom is most tart . a physitian call'd out of egypt , kill'd cossinus a roman knight , whom nero loved , with cantharides in drink , when he was sick of a tetter , which was a peculiar disease in egypt , plin ▪ l. . c. . the same thing happened to an abbot from a whore , paraeus l. . c. . a glo-worm hath a belly with roundles , divided with many segments , in the end whereof there are two spots very light like to fire , tending toward a kind of sky-colour . then is she most conspicuous , when her belly is pressed , and that transparent humour goes to the end of her belly , and her brest against the light shines like to fire , aldrovand . de insect . l. . c. . there is something spoken of this , in the second classis . adrianus junius , when he was in the country of bononia , drew the liquor of them upon papers that shined like stars : what is writ with that in the day , may be read in the night . many have shewed the way to compound it . baptista porta doth it thus : we did cut their tails from their bodies , taking care that nothing should mingle with the shining parts ; we ground it on a porphyr stone , and dayes or longer we buried it in dung , in a glasse vessel , and it is best that these parts should not touch the sides , but hang in it : for these dayes being over , the glasse being put into a hot oven , or a bath of hot water ▪ and ●itted , you may by degrees receive that clear distilled liquor in a receiver underneath , and so putting it into a fine crystall glasse , you may hang this water that causeth light in your private chamber ; and it will so enlighten the ayr , that you may read great letters . albertus de sensu et sensato shews , why their light cannot be extinguished by water : for their light cannot be said to be of a coelestiall body , because a coelestiall nature comes not into composition of bodies generative and corruptible : but the determination of this question and the like , is fetched from what we determined in our second de anima ; where we shew , that the nature of perspicuity is not proper to any element , but it is common to many , and is participated by them per prius et posterius , which is the more pure , the farther it is from darknesse ; and this is so , by how much it is more like to the nature of superiour bodies ; and the proper act of this is light , which hath to do in that nature . now this falls out in it , as often as the parts of it are very noble and clear : and therefore all such things do shine . now this composition sometime is in the whole body ; sometimes not in the whole , but in some externall parts : the cause whereof is , that when such a nature is from the elements that are light ; it proceeds more from the internall parts to the external , because such things will swim . and so it is found in the heads , and sins , and bones of some fish , and in the shells of some eggs , because such parts are lesse rosted , and heat hath wrought in them much nature of perspicuous bodies condensed : sometimes this heat acts in the externall parts of some things , when it exhales from them , and that which is subtile brings with it much perspicuity ; so the parts of okes corrupted do shine . but all those things that have but a weak light , are hid when a clearer light appears . chap. vi. of the grashopper . isidore writes , that grashoppers breed of cuccow-spit . plutarch in sympos . saith , out of the earth . baldangelus saith , they breed out of the earth not tilled , that looks eastward toward the sun-rising ; and that white ones were dug up under okes , but their form was , as the rest were . aristotle l. . hist. c. . saith , they breed by copulation . pliny sets down the manner : first , there is a worm bred , then of that tettigometra , or mother of the grashopper , the shell of it being broken , about the solstices they fly forth alwaies in the night , being first black and hard ; but when he strives to come forth of his tettigometra ; [ you may observe , that grashoppers and butterflies breed alike ; for what is in these , at first , a caterpillar , is in them , first a little worm ; and that case , call'd chrysalis or aurelia , for the catterpillar ; is call'd tettigometra , for the grashopper , yet you shall know that they differ : for a rude chrysalis is a lump wherein no parts of the body are distinguished , as we can discern ; but in the tettigometra you may see the head , eys , feet , breast , and all the parts , except the wings ; it is whitish in colour , and sprinkled with small lines ; ] first he gets up a tree , and sticks to some branch of the tree ; then at the upper end where a cleft is first seen , he comes forth ; his whole body is then almost green ; shortly , his upper part enclines to chestnut colour , and that in one day becomes of a black colour ; and because his legs and wings are weak at first , he sits upon his cast skin till be can fly . in cephalenia there is a river where grashoppers are on one side , but none on the other , plin. l. . c. . and antigonus writes , that the same thing happeneth in dulichium , an island of the ionian sea : ambrosius nolanus writes the same of nola , and the hill vesuvius . in the country of rhegium they are all mute . in locris beyond the river , they sing ; in acanthus also they are mute , pliny l. . c. . if you ask the reason , strabo thinks , that at rhegium the country is dark and shady ; at locris the heat is great ; and therefore he thinks , that the dewy skins of their wings are not there extended ; but here he thinks they have dry , and , as it were , horny skins . but because they do that when they fly , and when they stand , which the others are thought not to do , the heat is the cause of it : for being hotter by nature , they need more cooling , and move the ayr the stronger : the others do not need so much , either because they are but of a weak heat , they are not heard to do it , therefore it may be thought they are said not to do it , nicolaus leonicus . chap. vii . of the crabfish , and the shell-fish breeding pearls . cammarus , is a river-crab ; in his head , are two little stones : in the full moon they are seen in figure of a globe divided into two , agricola . it is said to eat flesh ; it will eat the pike in a net : and gesner writes , that in danubius , when flesh is tyed to their ships , and hang'd down into the water , multitudes of crabs will hang about it : some say , that in june they will go forth to feed in the fields , catch frogs , and feed on grasse . fed with milk without water , he will live many dayes . gesner kept one alive in water days ; put into distilled wine , burnt , he presently growes red , and may be set on the table alive amongst those that are boyl'd , georg. pictorius ▪ the males are easily discerned from the females ; for they , where their tail is joyn'd to their body underneath , have four long rods sticking forth , but these have none : also their tail is rounder , plainer , and thicker . leonellus faventinus commends the powder of their eyes drank with water of peach leaves , after opening a vein , against a bastard pleurisie . the powder of them rubb'd on the teeth , cleanseth and whiteneth them . in india a shell-fish that breeds pearl is sometimes found so great , as they report , that in the island borneus in the sea , there was one taken , that the meat within it weighed pound ; yet methinks it is questionable . chap. viii . of the snail . the snails which dioscorides calls garden snails , are found in abundance in the mountains of trent , and they are the best . in winter they are dug up out of the earth , and in gardens , with some iron hooks , near to the roots of herbs , the earth being dug forth . they are covered with a white shell against the cold , it is like to gip , so they lye under ground , hid , and afterwards they are more pleasant meat , matthiolus . they have eyes in the top of their horns , and they pull them in when any thing comes near to them , and put their horns into their heads , their heads into their bodies , albertus . they lay white eggs , as great as the pikes eyes ; and in may they are found to sit upon them , gesner . albertus saith , they are bred of corruption and clammy dew , and that that dew hardneth into a shell . porta saith the same . phytol . l. . c. . pliny l. . c. . saith , they are bred in winter . fulvius hirpinus made caves of them , in tarquinis , a little before the warr with great pompey , &c. pliny , l. . c. . in the island scyathos , the partridges feed on them ; but those that are call'd ariones , deceive them : for going out of their shells , they feed , leaving their empty houses to the herns and partridges , aelian l. . c. . andreas fulnerus gallus relates , that a remedy is made of them to multiply hair : take snails out of their shells , and boyl them in water , and take them out again , and gather the fat that swims a top , and put that into a glazed vessell , and pour a sextarius of water upon it ; wherein bay leaves have been boyled with three spoonfulls of oyl , one spoonfull of honey , saffron one scruple , and a little venice soap , and a spoonfull of common soap moderately stirred ; boyl them altogether . with this liquor anoint your hair often , and wash it with a lye made of the ashes of burnt colewort stalks , ( the place is obscure , or corrupted ) and you shall find your hair increase daily . chap. ix . of the gnat. in aegypt there are great store of gnats , whence herodotus calls it conopaeam , and bellonius , observat . l. . c. , writes that he was so vexed with them the first night , that the next day he seemed to have the measils . in divers parts of india , there are kinds of gnats , whereof some in summer time especially , when the fields are cleansed , do lye in the woods , others lye about the shores . at myon a city of jonia , there was a creek of the sea not very great , which , when maeander a river of that country running into it , that was very muddy , had stopped the mouth of it with mud , brought along with it , so that in time it made a lake , there bred from thence such abundance of gnats , that the people of myon , left their city , and went to miletus . when the northern people would hinder their biting , they sprinkle a decoction of wormwood or nigella on their heads , and the rest of their body , olaus . yet he makes a difference in their bitings . for they that have their blood pure and not corrupted , bite them they not . they meddle not with fruit before they grow sharp by corruption , and they most delight in sowre things . leo●h ja●hin . but because they chiefly suck mans blood , they are called the spowts of the blood of man. it is not proved that they will suck things that are sweet . for the sweeter part of the blood that is most pure is consumed for nourishment , and lyeth inwardly , that which is rawest comes next to the skin , whence it is that pushes break forth of the body . chap. x. of the urchin , the ephemera , and the catterpillar . sea-hedge-hogs , so often as they are tossed with the flowing water , make themselves heavy with ballast , lest they should be tossed too much being light , or carried away with a tempest ; and so they stick fast to the rocks . plutarch . l. utr. animal . the parts of the live ones covered with their shell , and armed with their prickles , if they be broken and cast into the sea , they will come together again , and will know the part that is next to them , and being applyed they will joyne , and unite by a natural sympathy , aldrovandus . as for the ephemara , the river hypanis in cammerius bosphorus , under the solstice produceth little bladders greater than grape stones , out of which flying creatures proceed with four feet . this kind of creature lives till the afternoon , the same day ; when the sun departs it decays , and presently dies when the sun sets , from hence it hath the name of ephemer , or a creature that lives but one day . aldrovand . as for catterpillars ; hieracles testifieth , that if horses rowle themselves upon them , black and blew spots will arise , their skins will grow hot , their eyes will be distorted , and the cure is to bray vitriol one quarter of a pound , vinegar half a pound . they feed on pot hearbs ; but if a rocket seed be sowed amongst them , they will not touch them . but that those hearbs may breed no noysome creatures , dry all the seeds you mean to se● , in a tortis shell ; or sow mint in many places , especially amongst coleworts . prasocurides , saith cardan , are such living creatures that use to do hurt in gardens ; men say , that if you bury the panch of a wether with the dung in it , not deep within the earth , in the place where they abound , in two days you shall find them all in heaps in that place ; in twice or thrice so doing , you may destroy them all . paulus aegineta writes that herb rocket annoynted with oyle , will preserve men safe from the bitings of venemous creatures . chap. xi . of the pismire . in the kingdom of senega there are white pismires , and naturally they build low houses . for they carry earth in their mouths , and cement it without lime , you would say that they are like ovens or little country houses , scaliger , exerc . . in the province of mangu , they are red , and they eat them with pepper . scalig. exerc . . . amongst the brachmans , they are , fingers breadth in greatnesse ; in new spain they are as big as beetls . amongst the dardae , which is a mighty nation in the mountains of india , there is said to be a hill of furlongs in compasse , there are gold mines under it , that ants as big as foxes do dig into , plin. i think , as strabo doth , that it is a fable . in baia salvatoris there is an infinite company of them , they have in their mouths somthing like pinsers , and with that they so crop the plants , that they dye with their biting of them . aldrovand . in the same west-indies they are called comixen , half - pismires , and half-worms that creep with a white tail . they eat into the wood , and do great harm to houses . when they creep up a wall or house , they are covered with earth , a finger thick , and they live under this , ovied . in sum . ind. occid . c. . in brasil when they are bruised they smell like cedar . their head is so small that they have no eys in it , but above it there are some additionalls like two hairs coming forth . it is a sign that these are their eys because when these are cut off , they mistake their way . albert. tract . . l. . c. . when this kind grows old , it comes to have wings . they breed eggs that have worms in them , in white coverings ; these , being exposed to the sun , breed pismires . alb. l. . . but in the new world it is otherwise ; for when the old one is dead , innumerable worms breed from the body of it , and they living after a wonderfull fashion , come forth at last out of their subterraneal habitations in a wonderfull manner ; their ant-hills is made wonderfull artificially , no city is made more curiously . aldrovand . lud. describes what he saw , thus . it seemed like a city with four square sides , four foot almost in length , and above a fooot broad , and the ants like pismires ran up and down about their businesse in it , as if they had been citizens , the sides and angles were drawn directly , in the length of the city there was a way in the middle , a fingers breadth and depth , this was cut crosse with , other ways a fingers breadth and depth as the former , very directly . in the outmost corners of these ways , their eggs were layd together as in narrow turnings of the streets . on the other part of the city were dens fill'd with corn , that they abounded so far as the very ways . all the paths were most clean . lastly in the middle of the length of the city , there was one gate right against the west . chap. xii . of the horsleech , and hippocampus . strabo writes , that in a river of mauritania , horsleeches breed seven cubits great : their throat is hollow , that they breathe through ; in all of them there is a little hole in the middle ; and from the mouth to the belly , there is but one continued passage . in putrid feavers they are of great use , for being applyed to the veins of the fundament , and setting on a cupping glasse , that the orifices of the veins may appear , they help much to ease the pains of the head , and to assist concoction . some have drunk them down in drink , saith galen : but the smell of wiglice will drive them forth . the hippocampus or sea-horse is a fish not to be eaten , of a singular form ; for it hath a head like a horse , and a snowt and a mane ; the rest of the body is rough with grisly indentures . on the back , it hath a tail with a sin , that is four square and pliable . it is in length a span ; being taken , it shortly dyes ; and when it is fresh , it shines in the night . chap. xiii . of the locust , that is an insect . about brundusium there is an infinite company of locusts . in the island lemnos , there is a certain measure set for men that shall kill them , and they must bring it to the magistrate . in cyrene thrice a yeer they are to be killed ; and he that refuseth , is punished for his default , plin. amongst the nigretae every . years there are such abundance , that they shadow the skie at least miles . in hispaniola they want wings , aloysius cadamustus . vincentius reports , that a woman bred up one ; when it grew up , it was found to be with young ones of it self . anno , when they wasted france miles in one day , they went as it were in troops , and pitched their tents upon the earth . the leaders with a few more went before the whole army a dayes journey , as if they went to take up quarters , the next day at the same hour they all arrived . they did not march till sun-rising ; when the sun arose , they marched by bands . in the sixth year of the emperour argyropolus , the locusts did so much mischief in the provinces of the east , that the inhabitants were forced to sell their children , and to passe away into thrace . the wind afterwards cast them into hellespont , but the next year they revived again ; and having spoyled the provinces three years , they perished at pergamus , cedrenus . chap. xiv . of the sea-hare , the lobster , with his shell , and the calamarie . the sea-hare hath a body all white , you would think it to be a little box , or congealed flegme . it is seldom taken but in great heat of weather ; for then all things are troubled by the extream heat , even those things that lye at the bottom of the sea. and though very few water-creatures are found to be venomous , because they dwell in moysture , which for the general is contrary to venome ; and some creatures contain their venome in some part onely , as the spider-fish in its prickles , the sea-ray in the radius , yet the hare is poyson all over . titus the emperour was reported to be poyson'd with this by his brother domitian . for when the oracle was consulted concerning the manner of his death ; the answer was , he should perish as ulysses did , by the sea. now ulysses was killed by the sting of the ray. they that die by the venom of it , will be so many dayes in dying , as the hare lived , licinius macer , in pliny , l. . c. . lobsters will not breed in the sea euripus , if we credit aristotle hist. . c. . but in the indian sea , they are cubits long , pliny l. . c. . concerning the calamaries , pliny writes out of trebius niger , that they fly sometimes in such multitudes , that they will drown ships . but albertus l. . de animal . saith , that in sexus a river of mauritania , a calamarie is five cubits long , and near the sea he will fly like an arrow . rondeletius thinks , that this is nothing incredible , when as they swim many together , holding one upon the other , and therefore many are taken together . chap. xv. of pearls . pearls are in some shell-fish like the upper crust ; in others like to the off-spring ; in some like hail . there are many in them , and of great weight . in a bosom of the sea of the new world , there are some as big as a bean ; in the island solon , bigger than turtles eggs. martyr writes , he took an oyster there , that the meat of it weighed above pounds . the king of the island eubagna , had one so big as a wallnut , it weighed . caracts , and it was sold for pieces of castile . gonzalvus oviedus saith , that one was sold at panama , that weighed caracts , it was round , and as big as the knob of a pillar . it is said that neere the island borneo , there was one as great a goose egge ; and so round , that lay'd on a table , it will hardly stay in one place . peter martyr , decad . l. . saith , that in his presence , when he was invited to dine with the famous duke of medina sidonia , at baetica , they brought one to sell unto him , that weighed above a hundred ounces heaps are cast up of shells in summer , some of them have pearls in them that are ready , others not yet perfect , out of a river that runs by the village of hussin in bohemia ; these they give their bucks to devoure , then they gather up purer , being clensed in their bellies , gesner . five or six are sound in one . vesputius saith he found , in some indian oysters . somtimes some small ones are found behind , like to small kernells . but the question is how these are bred . some think they are bred of the dewy ayre ; but this opinion seems to be false . for some lye in the bottom of the deepest waters , and some are black , some yellow , some green , some blew . oviedus , hist. ind. l. . c. . but they say that the white ones are bred of pure dew , the pale ones of that which is troubled . androstenes in athenaeus saith that as kernells are bred in hogs , so pearls breed in shell-fish . juba , as pliny saith , subscribes to this . the indians , that inhabit the island cabagna , say , they breed as eggs do in them . for the greater of them are next the orifice , and are first thrust forth , but in the more inward parts of the matrix , the lesser pearls lye hid . rondeletius and alexander benedictus compare their originall to that of stones in some greater living creatures ; we saw , saith he , stones voided forth of ones bladder as big as a hens egge , over which a clammy matter grew by degrees covering them , like to a crust of divers colours somtimes , and they were hardned by a fiery heat , and so they are said to increase by little and little . pearls in shell-fish are reported to grow the same way , and the jewellers can discover by a turning instrument divers coats in them , as we see in onions ▪ and rondeletius saith , he thinks that pearls grow the same manner in shell-fish , as kernells do in hogs , and the stone in the reins and the bladder . the yeare wee writ this , there was one died that had a stone in his reins , that had so many partitions as there were branches of small veins in his reins . the little stone with these partitions , was like the outmost knob of a round white marble , or like a great pearl for its figure and brightnesse , i think it was compacted of a vitreous flegme . therefore it is no wonder if in oysters and shell-fish , when they grow old , pearls are to be found . they may also be dissolved , the chymists shew how . cardanus saith , you must first wash them being entire , and strain the juyce of lemmons twice or thrice ; then put them in , and set them in the sun ; in five or six days they will dissolve . chap. xvi . of flyes . in cyrene there are found many kinds of flyes , distinguished by their forms and colours . some have broad foreheads , like to weasils , others are like to vipers . they say that in sicilie and italy they bite so sharply , that they will kill whom they bite . at toledo in the shambles somtimes one flye will appeare for a whole yeare , that is notable for its whitenesse . rhodigin ▪ l. . lect . antiq . c. . in hispaniola , they are green and painted , especially in the city of st. domingo ; they are as great as wasps , and dig the earth with their feet , to make themselves houses under ground . strabo saith , the spaniards have a flye peculiar to them , in great numbers , and it alwaies comes with the plague ; that in cantrabia the romans appointed some , to catch these flyes , and gave them a set reward for it , by number . in carina a mountain of crete , that is , miles about , there are none , plin. l. . c. . nor was there ever any seen at rome in hercules temple , nor yet in the island paphos in venus temple , apollonius . lasty emma the wife of the duke of lower saxony promised a fruitfull pasture ground to the church of breine , not far from the city , that had this praerogative , that no flyes should molest the cattel there , crantzius , l. . saxon. l. . the hebrews , saith tostatus , invent old wives tales concerning them , for they say that david inquired of god why he made fools , spiders , flyes , with other things that seeme not only to be superfluous , but dangerous ; and god promised to make it appeare to david that these three things were profitable for some things . for foolishnesse , it was manifest ; for unlesse he himself had counterfeited the fool's part before king achis , he had been taken captive , and perhaps perished . and the flye was usefull , when he descended from the hill hacbilla into sauls camp , when all were a sleep , and took away sauls spear ; for then he set his feet between abner his feet who lay about saul , and when he feared least he should be taken , if he should violently draw out his foot , god sent a flye who bit abners legs , and so abner gave way , and yet did not wake abner , so david escaped . lastly the spider did him good service , because she hanged her web on the mouth of the cave , wherein david hid himself , when saul searched after him . to drive them away many men have invented divers means . if a peice of an onyon be laid upon flesh , some think the flyes will not come at it ; miraldus cent . . aphor. . saith , they will not come into a house , if a wolfs head be hanged up in it . dioscorid , l. . c. . saith that the fume of loostrife will drive them away . plin. l. . c. . saith that white hellebour bruised with milk , and sprinkled , will drive them away . those flyes that live on the branches of napellus , are good against any venemous bitings , if we credit scaliger exerc. . chap. xvii . of the boat-fish . bellonius gives an exact description of the boat-fish ; the shell of it seems to consist of . pieces , ( namely the keel and the sides , and yet it is but one entire piece ) the side-pieces whereof seem to be joyn'd on both sides as to the keel . it is commonly as great as we can clasp in both hands , and as broad as the space between the thumb and the forefinger : but they all in thicknesse do not exceed a piece of parchment , and with ridges drawn to the borders , they are plaited with indentures , ending in a round form ; the hole by which the boat-fish is nourished , is very great at the place he comes forth of his shell ; this is very brittle , milk white , shining , polished , altogether representing the form of a round ship ; for it swims on the top of the sea , arising from the bottom , and the shell comes the bottom upwards , that it may ascend the better , and sail with an empty boat ; and when she is come above the water , then she turns her shell . moreover , there is a membrane that lyes between the fore-legs of the boat-fish , as there is between the toes of water-fowl ; but this is more thin , like a cobweb , but strong ; and by that she sails , when the wind blowes ; the many tufts she hath on both sides , she useth for rudders ; and when she is afraid , then she presently sinks her shell , full of sea water . farther , she hath a parrots bill , and she goes with her tufts as the polypus doth , and after the same manner she conceives in hollow partitions . chap. xviii . of oysters and muscles . though oysters love sweet waters , yet pliny reports that they are found in stony places ; but aristotle saith , that though they live in water , and cannot live without it , yet they take in no moysture nor ayre . when in the time of the warr with mithridates , the earth parted at apumaea a city of phrygia , rivers did suddenly appeare , and not only sweet but salt waters brake out of the bowels of the earth , ( though the sea were farr distant ) so that they filled all that coast with oysters . athen. l. . the oysters are of divers colours . in spain they are red , in sclavonie brown , in the red sea they are so distinguished with flaming circles , that by mixture of divers colours it is like the rainbow . aelian . l. . c. . at the beginning of summer they are great and full of milk . at constantinople they cast this wheish matter into the water , which cleaving to stones , will beget oysters ; gillius writes it , and it is very probable . for , of the decoction of mushroms powred on the ground , it is certain that mushroms will grow , the crabfish doth wonderfully desire the meat of them , but he comes hardly by them because they have a strong shell by nature , wherefore he useth his cunning . for when in places where the wind blows not , he sees them taking pleasure in the sun , and to open their shells against the suns beams , he privately casts in a stone , that they cannot shut again , and so he conquers them . chap. xix . of the butterflye , and the polypus . the butterflies couple after august , & the male dying after copulation , the female lays egs , and dieth also . how they are preserved in winter , is hardly discovered by any man , except by aldrovandus de insectis . but he enquired of country people , and they hold him , that the leaves were great with the butterflies seed ; at what time they plowed the ground , they were hid in the bowells of it , and fostered by its heat , yet he thinks that they only are preserved , that lye hid in the hollow barks of trees , but what lyes on leaves is quickned the same yeare . and aldrovandus adds , i saw eggs layd under the leaves of chamaeficus out of which about the end of august , little catterpillars naturally came forth . they were wrapped in a thin down , that the ayre might not hurt them , and these little catterpillars falling did not fall to the ground , but hung by a small thred like spiders in the ayre . when they lay under leaves , they fold them so that the rain cannot hurt them , and lay them up as under a penthouse . i twice observed one catterpillar , that i took amongst the coleworts , first to lay yellow eggs , wrapt up also in fine down , and when they were laid she turned into a chrysalis , of the same colours that she was , that is , yellow , green , and black : and that which seemed strange to me , out of those eggs , little flying creatures came forth , that i could hardly see them , such as are wont to be found in the bladders of elms : when they are in great abundance they shew contagion of the ayre . anno , they flew at bannais neere the waters , in such multitudes , that they darkned the course of the river , especially after sun set ; then coming hither about night , they wandred through the villages as in battel aray , little differing from moths . cornelius gemma testifieth that that was a tempestuous yeare . the polypus in time grows so great , that it is taken for a kind of whale . in the bowells of them , there is a strange thing like a turbane , that you would say it had the nature of the heart , or of the liver , but it suddenly dissolves and runs away . they exceedingly love the olive-tree . for if a bough on which olives hang , be let down into the sea and held there , you may catch abundance of them , hanging about the bough . somtimes they are taken sticking to figg-trees growing by the seaside , and they eat the fruit of them . they also delight wonderfully in locusts , of which you shall find a cleare testimony in petrus berchorius . i have heard , saith he , that some fishermen in the sea of province , had set locusts on the shore to boyle over burning coles , and a polypus smelling the locust , came forth of the sea , and coming to the fire would with his foot have taken a locust forth , but he feared the heat of the fire , and so went back to the sea , and fil●'d a coat which he had on his head , like a friers cowle , with water , and went and came so often with it , and cast it on the fire , that he put the fire out ; and so taking the locust , he had carryed it to the sea , unlesse one of the fishermen that saw him , had caught him , and broyl'd him to eat , instead of the locust . chap. xx. of a lowse , and a flea . some think , that lice are bred of flesh ; others , of blood ; but both opinions are false : for first they breed in the skin of the head , and we know they abound in the second and third kind of hectick feavers ; when as , there , is little flesh ; and , here , they are almost consumed . again in putrid feavers they breed not ; and things bred do confirm their principles . their colour shews they proceed not from blood . wherefore some think they breed from putrid matter that is cold and moyst , which abounds in the skin , in places where they cannot be blown away . experience teacheth , that they will leave those that are dead , either because the blood is cold in the body when the heat is gone ; or because the dead body is cold , and they fly from the cold , nolanus problem . . they that eat figs often are thought to be troubled with them . nolanus makes the juice of them to be the cause . for , this increasing in the veins heats the blood , and makes it moyst and frothy ; which because it naturally tends to the skin , and retain'd under that it putrefies , it turns to lice . truly they , that feed on figs , have little knots and warts on their skins . a flea is a small creature ; yet africanus a cunning artificer , tied one with a gold chain , and it leaped , scaliger exerc. , and . he most commonly bites under the groins : the tumour begins to grow the fourth day ; when it comes to its full growth , it s bigger than a pease , and it is full of nits ; they are killed with the root of wild buglosse : also with sage bruised , and mingled with oyl and vinegar ; anoint with this against them . the best remedy is silk-yarn put into the bed , for they will gather together in it . franciscus georgius venetus , of minoritum , saith , they will trouble one more in linnen than in woollen . he gives his reason , because they both proceed from the same northern fountain ; for they are both in aries and march bred . but aldrovandus thinks it comes to passe , because linnen is more near to the body than woollen . wherefore you shall find them hungry in your shirts and sheets ; but in your breeches full , where they lay their eggs . chap. xxi . of the beetle and the cuttle . in chalcida of thracia , which is next to olynthus , there is a pretty large ground , called cantharoletron . when any living creature comes thither , it abhors it , and departs , yet safely ; onely the beetle , but going about it , dyeth for hunger , arist. in admirand . the female beetle is never bred ; but the male , when he hath made a round ball of ox dung , rolls it with his face backwards , & begets her by sending in his seed , clem. alex. l. . strom . yet aldrovandus saith , that crabs are begotten by copulation : for he found , that in may , in two hours space , the female produced above little white worms , like to weevells . they were small caterpillars coming forth like silk-worms , which in five hours began to weave balls of very fine thred white , as big as pompions seed without the hull , l. . de insectis . ruellius saith , that the new moon is known by their breeding , l. . de stirp . c. . for ( saith he ) they roll little balls of ox dung from east to west , and make them as round as a globe , which they bury in a hole in the ground dayes , and conceal it so long , till the moon runs through the zodiack , and returns to its conjunction and disappears ; then opening the ball that shews the conjunction of the lights , they let forth the young one , nor hath it any other way of breeding . cut into two , they will live ; but the smell of roses kills them . the cuttles lay eggs like to black myrtil berries . they stick together like a bunch of grapes , and cannot be separated : for the male casts some humour upon them , the clamminesse whereof holds them together . they breed all the year , and they continue days to lay eggs , aristot. histor . . c. . when she knows that cunning fishers fish for her , she casts forth her ink , and being environed with that , the fishers cannot see her : she hunts small fish with her promuscides : whence oppianus writes ; the cunning cuttle when she hunts her prey , with slender branches from her soft head springing , like to fine cords , small fish without delay she takes , they hold like hooks , when as they clinging , lye on the sand , she with her tail makes way . anaxilaus in pliny saith , that the ink of her is so strong , that burnt in a lamp , it will make those that stand by , look like blackamores , the first light being taken away . chap. xxii . of the scorpion . cedrenus saith , that in the desarts of the brachmans there are scorpions of two cubits . in the place where the turks sell christians , nicolaus à nicolais , saw some that were yellow , as long as a mans finger . in aegypt they have wings , and two stings . aelian . l. . c. . in scythia , if they sting man or beast they kill them . also hogs , though they feel not other venemous bitings , yet dye of these , chiefly if they be black ; yet each of them dies suddenly , if he come at the water . aristot. l. . c. . in the antient habitations of the scaligers , that are in the coasts of the alps by noricum ; they are all the country over , without doing hurt ; and they are in such multitudes that you can remove no stone , but you shall find one under it . scalig. exerc. . in barks of trees also , they breed without a tayle . they will turn themselves so fast in a circle , as if they were moved with a paire of compasses . exerc. . in the country that lyes next to those that feed on locusts , such abundance of them bred once of immoderate rayn , that the inhabitants were so stung they were forced to leave their country ; diodor. sicul. l. . c. . some say that scorpions devoure their young ones , leaving only one that is most subtile , pliny , this sits fast within the thighs of its dam , and is free from the biting and tail of it , and this revengeth the death of the rest . pliny . l. . c. . aristotle thinks the contrary , l. . c. . his sting is most dangerous in a dry country , and when the dogg-starr is up . first the place begins to be inflamed , waxing hard and very red . somtimes it is very hot , somtimes very cold , sweat follows , shaking and trembling , the outward parts are cold , the groins swell , they break wind backwards , the hairs stand an end , the limbs are pale , cardan . l. . de . venen . c. . many remedies are invented ; those that live in africa going to sleep , annoynt their beds , and their feet with garlick . strabo , and alexandrinus , saith jovianus pontanus doth testify , that one was cured presently by drinking beaten frankinsence , wherein the picture of the scorpion was engraven . also its sting loseth the force , if it touch bezar stone . jacob hollerius , l. . c. . de morbis internis , writes , that by the frequent smelling of an herb of brasil , an italian had a scorpion that bred in his brain : and albertus saith that avicenna had a friend that could of rotten wood make scorpions when he pleased ; and he adds , that from them others did breed . chap. xxiii . of worms in wood , and the tarantula . the teredo grows in wood , and there especially he feeds . and though they are bred in many trees , except the oke and the tyle-tree , yet there are other trees that they breed not in . for theophrastus and pliny write , that the firr-tree , the bark being taken off of the branches , will remaine in water without any hurt , that was apparent , saith theophrastus in phneum of arcadia , where the ground was narrow into a lake , there were bridges made with firr ; when the water swelled higher , there were other planks laid one upon another : at last all that stopped being thrust forth , the whole frame was borne away , and was found uncorrupted , so that this was found out by chance . vincentius ex authore libri de natura rerum , sets it down for a miracle , that box and white thorn which are the hardest wood will breed worms : but the nut of aeubaea will never putrefie . lastly in tylus an island of arabia , there is wood that will never corrupt in the water : for it hath been observed to have lasted , yeares in the water uncorrupted . the phrygians , if we will credit rhodiginus , made their dainties of white fat worms with black heads , that bred from rotten wood , called xylophagi . aelian . writes that the king of the indies used for his second course , a certain worm breeding in plants , and it was broiled at the fire . lastly in an island call'd talacha , there are worms like to those , that breed in rotten wood , and are the chiefest dish of the table , johannes mandevil . tarantulae are a kind of spiders from the city tarentum . they are harmlesse to look upon , but when they bite they cause divers symptoms ; for those that are stung with the tarantula , some alwaies sing , some laugh , some cry , some cry out : for being infected with black choler , according as their temper is , they have all these symptoms . chap. xxiv . of worms . article . of worms in brute beasts . rottennesse is the mother of worms , which whence it proceeds , is known by the generall principles of naturall philosophy . therefore because in guiney there are great putrefactions , by the continual distemper of the ayr , there are found abundance of worms . hence it appears , that a hot and moyst distemper is fit to breed them ; that in summer moneths , and when the blasts are warm , gardens commonly abound with snails , and flesh with worms : they are found in cattel , plants , and in men . anno , there was a cruel murrain for cattle , worms breeding about the region of their liver , cornelius gemma . a worm sticks to the forked hoofs of sheep and rams , which unlesse it be taken out when you eat the meat , it causeth loathing and pain of the stomach . the mullet fish breeds but onely thrice in its life-time , and is barren all the rest of the time . for in the matrix of it little worms breed , that devour the seed . in others , some small ones breed , that hinder procreation . artic. . of worms in men. worms are found in men. for sometimes the active cause is sufficient , and there is matter enough in their bodies ; and many examples are found every where in authors , that confirm this . anno , there were many men about the river thaysa , in whose bodies there were found creatures call'd lutrae , and lizzards . wierus saw a country man that voided a worm foot long , it had a mouth and head like to a duck , l. . c. . de praestig . daemon . a maid at lovain ( saith cornelius gemma ) voided many prodigious creatures , amongst the rest a living creature a foot and half long , thicker than a mans thumb , like to an eagle , but that the tail of it was hairy . a maid ( saith dodonaeus ) cast forth some like to caterpillars , with many feet , and they were alive . hollerius l. . saith , he saw a worm that bred in a mans brain . beniventus c. , exemp . medic . writes , that he had a friend that was troubled with great pain in his head , raving , darknesse of sight , and other ill symptomes ; at last he cast forth a worm out of his right nostrill , longer than his hand ; when that was gone , all the pain presently ceased . theophrast . hist. plant. l. . c. ult . writes thus of worms in the belly ; some people have belly worms naturally ; for the egyptians , arabians , armenians , syrians , cilicians , are in part troubled with them , but the thracians and phrygians have none . amongst the greeks , we know that the thebans , that use to live in schools , and also the baeotians have a worm bred in them ; but the athenians have none . a woman in sclavonia cast out a very strange worm , described by amat . lusitan . curat . medic . cent. . . it was four cubits long , but not broad , half so broad as ones nail , of a white colour , of the substance of the guts , having something like an adders skin : the head was warty , and white , out of which the body grew broad , and grew still narrower toward the tail . this worm was but one body with many divisions ; the parts of this broad worm were like to gourd seeds , that had nothing contain'd in them by reason of the compression of its broad body . artic. . of worms in plants . all plants , herbs , shrubs and trees have their worms : a worm in the root is deadly . for let the tree be what it will , and flourish , yet this will make it wither , saith aldrovandus l. . de insect . c. . and there are sure witnesses , that in the roots of okes such venomous worms will breed , that if you should but tread on them with the sole of your foot , it would fetch off the skin . there are small white ones found in the sponge of the sweet bryer , which is outwardly soft and hairy , but inwardly so hard and so solid a substance , that a sharp instrument will hardly peirce it . in the white daffodill , some are bred , which are changed into another flying and beautifull creature , which when the herb begins to flourish , presently eats through the cover , and flyes away . pliny , l. . c. . writes , that some think that basil chewed and laid in the sun will breed worms . if you bruise the green shells of wallnuts , and put them into the water , and then sprinkle them with earth , worms will breed in abundance , that are good for fishers , carol. stephan , agricultur , l. . c. . but theophrastus , de caus . plant. saith , that a worm beed in one tree , and put into another , will not live . joachimus fortius reports that he saw some who affirmed that from a hazel nut that had a worm in it , there grew a serpent for magnitude and forme . for the nut being opened so farr as the worm , and the worm not being hurt , they put the nut into milk , and set the vessel of milk in the sun , yet so that the worm was not beaten upon by the sun ; wherefore , on that side the sun shined , they covered the vessel , and so nourished the worm many days . afterward adding more milk , they set it to the sun again . the milk must be sheeps milk . also they report , that a worm is found in the leaves of rue , nourished the same way , that lived , days . theophrastus writes of the cause of them , plainly and fully . his words are these . ill diseases happen to all seeds , from nutriment and distemper of the ayre , namely when too much or too little nourishment is afforded , or the ayre is immoderately moyst or dry , or else when it doth not rayne seasonably . for so worms breed in chiches , vetches , and pease ; and in rocket-seeds , when as hot weather falls upon them before they be dried ; but in chiches , when the salt is taken from them , and they become sweet . for nature doth every where breed a living creature , if there be heat and moysture in due proportion . for matter comes from moysture for the heat to work on , and concoct ; as we see it happens in wheat . worms will breed in the root of it , when , after seed time , southern winds blow often . then the root growing moyst , and the ayre being hot , the heat corrupting the root , ingendreth worms . and the worms bred , eat the roots , continually . for nature hath appointed that everything shall feed where it is bred . another kind of worm is bred within , when the moysture cannot come forth , shut in by the drinesse of the ayre about it , then the heat contracts it , when the corruption is made . then also food is administred to it , from the same thing . the same thing seems to happen to apples and trees that are worm-eaten from drought . for the little moysture that remains in the tree , causeth corruption , whence the worm proceeds ; but when there is plenty of nutriment it is otherwise , for then the juyce is sent forth to the upper parts , for it conquers by its quantity , and cannot corrupt . next to this is that which happens to vines , for in these especially when the south wind blows , worms breed , that are called ipes , that is when they are very moyst , and the ayre causeth fruitfullnesse , then do they presently gnaw the matter that is of the same nature with them . also carpae breed in olive trees the same way , and such as breed in other things , both when they bud , and when they flowre , or after that the flowers be over . for the● all proceed from the same cause . but this chiefly happens to vines because 〈…〉 are moyst by nature , and their moysture is without tast and watery . 〈…〉 a moysture , may be easily affected . somtimes ipes cannot be bred , because the ayre it pleasant and not too moyst . artic. . of the indian worm , and the march worm . in ganges it is miraculous , they report there are blew worms with two legs , that are cubits long , and they say they are so strong , that when elephants come to drink they will catch hold of them , by their trunk and carry them away . aelian speaks of an indian worm of seven cubits long , and so thick that a child of ten yeares old can hardly fathom it . it hath one tooth in the upper part of the mouth , and one below ; both are four square , and almost a cubit long , and so strong , that what living creature it lays hold of with them , it will easily crush them . somtimes it lyes hid in the bottom of a river ; in the mud it delights in . at night it comes on land , and catcheth whatsoever comes in the way . the skin of it is , fingers thick . the way to catch it is this , they fasten a strong hook to an iron chain , joyning also to it a rope of white broad flax , and they wrap both the hook and rope in wool , that the worm may not bite them off . then they put a lamb or a kid for a bait upon the hook , and so let it down into the river . thirty men stand ready with darts , leashes , and drawn swords , and strong pikes well pointed at the ends , if they should have cause to strike . when he is caught with the hook , they draw him forth and kill him . they hang him up against the sun dayes , and thick oyl distills from it into earthen pots ; every worm will yield . sextarii of oyl , the rest of the body is good for nothing . the vertue of this oyl is such , that without any fire , a measure of this poured on , will fire any stack of wood , aelian . it is said , that the king of persia took cities from his enemies with this oyl ; it cannot be put out but with abundance of thick clay . the moneth of march in germany is wonderfull , that breeds young creatures in stinking filthy waters , that are like to guts , and feed only on sand . if any man go into that water barefoot , where this creature swims on the top of the water , he shall have a circle on his legs , as high as the water came , card. l. . de var. c. . chap. xxv . of wasps . wasps then breed most , when wolves kill horses or oxen. sometimes they are found in a stags head , sometimes in his nostrills . one brought one of these formed wasps houses that was wonderfully made , to pierius valerianus , at bellunum , from some wood in a desart : which he describes thus : there were . concamerations or rounds , one above another , set at two fingers distance , distinguished by little pillars between , that every one might have space enough to go and come to his house . the diameter of the rounds unto the fifth , was about digits ; the others from the fifth , were made narrower , by little and little , so that the last was . or . digits . the first round , that is , the first chamber , was hanged to a bough of an old tree , fenced and guarded with a crust against all injuries of wind and weather ; beneath there were six angled cells very close together , so that the other chambers were all overcast with the same crust , and made with the like cells ; and all were held up with their pillars . all these creatures flew out of the upper stations , and an innumerable multitude filled the middle concamerations , a thin skin being drawn for a cover upon the hole of every one of them ; when i had taken some of them away , i saw the wasps with their heads downwards , that filled all those houses . but those that were in the lowest rooms seemed like to embryo's of like imperfect worms ; they were also fenced with the same covering , but very thin , as snails in winter , kept for a milder time in the spring . but these all died there , by the extream cold winter , yet none corrupted ; and after so many years they keep the same form and posture . they are most lively ; for , part their belly from their breast , and they will live long , and will sometimes prick one that toucheth their sting , an hour after . aristotle saith , that if you take a wasp by the legs , and make him to hum , ( not those that have a sting , but those that want one ) the rest will fly to help them . if they appear before the end of october , they foreshew a hard vvinter . if they go in heaps under ground before the . stars rise in the evening , they signifie the same . a swarm of wasps is naturally an ill omen . so livy thought , when at capua , a great swarm of them flew into the market place , and settled in mars his temple . they were collected carefully , and burnt in the fire . the decemviri were commanded to their books , and the nine-daies sacrifice was appointed , supplications were made , and the city was purged . if any one touch the skin of a man with the distilled water of the decoction of hornets or vvasps , the place will so swell , that it will cause men to suspect poyson , or a dropsie , or some great sicknesse ; the remedy is theriac drank or smeered on it , mi●aldus memor . cent. . &c. the end of the eighth classis . an appendix to the eighth classis : wherein there is contained the observation of andreas libavius , a most famous physitian , concerning silk-worms , a singular history , anno , at rotenburgh . since it is hard to explain the opinions and experiments of all authors exactly , and what they observed in divers places and ●imes , to make a history thereof , and to condemn or allow , for this or that mans relation , what every man hath found to be true by his own use and observation : perhaps it may so fall out , that neither pliny , nor pausanias , nor others , who seem to comment otherwise than we have found it , ought to be condemned ; i will adde a special history of silk-worms bred up at hand , which in the year of mans redemption , , at rotenburg at tubaris , i , by diligent care and attention looking into their works and natures , set it down into a calender . if any thing differing from this , hath been observed in greece , india , italy , or elsewhere in other times , government and education , custom , and the like : though nature be said to act alwayes the same way , and to vary onely by accidents ; yet what they observed will help , that by many mens observation , the history of nature may be augmented and perfected . the silk-worms eggs that were laid in a clean paper the year before , and which in winter i kept in a warm chamber , i exposed them to the sun , shining through the windows , on the day of april . those which were lead-coloured or black , they did not all in one day become caterpillars , yet they all were changed before the end of that moneth , the worms creeping forth especially in the morning , as every one was grown to perfection , leaving an empty shell , or covering of a white colour , the egge being eaten on the side , in which place the ends were blackish , by reason of the biting . the purple or citron coloured , or clear , or distinguished with a black point , brought forth nothing ; either because they were not touched with male seed , or the principle was suffocated in them . these small catterpillars within the egge obtain their form , and lye wrapt into a circle ; whence the shell being eaten , they first put forth a black shining head ; then by degrees , they creep forth , with their little mouthes , and little feet , by their striving . then i observed little threds hanging from their mouths , and they were so small , that they could not be seen , unlesse it were against the light : by these they ballance themselves , and hang from the leaves ; or wheresoever they fell from higher places , they creep up by them again ; or wheresoever they were hanged , to try what they would do , they involve themselves with manifold turnings , and so mount upward , like ordinary catterpillars that eat leaves and boughes . there is a black little worm and hairy , with a white circle near the breast and head , and with another where the belly joyns to the little breast , and yet by reason of the hairinesse , it is not very plain to be seen at the first . at the end of the back , where the belly ends , a little grisle comes forth ; and as for the rest of its form , it is the same with the silk-worms , but that the hairinesse and blacknesse , by some changes in the skin , passe into smoothnesse that shines , and is white ; and of a small creature , a worm is made as long as the middle finger of an ordinary man , with the . joynts , as thick almost as the little finger ; yet they are not all of one bignesse . you shall find some caterpillars with a three-fold spur in their tails , or a double one ; so that the greater of them riseth from the last circle of the back , the lesser ones rise presently from the coat of the tail that is under it . i saw one great one that was on both sides fenced with two lesser ones , in the place whereof there are sometimes onely two points that stick forth . catterpillars go as silk-worms do : for they stick the props of their tails into the ground , and then by degrees they go on by circular motion . first drawing up those parts between their tails and their hinderfeet : then fastning these upon the distance between their breast and their feet , untill they come unto their breast and former feet ; which being fastned , they lift up their tails again , and underprop their steps . for animal motion is made , when some part stands and underprops the rest . so soon as they were bred , i gave them the tender leaves of mulberries , i put them upon the leaves with a thin knife ; or i let them creep upon them of themselves , and i put them together into a woodden box ; they set upon the sides and smooth parts of the leaves , above and beneath . for the appendixes of their noses do not hinder them . so i fed them from the end of april , or thereabouts , untill the eighth day of may , whereon i found they cast their first skin , which was a little black shining mouth , with a slender black skin . they are wont a little before , to pause on it , and to sleep ; it is a renewing sleep , if it be a sleep properly . so soon as their old skin is cast , they appear greater presently , smoother , and of a more shining black , for the horny covering of the head that growes under the old , is greater in proportion . when the skin is off , the rest of the body swells , as if the narrownesse of the skin hindred it to grow so great before . the same covering or skull of the head , when it is new , is white ; but when it is confirmed , it grows black again , untill there be many changes . but as , before they put off their skin , they abstain from food , so a little after they seem to grow sluggish . for their mouthes are too tender to feed on leaves . whilest they run over the leaves , oft-times one goes over another , and they willingly endure it , if they be not hurt too much . for then lifting up their little breast , they will shake their heads , moving them here and there , and the silk-worms do the same . food is given them once and again , and the multitude of them remains in a narrow place . when they have eat enough , they grow sleepy . then you shall see them like statues , or such as are taken with a catoche , lifting up their mouths and breasts growing stiff upon the leaves . but if you cast in new food , they wake presently and feed again . they seem to perceive the new leaves by smelling them . for before they touch them , they will raise their bodies toward them . yet you may suppose that is done by some alteration in the feeling quality . the excrement of their belly is then small and black like to gun-powder . the day of may some of them cast their skins the second time , some slept , and the dayes following cast off their skins . they break near the head , and they stick to the leaves , the caterpillars coming forth by circles moved in order . the little mouth also doth not fall away presently , but hangs for a time about the new mouth . then the black colour changeth into grey , and the caterpillars grow greater ; but the breast is white , and so full of juice , that it is almost transparent . but because they do not all change their skins in one day , if you please you may part the one that doth , from the other that doth not . but i left them together , and onely gave the new ones new food , the rest yet sleeping in their old clothes , and waiting for their change . for you cannot then cleanse their stall , but you must defer it till they awake , and can be invited to new leaves . the third change began the of may , when many of them slept , some of them put off their coats . it was no longer so black , but it was white , with the little mouth ; and the worms came forth whiter , leaving their old skin : they were more rugged that did not stick to the leaves by threds ; and those lesse , that did . for these skins were long and triangular hanging so high . downward they rise sharp in the middle , which , i conceive , happeneth , by the top of the tail drawn thither , and lifting up the skin . the last extremity of this cast skin is like to a fishes forked tail . the caterpillars once more freed , fed till the day , and then i observed them to sleep a renewing sleep , and some new ones of them the same day . more slept on the day , some on the ; very few on the and th dayes , that now the difference was greater . but those that slept on the th day , were changed the next day , and fed again after a little pause . with this fourth change of catterpillars were made silk worms , smooth and white , yet with lead colour'd spots , and a mouth like a white horn . this is the first moneth of their life , and their first age . but since in the third and fourth change of their skin , all things are more easily observed , and known , i shall somthing more accurately describe them . catterpillars neer their third and fourth change , have their skins somthing more ill favoured , and stiffer than for the breeding of a worm . wherefore a soft skin comes up underneath , and the other falls off by degrees : and because they stick with some nervous bands on both sides , wherein there are some prints of spots , and these are not easily broken , they strive more to cast them off , and therefore sleep two days almost , when therefore they come forth , their old horny mouth is parted from the new that comes up under it . the worm it self , when the cast skin sticks to the leaves , pulls up his feet and little legs , somtimes pulling them up , somtimes slackning them again , untill she hath pull'd them out of their old covers . in the mean time the skin on their sides is wrinkled , the skaly divided body being contracted into it self , and extended again . so the old skin is loosned from the whole body . by and by the worm goes foward , and draws the bands on the sides by degrees , the skales being thrust forward orderly , and then drawn in again , that at first you would doubt whether the worm would come forth before or behind . but this way are the bands broken . first you shall observe it to move forward neere the brest , for there the points depart , and you shall see two in the cast skin , two in the worm . moreover whilst the skales are drawn , a violet colour'd line as it were is in both sides of the cast skin , both by reason of the points and of the bands applied to both sides . in the mean while the tayle is wrinkled , the feet are freed , and a new worm creeps forth in half a quarter of an hour , that hath an old mouth joyn'd to its mouth , as a mule with a headstal , you shall see also a white string that it draws at the end of the tail , wherby the skin stuck to the back of it : when they are fast they strive but easily , but when they are loose , they turn themselvs strangely on their backs , sides , bellies , till they can get loose . some of their skins cast , are round ; some long . if you take it by both ends , you may draw it out to its full length , with the points of all the feet and skales , for nothing is wanting but the little mouth . the fourth skin in this change is far whiter then the third , as also the covering of the head . these worms are now silk-worms , if you take good care to feed them , and govern them rightly ; they are fat and white , but some more than others , for some seem yellowish , some almost lead-coloured . the feet and mouth at first are soft , wherefore they stay a while from touching or feeding on leavs . they stick fast to them , and by help of their tails , they can draw themselvs in and out . the hinder feet are thicker and blunter , as it were with , joynts , and in the middle a black spot , which i think to be the instrument they hold by , because she can at pleasure pull it in and out , as cats do their claws . the forefeet do not only serve to go with , but to lay hold on leavs to help their body in passing , to draw the threds , and for other uses . the parts from head to tail in length , on the back are the head , the bunch or wrinkled swelling of the brest , eight semicircular scales , and a three forked taile . the swelling of the brest neere the head is white in some , in some it is distinguished with two black and blew spots , which are divided with a yellow line , and in severall ones it is severally made . for in some the colour is more remisse and watry , and not so visible , in others it is more deep . but where that bunch riseth up , there are seen , knots , and the skin that is by them is wrinkled . the half circles follow . they are joyn'd with a very thin membrane , as it were by a green line from blew . but the skales are white though in some of them there is somthing of a lead colour that shines under , and when the silk-worms are ready for their silkwork , they become of a spiceous colour , and all of them are marked with one spot on each side , with a little circle about it . i said there were bands , which appeare also in the aurelia . lastly the eighth scale is either distinguished by two black and blew spots , or moonlike semicircles , which two half moons one respecting the other with their horns are there inscribed . but they are not equall in all , for somtimes they are more conspicuous , somtimes more fading , fine , thin , lead colour'd , white . hence there are two small circles , and that which follows these , hath two knots , untill that which is next the rump , and raiseth the tip or point ; in the great ones there are observed bunchings forth in all the skales , but they are more eminent in the third skale . the skull is horny , but it is divided as it were into . parts , the right and left , which you would take to be marks of the eyes , and then the setting together of the mouth , which are again distinguished into the appendices and the jaws , wherein stand the saw-like teeth , the throat runs through all the length of the back , as farr as the props of the taile , upon which in the last skale is the end of the belly . also there are to be seen in the back , as far as the plectrum of the tayle , some nervs moveable with a continuall pulsation , as the heart and arteries use to move , and these nervs are yellow from white , and when they are drawn asunder , they discover a green throat or intestine . they stick to the plectrum , as if there were some passage for breathing , though they do not breathe . but it is no doubt but there is the seat of life , though i discovered in the young ones a kind of red part , as i shall shew underneath , beating by it self alone like the heart , when that plectrum is cut , a moyst yellowish liquour comes forth , and the worms themselves do not dye , but they stirr the more violently , and roule and turn themselves that you will judge that they are in great pain , the nervous principle being hurt . the dung of them represents their meat , for it is dry with six corners long , as it were set with eyes , whence one may collect the disposition of the gut or belly . they are green from their food , but because they are hard , and without moysture , they seem black , as those that are more moyst seem more green . here if you mark you may distinguish the males from the females . for the females here , as the philosopher writes of other females are greater , fatter , moyster , softer , whiter than the males , which are more rude , more spotted with wan spots , and more slender . if you handle them you shall find them all to be cold . they use oft to rayse themselves on their hinder feet , and to stand so like statues . when they will feed they fasten on the sides and swelling veins of leaves , contrary to catterpillars . i believe the appendixes of their mouths hinder them , yet they afford some help for their former feet to hold their meat with . they eat the leaves round , that they leave a round pit . when they are full they go aside , and they rest many together on a heap ; i think they are delighted with mutuall heat ; you may discern those that sleep , from those that cast their skin , by observing the pulsation in their back . for the motion in those that sleep is equall to those that wake ; but when they cast their skins , it is slower and lesse , that you would then think they were sick . also those that sleep have but one mouth ; but such as cast their skins , shew a little mouth besides . but this is not in silk-worms , but whilst they are yet catterpillars . some of them being four times renewed , have a filthy dark head , and yet they feed on . some do not increase much , but continue small . we said before , that from may , to may , the fourth change is made in divers of them . from this time to june , the th , and th , , , th , they feed greedily , and grow fat and great ; and i was forced three times a day , and about the last days , four times a day to give them meat , or oftner . for when they are almost ripe for silk work , they eat more greedily , going with great courage to the leaves and biting off the nervs . you shall note that about days passe between their fourth change , and their abstinence from meat , and provision to make their silk . for the times answer one the other , from the , of may to the , of june , from , to , from , to , from , to , from , to , wherein i included the last , except one small male , that fed longer . about the last days , many begin to grow of a spiceous colour , which begins to appeare more evidently on the hinder part , and from thence to enlarge and go forward to the bunch of the breast , though others are more , and almost all yellow ; some remaine white with blew mingled with it . when they must dye , they go to the sides of the chest , nor will they bite the leaves , though they creep over them . some fasten their threds at the corners , as if they were beginning the entry ; others creep by the outsides , and seek here and there for a fit place to lye hid in . i shut many of them in , with paper-coffins , which i disposed of and fastned commodiously in some place , in which by gnawing and rending the sides , they do make a noise for a while , but afterwards by voiding a dry and moyst excrement of their belly , ( for they void out both ) by their hinder parts , they fasten them so fast to the paper , that you would think they were glewed . afterwards for , days continually they make a little bladder , which being absolved they lay aside their fifth skin , with their head and tayle and are transformed into a nympha again . some i did not shut up in papers , but disposed them in a wodden chest with boughs , and let them choose a nest for themselves ; you shall observe thence , that they seek chiefly for corners and hiding places , and oft times many of them make their silk in the same place , if it may be ; some ordering them , right forward , others obliquely , others broad ways . if the place be too narrow , the wrong end of the skin is pressed together on the side , nor doth it containe perfectly oval . one of these cases is longer , thicker , larger than another for the greatnesse and strength of the silk-worm . they differ also in colour ; some are gold , silver , citron colours , and they are double . for some are greenish , some more yellow , though others call all these green . the first of them all , as i observed , was white , except some few that send a yellowish tow before . some of gold colour have their inward coat white , nor is the yellow colour certain . for when the cases are unfolded in water , the silk growes white ; and in dye , yellow , &c. but it is worth your labour to contemplate the matter of the silk ; and what that is , that yields a thred so long . when therefore i saw a great worm to wander , i put a line about his neck , and dissected him . he lived stoutly when his throat was tied , and felt acutely . for at every incision of his back , the knife scarce touching him , he would tosse himself violently , as if he would help himself with his mouth and forefeet . his skin being divided , i saw his long gut , as in a pike , the forepart was swoln and wide , the hinder part narrower . on that gut did the nerves or beating arteries lye , with a continuall systole and diastole , and they ended on the plectrum of 〈…〉 tayl . when i cut off this , not onely a yellow clear humour did break forth , but the heads of the nerves , put themselves forth in the motion , and their stirring grew weaker . the intestine hath a double coat , one thick outward coat , and another thin one within . the thick coat feels accurately , and it is near the throat covered over with much glutinous matter , which afterwards becomes matter for their wings , and of the hairinesse of the silk-worm , as the external excrementitious moysture becomes the aurelia , or outward shell . when the thick coat is pricked , the intestine comes forth , yet wrapt with a thin coat , and it contains much of the meat they eat the day before of green leaves . also you may see , when the skin is cut , and the thick coat of the intestine , that moysture will run forth in abundance , that is transparent , which i think is their blood , and by concoction is changed into silk , and the parts of the creature . the head cut off , the beginning of the throat swells forth , and doth represent the blunt head of the nympha . the gut being taken out with the foeces contain'd in the abdomen , there are seen , like worms , some glutinous clammy concretions , some yellow , some white , two very great , the rest small , so like worms , that nothing wants but a skin and life . they are sharp at both ends . they are so placed in the belly , that both their points are turned toward their tail , and the body of them is doubled ; you would say it were their yarn folded together . if they begin to spin from the points , it is necessary that they be drawn from the tail to the mouth . i think that the small whitish pieces make weaker silk and towe ; but the greater , the stronger . i took out these worms , and i found that they dryed presently on the paper , and became hard and brittle , as ox glew useth to do , and as the tendons and intestines of living creatures . the body of it , is all of one kind and transparent , that no man can draw it into so fine and small thred ; but this labour must be left to the silk-worm , as webs to the spiders . the outward skin was white , mingled with lead colour ; but within , it was drawn with a little skin black and blew in part ; and partly with a shining gold colour as in a herring . about the belly where the matter of the silk lay , the substance was pretty thick , consisting of nervous deductions , and a texture containing a white fat , infolded with nervous coats ; the like is found afterwards in the young nymphs of silk-worms ; and they have a matrix and a genital member . under that substance there are lead-colour'd branches let down into their feet like to tendons or chords . this skin , the matrix and genital member remaining , is put oft in weaving their silk , with all the parts that stick forth : so that the nymph , and butterfly that riseth from thence , borrow nothing from the silk-worm but the belly and gut , and the nervous parts that are in them . there remains in the gut and genitals a great deal of moysture . from whence afterwards growes the matter of the seed , and excrements of the belly . but the humour that is in the intestine is yet raw , and is partly green , partly yellow , something thick , and elsewhere thin . if one part the fat from the nervous coats of the genitals , and smeer it on paper , when it is dry it will be like ●ewer , and brittle . you may compare it with milk in fishes . therefore it is apparent , that in the silk-worm these members are outward ; it s threefold feet , the skaly joynting of the belly , the breast , head , mouth , the anus , skin , tail , plectrum : but within is the intestine , the vital arteries , or the nerves , the white flesh of the breast , the genitals , betwixt which and the intestine , is contain'd the matter for silk ; and besides those , the pannicles and nervous membranes , in which the parts are contain'd . whether they have any heart , let others seek out : yet there must be some such principle ; and that not in the head , nor any where but near the breast , whence the vital force is sent through the whole body : and this is manifest chiefly by motion of the nerves or arteries ( as i may call them ) in the back of the belly , not of the breast , so far as the hollow of the tail . i will speak afterwards of the nymphs and young silk-worms : now i will add what i observed in their making of silk . when they abstain from meat , and , as i said , they seek for a place to make their case ; they have commonly about the end of their belly a green wan mark , the other part of their body is white with green , or wan , and of a spiceous colour . then i saw them often make it as they went up and down , and to gape at the mouth , as it were cows chewing the cud , when as out of their gorge they pull back their meat to chew on . then it is likely , that the silk-worms strive to turn the matter of the silk toward their mouths , and to draw it out . if you put them into a paper coffin , you shall hear them gnawing a whole day , and then into the bottom of this coffin like a fryars cowl , they put down their excrement , first dry , like a black green pill or yellow . the last pill but one is commonly green , the last is yellow , and sanious . the number of t●is dung is , as their excrements abound . for i found in one paper , sometimes two little knobs , sometimes more , to , of divers colours , as black , green , yellow , and those not with bright spots , but round . when the last yellow pill comes forth , watry matter comes forth of divers colours , and a different consistence . for some part is thicker , some thinner , having some red colour with yellow and green ; yet some of the sanies is bloody and blackish ; such it appears on a clean paper , where you may sometimes see green polluted with yellow ; sometime somewhat like chalk . in a glasse , it is like to lye. but that you may not doubt whether she voids it by her mouth or her belly ; know , that she makes her silk onely out of her mouth , and her excrements by her belly . yet they send forth moysture also out of their mouth , when they are sick , or strangled , or pressed . i found a silk-worm that was at liberty , that put forth both these excrements behind . some of them void forth much moysture , others but a little . they that void much seem to be the weaker , and to have gathered lesse silk . for many of them make small silk cases , but not all . it is doubtful what colour the silk will be . for i was often deceived by observing their heads , backs , bellies and feet . all of them do not make silk of the same colour ; and oft-times the towe and utmost coat is white , but the middle silk is gold-coloured . i thought the silk-worms that were of a spiceous colour would make yellow ; and the white ones , white silk ; but that was false . for both drew white . once and again i judged right , that a citron coloured female would make such a thred : yet such was also drawn by that silk-worm , whose belly was lead-colour with white , and the spot in the fore-head yellow . i saw a female also all white , that made white silk . in small and narrow papers , yet according to the worms proportion , lesser cases are made , but thicker , with lesse towe ; yet i observed little cases in the larger . they that are not shut up , but choose a place freely , they consume much thred in towe at random : whence the silk is much lost . for their cases are lesse , and not wrought so thick . if you will observe , you may know exactly the reason of their spinning in these things . for when they have wandred a time , and have begun here and there to make their entrance of their work , ( which they do by diligent bending of their bodies , whilest sticking by their hinder feet , they do variously move their head and their whole breast upwards , downwards , backwards , forwards , and on all sides , if there be a fit place to fasten their silk threds , which they do not by sight , but by touching ; for they have dull eyes ) then they draw forth their threds , and the foundations of their house , and that simple or manifold , as they find need of a strong foundation . if it be near the pavement , they stick to it with their hinder part ; and if it be aloft , they hang by the same , or from boughs , or any other place . for they turn their breast and head freely ; and if there be need , they change the situation of their hinder parts . thus the entrance of their first work is made . now the dry excrements are voided from their belly ; the entrance being finished , so that now the silk-worm is secure and free from outward injuries : she voids the last dung with moisture , of which i spake before . the towe is oft polluted with this , yet it runs off to the bottom . when her belly is emptied , the spinner ceaseth for a while , and puts forth her anus , as if she had a tenasmus . then she calls back the matter of the true silk , and continues that to her last breath , and till her silk work is ended . then by degrees she thickens her threds from a large to a narrower compasse , so that it becomes an ovall figure , in the hollow whereof she may turn her self . her mouth , breast , and forefeet are in a continued motion . the hinder parts stick , yet are they translated to another place , when she makes the bottom or the top . they that make their cases in the ground or pavement , they seem to sit on the naked pavement ; but by degrees they weave threds under them , and in all parts they thicken the whole case alike , except in the point , to which in straight places they cannot reach . therefore the frame of this is made more at first , but the basis more in the end : though this be not neglected at the beginning . wherefore when the threds are unfolded , by untwisting them , the point is first made plain , and the inward coat is left , like a fingerhood . so they weave to the third day ; and you may see them working the second day , if you hold the case to the sun. in paper hoods the base is made upwards , the top downwards : and in two dayes it appears but thin . the third day it is thickned : and then the worm puts off her old skin , and becomes a nymph , which may easily be observed : for when they weave , yet they stick fast ; neither is their dull falling down yet perceived . but when it becomes a nymph , as if it were a stone shut in , shake the case and the nymph falls down . and this dull falling down endures untill it be changed into a young worm . for then the empty place is fill'd again , and the worm sticks to the case , seeking to come forth . there was one worm i had , that made a case , whose entrance , amongst those were shut in a paper , was a solid coat : in those that are at liberty , it consists of threds disposed and drawn divers ways to and fro . some have observed in one case two or three shut in ; but when the place would be too narrow , that case cut was common to them three , and the silk-worms found within were become close together , so that they seemed like to , fingers joyned , when they were all set at liberty , they worked a little , but it was but a little . it is observable , that some silk-worms in paper made no silk , but presently turned to nymphs ; i think this befell them , because they fed on lettice , ( yet not to them all ) or to such as had too little meat given them , or that were sick and could not gather matter of silk , which i suppose is made of abundant blood like fat , and laid apart . other strange things happen ; whereof in their proper place . all their cases are long and ovall . y●● i saw a white one almost exactly round , that it had a basis sphaericall on both sides without any point . it was small with its fore-house , but yet thick as it should be . but the silk-worm in that did not go to be a nymph , nor a perfect young worm , as i shall shew by and by . it seems a question whether they draw forth the silk out of the end of their belly , or out of their mouth , though they alwaies distribute it with their mouth and their forefeet . it is no small argument , because that near the props of their tail at the bottom of their belly , a chink is seen , and both ends of the silk-matter in the belly lie to that place : also the voiding of the excrements at the beginning of their working , confirms this . for as when a woman is to be delivered of a child , what faeces there are in the bladder and the right intestine , that is voided and pressed forth ; so we may think the silk matter striving to come forth in the silk-worm doth the like . when she begins to labour , her belly swells more ; from the belly begins the maturity , known by the yellownesse ; that comes first out , as being first ready . also caterpillars and silk-worms , stick to the pavement , with a hairy down about their feet . some are observed to weave on their backs , that the silk may be drawn out of their belly , and may the more easily be ordered by their mouths and feet . this may be alledged for the first opinion . but stronger arguments prove this to be false . for you may see with your eyes , that when the belly rests , threds are drawn out of their mouths , and they sticking by their clamminesse , are drawn out by degrees , by turning back their necks . and therefore silk-worms do not onely so draw their threds lying on their backs , but lying also on their bellies where yet the whole worm turns her self freely . then it cannot come forth by the tail , nor by the chap under the tail . for from the place of the silk to the intestine , there is no passage : and the chap of the tail , that notes out the genitals of the young worm that shall be , is covered with a skin , moreover , before the silk comes forth , oft-times the silk-worms do cry and mutter , as if they were r●a●y to vomit , drawing the matter to their throats . nor do they swell about their tails , but about the middle of their bellies ; also in a coffin of paper , when no thred appeared on their feet , i saw them draw it forth with their mouth onely , and to fasten it ; and the d . of june , when i earnestly observed one making its case , i drew the beginning of the thred out of the worms mouth , when it was wet , to its full length , the belly and the feet having no silk upon them . so caterpillars hang by the mouth , their thred coming out there . nor do spiders and palmer-worms on trees make their webs otherwise . and so much for this question . when the case is made , the silk-worm is changed into a nymph , and the fleeces are taken , first choosing what males and females you please , for preservation of their kind . some say you may know their sex by the colour of their case ; some by the bignesse : and this is some argument . for , because females are commonly the greater , they make also the greater houses . yet sometimes we are deceived ; for a strong male may make a greater case than a weak female . i have seen them both of a bignesse , and i have seen females , ●ed in other places , to make far lesse houses than my males . wherefore the signs must also concur , observed in the silk-worms themselves ▪ of which before . the other cases are cast into scalding water , that the worms may dy , or they are choaked with the heat of an oven , after the bread is taken forth , taking care they burn not . then taking away the towe , maid-servants or such as can labour , are ready , who may loosen the beginnings of the threds ; which being found out , many of them are cast into a bason of cold or warm water , and the servant maid sitting ready with a drawing instrument , doth continually roll down or , or more threds joyned together . if the thred break any where , the fellow-labourer must seek for the begining of it , and give it again to him that unwinds it . that is continued untill they come to the inward coat , which being very difficult to untwist , it is dryed and pull'd into towe and kembed . when the threds are thus untwisted , they send much dust into the ayr , and you may see in the bottom of the vessel some filth that fell from the silk . i tryed carefully , whether i could with one work unwind a whole case not breaking it , taking away the towe , which by reason of its various foldings together , weaknesse , and divers principles , cannot be untwisted at once drawing . i obtain'd my desire onely in the middle of the silk ; for that which is before the house is wont to break easily , but the middle holds best . the last coat , by the weight added to it , ( for then the nymph falls down ) was unfolded by me with great care to the thin skin , which was scarce equall to the thumbs nail . those cases are best untwisted , whose basis and top answer diametrically ; but those are harder , whose top is bound , and they that are crooked or bunched . for here the thred sticks and is tangled , that it will hardly yield without breaking . first , the point is made bare , and untwisted all to the middle of the case . — the thred of one silk case was as long as this line here drawn , when it was drawn forth times , and in one it was above times longer : yet they are not all of one thicknesse and greatnesse ; which may be seen , by drawing them asunder into little skins . for some fleeces i drew into , some into , more or lesse coats . the wild silk-worm hath an entrance , a single coat , and somthing a thicker case : wherefore the thinner cases easily yeeld to the fingers pressing them , but the thicker will resist . when the top hath a hole almost to the middle , that the nympha may easily fall forth ; she falls with her cast skin , wherein there is both her head and all her feet . somtimes commonly the head of this old skin is over against the top of the case , that we may understand that it was cast off , whilst the worm when the case was perfected , doth bend and turn her self upwards through narrow streets . the crown of the nympha is toward the basis , the tail toward the top ; and being that the silk-worm is above twice as long , the nympha is contracted to a small bignesse , that it is scarse so long as the middle joynt of the second finger of a man. she is alive , and gives tokens that she is so , by the moving of her top or tail when she is touched . if you regard her outward forme , you would say she is a scaly worm , and her head is covered with a bag . the scales are dark coloured , as if they were staind with smoke , and they are eight in number , as farr as the confines of the crown : on the sides of each of them there are two round points , out of which the tendons or bands appertain to the young silk-worm . on the crown there is a white spot , as if the mouth of the young silk-worm shined through it , with three little black spots . after this on the foremost part there are prints of feet and horns , and on the hinder part toward the sides , are prints of wings , if you will observe the inward parts , the fourth day before it is changed into a young silk-worm , after it hath lain hid , you may open it , you shall see nothing else but a common empty place , and in this only three distinct humours . one of a watry thin substance , of a yellow colour ; this is equally diffused through the whole space . the other is red , like blood ; this sticks in the upper part , where the head and brest will be ; you would judge it to be the rudiment of the heart , because i saw the like afterwards in the young silkworm , a certain masse that moved of it self , if a heart may be attributed to this creature . the third humour is white and yellow ; and it is like to a hen egge , cast into a hot water and run about ; or like cheese-curds , if you add some yellow to them . where you see the prints of wings and feet outwardly , there lies hid a phlegmatique clammy matter , fit to make the membranes of , you shall see no distinction of parts ; i think the life is in the nervous coat , that is next under the outward shell . for the silk-worm in that part was exceeding sensible , and had a motion of the heart and arteries ; you would call this a little bladder fill'd with humours , which yet compared to the aurelia , after the young silk-worm is crept forth , is far thicker , and you would say it were a shell cloathed on the inside with coats and a tenacious glow . after this , is the down of the young silk-worm , the wings , feet , skin , and the other outward parts . so the silk-worm passeth into throat and belly , for whose sake only it was detain'd there . yet here appeareth no green colour which was much in the intestine of the silk-worm now ready to spin . part therefore was voided before the case was made , and part was changed into some other juyce . in the tip of the tayle there was also some clammy matter like to the raw white of an egge . i thought it to be the rudiment of the genitall parts . for with that the matrix & spermatical vessels were cast off , the beginning whereof is seen also in the belly of the silk-worm . the humours taken on a clean paper and dried , were stain'd with black , as if you had mingled ink with them , yet the tallowy substance remain'd white , and in some places a red and yellowish spot appeared with a white spot like chalk : whence we may collect that that blacknesse was only from a watery yellow humour , which only shined on the paper where it stuck thick , like to shining ink . the rest of the nymphs , partly deprived of all silk , and naked partly shut up yet in a single coat , partly safe in the whole silken case , i handled with no other care , but i only putt them up in a box , and set them in my window , yet i distinguished them into divers cells , such as i thought to be females , and such as i thought to be males , and i was not deceived in more than one only . so from the first shutting them in , untill they came forth , there passed , or , days , setting them in my study to the afternoon ▪ sun in the heat of june , as it was very hot in . for the female that was buried on the , of june , came forth a young silk-worm on the , of july . a male that began to spin on the , of june , on the fifth of july became a butterfly . the same day two females came forth out of two greater white cases , and one male from a lesse yellow case . on the sixth of july in the morning ( for they all come forth in the morning ) a male came out of a white case , he was dusky colour'd and rough ; and a white female very tender , with a great belly , and with great wings , came out of a case that was yellow and greenish . also before on the second of july , a male crept forth of a gold colour'd case , and a female out of a white one . these began their silken case the tenth of june . when young silk-worms are ready to come forth of whole cases , when you shake it , you shall find no more a dull weight ; and then the aurelia opens about the back of the thorax ; after that a great deal of cleare humour that is white is powred out of the mouth , and the place grows wet , where they will make their passage . this way they came forth with labouring and striving . i saw a female coming forth on the th , of july ; she sent so much moysture before her , that a great drop fell into the box . then her head appeared , she striving with her feet within . by degrees , after her head , she put forth these ; and presently she stood upon the pavement with them , and by striving by little and little , she drew forth the circles of her belly ; that when the first was drawn forth , and she would draw out the second , she drew up all her foreparts , that so she mi●ht pull forth the next roundle ; yet it is very like , that by that contracting of her self , the hole was made wider that her belly at last might come forth with lesse paine . her divers turning side ways , helps for this also . in the meane while the thicker young silk-worms and such as have more moysture in their bellies , presse somthing forth when they strive , and they do besmeer the case where the hole is , both inside and outside with a plaister-like clammynesse . they that labour lesse and are slenderer , leave but little . then you shall see the whole hoary case , somthing wet by the moysture comes forth of their mouths , and made easy to passe through . somtimes they are wont to be quiet , and oft times to inflate their bellies , to draw it forth and draw it in againe , as if they did set their disioynted limbs , and put them in their true places . and they do so draw forth and loosen the circles , that the joynts stick up fill'd with a yellow humour , as if they were inflated . you shall see the naked nymphs , when the butterflye is perfect within , two or three dayes before to move themselves , as if they would break the bands by which the young silk-worm is tied to the aurelia . i then opened one of them with my knife and nailes , that i might see the congruity of the outward with the inward parts . that i did , the fourth of july , when as then about , days were passed from the time of their making silk ▪ the first skale being removed , about the beginning of the little breast on the backside i saw the tender upper circle of the belly ; it was skinny covered with a moyst down , yet so short and made plain that the down could scarce be seen . under the place of the side wings , which in the aurelia you may compare to the shoulder blades , two true wings of the young silk-worm did lye hid , joynd together , and one laid upon the other . they were all short and tender , as not being yet perfect in quantity . between the wings of ●he thorax , the latter knob appeared , fenced on both sides with long hairynesse , but not yet covered over . the wings and this red part being dispatched , i came to the upper lines bending downwards ; under these were their horns . but under those that followed , the feet on the brest did lye ; being bent obliquely and directed to their belly . under the white spot on the crown of the nympha , the hairy crown of the young silk-worm , and the hinder part of the head are placed ; next to which lyes the print of the eyes , like to two black spots , which are divided with a cleft like a lyons lip , the whole belly is like to white paint . the hairs of it are very wet , and appeare smooth . they have roundells , as well as the silk-worm and the nymph . but i did not open the whole young silk-worm , but he by his striving pull'd himself forth of the rest of the aurelia . i saw with what labour he unloosed the bands of his belly , which like white cords do hang from the points of the circles , and are left in the empty aurelia . the fundament sticks also fast , wherefore the tip of the aurelia is contracted toward the brest inwardly . the male was with hairs and wings imperfect . i left him in the box . he lay still , till the next day . then he grew white by degrees , and the downynesse was seen more exactly . the wings also grew , and then he grew more jocund , and being admitted , the third day he copulated stoutly . what these young silk-worms are , appeares by what we now say , and did say before : we must add this ; that the belly in the aurelia is more contracted , and when it comes forth it becomes greater and longer by a third part , by distending and inflating it . in the aurelia , there is a threefold rupture from the crown through the back of the thorax , and there the young silk-worm comes forth . the other parts are entire . all the rest of the young silk-worms being come forth before the th of july , two cases remained whole , as if they would yield nothing , though they were very thick . one was a small round male ; the other a female twice as long , and pretty large , a little about the back the worm was raised with a little bunch . the colour of the towe of both was white ; but in the citron-colour'd , the silk was greenish , though it were a more watry colour in that . when i divided the round coffin with the edge of my knife , a carcasse appeared outwardly , half a silk-worm , half a nymph . the forepart was a plain silk-worm , the latter a nymph ; for it had not put off the whole skin , but onely the latter part , which was next it in the case ▪ the carcasse lay crooked , so that the forefeet in the breast touched almost the first pair of the hinder feet . for here between the first conjugation of the hinder feet , and the second , the skin was broken ; so that the nymph was covered with her former skin , wherein was her head and breast with . feet , and part of her belly with the two first . the skin and the aurelia being removed , within there lay a perfect male young silk-worm , and it had been living , as appeared ; for that striving to come forth two dayes before i made infection , he had wet the case with his moysture ; and the of july , when i perfectly freed him , he shew'd clear signs of motion in his belly and feet : the cause why he could not clear himself and come forth was found , in the close sticking of the silk-worm's skull , and of the fore-feet , the coat being fastned to it by nature . therefore though in the back of the thorax he had made a gap both in the aurelia and the cast skin , yet could he not pull forth his head and feet ; so he fainted by degrees . here i observed the policy of nature : for when in putting off the cast skin the forefeet are plucked off , and the hinder feet depart also ; yet there are prints left , under which afterwards others grow up . and the sins of the wings were inserted into the holes of the old silk-worm , and the whole head of the new silk-worm , with the horns of the head were shut in a covering . this was the male . the female quite dead , seemed yet more monstrous . the silk-work being finished ( which was a great silk case , and as long as two joynts of ones little finger , but the males was thinner a great deal ; ) the silk-worm strove to cast off the skin , that was white , light , and shining within side , but outwardly hairy and yellowish , and he had drawn forth his whole back , that bunched forth extreamly , his foreparts being contracted circularly ; but he could not free himself of the little mouth that stuck too fast . wherefore there you might see the head of the cast skin , the crown of the nympha , and of the necydalus joyn'd together : which conjunction kept the skin upon the belly , that it could not be totally cast off , and drawn forth . wherefore it stuck so with the point of the belly , as if it were shut into a sack , and bound about the head ; but a hole being made on the backside , it might have drawn forth the back , but it would yet have stuck by the head and fundament , so lying crooked and dead . the cast skin was thus . out of this also stuck forth the aurelia , as concerning the upper part . again , out of the aurelia almost the entire young silk-worm had wrested it self ; breaking the shell on the back-side , and in the wonted place , but the head stuck fast not to be pull'd asunder , as also the outmost parts of the belly . in the belly put forth was seen a great number of yellow eggs . for the female presently within the aurelia , perfects her eggs in her matrix , but they are unfruitfull till the male besprinkled them . i saw one lay eggs that had coupled with no male . hence it was clear , how nature puts off the old skin with the form of it first , and then passeth into a nymph ; the aurelia whereof being again put off , out comes the necydalus . this was a triple formed monster , worthy to contemplate of . in this also you might observe the aurelia , on that part the wings were marked , to be black and dark , as if it had been in hot smoke : then how ●uch the female necydalus had striven to come forth , was plain by the eyes that stuck out in the distances of the skaly circles . sometimes the circles of the belly stick together by contiguitie , a thin skin coming between them . but in this the circles were so disjoynted , that the girdle of the juncture was larger than the circle . the top of the belly of the cast skin , and of the aurelia were transparent against the light , so that you might exactly discover all about it . the end of the necydalus came as far as the middle capacity of the aurelia ; the necydalus was hairy about the back , though imperfectly , as also the wings were not yet of their full bignesse . and thus much for monsters . when the necydalus is lusty , it is full of life , chiefly in the breast . for when the head and tail are cut off , it will move the wings strongly , and run with its feet , and that till the next day or longer . the female being cut in the belly , shews her matrix full of eggs ; that when are laid , there are more behind . it seemed to be wrapped in a very thin coat . there appeared also some nervous pipes , like the passages of the guts . in the middle of the belly a little bladder was seen , containing an earthy juyce , that was yellow or russet colour . this bladder of it self had a continual systole and diastole . i thought the principle of life was there as in the heart . about the neck of the matrix there was a double white nervous knot , like to the bladder of animals ; it was hard and shining , and that within the belly . i shall speak of the dug-like processions afterwards . there was one little knot that was bigger , and another that was lesse . the neck of the matrix is like to a pipe ; to which being full of juice , there are joyn'd without on both sides two yellow knots like to brests . about the neck there is a circle with horny reins , that are broad , and blunter on the top , with which she takes hold of the genital of the male . the breast is fleshy . the head is membranous and horny . the horns triangular , with a white back sticking up , but the wings are let down on both sides , to make the triangle : if you cut them off whilest they are alive , a kind of transparent juice comes forth of the back , as out of a pin-feather , and there appears a hole within . thus i found the female , which i opened whilest she was living . when she was dead , there was nothing found in her belly but a notable cavity of her belly near to her breast ; and then that vital humour in the bladder , though it now was no longer living ; after that , the reliques of the matrix that was emptied , which were nervous and membranous . the upper parts of the male agree with the female . if you op●n his belly , you shall find much red matter within ; and besides that , a tallow matter full of nerves , to which the genital passage is fastned . he hath a peculiar genital , wanting other things that belong to the female . the history of it is this ; under the tail environed with a long down , there is a notable hole under a membranous circle , as hard as horn , that is divided as it were into two teeth . in the middle of this compasse there is the three forked neck of the genital part , with the extremities of it that are horny . about this there are set reddish prickles ( all the horny processes are red going toward black ) the two uppermost are like hooks , of bended back like ankers , or like goats-horns bent backwards . the single one beneath them is strait . these prickles are next the neck of the member . a little beyond in the middle of the compasse , there are three other small pricks ; with so many bands he lays hold of the matrix of the female , and draws it to him , and holds it so fast , that if you would pull them one from the other , you would sooner believe the joyning together of the belly , and the circles should break , than the copulation should unloose , which i often proved . also from hence you may judge of the constancy of their copulation , for i saw them stick fast together whole summer days , and at night , i know not at what houre , it is probable about morning , they parted asunder , and in the morning i found many oval little worms , and them lying quiet one from the other , yet they will stick together , being cast into cold water . when i sprinkled salt and pickle on the joyning of their tails they held fast ; nor were they parted with water of vitriol added . i drencht the male into the water , and i let the female stand dry on the brink of it , casting both vitriol and salt into the water , yet he lived and held his copulation . then i left him so all night in the water , in the morning some hundreds of eggs were in the bottom of the water , and the young necydali swam alive . i cut off another males head in copulation , yet he parted not . i divided his brest from his belly ; he stuck fast till i drew him off by force . the head and brest , as of divided flyes , live long , but the brest longest . this male cut asunder in copulation , had in his belly also a yellow reddish matter , with some intestinal substance that is yellowish , and skinny . the male was bred the fourth of july , and died for weaknesse on the fifth , and being opened he had nothing else in his belly . otherwise the necydale will live , or , or more dayes . for , as i said , he is constant , so that vvhen i broak vvith four strokes the beginnings of the vvings and the brest , and then the belly somtimes , yet it lived as not hurt , though the spirit were dissipated at length ; the next day for the most part , if they be so dealt vvithall , they dye . the male hotly desires copulation ; after a little stay , vvhen he is come forth of the aurelia , and that vvhen he hath often unburdned his belly , and somtimes also vvhen he hath sent forth no moysture ; and this happens also in the female . the male that is lively after the first dayes copulation , when he hath rested at night , the next day he seeks for the same female , or any that hee can meet with , so that he will couple three or four times . the female also admits of the male as often , though she do not alwaies lay eggs . for she begets no eggs , unlesse she have some within her , though she copulate with the male . so soon as they uncouple , she presently lays her egs in order one after another , you shall see them thrust forth with striving and contraction of her belly , and be shut forth from the neck of the matrix put out , so that it will touch the pavement . i reckoned above , from one female , and almost , out of others ; and these being dissected , had yet many more in their matrixes . what therefore vidas writes of hundreds , that may be understood of lean little necydalls , such as i see proceed from want of nourishment , others were almost three times as great . some males do void their dung once before copulation , and again after their second copulation . somtimes the males , loosed and not yet satisfied , will hinder the female that is about to lay eggs , and couple again with her , though the female copulates with him by force , and desires by contracting her belly , and by striving with her hinder legs , to be loose . so one before copulation laid , after she had once coupled and was loose again , , and then coupling again , after four hours copulation , she laid , then the male having an appetite , she cast moysture as out of a spout , and coupling again , and being freed , she laid above , eggs . those egges that were laid on the fourth of july of a citron-colour , on the th grew red , and after that , lead-colour'd . i kept them in a box behind my window , exposed to the afternoon-sun . those that were barren did never change their colour , but onely sank down . in the necydalls that are loose , you shall sometimes observe a trembling motion , like as if they had an ague . yet i say not , that they are aguish . but i think , that shaking comes by the alteration and promotion of the seminall matter , the vapour exhaling from thence , and rending the nervous parts . the last necydale was a small one ; and on the th of june , weaving a small case between two mulberry leafs , he came forth the th of july , in which besides that , he had made a very small silk case ; this also was observable , that he came not forth of the basis of the case , but made a hole in the top , contrary to all the rest . yet he was a male that feared not to copulate with a female that had thrice been coupled with a male before , and was almost dead . when he had twice copulated , he afterwards fainted . his wings were painted otherwise than the others were ; for whereas the others are distinguished with lines , long and broad wayes , as with welts ; this had four such lead-colour'd lines broad wayes ; but between the second and the third , toward the outward borders of the wings , there was a small circle coming between , not exact , but wan , with a white spot in the middle . but indeed nature is so ingenious in this insect , that when you have observed and writ many things , you have more to observe still . therefore i conclude this history ; and leave the rest to those that are studious in the secrets of nature . of the description of the wonders of nature . the ninth classis . wherein are set down the wonders of fishes . plin. l. . natur. hist. c. . the common opinion is true , that whatsoever cometh forth in any part of nature , is to be found in the sea ; and there are many more things , which are to be found no where else . chap. i. of hornback , sturgion or elops , or the dace or groundling . the hornback fish hath a chap under her belly ; wherein rondeletius saith , he saw her eggs ly . for cutting that fish at the beginning of winter , he found many eggs in that cleft . yet after she is delivered , it closeth so fast , as if it grew together ; which is no wonder , as may be seen in the english pikes . it is covered in so hard a shell , that a sharp sword can hardly cut it . the sturgions when they are taken lament their destiny , and seem to intreat ; and leaping in the nets , strive to free themselves . oviedus and plutarch say , that with their sharp backs they will cut the line , and free their captive fellowes . the dace of phalera is so soft and fat a fish , that if it be held long in the hand , it will melt ; or if many of them be carried in ships , they will drop fat , which is gathered to make candles with . apitius , as suidas reports , set the pictures of these fishes , with rape roots cut into long and slender pieces , boyl'd with oyl , and strewed with pepper and salt , before nicomedes the king of bithynia . chap. ii. of the eele . all know , that eeles are found in many fresh waters ; yet nauclerus writes , that in the danube there are none ; but in the rhein there are . albertus makes the cold of danubius to be the cause thereof ; and this proceeds , because it runs before the mouth of the alps from west to east , and receives the greatest part of its water from thence . these onely , contrary to other fishes , do not flote , being dead , pliny . the reason is given by aristotle , from the small belly it hath , and little fat . the swimming of lampreys , congers , and muraenas , that abound with fat , confirm this to be true . they are so lusty , that being devoured whole by a cormorant , they will come forth of his guts , nine times one after another ; and when they are grown weak , then he retains them , gesner . held in a mans bosome , especially great eels , will twist about a mans neck and choke him , cardanus . on the land they dye , if the sun shine on them ; otherwise very hardly , as you may see them living when their skin is pull'd off . athenaeus , aelianus , and plutarch do testifie , that in arethusa of chalcidon , there are tame ones , adorned with ear-rings of gold and silver , that will take their meat by hand . nymphodorus reports the same of the river elorus . chap. iii. of the whale , and the barbel . the whale is the greatest and chief of all fishes . pliny calls this the greatest creature in the indian sea , which was four acres in bignesse ; massarius interprets this to be foot long . nearchus saith , that there are whales of paces in length , and reports , that in the island before euphrates , he saw a whale cast forth of the sea , that was cubits . that whale which was taken in the scald , ten miles from antwerp , anno , on the second day of july , was of a blackish blew colour : he had a spout on his head wherewith he belched up water with great force : he was foot long , and foot high , his tail was foot broad ; from his eye to the top of his nose the distance was foot . his lower chap was foot , of each side , armed with teeth , and there were as many holes in the upper chap where there were no teeth , yet so many might have stood there . the longest of his teeth , was not above thumbs long . a whale not long since was taken at sceveling , a village near the hague in holland , was foot long . his head was about . cubits long , i saw him there . platina observes , that the barbels eyes are venomous , chiefly in may. antonius gazius found it so . for when he had eaten but two bits thereof , at supper time his belly was so inflated , that he looked as pale as ashes ; he was distemper'd all over , at last he fell into the cholerick passion . nor did these symptomes abate , ●ill the eyes were voided upward and downvvard . chap. iv. of the carp , the clupaea , and the conger . the carp , saith gesner , hath a little white hard stone in his head , near his tongue , and in the middle of his head a thick substance like to a heart , that is flexible while it is new ; but afterwards it grows hard . sometimes it is found pound weight . jovius saith , that there was one found in the river latium two hundred pound weight . when the female finds her self great with young , when the time of bringing forth is past , by moving her mouth she rouseth the male , who casts on his milt , and then she bringeth forth . in polonia , broad carps being put into a fish-pond by one , when the waters were frozen , though he sought them diligently , he could not find them ; when the spring came , and the waters were thawed , they all appeared , gesner . clupaea is a great fish . in sagona a river in france , when the moon increaseth , it is white ; but black when it decreaseth . when the body is but a little augmented , it is destroy'd by its own prickles . in the head of it there is found a stone like a barley corn , which when the moon decreaseth ; some think it will cure the quartan ague , if it be bound to the left side , calisthenes sybarita , citante stobaeo . congers contain their off-spring within them , but it is not equally so in all places , nor doth their increase appear in a fat grosse matrix , but it is contain'd in it , in a long rank , as in serpents ; which is manifest by putting it into the fire : for the fat consumes ; but the eggs crackle , and they leap forth , aristotle . hist. c. . chap. v. of the dogg-fish . the men of nicea , saith gellius , took a dogg-fish that weighed pound ; a whole man was found in the belly of it . those of massilia found a man in armour . rondeletius saw o●e on the shore at xanton , the mouth and throat were so wide that they would take in a fat man. bellonius saith , that each side of the mouth had , teeth , wherefore some think the prophet jonas was swallowed by this fish : and that this is that they call the whale , it being so vast a creature . the same bellonius writes , that this fish at divers times brings forth , or , young ones , and somtimes more , each of a foot long , perfect with all their parts , and oft times the young one coming forth there are eggs yet raw in the matrix , and some hatcht , lying in the upper part toward the midriff ; and some of them are contained in the right turning of the matrix some in the left . in her whelps , this is chiefly wonderfull , that they were covered with no secondine , and they are fed from some part of the navell that hath veins . for since saith he , she doth not put forth her eggs , and they are tied by certaine bands to the matrix , they seem to need no other coat than the amnios ; whereby the whelp being now formed , and by a chink in the sternon , that passeth between the fins that are toward the gills , it receiveth nourishment from the matrix by a band , or the middle of it , that is so slender , as a lute string ; but this nutriment by that slender string is carried into a little bag , which you would say were the stomach , which is alwaies full of it , like to the yolk of an egge : the position of it is in the middle of the belly , and under the two laps of the liver . and that this is true , if you cut a whelp taken out of the dams belly , through the belly , you shall find the true stomack of it to be alwaies empty . for it takes and devours nothing by the mouth . but you shall see the right intestine to swell with wan colour'd excrements . if you take the young whelp alive out of the dams belly , and do not hurt him , but cast him into the water , you shall see him to live and swim presently . rondeletius observed the eggs to stick in the middle of the matrix toward the back bone ; and when they increase they are translated into both the sinus of the matrix . the forme of the eggs is like to pillows we sleep upon under our heads ; out of the corners there hang long and slender passages which aristotle calls hairy pores , and they are rowled up like vine tendrels ; if you stretch them out at length , they are two cubits long . when the shell breaks , the young ones come forth . chap. vi. of dracunculus . dracunculus is a fish with a great head , a compacted nose sticking forth , a little mouth without any teeth , without any opening at the gils ; but in the place of this , above the head there is a hole on both sides , wherewith it takes in and puts forth water . it hath great eyes set above the head , the head-bone ends at the prickles that tend to the tayl . the fins are exceeding long , considering the body partly silver , part gold colour'd . those about the gills , are gold-coloured , and silver colour'd in the root ▪ these that are in the lower part , and next to the mouth , are longer than those that are next to the gils . on the back two stand up ; the first is small , gold colour'd , distinguished with siver lines ; the latter is very great on the middle of the back , not much unlike to butterflies wings , and is made of five bones like to ears of barley , and a membrane . the former bones of radii are the longer , the hinder are the shorter , contrary to what it is in the membrane ; which being as it were woven between all the distances of those radii , increaseth by degrees . the same also , is divers ; for it is distinguished with silver lines set between two black lines . this is hid in the middle hollow of the back , as in a sheath . there is also another golden colour'd membrane from the tail to the podex , excepting the fringes that are black . chap. vii . of the dolphin , exocaetus and the fiatola . the dolphins see so exactly , that they will see a fish hid , in a hole , oppianus . they are so swift that bellonius observed one of them to swim faster than a ship could run under sayle , before the wind that blew strongly . some make their fins to be the cause of it , others their light body . the famous baudarcius thinks the membrane between their foreyards being extended , serves them for sails . they love one the other so well , that one being taken at caria and wounded , a great multitude of them came to the haven , and departed again when he was set free . when the marriners whistle , they will stay the longer about the ship but when a tempest riseth , the credulous greeks say , if any man be in the ship that hath killed a dolphin , they will all flock thither to be revenged . when then play on the calme sea , they foreshew which way the wind will blow , and when they cast up water , the sea being troubled , they foreshew a calme . plin. l. . c. . thomas thinks that exhalations rising from the bottom of the sea , when a storm is at hand in winter , is the cause of it ; and he thinks that the dolphins feel heat thereby , and so break forth the oftner . but since more fishes also perceive a tempest coming , rondeletius thinks that they are affected in the water with the motion of the ayre , as those that are sick are wont to be , when the south wind begins to blow . exocaetus lives long on the dry land . the cause is , the plenty of ayr ; which being he doth not draw it in , too largely , he is not choked by it . hence it is , that an eele will live a long time under ground , rondelet . fiatola is a broad plain fish , with a taile like to a half moon , a fleshy tongue ; contrary to all other fish , he hath no sins under his belly , and he is wholly without them . his liver hath but one lap , without any gall , his stomach is made like the letter v , the lower part of it ends in a point ; and there are so many appendixes of hairs unto it , that they cannot be numbred . chap. viii . of glanis and glaucus . writers report of glanis , that it is a mighty and terrible fish , especially in the river tissa that runs into the danube . hee riseth so boldly that he will not spare a man. it is publikely said in hungaria , that there was found in the belly of one , a hand with rings upon it , and peices of a boy that swam in the danube , that was devoured by it , comes martinengus . gesner saith , he heard it of a learned hungarian , that the same was taken in the river tissa ; it was , or , cubits long , and was carried in a cart. this had layn hid in the river , yeares , neere the kitchin of a noble man ; at last it was caught with a hook , when it had young ones to look to : when she found her self taken , she leaped forth ; the fishers ran after her two miles , at last they wearied and took her , and carried her to a town called nadlac . there was in her belly a mans head , with his right hand and three gold rings upon it . the glaucus hath a spongy liver distinguished into two laps , the left is the larger . from the right lap there hangs a little gall bladder , from a thred three fingers long , so great as a pease ; and it hath in the bottom of the stomack a kind of apophysis , not to be seen almost in other fishes , besides five others in the pylorus , that fence the stomack about . chap. ix . of the herring and huso . that the herring lives by water , the author of the book of nature witnesseth ; taken out of it , it will not live , as experience testifies . in his belly there is nothing found , for it hath onely one hungry gut . they swim together in such great sholes , that they cannot be taken for multitudes . when they see light , they swim in flocks , and so they are caught in the autumnal equinoctiall . they shine in the water turning their bellies upward , and they send forth such a light , that the sea seems to lighten . it is a miracle that some relate concerning the inhabitants of the island terra sancta of the german ocean , namely , that in the year , after the virgins delivery , men lived by herring-fishing there ; but when they peevishly whipped one of them , they had taken with rods , these fishes did so diminish , that afterwards scarce could live by that labour . the husons have a grisle instead of a back bone , that hath a great empty hole , from head to tail as bored with a piercer . what aelian , l. . c. . saith of the autacea , that in time they grow as big as the greatest tunie fish in the danube , and their abdomen is so fat , that you would say their paps were as great as a sowes that gave suck , and are covered with a rough skin that spears are polished with them , with a membrane so tied from the brain to the tail , that dryed in the sun , it will serve for a whip , that must be understood of these husons : for vadianus , in epitome trium terrae partium , writes , that he saw some of weight : they are so fearful , that the least fish will fright them . they follow the sound of trumpets , that they will come to the bank over against it . lastly , they are so strong in the water , that if they strike the fisher with their tail , they will strike him out of the ship ; so soon as they put their heads above water , they grow weak . they will drink strong wine , and live many days , being drunk they are carried to strangers , they will drink . sextarii of wine . chap. x. of the pike and luna . albertus writes , that the pike hath its stomach so joyn'd to the throat , that sometime it will cast it up for greedinesse of meat ; but it hath many appendixes wherein the chylus made is preserved , as rondeletius observed . there was a very great one seen that had another great one in the belly ; and this again had a vvater-mouse . another was seen that had tvvo young geese in it ; another had a moor-hen in its stomach . for great hunger it will feed on food at land. it hath a natural enmity with a frog . hence it is that the frog will oft times dig out his eyes . he cures his wounds by rubbing against a tench , which he alwaies keeps company with . his jaw-bones boat into fine powder , given the quantity of an aureus , will break the stone . in england they cut off the belly of it two fingers breadth , and if they cannot find a chapman , they will sew up the belly and put it into their fish-pond again vvhere tench are . though the cause may be attributed to friendship ; yet it is better to attribute it to the clammy matter the tench abounds with , by which he may heal his wound . a pike of frederick the emperour was said to have lived years in a lake , that was found out by a brasse ring that he hid under his skin in his gills , when he put him into the lake . it had a greek inscription on it ; which is to this sense ; i am that fish that was first put into this lake by frederick the second , emperour of the world , on the fifth of october . conradus celtes saith , that ring was found upon that pike , taken anno ; as gesner relates in epistola nuncupatoria . luna is a fish exceeding beautiful , very small , broad bodied , of a blevvish colour ; on the back it hath soft fins , which vvhilest it dilates in swimming , it makes a semicircle like to a half moon , aelian . ex demostrato . those that fish for bream say , that at the full of the moon it will grow dry and die ; and , put on herbs , it will make them wither . chap. xi . of manaty , and the whiting . manaty is a great fish taken in the rivers of hispaniola ; his head is like an ox head , or bigger : his eyes in respect of his body are small ; he hath two thick feet , like wings in the place of gills , with which he swims , they are set about his head ; he hath a thick skin , and no scales . he is so great that there needs a yoke of oxen to carry him . sometimes he is above or foot long , and eight hands thick ; near the tail he is narrower , and as it were girt in , from which straightnesse the tail growes longer and thicker . he hath two stones , or rather bones in his head , so great as little hand-balls , or the bullet of a crosse-bowe , and sometimes greater , as the fish is . he wants ears , but in place of them he hath small holes , by which he hears . his skin is like the skin of a shriveled ox , a finger thick , ash-coloured , and thin set with hairs . the tail from that straight part unto the end of it , is all nervous . from that , cut into pieces , and then set five or six dayes in the sun and dryed , and then boyled in a cauldron , or rather fryed , much fat comes forth : for it all resolves into fat . it is good to fry eggs in a frying-pan . for it never grows rank , nor unsavoury . he is made tame , and will be taught like a dog ; but franciscus lopetius saith , he will remember injuries . the petty king of caramatexum , in the island of hispaniola , fed one of them years in the lake guaynabo , and made him so tame , though he were grown great , as great as an old dolpbin ; for he would take meat by hand ; and when they call'd him mato , which in their tongue signifies magnificent , he would come forth of the lake , and creep to the house for meat , and then go back to the lake again . boyes and men going with him , and when they sang , he seemed to be delighted with it : and he would let them sometimes ride on his back ; he would easily carry ten at a time from one part of the lake to the other . but when a certain spaniard would make triall whether his skin were so hard or no , and threw a dart at him , he grew so angry , that if he saw any clothed in christians habit , though he were called , he would not come forth of the water . after that , the river haibon swelled extreamly and ran into the lake guaynabo : so he found his way to the sea ; and the people were very sorry that he was gon . the whiting eats nothing , unlesse he see it is dead , aelian . the male is very jealous . for he stays at home , and fearing his young ones should be caught , he stays to preserve them . chap. xii . of mirus , mola , and monoceros . the fish mirus is briefly described by ambrosius pareus . in the venetian sea , saith he , between the venetians and ravenna , two miles above clodia , anno , there was a flying fish taken , very terrible and monstrous , four feet long ; he had a very thick head , and two eys not set one against the other , with two ears , and a double mouth , a very fleshy nose green colourd , with two wings , and five holes in his throat as lampreys have ; his tail was an ell long , and in the top of it were two little wings . also mola is a fish , that was taken on the calends of march , anno , not farr from venice ; at first sight it seem'd rather a peice of flesh than a fish. it was round , it had a skin without skales or hairs . the mouth was so straight , that it was miraculous considering the greatnesse of the creature . the eyes were large , stretching out , and greater than oxe eyes . the gills were uncovered , fleshy , and beat ; the fins on the sides were a span long . it had a very hard knot . the jaws on both sides were fenced with a solid continued bone , the tongue of it stuck fast to the lower mandible , that he seem'd to have no tongue , the tayle was about , foot long . there were three fins on the taile , so that the taile with the fins , were , foot long . the fish was , foot long , , foot high and more ; and turn which way it would , it was so high : when it was unbowelled , the heart , liver , milt , were greater than of an oxe ; and it had one gut coming to the passage for excrements placed under the belly . in the bottom of this gut there was a kind of bottom , made as it were of bruised nervs , like fiddle strings bruised . the flesh of the creature was white as milk , and solid , as in a hog that is , or , fingers thick with fat , as in whales . clusius calls the monoceros or unicorn , a fish ; which the dutch coming from the east-indies brought along with them . anno , . a merchant valewed it so high that hardly any mony would buy it . from the outmost part of the mouth , unto the fins of the tail it was not much more than three inches , the middle of the body was little above an inch broad ; from the top of the head , where a horn stuck forth between the eyes , unto the lowest part of the belly , which also ended in a sharp point , it was an inch and half broad ; the body was covered with a dark rough skin , moreover it had a little narrow mouth sticking out half an inch long , set with two bony little teeth , which seem'd divided into ten above , but beneath into fewer , unlesse they were broken out . the eyes that were put out , seem'd to have been very great , over which on the head , a little slender horn stuck forth , that was four square , about an inch long , armed with ten pins like hooks tending downward , on both sides , from which to the fin , which from the middle of the back stretched out to the taile , there was an inch in length , pressed down like to a furrow , into which when he swims , he seems to incline his horn , &c. clusius , l. . exotic . c. . chap. xiii . of the mullet and the barbel . the mugil is a most temperate fish , if he light upon another , he will not touch it , till he move the taile . if it move he leaves it , if it moves not , he preys upon it , aelian . l. . c. . it is so salacious , that in phoenicia , and the province of narbon , at the time of copulation , that the male being taken out of fish-ponds , and with a long line drawn through his mouth and fastned to his gills , cast into the sea , and drawn back againe by the same line , the females will follow him to the shore , and the males again will follow the females at the time they bring forth , plin. l. . c. . they are so fleet that when they are hungry they will cast themselves over ships in their way . the mullet was formerly so noted for luxury amongst the antients , that it was sold for a mighty price ; and private romans would often buy it for the weight in silver , saith jovius , if it were above a foot long . also pliny writes that asinius cel●r a consul , was so proud of this fish , that when claudius was emperour , he merchandised with one of them for peices of money , that is about , rich dollers . macrobius , l. . saturnal , c. . adds more , that the luxury of that age may be esteem'd the greater , because pliny , saith in his time no barbel was found , above two pound weight . scaliger saith , exerc . , s. , that the liver of it , lies next the left side , the milt next the right . but albertus saith , that lust is extinguished by feeding on them , and it is so strong that it will make a man that eats of it , to smell like it . athenaeus saith , that strangled in wine , it spoils the wine . pliny saith , that if it be stale , it will make one vomit . chap. xiv . of the river - powt , and lamprey . the river - powt is so sweet meat , that in thuringia , the wife of one of the earls of bichling , is reported to have spent all her estate , in feeding on them . they are chiefly commended before christs-mas day ; but they are not good when they are with young , for then in some waters they are meazly . some hucksters , cut out their livers , and turn them into the waters againe , having sewed up the wound . encelius writes that the stomack of it , with the appurtenances hath a wonderfull vertue . let it be , saith he , never so old , in saxonie , the women give it in drink , and it will draw out the secondine staying behind , after child birth ; and is of great concernment for all defects of the matrix . they say also that oyle is collected out of the liver , hanged in a glassy vessel against the sun , or in an oven : this is thought to be so excellent for suffusions of the eyes , and for spots , that forestus in observat . saith , it will miraculously make a dark sight clear . nicander saith that lampreys are wonderfull bold ; for often coming forth of fish ponds , they will bite the painfull fisher-men , and flye to the sea , and will cast them headlong from the ships into the sea ; yet that they may be made tame , is apparent by the example of that lamprey , which macrobius and aelian , & others do testifie , that l. crassus who was censor with cn. domitius , did adorn with gold-earings and jewells , and a brave neck-lace . this knew crassus his voyce when he called her , and being call'd would swim to him ; and when he offerd him any thing , she would leap with delight , and lay hold of it . crassus wept for her when she was dead , and buried her honorably . and when domitius taunted him sharply , saying , fool crassus , thou weptst for a dead lamprey . he answer'd , i wept for the death of my beast , but thou weepst for none , not when thy three wives died ; thou buriedst them , but lamentedst them not . pliny , l. . c. . saith , that it will grow mad by tasting vinegar . but that is a wonder that aelian writes , l. . c. , that if you give them one stroke they will endure it , and stand senselesse ; but if you strike them again , they will be enraged . chap. xv. of the perch and sea-calf . fishermen in the lake lemanus have observed , as gesner saith , that perches will send forth a little red bladder that hangs out of their mouth , and they will escape by that means ; for it will make them swim over the nets , even against their wills : but it is thought this proceeds from anger , that they fell into the nets . this falls out especially when they drag them . but it is wonderful that this falls out onely in winter . their young ones do stick so close together , that the fishermen in that lake make them up in ●eaps . all of them have a measly liver : georgius mangoldas writes it , and gesner quotes him for it . sea-calfs , when they sleep , s●ort so much , that you would think they lowed . rondeletius saith , that the clammy humour that sticks in their sharp artery being agitated by breathing in and out , is the cause of it . they love the sea exceedingly : for when their skins are tanned , if there be any hair left , they will turn as the sea lies , by a naturall instinct . for if the sea be troubled and tosse , they will stand upright ; but if the sea be quiet , they lye flat down . when pliny would not credit this , he made tryall of it in the indian sea , and about the island hispaniola , he found it to be no fable , as cardan saith . rondeletius saith , that by their skin , changes are foreshew'd ; for when the south winds blow , their hair sticks up ; but when the wind is in the north they fall so flat , that you would think they had none . aldrovandus saw one calf taught by a mountebank , who would rejoyce at the name of any christian prince , and would seem to mutter some words ; but he was silent when the turk or an heretick was named . chap. xvi . of the scales , and the indian reversus like an eele . the scales do bring forth two or three young ones at one time ; but at many times they bring forth more . their eggs are first seen without a shell , in the upper part of their matrix . some of them are as big as hen egs , some lesse , some scarce so big as chi●h-peasen . aldrovandus counted above a hundred in one of them ; those that are next to be laid , are put into the lower part of the matrix , and are covered with a shell , wherein there is contain'd both the white and the yelk . when he much admired at this , and sought for the cause of it , he boyl'd hen-eggs , in which appeared no white at all , being but newly formed ; and he observed the white severed from the yelk by the heat of the fire . hence he found , that at first they lye confused , but are separated by degrees by heat , and the shell that compasseth them , is made of the grosser part grown hard . olaus , in tabula septentrionali , pictures forth a scale in the sea , defending a man from a kennel of dog-fish , in a place a little beyond the borders of denmark . the indian reversus like an eel , is a fish of an unusuall figure , like to a great eel in body , and it hath on the hinder part of the head a capacious skin , like to a great purse . the inhabitants hold this fish bound at the side of the ship , with a cord , and onely let it down , so far as the fish may stick by the keel of the ship , for it cannot any wayes endure the ayr ; and when it sees any fish or tortoise , which are there greater than a great target , they let loose the fish ; he so soon as he is loose , flies swifter than an arrow on the other fish or tortoise , and casting that skin purse upon them , layes hold of his prey so fast , that no force can unloose it , unlesse they draw up the cord a little , and pull him to the brink of the water . for so soon as he sees the light of the ayr he forsakes his prey , martyr . rondeletius ascribes to him the understanding of an elephant , for he will be tame , and know what is said to him . chap. xvii . of the remora , and the sea-scarus . the antients believed , that the remora would stay ships ; and it hath been found true by examples of late . petrus melaras of bononia reports , that the ship of francis cardinal of troas , when he went by sea out of france , was held fast in the swiftnesse of its course . many have sought for the cause , but no man hath certainly found it . some things are alwayes immoveable to do their office , as the poles ; some things in respect of their place , as the center of the earth , which naturally never moves . contrarily some things are to move alwaies to do their office , as the heavens ; some things in regard of their place , as rivers . so some things have a faculty of moving , as the loadstone ; some to stop motion , as the remora . but since no reason can be given , why cold is an enemy to heat , so not for these things , why such things that have efficient principles in them of motion , do cause motion ; and those that have principles of resting , should cause rest . keckermannus seems to ascribe this to a cold humour that the remora sends forth , that he freezeth the water about the rudder , in disput. physica . aristotle , l. . hist. c. . saith , that of all fishes the scarus onely chews the cud . ovid testifieth , that when it is caught in a net , it breaks not forth with the head foremost , but turns his tail , and breaks his way forth with that , often striking the net . they roast them in candie , thrusting a spit through their mouth , and there the fishermen eat greedily their maws , stuft with more delicate meat . they mash their livers , that are very great , and without any gall , and their excrements also , together , adding to them salt and vinegar , bellonius . chap. xviii . of the sea-serpent , and the sturgeon . it is most certain , that there are serpents in the sea ; and histories shew , that they are of divers magnitudes . aristotle reports , that in africa they will overthrow their galleys , and kill men. olaus magnus writes , that about norwey , when the sea is calm , serpents will shew themselves that are or foot long , and sometimes they will catch men from the ships . schiltbergerus a hollander , hath described the combat between the sea and land-serpents . his words are ; in the kingdom of genyck , there is a city call'd sampson : at what time i resided with ureiasita king of the turks , water-snakes , and land-serpents innumerable did surround that city for a mile on all sides . these came forth of the woods that are many in the countries adjoyning , and those forth of the sea. whilest these met , for . dayes no man for fear durst stirre forth ; yet they hurt neither man , nor any other living creature . on the tenth day , these two kinds of serpents began to fight early in the morning , and continued till sun-set , and the water-serpents yielded to the land-serpents ; and the next day of them were found dead . many suppose that the sturgion will pine away in the albis . gesner writes , that johannes fredericus elector of saxony , bought a sturgion that weighed above pound weight , for so many franks . he is so strong with his tail , that he will cut wood in sunder , strike down a strong man , and strike fire out of hard stones ; and the same is done by the rubbing of those little bones that are prickly all his body over . chap. xix . of the salmon , and the turdus . a salmon about colen is two cubits long , and they are greater amongst the miseni ; and at dessavia , neere the river albis , from , to , pounds weight . in helvetia neere tigurus they are taken somtimes above , pound weight . albertus saith , the intestine of it , is divided into many parts like to fingers . gesner writes , that he observed two passages from the very throat of one that he dissected : they stretched downward , one to the maw by the wezand , and the other was namelesse . in the river mulda neere to dessavia , if the salmon striving to overcome the precipice of the water , be frustrated at the second or third leap , he swims to the foard , and there he will lye hid under stones and gravel , and pine away : he is full of brasse colour'd spots , and his beck is bent like a great hook . in scotland in autumn they meet in little rivers or places fordable , where they joyne bellies , and lay eggs , and cover them in the gravel ▪ at which time the male is so spent , spending his milt and seed , and the female with her spawn , that they are nothing but bones and prickels and skin . that leannesse is infectious , for they will infect all the salmons they come neere . it is an argument thereof , that oft times they are taken , and one side is consumed , the other not so . from their eyes covered in the sand , little fishes breed the next spring that are so soft , that untill they be no bigger than a mans finger , if you presse them with your fingers , they will run as from congeled moysture . then first , as nature leads them , they hasten to the sea , and in , days , or a little more , it is incredible how great they will grow , when they come from the sea , against a river that runs thither , they shew a wonder . for the rivers that are straightned with rocks , and banks , on every side , and therefore run down swiftly , when they fall with a great fall , the salmons do not presently swim forth by the channel , but they fling themselves up crooked by force of the water , and so are carried in the ayre , before they fall . that they are lively , is seen by their heart taken forth . robertus constantinus testifies that he saw the heart of a salmon that was unbowelled , that was wet with a moyst sanies , and it lived after it was taken forth above a day . there are some different kinds of turdi . some have as it were some skiny yellowish apophyses hanging down from their lower chop ▪ somtimes they vary , and are all for the most part gold colour , or colour of the amethyst or blew . their eyes are extreme great , and a black circle goes about a golden apple ▪ a golden circle about the black , and lastly a black circle goes about them all . the fins by the gills are wholly gold colour , but of the brest they are all blew , except their nervs that are gold colour'd . the fin that is from the anus , and that which is on the back , and taile , where they are joyn'd to the rump , are gold colour'd , but sprinkled with little red blood spots , the rest are blew . chap. xx. of the torpedo , and the tunie . i have nothing to say of the torpedo , but that he benums the hands ; and hence he hath his name . and he doth this , so effectually , that before he is taken , he will do it by the net , or the rod. he useth this cunning , that covering himself with mud and dirt , he will catch little fish very strangely , plin. l. . utr . anim . the tunies though they be caught in many places , yet chiefly about constantinople ; for when they come to the islands cyaneae , and are past by the shore of chalcedonia , a certain white rock appears to them , and doth so terrifie the tunies , that immediately they put over to the farther bank ; and being taken away with the swift current of the waters , the natural fitnesse of the place turns the course of the sea to constantinople , and the winding thereof , so that being driven thither by force of nature , it is no wonder , that they fall into snares . they are also ingendred in the lakes of maeotis ; and when they are a little grown , they break forth of the mouth of the lake in sholes , and run by the asiatick shore so far as trapezunda ; but because they cannot endure tempests and cold weather , whereby their eyes grow dim ; they stay in a very deep place of the thracian sea , that harbours them , it is called melas , and it hath hollow and muddy places fit to cherish fish in , and they grow till the spring . they seem to understand the blowings of the winds . for pliny saith , they stay for the north wind , that they may get out of the pontick sea , with the flowing of the water to help them . they enter into pontus one way , and go forth another . for aristotle , l. . histor. c. . saith , they lye on their right side next the earth when they no in , and come forth on the contrary side ; for they turn on the left side ; which , saith he , they are therefore said to do , because naturally they see clearest with their right eye , and duller with the left . the old oracle of the prophet amphyllus in herodotus , proves that they go forth in the night . and this is again confirmed by ancient medalls , such as bellonius writes that he saw at paris , on one side was an ear of corn ; and on the other side the tunie ; and above this , the moon with an inscription of phillips . they sleep so soundly , that they may be taken napping . chap. xxi . of the uranoscopus , and the sword-fish . uranoscopus is a fish that swims alone , and eats flesh ; so lively , saith bellonius , that if you take out all his entrals , yet he will move still : it is the greediest eater of all fish , he hath an apophysis hanging forth of his mouth , and with that he ensnares the fish . this shews he is an insatiable paunch , that if you cast meat to him , he will feed so long , till the meat come up to his throat . the sword-fish hath a beck on both chaps , but the lower of them is short and triangular ; the upper is more bony and harder , and far longer , sometimes two cubits long . in the indian sea they grow so great , that they will pierce the sides of the strongest ships , a hand and half in thicknesse sometimes , jovius . gesner writes from the relation of a faithfull friend of his , who saw a man when he sailed into syria , that swam by the ship side , and he was cut in the middle by the beck of this fish . he fears a whale , and when he sees one , he claps his sword into the earth , or some place of the foard that he can , and so forms himself like to a log ; and the whale neglects him , and swims by him . chap. xxii . of some other wonders concerning fishes . in minerals and quarreys also fishes are found , especially if the places be moyst , though there be no water . theophrastus observed this in many places of pontus ; eudoxus in paphlagonia ; agricola at orterantum , beyond the albis . there is a plain by the river narbon , by this run the rivers , iliberis and roschinus ; there are fossil fish found therein . the earth is tender there , and brings much grasse ; about two or three cubits under this , runs the water of the rivers that hath dilated it self . if at any time they overflow , they fill the plain with fish from underground , polyb. in histor. there are two sorts of them , some round like to eels , but they want a tuff skin ; they are scaly as gudgeons , their flesh is hard , and not well savoured . the great ones are two fingers thick , the smaller but one . those are four hands breadth long ; these but three : they make a sharp noise . apothecaries shut them up in glasses , and hang them down from a beam , and feed them with bread for a long time . sometimes they come forth of rivers that run in fenny grounds , and come far into the land by the veins of the banks , and sometimes into cellars . theophrastus writes , that in caves they feel nothing , because their senses are stupified ; but when they are boyl'd in a pot , and when they are dug up they will stirre . in a certain river of the east-indies there are fishes call'd tuberones ; they are so greedy , that one of them catcht at a man standing on the side of the ship , and first bit off his foot , and next his hand , linschotten . in navigat . it is almost incredible , that the same man writes , namely , that a ship coming from mozambique , went backward dayes , though the wind were good for it , and nothing to hinder it , and that was found by every dayes observation of the suns heighth . and when the doubtful marriners enquired for the cause of it , and thought they had been bewitched , at last a fish was found under the ship , and they collected , that this fish carried the ship on his back the contrary way against the force of the wind . for so soon as with much ado , they had driven this fish away , they sailed forward very well . the history is painted in the palace of the deputy-king of goanum , with the name of the pilote , the year and the month. blefhenius writes , in his description of islandia , that in the island sea there is a monster , the name he knowes not , but they take it to be a kind of whale ; when he puts his head above the sea , he doth so fright men , that they will fall down almost dead . he hath a head is four square , flaming eyes , and it is fenced about with black horns ; his body is black , and set about with black feathers . if he be seen at night at any time , his eyes seem fiery , that all his head that is thrust above the sea may be seen by it . olaus , l. . makes mention of it , and saith , it is cubits long . so much for fish. the end of the ninth classis . of the description of naturall vvonders . the tenth classis . wherein are set down the wonders of man. whosoever thou art , that dost unjustly determine the condition of man , consider how great things our mother nature hath given unto us ; how much more strong creatures are under our subjection ; how we can catch those that are much more swifter than our selves , that nothing that is mortal is not under our power . we have received so many vertues , so many arts , and lastly a soul , swifter than the stars ; for it will out-run them in their motions , that are to be performed many years after , and in one moment penetrates into whatsoever it is intent about ; seneca . chap. i. of man in generall . hitherto i have described irrational living creatures ; man followes next , of whom we shall speak in order , according to his actions , natural , vital , animal , and rational . and first of his proportion . this is so excellent and admirable , that it cannot be more . the body of adam was made out of the earth , and ours of . small drops of seed , and as much blood , poured forth like milk , and framed like to cruddled cheefe ; of the same matter , are so many and so divers parts made . the whole structure consists of above bones to support it , and as many cartilages ; all the joynts are smeered with , all are joyn'd together with many ligaments , and cloathed with innumerable membranes : the vast mass of the members , are watered with above , paire of nervs , as with little cords , and all the parts are sprinkled with as many arteries as with water pipes , filld with foming blood and vital spirits ; the empty places are filled up , and the entralls covered , with almost , muscles , and flesh of divers sorts , as with flocks : and lastly all is covered about with skin . the image of god is in it ( his mind represents the same ) and it hath included in it , the forces and temperament of all the creatures . you shall find many men that have an ostrich stomack , many that have the lyons heart , not a few have the heart of a dogg , many of a sow ; and infinite there are , that are like the asse by nature . alexander the great , had such a symmetry of humours , that his spirits , and humours , and also his dead body , smelt as sweet as natural balsom ; because in man as in the centre , as in a knot , or little bundle , the original and seminary cause of all creatures lye bound up . vegetables are nourished and increased by the balsom-like spirits of mineralls , animals of vegetables , and by them of mineralls ; but man , for whom all things were created , is nourished and augmented by the balsamick spirits of animals , vegetables , and mineralls ; wherefore there is reason that he should consist of all ●hese . wherefore in man there do flowrish , and produce fruit , that are messengers of health or sicknesse , both the balme , violets , germander , namely the spirits of the heart , brain , and liver : the nettle , wake-robin , crowfoot , as pushes , scabs , creeping sores ; also there are wrought in man mineral separations , that appeare in paroxysms , of vitriol , alum , salt , of gemma , of the colcothat , tartar ; as the leprosy , elephantiasis , morphew , cancer , discovering themselves in several tinctures and signatures . nor are aqueal generations wanting , as gold , silver , tin , copper , iron , lead ; the heart , brain , liver , reins , stomach . there are found in our bodies mines , out of which stones are dug , the stones of the bladder and kidneys , not to build but to destroy the house . the head is the fort of mans mind , the seat of reason , the habitation of wisdom , and the shop of memory , judgment , and cogitations ; possessing the highest place doth it not represent the uppermost and angelicall part of the world ? you have the middle and the caelestial part in the thorax ▪ and in the middle belly , exactly set forth . for as when the sun riseth , the upper parts are enlightned , and all the lower parts are enlivened ; but contrarily , when the sun departs , they grow cold , and tend to ruine : so by the perpetuall motion of the heart , and by the vital heat thereof , all things flourish , and there is a plentifull harvest of rejoycing , to be perceived ; but when that is darkned by cares , sorrows , fears , and other clowds , all the parts are debilitated , and at last dye . who sees not the sublunary part of the world , expressed in the lower belly ? in it , are containd the parts that serve for nutrition , concoction , and procreation . perhaps you will want the dukedome of the planets in this little world . behold , the flowing marrow of the brain represents the moystning power of the moon , the genital parts serve for venus , the instruments of eloquence and comelinesse do the office of witty mercury ; the sun and the heart hold the greatest proportion . man's liver , the fountain of good vapours , is compared to beneficiall jupiter ; the bladder of the gall , contains the fiery fury of mars ; and the loose spungy flesh of the milt , which is the receptacle of melancholique humours , doth perfectly represent the cold planet of saturn . and if you please to proceed farther , i can say boldly , that the elements , seas , winds are here shadowed forth . the spirits of mans body do set forth heaven , the quintessence of all things . the four humours expresse the four elements ; hot dry choler represents the fire ; blood-hot and moyst ▪ the ayr ; flegme , cold and moyst , the water : melancholy cold and dry , the earth . so the belly of man is the earth , fruitful of all fruits : the hollow vein , is the mediterranean sea ; the bladder the western sea , into which all the rivers discharge themselves , and the superfluous salt which is resolved , is collected . he hath the east in his mouth , the west in his fundament ; the south in his navel ; the north in his back . europe , asia , africa and america may summarily be described in man. wherefore abdalas the barbarian said well , that the body of man is an admirable thing ; and protagoras call'd man , the measure of all things . theophrastus , the pattern of the universe , and epitome of the world. synesius , the horizon of corporeall and incorporeall things . and lastly , we may truly cry out with zoroastres , o man ! the workmanship of most powerfull nature ; for it is the most artificiall master-piece of gods hands . chap. ii. of nutrition . article . of the harmlesse feeding on venomous things . if we regard histories , we can hardly doubt , but that venomous things may by custome become nutrimental : for many learned men having written thus , they ought to be of credit . avicenna , rufus , and gentilis speak of a young maid , who was fed with poysonous creatures from her tender age ; and her breath was venom to those that stood by her . albertus writes , that at colonia agrippina , there was a man that held spiders for his daintiest meat . one porus ▪ a king of the indies , used poyson every day , that he might kill other men . there was one who killed venomous creatures that bit him ▪ avicenna l. . de anim . c. . it is a known history of a young maid fed with poyson , with which the persian kings kill'd other men . in hellespont the ophyogenes feed on serpents : one that was delighted with the same food , when he was cast into a vessell fill'd with serpents , received no harm . pliny and athenagoras of greece , could never be hurt by scorpions ; and the aethiopians that are inhabitants by the river hyaspis , made brave cheer of serpents and vipers . galen saith , that an old woman of athens eat a great quantity of hemlock , which did her no hurt . hypoth . the empirick writes , that another took drams of it , and received no harm ; and he saith further , that one lysis eat ▪ drams of opium . the thracian dame made gallant victualls of handfulls of hellebor . lastly , king mithridates could not poyson'd bee , he drinking poyson oft , grew poyson-free . if you search the cause of it , you shall find divers . first is , every mans natural property , by reason of which , stares feed on hemlock ; sows on henbane , with delight . then there is a certain proportion of poyson ; for this changeth the power of the poyson , and the disposition of the subject . again , the strength or weaknesse of the body . conciliator saith , he saw four men feeding on venomous meats , one dyed suddenly , two were dangerously sick , and the fourth escaped . to this adde the force of the composition , and the quantity ; the variety of the time and place wherein they are collected . so trassius mantinensis gathered his hemlock in the coldest places , that he might sooner kill men . theophrastus shews , l. . hist. plant. that at chios there was a certain way to compound it , to make it effectuall . one stung by a scorpion , may live many dayes ; and one stung by ammodites may live dayes . chersydrus kills in . days ; a viper in . hours ; a basilisk suddenly . lastly , the history of a woman that sought to poyson her husband , proves , that poyson growes more effectuall by being mingled with poysons of the same kind ; and lesse , by being mingled with poysons of a contrary kind . also it is certain , that hot poysons cannot be conquer'd ; for sublimate by its extream corroding cannot be concocted by nature ; and napellus kills by its extremity of heat . article . of the eating of other unusuall meats . nancelius l. . analog . writes of a maid delighted to feed on dung ; and he relates , that a certain noble-man did greedily sup up the liquid dung of maids . fernelius l. . pathol. c. . tells of a maid that eat quicklime as great as a mans fist. trincavellus tells of one , l. . c. . that eat threds out of garments . lusitanus c. . cur . , of one that eat bombasse and wooll . marcellus histor. mirab . l. . c. . of one that eat lizards . a woman that was fifty years old eat tartar , nicolaus serm . . tract . . c. . camerarius speaks of another eat hair ; this may happen in a particular disease , which in women with child is called , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in virgins and others , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . for the cause is a vicious naughty humour , impacted in the coats of the stomack , or bred in the same by ill diet , or coming thither from the matrix . hence for the three first months especially , it happens to women great with child , when they vomit , and the child consumes not much . it troubles maids , when their courses are stopt . but it is hard to say , how such an appetite should proceed from this cause , and it is better to ascribe it to a hidden quality than to commit an absurdity in what is manifest . but what is reported of one lazarus , that he would eat glasse , stones , wood , living creatures , and live-fish ; and we were told by the famous winsemius in praelection . anatomic . that a country man in frisland would do the same for money , that seems to proceed from the fault of the nerves . for in him ▪ when he was dissected , the fourth conjugation of nervs , that is produced in other men for the benefit of their tast , neither came to his tongue nor palate , but was turned back to the hinder part of his head , as columbus observed , anatom . l. . some also think a man may be nourished by smells , and some histories say , it hath been done . rondeletius de piscib . saith , that one at rome lived , yeares only by the ayre , and laertius reports that democritus the abderite , a philosopher lived four days by smelling of bread steeped in wine , that he might not profane the feasts of ceres . cardanus l. . de varietate rerum . c. , saith , that men may live longer only by contemplation . lastly , megasthenes writes that at the farthermost part of the indies , from the east about the river ganges , there is a nation call'd astomores , people that have no mouth , their body is all hairy , and they are clothed with the mosse of boughs : they live only by the ayre and sents that they take in by their nostrills , they take no meat nor drink , but only the diversity of smells from roots and flowers , and wild apples , that they carry with them in long voyages , that they may not want sweet smells ; and if the sents be too strong a little , they easily are killed thereby , pliny l. . c. . yet surely sents being but qualities can nourish no man ; they may out of all question refresh and cherish the brain . artic. . of prodigious eaters . there was a woman once at alexandria , as athenaeus sets it down ; he saith , she eat pound of flesh , four chaevice of bread that is more than pound ; and she drank a gallon of wine and upward . maximinus the emperour would drink often in one day . gallons of wine of the capitol measure , he eat , pound of flesh , and as cordus saith , pound , capitolinus is my authour ; now an amphora is , congii , that is about , gallons . one phagon in vopiscus , who was in great respect with aurelianus the emperour , eat so much in one day , that he devoured a whole bore , a hundred loafs , a wether and a young hogg ; and he drank more than an orca of wine with a tunnel put into it : now an orca was a vessel of wine greater than an amphora . what shall i say of clodius albinus the emperour ? he , as capitolinus writes , devoured so much fruit as is incredible to speak : for cordus saith , that he eat dried figs which the graecians call callistruas , for a breakfast ; and a hundred peaches of campania , and ten melons of ostia , and pounds of grapes of lovinium , and a hundred gnatsappers , and oysters . uguccio fagiolanus being a banish'd old man , did glory at the table before scaliger at verona ; that when he was a young man , he eat four fat capons , and so many partridges , and the roasted hinder parts of a kid , and the breast of a calf stuft , beside salt fish , at one supper to this appertains that prodigious man , in the time of caesar maximilian , who eat a raw calf , and a sheep , at one meal . suidrigellus duke of lithuania , sate . hours at supper , and fed on dishes , sylv. l. . comment . in pannormit . the epitaph of thymocreon rhodius was this : here lies timocreon rhodius , who had skill to eat and drink , and rail , and speak much ill . now over-great appetite , if it proceed from a praeternatural cause , it is called bulimos ; and if it be with vomiting , it is call'd dogs appetite . and it proceeds from some gnawing humour in the stomach , or from a consumption of the whole body , or by reason of the operation of the cold ayr ; or , lastly , from worms . brutus , when he went from dyrrachium to apollonia through the snow , had like to have got this disease ; and a woman that cast up a worm of twelve fingers breadth long , lost her great stomach ; and so did another that voided worms . brasavolus testifies , that this disease was epidemical at ferrara ; and anno , it was so in borussia ; leonellus faventinus writes it . gemma frisius speaks of a woman not very aged , that could not live one moment without eating . he gives the cause to be the greatnesse of her liver , and the prodigious peculiar temperament of it . for her fat being increased unmeasurably , and her heat choaked , her belly was opened , and about pounds of fat were taken out ; her liver was found to be sound , swelling with blood and spirits , but extream red , and huge great , that by its very weight it pressed the vitall parts , frisius l. . c. . cosmocrit . article . of monstrous drinkers . it is no hard matter to find men that sail in drink , and rowe in their cups . you see that drunkennesse abates in no part of the world , and as if we were born to consume wines , and they could not be poured forth , but through the bodies of men. what seneca foretold , that a time should come when drunkennesse should be honour'd ; and to drink abundance of wine , should be esteemed vertue , is come to passe in our dayes . he is counted best , not he that can speak knowingly of philosophy , but he that can drink off many great cups , galen . and not onely wine and waters , but smokes and fumes are introduced to make men mad ▪ yet all go not an equal pace , some will win the garland . in that publick drinking for a wager before alexander , there was one promachus that drank four congii , that is , pound . we read the same of proteus of macedonia in athenaeus . novellius torquatus of millan drank pints at one draught , tiberius the emperour standing by to see this wonder , plin. l. . hist. natur ; and which is more wonderfull in him , they are pliny his words , he wan the glory of it , that is very rare , for he never fail'd in his speech ; nor did he vomit or void any thing any way when he drank ; nor did he sleep : he drank most at one draught , and drank many more little draughts : and he was faithfull in the businesse , not to take his breath when he drank , nor to spit any out ; nor did he cast away any snuff that could be heard dash on the pavement . cicero the son , drank two gallons . bonesus , as the words of spartianus confirm , drank more than any man. aurelianus said often of him , he was not born to live , but to drink . yet he long honour'd him for military affairs . for if any embassadours of barbarous people came from any country , he drank with them to make them drunk , and so in their cups he would find out their secrets . he drank what he pleased , and was alwaies sober ; and , as onesimus the writer of probus his life , he was wiser in his drink . this was farther admirable in him , that so much as he drank , the like quantity he pissed , and his belly or stomach or bladder were never burthened . a certain man drank gallons at a marriage of a noble-man , in the dayes of lipsius . nicetas l. . histor. writes of camaterus logotheta that drank two gallons . article . of some secrets concerning drunkennesse . drunkards differ in their manner of their drunkennesse ; for some are drunk before others . and some when they are drunk fall backwards , some forward , some sing , some quarrel . writers give many reasons for this : they that are soonest drunk , are not accustomed to wine , or they have drank more then their ability , ( for naturally one cannot go from one extream to another without inconvenience ) or they have narrower veins that are too hot , or have a thicker constitution of body , or they prate too much when they drink . for speaking out , augmenteth natural heat that is inflamed by wine , and fills the head with vapours , and heaps up abundance of them ; which being corrupted by continuall motion , are distributed through the whole body , distending the eyes , inflating the temples , offending the brain . the same reason serves for such who at feasts eat hot bread , drink strong wine , and eat abundance of meats that are salt , and talk continually . for all these things increase thirst exceedingly , and makes men drink out of measure . also divers sorts of men eat bread wherein there is contain'd nigella seed , darnell , when they eat brown bread , or mingled with millet seed . for these cause heavinesse , and a passion like to drunkennesse by grosse vapours , canonher . l. . de admirand . vini c. . hitherto appertains refined wine , poured from the lees. for this , though it be weaker to preserve it self , and having no lees , will sooner grow sowr , ( for the lees are the root to preserve the wine ) yet because it is moyster , and pierceth into all the veins of those that drink it , it sooner inflames the blood , makes men drunk , and overturns reason . jason pratens . de morb . cerebri . but women come not into this consideration , nor such as drink sharp wine after sweet , or such as delight in new wine . for women are of a very moyst body , are often purged , have very open passages , macrob. in saturnal . yet because they have a weaker brain , and narrower sutures of their skull , it is better to say with alphonsus lupeius , that they are seldom so drunk that they rave , but they are often sottish in their drink . sweet wine stops the pores , through which the vapours of sharp wines , might ascend to the head . lastly sweetnesse so resists drunkennesse , that physitians cause such that are too much inflated with wine , first to vomit much , and then they give them bread with honey to eat , to repell the fumes that remaine of the wine ; macrob. saturnal : what concerns their divers gestures , that is founded in the diversity of the parts and humours . fumes from wine flye to the forepart of the head , and fumes of beer and ale to the hinder parts . those that are drunk with this , fall backwards , but these with wine fall forwards . those are clamorus and talkative , these sleepy and forgetfull . lemnius l. . de . occult . c. . they see things lesse a farr off , because the optick spirits are made more thick . the sanguine tempers laugh ; the cholerick prate and are mad ; the phlegmatique grow stupid ; the melancholique sad . and because all of them have their opticks troubled with vapours , they all see a divers colour'd circle about the light of the candle . gordon libro . medic. part . . c. . if they weep they delight in so doing . rhodig . l. . c. . moysture makes them stammer ; for by this the tongue is extended as a sponge with water , and being swoln and thick cannot speak plain . jacob pratens . de natura vini . moreover experience hath found that coleworts resist drunkennesse exceedingly , chiefly raw , and above all the red cabbage . lemnius l. . c. . de occult . but galen saith , l. . de composit . medicam . c. . hot cabbage macerated , and bound about the head . and so great is the antipathy between it and wine , that if one powre wine to it whil'st it boyls , it will not boyle much . if you desire a reason , some say , that by eating of it , grosse vapours ascend , that thicken the vapours of the wine . aristotle saith that it draws the moysture of wine down to the belly , and cools the body . weckerus attributes the same force of the ivy , and alexander saith that smallage , nuts , lupins will do the like . pumanellus saith , powder of pumex-stone drank in water will do it . gratarolus speaks the same of saffron , de vini natura c. . africanus , of a goats lungs . amandus de sancta sophia . l. . de veris secretis , attributes as much to new milk drank fasting . platerus prax . medic . tom. . c. . prescribes pap made of milk and barley meal taken with vinegar . and he describes a certain powder thus : take colewort seeds , dram ; coriander seed , drams ; camphir , , grai●s : make a powder , and give one spoonfull in sharp wine . but the dung of swallows powdred and drank , will maka a man sober , pliny . rue eaten , merula . the humour that first drops from the vines at the beginning of the spring ; bread that is made of darn●l , dried and made into powder . but that is superstitiously said , that whosoever shall rehearse this verse , before the first glasse of wine he drinks , juppiter his alta sonuit clementer ab ida. shall never be drunk . artic. . of bread. the chief foundation of mans preservation and nutriment ▪ and the staffe of life , is bread , well ordered . hence some say , panis , bread , comes from pasco to feed : some take it to be so call'd from pan , that is , all , because it answers all meat . it is made of divers things . the aethiopians made it of the seed of orindium . the icthyophagi made it of fish dried in the sun. plin. l. . c. . the aegyptian shepherds made it of the lote-tree seed . pliny , l. . c. . neer the mountain vogesus , about the town burcken , there is a fine white meale dug forth of a mountain ; the inhabitants make bread of it , and all sorts of cakes , claudius diodatus , l. . panther hygiastici . c. . but i say , that can be no true meal , but it must be miraculous . i think it is some thick juyce that proceeds out of the earth , and in time is congealed by heat of the sun , and so becomes fine meale . divers medicaments are made of bread . aqua-vitae , the most noble treasure of life is thus made . take the best bread cut into thin sippets , what is sufficient ; put them into a hot furnace , that by degrees they may dry , like red bisquit : then bruise it grosely , and put it into a wide cauldron , and for every pound of this bread , put in five pound of fountain water ; flowers of hops one handfull , of anniseeds one ounce : boyle them together till one part be consumed , let them coole a little , and then powre them forth , and pass them through a basket or sieve , then powre on some leaven , first dissolved in warm water ; shut this up in a vessel , and let it ferment and work like new wine : lastly part it as it grows clear , distill it , and rectifie it like spirit of wine . some distill the crumbs of white bread newly taken forth of the oven , putting it into glasse stills ▪ four ounces of it are given successefully against the epilepsie . see deodate how the quintessence may be extracted . artic. . of wonderfull fasting . though nourishment be necessary for our life , yet there have been many , that have lived along time without it . in saint augustine his days , one lived , days without eating any thing . another , in the time of olimpiodorus the platonist , for so long as he lived , he neither fed nor slept , but only stood in the sun to refresh himself . the daughter of the emperour clotarius fasted eleven years . petrus aponus saw one fasted years . rondeletius saw one fasted ten , and afterwards became a fruitfull mother . hermolaus knew a priest who lived in health years without any thing , but by sucking in the ayr. lastly , one nicolaus helvetius under waldensis , anno , after that he had five children by his wife , lived a solitary life , and neither ate nor drank in years . some dare affirm , that he fasted years ; and bocatius saith , that this party , or another , fasted years . mago carthaginensis , and lasyrtas lasionensis lived without taking any liquid substance all their lives , athen. l. . c. . one that coelius speaks of , that was by country of tomos , did the like at naples ; and aristotle speaks of andronis of greece . i will not speak of conflana and bernenses , two maids , in quercetanus l. . diaetetica c. . nor the maid of colen , in albertus l. . de animal ; nor her of hay , in namelius ; nor yet of the aunt of timon , in athenaeus l. . nor yet of the french-man that came from his pilgrimage from jerusalem : yet there is no man , i think , but will say , that all these things are preternatural . the cause is , in what takes away , or augments the appetite ; and that is done either when the meseraique veins do not attract the chylus , and draw it out of the stomach ; or when their sucking is not perceived in the orifice of the stomach . that , is caused by stopping of the veins , or by a hot distemper , or want of evacuation of the excrements that abound ; or when the orifice of the stomach is beset with flegmatick humours . this , either from the inhibition of the influence of the animall spirits , and the fainting of them , or from the distraction of the faculty , or from the distemper of the stomach , and stupidity of it . but because death doth not follow this taking away of the appetite , there must be some other cause besides . some make this to be , the relaxation of the nerves in the orifice of the stomach , as langius ; others think the ayr drawn in , feeds the spirits , as quercetan . but since they do not shew the cause of life , and this opinion is yet doubtful ; and they , which make the cause to be abundance of flegmatique humours , confesse there are plenty of them in cachecticall bodies ; sennertus his judgment pleaseth me best , who sayes , that such bodies are almost immortall ; and little or nothing exhales from them ; because they consist of a tenacious humour well compacted and growing fast together , and that will not yield to the action of heat that feeds on nutriment ; and their heat is most mild and gentle , and requires not much nourishment , instit. l. . part. . sect. c. . chap. iii. of concoction . article . of the liver and spleen . nutrition hath attraction , retention , expulsion , concoction subordinate unto it . concoction is either in the stomach , the liver , or the spleen , or in other parts . in the first the chylus is made of the meat , the faeces and watry excrements are cast forth : in the second , blood , yellow choler , whey , and urine are sent forth : in the third , dew , glew , and that which is call'd cambium , some thicker , some thinner are thrust forth . as for the liver , there was none found in mathias ortelius , a merchant of antwerp . though it be one entire body in man , yet in bruit beasts it is divided into many laps . in one maid it was found with three laps . in carolus sabaudus it ha● four little coats , francisc. puteus , l. : apol. in colet , the outmost fibres of it were adorned with hairy tufts sticking forth , camerar . when the heat of it growes weak , a dropsie followes . i will say a few things of the spleen ; there was a woman at paris was found to have none , holler . in observ . and pliny l. ● . saith , that in cawnus , men are born without it , natur. histor. c. . hence the common people think it may without hurt be cut out of footmen and horses . pallopius observed . that lay one upon another . posthius observes two at montpelier : where it increaseth , the body decayes . for then it sucks away too much chylus from the liver . hence trajan call'd the spleen the treasury : for , as this growes rich , the common people grow poor : so , as the milt increaseth , the body decreaseth . one was seen so great , that it weighed above pounds , c●lumb . l. . anatom . a marriner had a milt pound weight , and his liver eleven pounds . in jacobus antonellius it was no bigger than a pigeons egge ; in one of spoletum it was empty like a purse . article . of humours in generall . there is scarce any question to be made , but that the humour● cannot he defined by the onely force of the elementary qualities . for man lives upon plants , and they contain in them sharp , bitter , and sometimes minerall juices . they are alter'd indeed by that internall archaeus , which is naturall heat ; but when they are unmingled , unfit , and robustous , they cannot be changed . hence it is that urines are made somtimes that will corrode cloth ; and somtimes blood falne from the nose will do the like . doring . l. : de medicin . et medic . somtimes things are cast up so hot by vomit , that they will boyle in the bason , and dye silver chargers with a brasen colour , that no washing , nor strong rubbing can take off , schenk . obs . l. . sometimes things yellow like saffron are voided , so sweet ; that they tast like liccoris , when as they should be bitter . cardan , contra , . l. . tract . . reports that a woman that had drank poyson , had a vein opened , and no blood would run forth , but a green juice as from herbs , to . ounces in quantity ; and a mans blood was , like to milk . the humours have wonderfull conveyances in the body , and certain periods . the blood doth grow vigorous , saith soranus ephesinus , ( which like the evangelists , doth measure the spaces and course of day and night by equall hours ) from a clock at night , till . a clock in the morning , in which time the blood in man is concocted and elaborated : thence is the mind of man cheerfull at sun-rising . yellow choler is concocted from . in the morning , untill a clock ; in which time the naturall faculty separates choler from blood , and sends it to the gall bladder : thence a man is prone to anger . black choler is elaborated from . a clock of the day , till . at night . in this time the liver is purified , and made clean of grosse blood ; and this , nature , as some say , ordains for the spleen . from hence is the mind of man darkned . flegme is concocted from . at night till nine : for then supper being ended , concoction begins to be made in the stomach , and the meat to be liquified . from hence flegme swimming upon the stomach , and carried to the brain , makes a man sleepy . but if they be over-much , and joyn'd one with another , then they do not keep their times . moreover , the persians , by reason of their moderate exercises being children , grew so dry of body , that they neither spit , nor did blow their noses , nor were their bodies puft up , varro in fragment . artic. . of blood. blood is stopt by some , wonderfully : gesner notes , that frederick duke of saxony , gave a toad that was thrust through with a woodden spit , and well dryed in the sun , and wrapt in sarsnet , for them that bled at the nose , to hold in their hands till it grew hot , and so the blood was stopt . a hens chicken will do the same , if the part hurt be thrust into that place where cocks use to be gelt , a hole being cut open . platerus l. . de vit . c. . proved it , and found it so . a noble matron stayd bleeding at the nose , by holding a bit of white chalk under the ring-finger , on that side the nostrill bled , forest. l. . c. . osorius writes also of nahodaguca , a prince in the kingdome of malacca , who was hurt with many wounds and fell down , yet not one drop of blood came forth ; when he was stript , and a bracelet of gold was taken off , then it began to run . that stone was said to have power to stop blood , that was set in it . it is taken out of beasts which the sinenses call cabrisias , osor. l. . de reb . afric . et indicis . that it comes forth of a vein cut , the distending of the vessels is the cause . for the continuall motion of the arteries added to the veins , doth presse the veins : but if the veins be opened , the blood comes forth , because there is nothing to hinder it . hence when a vein is opened , if one swoond , the blood stops . for the vitall spirit doth no longer distend the vessels , bartholin . probl. . it is observed , that when a man is killed , it will run forth if the murderer be present ; but when a man is drown'd , it runs forth when friends are present . when you ask the cause , it is either motion and agitation that opens the orifices of the veins , or sympathy and antipathy : the revenge of the person is put for an argument . he that is grievously wounded , becomes the assailer , saith rhodigi● . thought greedily desires revenge ; choler burns suddenly for it ; the blood is presently inflamed with it , and runs with all its force to the wound , both to foment it , and to revenge . the spirits fly together , and by an inbred leightnesse do fly about the author of it , by whose heat they continue , and remain for some time , rhodig . . antiq. c. . it was of old thought to be a remedy for the falling-sicknesse , to drink man's blood yet warm . it was the devil's invention , who delights in the slaughter of men ▪ and to do them mischief . the wife of marcus antonius the philosopher , fell in love with a fencer ; the wizards were enquired of , and they gave counsel to kill him , and that faustina should drink his blood , the next time she lay with caesar. it was so done , and her love was ended , but the boy born was of a fighting disposition , and destroy'd the common-wealth , jul. capitolin . langius reports , that the son of a certain shepherd was faint-hearted for robberies ; but when he had eaten a crust of bread dipt in mans blood , he was flesh'd for all villany . the carmani had this custom , that at feasts they would open a vein in their face , and mingle the blood that ran forth with wine , and so drink it , holding it the end of their friendship , to taste one the others blood . ( but these things belong to the description of wonders in customes ) there is compounded a lamp of life and death with mans blood , whereof ernestus burgravius writes thus : this lamp or light once lighted , burns continually , so long as that man , of whose blood it was made , doth live , and at the very same moment that he di●s , it will go out . know also , that if the flame be bright , rising high and quiet , that man feels nothing that troubles his mind or body : but if it be otherwise , and the flame rising , twinckles diversly , or is lower and clowdy and troubled , it gives thee a sign of great sorrow and other passions . for perpetually from the coelestiall influences bred with the microcosme , and from the naturall inclinations ( since that blood is nourished by the blood of that man , and the body of the same from the substance of this very blood , from which blood was as it were mutually taken to prepare it ) that flame shines according to the state and habit of that man , in prosperity or adversity , and so shews it self . sennertus and deodate , call this pyromantia . artic. . of urine and reins . many things perswade us , that there is somthing else contain'd in urines beside the watery substance . for in diseases they are made plentifully , though men have drank nothing . and it is observed that creatures that drink nothing , will make water . physitians foretell many things by their colours , thinnesse , and thicknesse . and chymists find salt in urine resolved . but whatsoever that is , it is call'd serum , and it is the superfluous salt matter in meats and drinks , and is not fit for nutriment . salt is hid in meats , to season them ; and that plants are full of salt , you may find by distilling them . it is very well known that divers kinds of salt may be fetched out of urines . aegineta saith , that artificiall chrysocolla is made with urine . nitre is made of earth , moystned with the urine and dung of living creatures . baccius shews the way : his words are . saltpeter is made now a days by industry of a most sharp lixivium , that drains forth from old dung , or rotten ordure , from the matter of churchyards , and some earths that are rotted together , the sane water being often powred on in wodden vessels . this lixivium is boyld in great cauldrons , and salt-peter is made , long fibres growing hard in the bottom like to salt . hence ruffus ephesmus said ; that urine was a nitrous humour that falls into the bladder . de appel . corp human . c. . the arabians write that in the urine of those are bit with mad dogs , the pictures of dogs may be seen abenzoar . but that seems to be attributed to the force of the venom , because it changeth exceedingly a mans constitution , and makes it like to a doggs . for the humours are so corrupted by it , that some little creatures like to puppies are bred in the body , sennert . l. . p. . s. . c. . truly we find worms to breed in the bladder ; for a woman voided one a span long ; and a noble maid , voided many as great as wiglice , schenck , l. . obs . also charls count of mansfield , voided one like a magpie ; duretus , like a hog-louse . but one that had the stone of the bladder voided two , with a sharp head , with horns ; the back and belly were crusty , and they were black , and like tortoises , but that their belly was red , pareus l. . c. . holler . de morb . intern . another voided a living scorpion ; another , shell-fish , schenk . observ . all know the urinary passage , yet somtimes other things are voided by it . the sonne of boninus made water a little beneath the glans ; and a maid of a noble family at the hague , urin'd her navel . an old vine dresser had it coming forth at an ulcer of his left buttock ; a souldier voided it by his hip and thigh ; others by their belly . schenk . in obser . fernel . l. . pathal . c. . as for the kidneys , gemma saw , or , lib. , cyclogn . wolphius and columbus , l. . anatom . saw but one . they were seen fastned to the liver by holtzapfelius at auspurg . the fat of them is somtimes found so hard and congeal'd that it is almost as hard as a stone , eustach . de renib . c. . saxonia saw the substance of them resolved into little peices of flesh . stones also are bred in them of a faeculent matter , mingled with a salt and stony juyce . somtimes they are very great . a father general of the carmelites had a stone in one of his kidneys , which growing from a large root , was divided into eight branches , according to the forme of the channels of the urinary vessels , and the number of them , this excellently resembled the stock and branches of corall ; moreover the flesh much contracted and diminished , with the veins , stuck so fast to this stone all about , that it had lost its own form , and seem'd to be a thick skin that covered it round . eustach . ad c. . de renib . artic. . of marrow . plinie writeth , that a serpent is ingendred of the marrow of the back-bone of a man. the truth of this testimony appeareth by experience , and is made manifest by an example that we read in plutarch . for the king of aegypt having made the dead body of cleomenes to be hanged up , and they that watched it having spied a great serpent winding about his head , and covering the face in such sort as no bird that preyes upon carrion durst soare thereabouts ; the people of alexandria running thither ( saith he ) in troupes to see this spectacle , called cleomenes a demi-god , and the sonne of the gods : untill such time as the best in knowledg among them had called to mind , that as of the putrified flesh of a dead oxe , there grow bees ; of a horse , wasps ; and of an asse , beetles : so likewise , when the matterie substance which invironneth the marrow , gathereth together and thickneth , serpents are ingendred thereof . camerarius saith , he hath oftentimes seen in a well-known place of germany a yong gentlemans tombe , who was buried in a chappell where his predecessors lay : it is said , that he was the fairest yong man of his time ; and being troubled with a grievous sicknesse in the flower of his age , his friends could never get so much of him ( no more than agesilaus friends could get of him ) as to suffer himself to be represented in sculpture or picture , to serve for posteritie : only this , through their importunitie he agreed unto , that after he should be dead and some daies in the ground , they should open his grave , and cause him to be represented as they then found him . they kept promise with him , and found that the worms had half gnawne his face , and that about the midriffe and the back-bone there were many serpents . upon this , they caused the spectacle ( such as they found it ) to be cut in stone : which is yet at this present to be seen among the armed statues of the ancestors of this yong gentleman . a notable example of the fragilitie of mans body , how faire and goodly so ever it be ; and that all the splendor and magnificall shew that may be seen therein , is nothing else but rottennesse and wormes-meat : as the author of ecclesiasticus saith ; when a man dieth , he is the heritage of serpents , beasts and worms . which is confirmed by a certaine inscription graven upon a tombe at rome in saint saviours church , where are two latine verses to this effect . when in my bodies prison i was pent , i was compact of shamefull filth and ordure : now to this lower dungeon being sent , to crawling wormes i serve for food and pasture . saint bernard aymed at the same when he said , that man was nothing but stinking seed , a sack of excrements , and the food of worms . of bodies dead ingender worms , of wormes a rotten stink , and then as horrible a state as mind of man can think : this is our very case , for all our pride and hie conceit , nor can we stay the stroake of death when he our life doth threat . so then , nature ingendring of the carrion of our bodies , a serpent , or a dragon , it seemeth to shew unto us ( as it were with the finger ) the author of our calamities and corruptions ; as also the enemie that hath an unreconcileable warre with us : to wit , that old dragon and serpent , who not only layeth traps for the living ; but besides never leaveth rending and devouring those that be dead and buried . article . of sweat. aristotle reports , that some have sweat blood . and fernel . l. . de part . morb . c. . observed , that sometimes blood will run forth of the ends of the veins that end in the skin , in many places . there was one , that every month about a pound of blood , run forth of a vein opened , by the skin , near the lower part of the liver ▪ when it was voided , none could discern where it came forth , beneven . lastly , the president of mons marinus , when he was besieged by augustus the base son of the prince of salucia , and was called forth as it were to parley , and then held prisoner , and he was threatned with death , if he yielded not up the place , was so frighted with this undeserved death , that he sweat blood all over his body , thuan. l. ▪ histor. the causes are two , saith aristotle . the thinnesse of the blood , the rari●y of the skin , and the opening of the pores . to this may be added , the weaknesse of the parts that serve for nutrition , if the retentive faculty hold not , and the expulsive cast forth strongly . anno , there was a kind of disease call'd the english sweat ; it first fell out in england , and in germany anno , it so spread , that it brake off the treaty of zwinglius and luther . the force was so great , that it killed men in hours , or else they recovered if it did breathe forth by sweat , thuan. lib. . physicall observations shew , that one recovered who went into a very hot oven , and sweat violently . but as many as eat of the bread was baked in the same oven , were all consumed by a consumption , riqu . de febre sudor in epist. and though sweat , when other signs are good , be a token of a good crisis , yet a cold sweat is certainly mortall , for it comes from the decayd heat of the solid parts . when as it breaks forth from a great feavorish heat within , it is cooled in the externall parts that are now void of all heat . whence our hippocrates , l. . aphor. . saith , if cold sweats come forth upon a hot feaver , they signifie death ; but if the feaver be mild , a chronicall disease . article . of insensible transpiration . as in the great world , vapours are drawn forth from moyst places by the heat of the sun and the stars : so in man , the litle world , we must grant the same is caused by force of the inward heat . yet lest they being united in mans body , should cause distemper , and make feavers , god made mans body open and full of pores , through which the vapours breathe out , and that so finely , that the senses can scarce perceive them . yet sanctor . sanctorius , did observe and weigh them as fine as they are . hence grew , that physick is called statica , wherein amongst other aphorismes these are contain'd : i. insensible transpiration is far more , than all sensible transpirations put together . ii. if the weight of the body begins to increase more than usually , without any greater addition of meat or drink , or retention of sensible excrements , there is a stopping of the pores . iii. perspiration that cures the body of a disease , and of that unprofitable weight , is not that which is made by sweat , but by that invisible breathing forth , which in winter in one naturall day can send forth above ounces . iv. after sleep , before he voids any sensible excrements , a man feels himself lighter ; for he is so , about . pounds weight more than ordinary . v. in one night commonly a man voids ounces of urine , more or lesse , . ounces of excrements by siege , and above ounces by insensible transpiration . vi. many men void more in one naturall day by insensible transpiration , than they do by their belly in . dayes . vii . if cold fall upon the ayr in summer , and a man drink hard that day , it will hinder a third part almost of insensible transpiration ; and if sensible transpiration do not help , it will easily dispose a man to corrupt humours or cachexia . viii . in summer temperate bodies are lighter than in winter about three pound weight . ix . in summer if cold fall upon heat , the same day about one pound of excrements are kept in , and cannot breathe forth . x. from the autumnall equinoctiall , to the summer solstice , we breathe forth above one pound weight lesse every day ; and from thence to the vernall aequinox we begin to breathe them forth more freely . xi . the stomach fill'd with meat , if it perform the first concoction whilest we sleep , the perspiration of that night commonly amounts to ounces ; but if it do not end it , it comes to about ounces . xii . meats that nourish much , except wether-mutton , from supper to dinner , use not to breathe out above . ounces . xiii . plenty of meats , that nourish but little , in one night may breathe forth above ounces in most men . xiv . wether-mutton is easily concocted , and will breathe forth ; for in one night it will come forth by insensible transpiration . ounces more than other ordinary meats . xv. unquiet rest hinders at least . ounces of ordinary transpiration . xvi . i have found that insensible transpiration in many men will breathe forth in . hours ounces , when they sleep ; and when they wake , or thereabouts . chap. iv. of increasing . article . of gyants . there are two sorts of gyants . for they are either people of a country ; or else monsters , by errour of the matter , or of the agent . goropius becanus denyes that ever there were , or are any of the first kind . but the holy scripture gives testimony , and there are evident examples , and modern experience confirm it . for the spies , numb . . v. . say expresly , we saw gyants the sons of anak , which come of the gyants , that we seemed in our eyes like to grashoppers , and so we were in their eyes . and what are the names of the emims , and zamzummims ; but titles of gyants ? procopius testifieth , that justinian wondred at the goths of old for their vast bodies . some think they had their names from gygas , bartholin . de pigmaeis c. . mela. l. . c. . writes , that amongst the indians there were men so tall , that they rid on the greatest elephants instead of horses . the patagones in america are certainly known to be . spans high . pigafetta saith , he saw there amongst the canibals a gyant that was taller than other men from the girdle upwards . but about the straights of magellan near the antartick pole , he saw men whose neck was half as long as a mans arm ; and he affirms it exceedingly . we may place goliah , and such as are spoken of , sam. . in the number of the last kind of gyants . augustine saw the grinding tooth of one , that , cut into pieces , would make a hundred teeth of ours , lib. . de civitat dei , c. . some were found in drepanum in sicily , each of them weighed . pound , pulgosius l. . c. . lucius flaccus and metellus in the cretian warre found some of their bodies that were cubits . in the same place the earth opening by an earthquake cast up one cubits high , plin. l. . c. . in another place amongst the waves there was a maid seen cubits long , and she was . cubits broad between the shoulders , she was clothed in a purple garment , vincentius histor . natur. l. . c. . but what saith bertius of another in his description of zealand ▪ our chronicles relate , from gulielmus bonus , earl of holland , unto the marriage solemnities of charles the fair , king of france , a woman was brought , of an unusuall stature , born in zealand , in respect of whom very tall men seemed but dwarfs ; and she was so strong , that she would carry two barrels full of beer in both hands , each of them weighing italian pounds ; and a beam that men could not lift , she would weeld at pleasure . he that desires more , let him read the book of johannes cassio de gygantibus : i onely mention some of the chief , commonly they that feed abundantly do not grow so beautifull . the choaking of the natural heat , is the cause , with abundance of moysture . the same happeneth in diseases , lemnius in occult . artic. . of pigmies . pygmies have their name from their cubital stature . for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , is the distance from the bending of the elbow to the top of the little finger . the hebrews call them gammadim , from gomed a cubit . there were two sorts of them , some very little ones brought up in princes courts for sport ; born by accident as monsters are . some are a people that live some where , or else they did formerly . i need not prove the former . under theodosius there was one so small in aegypt , that he seem'd no bigger than a partridge ; he was very wise , and had a pleasant voyce , and spake clearly , shewing the marks of a generous mind , he lived , years . nicephor l. . eccles. histor . c. . johannes cassinon de gygant , p. , saw two at lyons , one of them had a long beard , and was of a very beautiful countenance , some of our chamberfellows saw at falconburg , a mile from leyds the last yeare , a female a cubit long , there was a dwarf at the marriage of the duke of bavaria , who was compleatly arm'd , with a short spear , and his sword girt about him , and he was hid in a pie that one could not see him , and he was set upon the table , and he brake the crust of the pie and came forth , and drawing his sword he danced like a fencer , and made all the people laugh and admire him , plater . l. . observ. at dresda in the castle of the elector of saxony there is to be seen the skeleton of a dwarfe , not a cubit high , with so solid and well proportion'd bones , that one would think they were the bones of an embryo . bartholin de pigm . c. . in marchia and lusatia , there was an entire skeleton found , with the skull , foot and fingers long , leonhardus ▪ turnheuserus in german pisone memorat . l. . c. . now because coffins of the dead were often dug up in those parts , the people think the pigmies make them under ground . in winter they lye , foot deep , about whitsontide one cubit , it is the opinion of the people . multitudes of authours may perswade us to beleive that there was a country of pigmies : amongst the rest c●esias indicus writes thus : middle india hath blackmen , that are called pigmies , and they speak the same language , the rest of the indians do ; they are very small , for great part of them are but half a cubit high , and the greatest of them is not above two cubits . their haire hangs as farr & somtime below their knees , & they wear their beards longer than any men . and so soon as their long beard is grown , they use no clothing , but they let their haire fall backwards much below their knees , and their beard covers their fore-parts . then when they have covered their whole bodies with haire , they girt themselves about with them instead of garments . also their yard is so thick and so great , that it will come down to their ankles . they are also flat nosed and deformed . their sheep are no bigger than our lambs , their oxen and asses are like our rams in greatnesse , their horses and mules , and other creatures to carry burdens are no bigger . the king of the indies hath of these pigmies in his company . for they are most cunning archers . they are very just , & use the same laws the other indians do . they hunt hares & foxes , not with dogs , but with crows , kites rooks , & eagles , there is a lake amongst them that is furlongs about , upon which , when the wind troubles it not , oyle swims which some of these men take away from the middle of it in boats , swimming through it with little ships , and this they use . they use also oyle of sesama & nuts , but the best is taken out of that lake . so far he describes them . antonius pigafetta found some of them in an island of the moluccas , but jovius l. . de rebus muscovit . saith , they are in the island caphi , beyond the laplanders ▪ lastly odericus de reb . indic . l. , saith , he saw some but three hands breadth , and that they begat children at five yeares old . chap. v. of generation . article . of seed . the seed , the most noble principle in generation , resists many injuries . that appears even from this , that the essence of many things can remain entire in many changes , & under another form . let a goat be fed with many purgative herbs ; let the nurse drink the goats-milk , and it will purge the child that sucks her : yet in the stomach of the goat those herbs were changed into chylus , and the chylus was made blood in the liver , and from blood milk in the udder ; when the nurse drinks this milk , again chylus is made of it in the stomach , blood of this chylus in the liver , milk of this blood in her breasts . i received it from one , saith sennertus , worthy of credit , de consens . et dissens . that from the froth of a mad dog that stuck upon a cloath , little creatures were bred like to whelps . it is wont , being retain'd in virgins and lusty widows , to get a venomous quality , by corrupting in the matrix , and it will cause strong symptoms . for a malignant vapour flying up , presseth the intestines , the liver , and the 〈…〉 ▪ and makes the breathing so small , that it can hardly be perceived . when any thing hangs over the parts of the privities or navel toward the diaphragma , and ascending to the orifice of the stomach is perceived , there followes presently panting of the heart , aking of the heart , swimming of the head and palenesse . whilest this continues ▪ a woman falls suddenly down , and is deprived of breathing , speech , and sight ; ( many have layn so dayes ; others have been buried , as though they had been dead ; vesalius dissected one to his great dishonour ) and sometimes a woman is affected with the epilepsie , convulsion sits , and raving ; and , as the malignant vapour fall on this or that part , so is she disquieted . sometimes wonderfull voyces are heard out of their bellies , crying of frogs , hissing of serpents , croking of crowes , crowing of cocks , barking of dogs ; which gemma frisius l. . c. . cosmocrit . thinks they do vary as the passages and the spirits that break forth are proportioned . the daughters of the president of roan did alwaies laugh , and would not cease from it ▪ holler . de intern . morb . it happens sometimes , that imagination being hurt , they grow sick of melancholy , and think the devill is present ; also they fall into the fury of the womb , and wandring melancholy : this principally is of force in february , and is heaped up in winter . when they are so affected , they will speak divers things , and divers wonders in strange tongues . physitians say , they will desire to lye with those they meet ; they will talk in the night , and hide themselves in tombs , henr. petreius nosolog . harmon . discours . . we read , that the virgins of miletus affected with this disease , offered violence to themselves . the order of formation is this ; first of all , the membranes that surround the infant are made ; for in these the nobler part of the seed is included , and the heat of the spirit and seed is covered after : after this all the spermatick parts are delineated ; and as their dignity is , so is each of them made in its order . yet some are perfected sooner , some later . hence at the first time of conception there appear . bubbles , as it were , swelling with spirits , which are the rudiments of the brain , heart and liver , and an innumerable company of threds , that are the beginnings of veins , nerves and arteries , and , as it were , the foundations of the solid parts , sennert . l. . institut . c. . artic. . of menstruous blood and milk. the coldness of women , & generation is the cause that all blood is not wasted in them , yet because they are not alwaies with child , it is then collected in the vessels about the matrix , and is cast forth every month , that they may not feel the burden of it , wherefore physitians call them monthly terms . they begin to be cast forth , when they are young maids , the bottom or neck of the matrix determins the manner of the flux . it is observed that a fresh maid , with great brests hanging down , which had hair under her arm-pits , and on her privities , had her courses five yeares together without any hurt schenk . l. . observ . nature if it cannot find the ordinary way seeks another passage . a maid of saxony had her terms come forth of her eys . a nun had them came forth of her ears . pareus his wife had them by her nostrills : a maid at sturgard vomited them up : a maid in the island chios , spit them up . amatus speaks of some that voided them by their teats : a woman of trent , voided them by her navel ; and which is wonderfull , a nun voided them every month by her little finger , and ring finger of her left hand , ludovic . mercat . l. . c. . de mulierib . affect . all have not this flux uniforme ; those that are of a good habit have them twice a yeare without hurt , and some not so much as once . and hortensius saith they have them before they conceive . institut . medic . l. . c. . they that are born from mothers that were long before they had their terms , are commonly sickly . so it was with francis the d. king of france , who never had a s●otty nose , and seldom spit , but a great deal of filthy excrements came towards his eare , and purged his brain that way , and at last the corruption grew mortall . thuan. l. . histor. and pliny affirms that there is a venemous quality in it . for l. . c. . l. . c. . he writes thus , you shall not easily find any thing that is more monstrous than the terms of women : new wine will grow sowre by them , corn will wither by touching them , plants will dye , the buds of trees will be burnt by them , and fall ; looking-glasses grow dark by their very looks . the edge of steel and the brightnesse of ivory is mad blunt , swarms of bees dye , brasse and iron will presently rust , and a stinking smell corrupts the ayre : dogs run mad that tast them , and bite deadly with venome incurable . also it is reported that the ant , the smallest creature is sensible of this , and will not eat the corn hath touched them , not come there any more . milk hath been somtimes found in mens brests . for cardan de subtil . testifies that antonius benzus , being , yeares old , pale , and with a thin beard , fat of body , had as much milk in his brests as would suckle a child . they that have seen the new world , affirm that all the men almost have abundance of milk. aristotle saw a hee goat in lemnus , that afforded so much milk as would suffice to give a kid suck . l. . histor . animal . c. that it will somtimes grow hard as a stone , see schenkius observat . mathaeus medic. quaest , centur . qu. ▪ denies that virgins have any . heurnius ad l. . aphor. . affirms it . if virgins , saith he , abound with this blood , and their termes be stopt , unlesse this be voided by letting blood , or vomiting , or bleeding at the nose , or emrods , or a bloody dysentery ; and if their brests be hotter and rubbed , it may incline somtimes that way and be turned into milk . hippocrates in the same aphoris●m . if a woman have milk , and be neither great with child , nor delivered , her courses are stopt . yet we confesse , this hapneth but seldom , since nature ordaind the milk to suckle the infant . artic. . of the generative parts . i shall speak but little of these , and with a mind that is modest , and with such a mind they ought to be read . histories relate , that sylla had but one testicle ; and philip landgrave of hassia had . thuan. l. . he addes , he was so full of juice for venery , that when he used onely his wife , and she could not suffer him so often , as he would ; he being otherwise a chaste man , by consent of his wife , and relating his mind to the priests , he was forced to take a concubine besides . a prince of germany who was emasculated by a cannon bullet , made that member of silver , and with that he got many children , nancel . analog . microcosm . l. . a bull that presently leapt on a cow , so soon as he was gelt , got her with calf , aristotle . and albertus relates of an eunuch that used copulation . one was born without a genital member , yet with the scrotum and testicles ; another , without the parts of either sex , schenkius in observat ▪ it is certain , that virgins have a virginall cloyster . but there is not a little skin placed a thwart in the middle of the matrix , that makes the neck thereof impassible : but four caruncles , placed round , with small fibres comming between them , till they are broken by force , and they are circularly shrivelled by course , leaving a hole in the middle of them , that the terms may run forth from the matrix , ludovic . de gardin . anatom . c. . avicenna l. . sen. . makes mention of a part found in the privity of a woman , which he calls the wand , or albathara . albucasis l. . c. . calls it tentigo ; and sometimes this hath grown so big , that women that have it , could copulate with others like men , fa●lopius . caesarean births shew , that the womb may be cut sometimes without danger . physicall histories testifie , that one had her matrix cut out for her lasciviousnesse , yet without danger of her life . rhodiginus saith , he saw a maid foretell future things by her matrix . chrysostome saith , that one of apollo's nuns did the like . article . of the female sex. wee all know there are two sexes : the male the superiour ; and the female , inferiour almost in all things . god gave the man the superiority , and commanded the woman to obey . if we consider her body , she shewes by this , her condition is the lowest ; chiefly if we consider her temper and excrements . hence , because they send forth sad vapours , by reason of their courses , they will make nutmegs and corall , look foul and black . but if a male carry the first it will grow fatter , the latter will look more red , lemnius l. . c. . de occult . they are easily angry , and their choler kindled , soon will boyl over ; and for want of heat , they are not so ingenious . it is now the common opinion , that this sex is more lustfull than men are . yet no man will deny , but that there are degrees in this . for in pale lean people , the genitall parts are filled with a sharp biting humour , and desire to be moystned . lemnius l. . de occult . c. . conjectures , that they are more venereous than red fat people . rue makes men lesse , women more lustfull . secundus philosophus , when he was perswaded that all women were naught , and having made triall , found it so in his own mother , not that he lay with her , but found she would give him leave , being asked by adrian what a woman was , answered , mans confusion ; an unsatiable beast ; a continuall trouble ; a battel without end : the shipwrack of an incontinent man ; the slave of mankind . yet be what it will be ; this sex is not so much to be despised : but there are some found above this condition . in the siege at brunswick a woman playd the souldier ; another did the like formerly in caesar's camp , camer . hor. subcis . c. . cent. . eudoxia the wife of theodosius the younger writ poems ; and there is extant of her making homers fragments concerning our saviour . proba falconia did the like out of virgils verses . jane grey , understood hebrew , greek , and latine . olympia fulvia morata , could make verses greek or latine ; and when she turned to the orthodox religion , she gave her self wholly to divinity . what shall i say of elizabeth queen of england ? she by her vertues put all the world into admiration ; and she so amazed pope sixtus , that he said , that she onely with henry the fourth of france was fit to give counsell concerning the state of the whole christian world. examples testifie , that women in time were changed into men . at antioch a famous maid being married after she had born a child , became a man ; at maevan , another also became a man. at rome one , the same day she was married , was transformed , volat. l. . comm. urbin . the same happened to aemilia , after she had been married years . see more examples in schenkius . artic. . of the noise of the womb. some have observed , that children have cryed in their mothers wombs , and so lowd , that they could be well heard . in weinrichius of monsters , you shall find examples . a poet writes thus : wonder it is , a child did sadly cry , which was unborn , and in the womb did ly . the cause was this , it griev'd , and with its might strove to come forth , to see the worlds great light . or else perhaps , it shew'd the earnest care to help its parents that now weary were . some think , that this portends some hurt to the child , or to the mother : others think , that this is contrary to reason and experience . to experience , because there is no certainty that any such thing happened amongst the old philosophers . to reason , because there can be no cry heard without drawing the ayr by the mouth , and without the beating at the ayr by the sharp artery when we breathe it forth , and without a certain forming of it by the mouth , and the palate . for being there is no place for a reciprocall course of the ayr , in the veins and arteries , and the infants urinary passage , that are filled with other things ; nor for so great abundance , that a passage should be made by the heart ; it cannot enter by the navel , by reason of the notable danger of heat , nor can it be admitted by the matrix : to say nothing , that all are full of an excrementitious glutinous matter . libavius supposeth all things required for breathing in the thorax to be made , and he thinks that the internal aereal breath made of the humours by the active heat , and shut up within the house where the child is , and also contain'd in the capacity of the lungs , being pressed forth by the child , may serve the turn . see disc . de vagitu , &c. artic. . of numerous births . in the single faculty of generation , that man hath , there happens variety , if we consider time and number . some are born in the fift month , some in the sixt , some in the th , th , or th , and some in the tenth , th . th . paschal . in biblio . medica saith , one was great with child months , another years , aventinus . l. . annal , this child was born speaking ; one was with child four yeares , mercurialus . yet physitians set the th and tenth months for the time of natural birth , when the child is grown great and wants plenty of nourishment , and the place where he lyes is grown too narrow . those that are born in the fift month , are very feeble , as a maid was that valescus de philos. sacra c. . mentions , who was more slender and thin than women-kind use to be . those that are born in the th month are weak , and suspected , not to be perfect in all things ; few live in the th month , the striving to be born in the th month , hath made them weak as some think . for number some will bring two , three , four , oft times ; and some will exceed this , that it is miraculous . an aegyptian , in gellius l. . c. . had five at a birth . the mother of lamisius king of lombardy had , sigebert in chronic. the countesse of quenfurt had . betraff . l. . of the princess of anhalt . a woman that albertus speaks of , miscarried of , another of , another of a . the matter was proved by cutting the little coats they were wrapped in , caelinus l. . c. . the wife of irmentrud isenbert , earl of altorf , was delivered of . margaret the wife of the earl of viraboslai of , cromer . l. . margaret the daughter of florentius earle of holland had , ludovicus vives in colloquiis . maude countesse of henneberg under frederick the second had . aventin . l. . annal , cuspinianus saith , . but if you take them at severall times , you shall find wonderfull examples of fruitfullnesse . priamus by hecuba had , children , and , by other women . artaxerxes had , herotimus , . conradus duke of moscovia had . the king of giloto ( it is an island amongst the m●luccas ) had , pigafetta of ziamb , . another had . martinus polus l. . c. . saith , he saw these living . ludovicus vives saw a country man in spaine , whose children whil'st he lived , had filled a village of above a hundred housholds . and in our times an old wife spake of her ofspring , thus . ah my daughter , tell thy daughters daughter to lament for her daughters daughter . sphinx . c. . thomas fazell writeth , that iane pancica , who in his time was maried to bernard belluard , sicilian , of the citie of agrigent , was so fruitfull , that in thirtie child-beds she was delivered of seventie and three children : which should not seeme ( saith he ) incredible , seeing aristotle affirmes , that one woman at four births brought forth twentie children ; at every one , five . albertus magnus writes , that a woman of germanie had two and twentie abortive children at one time , all having their perfect shapes : and another woman , seventie . and besides , that another woman delivered into a bason a hundred and fiftie , every one of the length of ones little finger . erasmus , vives , and others , have written of the strange deliverance of the countesse of henneberg . lewis guicciardin in his description of the low-countries setteth down the same storie , taken out of the ninth book of the annals of flanders , composed by guido dominicus petrus : his words are these ; a certaine poore woman , brought a bed of two children , prayed the countesse to give her some assistance in her necessitie : but the countesse did not only send her away empty-handed , but charged her that she was of an ill behaviour , saying that it was a thing against nature ( in her opinion ) for a woman that is honest to conceive by her husband two children at one birth ; and therefore that this her deliverance had bewraied , that she had lewdly abandoned her selfe to some others . the poore woman moved with this reproach and ignominious repulse , and of the other side well assured of her honest carriage , made earnest request to god , that for the proofe of her innocency , and of the faith which he knew she had kept inviolably to her husband , it would please him to grant that this countesse might have so many children at one burden , as there were daies in the yeare : which within a while after came to passe . and he addeth , that these children were as big as chickens new hatcht , all alive , and sound , and died within a little while together with their mother : to whom this epitaph following was erected in the monasterie of lodun , where there were nunnes of the order of s. bernard , and it is hard by the hague in holland . the epitaph . the daughter of the right noble lord florent earle of holland , and of mawd his wife the daughter of henrie duke of brabant , sister of william king of almaine , named margaret , of the age of fortie two yeares , was brought a bed upon the friday before easter , in the yeare , at nine a clock in the morning , of three hundred , three-score , and five children , as well male as female ; who after they had been all baptized in a great bason by the reverend bishop don william , suffragan , in the presence of some great lords and notable persons , the male children being called by the name of john , the female by the name of elizabeth , dyed all of them together with their mother ; their souls returning to god , to live eternally , their bodies resting under this tombe . the like storie well neere is reported of the beginning of the noble race of the wolfes . irmentrudes the wife of isenbard earle of altorf , having given her selfe the reines so far , as to accuse of adulterie a woman that had three children at one birth , being not able to believe that one man could at one time get so many children , adding withall , that she deserved to be sowed in a sack and thrown into the water , yea , and accusing her in that regard to her husband : it happened that the next yeare the countesse felt her self with child , and the earle being from home , she was brought a bed of twelve male children , but all very little . she fearing the reproach of adulterie ( whereof yet she was not guilty ) and the punishment of like-for-like , commanded that eleven of them should be taken and cast into a river that was not far from the house , and that one should be saved to be brought up . it so fell out that isenbard met the woman that was carrying the little infants to their death , and asking her , whither she went with her paile ? he had this answer , that she was going to drown a few baggage whelps in the river of schere . the earle came unto her , and ( for all the resistance the woman made ) would see what was there , and then discovering the children , pressed her in such wise , that she told him all the matter . then he caused them to be nourished and educated secretly , and so soon as they were grown great and brought home to him , he set them in an open hall besides him whom his wife had brought up : and then being all known to be brethren by their faces , and their other fashions , their mother moved in conscience confessed all the fact , and obtained pardon for her fault . in remembrance whereof the honorable race of the wolfes got that name , which ever since it hath kept . article . of monstrous births . nature in working intends her own businesse ; but because divers obstacles may happen in respect of the first agent , the seed , the constitution of the heavens , the formative vertue , imagination , heat , it is no wonder if she erre sometimes . and though there be monsters almost in all mixt bodies , yet those monsters that happen amongst living creatures are chiefly remarkable . and such fall out either in quantity or quality . a woman of troas , anno , brought forth twins joyn'd by the heads , pareus l. . oper . c. . valeriola locor . commun . l. . c. . saw at avignon one with two bodies all from the neck . munsterus saw two maids joyn'd together , with their foreheads one against the other ; and when one went forward , the other went backwards . at florence there were two boyes , one was an entire body , the other was fastned by his shoulders to the others stomach , that all his head seemed to be thrust into it ; and when the former sucked , he moved as if he sucked also , benivent . de reb . abdit . paraeus l. . c. . anno , saw the same at paris , in a man of years . about the end of the empire of lotharius , a certain woman bore a child like a man and a dogg ; their bodies joyn'd entirely , and they were fastned at the ridge of their backs , lycost . lib. prodigior . in scotland there was one that was a male for the nether parts , but above the navell it had two members , distinct both for use and in shape . this monster was taught the musicall art , and learn'd many languages . it held consultation , and when they differ'd , they would chide and quarrel ; it lived years . and when one body dyed many dayes before the other , the other that lived pined away , half the body being putrified before , buchan . in histor . scotica . lastly , in former times there was a child born at cracovia from noble parents , that was terrible to behold , with flaming shining eyes ; the mouth and nostrils were like to an oxes , it had long horns , and a back hairy like a dogs , and faces of apes in the breast , where the teats should stand ; it had cats eyes under the navell fastned to the hypogastrium , and they looked hideously , and frightfully , and the heads of dogs of both elbowes ; and at the whirlbones of each knee , looking forwards ; it was splay-footed , and splay-handed ; the feet were like swans feet , and it had a tail turn'd upwards that was crooked backwards , about half an ell long : it was born and lived four hours , and then spake thus ; watch , the lord your god comes ; and then it dyed , peucer . in tetratosc . to this may be added , the stony birth at agendicum of the senones , that was carried years , and was cut out of the mothers womb , when she was dead . it is seen to this day at agendicum , for a miracle , and is not corrupted , thuan. l. . histor. he that would hear more , let him read bauhinus de hermaphrodite , weinrichius de monstris , and others . article . of the recompence nature makes to monsters . it is commonly said , that those that are deficient naturally , are marked for some malignant qualities : and this is sometimes found to be true ; but it is most false , that it is alwayes so . for to say nothing of the diversity of parts , which lemnius adviseth us to take notice of : such is the force of education , that it made socrates good , that would have been bad . moreover , nature is so indulgent , that , as if she were ashamed of her mistake , she largely recompenceth her errour with other endowments . count mansfeld that fail'd in sight , could by touching , know white from black , keckerm . in physicis . hamar , a captain of a caravan , would know where he was by onely smelling the same , leo african . a preacher in germany that was blind from his nativity , chose the fairest of three sisters , by taking her by the hand , camer . hor. subcis . cent. . c. . cicero saith , homer was blind ; we see not him , but his poetry . his words are , tusculan . . what country , what place , what town of greece , what form , what fight , what army , what rowing , what motion of men or beasts , is not so represented by him , that what he saw not , he described it so , that we might see it ? didymus alexandrinus was also blind from his childhood , who professed wisdome divine and humane , which he learned , ruffin . l. . c. . eccles. histor . what shall i say of thomas schweikerus ? posthius a poet , and a famous physitian writes thus of him , thomas by nature wanting arms , with 's feet performs all things , youl 'd wonder for to see 't ; with 's feet he eats and drinks , full well ; and then , with 's feet he turns his books , or makes a pen with 's feet to write , and paint doth understand , no man can do it better with his hand . caesar aemilian , as stories mention , admir'd , maintain'd him , with a pension . georgius pictorius villinganus l. . sermon convival . testifies , that he saw a spaniard born without arms , so cunning with his feet , that he could spin , or use the neidle curiously , as the cunningst woman could with both her hands . he could so wield his arms , that no souldier could match him ; and shoot in a bowe , that he would never misse the mark ; and with one stroke he would break a thick log . to conclude , keckerman speaks of a schollar , l. . physic. c. . that had but one little finger on each hand , and his feet were triangular without any toes , and he had more force in one finger , than others had with five ; he writ curiously and swiftly , and stood so firm , that in slippery places he would seldom slip . also pliny may cease to complain of nature , that is a bountifull mother to all ; and recompenseth a defect with more benefit . camerarius and some others being once at combourg , in the house of erasmus neusteter , a wise and vertuous gentleman of germanie , he entertained us with the greatest kindnesse that could be devised , and sent to a place not very farre from them for one thomas schweiker , a young man of one and thirtie yeares of age , descended of a worshipfull house , and borne without ever an arme , who did with his feet all that a readie man could do with his hands , so that himself affirmed he was recompenced with one gift in stead of another . having set himself in a place equall with the heighth of the table whereon the meat was placed , he took a knife with his feet , begins to cut bread , and to cut meat , which he carried with his feet to his mouth , and likewise the cup , as easily as another would have done with his hands . after dinner , ●e begins to write examples in latin and german letters , so straight and so faire , as every one of us desired to have some of them to keep as a speciall monument . being requested , he did with a penknife make penns , very good to write with , which he gave us . while he was thus a doing , i marked diligently the making of his feet , and saw that his toes were long , fit to take hold of things ; and to behold them a farr off , one would take them for fingers : for his thighs and legs , he kept them mannerly covered with his cloake . this sight ( which we had never seen before ) was no lesse pleasing than strange to us ; as it was also at another time to the emperor maximilian the second , who passing that way , desired to see the man , and having noted in him ( not without wonderment ) the strange recompence of nature , he dismissed him with a rich gift . of late there hath been seen a man without armes going about in germanie , who had learned by custome turned into art , to handle a sword , and to flourish it about his neck ; to fling halberds , and to do other strange things so nimbly , and so surely withall , that he would most commonly hit the marke ; and all other duties of the hands , he did them with his feet . but the end of his life shewed that he was a deceiver and a wicked person : for he was broken upon the wheele for his robberies and murders . we have at nuremberg a young man and a young maid , borne of one father and mother , of a good house , and well known , that are endued with a singular quick conceit : for although they be deafe and dumb by nature , yet can both of them read very well , write , cypher , and cast account . the young man conceiveth at first by signes that are made him , what he is required to do . if his pen be wanting , by his countenance he sheweth his thoughts , being the quickest and cunningest at all games both at cards and dice , that one can find among the germans ; although there they use great advisement , and be marveilous readie and quick . his sister passeth all other maids for working with her needle all kinds of seamstrie , tapistrie , embroiderie , &c. but among all the other wonderfull recompences of nature , this is remarkable in them , that most commonly as soon as they see ones lips stirr , they understand his meaning . they are oftentimes at sermons , and a man would say that they draw and conceive with their eyes the words of the preacher , as others use to do with their eares : for , they will oftentimes ( no body ever teaching them , or setting them any letters or copies ) write the lords prayer and other godly prayers , know by heart the texts of the gospels that are read upon holy-days , and write them readily . when in the sermons the preacher maketh mention of the name of jesus , the young man is readie before any of the hearers , to take off his hat , and to bow his knee with all reverence ; so carefull is nature , like a good mother , to make amends for a fault , that none should accuse her to be a step-mother : for , what she taketh away in some of the senses , she alloweth in the rest , as appeareth by didymus alexandrinus , of whom ●ussinus writeth , that he being blind , after he had humbly recommended himself to god , spent all his time in hearing , insomuch as by his diligent attention he attained to that which others obtaine by reading ; and by the direction of the holy spirit , became so skillfull in divine and humane learning , that he was excellent among the divines of his time . moreover , our ancestors have seen iohn ferdinand , a blind and poor soul , a spaniards son , who overcame so happily these two difficulties ( very crosse to all , especially to learned men ) that he became not only a very learned poet and philosopher , but also so excellent a musician , that he played upon divers kinds of instruments , to the great pleasure of the hearers ; and besides , he made good songs and full of musick , of many parts . another , named nicasius of werd , borne at macklin , excelled him : for falling blind when he was three yeares old , and not being able before 〈…〉 learne any one letter , he so profited in the knowledg of philosophy , both humane and divine , that all men were ravished with him . having proceeded master of arts at lovain , and afterwards being made principall of macklin colledg , where he discharged his dutie passing well ; he ascended a while after to the degree of licenciat in theologie , and though he were blind , he read , and preached openly . furthermore , being made doctor of the laws in the university of colen , he read there , and expounded the civil and canon law , repeating by heart the texts which he had never read , and at last died at colen in the yeare . we will conclude this chapter with an example of one borne blind , in whom nature made supplie of that defect with a marvelous recompence other ways . the story is mentioned by antonius de palermo , thus : i learnt ( saith he ) of king alphonsus , that there was a sicilian borne blind , living still at that time in the citie gergento , called in old time agrigentum , who had followed him oftentimes a hunting , shewing to the hunts-men ( who had their sights well ynough ) the retraits and repairing places of the wild beasts . he added further touching the industry of this blind man , that having by his sparing and scraping , gotten together about five hundred crowns , which put him to a great deale of care , he resolved ( at last ) to hide them in a field . as he was making a hole in the ground to that end , a gossip of his being his neighbour , espied him , who so soon as the blind man was gon , searched in the earth , found the money , and caried it cleane away . two or three dayes after , the blind man returning thither to visit his cash , and finding nought there ; like one altogether forlorne , he frets and torments himselfe , and after much debating and discoursing concludes , that no man but his gossip could have played him such a trick . whereupon finding him out , he thus began to say unto him ; gossip , i am come to you to have your opinion : i have a thousand crowns , and the one half of them i have hid in a safe place ; and for the other halfe i know not what to do with them , having not my sight , and being very unfit to keep any such thing , therefore what think you ? might i not hide this other halfe with the rest , in the same place of safetie ? the gossip approved and commended his resolution , and going speedily to the place , carried back againe the five hundred crowns that he had taken away before , hoping that he should have all the whole thousand together . a while after the blind man goes to his hole , and finding there his crowns againe , took them up , and comming home , calleth for his gossip , saying unto him with a cheerfull voice ; gossip , the blind man hath seen better than he that hath two eyes . article . of nations of divers forms . what i said in the th article of monstrous births ▪ happens but seldom ; yet some thought , that happened commonly amongst some nations . not far from the troglodites in aethiopia , there is a people that have no heads , and their eyes are in their breasts . augustine saw them , serm. ad fratr . in eremo . solinus confirms it , c. . pliny l. . c. . in peru in the province of caraqui , hispalensis sayes , they want the forepart , and hinder part of the head , sylvius ▪ p. . c. . for he adds , that so soon as they are born , they make their heads level with boards . rawleigh in his navigations to guiana , speaks of some that are call'd epumerocaci . the circades , a people beyond taprobana , are long visaged , with horse heads , if we credit arrianus , ramus tom . . in the mountains of the indies they have dogs heads , and claws , and hides like beasts ; they cannot speak , but bark , saith megastenes , aelian l. . c. . saith , they are in egypt , in the way to ethiopia , and he describes them , that they are black visaged , having no voyce , they make a thrill noise , and their chin is so far beneath their beards , that it is like to a serpent . they live by hunting oxen and does . augustin de civitate dei , l. . c. . thinks , that is not incredible . amongst the scythians there are some with such large ears , that they will cover all their bodies , isidor . l. . c. . some have their feet so broad , that they can shadow their whole bodies with them , when they lie down , from the heat . i may here adde , that there are sea-men . anno , a sea-woman was taken in the lake of holland , and brought to harlem , she was ready to learn some things that women do , but she could not speak . anno , in frisland a sea-man was taken with a beard and hairy , he lived some years , but could never speak , libav . l. . de universitat . rerum . and not long since , when the denmark ambassadors sail'd into norway , they saw a man in the sea , that had a swathband of corn , they took him and put him into the ship , and he dyed , they cast him into the sea again , and he revived . historians approved do write these things . we will not here add what we think , onely the devill hath many wiles ; and great is the force of imagination ; and sometimes beasts are taken for men , if they be but like them . we read in the scotch history , that the kings embassadours were brought by a storm into norway , and saw hairy beasts in the mountains wandring like to men , they thought they had been men , the inhabitants told them they were wild beasts . let every man think what he please . i may have occasion to speak more of this elsewhere . article . of a wonderfull antipathy betweeen the father and the sonne . there was a father that hated his child as much as some men do cats ; for if he were present , though he saw him not , he would swoond . georgius mylius , a divine of jena , related it . libavius sought the cause diligently . and if the reason of antipathy in naturall things be worth enquiry , that is most worthy to be searched out , that is between children and parents . this is certain , that the cause of this discord cannot be found , nor in the rational nor the sensual part . for he wished his son no harm , nor can sympathy or antipathy be called love or hatred in parents . for they are to be found in things that are not living ; and if they be in living creatures , they are not in them as they are living , but as they are natural , things . yet because he did not abhor his other son , nor hate his off-spring , for which cause he married , it is certain that was no hereditary infirmity . it is probable , the son was changed into a disposition the father could not away with ; and that might proceed from the seminary body ill disposed from the womb , or by the confluence of impure blood , that had in it some ground for this alteration , or from the blood the embryo was nourished with . for this growes divers from the matter of the nourishment , or may degenerate from some other inward cause , or from the place : sometimes the spirits that assist the blood and the whole nature , cause a change . therefore either the mother had a great longing for some meat the father hated ; or else she was frighted at something the father could not endure : to say nothing of the midwife , or of hidden causes . so a maid at uratislavian , drank cats blood , and became of a cats qualities ; and faustina tasting the fencers blood , had a son that was most cruell . if any think that a habit cannot be got by one act , he must know that is false of naturall powers ; for they that of old were once taken into trophonius his den , were wayward ever after ; and a woman that fell into a wolfs hole , grew hoary the same night . artic. . of some wonders concerning generation . i adde these , though i have said much , that nothing might seem to be wanting . soranus ephesinus isag. . writes , that women that are delivered in ships , have still children ; not that they cannot speak , but they will not cry when they are born . ausonius speaks of one thus : thy father geno●es , thy mother graecian blood , born in a ship at sea , can that son ere be good ? ligurians vain , greeks liars , false sea , these three thou dost resemble well , they all do meet in thee . some are born with marks upon them : johannes fredericus , elector of saxony had a golden crosse on his back , a sign of his future calamity , buchol . in chronol . james , king of great britany , had a lion , a sword , and a crown when he was born , camer . hor. subcis . cent. . c. . the kings of the corzani have the sign of a black eagle on their shoulders , marcus venetus . it is a report , that the princes of austria , ( others do not write so ) are born with a golden crosse , that is , that they have white hairs drawn out in the form of a crosse , foelix faber histor . suev . l. . c. . some men procreate after years . for masanissa begot . children after that age ; and a noble-man of francony had a son and a daughter , after that time , camerar . women have born children after years . and some have born children being children themselves . albertus magn. l. . sentent . writes , that one was with child at years old , and was delivered at ten . and pliny l. . c. . saith , that some have born children at . years old , and that but once , and they lived not above years , and they were held to be very old . rhodig . antiqu. l. . c. . saith , that a boy of ten years old got a child . some have been delivered in the second , third , or fourth month after their first child , of another living child . nancelius l. . analog . writes of one that was brought to bed twice in two months . others could not be delivered but by a chirurgions opening their wombs . schenkius reports , that one woman was cut open four times for four severall children . pliny writes , that proculus caesar got maids with child in dayes , pliny l. . c. . in picenum a child was born with teeth , bonfin . decad. . l. . in prussia the son of the king of bythinia , had but ▪ one solid bone in place of teeth , solin . c. . some are born , that can sometimes move their ears . zoroaster was born laughing . so much for this ; we shall proceed to other matters . chap. vi. of vitall action . article . of the heart . some have wanted a heart , if we credit avicenna , and if his writings be not corrupted , rhodig . l. . c. . when caesar was dictator , the same day he went in his purple garment , the priest found it twice wanting in the bowels , plin. l. . c. . some have been found with two hearts , as the partridges in paphlagonia ; some have wanted the left ventricle ; and the midriff in some hath been like a gristle , columb . l. . anatom . and gemma found a bone in it in two mens bodies , l. . cyclog . and wier . l. ● . de praestig . daemon . c. . found stones as big as pease . aristomanes messenius , who killed lacedemonians , and was sometimes taken , and sometimes escaped , had a hairy heart , valer. max. l. . c. . the same thing beniventus reports of a certain thief , c. . de abditis . the 〈…〉 or purse wherein the heart lies , may be wanting . columbus l. . anatom . observed a young man that wanted it , and he was troubled with swoonding fits . a wound may be in the heart that is not mortall ; for the son of maryllus the writer of obscene matters , had the pericardium cut , that one might see his heart , yet he did not die , galen . l. . administr . anatom . a history of groning tells the same almost that happened upon a wound in the heart ; because but few know it , i shall set it down . a wonderfull accident of a wound in the heart . nicol. malerius wisheth happinesse to the reader . it hath been thought hitherto that a man could not live a moment almost ; if his heart were wounded . reason and experience prove it . for since our life depends upon the safety of the spirits , the shop and making whereof is in the heart ; when the heart is wounded , it is necessary that the generation of the spirits cease . yet i thought good to set down here a very notable history ; a history of a souldier that lived dayes after he was wounded in the heart ; none of the old or new physitians mention any such thing . andreas hasevanger , who was of the lifeguard of the most illustrious count william of nassaw , governour of frisia , groning , and omland , &c. received a wound in his brest by his fellow-souldier , anno , on the of august about the evening , he died september the th , at one of the clock after sun-rising , which was the day after he received the wound . the body of the dead souldier , by command of the generall of the army was opened to search for the wound , by me and two chirurgions , caspar and lucas hultenus ; a noble valiant man , bernard hoornkens looking on , and some other souldiers that were of note . when we had opened the cavity of his breast , and a great deal of very stinking matter was run forth ; we found , and wondred , that the wound had entred the right cavity of his heart , and all that part of his heart was almost all consumed ; the left part being entire , wherein is contain'd the chief shop of the vitall spirits ; by the benefit of this , andreas lived to the sixteenth day : and left some should not believe this , the most noble and worthy men signed it with their names subscribed , to confirm it , &c. article . of the pulse . the pulse is the motion of the heart and arteries , consisting of a systole and diastole . platerus thinks it is felt on the left side , by reason of the great artery . yet cardan saith , some have perceived it onely on the right side . there is great inequality in it , from divers accidents that happen , whence comes the diversity of pulses amongst physitians . no man can deny , but that sometimes it may be intercepted ; and not felt when the arteries lye deep , balduinus ronseus . the player of andreas count of gorca , had naturally all kind of inequalities of pulse . but johannes brosovius of the order of the crosse of the blessed virgin had it with intermission all the time he lived . physitians try the motion of the heart in living creatures . coiterus observed it in a cat. then cutting the pericardium , he observed a double and contrary motion in the heart , namely unto the ears of it . for whilest the heart beat , the ears sank down ; when the heart sank , the ears were lifted up and fill'd ; which in the ears were composed for a diastole : they seemed to be inflated like a bladder ; and when they were extended , they were red , and continued so a while , before they came to a systole . the same reason was observed in the space of the diastole . yet in the systole they grew white , and became loose , and sank down , and by the force of the heart , they were drawn a little toward the basis of the heart , &c. in obs . anatom . artic. . of life and death . i have little to say of life , but that men were long lived before the flood : after that time none lived to adam or methusalems age. yet some have lived very long , lemnius l. . c. . occult. writes , that he saw a pilote at stockholm a years old , who married a wife of , years , and had some children by her . laurentius hethlandius in buchanan was years old , and yet in the coldest winter went a fishing . an indian of the nation of the gandaridae , they call it now a days , bengala , lived years , his son was years old , and though he knew no letters , yet he could by memory report as true as the chronicles . his teeth shed and grew again , and his hoary beard grew black again . petrus maffeius . that is also rare , that thuan. l. writes . that emanuel demetrius , bred obscurely , lived , yeares , his wife was , and was married to him years , the one supervived the other but three hours , and anno they were both buried at delph . the years of mans age that rise by and , are decretory or climactericall , hence children are endangered about , , , years , &c. cels. l. . c. . the year is most dangerous for old men . whence that proceeds it is hard to conjecture . lemnius l. . c. . he thinks that at certain periods of yeares , a great abundance of humours are heaped up , by the agitation whereof diseases arise . for when nature comes to immoderate repletion , and the receptacles cannot receive the plenty of humours , it must come to a disease . philo in loc . allegor . l. . writes thus of the th year . nature delights in the th number ; there are planets , the bear hath stars ; the moon hath some change every week , and those changes in the ayre proceed from thence . all humane things , that have a divine principle , are moved healthfully in the th number ; children born in the th month are safe ; in the th yeare a man is perfectly a reasonable creature ; at he is able to get his like , at he leavs growing : the part of the brutish soul is divided into , into the five senses , the instrument of voyce , and the generative force . the motion of the body is fold , six according to the parts , the th round about . there are inward bowels , the stomach , heart , milt , liver , lungs , the two kidneys . there are members of the body , the head , neck , brest , hands , belly , the groins , the feet . the principall part of man hath seven holes , two eyes , two ears , nostrills and mouth . there are excrements , tears , s●ot , seed , and what comes forth by the two sinks of the body , and sweat in every part , &c. what ever it be , live long or little , death is certain to all . nature at the same moment gave a law of being born , and to dye , valer. max ▪ l. . c. . mourning weeds are put upon conquerours dores , senec. ad polyb. but the way is unknown , and divers . baldus was bit by a cat at meletum , but lightly , on the lip ; he grew mad four months after , fell into hydrophobia , and died . magol . in colloqv . ladislaus king of naples , when he dwelt at perusium , died of the pox. colenut . in compend . histor . neapolitan . some have died with too much joy , some with grief . when the janisary was sent to kill the youngest son of bajazet by solymans command , and he saw the child laugh at the halter , and to kisse him , and to sport ; this cruel man was so moved , that he fell down dead . thuan l. . after death , almost all carkases corrupt , and are changed into other bodies . pliny saith , l. . c. , that serpents breed of the marrow , and so they did of the body of cleomenes who was hanged , plutarch . the same was done in a young man camer . cent . horar. subcis . c. . for when he was thought to be the fairest of his time , and fell deadly sick , he could not be perswaded to leave his picture to posterity ; only he granted thus much to their request , that many days after he was dead and buried , they should open the monument , and as they then found his body ; so should they picture him . when they opened it , his face was found halfe eaten up with worms , and they saw many serpents about his diaphragma , and marrow of his back . the sepulcher of carolus martellus , was found without his body , and a serpent in the place , guaguin et aemil. in aegypt whole carkases are found , out of which mumie is taken , that is a cure for many diseases . nor do those bodies corrupt that are seen neere kijovia by borystenes . artic. . of venemous infection . because venoms are most pernicious by a hidden quality , i shall add a few things concerning the variety of infections . first i shall speak of the ayre infected . that is seen in the plague , and might be proved by all in that cave neere to naples . and the matter is come so far , that the ayre may be infected by art , that the enemy coming into it may be killed . that was clear in the sepulcher of semiramis , that was placed above the famous gates of the city . for when darius , hoping to find treasure , opened this , he found a little coffer , which being opened , such a venemous blast flew out , that it killed a third part of the men . some living creatures kill by sight , and hissing . that was thought true of the basilisk , that was seen in the treasure of maximilian the emperour . and avicenna writes l. . sen. tract . . c. . that a souldier wounded a serpent with his lance , and by his lance he and his horse were poysoned , and died . bartholin . phys. special . part . . c. ult . saith , that in cimbria a shepheard that leand his arme on a barn dore , had his sense and motion taken suddenly away on that side he leand , and his beard grew grey on that side , and there was a brood of serpents , found under the dore . jambolus saith , in arabia there is an hearb , and if any man sleep upon it , they die in a sweet sleep . diodor. sicul. l. . i add tasting to sight . so in india when those of europe tasted the beautifull plants , they died suddenly . alexanders army was almost ruin'd by a new kind of apple . a country man in the valley of ana , was bit unawares by the head of a serpent cut off , he put his mouth to the wound and sucked it , to help it ; but he grew suddenly speechlesse and died , mathiol . what shall we say for touching ? the turks have poysons that will kill in one day by touching . cardan . l. . de venen . c. . otho the , emperour of rome was killed by a pair of venom'd gloves sent him from the wife of crescentius a roman consul , who was frustrated of his marriage . johan galeacius was killed by venome put into his stirrop when he rid . dryinus , if any man tread upon it , it will excoriat his feet , and the hand of the chirurgion that dresseth the sore will be excoriated by it . lastly many dye by venom'd smells . for alexander magnus his horse-forces in india , died all almost of the smell of a pestilent shrub : and franciscus ordelaphus , a captain of forolivium , had a kind of poyson , that , cast upon coles , would kill all came neere it . think not that to be done by the naked quality : some venemous thing was joyn'd with the smell ; for certain it is , that there are many effluxions of things . chap. vii . of the internall and externall sense . article . of imaginations of melancholy people . those that are sick of melancholy have such strange phantasms presented to them that sometimes the wisest men are deceived by them . one man thought he was all soul ; another that he was a millet seed . one , that he had so great a nose , that no gates were great enough to let him in , lemnius l. . de complex . c. . some thought they had no head ; some thought their buttocks were made of glasse , lemnius . one of sena of noble birth , thought that if he should make water , he should drown the world , laurent . l. de melanchol . c. . a woman , saith trallianus , tied the middle finger of her hand , as if she carried the whole world upon it ; she cryed , saying , she feared that should she bend it , the whole world would fall down . a learned man in quercetan . diaetet . polyhist . l. . c. ult . thought , that two evill spirits were put into him by his friend that brought them out of italy , and that they oft-times talked with him . a burgundian at paris in the temple of st. julian , said , he was dead , and desired the physitians to trouble his soul no longer , that was flying out of purgatory into heaven . then he imitated men dying , scholiogr . ad . c. . l. . holler . de morb . intern . a certain man in montan. consil . . thought the world was made of fine glasse , and that serpents lay under it , and that he was in his bed as in an island ; and should he come forth , he should break the glasse and fall down amongst the serpents . i say nothing of a maid , who supposed she was in heaven , and that she walked with the sacred trinity , and angels , and the devill perswaded her to think so . sometimes such people use to speak strange tongues , and foretell future events . so erasmus in encom . medicinae , writes , that one of spoletum , when he was sick , spake a strange language ; when he recovered , he forgat it . guainerius tract . . c. . reports , that he saw a country man that was sick of melancholy , who alwayes when the moon was combust , would write latine verses ; and after a new moon , about two dayes , till the next new moon , he could not speak one word in latine . forestus writes of a melancholy woman that would sing latine songs that she had never learned . and johan . huartus in scrutin . ingenior . makes mention of a spanish servant , who imagined himself to be a king , and made learned speeches concerning government when he was sick . but we must needs confesse , that the devill is the author of these things , by a just judgment of god. nor can this be ascribed to the stars , as guainerius thinks ; nor to the agreement of the latine tongue with the rationall soul , as huartus would have it ; nor to the pure overshadowing of the spirits , or to a malignant quality , as others suppose . whether some modern examples appertain to this matter , i leave it to wise men to judge , and will say no more of it . article . of the force of imagination . the force of imagination may be known by the former article ; but because melancholique imaginations are with sicknesse , they do not so well expresse it , as fear and conception do . for when a noble youth who had ravished a maid , was to dye for it , he considered so deeply of it , that his vital heat and spirits were so extinguished , that all his beauty became despicable , and the roots of his hair grew dry , for want of moysture , and turn'd grey , camer . memorab . medic . cent. . mem. . the same happened to franciscus gonzaga , when he was imprisoned for a traytor , scalig. exer. . and to lodowick . bavarus the emperour , when he had slain helica a virgin of prenneberg , cut off his wifes head , and had cast another noble woman headlong from a tower , he fell sick of it by a vision in the night , avent . l. . innumerable examples prove , that in conception the same may happen . the wife of duke plumbinus having layn with a black-moor , was delivered of a blackmore . persina an aethiopian , seeing the image of a white child when she lay with a man , had a child with a white face , heliodor . when charles the fourth was emperour , the wife of john baptista , looking often on a picture , bare a hairy child . a man disguised lying with the wife of bolduck , as if he had been the devill , got her with child , and the boy ran about so soon as he was born . you shall find the like monster in lemnius in occult . and he extends imagination so far , that he thinks , that in more venereous virgins , their seed being mingled with their blood by imagination of venereous things , may cause the rudiments of a living creature . how that may be , it is hard to explain , nor doth it belong to this place . artic. . of sight and smelling . augustus caesar had such clear eyes , that whom he looked on intentively , he would make them to wink , as at the sun beams . suetonius saith , that tiberius could see in the dark like a cat. it is certain , that strabo had such acute eyes , that from lilybaeum he could discern ships going forth of the carthagenian haven , val. l. . c. . and he could number all the ships . the distance was miles . if this be true , that is true also , that a spaniard , one lopes , was in gades , who from a high mountain call'd calpen , would see over the sea against it , and discern out of europe , the banks of africa , ( the passage , as cleonardus in epistol . ad jacob. labocum saith , is in a calm sea , or hours over , ) yet he could see what was done there , camer . hor. subcis . l. . c. . in the west of africa there are blackmores with four eyes , lycosten . also isigonus and nymphodorus report , that some families in africa have eyes that bewitch people : if they praise any things , they perish by it , trees will wither , children will die : and isigonus saith , there are such people in illirium , and the triballi , that will bewitch any thing with looking on it , and kill those they look upon long , especially with angry eyes , and young men especially are bewitched by them . that is most notable that they have two apples in each eye . in albania there are some that have owls eyes , and are hoary from their childhood , who see better by night than day , pliny l. . c. . anastasius the emperour had apples of his eyes of divers colours , the right eye was blacker , the left more grey , zonar . they that dwell near lakes cannot endure smells . strabo l. . reports , that such amongst the sabaeans as are stupified by sweet smells , are refreshed by the fume of bitumen , and by the beard of a goat burnt . that stinking smells are good sometimes , women that are cured by them of their hysterical passions , and the plague , thereby removed , do confirm . at antwerp a country man coming into a perfumers shop , swo●nded , but came to himself by rubbing his nose with horse dung , lemn . l. . occult . c. . article . of the face . god hath set majesty in some mens faces , chiefly if you regard princes : some are of a wonderful form for comelinesse ; others for ill-favourednesse . they of bruges were afraid of the countenance of caesar maximilian , being captive , delf ▪ l. . in maximil . vita et philippi . the conquerours that beheld the countenance of francis the first king of france , who was worthy of everlasting renown , when he was taken at ticinum , they all strove to do him service , seeing his kingly countenance , forcatul . de gullor . imper. l. . when the conspirators thought to have slain alphonsus estensis the first , duke of ferrara , he frighted them with his looks that they durst not do it . the twins moenechmi in plautus were so like , that neither their nurse nor mother could know them asunder . vives observes the same of two sons , john and peter , of a senatour of mechlin . antonius bithynicus was so fair , that adrian the emperour built a temple to him , in mantinea , and a city by nilus , and engraved his image on the coin. the son of maximinus was so beautifull , that his head that was grown black after he was dead , and soked with corrupt matter , yet seemed very fair . democles an athenian boy was call'd so for his comelinesse , and he had so much care of his chastity , that to decline the force of demetrius , he cast himself into a kettle of scalding water , plutar. in demetrio . spurina a young maid , by her very looks enticed men and women to lust , vale● . max. lastly , queen suavilda was so delicate of form , that when she was bound with thongs , and exposed to be trod on by horses , she was a terrour to the very beasts , that they durst not tread on her fair limbs , saxo gram. l. . histor . danic . artic. . of dreams . as in other things , so nature sports her self in dreams : for sad people are merry when they dream somtimes , merry people are sad ; servants are kings , and lords become servants . and though we must confesse that many of them , and what is then done be natural , yet scarse any can deny , but many of them are supernatural . god in elder times did teach his church by dreams , and now adayes many dreams come to pass● . when lucas iselius the son in law of zwingerus was at vesontio , he foresaw in his dream the death of huber , a physitian of basil. for he seemed to see his bed covered with fresh earth cast upon it , which when removing the blanket , he thought to cast off , he saw huber the physitian under the bed , and in the twinkling of an eye he was changed into the forme of a child . nessenus the same day he was drownd in the albis , dreamt of some hurt came to the boat , and his own falling out of it . christopher rhaumbavius a physitian of uratislavium , followed the counsel he had given him in a dream , concerning the cure of a disease , was to him incurable ; and he recovered his patient . the wonder was , that a few yeares after he met with that receipt in a book newly printed . doring . de medic . l. . part . . s. . d. . c. . histories report that the same hapned to philip , and to galen before him . to this may be added the dream of the mother of scanderbeg , concerning a serpent , that covered all epirus , and stretched forth his head into the turks borders , devouring them with bloody jaws , but the tayle was contain'd amongst the christians , and the government of the venetians . barlet . l. . de gest . scanderbegi , c. . that of scaligers , of a great flame with a mighty noise passing over the alps , at noricum , rhaetia , and liguria without any hurt . scalig. in com . l. de insomn . hippocrat . apotel . . of hunnius his , of a pillar in the church ; these did foreshew the future condition of their sons , and that certainly . for scanderbeg was a hammer to the turks scaliger the bright s●ar of those quarters . and hunnius a pillar of the church he lived in . what shall i say of gunthram king of the francks ? it is wonderfull what he dreamt . for when on a time he went through a wood a hunting , by chance losing his company , and having but one man left with him , who was more faithfull to him than the rest , he came to a brook of cold water . and when he was heavy with sleep he laid his head in that mans bosome and fell a sleep . this servant there observed a strange thing ; for he saw as it were a little creature creep out of his mouth whilst he slept , and go strait to the river ; and when he strove in vain to passe over , the servant laid his drawn sword over the brook , whereby , when the little beast had easily passed over , he crept into a hole in a mountain hard by , and coming back an hour after he passed the same way , and crept again into the kings mouth . the king wak'd and told his servant , that in a dream he seemed to be brought to the bank of a great river , and to have passed over an iron bridge , and so to come to a mountain where there was great store of gold hid . when the king had related this to his servant , and heard again from him what strange thing hapned when he slept , they both went to that mountain , and there they found a mighty masse of gold conceald . heidfeld in sphinge c. . marinus mersennus in genesin , calls this a diabolical dream . that is more wonderfull , that he dreamt at schmalcaldium . he that will have the relation , let him read pencerus de divinatione . and , in place of that , i will set down the dream of david pareus , which is thus described by him . i saw a great oxe that was weary , which extended his head to the east , and behold a ram came from the east with three horns , and he ran upon this oxe , and hurt his hinder legs , and the oxe fastned himself , and stood stronger . and i saw that the weary oxe set his feet firmer . and there came another ram from the mountain of the gentils , and those ways , and breaking one leg between his horns , he ran upon his fore parts ; yet the oxe stood fast again and fell not , but the rams grieved exceedingly , and those that adored the rams wept ; because god preserved him , and sent him food from india that strengthned him . and behold on the otherside of the river stood an armenian tyger , with the moon upon his head , and he said , i will prey on both the conquerer , and the conquered ; and the ram with three horns was devoured by the tyger , and conquered him . the other ram fled to his mountain , and the grasse withered , but the oxes horns grew , and the tyger fled from him ; and the ram did not escape into the mountain , and i was glad that god preserved the oxe . artic. . of walkers in the night . there are many examples of night-walkers . a certain young man rising out of his bed , putting on his cloths , and his boots and spurs , got astride above the window , upon a wall ; and spurd the wall as if it had been a horse . another went down into a well and came not up again till he had touched the water . horstius tells of a noble man that went to the top of a tower , and robb'd a birds nest , and came down again by a rope . it is reported , that one at paris , girt with his sword , swam over the seyn , and killed one he was minded to kill before ; when he had done this villany , he return'd home , aleman . comm . ad . libr. hippocrat . de aere , &c. as for the cause , many men are of divers minds . the best opinion ascribes it to imagination : for the sensitive soul in sleep , not onely rouzed by an external object , converts her self to be sensible , and first perceives darkly , afterwards more clearly ; but being affected by the inward object represented in a dream , rouzeth the moving faculty . the imagination is rouzed by the species of things reserved ; about which whilest it acts intentively , it stirs up the moving faculty . that this is so , appears by daily experience . for who knowes not but we are troubled in our sleep ? that we rise not , is because our phantasie is not altogether so busie about the images reserved , as in some other men . yet the stronger motion doth not alwaies proceed from the same cause . for some think the same thing may be caused from diurnal cogitation , especially in younger people , that are more bold , and more lustfull . others suffer this from an internal affection of their body , yet they are not all of the same kind . some have more cheerful , and more phantastick animal spirits ; some seem to do this out of simplicity . that they wake not , is caused by the stiffnesse of the vapours . for these not suffering them to be easily awaked ; and on the other side , the animal spirits being lively , it falls out that they are half awake , half asleep : yet it is not likely , that all are of the same kind . for that boy libavius speaks of , that went naked to the door , and came home again , observed a watchman sitting in the streets . lastly , the cause they do those things in their sleep , they cannot do waking , is their ignorance of the danger ; the action of reason is darkned , and they cannot hinder the motions raised by phantasie , libav . in noctambulis . article . of some things observable concerning the head and the senses . there was one born and grew to be a man , anno , that put forth another head at the navel , lycosthen . anno , there was a boy at venice that had his mouth cut divers wayes , and a genital member growing to his crown . some of years have had horns grow on their heads . a virgin had them about the joynts of her feet and arms , like to calves horns , she was cured afterward , schenk . l. . observ . the egyptians had such hard heads , that you could hardly break them with throwing a stone at them . the persians heads were so weak , that a little stone would break them , herodot . the indians heads in hispaniola are so hard , that they will break swords . cardan . l. . de variet . rer . beniventus saith , de abdit . c. . that a monk had his forehead bone eaten naked by a sharp humour . tyrrhenus torcon and cyonus trojanus , were grey when they were young , cal. l. . c. . antiq. and ctesias writes , that in a part of the indies , the women never breed but once , and presently grow grey after the first child . the miconii are born without hair , plin. l. . c. . it is rare for a woman to grow bald ; no eunuchs ever do , nor any man before he hath known a woman , pliny . there was a woman seen at paris with a black upper beard that began to be hoary , of a great magnitude , her chin also was moderately hairy . also they report , that in the company of women , that albertus the duke of bavaria kept , one of them had a long beard , wolsius . there was a child born in lombardy in the time of pope gregory , that had ears big enough to cover the whole body , thomaius in horto mundi c. . many men could move their ears , and the skin of their heads at pleasure , dalechamp . men say , that in the inward parts of the east , there are people without any nose , and their face is flat ; others that want their upper lip ; others without tongues , plin. l. . c. . they write also , that there is a part of aethiopia , where the inhabitants are born with a flexible body , that they can wind themselves easily every way they please ▪ and they have two tongues , and can use them both , and speak plainly with them a● pleasure , gem. fris. l. . c. . cosmocrit mutianus saith , he saw zanes a samothracian citizen , who had his teeth grew again after years , plin. l. . c. . aristotle l. . c. . de histor . animal ▪ makes mention of a woman that had her cheek teeth come forth with pain , in her year . pliny writes , that some had teeth bred in their palates , pliny l. . c. . moecenas never slept in three whole years , at last he was cured by gentle musick , seneca de provident . nizolius , call'd ciceronianus , never slept in ten years , heurn . c. . de morb . cap ▪ cardan , when he pleased , could be so taken up in his thoughts , that he would feel no pain in that state . and augustine l. . de civ . dei ▪ c. . reports the same of a presbyter restored : he lay as though he were dead , and did not feel those that pulled him ; nor would he stirre , though they burn'd him with fire : yet he confessed , that he could then hear men speak , if they spake aloud , as though they were far off from him : and it was confirmed by this argument , that he did not do it by resisting , but by not feeling , that he moved not his body ; for he lay as dead , and drew no breath . the english history relates , that elizabeth burton a maid of canterbury had contracted the same custom of taking away her senses , from a disease she had . chap. viii . of the faculty of moving from place to place . artic. . of the wonderfull strength and agility of some people . i shall speak wonders ; and that there were such examples , polydamas may prove : who being unarmed slew a lion. the same man set upon a herd of oxen , he caught hold of the hinder foot of one of the greatest oxen , and would not let it go , though the ox raged , till he left his hoof in his hand . he held chariots with four horses back , with his hand , when they went with all their force , rhodig . l. . c. . when milo crotoniensis held an apple , no man could wrest it from him . he at the olympian games , carried an ox a furlong , and held his breath all the while ; then killed him with a box of his fist , and easily eat him up all the same day . at last , when he thought to pull asunder a cleft oke , it fell upon him and kill'd him , pliny l. . c. . maximinus the emperour had such strong limbs , that he put on his wifes bracelets , that was a circle set with jewels , that went about her arms , for a ring on his thumb . a cobler in sweden carried alwayes pounds of gold hang'd about his neck ; and he fought with fencers , and killed them all , olaus l. . c. . one paulus in bonsinius rer . ungar . decad . . l. . was in stature and for limbs like hercules : he took an armed man in his teeth at a military dance ; and though he was in armour himself , yet he carried him with him , and danced . ubert●s de cruce , of mill●in , carried a beast laden with wheat , and standing but upon one foot , no man could thrust him off from the place he stood , leander in mediol . lastly in the mountain anchusa , not farr from atlas , every single foot-man can resist two horse-men in ●ight . leo african . philetas colis was so light , that he tied leaden bullets to his feet , that the wind should not carry him away . there are as wonderfull examples of agility of body . in a western province of the new world , the indians are so swift , that they will run a whole day to overtake a man. hispal . sylv . p. . c. . the scritofinni will out run wild beasts . krant . in suecia . the same author writes that herald a noble irish man would out run any horse . l. . norveg . c. . in mexica , posts in four days will run leagues . polymnestor milesius , when he was a boy catcht a hare in sport . philonides in one day ran furlongs on foot , that is french leagues . ladas , so ran over the white sand , that he left no prints of his feet . in italy there was a boy born when fonteius and vip●anius were consuls , who at eight yeares old ran , miles from noon to night . solin . but wonderfull is the agility of a country man bred amongst cattle , who came to the court of the prince of papeberg . camer . cent . . hor. subcis . c. . the prince had in his court a dwarf call'd martinettus , that got on the back of that nimble man , as upon a horse , and he turnd round with him , and ran here and there as he li●ted , but when he pleased , he would at one leap cast his rider , though he sat never so fast . then he with the dwarfe on his back would fight with the hownds , and great mastives the english call them dogs : some of them were very fierce , and yet with his b●rking like a dogg , and grinning , and with his hair about his ears , he did fright them , and drive them out of the chamber , and somtimes he would bite the lesser dogs , when he had driven forth all the doggs he leapt wonderfully up and down , with four feet , and jumped to the highest corners of the room , that an ape could hardly do as much , and yet he with his country square body did it with ease . i saw him , once and twice , when i dined with the prince , when he had cast off the dwarfe from his back , and barked away the doggs , he leaped over the shoulders of one that sat at table , then over the table , not touching the cups nor platters that stood upon it , and then into higher places , and that so nimbly , that he seemed to flye like a squirrel , or indian cat whereof julius scaliger writes . he adds , many were of opinion , that he cast a mist before mens eyes , but he knew nothing of that , nor do i think he could do that if he would . justinus l. . writes that habides son to gargor , king of the curetes was of the like agility . chap. ix . of the rational soul ; and first , of memory . the rational soul is the form of man , and gives man his being , distinguishing him from other creatures . the faculties of it are two , understanding and will , the speaking faculty is given to them both , to interpret . there is scarce any thing to be said of them . for though there are infinite almost considerations of them , if you consider the diversity of inventions , virtues , consultations , tongues , manners of writings , and the rest , yet , should we adde them here , it would be a great fault in method , for they are more fitly handled in the ethicks , and therefore i forbeare them here . i shall onely adde one thing of memory : that some have had an excellent memory ; esdras the priest had all the jews doctrine by heart . cyrus and scipio knew every souldiers name in their armies . carmides would say any books that any one asked for in their libraries , as if he read in them , plin. mithridates had learned the languages of nations , gellius . julius caesar would dictate to four at the same time ; pliny saith , he was wont to dictate , to read , and to hear . themistocles had such a memory , that when simonides offered to teach him the art of memory , he said , he had rather learn the art to forget ; saying , he remembred what he would not , but could not forget what he would , cic. l. . de finib . seneca repeated in order names as they were first spoken . he rehearsed verses , and began at the last . portius latro never read over again what he was to deliver : for he learned it as he writ it , and he repeated it , and never missed one word . as these had excellent memories , so others had as bad , either from some disease , or ill constitution by birth . messala corvinus forgat his own name . franciscus barbarus , a most learned man at athens in the greek tongue , having a blow on his head with a stone , remembred firmly all things else , onely he forgate learning , that he had spent so much time upon , valer. max. l. . c. . clusius sabinus had such a barren memory , that sometimes he forgat the name of ulysses , sometimes of achilles , sometimes of priamus , seneca in epistol . atticus the son of herod the sophister , could never learn the names of the letters . the thracians could never count above four . but the greatest wonder is that thuan. l. writes of theodore beza , that before he dyed , when his mind was grown feeble , he forgat things present , but what was printed in his memory afore time , when he had his understanding , that he held ; and it continued for two years so , when he languished . as for wit , that depends on a certain temperament . and it is wonder , that oft-times those are stupid in many things , that are held wise in other things . themistocles could not so well take as catch counsels . there was one could not learn the rules of logick , yet other arts he could quickly learn , huartus . for the excellency of it ; janus drusus , the famous student , had a son so singular , that from years old to , when he dyed , he writ excellent commentaries on the proverbs and other books . drus. in praef●t . paralip . in n. . yet the wit of man cannot reach many things . the force of the loadstone ; flowing of the sea ; the wonderful effects of humours in man's body ; the constitution of his naturall heat ; and many more . they have busied many , but no man hath rightly found them out . the vulgar opinion is , god cannot be comprehended by reason of his excellency ; nor materia prima for its worthlesnesse . hidden properties are too loose an asylum for our ignorance . i will here stop , for so i intend . my purpose was to set down things most pleasant , to make young men delight in naturall history , and to help those that teach noblemens children privately . i have inserted many things doubtfull , and i have alledged their causes from other mens opinions , to shew , that nature requires searching . nature is fruitfull , and i could not set down all . her bounds are so large , that it is beyond my strength to search over all . if what i have writ be accepted , and i shall have so much ability and opportunity , i shall write an enchiridion of naturall history , wherein nature shall be set forth at large , and in short also . i shall leave the scrutiny to others ; whether , and wherefore , things are . but the supream over all will provide for these things . to whom be praise and glory to all ages . amen . finis . books printed for john streater , and are to be sold by the booksellers of london . the vale-royall of england ; or , the county palatine of chester illustrated . wherein is contained a geographicall and historical description of that famous county , with all its hundreds , and seats of the nobility , gentry , and freeholders ; its rivers , towns , castles , buildings ancient and modern : adorned with maps and prospects , and the coats of arms belonging to every individuall family of the whole county . unto which is added , an excellent discourse of the island of man. the refinement of zion : or , the old orthodox protestant doctrine justified , and defended against several exceptions of the antinomians ▪ methodically digested into questions , wherein many weighty and important cases of conscience are handled , concerning the nature of faith and repentance , or conversion to god. by anthony warton . de morbis foemineis : the womans counsellour ; or , the feminine physitian . modestly treating of such occult accidents , and secret diseases , as are incident to that sex. pharmacopaea : or , rhaenodaeus his dispensatory . treating of the whole body of physick : performing the office of an herball , as well as an apothecarie's shop . the life of the renowned peireskius : containing his learned experiments in all kind of learning . written by gassandus . now done into english. a proclamation discharging silk lace, white lace, and point to be imported or worn upon apparel ... march england and wales. sovereign ( - : charles ii) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing s estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a proclamation discharging silk lace, white lace, and point to be imported or worn upon apparel ... march england and wales. sovereign ( - : charles ii) menzies, pat. broadside. printed by the heir of andrew anderson, edinburgh : . torn with loss of print. signed pat menzies, cl. sti. concilii. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng charles -- ii, -- king of england, - . proclamations -- great britain. silk industry -- england -- law and legislation. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - john pas sampled and proofread - john pas text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a proclamation , discharging silk lace , white lace and point to be imported or worn upon apparel . charles , by the grace of god , king of great britain , france , and ireland , defender of the faith ; to _____ macers of our privy council , or messengers at arms , our sheriffs in that part , conjunctly and severally , specially constitute , greeting : forasmuch , as we , out of our princely care for the wealth and flourishing of this our kingdom , by the twelfth act of our present current parliament , did give , and grant several priviledges , liberties , and immunities to such of our good subjects , as would erect , and set up manufactories for their incouragement , and made a stop to the import of divers expensive , and superfluous commodities , exprest in the said act : which had exceedingly exhausted the money of this kingdom ; and hightned the exchange to forraign places , which is now much fallen : and did discharge the wearing of the said prohibited goods , and commodities within this kingdom , after the first of apryl next , under the penalties , and certifications contained in the said act of parliament . and whereas the prefixed day discharging the wearing of the saids prohibited commodities , is now approaching : we have thought fit , with advice of our privy council , hereby to publish , and declare our firm resolution , for putting the said act of parliament to due and punctual execution . and do strictly require and charge all judges , magistrats and others , to whom the execution of the said act is committed , to be careful to see the same put to due and vigorous execution : and to exact and uplift the penalties from the contraveeners , without any favour , or defalcation : as they will be answerable in their several offices and trusts : and we being informed that to evacuat , and elude the foresaid act , and to bring our subjects to greater expenses ; some merchants have taken upon them to import silk laces , white laces , and point laces , of great value : do therefore , with advice foresaid , hereby discharge all merchants , or other persons of what quality soever , to import , into this kingdom ; or any person to wear any apparel , or cloaths upon which there is any silk lace , white lace of threed , or point , after the first day of apryl next , under the penalty of five hundred merks scots , toties quoties , by and attour confiscation of the cloaths , upon which any of the said prohibited laces , or point shall be found , excepting alwayes forth hereof , the having , and wearing of white lace of threed , or point upon rufles , cravats , bands , handkirchiss , and night linens only , but upon no other cloaths , or linens ; and allowing servants to wear their masters or mistrisses old cloaths . and to shew how much , we are resolved to discourage all new expensive inventions to disappoint the said act , when they shal occurre , we discharge a new invention called gratigning , or scratching silk stuffs that shall be worn in cloaths , under the said penaltie : as also we discharge all noblemen , gentlemen , or others , to have upon their liveries any lace made of silk , after the said day , under the penaltie foresaid . and ordains all sheriffs , stewarts , and other judges , and magistrates , to whom the execution of the late act of parliament anent apparel is 〈…〉 cause put this act in execution in the ●●ty and manner prescribed by the said act of parliament : as they will be answerable . the which to do , we commit to you conjunctly and severally , our full power , by these our letters , delivering them , by you duely execute , and indorsat again to the bearer . given under our signet at edinburgh , the sixteenth day of march , one thousand six hundred and eighty two , and of our reign the thretty fourth year . per actum dominorum secreti concilij . pat . menzies , cl. sti. concilij . god save the king . edinburgh , printed by the heir of andrew anderson , printer to his most sacred majesty , .