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IT may seeme to many, that hornets, caterpillers, canker wormes, grasse hop∣pers, spiders, and such like vermin, were not created to any other ende, saue
to endomage men: but though wee doe omit a thousand properties, which all these crea∣tures haue by nature seruing to vse in phisicke, and that wee doe but onely consider, how they serue for food and nourishment to many other creatures: yet shall we in this haue e∣nough wherein to acknowledge the profit, which doth returne vnto vs from most vile and contemptible creatures, and by so much the more magnifie the prouidence of God who ordaineth all things for our good, For it is very certaine, that these small creatures (which otherwise seeme to bee vnprofitable) doe serue for food and meate to birds and foules, and to such fishes as wee doe ordinarily eate of, so that we may rightfully say, that wee our selues are nourished by catterpillers, grassehoppers, and such other vermine, considering that we eate those beasts that deuoure them, and doe liue vpon them. Let vs but onely note the meate which Turkie cockes, and other commmon foules, whom wee so carefully bring vp for vs to feede vpon, do most seeke after. Certainely, there is no beast which eateth more vucleanely and filthy meate, for they spare neither serpents nor toads: and yet wee esteeme of their flesh, egs and chickens, as of very good and delicate meat. This is in truth a maruellous kinde of naturall chimistrie and inimitable art, to so subli∣mate * 1.1 that which of it selfe is poison, and would proue so to man, that hauing passed through the limbecke and fire of a small creature, it is not onely purged thereby from all annoyance but doth also sustaine life, and serue afterwards for holesome nouriture to man. And doe wee not beholde, that the nightingall and the wood sparrowe (are fat with eating vene¦mous spiders) which serue both for meat and a medicine to them? Plinie hath written, that * 1.2 deere and quailes do feede vpon poyson, and yet euery one knoweth that their flesh is a delicious kinde of meate. But what another wonder is this which the same author decla∣reth, that there be certaine beasts which are not venemous of themselues, and yet are dan∣gerous meat, when they haue eaten any venemous beast or herbe? For in the mountaines of Pamphilia and of Cilicia, the bores that haue eaten Salamanders, are very venemous in such sort as they poyson those who eate of their flesh: and yet they themselues can con∣uert such poyson to their owne nourishment. What reason can we giue of so excellent a se∣cret in the nature of beasts? I haue neuer yet learned any reason of the Philosophers. Let vs then stay at the admirable effects of the prouidence of God, who in those beasts, which we doe commonly eate for our sustenance, doth performe this maruellous chimistrie wher∣of wee now spake, and who causeth the force of poysons to bee spent in the deserts, to the small hurt of man, to the end that his omnipotencie, bounty and benignity may be decla¦red in all things towards vs.
Moreouer, haue we not also worthy matter, whereby to giue glory to his name, in that * 1.3 he hath created the beasts so different in nature, with a naturall and secret amitie, and eni¦mitie which they doe greatly beare one towards another? For it is very certaine, that God maketh all this serue to the profit and commoditie of men: in so much as there is a kinde of amitie commonly in priuate and tame beasts, towards such as they are, all seruing him who hath beene established for their master: and that enimitie doth rather remaine a∣mongst wilde beasts, as also in tame beasts towards the wilde: In such sort as many sauage beasts, which doe nothing but harme, haue by this meanes many of their owne kinde their aduersarie, to make head against them, and to resist them in whatsoeuer they would doe. But we may especially wonder in that the most mightie, great and strong beasts, yea the most furious and cruell are commonly put in feare, by the smallest and most weake. For what is an hog in regard of an Elephant? or a cocke in respect of a lyon? there seemeth to be no comparison betwixt them: And yet the onely voice and grunting of an hog maketh the Elephant afraide; and the lion is not onely seized with feare at the crowing of the cocke, but is much troubled when he seeth him but set vp his crest. Also there are verie little beastes, who doe not onely put verie great and cruell ones in feare, but doe also kill them: as the I chneumon, which is a little Rat of India, doeth kill the great and cruell crocodile (a most dangerous serpent) cleauing and piercing his belly, after it is secretly en∣tred thereinto thorough the mouth of this beast, which is able to deuoure men, and yet striketh no feare into this feeble creature. Which (as Plinie recordeth) hath another warre * 1.4 against the Aspis, ouer whom it remaineth victorious by this meane. It doeth many times wallowe and tumble in the dirt, and as many times doth drie it selfe in the sunne: then fee∣ling it selfe sufficiently armed with slime, it assaileth the Aspis, alwaies holding vp the taile against him, to receiue the blowes thereupon, which the serpent shall strike, wherewith hee can in no wise offend the bodie of the Ichneumon: in the meane space it picketh out some
such fit place to strike him through the throat, that he therewith dieth: and presently after it doeth prepare it selfe, as before, to fight with another. In this discourse we may behold a perfect image of humane things, considering that we cannot be ignorant, how that it com∣meth oftentimes to passe, that God abateth the most mightie and strong tyrants, by the most lowly and abiect persons; and Kings, Princes, and highest esteemed people, by meane and very lowe esteemed men. And let vs also note, that although the amitie and enmitie amongst liuing creatures, proceedeth from a certaine instinct of nature, so disposed by the creator, and the causes whereof are either hidden, or hardly knowen: that neuerthelesse, the best reason, and most certaine which may be alledged concerning those examples, which wee haue heere touched, is, that God would declare vnto vs in them, how he doeth mocke at the pride and arrogancie of men, and at all their puissance and force. For if he bestowe so much power vpon little beastes, as to affright, yea euen to slay the most furious, and that hee can ouerthrowe, and destroy the most stout and valiant amongst men, by their owne selues, how much more should he astonish them, if with his almightie hand hee should beat downe their pride, and punish their sinnes in his ire? Though the people (saith the Pro∣phet) rage and murmure; though Kings band themselues, and Princes be assembled toge∣ther against the Lord, yet hee that dwelleth in the heauens shall laugh, the Lord shall haue them in derision, also they shall perish in the way, when his wrath shall suddenly burne.
Now concerning that, which particularly respecteth the amitie betwixt priuate and do∣mesticall beastes, and their hate towards those that are wilde, although that the neerest cause be very euident (as that they do loue one another, because they are nourished toge∣ther, and receiue no domage one from another, hating the wildenesse of those, who desire to deuoure them) yet must wee passe farther, and acknowledge another more remote, and yet most certaine cause therein, which is a naturall instinct to conserue and multiplie their owne kind for the vtility and seruice of man, according as the bountie and benignitie of our God hath by his admirable prouidence disposed of their nature, wherupon let vs heare you (ARAM) plot out the subiect of your discourse.
Excellent chimistry in the nature of beasts.
Hist. nat. lib. 10. c. 72.
Of the natu∣ral amity and enimitie of beastes.
Hist nat. lib. •• cap. 24.