Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

Of Midday. chap. 23.

MIddaye is called Meridies, as it were the middle of the day. For at middaye the Sunne is séene in the mid∣dle of heauen, and is in the middle point betwéene the East and the West: and is séene lyke far from other. Or els midday is called Meridies, as it were cleere: and the day is most cléere and pure, when y^e Sunne shineth out of the middle of hea∣uen, and lighteneth all the world with euen cléerenesse, as Isidore sayth. This houre is most hot and dry, and most like in qualities to Summer: and that is for many manner causes. For then the Sun is most streight ouer our heads, for the streight reflexion and rebounding and doubling of the Sunne beames, and for streyghtnesse of the lines, vnder y^t which the beames be thrust togethers. Also that time for multiplication and comming together of beames the aire is full hot. And therefore then is most heate gende∣red in these neather things. And in the houre of midday each body maketh most short shadow. And then the shadow stretcheth fromward the Sunne toward the North. And the more the Sunne pas∣seth

fromward the South circle, the sha∣dow of a body is the more long, as Beda sayth. In the midday flowres and hearbs fordrie: but fruit and corne do most ripe, then beasts drawe to shadowy places, for strong heat of the Sunne: and some rest in their owne dennes and hidels. In the middaye venimous beastes, as Ser∣pents and Adders gréeue most. For then they cast soone and shedde their venim. Also in the morrow tide, for coldnesse of the night that is passed, they waxe colde. And therefore in them the strength of venim abateth: but it waxeth hot in the middest of the day. Therefore that time they bée more feruent to sting, and shed, and cast venimme, and so in the fer∣uent middaye they goe out of theyr holdes and dennes, and put them foorth for to haue heate of the Sunne, as Isi∣dor saith.