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.

De Verme. cap. 115.

A Worme is called Vermis, and is a beast that ofte gendereth of flesh and of hearbs: and gendereth oft of Caule, and somtime of corruption of humours, and somtime of medling of male and fe∣male, and somtime of egges, as it well appeareth of Scorpions and of Tortu∣ses and Ewies, as Isidore saith lib. 12. And the Worme is called Vermis, as it were Vertens, turning and winding: for the worme turneth and windeth to∣ward many sides, for the worme neither créepeth nor glideth as serpents do, but the worme draweth and haleth his bo∣dy in diuers places of the bodye, with many diuers draughts, as Isidore saith: and wormes come out of their dens in springing time, which is called Ver, as he sayth.

Of Wormes be many manner diuerse kindes, for some be water wormes, and some bée lande Wormes, and of those, some be in hearbes and in Wortes,* 1.1 as Malshragges: and other such, and some in Trées, as Teredines, trée Wormes, and some in clothes, as Moathes, and some in flesh, as Maggots, that bréede of corrupt and rotted moysture in flesh, and some in beasts within & without, as long wormes in childrens wombes, and those long wormes be called Lumbrici, and those other that be not long be cal∣led Ascarides,* 1.2 and Chirones, hounde wormes, and lice and néetes in heads,* 1.3 & all such wormes bréed and gender of cor∣rupt humours in bodyes of beasts with∣in or w^tout. And there be other wormes of the earth which be long and rounde, soft and smooth, as Anglitwitches, and males doe hunt them vnder earth,* 1.4 and with Anglitwitches fish is taken in wa∣ters, when fish hookes be baited with such wormes in stéede of baite.

And Constantine saith, such wormes helpe agaynst the Crampe, and agaynst shrinking of sinewes, and also agaynst biting of Serpents, and against smiting of Scorpions: And among Wormes some be footlesse, as Adders & Serpents, and some haue sixe féete, and some bée full euill and malitious, and enimies to mankinde, as Serpentes, and other ve∣nimous wormes: and some wormes be round of body, and hath no sinewes nor bones great nor small, neyther gristles, neither bloud, and all such dieth if they be annointed with Oyle, and do quicken againe in vineger, as Aristotle sayeth. And some wormes gender and be gen∣dered, and some be gendered and gender not, as the Salamandra, and in such Wormes is Sexe of male and female. And in these diuerse manners and in many other Wormes be diuerse, both lesse and more.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caterpil∣lers, Cankers. & Moaths
• * 1.2

  Mavvel•• vvormes.
• * 1.3

  Gut vvormes & bots.
• * 1.4

  Ease vvormes vsed for baite to take fish.