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 Boue. cap. 13.

THe Oxe is called Bos, and is called Boetes in Greeke, and sometime Te∣ro in Latine, for he treadeth the earth, and the dew lappe or fresh lap that han∣geth downe vnder his throte, and stret∣cheth to the legges, is called Palliaria, & hath that name of Pelle the skinne, as it were Pelliaria, a hanging skinne or a dagge, and is a token of gentlenesse & nobilytie in an Oxe, as Isidore sayth li. 14. And he sayth, that Oxen be full mild among their fellowes, for one of them séeketh another, with whom he is vsed to draw at neck at the plough. And ofte lowing proueth affection and loue, when he may not soone finde his fellow. Lib. 8. cap. 45. Plinius speaketh of Oxen, and sayth. That he findeth written of Oxen of Inde, that are as high as Camelles, with hornes of foure foote long. And ther it followeth: among beastes that goe backward onely Oxen be fed with foder and with other foode, and it is sayd, that they were fat by washing with hot wa∣ter. And Oxen maye better trauaile when they be yoaked by the horns, then when they be yoked by the necke. In Syria are Oxen that haue not dew laps nor tresh laps vnder the throte, but bun∣ches on the backes: and Oxen with straight hornes, be accompted excellent in worke: and blacke Oxen with lyttle hornes be accounted lesse profitable to working.

Oxens hornes are more thicker than Bulles hornes: and after the gelding, the Oxe increseth in body and in horns, in might, vertue, and strength: but hee is not so bold and hardie as before hand, but he is more tame, softe, and milde, and may better away with trauaile and is more slowe and heauie of going.

Also Plin. speaketh of the kinde of Ox∣en and saith: that after thrée years, an Oxe is lesse fierce than within 3. yeres: and a young Cow and an Oxe may be well coupled together. And we haue the Oxe fellow in trauel of tillyng of land: and this beast was so worthy accounted in olde time, that men would not harte the Oxe, and who that slewe an Oxe without cause, should be as sore punish∣ed, as though he had slaine his fellowe in earth tillyng, as he saith.

The Oxe is a mild beast and cleane, not onely to the vse of man, but also to

offer in Altars of Gods: for of Oxen be best offerings and sacrifices made, and with offering of them and Sacrifice, the Gods be best pleased. The Oxe openeth the land, and carueth with culture and with share, and tilleth fields, and maketh them able and good to beare good corne & fruite. The Oxe féedeth with his flesh, and nourisheth: the skin and hide ac∣cordeth to many manner vse, and his dirte fatteth the lande: his hornes hea∣ted or sotten, were softe, and be stretch∣ed out and made right and euen, and of them be made diuers vessells, tooles, and instruments. Of Oxe hornes be made tapping and nockes to bowes, to arbala∣sters, and arrowes to shoote against E∣nemies, and breast plates, and other ar∣mour, by the which, vnstrong places of mans bodye, be warded and defended a∣gainst shot and smiting of enimies. And of Oxe hornes be lanternes made: to put off darknesse, and combes to right & to cleause heades of filth. Also Hunters vse Oxe hornes to feare wilde keasts, & to comfort hounes to pursue beasts that taketh the flight. Also writers and pain∣ters vse the hornes, and keepe in them diuers colours at best. Also warriours life hornes and blow therewith, and cō∣forteth their fellows, both such as fight, and then: that flye, and call them to the boast with blowing of hornes. Also kée∣pers and wardens of beasts and of Ca∣stels and waites, vseth hornes, and com∣forteth each other to wake with blow∣ing of hornes. And the Oxe hornes bée néedfull to all manner of vse. Also that that is in the Oxe is néedfull to diuers vse, and also his durt is good and profi∣table, as Plinius sayth, libro. 28. cap. 11. And sayth, that Oxe durt helpeth against ach of the ioyntes, and is a singular re∣medy against the dropsie, if the patient be therewith annointed in the Sun. For it consumeth and wasteth humours be∣twéene the skinne and the flesh: & swa∣geth and abateth holning and swelling of the dropsie.

Also li. 30. ca. 3. Plinius saith, y^t there is a little beast like to Ecarabeus, and is called Bupestris, and this Bupestris be∣guileth and betrayeth the Oxe in the grasse, and that is (as it is sayde) for the Oxe treadeth on him.* 1.1 For this Bupe∣stris lyeth among hearbs and grasse that the Oxe loueth, and hideth him therein: and the Oxe gathereth his meate, and swalloweth this beast Bupestris, & when this beast Bupestris is swallowed, hée chafeth sodeinely the lieur of the Oxe, and maketh him break with great paine and sorrow. Héerof Papias speaketh and saith, that the necke of the Oxe is wrong and grieued with charge of the yoake, & the Oxe is grieued with the ache of the pricke, with the which hée is so pric∣ked. And the Oxe dyeth with woe and sorrowe that commeth of the venimme of that beast Bupestris, when hée com∣meth into the Oxe wombe amongst his meate.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bupestris, a flie like a blacke betle, but hauing longer legs, it ly∣eth in the grasse, & killeth a beast if he eate him.