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 Basilisco. cap. 16.

THe Cockatrice is called Basiliscus in Gréeke, and Regulus in Latine, and hath that name Regulus of a litle king, for he is King of serpents, and they are afeard and flye when they sée him, for he slayeth them with his smell and with his breathe: and slayeth also all thing that hath lyfe, with breathe and with sight.

In his sight, no fowle, nor birde pas∣seth harmelesse, and though he be farre from the foule, yet it is burnt and deuou∣red by his mouth. But he is ouercome of the Wesel: and men bring the We∣sell to the Cockatrice denne, wherin hée lurketh and is hidde, for the Father and maker of all thing, lefte nothing with∣out remedy: and so the Cockatrice fli∣eth when he séeth the Wesell, and the Wesell pursueth and slayeth him: and the Cockatrice is halfe a foote long, and hath white speckes: and the Cockatrice slayeth that that he commeth nigh, as the Scorpion, and that water that hée toucheth, maketh the Dropsie, and it is venemous and deadly. And some men call the Coackatrice Sibilus, for with hissing he slayeth, ere he biteth or stin∣geth. Huc vsque Isidorus. lib. 12, capi∣tulo. 4.

Plinius also sayth, libro. 8. capitulo. 22. Among the Hisperies and Aethy∣opes is a well, that many men suppose is the head of Nylus, and there beside is a wilde beast that is called Catoble∣tas, and hath a lyttle body, and nice in al members, and a great head hanging al∣way, toward the earth, and els it were great noyeng to mankinde: for all that sée his eyen, should dye anone, and the same kinde hath the Cockatrice, and the Serpent that is bred in the Prouince of Syrena, and hath a bodye in length and breadth as the Cockatrice, and a tayle of twelue inches long, and hath a specke in his head as a precious stone, and feareth away all Serpents with hissing, and he presseth not his bodye with much bow∣ing, but his course of way is forth right, and goeth in meane: he dryeth and bur∣neth leaues and hearbes, not onely with touche, but also by hissing and blast, he rotteth and corrupteth all thing aboute him. And he is of so great venime and perillous, that he slayeth and wasteth him y^t commeth nigh him by the length of a speare, without tarrieng. And yet the Wesell taketh and ouercommeth him: for it pleaseth God, that no kind∣ly thing should be without peere, for the biting of the Wesell is death to y^e Coc∣katrice: and neuerthelesse the biting of the Cockatrice is death to the wesell, & y^t is sure, except y^e wesel eat rew before.

And against such venime, as Aristotle sayth and Auicen, first the Wesell ea∣teth the hearb of Row, though it be bit∣ter, and by vertue of the iuyce of that hearb, be goeth boldly and obey commeth his enemie. And though the Cockatrice be venomous without remedy, while he is alway, yet he léeseth all the mall••ce, when he is burnt to ashes: his ashes are accounted good and profitable in worke∣ing of Alkamie, and namely in turning and changing of mettall.

(* 1.1The Basiliske as Cockatrice, a∣mong créeping wormes is the most pe∣stilent. And among men, the most pesti∣lent minded, are the spoilers of the Cler∣gie with such vnconscionable are rages, that many Ministers haue bene forced to leaue their lyuings, and go a begging. If the tituled clemencie of the Gospell, he become oppression, God will bring shortly all to confusion. There were no such Basiliskes in Plinies time: My self haue bene so plagued, that I speak by experience, and haue to shewe by proofe, &c.)

Notes

• * 1.1

  Additiō.