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 Serpente. cap. 95.

THe Serpent hath that name Serpens of Serpere, to créepe, for he créepeth with priuy pares and glidings, & goeth not nor steppeth openly, but créepeth w^t priuy puttings forth of teates, as Isido. saith, lib. 12. Héere I make no processe of this kind, for before in littera A, cap. de Angue, all his properties be declared & shewed at full, but it noyeth not to set héere shortly some of his properties that be knowen. Io. de sancto Egedio speak∣eth of the Serpent, and sayeth, that hée dreadeth a naked man, and leapeth on a man that is clothed. Spettle is venim to y^e serpent, for spettle of a fasting man is venim to him, the Serpent fighteth for his head, for therein is accounted the place of the heart. His flesh is accounted colde, for he is of colde kind, he glydeth on y^e brest & on the wombe, & that is said for he goeth not forth right, but créep∣eth, & renueth himselfe euerye yere, & li∣keth moistie places, & loueth filthy pla∣ces and shadowye, and he looketh aside, & not forthright, and stingeth also aside, and the téeth be dented inwarde, & croo∣ked, & so be bendeth when he smiteth. The serpent hideth Lepra, & is eaten for to heale that euill y^t it be not knowne: and vseth not to turne & wind t^e tongue, for he moueth it alway, & that by strēgth of venim. The serpent fasteth & suffreth hunger long time, & stoppeth his eares, because he wil not heare the inchanters coniurations. And is hunted with wine, & he hisseth before he bileth, & slaieth all that he biteth, & is enimy to birdes, for he slaieth them with his blowing: and taketh againe that thing that he casted vp, for he taketh againe the venim that hée casteth.