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 Angue. chap. 9.

ALL kinde of Serpentes and Adders that by kinde may wrappe and folde his owne body, is called Anguis, & hath

that name, for he hath many corners and angles in such folding, and goeth neuer straight. For as Isidore sayth, libro. 12. Anguis is called Serpens, for he créepeth with priuy paces, but he créepeth w^t smal paces y^t he hid with folding & sliding, and withdrawing of scales, & is accounted a∣mong créeping wormes, ( whereof came this prouerb. Anguis latit in herba. The Snake vnder leaues, & wrath in y^e hart.) For he créepeth on the brest & womb, as Isi. saith, li. 12. & is called also Colluber, either for he dwelleth in shadowe, or for be glideth with slipper bendings, wrink∣lings, & draughts: for an Adder slideth while he is held. And of Adders is many manner kind: & how many kind, so many manner venim: & how many speces, so many manner malice, & so many manner sores & aches, as there are colours, as I∣sid. saith, li. 12. And as Adders be diuerse in quantitie, so they be diuers in mallice of venim. And some Adders be great and huge, as Plin. saith, li. 8. cap. 16. Magelle∣nes writeth, that in Inde be so great ad∣ders, y^t they swallow vp both Harts and Bulls all whole. And so in Punico Bel∣lo, the battell that was besides the riuer Bragada, Regulus y^e Emperour slew an Adder w^t Arbalastes & Tormēts, y^t which Adder was an hundred and twentie foote long, & the skin & the chéeke bones therof hang before the temple at Rome, & dured vntill the battaile Numantinum. Also in Claudeus Caesars time in Italy was a Serpent slaine, & in his wombe a whole child was found. And such an adder grie∣ueth most nowe with biting, now with blowing, now with smiting with y^e taile, & now with stinging, now with looking and sight. And there are other Adders, small in bodye, but they be most greate in might of grieuing. For the Serpent Dipsas, as Isidore saith, is so little, that he vneth is séene when men tread there∣on, & the venim thereof slaieth before it be felt, and he that dieth by that venim, féeleth no sore: and so the Poet Lucan sayth.

Signiferum iuuenem Tureni sangui∣nis album. Torta caput retro Dipsas calcata re∣mordit. Vix dolor aut sensus dentis fuit, &c.

That is, Dispas, that Serpent wrast his owne white head backward, and bit the young Baneret of Turenis bloud, & vnneth he felt biting or sore. So sayth Isidore. Also Tirus is the least of adders, and yet as Aristotle saith, lib. 7. vnneth is remedie found against his biting. Al∣so Serpentes and adders be diuerse in disposition, figure, and shape, for some haue two heads, as the adder Amphisi∣bena.

Of him Isidore speaketh in libro. 12. and sayth, that Amphisibena hath that name, for he hath two heads, one in the one ende, and another in the other ende, and runneth and glideth and wrigleth with wrinkles, corcels, & draughts of the body after either head: and among Ser∣pents, onelye this Serpent putteth out himselfe in cold, and putteth himselfe and goeth before all other.

Also lib. 8. cap. 14. Plinius sayth the same, and sayth, that Amphisibena hath a double head, as though one mouth were too little to cast venimme. Also some Serpents haue many heads: for some be doubled, and some trebled, and some quatrebled, as Isidore sayth. And Idra is a Serpent with many heads, and such a one was séene in a marreys in the Prouince of Archadia. And it is sayde, that if one head be smit off, thrée growe againe:but this is a fable. For it is per∣fectly knowen, that Idra is a place that casted vp the water, that wasted and de∣stroyed a citie that was there nigh: and in this Idra if the head of y^e streame were stopped, many head streames break out: and Hercules séeing that, burned y^e place, and stopped the wayes of the water: and therefore it is said, that Hercules did kill Idra the Serpent with fiue heades, as Isidore sayth, libro. 12. Also Serpents varie and be diuerse in coulours, for some be blacke, and some be redde: as the ser∣pent Tyrus, and those bée worst, & some be speckled, as the Serpent Scytale shi∣neth with diuersitie of speckles, that all that looketh thereon for wonder of the speckles hath lyking to looke thereon: and for he is most slow in créeping by a

wonder of his diuersitie of his speckles, he catcheth them y^t he maye not followe in going and in créeping, and the more diuers he is in coulours and speckles, the worse he is in venime, for his venime is accounted most sharpe and hot. For the same Serpent is so hot and feruent, that in winter time the skinnes that he hath chaunged, be feruent and hot, that bée of the body. Héereof Lucanus speaketh and sayth.

Et Scytale sparsis etiam nunc sola pruinis. Exuujas positura suas.

When frost is nigh, this Serpent changeth his skinne, as Isid. saith, &c. Also Ophites is a Serpent painted with di∣uers speckles, and hath as many manner of wise to noy and to gréene, as he hath diuerse colours and distinct. Heereof spea∣keth Lucanus, & saith, that that manner of Serpent Ophites, hath as many man∣ner of burnings and gréeuings, as he hath speckles and coulours, & is painted with burning speckles. Also Serpents be di∣uerse by diuersitie of stéede and of place, for some lurke in dens of the earth, & sic∣keth pouder or dust, & sucketh humour of the ground, as Plinius saith. And some be water Adders, and dwell in brimmes of waters, as the Serpent Enidris, that is a water adder, and who so is smitten at that Adder, hée swelleth into dropsie. And many men call it Boua, for the durt of an Ore is remedy therefore, as Isido. sayth, lib. 8. Also Natrix is an adder, and hath that name, for he infecteth with venim each well that he commeth nigh, as Lucanus sayth, and saith Natrix in∣secteth waters, as Isidore sayth libro. 7. Some serpents dwell in woods, in dens, and in shadowye plates, and hunt small Birdes and beastes, and sucke the moi∣sture thereof, as Aristotle sayth, libro. 14.

And such Serpents and adders lye in awaite for them that sleepe: And if they find the mouth open of them, or of other beasts, then they créepe in, for they loue heate and humour that they finde there, but against such Adders, a little Beast fighteth that is called Saura, as it were a litle Euete. And some men meane, that it is a Lyzard, for when this beast Sau∣ra is ware that this Serpent is present, then he leapeth vpon his face y^e sléepeth, and cratcheth with his féet to wake him, and to warne him of the Serpent, as A∣uicen saieth. And this little beast Saura, as Isidore saith, libr. 12. is as it were an Eute, and when he waxeth olde, his eien waxeth blind, and then hée goeth into an hole of a wall against the East, and ope∣neth his eyen afterwarde when the Sun is risen, & then his eien heateth & taketh light.

And some manner serpents dwell in the fire, as it fareth of the Salamandra, y^t Isidore and Plinius account among ve∣nimous beastes. The Salamandra hath that name, as Isidore saith, libro. 12. for he is strong & mightie against burning: & among all venimous beasts, his might is the most of venime. For other veni∣mous beasts n••yeth one and one, & this noyeth and slayeth many at once. For if he créepe on a trée, he infecteth all y^e ap∣ples, and slayeth them that eate therof, & if he falleth into a pit, he slayeth all that drinke of the water. By this venim this beast is contrary to burning, and among beasts, onely this beast quencheth fire, & lieth in the burning fire w^tout consump∣tion & wasting, and also with smarting & ach, and burneth not in fire, but abateth and swageth the burning thereof, as Isi∣dore sayth there.

And Plinius accordeth therewith at all points, libro. 10. cap. 47. and saith, that Salamandra is like to an Ewte in shape, & is neuer more séene but in much raine, for he falleth in faire wether. His touch is so colde that it quencheth fire, as Ise doth: and casteth out of his mouth white matter, with touching wherof mans bo∣dy leeseth haire, & what is touched there∣with, chaungeth and tourneth into most foulest coulour. Also they bée diuerse in manner of going & passing, for some créep and glide awaye wiggeling and crooked∣ly, and some alway stretch and goe forth right, as Isidore sayth, libro. 17. And bée sayth, that Cenchris is a Serpent, that bendeth not neither wiggeleth, but hold∣eth alway right foorth, as Lucanus say∣eth.

A Serpent eateth gladlye flesh, and sucketh gladly the moisture therof, as the Spinner sucketh flyes, and the Serpent swalloweth egges of birds, & their birds on liue. And when they haue swallowed them, they bring them to the hinder end, and putteth them out, and suffereth them not abide in the wombe. Also libro 2. A∣ristotle sayeth, that the guts of the Ser∣pents be lyke to the guts of foure foo∣ted beastes that laye egges, and haue no gendering stones, but they haue wayes as fish, and haue mothers, long and di∣uided, and theyr bowelles and guts bée long by the length of their bodies. And the tongues of Serpents be blacke, long, & thin, and clouen in twaine, and sharpe before, and moue out farre therefore, and moue easily. And the wombe of the ser∣pent is long and straight, and is lyke to a large gut. And that gut is lykened to an hoands gut, and hath after the womb a lyttle gut, and stretcheth vnto the out passing of superfluitie, and hath a lyttle heart nigh vnto the neck like to the kid∣ney in sight. And after the heart is that lung, and there after be subtill partes si∣newie and krindled, and hangeth down∣ward from the heart. After the long is the liuer, long and straight, and there∣vpon is the gall, as the flesh is lesse and more, the gall is vppon the guts in Ser∣pents, the splene is little and rounde, and their téeth be some deale sharpe and croo∣ked, and ioyned together, but they bée departed as the téeth of a Sawe.

And a Serpent hath thirtie ribbes by the number of the dayes of the moneth. And it is sayd, y^t Serpents fare as swallowes birdes, for if their eyen bée put out, yet their sight commeth againe: and the taile of a Serpent groweth againe if it bée cut off, as the taile of an ewt. Also Serpents haue egges first within, and layeth them afterwarde, not all at once, but one and one. And of those Egges beastes be gen∣dered, except the Serpents that be called Tyrus and Vipera.

Also Arist. saith, li. 3. Tyrus the Ser∣pent gendereth beastes within, but shée hath first egges within, and of the egges beasts be bred within: therefore it is said, y^t the mother of the other Serpents is long, after the making of the body. And their mother beginneth in y^e nether part, and passeth vp in either side of the ridge boane, and is diuided in two partes, and hath as it were a wall or interclose be∣tweene the two partes, and therefore the two Egges be set arowe in the mother. And a Serpent layeth not all her egges at once, but some & some. Also lib. 5. Ari∣stotle saith, y^t in tune of gendering Ser∣pents wrappeth and clippeth themselues together, that they séeme one body with two heads, as it is knowen to them that haue séene the doing. Also libr. 7 Aristo∣tle sayeth, that a Serpent, and namelye Tyrus, when he swalloweth a Birde or ought else, first he areareth himselfe, and afterward restrayneth himselfe vntil the thing that he swalloweth passe inward, and that is for his stomacke is little and smal. And Serpents may liue long with∣out meate, as it is knowen by Serpents that are kept to sell.

Also Aristotle lib. 8. telleth, that the wéesell sighteth against Serpents, & ar∣meth himselfe with eating of Rewe, and fighteth namely against Serpents y^t eate Mice. For the Wéesell hunteth and eat∣eth Mice. Also li. 7. he saith, y^e Serpentes lone well Wine, and bée therefore hun∣ted with wine. And also a serpent loueth passing well milke, and followeth the sa∣uour thereof, and therfore if a serpent be crept into a mannes wombe, he may be drawen out with the odour and smell of milke, as he saith, and Dioscorides also, Libro. 14. Aristotle sayth, that Serpents haue that propertye, that they may moue the head backwarde, resting the bodye. And the cause therof is, for the ioynts of the ridge boane be of gristles, therefore they be full plyaunt. And it is needfull to Serpents, that they may bende their heads backward to sée their long bodies and small, or else they might not rule their bodies, but they were holpe by rea∣ring of the head to rule wisely all the bo∣dy. Also serpents swimme in water by wiggeling and folding of the bodye, as they creepe on the ground. For kinde gi∣ueth not to Serpentes for to goe vppon féete, nor on sinnes to swimme with, and the cause therof is the great length of the 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

body, for if they had many féet they shuld moue full euill: and so they should with few feet. Also if they had many finnes set nigh together, they shuld moue heuily, & if they wer set far a sunder, they wer not sufficient to susteine & to beare vp y^e other deale of the body, y^t is long & pliant: and therefore what fishes doe that haue fins with drawing and clitching of fins, and foules & birds with clitching & spreading of wings, that do serpents with bending & weigling & pliantnes of body. And some fishes be like to serpents in length, which for the same cause haue fewe or no fins, and swimmeth euenly with pliant∣nesse of y^e body, as Lampraies, Congers, & Eles, and other such. For such mannee of fishes be like to Serpents in making, and haue onely two fins before, and vse onely pliantnesse of the body in stéede of fins and of wings. And creepe therefore vpon the grounde, and liueth long time without water, as Serpents doe with∣out meat. Also idem in eodem. Serpents haue wayes and guts, by the which som∣time superfluitie passeth out of the body, as other beasts haue y^e gender, but they haue no way of vrine, for they be with∣out bladder. Item in eodem, Serpents be found wrapped together, when they come together & to loue. For they haue not a yarde nor gendering stones, for they bee without a yard, for if they had gendring stones, the Semen should coole for tarri∣eng of out passing: and so the séede were not according to generation. Item idem 18. In generation of Serpents falleth not errour nor wonderfull shape of y^e kinde, but seld, & that is for the shape of the mo∣ther, that is long, strict, and strait. And so Egges of Serpents bée disposed & set a∣row, because of length of the mother.

These properties of Adders & Serpents, & many other properties & kindes, Ari∣ristotle rehearseth, which were too long to rehearse & make processe of them all arow. But in generall these be sufficient as for this time. Of the common proper∣ties of them that be knowen nigh to all men, it shall be treated & spoken off héere following in this present chapter in lit∣tera A.

Notes

• Additiō.
• A dragon
• Bragada, a riuer neere to Vtica in Afirike. Regulus was cōsul and not Emperor.
• A snake.
• No diffe∣rence is heere be∣tvveene Snakes &c Adders.