The foreste or Collection of histories no lesse profitable, then pleasant and necessarie, dooen out of Frenche into Englishe, by Thomas Fortescue.

¶ Of the amitie and enmitie of sundrie thinges, issuyng by priuie, hidden, and secrete proprieties. Chap. 4.

THe aunciente philosopher Heraclitus, as also others some after hym, helde and maintained, in their disputati∣ons this opinion, that eche thyng had his firste cause or beginnyng, by con∣corde, and discorde, by peace, and en∣mitie, whiche is in all thynges of what kinde soeuer, whence also issued the generation, and corruption of them: on whiche poinct of Philosophie I lesse mynde here to dwell, of parte for that it is bothe intricate, and difficill of parte also, for that the reader in my phantasie, shall thence reape as little fruicte, as he shall conceiue pleasure. Notwithstādyng, we shall some what saie, of the secrete loue, and hatered, whiche natu∣rally is in many thynges, whiche, whence, or how it co∣meth no manne directly knoweth: and is therefore assu∣redly, no lesse straunge, then marueilous. As first of all, the enmitie betwixte the Dogge, and the Catte, be∣twixte Oile, and Pitche, the Harte, and the Serpente, with many suche others, whiche in suche sorte malice, and enuie eche the other, this secrete rancor, of no parte proceading from th'elementes: for the difference, or con∣trarietie in thynges mixte, or compounde, is to all men aperte, and euident, as wee sée. The water first disaccor∣deth, as of nature contrary with the fire, for that the fire is hotte and drie, but the water contrary, these elemen∣teseche to other opposite, and repugnaunte. The water

and the yearth, accorde well together, but in this respect onely, that thei bothe bee colde: in the other, that one be∣yng moiste, that other drie, eche here leaueth the other, as his auncient enemie. Betwixt the fire, and the yearth there is a conformitie, to wéete, in that thei bothe be drie a contrarietie againe, euen betwene theim bothe dwel∣leth, the fire hoate, that other colde. So that as these ele∣mentes of parte, agrée together, so also disagrée thei, of, parte as is euidente. All thynges then what so euer are, caused of these elementes, must be subiecte of necessitie∣to these contrary qualities, whiche bee in these elemen∣tes, whence thei mixte are, and compounded. Wherfore that thyng, in whiche ruleth moste, some elementarie qualitie, boroweth his name of the saied qualitie: and so wée saie it to bée, either hoate, colde, moiste, or drie, some in more high degrée then others, accordyng to the predo∣minant force, in any these elementes. And this these bo∣dies, contrary either to other, are the onely, and sole cau∣ses of contrary effectes, so that whence this discrepante, or different nature in thynges is, is now manifeste, and nedeth no farther explication. But this other enmitie, that proceadeth not from any the elementes, but rather from some hidden proprietie, or secrete influence, to find the true cause, and occasion thereof, would aske more earneste studie, and longer contremplation. The Dogge and Catte (as is aboue saied) eche hateth other, neither knowe we the cause why. Other creatures also sée wée, that mutually are affectioned either to other, neither issueth this their loue, from any the elementes, whereof thei are composed. The Asse eateth Fenell gyante, or o∣therwise Sagapene, whiche in Latine maie also be called ferula, and findeth it bothe good, and toothsome, whiche to all other beastes, of Horse kinde, is a very starcke, and plain poison. The Fox ioieth, and liketh of the Serpent whiche neuer the lesse, enuieth all other beastes what so euer. Neither is this lesse to be meruailed emong men,

then also emong any other creatures, for that man nei∣ther knowyng why, ne yet for what cause, eftsones at the firste sighte, when he shall méete an other, neuer ha∣uyng before, or seen, or knowen hym, will notwithstan∣dyng disdaine, and hate hym, and immediatly findyng a∣gaine the second, no lesse straunge to hym, then the first, will well conceiue of hym, loue, and like hym, and that whiche more is, sometyme will bothe honour, and reue∣rence hym, yea, though he be in déede, for causes iuste his inferiour, little accoumptyng of the others, were thei though in truthe greate Lordes, and Rulers. Againe, we sometymes sée, twoo men so straungely affectioned, that the one voweth hym self to the will, and aduice of the other, whiche oftsones hath happened, betwixte the seruaunte, and maister, so that by nature it séemeth (the order of reason inuerted) that the vassaule was the bet∣ter; no reason to bée giuen, of so greate a disorder. In case semblable suche subiection, poudered sometymes, with malicious enmitie, bothe is, and chaunceth emong bir∣des also, as betwixte the Eagle, and the Swanne, the Crowe, and the Kite, whiche at times hardneth her self, to take a preie from the Crowe, euen out of her folded foote, or pinchyng pawes sliyng. Like enmitie is also be∣twixte the Chough, and the Kite; the Egle also, and the Goose, in suche sorte, that if you laie but one feather of an Egle, emong many, or in a heape of these of a Goose, that one wasteth, and consumeth all the others to nothyng. The Harte is mortall enemie vnto the Snake, for with his vehemente respiration, aboute her hole, he draweth the Snake out, by force of his breath onely: and without more incontinently deuoureth hym: for proofe whereof, who so pleaseth to burne, onely some small parte, or por∣tion of his horne, shall finde that no Serpent, will abide the smell thereof. The Crowe, the Asse, and Bulle, in like sorte disagrée, whose iyes the Crowe still beaketh, and laboureth to plucke out. The birde called Flore, skil∣fully

counterfaiteth the braiyng of a Horse, by meanes whereof, he as commonly feareth the horse, as the horse by the same meanes feareth also hym. Greate enemies to the Woulfe, is the Foxe, the Asse, and the Bulle, be∣twixt the Vultur also, and the Ele, nature hath proclai∣med continuall warre, and hostilitie. The mightie Lion dreadeth, and feareth the Cocke, he also flieth the sighte of fire, and the noice of a carte, the Panther in like sorte, the presence of the Hinde: the Scorpion pursueth with fatall enmitie, the Tarentula, whiche in Latin we maie call Falanga, whose venime, when he hath bitten any mā is no waie (as some write) cured, but by pleasant harmo∣nie, and Musicke, and the malice of these twoo beastes is suche, and so impacable, that who also is stonge, or bitten of the Scorpion, findeth presente remedie in that oile, where the Tarentula, or Falanga hath tofore béen drou∣ned. The monsterous, and houge Elephante, bothe fea∣reth, and flieth the simple Serpent, he trembleth at the presence, and sight, of a shepe, he by no meanes indureth the grunnyng of a Hogge. The Horse, Asse, or Moile, with greate paine abideth to sée the We sell, the Snite, or woode Cocke, hardly dwelleth in the sight of the house Cocke. There is a kinde of Faucons, whiche Aristotle calleth Tico, that liueth in continuall warre, and enmi∣tie with the Fox, neuer missing to fight with him, where he so at any tyme findeth hym. Elian mindeth vs or inces∣sante malice, betwixte an other sorte of Faucons, called Pelagra, and the Crowe, betwixte the Crowe againe al∣so, and the harmeles Turtle. Betwixt the Oule and the Curlue, & in fine, betwixt the partridge and the Tortuis The Pelican aboue all other birdes, hateth the Quaile, and the Horse, without comparison, with moste pain in∣dureth the shamois. Like enmitie is also naturallye e∣mong fishes, the Crabbe maie not abide in cōpanie with the Oister, the Dolphin, and the Whale slie eche the o∣ther, the Cunger naturally hateth the Lampraie, and

Oister. The Oister on the Ele, hath suche a predomināt, and malicious force, and the Ele in suche sorte abhorreth and feareth hym, that if by happe she ones sée hym, she incontinently dieth thereof. The Pike fatally prosecu∣teth, the fishe of some, called Mongilla, or Mugra: the Snake beholding a man appareiled, wisheth him harme and hardeneth her self, as she maie, to bite, and annoye hym, but seyng the same naked, feareth againe, and flieth hym. The Ratte, or Mouse rather, is to the Snake an auncient enemie, as well when she is busied in couching her Egges, as also in the Winter, when she lieth deepe hidden, in the intrailes of the yearth: by meanes where∣of, the Snake to liue in more securitie, heapeth togither in her hole, good store of prouision, meates fitte, and wel pleasyng her aduersarie the Mouse, to the intente that the Mouse beyng well fedde therewith, she at that time might forget, her farther rage, and malice. The Woul∣fes malice towardes the Shepe is suche, and so naturall, that if you make a drumme of the skinne of a Woulfe, the Shepe with no lesse feare, flieth the sounde thereof, then if the Woulfe were liuyng, and present then before hym. Farther also some others affirme, that if you make any stringes for the Viall, or Lute, of the guttes as well of the Shepe, as of the Woulfe also, you neuer shall ac∣corde them, or frame thence any harmonie. If ye hange the skinne of a Woulfe, either in your stable, or Shepe∣house, or where your flocke is fodthered, the sighte, and feare thereof, forceth theim to forget their feedyng. The Mouse by a secret proprietie, so muche enuieth the Scor∣pion, that whom so euer he impoisoneth, is by clappyng of a Mouse, on the parte affected, cured. The Viper and Snake, dread meruailously the Crabbe, whiche natural∣ly hath ouer these wormes, suche assured maisterie, that if a hogge by happe, should be bitten of the Viper, he im∣mediately expelleth the poison, hauyng eaten of the Crabbe. Besides, whiche moste straunge is, as sone as

the Sunne entreth into the signe of Cancer, all Serpen∣tes then languishe, as sicke of some maladie. The fishe called Scorpio, and the Crocodile, wage continuall bat∣taile, eche killyng still the other. The Panther in suche sorte feareth the Ounce: that as some write, he suffereth hymself to be slaine of hym, without any kinde of resi∣stance: and also if you hang the Panthers skinne, in that place where you kéepe the Ounce; the Panthers skinne will then pill, waste, and consume. Suche is the enmitie also of the Chough, and the Dawe, that as Aristotle re∣porteth, eche robbeth, and destroieth the others Egges. The Waspe liueth in continuall warre with the Spi∣der: as doeth the Ducke also; with the Mouse or Ratte, eche séekyng to deuoure, and eate the others yonge ones. The Kite continually malliceth, and hateth the Foxe. There is a small kinde of Haukes, whiche Plinie calleth Esalon, whiche with fatall enmitie, pursueth still the Crowe, he searcheth out her neste, and destroieth her eg∣ges. The hogge hardly indureth the presence of the we∣sell. The Woulfe, and Lion are enemies so contrary, that the blood of the one, will not bee mixte with the o∣ther. The Mole or Wante, so disliketh of the Ante, that he abideth not in the place, where the others bee. The Spider wageth priuie warre, against the Serpent, and as Plinie reporteth, doeth hym shamefully to dye. Besi∣des all these, emong thynges also voide, and lackyng life, like repugnancie, or contrarietie of nature is to be found for as wee firste saied, oile is enemie to Pitche, for triall whereof, who so putteth oile into a pitchie vessell, shall sée that the Pitche will sone consume the Oile. Oile a∣gaine disagréeth with water: as dooeth also in like sorte Lime, but Oile and Lime liue in perpetual league, and amitie. The Olife hath a secrete, & hidden force, against the vnchast lecherer, suche in déede, and so straunge, that as it is written, if a woman lesse chaste, attempt to plāt hym, she shall languishe, and die of it, the trée also withe∣reth.

The Colewort hardly groweth, beyng sowen nigh to Maioram. Salte water waxeth swéete, mixte with Wheaton flower, in suche sorte, that within twoo ho∣wers afterward, a man maie easily drinke thereof. Wee might in this place loade the reader, with infinite suche examples, of fatall, and mortall enmitie, as well emōg thynges hauyng life, as also others insensible, whiche al to tarrie, were long and tedious: as on the other side also wee might speake of many thynges, that secretly occord well by the priuie instincte of nature, as of the Pecocke, and the Pigion, the Turtle, and the Popingaie, the Thrushe, and the Crane. Aristotle reporteth a straunge example of amitie, betwixte a certaine kinde of Sparo∣wes, and the Crocodile, he saieth, that this houge beaste openeth his mouthe, to th'intent, this little birde should come in there at, to beake, trimme, and make cleane his téethe, to purge his gummes, and ease him euery where, and in fine addeth that this Sparrowe, feedeth, and plea∣seth, in that lothsome filthe, he there gathereth. It is also saied, that the Fore loueth well the Crowe, the Dawe also the Henne of India, and in fine the Larke, an other birde called the Ioncke. The Foxe is neuer indomaged by any kinde of Snake, the Pigion ioieth in the presence of the Turtle, the Partridge also with her beloued the Wooddoue. The fishe, in Latine called Talpa marina, is aboue all others fauoured, and beloued of the Whale, whiche as witnesseth Plinie, rolleth carefully before her, aduisyng her where to shoune the whirlyng gulfes, and déepe holes. Beholde now the meruailous woorkes, and secrete force of nature, through the prouidence of GOD, moued, by the influence of the Starres, and Planettes, whiche all wee finde sufficiently, and well aucthorised, by Plinie, Aristoile, Albertus Magnus, Elian, Marbodeus the Poete, in his bookes of the nature, and proprietie of sto∣nes, with many others, bothe auncient, and late writers as well of the nature of beastes, as of other thynges.