The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

OF MONSTERS AND PRODIGIES. THE TWENTY FIFTH BOOK. (Book 25)

THE PREFACE.

WEe call Monsters, what things soever are brought forth contra∣ry to the common decree and order of nature. So wee terme * 1.1 that infant monstrous, which is borne with one arme alone, or with two heads. But we define Prodigies, those things which happen contrary to the whole course of nature, that is, altoge∣ther * 1.2 differing and dissenting from nature: as, if a woman should bee delivered of a Snake, or a Dogge. Of the first sort are thought all those, in which any of those things, which ought, and are accustomed to bee, ac∣cording to nature, is wanting, or doth abound, is changed, worne, covered or de∣fended, hurt, or not put in his right place: for somtimes some are born with more fingers than they should, other some but with one finger: some with those parts devided which should be joyned, others with those parts joyned which should bee devided: some are borne with the privityes of both sexes, male and female. And Aristotle saw a Goate with a horne upon her knee. No living creature was ever * 1.3 borne which wanted the Heart, but some have beene seene wanting the Spleene, others with two Spleenes, and some wanting one of the Reines. And none have bin known to have wanted the whole Liver, although some have bin found that had it not perfect and whole: and there have beene those which wanted the Gall, when by nature they should have had it: and besides, it hath beene seene that the Liver, contrary to his naturall site, hath lien on the left side, and the Spleene on the right. Some women also have had their privities closed, and not perforated, the membranous obstacle, which they call the Hymen, hindering. And men are sometimes borne with their fundaments, eares, noses, and the rest of the passa∣ges shut, and are accounted monstrous, nature erring from its entended scope. But to conclude, those Monsters are thought to portend some ill, which are much differing from their nature.

CHAP. I. Of the cause of Monsters; and first of those Monsters which appeare for the glory of God, and the punishent of mens wickednesse.

THere are reckoned up many causes of monsters; the first whereof is the glory of God, that his immense power may be manifested to those which are ignorant of it, by the sending of those things which happen contrary to nature: for thus our Saviour Christ answered the Disciples (asking whe∣ther he or his parents had offended, who, being born blind, received his sight from him) that neither he nor his parents had committed any fault so great, but this to have happened onely that the glory and majesty of God should be divulged by that mira∣cle, and such great workes.

Another cause is, that God may either punish mens wickednesse, or shew signes of punishment at hand, because parents sometimes lye and joine themselves toge∣ther without law and measure, or luxuriously and beastly, or at such times as they ought to forbeare by the command of God and the Church, such monstrous, hor∣rid and unnaturall births doe happen.

At Verona Anno Dom. 1254. a mare foaled a colt, with the perfect face of a man, but all the rest of the body like an horse: a little after that, the warre betweene the Florentines and Pisans began, by which all Italy was in a combustion.

[illustration]

The figure of a Colt with a mans face.

About the time that Pope Julius the second raised up all Italy, and the greatest part of Christendome, against Lewis the twelfth the King of France, in the yeere of our Lord 1512. (in which yeere, upon Easter day, neere Ravenna was fought that mortall battell, in which the Popes forces were overthrowne) a monster was borne in Ravenna, having a horne upon the crowne of his head, and besides, two wings, and one foot alone, most like to the feet of birds of prey, and in the knee thereof an eye, the privities of male and female, the rest of the body like a man, as you may see by the following figure.

[illustration]

The figure of awinged Monster.

The third cause is, an abundance of seed & overflowing matter. The fourth, the same in too little quantity, and defi∣cient. The fift, the force and efficacy of imagination. The sixt, the straightnesse of the wombe. The seaventh, the disor∣derly site of the party with childe, and the position of the parts of the body. The eighth, a fall, straine or stroake, especial∣ly upon the belly of a woman with child. The ninth, hereditary diseases, or affects by any other accident. The tenth, the confusion and mingling together of the seed. The eleventh, the craft and wic∣kednesse of the divell. There are some o∣thers which are accounted for monsters, because they have their originall or es∣sence full of admiration, or doe assume a certaine prodigious forme by the craft of some begging companions; therefore we will speak briefly of them in their place in this our treatise of monsters.

CHAP. II. Of monsters caused by too great abundance of seed.

SEeing wee have already handled the two former and truely finall causes of monsters, we must now come to those which are the ma∣tereall, corporeall, and efficient causes, taking our beginning from that we call the too great abundance of the matter of seed. It is the opinion of those Philosophers which have written of monsters, that if at any time a creature bearing one at once, as man, shall cast forth more seed in copulation than is necessary to the generation of one body, it cannot be that onely one should bee begot of all that; therefore from thence either two or more must arise: whereby it commeth to passe, that these are rather judged wonders, because they happen seldome, and contrary to common custome. Super∣fluous parts happen by the same cause, that twinnes, and many at one birth, contrary to natures course, doe chance, that is, by a larger effusion of seed than is required for the framing of that part, that so it exceeds either in number or else in greatnesse. So Austin tells that in his time in the East an infant was borne, having all the parts from the belly upwards double, but from thence downewards single and simple: for it had two heads, foure eyes, two breasts, foure hands, in all the rest like to another child, and it lived a little while. Caelius Rhodiginus saith he saw two monsters in Italy, the one male, the other female, handsomly & neatly made through all their bodies, except their heads, which were double; the male died within a few daies after it was borne; but the female (whose shape is here delineated) lived 20. five yeers, which is contrary to the common custome of monsters; for they for the most part are very * 1.4 short lived, because they both live and are born, as it were, against natures consent; to which may be added, they doe not love themselves, by reason they are made a scorne to others, and by that meanes lead a hated life.

[illustration]

The effigies of a maide with two heads.

But it is most remarkeable which Ly∣costhenes telleth of this woman-monster, for excepting her two heads, shee was framed in the rest of her body to an exact perfection: her two heads had the like desire to eat and drinke, to sleepe, to speake, and to doe every thing; she beg∣ged from dore to dore, every one giving to her freely. Yet at length she was banisht Bavaria, lest that by the frequent looking upon her, the imaginations of women with childe, strongly moved, should make the like impression in the infants they bare in their wombes.

[illustration]

The effigies of two girles whose backes grew together.

In the yeere of our Lord 1475. at Vero∣na in Italy, two Girles were borne with their backes sticking together from the lower part of the shoulders unto the very buttockes. The novelty and strangenesse of the thing moved their parents, being but poor, to carry them through all the chiefe townes in Italy to get mony of all such as came to see them.

In the yeere 1530. there was a man to bee seene at Paris, out of whose belly ano∣ther, perfect in all his members except his head, hanged forth as if he had been graf∣ted there. The man was forty yeeres old, and hee carried the other implanted or growing out of him, in his armes, with such admiration to the beholders, that many ranne very earnestly to see him.

[illustration]

The figure of a man with another growing out of him.

[illustration]

The effigies of the horned or hooded monster.

At Quiers, a small village some ten miles from Turine in Savoy, in the yeere 1578. upon the seventeenth day of January, a∣bout eight a clocke at night, an honest ma∣tron brought forth a childe having five hornes, like to Rams hornes, set opposite to one another upon his head: he had also a long piece of flesh, like in some sort to a French-hood which women used to wear, hanging downe from his forehead by the nape of his necke almost the length of his backe: two other pieces of flesh, like the collar of a shirt, were wrapped about his necke: the fingers ends of both his hands somewhat resembled a Haukes talons, and his knees seemed to be in his hammes: the right leg and the right foot were of a very red colour; the rest of the body was of a tawny colour: it is said he gave so terrible a scritch when he was brought forth, that the Midwives, and the rest of the women that were at her labour, were so frighted that they presently left the house and ran away. When the Duke of Savoy heard of this monster, he commanded it should be brought to him, which performed, one would hardly think what various censures the Courtiers gave of it.

[illustration]

The shape of a monster found in an egge.

The monster you see here deline∣ated, was found in the middle and innermost part of an egge, with the face of a man, but haires yeelding a horrid representation of snakes; the chinne had three other snakes stret∣ched forth like a beard. It was first seene at Autun, at the house of one Bancheron a Lawyer, a maide brea∣king many eggs to butter: the white of this egge given a Cat, presently killed her. Lastly, this monster com∣ming to the hands of the Baron Se∣necy, was brought to King Charles the ninth being then at Metz.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monstrous childe, having two heads, two armes & foure legs.

In the yeere 1546. a woman at Paris in her sixt moneth of her account, brought forth a childe having two heads, two armes and foure legges: I dissecting the body of it, found but one heart, by which one may know it was but one infant. For you may know this from A∣ristotle, whether the monstrous birth bee one or more joined together, by the principall * 1.5 part: for if the body have but one heart, it is but one, if two, it is double by the joyning to∣gether in the conception.

[illustration]

The portraiture of Twinnes joyned toge∣ther with one head.

In the yeere 1569. a certaine woman of Towers was delivered of twinnes joyned toge∣ther with one head, and mutually embracing each other. Renatus Ciretus the famous Chi∣rurgian of those parts, sent mee their Sceleton.

[illustration]

The effigies of two girles, being Twinnes, joyned together by their fore-heads.

Munster writes that in the village Bristant, not farre from Wormes, in the yeere 1495. he saw two Girles perfect and entire in every part of their bodies, but they had their fore-heads so joined together that they could not be parted or severed by any art: they lived together ten yeeres; then the one dying, it was needfull to separate the living from the dead: but she did not long out-live her sister, by reason of the malignity of the wound made in parting them asunder.

In the yeere 1570. the twentieth of July, at Paris, in the street Gravilliers, at the signe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Bell, these two infants were borne, distering in sexe, with that shape of body ••••at you see expressed in the figure. They were baptized in the Church of St. Nichlas of the fields, and named Ludovicus and Ludovica, their father was a Mason, his n••me was Peter German, his surname Petit Dieu (i) little-God, his mothers name was Mathea Petronilla.

[illustration]

The shape of the infants lately borne at Paris.

[illustration]

The figure of two girles joyned together in their breasts and belly.

In the yeere 1572. in Pont de See, neare An∣gers a little towne, were borne upon the tenth day of July, two girles, perfect in their limbs, but that they had but foure fingers apiece on their left hands: they clave together in their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 parts, from their chin to the navell, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but one, as their heart was also but one; their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was divided into foure lobes: they lived ha•••• an houre, and were baptized.

[illustration]

The figure of a child with two heads, and the body as bigge as one of fore moneths old.

Caelius Rhodiginus tells that in a ••wn of his country called Sarzano, Italy being roubled * 1.6 with civill warres, there was born monster of unusual bigness; for he had two heads, ha∣ving all his limbs answerable in gr••ness & tallnesse to a child of foure months old: be∣tween his two heads, which were bo••h alike, at the setting on of the shoulder, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had a third hand put forth, which did not ••••ceed the eares in length, for it was not all •…•…n: it was born the 5. of the Ides of March 〈◊〉〈◊〉 14.

[illustration]

The figure of one with foure legges and as manyarmes.

Jovianus Pontanus tells in the yeere 1529. the ninth day of January, there was a man childe borne in Germany, having foure armes and as many legges.

[illustration]

The figure of a man out of whose belly another head shewed it selfe.

In the yeere that Francis the first King of France entered into league with the Swisses, there was borne a monster in Germany, out of the midst of whose belly there stood a great head; it came to mans age, and this lower, and as it were inserted head, was nourished as much as the true and upper head.

In the yeere 1572. the last day of February, in the parish of Viaban, in the way as you goe from Carnuta to Paris, in a small village called Bordes, one called Cypriana Girandae the, wife of James Merchant a husbandman, brought forth this monster whose shape you see here delineated, which lived untill the Sunday following, being but of one onely sexe, which was the female.

[illustration]

The shape of two monstrous Twinnes, being but of one onely Sexe.

In the yeere 1572. on Easter Munday at Metz in Loraine, in the Inne whose signe is the Holy-Ghost, a Sow pigged a pigge, which had eight legges, foure eares, and the head of a dogge; the hinder part from the belly downeward was parted in two as in twinnes, but the foreparts grew into one; it had two tongues in the mouth, with foure teeth in the upper jaw, and as many in the lower. The sexe was not to be distinguished, whether it were a Bore or Sow pigge, for there was one slit under the taile, and the hinder parts were all rent and open. The shape of this monster, as it is here set downe, was sent me by Borgesius the famous Physitian of Metz.

[illustration]

The shape of a monstrous Pigge.

CHAP. III. Of women bringing many children at one birth.

WOman is a creature bringing usually but one at a birth: but the 〈…〉〈…〉 been some who have brought forth two, some three, some fou•…•… sixe, or more at one birth. Empedocles thought that the abund•…•…e of seed was the cause of such numerous births: the Stoikes affirm•…•…e di∣vers cells or partitions of the wombe to be the cause: for the se•…•… being

variously parted into these partitions, and the conception divided, there are more children brought forth; no otherwise than in rivers, the water beating against the rockes, is turned into divers circles or rounds. But Aristotle saith there is no reason to think so, for in women that parting of the womb into cells, as in dogs and sowes, * 1.7 taketh no place; for womens wombes have but one cavity, parted into two recesses, the right & left, nothing comming between, except by chance distinguished by a cer∣tain line; for often twins lye in the same side of the womb. Aristotles opinion is, that a woman cannot bring forth more than five children at one birth. The maide of Au∣gustus Caesar brought forth five at a birth, & a short while after, she & her children di∣ed. In the yeer 1554. at Bearn in Switzerland, the wife of Dr. John Gelinger brought forth five children at one birth, three boies and two girles. Albucrasis, affirmes a wo∣man to have bin the mother of seven children at one birth; & another, who by some externall injury did abort, brought forth fifteene perfectly shaped in all their parts. Pliny reports that it was extant in the writings of Physitians, that twelve children were borne at one birth; and that there was another in Peloponnesus which foure se∣verall * 1.8 times was delivered of five children at one birth, and that the greater part of those children lived. It is reported by Dalechampius that Bonaventura the slave of one Savill, a Gentleman of Sena, at one time brought forth seven children, of which four were baptized. In our time, between Sarte and Maine, in the parish of Seaux, not far from Chambellay, there is a family and noble house called Maldemeure; the wife of the Lord of Maldemeure, the first yeere she was married brought forth twinnes, the second yeere she had three children, the third yeere foure, the fourth yeere five, the fift yeere sixe, and of that birth she died: of those sixe one is yet alive, and is Lord of Maldemeure. In the valley of Beaufort, in the county of Anjou, a young woman the daughter of Mace Channiere, when at one perfect birth shee had brought forth one child, the tenth day following she fell in labour of another, but could not be de∣livered untill it was pulled from her by force, and was the death of the mother. Mar∣tin Cromerus the author of the Polish history, writeth that one Margaret, a woman * 1.9 sprung from a noble and antient family neere Cracovia, and wife to Count Virbosla∣us, brought forth at one birth thirty five live children, upon the twentieth day of Ja∣nuary, in the yeere 1296. Franciscus Picus Mirandula writeth that one Dorothy an Italian had twenty children at two births, at the first nine, and at the second eleven, and that she was so bigge, that she was forced to beare up her belly, which lay upon her knees, with a broad and large scarfe tyed about her necke, as you may see by the following figure.

[illustration]

The picture of Dorothy, great with child with many children.

And they are to bee reprehended here againe, who affirme the cause of numerous births to consist in the variety of the cells of the wombe, for they feigne a womans wombe to have seven cells or partitions, three on the right side for males, three on the left side for females, and one in the midst for Hermaphrodites or Scrats: and this untruth hath gon so far, that there have bnene some that affirmed every of these seven cells to have bin divided into ten partitions, into which the seed disper∣sed, doth bring forth a divers and numerous encrease, according to the variety of the cells furnished with the matter of seed; which though it may seeme to have been the opinion of Hippocrates, in his book De natura Pueri, notwithstanding it is repugnant to reason, and to those things which are manifestly apparent to the eyes and senses.

The opinion of Aristotle is more probable, who saith twinnes and more at one birth, are begot and brought forth by the same cause that the sixt finger groweth on * 1.10 the hand, that is, by the abundant plenty of the seed, which is greater and more co∣pious than can bee all taken up in the naturall framing of one body: for if it all be forced into one, it maketh one with the parts encreased more than is fit, eith•…•… greatnesse or number; but if it bee, as it were, cloven into divers parts, it ca•…•… more than one at one birth.

CHAP. IV. Of Hermaphrodites of Scrats.

ANd here also we must speake of Hermaphrodites, because they draw the cause of their generation and conformation from the plenty and abun∣dance of seed, and are called so because they are of both sexes, the wo∣man yeelding as much seed as the man. For hereupon it commeth to passe that the forming faculty (which alwaies endeavours to produce

something like it selfe) doth labour both the matters almost with equall force, and is the cause that one body is of both sexes.

Yet some make foure differences of Hermaphrodites; the first of which is the male Hermaphrodite, who is a perfect and absolute male, and hath onely a slit in the Perinaeum not perforated, and from which neither urine nor seed doth flow. The second is the female, which besides her naturall privity, hath a fleshy and skinny si∣militude of a mans yard, but unapt for erection and ejaculation of seed, and wanteth the cod and stones; the third difference is of those, which albeit they beare the ex∣presse figures of members belonging to both sexes, commonly set the one against the other, yet are found unapt for generation, the one of them onely serving for making of water: the fourth difference is of those who are able in both sexes, and through∣ly performe the part both of man and woman, because they have the genitalls of both sexes compleat and perfect, and also the right breast like a man, and the left like a woman: the lawes command those to chuse the sexe which they will use, and in which they will remaine and live, judging them to death if they be found to have departed from the sexe they made choice of, for some are thought to have abused both, and promiscuously to have had their pleasure with men and women. There are signes by which the Physitians may discerne whether the Hermaphrodires are able in the male or female sexe, or whether they are impotent in both: these signes are most apparent in the privities and face; for if the matrix be exact in all its demen∣sions, and so perforated that it may admit a mans yard, if the courses flow that way, if the haire of the head bee long, slender, and soft, and to conclude, if to this tender habite of the body a timide and weake condition of the minde be added, the female sexe is predominant, and they are plainely to bee judged women. But if they have the Perinaeum and fundament full of haires (the which in women are commonly without any) if they have a yard of a convenient largenesse, if it stand well & readily, and yeeld seed, the male sexe hath the preheminence, and they are to be judged men. But if the conformation of both the genitalls be alike in figure, quantity, and effica∣cy, it is thought to be equally able in both sexes: although by the opinion of Aristo∣tle, those who have double genitals, the one of the male, the other of the female, the one of them is alwaies perfect, the other imperfect. * 1.11

[illustration]

The figure of Hermaphrodite twinnes cleaving together with their backes.

Anno Dom. 1486. In the Palatinat••, at the village Robach, neere Heidelberg, there were twinnes, both Hermaphro∣dites, borne with their backs sticking together.

[illustration]

The effigies of an Hermaphrodite, having foure hands and feet.

The same day the Venetians and Genoeses entred into league, there was a monster borne in Italy having foure armes and feet, and but one head; it lived a little after it was baptized. Iames Ruef a Helvetian Chirurgian saith hee saw the like, but which besides had the privi∣ties of both sexes, whose figure I have there∣fore here set forth.

CHAP. V. Of the changing of Sexe.

AMatus Lusitanus reports that in the village Esquina, there was a maid named Maria Pateca, who at the appointed age for her cour∣ses to flow, had in stead of them a mans yard, lying before that time hid and covered, so that of a woman she became a man, and therefore laying aside her womans habite, was cloathed in mans, and changing her name, was called Emanuel; who when hee had got much wealth by many and great negotiations and commerce in India, returned into his country, and married a wife: but Lusitanus saith he did not certainely know whether he had any children, but that he was certaine he remained alwaies beardlesse.

Anthony Loqueneux, the Kings keeper or receiver of his rents of St. Quintin at Vermandois, lately affirmed to me that he saw a man at Reimes, at the Inne having the sign of the swan, in the yeer 1560. who was taken for a woman untill the fourteenth yeere of his age; for then it happened as he played somewhat wantonly with a maid which lay in the same bed with him, his members (hitherto lying hid) started forth and unfolded them selves: which when his parents knew (by helpe of the Ecclesi∣asticke power) they changed his name from Ioane to John, and put him in mans ap∣parell.

Some yeeres agone, being in the traine of King Charles the ninth, in the French Glasse-house, I was shewed a man called Germane Garnierus, but by some Germane Maria (because in former times when he was a woman hee was called Mary) he was of an indifferent stature, and well set body, with a thicke and red beard; he was ta∣ken for a girle untill the fifteenth yeere of his age, because there was no signe of be∣ing a man seene in his body, and for that amongst women, he in like attire did those things which pertaine to women: in the fifteenth yeere of his age, whilest he some-what earnestly pursued hogges given into his charge to bee kept, who running into the corne, he leaped violently over a ditch, whereby it came to passe that the stayes and foldings being broken, his hidden members sodainly broke forth, but not with∣out paine; going home, hee weeping complained to his mother that his guts came

forth: with which his mother amazed, calling Physitians and Surgeons to counsell, heard he was turned into a man; therefore the whole businesse being brought to the Cardinall the Bishop of Lenuncure, an assembly being called, he received the name and habite of a man.

Pliny reports that the sonne of Cassinus of a girle became a boy, living with his pa∣rents; but by the command of the Soothsayers he was carried into a desart Isle, be∣cause they thought such monsters did alwaies shew or portend some monstrous thing. Certainely women have so many and like parts lying in their wombe, as men have hanging forth; onely a strong and lively heat seemes to bee wanting, which may drive forth that which lyes hid within: therefore in processe of time, the heat being encreased and flourishing, and the humidity (which is predominant in child∣hood) overcome, it is not impossible that the virile members, which hitherto slug∣gish by defect of heat, lay hid, may be put forth, especially if to that strength of the growing heat some vehement concussion or jactation of the body be joined. There∣fore I thinke it manifest by these experiments and reasons, that it is not fabulous that some women have beene changed into men: but you shall finde in no history men that have degenerated into women; for nature alwaies intends and goes from the imperfect to the more perfect, but not basely from the more perfect to the im∣perfect.

CHAP. VI. Of monsters caused by defect of seed.

IF, on the contrary, the seed be any thing deficient in quantity, for the conformation of the infant or infants, some one or more members will be wanting, or more short and decrepite. Hereupon it happens that na∣ture intending twinnes, a childe is borne with two heads, and but one arme, or altogether lame in the rest of his limbes.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monstrous childe, by reason of the defect of the matter of seed.

Anno Dom. 1573. I saw at St. Andrewes Church in Paris, a boy nine yeeres old, borne in the village Parpavilla, sixe miles from Guise; his fathers name was Peter Re∣nard, and his mother, Marquete: hee had but two fingers on his right hand, his arm was well proportioned from the top of his shoulder almost to his wrest, but from thence to his two fingers ends it was very deformed, he wanted his leggs and thighes, although from the right but∣tocke a certaine unperfect figure, having onely foure toes, seemed to put it selfe forth; from the midst of the left buttock two toes sprung out, the one of which was not much unlike a mans yard, as you may see by the figure.

In the yeere 1562. in the Calends of November, at Villa-franca in Gascony, this monster, a headlesse woman, whose figure thou heere seest, was borne, which figure Dr. John Altinus the Physitian gave to mee when I went about this booke of Mon∣sters, he having received it from Fontanus the Physitian of Angolestre, who seri∣ously affirmed he saw it.

[illustration]

The figure of a monstrous woman without a head, before and behind.

A few yeeres agone there was a man of forty yeeres old to be seene at Paris, who although he wanted his armes, notwithstanding did indifferently performe all those things which are usually done with the hands, for with the top of his shoulder, head and necke, hee would strike an Axe or Hatchet with as sure and strong a blow into a poast, as any other man could doe with his hand; and hee would lash a coach-mans whip, that he would make it give a great crack, by the strong refraction of the aire: but he ate, drunke, plaid at cardes, and such like, with his feet. But at last he was ta∣ken for a thiefe and murderer, was hanged and fastened to a wheele.

Also not long agoe there was a woman at Paris without armes, which neverthe∣lesse did cut, sew, and doe many other things, as if she had had her hands.

We read in Hippocrates, that Attagenis his wife brought forth a childe all of flesh * 1.12 without any bone, and notwithstanding it had all the parts well formed.

[illustration]

The effigies of a man without armes, doing all that is usually done with hands.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monster with two heads, two legs, and but one arme.

CHAP. VII. Of monsters which take their cause and shape by imagination.

THe antients having diligently sought into all the secrets of nature, have marked and observed other causes of the generation of monsters: for, un∣derstanding * 1.13 the force of imagination to bee so powerfull in us, as for the most part, it may alter the body of them that imagine, they soon perswa∣ded themselves that the faculty which formeth the infant may be led and governed by the firme and strong cogitation of the Parents begetting them (often deluded by nocturnall and deceitfull apparitions) or by the mother conceiving them, and so that which is strongly conceived in the mind, imprints the force into the infant concei∣ved in the wombe: which thing many thinke to be confirmed by Moses, because he tells that Jacob encreased and bettered the part of the sheepe granted to him by La∣ban, * 1.14 his wives father, by putting roddes, having the barke in part pulled off, finely stroaked with white and greene, in the places where they used to drinke, especially at the time they engendered, that the representation apprehended in the concepti∣on, should be presently impressed in the young; for the force of imagination hath so much power over the infant, that it sets upon it the notes or characters of the thing conceived.

We have read in Heliodorus that Persina Queene of Aethiopia, by her husband Hidustes, being also an Aethiope, had a daughter of a white complexion, because in the embraces of her husband, by which she proved with childe, she earnestly fixed her eye and mind upon the picture of the faire Andromeda standing opposite to her. Damascene reports that he saw a maide hairy like a Beare, which had that deformity by no other cause or occasion than that her mother earnestly beheld, in the very in∣stant of receiving and conceiving the seed, the image of St. John covered with a ca∣mells skinne, hanging upon the poasts of the bed.

They say Hippocrates, by this explication of the causes, freed a certain noble wo∣man from suspicion of adultery, who being white her selfe, and her husband also white, brought forth a childe as blacke as an Aethiopian, because in copulation she strongly and continually had in her minde the picture of the Aethiope.

[illustration]

The effigies of a maid all hairy, and an infant that was blacke by the imagination of their Parents.

There are some who thinke the infant once formed in the wombe, which is done at the utmost within two & forty dayes after the conception, is in no danger of the mothers imagination, neither of the seed of the father which is cast into the womb; because when it hath got a perfect figure, it cannot be altered with any external form of things; which whether it be true, or no, is not here to be enquired of: truly I think it best to keep the woman, all the time she goeth with childe, from the sight of such shapes and figures.

[illustration]

The effigies of a horrid Monster, having feet, hands, and other parts like a Calfe.

In Stecquer a village of Saxony, they say, a monster was borne, with foure feet, eyes, mouth, and nose like a calfe, with a round and redde excrescence of flesh on the fore-head, and also a piece of flesh like a hood hung from his necke upon his backe, and it was deformed with its thighes torne and cut.

[illustration]

The figure of an infant with a face like a Frog.

Anno Dom. 1517. in the parish of Kings-wood, in the forrest Bi∣era, in the way to Fontain-Bleau, there was a monster borne, with the face of a Frog, being seen by John Bellanger, Chirurgian to the Kings Engineers, before the Justices of the towne of Harmoy; principally John Bribon the Kings procurator in that place. The fathers name was Amadaeus the Little, his mothers, Magdale∣ne Sarbucata, who troubled with a feaver, by a womans perswasi∣on, held a quicke frogge in her hand untill it died, she came ••hus to bed with her husband and conceived; Bellanger, a man of an acute wit, thought this was the cause of the monstrous deformi∣ty of the childe.

CHAP. VIII. Of Monsters caused by the straitnesse of the wombe.

WEE are constrained to confesse by the event of things, that mon∣sters are bred and caused by the straitnesse of the wombe; for so * 1.15 apples hanging upon the trees, if before they come to just ripe∣nesse, they bee put into strait vessels, their growth is hindered. So some whelps which women take delight in, are hindered from any further growth by the littlenesse of the place in which they are kept. Who knowes not that the plants growing in the earth, are hindered from a longer progresse and propagation of their roots, by the opposition of a flint, or any other solid body, and therefore in such places are crooked, slender and weak, but on the other part, where they have free nourishment, to bee strait and strong? for seeing that by the opinion of Naturalists, the place is the forme of the thing pla∣ced; it is necessary that those things that are shut up in straiter spaces, prohibited of free motion, should be lessened, depraved and lamed.

Empedocles and Diphilus acknowledged three causes of monstrous births: The too great or small matter of the seed; the corruption of the seed; and depravation of growth by the straitnesse or figure of the womb: which they thought the chiefest of all; because they thought the case was such in naturall births, as in forming of metals and fusible things, of which statues being made, doe lesse expresse the things they be made for, if the moldes or formes into which the matter is poured, bee rough, sca∣brous, too strait, or otherwise faulty.

CHAP. IX. Of monsters caused by the ill placing of the mother, in sitting, lying downe, or any other site of the body in the time of her being with childe.

WEE often too negligently and carelesly corrupt the benefits and corpo∣rall endowments of nature in the comelinesse and dignity of conforma∣tion: it is a thing to be lamented and pitied in all, but especially in wo∣men with childe, because that fault doth not onely hurt the mother, but deformes and perverts the infant which is conteined in her wombe: for wee moving any manner of way, must necessarily move whatsoever is within us. Therefore they which sit idely at home all the time of their being with childe, or crosse-legged, those which holding their heads downe, doe sow or worke with the needle, or doe any other labour, which presse the belly too hard with cloaths, bree∣ches or swathes, doe produce children wrie-necked, stooping, crooked and disfigu∣red in their feet, hands, and the rest of their joints, as you may see in the following figure.

[illustration]

The effigies of a childe, who from the first conception, by the site of the mother, had his hands and feet standing crooked.

CHAP. X. Of monsters caused by a stroake, fall, or the like occasion.

THere is no doubt but if any injury happen to a woman with childe, by reason of a stroake, fall from on high, or the like occasion, the hurt also may extend to the child. Therefore by these occasions the tender bones may bee broken, wrested, strained, or depraved after some other mon∣strous manner; and more, by the like violence of such things, a veine is often opened or broken, or a fluxe of blood, or great vomiting is caused by the vehement concus∣sion of the whole body, by which meanes the childe wants nourishment, and there∣fore will be small and little, and altogether monstrous.

CHAP. XI. Of monsters which have their originall by reason of hereditary diseases.

BY the injury of hereditary diseases, infants grow monstrous, that is, mon∣strously deformed: for crooke-backt produce crooke-backt, and often times so crooked, that betweene the bunch behind and before, the head lies hid, as a Tortoise in her shell: so lame produce lame, flat nosed their like, dwarfes bring forth dwarfes, leane bring forth leane, and fat produce fat.

CHAP. XII. Of monsters by the confusion of seed of divers kindes.

THat which followeth is a horrid thing to be spoken; but the chast minde of the Reader will give mee pardon, and conceive that, which not onely the Stoikes, but all Philosophers, who are busied about the search of the causes of things, must hold, That there is nothing obscene or filthy to be spoken. Those things that are accounted obscene may bee spoken without blame, but they cannot bee acted or perpetrated without great wickednesse, fury and mad∣nesse; therefore that ill which is in obscenity consists not in word, but wholly in the act. Therefore in times past there have beene some, who nothing fearing the Deity, neither Law, nor themselves, that is, their soule, have so abjected and prostrated themselves, that they have thought themselves nothing different from beasts: where∣fore Atheists, Sodomites, Out-lawes, forgetfull of their owne excellency and divi∣nity, & transformed by filthy lust, have not doubted to have filthy and abhominable copulation with beasts. This so great, so horrid a crime, for whose expiation all the fires in the world are not sufficient, though they, too maliciously crafty, have con∣cealed, and the conscious beasts could not utter, yet the generated mis-shapen issue hath abundantly spoken and declared, by the unspeakable power of God, the reven∣gerand punisher of such impious & horrible actions. For of this various and promis∣cuous confusion of seedes of a different kinde, monsters have beene generated and borne, who have beene partly men and partly beasts.

The like deformity of issue is produced, if beasts of a different species doe copu∣late together, nature alwaies affecting to generate something which may bee like it selfe: for wheat growes not but by sowing of wheat, nor an apricocke but by the setting or grafting of an apricocke; for nature is a most diligent preserver of the spe∣cies of things.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monster halfe man and halfe dogge.

Anno Dom. 1493. there was gene∣rated of a woman and a dogge, an is∣sue, which from the navell upwards perfectly resembled the shape of the mother, but therehence downewards the sire, that is, the dogge. This mon∣ster was sent to the Pope that then reigned, as Volaterane writeth: also Cardane mentions it; wherefore I have here given you the figure there∣of. * 1.16

C••lius Rhodiginus writes that at Sibaris, a heards-man called Chrathis fell in love with a Goat, and accompanied with her, and of this detestable and brutish copulati∣on an infant was born, which in legges resembled the damme, but the face was like the fathers.

[illustration]

The figure of a monster in face resembling a man, but a Goat in his other members.

Anno Dom. 1110. In a certaine towne of Liege (as saith Lycosthenes) a sow far∣rowed a pig with the head, face, hands, and feet of a man, but in the rest of the body resembling a swine.

[illustration]

The figure of a pigge, with the head, face, hands, and feet of a man.

Anno Dom. 1564. at Bruxels, at the house of one Joest Dictzpeert, in the street War∣moesbroects, a sow farrowed sixe pigs, the first whereof was a monster representing a man in the head, face, fore feet and shoulders, but in the rest of the body another pigge, for it had the genitalls of a sow pigge, and it sucked like the other pigs. But the second day after it was farrowed, it was killed of the people together with the sow, by reason of the monstrousnesse of the thing. Here followeth the figure thereof.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monster halfe man and halfe swine.

Anno Dom. 1571. at Antwerpe, the wife of one Michaell a Printer, dwelling with one John Molline a Graver or Carver, at the signe of the Golden Foot, in the Cami∣strate, on St. Thomas his day, at ten of the clocke in the morning, brought forth a monster wholly like a dogge, but that it had a shorter necke, and the head of a bird, but without any feathers on it. This monster was not alive, for that the mother was delivered before her time; but she giving a great scritch in the instant of her delive∣rance, the chimney of the house fell downe, yet hurt nobody, no not so much as a∣ny one of foure little children that sate by the fire side.

[illustration]

The figure of a monster like a dogge, but with a head like a bird.

Lewis Celleus writeth that hee hath read in an approved author, that an Ewe once brought forth a Lion, a beast of an unlike and adverse nature to her.

Anno Dom. 1577. in the towne Blandy, three miles from Melon, there was lam∣bed a Lambe, having three heads, the middlemost of which was bigger than the rest, when one bleated they all bleated. John Bellanger the Chirurgian of Melon affirmed that hee saw this monster, and he got it drawne, and sent the figure thereof to mee, with that humane monster that had the head of a Frogge, which we have formerly described.

[illustration]

The figure of a three-headed Lambe.

There are some monsters in whose generation by this there may seeme to be some divine cause, for that their beginnings cannot be derived or drawne from the gene∣rall cause of monsters, that is, nature, or the errors thereof, by reason of some of the forementioned particular causes; such are these monsters that are wholly against all nature, like that which we formerly mentioned, of a Lion yeaned by an Ewe.

Yet Astrologers (lest there should seeme to be any thing which they are ignorant of) referre the causes of these to certaine constellations and aspects of the Planets and Stars, according to Aristotles saying in his Problemes; in confirmation where∣of they tell this tale. It happened in the time of Albertus Magnus, that in a certaine village, a Cow brought forth a Calfe, which was halfe a man: the townesmen ap∣prehended the heards-man, and condemned him as guilty of such a crime, to be pre∣sently burnt together with the cow, but by good lucke Albertus was there, to whom they gave credit by reason of his much and certaine experience in Astrologie, that it was not occasioned by any humane wickednesse, but by the efficacy of a certaine position of the starres, that this monster was borne.

CHAP. XIII. Of monsters occasioned by the craft and subtlety of the Devill.

IN treating of such monsters as are occasioned by the craft of the Devill, wee crave pardon of the courteous Reader, if peradven∣ture going further from our purpose, wee may seeme to speake more freely and largely of the existence, nature, and kindes of Devills Therefore first it is manifest that there are Conjurers, * 1.17 Charmers, and Witches, which whatsoever they do, performe it by an agreement & compact with the Devill, to whom they have addicted themselves: for none can be admitted into that society of Witches, who

hath not forsaken God the Creator, and his Saviour, and hath not transferred the worship due to him above, upon the Devill, to whom he hath obliged himselfe. And assuredly, whosoever addicts himselfe to these magicall vanities and witch-crafts, * 1.18 doth it, either because hee doubts of Gods power, promises, study and great good will towards us: or else for that hee is madded with an earnest desire of knowing things to come; or else because disdaining poverty, hee affects and desires from a poore estate to become rich on the sodaine. It is the constant opinion of all, both ancient and modern, as well Philosophers as Divines, that there are some such men; which when they have once addicted themselves to impious and divellish arts, can by the wondrous craft of the Divell, doe many strange things, and change and cor∣rupt bodies, and the health & life of them, and the condition of all mundane things. Also experience forceth us to confesse the same, for punishments are ordained by the lawes against the professors and practisers of such arts; but there are no lawes ordained against those things which neither ever have beene, nor ever came into the knowledge of men: for such things are rightly judged and accounted for impos∣sibilities, which have never beene seene nor heard of.

Before the birth of Christ there have beene many such people, for you may finde in Exodus and Leviticus lawes made against such persons by Moses, by whom God gave the law to his people. The Lord gave the sentence of death to Ochasias by his * 1.19 Prophet, for that he turned into these kinde of people. We are taught by the scrip∣tures that there are good and evill spirits, and that the former are termed Angells, but the latter Devills; for the law is also said to be given by the ministry of Angels: and it is said that our bodies shall rise againe at the sound of a trumpet, and the voice * 1.20 of an Arch-angell. Christ said that God would send his Angells to receive the elect into the heavens.

The historie of Job testifieth that the Devill sent fire from heaven, and killed his sheep and cattell, and raised winds that shooke the foure corners of the house, and overwhelmed his children in the ruines thereof. The history of Achab mentioneth * 1.21 a certaine lying spirit in the mouth of the false Prophets. Sathan entring into Judas, moved him to betray Christ. Devils, who in a great number possessed the body of a man, were called a Legion, and obtained of Christ that they might enter into swine, whom they carried headlong into the Sea.

In the beginning God created a great number of Angells, that those divine and incorporeall spitits might inhabite heaven, and as messengers, signifie Gods plea∣sure to men, and as ministers or servants, performe his commands, who might be as overseers and protectors of humane affaires. Yet of this great number there were some who were blinded by pride, and thereby also cast downe from the presence, and heavenly habitation of God the creator. These harmefull and crafty spirits de∣lude mens mindes by divers jugling trickes, and are alwaies contriving something to * 1.22 our harme, and would in a short space destroy mankinde, but that God restraines their fury; for they can onely doe so much as is permitted them: Expelled heaven, some of them inhabite the aire, others, the bowels of the earth, there to remaine un∣till * 1.23 God shall come to judge the world: and as you see the clouds in the aire some-whiles to resemble centaures, otherwhile serpents, rocks, towers, men, birds, fishes, and other shapes: so these spirits turne themselves into all the shapes and wondrous formes of things; as oft times into wild beasts, into serpents, toads, owles, lapwings, crowes or ravens, goats, asses, dogs, cats, wolves, buls, and the like. Moreover, they oft times assume and enter humane bodies, as well dead as alive, whom they torment and punish, yea also they transforme themselves into angells of light.

They feigne themselves to bee shut up and forced by magicall rings, but that is onely their deceit and craft, they wish, feare, love, hate, and oft times as by the ap∣pointment * 1.24 and decree of God they punish malefactors: for we read that God sent evill angels into Egypt, there to destroy. They houle on the night, they murmure & rattle, as if they were bound in chaines, they move benches, tables, counters, props, cupboards, children in the cradles, play at tables and chesse, turne over books, tell mony, walk up & down roomes, and are heard to laugh, to open windowes & dores, cast sounding vessels, as brasse and the like, upon the ground, breake stone pots and

glasses, and make other the like noises. Yet none of all these things appeare to us when as wee arise in the morning, neither finde we any thing out of its place or bro∣ken. They are called by divers names; as, Devills, evill Spirits, Incubi, Sucubi, Hob∣goblines, * 1.25 Fairies, Robin-good-fellowes, evill Angels, Sathan, Lucifer, the father of lies, Prince of darkenesse and of the world, Legion, and other names agreeable to their offices and natures.

CHAP. XIV. Of the subterrene Devills, and such as haunt Mines.

LEwis Lavater writes, that by the certaine report of such as worke in Mines, that in some Mines there are seene spirits, who in the * 1.26 shape and habite of men, worke there, and running up and down seeme to doe much worke, when as notwithstanding they doe nothing indeed. But in the meane time they hurt none of the by-standers, unlesse they bee provoked thereto by words, or laugh∣ter. For then they will throw some heavie or hard thing upon him that hurt them, or injure them some other way.

The same author affirmes that there is a silver Mine in Rhetia, out of which Peter Briot, the Governour of the place, did in his time get much silver. In this Mine there was a Devill, who chiefly on Frie-dayes, when as the Miners put the minerall they had digged into tubbes, kept a great quarter, and made himselfe exceeding busie, and poured the minerall, as he listed, out of one tubbe into another. It happened one day that he was more busie than he used to be, so that one of the Miners reviled him, and bad him bee gone on a vengeance to the punishment appointed for him. The Devill offended with his imprecation and sco••••e, so wrested the Miner, taking him by the head, that twining his necke about, hee set his face behinde him, yet was not the workman killed therewith, but lived, and was known by divers for many yeeres after.

CHAP. XV. By what meanes the Devills may deceive us.

OUr mindes involved in the earthy habitation of our bodies, may bee deluded by the Devills divers waies; for they excell in purity and subtlety of essence, and in the much use of things: besides, they chal∣lenge a great preheminence, as the Princes of this world, over all sub∣lunary * 1.27 bodies. Wherefore it is no marvell if they, the teachers and parents of lyes, should cast clouds and mists before our eyes from the beginning, & turne themselves into a thousand shapes of things and bodies, that by these juglings and trickes they may shadow and darken mens mindes.

CHAP. XVI. Of Sucubi and Incubi.

POwerfull by these forementioned arts and deceipts, they have sundry times accompanied with men in copulation, whereupon such as have had to doe with men, were called Sucubi, those which made use of wo∣men, * 1.28 Incubi. Verily St. Augustine seemeth not to be altogether against it, but that they, taking upon them the shape of man, may fill the geni∣talls,

as by the helpe of nature, to the end, that by this meanes they may draw aside the unwary, by the flames of lust, from vertue and chastity.

John Ruef in his book of the conception and generation of man, writes that in his time, a certaine woman of monstrous lust, and wondrous impudency, had to doe by * 1.29 night with a Divell, that turned himselfe into a man, and that her belly swelled up presently after the act; and when as she thought shee was with childe, she fell into so grievous a disease, that shee voided all her entrailes by stoole, medicines nothing at all prevailing.

The like history is told of the servant of a certaine Butcher, who thinking too at∣tentively on venereous matters, a Divell appeared to him in the shape of a woman, * 1.30 with whom (supposing it to bee a woman) when as hee had to doe, his genitalls so burned after the act, that becomming enflamed, hee died with a great deale of tor∣ment.

Neither doth Peter Paludanus, and Martin Arelatensis thinke it absurd to affirme * 1.31 that Devills may beget children, if they shall ejaculate into the womans womb seed taken from some man, either dead or alive. Yet this opinion is most absurd and full of falsitie, mans seed consisting of a seminall or sanguineous matter, and much spi∣rit: if it runne otherwaies than into the wombe from the testicles, and stay never so little a while, it loseth its strength and efficacy, the heat and spirits vanishing away; for even the too great length of a mans yard, is reckoned amongst the causes of bar∣rennesse, by reason that the seed is cooled by the length of the way. If any in copu∣lation, after the ejaculation of the seed, presently draw themselves from the womans embraces, they are thought not to generate, by reason of the aire entring into theyet open womb, which is thought to corrupt the seed. By which it appeares how false that history in Averrois is, of a certaine woman that said she conceived with child by a mans seed shed in a bath, and so drawne into her wombe, she entring the bath pre∣sently * 1.32 after his departure forth. It is much lesse credible that Divells can copulate with women, for they are of an absolute spirituous nature, but blood and flesh are ne∣cessary for the generation of man. What naturall reason can allow that the incorpo∣reall Divells can love corporeall women? And how can we thinke that they can ge∣nerate, who want the instruments of generation? How can they who neither eate nor drinke be said to swell with seed? Now where the propagation of the species is not necessary to bee supplied by the succession of Individuals, Nature hath given no desire of venery, neither hath it imparted the use of generation; but the divels once created were made immortall by Gods appointment: If the faculty of generati∣on should be granted to devills, long since all places had beene full of them. Where∣fore if at any time women with childe by the familiarity of the devill, seeme to tra∣vell, we must thinke it happens by those arts we mentioned in the former chapter, to * 1.33 wit, they use to stuffe up the bodies of living women with old clouts, bones, pieces of iron, thornes, twisted haires, pieces of wood, serpents, and a world of such trumpery, wholly dissenting from a womans nature: who afterwards, the time, as it were, of their delivery drawing nigh, through the wombe of her that was falsly judged with child, before the blinded, and, as it were, bound up eyes of the by-standing women, they give vent to their impostures. The following history, recorded in the writings of many most credible authors, may give credit hereto.

There was at Constance a faire damosell called Margaret, who served a wealthy * 1.34 Citizen: she gave it out every where that she was with child by lying with the devill on a certaine night. Wherefore the Magistrates thought it fit she should bee kept in prison, that it might bee apparent both to them and others, what the end of this ex∣ploit would bee. The time of deliverance approaching, shee felt paines like those which women endure in travell; at length, after many throwes, by the midwives helpe, in stead of a childe, shee brought forth iron nailes, pieces of wood, of glasse, bones, stones, haires, towe, and the like things, as much different from each other, as from the nature of her that brought them forth, and which were formerly thrust in by the devill to delude the too credulous mindes of men. * 1.35

The Church acknowledgeth that devils, by the permission and appointment of God punishing our wickednesse, may abuse a certaine shape, so to use copulation

with mankinde. But that a humane birth may thence arise, it not onely affirmes to bee false, but detests as impious, as which beleeves that there was never any man be∣got without the seed of man, our Saviour Christ excepted. Now what confusion and perturbation of creatures should possesse this world (as Cassianus saith) if divells could conceive by copulation with men? or if women should prove with childe by accompanying them, howmany monsters would the divells have brought forth from the beginning of the world? how many prodigies by casting their seed into the wombes of wilde and brute beasts? for by the opinion of Philosophers, as of∣ten as faculty and will concurre, the effect must necessarily follow: now the Devils never have wanted will to disturbe mankinde, and the order of this world: for the devill, as they say, is our enemy from the beginning; and as God is the author of or∣der, and beauty, so the devill, by pride, contrary to God, is the causer of confusion and wickednesse.

Wherefore if power should accrew equall to his evill minde and nature, and his infinite desire of mischiefe and envie, who can doubt but a great confusion of all things and species, and also great deformity would invade the decent and comely order of this universe, monsters arising on every side? But seeing that devills are in∣corporeall, what reason can induce us to beleeve that they can be delighted with ve∣nereous actions? and what will can there be where as there is no delight, nor any de∣cay of the species to be feared? seeing that by Gods appointment they are immor∣tall, so to remaine for ever in punishment: so what need they succession of indivi∣dualls by generation? wherefore if they neither will nor can, it is a madnesse to thinke that they doe commixe with man.

CHAP. XVII. Of Magicke and supernaturall diseases and remedies.

THat I may refresh the mind of the Reader, invited to these histories of monsters, raised up by the art of the divell, witches, and conju∣rers, his servants, I have thought good to add the following histo∣ries of certaine diseases, and remedies supernaturall, and wholly magicall, out of Fernelius. There are diseases, which as they are sent * 1.36 amongst men by God being offended, so they cannot expect cure otherwise than from God, from whence they are thought super∣naturally to have their essence and cure. Thus the aire oft-times, yet chiefly in the time of King David, being defiled with the pestilence, killed sixty odde thousand persons.

Thus Ezechias was strucke with a grievous disease: Job was defiled with filthy ul∣cers by Sathan at Gods command. And as the Devill, the cruell enemy of man∣kinde, commonly useth by Gods permission to afflict those, so wicked persons by the wondrous subtlety of the devill, offer violence, and doe harme to many. Some * 1.37 invoke I know not what spirits, and adjure them with herbes, exorcismes, impreca∣tions, incantations, charmes: others hang about their neckes, or otherwise carry certaine writings, characters, rings, images, and other such impious stuffe. Some use songs, sounds or numbers: sometimes potions, perfumes, and smells; sometimes gestures and jugling. There be some that make the portraiture of the absent party in waxe, and boast that they can cause or bring a disease into what soever part thereof they prick, by the force of their words and starres, into the like part of the party ab∣sent; and they have no few other trickes to bring diseases.

We know for certain that magicians, witches, and conjurers, have by charmes so bound some, that they could not have to do with their wives; and have made others so impotent, as if they had bin gelt or made eunuches. Neither do wicked men one∣ly send diseases into mans body, but also devills themselves. These truely are soone distracted with a certain fury, but in this one thing they differ from simple madnesse, for that they speake things of great difficulty, tell things past and hid, disclose the

secrets of such as are present, and revile them many waies, and are terrified, tremble or grow angry by the power of divine words.

One not very long agone, being by reason of heat exceeding dry in the night time, * 1.38 rising out of his sleep, and not finding drinke, took an apple that he found by chance, and eating it, he thought his jawes were shut and held fast as by ones hands, and that he was almost strangled: and also, now possessed of a Devill entring into him, hee seemed in the darke to bee devoured of a huge exceeding blacke dogge, which hee, afterwards restored to his former health, orderly related to me. There were divers, who by his pulse, heat, and the roughnesse of his tongue, thought him to be in a fea∣ver, and by his watching, and the perturbation of his minde, thought him onely to rave.

Another young Noble-man, some few yeeres since, was troubled at set times with a shaking of the body, and as it were, a convulsion, wherewith one while hee * 1.39 would move onely his left arme, another while the right arme, and also sometimes but one finger onely, somewhiles but one legge, sometimes the other, and at other times the whole trunk of his body, with such force and agility, that lying in his bed, he could scarce be held by foure men; his head lay without any shaking, his tongue and speech was free, his understanding sound, and all his senses perfect even in the height of his fit. He was taken at the least ten times a day, well in the spaces between, but wearied with labour: it might have beene judged a true Epilepsie, if the under∣standing and senses had failed.

The most judicious Physitians who were called to him, judged it a convulsion, cosen-germane to the falling sicknesse, proceeding from a maligne and venemous vapour impact in the spine of the backe, whence a vapour dispersed it selfe over all the nerves, which passe from the spine every way into the limbes, but not into the braine. To remove this, which they judged the cause, frequent glysters are ordai∣ned, and strong purges of all sorts, cupping glasses are applied to the beginnings of the nerves, ••omentations, unctions, emplasters, first to discusse, then to strengthen and weare away the maligne quality: These things doing little good, he was swea∣ted with bathes, stoves, and a decoction of Guajacum, which did no more good than the former, for that wee were all farre from the knowledge of the true cause of his disease: for in the third moneth, a certaine Devill was found to be the author of all this ill, bewraying himselfe by voice, & unaccustomed words and sentences, as well latine as greeke (though the patient were ignorant of the greeke tongue): he laied o∣pen * 1.40 many secrets of the by-standers, but chiefly of the Physitians, deriding them for that hee had abused them to the patients great harme, because they had brought his body so low by needlesse purgations.

When his father came to visite him, he would cry out long before he came at him, or saw him, drive away this visitant, & keep him from comming in here, or else pluck his chaine from about his necke: for on this (as it is the custome of the French order of Knights) there hangs the image of St. Michael. If holy or divine things were read before him, he shooke and trembled more violently. When his fit was over, hee re∣membred * 1.41 all that he had done, and affirmed that hee did it against his will, and that he was sorry for it. The devill, forced by ceremonies and exorcismes, denied that he was damned for any crime, and said that he was a spirit: being asked who he was, and by what meanes and power he did these things, he said that hee had many habi∣tations into which hee could betake him selfe, and in the time of his rest, hee could torment others: that he was cast into this body by a certain person whom he would not name, and that he entred by his feet up to his necke, and that he would go forth againe the same way, when as his appointed time was come. He spoke of sundry o∣ther things, as others which are possessed use to doe.

Now I speake not these things as new or strange, but that it may appeare that de∣vills sometimes entring into the body, doe somewhiles torment it by divers and un∣couth waies; other whiles they doe not enter in, but either agitate the good humours of the body, or draw the ill into the principall parts, or with them obstruct the veins or other passages, or change the structure of the instruments, from which causes in∣numerable diseases proceed: of these, Divells are the authors, and wretched and for∣lorne

persons the ministers: and the reason of these things is beyond the search of nature.

Pliny tells that the Emperour Nero in his time, found magicall arts most vain and false: but what need we alledge profane writers, when as those things that are recor∣ded in scripture of the pythonisse, of the woman speaking in her belly, of King Nebu∣chodonozor, of the Magitians of Pharaoh, and other such things not a few, prove that there both is, and hath beene Magicke? Pliny tells of Denarc••us, that he tasting of the entrailes of a sacrificed childe, turned himselfe into a Wolfe. We read in Homer that Circes, in the long wandering of Ulysses, changed his companions into beasts, with an inchanted cuppe or potion: and in Virgil, that the growing corne may bee spoiled or carried away by inchantments: which things, unlesse they were appro∣ved and witnessed by many mens credits, the wisedome of Magistrates and Law∣yers, would not have made so many Lawes against Magitians, neither would there have beene a mulct imposed upon their heads by the law of the twelve tables, who had enchanted other mens corne. But as in magicall arts the devill doth not exhibite things them selves, as those which he cannot make, but onely certaine shewes or ap∣pearances of things: so in these which are any wayes accommodated to the use of Physicke, the cure is neither certaine, nor safe, but deceitfull, captious, and dange∣rous.

I have seene the Jaundise, over the whole body, cured in one night, by a written * 1.42 scroule hanged about the neck: also I have seene Agues chased away by words and such ceremonies, but within a short while after they returned againe and became much worse. Now there are some vaine things, and verily the fancies of old women, which because they have long possessed the minds of men, weakened with too much superstition, we terme them superstitious. These are such as we cannot truely say of them, wherefore and whence they have the faculties ascribed to them: for they nei∣ther arise from the temperament, neither from other manifest qualities, neither from the whole substance, neither from a divine or magicall power, from which two last mentioned, all medicines beyond nature, and which are consequently to be used to diseases, whose essence are supernaturall, must proceed. Such like old wives medi∣cines * 1.43 and superstitious remedies are written figures and characters, rings, where neither the assistance of God or Spirits is implored. Let me aske you, is it not a super∣stitious medicine to heale the falling sickenesse, to carry in writing the names of the three Kings, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, who came to worship Christ? To help the tooth ache, if one whilst Masse is in saying, touch his teeth, saying these words, Os non comminuet is ex co? To stay vomiting with certaine ceremonies and words, which they absent pronounce, thinking it sufficient if that they but onely know the patients name.

I saw a certaine fellow that with murmuring a few words, and touching the part, would stanch blood out of what part soever it flowed: there be some who to that purpose say this, De latere ejus exivit Sanguis & Aqua. How many prayers or charmes are carried about to cure agues? some taking hold of the patients hand, say, Aequè facilis tibi Febris haec sit, atque Mariae virgini Christi partus. Another washeth his hands with the patient before the fit, saying to himselfe that solemne Psalme, Exalt••bo te Deus meus Rex, &c. If one tell an Asse in his eare that hee is stung by a Scorpion, they say that the danger is immediately over.

As there are many superstitious words, so there are many superstitious writings also. To helpe sore eyes, a paper wherein the two greeke letters, Π and A▪ are written must bee tyed in a thred, and hanged about the necke. And for the tooth ache this ridiculous saying, Strigiles, falcesque dentatae, dentium dolorem persanate. Also oft times there is no small superstition in things that are outwardly applied. Such is that of Apollonius in Pliny, to scarifie the gummes in the t•…•…▪ ache with the tooth of one that died a violent death: to make pils of the skull of one hanged, against the bitings of a mad dogge: to cure the falling sicknesse by eating the flesh of a wilde beast, killed with the same iron wherewith a man was killed: that he shall be freed from a quartaine ague who shall drinke the wine whereinto the sword that hath cut off a mans head, shall be put: and he, the parings of whose nailes shall be tyed in a linnen

cloth to the necke of a quicke Eele, and the Eele let goe into the water againe. The paine of the Milt to be asswaged, if a beasts Milt bee laid upon it, and the Physitian say that he cures or makes a medicine for the Milt. Any one to bee freed from the cough, who shall spit in the mouth of a Toad, letting her goe away alive. The hal∣ter wherein one hath beene hanged put about the temples, to helpe the head ache. This word Abracadabra, written on a paper, after the manner described by Serenus, and hanged about the necke, to help agues or feavers, especially semitertians. What truth can bee in that which sundry affirme, that a leafe of Lathyris, which is a kinde of Spurge, if it be plucked upwards, will cause vomit, but broken downewards, will move to stoole? You may also finde many other superstitious fictions concerning herbes, such as Galen reports that Andreas and Pamphilus writ, as incantations, trans∣formations, and herbes dedicated to conjurers and devills. * 1.44

I had thought never in this place to have mentioned these and the like, but that there may bee every where found such wicked persons, who leaving the arts and means, which are appointed by God to preserve the health of mans body, flye to the superstitious & ridiculous remedies of sorcerers, or rather of devils, which notwith∣standing the devill sometimes makes to performe their wisht for effects, that so hee may still keep them ensnared & addicted to his service. Neither is it to be approved which many say, that it is good to be healed by any art or meanes, for that healing is a good worke. This saying is unworthy of a Christian, and savours rather of him that trusts more in the devill than in God. Those Empericks are not of the society of Sorcerers and Magitians, who heale simple wounds with dry lint, or lint dipt in water: this cure is neither magicall nor miraculous, as many suppose, but wholly na∣turall, proceeding from the healing fountains of nature, wounds & fractures, which the Chirurgian may heale by onely taking away the impediments, that is, paine, de∣fluxion, inflammation, an abscesse and gangrene, which retard and hinder the cure of such diseases. The following examples will sufficiently make evident the devils maliciousnesse, alwaies wickedly and craftily plotting against our safety and life.

A certaine woman at Florence (as Langius writes) having a maligne ulcer, and be∣ing * 1.45 troubled with intolerable paine at the stomacke, so that the Physitians could give her no ease: behold on a sudden shee vomited up long and crooked nailes, and brasse needles, wrapped up with wax and haires, and at length a great gobbit of flesh, so bi••ge that a Giants jawes could scarce swallow it.

But that which happened in the yeere of our redemption 1539. in a certain town called Fugenstall, in the Bishopricke of Eistet, exceeds all credit, unlesse there were eye-witnesses of approved integrity yet living. In this towne, one Ulrich Neusesser a husbandman, was tormented with grievous paine in the one side of his belly, hee sodainely got hold of an iron key with his hand under the skinne, which was not hurt, the which the Barber-Chirurgian of the place cut out with his razour; yet for all this the paine ceased not, but hee grew every day worse than other: wherefore expecting no other remedy but death, he got a knife and cut his throat. His dead bo∣dy was opened, and in his stomacke were found a round and longish piece of wood, foure steele knives, part sharpe, and part toothed like a saw, and two sharpe peices of iron, each whereof exceeded the length of a spanne, there was also as it were a ball of haire. All these things were put in by the craft and deceit of the devill. Thus farre Langius.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Cozenages and crafty Trickes of Beggars.

HAving treated of Monsters, it followes that wee speake of those things which either of themselves, by reason of their nature full of admiration, have some kinde of monstrousnesse in them; or else from some other waies, as by the craft and cozenage of men. And because to the last men∣tioned crafts of the Devill, the subtle devices of begging companions are sowewhat

alike, therefore I will handle them in the next place, that the Chirurgian being ad∣monished of them, may be more cautious and cunning in discerning them when hee meets with them.

Anno Dom. 1525. when I was at Anjou, there stood a crafty beggar begging at * 1.46 the Church dore, who tying and hiding his owne arme behind his backe, shewed in steed thereof, one cut from the body of one that was hanged, and this he propped up and bound to his breast, and so laid it open to view, as if it had been all enflamed, so to move such as passed by unto greater commiseration of him. The cozenage lay hid, every one giving him mony, untill at length his counterfeit arm not being sure∣ly fastened, fell upon the ground, many seeing and observing it: hee being appre∣hended and layed in prison, by the appointment of the Magistrate, was whipped through the towne, with his false arme hanging before him, and so banished.

I had a brother called John Parey, a Chirurgian, who dwelt at Vitre in Britany; he * 1.47 once observed a young woman begging, who shewed her breast, as if it had a can∣crous ulcer thereon, looking fearfully by reason of much and fordid filth, wherewith it seemed to defile the cloath that lay under it. But when as hee had more diligently beheld the womans face, and the fresh colour thereof, as also of the places about the ulcer, and the good habite of the whole body agreeable to that colour (for she was somewhat fat, and of a very good habite of body) he was easily hereby induced to suspect some roguery and deceit. He acquainted the Magistrate with this his suspici∣on, and got leave that hee might carry her home to his house, so to search her more narrowly. Where opening her breast, he found under her arme-pit, a sponge moiste∣ned with a commixture of beasts blood and milke, and carried through an elder pipe to the hidden holes of her counterfeit cancer. Therefore he foments her breast with warme water, and with the moisture thereof looseth the skinnes of blacke, greene, and yellow frogges, laid upon it, and stucke together with glew, made of bole ar∣menick, the white of an egge, and flower; and these being thus fetched off, he found her breast perfectly sound.

The beggar being cast for this into prison, confessed that shee was taught this tricke by a beggar that lay with her, who himselfe also, by putting about his legge an oxes Milt, and perforating it in sundry places, that so the forementioned liquor might drop out, counterfeited an ulcer of a monstrous bignesse and malignity, co∣vering * 1.48 the edges of the Milt on every side with a filthy cloath. This beggar was di∣ligently enquired after, but could not bee found; and so shee was whipped and ba∣nished.

Within lesse than a yeere after there came into the same city another notable craf∣ty * 1.49 companion, who presently taking up the church doores, laid open his wares, to wit, a Kercher with some small pieces of mony lying thereon, a wooden Barrell, and * 1.50 Cliquets, wherewith he would evernow and then make a great noise: his face was spread over with great thicke pustles, being of a blackish red colour, and made with glew like those that have the Leprosie: this his ghasty look made him to be pi∣tied by all men, which was the cause that every one gave him mony. Then my bro∣ther came somewhat nearer him, and asked him how long hee had beene troubled with this so cruell disease; hee answered with an obscure and hoarse voice, that hee was borne a Leper from his mothers wombe, and that his parents both died of this wicked disease, so that their members fell away piece-meale. Now hee had a wool∣len swathe about his chapps, wherewith (having his left hand under his cloake) hee so straitened his chapps, that much blacke blood rose into his face, and made him so hoarse that he could scarce speake; yet hee could not conteine himselfe, but that in speaking hee ever now and then slackened the swathe with his hand, the freelier to draw his breath: which when my brother had observed, suspecting some cozenage, he obtained leave of the Magistrate to search and examine the man whether hee were truely leprous, or no. First therefore he tooke away his swathe or rowler that was about his necke, then washed his face with warme water, so that the counterfeit glewed pustles were dissolved, and his face, free from all tainture, shewed it selfe of a good and naturall colour and shape. Then he laid bare his whole body, and dili∣gently viewed each part, and found no signe of a leprosie, one or other. Which

when the Magistrate once heard, he made him to bee put in prison, and to be thrice whipped through the streets of the city, with his barrell hanging before him, and his cliquets behind him, adding thereto the punishment of perpetuall banishment. It happened that as hee was whipped the third market day, the people cryed out to the hang-man in jest, that he should not feare to lash him soundly, for being leprous he could not feele it: the executioner incited by this cry of the people, did so bela∣bour him, that the wretch died of his whipping within a short while after, having a just reward for his wickedness. For these impostors, besides that they live like drones, feigning this or that disease, and so being idle, enjoy the fruits of others labours; they also divers times conspiring together, take away the lives and goods of honest and substantiall citizens, and other people: for there are some of them, that in an evening, as men that have no habitation, desire lodging for a night, and it being granted them, they, when as the master of the house and his family are asleepe, o∣pen the doores to their comrades, men as wicked as themselves, and kill and carry a∣way all they can.

Certainly we may justly affirme that this crafty begging is the mother and schoole of all dishonesty: for how many acts of bawdry and poisoning every where corrupt * 1.51 the wells and publicke fountaines? how many places have beene burnt under the shew of begging? where can you get more fit spies? where more sit undertakers and workers of all manner of villany, than out of the crew of these beggars?

Some of them there are, who besmeare their faces with soot layed in water, so to seeme to have the Jaundise. But you may at the first sight find out the deceit, by the * 1.52 native whitenesse of the utter coat of the eye, called Adnata, which in such as truely have the Jaundise, useth to bee died and overcast with a yellowish colour; also you may be more certaine thereof, if you wet a cloath in water or spittle, and so rub the face, for the adventitious yellownesse will quickly vanish, and the true native colour shew it selfe.

Some there bee, who not content to have mangled, and filthily exulcerated their limbes with causticke herbs, and other cauteries; or to have made their bodies more swolne, or else leane, with medicated drinks; or to have deformed themselves some other way, but from good and honest Citizens, who have charitably relieved them, they have stollen children, have broken or dislocated their armes and legges, have cut out their tongues, have depressed the chest, or whole breast, that with these, as their owne children, begging up and downe the country, they may get the more re∣liefe, pitifully complaining that they came by this mischance by thunder, or light∣ning, or some other strange accident.

Lastly they part the kingdome amongst themselves as into Provinces, & commu∣nicate by letters one to another, what newes or new quaint devises there are to con∣ceale or advance their roguery: to which purpose they have invented a new lan∣guage onely knowne to themselves, so to discourse together and not bee under∣stood by others. [We here vulgarly terme it Canting].

Dr. Flecelle, a Physitian of Paris, entreated me to beare him company to his coun∣try house at Champigny, foure miles from Paris. Where as soone as wee arrived, * 1.53 and were walking in the Court, there came presently to us a good lusty well flesht manly woman, begging almes for St. Fiacre sake, and taking up her coat and her smocke, shee shewed a great gut hanging downe some halfe a foot, which seemed as if it had hanged out of her fundament, whereout there dropped filth like unto pus, which had all stained her legges and smocke, most beastly and filthy to looke upon. Flecelle asked her how long she had beene troubled with this disease: she answered that it was foure yeeres since she first had it. Hence he easily gathered that she plaied the counterfeit: for it was not likely that such abundance of purulent matter came forth of the body of so well flesht and coloured a woman; for she would rather have been very leane and in a consumption. Wherefore provoked with just anger, by rea∣son of the wickednesse of the deceit, he run upon her and threw her downe upon the ground, and trod her under his feet, and hit her divers blowes upon the belly, so that he made the gut which hung at her, to come away, and by threatning her with more grievous punishment, made her confesse the cozenage, and that it was not her gut,

but of an oxe, which being filled with blood and milke, and tyed at both ends, shee put the one of them into her fundament, and let the filth flow forth at very little holes.

Not very long agoe, a woman equally as shamelesse, offered herselfe to the over-seers * 1.54 of the poore of Paris, entreating that she might be entred for one of their Pensi∣oners, for that her wombe was fallen downe by a dangerous and difficult birth, wherefore she was unable to worke for her living. Then they commanded that shee should be tryed and examined, according to the custome, by the Chirurgians which are therefore appointed. Who seeing how the whole businesse was carried, made report she was a counterfeit; for she had thrust an oxes bladder, halfe blown and be∣smeared with beastly blood by the neck, whereto she had fastned a little spunge, into the necke of her wombe, for the spunge being filled and swollen up by the accusto∣med moisture of the wombe, so held up the oxes bladder that hanged thereat, that she might safely goe without any feare of the falling of it out, neither could it be pul∣led forth but with good force. For this her device shee was put into Prison, and be∣ing first whipped, was after banished. Their cozenage is not much unlike this, who by fitly applying a sheepes paunch to their groine, counterfeit themselves to bee bursten.

Anno Dom. 1561. there came to Paris a lusty, stout, and very fat Norman wo∣man, * 1.55 being about some thirty yeeres old, who begging from doore to doore, did cast to meet with rich women, and very familiarly and pitifully would relate unto them her misfortune, saying she had a snake in her belly, which crept in at her mouth as shee slept in an hempe-land: shee would let one feele her stirre, by putting their hand unto her belly, adding also that she was troubled day & night with its uncessant gnawing of her guts. The novelty of this sad chance, moved all to pity & admiration, wherefore as much as they could, they assisted her with means & counsell. Amongst the rest, there was a woman of great devotion and charity, who sending for Dr. Hol∣lerius, Chevall, and mee, asked us if this snake could by any meanes be gotten forth. Hollerius gave her a strong purgation, hoping that by stirring up the expulsive facul∣ty, the serpent might be cast forth, together with the noxious humors. But this hope had no such successe. Wherefore when as we met againe, wee thought it fit to put a Speculum matricis into the necke of her wombe, so to see if we could discerne either her head or taile: but I making large dilatation of her womb, could see no such thing, onely wee observed a certaine voluntary motion, whereof shee her selfe was the au∣thor, by contracting and dilating the muscles of the lower belly. Which when as we had observed, perceiving the deceit and imposture, we thought good so to terri∣fie her and make her confesse the deceit, to tell her that shee must take another, but that a more strong purgation, that what wee could not doe by the former, as more gentle, we might attaine to by the latter, as farre stronger. She dissembling all feare, and conscious of her craft and dissimulation, after wee were gone in the evening, packing up her stuffe, and a great deale more than her owne, she secretly stole away, not bidding her hostesse farewell: and thus at length the fraud was apparent, to the losse of the honest Gentlewoman. I saw this baggage, sixe daies after, sitting lustily upon a Packe-horse, at the gate Mont-martre, and laughing heartily with such as brought Sea-fish to towne; and shee was returning (as it was most likely) into her country, seeing her cozenage was discovered here.

Such as feigne themselves dumbe, draw backe and double their tongues in their mouths. Such as falling downe counterfeit the falling sickenesse, bind straitly both * 1.56 their Wrests with plates of iron, tumble and rowle themselves in the mire, sprinkle and defile their heads and faces with beasts blood, and shake their limbes and whole body. Lastly by putting sope into their mouths, they foame at the mouth like those that have the falling sickenesse. Othersome with floure make a kind of glew, where∣with * 1.57 they besmeare their whole bodies, as if they had that Leprosie or Scab, that is vulgarly termed, Malum sancti manis. Neither must we thinke this art of counterfei∣ting, and cheating begging to bee new, and of late invention, for long agoe it flou∣rished in Asia, even in the time of Hippocrates, as may appeare by his booke De Aëre, Locis, & Aquis. But by how much this disease hath taken more deepe root, and

grown more inveterate by processe of time, by so much it must more diligently and carefully bee looked to and prevented, by cruelly punishing such counterfeits: for that by this fained begging, as the nourisher of sloth and shoppe of all dishonesty, that which is taken from the good is bestowed upon the ill, and one wicked & coun∣terfeit beggar hurts all other wretched people.

CHAP. XIX. Of strange or monstrous accidents in Diseases.

WHat monstrousnesse soever was in the last mentioned parties, it was made up by the craft of beggars for filthy gaine. But if there be a∣ny monstrousnesse in the following narrations, it is of nature, but working, as it were, miraculously, by some secret and occult meanes; for thus there are oft times monsters in diseases. Before the towne of St. John de Angeley, a souldier called Francis, of the * 1.58 company of Captaine Muret, was wounded with a Harquebuze-shot on the belly, betweene his navell and sides; the bullet was not taken out, because the Chirurgi∣ans, who searched him diligently, could not finde it: wherefore hee was troubled with grievous and tormenting paines, untill the ninth day after hee received the wound, the bullet came forth at his fundament: wherefore within three weekes af∣ter he was perfectly whole. Hee was healed by Simon Crinay, the Chirurgian of the French companies.

James Pope, Lord of St. Albanes in Dauphine, was wounded at the skirmish at * 1.59 Chasenay, having three harquebuze bullets entring into his body, one whereof pier∣ced under his throate, where it buncheth out as with a knot, neare to the pipe of his lungs, even to the beginning of the vertebrae of the necke, in which place the leaden bullet stuck, and as yet doth remaine. Hereupon he was afflicted with many and fear∣full symptomes, as a feaver, and a great swelling of his whole necke, so that for ten whole daies he could swallow nothing but broaths and liquid things. Yet he recove∣red, and remaineth well at this present, by the cure of James Dalam the Chirurgian.

Alexander Benedictus makes mention of a certaine countrie-man, who, shot into the backe with a dart, drawing out the shaft, the head was left behinde, being in * 1.60 length about the breadth of two fingers, but hooked and sharpe on the sides. When as the Chirurgian had carefully and diligently sought for it, and could by no meanes finde it, he healed up the wound, but two months after this crooked head came forth at his fundament.

The same author telleth that at Venice a virgin swallowed a needle, which some two yeeres after she voided by urine, covered over with a stony matter, gathered a∣bout * 1.61 viscous humours.

Catherine Perlan, the wife of William Guerrier, a Draper of Paris, dwelling in the Jewry, as she rode on horse-backe into the country, a needle out of her pin cushion, * 1.62 which got under her by accident, ran so deepe into her right buttocke, that it could not by any art or force bee plucked forth. Foure moneths after shee sent for mee to come to her, and she told mee that as often as she had to doe with her husband, shee suffered extreme pricking paine i•• her right groine; putting my hand thereto, as I felt it, my fingers met with something sharpe and hard: wherefore I used the matter so, that I drew forth the needle all rusty: this may be counted a miracle, that steele, naturally heavie, should rise upwards, from the buttocke to the groine, and pierce the muscles of the thigh, without causing an abscesse.

Anno Dom. 1566. the two sonnes of Laurence Collo (men excellent in cutting for the stone) tooke forth a stone of the bignesse of a wall-nut, in the midst whereof was * 1.63 a needle, just like those that shooe-makers use: the patients name was Peter Cocquin, dwelling in the street Galand, at the place called Maubert at Paris, and I thinke hee is yet living. This stone was shewed to King Charles the ninth, for the monstrous∣nesse of the thing, I being then present, which being given me by the Chirurgian, I

preserve amongst my other rarities. Anno Dom. 1570. the Dutchesse of Ferrara at Pa∣ris, sent for John Collo, to take a stone out of a Confectioner. This stone, though it waighed nine ounces, and was as thicke as ones fist, yet was it happily taken out, the patient recovering, Francis Rousset, and Joseph Javelle, the Dutchesse Physitians, be∣ing present. Yet not long after this Confectioner died by the stoppage of his water, by reason of two other little stones, which about to descend from the kidneies to the bladder, stayed in the mid-way of the Ureters. The figure of the extracted stone was this.

[illustration]

The figure of a stone taken forth of the Bladder of a Confectioner.

Anno Dom. 1566. Laurence Collo the younger, tooke three stones out of the bladder of one dwelling at Marly, called commonly Tire-vit: because being trou∣bled with the stone from the tenth yeere of his age, hee continually scratched his yard, each of the stones were as bigge as an Hens egge; of colour white, they all together waighed twelve ounces. When they were presented to King Charles, then lying at Saint Maure des Faussez, hee made one of them to bee broken with a ham∣mer, and in the middest thereof there was found another, of a chesnut colour, but otherwise much like a Peach stone. These three stones, bestowed on mee by the brethren, I have here represented to the life.

[illustration]

The effigies of the three forementioned stones, whereof one is broken.

I have in the dissecting of dead bodies, observed divers stones, of various formes and figures, as of pigges, whelpes, and the like. Dalechampius telleth that hee saw a man, which by an abscesse of his loins, which turned to a Fistula, voided many stones out of his kidneies, and yet notwithstanding could endure to ride on horse-backe, or in a coach. John Magnus, the Kings most learned and skilfull Physitian, having in cure a woman, troubled with cruell torment and paines of the belly and fundament, sent for me, that by putting a Speculum into the fundament, he might see if he could perceive any discernable cause of so great and pertinacious paine: and when as hee * 1.64 could see nothing which might further him in the finding out of the cause of her paine (following reason as a guide) by giving her often glysters and purgations, hee brought it so to passe, that shee at length voided a stone at her fundament of the big∣nesse of a Tennis ball: which once avoided, all her paines ceased.

Hippocrates tells that the servant of Dyseris in Larissa, when shee was young, in u∣sing venery was much pained, and yet sometimes without paine, yet shee never con∣ceived. * 1.65 But when as she was sixty yeeres old, she was pained in the after-noone as if she had beene in labour. When as she one day before noone had eaten many leekes, afterward shee was taken with a most violent paine, farre exceeding all her former, * 1.66 and she felt a certaine rough thing rising up in the orifice of her wombe. But she fal∣ling into a swoune, another woman putting in her hand, got out a sharpe stone of the bignesse of a whirle, and then she forthwith became well, and remained so.

In a certaine woman, who, as Hollerius tells, for the space of foure moneths was troubled with an incredible paine in making water, two stones were found in her * 1.67 heart, with many abscesses, her kidneyes and bladder being whole.

Anno Dom. 1558. I opened in John Bourlier a Taylour, dwelling in the street of St. Honoré, a watry abscesse in his knee, wherein I found a stone, white, hard, and smooth, of the thicknesse of an Almond; which being taken out, hee recovered. Certainely there is no part of the body wherein stones may not breed and grow.

Anthony Benevenius a Florentine Physitian writes, that a certaine woman swal∣lowed * 1.68 a brasse needle without any paine, and continued a yeere after without fee∣ling or complaining of it: but at the end thereof she was molested with great paines in her belly; for helping of which she asked the advise of all the Physitians she could, making, in the interim, no mention of the swallowed needle. Wherefore shee had no benefit by all the medicines she tooke; and shee continued in paine for the space of two yeeres, untill at length the needle came forth at a little hole by her navell, and then she recovered her health.

A Schollar named Chambelant, a native of Bourges, a studient in Paris, in the Col∣ledge of Presse, swallowed a stalke of grasse, which came afterwards whole out be∣tweene * 1.69 two of his ribbes, with the great danger of the schollars life. For it could not come there unlesse by passing or breaking through the lungs, the encompassing membrane, and the intercostall muscles, yet hee recovered, Fernelius and Huguet ha∣ving him in cure.

Cabrolle Chirurgian to Mounsieur, the Marshall of Anville, told mee that Francis Guillenet the Chirurgian of Sommiers, a small village some eight miles from Mom∣pelier, * 1.70 had in cure, and healed a certaine sheepheard, who was forced by theeves to swallow a knife of the length of halfe a foot, with a horne handle of the thickenesse of ones thumbe: he kept it the space of halfe a yeere, yet with great paine, and hee fell much away, but yet was not in a consumption, untill at length an abscesse rising in his groine, with great store of very stinking quitture, the knife was there taken forth in the presence of the Justices, and left with Joubert the Physitian of Mom∣pelier.

Mounsieur the Duke of Rohan had a Foole called Guido, who swallowed the point * 1.71 of a sword of the length of three fingers, and hee voided it at his fundament on the twelfth day following, yet with much adoe: there are yet living many Gentlemen of Britanie, who were eye-witnesses thereof.

There have been sundry women with childe, who have so cast forth piece-meale * 1.72 children that have died in their wombes, as that the bones have broke themselves a passage forth at the navill, but the flesh, dissolved as it were into quitture, flowed out by the necke of the wombe and the fundament, the mothers remaining alive, as Da∣lechampius observes out of Albucrosis.

Is it not very strange that there have bin women, who troubled with a fit of the * 1.73 Mother, have lien three whole dayes without motion, without breathing, or pulse that were any way apparent, and so have beene carried out for dead?

A certaine young man, as Fernelius tells, by somewhat too vehement exercise, was taken with such a cough, that it left him not for a moment of time, untill hee * 1.74 therewith had cast forth a whole impostume of the bigness of a pidgeons egg, where∣in, being opened, there was found quitture exquisitely white and equall. He spit blood two dayes after, had a great feaver, and was much distempered: yet notwith∣standing he recovered his health.

Anno Dom. 1578. Stephana Chartier, dwelling at St. Maure des Faussez, a widow * 1.75 of fourty yeeres old, being sicke of a tertian Feaver, in the beginning of her fit vomi∣ted up a great quantity of choler, and together therewith three hairy wormes, in fi∣gure, colour, and magnitude like the wormes called Beare-wormes, yet somewhat blacker; they lived eight whole daies after without any food: the Chirurgian of this towne brought them to Dr. Milot, who shewed them to Feure, Le Gros, Marescot and Courtin Physitians, and to me also.

This following history, taken out of the Chronicles of Monstrele, exceeds all ad∣miration. * 1.76 A certaine Franck-Archer of Meudon, foure miles from Paris, was for robbery condemned to bee hanged: in the meane time it was told the King by the Physitians, that many in Paris at that time were troubled with the stone, and amongst the rest the Lord of Boscage, and that it would be for the good of many, if they might view and discerne with their eyes the parts themselves wherein so cruell a disease did breed, and that it might be done much better in a living than in a dead body, and that they might make try all upon the body of the Franck-Archer, who had former∣ly beene troubled with these paines. The King granted their request; wherefore o∣pening his body they viewed the breathing parts, and satisfied themselves as much as they desired, and having diligently and exactly restored each part to its proper place, the body, by the Kings command, was sewed up againe, and dressed and cu∣red with great care. It came so to passe, that this Franck-Archer recovered in a few daies, and getting his pardon, got good store of mony besides.

Alexander Benedictus tells that hee saw a woman called Victoria, who having lost * 1.77 all her teeth, and being bald, yet had others came up in their places, when as she was fourescore yeeres old.

Stephen Tessier a Chirurgian of Orleance, told me that not long agoe he cured one Charles Veriguell, a Serjeant of Orleance, of a wound received in his hamme, where∣by the two tendons bending the ham, were quite cut in sunder. He took this order in the cure; hee caused the patient to bend his legge, then hee sewed together the ends of the cut rendons, then placed the member in that site, and handled it with that art. that at length he healed the wound, the patient not halting at all. Truely this is ve∣ry memorable thing, and carefully and heedfully to be imitated by the young Chi∣rurgian.

How many have I seen, who wounded and thrust through the body with swords, arrowes, pikes, bullets, have had portion of the braine cut off by a wound of the head, an arme or legge taken away by a cannon bullet, yet have recovered? and how many on the contrary, have died of light and small wounds, not worth the spea∣king of?

A certaine man was shot in neare to his groine with an arrow, whom we have seen, saith Hippocrates, and he recovered beyond all mens expectation; The arrow head * 1.78 was not taken forth, for it was very deep in, neither did the wound bleed very much, neither was it enflamed, neither did he halt: but wee found the head, and tooke it forth sixe yeeres after he was hurt. Now Hippocrates gives no other reason of its so long stay, but that he saith it might be suspected it lay hid betweene the nerves, and that no veine nor artery was cut thereby.

CHAP. XX. Of the wonderfull originall, or breeding of some creatures.

WEE have read in Boistey, that a certaine workeman of Avignion, when as hee lived in that city, opened a leaden coffin, wherein a dead bo∣dy * 1.79 lay, that was so closely soudered, that the aire could not get in; and as he opened it, he was bitten by a serpent that lay therein, with so vene∣mous and deadly a bite, that it had neere to have cost him his life. Yet the originall of this creature is not so prodigious as hee supposeth, for it is an usuall * 1.80 thing for a Serpent to breed of any putrefyed carcasse, but chiefly of a mans.

Baptista Leo writes, that in the time of Pope Martin the fift, there was a live ser∣pent found enclosed in a vaste, but solid Marble, no chinke appearing in such dense solidity, whereby this living creature might breath.

Whilest in my vine-yard, that is at Meudon, I caused certain huge stones to be bro∣ken to pieces, a Toad was found in the midst of one of them. When as I much ad∣mired thereat, because there was no space wherein this creature could be generated, encrease or live, the Stone-cutter wished mee not to marvaile thereat, for it was a common thing, and that he saw it almost every day. Certainly it may come to passe that from the more moist portion of stones, contained in places moist and under * 1.81 ground, and the celestiall heat mixing and diffusing it selfe over the whole masse of the world, the matter may be animated for the generation of these creatures.

CHAP. XXI. Of the wondrous nature of some marine things, and other living creatures.

THE last mentioned creatures were wonderfull in their originall, or ra∣ther in their growth: but these which follow, though they be not won∣derfull of themselves, as those that consist of their owne proper nature, and that working well and after an ordinary manner; yet they are won∣drous to us, or rather monstrous, for that they are not very familiar to us. For the

rarity and vastnesse of bodies, is in some sort monstrous. Of this sort there are many, especially in the Sea, whose secret corners and receptacles are not pervious to men: as Tritons, which from the middle upwards are reported to have the shape of men. And the Sirenes, Nercides or Mere-maides, who (according to Pli∣ny) * 1.82 have the faces of women, and scaly bodies, yea where as they have the shape of man: neither yet can the forementioned confusion and conjunction of seeds take a∣ny place here, for, as we lately said, they consist of their owne proper nature.

When Mena was President of Aegypt, and walked on the bankes of Nilus, he saw a Sea-monster in the shape of a man, comming forth of the waters: his shape was just like a man even to the middle, with his countenance composed to gravity, his haires yellow, yet intermixed with some gray, his stomack bony, his armes orderly made and jointed, his other parts ended in a fish. Three daies after in the morning there was seene another Sea-monster, but with the shape or countenance of a woman, as appeared by her face, her long haire, and swollen breasts: both these monsters con∣tinued so long above water that any one might view them very well.

[illustration]

The effigies of the Triton and Siren of Nilus.

In our times, saith Rondeletius, in Norway was a monster taken in a tempestuous sea, the which as many as saw it, presently termed a Monk, by reason of the shape which you may see here set forth.

[illustration]

The figure of a fish resembling a Monke.

Anno Dom. 1531. there was seene a sea-monster in the habite of a Bishop, cove∣red over with scailes: Rondeletius and Gesner have described it.

[illustration]

The figure of a fish in the habite or shape of a Bishop.

Gesner professeth that hee received from Jerome Cardane this monster, having the head of a Beare, the feet and hands of an Ape.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea-monster headed like a Beare.

Not long before the death of Pope Paul the third, in the midst of the Tyrrhene sea, a monster was taken, and presented to the successour of this Paul: it was in shape and bignesse like to a Lion, but all scaily, and the voice was like a mans voice. It was brought to Rome to the great admiration of all men, but it lived not long there, be∣ing destitute of its owne naturall place and nourishment, as it is reported by Philip * 1.83 Forrest.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Lion-like scaily Sea-monster.

Anno Dom. 1523. the third day of November, there was seen at Rome this sea-mon∣ster, of the bignesse of a child of five yeeres old, like to a man even to the navell, ex∣cept the eares; in the other parts it resembled a fish.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea-monster with a mans face.

Gesner makes mention of this Sea-monster, and saith that he had the figure there∣of from a Painter, who tooke it from the very fish, which hee saw at Antwerpe. The head lookes very ghastly, having two hornes, pricke eares, and armes not much un∣like a man, but in the other parts it was like a fish. It was taken in the Illyrian Sea, as it came a shore out of the water to catch a little child: for being hurt by stones cast by fishermen that saw it, it returned a while after to the shore from whence it fled, and there died.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea Devill.

Gesner tells that a Sea-monster with the head, mane, and breast of a horse, and the rest of his body like a fish, was seene and taken in the ocean Sea, brought to Rome, and presented to the Pope.

Olaus Magnus tells that a Sea-monster taken at Bergen, with the head and shape of a Calfe, was given him by a certaine English Gentleman. The like of which was presented lately to King Charles the ninth, and was long kept living in the waters at Fountaine-Bleau, and it went oft times ashore. This is much different from the com∣mon Sea-calfe or Seale.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monstrous * 1.84 Sea-calfe.

This great monster was seene in the Ocean sea, with the head of a Bore, but lon∣ger tuskes, sharpe and cutting, with scailes set in a wonderfull order, as you may see by this figure.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea-bore.

Olaus Magnus writes that this monster was taken at Thyle an Iland of the North, Anno Dom. 1538. it was of a bignesse almost incredible, as that which was seventy two foot long, and fourteene high, and seven foot betweene the eyes: now the li∣ver was so large that therewith they filled five hogsheads, the head resembled a swine, having as it were a halfe moone on the backe, and three eyes in the midst of his sides, his whole body was scaily.

[illustration]

The effigies of a monstrous Sea-swine.

The Sea Elephant is bigger than the land Elephant, as Hector Boëtius writes in his description of Scotland; it is a creature that lives both in the water and a shore, ha∣ving

two teeth like to elephants, with which as oft as hee desires to sleepe, he hangs himselfe upon a rocke, and then he sleeps so soundly, that Mariners seeing him at sea, have time to come ashore, and to bind him, by casting strong ropes about him. But when as he is not awaked by this meanes, they throw stones at him, and make a great noise; with which awakned, he endeavers to leape back into the sea with his accusto∣ned violence, but finding himselfe fast, hee growes so gentle, that they may deale vith him as they please. Wherefore they then kill him, take out his fat, and divide or cut his skin into thongs, which because they are strong and doe not rot, are much esteemed of.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Sea-Elephant.

The Arabians of Mount Mazovan, which runnes alongst the Red Sea, chiefly feed on a fish called Orobone, which is very terrible and much feared by other fish, being nine or ten foot long, and of a breadth agreeable thereto, and it is covered with scailes like a Crocodile.

A Crocodile is a vaste creature, comming sometimes to be fifteene cubites long, and seeing it is a creature that doth not bring forth young, but egges, it useth at the most to lay some sixty egges, no bigger than Goose egges, rising to such bignesse from so small beginnings (for the hatched young one is proportionable to the egge): she is very long lived.

It hath so small and uselesse a tongue, that it may seeme to have none at all. Where∣fore seeing it lives both on land and water; as it lives on land it is to bee taken for a tongue, but as it lives part of the life in the water it hath no use of a tongue, and ther∣fore is not to bee reputed one. For fishes either wholly want tongues, or else have them so impedite and bound, that they serve for little use. The Crocodile onely of all other things moves the upper jaw, the lower remaining unmoveable: for her feet, they are neither good to take nor hold any thing; she hath eyes not unlike those * 1.85 of swine, long teeth standing forth of the mouth, most sharpe clawes, a scaily skill, so hard that no weapon can pierce it. Of the land Crocodile (resembling this both land and water one) is made the medicine Crocodilea, most singular for sore eyes, be∣ing * 1.86 anointed with the juice of leekes, it is good against suffusions or dimnesse of the sight; it takes away freckles, pustles, and spots; the Gall anointed on the eyes, helps Cataracts, but the blood cleares the sight.

Thevet saith they live in the fountaines of the river Nilus, or rather in a lake flow∣ing * 1.87 from the same fountaines, and that he saw some that were sixe paces long, and a yard crosse the backe, so that their very lookes were formidable. They catch them thus; when as the water of Nilus falls, the Aegyptians let down a line, having there∣to fastened an iron hooke of some three pound waight, made very large and strong, upon this hooke they put a piece of the flesh of a Camell or some other beast; which when as he sees, he presently falls upon it, and devoures it hooke and all, wherewith when he findes himselfe to bee cruelly pulled and pinched, it would delight you to see how he frets and leaps aloft; then they draw him thus hooked, by little and lit∣tle to the shore, and fasten the rope surely to the next tree, lest hee should fall upon

them that are about him; then with prongs, and such things they so belabour his belly, where as his skin is soft and thinne, that at length they kill him, and uncasing him, they make ready his flesh, and eat it for delicious food. John Lereus, in his history of Brasil, writes that the Salvages of that country willingly feed upon Cro∣codiles, * 1.88 and that hee saw some who brought into their houses young ones, where∣with the children gathering about it, would play without receiving any harme thereby.

True (saith Pliny) is that common opinion, Whatsoever is brought forth in a∣ny * 1.89 part of Nature, that also is in the sea, and many other things over and above, that are in no other place. You may perceive that there are not onely the resemblances of living creatures, but also of other things; if you looke upon the sword, saw, cow∣cumber, like in smell and colour to that of the earth, that you may lesse wonder at the Sea feather and grape, whose figures I have given you out of Rondeletius.

The sea feather is like those feathers of birds, which are worne in hats for orna∣ment, after they are trimmed and drest for that purpose. The fishermen call them sea-prickes, for that one end of them resembleth the end of a mans yard, when the prepuce is drawne off it. As long as it is alive it swells, and becomes sometimes big∣ger and sometimes lesser; but dead, it becomes very flaccide and lanke: it shines bright on the night like a starre.

You may by this gather, that this which wee here expresse is the Grape whereof Pliny makes mention, because in the surface and upper part thereof it much resem∣bles a faire bunch of Grapes; it is somewhat longish, like a mis-shapen clubbe, and hangs upon a long stalke. The inner parts are nothing but confusion, sometimes distinguished with little glandules, like that wee have here figured alone by it selfe.

[illustration]

The figures of the Sea Feather and Grape.

In the Sea neere the Island Hispaniola in the West Indies, there may be seene ma∣ny monstrous fishes, amongst which Thevet in his Cosmography thought this most rare and observable, which in the vulgar language of the natives is termed Aloes. For it is just like a goose, with a long and straight necke, with the head ending sharpe, or in a Cone, not much unlike a sugar-peare, it is no bigger than agoose, it wanteth scailes, it hath foure finnes under the belly for swimming, when it is above water you would say that it were a goose.

The Sarmatian, or Easterne Germane Ocean containes fishes unknowne to hot countries, and very monstrous. Such is that which resembling a snaile, equalls a barrell in magnitude of body, and a stag in the largenesse and branches of her hornes: the ends of her hornes are rounded as it were into little balls, shining like unto pearles, the necke is thicke, the eyes shining like to lighted candles, with a roundish nose set with haires like to a cats, the mouth wide, whereunder hangs a piece of flesh very ugly to behold. It goes on foure legges, with so many broad and crooked feet, the which with a longtaile, and variegated like a Tiger, serves her for finnes to swim

withall. This creature is so timerous, that though it be an Amphibium, that is, which lives both in the water and ashore, yet usually it keeps it selfe in the sea, neither doth it come ashore to feed unlesse in a very cleare season. The flesh thereof is very good and gratefull meat, and the blood medicinable for such as have their livers ill affect∣ed, or their lungs ulcerated, as the blood of great Tortoises is good for the Lepro∣sie. * 1.90 Thevet in his Cosmography affirmeth that hee saw this in Denmarke.

In a deepe lake of fresh water, upon which stands the great city or towne of The∣mistitan, in the Kingdome of Mexico, which is built upon piles, like as Venice is, there is found a fish of the bignesse of a Calfe, called by the southerne Salvages, An∣dura, but by those of the place, and the Spaniards the conquerers of that place, Ho∣ga. It is headed and eared almost like a swine; from the chaps hang five long bear∣ded appendices, of the length of some halfe a foot, like the beard of a Barbell. It hath flesh very gratefull and good to eat. It bringeth forth live young like as the Whale. As it swimmes in the waters, it seemes greene, yellow, red, and of many colours, like a Chameleon: it is most frequently conversant about the shore sides of the lake, and there it feeds upon the leaves of the tree called Hoga, whence also the fish hath its name. It is a fearefully toothed and fierce fish, killing and devouring such as it meeteth withall, though they bee biggerthan her selfe: which is the reason why the Fishermen chiefly desire to kill her, as Thevet affirmeth in his Cosmogra∣phy.

[illustration]

The monstrous fish Hoga.

Andrew Thevet in his Cosmography writes that as he sailed to America, hee saw infinite store of flying fishes, called by the salvages Bulampech, who rising out of the water, flye some fifty paces, escaping by that meanes from other greater fish that thinke to devoure them.

This kinde of flying fish exceeds not the bignesse of a Mackrell, is round headed, with a blewish backe, two wings which equall the length of almost all their body. They oft times flye in such a multitude, that they fall foule upon the sailes of ships, whilest they hinder one anothers sight, and by this meanes they fall upon the decks, and become a prey to the Sailers: which same we have read confirmed by John Lereus in his history of Brasil.

In the Venetian gulfe, betweene Venice and Ravenna, two miles above Quioza, anno Dom. 1550. there was taken a flying fish, very horrible and monstrous, being foure foot long, it had a very great head, with two eyes standing in a line, and not one against another, with two eares, and a double mouth, a snout very fleshy and greene, two wings, five holes in her throat, like those of a Lamprey, a taile an ell

long, at the setting on whereof there were two little wings. This monster was brought alive to Quioza, and presented to the chiefe of the city, as a thing where∣of the like had not beene formerly seene.

[illustration]

The figure of a monstrous flying Fish.

There are so many and different sorts of shells to be found in the Sea, that it may be truely said, that Nature, the hand-maid of the Almighty, desports it selfe in the framing of them. In so great diversity I have chiefly made choice of three to treat of here, as those that are worthy of the greatest admiration. In these lye hid certain little fishes, as snailes in their shells, which Aristotle calls Cancelli, and hee affirmeth * 1.91 them to be the common companions of the * 1.92 crusted and shell fishes, as those which in their species or kinde are like to Lobsters, and use to be bred without shells; but as they creepe into shells, and there inhabite, they are like to shell fishes. It is one of these that is termed the Hermite. He hath two somewhat long and slender hornes, under which are his eyes, alwaies standing out of his head, as those which he cannot plucke and draw in, as Crabbes can. His fore-feet have clawes upon them, where with he defends himselfe, and carries meat to his mouth, having two other on each side, and a third being lesser, the which he useth in going. The female laies egges, which hang forth at her backe part as if they were put upon a thread, being joyned together by certaine little membranes. Lastly, in the opinion of Aelian, the * 1.93 Cancellus or small Cray-fish is borne naked and without a shell, but within a while after, she of many which shee findes empty, makes choice of a fit one, and when as growne bigger, she cannot bee contained or dwell any longer therein, or else being * 1.94 stimulated with a naturall desire of copulation, she removes into a more capacious and convenient one. These little Cray-fishes oft times fight together for their habi∣tation, and the stronger carries away the empty shell, or else makes the weaker to quit possession. Now the shell is either of a Nerita, or Turbo, and oft times of a small Purple; and entring into possession, she carries it about, there feeds and growes, and •…•…en seekes a more capacious one as Aristotle saith in the formerly cited place.

[illustration]

The effigies of the empty shells whereinto the Cancelli use to creep to dwell.

[illustration]

The effigies of Bernard the Hermite housed in his shell.

[illustration]

The figure of him out of his Cell.

Somethinke that this Bernard the Hermite is that kinde of Cancellus which is by Pliny termed Pinnoter; but in truth the Pinnoter is not a kinde of Cancellus or Cray-fish, but of a little Crab. Now in Aristotle there is much difference betweene Can∣cellus and Cancer parvus, though Pliny may seeme to confound them; for he is bred * 1.95 naked, having his crust onely, but without a shell: wherefore seeing that by nature he wants it, he diligently searches for it, and dwells in it, when as he hath found it: But the Pinnoter is not bred by it selfe alone, but in Pinna and some others, and hee changeth not his habitation, because (as Aristotle thinks) being of the kind of dwarfe Crabbes, it never growes bigge, neither dwells it in empty shells. Now the Pinna, * 1.96 or Pime is a kinde of shell-fish, it breeds in muddy places, and is alwaies open, nei∣ther is it at any time without a companion, which they therefore call the Pinnoter, or Pinnophylax(i. e.) the Pin-keeper, as Pliny saith. Verily that these things are thus, you may plainely perceive by these words of Athenaeus. Chrysippus Solensis 5. de Honest. * 1.97 & Volupt. saith the Pinna and Pinnoter assist and further each other, neither can they liveasunder. The Pinna may be referred to the kinds of oysters, but the Pinnoter is a dwarfe Crabbe: the Pinna opens her shell for the little fishes to enter thereinto; the Pinnoter stands by, observing if any come in, which if they doe, he gives the Pin * 1.98 noice thereof by biting, who presently thereupon shuts her shell, and so they feed together upon that they catch by this meanes. Thus Athenaeus. Shee is also for this her craft mentioned by Plutarch in his writings. The Pinnoter is sometimes cal∣led by Pliny, Cancer dapis assectator.

But that which by these authors is attributed to the dwarfe Crabbe, the same by Cicero is ascribed to the little shrimpe: now the Pinna (saith hee) opening her two * 1.99 large shels, enters into confederacy with the little shrimp for getting of food, where∣fore when little fishes swimme into her gaping shell, then the Pinna, admonished by the shrimps biting her, shuts her shell; thus two unlike creatures get their livings to∣gether. But Plutarch seemes to make the Pinna to be the Pearle Oister, in that work of his, whereas he enquireth whether the craft of Water or Land beastes bee the greater.

But amongst the most miraculous fishes may fitly bee placed the Nautilos, or Say∣ler, * 1.100 of some called Pompylos (it is thought to bee a kinde of Polypus) it comes with the face upwards to the toppe of the Sea, raising it selfe by little and little, that casting forth all the water by a pipe, as if it had a Pumpe, it easily floats; then putting backe the two first tendrills or armes, it extends betweene them a membrane of wondrous fineness or thinnesse, which gathering aire like as a saile, and she rowing with the rest of her armes, she guides her selfe with her taile in the midst, as a Rudder. Thus shee sailes along in imitation of Pinnaces, and if any thing affright her, she presently takes in water, and sinkes herselfe.

[illustration]

The shape of the Nautilus, or Sayler-fish.

The better to store this treatise of Monsters, abusing the name with the Poets, we will reckon up the whale amongst the Sea-monsters, by reason of his monstrous and * 1.101 wondrous magnitude. Now the Whale is the greatest by much of all the fishes of the Sea, for most commonly this beast is thirty sixe cubits long, eight high, the slit of his mouth is eighteene foot long, teeth they have none, but in stead thereof in each Jaw horny blacke excrescences or finnes [which we vulgarly terme Whale bones] which by little and little end in small haires like to a swines bristles, which comming and standing out of his mouth, are in stead of Guides, lest whilest he swimmes with a blind and rapide violence, he might runne against a rocke. His eyes are distant one from the other the space of foure elles, which outwardly appeare small, but inward∣ly they are bigger than a mans head; wherefore they are deceived that say that they are no bigger than an Oxes eyes: his nose is short, but in the middle of his forhead he hath a pipe whereat hee drawes in the aire, and casts forth a whole shower or ri∣ver of water, that therewith he will even sinke the vessels or boats of the Marriners; when hee hath filled himselfe beyond measure, hee cryes or roars with so great or strong a voice, that hee may bee heard two miles off. Hee hath two very large sinnes upon his sides wherewith he swimmes, and under which in time of danger he hides his young; hee hath none upon his backe. His taile in site is like to the tailes of Dol∣phines, neither is it much unlike in shape, which when he moves, hee so tosseth the Sea, that he drownes and overturnes the boats that hee toucheth. You may by dis∣secting them finde that a Whale brings forth live young, and gives them sucke; or * 1.102 the male hath testicles and a yard, but the female a wombe and dugges. They are taken in divers places about winter, but chiefly about the coast of Aquitaine, a••a small towne which is vulgarly called Biarris, some sixe miles distant from Bayon: whereunto I being sent by King Charles the ninth when he was at Bayon, to cure the Prince of Roche Sur-You, I was an eye witnesse how they are caught; and also I con∣firmed that which I had formerly read to that purpose, in that excellent and most true history of fishes set forth by Rondeletius. Now at that towne there is a little hill, in the toppe whereof there is a Tower of very great antiquity, from which as from a * 1.103 watch-Tower they keepe watch whether or no any Whales swimme that way. Wherefore the watch-men from the tower, either seeing, or by the horrible noise hearing a Whale to passe by that way, they give warning thereof to the inhabitants by the beating of Drums, and ringing a Bell: which signe once given, they all runne forthwith, as to extinguish the city if it were on fire, being furnished with weapons and all things fitting for that purpose. For the people of that country are very dili∣gent and expert in catching the Whale. Wherefore in each of the boats furnished with all things either to assaile or flye, there are put ten lusty rowers, and divers o∣thers furnished with harping-irons to strike the Whale; which being cast and faste∣ned in her, they loose out huge long ropes fastened to them, untill such time as he be dead, then together with the ropes, and assisted by the waves of the sea, they draw the Whale (wearied with running and labouring, and fainting by reason of the mag∣nitude and multitude of his wounds, being in the time of their conflict diligently chased and driven toward the shore) a land; & merrily part the prey, each whereof hath his share, according to the number of the irons throwne, the magnitude of the wound, and the necessity and excellency of the wounded part for life: each of their harping-irons are knowne by their peculiar markes. In the heat of the skirmish ma∣ny stand up and downe in boats, onely for this purpose, to take up such as chance to fall into the Sea, lest they should be drowned. The males are caught with more dif∣ficulty, the females more easily, especially if their young ones bee with them; for * 1.104 whilest they linger to helpe and succour them, they lose the occasion of esca∣ping. The flesh is of no esteeme, the tongue onely is commendable; for being very large, and of a very laxe substance, it is poudred, and by most Gentlemen accounted for a dainty. The larde is dispersed over many countries, to be boiled & eaten with fish in the time of Lent, that Gourmandizers may have something to serve them in¦stead of flesh which is then forbidden. There is great store of fat in them in the parts under the skin and belly, which melted, concretes not againe, by reason of the sub∣tlety of the parts, they keepe it to burne in lampes, and to use about their ships. The

houses of the fish-eaters are builded with their bones; also orchards in the coast of Aquitaine are fenced with these bones. The finnes that stand forth of their mouths, which are commonly called Whale-bones, being dryed and polished, serve to make * 1.105 buskes for women, whip-staves, and little staves, as also to stiffen garments. Many make seats or stooles of the vertebrae, or spondills of the backe-bone.

[illustration]

The manner of the cutting up of the Whale.

In the river Scalde, ten miles from Antwerpe, Anno Dom. 1577. the second day of July, there was a Whale taken, of a blackish blue colour, shee had a spout hole in the top of her head, out of which shee cast great store of water: she was fifty eight foot long, and sixteene foot high: hertaile was fourteene foot broad; from the eye to the end of her nose was some sixteene foot. Her lower jaw was sixe foot on each side, she had twenty five teeth, which shee could hide in her upper jaw, there being holes for them, it being wholly toothlesse; for which one thing this Whale may bee judged monstrous, for that nature hath denied them teeth, and for that in creatures that are not horned, it is so ordained by nature, that when they have teeth in their lower jaw, they should have others also in the upper to answer to them, so to chaw their meat. The longest of these teeth exceeded not sixe inches.

There is (as Pliny reports) a very small fish accustoméd to live about rockes, it is * 1.106 called Echencis, never exceeding the length of a foot; it is thought that shippes goe more slowly if this stick to them: wherefore the Latines have also given it the name of Remora, for that a ship being under saile with a good wind, may by the Echeneis seazing on her as if she would devoure her, be stayed against the Saylers wills, and * 1.107 stand still as if she were in a safe harbour. Wherefore shee is said in the Actian fight to have stayed the ship of Marcus Antonius, hastening to goe about and encourage his souldierś, so that he was forced to enter into another ship, and thereupon Casars navie came upon them too hastily, and before they were provided.

Shee also staid the ship of the Emperour Caius, comming from Astura to Antes, his ship of all the naive making no way; neither did they long wonder at this stay, the cause being presently knowne; some forthwith leaping into the Sea to finde the cause thereof, there found her about the ship, even sticking to the Rudder, and they shewed her to Caius, being wrath that this so small a thing should stoppe him, and countermaund the endeavour of forty Rowers.

Therefore this little fish tames and infringes the violence and madnesse of the world, & that with no labour, not with holding or any other way, but only by stick∣ing thereto. Certainly how ever it comes to passe, who from this example of holding of ships, can doubt of any power or effect of nature, in medicines which grow natu∣rally? Yea & without this example, the Torpedo out of the sea also may be sufficient, * 1.108 who a farre off, and at a distance, if it be touched with a speare or rod, will benumbe even the strongest armes, and retarde the feet, how ever nimble to runne away.

CHAP. XXII. Of the admirable nature of Birds, and of some Beasts.

THAT there bee divers things not onely in the Sea, but also in the aire, and earth, which by the wonderfull condition of their nature may e∣quall that of Monsters, the onely Estrich may serve for a witnesse. It is the biggest of Birds, though indeed it partly resembles a bird, and partly a beast (and it is familiar to Africa and Aethiopia) as which contrary to the nature of * 1.109 beasts hath feathers, and against the custome of birds, cannot flye aloft; for it hath not feathers fit to flye, but like unto haires, yet will it out-run a horse. The naturall force of the stomacke in concocting is miraculous, as to which nothing is untame∣able: * 1.110 shee layes egges of a wondrous largenesse, so that they may bee framed into cuppes: their feathers are most beautifull, as you may perceive by this following figure.

[illustration]

The figure of an Estrich.

Any one may easily gather of what a prodigious magnitude an Estrich is, by the greatnesse of his bones. Three of these birds were kept at the Kings charge, by the Mareschall de Rets: one whereof dying, it was bestowed upon mee, whereof I have with great diligence made a Sceleton.

[illustration]

The delineation of the Sceleton of an Estrich.

A. Shewes the head, which was somewhat thicker than the head of a Crane, of the length of ones hand, plaine from the crowne even to the beake; the beake being divided to the middle region of the eye, being roundish at the end thereof.

B. The necke, a yard long, consisting of seventeene vertebrae, each whereof on each side is furnished with a transverse processe looking downewards, of some fin∣gers length, excepting the two which are next the head, as which want these, and are joyned together by Ginglymos.

C. The backe is of a foots length, consisting of seven Vertebrae.

D, The holy-bone of two foot long, in whose top there is a transverse processe, under which there lyes a great hole.

E. Three more, but lesse.

F. G. H. After which there followes the cavity or socket, whereinto the head of the thigh-bone is received and hid. This externally and on the side produceth a perforated bone, noted with the letter, I. perforated I say at the beginning, for it is presently united at the letter, K. then is it forked and divided into two other bones, whereof one is bigger than the other. The lesse is noted with the letter, L. then are they both united at the letter M. each of them is halfe a foot and foure inches long. But from that part whereas they first begun to bee divided, to that whereas they are united, there is a hole some foure fingers broad, but the length of ones hand, or more, and it is noted with the letter, N. The residue of the bone is like to a pruning knife three inches broad, but sixe in length: at the end where∣under is the letter, O. it is joyned by coalition.

P. The rumpe consisting of nine vertebrae, like to a mans. The thigh-bones are two, whereof that which is noted with the letter Q. is of the length of a foot, and of thickenesse equall to a horses thigh. The other next under (which peradven∣ture you may call the legge-bone) noted with R. is a foot and halfe long: it hath joyned thereto the Fibula, or lesser focile of the like length, but which growes smaller as it comes lower.

S. Is the legge, to which the foot adheres, being one foot and a halfe long, divi∣ded

[illustration]

at the end into two clawes, the one bigger, the other lesse, whereof each consists of three bones.

T. Eight ribbes, which are inserted into the Sternon, the three middlemost of these have a bony production like to a hook.

V. Is the Sternon, consisting of one bone of some foots length, representing a buckler, to this there is joyned another bone, which stretched over the three first ribs, is in stead of clavicles or collar-bones.

X. The first bone of the wing, which is one foot and halfe long.

Y, Two bones under this, equivalent to the ell and wand, under which there are sixe other bones composing the point of the wing, noted with Z.

This whole Sceleton is seven foot long, and so many foot or more high from the feet to the beake: there are many other observable things in her composure, but I have thought fit to omit them for brevities sake.

Jerome Cardane in his bookes De subtilitate, writes that in the Hands of the Moluc∣ca's, * 1.111 you may sometimes find lying upon the ground, or take up in the waters, a dead bird called a Manucodiata, that is in Hebrew, the bird of God, it is never seene alive. It lives aloft in the aire, it is like a Swallow in body and beake, yet distinguished with divers coloured feathers: for those on the toppe of the head are of a golden colour, those of the necke like to a Mallard, but the taile and wings like Peacocks; * 1.112 it wants feet: Wherefore if it become weary with flying, or desire sleepe, it hangs up the bo∣dy by twining the feathers about some bough of a tree. It passeth through the aire, wherein it must remaine as long as it lives, with great celerity, and lives by the aire and dew onely. The cocke hath a cavity deprest in the backe, wherein the hen laies and sits upon her egges. I saw one at Paris which was presented to King Charles the ninth.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Manucodiata, or bird of Paradise.

Wee have read in Thevets Cosmography, that he saw a bird in America, which in * 1.113 that country speech is called Touca, in this very monstrous & deformed, for that the beake in length and thickenesse, exceeds the bignesse of the rest of the body; it feeds on pepper, as the black-birds and felfires with us do upon Ivie berries, which are not lesse hot than pepper.

A certaine Gentleman of Provence brought a bird of this kinde from that coun∣try, to present it to King Charles the ninth, but dying in the way he could not present it alive. Wherefore the King wished the Mareschal de Rets to give her to me, that I

might take forth her bowells and embalme her, that she might bee kept amongst the Kings rarities. I did what I could, yet not long after she rotted: she resembled a crow in body and feathers, but had a yellowish beake, cleere, smooth, and toothed like a saw, and of such length and thicknesse as we formerly mentioned. I keep it yet as a certaine monstrous thing.

Thevet writes that in the Iland Zocetera there is frequently found a certaine wild beast called Hulpalis, of the bignesse of an Aethiopian Monkey. It is a very mon∣stroas * 1.114 creature, but in nothing more, than that it is thought to live upon the aire on∣ly; the skinne, as if it were died in graine, is of a scarlet colour, yet is it in some pla∣ces spotted & variegated: it hath a round head like to a boule, with feet round, broad, and wanting hurtfull nailes. The Moores kill it and use to eat the flesh of it, being first bruised, that so it may be the more tender.

In the Realme of Camota, of Ahob, of Benga, and other mountaines of Cangipa, Plimati{que} and Catagan, which are in the inner India, beyond the river of Ganges, * 1.115 some five degrees beyond the Tropicke of Cancer, is found a beast, which the we∣sterne Germanes call Giraffe. This beast in head, eares, and cloven feet, is not much unlike our Doe; it hath a very slender necke, but it is some sixe foot long, and there are few beasts that exceed him in the length of their legges: his taile is round, but reacheth no further than his hammes, his skin is exceeding beautifull, yet somewhat rough, having haire thereon somewhat longer than a Cow, it is spotted and variega∣red in some places with spors of a middle colour, betweene white and chesnut, so as Leopards are: for which cause by some greeke Historians it is called a Cameleopar∣dalis: it is so wilde before it bee taken, that with the good-will it will not so much as be seen. Therefore it inhabites and lives only in desart and secret places, unknown to the rest of the beasts of that region. He presently flyes away at the sight of a man, yet is he taken at length, for that he is not very speedy in his running away; once ta∣ken, he is as easily and speedily tamed as any wild beast whatsoever. He hath above his crowne two straight horns covered with haires, and of a foots length. When as he holds up his head and necke hee is as high as a Lance. He feeds upon herbes, and the leaves and boughes of trees, yea and he is also delighted with bread.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Giraffa.

Such as saile in the red sea alongst the coast of Arabia, meet with an Iland called by the Arabians Cademota; in that part thereof where the river Plata runnes, is found a wild beast, called by the barbarous inhabitants Parassoupi, being of the bignesse of a Mule, headed not unlike one, yet rough and haired like to a Beare, but not of so dark a colour, but inclining to yellow, with cloven feet like a Hart: shee hath two long hornes on her head, but not branched, somewhat resembling those so much magni∣fyed hornes of Unicornes. For the natives of the place, bitten by the venemous tooth of either beast or fish, are presently helped and recover by drinking the water wherein such hornes have beene infused for sixe or seven dayes space, as Thevet in his Cosmography reports.

In one of the Ilands of the Molucca's there is found a Beast living both on land and water like as a Crocodile; it is called Camphurch, it is of the bignesse of an Hart, it hath one horne in the forehead, moveable after the fashion of the nose of a Turky-cocke: it is some three foot and an halfe long, and never thicker than a mans arme; his neck is covered over with haire of an ash colour, he hath two feet like to a gooses feet, wherwith he swims both in fresh and salt waters. His fore feet are like to a stags,

he lives upon fish. Many have perswaded themselves that this beast is a kind of Uni∣corne, and that therefore his horne should bee good against poysons. The King of the Iland loves to be called by the name of this beast; and so also other Kings take to themselves the names of the wilde beasts, fishes, or fruits, that are most pretious and observable in their dominions, as Thevet reports.

Mauritania and Aethiopia, and that part of Africke that is beyond the desarts and syrtes, bring forth Elephants; but those of India are farre larger. Now although in the largenesse of their body they exceed all foure footed beasts, yet may they bee * 1.116 more speedily and easily tamed than other beasts. For they may be taught to doe many things above the common nature of beasts. Their skin is somewhat like to a Buffles, with little haire upon it, but that which is, is ash coloured, his head large, his necke short, his eares two handfulls broad, his nose or trunke very long, and han∣ging down almost to the ground, hollow like as a trumpet, the which he useth in stead of an hand, his mouth is not farre from his beast, not much unlike a swines, from the upper part whereof two large teeth thrust forth themselves, his legges are thicke and strong, not consisting of one bone as many formerly have falsly believed (for they kneele to admit their Rider, or to bee laden, and then rise up againe of them∣selves) his feet are round like a quoit some two or three hands breadth, and divided into five clefts. He hath a taile like a Buffle, but not very rough, some three hands breadth long, wherefore they would be much troubled with flyes and waspes, but * 1.117 that nature hath recompenced the shortness of their tailes by another way; for when they finde themselves molested, they contract their skin so strongly, that they suf∣focate and kill these little creatures taken in the wrinkles thereof; they overtake a man running by going onely, for his legges are proportionable to the rest of his bo∣dy.

They feed upon the leaves and fruits of trees, neither is any tree so strong or well rooted, which they cannot throw downe and breake. They grow to bee sixteene handfulls high, wherefore such as ride upon an Elephant are as much troubled as if they went to sea. They are of so unbridled a nature, that they cannot endure any head-stall or raines, therefore you must suffer them to take the course and way they please. Yet doe they obey their country men without any great trouble; for they seeme after some sort to understand their speech, wherefore they are easily gover∣ned by their knowne voices and words. They throw down a man that angers them, first taking him up with their Trunke and lifting him aloft, and then letting him fall, * 1.118 they tread him under foot, and leave him not before he bee dead. Aristotle writes that Elephants generate not before they be twenty yeeres old: they know not adul∣tery, neither touch they any female but one, from which they also diligently abstain * 1.119 when they know she hath once conceived. It cannot be knowne how long they goe with young; the reason is for that their copulation is not seen, for they never do it but in secret. The females bring forth resting upon their hinde legges, and with paine like women, they licke their young, and these presently see and goe, and sucke with their mouths, and not with their Trunkes. You may see Elephants teeth of a mon∣strous and stupendious bignesse, at Venice, Rome, Naples, and Paris; they terme it I∣vory, and it is used for Cabinets, Harps, Combes, and other such like uses.

[illustration]

The figure of an Elephant.

We have read in Thevet, that in Florida there are great Bulls, called in that coun∣try tongue Beautrol, they have hornes of a foot long, a bunch on their backe like a * 1.120 Camell, their haire long and yellow, the taile of a Lion; there is scarce any creature more fierce or wild, for it can never be tamed unlesse it be taken from the dam. The Salvages use their Hides against the cold, and their hornes as an Antidote against * 1.121 poyson.

The same author affirmes that whilest he sayled in the red sea, hee saw a monster in the hands of certaine Indian merchants, which in bignesse and shape of his limbs was not unlike a Tiger, yet had the face of a man, but a very flat nose: besides, his fore feet were like a mans hands, but the hinde like the feet of a Tiger, hee had no taile, he was of a dun colour: to conclude, in head, eares, necke, and face it resem∣bled a man, but in the blackish and curled haire, a More; for the other parts they were like a Tiger; they called it Thanacth.

[illustration]

The figure of a beast called Thanacth.

This following monster is so strange that it will scarce bee believed, but by those that have seene it: it is bred in America, and by the Salvages called Haiit, of the big∣nesse of a Monkey, with a great belly, almost touching the ground, and the head and face of a child: being taken, it mournes and sighes like to a man that is troubled and perplext; it is of an ashe colour, hath the feet divided into three clawes, foure fin∣gers long, and sharper than those of a Lion: it climbes trees, and lives there more frequently than upon the ground, the taile is no longer than the breadth of three fin∣gers. It is strange and almost monstrous that these kinde of creatures have never bin seene to feed upon or eat any thing: for the salvages have kept them long in their houses to make triall thereof, wherefore they thinke them to live by the aire.

[illustration]

The figure of a beast called Haiit.

I have taken this following monster out of Leo's African history; it is very de∣formed, being round after the manner of a Tortoise, two yellow lines crossing each other at right angles, divide his backe, at every end of which he hath one eye, and also one eare, so that such a creature may see on every side with his foure eyes, as also heare by his so many eares: yet hath hee but one mouth, and one belly to con∣taine his meat; but his round body is encompassed with many feet, by whose helpe he can go any way he please without turning of his body, his taile is something long and very hairy at the end. The inhabitants affirme that his blood is more effectuall in healing of wounds than any balsome. * 1.122

[illustration]

It is strange that the Rhinoceros should be a born enemy to the Elephant; wherfore he whets his horne, which growes upon his nose, upon the rockes, and so prepares * 1.123 himselfe for fight, wherein he chiefly assailes the belly, as that which he knowes to be the softest: he is as long as an Elephant, but his legs are much shorter, he is of the co∣lour of box, yet somewhat spotted, Pompey was the first that shewed one at Rome.

[illustration]

The effigies of a Rhinoceros.

[illustration]

The figure of a Chameleon.

Africa produceth the Cha∣meleon, yet is it more fre∣quent * 1.124 in India: he is in shape and greatnesse like a Lizard, but that his legs are straight, and higher, his sides are joy∣ned to the belly as in fish, & * 1.125 his backe stands up after the same manner, his nose stands out not much unlike a swines, his taile is long, and endeth sharpe, and hee foulds it up in a round, like a serpent, his nailes are crooked, his pace slow like as the Tortoise, his body rough, hee never shuts his eyes, neither doth hee looke about by the moving of the apple, but by the tur∣ning of the whole eye. The nature of his colour is very wonderfull, for he changeth * 1.126 it now and then in his eyes and taile, and whole body beside; and hee alwaies assi∣mulates that which he is next to, unlesse it be red or white. His skin is very thinne, and his body cleare; therefore the one of these two, either the colour of the neighbou∣ring things in so great subtle∣ty of his cleare skinne, easily shines as in a glasse; or else various humors diversly stir∣red up in him, according to the variety of his affections, represent divers colours in his skinne, as a Turky-cocke doth in those flethy excres∣cences under his throat, and upon his head: hee is pale when he is dead. Mathiolus writes that the right eye ta∣ken from a living Chameleon takes away the white spots which are upon the horny coat of the eye; his body be∣ing beaten, and mixed with Goats milke, and rubbed u∣pon any part, fetcheth off haires; his gall discusseth the Cataracts of the eye.

CHAP. XXIII. Of coelestiall Monsters.

PEradventure it hath not bin strange that monsters have beene genera∣ted upon the earth and in the Sea: but for monsters to appeare in heaven, and in the upper region of the aire, exceeds all admiration. Yet have wee often read it written by the antients, that the face of heaven hath beene deformed, by bearded, tailed, and haired Co∣mets; by meteors representing burning Torches, and lamps, pillars, darts, shields, troups of clouds, hostilely assailing each other; Dragons, two Moones, Sunnes, and the like monsters and prodigies.

Antiquity hath not seene any thing more prodigious than that Commet which appeared with bloody haire in Uvestine, upon the ninth day of October, 1528. for it * 1.127 was so horrible and fearefull a spectacle, that divers died with feare, and many fell into grievous diseases; going from the East to the South, it endured no longer than one hower and a quarter: in the toppe thereof was seene a bending arme holding a great sword in a threatning hand; at the end thereof appeared three starres, but that over which the point of the sword directly hanged was more bright and cleare than the rest: on each side of this Comet were seene many speares, swords, and other kinds of weapons died with blood, which were intermixt with mens heads, having long and terrible haire and beards, as you may see in the following figure.

[illustration]

The figure of a fearefull Comet.

Also there have beene seene great and thicke barres of Iron to have fallen from heaven, which have presently beene turned into swords and rapiers. At Sugolia in the borders of Hungaria, a stone fell from heaven with a great noise, the seventh day of September, anno Dom. 1514. it weighed two hundred and fifty pound: the Citi∣zens hanged it up with a great iron chaine put through it, in the midst of the Church

of their City, and used to shew it, as a miracle, to travellers of better note that past that way. Pliny reports that the clashing of armour, and the sound of a trumpet were * 1.128 heard from heaven often, before and after the Cimbrian warre. The same author also writes that in the third Consul-ship of Marius, the Amarines and Tudortines saw the heavenly armies comming from East and West; and so joyning, those being vanquished which came from the East. Which samething was seene in Lusalia, at a towne called Jubea, two houres after mid-night, anno Dom. 1535. But in anno Dom. 1550. upon the nineteenth day of July, in Saxony, not farre from Wittenberg, there appeared in the aire a great stagge, incompassed with two armed hosts, making a great noise in their conflict, and at the same instant it rained blood in great abundance, the sun seemed to be cloven into two pieces, and the one of them to fall upon the earth. A little before the taking of Constantinople from the Christi∣ans, * 1.129 there appeared a great army in the aire appointed to fight, attended on with a great company of dogs and other wild beasts. Julius Obsequius reports that in anno Dom. 458. it rained flesh in Italy, in greater and lesser pieces, part of which were de∣voured * 1.130 by the birds before they fell upon the earth: that which fell upon the earth kept long unpurrefyed, and unchanged in colour and smell. Anno Dom. 989. Otho the third being Emperour, it rained corne in Italy. Anno Dom. 180. it rained milke and oyle in great abundance, and fruit-bearing trees brought forth corne. Lycosthe∣nes tells that in the time of Charles the fift, whilest Maidenberg was besieged, three sunnes first appeared about seven a clocke in the morning, and then were seene for a whole day, whereof the middlemost was the brightest, the two others were red∣dish and of a bloody colour; but in the night time there appeared three moones. The same appeared in Bavaria, anno Dom. 1554.

But if so prodigious and strange things happen in the heavens besides the com∣mon * 1.131 order of nature, shall wee thinke it incredible that the like may happen in the earth? Anno Dom. 542. the whole earth quaked, mount Aetna cast forth flames and sparkes of fire, with which many houses of the neighbouring villages were burnt. Anno Dom. 1531. in Portugall there was an earthquake for eight dayes, and it qua∣ked seven or eight times each day; so that in Lisbone alone it cast downe a thousand and fifty houses, and more than sixe hundred were spoiled. Ferrara lately was al∣most wholly demolisht by a fearefull earthquake. Above all which ever have been heard is that prodigie which happened in the time of Pliny, at the death of Nero the * 1.132 Emperour in the Marucine field, the whole Olive-field of Vectius Marcellus a Ro∣mane Knight going over the high way, and the fields which were against it com∣ming into the place thereof. Why should I mention the miracles of waters, from whose depth and streames, fires and great flames have oft broke forth? They tell out of St. Augustine, that the fire of the sacrifice, which for those seventy yeeres of the Babylonian captivity endured under the water, was extinguished, Antiochus sel∣ling the priest-hood to Jason. What miracle is this, that the fire should live in the water, above its force and naturall efficacy, and that the water should forget the ex∣tinguishing faculty! Verily Philosophers truely affirme that the elements, which are understood to bee contrary, and to fight in variety among themselves, are mutually joyned and tyed together by a marvellous confederacy.

The End of the Twenty fift Booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  what a monste is.
• * 1.2

  What a prodi∣gie is.
• * 1.3

  Lib. 4. cen. anim. cap. 4.
• * 1.4

  Monste. seldome lo••. lived.
• * 1.5

  Arist. in problem.
• * 1.6

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3.
• * 1.7

  4. de gen. anim. cap. 4.
• * 1.8

  Lib. 7. cap. 11. Cap. 3.
• * 1.9

  The ninth book of the Polish history.
• * 1.10

  Lib. 4. de gen. anim. cap. 4.
• * 1.11

  Lib. 4. de gener∣anim. cap. 5.
• * 1.12

  Sect. 2. lib. 2. epidem.
• * 1.13

  The force of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon the body and humours.
• * 1.14

  Gen. chap. 30.
• * 1.15

  That the strait∣nesse or little∣nesse of the wombe may be the occassion 〈◊〉〈◊〉 monsters.
• * 1.16

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉▪ cap. 64.
• * 1.17

  There are sor∣cerers, and how they come so to be.
• * 1.18

  What induceth them thereto.
• * 1.19

  Exod. cap. 22. Levit. cap. 19.
• * 1.20

  Hebr. 1. 14. Galat. 3. 19. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thes. 4. 16.
• * 1.21

  John 13. Mar. 16. 34.
• * 1.22

  The power of ev'll spirits o∣ver mankind.
• * 1.23

  The differences of devills.
• * 1.24

  The delusions of devills.
• * 1.25

  Their titles & names.
• * 1.26

  What the de∣vills in Mines doe.
• * 1.27

  Devills are spi∣rits, and from eternity.
• * 1.28

  The reason of the name. Lib. 15. de civit Dei, cap. 22. & 23.
• * 1.29

  A history.
• * 1.30

  Another.
• * 1.31

  An opinion confuted.
• * 1.32

  Averrois his history convict of falshood.
• * 1.33

  The illusions of the devills.
• * 1.34

  A history.
• * 1.35

  Our sins are the cause that the devils abuse us.
• * 1.36

  Lib. 2. de abdit. caus. cap. 16.
• * 1.37

  Witches hurt by the devills assistance.
• * 1.38

  A history.
• * 1.39

  A history.
• * 1.40

  The devill shewes himselfe by speaking of greeke.
• * 1.41

  Devils wax an∣gry, and are ter∣rifyed by divine things.
• * 1.42

  It is but a de∣ceitfull cure that is perfor∣med by the de∣vill.
• * 1.43

  Old wives superstitious medicines a∣gainst divers diseases.
• * 1.44

  Lib. 6. de simp.
• * 1.45

  Lib. epist. 38. ep.
• * 1.46

  A history of a counterfeit arme.
• * 1.47

  Another of a cancrous breast.
• * 1.48

  A counterfeit ulcer of the leg
• * 1.49

  Of one feigning himself ele∣prous.
• * 1.50

  Clicquets are things made somewhat re∣sembling a smal wool-card, but have two or three little pie∣ces of boords so fastened toge∣ther with lea∣ther, that they will make a great noise with them, and these are used by the French beg∣gars.
• * 1.51

  A multitude of beggars hurt∣full to the city.
• * 1.52

  How to disco∣ver such as counterfeit the Jaundise.
• * 1.53

  Of one coun∣terfeiting the falling of the fundament.
• * 1.54

  Of one faigning the falling down of the wombe.
• * 1.55

  Of a beggar that faigned her selfe to have a snake in her belly.
• * 1.56

  The craft of such asfaigne themselves to have the falling sickenesse.
• * 1.57

  Of such as faign themselves le∣prous.
• * 1.58

  Monsters hap∣pen also in dis∣eases. A bullet shot into the belly came forth at the fundament.
• * 1.59

  A bullet stick∣ing to the throat and pati∣ent recovering.
• * 1.60

  Lib. 3. anatom. cap 9 A crooked iron shot into the back came forth at the funda∣ment.
• * 1.61

  A swallowed needle voided by urine.
• * 1.62

  A needle run∣ning in at the buttocke came forth at the groine.
• * 1.63

  A needle in the midst of a stone taken forth of the bladder.
• * 1.64

  A stone by the force of pur∣ging medicines voined by the fundament.
• * 1.65

  5. Epid.
• * 1.66

  A stone com∣ming out of the necke of the wombe.
• * 1.67

  Lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cap. de palp. cond.
• * 1.68

  No part of the body wherein stones may not bee found. A needle swal∣lowed, came forth as the na∣vell some two yeeres after.
• * 1.69

  A sprig of grass swallowed, came forth whole againe betweene the ribs.
• * 1.70

  A knife swal∣lowed, came forth at an ab∣scesse in the groine.
• * 1.71

  The point of a sword swallow∣ed came forth at the fundament.
• * 1.72

  Wonderfull excretions of infants cut of the wombe.
• * 1.73

  Women trou∣bled with the Mother laid out for dead.
• * 1.74

  An impostume spit out, of the bignesse of a Pidgeons egge.
• * 1.75

  Worms cast up in the fit of an Ague.
• * 1.76

  This narration exceeds not onely all admi∣ration, but also beliefe.
• * 1.77

  Pract. lib. 64. cap. 1.
• * 1.78

  5. Epidem.
• * 1.79

  Boist. in histor. prodig.
• * 1.80

  It is a common thing for a ser∣pent to breed of the dead corps of a man. A live serpent in a solide Mar∣ble.
• * 1.81

  The cause of such wonderful generations.
• * 1.82

  Lib. 9. cap. 5.
• * 1.83

  Lib. 5. chron.
• * 1.84

  This here fi∣gured is the sea-Morse, taken commonly by our men in their Greene-land voyages: and I udge the sea∣••ore and Ele∣phant to be the same, but that, the Painter ha•…•… shewed his skill too much in ••e one: and the other is an old ••orse, as this ••ere figu∣red i a young one.
• * 1.85

  The Crocodile only moves the upper jaw.
• * 1.86

  Expende dili∣genter Plinii lo∣cum lib. 23. cap. 8.
• * 1.87

  Cosmograph∣tom. 1. lib. 2. cap. 8. How they, take Crocodiles.
• * 1.88

  cap. 10.
• * 1.89

  Lib. 9. cap. 1.
• * 1.90

  The blood of great sortoises good for the le∣prosie. Tom. 2. lib. 20.
• * 1.91

  4. de hist. anim. cap. 4.
• * 1.92

  By crusted is meant Crabs, Lobsters, Shrimps, and such like. The descripti∣on of the Her∣mire cray-fish.
• * 1.93

  Lib. 7. cap. 31.
• * 1.94

  They change their habitati∣on for two cau∣ses.
• * 1.95

  What the Pin∣noter, or dwaf crab is.
• * 1.96

  What the Pin∣na is.
• * 1.97

  Lib. 9. cap. 42. Lib. 3. Deipne.
• * 1.98

  The familiari∣ty and craft of the Pinna and Pinnoter,
• * 1.99

  Lib. 2. de ••at. de∣crum.
• * 1.100

  Psin. lib. 9. cap. 29.
• * 1.101

  How the Whale may be recko∣ned amongst monsters.
• * 1.102

  A whale brings forth young, & sueklesthem.
• * 1.103

  How they are caught.
• * 1.104

  Why the fe∣males are more easily caught than the males.
• * 1.105

  Whalebone.
• * 1.106

  Lib. 9. cap. 25. & lib. 32. ca. 1.
• * 1.107

  The wondrous power of the Remora.
• * 1.108

  The wondrous force of the Torpedo.
• * 1.109

  The Estrich is Betweene a bird and a beast.
• * 1.110

  The wondrous force of her sto∣macke.
• * 1.111

  The descripti∣on of the bird of Paradise.
• * 1.112

  Whosoever desires to know more of the truth of this bird, let him read Clusius in the Auctarium ad lib. 5. cap. 1. exoticorum.
• * 1.113

  Tom. 2. lib. 21. cap. 12.
• * 1.114

  Tom. 1. cap. 11. lib. 4.
• * 1.115

  Thevet tom. 1. lib. 11. cap. 13,
• * 1.116

  The Indian E∣lephants are bigger than the Africane.
• * 1.117

  How they keep flyes from them.
• * 1.118

  Lib. 9. de list. anim. cap. 27.
• * 1.119

  It is not known how long an E∣lephant goes with young.
• * 1.120

  Tom. 2. lib. 23. cap. 2.
• * 1.121

  Their hornes good against poysons. Tom. 1. lib. 2. cap. 10.
• * 1.122

  Blood as good as balsome.
• * 1.123

  Plin. lib. 8. cap. 29.
• * 1.124

  Plin. lib. 8. cap. 33.
• * 1.125

  Arist. lib. 2. hist. anim. cap. 12.
• * 1.126

  The strange nature of the colour of the Chamelcon.
• * 1.127

  A Comet with bloody haire.
• * 1.128

  Lib. 2. cap. 57.
• * 1.129

  Presages of the taking of Con∣stantinople.
• * 1.130

  Monstrous rains
• * 1.131

  Earthquakes.
• * 1.132

  Lib. 2. cap. 73.