Varieties: or, A surveigh of rare and excellent matters necessary and delectable for all sorts of persons. Wherein the principall heads of diverse sciences are illustrated, rare secrets of naturall things unfoulded, &c. Digested into five bookes, whose severall chapters with their contents are to be seene in the table after the epistle dedicatory. By David Person, of Loghlands in Scotland, Gentleman.

Sect. 12.

The conclusion of this Treatise of curiosity; containing a singular curiosity of Livia, Tiberius Caesars wife.

BVT ere I fully close up this Treatise, and where I might bring before you many; let me onely present you with one woman, whose singular curiosity was admirable, or (if you will) casuall; it is reported by Cuspinian, an ancient and famous Au∣thor, in the life of Tiberius Caesar;* 1.1 that Livia being with childe of Tiberius, fell into an inquisitive curiosi∣ty, to know whether the child she went withall should prove male or female: wherupon, repairing to Scribo∣nius the Astrologer, she was advised by him to take an Egge from under a sitting Hen, and to hold it so long betwixt her hands, till (through the heate of them) the egge should burd and breake the shell; which ac∣cordingly she did, and thereout came a Cock-chick∣en: whereupon the Mathematician divined, that she should be delivered of a man childe; who as the bird was crested, should beare a crowne, and command over others: and so thereafter it happened.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Livias curio∣sity.