The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

OF THE BVLL.

A Bull is the husband of a Cow, and ring-leader of the heard, [for which cause Homer compareth Agamemnon the great Emperour of the Graecian Armye to a Bull] reserued onely for procreation, and is sometimes indifferently called an [ 30] Oxe, as Oxen are likewise of authors taken for Buls Verg:

Pingue solum primus extemplo mensibus anni, fortes inue•• tant houes.

The Haebrewes call him Tor, or Taur; which the Chaldes cal Abir for a strong Oxe: so the Arabians Ta••••; the Grae∣cians Tauros; the Latines Taurus, the Itallians Toro, the French Toreau, the Germans ein Stier, ein vuncherstier, das vucher, ein mummelstier, ein hagen, and ein hollen; the Illirians Vul and iunecz: by all which seuerall appellations it is e∣uident, that the name Taurus in Latine is not deriued from Tannouros, the stretching out the tayle, nor from Gauros, signifieng proud; but from the haebrew Tor, which signifieth [ 40] great: vpon which occasion, the Graecians called all large, great, and violent thinges, by the name of Taurot, and that word Taurus among the Latines, hath giuen denomination to men, starres Mountaines, Ryuers, trees, ships, and many other things, which caused Ioachimus Camerarius to make thereof this aenigmaticall riddle.

Maechus eram regis: sed lignea membra sequebar, Et Cilicum mons sum: sed mons sum nomine solo Et vehor in coelo: sed in ipsis ambulo terris.

That is in diuers senses, Taurus was a Kings Pander, the roote of a tree, a Mountaine in cili••ia, a Bull, a Mountaine in name, a Starre or signe in heauen, and a Ryuer vpon the earth▪ so also we reade of Statilius Taurus, and Pomponius vitulus, two Romans. It was the [ 50] custome in those daies, to giue the names of beastes to their children, especially among the Trogloditae, and that adulterer which rauished Europa, was Taurus the King of Creete; or as some say, a King that came in a shipp, whose ensigne and n••me was the Bull; and o∣ther affi••me, that it was Iupiter in the likenesse of a Bull, bycause he had so defloured Ceres when he begat Proserpina, and afterward defloured Proserpina his daughter, in the likenesse

[illustration]

[ 10] [ 20] of a Draggon. It is reported that when Achelous did fight with Hercules for Deianeira the Daughter of Oeneus king of Calydon, finding himselfe to be too weake to match Hercules, turned himselfe suddenly into a Serpent, and afterward into a bull; Hercules seeing him in that proportion, speedily pulled from him one of his hornes, and gaue it to Copia the [ 30] companion of Fortune, whereof commeth that phrase of Cornucopia. Afterward, Ache∣lous gaue vnto Hercules one of the Hornes of Amalthea, and so receiued his owne againe, and being ouercome by Hercules, hid himselfe in the riuer of Thoas, which after his owne name bending forth into one horn or crook, was called Achelous. By these things the Po∣ets had singular intentions to decipher matters of great moment vnder hidden and dark Narrations.

But there are foure reasons giuen, why riuers are called Taurocrani: that is, bul-heads. First, because when they empty themselues into the Sea, they roare or bellow like buls, with the noise of their falling water: secondly, because they furrow the erth like a draught of oxen with a plow, and much deeper. Thirdly, because the sweetest and deepest pasturs vnto which these cattell resort, are neare the riuers. Fourthly, because by their crooking [ 40] and winding, they imitate the fashion of a horne, and also are impetuous, violent, and vnresistable.

The strength of the head and necke of a bul is very great, and his forehead seemeth to be made for fight: hauing hornes short, but strong and piked, vppon which he can tosse into the aire very great and weighty beasts which he receiueth againe as they fall downe, doubling their eleuation with renewed strength and rage, vntill they be vtterly confoun∣ded. Their strength in all the parts of their body is great, and they vse to strike backward with their heeles: yet is it reported by caelius Titormus a Neat-heard of Aetolia, that being in the field among the cattell, tooke one of the most fierce and strongest buls in the heard by the hinder leg, and there in despight of the bull striuing to the contrary, held him with [ 50] one hand, vntill another bull came by him, whome he likewise tooke in his other hande, and so perforce held them both: which thing being seene by Milo Crotoniates, hee lifted vppe his handes to heauen, crying out by way of interogation to Iupiter; and sayinge: O Iupiter, hast thou sent another Hercules amongest vs? Whereupon came the common prouerbe of a strong armed man: This is another Hercules. The like storie is reported by

Suidas of Polydamas, who first of all slew a Lyon, and after held a bull by the legge so fast, that the beast striuing to get out of his handes, left the hoofe of his foote behinde him.

The Epithites of this beast are many among writers, as when they call him br••••••n-footed, wilde, chearefull, sharpe, plower, warriour, horne-bearer, blockish, great, gli∣stering, fierce, valiant, and louring, which seemeth to be natural to this beast; insomuch as the Grammarians deriue Toruitas, grimnes or lowring from Taurus a Bul, whose aspect carieth wrath and hatered in it: wherfore it is proverbially saide in Westphalia, of a low∣ring and scouling countenance, Eir sich als ein ochs der dem, fleschouwer Entloffen ist: That is, he looketh like a bul escaped from one stroke of the butcher. Their hornes are lesser but stronger then Oxen or kie, for all beasts that are not gelded, haue smaller hornes and [ 10] thicker sculs then other, but the buls of Scithia as is said else-where, haue no horns. Their heart is full of nerues or sinnewes, their blood is ful of smal vaines, for which cause he in∣gendreth with most speed, and it hardneth quickly. In the gal of a Bul there is a stone cal∣led Guers, and in some places the gal is called Mammacur. They are plentiful in most coun∣tries as is said in the discourse of Oxen, but the best sort are in Epirus, next in Thracia, & then Italy, Syria, England, Macedonia, Phrigia, and Belgia: for the buls of Gallia are impay∣red by labor, and the buls of Aethiope are the Rhinocerotes, as the buls of the woodes are Elephants.

They desire the Cow at eight monthes olde, but they are not able to fill her til they be two years old, and they may remaine tolerable for breeders vntil they be 12. and not past. [ 20] Euery bul is sufficient for ten kie, and the buls must not feed with the kie, for 2. months be¦fore their leaping time, and then let them come together without restraint, and giue them pease, or barley, if theyr pasture be not good. The best time to suffer them with their fe∣males, is the midst of the spring, and if the bul be heauy, take the taile of a hart and burne it to pouder, then mo••sten it in wine, and rubbe therewith the genitals of a bul, and he wil rise aboue measure into lust. Wherefore, if it bee more then tolerable, it must be alayed with oyle. The violence of a bul in the act of copulation is so great, that if he misse the fe∣males genital entraunce, he woundeth or much harmeth her in any other place, sending forth his seed without any motion except touching, and a Cowe being filled by him, hee wil neuer after leape her, during the time she is with calfe: wherefore the Egiptians deci∣pher [ 30] by a bul in health, without the itch of lust, a temperate continent man, and Epictetus saying of Sustine and Abstine: that is: Beare and Forbeare, was emblematicaly described by a bull hauing his knee bound and tyed to a cow in the hand of the neat hearde, vvith this subscription. Hard fortune is to be endured with patience, and happines is often to be feard, for Epictetus said beare and forbeare, we must suffer many things, and withhold our fingers from forbidden fruites, for so the bull which swayeth rule among beasts, being bound in his right knee, abstaineth from his female great with young.

When they burne in lust, their wrath is most outragious against their companions in the same pasture, with whom they agreed in former times, and then the conquerour coup∣leth with the cow: but when he is weakened with generation, the beast that was ouercome, [ 40] setteth vpon him a fresh, and oftentimes ouercommeth: which kind of loue-fight is ele∣gantly described by Oppianus as followeth. One that is the chiefest ruleth ouer all the o∣ther heard, who tremble at the sight and presence of this their eager King, and especi∣ally the Kye knowing the insulting iealousie of their raging husband. When the heards of other places meete together, beholding one another with disdaineful countenances, and with their loughing terrible voices prouoke each other, puffing out their flaming rage of defiāce, & dimming the glistering light with their oftē dust-beating-feet into the aire, who presently take vp the challenge & seperate themselues frō the company, ioyning togither at the sound of their owne trumpets-loughing-voice, in feareful and sharp conflicts, not sparing, not yelding, not retiring, til one or both of them fal wounded to the earth: some∣times [ 50] turning round, sometimes holding heads together, as if they were coach-fellowes: and as two mighty ships wel manned, with sufficient armes and strength, by force of winds and floods violently rushing one against another, doe breake and split asunder, with the horrible cry of the Souldiers, and ratling of the armour: so doe these Buls, with voice, Legges, hornes, and strength, like cunning and valiant Martialists, make the soundes of

their blows to ring betwixt heauen and earth, vntill one of them be vaquished and ouer∣throwne.

The poore ouercommed beast, with shame retyreth from the heard, and will no more appeare vntill he be enabled to make his party good against his triumphant aduersarye: then he feedeth solitary in the woods and mountains, for it is prouerbially said to signifie a single and vnmarried life, abijt taurus in siluam: that is, the bull is gone to the wood to liue solitarily without his female, often exercising himself like a studious champion against the day of a new combate, and when he findeth his strength increased, and his corage ar∣med for the day of battaile, then roareth he in the woods and Mountains, to prouoke his [ 10] aduersary to answere; and perceiuing his own voice to be more fierce and violent then is his enimies, forth he proceedeth like some refreshed giant, confident in his strength, dis∣cending to the lists of a second combate, where he easily ouer commeth the victor, weak∣ned with copulation, and not excercised or fitted to such a tryall through fulnes and ve∣nery: so the first that was vanquished becommeth conqueror.

The very same is in other wordes described by Virgill: Buls are enemies to all Beastes that liue vpon pray, as Beares, Lyons, and Wolues: when they fight with wolus they wind their tailes together, & so driue them awaie with their horns; when the beare figh∣teth with an oxe; she falleth on her backe watching opportunitie to take his hornes with her forefeet, which if she catch, with the weight of her body she wearieth the beast, who is [ 20] so earnest in combate with these beasts, that they will fight their tongues hanging out of their mouths. The Cro is enemy to buls and Asses, for in her flight she will strike at theyr eies, and it is easier for the Bul to be reuenged of a Lyon, then on such a bird: Red colour stirreth vp a Bul to fight, neither can the neat-heardes gouerne these with such facility as they do the femals, for when they wander and go astray, nothing can recall them but the voice of their females for copulation, which they vnderstande and heare, being a mile or two distant.

The voice of a bull is sharper and shriller then is the loughing of a cow, they are most couragious that haue short and thicke necks, and in their greatest wildnes, if their right knee can be bound, they will not stirre, or if they be tyed to a wilde figge-tree, which is so [ 30] fearfull to the nature of an oxe or bul, that it hath bene seen, how a very few sticks of that wood, haue sodde a great quantity of bulles fleshe in shorter time, then a farre greater number of other wood set on fire could perform: which caused the Egiptians in auncient time, to picture a Bull tyed to a wilde fig-tree, to signifie a man that changed his manners through calamity.

Out of the hides of buls, especially their eares, neckes, and genitals, is most excellent glue confected, but for the most part it is corrupted; by seething with it olde leather of shooes or bootes: but that of Rhodes is without all fraud, fit for Phisitians and painters, & euermore the whiter the better, for that which is blacke is good for nothing: wherefore that which is made out of buls hydes, is so white, that it sendeth forth a brightnes, whose vertuous coniuction in conglutination is so powerfull, that it is easier to breake a whole [ 40] peece of wood then any part so glewed togither therewith: and for this inuention, wee [are saith Pliny] indebted to Dedalus the first author thereof. They vsed it in instruments of musicke, and such other tender and pretious actions.

The gall of an oxe put vpon copper or brasse, maketh it glister like Golde; for which cause it is vsed by players, to colour their counterfeit crownes. The flesh of a bull is good for meat, but yet not so good as an oxe or cow; yet did the Egyptians abstain from eating cowes flesh, and not from the flesh of buls.

These beasts are vsed in some places to plow, in some to fight, and it is reported by Eli∣anus, that Mythridates King of Pontus, beside his guard of men, had also a guard of a bull, a horse, and a Hart, which he tamed with his owne hands; so that when his followers were a [ 50] sleep, if any stranger came near, they fayled not to awake him, by one of their seueral voi∣ces. It is reported also, that if the Nostrils of a bull be annointed with oyle of Roses, he wil presently loose his eye sight, and that in the Lake Asphaltites there can no liuing creature abide & yet many buls & camels svvim therin safely. It is but fabulous that ther wer Buls in Colchis which did breth out fire, except by that fiction the poets vnderstood, the beastly

rage of the rich inhabitants. Touching the sacrificing of buls, it vvas also the custome of the old Egyptians to sacrifice a Bull vnto Epaphus: and their manner was, first of all to try him whether it were fit for sacrifice, by laying meale before them, whereof if they re∣fused to tast, they were adiudged not apt for the Temple.

The Druidae call a generall sacrifice Viscum, whereby they affirme all greeuances may be cured. First they prepared a banquet with sacrifice vnder some tree, then broght they two white buls fastened togither by the horns, and then they gaue a drinke to any barren creature, Woman or bruit beast, holding religiously, that by that drinke they shoulde be made fruitfull and free from al poison: Vnto so great a height did the folly of blinde [ 10] people arise, to put religion in euery vnreasonable inuention, vnder pretence of any good intention deuised by idolatrous priests. As often as they slew and offered a Bul, and pou∣red Frankincense and wine vppon the hoast, they said; The bul is increased with Frankin∣cense and wine, but the Ionians did best comfort themselues in their sacrifices where the Bul before his death did lough at the Altar: and the Messenians did bind their bul which was to be sacrificed to the Ghosts of Aristomene, vnto certaine Pillars in his sepulchre: if therefore the Bul did shake the pillar while he leaped to and fro to get liberty, they took it for a good signe or Omen, but if it stood imouable, they held it a mournful and lamen∣table thing.

It is likewise reported by Varinus that when Agamemnon ignorantly kild one of the harts of Diana in Aulis, she was so wroth, that she stayed the winds from blowing vpon his na∣uy, [ 20] so as they could not stirre out of harbour: hereupon they went to the Oracle, where answere was giuen, that the goddesse was to bee pacified with some one of Agamemnons blood, therfore Vlisses vvas sent avvay to fetch Iphigenia, the dau. of Agam: from her mo∣ther clitemnaestra, vnder pretence to be maried to achilles; but when she was ready to bee sacrificed, the goddesse took pittie on her, and accepted a bul in her steede, which ought not to bee thought incredible▪ seeing that in holy scripture a Ram was substituted in the place of Isaac.

They were wont also to sacrifice a bul to Neptune, and to al the riuers, because of that affinity which they held a bul hath with al Waters: and to apollo, according to this vir∣gilian [ 30] verse, Taurus Neptuno Taurum tibi pulcher apollo. But vnto Iupiter it was vnaccusto∣med to be offered, perhaps because he had often shevved himselfe in that likenesse, to ra∣uish and defloure Women. There be certaine prouerbes of a bul, which are not altogi∣ther impertinent in this place. First, it is commonly saide, that hee may beare a bul that hath born a calfe▪ wherby is meant, that he may be more subiect to filthines in age, which was so in youth. Quartilla was a woman of most vilde reputation for vncleannes, because she said, that when she was little, she lay with little ones like her selfe, and when she grevv bigger, she applied her selfe to the pleasure of elder men, grovving in filthines as she had increased in yeares. Likevvise they vvere vvont to say of an absurde or impossible thinge, that if a bul could reach his head ouer taygetus, hee might drinke of the riuer Eurota, and [ 40] the beginning of this prouerbe, was taken of an apothegme of Geradas, when his hoast vp∣on a time did ask him vvhat punishment the Lacedemonians had appointed for adulterers, he aunsvvered there vvere no adulterers in Lacedemon, and therefore the punishment & question vvere fri••olous? his hoast replyed; but if there shoulde bee an adulterer there, vvhat punishment vvould they appoint for him? Marry [said Geradus) he shold pay such a bul as would reach ouer taygetus to drinke of the Water Eurota; whereat the host laugh∣ed demaunding where such a bul could be found? then said Geradas, and vvhere can you find an adulterer in Lacede non, so putting off one absurdity vvith another. And thus much of the natures and properties of a bul in general. In the nexte place before this beast be turned into the Woods, vve vvil describe his medicinal vertues, and so let him [ 50] loose.

The pouder of a buls horn drunk in vvater stayeth a flux of blood and the loosnes of the bell•• Sextus and Eseulapius say, that if a buls horne be burned in a place where serpents abide i•• driueth the navvay The blood of buls mingled vvith barley flovver, driueth a∣vvay hardnes in the flesh, & being dryed cureth apostems in euery part of the body. It ta∣keth away spots in the face, & kileth serpēts: It is cōmended warm against the gou••, espe∣cially

in horses. It is not good for to drinke, beause it is easily congealed, except the lit∣tle vaynes bee taken out. It is accounted among the chiefest poysons, and therefore it is thought by Plutarch, that Anniball poysoned himselfe by drinking Buls blood, being thereunto perswaded by his Seruant, for so dyed Themistocles: and Psammenitus King of Egypt, taken by Cambises, was constrained to drinke the blood of a Bull; where∣vpon immediately he gaue vp the ghost. For remedy heereof, it is good to beware of vomitting, bycause the blood congealed in the stomach into lumps, stoppeth the throate; wherefore all those things which dissolue Milke in the stomach, are also medicinable a∣gainst the blood of Buls. In these cases let the party be first of all purged by glister or o∣therwise, and then annoynt the stomache and belly with barly meale and sweete Water, [ 10] laying it vnto them like a plaister: likewise Lupines, Oxymell, and nitre, are Soueraigne in this, as all Physitions know. The dry leaues of Neppe or Calamach is profitable against this Malady; so also are ashes made of the lees of wine burned.

The fat of a Bull is profitable to many thinges. First therefore, it must be plucked out warme from the raynes of a Bull and washed in a Ryuer or brooke of running Water, pulling out the skinnes and tunicles, then melt it in a newe earthen pot, hauing cast a∣mong it a little salt, then set in faire cold Water, and when it beginneth to congeale, rubbe it vp and downe in the hands, wringing out the water, and letting it soke in againe, vntill it appeare well washed; then boyle it in a pot with a little sweet wine and being sod∣den let it stand all night: if in the morning it sauour strong, then poure in more Wyne, [ 20] seeth it againe, vntill that sauour cease, and so all the poyson be remoued: and beware of salt in it, especially if it be to bee vsed in diseases, whereunto salt is an enemy, but being thus vsed it looketh very white, after the same manner may be vsed the fat of Lyons, Le∣opards, Panthers, camels, Boares, and Horsses.

The fat kall about the gutts melted in a frying pan, and annoynted vpon the geni∣tals and brest, helpeth the Dysenterie. The marrow of a Bull beaten and drunke, cureth the payne in the small of the belly: and Rasis sayth, that if it be melted at a fire, and min∣gled with one fourth parte of Myrrhe and oyle of bayes, and the handes and feete bee therewithall annoynted and rubbed, morning and euening; it helpeth the contractions of the Nerues and sinnewes.

[ 30] The fat of a dormouse, of a hen, and the marrow of a Bull, melted togither, and pou∣red warme into the eares, easeth their paine very much: and if the liuer of a Bull be broi∣led on a soft fire, and put into ones mouth that hath the tooth-ache, the paine wil•• goe a∣way so soone as euer the teeth touch it. The gall of a bull is sharper then an Oxes, and it is mingled with honey for a wound-plaster, and in all outward remedies against poison. It hath also a quality to gnaw the deadnes or corruption out of wounds, and with the iuyce of leekes and the milke of Women, it is applyed against the Swine pox and fistulaes; but the gal alone rubbed vpon the biting of an Ape, cureth that Malady. Likewise, the vlcers in the head, both of men, women, and children. And if the woole of a hare be burned to ashes, and mingled with oyle of myrtles. Buls gall, and beaten alume, and so warmed and [ 40] annointed vppon the heade, it stayeth the falling away of the haire of the head.

With the gall of a Bull, and the white of an Egge, they make an eye-salue, and so an∣noint therewith dissolued in water foure dayes togither; but it is thought to bee better with hony and balsam: and instilled with sweet new wine into the eares, it helpeth awaye the paines of them, especially running-mattry eares, with womans or Goats milke. It be∣ing taken with hony into the mouth, helpeth the cliftes and sores therein; and taken with the water of new coloquintida and giuen to a woman in trauel, causeth an easie child birth. Galen was wont to giue of a buls gall the quantity of an almonde, with two spoonefuls of wine, called [Vinuus Lynghatum] to a Woman that hath her childe dead within her body, which would presently cause the dead Embrion to come forth. The genital of a red bull, dryed to pouder and drunke of a Woman, to the quantity of a golden Noble, it maketh [ 50] her to loath al maner of copulation but in men (as the later Phisitians affirme) it cau∣seth that desire of lust to increase. The dung of a bul layed too warm, helpeth al hardnesse; and burnt to pouder, helpeth the member that is burnt. The vrine or stale of buls with a little Nitre taketh away scabs and Leprosies.

Notes

• The true ae¦tymology o•• the name Taurus.
• A Riddle vp on the word Taurus.
• Reasons why riuers are cal¦led Taurocra∣ni.
• The strength and seuerall parte of Buls.
• The prodi∣gious strēgth of tritormos.
• The seuerall parts.
• Countries of their best breed.
• Their time of copulatiō.
• Their food for procrea∣tion
• Quintilius
• The fight or combat of Lul••es.
• Georg. 3 Their enmi∣ty to other beasts.
• Horus Apollo A secret in the taming of a Bull.
• Their hide••
• Of the Gal.
• Of the flesh.
• Leo Affric••
• The sacrifi∣cing of Buls.
• Caelius. G••raldus. Pliny
• Pausanias.
• Prouerbs of a Buli.
• Like the En∣gl•••••• ••r••uerb 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sky fall we shal haue 〈…〉〈…〉.
• The medi∣cins o•• Buls
• Dioscorides.