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 ELEPHANT. [ 20]

THere is no creature among al the Beasts of the world which hath so great and ample demonstration of the power and wisedome of almighty God as the Elephant: both for pro∣portion of body and disposition of spirit; and it is admira∣ble to behold, the industry of our auncient forefathers, and noble desire to benefit vs their posterity, by serching into the qualities of euery Beast, to discouer what benefits [ 30] or harmes may come by them to mankind: hauing neuer beene afraid either of the Wildest, but they tamed them; the fiercest, but they ruled them; and the greatest, but they also set vpon them. Witnesse for this part the Elephant, being like a liuing Mountain in quantity & outward appearance, yet by them so handled, as no little dog became more seruiceable and tractable.

Among all the Europaeans the first possessor of Elephants, was Alexander Magnus, and after him Antigonus, and before the Macedonians came into Asia, no people of the world except the Affricans and the Indians, had euer seene Elephants. When Fabritius was sent by the Romanes to King Pyrrhus in Ambassage, Pyrrhus offered to him a great summe of [ 40] money, to preuent the Warre, but he refused priuate gaine, and preferred the seruice of his Country: the next day he brought him into his presence, and thinking to terrifie him placed behind him a great Elephant, shadowed with cloth of Arras; the cloth was drawne and the huge beast instantly layed his trunke vppon the head of Fabritius, sending forth a terrible and direfull voice: whereat Fabritius laughing, perceiuing the pollicy of the king gently made this speech;

Neque heri aurum neque hodie bestia me promouit.

I was neither tempted with thy Gold yesterday, nor terrified with the sight of this beast too day: and so afterward Pyrrhus was ouercome in War by the Romans, and Manlius Curius Den∣tatus, [ 50] did first of all bring Elephants in Tryumphe to Rome, calling them Lucanae Bo••es, Oxen of the wood, about the 472. year of the Citty: and afterward in the year of Romes building 502. when Metellus was high priest, and ouerthrew the Carthagenian in Sicily, there were 142. Elephants brought in ships to Rome and led in triumph, which Lucius Piso afterward, to take away from the people opinions of the feare of them, caused them to be brought to the stage to open view and handling, and so slaine; which thing Pompey

[illustration]

did also by the slaughter of fiue hundred Lyons and Elephants together: so that in the time of Gordianus, it was no wonder to see thirty and two of them at one time.

An Elephant is by the Haebrewes called Behemah, by way of excellency, as the Latines for the same cause cal him Bellua, the Chaldeans for the same word, Deu. 14. translat Beira, the Arabians Behitz, the Persians Behad, and the Septuagints Ktene, but the Graecians vulgarly Elephas, not Quasi elebas, because they ioine copulation in the Water, but rather from the Haebrew word Dephill; signifieng the Iuory tooth of an Elephant (as Munster wel obserueth.) The Haebrewes also vse the word Schen for an Elephants tooth. Moreouer Hesychius called an Elephant in the Greek tongue Perissas, the Latines doe indifferently [ 10] vse Elephas, and Elephantus; and it is said that Elephantus in the Punicke tongue, signifieth Caesar: wherupon when the Graundfather of Iulius Caesar had slain an Elephant, he had the name of Caesar put vpon him.

The Italians call this Beast Leofante, or Lionfante, the French Elephante, the Germans Helfant, the Illirians Slon. We read but of three appellatiue names of Elephants; that is of one, called by Alexander the great Aiax, because hee had read that the buckler of great Aiax was couered with an Elephants skin, about whose necke he put a Golden col∣lar and so sent him away with liberty. Antiochus one of Alexander successours had two Ele∣phants, one of them he likewise called Aiax, in imitation of Alexander, and the other Pa∣troclus, of which two this story is reported by Antipater. That when Antiochus came to a certaine foorde or deepe Water, Aiax which was alway the captaine of the residue, ha∣uing [ 20] sounded the depth thereof, refused to passe ouer, and turned backe againe, then the King spake to the Elephants & pronounced, that he which would passe ouer should haue principality ouer the residue: whereupon, Patroclus gaue the aduenture, and passed ouer safely, and receiued from the king the siluer trappings and al other prerogatiues of princi∣pality; the other seeing it (which had alway beene chiefe till that time,) preferred death before ignominy and disgrace, and so would neuer after eate meate but famished for sor∣row.

They are bred in the whot Esterne countries, for by reason they can endure no cold, they keepe onely in the East and South. Among all, the Indian Elephants are greatest, strong∣est, and tallest, and there are among them of two sorts, one greater (which are called Pra∣sij) [ 30] the other smaller, called Taxilae.) They be also bred in Africa, in Lybia, much greater then a Nysaean Horsse,, and yet euery way inferiour to the Indian; for which cause, if an Affrican Elephant do but see an Indian, he trembleth, and laboureth by all meanes to get out of his sight, as being guilty of their owne weakenesse.

There are Elephants also in the Ile Taprobane, and in Sumatra, in Affrican. They are bred in Lybia, in Aethiopia, among the Trogloditae, and in the Mountaine Atlas, Syrtes, Zames, and Sala, the seuen Mountaines of Tingitania, and in the Countrey of Basman, subiect to the great Cham. Some Authors affirme, that the Affrican Elephants are much greater then the Indian, but with no greater reason then Columella Writeth; that there bee as great beastes found in Italy as Elephants are: whereunto no sound Author euer [ 40] yealded.

Of all earthly creatures an Elephant is the greatest: for in India they are nine cubits high, and fiue cubits broad; in Affrica foureteen or fifteene ful spans, which is about ele∣uen foot high and proportionable in bredth, which caused Aelianus to Write, that one Elephant is as big as three Bugils; and among these the males are euer greater then the females. In the kingdome of Melinda in Affricke, there were two young ones, not aboue sixe monthes old, whereof the least was as great as the greatest Oxe, but his flesh was as much as you shall find in two Oxen; the other was much greater.

Their colour is for the most part mouse-colour, or blacke; and there was one all white in Ethiopia: The skinne looketh pieled and scabby; it is most hard on the backe, but softer [ 50] vnderneath the belly, hauing no couering of haire or gristes nor yet helpe by his taile to driue away the flies, for that euill doth this beast feele in his great body, but alway hath creuises in his skinne, which by their sauour doe inuite the little flyes to a continuall feast, but when by stretching forth they haue receiued the swarmes, by shrinking together a∣gain, they inclose the flies and so kill them: so that these creuises in his skin, are vnto him

insteede of a mane, taile, and haire: yet there are some few haires which grow scattering vppon his hide, whereof some haue beene brought out of America into Germany, which were two palmes long, but not so stiffe as Swines.

Their skinne is so hard and stiffe, that a sharpe sworde or iron cannot pierce it. Their head is very great, and the head of a man may as easily enter into their mouth, as a finger into the mouth of a Dog; but yet their eares and eyes are not aequiualent to the residew of their proportion: for they are smal, like the wings of a Bat or a Dragon, those of the E∣thiopian Sambri want eares altogither. Their eyes are like the eyes of Swine, but very red, they haue teeth of either side foure, wherewith they grinde their meate like meale, and they haue also two other which hang forth beyond the residue, in the males downeward, [ 10] and these are the greater and crooked; but in the females vpwarde, and they are the smaller and straight: the one of them they keepe alway sharpe, to reuenge iniuries, and with the other they root vp plants & trees for their meat: so that nature hath armed both sexes with these, for their chiefest defence; and with these the females are calued at the first, and indued from the mothers belly, and appear so soone as they come foorth: the males not so quickly, but rather after the maner of bores and Sea-horsses, they hang out of their mouths, and grow to be ten foot long, whereof they make posts of houses in some countries, and cal them Ebora, that is, young yuory: which caused Martial to write thus;

Grandia taurorum portant qui corpora quaeris [ 20] An lybicas possint sustinnisse trabes.

There is a certaine booke extant without the name of the Author, written of Iudaea or the holy land, wherein the Author affirmeth that he saw an Elephants tooth sold to a Venetian Merchant, for six and thirty Duccats, it being fourteen spans long, and four spans broad, and it waighed so heauy, that he could not moue it from the ground.

Vartomanus also saith, that he saw in the Isle of Sumatra, two Elephants teeth, which waig∣hed three hundred six and thirty pounds. This is certain, that the teeth of those Elephants which liue in the marishes and watry places, are so smooth and harde, as they seeme in∣tractable, and in some places they haue holes in them, and againe certaine bunches as big [ 30] as hail-stones, which are so hard, as no art or instrument can worke vpon them.

The Elephants of the mountaines haue lesser and whiter teeth, fit to be applied to any worke, but the best of all, are the teeth of the Campestriall and fielde Elephants, which are whitest and softest, and maye well bee handleth without all paine. The teeth of the female are more pretious then of the male, and these they loose euery tenth yeare; which falling off they bury and couer in the earth, pressing them downe by sitting vppon them, and then heal them ouer with earth by their feet, and so in short time the grasse gro∣weth vpon them: for, as when they are hunted they know it is for no other cause then their teeth, so also when they loose their teeth, they desire to keepe them from men, least the vertues of them being discouered, they which beare them shoulde enioy the lesse peace [ 40] and security.

It is admyrable what deuises the people of India and Affrica haue inuented by naturall obseruation, to finde out these buried teeth, which vnto vs liuing in the remote partes of the world, we would iudge impossible by any ordinary or lawfull course, except we should turne vp the earth of a whole country, or go to work by diabolicall coniuration: yet haue they found out this facile & ready course. In the woods or fields where they suspect these teeth to be buried, they bring forth pots or bottels of water, and disperse them heere one, there another, and so let them stand, and tarry to watch them, so one sleepeth, another sin∣geth, or bestoweth his time as he pleaseth, after a little time, they go and look in their pots and if the teeth lie neer their bottels, by an vnspeakable and secret attractiue power in na∣ture, they draw all the water out of them that are neere them, which the watchman taketh [ 50] for a sure signe, and so diggeth about his Bottell, till he find the tooth: but if their bottels be not emptied, they remoue to seeke in another place.

These yuory teeth haue bene alway of great estimation among all the Nations that e∣uer knew them, the Ethyopians payed for a tribute vnto the king of Persia euery 3. yeare twenty or these teeth hung about with gold and Iet-wood. These are sold by waight, and

there be many which deceiue the world with the bones of fishes insteed hereof, but the true yuory is paler and heauier, and falling vpon the ground will easily breake, whereas the bones of Fishes are more tenatious, light, and strong. It is like to the Chernites, where∣in Darius was entombed, and the Marble called Lapis Coraliticus Corrol stone: like vnto this is the Alagi stone, and the Paederos Iewell. With this yuory they made images and sta∣tues for their idoll Goddes, as one for Pallas in Athens, for Esculapius in Epidaurus of Ve∣nus vnder the name of Vrania by Phidius, whereupon she was called Elephantina, for Apol∣lo at Rome: and therefore Pausanias wondereth at the Graecians that spared no cost for the vaine worship of their Goddes, for they bought of the Indians and Ethiopians yuory to make their images with more pompe and ostentation: besides of yuory they make the [ 10] hafts of kniues, and also the best combs, and Salomon as appeareth 3. Reg. 10▪ had a throne of yuory couered all ouer with gold, for the costs and charge wherof he could not expend lesse then thirty thousand talents.

The greatnes of these appeareth by their vse, for Polybius reporteth by the relation of Galussa a Noble-man and a great traueller in Affrica, that with them they made posts for houses, and racks to lay their cattels meat vpon, and likewise folds to enclose them. Apel∣les made an inke of Iuory which was called Elephantes inke, and he painted therewith. It hath bin affirmed by Aelianus & some writers following Pliny, that these teeth are Horns, and that Elephants are hornd beasts, which errour rose vpon the occasion of these words of Pliny; Elephantos & arietes candore tantum cornibus assinulatis, in Santonum littore re∣ciprocaos [ 20] destituit Oceanus: where Aelianus finding a resemblance betwixt Rams and Ele∣phants in their white hornes, was contented to apply that name to them both, which ap∣pertaineth onely to one; for Pliny himselfe Lib. 18. sheweth his meaning by another like speech, of the whetting their hornes vpon trees, and Rhinocerotes vpon stones: for except he had named hornes in the first place it might haue beene questioned whether Rhinoce∣rotes had any hornes, but rather teeth in the second place.

But whatsoeuer were the wordes or opinion of Pliny, it is most certaine, that after He∣rodotus and other auncient writers, it is safer to call these teeth, then hornes; and I will breefely set downe the reasons of Philostratus, that will haue them to be teeth, and after∣ward of Grapaldus, Aelianus, and Pausanias, that would make them horns, and so leaue the [ 30] reader to consider whether opinion he thinketh most agreeable to truth. First, that they are not hornes, it is alledged that hornes fall off and grow euery yeare againe, especially of Harts, and grow forth of their heads, but teeth which are called Fannae or Gang-teeth, standing out of the mouth, fal off together, & are giuen for weapon and defence to beasts, and such are an Elephants: Againe, a horne hath a certaine line or circle neere the roote, which is couered euery yeare, but this commeth vp like a stony substance, without all cir∣cle or couer, and therfore it cannot be a horn. Moreouer, those creatures are said to haue hornes, that haue clouen hooues, this hath no clouen hoofe, but onely fiue distinct fin∣gers vpon a foot. Lastly, all horned beasts haue an empty hollownes in their hornes, (ex∣cept Harts) but this is sound and full thoroughout, except a little passage in the middle [ 40] like a hole into a tooth: and thus say they which will haue them called teeth.

Now on the contrary, those which will haue them Hornes, make these argumentes. First, as the Elks haue their hornes grow out of their eye-lids, the Rhinocerotes or Ethyo∣pian Buls out of their nose, so as it is not vnnaturall for the Elephant to haue his hornes grow out of his mouth. Againe, hornes fall off and come againe in old beasts, but teeth do not so, and therefore these are hornes and not teeth: the power of fire cannot alter teeth, but these teeth breake if you go about to change their proportion or figure, but hornes of Oxen and Elephants may be stretched, bended, altered, straightned, and applied to what fashion so euer you will. Againe, teeth grow out of the gummes and cheeke-bone, as it is apparant, but hornes growe out of the scull and Temples, and so do the Elephants as by [ 50] obseruation euery man may discern. Lastly as nature hath giuen another shape and grea∣ter proportion of body to Elephants then to any other beasts, so also it is not vnreasona∣ble that it vary in the placing of his horns, for they grow downeward, and the very mole and quantity of his body is sufficient to arme him against the feare of death. Thus they ar∣gument for the horns of Elephants.

The Poets haue a prety resemblance of dreames, comparing true dreames to hornes and false dreames to Iuory, because falshoode is euer more burnished, then naked and ragged trueth. And besides the eie of man is translucent, and containeth in it a horny substance, and by the eie we alway receiue the best assurance, but by the mouth (signified by teeth) are many falshoods vented: and for that hornes turne vpwarde to heauen, the fountaine of trueth, but the teeth of an Elephant growe downward towardes the earth the mother of error. And for this cause Aeneas by Virgil and Homer, is said to come in at the horny gate of Somnus, and to go forth at the Iuory: Virgils verses are these:

Sunt geminae Somni portae quarum altera fertur, [ 10] Altera candenti praefecta nitens Elephanto. His vbi dum natum Anchises, vnaque Sibillam; Cornea Qua veris facilis datur exitus vmbris, Sed falsa ad coelum mittunt in somnia manes, Poesequitur dictis, portaque emittit eburna.

And here we will leaue, and prosecute no further this discourse of their hornes and teeth, but proceede to the other outward parts of this beast.

The toung is very small though broad, his truncke called Proboscis and Promuscis, is a [ 20] large hollow thing hanging from his nose like skinne to the groundward: and when he fee∣deth it lyeth open, like the skin vpon the bill of a Turkey-cock, to draw in both his meate and drinke, vsing it for a hand, and therefore improperly it is called a hand. For by it he re∣ceiueth of his keeper whatsoeuer he giueth him, with it he ouerthroweth trees, and where soeuer he swimmeth, through it he draweth breath. It is crooked, gristly, and inflexible at the roote nexte to the nose: within, it hath two passages, one into the heade and bodie by which he breatheth, and the other into his mouth, whereby he receiueth his meate: and herein is the woorke of God most woonderfull, not onely in giuing vnto it such a diuerse proportion and anatomie, but also giuing him reason to knowe this benifite of it, that so long as he is in the water and holdeth vp that trunck, he can not perish.

[ 30] With this hee fighteth in warre, and is able to take vp a small piece of money from the earth: with it he hath beene seene to pull downe the toppe of a tree, which twenty foure men with a rope could not make to bend. With it he driueth away his hunters when he is chased, for he can drawe vp therein a great quantity of water, and shoote it forth againe, to the amazement and the ouerthrow of them that persecute him. The Moores say that he hath twoe heartes, one where withall he is incensed, and another whereby hee is pacifi∣ed.

But the trueth is, as Aristotle in the dissection of the hearte obserued, there is a double ventrickle, and bone in the heart of an Elephant. He hath a Liuer without any apparant gall, but that side of the liuer being cut, whereon the gall shoulde lye, a certaine humour commeth foorth like a gall. Wherefore Aelianus sayth, he hath his gall in his maw-gutte, [ 40] which is so full of sinewes, that one would thinke he had foure bellies; in this receiueth he his meate, hauing no other receptacle for it: his intralles are like vnto a Swines, but much greater.

His Liuer foure times so greate as an Oxes, and so all the residue excepte the Melte: he hath two pappes a little beside his breast vnder his shoulders, and not betweene his hin∣der legges or loynes, they are very small and cannot be seene on the side. The reasons hereof are giuen, first that he hath but two pappes, because he bringeth forth but one at a time, and they stand vnder his shoulders like an Apes, because hee hath no hoofes but distinct feet like a mannes, and also bicause from the breaste floweth more aboundance of [ 50] milke.

The genitall parte is like a Horses, but lesser then the proportion of his bodie affoor∣deth: the stones are not outwardly seene, because they cleaue to his raines. But the Fe∣male hath her genitall betwixte her thighes: the forlegges are much longer then the hin∣der legges, and the feet be greater. His legges are of equall quantity, both aboue and be∣neathe the knees, and it hath anckle bones verie lowe. The articles doe not ascende so

high as in other creatures, but kept low neere the earth. He bendeth his hinder legs like a mans when he sitteth, but by reason of his great waight hee is not able to bend on both sides together, but either leaneth to the right hand or to the left and so sleepeth: It is false that they haue no ioynts or articles in their legs, for when they please they can vse, bend, and moue them, but after they grow old, they vse not to lie downe or straine them by rea∣son of their great weight, but take their rest leaning to a tree: and if they did not bend their legs, they could neuer go any ordinary and stayed pace. Their feet are round like a hors∣ses, but so as they reach from the middle euery way two spans length, and are as broad as a bushell, hauing fiue distinct toes vpon each foot, the which toes are very little clouen, to the intent that the foot may be stronger; and yet parted, that when he treadeth vppon [ 10] soft grounde, the weyght of his body presse not downe the legge to deepe. Hee hath no nailes vpon his toes, his taile is like an Oxes taile, hauing a little haire at the end, and the residue thereof peeled and without haire: He hath not any bristly hairs to couer his back: and thus much for their seuerall parts and their vses.

There is not any creature so capable of vnderstanding as an Elephant, and therefore it is requisite to tarry somewhat the longer in expressing the seuerall properties, and natu∣rall qualities thereof, which sundry and variable inclinations, cannot choose but bring great delight to the reader. They haue a wonderfull loue to their owne Countrey, so as although they be neuer so well delighted with diuers meats and ioyes in other places, yet in memory thereof they send forth teares, and they loue also the waters, riuers, and ma∣rishes, [ 20] so as they are not vnfitly called Riparij such as liue by the riuers sides: although they cannot swim by reason of their great and heauy bodies, vntill they be taught. Also they neuer liue solitary but in great flocks, except they be sicke or watch their yong ones, and for either of these they remaine aduenturous vnto death, the eldest leadeth the herd, and the second driueth them forward, if they meet any man they giue him way, and goe out of his sight.

Their voice is called by the word Barrire, that is to bray, and thereupon the Elephants themselus are called Barri; for his voice commeth out of his mouth and nostrils togither, like as when a man speaketh breathing; wherefore Aristotle calleth it rawcity, or hoarsnes, like the low sound of a Trumpet, this sound is verie terrible in battailes as shall be after∣ward [ 30] declared.

They liue vpon the fruits of plants and rootes, and with their truncks and heads, ouer∣throw the tops of trees, and eat the boughes and bodies of them, and many times vpon the leaues of trees he deuoureth Chamaeleons, whereby he is poisoned and dieth if hee eat not immediately a wilde Oliue. They eat earth often without harme, but if they eat it sildome, it is hurtfull and procureth paine in their b••l••ies; so also they eat stones. They are so louing to their fellowes, that they will not eat their meat alone, but hauing found a prey, they go and inuite the residue to their feastes and cheere, more like to reasonable ciuill men, then vnreasonable brute beasts. There are certaine noble melons in Aethiopia, which the Elephants being sharpe-smelling-beastes do winde a great way off, and by the [ 40] conduct of their noses come to those Gardens of Melons, and there eat and deuour them: When they are tamed they will eate Barlie either whole or grounde: of whole at one time is giuen them nine Macedonian Bushels, but of meale six, and of drinke eyther wine or water thirty Macedonian pintes at a time, that is fourteen gallons, but this is obserued, that they drinke not wine except in warre, when they are to fight, but water at all times, whereof they will not tast, except it be muddy and not cleare, for they auoid cleare wa∣ter, loathing to see their owne shaddow therein; and therefore when the Indians are to passe the water with their Elephants, they choose darke and cloudy nightes wherein the moone affordeth no light. If they perceiue but a mouse run ouer their meat, they will not eat thereof, for there is in them a great hatred of this creature. Also they wil eat dryed [ 50] Figges, Grapes, Onions, Bulrushes, Palmes, and Iuy leaues: There is a Region in India; called Phalacrus, which signifieth Balde, because of an herbe growing therein, which cau∣seth euery liuing thing that eateth therof, to loose both horn and haire, and therefore no man can be more industrious or warie to auoide those places, then is an Elephant, and to beare euery greene thing growing in that place when he passeth thorough it.

It will forbeare drinke eight daies together, and drinke wine to drunkennesse like an Ape. It is delighted aboue measure with sweet sauours, oyntments, and smelling flowers, for which cause their keepes will in the Summer time lead them into the medowes of flo∣wers, where they of themselues will by the quicknes of their smelling, chuse out and ga∣ther the sweetest flowers, and put them into a basket if their keeper haue any; which being filled, like daintie and neat men, they also desire to wash, and so will go and seeke out wa∣ter to wash themselues, and of their owne accord returne backe againe to the basket of flo∣wers, which if they find not, they will bray and call for them. Afterward being led into their stable, they will not eat meat vntill they take of their flowers and dresse the brimmes of their maungers therewith, and likewise strew their roome or standing place, pleasing [ 10] themselues with their meat, because of the sauor of the Flowers stucke about their cratch, like dainty fed persons which set their dishes with greene hearbs, and put them into their cups of wine.

Their pace is very slow, for a child may ouertake them by reason of their high and larg bodies (except in their feare) and for that cause they cannot swim: as also, by reason that the toes of their feet are very short and finally diuided. When they are brought into a ship, they haue a bridge made of wood, and couered with earth, and greene boughes are set on either side, so that they immagine they go vpon the land vntill they enter into the ship; because the boughes keepe them from sight of the Sea. They are most chast, and [ 20] keepe true vnto their males without all inconstant loue or seperation, admitting no adul∣teries amongest them, and like men which tast of Venus not for any corporall lust, but for desire of heires and successors in their families, so do Elephants, without all vnchast and vnlawfull lust, take their veneriall complements, for the continuation of their kind, and neuer aboue thrice in all their daies, either male or female suffer carnall copulation (but the female onely twice.) Yet is their rage great when the female prouoketh them, and al∣though they fight not among themselues for their females, (except very sildome) yet do they so burne in this fury, that many times they ouerthrow trees and houses in India by their tuskes, and running their head like a Ram against them, wherefore then they keepe them low & down by subtraction of their meat, & also bring some stranger to beat them. There was a certaine cunning hunter sent into Mauritania by the Roman Emp▪ to hunt and [ 30] take Elephants; on a day he saw a goodly young Elephant in copulation with another, & instantly a third aproched with a direfull braying, as if he would haue eaten vp al the com∣pany, and as it afterward appeared, he was an arriuall to the female, which we saw in co∣pulation with the other male: when he approched neere, both of them set themselues to combat, which they performd like some vnresistable waues of the Sea, or as the hils which are shaken together by an earthquake, wherein each one charged the other most furiously for their loue, to the terror and admiration of all the beholders, and so at last becam both disarmed of their teeth and hornes by their often blowes, before one had ouercome the o∣ther, and so at last by the hunters were parted asunder, being euer afterward quiet from [ 40] such contentions about their females for copulation.

The Indians separate the stables of the females far asunder from the males, because at that time they ouerthrowe their houses. They are modest and shamefast in this action, for they seeke the Desarts, woodes, and secret places for procreation, and somtimes the waters, because the waters doe support the Male in that action, whereby hee ascendeth and descendeth from the backe of the female with more ease: and once it was seene, that in Virgea (a Countrey of the Corascens) two Elephants did engender out of India, other∣wise they couple not out of their owne countreys: When they goe to copulation, they turne their heads towards the east, but whether in remembrance of Paradise, or for the Mandragoras, or for any other cause, I cannot tell: the female sitteth while she is couerd. They begin to ingender, the male at sixe, ten, twelue, fifteene or twenty yeare olde, the [ 50] female not before ten yeares old: They couple but fiue daies in two yeares, and neuer af∣ter the female is filled till she haue beene cleare one whole yeare, and after the second co∣pulation, he neuer more toucheth his female. At that time the male breatheth foorth at his nose a certaine fat humor like a menstruous thing, but the female hath them not til hir place of conception be opened: and alway the day after her filling, she washeth her selfe before she returne to the flocke.

The time of their going with yong is according to some two years, and according to o∣ther three, the occasion of this diuersity is, because their time of copulation cannot cer∣tainely be knowne, because of their secrecy, for the greater bodies that beasts haue, they are the lesse fruitfull. She is deliuered in great paine, leaning vpon her hinder Legges. They neuer bring forth but one at a time, and that is not much greater then a great cow∣calfe (of three monthes old,) which she nourisheth sixe or eight yeare. As soone as it is Calued, it seeth and goeth, and sucketh with the mouth, not with the trunke, and so grow∣eth to a great stature.

The females when they haue calued are most fierce, for feare of their young ones, but if a man come and touch them, they are not angry, for it seemeth they vnderstand that [ 10] he toucheth them not for any desire to take or harme them, but rather to stroke and ad∣mire them. Sometimes they goe into the Water to the belly and there calue for feare of the Dragon: the male neuer forsaketh her, but keepeth with her for the like feare of the Dragon, and feede and defend their young ones with singular loue and constancye vnto death: as appeareth by the example of one, that heard the braying of her calfe fallen into a ditch and not able to arise, the female ranne vnto it, and for hast fell downe vppon it, so crushing it to death, and breaking her owne Necke with one and the same violente loue.

As they liue in heards, so when they are to passe ouer a ryuer or Water, they send ouer the least or youngest first, because their great bodies together should not cause the deepe [ 20] water to swell or rise aboue their heigth: the other stand on the bancke and obserue howe deepe he wadeth, and so make account that the greater may with more assurance follow after the younger and smaller, then they the elder and taller; and the females carry ouer their Calues vpon their snowts & long eminent teeth binding them fast with their trunks, (like as with ropes or male girts that they may not fall) being sometime holpen by the male; wherein appeareth an admirable point of naturall wisedome, both in the carriage of their young and in sending of the lesser foremost, not onely for the reason aforesaid, but also because they being hunted and prosecuted, it is requisite that the greatest and strong∣est come in the reare and hindmost part, for the safeguarde of the weaker, against the fury of their persecutors, being better able to fight then the formost, whom in natural loue and [ 30] pollicy, they set farthest from the danger.

Mutius which had beene thrice Consull affirmeth, that he saw Elephants brought on shore at Puteoli in Italy: they were caused to goe out of the ship backeward, all along the bridge that was made for them, that so the sight of the Sea might terrifie them, and cause them more willingly to come on land, and that they might not be terrified with the length of the bridge from the continent. Pliny and Solinus affirme, that they will not goe on ship∣boord, vntill their keeper by some intelligible signe of oath, make promise vnto them of their returne backe againe.

They sometime as hath beene said fight one against another, and when the weaker is ouercome, he is so much abased and cast downe in minde, that euer after he feareth the [ 40] voyce of the conqueror.

They are neuer so fierce, violent, or wilde, but the sight of a Ramme tameth and dis∣mayeth them, for they feare his hornes; for which cause the Egiptians picture an Ele∣phant and a Ramme, to signifie a foolish king that runneth away for a fearefull sight in the field. And not onely a Ramme, but also the gruntling clamour or cry of Hogs: by which meanes the Romanes ouerthrew the Carthaginians, and Pirrhus which trusted ouermuch to their Elephants. When Antipater besieged the Megarians very straitly with many Ele∣phants, the Citizens tooke certaine Swine and anointed them with pitch, then set them on fire and turned them out among the Elephants, who crying horribly by reason of the fire on their bodies, so distemperd the Elephants, that all the wit of the Macedonians could [ 50] not restraine them from madnesse, fury, and flying vpon their owne company, onely be∣cause of the cry of the Swine. And to take away that feare from Elephants, they bring vp with them when they are tamed, young Pigges and Swine euer since that time. When E∣lephants are chased in hunting, if the Lions see them, they runne from them like Hinde∣calfes from the Dogges of Hunters, and yet Iphicrates sayeth, that among the Hesperian

or westerne Aethiopians, Lions set vpon the young Calues of Elephants and wound them: but at the sight of the mothers, which come with speede to them, when they heare them cry, the Lions runne away, and when the mothers finde their young ones imbrued in their owne bloud, they themselues are so inraged that they kill them, and so retire from them, after which time the Lions returne and eate their flesh. They will not indure the sauour of a Mouse, but refuse the meat which they haue run ouer: in the riuer Ganges of India, there are blew Wormes of sixty cubits long hauing two armes; these when the Elephants come to drinke in that riuer, take their trunks in their handes and pull them off. There are Dra∣gons among the Aethiopians, which are thirty yards or paces long, these haue no name a∣mong [ 10] the inhabitants but Elephant-killers. And among the Indians also there is an in∣bred and natiue hatefull hostility betwixte Dragons and Elephants: for which cause the Dragons being not ignorant that the Elephants feed vpon the fruites and leaues of green trees, doe secretly conuay them selues into them or to the toppes of rockes: couering their hinder part with leaues, and letting his head and fore part hang downe like a rope on a suddaine when the Elephant commeth to crop the top of the tree, she leapeth into his face, and diggeth out his eies, and because that reuenge of malice is to little to satisfie a Serpent, she twineth her gable-like-body about the throat of the amazed Elephant, and so strangleth him to death.

Againe they marke the footsteps of the Elephant when he goeth to feed, and so with their tailes, net in and intangle his legs and feet: when the Elephant perceiueth and fee∣leth [ 20] them, he putteth downe his trunke to remoue and vnty their knots and ginnes; then one of them thrusteth his poisoned▪ stinging-head into his Nostrils, and so stop vp his breath, the other▪ prick and gore his tender-belly-parts. Some againe meet him and flye vpon his eies and pull them foorth, so that at the last he must yeeld to their rage, and fall downe vpon them, killing them in his death by his fall, whom he could not resist or ouer∣come being aliue: and this must be vnderstood, that forsomuch as Elephants go togither by flockes and heards, the subtill Dragons let the foremost passe, and set vpon the hind∣most, that so they may not be oppressed with multitude.

Also it is reported that the blood of an Elephant is the coldest blood in the world, and that Dragons in the scorching heate of Summer, cannot get any thing to coole them, ex∣cept [ 30] this blood; for which cause they hide themselus in riuers and brooks whether the Ele¦phants come to drinke, and when he putteth downe his trunke they take hold thereof, and instantly in great numbers leape vp vnto his eare, which is naked, bare, and without de∣fence: where out they sucke the blood of the Elephant vntill he fall downe dead, and so they perish both together.

Of this blood commeth that ancient Cinnabaris, made by commixture of the blood of Elephants and Draggons both together, which alone is able and nothing but it, to make the best representation of blood in painting. Some haue corrupted it with Goats-blood, and call it Milton, and Mimum, and Monochroma: it hath a most rare and singuler vertue a∣gainst [ 40] all poysons, beside the vnmatcheable property aforesaid.

These Serpents or Dragons are bred in Taprobona, in whose heads are many pretious stones, with such naturall seales or figuratiue impressions, as if they were framed by the hande of man, for Podisippus and Tzetzes affirme, that they haue seen one of them taken out of a Dragons head, hauing vpon it the liuely and artificial stampe of a Chariot.

Elephants are enimies to wilde Bulles, and the Rhinocerots, for in the games of Pompey, when an Elephant and a Rhinoceros were brought together, the Rhinoceros ranne instantly and whet his horne vppon a stone, and so prepared himselfe to fight, striking most of all at the belly of the Elephant, because he knewe that it was the tenderest and most penetrable part of the body.

[ 50] The Rhinoceros was as long as the Elephant, but the legges thereof were much shorter, and as the Rhinocerotes sharpen their hornes vppon the stones, so doe the Elephants their teeth vpon trees: the sharpnesse of either yeeldeth not to any steele. Especiall the Rhino∣cerot teareth and pricketh the legs of the Elephant: They fight in the woods for no other cause, but for the meat they liue vpon, but if the Rhinocerot get not the aduantage of the Elephants belly, but set vpon him in some other part of his body, hee is soone put to the

worst, by the sharpenes of the yuory tooth which pierceth through his more then buffe∣hard-skinne (not to be pierced with any dart) with great facility, being set on with the strength of so able an aduersary. The Tygre also feareth not an Elephant, but is fiercer and stronger, for he leapeth vpon his head and teareth out his throat, but the Gryphins which ouercome almost all beasts, are not able to stand with the Lyons or Elephants.

The females are far more strong, chearefull, and couragious then the males, and also they are apt to beare the greater burthens; but in War ••he male is more gracefull and ac∣ceptable, because he is taller, giuing more assured ensignes of victory and fortitude: for their strength is admirable, as may be coniecturd by that which is formerly recited of their [ 10] trunke, and Vartoman affirmeth, that he saw three Elephants with their onely heades, driue a great ship out of the Sea-water where it was fastened vnto the shore. When he is most loaded he goeth surest, for he can carry a woodden Tower on his backe with thirty men therein, and their sufficient foode and warlike instruments.

The king of India was woont to go to warre with 30000. Elephants of war, and beside these he had also followed him 3000. of the chiefest and strongest in India, which at his commaund would ouethrow trees, Houses, Walles, or any such thing standing against him: and indeed vpon these were the Indians wont to fight, for the defence of their coast, and country. The farthest region of that continent is called Partalis, inhabited by the Gan∣garides and Calingae, the king whereof was wont to haue seuen hundred Elephants to watch his Army, and there was no meane prince in all India which was not Lord of many Ele∣phants. [ 20] The king of Palibotrae kept in stipend, eight thousand euery day, and beyond his territory was the king of Modubae and Molindae, which had foure hundred Elephants. These fight with men, and ouerthrowe all that come within their reach, both with trunkes and teeth.

There were certaine officers and guiders of these Elephants, which were called Elephan∣tarchae, whoe were the gouernors of sixteene Elephants, and they which did institute and teach them Martiall discipline, were called Elephanta gogi. The military Elephant did cary 4. persons on his bare backe, one fighting on the right hand, another fighting on the left hand, a third which stood fighting backward from the Elephants head, and a fourth in the middle of these holding the raines and guiding the beast to the descretion of the Soul∣diers, [ 30] euen as the pilot in a ship guideth the sterne, wherein was required an equall know∣ledge and dexterity, for they vnderstand any language quickly, for when the Indian which ruled them said, strike heere on the right hand, or els on the left, or refraine and stand stil, no reasonable man could yeald readier obedience. They did fasten by iron chaines, first of all vpon the elephant that was to beare ten, fifteene, twenty, or thirty men, on either side, two panniers of iron bound vnderneath their belly, and vpon them the like panniers of wood hollow, wherin they place their men at armes, and couered them ouer with small boards, for the trunk of the elephant was couered with a maile for defence, and vpon that a broad sword, and two cubits long: this (as also the wodden Castle or paniers aforsaid) were fastened first to the necke, and then to the rumpe of the elephant. Being thus armed, [ 40] they entred the battell, and they shewed vnto the beast to make them more fierce, wine, red liquor made of rice, and white cloth, for at the sight of any of these, his courage and rage increaseth aboue all measure; then at the sound of the Trumpet he beginneth with teeth to strike, teare, beate, spoyle, take vp into the aire, cast down again, stamp vpon men vnder feet, ouerthrow with his trunke, and make way for his riders to pierce with Speare, shield, and sword; so that his horrible voice, his wonderfull body, his terrible force, his admirable skill, his ready and inclinable obedience, and his straunge and sildome seene shape, produced in a maine battell no meane accidents and ouerturnes. For this cause we read how that Pyrrhus first of all, produced elephants against the Romans in Lucania: af∣terward [ 50] Asdruball in Affrica, Antiochus in the East, and Iugurtha in Numidia.

Against these new kindes of Castle-fighting and Souldier-bearing-beastes, on the contrary they inuented New kindes of stratagems, as is before sette downe, and also new instrumentes of Warre, for a Centuryon in Lucania with a new deuised sharp sword, cutte of the trunke of this Beast: againe other inuented, that two armed Horsses should draw a charriot, and in the same armed men with Iauelins and sharpe speares, the speedy

horses should withall force run vpon the Elephants, and the speare-men directing their course and Weapons some vpon the beast, other vpon the riders, did not onely wound the beast, but also by celerity of the horses, escape all danger.

Other againe sent against him armed Souldiers, hauing their Armour made full of sharpe prickes or piercing piked Nayles, so that when the beast did strike at them with his trunke, he receiued grieuous woundes by his owne blowes. Againe there were certaine young men Souldiers, armed with light armour, which being mounted vppon swift Horsses, could cast Darts with singular facility, and without the reach of the beast, many times wounding him with long speares, and so by example of the Horse-men, the [ 10] foote-men, grew more bold, and with piles in the earth annoyed the belly of the Beast, and vtterly vanquishing it and the rider. Againe, they deuised slings to cast stones, wher∣by they beate off the riders, and many times ouerthrewe the Castle bearer, as it were by some violent stroke of a Cannot shot; neither was there euer any more easie way to dis∣aster these monster-seeming-Soldiers, then by casting of stones, and lastly they would suf∣fer their Elephants and their riders by poore hopes and appearances of feare, to enter into the middest among them, and so begirte and inclose them, that they tooke the Ele∣phants aliue; and also more shooters of Darts carried in Chariots with the stronge course of Horsses, did so annoy them, that whereas their bodies were great and vnweldy, not nimble to stir out of place, it became more easie to kill an elephant then a Horsse because many shooters at one time could pierce so faire a marke with vnresistable weapons. And [ 20] these things are related by Vegetius.

At the last the fight with Elephants turned into a publike game or pastime, both to see them fought withall by men, and also among themselues. When certaine prisoners of the Romans were taken by Anniball, he first constrained them to skirmish among them∣selues, and so slew one another except onely one; and he was by the like commaunde∣ment forced to fight with an Elephant, but vpon condition of liberty if he escaped aliue: and thereupon ioyned Combat, and slew the Elephant, to the great griefe and amaze∣ment of all the Carthaginians; but going home, according to agreement, Anniball fea∣ring that by this fact those great beasts would grow into contempt, sent certaine Horse∣men [ 30] to kill him by the way.

Their trunke or hand is most easie to be cut off; for so it happened in the aedility or tem∣ple office of Claudius, Antonius and Posthumus being consuls, and afterward in the Circus, when the Luculli were the commons officers. And when Pompey was consull the second time, there were 17. or 20. which at one time fought within the Circus, at the dedication of the Temple of Venus the Victoria, where the Getulians fought with them with Speares and Dartes; for their happened an admirable accident, one of the Souldiers who hauing a hurt in his feete did creepe vppon his knees betwixt the Legges of the Elephants, and cast vp the Darts ouer his head into the beastes belly, which fell downe round about him, to the great pleasure of the beholders, so that many of the elephants perished rather by Art then the strength of the Souldier. No lesse was the Miracle of another slaine with one [ 40] stroke, for a pile ran into his temples through his eie, and there stacke so fast, that it could not be pulled forth againe; which thing was afterward assayed by Iulius Caesar, and in the third time of his consulship, there were twenty Elephantes, which in the Games fought with fiue hundred men, and so many with Towers on their backes, bearing threescore men in euery Tower.

To conclude, elephants are afraid of fire, and Martiall made this Epigram of a Bul slaine by an elephant, which was wont to domineer in all their triumphant games, wherewith∣all I will conclude this discourse.

Qui modo per to tam flammis stimulatus arenam [ 50] Sustulerat raptas Taurus in astra pilas Occubuit tandem cornuto ardore petitus Dum facilem tolli sic elephanta putat.

In the next place it is good to relate the story of the taking and taming of elephants, for in Libia about the Trogloditae, the hunting and taking of elephants haue giuen many names to seuerall Townes, as Elephantina, and Elephantis, Epitherae, Philothera, and the

hunting of Elephants by Ptolemais, by the port Saba, the Citty Daraba, and L••cha. In Af∣fricke they take them in great ditches, wherinto when they are fallen, the people present∣ly with boughes, mattocks, leauers, and digging downe of high raised places, take them out againe, and so turne them into a valley wrought by the labour of man, most firmely walled on both sides, where with famine they tame him: for when he would gently take a bough at the hand of a man, they adiudged him tamed, and grew familiar with him, lea∣ding him away without all scruple.

But the Indians vse another more ingenious and speedy meanes to tame them, which is this; first, they dig also a great ditch, and place such meate therein as the beast loueth, [ 10] who winding it and comming thereunto, for desire thereof falleth into the fosse or ditch: being so fallen in and not able to come forth againe, one commeth to him with Whips, beating him very griuously for a good space, to the great griefe of the beast, who through his inclosing can neither runne away nor helpe himsefe; then commeth another during this time of punishment and blameth the first man for beating the beast, who departeth presently as one afraid of his rebuke, the other pittieth the beast, and stroaketh him, and so goeth away: then commeth the Whipper againe, and scourgeth the Elephant as be∣fore and that more grieuously to his greater torment for a good space together: where∣vpon the time fulfilled, the other commeth againe and fighteth with the Whipper, and forcibly seemeth to driue him away, and relieue the poore beast; and this they doe suc∣cessiuely three or four times; so at the last, the Elephant groweth to know and loue his de∣liuerer; [ 20] who by that meanes draweth him out and leadeth him away quietly: While this thing is doing, the smiter and Whipper vseth a strange and vnwonted kind of habit, so as he may neuer be knowne by the Elephant after he is tamed, for feare of reuenge: of which you shall heare more afterward, in the farther discourse and opening the nature of this beast.

Arrianus and Strabo relate another way whereby the Indians take their Elephantes, which because they Write vpon their owne eye-sight, of the things they knewe assuredly, I haue thought good to expresse the deuise. Foure or fiue Hunters, first of all chuse out some plaine place, without Trees or Hilles but declining, by the space of some foure or fiue furlongs; this they dig like a wide Ditch as aforesaid, and with the earth they take [ 30] vp, they raise Walls about it like a trench, and in the sides of the trench they make cer∣taine dennes with holes, to conuay in light to the Watch-men, whom they place there∣in, to giue notice and obserue when the Elephants are inclosed; then make they a narow bridge couered with earth at the farther end of the trench, that the beastes may dread no fallacy: and for the more speedy effecting & compassing their desire, they also include in the trench three or foure tame female Elephants, to entise and draw into them the wild ones.

Now these beastes in the day time feede not so boldly as in the night, and therefore they cannot easily be deceiued or taken in the light; but in the night great flockes of them follow the Captaine, (as we haue already shewed,) and so comming neere this trench, [ 40] partly by the voice, and partlye by the sauour and smell of the females, they are drawen into the trench; then the Watch-men with all speede, pull downe the bridge, and other of them goe into the next Townes to call for helpe, who vppon the first notice thereof, come to the place mounted vppon the best and strongest tame Elephantes, and so com∣passe them about, giuing meate in their presence to the tame, but besiedging the inclosed, they keepe them from all meate and foode, vntill they be so weakened that they dare en∣ter in among them, but in this manner; they turne in their tame Elephantes and goe vnder their bellyes, and so when they come neere the Wilde Elephantes, they speedily conuaye themselues vnder his bellye, and lay vnauoydable fetters vppon their feete: then prouoke they the tame ones to beate and fight with the Wilde, who by reason of [ 50] the manacles vpon their feete, are easily ouerthrowen and fall to the ground; being on the ground, they put halters vpon their neckes made of raw Oxe hides, and so bind them to the tame and domesticall Elephantes; And while they lye on the grounde, they get vppon them, and to the intent that theyr Ryders may be without daunger of harme by them, they cut the skinne of their neckes round about in a circle, with a sharpe sword,

and vppon the wounde they tye and fasten a rope, that so the payne may constraine the Beast to be quiet, so that by this they beginne to feele their owne weakenesse, and leaue off their wildenesse, betaking themselues to the mercy of their new Maisters.

Being thus raised from the earth againe, and yoaked by the neckes and Legges to the tamed Elephants, they are safely led home into stables, where they are fastened to great pillers by their neckes, and if they refuse to eate their meate, with Tymbrels, Cimbals, Harpes, and other musicall instruments, they are so entised from sullen Wildenesse, that they forget their first natures, and yeald al louing obedience to men, as to their victorious conquerors and vnresistable maisters.

[ 10] These beastes by their sagacity and naturall instinct, do sometime foresee their owne perill, and discouer the traines and secret intentions of the hunters, so as they cannot bee drawen into the ditches and fosses by any allurements: but presaging their owne misfor∣tunes, turne backe againe vpon their hunters, euen through the middest of them, and so seeke to saue themselues by flight, ouerthrowing their enimies that dare approch vnto them At which time there is a fierce fight, to the great slaughter many times both of men and beastes; for the men to stay his flight, bend their speares, and charge their darts and arrowes, to strike the Elephant directly on the face, and if the beast perceiue that he hath ouerthrowne any man, instantly hee maketh to him, taketh him in his teeth, lifting him vp into the aire, and casting him downe againe, and stampeth vpon him, wounding him many times with his teeth or hornes, wherby the putteth him to cruell torments, and leaueth him [ 20] not till he be dead.

And when they inuade or set vpon a man, they spread forth their broad eares, (which are fashioned like the Winges of Ostriches) as the sailes of a ship, and drawing vp their trunk vnder their teeth, their noses stand forth like the beake of some ship, & so rush they with vnresistable violence vpon the weake bodies of men, ouerturning them in no other sort, then a mighty great hulke or man of Warre, the little Oares or Whirries in the Sea.

And as the Trumpets in Warre giue the signes of fighting, so do these send forth such terrible yelling and roaring clamors, as bringeth no meane astonishment to his persecu∣tours: beside the lamentable and mournefull voyces of men, by them wounded and fal∣len [ 30] to the earth; some hauing their knees and bones broken, other their eies trode out of their head, other their Noses pressed flat to their faces, and their whole visages so disfi∣gured and disfauoured in a moment, that their neerest friends, kindred, and acquaintance cannot knowe them. These also fill the spatious aire with direfull cryes, that are heard a great way off, into the Townes and citties adioyning, hauing no other meanes to escape out of the way, and from the teeth of the beast, except he strike his tooth into some root, and there it sticke fast vntill the poore ouerthrowen man can creepe aside and saue him∣selfe by flight.

In this conflict, sometime the Elephants, and somtimes men are the conquerors, by bringing vpon the beasts diuers terrours and manacles, out of which they are not very ea∣sily [ 40] deliuered: for menne also haue their trumpets, and so make the Woodes and fieldes ring with them, the ratling of their Armour and shieldes, and their owne howling and Whooping, kindling fires on the earth, casting both fire-braunds and burning Torches into the face of the Elephant, by all which the huge beast is not a little disgraced and ter∣rified. So that being bereft of their wits, they turne back and run into the ditch which they so carefully auoyded before.

But if their rage proceede vndeterred, and men be forced to yeald vnto them, forth they go into the woods, making the trees to bend vnto them as a dog or an Oxe doth the stand∣ing corne at haruest: breaking off their tops and branches, which hinder their course and [ 50] flight, as another beast would crop off the eares of corne; but where they are taller then the Woods, there they straine euery ioynt and member in them to get ground and ouer∣goe their Hunters; which they may performe and attaine more easily, because of their customary aboad in those places: and when they are escaped out of the sight of their fol∣lowers, and make account that they are freed from farther persecution, then cast they of all feare, and compound their distracted senses into a remembrance of meat, and so ga∣ther

their food from Palmes, Trees or bushes; afterward betaking themselues to rest and quietnesse.

But if their Hunters come againe into their sight, they also againe take them to their heels, vntill they haue gotten more ground from them, and then they rest againe: and if the sunne declyne, and light of day faile the Hunters, and darkenesse make an end of the chase; then doe they compasse in the beasts way, and set the wood a fire, (for Elephants feare fire as much as Lyons:) So that by all this it appeareth, that the fabulous tales of Gabinius the Roman writer of Elephants, are not to be belieued; when he affirmeth, that Elephants will fight against and resist the violence of fire. [ 10]

The Trogloditae hunt and take Elephants after another manner, for they climbe vp in∣to the trees, and there sit till the flockes of Elephantes passe by, and vppon the last, the Watch-man suddenly leapeth (with great courage) taking hold vpon his taile and so sly∣ding down to his Legges, and with a sharpe Axe which he hath hanging at his backe cut∣teth the Nerues and sinnewes of his Legges with so great celerity, that the beast cannot turne about to relieue it selfe, before shee be wounded and made vnable to reuenge her harme, or preuent her taking: and sometimes she falleth downe on the wounded side, and Crusheth the Hunter-watch-man to death, or else with her force in running, dasheth out his braines against a tree.

The Elephant eaters (called Elephantophagi) doe obserue the like pollicy, for by stealth and secretly they set vppon the hindmost, or else the wandring solitary Elephant, and [ 20] cutte his sinnewes, which causeth the beast to fall downe, whom presently they beheade, and afterward they eate the hinder parts of this Beast so cast downe and taken.

Other among the aforesaid Troglodytae, vse a more easie, cunning and lesse perillous kind of taking Elephants; for they set on the ground very strong charged bent-bowes, which are kept by manye of their strongest young men, and so when the flockes of Ele∣phants passe by, they shoote their sharp arrowes dipped in the gall of Serpents, and wound some one of them, and follow him by the blood, vntill he be vnable to make resistance. There are three at euery bowe, two which hold it, and one that draweth the string. Other againe, watch the trees whereunto the beast leaneth when he sleepeth, neere some Wa∣ters, and the same they cutte halfe asunder, whereunto when hee declyneth his bodye, [ 30] the Tree is ouerturned and the Beast also, and beeing vnable to rise againe because of the short Nerues and no flexions in his Legs, there he lyeth, till the Watch-man come and cut off his head.

Aristotle describeth another manner of taking Elephants in this sorte; The Hunter (saith he) getteth vp vpon a tamed Elephant, and followeth the Wilde one till hee haue o∣uertaken it, then commaundeth he the tame beast to strike the other, and so continueth chasing and beating him, til he haue wearied him and broken his vntameable nature. Then doth the rider leape vppon the wearied and tyred Elephant, and with a sharpe pointed Sickle doth gouerne him after the tame one, and so in short space he groweth gentle. And some of them when the ryder alighteth from their backes, grow Wilde and fierce againe; [ 40] for which cause, they binde their forelegges with strong bands, and by this meanes they take both great and small, old and young ones; but as the old ones are more wilde and ob∣stinate, and so difficult to be taken, so the younger keepe so much with the elder, that a like impossibility or difficulty interposeth it selfe from apprehending them.

In the Caspian lake, there are certaine fishes (called Oxyrinchi) out of whom is made such a firme glew, that it will not be dissolued in ten daies after it hath taken hold, for which cause they vse it in the taking of Elephants.

There are in the Island Zeira many Elephants, whom they take on this manner: In the Mountaines they make certaine cloysters in the earth, hauing two great Trees standing at the mouth of the cloysters, and in those trees they hang vp a great par-cullis gate, with∣in [ 50] that Cloyster they place a tame female Elephant at the time of their vsuall copulati∣on: the wild Elephants doe speedily winde her, and make to her, and so at the last hauing found the way betwixt the two trees, enter into her; sometime twenty and sometime thir∣ty at a time: then are there two men in the said trees, which cut the rope whereby the gate hangeth, so it falleth downe and includeth the Elephants, where they suffer them alone

for sixe or seuen daies without meate, whereby they are so infeebled and famished, that they are not able to stand vpon their legs.

Then two or three stronge men enter in amonge them, and with great staues and Clubbes, be labour and cudgell them, till by that meanes they grow tame, and gentle; and although an Elephant be a monster-great-beast and very subtill, yet by these and such like meanes do the inhabitants of India and Aethiopia take many of them, with a very small la∣bour, to their great aduantage.

Against these slights of men, may be opposed the subtill and cautelous euasions of the beast, auoyding all the foot-steps of men, if they smell them vpon any herbe or leafe, and for their fight with the Hunters, they obserue this order. First of all, they set them [ 10] foremost which haue the best teeth, that so they may not be afraid of Combat, and when they are weary, by breaking downe of trees they escape and fly away. But for their Hun∣ting, they know that they are not hunted in India for no other cause, then for their teeth, and therefore to discourage the hunters, they set them which haue the worst teeth be∣fore, and reserue the strongest for the second encounter: for their wisedome or naturall discretion is heerein to be admired, that they will so dispose themselues in all their bat∣tailes when they are in chase, that euer they fight by course, and inclose the youngest from perill, so that lying vnder the belly of their Dammes they can scarce be seene: and when one of them flyeth they all flye away, to their vsuall resting places, stryuing which [ 20] of them shall goe foremost: And if it at any time they come to a wide and deepe Ditch, which they cannot passe ouer without a bridge, then one of them descendeth, and goeth downe into the Ditch, and standeth transuerse or Crosse the same, by his great bodye filling vppe the empty partes, and the residue passe ouer vpon his backe as vpon a bridge.

Afterward when they are all ouer, they tarry and helpe their fellowe out of the Ditch or Trench againe, by this slight or deuise; one of them putteth downe to him his Legge, and the other in the Ditch windeth his trunke about the same, the residue stan∣ders by cast in bundels of Sprigs with their mouthes, which the Elephant warily and speedily putteth vnder his feete, and so raiseth himselfe out of the Trench againe, and de∣parteth [ 30] with his fellowes.

But if they fall in and cannot finde any helpe or meanes to come forth, they laye aside their naturall Wilde disposition, and are contented to take meate and drinke at the handes of men, whose presence before they abhorred; and being deliuered they thinke no more vpon their former condition, but in forgetfulnesse thereof, remaine obedient to their deliuerers.

Being thus taken as it hath beene said, it is also expedient to expresse by what Art and meanes they are Cicurated and tamed. First of all therefore when they are taken, they are fastened to some Tree or Piller in the earth, so as they can neyther kicke backeward nor Leape forwarde, and there hunger, thirst, and famine, like twoo most stronge and forcible Ryders abate their naturall wildenesse, strength, feare, and hatred of men: Af∣terward [ 40] when their keepers perceiue by their deiection of minde, that they beginne to be mollified and altered, then they giue vnto them meate out of their hands, vpon whom the beast doth cast a farre more fauorable and cheerefull eie, considering their owne bondage, and so at the last necessity frameth them vnto a contented and tractable course and inclination.

But the Indians by great labour and industry take their young Calues at their Wate∣ring places, and so leade them away, intising them by many allurementes of meate to loue and obey them, so as they grow to vnderstand the Indian language, but the elder In∣dian Elephants doe very hardly and sildome grow tame, because of their remembrance of their former liberty, by any bands and oppression; neuerthelesse by instrumentall mu∣sicke, [ 50] ioyned with some of their coutrey songs and ditties, they abate their fiercenesse and bring downe their high vntractable stomacks, so as without all bands they remaine quiet, peaceable and obedient, taking their meate which is layed before them.

Pliny and Solinus prescribe the iuyce of Barly to be giuen to them for their mitificati∣on, whereunto also agreeth Dioscorides (calling that kind of drinke Zythus) and the reason

heereof is, bycause of the tarte sharpnesse in barly water if it stand a little while; and ther∣fore also they prescribe vineger and ashes to rub the beasts mouth, for it hath power in it to pierce stones, al sharp things penitrate deepe into his flesh, and alter his nature: the in∣uention whereof is attributed to Democritus.

Being thus tamed they grow into ciuill and familiar vses, for Caesar ascended into the Capitall betwixt foure hundred Elephants, carring at either side burning Torches, and Heliogobalus brought foure Waggons drawne with Elephantes in Vaticanum, and men commonly ride vpon them, for Apollonius sawe neere the Ryuer Indus, a Boy of thirteen yeare old ryding alone vpon an Elephant, spurring and pricking him as freely as any man [ 10] will do a leane Horsse.

They are taught to bend one of their hinder legges to take vp their Ryder, who also must receiue helpe from some other present standers by, or else it is impossible to mount on the backe of so high a palfrey. They which are not accustomed to ride vppon these beastes, are affected with vomiting and casting, like men when they first of all take the Sea. They are ruled without bridle or raines, onely by a long crooked piece of Wood, bending like a Sickle, and nayled with sharpe Nayles, no man can sitte more safely and more softly vppon a Horsse or Mule then they doe which Ryde vppon the Elephants. The Indians with their lesser Elephantes (which they call bastard Elephantes) plow their ground and corne.

The common price of Elephantes is at the least fiue hundred Nobles, and some∣times [ 20] two thousand. The Indian Women are most chast and continent, yet for an Ele∣phant they take a great pride to be hired for Whoores, for they imagine that the fame and receiued oppinyon of their beautye, doeth connteruayle and couer the shame∣full losse of their honesty (as Arrianus wryteth in his booke of Indians.)

Since the time that Elephants haue been tamed, their natures & dispositions haue beene the better obserued and discouered; for they willingly obey their keepers, lear∣ning all feates of Armes, to take vp stones and cast them, and to swimme; so that Strabo affirmeth, there was no possession or wealth comparable to a chariot or Waggon of Ele∣phants.

Mutianus which was thrice Consull affirmed to Pliny, that he saw an Elephant which [ 30] learned the Greeke letters, and was able with his tongue to Write these wordes. Autos e∣goo Tadegrapsa laphura te kelt'anetheca; that is, I Wrote these thinges and dedicated the Celtican spoyls: but in these actions of Writing, the hand of the teacher must be also present to teach him how to frame the Letters, and then as Aelianus sayeth they will Wryte vppon Tables, and followe the true proportion of the Characters expressed before their face, whereupon they looke as attentiuely as any Grammarian. In India they are taught many sportes, as to Daunce and Leape, which caused Martiall to Wryte thus;

Turpes esseda quod trahunt bisontes Et molles dare iussa quod chore as [ 40] Nigro bellua nil legat magistro Quis spectacula non putet deorum.

When the Prizes of Germanicus Caesar were played; there were many Elephantes which acted strange feates or partes, foure of them went vppon Ropes and ouer the Tables of meate, where on they set their feete so warily that they neuer touched any of the ghests, the boardes or standing Cuppes being fully furnished. And also they learned to daunce after Pipes by measure, sometime Dauncing softly, and sometime apace, and then againe leaping vpright, according to the number of the thing sung or played vpon the in∣strument: and they are apt to learne, remember, meditate, and conceiue such things, as a [ 50] man can hardly performe.

Their industrious care to performe the thinges they are taught, appeareth heere∣in, bycause when they are secret and alone by themselues, they will practise leaping, dan∣cing, and other strange feats, which they could not learn suddenly in the presence of their maisters (as Pliny affirmeth) for certaine truth of an Elephant which was dull and hard of

vnderstanding, his keeper found him in the night practising those thinges which hee had taught him with many stripes the day before, and cold not preuaile by reason of the beasts slow conceit.

Their was an Elephant playing vpon a Cymball, and others of his fellowes dauncing about him, for there was fastened to either of both of his forelegs one Cymball, and an∣other hanged to his trunke, the beast would obserue iust time, and strike vppon one, and then the other, to the admiration of all the beholders. There was a certaine banquet pre∣pared for Elephants vpon a low bed in a palour set with diuers dishes and po••s of Wine, whereinto were admitted twelue, sixe males, apparelled like men, and sixe females appa∣relled [ 10] like women: when they saw it, they sat downe with great modesty, taking heere and there like discreet temperat ghests, neither rauening vppon one dish or other, and when they should drinke, they tooke the cup receiuing in the liquor very manerly, and for sport & festiuity would through their trunks squirt or cast a litle of their drink vpon their atten∣dants; so that this beast is not onely of an admirable greatnes but of a more wonderful meakenesse and docibility.

They are said to diseerne betwixt kings and common persons, for they adore and bend vnto them, poynting to their Crownes, which caused Martiall to Write this Te∣trastichon;

Quid pius & supplex elephas te Caesar adorat Non facit hoc iussus, nulloque docente magistro [ 20] Hic modo qui tauro tam metuendus erat Crede mihi numen sentit & ille tuum.

The King of Indians was watched with foure and twenty Elephants, who were taught to forbeare sleepe, and to come in their turnes at certaine houres, and so were they most faithfull, carefull and inuincible. And as there be of them three kindes, the Palustrians or Marishye Elephantes are hare-brained and inconstant, the Elephantes of the Moun∣taines are subtill and euill natured, lying in waite to destroy and deuoure, but the Cam∣pestriall Elephants are meeke, Gentle, Docible, and apt to imitate men. In these is the vnderstanding of their country language, of obedience to Princes, gouernment, and of∣fices; [ 30] the loue and pleasure of glory and praise: and also that which is not alway in men; namely, equity, wisedome, and probity.

They haue also a kinde of Religion, for they worshippe, reuerence, and obserue the course of the Sunne, Moone, and Starres; for when the Moone shineth, they goe to the Waters wherein she is apparant, and when the Sunne ariseth, they salute and reue∣rence her face: and it is obserued in Aethiopia, that when the Moone is chaunged vntill her prime and appearance, these Beastes by a secret motion of nature, take boughes from of the trees they feede vpon, and first of all lift them vp to heauen, and then looke vppon the Moone, which they doe many times together; as it were in supplication to her. In like manner they reuerence the Sunne rysing, holding vp their trunke or hand to heauen, [ 40] in congratulation of her rising.

Iuba was woont to say, that this beast was acceptable to those Gods which ruled Sea and Land, bycause of their reuerence to Sunne and Moone, and therefore Ptolomeus Philopator, offered foure Elephants in a sacrifice (to recouer the quietnesse of his mind) thinking that the Gods would haue beene well pleased therewith, but finding that his fearefull dreames and visions departed not from him, but rather his disquietnesse increa∣sed, fearing that the Gods were angry with him for that action he made foure Elephants of brasse, and dedicated them to the sun, that so by this deede he might purchase pardon [ 50] for the former offence.

This religion of theirs, also appeareth before their death, for when they feele any mor∣tall woundes, or other naturall signes of their later end, either they take vp the dust, or else some greene herbe, and lift it vp to heauen in token of their innocency and implorati∣on of their owne weakenes: and in like manner do they when they eate any herbe by na∣tural instinct to cure their diseases: first they lift it vp to the heauens (as it were to pray for a deuine blessing vpon it) and then deuoure it.

I cannot omit their care, to bury and couer the dead carkases of their companions, or a∣ny other of their kind; for finding them dead they passe not by them till they haue lamen∣ted their common misery, by casting dust and earth on them, and also greene boughes, in token of sacrifice, holding it execrable to doe otherwise: and they know by a naturall instinct▪ some assured fore-tokens of their owne death. Besides when they waxe old and vnfit to gather their owne meate, or fight for themselues the younger of them feed, nou∣rish, and defend them, yea they raise them out of Ditches and trenches into which they are fallen, exempting them from all labour and perill, and interposing their owne bodies for their protection: neither do they forsake them in sicknesse, or in their woundes, but [ 10] stand to them, pulling Darts out of their bodies, and helping both like skilfull Chirurgi∣ans to cure their woundes, and also like faithfull friendes to supply their wants.

Againe how much they loue their young which is a naturall part of religion we haue shewed before. Antipater supposeth that they haue a kinde of diuination or diuine vnder∣standing of law and equity, for when King Bochus, had condemned thirty men to be torne and trod in pieces by Elephants, and tying them hand and foote to blocks or pieces of Wood, cast them among thirty Elephants, his seruants and officers could not by al their wit, skil, or prouocation, make the beasts touch one of them: so that it was apparant, they scorned and disdained to serue any mans cruell disposition, or to be the ministers of tyra∣ny and murther. They moreouer haue not onely an obseruation of chastity among them∣selues, but also are, reuengers of whoredome and adulterers in other, as may appeare by [ 20] these examples in History.

A certaine Elephant seeing his Maister absent, and another man in bedde with his Mistresse, he went vnto the bed and slew them both. The like was done at Rome where the Elephant hauing slaine both the adulterer and adulteresse, he couered them with the bed clothes vntill his keeper returned home and then by signes drew him into his lodging place, where he vncouered the adulterers, and shewed him his bloody tooth that tooke reuenge vpon them both for such a villany: whereat the maister wondering, was the more pacified because of the manifest-committed iniquity. And not onely thus deale they a∣gainst the Woman, but they also spare not to reuenge the adultery of men, yea of their owne keeper: for there was a rich man which had married a Wife not very amiable or [ 30] louely, but like himselfe for wealth, riches, and possessions, which he hauing gained, first of all set his heart to loue another, more fitting his lustfull fancye, and being desirous to marry her, strangled his rich il-fauored Wife, and buried her not farre from the Ele∣phants stable, and so married with the other, and brought her home to his house: the Elephant abhorring such detestable murther, brought the new married Wife to the place vhere the other was buried; and with his teeth digged vppe the ground and shew∣ed her the naked bodye of her predecessour, intymating therby vnto her secretly, how vnworthely she had married with a man, murtherer of his former wife.

Their loue and concord with all mankind is most notorious, especially to their kee∣pers and Women: for if through wrath they be incensed against their keepers, they kill [ 40] them, and afterwarde by way of repentance, they consume themselues with mourning: And for the manifesting of this point Arrianus telleth a notable story of an Indian, who had brought vp from a Foalea white Elephant, both louing it and being beloued of it a∣gaine, he was thereupon carried with great admiration. The king hearing of this White Elephant, sent vnto the man for it, requiring it to be giuen him for a present, whereat the man was much grieued, that another man should possesse that which he had so ten∣derly educated and loued, fitting him to his bowe and purposes, and therefore like a ryuall in his Elephants loue, resolued to deny the king, and to shift for himselfe in some other place: whereupon he fled into a desert region with his Elephant, and the king vn∣derstanding thereof, grew offended with him, sent messengers after him to take away the [ 50] Elephant, and withall to bring the man backe againe, to receiue punishment for his con∣tempt.

When they came to the place where he remained and began to take order for their apprehension, the man ascended into a steepe place and there kept the kings messengers off from him by casting of stones, and so also did the beast like as one that had receiued

some iniury by them, at last, they got neare the Indian & cast him down, but the Eleph. made vpon them, killing some of them, and defending his maister and nourisher, put the residue to flight, and then taking vp his maister with his trunke carried him safe into his lodging, which thing is worthy to be remembred as a noble vnderstanding part both of a louing friend and faithfull seruant.

The like may be said of the Elephant of Porus, carrying his wounded maister the king in the battel he fought with Alexander, for the beast drew the Darts gently out of his mai∣sters body without all paine, and did not cast him vntill he perceiued him to be dead and without blood and breath, and then did first of all bend his owne body as neare the earth [ 10] as he could, that if his maister had any life left in him, he might not receiue any harme in his alighting or falling downe. Generally as is already said they loue all men after they be tamed, for if they meet a man erring out of his way they gently bring him into the right a∣gaine, yet being wilde are they afraide of the foot-steps of men if they winde their trea∣dings before they see their persons, and when they find an herbe that yeeldeth a suspition of a mans presence, they smell thereunto one by one, and if al agree in one sauour, the last beast lifteth vppe his voice and crieth out for a token and watchword to make them all flie away.

Cicero affirmeth that they come so neare to a mans disposition, that their small company or Nation seemeth to ouergoe or equall most men in sence and vnderstan∣ding. [ 20]

At the sight of a beautifull woman they leaue off all rage and grow meeke and gentle, and therefore Aelianus saith, that there was an Elephant in Egypt which was in loue with a woman that sold Corrals, the selfe same woman was wooed by Aristophanes, and there∣fore it was not likely that she was chosen by the Elephant without singular admiration of hir beauty, wherein Aristophanes might say as neuer man could, that he had an Elephant for his riuall, and this also did the Elephant manifest vnto the man, for on a day in the mar∣ket he brought her certaine Apples and put them into her bosome, holding his Trunke a great while therein, handling and playing with her brests. Another likewise loued a Syrian woman, with whose aspect he was suddainely taken, and in admiration of her face stroked the same with his trunke, with testification of farther loue: the woman likewise failed not [ 30] to frame for the Elephant amorous deuises with Beads and corals, siluer and such things as are gratefull to these brute beastes, so shee enioyed his labor and diligence to her great profit, and he hir loue and kindnes without al offence to his contentment, which caused Horat. to write this verse:

Quid tibi vis mulier nigris dignissima barris.

At last, the woman died, whom the Elephant missing, like a louer distracted betwixt loue and sorrow fell beside himselfe and so perished. Neither ought any man to maruel at such a passion in this beast, who hath such a memory as is attributed vnto him, and vnderstan∣ding [ 40] of his charge and busines as may appeare by manifold examples, for Antipater affir∣meth that he saw an Elephant that knewe againe and tooke acquaintance of his maister which had nourished him in his youth, after many yeares absence.

When they are hurt by any man, they seldome forget a reuenge, and so also they re∣mēber on the contrary to recompence al benefits as it hath bin manifested already. They obserue things done both in waight and measure, especially in their owne meate. Agnon writeth that an Elephant was kept in a great mans house in Syria, hauing a man appointed to bee his ouerseer, who did daily defraude the Beast of his allowance: but on a day as his maister looked on, he brought the whole measure and gaue it to him: the Beast seeing the same, and remembring howe he had serued him in times past, in the presence of his [ 50] maister exactly deuided the corne into two parts, and so laied one of them aside: by this fact shewing the fraud of the seruant to his maister. The like storie is related by Plutarch and Aelianus, of another Elephant, discouering to his master the falshood and priuy theft of an vniust seruant.

About Lycha in Affricke there are certaine springs of water, which if at any time they dry vp, by the teeth of Elephants they are opened and recouered againe. They are most gentle and meeke, neuer fighting or striking man or Beast, except they be prouoked, and then being angred they wil take vp a man in their trunke and cast him into the ayre like an Arrow, so as many times he is dead before him come to ground. Plutarch affirmeth, that in Rome a boy pricking the trunke of an Elephant with a goad, the beast caught him, and lift him vp into the aire to shoote him away and kill him: but the people and standers by seeing it, made so great a noise and crye thereat, that the beast set him downe again faire and softly without any harme to him at all; as if he thought it sufficient to haue put him in feare of such a death. [ 10]

In the night time they seeme to lament with sighes and teares their captiuity and bon∣dage, but if any come to that speede, like vnto modest persons they refraine suddenly, and are ashamed to be found either murmuring or sorrowing. They liue a long age, euen to 200. or 300. yeares, if sicknes or woundes preuent not their life: and some but to a 120. yeares; they are in their best strength of body at threescore, for then beginneth their youth.

Iuba king of Lybia writeth, that he hath seene tame Elephantes which haue descended from the father to the sonne, (by way of inheritance) many generations: & that Ptolomae∣us Philadelphus had an Elephant, which continued aliue many Ages, and another of Se∣leuchus Nicanor, which remained aliue to the last ouerthrow of all the Antiochi. [ 20]

The inhabitants of Taxila in India affirme, that they had an Elephant at the least three hundred and fifty yeares old; for they said it was the same that fought so faithfully with Alexander for king Porus, for which cause Alexander cald him Aiax, & did afterward dedi∣cate him to the Sunne, and put certaine golden chaines about his teeth, with this inscrip∣tion vpon them: Alexander filius Iouis Aiacem soli: Alexander the sonne of Iupiter, con∣secrateth this Aiax to the Sunne. The like story is related by Iuba, concerning the age of an Elephant, which had the impression of a Tower on his teeth and was taken in Atlas 400. yeares after the same was engrauen.

There are certaine people in the world which eate Elephants, and are therefore called of the Nomades (Elephantophagi) Elephant-eaters, as is alreadye declared: there are of [ 30] these which dwell in Daraba, neere the wood Eumenes, beyond the citty Saba, where there is a place (called the hunting of Elephants. The Troglodytae liue also heereupon, the peo∣ple of Affricke cald Asachae, which liue in Mountains, do likwise eat the flesh of Elephants, and the Adiabarae or Megabari. The Nomades haue Citties running vpon Charriots, and the people next vnto their Territory, cut Elephantes in peeces, and both sell and eat them.

Some vse the hard flesh of the backe, and other commend aboue all the delicates of the world the reines of the Elephants, so that it is a wonder that Aelianus would write, that there was nothing in an Elephant good for meat except the trunke, the lips and the mar∣row of his hornes, or teeth. The skin of this Beast is exceeding hard, not to be pierced by [ 40] any dart; whereupon came the prouerbe Culicem haud curat Elephas Indicus, the Indian Elephant careth not for the biting of a Gnat, to signifie, a sufficient ability to resist all e∣uill, and that Noble minds must not reuenge small iniuries.

It cannot be but in such huge and vast bodies there should also be nourished some di∣seases, and that many (as Strabo saith) wherefore first of all ther is no creatur in the world lesse able to endure cold or winter, for their impatiency of cold bringeth inflamation. Al∣so in Summer, when the same is hotest, they coole one another by casting durty and fil∣thy water vpon each other, or else run into the roughest woods of greatest shadow. It hath bin shewed already that they deuour Chamaeleons, and thereof perish, except they eat a wild Oliue. [ 50]

When they suffer inflamation and are bound in the bellie, either black wine or nothing will cure them. When they drinke a Leach they are greeuously pained: for their wounds by darts or otherwise, they are cured by swines flesh, or Dittanie, or by Oile, or by the flower of the Oliue. They fall mad sometime, for which I knowe no other cure but to tye them vppe fast in yron chaines. When they are tired for want of sleepe they are recoue∣red

by rubbing their shoulders with salt, Oile and water. Cowes milke warmed and infu∣sed into their eies, cureth all euils in them, and they presently like reasonable men ac∣knowledge the benefit of the medicine.

The medicinall vertues in this beast are by Authours obserued to be these: The blood of an Elephant and the ashes of a Weasill, cure the great Leprosie: and the same blood is profitable against all Rhewmaticke fluxes and the Sciatica. The flesh dryed and cold, or heauy fat and cold is abhominable: for if it be sod and st••eped in vineger with fennel-seede, and giuen to a Woman with child, it maketh her presently suffer abortement. But if a man tast thereof salted and steeped with the seede aforesaide, it cureth an old cough. The [ 10] fatte is a good Antidote either by oyntment or perfume: it cureth also the payne in the head.

The Iuory or tooth is cold and dry in the first degree, and the whole substance thereof Corroborateth the hart and helpeth conception; it is often adulterated by fishes and Dogges bones burnt, and by White marble. There is a Spodium made of Iuory in this manner. Take a pound of Iuory cut into pieces, and put into a raw new earthen pot, coue∣ring & glewing the couer with lome round about, and so let it burne til the pot be thrugh∣ly hardened: afterward take off the pot and beate your Iuory into small powder, and be∣ing so beaten, sift it, then put it into a glasse and poure vpon it two pound of distilled rose Water, and let it dry. Thirdly beate it vnto powder againe, and sift it the second time, [ 20] and put into it againe so much rose water as at the first, then let it dry, and put thereunto as much Camphire as will lye vpon three or foure single Groats, and worke it altogether vpon a marble stone into little Cakes, and so lay them vp where the ayre may not corrupt and alter them. The vertue heereof is very pretious against spittyng of bloode, and the bloody-flixe, and also it is giuen for refrigeration without daunger of byndinge or astriction.

After a man is deliuered from the lethargye, pestilence, or sudden forgetfulnesse, let him be purged and take the powder of Iuory and Hiera Ruffi, drunke out of sweete wa∣ter: This powder with Hony atticke, taketh away the spottes in the face: the same with wilde mints drunk with water, resisteth and auoydeth the Leprosie at the beginning. The [ 30] powder of Iuory burnt and drunke with Goates blood, doeth wonderfully cure all the paynes, and expell the little stones in the raynes and bladder: Combes made of Iuory are most wholsome, the touching of the trunke cureth the headache: The liuer is profita∣ble against the falling euil, the same vertue hath the gall (if he haue any) against the falling euill.

The fime by annointing, cureth a lowsie skin, and taketh away that power which breed∣eth these vermine: the same perfumed easeth Agues, helpeth a woman in trauaile, and driueth gnats or marsh-flyes out of a house.

Notes

• The great v•••• of the cō¦sideration of an Elephant.
• The first mā in Europ pos¦sessour of ele¦phants. Pausanius Plutarch.
• Eutropius
• Iulius Capit:
• Of the seue∣ral names in diuers langua¦ges.
• The original of the Caesars
• Countries of the breed of Elephant••.
• Diodorus
• Aelianu
• Philostratus Solinus
• Vertomannus
• Leo Afer Paul venetus
• The heigh & stature of ele¦phants.
• Vartomannus The colour and seuerall parts.
• Of the vse of his skinne. Pliny.
• Gillius
• Pliny.
• Ʋartomanus
• of their teeth Aelianus
• Gillius. Pliny.
• Philostratus
• The finding of hidden teeth.
• Aelianus
• a wonderfull natural secret
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Cenalis.
• Plin••us. Wh••ther Ele¦phants haue hornes.
• Aelianus.
• Aristotle.
• Gillius
• Vartomannus
• Aristotle.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gill••••s
• their inward natural parts
• Aelianus Tzetzes. The Places of their abod
• Pliny.
• Leo Afer:
• Festus Philomelae avthor.
• The meat of wilde Eleph. Pliny. Solinus
• Aelianus. Hermolaus.
• Aelianus Simocratus A secret. Pliny.
• A secret in a countrey of India.
• Aelianus
• Their loue to sweet flowers. Aelianus.
• Gillius. The shiping of Elephants
• Aelianus.
• Aelianus.
• The place & manner of their copula∣tion Plinyus.
• Albertus.
• Solinus. The time of copulation Arrianus
• Aristotle. The time of their go••og with young
• Diodonus Pogius. Aelianus.
• The loue of the male to the female & of both to the Calfe.
• Tzetzes.
• Plutarch Aelianus Philostratus.
• Tha bring∣ing of Ele∣phants out of ships. A secret, if true.
• Aristotle. Of their figh¦ting
• Gillius Aelianus Coelius Zoroastres. Their fear of Rams, swine, and other beasts Ʋolateranus
• The cruelty of the female to their woū¦ded Calues. Solin••s. Stat. Seb••si.
• Aelianus
• Of Cinnaba¦ris or the best red colour
• The fight of Elephants. Pliny.
• Aelianus Oppianus Strabo.
• Eustathius
• Ʋartomanus The conditi¦ons & corage of male and female. Gillius
• Albertus The strength and burthen of an Eleph.
• Pliny. The keepers and maintai∣ners of Elep. Solinus
• Pollux. The instruc∣tion of Ele∣phants for war Aelianus
• The fight a∣gainst eleph.
• Games of Elephants.
• Fenestella.
• The taking of Elephants Pliny. Strabo.
• Pliny.
• Albertus.
• Aelianus
• Pliny.
• Strabo. Other waies of taking Elephants.
• Gillius
• The subtilty of Elephants against their hunters.
• Aelianus. Tzetzes. Plutarch
• The art of ta¦ming elepha▪ Aelianus
• Plutarch
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• The taking vp of their ri¦ders.
• vac••omanus. Gi••lius
• N••••chus Strabo. Elephants for the plowe.
• The price of Elephants.
• Their obedi∣ence and tr••c t••••le gentle∣nesse.
• Pliny. Their lear∣ning in leters
• Plutarch.
• Aelianus
• Aristotle. The reue∣rence of Ele∣phants to Kings.
• 3. kindes of Elephants.
• The religion of elephants.
• Pliny. Solinus.
• Aelianus.
• Elephants sa∣crificed and what follo∣wed therupō.
• Aelianus. Plutarch
• Tzetzes.
• Plin••us. Aelianus
• Tzetzes.
• Plinyus. Their vnder∣standing of iustice and in equity
• Aelianus. The reuenge of adulteryes by Elephants
• Their loue ••o their kee∣pers and all men that harme them not.
• Their loue to their keepers and al men that harme them not.
• Their loue of beautiful wo¦men.
• Plutarch
• Their reuēge of harmes & obseruation of the mesure of their meat
• Strabo
• Gillius.
• Gillius. Philostratus. Their mour∣ning in secret Aristotle. The length of their life. Arrianus
• Aelianus.
• of the eating Elephants Strabo.
• Pliny. Solmus
• va••tomanus.
• The diseases 〈◊〉〈◊〉 elephants 〈…〉〈…〉
• The medi∣cines in Ele∣phants. Marcellus
• Isidorvs. Rasis
• Albertus