OF THE HYAENA, AND THE diuers kinds thereof.
WE are nowe to discourse of a Beast whereof it is doubtful whether the names or the kindes thereof bee more in number, and therefore to begin with the names, it seemeth to me in general, that it is,* the same Beast which is spoken of in holy scripture, and called Zeeb-ereb, and Araboth. Zepham. 3. Principes vrbis Hierosolymae velut Leones rugientes, [ 40] iudices eius similes sunt lupis Vespertinis qui ossa non relinqunt ad dilu∣culum: Their Princes are roaring Lyons, and their iudges are like to night-wolues which leaue not the bones til the morning, as it is vul∣garly translated. In like sort Ier. Cap, 5, calleth them Zeeb-Araboath, Wolues of the wilder∣nes, and the Prophet Habbakuk. Cap. 1. vseth the word Zeeb-ereb, Wolues of the euening. By which it is made easie to consider and discusse what kinde of Beast this Hyaena may be deemed: for the Hyaena as I shal shew you afterward, is a Greek word. And first of al I vt¦terly seclude al their opinions, which translate this word Arabian wolues, for the Haebrew notes cannot admit such a version or exposition: But seeing we read in Oppianus and Tzet∣zes, that there are kinds of Wolues which are called Harpages, more hungry then the resi∣due, [ 50] liuing in Mountains, very swift of foot & in the Winter time, comming to the gates of Citties, and deuouring both flesh and bones of euery liuing creature they can lay hold on, especially Dogs and men, and in the morning go away againe from their prey, I take them to be the same beasts which the Graecians cal Hyaenae, which is also the name of a fishe much like in nature hereunto. It is also called Glanos, and the Phrygians, and Bythinians Ganos, & Page 436 from one of these came the Illirian or Sclauonian word San, and it seemeth that the Graeci∣ans haue giuen it a name from Swine, because of the gristles growing on the back, for an Hyaena can haue no better deriuation then from Hus or Hyn. Iulius Capitolinus calleth it Belbus in Latine, in the same place where he recordeth that there were decem Belbi sub Gor∣diano ten Hyaenaes in the daies of Gordianus: And the reason of this name is not improbably deriued from Belba a cittie of Egypt. Pincianus a learned man calleth it Grabthier, because it hunteth the sepulchers of the dead. Albertus in stead of Hyaena, calleth it Iona. The Ara∣bians cal it Kabo, & Zabo, or Ziba, and Azaro. I take it also to be the same beast which is cal∣led Lacta, and Ana, and Zilio, because that which is reported of these is true in the Hyae∣na,* [ 10] they frequent graues, hauing sharp teeth, & long nailes, being very fierce, liuing toge∣ther in heards and flocks, and louing their own kind most tenderly, but most pernicious and hatefull to all other, being very crafty to set vpon a fit prey defending it selfe from the rage of stronger beasts by their teeth & nailes, or else by flight or running away. Wherfore we hauing thus expressed the name we will handle the kinds which I finde to be three, the first Hyaena, the second Papio or Dabuh, the third Crocuta and Leucrocuta, whereunto by coniecture we may adde a forth, called Mantychora.
THE FIGVRE OF THE FIRST HYAENA.
THis first and vulgar kind of Hyaena is bred in Affricke and Arabia, being in quantity of body like a wolfe,* but much rougher haird, for it hath bristles [ 40] like a horsses mane all along his back, & in the middle of his back it is a litle crooked or dented, the colour yellowish, but bespeckled on the sides with blew spots, which make him looke more terrible▪ as if it had so many eies. The eies change their colour at the pleasure of the beast,* a thousand times a day, for which cause many ignorant writers haue affirmed the same of the whole body, yet can he not see one quarter so perfectly in the day as in the night; & therfore he is called Lupus vespertinus a wolfe of the night. The skilful Lapidarists of Germany affirme that this beast hath a stone in his eies (or rather in his head) called Hyaena or Hyaenius; but the ancients say that the ap∣ple or puple of the eie is turnd into such a stone, & that it is indued with this admirable qua¦lity,* that if a man lay it vnder his tong, he shal be able to foretell and prophesie of things [ 50] to come, the truth hereof I leaue to the reporters. Their back-bone stretcheth it selfe out to the head, so as the necke cannot bend except the whole body be turned about, and ther∣fore whensoeuer he hath occasion to wry his necke,* he must supply that quality by remo∣uing of his whole bodie.
This Beast hath a very great hart as all other Beasts haue which are hurtful, by reason of their feare. The genital member is like a dogs or wolues; and I maruaile vpon what occa∣sion Page 435 the writers haue beene so possessed with opinion that they change sexes,* and are somtime male and another female, that is to say male one yeare, and female another, according to these verses;
This is accounted a most subtill and crafty beast according to the allusiue saying of Mantuan.
And the female is far more subtill then the male, and therefore more seldome taken, for they are afraid of their own company. It was constantly affirmed that among eleuen Hy∣aenes, there was found but one female, it hath beene beleeued in ancient time that there is in this beast a magicall or enchanting power, for they write, that about what creature so∣euer he goeth round three times, it shall stand stone-still and not be able to mooue out of the place: and if Dogs do but come within the compasse of their shaddow and touch it, [ 30] they presently loose their voice: and that this she dooth most naturally in the ful moone;* for although the swiftnesse or other opportunity of the Dogges helpeth them to fly away from her, yet if she can but cast her shadow vpon them, she easily obtaineth her prey. She can also counterfeit a mans voice, vomit, cough, and whistle, by which meanes in the night time she commeth to houses or foldes where Dogs are lodged, and so making as though she vomited, or else whistling, draweth the Dogs out of doors to her and deuoureth them.* Likewise her nature is, if she find a man or a Dog on sleepe, she considereth whether shee or he haue the greater body, if she, then she falleth on him, and either with her weight, or some secret worke of nature by stretching her body vpon him killeth him, or maketh him sencelesse; whereby without resistance she eateth off his hands: but if she find her body to be shorter or lesser then his, then she taketh her heeles and flyeth away.
[ 40] If a man meet with this beast he must not set vpon it on the right hand, but on the lefte, for it hath bin often seene, that when in hast it did run by the Hunter on the right hand, he presently fel off from his horse sencelesse; and therefore they that secure themselues from this beast, must be carefull to receiue him on the left side, that so hee may with more fa∣cility be taken, especially (saith Pliny) if the cords wherein he is to be ensnared be fastned with seuen knots. Aelianus reporteth of them, that one of these comming to a man asleep in a sheep-coat, by laying her left hand or forefoote to his mouth made or cast him into a dead-sleep, and afterward digged about him such a hole like a graue, as shee couered all his body ouer with the earth, except his throat and head, whereupon she sat vntill she suf∣focated and stifled him: yet Philes attributeth this to her right foote. The like is attribu∣ted to a Sea-calfe, and the fish Hyaena, and therefore the old Magicians by reason of this [ 50] exanimating property, did not a little glory in these beasts, as if they had beene taught by them to exercise diabolicall and praestigious incantations, wherby they depriued men of sence, motion, and reason. They are great enemies to men, and for this cause Solinus re∣porteth of them, that by secret accustoming themselues to houses or yardes, where Car∣penters Page 436 or such mechanicks worke, they learne to call their names, and so will come be∣ing an hungred and call one of them with a distinct and articulate voyce, whereby he causeth the man many times to forsake his worke and goe to see the person calling him; but the subtill Hyaena goeth farther off, and so by calling allureth him from helpe of com∣pany,* and afterward when she seeth time deuoureth him, and for this cause hir proper Epithite is Aemula vocis, Voyce counter-fayter.
*There is also great hatred betwixt a Pardall and this beast, for if after death their skins be mingled together the haire falleth off from the Pardals skinne, but not from the Hyae∣naes; and therfore when the Egyptians describe a superiour man ouercome by an infe∣riour, they picture these two skinnes, and so greatly are they afraide of Hyaenaes, that [ 10] they runne from all beasts, creatures and places, whereon any part of their skinne is fa∣stened. And Aelianus saith, that the Ibis bird which liueth vpon serpents is killed by the gall of an Hyaena.
He that will go safely through the mountaines or places of this beasts aboade, Rasis & Albertus say,* that hee must carry in his hand a roote of Coloquintida. It is also beleeued that if a man compasse his ground about with the skinne of a Crocodile, an Hyaena, or a sea-Calfe, and hang it vp in the gates or gaps thereof, the fruites enclosed shall not be molested with haile or lightning. And for this cause Mariners were wont to couer the tops of their sailes with the skinnes of this beast or of the Sea-calfe; and Horus sayth, that a man clothed with this skinne may passe without feare or daunger through the mid∣dest [ 20] of his enemies: for which occasion the Egyptians doe picture the skin of an Hyaena to signifie fearelesse audacitie. Neither haue the Magitians any reason to ascribe this to any praestigious enchauntment, seeing that a figge tree also is neuer oppressed with haile nor lightning.
And the true cause thereof is assigned by the Philosophers to be the bitternesse of it, for the influence of the heauens hath no destructiue operation vppon bitter but vppon sweete things,* and there is nothing sweete in a figge tree but onely the fruite. Also Collu∣mella writeth, that if a man put three bushels of seede graine into the skinne of this beast and afterward sowe the same, without all controuersie it will arise with much encrease. Gentian worne in an Hyaenaes skin seuen daies in steede of an amulet is very soueraigne [ 30] against the biting of mad dogges. And likewise if a man hold the tongue of an Hyaena in his hand, there is no dogge that dareth to seize vpon him. The skinne of the forehead, or the bloud of this beast, resisteth all kind of witchcraft and incantation. Likewise Pliny writeth, that the haires layed to womens lips, maketh them amorous. And so great is the vanitie of the Magicians, that they are not ashamed to affirme that by the tooth of the vp∣per iaw of this beast on the right side bound vnto a mans arme or any part thereof, he shall neuer be molested with dart or arrow.
Likewise they say, that by the genital of this beast, and the article of the backe-bone which is called Atlantios, with the skinne cleauing vnto it preserued in a house, keepeth the fa∣mily in continuall concord, and aboue al other, if a man carry about him the smallest and [ 40] extreame gut of his intrailes, he shal not onely be deliuerd from the Tyrany of the higher powers,* but also foreknow the successe and euent of his petitions and sutes in Law.
If his left foot and nailes be bound vp together in a Linnen bagge, and so fastned vnto the right arme of a man, he shal neuer forget whatsoeuer he hath heard or knoweth. And if he cut off the right foot with the left hand and weare the same, whosoeuer seeth him shal fal in loue with him, besides the Beast. Also the marow of the right foot is profitable for a Woman that loueth not her husband, if it be put into her nostrils; And with the powder of the left claw, they which are anointed therwith, it being first of al decocted in the blood of a weasil, do fal into the hatred of al men. And if the nailes of any beast bee found in his mawe after he is slain, it signifieth the death of some of his hunters: And to conclude, such [ 50] is the folly of the Magitians, that they beleeue the transmigration of soules, not only out of one man into another, but also of man into Beasts. And therefore they affirm, that their men Symis and religious votaries departing life send their soules into Lyons,* and their re∣ligious women into Hyaenaes.
Page 439The excrements or bones comming out of the excrements when it is killed, are thought to haue vertue in them against magicall incantations. And Democritus writeth, that in Cappadocia and Mesia, by the eating of the hearbe Therionarcha, all wilde beastes fall into a deadly sleepe, and cannot be recouered but by the aspersion of the vrine of this beast. And thus much for the first kind, now followeth the second.
THE SECOND KIND OF HYAENA called Papio or Dabuh.
THis beast aboundeth neare Caesaria in quantity resembling a Foxe, but in wit and disposition a Wolfe; the fashion is,* being gathered together, for one of them to go before the flocke singing or howling, and all the rest, answering him with correspondent tune; In haire it resembleth a Fox, & their voices are so shrill and sounding, that although they be very remote and farre off, yet do men heare them as if they were hard by: And when one of them is slaine,* the re∣sidue [ 50] flocke about his carcasse, howling like as they made funerall lamentation for the dead.
When they growe to bee very hungry by the constraint of famine they enter into the Graues of men and eate their dead bodyes, yet is their fleshe in Syria, Damascus, and Berutus, eaten by men. It is called also Randelos, Abenaum, Aldabha, Dabha, Dahab, and Page 440 Dhoboha, which are deriued from the Hebrew word Deeb or Deeba: Dabuh is the Arabian name,* and the Africans call him Leseph, his feete and legs are like to a mans, neither is it hurtfull to other beastes being a base and simple creature. The colour of it is like a Beare, and therefore I Iudge it to be Arctocyon which is ingendred of a beare and a dogge, and they barke onely in the night time. They are exceedingly delighted with Musicke, such as is vsed by pipes and tymbrels,* wherefore when the hunters haue found out their caues, they spred their nets and snares at the mouth thereof, and afterwards striking vp their in∣struments, the seely beast inconsiderat of all fraude commeth out and is taken, the pic∣ture hereof is formerly expressed. And there was one of these in Germanie in the yeere of our Lord 1551. at the Citty Auspurg to be seene publikely. It was brought out of the [ 10] wildernesse of India, it did eate apples, peares, and other fruites of trees, and also bread, but especially it delighted in drinking of wine: when it was an hungry, it climed vp into trees, and did shake the boughes to make the fruite fall, and it is reported, that when it is in the tree, it feareth not an Elephant, but yet auoydeth all other beastes which it is not able to resist. It was of a chearefull nature, but then especially when it saw a woman, whereby it was gathered that it was a lustfull beast. His foure feete were deuided like a mans fingers, and the female euer bringeth foorth twins a male and a female together.
It continually holdeth vp his tayle shewing the hole behind, for at euery motion it turneth that, as other beastes doe their head. It hath a short tayle, and but for that, I should iudge it to be a kind of Ape, I know not whether it be that kinde of little Wolfe [ 20] which Bellonius saith aboundeth in Cilicia and Asia, which in the night time raueneth and commeth to the bodies of sleeping men, taking away from them their bootes, shooes, caps, or bridles: when they are shut vp in the night time they barke like dogges, but be∣ing at libertie they liue two hundred in a company, so that there is no beast so frequent as these in all Cilicia.
As for the golden Woolfe spoken of by Oppianus I deferre the description of it to his due place, for they are not all of one colour, and thus much shall suffice for the se∣cond kinde of Hyaena.
OF THE CROCVTA. [ 30]
*THe third kind of the Hyaena is called Crocuta not the Gulon aforesaid but another different from that, which is said to be an Aethiopian foure-footed beast, because it is ingen∣dred betwixt a lionesse and an Hyaena. His teeth are all of one bone, being very sharpe on both sides of his mouth, and included in fleshlike as in a case, that they may not be dulled: with their teeth they breake any thing. It is said also by Solinus that it neuer winketh, & that their nature seemeth [ 40] to be tempered betwixt a dogge and a Woolfe, yet is it more fierce then either of both, more admirable in strength, and especially of the teeth and belly, hauing power to breake and digest any bone: it imita∣teth also the voice of a man to deuour them, as is said before in the Hyaena.
In the Region Dachinabades, which is a mediterranean Country in the East, containing great and high mountaines. Amongst other wild Beasts, are abundance of these Crocut••s, and at the marriage of Antonius the sonne of Seuerus the Emperour, to Plautilla the daugh∣ter of Plautianus, amongest the spectacles set foorth for the delight of the beholders, was a combat betwixt an Elephant and this beast, which before that time was neuer to be seene at Rome (as Dion reporteth) and thus much for the thirde kinde of Hyaena, except I may ad [ 50] thereunto that Beast which the Italians call Loupchatt, that is Lupus Catus, a Wolfe-cat, re∣sembling in face a cat with sharpe and harmefull clawes, being betwixt a blacke and spotted colour, and was called an Indian wolfe, and this was to be publickely seene, in the Byshops castle at Trent.
OF THE MANTICHORA.
THis beast or rather Monster (as Ctesias writeth) is bred a∣mong the Indians, hauing a treble rowe of teeth beneath and aboue, whose greatnesse, roughnesse, and feete are like a Lyons, his face and eares like vnto a mans, his eies gray, and collour red, his taile like the taile of a Scorpion of the [ 10] earth, armed with a sting, casting forth sharp pointed qui•ls, his voice like the voice of a small trumpet or pipe, being in course as swift as a Hart; His wildnes such as can neuer be tamed, and his appetite is especially to the flesh of man. His body like the body of a Lyon, being very apt both to leape and to run,* so as no distance or space doth hinder him, and I take it to bee the same Beast which Auicen calleth Marion, and Maricomorion, with her taile she woundeth her Hunters whether they come before her or behind her, and presently when the quils are cast forth, new ones grow vp in their roome, wherewithal she ouercommeth all the hunters: and al∣though India be full of diuers rauening beastes, yet none of them are stiled with a title of Andropophagi, that is to say, Men-eaters; except onely this Mantichora. When the Indi∣ans [ 20] take a Whelp of this beast, they all to bruise the buttockes and taile thereof, that so it may neuer be fit to bring sharp quils, afterwards it is tamed without peril. This also is the same beast which is called Leucrocuta about the bignesse of a wilde Asse, being in legs and hoofes like a Hart, hauing his mouth reaching on both sides to his eares, and the head & face of a female like vnto a Badgers. It is called also Martiora, which in the Persian tongue signifieth a deuourer of men, and thus we conclude the story of the Hyaena for her descrip∣tion, and her seuerall kindes now followeth the medicines arising out of her seuerall partes.
The Medicines of the Hyaena. [ 30]
The Oyle in which a Fox is baked either aliue or dead, doth either altogether cure and make whole those which are troubled with the gout,* if so be that the disease or sicknesse be greene or new, or at the least not of to longe continuance, it doeth so cure them, that al∣though it may happen to returne againe: yet it will be much more milde and gentle then before it had beene. But the oyle which proceedeth from Foxes doth nothing more driue away the forenamed disease,* then that which likewise is got or prepared out of the Hyae∣na; for that hath an excellent and eminent quallity of dissoluing & dispersing. The flesh of the Alzabo is both what and cold,* and being baked with oile, doth very much help ey∣ther men or women which haue their feet gouty, or haue any paine in their ioynts, which [ 40] may happen or come by the occasion of colde: for it is of a slender and dissolute sub∣stance.
*The vanity of the Magi or Wise-men which is witty in nothing but in circumstance of words, doth say that the best time to take Hyaenaes is when the Moone passeth ouer the signe called Gemini, and that for the most part the haires bee all kept and preserued. The Magi do also affirme that the skinne of an Hyaena being spread vpon a sore which was bit∣ten by a mad Dogge,* doth presently and without any paine cure the same. The same also being bound to that part of the head, which doth ake, will imediately driue away the pain and griefe thereof.
The same doth very effectually and speedily helpe them which are troubled with the [ 50] gout,* or swelling in the ioyntes. The flower of Barly being mingled with the blood of an Hyaena, and fryed or baked ouer the fire and so taken, doth very much asswage the wring∣ings and wrinchings either in the guts or belly of a man or woman. If the bloud of an Hy∣aena being whot be annointed on them which are infected with the Leprosie, it will with∣out delay very effectually cure them.*
Page 443The Hyaenes flesh being eaten doeth much auaile against the bitinges of rauenous Dogs: but some are of opinion that the liuer only being earen is of more force and pow∣er to cure or heale them. The Nerues or sinnewes of an Hyaena being beaten to small powder and dried and mingled with and Frankincence, together and so drunke,* doth re∣store fertility and plenty of seede in that woman which before was barren.
There is also for the biting of a rauenous dog another excellent remedy, which is this, first to annoint the place so bitten with the fat or greace of a Sea-calfe, or else to giue it in drinke, and then to make the operation more effectuall mingle the marrow of an Hyaena,* and oile that commeth from the Masticke tree and waxe together, and being so applyed and annointed vpon the sore it will presently cure the same. The same marrow of the Hy∣aena [ 10] is very good and effectuall against the paine and griefe in the sinnewes, as also for the loosenesse and weakenesse of the raines.
The marrow which proceedeth from the Chine-bone of an Hyaena, being mixed with his gall and old Oyle altogether, and so boiled vntill they come vnto a soft temperance,* and mollifiyng medicine, being annointed vpon the sinnewes, doth expell and force away all paine of griefe thereof whatsoeuer. The same marrow being bound vnto the backe of either man or woman who are troubled with vaine fantasies or dreams in their sleep, doth very speedily and very effectually help them. The fat or greace of an Hyaena being burnt, doth driue away all venemous Serpentes from the place where it is so vsed.
The same being mingled with leauen and so being wrought into a plaister is a very good [ 20] cure or remedy for the falling of the haire, or the disease called the Foxes euill.* The left part of the braine of an Hyaena being annointed vpon the nostrils of either men or beasts is of such vertue that it will cure diseases vpon them which are in maner mortall. For the sterility or barrennesse of women, the eye of an Hyaena being mixed with Lycoras, and the hearb called Dill, and so taken in drinke, is of such force and power, that in three daies it will make them fit for conception.
The teeth of an Hyaena either touched or bound in order vnto the teeth of any man or woman who are troubled with the tooth-ach, will presently ease the paine and vexation thereof. One of the great teeth of an Hyaena being bound with a string vnto any that are troubled in the night tims with shadowes and fantasies, and which are frayed out of their [ 30] sleepe with feareful visions, doth very speedily and effectually procure them ease and rest. The tooth of an Hyaena (called Alzabo) being bound vppon the right arme of any one which is either obliuous or forgetfull, and hanging downe from the arme vnto the mid∣dle finger or wrist, doth renew and refresh their decayed memory.*
The pallat of an Hyaena being dryed and beaten to powder, and then mingled with Egyptian Allum, and so made whot and mixed altogether, being three times turned in a∣ny ones mouth which hath either fore or vlcer in it, will in smal time procure them reme∣dy and help of their vexation and trouble. The flesh which groweth vpon the hinder part of the necke being burned and then eaten or taken in drinke, doth very speedily helpe and cure the griefe and aches of the loines.
[ 40] The shoulders likewise being vsed in the aforesaid maner, doth profit much for the hea∣ling of any who are vexed with any anguish or paine in their shoulders or sides. The lungs being dryed and taken in drinke, do ease any either man or woman which is troubled with the Collick or stone. But being dryed into powder and mingled with Oyle and so annoin∣ted vpon the belly, it killeth the wormes and expelleth all aches away from the belly. The Hart being vsed in the aforesaid manner and taken in drinke, doth ease and help all aches, paines, or griefe in the body whatsoeuer. The white flesh being taken from the breast of an Hyaena, and seuen haires, and the genitall of a Hart, being bound altogether in the skin or hide of a buck or a Doe, and afterwards hanged about the neck of a woman which is in trauell, will greatly hinder her for bringing forth her child.
[ 50] If ther shal be any flesh or bones of men found in the body of a dead Hyaena, being dried and beaten to powder, and then mixed with a certaine perfume, they will bee very excel∣lent to help the gout, or driue away the conuulsion of the sinewes. The kell or caule wher∣in the bowels are contained, being vsed in the aforesaid manner and also mixed with oile will be a present remedy against the burnings and inflamations of sores, botches, and vl∣cers.
Page 444The chine bone of an Hyaena being brused and beaten into small powder, and so dried, and then mingled with the tongue and the right foot of a Sea-calfe, the gall of an Oxe be∣ing added thereunto,* and all of them boiled or baked togither, and annointed vppon the hide or skinne of an Hyaena, and so lapped about the legges or ioyntes of them which are troubled with the gout, will in short time ease the paine, and ridde them altogether of the greefe thereof.
The chine-bone being also beaten to powder and giuen in wine to drinke, is very pro∣fitable and necessary for those which are in sore trauaile or paine of childe-birth. The firste or eighth rib of the same beast, being beaten and mingled with a certaine perfume, is very good and medicinable for sores and botches which do breake thorough the flesh. [ 10]
Their flesh also being eaten, doth quickly cure and heal the bitings or tearings of a ra∣uenous Dogge, but the liuer being so vsed is more effectuall and speedy, for the curinge thereof. The liuer of the aforesaide beast is also very curable for Agues or Quarterne fea∣uers being beaten to powder and drunke in Wine, before the augmentation or second as∣saults thereof. The fame also is an excellent and speedy remedy for the wringings & aches of the belly,* as also for that grieuous and painefull disease called the collicke and stone. For the same diseases, the gall of a Sea Scorpion, and of a fish called Haelops, and of a sea crabbe and of an Hyaena, being beaten to powder, and mixed together, and so drunke in Wine, is a very good and effectual cure and help.* The gall of an Hyaena, by it self alone being rubd or anointed vpon the head of eyther man or woman whose haires are fallen off, doth pre∣sently [ 20] procure the haire to renew and grow againe, it will also bring haire vpon the eie-lids, being rubbed thereupon.
The gal of an Hyaena being mingled with hony, and annointed vpon the eies; doth shar∣pen and cleare the eye sight, and expell and driue away al blemishes and smal skins which couer the sight of the eye, as also the paine in the eies called the pinne and the webbe. But Apollonius Pitanaus doth say,* that the gal of a Dog, being vsed in the aforesaide manner is better to cure the sight of the eies then the gal of an Hyaena. But Pliny whom I thinke best to follow, and worthiest to be belieued, doth best allow of the Hyaenaes gal for the aforesaid purpose, and also for the expelling of certaine white spottes in the eie which doe hinder the sight thereof.* [ 30]
The gall of a Beare and of a Hyaena, being dried and beaten to pouder, and so mixed with the best hony which is possible to bee had, and then stirred vp and downe a long time togither, doth helpe them vnto their eye-sight which are starke blinde, if that it bee dailye annointed and spred vppon the eies for a reasonable space together: The gall of a Hyaena being baked in a cruse of Athenian hony, and mingled with the crooked hearbe Crocis, and so annointed vpon the browes or forehead of them which are purblind doth speedily helpe them;* it doth also ease them which are troubled with the water or rheume which falleth in the eies. Democritus doth also affirme that if the brow of either man or woman be annoin∣ted with the gall of an Hyaena onely, it will driue away all darkeninges, and blemishes, in the eies, and expell the Water or rhewme thereof, and also asswage the paine or greefe [ 40] which may come or happen in them whatsoeuer it be.
The marrow which proceedeth from the chine-bone of an Hyaena, being mixed with his owne gall,* and with old oile, and then baked or boiled in a cruse vntill it come vnto a tem∣perate and mollifying medicine, and then being laid or annointed vppon the sinnewes or Nerues who is in those parts troubled, wil thoroughly heale and cure any default or paine which may hapen thereunto. The gal of a male Hyaena being pounded or beaten and bound about the left thigh of any woman that is barren, doth help for conception. The gal of the same beast being drunke in wine to the value of a dram, with the decoction or liquor which commeth from Spike-Lauender called oyle of spike, is a very good remedy and helpe a∣gainst the timpany or swelling of the belly. The gall also being beaten and mixed with the [ 50] stone called Eat-flesh, is very good & profitable for them which are trobled with the gout. The milt of an Hyaena is very effectual to cure and heale any paine or greefe in the milt of either man or woman.* The lunges being dryed and beaten to powder, and mingled with oile, and annointed vpon the loynes of any one who is greeued or troubled in those places, will speedily cure the Aches or griefes thereof.
Page 445The bladder of an Hyaena being drunke in wine, is a very good and effectuall remedy a∣gainst the incontinency of man or womans vrin, or the running of the raines.* But if there be any vrine in the blader of the Hyaena found when he is taken, let it be poured forth into some cleane vessell, and mixed with oyle which proceedeth from the pulse or corne of In∣dia, and so drunke vp, and it will much ease and help them who are troubled in mind, and are full of care and griefe. The secret partes of a femal Hyaena beaten and mixed with the •nd or skin of a Pomgranate and taken in drinke is very profitable to cure the inconueni∣•nces or paine of a womans secret parts.
The genitall of a male Hyaena dryed and beaten to powder, being mingled with a cer∣taine perfume, doth cure and help those which are troubled with the crampe, and conuul∣sion [ 10] of the sinnewes.* The feete of an Hyaena being taken doth heale and cure those which are sand-blind, and such as haue botches and sores breaking through the skin and flesh, and also such as are troubled with inflamations or breedings of winde in their bodies, on∣ly by touching and rubbing them ouer.
The durt or dung which is found in the interior partes of an Hyaena, being burned, and dryed into powder and so taken in drinke is very medicinable and curable for those which are grieued with painful excoriatious and wringings of the belly, and also for those which are troubled with the bloody-flixe. And the same being mingled with Goose-grease and annointed ouer all the body of either man or woman, wil ease them of any paine or griefe [ 20] which they haue vpon their body whatsoeuer. The dung or filth of an Hyaena also being mingled with certaine other medicins, is very excellent to cure and heale the bites and stingings of crocodiles and other venemous Serpents. The dung it selfe is also very good to purge and heale rotten wounds and sores which are full of matter, and filthy corrup∣tion.
