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.

The medicines of the Lyon.

The blood of a Lyon being rubbed or spred vpon a Canker, or vpon a sore which is swelled about the vaines, wil presently and without any paine cure and ease the griefe thereof. Whosoeuer doth anoint his body all ouer with the blood of a Lyon, may safe∣ly and without any danger trauaile amongst any wilde Beastes whatsoeuer. The flesh of a Lyon being eaten either by a man or Woman which is troubled with dreames and fan∣tasies [ 10] in the night time, will very speedily and effectually worke him ease and quietnesse. The ••ame also being boyled or baked, and giuen to them which are distraught of their wits to eate doth bring them ease and comfort, and renew their wits againe: it is also very good for the paines or deafenesse of the eares. And being taken in drink, it helpeth those which are troubled with the shaking of the ioyntes or the Palsie. Whosoeuer shall haue shooes made of the hide or skinne of a Lyon or Wolfe and weare them vpon his feete, he shall neuer haue any paine or ache in them.

They will also defend him that vseth them from the gout, or swelling in the feete or Legges. The skin or hide of a Lyon is also very good for either man or Woman which are troubled with the piles or swelling of the vains, if they shall but at some seuerall times set vpon it. [ 20]

The fat of a Lyon is reported to be contrary to poyson and venemous drinks, and be∣ing taken in Wine it will by the sent expell all wilde Beastes from any one: and it doth also resist and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••way the sent or smell of Serpents, by which they follow men to de∣stroy them. Whomsoeuer doth annoint his body all ouer with the tallow or sewet of the raines or kidny of a Lyon, shall by the sent and sauor thereof expell and driue away from him all Wolues, how greedy and rauenous soeuer they be. A man being throughly an∣nointed with the greace of a Lyon being melted▪ doeth driue away from him and put to flight any liuing creature whatsoeuer, and also venemous and poysonous Serpents them∣selues. If any wilde beast bee annointed with the tallow or sewet of a Lyon which is dis∣solued and clarified, he shall nei••her be troubled with the stinging of Flies or Bees. The [ 30] fat or greace of a lyon being mingled with Oyle of Roses, doth keepe the skinne of the face free from all blastings and blemishes, being annointed thereupon, and doth also pre∣serue the whitenesse thereof, and being mingled with Snow Water, doth heale any flesh which is burnt or scortched vpon a man, and doth also cure the swelling of the ioynts. The sewet or fa•• of a lyon being mingled with other oyntments, and annointed vpon the pla∣ces of either man or woman who haue any blemishes in any part of their bodies, doth pre∣sently expel the same. The same vertue hath the dung or durt of a lion being mixed with the aforesaid vnguent.

The greace of a lyon being dissolued and presently againe conglutinated together and so being annointed vppon the body of those who are heauy and sadde, it will speedily ex∣te••pate [ 40] all sorrow and griefe from their heartes. The same also being mixed with the mar∣row of an Hart and with lettice, and so beaten and bruised, and afterwards mingled alto∣gether, is an excellent remedy against the shrinking of the Nerues and sinewes, and the aches of the bones and knuckels about the legges being annointed thereon. The greace of a lyon by it selfe onely, mixed with a certaine ointment is also very profitable to expell the gout.

The same being mingled with Oyle of Roses, doth ease and help those which are trou∣bled daiely with Agues and quartan Feauers. The same also being dissolued and poured into the eares of any one which is troubled with any paine in them, will presently free him from the same. There is also in this lyons Greace, another excellent vertue which is [ 50] this, that if the ••aw-bone of any one be swelled and annointed ouer with this greace being melte••, it will very speedily auoide the paine thereof.

The fat or sewet of a Lyon being melted and mixed with certaine other thinges, and so ministred vnto any one that is troubled with the wringing of the bowels, and bloody flix, in the same manner as a glister is vsed, is commended for an excellent remedie for the

same. The same also being mingled with a certaine oyle and warmed together, and anoin∣ted vpon the head of any one, whose haire doth s••ed, or is troubled with the Foxes euill, doth immediatly helpe and cure the same. The seede of a Hare being mixed with the fat of a Lyon, and annointed vpon the priuy members of any one, will stirre and incitate them vp to lust, how chast soeuer they shall be.

The fatte of a Lyon mingled with the fatte of a Beare, and melted together, being anoynted vpon the belly, doth allay and asswage the hardnesse thereof, as also any other paine or griefe in the same. The braines of a Lyon, as also of a Cat, being taken in drink, doth make him mad vnto whom it is giuen. The same being mingled with some small quantitie of oyle of spike, and powred or distilled into the eares of any one which is deafe [ 10] or thicke of hearing, will very effectually cure the deafenesse.

If the eye teeth of a Lyon be hung about the necke of a yoong childe before that he cast his teeth, and the beginning of his second or new teeth, they will keepe him for euer from hauing any ache or paine in them. The hart of a Lyon being beaten into small powder, and taken in drinke, doth very speedily cure and heale those which are troubled with Agues and quartaine feauers. The liuer of the Lyon being dryed, and beaten to powder, and put in the purest wine which is possible to be gotten, and so drunke, doth take away the paine and griefe from any one which is troubled with his liuer. The gall of a lion being taken in drinke by any one, doth kill or poyson him out of hand. But some doe impute this venome, to be in the gall of a leopard. The gall of a lion being [ 20] mixed with pure water, and anoynted vpon the eyes of any one, will take away the ble∣mishes thereof, and cause them to see clearely: and the fatte of the lyon being added thereunto, is an excellent remedie against the falling sicknesse. A very little parte or dram of the gall of a lyon being put in wine and so drunke, will speedily helpe and cure those which are troubled with the yellow iaundise. The same disease is also cured by yel∣low carets being stamped and put in wine, and so giuen in drinke.

For the sores or blemishes in the eyes, the gall of a lyon being mingled with hony, and so anointed vpon them, is commended for a very speciall and effectuall cure or hea∣ling. The gall of a lyon, a Beare, or an Oxe be mixed with certaine other vnguents, is ve∣ry much vsed for the extending or moouing forward of conception. The right stone of [ 30] a lyon being beaten together with roses, and so strained hard, vntill some liquid iuice or water doth proceede from them, and so taken in drinke, doth make that party barren, vn∣to whom it is giuen: it hath the like effect in it, if it be eaten, either roasted or broiled, or raw and bloodie. The fat which procedeth from the priuitie or secret parts of a she lyon being put in a vessell made of Iuory, and so being temperately mollified, is com∣mended for a very effectuall and speedy meanes to hinder conception. The dung, or dirt of a lyon being dryed into powder, and mixed with some certaine soft and easie oint∣ment, with which any one may be easily anointed ouer all his body, doth driue away the blemishes and spots in the skinne.

The hurts or sores which are bitten either by a male or female lyon, are so full of mat∣ter [ 40] and filthy corruption, that the running thereof can be stayed and repressed neither by lapping of cloathes about them, nor by washing them with spunges: they are cured by the same meanes as the sores which are bitten by rauenous dogs are, as I haue before de∣clared in the cures of the Hyaena. The wounds which are made by the teeth of a lyon are very hurtfull: for as much as the venome of their interior partes doth goe into the wounds, and when the wounds are tyed, the venome issueth from them into the thinges with which they are tyed, and the same bindings being againe bound vpon the wound, doth so infect it, that it can be cured by no other meanes but by the aforesaid medicine. The bitings of lyons and such like beastes are so dangerous, in regard of their strength and fiercenesse, for they doe not onely bite, but also wreath and teare the wounds which [ 50] they make with their teeth, or nailes: and thus much shall suffice for the cures of the Lyon.

Notes

• Albertus Sextus.
• Aescul••pius.
• Galen.
• Rasis.
• Galen
• Myrepsus
• Albertus
• Rasis
• Pliny
• Betrutius
• Albertus
• Galen
• Rasis
• Aetius
• Albertus
• Aristotle