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 Mole. [ 30]

There is nothing which is more profitable or medicinable for the curing of the bites of a shrew, then a mole being flead and clapped thereunto. The same doth also very effe∣ctually cure and heale the blowes or bitings of a Scorpion. Pilles being made with that which proceedeth from moles and with Hony, eaten nine daies together, doth preserue the body of any one from swellings or bunches in the flesh who shall so eat them. For the auoiding or driuing away the haires which growe in any part of mans bodie, that they may neuer returne or be renewed againe: take a mole and laie her in water to be steeped or soaked, so long as she shal not haue any haires left vppon her, with this water annoint the place which is full of hairs, and afterwards wash it with lye made of ashes, and then rub [ 40] it with a linnen cloath; then if you shall see the haires to returne againe, wash it twice or thrice in the aforesaid manner, and they wilbe quite expelled away, and by no meanes can be made eyther to renew or come againe. For the renewing, and bringing againe of those haires which are fallen or decayed, take a mole and burne her whole in the skin, and min∣gle the dust or pouder which commeth from the same with hony vnto the thickenesse or fashion of an ointment, and this being rubbed or annointed vpon the bare or bald place will without dout in some short time or space procure the haire to grow thick. For the re∣newing of haires which fall from horses. Take a mole and boile her in Oyle, vntill all the flesh be consumed and quite dissolued into a liquid iuice, with this oyle annoint the place which is bare or destitute of haires twice euery day for some short space, and it will make [ 50] the haires to grow in great abundance.

For the changing of the haires of horses from blacke to white, take a mole and boile her in salt Water, or lye made of ashes three dayes together, and when the Water or lye shall be quite consumed, put new water or lie thereunto: this being done, wash or bathe the place with the water or lye somewhat hot; presently the black haires will fall and slide

away, and in some short time there will come white. Whosoeuer shall take a mole and hold her in his right hand vntill she die, shall haue such an excellent vertue therein, that she shal ease the paine of a womans breasts onely by touching them.

The dust of a mole being brent, mingled with the white of an Egge, and anointed vp∣on a sneepe, is an excellent and medicinable remedy against the Leprie which commeth oftentimes vpon them. The dust of a mole mixed with oyle or hony, and annointed vpon the skin of either man or woman which is ful of Lepry, wil verie speedily and effectually cure and heale the same. The same being vsed in the aforesaide manner, is very good for the curing of those which are troubled with the disease called the Kinges euill, as also for [ 10] those which haue hard bunches or kernels arising in their Arme-holes, and in other parts of their body.

The whole body of a mole being taken and burned in the skin into drye dust, or pou∣per, is an excellent remedy against the disease called the Fistula, as also for the purging of the corruption in them and healing of them, being once taking by any man. The same being also mixed with hony, and rubd vpon the teeth of any one who hath paine in them doth not onely ease the paine and greefe thereof, but also doth strengthen and make them fast. The blood of a mole being killed, spred or annointed vpon the head of any one which is bald, wil very speedily renew and bring the haires againe. The head of a mole being cut off and beaten together with the earth which is stirred vp by moles, and wrought into a paast, and rowled togither like a little loafe, is very much vsed for the healing of al swel∣lings, [ 20] and for those things which they cal impostumes, as also for al swellings or kernels which arise in the necke, so that in the time of the curing of these things, the party which is pained and greeued, be not suffered to eat any swines flesh.

The tooth of a liuing mole taken out and tyed or bound to the teeth of any who is gri∣ued therein, is commended by the Magi or wise-men to be an excellent remedy and cure for the same. The hart of a mole being eaten nine dayes together, doth very speedily and effectually cure either him or her which shal so eat it, of that pestiferous disease cald the Kings euil, if it be so that it hath not bene of too long continuance with them. The same is also very good and profitable for the asswaging of Wens, being vsed in the aforesaide [ 30] manner. The liuer of a mole being beaten betweene the handes of him that is troubled with bunches or swellings in his back, and afterwards put vpon the same, is a present help and cure. The same effect hath the right foot of a mole for the asswaging of bunches and swellings arising in the flesh.

Notes

• Pliny
• Arnoldus
• Furnerius
• Rus••ius.
• Pliny.
• Marcellus
• Vincentius
• Sextus
• Obscurus
• Pliny. Arnoldus