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 vulgar little Mouse.

AS we haue handled the natures, and deliuered the figures of the great Beasts, so also must we not disdaine in a perfect Hy∣story to touch the smallest: For Almighty God which hath [ 40] made them al, hath disseminated in euery kind both of great and smal beasts, seeds of his wisedome, maiesty, and glory. The little mouse therefore is iustly tearmed Incola domus no∣strae, an inhabitant in our own houses, Et rosor omnium rerum, and a knawer of al things. And therefore from the sounde of her teeth which she maketh in gnawing, shee is called Serex. Although we shal shew you afterwards, that Sorex is a speci∣all kinde, and not the name of the general. Wherefore seeing there be many kindes of Mise, and euery one of them desireth a particular tractate, I thought good to begin with the vulgar little mouse, and so to discend to the seuerall species and kindes of all, accor∣ding to the method of the Phylosopher, A notioribus minus ad nota, from things that are [ 50] most knowne to them that are lesse knowne. In Haebrew it is called Achar, Leuit xi. where the Septuagintes translate it muys, the Chaldee Acbera, the Arabians Fer, or Phar, from whence commeth the Sarasan word Fara. The Persians An Mus, the Latins mus, the Italians Tapo, or Sorice, Alsorgio, O Rato, Di-Casa, although Rato signifieth a Rat, both among the

Germans, French, and English. The Spaniards call the little Mouse, Ratt; and the great Rat Ratz, the French the little Mouse Souris, which word seemes to be deriued from the Latine Sorex, and the great mouse they call Ratt. The Germaines the great ones Ratz, and the little one Muss, the Illyrians, and Pollonians, Myss, which is the Greek word, and the great one they cal Sczurcz, the Venetians cal the Rat Pantegana, of Pontis, the vulgar greekename, and the Romans Sourco.

Now the dignity of this little beast, may appeare by the name, which hath spred it selfe both to beasts, fishes, men, hearbs and Citties. To beasts as we haue shewed before in the Ichneumon, which is vulgarly called the Indian-mouse, or Pharoes-mouse. And to fishes, [ 10] for there is a little fishe called Musculus, and in Greeke Mystocetos, the Whale-mouse, because it leadeth the way, and sheweth the Whale whether so euer shee swimmeth, for the auoiding of rockes, (according to Pliny) although Rondoletius affirmeth otherwise, namely, that that guide of the Whale is called Egemon, and Egetur, and Mystocetus (hee saith) is a shell fish. Generally most kind of Oysters are also called Myss, because some∣times they gape and make a noise like a mouse, and close their shels againe. The purple Fishes be also called Myss, there is likewise a kind of pretious stone called Mya, about Bos∣phoras, Thrasius, and many such other dignities, hath the name of this beast attained.

There was one Mys, the seruaunt of that famous Phylosopher Epicurus, likewise the name of a champion or chalenger, is Suidas and Varinus, and there was another called Mus, of excellent skill, for ingrauing in Siluer, and therefore did draw vpon the shield of [ 20] Minerua, the fight betwixt the Lapithae, and the Centaurs, and many other things. Where∣upon martiall made this verse:

Quis labor in Phyala? docti myos? anne myronis.

There was a Consull of Rome, whose name was Mus, and therefore Camerarius made this riddle of the mouse; Parua mihi domus est, sedianua semper aperta, acciduo sumptu, furti•••• viuo sagina, quod mihi nomen in est, Romae quo{que} Consul habebat. The Thrasians cald Argilus a mouse, and the citty which he builded Argelus. Myes was a citty of Ionia, and a cittizen of that citty was called Myetius. Myon a citty of Locri in Epirus, and the people thereof are called Myones. Myonesus a little region betwixt Teon and Lebedon, and acording to Stepha∣nus, an Island neare Ephesus, the first port or hauen of Egypt opening to the red sea, is cal∣led [ 30] Muos armos, the mouses hauen, and Mysia also seemeth to be deriued from their stem. There is an Island vnder the Equinoctiall line, called Insula murium, the mouse-Ilande, because of the abundance of myce therein: and to conclude, euen the hearbs and plants of the earth, haue receiued names from this litle beast, as Hordeum Murinum, Myacantha, Sperrage, Myopteton, Myuoos, Myortocon Mouse-eare, Mouse-foot, and such like. There haue bin also commedies made of Myss, as that of Carsinus, called Myes, wherein the Weasill strangleth the night-wandring Myss. And another Greeke comedy called Galeomyoma∣chia, that is a fight betwixt cats and myce, wherein the poet doeth most pleasantly faine names of myce, as their king he called Creillus, that is a flesh-eater, and his eldest sonne Psicarpax, a corne-eater; and his second sonne Psitodarpes Bread-eater, and his eldeste [ 40] daughter, Lycnogluphe, candle-eater, and all his auncestors Carpodaptai, that is Fruit-ea∣ters. And then he bringeth other myce in, as Turolicos, Psicolices, Cholecoclophos. Homer in his Batracomiomachia, that is, a fight betwixt Frogs and mice, doeth very elegantly de∣scribe diuers proper names of mice. As Piscarpax, whose father was Tuoxartes, and his mother Lychomile, daughter of Plernotrocta the king, and then other mice, as Lychopinax, Terogliphus, Embaschitrus, Lychenor, Troglodites, Artophagus, Ptermogliphus, Pternophagus, Cnissodioctes, Sidophogus, Artepibulus, Meridarpax, and Thulacotrox, all which are not on∣ly out of the aboundance of the Authors wit, but inuented for the expressing of the mou∣ses nature.

The Epithets of myce are thes; short, small, fearful, peaceable, ridiculous, rustik, or coun∣try [ 50] mouse, vrbane, or citty mouse, greedy, wary, vnhappy, harmefull, blacke, obsce••••, little, whiner, biter, and earthly mouse. And the Greeke ones are expressed before in the proper names, and thus much may suffice for the names of mice. Now to come to theyr seuerall nature and significations. First of all concerning their colour. It is diuers, for al∣though Color murinus be a common tearme for a mouse colour of Asses, yet notwithstan∣ding

[illustration]

[ 10] Mice are sometimes blackish, sometimes white, sometims yellow, sometimes broune and sometimes ashe colour. There are White Mice amonge the people of Sauoy, and Dolphin in France called Alaubroges, which the inhabitants of the country do beleeu that they feede vpon snow. But the white Mouse is aboue all other most laciuious and leache∣rous, and therefore it came into a prouerbe, Myss Leucos, Myss Cacos, the white Mouse is an ill Mouse, of whose lust Alciatus made this emblem;

Delitias & mollitiem, Mus creditur albus, [ 20] Arguere, at ratio good non sat aperta mihi est. An quod ei natura salax, & multa libido est? Ornat romanas, an quia pelliunrus? Sarmaticum, Murem vocitant pleri{que} zibellum.

Of all which coniectures of the Poets, the first is most probable, for the auncientes were wont to call wanton, and effeminate men Pygargoy, and Leucopeugoy, from their beauty and whitenesse. And as there is a difference in their colours, so also there is in their quantity. For some are very great, some meanly great, and some very smal. Their hart is very great, and their liuer and lights encrease in the winter time. Also the fibres that are in them, doe increase and decrease with the waxing and wayning of the Moone. For euery day of the [ 30] Moones age, there is a fibre increased in their liuer. And therefore Lucilius said well, Lu∣na alet ostrea, & implet echinos, Muribus fibras. That is to say. The Moone feedeth Oysters, filleth Hedghogs, and encreaseth fibres in Mice. Some of these Mice haue a gal, and some haue none, as Aristotle and Pliny shew in many places.

The Mouses place of conception haue many holes in it, during the time s••e b••ar••h hir young ones. There is no creature that heareth more perfectly then a Mouse, they dwell in houses of men, especially neare supping and dyning roomes, kitchins or larders, where any meat is stirring. And they make themselues places of aboade by gnawing with their teeth, if they finde not conuenient lodginges prepared to their hand, and they loue the hollow places of wals, or the roofes of houses, and therefore the Waspes which in Aristo∣phanes [ 40] are called Drophae, that is gnawers of roofes, are to be vnderstood to bee Mice, be∣cause Myss Drophia is a Mouse in the house top. In the day time they lye still, so long as they either see or heare a man, or any other beast harmeful vnto them, for they discerne their enemies, not fearing an Oxe, though they run away from a Cat.

They are very desirous of bread, and delight in all those meats which are made of fruit, for the nourishment of men. It is a creature very diligent & exquisite, both to compasse, seeke out and chuse the same, so that therefore it doth often endanger and loose his owne life: and finding any cubbards, wood, or such like hard matter, to withstand his purpose, and hinder his passage, it ceaseth not to weary it selfe with gnawing, vntill it obtaine the purpose. All kinds of Mice loue grain and corne, and prefer the hard before the soft, they loue also cheese, and if they come to many cheeses together they tast all, but they eate of [ 50] the best. And therefore the Egyptians in their Hyrogliphicks do picture a mouse, to signifie a sound iudgement and good choice. Buckmast is very acceptable to Mice, and the Mice in the Ile Parus, in Teredos, in the Iland Giaros, which is one of the Ilands of the Sporads in Cyprus, and in Calcis, they did eat yron, as appeareth by Aristotle, Aelianus, and Heraclides.

And it was also found, that in a certain Iland neare Calybes, Mice eate and deuoure gold, and therefore the Gold-smiths did cut them in pieces among their mettles. Plutarch, in the life of Marcellus saith, that there were many prodigies and fearful signes that did pro∣ceede the war of Marius, amongst other he saith that mice did eate the Gold hanging in the temple, and that one of the temple keepers in a certaine trap tooke a female mouse a∣liue, who littered fiue little mice in that place, and deuoured three of them. Anthologius rehearseth a witty exasticon of Antiphilus, vpon a mouse which was slit asunder aliue, for certaine gold-dust, which shee had deuoured, whereby was signified how men procure [ 10] vnto themselues exquisite torments, and vnauoidable mortall harmes by stealing, and encreasing of riches signified by Gold. Vulgar Mice do ruminate or chew the cud as well as the Pontix, and they drinke by licking or lapping, although their teeth be not sawed. It is reported that the mice of Affricke, and especially of Libia die assoone as they drinke. And the reason whereof we will shew afterwards in the taking of mice, when we come to discourse of their poysons. And for the present it should seeme their temperament, or constitution is so moyst that nature can endure no addition. Yet in the plaines of Arcadia there are Myce which drinke of a certaine fountains without any harme.

The generation or procreation of Myce, is not onely by copulation, but also nature worketh wonderfully in engendering them by earth and small showers, as we will shew in the discourse of wilde Mice. [ 20]

But the house-Mouse whereof we now entreat, is engendered by copulation betwixt male and female, and they are in generall most libidenous, as may appeare by that saying of Crattinus against Xenophon, Phere nun ex aithrias Katapuposunen muos astrapso Xenophon∣tos, go to now, for from the skies I wil strike by lightning the Murin wantonnesse of Xeno∣phon, and the female is much more venerious then the male, as appeareth by that fable of Ipicrates describing the rage of a lustfull Woman. Postremo subijt me, detestabilis lena deierans, per dianam, per puellam, per persephattam, se esse vittulam, esse virginem, esse pullam indomitam, at illa myonia erat. Then followed me that detestable band, swearing by Dia∣na and Persephatta that she was a Heighfar neuer touched, a Virgin neuer stained, and a Colt neuer couered, but the truth is she was as good a mayde as a Mouse. Politianus in∣stead [ 30] of, at illa myonia erat, hath, at illa canus erat Murinus: that is, she was a Mouses hole, signifieng that her virginnity was lost, and that she suffered any louers as a Mouse-hole doth any Mice. And from hence came that verse of Martiall, describing the speach of a louer to his loue, calling him her Mouse and her ioy;

Nam cum me Murim tu cum mea lumina dicis.

So that ingenerall all mice, and not onely the white Mouse are most desirous of copula∣tion. And when they are in copulation, they embrace with their tailes, filling one another without al delay. By tasting of salt, they are made very fruitefull, and therefore Aristotle, and the souldiors of Alexander the great do report, that mice by licking one another, and [ 40] by the licking of salt do ingender and conceiue with yong without any other copulation. But what reasons they haue to lead them to that opinion, I know not, beside that wonder reported by Pliny and Aristotle, that in a certaine part of Persia, a female mouse being slit assunder aliue, all the young females within her belly are also found pregnant conceiued with young.

It is very certaine, that for the time they go with yong, and for the number they bring forth, they exceed all other beasts, conceiuing euery fourteene or sixteene daies, so that it hath beene found by good experience, that a female mouse hauing free liberty to litter, in a vessell of millet-seede, within lesse compasse then halfe a year, she hath brought forth [ 50] one hundred and twenty young ones.

They liue very long, if they be not preuented of their naturall course, and dying natu∣rally, they perish not al at once, but by little, and little, first one member, and then ano∣ther, (Pliny saith) Euolucribus, hirundines sunt indociles, è terrestribus Mures, amonge the Fowles of the ayre, the swallowes are vndocible, and among the creatures of the earth a mouse; yet Albertus writeth, that he saw in vpper Germany, a mouse hold a burning can∣dle

in her feet, at the commaundement of her maister all the time his guests were at Sup∣per.

Now the onely cause why they growe not tame is, their naturall feare, such as is in Conies, Hares, and Deere. For how can any man or beast loue or harken vnto him, who they are perswaded lyeth in waight for their life, and such is the peswasion of all them that feare, which perswasion being once remoued by continual familiarity, there is no cause in nature but that a Mouse may be docible as well as a Hare or Cony, which we haue shewed heretofore in their stories.

It is also very certaine that Mice which liue in a house, if they perceiue by the age of it, it be ready to fall downe or subiect to any other ruin, they foreknow it and depart out of [ 10] it, as may appeare by this notable story which happened in a towne called Helice in Greece, wherein the inhabitantes committed this abominable acte against their neighbours the Greekes. For they slew them and sacrificed them vpon their altars. Whereupon follo∣wed the ruin of the citty, which was premonstrated by this prodigious euent. For 5. daies before the destruction thereof, all the Mice, Weasels, and Serpentes, and other reptile creatures, went out of the same in the presence of the inhabitants, euery one assembling to his owne ranke and company, where at the people wondered much, for they cold not conceiue any true cause of their departure, and no maruaile. For God which had appoin∣ted to take vengance on them for their wickednes, did not giue them so much knowledge nor make them so wise as the beasts to auoid his iudgement, and their owne destruction; [ 20] and therefore marke what followed. For these beasts were no sooner out of the citty, but suddenly in the night time, came such a lamentable earth-quake and strong tempest, that all the houses did not onely fall down, and not one of them stood vpright, to the slaughter of men, women, and children, contained in them, but least any of them should escape the strokes of the timber and house tops, God sent also such a great floud of waters, by rea∣son of the tempestuous wind which droue the Waters out of the sea vpon the Town, that swept them al away, leauing no more behind then naked and bare significations of former buildings.

And not only the citty and Cittizens perished, but also there was ten ships of the Lace∣demonians in their port all drowned at that instant. The wisedome of the Mouse apeareth [ 30] in the prepararion of her house, for considering shee hath many enemies, and therefore many means to be hunted from place to place, she commiteth not herselfe to one lodg∣ing alone, but prouideth many holes; so that when she is hunted in one place shee may more safely repose her selfe in another. Which thing Plautus expresseth in these wordes. Sed tamem cogitato, Mus pusillus, quam sapiens sit bestia, aetatem qui vni cubili, nunquam com∣mittit suam: cum vnum obsidetor, aliunde perfugium quaerit, that is to say, it is good to con∣sider the little mouse, how wise a beast she is, for she will not commit her life to one lodg∣ing but prouideth many harbors, that being molested in one place she may haue another refuge to fly vnto.

[ 40] And as their wisedome is admirable in this prouision, so also is their loue to be com∣mended one to another, for falling into a vessell of Water or other deepe thing, out of which they cannot ascend againe of themselues, they help one another, by letting downe their tailes, and if their tailes be to short, then they lengthen them by this meanes, they take one anothers taile in their mouth, and so hang two or 3. in length vntill the Mouse which was fallen downe take hold on the neathermost, which being performed, they al of them draw her out. Euen so Wolues holding one another by their tailes, do swim ouer great riuers, and thus hath nature graunted that to them which is denyed to many men, namely to loue, and to be wise both together. But concerning their maners, they are euil, apt to steale, incideous, and deceitefull, and men also which are of the same disposition with these beasts fearing to do any thing publikely, & yet priuatly enterprise many deceits [ 50] are iustly reproued in imitation of such beasts. For this cause was it forbidden in gods law vnto the Iewes, not only to eat, but to touch mice, & the prophet Esa. ch. 66 saith, Come∣dentes carnem suillā, & abominationem, at{que} murem simul consumentur inquit Dominus, that is they which eat swins flesh, abomination, & the Mous shalbe destroyed together saith the Lord: wherein the prophet threatneth a curse vnto the people, that broke the first law of

God, in eating flesh forbidden, and the Physitians also say, that the eating of the flesh of Mice engendereth forgetfulnesse, abomination, and corruption in the stomacke.

The eating of bread or other meate which is bitten by Mice doth encrease in men and children a certaine disease in their face, and in the flesh, at the rootes of the nails of their fingers certaine hard bunches, called by the Venetians Spelli, and by the Germans Leid∣spyssen, and by the Latins Dentes Muris: yet it is affirmed, that the flesh of Mice is good for Haukes, to be giuen them euery day, or euery each other day together with the skin, for it helpeth their entrals, purgeth fleame, and choller, restraineth the fluctions of the belly, driueth out stones and grauell, stayeth the distillation of the head to the eyes, and finall corroborateth the stomacke. Yet we haue hard that in the kingdome of Calechut, [ 10] they do eate Mice and Fishes roasted in the sun. And it is said by some Physitians and Ma∣gicians, that the flesh is good against melancholy, and the paine of the teeth, but the me∣dicinall vertues we reserue to his proper place. Pliny affirmeth a strange wonder, worthy to bee remembred and recorded, that when Hanniball besieged Casselinum, there was a man that sold a Mouse for two hundred pieces of quoine, so great was the extremity of famine, that the man which sold it dyed for hunger, and as it should seeme through the want of it, but he which bought it liued by eating therof, the which thing argueth that ne∣cessity, hunger, and famin, maketh men for the safegard of life, to make more reckoning in extremity of the basest creaturs, then in prosperity they do of the best. For that person which gaue so much mony for a Mouse, at another time woulde haue scorned to haue gi∣uen [ 20] so much for foure Oxen.

And on the other side the wretched loue of gaine, which causeth a man to endanger his owne life for loue of siluer. But I rather thinke that it was the hand of God himselfe taking vengance of such a couetous disposition which would not suffer him to liue, that like Mi∣das had gotten so much gold.

The enemies of Mice are many, not onely men which by sundry artificiall deuises kill them because of harme, but also beasts and wilde foule doe eat their flesh, and liue vpon them. And first of all Cats & Weasels, do principally hunt to catch Mice, and haue bin therefore by the late writers called Murilegi, for their taking of Mice. And the nature of the Weasell is not onely more enclined to hunt after them, then the cat, but is more terri∣ble [ 30] also vnto them, for if the braines of a Weasell, the haire or rennet be sprinkled vppon Cheese or any other meate whereto Mice resort, they not onely forbeare to eate thereof, but also to come in that place.

They are also driuen away by the sprinkling of the ashes of Weasels, and as all noises make them afraid, so none so much as the skreetching or crying of a weasell, for at the hea∣ring thereof they fall astonished. And besides they haue more opportunity to follow and take them then cats, because their bodies are lesser, and their noses and snouts longer, and therefore they follow them many times into their holes, and very nimbly pul them forth when they thinke they are most secure. Foxes also kill Mice, and in Italy there is a blacke Snake called Carbonario from his colour resembling coales, which I thinke to be the same [ 40] that the Gretians call Myagros, from his hunting of Mice: This snake doth also eat and de∣uoure Mice. Haukes eate Mice, and all the night-birds, especially the night-crowes and Owles. How hatefull a Mouse is to the Elephant, wee haue shewed already in that story, how in the presence thereof he will not touch his meate, nor eate any thing ouer which a Mouse doth run. Nor yet eate in the cratch or manger wherein a Mouse hath bin. Ponzet∣tus affirmeth, that there is great loue betweene Mice and Serpentes, for sometimes they play together.

Their is a hatred betwixt Bats, Frogs, and Mice, as may appeare by Anthologius, Museus, and others. It is said also that they are hatefull to Oysters, whereof I know no reason, ex∣cept it be because they loue their fish. And Alciatus hath a pretty embleme, which he en∣tituleth [ 50] Captinus ob gulam, wherein he sheweth, that a Mouse watcheth an Oyster when he gapeth, and seeing it open thrust in his head to eate the fish, assoone as euer the Oyster felt his teeth, presently he closeth his shell again, and so crusheth the mouses head in pie∣ces, whereby hee disciphereth the condition of those men which destroy themselues to serue their belies, And thus much for the loue and enmity betwixt Mice and other beasts.

Now concerning the actions of men, they hunt Mice to be rid from their anoyances, be∣cause they do not onely destroy the things they eate, and liue vpon other mens cost, and therefore Parasites are compared vnto them whom the Germans call Schmorotzer, and Tellerlecker, that is smell-feasts, and lick-spickets, are compared to Mice, because they liue at other mens tables. But also Mice do defile, corrupt, and make vnprofitable what∣soeuer they tast, and therefore the Egyptians, when they would describe corruption, do picture a Mouse

For these causes haue men inuented many deuises, snars, and gins, the generall wherof is called by the Latines Muscipula, and by the Gretians Muspala, and Miagra, the diuers [ 10] and seuerall formes whereof I will not disdaine to set down. For the wise reader must con∣sider that it is as necessary or rather more necessary for most men to know how to take mice, then how to take Elephants.

And although every woman, and silly Rat-ketcher can giue instruction enough therin, yet their knowledge cannot excuse my negligence if I should omit the inuentions and deuises of the auncient, whereby they deliuerd themselues from the annoiances of these beasts. And therefore first of al to declare the manner of ketching them in places where corne is kept: Let your moustrap bee placed to ketch mice, right against the door, but let them haue roome to come in, and in short time it will so feare them, that they wil trouble you no more. But if mice breed in the ground vnder creaueses, except you fill al the crea∣uises [ 20] with moustraps, you wil neuer ketch them, which the inhabitants of the Iland Panda∣tharia are faine to do.

There are other kind of moustraps which do ketch mice aliue: and othersome which do kil them, either being pressed downe with the waight of it, or stifeld with water, or other∣wise, as with a stronge piece of yron being smal, and hung right against the butten of the trap, on the which piece of iron they hang meate, and so by that meanes the mouse is ket∣ched by putting her head through the hole to snatch at the meate, for she by stirring the iron doth losen the butten, and so her heade is shut fast in the hole. And there are other kind of moustraps which are couered al ouer, into the which the mouse may run, & if you haue put any water therein they are presently stifeled. Of al which kind of traps shall be se∣uerally [ 30] tracted: And first of all of those which do ketch mice aliue.

The common kind of this moustrap is made of wood, long and foure cornerwise, and is framed of foure boards, but the hinder part is strengthned with strong wiers of iron, that she may without any danger looke in to see what shee may get there, and that the smell of the which she findeth ther, may alure hir to come to it. And the former part hath a hole in the top, through which there is put a small peece of yron, and also there is made a trap∣door in form of a percullis, to the which the iron is very slightly hung, that when the mous commeth to ketch at the meat she is suddenly taken by falling of the same; but the meat which you fasten to the neather end of this iron hook must be fat, or the crust of cheese or bread, which if it be a little toasted at the fire it wil not be amisse, that the mouse may smell it far off. Some do make these kind of traps doble, with one doore at one end, and another [ 40] doore at another end. These kind of moustraps Peterus Crescent: doth cal traps belonging to houses, which shal be spoken of hereafter.

The other kind of moustrap is made with iron hookes hung in the round circle. In the middest of the which brim is put a great many of the same wiers, which being made sharp at euery end are after the forme of the top of a crest, or helmet, or as it is made in a bow∣net to ketch fishes, and vpon the hooke let their be hung meate, by the which meanes the mouse comming to the meat, sticketh her selfe vpon the hookes. The manner of making lesser moustraps is with Walnut tree, and that the middle part of it bee not couered, and that there be put to the mouth or brim thereof some kind of mettle, so that the open part may bend inward, and that the mouse may not gnaw that which is within except she cree∣peth vnder: which if shee shall do, she shall presently be shut in by stirring the trap.

[ 50] Also there is another kind of moustrap which is couered with the barke of a tree, which is cut into equall pieces, and laid crosse one ouer another, but there is tied a swines skinne in the middle, and also an earthen pot couered with the same barke being first sprinkled

with corne that the Mice may custome to come to it, and being dryed with lying they breake in pieces, but you must lay them together againe, and fill your pot with Water, by the which meanes assoone as euer they are vppon the same they fall into the pyt, and so are stifeled.

And also it is reported of those which haue tryed the same, that if Mice fall into a ves∣sell without water, and remaine there a long time without meate, that then they deuoure one another, but if they remaine there so long vntill one among them all be left alone, that is to say the strongest of them all, and that he be suffered to go out, wheresoeuer hee [ 10] shall finde any mice hee will eate them vp, and they shall haue much adoe to escape him, because he hath been so long accustomed vnto them. I was told also of a certaine friend of mine, that a man of Senensis did set a purse in a hollow place, and made it to open and shut by some deuise, so that at length he tooke a mouse, which mouse hee fed onely with the flesh of Mice, and after he had fed it so a long time, he let it go, who killed all the Mice that he did meete, and was not satisfied with them, but went into euery hole that he could find, and eat them vp also. Also Mice are taken in vessels, from whence they canot escape, vpon the which vessell let there be put a small staffe, which is so cut in the middle, that she may onely hold her selfe by the meate, and when you haue so doone, put the kernell of a Nut vpon the middle of the staffe, to the which the Mouse comming, doth fall into the vessell with the staffe, and they will be stifeled if their be any Water: but if there be none [ 20] she will be killed.

And againe he telleth of another manner of ketching of mice, which is as great as the first, and it is after this manner. Take two smooth boardes about the length of thy arme, and in breadth halfe thy Arme, but ioyne it so together that they may be distant from the lower part in length some foure fingers or little lesse, with two small spindles or clefts, which must be at euery end one, and fasten Paper vnder them, and put a peece of paast therin, being cut ouerthwart in the middle, but you must not fasten it nigh the mid∣dle, & let it be so bound that it may easily be lifted vp betwixt the spindles, that if by slip∣ping it should be altered, it migh be brought againe to the same forme. But the two spin∣dles spoken of before, ought to be ioyned together in the ends aboue, & beyond them an∣other [ 30] smal spindle to be made, which may hold in the middle a crooked wedge or butten, vpon the which may be hanged a piece of Hogges skinne, so that one of them may easily be turned vpsided downe with the skinne, and put thereunto a little peece of earth or sticke, that the mice may easily come to it: So that how many myce soeuer shall come thereto, and to the meate, shall be taken, alwayes by rowling the Paper into his wonted place.

There is another manner also, which is to make a round peece of Woode fastened on both sides with Needles, and made so that the hinder part of it way heauier then the for∣mer, and that it stand an inch hyer then the other, and then when you haue so placed it, throw some corne thereon, that the mice may be alluted thereto, and tie also a peece of flesh vpon the former end of it; and so the Mouse going into the middle, by the rouling [ 40] off the same, slippeth into the kettle which standeth vnder it, which must bee halfe full of Water, the circle presently being as it was before, that very often many mice are ket∣ched in one night by this worke, all falling into the kettle. Also there are many kinds of mice-traps where mice do perish by the waight thereof, and they are made of a smal-piece of wood made hollow, into the which shall fal down another smal piece of Wood, but it must be made so that it may fall waighty to presse downe the mice going to the meat, and let the meat be tyed to another little small peece of wood, which being touched, the hea∣uy peece doth presently fall downe, and so by that meanes the mouse is taken.

Our country men do make a trap which is somewhat like to this, let two peeces of boords be ioyned together one foot broad, and two foot long, and afterwards let there be put in [ 50] them a wooden pin, which you must fasten to the lower boord, so that it may not touche the vppermost; and you must set it so that the former part may easily moue backewarde and forward, but moreouer the former boord must be fastened to the hinder, like the fa∣shion of a Gibbet or Gallowes, with two peeces of wood standing vpright, one being put ouerthwart, or after the fashion of the Greek letter, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and it must stand some nine yn∣ches high, & as broad as the boord wil suffer you, & let the meat be hung in the mid∣dle

of it, but that boord which is vppermost, must touch both the ends of the other, and notched according to the bredth, the notch being made after the forme of a wedge de∣uided into two parts, and an other small peece of wood must be put to that which is vper∣most, almost two fingers long, and one finger broad, and let there bee put into the lower notch, a peece of wood with meat at it, so that it may be slightly fastened to the brimme of the vppermost, that the meate being presently touched, the other may the easiler fall.

And you may lay a stone vpon the vppermost bord that it may fall the heauier. And there are some also which to the lower board, doe fasten iron pinnes, made very sharp, against the which the Mice are driuen by the waight of the fall. Furthermore, there is another [ 10] kinde of trap made to couer them aliue, one part of it cut out of a small peece of woode, the length of the palme of thy hand, and the breadth of one finger, and let the other part of it be cut after the forme of a wedge: and let this peece of wood be erected like a little piller, and let the wedge be put into the notch of an other peece of wood, which must be made equall with the other, or very little shorter: and this piller must bee so made, that the mouse may not perish before she come to the meate: The wood where the meat must stand, ought to be a span long, and you must fasten the meate about the middle of it, but the former part of it must haue a cleft, which must begin a little from the brim, and shall be made almost the length of two fingers, and you must make it with two straight corners, and take away halfe the breadth of the wood. These three peeces of woode being thus [ 20] made ready, thou shalt erect a little piller, so that the wedge may be downeward, whereby the mouse may see the meate euery where: and let the meate be hung in the former cor∣ner of the piller, so if the mouse shall touch the meate, he shall bee pressed downe with the fall of the board. Mice also by the fall of a cleft board are taken, which is held vp with a piller, and hauing a little spattular of wood, whereon the meate shall lye, so made that the piller doth not open being parted, except when the mouse commeth to touch the meate, and so by that meanes she is taken.

There is also another manner of mouse-trap vsed among vs, which is, let there bee a hole made and compassed about with a boord of a foot long, and fiue or six fingers broad, the compasse whereof must be foure fingers, into this hole let there be put a vessell made [ 30] of wood the length of ones fist, but round and very deepe: and in the middle of each side of this vessell let there be made a hole, wherein there is put in a thread made of yron with meat, and let it be compassed about with a small thread which must be fastned ouerthwart the hole: and the part of the thread which hangeth downe must be crooked, that the meat may be fastned thereto, and there must bee a peece of the thread without, to the which may be tyed a stronger peece of wood, which is the thread whereon the meat is hanged, by the which the mouse is taken, by putting her head into the vessel to ketch at the meat. And also mice are taken otherwise, with a great Cane wherein there is a knot, and in the top of it let there be made a little bow with a lute string, and there sticke a great needle in the middle of the pole of the Cane, and let the pole be made iust in the middle, and let [ 40] there be bound a peece of flesh beneath, so prepared that when the mouse shall bite, and mooue the skin, that then the string slippeth downe, and so the needle pearceth through his head, and holdeth him that he cannot run away. But among all the rest there is an ex∣cellent peece of workmanship to ketch mice, which I will heer set down. Take a peece of wood, the length of both thy fists, one fistbroad, and two fingers thicke, and let there be cut off about some two fingers, a little beyond the middle of halfe the breadth. And that breadth where it was cut, ought to be more declining and lower, after the manner of this letter A. And you must put to the side of this a peece of wood, halfe a circle long, ben∣ding, and in the middle part of each side holes pearced through, so that the halfe circle may be streight and plainely placed to the foundation of the woode, that the trap being [ 50] made, it may rest vpon the same halfe circle, and vpon this halfe circle let there be placed iron nailes very sharp, so that the instrument by falling downe may couer the irons of the halfe circle as soone as euer they touch the same,

Furthermore there is another manner of trap, when a vessell out of which they cannot escape, is filled halfe vp with water, and vpon the top thereof Otmell is put, which will

swim, and not sinke, making the vppermost face of the water to seeme white, and solid, whereunto when the mouse commeth, she leapeth into the oate-mell, and so is drowned: And the like may be done with chaffe mingled with oat-mell: and this in all traps must be obserued, wherein mice are taken aliue, that they be presently taken forth, for if they make water in the place, their fellowes will for euer suspect the trap, and neuer come neare••t, till the sauour of the vrine be aholished.

Palladius saith, that the thicke froth of oyle, being infused into a dish or brasen cal∣dron, and set in the middle of the house in the night time, will draw all the mice vnto it, wherein they shall sticke fast, and not be able to escape.

Pliny saith, that if a mouse be gelded aliue and so let go, she will driue away all the re∣sidue; [ 10] but this is to be vnderstoode of the Sorex. If the head of a mouse be flaied, or if a male mouse be flaied all ouer, or her taile cut off, or if her legge be bound to a post in the house, or a bell be hung about her necke, and so turned going, she will driue away all her fellowes. And (Pliny saith) that the smoke of the leaues of the Ewe-tree, because they are poyson, will kill mice, so also will libbards-baine, and henbaine-seede, and Wolfe baine, for which cause they are seuerally called Myoctonos, and the rootes of Wolfe bane, are commonly sold in Sauoy vnto the Country people for that purpose.

In Germany they mingle it with oat-mell, and so lay it in bals to kill mice. The fume of wall-wort, calcauth, parcely, origanum, and deaths-hearb, doe also kill mice: you may also driue them away with the fume of the stone Haematites, and with greene tamarisk, [ 20] with the hoofe of a mule, or of nitre, or the ashes of a Weasell, or a cat in water, or the gall of an Oxe put into bread.

The seede of Cowcumbers being sod, and sprinckled vpon any thing, mice will ne∣uer touch it, likewise wilde coucumber and coloquintida, kill mice. To keepe mice from corne, make morter of the froth of oyle mingled together with chaffe, and let them well dry, and afterwards be wrought throughly, then plaster the wals of your garnery there∣with, and when they are dry cast more froth of oyle vpon them, and afterwards carry in your corne and the mice will neuer annoy it.

Wormewood laid among cloathes, and skinnes, defend them from mice,: And also the water of wormewood sod, sprinckled vpon cloathes hath the same operation. [ 30]

Inke tempered with water, wherein Wormewood hath beene washed, or sod, cau∣seth that the Parchment and Paper written therewith, shall neuer be eaten, or touched with mice.

Anatolius and Tarentinus, in the discourse of the grauery or barm do write, that milk-thistle mingled with hony, water, and fine flower, or mil-dust, made into little balles, and laied where mice my eat of it, doth make them blind if they taste thereof. White Helle∣bore mixed with pottage, or the seedes of wilde Cowcumber, Coloquintida, and meale, mingled with blacke Hellebore, and put into Cheese or bread, or any kind of fat meat, kil∣leth both Rats and mice. So likewise a white camelion sod in broth, mingled with water and oyle, killeth Dogges, swine, and mice. [ 40]

The iuyce of the roote of the hearbe Camelion, mixed with water and oyle, draweth mice vnto it, and killeth them by tasting thereof, if they drinke not presently: so also doth Henbane. The roots of the bramble Tree, mingled with Butter, Breade, or Honey, Ele∣campaine, and sea Onions, Scamoney, wild Sparradge, Arsenicke, Mug-wort, otherwise cald mouse-wort, mingled with Lard in small peeces, with Auri pigment, killeth Wolues and mice. and in some countries, for the better dispersing of the poyson, set drinke beside the same, whereof as soone as they tast they swel and die, but I haue seen them die without drinking at all. Mice and wolues if they tast of the wilde Rose, and drinke after it, doe not not onely dye, but also fall into madnesse and bite their fellows, communicating the qua∣lity of the disease to euery one they bite. Flesh cut into little peeces & fryed with butter in [ 50] a frying pan, and afterwards when it is colde, adde halfe so much soft pitch thereto, and mingle t together, rowling vp the flesh in the pitch, then distribute it vpon little boords, and set it in the place, and places whereunto the mice do much resort, and water beside it, and when that they haue tasted of it a little, they are so eagerly a thirst, that they drinke and dye.

The like I may say of Rats-bane, Quicke-siluer, Sublimate, and Precipitate, and diuers other thinges, and thus much may suffice, for the ketching, taking, and killing of myce, whereunto I may adde the vse of their members and parts, not medicinall, but naturall, although I haue touched it heeretoforein part.

The Scythians were woont to be clad with the skinnes of mice and Wolues, and it is obserued, that when mice cry and screeketh aboue their ordinary custome, it presageth an alteration and change of the Weather, and thus much shall suffice for their naturall discourse.

Hauing thus discoursed of the nature of the vulgar mouse, I may also adde the mor∣ral [ 10] vse thereof, as I find it recorded among learned writers; deliuered eyther in Historie or in prouerbe. It is reported of Glaucus the sonne of Minos and Pasiphae, that while he fol∣lowed a mouse to take her, he fel into a vessel of hony, but after Polyades the prophet, by laying an herb on him raised him againe to life. Hatto an Arch▪Bysh. of Metz in the fron¦tiers of Germany, was destroyed by mise, or as other say by Rats, but the words of Textor are:

Hatto Archiepiscopus Moguntinus à muribus fertur deuoratus.

And the error may proceed, because that Mus is a generall word for the Rat and mouse, and therefore they which haue thought it an vnreasonable thinge, that so small beastes should destroy so mighty a prince, haue rather attributed it to the Rats then to the mice; [ 20] but they ought to haue rememberd, that it was an extraordinary iudgement of God to punish a cruell couetous wretch, and that therefore it was as easie for him to make the lit∣tle mouse his instrument, as the great Rat: for we read, that Herod was deuourd by worms, and other haue beene eaten vp with lyce. Adrian the Pope was strangled by a flye, and therefore Hatto an Archbishop might aswel perish through the afflicting hand of God by a multitude of mice.

Heliogabalus that wretch, among other his monstrous desires, and Tyrannicall com∣maundes, Lampridius affirmeth, that vpon a time he commaunded that there should bee brought vnto him ten thousand mice aliue, a thousand weasils, and a thousand Sorices or wilde fielde-mice, so base were his thoughts, that while he should haue attended his Em∣periall calling, and hearkened to the suits and complaints of poore distressed subiects, he [ 30] was busied in killing of mice, and therefore in ancient time, a mouse-killer was taken for an opprobrious speech, for a base, sluggish, and idle companion.

The like is reported of a Moscouian Emperour, who to afflict his people and to ga∣ther money from them, commanded the Cittizens of Musco to bring him a pecke full of fleas, whereunto the people answered, that if they could take so many, yet could not they keepe them together from leaping away. And mice haue beene brought into publique spectacle, because at Lauinium they gnawed asunder the shields of siluer; and it was afterward iudged a prodigie, for there followed the Marsicke war. When the Scythians vnderstoode that Darius with his great army stoode in neede of vittailes, they sent vnto him a Prouant-master with these presents or gifts, a birde, a mouse, a frog, and fiue darts. [ 40] At the receipte whereof the Persians wondered what should be meant thereby; and de∣maunded of the messenger the meaning of the mystery. But the Ambassador answered, he knew not any signification of his presents, but onely receiued charge to deliuer them, and make hast backe againe, and to bid the Persians if they were wise to lay their wits to∣gether to know and vnderstand the meaning thereof. When the Persians heard him say so, they fell to consultation. Darius gaue his opinion that the mouse, signified the earth, the frog, the waters, the bird, horses, and the darts warlike furniture and strength of for∣ces, and that the Scythians by sending all these vnto them, yeelded that the Persians should be Lords of their land, sea, horses and themselues, and that therefore they ought to be of good courage.

[ 50] But one Gobrias a graue Councellor who was one of the seuen that slew the Magi or Wizards aunswered otherwise, for his coniecture was more true, for said he, O persae, nisi effecti vt aues subuoletis in coelum, aut vt mures subeatis terram, aut vt ranae insiliatis in paludes, non remeabitis vnde venistis his sagittis confecti: O ye Persians, except ye become like birds to flye vp into heauen, or like mice to creepe into the earth, or like frogs to leap

into the waters, you shall not returne back againe vnto the place from whence you came, and so indeede it came to passe. We reade 1. Sam. 5. that when the Arke of God was taken by the Philistimes, and they kept it in their Temple at Hazzah, the hand of the Lord fell vppon their Princes, and hee smote them with Emrods, in the bottome of their belly, that is, God punished them with mice, for he afflicted their bodies, and the fruites of the earth, for which cause Cap. 6. they aduise with themselues; to send back againe the Arke of the Lord with a present of Golden Mice. Ouid, Homer, and Orpheus call Apollo Smyntheus, for the Cretians in auncient time called Mice Smynthae: Now the fained cause thereof is thus related by Aelianus.

There was one Crinis which was a Priest of Apollo: who neglected his dayly sacri∣fice, [ 10] for the which through aboundance of mice he was depriued of the fruites of the earth, for they deuoured all. At which losse Apollo himselfe was moued; and taking pit∣tie of the miserie, appeared to one Horda a Neate-heard, commaunding him to tell Crinis that all the cause of that penury was for that he had omitted his accustomed sa∣crifice, and that it was his duetie to offer them againe diligently, or else it would be farre worse afterward. Crinis vpon the admonition amended the fault, and immediatly Apol∣lo killed all the deuouring Mice with his darts, whereuppon he was called Smyntheus. Other againe say, that among the Aeolians, at Troas & Hamaxitus, they worshiped mice and Apollo both together, and that vnder his Altar they had meate and nourishment, and also holes to liue in safely, and the reason was, because once many thousands of mice in∣uaded [ 20] the corne fieldes of Aeolia and Troy, cutting downe the same before it was ripe, and also frustrating the husbandman of fruite and hope: this euill caused them to goe to Delphos to aske counsell at the Oracle what they should doe to be deliuered from that extremitie, where the Oracle gaue answere that they should goe sacrifice to Apollo Smyn∣theus, and afterward they had sacrificed, they were deliuered from the mice, and that therefore they placed a statue or figure of a mouse in the Temple of Apollo.

When the Troyans came out of Creete, to seeke a habitation for themselues, they re∣ceaued an Oracle, that they should there dwell, where the inhabitants that were borne of the earth should set vpon them, the accomplishing whereof fell out about Hamaxitus, for in the night time, a great company of wilde mice, set vpon their bowes, quiuers, and [ 30] strings, leathers of their bucklers, and all such soft instruments, whereby the people knew, that that was the place, wherein the Oracle had assigned them to build the Citty; & there∣fore there they builded Ida, so called after the name of Ida in Creete: and to conclude we doe reade that mice haue beene sacrificed, for the Arcadians are said first of all to haue sacrificed to their Gods a mouse, and secondly a white horse, and lastly the leaues of an Oake.

And to conclude, Aelianus telleth one strange storye of mice in Heraclea, that there is not one of them which toucheth any thing that is consecrated to Religion, or to the ser∣uice of their Goddes. Insomuch that they touch not their vines which are sacred to religi∣ous [ 40] vses, but suffer them to come to their naturall maturitye, but depart out of they∣sland, to the entent that neither hunger nor folly cause them to touch that which is de∣dicated to deuine vses. And thus much for the naturall and morall story of the mice, now followeth the medicinall.

Notes

• Definition of a Mouse
• The seueral names.
• Denominati¦on of sundrie creatures frō the Mouse.
• Pausanias.
• Theuetus.
• Fictions lear¦ned & wittie of the proper nams of Mise
• The colour of Mice.
• Scaliger. Albertus.
• The quanti∣ty and seue∣rally parts of Mice. Mathoeolus.
• Aristotle. Cicero.
• Albertus,
• Orus. Aelianus.
• Pliny. Albertus.
• Mice cannot drinke with∣out danger.
• Theophrastus Generation of mice and their carnall copulation.
• Albertus. Copulation of mice.
• Two myra∣cles in their procreation and multipli¦cation.
• Ʋolateranus Gillius. whether mice be do∣cible.
• Presages and for knoledge of mice.
• Aelianus.
• Their natu∣ral wisdome.
• Their natu∣ral loue to one another.
• Aelianus. Their dispo¦sition and their flesh. Proc••p••••s. Aristeas.
• Arnaldus.
• hu••t by mice to the bodies of mankinde.
• Medicine of Hawkes. Demetrius.
• Eating of Mice.
• Enemies of Mice.
• Pliny.
• Varrus.
• Crescentient
• Crescentien.
• Crescentien.
• Anatolius
• Cato
• Tragus
• Auicen
• Paxausus
• Croscentien∣sis.
• Cardon
• The morrall story of mice
• Tzetzes.
• Herodotus.
• Sacrificing of Mice. Scoliast••••yco.